It’s no secret that I don’t really care for Evan Rachel Wood. She’s not really that bad, but there are just a few little things that grate on my nerves about her. However, after I read her ex-boyfriend Marilyn Manson’s recent comments about her - that he wanted to “smash her skull in” - I had been feeling more sympathy for her. Anyone who pissed off Marilyn that much was probably doing something right.

Now I don’t know what to make of Evan after reading this interview excerpt she gave to the London Times (story via OK! UK). Evan is about to star as Mary Jane Watson in the Broadway musical version of Spiderman. She’s already dyed her hair red, and she should fit into the role pretty well. Bono and The Edge are writing the music for the show, and when Evan came face to face with them, she whined to them that their music was “depressing”. Uh… I’m coming down on the side of “Evan is not worthy.”

Evan Rachel Wood had harsh words for BONO and THE EDGE when she met them - she told the U2 stars to make their music less depressing.

The actress is set to take on the role of Mary Jane Watson in the new musical SpiderMan: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, which will debut in February (10).

U2 frontman Bono and guitarist The Edge are writing new music for the musical - and Wood found herself giving them tips at a recent meet-up.

She tells Britain’s The Times, “I was like, ‘Bono, I know you want to save the world and everything, but in this song you’re talking about poverty and world hunger and it’s Broadway. Can we lighten this up a bit, can I just not sing this?”

“He was like, ‘You’re right, I know, we have to try, we have to try’.”

[From OK! Magazine - UK]

I’m sure Bono was really like “Get away from me, little dumb girl.” It sounds like Evan was criticizing the music they were writing for the Broadway show specifically, doesn’t it? She wasn’t really issuing a general complaint against U2’s music in general. Because if she’s whining about U2 in general, that’s enough to make me Team Bono forever and always, and I have huge issues with Bono (all non-music related). Could it be possible that Evan has a point, though? Is Bono trying to force some songs about debt relief into the Spiderman musical? Sigh. Why can’t U2 go back to writing songs that were iconic and you know… not about debt relief?

Evan Rachel Wood is shown on 6/26/09 at the Swarovski Crystallized Concept store grand opening in NY. Bono is shown on 6/6/09 going to vote in Dublin. Credit: WENN.com.

Beyonce filed a federal lawsuit in New York on Wednesday, targeting “John and Jane Does” who are selling bootlegged items, including CDs and concert merchandise, “in the vicinity” of her concerts. The lawsuit is specifically in anticipation of her concert in Madison Square Garden on June 21 and 22, and she hopes to make “it” illegal before then. The article doesn’t say what “it” means - the bootlegging itself, or the selling of the goods.

Turns out you don’t have to actually know who you’re suing to file a lawsuit, because Beyonce is going after a bunch of John and Jane Does for hawking fake goods at her concerts.

Beyonce has filed a federal lawsuit today in New York, alleging that a pile of shady people have sold knock-off CDs and merchandise in “the vicinity” of past concerts she’s performed around the world.

Beyonce believes the piracy is bound to happen again — specifically at her upcoming concerts at Madison Square Garden on June 21 and 22 — so she’s asking the court to deem it illegal before the bootlegged booty hits the streets.

[from TMZ]

According to Wikipedia, a bootlegged copy is anything that has been released without the express intentions of the artist or studio. So the culprits could be selling unauthorized copies of live performances, or they could have simply downloaded her album on iTunes and sold copies of that. As for the fake merchandise, a recent lawsuit filed by the jam band Phish requested that the band be able to seize and destroy all unlicensed items being sold by fans. The lawsuit was a failure because they didn’t follow the proper procedures, but the precedent has generally been to allow these types of seizures. Otherwise, concert managers are powerless to stop the bootleggers. Phish claimed that they lost millions a year in possible revenue from the selling of fake merchandise; I would assume Beyonce has similar concerns.

It is not explained in the article whether the same group of people have been selling bootlegged merchandise all over the world, or if the culprits are found on an individual, concert-by-concert basis. Either way, tracking these people down and prosecuting them will be a difficult process.

