Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/6/13

Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -

Al Pacino is getting good reviews as embattled music producer Phil Spector in an upcoming HBO movie. Also starring Helen Mirren as Spector’s attorney Linda Kenney Baden, the movie revolves around Spector’s first trial for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson and his relationship with Kenney Baden. The first trial ended in a hung jury in 2007. Two years later Spector was convicted. He is currently serving a 19 years-to-life sentence in a California prison. Written and directed by David Mamet, the HBO production also stars Jeffrey Tambor and Rebecca Pidgeon. “Phil Spector” premieres on HBO on March 24th.

Motley Crue’s Vince Neil says fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a new album from the group.  He syas that the band has no plans to work on the follow up to their 2008 effort “Saints of Los Angeles” anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean the group won’t have a new song or two arriving in the near future. Neil says he’s expecting Motley Crue to spend much of this year on the road. The band will launch the Australian leg of “The Monster Tour” with KISS in Perth on February 28th. So far the group’s only other confirmed date is the Moondance Jam festival in Walker, Minnesota on July 18th.

An instrumental version of 1985 charity single Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote to help the hungry in Africa is now being used by another country for a very different reason. North Korea is dropping bombs on U.S. cities in a new video set to the instrumental of the peace anthem “We Are The World.” The three-and-a-half minute propaganda video was uploaded to North Korea’s official website over the weekend. It shows an unidentified city being attacked with explosions while the United States flag flaps in the background. The footage of the city in ruins in the video was reportedly lifted from the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” According to the “New York Times,” a copy of the video on YouTube was removed Tuesday afternoon after gamemaker Activision complained of copyright infringement. The video comes on the heels of North Korea’s promises to expand its nuclear program and conduct another nuclear test in defiance of the United Nations recent sanctions against the

PETA is calling out Beyonce over her wardrobe choice during her Super Bowl halftime performance. The star’s black leather bodysuit included materials offensive to the group, like python and paneled iguana. PETA issued a statement saying they don’t think Beyonce would have chosen the Rubin Singer-designed outfit had she seen one of their video exposés showing the painful deaths experienced by the reptiles. PETA says “today’s fashions are trending toward humane, vegan options” and Beyonce “missed the mark” on that score. According to the “NY Daily News,” PETA also took issue with the Christian Dior mink coat Beyonce wore to President Obama’s inauguration last month.

It looks as if Britney Spears is still headed to Las Vegas. The star’s longtime manager Larry Rudolph tells “Extra” Britney is indeed talking to several casinos about a months-long residency in Sin City. He tells “Extra” he and Britney are in “deep negotiations” and that he would be “shocked if it didn’t happen.” Rudolph added that both parties are hoping to nail down a deal as soon as possible and that fans should expect a formal announcement in the next few weeks.

Lady Gaga spends a lot of time on the road – but she apparently enjoys all the luxuries of being an international pop star. Gaga’s tour rider was revealed in court documents for a lawsuit involving her former assistant Jennifer O’Neill. Among other things, the rider reportedly shows Gaga asked for all lavender-colored towels for her dressing room, lavender-scented hand and face soap and candles that should be available “at all times.” According to Celebuzz.com, the Mother Monster also needs to have a jar of Hiro strawberry jam, peanut butter and Special K cereal. She’s apparently also quite fond of “good quality” white and red wines, speciality teas and requests a pack of “extra long” straws. Gaga reportedly has a specific taste for the decor of her accommodations. She asks for her dressing room to be in a “glam rock” theme, with white leather couches, fresh roses and black satin drapes. She also needs a fitness room accessible to her 24/7.

Bruno Mars has a musical family back in his homestate of Hawaii. His four sisters are in a group called Lylas trying to break into the business like their big brother. The four girls — Jaime, Tiara, Tahiti and Presley — have signed with WE TV to develop an unscripted series about their attempts to launch their girl group. The network announced on Tuesday that the group is moving forward with the reality show with production company Asylum Entertainment, who is behind shows like TLC’s “Making the Cut.” The show will be called “The Lylas,” and will follow the band as they move from Hawaii to Los Angeles to work on their debut album. The network says that the group’s story is “filled with all of the drama and chaos that comes from making a major life change, with the added spice of doing it alongside your sisters.” No word yet on when the series is set to air.