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Tag: Concert

  • Nicki Minaj Misses Set At Wireless Festival 2015, Leaves Fans Fuming

    Nicki Minaj was scheduled to be on stage from 7pm to 8pm during the Wireless Festival on Sunday night but was MIA.

    Fans were demanding a refund after waiting for Minaj who was having “travel issues” and was running late for her show.

    Fans were angry and the festival’s organizers were forced to admit that they had lost touch with Minaj minutes after the scheduled timeslot for her performance.

    They flashed a message up on screen saying, “Special announcement: we are told that she was due to be speeding down the M1 from Luton Airport as we speak but we have lost contact with her, we are hoping she will be here soon.”

    The organizers later added, “We’re assured that Nicki Minaj is still on her way and will perform with David Guetta. He’s on at 8:30 and she’ll join him soon after.”

    However, 9:00pm came and went and Minaj was still a no-show. Guetta was forced to perform their duet “Turn Me On” without her.

    Alexandra Canham tweeted “@NICIMINAJ it’s not hard to turn up to work on time, I plan to do it tomorrow morning after waiting to see you! #Wireless #NickiMinaj”

    Another tweet by Jaylee Miguel said “Feel really bad for @NICKIMINAJ fans who spent money on tix & travel, expecting a 60min set, to be told she’ll be joining Guetta #Wireless”

    Highways England earlier reported heavy congestion between junctions nine and eight in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, close to Luton Airport, following a car fire.

    Rumors still erupted as @YahooCelebUK tweeted: SOS!!!! Apparently Nicki Minaj missed her flight so is going to be on later than planned, ahh!! #wireless #livenation

    Minaj had a performance the night before in Denmark and is said to have missed her exit flight that same night. As a result, the rapper had to catch a flight to the Wireless Festival on the day of the event.

    Well, after being more than two hours late, the hip-hop superstar finally took the stage.

    Before starting her performance she gave an apology: “Our plane couldn’t get out because of the weather but I want to tell you how much I f***ing love y’all. I want to tell you how much I appreciate you guys for showing up from day one.

  • Andrea Bocelli, Juanes To Perform For Pope Francis In Philadelphia

    Alongside Colombian pop star Juanes and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Italian classical tenor Andrea Bocelli will be singing for Pope Francis in Philadelphia this September during his US visit.

    On Tuesday, the World Meeting of Families confirmed the highly-regarded tenor’s upcoming performance. Bocelli is going to sing as one of the first three musical acts for the Festival of Families on Saturday, September 26.

    Bocelli was born with poor eyesight then became blind at the age of 12 following a football accident.

    He has gone on to sell over 80 million albums worldwide and was given a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2014, Bocelli also received Billboard’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award.

    “To have Andrea Bocelli, one of the world’s great vocalists, and Juanes, one of the most popular performers in all of Latin America, come to Philadelphia for the Festival of Families is an extraordinary gift,” Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015, said in a statement.

    “And to be able to have these incredible individuals perform with our hometown jewel in The Philadelphia Orchestra brings this event together in spectacular fashion,” Farrel added. “Without a doubt, these performances will not only capture the hearts and imaginations of the thousands who will watch them live on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway but also the millions around the world who will watch on television and online.”

    The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Yannick Nezet-Seguin, will also perform the liturgical music during the public Mass on Sunday, September 27.

    Apart from Bocelli, more high-profile acts are expected to be announced for the event within the coming weeks.

    The recent announcement came as Mayor Michael Nutter, conference organizers, city leaders and other delegates went to Rome, Italy to finalize plans and logistics for the upcoming papal visit.

  • Kanye West Surprises Crowd At A (RED) Charity Concert In New York

    Kanye West headlined a surprise concert at the heart of New York to mark the World AIDS day. West performed along with other big-name stars like U2, Bruce Springsteen, and Carrie Underwood at the (RED) charity event that was streamed live all over YouTube.

    Fans present at Times Square cheered as U2’s Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. introduced “ one of the most groundbreaking artist in music today.” West shook the entire stage as he performed his hits from his latest album, Yeezus.

    The famous rapper emerged on stage performing “Power” to thunderous cheers from the crowd. The producers of the show had a little trouble with West not holding back as some of the expletives in the songs “Jesus Walks” and “Black Skinhead” got through the censors. The audience was amped with West’s performance of “Stronger” and the musician dramatically collapsed on the stage as the fans’ screams echoed throughout the venue.