Beyonce is shown performing in Herning, Denmark on 5/9/09. Credit: Uffe Kongsted/Fame Pictures

[audio:http://www.celebitchy.com/OksanaGrigorievaSayMyName.mp3]

Mel Gibson’s baby-mama wants us to know she’s not just some clever golddigger who gets pregnant any time some rich, crazy dude gives her a second glance. No, Oksana Grigorieva wants us to know that she’s a “singer”. And People magazine has the evidence to prove it. Oksana has released her first single to People, and it’s one of the most awful things I’ve ever heard. The song is called “Say My Name” - but, no, it’s not a Destiny’s Child cover. What’s weird is that if someone with a great voice did the same song, it might be pretty good. But Oksana’s voice is just… horrible. The word that came to mind was “screeching”.

Until now, Oksana Grigorieva’s name has been more associated with Hollywood gossip than with musical chops – the Russia-born singer and pianist is pregnant with Mel Gibson’s child – but Grigorieva hopes that will change starting with Monday’s release of “Say My Name,” the first single from her forthcoming album, Beautiful Heartbreak.

A classically trained pianist who hails from Saransk, Russia, Grigorieva, 39, penned every song on the album except for “Say My Name,” which exclusively debuts on PEOPLE.com – for that she collaborated on the lyrics with none other than Gibson himself.

“It is the first and one of the simplest songs on the album, but also one of the most intimate,” says Grigorieva, whose baby with Gibson, 53, is due in late fall. “It is naked, intimate, raw emotion, little more than piano and voice as if it is a cry from the soul.”

Signed to Gibson’s record label, Icon Records, Grigorieva first stepped out with the Oscar-winning filmmaker at a Los Angeles screening of X-Men Origins: Wolverine on April 28, two weeks after Gibson’s wife Robyn filed for divorce. Gibson, who has said that he and Robyn have been separated for three years, announced the pregnancy on the May 25 Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Starting at 9 a.m. EST “Say My Name” may be downloaded at www.oksana.fm, where more free downloads of new tracks from Beautiful Heartache and videos will be available each week.

[From People]

I find two thing odd. First, Oksana seems hellbent on proving that she’s actually got a career, which may come in handy if it turns out the baby she’s carrying isn’t Mel’s. Except that I really believe that Oksana’s not dumb enough to get pregnant by another guy and try and pass the kid off as Mel’s. So why does she need a career? Oksana could just sit there and be a golddigger. Enjoy the credit cards and the crazy, Oksana. Secondly, since when did People magazine become the go-to outlet for releasing a song? People has been pushing a more family-friendly version of Mel and Oksana’s relationship for a while now, even getting exclusive interviews with Oksana’s mom in Moscow. Methinks Mel wants to give his golddigger some legitimacy.

Wiggy diva Whitney Houston is set to release her first new album in seven years…and no, it’s not entitled “Bob-BAY!” In fact, this is Houston’s first post-divorce attempt at a comeback, and sources say she is looking, sounding, and behaving better than she has in a long time. Putting down the crack pipe will do that.

After a seven-year hiatus, Whitney Houston will release a new album Sept. 1, her record label announced Wednesday.

Houston’s seventh studio album – rumored to be titled Undefeated – will include the Diane Warren-penned “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.”

Photographer Patrick Demarchelier recently worked with the singer for some promotional shots and called the day “fantastic.” “She was so full of life and energy. She moved well and was in such great spirits,” he said.

Houston, who divorced ex-husband Bobby Brown in 2007, has sold more than 170 million singles, albums and videos worldwide and is cited by the Guiness Book of World Records as music’s “most awarded female artist of all time” with a tally of 411 awards, including six Grammys and two Emmys.

