NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fans of Rihanna can get a sample of the singer's 2012 tour when a documentary featuring performances and behind-the-scenes footage will be shown on U.S. television on May 6.
'RIHANNA 777,' a one-hour special, will air on Fox, the network said on Monday.
The program chronicles Rihanna's late 2012 world tour, which made seven stops in seven days as she promoted her seventh album, 'Unapologetic.' It also includes footage shot on a 777 jet used to transport the singer, her entourage and more than 250 journalists and fans.
The film 'provides an inside look at the singer's ambitious and often turbulent tour, from the sound of popping champagne corks on the plane to the backstage chaos to the singer's special worldwide appearances,' Fox said in a statement.
Stops during the tour included Mexico City, Toronto, Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, London and New York.
Last week Rihanna canceled shows in Boston and Baltimore because she was suffering from flu and laryngitis. She resumed performing on Friday at a stop in Philadelphia.
In 2012 the Barbados-born Grammy Award-winning singer was rated by Time and Forbes magazines as among the world's and celebrity arena's most powerful people.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Bill Trott)
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Justin Timberlake puts the sexy into married life in new album
By Piya Sinha-Roy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After making the transition from child star and boy band heartthrob to movie star, Justin Timberlake is returning to music with his first album since 2006, cementing his grown-up status with a record inspired by his new marriage.
Timberlake, 32, officially releases 'The 20/20 Experience' on Tuesday. But the 10-track record of smooth love songs with a throwback R&B sound is already No. 1 on the iTunes charts after it was streamed online last week.
The album is Timberlake's first since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which spawned hit pop singles 'Sexyback' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.'
Although lead single 'Suit & Tie,' featuring rapper Jay-Z, failed to meet sales expectations on its first week of release in January, the album is expected to sell well following weeks of promotion including a Grammy Awards show performance and a stint by Timberlake on TV sketch show 'Saturday Night Live.'
Industry sources cited by Billboard said 'The 20/20 Experience' could sell 500,000 copies in its first week, and easily give Timberlake the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album charts.
'The 20/20 Experience' sees Timberlake embracing his status as a married man after his wedding to actress Jessica Biel in October 2012.
The singer draws on lazy summer romances for the majority of his songs, with slow-tempo swing rhythms on tracks such as 'Pusher Girl Love,' where Timberlake describes his addiction to a girl.
Jason Lipshutz at Billboard magazine gave the album an 88 out of 100 rating, saying that while the singer did not replicate the edgy pop sounds of earlier hits on his 'FutureSex' album, he 'has offered us something more complicated, although no less accessible.'
Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen praised the singer for being 'such a charismatic and effortlessly appealing singer, dancer and showman,' and called the album 'Timberlake's neo-soul record.'
FROM HEARTTHROB TO ENTREPRENEUR
Timberlake has barely put a foot wrong in his transition from child star in the 'Mickey Mouse Club' to popular boy band N'Sync, through to solo entertainer, actor and entrepreneur.
He has appeared in movies 'The Social Network' and 'Bad Teacher;' launched his own record label, Tennman Records; added clothing designer to his credits with label William Rast; and invested in social networking site MySpace.
His all-rounder status was showcased last week on 'Saturday Night Live,' where he sang, danced and acted - and boosted ratings for the NBC show to a 14-month high.
In July he will embark on a 'Legends of the Summer' tour of North American stadiums along with Jay-Z, and the pair will headline a London music festival in the same month.
While 'Don't Hold The Wall' - a steamy dance floor track with explicit connotations - harkens back to Timberlake's 'Sexyback' days, Biel is often at the forefront of the singer's mind in the new album. 'That Girl' is a sweet throwback R&B love song, while new single 'Mirrors' is an ode to his new wife.
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mikael Wood gave the album three out of four stars, saying 'Timberlake holds (the album) together too, with lyrics that stay resolutely on the topic of romance.'
Not all critics are swooning. Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper gave 'The 20/20 Experience' three out of five stars, but slammed Timberlake's lyrics, which he called 'awful.'
'It's not that the lyrics are exclusively about sex; it's that Timberlake writes about it in a way that suggests he's desperate to add some kind of musical equivalent of the Bad Sex award to his six Grammys and four Emmys,' Petridis said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After making the transition from child star and boy band heartthrob to movie star, Justin Timberlake is returning to music with his first album since 2006, cementing his grown-up status with a record inspired by his new marriage.
Timberlake, 32, officially releases 'The 20/20 Experience' on Tuesday. But the 10-track record of smooth love songs with a throwback R&B sound is already No. 1 on the iTunes charts after it was streamed online last week.
The album is Timberlake's first since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which spawned hit pop singles 'Sexyback' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.'
Although lead single 'Suit & Tie,' featuring rapper Jay-Z, failed to meet sales expectations on its first week of release in January, the album is expected to sell well following weeks of promotion including a Grammy Awards show performance and a stint by Timberlake on TV sketch show 'Saturday Night Live.'
Industry sources cited by Billboard said 'The 20/20 Experience' could sell 500,000 copies in its first week, and easily give Timberlake the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album charts.
'The 20/20 Experience' sees Timberlake embracing his status as a married man after his wedding to actress Jessica Biel in October 2012.
The singer draws on lazy summer romances for the majority of his songs, with slow-tempo swing rhythms on tracks such as 'Pusher Girl Love,' where Timberlake describes his addiction to a girl.
Jason Lipshutz at Billboard magazine gave the album an 88 out of 100 rating, saying that while the singer did not replicate the edgy pop sounds of earlier hits on his 'FutureSex' album, he 'has offered us something more complicated, although no less accessible.'
Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen praised the singer for being 'such a charismatic and effortlessly appealing singer, dancer and showman,' and called the album 'Timberlake's neo-soul record.'
FROM HEARTTHROB TO ENTREPRENEUR
Timberlake has barely put a foot wrong in his transition from child star in the 'Mickey Mouse Club' to popular boy band N'Sync, through to solo entertainer, actor and entrepreneur.
He has appeared in movies 'The Social Network' and 'Bad Teacher;' launched his own record label, Tennman Records; added clothing designer to his credits with label William Rast; and invested in social networking site MySpace.
His all-rounder status was showcased last week on 'Saturday Night Live,' where he sang, danced and acted - and boosted ratings for the NBC show to a 14-month high.
In July he will embark on a 'Legends of the Summer' tour of North American stadiums along with Jay-Z, and the pair will headline a London music festival in the same month.
While 'Don't Hold The Wall' - a steamy dance floor track with explicit connotations - harkens back to Timberlake's 'Sexyback' days, Biel is often at the forefront of the singer's mind in the new album. 'That Girl' is a sweet throwback R&B love song, while new single 'Mirrors' is an ode to his new wife.
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mikael Wood gave the album three out of four stars, saying 'Timberlake holds (the album) together too, with lyrics that stay resolutely on the topic of romance.'
Not all critics are swooning. Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper gave 'The 20/20 Experience' three out of five stars, but slammed Timberlake's lyrics, which he called 'awful.'
'It's not that the lyrics are exclusively about sex; it's that Timberlake writes about it in a way that suggests he's desperate to add some kind of musical equivalent of the Bad Sex award to his six Grammys and four Emmys,' Petridis said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Rapper Lil Wayne says he is fine after health scare
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. rapper Lil Wayne said on Friday he was fine and thanked fans for their concern after a reported seizure that led celebrity website TMZ.com to claim he was in a medically induced coma and near death.
'I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,' Wayne said in a Twitter message on his official account.
The 30-year-old rapper's spokeswoman Sarah Cunningham said in an email that 'Lil Wayne is recovering,' but did not specify what he was suffering from.
She was responding to a TMZ.com report citing unnamed sources which said Wayne was in critical condition, and near death, at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
Rapper Mack Maine said in a Twitter posting earlier that Wayne was 'alive and well. We watching the Syracuse (basketball) game...thanks for the prayers and concern.'
Maine said fans should not 'believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe.'
TMZ said the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai for seizures and released on Wednesday. But the website said he was readmitted a few hours later after his bodyguard found him unconscious on the floor of his room. It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles on Friday to be at his bedside.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has suffered several unexplained seizures in the past few months, including two in January while on a plane flight.
Wayne, a native of New Orleans, began rapping at the age of nine, when he became the youngest artist to be signed by Cash Money record label.
The 'Got Money' rapper has released nine studio albums over a two decade career and has become one of the biggest names in rap music.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and David Brunnstrom)
'I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,' Wayne said in a Twitter message on his official account.
The 30-year-old rapper's spokeswoman Sarah Cunningham said in an email that 'Lil Wayne is recovering,' but did not specify what he was suffering from.
She was responding to a TMZ.com report citing unnamed sources which said Wayne was in critical condition, and near death, at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
Rapper Mack Maine said in a Twitter posting earlier that Wayne was 'alive and well. We watching the Syracuse (basketball) game...thanks for the prayers and concern.'
Maine said fans should not 'believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe.'
TMZ said the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai for seizures and released on Wednesday. But the website said he was readmitted a few hours later after his bodyguard found him unconscious on the floor of his room. It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles on Friday to be at his bedside.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has suffered several unexplained seizures in the past few months, including two in January while on a plane flight.
Wayne, a native of New Orleans, began rapping at the age of nine, when he became the youngest artist to be signed by Cash Money record label.
The 'Got Money' rapper has released nine studio albums over a two decade career and has become one of the biggest names in rap music.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and David Brunnstrom)
Friday, March 15, 2013
New musical on songstress Carole King Broadway-bound
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A musical about the life of legendary singer-songwriter Carole King will open on Broadway next year, producers said on Friday.
'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' will chart the journey of Carol Klein from Brooklyn to the top of the pop music world, producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing said.
Featuring songs written by Carole King and her first husband and collaborator, Gerry Goffin, as well as Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the musical was set to open in the spring of 2014.
King 'fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties had the husband of her dreams and a hot career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock'n'roll,' the producers said in a statement.
King, 71, said musicals had been a major influence on her. 'When Gerry and I first met, we made a bargain that I would write music for the Broadway show he wanted to write if he wrote lyrics for my rock'n'roll songs.
'The songs took off, and the show idea never came to fruition. Now that our songs have merged with a Broadway show, we've come full circle,' she said in a statement.
King shot to fame in the early 1970s when her second album, 'Tapestry,' swept the Grammy awards, winning best album, song of year ('You've Got a Friend,' later covered by James Taylor) and record of the year ('It's Too Late').
