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James Franco Gets His MFA from Columbia University

Roger Friedman
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James Franco Gets His MFA from Columbia University

Oscar nominated actor James Franco has received his Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University. His diploma–it’s real–is right here. This is quite an accomplishment for anyone, but a working actor with a tough schedule–this is near impossible. Franco is currently enrolled in Yale University’s PhD program. This summer he’ll take classes at Warren Wilson College before heading back to Yale. Franco’s educational journey began with him completing UCLA while he was shooting “Spider Man 2.” Mazel tov!

And no,Franco is NOT making an album of experimental music with anyone. That story, like many about Franco, is untrue. And yes he did look at Earth art out west on a recent road trip. But I am advised that this means Michael Heizer’s “Double Negative” in Nevada,  Robert Smithson‘s “Spiral Jetty” in Utah and Walter de Maria’s “Lightning Fields” in New Mexico. The latter work is said to have inspired part of Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian”–a novel Franco had hoped to direct on screen.

Joan Jett Sues to Stop Charity Tribute Album

Roger Friedman
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Joan Jett may be very charitable but not–her detractors say–when she doesn’t approve it. Jett and former Runaways partner Cherie Currie are now suing MainMan Records to stop them from distributing a charity tribute album of Jett/Runaways songs. The album, “Take it Or Leave It,” features Runaways covers from The Donnas, Shonen Knife, Bebe Buell Band, Care Bears on Fire. members of the Beastie Boys and others. MainMan’s Keith Roth had planned to give proceeds to the American Cancer Institute in memory of Sandy West, the Runaways drummer. But apparently, according to sources, Jett’s manager Kenny Laguna didn’t like the project because he wasn’t involved in it. Now Jett and Currie have filed suit using law firm Baker Hostetler to enjoin the release. Ironically, I’m told, Currie actually sings on one of the tracks–“American Nights” the one Roth produced with his own band, Frankenstein 3000. http://tinyurl.com/3ow37wp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf49Ti7wMRg

PS A source says all the songs were cleared for use. If so, it sounds like Jett and Laguna may just have to endure having good artists play their music for charity. Yikes.

Phoebe Snow’s Pals Jam at a Memorial Tribute

Roger Friedman
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The late great singer Phoebe Snow was memorialized beautifully this week at the Bitter End by her real friends and fans. Phoebe’s great pal May Pang organized a jam session with many of New York’s top session musicians, all of whom had played with Phoebe at some time in the last 35 years. There were cheers and toasts, with lovely ones from producer Russ Titelman, from May herself, talented vocalist Deena Miller, and Phoebe’s closest friends, the Sussman family. Alan St. Jon led the crack band, and there was a hot horn section —Wayne Cobham, Richie Cannata, Frosty Lawson–and backup singers like magnificent Elaine Caswell.

There was also much funk–which Phoebe loved–from covers of “Shaky Ground” to “Mississippi Queen” with the great Mountain drummer, Corky Laing and superior blues vocalist Josh Horton .

The event was organized to raise a little money for SKIP (Sick Kids Need Involved People) http://www.skipofny.org, a group that helps terminally and developmentally disabled children. The whole thing was a joyfest for Phoebe from her real friends, and the people who cared about her before her untimely brain hemorrhage in January 2010.

There was plenty of talk about the “real” Phoebe–her crazy, fun beliefs in aliens, strange religions, messages from outer space, all of it. For a while, Phoebe even practiced psychometry and started getting “ready” from people’s jewelry. She did it once to Columbia Records boss Walter Yetnikoff and freaked him out. Singer-songwriter Drew Yowell told his dumplings/fat bastard story and got tears and laughs.  Everyone mentioned Phoebe’s smile, too, and her big laugh. Phoebe, the music keeps playing.And thanks to May Pang.

This weekend, download Phoebe singing “At Last.” It will change your life.

Cancelled: Black Eyed Peas Show in Central Park

Roger Friedman
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The big Black Eyed Peas show in Central Park has been cancelled, thanks to rain and thunderstorms. By all accounts on Twitter, it’s been a disaster of 50,000 people waiting around in pouring rain for someone to pull the plug. Shades of Diana Ross, on July 21, 1983. Ross wound up coming back, doing a show, and donating a playground. This Peas show was for the Robin Hood Foundation, a group that gives away $100 million a year from extremely wealthy backers. They also pay about $10 million in salaries according to their Form 990 tax filing. It’s an odd organization because they do good deeds but hate the press and are extremely exclusive about their events. Anyway, tonight was a bust but it doesn’t matter to the Foundation. You see, the Black Eyed Peas already played for their big heavy hitters at the Apollo Theater a couple of nights ago. Oh yes. It all worked out where it mattered. Maybe they’ll reschedule this show.

“Spider Man”: $70 Mil Spent, and Only $150K on the Creator?

Roger Friedman
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Here’s a shock. “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark” is now at $70 million, maybe more. And Julie Taymor, who created the show from her vision, and worked for nine years on it, has only been paid roughly $150,000. That seems a little ridiculous. Taymor is now seeking $300,000 in back royalties from the show’s production company. The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society has filed for arbitration on her behalf.  “Spider Man” opens officially next Tuesday, June 14th.

