Stabbing Westward vocalist Christopher Hall has shared that he’s been diagnosed with throat cancer.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, he wrote, “I’d like to apologize to everyone who made travel plans to see us in August and September. We’ve had to put those shows on hold while I deal with a serious health issue.”
Hall added that his current “prognosis is really good,” but he’ll need to undergo surgery and “6-8 weeks of chemo and radiation.”
“Unfortunately, I won’t be singing anytime soon,” he wrote. “I’m hoping to be feeling more human by Halloween and have my voice back by Christmas.”
Stabbing Westward just released a new album called Chasing Ghosts in March, marking the group’s first full-length effort in over 20 years.
Madonna knows biopics are hot right now, and that’s precisely why she got the jump on making one about her life.
Speaking with Variety, the Grammy winner said making a biopic was about self-preservation and integrity.
“I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film. It was also a preemptive strike because a lot of people were trying to make movies about me,” said Madonna. “Mostly misogynistic men.”
The hitmaker continued, “So I put my foot in the door and said, ‘No one’s going to tell my story, but me.'”
That mentality of ensuring her life story stays firmly hers also extends to her music. While heavy-hitting musicians such as Justin Timberlake and Bruce Springsteen have sold their catalogs for hefty sums, Madonna vowed to never go that route.
“They’re my songs. Ownership is everything isn’t it?” she quipped.
As for when fans will be able to see her forthcoming biopic, Madonna says she’s still tinkering on the script. “I have a very long script that is really hard for me to make shorter,” she confessed. “I’ve been whittling away at it, but it’s like hacking off my limbs.”
Madonna had co-written the biopic with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, who spoke with ABC Audio about the experience.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody with a work ethic like that before. Madonna is just on another level,” the Juno writer said. “If you had told me when I was in the fifth grade that someday I would get to hang out with Madonna….and sit at her knee as she shared the stories of her life? I would never have believed you.”
Cody added, “I can’t really say that much about [the movie] but I can say that I’m profoundly grateful for the experience.”
The Cure has announced a deluxe reissue of the band’s 1992 album, Wish,in honor of its 30th anniversary.
The three-disc set includes newly remastered audio of the original record, a collection of demos, outtakes and rarities, and perhaps most excitingly, the four tracks from the much sought-after 1993 cassette tape Lost Wishes, which has never before been released on CD or digital.
The Wish reissue will be released October 7. You can also pick up a cassette reissue of Lost Wishes that same day.
Wish is The Cure’s ninth album, which spawned the hit single “Friday I’m in Love.”
Meanwhile, The Cure has continued to chip away at a new album, which frontman Robert Smith has said will finally arrive later this year. It’s important to note he’s been saying the same thing since 2019.
Olivia Rodrigo caught up with her old High School Musical: The Musical: The Series‘ castmates on the red carpet premiere of season three.
The “good 4 u” hitmaker shared a photo of her posing with Sofia Wylie, Joshua Bassett and Matt Cornett, the rumored ex-boyfriend who supposedly inspired her SOUR album.
She captioned the post, “love all these people so so so much. knowing and working with them has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” adding “wildcats forever” and a red heart emoji.
Another snap shows Olivia enjoying a cast photo with everyone who appeared in the third season, including guest stars Jason Earles, JoJo Siwa and Corbin Bleu.
The “drivers license” singer continued the celebration, later sharing HSM’sInstagram post on her Stories alongside three red heart emojis. The post, which read, “We all remember THAT summer!” contained more photos of the cast, including a sweet snap of Olivia wrapping an arm around an excited JoJo Siwa.
Olivia has starred in the show since 2019 as the aspiring singer Nini. Creator Tim Federle previously told ABC Audio that she will have a “meaningful sendoff” in the new season so she can pursue her singing career full-time.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is streaming its third season on Disney+.
(NEW YORK) — The severe heat in the Northwest has now turned deadly, with the Oregon state medical examiner reporting two suspected heat deaths on Wednesday.
With temperatures expected to stay in the triple digits across much of the Northwest this weekend, officials are warning people of the dangers.
One death was reported by Multnomah County, which includes Portland, on July 25. Officials have not said where and when the second death occurred.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet responded to ABC News’ request for further details on the deaths.
Over a dozen counties across Oregon remain in a state of emergency on Thursday.
Spreading across the country, over 35 million Americans continue to be under excessive heat warnings or heat alerts, with many of them in the Northwest.
Redding, California, will likely near 115 degrees on Thursday to break its previous record, according to the National Weather Service.
Spokane, Washington, may also break a record on Thursday as it is projected to reach 102 degrees.
The extreme heat in the region, coupled with record warm nights, is expected to reach into next week, the NWS said.
Multnomah County officials ask residents to take the heat seriously.
