Archive: November 2011 (21-30 of 115)

Nov 23 2011 12:52 PM ET

Sugarland sued for negligence by victims of the Indiana State Fair stage collapse

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Categories: Country, Y'all!, Legal Troubles, Sugarland
sugarland

Image Credit: Kate Powers

Sugarland has been sued by 44 victims of the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair, which killed seven and injured many others back in August.

If you remember, on August 13, high wind gusts caused an elaborately rigged outdoor stage to topple onto a sea of terrified patrons in the front rows of a Sugarland concert.

The Grammy-winning duo, who were not injured in the incident (they had yet to take the stage) have apologized profusely for the incident, and performed a free benefit concert in Indianapolis last month to offer their condolences. As recently as the CMA Awards last week, Jennifer Nettles thanked the people of Indiana once again.

But to the victims of the collapse, apologies aren’t enough. The plaintiffs, a group that includes the estates representing four of the deceased concertgoers, claim that Sugarland was negligent for not canceling the concert when inclement weather loomed. Apparently, a clause in Sugarland’s contract stipulates that the group has final say on whether to cancel a show due to hazardous weather. Because they didn’t pull the plug on the show, now they are being held responsible.

“Unfortunately, this tragedy could have been prevented if the responsible parties had been concerned about the concertgoers that night,” plaintiffs’ attorney Mario Massillamany said in a statement.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages that would “help the victims pay the medical bills and other financial expenses that they have incurred from this incident.”

A rep for Sugarland tells EW they have no comment at this time.

Read more:
Sugarland to return to Indiana for free concert Oct. 28
Indiana State Fair tragedy: Can you protect people from Mother Nature?
Sugarland will hold memorial for 5 stage collapse victims

Nov 23 2011 12:15 PM ET

Who is the greatest guitarist of all time? Prepare to be unsurprised!

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Categories: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Dinosaur Jr., Fleetwood Mac, Grunge, Guns N' Roses, Indie Rock, Jack White, Keith Richards, Let's Argue!, Listmania!, Metal, Motley Crue, Music, Nirvana, R&B, R.I.P., Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rock, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Soul, The Beatles, The Who, Things That Are British, Things That Are Loud, Things That Make Us Go Hmm, White Stripes, Wilco
Jimi-Hendrix

Image Credit: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

For decades, the question of who exactly is the greatest guitarist of all-time has occupied countless music fans — if not drummers, like myself, who are usually too exhausted from doing all the real work to debate such an inconsequential matter.

Regardless, Rolling Stone has just released a new list which ranks history’s top 100 fretmeisters and which was voted on by a veritable army of guitarists including Billy Corgan, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Lifeson, Ritchie Blackmore, Mick Mars, Robbie Robertson, Melissa Etheridge, and Kirk Hammett.

The list is packed with what can only be described as the usual, legendary, suspects. Jimi Hendrix tops the 100 and he is very much not the only featured musician currently jamming at the great gig in the sky.

Indeed, while such young-ish turks as Slash, Jack White, Derek Trucks, and Radiohead‘s Jonny Greeenwood are included, the entire top ten is made up of either the deceased or guitarists who, with the arguable exception of Jeff Beck, haven’t recorded anything of real note in a long time.

Take a look at the list yourself by clicking here and tell us what you think. Does the 100 merely reflect the electorate’s own often very “venerable” nature or is the golden age of the great, innovative, guitar hero now just a distant memory? And who is your pick for the best guitarist of all-time?

Read more:
The best bassline of all time? One (silly) poll gives Muse’s ‘Hysteria’ the top spot
Our take on this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees: Should the Beastie Boys, Guns ‘N Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and others get in?
Slash talks about his tour with Ozzy, the search for Velvet Revolver’s singer, and Axl’s latest accolade
Keith Richards: Music’s most influential character?

Nov 22 2011 06:01 PM ET

Leonard Cohen announces first album of new material in eight years -- hear new music here

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Categories: Leonard Cohen, Things That Are Canadian
leonard_cohen

Image Credit: Lorca Cohen

Leonard Cohen puts out albums about as often as Thomas Pynchon guest judges on America’s Got Talent. But the singer-songwriter announced today on his official website that he will be releasing his first collection of new music in eight years on January 31.

Cohen’s twelfth studio album is called Old Ideas and ”poetically addresses some of the most profound questions of human existence — spirituality, love, sexuality, loss and death.”

