Recently in Entertainment (general) Category

In one day, both iconic stars have died, sending shock waves throughout the world. As one tweet puts it, "MJ and FF is now news at the speed of light"--thanks to Twitter and Facebook. The King of Pop died of cardiac arrest, reports say. The beautiful and original Angel Ms. Farrah Fawcett succumb to cancer. MJ was 50, Farrah was 62. If you were already born at those times when both were at the peak of their careers, they drew a lot of attention. Of course, who can forget the lovely Mrs. Majors (yes, of the six million dollar man) and the moonwalk. Since high school, we've been attempting to emulate that space walk-inspired move but have failed many times. And Farrah. Oh my. 'Nuf said. I discovered Jackson during his "Thriller" days--same song which inspired hundreds of inmates in a Cebu prison. Every kid back then, including yours truly, admired MJ. He danced, he sang. I tried the former, but failed. I tried the latter and, er, somehow have made some progress. And his music videos were works of art. I've never seen so many screaming and crying fans on video when MJ goes on stage. To this day, one of my favorite guitar pieces is "Man in the Mirror." (Tuck Andress created this beautiful arrangement of that song for the guitar). When I entered college, my musical taste changed abruptly as I went for heavier sounds that bordered on noise. But while I headbanged to the music of Metallica and jumped around as I copied Van Halen, MJ's music was always there--(Beat It, for instance, was one song where Van Halen was asked to play a monster riff), hovering. MJ, has indeed made the world a better place for a lot of people, despite major bumps in his career. His music will live on. Thanks MJ!

By Clarence Yu AFTER almost 45 years of wowing audiences and guitar freaks, and influencing a good generation or two of excellent guitar players, Jeff Beck has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Finally. The legendary guitarist started his career playing with the Yardbirds, the band that was home to the great British “triumvirate” of guitar gods--Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Beck. From then on, the guitarist went on to revolutionize guitar playing with his innovative “flash” style of playing, partnering with a wide variety of artists such as Rod Stewart, Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, and influencing the likes of Joe Perry and countless jazz, heavy metal and rock musicians. The guitarist was also one of the first artists to achieve commercial success in an instrumental format with the 1975 album Blow By Blow, widely regarded as one of his finest works; it also paved the way for other instrumentalists such as Joe Satriani to achieve the same success with his Surfing with the Alien. Beck was inducted alongside other artists such as Run DMC, Metallica, and the legendary Bobby Womack (who wrote an early ‘60’s Rolling Stones hit, “It’s All Over Now”). Beck has also won four Grammy Awards, has garnered massive critical acclaim, and is still actively touring as a solo artist. One wonders why the Hall of Fame only regarded him eligible now, but no one seems to be complaining, judging by the number of peers and guitar heroes who joined him onstage for a jam of “Train Kept A Rollin’,” a staple rock classic popularized by the Yardbirds in the ’60’s and Aerosmith in the 70’s. Check this out, and play Name the Guitar Hero:

UPDATES:

(UPDATE 2) Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona died of leukemia Friday at the Medical City in Mandaluyong, his co-hosts at the GMA Network’s noontime show “Eat Bulaga” said. He was 44. Magalona succumbed to severe sepsis as a complication of leukemia and passed away at 12 noon, said Philippine Daily Inquirer sources who were not authorized to talk to media. Magalona had been undergoing several chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed with the disease in August last year but was too weak to fight the infection, sources said.

More news from our breaking news. +++ FILIPINO rapper and host Francis Magalona has died after his fight with leukemia. Members of noontime show "Eat Bulaga" led by Vic Sotto announced Magalona's death. Here's our breaking news story:

MANILA, Philippines—Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona has succumbed to leukemia at the Medical City in Mandaluyong City on Friday. He was 44.

Magalona, 44, was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Members of Eat Bulaga gave a moment of silence during the TV show, but later said that the "show must go on." Magalona has been a co-host on Eat Bulaga. But prior to this, he has established himself as the king of Filipino rap. Recently, he has been collaborating with former Eraserheads lead man Ely Buendia on a project. +++ Twitter is now abuzz with Magalona's death. One user called "thedozenblades" declares: "Francis Magalona RIP. Four hundred years of tears for the brown man still managed to produce you brother." Another user, "juiceee" tweets: "RIP Francis Magalona. My mom and i were so close to crying. While Magalona has kept his condition private, he was very candid in his Multiply blog, as he posted photos of himself, showing the effects of his chemotherapy. He writes:

