Judge tosses lawsuit of man who was nude baby on Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit of a 30-year-old man who alleged that the image of him nude as a 4-month-old on the 1991 cover of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album is child pornography. Judge Fernando M. Olguin on Monday granted a motion to dismiss the suit from...
Tamburitzans add Italian, Nordic numbers for Greensburg show
For the first time, the Tamburitzans are performing songs from Italy and the Nordic countries. The additions to their staple repertoire of Eastern European folk music and dance are displayed in the troupe’s current tour, “Symbols: The Awakening.” It’s the perfect time to make the additions, said Marianna Hurrell, a...
David Bowie estate sells songwriting catalog for reported $250 million
David Bowie’s estate is starting off 2022 with a nice chunk of change. The estate of the late singer has sold his global music publishing rights to Warner Chappell Music for over $250 million, as first reported by Variety. The nine-figure sale covers songs such as “Starman,” “Heroes” and “Ziggy...
Get the Led Out brings ‘whole lotta’ Led Zeppelin to GreensburgVideo
“The Song Remains the Same” is a 1976 concert film documenting Led Zeppelin’s 1973 three-night stand at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. You could say it’s also the motto of Philadelphia-based tribute band, Get the Led Out, which plays note-for-note versions of the classic British rock band’s recordings. Long...
Singer Rick Astley is grateful for the Rickroll, says he’s ‘never gonna give up’ anything in 2022
With a big advertising campaign in gear and a U.S. tour on the way, ’80s pop star Rick Astley has no plans to give anything up in 2022. But first, he sportingly looked back at the Rickroll phenomenon, which he still finds hard to explain. The 55-year-old singer told the...
Red snow? A most unexpected modern standard for the holidays
NEW YORK — There is no mention of holiday or Christmas in lyrics to the song, “White Winter Hymnal.” Or winter, for that matter. There is a reference to snow, turned “red as strawberries in the summertime” — presumably, by blood. Nonetheless, the song has become a modern holiday standard,...
Pittsburgh Symphony free program to explore global origin stories
Where did we come from? Why are we here? Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will explore those existential questions and more in “Origin Stories,” a free program set for 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. Assistant Conductor Moon Doh will lead the musical journey inspired by ancient understandings of...
ELO tribute band blends rock, classics for Palace Theatre show
The Electric Light Orchestra album “Out of the Blue” helped Ronda Price through a hard time in her life. As a young teen, she played it on repeat during the summer of 1979 after her mother passed away. Forty years later, she offered a gesture of thanks by forming Into...
Bruce Springsteen sells music catalog to Sony in record-breaking, $500 million deal
The Boss is getting a Christmas bonus. Bruce Springsteen has sold his entire catalog of music, including his master recordings and song publishing catalog, to Sony Music Entertainment in a blockbuster deal that reportedly could be worth $500 million. The record-setting transaction, which includes classic songs “Born to Run,” “Dancing...
Stoney Richards departing Y108 morning show to focus on acting
WDSY-FM (Y108) is looking for a new host for its “Y’d Awake” morning show, and whoever is hired will have some big shoes to fill. After three years, Charles David “Stoney” Richards is leaving his popular morning gig to focus on his acting career. His last show is Friday. “It’s...
Genesis and Phil Collins delight devoted Pittsburgh fans during farewell tour stopVideo
They lined up outside the gates of PPG Paints Arena Monday night, some of them looking as though they were heading to a wake. The pre-concert partying normally associated with a performance by an A-list rock group was fairly tame. These loyal Genesis fans had seen the images from earlier...
Concert industry ponders: What impact will omicron variant have in U.S. as live events in Europe start to be curtailed?
Can the world of concerts, theater and other performing arts survive another covid-fueled shutdown of live events? How many commercial and nonprofit arts organizations can weather going dark again without crucial government funding? And, if worse comes to worse, what happens to culture, the artists who create it and the...
