Julia Gillard And Those Lesbian Rumours

First Lady Gaga referred to Australian prime minister Julia Gillard as a lesbian before being corrected earlier this year and now a viral email has been doing the rounds with an exert from Ms Gillard's profile when she was a university student activist which states: " I understand homosexual rights as I am in a lesbian relationship".



But the Shuttle has tracked down the genuine exert and publishes it now it for the first time (at left) which shows the fake profile has been doctored.

Who could have created the fake ?. One rumour doing the rounds is that it was a conservative Coalition MP. Surely not !

A Christmas Tale

Alex Day

The Shuttle spent Christmas Day in the company of good friends at a lavish lunch, eating turkey and quaffing Bollinger ( as one should).

One guest at the table was a well known music industry lawyer who regaled us with tales of court room battles between artists and their record companies. He described his first job as a green barrister sent to London to handle a case against a hugely popular Australian band who were suing  EMI over the band's claim that the record giant had failed to promote their latest album which languished at the bottom of the charts.

In the course of his investigations for the record company, he was introduced in great secrecy to the 'hit-picker' employed by the company to assess whether the Aussie band's release would be a hit. The hit picker, an ageing musician who had seen better days had assessed, after several bottles of wine and many tokes on a hash pipe that the record was doomed to failure.

COLDPLAY

Overall the legal costs were in the millions of dollars. It would have been cheaper just to promote the album but anyone who has been unfortunate enough to deal with record companies  will know how an artist's fate can rest on the the late night worries of an executive fearful of making the wrong choice, picking a dud, losing his job and being stuck with a mortgage.

One young singer/songwriter Alex Day has just broken the mould and is currently at No 4 in the British music charts having sold 52,881 copies of his composition Forever Yours in the last week, pushing COLDPLAY into fifth place with just 50,000 sales.

Alex has no record deal. He promotes himself on YouTube.

Official Charts Company MD Martin Talbot has said that "Forever Yours is certainly one of the most successful self-released tracks we have ever seen, the Official Charts are based on sales, and sales alone, so Alex’s achievements this week are a genuine reflection of the passion of his army of fans, and of course, the power of social media."

Contrast Alex Day's success with the hullabaloo over shows like X-Factor with their millions of viewers around the world and rewards heaped upon the winners by the music giant Sony.

Local X-Factor winner Recce Mastin sold 70,000 copies of Good Night while Australia's Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen sold a similar amount. Both had the entire Sony network behind them plus a reputed million dollar budget and nightly TV adverts promoting them.

Alex Day did have help from a hit maker from way back-Jonathan King who describes here how he and Alex beavered away to beat the music industry at it's own game.

Forever Yours:

Leo DiCaprio's Catalogue Christmas Present

 




Great Gatsby star Leonardo DiCaprio is back in California today for Christmas after flying out of Sydney on Thursday afternoon courtesy of The Star Casino's corporate jet.

Accompany him was Victoria's Secret model Erin Heatherington who the Daily Mail has reported,  Leo spotted in an underwear model catalogue and contacted her with a request to join him in Sydney. Erin continued on to New York on a commercial flight.

The UK Daily Mail newspaper also has a series of photographs taken last Tuesday by a tourist of the pair touring the grounds of historic Vaucluse House which is in the next suburb to Point Piper where DiCaprio is renting a harbour side house while he films Gatsby for director Baz Lurhmann.

Several newspapers have reported that Leo has 'imported' several models to date yet the Hollywood star has often been spotted partying with his close knit band of male friends sans these 'girlfriends' at several Sydney night spots including Ivy in the city where twice he has rented the lounge bar for he and his pal's exclusive use and the tiny Beach Haus nightclub in Kings Cross where, once Leo & pals arrive one of his bodyguards is posted at the front door to screen further guests who may arrive. DiCaprio will be back in Sydney in early January to wrap up filming.

