Entertainment News
The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde on Why Hate Is a Strong Word
Kyle Meredith With… Chrissie Hynde Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS The Pretenders‘ legendary singer-songwriter Chrissie Hynde gives Kyle Meredith a call to talk about the band’s new record, Hate For Sale. Hynde talks about writing with her touring guitarist James Walbourne, looking back to the ’50s and ’60s for their sound, and the return of original drummer Martin Chambers. She also goes on to speak about hate as a strong word, love as a drug addiction, and her Bob Dylan quarantine covers series. Kyle Meredith With… is an interview series in which WFPK’s Kyle Meredith speaks to a wide breadth of musicians. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Meredith digs deep into the arti...
#MetallicaMondays Concert Series Ends with Metallica’s 2017 Mexico City Show: Watch
It’s been quite a treat for Metallica fans, but all good things must come to an end. The metal legends are ending their #MetallicaMondays streaming concert series with a Mexico City show from 2017. Metallica launched the free weekly series at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to provide “live” entertainment to their fans as the concert industry shut down. After five months of digging into the archives for full concerts ranging from 1983 through 2019, the Mexico City show will close out the series. The band announced the news on Monday morning (August 24th) via Twitter, stating, “#MetallicaMondays reaches the end of the line. Tune in tonight for Live in Mexico City, the 23rd & final installment of the series, shot in front of a fired-up crowd in 2017. Tune in at 5 PM PDT o...
Chris Cornell’s Estate Denounces Unauthorized Biopic
Chris Cornell lived one hell of a life as the frontperson of Soundgarden, and someday his story will be told with all the detail, depth, and accuracy it deserves. Unfortunately, it won’t be the upcoming biopic Black Days that does so. Allegedly the movie is “about the last days in the life of grunge music icon Chris Cornell,” but the rocker’s estate has formally denounced the film, issuing a statement to Pitchfork that says the biopic is “not sanctioned or approved by the estate.” A casting call for Black Days on Backstage reveals that production on the film is already underway, with shooting kicking off in Los Angeles next month. Road Rage Films LLC and Amerifilms LLC, which apparently are run by actor and musician Johnny Holiday, are listed as the companies helming the project. As Pitchf...
Cardi B Announces Waterproof Line of “WAP” Merch
When she isn’t interviewing the Democratic nominee for President or making FOX anchors flip out, Cardi B stays busy by giving fans new songs that will get stuck in their head for months. The latest example of such is “WAP”, her viral collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion that promotes female sexuality in the most over-the-top way. Now, Cardi has released an exclusive line of waterproof “WAP” merch to keep that brand going strong,. Cardi B has unveiled a new webstore exclusively for “WAP”-themed items called the “Wapstore”. It features a wide array of raincoats, crop tops, sweatpants, umbrellas, sports bras, and biker shorts, each emblazoned with the text “WAP” and, in some cases, the single artwork featuring the rap duo’s hair intertwined. Prices start at $25. Though some stuffy critics a...
TikTok Sues Trump Administration Over Attempted US Ban
TikTok vs. Donald Trump TikTok is suing the Trump administration for trying to ban the app’s American operations. In a statement, the popular video sharing platform said that Trump’s recent executive order violates its right to due process and offers no evidence that the app presents a national security threat. “We do not take suing the government lightly, however we feel we have no choice but to take action to protect our rights, and the rights of our community and employees,” TikTok contends. Trump’s executive order halts transactions between the Beijing-based ByteDance and TikTok’s US-based users and employees, essentially killing the app in America, where it boasts an estimated 80 million users. Trump’s purported reason for issuing the August 6th order was that the app presented possib...
Anthrax’s Scott Ian: I’m Probably “Not Going Back to Work” Until 2022
Anthrax’s Scott Ian, photo by Antonio Marino Jr. Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian is as workmanlike as they come. He’s been touring relentlessly with Anthrax for 30-plus years, always has multiple projects going, and has generally been one of heavy metal’s great ambassadors. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, the metal legend feels he truly won’t be “back to work” until 2022. Ian compared his current situation to when he was 17 and figuring out if he can make a full-time career out of playing metal. An Anthrax album was originally planned for release in late 2020, but it’s been pushed back as the band continues to work on new material in a socially distant manner. Drummer Charlie Benante previously stated that there’s “about six, seven songs — and it’s really good,” but that “the first thin...
