all about Madonna

Madonna enjoyed playing at London's Earls Court so much last month (August), she wants to return later this year for another three dates.
The Vogue superstar - who made $1.8 million for each concert she performed at the venue - was overwhelmed by the warm response she received in the capital, and hopes to treat British fans to some more shows next month (October).
A source says, "It's still in the planning stages, but Madonna can't wait to go back to Earl's Court."
"She's hoping the shows will take place next month, we're just waiting to get confirmation."
source : teenmusic.com

There are a few challenges left for Madonna, and a university degree is one of them.
Having pretty much conquered the world of pop, Madge is now set to read Literature at Oxford University.
The Material Girl is to further her knowledge of British literary greats such as Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen, by studying for a Bachelor of Arts.
But undergraduates should not get too excited about sharing halls of residence with her, she will be doing the course from home.
A source says Madonna was always frustrated about having to sacrifice her education when her music career took off.
source : xinhuanet.com

Madonna's song - What it feels like for a girl, remixed by Stephane Pompougnac is featured on his new compilation - Best Of Costes.

Despite the 'are they or aren't they married' Britney Spears debate, Madonna has invited the happy couple to the UK for their honeymoon.
How sweet.
Why not come and play at my Wiltshire country estate and we can teach that young Kevin of yours how to eat with a knife and fork?
Or shoot birds?
Either way, we'll have to sort out his wardrobe.
According to reports, Madge sent the couple a Kabbalah text as an engagement present.
Er, we're not sure if it was a text message along the lines of, "You idiot! Hope you know what you're doing?", or an old Kabbalah text book.
Either way, Spears loved it.
source : megastar.co.uk

The European version of Madonna's official 2005 calendar is ready to reach stores.
The calendar licensed to Danilo is manufactured in the usual ISO A3 European format (approx 29.8 cm x 42 cm) and it's not squared like the Us version as you can see in the image below.
Some little changes in the graphics were done to adjust the content to the new bigger format.



source : madonnatribe

DrownedMadonna can reveal that during some European rehearsals for the Tour, Madonna rehearsed a new song but she never actually put it in the show. Her management wanted her to do it for the DVD taping but Madonna didn't want to waste it in the RIT DVD. The song is an electro-pop ballad. As for now it's due in 2005.
...the song has been already recorded, and even if it is due in 2005, at this stage it's too early to state that it will be THE new single, although insiders say that Madonna is strongly determined to have a Number 1 single again. Apparently the song was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, produced by Guy Sigsworth and mixed by Stuart Price.
source : drownedmadonna

01 Drowned World Tour [2001]

16 Ciao Italia - Live From Italy [1987]

17 The Immaculate Collection [1990]

21 Live Down Under - The Girlie Show Tour [1993]

source : True Hectic (madonnaNATION Forum)

Madonna's feeling highly insulted the CBS network has pulled the plug on broadcasting her Reinvention tour. The network didn't like the anti-war propaganda, the gay content and the constant plugs for Kabbalah. But it's not too bitter a pill for the Material Girl to swallow -- she'll still get a $10-million cancellation fee.

source : canoe.ca

Madonna says she's happy she made her kabala pilgrimage to Israel. Despite being dogged night and day by the media, she tells us in an e-mail, ''I felt very safe and very welcome... . From my perspective, (the trip) was a smashing success.''
She does allow that, though she tried to strike some poses for photogs as she visited holy sites, ''the paparazzi in Israel are the most volatile and ferocious I've ever witnessed... . (They) make the Italians look like pussycats.''
Madonna isn't the only one who wants to visit Israel. New York Gov. George Pataki told new Israeli consul Arye Mekel that he wants to go back for another visit. (Pataki accompanied New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in 2002 for a 16-hour trip after a wave of terror there.)
source : montereyherald.com

Undettered by failures past, Madonna is apparently making a new movie "” and this one features a French Shih Tzu. A Paris boulevardier told the Telegraph of London: "My friend was walking along with her little Shih Tzu, Ulysse, when she was stopped by a woman who said, 'You're going to think I'm mad, but your dog is exactly the one that Madonna wants for her new documentary.' That weekend two members of Madonna's band took Ulysse on a filmed tour of Paris, but they wouldn't let on about the film, except that it's due to premiere at Cannes next year." Let's hope Guy Ritchie, who made the little-seen "Swept Away," isn't directing.
source : nypost.com

Steven Klein and Madonna's X-STaTIC PRO=CeSS exhibition will be on show in London from 15-30 October at Scout gallery. The gallery sent this press release:
This collaborative project between Madonna and renowned New York photographer Steven Klein was based around the loose narrative of 'a performer in her rehersal space where she creates and brings her ideas to life or death'. Scout will be screening the film and also showing editioned photographs not seen before in the UK that capture this idea of the creative process.
source : madonnalicious.com

While every Madonna fan can't wait to buy the official Dvd of the re-Invention tour, we add another piece of info to the cauldron of speculation. Our collaborator from Portugual Silly Thing got infos from a reliable source from Portuguese Radio who says the DVD will probably be released in March 2005. The working title is now "The Re-Invention Tour - Live In Lisbon". As usual these are the cases to just wait and see.
source : madonnatribe

01 Madonna / Paris, France / Sept. 1-2, 4-5, 2004 / $7,357,529 / Attend : 68,000/68000
02 Madonna / Arnhem, The Netherlands / Sept. 8-9, 2004 / $6,759,661 / Attend : 73,300/73000
03 Madonna / Meath, Ireland / Aug. 29, 2004 / $6,575,339 / Attend : 62,275/70000
04 Madonna / Lisbon, Portugal / Sept. 13-14, 2004 / $3,286,166 / Attend : 33,460/33,460
source : billboard.com

Egyptian Parliament members have submitted an order to Government demanding that American singer Madonna be prohibited from entering Egyptian soil. Parliament members also included a number of other international singers on their list of people forbidden from entering Egypt and called on all their embassies abroad to not grant any of them visas into Egypt or be allowed to shoot any of their music videos on Egyptian soil.
The demand came after Madonna announced that she will celebrate the Jewish New Years in Israel and that she had converted to Judaism. On a similar note Arab Parliament member, Ahmad Al Taibi, in the Israeli Knesset turned down an invitation from Madonna to an event she held after she showed inconsideration for the sufferings of Palestinians, especially children, under the occupation of Israeli soldiers.
Ahmad had stressed that he wished the singer would try and learn from other international stars like Richard Gear and Julie Christie who came to the occupied lands and showed their support for the suffering of Palestinians.
Madonna had announced that she has changed her name, which has become a marker throughout her career, and now demands to be called by her new Jewish name Esther. The singer who has adopted the Jewish sector "Kabbalah", revealed that she has become so affected by her religion that she felt she must change her name to go with her belief. The well known Material Girl was named after her mother who died when the singer was young and said she wanted to be attached to the "energy" of a new name.
During an interview in the United States, the Catholic born singer said that since following the teachings of the Jewish mystical faith Kabbalah - whose principles she said were very "punk rock" and anti-establishment - Madonna has learned to follow new directions.
Adopted by gurus of popular culture, the Kabbalah, an ancient Hebrew mystical system of thought, embodies the mystical side of Judaism and teaches one to embrace small sparks of daily experiences and the seemingly insignificant moments of life.
Madonna stressed that she will not answer to her old name and will only accept being Called Esther from now on. One of the key changes to date has been her name, "I was named after my mother. My mother died when she was very young, of cancer, and I wanted to attach myself to another name.
source : albawaba.com

A sexy piece of pop history, once worn by none other than Madonna, is one of the many items fans can pick up at a Christie's music memorabilia auction next week.
The exotic black leather one-piece outfit, sported by Madonna in her 1992 book Sex, is one of the prize lots up for grabs, expected to fetch upwards of GBP6,000. Comprised of a backless bra and thong connected with a network of straps, the naughty ensemble is signed by the pop star, along with an affectionate XOXOX, in a not-so-discreet spot.
Madonna's risqu, leather costume joins decidedly less racy items going under the hammer on September 29 in London. Other standouts for sale include an elaborate Black Sabbath stage cape worn by frontman Ozzy Osbourne in 1974 , estimated to bring in GBP4,000, as well as a 1960s-era striped satin jacket owned by Rolling Stone Keith Richards, a steal at GBP500-700.



source : hellomagazine.com

Great news for end-of-season holidaymakers - Madonna is to play Ibiza. The 46-year-old mum-of-two is expected to perform with Groove Armada at the closing party at Space nightclub on the island this week.
The Armada - who lit up the charts with I See You Baby - recently remixed Madge's single Music. Our source tells us: "No one knows what they'll be performing together but as long as the final arrangements are made then it's sure to be a spectacular show."
The mother of Re-invention strikes again.
source : mirror.co.uk

