ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Music

Hall & Oates to hit stage Nicks cancels all 2021 gigs over coronavirus

LOS ANGELES, Aug 11, (AP): Stevie Nicks has canceled fi ve forthcoming performances at music festivals, citing coronavirus concerns, she said in a statement Tuesday. Nicks had been scheduled to headline one day each of BottleRock Napa Valley in California and the Jazz Aspen Festival in Colorado in September. In Octo- ber, she was to have played two days of the Austin City Limits Music Festival and one day of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The dates were all the shows she had planned for 2021. “These are challenging times with challenging decisions that have to be made. I want everyone to be safe and healthy and the rising Covid cases should be of concern to all of us,” the 73-year-old singer said in the statement. “While I’m vac- cinated, at my age, I am still being extremely cautious and for that reason have decided to skip the 5 performances I had planned for 2021.” Most of the festivals them- selves are moving forward Nicks with replacement headliners. Country star Chris Stapleton will take Nicks’ place at BottleRock. “Because singing and performing have been my whole life, my primary goal is to keep healthy so I can continue singing for the next decade or longer,” Inductee Stevie Nicks performs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 29, 2019, in . Nicks canceled appearances at fi ve music Nicks’ statement said. “I’m devastated and I know festivals where she had planned performances, citing coronavirus concerns. (AP) the fans are disappointed, but we will look towards a brighter 2022.” ❑ ❑ ❑ John Oates of Hall & Oates, the multi-platinum Music soul-pop duo behind hits like “Private Eyes,” “Rich Girl” and “Maneater,” is eager to return to concert stages again and prepared for an extra loud reaction when he does. “I think there’s defi nitely going to be an energy Global Citizen Live shows on Sept 25 there that is very unique. No one’s ever experienced a time like this in our modern world,” he tells The Associated Press. “Quite honestly, this is the longest I have not played live in my entire professional career.” Stars align for global concert Hall & Oates had planned to tour in 2020 but only managed one stop at Madison Square Garden in late February before COVID-19 restrictions led to the na- NEW YORK, Aug 11, (AP): Reunite the World” was one of the and beyond those restrictions to tion’s concert venues being shuttered. will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas largest concert gatherings in South- make sure everyone stays safe. “We really had a cool show planned. And so be- says joining forces with Global ern California since the coronavirus “I believe that, ultimately, we cause we had invested time and energy into that Citizen to help headline its upcom- pandemic began. need to listen to science and science show, we kind of just put it in mothballs, basically. will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas attends ing daylong global concert aimed at Evans hopes artists will encour- says that everyone should be fully And now we’re bringing it back up because no one’s the 27th annual EMA Awards in creating positive change was a no age citizens to push governments vaccinated and that they should have really seen it,” said Oates. Santa Monica, Calif. Sept. 23, 2017. Global Citizen is gearing up to host a brainer for him. and major corporations to be more a negative PCR test, and if they’re in The new tour kicks off Thursday in Mansfi eld, worldwide concert on September 25 “Headlining the show in France proactive in tackling climate change, close proximity, they should wear a Massachusetts, and hits such cities as Philadelphia, across six continents featuring artists is super special to us. Just any time poverty and vaccine equity. But do mask,” he said. “We need to take the Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Denver, Los Angeles and like Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Bil- you could help make change or bring world leaders really care about what pandemic very seriously, but we also Honolulu, before ending with a two-night stand Dec. lie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Ed awareness to issues through music, partygoers are asking for at a global need to follow the best science. And 3-4 in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Squeeze and KT Sheeran, H.E.R. and more. The event especially things that you care about concert? the science is telling us exactly what Tunstall will join the duo on certain concerts. will host thousands of in-person con- — that I care about — like climate “Even if they don’t care on the ba- to do.” The tour kicks off just as the delta variant of the cert goers in cities such as New York, (change) and the planet and bringing sis of their own — let’s call it altruis- For more information and to earn virus is spreading rapidly and Oates says he and the Paris and Lagos. (AP) folks that are just disenfranchised, tic reasons — they’ll care at the ballot tickets to the Paris and New York band will take it day-by-day. “Every day is going to you know, lifting them up with not box when citizens say, ‘You know City festivals, visit GlobalCitizen- be a new day,” he says. “You