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Madonna's wedding catapulted Sandra into the world spotlight
Category: Interviews & Statements.
THE day A-list celebrity Madonna hit town along with her entourage provided Sandra Peterkin with an unexpected taste of fame.

As the public face of the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board (HOST), she used the scores of interviews she gave to the world's media to put the region on the global tourist map.

But, despite talking to more than 50 radio and television stations, as well as newspapers and magazines, she missed the moment when the singer and her husband-to-be, Guy Ritchie, made a brief public appearance as they went into Dornoch Cathedral for the christening of their baby.

"I just saw the top of Madonna's head!" she laughed

Click on read more for the whole article

 

Another George Michael's remark on Madonna
Category: Interviews & Statements.

Pop star George Michael talked about his new album " Patience" during  a recent press meeting..

He said "Much of the social commentary stuff was written during a period where I was still too afraid to look really deep inside because I was so down," he said.

Will Manchester offer enough for the choosy Queen of Pop?
Category: Madonna live.

WITH a Ј250m fortune, a 1,200-acre country pile and fashionable friends from Milan to Miami, Madonna is the ultimate material girl. She boasts a career spanning three decades and, while her ability to shock is waning, she is still one of the movers and shakers on the pop scene and the celebrity circuit.

So it's with great excitement that Manchester opens its arms to welcome the 45-year-old mother of two from Michigan, although it won't be the first time she's visited our fair city, because back in 1984 the then relatively unknown singer did a turn at the Hacienda.

While it's hard to imagine the singer being paid anything more than peanuts for her gig at the Hacienda, she now commands top whack for her concerts. The best seats for her gig at the M.E.N. Arena in August cost Ј150 and promoters are confident that her concert will be the biggest grossing box office event the venue has ever seen.

Of course, Manchester is no stranger to rock and roll royalty - having housed, watered, fed and entertained the likes of Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney and Justin Timberlake - but the Queen of Pop is in a league of her own.

Madonna - or Madge, as she's become known since her move to Britain - follows a macrobiotic, oriental-style vegetarian diet consisting largely of whole grains, pulses and vegetables.

Meat, poultry, dairy products, sweets, sugar, coffee, tea and strong spices are all off the menu. If she's feeling peckish and her personal chef has the night off, then all Madonna has to do is head to the Eighth Day shop and cafй, on Oxford Road, which serves vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

In spite of the strict diet, Madonna confessed to liking real ale when, during a television interview she gushed about the joys of supping pints of Timothy Taylor with her film director husband Guy Ritchie.

Naturally, Manchester is awash with real ales including Hydes, Holts, Robinsons and John Willie Lees, which are served in many pubs, so there are plenty of watering spots to quench her thirst.

Bernard Manning

DURING a visit to one of these establishments she might even bump into one of her biggest fans, the comic Bernard Manning. He is delighted that Madonna is coming to Manchester. "I'm a big fan of hers," says the 73-year-old comic.

"She's a lovely lady. We met at Marco Pierre White's restaurant, Mirabelle, and she said she liked my jokes and enjoyed my show.

"She was fabulous. She dressed the part. She's a real lady. I think she wanted me to do a turn at her husband's birthday but it never happened.

"Her husband's fantastic, a real man's man. She's very busy and so am I, but I might try and catch her show because it's around the time of my birthday. She'll love Manchester because it has the best hotels in the world and the nicest people, too. She should come to my Embassy club if she likes real ale because we serve it."

So Madonna is obviously cut from a different cloth than other divas, whose backstage demands include kittens, lilies, room temperature mineral water and designer dresses.

This material girl likes nothing better than a pint and reading mystical Hebrew teachings, so perhaps there'll be no time to nip into King Street boutiques or Harvey Nichols.

Madonna is becoming renowned for dressing down in tracksuits, although not the kind sported by members of the public.

One of her favourite brands is Juicy Couture, available in Selfridges, with tracksuits costing up to Ј180.

The chances are she'll probably not slum it when it comes to booking into a local hotel, with the five-star Lowry being her likely stopover.

Madonna plays the M.E.N. Arena on August 15. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 21 and are between Ј75 and Ј150, plus booking fee. Call 0870 060 1768.

source:MO

Billboard Article on Warner/Maverick lawsuit
Category: Magazines.
By Chris Morris

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - A Delaware Chancery Court judge has ruled that Los Angeles should be the venue for the hearing of the bitter legal clash between Warner Music Group (WMG) and top Warner act Madonna's Maverick Records.

