With a unique blend of heavy metal and Mongolian folk music, The Hu has earned many fans over the past couple years. One of those fans, apparently, is the one-and-only Whoopi Goldberg.
The EGOT winner and co-host of The View attended The Hu’s show at New York City’s Irving Plaza over the weekend. According to a press release, Goldberg met the band back stage to “hang with the guys and express her deep admiration for them.”
If you, like Whoopi, are a fan of The Hu, be sure to catch them on their current U.S. tour, which continues Tuesday in Boston. The outing concludes with a Halloween show in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, The Hu has been working on a sophomore follow-up to 2019’s The Gereg album. The record is due out in 2022.
In a chat with Marc Maron on his WTF with Marc Maronpodcast, Sopranos creator David Chase explained how Journey ended up soundtracking the show’s controversial finale — and how the rest of his team loathed the idea of using that song.
As you may remember, in the finale, James Gandolfini‘s Tony Soprano and his family members sit down for dinner at a diner, and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” starts playing on a jukebox — before the entire scene, and the song, cut to black.
While Chase wasn’t re-litigating what the vague ending means — spoiler alert: he apparently once accidentally called it Tony’s “death scene” — he did talk about what went into choosing that song.
Discussing the topic with members of his crew at the time, Chase said he was left with three choices — Al Green‘s “Love and Happiness,” another song which he can’t remember, and the Journey song.
When he mentioned “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Chase recalled, “[T]hey went, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ, no. Don’t do that! Ugh. F***.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s it. That’s the one.'”
Chase explained, “I wasn’t saying that just to throw it in their face. That was kind of my favorite, and it got a reaction of some kind. So I can make this song lovable, which it had been.”
Of course, the song’s inclusion in the 2007 finale sent downloads soaring, and the renewed interest in Journey motivated the band to find a new lead singer, Arnel Pineda, and get back on the road. The song remains the best-selling digital song that was recorded in the pre-digital era.
The Sopranos prequel, Chase’s The Many Saints of Newark, starring Gandolfini’s son Michael as a young Tony Soprano, hits theaters and HBO Max on October 1.
Yusuf/Cat Stevens performs his contribution to “Peace Train” around the world live outside in Istanbul, Turkey; Credit: Playing for Change
Cat Stevens, the legendary singer/songwriter now known as Yusuf, is celebrating the International Day of Peace — September 21 — with a new version of his 1971 classic, “Peace Train.”
Yusuf has teamed up with Playing for Change, the project that aims to connect the world through music, to record more than 25 musicians from 12 countries around the world, all performing “Peace Train.” The artists participating include The Doobie Brothers‘ Pat Simmons, blues artist Keb’ Mo’, Grammy-winning Americana artist Rhiannon Giddens, Sengalese star Baaba Mal and many more.
The countries range from Mali, Pakistan and India to Argentina, Australia and Turkey, the latter of which is where Yusuf himself is seen performing in the video. You can watch it now on Playing for Change’s YouTube channel.
“We are privileged to be able to create a glimpse of unity through music,” says Yusuf in a statement. “However, if you want to make the Peace Train real, then you need two tracks: one track has to be Justice, and the other must be Well-being. Everybody should have access to these two things, then the Peace Train can really get going.”
Mark Johnson, the co-founder of Playing for Change, adds, “This song’s powerful message is as relevant today as the day it was written and as we celebrate the International Day of Peace, we hope that everyone will join us as we stand up for a more equitable and compassionate world.”
Radiohead is teasing the video for “If You Say the Word,” a newly released song from the band’s upcoming Kid Amnesiae compilation.
A preview clip shows a group of men in a forest attempting to move an unconscious body. The whole video is set to premiere this Thursday, September 23, at 10 a.m. ET.
“If You Say the Word” is among “half-remembered, half-forgotten sessions and unreleased material” collected on Kid Amnesiae. The recordings date back to the eras of Radiohead’s 2000 and 2001 albums, Kid A and Amnesiac.
Kid Amnesiae will be released alongside reissues of Kid A and Amnesiac on November 5.
The Rolling Stones No Filter 2021 photo, taken prior to Watts’ death/Credit: J. Rose
A series of videos uploaded to YouTube Tuesday morning shows the Rolling Stones performing their first concert since 2019, and their first show without late drummer Charlie Watts.
According to the Boston Globe, the band performed Monday night at a private concert hosted by Patriots owner Robert Kraft at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, MA.
The Globe reports that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards told the crowd of 300 people that they were dedicating the performance, and their upcoming tour, to Watts, who died August 24 at age 80. Veteran drummer Steve Jordan was behind the kit last night, and will be for the tour.
Carlos Santana has teamed up with Steve Winwood for the third single from the legendary guitarist’s upcoming album, Blessings and Miracles: a cover of Procol Harum‘s 1967 classic “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”
The idea for the two to record the song together came from Santana, who suggested it to Winwood when they were both performing in London’s Hyde Park. “I said, ‘You and I have to do it, but we’re going to do it very sexy, like a Hare Krishna but with congas,’” Santana recalls. “I played the components in his ear, and he said, ‘I hear it, Carlos. You’re right.’”
“So that’s what we did — it’s Santana, Cuban, Puerto Rican in an African way. And man, you talk about sexy,” adds Carlos. “Steve’s voice is so sexy and beautiful.”
Winwood adds, “Carlos has been doing what I’ve been trying to do for the last fifty years, namely combining elements of rock, jazz, folk, and Latin Afro-Caribbean music.”
“Carlos’ genius comes in large part from a wonderful combination of rock music with Latin-Cuban rhythms,” Winwood adds. “I’ve played with Carlos on numerous occasions over the past fifty years and I’m very excited to be working with him again still.”