Whether she goes by Madonna or her recently adopted Hebrew name, Esther, a mere mention of the pop superstar's name has the power to inspire a following throughout the Western world. Last week, Madonna did just that when she spent the Rosh Hashana / Jewish New Year of 5765 in Israel. Eager to study Kabbalah and experience the roots of its mystical tradition, Madonna made a pilgrimage to Israel along with 2,000 of her fellow students of Kabbalah from 22 countries.
Her visit included a quick stop at the Western Wall, a trip to the grave of the great Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag, and a special bequest of a Byzantine-era oil lamp and a coin by Israel's Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra.
Madonna is flanked by Israel's Minister of Tourism, Mr. Gideon Ezra (right) and Minister of Industry, Mr. Ehud Olmert. Mr. Ezra presented her with an antique coin and oil lamp from the Byzantine-era on Sunday.
"I would like to say how happy I am to be back in Israel," Madonna said. "I couldn't think of a better place to end my tour, and I promise not to stay away for another 10 years. To be perfectly honest, I was a bit hesitant to come here after seeing so many news reports about terrorist attacks and reading countless travel safety warnings about how dangerous it is to be here if you are an American. I realize now that it is no more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York. And I would like to emphasize the fact that I feel very safe and very welcome. The most dangerous thing that I have encountered since coming here are a few very naughty paparazzi waiting outside my hotel."
Dani Shahal, Director, Israel Government Tourist Office - Canada, commented, "I praise Madonna's passionate comments about how warmly she was welcomed and how safe she felt while on her visit"?. Rami Levi, Head of Marketing Administration - Israel Ministry of Tourism, echoed Madonna's sentiments and extends a welcome to other celebrities to follow in her footsteps. "We are thrilled that a cultural icon like Madonna chose to visit Israel, and that she felt secure, despite some initial apprehension," he said. "Over the past year, we have welcomed Chris Noth, Richard Gere, Eric Braeden, and Whitney Houston, to name a select few. And upon their return, each has marveled at his or her profoundly, life-altering experience in the Holy Land. We will continue to embrace celebrities who come forth and testify to the magnificent beauty, hospitality and sense of safety that Israel and its people have to offer."



source : travelvideo.tv

Pop icon Madonna was reportedly reduced to tears after being hounded by the paparazzi during her pilgrimage to Israel, while her husband, British director Guy Ritchie, called the photographers "f-ers".
Not only was she surrounded by photographers throughout her Kabbalah trip, she also had to cancel a visit to the Western Wall, which is one of the holiest Judaism sites in Jerusalem, and was forced to visit the tomb of a Jewish mystic in the middle of the night.
"Madge was in tears, she was devastated," the New York Daily News quoted an insider as saying.
source : ani

Madonna wanted to see Israel, and Israelis yearned to see Madonna. But in the end, each side managed only a glimpse of the other.
Madonna came to Israel with some 2,000 fellow followers of cabala, a form of Jewish mysticism, and spent most of her five days here holed up in the luxury David Inter-Continental Hotel, across the street from the Tel Aviv beachfront.
Her planned tour of Jewish holy sites was curtailed, most notably in the early hours of Sunday, when her heavily guarded convoy pulled into the stone plaza near the Western Wall in Jerusalem around 1:30 a.m. Despite the hour, a large gathering of Jewish worshipers were taking part in prayers linked to the Jewish New Year, which fell last week. In addition, several dozen photographers were prowling the grounds. Madonna looked out the darkened windows of her van for several minutes as the crowd gathered around. The van then drove off without Madonna's ever opening the door.
Secular Israelis have been starved for big-name international acts in recent years and were ready to embrace Madonna, who sang here in 1993. But she came to pray, not to perform. She and her husband, the British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, took part in cabala sessions in the hotel's conference room, which was converted into a synagogue, with segregated men's and women's sections.
Madonna's only formal public appearance came Sunday night, when the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center, which organized the trip, staged a children's program at the hotel that featured Jewish and Arab youths and drew more than 1,000 guests, including Israeli government officials.
"I was a bit hesitant to come here after seeing so many news reports about terrorist attacks," said Madonna, wearing a low-cut dress with a black and white leopard print. "I realize now that it is no more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York."
Madonna has been exploring cabala since 1997 and now dresses and often performs with symbols of Judaism and cabala. She sometimes wears a Jewish star and often has a red thread on her wrist, a cabala trademark intended to ward off the evil eye.
When she visited a Tel Aviv restaurant, she wore a glittery necklace with a large letter E, apparently a reference to her recent adaptation of the biblical Jewish name Esther. But Madonna said she was not representing a religion. "I'm here as a student of cabala,'' she said. "A cabalist sees the world as a unified whole. A cabalist asks why. A cabalist believes that he or she has the responsibility to make the world a better place."
The Israeli government seized on the singer's visit for tourism promotion, and Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra presented her with a Byzantine-era oil lamp and a coin on Sunday. Earlier he had suggested that it would be helpful if Madonna would pose for a picture with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, though there was no sign that this materialized.
Madonna arrived in Israel on Wednesday night, at the beginning of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and organizers had announced planned visits to several religious shrines. But whenever she tried to venture out, she found herself surrounded. After the Friday night dinner in Tel Aviv, two of her bodyguards were arrested after scuffling with and injuring two photographers.
Just after midnight Saturday, she made a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem grave site of the cabalist sage Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag. Madonna and her husband, with police and photographers in tow, spent more than an hour inside the stone mausoleum. She prayed, chanted and placed candles on the tomb, and shortly before leaving wiped tears from her eyes.
Afterward, she made her abbreviated trip to the Western Wall, the holiest site for Jewish prayer. Other planned visits, including a trip to the tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel, which is in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in the West Bank, never took place.
While Madonna has studied cabala for seven years, there are still plenty of skeptics questioning her commitment to a form of study traditionally reserved for men over 40 who have mastered the Torah and the Talmud. "It is forbidden to teach a non-Jew cabala," Yitzhak Kadouri, a leading cabalist, recently told the Israeli newspaper Maariv.
But the Kabbalah Center says the cabala is open to all.
source : nytimes

Madonna's visit to Israel goes on making the headlines on newspapers worldwide. This comes from the London edition of Metro
"Madonna called for world peace yesterday at a conference on Jewish mysticism in Israel. The Kabbalah devotee and her husband, film-maker Guy Ritchie, attended the event in Tel Aviv as part of a five-day visit to the Holy Land with 2,000 students of Kabbalah.
She admitted to the 1,000-strong gathering she was hesitant to come to Israel 'after seeing so many news reports about terror attacks' and reading official travel warnings.
'I realise now that it is no more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York,' she said. Madonna said the people she met during her visit 'have one thing in common - we want to create peace in the world'. She added: 'We want to put an end to hatred with no reason.'
Earlier, Madonna made a pilgrimage to the grave of a Jewish sage and saw the sacred Western Wall. Israel hopes the star - the biggest pop celebrity to visit in years - will revive tourism battered by four years of Middle East violence. But some have opposed her visit and involvement in Kabbalah, a type of Jewish mysticism that has a growing celebrity following. Critics say the raunchy, materialistic values the singer has promoted in the past are contrary to religious values.
Madonna, who has adopted the Hebrew name Esther and wears a Kabbalah red string on her wrist, insists she is serious about her belief."
source : metro

Israeli Tourism Minister Gidon Ezra is planning to present American singer Madonna with an oil lamp and a coin from the Byzantine Period in honor of her current visit to the country. Madonna's name and that of her husband, director Guy Ritchie is inscribed on the box holding the rare items, according to the Tourism Ministry. The icon is here with thousands of other Kabbala devotees for a 5-day learning seminar based in Tel Aviv organized by the Kabbala Center. The Tourism Minister said that Madonna's visit to Israel is very important for promoting tourism to Israel and that attention to her visit in the international media will strengthen the flow of tourists to the country and awareness of Israel as a tourist destination. Late Saturday night, Madonna and her entourage made a pilgrimage to a Jerusalem cemetery, holding a mystical candlelit ceremony at the grave of a Jewish sage. Following her graveside visit, Madonna went to the Western Wall.
source : israel21c.org

