The lyrics were sent to Christie's for auction by Florrent Tessier, a Frenchman who bought them from a street market stall in London in 1971 or 1972. Lawyers for the auction house said McCartney had provided no evidence he had ever owned the piece of paper on which the lyrics were written and questioned why McCartney had never reported them stolen. The lawyers suggested the singer bid for the lyric sheet, adding that whatever the former Beatle paid for the lot would be recoverable in damages if it were later proved he was the rightful owner.
Just ducky
Britain's royals, hit by a string of scandals and divorces, are one big happy family. So says Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Princess Anne, who also denies that her mother was a cold, uncaring parent. "I think we all enjoy each other's company," Anne said yesterday in a BBC interview for a documentary that will air next month.
"I don't believe any of us for a second thought that she didn't care for us in exactly the same way that any mother did," Anne said.
And speaking of her royal highness, the queen's wedding dress will go on display for the first time tomorrow through April 27, 2003, at Kensington Palace. Queen Elizabeth's (the Queen Mother's) dress of 1923 will be alongside the bridal gowns of Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Victoria. That's a train that goes back to 1840.
Sweatshop scandal
Shakira, the Latina rock star scoring double-platinum sales with her new album Laundry Service, apparently has some dirty laundry in her closet. A Brooklyn clothing maker that is refusing to pay wages to dozens of Latino immigrants made clothes last year for Delia's, a teen fashion label that used Shakira to promote its sales, the New York Daily News reported.
The workers were stunned when they were told that Shakira, music idol to some of them, is the poster girl for a clothing label they worked for last year that did not pay them for overtime. Since 2000, workers at Danmar Finishing Corp. have complained to the U.S. Department of Labor that they were threatened with firing or deportation unless they worked overtime for free. The government asked the factory to pay back wages, but the factory has refused.
The vice president at Shakira's recording label, Epic Records, said Shakira is totally opposed to sweatshops.
Lopes remembered
'N Sync band members remembered Philly singer Lisa Lopes as an energetic performer who was always eager to work. Justin Timberlake described Lopes as humble, fun, warm and loving. "She had high energy and a lust for life," said J.C. Chasez.
Lopes, one-third of the Grammy-winning trio TLC, died Thursday in a vehicle crash in Honduras. She was active in children's charities in Central America. 'N Sync members spoke of Lopes in Orlando, Fla., during a Challenge for the Children Foundation fund-raiser.
Lopes' funeral be at 11 a.m. on Thursday in Lithonia, Ga.
Madonna play
Previews of Madonna's London stage debut have been postponed three days, to May 12, because of technical difficulties, the producers said yesterday. Tickets sold out rapidly last month when it was announced that Madonna was to star in Australian playwright David Williamson's hit Up for Grabs.
The British tabs have reported that Madonna demanded a raised stage to stop fans from rushing her, theater staffers were told not to make eye contact with her, and cast members were told not to use her nickname in Britain: "Madge." Opening night, May 23, has not been changed.
P. Diddy Dept.
P. Diddy may be giving the Osbournes some competition. The rapper, producer and owner of Bad Boy records told Access Hollywood yesterday that he is close to inking a deal with MTV for his own reality show about how he runs his business. P. Diddy is promising that the censor will have his hands full - it will have "a lot of bleeps . . . because it will be raw and uncensored."
The Osbournes is MTV's biggest series success. It follows the life of rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his family.
One determined Jewel
A little horsing around can't stop singer Jewel from starting her European tour on time - May 10. She is recovering from a broken collarbone and rib after being thrown from a horse last week while visiting the Texas ranch of her boyfriend, rodeo star Ty Murray. Doctors said she should be able to sing in two weeks and play the guitar in six weeks - just in time for her North American tour opening June 14. She is scheduled to perform at the Tower Theater on June 26.
Inquirer wire services contributed to this report.
Contact Gayle Ronan Sims at 215-854-4185 or gsims@phillynews.com.
