A special guest moved into “Paradise City” for a Guns N’ Roses concert in Hollywood, Florida, Saturday night.
Wolfgang Van Halen joined Axl Rose and company on stage for a joint performance of the Appetite for Destruction classic, playing guitar and singing background vocals alongside Slash and Duff McKagan. The son of the late Eddie Van Halen has been on the road opening for GN’R with his own solo band, Mammoth WVH.
“Wolfgang Van Halen — you know how cool that is to say that?” Rose said in introducing Wolf to the stage. “We’re talking legacy.”
You can watch fan-shot footage of the collaboration streaming now on YouTube.
Guns N’ Roses’ U.S. tour concluded Sunday with a second show in Hollywood, Florida. They head down to Mexico for a trio of shows later this week.
Wolf, meanwhile, is set to launch his own Mammoth headlining tour next week.
(WASHINGTON) — In order for the bipartisan infrastructure bill and larger social spending package to pass, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Sunday the $3.5 trillion budget resolution price tag will likely be lowered.
“Three and a half trillion should be a minimum, but I accept that there’s gonna have to be a give and take,” Sanders told ABC “This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl.
House progressives have warned leadership they will not vote on President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill until the larger human infrastructure bill is also ready for a vote. The budget resolution calls for investments in climate change policy, child care and other social programs, and is wider in scope than the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes measures to improve the nation’s physical infrastructure.
“Both these bills are going forward in tandem,” Sanders said, reiterating the progressive call to hold out on passing infrastructure until the social spending bill is also passed.
Moderate Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., have said they will not support the bill’s $3.5 trillion price tag. Due to the slim Democratic majority in the Senate, neither bill will pass unless they have all the votes of the Democrats.
Sinema released a statement Saturday accusing progressives of “an ineffective stunt” and slammed House Democratic leadership for failing to pass the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
“Denying Americans millions of good-paying jobs, safer roads, cleaner water, more reliable electricity and better broadband only hurts everyday families,” Sinema wrote.
Asked by Karl to respond to her statement, Sanders said he thinks Sinema is “wrong” and said both bills must go forward together, adding that he voted for the infrastructure bill.
“We’re not just taking on or dealing with Sen. Manchin and Sen. Sinema, we’re taking on the entire ruling class of the country,” Sanders responded. “Right now the drug companies, the health insurance companies, the fossil fuel industry are spending hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars to prevent us from doing what the American people want.”
“This really is a test on whether democracy can work,” Sanders said. “I hope very much and I expect that the Democratic caucus and the president — I know he will — stand firm.”
Biden spent last week negotiating with members and visited Capitol Hill on Friday to meet with House Democrats. According to sources in the room for the meeting, the president suggested lowering the price tag for his social policy bill to a number ranging from $1.9 to $2.2 trillion to reach a compromise.
Sanders said he’s not sure it is “accurate” to say Biden would settle on a reconciliation package around $2 trillion.
“The president also said that a smaller investment could create historic achievements, but [for] you, $2 trillion is not enough?” Karl pressed.
“What the president is saying is that what we are trying to do is for the working families of this country, for the children, for the elderly, we’re trying to pass the most consequential piece of legislation since the Great Depression, and he’s right,” Sanders responded.
Sanders also said “no” when asked by Karl if a $2 trillion price tag for the larger bill would be enough.
Manchin has said he will not vote to go over $2 trillion on the reconciliation bill. Asked how they can proceed without his vote, Sanders said the bill is paid for by increasing taxes on “the wealthiest people not paying federal taxes.”
“If Manchin wants to pay for it, I’m there, let’s do it, and by the way, you could pay for it at $3.5 trillion, you can pay for it at $6 trillion,” Sanders said. “We have massive income and wealth inequality in this country.”
Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe has called the $3.5 trillion price tag too high. Pressed on whether the Democratic infighting will not only hurt Democrats in the midterms, but also hurt McAuliffe in his November race, Sanders said he “wishes Terry McAuliffe the best of luck” and emphasized the popularity of the reconciliation bill.
“What we are fighting for is precisely what the American people want,” Sanders said.