Pop diva Madonna today called for world peace at a conference on Jewish mysticism a highlight of her five-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Israel hopes the star the biggest pop celebrity to visit in years will revive tourism battered by four years of Mideast violence, and government officials were on hand at a Tel Aviv hotel to share the spotlight, the glory and the photographs.
Madonna, wearing a low-cut dress with a black and white leopard pattern, said she was hesitant to come to Israel after seeing so many news reports about terror attacks, and reading State Department travel warnings.
"I realise now that it is no more dangerous to be here than it is to be in New York," she told the gathering.
At the gala event, an Israeli childrens choir and a Palestinian sang to the gathering of more than 1,000 people. Israeli Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra presented Madonna with a small gift and praised her for coming to Israel.
Ezra told Israel TV that he looked forward to sitting next to her at dinner and hoped "she will say nice things about us".
Tourism officials hope the singer's well-publicised visit to Israel will calm fears that have kept many potential tourists away from the Holy Land, despite its religious and other attractions.
Speaking without notes, Madonna said the people she met during her five-day Holy Land trip have one thing in common we want to create peace in the world.
We want to put an end to chaos and suffering, she said, but most of all we want to put an end to hatred with no reason.
The singer said she was not representing a religion. Rather, she said: I'm here as a student of Kabbalah. A Kabbalist sees the world as a unified whole. A Kabbalist asks why.
While many Israelis welcomed the singer and her entourage, others were uncomfortable with the mission.
Over the years, observant Jews have considered Kabbalah a powerful, even potentially dangerous undertaking to be tackled only by the most qualified and learned men. Now, many Orthodox Jews reject the adoption of Kabbalah by non-Jewish pop figures as a desecration of the holy.
Earlier today, Madonna went to the Kiryat Shaul cemetery outside Tel Aviv to visit the grave of a famous Jewish mysticist.
Guarded by police, Madonna and husband, Guy Ritchie, walked past rows of tombstones to the grave of the Kabbalist sage Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag.
Polish born Ashlag is the renowned author of the Sulam, the ladder, a commentary on the core Kabbalistic text, the Zohar. He died in 1954.
Madonna, wearing jeans, a black and grey checked sweater with a matching cap and a large diamond encrusted letter E on a chain to symbolise her adopted name Esther, spent more than an hour inside the stone mausoleum, placing candles on the tomb, praying and chanting.
Led by a rabbi, Madonna and her small entourage recited blessings over food and wine, drank from small plastic cups and circled the raised stone grave. Toward the end of the ceremony, Madonna wiped tears from her eyes.
Adherents of Jewish mysticism believe that praying at the graves of sages can help achieve one's wishes. Millions make pilgrimages every year to the more than 100 of these burial sites across the Holy Land, praying for health, children or to find a mate.
source : scotsman.com

Since landing in Israel to attend a Kabalah conference, mega-star singer Madonna has managed to stir quite a bit of commotion. Last night, hundreds of ultra-Orhotox Jews prevented her from visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
While approaching the area, her convoy was surrounded by hundreds of Orthodox men who chanted Shabbis (Sabbath in Yiddish). Police did not take any chances and refused to allow her passage. Thousands of religious Jews pray at the Wall every night ahead of Yom Kippur (day of fasting to repent sins).
Madonna's private Boeing 737-800 arrived in Israel on the eve of Rosh Hashana (Jewish new year). She was then escorted to the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv.
The majority of her visit is defined as private, but tonight she is expected to take part and perhaps even deliver an address before an official event of the Children's Spirituality Fund, which is to take place at her hotel.
Over 2,400 people, including Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie, attended Sabbath prayers. She was also present during Torah reading, the blowing of the Shofar and her spiritual mentor's lecture.
On Friday, the conference's participants performed the ritual of Tashlich, but Madonna or Esther (her Kabalah name) did not take part. However, her husband, Ritchie, joined the worshipers.
According to the organizers of the event, Madonna's presence isn't causing a great deal of commotion as expected. Fellow conference participants are acting as usual while organizers insisted there have not been any special problems.
However, during a visit to a Tel Aviv restaurant, a brawl erupted between Madonna's bodyguards and several paparazzi photographers who tried to get close. As a result, several photographers sustained light injuries and were evacuated to a Tel Aviv hospital for further treatment.
source : maarivintl.com

Madonna is to speak Sunday night at the "Spirituality For Kids" benefit for a "spiritual fund for children" at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, following a holiday weekend of prayers, religious study, and a paparazzi mishap.
Hosted by Dan Shilon, the evening will include speeches from Labor Party leader Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Ehud Olmert, and Druse leader Sheikh Abulrocan. Singers Ahinoam Nini and Amal Murkus, a Palestinian, are to perform.
"The 'Spirituality For Kids' Israel event will mark the beginning of a peace movement that will show children and adults around the world that the road toward peace begins with embracing your voice and others' with compassion, respect, and acceptance," the US-based Kabbalah Center wrote in a press release.
The Catholic-bred American pop icon is in town for the Kabbalah Center's Rosh Hashana gathering.
The pop diva's first venture out of her hotel on Friday night resulted in turmoil, sending two photographers and a policeman to hospital.
As she went out for a brief walk along the Herbert Samuel Promenade in Tel Aviv and then for a bite to eat, photographers tailed Madonna's moves. But two of her bodyguards hit the lens-men. First an Associated Press photographer was attacked, then another photographer coming to his rescue was assaulted, and finally a policeman hoping to end the scuffle suffered wounds.
"Two security guards were detained for questioning by the Tel Aviv police department," police spokeswoman Liat Pearl said.
Since her arrival Wednesday evening, Madonna has spent the majority of her time in the confines of the David Intercontinental Hotel.
On Thursday, she and husband filmmaker Guy Ritchie attended a lecture in the hotel delivered by their spiritual teacher, Eitan Yardeni of the LA Kabbalah Center.
Some 2,000 Kabbala enthusiasts from 22 countries are taking part in the Rosh Hashana conference. Other celebrities rumored to be coming for the congress include Marla Maples, ex-wife of business tycoon Donald Trump, actress Demi Moore, and fashion designer Donna Karan.
"It's an annual world convention," said Shaul Youdkevitch, head of the Kabbalah Center's Tel Aviv branch. "Usually it's held in the States; this year there was a decision to hold it in Israel. And the only place big enough is in Tel Aviv."
Familiar to controversy, Madonna's participation in the conference has caused ire among both Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinians charge her of ignoring their suffering, while Orthodox Jews have portrayed her as religiously insensitive.
Kabbala has long been thought of as the exclusive domain of devout male scholars. But US-born rabbi, and the director of the Kabbalah Center and Madonna's guru, Philip Berg, popularized it in the West in the 1960s.
"It is forbidden to teach a non-Jew Kabbala, not even Talmud, not even simple Torah," leading kabbalist Rabbi Yitzhak Kadouri told AP Television.
"Non-Jews can study Kabbala and women can study Kabbala. There are some people who don't understand that the Middle Ages aren't over yet," said Youdkevitch, in response.
For her part, Madonna, who reportedly no longer performs on Shabbat, has said she is not following some trend but is truly devoted to Kabbala. She has used Hebrew letters and Jewish prayer accessories in her music video clips. And she wears a red thread on her wrist to ward off the evil eye.
Besides prayer services, the conference itinerary includes trips to popular tourist sites including the Western Wall, Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, and the graves of famous kabbalists in Safed.
source : jpost.com

