People talk 5/20/03

Singer free on bail, facing drug charge

BURBANK, Calif. -- Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland was released on $10,000 bail after police arrested him for investigation of drug possession.

Officers pulled Weiland over early Sunday morning for driving without his lights on, said Burbank Police Sgt. Tracy Sanchez. They reported noticing that Weiland had narcotics in the car and arrested him. Authorities didn't say what kind of drug Weiland allegedly had.

The 35-year-old singer was released later that day.

Weiland has had several run-ins with the law in recent years. He was arrested in the mid-1990s for investigation of cocaine and heroin possession, and served jail time in 1999 after repeatedly violating his probation and failing to complete drug rehabilitation programs.

In 2001, he pleaded guilty to domestic battery following a fight with his wife at the Hard Rock hotel in Las Vegas.

The judge agreed to dismiss the charges as long as Weiland underwent counseling.

His wife, Mary, filed for divorce last fall because of irreconcilable differences. The couple has two young children.

Radiohead video debuts on Times Square screen

NEW YORK -- Radiohead will join Mr. Peanut and the giant Cup O'Noodles sign high above Times Square when the band's new video debuts this week.

"There there" will screen throughout Tuesday on the Jumbotron at the southern end of Times Square. It also will air on MTV2 at the top of every hour for 24 hours Tuesday before going into general rotation.

Typical of Radiohead's twisted, creepy imagery, "There there" features lead singer Thom Yorke wandering haltingly through a dark forest, where he spies on animals getting married and having a picnic. Then crows chase him, and as he tries to run away, his feet become rooted to the ground and he turns into a tree.

This is the first single off Radiohead's new album, "Hail to the Thief," which comes out June 10.

But from June 2-10, fans can listen to the whole album for free on MTV.com through the music network's program "The Leak."

Filmmaker tells parents to do the right thing

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Filmmaker Spike Lee extolled the virtues of a college education during a speech to the Black Expo here.

Lee also told black parents in the audience to steer their children toward real role models and away from rappers. He said violent images from rappers such as 50 Cent are damaging the next generation.

"Forget about the beat," he said Saturday. "Let's talk about the lyrical content."

Lee, a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, said education was the path to success.

He lamented that young black scholars sometimes are ridiculed as fakes who are "acting white."

"But if you're on a corner, holding a 40, smoking a blunt and holding your privates, then you're real."

The 46-year-old director of such films as "Do the Right Thing" and "Malcolm X" also urged his audience to boycott businesses that display the Confederate flag.

The flag flies at a Civil War monument on Statehouse grounds in Columbia.

The NAACP is continuing a boycott of the state until the flag is removed.

No retirement party yet for Andy Rooney

NEW YORK -- "60 Minutes" curmudgeon Andy Rooney has no plans to retire soon -- but he sure managed to scare his fans.

"This is a special moment that I have dreaded," the 84-year-old Rooney said at the end of his commentary on the CBS newsmagazine's 35th anniversary show.

Rooney, whose boss, "60 Minutes" founder Don Hewitt, is stepping down next year as executive producer, said it seemed like a good time to make a personal announcement.

"I've been writing for television since there was television," he said.

"I've done 800 of these essays in the 25 years I've been on '60 Minutes.' I've saved some money and I'd like to travel. I'd like to spend more time with my family."

But, said Rooney, he isn't going to do any of those things.

"I'll be back here again next year," he said.

Lawmakers see hope for art funding crisis

TRENTON, N.J. -- Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi have performed at many benefit concerts over the years. Now the state of New Jersey has its hand out.

Two state lawmakers have come up with a proposal to solve New Jersey's arts funding crisis, and they want the two native rockers to help out.

Sen. Nia Gill and Assemblyman Neil Cohen want to create a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Donation Fund to make up for arts funding being cut from the state budget.

The Democrats said they hoped Springsteen and Bon Jovi would hold benefit concerts at the Continental Airlines Arena or Giants Stadium to help the effort.

Cohen said he doesn't know either of the rock stars, but he attended a fund-raiser for Al Gore's presidential campaign in 2000 at Bon Jovi's mansion in Middletown.

"They will be approached," Cohen said. "Bon Jovi seemed like a decent guy who is committed to the arts and music."

Lauren Schneider, a spokeswoman at Bon Jovi's record company, had no immediate comment Friday. Springsteen spokeswoman Marilyn Laverty could not be reached.