The deep-voiced Canadian icon — and, lest a thousand warbling American Idol hopefuls forget, the original composer and singer of “Hallelujah” — has also released an album teaser in the form of the song “Show Me the Place,” which you can hear below (it’s available as an instant download to fans who pre-order the CD):

Read more:
Rumor Control: Simon Cowell ‘loves,’ but does not own the rights to, Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’
Leonard Cohen at Madison Square Garden: The master at 75
Leonard Cohen collapses on stage
Live in London

Nov 22 2011 05:21 PM ET

Rapper Too Short dead? Not so fast, Twitter!

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Categories: Things On The Internet, Things That Are Frustrating, Things That Are Strange
TOO-SHORT

Image Credit: Maury Phillips/WireImage

What does rapper Too $hort have in common with Morgan Freeman and Britney Spears?

The reports of their deaths have been greatly exaggerated on Twitter — with the Oakland hip-hop legend just the latest to suffer Mark Twain’s tragic fate (or not) via 140 characters or less. This disturbing trend regularly freaks out fans, with false info spreading like digital wildfire on the micro blogging site.

Thankfully, Too $hort himself (@tooshort) cleared up the rumors with a rather hilarious series of tweets, (mixed with a little self-promotion!): “ Stop calling my phone. I’m not dead. Been in the lab working on my 19th album #NoTrespassing in stores Feb 2012,” and “Are U serious? How did they say I died this time? And when did wikipidia & twitter become reliable news sources???”

The 45-year-old performer is best known for early Bay Area rap classics like  “I’m a Player” and “Life Is … Too Short”; with any luck, he’ll continue to prove that latter title wrong, whether or not the Twitterati like it.

Read more:
Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis cover Serge Gainsbourg song on new tribute album — LISTEN 
Jay-Z’s Occupy Wall Street apparel no longer on Rocawear site
American Music Awards 2011: 10 Most Memorable Moments

Nov 22 2011 03:03 PM ET

French actress Julie Delpy to direct a biopic on the life of the Clash's Joe Strummer

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Categories: In Memoriam, R.I.P., Rock, Singers with SAG cards, Things That Are British, Things That Make Us Go Hmm, Tributes
strummer

Image Credit: Sho Kikuchi

Actress Julie Delpy is set to direct a Joe Strummer biopic, according to Variety. The film is called The Right Profile and will focus on the Clash singer’s disappearance from the public spotlight in 1982.

While the French star of films like Before Sunrise and Broken Flowers might seem like an odd choice to helm a movie about Strummer, the actress has directed several films over the past few years, including 2009′s The Countess. Moreover, Strummer actually relocated to France while laying low in ’82, where he participated in the Paris marathon, among other things. Rather more tenuously, both Delpy and Strummer worked with director Jim Jarmusch, albeit on different projects.

Strummer, who died in 2002, was previously the subject of director Julien Temple’s 2007 documentary The Future Is Unwritten. The Right Profile is named after a track on the Clash’s classic London Calling album which itself concerned the actor Montgomery Clift. You can check out the song below: READ FULL STORY »

Nov 22 2011 12:36 PM ET

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis cover Serge Gainsbourg song on new tribute album -- LISTEN

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Categories: Iggy Pop, Singers with SAG cards, Things That Are French
Vanessa-Paradis

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Here at EW, we try not to be too envious of Johnny Depp’s status as an all-time gene pool winner.

But it does seem a tad unfair that, in addition to his acting chops, good looks, and top-notch mustache-growing capabilities, the guy can sing as well, as he proved with the 2007 movie Sweeney Todd.

Depp has returned to the recording studio to duet with his better half (and pop star in her own right) Vanessa Paradis on a version of “Ballade de Melody Nelson,” which was originally recorded  by French singer and all-round reprobate Serge Gainsbourg. The cover can be found on a new Gainsbourg tribute album called From Gainsbourg to Lulu, which also features Scarlett Johansson, Rufus Wainwright, and Iggy Pop, amongst others.

In truth, “Ballade de Melody Nelson” is actually more of a showcase for Paradis than Captain Jack, who merely interjects the occasional bit of Depp-esque mumbling here and there. But as rock star releases go, we’ve heard much much worse. Check out the tune for yourself and tell us what you think:

Read more:
Johnny Depp talks about filming his Keith Richards documentary: ‘It was intense’ – EXCLUSIVE
Johnny Depp’s Vices: A Moviegoer’s Guide
Johnny Depp calls out Ricky Gervais in ‘Life’s Too Short’: ‘No one makes fun of Tim Allen on my watch and gets away with it!’
‘On Stranger Tides’ star Ian McShane talks swapping music with Johnny Depp and the (possible) return of ‘Deadwood’
Keith Richards’ memoir to become a movie — so who should play him onscreen?

