Bieber was spotted by fans enjoying ice-cream with his bodyguard in the Yonge Dundas area. They tried moving quickly through the building crowd that started to follow them. Justin and crew, who have gotten used to escaping mobs of teenage girls – quickly found entry to the Eaton Centre underground parking and disappeared.

BIG thanks to Reem Jonas for sharing the photos!

(May 19, 2010 – Toronto) The Prince of Darkness, metal legend Ozzy Osbourne made a brief stop in Toronto, Canada. Ozzy was in Toronto talking to select media about his new record, “Scream.”

HoundsTV caught up with Ozzy as he was exiting a Queen St. recording studio after doing press interviews and Osbourne was cool about signing his recently released autobiography, “I Am Ozzy.” This is a first edition hardcover book (391 pages.)

A member of Ozzy’s entourage, in reference to the just signed book, couldn’t help remark, “I’ll look for that book on the internet.” HoundsTV response: “You’ll find it.”

ITEM: OZZY OSBOURNE autographed first edition hardcover book, “I am Ozzy” (NEW. 391 pages. Signed on inside page in black sharpie.)
PRICE: $125.00 CAN + $15.00 (S&H in North America)
SIGNED: May 19, 2010 – Toronto

THIS ITEM IS NOW OUT-OF-STOCK

Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Includes Guarantee of Authenticity. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

Yonge & Dundas in Toronto – Feb 28, 2010 courtesy R. Budman / shot7.com

(HoundsTV – Toronto) Guitar god Eric Clapton arrived in Toronto on Saturday – the day before an Air Canada Centre show with fellow music legend Jeff Beck. Just after arriving in Toronto, Clapton took a stroll along a popular Toronto street visiting a few high-end retail shops.

UPDATE: On a very beautiful Sunday in Toronto, Eric Clapton took a Sunday stroll along Toronto’s popular Yorkville Ave. a few hours before his Air Canada Centre date with Jeff Beck.

There were a few autograph collectors awaiting Mr. Claptons return to his hotel. He just silently brushed off their signature requests.

UPDATE 2: Seems like Slowhand’s pissy Toronto mood might have continued on the stage? Toronto Star’s Ben Rayner has some choice words about the Clapton/Beck set at ACC.

(HoundsTV – Toronto) The funk came back to Toronto when George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic played a Valentines Day show at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.

Clinton and his latest lineup of Parliament Funkadelic got a surprisingly young crowd going with all the classics -One Nation Under A Groove, Tear The Roof Off The Sucker, and Atomic Dog.

Along with other pioneering artists James Brown and Sly Stone, Clinton is considered influential in the formation of funk music. He’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for it.

Clinton spoke to columnist Jane Stevenson of Jam! Showbiz a couple days before the Toronto gig. George even mentioned he had the Funkadelic crew in the studio recently recording for a new album.

But it was this little revelation that might surprise a few. Clinton has been in LA and Detroit recording studios with fellow funk innovator Sly Stone within the last year and that material could one day soon form the basis of a new record. “It’s brand new, good stuff with Sly himself, and a lot of it is me and him together jamming,” said George when speaking to Stevenson.

It’s been an especially tough month for Clinton – who is currently on the road with this club tour. He lost both his mother and fifty year-old son within the last few weeks.

George Clinton and Funkadelic at Phoenix in Toronto – February 14, 2010

(HoundsTV – December 31, 2009) Since our list last year was so popular – we had to rate the BEST and WORST autograph signers in Canada for 2009.

Who was good about signing? Who was bad? What were the memorable experiences?

Some quick notes about our surveying method – which we admit is based more on qualitative opinion – than quantitative fact. As well, we don’t include the hundreds of small indie bands and C-list actors that travel through the country. They are personalities not usually hounded by the pros in large numbers. So we kept the list to the biggies – the A-list stars, big bands, and pop culture icons that managed to have their passports stamped “Canada” at sometime during this year.

It is the A-listers which get the paparazzi, autograph hounds, and fans out in big numbers. And from where we culled our reports and opinions. So after thinking back to the year that was in Canada and hearing the opinions of autograph collectors coast-to-coast HoundsTV presents its annual BEST & WORST LIST…

RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list

BEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009

1. GEORGE CLOONEY

George Clooney earns HoundsTV’s title of BEST Signer to come through Canada this year. Besides starring in perhaps the best movie of the year, Clooney came to Toronto during September for the International Film Festival and was a signing champion to fans and autograph collectors – never refusing a signature request. Now, normally that wouldn’t have been too surprising as George is one of the nicer guys in the business. But his signing prowess was even more impressive – considering he was in Toronto with a banged up and bandaged signing hand. Clooney could have easily gotten off the hook from signing and everybody would have understood – but there he was – wading into crowds and signing away, often ignoring the pleas not to by his own people, security and publicists for fear of further injuring the hand.

