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IYKYK: Late Artist Purvis Young A Favorite of David Byrne, Lenny Kravitz, All the Cool Kids On Display in NYC This Weekend

Roger Friedman
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IYKYK: Late Artist Purvis Young A Favorite of David Byrne, Lenny Kravitz, All the Cool Kids On Display in NYC This Weekend

Purvis Young died in 2010 at age 67 but he’s undergoing a Renaissance right now.

His painting was on the cover of David Byrne’s “American Utopia.” He’s collected by Lenny Kravitz, Damon Wayans, Dan Aykroyd, and even Jane Fonda, among others.

Young’s work hangs in The Met, the Pompidou Centre, the Whitney, LACMA, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

This is all from a Miami kid who served three years (1961–64) in prison at North Florida’s Raiford State Penitentiary for breaking and entering. It was there that he found his way into art. When he was released, Young moved into vibrant Overtown in Miami — where so many great talents come from — and produce thousands of small drawings, which he kept in shopping carts and later glued into discarded books and magazines that he found on the streets.

From now through the weekend, Young’s work on display (and may be sold out) here in New York at One Art Space on Warren Street in Tribeca. The exhibit is curated by MaryAnn Giella McCulloh. A-listers have been climbing over snow drifts to see Young’s work in New York.

The Rolling Stones Didn’t Want “Gimme Shelter” in the “Melania” Movie But They Had No Say: Song Is Owned by the Beatles’ Enemy

Roger Friedman
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The Rolling Stones Didn’t Want “Gimme Shelter” in the “Melania” Movie But They Had No Say: Song Is Owned by the Beatles’ Enemy

Everyone’s asking how a Rolling Stones song wound up in the “Melania” documentary.

“Gimme Shelter,” written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, isn’t owned by them unfortunately.

Previously, the pair complained about Donald Trump using “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at his rallies. They are not fans.

But all the Stones songs pre-1971 are not under the control of Jagger and Richards.

All those songs — like “Satisfaction,” “Get Off My Cloud,” “Under My Thumb,” etc — are owned by ABKCO Records. ABKCO was the brain child of the late Allen Klein, always considered the villain in the story of the Beatles.

When the Beatles were teetering on break up, John Lennon hired Klein — on the advice of the Stones — to take on Paul McCartney. He is generally thought to have made the break up worse than it could have been. Eventually, Lennon realized it, but it was too late.

Klein was an evil genius in the music business. Not only did he sign Jagger and Richards to a lifelong publishing deal, he also signed up the music of Sam Cooke, like “You Send Me” or “Wonderful World.” Ultimately, Jagger and Richards broke loose of Klein in 1971 and signed with Ahmet Ertegun at Atlantic Records. They went on to have dozens more hits, but said goodbye to the old ones.

As for Klein, who has long since passed, his other great contribution to rock and roll was releasing the original “96 Tears” by Question Mark and the Mysterians, one of the greatest one off singles in history.

So don’t blame Mick and Keith for “Gimme Shelter” showing up in the “Melania” infomercial. And knowing ABKCO, Amazon paid a hefty price for the rights.

The Quick Decline of “Melania” After Trump Declared Movie Star Wife: Film Made Just $79 Per Theater Tuesday Night

Roger Friedman
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Last night at his jackal like State of the Union, Donald Trump introduced wife, Melania, as a “movie star.”

He wasn’t looking at the box office, however.

As the “Melania” movie comes to the conclusion of its theatrical run, the box office is getting lighter and lighter.

While Trump spoke last night, “Melania” reaped just $79 per theater. That’s about 7 Melania fans per showing.

With the lack of interest and terrible weather, “Melania” has made less money since Friday than Melania spends on mascara per day.

The total for “Melania” is now $16.2 million, with a budget of $75 million.

PS No one in the Trump family row — including Melania — was very excited when Donald mentioned the movie. They know.

