When you’re Pink Floyd, how do you announce a museum exhibit dedicated to your career? You fly an inflatable pig, of course. A balloon floating over the Victoria & Albert Museum accompanied the announcement of The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains, a career-spanning show that will “include 350 items of band ephemera — instruments, posters, handwritten lyrics, artwork, and more.” The exhibit will open in London next May.
Duran Duran’s Simon LeBon On The One Music Invention That Changed Everything: The Walkman
A lot of people talk about how the business of music has changed, and that’s not super interesting, except in the sense that it reflects how people’s actual relationship to music has changed. You’ve been a significant performer for a long time. What differences do you perceive?
Simon LeBon: Nothing has happened recently that compares to the massive change that happened at the beginning of the ’80s, when the Sony Walkman was invented. That was the biggest change in music. It still is. It’s still massive. The fact that people listen to their own music, and they have their own playlists, their own set of likes. You don’t have to listen to everybody else’s choice. That, to me, still is the biggest development in the music scene in 50 years. Everything comes from that. The downloading, the internet, the relationship with music that the internet has provided wouldn’t exist if the Sony Walkman hadn’t been invented.
It’s true that it introduced the on-demand paradigm, but it didn’t do anything to change the nature of hits, or undermine the mass audience, both of which the internet has done.
No. You’re right, but also, there’s something else as well which is crucial to us right now, and that is how a live show is perceived. When we started out, live shows were considered promotional tools to help sell the record. Audiences really didn’t have to pay a lot of money to come see you play live. Now, because recorded music is pretty much free to a lot of people, they can pick and choose. You don’t have to go and spend $10 on a CD or a vinyl album to hear the one song you like because it’s an album track. Recorded music has become cheaper. The value has dropped, but the value of the ephemeral moment, of the band onstage, that thing which can’t be recorded because it’s you and how you feel, it may involve the people you go with. Maybe there’s a girl you’re falling in love with, or maybe you’ve taken drugs. A lot of this stuff is all part of the experience, particularly in festivals, as well. We’ve seen this incredible, incredible rise of the music festival, and it’s the personal experience that people are now investing so much more in compared to, say, 20 years ago. That has actually become the shared experience, as well. You share that with your friends. It’s like all sitting around with the Rolling Stones record and rolling a joint on the album cover.
Mel Brooks Shares Fond Memories Of His Good Friend Gene Wilder
Mel Brooks chats with Jimmy about working with his good friend Gene Wilder over the years, including the origin of Young Frankenstein.
We became very good friends and I told him about Leo Bloom and the thing I was writing called ‘The Producers’. And I said, “look, I’m promising you…when we get the money, you are going to be Leo Bloom”. He said “Oh yeah, when you get the money. You’re doing a play about two Jews who are producing a flop instead of a hit, knowing they can make more money with a flop and the big number in it is ‘Springtime for Hitler‘? Yeah, you’re going to get the money. …We got the money, I went backstage …and he was taking off his makeup, he was in his dressing room. I took the script and I said “Gene, we got the money. We’re gonna make the movie. You are Leo Bloom.” and I threw it on his makeup table and he burst into tears.
First Drafts of Rock: “Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty (with Kevin Bacon)
For his new Tonight Show segment First Drafts of Rock, Jimmy Fallon is joined by Kevin Bacon to sing what were the original lyrics to Tom Petty’s 1989 hit Free Fallin’, a song about a girl who really, really, really, really, loves horses.
Twitter is paying its best users to create videos
Twitter wants the kind of video creators YouTube has — and the massive audiences that come with them.
To make this dream a reality, the company is pulling a page from YouTube’s playbook: It’s going to sell ads alongside creator videos and share that ad revenue with the people making the content. And Twitter is offering very appealing terms.
Unlike YouTube, which gives 55 percent of the money to creators and keeps 45 percent, Twitter is using the same revenue split it already offers other Amplify video partners, like the NFL: 70 percent to the content creator and 30 percent back to Twitter, according to a person familiar with the arrangement.
Seven Days, Over 45 Canadian Acts, Two New Venues – Canada’s Walk Of Fame Festival Is Bigger Than Ever
The seventh annual Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival is bigger than ever as it returns to Toronto September 20 – 29, 2016. What began as a four-day festival in 2010, has now expanded to a seven-day showcase of Canadian arts and includes the addition of two new venues this year for the Festival’s concert series: the Mod Club and the Phoenix Concert Theatre. The Festival will also include the return of the three-day Yonge-Dundas Square Free Festival and the Future Legends at the Horseshoe showcase.