  • Kanye West Forces Audience To Stand Up At Concert

    During his concert at Qantas Credit Union Arena in Sydney, Australia, Kanye West demanded that the audience get out of their seats and stand up for his performance.

    However, when West noticed that there were several people still sitting, he halted the show until they complied with his request.

    “Y’all having a good time so far?” West asked. “I decided I can’t do this song — I can’t do the rest of this show until everybody stands up. I can’t do this show until everybody stand up. Unless you got a handicap pass, and you get special parking and s–t.”

    Come to find out, the fans who were still seated were in wheelchairs, and were unable to stand. West made the other audience members confirm that the people who were still seated were in fact in wheelchairs.

    “Is he in a wheelchair?” West asked while pointing to a section of the arena.

    The audience started chanting “stand up,” and West refused to go on with his show until he had confirmation that the people had a disability. “It’s literally two people left,” he said. There’s two people left. They don’t want to stand up.”

    “This is the longest I’ve had to wait,” the outspoken rapper added, sounding annoyed. “It’s unbelievable. “Now if he’s in a wheelchair it’s fine. Only if he’s in a wheelchair.”

  • Malia Obama Turned Sweet 16 on the 4th of July

    Malia Obama turned sweet 16 on Friday–the 4th of July. The daughter of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama is just one of several White House daughters to celebrate this milestone birthday while their dad was in office.

    Twins Barbara and Jenna Bush turned 16 while their father George W. Bush was president. Chelsea Clinton–who is expecting her first baby in the coming months–turned 16 when Bill Clinton was in office. Who can forget little Amy Carter who skipped through the White House during Jimmy Carter’s one-term White House reign? She turned sweet 16 at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., too.

    And then there’s Susan Ford, whom the media heard little about, except maybe for that 16th birthday milestone. Her mom Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after Gerald Ford took office, so Susan took a bit of a back seat to the media reports.

    And Lyndon B. and Ladybird Johnson’s two daughters Luci and Lynda both celebrated their sweet 16 birthdays in the White House, too, when their dad stepped into the presidency following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

    Even though all of these young girls–most of them grown women now–celebrated these milestone birthdays while their famous fathers were president, times have definitely changed from Luci and Lynda Johnson to Malia Obama. The president and Mrs. Obama strive for normalcy for both Malia and sister Sasha Obama.

    “They really want normalcy, and the White House isn’t normal,” Michelle Obama said during an interview with Jimmy Fallon a few months ago.

    “The truth of the matter is, they have more freedom than maybe we might have anticipated,” President Obama said.

    He added that he doesn’t worry as much as he thought he might–especially about the prospect of dating.

    “I’ve got men with guns following them around all the time,” he told Steve Harvey a while back.

    So exactly how did the Obama family celebrate Malia Obama turning 16? Well, Pitbull entertained on the White House Lawn as part of the annual 4th of July event there. That’s not a bad way for a teenager to celebrate her big day.

    Can you imagine what it must be like to be a teenager in the White House? Like all the young ladies who celebrated these birthdays before her, Malia Obama doesn’t have the freedom of simply picking up her phone and arranging to meet a group of girlfriends at the mall. She can’t accept an invitation to a new friend’s home or arrange to attend a sleepover at another teen’s house. Still she is enjoying opportunities that most 16-year-olds–and many adults, too–can only dream of experiencing. She’s been privy to a wonderful wardrobe, a Pitbull concert on her south lawn, and world travels.

    Life really isn’t so bad for Malia Obama. And to top it all off, since she’s now 16–she can apply for a driver’s license. Does it get any better than that?

    Image via YouTube

  • Kanye Booed At Bonnaroo, Crowd Chants ‘F**k Kanye’

    Kanye West headlined Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Friday night. He came on 10 minutes after his scheduled 10 pm set. He performed a combination of his hits and a few songs from his 2013 album entitled Yeezus. He wrapped up his set with the song Blood on the Leaves after 90 minutes, which was 20 minutes short of his supposed set time.

    At one point during his performance, West stopped and shouted “Where the press at? Where the press at? F**k the press!”

    In the middle of his set, West started yelling “I am the No. 1 muthaf**kin rock star on the planet!” and compared himself to music greats including Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon, which garnered boos from the audience of 90,000.

