Arch MUSIC NEWS for 11/26/12

Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -

 
It seems Coldplay will be using some vacation time this holiday season and beyond. During their concert in Brisbane, Australia, last Wednesday, frontman Chris Martin told the crowd that the gig would be their “last big show for three years or so.” The singer added that he doesn’t want to stop, but the band’s tour behind their latest album “Mylo Xyloto” is officially over. They have a trio of arena shows in the U.S. next month, but other than that their schedule books are clean. However, Martin recently said they already have a name picked out for their “Mylo Xyloto” follow-up, so he and his bandmates will likely be spending at least some of their free time in the studio.

Kid Rock is planning to take another look at the album that kicked his career into a higher gear. He’ll celebrate next year’s 15th anniversary of his breakthrough 1998 release “Devil Without a Cause” by re-recording it. Rock explains that this will give him ownership of the new master recordings of the songs, but he says that’s not the only reason to take on the project. He expects “people will dig” the new versions of some of the songs he’s adjusted after playing them live for the past 15 years. Rock admits that it will be “tough to top” the originals, but he still believes there’s “something special” about the revamped versions.  So far, there’s no release date set for take two of “Devil Without a Cause.” The original album, meanwhile, has since been certified eleven-times platinum, thanks in part to hit singles like “Bawitdaba” and “Cowboy.”

Amy Winehouse‘s father Mitch doesn’t like the idea of Lady Gaga playing his daughter in her upcoming biopic. He’s telling reporters in London that though he likes Gaga and her family personally, he isn’t sure that she’s right for the part. Winehouse’s father was responding to rumors that started making headlines in late 2011 shortly after his daughter’s death in July that year. He said that Gaga is “a lovely girl” and that he’s met her parents several times. He compared her to Amy, saying that the two were alike in that Amy too was outrageous in her public life, but totally normal in private. Mitch, who is a former taxi driver and now in charge of his daughter’s charitable foundation, also had something to say about his own part in the biopic, which he said was still in the works. He joked that he hoped “someone good and handsome” like George Clooney will play him.

“Gangnam Style” has reached a new record on YouTube. The song by Korean rapper Psy is now the most-watched YouTube video of all time, passing Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” The video took over on Saturday, earning approximately 803-million-761-thousand views since being posted in July. The longtime YouTube champ “Baby” is now in second place, earning approximately 30-thousand fewer views than Psy since it was put up in February 2010. Bieber’s clip became the most-watched video on the site in July 2010, passing up then-leader Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”

The Michael Jackson tribute “Bad 25″ didn’t bring in too many viewers. The 90-minute Spike Lee-directed film delivered weak ratings for its television premiere, after having a limited theatrical release last month. The special aired on ABC on Thanksgiving night. According to “Entertainment Weekly,” “Bad 25″ brought in four-point-six-million viewers and one-point-two-million in the 18-to-49 age group, which is down 25-percent from last year’s music special from the network, “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving.” It was the night’s lowest-rated show in the demographic, behind football and repeats on CBS. Well-received by critics, “Bad 25″ compiles behind-the-scenes footage of the King of Pop during the making of the 1987 album, including a rare look at Jackson’s collaborators such as Martin Scorsese, who directed the short film for the “Bad” single. Current stars like Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and Chris Brown are also interviewed.

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards might be just a few weeks shy of his 69th birthday, but he and his bandmates are proving they can still rock like they did a half-century ago. The group played the first of their five “50 and Counting” shows at London’s O2 Arena Sunday night, which was also the Stones’ first performance in five years. They gave a nod to their history by launching the concert with the 1963 UK hit “I Wanna Be Your Man.” The band also played such classics as “Wild Horses,” “It’s Only Rock and Roll,” and “Start Me Up,” as well as the new tunes “Doom and Gloom” and “One More Shot.” They saved “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” for the encore.

Meat Loaf says his operation last week was a success. A post on his Facebook page says the “surgery went well,” and the “chicken noodle soup is going down.” The chicken soup — not turkey — apparently served as the rocker’s holiday dinner. The Thanksgiving message added that the singer is grateful for “the enduring love and support” he’s received from his fans, both over the years and over the past week as he’s addressed his medical issue. He also gives “a special thank you to all the doctors and nurses who are taking great care” of him, especially on the holiday. Meat Loaf doesn’t say how long he’ll be laid up. But the post notes that “his hospital bed will be his best friend for a few days yet,” and that he was going to start rehab “imminently.” Meat Loaf mentioned earlier this month that he would be having a procedure done on his knee, but gave no further details. He underwent the operation last Monday.

Stevie Wonder can still stir up a crowd. The Motown legend provided the finale for Sunday night’s 2012 Soul Train Awards, which aired on BET, playing a two-song set that included his classic “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”  Wonder also treated the audience to his hit “Superstition.” New Edition also created one of the night’s special moments as this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The group also performed a medley of their hits. Meanwhile, the late Whitney Houston was among the winners. Her song “Celebrate,” which she recorded with Jordin Sparks, got the nod for Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance. Other winners include Beyonce, Tyrese, Frank Ocean, and Sean Paul, while the late “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius was also remembered at the event. The 2012 Soul Train Awards were taped in Las Vegas earlier this month. The ceremony also aired on Centric.