Blessings and Miracles will be released October 15. Santana has also released the Rob Thomas collaboration “Move” and the Diane Warren/G-Eazy collaboration “She’s Fire” from the album.
L-R: Sarah Dash, Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx; Sony Legacy
Sarah Dash, who co-founded “Lady Marmalade” group Labelle, died on Monday, Billboard reports. She was 76.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Labelle co-founder Patti LaBelle said that she and Dash were “just onstage together on Saturday,” adding, “It was such a powerful and special moment.”
“Sarah Dash was an awesomely talented, beautiful and loving soul who blessed my life and the lives of so many others in more ways than I can say. I could always count on her to have my back,” Patti continued. “That’s who Sarah was…a loyal friend and a voice for those who didn’t have one. She was a true giver, always serving and sharing her talent and time.”
“I am heartbroken, as I know all of her loved ones and fans are,” she added. “But I know that Sarah’s spirit and all that she has given to the world live on. And I pray that her precious memory brings us peace and comfort. Rest in power my dear sister. I love you always!”
LaBelle also posted footage of her and Dash onstage on Saturday, as well as a montage of photos of Dash and the group over the years.
In the ’60s, Dash teamed up with Nona Hendryx and Patti LaBelle in Philadelphia to form a group called The Ordettes. After Cindy Birdsong joined, they renamed themselves The Bluebelles, and then Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In 1971, a few years after Birdsong left to join The Supremes, they reimagined themselves as the trio Labelle, with a funkier and futuristic visual style and more politically and socially conscious songs.
In 1974, Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade” — with its unforgettable chorus of “Voulez-vous couchez avec moi” — hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s parent album Nightbirds, was a top-10 hit and made them the first Black vocal group to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. After two more albums, Labelle split and all three launched solo careers; in 2008, they reunited for an album and tour.
In addition to releasing a number of solo albums and singles, Dash wrote her autobiography, Dash of Diva, performed sporadically, and sang with the Rolling Stones, as well as with Stones guitarist Keith Richards on his solo album and tour.
After suddenly going dark on Instagram last week, Britney Spears made her triumphant return to the social media service on Monday.
The “Toxic” singer admitted that she found it hard to “stay away” from the app, but revealed that she temporarily deactivated her Instagram in order to enjoy a small getaway with Sam Asghari, her soon-to-be husband.
Spears, 39, also let it slip that she’s still having a tough time wrapping her mind around the fact that she’s engaged.
“Some shots from my weekend getaway to celebrate my engagement with my … holy s*** … FIANCÉ,” she captioned the post. “I still can’t believe it !!!!”
The Grammy winner continued, “I couldn’t stay away from the gram too long so I’m back already.”
Despite her celebratory return, some fans aren’t exactly buying the story and believe that someone else reactivated the account. Fans have begun pointing out that the photos and videos that have been uploaded since Monday don’t show Britney wearing her sparkler, nor the dark cherry-red highlights she had in her hair during last week’s engagement reveal.
In a later video update, Spears explained in the caption that the “red dye came out in the shower and it looked like a crime scene.”
The admission only fueled fans’ concerns that Britney may no longer in control of her Instagram, with some hairstylists offering their expertise with red hair dye.
“Uh red hair dye doesn’t rinse out in a few days… cosmetologist/barber here,” one user remarked, while others shared similar insights.
Neither Britney nor Asghari have addressed the speculation.
As Blake Shelton kicks off the latest season of The Voice, the veteran judge is happy to have some new blood joining the panel, as pop superstar Ariana Grande takes over one of the big red chairs, alongside Kelly Clarkson and John Legend.
“To be honest, I was really excited when I heard that Ariana was coming to join the coaching group here on The Voice for season 21,” Blake says. “I’m always excited to work with somebody new, and she’s incredibly talented and obviously a huge star.”
Of course, that’s about where Blake’s compliments end, since he can’t resist a little good-natured trash talk about his competitors.
“It’s always more exciting for me — the bigger the star, the harder they fall,” he jests. “And it’s always way more exciting to me to beat somebody of her level of popularity than it is just to beat, you know, some loser like Kelly or John, you know.”
You can check out the second night of the new season of The Voice tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Earlier this month, Vanilla Fudge released a new cover of the classic 1965 Supremes hit “Stop in the Name of Love” that featured the final recording of original Fudge bassist Tim Bogert, who died of cancer in January of this year.
Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice tells ABC Audio that it was his idea to have Bogert — who had retired from the group in 2009 — record a bass part for the track, which the group had started working in in 2019.
“[When] we found out Tim was really ill…I said, ‘Let’s get Tim on this before he passes away,'” Appice recalls. “And in the January [2020], I went to L.A. and got Timmy to play on it.”
Similar to Vanilla Fudge’s 1967 hit version of The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” the group’s rendition of “Stop in the Name of Love” turns the tune into an extended, multi-part psychedelic epic.
Appice says the arrangement began with singer/keyboardist Mark Stein, with the rest of the band then pitching in ideas. Carmine notes that it was particularly special to lock in his drum parts with Bogert’s signature bass fills.
“[I]t fit like a glove,” he gushes. “It was magic.”
Along with the “Stop in the Name of Love” single, which is available now digitally and via streaming services, Vanilla Fudge released a special audio tribute to Bogert, that features the group’s surviving original members — Appice, Stein and guitarist Vince Martel — sharing recollections about Tim, soundtracked by music from the band.
Vanilla Fudge also has released a music video for “Stop in the Name of Love” that combines vintage footage and photos of the band with lava-lamp style projections that were popular at concert during the late 1960s. The clip also is dedicated to Bogert.
