L.A. gallery showcases photos of rocker Nikki Sixx (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – In March of 2009, when the Annenberg Space for Photography opened in Century City in Los Angeles, the most remarked-upon guest at the gala was David LaChapelle's date, Courtney Love.

I thought of Love during an unveiling of images late last week at the Annenberg -- all taken over the last two decades by Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx -- when he put up a photo of a homeless woman holding a sign reading, "I'm Not A Bad Girl, I Just Made Bad Decisions."

Anyone wondering about the wisdom of the Annenberg's decision to feature the art of Sixx was happily surprised. Not only was his camera work fascinating and its variety a bit dazzling, but the rocker's world view as he answered questions from moderator Kristine McKenna and the audience was quite compelling.

Sixx, 51, said he'd been fascinated by the medium since the late '80s, but his interest didn't truly flower until around the time he got sober in 2001, after a long series of addictions, including a near-death by overdose, chronicled in his book "The Heroin Diaries."

"I'm very passionate about what I wrap my hands around," Sixx said. "The recovery wants me to engage; the addiction made me disengage."

What recovery gives one, he added, is that "it allows your heart to soften."

He noted that the subjects of his images range all over because "my life isn't consistent. My life is chaotic. Rock 'n' roll is chaos."

Sixx -- who also has a new book and album out, both titled "This Is Gonna Hurt" -- alluded not just to his sobriety but to his struggle to show his individuality growing up, starting with a rough upbringing that included a "sorta" homeless delinquent stage.

"I was a gnarly little kid, a fighter," he told the crowd. "I try to hold on to that edge.

"If you're Bill Gates," he added, individuality "is okay -- in the beginning he was (called) a whack job."

His pictures, many of them in brooding black-and-white -- like a delicate study of a wet street in Prague at 3 a.m. -- were often grabbed on the run as he toured. He's asked for a portrait of many a prostitute in the world's capitals, but a certain gentleness emerges in the shots of the homeless -- or even of a shy hotel maid who said she was too ugly to photograph.

"I said, 'I'm gonna take a picture and show you you're beautiful.'"

The resulting image did just that.

"I'm an emotional terrortist," Sixx said. "If I see you have pain, I'm gonna pull it out of you."

Sixx's appearance was part of the Annenberg's "Iris Nights" lecture series and is linked to the gallery's "Beauty Culture" exhibit, which runs through November 27.

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Lady Gaga, Ryan Reynolds class photos published (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Bradley Cooper's teenage tennis practice. Lady Gaga's first communion. A young Scarlett Johansson decorating a Christmas tree. Ryan Reynolds goofing around with his high-school classmates. Country crooner Blake Shelton as a guitar-playing kid.

These are just a few of the before-they-were-stars photos included in Ancestry.com's U.S. School Yearbook Collection. The genealogy website recently expanded its yearbook database to include nearly 7 million images from thousands of schools in the United States.

The database is designed to provide insight into family members' school years, says Ancestry.com executive vice president Josh Hanna, "and while you're searching, you might just find a famous classmate."

Among the celebrities included in the expanded database are Jon Stewart, LeBron James, Justin Timberlake, Gwyneth Paltrow, George Clooney, Will Ferrell and Sean Penn, sporting shaggy locks like his Jeff Spicoli character from 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

The expanded U.S. Yearbook Collection will be available beginning Aug. 24.

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Online:

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_en_ce/storytext/us_people_stars_in_school/42692399/SIG=113cvbgfm/*http://www.ancestry.com/yearbooks

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Beatles' 1st US concert photos fetch $360K in NYC (AP)

NEW YORK – In 1964, an enterprising 18-year-old snapped pictures of the Beatles' momentous first U.S. concert in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday, Christie's auction house said it sold 50 silver gelatin prints that the photographer, Mike Mitchell, made from the negatives for $361,938. The images, plus photos from another Beatles concert, had been estimated to fetch a total of $100,000.

The Beatles played their first U.S. concert at the Washington Coliseum on Feb. 11, 1964, two days after their debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Mike Mitchell was there, shooting photos from just feet away and even jumping onto the stage for the group's pre-concert press call.