know, we don’t know only funds, but information and what, I want an elected offi cial who Live.org. what the world’s going to deliver to us in the next preparation for tomorrow is what cares about taking action on climate month. We’ll roll with it and take what we can get.” I’m about personally,” said the super change. I want an elected offi cial who Also: Since the early ’70s, Oates and Daryl Hall’s brand NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Country stars of Philadelphia-born “blue-eyed soul” has scored six producer of the upcoming Global cares about taking action to curb the Citizen Live shows. The group’s “ef- hunger crisis,’” said Evans. “If they Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Carly No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, includ- Pearce Jamey Johnson ing “Kiss on My List” and “I Can’t Go for That (No forts align with my efforts.” don’t care about these issues, frankly, and will Can Do).” They also achieved six platinum albums Global Citizen announced Tues- they will lose the next election. I think perform at the Academy of Country and many more Top 10 singles like “Sara Smile” and day that a 24-hour broadcast of per- politics changes with the wind and I Music Honors, which will honor Lo- “She’s Gone.” formances across multiple networks think the wind is blowing in the direc- retta Lynn, Dan + Shay and Luke Fans can expect all the hits played live. Hall & and platforms will take place on six tion of change right now.” Combs among others. continents on September 25, boast- The annual show on Aug. 25 in Oates are not the kind of group that shrugs off their Sentiment past work or distances themselves from commercial Applegate Yetnikoff ing some of music’s brightest stars. Nashville, Tennessee, will present winners. They know what fi lls the venues. New York’s Central Park will host But as the world still battles the industry awards to artists, songwrit- “We have this incredibly good problem of having 60,000 fans who’ll dance to artists coronavirus pandemic with the delta ers, producers and musicians for so many hits,” Oates says. “We love those songs. Be- Variety like Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Jennifer variant surging in the US, the time their special contributions to country lieve me, it’s not a chore to play those songs because Lopez, Lizzo and Meek Mill, while might not seem right to host a global music. they are really great. And obviously they speak for Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, H.E.R. and concert. will.I.Am understands the Lynn, 89, will receive the Poet’s themselves because they stood the test of time.” LOS ANGELES: Emmy Award-winner more will join the Peas and 20,000 sentiment. Award along with Gretchen Peters He says he looks out at the audience at shows and Christina Applegate has announced that attendees in Paris. Lagos will also “There’s a part of me that’s like, and the late Curly Putman, while sees more than grown-ups who grooved to his music she has multiple sclerosis, describing her host afrobeat stars like Femi Kuti, ‘I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to the country duo Dan + Shay will get decades ago. He sees teenagers and pre-teens, thirty- diagnosis as a “tough road.” Davido, Tiwa Savage, and more go. I’d rather stay home … I’ve been the Jim Reeves International Award. somethings and fortysomethings — people “straight The 49-year-old actor known for her performers and locations will be an- safe. And anything outside of that Combs was named the Gene Weed across the board” — who come for the music. roles in “Married... with Children” and nounced soon. puts some worry bugs in me,’” said Milestone Award honoree, while “They’re well-crafted pop songs. They seem to “Dead to Me,” said in a tweet late Monday With CEO Hugh Evans calling the musician. “But do I want to live Toby Keith will get the Merle Hag- have a connection that is not tied to a period of time. that she was diagnosed “a few months ago.” this “the most ambitious campaign that way? ... I think every single per- gard Spirit Award. Other honorees You know, they don’t sound old and nostalgic,” he Global Citizen has ever launched,” son has to weigh that themselves.” for the Nashville show include Ras- says. “They seem to evoke the same response in “It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know the event is timed to the UN General In order to attend, concertgoers cal Flatts, Lady A and the fi lm- young kids today as they did when they were new who also have this condition,” wrote Ap- Assembly in September, followed must provide either proof that they makers behind the Ken Burns’ PBS back in the ’70s and ’80s.” plegate. “It’s been a tough road. But as we by the G20 and COP26 Climate are fully vaccinated or present a documentary “Country Music.” And he jokes there’s one of their tunes that per- all know, the road keeps going.” She added meetings in October and November, negative PCR test within 72 hours of Pearce, who is the newest mem- fectly fi ts today’s COVID-19 mood. “We’ve got a in a later post: “Now I ask for privacy. As I song called ‘Out of Touch’ which I guess is totally respectively. the show’s start, and every attendee ber of the Grand Ole Opry after her go through this thing.” must be masked regardless of vacci- induction on