Gina Serpe Mon Mar 3, 3:19 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - If there was ever any debate over which member of the Rolling Stones was the biggest survivor, well, this certainly puts Keith Richards' brush with a coconut tree to shame.

A documentary covering the history of the FBI set to air on Britain's BBC Radio 4 has made public for the first time revelations that legendary rocker Mick Jagger was once the target of a failed assassination attempt.

The plan to off the knighted rocker was, per the documentary, hatched by a group of Hells Angels in the aftermath of the group's ill-fated and infamous concert at the Altamont Speedway in 1969.

During the free concert, for which the gang was providing security, an 18-year-old female fan was kicked and stabbed to death by a group of Hells Angels in an incident that was captured on several cameras and that, remarkably, did not lead to the cessation of the show.

Following the fatal concert, Jagger made public a vow not to employ the protection services of the chopper gang anymore, which, apparently, was taken as a big enough slight for the group to seek rather drastic vengeance and attempt to take out the superstar.

"They were going to kill him for retribution for firing them," former FBI agent Mark Young told the retrospective documentary, The FBI at 100.

"The Hells Angels were so angered by Jagger's treatment of them that they decided to kill him," Tom Mangold, the host of the BBC series, told London's Daily Telegraph. "A group of them took a boat and were all tooled up and planned to attack him from the sea."

The water-bound, apostrophe-averse Angels had set their sights on Jagger's holiday home in the Hamptons as the location to carry out their morbid plan, though fortunately for the rocker, Mother Nature intervened on their quest.

"They planned the attack from the sea so they could enter his property from the garden and avoid security at the front," Mangold said. "The boat was hit by a storm and all of the men were thrown overboard. All survived and there was not said to be any further attempt on Jagger's life."

According to the radio program, it is not believed Jagger was informed of the assassination attempt at the time, and it's unclear if the rocker was privy to the revelations before they were made public. Either way, the 65-year-old has yet to comment on the incident.

The FBI at 100 series begins tonight on BBC Radio 4. The episode addressing Jagger's assassination attempt is expected to air Mar. 11.

33 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger only survived an assassination attempt by Hells Angels members nearly 40 years ago because a boat carrying his would-be killers was swamped in a storm, according to a new BBC documentary.

The details of a plot to kill the British rocker were revealed by an FBI agent as part of a series, "The FBI at 100," which is to be aired on BBC Radio 4 on Monday.

Tom Mangold, who presents the series, told Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper that Jagger fell out with the Hells Angels after a member of the notorious gang killed a fan during the band's infamous free concert at Altamont in 1969.

The Stones had hired the local chapter to provide security for the poorly planned concert near San Francisco. The bikers terrorized the crowd, and were offended by Jagger's effeminate dancing. One of them stabbed 18-year-old Meredith Hunter to death in front of the stage. The chaos was immortalized in the documentary "Gimme Shelter."

The Hells Angels felt they had been duped by Jagger as fingers were pointed in the aftermath of the concert. Former special agent Mark Young, who was interviewed for the BBC series, said a boatload of Hells Angels set out to take revenge on Jagger at his holiday home in the Hamptons, near New York City.

"The Hells Angels were so angered by Jagger's treatment of them that they decided to kill him," Mangold told the newspaper.

"They planned the attack from the sea so they could enter his property from the garden and avoid security at the front. The boat was hit by a storm and all of the men were thrown overboard. All survived and there was not said to have been any further attempt on Jagger's life."

Alan Passaro was arrested and tried for Hunter's murder in 1972 but was acquitted after a jury concluded that he had acted in self-defense because Hunter was carrying a handgun. Passaro later drowned in an accident.

Reuters/Nielsen

14 minutes ago

LONDON - Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger escaped an assassination plot hatched in 1969 by the Hells Angels, a new British Broadcasting Corp. documentary has claimed.

A program to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Monday says the rock star was the target of the plot following a purported dispute with the motorcycle gang over concert security.

Jagger had vowed not to use Hells Angel members as bouncers following the death in December 1969 of an 18-year-old fan at a notorious free performance at Altamont Speedway in Northern California.

In return, gang members hatched a plan to kill Jagger at his holiday home in Long Island, New York, the BBC claimed.

“The Hells Angels were so angered by Jagger’s treatment of them that they decided to kill him,” Tom Mangold, the presenter of the program, was quoted as telling Britain’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

He said the plan was disclosed during an interview with Mark Young, a former FBI officer, for the BBC’s “The FBI at 100″ documentary.

Mangold said the men tried to reach Jagger by sea. “The boat was hit by a storm and all of the men were thrown overboard,” he was quoted as saying. They all survived but made no other attempt on his life, Mangold said.

It was not clear whether Jagger was ever informed of the alleged plot against him.

LD Communications, Jagger’s publicists in Britain, did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

The Hells Angels have always denied any connection with the Altamont Speedway killing.

1 minute ago

NEW YORK - Russell Simmons has been pushing young people to vote, but for a while there, it was looking as if the music industry heavyweight would have trouble casting his own ballot.

Not anymore.