Other hits included 'I Feel the Earth Move,' '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' and 'Sweet Seasons.' More recently, King appeared in a recurring role on the U.S. television series 'Gilmore Girls.'
No casting decisions were announced.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant and Doina Chiacu)
'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' will chart the journey of Carol Klein from Brooklyn to the top of the pop music world, producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing said.
Featuring songs written by Carole King and her first husband and collaborator, Gerry Goffin, as well as Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the musical was set to open in the spring of 2014.
King 'fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties had the husband of her dreams and a hot career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock'n'roll,' the producers said in a statement.
King, 71, said musicals had been a major influence on her. 'When Gerry and I first met, we made a bargain that I would write music for the Broadway show he wanted to write if he wrote lyrics for my rock'n'roll songs.
'The songs took off, and the show idea never came to fruition. Now that our songs have merged with a Broadway show, we've come full circle,' she said in a statement.
King shot to fame in the early 1970s when her second album, 'Tapestry,' swept the Grammy awards, winning best album, song of year ('You've Got a Friend,' later covered by James Taylor) and record of the year ('It's Too Late').
Other hits included 'I Feel the Earth Move,' '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' and 'Sweet Seasons.' More recently, King appeared in a recurring role on the U.S. television series 'Gilmore Girls.'
No casting decisions were announced.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant and Doina Chiacu)
"X Factor" the musical to hit London stage in 2014
LONDON (Reuters) - Creator of 'The X Factor', Simon Cowell, has given his approval for his hit TV singing competition to head to the London stage.
Syco Entertainment, Cowell's joint venture with Sony Music, is teaming up with Stage Entertainment UK to bring a musical based on the TV singing contest to the stage next year, the partners announced on Friday.
The show, to be called 'X Factor - It's Time To Face The Musical!' will hit London's West End theatre district in early 2014 with its creators calling it an 'affectionate poke' at the hugely successful TV show created by Cowell.
It is being written by British comedian Harry Hill with music from Steve Brown and will be directed by Sean Foley.
Production company Stage Entertainment UK, behind such hits as 'Oliver!', 'Hairspray' and 'Singin' in the Rain', said in a statement that the new musical would follow the fictional character Chenice on her unlikely journey to stardom.
Described as 'the only girl in the world who has never heard of The X Factor', she stumbles across an audition queue with her talking dog, an incident that changes her life forever.
Cowell has made a fortune from 'The X Factor' and similar television talent shows, and is also a household name in his native Britain and the United States for appearing as the acerbic judge on several of his shows.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
Syco Entertainment, Cowell's joint venture with Sony Music, is teaming up with Stage Entertainment UK to bring a musical based on the TV singing contest to the stage next year, the partners announced on Friday.
The show, to be called 'X Factor - It's Time To Face The Musical!' will hit London's West End theatre district in early 2014 with its creators calling it an 'affectionate poke' at the hugely successful TV show created by Cowell.
It is being written by British comedian Harry Hill with music from Steve Brown and will be directed by Sean Foley.
Production company Stage Entertainment UK, behind such hits as 'Oliver!', 'Hairspray' and 'Singin' in the Rain', said in a statement that the new musical would follow the fictional character Chenice on her unlikely journey to stardom.
Described as 'the only girl in the world who has never heard of The X Factor', she stumbles across an audition queue with her talking dog, an incident that changes her life forever.
Cowell has made a fortune from 'The X Factor' and similar television talent shows, and is also a household name in his native Britain and the United States for appearing as the acerbic judge on several of his shows.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
Jay-Z to put modern jazz twist on Gatsby soundtrack
LONDON (Reuters) - Rapper Jay-Z has teamed up with Australian director Baz Luhrmann to produce and perform on the soundtrack for 'The Great Gatsby' which will open the 2013 Cannes film festival in May.
Jay-Z said he would join some of the world's top musical artists on the soundtrack which would bring modern 'jazz age' energy to the latest film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of 1920s America.
The hip-hop entrepreneur said he was introduced to Luhrmann by Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the lead role of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby in the movie and this led to a two-year collaboration.
'As soon as I spoke with Baz and Leonardo, I knew this was the right project,' Jay-Z said in a statement.
''The Great Gatsby' is that classic American story of one's introduction to extravagance, decadence and illusion. It's ripe for experimentation and ready to be interpreted with a modern twist.'
Jay-Z will be executive producer of the soundtrack and contribute some newly written songs to the score by composer Craig Armstrong, who worked with Luhrmann on his previous films 'Moulin Rouge!' and 'Romeo + Juliet'.
The soundtrack of the film, which opens on May 10, will be released by Interscope Records.
Luhrmann's adaptation of Fitzgerald's account of 'Roaring Twenties' America will open the Cannes film festival, the world's most important cinema showcase, with DiCaprio appearing at the event for the first time since 2007.
Organizers this week said the opening gala, preceded by a glitzy red carpet fashion parade and followed by parties along the palm-lined Riviera, will also be attended by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and Jay-Z.
Luhrmann's first film 'Strictly Ballroom' was screened at Cannes 21 years ago.
DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby in the 3D movie, Carey Mulligan takes the role of Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, the narrator.
The festival runs from May 15 to 26 and U.S. director Steven Spielberg is head of this year's jury.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith)
Jay-Z said he would join some of the world's top musical artists on the soundtrack which would bring modern 'jazz age' energy to the latest film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of 1920s America.
The hip-hop entrepreneur said he was introduced to Luhrmann by Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the lead role of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby in the movie and this led to a two-year collaboration.
'As soon as I spoke with Baz and Leonardo, I knew this was the right project,' Jay-Z said in a statement.
''The Great Gatsby' is that classic American story of one's introduction to extravagance, decadence and illusion. It's ripe for experimentation and ready to be interpreted with a modern twist.'
Jay-Z will be executive producer of the soundtrack and contribute some newly written songs to the score by composer Craig Armstrong, who worked with Luhrmann on his previous films 'Moulin Rouge!' and 'Romeo + Juliet'.
The soundtrack of the film, which opens on May 10, will be released by Interscope Records.
Luhrmann's adaptation of Fitzgerald's account of 'Roaring Twenties' America will open the Cannes film festival, the world's most important cinema showcase, with DiCaprio appearing at the event for the first time since 2007.
Organizers this week said the opening gala, preceded by a glitzy red carpet fashion parade and followed by parties along the palm-lined Riviera, will also be attended by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and Jay-Z.
Luhrmann's first film 'Strictly Ballroom' was screened at Cannes 21 years ago.
DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby in the 3D movie, Carey Mulligan takes the role of Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, the narrator.
The festival runs from May 15 to 26 and U.S. director Steven Spielberg is head of this year's jury.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith)
Depeche Mode, "pessimists at heart," never imagined longevity
By Corrie MacLaggan
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.
The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of 'Delta Machine' on March 26.
'We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next,' Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album 'Speak & Spell,' thanks to hits along the way like 1984's 'People are People' and 1989's 'Personal Jesus.'
Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.
The title 'Delta Machine' reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.
'We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic,' Gore said.
NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH
The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.
'You'd think that we would have done that at some point in this career, but we haven't,' he said, referring to promoting albums prior to release.
Depeche Mode will embark on its 17th tour in Tel Aviv on May 7, with the North American leg scheduled to begin in Detroit on August 22.
Gore, having spent a significant part of the last three decades on the road and given up drinking seven years ago, said touring these days is different.
'The last tour I really enjoyed because it was the first one that I'd really been lucid enough to take in everything and enjoy the concerts and then enjoy the cities the next day,' he said. 'So I'm really looking forward to this one.'
Life has also improved for Gahan, 50, a former heroin addict who attempted suicide in 1995, almost died after an overdose in 1996 and got sober about two years later.
'My life has just progressively got better,' Gahan told an audience at conference. 'I feel like I participate in it in a very different way.'
Asked how he manages to remain so active on stage, Gahan replied that when he gets up in front of people who have bought tickets, he does his best to entertain them.
There's nothing worse, he said, than performers on stage staring at their shoes while wearing 'camping clothes.'
'This is rock and roll,' Gahan said.
(Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan, editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Xavier Briand)
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.
The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of 'Delta Machine' on March 26.
'We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next,' Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album 'Speak & Spell,' thanks to hits along the way like 1984's 'People are People' and 1989's 'Personal Jesus.'
Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.
The title 'Delta Machine' reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.
'We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic,' Gore said.
NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH
The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.
'You'd think that we would have done that at some point in this career, but we haven't,' he said, referring to promoting albums prior to release.
Depeche Mode will embark on its 17th tour in Tel Aviv on May 7, with the North American leg scheduled to begin in Detroit on August 22.
Gore, having spent a significant part of the last three decades on the road and given up drinking seven years ago, said touring these days is different.
'The last tour I really enjoyed because it was the first one that I'd really been lucid enough to take in everything and enjoy the concerts and then enjoy the cities the next day,' he said. 'So I'm really looking forward to this one.'
Life has also improved for Gahan, 50, a former heroin addict who attempted suicide in 1995, almost died after an overdose in 1996 and got sober about two years later.
'My life has just progressively got better,' Gahan told an audience at conference. 'I feel like I participate in it in a very different way.'
Asked how he manages to remain so active on stage, Gahan replied that when he gets up in front of people who have bought tickets, he does his best to entertain them.
There's nothing worse, he said, than performers on stage staring at their shoes while wearing 'camping clothes.'
'This is rock and roll,' Gahan said.
(Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan, editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Xavier Briand)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Depeche Mode, 'pessimists at heart,' never imagined longevity
By Corrie MacLaggan
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.
The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of 'Delta Machine' on March 26.
'We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next,' Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album 'Speak & Spell,' thanks to hits along the way like 1984's 'People are People' and 1989's 'Personal Jesus.'
Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.
The title 'Delta Machine' reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.
'We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic,' Gore said.
NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH
The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.
'You'd think that we would have done that at some point in this career, but we haven't,' he said, referring to promoting albums prior to release.
Depeche Mode will embark on its 17th tour in Tel Aviv on May 7, with the North American leg scheduled to begin in Detroit on August 22.
Gore, having spent a significant part of the last three decades on the road and given up drinking seven years ago, said touring these days is different.
'The last tour I really enjoyed because it was the first one that I'd really been lucid enough to take in everything and enjoy the concerts and then enjoy the cities the next day,' he said. 'So I'm really looking forward to this one.'