Sanders emphasized his confidence in passing both bills.
“At the end of the day, I am absolutely convinced we’re going to have a strong infrastructure bill, and we’re going to have a great consequential reconciliation bill which addresses the needs of the American people,” Sanders said.
(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) — A major oil spill off the coast of Southern California has forced Huntington Beach and activities scheduled to take place in the region to shut down.
A leak from an offshore oil production facility leaked 3,000 barrels of oil, which is about 126,000 gallons, on Saturday, Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr said. The leak is expected to have occurred about 4.5 miles offshore, officials said.
The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the spill around 9 a.m. Saturday, Carr said. By early Sunday morning, the oil had reached the shore. It had entered the Talbert Marshlands and the Santa Ana River Trail, fanning out over an area of about 5.8 nautical miles, the city of Huntington Beach announced in a press release Sunday morning.
The size of the spill “demanded prompt and aggressive action,” officials said, but the pipeline has been capped and is no longer leaking into the ocean.
Skimming equipment and booms have been deployed to prevent the oil from flowing into the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and Huntington Beach Wetlands, according to the city.
On Sunday night, Laguna Beach closed all its beaches, asking that “all individuals remain clear of the beach and pay close attention to any beach closure or warning signs,” according to a statement released by the city.
“Some bad news for my Laguna Beach constituents (and everyone else). I just learned projections have the #HuntingtonBeachOilSpill reaching Crystal Cove around 10pm tonight. We need more resources deployed ASAP. And then we need to end all offshore oil drilling off the CA coast,” California Sen. Dave Min tweeted.
The Coast Guard has recovered 3,150 gallons of oil from the water as of Sunday night, and 5,360 feet of boom have been deployed, they said in a statement.
The shoreside response was conducted by 105 government agency personnel. Fourteen boats conducted oil recovery operations while three Coast Guard boats enforced a safety zone off 1,000 yards around the oil spill boats. Also, four aircrafts were dispatched for overflight assessments.
It is not yet clear what caused the spill.
The final day of the Pacific Airshow was canceled in order to facilitate cleanup operations, city officials announced Sunday morning. In addition, residents were advised not to swim, surf or exercise near the beach due to the potential health hazards, such as toxic fumes.
The oil spill is already affecting wildlife, with dead birds and fish already washing up on the beaches, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley tweeted.
Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery reported to Foley that he saw dolphins swimming through the slick oil plumes as he headed back to shore from Catalina, Foley tweeted.
Foley told ABC News she believes the spill is “irreversible.”
“You can’t get wildlife back that are killed in this process, and some of the habitat the plant species, they’re going to be impacted for years to come,” she said.
She added that the damage to the environment isn’t the only thing she fears as she has received reports of surfers getting sick.
“It feels like you have a thick coating in your mouth, if you’re out there too long. It’s definitely the vapors in the air, and they’re impacting the environment,” she said.
Marine animals will be taken to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, where they will be triaged and later sent to Sea World San Diego for rehabilitation, animal rescuers told ABC News.
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is currently in a “holding pattern” as it awaits the arrival of oiled animals in the next hours, days and weeks, Krysta Higuchi, communications representative for the organization, told ABC News.
The center is “preparing for the worst, hoping for the best,” Higuchi said.
Ocean conservation nonprofit Oceana urged policymakers to begin a widespread shift to clean energy and to end offshore drilling to prevent future spills.
“This is just the latest tragedy of the oil industry,” Jacqueline Savitz, chief policy officer for, told ABC News. “The reality of our reliance on oil and gas is on full display here.”
Saturday’s spill is just the latest in American waters this past month. After Hurricane Ida tore through the Gulf Coast in early September, it left a trail of oil in its wake, with nearly 350 oil spills reported to the Coast Guard in the days after the storm made landfall.
An analysis by the organization also found that ending new leasing for offshore oil and gas in the U.S. could prevent over 19 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions as well as more than $720 billion in damages to people, property and the environment in the country.
The risk of oil spills may rise a climate change creates stronger offshore disturbances, experts told ABC News.
