MUSIC NEWS: MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017
GENE SIMMONS - SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
Add Gene Simmons to the list of stars accused of sexual misconduct. Billboard reports that the bass player for Kiss is being sued by a radio and T-V broadcaster who says he groped her and made ``unwanted'' and ``unwarranted'' sexual advances toward her. Unlike many of the allegations made against celebrities these days, this happened recently. The broadcaster says it happened November 1st when she interviewed Simmons and Kiss bandmate Paul Stanley at their restaurant in Highland, California. The suit claims, among other things, that during a post-interview photo, Simmons touched the woman's buttocks. An attorney for the woman says her client is ``embarrassed and humiliated'' by the experience.
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NELLY - RAPE CHARGES DROPPED
An attorney for Nelly says his client is the victim of a ``deceitful allegation devoid of credibility.''
Authorities in Washington state say they won't file rape charges against the rapper, because the accuser isn't cooperating. The woman said Nelly raped her on his tour bus in October outside Seattle.
Nelly was arrested and booked before being released. Shortly after the arrest, the woman told prosecutors she wanted the investigation stopped. Prosecutors say without the woman's help, they can't investigate to see whether the allegation has any merit.
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EMINEM - MOM'S SPAGHETTI
If you remember the Eminem song ``Lose Yourself,'' you no doubt remember the line about him being so nervous he barfs up ``mom's spaghetti'' before performing. Over the weekend, some people in Detroit got the chance to see what that pasta takes like of course, before he got ill. The rapper had one of those pop-up restaurants and ``mom's spaghetti'' was on the menu. It's all part of the buildup to his new album.
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JEEZY - EVOLUTION
Jeezy says he was like a lump of coal in a darkened mine but came out like a diamond. The rapper says he can remember many struggles he faced as a kid like being so poor, he had to shoo cockroaches off his food before eating. He says the tough times inspired him do better and now, he wants to help others do the same. He sketches out his journey in his new album, ``Pressure.'' It features collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, J. Cole and 2 Chainz.
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TONY BENNETT MEMORIAL PERFORMANCE
He wasn't there in person. But Tony Bennett was very much a part of the public memorial for San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. A taped performance of the veteran crooner was part of the service held yesterday in the rotunda of San Francisco's city hall.
Lee was the city's first Asian-American Mayor. He died last week.
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KEELY SMITH - OBIT
Singer Keely Smith has died. She was big back in the day, best-known as a pop and jazz singer who both recorded standards and had a longtime musical partnership with Louis Prima. Smith was 89 when she died of apparent heart failure over the weekend in Palm Springs, California.
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(The Canadian Press)