madonnalicious wishes everyone a Happy and Peaceful New Year. A big thank you to everyone who has written in, sent pictures, submitted stories and voted for, and supported madonnalicious in 2004.
We are always on the look out for new sources to keep our visitors up to date with the latest news, so if you have any Madonna news then please contact us here.

Fellow fansite www.madonna.nu have revealed further news about how the Versace Spring/Summer 2005 campaign will be dealt with in the press.

The first wave of the campaign will be featured in the February and March issues of fashion magazines. Another set of three pictures will be published in the Summer.

It is believed that around 500 pictures were taken during the photoshoot by Mario Testino. Only ten will feature in the Versace campaign. The remaining pictures will probably be used by Madonna to promote future releases (such as the Testino shot Versace 1995 campaign pictures were used for her album Something to Remember).

madonnalicious has edited together a highlights video clip of Madonna's 2004 as a thank you present to all our visitors and contributers.
The montage clip features pictures, press articles, interviews, news footage and tour clips from New York and Paris....here's hoping 2005 is just as busy!

A third picture from the Mario Testino shot Spring/Summer 2005 Versace Fashion campaign premiered on fellow fansite www.madonna-online.ch today.

Here's a look back at the history of a picture taken twenty years ago:

PATRICK Mc Mullan (photographer): I was at this Dallas Boesendahl party for Amadeus at Limelight (September 12 1984), and a publicist named Reid Rosefelt said to me, 'You should come meet this girl Madonna.' I said, 'Sure, I'm very happy to meet her,' but I didn't know who she was.
So I met her and took a few pictures of her. She couldn't have been sweeter. It was just a very simple, unguarded moment.

From Interview magazine (November 2003)

The new edition of the Guinness British Hit Singles and Albums book has been released. The book ranks artists every year according to how many weeks they have spent in the UK singles and albums charts.
Madonna still continues to reign as the Queen of Pop, being the only female artist in the top ten. Elvis Presley tops the list having notched up 2463 weeks in the UK singles and albums charts - more than the time he was alive for.

Here is the complete top ten list:
1 - Elvis Presley
2 - Cliff Richard
3 - Beatles
4 - Queen
5 - Madonna
6 - Elton John
7 - The Shadows
8 - Michael Jackson
9 - David Bowie
10 - U2

Following on from Billboard announcing Madonna's Re-Invention tour as the world' top tour this year, Pollstar - who just look at North American dates - have now named Prince and Madonna as the top draws:

In a dismal year for the touring industry, with ticket prices soaring and seats going unsold, music fans in North America partied like it was 1999 as Prince and Madonna topped the concert box office.
According to freshly tabulated estimates provided by concert trade publication Pollstar, Prince sold $87.4 million (45.45 million pounds) in tickets in 2004, while Madonna earned $79.5 million. Prince also worked a bit harder for his payday, playing 96 shows, compared with 39 for Madonna.
Canadian pop singer Celine Dion actually topped Madonna by about $900,000, but her haul came exclusively from 154 dates performed at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as part of a four-year engagement at the casino.
But most musicians found the going tough. 'With few exceptions, every act had some places where they didn't do well,' Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni said.

madonnalicious' Picture of the Week is this relaxed shot of Madonna taking a break during the ICON magazine photoshoot in 1996.

The first pictures from the Spring/Summer 2005 Versace Fashion campaign have surfaced this morning on two fellow Madonna fansites. The advertising campaign will feature in the February 2005 issues of fashion magazines.

For larger versions of the pictures please visit www.madonnatribe.com (left-hand picture) and www.madonna-online.ch (right-hand picture)

 

More footage from CBS' The Insider interview with Pat O'Brien is now streaming on the Yahoo! Entertainment website. The clips includes more footage backstage at the UK Music Hall of Fame awards ceremony and down the pub with Tracy Emin.

Pat talks to Madonna about being inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame:
'This is a great honor. It's got to make you so thrilled that you've lasted this long,' says Pat to his good friend following the Hall of Fame ceremony. 'Did you doubt that I would?' questions Madonna with mock seriousness. 'What are you getting at?' 'I am saying a lot of people flame out,' clarifies Pat. To which the multi-talented artist replies, 'Like my dad always says, some people rust out and some people wear out.'

Madonna also jokes with Pat accusing him of flirting with her, and saying it is a good job that her husband is at work otherwise he would Kick your butt!

To watch the video, visit the Yahoo! website here and click on the video link.

A rep for www.amazon.com has stated that the Re-Invention tour will be released on DVD and that the Amazon website should officially put this news onto their site in February 2005, and it will be available for pre order at the end of that month.
Then in March, Amazon will get (and publish) a picture of the cover of the DVD.

madonnalicious visitor Vicky filmed some small but great video clips of the second show at Arnhem's Gelredome on Thursday 09 September - included are clips of Material Girl, Hanky Panky, Like A Prayer and Imagine.

