Posted by Administrator on February 11th, 2024
The Rolling Stones have shared that they have "cut back" on their backstage rider requests. Bassist Darryl Jones revealed on Instagram on Feb. 8 that the iconic band no longer have big asks for their backstage area such as gigantic gaming rooms but did say that they do keep plenty of food around including guitarist Keith Richards' favorite dish, shepherd's pie. "They would make a room out of curtains and things. We had the banks of video racing games, where you sit, that was around for a while," Jones says. "They kinda cut back on that stuff now. Keith still has what he loves, shepherd's pie. There's so much food backstage, me and the keyboard player have our own rider," he added. The Stones will launch the spring 2024 leg of their "Hackney Diamonds" tour on Apr. 28 in Houston, also playing New Orleans (5/2), Glendale, Ariz. (5/7), Las Vegas (5/11), Seattle (5/15), East Rutherford, N.J. (5/23, 26) and Foxboro, Mass (5/30). They're also set to play at this year's edition of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside Foo Fighters and Neil Young and Crazy Horse and more. - New Musical Express, 2/8/24...... 
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame unveiled its class of 2024 nominees on Feb. 10, with a larger than usual roster of 15 artists up for induction into the Cleveland-based hall and museum. Seventies musicians nominated include arena-filling guitar pro Peter Frampton, metal god Ozzy Osbourne, half-century-plus pop icon Cher, stadium rock hitmakers Foreigner, and R&B/funk legends Kool & the Gang. Two thirds of the names on the 2024 Rock Hall ballot are first-timers, despite years of eligibility (particularly in the cases of Frampton, Cher and Foreigner). Frampton says he's "happy to finallly have his name in the hat" after being eligible since the early '90s based on his first recordings; Osbourne issued a statement saying he is "deeply honored to receive this news from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame"; and Foreigner's Mick Jones said being nominated was "an incredible endorsement of what we have achieved over time." The 2024 nominees, which also include Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Dave Matthews Band, Eric B. & Rakim, Jane's Addiction, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinéad O'Connor, Sade and A Tribe Called Quest, will be decided by a voting body of 1,000+ "artists, historians and members of the music industry," per a press release. The Rock Hall's Class of 2024 will be announced in late April. This year's induction ceremony returns to Cleveland, home of the RRHOF, this fall. For the second consecutive year, the 2024 RRHOF induction ceremony will live stream on Disney+. It will air on ABC at a later, to-be-announced date, and be available on Hulu the following day. Industry observers are saying those most likely to get an induction nod include Osbourne, followed by O'Connor, Kravitz, Cher and Carey. - Billboard, 2/10/24...... Speaking of Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath co-founder is infuriated that rapper Kanye West has recently sampled a section of a 1983 live performance of Sabbath's "War Pig" in West's new song "Talking/Once Again." "@KAYNEWEST ASKED PERMISSION TO SAMPLE A [SECTION] OF A 1983 LIVE PERFORMANCE OF 'WAR PIG' FROM THE US FESTIVAL WITHOUT VOCALS," Osbourne posted on Instagram on Feb. 9, going on to say that West was "REFUSED PERMISSION BECAUSE HE IS AN ANTISEMITE AND HAS CAUSED UNTOLD HEARTACHE TO MANY. HE WENT AHEAD AND USED THE SAMPLE ANYWAY AT HIS ALBUM LISTENING PARTY LAST NIGHT. I WANT NO ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MAN!" West has raised eyebrows in the music industry with his controversial antisemite statements and the slogan "White Live Matter," which led to his dismissal from many of his lucrative business partnerships and caused him to lose his billionaire status. In December, West extended an apology to the Jewish community for "any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions... Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity." - Billboard, 2/9/24...... Stevie Nicks has added 12 additional solo dates to her 2024 tour across North America, in which she has been co-headlining with Billy Joel in various cities. Nicks took to Instagram on Feb. 6 to make the official announcement with a photo of her updated tour dates list. "It's a new year& Let's keep this thing going! I've added 12 more shows to my 2024 tour. I can't wait to see you all soon," the caption says. Additional cities the former Fleetwood Mac frontlady will be visiting include St. Louis, MO; Thackerville, OK; Nashville; San Antonio; Highland, CA; Salt Lake City; Denver; Indianapolis; Uncasville, CT; Albany, NY; Hershey, PA; and Grand Rapids, MI. - Billboard, 2/9/24...... 
As the Bob Marley biopic Bob Marley: One Love hits US theaters on Feb. 14, titular actor Kingsley Ben-Adir says "at first, I didn't think it was right" that he was chosen to portray the iconic Jamaican musician, but Marley's family, led by son Ziggy Marley, was persistent. "What I needed to do was try and find Bob's humanity," Ben-Adir says, and that they didn't want Ben-Adir to try and mimic Marley; they wanted him to tap into his spirit. "What I needed to do was try and find Bob's humanity," Ben-Adir says. It was while he was working on Greta Gerwig summer blockbuster Barbie, in which he played one of the many Kens, that he prepped for the role. "I got the gig when I was on Barbie and I just started doing the preparation when we were on downtime," he says. Not a cradle to the grave project, One Love zeroes in on a small part of Marley's life as he tried to organize the One Love Peace Concert in the late-1970s to unite his warring home country of Jamaica. As he rose to worldwide musical fame, we see how despite a failed assassination attempt in 1976 his message of love and unity triumphed over forces that sought to keep his fellow Jamaicans divided. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard) and co-produced by Ziggy, Marley's widow Rita, sister Cedella and Oscar winner Brad Pitt, the film delves into the recording of the classic Wailers album Exodus (widely considered one of the best albums of the 20th century). Many months after filming wrapped on the film, Ben-Adir describes the experience of shooting One Love as transformative in his burgeoning acting career (he has previously portrayed the likes of Malcolm X and Barack Obama). "(Marley's) music speaks for itself. It plays everywhere and it's been part of all our lives. I can't even remember when I first heard of Bob; he's just always been there," Ben-Adir says. "But to get to know Bob as a father and as a human -- that process was extraordinary." - Canoe.com, 2/10/24...... As Elton John continues to downsize after announcing his retirement from touring, the Rocket Man has announced he is liquidating his museum-worthy collection of art, photography and personal effects he collected in the sprawling 13,000-square foot penthouse/gallery on Peachetree Road, which he recently sold. On Thursday Feb. 8, John's husband and manager, David Furnish, spoke to Good Morning America about the sale while spotlighting some of the most interesting pieces going under the gavel starting Feb. 9. "This has brought Elton a lot of joy. He always liked to go out to do shows to earn money to collect more things that he loved and that inspired him," Furnish told GMA, while standing in the museum-like space and showing off pieces headed for the "Goodbye Peachtree Road" Christie's auction that lasts through Feb. 21. The collection comprised of photography, art and objects collected by John since 1991 at his Peachtree Road apartment in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood includes everything from pieces by British artists Damien Hirst and Banksy, as well as ones from iconic American artists Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe and Keith Haring, a pair of John's silver leather platform boots from 1971. Also on the list is the Yamaha grand piano from 1992, on which the Emmy/Grammy/Oscar/Tony honoree wrote his Tony-winning score to the "Aida" Broadway musical and the score to the Billy Elliott musical. Other highlights include his first outrageously colorful custom concert outfits from 1971, Rolex watches, a sapphire ring, a Versace set of Rosenthal china and hundreds of individually printed silk shirts by his late friend Gianni Versace. Furnish's GMA interview can be viewed on X. - Billboard, 2/8/24...... 
