Page 5810 – 105.7 WDNY

The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz: It’s “weird … being the last man standing”

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

With Michael Nesmith’s passing in 2021, Micky Dolenz is now the last surviving member of The Monkees. Ahead of his upcoming tour, in which he plans to play their 1967 album, Headquarters, the first one they had control over and played instruments on, he’s really missing his bandmates, particularly Nesmith.

“It is weird … I gotta be honest … being the last man standing,” he tells Rolling Stone. “I wish to God that Nesmith would have been around long enough to do this album, which he was so responsible for putting together and writing on it and inspiring us to do it.”

Before he died, Nesmith and Dolenz went out on a 40-date tour together. Dolenz says he’s still shocked his bandmate made it through, noting it “was so apparent he had health issues,” but he wouldn’t quit.

“Looking back, I think he saw the writing on the wall. He was a very private person. … He didn’t talk about it,” Dolenz says. “Every once in a while he made some joke about it to me, but I was about the only one he’d even talk to about this. A lot of what he said to me was just through a look. God, I’ll never forget that tour. That was just unbelievable.”

Dolenz says he sometimes gets “philosophical” and wonders why he’s the last surviving member of The Monkees, but he knows “it’s not a question that can really ever be answered in any sense.” Instead, he says, “I am trying to uphold the legacy” of the band, adding, “It’s also my job. This is what I do.”

Dolenz’s tour launches April 1 in Orlando, Florida.

David Lee Roth shares cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar”

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

David Lee Roth has shared another song with his fans. This time he’s dropped a cover of Marvin Gaye’s 1965 tune “Ain’t That Peculiar.”

The track was recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles, the same place Roth recorded a set of Van Halen tracks that he’s been releasing, including “You Really Got Me,” “Dance The Night Away,” “Panama,” “Everybody Wants Some!!” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” as well as the most recent release, “Unchained.”

Released in 1965, Gaye’s tune was produced by Smokey Robinson, and written by Robinson and his Miracles bandmates Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore and Marv Tarplin. The song topped the Billboard Hot R&B singles chart and peaked at eight on the Hot 100.

Oscar winner Brendan Fraser talks lessons learned from his ‘The Whale’ character, Charlie

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Brendan Fraser‘s career comeback reached its apex Sunday evening when he reached for his Best Actor Oscar for his performance in Darren Aronofsky‘s drama The Whale.

Backstage, an emotional Fraser explained the parallels he saw between his character’s struggles in life and his own.

His character, Charlie, is a morbidly obese man trying to make amends with his daughter. Although Fraser was asked about queer representation, he explained, “Charlie is more than just a gay man: He’s a father, he’s an educator, he’s a truth-seeker.”

With tears in his eyes, Fraser expressed, “That he fell hopelessly, inconveniently in love with whomever is immaterial. He’s someone who found love, lost it, and then found it again. I think that that’s something that we can all take a page from.”

The actor continued, “And know that with perseverance, if you put one foot in front of the other, like Charlie did — go to the light — believe me, if I can do it, you can, too.”

With a laugh, and Oscar in hand, he added, “Good things will happen.”

‘Rolling Stone’ names “Black Sabbath” greatest heavy metal song of all time

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Rolling Stone magazine has come out with yet another list that’s bound to spark debate from music fans. The latest reveals their picks for the 100 greatest heavy metal songs of all time, with artists like Black Sabbath, Metallica and Iron Maiden making the list.

Landing at number one is Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath,” which the mag describes as a “true metal original,” noting of the tune, “It’s the feeling all metal bands have been chasing ever since and it still reigns supreme.”

And that’s not the only Sabbath tune on the list. In fact, three of their tracks make the top 10, with “War Pigs” at five and “Iron Man” at seven. Plus, “Paranoid” is at 13, and “Heaven and Hell” is at 31. And Ozzy Osbourne‘s solo classic “Crazy Train” lands at six, while “Bark At The Moon” is at 56.

Just behind “Black Sabbath” at two is Metallica’s 1986 classic “Master of Puppets,” which the mag notes “brought nuance and complexity to their speed-metal assault and opened up the entire genre to new possibilities.”

Other songs in the top 10 include: Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” at three, Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law” at four, Slayer’s “Raining Blood” at eight, Dio’s “Holy Diver” at nine and Iron Maiden’s “Run To The Hills” at 10.

The complete list of 100 songs can be found at rollingstone.com.

Lil Uzi Vert denies rumors he believes in Satan

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Lil Uzi Vert rapped “I make a City Girl believe in Satan” at this year’s Rolling Loud California, but he insists that he does not believe in the devil. Speaking to TMZ, he says he was speaking metaphorically when he wrote the lyrics.

“Not actually Satan but just basically, I make a girl do whatever I say so,” he explained. While the lyric appeared to ruffle some feathers, he says his girlfriend, JT, who was at the studio at the time, “didn’t think too much of it.”

After clips surfaced of Uzi performing the song with the now-popular lyric, the likes of Summer Walker and Tony Yayo expressed their opinions.

“i be genuinely curious have these people ever seen or heard a demon before…Or it’s just [a] trend cause I feel like if you have you’d stop playing..really nothing funny or cute about it,” Summer wrote on her Instagram Story.

