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The Wanted members are pallbearers at Tom Parker’s funeral

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

On Wednesday in London, Tom Parker‘s band mates in The Wanted gathered to remember the singer, who tragically died of brain cancer on March 30 at age 30.

As the BBC reports, The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran and Nathan Sykes carried Tom’s coffin into the church as “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis was played. One Direction‘s Liam Payne also attended the service.

During the service, Max George joked, “As we were carrying Tom in, I could actually hear him saying, ‘It’s about time,’ because he’s carried us for the last 15 years…he has left us far too early and we will miss him so much…rest easy, mate.”

Siva Kaneswaran noted, “There’s one thing we can all agree on — Tom Parker was an absolute hero.”

According to Sky News, Tom’s widow, Kelsey, said in her eulogy that Tom was her “soulmate” and that marrying him was “the best day of my life.” She also said, “I will treasure every memory because life with you was never dull.”

The couple shared two children: daughter Aurelia Rose, two-and-a-half, and son Bodhi Thomas, 18 months.

Flowers spelling out the title of The Wanted’s hit “Glad You Came” were seen outside the church.

Sebastian Bach, Deep Purple’s Steve Morse & many more contributing to Rush tribute album

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Ex-Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and longtime Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse are among many artists taking part in an upcoming tribute album to Rush.

The two-disc compilation, aptly titled An All-Star Tribute to Rush, will be released June 24. It consists of 27 covers of Rush classics, including “Closer to the Heart,” “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight,” “Fly by Night,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Subdivisions” and “YYZ.”

Other artists participating include Kip Winger, Great White‘s Jack Russell, Mr. Big‘s Eric Martin, former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee, Dokken‘s George Lynch, Zebra‘s Randy Jackson, Slaughter‘s Mark Slaughter, Testament‘s Alex Skolnick, and Dream Theater members James LaBrie and John Petrucci. Additionally, the album features late Warrant vocalist Jani Lane on two tracks.

If that’s not enough Rush tributes for you, Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante is releasing his own Rush covers EP, which will be available this Saturday as part of Record Store Day.

Here’s the full track list of An All-Star Tribute to Rush:

Disc 1
“Working Man” — Sebastian Bach & Jake E. Lee
“By-Tor and the Snow Dog” — James LaBrie & John Petrucci
“Analog Kid” — Sebastian Bach & John Petrucci
“The Trees” — Mike Baker & Brendt Allman
“La Villa Strangiato” — Steve Morse
“Mission” — Eric Martin
“Anthem” — Mark Slaughter & George Lynch
“Jacob’s Ladder” — Sebastian Bach & John Petrucci
“Closer to the Heart” — Fates Warning
“Natural Science” — Devin Townsend
“YYZ” — James Murphy
“Red Barchetta” — James LaBrie
“Freewill” — Gregoor van der Loo
“Tom Sawyer” — Alex Skolnick Trio

Disc 2
“Distant Early Warning” — Randy Jackson
“Lakeside Park” — Sebastian Bach
“Limelight” — Kip Winger
“Subdivisions” — Randy Jackson
“Different Strings” — Robert Berry
“Tom Sawyer” — Sebastian Bach
“Bastille Day” — Jani Lane & Alex Skolnick
“A Farewell to Kings” — Randy Jackson
“Spirit of the Radio” — Kip Winger
“2112 Overture/Temples of Syrinx” — Jani Lane & Vinnie Moore
“New World Man” — Robert Berry
“Fly by Night” — Sal Marrano
“Force Ten” — Robert Berry

‘Fuller House’: Candace Cameron Bure signs with Great American Country

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Great American Country is welcoming a familiar face.

Candace Cameron Bure has signed a deal with GAC Media, which encompasses the Great American Country channels, to develop, produce and star in a series of films across GAC Family and GAC Living. She’ll also be taking on an executive role at the company to curate programming and help lead the the annual Great American Christmas series.

“I’m very excited to develop heartwarming family and faith-filled programming and make the kind of stories my family and I love to watch. I am constantly looking for ways that I can inspire people to live life with purpose,” the Fuller House actress shares in a statement, adding that her goal is to create “compelling wholesome content” to be enjoyed by the whole family.

Prior to joining GAC, Candace had starred in multiple movies on Hallmark. She also appeared opposite Randy Travis in his 2007 film, The Wager.

Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Sean Lennon among artists featured on collaborative Ukraine tribute song

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Police drummer Stewart Copeland and Sean Lennon are among the musicians who have contributed to a song co-written by Primus frontman Les Claypool and Ukrainian musician Eugene Hütz of the band Gogol Bordello that’s been released in support of Ukraine as it continues to fight against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

The track is titled “Zelensky: The Man with the Iron Balls” and pays tribute to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Along with Claypool, Hütz, Copeland and Lennon, the track also features Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Billy Strings and Gogol Bordello violinist Sergey Ryabtsev. Stewart plays percussion on the song, while Sean contributes guitar and vocals.

“The night of the invasion, I was dining with close friends of mine from Poland who were hosting their family visiting the US from their town, which is 50 kilometers from the Ukraine border,” Claypool says. “Needless to say, they were stressed and concerned about what was happening in their homeland. After a few vodka shots of solidarity, I started texting with my buddy Eugene from Gogol Bordello to get his perspective and insight.”

He continues, “In that vodka-laced dialogue, we started mutually praising Zelensky for his surprisingly epic display of courage. ‘Zelensky has balls of steel!’ we agreed. It was then that we decided that some freaky, ‘East meets West’ art needed to be thrown that way.”

“Zelensky: The Man with the Iron Balls” is available now via digital outlets. Proceeds will be donated to the humanitarian aid organization Nova Ukraine.

Incidentally, Copeland plays with Claypool in the jam supergroup Oysterhead, which also features Phish singer/guitarist Trey Anastasio. The band is scheduled to headline final day of the three-day Sweetwater 420 Fest in Atlanta on May 1.

Eric Church takes “Heart on Fire” acoustic as he celebrates the one year anniversary of his ‘Heart & Soul’ album

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

It’s been a year since Eric Church dropped Heart & Soul, the massive, chart-topping triple album that produced hit singles like “Hell of a View.”

To celebrate, Eric just shared a new acoustic version of another single off the project, “Heart on Fire.” The original version of the song was the first track on the first disc of the three-disc album. It was also the first song Eric wrote for Heart & Soul.

Originally released as a high-octane rock song with a music video that tips its hat to big moments from Eric’s career to date, the new version of “Heart on Fire” is much simpler. Sitting alone on a stool in front of a microphone, Eric sings a stripped-down version of the song, accompanying himself only on acoustic guitar.

The acoustic version of the song premiered on Wednesday — exactly one year after the middle disc, &, dropped on April 20, 2021.

The one-year anniversary of Heart happened on April 16, and the one-year-anniversary of Soul will follow on April 23.

Eric is currently on tour, and he’s also planning a couple of stand-alone stadium dates this summer: One in Milwaukee over Memorial Day weekend, and another in June, featuring Morgan Wallen and Ernest as opening acts.

Alec Baldwin tweets lawyers’ response to New Mexico safety bureau’s ‘Rust’ fine

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Alec Baldwin has tweeted out a reaction to the fine issued by the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) to the producers of his movie Rust over the on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021.

Rather that issuing his own statement, the outspoken actor posted his lawyers’ official response.

“We are grateful to the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau for investigating this matter,” the statement begins. “We appreciate the report exonerates Mr. Baldwin by making clear that he believed the gun held only dummy rounds.”

The rep continues, “Additionally, the report recognizes that Mr. Baldwin’s authority on the production was limited to approving script changes and creative casting. Mr. Baldwin had no authority over the matters that were the subject of the Bureau’s findings of violations, and we are pleased that the New Mexico officials have clarified these critical issues. We are confident that the individuals identified in the report will be held accountable for this tragedy.”

On the day in question, the firearm Baldwin was pointing at Hutchins discharged, fatally striking her, and injuring the movie’s director, Joel Souza.

Rust Movie Productions LLC was fined more than $136,000 for, according to a press release from the agency, plain indifference to the “recognized hazards associated with the use of firearms on set that resulted in a fatality, severe injury, and unsafe working conditions.”

One of those safety rules is that employees must “refrain from pointing a firearm at anyone, except after consultation with the Property Master, Armorer or other safety representative, such as the First Assistant Director.” OHSB concluded, “By failing to follow these practices, an avoidable loss of life occurred.”

Baldwin contended the movie’s first assistant director, David Halls, handed him the Colt-style pistol after declaring it “cold,” or safe to handle.

Wiz Khalifa celebrates 10-year mixtape anniversary, Normani thanks body-positive role models Beyoncé and Janet Jackson and more

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

—Wiz Khalifa dropped his Taylor Gang Allderdice mixtape 10 years ago today, and in celebration of the milestone, the “Black and Yellow” rapper released the project on major streaming platforms.