    West continued his speech and said that he doesn’t need hit songs or radio airplay, as he is not competing with other living artists, and he is looking to be a timeless cultural icon. “I ain’t going after nobody on the radio. I’m going after Shakespeare. I’m going after Walt Disney. I’m going after Howard Hughes. I’m going after Genghis Kahn. I’m going after Henry Ford…,” he babbled.

    West was accompanied by his wife Kim Kardashian. She was watching from the soundboard in white pants and high heels, while occasionally singing along with her husband.

    The boos lasted the rest of West’s set, and many said on Twitter that he was booed off stage. Many of the festivalgoers started to move away from the stage and the crowd began chanting “F**k Kanye!”

    Written a fence at the event, was a spray-painted message to West that read, “Dear Kanye, Kim gave a better performance.”

    Festivalgoers are typically happy to welcome musical acts and artists in the spirit of the festival’s motto, which is “Radiate Positivity.” However, West didn’t receive positivity from the audience that night.

    Kanye West: ‘Blood On The Leaves’ (Explicit)

    Image via YouTube

  • Bret Michaels Suffers Medical Emergency At Concert

    On Thursday, singer Bret Michaels had to stop performing during a New Hampshire concert, due to a medical emergency.

    According to Michaels’ guitarist Pete Evick, Michaels was three songs into the show when he had to rush off stage. Michaels was diagnosed with diabetes as a child, and a crew member explained that his blood sugar levels had dropped incredibly low.

    Michaels hated to have to cancel the show and took the stage one final time to apologize to his fans. He was then taken to the bus, where Evick said he could hardly speak. Despite his condition, Michaels begged Evick to apologize again to his fans.

    Evick then took to Michaels’ Facebook page to detail the incident, and let fans know what exactly happened.

    Breaking News: Message From Pete Evick Regarding Bret Michaels’ Medical Emergency

    This is a message I never imagined I’d have to post. Tonight in Manchester, NH 3 songs into the set Bret had me sing a song as he rushed off stage. In the 9 years I’ve stood next to him, I’ve never seen a look like the one on his face as if I was a complete stranger. One of the crew returned instantly to notify me that Bret’s blood sugar was extremely low.

    He returned to the stage only to announce that he could not continue. As you all know he is a health fanatic and fiercely monitors his blood sugar, he basically had to be dragged off the stage in his sickest of conditions. When I rushed to the bus he could barley speak, but begged me to apologize to the fans and seemed only concerned for them.

    As of now he is with paramedics being evaluated. We will keep you posted throughout the evening.

    Pete Evick

    Team Michaels later posted a post of Michaels’ Facebook account, thanking the paramedics for helping him through his emergency. “Sending a huge shout out to all the paramedics both on and off duty who have assisted Bret tonight,” the post read. “No words can thank you enough for your help. – Team Bret.”

    Post by Bret Michaels.

    Post by Bret Michaels.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lady Gaga Surprisingly Tame at New York Show

    Lady Gaga kicked off her 7-show residency at the famed Roseland Ballroom in New York last week, and her first performance was deemed tame for the woman who once dressed in meat and recently invited a vomit artist to perform on stage during one of her concerts. When Gaga performs the last of her 7 shows on Monday, the ballroom will close for good.

    Fans clamored to get tickets to the sold out show. Her ‘Little Monsters,’ as she refers to them, came dressed in some unusual outfits in celebration of the pop singer, who typically is pretty outlandish herself. During the opening show, however, none of that really proved true. Sure, she donned a tall, 30-pound wig and was rather scantily clad, but she never reached that expected level of intrigue by going over that proverbial top.

    Lady Gaga’s voice was said to be incredible, and she sang an acoustic version of You and I, that was deemed flawless. Her acoustic version of Born This Way was performed while seemingly playing the role of a sultry cabaret singer. At one point she climbed a ladder so she could sing to fans in the mezzanine section of the ballroom. She also posed for pictures and allowed fans to take selfies.

    Lady Gaga smelled the unmistakable scent of marijuana toward the end of her hour long show, and she told the audience they could do whatever they wanted because the ballroom would be closing soon. That likely resulted in a few cheers. Still when the evening ended those who were accustomed to or expected her over the top performances left feeling like they had missed out on something–most likely the real Lady Gaga.

