Pop Music

Neil Diamond Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

The Today Show reports: Neil Diamond has announced he will stop touring due to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. The legendary singer and songwriter announced on his website Monday that the disease has made it difficult to travel and perform. He cancelled upcoming dates in Australia and New Zealand from his 50th anniversary tour. “It is with great reluctance and …

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Tom Petty’s Death Ruled An Accidental Overdose

Rolling Stone reports: After months of speculation, a medical examiner has ruled that Tom Petty died of an accidental overdose, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. The Hall of Fame musician had taken several pain medications, including Fentanyl (including acetylfentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl), oxycodone and generic Xanax. Other medications included generic Restoril (a …

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Dolores O’Riordan’s Death Ruled “Not Suspicious”

ABC News reports: The death of The Cranberries lead singer Dolores O’Riordan is not being treated as suspicious, British police say. O’Riordan was found dead at a London hotel on Monday morning (local time) and officers initially described the death as “unexplained” but now say nothing suspicious had been found. The case is being passed to a coroner to determine …

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Cranberries Lead Singer Dolores O’Riordan Dies At 46

The BBC reports: The Cranberries lead singer Dolores O’Riordan has died in London at the age of 46, her publicist says. The Irish musician, originally from Limerick, led the band to international success in the 90s with singles including Linger and Zombie. A statement from her publicist said: “The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries was in London …

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2017 In Memoriam: Television, Movies, Music [VIDEO]

Variety reports: The world of TV had a rough year in 2017, with the death of the beloved Mary Tyler Moore hitting hard. TV’s Batman, Adam West, Jim Nabors of “Gomer Pyle,” Della Reese of “Touched by an Angel” and “The Partridge Family’s” David Cassidy were among other TV notables who died this year. It was a sad year for …

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AUSTRALIA: Cher Set To Headline Sydney Mardi Gras

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: You better Believe it – it’s looking like superstar singer and actress Cher will headline Sydney’s 40th gay and lesbian Mardi Gras in March. While it is understood a contract is yet to be signed, sources close to the event have told Fairfax Media the 71-year-old gay icon is almost locked in to perform at …

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Kid Rock Sued By Circus In Trademark Beef

Billboard Magazine reports: Kid Rock is in legal hot water for using the phrase “The Greatest Show on Earth” without permission from its trademark owners. The phrase belongs to Feld Entertainment, longtime owners of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which took the touring extravaganza off the road earlier this year, but retained all intellectual property for the …

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Donna Summer Musical Set For Broadway Bow

From the Hollywood Reporter: Broadway’s gotta have some “Hot Stuff” next spring. Producers Tommy Mottola and The Dodgers confirmed Tuesday that Summer: The Donna Summer Musical will begin previews March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre ahead of an April 23 opening. The bio-musical tracing the life and career of the singer, who teamed with music producer Giorgio Moroder and Casablanca …

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Conchita Wurst & Ina Regen – Heast As Net [VIDEO]

This is GORGEOUS. ESC Today reports: Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita and dialect artist Ina Regen have interpreted Heast As Net (Don’t You Hear It), a song in Austrian dialect originally sung by popular folk musician Hubert von Goisern and his band Die Alpinkatzen. Heast As Net is a bittersweet song, about time that passes by, leaving only memories. Transitoriness and …

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2018 Grammy Nominations: Daddy Yankee, Jay-Z, Leonard Cohen, Khalid, Glen Campbell, Bernie Sanders

NPR reports: Hailed as music’s biggest night, the 60th Annual Grammy Awards will return to New York City, taking place at Madison Square Garden Jan. 28. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s crossover smash “Despacito” was well-received by the Academy; after taking home four awards at the 18th Annual Latin Grammys held earlier this month, the track has been nominated in …

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70s Teen Idol David Cassidy Dies At Age 67

Variety reports: David Cassidy, pop culture idol of the 1970s, has died as a result of complications from dementia. The musician and actor was 67. His publicist JoAnn Geffen confirmed his death, with a statement from his family. “On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, our uncle, …

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TRAILER: Barbra: The Music, The Mem’ries, The Magic!

Via press release: With a career spanning six decades, Barbra Streisand is a legend of both stage and screen with a loyal, loving fanbase. In the Netflix film concert event she is joined by an exciting roster of special guests, including a special duet with Jamie Foxx, as she takes audiences on a journey of her life’s work, like a …

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Actress/Singer Della Reese Dies At Age 86

Variety reports: Della Reese, who segued from pop and jazz singing stardom in the ‘50s and ‘60s to a long career as a popular TV actress on “Touched by an Angel” and other shows, died Sunday night at her home in California. She was 86. “She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning …

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AC/DC’s Malcolm Young Dies At Age 64

Rolling Stone reports: Malcolm Young, guitarist and co-founder of AC/DC, died Saturday at the age of 64. Young had been suffering with dementia for the past three years, an illness that forced his retirement from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band he founded with his brother Angus Young in 1973. “Today it is with deep heartfelt sadness that …

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Rock Legend Fats Domino Dies At Age 89

The Washington Post reports: Antoine “Fats” Domino, the jovial New Orleans entertainer whose bluesy singing and boogie-woogie piano style helped launch rock-and-roll in the 1950s with such rollicking songs as “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame” and “I’m Walkin’,” died Oct. 24. He was 89. Among the early rockers, Mr. Domino was rivaled only by Elvis Presley in record sales. …

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Deep Dive: 25 Years Of Madonna’s Erotica And Sex

This week it’s been 25 years since the simultaneous release of Madonna’s Erotica album and her still controversial S&M-filled coffee table book, Sex. Legendary Rolling Stone critic (and longtime JMG reader) Barry Walters has written a deep dive into their legacy and how they addressed the then-raging AIDS pandemic, which tore through Madonna’s inner circle. Walters unpacks quite a bit, …

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Rapper Eminem Unleashes On “Racist” Trump [VIDEO]

The New York Times reports: The rapper Eminem struck out at President Trump in a video that played at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Tuesday, accusing the president of racism, hypocrisy, disrespect of military veterans and more in almost five minutes of furious freestyle rap. He also excoriated Mr. Trump for his responses to the recent violence in Charlottesville, …

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Morrissey Backs Extremist Homocon UKIP Activist

The Guardian reports: During a live set being broadcast on BBC 6 Music to promote his new album this week, Morrissey decided to veer away from traditionally appropriate crowd patter such as, “This is a new song,” and “Woo!” to gravely discuss his views on the UKIP leadership contest. “I was very surprised the other day – it was very …

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2018 Rock Hall Of Fame Nominees: Kate Bush, Judas Priest, Radiohead, Nina Simone, Eurythmics, Depeche

Rolling Stone reports: The nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 are in, and the list includes Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, Judas Priest, Kate Bush, the Cars, Dire Straits, Eurythmics, J. Geils Band, LL Cool J, MC5, the Meters, the Moody Blues, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta …

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Rocker Tom Petty Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At Age 66

CBS News reports: Tom Petty, the rocker best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is dead at 66, CBS News has confirmed. The legendary musician suffered a full cardiac arrest and was found unconscious and not breathing in his Malibu home Sunday night. He was taken to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and put on life support, …

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