Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on July 6th, 2018

A performance video by a Japanese girl nailing the drum part of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times" has gone viral after Zeppelin's Robert Plant praised the drumming skills of 8-year-old Yoyoka Soma on the CBC Radio program Q. First uploaded to YouTube in January, the video shows the girl ferociously and flawlessly playing the drum part in "Good Time Bad Times" from the band's 1968 debut album, with the late John Bonham on drums. "How fantastic, and the thing is, it's like falling off a log for her," Plant said, also quipping that "Well, I know where she can get good job." Plant was also asked what he thought Bonham would think of the clip, to which he responded: "I think he would be so amazed. I think he would be so chuffed. It's great." Little Yoyoka had submitted the video to the 2018 Hit Like A Girl drum contest, where she wrote in her entry that Bonham was one of her favorite drummers. "As a drummer, I enjoy being groove, tones and try to support vocalists carefully. My dream is to be the best drummer in the world... As I am aiming at overseas activities, I am studying English conversation. I want to become friends with people all over the world through my musical activities!" - Billboard, 7/5/18...... Paul McCartney announced on July 5 that he will promote his forthcoming LP Egypt Station with his first three live dates in the UK in over three years. Sir Paul will resume touring this fall in support of his 17th solo set, which will drop on Sept. 7. The "Freshen Up" tour, which Macca has previously explained refers to "freshening up our show and playing some of our songs from the new album alongside those songs we know you like to hear," will visit Liverpool, Glasgow and London in December. In a statement, Paul said that there is "nothing like performing in front of your home crowd, especially when it's been a while" and he "can't wait to finish the year on such a high... We've freshened up the show since our last time round and we are excited to get to play some of our new songs along side some of the favourites." Meanwhile, the Beatles legend has joined the growing chorus of artists, labels and music industry bodies calling upon European regulators to pass sweeping reforms to copyright law and address the so-called value gap, the difference between what free user-upload sites and subscription services pay creators for their music. In an open letter published by IFPI, McCartney urged members of the European Parliament to back the EU's proposed copyright directive during their meeting in Strasbourg for a plenary vote July 5. "You hold in your hands the future of music here in Europe," writes McCartney, stressing the importance of music and culture as "our heart and soul." "Unfortunately, the value gap jeopardizes the music ecosystem," he warns. "We need an internet that is fair and sustainable for all. But today some user upload content platforms refuse to compensate artists and all music creators fairly for their work, while they exploit it for their own profit," he added. He joins a list of more than 1,300 recording artists and songwriters pushing for MEPs to go through with the reforms, which, if passed, will force user generated content services like YouTube to obtain music licenses and effectively ending Europe's safe harbor provisions, which protect sites like YouTube from liability if users upload content without rightsholders' permission. - New Musical Express/Billboard, 7/5/18...... The Beach Boys made their fourth appearance at the "A Capitol Fourth" Independence Day celebration in Washington on July 4, collaborating with special guest Jimmy Buffett and program host John Stamos for a medley of hits. The stars never missed a beat as they performed "I Get Around," "Kokomo, and "Fun, Fun, Fun," with Buffett, who performed his own set earlier, looking relaxed as ever while strumming an acoustic guitar on the last two tracks. Also performing earlier in the evening were The Temptations. - Billboard, 7/5/18...... U.S. Pres. Donald Trump, who in the summer of 2017 referred to Kim Jong-Un derisively as "Rocket Man," has gifted the North Korean leader with a copy of Elton John's "Rocket Man" now that the two are on better terms after a face-to-face summit in Singapore in June. Kim was reportedly unfamiliar with John's 1972 hit, and there is no word as yet about how Sir Elton feels about one of his songs being involved in such an unusual show of diplomacy. - New Musical Express, 7/6/18...... Elvis Costello announced on July 6 that he will be canceling the remaining dates of his UK and European summer tour on medical grounds. Costello, 63, underwent surgery in May and had already scrapped two UK gigs in June in Southend and Plymouth, and also canceled a July 6 show in Manchester, on advice from his doctors. On June 19, he announced that he'll kick off a 20-date North American tour this fall on Nov. 2 in Bethlehem, Penn., in support of his as yet untitled new album. - New Musical Express, 7/6/18...... During a live-streamed concert at Detroit's Fox Theatre on July 4, Neil Young voiced his