NEW YORK U2’s Bono is expected to attend Tuesday night’s performance of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” as speculation swirls over whether the troubled Broadway show’s opening night will be delayed again.Bono, who wrote the music and lyrics with bandmate The Edge, hasn’t been able to critique the show since he stopped in to check on its progress in mid-January.
The $65 million show has been delayed five times and is supposed to open on March 15. Despite its woes, it is among the highest earners each week on Broadway.Rick Miramontez, a show spokesman, said Tuesday that any decision about the future of “Spider-Man” would include producers and the creative team, led by director Julie Taymor.Says Miramontez: “All decisions are made as a group.”(AP)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Colombian singer Shakira was honored Saturday by Harvard University for her artistic and humanitarian work. She later said some U.S. states’ proposed anti-immigrant legislation goes against her foundation’s efforts to provide education to poor people around the world.The Grammy Award-winning singer, however, said Latino immigrants in the U.S. facing various anti-immigrant bills will have “justice” as public awareness about their plight grows.
“Justice will come. I’m sure,” Shakira told The Associated Press after the award ceremony. “Wherever there is … a kid, who could be the son or the daughter of a Latino immigrant, who cannot attend a school in the United States of America, that kid should be a concern to all of us and our responsibility.”Shakira made the comments in an interview when asked about proposed measures in Arizona and elsewhere targeting illegal immigrants. A bill in Arizona, for example, would bar illegal immigrants from attending public schools, living in public housing or driving. Another bill seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their parents are illegal immigrants.
“I believe we should never think less of the Latino community because it’s a productive force in this country,” Shakira told the AP.The singer, born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, was awarded the “2011 Artist of the Year” from the Harvard Foundation, the university’s center for intercultural arts and science initiatives.Foundation director S. Allen Counter said Shakira, who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, was honored for her “distinguished history of creativity,” as well as for her charitable contributions.Previous winners of the Harvard award include Sharon Stone, Will Smith, Jackie Chan and Herbie Hancock.Shakira said she was humbled by the award and the student performances at the ceremony.
“As I entered the premises today, I had to call my mom and say, ‘Hey mom. Guess what? I got into Harvard’,” said Shakira, who took a history class in 2008 at UCLA.After accepting the award, she challenged Harvard students to do more to improve education in developing countries. “Not everyone can study at Harvard University,” she said. “But everyone, wherever they live, whatever their background, deserves a chance to make the most of his or her potential” through education.She said that applied to poor children in Bangladesh or immigrants in the United States. “And as a child of the developing world, it is my duty to use this voice in every way I can to promote the message about the power of education to change lives,” she said.
Shakira founded the Barefoot Foundation at the age of 18 to provide education and nutrition to children in impoverished areas of Colombia. She also is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.Howard Buffett, 56, son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett and board member of the Barefoot Foundation, said he and Shakira have plans to work on educational projects in parts of the world ravaged by war and natural disasters.”I think she brings credibility, particularly because of her background,” Buffett said. “She’s pretty focused on education.”(AP)
JOHANNESBURG It’s fitting that one of the most politically plugged-in rock bands is debuting its world tour in South Africa on the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s first major rally after being released from prison, and at the same stadium where the anti-apartheid icon enthralled tens of thousands.And it’s a coincidence, U2 members told reporters Friday before a rehearsal at the historic FNB Stadium – known as Soccer City when it hosted the World Cup opening and closing games last year, for which it underwent a major renovation.
Guitarist The Edge said he only learned the day before that Sunday’s concert fell on a historic day.”It’s such a beautiful, poetic day,” he said.Lead singer Bono noted that history was being made at the other end of Africa. In Egypt Friday, Hosni Mubarak resigned as president after three decades in power and weeks of pro-democracy protests.
“This continent is on fire,” Bono said, adding he hoped Egypt would benefit from leadership as visionary as Mandela’s.The Edge added: “The real hope for Egypt is that it actually will become more democratic after this.”Bono said Mandela and retired Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu – who makes a virtual appearance in U2’s current show – have inspired his global campaigns against AIDS and poverty. Bono was planning to visit AIDS projects in South Africa between Sunday’s concert and a second one in Cape Town on Feb. 18. U2 last played in South Africa in 1998.
The band may also visit Mandela, who is 92, ailing, and retired from public life. Bono said he had been in touch and learned Mandela was doing well after being hospitalized last month with an acute respiratory infection. Bono said a visit was possible, but he would not push.”The last thing you want to be is the visit that the great man has to endure,” he said.
The band discussed their musical and well as political heroes with reporters Friday. Bassist Adam Clayton said he would like to work with the Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, an opening act for their South African shows. Bono spoke of an early dream of having John Lennon produce their work, laughing at their naivete in their teens.The band members, together three decades, said the secret to their longevity was friendship.”We actually started out as friends, and then became a band,” The Edge said.(AP)
LOS ANGELES After seven years in the California governor’s mansion, Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning to his old day job: acting.Schwarzenegger wrote on Twitter that he’s ready to start considering film roles again.The former governor tweeted Thursday night: “Exciting news. My friends at CAA have been asking me for 7 years when they can take offers seriously. Gave them the green light today.”Creative Artists Agency is a leading Hollywood talent agency.
