IT was a struggle but all 135,000 tickets DID sell out in the end –
though with rumours of the price dipping as low as a tenner.
Festival director Melvyn Benn said: “I was never in doubt that we’d
sell all the tickets, although it was slower than I thought, possibly
because of the registration scheme.
“We will have to review the registration process, but photo
ticketing is definitely the right thing to do.”
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Richie promises Commodores reunion
Lionel Richie has said that he will reunite with The Commodores for a final tour.
Speaking at the Antigua Romantic Rhythms Festival, Richie said: "We better do it now, or in the next ten years nobody would care."
He emphasised the importance of doing the reunion soon before they lose any more band members. Guitarist Milan Williams died two years ago.
The Commodores scored hits with 'Three Times A Lady', 'Easy' and 'Brick House' in the 1970s.
Richie left the group at the end of the decade to pursue a solo career.
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Speaking at the Antigua Romantic Rhythms Festival, Richie said: "We better do it now, or in the next ten years nobody would care."
He emphasised the importance of doing the reunion soon before they lose any more band members. Guitarist Milan Williams died two years ago.
The Commodores scored hits with 'Three Times A Lady', 'Easy' and 'Brick House' in the 1970s.
Richie left the group at the end of the decade to pursue a solo career.
See Also
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Cate Blanchett - The Things They Say 8372
"What makes you nervous is not only the elements or the craziness of the fight but the fact that CATE was pregnant while we were filming, and fighting a pregnant woman is a really scary thing." SHIA LaBEOUF admits he was nervous in fight scenes opposite CATE BLANCHETT in new film INDIANA JONES + THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.
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Sunday, 8 June 2008
Winehouse refused visa for Grammys
Amy Winehouse will not be performing at this year's Grammy Awards because her request for a visa has been turned down by the US Embassy in London, according to her publicist.
The Outside Organization, which counts the troubled retro-soul singer among its clients, said in a statement: "Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery."
The 24-year-old singer and her acclaimed 'Back to Black' album are nominated in six categories for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Organisers of the music awards are now arranging for the singer to perform via satellite.
Since the album's US release last year, she has cancelled a slew of appearances amid reports of drug use.
The Outside Organization, which counts the troubled retro-soul singer among its clients, said in a statement: "Amy has been progressing well since entering a rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the decision has accepted the ruling and will be concentrating on her recovery."
The 24-year-old singer and her acclaimed 'Back to Black' album are nominated in six categories for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Organisers of the music awards are now arranging for the singer to perform via satellite.
Since the album's US release last year, she has cancelled a slew of appearances amid reports of drug use.
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Disco diva is back
IT'S been years between dances, but Donna Summer is still the queen of disco.
Speaking ahead of the release of her first new album in 17 years, Summer confesses laziness was the reason she has never performed in Australia.
"I was too stinking lazy to fly that far," she says.
"Now it is probably a lot better with all of the new aircraft, but, back in the day, it was like a two-day flight.
"But I am coming -- hold on. I am hoping for this year."
Audio: Listen to Donna's new song, Stamp Your Feet
If her plans to visit Australia this year go ahead, Summer hopes to reunite with an old friend, Marcia Hines.
The pair grew up in the same Boston neighbourhood and Hines was in the same school year as Summer's younger sister.
The star says she was considering approaching Hines to sing a duet, but, as her latest album proves, she is still a strong solo performer.
After taking a break to raise her three daughters, Summer released her 19th album -- Crayons -- yesterday.
The singer wrote 12 of the 13 tracks, including a song titled The Queen is Back.
"It is me poking fun at being the queen and the whole concept of all of that," says Summer, who celebrates her 60th birthday on New Year's Eve. "But at the same time it's taking it seriously in terms of what that means to other people."
Summer has sold 130 million albums and enjoyed a string of hits globally.
Many of her songs remain firm favourites in clubs worldwide.
They include Love to Love You Baby, Could It Be Magic, I Feel Love, Last Dance, Hot Stuff, No More Tears, On the Radio and Bad Girls.
In a career spanning almost four decades, the Bostonian has earned five Grammy awards and a host of other accolades.
"I will always love disco. That is my baby," she says.