In an interview with TMZ, Yayo said, “That was a little too crazy for me.” He added, “I believe in God. I’m very religious, came up in the church, so anything that has to do with Satan I can’t rock with.”

Uzi said he also grew up in church and comes from a religious household, but uses his freedom of speech to express himself in music. “I just say whatever I want in my songs. It’s just like my freedom of speech,” he said.

“I kind of just say, you know, anything I want to say,” Uzi continued. “Even if I offend people, I don’t mean to offend people, but if they don’t like it, they have the option to turn it off.”

Megan Thee Stallion makes a comeback, appearing on red carpet for ‘Vanity Fair’ Oscar Party

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Megan Thee Stallion is back after months of being out of the spotlight. The rapper made her first public appearance at an industry-related event, appearing on the red carpet for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Sunday night.

Meg donned a strapless custom Bach Mai black mermaid gown with minimal accessories and a voluminous Afro. She posed for photos before heading into the event, where she was spotted taking more pics with Seth Rogen.

Meg has been noticeably absent since Tory Lanez was found guilty of assaulting her in his December trial. She was spotted out while celebrating her birthday in February and is now preparing to make her return to the stage.

As previously reported, Meg is headlining the AT&T Block Party in her hometown of Houston, Texas, on March 31. She’s also named a headliner for the 2023 Outside Lands festival, taking place August 11-13 in San Francisco, California.

Dashboard Confessional hitting the road with Counting Crows this summer

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Dashboard Confessional is going to have a busy summer. The band, led by Chris Carrabba, is set to open for Counting Crows on their Banshee Season Tour, which also features Frank Turner on select dates.

“Dashboard Confessional could not be more excited to be playing all across America with our heroes and friends Counting Crows,” Carrabba shares. “Dreams really can come true!”

The 56-date tour kicks off June 13 in Omaha, Nebraska, with Dashboard Confessional joining the tour on June 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The tour is set to wrap with a September 25 show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Ticket presales begin Tuesday, with the general sale set for Friday, March 17, at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at dashboardconfessional.com.

How Lady Gaga went from not playing to slaying on the Oscars Sunday night

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Last Wednesday, fans were disappointed when Oscars showrunner Glenn Weiss told reporters Lady Gaga wasn’t going to perform her nominated song “Hold My Hand” on the show due to conflicts with her filming schedule. But Sunday night she was front and center, singing the song. So what changed?

Weiss told USA Today, “The situation changed on Thursday,” noting that Gaga’s team reached out to accept the offer to perform. He added, “We were happy to have the conversation and jump into it. With rehearsals and everything else, we dove in deep.”

Gaga did her rehearsal ahead of the telecast, then took the stage wearing no makeup, ripped jeans and a T-shirt to sing a stripped-down version of the emotional Top Gun: Maverick ballad.

“There are heroes all around us in unassuming places,” said Gaga before she started singing the song, which she said she wrote in her studio’s basement. She added of the “deeply personal” song, “You might find you can be your own hero, even if you feel broken inside.”

“It was very raw. She could be herself and that was very cool,” Weiss said of the performance.

Gaga’s song ultimately didn’t win, though: The honor went to “Naatu Naatu” from the movie RRR.

Counting Crows announce 56-date Banshee Season Tour

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Counting Crows are spending their summer on the road. The band just announced dates for their Banshee Season Tour, featuring special guest Dashboard Confessional, with Frank Turner on select dates.

“One of the best things about a life in rock and roll is that we spend it traveling the world playing music,” Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz shares. “It’s even better when you can do it with one of your best friends and watch them play every night too,” referring to Dashboard’s Chris Carrabba.

The 56-date tour kicks off June 13 in Omaha, Nebraska, with Dashboard joining the tour on June 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The tour is set to wrap with a September 25 show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Ticket presales begin Tuesday, with the general sale set for Friday, March 17, at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at countingcrows.com.

Rembrandts singer says ‘Friends’ theme success “killed our cool”

March 13, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The Rembrandts seemingly struck gold by performing the iconic Friends theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” but a singer from the band says the opposite happened.

Danny Wilde, who fronted the band with Phil Solem, told The Guardian that while the song’s popularity helped him put his kids through college, it “broke up the band.”

“It all happened wildly fast,” the singer said of being approached to make the Friends theme song, explaining that the original pilot used R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People.” Wilde said execs were torn on the song choice and asked him and Solem to come up with “something with the same tempo.”

They came up with a 43-second version of the song that played when Friends premiered September 22, 1994. “It didn’t have our name on the credits. We were a pretty hip band, so stipulated that we didn’t want anyone to know we’d sold out,” said Wilde.

“But the song stuck, the show stuck and it snowballed. The record company rushed us into the studio to cut a full version,” he continued, saying the success led to them filming a music video with the cast of Friends.

“Once people realized it was us, it killed our cool vibe. We went from doing cool clubs to matinee shows where parents would bring their kids,” he said. “The song became an albatross round our necks and broke up the band for a few years.”

Looking back at the song, said Wilde, “It put my kids through college and got me a beautiful home. I’m not rich but I’m comfortable … I might be living on the streets if it wasn’t for that song.”

He and Solem have since reformed their band and now play at Friends anniversary shows. “If people are willing to pay you to do something you’re proud of, why not?” he said.

+ More