This Year in Music Review  12/30/05

WENN MUSIC REVIEW 2005

By Stephen Cunningsworth

From marriage to divorce, natural disaster to fundraising, and convicted criminals to falsely accused superstars, 2005 gave us another non-stop 12 months of music industry mayhem.

Michael Jackson had the world on the edge of its seat as his trial on child molestation charges took one unexpected turn after another for the first six months of the year. And after his controversial acquittal, a galaxy of stars united for July's Live 8 concerts in an idealistic bid to end poverty and put pressure on world leaders to cancel developing world debt.

Elsewhere, Lil' Kim was sentenced to serve a year and a day in prison after being found guilty of lying before a federal grand jury about her involvement in a 2001 shooting incident, while hip-hop giant 50 Cent entered into a dangerous war of words with former protégé The Game following another shooting outside the same New York City radio station.

Despite vowing to stay out of the spotlight, Britney Spears was a constant source of tabloid gossip and ended months of speculation by declaring she was pregnant with husband Kevin Federline's baby.

But for every heart-warming celebrity announcement, heart-breaking news was to be found on the next page. The music industry mourned the deaths of soul star Luther Vandross, The Four Tops singer Renaldo 'Obie' Benson and Elvis songwriter Baker Knight. The world also marked the 25th anniversary of former Beatle John Lennon's tragic murder at the hands of crazed fan Mark David Chapman.

On a more positive note, comeback stars Mariah Carey and Green Day blew away the competition at the 2005 awards ceremonies, leaving the industry humbled by their longevity - no doubt ensuring an equally memorable year in 2006.

JANUARY

The year began with the world in a state of shock and anguish following the Indian Ocean tsunami which devastated south Asia and west Africa on 26 December 2004. Families were destroyed as thousands of people lost their lives in the natural disaster's giant waves, and millions more were left homeless with their livelihoods in tatters. The music industry jumped into action with stars hastily organizing fundraising concerts and offering hefty donations to bolster the relief effort.

Environmentalist rocker Sting was the first western artist to perform in Thailand in the wake of the tsunami when he organized a charity show in Bangkok before playing similar concerts in disaster-stricken Malaysia and India. Meanwhile, queen of pop Madonna sent 10,000 bottles of blessed Kabbalah Water to help survivors find enlightenment, and hosted an American Red Cross fundraising telethon on US TV, where she was joined by Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross and Maroon 5.

Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and Beck were so moved by the tragedy they staged a benefit show in Los Angeles, while former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney donated a staggering $1.8 million of his personal fortune to a British charity distributing medicine and drinking water in Indonesia. Retiring diva Cher earmarked all the profits from her concerts in January for tsunami charities, and The Black Eyed Peas toured Indonesia's devastated Banda Ache region before performing at a fundraising concert in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur alongside Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Backstreet Boys and Wyclef Jean.

On 15 January, popular British boyband Busted announced they had split. The Crashed The Wedding hitmakers looked set to dominate the UK charts for years to come but heart-throb frontman Charlie Simpson pulled the plug on the group to devote his time to serious rock project Fightstar. Urban girl group Mis-teeq followed hot on Busted's heels when they broke the news of their parting at the end of January after eight years together.

But there was good news for rock fans in January - the surviving members of Australian outfit INXS announced the launch of a reality TV show to find a replacement for Michael Hutchence, who was found dead in his hotel room in 1997. INXS Rock Star debuted in July and new talent JD Fortune was crowned new front man in September.

Traffic rocker Jim Capaldi died in London on 28 January following a long battle with stomach cancer. He was 60. And there was also widespread mourning when an internet rumour convinced millions of fans Ozzy Osbourne had died. The speculation became so rife, the Black Sabbath singer was forced to issue a statement through his publicist to reassure the world he was still alive and kicking.

Courtney Love was celebrating a new start when a Los Angeles judge granted her custody of her daughter Frances Bean on 11 January. Love was ruled to be unfit to look after the youngster - whose father is late Nirvana icon Kurt Cobain - when she was hit by a series of law suits for drug possession and assault in 2004. A few days later, the Hole singer was sentenced to three years probation for attacking a woman with a torch and a liquor bottle. In August, Love broke the terms of her probation agreement after failing a drugs test and was ordered into rehab for six months.

Urban stars Nas and Kelis were also looking forward to a new life when they exchanged vows in Atlanta, Georgia, on 8 January - two years after they were engaged.

And romance was also on show when controversial British singer/guitarist Pete Doherty embarked on a destructive love affair with supermodel Kate Moss, after they met at her 31st birthday party on 15 January. But the Babyshambles front man was jailed for six days in London's Pentonville prison after he was arrested on assault and blackmail charges following an altercation with freelance film-maker Max Carlish in February. Upon his release, Doherty promised to kick his heroin and crack cocaine addictions for his new love Moss, but he stumbled from one controversy to the next.

But matters came to a head when a British newspaper published photographs in September showing Moss snorting cocaine in a London studio with Babyshambles. She was rushed into rehab in Arizona and paid for Doherty to undergo similar treatment in November following her discharge. But she dumped him when he quit the program after just eight days.

FEBRUARY

February got underway with R&B superstar Jennifer Lopez confirming her marriage to Latino heart-throb Marc Anthony - even though her June 2004 nuptials had been widely reported the world over. But J.Lo will remember 2005 for being a regular People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) target because she uses fur in clothes sold by her fashion label Sweetface. The animal rights group staged protests at her planned public appearances and launched a dedicated anti-J.Lo website.

Awards ceremonies featured heavily in the February pop calendar. The Grammy Awards were unofficially renamed 'The Ray's' when late, great soul man Ray Charles was honoured with eight prizes. The blind superstar, who died in summer 2004, won all of his posthumous awards for his final studio album of duets, Genius Loves Company. It was a night of fitting tributes to Charles too - Jamie Foxx and Alicia Keys teamed up for a stirring version of Georgia On My Mind. R&B beauty Alicia Keys scooped four awards including Best R&B album, while U2 grabbed two gongs for their hit single Vertigo.

On the other side of the Atlantic, New York pop-rockers Scissor Sisters took home three Brit Awards including Best International Album. Keane were named Best British Breakthrough Act and picked up the Best British Album gong for their Hopes And Fears LP. Franz Ferdinand triumphed in the Best British Rock Act and Best British Group categories.

Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera accepted her boyfriend Jordan Bratman's marriage proposal on 12 February when the management executive presented her with a diamond engagement ring. Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler split from his wife Teresa after 17 years of marriage. And Victoria Beckham gave birth to her third son by soccer star husband David. Cruz was born in a Madrid hospital on 20 February.

Blink-182 star Travis Barker rubbished rumors the punk trio have split for good - insisting they will reform, while Korn guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch quit the band to concentrate on his newfound Christianity.

ABBA reunited for the first time in 19 years when they attended the Stockholm premiere of the musical Mamma Mia!

50 Cent dumped his G-Unit protégé The Game live on air during an interview on New York City radio station Hot 97. As 50 Cent left the building a member of his extended entourage was shot in the leg. The feud between the former friends bubbled to the surface throughout the year, with hip-hop insiders believing 50 Cent decided to dump The Game after he refused to support his long-running feud with the Murder Inc label and its premier artist Ja Rule.

2005 wasn't a year to remember for Orange Juice star Edwyn Collins, who was hospitalized this month after suffering two potentially fatal brain hemorrhages. Collins, most famous for his 1995 solo hit A Girl Like You, was then struck down by hospital super bug MRSA in May - just when it looked as though he was on the road to recovery. After undergoing further surgery to remove infected tissue, Collins has been making a slow but steady recovery and returned home in August. He had a steel plate inserted into his skull in December to aid his rehabilitation.

Elsewhere, Queens Of The Stone Age front man Josh Homme was forced to bring the band's European tour to a premature halt after he developed a serious lung infection which caused him to cough up blood in a Paris, France, hotel room.

Two of the biggest celebrity trials of recent years got under way in February. Both Michael Jackson and Lil' Kim stood before juries for the first time on 28 February.

A protracted jury selection process was successfully completed on 23 February with the appointment of eight women and four men to the unenviable task of deciding whether or not Jackson was guilty. He faced a 10-count indictment with molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland Valley Ranch and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. During the trial, the court heard Arvizo's younger brother Star allege he saw Jackson touching Gavin inappropriately. The singer's and Arvizo's fingerprints were also found on the same page of a pornographic magazine.

But the court also heard allegations the Arvizo family were money-hungry and manipulative. Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe also praised the singer in court as a "good father, great with kids, puts other people ahead of him." And Jackson's friend Macaulay Culkin also told the court Jackson had never done anything inappropriate to him, even though they shared a bed on numerous occasions.

Then, on 13 June, Jackson was acquitted of all charges. Since the end of his trial Jackson - who weighed just 41 kilograms after his ordeal - has rarely been seen in public and is currently residing in Bahrain where he is said to be buying a property he will make his permanent home. His music career appears to be in tatters despite attempts to resurrect his reputation with an All-Star Hurricane Katrina single. Several jury members have since revealed they felt Jackson was guilty of some charges but felt pressured into acquitting him.

Lil' Kim found herself facing a jury on 28 February where she stood charged with lying during a police investigation to protect members of her entourage who were involved in the shootout outside Manhattan's Hot 97 radio station. The rapper was found guilty of lying before a federal grand jury and conspiracy to commit perjury on 17 March and was sentenced to serve a year and a day in jail in July. She began her sentence in September.

MARCH

The month began with veteran rocker Rod Stewart proposing to his model girlfriend Penny Lancaster in March after a five year relationship following his split from Rachel Hunter.

Only days after she performed a duet at the Grammys with husband Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez pulled out of her promotional tour of Europe after being struck down with a mystery illness. But British rockers Coldplay did make a return to the stage - the In My Place hit makers previewing songs from their new album X&Y at Los Angeles' Troubador club on 11 March to a rapturous response from fans.

Former Stone Roses star Ian Brown had a response of a completely different kind when he performed in San Francisco four days later - he was arrested following an on stage fight with a fan who was unhappy with the Great American Music Hall's sound quality. Police investigated the incident but no charges were pressed.

The Black Crowes reformed in March and spent the rest of the year playing sell out concerts and recording new material.

Rapper Nelly was left grieving following the death of his sister Jacqueline Donahue on 24 March. Nelly scrapped a series of concerts to spend time with his family and attend his sibling's funeral. She had fought a long-running battle with leukemia.

And, in tragic news, Crowded House drummer Paul Hester committed suicide in Melbourne, Australia. Crowded House singer Neil Finn cancelled a tour with his brother Tim to return home to mourn his friend's death.

Meanwhile, troubled diva Whitney Houston was forced into a rehab center on 23 March on a court order.

APRIL

Rehabilitation continued as a theme in April - Billy Joel finished a stint in a treatment centre for alcohol dependency and declared himself fit and healthy. Meanwhile, Aaron Carter's mother begged him to check into rehab to kick his drug problems. April proved to be a trying time for the Carter family because Backstreet Boys singer Nick pleaded not guilty to two drink driving charges on 13 April and had his license revoked.

There was happy news for Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, however. The happy couple ended speculation about Spear's weight gain and announced they were expecting a baby on 12 April. A posting on the Toxic singer's website read: "The time has finally come to share our wonderful news that we are expecting our first child together." As her autumn due date rapidly approached, the 24-year-old confessed to being scared of her impending motherhood but she was all smiles after her son Sean Preston was delivered at a Californian hospital on 14 September.

Cult rocker Mark Lanegan quit touring with Queens Of The Stone Age, while hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons returned to the Def Jam record label six years after selling it in a $100 million deal.

Canadian rock icon Neil Young was discharged from hospital following brain surgery - but other music industry veterans were not so lucky. Jamaican reggae star Junior Delgado died of natural causes in London aged 46, while American Head Charge rocker Bryan Ottoson was found dead on his band's tour bus.

Celebrity rock family The Osbournes were rocked by another cancer scare in April and Sharon and her eldest daughter were forced to pull out of stage run in a London production of The Vagina Monologies. Aimee found a lump on one of her breasts and was jetted back to Los Angeles for specialist treatment. She was given the all clear by doctors in May, but her father Ozzy was diagnosed with Parkin Syndrome in April and will have to take medication to control the motor-neuron condition's involuntary shudders for the rest of his life.

Meanwhile, Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos dodged death on the band's Russian tour after eating a dessert containing traces of peanut - which he has a fatal allergy to.

And Cher completed her Farewell Tour at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl on 30 April after playing a staggering 325 shows in the space of three years.

