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According to our pals at the Festival, this completes the films announcements. Last minute additions from Jim Jarmusch and Claude Lanzmann. There will be no sleep at this festival, that’s for sure. So many great possibilities! The Jarmusch film stars Tilda Swinton, Anton Yelchin, and Tom Hiddleston, John Hurt and Mia Wasikowska.
George Jones had a tempestuous marriage to another legend, Tammy Wynette, from 1969 to 1975. They had an infamous incident that Wynette wrote about in her autobiography. I quote from Wikipedia: “In her 1979 autobiography, former wife Tammy Wynette recalled waking at 1 AM to find her husband gone: “I got into the car and drove to the nearest bar 10 miles away. When I pulled into the parking lot there sat our rider-mower right by the entrance. He’d driven that mower right down a main highway. He looked up and saw me and said, `Well, fellas, here she is now. My little wife, I told you she’d come after me.'”
Jones was the pinnacle of country. RIP.
Jones and Wynette, by the way, recorded the greatest duets of country music. And don’t be fooled: Robert Altman’s wonderful movie “Nashville” was inspired to a great deal by them.
Here’s the release:
Nashville, Tenn. (April 26, 2013) – Country Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry member, and Kennedy Center Honoree George Glenn Jones died Friday, April 26, 2013 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He was hospitalized April 18 with fever and irregular blood pressure.
Born September 12, 1931, Jones is regarded among the most important and influential singers in American popular music history. He was the singer of enduring country music hits including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Grand Tour,” “Walk Through This World With Me,” “Tender Years” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the latter of which is often at the top of industry lists of the greatest country music singles of all time.
“A singer who can soar from a deep growl to dizzying heights, he is the undisputed successor of earlier natural geniuses such as Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell,” wrote Bob Allen in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Encyclopedia of Country Music.”
Jones was born in Saratoga, Texas, and he played on the streets of Beaumont for tips as a teenager. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps before returning to Texas and recording for the Starday label in Houston, Texas. In 1955, his “Why Baby Why” became his first Top 10 country single, peaking at number four and beginning a remarkable commercial string: Jones would ultimately record more than 160 charting singles, more than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music.
Jones’ first number one hit came in 1959 with “White Lightning,” a Mercury Records single that topped Billboard country charts for five weeks. He moved on to United Artists and then to Musicor, notching hits including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Race Is On,” “A Good Year for the Roses” and “Walk Through This World With Me.”
Jones signed with Epic Records in 1971 and worked with producer Billy Sherrill to craft a sound at once elegant and rooted, scoring with “The Grand Tour,” “Bartenders Blues” and many more. Sherrill also produced duets between Jones and his then-wife Tammy Wynette, and in the 1970s they scored top-charting hits including “We’re Gonna Hold On,” “Golden Ring” and “Near You.”
By the time “Golden Ring” and “Near You” hit in 1976, Jones and Wynette were divorced, and Jones was battling personal demons. His solo career cooled until 1980, when he recorded “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” a ballad penned by Curly Putman and Bobby Braddock that helped Jones win Country Music Association prizes for best male vocal and top single. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” revived a flagging career, and Jones won the CMA’s top male vocalist award in 1980 and 1981. He also earned a Grammy for best male country vocal performance.
In 1983, Jones married the former Nancy Ford Sepulvado. The union, he repeatedly said, began his rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol and prolonged his life. He signed with MCA Records in 1990 and began a successful run, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. His guest vocal on Patty Loveless’ “You Don’t Seem To Miss Me” won a CMA award for top vocal event in 1998, and it became his final Top 20 country hit.
In 1999, Jones nearly died in a car wreck, but he recovered and resumed touring and recording. He remained a force in music until his death, playing hundreds of shows in the new century and collecting the nation’s highest arts award, the Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime achievement, in 2008. In late 2012, Jones announced his farewell tour, which was to conclude with a sold-out, star-packed show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 22, 2013. Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, Sam Moore, The Oak Ridge Boys and many others were set to perform at Jones’ Bridgestone show.
