Be sure to check out WatchMojo’s 2-part series on Michael Jackson which might give you a little more insight into the King of Pop. Here’s more on MJ and Madonna from NineMSN:
Michael Jackson and Madonna would have made a sweet couple in the 90s - that is, if Jacko was interested!
Taped coversations with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach are the basis for new book The Michael Jackson Tapes, where details about the late King Of Pop’s life are laid bare - including his diss of the veteran pop diva.
“I think she (Madonna) likes shock value and she knows how to push buttons on people,” Michael said in the 2001 conversation, where he spoke of the time he and Madonna went on several dates a decade earlier.
“I think she was sincerely in love with me and I was not in love with her. She did a lot of crazy things. I knew we had nothing in common.
“She is not sexy at all. I think sexy comes from the heart in the way you present yourself.”
MJ said Madonna was also jealous of his fame at the time. “They admire you and know you are wonderful and great because they are jealous, because they wish they were in your shoes.
“Madonna is one of them. She is jealous. She is a girl, a woman and I think that’s what bothers her… I get the fainting and adulation and she doesn’t.”
So who set MJ’s heart on fire, then? Elizabeth Taylor! He confessed he’d considered dating the Hollywood legend but was scared that the media would make fun of their 27-year age gap.
“I know that if we ever did anything romantically the press would be so mean and nasty and call us the Odd Couple,” he said. “It would turn into a circus and that’s the pain of it all.”
He said the late Princess Diana was his ideal woman: “I thought she was very special - very feminine and classy. She was my type for sure, and I don’t like most girls. There are very few I like who fit the mould. It takes a very special mould to make me happy and she was one of them.”
In the book, Michael is quoted detailing the brutal beatings he received from his father, as well as his fear of aging.
“I don’t want to grow old,” he said. “I never want to look in the mirror and see that.”
Throughout his life and career, Michael Jackson was the subject of countless rumors. Talk of plastic surgery, child molestation, and homosexuality dogged him for years. Most importantly, before his death, Michael Jackson was not healthy – physically or emotionally. Author Ian Halperin penned the first book about the King of Pop after his death. His research for the book involved gaining undercover access to the pop star, and as such Halperin was privy to information about Jackson the public may not have known. In this video WatchMojo speaks with Halperin about Jackson’s plastic surgery, his health before he died, and his sexuality.
Jay Bennett was an important member of the band Wilco for 2 consecutive albums that garnered the most consistent critical praise, Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Bennett died in his sleep last night at the age of 45. The cause of death is unknown. His music and talent will be missed, watch him play keys in this 2002 performance with Wilco:
RIP Richard:
Pianist and keyboardist Richard Wright, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, has died after a short battle with cancer. He was 65.
A family spokesman made the announcement on Monday. No other details were revealed.
“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time,” the spokesman said.
The British musician and songwriter met his fellow band members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college, where they formed a pre-Pink Floyd group called Sigma 6.
Though he was not prominent as a songwriter in the iconic group, Wright did pen and sing on some of its earlier works and also two popular tracks from the hit 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon: The Great Gig In The Sky and Us And Them. He was better known for helping the band create its iconic sound through the many instruments he played, specifically his contributions on electric organ, keyboard and synthesizer.
Though he left the group to form his own band in the early 1980s after a feud with Waters, by the end of the decade, Wright had rejoined Pink Floyd (by then sans Waters) for its album A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
At the Live 8 concert in London in July 2005, Waters reunited onstage with Wright, David Gilmour and Nick Mason for a short set. Fellow founding Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett died of pancreatic cancer in July 2006.
John Mellencamp’s new album Life, Death, Love and Freedom debuted at #7 on the Billboard Pop Chart and is his most acclaimed record to date. He is currently on tour to support the release. Please feel free to check out is his new video for “My Sweet Love” below.
John Mellencamp’s newest collection, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, debuted at #7 and has sold more than 56,156 copies in its first week of release. His new record was released on HEAR Music and is currently available in traditional retail outlets as well as Starbucks company-operated locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The album marks the songwriter’s 22nd release of his legendary career, his fourth top ten debut and 11th top ten album overall.
Critical response for Life, Death, Love and Freedom has been outstanding. Rolling Stone’s Mark Kemp wrote, “Mellencamp teamed up with producer T Bone Burnett to create a whole new sound — a set of textured, atmospheric folk and country blues that adds up to one of the most compelling albums of Mellencamp’s career.” TIME Magazine called the album Mellencamp’s “best in a decade. A -.”
