Classic Hits

When Madonna first released her coffee table book, Sex, in 1992, it caused a worldwide scandal. Now, in honor of its reissue, it’s being celebrated next week at Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the world’s premier art shows and an important event on the global art world calendar.

When Sex first came out, it was sealed in a Mylar bag so you couldn’t page through it in the bookstore. That’s because it was full of photos shot by Steven Meisel that showed Madonna and celebrities like Naomi Campbell, actress Isabella Rossellini and rappers Vanilla Ice and Big Daddy Kane fully nude and simulating various sex acts. Madonna also provided the racy text for the book, which she wrote as a character called Mistress Dita.

Despite the controversy surrounding the book, it sold more than 150,000 copies on its first day in the U.S., and went on to sell more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. It’s been out of print for years, but now, Yves Saint Laurent‘s lifestyle brand, Rive Droite, is teaming with publishers Callaway New York to issue 800 copies. A limited number of those will be signed by Madonna and auctioned off, with proceeds going to her charity Raising Malawi.

In addition, during Art Basel Miami, the brand is putting up a beachfront gallery featuring large-format images from the book — images it describes as “once shocking, now timeless.” You’ll have to be over 18 to visit it, but admission is free; t-shirts and tote bags will also be available if you can’t afford the book.

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Guitarist Wilko Johnson, best known for his work with the ’70s British band Dr. Feelgood, passed away Monday at the age of 75. No official cause of death was announced, but he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nearly 10 years ago.

“This is the announcement we never wanted to make, and we do so with a very heavy heart: Wilko Johnson has died,” read a statement posted to social media. “Thank you for respecting the family’s privacy at this very sad time. RIP Wilko Johnson.” 

As a member of Dr. Feelgood, Johnson appeared on the band’s first four albums, Down by the Jetty, Malpractice, Stupidity and Sneakin’ Suspicion. He left the group in 1977, went on to become a member of Ian Dury and The Blockheads, and also released music on his own. In 2014, he paired up with The Who’s Roger Daltrey to release the album Going Back Home.   

“More than anything Wilko wanted to be a poet,” Daltrey shared in a statement paying tribute to Johnson. “I was lucky to have known him and have him as a friend. His music lives on but there’s no escaping the final curtain this time.”

In addition to music, Johnson dabbled in acting; he most recently appeared as mute executioner Ser Ilyn Payne on the first two seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

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Journey’s Jonathan Cain is speaking out after his bandmate Neal Schon filed a lawsuit over the finances of their company Nomota, including an American Express card that Cain signed up for.

While Schon is arguing “millions of Journey funds have flowed through” that Amex card, which Cain set up without his knowledge, Cain says that’s not true, and claims Schon’s lawsuit is basically an attempt to cover up the guitarist’s own “excessive spending and extravagant lifestyle.”

“This is a matter that should have been resolved privately, but I am forced to publicly respond now to Neal’s malicious lies and personal attacks on my family,” Jonathan shares in a statement, saying Schon’s lawsuit is “ill-conceived” and has “absolutely no merit.”

Cain insists Schon has access to all credit card statements, noting, “What he lacks — and what he is really seeking — is the ability to increase his spending limits.”  He claims he has evidence proving Schon’s been “running up enormous personal charges on the band’s credit card account.”

Cain goes on to say that when they tried to limit Schon to using the card just for band expenses, Schon “decided to attack me rather than trying to get his reckless spending under control.” 

“I am saddened by the situation — for Neal and for our fans,” he adds, “but since Neal filed a lawsuit, I suspect he will not be able to ignore the court like he has ignored the countless financial advisors and accountants he has fired over the past several years who have tried in vain to help him.”

In his response, Schon tweeted, “For the record I’ve never even carried a corporate Nomota credit card for over 2 decades.. never cared. When I called Amex they informed me I’d been blocked since 1998 by [Jonathan Cain].”

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Elton John is a bi-coastal guy: Sunday night, he was rocking the crowd at LA’s Dodger Stadium on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, and Tuesday night, he was singing in the middle of New York City’s Fifth Avenue.

This holiday season, Elton’s partnered with famed department store Saks Fifth Avenue for a curated holiday collection, proceeds from which will go to The Elton John AIDS Foundation. The collection is available to shop now and as part of the partnership, Saks is donating $1 million to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

That’s why Elton was the store’s special guest Tuesday night as Saks unveiled its famous holiday windows. Fifth Avenue was shut down as a grand piano was rolled out into the middle of the street, and Elton’s husband David Furnish and their sons Zachary and Elijah took their seats. Elton himself then appeared, sat down at the piano and thanked Saks CEO Marc Metrick for the million-dollar donation.

“This will help turbo charge our mission to end AIDS and it means a great deal to me to have your support –thank you so much,” said Elton. “I’m so thrilled to kick off the holiday season tonight and be a part of this spectacular and iconic window unveiling and light show.”

He then invited Metrick, David and the kids to join him for “the exciting part” — they counted down to the unveiling.

The entire front of the Saks building was then illuminated with a dazzling light show, as Elton performed his signature hit, “Your Song.”  Fireworks erupted from the top of the building, and even after Elton left, the display continued, soundtracked to Elton hits like “Step Into Christmas.”

You can watch the whole thing now at Saks Fifth Avenue’s website.

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A new exhibit about John Mellencamp is set to open at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on November 30. The pocket exhibit will draw connections between Guthrie and Mellencamp, highlighting their many similarities. 