    Why do you suppose the ArtPop singer was so subdued? Might she be thinking of turning over a new leaf and wowing her audiences simply with her voice and not the often questionable theatrics that have long accompanied her shows?

    She no doubt has the talent–and the volume of fans–to do exactly that.

    Image via Twitter

  • Kate Bush Plans First Concert Tour in 35 Years

    It’s been 35 years since British singer Kate Bush planned a concert series. Now, the 55-year-old is ready to get back in the spotlight. The singer announced on her website yesterday that she would be playing 15 dates at the Hammersmith Apollo theater in London this August and September. She wrote, “I hope you will be able to join us and I look forward to seeing you there. Very best wishes, Kate.” The concert series coincides with the release of her new album 50 Words For Snow.

    It isn’t like Bush disappeared from the music scene entirely. Since her debut smash single Wuthering Heights at the age of 19, the singer has recorded ten albums which rendered 25 U.K. Top 40 hit singles. Wuthering Heights was the first Number 1 song in the U.K. by a female artist, and it made Bush an instant celebrity. In fact, she was the most photographed woman in Britain in 1978.

    The hits continued for the electric singer following her debut album. She topped the charts with The Man with the Child in His Eye, Army Dreamers, and This Women’s Work which was on the soundtrack for the American movie She’s Having A Baby with Kevin Bacon. Additionally, Bush and Peter Gabriel sang the beautifully tender duet Don’t Give Up together in 1980.

    There has never been a clear reason given for her reluctance to perform live, just speculation. Maybe she has a fear of flying or maybe she just prefers to work alone or perhaps a grueling tour schedule is too much for her to handle physically?

    Back in 2010, The Guardian attempted to make sense of Bush’s lack of touring. They could never pinpoint any one thing, however, the article does acknowledge the singer’s creative sensibilities. “Bush is essentially a child of the studio, preferring to work over time at her creative impulses in silence and solitude. Like an author, the connections with her audience occur privately, conducted as a conversation rather than a mass declaration. The results have frequently been bewitching and yet, in a career with an abundance of creative peaks and critical praise, her reluctance to perform live remains a source of deep regret, particularly following the extraordinary promise shown on the Tour of Life.”

    Tickets go on sale for the concert series on March 28th.

    Image via YouTube Screenshot

  • Adam Lambert to Perform With Queen

    Adam Lambert will go on tour with Queen this summer. The band, known for its late lead singer Freddie Mercury and hit songs like Bohemian Rhapsody and Another One Bites the Dust, has been around since 1970. Lambert got to perform with them the first time while he was a contestant on season 8 of American Idol. He wound up as the runner up for that season, losing out to Kris Allen. Lambert has done far more musically than Allen since his loss to him in 2009.

    Adam has gotten to know original Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor quite well over the past few years.

    The Queen tour will include 19 appearances that will all take place between June 19th and July 20th. They will kick off in Chicago and wind down in Washington, D.C. Lambert was very excited about making the announcement on Thursday morning, and he tweeted about it prior to the big day.

    “I’m completely in awe of the Queen phenomenon,” Lambert said during an interview on Thursday. “The thought of sharing the stage for a full set in North America is so beautifully surreal.”

    Adam Lambert is also proud to honor Freddie Mercury as he performs the lead vocals the phenomenal singer once sang.

    “He’s a personal hero of mine, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to sing such powerful music for fans of this legendary band. I know this tour will be a huge milestone for me, and with the support of Brian, Roger and the rest of the band, I feel like magic will be on display,” said Lambert.

    With Adam Lambert on tour with Queen, concert ticket sales are likely to sell out quickly. The band flailed for a long time following Mercury’s death and have tried putting different vocalists into his spot. None have had the power or the appeal that Lambert will likely have.

    Tickets for the Queen tour featuring Adam Lambert go on sale Friday. See if they’re coming to a city near you.

    Image via YouTube

  • Justin Timberlake Flips Audience Off

    Justin Timberlake Flips Audience Off

    Justin Timberlake has a pretty great sense of humor. It came especially in handy during one of his performances.

    While making a stop in Philadelphia for his 20/20 Experience tour, the singer was greeted by a not-so-friendly fan.

    After singing, the 33-year-old took a second to say hello to his audience.

    “I’m excited to be here,” Timberlake said. “I’ve got some good friends in Philly.”