MAY

Jet and Missy Higgins were the big winners at the Australian Performing Right Association Awards in May, but the country was left in a state of shock when chanteuse Kylie Minogue cancelled the homecoming leg of her Showgirl world tour after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The Spinning Around singer told her fans, "I was so looking forward to bringing the Showgirl tour to Australian audiences. Nevertheless hopefully all will work out fine and I'll be back with you all again soon."

Minogue was also forced to cancel her headlining appearance at England's legendary Glastonbury Festival, scheduled for June. The 37-year-old was rushed to hospital in Melbourne and had a lump removed from her breast on 20 May and her doctors were confident they had caught the illness in enough time to allow Minogue to make a complete recovery. Further surgery was carried out on cancerous tissue which had not been removed and Minogue also underwent revolutionary fertility treatment in a bid to stop her becoming sterile as she began a grueling course of chemotherapy and radiation in Paris - where she stayed with boyfriend Olivier Martinez and his parents.

Troubled former East 17 singer Brian Harvey endured a year in the spotlight for reasons he would rather had never taken place. On 22 May he was rushed to a London hospital after taking an overdose of sleeping pills. Just days after he was discharged, Harvey was crushed under the wheels of his own car in a freak accident as he was reversing out of his driveway. He was left fighting for his life after sustaining a broken leg, a shattered pelvis, severe abdominal injuries and fluid-filled lungs. His pain was so severe doctors kept him unconscious under heavy doses of sedatives. By the end of the year, Harvey's manager declared he had made a miraculous full recovery.

Against the backdrop of life-threatening accidents and illnesses, happiness still flourished. Rod Stewart announced he was expecting his seventh child - his first with fiancée Penny Lancaster - and country singer Kenny Chesney married Hollywood star Renee Zellweger in a surprise ceremony in the Virgin Islands. Soul legend Stevie Wonder celebrated the birth of his sixth child - his second with wife Karen 'Kai' Millard Morris. He named his son Mandla Kadjaly Carl Stevland Morris in honour of South African political icon Nelson Mandela.

The Darkness announced the departure of bassist Frankie Poullain. Frontman Justin Hawkins accused the mustachioed rocker of alienating himself from the band and for trying to sabotage his relationship with guitarist brother Dan.

Elsewhere, Coldplay were left fuming when their comeback single Speed Of Sound was beaten to the top of the UK singles chart by novelty mobile phone ring tone Crazy Frog. Guitarist Johnny Buckland raged, "I can't believe we were beaten by that awful thing."

Sixties rockers Cream reunited for a series of sell out shows at London's historic Royal Albert Hall in May. Buoyed by their success, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce turned their attention to New York City in October with a residency at Madison Square Garden.

Hip-hop mogul Sean Combs was lucky to escape death when an aircraft taking him from New York City to Miami was struck by lightning. The plane plummeted earthward but the pilot was able to regain control and make an emergency landing in Palm Beach.

Reformed boy band Backstreet Boys began the lone European date of their comeback tour on 30 May by running over a fan at Dusseldorf airport in Germany. Julia Wagner suffered a fractured leg as the group's bus edged through crowds. The five-piece made up for Wagner's injury by making her guest of honor at the show in Cologne the following night.

French keyboard maestro Jean-Michel Jarre married French actress Anne Parillaud on 12 May, but American pop beauty Jessica Simpson and her husband Nick Lachey were forced to hit out at rumors their union was on the rocks. The couple, who starred in hit show Newlywed, moved to quash reports she was having an affair with skate star Bam Margera.

Finally, Oasis were named the most successful British act of the last decade and police officers closed the case on Meredith Hunter's murder at the Rolling Stones' infamous 1969 concert in Altamont, California.

JUNE

June got underway with Jack White secretly marrying his model girlfriend Karen Elson on 2 June in Brazil. The couple had a five-week whirlwind romance before tying the knot just a month after The White Stripes frontman's old flame Renee Zellweger wed Kenny Chesney. White insisted it was love at first sight.

There was sad news just around the corner and R&B super group Destiny's Child announced live on stage on 12 June that they would split when their world tour ended in September. A subsequent statement from the band read: "We have been working together as Destiny's Child, since we were nine, and touring together since we were 14. After a lot of discussion and some deep soul searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny's Child on a high note."

Sinead O'Connor began recording a reggae album in Jamaica - two years after she announced her retirement from the music industry. Roxy Music announced they had reformed to make their first album since 1983, and Billy Corgan took out a full-page advert in the Chicago Tribune expressing his desire to reform the Smashing Pumpkins.

Good Charlotte rocker Joel Madden and teen singer Hilary Duff confirmed what the world had already taken as fact - that they were an item. Love was also in the air for pop punk Pink when she proposed to her boyfriend Carey Hart by holding up a sign that read, "Will you marry me?" as her beau was taking part in a motorcycle race.

Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller died on 17 June following a year-long battle with throat cancer - he was 41. And Australian singer/actress Olivia Newton John was left in a state of panic when her long-term lover Patrick McDermott went missing during a fishing expedition on 30 June - he has not been seen since and the Grease star has hired a private detective in an attempt to track him down.

England's Glastonbury Festival boasted such an eclectic line-up of acts over the last weekend in June, music fans often failed to notice they were wallowing in knee deep muddy water. Dance gurus Basement Jaxx replaced cancer-stricken Kylie Minogue to close the show on Sunday with a spellbinding performance. But Primal Scream singer Bobby courted controversy when he refused to leave the stage on Sunday and told the crowd, "Did anyone come to see Kylie? F**k you!" And Babyshambles rocker Pete Doherty celebrated The Clash guitarist Mick Jones' 50th birthday with a stirring rendition of punk classic White Riot.

Also in June, The Rolling Stones set a new record with the price of tickets for their A Bigger Bang tour. Tickets went on sale on 27 June for as much as $450 (£250). The high cost of watching the Stones gig from a decent seat equates to approximately $3.60 (£2) a minute.

JULY

July began on a somber note with soul legend Luther Vandross and The Four Tops star Renaldo 'Obie' Benson both passing away on the first day of the month. Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Cissy Houston all performed at a celebration of Vandross' life at New York City's Riverside Church, which was attended by thousands including Usher, Dionne Warwick, Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle. He was buried the following weekend in New Jersey in a golden casket.

