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Dire Straits bassist John Illsley to release memoir in November featuring foreword by Mark Knopfler

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

John Illsley, who played bass with Dire Straits for the band’s entire career, has written a memoir about his life and his experiences with the famous British group led by singer/guitarist Mark Knopfler.

My Life in Dire Straits: The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History will be released on November 9, and will feature Illsley’s first-hand recollections of the band’s journey — from playing U.K. pubs, to the stages of some of the world’s biggest venues. The bassist also shares details about the recording of Dire Straits many classic songs and albums.

“This book above all is about passion and pursuing your dreams — taking the unpredictable path, not the easy option,” Illsey says. “It charts the journey from my innocent teens strumming a few chords, to playing on the biggest stages in the world; a chance meeting in 1976 with Mark Knopfler that created a musical partnership that lasted 20 years, and a strong friendship that continues to this day.”

He adds, “Dire Straits was an idea that created a phenomenal musical legacy, an extraordinary journey of joy, fun, companionship and surprises. I am immensely proud of my contribution to this journey.”

Knopfler has penned the book’s foreword. He writes in one segment, “For us, it was a huge adventure and a hell of a ride, with all its comedy, absurdity, exhaustion, madness, and sadness…This ride is not for everyone, not for those who can’t take the pressures and the pace…It was a different world. And John has remembered a pretty big chunk of it.”

Besides Knoplfer, Illsley was the only Dire Straits member to play with the band from its inception to its 1995 dissolution. John also has released eight solo albums and is an accomplished painter.

He rides and he rides: Iggy Pop stars in new commercial for Unagi electric scooters

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The Godfather of Punk’s got a new set of wheels.

Iggy Pop stars in a pair of new ads for the electric scooter company Unagi. One clip finds the “Lust for Life” rocker riding his scooter while suggesting “Maybe the should rename it Un-Iggy” as The Stooges‘ “Down on the Street” plays in the background. In the other, Pop posits that Unagi scooters allow you to “experience euphoria without the psychedelics.”

“Like Iggy, Unagi values personal freedom and individuality,” says Unagi founder and CEO David Hyman. “That’s why we built the ideal personal liberation device with our Model 1 e-scooter.”

“As a challenger brand, Iggy represents the spirit of Unagi,” Hyman adds. “We’re happy to debut this campaign as part of an ongoing collaboration.”

By the way, Pop isn’t the only musician you’ll see riding an Unagi. Billie Eilish previously collaborated with the company to create her own custom scooter.

That one time Sheryl Crow had some fun shooting hoops with Prince

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Sheryl: Ron Wolfson/Getty Images; Prince: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Sheryl Crow‘s career has brought her into contact with music legends like Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Stevie Nicks, most of whom went on to become friends and mentors to her. But only one music legend — that we know of — faced off against her on the basketball court.

Asked by SPIN if it’s true that she once shot hoops with Prince, Sheryl says, “That is hilarious…Yeah, he had a basketball [hoop] set up at Paisley Park and he invited me. Gosh, it’s so weird. I don’t even remember how I met him, but he recorded [my song] ‘Every Day is a Winding Road’ and invited me to come to Paisley Park.”

“I went and I recorded with him — I played harmonica on a couple of things — and he showed me around the studio, and he had a basketball court,” she adds. “He was an excellent basketball player. I, on the other hand, was, and still am, a terrible basketball player!”

Prince’s version of “Every Day is a Winding Road” appeared on his 1999 album, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. That same year, the late legend dropped in at a stop on the Lilith Fair tour to sing the song with Sheryl.

And speaking of touring, Friday, Sheryl is releasing a 27-track album called Live from the Ryman and More, recorded in 2019 with guest artists like Nicks, Brandi Carlile and Emmylou Harris.

She tells SPIN, “I guess my hope for it is that in the middle of all this weird separation that we’ve endured…it brings back memories of us all being together and being able to listen to music and be in the room.”

#FreeBritney at last: Britney Spears’ dad steps down as her conservator

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears’ dream has come true: Her father is removing himself from her life.

ABC News has confirmed that Jamie Spears has filed documents agreeing to step down as Britney’s conservator. He is stepping down willingly, but the documents state he is doing so without any grounds for his removal. He has also denied testimonies regarding his actions by Britney’s lawyer Matthew Rosengart, Britney’s conservator of the person Jodi Montgomery and Britney’s mother, Lynne Spears.

