30 Established 1961 Thursday, April 26, 2018 Lifestyle Music & Movies Japan pop star accused of forcibly kissing teen member of popular Japanese boy band kissed the victim without thinking about how “I’m surprised. It’s unbelievable... Maybe he Tokio has been accused of forcibly kiss- she felt,” the powerful Johnny & Associates was stressed but he cannot do that to a Aing a high school girl at his apartment, agency said. The agency represents several minor,” one Twitter user said. “I liked him so local media said yesterday. Tatsuya hugely popular Japanese acts including SMAP, much... so I’m in shock,” said another. The Yamaguchi’s agents have acknowledged the a boy band that split up in 2016. agency and the teen have already reached an incident and apologized. Police have referred Its bands attract adoring crowds in Japan unspecified agreement and she has withdrawn the incident to prosecutors, local media said. and also elsewhere in the region, including a complaint but prosecutors will still investi- Yamaguchi, 46, is accused of asking the high Taiwan and Hong Kong. Tokio is known for its gate, NHK said. Tokio regularly appear on tel- school girl, whose age has not been revealed, clean-cut image and has appeared at events to evision and have a new album scheduled for to come to his apartment in Tokyo in February promote the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The release next month. — AFP and forcibly kissing her, public broadcaster group has also worked to promote food from NHK said. In a statement his agents apologized the Fukushima region after a drop in demand and said he had been drinking at the time. following the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disas- “We’re really sorry that he drank alcohol and ter. Fans expressed their shock on Twitter. Tatsuya Yamaguchi

‘Father of disco’ Moroder still behind the decks aged 78

ioneering Italian composer Giorgio Moroder, famed composers who make soundtracks have a classical for the Oscar-winning soundtracks to Flashdance, music background. For me, winning that Oscar was not PTop Gun and Midnight Express, and for his collab- only a surprise, but an achievement.” oration with music royalty like Donna Summer and Daft Over his career, he has worked with rock giants like Punk, is showing no sign of slowing down as he turns 78. Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Debbie Harry, but it Known as one of the ‘fathers of disco’, the veteran musi- was his long collaboration with disco star Donna cian will celebrate his birthday by playing a DJ set in Los Summer, that brought him international fame in the 70s. Angeles. A household name in the 70s and 80s, Moroder He reveals, however, that their erotic 1975 hit “Love to was propelled back into the limelight in 2013 when Love You Baby,” famous for Summer’s sexy moans, was French electro stars Daft Punk contacted him. not all that it seemed. “Donna’s parents weren’t very “I’ve always liked the group,” Moroder told AFP, happy and she was also a bit embarrassed, it was more admitting that when Daft Punk got in touch, he thought of a joke when we recorded it,” he recalls, adding that that the duo wanted him to compose something for them. he never believed the song “would become such as “Actually they just asked me to talk, and they recorded,” success.” A pioneer in the industry, Moroder was one he said. “We composed the music together, but it was of the first artists to use a synthesizer in his 1972 song mostly their work.” In the resulting hit entitled “Giorgio “Son of my Father”. Years & Years by Moroder” the disco legend’s subtle accent floats over “It allowed you to create sounds which didn’t exist, the top of Daft Punk’s electro beat and he recalls his effects that you can do with a guitar or piano, the possi- beginnings in music: from his “big dreams”, to his years bilities were immense,” said Moroder. Now approaching driving to “discotheques” in Germany to perform, and 80, the producer-turned-DJ divides his time between his Years and Years sleeping in his car until he got his break. native Italy and Los Angeles and insists he will continue Working with the group gave Moroder a new lease to perform, with plans for a tour in the pipeline. And has of life in the industry, and in 2015 he released an album he got any regrets from his long career? Perhaps only announce new “Deja Vu”, collaborating with top artists like Sia, one thing: not composing the music for “Fame” when giv- Britney Spears and Kelis. But the Italian says his best en the opportunity. — AFP memory dates back to 1979 when he won his first Music composer, DJ and record producer Giorgio Moroder LP Palo Santo Oscar for the soundtrack to prison drama Midnight poses in his house. ears & Years have announced their brand new Express. “I was known for disco, for pop, and usually album ‘Palo Santo’. The electronic pop group - Yfronted by Olly Alexander - surprised fans on Tuesday night (24.04.18) by unveiling the tracklisting to Con man versus pathological their long-awaited follow-up to 2015 debut LP ‘Communion’. Sharing the track titles on Twitter, they captioned the post: “#PALOSANTO has been revealed.... liar? Closings at Cosby trial (sic)” The record includes latest single ‘Sanctify’ and con man who exploited his fame as “There’s nothing funny about that Mr ‘Hypnotised’, which featured in the H&M commercial for “America’s Dad” to betray women’s Cosby.” The once pioneering African their Erdem range directed by Baz Luhrmann. It does not trust by drugging and sexually American actor claims he gave the appear to include the ‘DNA’, which the ‘King’ hitmakers A assaulting them, or a misguided married Canadian Constand an over-the-counter performed at Radio 1’s Sound of 2018 show in London in man hoodwinked by a money-grabbing, antihistamine to relieve stress and that January. A small clip of the song was previously pre- pathological liar? The defense and prose- their relations were consensual. viewed on Olly’s documentary ‘Growing Up Gay’, but this cution delivered closing arguments at Bill was the first time it had been heard in full. Cosby’s sexual assault retrial Tuesday. At ‘Pathological liar’ Rapper Meek On the chorus, Olly belts: “Cause I’m gonna show you the end of a long day, the jury indicated Constand says Cosby gave her three that history can change/The bad times in my youth/The they were “exhausted” and the judge said blue pills, saying they would help her relax cut on my DNA/Yes, I’m gonna pull through/My story is he would instruct them before they can but passed out. She woke up to find him not made/The past is a false truth/I’ll break with my begin deliberations in the first celebrity tri- penetrating her vagina with his fingers and DNA (sic)” ‘Communion’ was the fastest-selling debut al of the #MeToo era. making her masturbate his penis, she says. album of the year from a UK signed band. The singer Rapper Meek Mill freed from US The frail 80-year-old Cosby could The prosecutor said the case was about previously confessed that the delay in their album was spend the rest of his life behind bars if con- trust, betrayal and the inability to consent, partly down to playing the ‘Zelda’ video game, which was jail after months-long campaign victed of aggravated indecent assault tearing into the defense’s “vicious” and taking up precious recording time. He admitted: “The against Andrea Constand, then a Temple “filthy” character assassination attempts new album is being made. It’s in the process. We are University employee, in January 2004. The against Cosby’s accusers. Cosby’s high-fly- going to get it done. I can’t get a word in. We are cur- apper Meek Mill, who had been have helped me stay positive,” he added. incarcerated for five months on a Meek Mill, whose legal name is Robert case has trashed the legacy of the actor ing defense team urged the jury to acquit rently playing the new ‘Zelda’ game which is amazing. We once adored by millions for his role as lov- their client on all three counts of aggravat- are just playing ‘Zelda’ and playing music at the same Rprobation violation, was released Williams, was sentenced in November to from a Pennsylvania jail on Tuesday, his two-four years in state prison for proba- able father and obstetrician Cliff Huxtable ed indecent assault and save a “distin- time. But we are just in the process of getting it together. on the 1984-92 hit television series “The guished”, legally blind, elderly man from It’s very different than the previous album but that’s all I attorney said, after the state’s top court tion violations stemming from his 2008 granted him bail, capping a star-laden conviction. Cosby Show.” “The perpetrator of that “absolute ruin.” can say.” A release date for their second album is yet to con?” asked prosecutor Kristen Feden, Cosby’s wife of more than half a centu- be announced. campaign to have him freed. The His case, which became a cause for Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a recording artists, athletes and celebrities, turning on its head the central defense ry, Camille, wearing an elegant orange coat claim that Constand is a con-artist in dra- and sunglasses, attended the defense clos- The ‘Palo Santo’ tracklisting is as follows: lower court to release the “All Eyes on was seen by criminal justice reform advo- You” rapper and grant him a new hearing cates as emblematic of a legal system they matic and emotional closing remarks. “That ings, embracing him tenderly and beaming, 1. ’Sanctify’ man!” she shouted, striding at speed but left during the lunch break. “Mr. Cosby 2. ’Hallelujah’ because of “credibility issues with a say treats minorities unjustly and hands police officer who was a ‘critical witness’” out too harsh of punishments. Actor and toward and pointing at an impassive Cosby must be acquitted of all counts. He must 3. ’All For You’ in the Norristown court, just outside walk out of here free,” said defense lawyer 4. ’Karma’ in his 2008 gun and drug convictions, comedian Kevin Hart was filmed visiting court documents show. Meek Mill in prison on Tuesday. Meek Philadelphia. Tom Mesereau, best known for getting the 5. ’Hypnotised’ Feden said Cosby used his fame to gain late Michael Jackson acquitted of child 6. ‘Rendezvous’ Meek Mill’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, Mill counted Philadelphia Mayor Jim said on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rap- Kenney, rapper Jay Z and the owner of the trust of unsuspecting women, time and molestation. “You’re dealing with a patho- 7. ’If You’re Over Me’ time again, deliberately drugging Constand logical liar, members of the jury, you are,” 8. ’Preacher’ per had been released from jail near football’s New England Patriots, Robert Philadelphia. “I’d like to thank God, my Kraft, among his most prominent support- so that she would be unable to resist his said Mesereau, who has called 45-year-old 10. ’Lucky Escape’ advances. Five other accusers testified that Constand a “con artist” who pursued a 11. ’Palo Santo’ family and all my public advocates for ers. “I understand that many people of their love, support and encouragement color across the country don’t have that Cosby was a serial rapist and predator lonely, grieving father and falsely accused 12. ’Here’ (Interlude) who preyed on them in a similar manner. the star to bag a $3.38 million civil settle- 13. ‘Howl’ (Bonus track) during this difficult time,” Meek Mill said luxury and I plan to use my platform to in statement on Twitter. “While the past shine a light on those issues,” Meek Mill “He’s laughing like it’s funny?” Feden ment in 2006 to escape debt.