Bob Dylan has scheduled his first tour dates since the start of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The folk-rock legend, who turned 80 this past May, has unveiled a series of fall 2021 U.S. concerts kicking off November 2 in Milwaukee and running through a December 2 show in Washington, D.C.
Tickets for most of the dates will go on sale to the general public starting this Friday, October 1. Pre-sale tickets also will be available; visit BobDylan.com for more details.
According to Dylan’s website, the U.S. leg will mark the start of a worldwide tour in support of Bob’s most recent studio album, 2020’s Rough and Rowdy Ways, that will run until 2024.
The stateside trek features multiple-nights stands at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on November 19, 20 and 21, Port Chester New York’s Capitol Theatre on November 23 and 24 and Philadelphia’s The Met on November 29 and 30.
Dylan’s most recent trek ended in December 2019. This past July, a new livestreamed performance by Bob and his longtime backing band, called Shadow Kingdom, was made available via the Veeps.com platform.
In conjunction with the compilation’s release, Dylan premiered a video on YouTube capturing an in-studio performance of the Infidels track “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight,” featuring Bob accompanied by Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler and ex-Rolling Stones member Mick Taylor on guitars, as well as Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark, legendary reggae drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare.
Will Smith is speaking candidly about his unconventional marriage with wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.
In a new GQ magazine cover story, which includes excerpts from Smith’s upcoming memoir, Will, Smith reveals that he and Pinkett-Smith didn’t always practice monogamy in their marriage.
“Jada never believed in conventional marriage…Jada had family members that had an unconventional relationship,” Will says of his wife of 23 years. “So she grew up in a way that was very different than how I grew up. There were significant endless discussions about, what is relational perfection? What is the perfect way to interact as a couple? And for the large part of our relationship, monogamy was what we chose, not thinking of monogamy as the only relational perfection.”
Smith, who shares son Jaden, 23, and daughter Willow, 20, with Jada, says he and his wife decided to do a Red Table Talk about their relationship as a way to protect themselves from “public scrutiny” following singer August Alsina‘s comments that he and Jada had an affair.
“The pursuit of truth is the only way to be happy in this lifetime,” Will shares. “And we sort of came to the agreement that authenticity was the release from the shackles of fame…”
Smith believes that their openness has allowed for “trust and freedom.”
“Marriage for us can’t be a prison,” Smith says. “And I don’t suggest our road for anybody. But the experiences that the freedoms that we’ve given one another and the unconditional support, to me, is the highest definition of love.”
During the interview, Smith also admits that he’s been working with an intimacy coach and that one of his greatest fantasies was to have a harem of girlfriends — which included Misty Copeland and Halle Berry.
Smith says he eventually realized, “That would be horrific.”
Thomas Rhett had the special opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game.
Before headlining Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in the Windy City, the country star took the mound at Wrigley Field Sunday to throw out the symbolic first pitch at the Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game.
A series of photos from the event shows Thomas running onto the field with a ball and glove in hand, embracing player #48, Rex Brothers, before striking an impressive pitcher’s stance on the mound. He also shared a snap of he and wife Lauren Akins, who is pregnant with their fourth daughter, in their Cubs jerseys and ball caps on the field.
“One for the books!! Thank you @cubs for letting me throw the first pitch today. Love this city so much,” Thomas shares in the caption.
Thomas continues on his Center Point Road Tour through October 9.
She took a loss on it, but Kelly Clarkson has finally managed to unload the Encino, California home she shared with her soon-to-be-ex-husband after first listing it in May of 2020.
Realtor.com reports that after splitting with husband Brandon Blackstock, who will officially become her ex-husband on January 7, 2022, she listed the mansion, described as a “modern farmhouse,” for just under $10 million. She then slashed the price twice before closing the deal this month for $8.24 million; it cost $8.5 million in 2018.
Kelly’s “farmhouse” is more than 10,000 square feet, and includes eight bedrooms, nine full bathrooms, two half-baths, a home theater, a fitness center, a game room, a wine cellar, a three-car garage, a multi-level pool, fire pit, outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and a two-bedroom guesthouse.
Some of the neighbors she’s leaving include Nick Jonas and Selena Gomez.
This past summer, Kelly also sold her home in Hendersonville, TN for just over $6 million, and bought a five-bedroom house in Toluca Lake for a mere $5.45 million.
