Music Biz Headlines, Oct. 5, 2018
Tom Petty (pictured) is remembered, Moe Berg discusses TPOH, and Wu-Tang Clan deliver the goods. Others in the headlines include The Byrds, Charles Aznavour, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Ensign Broderick, Steve Hill, Deafheaven, Justin Bieber, Kavanugh protests, Nigel Olsson, and Taylor Swift.
By Kerry Doole
Moe Berg still can’t believe the ‘stupid luck’ that made the Pursuit of Happiness famous
By Berg’s own admission, the road taken to the Pursuit of Happiness’s 1988 debut album, Love Junk, was almost obnoxiously smooth. Within a year of landing in Toronto from Edmonton with future TPOH drummer Dave Gilby in 1985, Berg had a hot band behind him, and a freak hit on his hands in the form of the ageless “I’m An Adult Now." – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Tom Petty’s biographer on the story he didn't tell
"Tom Petty was a long-term relationship well before I met him, well before I stood up there as a guitar player in a Heartbreakers opening act, well before he approached me about writing his biography." – Warren Zanes, Rolling Stone
Wu-Tang Clan played their classic debut in full in Toronto
The whole group came together for the 25th anniversary of Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – a free concert at Rebel sponsored by a cannabis company. The results were stellar. – Nick Flanagan, NOW
Roger McGuinn & Chris Hillman celebrate ‘Sweetheart Of The Rodeo’ at Town Hall: Review & photos
Sweetheart became a touchstone for the genre’s 1970’s So-Cal heyday, Austin’s outlaw country scene and later an essential reference for the alt-country and Americana movements of the 1990’s and 2000’s. Now, 50 years later, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman of The Byrds have put together a tour to celebrate its legacy. – Jeffrey Greenblatt, jambase
From drag queens to dead marriages, Charles Aznavour was far from easy listening
Many think of him as grandma-friendly, but Aznavour’s chansons are intimate sketches of despair and domestic strife. – Alexis Petridis, The Guardian
Emporium & PromoWest acquisitions have promoters asking 'who's next?'
A flurry of new acquisitions by the country's two largest concert promoters has many in the music industry wondering which regional concert promoters will be acquired next by either Live Nation or AEG. Dave Brooks, Billboard
Concert review: Jay-Z and Beyoncé put on a powerhouse performance at BC Place
The energy never faded in the Vancouver stadium. Safe to say there is no other couple in music that can touch their performance and production prowess. – Stuart Derdeyn, Calgary Herald
'A culmination of my career:' Tina Turner musical headed to Broadway
Move over, Donna Summer, Carole King and Cher. There's another diva heading to Broadway — Tina Turner. Producers of Tina said Wednesday a new musical based on the life of the legendary artist will land on the Great White Way in the fall of 2019. – AP
Watch Bruce Springsteen’s surprise three-song set with Social Distortion
The Boss took a break from his Broadway duties on Sunday night to guest with the veteran punk band at the Sea.Hear.Now festival in his adopted hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey. – Andy Greene, Rolling Stone
Ensign Broderick is a sparkling balladeer
The pianist/composer (and son of Sam the Record Man) has a few things to say about style. – Carly Lewis, Toronto Life
Chile's Claveria marries Andean, Afro-Cuban and Celtic to discover Something In Common
"It was the flutes that really got my attention because to me the Irish flutes sound very similar to traditional Andean flutes like the quena. I always thought they could work together” - Marco Claveria. – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
One man, one guitar and the blues: Steve Hill
The Montreal blues-rock guitar hero went solo in the truest sense of the word. – Jason Bain, Peterborough Examiner
Deafheaven review – mixed-up metalheads gallop to the end of the world
George Clarke’s intense screaming is straight from extreme metal, but the San Francisco band pull in dream-pop, post-rock and more for this fearsome, beautiful show. – Dave Simpson, The Guardian
More evidence Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are already married
The Biebs referred to model Hailey as his “wife” while visiting the Stratford Perth Museum in his home province of Ontario on Sunday. – WENN
Alicia Keys, Michael Stipe and other celebs will protest Kavanaugh
Protests of the nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court are about to get starrier: A group of celebs, including Keys, Stipe, Erykah Badu and Esperanza Spalding, are lending their support to a gathering taking place outside the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse. – Emily Heil, Washington Post
Nigel Olsson on 50 years of drumming for Sir Elton: 'It’s all from the heart'
In this interview with Lynn Saxberg, the 69-year-old Englishman, who once had a hit of his own in Canada, reveals his lifelong fear of the stage, his dislike of drum solos and what life will be like after his boss retires from the road. – Ottawa Citizen
The best Toronto concerts happening in October 2018
From local hardcore heroes to Halloween concerts to a lo-fi legend, these are the 20 shows we can't wait to see this month. – Richard Trapunski, Michelle DaSilva, NOW
Taylor Swift will open the 2018 American Music Awards -- her first award show performance in 3 years
Dick Clark Productions says Swift will sing “I Did Something Bad” from her “Reputation” album. Swift is competing for Artist of the Year at the 2018 AMAs alongside Drake, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone. AP
