Jazz legend Brubeck undergoes pacemaker surgery - HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A spokesman for Dave Brubeck says the jazz pianist is doing well after surgery at a Connecticut hospital to install a pacemaker. Patrick Giblin, spokesman at Brubeck's alma mater, University of the Pacific in California, says Brubeck's doctors expect him to be ready to resume concert touring in November. Giblin said Brubeck is eager to return to the piano. The jazz legend had the surgery at Bridgeport Hospital on Monday after experiencing fatigue and dizziness at his home in Wilton, Conn. Brubeck, who turns 90 in December, got an early birthday celebration in August when performing with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet at the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island.

Motley Crue’s Vince Neil’s DUI case headed to trial - Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil is headed back to court…again. Vince’s attorney entered “not guilty” pleas on behalf of Neil in a Las Vegas court today in response to misdemeanor drunken driving and speeding charges; Neil did not have to appear in person for this part of the process. Vince's trial is set for January 6, 2011. On June 27, Neil was picked up by Vegas police for suspicion of DUI in Las Vegas after his Lamborghini was pulled over for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone and for "weaving between the lanes." At the time, TMZ reported that Vegas Police department files indicated the Vince failed a field sobriety test three times due to a blood-alcohol level almost three times the legal limit. Neil — who admitted to having consumed three glasses of champagne at the Hilton hotel earlier in the night — eventually gave up by saying, "I can't do this," the report stated. Vince was then asked by the officer to take two breathalyzer tests and, according to the police report, he registered .215 and .216 — nearly three times the .08 limit.

'70s teen idol Leif Garrett pleads in heroin case - LOS ANGELES (AP) – Former teen heartthrob Leif Garrett pleaded no contest Friday to heroin possession in Los Angeles and will enter a drug rehab program. Garrett, 48, was arrested in February after authorities found him carrying heroin in a Los Angeles subway station. He has had a series of drug arrests since the height of his popularity in the 1970s. The case could be dismissed if Garrett completes the terms of the treatment program within 18 months. "I just think this is in everybody's best interests," said Garrett's attorney, Andrew Flier. He said he was proud of Garrett for entering the plea and recognizing that he needs additional treatment. Garrett has been working with celebrity addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky and he is among those slated to appear on the next season of "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew," Flier said. Garrett's court-ordered program wouldn't be part of any reality show, he said.

Aguilera files for divorce from music exec husband - LOS ANGELES (AP) – Christina Aguilera filed for divorce from her husband of five years on Thursday, two days after announcing the couple had separated. The "Beautiful" singer cited irreconcilable differences with her husband, music executive Jordan Bratman. Court documents show the couple has a prenuptial agreement, although Aguilera is seeking a judge's ruling awarding her rights to all her earnings. Aguilera, 29, is seeking joint custody of the couple's 2-year-old son. She announced on Tuesday that she and Bratman had separated and that the couple's commitment to their son "remains as strong as ever." She did not issue a statement regarding the divorce filing, and a phone message left for Bratman was not immediately returned. The pair were married in November 2005 and separated on Sept. 11, the court filing states. The divorce was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.

Rapper T.I. Headed Back To Prison For 11 Months - ATLANTA (AP) – A federal judge revoked rapper T.I.'s probation Friday and ordered him back to prison for 11 months.The Atlanta native, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., was in federal court following his arrest last month in Los Angeles on suspicion of drug possession. He was on probation after serving 10 months behind bars on federal weapons charges. "I think Mr. Harris had had about the limit of second chances," U.S. District Court Judge Charles Pannell Jr. said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. During the hearing, T.I. begged Pannell not to send him back to prison, saying he needed to get help for drug addiction. He told the judge he "screwed up" and pleaded for mercy. "I want drugs out of my life. If I can get the treatment and counseling I need ... I can beat this," T.I. told the judge, according to U.S. attorney spokesman Patrick Crosby. "I need help. For me, my mother, my kids, I need the court to give me mercy." The Associated Press was relying on information from the spokesman because the judge closed the courtroom after it was filled and several media outlets including AP were not allowed in. Pannell wasn't swayed by the rapper's plea. The judge had said T.I.'s sentence was an "experiment" he hoped to replicate if it worked. The rapper was allowed to stay out of prison while performing 1,000 hours of community service, mostly talking with schoolchildren about the dangers of gangs, drugs and violence. "You certainly dumped a lot of smut on the whole experiment," Pannell told T.I. After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said she was disappointed with T.I. "We had hoped that this would be a new, innovative opportunity," she said. "We're not giving up on Mr. Harris, but ... if you veer off the road of redemption, there are consequences." The Grammy Award-winning artist walked out of court with family and friends, leaving the building through a back exit without speaking to reporters. Yates said the rapper is expected to surrender voluntarily to authorities Nov. 1. As a condition of T.I.'s release earlier this year, he was ordered not to commit another federal, state or local crime while on supervised release, or to illegally possess a controlled substance. He was also told to take at least three drug tests after his release and to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment program. "While he was telling kids to obey the law, he was breaking it," Yates told the judge Friday, according to Crosby. "There has to be a significant consequence for undermining the (plea) agreement." Yates urged the judge to consider a sentence of two years in prison. She said T.I. submitted diluted urine samples and told his probation officer he had used ecstasy at least three times since leaving prison. T.I's attorneys argued that after reviewing nearly 250 cases with similar charges, none of those people were put back behind bars for violating probation, Crosby said. Additionally, the attorneys told the judge that Harris was addicted to drugs and has attempted to turn his life around since leaving prison. Earlier this week, Atlanta police said T.I. helped them talked a suicidal man down from a skyscraper. The rapper heard about the man on the radio and drove over to see if he could help. The man agreed to come down from the 22-story building in exchange for a few minutes with the rapper, authorities said. They added he recorded a cell phone video of himself that was shown to the man by rescue workers to prove he was really there. T.I. rejected suggestions that his intervention was a stunt to gain advance favor with the court. Atlanta Police Department spokesman Officer James Polite testified at Friday's hearing about being present when T.I. lent his assistance. "We believed it was genuine," Polite said of Harris' offer to help. "He gave words of encouragement and was an intricate part of having that situation safely and quickly resolved."


Breaking News courtesy of Scott "Dr. Music" Itter
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