Burt

Baz

Meanwhile director Baz Luhrmann is recovering from an injury that required several stitches and resulted in the Gatsby set being closed down until January, after he hit his head on a camera weight last week.
While DiCaprio's co-stars Carey Mulligan and Tobey McGuire are spending Christmas in Sydney, friends have been commenting on Baz's new smooth look around his eyes and pondering whether Luhrmann has had surgery.

One older technician who has worked on many Hollywood films said that when he arrived for the first day of filming on Gatsby, Baz's new look reminded him of another movie great he has worked with-actor Burt Reynolds.

Holly Valance-Didn't She Do Well!

It's official. Multi millionaire Nick Candy has popped the question to long time girlfriend, former Aussie soap star  Holly Valance and the two have announced their engagement.

Nick is one half of the successful Candy brothers who have made a fortune out of real estate developments in London. Their One Hyde Park development is the most glitzy and expensive block of apartments on the market.

What Have We Done To Kevin Spacey?

Following our story on Bob Carr's attack on Kevin Spacey's Richard 111 performance  in Sydney, and our follow-up tale on the British blogger Madame Arcati who had become embroiled in a Spacey family spat and been subsequently banned by Spacey from his Twitter account, the "former shoe salesman now making a go at film and theater. Wish me luck..." (Kevin's description of himself)  Oscar winning actor has gone into meltdown and suspended his Twitter account.

Spacey tweeted the following message : "“Unless Twitter implements better ways to stop harassment and stalkers, my account will stay locked,” 
and subsequently : “If this doesn’t work then I may deactivate my account and suggest that others do as well.” 

Yesterday the following appeared and Spacey locked out his 2,223,091 followers  
@kevinspacey's Tweets are protected.  
Only confirmed followers have access to @kevinspacey's Tweets and complete profile. You need to send a request before you can start following this account.

Has the curse of Madame Arcati struck again ?

Distant Cousins? #4 Who's Your Daddy?

There has been much speculation in the media over the biological father of the late great entertainer Michael Jackson's children Paris and Prince with their birth mother Debbie Rowe claiming they were conceived with sperm from an anonymous donor.

A regular Shuttle reader points to the following and the remarkable resemblance between Prince Jackson and the so-called 'mascot' of the popular magazine MAD- Alfred E.Neuman. Could they perchance be related? We should be told.

Prince Jackson

Alfred E,Neuman

Drag Star Carmen Laid to Rest

Some mourners flew across the Tasman for her funeral as the legendary drag star and Kings Cross identity Carmen Rupe was laid to rest today at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

Carmen died last week of kidney failure at the age of 75.
At her service at the Sydney Anglican Maori Church in Redfern almost 250 mourners crammed in to celebrate Carmen's life and were treated to same memorable stories.

Such as when Carmen was summonsed by the New Zealand Parliament in 1977 to explain herself for for claiming on a TV chat show that there were many gay New Zealand MPs. How times have changed. Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark sent a letter of condolence and NZ television was there to record her funeral.

Lifetime friend Jacquie Grant, looking out across the congregation said "this looks like the best drag show in town"
Jacquie described how during the 1960s and 70s she and Carmen were hauled in by the Kings Cross police many times when they were spotted walking down the street in drag. Sometimes the police were brutal, sometimes very very friendly, but the 2 spent many stints out at Long Bay Jail.

Koko D'Vyne

Ribena arrives

Friend Ribena said "Carmen's life was theatre in action, so her funeral was always going to be a colourful event."
Said friend Koko D'Vyne:“It is a very sad day because who else do we know that was able to do things that Carmen did? Who was bold enough who was strong enough?”
Famous Oxford Street cabaret star Monique Kelly said :“I used to say ‘you’re to blame for all this influx of drag queens from New Zealand’,”
Carmen joined Abe Saffron's Les Girls in the 1950s and was a popular performer there during the 60's and 70s.

not all tears

 She was way ahead of her time and when she stood for mayor of her home town Wellington in the 1970s she advocated for gay and indigenous rights, legalised prostitution and abortion. Along the way she met Frank Sinatra's granddaughter Deana who became a pal.