Life has also improved for Gahan, 50, a former heroin addict who attempted suicide in 1995, almost died after an overdose in 1996 and got sober about two years later.
'My life has just progressively got better,' Gahan told an audience at conference. 'I feel like I participate in it in a very different way.'
Asked how he manages to remain so active on stage, Gahan replied that when he gets up in front of people who have bought tickets, he does his best to entertain them.
There's nothing worse, he said, than performers on stage staring at their shoes while wearing 'camping clothes.'
'This is rock and roll,' Gahan said.
(Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan, editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Xavier Briand)
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.
The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of 'Delta Machine' on March 26.
'We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next,' Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album 'Speak & Spell,' thanks to hits along the way like 1984's 'People are People' and 1989's 'Personal Jesus.'
Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.
The title 'Delta Machine' reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.
'We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic,' Gore said.
NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH
The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.
'You'd think that we would have done that at some point in this career, but we haven't,' he said, referring to promoting albums prior to release.
Depeche Mode will embark on its 17th tour in Tel Aviv on May 7, with the North American leg scheduled to begin in Detroit on August 22.
Gore, having spent a significant part of the last three decades on the road and given up drinking seven years ago, said touring these days is different.
'The last tour I really enjoyed because it was the first one that I'd really been lucid enough to take in everything and enjoy the concerts and then enjoy the cities the next day,' he said. 'So I'm really looking forward to this one.'
Life has also improved for Gahan, 50, a former heroin addict who attempted suicide in 1995, almost died after an overdose in 1996 and got sober about two years later.
'My life has just progressively got better,' Gahan told an audience at conference. 'I feel like I participate in it in a very different way.'
Asked how he manages to remain so active on stage, Gahan replied that when he gets up in front of people who have bought tickets, he does his best to entertain them.
There's nothing worse, he said, than performers on stage staring at their shoes while wearing 'camping clothes.'
'This is rock and roll,' Gahan said.
(Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan, editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Xavier Briand)
"Psy Style" scores as Gangnam rapper readies new song
By Narae Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) - As South Korean rapper Psy readies what he hopes will be his next hit song, aiming for a repeat of the viral 'Gangnam Style', retailers are keeping a close eye on what he wears, hoping another blockbuster will send sales surging.
From the tortoiseshell sunglasses to the two-toned Oxfords the chubby singer sported for his YouTube megahit, a wide range of brands - and Seoul's Gangnam district itself - have reaped rich rewards from the Psy effect.
Psy's stylist will say only that the 35-year-old will once more be clad in a suit for the new song, whose title also remains a secret. It will be released at an April 13 concert.
'The basic concept for his upcoming song is again a formal suit but with a humorous twist. I plan to add an unexpected twist of fun,' Hong Hye-won told Reuters in an interview.
'I made a point with a bow tie back in the Gangnam look. There is something like that for the new song.'
Psy's slicked hair and tuxedo jacket, in a broad range of electric colors, paired with a pleated white dress shirt and a black bow tie, run counter to the carefully manicured and primped young women and men typical of the K-Pop industry.
Much of what Psy wears is from his personal closet, since it is hard for him to find a suit that fits, Hong was quoted in a local newspaper as saying last year.
Both the Vivienne Westwood white shirt and the Thierry Lasry sunglasses he sports in the video, which made YouTube history by being the first to gain more than 1 billion views, are items he bought for himself some time ago, she was quoted as saying.
French eyewear designer Thierry Lasry has been besieged with questions about the two kinds of shades - the tortoiseshell, and black with gold temples, both called 'The Variety'.
'We have had a lot of requests from our customers who saw and loved his music video,' said Clara Mercier, marketing manager for Thierry Lasry, who said the tortoiseshell version was a limited edition. The black ones go for 335 euros ($430).
'We obviously could have sold thousands had it not been a limited edition,' Mercier added.
NOT SO TALL, NOT SO HANDSOME
Gabor, a German-based shoe maker, has also benefited. Psy's footwear was actually Christian Louboutin, but similar enough to one of Gabor's styles to send Korean sales shooting up 100 percent in September 2012 from a year before.
'Before Psy, Oxfords were not exactly popular,' said Lee Hyung-joo, Gabor marketing manager. 'But now everyone, man or woman, old or young, fashionable or not, wants to try the Oxfords Psy wears.'
Psy's broad appeal appears to be the key. The YouTube video has now been viewed more than 1.4 billion times.
'He is not a typical model type of person - quite chubby, not so tall and not so handsome. But it does not matter,' said shoe designer Jimmy Choo, in Seoul for a recent awards ceremony. 'We feel he is like us, like the guy next door.'
Gangnam, the upmarket Seoul suburb that has become a byword for affluence and consumption if not always good taste, has also seen a spillover effect that has kept its streets crowded - and the cash tills of its high-end stores ringing.
Tourist numbers have shot up 50 percent to 320,000 in January this year, compared with the same period in 2012, according to government data. Chinese tourists stand out although locals also spend more time in the area, especially Garosil-gil, the trendiest part.
'We think that Psy has brought 'Gangnam' closer to ordinary people, who were often uncomfortable with its luxurious, well-to-do image,' said Jeong You-sook, an official at the Tourism Promotion Division of the Gangnam District office.
Choo agreed that Psy's appeal was infectious.
'Everyone, including myself, wants to try not just his dance moves but his fashion and his hairdo. Just like everyone was going as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson in their heydays,' he said.
(Reporting By Narae Kim; Editing by David Chance and Elaine Lies)
SEOUL (Reuters) - As South Korean rapper Psy readies what he hopes will be his next hit song, aiming for a repeat of the viral 'Gangnam Style', retailers are keeping a close eye on what he wears, hoping another blockbuster will send sales surging.
From the tortoiseshell sunglasses to the two-toned Oxfords the chubby singer sported for his YouTube megahit, a wide range of brands - and Seoul's Gangnam district itself - have reaped rich rewards from the Psy effect.
Psy's stylist will say only that the 35-year-old will once more be clad in a suit for the new song, whose title also remains a secret. It will be released at an April 13 concert.
'The basic concept for his upcoming song is again a formal suit but with a humorous twist. I plan to add an unexpected twist of fun,' Hong Hye-won told Reuters in an interview.
'I made a point with a bow tie back in the Gangnam look. There is something like that for the new song.'
Psy's slicked hair and tuxedo jacket, in a broad range of electric colors, paired with a pleated white dress shirt and a black bow tie, run counter to the carefully manicured and primped young women and men typical of the K-Pop industry.
Much of what Psy wears is from his personal closet, since it is hard for him to find a suit that fits, Hong was quoted in a local newspaper as saying last year.
Both the Vivienne Westwood white shirt and the Thierry Lasry sunglasses he sports in the video, which made YouTube history by being the first to gain more than 1 billion views, are items he bought for himself some time ago, she was quoted as saying.
French eyewear designer Thierry Lasry has been besieged with questions about the two kinds of shades - the tortoiseshell, and black with gold temples, both called 'The Variety'.
'We have had a lot of requests from our customers who saw and loved his music video,' said Clara Mercier, marketing manager for Thierry Lasry, who said the tortoiseshell version was a limited edition. The black ones go for 335 euros ($430).
'We obviously could have sold thousands had it not been a limited edition,' Mercier added.
NOT SO TALL, NOT SO HANDSOME
Gabor, a German-based shoe maker, has also benefited. Psy's footwear was actually Christian Louboutin, but similar enough to one of Gabor's styles to send Korean sales shooting up 100 percent in September 2012 from a year before.
'Before Psy, Oxfords were not exactly popular,' said Lee Hyung-joo, Gabor marketing manager. 'But now everyone, man or woman, old or young, fashionable or not, wants to try the Oxfords Psy wears.'
Psy's broad appeal appears to be the key. The YouTube video has now been viewed more than 1.4 billion times.
'He is not a typical model type of person - quite chubby, not so tall and not so handsome. But it does not matter,' said shoe designer Jimmy Choo, in Seoul for a recent awards ceremony. 'We feel he is like us, like the guy next door.'
Gangnam, the upmarket Seoul suburb that has become a byword for affluence and consumption if not always good taste, has also seen a spillover effect that has kept its streets crowded - and the cash tills of its high-end stores ringing.
Tourist numbers have shot up 50 percent to 320,000 in January this year, compared with the same period in 2012, according to government data. Chinese tourists stand out although locals also spend more time in the area, especially Garosil-gil, the trendiest part.
'We think that Psy has brought 'Gangnam' closer to ordinary people, who were often uncomfortable with its luxurious, well-to-do image,' said Jeong You-sook, an official at the Tourism Promotion Division of the Gangnam District office.
Choo agreed that Psy's appeal was infectious.
'Everyone, including myself, wants to try not just his dance moves but his fashion and his hairdo. Just like everyone was going as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson in their heydays,' he said.
(Reporting By Narae Kim; Editing by David Chance and Elaine Lies)
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
A Minute With: R&B singer Miguel in the spotlight after Grammys
By Piya Sinha-Roy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With two critically acclaimed albums and a Grammy award under his belt, American R&B singer/songwriter Miguel is starting to hit the mainstream.
The Los Angeles native, born Miguel Jontel Pimentel to a Mexican father and African-American mother, was thrust into the spotlight at the Grammy awards last month, delivering a soulful rendition of his hit single 'Adorn,' which won Best R&B song.
His second album 'Kaleidoscope Dream' debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart last October and he kicked off his tour supporting Alicia Keys on her North American dates last week.
Miguel, 27, told Reuters about his Grammy moment, his love for throwback R&B, and gearing up to perform on 'Saturday Night Live' next month.
Q: The Grammy awards was a big moment for you. How was the experience of performing on the Grammy stage?
A: As a kid you imagine those moments, something that you always aspire to be a part of. You want to be on the stage, but I think at that moment, it was really surreal as I was setting up keys and making sure everything sounded great, looking out amongst the crowd ... and seeing all of my favorite musicians (that) I grew up listening to, mimicking and admired, and have been musical mentors in some way. It definitely was surreal but at that moment, it was about having a good time.
Q: 'Adorn' has been a big hit for you. What does the song mean to you and why has it resonated so well with audiences?
A: The song was written really because I missed my girl. That was all it was at the time. I suppose when you love someone so much, you wear their love with pride, and you want them to wear yours with pride, and I think that's where the whole concept comes together. I think it resonates with people because we all want that kind of pride in our relationship and when it is real like that, that's how I think two people treat each other.
