February 2016 News

By GABE ECHAZABAL and TRACY MAY

The ageless, boundless bundle of vocal prowess and energy named Darlene Love strolled into the Capitol Theatre on Wednesday night and about near tore the place down the minute she let that miraculous voice soar. Clad in black sparkly mini dress, stiletto heels and sporting youthful blonde hairdo, the goddess of girl group sounds proved that her towering, trademark vocal goldmine - which can undoubtedly rattle windows and make cement walls shake - hasn't wavered a single bit.

Simply stated, had the effervescent Ms. Love not had a working microphone to use during her dynamite performance, no one in the cozy Clearwater theater would have had a hard time hearing her perfectly articulate and truly amazing delivery. Hell, no one in the surrounding neighborhood would have that problem, either. Saying Darlene's awesome pipes are still as strong as ever is a gross understatement as anyone in attendance would certainly attest to.

Dividing the night's performance into two equal halves, Darlene and her fine 11-piece band dedicated Act I to her most recent effort, 2015's critically acclaimed, Steve Van Zandt-produced Introducing Darlene Love. Working her way effortlessly through a barrage of tunes from the songwriting heavyweights who contributed to her celebrated comeback album, Love and her three terrific backup singers made material written by the likes of Elvis Costello and Jimmy Webb all her own.

A nod to her friend and longtime supporter JOAN JETT preceded a scintillating, slow burning version of Jett's 1988 radio hit "Little Liar." "Is it possible to have a hero who is half your age?" Love pondered in talking up the tough rocker. "Well, if so, then JOAN JETT is my hero!" she announced before giving props to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's most recent female inductee.

Serving as part trip through memory lane and part history lesson, Love took every opportunity to educate the crowd about her introduction to the world of music and being (arguably) the most recognizable backup singer who never had a richly deserved spotlight shone on her alone. Reminiscing about her original group The Blossoms and the doors they broke down for other emerging young black singers, and taking a few swipes at much maligned and notorious hardass record producer and mogul Phil Spector, Love filled in the gaps between songs with endearing banter and buckets of charm.
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Here Are the Highlights From Saint Laurent's Hollywood Palladium Show
from: ft.com
By Grace Cook

Saint Laurent debuted its men's fall line and the first part of its women's collection Wednesday at the Hollywood Palladium. The L.A. show resembled a flashy light show set to rock music that could be on a playlist titled, "Girl Gang Driving Tunes."

The show's musical theme was done in honor of creative director Hedi Slimane's Fashion Diary â€" long inspired by musical influences. And the night was not without its own live musical talent in attendance: Justin Bieber and JOAN JETT had front-row seats.

The Biebs was living up the high-fashion scene, palling around with the likes of Lady Gaga and Courtney Love Cobain. Demi Moore, Emma Roberts, Tallulah Willis, and Jessica Alba also joined the pre-New York Fashion Week show.

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Allow Dave Grohl & Pat Smear To Take You On A Guided Tour Of David Bowie's Old LA Haunts
from: musicfeeds.com.au
By Hilary Weaver



Fresh from covering David Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World with Beck at a pre-Grammys gala, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear have jumped in a truck and gone for a cruise around Bowie's old LA neighbourhood, sharing their memories about the fallen legend.

And luckily, due to the magic of dashboard cam, they've taken us along for the ride.

Filmed on behalf of Playboy, the Foo Fighters twosome embarked on a self-guided tour of the places where Bowie used to hang out while recording his 1976 album Station to Station, and along the way, the pair discussed their past encounters with The Thin White Duke, going all the way back to the pre-Nirvana days when Smear was still in L.A. punk band The Germs.

In the video, Smear recounts how he and Germs vocalist Darby Crash used to basically stalk Bowie around town, even collecting his old cigarette butts off the ground and wedging their own song lyrics under the windshield of his car (in hindsight there's probably some kind of law against this).

