musician

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John Hinckley Jr. Now a Struggling Musician

He claims he stands 'for peace' as concerts are canceled

(Newser) - Most musicians dream of name recognition. For John Hinckley Jr., it's the name recognition that's doing him in. The man who shot President Ronald Reagan and three others in a 1981 assassination attempt says he's a changed man but can't shake his poor reputation. "I...

Smashing Pumpkins' Ad for New Guitarist Is a Smash Itself

More than 10K applicants are interested in the slot left empty by departing guitarist Jeff Schroeder

(Newser) - Jeff Schroeder recently left the Smashing Pumpkins after more than 15 years, leaving the rock band short one guitarist. They certainly have plenty of people interested in the gig, however: After putting out a call for a new band member earlier this month, the group has been inundated with applications,...

Band Goes on Tour, Walks the Whole Way

Chris Roberts and Seth Bye of Filkin's Drift trekked nearly 900 miles in Wales over 2 months

(Newser) - Get Chris Roberts and Seth Bye a foot massage, stat. The two musicians, members of the folk band Filkin's Drift , on Tuesday wrapped up their latest tour through Wales, performing dozens of shows over two months. But it wasn't private jets, regular commercial aircraft, or even a van...

Musician Says Airline Accused Him of Trafficking Own Sons

Black singer-songwriter David Ryan Harris says his biracial kids raised red flag with American

(Newser) - A Black musician who's performed with John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band is now on the receiving end of an apology from American Airlines after he says he was accused of trafficking his own kids. In a Sept. 23 Instagram post , David Ryan Harris, 55, said he flew...

Drummer on Famous Pulp Fiction Song Dead at 57
Drummer on
Famous Pulp
Fiction
Song
Dead at 57
OBITUARY

Drummer on Famous Pulp Fiction Song Dead at 57

Urge Overkill's John Rowan (aka Blackie Onassis) kept the beat on 'Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon'

(Newser) - Sad news for fans of Urge Overkill, and for fans of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack: The band's drummer, John Rowan, has died at the age of 57, reports Pitchfork . "Urge Overkill is saddened to report that Blackie has passed away," the group wrote Wednesday on Instagram , referring...

US Musician Held for Drug Trafficking in Russia

Michael Travis Leake appeared on Anthony Bourdain's show in 2014, has long lived in Moscow

(Newser) - An American musician who has lived in Russia for more than 10 years has been detained, accused of drug trafficking. A Moscow court has ordered Michael Travis Leake to be held for two months before his trial, until Aug. 6, after he was arrested for allegedly selling the drug mephedrone,...

Foo Fighters Have a New Drummer
Foo Fighters Have
a New Drummer

Foo Fighters Have a New Drummer

Josh Freese will replace the late, beloved Taylor Hawkins

(Newser) - More than a year after Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died in a Bogota hotel while on tour at the age of 50, the band has finally found a worthy replacement. As Pitchfork reports, he's session drummer Josh Freese, whose dizzying credits include gigs with the Offspring, Rob Zombie,...

Santigold Cancels Tour, Cites 'Unsustainable' Industry

Her tour was to start in less than two weeks

(Newser) - We're all eager to "make up for lost time" in the wake of COVID lockdowns, but for the singer Santigold, rushing into that was like barreling into a brick wall. The musician announced on her website that she has decided to cancel her North American tour, which Rolling ...

2K Irish Artists Now Getting Universal Basic Income

3-year pilot program could transform lives, boost sector, backers say

(Newser) - Ireland's government has begun paying $325 per week to 2,000 artists—including actors, musicians, writers, and painters—as part of a research program on the effects of universal basic income. The 707 visual artists, 584 musicians, 204 film artists, 184 writers, 173 theater artists, 32 dancers and choreographers,...

Elvis Actor Found Dead
Elvis Actor
Found Dead
obituary

Elvis Actor Found Dead

Shonka Dukureh dies in Nashville at age 44

(Newser) - Shonka Dukureh, who played Big Mama Thornton in this year's movie about Elvis Presley , was found dead Thursday in a bedroom at her home in Nashville, police say. She was 44. Nashville police say there were no signs of foul play, per the AP . Autopsy results are pending from...