The 2nd July saw the world unite under the Live 8 banner in a bid to persuade world leaders to cancel developing world debt. Eight concerts were organized in London, Paris, Berlin, Philadelphia, Rome, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Moscow and Barrie, Canada.

The international extravaganza kicked off in Tokyo with a performance by local band Rise. The Japanese line-up also included Bjork and Good Charlotte. The Rome gig saw acts such as Duran Duran and Faith Hill; in Berlin, Green Day, Brian Wilson and Roxy Music all took the stage. The Paris concert contained performances by James Brown, Craig David and The Cure, while the Pet Shop Boys played in Moscow.

In London a host of stars including Sir Paul McCartney, REM, Coldplay, U2, Sir Elton John, Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams, The Who and Pink Floyd all played. McCartney brought the show to a triumphant close with an all-star rendition of his classic The Beatles tune Hey Jude. He opened the show accompanied by U2 for his first ever live performance of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Geldof found the scene so moving he shed tears as he watched on from the wings.

Snoop Dogg, Green Day, Madonna, Velvet Revolver, Robbie Williams and Razorlight all caused controversy by swearing during their London performances - because the footage was being shown live on British TV in the afternoon. The lowlight was Sir Elton John's Children Of The Revolution duet with controversial rocker Pete Doherty. The Babyshambles singer appeared to be the worse for wear judging by his disheveled appearance and his vocals were mumbled and barely audible. Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, Mary Fitzgerald took the stage as did Nelson Mandela, while in ecological center the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, a host of African acts performed.

Will Smith got the Philadelphia leg of Live 8 off to a somber start when he appeared onstage at the city's Museum Of Art and urged the crowd of thousands to snap their fingers every three seconds - to represent the death of a child in Africa. Smith was so visibly moved by the experience, he had to take a few seconds to compose himself before introducing opening act The Black Eyed Peas who performed their socially aware hit Where Is the Love. They were followed by crowd-pleasing performances from Bon Jovi, Kanye West and Def Leppard. R&B beauty Alicia Keys paid tribute to soul great Luther Vandross during her slot, saying, "This might be the last opportunity we have to change the world. This might be the last life of thousands of people thousands of miles away, just like it was the last breath for our brother and friend Mr Luther Vandross just last night."

At the Canadian Live 8 leg in Barrie, diva Celine Dion was booed by the audience because she chose to appear via video link rather than in person. Concert co-host Dan Aykroyd had to beg the crowd to stop booing Dion. The crowd were much more receptive to performances from Neil Young, Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan.

Another Live 8 show was organized in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 6 July to coincide with the beginning of the G8 summit and artists including Annie Lennox, Dido and Travis performed. Geldof and Bono were delighted when Tony Blair and George W Bush championed a G8 deal to give $50 billion (£28 billion) worth of aid to the world's poorest countries on 8 July. The Irish rockers are convinced the historic Live 8 gigs played a significant part in this decision, putting pressure on the G8 leaders to stamp out poverty.

Artists who saw a major upsurge in their record sales following Live 8 pledged to donate their extra income to the Make Poverty History campaign. The live recording of McCartney and U2's Sgt Pepper's performance became the fastest selling download of all time when it went on sale.

However, the Live 8 shows left a bitter taste in the mouths of some. Status Quo accused McCartney of hogging the limelight after he opened and closed the London show. Damon Albarn criticised Pete Doherty's shambolic appearance for being disrespectful to the plight suffered by millions of Africans everyday - because he couldn't put his drug addictions to one side to be able to sing a song properly.

Sir Elton John, who defended his disastrous duet with Doherty, later described the Live 8 extravaganzas as "disappointing" and "lacking a sense of occasion". Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richard admitted he refused to perform because he was suspicious about Geldof's political motivation. Meanwhile, the Make Poverty History campaign expressed regrets over its decision to join forces with Sir Bob Geldof, Bono and the Live 8 concerts because they hijacked their cause and expressed outlandish opinions. For his part in Live 8, Geldof was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.

Live 8 euphoria in London was short-lived - on 7 July the British capital was rocked by three bombings of trains on its underground network, and one on the upper deck of a red bus. Queen, REM, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Prodigy and Sum 41 were forced to cancel live shows with large chunks of the city's transport network locked down. Musicians sent messages to hope the bereaved and survivors of the terror attacks carried out by homegrown Islamic extremists, but R&B singer Omarion horrified shocked Londoners by releasing a statement saying he was alive and well - because he had never traveled on London public transport. Dance star Moby blasted the terrorist behavior as being against what is taught in the Qu'ran, while rockers Queen performed a special show for survivors and rescue workers in London's Hyde Park.

There were more losses to the music industry - Ska artist Laurel Aitken, blues rocker Long John Baldry and jazz bassist Al McKibbon all passed away. Upcoming British rocker Patrick Sherry lost his life in tragic circumstances during a gig with his band Bad Beat Revue. The audience at the show in Leeds were horrified when a spectacular stage dive stunt went wrong. Sherry jumped off the stage and tried to grab hold of a lighting rig - but he missed and plummeted to the ground, landing on his head. He never regained consciousness.

Meanwhile, former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews gave birth to her first child and named her son Jones - in honor of her compatriot and duet partner Tom Jones.

Josh Homme finally revealed he sacked Nick Oliveri from Queens Of The Stone Age in 2004 because he beat up his girlfriend. Linkin Park front man Chester Bennington began a child custody battle for his three-year-old son Draven after his wife Samantha filed for divorce. Bennington found himself in court again, when he and his band mates joined forces to launch a court battle seeking to cancel their contract with Warner Music Group.

Anastacia was also looking at a fresh start after ending her long-term romance with German TV presenter Patrice Bouedebila. There was harmony in Snoop Dogg's household again when he cancelled his divorce papers filed against his wife of eight years, Shante.

When Christina Aguilera appeared in public with a heavily bandaged right wrist, stories quickly surfaced that she had sustained two snapped tendons in a fight with a crazed fan in a Paris nightclub. However, the Dirrty singer quickly denied she had been involved in a violent altercation, claiming she sliced herself on glass while at her Los Angeles home.

Sixties icon Marianne Faithfull was left in state of shock she read reports she had suffered a serious heart attack - because she was fit and healthy and in the middle of her European tour. However, Motorhead rocker Lemmy Kilmister was hospitalized during a tour of Germany suffering from exhaustion and dehydration after performing in the middle of a heat wave. It was also revealed in July that Spiritualised front man Jason Pierce was recovering after suffering a serious illness that took him to the brink of death.

