Wednesday, December 24, 2025
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Paul McCartney and Keith Richards Almost Put Out a Record Together

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The Beatles and the Rolling Stones are always considered rivals. But as Keith Richards writes in his new memoir–and has been written about in the past–they scheduled their records not come out at the same time.

This friendly rivalry began in the early 60s when the Stones were hard up for a good single. John Lennon and Paul McCartney gave them a song–“I Wanna Be Your Man”–which the Stones turned into their own record.

In “Life,” Richards writes that in recent years he and McCartney almost worked together. They ran into each other on the beach and struck up a friendship.

“We were really pleased to see each other. We fell straight in, talking about the past, talking about songwriting. We talked about such strangely simple things as the difference between the Beatles and Stones, and that the Beatles were a vocal band because they could all sing the lead vocal, and we were more of a musicians’ band–we had only one front man.

“He told me that because he was left-handed, he and John could play the guitars like mirrors opposite each other, watching each other’s hands. So we started playing like that. We even started composing a song together, a McCartney/Richards numberwhose lyrics were pinned to the wall for many weeks.”

Richards says he begged McCartney to play “Please Please Me” at the Super Bowl, but Paul said it took too many weeks to plan properly. He did do an imitation for Richards of Roy Orbison–one of their mutual heroes– singing the song.

Real Creator of “Rocky and Bullwinkle” Dies At Age 90

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The real creator of the mouse and squirrel characters–Rocky and Bullwinkle--has died at age 90.

All this time I thought Jay Ward created the characters, but it was his original partner, Alex Anderson, who came up with the gang including Boris and Natasha. Ross sued the Ward estate and won in 1996. He is now officially known as the characters’ creators.

Ward also had a similar problem with his characters Sherman and Mr. Peabody. They had the “Waaaaay Back Machine,” remember?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65t-OzhlmvE

For 35 years the Wards ran a popular store on Sunset Boulevard across from the Chateau Marmont that sold all kinds of merchandise from their animated characters like Rocky, Bullwinkle, and even Curious George and Crusader Rabbit. I still have Sherman and Mr. Peabody bobblehead dolls left over from that era.

From the various stories on the web it seems that Anderson and Ward started out in San Francisco. But when the cartoon hit big, Anderson didn’t want to move to Hollywood. Ward left him behind, and eventually his name faded from the credits. Ward died in 1989. The store closed in 2004. There’s still a giant Bullwinkle statue on the site, staring into Lindsay Lohan‘s old Chateau room.

Well, god bless Anderson and Ward. “Rocky and Bullwinkle” was the kind of subversive comedy that’s not made much anymore. I guess you could say “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” are influenced by it, but those early guys really took chances.

JLo Has Billion Dollar Backer for Do-Little Charity

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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony‘s twins Max and Emme are going to work! They’re modeling for Gucci.

Gucci is so thrilled that they say they’re donating $50,000 to Lopez’s Maribel Foundation in lieu of a straight payment to the kids. They also say they’re giving $1 million to a UNICEF program for schools in Africa.

That $50,000 may not go so far. In 2008, according to its tax filing, Maribel paid a staggering and unbelievable $90,000 alone to a charity consultant called Legacy Strategies of Los Angeles. The charity only had approximately $350,000 in its bank account.

Of that total, JLo had put only $104,500 into the account– just enough to cover the Legacy bill. The rest of Maribel’s balance — $250,000– came from philanthropist Raymond Dalio. Dalio– who is married to a descendant of the Vanderbilt-Whitney family--runs Bridgewater, an $80 billion hedge fund, out of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Dalio likes celebrities and their causes: he donated $1.23 milliion to quirky film director David Lynch‘s Transcendental Meditation group through his own Raymond Dalio Foundation. He’s a heavy hitting philanthropist who gave away $12.3 million in 2008 including three million dollar bequests.

What’s Dalio’s connection to JLO? He and JLO’s sister, Lynda Lopez, an officer of the Maribel Foundation, are each graduates of Long Island University. Dalio did get his MBA at Harvard, however.

As for Gucci: In 2007, the Gucci Foundation was created so it could receive money donated to Madonna’s all star event for the Kabbalah Center for their Malawi charity. They split the funds between the Madonna cause and UNICEF.

Last year the Gucci Foundation gave UNICEF an underwhelming $11,498. So getting the Lopez-Anthony twins must have really inspired them.

But what exactly Maribel is in business for remains a mystery. On its website, Maribel lists goals of “opening telemedicine centers” and “raising healthy children.” In addition to the Legacy free, last year Maribel also spent $36,820 on legal fees, and $21,000 more on its website and a fundraising video.

So who knows what Gucci’s $50K is going for?

So far Maribel hasn’t listed any accomplishments beyond paying a lot of big fees. Of course, now that JLo is getting $12 million from “American Idol,” she’ll have lots of money to donate to her own charity.