Officials have set up overnight cooling shelters and a daytime cooling center along with officials from the city of Portland and community partners.
County officials said the centers will remain open until at least Friday morning.
“People don’t think they’re at risk from heat. But we have plenty of younger people ending up in the emergency room right now. It’s not cooling off much at night and we’re only halfway through this thing,” Brendon Haggerty, program supervisor at the Multnomah County Health Department, said in a statement.
The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has put measures in place to ensure safety for outdoor workers during the heat.
According to OSHA, when the heat index hits or exceeds 80 degrees, employers need to provide shady areas for workers to rest, more break time and access to plenty of water. If the index hits 90 degrees, breaks must be longer, communication must become more frequent and each worker must be monitored more closely throughout the shift.
During a 2021 heat wave, 800 people died in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia throughout late June and early July. Heat records were broken across the region, with Portland hitting 116 degrees at its peak.
Bastille has announced an expanded version of the band’s latest album, Give Me the Future.
Dubbed Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past, the collection includes new songs and reprises in an effort to give a more “complete picture” of Bastille’s intention with the original record.
“You can dive into the ideas of the future and an electronic world, or you can fall back into the past — away from technology and into ideas of memory and nostalgia — both thematically and musically,” says frontman Dan Smith. “Or you can choose full-on dancefloor heartbreak escape.”
Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past is due out August 26. It also includes the latest edition of Bastille’s Other People’s Heartache mixtape series, which includes various collaborations and a cover of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Dancing in the Dark.”
You can listen to a new Dreams of the Past track called “Revolution” now via digital outlets.
Give Me the Future was first released in February. It includes the singles “Distorted Light Beam,” “No Bad Days” and “Shut Off the Lights.”
Earlier this month, country-rock pioneer Richie Furay, who co-founded Buffalo Springfield and Poco, released his latest solo album, the country covers collection In the Country.
The 12-track album mainly features renditions of major country hits, while also including some noteworthy crossover tunes, like Marc Cohn‘s “Walking in Memphis” and John Denver‘s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Furay tells ABC Audio the album came about after he reconnected with producer Val Garay, who produced his 1979 album, I Still Have Dreams.
Furay says Val suggested they do a country hits project. They both came up with lists of tunes, which they narrowed down to include chart-toppers from Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, Lonestar, Alabama and Lee Ann Womack.
“Most of ’em were big hits … [but] I don’t want people to listen to this record and do comparisons,” Furay insists. “I just want ’em to sit back, ’cause, man, we just need music today … that people can just get lost in, and just say, ‘Wow, that’s just good sounding music.'”
Furay recorded the album in Nashville with talented session musicians. He also brought in some guests to contribute backing vocals, including his former Poco bandmate, longtime Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit.
Furay says of Schmit, who appears on multiple tracks, “He’s just a dear friend … whenever I ask Timothy if he wants to come and be a part of a record … if he’s got the time … he’s always there.”
Schmit also connected Furay with current Eagles touring member Vince Gill, who sings on a cover of the 1958 Ricky Nelson hit “Lonesome Town.”
Furay says working with Gill “was really a thrill and a blessing for me … He’s such a great, talented guy.”
Here’s In the Country‘s full track list:
“Somebody Like You” (Keith Urban)
“I Hope You Dance” (Lee Ann Womack)
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” (John Denver)
“She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” (Sammy Kershw)
“Your Love Amazes Me” (John Berry)
“I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)” (Alabama)
“Lonesome Town” (Ricky Nelson)
“Walking in Memphis” (Marc Cohn)
“I’m Already There” (Lonestar)
“The River” (Garth Brooks)
“In This Life” (Collin Raye)
“Chalk” (Buddy & Julie Miller)
Digital Bonus Tracks:
“I Cross My Heart” (George Strait)
“Pickin’ Up the Pieces” (Poco)
Weird, the sort-of biopic about Grammy-winning parodist “Weird” Al Yankovic, will debut on Roku November 4. Al, himself, tweeted the news with a “Mark your calendars…” caption and a photo of the movie poster.
Daniel Radcliffe is shown from the back, dressed in full Al costume, an accordion slung under his right arm as he looks down a California street, the Hollywood sign in the distance.
The back of his red denim jacket is emblazoned with the legend, “Daniel Radcliffe is WEIRD, the Al Yankovic Story”; “Weird” is written in all caps and adorned with rhinestones.
As previously reported, the film also stars Emmy-nominated Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna, who Al parodied with his hit “Like A Surgeon.”
The streaming service teases that the movie explores “every facet of Yankovic’s life, from his meteoric rise to fame with early hits like ‘Eat It’ and ‘Like a Surgeon’ to his torrid celebrity love affairs and famously depraved lifestyle.”