Black Sabbath were forced to cancel their Ozzfest concert in New Jersey on 27 July when singer Ozzy Osbourne became too ill with cold-like symptoms to take to the stage. Meanwhile, country star Mindy McCready was hospitalized after taking a drugs overdose in a suicide attempt. She was discharged after four days.

Elsewhere, U2 won their court case with a stylist over the ownership of several distinctive items of memorabilia. The Vertigo hit makers refuted Lola Cashman's claims she had been given the items - which were worth circa $6,300 (£3,500) and included 200 photographs, as well as a pair of trousers and a Stetson hat front man Bono once wore - were given to her while working with the band on the 1987 Joshua Tree tour. The presiding judge agreed and order Cashman to pay the band's costs and return the items to their rightful owners.

And the judge in the Notorious BIG wrongful-death trial in Los Angeles declared a mistrial on 6 July, after new evidence further fuelled allegations of a police cover-up. Notorious BIG's relatives have requested more than $2 million (£1.1 million) in fees and costs from the city of Los Angeles.

AUGUST

Courtney Love was again at the center of speculation this month after she reportedly declared she was expecting a child by British actor Steve Coogan. She was quoted as saying, "I am pregnant with Steve's baby, but I'd rather not talk about our relationship." Both parties subsequently denied the story.

American singer Marc Cohn narrowly escaped death when he was shot in the temple during an attempted car jacking in Denver, Colorado. Cohn only survived the incident because the windshield of the van he was traveling in slowed down the bullet. Joseph William Yacteen was later arrested by police and charged with attempted murder.

After denying reports he was set to retire from the music industry, Eminem pulled out of the European leg of his Anger Management III tour with 50 Cent because he was suffering from exhaustion. The rapper entered rehab shortly after to receive treatment for his addiction to sleeping tablets. Showing no compassion for their nephew's troubles, Eminem's aunt and uncle slapped him with a lawsuit in a wrangle over cash they claim the rapper promised them. The lawsuit was subsequently thrown out of court in November.

Ozzy Osbournes Ozzfest tour grabbed headlines in August when his wife Sharon became embroiled in a war of words with Iron Maiden, when she accused the British rockers of disrespecting the Black Sabbath frontman. Sharon had her revenge on 21 August when she cut the power during Maiden's set, which caused the audience to pelt the stage with debris and a near-riot almost erupted. The Ozzfest tour was further thrown into limbo when Ozzy retired from the touring extravaganza suffering from hayfever-like symptoms.

Sean Combs shortened his alias from P Diddy to simply Diddy and moved to quash reports he broke his girlfriend's nose during a heated argument on his yacht in St Tropez, France. Diddy insisted she sustained the injury in a freak fall and flew in a plastic surgeon from Switzerland to treat her injuries. Pop babe Jessica Simpson and her husband Nick Lachey felt so hounded by split rumors during August, Simpson's father Joe threatened to hire Hollywood's top lawyer to sue magazines printing allegations. Lachey also slammed the split rumors live on US TV, insisting their relationship was as strong as ever.

Blues singer 'Little' Milton Campbell, Cuban singers Ibrahim Ferrer and Noel Nicola, and Voivod guitarist Denis D'Amour all passed away in August, while Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme suffered more medical problems when he collapsed on stage in Hamburg, Germany. Homme was rushed to hospital for emergency knee surgery and he miraculously managed to honor the rest of his concert commitments - including two shows in London.

Madonna had the world fearing for her future when she fell off a horse on her 47th birthday on 16 August and cracked several ribs and broke her wrist and collar bone. She was rushed to hospital where she was in a state of shock. Madonna made a quick recovery from her painful breaks and was the all-singing, all-dancing star again when she launched her Confessions On A Dancefloor album in November.

Westlife heart-throb Mark Feehily came out to his fans in August and spoke openly about being gay. The boy band star was amazed by the instant support he received from his legions of female fans - even though they had always idolized him as a heterosexual man.

The Killers front man Brandon Flowers married his long-term girlfriend Tana Munblowsky in a secret ceremony in Hawaii, and US singer Michelle Branch gave birth to her first child - a baby girl called Owen.

Elsewhere, Sheryl Crow accepted cycling champion Lance Armstrong's marriage proposal on 31 August - they are due to marry in the spring.

Jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux was tracked down by a private detective hired by her record company after she went missing in August - just as her album Careless Love climbed the charts. She was 'found' with her manager in New York City, prompting speculation the whole thing was a publicity exercise. She was later hit with a lawsuit filed by a former lover seeking compensation for nurturing her talent.

Rolling Stones rocker Sir Mick Jagger was left fuming when band mate Keith Richards claimed he has a small manhood. British newspaper The Sun reported the Brown Sugar guitarist as saying, "His c**k's on the end of his nose. And a very small one at that. Huge balls, small c**k." The night before the Stones' tour opening show in Boston on 21 August, Jagger reportedly stormed into Richards' hotel room and launched into a heated argument. Richards has since said he was misinterpreted, because he was merely trying to highlight the extent of Jagger's courage and strength with a metaphor.

Seminal punk club CBGB faced a month of deadline in August as it's lease was about to run out and the building's owner sought to evict Harry Kristal's legendary establishment, which helped launch the career of Blondie and The Ramones, from the premises. Public Enemy, Bad Brains and Gavin Rossdale's new band Institute were among the groups that performed a month of benefit dates in New York City's Washington Square Park - but Kristal was informed on 31 August that the club would have to find a new home. But he continued to book acts and in December he was given a stay of execution of one year, which will give Kristal more time to find a suitable replacement venue.

Snoop Dogg was spared and intrusive court case when a women who accused him of drugging and raping her dropped her lawsuit. Art Garfunkel was charged with possessing marijuana for the second time in a year and rapper DMX was charged with violating the terms of his plea deal approved after he crashed his car through a gate at New York City's John F Kennedy International Airport during a drug-fuelled rampage in 2004.

Rod Stewart was taken to court by a Las Vegas casino demanding he return the $2 million (£1.1 million) he was paid for a December 2000 concert he never performed. The case came to a close in early September with the presiding judge ruling in favor of the casino. And Velvet Revolver stars Slash and Duff McKagan reignited their legal feud with former Guns N' Roses band mate Axl Rose in a spat over publishing royalties.