Q: Your music has been described as throwback R&B, but why do you think it plays so well in current pop charts?
A: I think the one thing that is common between every song, what holds the album together, is that it's personal. The sound is personal, the expression is personal, and hopefully what people mean (by 'throwback') is that it feels less about how to make everyone else happy or how to please them or trying to chase what is the status quo for R&B right now. It's more about my perspective. That's what throwback R&B is to me.
There was a time when rhythm and blues music was diverse. It was adventurous and experimental. I think somehow we've gotten away from discovering our unique perspective in exchange for commercial success, or what we perceive to be commercial success. I also think it also has a lot to do with time. As a fan of R&B music, I'm tired of this superficial music that I've been hearing especially from R&B so maybe it's timing, it's just the right time.
Q: You've co-written songs for artists such as Alicia Keys, Usher and Asher Roth, but 'Kaleidoscope Dream' was all you. What's the biggest difference in writing for yourself and for others?
A: The biggest difference is the position I'm playing. When I'm a part of someone else's creative process, it's all about facilitating their ideas and hopefully bringing their perspective and making it a part of a song ... I like that I can just fill in where I need to be when it comes to co-writing. But when it comes to writing and producing and making music for myself, it's really all about what do I believe, or how do I feel, and what is true and what is not.
Q: You're making your 'Saturday Night Live' debut as musical guest with host Vince Vaughn on April 13. That show has launched careers but has also crushed careers, especially if something goes wrong. Do you have any worries about performing?
A: There won't be any miming! Every moment we get to play on stage is defining. It's classic. 'SNL' is probably one of the premiere outlets that a musician can perform on that isn't obviously a music outlet. It's a legendary stage where legendary artists have played, but like you said, some have made their careers, some have hurt them. I just go out there and have fun, that's the whole spirit, to go out there and have fun.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - With two critically acclaimed albums and a Grammy award under his belt, American R&B singer/songwriter Miguel is starting to hit the mainstream.
The Los Angeles native, born Miguel Jontel Pimentel to a Mexican father and African-American mother, was thrust into the spotlight at the Grammy awards last month, delivering a soulful rendition of his hit single 'Adorn,' which won Best R&B song.
His second album 'Kaleidoscope Dream' debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart last October and he kicked off his tour supporting Alicia Keys on her North American dates last week.
Miguel, 27, told Reuters about his Grammy moment, his love for throwback R&B, and gearing up to perform on 'Saturday Night Live' next month.
Q: The Grammy awards was a big moment for you. How was the experience of performing on the Grammy stage?
A: As a kid you imagine those moments, something that you always aspire to be a part of. You want to be on the stage, but I think at that moment, it was really surreal as I was setting up keys and making sure everything sounded great, looking out amongst the crowd ... and seeing all of my favorite musicians (that) I grew up listening to, mimicking and admired, and have been musical mentors in some way. It definitely was surreal but at that moment, it was about having a good time.
Q: 'Adorn' has been a big hit for you. What does the song mean to you and why has it resonated so well with audiences?
A: The song was written really because I missed my girl. That was all it was at the time. I suppose when you love someone so much, you wear their love with pride, and you want them to wear yours with pride, and I think that's where the whole concept comes together. I think it resonates with people because we all want that kind of pride in our relationship and when it is real like that, that's how I think two people treat each other.
Q: Your music has been described as throwback R&B, but why do you think it plays so well in current pop charts?
A: I think the one thing that is common between every song, what holds the album together, is that it's personal. The sound is personal, the expression is personal, and hopefully what people mean (by 'throwback') is that it feels less about how to make everyone else happy or how to please them or trying to chase what is the status quo for R&B right now. It's more about my perspective. That's what throwback R&B is to me.
There was a time when rhythm and blues music was diverse. It was adventurous and experimental. I think somehow we've gotten away from discovering our unique perspective in exchange for commercial success, or what we perceive to be commercial success. I also think it also has a lot to do with time. As a fan of R&B music, I'm tired of this superficial music that I've been hearing especially from R&B so maybe it's timing, it's just the right time.
Q: You've co-written songs for artists such as Alicia Keys, Usher and Asher Roth, but 'Kaleidoscope Dream' was all you. What's the biggest difference in writing for yourself and for others?
A: The biggest difference is the position I'm playing. When I'm a part of someone else's creative process, it's all about facilitating their ideas and hopefully bringing their perspective and making it a part of a song ... I like that I can just fill in where I need to be when it comes to co-writing. But when it comes to writing and producing and making music for myself, it's really all about what do I believe, or how do I feel, and what is true and what is not.
Q: You're making your 'Saturday Night Live' debut as musical guest with host Vince Vaughn on April 13. That show has launched careers but has also crushed careers, especially if something goes wrong. Do you have any worries about performing?
A: There won't be any miming! Every moment we get to play on stage is defining. It's classic. 'SNL' is probably one of the premiere outlets that a musician can perform on that isn't obviously a music outlet. It's a legendary stage where legendary artists have played, but like you said, some have made their careers, some have hurt them. I just go out there and have fun, that's the whole spirit, to go out there and have fun.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
Monday, March 11, 2013
Olivia Newton-John: sweetheart, sex idol, rock chick, radio star
By Mike Collett-White
LONDON (Reuters) - With a range spanning the cardigan-clad sweetheart in the hit musical 'Grease' and the leotarded gym instructor in the raunchy single 'Physical', no one could accuse Olivia Newton-John of playing it safe in 40 years of singing country, pop and rock.
The Australian, who was born in England and is touring there for the first time in 35 years, admits to being terrified at some of the choices she made in a career boasting four Grammy awards and a lead role in the biggest musical movie hit in U.S. history.
'I like a challenge,' Newton-John, 64, told Reuters in an interview before starting a six-concert tour that ends on March 17 in Manchester.
'I was always afraid of these changes but I did them anyway, kind of 'face your fears' ... because I felt you also had to challenge yourself a little bit. But I was terrified.'
The 1981 release of 'Physical', a song from the album of the same name, was banned by some radio stations in the United States banned for raunchy lyrics such as 'There's nothing left to talk about/Unless it's horizontally.'
'I remember calling (manager) Roger Davies right after I'd finished it ... and going 'Oh, I'm not sure we should put this out, it's a little too risqué'. He said: 'It's too late, love, it's gone to radio'.'
Adding to the controversy was the video, in which Newton-John played a gym instructor in a tight leotard surrounded by oiled body-builders portrayed as gay in a twist ending.
FROM NICE TO NAUGHTY
'I look back now and it's hilarious, because that was so naughty in its time,' she recalled. 'That was another challenge that worked, thank goodness. It was either going to be a big success or nothing. There was no in-between with that song.
'It was banned in Utah and I did my television special for the Physical Tour in Utah. I remember I was probably so terrified I got sick right before the shoot.'
In fact, 'Physical' proved to be the pinnacle of Newton-John's solo career, topping the U.S. pop charts and becoming one of the best-selling singles of the decade.
By then, Newton-John had already left her comfort zone more than once. She recalled pursuing a career as a performer despite resistance from her parents, who wanted her to finish school.
She comes from an academic background - her grandfather was Max Born, a German-British Nobel Prize-winning quantum physicist.
'My grandfather apparently used to play music with Einstein, they used to play chamber music together, so it (the musical gene) goes back,' Newton-John said.
She left Australia for Britain in the 60s to make it as a pop star. By the early 70s, she had featured in the charts and on television before representing the United Kingdom at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fourth behind winners ABBA.
Then came a move to the United States, where Newton-John broke into the country music scene despite being considered an outsider. Her hit 'Let Me Be There' won her a country vocal Grammy.
SANDY IN SPANDEX
The next gamble came with 'Grease', the hit 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical that would turn her into a household name.
'Grease itself was a bold enough move - playing the second character in Grease, and for that to be so successful, I mean, who knew?'
Her character's transformation from clean-cut 'Sandy 1' to spandex-clad 'Sandy 2', out to snare John Travolta's Danny, was one that she took into real life, ditching the safety of soft pop and country for an edgier image and sound.
The name of her next album? 'Totally Hot'.
'The raunchy kind of image that Sandy 2 had, it gave an opportunity to change my direction a little bit and do something a little more fun,' she said.
'I did country, and then it was pop, and then 'Grease' kind of went into rock and so I got to change a little bit. Everyone does it now, but then it probably wasn't so common.'
Newton-John, now based on the west coast of the United States along with her family including daughter Chloe, said she would continue to record new music but may cut back on touring.
'I have so many ... other things I'm passionate about and involved in and I love singing and I love recording, but touring takes a toll and you're away from home a lot,' she explained.
Newton-John, who survived breast cancer in 1992, has set up a cancer centre in Australia and has campaigned on issues including deforestation, dolphin culling and fracking.
Why does she take on so many issues outside music?
'I think it's really for my mum,' she said. 'My mum was always writing letters to the council about problems, and so I think I owe that to her.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
LONDON (Reuters) - With a range spanning the cardigan-clad sweetheart in the hit musical 'Grease' and the leotarded gym instructor in the raunchy single 'Physical', no one could accuse Olivia Newton-John of playing it safe in 40 years of singing country, pop and rock.
The Australian, who was born in England and is touring there for the first time in 35 years, admits to being terrified at some of the choices she made in a career boasting four Grammy awards and a lead role in the biggest musical movie hit in U.S. history.
'I like a challenge,' Newton-John, 64, told Reuters in an interview before starting a six-concert tour that ends on March 17 in Manchester.
'I was always afraid of these changes but I did them anyway, kind of 'face your fears' ... because I felt you also had to challenge yourself a little bit. But I was terrified.'
The 1981 release of 'Physical', a song from the album of the same name, was banned by some radio stations in the United States banned for raunchy lyrics such as 'There's nothing left to talk about/Unless it's horizontally.'
'I remember calling (manager) Roger Davies right after I'd finished it ... and going 'Oh, I'm not sure we should put this out, it's a little too risqué'. He said: 'It's too late, love, it's gone to radio'.'
Adding to the controversy was the video, in which Newton-John played a gym instructor in a tight leotard surrounded by oiled body-builders portrayed as gay in a twist ending.
FROM NICE TO NAUGHTY
'I look back now and it's hilarious, because that was so naughty in its time,' she recalled. 'That was another challenge that worked, thank goodness. It was either going to be a big success or nothing. There was no in-between with that song.