Grohl and Smear also call up rocker JOAN JETT, who used to live down the road from Bowie, while Grohl shares some insights about Nirvana's famous MTV Unplugged cover of The Man Who Sold The World (for which we apparently have Smear to thank).

But possibly the craziest part in the whole adventure comes when Grohl begins discussing his last email exchange with Bowie (around the 7.14 mark), during which the musical icon seemed to foreshadow his own death.
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Lady Gaga Glitters in Gold for Saint Laurent at the Palladium
from: justjared.com



Lady Gaga goes for pale look with a pop of glitter while attending the 2016 Saint Laurent at the Palladium event on Wednesday (February 10) in Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old entertainer was joined on the carpet by fellow musicians Courtney Love, JOAN JETT, and Miguel.

Also in attendance were host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Scandal‘s Portia De Rossi.

In case you missed it, Jennifer Lawrence recently popped up on Gaga‘s Snapchat!

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Here Are the Highlights From Saint Laurent's Hollywood Palladium Show
from: nymag.com
By Hilary Weaver

Saint Laurent debuted its men's fall line and the first part of its women's collection Wednesday at the Hollywood Palladium. The L.A. show resembled a flashy light show set to rock music that could be on a playlist titled, "Girl Gang Driving Tunes."

The show's musical theme was done in honor of creative director Hedi Slimane's Fashion Diary â€" long inspired by musical influences. And the night was not without its own live musical talent in attendance: Justin Bieber and JOAN JETT had front-row seats.

The Biebs was living up the high-fashion scene, palling around with the likes of Lady Gaga and Courtney Love Cobain. Demi Moore, Emma Roberts, Tallulah Willis, and Jessica Alba also joined the pre-New York Fashion Week show.

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'The Muppets': JOAN JETT Performs on "Up Late with Miss Piggy"
from: on.aol.com

Watch this video for free on AOL On: The Muppets JOAN JETT Performs on Up Late with Miss Piggy.

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JOAN JETT And BLACKHEARTS Play Valentine's Day Gala
from: vulture.com
By John Adamian

Whoa. I think ... I actually liked this episode.

I mean, the show finally remembered that Camilla exists. Though my heart broke when Camilla left Gonzo, thereby ending television's most romantic relationship, I am thrilled that she's now on the show. Even if #Gonzmilla doesn't become a major storyline, this feels like confirmation that new showrunner Kristin Newman wants The Muppets to have more heart, more brains, and more in common with Muppets of old than it did before.

On the other hand, we're still stuck with the mockumentary format, which should probably be straight-up banned.

Besides asserting the show's credibility within the Muppets' franchise, "A Tail of Two Piggies" also manages to stick together as an episode. The characters with conflicting motivations feel true to their identifies, the jokes are actually funny, and the guest stars are deployed exactly as often as needed. The episode also does a great job both having and explaining a comic block. (Fozzie's assertion that they can't do one thing, or another thing, so they need to find a "third thing" is every sitcom-writing class distilled to a sentence.) For a show that was practically buckling under the weight of its thin, abysmally structured plots just a few episodes ago, this is another huge sign of growth.

Thank you, Kristin Newman!
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Punk Rock and Rock Personalities Series: Drummer THOMMY PRICE
from: punkglobe.com
By Nikki Palomino & Spencer Drate

Questions smolder inside and burn their way out, aiming for the instrument at one's disposal. In this case Brooklyn, New York's THOMMY PRICE, took on the drums. Primal bomb blasts heard a block away came from the fifties kids who started their own brand of underground testing. How could anyone resist the feel of a pair of sticks in his hands? No rocker with the passion and patience to beat his way through the bustle of ordinary life denied the joy. Rock 'n Roll had become something of a higher order. Drummers defined the sound of all types of rock.

"There were really only a few drummers I really liked growing up," says Thommy. "One was Dino Deneli from the Rascals because of his soulful but solid pocket and hard approach to the Rascals' music. He gave me my pocket. The other was Keith Moon from the Who that I loved because of his open but recklessness in his fills. And of course John Bonham who made sense in whatever song he played. Somewhere between all three drummers, I developed my own style which is nothing like any of those drummers. I think I took a little bit of the three and carved out my own place."