Fellow Madonna Fans -
This letter serves as a plead for assistance. I am disputing the business practices of Music Today with regard to Madonna's Re-Invention Tour. My case has been in arbitration since June & I am looking for people to support my position.
My situation involves the VIP package sold through Music Today. Here is an account of my experience:
March 22: Madonna's Re-Invention Tour was announced with one concert date in Chicago. A membership to her fan club was also highly promoted as an opportunity to purchase concert tickets before the general public. Not wanting to miss Madonna's one & only stop in Chicago, I purchased a fan club membership for $38.00.
March 23: Tickets went on sale to fan club members via Ticketmaster. I was online immediately, but only managed to get second level ($150.00) seats. With taxs & surcharges, each ticket came to $169.00.
March 24: Madonna VIP tickets were announced. For $739.00, fans could get a seat guaranteed within the first 20 rows. Again, wanting a better seat to Madonna's one, only & possibly final stop in Chicago, I decided to purchase one of these seats.
March 26: I purchased my VIP ticket & had no choice but to agree with Music Today's policy that seat locations would not be made known until the tickets are delivered two weeks before the show.
March 27: Tickets went on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster. Once the first date sold out, two dates were added. As a result, people who did not join the fan club were getting better seats for the second & third shows than those of us did join & bought tickets for the first show. A forth show was also announced.
It is my assesment that a false sense of urgency was created & marketed to the public. Feeling pressured by the initial announcement of only one show per city & being drawn into these "great" opportunities to get tickets first, Madonna fans like myself found themselves backed into a corner.
April 3: Tickets went on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster for a forth & final Madonna show in Chicago.
Early April: Sometime in early April, VIP tickets for all four Madonna shows in Chicago were on sale. However, seat locations were now being provided; contrary to Music Today's initial policy of NOT providing seat locations.
I believe that seat locations were initially NOT provided so as to entice the diehard fans to purchase ANOTHER VIP ticket with a seat location. At this point, I had a fan club membership, two tickets from the fan club on-sale & one VIP ticket. All in all, I had spent $1,115 on Madonna tickets ($946 for myself).
May 7: Everyone who bought tickets through Ticketmaster, had them in hand. However, Music Today was still holding out on even providing seat locations. Feeling taken advantage of, I called Music Today regarding my VIP ticket purchase. The telephone number directed me to their e-mail address. I wrote to them, but didn't get a response. I continued trying to reach them until June 2 without success.
June 2: I had been keeping an eye on available tickets through Ticketmaster. Suddenly today, a lot of tickets were available within the first 10 rows on the main floor. Having not received a response from Music Today on the status of my VIP ticket, I started believing that this VIP offer might not be legitimate. So, I contacted my credit card company & started the dispute process. At the same time, I purchased two more tickets for $638.76. I was now up to $1,753.76 in Madonna tickets ($1,265.38 for myself). Within days, my two tickets from Ticketmaster arrived & I was more than satisfied with my seat locations.
September 14: After months of investigation, my credit card company found no reason to uphold my dispute against Music Today. They said that I agreed to the terms of sale & am responsible for paying $739.00 for a concert ticket I didn't use.
Which brings us to today. As a Madonna fan, I am outraged that her name was used to generate revenue by a company who does not know the meaning of "customer service". The marketing of Madonna's Re-Invention tickets was geared to rape hardcore fans who only wanted the best chance of getting close to Madonna. It is clear that we were bated with better tickets in an effort to sell out the shows & maximize profits. In the end, how many of us were stuck with numerous tickets &/or a lot of debt to show for our obsession?
I have filed complaints again Music Today with the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, the Attorney General of Virginia (where Music Today is located), & the Attorney General of Illinios (where I am located). Complaints can be filed online & I encourage you to follow suit.
Please, please, please e-mail me at FrozenLight2003@hotmail.com with comments or stories that support my case. Let's band together & fight against the exploitation of Madonna & her fans.
Thank you,
Jeff Larsen

Israeli police have arrested two of Madonna's bodyguards after an alleged brawl with photographers outside the singer's hotel.
Madonna and her family are on a spiritual pilgrimage to mark the Jewish New Year.
Two of the photographers, and a policeman who tried to break up the fight in Tel Aviv, were injured.
Israeli police spokeswoman Liat Pearl said two security guards had been detained for questioning.
Media frenzy
Madonna has been in Israel since Wednesday, along with 2,000 other students of Kabbalah - a type of Jewish mysticism.
Her visit has sparked a media frenzy with the local newspapers devoting pages detailing her stay.
The scuffle allegedly broke out on Friday evening as the photographers trailed Madonna from a restaurant to her hotel.
A cameraman for the Associated Press, who was at the scene, claimed that as photographers followed her convoy back to the hotel, some of the bodyguards stopped and tried to push another photographer off his motorbike.
He also alleged that one photographer was knocked to the floor before a second, who had tried to intervene, was also attacked.
Kabbalah bracelet
The two bodyguards were taken away by police for questioning.
Madonna had already entered her hotel when the fight broke out.
Madonna's interest in Kabbalah became public when she was spotted wearing its traditional red string bracelet.
Since then, a string of high-profile celebrities including Britney Spears and Courtney Love have been seen sporting the bracelet.
Designer Donna Karan and Marla Maples, an ex-wife of Donald Trump, were among those travelling with Madonna, according to the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center, sponsor of the trip.
source : bbc.co.uk

After a string of celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kirsten Dunst, it is now turn for the Material Girl Madonna to buy a new mansion.
The singer is reportedly planning to ditch her house in Belgravia for a new mansion in Belsize Park, London, next door to close friend Gwyneth Paltrow and other celebrity friends and fellow mums Sadie Frost, Kate Moss and Helena Bonham-Carter.
According to the Daily Express, Madonna has put down an offer on a nearby 5 million pounds terraced house.
"It's an impressive building. It's got to be worth 5 million pounds and has been decorated in sumptuous style. It's in a prominent position and you can imagine Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie moving into it," the report quoted an insider as saying.
"Even if Madonna is just putting out feelers, it's an indication she wants to be nearer to her celebrity pals. This way she can pop next door to see Gwyneth and their children can play together," the source added.
A spokesperson for Madonna, however, said: "It's unlikely but we wouldn't comment on a private matter like that."
source : ANI

The Material Girl was flying to the Holy Land today on a spiritual quest.
Madonna, a student of Jewish mysticism, was arriving in Israel for the Jewish New Year, which begins at sundown.
The five-day visit, which includes trips to graves of rabbinical sages, brought a quirky diversion to a country normally focused on the conflict with the Palestinians. Israelis reacted with a mix of excitement, bewilderment and anger.
Madonna isn't Jewish, but has taken an interest in Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, in recent years. She has adopted the Hebrew name Esther, wears a red thread on her wrist to ward off the evil eye, and reportedly refuses to perform on the Jewish Sabbath.
She also has incorporated Jewish symbols into some of her music videos, much to the consternation of many religious leaders.
The organisation hosting her in Israel ordered news reporters to wear white clothes and not to take notes when covering Madonna's appearances during the New Year's holiday, or Rosh Hashanah.
"This is entertainment, not Judaism," quipped Uri Orbach, a popular talk-radio host.
Madonna was joining a group of some 2,000 other students of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, from 22 countries, according to the Kabbalah Centre, sponsor of the trip.
Designer Donna Karan and Marla Maples, an ex-wife of New York property billionaire Donald Trump, were among the other celebrities expected to attend, the centre said. Madonna is not scheduled to perform during the five-day visit.
The newspaper Yediot Ahronot reported Madonna's visit on its front page.
Inside, it devoted a half page to the singer under the headline "Esther is coming for the holiday." The story included a photo of the luxury suite in Tel Aviv where Madonna will be staying, as well as the special holiday meal prepared for her, including salmon mousse, steak and chicken in mustard sauce and honey cake.
Israeli officials were giddy over the presence of a big-time star. Tourism, a key sector of the economy, has been battered by four years of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.
On Sunday, Israeli Tourism Minister Gideon Ezra is expected to give Madonna an ancient oil lamp and a coin from the Byzantine period.
"There's no question having stars in the country is a wonderful way to show the world the wonders of our nation," said Rami Levi of Israel's Tourism Ministry.
Levi said the ministry was hoping that Madonna would agree to be filmed for a video to promote tourism.
Police spokesman Gil Kleiman said 1,000 officers were being deployed for the Kabbalah delegation. He said no special precautions were being taken for Madonna, who is being accompanied by private security guards.
The itinerary includes stops at the Western Wall in Jerusalem the northern city of Safed, a centre of Kabbalah and Rachel's Tomb, the traditional burial place of the biblical matriarch in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
It also includes discussions on the first-century sage Akiva and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, the core text of Kabbalah.
Rabbi David Rosen, director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish Committee's office in Jerusalem, said the visit did little for interfaith efforts but that he nonetheless saw an upside.
"I know that some of my colleagues find it very offensive. I can't say I'm enchanted by it," Rosen said. "Nevertheless, our tradition teaches that intention is a key factor in people's behaviour. I feel pretty confident that her intentions are only positive."
Other religious leaders have been harsher. Rabbi Yitzhak Kadouri, a leading Kabbalist and revered rabbinical sage, said that non-Jews, and women in general, are banned from studying Jewish mysticism. "It is forbidden to teach a non-Jew Kabbalah," he said.
source : scotsman.com

... for best live act, other nominees are : Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, David Bowie, The Darkness and The Pixies.
source : qawards.co.uk

Madonna fans be sure to tune in to NBC's The Today Show on Friday September 17th! Steven Cojocaru will be unveiling Madonna's new line of English Roses Girls Clothing, Raincoats, Tea Sets & Tea's, and Jewelry. The English Roses line is designed by Madonna and based off of her bestselling children's book.
source : madonna.com

