MUSIC NEWS: FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
PAUL McCARTNEY IS BRITAIN'S RICHEST MUSICIAN
To say Paul McCartney does all right for himself is an understatement. London's Sunday Times reports McCartney and his wife, Nancy Shevell, top its list of Britain's richest musicians with a fortune of 1.1-billion-dollars. Andrew Lloyd Webber is second with 976-million, followed by U-2, Elton John and Mick Jagger. The Sunday Times also compiled a list of the Britain's richest musicians under 30, and Adele tops that list with a fortune of 75-million. The members of One Direction, including the recently departed Zayn Malik (MAL'-ihk), are tied at second with 37.5-million dollars each.
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SCOTT WEILAND ENLISTS NEW GUITAR PLAYER
Scott Weiland has hired a new guitar player for his band, The Wildabouts. Nick Maybury of the Australian band Mink will take over guitar duties. The original guitarist, Jeremy Brown, died suddenly March 30th, the day before the release of Scott Weiland and The Wildabouts' debut record, ``Blaster.'' Weiland says Brown ``had big shoes and no one can fill them...but we have to soldier on.'' He says Maybury is ``an incredible player and a great fit for The Wildabouts.'' The band will start the North American leg of their tour tomorrow in Jacksonville.
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GLENN MEDEIROS GETS JOB HEADING UP SCHOOL
A Catholic boys school in Honolulu is about to put a pop star in charge. KHON-TV reports Glenn Medeiros will start as president of St. Louis School on July 1st. Medeiros had a number-12 hit in 1987 with ``Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You,'' and a number-one song with Bobby Brown with ``She Ain't Worth It.'' Medeiros has a bachelor's degree in history and humanities and both a masters and a doctorate in education. Madeiros' current job is vice principal at Maryknoll High School in Honolulu.
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LADY GAGA WILL BE HONOURED BY SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
Lady Gaga's talents as a songwriter will be acknowledged by others who practice the same craft. Lady Gaga will get the first Contemporary Icon Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The hall's organizers say the award honours a performing songwriter ``who has attained an iconic status in pop culture.''
Lady Gaga will receive her award during the hall of fame's annual gala June 19th in New York.
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NEW ELVIS CHAPEL CELEBRATES FIRST WEDDING
Kaycee Satava always knew she'd have an Elvis-themed wedding. What she didn't know is that Priscilla Presley would be her matron of honour and her wedding would be the first at the Graceland-endorsed chapel in Las Vegas. Satava married Cameron Baker yesterday morning at the same casino where Elvis performed back in the day. They won their wedding from the ``Today''
show, which broadcast the ceremony. It was only two minutes long and the Reverend Kenneth Baker says he'd make sure there was ``none of that 'dearly beloved.''' Satava says having Presley next to her for her wedding ``was a dream.''
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MARKY RAMONE SAYS THE RAMONES ALWAYS SAT IN THE SAME VAN SEATS
There was no point in calling ``shotgun'' in The Ramones' van. They all had assigned seats. Drummer Marky Ramone says guitarist Johnny Ramone always sat next to the driver, Marky always sat behind Johnny and next to the tour manager, singer Joey Ramone sat behind them and bassist Dee Dee Ramone sat in the back. Marky Ramone says the only time they ever switched seats is if he or Johnny took over the driving. It's not the only weird thing they did. Marky Ramone says Dee Dee was crazy about taking baths and every time he walked into Dee Dee's hotel room, Dee Dee was in the tub. Marky Ramone's book, ``Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life As A Ramone'' is in stores now.
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MELISSA ETHERIDGE FINDS OUT ABOUT HER FAMILY'S PAST
Melissa Etheridge's family has a scandal in its past. Etheridge agreed to be researched for the T-L-C genealogy series ``Who Do You Think You Are?'' Billboard reports the research turned up ancestors who sued a man for impregnating a teenage member of the family and refusing to marry her. Etheridge's family tree also includes a colonial American bootlegger. Her episode runs Sunday.
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COMMON LANDS ROLE IN SUPERVILLAIN MOVIE
Common has been added to the cast of the film ``Suicide Squad.'' The Hollywood Reporter reports the movie features villains from DC Comics. The role Common will play has not been revealed. The movie is currently shooting in Toronto.
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