Coldplay‘s Music of the Spheres tour was almost brought down by “money stuff.”
In an interview with the fan site ColdplayXtra, frontman Chris Martin reveals that the group’s worldwide trek became so “financially stressful” that cancellation became a real possibility.
“We’ve never really had a big financial crisis before,” Martin shares. “This was the first time where there was a point where we felt like we probably couldn’t do the tour, ’cause of all the money stuff.”
Ultimately, the production received “some help,” which Martin says “saved the day.”
“The whole point of this tour is to be trying new things,” Martin explains. “Some of them work and some of them don’t, and that’s OK. We’re so lucky that we can survive certain losses and it’s OK.”
Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour kicked off in March in Costa Rica and hit the U.S. in May and June. They’ve spent the summer touring through Europe and their native U.K. and will launch a South American run this weekend.
(WASHINGTON) — Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are returning to the White House Wednesday, reuniting with now President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to unveil their official portraits and introduce the artists behind them — a long-held secret in Washington after an unusually long wait for their reveal.
“President Biden and Dr. Biden are honored to have former president Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama back to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits, which will hang on the walls of the White House forever as reminders of the power of hope and change,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.
The ceremony is returning to the White House after a 10-year hiatus. It was then-President Obama who last held such a ceremony, when he welcomed back former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush for an unveiling of their official portraits back in 2012.
The public unveiling of presidential portraits as we know it today started in 1978 during the Carter administration, according to White House Historical Association President Stuart McLaurin.
“The Carters were the first to invite the Fords back for the reveal of their portrait. Prior to that, they were just kind of hung up when they were done,” McLaurin said.
Since then, an unofficial tradition began of the current president hosting their most recent predecessor at the White House for the event with few exceptions — events that have often been bipartisan with some good-natured ribbing.
“George, I will always remember the gathering you hosted for all the living former presidents before I took office, your kind words of encouragement. Plus, you also left me a really good TV sports package. I use it,” Obama joked in 2012 of George W. Bush.
The tradition was notably broken during the Trump presidency, with the former president eschewing the event — a perhaps unsurprising decision, given Trump’s baseless claims that Obama spied on his 2016 presidential campaign, and was not born in the United States.
Despite the wait, McLaurin said the event at the White House on Wednesday will be “happy, positive” moment for the Obamas.
“There’s a sense of anticipation and excitement about it. And the President and First Lady who are depicted in those portraits have seen them of course, but the reality of having them unveiled in full scale size right there in the East Room of the White House. It’s just a moment — it’s almost like a Christmas morning,” he said.
The process for creating the portraits begins at the end of an outgoing president’s term, with the selection of an artist they’d like to complete their portrait. The White House Historical Association, a non-profit, non-partisan organization started in 1961 by first lady Jackie Kennedy, then contracts the artist to complete the historic image.
According to McLaurin, it typically takes three to four years for the portraits to be completed, but there is no hard and fast deadline for the process.
The Obama portraits have been completed for “a few years,” he said.
As for Trump’s official portrait, McLaurin said the artists have been identified and contracted for the former president and first lady’s portraits, but did not have more details about where in the process they are.
“Typically they would have conversations or they would talk about style and process and things in the background. Sometimes presidents or first ladies put things that have some meaning or purpose or tell a story behind them,” McLaurin said.
“I don’t know how much of that has happened with the Trump’s. I do know that their artists have been identified,” he added.
After its creation in 1961, the White House Historical Association undertook the task of acquiring portraits for every former president and first lady to complete the collection of iconic images of the nation’s leaders.
“You know, with the Founding Fathers and the early presidents, Americans did not know what their presidents looked like,” McLaurin said. “Americans depended on these images that were created and disseminated across the United States.”
“In contemporary modern presidents, we are supersaturated every day with what they look like. So, to me, the interesting take on these portraits is this is really how a president and a first lady see themselves and how they want to be remembered,” he added.
(SEATTLE) — Sue Bird said her goodbyes to fans Tuesday night as the Seattle Storm lost to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of the WNBA Semifinals.
