MY FORMER NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IN 1982: BOY GEORGE'S 'VICTIM' SOLD STORY TO FLEE U.K.

The male escort at the middle of singer BOY GEORGE's false imprisonment trial cashed in on his alleged ordeal by selling his story to a magazine in his native Norway, a London court has heard. The former Culture Club frontman, real name George O'Dowd, is charged with unlawfully detaining and assaulting model Audun Carlsen in his East London apartment in April 2007 following a row over naked photographs he had taken of the man.

O'Dowd is alleged to have lured Carlsen to the bedroom of his home last year (07), where he reportedly handcuffed the 29-year-old to a hook on his bedroom wall and assaulted him with a metal chain after accusing him of tampering with his laptop computer. Carlsen managed to escape and immediately reported the incident to police. The jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court was told on Tuesday (25Nov08) how Carlsen later sold his story to a Norwegian publication, pocketing $8,250 (£5,500) from the deal.

The model claimed he needed the cash to flee the U.K., because he was "too scared to stay in the country". However, the court heard how Carlsen had failed to mention details of his magazine deal to cops when they interviewed him days after the alleged attack. He denied allegations he had not been "straightforward" with the authorities, adding,

"I told the police everything that I had received (money) when the story came out. "The reason I gave this interview was because of all the things that were written, for the sake of my family."

O'Dowd has denied the charges against him.The trial continues.

He sold the story rights and a trial is going on? Well, let's see the outcome. I hear Boy George was obsessed with spanking the male escort. Culture Club was a band who lived next door to me and my boyfriend apartment in 1982. They were so cool! Times have changed!! I grew up with these guys. Can't find those photos anymore but George O'Dowd will remember me.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE STAR SUES OVER TERMITE-INFESTED CONDO!

EARTH, WIND & FIRE singer MAURICE WHITE is suing his California homeowners association - claiming plans to fumigate his condominium home could kill him. The seventies star, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, has an infestation of termites in his condo, which is threatening to destroy the whole complex. Officials at the Beverlywood West Homeowners Association plan to blast the bugs with Vikane gas, reports TMZ.com. But White has instructed his lawyer Ed McPherson to block the move - claiming the gas could kill off his already damaged nervous system.

Get the hell out and let them blast the bugs. They will eat up the whole place! He's lucky they are not the African termites we have at home. They even blow the damn gas away! If he rejects the gas, I guess they can try wind and fire! LOL!

LATER TODAY I'M OFF TO THE ICE CREAM FESTIVAL FEATURING A HUGE ARRAY OF HIP-HOP STARS!

No guarantees of photos or footage as I am going as a "MEDIA guest" of the Promoters in a VIP box seat area. Don't you think it's time I rested and took in a really good concert? All the old skoolers are here from the States. I spoke to LL Cool J's Manager Brian yesterday so, if they are not too tired I may be able to get LL to feed me in on that new album coming. That surprise artist must be 50 Cent as he said he was coming back to T-Dot on the weekend when he was on MuchMusic last Sunday. That's just a guess though. But then it could be the Lollipop hitmaker himself Weezy who is due to perform Tuesday on Canada Day at Circa niteclub. Enjoy your day. More blogging tommorow. Thanks to Linda Bush of Deja Vu Productions for the personal guest pass invite!

CRAZY News: Tina Turner BLASTS BEYONCE!

Tina Turner says Beyonce Knowles will never be "rock 'n' roll." The 'Simply the Best' singer claims she was an inspiration for Beyonce, but although she is a great singer the former Destiny's Child star will never match her for raw talent. Tina said:

"Beyonce was one of the ones that were sitting in front of her little television, (BTW Tina, she wasn't born yet! I was in front of my little TV) her little self looking at the big screen when I was Tina in the 'Ike and Tina Turner days' and she took from all the stars at the time. "Diana Ross influenced her, I influenced her. What I like about her is that she knows what she's doing, she really did her homework and decided to stay elegant. "She's not rock 'n' roll - she's totally elegant. Unless your rock 'n' roll from the heart you can't mimic that. The stance, the movements, it has to come from the inside."

Tina, 68, and Beyonce, 26, performed together at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards this February. Meanwhile, Tina has announced plans to tour the UK - eight years after retiring from performing live. The music legend will play four dates starting in March 2009 at London's O2 arena. Tina said: "After performing with Beyonce at the Grammys, the response was overwhelming. "Everywhere I went people were asking me when I was going back on tour. So after a lot of thought and planning we announced an American tour. "Now Europe beckons and I don't want to let down all my loyal fans over there."

I think Tina should be blasting Aretha Franklin instead. This thing is between Aretha and Matthew Knowles and I thought it was over Beyonce calling Tina "Queen." What is wrong with them ol skool ladies. Menopause?

New Kids on the Block reunite on Today Show last week.

They’re back! New Kids on the Block/NKOTB perform together for the first time in 15 years on the May 16 Today show. Check out the New Kids on the Block reunion performance video clips. “Step by Step”… ooh, baby… “Hangin’ Tough” … and more! Thanks to TV Crunch for these.