The MTV Video Music Awards were overshadowed by the shooting of hip-hop mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight. Green Day scooped seven awards, but Knight grabbed the headlines when he was shot in the left in the VIP section of a Miami club hosting an after-party. Knight spent several days in hospital receiving treatment for his injury before being released at the end of August. His assailant has yet to be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Destiny's Child scooped World's Best-selling Pop Group, World's Best-selling R&B Group and World's Best Selling Girl-Group of all Time at the World Music Awards, just as they prepared to break-up.

The music industry rallied around to raise funds for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated America's Deep South on 30 August. Usher, Green Day Sir Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys played concerts to help fund the relief effort, while rapper Kanye West courted controversy when he openly questioned George W Bush's attitude towards black people during a televised concert.

Blues musician Fats Domino was feared dead when he went missing in New Orleans, but he was later spotted by his daughter in a photograph of survivors being rescued in a boat.

SEPTEMBER

Destiny's Child completed the final date of their world tour on 10 September in Vancouver, Canada, and insisted there was nothing but love between them, despite their split. They also celebrated more awards success at the Soul Train awards where they picked up the Best R&B/Soul Group Album and Best R&B/Soul Group Single. Antony And The Johnsons won Britain's Mercury Music Prize for their album I Am A Bird Now. British singer Lemar was the big winner at the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards in London, while hip-hop heavyweights 50 Cent and The Game left empty-handed.

Josh Homme and Brody Dalle announced they were expectant parents, while former Boyzone star Ronan Keating celebrated the birth of their third child. Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri split from her long-term partner Ashley Heath, and British urban star Ms Dynamite split from her fiancé Dwayne Seaforth.

There was more heart-break in the air during September as Brandy broke off her engagement and underwent painful laser surgery to have a tattoo of Quentin Richardson removed from her back. Kenny Chesney's four month marriage to Renee Zellweger came to an abrupt marriage when she filed for divorce.

It wasn't all doom and gloom, however. Kate Bush announced her comeback in September and released her first material in 12 years a month later. New single King Of The Mountain was rapturously received by both critics and fans, as was her November album Aerial.

Eurythmics stars Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart announced they would team-up for the first time in six years to record two brand new songs for their best of album The Ultimate Collection. David Bowie returned to the stage in New York City - a year after suffering a heart-attack. As stars returned, others departed - blues great RL Burnside and Oscar-winning songwriter Joel Hirschhorn both died.

Sir Paul McCartney's wife Heather Mills, an outspoken animal rights activist, lost her prosthetic leg during a violent confrontation with security guards at Lopez's New City York office in September. The former model attempted to deliver a DVD showing creatures being killed for fur to Lopez, following a demonstration at which the 37-year-old pleaded with fans to boycott the superstar's music, movies and clothes because she uses fur in her fashion range. Mills McCartney has since threatened to stalk J.Lo wherever she goes.

Kelly Clarkson was forced to cancel a series of concerts after being struck down with bronchitis, while Motley Crue singer Vince Neil damaged his right leg when he fell off the stage during the band's Atlanta, Georgia, show - but he was fit enough to perform the following night. Sir Paul McCartney was lucky to escape serious injury when he fell through a trapdoor in the stage during a show on his US tour.

Nine Inch Nails drummer Jerome Dillon was hospitalized on stage while playing a gig in San Diego, California, on 16 September. He was again rushed to hospital on 28 September suffering chest pains and exhaustion. In October, Dillon was temporarily replaced by stand-in drummer Alex Carapetis - but he was sacked in December.

R&B star D'Angelo was left in a critical condition after being involved in a car crash on 19 September. Fortunately, D'Angelo got better and was discharged to return home later in the month.

The Who joined forces with British boyband McFly to record a version of their classic hit My Generation - but Pete Townshend warned fans they could be waiting up to five years for new material. Mariah Carey became only the fifth artist or group in US chart history to hold top position on the single and album chart simultaneously.

And Christina Aguilera earned herself a cool $2 million (£1.1 million) when she sang for an hour at a Russian billionaire's star-studded wedding in the south of France.

Meanwhile, Coldplay singer Chris Martin revealed he was devastated by some of the scathing reviews his album X&Y received in the US, while Jay-Z re-adopted his birthname Shawn Carter in a bid to leave his rapping past behind. He also terminated all business links with former friend Damon Dash in a $30 million (£17 million) deal.

Jimmy James Johnson, who punched Dr Dre at the Vibe Awards in 2004, was sentenced to a year in jail. Phil Spector, who will stand trial on murder charges next year, launched a lawsuit against his financial agent, claiming she stole money from his back accounts. Former Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to having oral sex with a minor.

OCTOBER

Oasis and Gorillaz will look back on October with fond memories when both acts scooped two gongs at the Q Awards in London. The animated stars won Best Video and Best Producer while Wonderwall rockers Oasis were recipients of the more prestigious Best Album and People's Choice awards. Singer Liam Gallagher used the ceremony to launch an attack on Chris Martin, labelling him a "plant pot".

Elsewhere, close-knit family group Cherryholmes were the big winners at the International Bluegrass Music Awards, when they scooped Entertainer Of The Year.

October saw a galaxy of the music industry's leading lights falling foul of the law. Rap mogul Damon Dash is facing a third-degree misdemeanor assault charge, after being accused of assaulting the founder of his magazine, America.

Eighties pop star Boy George was arrested on cocaine possession charges after he called police to his apartment saying he had been burgled, and they allegedly discovered 13 bags of the drug. Bad boy rapper The Game was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest when his rowdy behavior and frightening Halloween mask attracted complaints when he went on a shopping trip.

And Michael Stipe missed out on celebrating Halloween when a fire broke out at his New York City apartment. Earlier in the month, Stipe performed with original band members Bill Berry, Mike Mills and Peter Buck for the first time since Berry quit in 1997.

Brazilian singer Emilinha Borba, Badfinger drummer Michael Gibbons, jazz star Jack Lesberg and songwriter Baker Knight passed away in October. Lenny Kravitz had to soldier through his US tour following the death of his father. It was announced the investigation into Kirsty MacColl's 2000 death in Mexico will be reopened, while Bayside drummer John 'Beatz' Holohan was killed in a crash involving his tour bus on Halloween. And Stevie Wonder began discussions with eye surgeons over a new treatment which could help him see for the first time.

