'Star Trek's' George Takei gets marriage licence to wed his gay partner

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Actor George Takei, known for his role in the science fiction TV series "Star Trek" is preparing to wed his gay partner of 21 years.

The 71-year-old actor, who played Sulu in the series, was the first to pay $70 early Tuesday for a marriage licence in West Hollywood.

Takei was jubilant, saying "it's going to be the only day like this in our lives, and it is the only day like this in the history of America."

Takei will marry 54-year-old Brad Altman in September at the Japanese National Museum in Los Angeles. The marriage licence is good for 90 days.

Takei told reporters and the crowd outside the West Hollywood city auditorium Tuesday "may equality live long and prosper," echoing the phrase used in the television series.

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's drummer leaves band

The drummer from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has left the band for the second time in the group's history.

Nick Jago, who has allegedly suffered from drug problems in the past, posted a blog on the band's website stating he has departed.

He said: "Just had dinner with Rob and Pete and, well, I'm not in the band anymore. They are going into rehearsals tomorrow with Leah, she just finished touring with The Raveonettes and is super nice and cool. They presented it to me like they need a break, I took it as I am fired again and to be honest with you I respect their decision."

Jago added: "I don't make it easy for them, I hope to be able to play with them again in the future as a reunion as there is really no bad feeling other than we all wanna be happy and right now we are not. Maybe playing drums for BRMC all the time is not my calling and there is something else I'm supposed to do. We will see. I�m sorry to all the fans and know that the drums are in good hands with Leah."

His band mates, Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been, also released a statement.

They said Jago's departure didn't mean he wouldn't return.

The statement said: "Peter and I would like to clarify a few things from our perspective. It's true, Nick wont be joining us for the upcoming European tour, but it's not true that he is fired. We just feel Nick needs time to sort out exactly what he wants right
now. His heart and all his energy and attention is on his own solo project and he needs to see that through."

The pair concluded: "We welcome his singing and songwriting in BRMC, but his focus, at least at the present time, is on doing his own thing and we wish him the best. He is our brother, our musical partner, and we love him dearly and look forward to playing with him again in the future."

Basia Bulat

   
Artist: Basia Bulat

   Genre(s): 
Folk
   

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Discography:


   
 Oh My Darling

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 12

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Canadian singer/songwriter Basia Bulat came on the face of it verboten of nowhere to become one of the most talked about new artists in both Canada and the United Kingdom with the release of her number one uncut album, Oh, My Darling, in 2007. Originally from Toronto, Bulat lives and writes in the quieter community of London, Ontario, where she recorded a self-released EP in 2005. Bulat's rich, expressive voice is the ideal fomite for her songs, which manage with love and life-time with a combination of unhappiness and wonder, and her melodies are bolstered by a band that incorporates strings and keyboards along with the traditional drums and guitar. In 2006, producer Howard Bilerman, c. H. Best known for his operate with the Arcade Fire, took Bulat and her band into the studio to disk her first full-length album; the upshot, Oh, My Darling, caught the ear of the honored U.K. label Rough Trade, which signed Bulat and released the disc in the springtime of 2007 ahead she had a deal in Canada or the United States. British reviews for Oh, My Darling were wildly enthusiastic, and a circuit of England and Europe impressed both critics and fans. Canadian main label Hardwood Records (home to famed singer/songwriter Hayden) signed Bulat in the summertime of 2007, with Oh, My Darling scheduled for release in the fall.