'It was banned in Utah and I did my television special for the Physical Tour in Utah. I remember I was probably so terrified I got sick right before the shoot.'
In fact, 'Physical' proved to be the pinnacle of Newton-John's solo career, topping the U.S. pop charts and becoming one of the best-selling singles of the decade.
By then, Newton-John had already left her comfort zone more than once. She recalled pursuing a career as a performer despite resistance from her parents, who wanted her to finish school.
She comes from an academic background - her grandfather was Max Born, a German-British Nobel Prize-winning quantum physicist.
'My grandfather apparently used to play music with Einstein, they used to play chamber music together, so it (the musical gene) goes back,' Newton-John said.
She left Australia for Britain in the 60s to make it as a pop star. By the early 70s, she had featured in the charts and on television before representing the United Kingdom at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fourth behind winners ABBA.
Then came a move to the United States, where Newton-John broke into the country music scene despite being considered an outsider. Her hit 'Let Me Be There' won her a country vocal Grammy.
SANDY IN SPANDEX
The next gamble came with 'Grease', the hit 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical that would turn her into a household name.
'Grease itself was a bold enough move - playing the second character in Grease, and for that to be so successful, I mean, who knew?'
Her character's transformation from clean-cut 'Sandy 1' to spandex-clad 'Sandy 2', out to snare John Travolta's Danny, was one that she took into real life, ditching the safety of soft pop and country for an edgier image and sound.
The name of her next album? 'Totally Hot'.
'The raunchy kind of image that Sandy 2 had, it gave an opportunity to change my direction a little bit and do something a little more fun,' she said.
'I did country, and then it was pop, and then 'Grease' kind of went into rock and so I got to change a little bit. Everyone does it now, but then it probably wasn't so common.'
Newton-John, now based on the west coast of the United States along with her family including daughter Chloe, said she would continue to record new music but may cut back on touring.
'I have so many ... other things I'm passionate about and involved in and I love singing and I love recording, but touring takes a toll and you're away from home a lot,' she explained.
Newton-John, who survived breast cancer in 1992, has set up a cancer centre in Australia and has campaigned on issues including deforestation, dolphin culling and fracking.
Why does she take on so many issues outside music?
'I think it's really for my mum,' she said. 'My mum was always writing letters to the council about problems, and so I think I owe that to her.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Justin Bieber concert in Portugal canceled
LONDON (Reuters) - Canadian singer Justin Bieber has canceled one of two planned concerts in Portugal this week, the venue in Lisbon said on its website on Monday.
A source close to the singer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the cancellation was not linked to Bieber's collapse on-stage in London last week, which forced the teen sensation to take a 20-minute break for oxygen and later to visit a hospital.
'Due to unforeseen circumstances, Justin Bieber was forced to cancel the second performance in Portugal, March 12,' a statement said on the website of the Pavilhao Atlantico.
'The Canadian singer is eager to play for the Portuguese fans on March 11,' it added. Ticket holders for the canceled gig were entitled to a refund if they claimed it within a month.
The Bieber source did not give a reason for the cancellation, but local media in Portugal reported that tickets sales for the March 12 gig, which was added to his itinerary in February, were lower than organizers had hoped.
Bieber described his visit to London as a 'rough week'.
As well as the collapse, the 19-year-old was caught on film in an expletive-filled altercation with a photographer, showed up nearly two hours late for a show leading to widespread anger and was labeled a 'pop brat' by a leading tabloid.
Discovered on YouTube in 2008, Bieber has built an online following of tens of millions of fans and is one of the pop world's biggest stars. In February, he became the youngest artist to land five chart-topping albums in the key U.S. market.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Additional reporting by Andrei Khalip in Lisbon; Editing by Jon Hemming)
A source close to the singer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the cancellation was not linked to Bieber's collapse on-stage in London last week, which forced the teen sensation to take a 20-minute break for oxygen and later to visit a hospital.
'Due to unforeseen circumstances, Justin Bieber was forced to cancel the second performance in Portugal, March 12,' a statement said on the website of the Pavilhao Atlantico.
'The Canadian singer is eager to play for the Portuguese fans on March 11,' it added. Ticket holders for the canceled gig were entitled to a refund if they claimed it within a month.
The Bieber source did not give a reason for the cancellation, but local media in Portugal reported that tickets sales for the March 12 gig, which was added to his itinerary in February, were lower than organizers had hoped.
Bieber described his visit to London as a 'rough week'.
As well as the collapse, the 19-year-old was caught on film in an expletive-filled altercation with a photographer, showed up nearly two hours late for a show leading to widespread anger and was labeled a 'pop brat' by a leading tabloid.
Discovered on YouTube in 2008, Bieber has built an online following of tens of millions of fans and is one of the pop world's biggest stars. In February, he became the youngest artist to land five chart-topping albums in the key U.S. market.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Additional reporting by Andrei Khalip in Lisbon; Editing by Jon Hemming)
China's heavy-handed censors will now have to endure Ai Weiwei's heavy metal
By Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING (Reuters) - Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei announced plans on Monday to release a heavy-metal album that he said would 'express his opinion' just as he does with his art.
The burly and bearded Ai said 81 days in secretive detention in 2011, which sparked an international outcry, triggered his foray into music.
'When I was arrested, they (his guards) would often ask me to sing songs, but because I wasn't familiar with music, I was embarrassed,' Ai, 55, said in a telephone interview. 'It helped me pass the time very easily.
'All I could sing was Chinese People's Liberation Army songs,' Ai said. 'After that I thought: when I'm out, I'd like to do something related to music.'
A court in September upheld a $2.4 million fine against Ai for tax evasion, paving the way for jail if he does not pay. Ai maintains the charges were trumped up in retaliation for his criticism of the government.
The world-renowned artist has repeatedly criticized the government for flouting the rule of law and the rights of citizens.
Ai's debut album - 'Divina Commedia', after the poem by Italian poet Dante - is a reference to the 'Ai God' nickname in Chinese that his supporters call him by. 'God' in Chinese is 'Shen', while 'Divina Commedia' in Chinese is 'Shen qu'.
Two songs are about blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, whose escape from house arrest last April and subsequent refuge in the U.S. Embassy embarrassed China and led to a diplomatic tussle.
One song on the album is called 'Hotel Americana', a dig at the U.S. Embassy for sheltering Chen. Another is 'Climbing over the Wall' - a reference to Chen's scaling of the walls in his village to escape, and Chinese Internet users circumventing the 'Great Firewall of China', a colloquial term for China's blocking of websites.
Ai said he was not worried about government persecution for his album, which will be out in about three weeks. But he is gloomy about the prospects of it being sold in China, saying he will distribute the album online 'because music is also subject to review' in China.
Ai said his time in the recording studio did not mean that he was moving away from art.
'I think it's all the same,' he said. 'My art is about expressing opinion and communication.'
Ai said he was working on a second album, with pop and rock influences, that he hoped people would sing along with.
'You know, I'm a person that's furthest away from music, I never sing,' Ai said. 'But you'll be surprised. You'll like it.'
(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Nick Macfie)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei announced plans on Monday to release a heavy-metal album that he said would 'express his opinion' just as he does with his art.
The burly and bearded Ai said 81 days in secretive detention in 2011, which sparked an international outcry, triggered his foray into music.
'When I was arrested, they (his guards) would often ask me to sing songs, but because I wasn't familiar with music, I was embarrassed,' Ai, 55, said in a telephone interview. 'It helped me pass the time very easily.
'All I could sing was Chinese People's Liberation Army songs,' Ai said. 'After that I thought: when I'm out, I'd like to do something related to music.'
A court in September upheld a $2.4 million fine against Ai for tax evasion, paving the way for jail if he does not pay. Ai maintains the charges were trumped up in retaliation for his criticism of the government.
The world-renowned artist has repeatedly criticized the government for flouting the rule of law and the rights of citizens.
Ai's debut album - 'Divina Commedia', after the poem by Italian poet Dante - is a reference to the 'Ai God' nickname in Chinese that his supporters call him by. 'God' in Chinese is 'Shen', while 'Divina Commedia' in Chinese is 'Shen qu'.
Two songs are about blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, whose escape from house arrest last April and subsequent refuge in the U.S. Embassy embarrassed China and led to a diplomatic tussle.
One song on the album is called 'Hotel Americana', a dig at the U.S. Embassy for sheltering Chen. Another is 'Climbing over the Wall' - a reference to Chen's scaling of the walls in his village to escape, and Chinese Internet users circumventing the 'Great Firewall of China', a colloquial term for China's blocking of websites.
Ai said he was not worried about government persecution for his album, which will be out in about three weeks. But he is gloomy about the prospects of it being sold in China, saying he will distribute the album online 'because music is also subject to review' in China.
Ai said his time in the recording studio did not mean that he was moving away from art.
'I think it's all the same,' he said. 'My art is about expressing opinion and communication.'
Ai said he was working on a second album, with pop and rock influences, that he hoped people would sing along with.
'You know, I'm a person that's furthest away from music, I never sing,' Ai said. 'But you'll be surprised. You'll like it.'
(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Bieber ends London gig without hitches after "rough week"
LONDON (Reuters) - Pop star Justin Bieber wrapped up his final London show without hitches on Friday after a week riddled with paparazzi run-ins and a trip to the hospital.
Bieber, 19, sang and danced his way through his fourth night at London's O2 Arena on the European leg of his 'Believe' world tour, back to his normal self after collapsing on stage from shortness of breath on Thursday.
The Canadian-born singer was treated by doctors backstage and given oxygen on the third night of his London shows. He returned to the stage after a 20-minute break and completed his set but was later taken to hospital as a precaution, the singer's representatives told Reuters.
The singer also had an altercation with a UK photographer on Friday, caught on camera by Reuters, which showed Bieber get out of a van, try to move towards the unnamed photographer and threaten him using several swear words.
He was reacting to the man's foul-mouthed criticism of him and his security team after the singer appeared to have made contact with the photographer as they moved towards the vehicle.
The bouncers held Bieber back, but the incident is likely to create more negative headlines for one of the world's biggest pop stars.
'ROUGH WEEK'
Since being discovered on YouTube in 2008, Bieber has built a huge following of mainly teenage girls attracted to his clean-cut image, slick videos and catchy pop songs.
But the intense media spotlight that follows him around the world has clearly unnerved the 'Boyfriend' singer.