Good evening people. I am getting prepared for my 4th Chemotherapy cycle, and I will be admitted tonight at The Medical City. I will be doing some tests tomorrow, wish me luck. Friday I begin my 4th cycle which is a Hi-Dose kind, as will be taking 6 grams of Cytarabin a day every other day for 3 days. I will be at the 14th floor of the TMC, as usual. I brought alot reading materials (bible included!) and dvds to keep me company while I do my treatment. I will be doing my radiation treatment by February and my PBSCT (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant) will be done by March. I look forward to the pain as I know my journey is on full speed ahead. I will not be bold to say that without asking a favor from you all. PLEASE PRAY for me as I undergo treatment. Your prayers, as always, have sustained me. And am sure the Lord will listen to all our prayers. To His will I submit myself. God bless you, my friend. PS: I will be needing blood donors for blood and platelets. Please go to the lower ground floor of The Medical City and donate blood in my name. For platelets Apheresis you may go have yourself screened at the Phil. Nat'l Red Cross at the Pier in Manila. I am type O positive. Thank you again.

Agence France-Presse SAN FRANCISCO--Next New Networks and Verizon on Thursday launched a website where little-known bands and film makers can unite to create "music video masterpieces" for 99 dollars or less. Online television company Next New Networks will stream selected low-budget productions at 99dollarmusicvideos.com with support from sponsor Verizon, a US telecom titan promoting its FiOS broadband Internet service. The website debuted with a sepia-toned music video of Brooklyn band La Strada performing an original "The Sun Song" with backdrops including The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York City. "Wow!" a website visitor with screen-name 'Deb' wrote in a chat forum beneath the video. "This is excellent... loved the band... am a fan now!" New videos will be posted to the website every Thursday, its creators promised. Creators of the network include MTV's original creative director Fred Seibert and Felicia Williams, a former entertainment content manager at popular video-sharing website YouTube. The low-budget music videos will be available at Google-owned YouTube. "I was there at the start of MTV and this has the same feeling all over again," Seibert said of the website launch. "99 Dollar Music Videos stands for everything that’s exciting about Web entertainment today in bringing together rising star bands, creative filmmaking, and a low-cost vibe to create original, fresh content." Verizon is the website's sole sponsor and is to work with Next New Networks to promote the videos at hip Internet venues such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr, and Tumblr.

FILIPINO rock band Hale holds a recent a gig meant to raise funds for some charitable organizations. Watch this video report by INQUIRER.net production specialist Janie Octia.

By Agence France-Presse LOS ANGELES -- Lynyrd Skynyrd pianist Billy Powell, one of the longest-serving members of the 1970s supergroup, has died aged 56, the band announced on its website Wednesday. Powell, a survivor of the 1977 plane crash in Mississippi that claimed the lives of six people including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, died on Tuesday, the statement said without giving further details. "Beloved pianist for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, Billy Powell, passed away last night," the statement said. "The family and band request your respect and understanding during this difficult time. Thank you." According to celebrity news website TMZ.com, Powell died in the southeastern state of Florida. The Texas-born Powell worked as a roadie for Skynyrd during the group's early years before his keyboard skills were noticed by Van Zant during preparations for a concert. He appeared on the band's debut album and was part of the group's meteoric success through the next four years, a period which saw them produce classic rock anthems including "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird." Powell was seriously injured in the 1977 plane crash that decimated the group, killing Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines. Powell rejoined the group in 1987 for a tribute tour.

WHO says students and teachers cannot jam together? In fact, some have decided to form a band. Known as Jeez!, this band was formerly called “The Faculty of JLDDG.” It is composed of Reagan Maiquez, Giselle Hernandez, and Nicolo Masakayan --instructors from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Paul Fonte, an alumnus of UPLB and Kit Manlangit, a UPLB Civil Engineering student. Maiquez started the band in September 2007 with Hernandez, Masakayan and Manlangit after being inspired by the song “Pero,” which Hernandez sang for him. “Pero,” which Maiquez wrote, immediately became the band’s first song. Every Friday, the band plays at Baan Thai, a Thai restaurant in Los Baños. But their performance during First Philo Night, a culminating class activity of Philosophy students in the university on September 20, 2007 was what they considered their first gig. After a year, the band was renamed Jeez! It was also in 2008 that Fonte joined the band who played the bass. Manlangit took the drums, Masakayan the lead guitar, Hernandez the vocals and Maiquez the other guitar. Maiquez, however, left the band this year. Hernandez and Masakayan says the Beatles and the Eraserheads inspire their music. This year, Jeez! is planning to cut an album under the tentative title, “Love, flirt with me, please.” The album will include seven songs: Pero, Takbo, Finally (Chinese Noodle Soup), Meatless Diet, Love is Evol, Idlip and Love Rains. Most of their songs tackle the different perspectives and stages of love, according to Fonte.

