People talk1/11

Guitarist to give profit from house sale to charity

LONDON -- Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is giving the proceeds from the sale of his London house to a charity.

Gilmour sold the home to Earl Spencer -- brother of the late Princess Diana -- for $6.48 million, and gave the money to Crisis, which helps homeless people, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

"I don't need the money and I just thought it would be a good thing to do," the paper quoted him as saying. "I've had that house for nearly 20 years. It's made a fat profit and I've scarcely used it for the last six or seven years."

Gilmour, 54, lives in a farmhouse in West Sussex and owns a house in Greece.

The Independent newspaper reported that he'd originally bought the London home for $430,000. But Gilmour said he'd grown tired of having too many expensive possessions.

"You collect Ferraris and then you've got to collect people to look after your Ferraris, and you've got to collect buildings to house the Ferraris," The Sunday Telegraph quoted him as saying. "Life gets very complicated. And eventually, at least in my case, you think 'I don't need this stuff.' And suddenly life gets simpler."

Gilmour is a regular donor to Crisis through his foundation, the DG Charitable Trust.

The Independent quoted a Crisis spokeswoman as saying the group had yet to receive final confirmation of the gift but was in talks with Gilmour.

Comedian Chris Rock and wife expecting first child

NEW YORK -- Chris Rock and his wife are expecting their first child, the actor-comedian's spokesman, Matt Labov, said.

Rock, 35, and his 31-year-old wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, have been married five years. Compton-Rock is the executive director of the charitable organization Styleworks.

A former "Saturday Night Live," cast member whose HBO series, "The Chris Rock Show," won an Emmy for its writing in 1999, Rock has appeared in movies including "New Jack City," "Dogma" and "Down to Earth."

Stefani has no doubts, will marry Bush lead singer

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Gwen Stefani has no doubt about Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale: She's agreed to marry him.

Rossdale, 34, proposed to Stefani, the 32-year-old lead singer for No Doubt, on New Year's Day, her spokeswoman Terry Wang said Wednesday.

Stefani became a staple in the music world with the 1995 release of No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom" album. British-born Rossdale made his American debut with the more somber album "Sixteen Stone."

The pair will set a wedding date later in the year, Rossdale publicist Laura Gold said. It will be the first marriage for both singers.

Author Cornwell signs new two-book deal

NEW YORK -- Best-selling author Patricia Cornwell has agreed to a lucrative new two-book deal with her publisher, Penguin Putnam Inc., amid speculation that she would leave for rival Random House Inc.

Financial terms weren't disclosed, but Cornwell's agent, Esther Newberg, said Wednesday that "the deal was as good as any in recent years."

Former President Clinton received a reported $10 million last year from Alfred A. Knopf to write his memoirs; Michael Crichton signed an eight-figure contract with HarperCollins.

Random House is the country's largest trade publisher, followed by Penguin Putnam.

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-- From wire reports