It’s Jeff Daniels’ Comey Vs. Brendan Gleeson’s Trump in Trailer for The Comey Rule: Watch
James Comey (Jeff Daniels) faces off against Donald Trump (Brendan Gleeson) in the new trailer for the Showtime limited series The Comey Rule. The two-episode series premieres on September 27th. Based on Comey’s book A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, The Comey Rule dramatizes the former FBI director’s attempts to document Russian meddling in the 2016 election, as well as the illegal actions taken by Trump to cover it up. The series is written and directed by Billy Ray, best known for scripts for other based-on-a-true-story tales like Captain Phillips and Richard Jewell, as well as the 2021 Hunger Games prequel. As the trailer reveals, Ray has chosen not to modify Daniel’s appearance, perhaps with the understanding that both he and Comey are generic white guy...
Björk Joins All-Star Cast of Robert Eggers’ The Northman
Hold on to your swan dress, Björk is returning to the silver screen for the first time since 2000’s Dancer in the Dark. The Icelandic queen joins the star-studded cast of Robert Eggers‘ new film The Northman, and best of all, her character has been given the evocative name “The Slav Witch”. As if that weren’t enough, her real-life daughter Ísadóra Barney has also joined The Northman and will be making her cinematic debut. Until yesterday, the casting news was a closely-guarded secret, and it seems to have been revealed accidentally. Eric Higgins, best known for a short arc on the TV series Vikings, posted a video of the casting board that included his own headshot. “There are only two times in life when your profile pic is on a wall,” he wrote, “1) You’re a wanted criminal ...
Ben Affleck to Return as Batman for The Flash Movie
Looks like Ben Affleck will be dusting off the ol’ cape and cowl one more time, as the actor’s return as Batman in the upcoming Flash movie has been confirmed. Director Andy Muschietti revealed the news in an interview with Vanity Fair. The filmmaker also confirmed reports that Michael Keaton will reprise his role as Batman from the ’90s-era Tim Burton films for what’s expected to be a “substantial” part. Based on the popular comic storyline Flashpoint, the movie will find Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) running through different realities, hence the multiple Dark Knights. The announcement of Affleck’s involvement will likely shock many fans. After portraying Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad (in a cameo part), and Justice League, Affleck was expected to ...
Shudder Announces 61 Days of Halloween Starting September
Shudder already celebrated Halfway to Halloween back in April. Come September, however, they’re bringing the real tricks and treats with 61 Days of Halloween, and today they’ve announced all kinds of exciting festivities. The two-month celebration will feature weekly original programming, a new Halloween special of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, a sequel to the one and only Ghoul Log, and, yes, the return of the Shudder Halloween Hotline. “We usually call October our ‘Super Bowl month’ but this year we’re starting on September 1st, so the 61 Days of Halloween will be our Super Bowl combined with Mardi Gras and Christmas,” said Shudder GM Craig Engler in a press release, who also teased a surprise at the end of the month “that will have horror fans everywhere talking.” Editors’...
Springsteen Drummer Max Weinberg Appointed to Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board
Times are tough, and these days everybody’s looking for a second job. So even though Max Weinberg has a reliable gig drumming for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, he’s picked up a little extra work at the Delray Beach Planning and Zoning Board. As the Palm Beach Post reports, Weinberg has been appointed to a two-year term at the recommendation of city commissioner Juli Casale. “I was impressed with his knowledge and vision of real estate and development,” she said. “I love Springsteen. Who doesn’t? But this appointment was not made because of his music prowess.” In fact, Weinberg’s knowledge of real estate minutiae is the stuff of legend. He was the subject of a 2008 profile by the Wall Street Journal called “Born to Renovate”, which described him as a “real est...
The Chicks Perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Democratic National Convention: Watch
This year’s Democratic National Convention turned into a star-studded virtual event thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, unintentionally helping it draw more viewers than the 2016 DNC. The four-night ceremony saw everyone from Billie Eilish to John Legend perform, with The Chicks stepping onstage to kick off the final night’s festivities on Thursday evening. The trio of Natalie Maines, Martie Erwin Maguire, and Emily Strayer appeared remotely to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”. The Chicks have long been politically outspoken musicians. Ever since their hey-day when they denounced President George W. Bush for invading Iraq and kicking of a never-ending war, the country trio have tried to use their platform for good — even going so far as to retire their Dixie Chicks moniker earl...
