ARCH MUSIC NEWS for 2/18/13
ARCH MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
The troubled life of country singer Mindy McCready has come to a tragic end. Sheriff’s deputies in Cleburne County, Arkansas are confirming the singer’s death, saying McCready was found inside her home in Heber Springs Sunday, and that it appeared she died from a single gun shot wound to the head. Her body has been sent to the State Crime unit. No other details have been released. The 37-year-old singer has had a long history of personal struggle. She had been in and out of rehab while battling addiction and mental health issues. McCready was being treated at a facility earlier this month before she was released to an outpatient program. Her death comes one month after the January 13th death of her boyfriend, David Wilson, at his Arkansas home. Mindy leaves behind two young sons.
Mindy McCready moved from her hometown of Fort Myers, Florida at the age of 18 to launch her country music career. She scored a top ten hit with her first single, “Ten Thousand Angels,” which was the title track to her 1996 debut album. The CD also featured Mindy’s first chart-topper, “Guys Do It All The Time” as well as the 1997 hit “A Girl’s Gotta Do (What A Girl’s Gotta Do).” McCready’s next two albums, 1997′s “If I Don’t Stay the Night” and 1999′s “I’m Not So Tough” both cracked the top ten, but the country star never matched the success of her first studio effort.
As the years progressed, Mindy began making more headlines for her turbulent personal life than for her music. In 2004 McCready was arrested on drug charges and put on probation after pleading guilty. But she ended up in jail more than once on probation violations. In May 2005, McCready’s ex-boyfriend, Billy McKnight, was arrested for attempted murder after a brutal attack on the singer. In the months that followed, McCready was twice hospitalized following suicide attempts, the second of which occurred after she learned she was pregnant with McKnight’s child. She gave birth to son Zander in March 2006. In 2008, McCready came forward with allegations that she’d had an affair with baseball great Roger Clemens when she was just 15 years old. Clemens denied McCready’s claims.
McCready’s legal and substance abuse problems led to her losing custody of Zander, who was placed with her mom in Florida. Mindy spent years battling her parents for custody, which she eventually won in late 2011 — after taking the boy from her father’s home and hiding out with him at boyfriend David Wilson’s Arkansas home. Last April she and Wilson celebrated the birth of their son, Zayne. McCready attempted to relaunch her music career in 2010 with “I’m Still Here,” her first studio effort in eight years. The album peaked at number 71 on the chart, and neither single from the disc charted.
Billy Joel isn’t ready to wrap up his performing career just yet – he’s among the headliners for Australia’s new Stone Music Festival, April 20th and 21st in Sydney. Van Halen is also on board for the festival, along with Richie Ramone, Lifehouse, Buckcherry, and Kings of Chaos. The event will mark the first time Van Halen has performed in Australia since 1998, and the first time the group has traveled Down Under with David Lee Roth. Joel, meanwhile, recently told “Rolling Stone” that he was still recovering from a double hip replacement, and wasn’t quite back to 100-percent yet. He added that he was reconsidering his performing future in general, claiming that he’s “not as good” as he “used to be.”
David Bowie fans may soon have another new song to enjoy. Bowie posted a picture on his Facebook page Saturday that many are interpreting as the cover art for the song “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” from his upcoming album “The Next Day.” In addition to the song’s title and Bowie’s name on the image, the post also includes the caption “02.26.13,” indicating a possible release date of next Tuesday, February 26th. Bowie debuted the lead single from “The Next Day,” “Where Are We Now?,” last month, marking his first new music in almost a decade. The album itself is scheduled to hit stores on March 12th.
Julie Andrews is voicing her support for the upcoming NBC remake of “The Sound of Music.” The woman who originated the role of Maria von Trapp tells “The Wall Street Journal” it’s “probably time that a remake is allowed,” since it’s been nearly 50 years since the original film first hit the big screen. She explains that over the years there have been new versions of “Cinderella” and “‘Mary Poppins,” and it’s “all part of the process of those wonderful properties going out and reaching another audience.” She’s also giving a blanket endorsement to Carrie Underwood, who’ll be taking on the role Andrews made famous. Julie says she doesn’t know the former “American Idol” winner, but “maybe” they’ll get the chance to meet. Andrews adds that she “would love to know her.” Few details have been revealed about the planned “Sound of Music” remake. So far Underwood is the only announced cast member for the upcoming production, which is expected to air on NBC as a live TV special in December.
Mariah Carey’s new song “Almost Home” will go to radio and become available on iTunes when it’s officially released by her label Island Def Jam on Tuesday. The new “American Idol” judge co-wrote the track for the “Wizard of Oz” prequel starring James Franco and Mila Kunis. An accompanying video directed by the star’s frequent collaborator David LaChapelle, is slated to premiere in the coming weeks as well. In a statement, she called “Almost Home” “a feel-good record” that “gives you the feeling of reaching home.” Mariah is also currently working on a new album, which is expected out sometime this year. “Oz: The Great and Powerful” hits theaters on March 8th.
Lady Gaga is starting to resurface, days after she shocked fans by canceling her “Born This Way Ball” tour due to injuries. According to one of the star’s fan sites “Gaga Daily,” she was seen on Friday making a coffee run at a Starbucks in Chicago. Gaga was reportedly confined to a wheelchair, and an image tweeted by a fan is making the rounds online. She confirmed the wheelchair rumors on Saturday, tweeting a photo of the chair, which she appears to have named “Emma.” Sources say she’s been staying in the Windy City with her boyfriend actor Taylor Kinney, who stars on the NBC drama “Chicago Fire.” Sources add that she’s scheduled to have surgery sometime this week. Gaga announced last week that she would have to scrap the second half of her tour due to what she called a “severe inflammation of the joints.”
Adele is “seriously considering” a Las Vegas residency as an option for her near future. Although it seems like a strange move so early in her career, the source explains that Adele wants to get back to performing but doesn’t want to uproot her new family with a tour so soon after giving birth. She is supposedly warming to the idea of settling in Vegas for some time with boyfriend Simon Konecki and her newborn son, all while recording her third album. At last week’s Grammys, Adele said she’d be staying in Los Angeles for the next couple of weeks to take some early meetings about her follow up to “21.” She said that she was “not very far along at all.” The singer is set to perform her James Bond theme “Skyfall” at the Academy Awards on February 24th.
Season eleven “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips is moving right along with his career plans despite ongoing family issues. The singer has released the video for his second single “Gone Gone Gone” following news that his mother was arrested for DUI in his Georgia hometown last week. To make matters worse, Phillips’ parents are reported to have split up in recent weeks as well, according to TMZ. The most recent “Idol” winner has reportedly had a strained relationship with his family back home for some time, and made headlines last November for refusing to help bail out his parents’ failing family business after hitting it big with his debut album. Ironically, the “Gone Gone Gone” video is a montage of families and lovers sticking together in hard times. The 22-year-old is currently on tour with Matchbox 20.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/15/13
ARCH MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
The cancellation of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” tour is expected to have a major financial impact on the concert business. According to the “Chicago Tribune,” promoters estimate the scratched dates could cost the industry more than 35-million-dollars in revenue this year. Gaga’s tour was the fifth most-successful of 2012, bringing in an estimated 161-million dollars. On Wednesday, a day after announcing the cancellation of four concert dates citing inflammation of the joints, the singer said she had to scrap the remainder of her tour as well, as she would eventually need surgery on her hip. Tickets for the remaining dates on Lady Gaga’s tour are being refunded at point of purchase. Gaga has not addressed the cancellation of these over 20 dates since the announcement. She tweeted on Tuesday breaking the news that she would have to postpone four shows, confessing that she’d been hiding the injury from her staff but that it had reached a point where she couldn’t walk.
Chubby Checker is seeking to unpackage a racy app from Hewlett Packard. The rock and roll pioneer has filed suit against the computer giant and its Palm Inc. subsidiary over a software application that guesses the size of a man’s anatomy based on his shoe size. Checker’s attorneys are seeking a multi-million dollar judgment for what they say is the “irreparable damage and harm” caused by HP-Palm’s “Chubby Checker.” Born Ernest Evans, the 71-year-old “Twist” singer trademarked his stage name, Chubby Checker, in 1997. Checker’s lawsuit says the app will “blur and tarnish” the trademark by associating Checker with “obscene, sexual connotation and images.” The lawsuit was filed this week in St. Lucie County Federal Court in Florida.
John Fogerty says working on “Wrote a Song for Everyone” has been “a joyful journey,” and describes the project as “a high-water mark” in his life. The album features collaborative remakes of some of Fogerty’s best-known songs, and Billboard.com says the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman previewed the upcoming disc at an event this week in New York City. Kid Rock, Bob Seger, Foo Fighters, Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band, and Jennifer Hudson are some of the stars who teamed up with Fogerty for tracks on “Wrote a Song for Everyone.” The 14-track album also features two new tunes. He said “Mystic Highway” stemmed from ideas he jotted down “20 or 30 years ago.” John admitted that “Train Of Fools” is probably his “favorite song” on the album, “because it’s new.” “Wrote a Song for Everyone” will be released on May 28th.
Track Listing For John Fogerty’s “Wrote a Song for Everyone”
1. Fortunate Son (with Foo Fighters)
2. Almost Saturday Night (with Keith Urban)
3. Lodi (with Shane Fogerty and Tyler Fogerty)
4. Mystic Highway (John Fogerty solo)
5. Wrote a Song for Everyone (with Miranda Lambert feat. Tom Morello)
6. Bad Moon Rising (with Zac Brown Band)
7. Long As I Can See the Light (with My Morning Jacket)
8. Born on the Bayou (with Kid Rock)
9. Train of Fools (John Fogerty solo)
10. Someday Never Comes (with Dawes)
11. Who’ll Stop the Rain (with Bob Seger)
12. Hot Rod Heart (with Brad Paisley)
13. Have You Ever Seen the Rain (with Alan Jackson)
14. Proud Mary (with Jennifer Hudson feat. Allen Toussaint and the Rebirth Brass Band)
Stevie Nicks is continuing her association with Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players. She fronted the group for their network TV debut last night on CBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman,” performing the song “You Can’t Fix This.” Grohl formed the group in conjunction with the premiere of his film, “Sound City,” a documentary about the legendary recording studio in Van Nuys, California. Nicks and Grohl co-wrote “You Can’t Fix This” specifically for the film’s soundtrack. Stevie also appears in the movie. She launched her recording career at the facility with the 1973 album “Buckingham Nicks,” her collaboration with Lindsey Buckingham. Fleetwood Mac also recorded their 1975 self-titled album and their landmark 1977 disc “Rumours” at Sound City.
