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Sony Music-Columbia Records Announces Release of First Album from Dominic Fike, Their $4 Million Act

Roger Friedman
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Sony Music-Columbia Records Announces Release of First Album from Dominic Fike, Their $4 Million Act

Dominic Fike’s first album is here, this month.

Fike, a budding R&B star from Naples, Florida, was signed by up Sony’s Columbia Records president Ron Perry a couple of years ago for $4 million. The music industry was skeptical, of course.

Since then, there’s been something of a wait for Fike’s ship to come in. His first EP, “Don’t Forget About Me,” which attracted Columbia’s attention, were recorded in late 2017 while Fike was on house arrest for battery of a police officer. He serving a short jail sentence for breaking the terms of his house arrest just as the EP came out. He said in a recent interview that each of his parents is currently in jail. He was going to use his advance money to help them. This kid is only 24!

His album, coming July 31st, is cheekily titled “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” Let’s hope it goes right. He’s released two singles already, “Chicken Tenders,” and “Politics and Violence.” I think he has real potential. And we need a success story right now.

Back on June 8th, Fike was supposed to release a new single. But he changed his mind and posted an impassioned observation to social media about the police that was incredibly moving. It follows here:

 

Hear the Rolling Stones’s New Old Song “Criss Cross,” Unreleased Track from Classic 70s Album “Goats Head Soup”

Roger Friedman
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Hear the Rolling Stones’s New Old Song “Criss Cross,” Unreleased Track from Classic 70s Album “Goats Head Soup”

“Criss Cross” is an unreleased track from the great Rolling Stones album of 1973, “Goats Head Soup.” That’s the album with “Angie” and “Doo Doo Doo Heartbreaker.” It’s also the album that ends with “Star Fucker,” the title of which had to be changed over and over and couldn’t be on the radio. I still remember the day I got the album, the day it came out, and listened in order from beginning to end. I was like, Whatt??? (I was sixteen.) It’s a great album.

“Goats Head Soup” is all souped up for a new release with two other outtakes– “Scarlet” and “All The Rage” – plus demo versions, outtakes, live performances & more.

This is real Rolling Stones, too: produced by Jimmy Miller, with Mick, Keith, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor, as well as a murderers’ row of guest stars including Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Ian Stewart, Bobby Keys, Jim Horn, and Chuck Findley. (Ronnie Wood was with the Faces then. Jagger’s current girlfriend hadn’t been born yet.) You can’t do better than that. Angie Bowie, David’s first wife, thinks “Angie” is about her. Some say it’s about Carly Simon but called “Angie.”

According to the press release: “Deluxe 4LP & 4CD box sets pay full homage to the original release – including the much sort after Brussels Affair, recorded live at the Forest National Arena in October 1973, plus a full disc of Rarities & Alternatives (including three unheard tracks). The 4CD boxset also includes a 120 page book of rare photos & essays, plus four re-produced 1973 tour posters (rolled up inside the package to avoid creasing). Goats Head Soup 2020 is also available in deluxe 2CD & 2LP packages, as well as on cassette and standard CD or LP. Additional exclusive are also available from the Rolling Stones official store.”

Release date is September 4th for many different configurations depending on how much you want to spend.

UPDATE: Mariah Carey Memoir is Actually Called “The Meaning of Mariah Carey” Written by Anita Hill’s Former Stylist

Roger Friedman
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UPDATE: Mariah Carey Memoir is Actually Called “The Meaning of Mariah Carey” Written by Anita Hill’s Former Stylist

UPDATE NOW: Mariah Carey’s book is titled “The Meaning of Mariah Carey.” For reals. It’s going to be published September 29th. Michaela Angela Davis is the writer. I’m impressed she got her name on the cover. She’s a fashion expert and among her credits is styling Anita Hill for her 1991 hearings. Ms. Davis is not related to Angela Davis, the activist.

This book will either be really insightful or more material for “Celebrity Autobiography,” the hilarious stage show.

