Foreign band allowed in N. Korea

    Controversial* Slovenian pop group Laibach will be the first foreign band to perform in North Korea, director Morten Traavik has told the BBC.

    Traavik has arranged for the group to play two concerts in Pyongyang in August in front of 2,000 people. The concert program will include some of Laibach’s hits over their 35-year career and North Korean folk songs.

    The band has been slated* by some critics because of its use of political and nationalist imagery.

    ‘Vampire Diaries’ adds 3 villains

    Fresh off the loss of Elena, “The Vampire Diaries” is adding to its female cast.

    Elizabeth Blackmore (“Legend of the Seeker”), Scarlett Byrne (“Falling Skies”) and Teressa Liane (“Neighbors”) have signed on to recur* on the long-running CW series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. All three will first appear in the seventh season of “The Vampire Diaries.”

    Blackmore has been tapped to play Valerie, one of Lily’s (Annie Wersching) heretics* with “powerful magic and a dark and moody attitude.”

    Johnny Depp buys Greek island

    It’s been revealed that Johnny Depp has purchased a Greek island for 4.2 million euros.

    The Hollywood star purchased the island of Stroggilo, a small outcrop of land just 0.2 km in area, with the help of London-based Proto Organization Ltd.

    The property consulting company has also recently advised Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to buy the small Ionian island of Gaia Sogia.

    Jay Chou as new coach

    Season four of the popular TV hit “The Voice of China” debuted* on Zhejiang Satellite Television on July 17 with Taiwan pop star Jay Chou as the new coach.

    The new season started with an adapted version of Chou’s song “nunchakus” being performed by female hip-pop singer Zhang Zitong. Tan Xuanyuan, a pub singer from Chongqing, stunned coaches by singing “Still Loving You.”

    In the next weeks, the show will feature 50 candidates on the stage for a blind audition process.

    (SD-Agencies)