Jackson’s father denied entry

Michael Jackson’s father has been banned from a German beer festival because he should not be partying after his 'child has passed away'.

Music mogul Joe Jackson requested access to a VIP marquee at Oktoberfest – an annual event which runs for 16 days in Munich - but was refused entry by events organiser Sepp Kratz because he thinks Joe should be mourning the death of his son, who passed away in June.

Sepp, who has run the Hippodrum tent for 15 years, told German magazine Stern: 'Michael Jackson’s father was desperate to have a seat reserved. I rejected his request immediately. I was really shocked. The man has just buried his son. It’s totally inappropriate to celebrate happily just after your child passed away. That’s just not right. In short, anyone who has no sense of decency isn’t welcome at our place.'

Although Sepp isn’t a fan of Joe, one celebrity he did enjoy having in his tent was Paris Hilton.

Sepp revealed: 'Paris came three years ago. She was lucky, she was allowed to enter. She really behaved herself, but I do think she has an ice cold heart.'

Oktoberfest kicked off on September 19 and ends on October 4.

Joe – who the 'Billie Jean’ singer claimed beat him throughout his childhood - was criticised in the immediate aftermath of Michael’s death for publicising new business ventures while speaking about he loss of his son.

John Travolta’s attorney knocks £18 million

John Travolta’s attorney warned a former Bahamas senator she wouldn’t get away with blackmailing the actor for £18 million.

Lawyer Michael McDermott told a court in Nassau, in the Bahamas, yesterday (01.10.09) how defendant Pleasant Bridgewater demanded the huge sum on behalf of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who had treated Travolta’s 16-year-old son Jett after the seizure which killed him.

Lightbourne and Bridgewater are jointly accused of attempting to extort and conspiring to extort by means of threats, charges they both deny.

Travolta has claimed Lightbourne threatened to "imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way" unless he handed over a large sum of money.

Describing the telephone conversation on January 12, McDermott said: 'I told her, 'You are playing a very dangerous game, lady. I do not assent to your demands. I will go to the police.’ '

Despite threatening the former politician with police involvement, McDermott claims she repeatedly called him with Lightbourne’s demands and said they would accept £9.45 million in exchange for the Refusal of Transport/Treatment document Travolta had signed.

According to McDermott, Bridgewater said the document was important because "Mr. Travolta either intentionally killed his child or was negligent and that this document is evidence that Mr. Travolta tried to flee the jurisdiction with his child's dead body."

McDermott explained to the jury: 'She indicated that this figure was the bottom line and she indicated that she was ready to receive the funds. I told her I would get back to her.'

On Wednesday (30.09.09), the Hollywood actor told the courtroom how Lightbourne said he would accuse him of deliberately killing his son unless he was paid.

After contacting Bahamian police – who wired him up in a sting operation – McDermott told Lightbourne his grieving client had agreed to pay £6.3 million over four years for the document.

Their conversation was recorded and tapes submitted to the court as evidence.

McDermott claimed the pair agreed on this amount and that Bridgewater emailed him instructions on where to electronically transfer the money.

The document in question had been signed after both Travolta and paramedics had fought to revive the teenager following his seizure at the family's Caribbean home on January 2, 2009.

It would have allowed the actor to fly him to a Florida hospital rather than drive 30 miles to their nearest hospital.

The trial continues.

Liam Gallagher bee saver

Liam Gallagher wants to save bees.

The Oasis rocker has warned humanity is in 'proper bother' if the honey-producing insects die out as a result of using pesticides around their hives and has called for people to take action.

He said: "You've got to look after the birds and the bees, man.

"The bees are vanishing. We've got to save them before they all buzz off. It's important. It's a really worthwhile cause. Without them we're in proper bother. If it weren't for honey, I'd have a rough voice."

Campaigners have welcomed Liam’s stance and are delighted to have him speaking about the plight of UK honeybees, which saw one fifth of their hives vanish last winter.

A spokesperson for the Co-operative - who are backing new movie 'Vanishing of the Bees’, which warns of the danger of the insects becoming extinct – said: "We're thrilled Liam recognises the urgency for action."

Liam – whose band was forced to pull out of this year’s V festival because he was suffering from a throat infection - has previously spoken of how helpful he finds honey in protecting his voice, even though he dislikes the taste.

He said: 'I'm much more worried about my voice. For years I never warmed up before a concert. I'd just stand around smoking and stuff.

"But people spend lots of money to see us and I respect that. I don't want to go on stage sounding like an idiot. Now I drink herbal drinks and s**t. And honey. I f***ing hate it though.'

