THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME'S CLASS OF 2015
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Joan Jett |
CLASS OF 2015 --- Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Lou Reed, Green Day and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band have all been elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2015.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr will also be honored as the recipient of the hall’s Award for Musical Excellence. Starr was already inducted to the hall as a member of the Fab Four back in 1988. His bandmates have each been previously inducted for their solo careers — John Lennon in 1994, Paul McCartney in 1999, and George Harrison in 2004.
Colleague Roger Freidman (Showbiz 411) posited that the Hall of Fame (with crazy-man Jann Wenner at the helm) probably is giving Starr the award in the hopes of having mate Paul McCartney show up and perform, He’s most likely right!
Reed, who passed away, last year, is also a two-time honoree, having joined the Hall of Fame back in 1996 as a member of the Velvet Underground. Vaughan, who died in 1990, was the runaway winner of this year’s fan’s ballot voting, as 18 million music lovers insisted the time for him to join the Hall of Fame had arrived.
The induction ceremony will be held at the Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, April 18.
Snubbed again is Sting, whose long solo career began in 1985. He also has his Broadway musical currently running (The Last Ship) and this would have been the year to induct him (he’s already in with the Police).
Nile Rodgers and Chic were also denied entrance even though Rodgers was more a part of pop music success in the past year (with Daft Punk) than ever. Sad.
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| James Franco |
THE INTERVIEW CANCELED --- The ongoing cyber hack of Sony Studios took an most ominous turn yesterday as the so-called Guardians of Peace said that theaters showing next week’s The Interview, should expect a 9/11-like event.
Needless to say, that immediately caught the attention of Homeland Security and turned this instantly from an entertainment-only story to one of national security.
The N. Y.- premier set for tomorrow at AMC’s Sunshine Cinemas was abruptly canceled and all media-appearances by stars Seth Rogen and James Franco were immediately shuttered.
Several theaters, including the mighty Carmike Cinema chain (278 theaters and 2,917 screens in 41 states), canceled the movie as well.
Was that the right move? Unquestionably so. Always sad to see the terrorists win, but always better to ere of the side of caution I say.
With the government now in tow. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Another cache of Sony-emails were released as well. One thing’s for sure: this could well be the most-expensive hack ever for a corporation, with some saying it go as high as 300 million.
WONDER MANIA --- Last year, the Recording Academy found out the drawing power of a special salute to one of the great artists of popular music with The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute.
That special, which taped the night after the Grammy Awards and aired a week later on the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, brought in twenty million viewers and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for Don Was.
This year, the Academy will produce a special salute to another of their most honored artists, Stevie Wonder, with Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute. The special, which will include performances of songs from the classic album by a number of different artists, will tape on Tuesday, February 10, two days after the Grammys, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles and will air on Sunday, February 16 from 9 to 11 PM.
Wonder is a special artist in Grammy history as the only artist to win Album of the Year three times in a four year period with Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs of the Key of Life. Neil Portnow, president of the Academy, said "Stevie Wonder is a beloved icon whose golden songbook remains one of America's and music's greatest treasures. A 25-time Grammy winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, it's only fitting that Music's Biggest Night celebrates this legendary musical genius and pays tribute to his enduring music and legacy."
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| Charlie Rose |
CLOSING NOTES --- One of the funniest parts of SNL last weekend, with host Martin Freeman, was the cold opening when Charlie Rose (played by Taran Killam) was interviewing the two architects of the enhanced interrogation techniques, so labeled in the just-released government report. When queried about what else the pair did, one, essayed by Bobby Moynihan, said they also worked for Time/Warner cable. Too funny and so true …
Terrific Micky Dolenz interview this week by Ilyssa Panitz in Closer.
Together for 27 years, the legendary Kid Creole And The Coconuts return to Manhattan for a March 25 show at B. B. King’s. Take it from me, this is the band, fronted by August Darnell, that inspired everyone from Prince to Chic and Hall & Oates. A not-to-be-missed show if there ever as one …
I started hearing about this new artist Alexander Kariotis about year ago. How he successfully blended classical and pop. First from one publicist, then another … and, then another. An EP was released; then the album … and, all died without a whimper. See, hiring a publicist is not a guarantee of anything. The proof is in the pudding. The disappointment of the year, if you ask me.
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