After announcing the news in February, U2 has finally revealed dates for their much-anticipated Las Vegas residency U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere.
Taking place at the new venue Sphere at The Venetian, the residency will consist of five dates: September 29 and 30, and October 5, 7 and 8.
“Over playing a theater, most music venues are sports venues … they’re built for sport, they’re not built for music, they’re not built for art,” Bono tells Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about the venue. “So this building was built for immersive experiences in cinema and performance … you can’t come here and see an ice hockey game.” The Edge adds, “The sound has been designed as a priority from the beginning. Best sound I’m sure we’ll ever hear.”
Tickets for the residency will be sold using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan, with registration open until Wednesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. ET. The Verified Fan presale will then begin April 27. As for pricing, tickets start at $140, all in, with 60% of the house guaranteed to be under $300.
U2 first teased the residency with a commercial during February’s Super Bowl. When it was officially announced they revealed the shows will be happening without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is sitting out the shows as he recuperates from surgery. Drummer Bram van den Berg will be filling in behind the drum kit.
L-R: Larry David, Richard Lewis — HBO/John P. Johnson
(NOTE LANGUAGE) Comedian and actor Richard Lewistook to Twitter to give fans an update about what he’s been up to and dropped a bombshell: He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease two years ago.
Lewis explained that he’s had a “rocky” past few years. Three and a half years ago, he decided to hang up the stand-up mic for good. He recalled thinking, “I’m at the top of my game, after 50 years almost, I’m gonna call it quits. And I felt great about that.”
He continued, “And then, out of the blue, the s*** hit the fan. I had four surgeries back to back to back,” he explained, noting he underwent operations on his back, shoulder and hip.
“On top of all that,” Lewis said, two years ago he noticed he was shuffling and walking stiffly, and a neurologist diagnosed him with Parkinson’s.
“Luckily, I got it late in life, and they say it progresses very slowly, if at all, and I’m on the right meds, so I’m cool,” Lewis said, detailing that while he’s “finished with stand-up,” he’ll be focusing more on writing and acting, as he did for the 12th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which he just wrapped.
“It was just an amazing season, and I’m so grateful to be a part of that show,” said Lewis. As reported, he didn’t appear in season 11 due to his surgeries.
He ended optimistically, “I love my life, and I love my little puppy dog, and I love all my friends and my fans, and now you know where it’s been at the past three and a half years. God bless you.”
Tom Petty released his first solo album Full Moon Fever.
Although it wasn’t billed as a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers record, most of the Heartbreakers were on the album, as was Petty’s Traveling Wilburys bandmates Jeff Lynne, George Harrison and Roy Orbison.
The album featured a trio of hit songs, including “Free Fallin’,” “I Won’t Back Down,” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”
Full Moon Fever went on to be a huge success for Petty, peaking at three on the Billboard Album chart. It was also certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA and in 2019 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
(PITTSBURGH) — Jury selection is set to begin Monday for the federal death penalty trial of a man accused of shooting and killing 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Robert Bowers allegedly stormed the synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, gunning down 11 victims, including a 97-year-old woman, in the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history.
Bowers, according to authorities, made posts on the social media site Gab and as early as July 2018 posted and reposted photos with antisemitic tropes. Bowers, according to a criminal complaint, told investigators after his arrest that he wanted to kill Jewish people.
Bowers faces charges including 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death and has pleaded not guilty.
Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. reached an all-time high in 2022, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League. The anti-hate and anti-bias advocacy group counted 3,697 antisemitic incidents last year — the highest total since the ADL began tabulating those incidents in 1979.
(NEW YORK) — Mysterious cases of dead, mutilated cattle along a Texas highway has left local authorities puzzled.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said last week that its deputies were investigating the death of a 6-year-old longhorn-cross cow on a ranch when “five other similar occurrences” were reported along the area of Texas State Highway OSR, near the eastern city of College Station, spanning Madison, Brazos and Robertson counties.
“Each incident occurred in different locations, pastures, and herds,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post on April 19. “Multiple similar incidents have been reported across the United States and we are actively coordinating with other agencies to find answers.”
The 6-year-old cow was found dead lying on one side with a “straight, clean cut, with apparent precision,” removing the hide around the exposed side of its mouth, according to the sheriff’s office. The animal’s “tongue was also completely removed,” the sheriff’s office said.
Five other cows — four adults and a yearling — were found in the same condition, except two also had circular cuts “made with the same precision” to remove additional external organs, according to the sheriff’s office.
In all six cases, the sheriff’s office said there were no blood spills or signs of struggle. The grass around the deceased animals was also undisturbed and there were no noticeable footprints or tire tracks in the area, authorities said. Neither predators nor birds scavenged the remains, leaving the bodies to “decay untouched for several weeks,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The cause of death of all six cows remains unknown and under investigation. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment on Monday.
Anyone with information on the cases or who observes any similar occurrences is asked to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 936-348-2755.
Dave Grohl made a surprise appearance during Wet Leg‘s weekend two Coachella performance.
The Foo Fighters frontman joined the “Chaise Longue” duo during the end of their song “Ur Mum,” during which lead vocalist Rhian Teasdale sings, “I’ve been practicing my longest and loudest scream.”
If you’ve seen a Wet Leg show, you know that’s when the entire band and crowd start screaming. Grohl joined in on the fun by running onstage unannounced to let out a yell heard during many Foo Fighters shows and songs.
You can watch the moment now via Coachella’s Twitter.
We may also be hearing Grohl scream on the upcoming Foo Fighters album But Here We Are, due out June 2. The record is the band’s first since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.
Shortly after the news broke that longtime Dancing with the Stars judge Len Goodman had died on Saturday of bone cancer, tributes began hitting social media for the 78-year-old.
DWTS judge Bruno Tonioli: “Heart broken my dear friend and partner for 19 years the one and only ballroom legend #lengoodman passed away. I will treasure the memory of our incredible adventures and hundreds of shows we did together @bbcstrictly @dancingwiththestars they will never be anyone like you we will miss you.”
Carrie Ann Inaba: “a dancer. A teacher. A refined gentleman. A wonderful storyteller. A special soul. A mentor. A family man. And … a treasured friend. Saying goodbye at the end of last season broke my heart. But today’s news has shattered it all over again. I can’t believe that you’re gone. You were one of a kind my dear friend. And I will cherish our memories and hold them close, while I join so many others in mourning your loss. Thank you for all that you shared with us. Your humor, your wisdom, your wit and your truth.”
Former DWTS host Tom Bergeronposted a collage of photos he’d taken with Goodman, noting simply, “A Good Man, indeed,” along with a sad face emoji, and “#rip”
DWTS competitor Kym Johnson-Herjavec: “Heartbroken. Heavens gates are covered in 10 paddles and mirror balls today. Nothing made you feel better than getting a 10 from Len. He was a class act with a cheeky grin and quick wit. You will be so missed . Rest In Peace sweet Len.”
DWTS pro Keo Motsepe: “Rest well Sir Len. You will be missed,” hashtagging his post “#Legend,” “#ThankYou” and “#RIP.”
Good Morning America meteorologist Ginger Zee recalled having the opportunity to dance with Goodman during her season of DWTS. She addressed his passing on the air Monday, noting, “Len’s reality that he brought to competition television will be missed. You had to grow and he made you grow. And that I appreciated then, I appreciated in all the seasons I’ve watched, but that’s how he was. That sparkle he had, even when delivering tough news.”
Goodman, a former competitive ballroom dancer himself, was also known for the U.K. show Strictly Come Dancing.
Neil Young was back on the stage over the weekend for the first time since before the pandemic hit. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer took part in the Light Up The Blues fundraiser for Autism Speaks at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on April 22, an event put on by Young’s Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young/Buffalo Springfield bandmate Steven Stills and his wife, Kristen.
According to Rolling Stone, backed by Promise of the Real, Young performed an 11-song set that included such songs as “From Hank to Hendrix,” “Comes A Time” and “Heart of Gold,” with Stills playing piano for the Déjà Vu track “Helpless.” The pair also teamed up for several Buffalo Springfield tracks, including ”For What It’s Worth,” “On My Way Home,” “Everybody’s Wrong,” “Bluebird” and “Mr. Soul,” with the pair ending the whole evening with their song “Long May You Run.”
Other than a two-song set at a rally in Canada back in February, Young hadn’t performed in front of an audience in four years.
The evening also included a tribute to the late David Crosby, with Graham Nash appearing via video. “David was my best friend for almost 50 years,” he said. “I’m going to miss him terribly in my life. I think about him every day,” before introducing a 2013 performance of “Guinevere.”
For Stills’ set he was joined by his son Chris, along with James Raymond, Crosby’s son and collaborator, performing such classics as “Wooden Ships,” “Love The One You’re With” and “Helplessly Hoping,” the latter two with the help of Joe Walsh. Walsh also performed his own tunes “Life’s Been Good” and “Rocky Mountain Way.”
Other performers at the show included Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson and Sharron Van Etten.
(WASHINGTON) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to launch a 2024 presidential campaign in the coming months, will travel overseas this week on an international trade mission.
DeSantis will lead a Florida delegation to Israel, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. to meet with government and business leaders.
The trip is seen by some allies as an effort to expand his foreign policy chops ahead of a likely presidential campaign launch by this summer.
The governor’s office said in a news release on Thursday that the trip would focus on building upon Florida’s current economic relationships with each country.
In Japan, DeSantis will meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. In South Korea, the governor will meet with the Gyeonggi Province governor, Kim Dong-yeon, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
While in Israel, DeSantis will deliver the keynote address at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the country’s founding, on Thursday. He’ll also meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Netanyahu said on CBS’ Face the Nation.
And in the U.K., DeSantis will meet with Foreign Minister James Cleverly.
He will be joined on the trip by his wife, Casey, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Florida Secretary of Commerce Laura DiBella.
John Thomas, a GOP political strategist and the founder of the pro-DeSantis super PAC Ron to the Rescue, told ABC News that he believes the travel will burnish DeSantis’ foreign policy bona fides.
“[DeSantis] does have a biographical background in foreign policy as a naval officer, but there is no replacement for shaking hands, having the photo-op, being on the ground and being able to name drop that you have relationships with certain world leaders,” Thomas said.
“Any major candidate for the Oval Office needs to check that [foreign policy] box and improve their credentials so that they have credibility when they’re delivering their eventual foreign policy message on the campaign trail and on the debate stage, and this is the first step for Gov. DeSantis to do just that,” Thomas said.
DeSantis, a popular if controversial leader in the GOP, has drawn scrutiny for some of his recent remarks about international issues.
His travel abroad will come just over a month after he initially called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “territorial dispute” and said the war was not of national interest for the United States.
Those comments received backlash from other leading members of the GOP.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted a veiled rebuke: “To those who believe that Russia’s unprovoked and barbaric invasion of Ukraine is not a priority for the United States – you are missing a lot.”
And Florida Sen. Marco Rubio also criticized the governor of his state, saying in a radio interview, “Obviously, he doesn’t deal with foreign policy every day as governor.”
DeSantis later said that his words were “mischaracterized” and that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “war criminal.”