2. JONAS BROTHERS

For another year running, the Jonas Brother were no strangers to Canada. They toured across the country – and even spent six straight weeks at a hotel in Toronto while filming a movie. And for hardcore JB fans and autograph seekers – it became no big secret where they were staying and crowds of people would congregate outside their hotel every day waiting for them. But the Jonas Brother proved to be fan favorites as they would routinely step outside their hotel to greet fans and sign autographs – not even caring if that particular signature might eventually make its way for sale.

3. MICHAEL JORDAN

Known for usually turning up on WORST signers lists – Michael Jordan earned a change in status this year after a visit to Oakville, Ontario during July for a charity golf tournament. A very large crowd of autograph collectors and fans turned out for the day following Jordan’s every move. Word on the course being that he would sign after his round. While the crowd swelled to hundreds chasing Jordan for that elusive signature, Jordan shocked many when he spent a good TEN minutes signing anything the hounds managed to get in front of him just before he departed the course. To the many collectors who chased Jordan for years to get that elusive signature – a sunny day in July on an Oakville golf course will be a day not soon forgotten.

4. TWILIGHT CAST (NEW MOON)

There was perhaps nobody more hounded (or famous?) to spend time in Canada during 2009 then the cast of Twilight – especially Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Since the pop culture phenom series is 90% shot in Canada the stars spent a lot of time in Vancouver and stories of autograph experiences with the cast are numerous. One collector extensively blogged from the scene of many encounters with the Twilight cast. While the main stars were often difficult to find – there is consensus that the signing habits of the cast was generally good during the filming of New Moon – the 2nd movie of the series (unlike the 3rd film – see below) Even Kristen Stewart when cornered by collectors outside a restaurant replied she understands the autograph hounds “had a job to do” and didn’t care about signing. As for heart-throb Robert Pattinson - he got good at speed-walking to sometimes avoid the crowds, but If you managed to get close – he was good about signing. Pattinson was even known to sometimes sign for the fans gathering at the filming locations (and that was after he had shot all day and night.)

5. SIDNEY CROSBY

It couldn’t have been a bigger year for Sid The Kid winning NHL’s top awards and the coveted Stanley Cup. No team had a bigger crowds of autograph collectors outside their hotel in whatever Canadian city they were in. Fortunately for the autograph hounds – Crosby was “doing it” more than not.

6. YUSUF ISLAM (CAT STEVENS)

Perhaps because he came to Toronto over the Christmas holidays – but Yusuf Islam’s (formally known as singer Cat Stevens) long-awaited return to Canada may have gone under-reported in the mainstream media – but his appearance in Toronto didn’t go unnoticed by the autograph hounds. It even brought a few top U.S autograph collectors to Toronto for the occasion. And Yusuf did not disappoint the astute collectors that managed to track him down. While he politely declined photo requests, Yusuf was kind and gracious in signing any and all memorabilia – even as most were Cat Stevens albums. He even would often add the inscription, “peace & happiness”

WORST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009

1. BRITNEY SPEARS

Ms. Spears graced Canada for a bunch of concerts across the country on her 2009 “comeback” Circus tour. We couldn’t find a single collector or fan that reported getting Brit’s autograph this year. Most hounds don’t even bother trying anymore as Britney continues to live up to her reputation of being terrible in public for signing autographs and greeting fans. For her multi-night stay in Toronto Spears was rarely even seen – using private entrances and decoys to secretly get her in and out of the hotel. As for getting Brit’s autographs? Not a chance – You would have been doing good to just spot her outside of the shows.

2. ELTON JOHN

Another tour with Billy Joel brought Elton John to Toronto and Montreal a few times this year. But numerous autograph collectors did report – it was the same old Elton. No signing for the “eBay guys” (as Elton likes to say.) The thought of his autograph being sold still seems to send chills up Elton’s spine – so he rarely signs them anymore. Too bad, if this list was for 1999 he would have been high up on the BEST side.

3. U2

Also former “BEST” signers that have slowly moved over to the dark side as each new tour brings the group to Canada. The tour years of 2001 and 2005 when Bono and Edge would stand outside their hotel for an hour greeting fans and signing autographs appears to be over. During their week in Toronto for the most recent tour saw the band staying at a private residence. Bono and Edge were routinely seen all over town – Bono signing very little. Edge nothing. Since Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton were practically ghosts and rarely seen, and refused autograph requests when they did appear – the consensus is that U2 have become BAD about signing autographs during their stop in Canada this year.

