Pony Up, Prince

It's never fun being hit by a bill, and it's even worse when two land on your doorstep on one day. Prince has one of those days Friday, when it was revealed he owes at least $227,000 in taxes, and when a judge ordered him to pay $3m for a canceled gig in Ireland.

Minnesota tax records published during the week named a resident by the name of Prince R. Nelson as 'delinquent' on taxes. His PRN Music Corporation, which owns his Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, owes $227,000. A County tax manager estimated his total liability at around $450,000.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean, an Irish judge ordered The Purple One to pay $2.95m in damages to concert promoters MCD. The ruling follows Prince's cancellation of a concert at Dublin's Croke Park stadium in June 2008, just ten days before it was scheduled and after 55,000 tickets had been sold. Prince has never explained why he canceled, but he did pass on a message for the angry promoter: "Tell the cat to chill, we will work something out."

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27th March 2010

ABBA Tease Fans With Reunion Prospect

ABBA have never before seemed close to reuniting, but all four members are still alive and healthy, and they know how to tease. In an interview with The Times of London, Benny Andersson said "Yeah, why not?" when asked of the prospects.

The specific suggestion made was that one intimate performance could be screened around the world on the internet. No doubt wearing a knowing smile, Andersson added "I don't know if the girls sing anything any more. I know Frida was in the studio. It's not a bad idea, actually."

Agnetha Faltskog seems to value her privacy, but she did release an album in 2004, My Colouring Book, which was a big success in Europe. Meanwhile Anni-Frid lives in the Swiss Alps, where she is officially known as Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Synni Reuss, Countess of Plauen, following her marriage to a German prince.

Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson are currently promoting their new musical, Kristina, which opens in London in April.

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26th March 2010

Akon In Trouble Again

Akon has been refused a visa to perform in Sri Lanka after observant Buddhists started violent protests in the commercial capital Colombo. The Sri Lankans were unhappy about a music video starring Akon -- David Guetta's "Sexy Chicks" -- which depicts a raunchy pool party occurring under a Buddha statue's watchful eye.

It's difficult to see the statue in the video, which was shot at a mansion in Ibiza, but it does fleetingly appear in the background several times. The protesters threw rocks and smashed cars, and invaded the Maharaja television network's headquarters, injuring four people. Akon's visa application was subsequently rejected because of "controversial video images, offensive song lyrics and strong protests coming from various cultural, religious groups and organizations in the country."

"[I] never set out to offend or desecrate anyone's religion," Akon said, claiming that he did not even know the statue was there. "[I] am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended. But violence is never the answer and I am disheartened to hear about what happened in Sri Lanka."

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