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How Nightwish become the planet's most epic symphonic metal band with Endless Forms Most Beautiful
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The couple huddled on the bench gaze open-mouthed at the scene in front of them. Parading along the shore of one of the crystal-blue lakes that sandwich the Finnish city of Tampere are six people dressed like they've just wandered in from an episode of Game Of Thrones: leather, buckles, beards, hair. All that's missing are a dwarf, a couple of eunuchs and a three-eyed raven. 'Is that really them?' asks the woman in accented but perfect English. Her companion peers closer through the late-afternoon sunshine and nods uncertainly. The two of them look like students in their early 20s: tidy haircuts, unassuming clothes, warm jackets to defy the brisk air. If there's an air of uncertainty about them, it could be because, by their own admission, they've 'had a little smoke'. 'It is,' he says. 'Nightwish.' 'Holy shit,' she says. 'Holy shit,' he reiterates, just to make sure. 'Can we get their autographs?' By the lake, the six members of Nightwish – and it is definitely them – appear oblivious to the attentions of these two unlikely fans as they line up for a photoshoot. Either that or they've learned to take it in their stride. Already today, they've had their photos taken by a pair of middle-aged women in a hotel lobby, been congratulated on their achievements by the owners of the oldest sauna in Finland, and been watched from afar by a group of dog-walkers near an old observation tower deep in the woods. But then that's life when you're the most successful band Finland's ever produced. Since they formed almost 20 years ago in the sleepy town of Kitee, eastern Finland, they've done more than any other group to turn symphonic metal from a cult concern into a worldwide commercial juggernaut. Tomorrow, they'll play their biggest-ever headlining gig at a 25,000- capacity athletics stadium here in Tampere, bringing along enough pyrotechnical firepower to wipe out neighbouring Sweden. 'We're country boys from Finland,' says Tuomas Holopainen, the keyboard player, musical mastermind and king of understatement who's steered Nightwish from the backwaters of the Northern European symphonic metal ghetto into the wide open seas of international success. 'Here we are now, after 20 years and all the ups and downs, doing these kinds of shows. It's odd.' Or, as the couple on the beach would have it: 'Holy shit.' If you were asked to pick out the leader of Nightwish from a police lineup, it's unlikely that you'd choose Tuomas Holopainen. You might go for Floor Jansen, the statuesque Dutch singer who officially joined the band before this year's Endless Forms Most Beautiful and who everyone else can't help but seem to orbit. Or it might be fork-bearded bassist and co-vocalist Marco Hietala, who permanently looks like he should be beating a large drum on a Viking longboat as it sails across the North Sea to raid some unfortunate hamlet near Sunderland. It might even be Troy Donockley, the band's honorary Brit, who combines the role of multi-instrumentalist and court jester. But no, it's the man with the measured baritone speaking voice and the floor-length black dust coat lurking quietly on the fringes of the group who runs the show. 'I would say I'm the leader of the pack,' he says in a deep, measured voice. 'But not a tyrant or dictator.' We're sitting in a darkened room in a hotel off Tampere's main shopping drag. Outside, the streets of Finland's third-largest city look like they've been taken over by an invading army ahead of tomorrow's show; one clad head-to-toe in black and sporting t-shirts emblazoned with his band's logo. Tuomas knew his band had become truly famous when the Prime Minster of Finland started giving his opinion. It was 2005, and their most recent album, Once, was on its way to selling more than 2 million copies worldwide (and at a cost of more than €1,000,000 to make, including videos, it's a good job it did). The PM, Matti Vanhanen, was an enthusiastic metal fan, but it wasn't Nightwish's music that had caught his attention. No, it was their messy split with singer Tarja Turunen, the classically trained soprano who helped bring Tuomas's ornate visions to life, that prompted him to speak out. Despite the band's unprecedented success, Tarja had unexpectedly been fired by the rest of the band following what should have been a triumphant end-of-tour gig in Helsinki. The PM's quote itself was fairly innocuous. 'I'm not for either side,' he told the press. 'They are young people, and hopefully will manage to go forward in this difficult situation.' But the fact he had chipped in was a sign of just how big a deal Nightwish had become in their home country. It would be like David Cameron telling The Sun how much he likes the new Bring Me The Horizon record. A decade, and one further period of singer- related upheaval, down the line, Tuomas is still perplexed by the reaction. 'The funny thing is that I never ever thought it would be such a big deal,' he says of the PM's would-be intervention. 'We just thought, 'OK, we're a rock band, nobody really cares.' Then the tabloids started commenting on it. It became a national tragedy. There's a metal band with four neanderthals and a princess, and the princess gets hurt.' In the end, Nightwish pulled through – as they did seven years later when they parted ways with Tarja's replacement, Anette Olzon (today, Tuomas politely but firmly declines to go over the specifics of either departure, pointing out that 'they've already been written about'). Unforeseen media storms aside, Nightwish's tribulations have barely troubled their rise. Their most recent album, the grandiose Endless Forms Most Beautiful, consolidated the band's position as mainland Europe's most successful metal band, give or take a Rammstein, while the presence of controversial evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Dawkins on the album lent the band a gravitas their symphonic metal contemporaries often lack. 'I wish I knew,' says Tuomas, when asked about the reasons behind his band's popularity. 'Perhaps it's the sincerity of the whole thing. That's the biggest strength of the whole band. I mean, in many aspects we are a naive band. I still didn't feel like I was going to work when I hopped on the train this morning.' Troy has a different theory. A redoubtable, folk-and-prog loving northerner who's played with everyone from Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys to former Young One Adrian Edmondson ('Ade came to Brixton Academy the last time we played there. He absolutely loved it'), he suggests it's down to the intelligence that lurks behind Nightwish's Andrew Lloyd Webber-meets-Dungeons & Dragons facade. 'It's intelligent music in every respect,' says the man who contributes everything from Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes) to bouzouki (a long-necked lute). 'It's intelligent, complex, orchestral, but human at the same time. Not every band who does this sort of music has that.' All of those things may well have played a part in Nightwish's rise. But by far the biggest reason is that they do everything bigger and better than everyone else: stage shows, pyrotechnics, albums, movies, songs, solo albums about Scrooge McDuck. Tuomas smiles. 'Well, you've got to give people something to remember,' he says. Nightwish are indisputably Tuomas's band, and their history is inextricably bound to his own. The keyboard player formed the band in August 1996. He'd previously played with various largely forgotten Finnish groups, including teenage black metal outfit Darkwoods My Bethrothed and Nattvindens Gråt, before being conscripted for National Service in the Finnish army. 'It wasn't my cup of tea,' he says of the latter, eyebrow raised. 