EARLIER Mariah Carey has turned in the manuscript of her memoir, she has announced on Twitter. It is called neither “Lamb Chops” or “Butterfly Strokes.” It’s as yet untitled, although I’d put money on “Vision of Love.”

Mariah gets heavy with this book, recalling painful moments from her childhood on Long Island. How much she can get into her marriage to Tommy Mottola is known to only their lawyers. It’s also unclear who Mariah’s ghostwriter was, and how much they sampled from existing material. Her publisher is, well it’s not Bennett Cerf or Alfred Knopf, it’s Andy Cohen from “Watch What Happens Live.” At least we know the promotional part of it will be worth the wait!

Last October, Mariah said the book would be out “sometime in 2020.” That seems impossible now (and it did then) but maybe next spring or summer.

Royal Flush: Creator Peter Morgan Says “The Crown” Will Run Six Seasons After All, Likely Imelda Staunton Will Get Two Seasons

Roger Friedman
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Royal Flush: Creator Peter Morgan Says “The Crown” Will Run Six Seasons After All, Likely Imelda Staunton Will Get Two Seasons

“The Crown” will not end after Season 5, as had been decreed earlier. Netflix’s beloved series will continue to its originally planned end, after six seasons.

Writer/creator Peter Morgan: “As we started to discuss the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons.”

This means that Imelda Staunton, who was coming on in Season 4 to play Queen Elizabeth, will now do two seasons. She will succeed Olivia Colman, who has just shot season 4, her second season.

This is great news for fans, who didn’t want the show to end. But it doesn’t mean we’ll be getting episodes covering current scandals. Morgan says it just gives them time to do more episodes from the 80s and early 90s.

UPDATED Judge Rules Stan Lee’s Former Bodyguard Can Proceed in Lawsuit Against Marvel Creator’s Daughter: Accusations Are Shocking

Roger Friedman
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UPDATED Judge Rules Stan Lee’s Former Bodyguard Can Proceed in Lawsuit Against Marvel Creator’s Daughter: Accusations Are Shocking

with UPDATES

EXCLUSIVE Marvel Comics and film creator Stan Lee’s daughter JC Lee (Joan Celia) lost an important round today in a case brought against her and other defendants by Lee’s former bodyguard and property manager.

Gaven VanOver, who worked for Stan the last year of his life, said he was “removed” from his position against Stan Lee’s wishes by the defendants. On December 2, 2019 VanOver filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against JC Lee, her boyfriend lawyer, and an LAPD Detective who he says was working for JC Lee to do her bidding (see below).  VanOver’s suit is for Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress.

JC Lee and the defendants responded quickly with an anti-SLAPP Motion to get the judge to dismiss the case. But on Wednesday afternoon, Judge Elizabeth R. Feffer in Los Angeles Superior Court denied part of her motion and ruled that VanOver had a reasonable probability of prevailing in the case against Lee and could move ahead on some parts of his complaint. (Schenck and Munoz were removed from the case.)

It was a stunning setback for JC Lee, because the items the judge will let VanOver move forward on were stunning. One of them was VanOver’s allegation that JC Lee “threatened to shoot and kill her father.”

Other accusations include: On multiple occasions, JC LEE showed up to the house under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; On several occasions, JC LEE was observed kicking her dogs, throwing them and hittingthem with a broom. Plaintiff was upset and confronted JC LEE for abusing her dogs. JC LEE screamed out obscenities in response to Plaintiff’s concerns.”

Judge Leffler, I’m told, voiced deep concerns about the myriad accusations.

Vanover also filed an Employee Malpractice Complaint* against Detective Gabriel F. Munoz, the text of which follows (I’ve add spaces to make it more readable).

For JC Lee, by the way, court rulings keep going against her. There’s a theme here.

Here’s VanOver’s complaint against Munoz:

I, Gaven Vanover, am filing a complaint against Detective Munoz and the Los Angeles Police Department for malpractice and the interference of my employment with Stan Lee, which resulted in me losing my job, home and livelihood. There are obvious ulterior motives other than collecting and presenting facts of the matter, because Stan Lee was the giant celebrity that he was and his movies earned billions of dollars.