support for immigrant children who have been separated from their parents at the U.S. southern border in one of his most politically overt concerts this summer. Adding the Buffalo Springfield track "I Am a Child," which he wrote when he was part of the band, to the set, Young pointed out that the children "are in the United States of America," adding that "a lot of people are looking at that," with some responding "So are we!" But mainly he let the music do the talking during the one-hour-and-45-minute show, one of six solo acoustic dates he's playing this summer, with politically charged songs such as "Ohio," "Angry World," "Love And War" and "Broken Arrow." The next dates on his itinerary includ the Promise of the Real fest in Quebec on July 6, then solo acoustic dates with shows on July 11-12 at the Wang Theatre in Boston. - Billboard, 7/4/18...... Charlie Daniels has raised over $100,000 for U.S. veterans by performing at the Veteran Impact Celebration in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on June 28. The sold-out fundraiser was held to benefit Middle Tennessee State University's Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, a place that is very near and dear to Daniels' heart -- a fact confirmed with his presentation of a check for $100.000 on behalf of his non-profit Veterans' organization, The Journey Home Project. "I've been a patriot all my life. I've admired the military all my life," the 81-year-old "Uneasy Rider" singer noted. "I grew up during the second World War, and I remember the casualty reports, the campaigns, MacArthur and Eisenhower, and all these guys fighting the war. I remember D-Day... I remember it well," he says proudly of the events of June 6, 1944, and added that those serving today are just as brave. - Billboard, 7/4/18...... A cover of ABBA's "Fernando" by Cher and actor Andy Garcia from the movie Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again has debuted at No. 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary songs chart for the week ending July 7. "Fernando" is Cher's 28th AC chart entry and first since the No. 17-peaking "I Hope You Find It" in 2014. She made her debut on the chart on Sept. 25, 1971 with "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," and has scored 14 Top 10s, including two No. 1's -- "After All," with Peter Cetera, and "If I Could Turn Back Time," both in 1989. She last reached the top 10 with the No. 3 smash "Believe" in 1999. The Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again soundtrack will feature "Fernando" and is due July 14 via Decca Records. The movie premieres in movie theaters July 20 and is the sequel to the 2008 film Mamma Mia! Meanwhile, Cher has teased that she might be releasing new music this fall on Twitter. After expressing her dismay over the current drama surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court on July 1, the diva switched gears and posted "Think album will be out in sept." to her followers. The new LP would be her 26th studio album and the follow-up to her 2013 LP Closer to the Truth. Her busy summer also included a run of dates at Washington, D.C.'s Theater at MGM National Harbor Aug. 4-12. - Billboard, 7/3/18...... In related news, a new The Temptations musical is currently playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., before hitting Los Angeles in August and September and then Toronto before hitting Broadway in early 2019. The production, which tells the legendary Motown group's story through its own songs, debuted with an extended, record-breaking run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2017. "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations" has received rave reviews and is directed by Des McAnuff (The Who's "Tommy" and "Jersey Boys") from a book by Dominique Morriseau. "When I first saw it last fall I was very impressed," sole surviving founding Tempts member Otis Williams says. "Not only because it's about my life story with the Tempts, but how it was portrayed and how it touched the audience. There were people sitting in there crying. So it touches emotions, and 95 percent of it is the truth." - Billboard, 7/2/18...... Styx has added the full version of "Mr. Roboto" to the setlist of their 2018 summer tour for the first time in 35 years. The band had quit playing "Mr. Roboto" live for many years due to bad memories from the acrimonious Kilroy Was Here project in 1983, a concept album spearheaded by former singer-keyboardist Dennis DeYoung that polarized fans and led to a seven-year split of the band. Even now, Styx guitarist James "J.Y." Young says he's ambivalent about the song, because of "all the bad things that went along with that record. It was just far off the mark from what I was interested in performing live -- and we have plenty of material without it." "Mr. Roboto" which peaked at No. 3 on the pop chart in 1983, got a new lease on life in a 1999 Volkswagen Golf ad, and ever since then has enjoyed a revisionist, kitschy status that's eclipsed any negative connotations it might have conveyed. Young says that fans would often request the song from Styx merchandise and crew