Exclusive: The Rolling Stones can’t get no satisfaction at FX.
A major series chronicling the band’s glory years has taken “a tumble” out of development with FX amid wider content cuts at Disney, according to the show’s producer.
Andy Harries, CEO of The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures, said he was “regrouping” on the show and having conversations about its future — both in terms of a new home and showrunner.
“It’s not in with FX [anymore], unfortunately,” Harries told Deadline. “It did take a tumble out because of the cutbacks at Disney. It was just too expensive and too ambitious for the immediate agenda.”
He added, “John Landgraf was really effusive about the scripts and ambition for the show, but he just didn’t feel that he was going to be able to get it greenlit in the next two years.”
Harries would not rule out returning to FX with the project,...
A major series chronicling the band’s glory years has taken “a tumble” out of development with FX amid wider content cuts at Disney, according to the show’s producer.
Andy Harries, CEO of The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures, said he was “regrouping” on the show and having conversations about its future — both in terms of a new home and showrunner.
“It’s not in with FX [anymore], unfortunately,” Harries told Deadline. “It did take a tumble out because of the cutbacks at Disney. It was just too expensive and too ambitious for the immediate agenda.”
He added, “John Landgraf was really effusive about the scripts and ambition for the show, but he just didn’t feel that he was going to be able to get it greenlit in the next two years.”
Harries would not rule out returning to FX with the project,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
John Regan, a master bass player whose resume included stints with Peter Frampton, Ace Frehley, Billy Idol, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie, died Friday at 71 in New York State. No cause was given.
Wife Cathy Merring-Regan issued a statement, which was shared on Facebook by a family friend.
“It is with the greatest sorrow and sadness that I let you all know John passed away this afternoon,” the statement reads. “So many people have posted messages of love and condolences on his phone. I am trying to figure out how to post on any of his [Facebook] pages. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. One of his favorite quotes was ‘All that you can take with you is that which you’ve given away. From reading your messages, I know he gave much away and so much love was sent to him. He passed suddenly, but that was his wish.
Wife Cathy Merring-Regan issued a statement, which was shared on Facebook by a family friend.
“It is with the greatest sorrow and sadness that I let you all know John passed away this afternoon,” the statement reads. “So many people have posted messages of love and condolences on his phone. I am trying to figure out how to post on any of his [Facebook] pages. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. One of his favorite quotes was ‘All that you can take with you is that which you’ve given away. From reading your messages, I know he gave much away and so much love was sent to him. He passed suddenly, but that was his wish.
- 4/8/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Film Festival Roundup: BFI London Announces Full Lineup, Austin Adds Playwriting Track And Much More
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
– The BFI London Film Festival has announced its full program, running October 5 – 16. The festival will screen a total of 193 fiction and 52 documentary features, including 18 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres, 39 European Premieres. There will also be screenings of 144 short films, including documentary, live action and animated works. A number of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, Screen Talks, Q&As and Industry Talks: Lff Connects during the fest.
The festival has previously announced both its opener — Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom” — and its closer — Ben Wheatley’s “Free Fire” — and those titles are joined by a bevy of new additions. Highlights include “The Birth of a Nation,” “Nocturnal Animals,” “Manchester By the Sea,” “La La Land” and many more. You can check...
– The BFI London Film Festival has announced its full program, running October 5 – 16. The festival will screen a total of 193 fiction and 52 documentary features, including 18 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres, 39 European Premieres. There will also be screenings of 144 short films, including documentary, live action and animated works. A number of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, Screen Talks, Q&As and Industry Talks: Lff Connects during the fest.
The festival has previously announced both its opener — Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom” — and its closer — Ben Wheatley’s “Free Fire” — and those titles are joined by a bevy of new additions. Highlights include “The Birth of a Nation,” “Nocturnal Animals,” “Manchester By the Sea,” “La La Land” and many more. You can check...
- 9/1/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
American Idol channeled the spirit of Pamela Des Barre sans the groupie element with its “I’m With The Band” themed night. The remaining nine vocalists, who enjoyed a “rock star meet and greet” with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz, learned some touring advice on how to get along when you hate each other (Stump’s advice: high fives) and how to prepare a set list “carefully” to protect your voice. They also did the first group number of the season with a medley of rock hits, consciously uncoupling the audience with selections by Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, and
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- 3/27/2014
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has heard our pleas for spankin’ new theme weeks on American Idol, but when the Top 10 take the stage Wednesday night (8/7 c, on Fox) the results could be beautiful or they could be disastrous.
You see, “Music of the American Idols” is a two-pronged beast, encompassing the songs previous Idol winners covered during their respective seasons, and also the songs that these champs have released in their post-show careers.
The key for the Season 12 Top 10 will be choosing songs that fit their voices — but not trying to recreate iconic Idol moments that they’ll never be able to match.
You see, “Music of the American Idols” is a two-pronged beast, encompassing the songs previous Idol winners covered during their respective seasons, and also the songs that these champs have released in their post-show careers.
The key for the Season 12 Top 10 will be choosing songs that fit their voices — but not trying to recreate iconic Idol moments that they’ll never be able to match.
- 3/9/2013
- by Michael Slezak
- TVLine.com
Lady Gaga unleashed her massive pipes, as well as an oversized wig and footwear that was more stilt than shoe, at the Rolling Stones' final "50 and Counting" show on Saturday night at New Jersey's Prudential Center. A minute and a half into "Gimme Shelter," Mick Jagger introduced Gaga, who proceeded to strut, mug, hop, swing and wave her arms in full gospel mode for the remainder of the "Let It Bleed" classic. If she was trying to respectfully harness the raw emotion of the song's original vocalist, Merry Clayton, then she succeeded. Wearing a black-and-gold jumpsuit,
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- 12/16/2012
- by Marc Schneider, Billboard
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
E! is reporting that Colton Haynes is exiting Teen Wolf over negotiations over the number of episodes he would be appearing in. Sources for the show say that he was offered a full run, while sources for Haynes say he was offered less than half the episodes. MTV says that no one is being forced out or recast, but doesn't say that Colton isn't leaving.
James Van Der Beek may have started a trend playing a heightened version of himself on television, because now Michael Bolton is set to do the same, in a show about his assistant, him, and his out of control teen daughter. But will he make a sexy jeans commercial? And a bigger question is what exactly a heightened version of Michael Bolton looks like.
Just when you think the Log Cabin Republicans are sane, the Florida chapter runs an ad displaying the body of slain Ambassador Christopher Stevens,...
James Van Der Beek may have started a trend playing a heightened version of himself on television, because now Michael Bolton is set to do the same, in a show about his assistant, him, and his out of control teen daughter. But will he make a sexy jeans commercial? And a bigger question is what exactly a heightened version of Michael Bolton looks like.
Just when you think the Log Cabin Republicans are sane, the Florida chapter runs an ad displaying the body of slain Ambassador Christopher Stevens,...
- 10/12/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Chicago – Social history is often the seed for actual history. The simple story of two youth gangs in England in the early 1960s – The Mods and The Rockers – is grist for the incredible social history film, “Quadrophenia.” The new Criterion Collection Blu-ray DVD release of this 1979 classic will satisfy any side of the ardent rock admirer, especially those of the magnificent rock group “The Who” – the film is based on their lesser known 1973 rock opera of the same name.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
This was originally produced by The Who Films, and The Criterion Collection creates a lavish package with background information and the history of the clash between the mid-1960s British youth of “The Mods” – a clean cut style associated with the music of “The Who, as well as soul, R&B and the Mersey Beat – and “The Rockers,” who favored more of the direct, Marlon-Brando-in-”The-Wild-One” motorcycles and 1950s rock.
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
This was originally produced by The Who Films, and The Criterion Collection creates a lavish package with background information and the history of the clash between the mid-1960s British youth of “The Mods” – a clean cut style associated with the music of “The Who, as well as soul, R&B and the Mersey Beat – and “The Rockers,” who favored more of the direct, Marlon-Brando-in-”The-Wild-One” motorcycles and 1950s rock.
- 9/12/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Jennifer Lopez wants Bono or Jon Bon Jovi to succeed her on 'American Idol'. The singer announced she was leaving the show after two series last week, and thinks they should target a huge rock star, such as the U2 and Bob Jovi star, or The Rolling Stones' Sir Mick Jagger, to replace her. When asked who should take her place on the show, she told ABC news: ''I think Bono or Bon Jovi or Mick Jagger. You know me, I think big.'' Jennifer, 42, also said she was inspired to leave the show - for which she was reportedly...
- 7/17/2012
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
Jennifer Lopez wants Bono or Jon Bon Jovi to succeed her on 'American Idol'. The singer announced she was leaving the show after two series last week, and thinks they should target a huge rock star, such as the U2 and Bob Jovi star, or The Rolling Stones' Sir Mick Jagger, to replace her. When asked who should take her place on the show, she told ABC news: 'I think Bono or Bon Jovi or Mick Jagger. You know me, I think big.' Jennifer, 42, also said she was inspired to leave the show - for which she was reportedly paid $15 million to appear - by the departure of co-judge Steven Tyler, who is now concentrating on...