"I am ready, really ready. It has been a long while, longer than I would have wanted, but I was raising my kids and having a good time doing that. And then I just got bored and I figured I might as well do something I know how to do -- let's make a record."
Summer manages to hold her own in an industry obsessed with youth and unveiling the next big artist, all the while remaining true to her disco roots.
"I just wanted to be as free as I possibly could to make music and not worry about what the market would or wouldn't be, to go wherever I could go," she says.
Asked how she thinks the industry has changed, Summer is quick to say: "For the artists, it is great.
"In many ways, it has improved tremendously for the indie people. There is a broad spectrum of possibilities that I think allows young people today to actually not even need a record company, to establish themselves quite easily if they are determined.
"It is a great playing field for the artists.
"It is not so great for the establishment."
The only fear facing the celebrated singer is that she hopes fans feel the same connection to her new music as they did to her hits of the past.
"It has been a labour of love for sure."
Crayons is out now.
Speaking ahead of the release of her first new album in 17 years, Summer confesses laziness was the reason she has never performed in Australia.
"I was too stinking lazy to fly that far," she says.
"Now it is probably a lot better with all of the new aircraft, but, back in the day, it was like a two-day flight.
"But I am coming -- hold on. I am hoping for this year."
Audio: Listen to Donna's new song, Stamp Your Feet
If her plans to visit Australia this year go ahead, Summer hopes to reunite with an old friend, Marcia Hines.
The pair grew up in the same Boston neighbourhood and Hines was in the same school year as Summer's younger sister.
The star says she was considering approaching Hines to sing a duet, but, as her latest album proves, she is still a strong solo performer.
After taking a break to raise her three daughters, Summer released her 19th album -- Crayons -- yesterday.
The singer wrote 12 of the 13 tracks, including a song titled The Queen is Back.
"It is me poking fun at being the queen and the whole concept of all of that," says Summer, who celebrates her 60th birthday on New Year's Eve. "But at the same time it's taking it seriously in terms of what that means to other people."
Summer has sold 130 million albums and enjoyed a string of hits globally.
Many of her songs remain firm favourites in clubs worldwide.
They include Love to Love You Baby, Could It Be Magic, I Feel Love, Last Dance, Hot Stuff, No More Tears, On the Radio and Bad Girls.
In a career spanning almost four decades, the Bostonian has earned five Grammy awards and a host of other accolades.
"I will always love disco. That is my baby," she says.
"I am ready, really ready. It has been a long while, longer than I would have wanted, but I was raising my kids and having a good time doing that. And then I just got bored and I figured I might as well do something I know how to do -- let's make a record."
Summer manages to hold her own in an industry obsessed with youth and unveiling the next big artist, all the while remaining true to her disco roots.
"I just wanted to be as free as I possibly could to make music and not worry about what the market would or wouldn't be, to go wherever I could go," she says.
Asked how she thinks the industry has changed, Summer is quick to say: "For the artists, it is great.
"In many ways, it has improved tremendously for the indie people. There is a broad spectrum of possibilities that I think allows young people today to actually not even need a record company, to establish themselves quite easily if they are determined.
"It is a great playing field for the artists.
"It is not so great for the establishment."
The only fear facing the celebrated singer is that she hopes fans feel the same connection to her new music as they did to her hits of the past.
"It has been a labour of love for sure."
Crayons is out now.
Ronan says he didn't cause Boyzone split
Singer Ronan Keating has said that he wasn't the reason that Boyzone broke up in 1999.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, the singer said: "A lot of people felt I was the reason Boyzone broke up. But it was the five of us that decided Boyzone was taking a break."
"Yes, I led the break-up, but I fully intended to come back; we all did," he said.
"And then my career took off. I wasn't expecting it to be like that. It went crazy for me and it was an amazing time - I was riding the crest of a wave and I couldn't drop it."
The group recently reunited and announced a number of concert dates in Ireland and the UK.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, the singer said: "A lot of people felt I was the reason Boyzone broke up. But it was the five of us that decided Boyzone was taking a break."
"Yes, I led the break-up, but I fully intended to come back; we all did," he said.
"And then my career took off. I wasn't expecting it to be like that. It went crazy for me and it was an amazing time - I was riding the crest of a wave and I couldn't drop it."
The group recently reunited and announced a number of concert dates in Ireland and the UK.
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