To End the Year we are looking back at some of the top stories of 2008. Today we look at the biggest stories from January and February

. 2008 News Rewind: January

Coldplay Assault - 08 Rewind

Contact Music reports: A savage new video featuring footage of COLDPLAY star CHRIS MARTIN attacking a paparazzo has hit the Internet. The mild-mannered singer is seen chasing down a photographer trying to get shots of his wife Gwyneth Paltrow as she left a New York hospital earlier this week (beg14Jan08).

With an anorak hood covering his face, angry Martin repeats, "Have some respect," as he wrestles the photographer to the ground and snatches his camera. But the snapper's pal retaliates as Martin climbs into the back of an awaiting silver sports utility vehicle, and hisses, "You give it (camera) back to him or this door's getting broken."

The British rock star sees sense and hands the camera back, calmly stating, "You've gotta have some respect." The footage has been posted on various U.S. news websites. - more on this story

Motley Beating - 08 Rewind

Sleazeroxx reports: Motley Crue's concert promoters have been hit with a lawsuit by a fan who claims he was assaulted while attending the band's 2006 gig in Illinois. Gerald Schneeman is suing promoter Live Nation for damages after he was allegedly beaten up by an unidentified member of Motley Crue during the rockers' concert at the Ford Amphitheater on November 22.

The legal papers, which were filed in a U.S. court on Monday, state Schneeman was standing directly in front of the stage when he was allegedly struck in the head with a guitar by the Motley Crue member - who was not named in the suit. The musician is then said to have jumped down from the stage and knocked Schneeman to the ground, at which point security intervened and began assaulting the fan, before dragging him out of the venue.

Schneeman claims he suffered bodily injuries, scarring and disfigurement, although full details of his injuries have not been released, reports website TBO.com. - more on this story

Cops Take Britney to Mental Hospital - 08 Rewind

TMZ reports: Sources tell TMZ Britney's psychiatrist visited her tonight -- as we first reported, she is under the daily care of a shrink who is giving her medicine for a bipolar disorder. The shrink was alarmed at her reckless driving and her conduct and has decided Brit needs to be hospitalized on another 5150 hold, meaning she is a danger to herself and others.

TMZ has learned the plan to get Britney into UCLA Medical Center had been hatched for days -- it was aborted last night, but executed just minutes ago. And we're told the plan was so intricate the FAA had cleared airspace in route to the hospital.

Back at her house, Britney's psychiatrist told her she was going to the hospital. Her response was, "Is something wrong?" She was not resistant. She made hot chocolate and waited before paramedics arrived and placed her on a gurney. - more on this story

Rocker Injured in Bizarre Pillow Accident - 08 Rewind

Gigwise reports: Liars frontman Angus Andrew has suffered a bizarre back injury which has thrown their US tour into doubt.

The injury wasn't from a heavy lifting job, instead Andrew bent down to retrieve a pillow from his couch which his back seized up and he fell in pain.

His other band members Aaron Hemphill and Julian Gross are now flapping around Angus trying to get him prepared for the American jaunt which kick-starts in San Francisco on Thursday (January 25). - more on this story

Miley Cyrus Admits Fake Hannah Montana - 08 Rewind

Contact Music reports: Teenage singer/actress Miley Cyrus has confessed to using a body double during concert performances so she has time to make costume changes. The star was caught out by eagle-eyed fans who spotted a lookalike onstage during a recent show on the sold-out Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana Best Of Both Worlds tour.

But the 15-year-old's representative insists a double is a necessity of the performance, telling OK! magazine, "To help speed the transition from Hannah to Miley, there is a production element during the performance of We Got The Party incorporating a body double for Miley.

"After Hannah has completed the featured verse on the duet with the Jonas Brothers, a body double appears approximately one to two minutes prior to the end of the song in order to allow Miley to remove the Hannah wig and costume and transform into Miley for her solo set. - more on this story

. 2008 News Rewind: February

Gene Simmons Blackmailed Over Sex Tape? - 08 Rewind

Gigwise reports: Kiss legend Gene Simmons has spoken out about the sex tape that was leaked last week.

The rocker claims that he has been aware of the "decades" old footage for quite a while and said that the people behind it have even tried to blackmail him in the past. He is currently taking legal action.

