Quick Takes: Oasis suit going to court

One of music’s most famous family feuds is headed for the courts.

Oasis singer Liam Gallagher said Friday he was suing his estranged brother and former bandmate, Noel, for saying his hangover forced the rumbustious Brit rockers to cancel a concert.

Bad blood between the brothers has made headlines ever since Oasis burst to fame in 1994 with debut album “Definitely Maybe.” When Noel left the band in 2009 he said it was because he couldn’t work “a day longer” with his brother.

Liam is disputing comments Noel made last month alleging that Liam pulled out of the 2009 V Festival because of a hangover.

Liam said in a statement he wants an apology and for Oasis fans “to know the truth” about what happened: Laryngitis prevented him from performing the gig.

—Associated Press

Stage collapse death toll at 6

A 22-year-old college student died Friday from injuries suffered when a strong wind gust toppled metal scaffolding holding lights and other equipment and sent it plunging into fans awaiting a concert by the country duo Sugarland at the Indiana State Fair.

Jennifer Haskell, a Ball State University senior, was one of dozens injured in Saturday’s stage collapse that triggered chaos as hundreds rushed forward to help free those who were trapped, while others tried to flee. She became the sixth fatality.

On Thursday night, Sugarland returned to the stage for the first time since the tragedy, performing in Albuquerque, N.M. The duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush asked the audience for a moment of silence, then, with their entire crew on stage, Nettles sang “Love,” from their 2008 “Love on the Inside” album. They took a break, then returned with their regular show.

—Associated Press

Bonham Carter, Neeson join cast

Helena Bonham Carter and Liam Neeson have joined the cast of comedian Ricky Gervais’ new series “Life’s Too Short,” the BBC said Friday.

The comedy is about a dwarf actor, played by Warwick Davis, who runs a talent agency for fellow dwarfs but tends to take the best roles for himself.

It is to be aired later this year on BBC Two in Britain and, according to reports, on HBO in the United States in 2012.

Like Gervais’ two earlier series, “The Office” and “Extras,” “Life’s Too Short” is written and directed by Gervais and long-term collaborator Stephen Merchant.

—Reuters

Mexican leader urges tourism

Mexican President Felipe Calderon is figuratively going out on a limb — and literally down a sinkhole, up a river (with a paddle) and over the top of a few pyramids — in an attempt to boost Mexico’s flagging tourism industry.

The balding, 49-year-old leader is personally trying to change his country’s violent reputation by appearing as a sort of adventure tour guide in a series of TV programs to be broadcast starting in September on PBS stations in the United States.

The president dons an Indiana Jones-style hat and a harness and descends a rope into the 1,000-foot-deep Sotano de las Golondrinas cavern, accompanied by Peter Greenberg, host of the “The Royal Tour” TV series. Calderon also straps on scuba tanks to lead Greenberg into a sinkhole lake known as a cenote in Yucatan. Analysts say the videos represent a distinct break from the solemn treatment that has long characterized the Mexican presidency but fit in with Calderon, who has emphasized using the media to get his message across, and who has sought to project a forceful image.

Calderon’s message in the latest videos is that Mexico is safe for tourists.

—Associated Press

Pasadena Pops taps big names

Pasadena Pops conductor Marvin Hamlisch has recruited some of his fellow Broadway babies to highlight the orchestra’s 2012 inaugural summer at its new venue, the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia.

Michael Feinstein will croon and play the piano while Hamlisch conducts on July 21. Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein will revisit “They’re Playing Our Song” with Hamlisch (June 16) in a concert version of the 1979 Broadway musical in which they starred and that Hamlisch, lyricist Carole Bayer Sager and librettist Neil Simon based on Hamlisch and Sager’s real-life relationship. Hamlisch will conduct a “Gershwin on the Green” concert (Sept. 8, 2012) with guest pianist Kevin Cole; guest conductor Michael Krajewski takes the baton Aug. 18 for an eclectic evening titled “La Dolce Vita,” featuring the vocal trio Poperazzi.

—Mike Boehm

Finally

Time shift: “Dr. Phil” and “Judge Judy” are swapping time slots at KCBS-TV Channel 2. Starting Sept. 12, “Dr. Phil” will air at 3 p.m., with “Judge Judy” following at 4 p.m.