“Canada’s Walk of Fame Festival provides a platform to showcase the wealth of incredible talent we have in Canada, from rising stars to award-winning artists firmly established in their careers,” said Melanie Hurley, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame. “Whether it’s watching a free performance by a favourite musician, discovering a new band, hearing a reading by a popular author, or enjoying a special screening of a favourite childhood cartoon, the Festival offers something for everyone.”
PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS:
For a current schedule of programming visit canadaswalkoffame.com. Additional programming will be announced in the coming weeks.
Future Legends at the Horseshoe (September 20)
Following the success of the inaugural rising star music showcase, Future Legends at the Horseshoe returns on Tuesday, September 20 and features rising stars of the Canadian music scene. Performers include JUNO Award and Polaris Music Prize nominated international sensation Cold Specks, the multi-talented genre-bending artist BAD CHILD and NEFE, Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program, supported by RBC. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting canadaswalkoffame.com or ticketfly.com.
Mod Club (September 21)
Platinum-selling, JUNO nominated jazz singer Matt Dusk with special guest JUNO nominated, jazz/blues artist Florence K are headlining with an exclusive intimate performance for the Festival on Wednesday, September 21. The evening’s line-up also includes acclaimed folk singer Sarah MacDougall, and Ayaz Virani, the 2016 Grand Prize Winner of Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program, supported by RBC. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Advance tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting canadaswalkoffame.com or ticketfly.com.
The Phoenix Concert Theatre (September 22 & 29)
The Festival’s country music showcase on Thursday, September 22 includes performances by CCMA Award nominated artist Leah Daniels, Boots & Hearts 2015 Emerging Artist Grand Prize Winner James Barker Band, fourth generation musicians The Abrams Brothers and rising country stars Washboard Union who have shared the stage with some of the biggest names in country music including Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire and The Band Perry. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now at livenation.com, Ticketmaster, Soundscapes, Rotate This or by calling 1-855-985-5000.
Presented by Q107’s Psychedelic Sunday, rock icon and recipient of the 2008 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement Michel Pagliaro will return to a Toronto stage for the first time in more than 30 years on Thursday, September 29 to close out the Festival. Special guest, JUNO Award winning musician Tomi Swick will open the show. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $10.70 – $25 (plus service charges). Tickets can be purchased at livenation.com, Ticketmaster, Soundscapes, Rotate This or by calling 1-855-985-5000.
Yonge-Dundas Square Free Festival (September 23-25)
Taking place September 23 – 25 at Yonge-Dundas Square, the jam-packed Free Festival line up has an exciting mix of programming including live music, book readings, dance performances, film and television screenings and sports activations including an autograph signing with Toronto Maple Leafs alumni. There will also be lunchtime workouts with Goodlife Fitness, food trucks and tons of giveaways.
Comedian Johnny Gardhouse will once again host the Free Festival and musical performances include JUNO Award winning hip hop artist Classified; JUNO nominated folk rockers Great Lake Swimmers; hockey player turned musician Jonathan Roy, who is mentored by 2016 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee Corey Hart; psychedelic rock group Black Mountain, who are on the 2016 Polaris Music Prize shortlist; rock outfit Zeus; world music group Delhi 2 Dublin, who are known for their signature fusion of many genres; and rising star Top5, who captured Drake’s attention and received a shout out on Views and also played OVO Fest. Plus the seven finalists of this year’s Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program, supported by RBC, will take the stage.
A Saturday morning throwback on September 24 will bring some nostalgia to the Festival with screenings of popular cartoons and children’s television shows from the 1960s-1980s. Mitch Markowitz, the only surviving member of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, will do a special introduction to the show and meet with fans.
Funding for the festival is provided in part by the Government of Canada through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, which has the objective to give Canadians access to a variety of professional artistic experiences in their communities.
In addition, financial support is also provided by the Government of Ontario through Celebrate Ontario and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.
Canada’s Walk of Fame gratefully acknowledges the support of our 2016 National Sponsors: Cineplex Entertainment, NBCUniversal, Slaight Communications and Air Canada.
For information about the Festival and Canada’s Walk of Fame, visit canadaswalkoffame.com
Yangaroo Music And DMDS Increases Contemporary Christian, Worship and Gospel Music Stations For Delivery
YANGAROO Music powered by DMDS is excited to announce they have enhanced and upgraded their digital music delivery system to now include more than 70 destinations actively looking for new Contemporary Christian, Worship and Gospel music for airplay consideration across Canada.
These new destinations are now able to be reached via YANGAROO Music’s DMDS delivery platform, the same way virtually all radio in Canada receives new music from Major Labels, Independant Artists and everyone in between.