Schwarzenegger’s personal aide, Daniel Ketchell, confirmed the tweet Friday morning.Before leading the state of California from 2003 to 2010, the former body builder was the star of such blockbusters as the “Terminator” franchise and “True Lies” and comedies like “Kindergarten Cop” and “Twins.”(AP)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev welcomed U2 frontman Bono to tea on Tuesday ahead of the group’s first ever Russian concert, and the Irish musician asked for Russia’s help in fighting AIDS.”Taking care of people is not just what politicians do,” self-proclaimed rock music lover Medvedev told Bono, adding that U2’s music has united generations of people.Their meeting on the sun-drenched veranda of Medvedev’s summer residence on the Black Sea comes a day before U2 take to the Moscow stage for their first ever performance in Russia.Earlier this month in Italy, U2 resumed their 360 Degree Tour following a two-month absence while Bono recovered from a back injury.
Bono, sporting his trademark sunglasses and single earring, asked Medvedev to find a Russian firm to team up for his “Red” campaign, which raises money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.Brands Nike, Microsoft, Apple and Starbucks have sold red products and donated part of the proceeds to the charity.
“Maybe you can find a Russian company, a Red Russian company, it’s your color,” Bono told Medvedev, an apparent reference to the red flags and stars used by the Soviet Union.Medvedev said he would think how Russia, which experts say has at least one million people infected with HIV, could contribute to the Red brand.
The two men also shared jokes about their tastes in music, with Bono declaring: “I come here to cross the great divide between me, a Led Zeppelin fan, and you, the Deep Purple fan.”Medvedev, who has made much fuss of his devotion to the veteran British hard rock group, chuckled but replied in English that he also counted Led Zeppelin amongst his favorites.
Bono later said in a statement that he and the Kremlin chief had also discussed corruption as a means to ending poverty.Since coming to office two years ago, Medvedev has vowed repeatedly to tackle Russia’s endemic corruption, though analysts say they have seen very little change so far.(Reuters Life!)
JOHANNESBURG World Cup organizers promise a high-tech closing ceremony featuring pop star Shakira, compared to the more traditionally African ceremony which opened the tournament.Organizing committee spokesman Jermaine Craig says Sunday’s show at Soccer City will be “more youthful and a bit more technologically advanced” than the June 11 opening ceremony.
Craig says the nighttime event has “nice lighting effects and special effects planned.”The closing ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. local time, two hours before the final match kicks off.Colombian star Shakira will perform the official tournament anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” Shakira also performed the song at a June 10 World Cup concert in Soweto.(AP)
PRAGUE A group of fans plans to erect a 6-foot column with a bronze bust of the King of Pop in Letna Park, where Jackson held a concert in 1996. They want to unveil it Aug. 29 to mark Jackson’s 52nd birthday.City authorities have approved the project.
By Tuesday, more than 2,000 people had joined a Facebook protest claiming it makes no sense to put the statue in the park because Jackson had no connection with the Czech Republic.A Prague art gallery has proposed putting statue by a Czech contemporary artist there instead.(AP)
Heading over to South Africa for the World Cup craziness, Shakira was spotted making her way through the Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg today (June 7).The “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress looked cute and casual in a pair of jeans, heels, and a leather jacket as she was escorted by armed guards.Shakira is in town getting geared up for a massive performance- she’ll be singing the official World Cup song “Waka Waka” at the Kick-Off celebration concert on Thursday.
She told press, “The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about.”
Unpleasant news hit singer Rhianna. Rising singer is reportedly died. The news about Rhianna’s death talked about in the social networking Twitter.Social networking site’s splashy discuss Rhianna has died in a car accident in Melrose Place.The news was then distributed, and a warm conversation. Various comments were popping up because of the presence of these issues. Many who do not believe the news of the death of Chris Brown’s ex-boyfriend.
They think it’s just mere hoax.This is what is written in one of the twitter fan of Rhianna. # In fact died a Hoax Rhianna news. Who died was not Rhianna but his fans.While in a foreign sites that proclaim there is no news about the death of Rhianna. In a foreign site that just told Rhianna’s desire to adopt children because of fear of childbirth.Currently it reportedly Rhianna-incessant incessantly promote new single ‘Rock star 101’. Video clip of the song will be aired simultaneously for today.Since cases of abuse made against singer Chris Brown’s ‘Umbrella’ it’s time to vacuum from the world of music. Now, Rhianna wants to re-prove its existence in the world music stage. And he thinks it is time to pound the world music scene.
DES MOINES, Iowa Paul Gray, the bassist for Grammy-winning metal band Slipknot, was found dead Monday in an Iowa hotel room, police said.A hotel employee found Gray, 38, dead in a room at the Town Plaza Hotel in Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines, police said in a statement. Foul play isn’t suspected, and an autopsy is planned for Tuesday.
Amy Sciarretto, a publicist at the band’s record company, Roadrunner Records, confirmed Gray’s death but declined further comment. Most of the band’s members grew up in the Des Moines area.Slipknot’s self-titled debut in 1999 sold more than a million copies.
Known for its grotesque masks, trashing sound and aggressive lyrics, the band won a Grammy in 2006 for best metal performance for the song “Before I Forget.” Concert industry trade publication Pollstar ranked Slipknot 18th in its Top 20 Concert Tours list in 2009.
Andy Hall, music director of Des Moines rock station Lazer 103.3, said he’d known Gray for 10 years. He described him as a talented bass player who was also one of the friendliest, most caring people he knew.
“This is a big blow, not only to the community of Des Moines but fans of metal at large, worldwide,” Hall said. “It’s a devastating loss. Paul was a wonderful human being.”The station was planning to broadcast an hour-long tribute to Gray on Monday night.(AP)
NEW YORK U2’s Bono is expected to attend Tuesday night’s performance of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” as speculation swirls over whether the troubled Broadway show’s opening night will be delayed again.Bono, who wrote the music and lyrics with bandmate The Edge, hasn’t been able to critique the show since he stopped in to check on its progress in mid-January.
Santosamaru 