'I actually got accepted in the military band, which was a blessing because I'd just play my clarinet for nine and a half months, so I didn't have to play around with guns and all that.' One positive thing did come out of his time in the army. It was there that he wrote the music for what would become Nightwish's debut album, Angels Fall First, released on New Year's Eve 1996. That album was an out-of-the-gate success in Finland, entering the national Top 40. Their two successive albums continued the young band's dramatic upswing: 1998's Oceanborn reached Number Five in the charts, while Wishmaster made it all the way to Number One. As is the way of these things, Germany was quick to latch on. The UK was slower. It wasn't until a headlining turn at 2003's Bloodstock, on the back of their fourth album, Century Child, that British fans began to embrace them en masse. Since then, the gigs have become bigger, and the albums more successful, culminating in the Top 20 success of Endless Forms Most Beautiful. Even more remarkably, North America hasn't been much further behind – their last two albums both entered the Billboard Top 40, which is some feat in a musical climate that's largely ambivalent to rock and metal bands. But through it all, there's been the perception to the outside world that Tuomas runs the band with a rod of iron. The evidence for the prosecution rests on the apparently brutal dismissal of the band's first two singers, not to mention former bassist Sami Vänskä, who was forced out before Century Child due to 'musical differences' with Tuomas. He counters that not only were the changes necessary, but the band have emerged stronger from them. And anyway, someone has to have final say. 'I mean, a band is not a democracy, but certain things are,' he says. Are you saying that Nightwish is or isn't a democracy? 'I deliberately give a lot of space to everybody in the band, artistically and in other senses,' he says after a thoughtful pause. 'During the past few years, we've actually talked about this – that maybe other people should step up a bit more. I feel it's a bit too identified by me as my band. Which it's not. I do 90% of the songs, yes, but it's still a band.' Floor Jansen was at her sister's wedding in 2012 when she got the call asking if she'd sing for Nightwish. She knew who they were, of course – her previous band, After Forever, had toured with them a decade earlier. And she was aware of the problems they'd had with both of her predecessors. But it still took her by surprise. 'I was like, 'What?!'' If Tuomas is thoughtful and intense, Floor is efficient and direct. Our conversation isn't helped by the fact that she's having her hair and make-up done for our photoshoot, though you get the feeling she'd be the same if she wasn't. An easy question about her background is met by an arched eyebrow and the words: 'You haven't read much about me, have you?' Her first show with Nightwish was in Seattle in October 2012. She describes 'a sense of primal fear' going through her mind in the minutes before she took the stage. 'There was this evil voice in my head that said, 'What on earth do you think you're doing? You don't know these songs, you've had no time to learn them',' she says. 'And everybody in the venue was holding a cell phone, so it would be on YouTube straight away.' She survived the gig with dignity intact, as shaky phone-cam YouTube footage indeed shows. But at that early point, there was no sense that it would lead to a permanent position. 'No, no, no,' she says firmly. 'At that point it was more survival. I wasn't thinking any further than tomorrow.' It was actually following a festival here in Tampere that the rest of the band asked her to become their permanent singer. 'It was in the bar of a hotel that they popped the question: 'Do you want to join?'' she says, with a laugh. 'I can't remember much about what happened after that. I can only remember that I couldn't tell too many people.' Joining a band who got through singers like a bottom-of-the-league football team gets through managers must have been a concern. Especially since both of her predecessors left in less-than-friendly circumstances. 'No, not really,' she says, with a firm shake of her head. 'I'm not like the other two – they might not be like each other either. So there's different chemistry there, and in time we all grow more mature, we all learn from mistakes, so it would be unfair to think: 'What if they treat me bad?'' There's a perception that this is Tuomas's band. Is that accurate? 'Yeah, I think it's his band,' she says, then adds diplomatically: 'But it's also [guitarist] Emppu [Vuorinen]'s band and it's Marco's band and it's Troy's band. Every band needs a leader, and Tuomas is the band leader. He's the shaper, but without the input of other people it would not be where it is today. So it is his band, yes.' Is he a hard man to be in a band with? '[Emphatically] No, not at all.' If he came up with a terrible idea, would you say, 'That's a terrible idea?' 'Yeah, I think so. Do you feel like a hired hand in Nightwish? 'No, not at all. Why should I?' So is Nightwish permanent for you? Will you be here for the next album? 'I surely hope so,' she says. 'Yeah.' It's something that Tuomas backs up, albeit with the polite weariness of a man who has lost track of how many times he has said it . 'Tarja wore me out big time,' he says. 'There's no way that I could personally take another one of those, so I have said that Floor is the last singer of Nightwish. Period.' There are a few things you might not know about Tuomas Holopainen. Beginning around the time of 1998's Oceanborn, he worked as a stand-in teacher in his hometown's high school for two-and-a-half years. He's a fan of Formula 1 racing: he has the phone number of Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen in his mobile phone, and there are pictures of him rubbing shoulders with Lewis Hamilton in Brazil a few years ago. Less glamorously, it was his ill-advised decision for the band to take part in the televised competition to become Finland's entry in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they came second ('It seemed like a good idea at the time, though I was the only one who thought so'). He also claims he can name any capital city in the world, which is only partially correct – he gets Mongolia right (capital: Ulaanbaatar), but falls down on Malawi (correct answer: Lilongwe). These days, he lives in a house he built himself near the town he grew up in. He has a horse ('My wife rides it, not me') and, given his public persona as a kind of gothic Andrew Lloyd Webber, an unlikely fondness for horticulture. 'I love gardening,' he says, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. 'I grow my own chilli peppers and tomatoes and potatoes. Nightwish isn't my whole life. It used to be my whole life.' Was there a point where you felt trapped by the band? 'At some points during the past, yes. There have been times where it was all about music and I didn't think about anything else.' Did part of you enjoy that? 'Back then I did, but it cost me a lot of relationships, some bridges were burnt. The same old story.' In 2001, Tuomas came close to splitting Nightwish. It was just after the tour for the Wishmaster album. They had no manager; Tuomas and drummer Jukka Nevalainen (currently on indefinite hiatus from the band, though still involved behind the scenes) were taking care of the band's business affairs. Adding to the stresses, relationships between bandmembers were starting to fracture. 'You know, the classic, 'You're earning more than I am, what's this all about?' nonsense,' says Tuomas with a sigh. ''Well, actually, I do the songs…' It all piled up. I just thought it was easier to let go than try to work things out.' It was his friend Tony Kakko, singer with Finish band Sonata Arctica, who persuaded him to keep going during a hiking trip in Lapland. There were casualties, most notably original bassist Sami Vänskä. 'It was just that one time, 15 years ago,' he says. 'But after that, no, I've never doubted what we were doing. Not even during the change of the vocalists.' Do you read your own reviews? 'Sometimes, yes.' Do negative reviews affect you? 'They do, yes. I admire people who say that criticism doesn't touch them at all. I don't know how they do it. Though it depends on how the argument is presented. If it makes sense, I'm OK with it, but sometimes it gets really personal.' What's the worst thing you've ever read about Nightwish? 'Well, about 10 years ago, when the big drama happened, there was a lot of writing about us being women-haters. What's the word in English?' Misogynist. 