Diplomats have trying to unite both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict for years, but it only took Madonna one trip to Israel. Orthodox Jews and Palestinians are incensed by her five-day pilgrimage to practise her new-found faith, Kabbalah, an ancient form of Jewish mysticism.
The pop singer arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday and planned to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the northern city of Safed, a centre of Kabbalah, and Rachel's Tomb, the traditional burial place of the biblical matriarch, in Bethlehem.
Palestinians have accused her of ignoring their suffering, while Orthodox Jews have labelled her as religiously insensitive.
More than 1000 police officers serving in one of the most demanding security environments have been drafted in to protect Madonna, her family and more than 2000 participants from the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Centre for one of the biggest worldwide gatherings of Kabbalists.
Madonna has adopted the Hebrew name Esther, a biblical heroine who saved the Israelites, and reportedly refuses to perform on the Sabbath.
This is just the latest incarnation of the Catholic-born New Yorker - she has moved from "material girl" to sex goddess to yoga devotee and children's author. But she insists her faith is serious and not a celebrity fad.
Her trip has been overshadowed by controversy, particularly over Rachel's Tomb. The shrine has been a flashpoint during the Palestinian uprising. It is surrounded by huge slabs of concrete in a military compound, with watchtowers, razor wire and sniper positions nearby.
The Israeli Government has been building its security barrier close to the tomb, and Palestinians living in the area have accused the authorities of forcing them from their homes and of using the shrine to annex land under the guise of security.
Israeli peace activists turned out at Rachel's Tomb on Wednesday to voice their concerns that Madonna's visit to the shrine might be used to legitimise Israel's occupation. They carried banners that read "Rachel's Tomb, Madonna, is a new settlement" and "It's the occupation, Madonna".
Angela Godfrey Goldstein, an activist with an Israeli women's peace group, said: "We hope she will not ignore the real victims, who are the Palestinians."
source : smh.com.au

Madonna wrapped her Reinvention tour last night (Sept. 14) with the second of two sellouts at the Pavilhao Atlantico in Lisbon, Portugal.
The tour, destined to be the top-grossing trek of 2004, grossed $124.5 million and played to 880,000 people, according to producers.
The tour was produced worldwide by Clear Channel Entertainment's touring division. "Madonna's Reinvention tour was a brilliant success on every level," Arthur Fogel, president of CCE Touring, tells Billboard.biz.
Madonna was particularly hot in the U.K, where she grossed $9.8 million from four sellouts at Wembley Arena in London, $6.3 million from two sellouts at Earls Court in London and $5.1 million from two sellouts at the Manchester Evening News in Manchester, England.
Reinvention's North American run was topped by six sellouts at New York's Madison Square Garden that grossed $12.7 million; she also took in $7.9 million from four sellouts at the United Center in Chicago, $7 million from two sellouts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, $7 million from three sellouts at the Forum in L.A. and $6.4 million from four sellouts at the Centrum in Worcester.
source : billboard.com

On behalf of Israeli Jews, and Palestinian or Israeli Christians and Muslims seriously opposed to your highly controversial visit, we ask you, with compassion, to reconsider the consequences of coming to Israel/Palestine in this context.
This visit takes you to the heart of Occupied Territory in Bethlehem: a closed-off prison, a ghetto, whose civilians now have no work, no freedom, no life. They've finished their savings, live now on food handouts from foreign donor agencies. They've had their land taken, they have no justice through the courts, this entire city of ordinary folk trying to live a decent life, is imprisoned, while Israel calls the shots.
The International Court of Justice ruled the Wall and settlements illegal. In Bethlehem, the Wall annexes Rachel's Tomb (a Muslim Mosque, too, with a Muslim cemetery nearby and a Christian site), in yet another Israeli land grab. Where you will be, at Rachel's Tomb, is Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The Wall, the Checkpoint right there, Border Police and army based there keep Palestinians locked in prison. Three million Palestinians are under full closure for the entire month of Jewish High Holidays. All to ensure further settlement development. At all times, they can't get out. They'll even have to pray at Rachel's Tomb checkpoint, instead of their own Jerusalem holy site, Al Aqsa Mosque, at Ramadan next month, like last year.
In the last four years, we've killed five times more of their children, three times more of their civilians, than the Palestinians have killed Israeli kids or civilians. We've taken their homes, land and villages, dignity, work. Bethlehem is a ghetto, with no work, and look--you a tourist--are you going to the Christian sites in the centre of Bethlehem?
All this is about apartheid, separation, and yet more abuse of power, causing the terror / resistance. The whole area's been turned into a fortress, not a holy site, from which Israeli forces shot and killed unarmed Palestinian kids at the beginning of the Intifada. Does warlike aggression speak of spirituality? Rachel's Tomb is descending into the darkness of rip-off, very far from LIGHT.
Next to Rachel's Tomb is Ayda Refugee Camp--whose 5,000 hostages have been stuck there for years, forbidden to return to their homes in Israel. What about all the refugees rotting in camps in Lebanon and Syria, who pray to return home?
As a world figure, an international leader, a Christian and follower of Kabbalah, we ask you to do a reality check. Are you being used to legitimise the Occupation of Palestine? Are you being exploited, without your full awareness? Has your wish to bring peace been co-opted by other forces?
Madonna. Esther. We pray you'll find the strength to set the example artists in the past have set. A spiritual role. One remembers apartheid South Africa, civil rights. Mahatma Gandhi's grandson was here last month, on such a mission.
It would be good if you speak up. To take up the cause of the dispossessed. To be a voice for the mute, the dumb, the hopeless weak. The underdog.
By saying no. No to apartheid. No to colonial landaholic land-grabs, that hide behind a "spiritual" pose. And lose all humanity, and stir up war, in doing so. Say no. Say no. Say no. Say no. Say no. One little word. The liberating: No.
In peace. (I hope we may meet to talk)
source : counterpunch.org

Pop idol Madonna, fresh from her acclaimed "Re-Invention" tour, began a spiritual pilgrimage to Israel on Wednesday to practice her newfound faith in the mystical Jewish Kabbalah.
But the Catholic-bred singer's journey is likely to raise controversy among some ultra-Orthodox Jews afraid the growing popularity of the movement among non-Jews is nothing more than a trend that demeans their religious beliefs.
Madonna, who recently adopted the Hebrew name Esther and wears a trademark Kabbalah red string on her wrist, has said she is serious about her belief in Jewish mysticism and irritated by accusations her faith is nothing more than a celebrity fad.
Yet for many of her fellow followers of Kabbalah, or at least those congregating around Judaism's Western Wall, the litmus test will be just how much fabric the "Material Girl" wears -- over her arms, shoulders and legs.
"She should dress modestly instead of showing off her body," commented one woman selling books about the Kabbalah near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, one of Judaism's holiest sites.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews frown upon women wearing pants, let alone the raunchy, anatomically exaggerated bustiers and fishnet stockings synonymous with a Madonna concert.
Madonna's arrival aboard a private jet after sundown, the eve of the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana, contradicted religious law forbidding motorized transport on holy days.
Madonna, whose itinerary was kept under wraps for security reasons, was expected to celebrate the holiday at a luxury hotel in Tel Aviv with about 2,000 fellow Kabbalists from the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Center.
Event organizers had requested journalists wear white and discouraged them from taking photographs or jotting down notes, as writing or using electronics is prohibited on high holidays according to traditional Jewish law.
Pop star Britney Spears, who exchanged an intimate kiss with Madonna at an MTV awards show, and Hollywood actress Demi Moore are also followers of Kabbalah although neither will be joining Madonna in Israel.
source : reuters.com

Could Madonna's marriage be in trouble? Total denials on that front from her people, but sources close to the Material Mom hint that the superstar's obsession with the mystical Jewish teachings of Kabbalah are carving a chasm between Madonna and her husband, director Guy Ritchie.
''Guy really is not into Kabbalah at all and he's increasingly concerned at how it's taking over Madonna's life,'' a longtime British filmmaking pal of Ritchie's told this column Monday. ''This is really a weird sect, and he doesn't want to have anything to do with it,'' said the Ritchie friend and colleague.
At this point, it's unclear whether the director of such edgy films as ''Snatch'' and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' will even join his wife in Israel for special Kabbalah celebrations later this week -- tied to the upcoming Jewish holidays.
A spokeswoman for Madonna played down rumors of any marital rift. ''There are no problems. There is no rift, as you call it. Everything is absolutely fine between Madonna and Guy.''
source : suntimes.com

Madonna's three-month world tour ends on Tuesday with her final concert in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
Tickets for two gigs on 13 and 14 September sold out within hours but problems arose after the venue was double-booked by a church convention.
The matter was resolved and two dates were confirmed at the 12,000 seater Atlantic Pavillion.
Hundreds of Spanish fans were expected to attend the gigs after the pop star left Spain off her tour plan.
source : bbc.co.uk

A special gathering to get Barrow's young people interested in running businesses will be told that entrepreneurs are like rock stars.
Emma Jones of Manchester business consultants Redbrick, which is masterminding the Local Heroes event with Furness Enterprise, said: "Rock stars like Madonna and Franz Ferdinand also possess those qualities necessary for enormous success: talent, initiative and determination. Entrepreneurs then are not unlike rock stars."
"They require the same attributes in order to succeed in the business world and often enjoy the same rewards goodles of money and varying degrees of fame, and all without intrusive tabloid press and early graves."
On Wednesday October 20 some of the brightest stars of Barrow business will share their start-up stories and tips with Barrow's hopeful young entrepreneurs.
Furness Enterprise is hiring the entire Barrow Superbowl for two hours. The speakers will be joined by live musicians, fashion designers and film producers.
Young people aged between 14 and 25 are invited to attend.
If you have ever dreamt of being a millionaire wake up, log on to www.furnessenterprise.co.uk/localheroes and register for your ticket.
source : nwemail.co.uk