WMG filed its preemptive action against Maverick in Delaware on March 24, seeking a declaratory judgment. Maverick filed its own suit the following day in California Superior Court in L.A., claiming that WMG had breached its 12-year-old joint-venture pact with the label, which is gearing up for the May 18 release of Alanis Morissette's new album.

The suits are believed to be tied to ongoing disputes between WMG and Maverick about the value of the 60% of Maverick held by partners Madonna and Guy Oseary. WMG has an option to buy that share when its agreement with Maverick ends Dec. 31.

Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Leo E. Strine ruled May 7 that since most of the witnesses in the suits are probably based in L.A., a trial should proceed there.

Strine stayed WMG's action and gave the parties in the suit until May 18 to secure an L.A. trial date for early November at the latest. If no date can be obtained, the case would return to the Delaware court.

A statement from WMG said in part, "We are pleased that the Delaware court has affirmed the importance of expediting this matter, regardless of where the trial ultimately is held. We are confident the court will agree that Maverick's claims against the company are baseless, and that Warner Music Group has met all of its financial and legal obligtions to the joint venture."

Bertram Fields, Maverick's attorney, did not respond to a call seeking comment.

BBC website on Manchester Show
Category: Madonna live.

Madonna confirms Manchester date

The show is Madonna's first Manchester date since 2004 Pop icon Madonna has confirmed a date in Manchester this August, her first in the city since playing the Hacienda club in 1984. The show will tale place at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena on 15 August, and is the first confirmed date outside London. Tickets - which go on sale on Friday at 9am - will cost up to Ј150. Madonna is embarking on a world tour this year on the back of her recent album, American Life. She will already announced a show at London's Earl's Court venue on 18 August, and another on 19 August. May start "We have been in conversation with Madonna's people for some time, and we had confirmation early on Monday - we were waiting to confirm the ticket sale date, which is Friday," a spokeswoman for the venue said. The superstar has already started rehearsals for the re-Invention Tour. Madonna's last tour dates in the UK were in 2001. Her current tour will begin in Los Angeles on 24 May before travelling around the US for more than two months. She is also playing a date in reland at Dublin's Slane Castle, which takes place on 29 August.

[BREAKING NEWS] MADONNA Booked Manchester Arena!
Category: Madonna live.

Manchester Evening News, UK - 

MATERIAL girl Madonna has announced a sensational concert date at the Manchester Evening News Arena.

 

The American star has finally bowed to public demand by her Manchester fans for what is already being hailed as the biggest Arena show ever, despite past superstar names like Sir Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Sir Elton John who have all appeared at the venue.

Promoters of the Sunday, August 15 show are anticipating an unprecedented stampede for tickets when they go on sale on Friday, May 21.

Arena general manager John Knight said: "After names like Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Elton John, plus all the other world stars the Arena has had in the past, this is the biggest announcement, and demand for tickets will be the greatest ever.

"This will without doubt be the biggest grossing box office event the M.E.N. Arena has ever had. Although the top price tickets at Ј150 are the same as they were for Sir Paul McCartney, we expect to sell more at that price because it is Madonna."

Busiest

Guitar legend Eric Clapton, American singing sensation Justin Timberlake and Robbie Williams are other names that have helped the Arena repeatedly smash box-office records - and led to it being named earlier this year as the busiest concert venue in the world.

The Manchester date will kick start the UK leg of Madonna's world Re-Invention Tour, and will be the first time she has played in the north of England since a performance at Roundhay Park in Leeds in 1987.

Madonna, whose Arena concert is on a Sunday because of the star's religious beliefs, has links with Manchester going back to the eighties.

Fans of the star, who now lives in the UK, will be aware that back in 1984 the then completely unknown singer did a turn at the voguish Hacienda.

Madonna plays the MEN Arena on Sunday, August 15. Tickets are Ј150, Ј90, and Ј75 and go on sale on Friday, May 21 at 9am.

To book, call 0870 060 1768 or visit the website below.

http://www.men-arena.com/

 

How true believers can jump the queue
Category: Madonna live.

WOULD you like a backstage pass, photograph, program, autograph, T-shirt and fries with your next concert ticket?

Hundreds of music fans are now prepared to spend up to $1000 for a concert ticket with the lot instead of queueing overnight to secure a precious front-row position.

Promoters and bands have become increasingly savvy about reaping maximum profits from an Australian tour by charging premium prices for the best seats.

