Search Results for: Heart Attack Man

Ted Demme, whose credits include directing the movie “Blow” and co-founding and producing the seminal hip-hop program “Yo! MTV Raps,” died of an apparent heart attack after playing basketball on Sunday. He was 38. Demme joined MTV in 1985 as a production assistant and worked on a variety of programs, including the game show “Remote Control,” before launching “Yo! MTV Raps” in 1988. In the ’90s, Demme left MTV to pursue a career as a director, making films such as “Who’s the Man?,” “Beautiful Girls” and most recently “Blow,” starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz. Demme also helmed the video… Read more »

Before the Grammy nominations were announced, pundits had already determined what the big story would be – a certain soulful female singer with a critically acclaimed debut would score multiple nominations, including record, song and album of the year. That scenario played out Friday – just not quite the way many expected. India.Arie, whose “Acoustic Soul,” received glowing reviews but achieved moderate commercial success, scored seven nominations, while the year’s most celebrated new artist, Alicia Keys, got six. Veteran Grammy winners U2 led all nominees with eight, including an album of the year nomination for “All That You Can’t Leave… Read more »

The rock band U2 had the second biggest tour ever during a year in which concert industry business was off but ticket prices continued to rise, an industry trade publication said Thursday. The top 100 concert tours sold 34.4 million tickets in 2001, down about 7 percent from 37.1 million the year before, according to an analysis by Pollstar magazine. U2, coming off one of its strongest albums, sold out arenas across the country with a well-received back-to-basics show. They even added dates after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The band’s $109.7 million in estimated ticket sales is second only… Read more »

Fresh from his blockbuster performance before U.S. military forces stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Lava/Atlantic recording artist Kid Rock has just scored RIAA platinum with his new album, “COCKY.” The announcement comes less than one month after the release of the Kid Rock-produced collection, which includes the current hit single, “Forever.” Recent weeks have seen Kid Rock continuing to demonstrate his support of American military personnel, including a very special appearance at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado, where he signed autographs and posed for pictures with thousands of U.S. sailors. In early December, Kid Rock and his Twisted… Read more »

Five artistic legends sat alongside President Bush in Washington’s top theater on Sunday night, and were starry-eyed themselves as political and Hollywood heavyweights paid tribute to their glittering careers. Actress Julie Andrews, pianist Van Cliburn, music maestro Quincy Jones, actor Jack Nicholson and opera singer Luciano Pavarotti received the Kennedy Center Honors for their contributions to American culture. “The recipients for 2001 make quite a collection…. As one newspaper put it in the headline, this year’s honorees can carry a tune and then there’s Jack,” Bush told them at a White House reception before the gala. “Perhaps it’s a nice… Read more »

An Australian court is investigating the role that Limp Bizkit’s onstage actions may have played in the death of a 15-year-old fan who was crushed at the multi-band Big Day Out festival in January. An inquest by Sydney’s Glebe Coroner’s Court that began November 19 is attempting to determine the factors that contributed to Jessica Michalik’s death, and is examining statements made by Fred Durst when it became apparent that Michalik was in distress, according to Deputy Coroner Matt Fordham. The inquest is also examining the security measures employed by Big Day Out organizers. Both inquiries are intended to prevent… Read more »

Columbia Records will release The Concert For New York City – a 2-CD collection documenting the historic all-star concert event held to benefit those in need affected by the World Trade Center tragedy. The Concert For New York City album will be released on Tuesday, November 27. DVD and VHS versions will be available thereafter. “The Concert For New York City” took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden. Produced by VH1, Cablevision, Miramax and AOL, the concert was a celebration of the strength of New York and a thank you to the heroic firefighters, police officers and… Read more »

Top showbiz execs pledged Sunday to step up their contribution to the war effort after a meeting with White House senior advisor Karl Rove. Details of Hollywood’s multifront initiative will be forged over the next few weeks, but industry moguls made clear their desire to pitch in. The campaign will include helping the Bush Administration spread its message regarding the war on terrorism both at home and abroad, support for U.S. troops and buttressing resolve among the American public. “All of us in the industry have an incredible urge to do something,” said Paramount Pictures chief Sherry Lansing. One concrete… Read more »

Irish boy-band Westlife on Sunday scored their ninth UK number one hit with “Queen of my Heart,” the chart’s compiler said. The quintet’s rousing ballad ended hip-hopper Afroman’s three-week stay at the top with his homage to cannabis, “Because I Got High,” according to figures released by The Official UK Charts Company. All but one of Westlife’s ten singles have reached number one since their first release, “Sweat It Again” in April 1999. “We are grateful to all our fans for their continued support,” the band said in a statement on their website. “Queen of My Heart” is described by… Read more »

More than 25 artists – from boys (of the Backstreet, ‘NSYNC and O-Town variety) to men (elder statesmen such as Aerosmith, James Brown and Rod Stewart), from vocal queens (Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Carole King) to the King of Pop – took the stage Sunday at RFK Stadium for the all-day United We Stand – What More Can I Give benefit concert for victims of September’s terrorist attacks. Themes of unity and perseverance permeated every performance, with artists often thanking the sold-out crowd for the message they were sending to the rest of the country – that no matter the… Read more »