Amy Winehouse Performs "Rehab" Live (Videos) R.I.P.

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Sources: BBC, Contact Music, Daily Mail, VeVo, Youtube, Google Maps

Amy Winehouse: Gifted, Young Singer Destroyed By Drug Addiction; Needed Serious Rehab!

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Amy Winehouse, British Soul Singer With a Troubled Life, Dies at 27

Amy Winehouse, the British singer who found worldwide fame with a sassy, hip-hop-inflected take on retro soul, yet became a tabloid fixture as her problems with drugs and alcohol led to a strikingly public career collapse, was found dead on Saturday in her apartment in London, the police said. She was 27.

The cause was not immediately known. The police said that they were investigating the circumstances of the death, but that “at this early stage it is being treated as unexplained.”

With a husky, tart voice and a style that drew equally from the sounds of Motown and the stark storytelling of rap, Ms. Winehouse became one of the most acclaimed young singers of the past decade, selling millions of albums, winning five Grammy Awards and starting a British retro-R&B trend that continues today.

Yet, almost from the moment she arrived on the international pop scene in early 2007, Ms. Winehouse appeared to flirt with self-destruction. She sang of an alcohol-soaked demimonde in songs like “Rehab” — whose refrain, “They tried to make me go to rehab/I said, ‘No, no, no,’ ” crystallized Ms. Winehouse’s persona — and before long it seemed to spill over into her personal life and fuel lurid headlines.

The interplay between Ms. Winehouse’s life and art made her one of the most fascinating figures in pop music since Kurt Cobain, whose demise in 1994 — also at age 27 — was preceded by drug abuse and a frustration with fame as something that could never be escaped. Yet in time, the notoriety from Ms. Winehouse’s various drug arrests, public meltdowns and ruined concerts overshadowed her talent as a musician, and her career never recovered.

On Saturday, as the news of Ms. Winehouse’s death spread, many musicians took to Twitter with deep sadness but no surprise. Lily Allen, who rose through the British pop scene shortly after Ms. Winehouse, called her “such a lost soul.” The singer Josh Groban wrote: “Drugs took her gift, her soul, her light, long before they took her life. RIP Amy.”

As much as her misfortunes eventually took on a sense of predictability, when Ms. Winehouse arrived with her breakthrough second album “Back to Black,” which was released in Britain in late 2006 and in the United States the next year, she was a fresh voice with a novel take on pop history. She spoke of her love for Frank Sinatra, Thelonious Monk and Motown, as well as Nas, the hard-core New York rapper with a sharp eye for narrative detail.

Her greatest love, however, was the 1960s girl groups, something that was evident from the instantly recognizable beehive hairdo and Cleopatra makeup that she borrowed from the Ronettes. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times in 2007, Ms. Winehouse explained how a breakup had inspired the songs on “Back to Black,” and described her state of mind in terms of music and alcohol.

“I didn’t want to just wake up drinking, and crying, and listening to Shangri-Las, and go to sleep, and wake up drinking, and listening to the Shangri-Las,” she said. “So I turned it into songs, and that’s how I got through it.”

Amy Jade Winehouse was born in Southgate, London, on Sept. 14, 1983. Her mother, Janis, was a pharmacist, and her father, Mitch, was a cab driver who nursed a love for music. They both survive her, along with a brother, Alex.

Ms. Winehouse showed an early talent for performing, as well as an eclecticism that would characterize her later work. She loved her father’s Sinatra records, but she also liked hip-hop; at age 10 she and a friend formed a rap group called Sweet ’n’ Sour that Ms. Winehouse later described as “the little white Jewish Salt-N-Pepa.” (Ms. Winehouse was the “sour” half.)

She attended the Sylvia Young Theater School in London and later went to the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, a free performing arts school there that counts several other recent female pop stars among its alumnae, including Ms. Allen and Adele, another young singer who is sometimes seen as picking up the neo-soul mantle from Ms. Winehouse.

In 2003, at age 19, Ms. Winehouse released her first album, “Frank.” Influenced by jazz, it established her as a rising star in Britain. But “Back to Black,” recorded with the producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, and the Brooklyn retro-soul band the Dap-Kings, made her an international sensation. With thick horns and club-ready hip-hop beats, the album was a darkly stylish update of classic 1960s R&B, and it was adored by critics and the public alike.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks music sales, Ms. Winehouse has sold 2.7 million albums and 3.4 million tracks in the United States.

Yet, while “Rehab” was still climbing the charts, Ms. Winehouse made headlines for drug binges and arrests that left her hospitalized and forced her to cancel concert dates.

