Bieber releases Mother's Day song, transgender rocker comes out, Gospel Hall of Fame salutes Aretha, and more in the Week in Music for May 11, 2012
Against Me! Singer Comes Out as Transgender: The world of punk rock has not always been the most progressive or tolerant environment, so it should be interesting to see how it reacts to the recent announcement by Tom Gabel, lead singer of the band Against Me!, that he is becoming a she. The Associated Press reported this week that Gabel told Rolling Stone about his/her history with gender dysphoria, leading to hormone treatment and electrolysis, as well as the possibility of gender reassignment surgery. According to the article, Gabel is married to a woman (they have a 2-year-old daughter) and will remain so while adopting the new name Laura Jane Grace. Against Me! begin a tour later this month, the article stated.
Aretha Franklin Joins the Gospel Hall of Fame: Just when you thought Aretha Franklin couldn't possibly get any more R-E-S-P-E-C-T, along comes another hall of fame induction. The Associated Press reported this week that Franklin -- along with Ricky Skaggs, the Hoppers, Dallas Holm, TV evangelist Rex Humbard and Christian band Love Song -- will be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Hendersonville, Tenn., on Aug. 14.
Justin Bieber -- a Mother's Day Tribute Only a Mother Could Love: Like Elvis before him, Justin Bieber's singing a song for his mama. WENN reported that Bieber released "Turn to You" -- a song he wrote about his mother, Pattie Mallette, which will appear on his forthcoming album, "Believe" -- as a single this week. He also reportedly plans to donate all proceeds from the single to charity, according to the article.
New Soundgarden Album Set for October: With a song on the soundtrack to the megahit "Avengers" movie, Seattle rock legends Soundgarden appear to be primed for a successful comeback. Rolling Stone reported this week that Chris Cornell and company were finishing their not-yet-titled new album, due in October, when they were asked to write a new song for the superhero film. "I went through a lot of different ideas that I scrapped -- probably more than usual," Cornell said. Eventually, it was decided that album track "Live to Rise" would "work just fine." The song appears in the end credits of the film, which the band feels good about, given the state of the music business. "For a band like Soundgarden," Cornell said, "being associated with ["The Avengers"] ... it's a pretty good way to have a partner in the entertainment business to get your songs out in front of people. The record companies don't have that anymore. They don't have the money. They don't have the resources. They can't do it. They won't do it. Not gonna happen."
VH1 Divas Offers Tribute to Whitney Houston: The show that dubbed Whitney Houston "the greatest diva of all time" will pay tribute to the late singer once again. Idolator reported this week that VH1 Divas, an annual concert of female vocalists on which Houston appeared three times, will join "Glee," "American Idol" and the Grammy Awards in creating a televised celebration of Houston's music. According to VH1 president Tom Calderone, "We all felt that if any show could pay tribute to Whitney's music, it would be Divas." The program will be taped in December, when, according to Calderone, enough time will have hypothetically passed since Houston's death that the tribute "wouldn't be sad anymore, you'd want to celebrate her music."
Jimmy Fallon Gets by With a Little Help From His Massively Famous Friends: It must be nice to be Jimmy Fallon. TheWrap reported this week that the former "Saturday Night Live" star and current host of the funniest talk show on late-night TV ("Late Night With Jimmy Fallon") is about to release a new album of his trademark comedy songs featuring guest appearances by a few showbiz friends and acquaintances you may have heard of, including, oh, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews and Stephen Colbert. Not bad for a comedy album. "Blow Your Pants Off" will be released June 12, the article stated.
Tell-Allman: Gregg Allman's Memoir Published: Few rock stars have as much dirt to disclose as Gregg Allman, who has remained tight-lipped about his off-offstage life up to now. But, as The Associated Press reported this week, his new memoir, "My Cross to Bear" (written with MSN Music contributor Alan Light), represents a big change. According to the article, Allman's book addresses what he calls "the three big heavies" in his personal and professional life -- his brother Duane's death, his problems with addiction and his seven marriages (including the one to Cher, "an event he immediately regretted as he daydreamed mid-ceremony") -- among other subjects he has seldom if ever discussed in public. "It really helped me, it really did," Allman said of the writing process. "After it was over I was like, 'Phew, man, who put that 20-pound weight up on my shoulder anyway?'"
Village People Member Wins Song Rights Suit: The music publishers who attempted to prevent Village People singer Victor Willis from regaining copyright control of the 33 songs he wrote under contract (yes, "Y.M.C.A." is one of them) have been told that they can't stop the music. The Associated Press reported this week that a Los Angeles federal judge rejected the publishers' lawsuit, thus testing an old and obscure legal loophole that could stand to benefit not only Willis, who stands to make millions of dollars in royalties, but for-hire songwriters everywhere.
How to Fail at 'How to Succeed': Broadway Show to Close: It's one thing to sell millions of albums with your brothers, but it's quite another to carry a Broadway show, a lesson Nick Jonas has learned the hard way. WENN reported this week that Jonas' run on the Great White Way will end ahead of schedule when "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," the show whose leading role he inherited from Daniel Radcliffe, closes on May 20 due to poor ticket sales. Jonas was scheduled to play the part until July, the article stated.
Punk Is Dead, but CBGB Is Alive? When the legendary punk rock dive bar CBGB shut down in 2006 (a high-end menswear boutique now occupies the space), it seemed a sign of the changing times, not just in lower Manhattan, or even in the music business, but everywhere. Now, it seems the times have changed again. The Associated Press reported this week that investors have bought the club's name and assets from the daughters of its original owner, the late Hilly Kristal, and plan to establish a CBGB music festival in multiple New York venues this summer before eventually reopening the club in a new location. According to the article, the festival will begin July 5 and showcase more than 300 bands.
Paul Simon and Yo-Yo Ma Share the Polar Music Prize: As any music teacher will tell you, it's essential for musicians to learn to play together. Now "the leading cellist of our time" and "a world-class songwriter" will get a chance to demonstrate their skills in that department. The Associated Press reported this week that Paul Simon and Yo-Yo Ma have been awarded the highly prestigious Polar Music Prize, which is "typically shared by a pop artist and a classical musician." The prize was founded in 1992 by Stig Anderson, former manager of ABBA, and it comes with an award of 1 million kronor (approximately $160,000) each, and a trip to the prize ceremony in Stockholm on Aug. 28, the article stated.
Jake Owen, Barefoot and Married: MSN Music's One Country blog reported this week that country star Jake Owen got married on Monday in Florida following a very short engagement that began in April -- when he proposed to 22-year-old model Lacey Buchanan onstage at his own show -- and ended at sunrise, when the couple removed their shoes and walked down the aisle. The singer met his bride on the set of the video for his song "Eight Second Ride," and their courtship began on the set of the video for his song "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," the article stated. According to People magazine, Owen said the sunrise ceremony was "symbolic of the dawn of a new day and starting our new life together."
