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Taking Names

By | Thursday, August 21, 2008

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Cobain's Axl to grind

The late Kurt Cobain "detested" fellow rocker Axl Rose, former record-business executive Danny Goldberg recalls in his new book, "Bumping Into Geniuses," the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

In fact, when the Guns N' Roses frontman asked to meet Mr. Cobain backstage after a show, Mr. Cobain refused, says Mr. Goldberg, who was president of Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. Records and Mercury Records.

"Rose had the kind of macho rock persona that Kurt detested," Mr. Goldberg writes.

Mr. Cobain's wife, Courtney Love, was even less keen on getting to know Mr. Rose's then-girlfriend, Victoria's Secret model Stephanie Seymour, Mr. Goldberg's book says.

The bad blood apparently continued when promoters tried to launch a tour with Nirvana, Metallica and Guns N' Roses. "There was a lot of money on the table," Mr. Goldberg says. "Kurt really liked Metallica."

However, there wasn't enough money in the world to get Mr. Cobain to share a stage with that other band, he says. Mr. Cobain - who committed suicide in 1994 - passed on the idea.

Tarnished Glitter

A British diplomatic official says China has refused to allow convicted pedophile Gary Glitter to enter Hong Kong, Associated Press reported Wednesday.

The fallen British glam rocker served nearly three years in a Vietnamese prison for molesting children. He was released on Tuesday and flew to Hong Kong after refusing to return to England.

A spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office says Chinese authorities have refused to allow him into Hong Kong. She says it is unclear what will happen to Mr. Glitter next and that his current status is a matter for Chinese authorities.

Ricky Martin's a dad

There won't be much "livin' la vida loca" for Ricky Martin for a while: He's the father of twin boys, AP reports.

The Latin superstar had the children via a surrogate mother, and the babies were born a few weeks ago, according to a statement. A representative for the performer said there was no further information about the children's birth.

Mr. Martin, 36, is best known for English-language hits like "She Bangs!" and "Livin' la Vida Loca."

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