In October 2007, Ms. Winehouse and her husband at the time, Blake Fielder-Civil, were arrested in Norway on charges of marijuana possession. A month later, Mr. Fielder-Civil was arrested and accused of perverting the course of justice by trying to bribe the victim in a bar fight not to testify against him. (Ms. Winehouse and Mr. Fielder-Civil divorced in 2009.)

Perhaps the peak of Ms. Winehouse’s career was the 2008 Grammy Awards. She was nominated for six prizes and took home five, including Best New Artist. Yet even days before the show, her appearance there was uncertain because of visa problems. In the end, she performed by satellite from London.

Although Ms. Winehouse has not made an album since “Back to Black,” she tried to revive her career several times. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Ms. Winehouse’s father, who released a jazz album this year, said she had been in good health lately. (Mr. Winehouse was scheduled to perform at the Blue Note jazz club in New York on Monday, but canceled after learning of his daughter’s death.)

Yet Ms. Winehouse’s most recent comeback attempt faltered badly. Last month, she canceled a European tour after a performance in Belgrade on the first night, during which she appeared to be too intoxicated to perform properly.


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Sources: MSNBC, NY Times, US Magazine, VeVo, Youtube, Google Maps

TLC's "Addicted" (Show Intro. Video)

TLC's Addicted Issues A Desperate Cry For Help


TLC will debut a new reality show on Wednesday, to go head to head with A & E's Intervention, called Addicted. For the kick-off episode, according to a report in the Sunday Boston Globe, we can look forward to watching a young woman named Amanda shoot heroin in her bathroom.

I am not a media critic. This is not a media critic's blog. I am not a doctor or a social worker or therapist, nor a recovering addict with an ability to understand. I do not watch much reality TV, have never watched Intervention, and will not be tuning in to watch poor Amanda fall under the spell of the cameras, lights and "action" shooting through her veins.

So, for the sake of anyone that wants to jump-in on behalf of TLC's better intentions (TLC President, Eileen O'Neill, calls Addicted "...a series about family, change and hope"), or the tragedy that is Amanda and countless other victims of substance abuse, or the good that might come from bringing their stories to light in an insensitive world, I am here to say only, fine. Sure. If you think so.

For anyone else that may be driving up and down the broad boulevards of television staring out the window, wondering what ever happened to the old neighborhood that was once lined by trees and decorative front yards, Addicted is a good metaphor. The answer is that people moved away and the place got too expensive for those that remained. And, inevitably, this is what happens.

It can remain an open question whether TV can help Amanda -- or New Jersey housewives, or hoarders, or top models, or anyone else issuing a desperate cry for help. Let's hope so. In the meantime, their voices mingle with desperate cries from the media world -- and, not unfittingly, it is sometimes hard to tell the cries apart.

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Sources: TLC, AP, Huffington Post, Youtube

Michael Blosil, Marie Osmond's Son Commits Suicide

Marie Osmond's Son Michael Blosil Commits Suicide In L.A.


Michael Blosil, the 18-year-old son of Marie Osmond, jumped to his death Friday night from his downtown Los Angeles apartment building, leaving behind a note, ETOnline reports, referring to a lifelong battle with Depression.

"My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time," his mother said through her publicist Saturday.

Donny Osmond, his uncle, said on Saturday morning: "Please pray for my sister and her family."

Tonight's "Donny & Marie" show at the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas has been canceled.

In November 2007, Michael, then 16, entered rehab, though what he was being treated for was not disclosed.

Osmond and Michael's father, Brian Blosil, announced in March 2007 that they were divorcing after nearly 21 years of marriage. Osmond and Blosil had two biological children together and adopted five others, including Michael. Brian Blosil also adopted Osmond's child from her first marriage.


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Sources: LA Times, ETOnline, Lasvegasun.com, MSNBC, People.com, Radar Online, Google Maps

Did Tiger Woods Have Plastic Surgery After Fight With Elin? (Reports)

Tiger Woods' Plastic Surgery, Escape To Arizona, And Much More, Letter Claims


Furman Bisher, a retired sportswriter who used to pen a column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, posted a letter on his blog that -- if true -- provides in-depth background on the events that led to Tiger Woods' post-Thanksgiving car crash.

The letter, which Bisher says is from "a trustworthy journalist I have known for years," is written by someone who claims to have sources in Woods' neighborhood and at his talent agency, IMG.

According to the letter, Woods' wife Elin Nordegren confronted him on Thanksgiving night after she discovered "incriminating evidence," including but not limited to a text message, on his phone.