This has been achieved by compiling, updating and engaging virtually all Canadian Christian Music radio stations as well as a dedicated group of other promotional outlets in Canada to help create a simple, centralized, more efficient way for Christian Artists to get their music out to Canadian Christian Radio.
Watch Phil Collins, ‘Hamilton’ Star Leslie Odom Jr. and Phil’s Son Perform “Easy Lover” and “In The Air Tonight”
Phil Collins appeared at the opening of the US Open tennis tournament on Monday night to play a two-song set that featured a duet with Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. on “Easy Lover,” the hit that featured Philip Bailey on the original 1984 recording. Nerve damage prevents Collins from playing drums anymore, so his 15-year-old son Nicholas took the kit and, reports Rolling Stone, played “one of the most famous drum fills in rock history with ease.”
The set wrapped after just two songs, but Collins is releasing his long-awaited memoir on October 25th that he’ll support with a promotional book tour. He’s revealed no firm plans for a new album or comeback tour, but much of his old band reunited for the US Open. His drummer may still have a few years of high school left to complete, but hopefully that won’t impede any road work. “My kids were in nappies when I was last on the road,” he told Rolling Stone last year. “They love my music and I’d like to take them out so they can enjoy it.”
Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Beck, Morrissey back as Garbage Pail Kids
Topps is celebrating the 2016 summer musical festivals by working with Garbage Pail Kids featuring some of the top headliners on GPK American As Apple Pie Sticker Set. Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Beck, Morrissey, Guns N’ Roses, the Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Dead & Company, the Roots, and Red Hot Chili Peppers all get mocked in this culturally significant group of cards.
Hear The Beatles Play Their Final Show 50 Years Ago Today
The Beatles’ final concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966 was their last commercial concert, and marked the end of a four-year period dominated by almost nonstop touring that included over 1,400 concert appearances internationally.
Although they made an unannounced live appearance in January 1969 on the rooftop of the Apple building, this was it for the band in terms of live shows.
The Park’s capacity was 42,500, but only 25,000 tickets were sold, leaving large sections of unsold seats. Fans paid between $4.50 and $6.50 for tickets, and The Beatles’ fee was around $90,000. The show’s promoter was local company Tempo Productions.
The Beatles took 65% of the gross, the city of San Francisco took 15% of paid admissions and were given 50 free tickets. This arrangement, coupled with low ticket sales and other unexpected expenses resulted in a financial loss for Tempo Productions.
Candlestick Park was the home of the baseball team the San Francisco Giants. The stage was located just behind second base on the field, and was five feet high and surrounded by a six-foot high wire fence.
The compère was ‘Emperor’ Gene Nelson of KYA AM 1260, and the support acts were, in order of appearance, The Remains, Bobby Hebb, The Cyrkle and The Ronettes. The show began at 8pm.
The Beatles took to the stage at 9.27pm, and performed 11 songs: Rock And Roll Music, She’s A Woman, If I Needed Someone, Day Tripper, Baby’s In Black, I Feel Fine, Yesterday, I Wanna Be Your Man, Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer and Long Tall Sally.
The group knew it was to be their final concert. Recognising its significance, John Lennon and Paul McCartney took a camera onto the stage, with which they took pictures of the crowd, the rest of the group, and themselves at arm’s length.
As The Beatles made their way to Candlestick Park, Paul McCartney asked their press officer Tony Barrow to make a recording of the concert on audio cassette, using a hand-held recorder. The cassette lasted 30 minutes on each side, and, as Barrow didn’t flip it during the show, the recording cut off during final song Long Tall Sally.
Barrow gave the original tape of the Candlestick Park concert to McCartney. He also made a single copy, which was kept in a locked drawer in Barrow’s office desk. The recording has since become widely circulated on bootlegs, although quite how is not known.
The final show saw perhaps a slightly more energetic performance than usual from The Beatles, and was longer than their usual 20-25 minute duration. They barely paused between songs, although their on-stage patter was notably looser and less scripted than normal.
Particularly revealing are McCartney’s comments before Paperback Writer, during which he questions the group’s future; and Long Tall Sally, which may have carried a veiled reference to the withdrawn ‘butcher’ artwork for Yesterday… And Today.
Just before leaving the stage, John Lennon teasingly played the opening bars of In My Life, before running off to join the rest of the group backstage.
The Beatles were quickly taken to the airport in an armoured car. They flew from San Francisco to Los Angeles, arriving at 12.50am. During the flight George Harrison was heard to exclaim: “That’s it, then. I’m not a Beatle anymore.”
Up next? Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
https://youtu.be/hZqmEnjvS2M