Alicia Keys, Kesha, Ellie Goulding and Phillip Phillips will all be heading to the Lonestar State as performers during this weekend’s NBA All-Star weekend. Keys will be taking over halftime during the game, which airs this Sunday on TNT starting at 7:00 p.m. STL time. But there will be plenty of entertainment even before the game kicks off. TNT is airing the “NBA All-Star Saturday Night” event as well, which will include performances from “American Idol’s” Phillip Phillips and the recently reunited Fall Out Boy. British singer Ellie Goulding, who will be going on tour with Bruno Mars later this year, will also be on hand. Ke$ha has been tapped to take over Sunday’s Pregame Concert, getting fans pumped up along with Ludacris and B.o.B.
Sheryl Phillips, mother of “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips, has been arrested for DUI. According to TMZ, Sheryl was pulled over by police for swerving across lanes in her van in Albany, Georgia on Thursday morning. Law enforcement officials tell the site that Sheryl was unable to complete a field sobriety test administered by officers at the time she was stopped. Police took her into custody and transferred her to a nearby hospital. She was booked in Dougherty County after doctors decided she was well enough to go to jail. A source close to the family also tells the site that Sheryl and her husband had split up last week. The “Home” singer reportedly has a strained relationship with his parents. Last November, it was rumored that his folks were forced to close up their family business because Phillip refused to help them out financially.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/14/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Bon Jovi is seeing just how young their audience skews. The band is among the nominees for this year’s Kids’ Choice Awards. The New Jersey rockers are vying for Favorite Music Group along with Maroon 5, the British boy band One Direction, and the Nickelodeon-launched Big Time Rush. The fan-voted event lets tweens weigh in on entertainment and pop culture, with categories in sports, books, video games, and apps as well as in music, movies, and TV. Online voting begins Thursday at Nick.com/kids-choice-awards. The 26th annual Kids’ Choice Awards will air live on Nickelodeon on March 23rd.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be playing at least one festival this summer. The group is on board for this spring’s Hangout Music Fest, taking place in Gulf Shores, Alabama from May 17th through the 19th. Petty and company are slated to be a headliner at the three-day event, along with Kings Of Leon and another act which will be announced in the coming weeks. The Black Crowes, the Trey Anastasio Band, and The Shins are just a few of the other bands scheduled to perform over the course of the event, while the lineup is expected to grow. Tickets for the Hangout Festival go on sale Friday. Additional details are available at HangoutMusicFest.com.
A film about Stevie Nicks is getting a screening at next month’s South By Southwest Film Festival. “In Your Dreams – Stevie Nicks” documents the Fleetwood Mac singer’s efforts as she worked on her 2011 solo album. Nicks recorded the project in her home studio with Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart serving as her producer. “In Your Dreams” is described as a “magic-tinged musical journey” that showcases Nicks’ and Stewart’s creative process, and provides “a loving and tuneful portrait of the eternally bewitching Gold Dust Woman.” The Nicks documentary is scheduled to be shown on March 14th. The South By Southwest Film Festival takes place in Austin, Texas from March 8th through the 16th.
The remaining dates of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way Ball” tour have been canceled. A statement on her Little Monsters site says the star is in need of surgery after additional tests have determined that she has what’s being called a labral tear of the right hip. Her doctor has ordered “strict down time to recover” from the procedure, forcing Gaga to cancel her tour. The singer tweeted on Tuesday that she had been hiding the injury, which was said at the time, to be a case of synovitis, or severe inflammation of the joints. Gaga canceled four shows in Chicago, Detroit and Hamilton, saying that she “could not walk.” The pop star said she had been keeping her “chronic pain” a secret from her staff because she “didn’t want to disappoint” fans.
Katy Perry and Rihanna may need a refresher in girl code this Valentine’s Day. The two used to be close, but it looks like their friendship took a hit because of Rihanna’s decision to publicly reconcile with Chris Brown. A source tells “Us Weekly” that the “Firework” singer kept a distance from Rihanna at Sunday’s Grammys because she “doesn’t approve” of their rekindled romance. The source says they “aren’t tight anymore” since Rihanna’s decision to go back to Chris last year. Katy was seated in the front row at the awards show with her own beau singer John Mayer, while Rihanna and Chris were seen getting cozy elsewhere in the audience. The couple was spotted together at an afterparty later that night as well.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/13/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Bruno Mars has announced his second world tour which will be named “The Moonshine Jungle Tour.” Dates have not been announced yet, but he did reveal the cities to hold fans over and St. Louis is one of them!!
Patrick Carney of The Black Keys says Justin Bieber doesn’t deserve a Grammy. For that remark, Bieber says the drummer deserves a beat – with an open hand. The pop star responded to Carney’s recent post-Grammy comment via Twitter Tuesday, saying, “the black keys drummer should be slapped around haha.” After the awards Sunday, Carney was caught on TMZ’s cameras, mocking Bieber’s Grammy snub. He told the website, “He’s rich, right? Grammys are for music, not for money – and he’s making a lot of money.”
Fresh off their Grammy night performance, there are reports that Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z are suiting up for a road trip this summer. Sources tell “Rolling Stone,” the “Suit & Tie” collaborators are in negotiations to launch a stadium tour, which could include eleven to 13 stadium dates. Timberlake’s next album “The 20/20 Experience” is due out on March 19th.
Kesha has been tapped to headline the Sprint Pregame Concert, joining a star-studded lineup of artists performing during the NBA All-Star weekend festivities in Houston. She’ll pump up the crowd before the All-Star Game kicks off on Sunday at 5 p.m. STL time. Alicia Keys will be headlining this year’s halftime show and John Legend will be singing the National Anthem.
Ukrainian TV reporter Vitalli Sediuk is revealing how he managed to pull off crashing the Grammy stage Sunday night. Sediuk tells “The Hollywood Reporter” that his channel wasn’t even credentialed for the award show and he attended with friends who had tickets. He says he found his way to the media line and interviewed some celebrities before stealthily following some people through the gates. Apparently security checked his pockets, but no one asked him for a ticket. The prankster reporter insists that he had no plans to take the stage and intercept Adele’s win as he did. When he heard her name being called, the idea came to him and he went for it. He says when he met the singer onstage, he said to her “Thank you Adele. You’re my inspiration” – pretending the award was actually for him. Sediuk recalls that security wasn’t very pleased with him once he walked backstage. He says they took him into another room and questioned him about how he got inside before being sent to spend a night in jail, charged with trespassing. He adds that his “purpose is to entertain” and to “show a different emotion of celebrities.” He says, “I’m not a crazy guy. I just think differently.”
Kelly Clarkson has picked out what could be the most important dress of her life. The singer told “People” that she killed two birds with one stone earlier this month while visiting the Vera Wang boutique in West Hollywood. She went there with the intention of choosing a gown to wear to the Grammys, and ended up finding the wedding dress of her dreams. The 30-year-old says the gown she picked up for her big day is perfectly suited to her personality. She described it as “a little rock and roll” and “nothing like a princess thing.” Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys and Victoria Beckham are among a long list of celebrities who have walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang.
Ted Nugent is criticizing President Obama’s State of the Union address. The Motor City Madman was among those who attended the event in person. Following the speech, he tweeted, quote, “It deeply pains me to report that the prez is a master scam artist-didnt believe a word.” In his address President Obama said the America is making a steady economic recovery, that the “rubble of crisis” has been cleared away, and the nation is stronger than it was four years ago. He cited the victims of numerous mass shootings and said they “deserve a vote” on new gun safety measures. He also said America doesn’t need a “bigger government,” but a “smarter government, and called for a renewed spirit of bipartisan cooperation to put the “nation’s interests before party.” Obama vowed to do what is necessary about the nuclear threats posed by Iran and North Korea, and said that more U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan over the next year. Nugent, whose outspoken opposition to President Obama resulted in a visit from the Secret Service last year, attended Obama’s State of the Union address as the guest of Texas’ Republican Representative Steve Stockman.
Van Halen’s David Lee Roth is opening up about the band’s most recent work, as well as what he misses about the new incarnation of the group. The singer admits to “Rolling Stone” that Van Halen’s 2012 release “A Different Kind Of Truth” didn’t exactly contain new material. He says the tracks actually dated back to the 1970s, and were songs that were “written and demoed before the first album.” Roth adds that he and Eddie Van Halen “haven’t written a new song in 20 years.” He also says he’s not sure what’s ahead for the group, explaining that he’s “not sure what’s in Ed’s mind at this point.” Diamond Dave explains that he believes Eddie plans “to write with his son,” Wolfgang Van Halen — the band’s current bassist, and he’s “not sure where that actually leads.” Roth also admitted that he really feels Michael Anthony’s absence, and he particularly misses Anthony’s vocals. He praises Anthony as “arguably one of the greatest high tenor voices ever,” and says his voice is “as identifiable as the high voice” in Earth, Wind & Fire or the Beach Boys. Roth adds that he “would always look forward to that reunion.” Van Halen is expected to tour this year, after cancelling a host of dates last summer and fall. But so far the band’s schedule only includes their make-good dates in Japan in June.