The hip-hop mogul said Sunday he is endorsing Barack Obama for president, inspired by the diversity among the Illinois senator’s supporters. Obama has built an unprecedented national movement of people from all ethnic, racial, political, social and economic backgrounds, Simmons said in a news release.

It was a little more than a year ago that Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings who says he’s an independent who has supported Democrats and Republicans, sounded as if he was having a hard time deciding.

“If you could take Barack Obama’s image, add Hillary Rodham Clinton’s money and John Edwards’ voice, that would be my candidate,” Simmons said in January 2007.

At the time, Simmons called Obama “a rock star” who hadn’t presented a clear picture of where he stands.

“I don’t know what his opinions are,” Simmons said then, noting that he preferred Edwards’ message and was fond of liberal Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Simmons still has enough love to go around, it seems.

While endorsing Obama on Sunday, he noted his respect for Clinton from having worked with the New York senator on education, prison reform and anti-poverty programs.

Simmons, who has encouraged influential musicians to become more involved in the political process, said he’s particularly impressed, however, by Obama’s support among young people.

Josh Grossberg Sun Mar 2, 7:51 AM ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Mariah Carey has a lot on her mind these days.

In an exclusive interview, which airs Monday on Yo on E! satellite radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio, the Daydream diva dished to host Michael Yo about everything from her faith in God and the possibility of one day having a child to Britney Spears' meltdown and, yes,  even backing Barack Obama for president of the United States.

While plugging her upcoming album, E=MC2, the 38-year-old Carey reflected on her personal life and her future now that she's dating record exec Mark Sudack.  

For now, that doesn't appear to include babies, though the singer didn't rule out the possibility.

"Obviously having a kid is a commitment for life," she told Yo.  "I really would have to be very, very positive that I was in a place where I could completely focus and put everything into the job of being someone's mommy cause it's hard enough to have a puppy."

When asked about a deadline for kids, Carey was philosophical.

"To me whatever is meant to be is meant to be. Whatever is in God's plan is going to happen," said the songstress.

On life after the bomb that was 2001's Glitter album and movie and her subsequent comeback, Carey pointed to her faith as a source of strength.

"You know what, I never lost my faith in God and that's the main thing," she noted.  "For me its about my personal relationship with God and just feeling centered and just not letting anything really penetrate that. That's something that's sacred for me that I have for myself no matter what."

Considering the personal crisis Carey faced in the wake of Glitter's failure when she checked herself into a hospital to be treated for an emotional and physical breakdown, Yo also got her take on the Britster's current travails and whether or not the pop tart can recover (typically her answer was all about Maria).

Commented the singer: "I think anybody who loves music and is committed to the game can do whatever. I never count people out, that's just not in my nature but that is a part of human nature, people like to do that but with me especially with making this new record, its all about the music."

Carey also laughed off concerns about what the public might think about her from reading the very same gossip zines that are making a bundle reporting on Spears' struggles.

"If people ever said things that are not in my character like doing serious drugs or anything of that nature that's just not me and that's never been me and it never will be," she said.  "Things like, 'oh she was going to commit suicide'–that's never ever, nobody could get me to that point because I have too much respect for God and for life. One of the rumors I just heard about was that $150,000 in plastic surgery.  What in the ham sandwich do they think I did?  It's very annoying."

The subject eventually switched to politics, something Carey confessed isn't exactly her strong suit.

"Are you watching the debates?" asked Yo.

"Clearly I'm no political analyst. We all know that my album is called E=MC2 but I'm not exactly friggin Einstein," joked the "Love Takes Time" singer.  "So basically I like to leave that to people who know what they are talking about, but I am very much more focused on this moment in our history."

When Yo pressed Carey on whether or not she had settled on a presidential candidate, he eventually had to drag it out of her.

"Have you picked anyone?" queried Yo.

"Yes, clearly," she answered.

"Can you say?"

"That's personal but it's pretty obvious," the entertainer replied.

"Come on Mariah, 'Yes we can' Mr. Barack Obama?'

Laughing, Carey came clean: "Yes we can!"

E=MC2 is scheduled to hit stores on April 15.  The first single, "Touch My Body," was streamed digitally to radio stations on Feb. 12 and hard copies went out a week later.

24 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - Soul singer Duffy has topped the UK singles chart for a third week running with "Mercy," the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.

The Welsh newcomer, who has been compared to Amy Winehouse and Dusty Springfield, held off the dance hit "What's It Gonna Be," by DJs H Two O and Manchester trio Platnum.

In a barely-changed top 10, Canadian rock group Nickelback were steady at number three with "Rockstar," while Swedish DJ Basshunter was at four with "Now You're Gone."

Australian singer Kylie Minogue held on to the number five spot with "Wow" and English soul singer Adele's "Chasing Pavements" was steady at six.

Barbadian singer Rihanna climbed one place to seventh with "Don't Stop the Music," while U.S. pop group OneRepublic were at number eight with "Stop and Stare."

Londoner David Jordan's folk-tinged "Sun Goes Down" and U.S. R&B singer Kelly Rowland's "Work" completed the top 10.

On the album charts, soul singer Amy Winehouse held on to the number one position with "Back to Black," ahead of Goldfrapp's "Seventh Tree."

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths)