Search Results for: girl in red

Toronto, Ontario – Strutting onstage in unison, the five founding members of Duran Duran – on their first major arena tour since reforming in 2001 – looked suspiciously like an aged version of the Backstreet Boys. Thankfully, the opening chords of “Reach Up For The Sunrise” from their 2004 release Astronaut announced that this would be a genuine rock concert and that the only onstage dancing would come in the form of singer Simon LeBon’s spastic, Elaine Benes-like gyrations. The guy may have presence, but he’s got no rhythm whatsoever. It didn’t make a difference, though. “Hello, Toronto,” LeBon cooed… Read more »

Perhaps Simple Plan and Good Charlotte will spend their upcoming co-headlining tour discussing the works of existentialist Jean-Paul Sarte or decrying the appointment of ultraconservative Paul Wolfowitz as the head of the World Bank. Because, wow, both groups have gotten plenty serious all of a sudden. It all started last week, when Good Charlotte filmed the woe-is-the-world video for their new single, “We Believe”. And now Simple Plan are upping the angst ante with the clip for their new single, “Untitled.” In the video – directed by Marc Klasfeld (Sum 41, Thursday) – the normally rambunctious Montreal pop-punkers are tackling… Read more »

Kings Of Leon A snowy day in Toronto seems about as far away from Tennessee as you can get, so it’s no wonder that the four Kings Of Leon are a little out of sorts. The Followill brothers and cousin obviously aren’t in high spirits. Drummer Nathan is mostly silent as he strides around the room, occasionally taking vitamin C drops. Lead singer Caleb sullenly complains that their Canadian press has all been “bullshit.” Guitarist Matthew is rarely seen at all. Fortunately, bassist Jared is friendly and polite on what seems to have been a long day for the band.… Read more »

The nonstop party that is the life of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee for about the past 20 years gets cranked up several notches on his upcoming solo album, Tommyland: The Ride, which is due in August. And although he knows it’s a cliché, he swears the album is the best thing he’s ever done. “It’s true, this is the best thing I’ve ever done!” Tommy yelled from a stop on the Mötley Crüe reunion tour. “I mean, people will be like, ‘Is that f–ing Tommy?’ It’s like an event record.” That much is true, as Tommy has invited a… Read more »

GEORGE, South Africa – Former South African President Nelson Mandela, playing host to his second AIDS awareness concert on Saturday, told a crowd of 20,000 that women bear the brunt of the AIDS pandemic that has infected some 25 million people in Africa. The disease “carries the face of women,” whether through infection or caring for those who are ill with the deadly virus, said the 86-year-old Mandela. Mandela, who lost his eldest son to the disease earlier this year, compared the plight of women coping with AIDS to the isolation he felt when imprisoned for 27 years on Robben… Read more »

New York – Irish rockers U2 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, led by their charismatic singer Bono, whose work on behalf of Africa’s poor have also earned him status as a political statesman. The 20th annual ceremony on Monday night at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel also honored The Pretenders, led by singer-guitarist Chrissie Hynde, soul veterans Percy Sledge and The O’Jays as well as blues-guitar great Buddy Guy as members of rock’s elite. “(U2) are the keepers of some of the most beautiful sonic architecture in the rock-and-roll world,” said rocker Bruce Springsteen while… Read more »

Los Angeles – Academia’s loss is heavy metal’s gain. Ian Kilmister, a.k.a. Lemmy, the frontman for Grammy-winning English rock trio Motorhead, could have made a stimulating history professor, sharing his begrudging admiration for Goering and disdain for “bastards” like Hitler and Roosevelt with eager students. Instead, the 59-year-old achieved cult fame with generations of headbangers by singing and writing furious anthems like “Killed By Death” and “Orgasmatron.” But he remains fascinated by World War II and he spends his money collecting Nazi memorabilia, which is piled high in his two-bedroom apartment off the Sunset Strip. “I was born in ’45,… Read more »

Gwen Stefani – still glowing from “The Aviator” ‘s Oscar wins – is turning her attention away from movie cameos and back to promoting her solo album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby. She’s just shot a video for the next single, the B-girlish anthem “Hollaback Girl,” which she calls her “attitude song.” Like most of the songs on her solo debut, this was a collaboration – but one borne out of a bit of jealousy instead of pure camaraderie. When Stefani originally booked time with Pharrell Williams, it was at the end of the project, when she figured her sessions were… Read more »

New York – There are several good reasons why Motley Crue didn’t play the halftime show at this year’s Super Bowl, and most of them were on display as the reunited ’80s rockers assaulted Madison Square Garden for the first time in 21 years. Having reigned as the Bad Boys of Rock ‘n’ Roll for most of the decade, the California quartet saw their decadence crown snatched away in the late ’80s by Axl Rose and Guns ‘N’ Roses. Motley’s own fortunes ebbed, the victim of substance abuse, supermodel divorces (drummer Tommy Lee managed to lose both Pamela Anderson and… Read more »

The Backstreet Boys, whose hits such as “Everybody” and “As Long As You Love Me” catapulted them into popster superstardom in the ’90s, are ready to stage a comeback. The megaselling quintet announced plans to play a string of U.S. club dates starting Mar. 21 in New York in preparation for the release of their as-yet untitled upcoming studio album in July-their first album since 2000’s Black and Blue. As of now, the club tour is set to wrap in St. Louis on Apr. 10, but more dates are expected to be added. Once the album is released, Backstreet plans… Read more »