Barenaked Ladies singer survives crash
BANCROFT, Ontario, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Authorities say Barenaked Ladies front man Ed Robertson and three others are "very lucky" to be alive after a float-plane crash in southeastern Ontario.
The small Cessna plane went down Sunday in trees near a lake north of Bancroft, Ontario, but police said all four people aboard the plane came out without a scratch, Sun Media reported.
"Everyone is fine and that is the important thing," Adam Smith, the band's manager, said in an e-mail message to Sun Media. "That's all the comment we have at this time."
"At 12:30 p.m., a Cessna 206 taking off from Baptiste Lake lost airspeed and entered a wooded area west of the lake," Sgt. Jeff MacKinnon of Bancroft OPP said. "Four people were on board -- no injuries. (The passengers) got out and then called it in," MacKinnon said, calling the group "very lucky."
MacKinnon didn't say who was piloting the plane but an unnamed source told Sun Media Robertson was at the controls. The Barenaked Ladies singer-guitarist is the host of the show "Ed's Up!" on Outdoor Life Network Canada and reportedly owns a cabin in the area.
Art critic John Russell dies at 89
NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Erudite art critic John Russell, whose tastes gained attention for many renowned postwar British artists, has died at 89 in New York, his wife says.
Russell was the main art criticism writer for more than 50 years for The Sunday Times of London and The New York Times, where he was as respected for his literate style and capacity to appreciate a wide range of styles, The New York Times said.
Russell's wife, Rosamond Bernier, told the newspaper Russell died at a hospice in the Bronx.
Russell joined The New York Times in the 1970s. He published a collection of his journalism in 1989 entitled "Reading Russell," in which he wrote, "Working for The New York Times, I found myself writing about art, as had already been agreed. But I also found myself writing about the centenary of Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the bicentenary of the Battle of Lexington, the special properties of the color green, and the fact that wisteria rhymes with hysteria."
The Times said Russell was known for his high-volume production. Most of his considerable output was devoted to art but he also wrote travel books on Switzerland, London and Paris.
George Michael gives 'final' concerts
LONDON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- British singer-songwriter George Michael is thanking his fans for "25 amazing years" of support during his "final" concerts in London.
Michael, 45, told fans gathered Sunday at London's Earls Court theater that he has written a Christmas song and may not be entirely done with singing, although he left little doubt he's through with mounting major tours, the BBC reported.
His current 25 Live tour, which has been on the road for nearly two years, is his first tour in 15 years and seems likely to be his last, Michael told the crowd. He reportedly said he wants to leave the "bells and whistles" of large-scale tours behind because he wants a "quieter life." The former Wham! member was set do one more Earls Court show and a concert Saturday billed as "The Final One" in Copenhagen.
The broadcaster said the first half of the show included such hits as "Father Figure" and "Too Funky" as well as lesser-heard Michael tracks such as "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" and "Hard Day" from the 1987 album "Faith."
Snoop Dogg unveils streetwear fashion line
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg says he's launching a new clothing line which he intends to promote heavily on his reality TV series and elsewhere.
The Rich & Infamous streetwear line is aimed at men between 18 and 35 and was developed in conjunction with brand manager the Robert Thorne Co., licensing firm IMG World and design house Industry Concepts, the show business trade newspaper Variety reported Monday.
Among Snoop Dogg's promotional efforts for the clothing will be exposure on his E! Network television show "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood," CD packaging with the Rich & Infamous brand message and product pictures, fashion shows held in conjunction with his world concert tour, and the production of an original Web video series to be distributed across multiple sites and iTunes, the newspaper said.
Snoop Dogg also told Variety he will give the Rich & Infamous line its world premiere this week at the Magic fashion trade show in Las Vegas.
