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The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
When he was 16 this musician met Elmer Bernstein. It changed everything
Enthralled by the work of film composers such as James Horner, Alan Silvestri and Danny Elfman ('my north star'), going to the movies became an obsession, although his motives were different to those of his friends. 'They would go, 'Wow, that chick was so hot' or, 'Did you see that scene where the guy exploded?' 'And I would go, 'Did you guys hear what Jerry Goldsmith did with the French horns? I think that was the bad guys' theme, but he turned it upside down. I'm going to see it again tomorrow to find out.' 'They thought I was a weirdo,' he laughs. In high school, McCreary met an elderly gentleman named Joe, who ran the Bellingham Yacht Club and told him legendary composer Elmer Bernstein, who wrote McCreary's favourite score of all time in To Kill a Mockingbird, moored his yacht there. Joe offered to give Bernstein a tape of the then 16-year-old's work. Bernstein then took McCreary under his wing as a protege until his death in 2004. 'The reason I wanted to work with her is because of who she is, not just her voice. The rebel that she was. Between that recording and her untimely death we became friends. We were texting all the time. She was so funny.' Bear McCreary on Sinead O'Connor 'I didn't know what a life in film music could be,' McCreary reflects. 'And then I met Elmer, who was the sweetest, most thoughtful man I'd ever met. He had a great relationship with his wife and kids, people respected him immensely, and yet he took no shit. 'Getting to know him gave me something to point to. It wasn't even about the music, it was personal. You could have a life. That's where I want to be when I'm pushing 80.' McCreary's big break was scoring the 2004 TV reboot of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. But just as significant was working with Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who sang the main title for season seven of Outlander, her final ever recording. 'The reason I wanted to work with her is because of who she is, not just her voice,' McCreary says. 'The rebel that she was. Between that recording and her untimely death we became friends. We were texting all the time. She was so funny.' Another life-changing moment came with Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), for which McCreary recorded a hard rock cover of Blue Öyster Cult's Godzilla featuring System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian and legendary heavy metal drummer Gene Hoglan. 'It was one of the best days of my life,' he beams. 'And I got in the car and I was driving home and I was totally buzzed. But by the time I got into my driveway I was really sad.' Over the space of that short car ride, it dawned on McCreary that this was likely a one-off experience. Then he was struck by a revelation. 'What if I just started writing some music for the people I want to work with, and it's not for a film?' he says. The result was McCreary's 2024 album The Singularity, a two-LP set that merges the grandeur of his scoring work with the bombast of hard rock and heavy metal. It features guests such as Tankian, Hoglan, Kim Thayil from Soundgarden, Slipknot's Corey Taylor and guitar heroes Joe Satriani and Slash from Guns N' Roses. McCreary will perform songs from The Singularity and his scoring career in Australia in July on his Themes & Variations tour. 'It's a celebration of everything I've written in my life. And it's a chance to hear all these pieces from The Singularity, from The Walking Dead, from Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Godzilla. I'm re-envisioning it all in a format that fits the stage we're on.' Loading For someone experiencing his first taste of touring, adjusting to life on the road has taken some work. Luckily, McCreary has some experienced pals to call on. 'I got fantastic touring laundry advice from [Guns N' Roses bassist] Duff McKagan,' he says. 'I find myself texting a picture of my laundry to Slash and Duff and I'm like, I think I've got this figured out!' Given the contrast between his orchestral film scores and the guitar-fuelled tracks from The Singularity, one wonders what kind of audience he's been attracting on the tour. He reflects on a recent show in Europe.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
When he was 16 this musician met Elmer Bernstein. It changed everything
Enthralled by the work of film composers such as James Horner, Alan Silvestri and Danny Elfman ('my north star'), going to the movies became an obsession, although his motives were different to those of his friends. 'They would go, 'Wow, that chick was so hot' or, 'Did you see that scene where the guy exploded?' 'And I would go, 'Did you guys hear what Jerry Goldsmith did with the French horns? I think that was the bad guys' theme, but he turned it upside down. I'm going to see it again tomorrow to find out.' 'They thought I was a weirdo,' he laughs. In high school, McCreary met an elderly gentleman named Joe, who ran the Bellingham Yacht Club and told him legendary composer Elmer Bernstein, who wrote McCreary's favourite score of all time in To Kill a Mockingbird, moored his yacht there. Joe offered to give Bernstein a tape of the then 16-year-old's work. Bernstein then took McCreary under his wing as a protege until his death in 2004. 'The reason I wanted to work with her is because of who she is, not just her voice. The rebel that she was. Between that recording and her untimely death we became friends. We were texting all the time. She was so funny.' Bear McCreary on Sinead O'Connor 'I didn't know what a life in film music could be,' McCreary reflects. 