Links to the past, with relevance today: I live and die for BBQ — even if I've sworn off! (Image via McDonald's) WGN: For the first time since introducing the li'l devils in 1983, McDonald's is launching a new Chicken McNuggets flavor — Spicy! We could've guessed #1! (GIF via GIPHY) BILLBOARD: Top 100 music-video…
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Quiet Riot Drummer Frankie Banali Dies of Cancer @ 68
Frankie Banali, the outrageous drummer for '80s rock outfit Quiet Riot, died Thursday following a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68. Top of the pops (Image via Pasha) Banali had been diagnosed with the disease in April of last year, with a GoFundMe page tracking his progress. According to his grieving family, Banali: “...…
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Blondie & Manilow Sell Catalogues, Go-Go’s Fact Check & More!
Links to the past, with relevance today: Debbie's rollin' in dough, ya'll! (GIF via GIPHY) ROLLING STONE: Blondie's co-founders — Debbie Harry and Chris Stein — as well as Barry Manilow have sold their entire catalogues to Hipgnosis, which will license it up the wazoo. Clearly, these older artists are considering the limiting qualities of…
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Tom Moulton’s Best Unreleased Mixes: Madonna, Donna & More
Producer Tom Moulton is the legend whose remixing in the Disco Era led to virtually every pop single receiving the full remix treatment, revolutionizing dance music and the music industry itself by providing new creative — and revenue — opportunities for artists. Now, the 79-year-old remixed has released a $20 album of what he considers…
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Andrew Lloyd Webber Euthanizes ‘Cats,’ Elton John Celebrates Sobriety & More!
Links to the past, with relevance today: Universally loathed (Image via Universal) THE TIMES: Andrew Lloyd Webber has been happy with some of the film adaptations of his greatest theatrical hits — Cats (2019) was not one of 'em: “The problem with the film was that [director] Tom Hooper decided, as he had with Les Mis,…
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‘Midnight Express,’ ‘Fame,’ ‘Evita’ Director Alan Parker Dies @ 76
Following a lengthy illness, British director Alan Parker, one of the medium's most audacious genre-hoppers, died Friday, July 31, at 76. His death was confirmed by ExtraTV. Born in London on February 14, 1944, Parker distinguished himself in the '60s in the field of advertising, where he stood out as a creator with a distinctively…
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So Many Men, Bowie Kicks, Mercurochrome Nostalgia & More!
Links to the past, with relevance today: A gigolo, but not just ... (Image via Paramount) MY NEW PLAID PANTS: The many men of ... Paul Shrader?! Go with it. NYT: Read about John Roney, who has been a waiter at the same NYC restaurant since ... 1986! EXTRATV: Mick Rock, legendary photographer, is out…
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Biehn Too Long, Classic Commercials & More!
Links to the past, with relevance today: Biehn was suh-mokin'! (GIF via GIPHY) THR: Don't miss this long, long Q&A with Michael Biehn, 63, who speaks about how his role in The Terminator (1984) came about, saying his first reaction to the script and to the news that an Austrian bodybuilder was attached was decidedly…
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Carl Reiner Dies @ 98
Just two days before his death at 98 from natural causes, comedy great Carl Reiner tweeted what now sounds like his last words: https://twitter.com/carlreiner/status/1277021923805786112?s=20 Except these were not his last words, not even on social media. He went on to excoriate Donald Trump, lament Hillary Clinton's loss and then praise the late icon Noel Coward…
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Right Said Fred Bring Back the ‘Good Times’
Right Said Fred formed in 1989 and by 1991 had an international #1 smash with the ironic "I'm Too Sexy," which still works today as a tweak of influencer culture. One-hit wonders in the U.S., they had more smashes in the UK, including "Don't Talk Just Kiss" (1991), "Deeply Dippy" (1992) and "Stick It Out"…
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