    He went on to admire the roaring crowd and seemingly noticed a fan from the second row giving him something other than applause.

    “Why are you flipping me off?” he asked confused.

    You got second row to flip me the bird? That makes no f–king sense. You wanted me to see it? But you’re in the second row, you didn’t have to flip me off. I see you in the second row.”

    While the gesture was rude, Timberlake didn’t seem too bothered by the bird.

    He then acted out his best impression of an irked girl applying makeup and plotting against the musician. The hilarious rendition not only got the crowd laughing, it most likely put the finger-flipping “fan” in her place.

    “OK, it worked. It worked. OK, let’s all do this at the same time so we can get it over with,” he said as he jokingly flipped the audience off with them returning the gesture.

    “That’s also the weirdest moment I’ve ever had with a crowd,’ he laughed.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Justin Timberlake Postpones Concert; Offers Apology

    Whether you admit it or not, you are a fan of Justin Timberlake. Hell, everyone is – whether it be a deep fandom rooted in his N’Sync days or a recently found admiration of the new and improved classy-version of JT; Justin Timberlake is one of the hottest tickets in show business today.

    Thus, whenever Timberlake announced that he must reschedule his Wednesday night show at Madison Square Garden due to health reasons, thousands of fans were extremely disappointed:

    Unfortunately for fans, JT’s rescheduling of his concert at MSG on Wednesday day also forced him to reschedule a concert in Buffalo previously scheduled for Sunday: “I thought everyone who played hockey was still in Sochi, but apparently they come back pretty soon and the Buffalo Sabres… we have to deal with so many schedules… and so I had to move the show, like, all the way to the summer. I feel really bad.”

    Timberlake felt so bad, in fact, that he offered a public apology to the city of Buffalo during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Friday night:

    (Here is a convenient transcript of his apology for those of you unfortunate enough to not have access to sound):

    “Hi, Buffalo. I’m Justin Timberlake and I want to say I’m sorry for postponing my concert this Saturday. And I know what you’re thinking: ‘I don’t want an apology, I want a concert.’ Trust me, I hear you Buffalo. But there’s no reason to raise your voice. We’ve got a good thing going, and I don’t want to mess that up. So I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m coming back July 9th and you’d better be ready. Because we’re going to party – we’re going to party hard. That’s a guarantee. And if for some reason, you’re not satisfied, Jimmy Fallon will come to your house and give you a full body massage. I’m talking hot stones, wax, everything! So I’ll see you this summer, Buffalo!”

    JT and Fallon followed-up the apology with their version of the “History of Rap: Part 5.” Last March, fans of Fallon might have thought they had seen the last of such antics from Fallon and Timberlake after JT stated that “…this is the last time,” when Fallon asked if he would perform the skit with him once again, to which Fallon responded, “Until the next time we do this.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NO0rArJRR4

    Timberlake and Fallon are known for their variety musical skits, such as their Evolution of End Zone Dancing:

    All of these routines make one wonder when JT and Fallon will go meta-skit and film an evolution / history of their oddly, and sometimes awkwardly, close relationship. Only time will tell.

    Image via Facebook

  • Bruno Mars Act Could Help to End Ticket Scalping

    The Bruno Mars Act?

    After Bruno Mars rocked the Super Bowl halftime show, the Hawaiian born singer’s entertainment value sky-rocketed to record heights. So much so, in fact, that three of his upcoming concerts in Honolulu, Hawaii sold out in two hours.

    Tom Moffataa, a local promoter, said he had never witnessed anything before like Mars’ ticket rush in the fifty years he’s been in the business.

    But Mars fans in Hawaii are not the ones getting the tickets. Just 6% of the tickets were sold at the box office to people waiting in line. Out of state scalpers and brokers bought up 42% of the tickets via telephone or through the internet. So the $100 face value for a Bruno Mars concert could be scalped in the area of $450.

    Not too many people stand on line for concerts anymore. The old days of camping outside of the Ticketmaster box office are long gone, due to the ease of getting tickets on the internet. But it doesn’t seem fair to the fans who waited in line in Hawaii to be turned away, empty-handed.