members, and from the band when it would perform private shows, which led to a new understanding of and even appreciation for the song's importance. "While ['Mr. Roboto'] killed the momentum of the first huge wave of Styx, it actually spawned the next generation of Styx fans. A lot of people under the age of 12 bought it, and those people are now in their 30s, perhaps even older... so we just decided to try and do it," Young says. Dennis DeYoung, who parted ways with Styx acrimoniously in 1999, responded to "Mr. Roboto"'s new life with a tweet: "It's just two guys [Young and Shaw] finally admitting the obvious. People like it...Hallelujah." Styx will continue their summer co-headlining tour with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Tesla through July 15. - Billboard, 7/2/18...... Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers was unanimously elected by the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Board of Directors on July 2 to serve as the organization's chairman for the next three years, succeeding Philly soul hitmakers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. "I am truly honored and beyond humbled to be elected by such an esteemed group as this illustrious board," Rodgers said in a statement. "I will try and serve with all my heart. I hope I can make you half as proud of me as I am to even sit in the room with you who've done so much for the furtherance of composition. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the songwriting community." Meanwhile, Rodgers is resurrecting Chic for the Sept. 14 release of its first new album in 26 years, It's About Time. - Billboard, 7/2 18...... Lawyers for Ozzy Osbourne have called a motion to dismiss his lawsuit filed by concert promoters AEG "baseless on the facts and the law alike." In the June 1 motion to dismiss the lawsuit from Osbourne that seeks injunctive action against AEG over their block booking policy between the O2 Arena in London and Los Angeles' Staples Center, AEG said that Osbourne cannot claim anti-trust injury since the policy ties the promoter to the agreement, not the artist. In a rebuttal to the motion to dismiss, Osbourne attorney Dan Wall writes that AEG is "misleading the court and are fully aware that the policy forces artists to play their venue in Los Angeles, sometimes against their will." AEG has argued that Osbourne has no claim to sue the promoter and venue operator, because he did not sign the "Staples Center Commitment," which was actually signed by the No More Tours 2 promoter, Live Nation. - Amplify.com, 7/3/18...... Meat Loaf announced on July 2 that he will be heading back on tour, but not doing any actual singing. Meat Loaf, 70, says he'll be handing vocal duties to Caleb Johnson, the winner of the American Idol competition in 2014. A source close to Meat Loaf told the UK paper The Sun that "Meat Loaf is concerned he isn't up to some of the bigger numbers after losing his voice a couple of years ago. He's been relying on pre-recorded vocal tracks for a while but doesn't want to face accusations of miming on a huge tour, so is passing the baton on to Caleb, who he's a big fan of. Instead his involvement will be telling stories of how he met Jim Steinman, who he's worked with since the Seventies, and other anecdotes. But the singing will be left to Caleb." Dates for the international tour will be announced in the coming days. - NME, 7/2/18...... The electronics and music retailer Best Buy announced on July 1 that it plans to pull all CDs out of its stores this summer, but will be keeping vinyl records. CDs, a once commonplace digital music format, has recently been getting hammered in the United States. CD sales were down 18.5 percent last year and some experts estimate Best Buy's CD receipts are just $40 million annually. But Best Buy says it's committed to carrying vinyl records, which have been enjoying a resurgence lately, for at least the next two years. - ABC7Chicago.com, 7/1/18...... Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson was granted a temporary restraining order by a Los Angeles court on July 3 against a man she says has been stalking her. The ordersays 23-year-old Nicholas Stevens must stay away from Jackson at least until July 24. In her complaint, Jackson said that she and a bandmate were leaving her recording studio June 13 when Stevens, who she does not know, appeared and said he'd waited for her last week for 15 hours. Jackson says Stevens refused to leave, said he was "stalking her," mentioned a shotgun and said "by midnight it will all be over." Then July 1, Stevens tweeted at Jackson that he was her "soulmate." Stevens could not be reached for comment. In other Jackson family news, family patriarch Joe Jackson was laid to rest on July 2 during a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, the same Suthern California cemetery as his late son Michael Jackson. Mr. Jackson died on June 27 in Las Vegas at age 89 and is survived by wife Katherine, eight children and dozens of grandchildren. - AP, 7/4/18...... Harry M. Miller, an Australian showbiz legend who twice promoted tours by the Rolling Stones in the 1960s and presented the successful stage productions of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "The Rocky Horror Show" Down Under, has died at age 84. Mr. Miller also promoted shows by the Beach Boys, Ella Fitzgerald and Tom Jones in Oz. He passed away peacefully in Sydney on June 4, the HMMG agency he founded, said in a statement. "By his side were his long term partner Simmone Logue, daughters Justine, Brook and Lauren and their mother Wendy," the statement reads. Mr. Miller also guided the careers of leading Australian media, sporting and entertainment figures including Deborah Hutton, Alan Jones, Maggie Tabberer and Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton. After 50 years in the business, Mr. Miller retired at the end of 2009 and published his memoirs two years later, Harry M Miller: Confessions of a Not-So-Secret-Agent. He was diagnosed with dementia in 2011. - Billboard, 7/5/18...... Alan Longmuir, founding bass player with the Scottish '70s pop phenomenon The Bay City Rollers, died on July 2 following a brief illness. He was 70. Longmuir formed the band, initially known as The Saxons, back in 1966 with his younger brother and drummer Derek Longmuir, and singer Gordon "Nobby" Clark. The lineup went through multiple changes through the years, with Longmuir leaving the band in 1976 and returning two years later, after which time he alternated between bass duties, rhythm guitar and keys. In its heyday, the band scored three top 10s in the U.S., including a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart with "Saturday Night," in 1976. In the U.K., the Rollers were even more popular and scored No. 1s with "Bye Bye Baby" and "Give a Little Love" (both from 1975) and saw ten songs hit the Top 10. The band split in 1981. Longmuir reportedly died at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Scotland, surrounded by family and friends. He was flown home three weeks ago after falling ill on holiday in Mexico. He was part of a reunion in late 2015 with his fellow bandmates Les McKeown and Stuart Wood, which was promoted as "a very special Christmas present to all the fans that have kept the faith with the band over the years." "Our sincere condolences to all his family, friends and fans," the band posted on social media. His friend and biographer Liam Rudden also described him as "one of the most gentle, generous and kind-hearted people I've ever known." - Billboard, 7/2/18...... Veteran rock journalist Roy Carr, who helmed the New Musical Express's cassette compilations throughout the 80s and also authored a number of LP-sized books as part of the An Illustrated Record rock biography series, has passed away. Carr also wrote for Melody Maker, Uncut and Vox. His books in the 1970s and 1980s offered detailed music info on the likes of the Beatles and David Bowie before similar guides existed. - New Musical Express, 7/2/18...... Craid Raymond Turner, the first son of Tina Turner, died of an apparent suicide on July 3. He was 59. Craig is the son of Tina and saxophonist Raymond Hill. Tina's first husband, Ike Turner, adopted Craig. Turner was a real estate agent in the San Fernando Valley, with his Rodeo Realty profile noting that he belonged to the National Organization of Realtors and California Association of Realtors. - The Hollywood Reporter, 7/4/18.

Pop singer Gloria Estefan has revealed she will be a guest star on an upcoming episode of One Day at a Time, the Netflix reboot of the legendary '70s sitcom, this time centering on a Cuban-American family. "This is it!" sang Estefan in a video posted to her Instagram account June 25, quoting the series' new theme song. "I've been waiting three seasons for this people. Oh my Gosh, get ready! It's hilarious! I'll be playing Mirtha, Lydia's baby sister and arch-nemesis. I'm coming for you Alvarez family!," Estefan posted to her Instagram account on June 25. Estefan has long professed to be a fan of the new One Day at a Time, which is executive produced by original ODAAT exec producer Norman Lear. The show revamps the original '70s story of a divorced career woman and her two daughters as the tale of a Cuban American family living in Los Angeles today, and Estefan sings the new, "mambofied" version of the theme song. Now, fans of the show will get to see her act as well. - Billboard, 6/25/18...... During a two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26 and 27, Rod Stewart revealed that his upcoming album will be called Blood Red Roses and hit stores in September. Stewart played his first concert in his adapted hometown of Los Angeles in over seven years, treating fans to a hearty dose of career touchstones ("Maggie May," "Tonight's the Night," "You're in My Heart," "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"), as well as a liberal sprinkling of covers ("Having a Party," "Have I Told You Lately"). He also introduced two new songs from his upcoming album on each night, "Grace" and "Hole in My Heart," introducing the latter by saying it was inspired by his days as a twenty-something running around with the ladies. The 73-year-old rocker and his opener Cyndi Lauper next head to cities