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger isn’t happy about an upcoming book about the group. Prince Rupert Loewenstein, who served as the Stones financial advisor from 1968 until 2007 is opening up about his experiences with the group in “A Prince Among Stones: That Business with The Rolling Stones and Other Adventures,” But Jagger tells the UK’s “The Mail on Sunday” that it’s not right for Loewenstein to put his stories about the band in print. He admits his attitude might be “old fashioned,” but explains that he doesn’t think “your ex-bank manager should be discussing your financial dealings and personal information in public.” He adds that it “just goes to show that well brought-up people don’t always display good manners.” The Stones were apparently in a dire financial situation when Loewenstein came on board in the late ’60s, and with his assistance band members ended up becoming multi-millionaires. “A Prince Among Stones” is due in stores next month.
Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath says he has no problem being a ’90s nostalgia act. The rocker has been hitting the road lately with other acts whose hits came mostly in that decade, and he tells “Rolling Stone” he wouldn’t mind doing that for the rest of his life. McGrath says he doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of playing Sugar Ray fan-favorites like “Fly” and “Every Morning,” adding that it still feels like the first time when those songs come on the radio. And while Sugar Ray might make more music in the future, McGrath says he’s not worried about making hits anymore. He says they’re not one of those bands who have a hard time realizing they “aren’t a relevant recording act anymore.” Sugar Ray is set to team up with other ’90s hitmakers who feel the same way — like Smash Mouth, Fastball, Gin Blossoms, and more — for the Mark McGrath and Friends cruise this summer. The oceanic outing is scheduled to set sail on October 18th. More information is available at MarkMcGrathAndFriendsCruise.com.
While a number of rockers have gone country, one country singer is now going rock. The Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines is prepping for the release of her debut solo album, “Mother,” which will arrive in stores on May 7th. The title track is a cover of the Pink Floyd song, and “USA Today” says the project was “influenced by a more rock-based, edgy sound.” Maines’ version of “Mother” is also featured on the soundtrack to the documentary “West of Memphis,” about the wrongful murder convictions of three Arkansas teens known as the West Memphis Three. Maines discussed her reasons for shifting genres on the red carpet at last week’s MusiCares event honoring Bruce Springsteen. When CMT’s Katie Cook told her she still had lots of fans in the country community, Maines said that “lots of people don’t love” her as well. She added that it’s “kind of like going back to your abusive husband,” and she’s “just not feeling it.”
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/12/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
CBS says they didn’t fail to protect viewers from a Jack White f-bomb during Sunday night’s Grammy telecast. According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” many viewers hit the web after the show to talk about White’s apparent use of the four-letter word during his performance of his single “Love Interruption.” But CBS claims he was actually singing the word “fight.” Executive VP Martin Franks tells “The Hollywood Reporter” that the network’s editors have listened to the performance multiple times and found nothing that needed to be bleeped. Those editors, however, did have to go to work during Mumford and Sons’ Album of the Year acceptance speech. Frontman Marcus Mumford joked that they didn’t win any Grammys last year because the award’s presenter, Adele, was nominated for “f***ing everything” at the 2012 ceremony. But thanks to the ten-second delay, Grammy editors were able to remove the profanity in time.
Beyonce is sitting down with Oprah. The talk show host announced the special one-on-one interview on Twitter on Monday. “Queen Bey” will be appearing on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” on OWN this Saturday, which is the same night as the premiere of her HBO documentary “Life is But a Dream.” But the two television events won’t be conflicting. The OWN interview is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Eastern, so that fans can click over to HBO at 9 p.m. to watch the singer’s self-directed documentary. The last time Oprah sat down with Beyonce was back in 2008 shortly after tying the knot with Jay-Z.
Viewers may not have noticed, but a man who is now identified as Ukrainian TV presenter Vitalli Sediuk, stormed the Grammy stage Sunday night. According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” Sediuk, who is known for being a prankster, was detained by event security and placed under arrest for trespassing. He spent the night in jail. Sediuk somehow managed to get onstage and tried to intercept Adele as she made her way up to accept the first award of the night for Best Pop Solo Performance. The CBS broadcast actually picked up just a few seconds of the prank. Presenter Jennifer Lopez was shown giving Seduik a stern look and motioning for him to exit, as Adele went to accept the award from Pitbull. Apparently, the presenter got onstage by filling the seat of Maroon 5′s Adam Levine, who he knew would be a latecomer. He was released from jail on Monday. A court date is scheduled for March. Sediuk made headlines last May when he attempted to kiss Will Smith on the red carpet of the Moscow premiere of “Men in Black 3.” For that, he only earned a quick shove and slap from the star.
Ted Nugent will be front and center for President Obama’s State Of Union speech tonight. The rocker, who got acquainted with the Secret Service after making caustic comments about the President last year, will be attending the address as the guest of Texas GOP Representative Steve Stockman. Nugent will reportedly be making statements to reporters after the President’s remarks. In a statement, Stockman called Nugent a “patriot” adding that he was excited to have the rocker join him in the House chamber to hear from President Obama. Stockman and Nugent have a common bond in their support of the Second Amendment. Last month Stockman suggested impeaching the President over gun control. Nugent made headlines last year when he said he would either be dead or in jail this year if President Obama was re-elected to the White House.
Bon Jovi’s Jon Bon Jovi says he’s concerned for young music fans. The singer tells the UK’s “Star” magazine that “this generation isn’t paying that much attention to music.” He admits that “the young boy band thing has its place.” But Jon says “you can’t compare One Direction to the likes of Adele or Mumford And Sons,” adding that “their talent is invigorating.” Given his attitude, Bon Jovi was likely satisfied with the results at last weekend’s Grammy Awards. Adele and Mumford And Sons were among the winners at the event, while One Direction wasn’t even a nominee.
ARCH MUSIC NEWS for 2/11/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Kelly Clarkson, Adele and fun. are among the artists celebrating wins at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Adele picked up the first award of the night in the Best Pop Solo Performance category for “Set Fire To The Rain.” She was also on hand to present the Album of the Year award to her fellow Brits, Mumford & Sons. Kelly Clarkson took home one out of the four awards for which she was nominated, winning Best Pop Vocal Album for “Stronger.” She was also on hand to perform two short tributes to Patti Page and Carole King, two of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” featuring Kimbra picked up the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award, along with Record of the Year, which was presented to them by Prince. Fun. was named Best New Artist and also took home the Song of the Year award for “We Are Young” featuring Janelle Monae. Rihanna’s video for “We Found Love” featuring Calvin Harris won for Best Short Form Video.
Rihanna also took the stage twice during Sunday’s ceremony. First, she performed her latest single “Stay” along with Mikki Ekko and came back later to be a part of the Bob Marley tribute with Bruno Mars and Sting. But the big performance of the night came from Justin Timberlake, who took the Grammy stage for the first time in over six years. After being introduced by Ellen DeGeneres and Beyonce, he started out with a retro “Suit & Tie, which featured a guest appearance by Jay-Z. He also performed another song from his upcoming album called “Pusher Love Girl.” Taylor Swift opened the show with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” She may have taken a jab at her latest ex, One Direction’s Harry Styles, when she appeared to have spoken a few key lines of the song in a British accent. Alicia Keys and Maroon 5 mixed their hits “Girl On Fire” and “Daylight” and fun. performed “Carry On.” The evening’s host LL Cool J closed out the show with the help of Chuck D, Tom Morello and Blink 182′s Travis Barker.
Jennifer Lopez found a way around the Grammy’s dress code. The singer-actress arrived at the awards on Sunday night in a black gown with a nearly-waist high split that exposed her right leg. Before presenting the first award of the night, she said, “as you can see I read the memo” – referring to CBS’ much talked-about list of wardrobe restrictions that made headlines last week. She presented the award for Best Pop Solo Performance to Adele. While talking to E! on the red carpet earlier that night, she said that she “thought she was being such a good girl” since the new dress code “didn’t say anything about leg!” Lopez famously made headlines at the 2000 Grammys for her plunging green Versace silk dress.
Here is a list of winners from select categories at the 55th annual Grammy Awards.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Gotye featuring Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used To Know”
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Mumford and Sons, “Babel”
SONG OF THE YEAR
Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe, “We Are Young” (Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters)
BEST NEW ARTIST
Fun.
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Adele, “Set Fire To The Rain”
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Gotye featuring Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used To Know”
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Paul McCartney, “Kisses On The Bottom”
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
BEST ROCK SONG
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy” (Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton and Patrick Carney, songwriters)
BEST ROCK ALBUM
The Black Keys, “El Camino”
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Gotye, “Making Mirrors”
BEST HARD ROCK/METAL PERFORMANCE
Halestorm, “Love Bites (So Do I)”
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away”
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
BEST COUNTRY SONG
Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away” (Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters)
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Zac Brown Band, “Uncaged”
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Bonnie Raitt, “Slipstream”
BLUES ALBUM
“Locked Down,” Dr. John
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
“Climax,” Usher
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
“Love On Top,” Beyoncé
BEST R&B SONG
Miguel, “Adorn” (Miguel Pimentel, songwriter)
BEST R&B ALBUM
“Black Radio,” Robert Glasper Experiment
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
“N****s In Paris,” Jay-Z & Kanye West
BEST RAP SONG
Jay-Z & Kanye West, “N****s In Paris,” (Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, songwriters)
BEST RAP ALBUM
“Take Care,” Drake
BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
“No Church in the Wild,” Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
“Channel Orange,” Frank Ocean
BEST DANCE RECORDING
Skrillex featuring Sirah, “Bangarang”
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
Skrillex, “Bangarang”
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
“Gravity,” LeCrae
LATIN POP ALBUM
“MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition,” Juanes
LATIN ROCK, URBAN, OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
“Imaginaries,” Quetzal
BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris, “We Found Love”
BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO
Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros & Old Crow Medicine Show, “Big Easy Express”
RECORDING PACKAGE
“Biophilia,” Bjork
HISTORICAL ALBUM
“The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set)” Brian Wilson and other producers
BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL
“Promises,” (Skrillex & Nero Remix)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Dan Auerbach
BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM
“Society’s Child,” Janis Ian
BEST COMEDY ALBUM
“Blow Your Pants Off,” Jimmy Fallon
SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” Trent Reznor, Atticus
SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
“Safe & Sound (From Hunger Games),” Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars, T-Bone Burnett
The late Levon Helm is among the stars who were remembered at last night’s Grammy Awards. Elton John led an all-star tribute performance of The Band’s “The Weight” to cap off the In Memorium segment. Mavis Staples, Mumford And Sons, the Zac Brown Band’s Zac Brown, the Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, and T Bone Burnett also took part in the Helm tribute. Bob Marley received a musical salute as well. Sting and Bruno Mars led off the segment performing their own reggae-inspired songs before welcoming Rihanna and Ziggy Marley to the stage to sing “Could You Be Loved.” The 55th annual Grammy Awards were presented in a ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and aired on CBS Sunday night.
