Search Results for: paul mccartney

“American Idol” Ruben Studdard is lucky he has a healthy ego. Not only is “Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken beating the champ on the Billboard singles charts, but on the fifth stop of the “Idol” summer tour, the spiky-haired crooner proved that he’s winning the battle for the hearts and minds of “Idol” fans across the country. Even before the nine “Idol” finalists took the stage at U.S. Bank Arena Sunday night to perform a nearly two-and-a-half-hour medley of covers, the mere sight of Clay’s face on the two Jumbotron screens flanking the massive neon ballroom set was enough to elicit… Read more »

Eminem and mentor/producer Dr. Dre share the Number Two position on this year’s Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list. The power ranking is based on a composite score created by calculating total income, website hits, press, radio & TV appearances, and magazine covers. The pair earned an estimated $35 million last year, garnered 1.9 million website hits, 27,130 press clippings, and 452 Radio/TV spots, and were the subject of seven cover stories. Jennifer Aniston landed the top spot; Tiger Woods was Number Three; Steven Spielberg, Number Four; Jennifer Lopez, Number Five; Paul McCartney, Number Six; Ben Affleck, Number Seven; Oprah Winfrey, Number… Read more »

Former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has rejoined with guitarist Slash, drummer Matt Sorum, and guitarist Izzy Stradlin to form a band that’s basically back together except for singer Axl Rose. The enigmatic frontman continues on with a current Guns N’ Roses lineup consisting of guitarist Robin Finck, bassist Tommy Stinson, guitarist Richard Fortus, guitarist Buckethead, and drummer Brian “Brain” Mantia. The only current member that was around playing with the old band is keyboardist Dizzy Reed. McKagan was asked his thoughts on the current Guns N’ Roses-and Sorum added his two cents. “It’s not Guns N’ Roses, you… Read more »

Phil Spector, the legendary record producer whose “wall of sound” helped change the sound of pop music in the 1960s, was arrested Monday for allegedly shooting a woman to death at his suburban mansion. Spector, 62, was seized at the castle-like estate around 5 a.m. after someone in the home called authorities. He was released shortly after 7 p.m. after posting $1 million bond, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Rich Pena. Attorney Robert Shapiro, whose clients have included O.J. Simpson, was representing Spector. “I don’t know answers to any of this,” Shapiro said by telephone from the Alhambra Police… Read more »

Hoping to shine in one of the music industry’s few bright spots, Dreamworks Records on Wednesday announced a joint venture with newly-formed Melee Entertainment to release music DVDs that go beyond the typical concert video genre. With music video DVDs selling at a fast clip and in sharp contrast to the recording industry’s protracted decline in CD sales, Dreamworks and Melee hope in part to cash in on the trend while also developing a roster of creative talent. Melee president Bryan Turner, former co-owner and chief executive of Priority Records, an urban-slanted label sold to EMI Group Plc in 1998… Read more »

Classic acts such as Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Cher lured more people to concerts in 2002 and helped the industry make a record $2.1 billion in ticket sales, according to figures released Friday. This was the fourth straight year concert receipts reached record levels in America. There were $1.75 billion in sales in 2001, according to trade publication Pollstar, which tracks the concert industry. In 2001, ticket costs rose and sales declined, Pollstar said. Last year, increased ticket sales helped push concert receipts higher. “We had some very big marquee names out on tour this year,” said Pollstar’s… Read more »

Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney reunited Friday night for an emotional musical tribute to the memory of George Harrison on the anniversary of the ex-Beatle’s death. With Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and Harrison’s son Dhani, the surviving Beatles shared a night of musical memories with an audience of 5,000 devoted fans at the “Concert For George” at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Money raised by the concert is to benefit the Material World Charitable Foundation, which Harrison founded. The ex-Beatle, 58, who succumbed to cancer was the second from the group to die. John Lennon was shot to death in 1980.… Read more »

Bono, the globe-trotting, conscience-tugging singer with Irish rock group U2, is the most powerful man in music, according to a poll of music industry figures. Bono, whose given name is Paul Hewson, tops a list compiled by music magazine Q. The top 10 names were released Thursday. U2, formed in Dublin more than 20 years ago, remains one of the world’s top-selling groups. Bono, 42, has also emerged as a powerful lobbyist for causes such as relieving the debt of the world’s poorest nations. Earlier this year, he traveled through Africa with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill. Time magazine profiled… Read more »

The album ex-Beatle George Harrison recorded in the last months of his life as he fought a losing battle with cancer will be released in November, 10 days before the first anniversary of his death, his recording company said on Monday. “Brainwashed,” the first release of new solo material from the former lead guitarist for the Beatles since his 1987 album “Cloud Nine,” features 11 new Harrison compositions and one cover track. The record was produced by Harrison in collaboration with his son, Dhani, and longtime friend and fellow musician Jeff Lynne. “Before we started working on the album, George… Read more »

The concert business is thanking Paul McCartney for a big first half in 2002. But don’t be fooled: A closer look shows that attendance is actually down, and the increase in revenue is due solely to a hike in ticket prices, which have jumped by about four dollars. Rock concerts in 2002 have split into two separate markets: nostalgia fests for baby boomers willing to pay as much as $100 a ticket, and tours by current bands whose younger fans usually aren’t expected to pony up more than $30. The result? More money spent on fewer tickets. According to concert-industry… Read more »