Sony Music Group has closed an agreement to buy half of Michael Jackson's publishing and recorded masters catalog in a deal that sources say valued those music assets somewhere above $1.2 billion, what could be the largest valuation of a musician's music assets. Other sources have suggested it might be as much as $1.5 billion. At those valuations, Sony will pay at least $600 million for its stake of the legendary rights. As English prog-rockers Queen are finally getting close to selling their catalog, according to sources -- and may even already be in an exclusive period with an undisclosed suitor and are reportedly seeking a $1.2 billion payday -- the Jackson deal, which closed in late 2023, is at a bigger valuation than the $1.2 billion that Queen is currently seeking. And whereas the Queen valuation includes, sources say, royalties from income streams beyond the masters and publishing, including from the Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, and theatrical productions using Queen's music, Sony's deal with the Jackson estate does not include royalties from the Broadway play and other theatrical productions featuring Jackson's music. Sales and streams of Jackson's music grew steadily from 1.07 million album equivalent units in 2020 to 1.47 million in 2023 -- up 37% over those three years -- according to Luminate. That outpaced the overall U.S. music market for album consumption units, which grew 22.9% during that time period. Outside the U.S., Jackson is arguably even more popular. In 2023, consumption of his music grew 38.3% to 6.5 billion on-demand streams, up from 4.7 billion streams in 2021. In 2025, a Jackson biopic called Michael will be released, likely fueling even more growth to his fanbase, boosting consumption and triggering more revenue to flow to his estate and any other rights holder. - Billboard, 2/9/24...... John Travolta reprised some of his best Saturday Night Fever dance moves on stage during the Sanremo 2024 festival in Italy on Feb. 7. Announced as the international guest of the second night of the three-night Sanremo 2024, Travolta was involved in a series of sketches in which -- rather than speaking -- he was just asked to replicate with host Amadeus the dance moves that made him famous, from Saturday Night Fever to Pulp Fiction, ending with the "Chicken Dance" (where he refused to wear a beak-shaped hat). It is not clear whether he had been made aware of all this. Travolta will celebrate his milestone 70th birthday on Feb. 18. - Billboard, 2/8/24...... A re-release of Mark Knopfler's "Going Home (Theme from Local Hero)" will feature the final recording of late guitar great Jeff Beck. "Going Home" is Knopfler's legendary soundtrack to the 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film, and will raise funds for the UK's Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. Compacted to nine minutes long, almost all the world's most iconic guitarists take turns on the history-making anthem, with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, Guns N' Roses' Slash, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Eagles member Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, The Who's Pete Townshend, Nile Rodgers, Joan Jett and Queen's Brian May also contributing. Beck -- who died after contracting bacterial meningitis in Jan. 2023 aged 78 -- opens the song with an emotional solo. Sting completes the rhythm section on bass. Legendary graphic designer Sir Peter Blake, best known for his work for The Beatles, The Who and Paul Weller, designed the artwork featuring cutouts of all the contributors squeezed into the backdrop of Hanks guitar shop. "What I really want to do, more than anything else, is just to thank each and every one for this sterling response," Knopfler said. "I really had no idea that it was going to be like this. It hit (producer) Guy (Fletcher) and I quite early on that we had to extend this piece somehow, to take in the number of people who joined in." "Local Hero" is due out on Mar. 15. - Music-News.com 2/8/24...... Actor Paul Giamatti says Cher keeps calling him and he doesn't know why. Appearing on Howard Stern's SiriusXM radio show, Giamatti said, "Every now and then, I get a message from somebody that says Cher really needs to talk to me, like it's important, like it's crucial that she talks to me. And I'm like, 'What the f---?! Why does Cher want to talk to me?' Nobody will tell me!" He continued: "And then I never hear anything and a year will go by, and it happens again... I don't know what she could possibly want to talk to me about. And it's killing me, I'm dying to know what she wants to talk to me about. I mean, it would be great! I'd love to talk to her about anything. I don't care, it'd be fantastic," he explained to Stern. Giamatti is a strong contender for a Best Actor Oscar for is performance in The Holdovers. He's up against alongside Cillian Murphy, Bradley Cooper, Colman Domingo and Jeffrey Wright. - NME, 2/8/24...... 