Madonna popped into posh London store Selfridges last week to snap up a 1950s jukebox-style karaoke machine to play with over the festive period.
A source says: 'She loves getting all her friends and family to join in at Christmas. Anyone who goes into her front room HAS to have a go.'

Following on from yesterday's news about an April 2005 release, madonnalicious has now received more news about the release of the Re-Invention tour DVD.
Madonna's music distrubuter in South Africa have stated an 04 April 2005 release date for the DVD - although they do add that this date is not yet confirmed.

Madonna's The Next Best Thing film co-star and friend Rupert Everett was interviewed on Christmas Eve on BBC TV's Friday Night With Jonathan Ross - as with most interviews Madonna's name was brought up and the host Jonathan Ross asked Rupert about their 2000 movie The Next Best Thing and making a pass at Madonna:

JR (Jonathan Ross): Now Madonna, did you keep in touch with her? You made that movie with her, which let's face it was a stinker of a film.
RE (Rupert Everett): You know what, it's not that much of a stinker of a film, it's a stinker of a film by certain yardsticks, because I think everyone expects Madonna to come out in a film that is as good as Vogue in music, and that's very difficult for her to do. Infact if you look at that film, in retrospect, it's a bit like a mini-series, and it doesn't have much angle and style to it, but it's not a bad movie, it's certainly got more interesting story than a lot of movies.
JR: And you became pretty friendly with her during the shooting of it, didn't you?
RE: Yup
JR: Isn't it true that you tried it on with her in the back of a car?
RE: No
JR: Yes it is....
RE: No, it's not (laughs)
JR: I heard it was true, come on I know it's true....I was driving the car
RE: That was you?!
JR: So you didn't? I thought I heard that, and it was fairly well documented, and I thought you had talked about this, kissing her, and her saying 'Why are you stroking me like a dog? Get off!'
RE: Oh that was years ago
JR: Was it? So then you did!
RE: Years ago!
JR: Well then what's going on! That must me quite fun though, lunging on Madonna. You didn't want to have sex with her did you?
RE: I love Madonna. I loved her at the time.
JR: So you do both with the men and the ladies?
RE: I don't want to go into all that Jonathan but Madonna is someone....
JR: What do you mean you don't want to go into that, it's fascinating....and it's so revelant at Christmas!

Madonna's official website www.madonna.com have updated their front page, with a picture of Madonna at her book signing event at Selfridges in London last month.

Frode from Norway wanted to share with all madonnalicious visitors this great Re-Invention-inspired holiday wallpaper.

You can download the wallpapers here in two sizes:800x600 or 1024x768

Madonna features on the cover of the new issue of Swedish magazine Tara (21 December 2004 issue).

Click on the cover to enlarge.

Here are some more previously unpublished pictures from this year's Re-Invention tour. madonnalicious visitor Rosie took these fantastic pictures at the 29 July show at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

 

A Warner France newsletter (dated 03 January 2005) for music stores still has Madonna's Re-Invention tour DVD scheduled for release on 05 April 2005.

Warner Portugal have stated that they have a 04 April 2005 release date for the tour DVD, and Warner Music Italy have said that an April 2005 release date is possible.

However remember these dates are still subject to change and the release of the tour documentary may alter Warner's plans for releasing the DVD.

Fellow fansite MadonnaTribe are reporting the news that Madonna may attend the Female Fashion Week in Milan in February 2005:

According to the current schedules, Madonna should attend several fashion shows, and will be the major star at the Versace show. It's not hard to imagine that Madonna and her new image portraied by Mario Testino will be literally everywhere in the first months of 2005. Please keep in mind that the schedules are still subject to change.

madonnalicious and all of our visitors wish Mr and Mrs Ritchie a Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary today!

A new book reveals Madonna's bad behaviour during rehearsals for the 1991 Oscars. She performed 'Sooner Or Later' from the film 'Dick Tracy' at the ceremony. The song, written by Stephen Sondheim, won the Best Music, Original Song award.
In his new book 'The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings at the Academy Awards' writer Steve Pond details the singer's attack on a technician.
The man was supposed to supply her with a microphone before she appeared on stage through a trap door but had fallen asleep.
Pond claims she launched into 'an astonishing profane tirade despite the fact that the area below the stage was also occupied by a group of children.'
'Furious, she grabbed him around the neck and lifted him bodily off the ground, not relinquishing her grip until the trapdoor opened and she began to rise.'
Pond adds that when her performance was delayed due to a camera operator being injured falling from the stage into the orchestra pit, Madonna was unsympathetic.
He quotes her as saying: 'But, she's just lying there. Can't we just do this?'
'The Big Show' is published in the UK on January 1.

