MUSIC NEWS: OCTOBER 14, 2016
WE DAY DOWNIE
Gord Downie has been added to the WE Day lineup in Toronto and will perform a song from his upcoming ``Secret Path'' solo album.
Downie will perform twice on Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre, first at the afternoon WE Day Toronto event and then at the evening We Day Family concert.
The ``Secret Path'' album, which is accompanied by a graphic novel and animated film, is inspired by the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack, who died in 1966 after running away from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ont.
Downie's performance will be followed by a speech from his brother Mike Downie, who introduced the singer to Wenjack's story, and a healing song performed by Pearl Wenjack, sister of Chanie Wenjack.
WE Day, launched by Canadians Craig and Mark Kielburger, is billed as ``a celebration of youth making a difference in their local and global communities.''
The event has grown from its Toronto roots to include similar shows across Canada and internationally.
(The Canadian Press)
GORD DOWNIE INTERVIEW
Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie is philosophical about his terminal brain cancer, saying in a sense that he is lucky because he can still accomplish some goals.
He says it's better than dying outright in a traffic accident because now he can do some of the things he wanted to do.
Downie talked about his health publicly for the first time in an interview with C-B-C's ``The National,'' which aired last night.
Downie says he's fighting his illness so he can get more time to do some things that are important to him.
One is ``Secret Path,'' a new solo album due out Tuesday that is inspired by the tragedy of Canada's residential school system.
``Secret Path'' tells the story of a 12-year-old First Nations boy in Ontario named Chanie Wenjack, who died in 1966 after running away from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ont.
He also says the Tragically Hip are working on another record, adding that ``just doing things'' brings him peace.
Downie told host Peter Mansbridge that his memory is fading because of the brain cancer and admitted he had to write ``Peter'' on his hand so he wouldn't forget who was interviewing him.
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(The Canadian Press)
BOB DYLAN - NOBEL
The Nobel Prize for literate has been given out for 115 years now _ but it had never before been given to a musician. Until now, anyway. Bob Dylan has broken the mould _ receiving an honour that shows he is more than just a singer _ but a poet of the highest order. The announcement came as a surprise _ but a pleasant one _ because of the respect Dylan has picked up over his
50 years of making music. President Barack Obama calls him one of his favourite poets. Dylan's reaction? There really isn't one. He rarely gives interviews _ and a rep says he had no immediate comment.
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BOB DYLAN - CRITICS
While most people were happy to see Bob Dylan win the Nobel Prize for Literature _ not everyone was feeling it. Some who feel the concept of literature is confined to books ripped the choice of the Nobel committee. The writer of ``Trainspotting'' is one of them. Novelist Irvine Welsh calls the award ``an ill-conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies.''
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BOB DYLAN - REACTION
There were any number of reactions from the entertainment world on Bob Dylan's being picked for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Here is a sampling of some of them:
Congratulations Bob for getting the Nobel prize. What an achievement! _ Mick Jagger on Twitter.
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Congratulations to one of my favourite poets, Bob Dylan, on a well-deserved Nobel _ U-S President Barack Obama.
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Bob Dylan is the father of my country. ``Highway 61 Revisited'' and ``Bringing It All Back Home'' were not only great records, but they were the first time I can remember being exposed to a truthful vision of the place I lived. _ Bruce Springsteen, who posted this passage from his autobiography ``Born to Run.''
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I'm a Dylan fan, but this is an ill-conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies _ ``Trainspotting'' novelist Irvine Welsh on Twitter.
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Congratulations Bob Dylan. U always been the main man, our poet, & all around cool cat. Are we rolling Bob? You bet we are. Keep it going Bobby. _ Danny DeVito.
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A poet of our time, and a sweet man every time our paths crossed _ Bill Wyman, former member of The Rolling Stones in a statement _ Bill Wyman, former member of The Rolling Stones in a statement.
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Congratulations Bob! You made all our lives better. Thank you for the warning about what was to come (Subterranean Homesick Blues) _ musician Stevie Van Zandt on Twitter.
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Now I can say I've been in a music video of a Nobel Prize winner.
Congratulations Bob _ actress Molly Ringwald, who appeared in Dylan's video for ``Unbelievable,'' on Twitter.
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BOB DYLAN - BOOKS
Bob Dylan may have won his Nobel Prize for literature by writing songs. But the books he has written are getting a boost as a result of the honour. His memoir, ``Chronicles:
Volume One'' and a bound compilation, ``The Lyrics: 1961-2012,''
were among two of Amazon-dot-com's fastest sellers yesterday. For example, his book of lyrics jumped from No. 73,543 on Amazon's bestseller list before the announcement _ to No. 209 afterward. The Nobel win also boosted sales of his albums on Amazon-dot-com.
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PRINCE - TRIBUTE CONCERT
Prince's sister says she hopes the tribute concert for the musician last night in St. Paul, Minnesota will provide a sense of closure for her brother's fans, friends and family. Fans _ many of whom wore purple _ turned out for the show at the Excel Center, during which Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and other artists performed. However, there was another last-minute opt-out.
Christina Aguilera skipped the show because of what a rep says was a ``vocal illness.'' Also missing was John Mayer, who promoters say had a change in schedule.
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COOLIO - GUN
Authorities in Los Angeles say Coolio has been charged with a felony after a gun was found in a backpack at Los Angeles International Airport. The rapper was charged yesterday with one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The L-A District Attorney's Office says Coolio has two prior convictions in
2001 and 2009 for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and drug possession. In the most recent case, a handgun was found in the rapper's carry-on bag as Coolio tried to go through security at L-A-X last month. If convicted, Coolio could get a maximum sentence of three years in state prison.
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ELTON JOHN - MEMOIR
Even Elton John describes his life as ``crazy'' _ and as much as it has been an open book, you can find out more about him by opening a book, that is his autobiography. Publishers Pan Macmillan and Henry Holt say they hold the worldwide rights for the memoir by the singer. It's due out in 2019.
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(The Associated Press)
