The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| Meat Loaf says he really is on his final tour Posted: 02 Apr 2013 09:22 AM PDT
Meat Loaf, whose 1977 "Bat Out Of Hell" remains one of the biggest selling albums, said his "Last At Bat" tour starting in Britain this week and heading through Europe, would be his last, after struggling with health problems in recent years. While other ageing rockers like the Rolling Stones are returning to the lucrative tour circuit, Meat Loaf said he has had enough. "This is really it ... I just don't want to travel anymore," the portly singer told Reuters TV in an interview before his tour through Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. "I outweigh (Mick) Jagger by about 100 pounds (45kg) and that counts for something. He hasn't seen the wear and tear." Meat Loaf, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, cancelled a European Tour in 2007 after being diagnosed with a cyst on his vocal chords, saying he received some "vicious" reaction to this. He then sparked further fears for his health in 2011 when he collapsed on stage. He later blamed the blackouts on past concussion injuries and his health issues on asthma. Last year he underwent a knee replacement operation from which he is still recovering and is due to have an operation on his other knee shortly. Meat Loaf said his health was "fine" but it was important to be able to perform to your best. "When your name is on the marque, you either get the glory or you get the hits," said the rocker, dressed all in black, who has also appeared in a list of movies, including cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". "Over the years, a lot of stones and a lot of arrows have been flying my way. You expect that." In the "Last at Bat" tour, Meat Loaf will perform his greatest hits in the first half of the show such as "Dead Ringer for Love" and "I'd Lie For You". In the second half he will perform, in order, the seven songs from his "Bat Out Of Hell" album which has sold around 45 million copies to date. Meat Loaf did not rule out performing live again, such as in Las Vegas, particularly after releasing his 13th album, "Brave and Crazy", that is currently in the pipeline. The rocker said he was working on this album with Jim Steinman, the reclusive producer and songwriter behind his biggest hits with whom he last worked on his 1993 album "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell". But Meat Loaf cautioned fans that if he cried while singing "Crying Out Loud", the closing song of "Bat Out Of Hell" while on tour, this was not due to sadness at quitting touring. "Even in rehearsal when I go to sing it I start crying so it's not like when you see me in the show and I am crying it's like "oh I bet he...". I would do it in rehearsal, I can't help myself," he said. — Reuters |
| Angelina Jolie to sell jewellery line to fund overseas schools Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:38 PM PDT  Jolie is not the first celebrity to open schools in faraway places. - Reuters pic LOS ANGELES, April 2 — Angelina Jolie has opened another girls school in Afghanistan and plans to fund more from the proceeds of a jewellery line going on sale this week that she helped to design, celebrity website E! News reported yesterday. Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, funded the girls-only primary school in an area outside Kabul that has a high refugee population, E! News said in an exclusive report. The school educates 200-300 girls, E! said. It showed pictures of the school, which opened in November, and a plaque acknowledging Jolie's contribution. Jolie also funded a girl school in eastern Afghanistan that opened in 2010, according to the UNCHR. Jolie's representatives did not return calls for comment. E! said that Jolie plans to pay for more schools by selling a "Style of Jolie" jewellery line that she helped create with jewellery maker Robert Procop. Procop designed the engagement ring given to the actress by her partner Brad Pitt in April 2012. "Beyond enjoying the artistic satisfaction of designing these jewels, we are inspired by knowing our work is also serving the mutual goal of providing for children in need," Jolie was quoted as telling the website. Procop's website said the "first funds from our collaboration together have been dedicated to the Education Partnership for Children in Conflict (founded by Jolie) to build a school in Afghanistan." According to the Style of Jolie website, the newly expanded collection includes versions of the black and gold necklace that the actress wore to the premiere of her 2010 movie "Salt," a pear-shaped citrine and gold necklace, and rose gold and emerald tablet-shaped rings, earrings and bracelets. No price details were released. The jewellery will go on retail sale for the first time on April 4 through Kansas City jewellery store Tivol, Tivol said. Procop told E! that it was "an honor to have the opportunity to be part of creating this line with Angie, as we both believe every child has right to an education." Jolie is not the first celebrity to open schools in faraway places. Both Oprah Winfrey and Madonna have funded the building of schools in South Africa and Malawi in the past six years, although both ran into trouble. Madonna's project provoked controversy over costs and mismanagement, while a staff member at Winfrey's school was arrested on charges of assault and abuse of students. – Reuters |
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