including Charlotte, N.C. (7/26), Nashville (8/1), New York (8/7), Indianapolis (Aug. 18), and San Francisco (Aug. 29), before wrapping on Sept. 1 in Seattle. - Billboard, 6/27/18...... The estate of Prince and Sony Music Entertainment announced on June 27 that they have signed an exclusive distribution agreement that covers 35 of Prince's previously released albums. Under the new arrangement, the Purple One's catalog included in the deal will be distributed by Legacy Recordings. Worldwide rights begin immediately for Prince's album releases from 1995-2010, with the others following in years to come. Among the titles included in the first phase are The Gold Experience (1995), Emancipation (1996), Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (1999), The Rainbow Children (2001) and 3121 (2006), as well as Musicology (2004) and Planet Earth (2007), which were originally released via Sony through Columbia. Additional album titles from the 2014-2015 era will also be distributed with worldwide rights under the deal in the future. The deal also includes rights to other previously released singles, B-sides, remixes, non-album tracks, live recordings and music videos recorded before 1995. Additional album titles from the 2014-2015 era will also be distributed with worldwide rights under the deal in the future. "Sony Music is honored to play a part in keeping Prince's music alive and making it available for generations of lifelong listeners and future fans," SME president Richard Story said in a statement. - Billboard, 6/27/18...... Blues legend Mike Vernon and his band The Mighty Combo will release his debut album, Beyond the Blue Horizon, on Sept. 7. Vernon has produced albums for some of the most famous artists in British rock and blues including John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (with Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor), David Bowie, Ten Years After, Savoy Brown, Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack, Focus, Freddie King, Climax Blues Band and Level 42 Vernon is best known as the founder of the Blues record label Blue Horizon, with a roster including Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossoff and Christone McVie, which was a major "ground breaker" in its time and still revered to this day. "To be fronting my own R&B outfit has always been a dream but the right moment to make that transition never appeared until now," says Vernon. Vernon and the Mighty Combo will also be mounting an 18-date UK and European tour behind the new album this summer, beginning with an appearance at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival on July 22. - Noble PR, 6/26/18...... Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson, father and early manager of the Jackson 5, died on the morning of June 27 in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer. He was 89. According to TMZ.com, Mr. Jackson was surrounded by his wife Katherine Jackson and "some" of his grandchildren at the time of his death. Mr. Jackson had been dealing with a host of medical problems over the past few years, including a recently revealed battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in 1928, Mr. Jackson married Katherine in 1949, and the couple went on to have 11 children. As a manager, Mr. Jackson launched the career of son Michael Jackson -- along with Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito Jackson -- out of Gary, Ind., as the Jackson 5 in the 1960s. The group signed with Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and in 1970, their first four singles ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There") all went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. They also have the distinction of being the first act ever to see their first four singles top the chart. Jermaine Jackson tweeted about his father's health on June 21. "For however long he has left, my mother, siblings, and relatives want to be with him, without hindrance." Then on June 24, a more ominous update was posted on Mr. Jackson's Twitter page: "I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see. The sun rises when the time comes and whether you like it or not the sun sets when the time comes." Mr. Jackson suffered a stroke while visiting Brazil in 2015 and was again hospitalized after a car he was riding in was involved in an accident in Las Vegas in 2017. Although he was known for his iron-fisted management of his children, in 2002, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honored him as the Best Entertainment Manager of All Time. Although some of his children have criticized him for his harsh parenting techniques, his daughter, pop star Janet Jackson, recently spoke warmly of her father as she received the Radio Disney Music Awards first-ever Impact Award. "My mother nourished me with the most extravagant love imaginable," she said. "My father, my incredible father drove me to be the best I can." Michael's daughter Paris Jackson, posted a touching tribute to her granfather after his death: "I have immense gratitude for you, and always will... rest in peace and transition. i'll see you in my dreams