Bruce Springsteen continues to raise money for charity — even when he’s being honored for his charitable efforts. Billboard.com says The Boss drove the price of an autographed guitar from 70-thousand-dollars to a quarter-of-a-million-dollars at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala, where he was the honoree. He generated even greater interest by tossing in an hour-long guitar lesson, a ride in the sidecar of his Harley, concert tickets, and a pan of lasagne which his mother would cook. It means Springsteen will be spending quite a bit of time with the winning bidder, which is something he doesn’t seem to mind. In his acceptance speech, he shared how musicians “want to be great” and “want to be important in your life.” He added that it’s the fans who “keep us in search of the force that reignites our gifts.”
Bruce also praised the stars who honored him with a musical salute, saying they made him “proud to be a musician.” More than 20 stars were on hand for the special tribute Highlights included Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” John Legend’s “Dancing in the Dark,” and Mumford And Sons’ “I’m On Fire.” Sting, Elton John, Kenny Chesney, Alabama Shakes, and Juanes also performed, while Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello took the stage twice. Springsteen also played a five-song set, and led the all-star finale of “Glory Days.” As the MusiCares person of the Year, Springsteen was honored for his musical contributions and his charitable work. The event took place in Los Angeles Friday night.
Friends, family, and fans are remembering the late Whitney Houston today, on the first anniversary of her death. She was honored over the weekend by her one-time mentor, Clive Davis, who paid tribute to her at his annual pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday. According to “Entertainment Weekly,” Davis told the room of stars and industry peers that his world continues to be shattered by Whitney’s passing and that her death still feels “unreal.” Houston’s brother and sister-in-law Gary and Pat Houston were among those in attendance. But the late singer’s mother, Cissy Houston, chose not to attend, calling the the invitation “obscene” and “unheard of” in an interview with “Access Hollywood” last week. Whitney’s death came just hours before she was due to attend Davis’ pre-Grammy gala last year.
This year’s gala also included a tribute to Gladys Knight. Billboard.com says the Motown legend was honored with a performance from Jennifer Hudson before she took the stage to join her on “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.” Knight closed the show on her own with a performance of her classic “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Steven Tyler is actively backing legislation that bears his name in Hawaii. The “Hawaiian Reporter” says Tyler as well as Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood were on hand to testify in favor of the “Steven Tyler Act” last Friday. The new privacy legislation was introduced by Maui Senator Kalani English at the rocker’s request. The bill would make it illegal for someone to photograph or tape people when they are “engaging in a personal or familial activity with a reasonable expectation of privacy.” In his testimony Tyler admitted that being a celebrity means living in the public eye. But he explained that “it hurts” when he sees someone snapping a photo of him when he’s showering, dressing, or celebrating a special occasion with his family, and that picture ends up in a magazine. He added that the invasion of privacy has made his kids reluctant to do things with him, and this past Christmas was “one of the first times” that he was able to celebrate the holiday as a family.
Mick Fleetwood, who made Maui his home ten years ago, admitted that after being in Hawaii for so long he’s “immune to it to some extent.” But he said he agreed with Tyler, and is supporting the Aerosmith frontman because “enough is enough.” Tyler’s attorney Dina LaPolt helped draft the legislation, because technology has enabled the paparazzi to become much more invasive from a much further distance. She also testified, saying her goal was to give celebrities “peace of mind.” Numerous other stars, including Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, Guns N’ Roses’ Dizzy Reid, Quiet Riot’s Franike Banali, and Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne, have also submitted testimony in favor of the bill. Those who oppose the measure say it violates freedom of speech rights.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/7/13
ARCH MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Jack Russell, who now fronts his own version of Great White, is taking the stage tonight in Hermosa Beach, California to raise money for charity. But he’s not supporting the cause he originally intended. He had planned to play a benefit for the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, but was forced to change his plans when the foundation’s vice president contacted him saying his donation would be refused, because the survivors and families of the victims “do not wish to have any association with Jack or his Great White.” Russell admits he’s “saddened by the response of the foundation and the motives behind it,” but will respect their wishes. Instead, he’ll give the money from his show to B.E.A.T.S. — Bringing Everyone A Tremendous Smile. Acey Longley, the son of Great White guitarist Ty Longley who died in The Station fire, established the charity in honor of his father. The organization provides toys, musical instruments, and other gifts to hospitalized children. February 20th will mark the tenth anniversary of The Station fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island. In addition to Longley 99 others were killed and more than 200 were injured in the blaze, which was sparked by Great White’s pyrotechnics.
Madonna is using her massively successful “MDNA” tour to do some good. She’s donating a collection of her tour’s props and outfits to an auction to help raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief. Her publicist confirmed Madge’s plans to give away a number of memorable items from the tour, including her much-photographed majorette costume. The tour, which turned out to be the highest-grossing tour of 2012, stopped in Manhattan just two weeks after Sandy came in and flooded the city. During that show, Madonna made headlines for asking the audience to throw money on stage to help victims as she performed a striptease. After her tour ended in December, she made a special trip to the Rockaways to meet with families and see the devastation firsthand.
Stevie Nicks is opening up about her life to Oprah Winfrey. The singer’s battle with substance abuse is among the highlights featured in a trailer for the upcoming season of OWN’s “Oprah’s Master Class.” The series gives the spotlight to people who are considered masters of their crafts, talking about the highs and lows of their careers. Alicia Keys, Tom Brokaw, and Cindy Crawford are some of the other stars who’ll be featured in season three, which will launch on March 3rd. Nicks’ episode is scheduled to air on March 24th.
Singing legend and World War Two vet Tony Bennett says assault weapons have no place in American households. Bennett appeared on CNN’s “The Situation Room” to talk about gun control on Wednesday. Earlier in the day Bennett joined fellow celebrities and lawmakers on Capitol Hill earlier to support President Obama’s stricter gun policy proposals. The 86-year-old singer said he doesn’t believe the entertainment industry is to blame for gun violence in the U.S., as neighbors like Canada who have the same exposure to music and movies as Americans, don’t have the same problem. He said his goal was to urge Congress to pass an assault weapons ban. Bennett says such weapons should only be used in war, which he called “the lowest form of human behavior.”
Beatles producer George Martin is being praised by one of his peers. Producer George Glennon says in a post on his website that Martin is “not only one of the most talented persons in the history of popular music, but one of the most generous, interested and nicest people one could ever meet.” He calls Martin “arguably the greatest record producer of all time and without question the guiding steward of the greatest band in history.” He adds that honoring him will be “a special night.” Martin is set to receive the Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award from Britain’s Music Producers Guild at the annual MPG Awards, taking place in London Thursday night.
Sports fans are getting another dose of Alicia Keys, following her widely well-received National Anthem at the Super Bowl. She’ll be taking over halftime duties at the upcoming 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. John Legend will be on hand to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. The All-Star Game will air live on February 17th starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on TNT.
Mariah Carey is taking a break from “American Idol” to lend her voice to the upcoming Disney film “Oz The Great and Powerful.” The song is called “Almost Home” and will be released by her label Island Def Jam on February 19th. In a statement, Carey said the song is a “feel-good record” that “works beautifully with the film.” She said it goes with the classic film’s original theme in that it gives you “the feeling of reaching your home and being with the people you love. ”Oz The Great and Powerful,” which stars James Franco, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz, is due out in theaters on March 8th.
Fergie‘s husband actor Josh Duhamel is slamming rumors that the couple is expecting a baby. While on the red carpet of his new movie “Safe Haven,” Duhamel denied point-blank that the Black Eyed Peas singer was pregnant. Fergie attended the premiere but let her husband walk the red carpet solo. When he was approached by E!’s Jason Kennedy who asked him if there was any news on their plans to start a family, he replied with a solid “no.” Kennedy told him that they were asking because he was quoted as saying that it would be his “greatest career achievement.” Duhamel corrected him saying, “greatest life achievement,” while walking away.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/6/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Al Pacino is getting good reviews as embattled music producer Phil Spector in an upcoming HBO movie. Also starring Helen Mirren as Spector’s attorney Linda Kenney Baden, the movie revolves around Spector’s first trial for the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson and his relationship with Kenney Baden. The first trial ended in a hung jury in 2007. Two years later Spector was convicted. He is currently serving a 19 years-to-life sentence in a California prison. Written and directed by David Mamet, the HBO production also stars Jeffrey Tambor and Rebecca Pidgeon. “Phil Spector” premieres on HBO on March 24th.
Motley Crue’s Vince Neil says fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a new album from the group. He syas that the band has no plans to work on the follow up to their 2008 effort “Saints of Los Angeles” anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean the group won’t have a new song or two arriving in the near future. Neil says he’s expecting Motley Crue to spend much of this year on the road. The band will launch the Australian leg of “The Monster Tour” with KISS in Perth on February 28th. So far the group’s only other confirmed date is the Moondance Jam festival in Walker, Minnesota on July 18th.
