Whacko Jacko is Vatican’s choice!

WASHINGTON: When it comes to writing music for the 24 prayers and chants of the late Pope John Paul II, it seems that the Vatican considers the troubled King of pop Michael Jackson to be the right man for the job.

Father Giuseppe Moscati, head of the Millennium Music Society, said they were in discussions with Jackson to write the music, and that the singer was very interested in the project.

“We have the rights for the 24 prayers written by Pope John Paul. We had hoped the fact that we have been in contact with Michael Jackson would remain a secret. But sadly it has leaked out ahead of time. We are in discussions and trying to sort it out,” Contactmusic quoted him, as saying.

“Michael Jackson is very interested in this project - we shall see what happens,” he added. As for the child-molestation charges that have surrounded the singer for sometime, Father Moscati said that the pop icon had been cleared by a jury. “He was cleared and found not guilty by a jury,” he said. — Agencies]

Dracula image leaves Lee womanless

WASHINGTON: Veteran British actor Christopher Lee has revealed that his on screen portrayal of Count Dracula has haunted him off scre-en too, by warding off women.

The 83-year-old actor, who first appeared as the infamous vampire in 1958 and went on to star in a string of horror movies such as Horror Express and The Wicker Man, claims that women could never separate him from his sinister onscreen persona.

“Women have always been quite scared of me. Although they realised I was acting, something in me made them uneasy,” he was quoted by Contactmusic,as saying.

“They’ve never made passes at me in the past - and they’re not likely to now at my age — because I’ve never got the girl in the picture,” he added. — Agencies

King’s guitar for his dog

LOS ANGELES: BB King’s dog, Lucille, has disappeared, and the legendary bluesman is offering an autographed copy of one of his signature “Lucille” guitars in an effort to get her back. The two-year-old white female Maltese, named after King’s signature guitar, went missing about 10 days ago in West Hollywood while she was under the care of his comanager, Matthew Lieberman. “We’re not sure how she got out of the yard, perhaps a gate was ajar,” Lieberman said in a statement. Canvassing nearby animal shelters and putting up some 500 signs failed to turn up any trace of Lucille so the 80-year-old musician decided to offer a signed guitar as a reward. — AP

Intimidating Stone

LONDON: Sexy Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone is well aware that a lot of men find her intimidating, but is trying to set their fears to rest by assuring them that shes no monster. The 47-year old star, who returns as the sultry Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction, said that though her image intimidate men, she was certainly not a monster. “I suppose I can be intimidating. But Im no monster,” Femalefirst quoted her, as saying. — Agencies