Chris Lamb, the Tour Director for the eagerly-awaited Madonna: The Re-Invention Tour, has worked for the superstar for nearly twenty years, virtually since she burst onto the worldwide scene with Holiday. He believes that the current show is "probably her best ever. It's a genuinely amazing show."
Chris, who also works with Rod Stewart, The Eagles and Roger Waters on their tours, remembers that he began working on this with Madonna, her manager and tour director, Jamie King back in January.
"Madonna herself and the tour director come up with the concept and the ideas. My job is to figure out how to do it! We're doing things that people have never done before with this show.
"It's a show," he emphasises, "people aren't coming here to a rock concert. This is more like a theatre show, with different acts to it. You don't even have to be a Madonna fan to enjoy this show.
"There's a whole world happening, with hundreds of elements," he says of the over two-hour performance, in which the world's biggest-selling female solo artist ever will be performing over twenty of her greatest hits, including Vogue, Into The Groove, Holiday, Like A Prayer, Material Girl, Music, Express Yourself and Papa Don't Preach.
It's so fantastically eleborate that Chris and his crew began setting up on Wednesday for the shows. Nonetheless, despite the fact that almost all of the show's staging, including state-of-the-art video technology, has been custom-built at a cost which, Chris hints, runs into the millions, it will never be seen again after the last European date in Lisbon on September 14.
"Madonna's probably the most tirelessly inventive person I've ever known, and she has absolutely no interest in repeating herself. I suspect you might be seeing some parts of our show in other people's shows for a while, though," chuckles Chris, who has worked in the rock world for more than thirty years, since starting out with Leon Russell "back in the days when things were really wild."
The show, which now involves 110 people travelling on the road including 12 dancers, 5 musicians, 2 backing singers, a bagpipe player, a skateboarder, and Cirque du Soleil swingers, was rehearsed for six weeks solidly before the public was allowed to see it.
The stage itself, weighing 40 tons on its own, can revolve in all sorts of directions (at up to sixteen miles an hour, which would surely test the balance of the most skilled dancers!) and there are all manner of high-tech contraptions which can raise - or even spring! - performers into the air.
"Madonna is on stage the whole time, this is not one of those shows where the performer vanishes all the time to change their costume. If you can't actually see her, she's quick-changing for a different scene," he discloses.
"It's a very artistic show. If you asked me to pick a favourite of all her tours, and I've worked on pretty much all of them, I'd say this one for sure. The other show which I personally thought was the only one which came close to this one is the Blonde Ambition tour.
"People keep saying that she's re-inventing herself, but she also re-invents the show. She shows people things they've never seen before and it's been that way over the years, that's why people are fascinated and excited by what she does. Every one of her shows really has been a kind of reflection of her, it's pretty much where she is in her life."
But can she keep on topping the last tour, as she apparently does with this show, certainly if the preparations I saw are anything to go by?
"I don't know," Chris admits. "She's so creative and she's such a perfectionist that she always comes up with something fresh and different.
"When she's on that stage, even though there's a hundred things happening, she'll know just what a dancer has been doing, which is amazing.
"She's a hard-working lady who has astounding powers of concentration and puts herself heart and soul into whatever she's doing."
source : manchesteronline.co.uk

Ramblers may not be welcome on parts of pop star Madonna's GBP9 million estate, but a group of Quakers say they are.
A Quaker burial ground, visited by local members for centuries, lies amid the 1,132-acre Ashcombe Estate, on the Wiltshire/Dorset border.
Madonna partly won a challenge to rules allowing ramblers on to her estate, but the Quakers say she has not tried to block them.
Quaker Audrey Acton said: "We have had no obstruction from Madonna."
The 60-strong Shaftesbury Preparative Meeting scatters ashes of the dead, during funerals, at the historic site.
Safe place
It also stages a pilgrimage and worship gathering there every 10 years.
The next one is scheduled for 2010.
In 2000, there were around 200 Quakers, many of whom had come from other meetings in the area.
Madonna is said to be "OK with that", according to a member of the group.
The burial site on the land, which belongs to Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie, was established in 1663 when the then-owner of the estate, William Fry, became a Quaker.
At the time, Quakers were being persecuted and had no other safe place to lay their dead to rest.
Ms Acton, a member of the Quaker group in Shaftesbury, said: "We are not interested in Madonna's estate as such, we are only interested in the burial ground."
In June, the Ritchies won their bid to prevent ramblers from walking across most of their estate.
They claimed at a public inquiry in May that their human rights would be infringed.
The Planning Inspectorate ruling means walkers are not able to go within sight of the couple's home, sitting in the estate's grounds.
A spokesman for the pop star said he was unable to comment on any land issues.
source : bbc.co.uk

Madonna has thrown a birthday bash for her husband Guy Ritchie - in the back room of their local boozer.
The Material Girl is reported to paid just £30 to hire the function room at the Punch Bowl pub in Mayfair, London for £20 of film-maker Ritchie's closest pals.
The couple were spotted drinking ale all night and singing along to a two-piece Irish band.
source : itv.com

This year's Mega Summer Tour season is in full swing, and Madonna is on the road again to promote her most recent album release, "American Life". Like many top artists, Madonna mixes studio-produced tracks to support her highly choreographed live performances and the musicians on stage.
Mike McKnight produces those tracks, and makes sure they sound great at every show. In fact, Mike has programmed every major Madonna tour using a MOTU system driven by Digital Performer. We recently caught up with him during Madonna's Re-Invention tour, in an interview directly beneath the stage, to get the latest details about his setup.
What was your hardware setup for the Madonna tour?
I have two MOTU 1296 audio interfaces, and four MOTU HD192 interfaces for the three computer systems that run the show. I also use two 828mkII interfaces as mixers for my live synths. I use one and keep one as a spare. They're connected to a G4 laptop for virtual synths with Digital Performer as the host.
I also have a MIDI Timepiece AV for my G4 rig and micro express MIDI interfaces for each of my G5s. All MIDI then gets routed through another MIDI Timepiece AV so that I can switch between rigs if needed. I have a custom made 72 in/24 out switcher to switch between the audio for the three computers.
How does your rig interface with the rest of the tour infrastructure? Is that a timecode master display above the rack of HD192's?
I record time code to an audio track from my MIDI Timepiece AV. Then I send that audio track through a Brainstorm Distripilyzer (a time code reshaper and distribution amplifier) to video and lights.
Why have you chosen MOTU gear instead of other solutions for the high-pressure live-performance tours you do every year?
I use MOTU gear because it's solid, reliable and sounds great. The MOTU stuff is still my first choice on tour.
Why do you insist on using Digital Performer?
I am very secure with the stability of DP. I can't have a crash or even a hiccup ever, so I won't change from DP, period.
You are a talented keyboard player in your own right, and you have your own keyboard rig beneath the stage. Do you play during the show?
I play when needed, not as much as on some tours, but enough to keep me busy.
This show, similar to Madonna's last tour, is heavily choreographed and includes continuous video. Did you have to cut audio to picture, or did they cut video to audio, or was it a bit of both, depending on the song?
Video is always cut to audio. I'd give them a CD with time code on the right and a rough mix on the left. It worked great!
What happens when you start the show?
I send timecode to lights and video, and once we start it runs for 45 minutes straight, non-stop. Then there are about seven or eight individual songs, then finally another stretch of 30 minutes or so to close the show.
I see Digital Performer on the screen there. Is that your show file?
Yes, let me show you. As you can see, there are tons of tracks. In addition to the backing tracks, I've got everybody's part for the entire set. In case somebody in the band gets sick, I can just fly in their part. This file is now very consolidated. For a while, the show was just enormous. All the stuff I had to have in here, I had to keep paring it down.
Even consolidated, it looks like you have at least 100 tracks in there.
Actually, I have plenty more than that. Let's take a look. Here, I'll select all and copy, and the clipboard tells me how many tracks. (Mike copies the tracks.) 250 tracks in this sequence. It works great!
Wow. And this is running on what?
This is a Power Mac G4 running at 466 MHz, equipped with the MOTU PCI interfaces, and this file runs for 45 minutes straight. I let it run free with no sync because I'm the time code master for the show. I could probably get better sync between my main system and my backup systems if I used the MIDI Timpiece AV as a word clock master, but this system works. And it allows me to have three rigs: the main system and two backups, all running side by side, independently. They have to be completely independent. I can't have one thing in the chain, such as a clock master, bringing the whole thing crashing down.
It also gives me the flexibility I need. For example, Madonna will sometimes forget that whole show is on a strict timecode time line. She'll get excited and start talking to the crowd, and she won't come in singing when we're all expecting. When that happens, I instantly switch to my B system, get the A system back on track, and then switch back to the A system, while on my headset telling the video and lighting guys, "Hey guys, time code is jumping back four bars, get ready!" When Madonna decides to add four bars to the intro, then we add four bars to the intro. That's just the way it has to be with a superstar. And this system gives me the flexibility to do these things on the fly, while at the same time feeding time code to the entire rest of the show.
In looking at your set list, there are notes about cueing and so forth. What cueing features are you using in DP and how does that work?
Within the seven or eight separate songs, I have to turn auto cue on for a couple songs because I'm playing a lot and need to have DP switch to the next songs and start playing immediately. In rehearsals we chose to keep these songs separate, but during the show there is a predefined amount of space between songs that can vary a bit from show to show.
Do you have one master DP file for the entire show or several different files?
After extensive editing in rehearsals of each song in separate files, I combine them into one big file for the last couple weeks of band rehearsals and production rehearsals. I need to be able to quickly and seamlessly go between songs, and make whatever edits immediately. Madonna is really good to work for, but she demands results, so I have to work quickly.
And you put on a great show, too, Mike. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us.
source : motu.com