'Misogynist. Yes, all that kind of stuff. And a lot of death threats.' And are you a misogynist? '[Aghast] No, of course not.' Can you see why someone might think you're a misogynist, having fired two female singers? 'No, no, not at all. I mean, we have a female singer in the band now.' You said you received death threats. How did that make you feel? 'You mean was I scared? No. [Laughs] In fact, it made me feel like people were noticing us.' Looking back, could you have handled the situation differently when it came to the singers? Were there things you could have done beforehand to stop these situations building up? 'I'm sure there could have been,' he says. 'That goes for both sides. But do I have regrets? The way we handled Tarja's departure was bad. We could have handled it better, but when you're trapped in a corner, you just want to get out as quickly as possible, by any means. Then you make hasty decisions.' Have you spoken to her since she left? 'No.' Do you think you will? He smiles wryly. 'I think it's highly unlikely.' The Ratinan Stadion – to give this 1960s football ground its official name – was formerly the home to Tampere United, a team who played in the Finnish premier league until they were busted on suspicion of money laundering in 2011 and subsequently dissolved. This would be the single most rock'n'roll thing about the city, were it not for the existence of a strip club named Big Tits, above which Nightwish's guitarist and sole Tampere resident Emppu Vuorinen lives. In a few hours' time, Nightwish will take to the vast stage set-up at one end of the playing field, currently being loaded with its own battery of lights and fireworks. Right now, the band are perched patiently behind a hastily stuck-together desk waiting to greet the first of a 200-strong queue of people who have paid for a pre-show meet and greet. Even for a band like Nightwish, who seem to exist in a musical Narnia of their own creation, it's an easy way to make extra money. But then Nightwish have never been about the sort of rebellion that most of their peers pay lip service to. This is purely about an audio and visual spectacle. 'This is an interesting subject,' Tuomas says when the topic is brought up. 'I've never really seen Nightwish as a rock band – or as a rebellious band. We've never had the urge to shock people or be 'rock'n'roll'. It's never been of value to us. That's not our thing.' So what is your 'thing'? 'Just a really strong passion to tell stories and write music. It's the only thing that I feel like I'm good at. It's the only way I can function as a human being.' In fairness, no one quite tells stories like Tuomas Holopainen and Nightwish, and they come wrapped up in the sort of extravagance that no one outside of your high-end Broadway show does anymore. Onstage in Tampere, the sheer magnitude of it all lives up to the billing of The Greatest Show On Earth. In fact, the only thing missing is an appearance from Richard Dawkins (interestingly, there is talk of the estimable professor attending the Wembley show, though Tuomas can't confirm if he'll actually join them onstage). Back in the hotel room, Nightwish's leader is pondering his band's place in the scheme of things, and his own place within it all. Is there ever a time when Tuomas Holopainen wakes up and thinks, 'I'm bored of this'? 'Not like that,' he says, shaking his head. 'There are better days and worse days. Sometimes, I might think: 'This has become so big that I can't handle this monster any more.' That's a really weird thought, and every now and then I have some trouble comprehending it.' Holy shit, indeed. Originally published in Metal Hammer issue 276, December 2015
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3 days ago
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Fanatics Fest NYC 2025: Price guide for autographs
Eli Manning, pictured signing autographs for Fanatics Fast NYC last year, is back for the 2025 event. (Credit: Getty Images) With Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 returning to the Javits Center on June 21-23, an impressive lineup of athletes and celebrities is lined up to sign autographs for fans. Cllct is here with a rundown of who's signing and what you'll need to pay, depending on the type of item you want signed: Advertisement Additional fees: $16.28 for JSA certification $13.56 for an emailed photo copy $16.28 for an additional photo print ATTEND FANATICS FEST NYC: Friday's autograph sessions: Abdul Carter Standard autograph: $157.33 (includes flats, cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $179.03 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $81.38 for any inscription (maximum three words) Andy Pettitte Standard autograph: $130.20 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $162.75 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $542.50 (game-used items, artwork) Photo: $130.20 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription (maximum three words) Anthony Volpe Standard autograph: $195.30 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $217 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $542.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $195.30 Inscriptions: $86.80 for any inscription (maximum three words) Archie Manning Standard autograph: $75.95 (includes flats, trading cards) Premium autograph: $108.50 (includes mini-helmets, footballs, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $75.95 Inscriptions: $32.55 for any inscription (maximum three words) Austin Wells Standard autograph: $86.80 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $108.50 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $325.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $86.80 Inscriptions: $43.40 for any inscription (maximum three words) Bernie Williams Standard Autograph: $162.75 (includes flats (up to 11x14), trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $233.28 (includes bats, jerseys, large flats (over 11x14), equipment) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription Cam Skattebo Standard autograph: $65.10 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $103.08 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets) Photo: $65.10 Inscriptions: $21.70 for any inscription (maximum three words) CC Sabathia Standard autograph: $265.83 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $287.53 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $434 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $265.83 Inscriptions: $70.53 for any inscription (maximum three words) Chris Webber Standard autograph: $200.73 (includes flats, trading cards) Premium autograph: $309.23 (includes basketballs, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $200.73 Inscriptions: $75.95 for any inscription Cody Bellinger Standard autograph: $162.75 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $195.30 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription (maximum three words) Dwight Howard Standard autograph: $81.38 Photo: $81.38 Inscriptions: $37.98 for any inscription (maximum three words) Dwyane Wade Standard autograph: $303.80 (includes flats, trading cards) Premium autograph: $379.75 (includes basketballs, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $651.00 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $303.80 Inscriptions: $141.05 for any inscription (maximum three words) Eli Manning Standard autograph: $195.30 (includes flats, cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $282.10 Artwork autograph: $651.00 Game-used autograph: $1,085.00 Photo: $195.30 Inscriptions: $108.50 for any inscription (maximum three words) Jack Hughes Standard autograph: $70.53 (includes flats, trading cards, pucks) Premium autograph: $113.93 (jerseys, helmets, equipment) Game-used item autograph: $320.08 Photo: $103.08 Inscriptions: $48.83 Jaxson Dart Standard autograph: $162.75 (includes flats, cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $211.58 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $54.25 for any inscription (maximum three words) Jazz Chisholm Jr. Autograph: $141.05 Photo: $108.50 Inscriptions: $43.50 (maximum three words) Jorge Posada Standard autograph: $244.13 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $298.38 