Young Thug, Gunna, Bia, Lil Jon, Baby Keem and Isaiah Rashad will be among the stars performing at the BET Hip Hop Awards on October 5 In Atlanta. Big Daddy Kane will pay special tribute to the late Biz Markie, who passed away July 16 in New York City at the age of 57.
Trina, Remy Ma, Jermaine Dupri and Tank will also appear as presenters. As previously reported, Nelly will be honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award for career achievement.
Cardi B, Lil Durk and Megan Thee Stallion lead all artists with nine nominations each, followed by Drake, with eight nods.
DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and Chico Bean from the 85 South digital comedy show will host for the second year in a row.
The 16th annual BET Hip Hop Awards will air Tuesday, October 5 at 9 p.m. on BET
(EVANSTON, Ill.) — Northwestern University says it is investigating two fraternity houses after students say they were non-consensually drugged during gatherings at the Evanston, Illinois, campus locations. There is also now a criminal investigation into the incidents by local police.
The university has yet to determine how many students were allegedly involved.
On Saturday, school officials halted social events and chapter-sponsored recruitment activities at some campus fraternities. The suspension will last until Oct. 17, at the earliest.
The university is encouraging students to seek on-campus counseling and other health services as needed as student protests erupt at the two locations where the incidents allegedly took place.
“I am here because multiple survivors have come forward stating the harm that they experienced in this frat and others,” one student told the ABC Chicago station. “This is not a unique instance.”
School officials said in a statement that they have been in communication with the Interfraternity Council, the governing body of many fraternities, and it “understand[s] the seriousness of these reports and the importance of the investigations.”
The IFC also passed a resolution to institute a ban on all social activities inclusive of recruitment events during this time frame.
“This decision was made to help ensure the safety of our students,” a university representative told ABC News. “As we said in our message to the Northwestern community, the health, safety and well-being of our students is our top priority.”
The university has since reminded students of the policy against alcohol in on-campus fraternity and sorority houses.
Northwestern University Police is urging people with information on these reports to call 847-491-3456.
When Machine Gun Kelly recently dissed Slipknot as “50 years old, wearing a f***ing weird mask on a f***ing stage,” he angered a lot of the beloved metal outfit’s fans, including Trivium frontman Matt Heafy.
In a tweet over the weekend, Heafy wrote, “I’d like to formally diss Machine Gun Kelly for ‘being 31 years old wearing a f***ing 16 year old pop punk cosplay identity on a f***ing stage.'”
If that didn’t adequately get his point across, Heafy provided MGK with a new nickname: “Squirt Gun Smelly.”
“I never thought about [Kelly] till he took a shot at Slipknot — who are a band who’s paved the way for bands like mine. Thousands of bands like mine,” Heafy added. “Squirt Gun is a clout chaser. And even though it’s all a PR stunt, a shot at SK needs an addressing.”
In addition to the online criticism, Kelly also learned how metal fans felt about him in person during his set at the Louder than Life festival over the weekend, which was met with a roar of boos from the crowd.
Kelly first slung his diss at Slipknot during his performance at Riot Fest earlier this month. Bad blood between him and Knot frontman Corey Taylor apparently stems from a scrapped collaboration between the two that was planned for Kelly’s 2020 album, Tickets to My Downfall.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden publicly received his COVID-19 booster shot on Monday afternoon as his administration promotes new booster guidance that has spurred some confusion among Americans on when to get a third dose.
“Like I did with my first and second COVID-19 vaccination shot, I’m about to get my booster shot and do it publicly. That’s because the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, the CDC, looked at all the data, completed their review, and determined the boosters for the Pfizer vaccine — others will come later, maybe, I assume — but the Pfizer vaccine are safe and effective,” Biden began.
Delivering remarks ahead of receiving a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the South Court Auditorium, provided Biden the opportunity to address some of that confusion.
He joked, “Now I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am over 65 — I wish — I’m way over. And that’s why I’m getting my booster shot today.”
The president already received his first dose of the vaccine on Dec. 21, 2020, and his second dose on Jan. 11, 2021. At age 78, Biden qualifies for a third shot under the new CDC guidance issued last week recommending booster shots to older Americans at least six months after their first series of shots.
Additionally, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky overruled her agency’s independent advisory panel last Friday by also adding a recommendation for a third dose for Americans ages 18 to 64 considered high risk to COVID-19 due to where they work.
