janis winehouse

Amy Winehouse Round-Up: Family Photo Of The Year!

9:20AM Clem Bastow | The last time, if I remember correctly, that we saw the family Winehouse out and about together was after Amy won her Grammy Awards earlier in the year. So it was lovely to log on to The Daily Mail this morning and see them all having a ball together… except, hang on, something’s not quite right with Amy: Fooled you all, it’s a wax dummy! Winehouse has been Tussauds’d! Amy Winehouse’s parents Mitch and Janis unveiled a wax figure of the troubled singer – complete with trademark beehive and sailor tattoos – at London’s Madame Tussauds today. But observers couldn’t help but note the 6ft dummy was a rather flattering depiction of the 26-year-old – her scratched, red raw arms and scabby skin glossed over by sculptors. The discrepancy wasn’t lost on her father, who later told GMTV: ‘We’re going to take this one home with us and send the real one back.’ That’s the spirit, Dad! Meanwhile, where’s your living, breathing daughter? What’s that, wasted on crack and talking to a fire hydrant she thinks is a McDonalds employee? Carry on, then! More »

Amy Winehouse Round-Up: Good On You, Mum

9:37AM Clem Bastow | Word on the streets is that Winegums has finally given up on the master of the crypt, her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, and has been gallivanting around town with a young buck called Alex. And he’s only the latest in young squires, including Good Blake, Mark Ronson and a variety of other plus-ones. Winegums herself, however, has been quick to deny that her marriage is over – which is a different song to the one being sung by mum Janis! Janis Winehouse told The Sunday Mirror: “I’d spoken to Alex a couple of times over the phone, but this was the first time I’d actually met him. “He’s a lovely boy – gentle and sweet. He really looked after Amy popping out to buy cigarettes, papers, anything she wanted. “He works for her manager so their relationship was professional to begin with but if they’ve made something of it, I’m thrilled. “Blake has sent her down the wrong path – drugs and self-harm. She needs a man she can depend on, who can look after her. “I’m praying Alex is that man.” While we wholeheartedly support Janis’ motion, doesn’t she know that when it comes to children like Amy, reverse psychology is the best tactic? She should release a presser stating how much she likes Blake, and how handsome and funny he is, and how she can’t wait to see them both swathed in baby’s breath and white satin at their big, expensive vow renewal ceremony when he gets out of jail, and how they can even come and live with her, FOREVER. That ought to sort things out. More »

Amy Winehouse Round-Up: Mama Winehouse’s (Probably Unwanted) Time In The Spotlight

4:24PM Clem Bastow | Throughout the whole saga that has been Amy Winehouse’s life for the past year or so, you don’t really hear much from mum Janis; it seems Mitch Winehouse has become the unofficial family mascot and mouthpiece – although why this came about may be made clearer now that Janis has revealed she suffers from MS and has done for 30 years. In this piece she talks about her determination not to let the crippling disorder rule her life, and mentions that symptoms are exacerbated in times of stress (i.e. ARE YOU READING THIS, AMY?), and generally seems like a pretty damn awesome, right-on kinda woman. We’re just not so sure about the Mail’s choice of headline: Then again, Janis sounds like the sort who wouldn’t stop short of a laugh at her own expense (so long as she was making the joke), so we’ll let it slide provided AMY STOPS STRESSING OUT HER POOR MAM. And while we’ve got your attention, there’s always time to make a donation towards funding MS research and services for people with MS, so off you trot to www.msaustralia.org.au/donate/ – just don’t tell them Janis Winehouse sent you, she probably wouldn’t be down with that. More »

Amy Winehouse Round-Up: Dad Sez Amy Was Not Interested In Drugs Prior To Being Interested In Blake

1:20PM Clem Bastow | Amy “I Killed A Man In Prison Just To Watch Him Suffer” Winehouse is perhaps these days as well known for her Drug Hell and accompanying ‘personal issues’ as she is for her music, which – until the Grammys just past – seemed to be taking a backseat to the increasingly soap opera-esque events of her personal life. Well, let Dad Mitch Winehouse take you back to a more innocent time, a time pre-Blake Fielder-Civil, when Mitch claims Amy wouldn’t have dreamed of touching hard drugs. You see? We told you it was his fault. Blake, that is, not Mitch. Amy Winehouse’s father Mitch has blamed his jailed son-in-law for his daughter’s addiction to class A drugs. While Mitch concedes Blake Fielder-Civil is “not entirely responsible” for Amy’s drug problems, he believes they worsened after the two married last year. Before getting together with Blake, Amy had told her dad she thought class A drugs were “for mugs”. Blake, 25, is currently languishing in London’s Pentonville prison awaiting trial for GBH and alleged trial fixing. In an interview with Closer magazine, Mitch said: “He’s not entirely responsible, she’s got to take a portion of the responsibility, but it’s clear, it really kicked off when they got together.” There are also some heartwarming words from Winegums’ mum, Janis, who maintains that Amy is a free spirit who just wants to try everything (including a worrying childhood foray into shrooming): “Amy’s a survivor. I’ve had enough silly childhood things to know that – she once ate a toadstool in the garden when she was a toddler. “She’s always wanted to taste, try, understand everything at every level all her life – I guess it feeds her creativity. “She has a true passion for life. And Ribena. And ice pops and chocolates!” Well, isn’t that just sweet. All we need to do is make sure Amy is kitted out with tooth-rotting sweet cordials and lollies and everything should be right as rain! More »

Amy Winehouse Round-Up: Listen To Your Mum, Amy! (Pt Ii)

12:45PM Clem Bastow | While Winegums herself is keeping oddly quiet (apart from when she’s swearing at her audience), Janis Winehouse is still mouthing off (thank goodness; it’s a welcome change from Mitch “Taxi Driver” Winehouse’s faintly Rodney Dangerfield-esque “What can I do?” routine). Ma Winegums thought Amy should can her UK tour and have a rest (and a nice cup of tea, presumably) and now she’s – YAHOOOOO – got something to say about that No Good™ husband of her daughter. Amy Winehouse’s mother today said she was delighted that her daughter’s husband was behind bars. Although Amy has been distraught since Blake Fielder-Civil was arrested, Janis Winehouse believes it might be the best thing that has happened. She is hoping that the troubled singer can start tackling her addiction to hard drugs and said she blames her son-in-law for the abuse problems. She said: “I step back, look at life and think, well, I can see life taking care of the situation. “I was more worried when they were together. I think, while they are apart, she will wake up and think: ‘What have I done?’” Well, Daily Mail, saying Janis “blames” her son-in-law is a prime case of massaging the data, but we hear you. Let’s hope Flake gets five years and Amy has lots of time to meet someone nice, like John Mayer. Now there’s a match made in heaven. More »