“Most people might shortsightedly think of Mellencamp’s ‘Jack & Diane’ and mistake it as a pop song rather than a Midwesterner’s reverence to the innocence found in small-town, working-class youth,” Woody Guthrie Center Director Cady Shaw shares. “With a closer look, you’ll find Mellencamp has been weaving threads of Heartland charm with folk-steeped storytelling and heavy-mitted activism through his lyrics, paintings and advocacy his whole life,” adding, “Mellencamp has consistently been an active voice for the greater good.”

The exhibit will feature Mellencamp photographs and album covers, as well as the singer’s guitar that features a profane sentiment carved into it, similar to what Guthrie once did. It will also feature a painting done by Mellencamp himself, which depicts Bob Dylan and Guthrie together.

Tickets for the exhibit are on sale now at the Woody Guthrie Center website.

And speaking of Mellencamp’s art, the singer’s coffee table art book, John Mellencamp: American Paintings and Assemblages, is out now and can be purchased on the singer’s website.

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When you buy a ticket to a concert, you are expected to stay in the audience. A Black Crowes fan found that out the hard way. The band was playing a gig in Melbourne, Australia, when someone in the audience decided to crash the stage and wound up getting a guitar in the face. 

In fan-shot video posted to YouTube by Greg Valentine, the band’s about to play their Shake Your Money Maker track “Stare It Cold” when the crasher jumped onstage and ran toward bassist Sven Pipien. Security quickly jumped in, and Chris Robinson tried to push the crasher off stage with his mic stand, but the man somehow got around them. That’s when Rich Robinson stepped in, took his guitar and slammed it into the guy near his face and neck. Chris then started swinging his mic stand toward the man, who was quickly pushed off stage.

It doesn’t end there though. The video shows Chris and Rich screaming at the fellow before the band launched back into the song and continued on with the show.

The concert was the final night of the band’s Shake Your Money Maker tour of Japan and Australia. “We came, we saw, we rocked!” they shared on Instagram. “Thanks to all of our friends and fans in Japan and Australia. We had a blast. See ya soon ;)”

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Journey’s Neal Schon is speaking out for the first time since it was revealed he is suing bandmate Jonathan Cain over their company Nomota’s finances, including an American Express card Cain took out. 

“The only comment I’ll make at this time is it’s all very unfortunate and tried for over a year to attain all our corporate records for Nomota with many personal e-mails to Jon as well as many legal letter stating it’s my legal right to see all but I was left with no choice but to take it legal,” he writes on Facebook. “There’s much more … since I filed I’ll be following my attorneys advice and not speak until we are in court where I’ll not have a problem at all. It is what it is. “

Schon is arguing that “millions of Journey funds have flowed through” that Amex card, which Cain set up without his knowledge. And while Cain has told him he’d have access to it, he has yet to be added to the card.

In a separate Facebook post, Schon’s wife, Michaele, claims that since 2020, Cain’s wife, Paula White, was added to Journey’s bank account “against Neal’s wishes.” She also accuses Cain and his wife of trying to harm the band, noting it’s “Neal Schon who keeps Journey alive.”

Schon added in a tweet, “Yeah it’s a bit deeper then just a card.”

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Annie Lennox is spearheading a new fundraising effort to fight against gender bias. The newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has just launched the Circle Music Icons Auction, with proceeds going to her non-profit The Circle.

“Ahead of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, I am delighted to have brought together some of the world’s greatest female artists for a very special auction to help raise funds for the vital work o f@TheCircleNGO,” the Eurythmics star shares on Instagram. “I have long believed that music can build bridges and bring people together and it is wonderful to see these phenomenal female artists stand side by side with women and girls around the world facing and fighting gender-based violence.”

Fans can bid on such items as handwritten lyrics to “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” signed by Annie, along with handwritten lyrics to other songs, including Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” Billie Eilish’s “Your Power,” Brandi Carlile’s ‘Right On Time” and Angelique Kidjo’s “Agolo.”

Lennox adds, “The auction proceeds will enable The Circle to support our grassroots partners helping women and girls to build lives free from abuse and fear, and advocate for long-term change to end the violence that will affect 1 in 3 women in their lifetime.”

Fans have until December 5 to place a bid on one of the auction items. In addition, there is a sweepstakes that runs until December 15; those interested can contribute $10 to enter and possibly win an item.

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Ringo Starr has always done his best to spread “peace and love,” and now, he’s found another way to do it.

Starting Wednesday, the former Beatle is selling a collection of 500 life-sized sculptures of his “Peace and Love” hand symbol. Money raised from the sale will go to the Lotus Foundation, which funds, supports and promotes charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in a variety of areas, including homelessness, cancer, substance abuse and more.

The sculptures are available for purchase at Julien’s Auctions and come in bronze (250) and stainless steel (250). The limited-edition hand symbols are all signed by Ringo and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. They’re packaged in a Ringo “Peace & Love” box and weigh 3.5 pounds.

As for how much they will set you back, the stainless-steel sculpture sells for $5,000, while the bronze goes for $2,000.

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Men At Work’s “Down Under” may have come out in the ’80s but it’s still a huge hit, especially in Australia, and now the tune is being recognized for its success. The track has just been honored with APRA AMCOS’ Billions Award, handed out for achieving over one billion streams across all streaming platforms.

“I think that more than anything, the way that the song felt was that I had this deep love for this country, but not in a flag waving way, in a very deep spiritual way,” frontman Colin Hay, who is currently on tour in Australia, shares. “I didn’t quite understand what it was, but I can still feel it, I can’t often put it into words.” He adds, “I love the place so much. That’s what the song is, it’s about love and celebration in a very true way.”

The second single from the band’s debut album Business As Usual, “Down Under” was released in 1981, and topped both the U.S. and U.K. chart simultaneously, and also topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland and Italy. It went on to hold the number one spot in the U.S. for four weeks, with the track selling two million copies.

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