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Sky News AU
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Time travelling now?': Fans voice concern for former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns after bizarre post referencing 1994 Pulp Fiction premiere
Daniel Johns has seemingly alluded to time-travelling in his latest social media post, leaving fans concerned and confused. The former Silverchair frontman, 46, took to Instagram on Monday to share a photo of himself draped in a pink paisley robe jacket, sitting against a plush green velvet backdrop. With his striking purple-and-blue hair and a knowing stare into the camera, Johns also showed off his neck tattoo that reads "DREAMS" a nod to his musical project with Luke Steele from Empire of the Sun, as well as a rose inked on his left hand. "Just got back from Cannes, the 1994 Pulp Fiction premiere was incredible- I always wanted to see it on the big screen!" he wrote. "Great job @tarantinouniverse and cast @johntravolta @samuelljackson #brucewilliss @umathurman / heading to a rave next week!" While the post quickly amassed nearly 16,800 likes (at time of writing), its strange caption raised eyebrows. "Time travelling now?" one fan asked, while another wrote: "1994DanielJohns is that you?" Another fan noted this isn't the first time Johns has referenced time travel, pointing to an earlier post marking his birthday on April 22, where he wrote: "I have to go back in time to finalise something and as a result I won't be on socials… All is love xx." Others saw deeper symbolism in his reference to 1994- the year Silverchair exploded into fame after their breakthrough single 'Tomorrow' hit number one on the ARIA charts. Originally named Innocent Criminals, the band was formed in Newcastle in 1992 by Johns and his childhood friends Ben Gillies and Chris Joannou. Rebranded as Silverchair in 1995, the trio would go on to become one of the country's most successful rock acts, selling more than 10 million albums and winning a record 21 ARIA Awards from 49 nominations. But by May 2011, the band announced they were going into "indefinite hibernation", citing a "lack of spark" between members. In 2023, Ben and Chris released a memoir titled 'Love & Pain: The epic times and crooked lines of life inside and outside Silverchair', detailing the rise and fall of the band and their complicated relationship with Johns. The book was supported by a two-part episode of Australian Story, which aired on ABC, but Johns was notably absent from the special and later claimed he was denied a chance to preview the memoir despite being asked to approve several of his songs for use. "I was told again that Ben and Chris would not give me a copy to read. That's why the iView use was denied," Johns claimed in a statement at the time. "I have never sought to block their book, I merely asked to receive a copy in advance to fact check it. "I was concerned about my personal health records being discussed, I don't think that's unreasonable." Since Silverchair's disbandment, Johns has launched a solo career with two albums, TALK (2015) and FutureNever (2022). He has been open about his struggles with anxiety, addiction, anorexia, and arthritis, particularly in his 2021 Spotify podcast, "Who Is Daniel Johns?'. In the series, he spoke about his five-year marriage to Australian pop star Natalie Imbruglia from 2003-2008, describing it as "the best marriage ever." In a notable episode, Johns famously stated, "I wouldn't even get Silverchair back together for a million dollars with a gun to my head." More recently, he described himself as "a truly independent artist" who loves "making everything on my own terms". It's understood that Johns still lives in Newcastle. If you or anyone you know needs help: Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 Lifeline – 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
L.A. Weekend Guide: Cercle Odyssey, Jeffrey Gibson at the Broad, 'Life of Pi' at the Ahmanson
Every Thursday, Los Angeles magazine curates a list of the best events in and around Los Angeles. Craft a great last-minute schedule with our Weekend Guide to L.A., and don't forget to sign up to have the guide delivered to your inbox every week by clicking Odyssey — May 8-11The world's first 360-degree 'nomadic concert experience,' at the L.A. Convention Center launches with a stellar lineup of immersive music shows this month. Check out Empire of the Sun (May 8), Moby (May 9), The Blaze (May 10) and Black Coffee (May 11). The immersive production isn't just a feast for the eyes either, it offers innovative sound via L-Acoustics. Lolita Chakrabarti's stage adaptation of Yann Martel's best-selling novel —which also inspired Ang Lee's hit movie— was a Broadway sensation for its vibrant visuals and innovative puppetry, and now it's finally in L.A. The tale of a teenage boy who survives a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean thanks to the help of four animal companions (a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a huge Royal Bengal tiger) is a stunning stage spectacle with heart. The Broad presents the Indigenous artist's multidimensional work, adapted from its original presentation in the U.S. Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024. Over thirty works colorfully convey inclusivity, cultural critique and hope for a more equitable future. It's the Y2K era all over again at this Goldenvoice festival focused on indie and alternative music. Vampire Weekend and Rilo Kiley headline, along with Bloc Party, Chris Cruse, Courtney Barnett, Empire of the Sun, Grouplove, Hercules & Love Affair, Panda Bear, Perfume Genius, Peter Bjorn and John, Ra Ra Riot, Slowdive, The Drums, The Sounds, Them Jeans, Toro y Moi, TV on The Radio, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Wild Nothing. Long-running L.A. pansexual party A Club Called Rhonda provides with vibe with its DJ's. Expect a genre-blending, multi-media experience with music mash-ups, copious costume changes, artful cinematic backdrops and two fly-through-the-air moments. Read our full review HERE. Bose x LISA Pop-Up Boutique — May 10Shop goodies celebrating the K-pop superstar from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at this colorful Melrose pop-up. Best known for her work with Blackpink, LISA is forging her own musical path and her fans will be able to explore it via an art installation inspired by her style and music, and get exclusive star-embellished merch including the new Bose x LISA Ultra Open Earbuds. Click HERE for more details. The L.A. County Fair's 'pride day,' thrown by OUT on the Mountain (know for their Six Flags parties), invites the LGBTQ+ to come and celebrate the community by wearing your favorite Pride/rainbow colors and partake in food, rides, and visibility. After dark, they offer a special (18+) Pride dance party with go-go dancers and DJs. The majesty and soulful splendor will be off the charts as Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and Stephanie Mills come together for this mega-diva marathon. And who could pass up hearing "Midnight Train to Georgia," "I Feel For You," "Lady Marmalade" and "I Never Knew Love Like This Before" all in one night? Read our review of Chaka's set at last year's "Fool in Love" festival HERE.
The Guardian
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I hum the Chariots of Fire theme all day, every day': Nigel Havers on beach-running, playing Michael Caine's son and hating his name
I'm obsessed with the BBC Radio 4 programme, Nigel Havers' Ravers, where you recount your experiences during the ecstasy-fuelled 90s summers of love. I've never been sure if it was a) genuine, b) a brilliant and strange parody, or c) a fever dream of my own imagination. What's the truth, Nigel? UncleMontyI just don't remember it, so I'm Googling it … 'Dermot O'Leary, Nigel Havers Ravers, the definitive guide to the 90s underground rave scene from a man who lived through it.' Raves are where people go mad, take a load of drugs and dance all night, right? I don't think I've been to a rave in my life. I must have been bullshitting. I had you in my cab once in Sydney, where you were expounding to your fellow passengers that you could identify the drama school of any young performer on stage. That was 35 years ago, mate. Still the case, you reckon? moodmeisterI don't know what I meant by that, so I'm afraid that's also bollocks. Do you still ask parked motorists to switch off their engines? gregc1381All the time. I tap on the window and say: 'Do you mind turning your engine off?' The majority go: 'Oh, sorry, quite right,' but a few do say: 'Fuck off, what are you talking about?' I carry a little card that explains that an idling exhaust expels 150 balloons full of toxic air per minute. If nobody idled in Greater London tomorrow, it would cut pollution by a third. I know this because I was a Stop Idling ambassador for Westminster Council. I'm a fierce you have a portrait in your attic that is mysteriously ageing? You look exactly the same as you did 40 years ago. Megatron66Yes, but don't tell anyone. Did you enjoy working with Michael Caine when you played his son in the 1986 movie, The Whistle Blower? SpluttererHe was absolutely brilliant. He took me out to lunch the week before we started shooting and said: 'Nigel, are you gonna talk like me or shall I posh up?' I said: 'I think you should posh up.' He said: 'No worries.' On the first day, they went: 'Action' and he went [does Michael Caine impression]: 'Hello, son.' That was his posh-up. It was fantastic. We still see each other regularly. He still calls me 'son'. Empire of the Sun was one of the first western-made films to shoot in China. What was that like? MarkFilmgoerWe weren't there very long, to be honest. The suburbs of Shanghai were actually Ascot and the concentration prison camp was in Jerez in Spain. We were only in China for about 10 days. Did Hollywood come calling after Chariots of Fire's Oscar haul? Galdove19No. We didn't expect to win at the Oscars. Afterwards, we went to these big parties and [producer] David Puttnam said: 'Tomorrow, I want you to meet three film directors …' I said: 'I can't, I've got to go back tomorrow to film Jackanory,' and flew back, hence why I'm not living in Bel Air … How did you feel filming the wonderful beach scene in Chariots? DeborahGellerIt was a long, long day. Each take was a mile. A month later, David Puttnam said there was a problem developing the film – there was a scratch – so we had to do it again. But the weather and the waves were much better second time. Do you hum the theme music to Chariots of Fire to yourself? strcilovoI hum it all day, every day. You have an ability to make a TV character linger in the viewer's mind after the show. Is that something you do consciously? MountainAspectAbsolutely not. As I've always said, I'm a letterbox actor. A script comes through the letterbox. I do it. If you could choose a surprising project – one that completely goes against the grain of what the audience expects – what would it be? SpoonfulMeshuggahI'd like to play a villain in a gangster film, preferably directed by Guy Ritchie. I do feel typecast playing the nice English guy, but I never complain because I'm just lucky to be cast. I'll have a word with Guy Ritchie. I did pop up in The Gentlemen … pissed. I have played a bad guy, in The Charmer. He was so bad, I thought: 'Is it a good idea?' Then ITV said: 'We want to do another one.' I said: 'How can we? I'm dead! They hang me!' They said: 'There are ways we can get around that.' Years ago – Barbara Broccoli [producer] is a great friend of mine – I put it about that I was going to be the next Bond villain, and it was all over the internet. Barbara rang and said: 'I understand you're playing the villain?' I said: 'Can I?' She said: 'Only if you have plastic surgery to look like you're Korean.'I've seen you at Craven Cottage. Are you a Fulham fan? ArthurScagfootI've been a great Fulham fan since I was a teenager and could walk to the stadium. So is Hugh Grant, although we've never been together – but I have asked. The last time, he said: 'I can't come, I'm filming, but throw another coin at the linesman for me.'What possessed you to enter the [I'm A Celebrity] Jungle? LeeBirchIt was a big mistake. I'd never watched the show, so I had no idea what it entailed. You think it looks bad on TV. Shit, it was terrible. It was the boredom more than anything. There was a bloke called Lembit Öpik, the politician. After a couple of days, I wanted to kill him. Had I stayed, I would've killed him and I'd be in prison now. So it seemed like a good idea to leave. How was making Farewell to the King? It looked pretty gruelling! writeronthestormJohn Milius is an incredible writer/director. Nick Nolte became a great mate. He wasn't frightened of a pint, put it like that. He could drink anyone under the table. In the morning, he was so hungover, he'd have his makeup done lying down on a mattress in the jungle. He's a wonderful actor, but they'd go: 'Action,' and he'd go '[mumbles low, rough voice]', and I'd have to say: 'Sorry, Nick, I don't understand a fucking word you're saying.' How much fun was it playing keyboardist Tony Pebble in A Life of Rock With Brian Pern? Aubrey26Great fun. People believed we were a real band. One Sunday night in the West End, we did a show and it was completely full. Actors do harbour a secret desire to be rock stars. I was a rock star. My brother and I were in a band called January and released a record in 1968. We had the long hair, hooray hippy look. I'm sure photos exist, but gladly, I can't seem to find any. Watching you in Don't Wait Up was one of my formative experiences growing up in the 1980s. No other man in my life has ever lived up to Dr Tom Latimer. Please tell me you enjoyed making it as much as I enjoyed watching it? AtheneBergenI have to say it was one of the happiest times. They don't repeat it, do they? I think the BBC think it's too posh to repeat. Who would you want to play you in a biopic? ThankYouJohnTheo James, because he's so good-looking. I can play the Nigel Farage ruined being called Nigel for all other Nigels? PickleManNo, because Nigel is such an awful name. No one has been christened Nigel for 20 years. More people have been christened Lucifer than Nigel. It's already ruined. Do we all hang out, me, Farage, Planer, Lawson, Kennedy? No. But someone once wrote to me and said every year they have a Nigel get-together, would I like to come? I thought: 'Christ. A load of Nigels in the room, I can't think of anything worse …' As told to Rich Pelley Nigel Havers Talking Bollocks is at Royal Hall, Harrogate on 25 April, Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool on 26 April, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford on 16 May and Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury on 21 May.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
L.A. Woman: Academy President Janet Yang Discusses Her Career Path and Changes to the 2025 Oscars
'I had an unusual path,' says Janet Yang, who in 2022, became the first Asian American President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — and the fourth woman in the role. 'I went to live in China after college, purely out of curiosity,' says the Queens, New York native and Brown and Columbia MFA graduate. 'It is my parents' birthplace but was closed off during my entire upbringing. Suddenly in 1979, U.S.-China relations were normalized and I got a publishing job in Beijing. While there, I saw movies and TV shows made by, for and about people who looked like me — for the first time in my life!' Yang ended up running a company that distributed Chinese films in North America, then the studios hired her to sell American films to China. 'I had an office on the Universal lot, and one day, Kathy Kennedy calls to tell me that Steven (Spielberg) wants to make a movie in China,' she recalls. 'I ended up working on the [1987] epic Empire of the Sun, and that was when I finally discovered what I wanted to be when I grew up.' Her partnerships with heavyweights like Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone and producer/ current Jim Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson led to some monumental and award-winning projects. 'It's hard not to put [1993's] The Joy Luck Club toward the top of the list — in part because so many people still come to me today, 30 years after its release, to tell me how important the movie was in their lives,' Yang says. 'As the first studio-backed movie with an all-Asian cast, and one that tells Asian American stories so authentically thanks to Amy Tan's novel, the movie became an inspiration for many in our community to dare to dream about a career in film.' She has other favorites from the list, which includes 2000's The Weight of Water from director Kathryn Bigelow, 2002 legal thriller High Crimes with Morgan Freeman and 2007's Dark Matter with Meryl Streep. 'I have a special fondness for [1996's] The People vs. Larry Flint. Working with the brilliant director Milos Forman, and the brilliant cast, it was a studio movie that had something important to say. It is difficult to make a movie like that today,' she says. 'I am told by several friends that their kids absolutely love watching the [2020] Netflix animated movie, Over the Moon. They sing the songs repeatedly and have an aspirational heroine, Fei Fei, who wants to go to the moon.' For the native New Yorker, L.A. required some getting used to. 'It took me a few years to get comfortable here, primarily because of all the driving,' she says. 'But when I discovered hiking in the hills, which can practically be in your backyard, I got hooked.' Increasing Asian representation has been a priority for Yang, whose mother grew up in a very traditional Chinese household and culture. 'Her older sister had bound feet and was in an arranged marriage [and] her mother was totally illiterate,' she says. 'But she was able to pass a rigorous test and come to the U.S. to study, have a very full career at the United Nations, raise three children and still [find] time to play Mahjong and tennis regularly … and she did it with joy.' In 2018, she co-founded Gold House — a collective that unites the Asian Pacific community around common causes. 'I take great satisfaction in sponsoring with Julia Gouw and CAPE [Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment] a short film challenge for Asian women,' Yang adds, 'and I really enjoy the Entertainment Game Changer Conference I chair at Asia Society.' She's similarly worked to increase representation in the Academy, comprised of more than 10,500 prestigious film industry artists from around the world. 'Engaging internationally is in my DNA and fortunately, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and I agreed right off the bat that we needed to expand our membership globally to maintain relevance and foster growth,' she says. 'The world is more closely connected than ever, and we can be a giant umbrella for filmmakers and film lovers everywhere.' In addition to diversification, she's tried to build community. 'We have initiated a number of member outreach programs and have robust communication with our members,' she says. 'I like to think I have helped nurture a culture of compassion, of respect, of equity and of enthusiasm.' A desire to support the community also motivated her actions following the wildfires. The Academy donated $1 million and encouraged members to donate to the Motion Picture Television Fund (MTPF) — 'a fund that serves those greatly impacted by the fires in the industry,' she notes. They also altered the Oscar timetable: On Jan. 13, Yang and Kramer announced in a press release that, due to the still-active fires, they'd extended the nominations voting period (to Jan. 17), rescheduled the nominations announcement (to Jan. 23), canceled the nominees luncheon planned for Feb. 10 and postponed the Scientific and Technical Awards scheduled for Feb. 18. 'The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship,' they wrote. 'We are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry. We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts.' They closed with, 'We will get through this together and bring a sense of healing to our global film community.' The 97th Academy Awards show on March 2 will also celebrate the work that unites the global film community and acknowledge those who fought against the wildfires. 'Los Angeles is resilient, and we will honor the city's creativity and strength which have been so central to our industry,' Yang tells Los Angeles. Hosted by the Conan O'Brien, the show will highlight collaboration — the synergies and teamwork behind moviemaking. To that end, they'll be bringing back the 'Fab 5' moments, where film artists recognize nominees. The Best Original Song category presentation will move away from live performances and focus on the songwriters — featuring personal reflections from the teams who brought these songs to life. During the show, musical moments will also connect film's history to its future — and Los Angeles will be touted as a beautiful, resilient, city of dreams that's nurtured film creatives for over a century. 'We are in constant communication with the show's producers,' Yang notes. 'We keep an open door and solicit ideas from all our governors. We are constantly discussing not only the specifics of say presenters, etc., but also the tone. We want to celebrate our industry and talent from all areas.' Yang personally plans to return to producing — 'which I've not had much time for these past several years,' she says. And, as it represents what she calls 'the gold standard in the industry,' she sees the Academy's future as very bright. 'The importance of the institution – with its educational and talent development programs, its archival and restoration work, its screening series – cannot be overestimated,' she says. 'Last year, we launched Academy100, a revenue diversification and outreach campaign to ensure that this work can continue into the next 100 years.' She adds: 'And the love for the show cannot be overstated.' Read what Wolfgang Puck is cooking up for this year's Governors Ball.
