Michael Hutchence’s former manager discusses last phone call with singer

Michael Hutchence’s former manager discusses last phone call with singer
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Tuesday marked the 25th anniversary of the death of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. The singer’s suicide at age 37 certainly came as a surprise to many, including his U.S. manager, Martha Troup, who says on the day of his death he was discussing his plans for the future. 

“He wanted to start a publishing company. And he wanted to get an apartment in New York,” she tells the New York Post. “That’s what he said to me.” But, she says a few hours later he sounded different in a message he left. “He goes, ‘Things aren’t good, you know?’ And then the next one was like, ‘Hey, are you there?’” she says. “In the second one, it was more like he was tired. It was, like, almost sadness I heard in his voice.” He was found dead only hours later. 

Troup calls Hutchence magical, noting, “He was the quintessential rock star. He was mesmerizing. He had a sensuality about him.” But she says he was also shy and sensitive: “He had his ups and downs, and he had his insecurities.”

Troup says that before his death the rocker was making plans for an Australian tour, but she was concerned because “he just seemed out of sorts.” She suggested cancelling the tour, but he insisted he couldn’t cancel, saying, “I would never do that to the fans in Australia.’”

Meanwhile, friend Dorothy Carvello still believes Hutchence didn’t mean to kill himself. “I’m not sure that he really intended to do that,” she tells the Post. “I think it was a rash act that happened in the heat of the moment, whatever happened. Because think about it — no [suicide] note. And for somebody whose job was to write words, I always found that strange.”

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Van Morrison going home to Belfast for two Christmas shows

Van Morrison going home to Belfast for two Christmas shows
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Van Morrison is ready to bring some Christmas cheer to his home city. The singer is set for two very special performances in Belfast, Ireland.

The intimate “jazz club” shows, dubbed Life Ain’t No Dress Rehearsal, are set for December 4 and 5 at Belfast’s Europa Hotel. Morrison is set to perform his many hits as well as tunes from his most recent albums. 

The shows are the last two Morrison has booked for 2022. He does have 2023 dates set to kick off March 13, in support of his upcoming album Moving on Skiffle, which drops March 10 in Milton Keyes, England.

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The Black Crowes fight back against stage crasher at Aussie show

The Black Crowes fight back against stage crasher at Aussie show
Javier Bragado/Redferns

When you buy a ticket to a concert, you are expected to stay in the audience. A Black Crowes fan found that out the hard way. The band was playing a gig in Melbourne, Australia, when someone in the audience decided to crash the stage and wound up getting a guitar in the face. 

In fan-shot video posted to YouTube by Greg Valentine, the band’s about to play their Shake Your Money Maker track “Stare It Cold” when the crasher jumped onstage and ran toward bassist Sven Pipien. Security quickly jumped in, and Chris Robinson tried to push the crasher off stage with his mic stand, but the man somehow got around them. That’s when Rich Robinson stepped in, took his guitar and slammed it into the guy near his face and neck. Chris then started swinging his mic stand toward the man, who was quickly pushed off stage.

It doesn’t end there though. The video shows Chris and Rich screaming at the fellow before the band launched back into the song and continued on with the show.

The concert was the final night of the band’s Shake Your Money Maker tour of Japan and Australia. “We came, we saw, we rocked!” they shared on Instagram. “Thanks to all of our friends and fans in Japan and Australia. We had a blast. See ya soon ;)”

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Metallica announces stream of Helping Hands benefit concert

Metallica announces stream of Helping Hands benefit concert
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Metallica has announced a stream of their upcoming Helping Hands benefit concert.

The show, which takes place December 16 in Los Angeles, premieres live at 5:30 p.m. PT on Paramount+; it will also simulcast on Pluto and MTV’s YouTube channel.

Jimmy Kimmel will host the night, and viewers who tune in from the beginning will get to watch Greta Van Fleet‘s opening set. Metallica also teases “special guests and presentations” as well as “a few surprises before we hit the stage.”

Helping Hands, which supports Metallica’s All Within My Hands charity foundation, first launched in 2018. The show features a rare acoustic set by the metal legends.

For more info, visit Metallica.com.

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Journey’s Neal Schon comments on lawsuit against bandmate

Journey’s Neal Schon comments on lawsuit against bandmate
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Journey’s Neal Schon is speaking out for the first time since it was revealed he is suing bandmate Jonathan Cain over their company Nomota’s finances, including an American Express card Cain took out. 

“The only comment I’ll make at this time is it’s all very unfortunate and tried for over a year to attain all our corporate records for Nomota with many personal e-mails to Jon as well as many legal letter stating it’s my legal right to see all but I was left with no choice but to take it legal,” he writes on Facebook. “There’s much more … since I filed I’ll be following my attorneys advice and not speak until we are in court where I’ll not have a problem at all. It is what it is. “

Schon is arguing that “millions of Journey funds have flowed through” that Amex card, which Cain set up without his knowledge. And while Cain has told him he’d have access to it, he has yet to be added to the card.

In a separate Facebook post, Schon’s wife, Michaele, claims that since 2020, Cain’s wife, Paula White, was added to Journey’s bank account “against Neal’s wishes.” She also accuses Cain and his wife of trying to harm the band, noting it’s “Neal Schon who keeps Journey alive.”