KISS fans can buy a platinum ticket package online for their Sydney Superdome performance tonight for US$1000 (plus shipping fee) which would give them a front row seat, a backstage meeting and photo with the band, guitar picks, exclusive T-shirt and US$50 coupon to spend at the KISS store.

A KISS spokeswoman said as the band had never signed autographs or posed for photos in their 30-year career, the package represented an historic experience for fans.

The trend began with the Madonna Girlie tour in 1993 with cashed-up fans paying $200 for limited Gold tickets at the front of the stage.

As the Australian dollar slipped and production costs and artist fees rose, promoters introduced tiered ticketing systems, charging higher prices for premium seats and less for those in the rafters.

For The Who's July show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, fans have a choice of Gold tickets for $199 and Silver for $99.

"The older fans of your major acts don't want to queue all night or day to get the better seats and we started to see that with the big stadium tours of Madonna, Billy Joel and Elton John and The Eagles," promoter Michael Chugg said.

"So they will pay extra to guarantee they are in the first lot of seats.

"Even with acts like Robbie Williams, about 600 fans paid $450 each for their tickets, dinner and drinks."

Band fan clubs have also developed packages offering "money-can't-buy" extras from backstage meet-and-greets to limited edition collectibles and merchandise.

"Radiohead sold $200,000 worth of tickets through their online fan club which gave punters a chance to come to a party with them after the show," Mr Chugg said.

"Bands will ask us to keep a certain amount of tickets aside for fan club members and in most cases, there will be extra stuff for the fans."

One of the most popular premium packages offered recently were the $1000 packages for the Prince concerts last October.

Promoter Paul Dainty and Prince's representatives devised the packages where up to 200 fans in each city spent a day and night, including sitting and dancing on stage, with the superstar.

"We could have sold those tickets 100 times over," Mr Dainty said.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

More on the Pit Tickets' Auctions on eBay.
Category: Madonna live.
We have previously written an article about 19 auctions of pit tickets on eBay for June 24th New York. We said that they looked like to be fake.

Now we take up this subject again because our friend Slyguy has informed us that they are indeed fake auctions. Here's his tale:

I saw a link to the fake auctions early Saturday morning. I was the person who e-mailed the official Sweet Relief Musicians Fund on Ebay (--LINK--) to warn them that it looks like somebody is impersonating their organization. The fraudster was impersonating their organization and posted the same exact information in the fake 19 auctions copying everything from this real auction the other day: --LINK--

Somebody from the organization e-mailed me back twice thanking me for the alert and telling me that they notified Ebay to have those 19 auctions cancelled and to have that Ebay member investigated for fraud.
Madonna, the pacesetter for jumbo entertainment in South Florida.
Category: Madonna live.

Madonna, Madonna -- say it like Robin Williams in The Birdcage.

Now say it again.

There. You have just summarized the local concert calendar for the coming months.

Four nights of Madonna is not the only reason to leave the house. But the pop supermom and kissin' cousin of Britney Spears is the pacesetter for jumbo entertainment in South Florida this spring and summer. No other arena act figures to draw as many people, or charge them as much.

Chasing Madonna in the May-September box-office sweeps is a pack of acts betting that an improved economy frees up more dollars for concertgoing. Not that the last U.S. recession caused live entertainers much pain; the concert business in North America sailed right through that downturn as well as the record industry's own slump. Ticket sales jumped 20 percent last year to reach $2.5 billion, a fifth straight year of record-high concert revenues, according to the trade weekly Pollstar. Small wonder, then, the new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex in Hollywood will be adding a 5,600-seat concert hall, Hard Rock Live, next year.

Nor should it surprise anyone that $300 is list price for the best Madonna seats at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise (July 28, 29) and AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami (Aug. 1, 2). Three of the four shows were declared sellouts as of April 20. But a visit on Tuesday to Ticketmaster.com turned up single $150 seats in the first level off the floor at the first Miami -- though no pairs at any price on either night. A search of the Sunrise dates turned up a pair in the 300 level ($91.50 each) for July 29. Hello, eBay.

The large-scale fun begins with Fleetwood Mac on Tuesday at Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach. On May 30, the reggae and dancehall label VP Records throws a 25th anniversary concert at Bayfront Park Amphitheater in downtown Miami. Past and present VP artists such as Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Lady Saw, Maxi Priest, Elephant Man, Sizzla and Marcia Griffiths perform.