I was Stan’s personal bodyguard and property manager. Stan demanded I be his only bodyguard and asked me to move in with him. He gave me my own room, so moved out of my house to accommodate Stan Lee’s 24n needs. On several occasions, I caught Stan from taking a bad fall. One time I found Stan after he had fallen in the restroom. I brought Stan back to his feet and earned the recognition as “The man that saved my life”. I watched over Stan and his affairs 24n for many months until Detective Munoz put an end to all of Stan Lee’s business affairs. Detective Munoz torturously {sic} interfered with our employment contract. Detective Munoz intimidated and threatened the defamation of my character, and the standing of my name if I did anything other than walk away from Stan Lee. Detective Munoz said that a team was on its way to replace me, basically firing me, from the position Stan placed me in.

Detective Munoz explained that I would be arrested if I did anything other than walk away from Stan Lee and cut all contact with Keya Morgan (Stan Lee’s partner) and Stan. Detective Munoz reported false claims of an emergency, and falsely reported unproved crimes. This humiliates and dishonors all value of my life’s work. I moved out of my own house in order to accommodate Stan’s needs. Detective Munoz Stopped lawsuits for millions of dollars that were the source and main drive keeping Stan alive. Keya Morgan and myself were his right-hand men and most relied upon partners; managers, and confidants. Detective Munoz stopped movie deals of Stan’s life and plans Stan had for his future after he accomplished these goals. Stan, Keya and I were all of one mind, in pursuit of Stan’s last wishes and will on this earth. All these dreams Stan desired to bring to reality were destroyed and shut down by the corrupted Detective Munoz. Stan’s immediate response to Detective Munoz’ invasion was at the very least confusion and anger for interruption of Stan’s businesses. Stan said, “This is ridiculous, Keya is my friend, he’s my partner. He manages my affairs. We have active lawsuits right now that are impossible to accomplish without him”.

Detective Munoz was forcing Stan to sign documents. Stan said “I won’t sign anything with out my lawyer Rob Reynolds and Keya being present”. Munoz said this has nothing to do with those things. He was very vague and said Keya is involved with some illegal activity and “we” are stepping in to make sure Stan is not being taken advantage of. Stan shook his head and said, “This is ridiculous!” Detective Munoz claimed false reports of an emergency, let alone a crime, that he used to kill the root of Stan’s last wishes and remaining will Stan had to live for. The LAPD’s evil Detective Munoz is the one who abused his own power. Detective Munoz had no right to hire or fire Stan’s partner or security guard. Detective Munoz had no right to end Stan’s Lawsuits and hire lawyers Stan had fired. Detective Munoz had no right to hire the very security guards Stan had fired. Detective Munoz had no right to end lawsuits Stan had filed.

Detective Munoz had no right to stop everything Stan was doing, and take all hope away from Stan, which ultimately killed him. I believe there is an immense level of corruption between the people Stan was suing and the people involved with interrupting and destroying Stan’s right for justice. I was told by Detective Munoz that there were people coming to relieve me of my duties and that I should not talk to Keya Morgan again if I didn’t want to be prosecuted alongside him. I lost my job, my home, my good name, and I was completely humiliated in front of my family, my friends and everyone I have ever worked for in my 20 year security career. I was in the process of getting my PPO and couldn’t complete the process due to lack of funds because Detective Munoz wrongfully took my job away from me.

