Three rock stars find themselves in a hairy situation.
Big hair is baaaack. Don't be frightened: The long '80's locks made famous by heavy metal bands are still out of style. But after several seasons of close-cropped Ceasar cuts a la George Clooney, some musical men are choosing hair-raising coifs complete with highlights and gel. Three in particular -- The Goo Goo Dolls' Johnny Rzeznik, Jon Bon Jovi, and Ricky Martin - are all rocking surprisingly similar dude dos.
What is causing this major blow-out? According to celebrity hairstylist Laurie Jones, it's mane-ly a throwback to the Scooby-Doo Shaggy look popular in the late '70s and early '80s. "it allows men to ear their hair longer but a little more tailored," she says. "It's roughed up and scruffy but still groomed."
Bon Jovi exchanged his poodle-perfect tresses over the summer for a mop top that resembles Tzeznik's mane. "It looks like he's into the wax that people are using now," Jones says. And Martin? The latest to join the newly clipped clique, he debuted his made-over locks at the MTV Video Music Awards, "He was Wall Street conservative and now he's trying to be expressive," Jones says. Let's hope he's having a good hair day. --Sharon Goldman Edry TV Guide.
Just how down-to-earth is pop star Ricky Martin? Three thousand, six hundred and 60 metres, more or less.
That's the altitude Martin tandem-skydived from twice yesterday, south of Auckland, on a day-off before playing a concert at Ericsson Stadium tonight.
Although a little nervous before the first jump, Martin enjoyed the experience so much that he went straight back up for another leap, clipped to instructor Lynette Kirkman - possibly the only woman in New Zealand with whom he will have time to form a meaningful attachment.
It was Lynette Kirkman's birthday and Martin serenaded her with Happy Birthday as their plane climbed above the Mercer Skydiving Centre where she is chief instructor.
Afterwards she was bemused by being close to the sex symbol. "I was gearing him up, thinking, 'Here I am touching this gentleman's body that most women would scream for.'
"It was really nice to meet a celebrity that was down-to-earth. He didn't have any @#%$y attitude and I just spoke to him like I would any other person that would come along to the parachute club.
"I did actually ask him if he screamed whether he would lose his voice for the concert but no, he didn't scream."
"He really, really enjoyed it and said he was thinking maybe he will come back to New Zealand and do it again next time on his own. I can see him getting really addicted to the adrenalin of the freefall."
The jump was paid for by the local branch of his label Sony, rather risking a "Ricky dropped by record company" headline.
A Sony spokesman said Martin wanted to do something different and exciting on a rare day off. Martin and his entourage arrived on Thursday night, a day earlier than originally planned, after touring Asia.
"I think he just wanted a rush of adrenalin, I mean he's just been hounded in Asia with journalists everywhere. I think he was quite keen to get away and probably thought there was no better way than skydiving to get some peace.
After his big jumps, Martin planned to rest up at the Quay West Hotel.
Concert promoter Lynn Smart said last night that only a small number of tickets were still available. The remaining tickets will be available at the gate from midday or from any Ticketek outlet for $77.
Gates open at 6.30 pm and Martin hits the stage at 8 pm.
The pop superstar arrived in New Zealand last night saying he's heard a lot about this country.
Martin, who has a string of hits including 'Livin' la vida loca' and 'Maria', says he wants to get outdoors to see Auckland and the surrounding areas.
Martin is playing a one-off concert at Ericsson Stadium tomorrow night.
Haywood has released her debut single, We Think It's Love, and has a debut album out shortly. Martin's only planned appearance in Sydney at this point is at the ARIA awards, but his concert is sure to be larger than life with an entourage of 100 and more than 18 semi-trailers of equipment. And the Puerto Rican heart-throb insists there's an overlooked spiritual side to his music.
It seems that the erotic, sensual, and extravagant takes of the video have captivated many viewers and as a result they have voted to confirm the great success of the internationally acclaimed artist. Britney Spears is at the second position with ?Lucky,? followed by Christina Aguilera with ?Come On Over Baby.? ?Give Me Just One Night? is the video of 98 degrees that is at the fourth position, while Enimem, who will soon perform in the island, is at the fifth position with ?The Way I Am.?
Meanwhile, ?She Bangs? made its debut this week in the Hot Singles Billboard charts at the sixth notch. Local as well as American radio stations have consistently played this dance pop tune. That is not counting Europe and Latin America, markets where the single was simultaneously released. Ricky is supposed to release the entire production in November in order to assure his indisputable first position in the preference charts worldwide.
It was an expensive, gorgeous production, a three-hour spectacle of light, dance and Latino pop songs. The only drawback was there were simply too many women in the audience. National Yoyogi Stadium's No. 1 Gymnasium was packed with girls--and about four guys--to see Latin heartthrob Ricky Martin.
I seemed to be the only male for a five-meter radius around my seat, which was on the extreme right, in about the 10th row, and everywhere I looked were girls, girls, girls, girls, standing and screaming "Rickkiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" throughout the show.
Well, actually, there was a guy right next to me, but he was a security guard. Ironically, the man's expressions seemed to represent those of the few male audience members who may have been dragged to the show by girlfriends. Despite the high quality of production, and despite--or due to--Martin's good looks, slick dancing and hip gyrations, there was a general mood that made it difficult for men to genuinely enjoy themselves. There was something in the air that made them feel uncomfortable.
Latin star's new video is sizziler
LATIN heart-throb Ricky Martin has ditched his squeaky clean teen idol image by performing sexy scenes in a new pop video.
Martin, who has been plagued by rumors about his sexuality, leaves viewers in no doubt - but the raunchy footage may upset his younger fans.
And his new adult look in the video, She Bangs, could backfire on him.
The video is so risque that some American TV channels are cutting scenes deemed too sexy for daytime viewers.
Chart-topping Ricky shows off a new look and hairstyle in the video, which had its first UK airing on Ant and Dec's Saturday morning smtv show.
But children's TV bosses decided that some of the more raunchy scenes should be censored.
In one scene, Martin is dragged into a toilet cubicle by a scantily clad woman and simulates sex with her.
Then the singer and 27 models strip off in steamy underwater shots. The women get hot and heavy with Ricky, who shows off his chest in the watery scene.
In another scene, a simulated orgy takes place and Martin looks on as one of the models is straddled in front of him.
A source close to the Latin star said: "It's very sexual and tactile.
"It's Ricky underwater with lots of gorgeous young babes. All the girls are rubbing their hands over his chest and it certainly doesn't leave much to the imagination."
But stripping off wasn't the hardest part of shooting the video at the New Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas.
Ricky spent much of the shoot underwater and had to learn how to mime to the song while submerged.
The result is a stunning video that sees Ricky chasing the woman of his dreams in an underwater nightclub.
He said: "There are 27 hot new models in this video. It's like the trilogy of Livin' La Vida Loca and Maria with this girl who drives me crazy because she's crazy, she won't talk to me or tell me her name.
"I had to mime underwater without bubbles coming out of my mouth. It's been pretty interesting and I've learnt a lot of things."
Ricky, who at the end of the video, surfaces from the ocean close to a paradise island, revealed his inspiration behind the song and video - having fun.
He said: "Letting go of egos, being who you are and having fun - that is what She Bangs is all about."
