lifestyle THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016 FEATURES 20 years later, metal band Sevendust relishes Grammy nod

f Grammys were handed out for sheer persistence, the metal band Sevendust Iwould have a bunch by now. The quintet from Atlanta is celebrating two decades together this year with its first Grammy nomination. The nomination is for a song that is, appropriately, named “Thank You.” “This is a big deal. I feel like it’s going to push us to work even harder,” said Lajon Witherspoon, the band’s lead singer and co-songwriter. “I think we’re on the right avenue right now.” Sevendust, known for its melodic approach to metal, has put many miles on Halle Berry, left, the road, supporting everyone from and Kevin Metallica to Creed. The band finally got the Huvane speak attention of the Recording Academy for last at the 2nd year’s “Kill the Flaw,” its 11th studio album. The music has elements of classic metal, Annual MAKERS Lajon Witherspoon, lead singer of Conference at thrash, southern rock and even some soul, led by the fearsome instrument of Sevendust, poses for a portrait in New Terranea Resort York. — AP in Rancho Palos Witherspoon’s voice, one of the most flexi- Verdes, ble and exciting in music today. we become it” with full-throated power. At Calif. —AP “Music is music. I never put a label on it. the Grammys, Sevendust faces off against I just feel I’m a rocker,” said Witherspoon, Slipknot, Lamb of God, August Burns Red who also recently sang with the Moscow and Ghost. Though the winner won’t be tel- Studio Symphony Orchestra for a side proj- evised, Witherspoon and his family will Halle Berry: Hollywood not ect and who has embraced Sevendust’s proudly be on the red carpet. For a guy acoustic side. “I’m sure there are people out who watched the ceremonies as a boy, he there that would say Sevendust isn’t heavy wouldn’t miss it, especially as a way to enough, but I don’t believe everything has thank his wife for all her sacrifices while he truthful about people of color to be always breaking walls down,” he said. and his band crisscrossed the country. “This “I’ve been onstage and felt like Britney is for the wives,” he said. Spears compared to some of the bands Witherspoon was born and raised in alle Berry said Hollywood’s lack of diversi- women’s leadership program. The Academy of cities - and they’re devoid of people of color,” she that we’ve played with. But we still get out Nashville, Tennessee, and sang in his ty stems from a lack of honesty. Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been fac- said. “So I feel like when we really live up to our there and rock it.” church choir. Even his grandmother sensed HFilmmakers and actors should tell the ing a diversity crisis since the nominations responsibility and challenge ourselves to be Sevendust hits the road as a headliner there was a showman in the youngster. “I truth, she said, “and the films, I think, that are announced last month revealed a second con- truthful, and tell the truth in our storytelling, this spring starting April 26 in Baton Rouge, wanted to perform,” he said, laughing. “I coming out of Hollywood aren’t truthful.” “The secutive year of all-white acting nominees. then people of color will be there in a real com- Louisiana, and wrapping up May 28 at the was rocking my gown.” Though he sang in reason they’re not truthful these days is they Berry is the only black woman to win an petitive way, and it won’t be about inclusion or Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. R&B bands, by high school he was hanging aren’t really depicting the importance and the Oscar for lead actress, and she said she’s heart- diversity. Because if we’re telling the truth, inclu- Sevendust’s lineup - which also includes out with the long-haired kids listening to involvement and the participation of people of broken her victory for 2001’s “Monster’s Ball” did- sion and diversity will be a byproduct of the Clint Lowery on lead guitar, John Connolly Guns N’ Roses and Black Sabbath. Able to color in our American culture,” Berry said, n’t lead to more women of color being cast in truth.” She then looked at Huvane and said: “You on rhythm guitar, Vince Hornsby on bass wail and growl, he gravitated toward metal, addressing the film academy’s diversity contro- leading roles. But she puts the blame on film- hit me with a zinger!” The Makers Conference, and Morgan Rose on drums - has been an often rare genre for an African- versy publicly for the first time. makers with tunnel vision. “Our cities are filled held at the seaside Terranea Resort in Rancho remarkably stable over the years, with the American. Witherspoon says he doesn’t see She made the remarks Tuesday during an with black and brown people. And many times, Palos Verdes, California, continues till today with exception of Lowery stepping away for a racism at Sevendust gigs these days, but onstage conversation with her agent, Kevin unfortunately we see films that are set in such speakers as Gloria Steinem, Sheryl few years. years ago on tour with Slipknot he saw “a Huvane, at the Makers Conference, an AOL Chicago, New York, Atlanta - big metropolitan Sandberg and Caitlyn Jenner. — AP couple of knuckleheads” in the mosh pit Rocking my gown give the Hitler salute, oblivious to what it “We don’t really ever fight. There’s no meant. In melancholy moments, he sus- reason to. We’re grown men,” said pects his race might have slowed the Witherspoon, who welcomed his third child band’s rise. “I’ve always wondered if I had in December and just celebrated his 12th not been a black man in Sevendust, would wedding anniversary. He is well versed on it have even gotten bigger?” he asks. “At the car seats and diapers, yet onstage can end of the day, I’m glad that it took this deliver the lyric “All the things we loathe, long because we’re still here.” — AP

A visitor examines paintings at the Frida Kahlo exhibition.

