Geri Halliwell |
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Fri. August 04.2000 12:00 AM EDT |
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WIRE: FROM KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND TO THE REPUBLICANS TO JANET TO THE RAMONES |
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We're using great goals to build good times here at the Wire. Or something like that& • Jerome Smith, a founding member of '70s hit-makers KC & the Sunshine Band, died last Friday (July 28) after being
The former rhythm guitarist for the band behind No. 1 smashes like "Get Down Tonight" and "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" was working at a West Palm Beach, Fla., construction site. A band spokesman said the 47-year-old was operating the bulldozer at the time of the accident, when he fell off the machine and was crushed by it. He leaves behind a wife, daughter, and granddaughter. "He influenced future guitarists and many groups with his playing," said KC, also known as Harry Casey. "His memory lives on." He described the guitarist as a "dear friend and a gifted performer," and said he was "totally shocked by this overwhelming tragedy." • David Crosby promoted his documentary Stand and Be Counted at the United Nations on Wednesday, August 2. Proceeds from the screening of the four-hour series on political pop will go to UNICEF. Crosby remembered, "When I was a kid I came to the U.N. and was awed by the idea that people could get together and talk with each other with intelligent discourse and solve problems that way. I have loved it ever since." Stand and Be Counted airs on the Learning Channel beginning August 22 at 9 p.m. ET. • Billy Ray Cyrus is getting an achy breaky new lease on life via George W. Bush's presidential campaign. Cyrus' song "We the People" was the theme song for the finale of the Republican National Convention on Thursday, August 3. The lyrics, which celebrate the Republican constituency of farmers and truck drivers, advise Congress, "We pay the taxes, we pay the bills, so they better pay attention up on Capitol Hill." No idea what the line dance would involve. • The MTV Video Music Awards is slowly firming up its list of musical guests, and the latest addition is Janet Jackson. She is due to perform the single "Doesn't Really Matter" from the Nutty Professor II soundtrack. Jackson will be showing fellow acts 'N Sync and Rage Against the Machine how that fascist formation dancing is really done. The award ceremony airs on September 7. • Although she is probably eating fondue in her Swiss chateau, Shania Twain continues to be nominated for awards. This time she's received six nominations for the Canadian Country Music Awards. Tara Lyn Hart and Julian Austin also received six nods, and will compete with such Canadian country luminaries as the Wilkinsons, John Landry, and Lace. The ceremony will be held September 11 in Edmonton, Alberta. • Put Madonna out of your mind for a second. Because another hoary rock cliché is in the studio, and it's none other than Rod Stewart. He's enlisted the DJ K-Gee to presumably inject a little "Big Pimpin'" into the "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" singer's style. Stewart is said to cover Prince's "Peach" on the as-yet-untitled record, due for release in November. • We will never be rid of Wyclef Jean. His media ubiquity continues with the news that he's throwing a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall, billed as the first-ever hip-hop show at the storied New York City venue. The gig, due to take place January 19 next year, will benefit the Wyclef Jean Foundation, which gives money to impoverished communities - and not Wyclef Jean. • The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its 75th anniversary. And the famous country radio program sounds like it's going to be putting on quite a show, including such country superstars as Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. The birthday bash airs live on the Opry radio show, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. CT. • Posh Spice on the alleged romance between former Scary Spice Geri Halliwell and former Take That pie-taster Robbie Williams: "I don't know whether it's love but I know he loves himself. I know he's got a new single out, though - not that he needs the publicity. I can't believe it." • Speaking of Spice Girls, the not-so-girly-anymore quartet have announced that their third album will finally be released on November 7. MTV reported that the leadoff single from the as-yet-untitled record has not been picked yet. Rodney Jerkins, who also twiddled the knobs on Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine," produced tracks on the album. • Another year, another Van Morrison album. While there's unlikely to ever be another "Moondance" in Van the Man's career, on You Win Again he mixes it up with no less than Jerry Lee Lewis' sister Linda Gail Lewis. The album is due for release on October 3. • Peter Frampton on doing the Behind the Music thing: "It's painful! I mean, you know that they're going to go for stuff that you really don't wanna talk about, because I prefer to talk about, obviously, the nice things, the good things. But everybody has valleys and peaks in careers." • And finally, why not sniff some glue in celebration this weekend at the news that the Ramones are back. The bruvvers have reunited to record a song for the forthcoming film Too Tough to Die. Joey Ramone told Sonicnet, "We all met with the [director], and we're going to get together. We just haven't figured out where." The band may also do a cameo. If the thriller is half as good as Rock N' Roll High School, we're so there. |
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