You can download Madonna's performance of Sooner Or Later at the Academy Awards in the madonnalicious Downloads section.

80 pictures have been uploaded to the galleries, you can view these pictures here.

Included in the uploads is this great picture of Playboy boss Hugh Hefner getting to grips with Madonna at the launch party for the Music album in 2000.

Here some more quotes from parts of Harry Smith CBS The Early Show interview that were not broadcast. First Madonna talks about her books and gossip:

There's something of me in all my stories, I don't think I could write and be disconnected from them. I've quoted this famous saying, at least I thought it was a famous saying, have you ever heard of it....that fame is a form of misunderstanding.
Like all you have to do is be famous and you get the gossip wheels turning. Of course I've had a lot of experience with that, but forget about being famous, everyones a victim, everyone finds themselves on both sides of the coin. Just like the story of Binah in The English Roses, we are jealous of people, and are the object of other people's envy. We gossip about people, and we are often gossiped about, it really doesn't have anything to do with being famous, it's just life.

Harry Smith asked how she could go from being an author of Sex to an author of children's books:
What that a person's not allowed to change, that they are not allowed to evolve and have other interests and express those interests? I mean at that time of my life those were my interests, and now I have two children and I'm interested in children. I think it makes perfect sense that I would be writing books for children.
I never thought I would be doing this, and of course I never thought I would be married to a Brit and living in London, and of course I never thought I would be doing about a billion of the things I am doing. I never thought when I was a dancer in New York that I would have the life that I now have, so for me my life has been full of surprises, and different roads and different journeys and adventures, saying 'I'll think I'll try that'....why not? Why think in a limited way?

When asked if this was the most happiest she had been in her life:
Yes, I think so I think I am more conscious than I have ever been in my life, and I think I pay more attention to details and let little things bother me less than I ever have before. I think there's less chaos in my life. But I'm not implying that I have this really mellow pain free existence, but I'm working towards that.

To view this clip - click here.

The second part of Madonna's interview with Harry Smith aired today on CBS' The Early Show. In this part of the interview she talked about what it is like to be Madonna on stage, and about how Kabbalah has changed her life and marriage.

You can watch the streaming video clip by clicking here.

When she asked Harry if he had seen the show and found out he hadn't she said: Oh well I guess you can watch the DVD or something, it won't be the same!

You can now watch Madonna's interview on The Early Show from this morning. The CBS website is streaming the interview - to watch the first part click here.

madonnalicious can now confirm the reason for Madonna's pre-recorded interview for BBC's Blue Peter being dropped at short notice.

It was decided that as presenter Liz Barker could visit the studio - to show off her new born baby Dexter - that the Madonna interview would be postponed until the New Year.

Madonna appeared on CBS's The Early Show this morning in an interview with Harry Smith (Part 2 of the interview will be shown tomorrow morning).

Here some highlights from the first part of the interview with Harry Smith which was recorded in London last week:

Madonna describes a typical day for her: I get up in the morning with my kids, and that's really painful for me; my husband keeps me up late. I'm with the kids, and then they go off to school, and I stay home and I become a sargeant in my house and go into my office and start going through the lists that have been made by my hardworking, diligent staff and start delegating responsibility. I spend several hours doing that, being a taskmaster, and then I do some kind of exercise. Is this boring?

Madonna then admits that she needs a strong cup of coffee to get her started in the morning: I drink very strong coffee, I have Chinese slippers, and I usually wear juicy tracksuits. Are you getting the picture? Hair messed up, grumpy expression on my face until I've had a cup of coffee.
On writing her children's books she says: It's another outlet for me to share my stories. I sit in front of the computer and stick my little statue, who's my writing muse, next to my computer and, OK, I'm going to write - and it comes....it's a statue of a kneeling woman, but she has a really thoughtful expression on her face.

Smith told Madonna he felt that, by reading the children's books, he felt like he 'had an insight into who's inside you.' Madonna replied: Probably because there's more stillness in writing; with a book, you can hear me probably more clearly.

When describing Binah, the character from The English Roses she said&;58; She's more aloof, mysterious....she seems like she has the perfect life. She's prettier, she seems like she's really good, so they decide to not include her in the group because she's too good at everything. A very common thing, I think with girls. The idea for the story came from my daughter. There was a clique of girls when she was in first grade, and the teacher called them the English roses. She told me that sometimes girls treated her different at school because I was her mother.