Jones is survived by his loving wife of 30 years Nancy Jones, his sister Helen Scroggins, and by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Did singer Drake Bell block Paris Jackson on Twitter? Seems like it. Paris tweeted last night that she tried to re-tweet a Bell tweet about a YouTube singer named Dwayne Cooke. Seems like both Paris and Drake liked Dwayne’s rendition of Sam Cooke’s classic “A Change is Gonna Come.” But when Paris tried to re-Tweet Drake, she got a surprise. And the 15 year Paris doesn’t suffer fools lightly. She Tweeted the blocking immediately to her million plus followers. Good for her. What’s going on here? Let me translate. Bell is a pop singer. He and Justin Bieber are in some sort of feud. Paris is a Bieber believer, or a Belieber. (If you’re an adult, that’s more like beleaguered.) Bell, who professes to be a Michael Jackson fan, doesn’t have much love for the King of Pop’s precocious daughter. And there you have our visit to teenland for the day. I don’t know who Dwayne Cooke is, or why these two like him. I don’t think he’s related to Sam Cooke, but anything is possible. “A Change is Gonna Come” is the Towering Song at this June’s Songwriters Hall of Fame awards.
Rod Stewart’s triumphant show for 300 fans– our LEAH SYDNEY was there– It’s the year of returns for rockers of a certain age– David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and ladies and gents, Rod Stewart– who played the fabled Troubador last night in West Hollywood in front of just 300 lucky fans and VIPS including One Direction’s Harry Styles, Rod’s long time producer Richard Perry, singer Sky Ferreira, Stewart’s adult kids Sean and Kimberly from his marriage to Alana Stewart, long time manager Arnold Stiefel, and Capitol Records’ new president Dan McCarroll.
The one hour set was to launch his new album, “Time,” releasing on May 7th with all songs written and produced by Rod. After several volumes of standards, this one’s a rocker, a return to form.
Rod, in his skintight black jeans, black and white striped shirt, his bracelets and necklaces and his black and white creeper shoes, proves he is more charming and charismatic than ever. And endearingly klutzy. During the first song, when he turned around for a drink of water, Stewart inadvertently knocked over the microphone with his elbow. That caught him by real surprise; he was taken aback for a second. He looked sheepishly at the crowd at first and then started to laugh. Seems like Rod is not used to a small stage, he routinely sells out big arenas, one of his longtime entourage told me that, “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him do that. He’s used to running around the stage.”
Stewart started the evening amiably chatting with the crowd. “Welcome to The Troubadour. It’s the first time I’ve played here. I’m playing ten songs, six new ones. So when you hear the new ones, please applaud loudly.” When Rod saw some phones going off, he quipped as only Rod can, “I thought there weren’t supposed to be fucking phones here! Okay. well enjoy yourself and make some noise. You know the songs. ”
He started with “Can’t Stop Me Now.” Rod didn’t seem to mind that his daughter Kimberly was taking pictures from the VIP section-he went over and waved to her and her brother Sean, who were with Richard Perry. Rod’s wife, Penny Lancaster, was standing with the regular crowd, next to the camera, singing and helping Rod along. He then sang “Forever Young,” to the delight of the crowd. He explained, “If you’re wondering why I’m here, this will be played to some 40 or more countries. The Troubadour instead of the Staples Center, this is more fun, isn’t it?”
His third song was, ‘It’s Over,’ a song Rod said, “which is about divorce, which I know a little about. It seems to be a plague in this society, this one is a serious song.” Rod warbled his classic, “Rhythm Of My Heart,” which he followed with “Finest Woman,” which he dedicated to Penny, “my gorgeous wife.” ‘You Wear it Well,’ followed that, and then “She Makes Me Happy.”
Stewart never stopped moving, working every inch of that tiny stage. He sang a heartfelt version of Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately,” followed by a truly beautiful new song, ‘Brighton Beach.’ Rod explained, “I wrote this song when 17 or 18, and I thought I was in love with a girl I met there. It’s a reflection of the 60’s. I’m sure none of you were there, I was though!” He went on to reminisce about his father. “When you get into the music business, you need your family behind you and a hell of a lot of commitment. I had both.” The jaunty and racy ‘Sexual Religion’ ended the set. His encore was the song he started with, “Can’t Stop Me Now.” And that seems to be the case.
PS After the performance, Rod took his family next door to the fabled but cramped Dan Tanas’s, where surprised diners Tweeted in ecstasy between bites of spaghetti marinara and linguini with clam sauce.