The 14-track album was produced by T Bone Burnett and is the first of its kind employing the ΧΟΔΕ (CODE) format, a proprietary audio technology that creates high-definition audio files that are virtually indistinguishable from the original master tapes.
Mellencamp recently completed performances on the Late Show with David Letterman and the CBS Early Show in Daley Plaza, Chicago. Earlier this year the songwriter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and this past December he received the ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award for his outstanding use of music in the service of humanity. Mellencamp kicked off a month long tour in support of the new release on July 8, 2008. Later this year Mellencamp and his band will be touring throughout Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 16 years.
John Mellencamp starts a tour this week in support of the release, by Hear Music, of Life, Death, Love and Freedom. The album, the 22nd of his career and the first to have been produced by T Bone Burnett, is out July 15. The tour starts Tuesday, July 8 at Philadelphia’s Mann Music Center. His concert performances will highlight music from the new album as well as well known material reflective of the breadth of the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s creative output.
“My Sweet Love” Audio Streams:
The album’s release has been preceded by broad acceptance of its first track, “My Sweet Love” that includes back-up vocals by Karen Fairchild of the hit country music vocal group Little Big Town. Upon its debut, it was the number one most added song at both the AAA and Americana radio formats and has entered the Top 20 in both within three weeks. Among the stations programming “My Sweet Love” are WXRT/Chicago, KFOG/SF, KBCO/Denver, WXPN/Philadelphia, WFUV/New York, WZLX/Boston, KINK/Portland, KMTT/Seattle, KLOS/Los Angeles and many others. VH1 is set to debut the video for “My Sweet Love,” shot on location in Savannah, GA and directed by Martyn Atkins, this week Mellencamp will be performing music from the album on Late Night with David Letterman on Thursday, July 17th and on the CBS Early Show in a special remote concert broadcast from Chicago on Monday, July 21st.
Early critical response to the album has been excellent. Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, Mark Kemp wrote, “Mellencamp teamed up with producer T Bone Burnett to create a whole new sound — a set of textured, atmospheric folk and country blues that adds up to one of the most compelling albums of Mellencamp’s career.” Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote, “Everywhere he looks he sees shattered expectations and looming sorrow, both in his own future and in the wider world. And where, in decades past, he would shrug off any odds against him and come up grinning, now he strives for simple perseverance. It’s a brave album in the way it sets aside all his old consolations.”
The album is the very first ever release employing the ΧΟΔΕ (CODE) format, developed by Burnett and his team, offering high resolution audio playable through any DVD player. All copies are packaged with a standard CD at no additional charge. Hear is also releasing the album on vinyl, as well, to address the analog renaissance.
Later this year Mellencamp and his band will be touring Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 16 years.
John Mellencamp Tour Dates
July 8 Mann Music Center - Philadelphia, PA
July 10 Nikon at Jones Beach Theater - Wantagh, NY
July 11 PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
July 14 Bank of America Pavilion - Boston, MA
July 15 Bank of America Pavilion - Boston, MA
July 18 DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI
July 22 Charter One Pavilion @ Northerly Island - Chicago, IL
July 23 Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
July 25 Ford Center - Oklahoma City, OK
July 27 Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Denver, CO
July 30 Santa Barbara Bowl- Santa Barbara, CA
July 31 Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Aug 2 Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA
John Mellencamp’s eagerly anticipated new album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, produced by T Bone Burnett, will be released July 15 by Hear Music at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as traditional music retail.
Mellencamp has characterized the album as a collection of “modern electric folk songs.” With backing from his legendary touring band, the album’s 14 tracks were recorded at his studio in Bloomington, Indiana and mixed in Los Angeles with Burnett behind the boards for all of the sessions. Mellencamp cites Burnett’s production as key to “finding the soul of each song.” As far as signing to Hear Music is concerned, he noted, “In today’s business environment, each artist needs to pursue his own path and determine what works best. For me, Hear is the right way to go for this album. I’m glad to be working with a team of open minded people who seem to be interested in what the music is about and what it sounds like.”
“John Mellencamp is true original, a writer and performing artist of passion, talent and spirit who in the course of his exceptional career has maintained a unique and distinctive voice in his songwriting,” said Glen Barros, president & CEO of Concord Music Group who oversees the Hear Music label. “The songs on this record are perhaps his most intimate, honest and poignant of his career. We are delighted to have this opportunity to work on ‘Life, Love, Death and Freedom.’”