When talking about her second book Mr. Peabody's Apples Madonna discussed the meaning behind that book: That's another story I think most people can relate to. We all love to gossip, even really evolved people like me. The story's about having people stop and think every once in awhile about what they're going to say to someone and what this might do to someone,

Yakov and the Seven Thieves' according to Madonna is: The story of how all of us have the ability to unlock the gates of Heaven, no matter how unworthy we think we are. For when we go against our selfish natures, we make miracles happen, in our lives and in the lives of others.

When asked about her nickname of Madge in the UK press Madonna said she disliked it, however on being pointed out to her that Madge could be short for Her Madgesty she said: That might not be such a bad moniker, after all.

Tomorrow's show will have Madonna discussing kabbalah and how it has helped her marriage. Interviewer Harry Smith said that Madonna surprised him and said that she was: So smart. So funny. Amazing sense of humor. And....We were sitting there looking at the tape late Friday night, and I said, 'I am completely beguiled.' She charmed my socks off.

Fellow fansite www.madonna.nu have published this information about the print campaign for the Versace Fashion photoshoot:

Here's some details just in about the Versace pictures, the campaign should be printed in February issues of major fashion magazines, they show Madonna wearing a bleached shoulder-length wavy wig posing in an office setting.
The pictures were described as glossy and modern, yet with the natural appearance Testino's known for.

Madonna often features in fashion magazines for her sense of style - here are two examples of this from the last couple of weeks.
UK magazine hot stars Style Stalker looked at Madonna's latest country-lady-tweed style, and German magazine Joy Celebrity looked at her trendy masculine style.

 

Madonna rushed to help her showbiz pal Julia Roberts when she learned the actress was pregnant, giving her advice on avoiding unwanted media attention.
The Like A Virgin singer warned the Pretty Woman actress to claim her twins would be born in January (2005) rather than the due date of 06 December (2004) to throw the paparazzi.
A source tells British tabloid newspaper Daily Star, 'That way, she could throw off the paparazzi a bit.'
Roberts and Madonna met filming of The Next Best Thing, where the singer co-starred with Roberts's then-boyfriend Benjamin Bratt.

Harry Smith will interview Madonna on The Early Show on CBS about the Adventures of Abdi, what the experience is like for her to write children's book, how her faith has changed her, her daily life, and what it is like to be Madonna....on stage!

Part 1 will air on Monday 20 December at 7:39am, and Part 2 will air on Tuesday 21 December at 7:39am - please check your local listings for confirmation.

If any US visitors can capture this interview and send it to madonnalicious to share with the rest of the Madonna community it would be greatly appreciated :)

A shot of Madonna and her Re-Invention tour dancers features on the cover of the special double holiday issue of Billboard magazine.

Madonna's official website www.madonna.com have updated their front page yet again, this time with a promo shot from the Ray of Light sessions shot by Mario Testino - could this be another hint about the forthcoming Mario Testino shot Versace fashion campaign coming this Spring?

Superstar Madonna left Italian fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana speechless when she ask them to fit her for a premiere.
The style gurus claim they are relaxed in front of most of their A-list clients, but found the Material Girl's superstardom intimidating.

Designer Stefano Gabbana explains, 'She was the one singer who made me feel nervous. Me and Domenico (Dolce) - both of us. We love her, and we knew her from the beginning. I'd seen all her different faces, as a singer, movie star, mother, lover.'
'She was the first pop star to ask us for something, and we loved her from a long time ago. People like that, they can make me anxious sometimes.'

Despite previously being advertised in the press, the broadcast of Madonna's pre-recorded interview with children's TV show Blue Peter was pulled at short notice today.
No news yet on why the interview was not shown, or when and if it when now be shown - as soon as madonnalicious has the information we will post it here.

In the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine, Gwen Stefani was asked to name what she thought was the best concert of the year:

I saw Madonna in London, and I was really impressed. Her singing was amazing, and I know what it takes to do a show like that. We were in the third row, and she kept wandering on our side and making me feel embarrassed because I was right there. I was like, 'Oh, my God, she just looked at my husband.'

