News: Beatles, MRSA, Vanessa Williams, Jamaica, Maria Shriver

Mob of 20 attacks two gay men in Jamaica: "After days of harassment and threats, a Jamaican mob attacked two gay men, putting one in the hospital with serious injuries, while the other is missing...The group broke into the home of the men and attacked them, authorities told The Associated Press. One man had his left ear severed, his arm broken in two places and his spine possibly damaged; the other man, who was chased from their home, has not been found, according to the report."

Welcome to the just-opened Hard Day's Night Hotel in Liverpool: "The four-star, 110 room Beatle themed hotel opens its doors to the public... and is only a stone's throw away from the site of the famous Cavern Club."

Gay rights activist and psychotherapist Myra Riddell dies at 81.

This is why the Spice Girls tour is ending.

Anti-gay graffiti found in DC police station men's restroom: "'It's extremely offensive, so we're taking it very seriously,' [Police Chief Cathy] Lanier said. Lanier sent an e-mail to police department personnel Thursday night that said, 'All members of this department put their lives on the line every day, and I will not tolerate any member treating another police professional with disrespect.' Lanier said she will 'impose the most serious penalty' if the perpetrator is found to be a member of the department. The graffiti was found in an area that is accessible to both officers and civilians, Lanier said, so it is not clear who may have left the message."

New Chicago Episcopal bishop Jeffrey Lee shows support for gay clergy: "'That's one of the tragedies afflicting the church right now,' he said. 'So many of us seem to think that salvation depends on our theological correctness.'"

Gay Republicans flocking to McCain?

First lady of California Maria Shriver joins Kennedys in 'surprise' Obama endorsement.

SF health officials apologize to gay community for MRSA scare: "We regret that our recent news report (1-14-08) about an important population-based study on MRSA USA300 with public health implications contained some information that could be interpreted as misleading. We deplore negative targeting of specific populations in association with MRSA infections or other public health concerns, and we will be working to ensure that accurate information about the research is disseminated to the health community and the general public."

San Francisco-based music journalist Adam Block dies.

Police break up suspected 'gay' party in India: " A team, led by deputy police commissioner Bhujangrao Shinde, raided the Agrawal bungalow at Yeoor and detained six persons, including the main organiser, Sahil Bhoricha (24). Liquor bottles and condoms were seized from the bungalow. Entry to Yeoor Hills was restricted during the operation. Ashok Row Kavi of Humsafar Trust, a gay rights group, condemned the action as unfair, given that all the men detained were adults and were not found violating any law. A magistrate denied the police custody of those arrested."

Robbie Williams becomes a bear.

Britney Spears' family finally takes control of the situation.

Western Montana Gay and Lesbian Community Center hold "skate against hate" in Missoula to raise awareness about anti-gay violence there.

Gerard Butler and Jonathan Rhys Meyers party it up in L.A.

Ohio health officials to study smoking habits of gay teens: "Health officials are allocating $60,000 to identify the smoking habits of those teens and develop a tobacco-prevention campaign for them. Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss says gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community has a smoking rate at about 40 to 60 percent. As part of the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Community Youth and Young Adults Anti-Tobacco Social Marketing Project, officials will form focus groups among youths ages 12 through 20 at an LBGT center in Columbus."

Melbourne, Australia holds gay pride march...

Vanessa Williams to be honored as "Ally for Equality" by the Human Rights Campaign. More...

Second memorial service for Heath Ledger held in L.A.: "Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Sienna Miller, Lindsay Lohan, Ellen Degeneres and other celebrities gathered at the Sony Pictures lot on Saturday to remember Heath Ledger. This service comes a week after a smaller gathering that included ex-girlfriend Naomi Watts was held in Beverly Hills. Other mourners included Heath's father Kim, representatives from CAA (the agency that represented Heath), director Todd Haynes, and actress Shannyn Sossamon who was Heath's co-star in "A Knight's Tale". "I'm Not There" director Haynes spoke at the service."