An instrumental version of 1985 charity single Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote to help the hungry in Africa is now being used by another country for a very different reason. North Korea is dropping bombs on U.S. cities in a new video set to the instrumental of the peace anthem “We Are The World.” The three-and-a-half minute propaganda video was uploaded to North Korea’s official website over the weekend. It shows an unidentified city being attacked with explosions while the United States flag flaps in the background. The footage of the city in ruins in the video was reportedly lifted from the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” According to the “New York Times,” a copy of the video on YouTube was removed Tuesday afternoon after gamemaker Activision complained of copyright infringement. The video comes on the heels of North Korea’s promises to expand its nuclear program and conduct another nuclear test in defiance of the United Nations recent sanctions against the
PETA is calling out Beyonce over her wardrobe choice during her Super Bowl halftime performance. The star’s black leather bodysuit included materials offensive to the group, like python and paneled iguana. PETA issued a statement saying they don’t think Beyonce would have chosen the Rubin Singer-designed outfit had she seen one of their video exposés showing the painful deaths experienced by the reptiles. PETA says “today’s fashions are trending toward humane, vegan options” and Beyonce “missed the mark” on that score. According to the “NY Daily News,” PETA also took issue with the Christian Dior mink coat Beyonce wore to President Obama’s inauguration last month.
It looks as if Britney Spears is still headed to Las Vegas. The star’s longtime manager Larry Rudolph tells “Extra” Britney is indeed talking to several casinos about a months-long residency in Sin City. He tells “Extra” he and Britney are in “deep negotiations” and that he would be “shocked if it didn’t happen.” Rudolph added that both parties are hoping to nail down a deal as soon as possible and that fans should expect a formal announcement in the next few weeks.
Lady Gaga spends a lot of time on the road – but she apparently enjoys all the luxuries of being an international pop star. Gaga’s tour rider was revealed in court documents for a lawsuit involving her former assistant Jennifer O’Neill. Among other things, the rider reportedly shows Gaga asked for all lavender-colored towels for her dressing room, lavender-scented hand and face soap and candles that should be available “at all times.” According to Celebuzz.com, the Mother Monster also needs to have a jar of Hiro strawberry jam, peanut butter and Special K cereal. She’s apparently also quite fond of “good quality” white and red wines, speciality teas and requests a pack of “extra long” straws. Gaga reportedly has a specific taste for the decor of her accommodations. She asks for her dressing room to be in a “glam rock” theme, with white leather couches, fresh roses and black satin drapes. She also needs a fitness room accessible to her 24/7.
Bruno Mars has a musical family back in his homestate of Hawaii. His four sisters are in a group called Lylas trying to break into the business like their big brother. The four girls — Jaime, Tiara, Tahiti and Presley — have signed with WE TV to develop an unscripted series about their attempts to launch their girl group. The network announced on Tuesday that the group is moving forward with the reality show with production company Asylum Entertainment, who is behind shows like TLC’s “Making the Cut.” The show will be called “The Lylas,” and will follow the band as they move from Hawaii to Los Angeles to work on their debut album. The network says that the group’s story is “filled with all of the drama and chaos that comes from making a major life change, with the added spice of doing it alongside your sisters.” No word yet on when the series is set to air.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/5/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
On the heels of her electrifying/power-sapping Super Bowl halftime show performance in New Orleans Sunday, Beyonce has announced plans to head out on a world tour, starting in April. She’s calling it the “Mrs. Carter Show,” an apparent reference to her husband, hip-hop star Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. Set to kick off April 15th in Serbia, the show will keep Beyoncé in Europe through May. She will return stateside in late June for shows that will take her across North America including stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Charlotte, North Carolina and Brooklyn…but no St. Louis date. Her fifth album is due out this spring.
Beyoncé is getting the all-clear from the NFL in regards to the power outage that interrupted Sunday night’s Super Bowl for almost 35 minutes. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a press conference Monday that the third quarter outage was unrelated to the singer’s halftime show.
The singer of the 60s classic “Wild Thing”, The Troggs frontman Reg Presley has died at age 71.
Billy Joel says his life is “kinda getting back to normal” after recently undergoing hip replacement procedures on both hips, and is now at “85-percent.” He says that his health issues and age are keeping him from touring — perhaps permanently — because he’s “not as good” as he “used to be.” He explains that his voice has deepened and he’s “not as athletic” and doesn’t “jump off the piano anymore” — a move he admits likely contributed to his hip problems. Billy also says he feels no sense of urgency to release any new music. He describes his situation as a split with himself, saying “The singer broke up with the songwriter and the performer didn’t want to work with the piano player anymore.”
Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood says the group might have a big surprise for fans on their upcoming tour — Christine McVie. The drummer tells the UK’s “The Sun” that he’s spoken with the group’s former singer and keyboardist, who left the fold in 1998. He says that while Christine “loathes flying” and has “never been back to the United States” since leaving the group 15 years ago, she’s agreed to leave her UK home to spend three weeks with him in Maui. Mick adds that during her visit he’ll be working on “persuading her to return.” He admits “it’ll be her decision,” but says he and the rest of the band would “make her very welcome if she wanted to creep on that stage again.”
Sting and Prince will be taking part in this year’s Grammy Awards. They’ve been tapped to team up with nominees Bruno Mars and Rihanna for a performance at the event. Prince has been added to the growing list of presenters. A host of other stars are also on board for the show. Elton John will be sharing the stage with Ed Sheeran while Jack White, the Black Keys, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Mumford And Sons, and Justin Timberlake are just some of the other performers. Other presenters include Jennifer Lopez; country stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, and Hunter Hayes; and actors Neil Patrick Harris, Pauley Perrette, and Kaley Cuoco. LL Cool J will host the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which will be presented in Los Angeles and air on CBS this Sunday.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/4/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
SEE ALL THE SUPERBOWL COMMERCIALS HERE
Stevie Wonder is among the stars who were featured in special Super Bowl ads. He played the part of a voodoo priest in Bud Light’s commercial, and used his powers to send a fan to the big game. Meanwhile, Fleetwood Mac‘s “Landslide” provided the soundtrack to Budweiser’s “Clydesdale” spot, in which a man and the horse he raised to become one of the famed animals are reunited. Meat Loaf‘s “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” helped create the theme to M&M’s ad, and the Rolling Stones‘ “Sympathy For The Devil” added to the eerie ambience of Mercedes’ ad.
Geddy Lee of Rush will be turning up on TV tonight. He’s making a guest appearance on the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.” The episode is marking the return of Robin Sparkles — the former teen pop star persona of actress Colbie Smulders’ character, Robin, and Lee is one of many Canadians included on the show. Paul Shaffer, Alan Thicke, Jason Priestley, and Alex Trebek are some of the others also making cameos.
Beyonce had a little help from some old friends when she took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show Sunday. The ladies of Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, joined the star onstage in the middle of her 13-minute performance to sing their hits “Bootylicious” and “Independent Women.” They also helped Beyonce kick off her solo hit “Single Ladies.” “Queen Bey” emerged solo after a group of lucky fans who won a Pepsi-sponsored contest ran onto the field to introduce her. Starting off with “Love On Top,” she transformed with the high-tech stage into “Crazy In Love” and “Baby Boy.” Going with her girl power theme, she was backed up by a group of all-female band, including longtime member and guitarist Bibi McGill. After the brief Destiny’s Child reunion, she finished off with her signature “Single Ladies” dance and then slowed things down, closing the show with “Halo.” The Super Bowl was interrupted by a 34 minute power outage, following Beyonce’s halftime performance.
Alicia Keys added her voice as well as her own style to Super Bowl 47. The singer was part of CBS’ kick-off show prior to the big game, contributing the national anthem to the event. Keys accompanied herself on the piano, and gave the song her own unique touch at the end.
Adele has gifted her mother Penny Adkins with a brand new London apartment. According to the “Sunday Mirror,” the singer signed over a 942-thousand dollar property in Notting Hill in her mother’s name. Adkins reportedly raised the young star as a single mother and worked two jobs to support her dreams to become a star. Adele’s father, who left the future Grammy winner and her mother when Adele was still a child, recently tried to reach out to his superstar daughter after she publicly promised never to speak to him again. He apparently got on Adele’s bad side after he sold a story to the press about her.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 2/1/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Journey will join country trio Rascal Flatts for an episode of “CMT Crossroads.” The two groups will share the stage at the New Orleans Sugar Bowl to tape the show Saturday night, and it’ll air that night at 10:00 p.m. STL time. Numerous other stars, including Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, will be on hand to take part in the revelry as well. Nola.com says the former Beatle is slated to walk the blue carpet Friday at “Rolling Stone” Live to help launch the three-night event. Meanwhile, Wonder is scheduled to perform at the party with Guy Clark, Jr. Saturday night. Other events will feature performances from Train, Cee Lo Green, Snoop Dogg, and Justin Timberlake. Super Bowl 47 will take place Sunday at the Superdome, featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.
The Rolling Stones will be part of Super Bowl Sunday, in the form of a Mercedes ad. The band’s classic “Sympathy For The Devil” serves as the soundtrack to the commercial, featuring Willem Dafoe as Satan trying to entice a young man to buy a Mercedes CLA from him. A red carpet date with Kate Upton and the chance to swap dance moves with Usher are just some of the perks the devil offers in his contract. But just before the young man signs away his soul, he sees on a billboard that he can get the vehicle for a much lower price — just 29-thousand-900-dollars — and vanquishes the devil with his refusal. The Mercedes ad is among those slated to air during CBS’ coverage of Super Bowl this Sunday.
Sinéad O’Connor may have scored her biggest hit with a cover of Prince‘s song “Nothing Compares 2 U,” but that doesn’t mean she likes the guy. In the new issue of “Uncut” magazine, the Irish singer reportedly said she met the Purple One once, and things “got violent.” She added that they “detest each other,” but claimed she couldn’t offer any more details about the altercation. O’Connor did say, however, that “it is a very funny story,” and she plans to put it in her book when she’s an “old lady.” And it turns out Prince isn’t the only rock icon to feel Sinéad’s wrath. She also talks about trying to beat up Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. The new “Uncut” issue hit newsstands in England on Thursday.