In response to Mr. Spears filing, Rosengart said in a statement, “I announced in Court on July 14 that, after 13 years of the status quo, it was time for Mr. Spears to be suspended or removed as conservator and that my firm and I would move aggressively and expeditiously for that outcome. “

“Twelve days later, my firm filed a Petition for Mr. Spears’s suspension and removal based on strong, insurmountable legal grounds, which were unequivocally supported by the law and all parties involved, including Jodi Montgomery, Britney Spears, and her medical team,” he continued.

“We are pleased that Mr. Spears and his lawyer have today conceded in a filing that he must be removed. It is vindication for Britney,” Rosengart added. “We are disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms. Spears and others.”

He concluded that he looks forward to continuing his “vigorous investigation into the conduct of Mr. Spears, and others, over the past 13 years,” and accused him of “reaping millions of dollars from his daughter’s estate.”

“I look forward to taking Mr. Spears’s sworn deposition in the near future,” Rosengart went on. “In the interim, rather than making false accusations and taking cheap shots at his own daughter, Mr. Spears should remain silent and step aside immediately.”

In statements to an L.A. Superior Court judge earlier this year, Britney accused her father of being “abusive” in his conservatorship of her, and said he and all those involved in the conservatorship “should be in jail.” She has also refused to work while he was still in his position.

Chris Young joins TikTok influencer Lexy Lately to surprise some Nashville musicians with a massive tip

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Chris Young might be playing for sold-out amphitheaters and arenas these days, but like most musicians, he started out playing for tips. Now, the singer is remembering his humble beginnings, and paying it forward, with help from TikTok influencer and self-described “serial tipper” Lexy Lately.

On TikTok, Lexy routinely shares videos of herself surprising everyday people with massive tips, thanks to Venmo donations from her followers. This time, however, Chris tagged along to surprise some unsuspecting musicians in downtown Nashville.

First, Lexy dropped $1000 in the musicians’ tip jar, explaining who she is and all the TikTok supporters that helped make the tip possible. Then, she gave the pair of an artists an even bigger surprise, inviting Chris out to meet them.

The singer matched Lexy’s tip, and had some kind words for the two performers to boot.

“This is what it’s all about right here in Nashville, and these guys sound absolutely amazing,” Chris told the crowd, encouraging them to stick around to listen to the musicians.

He also briefly took the stage, performing a bit of his latest number-one hit, “Famous Friends.” That song is also the title track of Chris’ new album, which dropped earlier this month.

Report: Kelly Clarkson thrilled that judge has upheld her prenup

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

In yet another episode in the saga of Kelly Clarkson‘s divorce, the singer is supposedly celebrating the fact that a judge has upheld her prenup, declaring that all her assets and income she earned during their marriage are hers, and not her soon-to-be ex-husband’s.

That’s according to TMZ, which claims that Kelly got the news on Wednesday while she was filming The Voice. Kelly’s estranged husband, Brandon Blackstock, had been contesting the prenup, and asked for their property to be divided — including the Montana ranch where he’s currently living — as well as the income she earned in the seven years they were together.

TMZ claims Kelly let out a scream of delight when she heard about the decision, and a celebration started on set, which included her fellow The Voice coaches, including Ariana Grande.

As TMZ notes, the divorce has been “bifurcated,” meaning the ruling that the marriage is over is separated from any ruling over custody and property issues. According to TMZ, the marriage itself should be officially ended within “days.”

Regina Hall says her father’s death led her to shift her career from journalism to acting

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Regina Hall says she has her father to thank for her career in acting.

In an interview with Health magazine, Hall, who attended NYU grad school for journalism in her 20s, says that while she was always interested in acting, it was her father’s unexpected death that ultimately led her to pursue a career in the arts.

“It was his passing that really shifted how I looked at life — I realized how brief it can be and how suddenly it can change,” she said. “That’s what led me to acting. The thing about feeling broken is that it forces you to be open — you feel like you don’t have much, so you don’t overthink everything.”

After celebrating her 50th birthday this past December and surviving a pandemic, Hall now says she has a different perspective on life.

“I think it enforced that you can’t take anything for granted,” she says. “You have to have gratitude for every day that you have.”

The September 2021 issue of Health, featuring Regina Hall, is now available on newsstands.