“Pippin” was not such a great show back in 1972. Ben Vereen was terrific and the music and dance were always outstanding. But the show never came together. The story was weak. Forty one years later, “Pippin” is back. Ben Vereen was front and center last night to watch Patina Miller take his place as the Leading Player, the circus barker under the big tent. Diane Paulus has turned “Pippin” into the Big Apple Circus mixed with Cirque du Solei and finished with The Box, the raunchy burlesque club downtown (her husband is an owner). And it works! “Pippin” is poppin’. It’s better than ever now that it’s been given a reason to exist.
And stars are born. Of course, the best star is already a Tony winner. Andrea Martin, famous for Second City TV, won a statue for “Young Frankenstein.” She has a habit of stealing shows. In “Pippin” she plays the grandmother. She stopped the show last night when, at age 66, she performs Cirque du Soleil like acrobatics with a net or a wire, looking fit as a fiddle in a skimpy outfit. And she sings upside down. The audience rises en masse for a real standing ovation when she’s finished. It may be the performance of the season.
The other new stars include Matthew James Thomas, who plays Pippin. I saw him once as an understudy for Peter Parker in “Spider Man.” It was clear he’d be a star. As Pippin, he’s a rock star. Not only he is a proficient singer, but he also emerges as quite the supple acrobat and athlete. I asked him after the show if he’d ever done of the tricks required for this role–walking up poles, crossing balance beams at heights, backflipping across the stage into song. “No,” he replied. “None of it.” He only perfected the backflip three weeks ago, he said. And just wait: Duncan Sheik has signed on to produce Thomas’s first album this summer. And he’s being managed by the great Ron Shapiro.
More stars: Patina Miller is sensational as Vereen’s successor. Worked out to remind us of Linda Hamilton in “Terminator,” Miller is a ferocious presence on stage. She’s a clear choice for Best Actress in a Musical this season, totally in command vocally and physically. She’s mesmerizing.
There’s also the Stephen Schwartz music– “Corner of the Sky,” “No Time at All,” and the opener “Magic to Do”– are classics. You listen to “Corner of the Sky” wonder why no one can write hit songs for musicals anymore. And the Bob Fosse dancing–this is where Michael Jackson absorbed 90% of his steps (the rest came from James Brown). And you see “Chicago” here, too, with its sinewy steps, in the shadows.
Plenty of celebs last night: Martin Short, Victor Garber among them.
So “Pippin,” with Outer Critics nominations, heads to the Tony noms next. Best Musical Revival, Best Director *Musical, plus acting nods for Thomas, Miller, Martin, and Charlotte D’Amboise as Pippin’s knockout of a mother and Terrence Mann as the father he just doesn’t agree with.
Oh, the Jacksons. Their game has not changed. I am told by an insider that while Paris and Prince were at school back on April 18th, their grandmother was summoned to a family meeting in Beverly Hills. According to sources, Mrs. Jackson went to daughter Janet’s house where she was met by Jermaine, Randy, Rebbie, Janet and several other family members.
The topic of this 1pm pow-wow: how to divvy up the billions the Jacksons expect to make reap from the wrongful death suit against AEG Live. “Jermaine is already talking about how he’s getting a new Ferrari and a Bentley,” says a source.
And strangely enough: LaToya Jackson wasn’t there. No one told her about the meeting.
It was only ten months ago that the same Jacksons– Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie– “kidnapped” Mrs Jackson to Arizona, hoping to get access to her money from Michael Jackson’s estate.
The 1 pm meeting, it’s believed, was designed to take place while Prince and Paris were in school. According to my sources, Michael Jackson’s kids do not know this meeting took place. This might be of note to Prince, especially, who has lately been listening to Jermaine and Randy, according to insiders.
The AEG case is going to hinge on whether the Jackson lawyers can prove AEG knew Michael was ill, and somehow encouraged Dr. Conrad Murray to ignore the facts. It’s also going to depend on how much Murray reported to AEG at all. This may prove difficult since Murray was never paid, and was “hired” by Michael. The AEG side is going to say Michael insisted on Murray, and they simply acquiesced.
In any case, the Jacksons shouldn’t be buying anything expensive before a verdict is reached.
LEAH SYDNEY reports from the west coast: Actor Stephen Dorff was last seen in Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere” enjoying a private pole dance in his room at the Chateau Marmont. Since then? What would come next? Well, he’s learned Hebrew for a movie called “Zaytoun,” which screens at the Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles. Stephen told me at the festival’s opening: “I spent over fourth months in Israel, and I learned Hebrew for the movie. My Dad is Jewish, my Mom is Catholic but I was raised neither, which was probably for the best. But I always wanted to go there, I felt a paid a tribute to that side of my family and my grandparents.”