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $434.00 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $244.13 Inscriptions: $81.38 for any inscription (maximum three words) Justin Tuck Standard autograph: $81.38 Photo: $81.38 Inscriptions: $43.40 for any inscription (maximum three words) Kevin Costner Photo: $434.00 No autograph availability listed Luke Hughes Standard autograph: $70.53 (includes flats, trading cards, pucks) Premium autograph: $81.38 (jerseys, helmets, equipment) Game-used item autograph: $211.58 Photo: $70.53 Inscriptions: $27.13 Luke Weaver Standard autograph: $70.53 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $92.23 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $70.53 Inscriptions: $27.13 for any inscription (maximum three words) Malik Nabers Standard autograph: $130.20 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $162.75 (includes full-size helmets, football, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $130.20 Inscriptions: No inscription notes listed Manny Ramirez Standard autograph: $379.75 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $434.00 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $379.75 Inscriptions: $130.20 for any inscription (maximum three words) Mario Manningham Standard autograph: $37.98 (will sign any item) Photo: $37.98 Inscriptions: $21.70 for any inscription (maximum three words) Max Fried Standard autograph: $146.48 Photo: $146.48 Inscriptions: $37.98 for any inscription (maximum three words) Paul Goldschmidt Standard autograph: $162.75 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $195.30 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $434 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription (maximum three words) Peyton Manning Standard autograph: $325.50 (includes small flats (up to 11x14), trading cards, magazines) Premium autograph: $434 (large flats (more than 11x14), footballs, mini-helmets) Super-premium autograph: $542.50 (full-size helmets, jerseys) Ultra-premium autograph: $1,085.00 (art) Game-used autograph: 2,170 Photo: $325.50 Inscriptions: $271.25 for any inscription (maximum three words) Phil Simms Premium autograph: $108.50 (includes any item besides art or game-used equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $325.50 (includes art, game-used equipment) Photo: $108.50 Inscriptions: $54.25 for any inscription (maximum three words) Quinn Hughes Standard autograph: $86.80 (includes flats, trading cards, pucks) Premium autograph: $97.65 Game-used item autograph: $265.83 Photo: $86.80 No inscription notes listed Reggie Jackson Standard autograph: $195.30 (includes small flats, baseballs) Bulky autograph: $217.00 (includes oversized flats (16x20 and above)) Premium autograph: $260.40 (includes helmets, gloves, cleats) Full-name signature autograph: $325.50 (signs 'Reginald Martinez Jackson') Ultra-premium autograph: $325.50 (bats, jerseys) Rookie Cards Autograph: $434.00 Game-used Autograph: $1,627.50 Photo: $195.30 Inscriptions: 'HOF 93," 'Mr. Oct," 536 HR': $75.95 All other inscriptions: $108.50 (maximum three words) Ron Guidry Standard autograph: $65.10 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $86.80 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $65.10 Inscriptions: 'Louisiana Lightning': $86.80 All other inscriptions: $32.55 (maximum three words) Sheryl Swoopes Standard autograph: $37.98 Photo: $37.98 Inscriptions: $16.28 for any inscription (maximum three words) Tino Martinez Standard autograph: $119.35 Photo: $119.35 Inscriptions: $54.25 for any inscription (maximum three words) Tommy DeVito Standard autograph: $59.68 Photo: $59.68 Inscriptions: No inscription notes listed Tracy McGrady Standard autograph: $184.45 (includes flats, trading cards) Premium autograph: $249.55 (includes basketballs, shoes, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $184.45 Inscriptions: $86.80 for any inscription (maximum three words) Tyrone Tracy Standard autograph: $59.68 Photo: $59.68 Inscriptions: No inscription notes listed Wade Boggs Standard autograph: $86.80 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $119.35 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $86.80 Inscriptions: $32.55 for any inscription Saturday's autograph sessions: Albert Pujols Standard autograph: $325.50 (includes non-rookie cards, 8x10 photos) Premium autograph: $434 (includes baseballs, rookie cards, large photos) Super-premium autograph: $542.50 (includes tickets, helmets, bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $651 (includes game-used items, artwork, anything in reference to "500HR", "600HR", '700HR', "3000 Hits") Photo: $217.00 Inscriptions: $162.75 for any inscription (maximum three words) Will not sign any HOF items or inscriptions Alexa Bliss Autograph: $107.42 (sold out) Photo: $107.42 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Becky Lynch Autograph: $107.42 (sold out) Photo: $107.42 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Billy Wagner Standard autograph: $130.20 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $162.75 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $325.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $130.20 Inscriptions: $108.50 for 'Billy the Kid' $54.25 for any other inscription (maximum three words) Cal Ripken Jr. Standard autograph: $200.73 (includes flats up to 11x14, baseballs) Premium autograph: $233.28 (includes trading cards, toys, bobbleheads, flats over 11x14) Super-premium autograph: $260.40 (includes equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $309.23 (bats, jerseys) Game-used items or artwork autograph: $623.88 Photo: $233.28 Inscriptions: $81.38 for any inscription (maximum three words) Carli Lloyd Autograph: $81.38 Photo: $82.46 No inscription notes listed Carlos Mendoza Autograph: $65.10 Photo: $65.10 No inscription notes listed CeeDee Lamb Standard autograph: $195.30 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $217 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets) Photo: $195.30 Inscriptions: $86.80 for any inscription (maximum three words) Charles Woodson Standard autograph: $303.80 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $379.75 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $542.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $303.80 Inscriptions: $195.30 for any inscription (maximum three words) Charlotte Flair Autograph: $107.42 Photo: $107.42 No inscription notes listed Chelsea Green Autograph: $53.17 Photo: $53.17 No inscription notes listed Dan Marino Standard autograph: $352.63 (includes flats, non-rookie trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $428.58 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) 1984 Topps rookie card autograph: $537.08 Ultra-premium autograph: $759.50 (includes game-used items, art) Photo: $352.63 Inscriptions: $162.75 for any inscription (maximum three words) Davante Adams Autograph: $195.30 Photo: $195.30 Inscriptions: $86.80 for any inscription (maximum three words) Dennis Rodman Standard autograph: $108.50 (includes flats, trading cards) Premium autograph: $135.63 (includes basketballs, jerseys, equipment) Photo: $108.50 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription (maximum three words) Dwight Gooden Autograph: $32.55 Photo: $32.55 Inscriptions: $16.28 for any inscription (maximum three words) Emmitt Smith Standard autograph: $292.95 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $347.20 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Photo: $292.95 Inscriptions: $207.73 for 'HOF 2010' / '1990 ROY' / 'SB XXVIII MVP' $244.13 for 'America's Team' / '1990 All Decade Team' / 'Ring of Honor' / 'NFL All Time Leading Rusher' / '8x Pro Bowl' / '3x SB Champ' $298.38 for 'Top 100' Henrik Lundqvist Standard autograph: $217.00 (includes flats, trading cards, pucks) Premium autograph: $271.25 (includes jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $651.00 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $217.00 Inscriptions: $141.05 for any inscription (maximum three words) Jacob Fatu Autograph: $85.72 (sold out) Photo: $85.72 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Jaromir Jagr Autograph: $200.73 Photo: $200.73 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription (maximum three words) Jey Uso Autograph: $129.12 (sold out) Photo: $129.12 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Joe Montana Standard autograph: $292.95 (includes flats, non-rookie trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $358.05 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Autograph on multi-signed piece (non-NFL players): $651.00 Super-premium autograph: $976.50 (includes seatbacks, rookie trading cards (1981 Topps), game tickets) Ultra-premium autograph: $1,627.50 (includes art (including lithographs and glicees), any item with Tom Brady) Photo: $292.95 Inscriptions: $217.00 for personalization or ''77 Champs,' $325.50 for 'SB XVI MVP' / 'SB XIX MVP' / 'SB XXIV MVP,' $651.00 for 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco' (maximum three words) John Cena Autograph: $324.42 (sold out) Photo: $324.42 (sold out) No inscription notes listed John Franco Autograph: $65.10 Photo: $65.10 Inscriptions: $27.13 for any inscription (maximum three words) Johnny Manziel Autograph: $70.53 Photo: $70.53 Inscriptions: $32.55 for any inscription (maximum three words) JuJu Watkins Autograph: $151.90 Photo: $157.33 Inscriptions: $32.55 for any inscription Justin Jefferson Standard autograph: $211.58 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $233.28 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $542.50 Photo: $211.58 Inscriptions: $103.08 for any inscription (maximum three words) Liv Morgan Autograph: $107.42 Photo: $107.42 No inscription notes listed Matt Rempe Standard autograph: $65.10 (includes flats, trading cards, pucks) Premium Autograph: $86.80 (includes jerseys, helmets, equipment) Photo: $65.10 Inscriptions: $32.55 for any other inscription Mike Piazza Standard autograph: $162.75 (includes flats, trading cards, baseballs) Premium autograph: $217 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $542.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $75.95 for any inscription (maximum three words) Mike Richter Standard autograph: $65.10 (includes flats, trading cards, pucks) Premium autograph: $75.95 (includes jerseys, equipment) Photo: $65.10 Inscriptions: $32.55 for any other inscription Odell Beckham Jr. Autograph: $130.20 Photo: $130.20 Inscriptions: $65.10 for any inscription (maximum three words) Pat Surtain II Standard autograph: $135.63 (includes flats, cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $151.90 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Photo: $135.63 Inscriptions: $54.25 for any inscription Randy Orton Autograph: $139.97 (sold out) Photo: $139.97 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Ray Lewis Standard autograph: $206.15 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium Autograph: $238.70 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $434.00 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $206.15 Inscriptions: $92.23 for any inscription (maximum three words) Reggie Bush Autograph: $135.63 (includes any item) Photo: $135.63 Inscriptions: $54.25 for any inscription (maximum three words) Rey Mysterio Autograph: $107.42 Photo: $107.42 No inscription notes listed Rudy Ruettiger Standard autograph: $32.55 (includes any item) Premium Autograph: $54.25 (includes any item, plus a movie quote) Photo: $32.55 Inscriptions: $16.28 for any inscription (maximum three words) Sami Zayn Autograph: $64.02 Photo: $64.02 No inscription notes listed The Undertaker Standard autograph: $237.62 (includes flats, Funko Pops, action figures) Premium autograph: $270.17 (includes replica title belts, all other items) Photo: $237.62 No inscription notes listed Tiffany Stratton Autograph: $85.72 (sold out) Photo: $$85.72 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Tyreek Hill Autograph: $162.75 Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $54.25 for any inscription (maximum three words) Sunday's autograph sessions: Allen Iverson Standard autograph: $184.45 (includes flats, trading cards, 8x10 photos) Premium autograph: $217.00 (includes basketballs, jerseys, shoes, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $434.00 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $184.45 Inscriptions: $151.90 for any inscription (maximum three words), will not reference anything about 'Practice' Bianca Belair Autograph: $85.72 Photo: $85.72 No inscription notes listed Brandon Graham Autograph: $97.65 Photo: $97.65 Inscriptions: $43.40 (maximum three words) Breece Hall Standard autograph: $103.08 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $135.63 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Photo: $103.08 Inscriptions: $48.83 (maximum three words) Brian Dawkins Standard autograph:$135.63 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $168.18 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $325.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo:$135.63 Inscriptions: $59.68 Cody Rhodes Autograph: $194.22 (sold out) Photo: $194.22 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Cooper DeJean Autograph: $162.75 (includes any item) Photo: $162.75 Inscriptions: $48.83 (maximum three words) Damian Priest Autograph: $85.72 (sold out) Photo: $85.72 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Darrelle Revis Standard autograph: $119.35 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $141.05 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Photo: $119.35 Inscriptions: $65.10 (maximum three words) Dawn Staley Autograph and book: $32.55 (Staley will be signing her book "Uncommon Favor," which is included with purchase of an autograph.) Dominik Mysterio Autograph: $107.42 (sold out) Photo: $107.42 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Eric Dickerson Standard autograph: $97.65 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $119.35 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Photo: $97.65 Inscriptions: $43.40 (maximum three words) John Elway Standard autograph:$298.38 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $374.33 Ultra-premium autograph: $759.50 (includes game-used items, artwork) Photo: $298.38 Inscriptions: $162.75 (maximum three words) Kevin Owens Autograph: $85.72 (sold out) Photo: $74.87 No inscription notes listed Marshall Faulk Standard autograph: $103.08 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $124.78 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Photo: $103.08 Inscriptions: $48.83 (maximum three words) Marshawn Lynch Standard autograph: $179.03 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $244.13 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets) Photo: $179.03 Will not sign inscriptions Mason Taylor Standard autograph: $86.80 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $97.65 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets) Photo: $86.80 Inscriptions: $43.40 (maximum three words) Michael Vick Autograph: $75.95 (includes any item) Photo: $75.95 Inscription: $32.55 for any inscription (maximum three words) Mike Schmidt Standard autograph: $195.30 (includes flats, baseballs) Premium autograph: $303.80 (includes bats, jerseys, equipment) Ultra-premium autograph: $434.00 (includes 1973 Topps Rookie Card) Photo:$195.30 Inscriptions: $86.80 (maximum three words) Miles 'Deuce' McBride Autograph: $65.10 Photo: $65.10 Inscription: $21.70 for any inscription (maximum three words) Nick Foles Standard autograph: $238.70 (includes flats, trading cards, mini-helmets) Premium autograph: $309.23 (includes footballs, jerseys, full-size helmets, equipment) Game-used item autograph: $651.00 Photo: $238.70 Inscriptions: $81.38 Paul Rodriguez Autograph: $43.40 Photo: $43.40 No inscription notes listed Penta Autograph: $74.87 Photo: $74.87 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Rhea Ripley Autograph: $129.12 (sold out) Photo: $129.12 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Sauce Gardner Autograph: $146.48 Photo: $146.48 Inscriptions: $48.83 Seth Rollins Autograph: $161.67 (sold out) Photo: $161.67 (sold out) No inscription notes listed Trish Stratus Autograph: $74.87 (includes any item) Photo: $74.87 No inscription notes listed Wayne Chrebet Autograph: $37.98 (includes any item) Photo: $37.98 Inscription: $21.70 for any inscription (maximum three words) Matt Liberman is a video producer and reporter for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.