I’m kinda shocked. With that big budget, you’d think Taymor would have been getting at least a million dollars. All that money couldn’t have been spent on pulleys and bungie cord.

Playbill.com picks up the story: Laura Penn, executive director of SDC, said in a statement, “Taymor has given nine years of her life to this project. The Producer has absolutely no right, legally and ethically, to withhold royalties that are due to her. In fact, the right to use her work, on Broadway or anywhere else, is dependent upon the payment of royalties.”

The producers have, according to a press statement, “failed to pay to Ms. Taymor any royalties for the run of the production in violation of both the SDC collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and her individual contract. SDC is asking for an accounting from the Producer to determine the precise amount of royalties due to Ms. Taymor, payment of all royalties due to Ms. Taymor, and continued payment of royalties and all other compensation due now and in the future.”

In exchange for royalties, directors and choreographers license their creative work to producers. SDC states that the producers of Spider-Man do not have the rights to use Taymor’s direction unless she is receiving royalties.

According to Karen Azenberg, SDC president, “Royalties are the foundation of the compensation structure for directors and choreographers on Broadway. SDC exists to protect and enforce the rights of our Members to be paid for their work and for ongoing use of their property.”

Seinfeld’s “Marriage Ref,” Vanished in March, Now Set for June 26th

Roger Friedman
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I told you in November that episodes of Jerry Seinfeld’s “The Marriage Ref” had been taped for a second season. I told you then that Regis Philbin, Tracy Morgan, and Susie Essman had taped episodes. Then “The Marriage Ref” went on NBC’s schedule for March 6th. It never aired, and no one ever explained what happened. Now comes word that the show, hosted by Tom Papa, will return on June 26th. Maybe. Who knows? As I reported in November, at least Regis and Tracy are in the first episode. Was this the one taped in November? That’s a long time ago. But classic comedy is timeless. According to a press release, Julianne Moore, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Ellen Pompeo, Joel McHale, Rachel Ray, Bill Maher, Patti LaBelle, Seth Meyers, Judah Friedlander, Will.i.am and Ali Wentworth are all scheduled to make appearances. Remember this show is about those guests and not the daffy real life couples. I still refer to the Larry David, Madonna, Ricky Gervais show as moment of actual brilliance. Let’s hope lightning strikes again.

James Franco: Cuts Brad Renfro’s Name Into His Arm

Roger Friedman
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James Franco‘s short film, called “Rebel,” may make to the Venice Biennale after all. Or to the Venice Film Festival. Or to Venice, California. Late actor Brad Renfro has something to do with it, as you can see from the billboard on Sunset Boulevard. Franco had Renfro’s name cut into his arm. This is the evidence. At least he just had “Brad” carved. (It could also be Pitt.) The film is an art installation concerning James Dean, whom Franco played a decade ago. Gucci’s backing it. Franco is currently shooting his Sal Mineo movie in L.A. His first feature, “The Broken Tower,” opens at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 20th. Later this summer comes “Rise of the Apes.” Rust never sleeps! More info as it comes in…Franco, PS, is currently on a road trip through Utah, looking at Earth art. (I think that means cliffs and stuff.) Luckily, he’s told us, in case he gets stuck for…some hours.

 

Anthony Weiner’s Wife Is Pregnant

Roger Friedman
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2

As if things couldn’t get worse: on the day a picture of his genitals was leaked to the press via a radio show, disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner’s wife is discovered to be three months pregnant. The New York Times has confirmed it. Huma Abedin, a very nice person whom a lot of us knew during Hillary Clinton‘s senate term and her run for the presidency, is now in a dilemma. She’s learned that her husband is a perv and a liar. Less than a month into their marriage, he was sending sex messages to other women. And Abedin learned along with the public that Weiner had sent the original crotch shot that caused the scandal to break open. This means he continued to lie to her for a week after news of this calamity broke. So what now? There are all sorts of calls for Weiner’s resignation. He’s not my congressman in New York, so it doesn’t affect me. But despite all the scandals that befall elected officials, we expect them to be statesmen, to stand for something higher, and comport themselves properly in public. If only Weiner could be fired. But he must resign, and he will no doubt, before long. As for Abedin, maybe she’ll be like other political wives and look the other way (see under Lee Hart, Hillary Clinton, Maria Shriver, etc) . She may be forced to anyone now. What a mess.

Hello It’s Him: Todd Rundgren Readies for Summer Survival Camp

Roger Friedman
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This is a guilty pleasure item. Todd Rundgren is hosting a Survival Summer Camp up in Woodstock, New York June 20-24. www.toddstore.com/trsurivalcamp. It’s sort of a nod to David Fishof’s Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps.

Todd’s 1973 album, “A Wizard, A True Star,” remains a personal favorite. I don’t know why Todd isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Well, maybe I do. They’re idiots.) Anyway: now journalist and fan Paul Myers, who happens to be the brother of Mike Myers, has published a book called “A Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio.” When the book was published during the late winter, fellow Canadian Dave Foley hosted a party for Myers at the indie Club Largo in Los Angeles. Aimee Mann, who shares a Beatle fixation with Todd, performed with her producer Jon Brion.