    Now, Hawaiian Senate President Donna Mercado Kim would like to pass a resolution which prompts entertainment venues to sell tickets in-person for the first 48 hours. She said, “Anyone who takes the time to show up in person should have the opportunity to purchase tickets for at least the first two days before opening up to online sales. It’s unfortunate that out-of-state ticket brokers and scalpers will resell these concert tickets back to local residents for an enormous profit. Our residents should enjoy a night of entertainment without having to pay inflated prices.”

    Kim even called the Resolution “The Bruno Mars Act.” It will be a tough act to pass considering most concerts don’t sell out and scalpers will still most likely find their way around waiting in long lines. But going back to the good ole days, although not as easy as getting them on the internet, would at least ensure a fan a seat at a fair price.

    Image via Bruno Mars, Twitter

  • Britney Spears Meets Up With Lady Gaga In Las Vegas

    It was a day only pop diva fans could dream of – Britney Spears and Lady Gaga in the same room.

    The two pop princesses were together because Lady Gaga went to see Spears on Saturday, February 1, at her two-year Piece of Me residency at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood.

    Of course, being Gaga comes with it’s luxuries. She definitely received VIP status from the Spears camp. Not only did the two pop divas hang out for a bit and have a sweet photo-op, but Spears’ father Jamie even prepared some homemade BBQ for Gaga to nosh on.

    In true 21st century fashion, Lady Gaga tweeted about the events that took place that glorious day when two pop princesses collided.

    When Spears got wind of Lady Gaga’s arrival, she made sure the two spent some time together before showtime.

    Then it was time to cement the moment with a photograph. Because if you don’t take a picture, did it really happen?

    Apparently Jamie knows how to make some great BBQ.

    Spears may have hinted about Lady Gaga’s visit on Twitter Friday.

    Before word got out that the Goddess of Love would actually be attending Spears’ show, the “Perfume” singer sent out a tweet wondering who all would be coming to Saturday night’s show.

    The two have been fans of each other for a while, with Spears saying in an online Q&A in December that she “would do a duet with Lady Gaga. I think that would be a lot of fun. I think she’s very different and interesting and intricate.”

    Once Gaga heard about this, she responded on Twitter saying, “@britneyspears lets do this bitch its time.”

    So can we finally get a duet or something out of these ladies? I mean, Spears has already mentioned she would like to duet with Lady Gaga.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO8J4gAM6WY

    Image via Lady Gaga’s website LittleMonsters.com

  • Vince Gill VS. Westboro Baptist Church Protesters

    Vince Gill, the famous country singer, decided to take a stand against a group of protesters recently, outside of the performance center in which he was performing. Normally this may not have been a big deal, but of course in this case, the protesters were from the Westboro Baptist Church. This is the group known for picketing the funerals of soldiers and also being very anti-gay people. The confrontation took place in Kansas City at the Kauffman Center’s Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

    Apparently, the reason that Vince Gill got the attention of the Westboro Baptist church, is due to having a divorce and then getting married again two years later. The Westboro Baptist Church frowns heavily on divorce, because of what it says in the bible. He was once married to country singer Janis Oliver of the group Sweethearts of The Rodeo and after their divorce in 1998, he was married to singer Amy Grant in 2000, according to The Huffington Post. Grant was also married to Gary Chapman before Gill, a Christian musician. Seems a bit late to be protesting now after 13 years, doesn’t it? He told one of them the reason that he decided to come out there and confront them was because he wanted to see what hatred really looked like in the face.

    http://youtu.be/wpc13FR98Us

    It is impressive to see someone with celebrity status finally standing up to this group filled with hate. Everyone needs to know about them and harm that they continue to cause for people. Then again, the publicity often is what helps this group and maybe it would have been better if he would have simply stayed inside. Gill was fired up over the comments that had been said and felt that he needed to intervene, causing a scene, which is what the group tends to want much of the time. All of the publicity simply helps them and they even took to twitter to celebrate. What is it going to take to get rid of this sick group of people?

    The Westboro Baptist Church likes to get all the publicity that they can, but is not used to being confronted by celebrities in this way. Gill’s appearance did seem to surprise the group of protesters at first, although they quickly started to ask him numerous questions about his marital history, states the Kansas City Star. Gill’s fans and others are certainly proud of him for what he did, but with the way this group works, it is hard to know if he really did the right thing. In the end, if he had stayed inside. it is possible that there would be no story and the Westboro Baptist Church would not have received any attention.