By Agence France-Presse CHICAGO -- Punk rock pioneer Ron Asheton, the guitarist for the Stooges, was found dead Tuesday in his Michigan home, police said. He was 60. Asheton was found on his living room couch after a friend who had not heard from him for several days asked police to check on him. It appeared as though he had been dead for several days and foul play is not suspected, said Ann Arbor police lieutenant Angella Abrams. "I am in shock. He was my best friend," Stooges lead singer Iggy Pop said in a statement on his website. Iggy Pop and his band members -- including Asheton's brother Scott -- remembered the guitarist as an "irreplaceable" friend, brother and musician. "For all that knew him behind the façade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not," they said in the statement. "As a musician Ron was The Guitar God, idol to follow and inspire others. That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him." Asheton was named number 29 among Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists of All Time and the magazine credited him for writing "some of rock's most memorable riffs" including "No Fun," "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "TV Eye." He formed the Stooges with Iggy Pop, bassist Dave Alexander and his brother Scott on drums in 1967 in Detroit. The band was known for its wild performances and helped kickstart the punk rock revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They released two albums -- "The Stooges" and "Fun House" -- before Asheton took over on bass guitar in 1973 for "Raw Power." Asheton went on to play with a number of different bands after the Stooges split in 1974, including Destroy All Monsters, New Race, Dark Carnival and the Powertrane. The Stooges reformed in 2003, playing several shows together and releasing a new album "The Weirdness" in 2007.

GOOD old rock music served differently. Six years since last churning out an album (2001's Black Mantra), Basti Artadi and the boys find themselves waking up to a digital age. Hence, their sixth installment rocking its way into mobile phones. All ten songs in Villains (not at all related to the hit TV show Heroes, Basti says) will be available for download via Smart's Music Store. The album is released independently via Semenelin Music put up by the band itself, obviously referencing their 1996 major-label debut album. Three tracks off Villains have been released almost simultaneously: "Ibrahim," "John of the Cross," and "Novus Is Burning," the last one written for online game RF Online. Months before the official release, Basti has been dropping hints about the new album on Friendster and other social networking sites. In today' press launch, he was the most outspoken -- well relative to guitarist Manuel Legarda and bassist Mon Legaspi. All three admitted to jetlag, arriving in time for the album launch. By Basti's own account, the road to a new Wolfgang album started last year when the band reunited for the Alive 2007 concert. Their set then included a new song "Death Squad," now included in Villains. Since then, the boys have learned to embrace digital, swapping tracks off the Internet before recording a proper album. So by their own account, the album was recorded in three cities: Basti was holed up in San Francisco with his own band, Mon doing gigs in Hong Kong and Manuel staying behind, occasionally seen jamming with Razorback. The obvious question is: is Wolfgang ever the same without drummer Wolf Gemora? Wolf was last seen with California-based Lokomotiv but wasn't in the launch. So it looks like Francis Aquino is doing drumming duties from hereon.

By Clarence Yu APPARENTLY, gaming company Activision’s collaboration with rock legends Aerosmith has paid off handsomely for both parties. As reported on the Gamasutra website, the sales to date of the game Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, has netted the band more revenue than any one of its album releases. In my opinion, the success of the Guitar Hero franchise is dependent on two things: artist name association and the technology employed to make the game highly entertaining to gamers. I am a big Aerosmith fan, but not into gaming myself -- thus, I was never attracted that much to consider buying the game. Of course, there are many exceptions to my theory. I’m pretty sure that a lot of gamers who weren’t familiar with Aerosmith bought the game: some were probably intrigued, some had nothing better to do with their money and most were probably challenged by the game. Good for them. They get to enjoy themselves, while learning the music of one of the best rock bands of all time. How does this bode for the music industry in general? For one thing, I’m pretty sure that most big name bands will start to fall in line for their share of the revenue pie. Van Halen and Metallica are examples of the next bands to be featured on the franchise. Big money is in store for both the bands and Activision. But to boast of Guitar Hero's "music selling power" is a bit of a stretch; by reversing the logic, you can say that Aerosmith enabled Activision's "video game selling power." While it can be argued that the artists involved may not need the money and just want to pass on their musical legacy to a new generation of potential fans, CD/music sales are also a big factor. Reportedly, Aerosmith’s CD/music sales had a “several folds boost.” Now is that just a coincidence, or a result of a lot of focus group discussions? For the struggling garage band out there, I don’t think it will make any difference -- perhaps marginally, in terms of inspiration. But inspiration is a totally different animal from business. Many bands out there with talent have never made it and many more will never. It’s just a fact in the recording industry. You still have to make it the old fashioned way -- through gigging, recording, and touring -- before you can be featured on a game like Guitar Hero. And with games exactly like Guitar Hero in the market taking away the attention span of potential new fans of these struggling artists, what will become of them? It just gets harder and harder. So, while Activision may be on to something here for quite a long and profitable run, dare I say that without the big name artists, the Guitar Hero franchise is worthless? Imagine Guitar Hero: Anonymous, and see if the product sells.