Odds & Ends: Adele, M.I.A., The Kinks, Elvis Costello, Elton & More

Adele’s life has been immortalized in comic book form. Released this week by Bluewater Production in print, as well as via iTunes, “Fame: Adele” is written by Michael Troy with art by Manuel Diaz and colorist Ester Salguero.

And why not buy yourself two copies? The 32-page comic book is available with two collectible covers.

Previously released “Fame” comics include books devoted to One Direction, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, Britney Spears and The Black Eyed Peas.

Poor Willie Nelson. Not only was a toy armadillo stolen during one of last week’s shows – but now the singer is ailing. He’s postponed tonight’s gig in Carmel, Ind., at The Palladium as well as his Sept. 26 show at the Easton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte, Mich.

According to The Palladium’s website, Nelson “cited health issues” for the postponement. The concert has been rescheduled for Aug. 23, 2014. Fans can hold onto their tickets for the new date or receive a refund. Nelson’s website lists the Charlotte show as postponed, with a new date to be determined.

*Update* After this post went online, Nelson also postponed his Sept. 27 show in Springfield, Ill., at the Sangamon Auditorium (with the new date TBD) and canceled his Sept. 28 appearance at Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Music & Food Festival at Nashville’s Riverfront Park.

His publicist told the Associated Press that Nelson “is under a doctor’s orders to rest his shoulder for a week.” He’s due back on stage Oct. 15 in Louisville, Ky.

M.I.A. says that although the NFL’s uproar over her flipping the bird during the 2012 halftime show initially made her “laugh for a while … now it’s so boring I don’t even laugh anymore.”

The NFL is reportedly suing her for $1.5 million because her middle finger stunt supposedly ruined the league’s reputation. The NFL also wants a public apology.

In a video posted on YouTube Monday, M.I.A. comments on the group of high school cheerleaders who were on stage at the halftime show with her and Madonna.

“If you look at them, they’re wearing cheerleader outfits, hips thrusted in the air, legs wide open, in this very sexually provocative position. So, now, they’ve scapegoated me into figuring out the goalposts on what is offensive in America. Is my finger offensive, or is the underage black girl with her legs wide open more offensive to the family audience?

“That’s basically what it comes down to – a massive waste of time, a massive waste of money, it’s a massive display of, you know, just powerful corporation dick-shaking. They want me on my knees and say sorry so they can slap me on my wrist. Basically, say it’s OK for me to promote being, you know, sexually exploited as a female than to display female empowerment through being punk rock. So that’s what it boils down to, and I’m being sued for it.”

With The Kinks’ 50th anniversary coming up next year, the topic of the possibility of the band’s first tour since their 1996 split is once again up for discussion.  

Dave Davies says it’s up to his brother.

“I’d say the odds of that happening are 50/50,” Dave Davies told Rolling Stone. “The ball is very much in Ray’s court.”

As you can guess, things aren’t exactly peachy between the siblings.

Dave added, “I really do want to do something with Ray before we both decay and decompose. I said to Ray last week, ‘We don’t have much time left.’ But he didn’t . . . Ray, what an asshole he is.”

The Global Citizen Festival has squeezed one more big name act on its lineup for Saturday’s show at New York City’s Central Park. Elvis Costello joins a roster that includes Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Alicia Keys and Kings Of Leon.

The festival, which coincides with the U.N. General Assembly, is being held to help end extreme poverty. Bono will make an appearance at the event in addition to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. congress members and world leaders. 

To earn a ticket for the free event, music fans have to earn points by taking action against poverty, from volunteering to writing letters. You still have a chance to win a ticket by signing the ZeroPoverty2030.org petition. The deadline for the petition contest is Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. For those who can’t make it to NYC, you can pre-register to watch the concert’s live stream at GlobalFestival.com.

While many artists have refused to play Russia to protest the country’s legal stance against gays, Elton John has said he plans to perform there in December to support the gay community.

One local parents’ group in the central Ural region would prefer he call off the gigs.

According to Reuters, the group wrote President Vladimir Putin an open letter saying, “The singer intends to come out in support of local sodomites and break the current Russian law, directed at protecting children.”  

The law, which bans gay “propaganda” among minors, has been criticized for forcing people to hide their sexual orientation.   

Neither the parents’ group or Elton responded to Reuters’ request for a comment.

Elton is scheduled to play Dec. 6 is Moscow and Dec. 7 in Kazan.

A nearly eight-foot statue of Michael Jackson will no longer greet sports fans at Fulham Football Club’s Craven Stadium in London.

Fulham’s former owner, Mohamed al-Fayed, had the statue built to honor the King of Pop, who he considered a friend, according to the New York Times.  The paper noted that “in the intensely masculine world of British soccer, the homage to Jackson was a joke.”

Shahid Khan, who owns the N.F.L.’s Jacksonville Jaguars, bought the stadium from Fayad in July. Last week he put out a statement saying that removing the statute, which has been at the stadium since April 2011, was “the right thing for Fulham Football club.” Jackson’s likeness was takend down Wednesday.