Beyoncé is putting her lip syncing scandal to rest. The singer opened her pre-Super Bowl halftime show press conference in New Orleans Thursday with a live, unaccompanied rendition of the National Anthem, then asked the press gathered if they had any questions. The singer has been under fire for lip syncing the National Anthem at President Obama’s inauguration but said she would “absolutely be singing live” during Sunday’s Super Bowl half time show.
Jennifer Hudson will join 26 students from Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing “America The Beautiful” prior to the Super Bowl. Each student will represent one person who lost their life at the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in December. Hudson has been personally touched by gun violence. In 2008 her mother, brother and seven-year old nephew were killed by her estranged brother-in-law in Chicago. After three months out of the public sphere following the tragedy, Hudson made her first public appearance at Super Bowl 43, where she performed the national anthem.
The Grammys will be paying special tribute to Whitney Houston, a year after her death brought a cloud over the 2012 ceremony. The Recording Academy announced on Thursday that CBS will be airing an hour-long special the night before this year’s Grammys called “The Grammys Will Go On: A Death In The Family” on February 9th.
Lady Gaga‘s star may be fading. A U.K.-based marketing agency that tracks search engine activity has named her the “Fallen Star of 2012.” AccuraCast says there was a significant decrease in people’s searches for Gaga. In fact, it says online searches for the pop star today are relatively the same in numbers as the searches conducted for Gaga back in 2008, shortly before she skyrocketed to fame with “Poker Face.” To her credit, Gaga did spend most of 2012 outside of the U.S. on her “Born This Way Ball” tour. She also wasn’t promoting an album, which could account for her slow year on the Internet.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/31/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Barbra Streisand is returning to the Oscar stage. The music legend has been tapped to perform what Oscar producers are describing as a “very special performance” during the 85th Academy Awards presentation on February 24th. This year’s Oscar ceremony will also feature performances by Adele and Norah Jones. Funnyman Seth MacFarlane will host the awards on ABC-TV on Sunday, February 24th.
Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, and John Fogerty will once again be joining Dave Grohl and the rest of his Sound City Players for another performance. After making their concert debut earlier this month at the Sundance Film Festival, the supergroup is now set to take the stage at the Hollywood Palladium in honor of the theatrical premiere of Grohl’s documentary, “Sound City.” The film will hit big screens across the country as part of a special one-night-only event. A list of participating theaters is available at SoundCityMovie.com, where fans can also get information about venues that will be showing “Sound City” over the next few months. In St. Louis, “Sound City” will be screened at the Tivoli Theatre.
Paul McCartney is returning a favor. The former Beatle makes a guest appearance on Eric Clapton‘s new album, “Old Sock,” adding bass and vocals to the song “All of Me.” It follows Clapton’s turn on McCartney’s last album. Eric played guitar on the song “My Valentine” on “Kisses on the Bottom.” And Clapton’s “Old Sock” is a bit like McCartney’s “Kisses.” While Paul’s album features remakes of songs that influenced him as a kid, Eric’s 12-track set includes covers of some of his favorite songs — some that date back to his childhood. But McCartney isn’t Clapton’s only collaborator on the album. Steve Winwood, Chaka Khan, J.J. Cale, and Jim Keltner also contribute to the disc. Clapton’s “Old Sock” will be in stores March 12th.
The late Johnny Cash will live forever — as a Forever stamp. The country legend is being honored as part of the U.S. Postal Service’s new Music Icons series. The stamp features a black-and-white picture of Cash taken during the photo shoot for the 1963 album “Ring Of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash,” with Cash’s name in brown lettering at the bottom, in an image harkening back to the picture sleeves of old 45-rpm records. A street date for the Cash stamp hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s slated to arrive later this year. It’ll be the second release in the Music Icons series, following a stamp honoring Tejano music legend Lydia Mendoza.
Kesha is giving fans a taste of what it’s like to be a pop star. She’ll be making a brand new documentary series called “My Crazy Beautiful Life.” Set to premiere on MTV in April, the series follows Kesha’s rise to stardom and the recording of her latest album “Warrior.”
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/30/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Goo Goo Dolls have a new single called “Rebel Beat” – the first taste of their forthcoming album, “Magnetic.” The set is due out May 7th.
Dave Grohl‘s second directorial venture has officially hit the internet. After helming the new documentary “Sound City,” the Foo Fighters frontman got back in the director’s chair for the video to Soundgarden‘s latest single, “By Crooked Steps.” The clip for the “Animal Kingdom” track debuted on the band’s website this week – SoundgardenWorld.com.
Michael Bolton says he’s thrilled to see his memoir now in stores. The pop-R&B crooner tells his life story in “The Soul Of It All,” including his teen years honing his skills in dive bars, the struggles he faced trying to support a family while pursuing his dream, and finally achieving stardom with his breakthrough CD “Soul Provider.” He also gives readers a look into his life of fame — including the glamour and pitfalls that come with it.
Another new documentary is coming out soon, and it spotlights rock and soul’s backing vocalists. “Twenty Feet From Stardom” tells the story of a group of women who after falling short of their own dreams of fame became backing singers for the stars. Neville says these women “can often sing circles around lead singers” they’ve backed. Some of those stars, including Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Sting, also appear in the film.
Lenny Kravitz is looking back on his album “Black and White America” as well as his life up to that point in a new documentary. “Looking Back on Love” follows the rocker during his time in the Bahamas recording the 2011 set. But in addition to the behind-the-scenes footage, the doc also features extensive interviews with Kravitz about his family and personal life. Some of the topics include what the juxtaposition in the title “Black and White America” means to him, and the similarities between Kravitz and President Obama. Both come from interracial families, and Lenny reflects on everything his parents — Sy Kravitz and “The Jeffersons” actress Roxie Roker — had to go through to be together. “Looking Back on Love” is available on iTunes now, and Kravitz says he’s honored to share a time that he “will always cherish.”
Pink has announced that “Give Me A Reason,” a song co-written by and featuring fun. frontman Nate Ruess, will be her next single.
Cinderella singer Tom Keifer has resurfaced and is unveiling the first single from his upcoming solo album. It’s called “The Flower Song” and is a collaboration with former Survivor frontman Jim Peterik. Keifer’s debut solo album, “The Way Life Goes,” will be released on April 30th.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/29/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Eric Clapton will have new music to play on his upcoming tour. And the guitarist will release his 21st studio album, “Old Sock,” on his own label. He’s inked a deal with Surfdog to distribute the disc, which he’s issuing through his own Bushbranch Records. Clapton is the latest high-profile artist to sign with Surfdog, which also works with Brian Setzer, Glen Campbell, and Dave Stewart. ”Old Sock” will be released on CD and as a two-disc vinyl set. “Old Sock” is expected to be released on March 12th, two days before Eric launches his tour in Phoenix on March 14th.
Rush fans can now lull their little ones to sleep with the soothing sounds of “Fly By Night,” “Tom Sawyer,” and “Limelight.” The Canadian band is the latest act to see their biggest songs adapted for the infant crowd with the release of “Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Rush.” According to the Rockabye Baby website, for the instrumental remakes “guitars and drums are traded for soothing mellotrons, vibraphones and bells, and the volume is turned down from an eleven to a two.” Other songs on the 12-track set include “Working Man,” “A Farewell to Kings,” and “Closer to the Heart.” “Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Rush” arrives in stores today.
New York senator Chuck Schumer is apparently still seething over Beyoncé‘s lip syncing scandal at President Obama’s inauguration last week. Schumer, who organized and hosted the event, reportedly got testy when asked about the controversy at a Sunday press conference, saying he had yet to hear from the singer. The New York politico told the “New York Post,” he had not heard from the singer, “before, during or after,” adding, “She did not talk to me at all. I didn’t say any words to her period.” Schumer says he had no idea Beyoncé was lip syncing the National Anthem because he only saw her from the back. He and other inauguration planners are weathering embarrassment over the singer’s decision to use a pre-recorded tape. Some have even blamed Schumer for the controversy.
Taylor Swift has inked a new endorsement deal with Diet Coke, one Coca Cola described on Monday as a “long-term partnership with the superstar.” The company says Taylor will be incorporated into “all key marketing efforts for the brand.” According to “AdAge,” the details of making Taylor the new face of Diet Coke are still under wraps, but the site speculates that the partnership will go beyond basic advertising. The deal appears to be Coca Cola’s answer to the 50-million dollar deal that Pepsi made with Beyonce last month. Taylor has plenty of experience as a brand ambassador. She’s helped sell products for companies like Target, Sony, CoverGirl and Elizabeth Arden in the past.
YouTube has removed 156 million views from Lady Gaga‘s official account. It’s nothing personal – just the result of a routine “de-spamming” of the video sharing website. Although the number of views struck from the Mother Monster’s account seems large, the site says it’s just a part of their process. Last month, YouTube’s view count report showed the site had reduced the play counts of many major label artists by a total of two billion views. At the time, YouTube administrators told “Billboard” they were simply using new technology to adjust the numbers to take into account views that resulted from being automatically played without intervention, or pop-under videos that viewers may not have actually watched.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/28/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Tina Turner is giving up her U.S. citizenship to formally and legally become a Swiss citizen. Her new status was announced in an official notice Friday in a Zurich-area newspaper. Turner tells the German newspaper “Blick” that she’s “very happy in Switzerland,” and feels “at home” there. She adds that she “cannot imagine a better place to live.” Tina, who was born in the small town of Nutbush, Tennessee, has lived in the Zurich area for nearly 20 years. She moved to Switzerland in the mid-’90s with her longtime partner, Erwin Bach. Turner and Bach, a German record executive, have been a couple since the mid ’80s.
Adele has kept her word when she said last year that was shutting her father out of her life. Mark Evans is a Welsh plumber who left Adele and her mother when the future Grammy winner was just three-years-old. He is now reaching out to the star through the “Daily Mail.” He tells the newspaper he wants to mend his relationship with Adele and the chance to be a proper grandfather to her newborn son. Evans says it breaks his heart that the 24-year-old singer is “so hell bent on cutting” him off and he wants “more than ever” to get in touch now that she’s given birth. He insists that he’s not interested in her money or fame.
