Archive for October 29th, 2008
Is it Still a Led Zeppelin Reunion Without Robert Plant?
Led Zeppelin are rumoured to be planning a reunion and tour — but it might happen without lead singer Robert Plant.
Plant recently recorded and toured with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss, however, he has stated publicly that ” he has no intention of touring with anyone for at least the next two years”.
Meanwhile, other members of Led Zeppelin are hungry to get back into recording and touring and they have stated that “they would consider looking for someone to replace their lead singer”.
But there’s been no official word on who a worthy Robert Plant replacement might be.
Any suggestions, NowPublic members?
John Paul Jones, the group’s founding bassist, told the BBC that he and his fellow band members would consider looking for someone to replace their lead singer.
“We want to do it. It’s sounding great and we want to get and get out there,” he told the British radio program in an interview broadcast Monday. “It’s got to be right. There’s no point in just finding another Robert.”
Led Zeppelin’s spokesman Chris Goodman declined to comment Wednesday on plans for a possible reunion. [...]
Plant recently toured with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss. However, Plant said in a statement on his Web site that he has no intention of touring with anyone for at least the next two years.
Tags: Culture | Music | O2 | UK | Rock | LED ZEPPELIN | Alison Krauss | Robert Plant | led zeppelin reunion | led zeppelin robert plant | led zep | john paul jones
‘West Side Story’ Broadway Revival Announces Full Cast
The full cast list has been announced for Arthur Laurents‘ planned revival of the classic Broadway musical “West Side Story“.
The leading role of Maria will be performed by Josefina Scaglione and the role of Tony will be played by Matt Cavenaugh.
“West Side Story” will open March 19th in New York City. Previews begin February 23rd.
Little world, step aside: the full cast has been announced for the coming Broadway revival of “West Side Story.” The role of Maria will be played by Josefina Scaglione, below, a 21-year-old actress and opera singer from Buenos Aires, who originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Argentine production of “Hairspray.” Her star-crossed lover, Tony, will be played by Matt Cavenaugh (of “A Catered Affair” and “Grey Gardens”); Karen Olivo (“In the Heights”) will play Anita; and Cody Green (“Movin’ Out”) will play the Jets’ gang leader, Riff. The bilingual “West Side Story” revival, directed by Arthur Laurents and choreographed by Joey McKneely, is to begin previews at the Palace Theater on Feb. 23 and open on March 19.
Tags: Culture | New York City | broadway | arts | musical | Theatre | stage | West Side Story | grey gardens | west side story revival | Josefina Scaglione | matt cavenaugh | arthu laurents | palace theater | bueons aires
CNN’s New Wire Service to Compete with Associated Press
CNN thinks it can outshine major international newswire services like the Associated Press, Reuters, and the AFP, by offering its own news feed, known as CNN Wire, to existing and prospective partners.
CNN is courting newspapers — and possibly competing with The Associated Press — with a new wire service the cable network plans to launch soon, with plans for an all-expenses-paid, three-day summit in December to show off its news gathering capabilities.
CNN has invited numerous newspaper editors to attend the summit in order to extoll the virtues of its new service.
The announcement comes in the midst of widespread industry cutbacks to newspaper editorial staff, the end of print editions of major publications, and acknowledged difficulites at the AP, where rate structures are being changed and partners are planning to drop the AP’s newswire service.
The newspaper summit comes as the Associated Press is dealing with fallout from its recent rate structure change planned for 2009, which has drawn complaints from a handful of newspapers and sparked several to give the required two-year notice to drop the service.
The question is: can CNN fill the void?
Tags: New York | Reuters | Media | CNN | Journalism | United States | World | Associated Press | AP | AFP | Tech & Biz | cnn wire service
Rappers Lose the Bling as Recession Approaches
The glory days of rap’s pre-millienial, blinged-out excesses are done and dusted.
There’s no more money in the music biz, so it’s time for today’s hip-hop artists vying for VH1 honors to unchain themselves from their over-indulgent penchant for shiny pendants.
And I hope that Pharrell, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, 50 Cent, Slick Rick and other pro-bling rappers are paying attention.
Another hip-hop jewelry auction might be the only way to save their souls and pocketbooks.
All the gold ropes and gold teeth have got to go. You need to trade them in for cash and then hold on to it. Stuff it in those high-tops until the banks are safe again. No more shopping sprees. No more Hummers. No more Cristal. Back to basics, folks. You are not immune. Your record label could go belly-up like Lehman Brothers did, and you may find yourself standing behind Joe the Plumber at the check-cashing joint.
Yes, you’ve all come a long way from the days of Mr. T-level bling, but you’ve got many more miles to go. Pull off the gold chains and bring on the humility. Get yourself a Prius. Carpool to the next VH1 Rap Honors show. Recycle those kicks instead of tossing them after the first scuff mark.
Tags: Culture | Music | rap | Hip Hop | vh1 | jewelry | usher | lil wayne | Big Boi | diamond rings | T-Pain | slick rick | rappers bling | bye bye bling | vh1 rap honors | rap recession | hip hop jewelry auction
Melrose Place Remake Being Planned
CW and CBS are in talks to remake the seminal 90s melodramatic, pseudo-soap Melrose Place after successfully launching a Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off for CW earlier this year.
