MTV News Round-Up 03/11/2004

*** Eminem has denied claims he mimed on American TV show 'Saturday Night Live'. Newspaper reports suggest the rapper lip-synched to his new single, 'Mosh'. "He was singing 'Mosh' and you could tell he was lip-synching," said a studio source. A representative for Eminem, however, insists the rapper was trying to "duplicate the sound on his album."

*** The Libertines have announced that they have no plans to play live after the end of this year. Frontman Carl Barat said: "No more official gigs are booked. An ongoing problem with my health, which requires an operation, will put me out of action for maybe some months." Meanwhile, Pete Doherty's new band, Babyshambles, have announced a string of live dates.

*** Destiny's Child's UK promotion tour left the band shocked. When returning to their hotel after a day promoting their new album, Beyonce, Michelle and Kelly discovered two obsessed fans hiding outside their rooms. A source has said: "the fans had been posing as guests, and I think they were desperate to meet Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle."

*** Paul McCartney is set to appear on the new Band Aid 20 single. The ex-Beatle will play bass on the re-recording of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', joining Bono, Chris Martin, Danny Goffey of Supergrass, The Darkness, Natasha Bedingfield, Snow Patrol, Keane, Dido, Robbie Williams Sugababes, Beverley Knight, Jamelia and Skye Edwards from Morcheeba.

*** Erasure will release their first studio album in four years next year. 'Nightbird' is due for release in January and will be "happier" then the duos previous releases. "The last couple of albums were a bit moody and down," explains singer Andy Bell. Bell and Vince Clarke will embark on a UK tour in support of the album next Spring.

*** Nina Jayne played an intimate acoustic gig for fans and friends alike last night at a pub in London. The sultry UK vocalist, currently supporting Lionel Ritchie on tour, worked through a short set that included material from her forthcoming album, due early next year. Nina releases an EP - 'No Ordinary Pain' on November 29.

TRL NEWS:
"Robbie is a nice bloke, isn't he", said Lee Ryan of Blue. Robbie had reportedly said that he would have had the hots for Lee - if he were gay. Guesting on today's TRL with the rest of the band, Lee was laughing when asked about Robbie's comment. "It's a compliment, really, it's great, it's cool", he said. The band also performed the new single, 'Curtains Fall'.

HK