Paul Myers is Mike’s older, very talented, author/musician brother.  He is San Francisco based; his band is called ‘The Paul and John’ with his songwriter partner John Moremen. Our Leah Sydney spoke to Myers about the book and about Todd.

“I was a musician and a producer and became a writer later,” Myers told her. “I always wanted to write about things that affected me as a musician. Todd not only has produced his own amazing albums, but he produced all these other albums for the New York Dolls,  XTZ, Meatloaf’s Bat Out Of Hell, Cheap Trick and more. No one had been writing about him.  It’s a running commentary from all these people and Todd talking about his work.

What does he feel about Todd not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

“It’s a travesty that he’s not in the Rock and Roll  Hall of Fame.  He’s done more work that has been platinum and innovative in rock and roll.  He produced “We’re An American Band’ by Grand Funk Railroad-that is a reason he should be in the Hall of Fame.   Meatloaf’s ‘Bat of a Hell ‘Todd produced-that’s a reason there.  Also his own albums ‘Something Anything, Runt. Permanent Mink Hollow. ‘    Every musician I ever talk to says ‘Oh My God I love Todd Rundgren.”  There is so much love for him, I can’t believe no one has talked about him yet, let alone he’s not in the Hall Of Fame. It’s a travesty.”

What about his brother Mike?

“I’m a little older than Mike,    I let my hair go prematurely white-when I was 19 it was salt and pepper-then all salt.       My wife likes it  because my eyebrows haven’t gone white so I don’t look like Colonel Sanders yet.  The first time I met Todd was through Mike at an Saturday Night Live party. One of the  cool thing about Mike being famous is that I’ve gotten to meet a lot of my musical heroes.  We also have an older brother Peter-who’s a music fan and him and Mike’s are huge Todd fans like me.”

Where is Todd?

“Todd is playing on the east coast- his albums ‘Healing’ and  an album called ‘Todd-’he’s playing them in his entirety on the east coast.  He’s huge across the country.  He plays the whole album from beginning to end.  Fans that go to his shows can get my book, he loves the book.  So it’s all so cool.’

You can order this book on Amazon. And if you don’t have “A Wizard, A True Star” or Todd’s prior album, “Something/Anything,” you’re missing the best, most inventive pop rock ever. I could listen to “I Saw the Light” over and over. It’s a perfect record. Also, Rundgren has produced dozens of albums for other artists. My favorites: XTC‘s “Skylarking” and Badfinger‘s seminal “Straight Up.”

The Beatles: Getting Greedy or Just Smart Marketing?

Roger Friedman
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2

Tonight in Las Vegas, the Beatles’ “Love” show from Cirque du Soleil celebrates its fifth birthday. Paul, Yoko, Olivia, and Dhani Harrison, as well as George and Giles Martin are showing up to give it a promotional push. The show is great, I saw it again this winter. It’s pretty much the only reason I would ever visit Las Vegas again. But are the Beatles doing too much promotion? After years of staying quiet, the Beatle brand is getting exploited. Their late great general manager Neil Aspinall would be apoplectic if he read today’s Hollywood Reporter. There’s a plan afoot for a film about Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager. The producer says he’s secured the rights to a bunch of songs–not the master recordings, but songs someone else will sing in the movie if it’s made. (The script looks turgid.)

Aspinall never approved master recordings rights for Beatles songs in movies. Years ago when Wes Anderson tried to get “Hey Jude” for “The Royal Tennenbaums,” he was shot down immediately. Mark Mothersbaugh had to record an instrumental version in its place. But this year we’ve already had “Baby You’re a Rich Man” turn up in “The Social Network.” More recently in Cannes, we heard “Two of Us” in Gus van Sant’s “Restless.” Of course, each of these is a Sony movie, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing controls the rights to Beatles songs. In the former case, the film paid over a million bucks to get the rights. For “Restless,” I’m told, it was much less.

And then there’s the whole ITunes thing. In the last couple of weeks, the Beatles put all three “Anthology” albums on ITunes, joining them with all the other Beatles albums that went there last year. And a low rent show of Beatles music, called “Rain,” a sort of “Beatlemania II,” is playing on Broadway, Luckily, a planned live action version of the classic “Yellow Submarine,” has been scrapped by Disney. Julie Taymor‘s “Across the Universe” was enough for the Beatles on imaginative new film.

Is it too much? Does it dilute a great brand? Yes, and no. While it’s important to keep the 250 or so Beatles songs alive, it would be wise for Apple Records (not Apple computers) to be circumspect in how the music continues to be disseminated. More interesting is an idea for Sony/ATV to release its own CDs of artists covering the songs. A long awaited Roberta Flack album of Beatles songs is…long awaited.

Everyone tries to use the Beatles for their own purposes. Case in point: disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner told a magazine back in the late 90s that he thought his greatest accomplishment was that he was born (September 4, 1964) on the same day “I WAnt to Hold Your Hand” was released. I guess the magazine had no fact checkers. The record was actually released in November 1963 and entered the US charts in January 1964. Weiner may have wanted to hold something else, but that’s another story.

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