'And then I met Elmer, who was the sweetest, most thoughtful man I'd ever met. He had a great relationship with his wife and kids, people respected him immensely, and yet he took no shit. 'Getting to know him gave me something to point to. It wasn't even about the music, it was personal. You could have a life. That's where I want to be when I'm pushing 80.' McCreary's big break was scoring the 2004 TV reboot of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. But just as significant was working with Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who sang the main title for season seven of Outlander, her final ever recording. 'The reason I wanted to work with her is because of who she is, not just her voice,' McCreary says. 'The rebel that she was. Between that recording and her untimely death we became friends. We were texting all the time. She was so funny.' Another life-changing moment came with Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), for which McCreary recorded a hard rock cover of Blue Öyster Cult's Godzilla featuring System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian and legendary heavy metal drummer Gene Hoglan. 'It was one of the best days of my life,' he beams. 'And I got in the car and I was driving home and I was totally buzzed. But by the time I got into my driveway I was really sad.' Over the space of that short car ride, it dawned on McCreary that this was likely a one-off experience. Then he was struck by a revelation. 'What if I just started writing some music for the people I want to work with, and it's not for a film?' he says. The result was McCreary's 2024 album The Singularity, a two-LP set that merges the grandeur of his scoring work with the bombast of hard rock and heavy metal. It features guests such as Tankian, Hoglan, Kim Thayil from Soundgarden, Slipknot's Corey Taylor and guitar heroes Joe Satriani and Slash from Guns N' Roses. McCreary will perform songs from The Singularity and his scoring career in Australia in July on his Themes & Variations tour. 'It's a celebration of everything I've written in my life. And it's a chance to hear all these pieces from The Singularity, from The Walking Dead, from Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Godzilla. I'm re-envisioning it all in a format that fits the stage we're on.' Loading For someone experiencing his first taste of touring, adjusting to life on the road has taken some work. Luckily, McCreary has some experienced pals to call on. 'I got fantastic touring laundry advice from [Guns N' Roses bassist] Duff McKagan,' he says. 'I find myself texting a picture of my laundry to Slash and Duff and I'm like, I think I've got this figured out!' Given the contrast between his orchestral film scores and the guitar-fuelled tracks from The Singularity, one wonders what kind of audience he's been attracting on the tour. He reflects on a recent show in Europe.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Threatens Apple With 25% Tariff on iPhones
The post Trump Threatens Apple With 25% Tariff on iPhones appeared first on Consequence. Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple iPhones unless production is moved to the US. 'I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning. 'If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.' Apple currently manufactures most of its iPhone components in China and India, and the company has long argued that relocating such a large-scale operation to the US is impractical due to the lack of a low-cost workforce, and lead to devices that could cost over $3,500. Apple has also estimated that even if production were moved, it would take a decade to become fully operational in the US. However, the company has left the door open for eventually relocating its manufacturing to America, contingent on advancements in robotics that would enable production at a scale and precision comparable to human labor. Popular Posts Holy Shit, You Have to See Footage from System of a Down's Concert in Brazil Bruce Springsteen Gives Trump the Middle Finger with Another Defiant Concert Guns N' Roses Share Video of Axl Rose Repeatedly Falling Onstage: Watch Trump Warns Springsteen: "He Ought to Keep His Mouth Shut Until He's Back Into the Country" The 30 Best Action Movie Stars of All Time, Ranked Neil Young to Trump: "I'm Not Scared of You. Neither Are the Rest of Us" Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
The Onion
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Onion
The Onion's Exclusive Interview With Ms. Rachel
Rachel Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, is a popular YouTuber who creates videos for toddlers. The Onion sat down with Ms. Rachel to discuss education, social media, and the backlash to her public support for the children of Gaza. The Onion : Why did you create your show Songs For Littles ? Ms. Rachel: I figured if that dipshit Blippi could make it big, anyone could. The Onion : What song do children love most? Ms. Rachel: 'Toxicity' by System of a Down. The Onion : What inspired you to speak out about Gaza? Ms. Rachel: While I've enjoyed a great deal of success, my real dream has always been getting called an 'antisemitic cunt' online. The Onion : What's the biggest advantage of creating content for babies? Ms. Rachel: They can't leave death threats in the comments. The Onion : Any fun stories from the set? Ms. Rachel: One day, no matter how many times I tried, I just couldn't count to four correctly. Turns out, I was having a stroke. The Onion : What do you say to children who recognize you in public? Ms. Rachel: Don't touch the overalls. The Onion : What do you say to your critics? Ms. Rachel: Good luck potty training your child without me.