Among the highlights is a backlit shot of the band that he took while standing directly behind them. It sold on Wednesday for $68,500; its pre-sale estimate was $2,000 to $3,000.

An image of an animated Ringo Starr on the drums sold for $8,125. It was estimated to bring $3,000 to $5,000. Christie's said the shot depicts a rare moment where Starr was both drummer and lead singer on a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, but made famous by The Rolling Stones: "I Wanna Be Your Man."

Cathy Elkies, Christie's director of iconic collections, said she expected the bids to exceed the pre-sale estimates.

"Beatles fans are fierce. To uncover this trove of images that's never been published will really excite people," she said.

Also included in the sale are photos of the band's Sept. 13, 1964, performance at the Baltimore Civic Center.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Mitchell described the rollicking scene at the Washington indoor arena — not only of screaming fans but also of his unrestricted access.

"It was a long time ago. Things weren't that way then," said the 65-year-old, who now works as an art photographer in Washington. "It was as low-tech as the concert itself. The concert was in a sports venue and the sound system was the sound system of a sports venue."

Equally astonishing is how few other photographs from that first concert exist.

Simeon Lipman, Christie's pop culture consultant, said it's not clear why there weren't many other photos of the concert. He said Mitchell's black and white photographs were remarkable for their "animated" and "intimate" depiction of the Fab Four.

Mitchell stored the negatives for years in a box in his basement. For the silver gelatin prints in the auction, he used digital technology to do "much better darkroom work that could ever have been done in a traditional darkroom."

Mitchell said he had not thought much about the photos until recently because he has been focused on developing a body of photographic work about light that took him on a different aesthetic journey. Until now, he added, the images "couldn't be restored to the extent that they have."

"They benefit from a historical perspective," he said.

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Online: http://www.christies.com/features/auctions/0711/beatles-illuminated/

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Democrats urge Weiner to resign, new photos emerge (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New lewd photos emerged of Representative Anthony Weiner on Sunday as Democratic party leaders renewed calls for him to resign over an Internet sex scandal that prompted him to seek a leave and treatment.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said party leaders including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi decided to make a coordinated push for Weiner to step down once it was clear he did not intend to do so.

"At the end of the day a member of Congress makes their own decision and that's certainly going to be up to Anthony Weiner," Wasserman Schultz said on NBC's "Meet the Press".

"But we have made clear that he needs to resign, he needs to focus on getting his own personal issues in order, focus on his family and do the right thing for his constituents."

Weiner's spokeswoman said the New York congressman checked into a treatment facility and would be requesting a "short leave" of absence from the House of Representatives so he could get evaluated and map out a course of treatment.

She did not respond to questions about reports that Weiner was waiting for his wife, Huma Abedin, an aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to return from Africa before deciding whether to resign.

Wasserman Schultz's comments came as new pictures emerged on the Internet of the seven-term congressman, dressed only in a towel, taking photos of himself in front of a mirror in the congressional gym's locker room.

Weiner's determination to remain, bolstered by support from his New York City constituents, has angered Democrats. They say his inappropriate online exchanges with at least six women have hurt the party as it seeks to regain control of the House of Representatives from Republicans in 2012 elections.

The scandal has shifted public attention to Weiner's behavior and away from issues like the unpopular Republican plan to cut the Medicare healthcare program for the elderly.

"It pushes those stories off the front page. It's a bad story about the Democrats and the Democrats can't defend it," said Paul Sracic, head of the political science department at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

Republicans are also ready for the Weiner story to end.

"This is getting beyond ridiculous," said Representative Paul Ryan, head of the House Budget Committee, on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"We have got to get this behind us because it's a distraction," said Ryan, architect of the unpopular Medicare proposal. "He should resign ... Because we have got important work to do. And this is just a ridiculous distraction."

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Newly published Beatles photos revealed in London (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) – Fifty unpublished photos of The Beatles at their first US concert in 1964 went on show in London on Friday ahead of an auction in New York, offering an intimate glimpse of the band just as they hit the big time.