“My Sweet Love” Audio Streams:
The album will be the first ever release in the ΧΟΔΕ (CODE) format. T Bone Burnett and his team of engineers developed CODE, a proprietary audio technology that creates high-definition audio files that are virtually indistinguishable from the original master tapes. The resonance, warmth and presence that has been realized with CODE is unprecedented in the digital era. The CODE version of “Life, Death, Love and Freedom” is a DVD that will come packaged with a standard CD version of the album, available at all retail outlets, at no additional cost to the consumer. The CODE disc is playable on virtually all DVD machines including stand-alone players and drives integrated into computer systems. The DVD’s content can be copied into most computer music software including iTunes and can, then, be downloaded onto personal music players such as the iPod. The standard CD is included to answer all possible compatibility questions. Mellencamp commented, “When T Bone introduced me to CODE, it was a remarkable experience. I could hear the music the way it was intended to be heard. I’m very happy the people are going to be able to share this experience in a way that’s so true to our original intent.”
John Mellencamp Official Site:
From Yahoo News:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock ‘n’ roll whose distinctive “shave and a haircut, two bits” rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians, died Monday after months of ill health. He was 79.
Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla., spokeswoman Susan Clary said. He had suffered a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.
The legendary singer and performer, known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat, was an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and received a lifetime achievement award in 1999 at the Grammy Awards. In recent years he also played for the elder President Bush and President Clinton.
Diddley appreciated the honors he received, “but it didn’t put no figures in my checkbook.”
“If you ain’t got no money, ain’t nobody calls you honey,” he quipped.
The name Bo Diddley came from other youngsters when he was growing up in Chicago, he said in a 1999 interview.
“I don’t know where the kids got it, but the kids in grammar school gave me that name,” he said, adding that he liked it so it became his stage name. Other times, he gave somewhat differing stories on where he got the name. Some experts believe a possible source for the name is a one-string instrument used in traditional blues music called a diddley bow.
His first single, “Bo Diddley,” introduced record buyers in 1955 to his signature rhythm: bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp, often summarized as “shave and a haircut, two bits.” The B side, “I’m a Man,” with its slightly humorous take on macho pride, also became a rock standard.
The company that issued his early songs was Chess-Checkers records, the storied Chicago-based labels that also recorded Chuck Berry and other stars.
Howard Kramer, assistant curator of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, said in 2006 that Diddley’s Chess recordings “stand among the best singular recordings of the 20th century.”
Diddley’s other major songs included, “Say Man,” “You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover,” “Shave and a Haircut,” “Uncle John,” “Who Do You Love?” and “The Mule.”
Diddley’s influence was felt on both sides of the Atlantic. Buddy Holly borrowed the bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp rhythm for his song “Not Fade Away.”
For the rest of this article head over to Yahoo! News.
Jeff Healey was a great guitarist and well respected musician throughout North America, and especially his native Canada, and shared the stage with some of the all time greats. He was also blind since the age of 1. He was an extraordinary guy who will be missed as a musician. Rest In Peace:
Read more on his death HERE
For the first time, one of John Lennon’s very last interviews is available via digital release. Recorded only hours before his life was cut short—27 years ago on December 8th–Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded 75 minutes of radio broadcast content in the offices of Geffen Records to promote their Double Fantasy album. This was one of the last interviews that Lennon would ever give, and it is now available via digital release by Synergie OMP.
Testimony is a window into the mind of Lennon, featuring responses to interviewer Bob Miles’ questions ranging from how Lennon met fellow Beatle Paul McCartney to how he and wife Yoko came to create Double Fantasy. Lennon is best known for his creative and rebellious nature, and not only was he a quarter of a band often cited as number one for greatest artists of all time, but he was also successful as a solo artist. However, after Lennon sunk into an infamous “lost weekend” he was ready for a comeback in 1980 with the release of Double Fantasy. His humor and passion was ironically captured in 75 minutes worth of promotional interview just hours before his untimely death. Allow yourself to hear a musical legend speak ‘in his own words’ in the below MP3 from Testimony.
Listen to Interview/Part 1 on Testimony:
http://dev.theorchard.com/jaclyn/mp3/JohnLennon_and_YokoOno.mp3
John Lennon - Testimony Track List:
1. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 1
2. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 2
3. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 3
4. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 4
5. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 5
6. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 6
7. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 7
8. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 8
9. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 9
10. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 10
11. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 11
12. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 12
13. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 13
14. Interview 8th December 1980 – Part 14
PLAY