4. STEPHEN KING

A trip to Toronto during October for the reclusive horror icon Stephen King brought out the autograph collectors in droves. While King was in Toronto to talk about his new novel – he just wouldn’t sign any in public. King was approached many times by people with his book and pen in hand. He either refused to sign or simply ignored the request. Even at the event where King was reading from his novel the people in attendance were instructed that he would NOT be signing and instead, a lottery system was set up to distribute the few books King was willing to sign – away from the public and behind closed doors.

5. METALLICA

A wire story broke early in the year indicating a high percentage of Metallica autographs for sale on sites like eBay were fake. Reached for comment, the band said they were aware of the counterfeits and for that reason they don’t sign much anymore for people hanging around hotels and airports. Metallica later spent a few days in Toronto on their recent world tour. And while they were no strangers to walking the streets of Toronto. Autograph collectors reported that the main members of the group where very tough about signing (except Robert Trujillo – but you can’t really count him?) As for memorabilia like photos or albums – Lars and James just wouldn’t touch them on the outside. While 2009 may NOT have been a good year for collecting Metallica autographs – it was a good year financially for the band touring.

RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list

6. TWILIGHT CAST (ECLIPSE)

After filming New Moon earlier in the year, the Twilight cast returned to Vancouver during summer to shoot the third film in the series – Eclipse. Autograph hounds reported the signing habits of most of the cast had changed – and for the worst. Collectors reported hearing things like this said by minor co-star Cameron Bright, “I am only allowed to sign one and I have to put your name on it” (words I’m sure Summit Entertainment executives put into the casts head.) As for Rob and Kristen, the media attention on them became so overwhelming they practically disappeared and were almost like ghosts when not filming. While reports of new cast members like Bryce Dallas Howard were cool about signing – there is no question, the supply of autographs coming from the Twilight cast shrinked considerably when shooting the third movie.

Looking for authentic signed memorabilia? WE GOT SOME HERE. Don’t forget to follow @houndstv on Twitter for BREAKING NEWS

Sure, it was nice of the TTC to provide free transit rides for Toronto peeps traveling on New Years Eve between 12 and 4 am. But my experience with Toronto’s better way twelve hours earlier is what will leave a bitter taste in my mouth and make me forget quickly about any good.

Like many on the day of New Years Eve, I was rushing to do a few things before settling in with friends to celebrate the night so I found myself entering Bloor subway station in the early afternoon needing to take the train north.

Upon entry to the station, A sense of deep dread overcame me as I walked into a line at least 50 deep. It then hit me – last day of the month. The day people need to get their January metropass.

Now, I have grown used to TTC management NOT caring – NOT realizing the last couple days of the month are extra busy with people buying their new metropass and MAYBE those are good days to ensure ALL collector booths at stations are open (it seems to me that metropass purchases are usually what holds things up.)

Usually, I avoid the line by heading to the token machine. BUT WAIT. That was not possible today as the TTC suspended token sales a month ago for their own idiotic reasons.

So I was stuck. No token machines and only twenty dollar bills in my pocket. I had to get in the line.

BUT WHERE I GOT REALLY PISSED? Is when I turned to my right to see the other collector booth CLOSED that a sense of anger overtook me. (50 people in line barely moving – 1 of 2 collector booths open. Nice TTC.)

What’s the lesson for management in all this? GET OUT OF THE OFFICE. Go visit your customers touch points – the places where your customer actually interacts with your service and product. Observe what’s going on. Then think about how you can maybe serve them better.

And one last thing. I was also especially impressed with the professionalism of the signage for a transit system in a world-class city.

A scribbled CLOSED sign on the collector booth that looks like it was written by a 6 year-old child. Again, nice TTC.

Here’s a thought. If you got to close collector booths. Maybe some professionally designed signage. Something along the lines of “Sorry, booth closed. Another collector will be happy to help you.” But hey, what do I know? I’m just some dude looking for a job.

And it was further comforting to know that after this day, the next time I would be taking the better way I would be paying another 10% for this service.

