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“I had a hard time keeping it together”: Sean Gunn on playing Rocket Raccoon in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Actor Sean Gunn has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the original Guardians of the Galaxy, not only playing the Ravager Kraglin, but portraying Rocket on set before the character was completed by visual effects artists and ultimately voiced by Bradley Cooper.

He has also portrayed Rocket on set in Avengers: Infinity War, and both characters in Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder and the Guardians Holiday Special, but he said Vol. 3 hit different because it was primarily focused on Rocket.

“Just as an actor and as a performer, it was emotional for me to be a part of the trilogy of movies … But particularly, as you say, Rocket’s story in this third movie was a lot to tackle.”

He likens creating Rocket to a relay race. “My brother James gets the ball rolling, and then I kind of take the baton and … I work with the actors, and [then] the visual effects team comes in, and then Bradley puts all the pieces together and makes the whole thing work.”

The Gilmore Girls veteran actually voiced Young Rocket in flashbacks dealing with the cruel animal experimentation that brought him to life. “Some of those scenes were very — I had a hard time keeping it together, I won’t lie,” he confesses.

Guardians Vol. 3 remains the number one movie in the world, after doing what few movies in the MCU ever did: retaining 49% of its opening weekend audience over its second weekend.

“It’s really kind of the most gratifying thing,” Gunn says. “When you can keep … over 50% of your audience for week two … it’s a pretty good sign that, number one, people liked the movie. And number two, that they’re going back and seeing it a second time, which is really gratifying. It’s really cool.”

FDA meeting to consider RSV vaccine for pregnant people

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — An advisory committee for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to meet Thursday to discuss drugmaker Pfizer’s application for a new RSV vaccine for pregnant people, two weeks after the federal agency approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults.

A new study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine has shown encouraging data that supports the case for an RSV vaccine during pregnancy. The study data was gathered from a phase three clinical trial with pregnant participants in over 18 countries and showed that when the RSV vaccine is given between 24 and 36 weeks gestation, it appeared immunity passed to the fetus through the placenta. The results also showed the vaccine was effective at preventing severe lower respiratory tract infection and reducing hospitalization.

If approved, the RSV vaccine could be given to those who are pregnant, much like other vaccines available now, including those for Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), the flu and COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infants and young children, like older adults, are at high risk for RSV, which sends approximately 58,000 to 80,000 children in the U.S. to the hospital each year.

It’s likely the FDA may approve the RSV vaccine option for pregnant individuals as early as this summer, ahead of the winter RSV season, which typically surges between December and February. Pfizer is hoping for an approval by early August but after the FDA approves a vaccine, the CDC would also need greenlight the vaccine too.

An RSV vaccine for children is also currently in the works.

Miguel, Coi Leray, Davido and more to perform at second annual ‘Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom’

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

After kicking off the first Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom last year, Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment are returning with a 2023 edition. Featured in this year’s lineup are Miguel, Kirk Franklin, SWV, Davido, Coi Leray, Jodeci and more, with Adam Blackstone and Questlove tapped as musical directors. The show will take place at the Greek Theatre in LA, airing live June 19 at 8 p.m. ET on both CNN and OWN. Viewers can also expect to see programming intended to “uplift and educate” them about Juneteenth.

“We are proud to once again partner with Live Nation Urban to broadcast this powerful Juneteenth event on our platforms,” Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement. “We want to be a destination for people to both understand and celebrate a holiday of this magnitude.”

President of OWN TV Network & OWN OTT Streaming Tina Perry added, “OWN is honored to simulcast this year’s concert. Juneteenth continues to be deeply important to our audience and it’s this deep significance that makes this simulcast really feel like an opportunity to be of service. We are taking this day to celebrate alongside American families and reflect on this historic turning point for our nation.”

Chris Janson, Brian Kelley + more to salute military, first responders at Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix has announced the star-studded lineup for the Freedom Friday Tribute Concert presented by Wesley Mortgage.

Featured on the performance bill are Chris Janson, Brian Kelley (from Florida Georgia Line), Vince Neil (from Mötley Crüe), Gavin DeGraw, Sixwire and more.

The Freedom Friday concert, which salutes military members, police officers, firefighters, first responders and other frontline heroes, will take place on Friday, August 4, at 7 p.m. on the Zyn Main Stage around Nissan Stadium.

Additionally, Ryan Griffin, American Blonde, Jillian Cardarelli, Connor McCutcheon and Zoee are slated to perform on a separate stage.

The three-day Big Machine Music City Grand Prix happens from Friday, August 4, to Sunday, August 6. View the full schedule and performance lineup at musiccitygp.com.

Senator calls on Fed to fire staff over Silicon Valley Bank failure

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., on Thursday called for firings at the Federal Reserve over the central bank’s failure to regulate Silicon Valley Bank in the run-up to its collapse.

The imperative from Scott came during Senate testimony from Michael Barr, the Fed’s vice chair for supervision, who faced scrutiny from members of both major parties over his admitted failure to lead proper oversight of Silicon Valley Bank.

Barr authored a report last month that faulted the Fed’s lax oversight and an inability to anticipate the systemic threat posed by the bank’s failure.

In his testimony on Thursday, Barr took “full responsibility” for the inadequate performance of the Fed. Soon after, Scott responded: “Who did you fire?”

Barr said: “We have not fired someone as a result of this review.”