The press just cannot stop asking Elton John about the verbal outburst he directed at Madonna about lip-synching in her concerts:

A few weeks ago Elton suggested Madonna lip-synched on stage but now he's gone on 'The Early Show' on CBS in America and said he wished he hadn't pointed the finger at Madonna and he's hoping for forgiveness:
'I wasn't being cranky - I just said that Madonna lip-synched and I've since made my apologies to Madonna. Maybe I shouldn't have singled her out.'
'I've only apologised to her in print, I haven't spoken to her or written to her or anything like that. But I did put a little note on her Christmas card saying 'Grovel, grovel'!'

madonnalicious visitors Jamie and David wanted to share with us this Re-Invention-inspired holiday wallpaper.
You can download the wallpapers here in two sizes:800x600 or 1024x768

Pop legend Madonna has won her battle against animal rights activists who accused her of evading tax laws by breeding pheasants on her land in Ashcombe, England, without paying the required rates.
Animal Aid issued a press release yesterday claiming the Material Girl was breaching tax requirements by failing to pay commercial rates on the land where she shoots the birds.
But the pressure group withdrew the claim just two hours later when they realised she buys the pheasants so is not required to pay the non-domestic land tax.
An Animal Aid spokesperson says, 'We've now discovered Madonna buys in pheasants rather than breeding them. Since she doesn't manufacture birds, she doesn't have to pay non-domestic rates.'

Madonna graces the cover of the new issue (December 2004 issue number 22) of the English language paper for Berlin, Germany - Exberliner. The paper features a one-page article about the Steven Klein photographic exhibition in Berlin.

The article says: By summoning her past, Klein aims to destroy it, but only in order to reestablish a new way to looking at her. Klein says they were both more interested in the process than the result itself. And it looks like they had fun.

 

A video clip of Madonna giving tips on songwriting was broadcast on today's edition of UK children's TV program Blue Peter.
Madonna and Natasha Bedingfield were on hand to give Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker ideas on how to write a song, and at the end of Madonna's clip she cheerfully announced: I got my badge! referring to the prized Blue Peter badge that is given to guests who appear on the show.

UK fans can catch Madonna's full pre-recorded interview discussing The Adventures of Abdi on children's TV show Blue Peter on Friday 17 December at 5.00pm on BBC1.

Madonna visited her North London gym yesterday wearing a fur hat, long scarf and a warm Pringle sweater to keep out the London chill - click here, here and here to view the pictures.

UK fans can catch Madonna in The Next Best Thing co-starring Rupert Everett and Benjamin Bratt. The film airs tonight (15 December) on BBC1 at 11.30pm.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today announced it's 2005 Inductees.
Included in this list was Seymour Stein the Chairman of Sire Records. Stein co-founded the label in 1966, and has been one of the most successful and influential executives in the music business. His ability to discover new talent led to signings of many groundbreaking artists such as The Ramones, Madonna, The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Seal, Depeche Mode, Ice-T, The Cure, The Smiths, kd Lang and Barenaked Ladies.

The Twentieth Annual Induction Ceremony, will be held on Monday 14 March 2005 in New York at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Other inductees include U2, The O'Jays, The Pretenders, Buddy Guy, Percy Sledge and Frank Barsalona.

Here are some more previously unpublished pictures from this year's Re-Invention tour. madonnalicious visitor Darren took these great pictures at the 19 August and 26 August concerts at Earls Court and Wembley Arena in London.

 

 

 

madonnalicious visitor Owen also filmed some footage at Madonna's 23 August show at Wembley Arena, London. Included are clips of Vogue, American Life, Express Yourself, Material Girl, Don't Tell Me, Like A Prayer, Mother And Father and Imagine.

Tonight madonnalicious brings you some more tour footage and pictures not published before on this site. If visitors have anymore video footage from the shows and would like to share it with the Madonna community then please contact madonnalicious for details on how to submit it.

madonnalicious managed to film some small video clips at Madonna's 23 August show at Wembley Arena, London.
Included in the clip is some audio of Madonna's speech that night telling all grown ups to f*ck off, and video clip excerpts of Crazy For You, Music and Holiday.

ICON Fanclub members should check their mailboxes, the issue has now been mailed out and is starting to arrive!

The webmaster of fellow fansite MadonnaMegaCollection has recieved his copy and you can now preview scans of the whole magazine online there.

This issue is a Re-Invention tour special and features backstage pictures, great tour pictures and some more shots from the tourbook. Also included is Madonna's letter to her fans - click to enlarge and read.

To join Madonna's official fanclub visit www.icon.musictoday.com

 

Yesterday's edition of UK newspaper the Sunday Mirror featured a small article on celebrities wearing parka coats.

A previously unseen and recent picture of Madonna was printed to show Madonna's love of her parka coat in the freezing cold London winter weather!

Fellow fansite MadonnaTribe have published pictures from the latest issue of Greek magazine Nitro.

The magazine features a 21 page Madonna/Steven Klein special and features this previously unseen tourbook portfolio shot.

To view scans from the entire magazine feature (including large versions of all the pictures) please visit MadonnaTribe.

Today's edition of UK newspaper the Daily Mirror published a story in their 3am gossip column about Madonna featuring in Guy's new film Revolver which he is currently filming in the UK at the moment.

However the article is based on unnamed 'sources' with no official confirmation from Madonna or Guy's representatives about Madonna's role in the film.

