Pakelika From Kottonmouth Kings Dies

Patrick "Pakelika" Cochrun was a very unique and special person. He is a man that had convictions and honor. We had traveled the world together and played hundreds of shows together. The memories and experiences we had together will live forever in our hearts and souls. We want to thank the underground for the tremendous outpouring of grief and support.Take care of yourselves and spread love and positive vibrations..Rest in peace Big Pak you will be missed! The band has a place where fans can post about Patrick here.

Alanis Morissette American Idol Judge?

(popmusiclife) Rumors continue to swirl about possible candidates for the open judging slot on American Idol now that Mariah Carey's role has been confirmed.

Or is that open slots? There's still no official word on the status of resident judge Randy Jackson for the upcoming season.

Either way, Alanis Morissette is hinting that she may be on the list for consideration. When asked specifically about Idol by MIX 94.1 Las Vegas, Alanis said "I'm in talks with somebody right now. I can't name any names, but I'm pretty excited at the thought of doing it more formally. Yep....I still have to investigate further, that's all I can say." more on this story

Evelyn Lozada Hospitalized After Alleged Ochocinco Assault

(TMZ) "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada has been discharged from the hospital, TMZ has learned.

As TMZ previously reported, Evelyn was admitted to the ER at West Side Regional Hospital Saturday night in FL after her new husband, NFL star Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, allegedly head-butted her during a heated argument.

Sources tell TMZ ... Evelyn was treated for injuries stemming from the incident and remained at the hospital for several hours. She was released early Sunday AM.

We're told Evelyn is currently staying with close friends.

Johnson [was taken to] the Broward County Jail on one charge of domestic violence. more on this story

The Spice Girls Reunite For Olympics

(popmusiclife) The Spice Girls reunited in London on Sunday as part of the Olympics closing ceremony.

Each of the Girls arrived at center stage in their own taxi, before hopping out to begin their two-song performance.

The group sang portions of "Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life" as they toured around Olympic Stadium atop the cars. Watch video here.

Mariah Carey's New Album Not Coming Soon

(popmusiclife) Mariah Carey recently released her new single, "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" ft. Rick Ross and Meek Mill.

But fans looking for a full new album from the pop superstar will have to wait until next spring. Billboard reports a new Mariah record is "tentatively due in March 2013."

As for the new single, Carey's manager Randy Jackson tells the music industry magazine that "her idea with all her music is to get it out to her fans, and hopefully lift everyone's spirits a little bit." more on this story

Carly Rae Jepsen Lines Up TV Appearances Ahead of Album Release

Carly Rae Jepsen will be making a number of TV appearances this month ahead of the September 18th release of her debut album, Kiss.

She will perform "Call Me Maybe" and "Good Time" with Owl City on The Today Show on August 23rd, and at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open on CBS on August 26th.

She will also perform "Good Time" with Owl City on America's Got Talent on August 22nd, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 28th, and on Conan on August 29th. more on this story

Elton John Calls Lyrics Theft Claim Baseless And Absurd

(TMZ) Elton John insists ... he did NOT steal the lyrics to his song "Nikita" -- especially not from some NO-NAME songwriter -- despite a recent lawsuit that says otherwise ... and now, Elton's asking for the suit to be thrown out of court.

TMZ broke the story ... a songwriter named Guy Hobbs sued Sir Elton back in April, claiming Elton jacked his song lyrics ... then used them to pen the chart-topping 1985 hit "Nikita" ... without Hobbs' knowledge or consent.

But Elton is firing back -- filing his own legal docs in response, claiming, "The suggestion that the Grammy-Award winning composer/lyricist team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin ... would need to copy these commonplace elements from [Hobbs'] lyrics is not only baseless and absurd, but it also misses the essential legal point."

Which is ... Hobbs can't legally copyright an idea -- especially not something as broad as a theme involving a Western man falling for a Russian woman.

According to the docs, Hobbs believes Elton also copied his use of the EXTREMELY commonplace phrase "I need you" in the chorus ... as well as the words "just" and "never."

Bottom line -- Elton claims Hobbs' complaint is so vague ... the guy has no right to sue for copyright infringement, period.

Elton wants Hobbs' lawsuit dismissed stat. A judge has yet to rule. more on this story

Michael Jackson's Kids' Mother Imposter Visits Dr. Conrad Murray In Jail

(TMZ) Dr. Conrad Murray no longer feels safe behind bars, TMZ has learned -- after jailers mistakenly allowed a complete stranger to visit him in the clink ... a woman posing as the mother of Michael Jackson's children ... and now, Murray's afraid of another security breach.