No word yet on the possible involvement of any original cast members which include the likes of Heather Locklear, Alyssa Milano, Marcia Cross, and Kristin Davis.
Melrose Place could be following in 90210’s footsteps with its own spin-off.
CW and CBS network reps confirm to the Associated Press that they’re in talks to remake the show, which originally aired from 1992 to 1999 on Fox.
The show would debut in the 2009-10 TV season, spokesman Paul Hewitt said Tuesday.
Tags: California | Culture | TV | CBS | television | United States | Beverly Hills | CW | 90210 | melrose place remake | melrose place | melrose place spinoff | darren starr
Grace Jones ‘Can’t Stand’ Sarah Palin
Apparently, Grace Jones can’t stand Sarah Palin.
While that’s a fun fact, it’s not like anyone was desperately waiting for the ‘disco diva’ to weigh in on the US election.
So thanks, Grace, for sharing your thoughts, but I’m not sure if anyone’s paying attention.
(Except us of course. And, uh, the AP.)
Jamaican-born disco diva Grace Jones said she was sorry Hillary Clinton had failed to make the cut in the US election and that she “can’t stand” folksy vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The 1980s style icon, now 60, told German magazine TV Spielfilm Wednesday that Palin stood for a backward vision of America laden with government restrictions of sexuality and social behaviour.
“I would have loved it if Hillary Clinton had pulled it off,” Jones said, in an interview published in German marking the release of her new album.
“I can’t stand Sarah Palin. I bet a woman like that has no sense of humour.”
Tags: Culture | Celebrity | Sarah Palin | grace jones
Joaquin Phoenix Quits Acting to Pursue Music
At the young age of 34, Joaquin Phoenix has announced that he plans to retire from acting and making movies in order to pursue a career in music.
That is, if celebrity retirements are to be believed.
Who knows if he’ll truly be out of the movie biz for long; Phoenix is an immensely talented actor, and it’s anyone’s guess how he’ll fare making music.
Many actors have tried it — very few with real success.
Joaquin Phoenix dropped quite a shocker at a benefit for Paul Newman’s camps for kids Monday, announcing his plans to quit acting.
“I want to take this opportunity … to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor,” the two-time Oscar nominee told Extra at the San Francisco event. “I’m not doing films anymore.”
“Are you serious?” asked the stunned interviewer Jerry Penacoli.
“Yeah. I’m working on my music,” Phoenix insisted. “I’m done. I’ve been through that.”
His rep confirmed the retirement to Extra.
The 34-year-old performer gave no further details on his career plans – but he has been working on a record for some time British band The Charlatans.
Tags: Culture | Movies | WALK THE LINE | Oscar | academy award | joaquin phoenix retiring | joaquin phoenix | joaquin phoenix music | joaquin phoenix quit acting | the charlatans
Robert Downey Jr. Joins ‘Avengers’ Cast
Marvel Studio’s planned ‘Avengers‘ film is going ahead and Robert Downey Jr. has confirmed that he will be reprising his role as Iron Man.
Director Jon Favreau is also on board, although he will be acting as executive producer on the picture.
Marvel Studios announced Tuesday that the “Iron Man” tandem of star Robert Downey Jr. and (sic) flmmaker Jon Favreau will assemble for the “Avengers” film, although the role announced for Favreau is that of executive producer, not director.
Other cast members rumoured to suit up for the superhero action flick include Ed Norton as the Hulk and Don Cheadle (having recently replaced Terrence Howard) as War Machine.
You can see all of this leading up to some future Comic-Con International panel that will have Downey sitting next to at least two other Oscar-nominated actors: Edward Norton, who played the Hulk this summer and is, by all appearances, on board for more action, as well as Don Cheadle, who will pick up the role of Col. James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes in the “Iron Man” franchise. The Marvel announcement today made his addition to the cast official and made a point to announce that he would be in the “Avengers” film as well.
It’s not clear yet who will be playing Thor, the Wasp or Ant-Man in the film, the other founding members from the Marvel Comics hero team
So that leaves Thor, Captain America, and many more from the Avengers pantheon still up for grabs.
It will be interesting to see which characters are included in the film and, of course, who will be cast to portray them.
There’s also the question of who will play Captain America (the most famous Avenger, but one who didn’t show up until issue No. 4 in the comics) in the hero’s solo film as well as the Avengers project that will follow it into theaters in 2011, if all goes as planned.
Tags: Culture | United States | hulk | wasp | Thor | Captain America | don cheadle | Edward Norton | marvel studios | the avengers | jon favreau | robert downey jr the avengers | ant-man
Christian Science Monitor to End Daily Print Edition
And another one’s gone / and another one’s gone / and another one bites the dust…
After a century of continuous publication, The Christian Science Monitor will abandon its weekday print edition and appear online only, its publisher announced Tuesday. The cost-cutting measure makes The Monitor the first national newspaper to largely give up on print.
Tags: Culture | Media | Newspaper | Journalism | United States | publication | Christian Science Monitor | print edition | christian science monitor print
