MUSIC NEWS: TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015
NICKELBACK
Nickelback is cancelling the rest of its North American tour because singer Chad Kroeger needs vocal cord surgery.
The band says in a statement that the 40-year-old has an operable cyst on his voice box and will undergo surgery in three weeks. The Hanna, Alta., rockers had initially cancelled their weekend gigs in the hopes of a quick recovery. The cancelled dates include shows in Quebec City and Ottawa, along with dozens of cities in the United States.
The band expects Kroeger to be ready for a European run beginning in Finland on Sept. 30. Nickelback is also expected to tour North America again next year.
(The Canadian Press)
''CELEBRITY WIFE SWAP``
Vince Neil of Motley Crue and Gunnar Nelson of Nelson will see how the other one lives on ``Celebrity Wife Swap.'' Neil's girlfriend, Rain, is 20 years younger than him, and they enjoy living it up with fast cars and late-night parties in Las Vegas. Nelson lives a quiet life in Nashville with his wife, Lila, and his three stepdaughters. Their episode will run tomorrow on A-B-C.
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ANDY GRAMMER
You wouldn't think someone on the level of musicianship of Andy Grammer would have to worry about practicing, but he does it all the time. Grammer says he especially works on his piano and guitar skills when he's going to appear on T-V. The thing he practices the most, though, is songwriting. He says he does it every day and it explains why he wrote a hundred songs for his ``Magazines or Novels'' album before whittling it down to 11.
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KANYE WEST AND KIM KARDASHIAN
Perhaps one of the names Kanye West should be considering for his new baby is not ``East'' or ``South,'' but ``Junior.'' A spokeswoman for West's wife, Kim Kardashian, confirms Kardashian is pregnant with a boy. Kardashian had posted a message to West on Father's Day that said, ``You're such a good daddy to North and you will be the best daddy to our new son too!''
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FLAVOR FLAV
The Las Vegas Justice Court has scrapped a seven-thousand dollar bail bond on Flavor Flav. The reality star and rapper was busted May 21st on allegations that he was speeding, driving under the influence and possessed a small amount of pot. The bond was removed yesterday morning at a hearing. Flavor Flav wasn't required to appear in court and did not. Bonds can be scrapped if charges aren't filed within 30 days. Flavor Flav hasn't been charged yet. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 22nd.
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SEAN ``DIDDY'' COMBS
Sean ``Diddy'' Combs has been arrested on the campus of the school where his son is on the football team. U-C-L-A campus police say Combs was arrested yesterday at the athletic training complex on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon -- in this case, a kettleball. No one was seriously injured and the victim was not identified. Jail records show Combs was released after posting 160-thousand dollar bail late last night. Combs' son, Justin, is a redshirt junior defensive back on the U-C-L-A football team. Coach Jim Mora says it's an ``unfortunate incident'' and he will let the legal process run its course.
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TAYLOR SWIFT - APPLE
Forget those other candidates: Elvis Costello is pushing for Taylor Swift for president. Swift posted an open letter to Apple criticizing its plan not to pay royalties to musicians for the three month trial period of the Apple Music streaming service, and Apple agreed to drop the plan. Costello tweeted a link to the letter with the words, ``A word from our future President. Right on.
You tell 'em, Girl.'' Gene Simmons of Kiss tweeted, ``If more artists insisted on being paid for their work, new bands might have a chance.'' Jack Antonoff of fun. and of Bleachers tweets, ``I'm so proud that the loudest voice in music today is using it to stand up for those who are not heard.''
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PATSY CLINE
Patsy Cline will become the first country singer to be revived onstage as a hologram. Hologram U-S-A C-E-O Alki David tells Billboard magazine Cline will be part of a concert experience that will include performances, commentary and audience interaction. Cline is also the first female artist the company has turned into a hologram. Hologram U-S-A is working on concerts featuring holograms of Liberace and Buddy Holly, and it created the hologram of rapper Tupac Shakur For the Coachella festival in 2012.
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JOEY FEEK
Rory Feek of Joey + Rory says his wife's cancer has spread to her colon. Joey Feek had been diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and treated it with surgery. Rory writes on their ``This Life I Live'' blog the tumour cells are rapidly growing and they appear to be the same cells as before. They will travel this week to Chicago to a cancer treatment centre for evaluation. Rory says they have been shown ``a whole other level of love'' from fans and strangers and they're thankful for that.
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FIREFLY ARRESTS
Police in Dover, Delaware, have arrested two men they say had hundreds of doses of drugs they were trying to sell at the Firefly Music Festival campground over the weekend.
Authorities are charging 31-year-old Daniel Wood of Jackson, Michigan, and 39-year-old Dion McPherson of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with possessing marijuana, L-S-D, hallucinogenic mushrooms and mephedrone, A-K-A bath salts. Police say they arrested the men after officers made an undercover purchase of M-D-M-A. They are being held on 100-thousand dollar cash bond. This year's Firefly Festival featured Paul McCartney, Zedd, Modest Mouse, The Killers, Snoop Dog and Hozier.
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