Bloody Andrew Jackson, Broadway Rock Star; Hair Star on TV

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The big sensation on Broadway right now? Benjamin Walker, star of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.” Imagine if you Green Day explaining post war of 1812 politics to their fans. That is this very unique punk rock musical. Walker brings his Andrew Jackson from off Broadway along with a talented cast who bring to life–for better or worse–such heralded folk heroes as Presidents Monroe and Madison, Martin van Buren, and John C. Calhoun.

Jackson, you know, was a hero to some and a villain to others–like the Indians, now known as Native Americans, whom he killed viciously and by the thousands. It’s all in the show, warts and all.

John Quincy Adams, the George W. Bush of his day, stole Jackson’s first election–Jackson got the popular vote, Adams the electoral–so the play is topical and timely. Walker has all the makings of star quality. You can see why he was the first choice for “X Men: First Class.” But sticking with this show will do more for him than an “X Men” movie. We’ll see him in films soon enough…PS “Glee” should do an “Andrew Jackson” cross over. It’s perfect for them…

HAIR RAISING REALITY

About a year ago I met Amoy Pitters by accident. She was checking out space for her new beauty salon on the Upper East Side. Now, of course, she has her own reality show on Oxygen and it’s a hit. “House of Glam” runs on Tuesday nights. Amoy’s clientele includes, most recently, Alexa Ray Joel. (She liked Amoy so much she promised to send mom Christie Brinkley in, as well.) But she’s also got everyone from Alicia Keys to Naomi Campbell to Kelly Rutherford of “Gossip Girl.” Amoy and her team — called the B Lynn Group–B. Lynn Group—  Brandi, Crystal, Atiba, Groovey, Mike, Michiko, and Shaun; travel the red carpet circuit making everyone look better. I wish I had enough hair to require their help. But they’re a hit in the increasingly eclectic world of entrepreneurs turned TV stars…

Keith Richards on How He Snorted His Dad’s Ashes: “It Was Gritty”

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http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6982145n

“I couldn’t let the man go to waste…I didn’t eat him!…It was gritty.”

It’s going to be a long, long week.

Video Sunday: Tammi Terrell, Brill Building Sound, Max’s Kansas City

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http://www.tvoneonline.com/shows/show.asp?sid=1184&id=3036

This is a link to an excellent documentary about Tammi Terrell, one of Motown’s great ladies–and a little forgotten, by now, along with Mary Wells, Florence Ballard, and– the very much still alive– Kim Weston.

Tammi, of course, is best known as Marvin Gaye‘s duet partner in the late 1960s on such Ashford and Simpson hits as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Your Precious Love,” “You’re All I Need to Get By,” and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.”

What a sad story: According to this account, Tammi–who died at age 24–was raped as a teenager and then in two abusive relationships with James Brown and David Ruffin. (The latter is really upsetting. I’ll never be able to listen to “Walk Away from Love” the same way again.)

One thing I’m not completely in agreement with: that Terrell’s death sent Marvin Gaye into a depression drug spiral downward. Yeah, maybe. But Tammi died in 1970, and Marvin managed to put out a series of extraordinary albums and songs from then on for a decade. From “What’s Going On” to “Let’s Get It On” to “Sexual Healing” and all the rest of it. So, it’s a little melodramatic to say her demise from brain tumors eventually killed him.

Two more videos to check out:

Neil Rosen‘s lovely tribute to the Brill Building sound at:

http://www.ny1.com/content/123014/ny1-online—the-walls-of-sound-

and

Sandy Kenyon‘s recent piece on Max’s Kansas City:

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7711087

Sean Parker–Not Justin Timberlake–“Friends” Denise Rich

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More on Denise Rich‘s big fundraiser for cancer research on Thursday night.

Rich’s charity, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, also honored Sean Parker, co-founder of Facebook and creator of record industry killer, Napster.

Parker was busy meeting and greeting all night, shaking hands, and looking good in a suit a little like Clark Kent. It seems like he’s settling into New York. If he doesn’t stay in his rented townhouse, he’s going to look for something else.

Of course the irony of Parker being at the Rich event is that so many people from the record industry were in attendance. Parker’s Napster started the downloading craze–and may have wrecked the business as it was known.

Still, Parker told those who asked that he never said the line spoken by Justin Timberlake–playing him — in “The Social Network” about Tower Records being gone.

Someone else said to Parker: “I’ve been to all your parties.” Parker responded: “I’ve only had two parties.”

Parker did cross paths with legendary music man Clive Davis, by the way. But it lasted one second, and was good for a photo op. Davis is still selling boatloads of new records by Santana, Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys and others despite what Napster wrought.

Keith Richards’ “Life” is Already Number 1–Not Released Til Tuesday

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Keith Richards’ memoir isn’t officially released until Tuesday. And still, it’s the number 1 book in every category on amazon.com.

The book, called “Life,” has already been excerpted and much talked about–especially since it seems the Rolling Stones guitarist seems like he’s lacerated everyone he ever knew, and then some.

Richards is particularly hard on best pal and band mate for life Mick Jagger. But you can’t tell whether Jagger will be angry or just bemused by Keith “taking the piss.”

Something tells me it’s all an inside joke to these lifelong party boys.

Interestingly, what’s been published so far tracks along with Bebe Buell‘s memoir, “Rebel Heart,” also available on amazon. The 2001 autobiography is full of Buell’s reminisces of Jagger and Richards. She and Jagger had an affair in the 1970s and remained good friends. She and Richards were pals, too, although it remained platonic between them.

Bebe tells me that Richards’ evaluation of Jagger’s personal, er, equipment, is incorrect. She defends him to the death.

There’s much in “Rebel Heart” to compare with “Life”; Rolling Stones historians should take a second look at it.

I love one long observation from page 118: “The chemistry between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards was like that between siblings, yet Mick had a lot of respect for Keith. Sometimes Keith would just nod off and fall asleep on the couch, and Mick always said, “Just leave him alone. Let him be.” Mick had accepted Keith for who he was. Sometimes Keith would be sleeping during a conversation, or you’d think he was sleeping, and he’d suddenly say, “Nao, nao, you’re wrong about,” and go back to sleep.”

I never saw Mick lose his temper with Keith. I noticed that Keith sometimes lost his patience with Mick. Mick would say something and Keith would interrupt him. “Oh Gawd. Please, dear!” It was as if they were married; Mick was the woman and Keith was the man.

Mick didn’t like arguing with Keith because Keith was always so much nastier and so much better at it. “Oh, just shut up, Mick! What the f— do you know anyway?” he’d say.”

Buell, by the way, is very amused by all the latest TV shows that end in “Wives”– Army Wives, Football Wives. And VH-1’s announcement of a reality show about the wives of low level rock stars. She hatched an idea in 1998 for a comedy series called “Rock Wives,” and sold it to HBO in 2004.

Editor’s note: That was long before professional rock groupie Pamela des Barres–  the rocker-come-lately’s who followed her–got the idea to hit the small screen.

U2’s Edge, Sam Moore, NeYo, Josh Groban Help Raise $3.4 Mil for Cancer Research

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Denise Rich started having her annual Angel Ball back in 1999–and it was wild. Those with long memories will recall the party for 1500 people at the Sheraton in midtown. The computer lists for seating were lost. Geraldo Rivera took the mic on the stage and instructed everyone–including hundreds of A listers– to sit wherever they happened to be standing. The room included everyone from Goldie Hawn to Bill Clinton to Fergie and Milton Berle–who did the funniest 15 minute set ever. He was over 90.

Flashforward ten years: on Thursday night Denise filled 55 Wall Street aka Cipriani Wall Street. She raised $3.4 million more for cancer research and her Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, named for her late daughter. And she had plenty of help: she honored U2 guitarist extraordinaire the Edge and his wife Morleigh whose young daughter has miraculously survived leukemia.

And the Edge paid back by jumping on stage with soul legend Sam Moore for a rave up on Ben E. King‘s “Stand by Me” that people are still talking about. This was right after Moore tore down the house with his classic, “When Something is Wrong with My Baby.” Then comedian Chris Tucker jumped on stage to dance, spin, and jump during a “Soul Man” that brought everyone on the dance floor. By the time The Edge had strapped on his guitar, Cipriani was rockin’ as never before.

There were some other performers, too, whom you might have heard of: Josh Groban played the piano, and sang a couple of arias; singer Shontelle sang her top 40 hit, and then Ne Yo, the R&Bsensation of the 2000s, wowed the crowd with songs from his new album next month.

All these people had a lot of heavyweights to impress including Clive Davis, Rosie Perez, Petra Nemcova, Vera Wang, Russell Simmons, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, and “Survivor” winner Ethan Zohn who spoke movingly about surviving something else–cancer.  Cipriani’s was also decorated in pieces by famed artist Romero Britto.

The Edge, meanwhile, turned out to be a godsend: not only did he play with Sam Moore, but two different people bid $80,000 apiece to get a backstage tour of a U2 concert with him.

Mad Men Is Gone from Sundays, So “Look”

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A few years ago, there was a little seen film that I really liked called “Look.” Adam Rifkin had put together a whole film based on footage from surveillance cameras. It was kind of an insane real life “Candid Camera.”

So surprise! Showtime turned it into a series even though they don’t really list it on their website or mention it anywhere. It’s like a stealth TV series, on Sunday nights at midnight. If you can’t stay up that late, then just set the DVR. You’ll become addicted to it quickly.

There are only 11 episodes for the first season, and this week is number 3. Here are two of the promos. Don’t miss it!