The California Department of Wildlife has set up a hotline to report wildlife impacted by the oil. Individuals are advised not to handle the wildlife but to report incidents to 877-823-6926.
(SAN FRANCISCO) — Andrew Wiggins, an NBA player who has vocally opposed the COVID-19 vaccine, just received a dose, according to his coach.
Wiggins, of the Golden State Warriors, refused to answer reporters’ questions about his vaccination status during a news conference last Monday.
“It’s my problem…Not yours,” he said.
But Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters Sunday that the 26-year-old did get vaccinated.
“He just told me today that he was fine with us acknowledging it,” Kerr said.
Kerr didn’t provide any more details including which vaccine Wiggins received.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health bars unvaccinated residents over the age of 12 from attending indoor events. The rule goes into effect for employees of indoor businesses on Oct. 13, eight days before the Warriors’ home opener.
Wiggins applied for a religious exemption with the NBA, but his request was denied, ESPN reported.
Things are about to get “Outrageous” for Jimmie Allen tonight on Dancing with the Stars.
That’s the song he and partner Emma Slater will be doing the Salsa to during the show’s Britney Night, in a tip of the hat to pop star Britney Spears.
And if the typically jacked Jimmie is looking a little thinner to you — well, he admits that’s because he’s working so hard.
“My partner Emma’s been kicking my butt, bro!” he tells ABC Audio. “I’ve trimmed down, I went from 221 to 214.”
“I’m trying to get back, I’m trying to get back to like 250!” he jokes.
Meanwhile, the “Freedom Was a Highway” hitmaker’s still balancing family life and touring with Brad Paisley.
“It’s tough! I tell you, that man,” he admits. “You know, trying to do this show while touring, you know, and trying to be a husband and a father at the same time. It’s pretty intense, but I love it.”
Jimmie survived the first elimination, while improving on his standing from the previous week. So if he can just hold on, he promises there’s plenty ahead worth watching.
“If I don’t get voted off the show, which I hope not, so I need country music to hold me down!” he proclaims. “I think we got, you know, Disney week, you know, one week, of course, they always do that, and they have some sort of celebrity week.”
“So I’m looking forward just, you know, every week getting better and, you know, learning new stuff, trying new stuff,” he says.
Tune in to see how Jimmie fares tonight, as the new episode of Dancing with the Stars starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
When it came to the box office, Venom: Let There Be Carnage certainly lived up to its name.
Sony’s comic-book movie sequel — which was produced in association with Marvel Studios — was easily the biggest film of the weekend, debuting at number one with an impressive $90 million three-day total.
Venom 2‘s haul is the biggest theatrical opening since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. That record previously belonged to Marvel’s Black Widow, which opened with over $80 million.
Venom 2 also bests the $80 million pre-pandemic bow posted by the first Venom movie, which introduced us to Tom Hardy‘s take on the Spider-Man universe anti-hero back in 2018. Along with Hardy, Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams reprises her role in the sequel, while Woody Harrelson and Naomie Harris lead the additions to the cast.
Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which had led the box office for four straight weeks, finally fell from the top spot to number three, adding another $6 million to its total, which now stands at over $200 million.
The animated family feature The Addams Family 2 slipped into the number-two spot with an $18 million opening. On the other side of the family-friendly spectrum, The Many Saints of Newark — a prequel to HBO’s iconic series The Sopranos, featuring the late James Gandolfini‘s son Michael as a young Tony Soprano — bowed at number four, with $5 million.
Musical Dear Evan Hanson rounds out the top five, adding $2.5 million in its second week.
Travis Scott, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and Jada Pinkett Smith are among the stars who will be honored at a special ceremony on October 23 in Los Angeles.
Smith, her daughter Willow, and her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, will receive the Entertainer of the Year Award. MC Lyte will be presented with the Trailblazer Award, and 18-year-old actress Storm Reid from the films 12 Years a Slave and A Wrinkle in Time will be presented with the Rising Star Award.
In the Music Impact category, the honorees are: Scott, Beatz, Timbaland, Anderson .Paak, Big Freedia, Erica Campbell, Derrick “D- Nice” Jones, Lil Baby, Questlove and Rapsody, plus executives Joi Brown and Jeanine McLean-Williams.