The black and white shots were taken by photographer Mike Mitchell, who was just 18 years old when the Fab Four, themselves little older, came to his home town of Washington, and presented him with the opportunity of a lifetime.

He was granted exceptional access to the gig at the Washington Coliseum on February 11, 1964, just two days after the band's US television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was watched by 73 million people.

The photos captured the frenzy and excitement of early Beatlemania, but have been locked away in Mitchell's basement for 46 years.

They are now being displayed at Christie's auction house and at the Hotel Marriot at Grosvenor House in London before being moved to New York for sale at auction on July 20, where they are expected to fetch A?100,000 (113,000 euros/$162,000).

"Only later I realised that this Washington concert was considered so important to the eyes of specialists," Mitchell told AFP.

"It was great, there were all these screaming girls -- they were mostly girls -- and we were all so young.

"I loved the music. I identified with it. The sound was so different and so alive."

Cathy Elkies, director of Iconic Collections at Christie's, said it was increasingly rare to find unpublished pictures of the band, and of such quality.

Whether showing a thoughtful John Lennon holding a cigarette, a fresh-faced Paul McCartney singing right up to the microphone, Ringo Starr's hands or George Harrison's profile, the photos are taken so close up you feel you are there.

"The intimacy of these images is just incredible. And they're so young, these were still the early days," said Elkies.

She added that such pictures "would be impossible today, when there is so much exposure" of bands.

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Photos of Beatles' 1st US concert to be auctioned (AP)

NEW YORK – It was 1964. Beatlemania ruled. Two days after their momentous debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show," the Fab Four boarded a train from New York for Washington, D.C., for their first U.S. concert. An enterprising 18-year-old Mike Mitchell was there, a press pass in hand, shooting photographs just feet away and even jumping onto the stage for the group's brief pre-concert press call.

Forty-seven years later, Mitchell has made 50 silver gelatin prints from his negatives of the event on Feb. 11, 1964 at Washington Coliseum and of the band's Sept. 13, 1964 performance at the Baltimore Civic Center. He's offering them for sale at Christie's New York auction house on July 20. The total pre-sale estimate is $100,000; the images will be sold individually.

Mitchell laughs when he describes the scene at the indoor arena that night — not only of screaming fans but also of his unrestricted access to the stage. No cordoned-off media pens, no tight security.

"It was a long time ago. Things weren't that way then," the 65-year-old said in a telephone interview from Washington, where he lives and works as an art photographer. "It was as low-tech as the concert itself. The concert was in a sports venue and the sound system was the sound system of a sports venue."

Equally astonishing is how few other photographs from that first concert exist. Simeon Lipman, Christie's pop culture consultant, said it's not clear why, but he said Mitchell's black and white photographs were remarkable for their quality.

"They're very close-up, very animated. The light is very interesting. They're very intimate shots," Lipman said

In addition, Beatlemania was at its peak, so much so that the Beatles stopped performing live in 1966 — their last concert was in Candlestick Park in San Francisco — "because they couldn't hear themselves sing. The girls were so hysterical," Lipman noted.

Mitchell stored the negatives all these years in a box in the basement of his home. For the silver gelatin prints in the auction, he used digital technology to do "much better `darkroom' work that could ever have been done in a traditional darkroom."

The batch of prints, showing the Beatles in their early signature mop hairdo and suit and tie outfits, also will have a nearly invisible "secret moniker" that will not be used for any other of his images, he said.

The highlight of the sale is a backlit photograph of the band with light halos around their heads that Mitchell shot at the press call while standing directly behind the group. Christie's has not yet determined what it's expected to fetch.

But Cathy Elkies, Christie's director of iconic collections, explained that the auction is pricing the collection "in an attractive way" for two reasons: Mitchell was not an established photographer at the time and the auction house wants to appeal to a wide base of fans and collectors. But she expected bidding to exceed the estimates, saying, "Beatles fans are fierce. To uncover this trove of images that's never been published will really excite people."

Mitchell said he had not thought much about the photos until now because he has been focused on developing a body of photographic work about light that took him on a different aesthetic journey. And until recently, he said, the images "couldn't be restored to the extent that they have."