- 7/17/2012
- Monsters and Critics
People like to talk a lot in absolutes and turn everything into a competition. Hence, you hear a lot of “what won Comic Con” in regards to what panel absolutely floored people, generally with the reveal of footage. I can tell you with great certainty that The Expendables 2 did not win San Diego Comic-Con, but it sure as hell was a fun panel. The panel started with the same trailer we’ve already seen – hey, you’ve got to tease the crowd a little bit first, you can’t just come right out and show them something new. This was quickly followed up with a Stallone highlight reel set to some blistering rock and roll, from Black Sabbath to The Rolling Stones, with clips covering Rocky, Rambo, Assassins, The Expendables, The Expendables 2, and Tango and Cash! With a sufficiently manly introduction, the rest of the cast was brought out – Terry Crews climbed the table and...
- 7/13/2012
- by Robert Fure
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The Tumblr round-up is a compilation of images, links, posters, stories, videos and so on, taken from the Sound On Sight Tumblr account. We simply do not have the man power nor time to write articles on every interesting movie related goody we find, so this is our way of still promoting some of the stuff we love.
If you have any interesting items that you think we should plug, please email us at admin@soundonsight.org
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Oscar winning director David Fincher started off making big budget music videos for artists such as Madonna, Billy Idol, Paula Abdul, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, George Michael and even Michael Jackson. Michael Bay also got his start with music videos working at Propaganda Films, just two weeks after finishing his post-graduate degree. Bay’s success in music videos gained the attention of producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who selected him...
If you have any interesting items that you think we should plug, please email us at admin@soundonsight.org
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Oscar winning director David Fincher started off making big budget music videos for artists such as Madonna, Billy Idol, Paula Abdul, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, George Michael and even Michael Jackson. Michael Bay also got his start with music videos working at Propaganda Films, just two weeks after finishing his post-graduate degree. Bay’s success in music videos gained the attention of producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, who selected him...
- 7/8/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
In 2006, before I started The Playlist film blog, out of boredom I began what I called the The Playlist Soundtrack Series. A sort of "If I Were _______ (insert filmmaker's name here)" type thing. The concept was naive and simple: choose a handful of music-savvy filmmakers whose work I admired and create imaginary soundtracks for movies they hadn't made, based on their taste and music they might conceivably use one day. It began as nothing more than a fun exercise for me, as I had time on my hands back then.
Eventually, I had amassed a half a dozen of these soundtracks in various states of completion, and to host them somewhere I started The Playlist blog in 2007. It then became a place to discuss music in film, soundtracks, etc., and when that topic was outgrown slightly (after a while you tend to hit all the classic film and soundtrack bases...
Eventually, I had amassed a half a dozen of these soundtracks in various states of completion, and to host them somewhere I started The Playlist blog in 2007. It then became a place to discuss music in film, soundtracks, etc., and when that topic was outgrown slightly (after a while you tend to hit all the classic film and soundtrack bases...
- 5/25/2012
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
We are all excited about Madonna's performance this Sunday, but Super Bowl halftime shows weren't always about popular recording artists. As the most-watched event in television history, it's hard to imagine the game without celebrities and pyrotechnics. The show has come a long way since college marching bands, so let's take a look at some of the great and most memorable Super Bowl halftime moments.
Super Bowl III: Florida A&M University:
Towards the end of the Civil rights movement, the 1969 halftime show was lead by the marching band of famed historically black college, Florida A&M University.
Super Bowl XVI: Up With the People:
Do you remember Up With the People? Well the NFL really liked this act! The international education organization featured a cast of about 100 students from 20 different countries. They performed at four different Super Bowls during the late 1970's and through the 80's.
Super Bowl Xxv: New Kids on the Block:
Step by Step, the halftime...
Super Bowl III: Florida A&M University:
Towards the end of the Civil rights movement, the 1969 halftime show was lead by the marching band of famed historically black college, Florida A&M University.
Super Bowl XVI: Up With the People:
Do you remember Up With the People? Well the NFL really liked this act! The international education organization featured a cast of about 100 students from 20 different countries. They performed at four different Super Bowls during the late 1970's and through the 80's.
Super Bowl Xxv: New Kids on the Block:
Step by Step, the halftime...
- 2/4/2012
- Entertainment Tonight
The filmed works of David Fincher aren't limited to the cinema. In fact, Fincher has made more music videos and commercials than he has movies and today I've decided to highlight a selection of Fincher's music videos from those that will have you nodding your head saying, "Yup, that looks like something Fincher would have directed," and others that will have you saying, "What? Really? The guy that made Zodiac, Seven and Fight Club made that?" I did my best to find a few quotes for some of the videos, a few facts on others and I can also suggest you look for the likes of Djimon Hounsou in Madonna's "Express Yourself" and Paula Abdul's "Straight Up", Christopher Walken in Madonna's "Bad Girl" and you can also find supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford in the video for George Michael's "Freedom!
- 12/19/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
"The Voice" judge Adam Levine sets the record straight in an exclusive interview with "Extra's" Aj Calloway, after the singer made a few controversial comments in Out magazine directed toward "American Idol." The singer accuses "Idol" producers of hiding the sexuality of gay contestants on the show, explaining, "It was always a little strange to me that that was one detail that was left out."
video platform video management video solutions video player
The Maroon 5 frontman added,...
video platform video management video solutions video player
The Maroon 5 frontman added,...
- 8/31/2011
- Extra
New York (Reuters) - A global social media campaign featuring a Bob Marley song was launched by some of the music industry's top stars on Tuesday to help stem the hunger crisis that is increasing in the Horn of Africa.
More than 150 stars from Lady Gaga, U2, Justin Bieber, Jay-z, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney are among the well-known figures using their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to urge fans to donate money to help the numerous families starving in the region.
The campaign, called "I'm Gonna Be Your Friend," can be found at www.imgonnabeyourfriend.com. It shows a video of Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1973 song, 'High Tide or Low Tide," accompanied by footage of malnourished children created by award-winning film director Kevin Macdonald.
About 3.6 million people are at risk of starvation in Somalia and 12 million people across the Horn of Africa, including in Ethiopia and Kenya,...
More than 150 stars from Lady Gaga, U2, Justin Bieber, Jay-z, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney are among the well-known figures using their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to urge fans to donate money to help the numerous families starving in the region.
The campaign, called "I'm Gonna Be Your Friend," can be found at www.imgonnabeyourfriend.com. It shows a video of Bob Marley & The Wailers' 1973 song, 'High Tide or Low Tide," accompanied by footage of malnourished children created by award-winning film director Kevin Macdonald.
About 3.6 million people are at risk of starvation in Somalia and 12 million people across the Horn of Africa, including in Ethiopia and Kenya,...
- 8/9/2011
- by Reuters
- Huffington Post
Jennifer Lopez is halfway around the world in the Ukraine. No, she's not hiding from the press after splitting from husband Marc Anthony . Jenny from the bloc has gotta make a buck. Lopez is reportedly being paid $1 million to perform for a wedding (by comparison, she made about $12 million for her stint on "American Idol"). She joins an elite group of singers who are paid big bucks for private performances. Christina Aguilera reportedly made $1 million to sing for one investor's Halloween party. That comes out to about $16,666 per minute. It's rumored stars like Amy Winehouse command similar rates. Even less-established artists can do well. "American Idol" reject Pia Toscano was paid $100,000 to sing at a party just a few weeks after she was kicked off the show. Click on the "Launch Gallery" link to see how much other stars made in private performances: Who's on the high end of the pay scale?...
- 7/19/2011
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Roger Daltrey has proved himself to be a complete hypocrite.
The former Who star recently blasted reality TV shows such as The X Factor and American Idol, but then went on to audition to become Simon Cowell replacement on the Us show, when he announced his departure.
Speaking to The Sun last year the rock and roll star said:
“We really need to break away from The X Factor and American Idol – that Simon Cowell thing.”
“I really think the music industry will beat this slump and come back stronger.”
“Groups like The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles wouldn’t have made it past the audition stage, let alone be shown on TV,” he added. “That’s the joke of it.
“The music they make on the shows is absolute tripe.”
However it has now emerged that Roger auditioned for a role on the new Idol judging panel along with around 40 other stars,...
The former Who star recently blasted reality TV shows such as The X Factor and American Idol, but then went on to audition to become Simon Cowell replacement on the Us show, when he announced his departure.
Speaking to The Sun last year the rock and roll star said:
“We really need to break away from The X Factor and American Idol – that Simon Cowell thing.”
“I really think the music industry will beat this slump and come back stronger.”
“Groups like The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles wouldn’t have made it past the audition stage, let alone be shown on TV,” he added. “That’s the joke of it.
“The music they make on the shows is absolute tripe.”
However it has now emerged that Roger auditioned for a role on the new Idol judging panel along with around 40 other stars,...
- 4/30/2011
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Michael Grimm beat out 10-year-old Jackie Evancho for the win on last year's "America's Got Talent" and he's getting ready to show the world just why with his major label debut.
The self-titled effort, due out May 17th, sees Grimm working with Grammy-award winning producer Don Was. Along with being featured on the new season of "American Idol," Was has also worked with The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, and more.
The album is set to feature Grimm's original, self-penned material as well as some covers. He's also enlisted the help of Heart's Ann Wilson, as well as musicians Ian McLagan, Davey Faragher, Greg Leisz, Waddy Wachtel, and Kenny Aronoff.
"It's me," Grimm says of his new album. "I am extremely proud of this album, it really showcases my love for different genres of music from country to soul R&B to rock, the classic Americana that I grew up with.
The self-titled effort, due out May 17th, sees Grimm working with Grammy-award winning producer Don Was. Along with being featured on the new season of "American Idol," Was has also worked with The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, and more.
The album is set to feature Grimm's original, self-penned material as well as some covers. He's also enlisted the help of Heart's Ann Wilson, as well as musicians Ian McLagan, Davey Faragher, Greg Leisz, Waddy Wachtel, and Kenny Aronoff.
"It's me," Grimm says of his new album. "I am extremely proud of this album, it really showcases my love for different genres of music from country to soul R&B to rock, the classic Americana that I grew up with.
- 3/11/2011
- icelebz.com
Rocker Ronnie Wood moved to silence reports his relationship with Ana Arajuo is in crisis by stepping out together for a dinner date on Friday, February 11 as the Brazilian flashed a diamond ring on her wedding finger.
The Rolling Stones star was rumored to have ended his year-long romance with polo coach Araujo in a bid to reconcile with his ex-wife Jo Wood - just a month after their divorce was finalized. But the guitarist sent a clear message to the press on Friday night when he and his 31-year-old partner were seen at a dinner in London.
Araujo even sparked speculation they were set to take their relationship to the next level by showing off her sparkler to photographers as she and Wood left the pre-bafta Awards bash arm-in-arm.
The Rolling Stones star was rumored to have ended his year-long romance with polo coach Araujo in a bid to reconcile with his ex-wife Jo Wood - just a month after their divorce was finalized. But the guitarist sent a clear message to the press on Friday night when he and his 31-year-old partner were seen at a dinner in London.
Araujo even sparked speculation they were set to take their relationship to the next level by showing off her sparkler to photographers as she and Wood left the pre-bafta Awards bash arm-in-arm.
- 2/14/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
London, Dec 28 – Rocker Keith Richards has revealed that he has a collection of 3,000 guitars and spends a fortune on storing them.
The Rolling Stones star only ever plays 15 of them onstage or in a recording studio.
Richards has amassed a huge haul of instruments during his five decades in the music industry, but most of his prized collection is gathering dust in.
The Rolling Stones star only ever plays 15 of them onstage or in a recording studio.
Richards has amassed a huge haul of instruments during his five decades in the music industry, but most of his prized collection is gathering dust in.
- 12/28/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Rocker Ronnie Wood is eyeing a slot at next year's U.K. music festival Glastonbury - he wants The Rolling Stones to reunite on stage for the first time in three years at the iconic event. The veteran rockers have stepped away from the spotlight since they completed their 144-date "A Bigger Bang" trek in 2007, which remains the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, while their album of the same name was released in 2005.
Rumors of a Rolling Stones resurgence have been rife recently, and last month guitarist Keith Richards confirmed the musicians are about to start recording new music together. Now Wood has spoken out, insisting it's "high time" they regrouped onstage, and revealed he'd love to headline Britain's biggest festival next summer to mark the reunion.
He tells Britain's Metro, "I'd love to do it (Glastonbury). I'm always up for the festivals. As far as the Stones are...
Rumors of a Rolling Stones resurgence have been rife recently, and last month guitarist Keith Richards confirmed the musicians are about to start recording new music together. Now Wood has spoken out, insisting it's "high time" they regrouped onstage, and revealed he'd love to headline Britain's biggest festival next summer to mark the reunion.
He tells Britain's Metro, "I'd love to do it (Glastonbury). I'm always up for the festivals. As far as the Stones are...
- 12/21/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Noel Gallagher is reportedly in talks to judge the U.S. version of "The X Factor". Music mogul Simon Cowell is said to be keen on upstaging his former show "American Idol", who now have Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler on the judging panel, by getting a big British rock star to appear on his new show.
He is a big fan of the ex-Oasis star and is keen to get him on board and has also laid down an offer to The Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. A source told The Sun newspaper, "Simon wants to go one better than 'American Idol', who have Steve Tyler, and has set his heart on British rock 'n' roll royalty - with Noel and Mick top of his shopping list."
"Noel's manager met up for early talks and there is serious money on offer. Simon is a huge fan of...
He is a big fan of the ex-Oasis star and is keen to get him on board and has also laid down an offer to The Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. A source told The Sun newspaper, "Simon wants to go one better than 'American Idol', who have Steve Tyler, and has set his heart on British rock 'n' roll royalty - with Noel and Mick top of his shopping list."
"Noel's manager met up for early talks and there is serious money on offer. Simon is a huge fan of...
- 12/15/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Roger Daltrey has hit out at Simon Cowell and The X Factor, saying that the public needs to ‘break away’ from this genre of TV shows.
The Who star claims that Cowell is ruining the music industry, saying that iconic bands like The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles would never have made it past the audition stages of his shows.
“We really need to break away from The X Factor and American Idol – that Simon Cowell thing,” he told The Sun.
“I really think the music industry will beat this slump and come back stronger.”
“Groups like The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles wouldn’t have made it past the audition stage, let alone be shown on TV,” he added. “That’s the joke of it.
“The music they make on the shows is absolute tripe.”
He continued: “He’s made a good industry out of it,...
The Who star claims that Cowell is ruining the music industry, saying that iconic bands like The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles would never have made it past the audition stages of his shows.
“We really need to break away from The X Factor and American Idol – that Simon Cowell thing,” he told The Sun.
“I really think the music industry will beat this slump and come back stronger.”
“Groups like The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles wouldn’t have made it past the audition stage, let alone be shown on TV,” he added. “That’s the joke of it.
“The music they make on the shows is absolute tripe.”
He continued: “He’s made a good industry out of it,...
- 11/19/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Rocker Ronnie Wood has set his sights on conquering Hollywood when he finally retires from The Rolling Stones. The guitarist was offered a role on U.S. TV hit "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" after admitting to producers he's a huge fan of the show, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts.
And he admits he'd love to try his hand at acting, when he's not so busy rocking. Wood tells WENN, "Acting's something I haven't even scratched on. I nearly played a safecracker on CSI. They offered me the role, but I was too busy."
"But it's something I have up my sleeve. I'd love to do a movie. Maybe I could direct! I've always had these mad plans, but I'm going to wait until it happens."...
And he admits he'd love to try his hand at acting, when he's not so busy rocking. Wood tells WENN, "Acting's something I haven't even scratched on. I nearly played a safecracker on CSI. They offered me the role, but I was too busy."
"But it's something I have up my sleeve. I'd love to do a movie. Maybe I could direct! I've always had these mad plans, but I'm going to wait until it happens."...
- 9/30/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Rocker Ronnie Wood has finally learned how to use the internet - so he can have regular chats with his daughter Leah in Australia. The Rolling Stones guitarist found it confusing to master emails and online phone network Skype, but Leah's move Down Under earlier this year forced him to wise up to modern technology.
She tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "Mum was a bit upset (when I relocated), but you've got to experience life. Dad was fine about it, too. I've been too busy to even plan for them coming to visit. Thank goodness for email and Skype, which dad can handle now."
Ronnie Wood is set to show off his art works at Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio on September 21. Not less than 30 of Wood's paintings will be displayed at the museum this autumn.
She tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "Mum was a bit upset (when I relocated), but you've got to experience life. Dad was fine about it, too. I've been too busy to even plan for them coming to visit. Thank goodness for email and Skype, which dad can handle now."
Ronnie Wood is set to show off his art works at Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio on September 21. Not less than 30 of Wood's paintings will be displayed at the museum this autumn.
- 8/3/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
This week I was delighted to sit down with Michel Gondry, the director who brought us “Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind” and “The Science of Sleep,” and who is currently in post-production on the superhero genre "The Green Hornet", and promoting his documentary "Thorn in the Heart." In this exclusive conversation, I had the opportunity to talk with Gondry about the recent news regarding "The Green Hornet" 3-D conversion. Gondry shares his quest to have the film released in 3-D. He says, “We’ve been trying to get the studio to do it in 3-D since we started. It’s a good sign they really care for this movie.” Gondry started using 3-D back in 1994 when he worked on a music video for The Rolling Stones. His continued excitement about the technology is obvious in this interview.
Click here to watch Gondry discuss 3-D, the influence of music on...
Click here to watch Gondry discuss 3-D, the influence of music on...
- 5/7/2010
- Makingof.com
By Jennifer Kelly
Elvis. The Beatles. The Rolling Stones. This year’s batch of “Idol” theme weeks have been pretty aspirational, to say the least. What’s on deck, “The Songs of Jesus"? Hopefully that will come next week; last night they trudged their way through the songs of the great Frank Sinatra.
My dialing finger has been retired since Siobhan’s elimination, only making appearances for matters of great importance, like ordering pizza or calling psychic hotlines. But last night my finger hovered precariously over the familiar keypad, ready to vote again after b...
Elvis. The Beatles. The Rolling Stones. This year’s batch of “Idol” theme weeks have been pretty aspirational, to say the least. What’s on deck, “The Songs of Jesus"? Hopefully that will come next week; last night they trudged their way through the songs of the great Frank Sinatra.
My dialing finger has been retired since Siobhan’s elimination, only making appearances for matters of great importance, like ordering pizza or calling psychic hotlines. But last night my finger hovered precariously over the familiar keypad, ready to vote again after b...
- 5/5/2010
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
Sorry "Elvis is alive" conspiracy theorists, I'm pretty sure last night's American Idol performance show proved once and for all, The King is dead. Because even if Elvis had stayed silent all these years in some remote Swiss chalet, surely he would have broken his cover and sent out an all points bulletin decrying last night's dreadfully boring interpretations of his songs.
I spent a lot of time since last night wondering how the Top 9 performed Elvis with no energy, but then I realized this is the same group who performed The Rolling Stones with no rock and "Soul Week" with no soul. It's getting high time we just come out and say it: Worst. Season. Ever.
At least there are consequences for those doldrums tonight, when not one, but two contestants will be eliminated. You already know who we think will be eliminated and who Anoop Desai thinks will be eliminated,...
I spent a lot of time since last night wondering how the Top 9 performed Elvis with no energy, but then I realized this is the same group who performed The Rolling Stones with no rock and "Soul Week" with no soul. It's getting high time we just come out and say it: Worst. Season. Ever.
At least there are consequences for those doldrums tonight, when not one, but two contestants will be eliminated. You already know who we think will be eliminated and who Anoop Desai thinks will be eliminated,...
- 4/14/2010
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Week after week we hear the same critique from the judges on American Idol: "you didn't sound contemporary, relevant or current." Every single one of the nine remaining contestants left on Idol has received this critique. And if your name is Katie Stevens, you can all but guarantee at least one of the judges will tell you this every week
However, if the judges are going for contemporary, current or relevant this season, they're making it next to impossible by giving the aspiring Idols dated themes including: The Rolling Stones, Soul Week, The Lennon/McCartney Songbook, and this week, the songs of Elvis Presley. What's next, American Idol? Songs of the Sacred Harp? Disco Week? Jazz Standards recorded before 1950?...
However, if the judges are going for contemporary, current or relevant this season, they're making it next to impossible by giving the aspiring Idols dated themes including: The Rolling Stones, Soul Week, The Lennon/McCartney Songbook, and this week, the songs of Elvis Presley. What's next, American Idol? Songs of the Sacred Harp? Disco Week? Jazz Standards recorded before 1950?...
- 4/13/2010
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Faithful American Idol watchers, I have a confession to make. I've got a case of the blues ... bad. You see, there's this show I love, but it don't treat me no good no more. Things used to be different. It used to be all Filet Mignon dinners and surprise gifts, and now its microwave meals on the couch. Nowadays instead of anticipating them like Christmas morning, I spend my Tuesdays and Wednesdays worrying that the magic is gone for good and it's got me down.
At least the soundtrack will be fitting tonight, because nothing goes better with a case of the blues than the Blues themselves. As we all know, tonight the Top 10 are singing R&B and soul songs ... hopefully complete with rhythm, blues and soul. Because a night of R&B with no rhythm or soul would be about as sad as a night dedicated to The Rolling Stones...
At least the soundtrack will be fitting tonight, because nothing goes better with a case of the blues than the Blues themselves. As we all know, tonight the Top 10 are singing R&B and soul songs ... hopefully complete with rhythm, blues and soul. Because a night of R&B with no rhythm or soul would be about as sad as a night dedicated to The Rolling Stones...
- 3/30/2010
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
I don't know why, but I was thinking up until this show started that we were still losing one guy and one girl; but the days of the competition being split evenly are over. We're only losing one tonight, so one of the genders is going to be completely safe. It's hard for me to guess who's going home, though, as last night's episode was one of those nights in which I questioned what show I was watching as compared to the judges.
They, apparently, were watching some sort of star-studded tribute to The Rolling Stones, while I was watching a hot mess. The contestants seemed way over-praised, in general, while the one who wouldn't have made Mick Jagger question all of his career choices, Crystal Bowersox, was unduly criticized. It was crazy-town last night, so I'm really interested to see who America ultimately thinks should go.
Continue reading 'American...
They, apparently, were watching some sort of star-studded tribute to The Rolling Stones, while I was watching a hot mess. The contestants seemed way over-praised, in general, while the one who wouldn't have made Mick Jagger question all of his career choices, Crystal Bowersox, was unduly criticized. It was crazy-town last night, so I'm really interested to see who America ultimately thinks should go.
Continue reading 'American...
- 3/18/2010
- by Kona Gallagher
- Aol TV.
Do you agree with HollywoodLife.com’s own Idol judge?
Blake Lewis knows talent when he sees it – and the former American Idol Season 6 runner-up isn’t at all impressed with Season 9 contender Tim Urban.
“How did this guy get picked to stay on the show when people like Lilly Scott have to go home?!” the incredulous 28-year-old wonders on his weekly HollywoodLife.com American Idol blog.
Funny, Blake, we were thinking the exact same thing! Check out the rest of Blake’s highlights from the March 16 episode of Idol here!
Highlight One: Michael Lynche starting out the show with “Miss You”. This is one of my favorite Rolling Stones titles, and Michael’s arrangement was so fresh and so clean, clean. He gave it a nice RnB swagger. It was a great way to start the show, and it seemed like he was the only one to channel The Rolling Stones the whole evening.
Blake Lewis knows talent when he sees it – and the former American Idol Season 6 runner-up isn’t at all impressed with Season 9 contender Tim Urban.
“How did this guy get picked to stay on the show when people like Lilly Scott have to go home?!” the incredulous 28-year-old wonders on his weekly HollywoodLife.com American Idol blog.
Funny, Blake, we were thinking the exact same thing! Check out the rest of Blake’s highlights from the March 16 episode of Idol here!
Highlight One: Michael Lynche starting out the show with “Miss You”. This is one of my favorite Rolling Stones titles, and Michael’s arrangement was so fresh and so clean, clean. He gave it a nice RnB swagger. It was a great way to start the show, and it seemed like he was the only one to channel The Rolling Stones the whole evening.
- 3/17/2010
- by Laura Schreffler
- HollywoodLife
So Casey is the product of a single parent home and took a severe reaction to the pertussis vaccination as a kid. How interesting…..
Onto the music, Casey chose to sing The Rolling Stones song ‘It’s All Over Now’ on last night’s American Idol and we thought it was a wise choice.
The rock feel and guitar prowess really worked for him and of course his general hotness never hurts!
Judges Comments:
Randy Jackson loved it and said that this is the Casey he loves.
Ellen DeGeneres: “For most women their hearts are going to start racing just looking at you. But then for people like me – blondes! – I thought it was fantastic.”
Kara DioGuardi thought Casey was no longer trying to be a rockstar…now he is a rockstar!
Simon Cowell didin’t think it was good enough. “You have to push yourself,” he advises. “It...
Onto the music, Casey chose to sing The Rolling Stones song ‘It’s All Over Now’ on last night’s American Idol and we thought it was a wise choice.
The rock feel and guitar prowess really worked for him and of course his general hotness never hurts!
Judges Comments:
Randy Jackson loved it and said that this is the Casey he loves.
Ellen DeGeneres: “For most women their hearts are going to start racing just looking at you. But then for people like me – blondes! – I thought it was fantastic.”
Kara DioGuardi thought Casey was no longer trying to be a rockstar…now he is a rockstar!
Simon Cowell didin’t think it was good enough. “You have to push yourself,” he advises. “It...
- 3/17/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Crystal Bowersox lost her lead on "American Idol" on Tuesday night to a 19-year-old contender who judge Kara DioGuardi said gave a performance that offered hints of Season 8's most dynamic big stage entertainer, Adam Lambert.
Siobhan Magnus, who Simon Cowell previously called, "a funny little thing," performed The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" on "Idol's" big stage, the group's first evening in the larger arena, but she left having painted the stage red.
"Bringing the drama to 'American Idol' Season 9," a stunned Randy Jackson commented after the petite brunette in a black strapless dress wowed the ...
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Siobhan Magnus, who Simon Cowell previously called, "a funny little thing," performed The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" on "Idol's" big stage, the group's first evening in the larger arena, but she left having painted the stage red.
"Bringing the drama to 'American Idol' Season 9," a stunned Randy Jackson commented after the petite brunette in a black strapless dress wowed the ...
Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- 3/17/2010
- by AccessHollywood.com Editorial Staff
- Access Hollywood
American Idol hopeful Paige Miles has admitted that she was shocked when informed that this week’s show theme would be The Rolling Stones.
Speaking to Zap2It at the recent AI final 12 party, the 22 year old Florida girl admitted:
“I’m so stoked for Stones. It caught all of us off guard – we were not expecting them to allow us to sing their music.
“As of yet I haven’t chosen a song. I’ve got to sit down and think about that and hopefully I’ll find something that will work for me, but yeah, I’m kind of still shocked they’re going to let us sing their music. But we’re so excited to do it.”
But Miles also admitted that her “dream theme” would be the “Jacksons week” when she would actually get to perform with some of the Jackson brothers.
We are kind of...
Speaking to Zap2It at the recent AI final 12 party, the 22 year old Florida girl admitted:
“I’m so stoked for Stones. It caught all of us off guard – we were not expecting them to allow us to sing their music.
“As of yet I haven’t chosen a song. I’ve got to sit down and think about that and hopefully I’ll find something that will work for me, but yeah, I’m kind of still shocked they’re going to let us sing their music. But we’re so excited to do it.”
But Miles also admitted that her “dream theme” would be the “Jacksons week” when she would actually get to perform with some of the Jackson brothers.
We are kind of...
- 3/15/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
"American Idol" revealed this season's top 12 after voters gave the ol' heave-ho to another four hopefuls on Thursday night. Did one of your favorites get eliminated? Katelyn Epperly, who underwhelmed the judges singing Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move," was first to feel the boot. "It was definitely a great experience and I've learned a ton," she told Ryan Seacrest. Next, the voters decided that Todrick Hall was not "Somebody to Love," despite his animated performance of the Queen classic the night before. "This has been an awesome experience," he said. "I came here to prove that I'm not just a dancer -- I can also sing -- and I think I did that." Then, Alex Lambert got in "Trouble" for his rendition of the Ray Lamontagne tune. "There's a lot of things that America hasn't seen me do," Alex assured viewers. "I wish I could have just broken out of my shell.
- 3/12/2010
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
The Top 12 contestants were revealed on American Idol tonight, as two more girls and two more guys were eliminated from the competition. Video below:
Eliminated from American Idol tonight for the girls was Katelyn Epperly and Lilly Scott. The guys eliminated were Todrick Hall and Alex Lambert.
Season 9 American Idol top 12 contestants are:
Didi BenamiSiobhan MagnusPaige MilesTim UrbanLee DewyzeCasey JamesCrystal BowersoxMichael LyncheLacey BrownAaron KellyAndrew GarciaKatie Stevens
Next week, the top 12 will be singing from the songbook of The Rolling Stones.
Eliminated from American Idol tonight for the girls was Katelyn Epperly and Lilly Scott. The guys eliminated were Todrick Hall and Alex Lambert.
Season 9 American Idol top 12 contestants are:
Didi BenamiSiobhan MagnusPaige MilesTim UrbanLee DewyzeCasey JamesCrystal BowersoxMichael LyncheLacey BrownAaron KellyAndrew GarciaKatie Stevens
Next week, the top 12 will be singing from the songbook of The Rolling Stones.
- 3/12/2010
- by noreply@blogger.com (realitytvnews)
From thousands to 16, the contestants of "American Idol" this week are finally wilted down to 12. America has voted and Katelyn Epperly was the first to walk away from the Top 16. This means Paige Miles who was pitted against her is through to the next round. Katelyn performed for the last time before running crying to the other contestants. Earlier in the show, Didi Benami and Siobhan Magnus have secured their Top 12 spots.
Then Ryan Seacrest called a bunch of the guys, Casey James, Tim Urban, Todrick Hall and Lee Dewyze. The first two advanced to the next round, much to Tim's surprise. Judge Randy Jackson said that Lee deserves a spot in the Top 12 and indeed he got it. Todrick was sent packing. Like Katelyn, he reprised this week's performance.
The next names called to enter the Top 12 circle in respective order are Crystal Bowesox, Michael Lynche, Lacey Brown, and Aaron Kelly.
Then Ryan Seacrest called a bunch of the guys, Casey James, Tim Urban, Todrick Hall and Lee Dewyze. The first two advanced to the next round, much to Tim's surprise. Judge Randy Jackson said that Lee deserves a spot in the Top 12 and indeed he got it. Todrick was sent packing. Like Katelyn, he reprised this week's performance.
The next names called to enter the Top 12 circle in respective order are Crystal Bowesox, Michael Lynche, Lacey Brown, and Aaron Kelly.
- 3/12/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
While many people are fans of Susan Boyle and have bought her debut album "I Dreamed a Dream", Adam Lambert on the other hand despises it. He calls the record "terrible" and describes her rendition of The Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" as a "horrendous" treatment.
The "American Idol" singer is also disappointed when the "Britain's Got Talent" alum blocked him from the top spot of Billboard Hot 200 in November 2009. "If only it weren't for Susan Boyle!" so he said in Gay Times' March issue.
"I'm happy for her success, but that album is terrible. 'Wild Horses' is the one that made me laugh the hardest. I just died when I heard it, I was crying with laughter. It was the most horrendous, sacrilegious treatment of that song!"
Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle released their first studio albums in the U.S. on the same day, November 23, 2009. While...
The "American Idol" singer is also disappointed when the "Britain's Got Talent" alum blocked him from the top spot of Billboard Hot 200 in November 2009. "If only it weren't for Susan Boyle!" so he said in Gay Times' March issue.
"I'm happy for her success, but that album is terrible. 'Wild Horses' is the one that made me laugh the hardest. I just died when I heard it, I was crying with laughter. It was the most horrendous, sacrilegious treatment of that song!"
Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle released their first studio albums in the U.S. on the same day, November 23, 2009. While...
- 2/24/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
The Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones' death will be reviewed 40 years later. The late guitarist's cause of death will be re-examined after Sussex police were handed new information.
Jones was just 27 when he was discovered unresponsive at the bottom of his swimming pool in July 1969. The coroner's report stated that it was "death by misadventure," though speculations saying he was murdered continued.
According to BBC, a spokesman for Sussex police said they received new documents connected with his death, prompting the review. However, he added that it was still too early to launch a fresh investigation.
Jones - born Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones - founded the legendary rock band in 1962.
Jones was just 27 when he was discovered unresponsive at the bottom of his swimming pool in July 1969. The coroner's report stated that it was "death by misadventure," though speculations saying he was murdered continued.
According to BBC, a spokesman for Sussex police said they received new documents connected with his death, prompting the review. However, he added that it was still too early to launch a fresh investigation.
Jones - born Lewis Brian Hopkins Jones - founded the legendary rock band in 1962.
- 8/31/2009
- icelebz.com
Bo Diddley, the rock 'n' roll originator whose signature "hambone" beat was repurposed by legions of acts from Buddy Holly and The Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen and U2, died Monday at his home in Archer, Fla. He was 79.
Diddley had a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.
Although he never attained the commercial success of many of his contemporaries, Diddley's status as one of rock's founding fathers is unquestioned. He helped create the sound by pushing R&B to untested limits in the early 1950s. The "Bo Diddley beat" -- CHINK-a-chink-a-CHINK, a CHINK-CHINK -- was his signature sound, deployed on such early classics as "Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love". Future rock staples that borrowed the beat include Holly's widely covered "Not Fade Away", the Who's "Magic Bus" and Springsteen's "She's the One".
Born Ellas Otha Bates on Dec. 30, 1928, in McComb, Miss., Diddley was adopted by his mother's cousin into a sharecropping family and took the name Ellis McDaniel. He moved with them at age 5 to Chicago, where he learned guitar at 10 and was playing on Maxwell Street by his early teens. At 15, he built the first rectangular guitar, which became his trademark along with black hat and dark shades.
The name Bo Diddley came from other youngsters when he was growing up in Chicago, he said in a 1999 interview.
Diddley had a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to continue rehabilitation.
Although he never attained the commercial success of many of his contemporaries, Diddley's status as one of rock's founding fathers is unquestioned. He helped create the sound by pushing R&B to untested limits in the early 1950s. The "Bo Diddley beat" -- CHINK-a-chink-a-CHINK, a CHINK-CHINK -- was his signature sound, deployed on such early classics as "Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love". Future rock staples that borrowed the beat include Holly's widely covered "Not Fade Away", the Who's "Magic Bus" and Springsteen's "She's the One".
Born Ellas Otha Bates on Dec. 30, 1928, in McComb, Miss., Diddley was adopted by his mother's cousin into a sharecropping family and took the name Ellis McDaniel. He moved with them at age 5 to Chicago, where he learned guitar at 10 and was playing on Maxwell Street by his early teens. At 15, he built the first rectangular guitar, which became his trademark along with black hat and dark shades.
The name Bo Diddley came from other youngsters when he was growing up in Chicago, he said in a 1999 interview.