Nov 22 2011 11:17 AM ET

White House celebrates country music with PBS special -- featuring the Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, James Taylor and more

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Categories: Country, Y'all!, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Lauren Alaina

Dierks-Bentley

Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images

In Performance at the White House, a concert series created by Michelle Obama, turns its ear to country music in a new PBS special premiering Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET (check local listings).

Artists gathered in the East Room of the White House Monday to tape the intimate show, with the President and First Lady sitting in the front row. According to USA Today, the president explained that traveling the country, he’s gained an appreciation for how much country music and its storytelling mean to so many Americans (and also told the audience “Hootie’s in the house!” referring to Darius Rucker, who was among the performers).

Dierks Bentley opened the evening with his inspirational hit “Home,” a song he was inspired to write after Gabrielle Giffords’ shooting in his native Arizona. Bentley also performed “Always on My Mind” with American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina and “Me and Bobby McGee” with Kris Kristofferson and the rest of the cast, which included Allison Krauss, James Taylor, The Band Perry, and Lyle Lovett.

Find the full setlist below:

READ FULL STORY »

Nov 22 2011 10:35 AM ET

Grammys to honor Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber

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Categories: R&B, Usher
Nick-Ashford-simpson

Image Credit: Evan Agostini/AP Images

Three months after losing musical and life partner Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson acknowledges that she still has a hard time performing any of the classic songs they created together. “I get a big lump in my throat when I try to sing one of our songs right now,” she said.

She’ll get a little help next week as Usher is set to sing from the Ashford & Simpson catalog for what promises to be a poignant moment in the usually upbeat Grammy nominations prime-time special. It will be part of a joint tribute to Ashford and Jerry Leiber, and will also feature Mike Stoller, who was Leiber’s longtime writing partner. Leiber and Stoller wrote classics such as “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Yakety Yak” and other hit songs that came to define early rock `n’ roll. Ashford and Simpson helped define the Motown sound with hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” and “You’re All I Need to Get By,” as well as soul hits for themselves and others. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 21 2011 12:13 PM ET

December's 'VH1 Divas' adds Chaka, Eryka, Estelle, and -- yes -- some boys

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Categories: Attack of the '90s, Buzzworthy, Chaka Kahn, Divas!, Erykah Badu, Estelle, Florence + The Machine, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J, Jill Scott, Kelly Clarkson, Ladies, Marsha Ambrosius, Mary J. Blige, Music, Pop, R&B, Sharon Jones, Television, The Roots, Travie McCoy, VH1
Chaka-Kahn

Image Credit: Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic.com

Divas, make way! VH1 has added a bevy of other ladies — and, yes, some dudes, too — to the line-up for its annual special VH1 Divas, including Chaka Kahn (pictured here), Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius. The non-diva entities –i.e. those who have a Y chromosome — added include Boyz II Men and Travie McCoy.

The seven new acts join the previously announced divas, which include Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J, and Jill Scott. The Roots will serve as the house band for the engagement.

VH1 Divas will celebrate soul this year, honoring so-called “soulful cities” — Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis, and Philadelphia — that inspired the participating divas and their art. The special airs Monday, Dec. 19, at 9 p.m. on VH1.

Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky

The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix

Read more:
‘VH1 Divas’: See Kelly Clarkson’s promotional poster — EXCLUSIVE
Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Florence Welch, and Jennifer Hudson to headline this year’s ‘VH1 Divas’

Nov 21 2011 10:10 AM ET

Little Big Town sings 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas': Listen to it here! -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Country, Y'all!, Happy Holidays, Little Big Town
little-big-town

Image Credit: Capitol Nashville

Here at The Music Mix, we’re big fans of Little Big Town.

Time and time again, the country quartet proves its harmonizing prowess, and whether they’re crooning with Lionel Ritchie at the CMAs, dancing around to Madonna songs with Sugarland, or remixing Maroon 5 for their Scattered, Smothered, & Covered video series, they always sound terrific.

So of course we were excited when Little Big Town announced that they were releasing a cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” in time for the holiday season. The track, streaming exclusively on EW.com, is a lovely, simple rendition of the Christmas classic. Instead of the bombastic rearranging that often plagues modern tinsel-tunes, Little Big Town’s cozy rendition features an acoustic guitar, a few flourishes of sliding steel, and four wonderful voices.

The song is available for download now, but feel free to give it a first listen below! READ FULL STORY »

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