The 97-92 loss marked the end of the 41-year-old guard’s legendary two-decade career in Seattle. She wrapped up the night with eight points and eight assists.
Bird began her career in 2002 when she was chosen by the Storm as their first overall pick in round one of the WNBA draft. She closes out her time in the league with four WNBA championships and five Olympic gold medals.
The hit singer is getting ready to release the fall boot line for her Idyllwind clothing brand, and she’s giving fans a sneak peek.
Miranda took to Instagram to show off the new looks that will soon be hitting shelves, with styles ranging from tall boots to short boots coming in various colors and sizes. Among the fresh looks are powder blue, metallic blue and purple, black with gold decals, bright pink with rhinestones and metallic silver accented by pink.
“If you can’t tell by my face, this is my happy place,” Miranda says with the collection of boots behind her. “Happiness,” she adds in the caption. “Which of @idyllwind’s fall boots is calling your name?”
“We are so excited for y’all to see what’s comin’ this Fall!” Idyllwind comments.
Lewis Capaldi has been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, and he’s opening up so fans understand him better.
Speaking to U.K. outlet The Sun, the “Before You Go” singer said he wanted to address his diagnosis so fans wouldn’t be confused by his tics.
“I have been diagnosed with Tourette’s,” he explained. “I wanted to speak about it because I didn’t want people to think I was taking cocaine or something.”
The Grammy nominee said obtaining a formal diagnosis has been eye-opening. “When they told me, ‘We think you’ve got Tourette’s’, I was like, ‘Do you know what? That makes so much sense,'” he recalled. He added it’s allowed him to look back at old interviews with new understanding.
Lewis outlined the kind of tics he has as well as his triggers. “My shoulder twitches when I am excited, happy, nervous or stressed. It is something I am living with,” he said, adding “It is not as bad as it looks.”
The Scottish singer is also seeking treatment to mitigate the outwardly signs of Tourette’s. “I got Botox in my shoulder to stop it moving but I’m learning new ways to cope all the time..,” he said. “Some days it’s more painful than others, sometimes it’s quite uncomfortable but I guess that’s it.”
Lewis also explained his Tourette’s “comes and goes,” adding he can “go months” without showing signs of it. “I thought I had some horrible degenerative disease so I’ll take Tourette’s,” he joked.
He is not the only singer to come forward about having Tourette syndrome. Billie Eilish opened up about her diagnosis in May on David Letterman‘s Netflix series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
Lewis, who also shared his diagnosis on his Instagram story, releases a new song “Forget Me” and its accompanying music video on Friday.
Official details have been unveiled about the deluxe reissue of The Beatles‘ classic 1966 album Revolver, which will be released in multiple configurations on October 28.
Among the versions of the reissue is a special edition that features new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of Revolver; the original mono mix of the album; 31 tracks of session outtakes; a four-song EP that includes the non-album tracks “Paperback Writer” and “Rain”; and a 100-page hardbound book.
The book features a foreword by Paul McCartney, an introduction by producer Giles Martin, a variety of rare photos, an essay by Questlove, track notes and commentary from Beatles historian and author Kevin Howlett and more.
The expanded collection includes five CDs, four vinyl LPs and a seven-inch vinyl EP.
Widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time, Revolver was released in August 1966 and spent multiple weeks at #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K. The album captured the band moving into the psychedelic era with its most adventurous and experimental music to date while delving into a diverse variety of genres.
Among the many highlights of the album: George Harrison‘s “Love You To,” which features traditional Indian instruments; the R&B-inspired “Got to Get You into My Life,” which was driven by a brass section; the classically influenced “Eleanor Rigby,” which features only vocals and a string section; and the mind-bending psychedelic tune “Tomorrow Never Knows.”
The special edition’s new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of Revolver‘s first track, “Taxman,” were released digitally Wednesday in conjunction with the announcement of the reissue, which can be preordered now.
For full details including complete track lists of the various versions of the reissue, visit TheBeatles.com.
Tell Me Lies, a steamy new relationship drama based on the best-selling book by Carola Lovering, dropped on Hulu Wednesday.