Michael Nesmith, the Monkee for all seasons, dies at 78
LOS ANGELES — Michael Nesmith, the singer-songwriter, author, actor-director and entrepreneur who will likely be best remembered as the wool-hatted, guitar-strumming member of the made-for-television rock band The Monkees, has died at 78. Nesmith, who had undergone quadruple bypass surgery in 2018, died at home Friday of natural causes, his...
Westmoreland Symphony’s ‘Home for the Holidays’ returns to Palace Theatre
“There’s no place like home for the holidays,” says the old Harold Arlen song. And there’s no place like The Palace Theatre for Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert. After going virtual for the 2020 performance, the orchestra will be back on stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18...
Rocker Jack White coming back to Pittsburgh next year
Musician Jack White is hitting the road next year with a massive tour, including a stop at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland. He plays Pittsburgh on April 14 as part of his “The Supply Chain Issues Tour.” White last performed in Pittsburgh at Stage AE with his band The...
Pittsburgh Festival Opera brings ‘Ho-Ho-Holiday Extravaganza’ to Edgeworth Club
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” Mezzo-Soprano Marianne Cornetti started singing those words when asked about the inspiration of holiday music for her upcoming performance. “I could listen to Christmas music all year long,” said Cornetti, who will be Mrs. Claus at the Ho-Ho-Holiday Extravaganza on Dec. 19...
How Jim Morrison’s final sessions with the Doors produced an LA classic out of chaos
LOS ANGELES — During the period in late 1970 and early ‘71 when Jim Morrison and his bandmates in the Doors were recording their sixth and final studio album, “L.A. Woman,” at their West Hollywood rehearsal space, the singer was drowning in a booze-fueled bender: drunk nearly every night but...
All-star musical lineup returns for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank benefit
You name the event, and Jason Kendall will provide entertainment for it — but there’s one annual event that is particularly close to his heart. “This is the show we look forward to the most throughout the year,” said Kendall, of “Celebration,” an all-star music benefit for Greater Pittsburgh Community...
Broadway veterans sign on for Saint Vincent Summer Theatre holiday revue
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre will celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with “Celebrate the Season: A Christmas Show.” Four professional artists — including Broadway veterans and a winner of “The Great Race” — will be on stage, along with Greggory Brandt, SVST producing artistic director. They will be...
World renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has fond memories of Pittsburgh
Pittsburghers embraced Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on his previous visit to the Steel City. “What I certainly remember is the warm welcome that I received here,” said Bocelli, who will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. “Many have also spoken enthusiastically about Pittsburgh — its history, imbued...
California home of Marilyn Manson searched in abuse investigation
LOS ANGELES — Authorities searched the home of rocker Marilyn Manson on Monday after allegations of physical and sexual abuse by several women. Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Eva Jimenez said a search warrant was served on the home of Manson, whose legal name is Brian Hugh Warner. She would...
1980s Pittsburgh rockers Haywire will reunite for acoustic show in ButlerVideo
The members of Haywire, a Pittsburgh-area rock band active in the 1980s, have fond memories of playing all over the region, but particularly in the Butler area. Howard “Hutch” Hockenberger said Butler fans at venues like Conley’s, John’s Bar, Ribit and Night People’s Place were always good to the group,...
Towering musical theater master Stephen Sondheim dies at 91
NEW YORK — Stephen Sondheim, the songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century with his intelligent, intricately rhymed lyrics, his use of evocative melodies and his willingness to tackle unusual subjects, has died. He was 91. Sondheim’s death was announced by Rick...
Legendary jazz trombonist, Jeannette native Slide Hampton dies at 89
Whenever legendary jazz musicians Slide Hampton and Harold Betters got together or spoke over the phone, the renowned trombonists frequently spoke of their Western Pennsylvania roots, said Betters’ daughter Cheryl Kelly. “Oh, Dad and Mr. Hampton were super close for a very long time. They were great friends and actually...
Marie Osmond promises to fill The Palace Theatre with holiday spirit
Marie Osmond is sure to have a busy holiday season, and it has nothing to do with decorating, baking and shopping. The veteran entertainer is looking forward to the debut of her new Lifetime movie, “A Fiancé for Christmas,” premiering at 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Her 17-track album, “Unexpected,” comes...