Janet Jackson slammed claims she has a secret daughter following allegations made by her former brother-in-law, and was humiliated after a video clip of her sunbathing naked hit the internet.

Ashlee Simpson made up for her lip-synching disaster on US TV sow Saturday Night Live last year by singing live on the hit show, while Beyonce Knowles was accused of having her skin digitally lightened for the cover of style bible Vanity Fair. And Jay-Z and Nas ended their bitter feud and performed together at a concert in New Jersey on 27 October.

Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson left his fans in a state of panic when he briefly collapsed on stage in England - but he recovered to finish the show. Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee suffered burns during a concert on 12 October when a pyrotechnic stunt went horrible wrong. Rapper Cam'ron was shot in both arms during an attempted hijacking of his Lamborghini sports car, while eleven South Korean music fans lost their lives in a stampede at a concert in Sangju.

Reclusive Irish singer Enya was left shaken when a stalker broke into her mansion and tied up her maid before trying to hunt her down. Rod Stewart was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk Of Fame, while U2 front man Bono dined with George W Bush and discussed the issue of developing world debt and the spread of AIDS.

Robbie Williams fell foul of 50 Cent when they stayed at the same German hotel in Berlin. The Candy Shop rapper took exception to Williams complaints about the level of noise coming from his suite, saying Williams was annoyed because he'd refused to meet him.

Justin Timberlake was left red-faced after his performance in movie Edison was widely ridiculed by critics and Marilyn Manson shocked the fashion world when he announced he will launch a range of fragrances in 2006. Eric Clapton sold the rights to warts-and-all autobiography for $6.4 million (£3.5 million).

Poison guitarist CC DeVille endured a tough October - his home was burgled and he was sentenced to 80 days behind bars and five years probation after pleading guilty to drink-driving charges.

R&B legend Ronald Isley was convicted of tax evasion and faces up to 26 years in prison when he is sentenced next year. Rapper DMX pleaded guilty to violating the conditions of his release on charges relating to a 2004 car crash. A lawsuit claiming pop star Britney Spears plagiarized her hit record Sometimes was thrown out of court.

Carl Morgan, a producer who worked with English urban act So Solid Crew, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his love rival.

NOVEMBER

As the end of the year approached, awards ceremony season gripped the music industry in November. Green Day and Coldplay were the big winners at the MTV Europe Music Awards, taking home two gongs each. The American Idiot group took the Best Album and Best Rock accolades, while the Speed Of Sound hit makers scooped Best Song and Best UK and Ireland Act.

On the other side of the pond, Colombian singer Juanes triumphed at the Latin Grammy Awards taking home three prizes. Mariah Carey was crowned queen of the Vibe Awards scooping four honors including the coveted Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year gongs.

As a warm up to the Country Music Association Awards, Garth Brooks made a live return with a concert in New York City's Times Square. Lee Ann Womack and Australian star Keith Urban picked up five honors between them.

Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom - America's highest civilian honor - by George W Bush on 9 November, while Ozzy Osbourne left the audience at the UK Music Hall Of Fame show speechless when he accepted Black Sabbath's induction by baring his bottom.

Destiny's Child, Green Day, The Black Eyed Peas, Tim McGraw and Kelly Clarkson shared the limelight at the American Music Awards on 22 November, winning two prizes each. Goth rockers My Chemical Romance took home the top prize at the second annual Woodie Of The Year Awards in New York City when they walked off with the Artist Of The Year title.

Rapper Beanie Siegel was jailed for an hour on 10 November when he refused to pay $27,000 in unpaid child support, while Jack White announced he is expecting a baby with his model wife Karen Elson. Country star Big Kenny Alphin became a father for the first time, and Travis rocker Fran Healy announced his fiancee Nora Kryst is expecting.

Rod Stewart had a double celebration - his divorce from Rachel Hunter came through, meaning he is free to marry fiancée Penny Lancaster, and he became a father for the seventh time when Lancaster gave birth to his seventh child on 27 November. The 60-year-old named his baby boy Alistair Wallace.

Depeche Mode were forced to scrap the first night of their US comeback tour on 2 November because Hurricane Wilma left their Florida venue without power. Destiny's Child finally said goodbye to their fans on 15 November when US chat show host Jimmy Kimmel dedicated his entire program to the girls' swansong.

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey finally announced their split, following months of intense media speculation and numerous denials from the Newlyweds. Simpson was so affected by the relentless gossip, she went to see a therapist. British soul sensation Joss Stone ended her romance with boyfriend Beau Dozier, insisting they parted as friends. And Usher broke up with his girlfriend Eishia Brightwell after she put pressure on him to propose.

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman exchanged vows in northern California on 19 November, and Aguilera walked down the aisle decorated with jewels and white flowers. Guests at the romantic ceremony, including Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz, were asked to sign confidentiality agreements before attending. Aguilera is now considering changing her name to Maria - her middle name - Bratman.

Kylie Minogue announced she will release her first new material since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. Her live version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow was available for download on Christmas Day.

Phil Collins admitted he wanted to reunite the original Genesis line-up with Peter Gabriel returning to vocals, while British boy band Take That announced they will reunite next year for a UK tour, even though Robbie Williams refused to return to form the original line-up.

Backstreet Boy Nick Carter laughed off rumors he was engaged to Chinese actress Bai Ling, insisting he was merely friends with the Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow beauty.

Sadly, R&B star David Townsend, singer/songwriter Chris Whitley, Shonen Knife drummer Mana 'China' Nishura, Link Wray and Al Frazer all died in November, leaving the music industry in mourning.

Eminem topped album charts with his greatest hits compilation Curtain Call - and left his fans confused after further fuelling rumors he was set to step back from the limelight, and then denying he had plans to turn his back on life as a performer.

The Darkness front man Justin Hawkins triumphantly declared in November that he has overcome the eating disorder which he developed after feeling intense pressure to maintain his slim physique.

Soul veteran Patti LaBelle was also celebrating because she was terrified she had developed breast cancer, but scans revealed she was fit and healthy. Kelly Osbourne was left nursing an injured leg and damaged pride after she fell down the stairs of the luxury London flat her parents gave her to mark her 21st birthday.

Sir Elton John confirmed he and partner David furnish would take advantage of new British laws allowing same sex civil unions by having a gay marriage on 21 December - the first day it was possible for homosexuals and lesbians to marry in the UK.

