Sheen, studio settle lawsuit over 'Men' firing (AP)

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – Tue Sep 27, 7:05 am ET

LOS ANGELES – The studio that fired former "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen said Monday it has struck a deal with the actor to end their legal dispute.

Warner Bros. Television released a statement saying that Sheen's lawsuit against the studio and series executive producer Chuck Lorre has been settled "to the parties' satisfaction." The statement said terms of the settlement are confidential.

Sheen had filed a $100 million lawsuit for wrongful termination against Warner after his firing last March. His attorney, Marty Singer, had said much of that amount was the actor's share of DVD, syndication and other profits that the studio was withholding.

Singer said he could not discuss specifics of the settlement, but he said all parties were satisfied with the resolution.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sheen's settlement would be $25 million, although celebrity website TMZ reported the deal would be worth roughly $100 million over the next several years. Both outlets cited unnamed sources in reports about the settlement amounts.

Sheen was fired at a time when he was the highest-paid actor in television, with a per-episode salary reported to be between $1.2 million and $2 million. His exit cut short the CBS comedy's season.

By then, Sheen had been on a media blitz for weeks, using catchphrases such as "Tiger Blood" and "winning" and describing himself as a warlock.

The case never became the forum for Sheen's grievances that the actor said he was seeking — most of the court proceedings centered on whether the dispute should be heard through private arbitration, as called for in the actor's contract. A judge determined that the case should be moved to arbitration in June and attorneys had been working through that process.

Sheen has distanced himself from his previous outlandish behavior in recent weeks and has acknowledged he was at least partly responsible for his ouster from television's top-rated comedy.

"It was bad," Sheen told Jay Leno, "and I own my part in that, and I just want to make everything right."

Appearing last week at the Emmy Awards as a presenter, he addressed the "Two and a Half Men" cast and crew, saying, "I wish you nothing but the best for this upcoming season."

"Men" returned to the air last week with Ashton Kutcher joining the cast as a new character. He plays an Internet billionaire who decides to buy the house that had been owned by Sheen's now-deceased character.

A phone message for Lorre's attorney Howard Weitzman was not immediately returned.

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Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

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Lynyrd Skynyrd hope to enter studio in November (Reuters)

DETROIT (Billboard) – Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd are "just getting started" on a new album, their follow-up to 2009's "God & Guns," according to frontman Johnny Van Zant.

"We're getting about to the end of the writing part," Van Zant told Billboard.com, predicting the recording would run from November through January.

Van Zant hoped for a smoother and less dramatic recording process than "God & Guns," which was several years in the making and marked by the deaths of bass player Ean Evans and keyboardist Billy Powell within three months of each other in early 2009.

"To pull that one off took all of our energy and our spirits and our beliefs and everything, so we're hoping with this one we just have their spirits with us," he said.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, now down to just one member -- guitarist Gary Rossington -- from their pre-1977 plane crash lineup, will be on the road through the summer. But Van Zant is not expecting the band to road test any new songs.

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Aerosmith returning to studio for long-delayed album (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Now that Steven Tyler has finished his successful first season as a judge on "American Idol," he is returning to his day job with Aerosmith.

The singer and his four bandmates plan to reunite next month with veteran producer Jack Douglas to kick-start work on their long-delayed album, guitarist Joe Perry said on Tuesday.

"Whole band has plans to go into the studio with Jack Douglas second week of July to work on new Aero CD," Perry said on Twitter.

The album will be recorded in the Massachusetts studio the band built six years ago expressly to work with Douglas, Perry said last month. The band, sans Perry who had a prior commitment, held an eight-day writing session earlier this year.

Aerosmith has not released an album of new material since 2001's "Just Push Play." Attempts to record a follow-up have been interrupted by internecine strife and a litany of health problems affecting most of its members.

Tyler has found himself at odds with his bandmates in recent years as he looked to pursue various solo projects. He was a popular addition to the "American Idol" lineup this season, and used the show's high profile to promote his debut solo single and autobiography.

Aerosmith will take a break from recording to kick off a South American tour in Peru on October 22. A U.S. trek -- as well as a stop on "American Idol" -- is planned once the new album is done, Perry has said.

Douglas worked on such Aerosmith albums as 1974's "Get Your Wings," 1975's "Toys in the Attic," and 1976's "Rocks." He reunited with the band on its 2004 collection of blues standards "Honkin' on Bobo."

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Keith Richards in studio working on solo material (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Keith Richards, in his uniquely cryptic manner, has suggested that a solo project may come to fruition before another Rolling Stones tour, which had been rumored for this year.

In an interview with "Late Night" talk show host Jimmy Fallon Wednesday, Richards said he has been in the studio with drummer Steve Jordan and that an album "is starting to blossom."

Jordan writes and produces with Richards in the guitarist's side project The X-pensive Winos, who have not issued an album in 19 years.

The X-pensive Winos project appears to springing from no particular plan. "It's when inspiration hits," Richards said, appearing on the show to promote his book "Life" -- recently issued in paperback -- and the fourth edition of "Pirates of the Caribbean," opening May 20.

As for the Stones, who Richards said last year would again record and tour, he said he's "trying to nail them down, but I don't want to crucify them."

A lawsuit between their longtime promoter Michael Cohl and his former employer Live Nation may need to be settled before any tour gets under way. The Stones last toured in 2007.

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