Bieber has had several run-ins with paparazzi in recent years and took to Twitter this week to criticize the media for what he called fabricated stories about him during his stay in London, where he is performing his sold-out tour.
After the latest altercation, he returned to the micro-blogging site, where he has more than 35 million followers.
'Ahhhhh! Rough morning. Trying to feel better for this show tonight but let the paps get the best of me...' he wrote.
'Sometimes when people r shoving cameras in your face all day and yelling the worst thing possible at u ... well I'm human. Rough week.'
'POP BRAT'
Thursday's onstage collapse was not the first for Bieber.
He suffered a concussion during a concert in Paris last June after falling into a glass wall.
Bieber's illness came just days after he angered many fans by appearing for his first night at the O2 nearly two hours later than the advertised time.
The singer blamed technical issues for the delay, and said he was only 40 minutes behind schedule, but the media jumped on the story and the popular Sun tabloid referred to him in a March 7 story as 'Pop brat Justin.'
The tabloid attention has not been limited to the late show.
Newspapers described as 'bizarre' his decision to wear a gas mask on a night out.
They also reported that Bieber, who celebrated his 19th birthday in London last week, tried to take 14-year-old Jaden Smith, son of actor Will Smith, to a club, where Smith was turned away, along with Bieber and his entourage.
Bieber took to Twitter and Instagram to vehemently deny the reports he tried to take the underage Smith to a club, saying instead he was forced to leave the venue when the club's security guards behaved aggressively towards his fans who were lined up outside.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Sophie Hares and Peter Cooney)
Bieber, 19, sang and danced his way through his fourth night at London's O2 Arena on the European leg of his 'Believe' world tour, back to his normal self after collapsing on stage from shortness of breath on Thursday.
The Canadian-born singer was treated by doctors backstage and given oxygen on the third night of his London shows. He returned to the stage after a 20-minute break and completed his set but was later taken to hospital as a precaution, the singer's representatives told Reuters.
The singer also had an altercation with a UK photographer on Friday, caught on camera by Reuters, which showed Bieber get out of a van, try to move towards the unnamed photographer and threaten him using several swear words.
He was reacting to the man's foul-mouthed criticism of him and his security team after the singer appeared to have made contact with the photographer as they moved towards the vehicle.
The bouncers held Bieber back, but the incident is likely to create more negative headlines for one of the world's biggest pop stars.
'ROUGH WEEK'
Since being discovered on YouTube in 2008, Bieber has built a huge following of mainly teenage girls attracted to his clean-cut image, slick videos and catchy pop songs.
But the intense media spotlight that follows him around the world has clearly unnerved the 'Boyfriend' singer.
Bieber has had several run-ins with paparazzi in recent years and took to Twitter this week to criticize the media for what he called fabricated stories about him during his stay in London, where he is performing his sold-out tour.
After the latest altercation, he returned to the micro-blogging site, where he has more than 35 million followers.
'Ahhhhh! Rough morning. Trying to feel better for this show tonight but let the paps get the best of me...' he wrote.
'Sometimes when people r shoving cameras in your face all day and yelling the worst thing possible at u ... well I'm human. Rough week.'
'POP BRAT'
Thursday's onstage collapse was not the first for Bieber.
He suffered a concussion during a concert in Paris last June after falling into a glass wall.
Bieber's illness came just days after he angered many fans by appearing for his first night at the O2 nearly two hours later than the advertised time.
The singer blamed technical issues for the delay, and said he was only 40 minutes behind schedule, but the media jumped on the story and the popular Sun tabloid referred to him in a March 7 story as 'Pop brat Justin.'
The tabloid attention has not been limited to the late show.
Newspapers described as 'bizarre' his decision to wear a gas mask on a night out.
They also reported that Bieber, who celebrated his 19th birthday in London last week, tried to take 14-year-old Jaden Smith, son of actor Will Smith, to a club, where Smith was turned away, along with Bieber and his entourage.
Bieber took to Twitter and Instagram to vehemently deny the reports he tried to take the underage Smith to a club, saying instead he was forced to leave the venue when the club's security guards behaved aggressively towards his fans who were lined up outside.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Sophie Hares and Peter Cooney)
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Canadian country singer Stompin' Tom Connors dies
(Reuters) - Canadian country singer and folk icon Stompin' Tom Connors, known for songs 'The Hockey Song,' and 'Sudbury Saturday Night' and his staunch patriotism, has died at age 77, his record company A-C-T Records said.
Connors died at his Ontario home on Wednesday of natural causes, A-C-T said in a statement posted on Connors' website.
Born Thomas Charles Connors in Saint John, New Brunswick, Connors was raised by foster parents on Prince Edward Island and hitchhiked across Canada as a teenager.
Connors, who penned hundreds of songs mostly about Canadian history and traditions, earned his nickname from his habit of stomping the heel of his boot while keeping a song's time.
He rose to prominence in the late 1960s, and released more than 20 albums, including 'My Stompin' Grounds' and 'Believe in Your Country', over a five-decade career.
Connors retired in 1979 and returned his six Juno Awards for Canadian music in protest over the Americanization of the national music industry. He returned to music in 1988.
Connors thanked his fans in a posthumous statement released by his family.
'It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with its beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world,' Connors said in the statement posted on his website.
'I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future,' he added.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy; and Peter Galloway)
Connors died at his Ontario home on Wednesday of natural causes, A-C-T said in a statement posted on Connors' website.
Born Thomas Charles Connors in Saint John, New Brunswick, Connors was raised by foster parents on Prince Edward Island and hitchhiked across Canada as a teenager.
Connors, who penned hundreds of songs mostly about Canadian history and traditions, earned his nickname from his habit of stomping the heel of his boot while keeping a song's time.
He rose to prominence in the late 1960s, and released more than 20 albums, including 'My Stompin' Grounds' and 'Believe in Your Country', over a five-decade career.
Connors retired in 1979 and returned his six Juno Awards for Canadian music in protest over the Americanization of the national music industry. He returned to music in 1988.
Connors thanked his fans in a posthumous statement released by his family.
'It was a long hard bumpy road, but this great country kept me inspired with its beauty, character, and spirit, driving me to keep marching on and devoted to sing about its people and places that make Canada the greatest country in the world,' Connors said in the statement posted on his website.
'I must now pass the torch, to all of you, to help keep the Maple Leaf flying high, and be the Patriot Canada needs now and in the future,' he added.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy; and Peter Galloway)
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
UTA signs Barbra Streisand; famed singer to direct more
NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - UTA has signed Barbra Streisand as a film client, representing her as an actress, director and producer. The agency also will represent her film and television production company Barwood Films.
Though best known as a singer, Streisand has won two Academy Awards, five Emmys, a Tony and 12 Golden Globe Awards. She won a Best Actress Oscar in 1969 for her performance in 'Funny Girl' and then won Best Original Song in 1977 for 'Evergreen' from 'A Star is Born.'
She has appeared in three films over the last decade, the two follow-ups to 'Meet the Parents,' 'Meet the Fockers' and 'Little Fockers,' and 2012's 'The Guilt Trip,' in which she played Seth Rogen's widowed mother.
She has also directed three films, which collectively won 12 Oscars. She has been trying to direct a film adaptation of 'Gypsy.'
Though best known as a singer, Streisand has won two Academy Awards, five Emmys, a Tony and 12 Golden Globe Awards. She won a Best Actress Oscar in 1969 for her performance in 'Funny Girl' and then won Best Original Song in 1977 for 'Evergreen' from 'A Star is Born.'
She has appeared in three films over the last decade, the two follow-ups to 'Meet the Parents,' 'Meet the Fockers' and 'Little Fockers,' and 2012's 'The Guilt Trip,' in which she played Seth Rogen's widowed mother.
She has also directed three films, which collectively won 12 Oscars. She has been trying to direct a film adaptation of 'Gypsy.'
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
"Call Me Maybe" singer cancels Boy Scout concert over gay ban
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Canadian pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen on Tuesday pulled out of a concert for the Boy Scouts of America because of the organization's ban on gay members, becoming the second headliner to pull out of the Scouts' Summer Jamboree show.
Jepsen, whose hit single 'Call Me Maybe' was nominated for Grammy Song of the Year, said on Twitter that she would not perform for the Boy Scouts because of her support for gay rights.
'I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level,' Jepsen, 27, said.
Rock band Train also said last week they would not play the concert at the Boy Scouts' National Summer Jamboree, set for July in West Virginia, unless the youth organization changed its ban on gay participants.
The 103-year-old Boy Scouts organization has been under pressure from gay rights groups to change the longstanding position and had said in January it was open to removing the national ban on gays, leaving the decision to local chapters.
But the Boy Scouts last month delayed a vote on ending the restriction, pushing back a decision until at least May.
Jepsen and Train had been targeted by advocacy group GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, after they were announced as the headliners for the concert.
An online petition on Change.org asking the 'Call Me Maybe' singer to denounce the Scouts' policy had gathered more than 60,000 signatures.
The Boy Scouts said the Summer Jamboree would go ahead as planned. The National Jamboree takes place every four years and attracts some 45,000 scouts and leaders for outdoor events, showcases and performances.
'We appreciate everyone's right to express an opinion and remain focused on delivering a great Jamboree program for our Scouts,' Boy Scouts' spokesman Deron Smith said in a statement.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Jackie Frank)
Jepsen, whose hit single 'Call Me Maybe' was nominated for Grammy Song of the Year, said on Twitter that she would not perform for the Boy Scouts because of her support for gay rights.
'I always have and will continue to support the LGBT community on a global level,' Jepsen, 27, said.
Rock band Train also said last week they would not play the concert at the Boy Scouts' National Summer Jamboree, set for July in West Virginia, unless the youth organization changed its ban on gay participants.
The 103-year-old Boy Scouts organization has been under pressure from gay rights groups to change the longstanding position and had said in January it was open to removing the national ban on gays, leaving the decision to local chapters.
But the Boy Scouts last month delayed a vote on ending the restriction, pushing back a decision until at least May.
Jepsen and Train had been targeted by advocacy group GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, after they were announced as the headliners for the concert.
An online petition on Change.org asking the 'Call Me Maybe' singer to denounce the Scouts' policy had gathered more than 60,000 signatures.
The Boy Scouts said the Summer Jamboree would go ahead as planned. The National Jamboree takes place every four years and attracts some 45,000 scouts and leaders for outdoor events, showcases and performances.
