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San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘It's a big deal': Grahame Lesh readies for S.F.'s Grateful Dead 60th anniversary celebration
Grahame Lesh had a front row seat to one of the country's most cherished jam bands as a kid. Now, he's helping to carry forward its legacy. The son of Grateful Dead founding bassist Phil Lesh, the 38-year-old grew up immersed in the music and culture of the Bay Area band. Though he was only 8 years old when its founding guitarist Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack in 1995, he learned much of the music by watching his father perform in the spinoff group Phil Lesh & Friends, which was formed in 1998 and featured a rotating cast of musicians inspired by the Dead. Lesh even jammed with his father on several occasions. When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee died in October at 84, Lesh made it his mission to continue honoring his father's legacy through his own career. He plans to do so with the Heart of Town, a three-night concert series at San Francisco's Pier 48 that will be part of the electric city-wide celebration of the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary year. Scheduled for July 31-Aug. 2, the guitarist and his band Grahame Lesh & Friends will honor the influential band, which was founded in the 1960s and became emblematic of the era's counterculture movement, with an array of special musical guests. 'It just seems that the entire world of Grateful Dead fans are going to descend on the city,' Lesh said, describing the weekend as 'a celebration of the entire city and the music that came from San Francisco, especially in the '60s.' The Heart of Town's kickoff show is slated to begin at 8 p.m., but the Aug. 1-2 shows, which overlap with Dead & Company's sold-out three-show run, will begin at 11 p.m. to allow Deadheads to attend both concerts without being too crunched for time. Lesh spoke with the Chronicle a few weeks before kicking off the Heart of Town shows. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q: What inspired the Heart of Town run of shows? A: It's the 60th, it's a big deal … It really just seemed perfect to try and gather as many musicians that have been inspired by the Grateful Dead, because there's countless of them, including myself. A: I've lived in the Bay Area my whole life, in Marin and in San Francisco, so it's not unfamiliar to me what the community is like. … I run into Deadheads everywhere, and my dad would as well. It's very cool to give everyone in the community, and the familiar faces that I'm going to see, a place, basically the whole city, to go and celebrate the music and the community that we all love. Q: Is there a particular memory you have growing up around the Dead that really sticks with you as a musician today? A: I was younger when it was the actual Grateful Dead, so I kind of learned this music when my dad started Phil Lesh & Friends a few years later. … The breadth of musicians that came through is very memorable to me, and I really learned and have memories from them that are maybe even stronger than my memories of the Grateful Dead. But every time my dad and Bob and Mickey and Billy would get back together and do something as the Dead or as the Other Ones, it was always really special. They all harkened back to the long history they had since they were in their teens and 20s. It's kind of crazy how far back the music goes and reaches deep into the roots of American music that predate even them. My brother and I grew up in this whole community and it's going to outlive us all too. Q: What is the most helpful piece of advice you received during that experience? A: My dad would talk a lot about the way they approached the music. But the takeaway generally was just that they always did what felt right, and they pursued what they wanted, what they thought sounded good, what they thought was fun, what they thought was right for each song in each moment. That sort of freedom is definitely what I try to bring to every time I approach the music. Q: What does it feel like to be carrying forward your father's legacy with these upcoming San Francisco shows? A: It's been nine months or so since he passed, so it's all still relatively fresh. It's all very special. I was lucky enough to play with him in San Francisco, especially in the last five or so years, kind of a lot. The Grateful Dead is kind of just the ultimate American music to me and to a lot of people. It's always very special to be a part of that.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Hrithik Roshan recalled meeting Michael Jackson during 'Kites' shoot: ‘It took me time to absorb'
