The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz
The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz |
| Nirvana, KISS among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:50 PM PDT Ronstadt, who revealed last year that she is battling Parkinson's disease, will not attend, while neither KISS nor the surviving members of Nirvana – founder Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994 aged 27 – is expected to perform. That leaves only British singer-songwriters Peter Gabriel and Cat Stevens, and duo Hall and Oates as performing inductees, although Chris Martin, Glenn Frey, Michael Stipe, Questlove, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Asher and Tom Morello are set to appear – though not necessarily perform. Stevens, who goes by the name Yusuf Islam, was confirmed just days ago after the folk singer had trouble securing a visa to travel from London. His induction, he wrote in the current issue of Rolling Stone, "will no doubt do much to heal the scars that many years of separation have caused and help to reconnect people to my legacy, which still speaks loud and clear in my music". And it could signal a return to the spotlight for the "Wild World", "Peace Train" and "Moon Shadow" singer after decades of not performing. Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow will appear in a musical tribute to Ronstadt, who is being inducted by Frey at the 29th annual ceremony, to be aired on HBO on May 31. Stipe will induct Nirvana, which was chosen in its first year of eligibility, 20 years after founder Cobain's death. Gabriel, 63, lead vocalist for the progressive rock band Genesis, itself a 2010 inductee, went on to a solo career that included hits such as "Sledgehammer", and is set to perform. The E Street Band, the group behind Springsteen, will be inducted by the rocker through the Award for Musical Excellence, and will perform, but the Hall of Fame has not formally announced whether The Boss himself would sing. As for KISS, the 1970s shock-rockers known for their outrageous costumes and makeup and hits such as "Rock and Roll All Nite", founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have said they won't perform at the gala because the Hall of Fame opted to include only the original members, eschewing current bandmembers Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer. In past years the Hall of Fame has included varying mixes of past and present members of bands like The Grateful Dead and Metallica which have had evolving rosters. The fray recalled the 2007 ceremony when original Blondie members Frank Infante and Nigel Harrison made an on-stage entreaty to lead singer Debbie Harry to perform with the band, and were flatly, and awkwardly, turned down by the star. Brian Epstein, the music entrepreneur who managed The Beatles before he died in 1967, and Andrew Loog Oldham who managed The Rolling Stones, will both be inducted with the Ahmet Ertegun Awards for lifetime achievement. But Oldham said on Twitter last week that he would not attend. "Like Brian Epstein, I was not consulted as regards this matter," he said, "& like dear Brian I will not be going." The inductees, who will join the Hall of Fame's 719 other musicians and executives as members, were chosen by more than 700 voters from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Fans were allowed to cast votes online for the artists they believe were the most deserving of induction, with three of their top five choices making the cut this year. – Reuters, April 11, 2014. |
| Comic Colbert to succeed US late-night icon Letterman Posted: 10 Apr 2014 05:34 PM PDT The announcement came after Letterman said he would step down next year, and follows the departure of rival veteran Jay Leno as host of "The Tonight Show". Colbert, 49, who has presented the award-winning The Colbert Report satirical show since 2005, paid tribute to Letterman as a model that other late-night hosts look up to. "Simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career," he said. "I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's lead. "I'm thrilled and grateful that CBS chose me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth," he said, referring to Letterman's gap-toothed smile. Letterman, 66, a pillar of American late-night TV talk shows, announced last week that he will leave his "Late Show" studio at CBS next year after a 22-year run. Colbert – who got into hot water recently over offensive language about Asian Americans – has agreed to a five-year deal with CBS, starting after Letterman stands down some time in 2015. "Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television," said CBS boss Leslie Moonves. "David Letterman's legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today's announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night." Before launching The Colbert Report, Colbert spent eight years as a correspondent on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, which has won 19 Primetime Emmy awards. On The Colbert Report, which has won four Primetime Emmys, Colbert plays a parody of an ultra-conservative talk show host, although he himself is widely perceived as liberal. Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh lambasted CBS's decision to put Colbert in charge of a US media-cultural institution. "CBS has just declared war on the heartland of America," he said. "No longer is comedy going to be a covert assault on traditional American values... Now it's just wide out in the open." Letterman's announcement last week was the latest in a merry-go-round of changes bringing a younger generation of hosts to the fore in the US late-night landscape. In February, 39-year-old Jimmy Fallon took over at NBC's "The Tonight Show" after Letterman's long-time rival Leno, 63, announced his departure. "Saturday Night Live" star Seth Meyers is NBC's new talk-show hope at 12.30am, inheriting Fallon's old time slot. The changes have also involved some geographical rivalry: Leno taped "The Tonight Show" in Los Angeles, but the show moved to New York with Fallon. That left Jimmy Kimmel as the only major late-night host still on the West Coast. Letterman also tapes in New York. But tellingly, CBS did not specify where the Colbert "Late Show" will be made, saying the location "will be determined and announced at a later date". Letterman's "Late Show" is famous for Letterman's witty repartee with A-list celebrity guests, his satirical top-10 lists and a raft of regular features including a segment dedicated to clever animals called Stupid Pet Tricks. Colbert triggered a firestorm on social media last month after attacking the owner of the Washington Redskins, who refuses to change the American football team's name, which is considered derogatory by many Native Americans. Colbert stressed that his over-the-top jibes were meant as parody. – AFP, April 11, 2014. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider : Showbiz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan