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TOP STORIES

UPDATE: Al Jarreau Getting Better
July 25, 2010 – There is much good news coming from Al Jarreau. The singer is finally feeling better after a scare on Thursday. Just before heading to the stage in Barcelonette the Grammy winner collapsed after feeling incredibly weak. He was suffering breathing problems and quickly moved to a Marseille hospital by helicopter Saturday. More

Grammy-winner Al Jarreau Hospitalized in France
July 24, 2010 – Al Jarreau fell ill just before taking the stage on Thursday. The Jazz legend was then hospitalized with respiratory problems, according to French health officials. Jarreau, 70, was ready for a concert in Barcelonette, in southern France near the Italian border, when he became weak. More

 

Slash Quits Smoking After Losing Mother To Lung Cancer
June 18, 2010 – Let’s face it, most people don’t change unless they have to. For Slash his big lifestyle switch came after he lost his mother to lung cancer. More

Miley Cyrus Calls Perez Hilton an Idiot over Crotchless Pics
June 18, 2010 – It seems with every post Perez Hilton is making more enemies but this time he may be in real hot water. The blogger posted a picture of 17-year-old Miley Cyrus supposedly without underwear (turns out the pics were fake) that could potentially be considered child pornography. More

Coldplay Finally Says Yes to Glee
June 18, 2010 – Bryan Adams does not want his music performed on Glee but Coldplay, after initially saying no, has finally caved and will let the popular musical TV program use their tunes. More

Adam Lambert Releases “If I Had You”
June 18, 2010 – You can say a lot of things about Adam Lambert but calling him boring just doesn’t work. His debut album ‘For Your Entertainment’ juggles as much inspiration from the seventies as it does on current musical playgrounds. More

Christina Aguilera: “I'm Just a Very Sexual Person By Nature”
June 17, 2010 - How one looks at sexuality can change with the arrival of a child. Though many things went topsy turvy for Christina Aguilera after having her son Max, the singer maintains that she’s still the same sexual being she was before being a mother. More

Coldplay Set to Release 5th Studio Album Before Years End
June 15, 2010 – I wonder if Coldplay is feeling a little pressure as they head into the home stretch of finishing their new album? The last project 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends’ (the dumbest album title in history), from 2008, sold 8.1 million copies worldwide. More

Shakira Says She Could Pose Nude Someday
June 15, 2010 – Seems like Shakira is dangling carrots! The singer says even though she has no plans on posing nude she still believes there could be a change of plans someday. More

Fergie Puts Babies On Hold For Music
June 14, 2010 – Fergie says there will be lots of time for kids but, for now, her life circles around husband and actor Josh Duhamel and her band Black Eyed Peas. “Everyone tries to rush you into everything in the press these days,” say the singer, “but for me right now it’s all about Black Eyed Peas – there’s no room in my schedule to have a child.” More

 
BIRTHDAYS

June 19:
Brian Welch (Korn) (1969)
Brian Vander Ark (The Verve Pipe) (1964)
Paula Abdul (1962)
Ann Wilson (Heart) (1950)

June 20:
Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson) (1972)
Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray) (1968)
John Taylor (Duran Duran) (1960)
Michael Anthony (Van Halen) (1955)
Cyndi Lauper (1953)
Lionel Richie (1949)
Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) (1942)

June 21:
Mike Einziger (Incubus) (1976)
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country) (1957)
Joey Kramer (Aerosmith) (1950)
Joey Molland (Badfinger) (1948)
Ray Davies (The Kinks) (1944)

June 22:
Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) (1970)
Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) (1964)
Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) (1959)
Gary Beers (INXS) (1957)
Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) (1956)
Alan Osmond (The Osmonds) (1949)
Todd Rundgren (1948)
Howard Kaylan (The Turtles) (1945)
Kris Kristofferson (1936)

June 23:
Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) (1962)