The future of Oasis is currently in doubt after Liam’s brother and bandmate Noel Gallagher quit the legendary band following a fight between the rock 'n’ roll siblings before a Paris concert in August.

Christina Aguilera works 'best album yet

Christina Aguilera is working on her "best album yet". The 'Candyman' singer has collaborated with M.I.A., Flo Rida, Le Tigre and Santigold on LP 'Light and Darkness', which is being produced by Tricky Stewart, the mastermind behind Rihanna's 'Umbrella' and Beyonce Knowles’ 'Single Ladies'. Tricky said: "It's just great. I wouldn't say that it's alternative, I wouldn't say that it's different. Christina's always been an artist that moves the bar and that's what the great ones do. "They don't stay in the same place for too long and this album is just another move for her. I really feel it's one of her best bodies of work that I've heard since 'Stripped'." The LP will be Christina's fourth studio album, and her first since 2006. But although the album is almost finished, it won't be released until next year because Christina is too busy working on new film 'Burlesque' with Cher. Tricky added: "She's gonna do the film first. She didn't want to not be able to promote this record because it's going to be a big record for her. "The album is finished. She's mixing. She hasn't made a final decision about what the first single is, but I know everyone feels good about their options."

Kate Moss karaoke

Kate Moss is throwing a karaoke party for her daughter’s seventh birthday. The British supermodel will host a sing-a-long bash at her north London home today (02.10.09) for Lila Grace - who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday (29.09.09) – and will be taking to the microphone herself. A source said: 'Kate has been preparing for Lila’s birthday for weeks. She is pulling out all the stops to give her a really memorable day. It’s a karaoke party and Kate is really looking forward to belting a few numbers out.' As well as the musical bash, the 35-year-old beauty treated Lila to a lavish diamond necklace. Kate’s eagerness to squeeze in some singing practice could be because she’s performing at Simon Cowell’s 50th birthday party tomorrow (03.10.09). The model – who has been friends with the music mogul for several years – is determined to impress the 400 celebrity guests and performers when performs a version of Ella Fitzgerald’s 'Summertime’. A source said: 'She is a keen singer and is taking her role in proceedings extremely seriously. As well as getting a few tips off rocker boyfriend, Jamie Hince, she's been practising her scales and gargling with lemon and honey. She once read that this is what Mariah Carey does ahead of each performance. Kate's word perfect on her chosen track.' Stars including Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Jennifer Lopez and Il Divo are also set to perform and it has been rumoured pop superstar Mariah Carey will serenade Simon on the night. Tomorrow’s lavish bash, which will be attended by 350 guests and is rumoured to have cost £250,000, is due to take place at Hertfordshire’s Wrotham Park in celebration of Simon’s landmark anniversary on Wednesday (07.10.09).

New Order frontman attcked by shark

Bernard Sumner was attacked by a 30ft shark while sailing. The former New Order star said the terrifying incident, which happened just off the coast of Scotland in August, was his 'hairiest moment' in 25 years of sailing. He revealed: 'I had a collision with a 30 ft shark. The boat nearly sank and there was a big imprint of a huge shark in the paint on its bottom.' The musician was travelling by yacht with his family to the island of Barra but had to deal with the potential boat damage alone. He added to Interview magazine: 'There was this God-almighty crash, like I’d hit rocks. I checked the charts and there were no rocks, so I called the coastguard and he said other boats that had been up there that morning had reported six large sharks in that part of the sea. 'My family were in bed, so I was pulling the floorboards up every 10 minutes to see if we’d taken on water.'

Britney buys parakeets

Britney Spears has bought two parakeets. The 'Womanizer’ singer – who finished the North American leg of her tour last weekend – bought the yellow birds during a shopping trip in California this week. A source said: 'Britney had just picked up some dog food when she spotted the parakeets and decided to buy a pair. She settled on yellow parakeets and bought a big, white cage and several toys for the birds.' Britney purchased the winged creatures at the California Pet Center in Calabasas, and impressed staff by questioning how to care for them properly. Workers didn’t initially realise it was the 27-year-old singer – who has sons Sean Preston, four, and three-year-old Jayden James with ex-husband Kevin Federline - who was enquiring about the pets. Store worker Brieanna Kirby told gossip website X17online: 'She came in just to buy the birds. She walked in, picked out a cage and set it down on my desk and then took off her glasses and I realised who she was. She was really, really, really nice, asking lots of questions about the upkeep of the birds and how much time and effort it takes to take care of them. 'She talked about the bird needing to be compatible with her family and she wanted a bird that would be easy to handle for her boys - one that wouldn't bite a finger off. And she liked all the colors.'