Murray's lawyers tell TMZ, the woman -- who appeared to be in her 40s and of Eastern European descent -- visited Murray in jail Thursday, saying she flew in from Nevada just to see him.

Murray didn't recognize her and insisted there must be some mistake -- but she replied, "I've seen you before and you've probably seen me before. I'm the mother of Michael Jackson's kids."

FYI -- Debbie Rowe is the biological mother of MJ's two older children. The mother of the youngest child (Blanket) is reportedly a Hispanic woman in San Diego.

So needless to say, we're told Murray called the visitor an "impostor" ... then told her to scram, which she did.

Now, Murray's upset ... because a recent change in the L.A. County jail's visitor policy -- which lets visitors sign up online without verifying their identity -- has left him exposed to crazies from the outside world.

Under the new policy, prisoners don't even get notified of their visitor until they're sitting face-to-face with them in a tiny cell -- separated only by glass -- which is what happened to Murray.

Murray's attorney Valerie Wass tells TMZ, "I have serious concerns about the security. My client was horror-stricken by the fact that complete stranger could get in to see him."

Wass tells us they're currently exploring their options to keep Murray safe. Calls to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department were not returned. more on this story

Rare Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb Show Coming To CD and DVD

In Session, a previously unreleased CD/DVD package featuring Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb teaming up live onstage, is set to be released on September 25th by Fantasy Records.

Conqueroo sent over these details: In Session was taped in 1983 in the Hamilton, Ontario studios of CHCH-TV. The syndicated Canadian concert TV series was conceived and produced by Ian Milne Anderson as a way of pairing artists with deep mutual admiration, such as Campbell and Webb, B.B. King and Larry Carlton, Dr. John and Johnny Winter, and Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. (The King-Vaughan appearance is available on a Stax Records CD/DVD set also titled In Session.)

With Webb at the piano, the show featured Campbell on guitar, singing and playing the hits "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston," and "Where's the Playground Susie" along with less prominent Webb tunes including Campbell's only known recording of "Sunshower," initially written and produced for soul singer Thelma Houston. more on this story

Rihanna's Former Accountants Claim She's The Blame For Loss Of Millions

(TMZ) Rihanna's ex-accountants just fired back at the R&B singer's lawsuit against them, claiming the MILLIONS RiRi says she lost was her own fault and they had SQUAT to do with it.

If you recall ... RiRi sued her former accounting firm -- Berdon LLP -- claiming they mismanaged her dough and failed to inform her that her 2009 "Last Girl on Earth" tour was losing cash.

The singer also alleged, the accounting firm took an above standard commission from her ... at a whopping 22%.

In legal docs ... Berdon strikes back, claiming any accusations of shoddy accounting and money mismanagement are BS ... they add that the commission they took was signed off on by RiRi in an engagement letter that gave them permission to do so.

The accountants are adamant ... it was RiRi's "own financial action or inaction" or the actions of others working for her that caused her to lose MILLIONS ... not them.

Berdon LLP is asking that RiRi be awarded ZILCH from the suit. A judge has yet to rule. more on this story

R. Kelly Pulls Out Of Love Letter Cruise

(TMZ) R. Kelly just pulled out of his act aboard a cruise ship ... telling TMZ it's all because the company couldn't cough up the cash they originally promised.

If you didn't know already ... a company called Concerts Cruise LLC hired the singer to headline their "Love Letter" cruise ... where he agreed to play two shows during a five-day trip in October, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean.

But now RK is singing a different tune ... he just axed his involvement with the shindig claiming the promoter (Concerts Cruise LLC) never actually paid him.

A rep for the singer tells TMZ, "R. Kelly had been looking forward to the cruise and was ready, willing and able to perform for fans. He is sorry for any disappointment but plans to see his fans very soon on a U.S. tour."

Concerts Cruise sent an email to customers informing them of the cancellation and saying they will "handle all applicable refunds at point of purchase." more on this story

Behind The Scenes With Lady Gaga and Vogue

(popmusiclife) Lady Gaga is featured on the cover of the September issue of Vogue. This week, the pop superstar shared the cover online, giving fans their first look at the singer dressed in a gown by Marc Jacobs.

The cover was shot by fashion photographers Mert & Marcus, with styling by Grace Coddington.

Now, Vogue is sharing a behind the scenes look at the photo shoot for the cover and inside story images, which features Gaga in a variety of outfits. Watch it here.