After that -- well, Christina Aguilera canceled a June 5 show at Sound Advice but Aguileran belter Jessica Simpson plays there on June 12. Blues-rocker Eric Clapton offers a less interchangeable experience on June 15 at Office Depot, with gospel steel guitarist Robert Randoph opening. Salsa balladeer Marc Anthony brings his "Nada Personal" tour to AmericanAirlines on June 18, and country star Tim McGraw plays Sound Advice on June 19.

The arena schedule then cools until Independence Day. Rod Stewart kicks off the summer slate on July 4 at Sound Advice. Shania Twain appears on July 10 at Office Depot. There is no word yet on whether Lollapalooza will return. But the Cure plans to launch a new festival tour, called Curiosa, with Interpol, the Rapture, Mogwai, Muse, Cooper Temple Clause, Melissa Auf Der Mar, Cursive, Thursday and more. The band has tentatively targeted Sound Advice on July 24 as the inaugural date.

Next comes a scheduling crunch that redefines "glut." In the July-August span covering Madonna's four dates, Sound Advice puts on Spears and JC Chasez of 'N Sync (July 27), the nostalgic double bill of Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire (July 28), Rush (July 29), and Dave Matthews Band and Daniel Lanois (July 31, Aug. 1).

To add to the traffic, Kiss is considering a July 30 show at Sound Advice, but that has not gone on sale. Madonna Week also bumps into the Warped Tour, featuring New Found Glory and 49 other bands, on July 31 at Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, and pop singer Carole King on Aug. 1 at Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton.

The big shows continue into August and September with Hilary Duff (Aug. 13, Office Depot), "Projekt Revolution" starring Linkin Park, Korn and Snoop Dogg (Aug. 17, Sound Advice), American Idols Live (Aug. 17, Office Depot), the MTV Video Music Awards (Aug. 29, AmericanAirlines), Ozzfest (Sept. 4, Sound Advice), a Sammy Hagar-fronted Van Halen (Sept. 8, Office Depot), Sting and Annie Lennox (Sept. 8, Sound Advice), Incubus (Sept. 28, Office Depot), Gloria Estefan (Sept. 24, AmericanAirlines) and Phil Collins (Sept. 30, Office Depot).

And in the mold of pro skater Tony Hawk's recent rock-and-jock expos, the "And 1 Mix Tape Tour" brings tournament basketball and hip-hop to AmericanAirlines Arena on Aug. 13.

Among medium-sized venues, 5,000-seat Mizner will be especially busy, hosting A Perfect Circle on Friday, followed by Train (May 25), Harry Connick Jr. (May 27), Aretha Franklin (May 28), the Darkness (June 6), Hall & Oates with special guests Michael McDonald and the Average White Band (June 26) and Heart (Aug. 28). Further out, Mizner presents the Pixies on Oct. 9. Tickets for that touring reunion of alternative-rock icons go on sale June 11.

Romeos of soul Ginuwine, Joe, Jagged Edge and Avant croon on Wednesday at the Knight Center in Miami. Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz performs on June 2 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale. Smooth-jazz star Dave Koz plays on June 10 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Pompano hosts hometown piper Dashboard Confessional on June 15. Argentine rock veteran Charly Garcia performs at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach on July 9. The Seminole Hard Rock gets rolling with with R.E.O. Speedwagon (June 3), Kenny Loggins (June 4), Nonpoint (June 5) and Hal Ketchum (June 11). Those shows take place in a mixed-use space adjacent to the casino, pending the completion of Hard Rock Live.

For those wanting more intimacy of setting, area clubs will be a saving grace. Ska legend Fishbone comes to the Culture Room on Thursday. The I/O lounge in Miami hosts a record release party on May 27 for the Spam Allstars. The Bamboo Room in Lake Worth presents the harrowing blues of Otis Taylor on May 28 and 29. Singer-songwriter Leon Russell performs June 18 along Riverwalk at the Downtowner in Fort Lauderdale.

And if Madonna is out of the question -- financially, politically, aesthetically -- there's always the Suicide Girls Live Burlesque Tour, June 11 at the Factory in Fort Lauderdale. No, nobody gets sacrificed on stage; the tour is an offshoot of the racy Web site that champions a different breed of woman: the punk-rock pinup. Lucky Star, it ain't.

Source: Sun Sentinel.

News from the Everybody Fan Club
Category: Web.
The Everybody Fan Club wants to share the following info wit our readers:

1. One of the new updates to the Everybody Fan Club site is an exclusive interview with Bill Lanphier, bass player for the Virgin Tour! Click here to read it.
2. Breaking news from Denise Bella Vlasis - Call out for Madonna Impersonators or Look-a-Likes in the New York area
   The Today Show may be looking for you! Please contact Denise at tributeproductions@earthlink.net for all the latest information. The show is specifically looking for two more look-a-likes and one drag Madonna. If you got the look, let Denise know! Filming on the Today Show is June 2nd.