"They benefit from a historical perspective," Mitchell added.

He said he got the press pass for the Beatles' first concert from a small Washington magazine that had a short life and for which he did some work.

The Washington Coliseum stage was a boxing ring, which meant the Beatles were constantly turning around so they could face all of the fans. Ringo's drums were set on a lazy Susan-type platform. The press was allowed to move freely around the stage, Mitchell said.

In addition to jumping on the stage during the press call, he hurled himself up after the concert ended. Even though the Beatles made a swift exit after performing such favorites as "Roll Over Beethoven," "From Me to You" and "All My Loving," Mitchell said, "the crowd was so boisterous" that he feared for his safety.

The photographs will be displayed at Christie's London galleries on June 11-12, and then at several other London venues before being shown July 11-20 at Christie's New York prior to the auction.

___

Online:

http://www.christies.com

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'Unlawful Killing,' Accident Photos of Diana Are Exploitative (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | On the heels of England's royal wedding celebration, a new documentary, "Unlawful Killing," has been released about the death of Princess Diana (mother of princes William and Harry). The film shows graphic images of the dying Diana. "Unlawful Killing" attempts to implicate the royal family in yet another cover-up conspiracy.

Diana, along with her lover Dodi al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul, was killed in an auto accident in Paris Aug. 31,1997. The official story has been that Paul was driving drunk and that's what caused the accident, according to ABC News.

"Unlawful Killing" is based on a note written in 1993, by Diana, in which she says she thinks Prince Charles is plotting to have her assassinated. The film points to alleged inconsistencies in the court's handling of the case. Filmmaker Keith Allen call it an "inquest of an inquest."

However, the real mission of "Unlawful Killing" seems to be to spring the photos on the public and the royal family.

Conspiracy theories about Diana's death aren't new. Books have been written linking Diana's death to the royal family. They say the royal family was angry over Charles and Diana's divorce and blamed Diana. Some, such as Truthquake.com, claim political plots and cover-ups were behind the accident.

Followers of Diana say that the royal family was furious that Diana took a lover (although Charles admitted to having been unfaithful to his wife prior to her extra-marital relationships, according to People). Dodi's father Mohammed al Fayed has long espoused the theory that the crash was no accident.

The problem with "Unlawful Killing" is primarily the new death photos. Photos have been released with Diana in the car just moments before the accident. Photos of the car after the wreck have been published. The new photos were taken by press as she was dying and just moments after her death. They are very graphic and show her face badly damaged. It is the first time these pictures have been seen.

Regardless of any scandal or allegations, the biggest concern is the emotional pain and suffering these photos will cause for William and Harry and loved ones of Diana. The death of their mother was distressing enough without saddening them further.

Royal or commoner, no one should be forced to view gruesome photos of deceased loved ones. Setting legal issues aside, it's morally reprehensible.

In some cultures, the family photographs the deceased in his coffin. When my brother passed away, at age 5, family members photographed him. I was horrified, but I wasn't raised with this tradition. However, it is a sign of mourning and respect. Photos are not shown outside the family.

No documentary, however well-meaning, should be allowed to use death photos to tout a cause, incite unrest, gain viewers or turn a profit. Death is very private and should be kept sacred.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes from 22 years parenting four children, 25 years teaching K-8, special needs, adult education and homeschool.

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Stars of 'Glee' Take Over New York City [Photos]

The stars of 'Glee' took over New York City today and are using Time Square as their stage.

The fun-loving ensemble cast is in town to shoot scenes for the season finale episode and have taken to Twitter to show their excitement. Dianna Agron tweeted, "filming in NYC is simply wonderful," while co-star Lea Michele shared "now it's time to get movin because my dream of shooting Glee in NYC is finally coming true! Hope u r ready NYC...Miss Rachel Berry is here!!"

These two are among the many other members of the talented cast who are taking over the Big Apple. Jenna Ushkowitz, Heather Morris and Ashley Fink joined them to film a dance routine in the busy section of New York City, and they stopped to wave at fans and snap photos of each other in between takes.