'We appreciate everyone's right to express an opinion and remain focused on delivering a great Jamboree program for our Scouts,' Boy Scouts' spokesman Deron Smith said in a statement.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Jackie Frank)
Czech court acquits US heavy metal singer over fan death
PRAGUE (Reuters) - A Czech court acquitted the frontman of U.S. heavy metal band Lamb of God of manslaughter charges on Tuesday in the death of a fan who was pushed off the stage at a concert in Prague.
The prosecution accused Randy Blythe, 42, of shoving 19-year-old fan Daniel Nosek off the stage at the 2010 concert, causing him to hit his head when he crashed onto the floor. Nosek died in hospital a few weeks later from his head injury.
Presiding judge Tomas Kubec ruled that Blythe's actions did not constitute the crime of causing an injury leading to death.
'We did not find criminal responsibility in the actions of the defendant. We found moral responsibility. There has been the death of a young man who had not been guilty of anything.'
Kubec said the concert promoters were ultimately to blame for failing to prevent fans from clambering onto the stage. 'We reached the conclusion that there was a serious fault on the side of the promoter and organizer of the concert.'
Prosecutors immediately appealed against the acquittal, meaning that the case will be reviewed by the Czech High Court.
Blythe, who has cropped his long dark hair but kept his soul patch, wore a dark suit with white shirt and a striped tie at the trial, attended by Czech and international media.
'I have been found not guilty and acquitted of all charges against me. I am a free man,' Blythe said in a post on his Instagram.com profile. 'Please remember the family of Daniel Nosek in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. I only wish for them peace. Thank you for your support.'
Blythe nodded his head when the judge said some form of compensation for the victim's family could be suitable.
'The acquittal does not prevent the defendant, if he feels some moral responsibility, to enter negotiations with the family of the victim and act accordingly,' the judge said.
The singer admitted to shoving the fan off the stage after several other fans climbed up onto it during the 2010 Prague show, but said he believed Nosek was unharmed.
He said he did not learn of Nosek's death or the prosecution over the incident until police arrested him at Prague airport when the band returned for another gig in June last year.
Blythe made no immediate comment to reporters after the ruling and left with his attorney.
He was released on bail after his arrest and travelled back to the United States, but returned for his trial. Blythe would have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
(Additional reporting and writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
The prosecution accused Randy Blythe, 42, of shoving 19-year-old fan Daniel Nosek off the stage at the 2010 concert, causing him to hit his head when he crashed onto the floor. Nosek died in hospital a few weeks later from his head injury.
Presiding judge Tomas Kubec ruled that Blythe's actions did not constitute the crime of causing an injury leading to death.
'We did not find criminal responsibility in the actions of the defendant. We found moral responsibility. There has been the death of a young man who had not been guilty of anything.'
Kubec said the concert promoters were ultimately to blame for failing to prevent fans from clambering onto the stage. 'We reached the conclusion that there was a serious fault on the side of the promoter and organizer of the concert.'
Prosecutors immediately appealed against the acquittal, meaning that the case will be reviewed by the Czech High Court.
Blythe, who has cropped his long dark hair but kept his soul patch, wore a dark suit with white shirt and a striped tie at the trial, attended by Czech and international media.
'I have been found not guilty and acquitted of all charges against me. I am a free man,' Blythe said in a post on his Instagram.com profile. 'Please remember the family of Daniel Nosek in your thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. I only wish for them peace. Thank you for your support.'
Blythe nodded his head when the judge said some form of compensation for the victim's family could be suitable.
'The acquittal does not prevent the defendant, if he feels some moral responsibility, to enter negotiations with the family of the victim and act accordingly,' the judge said.
The singer admitted to shoving the fan off the stage after several other fans climbed up onto it during the 2010 Prague show, but said he believed Nosek was unharmed.
He said he did not learn of Nosek's death or the prosecution over the incident until police arrested him at Prague airport when the band returned for another gig in June last year.
Blythe made no immediate comment to reporters after the ruling and left with his attorney.
He was released on bail after his arrest and travelled back to the United States, but returned for his trial. Blythe would have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
(Additional reporting and writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Czech court acquits heavy metal singer over fan death
PRAGUE (Reuters) - A Czech court on Tuesday acquitted the frontman of U.S. heavy metal band Lamb of God of manslaughter charges in the death of a fan at a concert in Prague three years ago.
The prosecution had accused Randy Blythe, 42, of pushing 19-year-old fan Daniel Nosek off the stage, causing him to hit his head when he tumbled onto the floor. He was taken to hospital where he died several weeks later from his head injury.
The presiding judge ruled that Blythe's actions did not constitute a crime. No further explanation of the verdict was immediately available. Prosecutors immediately appealed against the acquittal to the Czech High Court.
Blythe, who was charged with causing an injury leading to death, admitted to shoving a fan off the stage during the 2010 Prague show but said he believed the person was unharmed.
He said he did not learn of Nosek's death or the prosecution over the incident until police arrested him at Prague airport when the band returned for another gig in June last year.
Blythe was released on bail and travelled back to the United States, but returned for his trial. He would have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
(Reporting by Jan Korselt; Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
The prosecution had accused Randy Blythe, 42, of pushing 19-year-old fan Daniel Nosek off the stage, causing him to hit his head when he tumbled onto the floor. He was taken to hospital where he died several weeks later from his head injury.
The presiding judge ruled that Blythe's actions did not constitute a crime. No further explanation of the verdict was immediately available. Prosecutors immediately appealed against the acquittal to the Czech High Court.
Blythe, who was charged with causing an injury leading to death, admitted to shoving a fan off the stage during the 2010 Prague show but said he believed the person was unharmed.
He said he did not learn of Nosek's death or the prosecution over the incident until police arrested him at Prague airport when the band returned for another gig in June last year.
Blythe was released on bail and travelled back to the United States, but returned for his trial. He would have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
(Reporting by Jan Korselt; Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Monday, March 4, 2013
Bobby Rogers, co-founder of Motown group the Miracles, dies at 73
DETROIT (Reuters) - Singer Bobby Rogers, a founding member of the hit-making Motown group the Miracles along with Smokey Robinson, died on Sunday in suburban Detroit after a lengthy illness, family members and associates said. He was 73.
Rogers was a tenor in the original Motown lineup of the group that also included Robinson as the lead singer, bass vocalist Warren 'Pete' Moore, baritone Ronnie White and the quintet's lone female vocalist, Claudette Rogers.
Claudette Rogers, who became Claudette Robinson after marrying the group's star in 1963 and left the group a year later, was Bobby Rogers' first cousin. She and Smokey Robinson later divorced.
'My cousin, Robert 'Bobby' Rogers, who was like a brother to me, lost his battle and succumbed,' she said in a statement issued through the Detroit-based Motown Alumni Association.
'He had a sparkling personality that was loved by everyone,' she told the Detroit Free Press newspaper. 'People always commented on the tall one with the glasses.'
Smokey Robinson, born hours apart from Rogers in the same Detroit hospital on February 19, 1940, saluted his former compatriot in his own statement, saying: 'Another soldier in my life has fallen.'
'Bobby Rogers was my brother and a really good friend,' he said. 'I am really going to miss him. I loved him very much.'
Billy Wilson, president of the Motown Alumni Association, said Rogers died at his home in Southfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
The Miracles grew out of an earlier quintet of high school performers called the Five Chimes that formed in the mid-1950s and changed its name to the Matadors after several roster changes capped by Claudette Rogers' admission to the group.
Introduced to Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., the group changed its name to the Miracles and became one of the first acts signed to his Tamla Records imprint and went on to record Motown's first million-selling hit single, 'Shop Around.'
The group, which later changed its name again to Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, ultimately released 30 singles that charted in the Top 40, including such Motown classics as 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me,' 'Going to a Go-Go,' 'I Second That Emotion,' 'Tears of a Clown' and 'Tracks of My Tears.'
One of Rogers' most notable vocal contributions with the group was his two-part harmony with Robinson on 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me,' which was later covered by the Beatles. Rogers' voice also is heard in the background of the Marvin Gaye track 'What's Going On,' uttering the phrase: 'It's just a groovy party, man, I can dig it.'
He shared songwriting credits with Robinson on a number of songs recorded by the Miracles, such as 'Going to a Go-Go,' and other groups, including the Temptations hit 'The Way You Do the Things You Do' and 'First I Look at the Purse' by the Contours.
Rogers was inducted with other members of the Miracles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, about 25 years after the controversial solo induction of Robinson.
Miracles vocalist Ronnie White died in 1995.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Reaney in New York; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Eric Beech)
Rogers was a tenor in the original Motown lineup of the group that also included Robinson as the lead singer, bass vocalist Warren 'Pete' Moore, baritone Ronnie White and the quintet's lone female vocalist, Claudette Rogers.
Claudette Rogers, who became Claudette Robinson after marrying the group's star in 1963 and left the group a year later, was Bobby Rogers' first cousin. She and Smokey Robinson later divorced.
'My cousin, Robert 'Bobby' Rogers, who was like a brother to me, lost his battle and succumbed,' she said in a statement issued through the Detroit-based Motown Alumni Association.
'He had a sparkling personality that was loved by everyone,' she told the Detroit Free Press newspaper. 'People always commented on the tall one with the glasses.'
Smokey Robinson, born hours apart from Rogers in the same Detroit hospital on February 19, 1940, saluted his former compatriot in his own statement, saying: 'Another soldier in my life has fallen.'
'Bobby Rogers was my brother and a really good friend,' he said. 'I am really going to miss him. I loved him very much.'
Billy Wilson, president of the Motown Alumni Association, said Rogers died at his home in Southfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
The Miracles grew out of an earlier quintet of high school performers called the Five Chimes that formed in the mid-1950s and changed its name to the Matadors after several roster changes capped by Claudette Rogers' admission to the group.
Introduced to Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., the group changed its name to the Miracles and became one of the first acts signed to his Tamla Records imprint and went on to record Motown's first million-selling hit single, 'Shop Around.'
The group, which later changed its name again to Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, ultimately released 30 singles that charted in the Top 40, including such Motown classics as 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me,' 'Going to a Go-Go,' 'I Second That Emotion,' 'Tears of a Clown' and 'Tracks of My Tears.'
One of Rogers' most notable vocal contributions with the group was his two-part harmony with Robinson on 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me,' which was later covered by the Beatles. Rogers' voice also is heard in the background of the Marvin Gaye track 'What's Going On,' uttering the phrase: 'It's just a groovy party, man, I can dig it.'
