COOLIO - COOLIO'S ARREST FORCES AUSSIE TOUR CANCELLATION

COOLIO'S ARREST FORCES AUSSIE TOUR CANCELLATION

Rapper-turned-reality TV star COOLIO has scrapped his upcoming Australian tour following his recent arrest for drug possession.
The Gangsta's Paradise hitmaker, real name Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was charged with battery and possession of cocaine on Tuesday (10Mar09) after a scuffle with security staff at Los Angeles International Airport last Friday (06Mar09).
He is free on $10,000 (£7,300) bail - but his legal troubles have forced him to pull his concerts Down Under, his Aussie promoter has confirmed to ABC News.
Coolio was due to kick off a string of gigs in Melbourne on Friday (13Mar09), with other shows scheduled for Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast.
The cancellation comes just days after the rapper's Aussie publicist Petrina Convey confessed his arrest had thrown the tour into jeopardy and even she was left unsure of the situation.
She said, "We've spoken to his management in the U.S., but they aren't telling us anything."
The star is due in court on 3 April (09) and faces up to three years in jail if convicted.