MUSIC NEWS: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015
ROCK HALL - INDUCTEES
The groundbreaking Los Angeles rap act N-W-A will join a quartet of 1970s era F-M radio rockers _ Chicago, Cheap Trick, Deep Purple and Steve Miller _ as 2016 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Both Miller and Cheap Trick make it during their first year on the ballots. The induction ceremony for the Cleveland-based hall will be held April 8th in Brooklyn's Barclays Center. H-B-O will carry highlights later in the spring.
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DOLORES O'RIORDAN - THE CRANBERRIES - ADMITS ASSAULT
Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan has pleaded guilty to assaulting three police officers and a flight attendant. A judge in western Ireland has ordered O'Riordan to write letters of apology to the people she attacked during a flight from New York to Shannon, Ireland, in November 2014. He says she will sentence her early next year. O'Riordan faces a fine or up to six months in prison. A flight attendant says O'Riordan stomped on her ankle, and police say O'Riordan head-butted an officer, kicked two others and spat in their faces. O'Riordan says she suffered a psychotic episode.
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SCOTT WEILAND - SALES
The death of Scott Weiland has led to a boost in his record sales. Billboard reports eight of the top 10 songs on the Hard Rock Digital Songs chart are by Stone Temple Pilots or Velvet Revolver, with Weiland on vocals. S-T-P's ``Plush'' is the top song, followed by ``Interstate Love Song'' and ``Creep.'' Velvet Revolver's ``Fall To Pieces'' is number four. The other songs in the top ten are S-T-P's ``Vasoline,'' ''Big Empty`` and ''Sex Type Thing,`` as well as Velvet Revolver's ''Slither.`` Sales of the STP greatest hits album ''Thank You`` surged 1,787 per cent since Weiland's death.
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``THRILLER'' - SALES
Michael Jackson's ``Thriller'' has become the first album to go platinum 30 times. The Recording Industry Association of America says ``Thriller'' has sold 30-million copies in the U-S alone, with a total of 100-million worldwide. It may not stand as the only 30-platinum album for long. The Eagles' ``Greatest Hits 1971-1975'' has sold 29 million copies.
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PARAMORE - BASSIST - EXITS
Paramore have lost their bass player. Paramore write on Facebook bassist Jeremy Davis is leaving the band. They do not give specifics on why he's leaving, but they say it's been ``really painful'' and they hint they considered ending the band.
They say they are hopeful for Paramore's future and they are excited for what Davis does next.
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NICKI MINAJ - ANGOLA CONCERT
Human rights groups are pushing Nicki Minaj to cancel her Saturday concert in Angola because of the country's reputation for human rights abuses and corruption. Minaj will perform in the capital of Luanda as part of the Unitel Christmas Festival, put on by the country's biggest mobile phone network.
Human Rights Foundation president Thor Halvorssen says the Angolan president's daughter owns a large stake in Unitel. Halvorssen says there's no good reason for Minaj to do business with the corrupt Angolan dictatorship. Minaj's representative has not returned calls for comment.
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THE CORRS - RETURN
The reason we have not heard much from The Corrs in a while is because they decided to take time off to raise families.
The Corrs recently released the album ``White Light,'' which is their first new music in a decade. Drummer Caroline Corr says the music business demands an all-or-nothing mentality and they were lucky they could step out of that. They also had to deal with the loss of their father. Singer Andrea Corr says ``White Light'' touches on the themes of pain and loss but overall it's an uplifting record.
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EAGLES OF DEATH METAL - EUROPEAN TOUR
Eagles of Death Metal will finish the tour that was cut short when their Paris show was attacked last month. They will launch their Nos Amis tour February 13th in Stockholm. They play Paris on February 16 at the Olympia Theatre, because the Bataclan will not reopen by then. Fans who were at the Bataclan show will get free admission to the Olympia show. One-hundred-thirty people were killed in attacks in Paris on November 13th, including 89 at the Eagles of Death Metal concert. Frontman Jesse Hughes says not returning to finish their set was never an option, and they look forward to continuing their mission to bring rock and roll to the world.
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PHIL VASSAR - WEBCAST
Phil Vassar is going into his wine cellar, opening up a bottle with some musicians and putting it on the Internet. Vassar will webcast a new video series called ``Songs from the Cellar'' beginning Tuesday on PhilVassar-dot-com. The show will feature interviews, songs, wine and food. Guitarist Steve Cropper and newcomer Sarah Darling will join Vassar on upcoming episodes.
Vassar says the show is ``the perfect opportunity to sip some vino, sing our hearts out and share some laughs.''
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NHL ALL-STAR CONCERTS
Country stars will come out in force as the N-H-L hosts its All-Star festivities in Nashville next month. Dierks Bentley, Big and Rich, Aaron Lewis, Chris Young, Eli Young Band, Kelsea Ballerini and Lee Brice will perform outdoor concerts the weekend of January 29th. Acts who get to play indoors that weekend include Lonestar, LOCASH, Craig Wayne Boyd, Tracy Lawrence and stars from the T-V show ``Nashville.'' The 2016 N-H-L All-Star Game is January 31st.
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LL COOL J - GRAMMY HOST
L-L Cool J has hosted the Grammys so many times he may become known as Mr. Grammy. He will host for the fifth time when the Grammys are staged February 15th in Los Angeles.
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(The Associated Press)