ROLLING STONES RETIRING?
It
is being reported that mega rockers the Rolling Stones will have one last hurrah
on the road next year playing mainly stadiums before calling it quits. The Rolling
Stones have been making music and touring for over fifty years. This is not the
first time that the rockers have made that announcement. The Stones first "retired"
in 1971 and then took off eight years in 1982. Time will tell…
UNDERWOOD
THE BEST IDOL?
For the past few years, there has been much
debate over which 'American Idol' winner is the best. Season one winner Kelly
Clarkson has been thought by many as the best selling Idol star, but season four
winner, country star Carrie Underwood, has won numerous awards and can now claim
the title for album sales. While on her honeymoon, Underwood learned that her
debut album 'Some Hearts' has been certified seven times platinum for selling
seven million copies.
BIEBER FEVER
Canadian
teen idol Justin Bieber is branching out. Come this fall, fans of 'CSI: Crime
Scene Investigation' will get to see the teen's acting abilities as Bieber will
star in the season premiere as a troubled teen who must make a decision. His choice
causes him to run right into the CSI team. The storyline; however, will not be
resolved until some time later in the season.
DR HOUSE BRANCHES
OUT
While teen pop sensation Justin Bieber is branching
out into the acting world, one popular award-winning actor is looking to join
the music fraternity. Joining the likes of blues men Steven Seagal and Jim Byrnes,
Dr. House - Hugh Laurie - is in the process of recording his debut album. Laurie
has penned many of the songs himself and plans to team up with some guest musicians
for the New Orleans blues styled album.
JOHN "MR WHIPPY"
MAYER
Recently, fans of John Mayer got a big surprise as
they were gathered in the parking lot prior to his show in Jones Beach. Mayer
came rolling up in the lot in a Ben and Jerry's ice cream truck where he proceeded
to pass out free ice cream to fans. The rocker chatted happily with the crowd
as he signed autographs, posed for photos, and handed out ice cream. Mayer said
that he came up with the idea as he was preparing for the tour and wanted to reward
fans who waited outside the venue for long periods of time. Mayer hasn't revealed
when or where but will reprise his role as the ice cream man a few more times
along the tour.
SPANISH MUSIC ON VIDEO GAME
Columbian
born singer Juanes will be the first artist to have songs in Spanish appear on
a video music game. 'Rock Star' was released on July 27 and some of the 17-time
Latin Grammy Award winner's music can be heard as part of the game.
AL
JARREAU HOSPITALISED
Jazz vocal virtuoso Al Jarreau checked
himself into a hospital in Gap, France a few hours before a concert for what the
artist called precautionary measures. Jarreau became concerned when his body did
not make the normal adjustments to the mountain air. The 70-year old is in the
midst of a tour and it is believed that the lighter air and fatigue contributed
to the breathing difficulties and subsequent hospital visit. Jarreau hoped to
continue the tour after a few days in the hospital and some rest.
JOSE
GONZALES ROCKSTAR
Jose Gonzalez recently took time out
of his busy summer tour schedule to swing by the Rockstar offices in New York
and perform an intimate, acoustic rendition of 'Far Away', his contribution to
the 'Red Dead Redemption' Soundtrack. Most of you will remember this song from
when John Marston first reaches Mexico, riding horseback along a dusty trail between
cascading red cliffs and the San Luis River; definitely one of Red Dead's most
visually and sonically memorable moments. Check
it out here!
SINGHABAR COMPETITION
Premium
Thai beer Singha is bringing back the SinghaBar competition for 2010, which will
see offices around Sydney kick off Friday night drinks in true style and help
say farewell, or 'sawadee', to the week gone by. For a chance to be the most popular
person in the office, eager workers need to visit www.singhabar.com.au and describe
a time they have been 'transported' in some way (mind or body) from their workplace.
The most interesting answer will win a Friday office visit from the SinghaBar,
fully stocked with cold Singha beer and accompanied by some Thai style nibbles.
The SinghaBar will make nine weekly office visits each Friday from 16 July, to
winners who have entered via www.singhabar.com.au. The prize provides a fresh
and fun way to celebrate the end of a hard week at work with a cold Singha beer.
Winning offices will be notified on Wednesday's of each week and can expect the
bar to arrive for Friday festivities from 4pm.
AIM OPEN
DAY
The Australian Institute of Music (AIM) will be opening
its doors on Saturday, August 14 for prospective students and the public for their
campus open day. AIM has invited special guests; AIM graduate and performer Tamara
Jaber, director of Perfect Pitch and formally general manager of Shock Music Publishing;
Clive Hodson, Scorpio Music manager; Rebekah Campbell, performer Catherine Britt,
producer and composer; Drew Crawford, founder and editor of Audio Technology Magazine;
Greg Simmons and classical performer; Chris Cook to be part of their industry
panel on the day. The industry guests will be available on the panel for a Q &
A from 12pm-1pm to answer questions about their careers, the industry and discuss
various opportunities within the music and entertainment industry. Potential students
interested in a career in acting and theatre performance will also be able to
observe a rehearsal from 10am-1pm in 'The Space' with the Australian Academy of
Dramatic Art department (AADA). From 1pm-3pm, AADA will be available to speak
about career and study options in acting and theatre. AIM is located at 1- 51
Foveaux Street, Surry Hills and will be open to the general public on Saturday,
August 14 from 10am-3pm. A full open day program is available on AIM's website,
found at http://www.aim.edu.au
RIVERWORLD ON MOVIE NETWORK
In
non-musical news, two-part miniseries RIVERWORLD - based on the popular award-winning
series of novels by Philip Jose Farmer and starring Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar
Galactica, The Dollhouse) and Laura Vandervoort (Smallville) - will premiere on
Movie Extra this August. When American war zone journalist Matt Ellman (Tahmoh
Penikett) and his fiancée, Jessie Machalan (Laura Vandervoort), are killed
in an explosion, Matt awakens, separated from Jessie, on the banks of a river
snaking endlessly across a mysterious new plane of existence. On Riverworld, everyone
who has ever lived on Earth, every soul throughout time, has been reborn along
the banks of a seemingly endless river. Determined to locate Jessie, Matt aligns
with Tomoe (Jeananne Goossen), a 13th century female warrior, Allegra, a 15th
century courtesan of shifting alliances, and American novelist and riverboat captain
Samuel Clements (Mark Deklin), better known as Mark Twain. For Matt, each unfathomable
day, each nefarious encounter, only deepens the conundrum of Riverworld and raises
more questions. Part one will air on Sunday August 15 at 8:30pm while part two
will air the following night. Make sure to check it out!
©
Sherrill Fulghum
