R.I.P. Gordon Waller, one half of British Invasion pop duo Peter & Gordon, who died Friday after suffering cardiac arrest. With Peter Asher, Waller scored nine Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1968, including the US number one “A World Without Love,” which was penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. McCartney, who dated Asher’s sister Jane at the time, also wrote the hits “Nobody I Know,” “Woman,” and “I Don’t Want to See You Again.” Peter & Gordon performed their last show in August 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their last ’60s performance. Waller was 64. [CBC.ca]
The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch has been diagnosed with cancer in his left salivary gland, and the group’s upcoming appearances and album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, have been postponed. Yauch will undergo surgery and several weeks of treatment, but fortunately, his vocal cords will not be affected. [AbsolutePunk.net]
The strong posthumous sales for Michael Jackson’s albums could mean that Thriller will overtake the Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 as the best-selling album of all time. The Eagles’ collection was certified 29 times platinum in 2006, while Thriller was certified 28 times platinum this March. [Billboard.com]
Fire and wind prompted the shutdown of Spain’s Benicassim Festival on Friday. Though the concert reopened on Saturday, Kings of Leon and Lily Allen canceled their performances; some bands that had been scheduled to play Saturday, such as Maxïmo Park, played Friday night instead. [NME.com]
Lil Wayne’s rap/rock hybrid album Rebirth has been delayed again, according to Young Money’s Shanell, who co-wrote the album’s single “Prom Queen.” “Let me tell y’all, great art takes time and you’ll expect it and expect it and expect it again, but when it’s perfect, you guys will receive it,” Shanell said in an interview with rap-up.com. [AllHipHop.com]
Season nine of American Idol may be back without Paula Abdul. Abdul and fourth judge Kara DioGuardi have yet to sign contracts to appear on the show, and auditions have already begun. Abdul’s manager David Sonenberg said, “I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven’t stepped up and said what they want to do.” [RollingStone.com]
MTV Games is developing a service that allows any musical artist to upload songs for possible inclusion in their Rock Band video game. After tracks have been reviewed by Harmonix studio, they’ll be available in a separate Rock Band store for prices ranging from 50 cents to three dollars. MTV hopes to launch the service by the end of the year. [DMWMedia.com]
Rihanna is set to collaborate with the All-American Rejects’ Tyson Ritter on her upcoming album, which is rumored to go in a more rock-oriented direction than her earlier work. [AceShowbiz.com]
Andrew WK appeared on the Fox News show Red Eye. The results need to be seen to be believed. [YouTube.com]
The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch has been diagnosed with cancer in his left salivary gland, and the group’s upcoming appearances and album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, have been postponed. Yauch will undergo surgery and several weeks of treatment, but fortunately, his vocal cords will not be affected. [AbsolutePunk.net]
The strong posthumous sales for Michael Jackson’s albums could mean that Thriller will overtake the Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 as the best-selling album of all time. The Eagles’ collection was certified 29 times platinum in 2006, while Thriller was certified 28 times platinum this March. [Billboard.com]
Fire and wind prompted the shutdown of Spain’s Benicassim Festival on Friday. Though the concert reopened on Saturday, Kings of Leon and Lily Allen canceled their performances; some bands that had been scheduled to play Saturday, such as Maxïmo Park, played Friday night instead. [NME.com]
Lil Wayne’s rap/rock hybrid album Rebirth has been delayed again, according to Young Money’s Shanell, who co-wrote the album’s single “Prom Queen.” “Let me tell y’all, great art takes time and you’ll expect it and expect it and expect it again, but when it’s perfect, you guys will receive it,” Shanell said in an interview with rap-up.com. [AllHipHop.com]
Season nine of American Idol may be back without Paula Abdul. Abdul and fourth judge Kara DioGuardi have yet to sign contracts to appear on the show, and auditions have already begun. Abdul’s manager David Sonenberg said, “I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven’t stepped up and said what they want to do.” [RollingStone.com]
MTV Games is developing a service that allows any musical artist to upload songs for possible inclusion in their Rock Band video game. After tracks have been reviewed by Harmonix studio, they’ll be available in a separate Rock Band store for prices ranging from 50 cents to three dollars. MTV hopes to launch the service by the end of the year. [DMWMedia.com]
Rihanna is set to collaborate with the All-American Rejects’ Tyson Ritter on her upcoming album, which is rumored to go in a more rock-oriented direction than her earlier work. [AceShowbiz.com]
Andrew WK appeared on the Fox News show Red Eye. The results need to be seen to be believed. [YouTube.com]
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