HAMISH ROBERTSON: The singer Madonna is due in Israel later this week, not as part of her performance tour, but to join thousands of practitioners of the Orthodox Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah.
The gathering has been organised by a Los Angeles based centre popularised by Rabbi Philip Berg.
Kabbalah has attracted a string of high profile stars, many of whom wear a signature piece of red string around their wrist.
But as Middle East Correspondent Jane Hutcheon reports, many Orthodox Jewish rabbis are offended by Madonna's ties to the faith.
(sound of Madonna's "Like a Virgin")
JANE HUTCHEON: Since the chameleon-like performer burst on to the world stage in the '80s, she's published a book about sex, been photographed nude and sworn on TV talk shows.
Earlier this year, she kissed pop idol Britney Spears on the mouth in front of millions of viewers at an awards night.
But if you ask artist David Friedman, who's practiced Kabbalah for 25 years, Madonna's past behaviour doesn't stop her from observing this now-fashionable Jewish faith.
DAVID FRIEDMAN: I'm very open-minded. And I think somebody who lives in Hollywood, who's in a very, she was the material girl, to discover that there is also a spiritual realm, the body is the entirety of the human being, I think that's encouraging.
JANE HUTCHEON: There isn't actually anything new age about Kabbalah. Translated from Hebrew, it means "reception" and is thousands of years old. Practitioners study a text called the Zohar, which delves into the innermost soul of a Jew.
In a sign of affection for the faith, Madonna adopted a Hebrew name "Esther" but she was born a Catholic, and many Orthodox Jews believe a Goy "or non-Jew" has no place studying Kabbalah.
Rabbi Yzchak Bazri.
(Sound of Yzchak Bazri speaking)
"It's forbidden for a Goy to learn Kabbalah. He has to learn and known the Jewish bible first. Kabbalah is the highest form of Judaism, and those who practice it need to be extremely spiritual, modest and wise, surrounding themselves with holiness and purity.
(sound of Madonna's "Material Girl")
In the eyes of Rabbi Bazri, whose father was one of Jerusalem's most renowned Kabbalists, the material girl can't be in the club. But the real Kabbalah appears to have little to do with the new age phenomenon packaged and sold, often at a hefty price, by the Los Angeles-based Kabbalah Centre.
A piece of red string, tied around the wrist to get rid of the evil eye retails for nearly $50, and other inspirational products command similarly exorbitant price tags. But Kabbalist and artist David Friedman says the spirit of Kabbalah is there for everyone, including Esther, AKA Madonna.
DAVID FRIEDMAN: If you believe in something, even if it's a sugar pill, but if you believe it's something that's going to cure your illness, the power of faith is also something not to take lightly.
JANE HUTCHEON: Fresh from her latest tour, entitled "Reinvention", Madonna's presence in Israel is likely to cause more than a stir. Rabbi Bazri has some advice for her.
(sound of Yzchak Bazri speaking)
"I don't think her school knows about Kabbalah. But if she comes here she'll find pure, honest people. They will not accept her with her clothes, she must come with different ones."
The mother of two is said to be funding Kabbalah schools in New York and London, and though her low-key visit is likely to raise a few eyebrows, perhaps the purists realise that new age fads are just part of life.
(sound of Madonna's "American Life")
This is a modestly-dressed Jane Hutcheon in Jerusalem, for Correspondents Report.
HAMISH ROBERTSON: The latest enthusiasm of the sometimes not-so-modestly dressed Madonna.
source : abc.net.au

Madonna's latest children's book, Yakov and the Seven Thieves, does not purport to be Jewish. Sure, it has the earmarks of a Jewish children's tale "inspired by the Baal Shem Tov," and takes place in 18th-century Ukraine, with the main character going by the name Yakov.
But this tale is universal in nature, and its illustrations (which resemble a Christmas wonderland more than a stark Ukrainian shtetl) are indicative enough of this fact. The Baal Shem Tov was probably unfamiliar with the Ukraine as rendered by illustrator Gennady Spirin, who was born on Christmas in a small city near Moscow, as his bio explains.
The opening pages most starkly depict the schizophrenic nature of the book: on one side a yoga-esque, Kabbala-inspired illustration, on the other an elaborate cover page which evokes the traditional Christmas spirit. Regardless of the blurry line between these two traditions, Madonna has produced a beautifully illustrated book with a message of morality and potential for redemption that any parent would be comfortable espousing.
In the story, a cobbler named Yakov prays that his son Mikhail will recover from a mysterious illness. His wife Olga urges him to seek the advice of a wise old man who people say "speaks to angels... [and] can perform miracles." When Yakov arrives, the elderly man he meets looks not unlike famous renderings of Moses. The sage scratches his beard and, after one failed attempt, recruits his grandson to gather all the thieves of the village to pray for the sick child. They comply, on their knees in pew-like prayer, and Mikhail miraculously recovers.
The moral of the story?
"Thieves represent the things in us that are bad or wrong or selfish... when we turn away from our naughty behavior and embrace good deeds... we are turning the key and unlocking the gates of heaven."
But have the thieves been genuinely altered by this brush with benevolence? One must read the book to find out.
If there is a kabbalistic message in this tale, it is of the absurdly watered down variety that has become so trendy among American celebrities. Whatever the kabbalistic infusion, and whatever the author's scandalous reputation, however, Yakov and the Seven Thieves is a quality children's book that will transport both parent and child to another place and time and, in few short pages, delight.
For Israeli consumers, Kinneret is publishing an Israeli edition of this title in Hebrew, along with all of Madonna's books.
source : jpost.com

Madonna got out of the groove with CBS, where plans for a concert featuring the Material Girl have been scrapped. Eye, which announced the special at its upfront presentation in New York last May, had planned to air a Madonna concert from her current "Reinvention" tour...
source : variety.com

source : madonnamegacollection.net

The Beatles are the only British act to feature in the UK Music Hall Of Fame.
The hall, which will be focus of a channel 4 programme scheduled for autumn, features acts such as Elvis Presley, Madonna, U2 and Bob Marley.
The programme will present artists chosen by a panel and voted for by the public who have made the utmost contribution to "UK music culture".
The panel included Sir George Martin, Trevor Nelson, Paul Gambaccini, Blur bassist Alex James, former Eurythmic Dave Stewart, Manchester legend Tony Wilson and Glastonbury festival organiser Emily Eavis.
Gambaccini said the list would obviously be a talking point and for some a bone of contention.
"There will be one or two names conspicuous by their absence, but that's the nature of the beast," he said. Adding that the UK was one of the few countries to "punch above its weight" in the music industry.
Malcolm Gerrie, head of production company Initial, told BBC News Online: "It's to do with fantastic music that will be there forever and the impact and resonance they've had."
The programme will take the form of five two hour shows on Channel 4, in which viewers will be given the chance to vote for 10 more inductees to the hall.
The programmes will all feature a specific decade, with a choice of potential inductees from each decade.
source : gigwise.com

Another classic Madonna hit ended up on a compilation.
The song Take a bow originally from the 1994 album Bedtime Stories will be used on the forthcoming hit-compilation Kuschelrock that will be released in Germany on September 20.