The 17-track mixtape, with fan-favorite hits like “My Favorite Song” and “California,” earned positive reviews upon its release and landed at number eight on Complex magazine’s Best Albums of 2012 list.

Fans were excited at the news of the album’s streaming release, which arrived on 4/20, the date known as a celebration for smoking marijuana, one of Wiz’s known pastimes.

–In a recent interview with Yahoo! Life, Normani opened up about working to stay body positive.

“I constantly remind myself to be kind to myself,” she said. “Even though you can’t expect the rest of the world to do that, it’s like at the end of the day, somebody has to, so why not show up for yourself? Why not lift yourself up?”

The “Wild Side” singer thanked Beyoncé and Janet Jackson for being the role models the young star needed growing up.

“It was so important for me to have a Janet and have a [Beyoncé] with curves to find my place and to also know that, ‘OK she looks like me. And she’s successful. She’s beautiful and I can do the same thing.’ Little Black me needed to see that.”

Normani, a member of the former girl group Fifth Harmony, has taken the confidence she’s gained over time and put it into her music, most recently in her popular vulnerable hit “Fair.”

–A+E Networks announced a new show, Origins of Hip Hop, which will provide an in-depth look into the lives of groundbreaking stars Eve, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Lil Jon and more.

Origins of Hip Hop premieres May 30th at 10 p.m.

Lauren Spencer-Smith sets first-ever headline shows

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Keep your “Fingers Crossed” that you’ll be able to get tickets for Lauren Spencer-Smith‘s first headline shows.

The Canadian singer/songwriter wrote on her socials, “So insane to be saying this but… announcing my first-ever headline shows!!!! Cannot wait to sing LIVE with all of youuuu AHHHHH.”

The shows include June 7 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, June 28 at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom and June 30 at Toronto’s Velvet Underground. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. Visit her official website for tickets.

Lauren recently released “Flowers,” the follow-up to her breakthrough hit, “Fingers Crossed.” She’s currently working on her debut project.

George Michael documentary, his final work, to premiere in theaters this June

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

George Michael‘s final artistic statement, a documentary called George Michael Freedom Uncut, will debut in theaters worldwide on June 22.

The autobiographical documentary is narrated by the late star, who died in 2016. It focuses on the period after the release of his Faith album made him a global superstar, through the time following the release of his 1990 follow up Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1.

The film shows how, during that time, George fought for his artistic freedom, met his first love, Anselmo Feleppa, and lived through Feleppa’s death from an AIDS-related illness, as well as the loss of his mother.

The movie features “exclusive, personal archive footage,” as well as never-before-seen footage from George’s iconic video for “Freedom! ’90.” The supermodels who starred in that video, including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista, appear in the documentary, as do Elton John, Stevie Wonder, James Corden, Ricky Gervais, Mary J. Blige, Tony Bennett and fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Freedom Uncut also features “timeless duets with George’s favorite artists,” and “explores how he influenced the cultural landscape,” according to a press release.

Starting April 27, you can find out where the film is playing, and buy tickets, at GeorgeMichaelFreedomUncut.com.

“Focusing on deep healing”: Jada Pinkett Smith to address Oscars slap “when the time calls”

April 20, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Season five of Jada Pinkett Smith‘s Emmy-winning Facebook Watch show, Red Table Talk, premiered on Wednesday, and Jada started off by addressing the infamous Oscars slap. But the 50-year-old actress didn’t speak verbally about the incident.

Prior to the start of the show, a series of messages appeared on a black screen, which alluded to a later conversation surrounding the slap, “when the time calls.”

“Considering all that has happened in the last few weeks, the Smith family has been focusing on deep healing,” the message read. “Some of the discoveries around our healing will be shared at the table when the time calls.”

The message continued, “Until then… The table will continue offering itself to powerful, inspiring and healing testimonies like that of our incredible impressive first guest.”

After the on-screen text, the episode’s intimate conversation began with the season’s first guest, Grammy-nominated singer Janelle Monae.

According to a report by Variety, it’s unknown why the episode debuted late, at 12 p.m. PT on Wednesday, instead of its usual time of 9 a.m. PT. It’s also unclear if Monae’s conversation with the ladies of the Red Table — Pinkett, Adrienne Banfield Norris and Willow Smith — was filmed prior to the Academy Awards, as some of the episodes were.

More Red Table Talk episodes will air weekly, including upcoming conversations with Ireland Baldwin and her mother, Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger, the parents of the late Miss USA winner Cheslie Krys, and ‘Tinder Swindler’ victim Ayleen Charlotte.

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