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Bear McCreary talks Slash, squeezeboxes, and ‘The Singularity'
But when he was writing his rock concept album, 'The Singularity,' in 2023, he said, he knew he'd want to perform his own music live. 'I looked in the mirror and thought – am I going to be Keyboard Guy at my own rock show?' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In the end, he had been studying guitar for less than a year when he played onstage beside his teenage musical idol, Guns n' Roses guitarist 'To this day, I would struggle to play 'Let it Be' on an acoustic guitar, but I can play my own rock riffs!' he said gleefully. 'I'm just always trying to learn new things.' As McCreary prepared to embark on the American leg of his 'Themes and Variations' tour with a seven-piece band, he spoke with the Globe about the musical friendships he's nurtured, reconnecting with his Armenian roots, and teaching himself the accordion at age 19. Advertisement Q. On the Themes and Variations tour, what repertoire are you prioritizing to play live? A. Each of these people has played with me for years. Lead singer and acoustic guitar Brendan McCreary is my brother. I've been making music with him my entire life. Paul Cartwright, my violinist, played on the first episode of 'Battlestar Galactica'; he's played on every episode of 'Outlander' and 'Rings of Power;' he's integral to my sound. I'm bringing Gene Hoglan, who was the drummer on 'The Singularity.' Everybody has that kind of personal connection to me. So the repertoire is a mixture of some songs from 'The Singularity' with themes from my scoring career, reconfigured a little to translate to this rock ensemble. Many of my scores make that leap easily. Like, when we play the theme from 'The Walking Dead,' you're gonna hear Paul on violin playing that main title piece just like on the original recording, but then as it evolves we get to bring the band in and supercharge it. Being able to bring these melodies into an environment where you get to see those of us that actually created it on stage; there's something really special about that for me. It's epic and emotional, and potentially loud. Bring some earplugs. It's a rock show. Q. You mentioned you're part Armenian; did you know the Boston area has a huge Armenian community? A. As does Glendale, out here. When I first moved to southern California, I was walking around seeing women that looked like my grandmother, and I was surprised because I didn't know much about my Armenian heritage growing up in Bellingham, Washington. My great-grandmother, who escaped the genocide and came through Ellis Island with her babe in arms, had a very common experience to some Armenians. They really wanted to create new roots, so they didn't raise their children speaking Armenian. They wanted to be American. Advertisement It was through Armenian musician circles [in L.A.] that I met Serj Tankian [from hard rock band System of a Down], and my brother and I have become very close with him. I haven't yet returned to Armenia, but that's on the horizon. I've been working on a theater piece about my family's journey for the last 20 years, and it will be something I get to one of these days because it's a harrowing, incredible story. When social movements take hold that try to oppress people, one great way to [further those movements] is to make sure that movies and games and shows don't feature oppressed people. So I'm always on the lookout. I like being part of stories that I think are important. Q. What are you working on that tells those kinds of 'important stories?' A. This is going to sound silly, but when I started working on 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' and there was a Black elf and a Black dwarf, I was like, 'People will see there's a diversity of people in Middle Earth.' I think that's cool. I also don't think it's a big deal – like, we're talking about fantasy! But I knew there'd be treatises online about why [having Black characters] is impossible. Advertisement To which I'm like – that's a silly thing to get mad about, but I was proud of everybody on the show, and those actors are phenomenal. The show's doing well, and I have felt I'm able to do my part when they come on screen. They're heroes; I'm going to give them a hero's fanfare. I am making it contextually clear who this character is to the audience. Q. What made you decide to learn the accordion? A. I took piano lessons when I was a kid; in high school, I loved getting my friends together and playing in bands. I hated being stuck behind the keyboard. I hated it! But I didn't play guitar. So the accordion…you can see where I'm going with this. I can move around! It's funny, because I got the accordion when I was 19, and I was down in the basement of my dorm in college practicing and learning it. People would come downstairs because they were annoyed, because it was echoing through the cement halls, but they'd be standing there. My hair wasn't as long as it was now, but I'd be thrashing my head around, and when I was done they'd say – often – 'you look like Slash!' And of course, I loved Slash's playing. I played accordion like I wanted to be Slash, which is funny because now I work with him. Q. Have you told him that story? A. You know what, I haven't. I should admit it. Maybe he'll read it in this article. Interview has been condensed and edited. BEAR MCCREARY May 23, 8 p.m. Somerville Theatre. Advertisement A.Z. Madonna can be reached at
