U2: New Bono film available on group's website
For the past few albums, U2 have produced a handful of long-form videos for some of their songs. And that's the case for their latest effort, Songs of Experience, in which filmmaker and photographer Matt Mahurin has collaborated with Jacknife Lee, one of their producers.
The result is a film capturing some of the ideas Bono talks about in the album's liner notes. He narrates the almost 10-minute black-and-white film, which you can watch at U2.com.
ROY ORBISON: Rock 'n roll legend returns as a hologram
The Roy Orbison hologram show will get its first U.S. presentation this weekend.
In Dreams, featuring a digital version of the iconic star backed by a live orchestra, will be staged for media members at APAP, the big New York talent-bookers convention. The public will get its first glimpse of In Dreams beginning in April -- with plans to bring the show to North America this fall.
British fans are enthusiastic -- over 70 percent of tickets for the tour dates there have already sold. (Billboard)
ELTON JOHN: Superstar receives a big honor
Elton John will receive another humanitarian award: he is one of three recipients of the Crystal Awards, handed out by the World Economic Forum.
Elton will join actress Cate Blanchett and Shah Rukh Khan as artists who have "taken action to uphold human dignity."
Their 24th annual presentation is set for January 22nd at the group's conference in Davos, Switzerland. (TheQuint.com)
THE COMMODORES: Dispute settled
The Commodores' trademark dispute ended Wednesday after four years in the courts. A Florida appeals panel ruled in favor of William King and Walter Orange -- and restricts how founding member Thomas McClary can bill his group.
This decision affirms a federal court decision that said, "[W]hen McClary left the band, he left behind his common-law rights to the [trade]marks. Thus, he can work as 'Thomas McClary, formerly of The Commodores,' but not as 'The Commodores featuring Thomas McClary.'" All the founders signed agreements during the 1970s and '80s that keep the band's name under the control of those who remain with the group.
King and Orange are the only original members remaining in The Commodores. (Hollywood Reporter)
RICK SPRINGFIELD: Reportedly recently considered suicide
Rick Springfield opened up about his lifelong battle with depression and revealed that he considered suicide as recently as last year.
Speaking with Sirius/XM, the 68-year-old "Jessie's Girl" hit-maker revealed, "Last year I was close to it, really close to it." He said, "When Robin Williams and Chester [Bennington and Chris Cornell] and those guys … I didn’t go, ‘Oh that’s terrible.’ I went, ‘I get it.’ I get being that lost and dark. You’re in so much pain that you just want it to end. I have been there and I know what it’s like and I understand. It’s just part of your makeup."
Springfield has been open about his struggles with depression, and in his 2011 autobiography, Late, Late at Night, he said he tried to hang himself when he was 17 but the rope snapped. Today, it's meditation that's keeping him alive. He says, "If I truly meditate and focus and get to that place, I’m not depressed. No matter what’s going on. But it’s pretty hard." (People)