Buzz Briefs: Bon Jovi, Helen Mirren
Bon Jovi Helps Homeless Suffering From AIDS
New Jersey's governor, the mayor of the state's largest city and one of its best-known rock 'n rollers are teaming up to promote the construction of 51 residences that will cater to homeless people who have AIDS.
Jon Bon Jovi will be in Newark Tuesday afternoon to announce the HELP USA Newark Initiative. The public-private partnership with Bon Jovi's Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, will build the Genesis Apartments, 51 new units of affordable housing.
Gov. Jon Corzine and Newark Mayor Cory Booker will also be there.
Actress Helen Mirren Dabbled With Coke & Marijuana
Oscar-winning British actress Helen Mirren said she used to love cocaine, but stopped taking the drug after learning that a Nazi war criminal profited from the trade, according to a magazine.
The 63-year-old, who won an Academy Award for her role in "The Queen," was quoted by GQ magazine as saying she used to dabble in marijuana and cocaine when she was younger.
"I loved coke. I never did a lot, just a little bit at parties," Mirren was quoted as telling the magazine in an interview, which was made available to the media Monday. "But what ended it for me was when they caught (Nazi war criminal) Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyon, in the early 80s. He was hiding in South America and living off the proceeds of being a cocaine baron.
"And I read that in the paper, and all the cards fell into place, and I saw how my little sniff of cocaine at a party had an absolute direct route to this ... horrible man in South America," she was quoted as saying.
Mirren also reportedly said she used to steal during what she described as a "very poor" youth.
"I needed to shoplift for food," she reportedly said, adding that while she enjoyed "the accoutrements of movie star life" she still had frugal instincts, cutting her own hair and wearing dollar-store glasses.
Mirren's interview is carried in the British edition of GQ, which goes on sale Thursday.
British Museum Buys Rolling Stones' Lips Artwork
Mick Jagger's pout is officially fit for a museum.
London's Victoria and Albert Museum announced Tuesday that it bought the original artwork for The Rolling Stones' famous "lips" logo, inspired by the singer's mouth.
The museum said it bought the work at an auction in the United States for $92,500.
The lips-and-tongue logo was designed by London art student John Pasche in 1970, and first used on the band's "Sticky Fingers" album the next year.
The design "is one of the first examples of a group using branding, and it has become arguably the world's most famous rock logo," said Victoria Broakes, head of exhibitions for the museum's theater and performance collections.
Jerry Lewis Telethon Raises Record $65 Million
Jerry Lewis raised a record $65 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in his annual telethon on Monday's Labor Day holiday, a benefit that also made a pitch for those affected by Hurricane Gustav.
This year's 22-hour telethon added a special plea for MDA-registered families forced to leave their homes because of the hurricane, which made landfall Monday in Louisiana. The storm affected nearly 5,000 MDA families needing services in their new location, the organization said.
Lewis also urged viewers to contribute to the Salvation Army's emergency disaster services.
The 2008 haul for the 43rd annual fundraising blitz was $1.2 million more than last year's total.
Lewis said he was prepared not to exceed the 2007 number because of the sluggish economy.
The freewheeling 82-year-old showman co-hosted the telethon from the South Point hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Longtime participant Ed McMahon, Tony Orlando, "Access Hollywood" host Nancy O'Dell and others shared the hosting duties. Celine Dion, 3 Doors Down, Kid Rock and Reba McEntire performed.
Rock Hall Honors Music Innovator Les Paul
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will pay tribute to the "Father of the Electric Guitar" this fall.
Les Paul will be honored at the annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that begins Nov. 10, Rock Hall officials said Tuesday. A tribute concert - artists will be named later - is scheduled for Nov. 15 at Cleveland's State Theater.
He built a solid-body electric guitar in 1941 - an invention born from his frustration that audiences were unable to hear him play.
In 1952, Gibson introduced the Les Paul model, which became the instrument of choice for musicians like Duane Allman, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.
Paul is only the second living recipient of the annual American Music Masters award, which began in 1996 to pay tribute to artists who helped change American culture. Jerry Lee Lewis was the first living recipient in 2007. Past recipients include Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters and Sam Cooke.