ABBA: TV special coming to NBC
ABBA will return to the U.S. this year -- in digital form.
After turning down countless offers for a reunion tour, the Swedish legends have struck a deal with NBC and the BBC for a TV special starring avatars based on their digital images. The foursome will perform one ABBA song during the tribute show -- which will also feature other guest artists.
Bjorn Ulvaeus tells the European news service AFP, "The centrepiece…will be something I call 'Abbatars'. It is digital versions of ABBA, from 1979... With videos and lip-synching, they'll create digital copies of us from 1979."
Ulvaeus says the digital images -- created by Silicon Valley artists -- will also be used for a live production expected to tour in 2019. (The Local of Sweden)
MORE BIG 95 MUSIC NEWS: Tuesday, April 24th
Last week, Tears for Fears was forced to postpone an upcoming tour of the British Isles due to what was called "unforeseen health reasons and on doctor's orders." But the latest news from the group is decidedly more upbeat.
Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith have posted a statement on their website apologizing to fans about the cancelled dates, which has been rescheduled and will now start early next year. They also say, "They look forward to working on finishing material for their first new album in 14 years, with the hope of releasing it this [fall]."
In January, Smith said the album would be called Tipping Point.
LIONEL RICHIE: Superstar never expected his solo success
Lionel Richie is on quite a roll -- in just the last six months, he's received the Kennedy Center Honors, left his hand- and footprints in cement at Hollywood's Chinese Theater, and became a panelist on the revival of American Idol.
He's also set to tour Britain this June. To promote those shows, he appeared on ITV's Lorraine Show, a talker similar to our Ellen DeGeneres.
Lionel Richie could have never have imagined the way his career would play out:
"I was thinking of retiring as a Commodore, and then something came along called Kenny Rogers and 'Lady' and now this solo career. OK. Now, you're supposed to just ride that all the way out, right? And then, at the ripe old age of 200, someone calls on the phone and says, 'Would you like to be the host of, one of the co-hosts of the American Idol and here's your hands and feet in the cement -- and on top of that, the Kennedy Center Honors."
Yet his life isn't without setbacks. Lionel says he was crushed by the death of his father in 1990. "My father was ill and I went through a very -- I won’t say a depression, a massive depression, because, you know, my dad was my hero." The birth of his son Miles helped him snap out of it. "It was something about the birth of my kid. Miles came along and [my older daughter] Nicole was already there, and I realized I had a group of people that were kind of looking up to me to be the head of the house."
THE MOODY BLUES: Waiting for Rock Hall nod was the hardest part
Not only did The Moody Blues to have to wait almost 30 years to be added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ceremony earlier this month in Cleveland put the band -- whose combined age is 369 years -- at the end of the program.
John Lodge reflects on this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony:
"It was a long time, you know. I mean I think the show was like five hours before we actually went on stage. So all the crew and our backing band were all waiting to get on stage as well you know. But, you know, it gave me an opportunity to see other artists like Bon Jovi. I've never seen Bon Jovi before live on stage. It was a great experience you know. And I think when you see the thousands of fans there all having a great time, that's what it is. You know, it's a celebration."