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Guitarist Mike Scaccia dead at 47 ... Rihanna donates $1.75M to hospital ... TNT cancels 'Leverage' after five seasons ... Vinnie Jones to appear on 'Elementary' ... News from United Press International.
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Published: Dec. 24, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Guitarist Mike Scaccia dead at 47

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Heavy metal guitarist Mike Scaccia has died of a heart attack after collapsing on stage while performing in Texas. He was 47.

The New York native is best known for his work with the bands Ministry and Rigor Mortis.

Lead singer Al Jourgensen confirmed his death during a performance at Fort Worth's The Rail Club, on the Ministery website Sunday.

"I just lost my lil' brother and my best friend," he wrote. "Mikey was not only the best guitar player in the history of music, but he was a close, close, close part of our family -- and I just lost a huge chunk of my heart today. Our lives are forever changed. Life without Mikey is like orange juice without pulp -- kind of bland."

In a Facebook posting, Rigor Mortis vocalist Bruce Corbitt described Scaccia as "the greatest guitar player I ever knew."

"My brother is gone," Corbitt said. "The only reason I am who I am is because of this man. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't even be in a band."

The BBC said he was performing at Corbitt's birthday gig Sunday when he collapsed and died of a heart attack brought on by heart disease.


Rihanna donates $1.75M to hospital

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Pop star Rihanna confirms she has donated $1.75 million to help modernize a hospital in her home country of Barbados in honor of her late grandmother.

"This was my way of giving back to Barbados, in a form of philanthropy, by assisting the [Bridgetown's Queen Elizabeth Hospital] in its continued modernization program," Rihanna said in a statement to E! News. "I believe that this will have a huge impact on the people of Barbados. This was all done to save lives, or at least extend them."

The hospital has renamed its cancer treatment center Clara Braithwaite Centre for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine after Rihanna's grandmother, who died last summer, UsMagazine.com reported.


TNT cancels 'Leverage' after five seasons

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- TNT says it has canceled Timothy Hutton's Los Angeles-set drama series "Leverage" after five seasons.

The cable network said in a posting on its website Friday it is "time to say goodbye."

"We are honored to have worked with executive producer Dean Devlin, Electric Entertainment, creators John Rogers and Chris Downey, and all the cast and production crew on 'Leverage,'" the statement said. "We look forward to exploring new opportunities to work with them again in the future. We also want to thank the passionately devoted fans of 'Leverage,' who have been the driving force behind its success."

TVGuide.com said the decision not to renew the show for a sixth season came after the series saw its ratings drop significantly this season.


Vinnie Jones to appear on 'Elementary'

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- British actor Vinnie Jones is to guest star on the New York-set Sherlock Holmes series "Elementary," CBS announced.

Jones will play M., a criminal who appears to have followed actor Jonny Lee Miller's Sherlock to Manhattan from London, the network said.

He will appear in the Jan. 10 episode of the popular new detective series.

Jones' film credits include "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," "Snatch" and "Gone in 60 Seconds."

Topics: Dean Devlin, Elizabeth II, John Rogers, Jonny Lee Miller, Rihanna, Sherlock Holmes, Timothy Hutton, Vinnie Jones
© 2012 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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