He shared songwriting credits with Robinson on a number of songs recorded by the Miracles, such as 'Going to a Go-Go,' and other groups, including the Temptations hit 'The Way You Do the Things You Do' and 'First I Look at the Purse' by the Contours.
Rogers was inducted with other members of the Miracles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, about 25 years after the controversial solo induction of Robinson.
Miracles vocalist Ronnie White died in 1995.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Reaney in New York; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Eric Beech)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Jimi Hendrix estate rolls out "People, Hell and Angels" studio set
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If there were any doubts about the lingering force of fabled rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix more than four decades after his death, his latest single should put them to rest.
The single 'Somewhere' went to No.1 on the Billboard Hot Singles sales in February. That bodes well for the latest posthumous album plucked from the Hendrix musical vaults, which producers say has stood up well to the test of time.
'People, Hell and Angels,' to be released on CD this Tuesday, is billed as a collection of twelve previously unreleased studio performances by Hendrix, although some of the songs have emerged in other versions since his death at age 27 in 1970 from an accidental drug overdose.
The album arrives with the simultaneous release of newly struck mono vinyl editions of early Hendrix classic albums 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis: Bold As Love.'
The tracks on 'People, Hell and Angels,' were planned as a follow-up to the influential guitarist's chart-topping 1968 album 'Electric Ladyland.'
'After the huge success of the (Jimi Hendrix) Experience and those first albums, he wanted to branch out more, and the blues sound on this is just different from the others,' said Janie Hendrix, Jimi's step-sister and president and CEO of Experience Hendrix, the company founded by the musician's father to oversee the star's estate.
'This new album is very important for all his fans as it really showcases his creativity and a different side to him,' she told Reuters.
Feeling constrained by the limitations of the Jimi Hendrix Experience trio (which included drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding), the guitarist had already started working with an eclectic group of musicians.
They included the Buffalo Springfield's Stephen Stills, drummer Buddy Miles, saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood and bassist Billy Cox, with whom Hendrix had served in the U.S. military.
The resulting sessions, culled from 1968 and 1969, form the basis of 'People, Hell and Angels,' co-produced by Janie Hendrix, original engineer and mixer Eddie Kramer and long-time Hendrix historian John McDermott.
CREATIVELY FREE
'What we wanted to do with this new album is provide what we all felt are really compelling examples of Jimi's artistry and also his often-overlooked role as a producer,' said McDermott, a long-time collaborator with Experience Hendrix on various Hendrix projects.
'He saw right away that guys like Buddy Miles and Billy Cox, with whom he later formed Band of Gypsys, brought a new approach and sound to his songs and music. And Jimi was always very free creatively. He wasn't afraid to serve the song,' McDermott told Reuters.
McDermott cites 'Electric Ladyland,' which featured such diverse players as Stevie Winwood, Dave Mason and Chris Wood.
'Working in the studio was a totally different palette for him, compared with playing live,' he said. 'He could experiment with extra percussion, an additional guitar, organ - whatever he felt the track needed.'
And while those tracks, which include such titles as 'Earth Blues,' 'Baby Let Me Move You' and 'Izabella,' are now 45 years old, the audio quality is superb, because nothing beats analog tape for enduring sound quality.
'Jimi's masters were recorded before the era of mass-production that caused the archival nightmares of the Seventies, for example, where tapes lose their glue backing, (so) we've never faced that problem with the Jimi Hendrix library. His whole tape archive is in very good shape,' McDermott said.
The new album is the latest in a slew of albums, films, tribute tours and books following Hendrix's death in 1970 in London. These materials far outnumber the three studio albums he released in his four-year career at the top.
'He's a timeless artist and the technology's finally caught up to what he was trying to do musically,' Janie Hendrix said.
'People are still hungry for real music and good songs, and Jimi was a great songwriter and one of the greatest guitarists of all time,' she said.
Every new generation regards Hendrix as a touchstone, said McDermott. 'If you want to understand the role of rock guitar and listen to real virtuosity, then Jimi's the man.
'People react to the originals, and that's what he was, a true visionary whose music doesn't sound dated at all nearly half a century later,' he said..
(Reporting By Iain Blair, editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
The single 'Somewhere' went to No.1 on the Billboard Hot Singles sales in February. That bodes well for the latest posthumous album plucked from the Hendrix musical vaults, which producers say has stood up well to the test of time.
'People, Hell and Angels,' to be released on CD this Tuesday, is billed as a collection of twelve previously unreleased studio performances by Hendrix, although some of the songs have emerged in other versions since his death at age 27 in 1970 from an accidental drug overdose.
The album arrives with the simultaneous release of newly struck mono vinyl editions of early Hendrix classic albums 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis: Bold As Love.'
The tracks on 'People, Hell and Angels,' were planned as a follow-up to the influential guitarist's chart-topping 1968 album 'Electric Ladyland.'
'After the huge success of the (Jimi Hendrix) Experience and those first albums, he wanted to branch out more, and the blues sound on this is just different from the others,' said Janie Hendrix, Jimi's step-sister and president and CEO of Experience Hendrix, the company founded by the musician's father to oversee the star's estate.
'This new album is very important for all his fans as it really showcases his creativity and a different side to him,' she told Reuters.
Feeling constrained by the limitations of the Jimi Hendrix Experience trio (which included drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding), the guitarist had already started working with an eclectic group of musicians.
They included the Buffalo Springfield's Stephen Stills, drummer Buddy Miles, saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood and bassist Billy Cox, with whom Hendrix had served in the U.S. military.
The resulting sessions, culled from 1968 and 1969, form the basis of 'People, Hell and Angels,' co-produced by Janie Hendrix, original engineer and mixer Eddie Kramer and long-time Hendrix historian John McDermott.
CREATIVELY FREE
'What we wanted to do with this new album is provide what we all felt are really compelling examples of Jimi's artistry and also his often-overlooked role as a producer,' said McDermott, a long-time collaborator with Experience Hendrix on various Hendrix projects.
'He saw right away that guys like Buddy Miles and Billy Cox, with whom he later formed Band of Gypsys, brought a new approach and sound to his songs and music. And Jimi was always very free creatively. He wasn't afraid to serve the song,' McDermott told Reuters.
McDermott cites 'Electric Ladyland,' which featured such diverse players as Stevie Winwood, Dave Mason and Chris Wood.
'Working in the studio was a totally different palette for him, compared with playing live,' he said. 'He could experiment with extra percussion, an additional guitar, organ - whatever he felt the track needed.'
And while those tracks, which include such titles as 'Earth Blues,' 'Baby Let Me Move You' and 'Izabella,' are now 45 years old, the audio quality is superb, because nothing beats analog tape for enduring sound quality.
'Jimi's masters were recorded before the era of mass-production that caused the archival nightmares of the Seventies, for example, where tapes lose their glue backing, (so) we've never faced that problem with the Jimi Hendrix library. His whole tape archive is in very good shape,' McDermott said.
The new album is the latest in a slew of albums, films, tribute tours and books following Hendrix's death in 1970 in London. These materials far outnumber the three studio albums he released in his four-year career at the top.
'He's a timeless artist and the technology's finally caught up to what he was trying to do musically,' Janie Hendrix said.
'People are still hungry for real music and good songs, and Jimi was a great songwriter and one of the greatest guitarists of all time,' she said.
Every new generation regards Hendrix as a touchstone, said McDermott. 'If you want to understand the role of rock guitar and listen to real virtuosity, then Jimi's the man.
'People react to the originals, and that's what he was, a true visionary whose music doesn't sound dated at all nearly half a century later,' he said..
(Reporting By Iain Blair, editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
Friday, March 1, 2013
Scottish singer Susan Boyle to make film debut
(Reuters) - Scottish singer Susan Boyle will get her first turn on the big screen in the British holiday period film 'The Christmas Candle,' the movie's producers said on Thursday.
Boyle, 51, will back up Samantha Barks, Hans Matheson and Lesley Manville in the Christmas film that began production this week on location in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
The film, based on the novella by Max Lucado, tells the tale of an enchanted Christmas candle in Gladbury, a dull village that must confront the dawning of the 20th century and a new, skeptical minister.
There was no information on what role the singer will play.
'Everyone on set is a delight to work with and it's a fantastic experience to be part of the team,' Boyle said in a statement.
'I'm really enjoying getting dressed in the period costumes and stepping back in time and although it's very cold filming on location, I'm wearing long johns under my bustle,' she added.
The singer became an overnight international sensation in 2009 after appearing on variety show 'Britain's Got Talent' and performing a flawless rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from the musical 'Les Miserables.'
Her rendition has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on YouTube, and her life story from unknown Scot to multi-million-selling recording artist has itself been made into a musical.
Barks was most recently in the 2012 film production of 'Les Miserables.' Matheson's credits include 2010's 'Clash of the Titans' while Manville is best known for 2010's 'Another Year.'
'The Christmas Candle,' directed by John Stephenson, is produced by Impact and Big Book Media and will be distributed in the United Kingdom by Pinewood Productions.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey in Los Angeles; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Xavier Briand)
Boyle, 51, will back up Samantha Barks, Hans Matheson and Lesley Manville in the Christmas film that began production this week on location in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
The film, based on the novella by Max Lucado, tells the tale of an enchanted Christmas candle in Gladbury, a dull village that must confront the dawning of the 20th century and a new, skeptical minister.
There was no information on what role the singer will play.
'Everyone on set is a delight to work with and it's a fantastic experience to be part of the team,' Boyle said in a statement.
'I'm really enjoying getting dressed in the period costumes and stepping back in time and although it's very cold filming on location, I'm wearing long johns under my bustle,' she added.
The singer became an overnight international sensation in 2009 after appearing on variety show 'Britain's Got Talent' and performing a flawless rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from the musical 'Les Miserables.'
Her rendition has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on YouTube, and her life story from unknown Scot to multi-million-selling recording artist has itself been made into a musical.
Barks was most recently in the 2012 film production of 'Les Miserables.' Matheson's credits include 2010's 'Clash of the Titans' while Manville is best known for 2010's 'Another Year.'
'The Christmas Candle,' directed by John Stephenson, is produced by Impact and Big Book Media and will be distributed in the United Kingdom by Pinewood Productions.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey in Los Angeles; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Xavier Briand)
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