Dorff is picky about his roles. “The really good films are few and far between. I have really intense tastes that make it hard to kind of play ball. But it’s all good, it always works out.” Dorff joked: “If I keep reading these bad scripts, and they’re big movies too, I might open a car wash.”
Martin Landau was among those honored on the opening night, which was emceed by funny comic Elon Gold. Former Paramount chief and now philanthropist Sherry Lansing was also honored. She told us that she’s been traveling with her husband, noted director William Friedkin, to promote his latest book, “The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir.” The great singer and actress Lainie Kazan (just watch her in “My Favorite Year”) told us that, “I’m singing all over the place. I’m just finished an indie film called, ‘Finding Joy,’ I’m busy all the time.”
Elsewhere in L.A.
The Producers Guild of American is getting into the digital age as we all are by holding their inaugural ‘Digital V.I.P’ awards, honoring nine Innovators, Visionaries and Producers, hence V.I.P, who have made their mark on in digital entertainment. Held at the home of Entrepreneur Elon Musk, who founded no less than PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX, the event featured bedazzled dancers hoisted from the ceiling pouring Champagne to anyone asking. Guests included the President of the PGA Mark Gordon, Morgan Freeman was there with is producing partner Lori McCreary, John Lasseter, Lawrence Bender and more.
The Troubadour continues to be one of LA’s most venerated and plugged in venues. Rod Stewart is playing there tonight, partaking in a fan Q and A to hawk his new album. ‘Time.’ Depeche Mode follows on Friday put on by the popular LA station, KROQ, and no other than the swinging Troubadour himself, Tom Jones, plays there on May 11th and 12th.
Tonight starts the swanky ‘Paris Photo Fair,’ showing international celebrated photography, which is taking place on the Paramount Lot throughout the weekend. The private opening night tonight, or ‘Vernissage,’ will include bashes thrown by Armani hosted by Sean Penn, The French Embassy, The Wall Street Journal and BMW. Phil Collins, Catherine Opie and Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner are among the speakers set for this cool weekend.
Weaving in Politics with Hollywood, ‘Chasing The Hill,’ Creator Brent Roske’s talked about web series, what the DC publication ‘The Hill’, says has a cult like following in DC, now has caught on in LA. Emmy award winner Richard Schiff plays a scheming Democratic Karl Rove like character in the cutthroat world of politics. Sharon Lawrence, Robin Weigert, Melissa Fitzgerald round out the cast in this critically acclaimed series which was just nominated for a Webby award, opposite Tom Hank’s Electric City, and AMC’s The Walking Dead. Roske, a longtime writer and director also got some cool cameos from MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, VA Governor hopeful Terry McAuliffe and Political Consultant and former Clinton White House staff Ian Alberg. Alberg, who has been with the Clintons for years, has a clever stint as Schiff’s right hand man. Check it out at: www.chasingthehill.com
Exclusive: Now that Bette Midler has conquered Broadway– and without singing a note– there are plans afoot to revive her recording career. Midler has had tons of hits over the last 40 years including “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Do You Wanna Dance?” But she’s been absent from the charts for far too long. I’m told that there’s a plan afoot for The Divine Miss M to be resurrected with an album tribute to girl groups like the Crystals, the Chiffons and Motown acts like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the Marvelettes. The plan also includes possibly recording some Phil Spector-like Christmas songs with notable back up singers and stars like Darlene Love and others from the current documentary “Twenty Five Feet from Stardom.” Back in the days of Midler’s early recordings, she often had people like Cissy Houston backing her up on girl songs such as “Uptown” and “Da Doo Ron Ron.” It’s a great idea, and I hope it comes to pass once Midler has finished up “I’ll Eat You Last” and accepted–no doubt– many awards.
Phil Donahue is 77 years old. But that’s not stopping him. The celebrated talk show host turned activist and filmmaker is down in Dallas this morning where he’s going to lead a protest against George W. Bush and the ceremony to open his presidential library. Donahue– like many– still holds Bush accountable for the Iraq War. His excellent documentary, “Body of War,” released in 2008, graphically depicted what happened to American soldiers who were grievously wounded. The film is remarkable and important. While Bush faithful gather for the ribbon cutting today, Donahue will be right across the street giving voice to millions who don’t get a chance to express their feelings. Last night Donahue screened “Body of War” for free at the Angelika Theater in Dallas.
