Now that Dolly Parton is in the Rock Hall, she’s made a Rock album. Today she’s dropped her version of “Let it Be” with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The song was originally covered by Aretha Franklin, for whom Paul wrote it, in 1970. I think Aretha would approve of Dolly’s version.
PS Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood are also on the track.
The case is in the LA Superior Court. Remini’s lawyer immediately asked for a new judge after the case was assigned. They got Judge Barbara Scheper.
Now Scheper has recused herself and I can tell you why: her husband, David Scheper, a lawyer, has been on the Scientology payroll for years. He’s represented them in a bunch of cases.
Outrageous? Yes. because here in the real world you wouldn’t think of normal lawyers defending a cult. But in Los Angeles, where most of this nonsense goes on, Scientology spreads its money around so well that even people with values can be infected.
The same goes on in places like Clearwater, Florida– Scientology headquarters — and in Michigan where Scientology is trying to spread its tentacles.
Creepy? Very. The LAPD and Sheriff’s offices reportedly have been infiltrated over the years by Scientology money. No one will do anything to find Shelly Miscavige, the missing wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige. Remini is determined to uncover that mystery, too. It’s hoped she can find an impartial judge. And maybe it’s time to look back into Judge Scheper’s cases, as well.
Are Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun getting a divorce?
First of all where is Bieber? No posts on Instagram since May. His Twitter feed shows a last post from December 2022. On Braun’s Inst, no pictures of him with Bieber, his once cash cow, since February 2022.
Bieber wound up cancelling tours left and right. He sold his song catalog in January 2023 to Hipgnosis for $200 million. He’s not even 30 years old. This is what legacy or semi-retired artists do, people in their 70s. This was a sign Bieber’s career future was uncertain.
Today Matt Belloni in his Puck newsletter says he’s been hearing that Bieber is looking for new management after changing lawyers and business managers. It’s very plausible.
Braun, who made a great deal with the Korean company that owns KPop group BTS, hasn’t had any hits in a long time with his older clients. Bieber isn’t working or recording as far as anyone knows. Ariana Grande has been off making the “Wicked” movies and allegedly breaking up families, so no other recording or touring. Demi Lovato has released flop after flop. At some point, Braun was involved with Kanye West, but that’s obviously over.
The Braun Bieber divorce –as Bieber changes all of his team — could result in a lot of forensic accounting. There are social media reports that Bieber — who has earned around $500 million — is actually in debt. With new lawyers involved, this will not be pretty. But it always seemed like this day would come. Braun turned himself into a social media celebrity. something managers and publicists should never do. The clients feel eclipsed.
It does look like change is in the air. Stay tuned….
Donald Trump will not join the Fox News GOP debate in Milwaukee on August 23rd.
He writes on his Truth Social:
“Many people are asking whether or not I will be doing the DEBATES? ALL AMERICANS have been clamoring for a President of extremely High Intelligence. As everyone is aware, my Poll numbers, over a “wonderful” field of Republican candidates, are extraordinary. In fact, I am leading the runner up, whoever that may now be, by more than 50 Points. Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others. People know my Record, one of the BEST EVER, so why would I Debate? I’M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The debate will feature the other potential Republican candidates for the party’s nomination. Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum are the moderators.
Trump has also canceled plans for a press conference in which he promised to give evidence of his innocence in his 4th and latest indictment.
Trump has until August 25th to surrender to state authorities in Atlanta, where he’ll be formally arrested, arraigned, finger printed, and mug-shot.
On Friday morning in Los Angeles there will be a private funeral for Abe Somer. The 85 year old lawyer was at the red hot center of the record and music business. For better or worse, all the major deals were made by Abe Somer. He died on Wednesday in Los Angeles after a short illness.
Somer cut the deal with Atlantic Records’ Ahmet Ertegun that gave the Rolling Stones the biggest contract of all time in 1971. Two years prior, it was Somer who flew into the Woodstock music festival so his friend Jerry Moss — of A&M Records, who also died this week — could see Joe Cocker perform and sign him.
Clive Davis told me today that it was Somer who invited him to the Monterey Pop Festival in 1968. Davis famously signed Janis Joplin right after her performance. Davis told me, “I thought we were just going for fun to see Columbia artists like Simon & Garfunkel and Blood Sweat & Tears. The weekend changed my life forever.”
All these people remained close friends for decades. Somer worked for his entire career at the now 100 year old law firm, Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, where he was head of the music department. Some of the acts he represented included the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, Neil Diamond, and the Doors. He was also best friends with Jack Nicholson and often represented him.
Somer was a gigantic success but had bumps in his career as well, including charges of sexual harassment in the early 1990s. But he was a beloved and loyal friend to dozens of artists and executives. He cut many deals for his friend, super producer Richard Perry, whose artists included Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, The Pointer Sisters, and Rod Stewart. He was also close friends with Moss, Herb Alpert, and Lou Adler, bringing Adler’s Ode Records to A&M and launching Carole King’s career with “Tapestry.” Earlier, when Adler had hits with the Mamas and the Papas at Dunhill Records, it was Somer who made it all happen.
How ‘in’ was Abe? Patti Boyd Harrison took a famous photo at his house in 1972 for the cover of George Harrison’s now classic album, “Living in the Material World.” The picture included Abe with Ringo Starr, Jim Horn, Klaus Voormann, George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner. When the album was released, it was used as the inside double gatefold.
The deaths in the last week of music industry giants already included Clarence Avant, Jerry Moss, and now Abe. Robbie Robertson died last week as well. We are slowly coming to the end of the greatest chapter in music history. equal to the great movie studio heads who made Hollywood. All the music we listen to is because of these people. Rest in peace, and condolences to Abe’s extended family — his wife, Annika, four children from three marriages– and all his friends. He will be sorely missed.
Episode 3 of season 3 of “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu features Meryl Streep singing! The song is called “Look for the Light.” No less than superstars Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of “La La Land” fame wrote the song with Sara Bareilles. Tony nominee Ashley Park (also from “Emily in Paris) joins in. Streep has been magic in the first two episodes, now comes this, she’s stolen the whole thing. She will the Critics Choice TV Awards in Januaru 2024 and the Emmys in September 2024. Streep is just mesmerizing. She and Martin Short are magic together.
Who killed Paul Rudd’s Ben? Everyone!
Any thought that Donald Trump would zip his lip has faded. Maybe he wants to throw the case, go to jail, collect political donations, never return to the White House. At this rate, he’s cooked.
Chrissie Hynde brought the Pretenders to the Bowery Ballroom last night and blew the lid off the small club.
It was just as if it were 1981 and she was playing the Ritz. Listening to Hynde, and her band — all new players — you’d think no time had passed. Her voice remains supple and soaring, now aged like a fine single malt Scotch. Her music is melody rich rock that combines elements of funk, country, and R&B. It’s always been the same, it’s never changed, which is not admirable but a relief. Others have come and gone, by Hynde has been a mainstay.
You know Chrissie is a tough chick. On Tuesday night the Pretenders opened for Guns n Roses at the Meadowlands. Most of the songs she played where hits. Last night, no hits. Nineteen songs. Two or three were appreciated deep cut album favorites, like “Precious” and “Time the Avenger.” But the rest were just B and C sides that were largely unknown. “No one is singing along,” said a fan to my left as we stood like sardines pressed up against a post next to a staircase.
I replied, “It doesn’t matter.” It didn’t actually. Whoever did the sound gets an A. Chrissie and her three guys were in a sweet spot. The songs she chose — including a couple of new ones from a forthcoming album — were savvy choices. Several — “The Buzz,” “You Can’t Hurt a Fool,” “Junkie Walk,” “The Adulteress” — all got showcases they long deserved. Somehow they sounded as fresh and up to date as if they were coming on a new record.