Schon added in a tweet, “Yeah it’s a bit deeper then just a card.”

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Annie Lennox launches fundraiser to fight against gender bias

Annie Lennox launches fundraiser to fight against gender bias
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Annie Lennox is spearheading a new fundraising effort to fight against gender bias. The newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has just launched the Circle Music Icons Auction, with proceeds going to her non-profit The Circle.

“Ahead of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, I am delighted to have brought together some of the world’s greatest female artists for a very special auction to help raise funds for the vital work o f@TheCircleNGO,” the Eurythmics star shares on Instagram. “I have long believed that music can build bridges and bring people together and it is wonderful to see these phenomenal female artists stand side by side with women and girls around the world facing and fighting gender-based violence.”

Fans can bid on such items as handwritten lyrics to “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” signed by Annie, along with handwritten lyrics to other songs, including Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” Billie Eilish’s “Your Power,” Brandi Carlile’s ‘Right On Time” and Angelique Kidjo’s “Agolo.”

Lennox adds, “The auction proceeds will enable The Circle to support our grassroots partners helping women and girls to build lives free from abuse and fear, and advocate for long-term change to end the violence that will affect 1 in 3 women in their lifetime.”

Fans have until December 5 to place a bid on one of the auction items. In addition, there is a sweepstakes that runs until December 15; those interested can contribute $10 to enter and possibly win an item.

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Ringo Starr selling “Peace and Love” sculptures

Ringo Starr selling “Peace and Love” sculptures
Julien’s Auctions

Ringo Starr has always done his best to spread “peace and love,” and now, he’s found another way to do it.

Starting Wednesday, the former Beatle is selling a collection of 500 life-sized sculptures of his “Peace and Love” hand symbol. Money raised from the sale will go to the Lotus Foundation, which funds, supports and promotes charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in a variety of areas, including homelessness, cancer, substance abuse and more.

The sculptures are available for purchase at Julien’s Auctions and come in bronze (250) and stainless steel (250). The limited-edition hand symbols are all signed by Ringo and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. They’re packaged in a Ringo “Peace & Love” box and weigh 3.5 pounds.

As for how much they will set you back, the stainless-steel sculpture sells for $5,000, while the bronze goes for $2,000.

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Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine calls on Metallica to “step up” for another Big 4 concert

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine calls on Metallica to “step up” for another Big 4 concert
ABC Audio

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine wants to play another Big 4 concert, and he thinks it’s up to Metallica to make that happen.

Metallica and Megadeth make up half of the so-called “Big 4” of thrash metal, alongside Slayer and Anthrax. All four groups took the stage together for a run of shows between 2010 and 2011, including one at New York City’s Yankee Stadium.

While Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax have stayed active, Slayer called it quits in 2019. However, Mustaine still feels that another Big 4 concert is possible.

“I really think it’s time for the guys in Metallica to step up, and us do one last round, see if we can get Slayer to come out of retirement and do a ‘Big 4 passing of the torch’ to the new Big 4,” Mustaine tells Songfacts.

As for who would be a part of that new Big 4, Mustaine says that “would remain to be seen,” but mentions bands including Lamb of God and Trivium.

“I think it would be really cool symbolically if we did something at like, the LA Coliseum, even if it’s one show and that’s it,” Mustaine says of the potential concert. “Slayer is from Los Angeles, so it would probably make it more convenient for them to go home at night. I personally have been hoping for this for a while, and I keep asking and asking and asking.”

“They’re just not into it,” he adds, presumably referring to Metallica. “But that’s up to them.”

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INXS almost went with a female singer after Michael Hutchence’s death

INXS almost went with a female singer after Michael Hutchence’s death
Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

When Michael Hutchence passed away 25 years ago Tuesday, his band INXS was left wondering what to do next, and apparently they considered going with a female singer. In a new interview for theLiSTNR podcast Behind The HitsBaby Animals singer Suze DeMarchi says she was approached about being a permanent replacement for the band’s late frontman.

“There was a formal offer from their manager,” she explains. “They didn’t say, ‘You’re going to make this, we’ll do this, some of that … It hadn’t got[ten] to that point, but [there were] conversations with their manager at the time.”

Ultimately the band decided to find a new lead singer on the reality show Rock Star: INXS and hired JD Fortune, who sang on two albums: 2005’s Switch and 2010’s Original Sin.

“Just before they had done that show, I was really seriously thinking about doing it,” DeMarchi explains. “I was just about to go, ‘Yeah, maybe we could try this,’ and then they said, ‘Well, we want to do this show.’ So that’s how it went down.”

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David Bowie’s son unhappy Donald Trump’s using dad’s music

David Bowie’s son unhappy Donald Trump’s using dad’s music
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David Bowie’s son, director Duncan Jones, isn’t at all happy that Donald Trump continues to use his dad’s music. The latest instance was during Trump’s recent event at Mar-A-Lago announcing his 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump used Bowie’s “Heroes” as his exit music; after folks on social media made him aware of it, Jones responded on Twitter with, “We’ve been though [sic] this before. He used the same track 6 years ago. Ive been told there is little we can do about it.” 

He later added, “Pretty sure he’s doing that just to wind me up.”

Jones’ response comes not long after Isaac Hayes and Tom Petty‘s estates called out Trump for using the artists’ music without permission.

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