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‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ celebrates its 40th anniversary on Saturday

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

This Saturday, August 13, marks the 40th anniversary of the premiere of the classic teen comedy-drama Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

The hit film, which featured such soon-to-be stars as Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates and Forest Whitaker, also had deep connections to the rock music world.

For starters, the screenplay was written by one-time Rolling Stone journalist Cameron Crowe, who went on to write and direct such rock-themed movies as Singles and Almost Famous.

The Fast Times soundtrack was packed with original songs by well-known rock artists, including Jackson Browne, Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, The Go-Go’s, Don Felder, Billy Squier, Sammy Hagar, Graham Nash and Stevie Nicks.

Meanwhile, Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson appears in a scene in which Judge Reinhold‘s character Brad Hamilton tries — and fails — to flirt with her.

Several other scenes included humorous references to popular rock acts. Here are three examples:

–In a scene featuring Leigh’s Stacy Hamilton and Cates’ Linda Barrett, as the two friends chat in the high school cafeteria, they realize that several of their female classmates have “cultivated the Pat Benatar look.”

–As the shy, nerd-ish Mark Ratner, portrayed by Brian Backer, nervously prepares for his first date with Stacy, his smooth-talking but sketchy pal Mike Damone — played by Robert Romanus — shares his special five-point plan for a successful date. Point five? “When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.”

–Just before the end credits of the film roll, we’re informed that Penn’s perpetually stoned surfer-dude character Jeff Spicoli has won a bunch of reward money for saving model/actress Brooke Shields from drowning, but spent all the cash to hire Van Halen to play his birthday party.

Six degrees of “10 Things”: Leah Kate’s odd connection to Serena Williams

August 12, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Many people who decide to pursue a music career have to struggle to pay the bills, while others have supportive friends or relatives who help them out until they make it big. But “10 Things I Hate About You” singer Leah Kate went a different route: She was bankrolled by multimillionaire Alexis Ohanian, who co-founded Reddit.

“He’s still a partner and investor in me, in my career,” Leah tells ABC Audio. “But he was, like, the first person to ever believe in me and invest in me. I remember he DM’d me and was like, ‘I want to invest in you. I love your songs.'”

Leah notes, “I looked him up and I knew who he was … I was like, ‘OK, this is a guy who owns Reddit. He’s married to Serena Williams. Oh, my God.’ And he … gave me funding and was my partner so I could stay independent for so long, and gave me the resources to market my music and do what I needed to do.”

In fact, Ohanian’s involvement in Leah’s career was documented by Rolling Stone back in 2020. It was her song “F**k Up the Friendship” that initially caught his ear, and he was able to help her via the music startup indify, in which he was an investor. And even now that she’s got a hit and a record deal, Leah says she and Ohanian are still tight.

“Oh, my God. Yeah, we talk all the time. He’s the best. Love him,” she raves.

But what about Ohanian’s wife, Serena?

Leah laughs, “So, Serena’s, like, liked my comment before on Instagram, but I’ve never met or spoken to her. But I think she knows who I am, so that’s kind of cool!”

California (and New York) here they come: Phantom Planet announces 20th anniversary ‘The Guest’ concerts

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Phantom Planet will be headed right back where they started from next month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 2002 album The Guest.

The band has announced a show in Los Angeles on September 30, during which they’ll be playing The Guest in full. The album, of course, opens with The O.C.-soundtracking hit “California.”

Phantom Planet will also play a 20th anniversary The Guest concert in New York City on September 25.

Tickets to both shows go on sale this Friday, August 12. For all ticket info, visit PhantomPla.net.

Phantom Planet’s most recent album is 2020’s Devastator.

Elton John in the metaverse? It could happen

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Way back in 2018, when Elton John first announced his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, he told reporters that he’s told his kids, “When Daddy dies, promise me you won’t have a hologram of me going around the world.” But he never said anything about appearing in the metaverse while he’s still alive.

Elton’s husband and manager, David Furnish, tells the British publication MusicWeek that he’s been looking into how to expand Elton’s brand in the metaverse — meaning 3D virtual worlds that allow people to interact via computer-generated avatars.