"The entity behind the garbage has repeatedly tried to make money off of this and we have always refused. This is not the first time the entity has tried to blackmail and extort us. We have always refused and we will continue to refuse." - more on this story

Weiland In Rehab - 08 Rewind

Blabbermouth reports: Official statement from VELVET REVOLVER: "Following VELVET REVOLVER's performance last night [Wednesday, February 6] in Los Angeles, lead singer Scott Weiland voluntarily entered a rehab facility.

"Tonight's San Diego show at the House of Blues has been postponed; the rescheduled date for San Diego is [to be announced]. VELVET REVOLVER deeply apologize to their fans and thank them for sticking by the group."

Weiland was arrested on November 21, 2007 when he crashed his car while driving on an L.A. highway. He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a prior conviction, and with an allegation that he refused a chemical test as required by law. - more on this story

Sh*t Literally Hit Fan, Sparking Brawl - 08 Rewind

Wenn reports: A PILLS FROM AMERICA concert ended in a mass brawl on Saturday (09Feb08), when frontman MARK WARDLAW smeared his excrement on a fan's face.

The British punk band was performing at the Cumberland Arms pub in Newcastle, England when Wardlaw placed a hand in his underwear and scooped out a handful of faeces.

The fan's response was to punch Wardlaw in the face, leading to a fight involving large numbers of people. When police arrived to break up the brawl, they arrested another band member, Mark Pennington, for disorderly conduct. - more on this story

Gang Brutally Attack Band - 08 Rewind

Metal Underground reports: On Saturday night, February 16th, BURY YOUR DEAD guitarist Eric Ellis was a victim of a random attack by six individuals following the band's set at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eric was held at gunpoint while the men hit him multiple times with a baseball bat and hammer.

Previous reports of a robbery are false, as the Milwaukee police department has classified it as a 'gang initiation.'

Despite suffering what others would consider serious injuries, Eric and the rest of BURY YOUR DEAD will move forward and continue with their tour alongside HELLYEAH and take that into their headlining run with EMMURE, THE WARRIORS, and WITH BLOOD COMES CLEANSING.
- more on this story

Jay-Z Sued for Slavery - 08 Rewind

antiMusic reports: In today's edition of frivolous lawsuits exposed we see Jay-Z tied up in litigation claiming he somehow profited from slavery. Can we hear a chorus cry of "tort reform now!"? Our good friends at Hecklerspray have more info on this: Think you know Jay-Z? Well, you don't, so think again. Unless you already think that he is partially to blame for the enslavement of thousands of Africans in pre-1807 Britain, in which case you don't need to think again, because you're absolutely right, according to Brooklyn Activist Clive Campbell and Da Black Defense League.
They have filed a $5 billion dollar lawsuit against Jay-Z, along with Barclay's Bank and Forest City Ratner, a real estate developer, because they have: "…profited from the African Slave Trade and continue to profit from these gains, through a conspiracy dating back hundreds of years and continue to date to oppress Black people, enslave them, unlawfully deport them to all corners of the Earth."

You see, according to recent findings from studies released on the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade by The Restitution Study Group, Barclay's Bank (then Heywood's Bank) was involved in over 120 slave trading missions and allegedly enslaved more than 38,000 Africans, with Jay-Z and Ratner apparently connected through their ties with Barclay's Bank in a $4 billion Atlantic Yards project taking place in Brooklyn, which plans to build a basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets (partially owned by Jay-Z), over 6,000 new apartments, offices and a hotel. - more on this story

Rihanna Car Crash - 08 Rewind

Contact Music reports: Rihanna was involved in a car crash hours after claiming gold at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (10Feb08).

The sexy star, who claimed a gong for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, was driving away from a Def Jam after-show party when her vehicle was hit by another car.

According to the Umbrella singer's aides, Rihanna and her driver were not injured in the minor collision. - more on this story

Beatles Guru Dies - 08 Rewind

Gigwise reports: The Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who is credited with setting the Beatles and other stars on the path to spiritual enlightenment, has died.

The Maharishi, thought to have been 91 years old, died in his sleep on Tuesday evening at his home in the Netherlands.

He introduced the Transcendental Meditation movement to the West in 1959, with the intention of creating individual peace and enlightenment. By the time of his death, it had grown into a multi-million dollar empire. - more on this story

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