MTV News Round-Up 28/07/2004

*** Courtney Love has been sentenced to 18-months of drug rehab. The vocalist must not take any non-prescription drugs or drink alcohol, and will undergo regular drug tests. The sentence relates to an incident in 2003, when she broke into a former boyfriend's house, while high. Love has several other charges against her, soon to be faced in court, including possession of non-prescription painkillers, assault, and unpaid legal fees.

*** Justin Timberlake has succeeded in getting a restraining order against paparazzi photographer Artemus Earl Lister, who is said to have followed and chased JT by car. "Unless somebody has the guts to carry this through legally, somebody's going to get killed through these chases," said Justin's spokesman Ken Sunshine. "It's about time that somebody did something about these stalkerazzis."

*** Scissor Sisters have announced details of their forthcoming UK tour: Bournemouth BIC (October 15), London Royal Albert Hall (17), Reading Rivermead (19), Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre (20), Wolverhampton Civic (21), Manchester Apollo (23), Edinburgh Corn Exchange (24), Glasgow Barrowlands (25), Doncaster Dome (27), Blackpool Empress Ballroom (29), London Brixton Academy (31 & November 1).

*** Beck's new album will feature a song written by Jack White, according to reports. The track penned by the White Stripes frontman is apparently unfinished at present, but Beck hopes to have it done in time for the album's October release. The new record " Beck's eighth " is being produced by Dust Brothers, who worked on his 'Odelay' and 'Midnight Vultures' albums.

*** The Darkness have paid a visit to their old school to open a new music centre. The band surprised pupils at Kirkley High School in Lowestoft by turning up unannounced, having a tour of their old classrooms and donating drummer Ed Graham's first drum-kit and two guitars. Justin then went to a nearby Wildlife Park to visit a baby giraffe that has been named after him.

DL