70s crooner Engelbert Humperdinck is aiming to become the oldest ever performer at the UK's Glastonbury festival, Glastonbury's oldest ever performer this year, beating the record help by the late Burt Bacharach, who was 87 when he played the festival in 2015. The 87-year-old Humperdinck -- who will be 88 in May -- said: "I wouldn't mind doing Glastonbury. I'd have to have the right songs for that show. But my new project may give me that opportunity. It's out of my comfort zone and taking me into a different style, which may lead to Glastonbury." Englebert also revealed one of his career regrets is when his manager turned down a collaboration with Gorillaz in 2010. He said: "That was a terrible mistake. I would've jumped at the chance if they'd spoken to me. "Hopefully, with this new project, I'll be able to work with these sort of people. I want to record with them," he said. Humperdinck's 2024 tour itinerary includes a Feb. 11 show in Detroit, a June 13 concert in Englewood, N.J., and UK dates in London (9/8), Manchester (9/9), Birmingham (9/10) and Glasgow (9/12). - Music-News.com, 2/10/24...... In a new interview with the London Times, Rod Stewart took a veiled swipe at contemporary singer Ed Sheeran by admitting he doesn't know any of his songs. Asked if timeless songs are still being made, he told The Times: "I'm sure they are. You mean like Maggie May? Songs that will be played in 50 years? I like whatshisname. Oh great, Rod. Well done. He's British, really talented and his songs will be around. Erm." Asked if he meant Sheeran, he replied: "No, not Ed, I don't know any of his songs, old ginger [redacted]. Jesus." Stewart, 79, then when on to heap praise on pop star George Ezra, 30, for penning "really tremendous songs" that he believes will stand the test of time. Stewart also took a pop at "kids" in music today just wanting fame and money and not caring about their craft. "We were brave in those days to go into the music business," he said. "We didn't know where it would take us but record companies were different. They would give you a try." - Music-News.com, 2/9/24...... Mojo Nixon, the unpredictable rock and roller behind the 1987 MTV-favorite novelty song "Elvis Is Everywhere," died on Feb. 7 at age 66. According to a statement on his Facebook page, Nixon (real name: Neill Kirby McMillan Jr.) died after suffering a "cardiac event" during an Outlaw Country Cruise on which he was a performer. Nixon also hit the Billboard charts with "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child," a No. 16 Alternative Airplay hit from his Root Hog or Die album with Skid Roper (No. 151 on the Billboard 200 in 1989), as well as "Don Henley Must Die," a savage song that takes aim at the Eagles frontman from Mojo's 1990 solo album Otis -- which was a No. 20 hit on Alternative Airplay. In addition to his music career, Nixon also worked as an actor, appearing in the 1989 Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire! and starring as Toad in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie. A documentary about Nixon, The Mojo Manifesto: The Life and Times of Mojo Nixon, debuted at the 2022 South by Southwest film festival and was released digitally in March 2023. - Billboard, 2/7/24...... 
Henry Farmbrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, died peacefully of natural causes on Feb. 7 in his northern Virginia home, spokesperson Tanisha Jackson said in a statement. He was 85. In May 2023, Mr. Fambrough took a tour of Motown's Studio A in Detroit as part of a ceremony that included the donation to the Motown Museum of 375 outfits worn by The Spinners during performances. It "was a long time ago," Mr. Fambrough said at the time of the 1960s, when he first walked into the studio. "I used to dream about this place." He told reporters that he had to convince his wife that the studio was where he was going for 3 a.m. rehearsals and recording sessions with other members of the group. Their first big hit for Motown was "It's A Shame," which peaked at No. 14 on the pop chart in 1970. The Spinners would later sign with Atlantic Records and turn out a string of hits that included "Then Came You," which featured singer Dionne Warwick and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Their other hits include "It's a Shame," "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" and "The Rubberband Man." Their songs received six Grammy Award nominations and earned 18 platinum and gold albums. Originally called The Domingoes, the group was formed in 1954 just north of Detroit in Ferndale. The Spinners joined Motown Records 10 years later. Mr. Fambrough's survivors include his wife of 52 years, Norma, and daughter Heather Williams. - AP, 2/8/24...... J.M. "Jimmy" Van Eaton, a pioneering rock 'n' roll drummer who played behind the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy Lee Riley at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., died on Feb. 9. He was 86. Mr. Van Eaton, a Memphis native who came to the famous record label as a teenager, died at his home in Alabama after dealing with health issues over the last year. He was known for his bluesy playing style that the newspaper said powered classic early-rock hits at Sun like "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Lewis and "Red Hot" by Riley. He also played with Bill Justis and Charlie Rich. Mr. Van Eaton drifted away from the music business in the 1960s, but he resumed performing by the 1970s, particularly as interest in rockabilly grew following the death of Elvis Presley. By the early 1980s, he began four decades of working in the municipal bond business. But he also was part of the team that played the music for the film Great Balls of Fire, about Lewis, and he put out a solo album in the late 1990s. He was a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Memphis Music Hall of Fame. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter. - Billboard, 2/10/24.
Alice Cooper has returned to the airwaves with Alice's Attic, the follow-up to his long-running Nights with Alice Cooper broadcast which wrapped in 2022. Cooper, who turned 76 on Feb. 4, has teamed up with Superadio to syndicate the show, which runs Monday through Thursday. "To all of my insane radio minions, I'm BACK," the shock rocker said in a statment. "And if you thought 20 years of 'Nights with Alice Cooper' was weird, just wait until you get into 'Alice's Attic!' Just think about who or what could be lurking in all these dusty old boxes. We've got the same team behind the new show and so you'll find the show fairly familiar, but we're all looking forward to getting a little more creative with introducing new elements to keep things from getting stale. Speaking of stale what IS that smell??!" Alice promises a "curated mix of classic and some obscure rock, with an occasional 'future classic' song," plus his own stories and commentary about the music and artists he features. Listeners in the US and Australia are already able to access the show, with local stations in Canada and the UK also set to get the show soon. Cooper's interviewees in past years include Joe Perry, Brian Johnson, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie and the late Meat Loaf. - Music-News.com, 2/6/24...... 