Biden repeated the administration’s messaging that while booster shots are rolling out, baseline vaccinations are the priority.
“The bottom line is that you’re fully vaccinated, and you’re highly protected now from severe illness, even if you get COVID-19. You’re safe and we’re going to do everything we can to keep it that way, with the boosters. But let me be clear, boosters are important, but the most important thing we need to do is get more people vaccinated,” he said.
“The vast majority of Americans are doing the right thing. Over 77% of adults have gotten at least one shot. About 23% haven’t gotten any shots. And that, that distinct minority is causing an awful lot of us, a lot of damage for the rest of the country,” he added.
“This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. That’s why I’m moving forward with vaccination requirements wherever I can,” Biden said.
As Biden walked over to receive his shot, he did a double-take back to the podium to put his mask back on, in apparent modeling of CDC recommendations.
He said first lady Jill Biden, at age 70 and working in a school, considered a high-risk environment for COVID-19, would receive her shot booster soon too.
On ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday, Walensky acknowledged the confusion around the decision and the categories of people it applies to as the administration promotes the rollout of booster shots.
Asked also on CBS about Biden’s comment last week that boosters could be offered to the general population anyway, despite the more narrow recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration and CDC, Walensky said, “I recognize that confusion.”
“Right now, our recommendation is for these limited people in the population, over 65, high-risk workers, high-risk community occupations, as well as high-risk by comorbidities,” she said.
On when the general population will be eligible, Walensky said it’s being looked at every few weeks but did not offer the same optimism as the president had last week.
“We are evaluating this science in real-time. We are meeting every several weeks now to evaluate the science. The science may very well show that the rest of the population needs to be boosted. And we will provide those guidances as soon as we have the science to inform them,” she said.
The new CDC current policy does not apply for boosters to be given to people initially vaccinated with the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shots.
A rare electric guitar that The Ramones‘ Johnny Ramone played and recorded with from 1977 to 1996 sold for more than $900,000 at a rock memorabilia auction held over the weekend in Boston.
The 1965 Mosrite Ventures II model, which the late guitarist used at every Ramones gig from November 1977 through the band’s final concert in August of ’96, fetched $937,500, according to the Boston-based RR Auction company.
Ramone, born John Cummings, played the Mosrite at nearly 2,000 shows and also used it to record most of The Ramones’ albums.
The guitar has a white body and a black pickguard, and Johnny signed the back in black marker, “Johnny Ramone, My Main Guitar, 1977-1996.”
The instrument was one of many Ramones-related items sold at the auction, which offered memorabilia from a collection belonging to veteran producer and musician Daniel Rey, a longtime associate of the legendary punk band.
“The consignor was thrilled with the results and is very happy that the guitar is in the hands of someone who will curate Johnny Ramone’s Mosrite for future generations to enjoy,” says RR Auction executive Bobby Livingston.
The winning bidder wished to remain anonymous.
Among the other items sold at the auction was a blue Mosrite Mark-2 Johnny Ramone signature model guitar owned and played by Johnny, which brought $46,875. In addition, three Shure microphones that Ramones frontman Joey Ramone used at the group’s final concert, which took place in Los Angeles in August 1996, fetched $13,125.
You can check out the full results of the sale at RRAuction.com.
Before the release of Demi Lovato’s new Peacock series Unidentified with Demi Lovato this week, the singer is opening up about their experiences with UFOs and extraterrestrial beings.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Demi says in making the show, they now believe they may have been abducted by aliens at one point.
“We were looking into [abductions], and as I started talking to these abductees, I was realizing that I had some very similar experience[s],” Demi says. “I had an experience where I feel like I astral-projected in my sleep, and I’m realizing that maybe it wasn’t that and it was possibly that I went somewhere.”
The unscripted series features Demi, their skeptical friend Matthew and their sister Dallas, as they visit known UFO hot spots, talk to experts, examine alleged “secret government reports” and interview people who’ve had first hand encounters with E.T.s.
Demi says they hope that people will watch with an open mind and realize that these “beings” are nothing to fear. “You would think that I would be freaked out, but what I have found in these experiences is the love, and there’s no fear,” they say.
Demi adds, “I think they’re very caring, very intelligent beings that are just looking out for the best interest of our planet, because we need some help.”
All four episodes of Unidentified with Demi Lovato debut September 30 on Peacock.
