News January 22 2008

Notorious
Controversy erupted over the weekend around the Biggie Smalls biopic Notorious. Though the film did well at the box office, coming in fourth in North America, a shooting reportedly took place at a movie showing in North Carolina on Friday. Actor Jamal Woolard, who portrays B.I.G. in the film, was on hand when shots were fired in the lobby of the theatre. He wasn’t hurt but one moviegoer was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.

A New Label
Singer Amy Winehouse is launching a record label called Lioness. Who do you think would trust Amy with their career?. NME is reporting that the label’s first signing is 13-year-old Dionne Bromfield who is shown here accompanied by her godma Amy. The two have been collaborating in the studio and Amy’s sunk £1-million into the release and enlisted Lady Gaga to work on the album that’s due out in March.


FRANZ FERDINAND
Have been revealed as the last band to complete the line-up for the 2009 Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig. The Scottish rockers will play ahead of The Cure's headlining 90-minute set at the O2 Arena on February 26 Crystal Castles and White Lies will also perform on the night. Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos told NME.com: "We've always fancied playing the Millennium Dome and it's great to share the stage with The Cure - one of the greatest British bands of the last 30 years." The show will take place the day after this year's Shockwaves NME Awards ceremony at Brixton Academy, where The Cure are set to be crowned as 2009 Godlike Geniuses.