Police raid gay bar in Philippines, arrest 10 for alleged prostitution: "The men were nabbed inside the Male Bucks Hosto Bar in Angeles City around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Members of the raiding team used a female informer who posed as a customer. The informer told authorities that the "entertainers" were dancing on stage clad only in their underwear."

Music News: The Feeling Hurt From The Bottom To The Top, Plus David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Goldfrapp, ABBA, Spice Girls, Elton John

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning weekly music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

Brit act The Feeling's new single "I Thought It was Over" -- off sophomore album Join With Us, due out in February -- debuted on Jo Whiley's BBC Radio One show this past Friday, and is meeting with mixed reaction. Unfortunately, it appears as if music from a planned session with producer Trevor Horn didn't make it onto the record.

In the meantime, Audio from Jo Whiley's broadcast has made its way onto YouTube ahead of an official single release.

Personally, I think this is just great pop, which is nothing more than this band ever claimed to produce. Between this and the two songs he contributed to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Trip The Light Fantastic earlier this year, Feeling frontman Dan Gillespie Sells is rapidly establishing himself as a go-to songwriter for killer hooks.

David Bowie's The Hunger-era face (pictured right) is on sale for a mere $950!

As a tribute to Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who passed away last December, Led Zeppelin reunites at a London gig "for which more than a million fans from around the world sought to book passage."

Goldfrapp's next album, The Seventh Tree, is due out February 26. In an interview with Billboard, Alison Goldfrapp acknowleges a change in sound for the band: "We did talk quite a lot about what kind of instruments would get that kind of warmth and that kind of sound we wanted. We'd never used acoustic guitars before. We wanted the sound to be delicate, but not weak." The music publication states the album is produced by Flood and that "there's a greater emphasis on ethereal, psychedelic pop in the vein of early Air." In other words, unhook the disco ball, kids.

Benny Andersson, Frida Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Björn Ulvaeus -- who comprised a band you possibly might have heard of at some point called ABBA -- are donating personal memorabilia from their career for a three-floor museum dedicated to the band.

The Spice Girls traipsed down the west coast last week, and blogger Dave White offers up a comical assessment for MSNBC on the spectacle that was the girl group's Friday show in Los Angeles (where I sat a few rows in front of Dave and his husband, Alonso). Meanwhile, if you aren't able to catch the tour, YouTuber TheSpiceGirlsExperience was planted firmly at both L.A. shows with what appears to be a pretty decent camera and sound equipment.

FLASHBACK: The top song on Billboard's Hot 100 chart this week 10 years ago was Elton John's "Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight." The double A-side, the first part of which was rapidly recorded as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, would go on to sell 33 million copies around the world. In the U.S. alone, the single sold 11 million copies and spent 14 weeks at #1. John only ever performed "Candle In The Wind 1997" one time, at Diana's funeral in London's Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, more commonly known as Westminster Abbey. The single was eventually knocked off the top of the Billboard chart in mid-January 1998 by Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply."

The best-selling album this week in 1997 was Metallica's ReLoad.

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

21-year-old R&B crooner Mario's Go, featuring 12 songs with a different producer for each, including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Timbaland and The Neptunes.

New singles from Ashlee Simpson ("Outta My Head"), Taylor Dayne ("Beautiful") and Katharine McPhee ("O Come All Ye Faithful"), as well as Maroon 5's cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

The most-watched cable program ever, Disney's High School Musical 2, graduates to DVD in an "Extended Edition."

Radiohead's Limited Deluxe Edition Box Set, featuring the band's seven albums for label EMI that spanned from 1993 to 2003.

News: China Moon, Kevin Rudd, Spice Girls, Kentucky, Truman Capote

Philadelphia Boy Scouts facing eviction for their anti-gay bigotry: "The Cradle of Liberty Council—Philadelphia's Boy Scout chapter—has been housed in an historic building in downtown Philly for almost 80 years, paying almost nothing for the prime piece of proprety under the terms of a 100-year sweetheart lease it inked with the city in 1928. But that lease is set to expire, and city officials say the taxpayer's shouldn't be footing the Scouts rent bill because of it's national policy banning openly gay members and leaders. The Scouts must either pony up the fair market rent for the space—about $200,000 a year—or find a new home."