Andra Day, Regé-Jean Page, Anthony Mackie, Tessa Thompson, John David Washington, MJ Rodriquez and Tony Award-winning director Liesl Tommy were recognized in the Entertainment Powerhouse category.
The NextGen list includes Chloe x Halle, Nia DaCosta and Amanda Gorman.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor‘s first new solo album in eight years, Outsider, was released Friday.
The 12-collection features an eclectic variety of reflective songs, most of which Taylor recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic at his home studio in southwestern England.
“I think it’s a little bit more adult than my albums before,” Taylor tells ABC Audio. “It was a happy project born out of the boredom of lockdown…I’m very happy with it, and I just hope it imparts a little joy to some other people.”
Taylor says Outsider was almost a literal solo project, noting that he played “about 96 percent” of the music on the album. He did get some vocal help on the record’s lead single, “We’re All Just Trying to Get By,” a duet with Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall.
“[S]he’s a real, real talent, I think,” Roger notes. “It was nice to have her singing along with me.”
He notes that he wrote the song during the lockdown while reflecting on what all living things have in common.
“[E]verybody and everything that’s living is just trying to get by and is just trying to survive and multiply,” he notes. “[E]ven the virus is trying to get by.”
An interesting aspect of Outsider is it features two very different versions of the same song, “Gangsters Are Running This World,” which is about how corrupt people are in control in many countries.
“I couldn’t make up my mind whether to do it as a hard rocker or to do it as a slightly more serious and more melodic piece,” he notes. “So I did both.”
Taylor launched a 14-date U.K. solo tour supporting Outsider on Saturday in Newcastle with a set that included Queen tunes, solo material and select covers.
When it came to the box office, Venom: Let There Be Carnage certainly lived up to its name.
Sony’s comic-book movie sequel — which was produced in association with Marvel Studios — was easily the biggest film of the weekend, debuting at number one with an impressive $90 million three-day total.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Venom 2‘s haul is the biggest theatrical opening since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. That record previously belonged to Marvel’s Black Widow, which opened with over $80 million.
Venom 2 also bests the $80 million bow posted by the first Venom movie, which introduced us to Tom Hardy‘s take on the Spider-Man universe anti-hero back in 2018. Along with Hardy, Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams reprises her role in the sequel, while Woody Harrelson and Naomie Harris lead the additions to the cast.
Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which had led the box office for four straight weeks, finally fell from the top spot to number three, adding another $6 million to its total, which now stands at over $200 million.
The animated family feature The Addams Family 2 slipped into the number-two spot with an $18 million opening. On the other side of the family-friendly spectrum, The Many Saints of Newark — a prequel to HBO’s iconic series The Sopranos, featuring the late James Gandolfini‘s son Michael as a young Tony Soprano — bowed at number four with $5 million.
Musical Dear Evan Hanson rounds out the top five, adding $2.5 million in its second week.
The Van Halen frontman dropped the bombshell news during a phone interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal published Friday.
“I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” Roth said. “This is the first, and only, official announcement.”
Roth said his recently announced five-show solo Las Vegas residency at the House of Blues — taking place on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and January 5, 7 and 8 — will be his final concerts.
“I’m not going to explain the statement,” Diamond Dave declared. “The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows.”
During the conversation, Roth also revealed that he talks frequently with Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen, and that his longtime band mate was aware of his plans to retire.
“Al and I have been talking, and I can’t speak for him just yet, but he knows what I am about to say,” Roth said, adding, “We speak to each other constantly, two or three times a day. We laugh like pirates.”
He also suggested that the 2020 death of guitarist Eddie Van Halen was a factor in his decision.
“[I’ve been thinking about] the departure of my beloved classmate recently,” said Dave, noting, “I am encouraged and compelled to really come to grips with how short time is, and my time is probably even shorter.”
The 66-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer also admitted that he thought he might have been the first Van Halen member to pass away.
Roth finished the interview by saying, “I’ve given you all I’ve got to give. It’s been an amazing, great run, no regrets, nothing to say about anybody. I’ll miss you all. Stay frosty.”
