Taking Names

Ramone pens memoirs

Johnny Ramone, alive and on the road to recovery, is shopping his memoirs to New York publishers.

Just last month, the 55-year-old guitarist of the legendary ’70s band the Ramones battled an infection that landed him in a Los Angeles hospital.

“I will tell my story and the straight story of the Ramones in this book, with all the rough edges attached,” he said. “Some people will be surprised to find out my version of how life in the Ramones was and the lasting effect that band has had on music.

“There has been so much interest out there in all things related to the Ramones that I can see that the true story of myself and the band is needed. There have been many erroneous things printed. There will be no whitewashing in this book, and there will be no warts covered.”

Mr. Ramone, born John Cummings, is writing the book with Steve Miller, a national reporter for The Washington Times. Both are represented by Jimmy Vines of the Vines Agency Inc.

A life on film

Associated Press

Denzel Washington reportedly will be making a film on the life story of Sammy Davis Jr., but he doesn’t plan to star in the production.

Mr. Washington, a two-time Oscar-winner, will be directing the project about the late entertainer, who died in 1990 of throat cancer, the entertainment trade publication Variety has reported.

Born in Harlem in 1925, Mr. Davis got his start in show business at age 4, when he began singing and dancing with his father on the old vaudeville circuit. His career took off in the 1950s when he signed record contracts, appeared on stage and screen and became a member of the Rat Pack with longtime friend Frank Sinatra.

Mr. Davis was viewed as a controversial figure by both the entertainment establishment and some fellow performers. His struggles with drugs and alcohol, interracial romance with actress Kim Novak and later marriage to actress May Britt drew criticism, along with his conversion to Judaism.

Mr. Davis was instrumental in helping open segregated clubs, demanding that mixed audiences be allowed to see him. The FBI kept a file on him because of his work in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Promise fulfilled

Internet Movie Database

Grammy-winner Macy Gray has fulfilled her pledge to perform nude — by stripping during her London concert Monday night. The singer, 33, appeared naked behind a chair onstage at the capital’s Coronet venue during a sterling rendition of the late Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” She was photographed for a book set to be released next year to raise funds for AIDS in Africa.

Miss Gray — real name Natalie McIntyre — reappeared onstage afterward dressed in a black coat and pajamas.

Clicking with Klimt

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

John Malkovich has signed to play the title role in “Klimt,” a film about Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, whose opulent, erotically charged paintings came to epitomize the art-nouveau style of the late 19th and early 20th century.

The project unites Mr. Malkovich with the film’s Chilean director, Raoul Ruiz.

German actors Veronica Ferres, Otto Sander and France’s Laetitia Casta will also star.

Lil’ to say

New York Post

Hip-hop star Lil’ Kim can’t handle tough questions — or easy ones either, apparently.

The rapper was photographed for the cover of the entertainment magazine Steppin’ Out but demanded to see interview questions in advance. Editor Chaunce Hayden sent over 20 “of the most softball questions ever asked,” such as, “How would you like to be remembered?” — but Lil’ Kim “freaked out,” he says and refused to do the interview.

Gambler’s double luck

Associated Press

Singer Kenny Rogers and his wife, Wanda, are the parents of identical twin boys.

The twins were born Tuesday morning in Atlanta, according to Claire Cook of Dreamcatcher Entertainment.

Justin Charles weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and his twin brother, Jordan Edward, weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

Wanda Rogers, Mr. Rogers’ fifth wife, is an identical twin, and twins also run in Kenny Rogers’ family, Miss Cook said.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from staff, Web and wire reports.