As the mourners formed a guard of honour, commandeering the street and stopping traffic, Carmen's bright red casket slowly disappeared from view in a white hearse for her final trip to Rookwood to a rousing cheer and a soloist singing her favorite song Le Vie En Rose.

No Invites To Bill Gate's Party

New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour is always a great event with the spectacular midnight fireworks.

One of the world's richest men Bill Gates is hosting a party at his rented Point Piper mansion but it will  be mainly a family affair with just a handful of invited guests. Although the Shuttle has seen the guest list and the catering arrangements-it's a fairly modest affair considering Gates is worth a reputed $59B. Will his neighbour Leo DiCaprio attend is the big question?. He's been invited.

The Island Bar

The Lord Mayor's party is always one of the best spots to be, located at the Sydney Opera House with a great view of the bridge and it's happenings. The Shuttle has passed on it though over the past few years. Getting there is like an expedition once the local roads are closed off and you pick your way through the tens of thousands of people streaming to the Opera House forecourt. It takes ages and leaving is likewise.

 In fact getting a spot anywhere on the harbour foreshore usually means grabbing your spot by early afternoon.

There are two bashes though that should be pretty special. The Island Bar, the brainchild of Julian Tobias will be hosted an amazing dinner with plenty of champagne to get you through the night. Book at their website but there are just a few tables left.

Bondi Icebergs supremo Maurice Terzini will be catering for the You Only Live Once party inside the Opera House at the Northern Foyer with it's views straight over to the bridge. Tickets are $695 each and entertainment will be from The Godfathers of House and Frankie Knuckles with as much beer, wine, cocktails and champagne as you can drink. Book here. But hurry.
Over at Glebe island and under the Anzac Bridge there is a major party that will have uninterrupted views to the bridge fireworks and entertainment from Guy Sebastian and Pseudo Echo. They've built a village with fantastic raised seating for a great view and there will be non-stop food and drinks. Tickets are from $198-$598 with a variety of transport methods thrown in. Bookings here.

And there are still a few VIP Marquee tickets at $495 left at Glebe Island and the return of Boy George and Culture Club. Not to be missed.

For those under 40 who have never heard of Culture Club- here is taster :

Stalking A High Profile Lawyer

"Media Stalking"

One of Sydney’s best known criminal lawyers, Christopher Murphy says he has a stalker and has appealed for help in tracking down the man’s identity.

Murphy has posted two videos on YouTube of a man silently standing on the street corner very near Murphy’s home, holding what looks to be a professional TV camera but with no identifying markers.

It’s fairly clear watching the videos that the lawyer appears to be in some distress as he urges the man to leave him and his family alone He says his wife and young children are too frightened to leave home.

Chris Murphy

While TV and media crews can be alarming at the best of times, it’s the silence of the cameraman that makes his presence decidedly creepy. Standing silently and continually focus his camera upon Murphy does send a certain chill down the bones.

Chris Murphy has previously written columns for newspapers and handled cases for some pretty high profile celebrities including the hapless actor Matt Newton currently on a charge of allegedly striking taxi driver.

A prolific twitterer with over 2000 followers (he was introduced to twitter by Russell Crowe) Murphy has been correcting the more sensational reporting on Newton’s movements including the claim he was at a children’s party the night before the alleged taxi incident happened.

Newton, a talented and gifted actor has some serious problems with a psychiatric illness and despite the PM Julia Gillard recently appointing Mark Butler to the ministry portfolio of Mental Health and bringing him into Cabinet and state premier Barry O'Farrell appointing a mental health minister after revealing his own family problems, some journalists still don’t get it.

One tabloid writer outrageously suggested Newton should be ‘bashed' by members of the public after an incident with actress Rachael Taylor. More recently the Daily Terror has been musing on whether the actor has a future in the industry. Surely not a discussion that's very helpful for a person who is still recovering from health problems.

Below is one of Murphy’s posts on YouTube. Maybe a reader can illuminate us on why this stranger is lurking about street corners!

Tassie Dishwasher Takes UK Chef’s Crown

For a tiny population Tasmania is punching well above its weight.

