'Tropic Thunder' is No.1 for 3rd week
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- "Tropic Thunder" held sway at No. 1 in U.S. movie theaters this Labor Day weekend, its third week at the top of the heap, Box Office Mojo said Sunday.
The Ben Stiller comedy about making a movie about the Vietnam War grossed an estimated $11.5 million.
A new movie, "Babylon A.D.," a futuristic action thriller starring Vin Diesel and Michelle Yeoh, took the No. 2 spot with estimated ticket sales of $9.7 million.
The Batman flick "The Dark Knight" moved back up to No. 3 from fourth place with an $8.75 million weekend, bringing its seven-week total to $502.4 million. "The House Bunny" slipped from second to fourth at $8.3 million.
"Traitor," an international conspiracy drama starring Don Cheadle, debuted at No. 5 with $7.9 million, followed by "Death Race," down three spots with $6.23 million.
Another new offering, "Disaster Movie," a comedy about -- what else? -- disasters befalling a group of young people, featuring Matt Lanter and Vanessa Minnillo, checked in at No. 7 with $6.17 million.
Filling out the top tier were "Mamma Mia!" at $4.42 million, "Pineapple Express" at $3.39 million and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," which moved back up from 11th at $3 million.
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars," fell out of the Top 10 all the way from fifth last week. "Mirrors" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" also were banished.
Sibling pianists invigorating classics
ALPINE, Utah, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The five siblings who make up a Utah classical pianist quintet say their musical efforts are meant to revitalize the classical music tunes they play.
Deondra Brown, 28, says she and her siblings Desirae, 29; Greg, 25; Melody, 24; and Ryan, 22, all openly talk with the audience and shorten longer classical tunes to make the genre more appealing to the masses, the Deseret Morning News reported Sunday.
"It's supposed to be entertaining," Deondra said of the group's classical style. "It's not a funeral."
Melody says the family's musical offerings, which include three popular albums and worldwide tours, are also meant to make classical music more accessible to younger listeners.
"We market it like a pop album, but the music is classical," Melody told the Morning News. "A lot of older people say, 'We've never seen so many young people at a classical concert; this gives me hope for your generation."'
The Utah newspaper said the five siblings are busy with tour dates booked through 2009. They average 80 to 120 performances a year.
Guns N' Roses book alleges risky excess
NEW YORK, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A new book detailing the lives of Guns N' Roses band members alleges the U.S. rockers lived lives of excessive drug use and risky sex.
Music historian Stephen Davis alleges in "Watch You Bleed: The Saga of Guns N' Roses" that if guitarist Slash wasn't risking his life having unprotected sex with numerous groupies, other Guns N' Roses members were taking so many drugs they were at risk of overdosing, the New York Post reported Sunday.
"If drinking doesn't get me, AIDS will," Slash is quoted as saying once during the band's peak of popularity in the 1980s and '90s.
The book also details the alleged paranoid nature of lead singer Axl Rose, who Davis claims once locked his girlfriend in a closet before setting it on fire.
The Post said the author also details how the bands' fans have repeatedly contacted him about the band's new album, "Chinese Democracy," which has been in the works for years and has had songs leaked onto the Internet.
"Fans said to me, 'Please don't let "Chinese Democracy" ever come out,'" Davis alleges. "'We've heard the stuff, and it's not that great. Can't this great band die with dignity?'"
Depp plays guitar for benefit concert
POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Hollywood star Johnny Depp played guitar with members of his old band at a benefit concert in Pompano Beach, Calif., People magazine reports.
The entertainment publication said the star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy played at a Dan Marino Foundation event Friday at Club Cinema with the members of his high school band, The Kids.
The reunion performance, along with a similar event Depp participated in last year, helped raise money for children with special needs.
During the actor's 90-minute set at the fundraising event, he offered some background vocals while playing lead electric guitar for the power-pop group.
People said in the audience for the rare musical moment was Depp's girlfriend, actress Vanessa Paradis, and the couple's 9-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose,
