As Loverboy prepares to return to the stage for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, the veteran Canadian rockers have released a brand-new single, “Release,” that they recorded remotely during lockdown.
The hard-rocking, ’80s-influenced song is available now via streaming services, while a video for the tune has premiered at Loverboy’s YouTube channel. The clip features the band performing the song together, mixed with archival footage of the group playing at various concerts.
Loverboy guitarist Paul Dean began writing “Release” for a heavy-metal band that wanted him to collaborate with them, but when the project fell through, he decided that the song could work as a tune for his own group.
“It started out as a frustrated call to action, after months of lock down, and morphed into a metal anthem about the loyalty and commitment of that audience,” explains Dean, who says the lyrics were inspired by the 2005 documentary Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey.
Paul adds, “The communal aspect of heavy rock is almost like a religion. I’ve always been a big metal fan; my son and I have seen many of those bands in concert.”
Dean enlisted his Loverboy band mates to help finish the song, including frontman Mike Reno, who contributed some lyrics as well as lead vocals.
Paul also praises Loverboy drummer Matt Frenette, who sent him seven different drum takes to choose from for the track.
“That was amazing,” Dean enthuses. “It totally blew me away.”
Loverboy will play their first concert in nearly two years on January 23 in Ridgefield, Washington. The band has a variety of other headlining shows scheduled leading up to their upcoming spring/summer tour with Styx and REO Speedwagon, which kicks off May 31 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(ATLANTA) — Any mask is better than no mask. But loosely woven cloth masks provide the least amount of protection and Americans in some cases might want to opt for higher quality masks like KN95 and N95 respirators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote Friday in updated online guidance.
“Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for certain higher risk situations, or by some people at increased risk for severe disease,” the CDC stated.
The updated guidance comes after weeks of health experts urging Americans to upgrade their masks in the face of omicron, warning that cloth masks are not effective enough at stopping the highly transmissible variant from spreading.
But with much of the public reluctant to wear a mask at all, the CDC recommendation stops short of calling on Americans to choose one mask over the other, maintaining that any mask is better than no mask. The CDC also argues that higher quality masks can be less comfortable, and if a person takes it off, they are left with no protection.
“What I will say is the best mask that you can wear is the one that you will wear and the one you can keep on all day long that you can tolerate in public indoor settings and tolerate where you need to wear it,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, told reporters this week.
N95 and K95 masks can be costly and harder to find, even as the U.S. government has built up a stockpile of 737 million N95s to ensure first responders don’t fun out. President Joe Biden said this week he is developing a plan to make the higher quality masks more widely available.
“Next week we’ll announce how we’re making high-quality masks available to the American people for free,” Biden said.
In its earlier guidance, the CDC urged Americans not to purchase surgical N95 masks so as to save them for health care workers. However, it noted that “basic disposable” respirators can be an option so long as supplies are available.
While this latest guidance stops short of calling on people to wear a certain type of mask, it includes more information about why a person might opt for a nonsurgical N95 or a KN95. It also suggests wearing a disposable surgical mask with a cloth mask over it to improve the fit.
“Some masks and respirators offer higher levels of protection than others, and some may be harder to tolerate or wear consistently than others,” the CDC stated in the updated guidance. “It is most important to wear a well-fitted mask or respirator correctly that is comfortable for you and that provides good protection.”
A month after New Mexico authorities issued a search warrant for it, Alec Baldwin has reportedly surrendered his cellphone to law enforcement.
The Santa Fe District Attorney tells ABC News that they now have the device; investigators sought to find information possibly related to Baldwin fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western Rust, an October 21, 2021, incident that also injured director Joel Souza.
New Mexico authorities said as late as Thursday that they hadn’t received the phone.
Last weekend, Baldwin insisted that he was cooperating with investigators’ request despite the delay, telling followers on Instagram that any story to the contrary was “a lie.”
Baldwin’s lawyer Aaron Dyer had previously issued a statement that claimed they wanted to “take steps to protect Mr. Baldwin’s family and personal information…unrelated to the investigation,” as “[a] phone contains a person’s entire life, and personal information needs to be protected.”
Other outlets, including Variety, noted that the actor had surrendered his phone to the Suffolk County, New York, authorities, who were going to “download the data and provide relevant material to the Santa Fe County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office.”
Late last year, Baldwin insisted to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that he didn’t pull the trigger of the vintage-style Colt revolver he was pointing at Hutchins during a rehearsal. Nevertheless, a live round that went unnoticed in the pistol discharged.
(NEW YORK) — Southern states have declared states of emergency as snow targets the East Coast this weekend.
The storm first hits the Midwest Friday night into Saturday. Roads will be dangerous in southern Minnesota and Iowa, where up to 10 inches of snow and gusty winds could cause whiteout conditions. The Midwest could see 6 to 12 inches of snow in some areas.
Saturday night into Sunday, the snow turns to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain could make roads extremely dangerous.
Three to 6 inches of snow is possible in parts of the South, with 6 to 18 inches possible in the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. This storm has the potential to give Atlanta its first measurable snow in four years.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam have issued states of emergency as the storm approaches.