Thommy reflects on his beginnings with an instrument as another appendage. "My first exposure to any kind of music besides what was on the radio was 'blue eyed soul music', music from The Righteous Brothers, The Young Rascals, and of course all the Motown stuff from the sixties. I loved drum heavy songs from The McCoys and The Dave Clark Five too."

"Growing up in a very big Italian American family there was always cousins that had a band. In my case all my cousins that played an instrument were in the same band, so whenever there was a party (and my family made one every weekend) they would play, and when they DID play, I would wind up going up and sitting in on about two songs. Mind you I was only around seven or eight, but I'd still get up there and play."

The drums have always been the labyrinthine center of a band.

"At seventeen I had already been in a few local Staten Island bands and making a few demos recording with different people, but wasn't making much money. So I decided to join a cover band and hit the road. I had just got my driver's license, and of course, the band did not have a road crew so I found myself driving a sixteen-foot box truck along with the bass player (we were the only two that could drive a stick shift) across the country, lasting about six months. When I got home I knew I had to move to the next level."
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JOAN JETT And BLACKHEARTS Play Valentine's Day Gala
from: ctnow.com
By John Adamian

Back in 2014, JOAN JETT joined the surviving members of Nirvana to help induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, playing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with admirable attitude.

Few of us needed reminding, but it confirmed that Jett embodies rock with a distortion-pedal, leather and sneer. (Presumably, fake leather, since Jett is an outspoken vegetarian and supporter of PETA.) Jett was, of course, a member of the RUNAWAYS, and went on to make seriously loud and crunchy radio rock in the '80s, having hits with souped-up versions of "I Love Rock and Roll" and Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover."

Jett and the BLACKHEARTS play Ridgefield Playhouse Sunday, Feb. 14. It's a Valentine's Day gala, with dinner, dessert and champagne, and there's a convenient "heart" tie-in, should you be looking for one, since she'll be backed by the BLACKHEARTS. $175. Dinner and reception at 6 p.m., auction and performance at 8 p.m. 438-5795 and ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

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RSD 2016: JOAN JETT’S 'SINNER' GETTING FIRST PRESSING
from: modern-vinyl.com



SINNER, the 2006 release from JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, is getting its first pressing as part of Record Store Day 2016. The album is reportedly being released on clear vinyl, while you'll also get a download with "bonus videos." Record Store Day will be held on April 16th.

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JOAN JETT on The Muppets Tuesday, February 9 (8:30 pm EST) on ABC
from: http://muppetshenson.blogspot.com
PHOTO by Getty Images



Tail of Two Piggies' - When Miss Piggy suffers a scandalous wardrobe malfunction, the network is outraged, and Piggy is forced to question everything she stands for, but Kermit and the gang rally together and come to her defense. Meanwhile, Gonzo misses his ex-girlfriend Camilla, so Pepe and Rizzo decide to throw a house party to cheer him up, on 'The Muppets,' TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 (8:30-9:00 p.m. EST) on the ABC Television Network.

The Muppets Episode #12 - A Tail of Two Piggies

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Sally Hershberger’s impressive celebrity clientele - in pictures
from: thenational.ae



From Hillary Clinton to JOAN JETT, here's a look at the celebrity hairstylist's most famous styling jobs.

Read an interview with the celebrity hairstylist to know her top hairstyling and haircare tips in Luxury magazine, out on Thursday, February 4. Luxury comes out with The National on the first Thursday of every month.

Sally Hershberger’s impressive celebrity clientele - in pictures Sally Hershberger, left, puts the final touches to rocker JOAN JETT's hair, a client of more than 30 years. Courtesy Sally Hershberger

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JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS Opening for Sammy Hagar and The Circle in September
from: b1027.com
By Alice Newbold, junior style editor

She's famous for playing preppy school girls in 1991 rom com Cruel Intentions and 2001's Legally Blonde, but the age-defying Selma Blair looks anything but square in the photographs captured of her shoot for CR Fashion Book.