Woods refused to admit to anything, and shortly thereafter Nordegren attacked him with a 9-iron golf club. The strike caused "a huge gash in the right side of his face... virtually knocking two of his upper teeth out." Woods fled the scene and attempted to leave the property in his Escalade, but his wife smashed the windows before he crashed the vehicle.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the letter is its claim that Woods never went home after being released from the hospital. Instead, he and his agent Mark Steinberg flew in his private jet to Phoenix to receive emergency plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry since there was "not much [the Florida doctors could] do to repair the teeth and the gash." This would explain why Woods never spoke with police following the accident, and also traces the golfer to Arizona, where he is rumored to be attending rehab. A previous report claiming he sought treatment for "sexual compulsion" and Vicodin and Ambien use also linked him to Arizona.

The letter also says that while his wife has retained a divorce attorney, she has "no intention" of divorcing her husband. The author writes that the pair is engaged in "intense marriage counseling sessions of up to 6 to 7 hours a day." Read the full letter for more details.




Furman Bisher: Updated Inside Story on Tiger Woods



The following is a legitimate message I received from a trustworthy journalist I have known for years. It’s the Tiger-Elin incident finally put into reliable form, and I send along for no purpose other than to present the picture in its clearest form. —Furman Bisher

Forwarded story:

I have a Member who lives 10 houses down from Tiger in Isleworth. As we know Tiger’s agent is Mark Steinberg. My Member plays golf and is real good friends with another IMG Agent; who is very good friends with Steinberg and they share the same office. This information came from the other IMG Agent to my Member, and then to me today, and according to them is up to date as yesterday when my Member left Orlando.

On Thanksgiving Day, after he and Elin and the family had turkey dinner, he spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch watching football and texting Rachel. After each received and sent text message he would clear his message box to rid himself of the evidence. Sometime in between there, one of his Orlando buds called him to see if he wanted to get together at the Clubhouse to play poker with the guys, to which Tiger said yes. Tiger left the house around 7:30 to go play poker, and left behind his cell phone….and one message he had forgot to delete from Rachel.

When Tiger returned home around 11:30 -12 that night, Elin confronted him about the text message in the phone, and the started a heated discussion to its regards. According to what I was told, there was more “incriminating evidence” than just the text message (i.e. photos). Tiger tried to play it off to Elin by telling her she was reading too much in to it, and did not know the story, etc. Tiger went upstairs to change into his gym shorts and t – shirt, came back down, and Elin confronted him again; to which Tiger gave the same story. Tiger sat down in a chair in the living room, and Elin sat across from him urging Tiger to just come clean. Tiger stayed to his guns and denied everything.

At one point Tiger turned away to look at the TV, and as he turned back, Elin hit him on the right side of the face with the head of a 9 – iron. When she struck Tiger, she put a huge gash in the right side of his face next to his nose (causing his nose to bruise some), and virtually knocking two of his upper teeth out, and breaking the bone on the upper right side.

Tiger ran scared as hell out of the house (which is why he had on no shoes) with Elin swinging the golf club throughout the hallway to the garage (i.e. causing the severe damage which has been reported). Tiger hoped in the Escalade and tried to leave; and as we know Elin knocked out the windows in the Escalade. When Tiger crashed, Elin panicked and was not sure what to tell the police (which is why there are two conflicting stories from her). When this happened, Elin immediately called Mark Steinberg to tell him what happened, and Mark told Elin to tell him what hospital they were going to, and he would meet them there.

Tiger is transported to the hospital with Elin in the ambulance, and as they arrive Mark is there waiting for them. The people from the hospital and the doctors take Tiger in for X-Rays etc to check out the damage caused. The doctors tell Mark there is not much they can do to repair the teeth and the gash, but the doctor knows a cosmetic dentist and plastic surgeon in Phoenix who will make Tiger look as if nothing happened. Tiger tells Mark to get the jet ready and let’s head to Phoenix to get this done. Friday after Tiger is released from the hospital, he does not return home; he and Mark board the plane for Phoenix.

If you remember FHP kept showing up at Isleworth to talk to Tiger, and was told by another FL attorney (who Tiger hired for PR reasons) Tiger was not ready to talk. Well now we know why, he was in Phoenix, and did not arrive back in Orlando until either late last Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

The surgeries were more intense than what they had originally planned, which meant Tiger was in PHX longer than he should have been. Upon arriving back in Orlando, Tiger and Elin have been in intense marriage counseling sessions (up to 6 to 7 hours a day) every day! Both Tiger and Elin have told the counselors they love each other, and want to make the marriage work. The reports you are reading on TMZ and RadarOnline are about 30% accurate at best according to Mark.

In regards to Tiger’s boat being in Palm Beach this week, along with Rachel; that part is true. However, Tiger is not on the boat, and is not in Palm Beach; and Rachel is not on the boat. Her parents live 6 blocks from where the boat is, but that is it. Tiger has not returned to his house at Isleworth since the day of the accident except for the therapy sessions.