On September 13th Radio ZET will launch a huge advertising campaign starring pop singer Madonna. The campaign took 10 months to put together and will be the first one in history to use the most popular scenes from Madonna's legendary videos: Vogue, Material Girl, Frozen, Hollywood etc. "We managed to do the impossible," said Radio ZET's president Robert Kozyra. Madonna's partner in the commercials will be famous actor Zbigniew Zamachowski.
source : wbj.pl

Pop star Madonna drew massive applause from a sold-out crowd in Paris when she dedicated her version of John Lennon's peace ode Imagine to the Russian hostage crisis. Addressing the audience midway through her show last night, Madonna spoke briefly about the tragedy at a Russian school that left at least 350 dead, including pupils, teachers and mothers. As video images of war and children were broadcast behind her on giant screens, the pop diva urged her fans at Paris' Bercy stadium to think about what happened in Russia and to think about Lennon's lyrics.
source : scotsman.com

Madonna's video "Love Profusion" is nominated in 2004 MTV Russian Music Awards, in the Best International artist category.
Other Nominees are : Anastacia - Left Outside Alone, Britney Spears - Toxic , The Rasmus - In The Shadows and Linkin Park -Numb.

Gennady Spirin's name does not appear on the cover of Madonna's most recent storybook for children, though it's as much his work as hers.
Spirin, a Russian-born artist who lives in New Jersey, illustrated scenes of Eastern Europe of the 1600s to accompany the pop star's book, "Yakov and the Seven Thieves," but his name appears only on the title page.
In a recent telephone interview, he described researching 17th century architecture, clothing and furniture to capture the time and place Madonna wanted.
"Yakov and the Seven Thieves" is about a cobbler, Yakov, and his wife, Olga, who seek a cure for their very ill son, named Mikhail. "They seek advice from a wise old man, who enlists the help of seven thieves and proves that miracles can occur if we do good deeds," the book's official summary reads.
Madonna, who was born Catholic, has publicly embraced the Kabbalah, the ancient tradition of Jewish mystical wisdom that has enjoyed a New Age revival of late. In connection with this, Madonna, now a mother of two, has said she wants to go by the name Esther.
Her previous two books, "The English Roses" and "Mr. Peabody's Apples," are also morality tales. A total of five books are planned. A fourth, "The Adventures of Abdi," is due this fall. So far, she has collaborated with a different artist on each book.
Reviews for "Yakov and the Seven Thieves," were mixed when it was released in the United States in June by Viking, though Spirin's drawings were widely praised.
The Russian version, "Yakov i Semero Vorishek," was released Aug. 16 by the publisher Eksmo and is selling for 150 rubles (about $5).
A New York Times reviewer in 1998 compared Spirin's style to Renaissance artists like Raphael for his combination of rich colors and fine detail. Spirin says his art is also rooted in Russian traditions, including the art of the Orthodox church.
Spirin, 55, was born in the town of Orekhovo-Zuyevo, near Moscow, and studied at the Surikov School of Fine Art, opposite the Tretyakov Gallery. He moved to the United States in 1991, on the invitation of two picture book publishers, Dial Books and Philomel, both of which are now imprints of Penguin Books.
"I didn't flee anywhere, I didn't emigrate. I was invited for work and have worked ever since," he said, adding that he settled in Princeton, New Jersey, because his editor lived in the town.
The Russian-speaking community in the sleepy, elite college town is tiny, he said, though he has friends among fellow artists who are American. A Russian friend named Tanya had a gallery in Princeton, where he showed his work, but rising rents forced it to close.
"I have my kids, so the Motherland is always with me," he said.
He has three sons, aged 28, 20 and 12. The eldest, Ilya, is following in his footsteps as an illustrator.
Spirin thinks Madonna handpicked him to illustrate "Yakov and the Seven Thieves."
These days, Spirin's art is only available for sale through the Storyopolis gallery in Los Angeles, he said. Listings at Storyopolis.com show that his work goes anywhere from $6,000 to $20,000.
In 1997, the Saks Fifth Avenue department store recruited him to design their Nutcracker-themed holiday window display in New York after seeing his illustrations for the E.T.A. Hoffman fairy tale.
Spirin said that he thinks Madonna handpicked him to illustrate "Yakov and the Seven Thieves," because "her team can't handle anything without her, not even the smallest detail," he said.
He admits it is a guess, since he never spoke with the pop star. "I never needed to," he said.
He did send her a letter once. "I wrote to her to explain why certain details needed to be done my way and not the way she suggested," he said. He composed the letter in Russian and had it translated and sent.
Instead, his contact was with the publisher and through a translator. Despite having lived in the United States for more than 10 years, he said he does not speak English.
He said his lawyer in New York helps him negotiate contracts and sometimes doubles as his translator.
Numbers are not his thing. He said he did not know which of his 33 books has been the most popular. "I don't know about sales. All I know is I have no money," he said.
The contract with Madonna paid better than his previous projects, he said.
"I get practically no royalties. It's frighteningly unfair," said Spirin, who describes himself as a practicing Russian Orthodox Christian.
"I'm waiting for the Lord to get angry with them and they give me at least a little bit," he said with a chuckle that clashed with his mildly bitter tone.
It is not that Spirin has not found professional success. He won four gold metals from the Society of Illustrators, a group of his peers, for four books, including "The Tale of Tsar Saltan," based on the story by Alexander Pushkin.
Four others have been named best-illustrated book of the year by The New York Times.
His illustrations for "Kashtanka," based on a short story about a dog by Anton Chekhov, won an international price in 1994 in Spain. The original watercolor illustrations -- he only paints in watercolor -- now hang in a Barcelona museum.
He had an exhibit at the Russian Consulate in New York. But never in Moscow, and he has never returned.
His friends here keep telling him to come visit, but work has always come in the way, he said. His current project is an alphabet book.
"It's not that I don't want to, but I just never have had enough time," he said.
"To go for a week is too short. You see two friends and leave. And a month is too long for work. Publishers also have limited time schedules."
source : themoscowtimes.com

Here is some good news for all beer drinkers, you can now order a bottle with pop icon Madonna's picture on it, called the 'Material Girl Ale.'
According to The Sun, launched by the British brewers JW Lees, the new range of the ale has 7.5 percent alcohol content and the brewers describe its flavor as 'nutty and fruity.'
JW Lees has currently released three hundred bottles of the ale and they say that they have made the brew in order to commemorate Madonna's first concert in Manchester, which is a part of her re-invention tour, after a gap of 10 years.
The makers call the collection 'Material Girl Ale" and they presented a crate to Madonna before a recent gig in Paris.
"We brewed the ale to mark Madonna's return to Manchester after ten years. She played the Hacienda in 1994 and we thought that it would be a good way to mark her first gig back in Manchester. We know she likes an ale and thought this one was a little bit special," the report quoted a spokesperson for J W Lees as saying.
source : ANI

Microsoft is releasing a preview version of its MSN Music service, which will sell songs for 99 cents each or $9.99 per album -- the same prices charged by Apple and several online music providers. Microsoft secured the rights to songs from artists not found on other services, like Madonna, Metallica and Dave Matthews Band, by agreeing to demands such as only selling entire CDs instead of individual tracks.
source : sfgate.com

In hot-pants or battledress, recently reborn Madonna wowed French fans with her new-found mysticism at the first of a string of concerts in Paris on Wednesday night.
Images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and words in Hebrew flitted across the stage while the T-Shirt she threw into the ecstatic crowd of 15,000 fans read "Kabbalists Do It Better".
The 46-year-old artist, who recently changed her name to Esther after converting to the ancient mysticism of Kabbalah, threw the spotlight on the material worries of the world as an apparent reflection of her concerns for personal as well as global peace.
For hits such as "Vogue" and Frozen" at the first of four Paris concerts, Madonna wore hot-pants, thigh boots and a silver top. For "American Life" a beret and battledress.
But throughout the duration of the one-hour-40-minute show, came anti-war video images of helicopters, tanks, atomic blasts and wounded children as well as dummies of George W. Bush and Saddam Hussein.
Famished African children featured in the backdrop to accompany her version of John Lennon's "Imagine", which closed with a Palestinian and Israeli child walking side by side.
Once her current "Re-Invention" world tour is closed this month, Madonna plans a pilgrimage-retreat to Israel in observance of her new Kabbalah faith.
The pop diva began looking into Kabbalah -- or at least a modern version of it -- in 1997, and is now one of its most high-profile proponents.
source : turkishpress.com

#1 Madonna - Wembley - Aug. 22-23, 25-26, 2004 - London, England - $9,809,717 - Attend : 45,267
#3 Madonna - Earls Court - Aug. 18-19, 2004 - London, England - $6,356,207 - Attend : 34,087
#4 Madonna - MEN Arena - Aug. 14-15, 2004 - Manchester, England - $5,136,114 - Attend : 27,320
source : billboard