Prince, who is known for being a bit unconventional when it comes to releasing his music, has decided that his next offering (the title of which is still unknown … tho it’s possible it may be titled 20TEN) will be released in the August issue of German Rolling Stone magazine. As you may recall, a couple of years ago Prince gave away free copies of his album Planet Earth with the Daily Mail newspaper in the UK (the album was later offered for sale here in the US). It seems like Prince is ready to give away another album, this time in German Rolling Stone mag. Here is a full page ad in the July issue of German RS that promotes an upcoming concert performance in Berlin along with a rough translation of the text that hints at the release of his next album:

Purple Weeks After 8 years without a show in Germany Prince is finally doing the honors on July 5 at the Waldbuehne Berlin – presented by ROLLING STONE which is hitting the newsstands with the most exclusive Prince bonus there is in the August issue. Nothing more may be revealed…

Despite the fact that it will be very difficult to get a copy of German Rolling Stone WITH this Prince album included here in the US, I am very much looking forward to its release. As much as many folks did not like the album LOTUSFLOW3R which was released last year, I dug it very much and am excited at the prospect of new music to come. My guess is that this new album will be made available in the rest of the world as well … we just may have to wait a bit longer. Any Prince fans excited out there?

[Source via Source]

Last month we got to see a few photos of our dear Britney Spears on a SoCal set for an upcoming ad campaign for Candie’s and today we learn what I think the shoot was for. Britney has been hired by Candie’s to design (whatever that means) a limited edition clothing collection (from dresses to jeans to accessories) which will be available for sale this coming Fall. Here is our first look at some of the promo images that are featured in the lookbook of Britney for Candie’s: The Limited Edition Collection:

Designed by Britney for you! International icon, Britney Spears has designed an exclusive, limited edition collection of apparel and accessories for Candie’s. The limited edition collection, “Britney for Candie’s” will be available only at Kohl’s Department Stores and Kohls.com beginning this July, while product lasts. This is Britney Spears’ first foray into fashion designing and the limited edition collection is a reflection of Britney’s personal style.

I mean … I love Britney but I have a real hard time believing she actually designed these clothes. My guess it was more a matter that she was shown some sketches and then picked her faves for production … but, who knows. After the jump, check out some of the offerings that will be made available from Britney for Candie’s: The Limited Edition Collection …

While countless Michael Jackson fans will be marking the anniversary of his death in a variety of ways today (many of them centered squarely here in Los Angeles, where MJ is laid to rest), his 3 children — Prince Michael Joesph, Paris Michael Katherine and Prince Michael Joesph II aka Blanket — have made their way to Hawaii this week to escape the melee here in SoCal to rest, relax and reflect in their own way:

As the world around them honors Friday’s first anniversary of their father’s sudden death, Michael’s Jackson’s three grieving children escaped to the islands of Hawaii, where they were treated to a day of fun in the sun by their grandmother, Katherine. The kids – Prince, 13; Paris, 12; and Blanket, 8 – were spotted this week on their quick family getaway in Maui with Katherine, a security team and friends. Paris, who has had the most trouble privately coping with the loss of their famous father, was photographed swimming at the hotel pool with a solemn expression on her face. Says a source close to the Jackson family: “Early on, Paris didn’t think she could live without her father … she just didn’t know how she was going to function. But [Katherine] has been so supportive of her that Paris is much better. Her brothers, meanwhile, appeared more carefree on the trip, often smiling and playing in the waves with other children on the beach. “You have to remember that everybody in that family was suffering from grief, so Michael’s kids never felt alone in it,” the source continues. “That helped them to become stronger.” Clearly, the children have come a long way in the past year. Says the source, “They are much more open, and playful. They have matured.” On Friday’s actual anniversary of Jackson’s death, the family is scheduled to head to their late father’s hometown in Gary, Indiana, where Katherine is expected to reveal a large monument of the pop icon outside of the home where the Jacksons grew up nearly 50 years ago. A memorial and candlelight vigil is due to follow, concluding with Jackson’s hit “We Are The World.”

It’s so nice to see MJ‘s kids enjoying life like normal kids … unmasked and unabashedly basking in the sun and surf on holiday. It really does sound like they have adjusted well to the loss of their father and are doing well. If these reports of a trip to Gary, IN are true then Katherine and the kids should be winging their way to the Midwest right about now in order to make it in time for the anniversary celebration that will take place there later today. To be honest, I think it would’ve been much more appropriate for the kids to just be left alone in Hawaii to play as they will. But, apparently, Katherine wants them to bear witness to at least one special remembrance ceremony for their late father. My thoughts are with the kids today … while the world is still dealing with the loss of the King of Pop, we have to remember that these kids are still dealing with the loss of their beloved daddy.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

One year ago today the world was stunned by the shocking news that Michael Jackson, the self-proclaimed King of Pop, had suddenly and very surprisingly passed away at the age of 50. In the year since MJ‘s death, the world has shown an outpouring of love and devotion for the late pop star and we all got to see a behind the scenes look at what MJ had planned for his ill-fated This Is It Tour scheduled to take place in London, England last Summer. Today, on the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson‘s death, the world remembers what it lost on June 25, 2009:

Michael Jackson fans around the world lit candles on Friday to mark the death one year ago of the controversial pop star whose posthumous popularity has returned him to a pedestal and made him a billion dollar man. Fans in Hanoi, Vietnam, held a night of performances of Jackson’s songs while 50 Japanese admirers — one for each year of his life — were picked from 10,000 people to spend a night at Tokyo Tower among the singer’s possessions in the Neverland Collection, the only official Michael Jackson exhibition. “The idea may sound a bit odd to Western cultures, but in Japan the tradition of being with the remains and possessions of passed loved ones on the anniversary of their passing is an important ritual,” said Hiroyuki Takamura of the Tokyo Tower. Jackson’s sudden death at age 50 on June 25 last year in Los Angeles sparked an outpouring of grief internationally for the former child star, who was rehearsing for a series of concerts aimed at reviving a career shattered by bizarre events as an adult and acquittal on charges of molesting a 13-year-old boy. One year on, Jackson is again idolized and his debts a burden of the past. Hollywood trade paper Billboard estimated Jackson’s earnings in the past year have hit $1 billion, including album sales generating about $383 million and revenue from the film “This Is It” hitting nearly $400 million. The Official Charts Company, which compiles record sales in Britain, said Jackson sold more records than any other artist in the last 12 months. His sales of 2.77 million albums outstripped Michael Buble’s 2.0 million. Including singles, Jackson’s sales in Britain reached 4.31 million for the year since his death. “Man in the Mirror” topped singles sales, followed by “Billie Jean” … There are no major tributes planned on Friday by the official Michael Jackson estate, which now controls rights to the “Beat it” singer’s music, likeness and other memorabilia. But in the family hometown of Gary, Indiana, matriarch Katherine Jackson will unveil a monument outside the humble house where the legendary Jackson 5 began their singing career half a century ago. A memorial and candlelight vigil will follow, ending with the song “We are the World.” Jackson’s children — Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket — are expected to mark the anniversary privately in Gary. The cemetery where Jackson is buried near Los Angeles will open its gates to all fans on Friday but they will not be allowed into the vast mausoleum containing his body. The singer’s estranged father Joe has helped organize a “Forever Michael” tribute at a Beverly Hills hotel on June 26 and Katherine Jackson, 80, has given the fund-raising dinner her blessing with her self-published book of personal family photographs — “Never Can Say Good-bye” — to be sold there.

Fans started showing up at MJ‘s grave site at Forest Lawn Cemetery early yesterday afternoon to begin their vigil to mark the anniversary of his death today:

And in fine Joseph Jackson style, papa Joe is using today for his own attention-grabbing ends by officially filing a wrongful death suit against Dr. Conrad Murray — MJ‘s personal physician in charge of his well-being at the time of this death last year and has since been criminally charged with involuntary manslaughter — to ensure that he is being talked about today:

TMZ has obtained Joe Jackson’s wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray that Joe’s lawyer, Brian Oxman, will file today — Joe asks for unspecified damages in connection with the death of Michael Jackson. And, the lawsuit lists Katherine Jackson and Michael’s three kids as “nominal” plaintiffs. The lawsuit does not name AEG, though Oxman has alleged the company that produced “This Is It” was at least partly responsible for Jackson’s death. Oxman does not explain what he means when he lists Katherine and MJs kids as “nominal” plaintiffs. He clearly does not have authority to sue on behalf of the children. According to the suit, “Mr. Jackson believes there are other parties responsible for Michael Jackson’s death but has not yet gathered sufficient information regarding their potential liability or responsibility.” The suit says the complaint will be amended when sufficient info is gathered. TMZ obtained a copy of the complaint, which will be filed in federal court this morning. In the complaint, Joe alleges Dr. Murray withheld vital information from the doctors and EMTs who were trying to save Jackson’s life — information that he had administered Propofol. The complaint — much like the intent to sue document TMZ first broke — states that Murray tried to “clean-up the scene” before EMTs arrived. Something new … Murray told cops he was monitoring Michael when he gave him Propofol with a pulse oximeter, which measures the level of oxygen in a patient’s blood. But according to the suit, when police searched the scene, they found the oximeter “in the closet in the next room.” The complaint alleges Dr. Murray felt he could change his story — from Jackson had no drug problem, to Jackson was addicted to Propofol — because he kept no medical records, as required by California law. The complaint alleges Joe Jackson has suffered more than $75,000 in damages, the minimum amount required to get jurisdiction in federal court. The case was filed in federal — not California court — because Dr. Murray’s residence is outside the state. The suit claims Dr. Murray administered a “polypharmacy” of drugs to Jackson for months before his death.

Yes, folks, there are many ways that people are marking the anniversary of MJ‘s death … these are just a few examples. Despite the fact that I am not a huge MJ fan, I plan to play some of my fave Michael Jackson tunes at some point today in honor of his memory. I just cannot believe it’s been a year already.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source, Source]