June 24:
Mario Calire (The Wallflowers) (1973)
Glenn Medeiros (1970)
Curt Smith (Tears For Fears) (1961)
Andy McCluskey (O.M.D.) (1959)
Astro (UB40) (1957)
John Illsley (Dire Straits) (1949)
Jeff Beck (1944)
Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) (1942)

June 25:
Candyman (1968)
George Michael (1963)
David Paich (Toto) (1954)
Tim Finn (Crowded House) (1952)
Ian McDonald (Foreigner) (1946)
Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult) (1946)
Carly Simon (1945)

June 26:
Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) (1968)
Mark Decloedt (EMF) (1967)
Terri Nunn (Berlin) (1961)
Patty Smyth (1957)
Chris Isaak (1956)
Mick Jones (The Clash) (1955)
Billy Davis, Jr. (Fifth Dimension) (1940)

June 27:
Bruce Johnston (The Beach Boys) (1942)

June 28:
Bobby Harrison (Procol Harum) (1943)

June 29:
Stedman Pearson (Five Star) (1964)
Evelyn "Champagne" King (1960)
Colin Hay (Men At Work) (1954)
Ian Paice (Deep Purple / Whitesnake) (1948)

June 30:
Tom Drummond (Better Than Ezra) (1969)
Adrian Wright (Human League) (1956)
Hal Lindes (Dire Straits) (1953)
Andy Scott (Sweet) (1951)
Stanley Clarke (1951)
Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band) (1944)
Lena Horne (1917)

NEW REVIEWS

A Disappointing Return for Sade
REVIEW - Sade – Soldier of Love
June 16, 2010 – There’s always been an understated value to everything that Sade does and sameness to her entire repertoire. That quality of old wine has served the singer/band well… until now. Unlike Norah Jones who has, at least, tried to mix-up-the-pot, Sade really needs to stop wearing the same dress to every party. More

NEW INTERVIEWS

 

 

Sting Happy to Meditate with Carlos Santana
June 7, 2010 – Both Sting and Carlos Santana performed at last month Mawazine Festival in Morocco and it was what happened behind the scenes that brought a little kumbaya to the world presses. The pair had a chance to meditate together.

Sting said, "He's [Santana] a very serious man a very spiritual man. I sat with him before his show and we all meditated together and prayed that the concert would be a good one and that the people would enjoy the date and understand the message that he was trying to give would be received."

Both are known for their deep spiritual practices. Who could forget Sting’s famous Police chant, “We are spirits in the material world” and his tireless “giving back” via charity concerts and leadership to make the world a better place.

Santana’s spirituality goes back to his early life. In 1972, after becoming a huge fan of John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, McLaughlin introduced him to his guru, Sri Chinmoy. Chinmoy accepted them as disciples in 1973. – by John Beaudin

Sting Fighting to Legalize Marijuana
April 5, 2010 – Sting seems to be fed up with our paradigms around pot! The singer says we, as a society, spend too much time putting marijuana users in jail when legalizing the substance could feed the hungry of the world. Here is what he said on his blog.

"The 'War on Drugs' has failed - but it's worse than that. It is actively harming our society. Violent crime is thriving in the shadows to which the drug trade has been consigned.

People who genuinely need help can't get it. Neither can people who need medical marijuana to treat terrible diseases.

We are spending billions, filling up our prisons with non-violent offenders and sacrificing our liberties.

For years, the 'Drug War' has been used as a pretext to lock people in prison for exorbitant lengths of time - people whose 'crimes' never hurt another human being, people who already lived at the margins of society, whose voices were the faintest and whose power was the least.

Meanwhile, resources to fight genuine crime - violent crime - have been significantly diminished.” – by Shannon Edwards

Sting Set to Release His New Album on October 27
July 23, 2009 - Sting will come back this fall with a new solo CD “If On a Winter’s Night” slated to be released on October 27.2009 on Deutsche Gramophon. The album was arranged and produced by Robert Sadin, who worked on Herbie Hancock’s Grammy-winning “Gershin’s World”. The forthcoming CD will be inspired by Sting’s favourite season and features two original compositions, a cover of traditional music of the British Isles, including traditional songs, carols and lullabies.