    Image via Facebook

  • Zubin Mehta Concert Promotes “Message of Peace”

    Indian-born conductor Zubin Mehta lived a dream Saturday, conducting a concert in Indian-administered Kashmir. Maestro Mehta directed the Bavarian State Orchestra in a German Embassy-sponsored concert attended by almost 2,000 guests. This is the first cultural event of such magnitude in the area. Mehta and the 98-member orchestra were rewarded with a standing ovation.

    Mehta said before taking the podium, “I am very happy today. I have waited for this moment all my life.”

    Kashmiri separatists protested the event, labeling the concert an attempt to legitimize Indian-rule of the disputed region. Hundreds of police and paramilitary officers covered the city to provide protection for the high-profile event after sections of the Kashmir Valley were threatened by a day-long strike initiated by veteran separatist chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Checkpoints were erected around the city.

    The Kashmir region is claimed by neighbors India and Pakistan and separatists have, often violently, opposed Indian-administration of the area dating from 1989.

    Mehta and German sponsors, including the Ambassador, stayed positive in their statements and both denied the concert carried political motivations.

    Contrary to accusations by organizers of a parallel protest concert, Ambassador Michael Steiner said the intent was not to force the Kashmir conflict under rose-colored glasses, the concert aspired to, “reach the hearts of the Kashmiris with a message of hope and encouragement.” Steiner said the concert bridged the distance between cultures… German and Kashmiri cultures, that is. “The distance between Munich and Srinagar is 7,076km. Tonight, music reduced this distance to zero.”

    Mehta apologized for not being able to get more attendees into the space, the concert was held in Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar. From Delhi, the Friday before the concert, Mehta said that he was using music, “the only language I know and hope to spread the message of peace with this performance.”

    The concert was broadcast around the world on multiple television stations. The 90-minute program opened and closed with a specially-composed Kashmiri folk tune by Abhay Rustam Sopori and played by Kashmiri musicians. Afterward, the audience was entertained by Ludwig van Beethoven’s Leonore Overture #3 in C major and Symphony #5 in C minor; Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major featuring Soloist Andreas Öttl; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Concerto for violin and orchestra in D-major with Soloist Julian Rachlin.

    Mehta’s connection to Germany dates back to 1961 when the internationally-known conductor was the youngest ever to direct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

    [Image from Germany Embassy New Delhi Facebook.]

  • Bon Jovi Keyboardist Wears Google Glass On Stage

    It appears we have a new use for Google Glass: making concert movies from the perspective of the band. Instead of having camera men run around while hunched down, trying to stay out of the picture, we can just slap a Google Glass headset on the band and let them film the entire thing, rehearsals included. Can you imagine how many Bieber acolytes would jump at the chance to buy footage taken from the eyebrow of the Bieber God himself? Although Google Glass is very much in its infancy, it is definitely making the rounds, showing up on the brows of porn stars, NFL punters, soon-to-be NBA Players, and British drivers. Oh, wait.

    While a drummer has already Google Glassed himself pounding away at a show at Glastonbury, the test drive with Bon Jovi is the first from a band of their size. Granted, this probably would’ve been more relevant when Slippery When Wet was owning the radio and MTV, the fact remains, Bon Jovi’s name still resonates, especially from Google’s perspective, a company hoping their new device crosses over to mainstream adaptation.

    Unfortunately, the public footage of Bon Jovi’s use of the Google Glass headset is limited to a video of the band’s keyboard player, David Bryan, as he prepares to take the stage for their show in New Jersey. It doesn’t really show much except for Bryan walking to the stage:

    Apparently, both Bryan and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi tried wearing Google Glass, but there’s no footage of that available. For those of you disappointed with the demonstration the band made available, you are not alone. The YouTube comments section is also disappointed with the video, calling it boring. As pointed out by the person who loaned his Google Glass headset to the band, Chris Barrett, the device does present a potentially new revenue stream for bands, provided they can find a way to monetize it, and improve the quality of the footage being streamed.

    The question becomes, would people be eager–that is, willing to pay–to watch a streaming concert of their favorite band presented from the Google Glass point of view?

    Lead image courtesy

  • Paul McCartney Pays Tribute To John Lennon

    Paul McCartney took the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn over the weekend and wowed the crowd with his performances, his tributes, and his anecdotes about the iconic people who have passed through his life.