[From People]

Many in the industry had written Whitney off as a viable artist. Her career has been floundering since the late 90s, and her whacked-out antics on the short-lived reality show “Being Bobby Brown,” had some wondering if she was a drug addict, mentally ill or both. But since kicking Bobby to the curb almost three years ago, the singer has been slowly cleaning up her act and singing at a few select public appearances. I don’t know if I’d buy a Whitney album, but it would be nice to see her come back and kick butt - especially in this musical climate of no-talent pop stars who sound great when digitally enhanced on the CD but sound like crap live. (Yes, Katy Perry, I’m looking at you.) Maybe Whitney could track down Amy Winehouse before she drinks herself to death in the Caribbean and tell her that there’s still hope- and no man is worth ruining your career or your life.

Here’s Whitney in Beverley Hills in February. Images thanks to INF Photo.

I was trying to figure out why it is that I’m so fascinated by Spencer Pratt, and I think I’ve got it: it’s rare to see someone with such a delusional combination of narcissistic personality disorder and extreme lack of talent get anywhere in life. Now I’m not going to try to tell you that Spencer’s gotten far, but we know the guy’s name. Even if he’s hated. He has somehow – mind bogglingly enough – managed to amass a decent amount of cash. Enough to overly-indulge said narcissism. And it’s hard not to be intrigued by this – and by a culture that would allow someone like Spencer Pratt to happen.

While he has attained no commercial success – nor any success based on his supposed “talents” – Spencer still feels free to talk himself up while talking everyone else down to Complex magazine. The point of the interview was to chat about Spencer’s rap career. And while he admits that he really doesn’t have one yet, he still feels free to talk shit about other rappers, say multiple times that he doesn’t have anyone he really admires in rap or hip-hop, and also how he’s the greatest out there. Oh, and don’t forget, how wife Heidi Montag is more talented than Beyonce. Those are fighting words.

Complex: You also said, “I’m like the white Jay-Z.” Would you consider Heidi the white Beyoncé?
Spencer Pratt: A little bit more than the white Beyoncé. Beyoncé had to be built by a group like Destiny’s Child, but Heidi shines solo. I’ll actually give you an exclusive: I could guarantee you Speidi’s [Spencer and Heidi's] “Bonnie & Clyde” version is going to stunt on Jay and B’s version.

Complex: Who’s rapping career would you use as a blueprint for yourself?
Spencer Pratt: I think I’m the future of hip-hop. You know, I feel bad for saying that. That’s unfortunate, but that’s a fact. You can’t compare my model of hip-hop with what I’m about to come out with versus anything in the game. You know I’ll take the Diddy route. I’m not a lyrical MC, I’m just like Diddy. Look what it did for him? He is still balling.

Complex: I know you said that you’re trying to infiltrate the ringtone game…
Spencer Pratt: Yeah. People are not even going to have time to listen to radio in their cars because they are going to be talking on their phones or twittering, or BBM’ing. So I feel like the only time people are going to hear music is when your phone rings, so that’s the whole market I’m going after. I don’t care about the clubs, I don’t care about the radio, all I care about is getting my digital downloads like Soulja Boy.

Complex: There’s a lot of money to be made in that…
Spencer Pratt: I think it’s only going to multiply in the next ten years. There are more people with cell phones in the world than any other thing on the planet. There are billions of cell phones. There’s not not billions of radios.

Complex: Interesting…
Spencer Pratt: The bottom line is, if every single platinum song right now wasn’t auto-tuned, then I would be like, “I can’t be a rapper.” The fact that I could get up to perfect pitch just like Kanye West now, and T-Pain, it’s an even playing field. I don’t have to have talent. I just need to have auto-tune and be allowed to have the hottest track in the game, and my swag.

[From Complex]

“I don’t have to have talent. I just need to have auto-tune…” that really says a lot. Interestingly, it sort of shows that Spencer is a little more aware of his limits than one would expect. He clearly is a huge fan of technology, what with this obsessive Twittering (he also mentions BBM-ing, which is texting with a Blackberry) and collection of tech-swag. He’s aware that really all he needs is technology to do the job for him. Auto-Tune, by the way, is a phase vocoder that corrects pitch in vocal performances.