In the past couple of years, the metaverse has become very popular with musicians — many artists have staged exclusive concerts within these virtual worlds. So, Furnish says, why shouldn’t Elton get in on the action?

“That’s going to be a big new market for music discovery,” Furnish tells Music Week. “We’re looking at it closely but carefully. Elton’s been a bit like an avatar his entire life, throwing things on and off, changing and moving forward.”

It’s all part of Furnish’s five-year plan to promote Elton’s music to younger audiences; projects like the Rocketman film and Elton’s Lockdown Sessions album have been a part of that. The plan seems to be working: According to Furnish, more than half of Elton’s Spotify listeners are aged 18 to 35.

And while Elton admits he’s hopeless when it comes to technology, Furnish says that once his husband “understands the role it plays in his world, he’s happy to give it a try … but then you better get it right.” As Furnish puts it, “If it doesn’t turn out the way it should, he’s not happy.”

Sleeping with Sirens premieres two new songs off upcoming ‘Complete Collapse’ album

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Sleeping with Sirens has premiered two new songs off the band’s upcoming album, Complete Collapse.

The tracks are titled “Let You Down” and “Ctrl + Alt + Del,” and are available now via digital outlets. “Let You Down,” which features guest vocalist Charlotte Sands, is accompanied by a video streaming now on YouTube.

Complete Collapse, the follow-up to 2019’s How It Feels to Be Lost, arrives October 14. It also includes the previously released songs “Bloody Knuckles” and “Crosses,” featuring Underoath‘s Spencer Chamberlain.

Sleeping with Sirens is currently on a U.S. headlining tour ahead of the Complete Collapse arrival. The outing concludes this Sunday, August 14, in Kansas City, Missouri.

You can also catch Sleeping with Sirens at the Las Vegas When We Were Young festival, taking place in October.

(“Ctrl + Alt + Del” video contains uncensored profanity)

Paul McCartney mourns death of “dear” brother-in-law John Eastman

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Paul McCartney is mourning the loss of his brother-in-law John Eastman — older brother of his late first wife, Linda — who died Thursday of pancreatic cancer at age 83, according to U.K. newspaper The Sun.

“My dear brother-in-law, John Eastman, has passed away,” the former Beatles legend writes in a tribute posted on his official website. “Having known each other for over 50 years it is an extremely sad time for me, and our families.”

McCartney continues, “John was a great man. One of the nicest and smartest people I have had the good luck to have known in my life. ⁠Not only did he help me massively in my business dealings as my lawyer but as a friend he was hard to beat.”

Sir Paul adds, “His sense of humour always shone through in everything he did and his devotion to his family was supreme. ⁠We had so many fun times together through the years, but when the time came to be serious, he was unbeatable.”

The note concludes, “[W]ords can hardly describe his passion for life and our affection for this amazing man. He will be sorely missed but always held dear in the hearts of those of us who knew and loved him. See ya Johnny!”

Accompanying the message is a photo of McCartney and Eastman smiling as they do yoga poses together.

John Eastman and his late father, Lee, were both lawyers who helped guide McCartney through his legal separation from his fellow Beatles during the band’s breakup and also advised Paul on some of his lucrative business endeavors, including his investment in music publishing.

Paul wed Linda Eastman in March 1969, and the couple remained married until Linda’s death in April 1998 at age 56.

Music notes: Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Ava Max, Dove Cameron, Sara Bareilles, Madonna and more

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s August, which means Taylor Swift‘s song of the same name is back on the Billboard charts. People are Googling its lyrics in droves — a rise of 3,753% in the U.S. to be exact. The song was streamed 3.8 million times in the first few days of August.

Someone hit Lady Gaga with a teddy bear during her concert in Toronto. Her Twitter fan page shared the video and stated, “Please DO NOT throw items on stage at The Chromatica Ball. This not only is dangerous to Gaga, but items may also catch on fire in the jets as well and cause damage.”

Ava Max teased her new single, “Million Dollar Baby,” on TikTok and hinted a music video is also on the way. “Shes comin to life,” she captioned the video.