Back to 1996: Spice Girls kick off world tour in Vancouver, with real live vocals! "There is a click track for the band to keep them in time, which is standard, but all of the girls' vocals were live."

British Panto theatre comes out of the closet: "Panto has cross-dressing, innuendo and glitter, so maybe we've reached the point where we've stopped pretending that it's just camp and really it's as gay as you like. It's built into the form."

The NYT takes a look at the difficulties of being gay in Newark, New Jersey: "Sharrieff Baker and his partner, Edwin Rosario, who own a house in the North Ward, said they had a very different experience when one of their tenants found out they were a couple. Last month, they said, the tenant tore up a shared bathroom, called them 'faggots' and threatened to blow up their house. When they called 911, they said, Vincent Cordi, the responding police officer, appeared unconcerned and agreed only reluctantly to take their complaint. Back at the station house, they said, Officer Cordi sniggered with co-workers as he typed up the paperwork, at one point blurting out, 'How do you spell 'faggot'?'"

Truman Capote, New Orleans, 1946: First chapter of new book Portraits and Observations: The Essays of Truman Capote (Review)

Beckham makes the sponsorship switch: Emporio Armani undies spotted in New Zealand

Homophobic, racist flyers found on Canada's University of Windsor campus.

A look back at Saturday Night Fever on its 30th anniversary: "Lapels aside, the film seems strangely prescient -- a road map to the income inequality, the ethnic and racial politics, and the lure of celebrity that we see today. Culturally speaking, the '70s are back. As we grapple with soaring gasoline prices, tune in to 'Dancing With the Stars' and work through a new kind of national malaise, we would do well to heed the cautionary lessons of the young man in polyester."

Gay census study sees closets emptying in Kentucky.

Watchdogs question authenticity of Chinese Moon photo, say it may be plagiarized from NASA. China denies.

Australia's new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes his first act ratifying the Kyoto Treaty: "Australia's new stance on Kyoto will isolate the US as the only developed nation not to have ratified the treaty. Mr Rudd is due to attend the UN climate change conference in Bali next week with four of his ministers. When they heard of Mr Rudd's decision, delegates at the conference erupted in applause. Mr Rudd's appointment as prime minister ends more than 11 years of conservative government under his predecessor John Howard. As well as signing up to the Kyoto Protocol, the new government is committed to withdrawing Australia's combat troops from Iraq."

Brokeback Mountain costume designer Marit Allen dies of brain aneurysm at 66.

Mitt Romney to deliver major speech on Mormonism. AmericaBlog calls him out: "You can't give a speech about being an oppressed religious minority in America only 5 days after you oppress another religious minority in America. Romney can't tell us that the religion of his cabinet is relevant but the religion of the cabinet's president isn't. It just doesn't work that way. Either a candidate for high office's religion is relevant or its not. This week Romney is going to tell us that it's not, though I suspect he's also going to try to con everyone into thinking that Mormonism IS Christianity, so at the same time he's telling us to ignore his religion he's going to be telling us that he's a bigger Christian than we are and that that is the reason we should vote for him. In other words, Romney is going to try to have it both ways this week, lying all the way. So what else is new?"

Pam Spaulding posts a wrap-up of the 2007 International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference and a new interview with Representative Tammy Baldwin.

Fixer-upper: Richard Neutra house goes on market in Santa Monica.

News: Norway, Spice Girls, Talan Torriero, Gregg Araki, Taipei

University of Virginia attempts to deal with anti-gay football chant: "After a Cavalier touchdown, the marching band strikes up what, to an outsider, sounds like 'Auld Lang Syne.' But, to its tune, students and alumni sing the 'Good Old Song,' its lyrics written by Edward A. Craighill in 1895, its mention of all being 'bright and gay' a throwback to when 'gay' meant 'happy,' the line a launching pad for what’s since become a university tradition of negating the word 'gay' with gleeful (often drunken) shouts of 'not gay!'"

Spice Girls lipsync their way through Victoria's Secret fashion show.