Here’s the facebook entry:
THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE (PLEASE WEAR BLACK!): Thursday, April 25, 8:30 a.m. – Rally/March/Demonstration. 6116 N. Central Expressway, Dallas (SE quadrant, I-75/Central Expy & SMU Blvd, map). In contrast to the festivity of the Bush Presidential Center dedication, we will be dressed in black as the March of the Dead, along with veterans, will lead a slow, respectful procession toward the Bush Center in remembrance of those tortured or killed. Signs and banners will be provided. If you bring your own, please keep them on-message and coordinated with the dramatic black and white visual. 6116 N. Central Expressway, Dallas (SE quadrant, I-75/Central Expy & SMU Blvd, map). Speakers include Col. Ann Wright, Phil Donahue, Coleen Rowley, Leah Bolger, TX State Representative Lon Burnam, Medea Benjamin, Chas Jacquier, and more.
…coinciding with the dedication of the library on April 25, 2013 in Dallas.
Hollywood came east last night and mixed with Broadway—a not always easy alliance. But they did it for their late pal Sue Mengers, and star Bette Midler who uncannily channels Mengers in a 90 minute one act monologue called “I’ll Eat You Last.”
And what a group: everyone from Ali McGraw, Ryan O’Neal and Alana Stewart to Anjelica Huston and actor nephew Jack Huston, Marlo Thomas, Mitch Glazer and Kelly Lynch, not to mention newer stars like Mad Men’s Jon Hamm with Jennifer Westfeldt, plus Sandy Gallin, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Sting.
Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter held court later at the Russian Tea Room, where Midler was bowled over by Mengers’ good friends like super agent Boaty Boatwright and Broadway producer Francine LeFrak. The most unusual ticket holder: New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley, who never attends opening nights. But he had a rave review ready to go in the paper, and was greeted warmly by the show’s producers.
One person who wasn’t there, and maybe should have been: Barbra Streisand. In a supreme irony, Streisand had her own 71st birthday party down at Donna Karan’s Ubran Zen studio. But “I’ll Eat You Last” is really all about Streisand, who was Mengers’ main client until she wasn’t. When Streisand left her in 1981 after 10 wild years, Mengers’ career unraveled almost overnight. This is the essence of this one woman show. The conceit of John Logan’s script is that Mengers has just been fired by Barbra, and is awaiting her call.
Midler sits on a couch in a set recalling Mengers Beverly Hills living room and tells the story of her life. But mostly she gossips about all her clients, their successes, failures, love lives, and careers. Ali McGraw was stoic in the audience as Midler-Mengers describes how Ali left Robert Evans for Steve McQueen and saw her career destroyed. Logan, using Mengers’ words, has no use for McQueen, whose legacy is pretty much demolished in this monologue.
There are stories about everyone, and lots of minute Hollywood history. Jane Fonda almost played the female lead in “Chinatown.” Faye Dunaway was paid only $75,000 for it, but the movie led to “Network” and the Oscar.
Mengers was the toast of Hollywood in the late 60s, all the way through to 1981. She was truly a legend. Read Julia Phillips’ incendiary memoir, “You’ll Never Eat Lunch in this Town Again” for dozens of stories about Mengers as she handled directors and studio chiefs for her A list clients.
Midler is sensational. She doesn’t leave that couch for 90 minutes. But by the time she’s done, you actually want to hear more. It is a tour de force performance. And it’s so interesting to hear Midler – as Mengers—talking about Streisand. After all, when Midler burst onto the scene in 1973, she was immediately hailed as the new Streisand.
Now on stage she recounts the infamous Hollywood saga of how Mengers got Streisand $4 million—more than any actress had ever received—to star opposite Gene Hackman in “All Night Long.” Mengers husband was the director. The movie tanked, lost $10 million, and triggered the end of Mengers career as an agent. She was blamed for putting her most important client into a dog of a movie to save her husband’s non existent directing career. She and Streisand had a bitter break up. It would be about 20 years or more before they made up. Mengers died in 2011 of cancer.
But what a night in the theater, and what theater was the after party at the replicated Russian Tea Room, where so many deals went down in those days. Boaty Boatwright said to Bette Midler, as they cried together after the show: “Sue is smiling down on us right now.”
ood came east