“Every gay man in Toronto is at the Gaga show. Church Street must be dead.” – @doliveira75

” ‘I don’t care if my fans love me. I only care if they love themselves.’ -Lady Gaga – @FLAREmagazine

“Wearing glitter body suit with massive shoulder pads and mask. Long platinum waves. Sounds amazing!” – @LisaTant

“she’s singing a remix of beautiful, dirty, rich & said “this is the last night you’ll feel like yourselves. after this, you’re MONSTERS!”" – @gagaforthelady

“Gaga’s ass defies gravity.” – @KFlemming

“Some people clearly didn’t get enough attention as children. Girl doing the moonwalk/grinding on the floor?! Crowd goes WILD! So, so random.” – @MichelleEReagan

“gaga is smoking again. although i find it quite sexy, i wish she would stop. it’s gonna effect her health. i want a healthy gaga” – @gagaforthelady

photo by @jaimewoo

“hahahaha kid cudi came on stage, gaga said “GET THE FUCK OFF MY STAGE. THIS IS MY FUCKING STAGE.” – @gagaforthelady

“Now showing us remnants of the smashed glass bottles in her piano from her blockbuster AMA performance.” – @LisaTant

“There are some very sweaty sexy dancers behind Gaga. I may steal her idea of using men for furniture lol” – @jaimewoo

“Omgaga. The lady is wearing a gun as a necklace during boys boys boys song” – @FLAREmagazine

” ‘Everyone of my singles have gone #1 in toronto first’ –@ladyGaga. So then, why 3 shows in VAN and 1 in TO? I want more!!!!” – @therealphilb

“Did someone say best concert ever? Three songs in and its resplendent in its artistry and execution” – @willeagle

“The Lady is channeling half naked Ghengis Khan. FABULOUS! And she’s doing Fashion (Heidi Montag’s song)” – @newtypography

“Show over. Brilliant. One of best I’ve seen – on par with Madonna. Great entertainment. Loved it.” – @LisaTant

photo by @murtzjaffer – “This could be greatest concert of my life. I am so close to stage”

“Ah yes. All that was missing from tonight was a good stripper hair toss. GAGA – SAVE ME” – @maggiesparrow

“Pamela cannot come to the phone right now. She’s currently picking her jaw up off the floor. #OMGGAGA” – @newtypography

“Short #Lady Gaga Toronto concert review: it was a true masterpiece, a murtzterpiece if you will. Only Britney’s circus was as good” – @murtzjaffer

“I DON’T KNOW HOW I DID IT, MONSTERS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO UPDATE YOU THROUGH THE WHOLE SHOW WITHOUT GETTING TWEET LIMITED! YAY!!!” – @gagaforthelady

“Pretty speechless!” – @mbilodeau

“@ladygaga YOU KILLED IT IN TORONTO TONIGHT!!! AMAZING CONCERT!!! You’re such a good performer and you have an amazing voice!! THANK YOU!” – @uoft_newfie

“Had too much fun during #ladygaga to tweet! Love, love, LOVE! Bad romance + pants + awesome dance choreo was the perfect ending!” – @MichelleEReagan

video by @AdamSchwabe- “AMAZING… OMG… So happy I could die”

“It was only the second night of the electro-pop-dance diva’s highly anticipated North American tour, which launched Friday night in Montreal, although her camp has been refusing to provide press tickets or allow photographers for the first three dates of the tour – including Ottawa on Sunday night – perhaps in an attempt to let her find her footing as an arena headliner.” – JANE STEVENSON TORONTO SUN concert review

An outpouring of emotion on Twitter has occurred since Torontoist first posted a story on how the iconic bar / live music venue Lee’s Palace has begun to replace it’s painted building facade which it grew famous for.

The news even reached across the pond to filmmaker Edgar Wright. Wright spent much of this year in Toronto filming the Michael Cera starring Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Wright took to his Twitter stream today with his feelings about the loss of the Lee’s Palace building mural, but also, had news to share that it will still be seen again soon;

“Sad to hear Toronto landmark Lee’s Palace is being partly replaced by a burrito joint… For Torontonians, I can reveal that Scott Pilgrim the movie will feature the Lee’s Palace mural and a recreation of the original bar too.” – Edgar Wright, @edgarwright

We see and enjoy celebrity photography on countless news sites and magazines every day. Sometimes the behind-the-scenes stories of what goes into getting those photos can be equally as fascinating.

Here are a couple of links to a story and video of what celebrity photographers have to go through, and the lengths their celebrity subjects will go, to prevent that coveted photo.

“I would be the first one to admit there is a breed of celebrity photographers that do cross a line into invading an individuals right to privacy – and yes, I think even celebrities have privacy rights too. I personally cringe when I see shots of celebrity moms picking up their kids from school… But the filming of a period-piece movie with a Hollywood star in a public train station? Puh-lease… I’m blasting.” – Richard Budman, shot7.com