Special thanks to Mariam from the Everybody Fan Club.
[Gossip] Rumoured next movie alreday got slammed
Category: Movies.
 PhiladelphiaDailynews
 London's The Mirror reports that Madonna's British husband, Guy Ritchie - who directed her in the mercilessly mocked bomb "Swept Away" - has announced his new project.

It's a crime flick called "Revolver" that deals with gambling. No word on whether Madonna will appear.

Please, Guy, just say politely: "Darling, I love you, but stay the f--- out of my movie. Cup of tea?"

 

[Rumours] Will the tour have a second leg?
Category: Madonna live.

Fans' Message boards are full of rumours these days about more performances outside US that could  be added to Madonna's tour..this time a spanish fan site says that...

read and discuss the latest on this subject here

More on the box set.
Category: Madonna songs and albums.
We have previously published an article on the box set from Hits Daily Double.

Check our Forum to read and discuss more info on the box set from our collaborator and friend Stereomover, who has taken up this subject again. Click here.
Madonna's land fight on hold.
Category: Magazines.

LATEST: Superstar MADONNA and husband GUY RITCHIE will have to wait another two months to find out whether they have won their battle against ramblers hoping to gain access to their English country estate.

The famous pair are furious over COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY maps which label 100 acres (40 hectares) of their 1,200-acre (485-hectare) ASHCOMBE ESTATE on the Dorset/Wiltshire border as open country - which means ramblers have the legal right to walk across it.

At a five-day public planning inquiry at the ROYAL CHASE HOTEL in Shaftesbury, Dorset, which began last Thursday (06MAY04), the couple's lawyer DAVE ELVIN QC and consultant estate manager PHILIP EDDELL pleaded the Ritchie's case.

The couple claim jobs on the estate will be sacrificed and the land would be "devastated" if ramblers were allowed access to it.

The Countryside Agency have already concluded five of the 17 contested plots of land have been wrongly classified, although the remaining 12 are subject to further investigation.

At the inquiry, which finished yesterday (12MAY03), Inspector DAVID PINNER announced a decision would be made following a second site visit.

The superstar couple can expect to find out the decision in six to eight weeks time.

Source: Contact Music.

[BREAKING NEWS] Spoiler: a surprise for first rows revealed
Category: Madonna live.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund organization, that usually organize concert ticket auctions through ebay , is currently  auctioning

2 EXCLUSIVE VIP PIT TICKETS*SIGNED PHOTO*CHARITY, at MADONNA’S show  on Thursday, June 24, 2004 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.This means that fans seated in the first  rows, will be wrapped by 2 stage pits "The pit area is EXCLUSIVE to Madonna’s friends and family. The TICKETS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE except through Madonna or her reps. This show, along with all of Madonna's MSG shows, is SOLD OUT. As if being at the front of Madison Square Garden for one of Madonna’s shows isn’t enough you will also get a SIGNED photo of Madonna. This beautiful 8X10, black & white, matte finish photo is SIGNED Love, Madonna in thick, gold, permanent marker. (The photo below is cropped, the actual photo has a white border.) Madonna has always been a wonderful supporter of Sweet Relief and now is your chance to help her help struggling musicians. Bid now and help MADONNA support artists in need. This CHARITY auction was sanctioned by MADONNA. Auction must be paid for by Friday, May 21, 2004"

check the  auction at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2242760406

Is Madonna holding up Box set retrospective?
Category: Look/Image.

May 13, 2004

Buzzers are buzzing that the judge’s decision to allow the Maverick-WMG case to be heard in California rather than in Delaware, where WMG originally filed its suit, is a big victory and a strategic advantage for Madonna’s label and its Bert Fields-led legal team. Latest scuttlebutt is that the ongoing dispute has the Material Gal blocking the company’s release of a box-set retrospective of her career, including music and videos, to accompany this summer’s red-hot SRO tour. And while Madonna described WMG’s legal action as “treasonous,” the fact she has otherwise kept the vitriol down is a possible outgrowth of her ongoing study of the Kaballah, according to some. In fact, Mrs. Ritchie has refused to schedule shows on Friday nights during the tour to observe the Sabbath.
Hitsdailydouble

Madonna gets her man
Category: Madonna music.

dailynewstranscript
By Bob Tremblay / News Staff Writer
Thursday, May 13, 2004

During more than three decades as a producer, Michael Seligman has amassed enough anecdotes to fill a book or two. Or three.