New York Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Topps remaking more Lionel Messi autograph cards following its own ‘investigation'
Collectors are questioning who actually signed a growing number of Lionel Messi trading card autographs certified by Topps. Leading card grader Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has now refused to grade Messi autograph cards across multiple Topps sets, including one of its most expensive soccer offerings. Advertisement The Athletic first reported on the issue in March. Since then, Messi cards with certified autographs in at least five of Topps' sets have not been authenticated by PSA. This includes at least one card from Topps' premier high-end set, Dynasty, where Messi cards can be worth anywhere from around $4,000 to $100,000. The Athletic obtained documentation from affected card owners to verify the cases. Topps declined interview requests related to this situation. A PSA spokesperson said they would check on a possible interview, but never responded after The Athletic followed up. A representative for Messi also did not respond to a request for comment. After PSA refused to authenticate the autograph on a Dynasty card (pictured above) pulled by David Rodriguez of Clarksville, Ind., a Topps collector support senior manager wrote in a March 28 email viewed by The Athletic: 'Following our investigation, we will proceed with remakes of the Topps Dynasty Lionel Messi cards.' The use of the plural 'cards' in Topps' message suggests the possibility that multiple Messi autographed cards in that Dynasty set could be remade. Topps produced 204 total Messi cards from the 2022-23 Dynasty cards set, all of which should feature autographs from the soccer star directly on the cards themselves. Remaking every Messi Dynasty card in the set could impact cards with a combined value nearing or eclipsing $1 million. The Messi Paris-Saint Germain patch autograph card — a card bearing an autograph and a piece of memorabilia — that was originally sent to Rodriguez from Topps 2022-23 Dynasty UEFA Champions League carried serial number 01/10, meaning it was the first out of 10 produced. The 02/10 card in the set sold for $4,642 at auction the next day. The set's one-of-a-kind (1/1) card sold for $13,420 on April 26, and another Messi one-of-one, an FC Barcelona card, from the set went for $103,701 in Sept. 2024. The quality and desirability of the patch often drives the price, which likely played a part in the six-figure price tag; that card included a piece of the Barcelona badge from a match-worn Messi shirt. Advertisement Topps has not publicly acknowledged the issue, outside of correspondence initiated by affected card owners. It appears the only way to determine if an autographed Messi card can be remade is to submit the card for grading, have PSA refuse to authenticate it, and then negotiate with PSA and Toops about the next steps. 'For a company like Topps, you would think they would do a little bit better,' Rodriguez said. 'It's just disappointing and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.' Mike Denis of Salem, N.H., ran into a similar issue in early May, when PSA wouldn't authenticate a Messi autograph on a 2024 Topps Finest MLS card. In that instance, a Topps representative pushed the blame to PSA. In the transcript of an online chat between Topps and Denis viewed by The Athletic, the card company's rep said, 'Recently Messi has changed the style of his autograph, which it seems PSA has not updated their standards.' Over the past few months, PSA has declined to authenticate Messi autograph cards from at least the following Topps sets: 2022-23 Topps Dynasty UEFA Champions League, 2024 Topps Chrome Sapphire MLS, 2024 Topps Chrome MLS, 2024 Topps Finest MLS, and 2021-22 Topps Finest Flashbacks UEFA Champions League. So got one of the biggest pulls I've ever had from @Topps this beautiful messi auto. Sent it to @PSAcard, just was told they cant authenticate the autograph. How does this happen, thanks to psa for their diligence but these autos are supposed to topps witnessed? @CardPurchaser — Mike D (@mikeD922) May 9, 2025 Dan Jamieson, CEO of Icons, an England-based sports memorabilia company that has had a relationship with Messi dating back to his early days as a professional, told The Athletic in March that Messi sits with the Icons staff at least three times a year for autograph sessions. Jamieson said while he's not a handwriting expert, Messi's signature hasn't varied much through the years when signing for Icons. 'I think it (Messi's signature) has been pretty consistent,' Jamieson said. 'He gets a lot of practice with us. He's quite a consistent guy.' A post shared by 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 ✨ (@primecollectors_) As The Athletic previously reported, Nick Bruce of Ferndale, Mich. said a PSA representative told him in February that the autograph on his 2021-22 Topps Finest Flashbacks UEFA Champions League Football's Finest card was 'fake,' and potentially signed by Messi's brother. PSA has since seemed to soften its stance when explaining to customers why it's not authenticating certain Messi autograph cards, telling multiple card owners, 'To be perfectly clear, our authentication team is not stating that the autograph is a forgery; they are simply not comfortable rendering an opinion on this particular signature style. In rare cases such as these where our team opts to refrain from issuing an opinion, PSA will return the item unprocessed at no charge to the customer.' Advertisement Then PSA offers 'an alternative path,' saying they have a 'positive, working relationship' with Topps and that the card company will 'sometimes issue replacement cards in unique circumstances.' Soccer Cards HQ's Scott Kaczmarek told The Athletic that the questionable autographs are bad for the soccer collector community: 'If they hit a Messi (autograph card) and try to get it graded and then it comes back fake or it's not authenticated, that's really bad for us.' ADOT just shared that PSA has refused to grade a Messi MLS on-card auto 😮 — Soccer Cards HQ (@SoccerCardsHQ) April 22, 2025 Rodriguez said he spent $1,200 at his local card shop on a box of 2022-23 Topps Dynasty UEFA Champions League, which contains just one card, in August 2024. He opened the box to find a redemption card — an 'IOU' where the owner submits the code to receive an autographed card from the manufacturer at a later date, once the athlete in question has signed — for a Messi patch autograph card. It was the most valuable card he's ever pulled from a pack or box, he said, and he immediately redeemed the card through the Topps website. After four months of waiting, Rodriguez said he spoke to someone from Topps who told him Messi would have a private signing for Dynasty cards and other Topps products. Rodriguez received the card in late January and sent it to PSA. In early February, the grading company alerted Rodriguez it couldn't authenticate the autograph and encouraged him to reach out to Topps. In early March, Topps offered a similar deal to Rodriguez as it had in late February to Bruce. The company would either remake the card with a new autograph to then be shipped to PSA for grading and authentication, or offer a substitution of equal or greater value. The timeframes for a possible remake varied significantly in the cases of Rodriguez and Bruce. Bruce's 2021-22 Topps Finest Flashbacks Messi card sported an autograph on a sticker that was affixed to the card. Players often sign sheets of stickers totaling several thousand autographs in a given session, allowing card companies to place the autographed sticker on specific cards at a later date. But Messi would have to sign Rodriguez's card itself, since Dynasty bears on-card autographs. Advertisement Topps explained in an email to Rodriguez that this 'very lengthy' process could take anywhere from six months to two years. Rodriguez accepted Topps' alternative offer of a card or cards of equal or greater value, assuming the wait time for a Messi replacement would be closer to two years. Topps sent Rodriguez two autographed rookie cards: one of Lamine Yamal and the other of Shohei Ohtani. After grading, the two cards are worth an estimated $6,000, which is nearly $2,000 more than the last sale of the questioned Messi Dynasty card. Rodriguez said he'll keep Yamal, the 17-year-old FC Barcelona phenom, for his collection, but he's planning to sell the Ohtani to buy more Messi autographed cards 'that seem to be legit.' However, his confidence in Messi autographed cards has been shaken. 'I'm pretty worried, to be honest,' Rodriguez said. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
CNN
20-05-2025
- CNN
Live updates: Sean ‘Diddy' Combs trial continues after Cassie Ventura's testimony