Regardless of Auto-Tune, you still need to have some basic talent, and you need to work with talented people – and they have to want to work with you. I seriously doubt that rap and hip-hop’s most talented producers would touch Spencer Pratt. In fact anyone who ever wants to make a name for themselves would stay away from him. Look at all the crappy songs and music videos Heidi has put out. There’s no reason to believe Spencer’s music is going to be of a higher caliber.

And pissing off Jay-Z and Beyonce? He really thinks it’s a good idea to start a feud with two of the most powerful people in hip-hop? Glad Spencer thinks ringtones are the future. Because they are definitely his future.

Here are Heidi and Spencer eating lunch at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills on Monday. Sorry to the West Coast, you’re probably eating lunch right now. Or, you were. Images thanks to WENN.com .

I am constantly baffled as to why Heidi Montag keeps making music videos. Actually, to be fair, I am constantly baffled as to why she keeps making music. Or why she even exists. Really, everything from her wig to her implants baffles me. When I look at pictures of her, question marks pop into my eyes like in cartoons. It’s probably a dangerous condition. But, I put my life on the line for you, dear readers, and really for Heidi too. Because what would she be without our mockery? Just another overly-injected bleached slightly-animate mannequin running around Beverly Hills.

When Heidi and husband Spencer Pratt were in Cabo San Lucas for their honeymoon a few weeks ago, they did more than just don anti-swine flu masks on the beach. They also shot the video for Heidi’s latest single, “Blackout.” Sort of a working honeymoon, if you will. And considering the way Spencer likes to pimp out Heidi (Playboy, anyone?), “working honeymoon” is a very apt term.

Heidi Montag treats fans with a look at her cleavage as a music video for single “Black Out”, which features her dressing only in bikini, emerges. She is seen in the video moving provocatively while singing to the song and soaking up the sun on the beach.

“Black Out” is written by Cathy Dennis who has penned hit singles for Katy Perry and Britney Spears. It has been confirmed to be among the new materials in Heidi’s self-titled debut album “Heidi Montag” which may come out in either spring or summer.

[From Ace Showbiz]

I don’t know why Heidi insists on using such crappy filming techniques. It looks like it’s just Spencer following her around with a webcam. And considering he’s done some of her other videos, it’s not impossible. It’s all clearly so cheap. Not just in terms of tacky, but in the more traditional “I shot this video for under $200” sense. It’s grainy, poorly lit, and poorly shot. Heidi is clearly just improvising by doing half-assed stripper moves and rapidly swinging her head back and forth. Most of the time she looks like a dog shaking water off after a bath. I was watching closely to see if bits of her wig flew off from time to time.

The plot of the video, by the way? Heidi has a body. Let’s show it to you. She’s got some real creative brain power working for her.

Now I know to be seriously warned when Ryan Seacrest says, “I have something fresh for you.” This is both a threat and a promise. It’s nothing kind; despite the way Seacrest tries to hype it as something positive. “I have something fresh for you” – when coming from Ryan Seacrest – is akin to saying, “I’m going to make you want to reach into your ears, pull out your brain, and then lop your ears right off just for good measure to make sure you really, really cannot hear anymore.” But I could see how that’d be excessive, so naturally you’d just settle for “I have something fresh for you.”

And what is said freshness? Spencer Pratt’s new rap song (listen here), complete with epic lyrics like, “I’m in your iPhones taking over your Blackberries.” No you are not sir. Because 1) there are no Blackberries inside my iPhone and 2) I just buried my iPhone in three feet of concrete. I went mafia funeral on it.

Spencer Pratt is coming to a record store near you.

The Hills star released a new rap song, “I’m a Celebrity,” on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show this morning. His stage name is “The Great White.”

“First I took over TV, the tabloids and the internet — now I’m going after the airwaves,” Pratt tells Usmagazine.com. “Nothing can stop ‘The Great White.’”

Lyrics include: “Baby I get paid…I’ve been around the world, but I’m still not finished yet…first Tweet of the day, I put my swag on…I’m in the limelight and I love it like my wife.”

Last month, Heidi Montag Pratt said she wants her husband to sing and rap on her pop record.

