STARS SALUTE STAR TREK LEGEND LEONARD NIMOY
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Chris Pine |
GOODBYE SPOCK --- 37-year-old actor Zachary Quinto, who recently admitted he considered the late Star Trek star to be “like a father figure,” paid tribute to his mentor Leonard Nimoy, and admitted he was nervous about taking over the role of Mr. Spock from him at the private service for the actor last Sunday.
Rabbi John L. Rosove, who delivered the eulogy and is a cousin of Nimoy’s widow, Susan Bay Nimoy, said: “He said he was very trepidatious about stepping into the role of young Spock, [but] that Leonard was always gracious and helpful to him to understand what he was doing.”
The 83-year-old actor, who played the character for 40 years, died at his home in Bel Air, California on Friday February 27, with “everyone that he loved the most around him” after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Rosove also told said: “When he passed, he was ready. [Susan] told him when he couldn’t respond, ‘Lenny, I love you. You can go. It’s okay.’ He smiled, and then he died. I think he saw light and he was beamed up.”
Our source who attended the affair, said Nimoy “absolutely adored” his wife and they “were meant to be.”
Our source added: “She brought him out of darkness. They would talk deeply about everything. They just opened each other’s hearts and were really there for each other.”
Director J. J. Abrams and Chris Pine (the re-booted Kirk character) were also among the 300 mourners at the funeral.
On last night’s Big Bang Theory, Chuck Lorre’s usual title card was replaced by a black-and-white photo of Nimoy above a simple thank-you message: “The impact you had on our show and on our lives is everlasting.”
In addition to being a personal hero of Jim Parsons’ Sheldon, Nimoy also lent his voice to a 2012 Big Bang episode, in which he spoke to Sheldon through his Spock action figure.
IDES RISE --- 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the band that drove the 1970 Billboard smash “Vehicle” to the top of the charts: The Ides Of March. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the band will release a deluxe limited edition 5-Disc set Last Band Standing – The Definitive 50-Year Anniversary Collection on April 18 (via Ides Of March Records).
Last Band Standing is a perfectly executed celebration of the group’s history and a showcase of a band still in their prime at 50 years deep. Original members Jim Peterik (also of Survivor fame and songwriter behind “Eye Of The Tiger,” and well as many other chart-toppers), Bob Bergland, Larry Millas, and Mike Borch started as group of teenagers whose love of Rock ‘n Roll and R&B led them to showcases and bandstands around their native Chicago, eventually hitting it big nationally with “Vehicle.”
The first four audio discs contain material from across their storied career. Included are Warner Brothers albums Vehicle (1970) and Common Bond (1971), first-time-ever releases of the best of their RCA releases World Woven (1972) and Midnight Oil (1973), and choice cuts from the 90’s, such as Spirit Of Chicago – an ode to the Windy City featuring some of the area’s most prominent artists – Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Dennis DeYoung (Styx), Gary Loizzo (American Breed), and, cult favorite Jim Ellison.
Disc five is a live DVD of The Ides Of March performing 15 of their most iconic songs in an eleven camera shoot at the House Of Blues, Chicago on May 31, 2014. In addition to this high-energy hometown set, this DVD boasts a slew of extras: archival footage from their TV appearances in the 70's, new interviews, a look behind-the-scenes, a photo collage spanning 50 years plus an exciting new music video for the title track “Last Band Standing.”
Peterik recently released his autobiography Through The Eye Of The Tiger: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Life Of Survivor’s Founding Member (BenBella Books); which this writer found to be among the best rock bios ever!
I also saw Peterik perform solo set at Steve Walter’s Cutting Room last year that was one of the best solo performances I’ve ever seen.
Peterik held the SRO-crowd spellbound, performing all his hits on both piano and guitar. Inspirational, exceptional … it was a great performance.
We also learned we’ll get a chance to speak to Mr. P shortly. Stray tuned!
LOST IN YOUR EYES --- Hard to believe, but this past Wednesday marked the 26th anniversary of Debbie Gibson’s “Lost In Your Eyes” holding the #1 slot on Billboard magazine. Poignant for sure, the song was aided immeasurably by a brilliant video directed by Jim Yukich; who went onto to direct the Chelsey Handler show.
According to PR-pasha David Salidor, who handled the entire Gibson-PR show back then, “It was a long shoot; both Deb and Jim had a very clear vision of what they wanted, from the simple piano opening to an intricate shoot in a very cold Central Park … and they got it. Looking back, it was a career defining video for her and of the times.”
We’d love to hear Gibson’s new material; we know she’s been working on it and aside from a Christmas show here in Brooklyn in December, there’s been no new word on that. Check out the video here:
CLOSING NOTES --- Amazing Harrison Ford story. He’s OK, just a bit battered. I’ll always remember seeing this fellow at the corner of 81st and Madison one day, years back, waiting for the light as was I, and it was Harrison Ford … with several tennis rackets in his gym bag! He didn’t seem too friendly, but, just gave me the Ford-look behind a pair of sunglasses …
The never ending tour of Crosby, Stills and Nash moves to Europe this September and October for a series of twenty shows.
CSN have been on the road in short spurts several times per year over the last decade along with additional dates for solo and outside projects. This leg includes two nights at London's Eventim Apollo and two at The Olympia in Paris.
Once again, CSN will be accompanied by its backing band featuring: Shane Fontayne (guitar), Russ Kunkel (drums), Kevin McCormick (bass), James Raymond (keyboards), and Todd Caldwell (organ).
Wonder if we’ll ever get to hear that Rick Rubin-produced album of classic overs? Bet it’s fantastic …
New Vanilla Fudge album (Cleopatra Records) out, entitled Spirit of ’67, wherein the Fudge-sters interpret – their way- several classics, including “The Letter,” “I Can See For Miles” and The Monkees’ “I’m A Believer.” Great concept … my fave: “The Letter.” Their Carmine Appice … one of the best drummers ever! ...
Ken Levy’s Matthew Szlachetka at Rockwood Music Hall tomorrow at 7:00 PM.
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