BON JOVI: Howard Stern will induct them into Rock Hall
Bon Jovi will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Howard Stern.
The host made the announcement on his show Wednesday morning during an interview with Jon Bon Jovi. Stern told Bon Jovi, "I am so honored that you asked me. I am thrilled to do it." The Rock Hall induction ceremony, which includes The Cars, Dire Straits, Moody Blues, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Nina Simone, is set for April 14th at Cleveland's Public Hall.
QUEEN: Brian May visits film set
Queen's Brian May visited the set of the Freddie Mercury bio-pic Bohemian Rhapsody on Tuesday.
He writes on his website, "Wow ! I'm an [honorary] film mogul! Today, under the auspices of our new supreme pilot, [director] Dexter Fletcher, I got my own directorial chair! I was very touched."
He calls the atmosphere "massively warm and joyful. The entire 'BR' company has been through storms which would have sunk many a ship, but they're all still on board, full of optimism -- and with a team spirit stronger than ever... I wish I could show you pictures! But for now it's good to protect the surprises. The Bohemian Rhapsody ship is on course! With full steam up!
Rami Malek stars as Freddie in the movie set to open on Christmas Day.
HEART: Ann Wilson battling sexism
Heart's Ann Wilson has been battling sexism in the music business for 40 years. Go listen to her song "Barracuda."
The song grew from a incident when a record promoter pushed his way into Ann's dressing room after a show. In response to a print ad taken out by their label suggesting she and sister Nancy had an incestuous relationship, he wondered where her "lover" was.
She tells Rolling Stone she chose the title after going "through things like 'lizard,' 'snake' -- but 'barracuda' just had a wickedness that I thought sounded good. It had rhythm. It just seemed more threatening, more despicable."
Ann says a "bubble of power" in the music field protects predators. She deeply resents that the sisters "were just being cast as cute girls rather than people who had ideas and abilities." She's especially unhappy with "the early MTV years, where we did go wearing the groupie clothes and the big hair -- those were the years I was unhappiest and the most uncomfortable in my own skin... I was letting my own ideals go to hell."
And touching on some fallen media figures, she adds, "I don't know if there is redemption for people like Charlie Rose or Garrison Keillor. An apology helps, but what really matter are deeds."
ANIMOTION: Still rockin' the 80's
Bill Wadhams of Animotion says it's "great to work again with old friends" such as Wang Chung and A Flock of Seagulls. They'll team up again on this summer's Lost '80s Tour.
"I'm glad that the '80s is a brand. It's amazing to me how many New Years parties are '80s themed. A lot of people dig it -- that's their jam."
The "Obsession" band has been back for more than 15 years. Bill and Astrid Plane still front Animotion.
"I remember back in the day, Astrid, my co-singer was more of the Cyndi Lauper, kind of thrift shop gal. Putting together really unusual outfits, and I was wanting to be more suave, like Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music. There was a lot of fun fashion there. That's also one of the things that makes it fun -- a lot of times when we do these '80s shows, people come out in their '80s gear, it's just like Haloween."
While fans can look forward to hearing "Obsession" and the rest of Animotion's hits, Bill says they'll also likely drop in a song or two from their first album of the 21st century. Raise Your Expectations was released last year on a small British label -- and is still available via Amazon.com.