The restaurant management company owned by Sammy Hagar is demanding that a federal judge shut down an allegedly unauthorized Hollywood location of his Cabo Wabo Cantina, claiming that a former franchisee has gone rogue and is damaging the rock star's reputation. Attorneys for Hagar's company, Red Head Inc., sued in January, claiming that franchisee Robert Azinian had opened a new Cabo Wabo on Hollywood Blvd across from the TCL Chinese Theatre even though his licensing deal had been terminated. A new Feb. 5 filing asks for an immediate injunction blocking Azinian from continuing to use the name or any other company branding on his new eatery. "Every day that the Cabo Wabo Cantina at the new Hollywood location continues to operate under the 'Cabo Wabo' brand, it soils the name, reputation, and goodwill that Red Head has developed," the company's lawyers write. "Defendants were instructed to discontinue any and all use of the marks, but they have ignored that request." Hagar and his then Van Halen bandmates opened Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 1990, after buying out his partners, he later launched a line of tequila under the same name. Hagar sold the liquor brand to Italian beverage company Gruppo Campari for $101 million, but his Red Head Inc. continues to operate the restaurant in Cabo and later franchised locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. - Billboard, 2/6/24...... Meanwhile, Sammy Hagar was among those paying tribute to rocker Jon Bon Jovi on Feb. 2 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Bon Jovi was named the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year, an in addition to Hagar, the event was also attended by Bon Jovi's pals Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Melissa Etheridge, Jelly Roll and Shania Twain, among others. "We were buddies forever, and I don't ever remember having any kind of Internet argument or anything with Jon," Hagar said on the red carpet before the event. "We came from the same school, we sing the same kind of way, we're screamers, we write big choruses that make people want to sing along. He's just younger and better looking than me," he added. When asked if there are any Bon Jovi songs he wishes he could have written instead, the former Van Halen vocalist was upfront. "Yeah, all of 'em," he said, smiling. "'Wanted Dead or Alive,' I really love that song. It's so cool. But hey, 'You Give Love a Bad Name' it's a damn good song." During the ceremony, Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi jammed together on a rendition of Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home," as well as the Boss' "The Promised Land," Bon Jovi also debuted a new song by the name of "Legendary." Footage of the performances can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 2/5/24...... In a new interview with Conan O'Brien's SiriusXM radio show, former Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham reflected on his time in the platinum-selling group and revealed that he would rejoin the line-up "in a heartbeat." "If there's more to come [from Fleetwood Mac], if there's a way to heal that, that would be great. It would be very appropriate to close on a more circular note," Buckingham, who departed from Fleetwood Mac in 2018, told O'Brien. Currently, the future of Fleetwood Mac hangs in the balance, following the death of longtime member Christine McVie in Nov. 2022 at the age of 79, "following a short illness." It was later revealed that her death was primarily caused by suffering an ischemic stroke. In Feb. 2023, founding member Mick Fleetwood said that the loss of McVie meant he had drawn a "line in the sand" in terms of playing with the band again, but would be happy if the members continued to make music as part of other projects. Later, Stevie Nicks shared a similar sentiment, claiming that "there's no reason" to keep the band going as they could never replace McVie. Elsewhere in the interview, Buckingham went on to recall the circumstances that led to him being fired from the outfit in 2018, adding that while he doesn't blame anyone for the issues that led to his departure, he does see his replacement as something that "disrespected the legacy" the members built. "There's no fingers to point at anyone, really. That's rock and roll, right?," he said. Buckingham posted to X on Jan. 24 saying his fans can catch the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast with his interview on the SiriusXM app. - New Musical Express, 2/6/24...... 
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' legendary Feb. 9, 1964 appearance on America's The Ed Sullivan Show, toymaker MEGA/Mattel is releasing a one-of-a-kind construction set that replicates the "arrows" stage that was specially made for the broadcast, and includes four 2-inch posable micro-figures of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, complete with swappable instruments. The 681-piece set is currently available for $79.99 at select Walmart stores, online at Walmart.co, and on the Beatles official website. The Beatles' performance on The Ed Sullivan Show launched the "British invasion" and birthed Beatlemania Stateside as the show received more than 50,000 ticket requests for the 728-seat studio. By comparison, Elvis Presley drove more than 7,000 ticket requests for his Sullivan show debut in 1957. The Beatles appeared on the show three times in 1964 and several other times over the next four years but stopped performing live on the show in 1966, opting instead for pre-taped performances. The band's final appearance on Sullivan show, a pre-taped performance, was on Mar. 1, 1970. - Billboard, 2/5/24...... The Grateful Dead has just broken the record for the most top 40-charting albums in the nearly 68-year history of the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. The group's latest archival live release, Dave's Picks, Volume 49: Frost Amphitheatre, Stanford U., Palo Alto, CA (4/27/85 & 4/28/85), debuted at No. 25 on the chart dated Feb. 10. It's the 59th Top 40-charting set for the San Francisco-based band, surpassing the 58 top 40s earned by both Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Dave's Picks, Volume 49 is from the band's long-running archival release series, named for the group's archivist, David Lemieux. The series launched in 2012 and has granted the group 41 of its 59 top 40-charting sets on the Billboard Hot 200. In other GD-related news, the GD spinoff band Dead & Company has revealed the dates for its summer residency at Las Vegas' Sphere venue. Dubbed "Dead Forever," the six-week run will kick off on May 16, with other May dates on May 17, 18, 24, 25, 24, 25 and 26. In June, the band will perform on June 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. July dates include July 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12 before wrapping on July 13. The gigs will run Thursday-Saturday, and, according to a release, "feature never-before-seen visual storytelling from Dead & Company, providing fans with the ultimate connection to the music through these innovative and immersive shows." Dead & Company -- which includes Grateful Dead founding member guitarist/singer Bob Weir and longtime drummer/percussionist Mickey Hart, as well as John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge -- formed in 2015. Co-founder drummer Bill Kreutzmann was originally part of the band as well, but he exited in 2023, before the band kicked off what it called its "final tour" last summer. - Billboard, 2/5/24...... The 2024 Grammys award ceremony held at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on the evening of Feb. 4 featured a long-overdue return from 30-years-gone Billy Joel and a spellbinding rendition of "Both Sides Now" from legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Mitchell was introduced by Brandi Carlile, who saluted her importance and influence as "the matriarch of imagination" and her own personal hero -- as well as for the struggles she had to go through after suffering a brain aneurysm (including having to learn how to walk again three separate times), among other issues. "Joni just turned 80, my friends," Carlile raved, "but we all know she's timeless." Mitchell then performed her signature ballad "Both Sides Now" seated from a large cushioned throne. Despite her voice of course being huskier and octaves lower than it was on the original 1969 recording, and the arrangement significantly slower, her performance of the classic song was absolutely stunning and thoroughly indelible. Attendees from Beyoncé to Meryl Streep to Dua Lipa were caught rapt in attention, visibly overpowered by the moment. Carlile assisted on the performance on the guitar, with further backing from Alison Russell, Lucius and Jacob Collier. Mitchell has won 11 Grammys in her career, including one at this year's ceremonies -- dating all the way back to 1969, when her "Both Sides" parent album Clouds won best folk performance. She also took home best folk album earlier in this year's ceremonies for her Joni Mitchell at Newport live set. Although her own version of "Both Sides Now" never charted on the Billboard Hot 100, Judy Collins' contemporaneous version of the song reached No. 8 in late 1968. 
