Steve Fargnoli

A conflict-of-interest suit filed by pop star Prince's former manager against a top entertainment law firm has been dismissed by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. Judge Ronald E. Cappai ruled Friday that Steve Fargnoli has no legal grounds for suing the law firm of Ziffren, Brittenham & Branca, because the firm is exempted under a previous settlement of a lawsuit between the rock manager and Prince.

A conflict-of-interest suit filed by pop star Prince's former manager against a top entertainment law firm has been dismissed by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. Judge Ronald E. Cappai ruled Friday that Steve Fargnoli has no legal grounds for suing the law firm of Ziffren, Brittenham & Branca, because the firm is exempted under a previous settlement of a lawsuit between the rock manager and Prince.

A third conflict-of-interest suit has been brought against the powerhouse Hollywood law firm of Ziffren, Brittenham & Branca, this time by the former manager of rock star Prince. Steve Fargnoli, who was represented by the Ziffren firm when he managed Prince, alleges that the lawyers later persuaded the performer to withhold management fees to Fargnoli's company.

A third conflict-of-interest suit has been brought against the powerhouse Hollywood law firm of Ziffren, Brittenham & Branca, this time by the former manager of rock star Prince. Steve Fargnoli, who was represented by the Ziffren firm when he managed Prince, alleges that the lawyers later persuaded the performer to withhold management fees to Fargnoli's company.

A Princely Dispute: Prince will ask a court to dismiss a $5-million defamation and breach of contract lawsuit filed against him by his former manager. The singer was sued in Los Angeles by Steve Fargnoli who contends that "Jughead," a song on Prince's "Diamonds and Pearls" album, is about him. A spokeswoman for Prince's Paisley Park Enterprises said that Fargnoli's claim is unfounded. "Our feeling is the lawsuit is totally without merit," she said. No court date has been set.

Is it Prince or isn't it? Last fall a few of us reported that Prince's next project would be an all-instrumental jazz-fusion album. Now the Purple One's Paisley Park label is releasing an all-instrumental, "jazz-fusion" album titled "8" by Madhouse. The group is led by saxophonist Eric Leeds, an ex-Prince & the Revolution sideman. Prince fans already have been rushing out to record stores to buy the album's first single ("6"), expecting to hear Purple prowess. But is he actually on the record?

Prince and the Manhattan Transfer will not tour Europe this summer for fear of terrorist reprisals in the wake of the United States' bombing of Libya. In addition, several other acts--including Lionel Richie and the Bangles--acknowledge concern about their safety in Europe and the Middle East. Prince's manager Steve Fargnoli said Tuesday they had been exploring summer European dates for the pop-rock star, but any further negotiations have been shelved because of "the recent Libyan conflict."

In a dramatic realignment of his royal court, Prince--one of the most influential and flamboyant pop stars of the '80s--has severed his ties with his longtime management team, lawyer and business manager. The surprise move--one which a music industry mogul termed "a shocker"--is the choice of new manager, "Purple Rain" writer-director Albert Magnoli, who has no prior experience as a rock manager.

Prince is one of pop music's most gifted and enigmatic figures. But talent and mystery are just two of the many key ingredients missing from "Under the Cherry Moon" (citywide), a dismal flop that will probably be Exhibit A for years to come in any debate over the wisdom of letting pop stars make their own vanity Hollywood projects.

What's going on behind the Purple Curtain? The biggest story in the music industry last week was Prince's stunning realignment of his royal court. The flamboyant pop star not only severed his ties with his longtime management team, lawyer and business manager, but announced he was now being managed by "Purple Rain" writer-director Albert Magnoli, who's never managed anyone before in his life. Neither Prince nor Magnoli nor Warner Bros.