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McCain blasts Madonna's Hitler comparison

CARDIFF, Wales, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Campaigners for likely Republican U.S. presidential nominee John McCain say it was "outrageous" for Madonna to compare him to Adolf Hitler at a Wales concert.

U.S. pop star Madonna, launching her "Sticky and Sweet" tour Monday in Cardiff, Wales, unveiled a video segment accompanying her song "Get Stupid" in which an image of McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, was juxtaposed with those of Hitler and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Later in the song, an image of McCain's probable opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was flashed in conjunction with pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, John Lennon and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

"The comparisons are outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds told reporters. "It clearly shows that when it comes to supporting Barack Obama, his fellow worldwide celebrities refuse to consider any smear or attack off limits."

The Times of London said the McCain campaign has adopted a campaign tactic of criticizing Obama's popularity with young people as a sign of lack of depth, producing an ad that juxtaposes an image of him addressing a huge rally in Germany with those of celebrities Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Springsteen, Bon Jovi to perform at DNC

DENVER, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are set to perform around likely Democratic Party nominee for U.S. president Barack Obama's acceptance speech, sources say.

Citing unnamed multiple sources, the Rocky Mountain News reported Tuesday that Bon Jovi will perform two acoustic songs before Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, makes his acceptance speech Thursday during the closing night of the Democratic National Convention. The speech is to be at Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium.

Springsteen has reportedly agreed to perform solo acoustic number after the speech to close out the night. The Rocky Mountain News said Nils Lofgren, a member of Springsteen's E Street Band, had earlier confirmed that backing group wouldn't be at Denver for the convention.

Report: Cher in talks for Catwoman role

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. singer and actress Cher is in talks to play the supervillain Catwoman in Warner Brothers' next Batman movie, sources say.

Cher, 62, who won an Academy Award for best actress for her work in the 1987 movie "Moonstruck," is negotiating with movie producers to star alongside Christian Bale in the third of the new series of "dark" Batman films, The Daily Mirror reported over the weekend. Johnny Depp is already cast in the movie to play supervillain The Riddler.

A unnamed studio executive told the newspaper, "Cher is (director Christopher Nolan's) first choice to play Catwoman. He wants her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years. The new Catwoman will be the absolute opposite of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry's purring creations."

The Daily Mail said shooting on the film, tentatively entitled "The Caped Crusader," is due to start in Vancouver, Canada, early next year.

The most recent entry in the series, "The Dark Knight," is currently playing and has grossed $489 million so far.

Rapper Dr. Dre's son found dead

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Andre Romelle Young Jr., the 20-year-old son of rapper and hip-hop producer Dr. Dre, was found dead in his California home, a representative said.

A representative of Dr. Dre confirmed that a body found Saturday in Young's Woodland Hills, Calif., home was that of the pioneering rapper's son, MTV reported Tuesday.

A representative for the Los Angeles County Coroner's office told the network that an autopsy was performed on the body Monday but that the cause of death hasn't been determined pending a toxicology report.

Authorities said Young was discovered in his bed at around 10:30 a.m. Saturday by his mother, who attempted to rouse him. Paramedics were called but their efforts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they didn't suspect foul play, MTV reported.

A spokesman for the rapper issued a statement saying: "Dr. Dre is mourning the loss of his son Andre Young Jr. Please respect his family's grief and privacy at this time."