She Tried to Sell a Clapton Bootleg for $11. He Filed Suit

German court rules in favor of rock star in copyright infringement case

(Newser) - A German judge has sided with Eric Clapton in a copyright infringement case that started with a CD being listed on eBay for just over $11. Deutsche Welle reports that on Wednesday, a Duesseldorf regional court ruled a 55-year-old widow who'd tried to sell a bootlegged CD of some...

Fans Send Millionaire Artist $448K in 48 Hours

Afrobeats artist Davido of Nigeria apparently wanted to get his luxury car out of port

(Newser) - Nigerian-American Afrobeats star Davido is a multimillionaire, notes the Guardian . But that didn't keep him from asking fans for donations this week. And they jumped at the opportunity to help "one of the biggest African stars in the world," per the BBC . The singer with 31.6...

Fellow Musicians Perplexed by Clapton's Hard Turn
Fellow Musicians Perplexed
by Clapton's Hard Turn
longform

Fellow Musicians Perplexed by Clapton's Hard Turn

Robert Cray, for example, has cut ties over Clapton's stance against COVID lockdowns

(Newser) - Eric Clapton has emerged as a loud voice opposed to COVID lockdowns and vaccine mandates , along with fellow music legend Van Morrison. As a result, he's attracted a ton of criticism , prompting a lengthy Washington Post story by Geoff Edgers on the subject headlined, "What happened to Eric...

Paul McCartney Nixes Practice He Calls 'a Bit Strange'

Ex-Beatle will no longer be signing autographs for fans

(Newser) - Nearly 15 years ago, Ringo Starr "put his foot" down, and his pen, and informed fans he wouldn't be signing autographs anymore. Now, the only other surviving Beatle has jumped aboard the same no-autographs train. The AV Club reports on a new Paul McCartney interview with Reader's ...

Flutist Who Shared Conspiracy Theories Is Out of a Job

Baltimore Symphony fires Emily Skala

(Newser) - A flutist who courted controversy with online posts about everything from COVID to the 2020 election results is out of a job in Baltimore. The city's orchestra this week fired principal flutist Emily Skala, reports the Baltimore Sun . The move comes about six months after the orchestra publicly rebuked...

Ted Nugent: 'Everybody Told Me I Should Not Announce This'

Right-wing singer announces he has COVID after claiming pandemic is a 'scam'

(Newser) - Months after claiming there was "not a real pandemic," Ted Nugent found himself sicker than he'd ever been in his life. "I have had flu symptoms for the last 10 days. ... I thought I was dying," the rocker said Monday on a Facebook Live stream...

Member of Alabama Shakes Accused of Child Abuse

Arrested drummer Steven Johnson had previously pleaded guilty to violating ex's protective order

(Newser) - A member of the rock band Alabama Shakes was arrested last week and hit with child abuse charges, a year after pleading guilty to breaching a protective order from his ex-wife. The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama confirms to Rolling Stone that drummer Steven William Johnson was arrested...

World's 'Fastest Girl Drummer' Is Gone
World's 'Fastest
Girl Drummer' Is Gone
obituary

World's 'Fastest Girl Drummer' Is Gone

Viola Smith has died at 107

(Newser) - The "fastest girl drummer in the world" is gone. Viola Smith, a swing musician who fought for female inclusion in the big-band era, died Wednesday at home in Costa Mesa, Calif., the Washington Post reports. She was 107. At a time when jazz giants like Artie Shaw and Benny...

Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Dead at 73
Guitarist Who 'Gave Me
the Cold Sweats' Has Died
obituary

Guitarist Who 'Gave Me the Cold Sweats' Has Died

Peter Green had 'the sweetest tone I ever heard,' said guitar legend BB King

(Newser) - Peter Green, the dexterous blues guitarist who led the first incarnation of Fleetwood Mac in a career shortened by psychedelic drugs and mental illness, has died at 73, the AP reports. A law firm representing his family, Swan Turton, announced the death in a statement Saturday. It said he died...

RIP, Little Richard —'a Genius, Pure and Simple'

Mick Jagger, Quincy Jones are among those reacting to Little Richard's death

(Newser) - Reactions are rolling in to the death of rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard, who died Saturday at 87, the AP reports. Among them:

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