With ex-real estate agent Mary Donaldson, now Crown Princess Mary who will one day rule Denmark, Ricky Ponting dominating the cricket, fashion queen Allannah Hill and the never to be forgotten Hollywood star Errol Flynn, comes the  Tasmanian born chef Ash Mair who has picked up the gong in the UK as Britain's Masterchef in the hugely popular TV series.

In  MasterChef: The Professionals Mair whipped up a three-course meal for judges Michel Roux Junior and Gregg Wallace. The menu included a starter of monkfish tail, a main course of lamb and a Spanish bread-and-butter pudding.

Michel Roux called Mair “a supreme talent” while Wallace said he had “given me some of the best food I have ever tasted.”

Ash Mair began his career as a dishwasher at the Cucina Simpatica in Launceston Tasmania and graduated to the 5 star Westbury Hotel in London where he now lives via several eateries in Spain and France.

Currently he caters for events and travels and writes about food. Amongst his private clients -Sir Phillip Green, Sir Elton John and the British Royal Family

Legendary Carmen Passes Away

She literally stopped traffic around the inner city of Sydney as she drove along streets in her motorised wheel chair, feathers flying and multi coloured boas trailing behind. Always with a cheery wave and a huge smile.

The famous New Zealand born drag queen Carmen Rupe passed away today in St Vincent's Hospital from kidney failure at the age of 74. A month ago she celebrated her birthday with a gang of friends.

Carmen had recently arrived back from her native New Zealand where she had taken part in a conference of Agender a transgender support group.

Born in Taumarunui and known as Trevor Rupe for the first 20 years of her life, Carmen entered the sex industry after leaving the army in the 1950s.

In 1977 she ran for mayor of Wellington and campaigned for hotel bars to be open till midnight or even 2am; the drinking age to be lowered to 18; prostitution to be made legal; abortion to be decriminalised; homosexual acts to be decriminalised; sex education in schools for 14-year-olds; and nudity on some beaches all of which are now legal in New Zealand.

For many years Carmen worked for 'Mr Sin' Abe Saffron who had  a stranglehold over the booming nightclub and sex industry in Kings Cross for 40 years. As a star act in his Les Girls, the all male drag revue show during the 60's and 70s Carmen was a favourite of tourists who flocked in their hundreds every week to the tiny cabaret venue. And she attended Saffron's funeral at the Emmanuel Synagogue in Woollahra  in 2006 where her photo was splashed across newspaper pages.
RIP Carmen Rupe 1935-2011

Leo DiCaprio's New Sydney Neighbour-Bill Gates.

The world's second richest man Bill Gates and his family are in Sydney and have settled in for a month's holiday in a grand Point Piper mansion.

Gates is staying just 6 doors away from Hollywood star Leo DiCaprio who is in Sydney to film Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D). Leo also has an entire floor at the newly renovated Star Casino where his entourage stay. That floor has been provided gratis by The Star management in return for DiCaprio turning up for the odd party now and then. They throw in the corporate jet as well for Leo's use.

Neville Crichton

Gates and family have now been spotted at several Sydney restaurants including Matt Moran's Aria on Tuesday night  and today he leaves for a few days of sunshine at Hamilton Island .

The Tuscan style mansion that Gates is renting for a reputed $25000 a week belongs to luxury car entrepreneur, New Zealander Neville Crichton. With an underground garage, a spa, a pool and a private beach and jetty, the villa has everything one could desire.

The Ferrari HQ minus tram shed

Neville Crichton has also scored another property victory. Two years ago he spent $4M on his new Waterloo headquarters where one can pick up a new Ferrari or Maserati for some loose change.

the vanished tramshed

Crichton has had an ongoing battle with the local council over a rather dilapidated tram shed that sat right at the front of his glistening new glass and steel showrooms. Locals insisted it should be heritage listed but in a city where so many glorious sandstone convict era buildings have bitten the dust, the tram shed was just an eyesore.

Over the past few months the council demolished half the building, leaving a bizarre half section remaining with a plaque on it. Just a month ago the entire thing finally disappeared leaving Neville Crichton's entrance free of obstructions.