Speaking of music videos, Dove Cameron says her one for “Breakfast” is coming soon. “Do you want to see a magic trick,” she teased on Instagram.

Sara Bareilles apologized that she’s not doing “pictures or signing or anything right now.” The singer explained she’s trying to stay healthy for her Broadway run, noting she can’t risk catching COVID-19. “Please forgive me,” she begged on her Instagram Story. “Thank you for understanding. It’s not personal.”

Madonna celebrated the forthcoming release of her dance remix album Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones with an old-fashioned roller disco party. She was joined by Nile Rodgers, who co-produced her breakthrough album Like a Virgin, as well as Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose, designer Christian Siriano, her son David Banda and Questlove, who played DJ at the Central Park bash in New York City.

Hailey Bieber and Lil Nas X have teamed for the Vogue World fashion event this fall, which will celebrate the fashion mag’s 130th anniversary on September 12.

Music notes: Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Ava Max, Sara Bareilles and Madonna

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s August, which means Taylor Swift‘s song of the same name is back on the Billboard charts. People are Googling its lyrics in droves — a rise of 3,753% in the U.S., to be exact — and, of course, they’re also streaming the seasonal song. The song was streamed 3.8 million times in the first few days of August.

Someone hit Lady Gaga with a teddy bear as she was belting out “Hold My Hand” at a show in Toronto. Her Twitter fan page posted the video and warned fans, “Please DO NOT throw items on stage at The Chromatica Ball. This not only is dangerous to Gaga, but items may also catch on fire in the jets as well and cause damage.”

Ava Max teased her new single, “Million Dollar Baby,” on TikTok and hinted a music video is also on the way. “Shes comin to life,” she captioned the video.

Sara Bareilles is apologizing to fans because she’s not doing “pictures or signing or anything right now.” The singer explained she’s trying to stay healthy for her Broadway run, noting she can’t risk catching COVID-19. “Please forgive me,” she begged on her Instagram Story. “Thank you for understanding. It’s not personal.”

Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson reunite to perform at ‘South Park’ 25th anniversary concert

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Rush‘s surviving members, singer/bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson, reunited Wednesday night at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado, at a concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the popular animated comedy show South Park.

Lee and Lifeson made a surprise appearance, joining their longtime friends Primus for a performance of Rush’s classic 1977 song “Closer to the Heart” while South Park co-creator Matt Stone sat in on drums.

This marked the first time Lee and Lifeson have played together in public since longtime Rush drummer Neil Peart‘s death from brain cancer in January 2020.

Before Lee and Lifeson hit the stage, a video featuring South Park-style cartoon
versions of them was shown in which they humorously discussed what they could do to help Stone and South Park co-creator Trey Parker celebrate the 25th anniversary.

“[Should we] send them some free Rush beer?” Lee poses. “Or even worse, we could show up and jam with them, eh?” Lee and Lifeson then hit the stage, to wild applause.

Rolling Stone reports the concert included full sets from Primus and Ween, and Stone joined in on various instruments for renditions of original South Park songs.

The show was filmed for South Park: The 25th Anniversary Concert special, which premieres on Comedy Central this Saturday, August 13, at 10 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on Paramount+ starting August 14.

Stone is a lifelong Rush fan, and the band has been referenced in South Park numerous times, including the 2011 episode “Royal Pudding” that features the prog-rock legends performing at a vigil after the princess of Canada was kidnapped.

Nashville notes: Elle King, Brett Eldredge & more

August 11, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Elle King has shared a behind-the-scenes video with Dierks Bentley on the set of the video for their new collaboration, “Worth a Shot.”

Brett Eldredge‘s episode of CMT Campfire Sessions airs Friday at 10 p.m. ET. CMT has shared a sneak preview of his performance of “Songs About You.”

Ingrid Andress has partnered with newcomer Avery Anna for a stripped-down performance of the title track of Ingrid’s new album, “Good Person.”

Mickey Guyton is performing as part of Global Citizen Festival on September 24 in New York City’s Central Park.

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