Detective Munoz and the LAPD have completely ruined my life. I am still homeless and still have not found steady work. These are despicable wrongs the Los Angeles Police Department has forced on my life. Who benefits from this other than the people Stan Lee was suing and the people Stan had fired? Detective Munoz and the LAPD gave power and control over Stan Lee’s every day life directly to the people Stan Lee had fired and was in the process of suing. Sincerely, Gaven Vanover

 

*corrected

TV Updates: “The Wonder Years” Might Come Black to ABC; Shepard Smith Joins CNBC for Nightly News Show

Roger Friedman
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TV Updates: “The Wonder Years” Might Come Black to ABC; Shepard Smith Joins CNBC for Nightly News Show

Two TV updates this afternoon:

Shepard Smith is coming to CNBC. He’s going to host a nightly news show at 7pm after the financial stuff is over. He’ll be going up against, among others, Joy Reid, on MSNBC.

Shep was with Fox News for 23 years until his sane, droll newscasts proved too smart for that cauldron of chaos. CNBC had been wanting to position themselves for the election, and some thought they’d go right wing against Fox. Instead, they’ve hired the best Fox broadcaster who will just make them smart. They certainly can’t build a right wing night on Shep, but just maybe good programming.

Dan Colarusso, CNBC’s senior vice president of business news, said Smith’s program aims to go beyond financial markets, “to tell rich, deeply reported stories across the entire landscape of global news.”

THE WONDER YEARS may be coming back, this time with a black family. ABC is going to shoot a pilot exec produced by Lee Daniels and Fred Savage, star of the original show. Neil Marlens, who co-created the original, will be a consultant. With Lee there they have some cred, but this show would have to have a largely black writing and producing staff and showrunner. ABC did have Kenya Barris (“Blackish”) and Shonda Rhimes (everything) but they’ve decamped to Netflix. There’s going to have to be a strong black voice and vision if this is going to work, and ABC would have to deal with ideas about politics and race in the 60s and 70s they’ve so far largely ignored. I hope it happens.

 

Phenom: “Hamilton” Soundtrack Is Now Number 1 AND 2 on iTunes, With Six Tracks on the Singles Charts

Roger Friedman
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Phenom: “Hamilton” Soundtrack Is Now Number 1 AND 2 on iTunes, With Six Tracks on the Singles Charts

I told you already this week, the “Hamilton” soundtrack is number 1 on iTunes, where it’s selling downloads by the thousands.

“Hamilton” is actually number 1 AND number 2, as there two different versions, explicit and clean. The former is number 1.

But now six different tracks from the album are on the singles chart. This means sales are really rocking.

The top one right now is “You’ll Be Back,” featuring Jonathan Groff as the pouty King George, at number 11. It’s followed by “Helpless,” at number 36, sung by Tony winner Phillipa Soo as Eliza Schuyler. That version actually comes from the soundtrack album. But if they would release the version Soo did on Jimmy Fallon with the Roots and the cast, they’d have an even bigger hit.

Then comes the title song, at 41, “My Shot” at 44, “Satisfied” at 48, and “Wait for It” at 83.

I’m actually surprised “The Room Where it Happens” isn’t on the chart and higher than all of these. But with the DisneyPlus release of the show a massive hit, almost any of the tracks can jump in now.

 

 

Hollywood Horror: Major Fall Film Festivals Pledge Allegiance to Each Other as COVID Panic Threatens Survival

Roger Friedman
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Hollywood Horror: Major Fall Film Festivals Pledge Allegiance to Each Other as COVID Panic Threatens Survival

The major fall film festivals — Venice, Telluride, Toronto, New York — have banded together to battle COVID panic. The festivals sent out a letter this morning pledging allegiance to each other. They won’t be competitive, but share information and resources, they say. The fact is, they are in dire trouble. Awards season has been moved farther away from them. No one can travel anywhere, or wants to. All the festivals have to use digital platforms. And they are all trying to raise money via donations from fans. Toronto aka TIFF has laid off 130 employees. The others have made similar moves. For those who love and respect the festivals as forums of creativity, and places for business deals to be made, this year’s turn of events is shocking.

Here’s the letter signed by the heads of all the festivals:

This year, we saw the COVID-19 pandemic devastate communities all over the world, and bring life as we knew it to a halt. As supporters of global cinema, we watched as the work of film artists stopped in its tracks, and the culture of film itself was challenged. Films come alive with audiences, who could no longer gather in the ways we had for over a century.