Update: Date: 1 min ago Title: Ex-assistant: I wouldn't describe Combs as "gracious" Content: When Sean 'Diddy' Combs would go out in public, people would be 'almost in a mob around him,' asking for autographs and trying to meet him, Combs' former assistant David James said. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked if Combs tended to be gracious in these situations. 'I don't think 'gracious' is a word I would use to describe Mr. Combs,' James responded. Combs didn't typically sign autographs, James said. James said oftentimes, Combs' staff members would sign autographs to mail out to fans. Update: Date: less than 1 min ago Title: Defense suggests ex-assistant left security guard at restaurant Content: Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo suggested repeatedly that David James actually left D-Roc, one of Sean 'Diddy' Combs security guards, at the restaurant and he went back with Combs to get him. James denied this each time, testifying that it wouldn't have made sense to leave him there with Suge Knight outside, wielding a gun. Update: Date: 5 min ago Title: Combs' travel straddled a "fine line" between business and personal, ex-assistant says Content: During cross-examination, David James, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, was pressed about his travel with Combs. James had testified yesterday he traveled extensively with the music mogul, including internationally. Today, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked if these were business trips or personal trips. James said there was a 'fine line,' since Combs' personal life and business life blended together. He described them as 'business-oriented trips.' 'Even on vacation, he's always working,' James said. Update: Date: 11 min ago Title: "I just respect Mr. Combs from a business perspective," former assistant says Content: Sean Diddy Combs' former assistant David James testified that before he began working for Combs, he was a fan of Sean John, Combs' clothing line. James said he knew Combs to be a successful, self-made business man who was a 'brilliant marketer.' 'I just respect Mr. Combs from a business perspective,' James said. Update: Date: 15 min ago Title: Defense asks Combs' ex-assistant if he was granted immunity for testifying Content: Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked David James if he was granted immunity for his testimony. James said he wasn't sure of the details that were brokered by his attorney, but he believes he signed a proffer agreement, a type agreement that gives a person some protection from prosecution. Update: Date: 15 min ago Title: Defense challenges ex-assistant's testimony with inconsistent accounts of diner incident Content: Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo referenced documents from David James' meetings with the government, highlighting one where his account of the Mel's Diner event ended before he returned to Combs' home. He said the government had instructed him not to say anything that could incriminate himself. The documents also indicate at one point he told them some of the events took place inside the diner, even though he testified today they occurred outside the diner. 'I think these are inaccurate notes,' James said. He maintained that his recollection of the majority of the event has remained consistent. Agnifilo asked James whether he spoke up at any point when Combs was allegedly telling him to get back in the car to return to Mel's Diner or when Combs was sitting in the back seat with three guns. James said, 'Respectfully Sir, you have someone with three guns in this close proximity, I didn't think I had the option to say something.' Agnifilo also grilled James about his conversations with prosecutors Tuesday morning before he took the stand again, asking if James was prepped on how to handle the Mel's Diner incident. James said they mentioned Agnifilo's style, garnering laughs in the courtroom. 'How'd I do,' Agnifilo asked laughing. 'Consistent,' James said. Update: Date: 34 min ago Title: Combs' former assistant describes incident involving Suge Knight Content: David James testified about an occasion when he went with Combs' security guard to a diner to get food for Combs and the staff. When they got there, the security guard saw Combs' rival Marion 'Suge' Knight and approached him. They talked briefly before the guard and James went inside to order. When they went back to Combs' house, Combs and Ventura were outside the house arguing. Ventura looked like she'd been crying. Combs then ordered James to drive him and the security guard back to the diner to look for Knight, James said. Combs sat in the back seat with three hand guns in his lap, James testified. Knight was gone when they got back to the restaurant, James said. James said he was 'shook up' by the incident. It was first time he felt like he was in danger as Combs' assistant. James said he gave his notice soon after the incident, offering to stay with Combs for six more months to train a replacement. He left Combs' company in May 2009. Update: Date: 40 min ago Title: Cross-examination of ex-assistant David James begins Content: The prosecution's direct questioning of David James, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, has finished. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo is now questioning James on cross-examination. Update: Date: 40 min ago Title: Ex-assistant alleges intimidating searches and lie detector tests over Combs' missing items Content: David James, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified about an incident when one of Combs' Cartier bracelets went missing, prompting his security to search through all of his and his then-girlfriend's belongings. James said he felt he couldn't refuse the search. On two other occasions when Combs' possessions went missing, James had to take a lie detector test administered by a man who claimed to have formerly worked for the FBI, he testified. 'It was very intimidating,' he said. On both occasions, James' results showed no discrepancies, he said. James said one of Combs' security agents told him that another former employee, Capricorn Clark, also had to take a lie detector test previously. Update: Date: 48 min ago Title: Former assistant details instances he procured drugs for Combs' friends Content: David James, Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former assistant, is detailing several occasions where he said he supplied Combs' friends with drugs. On a trip with Combs to Saint-Tropez, a friend of Combs texted James asking him to get cocaine, he testified. James said he arranged for the cocaine for Combs' friend, but said Combs didn't ask him to do it. He said he assumed he had to. On another occasion, during a party in Los Angeles, James recalled how Combs sent him back to the house to get ecstasy for a friend. James said he went back to Combs' house to get the ecstasy from Combs' medicine bag and brought it back to the party. Update: Date: 43 min ago Title: Ex-assistant describes what he says was Combs' drug use Content: David James, an assistant for Sean 'Diddy' Combs from 2007 to 2009, testified he saw Combs take drugs and give them to his friends. On a couple occasions, James procured drugs for Combs' friends, he testified. A person called 'One Stop' often brought drugs to Combs, James said. James understood Combs often took Percocet while he was operating his businesses, and preferred to take ecstasy at night, he said. Update: Date: 49 min ago Title: Combs' ex-assistant recalls seeing Ventura in Combs' hotel room during iPod drop-off Content: David James, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified that occasionally, Combs would ask him to bring certain items — usually an iPod or food — to his hotel rooms while he was staying there. He recounted an incident in Miami around 2008 when Combs asked him to bring an iPod to his hotel room. James said it took him about an hour to get there, and when he knocked on the door, nobody answered. He entered the room with his own key and saw Cassie Ventura lying on her back in the hotel room with a white comforter up to her neck. 