The ladies of 'Glee' are not the only ones on location. Cory Monteith, Chord Overstreet, Mark Salling and Chris Colfer were also spotted on set, taking in the scenery and admiring the growing crowd of fans, gathering to watch them tape.

Take a peek at more photos of our favorite McKinley High students.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=775255&pid=775254&uts=1273239596http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swfCaught in Action: Celebrities Hard at WorkJon Hamm, star of the hit series "Mad Men", is spotted filming scenes for the upcoming season. Jon was all smiles while filming in a red, vintage Imperial convertible.oKExp.start("popeatermovies-set_fun_cast_starsonset");

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Mariah Carey's Naked Photos Gives Us the Willies

SnapPolls Comments (50)Add a comment

Wednesday 13 AprilBy jeffrey lebowskiHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

the problem with mariah's photo is that she looks mildly retarded...that, and her husband is groping her, not protecting her...but what can you expect from these clowns?

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy MISS SWEET DHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

JUST LIKE I THINK OF charlie sheen and his stupidity

Wednesday 13 AprilBy milkcowHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

you're absolutely correct!!! hahahahaha

Wednesday 13 AprilBy lovetmd98Highest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Eww. Ew, ew, eww. Nasty and kinda pornographic for the front of OK mag. Eww.

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy plzHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

So what's the purpose of the pictures in the first place. Shock value and tittillation for Mariah to get off on.

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy petes_dragon1971Highest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Disgusting pose.

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy maileLowest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

she is beautiful , stop hating on her , you go Mariah !!!!!!!

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy blackpridejwLowest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

She is a wonderful african american woman, do i hear jealousy?

Wednesday 13 AprilBy Dana C.Highest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

It's not a question of beauty. She is a beautiful woman but these pictures are tacky as Hell! These are the kind of pictures you take in your bedroom just between the two of you. You know those famous mobile phone shots in your bathroom. Lol

Wednesday 13 AprilBy joanHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Do not agree with you Maile. Mariah Carey and her husband as well are both publicity seeking hounds and will stop at nothing to be in the news. Seeing her naked with that huge stomach is not the least bit appealing and why Popeater continues to push the picture is beyond me, and I do not care if it were a person that is white, black or yellow it is not necessary to flaunt it.

Wednesday 13 AprilBy willHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Shes a pig and her husband looks like he just got out of jail and moved to the ghetto.

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy J Vote downVote upReport this

Agreed!!! The reason it looks so disgusting is becuase she was the size of an elephant BEFORE she got pregnant... she looks NOTHING like she did when at the hieght of her popularity - but she still thinks she's hot because nobody will tell her otherwise... LISTEN UP MS NASTY, PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON, NOBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT A NAKED ELEPHANT 20 years PAST HER PRIME...

Wednesday 13 AprilBy GiovannaHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Gross and perverted...no beauty in it.

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy esp322Highest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

this is so tacky. She has a ridiculously gaseous look on her face as he is trying way too hard to capture the 'beauty' of what is supposed to be a serious sort of picture. All the print on top of it makes it look like cheap porn. While I am a fan of Mariah's talent and I think Nick has talent as well, this is the stuff people make fun of for years. They dont need the money that bad, do they?

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy kmhjbhHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

In a word... Nasty!!!

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy zoeyHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Ick and double-ick!!

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy MISS SWEET DLowest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

damn did ya'll feel this way when demi moore posed nude and pregnant and some others , hell no u didn't. leave her alone she looks great

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Wednesday 13 AprilBy MikeHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

...Demi Moore and even Janet Jackson held similar poses YEARS AGO and they were tastefully done. This is plain wrong (and ugly!)

Wednesday 13 AprilBy KS. Vote downVote upReport this

YES

Wednesday 13 AprilBy DebbieHighest Rank Vote downVote upReport this

Big difference between Demi Moore's photo (which I really didn't care for either) and Mariah Carey's -- Demi Moore's photo didn't include a leering Bruce Willis grabbing her boobs in an explicitly sexually way above her extremely pregnant belly. That's the difference. Nothing else, so please don't suggest otherwise...

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