    While he can't reveal most of them, Seligman does recall one incident involving Madonna he can relate.

    In 1990, the year of "Dick Tracy," Madonna is scheduled to sing the film's Oscar-nominated song "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" during the "Academy Awards" broadcast.

    "And she worked her tail off for that song," recalled Seligman, who served as the show's supervising producer. "She worked with a choreographer. She worked for three weeks straight every day, day and night, refining this number. She's a perfectionist."

    The problem is not everything works perfectly during a live broadcast.

    "We rehearsed everything and it went fine," said Seligman.

    The production calls for Madonna to rise from below the stage on a lift through a hole in the stage floor. Once Madonna is on stage, a stage engineer in the rafters will be instructed to switch on her microphone and she'll sing.

    "So it's time for Madonna to sing and the stage manager with his headset on tells the stage engineer to switch her mike on. But nothing happens. He repeats himself. Nothing happens. The mike doesn't go on," said Seligman.

    "So the stage manager tells Madonna in this nervous kind of voice that the stage engineer is not answering his call and her mike isn't being put on. 'But don't worry,' he said. 'You'll be handed a mike when you get up on stage. It'll be fine.'"

    Madonna apparently disagreed.

    "As the lift is about to go up, she grabs the stage manager by the neck," said Seligman. "Now the lift is going up and the stage manager is going up by his throat. She finally drops him, grabs the mike and does the number perfectly."

    Seligman later learns that the heat from the lights in the rafters affected the engineer and he fell asleep. "He looks for me in the truck after the number and I told him that stuff happens," said the producer. "We became friends after that."

    And the song that Madonna sang? It won the Oscar.

first published on a madonna website

[Gossip] ROCCO'S SHORN
Category: Magazines.

contactmusic:

MADONNA shaved off her three-year-old son ROCCO'S long blond hair at the weekend (9MAY04), to obey the rules of her Kabbalah faith.

The tot - who was snapped this week with his dad GUY RITCHIE, sporting a newly shaven head - took part in a ritual cutting ceremony on Sunday to mark the death of one of the Kabbalah's founders, SIMEON BAR YOHAI.

According to Kabbalah custom a boy's hair must remain untouched until his third birthday - Rocco turned three last August (03). It must all be cut off either then, or on the following 9 May, the anniversary of Rabbi Bar Yohai's death.

The cutting ritual - which is seen as a boy's first step into manhood - involves Kabbalah members gathering around the child and each cutting a lock of hair before throwing it on a bonfire.

A Kabbalah insider reveals, "Kabbalah devotees insist that a child's hair is not cut until he is three years old.

"It's a big deal to cut the child's hair when the time comes - lots of men in the community gather round and each of them cut a bit off.

"According to Kabbala, young boys can start wearing skull caps after their first haircut, but not everyone chooses to follow this ritual."

[Gossip] Auction gaffe for Footballers' Wives star
Category: Magazines.

Actor Gary Lucy thought he'd paid Ј6,000 for one of Paul Weller's guitars at an auction, but got rugs belonging to Madonna instead.

Lucy, who stars in Footballers' Wives, then discovered the rugs didn't even fit in with his bachelor pad, reports the Daily Record.

He said: "I ended up bidding over Ј6000 for some of Madonna's old rugs. I actually wanted to buy Weller's guitar, so when I heard it come up I began bidding.

"It wasn't until they said it was sold that I realised I'd been bidding on totally the wrong thing and had bought the rugs.

"They don't go anywhere in my flat or at my parents' home, so I've had to put them in storage. I think me and auctions clearly don't mix."

Madonna as celebrity flipper
Category: Magazines.

Today's Observer introduces the concept of celebrity flippers -- the process by which brokers, developers, agents, and celebrities conspire to buy into new housing for a special price and then sell the apartment ASAP for quick cash-out. Famous neighbors, of course, add to the property value of all the other units, and everyone goes home happy. (Except whoever has to live next to Courtney Love. They go home really sad.)

"What does Madonna living next-door do to the property value? It could add 30 percent," claims former Douglas Elliman pres Paul Purcell.

The one exception so far: the Meier Perry Street towers -- which also get trashed in this June's Vanity Fair -- are suffering from a celeb-exodus. "Perry Street," says Donald Trump, "has been a disaster."