Arts & Culture

Music News: Blue Note Records is putting out The Complete Birth of The Cool, a vinyl reissue from Miles Davis' 1957 album which saw him break away from traditional bee-bop arrangements to groundbreaking, experimental sounds. Fleetwood Mac cancels second gig this week due to an unspecified band members' illness.  Twenty-five years after Kurt Cobain's suicide, Nirvana's fomer manager tries to put conspiracies theories to rest and reveals he was part of an intervention Courtney Love tried to stage for her husband.  

Music News: "Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain," a new rock bio by former Nirvana manager Danny Goldberg, alleges the frontman was fond of, but a touch envious of Dave Grohl's formidable singing skills, which, of course, would later be front-and-center in Foo Fighters. Acclaimed Swedish indie-pop artist Lykke Li is curating the inaugural the all-female Yola Fest in June. And worldwide music sales grew 9.7 percent last year, mainly due to streaming services (ads and subscriptions). 

Wasilla, AK natives Portugal the Man among the artists taken off Alaska state government's official hold music after conservative blogger and others complained about depressing lyrics, notably from a baroque-pop band named Harm. LA Police have made an arrest in the shooting death of rapper and community philanthropist Nipsey Hussle. Tom Petty's wife and daughters locked in bitter dispute over control of late rocker's estate. 

The Cure's Robert Smith responds in the most understated British deadpan way when asked by a red carpet reporter if he was as excited by the band's induction as she was, and goes viral. Beloved LA rapper & entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle shot outside his clothing store and later dies in hospital. The Rolling Stones have postponed their forthcoming U.S. tour because Mick Jagger is suffering from an undisclosed illness. Tesla & Space X CEO Elon Musk releases a bizarre, two-minute, auto-tuned rap in homage to a gorilla.

Tragedy in Arizona yesterday, as Twin Cities musician and sound tech Trevor Engelbrektston and the UK/Norwegian duo Her's perished after the van they were riding in collided with another vehicle that was going the wrong way. Modest Mouse stream new, hard-charging single ahead of a seven-inch vinyl Record Store Day release. Sigur Ros has been charged with tax evasion by authorities in their native Iceland.

Keanu Reeves wins rave reviews from fellow stranded airline passengers after their flight from San Francisco to Burbank was diverted to Bakersfield, CA. The airline rented a van for the rest of the journey, and The Matrix actor played tour guide and gave a lesson in the country music rebel movement in the 1950's and 60's known as the Bakersfield Sound, which gave us Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Tom Waits stars in new Jim Jarmusch zombie movie, along with Iggy Pop and Sturgill Simpson. Cage the Elephant gets an assist from Beck on new song about vampires. Bryan Ferry will reunite with a couple of members of 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Roxy Music at the ceremony tomorrow night in Brooklyn.  

Ranking Roger, one of the most well-known toasters to come out of the English punk/ska scene of the late 70's/early 80's and member of The English Beat, General Public and Big Audio Dynamite has passed away from cancer at age 57.  Rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson is retiring from touring and abruptly cancelled two upcoming shows. Everclear frontman Art Alexakis has announced that he has multiple sclerosis. 

Regina Spektor has announced a five-day Broadway residency which will feature special guests and reworkings of her songbook. Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly hit out on the road as holograms. Rock and Roll survivor Dickey Betts reflects on mortality and the new generation of Allman Brothers. 

Baroque pop singer Scott Walker, the American who came to fame with Beatlemania-era trio The Walker Brothers, but was later beloved in Britain for his baritone voice and experimental, orchestral soundscapes, dies of undisclosed causes at the age of 76. Vans is putting out a new line of David Bowie-inspired sneakers next month. Diana Ross defends her old friend Michael Jackson in the wake of sexual abuse allegations detailed in recent HBO documentary.