Is Laguna Beach's Talan Torriero the next Aquaman?

Norway's Lutherans vote to allow clergy in same-sex partnerships to serve: "The compromise decision reflected the realization that the church may have to live with a deep split over the issue. After an anguished week of debate at its annual meeting, the church's 86-member governing synod voted 50-34 to make the change. Two members abstained. The meeting, which ended Friday, was held in the town of Lillehammer. The decision means that six of Norway's 11 bishops are likely to open the pulpit to gay clergy in partnerships. In a vote earlier in the year, those six bishops voted in favor of easing the ban. The church already allows gays to serve in the clergy as long as they are not living in a homosexual partnership."

Amherst College students apologize to five Hampshire College students who "were allegedly called names, threatened, spit at and were blocked from leaving the dorm" following a gay party at which they were guests: "Dozens of students gathered outside Valentine Dining Hall at the college yesterday carrying signs that said 'We're Sorry Hampshire' and "I don't want to be 'tolerated.' They also asked passers-by to sign a banner that said 'Please Come Back.'"

IndieWire chats with filmmaker Gregg Araki about his film Smiley Face. We previewed a couple John Krasinski stills from the movie in October.

AfterElton talks to Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann about their gay storyline as Luke and Noah on As The World Turns. Hansis: "My parents are so proud of me it sort of embarrasses me. My mom cried on the red carpet at the Emmys this year when she was asked about how she felt for her son to be nominated. It was actually really nice. It’s great to see your parents so proud of your accomplishments. Both my parents now go through the soap magazines at the grocery store and point to pictures of me and tell the cashier 'That’s my son!' They are generally busy during the day so I think they watch the show online. But they have always been my biggest fans and I couldn’t ask for anything more."

From the just-don't-get-it dept: Taipei restaurant gives a completely new meaning to potty-mouthed.

Esteemed design group Pentagram takes a look at the redesigned Advocate: "Today gays and lesbians are no longer an ignored minority, and the younger generations have experienced a saturation of media both from and about the community. Activism, while still important, is less in the mix, and issues like gay marriage, medicine and civil rights have shifted to the mainstream press. At the same time, the circulation of newsweeklies is changing as news and information is more readily available online. The magazine’s redesign reflects these transformations. The new Advocate is modern and vibrant while continuing to confront politics and difficult LGBT issues. Impressively, it manages to successfully straddle the line between opinion leader and entertainment magazine without losing its journalistic integrity and with a tone that is sophisticated, but not frivolous."

Rod McCullom on HuffPost: John Edwards and Barack Obama make mistake of repeating Republican talking points to attack one of their own. "...something funny happened to Senators Edwards and Obama on their way to Las Vegas. Maybe the high-roller suites have complimentary testosterone and egos on the pillows, or, possibly they bumped into Elvis, who told them, "A little less conversation and a little more action." They lost their mojos. Instead of throwing the hungry audience sound bites that were wrapped in juicy, red meat, the two candidates tossed stale, Republican talking points at frontrunner Hillary Clinton and the audience booed and hissed."

Without fanfare, Nicaragua drops anti-sodomy laws: "In adopting a new national civil code on Monday, the Nicaraguan National Assembly sidestepped the longstanding law that penalized sodomy between members of the same-sex with up to five years in prison by overwhelmingly voting to approve a new civil code that simply did not mention it."

Bah Humbug: The Bill O'Reilly Christmas Store is now open!

Music News: Timbaland Massacres Duran Duran, Plus Little House: The Musical, OneRepublic, Spice Girls, Ladytron, Kanye West

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning weekly music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

Mediabase, the firm that monitors 129 major Top 40 radio stations in the country, noted that Timbaland's mix of OneRepublic's "Apologize" received a total of 10,331 plays last week, making it the biggest Top 40 hit, airplay-wise, since the company began its charts in 1987. Those not yet completely sick of the seemingly tireless producer will thrill at the fact that the single previously holding the title of "biggest Top 40 hit" according to Mediabase was Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous," which was also crafted by Timbaland.