“Spencer Pratt is amazing,” she said. “I’d love to get him on my album. He sings, he raps — he does everything.”

[From Us Weekly]

K-Fed is better. I’m dead serious. Remember “Popozao?” That sh*t was legendary, Grammy-winning quality compared to Pratt’s rap vomit. At least Seacrest doesn’t sound thrilled with the song once he’s playing/enduring it. He’s normally so far up Heidi and Spencer’s asses that he can tell us just how white “The Great White” really is. But even he can’t seem to handle something this offensive to the ear. And tries to shirk the blame by claiming he’s just “the conduit.” For shame Seacrest.

He did point out that Heidi and Spencer are dangerous to have in the jungle (on “I’m A Celebrity, Get me Out of Here) because they’ll kill. And while Seacrest is joking, he’s got a point. There is literally nothing – nothing – they won’t do for attention. They have hawked absolutely every product known to man, just to get something for free that they could easily afford. Remember them randomly romping around a mattress store, of all things? And Taco Bell? There is nothing too low for them. Of course they would kill. I would rather face a pack of ravenous boars in the jungle than face Spencer Pratt. Not just ‘cause he’ll kill. But he’ll probably rap while he does it, so I’d end up offing myself before he even got the chance.

Here are Heidi and Spencer yesterday. WENN says they were taking Spencer’s mom out for Mother’s Day, however I’m inclined to think they got the credit wrong and that’s his grandmother (not an insult, just saying). Images thanks to WENN.com .

Surprisingly, the Russians aren’t really enthused about Madonna coming to their country to perform a loud – and one could assume raunchy – concert. Madge is scheduled to perform in St. Petersburg in August – right in front of the Hermitage Museum. And the museum’s director is going all-out old school in his attacks, practically bitching about kids and sex and rock and roll in his hissy fit over Madonna’s concert.

MADONNA is planning a concert in the main square of St. Petersburg, Russia, home of the Hermitage Museum, in August. Local authorities — the ones who haven’t yet been bribed — are up in arms, branding the event a “natural disaster,” and the museum’s director Dr. Mikhail Piotrovski said, “We want guarantees that there will be no blasphemy.” Maybe Madge should think twice about wearing those ugly horns she sported Monday night at the Met. Piotrosvki will also demand Madonna sign an agreement limiting volume levels.

[From Page Six]

I’m thinking there might have been a little translation issue with the whole “natural disaster” comment. Though the NY Post seems to be having a good time poking fun at it. Perhaps Piotrovski meant “national” disaster? Or was simply trying to convey that – to him – this is a huge, huge debacle in the making.

I’m wondering what kind of guarantees he wants about the blasphemy. Blasphemy is one of those terms that I wouldn’t trust to Madonna’s definition. He might want to get that n writing. And really… what right does a museum director have to tell Madonna what to do? It’s in front of his museum, not inside it. I’m sure the Russian government will be all over her with rules, but why does this guy think he gets to dictate her show?

Regardless, I wouldn’t really trust Madonna to stick to the rules. Even at half a century old, she’s still a rebellious teenager. You tell her not to do something… she’s going to do it, and twice as big as she would have otherwise.

Madonna is shown performing in Vancouver, Canada on 10/31/08. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.

The singer/songwriter formerly known as Cat Stevens is jumping on the “Coldplay ripped me off” bandwagon. Now known as Yusef Islam, he and his son believe that Coldplay’s hit song “Viva La Vida” sounds an awful lot like his 1973 song, “Foreigner Suite.” Islam has yet to decide if he will take legal action against Coldplay.

Another artist claims Coldplay borrowed unattributed material for one of its hit songs. Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) says that the band’s “Viva La Vida” is suspiciously similar to his 1973 song “Foreigner Suite.” “My son brought it to my attention and said: ‘Doesn’t that sound like ‘Foreigner Suite?’” the singer-songwriter told Reuters by phone from his home in London. “The song definitely sounds like it.…It has such logical chords and the melody has to be what it is.” Islam is not alone in claiming credit for a Coldplay tune. The Brooklyn-based band Creaky Boards said last year that “Vida” sounded like their “The Songs I Didn’t Write,” while guitarist Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay, claiming that “Vida” lifts portions of his song, “If I Could Fly.” Asked if he, too, would take legal action against the British band, Islam replied, “It depends on how well Satriani does.”