'She did not move when I entered the room,' he testified. Combs was in the shower, he said. James mentioned that he did not speak with Combs or Ventura about the incident afterward because it wasn't his job to discuss their personal affairs. Update: Date: 1 hr 6 min ago Title: Combs' ex-assistant describes how he'd stock hotel rooms for the rapper Content: David James, a former assistant for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified he often set up hotel rooms for Combs. If Combs was staying in New York, his favorite hotel was the Trump International, James said. James said he would set up things for Combs' before is arrival, including clothing, a toiletry bag, a medicine bag, food and drinks. He said he would organize a collection of about 40 products, mostly skincare, for Combs in the hotel bathroom. The medicine bag typically carried between 25 and 30 pill bottles, which included ecstasy and Percocet, James said. Some bottles were unmarked, he added. Combs' security always carried Combs' Louis Vuitton bag, which held personal items and typically $10,000 or more in cash. James said he would often replenish items for Combs during trips. If he was restocking food and drinks, James said he would pay for them and get reimbursed by Bad Boy Entertainment. When he restocked 'personal items,' such as baby oil, lubricant and condoms, James said he would ask security to be reimbursed from the cash in Combs' bag. When asked if Combs would stay alone when he traveled, James said, 'I don't think Mr. Combs ever stayed alone.' While he worked for Combs, James said typically Cassie Ventura would stay with Combs, but there were other women as well, James said. Update: Date: 1 hr 15 min ago Title: Combs confronted James over blog post alleging assault on Ventura, former assistant testifies Content: David James, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified that he was on the computer at Combs' home one night when Combs was out at a club with Cassie Ventura, another assistant, and security. 'As soon as he entered the door, he bee-lined straight for me' and pulled up the computer's search history, James said. Combs told him that someone had written a blog post 'lying' about him hitting Ventura, and he wanted to see if James had written it, the former assistant testified. James said he did not see Ventura that night, but two days later, Combs directed him to bring her food at a nearby hotel. When James brought the food to her hotel room, he was 'surprised' to see a member of Combs' staff answer the door instead of Ventura herself. She stayed at the hotel for about a week, he testified. Update: Date: 1 hr 10 min ago Title: Ex-assistant heard Combs and Ventura argue, but didn't see violence, he testifies Content: David James, an assistant for Sean 'Diddy' Combs from 2007 to 2009, testified he did not personally observe physical violence between Combs and Cassie Ventura, but heard them argue about her career more than once. In those arguments, she would express a desire to branch out more into modeling and acting, but Combs would tell her she had to focus on her music career, James testified. Remember: James worked for Combs during the early portion of Combs' relationship with Ventura. Ventura had testified she signed a contract with Combs' company, Bad Boy Records, in early 2006; the pair first began dating around 2007 and split in 2018. James testified yesterday that Combs had several girlfriends while James worked for him. He described Kim Porter – who shared three children with Combs – as Combs' 'main girlfriend,' and then listed four other women, including Ventura, who were his 'other girlfriends.' Update: Date: 1 hr 30 min ago Title: Combs' former assistant is back on the stand Content: David James, a former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs, is back on the stand. The jury is entering now. Prosecutor Christy Slavik is continuing her questioning. Update: Date: 1 hr 37 min ago Title: Combs' sister is in court today Content: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sister is in court today. His children and mother — who have been inside the courtroom on other days — are not yet there today. Combs is wearing a heather blue sweater, a white collared shirt and dark gray pants. He's talking to his attorney Mac Agnifilo as we wait for court to begin. Update: Date: 1 hr 33 min ago Title: The court is waiting on some jurors to arrive Content: Like yesterday, it appears the start of testimony this morning will be delayed because not all jurors are are there. Four jurors are not yet there, a courtroom deputy said. Yesterday, proceedings were delayed because a juror was running late. When proceedings do resume: David James, an assistant for Sean 'Diddy' Combs from 2007 to 2009, is expected to resume testimony that he started yesterday. James is the first of Combs' former assistants to testify in Combs' racketeering and sex trafficking trial, and the seventh witness to be called by prosecutors so far. Update: Date: 1 hr 47 min ago Title: Lawyers debate what Cassie Ventura's mother can say on the stand today Content: Prosecutors and defense attorneys are debating upcoming testimony from David James, who will continue testifying this morning, and Cassie Ventura's mother, Regina Ventura, who's expected to take the stand later today. Prosecutors argue Regina Ventura can testify that in December 2011, Sean 'Diddy' Combs demanded she pay him $20,000 for money he spent on her daughter after he learned she was romantically involved with Kid Cudi. The money demand came within days of Combs allegedly threatening Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi and threatening to release sexually explicit videos of her. Regina Ventura took out a loan and wired the money to Combs. The money was wired back to her without explanation days later. The government has bank records to support the transactions. Prosecutors say the jury should hear this evidence they say speaks to the coercive control Combs held over Casandra Ventura. The defense objected to the testimony, saying it would be prejudicial to Combs highlighting the economic disparity between him and the Ventura family. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo also noted Combs gave the money back. Judge Arun Subramanian said Agnifilo could object to the testimony when it comes up during Regina Ventura's testimony later today and he'd deal with it then. Update: Date: 2 hr 13 min ago Title: The judge is on the bench Content: Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench. The jury is expected to come in at 9 a.m. ET. Update: Date: 2 hr 23 min ago Title: Here's a recap from Day 6 of the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal criminal trial Content: The jury in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' racketeering and sex-trafficking trial heard testimony from three witnesses yesterday. Here's what they said: Dawn Richard, a former member of the musical group Danity Kane: Kerry Morgan, friend of Ventura from 2001 to 2018: David James, former assistant to Combs:
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
World's best-selling toy brings huge new live show to the UK this year
HOT WHEELS, one of the best-selling toys in the world, is coming to life with a new and thrilling stunt show. Fans of high-speed action can watch their favourite Hot Wheels come to life at the live stunt spectacular, which will take place in three cities across the UK. 5 Stunt people will show off their skills in recognisable cars and bikes in six shows this autumn. Fans of Hot Wheels will recognise models like the the GT Scorcher, Boneshaker, Rodger Dodger - as well as Street Bikes and ATVs. The Hot Wheels performers will take on gravity-defying backflips and daring ramp jumps and attempt a 10-meter-tall 360-degree loop. The Hot Wheels Stunt Show has been teased to have 'next-level thrill for fans of all ages'. Fans are also invited to attend the 60-minute Hot Wheels Pre-Show Party prior to each performance. Here you can get autographs from the drivers, take pictures with the Hot Wheels Stunt Show vehicles, and do other interactive Hot Wheels activities dotted around the arena. Watch as world-class drivers take Hot Wheels vehicles through a series of stunt challenges, with each competition getting more difficult and even more epic. Hot Wheels were introduced by Mattel on May 18, 1968 with just 16 models, known as the "Sweet 16." Since then Hot Wheels has sold over 6 billion cars since its launch, making it one of the best-selling toys of all time, accord to The Washington Post and The Telegraph. Hot Wheels Stunt Show 2025 will be in Aberdeen on September 27-28 at the P&J Live Arena. It will then move to Newcastle at the Utilita Arena on October 4-5. It will finish up in London at Wembley on October 25-26. Matinee and evening performances are available across all dates. I was one of the first to try Blackpool Pleasure Beache's 'new' ride 5 5 Exclusive Pre-Sale will start 20 th May and tickets will be available to the public on 23 rd May. The price for tickets has not been announced, but the website does detail that there will be discounted tickets for under 13s. Earlier this year, Hot Wheels was in the UK for the Monster Trucks Live tour which had glow in the dark trucks and a fire and ice-breathing dragon. There was also an appearance from the daring Hot Wheels Freestyle Motocross Team who took on some risky and impressive stunts. To sign up for tickets and for more information go to their website. There are lots of live events across the UK this year including a 'pint-sized Glastonbury' perfect for music fans who hate crowds. And how to take part in your very own version of Race Across the World as the experience comes to London.