    The former Beatle played not just familiar songs, but some older numbers that have never been done on stage before, including “Eight Days A Week” and “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!”. For that song, he was backed by looping samples of calliope music that harkened back to the days when The Beatles were experimenting with their sound in trippy ways. The songs were done to pay touching tribute to John Lennon, as well as “Here Today”.

    The 70-year old icon played a staggering 36-song set for an ecstatic crowd and is moving on through a hectic schedule for his “Out There” tour to Bonaroo. Here’s the setlist for Saturday’s show:

    Setlist:

    Eight Days a Week
    Junior’s Farm
    All My Loving
    Listen to What the Man Said
    Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady (instrumental)
    Paperback Writer
    My Valentine
    Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
    The Long and Winding Road
    Maybe I’m Amazed
    I’ve Just Seen a Face
    We Can Work It Out
    Another Day
    And I Love Her
    Blackbird
    Here Today
    Your Mother Should Know
    Lady Madonna
    All Together Now
    Lovely Rita
    Mrs. Vanderbilt
    Eleanor Rigby
    Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
    Something
    Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
    Band on the Run
    Back in the U.S.S.R.
    Let It Be
    Live and Let Die
    Hey Jude

    Encore:

    Day Tripper
    Hi Hi Hi
    Get Back

    Encore 2:
    Yesterday
    Helter Skelter
    Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

  • Beyonce Cancels Show Amid Pregnancy Rumors

    Pop superstar Beyoncé is currently in the midst of a world tour called “The Mrs. Carter Show.” Despite the fact that an unnamed source close to her and her husband, Jay-Z, has denied it, rumors of the singer being pregnant are beginning to persist. The couple already have one child, a one-year-old daughter named Blue Ivy.

    Now, Beyoncé’s health is once again in the spotlight as her tour hits a snag. The singer was scheduled to go on stage tonight in Antwerp, Belgium, but has cancelled the show. According to an Associated Press report, the show was cancelled due to the singer’s “dehydration and exhaustion.” She has reportedly been ordered by doctors to get some rest.

    The cancellation was announced via Beyoncé’s Facebook page, where ticket-holders were encouraged to hold on to their tickets for a rescheduled show:

    (image)

    Beyoncé28 minutes ago

    Belgium

    Unfortunately tonight’s show has been canceled.

    Please keep your tickets for the rescheduled show.

    Our sincerest apologies for the late notice and stay tuned for the new show date announcement. Powered by socialditto(image)  1,000+ likes ·  789 comments

    Beyoncé’s world tour is scheduled to hit much of Europe for the rest of May before continuing on to cities in the U.S. and Canada throughout June and July. The singer’s statement to the AP made it clear she is waiting for Doctors’ advice before continuing on with the tour.

  • Katy Perry, Jagger Sing Duet at Stones Concert

    The Rolling Stones are still touring and still releasing albums. Meanwhile, the band has managed to stay relevant by using social media to keep its fans engaged and attracting some of the hottest new music stars in the business.

    This weekend, The Rolling Stones rocked the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with a sold-out crowd. The band’s special guest of the night was none other than pop star Katy Perry, who sang a duet with Mick Jagger. The song the two sang – “Beast of Burden” – was chosen by fans using the Rolling Stones’ official mobile app.

    Perry was obviously thrilled to sing and dance with the legendary band. She tweeted out her thanks to The Rolling Stones on Sunday, complete with pictures:

    (Image courtesy J. Bouquet/The Rolling Stones)

  • Justin Bieber Attacked During Dubai Show

    Justin Bieber may be more popular than ever, but the singer’s fame is beginning to have some unfortunate consequences for the 19-year-old pop star.

    In March, Bieber was accused of “diva-like behavior” after arriving late to a concert in London and being spotted wandering around the city shirtless. The singer addressed reports on his behavior via a rant on Twitter, calling the stories “fake” and emphasizing that he is a “good person.”

    Now, Bieber’s time in Dubai is getting weird too. According to a report from The National, Bieber was attacked on-stage by a crazed fan during his second show in Dubai.

    The pop star was reportedly playing piano near the end of his set when the fan stormed the stage and grabbed Bieber. The star was not hurt and the heavy security at the event was able to subdue the attacker within seconds. The piano, however, was knocked over.

    Despite the damaged instrument, Bieber was able to continue the show. The star referenced the incident in a tweet sent out early on Monday: