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FYI

Music Biz Headlines, May 18, 2018

Alex Lifeson recalls a memorable early Rush gig, Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury, and Serge Fiori and Richard Seguin revisit a Quebec rock classic. Others in the headlines include Joan Armatrading, Nyssa, Bhad Bhabie, Deadpool, Vancouver Cantata Singers, U2, Doc Walker, and Brooks Kerr.

Music Biz Headlines, May 18, 2018

By Kerry Doole

The time Rush opened for The New York Dolls in Toronto

Alex Lifeson recalls the memorable gig at burlesque venue The Victory Theatre –  West End Phoenix


Serge Fiori, Richard Séguin revisit ‘end of an era’ for Quebec rock

The iconic rockers reissue their classic 1978 album Deux cents nuits à l'heure, recorded as the top Quebec acts of the ‘70s were disbanding –  Brendan Kelly, Montreal Gazette

'I was born to write'… Joan Armatrading on Dylan, songwriting and stage fright

The songwriter, whose new album is Not Too Far Away, weighs in on Post Malone, recording with Queen and learning to play on a £3 guitar in a webchat  – The Guardian

Rami Malek looks like he gets everything right in Bohemian Rhapsody, including Freddie's famous overbite

The problem with 90 percent of all music biopics is that it’s impossible to separate the actors from the legends they are portraying –  Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

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Classical music: Vancouver Cantata Singers celebrate 60 years

The Vancouver Cantata Singers' 60th birthday celebration pays respect to the past and sets the tone for future endeavours –  DG Duke, Vancouver Sun

Nyssa sings the untold stories of women in rock

The Toronto electro-glam musician has been in bands since she was a teenager and she's channelled her experiences into Champion Of Love –  Suzanne Andrew, NOW

Bhad Bhabie aimed to prove she's more than a viral gimmick at Mod Club

In front of a roaring crowd, the controversial Cash Me Outside girl showed she has some actual star power, but she was overshadowed by her dazzling opener –  Sumiko Wilson, NOW

Deadpool costume ‘felt like a nightmare,’ says dancer Yanis Marshall

Dancing in Céline Dion’s new “Ashes” music video for the Deadpool 2 soundtrack was anything but easy, he admits –  Victoria Ahearn, CP

At the Forum, U2 had the '90s on its mind

The Irish rockers show in LA reviewed –   Mikal Wood, LA Times

Ballet dancers find hope at the end of the world

This isn't the first time that contemporary dance has been served up by four-four rock grooves and electric guitar but it works –  Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal

It's been an interesting journey for Doc Walker

Chris Thorsteinson is a little surprised when Doc Walker is referred to as a veteran band –  Jeff DeDekker, Regina Leader-Post

Piano prodigy Brooks Kerr stood in for Duke Ellington

Two years before Duke Ellington died at 75, he spent a week at the University of Wisconsin in Madison with his orchestra, teaching and performing in concert. Among the indispensable members of his entourage was a lean, legally blind 20-year-old pianist to whom Mr Ellington referred students in his master class  –  Sam Roberts, NYT news service

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Kneecap Blasts Norwegian Government at Oslo Festival, Accusing It of Funding ‘Genocide’ Against Palestinians
Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Mo Chara, DJ Provaí and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap performs on the West Holts Stage during during day four of Glastonbury Festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 in Glastonbury, England.

Music News

Kneecap Blasts Norwegian Government at Oslo Festival, Accusing It of Funding ‘Genocide’ Against Palestinians

The Irish rap trio went after the Norwegian government over its investments, which are currently under scrutiny, at Øyafestivalen.

Irish rap group Kneecap – which has drawn a storm of criticism, support, attention and legal action over the past half-year – continued to speak out about the war in Gaza during an afternoon set at the Øyafestivalen in Oslo, Norway, on Friday (Aug. 8).

Right before the trio of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí took the stage, an English-language white-text-on-black-background message played on a video screen, accusing the Norwegian government of “enabling” the “genocide” against the Palestinian people via investments held in the county’s sovereign wealth fund (referenced as “oil pension fund” in the message). “Over 80,000 people have been murdered by Israel in 21 months,” the band’s message continued. “Free Palestine.” The message was greeted readily by a cheering audience. Most estimates (including those from health officials in the area) place the Palestinian death toll at more than 60,000. That number does not distinguish between civilians and Hamas militants. An estimated 18,500 of those killed were children.

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