Search Results for: Queen

Joey Ramone, lead singer of legendary punk band the Ramones, passed away at 2:40 p.m. Sunday at the age of 49. The towering front man, born Jeffrey Hyman, did not respond to treatment for lymphatic cancer, a disease that attacks the body’s ability to fight infection. Along with his cohorts Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee – all of whom adopted Ramone as a surname – Joey was credited with helping found the modern punk movement. In mixing the griminess of the New York streets with a love of bubblegum pop, ’60s girl groups and the Stooges, the Ramones inspired everyone… Read more »

Oh, what a week it was for music news. My head hurts just thinking about it. No, wait – that’s just my hangover. Twelve-time Brit Award winner and international chart topper Robbie Williams disclosed plans to release a version of “We Are the Champions,” recorded with the remaining members of Queen. Poor Freddie Mercury is pirouetting in his grave. Williams also told a British chat show he’s been wrestling with alcoholism off-and-on for the past four years. Let’s hope he sobers up for good before somebody convinces him to tackle “Radio Ga Ga.” Mariah Carey’s new deal with Virgin Records… Read more »

Straight from mainstream radio into your CD player, the sixth installment of Sony/Epic’s compilation series “Now That’s What I Call Music!” blasted its way to the top of the album charts this week, knocking late rapper Tupac Shakur back into the hereafter. “Now 6,” as it’s commonly called, sold more than 525,000 copies for the week ended Sunday, according to rankings data from SoundScan. The album includes such heavy-rotation faves as Britney Spears’ “Stronger,” U2’s “Beautiful Day” and Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me.” The “Now 6” debut is the strongest yet for the series, all of which have gone platinum. “Now… Read more »

The hobbled Michael Jackson and sweetly nostalgic Paul Simon made their second entrances into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, joined by fellow inductees Aerosmith, Queen and Steely Dan. Fifties vocal group The Flamingos, soul singer Solomon Burke and “La Bamba” singer Ritchie Valens completed the list of honorees at a New York ceremony Monday night. Jackson, already in the Hall of Fame with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5, was earmarked for a solo career that includes “Thriller,” which Sony estimates has sold more than 47 million copies worldwide. He wore a white… Read more »

Anyone hoping that the music industry’s infatuation with youth was just a passing fad got a big wake-up call when 21-year-old Lance Bass announced he was opening a management company last year. A member of pop group ‘NSYNC, Bass sent a message to all of the jaded industryites who refused to take young superstars seriously: they’re here, they’re hot, and they ain’t going away. That Bass’ first client would be 16-year-old country singer Meredith Edwards (she turned 17 in early March) therefore seemed somehow appropriate. Bass obviously knows something about launching teen acts; as for entering the world of Nashville,… Read more »

Her brother may have appointed himself King of Pop, but Janet Jackson earned her crown as Queen of Radio this week. The title track from the R&B superstar’s upcoming seventh album, All for You, made radio and chart history when it was added to every pop, rhythmic and urban radio station that reports to the national trade magazine Radio & Records. No other song has conquered all reporting stations in its first week at radio, let alone mastered three formats in one week, R&R’s Kevin McCabe said. “All for You” also debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at… Read more »

What do ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” the Beastie Boys’ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)” and John McCormick’s cut of “Star-Spangled Banner” have in common? They’ve been selected as the “Songs of the Century” as part of a fifth-grade music-education project backed by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America. In an effort to promote a better understanding of America’s musical heritage, the NEA and the RIAA released the list of 365 “Songs of the Century” on Wednesday, including recordings like the Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” and Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew.” The list is… Read more »

Britney Spears is set to graduate to the big time. Like Michael Jackson and Ray Charles before her, the teen pop queen has signed a reported multi-million dollar deal with Pepsi-Cola, according to Reuters. Although details were not disclosed, Spears’ deal with the second largest soft drink company (Coke is No. 1) is said to be one of its largest endorsement deals ever with an entertainer. The deal includes global sponsorship and advertising, as well as a co-sponsorship of Spears’ upcoming world tour. The first television spot is expected to grace television screens during the 73rd Annual Academy Awards on… Read more »