Crossing Europe Film Festival, Linz, Austria.
LINZ, Austria -- An absorbing fly-on-the-wall record of an unusual head of state, "Citizen Havel" ("Obcˇan Havel") works as a heartfelt, affectionate tribute that also allows us to see the flaws and foibles of Vaclav Havel. A cinch for festival exposure, this crowd-pleasing film appeals as a likely candidate for arthouse distribution -- not least because of the array of famous faces on view, including Bill Clinton, The Rolling Stones and both Presidents Bush.
Director Pavel Koutecky´ clearly enjoyed remarkable access to Havel throughout his two terms as the Czech Republic's President (1993-2001). Following Koutecky´'s accidental death in 2006, the film was completed by his collaborator Miroslav Janek. The camera is present before, during and after numerous events of state, observing Havel as he frets over matters major and triflingly minor. On this evidence, there's precious little difference between Havel the public figure and Havel the private individual: Genially down-to-earth, he makes good company over a two-hour running-time which, partly thanks to Tonicˇka Jankova's editing, flies breezily by.
There is one particularly jarring cut: As we're giggling at the Stones' antics as they're shown round the presidential quarters, we're confronted with the sudden death of Havel's beloved spouse, Olga. This is one of few misjudgments in a movie which otherwise proceeds smoothly along its straight chronological path as interpolated TV-news bulletins provide handy regular datelines.
Viewers glean details of Havel's past -- one of Czechoslovakia's leading playwrights, this vocal critic of the country's pro-Soviet regime spent five years in prison -- without need for narration or expository titles. On the basis of this enjoyable, engaging, often very funny documentary, citizens of other nations, regardless of their political stripe, may reckon the Czechs were lucky to have had Citizen Havel in charge at such a pivotal period in their stormy history.
Production company: AFIS - Association of Film & Sociology.
Directors: Pavel Koutecky´, Miroslav Janek.
Producer: Jarmila Polakova.
Executive Producer: Jan Krasa.
Co-producers: David Dusˇek, Pavel Strnad, Michael Wolkowitz.
Director of photography: Stano Slusˇny´.
Editor: Tonicˇka Jankova.
Sales: Deckert Distribution GmbH, Leipzig.
No rating, 120 minutes.
LINZ, Austria -- An absorbing fly-on-the-wall record of an unusual head of state, "Citizen Havel" ("Obcˇan Havel") works as a heartfelt, affectionate tribute that also allows us to see the flaws and foibles of Vaclav Havel. A cinch for festival exposure, this crowd-pleasing film appeals as a likely candidate for arthouse distribution -- not least because of the array of famous faces on view, including Bill Clinton, The Rolling Stones and both Presidents Bush.
Director Pavel Koutecky´ clearly enjoyed remarkable access to Havel throughout his two terms as the Czech Republic's President (1993-2001). Following Koutecky´'s accidental death in 2006, the film was completed by his collaborator Miroslav Janek. The camera is present before, during and after numerous events of state, observing Havel as he frets over matters major and triflingly minor. On this evidence, there's precious little difference between Havel the public figure and Havel the private individual: Genially down-to-earth, he makes good company over a two-hour running-time which, partly thanks to Tonicˇka Jankova's editing, flies breezily by.
There is one particularly jarring cut: As we're giggling at the Stones' antics as they're shown round the presidential quarters, we're confronted with the sudden death of Havel's beloved spouse, Olga. This is one of few misjudgments in a movie which otherwise proceeds smoothly along its straight chronological path as interpolated TV-news bulletins provide handy regular datelines.
Viewers glean details of Havel's past -- one of Czechoslovakia's leading playwrights, this vocal critic of the country's pro-Soviet regime spent five years in prison -- without need for narration or expository titles. On the basis of this enjoyable, engaging, often very funny documentary, citizens of other nations, regardless of their political stripe, may reckon the Czechs were lucky to have had Citizen Havel in charge at such a pivotal period in their stormy history.
Production company: AFIS - Association of Film & Sociology.
Directors: Pavel Koutecky´, Miroslav Janek.
Producer: Jarmila Polakova.
Executive Producer: Jan Krasa.
Co-producers: David Dusˇek, Pavel Strnad, Michael Wolkowitz.
Director of photography: Stano Slusˇny´.
Editor: Tonicˇka Jankova.
Sales: Deckert Distribution GmbH, Leipzig.
No rating, 120 minutes.
- 5/23/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Panorama Documentary
BERLIN -- The fate of four would-be head-bangers in the crazy world of Iraq might not add up to a hill of beans, but it's fodder for an engaging documentary by Canadian filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi titled Heavy Metal in Baghdad.
It should play well at festivals and be a collectors item on DVD.
Tipped off by a magazine article about a band called Acrassicauda (Black Scorpion) attempting to play heavy metal concerts in the war-torn capital, Moretti and Alvi tracked them down and helped stage a ragged concert before a small group of dedicated fans.
All hell broke loose after that and they lost touch, but the film shows their attempts a year later to track down the four young men who want to be like their heroes in Metallica, Slayer and Slipknot.
What the band lacks in musical talent it more than makes up for in enthusiasm, though the film wisely keeps their playing to a minimum. Moretti handles the camera while Alvi asks the questions onscreen, and it probably helps that his manner is jaunty as the places they visit in shell-shocked Baghdad are very scary.
The city's terrifying lack of security and the awful existence that Iraqis of all creeds are suffering become abundantly clear even after the foursome make their way to Damascus in Syria.
Their thoughts and observations about life in Iraq today are expressed in near-perfect American accents with endearing obscenities and mistakes in syntax. They seem much closer to the spirit of rock 'n' roll than The Rolling Stones in Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light.
BERLIN -- The fate of four would-be head-bangers in the crazy world of Iraq might not add up to a hill of beans, but it's fodder for an engaging documentary by Canadian filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi titled Heavy Metal in Baghdad.
It should play well at festivals and be a collectors item on DVD.
Tipped off by a magazine article about a band called Acrassicauda (Black Scorpion) attempting to play heavy metal concerts in the war-torn capital, Moretti and Alvi tracked them down and helped stage a ragged concert before a small group of dedicated fans.
All hell broke loose after that and they lost touch, but the film shows their attempts a year later to track down the four young men who want to be like their heroes in Metallica, Slayer and Slipknot.
What the band lacks in musical talent it more than makes up for in enthusiasm, though the film wisely keeps their playing to a minimum. Moretti handles the camera while Alvi asks the questions onscreen, and it probably helps that his manner is jaunty as the places they visit in shell-shocked Baghdad are very scary.
The city's terrifying lack of security and the awful existence that Iraqis of all creeds are suffering become abundantly clear even after the foursome make their way to Damascus in Syria.
Their thoughts and observations about life in Iraq today are expressed in near-perfect American accents with endearing obscenities and mistakes in syntax. They seem much closer to the spirit of rock 'n' roll than The Rolling Stones in Martin Scorsese's Shine a Light.
- 2/12/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This review was written for the festival screening of "Shine a Light".
Out of Competition
BERLIN -- Martin Scorsese, a film director who has made his share of superb musical documentaries, shines a light on the world's most legendary and long-lasting rock band, The Rolling Stones, in "Shine a Light".
Shooting for two nights at concerts in New York's intimate Beacon Theatre, Scorsese and an all-star cinematography crew capture the very essence of the Stones in performance -- the raw energy, slick musicianship, easy rapport with audiences and the way their individual personas have grown into appealing caricatures of their former bad-boy selves.
But at the end of a very long night, "Light" is simply another in a long line of Rolling Stones concert films. Scorsese, who painted a portrait of an era and its musicians in his great concert film "The Last Waltz" (1978) and explored the blues so movingly in his television series "The Blues" (2003), is content here to sit back and watch. Hard to blame him -- after all, it is the Stones --but you do expect more from Scorsese. No one, except perhaps Clint Eastwood, knows music and movies better, so you want him to take a deep, long and, OK, celebratory look at the iconic rock band.
No dice. You've got a ticket to watch the Stones in concert so enjoy.
The film does not stand up to the current crop of music/concert films like "U2 3D", which brilliantly uses 3-D to show the Irish band in concert so as to encapsulate its relationship to its fans, each other and their own music, and "CSNY: Deja Vu", which hones in on the political connection Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have to their music.
Scorsese makes peripheral and sporadic attempts to introduce a documentary flavor to the filmed concert. The movie opens with color and black-and-white footage of the preparation to shoot the concerts in the autumn of 2006 during the band's "A Bigger Bang" tour. The curious emphasis here seems to be on the missteps, frustrations and lack of communication as the film and rock cultures meet.
At one point, Scorsese is told about a potential fire danger of an effect involving Stones lead singer Mick Jagger. Scorsese actually says with a straight face, "We cannot burn Mick Jagger". No, you can't.
Then, pre-concert one night, the Clintons descend on to the stage — Hillary, Bill, family and guests. For jet-lagging Americans at the Berlinale, where the film opened the festival Thursday night, this is an almost surreal moment, as if post-Super Tuesday, the Clintons have somehow arrived cinematically in Berlin to scrounge up absentee ballots from local expats.
