More gloom for The Sun

Also casting a shadow over the celebratory polishing of the new brass name plate at News UK: Matthew Knowles is suing The Sun over claims the paper made in an interview it ran with him back in March.

Knowles has issued a statement:

"My daughters and my family mean the world to me. The barrage of repeated falsehoods spawned by the British Sun's defamatory article has been exhausting and personally damaging to me.

"No matter how many papers it sells or web hits it generates, The Sun, like any newspaper, needs to maintain a basic level of journalistic integrity. The Sun crossed the line when it went after my family. The Sun needs to be held responsible for its lies in a court of law. This happens too often to too many people, and it is simply unfair."

Good luck with trying to get the Sun to maintain journalistic integrity, Matthew. Why, James Murdoch was paid to do that, and never managed it.

Destiny's Child: They're coming back... eventually. Possibly.

Destiny's Child are back, back, back.

Actually, they're not. In fact, all we're being promised by Beyonce's dad Matthew Knowles is two back-catalogue albums. But he didn't get where he is today without knowing how to market, so he dangled a possible reunion so far in the future that everyone will forget it was ever promised if it doesn't happen in the end:

Will there be a Destiny’s Child reunion tour to complement the two projects?

Not on the first release. It takes a year of planning to do these tours, but first it starts with the artist wanting to do it. And I think the ladies are still working happily in their solo careers. And I hope in the next five years that there is a reunion tour. I think it would be incredible. The hardest thing would be choosing which songs they’re going to do, because we would want to mix it up with solo hits and Destiny’s Child hits. We would have to throw away some number ones from off the set list [Laughs].

If you read that carefully, I think Knowles is saying that he hopes at some point in the next four years the individual Childs will become unhappy in their solo careers, doesn't he?

Beyonce dumps her dad

Beyonce is only sacking her dad in a professional capacity, be very clear about that:

“I’ve only parted ways with my father on a business level. He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me.”

Especially the bit about being ruthless in business and never letting sentiment cloud your judgement.

Papa Knowles, meanwhile, has a statement of his own:

“The decision for Beyonce and Music World Entertainment to part was mutual. We did great things together, and I know that she will continue to conquer new territories in music and entertainment… Business is business and family is family. I love my daughter and am very proud of who she is and all that she has achieved. I look forward to her continued great success.”

Rumours that he now intends to adopt Letoya Luckett could not be confirmed at the present time.

Beyonce and Grohl to break writer's strike

Although the striking Hollywood writers have appealed to everyone to stay away from the Grammys, the Recording Academy have gleefully issued "statements of support". First up, comes Matthews Knowles:

"The work of The Recording Academy is vital to the music industry, and we have every intention of being with the entire music community to celebrate the GRAMMYs' 50th birthday in February. Beyoncé, as well as my other artists Solange and Trinitee 5:7, have been asked to participate and will do so. We have an incredible Beyoncé performance that will be announced soon. We wish the GRAMMYs the best."

Actually, it's the 50th Grammys, which if our calculations are correct, would make it the 49th Birthday. Unless Beyonce is putting off appearing until next year.

Meanwhile, Dave Grohl is happy to put his 'good bloke' status in the balance by turning up:

"We're participating in 'My GRAMMY Moment' because it creates opportunities. Opportunities to write, compose, play and study music — skills that absolutely need to be passed on to generations to come. And thanks to 'My GRAMMY Moment,' a musician from that next generation is going to get the chance to audition on YouTube to play with us at the GRAMMYs as part of our orchestra."

... and the message that it's okay to cross picket lines will be spread as wide as possible.

Keep it in the family

Beyonce's Dad, who may or may not be a great pop manager, is taking a leaf out of Tony Blair's book: announcing plans to step down, choosing a date way off in the future (five years, apparently) and creating an heir who can't seem to wait for him to roll over, but who is pretending patience.

Gordon Brown in this little playlet is Solange Knowles, Beyonce's sister and, therefore, according to our family tree making software, also Matthew Knowles' daughter. Brown was too busy today to grunt that she should make sure she gets something in writing, preferably in blood, but we bet he'd have thought it were he not constantly nipping out to the front door to see if the neighbour was making any sort of announcement in the street outside.