Music Biz Headlines, Dec. 14, 2023: Keanu Reeves's Dogstar Band, Road Warrior Terra Lightfoot & More
A weekly compendium of interesting headlines from Canada and around the globe.
Dogstar, with Keanu Reeves on the right
Canadian
In the Hollywood Rock Trio Dogstar, Keanu Reeves is Just One of Three
Dogstar, a Southern California alt-rock trio of actor-musicians, played Lee’s Palace in Toronto on Saturday. One might have noticed was that the bass player was Toronto-raised film star Keanu Reeves, who really wasn’t that noticeable at all.- Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Terra Lightfoot: Road Warrior Gets Help From The Hammer
Sizzling guitar player, soulful singer inspired by family, friends and mentors to fulfill her musical dreams. - Michael Hollett, NEXT
Bryan Adams Reveals Diana Song Lyrics Sparked 'Surreal' Friendship with Royal
Bryan Adams has spoken for the first time about how his friendship with Princess Diana was sparked by a song he wrote about her doomed marriage. The singer recalled how the late royal said she found the lyrics about him "losing his mind" on the day she married Prince Charles "very funny." - Rachel Russell & John Hand, BBC News
In Shady Characters, Mike Herriott Fiinds New Inspiration
Trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist Mike Herriott has released a new recording called Tales of Tricksters and Vagabonds, inspired by a selection of off-colour characters from various literary works. - Brad Barker, JazzFM
Theremin Man's “Sagittarius A-Star” Sends a Much-needed Message of Love
The first single from the upcoming sophomore album Songs for the Future, “Sagittarius A-Star” finds Vancouver scene vet Stephen Hamm continuing to winningly reinvent himself with the instrument he first took up just over a decade ago. - Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
'Cinematic' Pop Star Josh Alexander Is a Musical Threat in 3 Languages
Born in Quebec City, Alexander is fluent in French, English and Spanish. - Brock Wilson, CBC News
Every Big Show Coming to Halifax (And Beyond) in 2024
An ever-updated list of concerts, comedy shows, live performance, theatre and events in Nova Scotia. - The Coast
Rush's Alex Lifeson Joins Geddy Lee at Toronto Book Tour Stop To Share Memories
Geddy Lee surprised a venue of Rush fans on Thursday by marching out old friend and longtime bandmate Alex Lifeson to help him traverse decades of shared memories at Massey Hall. - David Friend, CP
Rose City Band’s Erik “Ripley” Johnson on Touring, Jamming, and The Melancholy of Fall
We caught up with Ripley in advance of Rose City Band’s second Vancouver show of the year to discuss how the tour’s been going, how the band’s holding up, and what comes next. - Stephen Smysnuik, Georgia Straight
International
Spotify is the world’s biggest music streamer but rarely turns a profit and just cut 17 percent of its workforce. Its business model looks increasingly precarious. - Wired
Spotify’s CFO is Out Days After Mass Layoffs
Paul Vogel, who came to Spotify in 2020, will depart the company in March 2024 as the company doubles down on margin over growth. The VergeTaylor Swift’s Eras Tour is The First Tour To Gross Over $1 Billion
Not only was Swift’s landmark Eras Tour the No. 1 tour both worldwide and in North America, but she also brought in a whopping US$1.04-billion with 4.35 million tickets sold across 60 tour dates, the concert trade publication Pollstar found. - Maria Sherman, AP
Attention All Barbz: Nicki Minaj Has Released 'Pink Friday 2,' 13 years After the Original
Nicki Minaj 's highly anticipated fifth studio album, “Pink Friday 2,” is finally here. - Maria Sherman, AP
Ex-model and Actor Who Starred in Hit Aerosmith Video Arrested for Attempted Rape
Dean Kelly, a former male model, who appeared in the music video for Aerosmith’s hit song “Crazy” in 1994, was arrested and charged with attempted rape earlier this week, meeting the women through dating apps. - New York Post
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Will Feature Janelle Monae, Green Day, Ludacris, Renee Rapp and More in LA
Ryan Seacrest will usher in 2024 on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” from New York City’s Times Square alongside his host Rita Ora.The Los Angeles party boasts of a star-studded lineup:Coco Jones, Doechii, Ellie Goulding, pop-punks Green Day, 2024 Grammy album of the year nominee Janelle Monae, and Canadians Loud Luxury. - AP
In The Court of the Crimson King: The Hardest Working Prog-Rockers Prog-Rock On
If you are a King Crimson fan, then, I’ve already done my job, just letting you know this documentary exists. If you are not a King Crimson fan, but love music or are interested in the process of making music, then, you should consider watching this documentary anyway. -Karen Gordon, Original Cin
AP's Top Albums of 2023: Music From Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, The Rolling Stones and More
Ten of the top albums of the year, as chosen by Music Writer Maria Sherman. -AP
Adele Says Staying in Sunny LA Staves Off Seasonal Depression
Singer, who reportedly bought $58m property last year, says she also gets left alone in Los Angeles. - The Guardian
ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus, Sir Ian McKellen and Kylie Minogue Are Christmas Knitwits
Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA and Sir Ian McKellen have premiered the third of their Christmas “Knitting” videos with an appearance from Kylie Minogue in the first episode. -Noise11
‘He Embodied Who We Are, Warts and All: Dublin Mourners Bid Farewell to Shane MacGowan
Tears and applause as band plays Fairytale of New York and people recall memories of pubs, squats, youth, dreams and loss. - Rory Carroll, The Guardian