Click on the image to read the article.

Billboard.com are reporting that Madonna's Re-Invention tour has been top tour of 2004, taking $125 million in total box office gross for the May to September tour. Billboard Boxscore reported that Madonna sold out 55 of 56 performances worldwide (Slane was the only non sell-out), with an average nightly take of $2.23 million.
In speaking to Billboard Madonna said: My Re-Invention tour was by far the most creatively satisfying experience I have ever had. I was able to put everything I love into one entertaining event: film, music and dance.

Available for download at fellow fansite www.madonna-tv.com is the second part of a Re-Invention tour video diary.
The second installment follows the tour as it arrives in London, with footage of the dancers, Donna De Lory, the London venues and a Madonna fan-party.

Croatian fans can catch Madonna's performance as Breathless Mahoney in Dick Tracy on NOVA TV on Monday 13 December at 9.00pm.

UK newspaper the Sunday Mirror published a full page story today about Madonna and Guy attending Kabbalah services with UK celebrity Melinda Messenger and her husband and chanting and praying to reduce the radiation in Chernobyl. The article also included a new picture of Madonna and Guy leaving the services this week.

Germaine Greer has become a fan of Madonna and Italian men, but thinks Bridget Jones and Jordan have done a disservice to feminism.
When feminist icon Germaine Greer came to the All Saints Arts Centre on Saturday for a talk and discussion, there were no subjects off limits. Sex, old age and reality TV were all covered and the grand dame of feminism, it seems, has not softened in her old age.
Academic, critic and author of the 1970 treatise on sexual liberation, The Female Eunuch, Greer alternates between her homes in Britain, Italy and Australia, and was not shy to talk about the difference between British and Italian men in her own experience (Italians are the better lovers, apparently).
Throughout the evening at the venue in Oakleigh Road North, Whetstone, London, Ms Greer held forth on the best role models for young women.
She scoffed at singer Britney Spears, glamour-model Jordan and fictional character Bridget Jones, the latter because she makes female ineptitude endearing.
Instead she sang the praises of Madonna and journalist Janet Street Porter for being genuine on the ITV1 game show I'm a Celebrity....Get Me Out of Here!

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have finally succeeded in banning ramblers from their land over the winter — after warning they might be shot.
The move comes days before right to roam legislation takes effect in central southern England, which could have meant hundreds of ramblers gaining access to their Ashcombe estate in Wiltshire from Tuesday.
This weekend, however, the Countryside Agency revealed it has allowed the couple to declare their land a commercial shoot — delaying any access until at least February.
The estate will open from then until September, when it will close again. Ashcombe is the only estate in the region to be allowed the exemption, though the ruling extends to part of a neighbouring estate.
A spokeswoman for the agency said Madonna and Ritchie had claimed the property was intensively used for shooting between September and February. 'We have now agreed that the land should remain closed for nearly six months a year so ramblers don’t disturb the pheasants and partridges and aren’t put at risk by shooting,' she said.
The decision follows a court battle this year in which the singer and her film director husband said they feared for their privacy.
An agency spokesman said: 'We will review this to see if the claims about disturbance and risk are justified and we might change this ruling in later years.'
Under the act there is a statutory right of access to mountain, moorland, heath, and downland. Its introduction marked the culmination of 120 years of campaigning.
Nick Barrett, chief executive of the Ramblers’ Association, said: 'I admire Madonna’s capacity to keep reinventing herself but turning into a feudal landlord is a step too far.
'She has won this victory through having lots of money for lawyers. (But) her estate is relatively small so it is annoying but not important.'
'Madonna may have won for now but this legislation tilts the balance away from centuries of domination by land-owning elitists like her.'
'I would predict that in 10 years’ time all the landowners will look back and wonder what they were worried about. Walkers and ramblers are a responsible and well-behaved crowd.'

Madonna's official website Madonna.com have updated their home page with a shot from the 1995 Versace campaign and a holiday message from Madonna:

A new video clip of Madonna introducing each of her children's books and describing the story and why she chose the illustrators for each book is now online at the Barnes And Noble book store website.

Click here to view the video - just scroll down the page to Madonna's Introduction.

Reading has always been a huge part of my life. I attribute the fact that I have an imagination to the fact that I have loved to read since I was a child.
I have had a really incredible time writing these stories and I've really enjoyed myself and I hope that you enjoy them too. Happy Holidays!

Madonna was photographed again yesterday she visited her North London gym for a pilates session - to view the pictures click here, here and here.

UK TV station Channel 4 are running a poll to find the 100 Greatest Albums ever made - Madonna's Like A Prayer is included in the list of nominations.

To vote for Madonna click here.

Fellow fansite MadonnaTribe have reported this new information about the Re-Invention tour DVD release date:

MadonnaTribe forum member David33, who works for a huge chain of music stores in France informs us that he received an email from Warner France announcing new DVD releases for 2005.
Among new titles from Eagles and Eric Clapton, the re-Invention tour dvd from Madonna was there, scheduled for an April 5 release.

Please remember that dates may be different for different countries and that Warners may change the release date, however madonnalicious will bring you any official news on a release date as soon as we know it!

Madonna and Britney Spears' duet Me Against The Music won the Hot Dance Sales Single Of The Year award at the Billboard Music Awards ceremony at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas yesterday. Britney picked up the award on behalf of both artists.

UK magazine hot stars (free with OK! magazine 11-17 December issue 448) features a four page article summarising the recent interview Madonna gave on Channel 4's Richard and Judy show.

 

 

The same magazine also took a look at how you can copy Madonna's current Lady of the Manor fashion style.

The second part of the Pat O'Brien interview with Madonna on The Insider is now available to download at www.madonna-tv.com

Pat joins Madonna at the UK Music Hall of Fame induction and then Madonna, Pat and Trace Emin go down her local pub for half a pint of Timothy Taylors and a packet of crisps!

Nobody raises eyebrows and pushes the envelope quite like Madonna. For more than two decades, this one-woman media powerhouse has taken a lead role in defining the landscape of modern music, elevating herself to cultural icon status in the process. Infamous for her ability to set trends with her frequent and radical image transformations, one thing has always remained consistent in her look: her amazingly sculpted physique.
Three of Madonna's biggest fans will find out that living the diva life isn't as easy as she makes it look. As a magazine editor, Mario is in a job that bombards him with images of hot men, constantly reminding him that he is out-of-shape. Don is ready to settle down with a boyfriend, but feels he can't compete in the ultra-looks conscience gay dating scene. And Rodney knows he could be a healthier person, if he could only give up the smoking and cocktails of his party boy lifestyle.
For 12-weeks, these three men will tackle Madonna's daily macrobiotic diet and intense training sessions, including everything from yoga to mountain biking to fencing. Just like the provocateur they admire, they'll have an entourage of trainers, nutritionists and style experts responsible for reinventing their looks. With the Material Girl as their inspiration, can these three men push themselves beyond their limits to go FROM FLAB TO FAB?

The show will air on VH1 on Monday 20 December at 11.30am EST

The corset made by french designer Christian Lacroix and that Madonna wore during the American leg of her Re-Invention Tour will be one of the designer's creations to be exhibited in Paris this month.
Lacroix, who is also behind the lilac variation of the corset used during the European dates of her tour, is about to inaugurate the 'Villa du Marais', a hotel made of 17 rooms showcasing some of his most impressive creations to date.

Villa du Marais
Rue de Poitou
75003 PARIS

madonnalicious visitor Chris filmed some small video clips of Madonna's speech and part of Crazy For You at the 25 August show at Wembley Arena, London.

I just want you guys to know that I don't make these t-shirts for every country that I go to, okay? It started with the Italian thing, because, you know I'm Italian, right? But I knew I had to do some props to the United Kingdom, so I hoped you like it. But I'm not trying to kiss your ass or anything, okay? I think I can think of something a little more clever!

US TV presenter Pat O'Brien's followed Madonna activities on one day while she promoted The Adventures of Abdi in London on the 11 November for his program The Insider.
You can now download the first part of this program as Pat accompanies Madonna to Selfridges for her book reading/signing at www.madonna-tv.com

madonnalicious visitor Material Cowboy filmed some small clips from the video screen at the 26 August show at Wembley Arena, London.
Songs included are Vogue, Nobody Knows Me, Hanky Panky and Die Another Day.

Here is the new issue of Madonna's official fanclub magazine ICON which is now being mailed out. The new issue is a Re-Invention tour special.

For more information about ICON visit www.icon.musictoday.com

Thanks to madonnalicious visitor Vicky for sending in some great pictures from the 09 September show at the Gelredome in Arnhem, Holland.

   

   

   

Jamesy, the webmaster of madonna-tv.com has put together a video diary of that fantastic fortnight when Madonna toured the UK and Ireland this summer. Included are clips from the shows, the cities, the venues and the fans.
In his first installment you can see when Madonna had Happy Birthday sang to her at the Manchester show and a highlight of what else is to come - please visit www.madonna-tv.com to download the file.