The art form we love is in crisis. Our own organizations have seen unprecedented challenges to our work and our financial security. The pandemic caught each of us as we were preparing for the biggest event of our year in the fall of 2020. We knew we had to adapt. We decided to collaborate as we never have before.

Venice is the origin story for every film festival in the world. Telluride is one of the world’s most influential festivals. Toronto is home to the world’s largest public film festival. And the New York Film Festival curates for one of the world’s most storied, sophisticated film cities. Our four festivals share a love of cinema and a devotion to filmmakers. We also share a short span of six weeks each autumn.

This year, we’ve moved away from competing with our colleagues at autumn festivals and commit instead to collaboration. We are sharing ideas and information. We are offering our festivals as a united platform for the best cinema we can find. We’re here to serve the filmmakers, audiences, journalists and industry members who keep the film ecosystem thriving. We need to do that together.

We believe cinema has a unique power to illuminate both the world around us, and our innermost perceptions. In a crisis, films can transport us. They can enchant, inform, provoke and heal. As we work through challenging circumstances this summer to prepare our festivals, we will work together, in support of film.

Kanye’s 19th Nervous Breakdown as He Falls Into the Gap with Presidential “Birthday Party” and Millions in Government Bail Out

Roger Friedman
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Kanye’s 19th Nervous Breakdown as He Falls Into the Gap with Presidential “Birthday Party” and Millions in Government Bail Out

Just imagine this morning being the people who made the deal for Kanye West to design clothes for The Gap. It’s a ten year deal. Did they keep the receipt?

This morning, Kanye had his 19th nervous breakdown. He gave a wild, “rambling” interview to Forbes.com in which he mapped out his presidential campaign. He has a new political party called “The Birthday Party” because “when we win, it’s everybody’s birthday.”

Fans of Kurt Vonnegut will sense a familiar feeling: this could be right out of one his novels. It’s hilarious and demented, and the character, Kanye now instead of Kilgore Trout, is out of his mind.

He tells Forbes that “he envisions a White House organizational model based on the secret country of Wakanda in “Black Panther,” that he’s never voted in his life, he thinks vaccines are “the mark of the beast,” and that “he’s ok with siphoning off Black votes from the Democratic nominee, thus helping Trump. “I’m not denying it, I just told you. To say that the Black vote is Democratic is a form of racism and white supremacy.”

So he’s crazy, completely crazy, which I know is a pejorative term, but he is crazy. He’s also admittedly bi-polar, which Forbes didn’t ask him about, and this seems to be a manic moment.

Should Forbes have published the interview knowing Kanye goes through these episodes? Especially without asking him if this was one? And what about Kim Kardashian? Does she take no responsibility here? Or is all publicity good publicity?

Or is Kanye crazy like a fox? His newest single is a dud. His last album, “Jesus is King,” has sold a total of 625,000 copies, mostly sales from streaming, which is not terribly remunerative. He has a mega deal with Adidas and a new line of his expensive sneakers coming shortly. Is this what we call a marketing plan? A lot of Kanye’s foot festishists are out of work and don’t have $220 to $1000 to spend on yet more kicks. Is this him rousing the base? Luckily, his Yeezy shoe company just received millions in government bailout money.

In my generation, we had Pat Paulsen, who knew for a while that his presidential campaign was a send up, a put on, until he crossed the line and seemed to believe what he was doing. Kanye is our Pat Paulsen.

 

 

Beatles Birthday Party: Watch Ringo Starr’s 80th Birthday Celebration at 8pm Eastern with Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, More Stars

Roger Friedman
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Beatles Birthday Party: Watch Ringo Starr’s 80th Birthday Celebration at 8pm Eastern with Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, More Stars

Ringo Starr’s 80th birthday party starts here at 8pm with Ringo, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh and lots of stars. It’s all for charity. Happy Birthday, Ringo!

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