Author: Deb Medsker (Page 9 of 14)

I guess he didn’t look good on the dance floor

June 21, 2006 / Deb Medsker

The Arctic Monkeys have just kicked bassist Andy Nicholson off the tour bus, according to recent reports:

The remaining Monkeys confirmed in a statement posted Monday on their Website that Nicholson will not be rejoining his mates after bowing out of their North American schedule last month, ostensibly to take a breather from the Sheffield, England-based band’s increasingly hectic life in the spotlight.

“We are sad to tell everyone that Andy is no longer with the band,” frontman Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook and drummer Matt Helders said.

“Nick O’Malley, who stood in for Andy while he was absent from the recent tour of North America, shall carry on playing bass for the remaining shows this summer. We have been mates with Andy for a long time and have been through some amazing things together that no one can take away. We all wish Andy the very best.”

Um, that was fast. How long have these guys even been on this round of touring? Like a week, maybe?

Oh, wait, nope: It was a full two weeks. That’s MUCH better. Twice as good, even.

Alternative, Artists, News

Jared Leto is the new Winona Ryder

June 20, 2006 / Deb Medsker

He hasn’t started shoplifting. And it’s not his new goth-black hairdo — which makes him look more like Clay Aiken via k.d. lang, anyway. No, Jared has been crowned the new Winona because he just can’t seem to keep himself from seducing all the hot new names in movies and music…no matter where they’ve been.

Granted, Winona mostly restricts herself to grungy musician types (think Dave Pirner, Evan Dando, Dave Grohl, and Beck…among many, many, many, many, many others)…but aren’t rock stars about as Hollywood as they come? And don’t forget, she’s the real reason behind that “Wino Forever” tattoo on the arm of one Johnny Depp, once the king of young Hollywood.

As for Jared, we cut him plenty of slack when he was linked with Cameron Diaz back in the day. Who wouldn’t want to hit that? We gave him a waiver for his dalliance with Scarlett Johannsen for the same reason.

But Jared has also been linked with the likes of a pre-K-Fed Britney Spears; Ashley Olsen; Lindsay Lohan…and, most recently, Jessica Simpson.

The expression “a kid in a candy store” comes to mind…but Jared, just because you can have all the candy you want doesn’t mean you’re supposed to grab the stuff that has fallen on the floor and been passed around the room a few times. Be at least a little choosy. Your body will thank you for it later.

And yet, despite their similarities, Jared is probably the most envied man in Hollywood right now…while Winona is just a dirty, dirty whore.

Artists, Groupies

If you want to keep your daughter off the pole…

May 23, 2006 / Deb Medsker

…a good first step would be to avoid naming her after Madonna.

gingerbluebell

Sadly, Ginger Spice apparently failed to read that particular memo, as she recently introduced daughter Bluebell Madonna to the world.

“There’s a good reason I picked Madonna as a middle name, too. As she came out of my tummy, Bluebell had both arms flung wide in the air as if announcing to the world, ‘Hi! I’m here!’

“She was screaming her head off, as though she was shouting, ‘Hello Wembley!’ No one else has that name, apart from the Virgin Madonna and the singer, whom I love.”

So, this poor child has a Spice Girl for a mommy, and she’s named after the original exhibitionist. Yep, there is definitely a spotlight and a bright shiny stripper pole in her future.

Oh, and for the record, it’s probably also a good idea to avoid naming your daughter after a brand of ice cream whose logo includes a giant cow. Just a helpful tip.

Artists, News, Pop

Mick Jagger stars in ABC sitcom pilot

April 27, 2006 / Deb Medsker

You loved him in “Freejack”…and now, with any luck, you might just get to see budding actor Mick Jagger securely nestled on ABC’s fall primetime schedule each week, as he recently finished shooting scenes for a new sitcom pilot for the network.

The comedy is tentatively called “Let’s Rob Mick Jagger,” and stars “The Tao of Steve’s” Donal Logue as the janitor in a posh Manhattan high-rise who, over the course of the 22-episode season, will devise and then execute a plan to burglarize the Rolling Stone singer’s apartment. Think serialized TV in the vein of “Lost” and “24,” only executed as a comedy. And starring Mick Jagger as himself.

Let’s hope his newfound status as a TV star will allow that man to finally break out of his shell and meet some women.

Artists, Rock

Clear Channel: “Wait, so now we need to NOT suck? I’m confused.”

April 21, 2006 / Deb Medsker

Turning an about-face on its longtime strategy of attempting to drown radio listeners in a sea of aggressively bland, soulless, identical radio stations, Clear Channel has finally discovered the niche audiences that were there all along.

As part of a new initiative to be announced next week, Clear Channel intends to lock horns with satellite radio, rolling out new niche channels with names like Dank (“Hip Hop and Rock all rolled up into one big spliff”), Full Metal Racket (“It’s dark, it’s edgy, it beats, and it rocks”), and Mother Trucker (“a hearty serving of the best Southern Rock”). Clear Channel will also be expanding its HD radio service to 50 cities, from its current base of 28.

Can this old dog learn enough tricks to persuade people to shell out $200 for an HD radio receiver instead of signing on for satellite radio? Can the American public forgive Clear Channel for its numerous transgressions against music fans all across the country?

Stay tuned to find out.

Radio, Satellite Radio