Britney Spears Teases Fantasy Twist

(popmusiclife) Britney Spears has released some images from a photo shoot to launch her new perfume, Fantasy Twist, next month.

Fantasy Twist is a fragrance created by Elizabeth Arden and endorsed by Spears. The perfume Fantasy Twist is a combination of some of Britney's most popular fragrances Fantasy and Midnight Fantasy. It is a sphere shaped bottle that breaks in half leaving one side a pink bottle which is Fantasy, and one side a dark blue bottle that is Midnight Fantasy; pink and blue are reportedly the singer's favorite colors.

The pop superstar offered up a couple of photos on Facebook to give fans a preview. "Channeling my inner Cleopatra today @ Elizabeth Arden Fantasy Twist shoot. Fragrance is out in Sept. 1st." Read more and see the photos here.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Remembers Marvin Hamlisch

Andrew Lloyd Webber has issued a statement about the death of to composer Marvin Hamlisch, who died last week at the age of 68:

"I saw him but six months ago. Although I knew Marvin before, I became a friend through a USA TV chat show when he was at the height of his Chorus Line, witty performing fame. No one knew who I was. Marvin went to the piano, played some of my melodies and said to the studio audience, 'This is who Andrew is.'

"No one other than a brilliant talent and a supremely generous composer and performer would have done that. We became firm friends ever since. Farewell Singular Sensation."

Andrew Lloyd Webber Remembers Marvin Hamlisch

(popmusiclife) Andrew Lloyd Webber has issued a statement about the death of to composer Marvin Hamlisch, who died last week at the age of 68:

"I saw him but six months ago. Although I knew Marvin before, I became a friend through a USA TV chat show when he was at the height of his Chorus Line, witty performing fame. No one knew who I was. Marvin went to the piano, played some of my melodies and said to the studio audience, 'This is who Andrew is.'

"No one other than a brilliant talent and a supremely generous composer and performer would have done that. We became firm friends ever since. Farewell Singular Sensation."

Gwen Stefani Harper's Bazaar Cover Girl

(popmusiclife) No Doubt's return next month with "Push And Shove," their first album in 11 years is making headlines for the band, including some in the fashion world.

Singer Gwen Stefani is featured on the cover of the September fall fashion issue of Harper's Bazaar.

Last month she joined photographer Terry Richardson at Milk Studios in Los Angeles for the feature and sat down with fashion writer, editor and New York Times best-selling author Derek Blasberg for the interview. watch it here.

Evander Holyfield Finalizes Divorce

(TMZ) Evander Holyfield is ready to get back in the ring ... the singles ring ... because the boxing champ just finalized his divorce -- TWO YEARS after it was originally filed.

If you recall ... Candi Holyfield pulled the plug on the marriage back in June 2010. That same year, she attempted to obtain a protective order against the boxer, claiming he hit her in the head, face and back ... an attempt she later dropped.

All that's behind them now... the divorce was finalized in Georgia Superior Court last month. Evander and Candi were able to come to a settlement agreement on issues of child support, custody, alimony and property division.

It's unclear who got what, but there's definitely a lot less to divvy up ... Evander's $14 million GA mansion was just foreclosed on earlier this year and Candi filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy back in May. more on this story

Dwight Howard Excited About Lakers Deal

(TMZ) No one is more excited about the blockbuster Lakers deal than Dwight Howard -- who was sporting a megawatt smile on his way out of a Beverly Hills hotel on Friday ... telling TMZ, "I'm just happy."

Howard pulled out of the fancy L'Ermitage hotel in a gleaming white Bentley, and it was obvious the big man is pumped to play for the Lake Show.

We asked Howard why he finally decided on L.A. -- and he responded by saying it wasn't entirely his decision ... claiming, "It wasn't on me." Check out video here.

DJ Khaled Facing Eviction

(TMZ) DJ Khaled can spin it anyway he wants ... but his landlord has sued to have him evicted, claiming the famous deejay failed to pay $55,000 in back rent.

According to court docs filed in Miami, Khaled rented an apartment last September from Misci LLC and agreed to make two bulk payments of $66,000 for rent. Khaled made the first payment, but according to the landlord's lawsuit ... he failed to make the second one after re-working the deal to pay $11,000 upfront and the remaining $55,000 a month later.

Two weeks later, Misci says they gave Khaled three days notice to vacate the property, but he refused. Misci then filed a lawsuit to get their money back (plus attorneys' fees) and have Khaled removed from the apartment. more on this story