Bloc Party End Hiatus And Announce US Dates

Bloc Party are currently in the studio working on their first new album in four years. more on this story

Mel Gibson Denies John Lennon Bashing

(TMZ) Mel Gibson is telling friends ... he NEVER said John Lennon deserved to die -- in fact, he's a huge Beatles fan and he plays their music all the time.

Sources tell TMZ, screenwriter Joe Eszterhas' allegations the actor celebrated John Lennon's death are just false. As one source put it, "It's not uncommon to hear The Beatles at Gibson's house."

The source adds, Gibson was even playing "Imagine" at a recent function -- the same song Eszterhas says Mel bashed recently, claiming, "Imagine. I hate that f**king song. I'm glad [Lennon's] dead."

Mel is claiming ... he isn't surprised by Eszterhas' false claims in his 9-page diatribe -- because the entire letter reads like a "bad script."

We're told Mel is also convinced ... another major rift between him and Eszterhas had nothing to do with him -- or "The Maccabees" -- it had to do with Mel's other Viking-themed film project, which Mel's been developing for years.

We're told Eszterhas was frustrated with Mel ... because Mel had been putting more time into the Viking movie than he did into "Maccabees." more on this story

Lionel Richie Owes Over A Million in Unpaid Taxes

(TMZ) For most people ... a $1.1 million debt to the IRS is a REALLY BIG DEAL ... but when you're Lionel Richie and worth an estimated $200 mil ... it's probably just a nuisance.

According to documents obtained by TMZ ... Richie owes the federal government $1,130,609.11 in unpaid income tax for 2010.

The singer has been slapped with a lien ... which means Uncle Sam can start going after his stuff if he doesn't fork over the dough ASAP. more on this story

Sigur Ros Playing First American Shows Since 2008

(PH) Sigur Ros will return to North America this summer to play their first live shows on the continent since 2008.

The trek, which will see the band playing major summer festivals in addition to their own headlining shows, will be in support of their forthcoming sixth studio album, Valtari, released on May 29th, 2012 on XL Recordings.

The first track from Valtari, entitled "Ekki múkk," is now streaming on the band's website – www.sigurros.com. more on this story

One Direction Map Out 2013 Tour

(popmusiclife) One Direction recently sold out their 2012 tour, so they've gone ahead and announced one for the summer of 2013. Yes, that's more than a year away….but tickets go on sale April 21.

One Direction performed on Saturday Night Live last weekend. While plugging the new series of concert dates on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, the band's Liam Payne also commented on the SNL experience.

"Yeah, it was a really good show," said Liam. "It's a massive honor to do something like 'SNL.' We're so happy that they let us get involved in doing a little skit, which was a lot of fun!" more on this story

Morgan Freeman Denies Report He's Marrying His Step-Granddaughter

(TMZ) Morgan Freeman is adamant ... he has NEVER had a romantic relationship with his 27-year-old step-granddaughter E'Dena Hines ... claiming all of the reports to the contrary are "defamatory fabrications."

Morgan just released a statement responding to recent reports that he and Hines have been dating for roughly 10 years and were planning to get married in the very near future.

Freeman's rep tells us the actor didn't want to "dignify these stories by commenting" ... but felt compelled to speak out after the reports were picked up by various "mainstream media" outlets.

In his statement, Freeman says, "The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers. What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well."

E'Dena has also issued a statement ... saying, "These stories about me and my grandfather are not only untrue, they are also hurtful to me and my family."

For the record, E'Dena is the granddaughter of Morgan's first wife, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw. She and Morgan are not related by blood. more on this story

Will.i.am Vs I.Am.Clothing

(TMZ) Will.i.am is being sued by a company claiming he has bailed on a deal he made to hock a clothing line.

I.Am.Clothing (that's the company) claims will.i.am inked a deal in 2010, for the Black Eyed Peas' name to be used for marketing the threads. The singer also agreed to help design and market the schmatas.

The company believes will.i.am was obligated to lend his name to the line through 2016, but the singer's position is that the deal is already over and out.

So the company wants more than $2 mil from will. Hey, shirt happens. more on this story

Josh Turner To Deliver His Punching Bag in June

Josh Turner has set a June 12 release date for his fifth studio album, Punching Bag.

The first single from the new album, "Time Is Love," is in the Top 20 on the Country Billboard chart.

Josh co-wrote eight of the 11 tracks on Punching Bag, many penned within the four walls of his newly built cabin located on his property behind his home to serve as a 'songwriter's den' and personal getaway. The cabin is inspired by his home state of South Carolina and, Josh admits, contains some of his most prized possessions. more on this story

Kate Major Calls Police on Michael Lohan

(TMZ) Kate Major called the cops on Michael Lohan (again) -- claiming he violated his restraining order (again) -- but Michael insists it's all BS (again).

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Michael's on-again-off-again-on-again GF called the Delray Beach Police Dept. in Florida today, claiming Lohan had shown up to a salon she was at (a violation of the current protective order against him) and started furiously banging on the glass windows.

We're told cops showed up -- but by the time they arrived, Michael had already split.

But Lohan tells us, he didn't violate the court order because Kate INVITED him to the salon in the first place ... to borrow money from him.

Michael says Kate has been seriously involved with him recently and -- shocker -- the two have been secretly living together for awhile.

Law enforcement sources tell us, police took Kate's report when they showed up to the salon -- and have also spoken with Michael about his side of the story.

We're told the case will be referred to the Florida State Attorney's Office -- to decide if charges will be filed. more on this story

Bruce Jenner Not Thrilled With Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Romance

(TMZ) Kanye West has his work cut out for him ... 'cause Kim Kardashian's step-father Bruce Jenner has made it clear ... he's "not that excited" about Kim's new relationship.