The White Stripes rocker Jack White signed a deal with soft drink giant Coca-Cola to write and record a song for an upcoming advertising campaign, despite his previous criticism of musicians who endorse products.

Yoko Ono publicly apologized to Sir Paul McCartney for bringing his songwriting ability into question at October's Q Awards, and insisted their long-running feud was invented by the media. She told rock magazine Rolling Stone, "I certainly did not mean to hurt Paul, and, if I did, I am very sorry." McCartney busied himself by becoming the first musician to have a live song transmitted into space. The Beatles classic Good Day Sunshine was used as an alarm call for cosmonauts on board the International Space Station on 13 November.

Meanwhile, rapper 50 Cent did little for hip-hop's image by declaring, "Rap isn't for gays," and described US President George W Bush as the ultimate "gangsta".

Madonna made a triumphant return to London with an intimate live show at the Koko nightclub, an event which had die hard fans queuing overnight to get one of 200 free tickets to the 15 November premiere of tracks from new album Confessions On A Dancefloor. The Queen of Pop also announced at the MTV Europe Music Awards that she's planning another tour to accompany the LP.

Kate Bush insisted she will never tour again, but Robbie Williams broke box office records by selling one million tickets for his 2006 world tour in less than three hours.

Poison singer Bret Michaels was in fear of his life when his tour bus was hit by flying bullets during a drive-by shooting on 21 November. Nobody was seriously injured in the attack and Michaels swore he would not be affected by it. Irish boyband Westlife narrowly escaped death when the jet they were traveling in burst into flame before take off in Cape Town, South Africa. The four-piece were evacuated as firefighters dealt with the blazing engine.

No love was lost between former The Beach Boys stars Brian Wilson and Mike Love, when Love filed his old band mate over his 2004 release of the famously unfinished Smile album.

Disgraced glam rocker Gary Glitter was arrested by Vietnamese police over allegations he had sex with young girls while living in the country. Glitter is being held by police after he was caught trying to board a plane from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, Thailand. He faces up to 12 years in jail if he is convicted of child molestation charges.

The trial of rap barons the Gotti Brothers began on 16 November in New York City - they stood accused of laundering drug money through their Murder Inc record label. Irv and Chris Lorenzo were sensationally cleared of all charges - which carried a combined prison sentence of 20 years - on 3 December.

British music moguls Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller reached an out-of-court settlement in their dispute over the American Idol judge's UK TV show The X Factor. Former Spice Girls manager Fuller filed suit against Cowell in September 2004, claiming the latter's ITV show X Factor copied the format of Britain's original Pop Idol and its US version American Idol, which are produced by Fuller's production company 19TV.

Rapper DMX was sentenced to a week in jail on 29 November after admitting violating the conditions of an earlier release.

DECEMBER

December marked the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's tragic murder. The Imagine singer was shot dead outside his New York City apartment block by Mark David Chapman on 8 December 1980. Special concerts performed at London's Abbey Road Studio and a studio in New York were played simultaneously on BBC Radio 2 and Sirius Satellite Radio in the US, while Strawberry Fields in Central Park became a mecca for Lennon fans. Sir Paul McCartney expressed the deep loss he still feels, but revealed he prefers to focus on the happy memories he shared with Lennon than the horror of his assassination.

Veteran rockers Brian May and Jimmy Page collected their Officer Of The Order Of The British Empire (OBE) awards from British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, while U2 were honored with the Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience award.

U2, Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani were the international winners at MTV India's IMMIES awards, while 50 Cent and Green Day were the kings of the Billboard Music Awards on 6 December with six awards apiece. Kanye West was the big winner at the VH1 Awards and was named the world's Biggest Entertainer.

Art Garfunkel was overjoyed at becoming a father for the second - at the age of 64, while Britney Spears was put under pressure by ardent fans compelling her to bring her marriage to Kevin Federline to an end.

British rocker Paul Weller said he would never consider reforming The Jam, no matter how big the pay cheque, while pop superstar Prince signed a record deal with major label Universal after years spent releasing his albums through his own label NPG Records. He said, "I don't consider Universal a slave ship. I did my own agreement. I got exactly what I wanted."

Veteran guitar band Status Quo were forced to bring their British tour to an abrupt halt in December when Rick Parfitt was rushed to hospital to undergo tests for throat cancer. Later in the month, Parfitt found out he didn't have cancer.

It was revealed on 5 December that raunchy rapper Foxy Brown has gone completely deaf. The news broke in a Manhattan court where her lawyer was asked to reveal why he constantly wrote notes for his client. Brown went on to disclose that she has suffered from severe sudden sensor neural hearing loss for six months and is receiving treatment in a bid to return all of her senses.

Marilyn Manson wed his striptease fiancée Dita Von Teese in a secret ceremony at Castle Gurteen in Ireland on 3 December, while country stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood wed on 10 December in a private ceremony at their Oklahoma residence.

Eminem shocked his fans during an interview on a Detroit, Michigan, radio station when he revealed he is planning to re-marry his ex-wife Kim. They married in 1999, but split in 2001. Eminem has since shared details of their messy divorce and bitter child support battle of their daughter Hailie Jade, nine, on some of his most vitriolic tracks.

George Michael told fans he is considering embarking on another tour and that he plans to enter into a civil union with long-term lover Kenny Goss on the 10th anniversary in June 2006. He also revealed that he almost had a sexual liaison with the Diana, Princess Of Wales in 1997, despite the fact he is a homosexual.

U2 were named the top touring earners of 2005 after grossing $260 million and attracting three million fans to the 90 concerts on their Vertigo world tour. The Eagles, Neil Diamond, Kenny Chesney and Sir Paul McCartney rounded out the top five. British singer Ian Brown was bottled off at a gig in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after the venue was plagued by sound problems.

50 Cent was left fuming when members of his entourage were refused entry to Canada to perform with him. Tony Yayo, M.O.P and Young Buck were all turned back because of their criminal convictions. Young Buck was sentenced to three years' probation earlier in the month after pleading no contest to stabbing a man who punched Dr Dre at last year's Vibe Awards.

Robbie Williams won his libel court case against a British newspaper and two magazines who claimed he was secretly gay. And Gary Glitter was dubbed a "lying monster" by a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl who claims he drugged her and had sex with her.

On a happier note, Sir Elton John brought his year to a close when he married his long-term partner David Furnish on 21 December. (SC/WN/IG)