Gravel-voiced singer claims company stole his sound

New York — Tom Waits’ next boozy, bluesy tune might be about European car manufacturers.

The gravel-voiced Waits says Opel, a European division of General Motors, is running a TV commercial in Scandinavia with a soundtrack resembling his style and sound. And he’s not happy about it.

“Commercials are an unnatural use of my work,” the 55-year-old singer said in a statement. “It’s like having a cow’s udder sewn to the side of my face. Painful and humiliating.”

Waits said he’s never allowed his voice or music to be used in commercials “and I have lawyers over there investigating my options.”

Opel denies any intention to mimic Waits.

In 1992, Waits was awarded $2.5 million in damages from Frito-Lay after successfully arguing that another singer was hired to imitate his voice for a Doritos corn chip commercial.

Latin star finally a BMI icon

Las Vegas — After more than 30 years in the music business, 36 albums and eight Grammy Awards, Carlos Santana can call himself a BMI icon.

The virtuoso guitarist known for his passionate, energetic rhythms received the special honor at the 12th annual BMI Latin Awards Thursday night at the Four Seasons hotel.

Santana joined past honorees James Brown, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes and Van Morrison.

Emilio Estefan and Latin pop star Estefano shared the songwriter of the year award.

Estefan, co-founder of the Miami Sound Machine and husband of singer Gloria Estefan, was honored for his work on Cristian Castro’s “No Hace Falta,” Shalim’s “Se Me Olvido Tu Nombre” and Victor Manuelle’s “Tengo Ganas.”

Estefano picked up his sixth BMI award for “Ahora Quien” by Marc Anthony, “Quitemonos La Ropa” by NG2 and “Y Todo Queda En Nada” by Ricky Martin.

Rocker’s not gonna to take it

Hamburg, Pa. — A school auditorium crowd roared as senior Greg Miller Jr.’s five-piece band let loose with “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who wrote the 1984 hit, bounded onstage to perform it with them.

Snider agreed to go to the Hamburg Area High School talent show in rural eastern Pennsylvania after he heard administrators planned to bar student rock bands from performing, fearing injuries from slam dancing.

Snider, now a disc jockey on Philadelphia rock station WMMR-FM, ranted on the air about the controversy, and Miller got more than 200 students to sign a petition against the amplified music ban. School officials changed their minds, which Snider called “very cool.”

Students said no dangerous dancing was expected. Snider, who agreed “a high school auditorium is no place for moshing,” helped arrange for a security company to work the Thursday night show. Video reporters from MTV and VH1 found their way to the school, and TV satellite trucks were set up in the parking lot.

Material Girl faces lawsuit

Los Angeles — A British director and several British companies involved in the creation of Madonna’s European TV concert special have sued the singer, alleging she still owes more than $300,000 in directing and production fees.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that Madonna owes director Hamish Hamilton and The Rude Corp. $175,000 for work on a TV special of the singer’s 2004 European “Reinvention Tour.”

Madonna’s publicist, Liz Rosenberg, didn’t immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

Hamilton alleges in the lawsuit that he traveled to shows in New York, Florida, California, Nevada, France and England as part of his contract and scouted locations in Portugal for the TV special.

Wayne Newton to hit Las Vegas Hilton

Las Vegas — Wayne Newton is taking his act — again — to the Las Vegas Hilton.

Hotel officials say Newton, known as “Mr. Las Vegas,” will perform a limited six-week engagement beginning June 14.

Newton, 63, headlined at the Hilton from 1987 to 1993. He had been singing at the Stardust hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip since 1999.

His last show at the Stardust was Wednesday night.

Newton will join another famous crooner, Barry Manilow, who is booked at the Hilton into 2006.

“The Entertainer,” Newton’s reality show on E! Television Network, was filmed at the Hilton.

A hotel spokesman said the reality show’s winner, Delisco, will headline after Newton’s engagement ends in August.

Dean Martin Drive continues ‘Rat Pack’ road trend

Las Vegas — The “Rat Pack” will be better represented in Sin City after a road was named after Dean Martin.

Clark County commissioners renamed part of Industrial Road as Dean Martin Drive, agreeing with the developer of a new high-rise condominium project that the new name sounded better on letterhead for hotels, condos and businesses.

The change puts the Dean Martin name on a road running along one side of Interstate 15, with Frank Sinatra Drive on the other.

Martin, who died in 1995 at 78, and Sinatra, who died in 1998 at 82, were among a group of entertainers including Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford known for their carousing and performing in Las Vegas. They also made films such as “Ocean’s Eleven.”

“It’s appropriate to have Frank Sinatra Drive and Dean Martin Drive,” Commissioner Myrna Williams said before raising the name of Sammy Davis Jr., another “Rat Pack” member, who died in 1990.

“Now we need Sammy.”

Birthdays

Filmmaker-author Michael Moore is 51. Actress-turned-diplomat Shirley Temple Black is 77. Actor James Russo is 52. Actor George Lopez is 44. Rock musician Gen is 41. Actress Rachel Skarsten is 20.