Toward the end of the ceremony, Billy Joel took the stage to perform his latest single "Turn the Lights Back On." The performance -- the first time Joel has played at the Grammys in 30 years -- was preceded by a video package explaining the new song's origin story, with co-writer Freddy Wexler saying his dream of meeting Joel was fulfilled when his wife introduced him "to a doctor who knew another doctor who once knew Billy Joel." This loose association led to a long lunch meeting between Wexler and the icon who, Wexler says, became "unlikely friends" and ultimately wrote the song together. "It took him awhile to talk me into it," says Joel, who says he did a recording and "didn't hate my voice, and I usually do." Joel, who has scored 33 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, ended up co-writing "Turn the Lights Back On" with Wexler, Arthur Bacon and Wayne Hector. Wexler also produced the track, which is Joel's first song released with words since 2007's "All My Life." The song has also entered the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart dated Feb. 10 at No. 11, his first entry on the survey since 1998. Joel later closed the 2024 Grammys with a rousing rendition of his 1980 classic "You May Be Right." Other '70s stars featured in the 2024 Grammys include Stevie Wonder, who honored the late, legendary performer Tony Bennett with a rendition of Bennett's hit "The Best Is Yet To Come," and a "duet" with Bennett on "For Once in My Life" with footage of the late artist performing on a big screen. Bennett recorded "For Once in My Life" in 1967, with Wonder's version of the song releasing in 1968. On Feb. 3, '70s R&B great Gladys Knight was also honored with the Recording Academy's Special Merit Award at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles. Knight spoke emotionally about family in accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award. She noted that her mother would never allow her to sing "easy.... It had to come from a deeper place." - Billboard, 2/4/24...... AC/DC have teased a return to touring by dropping a teaser on X on Feb. 6 that asks fans whether they are "ready." The Aussie rock vets hinted to fans that plans to hit the road are underway by sharing a cryptic update on X and other social media channels. The 20-second-long clip that shows their iconic lightning bolt symbol flickering against a dark background, before the words 'ARE YOU READY' abruptly flash onto the screen. In the background, their 1990 song 'Are You Ready' plays, and the band's logo later fills up the screen. If their hints prove to be true, it will mark their first shows on the European continent since their slot at Dusseldorf Espirit Arena in June 2016 -- back when Axl Rose was acting as frontman for the band. It will also mark some of their first live gigs since they made their comeback at the huge Power Trip festival in Indio, Calif., in October 2023. The slot saw the band close out the second of three nights at the rock festival and featured a massive 24-song set with Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams returning to the line-up. - NME, 2/6/24...... Tom Bahler, the arranger who "We Are the World" producer Quincy Jones tasked with arranging the vocals on the iconic 1985 charity single, has weighed in on the discussion and suggested that the late Prince may have turned down the opportunity to sing on the record because he was "afraid" of Michael Jackson, who co-wrote and sang on the song with Lionel Richie and a star-studded lineup of other singers. "I had a feeling Prince had a problem with men. With him, everything was with women. It made him feel good," Bahler recently told Rolling Stone's Music Now podcast. Bahler also said he thinks the disagreement about the lyric in "Bad," on which Prince also turned down the opportunity to collaborate with Michael because of his reluctance to sing the line "Your butt is mine," was "one of his excuses" to not work with Jackson later. "I think if anything, he was afraid of Michael," Bahler said. "This is pure conjecture on my part. Michael was not afraid of him. Michael wasn't afraid of anybody. He loved everybody." Alternate theories have also suggested that Prince didn't take part in the "We Are the World" recording because he wanted to play the guitar on the track instead -- a decision which Jones allegedly turned down. - NME, 2/2/24...... 
In a wild post on his social media channels, 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has claimed he looks like Elvis Presley. Trump surprised followers when he shared a photo to X, Instagram and his Truth Social platform that showed his face spliced with Presley's. "For so many years, people have been saying that Elvis and I look alike," Trump wrote in the post. "Now this pic has been going all over the place. What do you think?" His message garnered over 620,000 likes on both social media platforms but sparked a tidal wave of jokes. Democratic strategist Johnny Palmadessa claimed Trump "clearly has dementia" after he shared the image. "He just compared himself to Elvis because he believes they 'look alike,'" Palmadessa wrote on X. "He needs to seek help." "Trump says he's an Elvis look alike. Hopefully he will soon be doing the Jailhouse Rock. #TrumpIsNotWell," another social media user wrote on X. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann piled on, writing, "Dementia J. Trump now trying to convince his cult he's somehow like Elvis Presley. You mean both brain dead since 1977? You bet!" Another X user tweeted, "If you believe Trump looks like Elvis do yourself a favour and stay out of any bar near closing time." At a 2018 rally in Presley's hometown of Tupelo, Miss., Trump claimed he'd been compared to Presley for years. "I shouldn't say this. You'll say I'm very conceited 'cause I'm not," Trump told the crowd as he campaigned for Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. "But other than the blonde hair, when I was growing up, they said I looked like Elvis. You see that? Can you believe it? I always considered that a great compliment We love Elvis," said Trump, who awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Presley during his tenure in office in Nov. 2018. - Canoe.com, 2/5/24...... Original NBC's Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his 87th birthday, Feb. 1. Morris, a New Orleans native, became a TV legend during his run on SNL through 1980 and went on to stack his resume with TV roles on shows like The Jeffersons and 2 Broke Girls. "There have been highs and lows," says Morris, who spent some time homeless in New York City in the '50s and recalls experiencing more of a "hidden racism" in Hollywood early in his career. "But I'm so grateful for it." - People, 2/12/24...... Bruce Springsteen is mourning the loss of his mother Adel Springsteen, who passed away on Jan. 31 at age 98. Springsteen, 74, shared the news with his followers via Instagram on Feb. 1, posting a sweet throwback video of him dancing with his mother to a recording of Glenn Miller's "In the Mood." "Adele Springsteen -- May 4, 1925-January 31, 2024," he captioned the clip. The Boss also fittingly paired the video with lyrics from his 1998 song "The Wish." "I remember in the morning mom hearing your alarm clock ring," he wrote in his post. "I'd lie in bed and listen to you getting ready for work, the sound of your makeup case on the sink. And the ladies at the office all lipstick, perfume and rustling skirts, how proud and happy you always looked walking home from work." In addition to Bruce, Adele leaves behind two daughters, Pamela and Virginia. Their father Douglas Springsteen, whom Adele married in 1948, died in 1998. A Brooklyn, New York, native, Adele was a proud champion of her son's music and sometimes joined him onstage at his concerts to dance. "My mother loves to dance," Bruce once said in a July 2021 Broadway performance. "She grew up in the '40s & [with] the big bands and the swing bands, and that was a time when dancing was an existential act. She's 95 and she's 10 years into Alzheimer's and that's taken a lot away from us. But the need to dance hasn't left her," he added. - Billboard, 2/1/24...... 