“We plan to conduct further review of our supervisory structure and as we do that we’ll be making sure we have the right personnel in place to get the job done,” he added.

Indicating dissatisfaction, Scott said, “I hope that includes making room for the right personnel by removing the wrong personnel.”

The collapse in March of Silicon Valley Bank, the nation’s 16th largest bank, set off a financial panic that led to the failure two days later of another major lender, Signature Bank.

The financial stress continues to weigh on the banking system. Late last month, regional lender First Republic Bank was seized and sold to JPMorgan Chase after a sudden downfall.

The Fed report described Silicon Valley Bank as “an outlier” for its degree of financial exposure and mismanagement, but the report criticized the central bank for failing to recognize and address such risks before it was too late.

“Our first area of focus will be to improve the speed, force, and agility of supervision,” Barr said in the report.

The report also criticized the Fed for underestimating the systemic risk posed by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, suggesting that regulators overlooked the panic that could result from a bank concentrated in a slice of the tech industry.

“The buck stops here,” Barr told the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. “I’m committed to fixing the problems we’ve had in supervision and regulation going forward.”

Dee Snider’s first novel, ‘Frats’, coming June 2

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Dee Snider is about to officially add novelist to his resume. The Twisted Sister frontman just announced that his first novel, Frats, will be released June 2.

In a post on social media, Snider called the book “’The Outsiders’ meets ‘The Wanderers,’” adding, “If you are looking for a daring, disturbingly honest coming of age story look no further.”

The book is “based on true events” and is described as “an honest, daring story that examines the pressures of toxic masculinity in high school hallways.” It follows a young boy named Bobby Kovax, whose parents move him to Baldwin, Long Island, in 1972.

Frats is available for preorder now.

Woo-hoo! Blur announces first album in eight years, ‘The Ballad of Darren’

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Blur has announced a new album called The Ballad of Darren.

The ninth studio effort from Damon Albarn and company — and their first in eight years — arrives July 21. You can listen to the first single, “The Narcissist,” now via digital outlets.

“This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now,” Albarn says.

The Ballad of Darren is the follow-up to 2015’s The Magic Whip. Since then, the band members have been busy with various different projects and pursuits, including Albarn, who’s put out four Gorillaz albums and a new solo record in that time.

The album news comes just ahead of Blur’s first tour in eight years, which begins Friday in England. No U.S. dates have been announced so far.

Here’s the track list for The Ballad of Darren:

“The Ballad”
“St Charles Square”
“Barbaric”
“Russian Strings”
“The Everglades (For Leonard)”
“The Narcissist”
“Goodbye Albert”
“Far Away Island”
“Avalon”
“The Heights”

Lizzo honored with award for social justice work

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lizzo is being recognized for her social justice work with a new award. The singer is the recipient of this year’s Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, which honors individuals who use their platform to inspire social action and positivity.

“I’m so honored to be receiving the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award,” Lizzo said in her acceptance speech. “When I decided to dedicate myself to positive music, I always wanted to have the resources to be able to bring actual positive change to the world.”

As part of the award, Lizzo receives $250,000 in funding from the Elevate Prize Foundation, which she plans to donate to a good cause.

“I am pledging the entirety of this prize to my 4th annual Juneteenth giveback … [which will be] helping grassroot Black organizations who are giving back to their communities and their neighborhoods,” Lizzo said. “We’ve had a very successful three years and this is going to be the greatest year yet!”

H.E.R. drops new single “The Journey” inspired by NBA playoffs

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

In an exciting collaboration with ESPN, H.E.R. released her latest single, “The Journey,” Thursday morning.

The track captures the essence of the NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel and the unique paths taken by the 16 teams competing for victory.

“The Journey” has been prominently featured in ESPN’s in-game production elements, including vignettes narrated by H.E.R. These vignettes, along with other production elements, depict the exhilarating journey of each team through the playoffs.

The new track not only resonates with the NBA Playoffs narrative, it also mirrors the singer’s personal journey as she embarks on the next chapter of her career, spanning music, film and TV.

Written by acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren, the heartfelt ballad marks H.E.R.’s first solo release since her Grammy-winning album, Back Of My Mind, in 2021.

Soundgarden shares Chris Cornell tribute on anniversary of his death

May 18, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Soundgarden has shared a statement paying tribute to late frontman Chris Cornell on the anniversary of his death.

In a Facebook post authored by drummer Matt Cameron, the grunge rockers declare they’re “Honoring Chris today and everyday.”

“I’m forever grateful to have played a small part in his artistic development,” Cameron writes. “Chris led by example, lived life passionately, never compromised, and put a small dent in the universe with his otherworldly musical talents.”

Cameron adds, “Do yourself a favor on this day, crank Badmotorfinger to 11 and don’t be late for the BIRTH RITUUUUUAAAALLLL!!”

Cornell died the early morning of May 18, 2017, after playing a Soundgarden show in Detroit the night before. His death was ruled a suicide.

A posthumous Cornell solo covers album, No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1, was released in 2020. Soundgarden had also been working on new material prior to Cornell’s death, the recordings of which were the subject of a long-running legal battle between the band and Chris’ widow, Vicky Cornell. Just last month, Soundgarden and Vicky announced that they’d reconciled their legal issues, paving the way for those final recordings to be released.

If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or by visiting 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

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