Why getting in bed with Madonna will cost you $5,000

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Madonna attends the opening ceremony of the Mercy James Children’s Hospital; AMOS GUMULIRA/AFP via Getty Images

For her upcoming birthday on August 16, Madonna wants get in bed with you — metaphorically and physically.

Madonna is asking her fans to help support the Mercy James Centre, the hospital she built in Malawi four years ago, which is the only pediatric intensive care unit in the entire country. Specifically, she needs more beds in the hospital — 50 of them, to be exact — so she’s asking fans to donate money to purchase those beds.

“I want to ensure that every child that comes into that hospital and has an operation or surgery of any kind has a bed to recuperate in afterwards, and is taken care of,” Madonna explains in an Instagram video.

She adds, “I will name that bed after you and you will forever be, not only in my heart, but in the hearts of all the children of Malawi and their families. Thank you in advance for your generosity, and happy birthday to me!”

You can donate at RaisingMalawi.org. If you’ve got deep pockets, you can donate $5,000 and get a bed named after you. If you don’t have that kind of money, you can donate $2,500 and share the bed name with one other donor, or $500, to have your name listed with nine other donors.

Even if you can’t afford that, you can give $100 to contribute to a nurse’s salary, or even $25 to pay for a month’s worth of medicine for one child.

Of course, helping the children of Malawi is one of Madonna’s pet causes, because it’s the country where four of her children — David, Mercy, Stella and Estere — were born.

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Elvis Presley box set focusing on 1971 Nashville sessions due in November; watch unboxing event today

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A new archival Elvis Presley box set focusing on May-June 1971 recording sessions that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll did in Nashville will be released as a four-CD set and digitally on November 12.

Elvis: Back in Nashville features recordings Presley made with his session musicians that were intended for use in various releases. Some of the recordings, after being augmented by orchestral and vocal overdubs, wound up — with subsequent orchestral and vocal overdubs — on 1971’s Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas, the Grammy-winning 1972 gospel album He Touched Me, 1972’s Elvis Now and 1973’s Elvis.

A special unboxing event for the Elvis: Back in Nashville package takes place today in Memphis at the Guest House Theater at Graceland as part of Elvis Week 2021, and will stream live at YouTube.com/ElvisPresley and Facebook.com/ElvistheMusic starting at 5 p.m. ET.

Back in Nashville features a total of 82 tracks, and includes songs from a variety of genres. Disc One includes various country and folk covers, a selection of Ivory Joe Hunter tunes featuring just Elvis and piano accompaniment, and renditions of classic pop compositions, including “My Way.”

Disc Two focuses on contemporary and classic gospel and Christmas songs.

Disc Three features additional country and folk tunes, including an epic rendition of Bob Dylan‘s “Don’t Think Twice, (It’s Alright),” as well as covers of such rock songs as Chuck Berry‘s “Johnny B. Goode” and The Beatles‘ “Lady Madonna.”

Disc Four boasts outtake versions of various religious and holiday songs.

One of the tracks, a raw first-take version of the song “I’m Leavin’,” has been released as an advance digital single.

A two-LP vinyl version of Back in Nashville also will be available, while Graceland.com is offering an exclusive colored-vinyl edition.

Silk Sonic Sushi: Bruno Mars’ “Leave the Door Open” partner invests in new restaurant

August 12, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Bruno Mars‘ latest project Silk Sonic, featuring himself and Anderson. Paak, has only released two singles, but both have been quite successful. Now, Anderson has found the perfect place to park all the cash he’s been raking in.

The “Leave the Door Open” singer posted a photo of himself at a restaurant called Taisho, and captioned the image, “The boy done invested his #silksonic money in the best sushi in town! The foodies are calling it ‘BUSSIN!!’ Come see for yourself!”

The restaurant is located in Sherman Oaks, California, and Anderson, a California native, joked in his caption, “Tell them you know AP and they will charge you full price with no hesitation! God is the greatest!”

He also jokingly added the hashtag “#DontAskForNoDiscounts.”

As for Bruno, he’s got his own food and beverage side hustle going as one of the co-owners of Selva Rey Rum.

Silk Sonic’s latest single and video is “Skate,” and fans aren’t the only ones who are getting impatient for the duo’s debut album, which still doesn’t have a release date. Last month, when Bruno posted childhood photos of himself and Anderson, Anderson himself jumped in the comments and wrote, “WE WANT THE ALBUM!!!“

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