—AFP 14. ‘Don’t Panic’ (Bonus track) shouted in Cosby’s direction at one point, 15.’Up In Flames’ (Bonus track) — Bang Showbiz five months have been a nightmare, the said in Tuesday’s statement.—Reuters prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies seemingly in response to his behavior. Marvel heroes together en masse for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ ore than two dozen superheroes. One We hung it up on a wall all around us,” co-direc- Hero in pajamas? he can save the other half. He needs the so- big baddie. Let the mega-battle begin- tor Anthony Russo, who helms the pic with his An important source of inspiration is the called Infinity Stones to do it. So, the heroes Mand watch the box office receipts pile brother Joe, told reporters ahead of the film’s Marvel canon-the storylines developed over need to keep him from getting them. up. This week, Marvel Studios unleashes the release. “We basically spent months and months decades in the original comic books. “Infinity The film-which cost an eye-watering $300 highly-anticipated “Avengers: Infinity War” on and months talking about where we could go War” is drawn from the “Infinity Gauntlet” series million to make, according to Hollywood media- theaters worldwide, almost 10 years to the day with each character, how we could draw them from the early 1990s. “It starts with those comics is likely to wow audiences with its cutting-edge that it introduced movie fans to its ever-expand- through the story,” he added. “Every one of and us beginning to rip pages out or rip copies special effects. And Marvel legend Stan Lee- ing comic book world with “Iron Man.” The film, these characters... has been on a very specific of pages out and put them on the walls and start the co-creator of numerous heroes including set to hit US theaters on Thursday night, is sure journey through the MCU to arrive at this to be inspired,” explains Kevin Feige, the presi- Spider-Man, the Hulk and Black Panther, who is to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the moment.” dent of Marvel Studios, which is owned by facing claims of sexual assault makes his usual year-and the unofficial kick-off to the summer This is the third “Avengers” film, with the final, Disney. “It’s a North Star for us as we lead these cameo appearance. “It was about the most fun movie season. “Infinity War” is the 19th film in the untitled saga set for next year. At the press con- giant productions into reality.” In the movie’s creative exercise I think I’ve ever been through so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — ference in Beverly Hills, the directors and stars trailer, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) — Thanos’s in my life,” said Anthony Russo. “We thought Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at the Premiere Of it combines a whopping nine franchises, and the were careful not to reveal too many details about daughter, of sorts explains that the villain about everybody in the MCU. Tom Holland, the Disney And Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. cast list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood’s A- the film’s plot. But expectations are high after believes that if he annihilates half of the universe, young British actor who is the latest to wear the list. Robert Downey Jr will don the red and yel- the massive success of “Black Panther,” which so Spider-Man suit, says his only disappointment low metal suit once again as Iron Man; Benedict far has raked in more than $1.3 billion worldwide was not getting to wear the “Iron Spider” Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange; Scarlett and has broken the all-time North American armor, which is instead digitally edited into the Johansson is back as Black Widow; and record set by “Titanic,” with more than $680 film. “It’s too amazing to exist in real life,” says Australia’s Chris Hemsworth is Thor. Also back million in the US and Canada. Some projections Holland. “So I joined the wonderful Mark for more? Black Panther-the Marvel breakout of have it opening at more than $235 million, and Ruffalo... and stood amongst these gods wear- the year after the massive opening of the stand- even higher, according to Variety-the record ing pajamas,” he joked. —AFP alone pic in February, Captain America, the Hulk, opening weekend of $248 million for “Star Wars: Spider-Man, Hawkeye, the Guardians of the The Force Awakens” is within reach. “It was Galaxy and their assorted allies. great to go from what we did with ‘Black Their mission? To prevent the powerful pur- Panther’, and bringing some of that into Actors Sammuel L Jackson and Tom ple alien Thanos (Josh Brolin) from destroying ‘Avengers’,” said Chadwick Boseman, who por- Hiddlestone arrive for the World Premiere of the universe. “We took a picture of every single trays the character-the first black superhero to the film ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ in Actor Robert Downey Jr arrives at the World person whose character has been in the MCU. front a movie. “It’s its own thing.” Hollywood, California. — AFP photos Premiere of the film ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.