MTV.com published this little snippet reprising the teaser that Madonna.com posted a couple of days ago:

New music is on the way from Madonna — the pop matriarch is back in the studio this week, according to her Web site. No word yet on whether she's recording music for a new album, though she's rumored to be pairing up with William Orbit once again as well as Depeche Mode's Martin Gore.

madonnalicious can also add to this news that Madonna is rumoured to be working with Stuart Price on this new material at the moment.

Donatella Versace was interviewed on Italian TV news show TG2 yesterday, during the interview she was asked about Madonna's involvement in the new Versace Spring/Summer 2005 fashion shoot that took place last week in London.

Donatella herself said she wanted Madonna for the campaign because:
She's a big friend of mine and of my family, because she's a big star who knows how to reinvent herself every time and is more and more charming and more and more feminine even if she's not in her twenties anymore. And she never gives up, just like I do, maybe this is why we are friends.

The clip also looked around Donatella's apartment and at some of her personal photographs, one of which was a never seen before shot of Madonna and Lourdes together circa 1999.

Thanks to DrownedMadonna for breaking the news and MadonnaTribe for the translation.

Madonna is featured in a new photographic exhibition at the Proud Camden gallery in London. The exhibition features stunning images of the top 100 rock 'n' roll icons in one ground breaking show!
Q magazine readers and O2 mobile customers voted on who should feature in the list of the top 100 music icons, and this exhibition celebrates the chosen 100.
Madonna was voted in at 6th place, behind Kurt Cobain, Keith Richards, David Bowie, Elvis Presley and the overall winner John Lennon.

Rock photographers Gered Mankovitz, Ross Halfin and Mick Rock – legends in their own right- used their combined experience of shooting famous faces – from Hendrix to Keith Richards to Freddie Mercury and many more – to choose the definitive images that sum up the character and essence of the top icons. Paul Rees, Editor of Q Magazine will be working alongside these legends to curate the exhibition.

The exhibition is open to the public from 03 December 2004 and runs until 28 January 2005 - for more information visit www.proud.co.uk

Madonna's official website www.madonna.com have updated their front page with a stunning shot celebrating Madonna being inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame last month at the Hackney Empire in London.

80 pictures have been uploaded to the galleries, you can view these pictures here.

madonnalicious has learnt that Madonna was in the recording studio just before the Re-Invention tour started this year and she has already completed an entire album to release in tandem with a yet to be filmed musical movie project.

The house of Versace has called in two favorite superstar pals for its latest advertising campaign.
In a major break with recent seasons, Mario Testino shot Madonna last week in London for the label’s next women’s ad campaign, which will break in February 2005 issues of major magazines.
The ads, shot in a London studio, represent a major change in style for the house, which for most of this century has used Steven Meisel to shoot its major publicity efforts.
The move also signals a renewed burst of commitment from Donatella Versace, newly revitalized by her trip to substance rehabilitation clinic this summer.
Earlier this month, Donatella was the fashion star in Hamburg at the Bambi awards, Germany’s most prestigious fashion prize. Looking super-trim, Versace shared a table at the gala dinner with former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
A spokesman for the house declined to make any comment on the new shoot. However, a source at the shoot confirmed that Madge and Donatella got on swimmingly in London.
The combination is not unprecedented, as Versace used the duo of Madonna and Testino back in the mind-nineties.
The decision to drop Meisel in favor of Testino is understood to have been inspired, in part, by concern that Meisel has become too much of a ubiquitous presence in fashion advertising. A perennial snapper of US Vogue covers, Meisel regularly shoots oodles of ad campaigns for the major houses.
Versace declined any comment on the fees for the shoot, though word has it that Madonna is primarily interested in nabbing a new wardrobe from Donatella.

After Madonna completed her Versace photoshoot in a West London studio last week, she and Donatella Versace dined at London restaurant Cipriani's.
Madonna was photographed leaving the restaurant with a brand new handbag straight out of the Versace Spring/Summer 2005 collection - could this have been the first installment of her payment in trade for the Versace campaign which had been rumoured in the press, or maybe just a thank you token from Donatella on a photoshoot well done?

Madonna once again headed to the gym this week in North London for her weekly workout and yet again the photographers were there to catch her!
This time it looked as if the freezing cold London weather had finally caught up with Madonna who was wrapped up in a large coat and warm furry hat!

To view the pictures click here, here and here.

A bass guitar signed by Madonna is up for grabs in an online auction to benefit charities, The Grammy Foundation and Music Cares Foundation.

Get into the groove with this Gibson Thunderbird bass (serial number: 00142330 in natural burst finish) autographed by five-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Madonna!
Since 1983, Madonna’s songs have graced the Billboard charts and with each style reinvention come more chart-topping hits.
Madonna fans, bass players, music memorabilia collectors - place your bids now on this finely crafted Gibson bass autographed on its white pick guard by Madonna, herself!