Nine black former finalists from “American Idol” are looking to sue the show claiming that they were forced off based on their race. According to TMZ, all nine finalists are being represented by the same Equal Employment Opportunity attorney James Freeman, who has asked for permission to sue the show. In his letter, Freeman claims that “American Idol” should not be allowed to ask contestants if they’ve ever been arrested during the background check stage of the process. The question is a violation of California employment law, and he claims the question is off-limits as the contestants were seeking employment from the show. The attorney also claims it’s no coincidence that only nine contestants have been publicly disqualified on the show — and all nine have been black. He says it is a scheme to exploit and humiliate black contestants for ratings. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has shot down the allegations, calling them “ridiculous” and saying the show treats everyone the same. He’s not the only one speaking out against the claims. Former “Idol” contestants Taylor Hicks, Casey Abrams, Vonzell Solomon and Melinda Doolittle have all also come out and said the claims are unfair.
Katy Perry has cooked up a batch of her very own flavor of Popchips. The singer has taken her partnership with the snack brand to a new level, announcing her own addition to the flavor list with “Katy’s Kettle Corn.” She became the face of Popchips last July, when she announced that she’d made a substantial investment in the chip-making company. “Katy’s Kettle Corn” will be available in stores like Target, Safeway and Walgreens starting mid-February.
Adam Levine got a little extra coaching on his debut as a “Saturday Night Live” host this weekend. Jerry Seinfeld, Cameron Diaz and former “SNL” player Andy Samberg appeared on the NBC show as “comedy judges” in a mock version of Levine’s other job on “The Voice.” Levine also appeared in a sketch that pitted the Maroon 5 frontman against a fake version of fellow pop-rockers Train in a so-called bar fight that eventually roped in Bill Hader as John Mayer and Jason Sudeikis as Jason Mraz. Adam also provided the hook for a new Digital Short featuring Samberg and the rest of Lonely Island, as well as “SNL” musical guest Kendrick Lamar.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/25/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
The Eagles’ Timothy B. Schmit is extending his belated but “sincere gratitude for the outpouring of get well wishes” he’s received during his short and seemingly successful bout with cancer. He says in a website letter that he greatly appreciates the e-cards and real cards as well as the well-wishes, positive thoughts, and prayers over his health. Last month his assistant Julie told a Timothy B. Schmit fan site — with his permission — that he had been diagnosed with throat and neck cancer in October. She explained that he underwent surgery in New York after performing in Las Vegas on November 17th. She added that his pathology report indicated he was cancer free, so he wouldn’t need to undergo any post-operative radiation or chemotherapy treatments.
Elton John is returning to the Grammy stage. He’s among the latest additions to the event’s lineup, and is slated to perform with singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. Elton’s no stranger to Grammy collaborations. At the 2010 event he teamed up with Lady Gaga on a mash-up of “Your Song” and “Speechless.” And in 2001 Elton joined rapper Eminem for a performance of Em’s hit “Stan.” The 55th annual Grammy Awards will air on CBS on February 10th.
Dionne Warwick and George Thorogood and the Destroyers are among the stars on board to pay tribute to musical innovators. They’re slated to perform at the 15th annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project concert. This year’s show, “Play It Forward: A Celebration of Music’s Evolution And Influencers,” pays tribute to music legends, highlighting their legacy, influence, and impact on American culture. Other artists on board for the event include country stars LeAnn Rimes, Rodney Crowell, and Emmylou Harris, Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, rapper Lupe Fiasco, and gospel great Yolanda Adams. The “Play It Forward” concert will take place in Beverly Hills on February 7th as part of the Grammy Week festivities in conjunction with the 55th annual Grammy Awards.
Fleetwood Mac is extending their upcoming tour. The group has tacked on another 13 dates to the trek, which now continues into July, but so far has no date in St. Louis. The tour celebrates the band’s 35th anniversary edition of “Rumours”,which is due in stores on January 29th. The three-disc collection features the original album along with unreleased material from the “Rumours” sessions and live tracks from Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 tour.
Madonna‘s “MDNA” tour is taking its place as one of the best-selling tours of all time. The final numbers from her worldwide tour last year are in and Billboard Boxscore has ranked it the tenth most successful show on record. “MDNA” clocked in a gross profit of over 305 million dollars. More than two million, 200 thousand people attended Madonna’s show since it started last May in Israel and finished just before the holidays in Argentina. Though it was named the highest-grossing tour of 2012, Madonna couldn’t quite out-do herself this time around. Her 2008-2009 “Sticky & Sweet” tour brought in 408 million dollars and ranks at number three for all-time best-selling tours. It was the highest ever for a solo artist.
Green Day will be hitting the big screen at the X Games this weekend in Aspen, Colorado. The punk rockers’ new documentary, “Cuatro!,” is scheduled to debut at the Wheeler Opera House Saturday as part of the sporting event’s FILM Showcase. The doc takes viewers behind the scenes during the writing and recording of Green Day’s recent album trilogy — “Uno!,” “Dos!” and “Tre!” — and the band will reportedly pull back the curtain even more with a Q-and-A session right after the screening. The post on the band’s website doesn’t specifically say whether frontman Billie Joe Armstrong will be taking part in the event, but if he does, it will be his first major public appearance since checking into a rehab facility last fall. Green Day has been on hiatus since then, but they’ve announced plans to resume their postponed tour behind the new albums in March.
Adam Levine will be taking on a new “Saturday Night Live” role this weekend. After making four appearances on the NBC sketch comedy show with Maroon 5 — including one earlier this season – he’ll be the host. Levine recently released a series of promos for the gig with “SNL” cast member Bobby Moynihan, and many of them poke fun at his other job on “The Voice” and the singing competition’s infamous spinning red chairs.
Justin Timberlake‘s upcoming album “The 20/20 Experience” now has a release date. On Thursday, the singer released a lyric video for his new single “Suit & Tie,” flashing March 19th briefly at the end of the clip. The video is an extension of the “comeback” video Timberlake put out earlier this month announcing the new song. It follows J-T as he gets ready for the day – giving himself a shave and of course, getting himself all dressed up in a black-and-white suit and tie. He’s shown at work in the studio, then kicking back with a cigar and later at a casino. The star even flashes his new wedding band several times in the clip.
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Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/24/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Adele will perform her Oscar-nominated song “Skyfall” at the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 24. The track is nominated in the Best Original Song category, after already winning that same award at the Golden Globes. It will be the first time Adele performs “Skyfall” live. It will also be her first public performance since the Grammy Awards last year.
Korean rapper Psy is now living proof that YouTube can make millionaires. Google has revealed that his viral sensation “Gangnam Style,” has generated over eight million dollars in ad revenues since it was posted on the site last July. As copyright owner of the video, Psy is entitled to half of the total amount, meaning he’s cashed in on four million dollars from YouTube ad revenue alone. “Gangnam Style” is now the most-watched and most-liked video on the site. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 last October. Before his performance at Times Square on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” Psy announced that it would be his last performance of the song as felt it had become too popular in the U.S. He has said that he’s at work on some new music in English to be released some time this year.
Aretha Franklin is speaking up in support of Beyonce, who sparked controversy by reportedly lip-synching the national anthem at this week’s inauguration ceremony. But Franklin sees no problem with using a pre-recorded track for these types of events — especially given how cold it was in Washington, DC on Monday. She tells ABC News that with temperatures in the 40s, “for most singers, that is just not good singing weather.” Aretha adds that Beyonce “did a beautiful job with the pre-record,” and she’ll “probably do the same” the next time she’s asked to perform at a special event under adverse weather conditions.
Don Henley is on board for the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He’s been tapped to introduce Randy Newman at the event. Meanwhile, Rush will receive their welcome from the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, while Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson have been tapped to present the posthumous induction of the late singer Donna Summer and also perform in her honor. In addition, John Mayer will help induct Blues legend Freddie King. Other members of the Rock Hall’s Class of 2013 include Deep Purple, Heart, and Public Enemy. Additional performers and presenters for the event will be announced in the coming weeks. The 28th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on April 18th.
Dee Snider says it’s “mind-numbing” to realize how many conservative rock artists there are today. He finds the change in political attitude “so convenient when you have a lot of money,” explaining that “when they were broke, struggling musicians, they were liberal and all for sharing the wealth.” Snider acknowledges that one rocker who never ventured into the left side of the political spectrum was Ted Nugent, saying the Motor City Madman has “always been a gun-toting conservative.” But he adds that Nugent hasn’t always stood up for his country, and during the Vietnam War “he was actually a draft dodger.” Snider says he thinks it’s “crazy” that Ted has “become one of the voices of Conservative America” given his past. Back in 1977 Nugent detailed to “High Times” magazine how in the ’60s, after receiving his draft notice, he abused himself for a few weeks to make sure he wouldn’t be able to pass his enlistment physical. Nugent later told a British newspaper that he made up the whole story, and actually had a student deferment. But according to Snopes.com, Nugent’s military record shows his student deferment expired in 1969, and he then received a medical exemption after failing his physical.
Def Leppard‘s upcoming Las Vegas residency will likely yield a new album as well. The band will launch their nine-show “Viva Hysteria!” run at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on March 22nd. The concert series will feature songs from the band’s multiplatinum 1987 album “Hysteria” and other material spanning the group’s 35-year career.
It turns out Maroon 5 may not have much of a fan in Prince. In his cover story in the new issue of “Billboard,” the Purple One takes issue with Adam Levine and company’s cover of his hit “Kiss.” The song appears as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Maroon 5′s latest album, “Overexposed,” but Prince says it shouldn’t have been released commercially at all. He says he doesn’t have a problem covering other artists’ songs during a live show and paying the necessary royalties, but he doesn’t see the point in actually recording a cover. He argues that “art is about building a new foundation, not just laying something on top of what’s already there.”