IMG has enlisted the assistance of one of its most recognized sports figures, and Tiger has taken up residence in his neighborhood, Bay Hill. IMG contacted Arnold Palmer because of the high regard in which Tiger holds Arnold. Arnold has agreed, and IMG has said if anyone can get through to Tiger, Arnold may be the only person who can, based on his public persona when he was at the height of his game as well. The moving trucks being shown on TMZ and RadarOnline are moving out pictures and furniture which was damaged during their Thanksgiving Day argument; not of her moving out.

Yes, Elin has retained a divorce attorney, but has not filed any papers, and as of yesterday had no intention on doing so. Tiger has not made any public appearances or statements due to the surgery and plastic surgery he had in PHX. It will be about another month if not more before he gets in front of a camera. Yes, Tiger is hitting golf balls late at night at Bay Hill out of their teaching center (which is equipped with lights).

That is as up to date as I have……..



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Sources: AP, Bisher Unleashed, Huffington Post, Youtube, Google Maps

Tiger Woods In Bahamas, Refuses To Attend Sex Rehab Sessions

Tiger Woods Flees To Bahamas On Luxury Yacht - Without His Wife Elin


Shamed golf star Tiger Woods is reported to have fled to the Bahamas on his luxury £14million yacht.

He was joined in the 155ft vessel called Privacy by a group of golfing pals - and not his wife Elin Nordegren.

A limo with blacked out windows was seen arriving at Old Port Cover in North Palm Beach, Florida, where the yacht has been moored for over a week.

The boat slipped its mooring over the weekend with staff at the marina speculating that it was headed to the Bahamas.

Extra provisions were seen being loaded on the yacht before it departed.

Woods, 33, has not been seen in public since being linked with more than 12 women and admitted he had cheated on his wife.

Elin, 29, is said to be planning to spend Christmas in her native Sweden with her family before filing for divorce.

According to People magazine an unnamed friend said Woods planned to cruise around the Bahamas over the Christmas break.

'Tiger's boat Privacy has been docked at Old Port Cove in North Palm Beach for more than a week,' the source told the magazine.

On Saturday morning, after stocking up on provisions from Costco the boat left town.'

Tight security has been in force at the marina after Wood's yacht arrived.

Its crew had attempted to conceal the yacht's name by draping a sheet over the bow of the vessel.

The luxury yacht has all the comforts of home, including a gym, Jacuzzi and sky lounge bar.

It also has a 12,000 gallon fuel tank that gives it a range of 4,000 miles.





Tiger Woods' Mother Is Angry And Disappointed Over Son's Infidelity



Tiger Woods' mother has hit out at her son, saying she is 'angry and disappointed' with him, according to a family friend.

However, Kultida Woods has vowed to stand by her 33-year-old son, despite being 'furious' over his infidelity.

'[She] is hurt, angry and disappointed in Tiger,' the friend told People magazine.

'She wants to know how he could do this to his family.'

But, despite reportedly dealing with infidelity in her own marriage, 65-year-old Kultida is trying to forgive her son, according to the source.

'She loves him and will support him through anything, but she needs some time to work through this.'

'It was devastating to her. She likes Elin, and adores her grandchildren.

'She's worried about them. She doesn't want to see them hurt,' said the family friend.

Woods' father, Earl Woods, who died from prostate cancer a couple of years ago, was allegedly unfaithful to Thai-born Kultida several years ago.

The golfer was said to have been 'devastated' when he learned of his father's infidelity.

Kultida's anger comes as Elin Woods prepares for divorce and a custody battle over her and Woods' two young children, Sam, two, and Charlie, ten months.

Woods is thought to have cheated on Elin with up to 14 mistresses.

It is reported the ex-model had been prepared to discuss joint custody arrangements with Woods, but his refusal to see a doctor for his reported sex addiction has prompted Elin, 29, to limit his involvement in the children's lives.

One of Elin's close friends told the Sunday Mirror: 'She can't believe Tiger's behaviour. He says he wants to save the marriage, but he's not doing anything about it.

'He's hiding out like a child and refusing to go to rehab to get the treatment he needs. She's so mad at him, she's flipping out.

Everyone wants Tiger to get treatment and going down that road was his only real chance of delaying the divorce, but he wouldn't even sit through therapy.

'Elin has had enough now,' the friend told the newspaper. 'She's made up her mind that she's going for custody.'

It is reported that Elin will instruct her lawyer, legendary Hollywood divorce specialist Sorrell Trope, to fight for half of Woods' £340million fortune along with full custody of the children.

But legal experts told the Sunday Mirror Elin is unlikely to win full custody as Woods' home state of Florida is 'dad-friendly' and his serial cheating would not count unless Elin can prove his behaviour made him 'a detriment' to his children.



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Sources: Daily Mail, EPA, NY Daily News, Google Maps