Meanwhile, today sees the release of Duran Duran's new studio album, Red Carpet Massacre, on which the band worked with both Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. Simon Le Bon and Co. are currently in New York for what was orignally to be a 10-night residency at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre, but the stagehand strike has caused the group to relocate to the Roseland Ballroom.

In a statement, bassist John Taylor said, ""We know that some people have travelled miles (if not continents) to see us on Broadway... although there is no physical way to replicate some of the production elements in Roseland that we had in the other theatre - the key for us is the music and we are intending to make it as special as every other night."

In case you've missed it, Duran Duran's 7-minute video for "Falling Down" is a send-up of starlets-in-rehab culture.

It was probably only a matter of time... Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, a musical version of Little House On The Prairie will hit the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis next summer. Says director Francesca Zambello, "Our musical focuses on the independent spirit of the teenager Laura Ingalls Wilder and her struggles to become an adult, alongside the story of the land as it becomes the American West." Tony winner Rachel Sheinkin (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) is penning the book, while Oscar Winner Rachel Portman (Emma) is composing the music.

Ladytron have signed a new deal with the Nettwerk label, with a new album due in May.

Kanye West has issued a statement about the death of his mother over the weekend.

Today the Spice Girls Greatest Hits goes on sale exclusively at U.S. Victoria's Secret outlets and on iTunes. Each member will reportedly nab about $2 million a piece (or £1 million) for appearing as the faces of U.K. supermarket chain Tesco this holiday season.

Here's the commercial which began airing this past week:

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

The Killers' B-sides and rarities collection, Sawdust.

Alicia Keys' As I Am, which also features John Mayer and Linda Perry.

Taking Chances, the new studio set from Celine Dion.

The Black And White Album, by Swedish rockers The Hives.

Seal's System, on which the singer worked with Madonna collaborator Stuart Price.

Trisha Yearwood's 12th album, Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love.

Music News: Spice Girls Make Headlines As New Single Leaks, Plus Patti LaBelle, Kylie Minogue, Kurt Cobain, Jay-Z, David Gest

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

"Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)," the new single from the Spice Girls, has leaked weeks ahead of its official release. Have a listen and see (or, rather, hear) what you think:

It's pleasant in that "2 Become 1" way, but after all the hype, isn't this new Spice track missing that certain zig-a-zig-ah?

"Headlines" will be included on the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits. Last week it was reported that the British fivesome had signed a deal  with Victoria's Secret for the upcoming CD to be sold exclusively in the lingerie chain's U.S. stores beginning November 13. The compilation will also be available on iTunes. Otherwise, there won't be a wide retail release in American outlets until January.

Meanwhile, tabloids are reporting that the video shoot for "Headlines," which happened on Friday, almost collapsed under the fivesome's "diva demands": "Things were very delayed. The director was tearing his hair out and threatened to walk. The girls were so tired and Emma [Bunton] was crying as the shoot just went on and on."

Additionally, Sony Home Entertainment is reissuing the 1997 film Spice World in a "special edition" DVD on November 27, a week ahead of the Girls' world tour.

   Four tracks from Kylie Minogue's upcoming album are available now for free.

   Illegal download site OiNK busted by international police.

   Liza's ex, David Gest, has found his inner indie rocker: "I could have given it up for a happy marriage, but I'd rather go for a drink, go dancing in Camden, listen to the Kaiser Chiefs."

   Patti LaBelle (pictured right) shocks Sugababes fans at Fashion Rocks in London this past weekend.

   Despite all her drama, Britney Spears' Blackout (out next week) is getting great reviews.

   Jay-Z is on the road again.

   Universal Pictures is adapting Chris Cross' Kurt Cobain biography, Heavier Than Heaven, into a film, with Courtney Love and her lawyer exec producing.

   TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan's Hourglass.

Idol Carrie Underwood's sophomore album, Carnival Ride.

La Vida Es Un Ratico, from Latin superstars Juanes.

Raising Sand, a collaboration between a subdued Robert Plant and Nashville singer Alison Krauss.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' Music From The Motion Picture The Assasination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.