New Rock Hall Nominees Show Scarcity of Choices: Melissa Etheridge, Phil Collins, Black Crowes, Oasis, Pink, Billy Idol

Roger Friedman
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New Rock Hall Nominees Show Scarcity of Choices: Melissa Etheridge, Phil Collins, Black Crowes, Oasis, Pink, Billy Idol

The new nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show the scarcity of real choices.

A couple of the names really deserve it. Melissa Etheridge, Black Crowes, Phil Collins, Oasis, Pink, Billy Idol would be top of my list. Really, just Melissa and Phil. Pink seems too soon, but maybe one day.

But then it gets weird. Joy Divison/New Order? Wu Tang Clan? INXS? Iron Maiden?

Jeff Buckley would be a posthumous choice. He really just released one album.

Then there are a bunch of pop/R&B acts who are lovely but not for the Rock Hall. They include Mariah Carey (again), Lauryn Hill, the late Luther Vandross, Sade, New Edition, and Shakira. They are ridiculous, plus Lauryn Hill without the Fugees? She also has just one album.

After nearly 40 years, it feels like the gas has run out of this car.

A better crowd is eligible starting in 2027: Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Imagine Dragons, and Kendrick Lamar. But really, the real Rock Hall is done.

Hilary Duff’s Comeback Album Will Finish 3rd for the Week with Almost No Streaming and No Break Out Single

Roger Friedman
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Hilary Duff’s Comeback Album Will Finish 3rd for the Week with Almost No Streaming and No Break Out Single

Hilary Duff’s comeback looks a mixed bag.

Duff, 38, is trying to return as a pop star. Her new album, “Luck…or something,” is sitting at the top of the iTunes album chart today.

But who’s buying it, and what is the sales picture? Unclear.

Duff is drawing older fans who know her from the TV series “Lizzie McGuire” and “Younger.” Actual young people are not buying it, maybe because “Luck” sounds like it was made 18 years ago and bears little relationship to modern pop.

Right, hitsdailydouble.com is predicting sales of 80,000 and a third place finish for the week. Almost all of those sales are CDs or paid downloads. There’s almost no streaming. No “Luck” tracks have hit Spotify, a sign that young people aren’t into it.

What’s more, no breakout track has appeared on the iTunes top 100 singles chart. That’s alarming because to really be a hit, singles have to be pouring out of the album. But Duff’s crowd is very limited. And that may signal a quick fall down the charts.

I’ve listened to “Luck,” and it’s unfortunately very average. There’s no excitement and nothing new, just a straight ahead homage to 2015 the last time she released an album.

Jamie Lee Curtis’s Touching Tribute to Robert Carradine, A Long Ago Boyfriend She Met and Kissed Live On a TV Talk Show

Roger Friedman
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Jamie Lee Curtis’s Touching Tribute to Robert Carradine, A Long Ago Boyfriend She Met and Kissed Live On a TV Talk Show

Jamie Lee Curtis has posted a touching tribute to Robert Carradine, who died yesterday at age 71.

Jamie Lee says she met him live on Dinah Shore’s TV talk show. She recalls: “Bobby and I came on last and Bobby rearranged where we were all sitting so that he could sit next to me and he kissed me, live on television. A very public meet cute>”

It’s a sweet story with a sad ending.

Want Jack Benny’s Violin? The Friars Club is Auctioning Off a Ton of Celebrity Memorabilia They May Not Own, and May Not Be Authenticated

Roger Friedman
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Want Jack Benny’s Violin? The Friars Club is Auctioning Off a Ton of Celebrity Memorabilia They May Not Own, and May Not Be Authenticated

How could there any another Friars Club scandal?

The fabled showbiz clubhouse went out of business several years ago after groups of vultures wrecked its legacy.

You can read the whole ugly history by clicking here.

So what now? Julien’s Auction house in Los Angeles is selling off a lot of memorabilia and souvenirs from the club. It’s unknown if the seller — so far unidentified — has the rights to the objects, or if they’re authenticated.

An insider tells me that years ago, the Friars auctioned off a piano they said belonged to Frank Sinatra. It turned out later he didn’t, it was just a gift to the club from a member.

A lot of what’s up for auction at Julien’s is meaningless, and won’t be worth anything anyway.

But some of it is pricey, like $2,000 for a violin maybe signed or owned by Jack Benny. There’s a trunk full of jokes that belong to some comic, or many.

There’s also a bust of Frank Sinatra by late sculptor Jo Davidson, already bid up to $2,000. Another bust, of JFK, by late sculptor Robert Berks, is picking up steam at $600.

Who’s getting the dough from all these sales? I could offer some likely characters, but we’ve got a call into Julien’s and to Friars Club lawyer Arthur Aidala.

If you have a relative who belonged to the Friars, check out the website and see if something that isn’t theirs is about to be someone else’s.

Here’s the description of the Jack Benny violin. Someone should tell his grandkids:

“A handmade violin from Eduard Reichert, crafted in Dresden in 1911, approximately 23 inches in length, formerly owned by violinist and entertainer Jack Benny. The violin is mounted a wooden display case with a wine red fabric background, along with a plaque which reads “Jack Benny’s violin inscribed ‘To Roberta with love, Jack Benny.'” Donated to the Friars Club by opera singer Roberta Peters, a star soprano who appeared on The Jack Benny Program in an episode titled “Jack Does Opera” in 1962. Peters had worked with Benny at least one other time, performing an aria during the 1961 event “Carnegie Hall Honors Jack Benny.”

PS Email me if you know who owns this stuff at showbiz411@gmail.com

 

The Oscars Dumped Disney-ABC for a Bigger Audience with YouTube in 2029, But Now Disney is Gaining on YouTube for Reach

Roger Friedman
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The Oscars Dumped Disney-ABC for a Bigger Audience with YouTube in 2029, But Now Disney is Gaining on YouTube for Reach

As you may know, the Oscars are moving networks.

Starting in 2029, The Academy Awards will air on YouTube and not on ABC, where they’ve been for as long as anyone can remember.

YouTube dangled more money in front of the Motion Picture Academy. And reach. Their calling card right now is that they can supply a bigger audience via streaming.

But now The Hollywood Reporter reports that Disney (meaning Disney Plus) is gaining quickly on YouTube for subscribers.

YouTube is still number 1 in streaming with 12.5% of the streaming market. But Disney is fast closing in with 11.9%.

And who knows? If Disney — a powerhouse — keeps building, they could be far ahead of YouTube by the time of the 2029 Oscars. With ABC and Disney Plus, as well as Hulu, and other subsidiaries, maybe the Oscars should have stayed put.

In Hollywood, it’s one battle after another, isn’t it?

Bruce Springsteen Pulls Out All the Stops, Adding the Great Tom Morello on Every Tour Date to Play with the E Street Band

Roger Friedman
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Bruce Springsteen Pulls Out All the Stops, Adding the Great Tom Morello on Every Tour Date to Play with the E Street Band

This is insane.

Bruce Springsteen is adding the great Tom Morello to his upcoming “No Kings Land of Hope and Dreams” tour. Not as an opening act but to play on “selected songs” with the E Street Band.

Morello of Rage Against the Machine fame is a guitar genius. It’s not like E Street needed more musicians, but now this tour is off the charts, as they say.

Morello is also of like minded politics, which makes this all so much more interesting.

Fantastic news!

Savannah Guthrie Offers $1 Million for Missing Mother in Tearful Video, Accepts That She “May Already Be Gone”

Roger Friedman
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Savannah Guthrie Offers $1 Million for Missing Mother in Tearful Video, Accepts That She “May Already Be Gone”

A desperate Savannah Guthrie is offering $1 million for information about her missing mother.

On the 24th day of Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping, Savannah has posted a video acknowledging that her mother “may already be gone.”

She and her family know that Nancy may be dead, but they want to know what happened, and they’d like her body returned.

It’s unimaginable what the Guthrie’s have gone through, or what kind of sick people would do this to their 84 year old mother.

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