Van Halen reunion off, Britney in rehab take 2, Jacko sued, Lennon movie nixed, Osbourne illness, XM/Sirius, more

By Art Shimko
shimko_7@hotmail.com

-- In the "It Was Too Good To Be True" Dept., the much reported yet unconfirmed Van Halen reunion has been postponed indefinitely. Pollstar reported that a tour announcement may not have been far from reality before this latest fallout.

-- Well Britney Spears is back in rehab as she checked into the Promises rehab center in Malibu, CA on Tuesday at the urging of her mother and other family members. This comes after this past weekend when Spears made headlines by leaving another rehab facility and showing up at an L.A. tattoo parlor bald. UPDATE 1:21PM EST- Just received news that Britney has checked out of Promises rehab center already. [credit: CBS 13/Sacramento]

-- A TV documentary titled Working Class Hero about the life of John Lennon won't see the light of day after his widow Yoko Ono, who was a part of the project as an "Executive Consultant" withdrew her involvement over concerns of the content of the film. EMI says otherwise, claiming the movie would not be completed in time to coincide with a planned record release.

-- Songwriter Ray Evans dies in LA at 92

-- Aerosmith begin a leg of international tour dates starting on 5/31 at the Autodrome in Dubai and concluding on 7/12 at Moscow's Olympissky Arena.

-- The family of Manuela Gomez Ruiz are suing Michael Jackson and the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, CA after Ruiz, who suffered a heart attack and was on life support, was moved from her room to make way for Jackson who was admitted for flu symptons coincidentally on the day he was due in court facing child molestation charges (on 2/15/05). The hospital released a statement saying the suit was "another frivolous claim to generate publicity." The statement also stated regarding Ruiz's hospital stay, "Patient care and safety is always our priority." The suit against both parties, including hospital owner Catholic health care West alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, elder abuse, false imprisonment and conspiracy. My only questions are: A) Would the hospital move this patient for anyone else who wasn't a celebrity? And B) would the family still sue had it not been Jackson or another celebrity who needed room?

-- On Sunday night at the Body & Soul charity event in London, Kelly Osbourne broke down in tears as she revealed that a member of her famed family was diagnosed with the HIV virus.

-- FCC hurdles loom for XM, Sirius satellite radio merger

-- Public Enemy announced US tour dates for next month:
- Louisiana: Madison Theater Covington (3/7)
- Chicago: House Of Blues (3/8)
- Toronto: Docks Nightclub and Concert Theatre (3/9)
- New York: B.B King's Blues Club & Grill (3/11)
- Baltimore: Rams Head Live! (3/13)
- North Myrtle Beach: House Of Blues (3/14)
- Houston: Warehouse Live (3/18)
- New Orleans: House Of Blues (3/21)
- Orlando: Hard Rock Live (3/22)
- Florida: Jannus Landing (3/23)

-- Michael Scott Axley was indicted by a grand jury in Fulton County, GA on felony murder and aggravated assault charges in connection with the beating death of Andy Richardson at the Family Values Concert in Atlanta last summer.

-- Tori Amos' new album American Doll Posse will be released 5/1 on Epic.

-- MTV Unplugged: KoRn will debut on this Friday on Unplugged.MTV.com and airs 3/2 on MTV at 11:30PM EST.

-- Agreement reached over burial for James Brown

-- Grammy for Slayer's 11th album shows metal legends are now a household name

-- Rhymes Considering Plea Deal In Assault Case
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