Once the concert gets under way, Scorsese cuts in ancient interviews with the Stones when they were all callow youths, interviews marked by the utter inanity of the questions and the near torpor of their answers.
Only two answers are interesting: On how he can still be standing, let alone playing great music, after a hard life of hard living, Keith Richards shrugs, "My luck hasn't run out yet." And to Dick Cavett's question many years ago about could he imagine doing rock concerts when he is 60, Jagger immediately replies, "Yeah, easily".
And that's it for the documentary section of the film.
Scorsese has cameras everywhere, with seemingly half of the American Society of Cinematographers membership — Stuart Dryburgh, Robert Elswit, Ellen Kuras, Declan Quinn and Emmanuel Lubezki among others — plus legendary Stones documentarian Albert Maysles ("Gimme Shelter") manning those cameras. He and editor David Tedeschi cut rhythmically from angle to angle as each song unfolds, catching the antics, attitudes and exuberance of the four band members and their musical compatriots onstage. Drop-by guests include Christina Aguilera, bluesman Buddy Guy and Jack White.
Predictably, Jagger and Richards dominate the stagecraft as drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ron Wood all but disappear into the set. Aging though they clearly are, these two still have that movie-star aura. And they still have great musical instincts onstage.
When you recall how articulate Richards was about music in Taylor Hackford's docu "Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (1987), you do wish Scorsese had put him on camera between shows to talk about the Stones. And Jagger has certainly done enough movies as an actor to have delivered some insights, so long as the questions are not inane.
But Scorsese just wants to hear the music and watch as the men transform back into boys.SHINE A LIGHT
Paramount Vantage
Shangri-La Entertainment/Concert Promotions International
Credits:
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producers: Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner, Steve Bing
Executive producers: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Director of photography: Robert Richardson
Art director: Star Theodos
Editor: David Tedeschi
Running time -- 120 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Out of Competition
BERLIN -- Martin Scorsese, a film director who has made his share of superb musical documentaries, shines a light on the world's most legendary and long-lasting rock band, The Rolling Stones, in "Shine a Light".
Shooting for two nights at concerts in New York's intimate Beacon Theatre, Scorsese and an all-star cinematography crew capture the very essence of the Stones in performance -- the raw energy, slick musicianship, easy rapport with audiences and the way their individual personas have grown into appealing caricatures of their former bad-boy selves.
But at the end of a very long night, "Light" is simply another in a long line of Rolling Stones concert films. Scorsese, who painted a portrait of an era and its musicians in his great concert film "The Last Waltz" (1978) and explored the blues so movingly in his television series "The Blues" (2003), is content here to sit back and watch. Hard to blame him -- after all, it is the Stones --but you do expect more from Scorsese. No one, except perhaps Clint Eastwood, knows music and movies better, so you want him to take a deep, long and, OK, celebratory look at the iconic rock band.
No dice. You've got a ticket to watch the Stones in concert so enjoy.
The film does not stand up to the current crop of music/concert films like "U2 3D", which brilliantly uses 3-D to show the Irish band in concert so as to encapsulate its relationship to its fans, each other and their own music, and "CSNY: Deja Vu", which hones in on the political connection Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have to their music.
Scorsese makes peripheral and sporadic attempts to introduce a documentary flavor to the filmed concert. The movie opens with color and black-and-white footage of the preparation to shoot the concerts in the autumn of 2006 during the band's "A Bigger Bang" tour. The curious emphasis here seems to be on the missteps, frustrations and lack of communication as the film and rock cultures meet.
At one point, Scorsese is told about a potential fire danger of an effect involving Stones lead singer Mick Jagger. Scorsese actually says with a straight face, "We cannot burn Mick Jagger". No, you can't.
Then, pre-concert one night, the Clintons descend on to the stage — Hillary, Bill, family and guests. For jet-lagging Americans at the Berlinale, where the film opened the festival Thursday night, this is an almost surreal moment, as if post-Super Tuesday, the Clintons have somehow arrived cinematically in Berlin to scrounge up absentee ballots from local expats.
Once the concert gets under way, Scorsese cuts in ancient interviews with the Stones when they were all callow youths, interviews marked by the utter inanity of the questions and the near torpor of their answers.
Only two answers are interesting: On how he can still be standing, let alone playing great music, after a hard life of hard living, Keith Richards shrugs, "My luck hasn't run out yet." And to Dick Cavett's question many years ago about could he imagine doing rock concerts when he is 60, Jagger immediately replies, "Yeah, easily".
And that's it for the documentary section of the film.
Scorsese has cameras everywhere, with seemingly half of the American Society of Cinematographers membership — Stuart Dryburgh, Robert Elswit, Ellen Kuras, Declan Quinn and Emmanuel Lubezki among others — plus legendary Stones documentarian Albert Maysles ("Gimme Shelter") manning those cameras. He and editor David Tedeschi cut rhythmically from angle to angle as each song unfolds, catching the antics, attitudes and exuberance of the four band members and their musical compatriots onstage. Drop-by guests include Christina Aguilera, bluesman Buddy Guy and Jack White.
Predictably, Jagger and Richards dominate the stagecraft as drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ron Wood all but disappear into the set. Aging though they clearly are, these two still have that movie-star aura. And they still have great musical instincts onstage.
When you recall how articulate Richards was about music in Taylor Hackford's docu "Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (1987), you do wish Scorsese had put him on camera between shows to talk about the Stones. And Jagger has certainly done enough movies as an actor to have delivered some insights, so long as the questions are not inane.
But Scorsese just wants to hear the music and watch as the men transform back into boys.SHINE A LIGHT
Paramount Vantage
Shangri-La Entertainment/Concert Promotions International
Credits:
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producers: Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner, Steve Bing
Executive producers: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Director of photography: Robert Richardson
Art director: Star Theodos
Editor: David Tedeschi
Running time -- 120 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
BERLIN -- Martin Scorsese, a film director who has made his share of superb musical documentaries, shines a light on the world's most legendary and long-lasting rock band, The Rolling Stones, in Shine a Light.
Shooting for two nights at concerts in New York's intimate Beacon Theatre, Scorsese and an all-star cinematography crew capture the very essence of the Stones in performance -- the raw energy, slick musicianship, easy rapport with audiences and the way their individual personas have grown into appealing caricatures of their former bad-boy selves.
But at the end of a very long night, Light is simply another in a long line of Rolling Stones concert films. Scorsese, who painted a portrait of an era and its musicians in his great concert film The Last Waltz (1978) and explored the blues so movingly in his television series The Blues (2003), is content here to sit back and watch. Hard to blame him -- after all, it is the Stones --but you do expect more from Scorsese. No one, except perhaps Clint Eastwood, knows music and movies better, so you want him to take a deep, long and, OK, celebratory look at the iconic rock band.
No dice. You've got a ticket to watch the Stones in concert so enjoy.
The film does not stand up to the current crop of music/concert films like U2 3D, which brilliantly uses 3-D to show the Irish band in concert so as to encapsulate its relationship to its fans, each other and their own music, and CSNY: Deja Vu, which hones in on the political connection Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have to their music.
Scorsese makes peripheral and sporadic attempts to introduce a documentary flavor to the filmed concert. The movie opens with color and black-and-white footage of the preparation to shoot the concerts in the autumn of 2006 during the band's A Bigger Bang tour. The curious emphasis here seems to be on the missteps, frustrations and lack of communication as the film and rock cultures meet.
At one point, Scorsese is told about a potential fire danger of an effect involving Stones lead singer Mick Jagger. Scorsese actually says with a straight face, We cannot burn Mick Jagger. No, you can't.
Then, pre-concert one night, the Clintons descend on to the stage - Hillary, Bill, family and guests. For jet-lagging Americans at the Berlinale, where the film opened the festival Thursday night, this is an almost surreal moment, as if post-Super Tuesday, the Clintons have somehow arrived cinematically in Berlin to scrounge up absentee ballots from local expats.
Once the concert gets under way, Scorsese cuts in ancient interviews with the Stones when they were all callow youths, interviews marked by the utter inanity of the questions and the near torpor of their answers.
Only two answers are interesting: On how he can still be standing, let alone playing great music, after a hard life of hard living, Keith Richards shrugs, "My luck hasn't run out yet." And to Dick Cavett's question many years ago about could he imagine doing rock concerts when he is 60, Jagger immediately replies, Yeah, easily.
And that's it for the documentary section of the film.
Scorsese has cameras everywhere, with seemingly half of the American Society of Cinematographers membership - Stuart Dryburgh, Robert Elswit, Ellen Kuras, Declan Quinn and Emmanuel Lubezki among others - plus legendary Stones documentarian Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter) manning those cameras. He and editor David Tedeschi cut rhythmically from angle to angle as each song unfolds, catching the antics, attitudes and exuberance of the four band members and their musical compatriots onstage. Drop-by guests include Christina Aguilera, bluesman Buddy Guy and Jack White.