The new songs– “A Love,” “Let the Sun Come In,” “Losing My Sense of Taste,” “Domestic Silence” — would all be hits if there were radio stations that weren’t ageist. But legacy artists like The Pretenders can’t get played on Top 40, and FM just plays their oldies. Hynde should do Tik Toks, but she’s too ornery for that. She barely does publicity and doesn’t seem to care if the records sell or not. (The last one, which I really liked, tanked.)
Forty years ago, Chrissie Hynde sang “I’m not the cat I used to be/I got a kid, I’m thirty-three, baby.” She’s almost 72 now, she is totally the cat she used to be, and for all I know she has grandchildren. I think it’s time for her, Patti Smith, and Joan Jett to make a buddy movie. We deserve it!
PS In the crowd, legendary 87 year old concert promoter Ron Delsener, looking spiffy. Rock music keeps you young!
Fox News is losing the ratings war in cable now that Donald Trump has had his 4th indictment.
After winning prime time on Monday when the story broke, MSNBC kept up the fight on Tuesday.
Ari Melber made toast of the Fox competition, beating Bret Baier at 6pm and just falling short of tying Laura Ingraham at 7pm. Melber’s Roger Stone scoop (see video) was the hot story of the night.
At 8pm, Chris Hayes took Jesse Watters by a nose. But Hayes did win, Watters — an utter disgrace — lost.
Sean Hannity at Fox and Alex Wagner at MSNBC were also very close at 9pm, Rachel Maddow’s spot. Maddow has done everything to build up Wagner, and it’s worked.
Lawrence O’Donnell at 10pm on MSNBC easily took Greg Gutfeld. The latter is a not funny comedian, O’Donnell is an erudite thinker. At 11, a million Fox News viewers either go to sleep or realize they’ve been asleep all night.
As the indictments keep coming– a fifth, in Arizona, is likely — MSNBC will have the advantage of actually reporting the news and facts, and not fantasies.
BRITNEY SPEARS: Her third marriage is over, which isn’t a surprise, only that it lasted 18 months. Sam Ashgari, whoever he was, was hanging around and promoting the divisiveness between Spears and her family. Now he’s gone, and all she has left is that family. In recent months, Britney smoked the peace pipe with her sister and her mother. That must have challenged this guy since once she repaired those relationships, he was toast. A strict prenup will be enforced. Rumors of him having embarrassing revelations about her are a red herring. This girl dances burlesque style on Instagram. We’ve seen and heard everything. Maybe now she can see her kids, and get her life back together. Everything else is just tabloid gossip. Also, lol, she hired divorce mega attorney Laura Wasser. The ex husband is doomed.
THE BLIND SIDE movie made around $255 million in the US back in 2009. It had 10 producers, plus a studio– Warner Bros. — and theater rentals. So it “made” $125 million, and let’s say star Sandra Bullock got $20 million total. Believe me, the Tuohy family didn’t make millions. Plus, they were already rich and continued to be in their own life and business. Michael Oher’s claims are specious at best. He didn’t know he wasn’t adopted? And where did all his football money go? He had a $21 million contract. His estimated net worth is $34 million. I told you exclusively this week that his 501 c3 charity is bogus. Plus, he’s promoting a book and needed attention. This story stinks.
BRADLEY COOPER has won his Leonard Bernstein case by a nose. Cooper’s prosthetic schnozz for “Maestro” riled up a bunch of Karens who then invented the antisemitic “Jewface” term. Disgusting. Bernstein’s family immediately countered and said they approved of everything Cooper had done. The trailer for the movie looks great. Let this be the end of this stupid discussion. Gentiles can play Jews, Jews can play Christians, everyone can play any religion they want. That’s called acting. No, white actors shouldn’t play characters of other colors. But color and religion are totally different. Valerie Harper played “Rhoda” so well everyone thought she was Jewish. She wasn’t but she was the best Rhoda we could have ever had. Julia Louis Dreyfus is Jewish, her Elaine from “Seinfeld” and Selina from “Veep” were non denominational. Please, Karens, get a grip!