Entertainment News:
"Godfather of Go-Go"' Chuck Brown dies at 75
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chuck Brown, known as the "Godfather of Go-Go" for the subgenre of funk music he helped create, died on Wednesday at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore after being admitted earlier this month suffering from pneumonia. A spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed the death but could not provide a cause, and Brown's manager, Tom Goldfogle, was not immediately available to comment. Goldfogle told the Washington Post Brown died of complications from sepsis. Brown, a singer/songwriter and guitarist had been a key personality in the Washington, D.C. ...
Bret Michaels settles case with CBS, Tonys over injury
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rock singer Bret Michaels has settled a lawsuit he filed against the Tony Awards and CBS for damages to his head after a stage set piece knocked him down and he claimed it contributed to a brain hemorrhage he later suffered. The terms of the settlement were not released. Michaels sued CBS and Tony Awards Productions after he performed in 2009 with his band Poison during the awards telecast of Broadway's best shows, claiming producers failed to tell him how to exit the stage safely. ...
Analysis: Key to Universal-EMI decision: Has music business lost control?
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - On the face of it, Universal Music Group's bid to buy a big chunk of EMI stands to make the world's leading music company an even more formidable force, combining Universal's star lineup of Lady Gaga and Rihanna with the British company's deep library of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Katy Perry. Certainly the fierce opposition from rival Warner Music Group, consumer groups and independent music companies makes it seem that way. They have all vowed to fight it tooth and nail, telling U.S. ...
Whitney Houston's daughter stars in reality TV series
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whitney Houston's teenage daughter will star in a reality TV show that follows the family of the "I Will Always Love You" singer as they cope with her sudden death earlier this year. The Lifetime channel said on Friday that Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, Houston's mother Cissy, the singer's brother Gary, and her manager and sister-in-law Pat Houston would all appear in the show that will air later this year. ...
The Simpsons go Gaga for season finale
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Watch out Springfield, little monsters are coming to town! Pop star Lady Gaga has revealed that she will grace the season finale of Fox's hit animation show "The Simpsons" to her 23 million Twitter fans, known as 'little monsters,' with a promotional trailer for the episode. The teaser, which she posted on Wednesday, shows Gaga mania spreading through the Simpson's hometown of Springfield and features clips of the pop star in some of her trademark outfits, including a flame-spitting bra and her meat dress. ...
Tenacious D aim to revive hard rock with "Fenix"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - To hear Tenacious D tell it, hard rock music is dead and they plan to resurrect it. That's no joke. Comedy-rock duo Tenacious D, formed 18 years ago by actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, drop their third album, "Rize of the Fenix," next Tuesday, aiming to save what they see as a dying musical genre. Six years after their last album, "The Pick of Destiny," they claim to be bringing back "the majesty and the genius" of hard rock while exploring deeper, darker themes on their album. ...
Cowell vows to "kick butt" with new "Factor" stars
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Britney Spears and former Disney Channel star Demi Lovato officially joined the U.S. version of "The X Factor" on Monday, leading creator Simon Cowell to pledge the second season would "seriously kick butt" when it returns in September. Spears, 30, the world's biggest pop phenomenon of the 2000s, and Lovato, 19, will fill the judge's slots left open by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired by Cowell after a disappointing first season in 2011. Spears and Lovato appeared with Cowell and fellow judge Antonio "L. ...
Beach Boys-inspired musical to open in Las Vegas
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The recently reunited Beach Boys aren't just re-igniting interest in their catalog on concert stages these days - their pop classics will also be finding new life on the theatrical stage soon. "Surf the Musical," which revolves around such Beach Boys chestnuts as "California Girls," "I Get Around" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice," is coming to the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino this summer, with a week of preview performances beginning on June 11 and an official opening night of July 17. Kristin Hanggi, who was nominated for a Tony award for "Rock of Ages," will direct. ...
Review: Willie Nelson's son also rises on "Heroes"
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Everyone remembers the most galvanizing moment of this year's Grammys - when the telecast cut to commercial and, over a Chipotle ad, we heard a studio recording of Willie Nelson singing Coldplay's "The Scientist." You can relive that very special Grammy moment (minus the environmentally themed animation and Chipotle logo) at the climax of Nelson's new album, "Heroes," a mostly satisfying grab-bag of celebrity duets, nepotism, odes to wacky weed and interpretations of everyone from Bob Wills to Pearl Jam. ...
