The Stars' Strangest Merchandise

Celebrity merchandise and memorabilia is big business - and getting bigger.
As stars like Kate Moss cause a frenzy with their clothing lines, some singers and actors are turning their passions into more unusual products.



DANNY DEVITO'S PREMIUM LIMONCELLO LIQUEUR

DeVito's limoncello was unveiled at a drinks convention on Monday
After starring in films like Get Shorty and Twins and producing Pulp Fiction and Erin Brockovich, Danny DeVito is one of Hollywood's most successful men.

The Italian-American actor is now branching out into Italian lemon liqueur following a drunken appearance on US TV show The View late last year.

"I knew it was the last seven limoncellos that was going to get me," he said at the time.

Showing a true businessman's instinct for turning a PR disaster to his advantage, his own brand of his favourite tipple will go on sale in the US later this year, costing $23.99 (£12) for 750ml.


BILL WYMAN SIGNATURE METAL DETECTOR

Bill Wyman has published a book about finding hidden treasure
Bill Wyman is best-known for being the Rolling Stones' bassist from 1962-93. But since leaving the ageing rockers, he has developed an interest in a different set of relics.

He is helping amateur archaeologists by bringing out a metal detector that he says is lightweight and easy to use but still delivers "serious treasure finding performance".

Wyman boasts that he has uncovered a Roman homestead, the site of a Medieval lamb fair, 14th Century gold coins and blades dating back 3,000 years.

"Metal-detecting is not just for anoraks or eccentrics - it's probably the best and the most enjoyable way of learning about our history," he says. The device - which features his signature on the control box and search head - costs £125.


STEVEN SEAGAL'S LIGHTNING BOLT

Steven Seagal says his drink will help "strengthen the body"
As well as an action movie hero, Aikido black belt and singer/songwriter, Steven Seagal lists "master herbalogist" on his CV.

He has travelled Asia searching for the secrets of good health, he says - and the Lightning Bolt Energy Drink is the result of his quest.

It includes Asian Cordyceps (which boost energy, vitality and longevity, apparently) as well as Tibetan goji berries (a powerful anti-oxidant) and claims to be the first energy drink to be made from 100% natural juice.

"I have travelled the world creating this drink," the Under Siege star says. "There is none better that I know." It comes in three flavours - Asian Experience, Cherry Charge and Root Beer Rush.


SIR CLIFF RICHARD'S WINE

Sir Cliff Richard has been producing wine since 2001
One of the UK's best-selling pop stars entered the wine-making business after buying an estate in the Algarve, Portugal.

The Adega do Cantor (Winery of the Singer) now produces the Vida Nova (New Life) wines and Sir Cliff can often be found "getting his feet dirty" in the winery, its website says.

The wine has won mixed reviews - it has won some prizes but The Times declared it to have a "creosote-spiked finish" and Sir Cliff himself said it was "rubbish" in a blind tasting on Gordon Ramsay's TV show. Sir Cliff says Ramsay tricked him.

The pick of Sir Cliff's other merchandise is four Christmas baubles bearing his face for £12. But a range of mistletoe to go with the wine has not yet appeared.


THE KISS KASKET

Kiss singer Gene Simmons launched the Kiss Kasket
Death is no barrier to proudly displaying your love of theatrical heavy rock band Kiss, who launched their own coffin - the Kiss Kasket - in 2001.

The coffin, which could double up as a refrigerator to chill beer while the owner was still alive, showed the four Kiss members in full stage make-up and sold for $4,000.

"I love livin', but this makes the alternative look pretty damn good," singer Gene Simmons said.

Kiss are arguably the kings of merchandise, with hundreds of goods for all occasions - such as branded arm warmers (for cycling), an apron, snow globe, light switch, lip balm, frisbee, Kiss-opoly board game and cocktail table.


MORE STARS OF MERCHANDISE
If Kiss are the music merchandise kings, then Celine Dion is the queen. As well as the usual fragrance and clothing, she offers followers a Celine Dion water bottle, a pewter paperweight moulded into her figure, a good luck frog charm (which "holds special meaning that only you and other Celine fans will identify with") and a collectors' spoon.


Streisand fans can keep their dogs warm in a Barbra-branded hoodie
Other official music memorabilia includes a Beatles Yellow Submarine lava lamp, Rolling Stones tongue shoelaces and a Barbra Streisand thermal hoodie - for dogs.

Hollywood star Paul Newman was one of the first to branch out with a culinary range. He sold his first salad dressing in 1982 and now produces a variety of sauces and other edible goods - raising more than $200m (£100m) for charity in the process.

George Foreman, meanwhile, has become arguably as famous for his Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machines as he was for his boxing career.

But no-one has gone quite as far as former Duran Duran guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, who produced a sex aid - the Rock Rod - which was billed as a "better than real replication" of his own instrument.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...614755.stm


I love the pictures of Bill Wyman with a metal detector/the dog in a Streisand Hoodie.




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[Edited 5/4/07 7:00am]

lol!

this thread is making me hungry for some Phyllis Diller Chili!

Paradisekiss03 said:

Mach said:

Anx said:

Cloudbuster just hacked into my account and asked me to give you all a .

onenitealone said:

I mean

how cheeky!

ZombieKitten said:

ZombieKitten said:

Someone mentioned the word "cheeky"???

Cheek said:

And you came a-running!

Hey you.

onenitealone said:

Hey me!

Cheek said:

lets get a room!

ZombieKitten said:

That's what I'm sayin!

what?

Someone else is using my account...

Cheek said:

then it's not your account right now, is it? unless, you know, you have a multiple personality thing happening. not that there's anything wrong with that.

Anx said:

I just like to watch

Anx said:

I think I'm lost somewhere between myself and Daryl Hannah.

ZombieKitten said:

ZombieKitten said:

How naughty that is!

Cheek said:

HOTT

Cheek said:

ZombieKitten said:

If you're rather a watcher then please, at least hold your tongue in!