“This storm will bring significant impacts from snow, sleet and freezing rain in different parts of the state, with likely power outages and travel disruptions,” Cooper warned.
Northam said, “I urge Virginians to take this storm seriously and make preparations now.”
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has also declared a statewide “state of preparedness.”
The storm will reach the mid-Atlantic later in the day on Sunday and may bring snow and a wintry mix to Washington, D.C., by Sunday evening. The Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey coastline will see rain and possibly strong winds.
For Monday morning, forecast models are showing heavy snow for the interior Northeast and light snow followed by rain for the major cities along the coast, like Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. But it is possible the storm shifts east, dropping heavy snow on the Interstate 95 corridor.
One to 3 inches of snow is possible for D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston before it’s quickly washed away by Monday’s rain. Six to 18 inches of snow is forecast for the interior Northeast and New England.
For those in the Northeast, make sure to bundle up as you await the snow: temperatures in the Northeast are plunging to their lowest levels in three years this weekend.
Saturday morning the wind chill — what temperature it feels like — will be 2 degrees in New York, minus 12 in Boston and minus 28 in Burlington, Vermont.
ABC News’ Hilda Estevez contributed to this report.
On Sunday evening, Bob Saget will be memorialized by one of the shows that made him a household name, America’s Funniest Home Videos.
The long-running show, currently hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, will open on Sunday night at 7 p.m. Eastern time with a tribute to Saget, who was found dead in a Florida hotel room last Sunday. He was 65.
On AFV‘s YouTube page, which featured a preview of Sunday’s tribute, Saget was called, “the backbone of a TV show that has gone on to entertain not only America, but the world.”
“Bob made us smile, he made us laugh out loud and, often times, he would make us giggle. A comedy legend. A kind soul. Our dear friend. We will miss you, Bob,” the post continued.
Maroon 5 has three Grammy Awards and, now, it has three RIAA Diamond-certified singles after their 2015 hit “Sugar” sold over 10 million copies. Coincidentally, the single turned seven on Thursday so its new recognition from the RIAA seems like one heck of a birthday present.
Maroon 5 took to Instagram to celebrate the tremendous news, using a well-chosen emoji to indicate that their minds are blown by their latest accomplishment.
The Adam Levine-fronted band said they are “Forever indebted to the world’s greatest fans.” Sharing an edited picture of the single’s cover art, where the girl is biting down on the new RIAA certification, the hitmakers continued, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us achieve our 3rd @riaa_awards [diamond emoji] certified single. #Sugar has gone 11x platinum.”
Just last month, Maroon 5 notched their second RIAA Diamond-certified hit thanks to their “Girls Like You” collab with Cardi B. They first snagged the honor with their 2011 hit “Moves Like Jagger.”
The “What Lovers Do” hitmakers are now tied with Imagine Dragons for the band boasting the most Diamond-certified singles.
In August 2021, ID celebrated two of their songs surpassing 10 million sales — “Believer” and “Demons” — and became the first band to notch three Diamond-certified tracks, according to Chart Data. Their other song “Radioactive” previously snagged the honor in July 2015.
A new collection of Jimi Hendrix-inspired footwear and accessories created by shoe designer John Fluevog in partnership with the Experience Hendrix company, which oversees the late guitar legend’s legacy, will be available starting later this month.
The John Fluevog + Jimi Hendrix collection includes The Stand Up Electric Lady and The Tudor Jimi boots, as well as a uniquely designed bag, belts and bracelets.
The designs were inspired by Hendrix’s life, music, lyrics, art and fashion sense, and Fluevog and his team worked closely with Jimi’s family to create items that pay proper tribute to the rock icon.
The Stand Up Electric Lady is a tall platform boot featuring silk scarf lacing, while The Tudor Jimi is an ankle boot that boasts braided appliqué. Both boots will be available in variations featuring either gold embroidery or purple velvet. The velvet used in the boots features examples of Hendrix’s handwriting.
“I feel such a sense of privilege to be connected to a cultural icon at the level of Jimi Hendrix,” Fluevog says in a statement. “We went deep into Jimi’s clothes, style and overall journey; one can envision him swinging down the streets of London in this collection looking perfect. We’re so proud of it and we’d like to think Jimi would be delighted with our collective efforts.”
Adds Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s sister and Experience Hendrix’s CEO, “If ever a product line has drawn from the very essence of the Hendrix experience, this one has. Fluevog has truly grasped the signature style and energy of Jimi and created pieces that could very well have come out of his closet. The ‘wow effect’ that Jimi unveiled every time he appeared is definitely there!”
The Hendrix collection will be available at John Fluevog stores and website starting January 27.
Both Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato delighted their fans by announcing new music is on the horizon.
For Christina, she shared an image of her and Latin singer Ozuna posing in tight red outfits on Twitter and revealed that the two have a song coming out next week called “Santo.” Fans can listen to the collab on Thursday, January 20, and are able to pre-save it now.
The single is part of Christina’s upcoming La Fuerza EP, which is meant to promote her larger all-Spanish album release set for later this year. The Grammy winner has yet to reveal the title of her new project, which will be her first Spanish-language studio effort in over 20 years, following the 2000 release of Mi Reflejo.