Adele may have inadvertently revealed the name of three-month-old son. The British singer has opted to keep the name of her newborn private, but on Tuesday she was photographed wearing a necklace with the name “Angelo” on it. Adele gave birth to her son last October, and made her first public appearance earlier this month when accepting her award for “Skyfall” at the Golden Globes. Backstage she told “People” that she would not be “sharing his name at the moment” because it is “very personal” to her.
Following the success of her summer hit “Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen is cashing in on a new endorsement deal. The singer is now the new face of Candie’s. The fashion company has released a few shots from the Spring 2013 ad campaign, which will debut in full in March. The new Candie’s campaign is actually the first of its kind. Jepsen snapped all the photos in it herself, using a photo booth – which is the first time a celebrity spokesperson has photographed and starred in a fashion campaign. In a statement, Jepsen says she’s “very honored” to be the new face of Candie’s and that “it’s a dream come true to be in the company of such amazing women.” Other artists who have endorsed the brand include Lea Michele, Fergie and Britney Spears.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/23/12
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Madonna is settling an image dispute with Marlon Brando‘s estate. They sued Madonna last fall, claiming the singer had only licensed publicity rights to use Brando’s picture for her Super Bowl halftime show but not for her global tour. Madonna’s camp tried to argue that the use of Brando’s image fell under a deal it had brokered with the estates of several other deceased celebs whose name and images crop up in the tour segment in which she performs her hit “Vogue.” According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” both sides have now settled their differences. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
That Journey-Rascal Flatts “CMT Crossroads” pairing is finally coming together. The two groups will team up for the special Super Bowl 47 edition of the CMT series, which pairs country stars with artists from other genres to share stories and swap songs and see where their musical paths cross. Journey and Rascal Flatts will take the stage at the New Orleans Sugar Mill on February 2nd to tape the show, which will air that night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Fans wanting to attend the concert can register for free tickets at 1iota.com.
Two new rock biopics now have their leading men. RollingStone.com says Paul Dano has been tapped to portray a young Brian Wilson in the upcoming film “Love and Mercy.” Meanwhile, Braveworlds.com says Rob Liotti will take the title role in “Bon Scott – The Legend of AC/DC.” The film which Liotti also co-wrote, explores the Australian band’s rise to fame and the on and off stage challenges Scott faced as the group’s frontman. A teaser for the movie was shot last week in Charleston, South Carolina. Additional details are available www.thebonscottmovie.com.
A Marine Corps Band rep is putting an end to the “live or memorex?” debate over Beyoncé‘s inaugural performance. The rep is confirming that the Grammy winner did indeed lip sync her performance of the National Anthem at President Obama’s Inauguration ceremony Monday. The rep tells TheWashingtonian.com that all music for inaugural ceremonies is pre-recorded as a matter of course, adding that it’s something they’ve done for years. The rep also said the Marine Band did perform live throughout the ceremony but received word last minute that Beyoncé wanted to use the recording. She added “everybody knows Beyoncé is a gifted singer, and her decision has no bearing on her musical ability.”
Three of the biggest boy bands of the 1990s are teaming up for a tour. Members of New Kids on the Block will headline The Package tour this summer featuring 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men. ” The Package tour is scheduled to kick off in Uncasville, Connecticut on May 31st and comes to St. Louis on June 30th
Taylor Swift may be looking to salvage her relationship with her latest ex-boyfriend, One Direction’s Harry Styles. According to the “The Sun,” Taylor flew over to London on Monday and could be there to meet up with Harry for the first time since their rumored breakup earlier this month. Since then, Taylor has been the target of a number of jokes over her love life. She was called out by Tina Fey at the Golden Globes who said she needed to “stay away from Michael J. Fox’s son” and “take some ‘me time’ to learn about herself.” Fox later commented that Taylor wants to “build a career” by writing songs about all of her celebrity romances. He later apologized. Conan O’Brien also poked fun at Taylor’s love life by airing a parody video of her “breakup song formula” on his late night show.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/22/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson both became a part of history on Monday with their performances at President Obama’s second Inauguration ceremony. Beyonce was on hand to sing the National Anthem. Grammy-nominee Kelly Clarkson also sang “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee” during the President’s swearing-in ceremony. The cold weather in Washington didn’t prevent James Taylor from adding warmth to his performance – he and his guitar delivered a version of “America The Beautiful.” Katy Perry, John Mayer, Jay-Z, John Legend and Alicia Keys were also among those who bore witness to the event.
Some anti-gay conservative groups are protesting against Lady Gaga and her BornBrave Bus, which provides free mental health services to her fans. The protests started last week in Tacoma, Washington — the first U.S. stop on her “Born This Way Ball” tour. The Florida Family Association hired a plane to fly a banner reading “NOT Born This Way” outside the Tacoma Dome hours prior to the concert, while the BornBrave Bus was holding its pre-show event. According to MTV, protesters were present at Gaga’s Los Angeles concert at the Staples Center on Sunday as well. The BornBrave Bus reportedly went on with their work despite the nearby protesters, who were verbally insulting the concert goers and holding inflammatory anti-gay signs. The BornBrave Bus is the result of a partnership between Gaga’s foundation and the National Council for Behavioral Health. Several LGBT organizations are also there to provide information and services.
Justin Timberlake‘s “Suit & Tie” had a record-breaking debut for a male artist on the Pop charts. The song logged over six thousand plays in its first tracking week, coming in at number 14 on the chart. It’s the highest debut by a male in the history of the chart.
Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/21/13
Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -
Lady Gaga will be headlining the private ball attended by members of the President’s staff on Tuesday night. During President Obama’s first Inauguration in 2009, it was reported that Jay-Z headlined the same event during which he was rumored to have sung “99 Problems, but George Bush Ain’t One.” Other stars helping with Inaugural celebrations later today include Katy Perry, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Usher.
Katy Perry kicked off Inaugural celebrations in the nation’s capital on Saturday night at the Kids’ Inaugural Ball. She headlined the event, which took place at the Washington Convention Center and was live streamed on military bases all over the country. She showed up wearing one of the patriotic costumes that she usually saves for special events for the President, this time in a sexy Uncle Sam get-up. Katy’s set consisted of a number of her biggest hits including “Teenage Dream,” “Part of Me,” and “Wide Awake.“ She closed the night with “Firework,” which was one of the songs that was selected for the White House’s official Inauguration playlist last week.
Rihanna and Chris Brown are back in the lab together. A rep for Brown has confirmed that the pair is working on a new collaboration track. Rumors of the collaboration swirled after they were spotted leaving a recording studio in West Hollywood on Thursday night. They exited the studio separately, but that didn’t stop fans from speculating that the two were working on new music together.
Prince is set to be honored at this spring’s Billboard Music Awards. The reclusive rocker has been tapped to receive this year’s Billboard Icon Award, which recognizes artists for their contributions to music. He’s also expected to appear at the event, and perform during the ceremony. In addition to paying tribute to Prince, the event will also celebrate today’s top songs and stars, based on the Billboard charts. Other presenters and performers for the upcoming show haven’t been announced yet. The 2013 Billboard Music Awards will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and air live on ABC on May 19th.
U2 used Joshua Tree National Park as inspiration for their classic 1987 album “The Joshua Tree,” and now an Auburn University biologist is using Bono as inspiration for the name of a newly-discovered species of spider found in the California park. The “Riverside Press-Enterprise” reports Jason Bond recently found 33 new kinds of trapdoor spider, and three of them call Joshua Tree home. Bond named two of the new arachnids after Native American tribes, but the third he dubbed A. bonoi in honor of the U2 frontman. But Bono isn’t the only celebrity to lend his name to a spider. Bond has christened other species after President Obama, Angelina Jolie, Stephen Colbert and others.
Rick Springfield is proving that he can really rock. The ’80s teen idol was among the stars in Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl‘s Sound City Players, who performed at the Sundance Film Festival Friday night, and Movieline.com calls his performance “the high point” of the lengthy concert. The reviewer says the audience became “violently” engaged in Springfield’s set, which included the hits “I’ve Done Everything For You” and “Jessie’s Girl,”and the crowd’s “dancing and jumping shook the club’s floor” during “an extended moment of pure rock bliss.” A host of other rockers took part in the event as well. Grohl’s set with Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen featured the fan favorites “Surrender” and “Ain’t That A Shame,” while he performed the Creedence Clearwater Revival classics “Born on the Bayou,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son” with John Fogerty. Stevie Nicks, Fear’s Lee Ving, and former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic were some of the others who took part in the show, which celebrated Friday’s world premiere of Grohl’s documentary “Sound City” at the Sundance Film Festival. Springfield and Nicks are among the artists in the movie, which tells the story of the now closed Los Angeles recording studio where they and numerous others made albums over the past four decades.
The Eagles’ Don Henley and Glenn Frey apparently haven’t reconciled their relationship with former member Don Felder. “The Salt Lake Tribune” says the subject of ex-bandmates came up during an extended audience Q&A session with the group following the screening of their film “History of the Eagles, Part One,” which had its debut at the Sundance Film Festival Saturday night. Frey said he got along with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner but didn’t mention Felder, while Henley admitted that in the past 12 years he’s only spoken with Felder’s lawyer. The Eagles kicked Felder out of the group in 2001, which sparked a lawsuit, which was settled out of court in 2007. The Sundance screening marked the first time Henley had seen the final version of the film, which Don said doesn’t exactly make him and his bandmates look like saints. He added that the movie could lead to some parenting problems for him, explaining that as the father of three teenagers, he’s not sure how he’s “going to discipline them after they see this.” Meanwhile, an Eagles tour is in the works. Frey said that the group is “looking about going on the road soon,” but “hadn’t made any specific plans.” “History of the Eagles, Part One” chronicles the early days of the band, from their formation in 1971 through to their breakup in 1980. There is also a “Part Two,” which wasn’t screened, that covers the group members’ solo careers and their 1994 reunion. Both films are expected to eventually be released in a DVD set.