As Sting put it on his web site : “The theme of winter is rich in inspiration and material.  By filtering all of these disparate styles into one album I hope we have created something refreshing and new.”

Sting’s original compositions include “Lullaby for an Anxious Child” and “The Hounds of Winter.” Both have been previously released (“Hound” is the opening track of his 1996 solo album “Mercury Falling”). Other tracks include the 14th century carol “Gabriel’s Message”, the traditional Newcastle ballad “The Snow it Melts the Soonest”. Henry Purcell’s “Now Winter Comes Slowly”, the English “begging” song “A Soalin” and an English reworking of Schubert’s “Der Leiermann” now called “Hurdy Gurdy Man”.

Of his deep affinity for winter, Sting explained: “Our ancestors celebrated the paradox of light at the heart of the darkness, and the consequent miracle of rebirth and the regeneration of the seasons”.

For more information: www.sting.com - By Akbar Nour

Sting Set to Avoid Pop Music Again with “If On a Winter's Night”
June 24, 2009 – Sting hasn’t released a Pop album since 2003’s “Sacred Love” – it’s been that long.  His last album “Songs from the Labyrinth” in 2006 was inspired by the lute songs of English composer John Dowland. Now Sting says his next project "If On a Winter's Night” will be inspired by his favorite time of year and feature two original compositions as well as traditional songs, carols and lullabies from the British Isles. It’s due in stores October 27th on Deutsche Grammophon.

"The theme of winter is rich in inspiration and material," says Sting. "By filtering all of these disparate styles into one album I hope we have created something refreshing and new." 

"If On A Winter's Night" will be produced by the chap who put together Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning "Gershwin's World," Robert Sadin. It will feature Sting’s long-time friend and guitarist Dominic Miller.

The two original tunes "Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter," will compliment old Newcastle ballads "The Snow It Melts the Soonest," and the 14th century Carol "Gabriel's Message,” which was featured on the 1989 Christmas compilation “A Very Special Christmas.”

Sting explains his love for winter, "Our ancestors celebrated the paradox of light at the heart of the darkness, and the consequent miracle of rebirth and the regeneration of the seasons."

Seems Sting got his Rock ya-yas out on the Police reunion tour and now he’s gone all mellow again. – by John Beaudin

The Police Go Out Big in New York Last Night
Police Say Goodbye in NYCAugust 8, 2008 – For starters, I’m still not convinced this is the end but maybe the end, for now. The Police ended their reunion tour last night at New York's Madison Square Garden and they went out big baby!

The crowd went nuts when Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland opened the show with Cream’s ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ instead of their regular opener ‘Message in a Bottle.’

Critics praised the band for having the third highest grossing tour of all time with a nice purse of over $358 million for 1512 shows. The guys played hard last night and Sting summed everything up by telling the crowd, "It's been a huge honor to get back with my good friends. The real triumph of this tour is that we haven't strangled each other -- that doesn't mean it hadn't crossed my mind."

The Police also did a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s signature ‘Purple Haze,’ the last tune was ‘Next to You’ a reminder to everyone of where the band started – in Punk.

The Police reunion tour started on May 28, 2007 in Vancouver. – by John Beaudin

Here is the set list from last night
"Sunshine of Your Love"
"Message in a Bottle"
"Walking on the Moon"
"Demolition Man"
"Voices Inside My Head" / "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around"
"Don't Stand So Close to Me"
"Driven To Tears"
"Hole in My Life"
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
"Wrapped Around Your Finger"
"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
"Invisible Sun"
"Can't Stand Losing You" / "Reggatta de Blanc"Encore one:
"Purple Haze"
"Roxanne"
"King of Pain"
"So Lonely"
"Every Breath You Take"Encore two"
"Next To You"

Police to Release Live CD, DVD and Vinyl
Police to Release Concert DVD and CDAugust 7, 2008 – You can’t have a reunion tour without a live album. The police are already putting the finishing touches on a live DVD, CD and vinyl release from their farewell tour. It will be called ‘Certifiable.’ The DVD will feature a bonus documentary filmed by drummer Stuart Copeland’s son Jason. The live show was filmed last December in Buenos Aries, Argentina. It will also be available on Blue-Ray. By John Beaudin

 


Check out the set list
Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking on the Moon
Voices Inside My Head / When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around
Don`t Stand So Close to Me
Driven to Tears
Hole in my Life
Truth Hits Everybody
Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking in your Footsteps
Can`t Stand Losing You
Roxanne
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next to You

 

Police, Beyonce and Jay-Z in Worlds Most Powerful Celebrity List
Police Call It QuitsJune 16, 2008 – Oprah, to no ones surprise was number one on the annual Forbes magazine's Celebrity top 100 list but Beyonce and Jay-Z? The singer who brought us such classic-junk as ‘Bootylicious’made the list along with new husband Jay-Z. No they didn’t win the lottery, people actually buy their music. – What duh? – by John Beaudin

 

Forbes magazine's 2008 Celebrity 100, top 10:
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Tiger Woods
3. Angelina Jolie
4. Beyonce Knowles
5. David Beckham
6. Johnny Depp
7. Jay-Z
7. The Police
9. J.K. Rowling
10. Brad Pitt

Sting Under Fire for Rainforest Charities
Sting Under FireMay 7, 2008 – Sting and his wife Trudie Styler are under attack over questionable bookkeeping for their charity Rainforest Foundation Inc. The organization started by the couple and Belgian photographer, Jean Pierre Dutilleux, back in 1989 has scored zero by a watchdog group for each of the last four years. In 2006, the singer held a charity concert at Carnegie Hall to help save the world's rainforests but not enough of the money went to the cause according to The New York Post. The charity watchdog reviewed the tax records and found out less than half of the amount actually went to forest saving charities. A spokesman for the watchdog group says that usually 75% of the take goes to any cause but less than 50% of Sting’s charity does that. To make it worse, Stings Rainforest Foundation is rated one of the worst out there. The singer is planning another big rainforest concert on Thursday featuring Billy Joel and James Taylor. The Foundation also has way too many reserves in the bank. The charity has $10 million in assets including $5 million in cash and according to the Better Business Bureau charities rarely keep more than a year’s expenses in reserve. Dutilleux who started the Rainforest Foundation Inc has turned against him and is helping in the investigation, saying, "I have kept quiet for almost 20 years, hoping for improvement. But enough is enough. Everything is true or worse." Yesterday Styler tried to defend their stance, she says, "The Rainforest Foundation is celebrating its 20th year. We wouldn't still be in business or have given out millions of dollars over the years if we'd spent everything we made immediately after it came in." – by Shannon Edwards

The Police Say Goodbye Again
Police Call It Quits
May 7, 2008 – Does retirement mean anything anymore in Rock’n Roll? If you believe it the Police just announced that their calling it quits - again. That’s it, after their current summer tour Sting, Andy Summer and Stewart Copeland will go their separate ways. The band says the last show will be a fundraiser in New York City. The boys say they will donate a million dollars to help New York City reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030. The donation will also be matched by a special fund created by New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg. The band said, "We are pleased to contribute to this powerful and historic initiative that will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for future generations.” Sting says it’s very appropriate to end things in The Big Apple, "We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB's in 1978 and this summer, 30 years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City." The retirement and donation news came at an interesting time considering Sting’s own Rainforest charity was under fire this week for fancy bookkeeping and not giving out enough to the actual source of the charity. – by John Beaudin