Frida Kahlo exhibition This file photo shows Hilary Duff speaks during the “Younger” panel at the TV Land 2016 Winter TCA in Pasadena, Calif. — AP opens in Russian museum Judge finalizes Duff’s divorce from ex-NHL player ussia’s first major exhibition dedicated to Mexican sur- Los Angeles judge has finalized hockey between 2000 and 2011, ending his Rrealist painter Frida Kahlo Hilary Duff’s divorce from former career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. has opened in a St Petersburg ANHL player Mike Comrie. The judg- Duff and Comrie were married in August museum. The exhibition that ment, which was first reported Tuesday by 2010 and separated in January 2014. They opened Tuesday in the Faberge celebrity website TMZ, was finalized today. have a three-year-old son together and will Museum features three dozen The 28-year-old singer and actress starred share joint custody. The judgment states the works by Kahlo, famous for her in the “Lizzie McGuire” television series and pair had a prenuptial agreement and Comrie poignant self-portraits. The paint- film and stars on the TV Land series is giving up rights to their home in exchange ings come from various collec- “Younger.” Comrie played professional for a $2.4 million payment from Duff. — AP tions in Mexico, and officials said it took four separate planes to transport them to Russia because of safety precautions. The organ- ‘Manolos’ for the people? izers said the exhibition spans the entire Kahlo’s career and Luxury shoe designer opens up includes some of her most iconic paintings. — AP ould “Manolos” come to the high street? celebrities had the best ones, he named The legendary shoe designer Manolo actresses Raquel Welch and Brigitte Bardot but CBlahnik told AFP he could work with said he was disillusioned by modern-day stars. retailers such as H&M and Topshop-but only if “They are not those great old stars that used to they give him the creative freedom he needs. wear flat shoes and be so sexy,” said Blahnik, A visitor “If I have freedom and no kind of whose shoes can sell for more examines conditions to do that or that, I than $1,000 (916 euros) a pair. paintings at the would do it, with pleasure,” the Blahnik decried the modern Frida Kahlo 73-year-old Spaniard said at the trend of women wearing trainers, exhibition. opening of a new store in saying they “could destroy” their London’s luxury Mayfair district. feet. “But they say that about “I like my shoes to be outside shoes all the time, that they there. Not copied, like in China, destroy women’s feet. but the real thing!” said the flam- Nonsense!” boyant Blahnik, a close friend of the late Princess Diana who lives European tour in Bath in southern England. Born on November 7, 1942 in Blahnik, whose designs were the Canary Islands, Blahnik is the popularized by the US television This file photo shows son of a Czech father and a series “Sex and the City,” has resis- Spanish fashion Spanish mother and grew up on ted the overtures of global fash- designer Manolo her banana plantation. His par- ion giants to stay independent- Blahnik as he poses ents wanted him to become a and now has eight solo stores in for a picture. —AFP diplomat but US Vogue’s leg- Dubai, Hong Kong, London, endary editor Diana Vreeland Madrid, Moscow and New York. He said he steered him towards fashion design. Blahnik’s Ben-Hur would only stop being independent “after I new store, which opened at a glitzy launch on Rangel, of Rio drop dead,” adding: “I love freedom, I adore Tuesday, is in the Burlington Arcade-a gallery de Janeiro, freedom of any kind.” “People say I need to do built in 1819 near Piccadilly Circus close to Brazil, that, I need to do that, I really can do that. I some of the British capital’s most expensive examines the can’t work that way. shops. He faces some busy months with a new 1928 Frida “It took me so long to live in my conditions,” documentary on his life and an exhibition with Kahlo painting he said in accented English. Blahnik’s designs 500 of his designs to be launched at the Venice “Dos Mujeres have appeared on the feet of some of the most Film Festival in September. “It’s going to be in (Salvadora y A visitor stylized as Frida Kahlo poses for photo next to a Frida’s Kahlo self-por- glamorous women in the world. Asked which the places of Europe that I love best. —AFP Herminia).” trait at the Frida Kahlo exhibition in St Petersburg, Russia. — AP photos