Predictably, Jagger and Richards dominate the stagecraft as drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ron Wood all but disappear into the set. Aging though they clearly are, these two still have that movie-star aura. And they still have great musical instincts onstage.
When you recall how articulate Richards was about music in Taylor Hackford's docu "Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (1987), you do wish Scorsese had put him on camera between shows to talk about the Stones. And Jagger has certainly done enough movies as an actor to have delivered some insights, so long as the questions are not inane.
But Scorsese just wants to hear the music and watch as the men transform back into boys.SHINE A LIGHT
Paramount Vantage
Shangri-La Entertainment/Concert Promotions International
Credits:
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producers: Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner, Steve Bing
Executive producers: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Director of photography: Robert Richardson
Art director: Star Theodos
Editor: David Tedeschi
Running time -- 120 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Shooting for two nights at concerts in New York's intimate Beacon Theatre, Scorsese and an all-star cinematography crew capture the very essence of the Stones in performance -- the raw energy, slick musicianship, easy rapport with audiences and the way their individual personas have grown into appealing caricatures of their former bad-boy selves.
But at the end of a very long night, Light is simply another in a long line of Rolling Stones concert films. Scorsese, who painted a portrait of an era and its musicians in his great concert film The Last Waltz (1978) and explored the blues so movingly in his television series The Blues (2003), is content here to sit back and watch. Hard to blame him -- after all, it is the Stones --but you do expect more from Scorsese. No one, except perhaps Clint Eastwood, knows music and movies better, so you want him to take a deep, long and, OK, celebratory look at the iconic rock band.
No dice. You've got a ticket to watch the Stones in concert so enjoy.
The film does not stand up to the current crop of music/concert films like U2 3D, which brilliantly uses 3-D to show the Irish band in concert so as to encapsulate its relationship to its fans, each other and their own music, and CSNY: Deja Vu, which hones in on the political connection Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have to their music.
Scorsese makes peripheral and sporadic attempts to introduce a documentary flavor to the filmed concert. The movie opens with color and black-and-white footage of the preparation to shoot the concerts in the autumn of 2006 during the band's A Bigger Bang tour. The curious emphasis here seems to be on the missteps, frustrations and lack of communication as the film and rock cultures meet.
At one point, Scorsese is told about a potential fire danger of an effect involving Stones lead singer Mick Jagger. Scorsese actually says with a straight face, We cannot burn Mick Jagger. No, you can't.
Then, pre-concert one night, the Clintons descend on to the stage - Hillary, Bill, family and guests. For jet-lagging Americans at the Berlinale, where the film opened the festival Thursday night, this is an almost surreal moment, as if post-Super Tuesday, the Clintons have somehow arrived cinematically in Berlin to scrounge up absentee ballots from local expats.
Once the concert gets under way, Scorsese cuts in ancient interviews with the Stones when they were all callow youths, interviews marked by the utter inanity of the questions and the near torpor of their answers.
Only two answers are interesting: On how he can still be standing, let alone playing great music, after a hard life of hard living, Keith Richards shrugs, "My luck hasn't run out yet." And to Dick Cavett's question many years ago about could he imagine doing rock concerts when he is 60, Jagger immediately replies, Yeah, easily.
And that's it for the documentary section of the film.
Scorsese has cameras everywhere, with seemingly half of the American Society of Cinematographers membership - Stuart Dryburgh, Robert Elswit, Ellen Kuras, Declan Quinn and Emmanuel Lubezki among others - plus legendary Stones documentarian Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter) manning those cameras. He and editor David Tedeschi cut rhythmically from angle to angle as each song unfolds, catching the antics, attitudes and exuberance of the four band members and their musical compatriots onstage. Drop-by guests include Christina Aguilera, bluesman Buddy Guy and Jack White.
Predictably, Jagger and Richards dominate the stagecraft as drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ron Wood all but disappear into the set. Aging though they clearly are, these two still have that movie-star aura. And they still have great musical instincts onstage.
When you recall how articulate Richards was about music in Taylor Hackford's docu "Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (1987), you do wish Scorsese had put him on camera between shows to talk about the Stones. And Jagger has certainly done enough movies as an actor to have delivered some insights, so long as the questions are not inane.
But Scorsese just wants to hear the music and watch as the men transform back into boys.SHINE A LIGHT
Paramount Vantage
Shangri-La Entertainment/Concert Promotions International
Credits:
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producers: Victoria Pearman, Michael Cohl, Zane Weiner, Steve Bing
Executive producers: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Director of photography: Robert Richardson
Art director: Star Theodos
Editor: David Tedeschi
Running time -- 120 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
BERLIN -- Martin Scorsese and The Rolling Stones rolled in to rock Berlin on Thursday as Scorsese's Stones concert film Shine a Light kicked off the 58th annual Berlin International Film Festival.
Getting Scorsese and the Stones was a major coup for Berlin festival director Dieter Kosslick and his team, and it paid off with a media-crazed opening night.
Fans aged 16-60 packed the streets outside the Berlinale Palast theater and the phalanx of cameras and satellite vans would have put Cannes to shame.
Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts all graced the red carpet, although the Stones acted the typical rock stars, showing up a half-hour late.
In addition to the main attraction, a who's who of German cinema and politics as well as a few international names, including Goldie Hawn and punk princess Patti Smith, showed up for the gala screening.
The opening ceremony kicked off with a performance from Berlin pop band Wir sind Helden followed by a series of awkward but mostly charming back-and-forths between festival director Dieter Kosslick and German TV presenter Katrin Bauerfeind.
Getting Scorsese and the Stones was a major coup for Berlin festival director Dieter Kosslick and his team, and it paid off with a media-crazed opening night.
Fans aged 16-60 packed the streets outside the Berlinale Palast theater and the phalanx of cameras and satellite vans would have put Cannes to shame.
Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts all graced the red carpet, although the Stones acted the typical rock stars, showing up a half-hour late.
In addition to the main attraction, a who's who of German cinema and politics as well as a few international names, including Goldie Hawn and punk princess Patti Smith, showed up for the gala screening.
The opening ceremony kicked off with a performance from Berlin pop band Wir sind Helden followed by a series of awkward but mostly charming back-and-forths between festival director Dieter Kosslick and German TV presenter Katrin Bauerfeind.
Rocker and bluesman Ike Turner has died at his San Marcos, California home, aged 76. The "Proud Mary" hitmaker was born Izear Luster Turner Jr. in Clarksdale, Mississippi - the son of a trader who was beaten to death in a racial attack. He began his music career as a Mississippi-area DJ and pianist and later became a tough-talking, demanding band leader, finding early success with the Kings Of Rhythm, who scored a hit with Rocket 88 in 1951. The song turned Turner and his band into favorites in Memphis, Tennessee, where they recorded the track, and the Kings Of Rhythm spent four years backing blues greats like Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James and Buddy Guy, often recording with them at Sun Studios. The hard-working act went on to conquer other parts of America as Turner adopted a revue format for live performances and used the band to try out talented performers. One such talent was a teenage singer called Anna Mae Bullock, who became a regular part of Turner's revue in the mid-1950s. Bullock moved into Turner's house after falling pregnant by a bandmate. While living together, the pair embarked on a torrid affair and Bullock wed Turner, becoming Tina Turner, in 1958. Ike Turner enjoyed massive chart success in the 1960s and 1970s with his then-wife, scoring hits with tracks like "Proud Mary" and "Nutbush City Limits" - and touring with The Rolling Stones. With international success came problems and Turner developed a cocaine addiction, which, in turn, transformed him into a violent control freak, who would often pick on his wife and accuse her of trying to destroy his act. In her autobiography, she accused Ike of beating her and deliberately burning her with cigarettes and coffee. Unable to cope with the abuse any more, Tina walked out on her husband in the middle of a 1975 tour. The couple divorced the following year. Ike Turner became a famous cocaine addict during the late 1970s - the drug drained his finances, and brought him many legal woes. He was arrested numerous times for drug-related crimes. As his ex-wife's solo career took off, Ike struggled to stay clean and when he and Tina were jointly inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991, he was unable to attend the ceremony because he was serving prison time. Ike was vilified as a wife beater in the media and demonized in Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got To Do With It. During the 1990s, Turner remarried and turned his back on drugs. His autobiography, Takin' Back My Name, was a hit in 1999 and he released a comeback record in 2001, Here And Now, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. He lost that prize but won his second Grammy earlier this year.
- 12/13/2007
- WENN
Dokument Films, the MPI Media' Group'ss new independent film label, has acquired all North American rights to Achim Bornhak's biopic 8 Miles High (Das Wilde Leben). The film, starring Natalia Avelon and slated for release next year, recounts the life of Uschi Obermaier, a small town girl from rural Bavaria who became a '60s fashion icon and companion of The Rolling Stones. MPI's Greg Newman negotiated the deal with Andreas Rothbauer of Beta Cinema, repping the film.
- 11/13/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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