MUSIC NEWS: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MOTORHEAD - LEMMY'S LAST DAYS
Lemmy's problems with talking are what tipped off his team that something was wrong. Motorhead manager Todd Singerman tells Rolling Stone Lemmy had complained of chest pains earlier this month but doctors found nothing wrong. Singerman and others pushed for a brain scan because Lemmy's speech was bad.
Singerman says doctors found cancer in Lemmy's brain and neck and told him on Saturday he had two to six months to live. Lemmy's understated comment was, ``Oh, only two months, huh?'' Singerman wanted to keep the diagnosis quiet, but Lemmy told Singerman to put out a press release because he said cancer is ``a bad thing and people should know it.'' Singerman informed Lemmy's friends and family first. Lemmy died Monday. Singerman says he's amazed Lemmy saw ``thousands'' of doctors around the world and none of them caught the cancer.
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MOTLEY CRUE'S - FINAL SHOW
Tonight is Motley Crue's farewell. Their final concert will be tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Bassist Nikki Sixx tells Billboard magazine he's been dodging the question of how they're going to feel when it's over for the past two years since they announced their final tour, but now there's no getting out of it. He says, ``I just hope I don't cry during 'Shout at the Devil.''' Motley Crue will release a D-V-D of their final performance sometime in 2016.
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ROB ZOMBIE - FILM
Rob Zombie's upcoming movie is too hot for the censors. Zombie writes on Facebook the Motion Picture Association of America has given an NC-17 rating to his movie ``31'' for ``sadistic graphic violence, bizarre sexuality/nudity, pervasive disturbing images and some strong language.'' Zombie has tried twice to get it an R rating because many movie theatres will not run an NC-17 film.
He says even though his viewers are adults, ``things must be censored for your enjoyment.''
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NEW YEAR'S EVE - ROB ZOMBIE
Rob Zombie would rather just stay home on New Year's Eve. Zombie says New Year's Eve and Halloween are the worst nights for playing concerts. He says everyone has other things they want to do, like get wasted with their friends. He says he used to play on New Year's Eve but gave it up. Besides, he prefers not to be on the road that night. Zombie says, ``I'd rather not die in a head-on collision on New Year's Eve.''
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NEW YEAR'S EVE - KINGS OF LEON
Kings of Leon singer Caleb Followill is not drinking until 2016, then watch out. Kings of Leon are playing Nashville's downtown celebrations tonight, along with Chris Stapleton and Kelsea Ballerini. Followill says they will do their set, the fireworks will go off and then Kings of Leon will play another half hour. He says that last half hour will ``probably be a little fuzzy'' because he's going to start drinking as soon as the countdown is over. As for 2016, drummer Nathan Followill says the goal is to finish their new record.
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NEW YEAR'S EVE - TV
Taylor Swift will premiere her new video for ``Out of the Woods'' during tonight's ``New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest'' on A-B-C. The musical lineup is packed: Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Demi Lovato, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, Andy Grammer, Fall Out Boy, Elle King, Ellie Goulding (GOL'-ding), Nick Jonas, Tove Lo, OMI (OH'-mee), Pentatonix, Rachel Platten, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Jimmy Buffett. On Fox, Pitbull will host New Year's Eve celebrations from Miami. Musical guests include Shawn Mendes, Austin Mahone and Prince Royce.
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CARLY RAE JEPSEN
Carly Rae Jepsen says she's never been happier onstage than she is while performing her latest album. That's despite the success of her 2012 powerhouse pop single ``Call Me Maybe.'' The Mission, B-C, native says she likes playing songs from the '80s-laced ``Emotion'' more than anything else. Critics have been equally enthusiastic about the album, which was released in late June. Time magazine placed ``Emotion'' fourth on its list of the Top 10 best albums of 2015.
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NEW YEAR'S EVE - PITBULL
Pitbull says he'd like to see Miami become a New Year's Eve destination _ the way New York City is. One advantage the rapper says Miami has over the Big Apple _ is the weather. He says since it's warm, people don't have to wear as much clothing _ and that means more fun. Pitbull host's tonight's Fox New Year's Eve show.
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KANYE WEST - GQ
For the second year in a row, Kanye West has been voted GQ's Most Stylish Man of the year. GQ says West's wardrobe is studied with the amount of fervour usually reserved for female stars and every piece of clothing he wears ``sparks a discussion on the current state of menswear.'' The honour is voted on by GQ readers in a bracket-style standoff. West beat out platinum-haired model Lucky Blue Smith for the honour. Others in contention included Jay-Z, John Mayer, Jared Leto, Nick Jonas, Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt, Ryan Reynolds, John Legend, Prince, Kit Harington, Harry Styles plus two Canadians - The Weeknd and Justin Bieber.
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(The Associated Press)