Bruce made his feelings known during a speaking engagement at Northeastern University in Boston Wednesday night ... when someone in the crowd asked for his opinion on the new K+K hookup.

Jenner told the audience ... "I'm not that excited, but we'll see. Kimberly and I have had a conversation about them and their potential relationship."

Sources close to the family tell us ... Bruce has expressed concern that she might be rushing into things and wants her to be "careful" ... considering she just came out of a pretty serious relationship.

We're told Bruce's feelings aren't personal against Kanye ... in fact, we're told he likes the rapper ... Bruce just wants Kim to proceed with caution when diving into ANY relationship. more on this story

Blair Witch Project Producer is Broke

(TMZ) The executive producer of "The Blair Witch Project" has filed for bankruptcy -- claiming he has a mere $900 to his name ... and he's drowning in $132,000 of debt.

Kevin P. Foxe filed the Chapter 7 papers this month in bankruptcy court in California -- claiming he owes a laundry list of creditors a grand total of $132,724 ... the largest chunk of which is in unpaid taxes due to the IRS ($60,214)

As for his assets -- Kevin says he has $100 in cash on hand, $500 worth of household furnishings, $100 worth of personal clothing, and $200 in sporting equipment (bicycles, soccer balls, etc.) ... $900 total.

It's pretty shocking -- considering "Blair Witch" is one of the most profitable movies EVER based on return on investment. The movie's principal photography cost a mere $25,000 ... and it went on to make $248 MILLION worldwide.

Foxe has produced over ten projects since the 1999 hit. It's unclear what went wrong. more on this story

Ryan O'Neal Slams Oprah

(TMZ) Nobody watched Ryan O'Neal's reality show on the OWN network ... NOBODY ... not even Oprah Winfrey ... this according to Ryan O'Neal.

The 70-year-old Hollywood star -- who starred with his famous daughter on "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals" -- was out in L.A. this week when we asked how he felt about O's admission that she wasn't ready to launch her network. O'Neal replied, "I wish we would had known that ... she should have told us."

When we asked if he was worried that the extremely low-rated reality show would tarnish his reputation .... he simply shot back, "No because nobody saw it ... I don't know if Oprah saw it." more on this story

Billy Joe Shaver To Release His First Album in Five Year in July

(conqueroo) Billy Joe Shaver has set a July 17th release date for his first album in five years, Live at Billy Bob's Texas.

For the album Billy Joe Shaver and his Heart of Texas Band offer the best from his catalog of songs in concert from the stage of the world's largest honky tonk.

The fully loaded special package includes 20 live renditions of some of his most notable compositions on an audio CD and DVD as well as two bonus tracks, and is the first set of new concert recordings since 1995 to be issued to the public. Included among Shaver classics and favorites are two new songs: "Wacko From Waco" (co-written with his longtime friend Willie Nelson) and "The Git Go," proving that his muse remains as fertile as ever. more on this story

Teller of Penn & Teller Vs YouTube Magician

(TMZ) It's the greatest crime in the magic community -- revealing the secret behind another magician's illusion -- and now, Teller (from Penn & Teller) is suing ... claiming he's a victim of the malfeasance.

Teller -- who legally changed his name to just "Teller" -- filed the lawsuit in Nevada federal court, claiming a foreign magician by the name of Gerard Bakardy posted a YouTube video, in which he performs a trick called "The Rose & Her Shadow."

In the trick, Bakardy uses a spotlight to cast a shadow of a rose onto a screen -- and then proceeds to "cut" the shadow's petals ... causing the real flower's petals to fall to the ground. Ta-da!

But Teller insists -- "The Rose & Her Shadow" is a blatant rip-off of his most famous illusion called "Shadows" ... which he copyrighted all the way back in 1983. Teller says he's been performing the trick with his partner Penn Jillette since 1976. more on this story

Hunger Games Star Upset About Drinking Age Limit

(TMZ) If 18-year-olds can fire a shot in war ... they should be able to take a shot in a bar ... so says "Hunger Games" star Josh Hutcherson.

Hutcherson was leaving STK last night when we asked a question inspired by his 19-year-old co-star Alexander Ludwig ... who triggered an investigation when he left a 21+ bar in Hollywood this week.

Hutcherson tells us the drinking age in America simply doesn't make sense -- saying, "I think the age to go to war is 18 ... so I think the drinking age should be 18 as well." more on this story

Mel Gibson's Hateful Rants Recorded?

(TMZ) Joe Eszterhas tells TMZ ... he has hard proof that he witnessed the hate-filled rants he -- or someone -- just disclosed to the world, because his teenage son secretly recorded much of it.

Joe tells us, "A lot of the stuff is on tape." He says the recordings were made in Costa Rica -- by his son Nick.

In his letter to Mel, Joe wrote that his son recorded some of Mel's outbursts on his iPhone, but the letter did not disclose how much -- now Joe says, "a lot."

Joe also says people who allegedly witnessed Mel's rants are willing to come forward. Joe said, "He needs help. Badly." more on this story

Jenny McCarthy Spotted With Chicago Bears Player

(TMZ) Another "maybe couple" alert -- this time it's former Playboy Playmate of the Year Jenny McCarthy ... and Chicago Bears superstar linebacker Brian Urlacher.

TMZ shot footage of the two leaving Mastro's in Beverly Hills together last night ... following a romantic dinner at one of the most expensive steak joints in town.

The two tried to sneak out the back door of the restaurant ... where an SUV was waiting -- but when you're as big as Urlacher ... it's hard to go unnoticed.

Seems Urlacher has a thing for famous blondes ... he BRIEFLY kinda/sorta dated Paris Hilton a few years ago. more on this story