Tuesday, will host the appropriate.” Multiple sclerosis — also known as Global Citizen hosted another MS — affects the nervous system and often large concert in May advocating the nation status. show. Lee Ann Womack, Chris Also: results in progressive physical and cogni- importance of vaccine equity, ex- Evans says not only are they com- Janson, Lady A, Lauren Alaina, KANSAS CITY, Mo.: Only 35 of the more than tive decline. ceeding its goal by raising $302 mil- plying with local virus regulations, Sara Evans and others are sched- 70,000 people who attended Garth Brooks’ concert in More than 2.3 million people have a lion. The “Vax Live: The Concert to but Global Citizen is going above uled to perform. Kansas City on Saturday took advantage of a chance diagnosis of MS worldwide, according to to get a COVID-19 vaccine, the Kansas City Health the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Department said. Nearly 1 million people over the age of 18 “If you are successful — as it should more.” Yetnikoff was a volatile man in a volatile live with a diagnosis of MS in the US, the be — you simply have to pay an artist, give He joined CBS as a staff attorney in and expansive era; throughout his 15 years The mobile vaccination clinic operated for four nonprofi t organization adds. hours in the Arrowhead parking lot before the con- them a check for all this money,” he told the early 1960s, was named president on top he competed fi ercely with Warner Applegate won her Emmy in 2003 for Rolling Stone in 1988. “It’s my pleasure of CBS Records International in 1971 Bros for industry dominance. Warner had cert, and fans were offered a chance to get upgraded a guest spot on “Friends” and has a Tony fl oor seats to the concert if they were vaccinated. to give a big, big check. and CEO of CBS Records in 1975, after Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and Madonna. Award nomination for the musical “Sweet Number one, it shows that we’re success- was fi red amid allegations of CBS had Jackson, Joel, Brooks, who has said he is fully vaccinated, had Charity.” Her fi lms include “The Sweetest ful. Two, whatever he earned, we earned payola and mismanagement of expenses. and . When Yetnikoff encouraged his fans to get the shot. Thing,” “Anchorman,” “Hall Pass” and helped convince to jump Maggie Green, a spokeswoman for the Kansas “Bad Moms.” from Warner to CBS, Warner lured Paul City manager’s offi ce, said the 35 people vaccinated She has previously discussed her 2008 Simon away from CBS. Saturday were in addition to 333 vaccinations the battle with breast cancer, after which she His reign peaked with such mega-sellers health department administered at events and clinics had a double mastectomy as well as her as Jackson’s “Thriller,” Meat Loaf’s “Bat last week, KCUR reported. ovaries and fallopian tubes removed. (AP) Out of Hell” and Joel’s “52nd Street.” She said the health department will continue to ❑ ❑ ❑ CBS’ revenues more than quadrupled partner with community events to increase vaccina- NEW YORK: Walter Yetnikoff, the ram- under his watch, from $485 million to over tions, including at the upcoming Planet Comicon paging, head of CBS Records who presided $2 billion, but he also blew a fortune by ar- Kansas City, scheduled for Aug. 20-22. over blockbuster releases by Michael ranging costly deals for Paul McCartney, ❑ ❑ ❑ Jackson, and many others has the Rolling Stones and others past their died at age 87. commercial prime. NASHVILLE, Tenn: Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festi- Yetnikoff’s death was confi rmed Tues- “If I were a CBS stockholder, I would val announced Tuesday that its festival-goers will be day by David Ritz, who collaborated with sue for dilution of assets,” former CBS required to show proof that they’ve been vaccinated Yetnikoff on his memoir “Howling at the Records A&R chief Mitch Miller once for COVID-19 or tested negative for the virus within Moon.” Further details were not immedi- complained. 72 hours of attending the event. ately available. He feuded with friends and enemies, The four-day festival in Manchester, Tennessee The stocky, bearded Yetnikoff was a with other labels and his own company. He starts on Sept. 2. It was delayed for more than a year onetime lawyer with a sharp mind, a foul called CBS chairman Thomas H. Wyman due by the coronavirus pandemic. mouth, a big heart, a tin ear, a roving eye “Super Goy” and Wyman’s immediate suc- “The safety of our patrons and staff is our number and an extraordinary temper, a kid from cessor, the cost-cutting Laurence A. Tisch, one priority,” Bonnaroo offi cials said in statement whose hunger for recognition and “the evil dwarf.” Simon would allege that power drove him to excess in every way. In Yetnikoff traumatized him to the point of said, adding that the last day to receive the second “Howling at the Moon,” published in 2004, writer’s block and turned Yetnikoff into a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and be fully protected he described his life as a three-act play: villain in his 1980 fi lm “One Trick Pony,” is Aug. 19. Act 1, “I start to get crazy.” Act 2, “I get Alison Luff arrives at the premiere of ‘Heels’ on Tuesday, Aug. 10 in Los Ange- in which Rip Torn played a boorish record crazier.” Act 3, “craziest of all.” les. (AP) executive. (AP)