very very soon." "RIP to the king that made everything possible," his grandson Randy Jackson tweeted on June 27. "I love you." - Billboard/Jezebel.com, 6/27/18...... In other Jackson-related news, a new art exhibition in London entitled "Michael Jackson: On the Wall" opened on June 28 and depicts Michael as everything from a savior, a saint, an entertainer, an icon, a monarch, a mask and a mystery. The show at the UK's National Portrait Gallery explores the way contemporary artists have been drawn to the late King of Pop, as an artistic inspiration, a tragic figure and a fascinating enigma. A total of 48 artists are represented in the exhibit, including 1980s pop-art portraits by Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, depictions of a Christ-like Michael by David LaChapelle, and a vast portrait of the "King of Pop" as a king on horseback. "It explores how Michael could mean so many different things to so many people," said curator Nicholas Cullinan. - AP, 6/27/18...... Justo George Cameron, a founding member of the baroque '60s pop band The Left Banke, died on died on June 24, 2018 at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan after a battle with cancer. He was 70. The Left Banke gained popularity in the late 1960's for their hit singles, "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina." His involvement with the band remained until his death, and he often hosted reunion concerts and tours, releasing additional songs and albums, and the Manhattan native often performed at many children's charity events throughout New York City. - 5/25/18...... Legendary New York and Connecticut radio air personality Dan Ingram has passed away at the age of 83. Mr. Ingram began his five decade broadcasting career at small stations such as WNRC/New Rochelle, NY, WALK/Patchogue, NY, and WNHC/New Haven, CT, and worked at WICC/Bridgeport, CT as 'Ray Taylor." He moved on to larger markets and was responsible for huge ratings jumps at both KBOX/Dallas and WIL/St. Louis before returning to New York to create and sell radio contests for Mars Broadcasting. In 1961, Ingram returned to the airwaves at WABC/New York where he stayed for the next 21 years until it went all-talk. During that period he also did "The Other Dan Ingram Show" playing jazz on WABC-FM. He combined humor, an irreverent style, and impeccable timing and established himself as the leading rock radio personality in North America. Mr. Ingram was the master of the "talk-up," speaking over the introduction and finishing his thoughts at the exact moment the lyrics started. Mr. Ingram joined the oldies station WCBS-FM/New York in 1991 where he worked until he retired in 2003. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2007. - 5/25/18...... A new compilation featuring some of late the Clash frontman Joe Strummer will be released on Sept. 29 in a variety of formats. Entitled Joe Strummer 001, the 32-track set will be the first compilation to span Strummer's career outside of the Clash and boast 12 previously unreleased songs, as well as favorites from his work with the 101ers, the Mescaleros, and his extensive soundtrack work. In addition to double-CD, 4-record vinyl, and digital download, limited edition deluxe box set editions on vinyl and CD will sport extras including a 64-page hard backed Note Book with writings, lyrics, photos and sketches taken from Strummers's extensive personal archive. - New Musical Express, 6/29/18...... Actress Deanna Lund, who played one of the seven castaways trying to survive in a world of large, unfriendly people on the 1960s ABC series Land of the Giants, died of pancreatic cancer on June 29 at her home in Century City, Calif. She was 81. Ms. Lund starred as Valerie Scott, a selfish party girl, on the Irwin Allen-created series, which aired for two seasons, from Sept. 1968 until March 1970. Set in the year 1983, the show revolved around the crew and passengers of the spaceship Spindrift, which on the way to London crashed on a planet whose humanoid inhabitants were hostile and unbelievably huge. The show was extremely expensive to make, costing a reported $250,000 an episode. The sexy Ms. Lund had also appeared as a redheaded lesbian stripper opposite Frank Sinatra in Tony Rome (1967) and as Anna Gram, a moll working for The Riddler (John Astin), on ABC's Batman, leading to her being cast on the show. She also appeared in the Elvis Presley films Paradise, Hawaiian Style and Spinout as a nurse. Other TV credits include Love, American Style, The Waltons, The Incredible Hulk and General Hospital, and she taught acting as well. - The Hollywood Reporter, 6/30/18...... Award-winning fantasy and science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison passed away in his sleep on June 28 at age 84. Mr. Ellison edited the influential anthology Dangerous Visions in 1967, and over the course of his storied career had won multiple Nebula, Hugo, Edward, Writers Guild of America, and Edgar Allen Poe Awards -- to name just some of his honors. His biography, A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan Ellison, an Exploration, was published in 2017. - Vulture.com, 6/28/18.