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The Associated Press HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. Police say James Owen Sullivan, a drummer and backup vocalist for the Southern California band Avenged Sevenfold, has been found dead at his home in Southern California. Lt. John Domingo says the 28-year-old Sullivan, who went by the stage name The Rev, appears to have died of natural causes on Monday in Huntington Beach. The Orange County office is investigating the death.

Avenged Sevenfold formed in Huntington Beach in 1999 and won Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2006. According to their MySpace page, the five- man metalcore band was working on their fifth album. The band released a statement Monday expressing their sadness and calling Sullivan of the best and best friend and C2 Wednesday, December 30, 2009 VALLEY MORNING STAR ENTERTAINMENT 03 56 704 0 1 1 59 59 Botox Ear Pinning Juvederm Laser Treatments Hair Transplant Breast Augmentation Vaser Liposculpting Tummy Tuck Nose Eyelid Surgery Financing Available 956.682.3147 www.riosplasticsurgery.com UIS M. IOS M.D. BOARD-CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON CONSIDERING BREAST ENHANCEMENT? a Part of Gel Implants Only 2101 Cornerstone Edinburg TX 78539 Nick Jonas takes carefully measured step with new band ByPRESTON JONES McClatchy Newspapers Nick Jonas speaks with the clipped urgency of someone perpetually out of time.

Understandably so the 17-year-old singer- songwriter has, along with his brothers Kevin and Joe, accomplished more in the past three years than some musicians manage in a lifetime: Three studio albums, each a worldwide multiplatinum juggernaut; four world tours that have grossed millions of dollars; and a fistful of films and TV shows. If all of that were not enough, the Dallas native is adding one more line to his resume solo act. On Saturday, with his new band, the Administration, at his back, Nick Jonas will kick off a month- long promo tour for his new solo album, I with a two-night stand at House of Blues. Recorded hastily, with minimal overdubs, over eight days at Blackbird Studios with Jonas Brothers producer John Fields, I is culled from three worth of unused songs. The label declined to make available an advance copy of the full record, slated for release Feb.

the lead single, and title track, is instantly familiar to anyone who has heard a Jonas Brothers tune in heavy rotation these past few years, albeit a brand of pop more inclined toward shaking hips than making tweens scream. Part of the reason it feels more mature has much to do with personnel. Fields, with help from Jonas, recruited drummer Michael Bland and keyboar- dist Tommy Barbarella, both of whom played with acclaimed New Power Generation. To think the distance between one of pop most visible cash cows and one of the most influential minds has shrunk significantly is nothing less than brain- bending. this record, Stevie Wonder was a big says Jonas.

was a big one, since the guys on the record played with him at one point (as well as) my usual influences like Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash a lot of different things come together to make my There is, of course, an elephant in the room: What do brothers Joe and the recently married Kevin think of decision to strike out on his own? Ever circumspect, Jonas responds with all the poise of a seasoned diplomat. think each one of us has individual dreams and says Jonas. me, personally, this project fell into my lap and fit a time slot that worked out to set it up properly. I think Kevin and Joe both have things on their hearts as well. As far as the future goes with the Administration and the projects that I have, going to see how it all rolls the reception of I that is, as yet, unclear.

Aside from the debut on the Grammy nominations concert Dec. 2 and the release to radio, Nick Jonas and the Administration had much face time with the public and the critics. By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER The Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Mich. Tim Allen is one of favorite comics. the guy who parlayed years of standup into the top-rated sitcom and Santa and films.

So why does the 56- year-old funnyman turn all serious when asked about his latest project? Maybe it has something to do with his level of involvement. Allen makes his directorial debut in the comedy on the which opens Jan. 8. He also stars in the movie. got a lot on the line here.

I financed this thing private Allen said. used Kevin model. He helped me through this on how to direct it, how to put it Besides Costner, Allen also consulted with director Barry Sonnenfeld and read books on directing written by Francis Ford Coppola, an Allen favorite. Not only did he seek out advice from industry pals about working behind the camera, Allen also persuaded friends to get in front of it. Sigourney Weaver, who worked alongside Allen on and co-star Ray Liotta have prominent roles in which also features Kelsey Grammer and Julie Bowen.

Liotta said the set was and surrounded himself with great Liotta said. he called me again, I would definitely do The movie opens with character being released from prison and follows him as he deals with life post-incarceration. Weaver plays his sister, Liotta his former partner in crime, Bowen his ex-flame and Grammer her fiance. Allen is pleased with the finished product, calling it great and very high-end really worked hard to make it he said. Allen also worked hard to promote it.

He traveled to eight cities over 10 days earlier this month, doing his standup act before screening on the It was a unique twofer. After all, how many directors do standup? The last stop on the tour was at a movie theater in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham, not far from boyhood home. There, he had the audience including family members in stitches, riffing on everything from President Barack Obama and Congress to bodily functions and super- heroes. The idea was to ge- nerate buzz by showing the film ahead of its release to comedy fans in select cities, but Allen found his plan may have backfired a bit. almost hurting my he said in an interview ahead of the Birmingham event.

Minneapolis, I was so funny. I tried to explain to them, funny, but it this Light comedy is a different a he said. start out with a pie in the 2010 is shaping up to be a big year for Allen. Three days after his film opens, begins a regular rotation on the cable network TV Land. And several months later, begin promoting the release of the third installment in the animated series, which is set to open June 18.

Allen says Story is wonderful with a script and more interesting and more powerful than the other But about as far as go in discussing the film, the first flick in a decade. say anything. I could tell you everything right here and wreck the said Allen, who is the voice of Buzz Lightyear. feel such great power right Meanwhile, busy promoting his own film. He told the Birmingham audience: years of my life I put together a movie.

Please sit back and enjoy it. If you love it, tell everybody. If you like it, tell everybody that the new Tom Hanks Drummer for Avenged Sevenfold found dead at California home Carlos Associated Press Tim Allen is interviewed Dec. 10 at the Palladium 12 Theatre in Birmingham, Mich. Allen returned to his home state of Michigan to tell a couple of jokes, meet some fans and introduce his new film, "Crazy on the Outside," in which the 56-year-old stars.

And in a first for him, Allen also is the director. Matt This photo provided by Disney shows The Jonas Brothers, from left; Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas, posing Dec. 6 in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The trio taped a performance segment for the "Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade," an annual holiday TV special. Tim Allen makes directing debut with film on the Minneapolis, I was so funny.I tried to explain to funny, but it this comedy is a different Allen.