With punk pin-up JOAN JETT as the muse, magazine editor Carine Roitfeld reimagined Blair, 43, into a kohl-eyed rock chic on-the-run from lurking paparazzi. Outfits include a sheer black bodysuit, fishnet tights and an electric blue leather jacket, and a gold lamé piece concealed by the tablecloth of a restaurant.

Vivian Kensington, her bookish foil to Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde sorority queen, would shriek at the sight of them.

The magazine interview focusses on Blair's role as Kris Jenner in American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, which airs on February 9. Of meeting the Kardashian matriarch, Blair notes, "I instantly really liked her. We do text and I'd like to see her more... I think she's someone who will actually be in my life."

Hectic schedules aside, spending time together will be tricky for the twosome as Blair confesses, "'I can't be next to her. I look like I'm playing her mother." Her "takeaway" from morphing into the momager is that "she is garage-kept. I am not... Kris Jenner looks so much better than me."

Recent promo stints surrounding the television series would beg to differ. The LA premiere of American Crime Story saw her tap into the current slip dress trend with a custom-made luminous Derek Lam gown.

We were sad to see the back of that JOAN JETT mullet though...

CR Fashion Book 8 is out on February 28

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Selma Blair's transformation for 'CR Fashion Book' has reminded us of her fashion excellence
from: telegraph.co.uk
By Alice Newbold, junior style editor

She's famous for playing preppy school girls in 1991 rom com Cruel Intentions and 2001's Legally Blonde, but the age-defying Selma Blair looks anything but square in the photographs captured of her shoot for CR Fashion Book.

With punk pin-up JOAN JETT as the muse, magazine editor Carine Roitfeld reimagined Blair, 43, into a kohl-eyed rock chic on-the-run from lurking paparazzi. Outfits include a sheer black bodysuit, fishnet tights and an electric blue leather jacket, and a gold lamé piece concealed by the tablecloth of a restaurant.

Vivian Kensington, her bookish foil to Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde sorority queen, would shriek at the sight of them.

The magazine interview focusses on Blair's role as Kris Jenner in American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, which airs on February 9. Of meeting the Kardashian matriarch, Blair notes, "I instantly really liked her. We do text and I'd like to see her more... I think she's someone who will actually be in my life."

Hectic schedules aside, spending time together will be tricky for the twosome as Blair confesses, "'I can't be next to her. I look like I'm playing her mother." Her "takeaway" from morphing into the momager is that "she is garage-kept. I am not... Kris Jenner looks so much better than me."

Recent promo stints surrounding the television series would beg to differ. The LA premiere of American Crime Story saw her tap into the current slip dress trend with a custom-made luminous Derek Lam gown.

We were sad to see the back of that JOAN JETT mullet though...

CR Fashion Book 8 is out on February 28

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Is This the List of 2016 Record Store Day Exclusives?
from: http://exclaim.ca
Josiah Hughes

Though we're still trapped in the throes of winter, springtime is on the horizon. That means there will be morning dew, blooming flowers and, of course, the return of Record Store Day. We know that the annual vinyl celebration will return once again this April, and now we may have some idea of what to expect from this year's batch of exclusive releases.

While this is certainly a rumour-based and unconfirmed post, some record nerds over at the Vinyl Collective message board [via Riff You] appear to have uncovered a list of many of the exclusives set for release on RSD.

Again, these releases are in no way confirmed, but the list is far from ridiculous, offering a mix of mainstream releases and indie highlights.

Among the exciting potential releases are a Best Coast B-sides 7-inch, a reissue of David Bowie's I Dig Everything: The Pye Years, a brand new Hot Hot Heat single, a Shaggs 7-inch and a handful of releases from legendary soundtrack group Goblin.

Other interesting soundtrack releases include music from The Guest, John Wick and The Ninth Gate, among others.
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