Wayne Kramer, the co-founder of the protopunk Detroit band the MC5 that thrashed out such hardcore anthems as "Kick Out the Jams" and influenced everyone from The Clash to Rage Against the Machine, died on Feb. 2 at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75. From the late 1960s to early 1970s, no band was closer to the revolutionary spirit of the time than the MC5, which featured Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith on guitars, Rob Tyner on vocals, Michael Davis on bass and Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson on drums. Managed for a time by White Panther co-founder John Sinclair, they were known for their raw, uncompromising music, which they envisioned as the soundtrack for the uprising to come. "Brother Wayne Kramer was the best man I've ever known," Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello wrote via Instagram on Feb. 2. "He possessed a one of a kind mixture of deep wisdom & profound compassion, beautiful empathy and tenacious conviction. His band the MC5 basically invented punk rock music." "Kick Out the Jams" was their most famous song, peaking at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marking their only appearance on the chart, and opened with an unprintable call to arms: "Kick out the jams mother-----r!" A live album of the same name peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 200 in 1969, their highest-charting release. They also released the studio albums Back in the USA and High Time before breaking up at the end of 1972. Kramer would lead various incarnations of the MC5 over the following decades, and perform with Was (Not Was) among other groups. But for a time he sank into the life of what he called "a small-time Detroit criminal." He was arrested on drug charges in 1975 and sentenced to four years in prison. "Jail Guitar Doors" is named for a Clash song that refers to his struggles: "Let me tell you 'bout Wayne and his deals of cocaine." Survivors include his wife, Margaret Saadi, and son, Francis. Dennis Thompson is now the MC5's only surviving member. - Billboard, 2/2/24...... Aston "Family Man" Barrett, the bassist best known for playing with Bob Marley & The Wailers, died on Feb. 3. He was 77. Born on Nov. 22, 1946, Barrett became a key figure in the early development of reggae music, first gaining fame as a member of The Upsetters, the house band of the visionary producer and singer Lee Perry. In 1970, he and his brother, the drummer Carlton Barrett, joined The Wailers' backing band, shortly before they signed a landmark record deal with Island Records. Barrett remained a member of the band for the remainder of Marley's life, playing on the legendary albums Catch a Fire, Burnin' and Exodus, among others. He was credited with defining the dub-influenced bass-heavy sound of the music that the Wailers produced, and later became a mentor for Robbie Shakespeare of Sly & Robbie. News of Barrett's death arrives less than two weeks before the release of Bob Marley: One Love, the biopic of Marley in which Barrett will be played by his own son, Aston Barrett Jr. The film hits theaters on Feb. 14. - NME, 2/3/24...... 
Actor Carl Weathers, the former NFL star known for his roles as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise and Derick "Chubbs" Peterson in Happy Gilmore, died on in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 1. He was 76. During his time as a football player, Weathers played for the NFL's Oakland Raiders from 1970 to 71 and for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 73. Soon after, he landed the role of Apollo Creed -- inspired by Muhammad Ali -- in the Sylvester Stallone-starred 1976 smash Rocky, and continued to play him throughout the franchise. He also had roles in Predator and The Mandalorian, in addition to portraying golfer Derick "Chubbs" Peterson in Happy Gilmore. "Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life," his manager Matt Luber said. "Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner and friend." - Billboard, 2/2/24...... It was revealed in early February that Charles Osgood, the calm and dignified anchor of CBS Sunday Morning from 1994 to 2016, died of dementia on Jan. 23. He was 91. Mr. Osgood, who managed to appear on nearly all of CBS's major news shows in his 45 years with the network, began his career on CBS Radio in 1972. He was known for his engagingly calm presence, and the relaxed pace of CBS Sunday Morning proved a perfect fit for the newsman. He is survived by his wife, Jean Crafton, and their five children. - People, 2/12/24.
Due to "overwhelming demand," Joni Mitchell has added a second show the following evening to her previously announced concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 19. Marking the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter's first shows in Los Angeles since 2000, the "Joni Jam" will also feature Mitchell's longtime fan and friend Brandi Carlile on the Oct. 19 and 20 dates. The latest concert announcement for Mitchell, 80, comes ahead of her performance at the Grammys in L.A. on Feb. 4, a first for the singer who won the first of nine competitive Grammys in 1970 and, in 2002, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy. Mitchell is nominated in the best folk album category for her Joni Mitchell at Newport album, which captures her surprise 2022 performance at the Newport Folk Festival, her first public performance following an aneurysm suffered in 2015. It was her first full public concert since the turn of the century. In June 2023, another Joni Jam happened in Quincy, Wash. with special guests Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Marcus Mumford and Wynonna Judd, among others. It was her first ticketed show in 20 years. January marked the 50th anniversary of Mitchell's seminal 1974 LP 
They're "Back (and Back and Back and Back) in Black." AC/DC's music video for the title track of their 1980 album has become the Aussie headbangers' second visual to reach one billion views on 
In other legal news, a long-simmering feud between the families of Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone has erupted into a new lawsuit over a proposed Netflix biopic about the legendary NY punk band. Joey and Johnny Ramone -- who were very much not actual brothers -- didn't like each other much in life, and it appears their heirs don't like each other much either. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan court, Johnny's widow, Linda Ramone, sued Joey's brother, Mickey Leigh, over allegations that he had "covertly" developed a planned Netflix movie starring Pete Davidson as Joey. She says that any movie based on the pioneering punk band requires her sign-off. "To permit defendants alone to tell the authoritative story of the Ramones would be an injustice to the band and its legacy," Linda's lawyers wrote. The case is the latest in years of battles between Linda and Mickey, who split 50-50 ownership of the Ramones IP. And it raises interesting legal questions about so-called life rights deals -- and how they raise unique challenges in the context of musical biopics. - Billboard, 1/30/24...... Elsewhere on the legal front, a London judge has issued a ruling that the heirs of Jimi Hendrix's former bandmates could continue to sue Sony Music over the rights to three classic albums, clearing the way for a trial next year to resolve the contentious lawsuit. The estates of bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell say they own a share of the rights to three albums created by the trio's Jimi Hendrix Experience, and they've been battling in court for more than two years to prove it. Sony had argued that the case should be dismissed because Redding and Mitchell both signed away their rights in the early 1970s shortly after Hendrix died, but a judge on London's High Court ruled on Jan. 29 that the dispute -- over "arguably the greatest rock guitarist ever" -- must be decided at trial. "My overall conclusion is that the claims in respect of copyright and performers' property rights survive and should go to trial," Justice Michael Green wrote in his ruling, obtained by Billboard. The judge wrote that Redding and Mitchell's heirs had "a real prospect of succeeding" on their argument that the decades-old releases "do not provide a complete defence" for Sony. It's unclear when the trial will take place. - Billboard, 1/29/24...... The Grateful Dead spin-off band Dead & Company announced on Jan. 31 it was reuniting for a Las Vegas residency at the Sphere. "In 2023, Dead & Company played their final tour. But there are other ways to make sure the music never stops," the 
Beach Boys principal Brian Wilson is mourning the death of his longtime wife Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who has died aged 77. Wilson took to 
On Jan. 29 Heart announced they'll launch a 2024 "Royal Flush" tour with a huge run of shows planned across North America, the UK and Europe. Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson will kick off their tour on Apr. 20 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., and will visit several cities including Portland, Montreal, Detroit, London and Stockholm as well as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Col. They will also play a handful shows in stadiums opening for Def Leppard and Journey. "We're excited and all geared up to hit the road in 2024 to perform for our devoted fans," lead vocalist Ann Wilson said in a press release. "The exceptional talent of the band -- Ryan, Ryan, Paul, Tony and Sean -- brings a whole new level of energy to Heart's live performance." Nancy Wilson added: "I am incredibly proud of the show that our band has crafted and am looking forward to reconnecting with our fans. We can't wait to share our music with everyone and celebrate the big electric energy of a completely live on the spot rock show." The sisters recently reunited for their first live shows together in almost half a decade, in California and their hometown of Seattle, around and on New Year's Eve. - NME, 1/29/24...... Elton John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin have been named 2024 recipients of the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The renowned songwriting duo is only the third pair to receive the prestigious award, following Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 2012, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan in 2019. Established in 2007, the Gershwin Prize honors artists whose creative works are collected and made accessible by the Library and acknowledges popular song's vital role in society. The prize is named for another legendary songwriting team, George and Ira Gershwin, whose papers are held by the Library. Other past recipients include Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Lionel Richie and Garth Brooks. John and Taupin will accept the prestigious honor on Mar. 20 at Washington, D.C.'s Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitution Hall. The invitation-only, all-star concert will premiere on PBS stations Apr. 8. Meanwhile, John's TV special Elton John AIDS Foundation: Let Your Inner Elton Out is among the recipients of a 2024 Anthem Award, which were launched in 2021 to highlight social impact work across the globe. This year's Anthem winners were selected from a pool of more than 2,000 submissions from 44 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. - Billboard, 1/30/24...... The Eagles have announced yet more additions to their "Long Goodbye Tour" on Jan. 22, marking the fifth time since first announcing their tour that the band has added additional dates to its lineup. The newly added dates are for the European leg of the tour, which now includes a three-show residency in Manchester, UK, on May 31, June 1 and June 4, as well as a show in Arnhem, Netherlands, on June 13. The group took to 
Chaka Khan has been confirmed as the curator of the UK's 2024 Meltdown Festival, set for ten days between June 14 and 23 at London's Southbank Centre. Khan, 70, will be in charge of putting on a lineup of artists to celebrate her 50 years in music for this year's Meltdown. "The Southbank Centre's about to light up! We're going to funk it up, rock every crowd, and touch every soul. It's a community celebration, an all-ages bash. Join us and immerse yourself in a world that's vibrant, diverse, and absolutely unforgettable," said the Grammy-winning singer who fronted the funk group Rufus before she went on to have a tremendous solo career propelled by the R&B hit "I'm Every Woman" in 1978. During her stay in England, Khan will also be performing in Woodstock (6/13) and Lewes (7/5,6 and 7). - Music-News.com, 1/29/24...... Stop, in the name of chic!....Diana Ross, 79, has been selected as the face of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent's spring 2024 campaign. "My mama is on fire! Hoping to mature in this direction," gushed her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross. - People, 1/29/24...... Renowned British photographer and Depeche Mode collaborator Brian Griffin died "peacefully" in his sleep on Jan. 29. He was 75. Throughout his career, the Birmingham native famously worked with artists such as Siouxsie Sioux, Kate Bush, Ultravox, R.E.M., Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, Ringo Starr, Queen and Peter Gabriel. However, he was most widely recognised for his work with Depeche Mode. In 1989, The Guardian named Griffin "photographer of the decade," and later that year he left still photography behind to focus on TV commercials, music videos, and films. He also went on to acquire a production company, where he worked as a commercial director. He returned to still work around the turn of the century, and famously directed a documentary for Sir Paul McCartney. - NME, 1/30/24.
In conjunction with Black History Month, cable channel A&E will premiere a new two-night James Brown documentary, Say It Loud, on Feb. 19 and 20. "He [James] was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the civil rights movement," Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger said about the late "Godfather of Soul," who died in 2007. "I've always admired James and learned so much from him." Jagger also served as one of the documentary's executive producers, and reflects on the musician's impact in a trailer for the documentary, which has been shared on 
Former Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler will release his tenth solo album, One Deep River, on Apr. 12 via his own EMI-distributed label, British Grove. Knopfler has already shared the album's lead single, "Ahead of the Game," which tells the tale of a struggling musician. Knopfler says the album's title track is about the River Tyne in his home city of Newcastle in the North East of England. "Crossing the Tyne is always on your mind," he says. "It's what you were doing when you were leaving as a youngster and that feeling is always the same every time you do it. You're heading out or you're coming back, and it just connects with your childhood. The power of it doesn't go away." Meanwhile, on Jan. 31, Knopfler is selling 120 of his guitars to benefit multiple charities, including the British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts Of The North East. The sale will take place at Christie's in London, with estimates ranging from £300 to £500,000. - Music-News.com, 1/25/24...... If anyone could lay claim to the old saying "always the bridesmaid but never the bride" when it comes to the best original song Oscar award, it's veteran songwriter Diane Warren. Warren is getting up there on the all-time list of top Oscar nominees for the award, and her nod this year for "The Fire Inside," sung by Becky G in Flamin' Hot, is her 15th -- a tally equaled by only five other songwriters in the 90-year history of the category. Moreover, this is the seventh year in a row Warren has been nominated, the longest continuous streak of nominations in this category since Sammy Cahn was nominated eight years running from 1954-61. "I'm so excited about being nominated for 'The Fire Inside'!!," Warren said in a statement after her nomination was announced on Jan. 23. "This song is all about passion. It's the theme song not only for the movie Flamin' Hot but a theme song for dreamers everywhere with that Fire Inside to make their dreams come true." Previous best song Oscar nods for Warren include "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (1987, from Mannequin performed by Starship), "Because You Loved Me" (1996, from Up Close & Personal performed by Celine Dion, "How Do I Live" (1997, from Con Air performed by Trisha Yearwood, and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (1998, from Armageddon performed by Aerosmith). - Billboard, 1/25/24...... Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth has slammed Wolfgang Van Halen, VH latest bass player and son of VH guitarist Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli, in an audio clip he posted to 
On Jan. 24 Elton John announced a new book that will chronicle his half-century on the road. The 256-page Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories of My Life on Tour arrives on Sept. 24 through the Disney publishing imprint Hyperion Avenue, and promises readers "an epic visual journey through the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour while Elton reaches back in time to reflect on key moments in his astounding touring history and reminisces about the beginning of his career... Fans also get a rare glimpse at Elton's personal archive of posters, sketches, and never-before-seen photographs and postcards." Writing on 
Saying it's time to "call it a day," former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman has announced his final U.S. tour will kick off on Mar. 19 at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Conn. He'll then visit Montclair, N.J. (3/20), Huntington, N.Y. (3/22), Collingswood, N.J. (3/23), Derry, N.H. (3/24), Red Bank, N.J. (3/26), and Vienna, VA (3/27 and 28), before wrapping in Albany, N.Y.'s Egg Center for the Performing Arts on Mar. 29. On his official website, Wakeman also announced a 7-date tour of Mexico and South America in April, which he noted would mark the start of his last-ever concerts as a "one-man show." The statement however, suggests that the keyboardist will not be retiring yet, noting that he will spend the future "[concentrating] on composing, recording and collaborating with other musicians." To clarify any confusion, Wakeman took to 
Billy Joel announced on 
Norman Jewison, the Canadian-born director of such acclaimed films as In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof and Moonstruck, died on Jan. 20 at his home. He was 97. A seven-time Oscar nominee, Mr. Jewison received the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences in 1999. Known for his ability to coax great performances out of his actors -- 12 of his players were nominated for Oscars, while five of his features made the cut for best picture -- the most distinguished film director in Canadian history often used conventional genre plots to take on social injustice. Mr. Jewison earned best director and best picture nominations for Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Moonstruck (1987); received another nom for helming In the Heat of the Night (1967), a winner for best picture; and added two others for producing the wacky Red Scare comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) and A Soldier's Story (1984). Other directoral credits include Send Me No Flowers (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Rollerball (1975), F.I.S.T. (1978), And Justice for All (1979), Agnes of God (1985) and Other People's Money (1991). Frederick Jewison was born on July 21, 1926, in Toronto, where his parents ran a general store/post office. He developed an early interest in the arts, studying piano and music theory at the Royal Conservatory, and staged and appeared in shows and musical comedies in high school. Following graduation, Mr. Jewison made his professional debut in a minstrel show, which he also directed and co-wrote, then served in Canada's Navy during World War II. Back home, he graduated from the University of Toronto's Victoria College in 1949 with a B.A. in general arts. He worked as a cab driver in Toronto and occasionally performed as a radio actor for the CBC. In 1950, he moved to London for a two-year work-study stint with the BBC. In 1950, CBS invited Mr. Jewison to New York to update the venerable TV musical Your Hit Parade. After he booked African-American singer Tommy Edwards, who had a hit with "It's All in the Game," to be on the program, he was called to a Madison Avenue meeting with a representative from Lucky Strike cigarettes, the show's South Carolina-based sponsor. The CBC called him back to work in the new medium of television, and Mr. Jewison wrote, directed and produced some of his country's most popular shows and specials. Mr. Jewison served as producer of the 1981 Academy Awards, which were rescheduled after President Reagan was shot, and he earned an Emmy nomination in 2002 for directing the HBO telefilm Dinner With Friends. Mr. Jewison returned to Toronto in 1978 and lived on a 240-acre farm in Ontario. He hosted a gala picnic for years at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 1982, Mr. Jewison was made an officer of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian decoration, then set out to establish the Canadian equivalent of the American Film Institute. Survivors include his second wife, Lynne St. David, and three children. - The Hollywood Reporter, 1/22/24.