It stars Grace Van Patten as Lucy and Jackson White as Stephen, two people caught in a toxic relationship that begins in college and spans eight years.
“I love that it’s an anti-love story,” Van Patten tells ABC Audio. “We talk about that a lot, and how at that age you’re so susceptible and it’s such a formative time in your life. And I think it’s really easy to mistake desire and passion and shared secrets as love.”
“It’s the anti, like, film and television romance where people watch it and they want to be that, they want to emulate it,” White adds. “This is the opposite of that. This is the actual anxiety, the real nuance of miscommunication and toxicity.”
In other words, if you’re looking for couple goals, this ain’t it. But if you’re looking for some 2007 nostalgia, the show’s setting throws it back to the pre-iPhone and Instagram days.
“I think it’s going to be really refreshing for people to watch and not see, you know, the Apple logo everywhere and see people on BlackBerries,” Van Patten says. “I feel like [on] Tell Me Lies, if there was an Instagram, it would be even more messed up.”
The first three episodes of the series are on Hulu now, with new episodes streaming weekly.
The Lumineers will perform at the 2022 Stand Up for Heroes benefit show, scheduled for November 7.
The annual music and comedy event will take place at the David Geffen Hall in New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts as part of the 2022 New York Comedy Festival.
Now in its 16th year, Stand Up for Heroes raises money for the Bob Woodruff Foundation and its efforts to support military veterans and their families.
This year’s lineup also includes Bruce Springsteen, Broadway performer Amber Iman and comedians Hasan Minhaj, Jeff Ross, Iliza Shlesinger and Jon Stewart.
“After an incredible in person return last year, we are thrilled to welcome everyone back for another night of laughter, healing, and appreciation of our nation’s heroic veterans, featuring some of the funniest comics and most talented musicians on the planet,” says Bob Woodruff, ABC News correspondent and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
“Stand Up for Heroes celebrates our veterans, military and their families highlighting their remarkable stories of resilience and service,” Woodruff adds. “We know it will be an entertaining and powerful night and we hope to see you there.”
The Canadian rockers have returned to announce their first album in five years. The record, the milestone 10th studio effort from Chad Kroeger and company, is titled Get Rollin’ and will drop on November 18.
“We’ve spent the last few years making a record at a pace that gave us the freedom to create and we can’t wait for everyone to hear the new music,” Nickelback says. “We’ve missed the fans and look forward to bringing the new songs to life on stage, so let’s Get Rollin’!”
You can listen to the first single off Get Rollin’, titled “San Quentin,” now via digital outlets. The track was inspired by a meeting Kroeger had with a warden of the infamous prison.
Here’s the Get Rollin’ track list:
“San Quentin”
“Skinny Little Missy”
“Those Days”
“High Time”
“Vegas Bomb”
“Tidal Wave”
“Does Heaven Even Know You’re Missing?”
“Steel Still Rusts”
“Horizon”
“Standing in the Dark
“Just One More”
“High Time (Acoustic)”*
“Does Heaven Even Know You’re Missing? (Acoustic)”*
“Just One More (Acoustic)”*
“Horizon (Acoustic)”*
Adam Levine once joked that he wanted “100 kids,” and now, he and wife Behati Prinsloo are once again on their way to reaching that goal.
The couple, already parents to daughters Dusty Rose, 5, and Gio Grace, 4, are expecting their third child, People has confirmed. On Monday, Behati’s baby bump could be seen as the couple went to lunch in Santa Barbara, CA.
In November, Behati told Entertainment Tonight that she wants “five kids” but said during the time when both Dusty and Gio were under the age of two, she didn’t want to think about expanding her family.
Behati also told ET that during COVID lockdown, “Seeing [Dusty and Gio] together, I’m like, ‘Maybe we should have a third just to have more kids,’ because it was so sweet to see [them together]. But then I don’t know. Never say never.”
No word yet on when the baby is due. Adam and Maroon 5 currently have some concert dates lined up in Southeast Asia in November and December.
