MUSIC NEWS: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015
RUSH - ROLLING STONE
Rush are on the cover of the current issue of Rolling Stone, which is a big deal because Rolling Stone never put them on the cover before. Even Rolling Stone acknowledges it's a big deal. The magazine announced the cover by saying, ``Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: Rush have finally made the cover of Rolling Stone and it's happening well before the actual year 2112.'' Meanwhile, Rush will perform in Toronto tonight and on Friday and the shows will be filmed for later release.
---
NEIL YOUNG BENEFIT CONCERT POSTPONED
Rock legend and environmental activist Neil Young has put off a benefit concert in Edmonton. A representative for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, says the delay is due to internal management issues. No new date for the concert has been set. The show was to have been one of several concerts to benefit the northern Alberta band which lives in the oilsands region. The First Nation has mounted court challenges to development approvals.
---
POLARIS
Former Polaris winners Patrick Watson and Caribou are once again in the running for the 50-thousand-dollar prize.
Records from perennial nominees Drake, Joel Plaskett and the New Pornographers are also among the 40-album long list unveiled yesterday in Halifax. The Polaris is awarded to the best Canadian album of the previous year as chosen by a jury of nearly 200 journalists, broadcasters and bloggers. Newcomers to Polaris contention this year include Toronto's Alvvays, Vancouver pianist Tobias Jesso Jr. and veteran songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.
---
WIZ KHALIFA
Wiz Khalifa has paid a five-hundred dollar fine after pleading guilty to drug possession. The El Paso Times reports Khalifa was not present in court and his lawyer entered the plea. Khalifa was arrested at El Paso's airport in May 2014 for allegedly having half a gram of marijuana in his backpack. He had just performed at the Neon Desert Music Festival. Khalifa caused a sensation on the Internet when he posted selfies from jail.
---
KILLER MIKE
Killer Mike jumped into the Georgia legislative race only to find out he's ineligible to do that. Killer Mike had asked fans on his social media sites to vote for him for Tuesday's special election for state District 45 by writing in his real name, Michael Render. His slogan: ``If I win, we win.'' Killer Mike posted another message saying he found out he's ineligible because write-in candidates in Georgia must register. Killer Mike thanked his supporters and promised he will run for office one day.
---
FOO FIGHTERS
Dave Grohl's broken leg is forcing the cancellation of the Foo Fighters' European tour. The band's publicist says Grohl had surgery on Monday to repair injuries when he sustained a fall on Friday during a show in Sweden. Doctors have ordered Foo Fighters to call off their tour to allow Grohl to recover. It's not certain how long Grohl will need. Grohl writes on the band's website he dislocated his ankle and broke his fibula. The next scheduled Foo Fighters date is their July 4th concert in Washington.
---
JASON DERULO
Jason Derulo jokes he invented dance video games, then he gets spanked while playing the very game he's been helping to develop. The game ``Just Dance 2016'' was unveiled this week at the E3 Video Game Expo in Los Angeles. Derulo played against an Ubisoft developer and she beat him soundly. In his defence, Derulo says it was his first time playing and she had played 100 times. He says if you ever play ``Just Dance'' with him, cut him some slack.
---
GROUPLOVE'S HANNAH HOOPER
Hannah Hooper of Grouplove is sharing her sense of style. Hooper has teamed with surf, snow and streetwear clothing maker Volcom for a collection of women's clothes. The line will be called Lady Grouplove for Volcom and it includes denim jackets, leggings and crop tops. The line is available now in retail stores or at Volcom-dot-com .
---
BERRY GORDY JR.
The Detroit mansion where Motown founder Berry Gordy Junior used to live is for sale. The Detroit Free Press reports the Italian Renaissance house on 2.2 acres is on the market for 1.295-million dollars. It has a main residence that's more than 10-thousand square feet and a 44-hundred-square-foot pool house. It has 10 bedrooms, nine bathrooms, four fireplaces, a bowling alley and a stage in the basement ballroom that Gordy set up for his Motown friends. Gordy owned the house for 35 years but didn't visit much after he moved Motown Records to Los Angeles. It's currently owned by a lawyer.
---
ARIANE GRANDE
Ariana Grande will headline Major League Baseball's All-Star concert. She will perform July 11th in Cincinnati. Rixton will open. The All-Star game will be July 14th.
---