News
Randy Newman, U2, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, The O’Jays, and The Pretenders are among the artists being considered for induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The shortlist of inductees will be selected later in the year, to be inducted in March of 2005.
Neil Young’s 18th Annual Bridge School Benefit, an annual all-star acoustic concert that benefits children with developmental disabilities, will include such acts as Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, and Sonic Youth this year. The two-day concert series will be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on October 23rd and 24th.
Aimee Mann is prepping her 5th solo album, King Of The Jailhouse, for a March release. The album, her first since 2002’s Lost In Space, is a concept piece set at the end of the Vietnam war. It was produced by fellow singer-songwriter Joe Henry.
The Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion award has been handed to British director Mike Leigh for his film Vera Drake. It marks the first time since 1992 that a film declined by Cannes received the top prize in Venice.
John Waters’ upcoming film A Dirty Shame is being threatened to be rated NC-17, a rating that would keep anyone under the age of 18 from seeing the film. The film’s producer Christine Vachon is blaming the current administration’s agenda and their notion of “family values.” The film recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and will receive regular release in October.
Michael Moore has decided to submit Fahrenheit 9/11 for an Academy Award: not in the category of Best Documentary, but in the category of Best Picture. The filmmaker, who is committed to keeping US President George W. Bush from being re-elected in November has planned an October DVD release of his film, as well as two new books to be released in the fall.
Broadway lyricist Fred Ebb, who wrote the lyrics to plays such as Cabaret and Chicago has died. He was believed to have been 76, but always kept such things private. Ebb’s most famous song is probably “New York, New York”, which has become a standard since being recorded by Frank Sinatra.