Hrithik Roshan vividly recalled meeting Michael Jackson during the 2008 shoot of Kites. The unexpected encounter left a lasting impression, with Hrithik saying, 'It took me time to absorb.' Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," visited India in 1996. Hrithik's upcoming films include 'War 2' and 'Krrish 4'. Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan vividly recalled the time he met the King of Pop, Michael Jackson , on the set of his 2008 film 'Kites'. In an interview, he said, 'I was in my makeup room when two bodyguards came in, followed by a slender, pale man with long hair. Glancing at the mirror, I thought… this must be Michael Jackson… then he approached me saying, 'Hi, I am Michael, nice to meet you. '' Hrithik's Reaction to the Encounter In a conversation with Farhan Akhtar on his talk show 'Oye, it's Friday', Hrithik said, 'He shook my hand. He went. I went back to my makeup. Suddenly, after two minutes, I realise what I am doing. What am I doing here if Michael Jackson is in the next room?. It took me time to absorb the fact. When it hit me…I caught up and we took some pictures and all. Big fan of his dance…" Michael Jackson's Legacy and Visit to India Michael, widely known as the "King of Pop," was an iconic American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. He visited India once in 1996 during his HIStory World Tour. He performed a single concert on November 1, 1996, in Mumbai. Starting as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 at age six, he launched a hugely successful solo career with landmark albums like 'Off the Wall, 'Thriller', the best-selling album in history, and 'Bad'. His career achievements include 13 Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You might be interested Undo Hrithik Roshan's Upcoming Projects On the professional front, Hrithik Roshan will next appear in the film 'War 2' alongside Jr NTR. He is also gearing up for 'Krrish 4', in which he will return as the iconic Bollywood superhero. Although the film is still in pre-production, fans are eagerly awaiting further updates about this highly anticipated project.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Cyndi Lauper says goodbye to touring with heart, color and powerhouse vocals: Review
BRISTOW, Va. – In the nine months since Cyndi Lauper launched her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, she's birthed a worldwide arena run and an October premiere date for her long-gestating 'Working Girl' musical. She's also been rightfully crowned an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this fall and remained a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and women's issues, raising $200,000 through fan donations during the tour for her Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Fund. In other words, Cyndi has remained Cyndi – indefatigable, loyal and bracingly authentic. The final leg of her final tour kicked off July 17, this time hitting amphitheaters, with a slightly modified production from her arena run. Lauper, a seemingly ageless 72, will say goodbye to the road – but not to music – with a two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles Aug. 29-30. At Jiffy Lube Live amphitheater in northern Virginia July 24, Lauper uncorked a generous mix of classics ('True Colors,' 'Change of Heart') and album tracks ('Who Let in the Rain,' 'Shine') with her well-honed five-piece band anchored by drummer Sterling Campbell and percussionist Mona Tavakoli. But her storytelling between the music also riveted those willing to stop scrolling through their phones to listen. There is a direct through line from Lauper to Lady Gaga from a theatrical standpoint. Unlike Gaga, also currently captivating fans with her sublime Mayhem Ball tour, Lauper has never been a dancer, aside from her unbridled arm waves and hip swings first captured on the cover of her blockbuster 'She's So Unusual' debut more than 40 years ago. She uses her bold fashion – wig changes from blue to canary yellow, outfits from ruffled trains to polka dots – and gale-force voice to sell her drama. Cyndi Lauper tells fans 'you write the book' While it is endlessly amusing to watch Lauper cavort through the opening 'She Bop' (hilarious to recall the song was considered risqué in the '80s) as fans are blasted with rainbow confetti and dance with abandon during the underappreciated 'The Goonies 'R Good Enough,' the songs where Lauper flourishes are ballads. Her rendition of Roy Orbison's 'I Drove All Night' is an exhale of yearning. But Lauper sharing her story of how being an outcast in high school shaped her is what garnered the most applause: 'This is one chapter in your life. You get to write the other chapters … you write the book,' she said in her staccato New York accent. A highlight of the two-hour show was her riveting performance of 'Sally's Pigeons.' Following a deep, detailed story about her family, growing up in Queens and the neighbor who inspired the song, Lauper stood under a lone spotlight, singing the first verse of the song a capella. Close-ups of her face on the long-paneled screens behind the stage captured every facial contortion as she poured her emotion into the poignant ballad. More: Lady Gaga thrills at theatrical Mayhem Ball tour kickoff: Review Cyndi Lauper has mastered mixing fun with philosophy Lauper's Carole-Lombard-meets-Lucille-Ball kookiness has always been part of her charm. She can blast her voice to stratospheric heights on her version of Gene Pitney's 1964 hit, 'I'm Gonna Be Strong,' gather her band and two backup singers for a sprightly skip through 'Iko Iko' or ask the crowd to hold up their phones to 'make a community of light, in case it gets really dark' for the eternally tender 'Time After Time.' Opener Jake Wesley Rogers joined her for a vigorous rendition of 'Money Changes Everything,' the pair slinging lyrics between them and laying on the stage floor to pound out emphatic notes before an encore that, of course, included 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun.' Through it all, Lauper's mixture of street-smart philosophies delivered with candor and undiminished vocal prowess cement her standing as a hall of famer far beyond a music museum.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Solid gold slaying
Just in case you need convincing of Ozzy Osbourne's genius, here are 10 of his essential songs, writes Mikael Wood. A balladeer in the body of a headbanger, Ozzy Osbourne brought soul and emotion to the heavy metal genre he helped invent as the frontman of Black Sabbath and which he turned into a global force as an outrage-courting solo act. Osbourne, who died this week at 76 — just weeks after he gave what he billed as his final performance in his hometown of Birmingham, England — sold tens of millions of albums, was twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and late in life found an unlikely second career as a pioneering reality-television star. Here, in the order they were released, are 10 of his essential songs. BLACK SABBATH, PARANOID (1970) As heavy as Black Sabbath was, the band could also be remarkably light on its feet, as in the group's zippy breakout single, which hit No.4 on the UK pop chart. Paranoid is narrated by a depressed young man who ''can't see the things that make true happiness'', as Osbourne sings against Tony Iommi's chugging guitar riff. Yet the song keeps hurtling forward with a kind of dogged determination. BLACK SABBATH, WAR PIGS (1970) An anti-war protest song as pointed as John Fogerty's Fortunate Son, War Pigs couches its musings on the mendacity of Vietnam's architects in images of witches and sorcerers poisoning brainwashed minds. The disgust in Osbourne's sneering vocal is still palpable. BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAN (1970) Leave it to Osbourne to find the empathy in this bludgeoning yet weirdly tender account of a guy who travels through time to save humanity only to be ''turned to steel in the great magnetic field'' on his return trip. ''Nobody wants him/ They just turn their heads,'' he sings, ''Nobody helps him/ Now he has his revenge.'' BLACK SABBATH, SWEET LEAF (1971) A love song addressed to weed? Osbourne stretches the bit about as far as it can go as Iommi cranks out the sludgy lick that would later be sampled prominently by the Beastie Boys in their Rhymin & Stealin. BLACK SABBATH, CHANGES (1972) Osbourne's most touching vocal performance came in this woebegone piano ballad from Black Sabbath's fourth album; he sings with so much agony about a romantic breakup that the song doesn't even bother with guitar or drums. In 2003, Osbourne recut Changes as a duet with his then-19-year-old daughter Kelly; a decade later, the soul singer Charles Bradley recorded a wrenching cover not long before he died. CRAZY TRAIN (1980) Osbourne got the boot from Black Sabbath in 1979 after his bandmates tired of his drug and alcohol abuse. Yet Osbourne quickly rebounded as a solo act, scoring a Top 10 rock radio hit on his first try with Crazy Train, which he wrote and recorded with guitarist Randy Rhoads. Lyrically, Crazy Train contemplates the ''millions of people living as foes'' amid the Cold War — a dark theme that somehow led to Osbourne's most euphoric song. MR. CROWLEY (1980) To follow up Crazy Train, Osbourne and Rhoads revived Black Sabbath's preoccupation with the occult for this mid-tempo jam about the self-styled prophet Aleister Crowley. NO MORE TEARS (1991) Unlike many heavy-metal elders, Osbourne stayed relevant into the grunge era with hits like the bleakly hypnotic title track from his quadruple-platinum No More Tears LP, which showcased his close collaboration with guitarist Zakk Wylde. MAMA, I'M COMING HOME (1991) No More Tears yielded another staple of early-'90s MTV in this soaring power ballad that Osbourne and Wylde wrote with Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. POST MALONE FEATURING OZZY OSBOURNE AND TRAVIS SCOTT, TAKE WHAT YOU WANT (2019) At 70, Osbourne surprised many with his robust vocal cameo in this trap-metal pile-up from Post Malone's smash Hollywood's Bleeding LP. — TCA
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jelly Roll Mourns Loss of Rock Legend With 6 Heartbreaking Words
Jelly Roll is mourning the loss of Ozzy Osbourne. "Forever grateful. Thank you for everything," the country music star captioned a photo of himself with Osbourne, posting on his Instagram stories. In 2024, Jelly Roll paid tribute to Osbourne at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Prior to the performance, Osbourne told Rolling Stone that he was delighted that the country music star would be taking part in his special day. "Who doesn't love Jelly Roll? His voice is soulful, pure, and dirty. I'm so honored that someone would do this for me who I've never had the pleasure of meeting," Osbourne said. Jelly Roll performed the Osbourne classic, "Mama, I'm Coming Home" at the induction ceremony. He was joined on stage by guitarist Zakk Wylde, who co-wrote the song. Osbourne producer Andrew Watt was also on stage, as was Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, who accompanied Jelly Roll at the time. Osbourne died on July 22 at the age of 76. Though his cause of death has not yet been revealed, the rock legend had been dealing with a variety of health issues, including Parkinson's disease. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," the Osbourne family said in a statement, according to Roll Mourns Loss of Rock Legend With 6 Heartbreaking Words first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 24, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