Telegraph
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Gove's future revealed: Overindulgence and impulsiveness
Mary Rees-Mogg – Jacob's 16-year-old daughter – used her Tarot cards to help former Cabinet minister Michael Gove predict his future on GB News' Chopper's Political Podcast. Gove's chosen cards told how his past had 'created something of lasting value', which is one way to describe 14 years of Tory government, while in the future he was warned to 'beware of overindulgence or impulsiveness to regain balance in your life'. Good advice now he is back in journalism. Editors' dispute There was little love lost between newspaper grandees Alan Rusbridger and James Harding when Harding defended his purchase of The Observer against criticism from Rusbridger on his Media Confidential podcast. 'You had looked at closing it,' Harding said to Rusbridger, an ex-editor in chief of The Guardian. 'Ooh – this is getting interesting,' chipped in podcast co-host and ex-FT editor Lionel Barber. The conversation moved on. But a clearly stung Rusbridger admitted he had looked at replacing the 233-year-old Sunday paper with a Guardian on Sunday in 2009. Rusbridger later got his revenge, accusing Harding of nearly quitting his Tortoise website for CNN, saying: 'You were down to the last three.' Harding replied: 'I picked up the phone.' Gentlemen, please! Unpopular Nigel Veteran actor Nigel Havers hates his first name and says no baby has been called it for at least five years. Havers, 73, star of Chariots of Fire and Empire of the Sun, says: 'I hate the name Nigel. I think it's a silly name. And it's often parodied isn't it? Often in sketches the foolish sort of hooray is called Nigel.' He adds: 'More people were christened Lucifer than they were Nigel in the past few years. That's a fact.' Is there a more unpopular Christian name? Sex Pistol's wheelchair riot An evening speaking engagement with former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon – aka 'Johnny Rotten' – in Leicester 'ended up with two women in wheelchairs fighting', the 69-year old says. 'Their husbands had their walking sticks and they were waving them about. It was bizarre. I thought 'How do you handle this one?' It was like a bingo riot. I found out it was all over their wheelchair space. I thought 'Life is full of surprises? Should I use that as a sign to give up and retire?' Then I thought 'No. I want the front row to be full of iron lungs next time.'' Wes 4 PM Downing St photographers have found a novel way of getting Wes Streeting's attention when he comes out of the famous black door. 'Morning Prime Minister,' shouted one last week. The Health Secretary gave them a winning smile. I wonder why? Ringo's memorabilia Ringo Starr's son Zak – who turns 60 this year – never asks his 85-year-old father about what it was like to drum in The Beatles. 'The only information I get about The Beatles is when my dad volunteers it. I never ask. I have not seen [Peter Jackson's film] Get Back and I would like to watch it with him,' he tells me. 'I was saving up to watch it with him and he says: 'One, I was there. Two, I have seen it, and three, it is six hours long'.' Ringo's common sense has never left him. No Anglican Conclave Following papal thriller Conclave's Bafta film success, Robert Harris, author of the original 2016 novel, rules out a book based on the present controversies engulfing the Church of England. 'It's not quite got the 'oomph', has it, of the Vatican?' Harris says. 'Lambeth Palace – very pleasant place. But it's not exactly like St Peter's Basilica.' The closet Yodeller After I reported how the Rev Richard Coles said his ambition was to be a yodeller, Lynne Nash, who is working on a new book called The Closet Yodeller, gets in touch with some tips. 'If you can find a break in your voice then it's a start. Yodelling involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the chest voice and the head voice,' she advises. Nash – who yodels as Yodellynne – was a closet yodeller until she 'came out' in 2007 whilst gigging at an event where every one was very drunk. 'It went down well and I've been yodelling ever since,' she says. This could catch on.