[From Entertainment Weekly]

I am beginning to think that “Viva La Vida” is one of those songs that sounds like a bunch of other songs. I listened to both “Foreigner Suite” and the Coldplay single, but I don’t see all that much resemblance- not like the resemblance to Satriani’s song. So, if Satriani wins this case against Coldplay, does that mean that Islam/Stevens will turn around and sue Satriani?

Cat Stevens is shown on 11/30/07.

He looks like a happy-go-lucky, upbeat kind of guy. But singer Jason Mraz says he has gone through dark times, including struggles with drugs. Now, though, he is all about organic food and pure living- but he says there may be a time in the future when his dark side will come out again.

US singer JASON MRAZ admits he’ll always be vulnerable to the lure of drugs – despite promoting the benefits of a pure lifestyle.

The organic food-munching I’m Yours troubadour has had dalliances with debauchery in the past, and he refuses to rule out a return to the dark side.

Tragic actor RIVER PHOENIX shocked Hollywood with his sudden overdose death in 1993 – having spent much of his brief lifetime campaigning against drugs – but Mraz insists he won’t make the same mistake of pretending to be someone he’s not.

He told The Sun: “I’m only human, you know. I’ve certainly had dark periods in my life, and I could probably again.

“But, at the moment, I really get off on the purity thing.”

Mraz’s popularity in the US has grown steadily over the course of three albums, but the success of love-it-or-hate-it hit I’m Yours has sent sales of his latest LP We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things soaring across the world.

With increasing fame comes a greater impetus on touring – something that the San Diego-based homebody hardly cherishes.

“I would be very happy to stay in one place, but I’ve learned how to tour and I’m ok with it,” he said.

“There are little things you see out the corner of your eye or out the van window that you appreciate. Life becomes cinematic.

“But, believe me, life is just as cinematic sitting on my back deck and never leaving home.”

Mraz, 31, hasn’t even got the distraction of controversial rock ‘n’ roll antics to keep him entertained on the road.

He said: “Sometimes it’s a little too hassle-free, a little too smooth.

“We need someone to date a model and then beat her up.”

Storyteller

Aside from the upheaval of travelling from one place to the next, Mraz also admits he doesn’t get the same thrill out of performing to an arena crowd of 5,000 as he does to singing down the local café.

“I like the arenas cause I can bring the full band – we can make a big stink in there,” he said.

“But I also like being a storyteller, sitting in a small café with no set list, just talking with the audience.

“That to me has always been the most rewarding way to perform.”

Mraz avoids celeb parties at all costs – unless he has no choice but to attend - adding to his growing reputation as Mr Anti-Showbiz.

The singer can’t stand the way musicians are treated like royalty, and he is determined to stay grounded amidst all the absurdity.

“Fame has certainly got its perks but sometimes the way you’re treated is a bit over the top,” he said.

“People don’t treat you like a peer – they put you in a different place. I think that’s kinda weird.

“But I’m doing my best to stay grounded and high-five people and just be myself through this whole process.

“It’s not gonna last forever, so I’m certainly not gonna act like a big shot and then five years later have to come down off my horse and apologise to a million people.”

[From The Sun]

You would never know from his sunny, island-inspired music that Mraz has demons, but I suppose he’s no different than anyone else in that regard. His music is kinda catchy, and I like his point of view. He’s kind of the anti-John Mayer, if you think about it. When was the last time you saw Mraz in a tabloid or dating some celebutante, or Twittering his every move? He’s all about the music, and not the fame. You don’t see that too much anymore.

Here’s Jason Mraz performing live at Campo Pequeno in Lisbon on March 19th. Images thanks to WENN.com .