As for Demi, the “Confident” singer recently scrubbed their Instagram and appears ready to usher in a brand new era of music. On Friday, they also announced an upcoming collab with Matthew Koma‘s indie rock band Winnetka Bowling League called “fiimy,” which is a condensed way to say “F*** it, I miss you.”
In the promo, Demi is heard leaving a voicemail to someone who apparently used to be a close relationship. “Hey, I’ve been trying to reach you. Funny, time moves on, maybe I should to… F*** it. I miss you,” they say before disconnecting the phone. The single is due out February 4 and is available to pre-save now.
OWN, BET and TCM are paying tribute to the late Sidney Poitier with a series of special programming.
On Sunday, the Oprah Winfrey Network will feature the Academy Award-winning actor’s 2000 and 2007 appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and his 1967 film To Sir, with Love, according to Deadline. The network will also rerun the 2015 special, Oprah Winfrey Presents: Legends Who Paved the Way, featuring Poitier at a gala honoring some of the legendary men and extraordinary women of the civil rights movement.
TCM will broadcast 12 Poitier movies in a marathon block on Saturday and Sunday, February 19-20. February 20 will mark what would have been Poitier’s 95th birthday.
BET and BET Her plan tributes for February 26 as a lead-in to its live coverage of the NAACP Image Awards. That coverage includes Sidney Poitier: In His Own Words, which will trace his life from his immigrant beginnings in the Bahamas through his iconic Hollywood career.
In other news, as the NFL playoffs begin Saturday, Ciara will narrate a five-part NFL Films docuseries titled Earnin’ It highlighting the careers of some of the most powerful women working in professional football, beginning January 23 on Peacock.
“I am honored to be a part of something so special that will undoubtedly be meaningful to so many people. I am awe-inspired by their incredible stories and am grateful to be part of sharing them with the world,” the Grammy winner said in a statement. Ciara is married to Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl winning quarterback Russell Wilson.
Finally, FX dropped an unusual teaser for the new season of Atlanta as the series shifts abroad. The clip shows cast members starring in commercials for a variety of products in Europe. Atlanta’s third season begins March 24 on FX.
Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — The Biden administration will launch a new website on Wednesday that Americans can use to request free at-home rapid COVID tests mailed to their doorsteps, senior White House officials said on Friday.
People will be able to order four tests per household at COVIDTests.gov. They won’t be delivered immediately, though. They will be shipped out 7-12 days after they’re ordered, senior officials said.
That means the first free tests won’t reach Americans until late January or early February, which will be too late to blunt the peak of omicron cases in many parts of the country. Still, the plan will allow Americans to have free tests on-hand in the coming weeks and months.
All that people need to enter on the site to receive a test is a name and an address. The White House will also launch a call line for people who don’t have computer access.
Another 500 million tests will eventually also be available, bringing the total to 1 billion free at-home tests distributed to Americans, but the White House hasn’t announced a timeline for the second batch of tests.
And more immediately, starting Saturday, people will be able to get up to eight tests per month reimbursed through insurance if they go out and purchase them on their own, either online or at stores.
“In the first couple of days, we’re encouraging people to just make sure you keep your receipts as the systems are getting up online,” a senior administration official said on Friday.
The White House is also incentivizing insurers to work with retailers and offer the tests for free up-front for people who show their insurance cards, similar to how prescriptions might be covered at the pharmacy. Those partnerships between insurers and retailers are still in the works.
This is on top of 50 million free at-home tests that have been doled out to community health centers around the country and 20,000 free testing sites.
Taken together, it all signifies a clear effort on behalf of the administration to increase the testing supply after omicron caught the government off guard.
The myriad testing options now in full swing will also likely take the pressure off the website launching on Wednesday, particularly as cases begin to fall in some northeastern areas.
Less demand will give the White House time to finish contracting all 500 million tests.
Currently, the White House only has tens of millions of tests on hand, a senior administration official confirmed Friday.
They’ve secured another 400 million or so that are still being manufactured and delivered.
But senior administration officials said they were confident they would be able to get tests sent out to any American who ordered a test next week within their shipping timeline of 7-12 days.
“We’re confident that with our contracting speed, which is very fast, with the ones we have on hand, and the timeline we’re laying out today, that we can meet all of our timelines and get these to Americans that want them,” a senior administration official said.
The tests will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service as first class mail.
The tests will not necessarily be of use to Americans who were exposed and want to take a test within the first 5 days of exposure, or come down with symptoms and want to test immediately, since they’ll take more than 7-12 days to arrive.
But senior administration officials ran through the host of other testing options Americans can use in those scenarios and defended this program as one “designed to ensure that Americans have at-home rapid tests on hand in the weeks and months ahead, as they have a need.”
The officials also said they were “ready” to meet demand on Wednesday and prevent any website crashes, as seen during former President Barack Obama’s launch of Healthcare.gov, which was overseen at the time by the current White House COVID Coordinator Jeff Zients.
“Of course, every website launch poses some risks, we are quite cognizant of that. But we have the best tech teams” across the administration, an official said. “So we’re ready for this and we’re ready for Americans to start ordering their tests on January 19.”
