Sept. 28-Oct. 4: Fame Kills, Sometimes Literally
This week the music world was abuzz with gossip, sparked by an "It's Over!" Us Weekly cover story, that pop's top heartthrob Justin Timberlake had split from his girlfriend of three years, actress Jessica Biel--although, to be honest, much of that buzz probably emanated from JT's female fans, who were no doubt eager to believe that Justin was once again on the market. Those fans' delight was short-lived, however, when a source close to the couple refuted the rumors, telling Access Hollywood that the breakup story was "not true"; meanwhile, Justin and Jessica were spotted this week looking still very much together while romantically vacationing in Napa Valley and Santa Barbara.
And even if J&J did indeed break up, according to Star magazine it was none other than Rihanna who was responsible for their split (the two starred in her steamy "Rehab" video a while back, and Star reported this week that Rihanna and Justin have been getting pretty cozy in and out of the studio as of late). So even if Justin's so longer with Jessica, it's unlikely that he's actually really available. Sorry, ladies.
Meanwhile, Rihanna's infamous ex Chris Brown attempted to move on from all the domestic-abuse drama and controversy that's surrounded him since February, by releasing his first single from his upcoming album Graffiti, a collabo with Lil' Wayne and Swizz Beatz titled "I Can Transform Ya." While the song's lyrical refrain, promising to transform a "good girl to a freak," raised a few eyebrows (it seemed to some like a thinly veiled reference to Rihanna's hit album, Good Girl Gone Bad), fans' responses to the song itself were mostly favorable. Will this be the much-needed career rebound that will transform Chris Brown from tabloid villain back to pop-star sensation? We shall see.
In other split news, while Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel may or may not still be a couple, one duo that has definitely officially parted ways is Kanye West and Lady Gaga, who were set to embark on their joint "Fame Kills" tour in November but this week abruptly cancelled all dates with no explanation. Just earlier in the week Gaga was doing a round of tour press, praising and defending her would-be tourmate and insisting that he is a "good person" who he still feels bad about that whole Taylor Swift VMAs interruption incident. But that very same week, various sources conflictingly reported that Gaga was considering pulling out of the tour, specifically because of the fallout from the Kanye/Taylor MTV Awards fiasco.
However, the "Fame Kills" tour would have been a way for Gaga to get any possible aggressions out, since the high concept of the entire production involved a plot in which Gaga would try to "kill" Kanye. (No doubt many Kanye-haters would have cheered her on, too.) The tour was also supposed to include a never-before-seen "transverse" stage, with a catwalk spanning the width of the arenas in which the tour was booked. As of this writing, Kanye has not offered any reason for why the plug was pulled on this massive undertaking, but Lady Gaga has stated that she and Kanye "mutually decided to cancel the tour," adding that Kanye is "going to take some time off, but I'm not!" and declaring that she will hit the road solo instead.
Speaking of cancelled tours, this week sneak-peek screenings for This Is It, the documentary about Michael Jackson's 02 Arena concert rehearsals, sold out in two hours. But perhaps the bigger, or at least more surprising, MJ news came this week when his autopsy report revealed that he was much healthier than previously assumed. The report stated that Michael was in relatively good health for a man his age and that there were no illegal drugs in detected in his system at the time of his death.
These findings only built an even more solid case against the singer's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, as they refuted the doctor's potential defense that Michael concealed serious pre-existing conditions that increased his risk of death from legal drugs. "It clearly establishes that Michael Jackson was a healthy person whose death appears to have been directly caused by the administration of some very powerful sedatives," said criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor Mark Werksman. "This autopsy report seems to clear the path for a prosecution that his death was caused by an overdose [administered by Dr. Murray]."
Watch this space for developments...
Meanwhile, a toxicology report released this week revealed that DJ AM's recent shocking death at age 36 was the result of an accidental drug overdose--specifically a lethal cocktail of cocaine, OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Benadryl, and Levamisole--and was not a suicide as some had previously theorized. Hopefully these findings will bring both DJ AM and Michael Jackson and their respective families some peace, and will educate the general public about the dangers of mixing prescription drugs. Sometimes fame really does kill.
And on that somber, cautionary note, thus concludes another week in music. Come back next Friday for more headspinning headlines, and have a wonderful weekend.
THIS WEEK'S TOP 10 STORIES:
1) Jackson Was In Action - An autopsy report reveals that Michael Jackson was in surprisingly good health during his final days.
2) "Fame Kills" Tour Killed - Kanye West and Lady Gaga suddenly pull the plug on their joint concert venture.
3) Justin & Jessica Not Bringing Sexy Back? - Timberlake is rumored to have split with Biel.
4) DJ AM Death Ruled Accidental - Adam Goldstein's tragic passing is just another example of the dangers of prescription drugs.
5) Chris Brown, Transformed - He attempts to revive his career with new single "I Can Transform Ya."
6) Lucy In The Sky, Now In Heaven - The real-life woman who inspired the Beatles' psychedelic hit dies.
7) The Boss Rules New Jersey - Bruce Springsteen will play entire classic albums at special NJ shows.
8) New Yorke - Radiohead frontman Thom forms a new band with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea.
9) Adam Lambert Is Finally #1 - The second-place Idol tops the Amazon chart solely via word-of-mouth.
10) Britney's "3" Is The Charm - Despite some offputting lyrics, "3" is Spears' best single in years.
