Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G. nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of FameVideo
The late musical icons Whitney Houston and the Notorious B.I.G. are among the 16 acts nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2020 class. The prestigious organization announced Tuesday that Dave Matthews Band, Motorhead, Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, The Doobie Brothers, T.Rex and Thin Lizzy join Houston and B.I.G....
Norwin grad honors mom in performance with Carrie Underwood at Pittsburgh showVideo
Molly Papp’s champion is her mother, Joan. Always has been. The two are best friends, Molly said, and “do everything together.” A nearly 30-year battle with multiple sclerosis has seen Joan Papp have to persevere and keep fighting. So when country megastar Carrie Underwood posted a call to action earlier...
Carrie Underwood ‘cries pretty’ at PPG Paints Arena in PittsburghVideo
Her fans have waited years, but the sounds of Carrie Underwood’s “Cry Pretty Tour 360” filled Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on Oct 12. Underwood’s special guests were Maddie and Tae and Runaway June. Underwood last stopped in Pittsburgh on Feb. 17, 2016 while on “The Storyteller Tour.” Setlist • “Southbound”...
The Chainsmokers light up PPG Paints Arena with flames, giant ‘Globe of Death’Video
The Chainsmokers lit up Pittsburgh with a high-octane show Friday night that included actual flames, daredevil stunts and a so-called “Globe of Death” that descended onto the stage at PPG Paints Arena amid throngs of fans jumping to the Grammy-winning EDM pair’s beats. View this post on Instagram Ah so...
Prince estate: Trump violated promise not to play ‘Purple Rain’Video
Shortly before President Donald Trump took the stage at downtown Minneapolis’ Target Center on Thursday night, Prince’s “Purple Rain” played — even though his estate asked a year ago that the president stop using the late musician’s music. “President Trump played Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ tonight at a campaign event in...
Why Netflix’s ‘Rhythm + Flow’ is huge for hip-hop, and Cardi B is the new Simon Cowell
Like many viewers during the height of “American Idol” fever over a decade ago, Cardi B was glued to the TV, imagining what kind of judge she would be if tasked with critiquing aspiring performers. “Everybody always wanted to be a judge on one of those judgey shows. You see...
Wiz Khalifa to perform at Pitt basketball kick-off event
Wiz Khalifa will be back in town Friday. Pitt announced Wednesday the rapper and Allderdice graduate will perform at Petersen Events Center during Blue and Gold Madness, an annual men’s and women’s basketball event. The men’s team will play a 15-minute scrimmage and the women’s team will play a 10-minute...
Andrew Ridgeley looks back with fondness at George MichaelVideo
Long before he was a music icon in skintight jeans, leather jacket and designer stubble, George Michael was something else — awkward, chubby and insecure. He even went by the very unhip nickname Yog. A loving portrait of a young, striving Michael is offered in a new book by his...
Kurt Cobain’s ‘Unplugged’ sweater, guitar, head to auction
LOS ANGELES — The olive green cardigan that Kurt Cobain wore during Nirvana’s MTV “Unplugged” performance and one of the late rocker’s custom guitars are headed to auction. Julien’s Auctions said Wednesday that the sweater and a custom Fender guitar built in 1993 that Cobain used during the band’s In...
The Chainsmokers bring ‘impressive’ live show to PittsburghVideo
Now that sinking album sales have forced the vast majority of bands to make the bulk of their income through touring, it makes sense for musicians to put more effort than ever into their live shows. Andrew “Drew” Taggart and Alex Pall – the musicians who make up the Chainsmokers...
Long-awaited Carrie Underwood tour rolls into PittsburghVideo
It’s been a long wait for fans of country music superstar Carrie Underwood who hurried to buy their tickets for her Oct. 12 concert at PPG Paints Arena when they first went on sale – on Aug. 18, 2018. More than a year later, it’s finally time to get ready...
Eagles announce limited 2020 ‘Hotel California’ tourVideo
Looks like there’s still plenty of room at the Hotel California. The Eagles announced Tuesday the band will hit the road to perform its iconic 1976 album “Hotel California” in its entirety in a six-city, 12-date tour. Just last month the band, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit,...
Greensburg native pays tribute to storyteller, musician Harry ChapinVideo
Growing up in Greensburg, John McMenamin recalls spending his spare time acting and directing plays at the former Cabaret Theatre in Hempfield. The graduate of Greensburg Central Catholic High School and Saint Vincent College says a performance by the late Harry Chapin at his college alma mater inspires him to...
Life is a cabaret, says Jeannette Community Band
Expanding its entertainment format for a night, the Jeannette Community Band will hold a cabaret-style concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Jeannette American Legion. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., says Sherrie Wood, band secretary. In a departure from the band’s typical concert performances, the audience will be...
Met Opera starts regular Sunday matinees, breaking tradition
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Opera began regular Sunday-afternoon staged performances for the first time in its 136-year history with Puccini’s “Turandot” in an effort to boost ticket sales and revenue. Some in the audience wore tuxedos and evening gowns, others wore jeans and sneakers. There was even a man...
Dan + Shay to play Pittsburgh on 1st headlining arena tourVideo
Grammy-winning Dan + Shay — Wexford native Dan Smyers and musical partner Shay Mooney — will head out in 2020 on their first headlining arena tour, stopping at PPG Paints Arena in September. The 35-plus date tour, presented by AEG Presents, kicks off on March 6, 2020, at Bridgestone Arena...
Westmoreland Symphony opens 51st season with ‘Russian Masters’
The Westmoreland Symphony is tuning up for the new season, including hiring a handful of new string players, to open with a splash by performing three of the most popular Russian composers. “For me, Russian music is among the most colorful, most dramatic and the most challenging of all the...
Ginger Baker, Cream’s volatile drummer, dies at 80
LONDON — Ginger Baker, the volatile and propulsive British musician who was best known for his time with the power trio Cream, died Sunday at age 80, his family said. Baker wielded his blues power and jazz technique to help break open popular music and become one of the world’s...
Gabby Barrett marries ‘American Idol’ sweetheart Cade Foehner
Gabby Barrett got hitched this weekend to her “American Idol” sweetheart, Cade Foehner. According to People, Barrett and Foehner said “I do” in Garrison, Texas, on Saturday in front of 100 guests at wedding and event venue Union Springs. Barrett, from Munhall, and Foehner, 23, of Shelbyville, Texas, met on...
Rapper Gucci Mane gets deal for luxury line with Gucci
It’s safe to say Gucci Mane’s stage name is (finally) paying off. Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane recently announced that he is hooking up with high-end clothes brand Gucci for a new collection. The revelation comes after celebrities and others criticized the company in February after it reportedly released a $890...
Taylor Swift doesn’t recognize her own song during ‘Tonight Show’ gameVideo
Taylor Swift drew a blank (space) when it came to naming a song close to her: one of her own. Swift was on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday in advance of her “Saturday Night Live” performance this week. While on the show, she played the “Name That...
The Clarks inspire Washington brewer’s ‘Wheat Penny’ beerVideo
When they released “Penny on the Floor” in 1991, The Clarks probably never imagined that — 28 years later — the song would inspire a new beer. The band has teamed up with The Washington Brewing Co. for Wheat Penny, a German-style hefeweizen beer that will be introduced during an...
‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ gets box set after 10 years
LOS ANGELES — A small-batch box set of film, music and memorabilia will be released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” the movie that captured Jackson’s final concert rehearsals before his death. Only 1,000 numbered copies will be made of the set that is available...
Chance The Rapper revives ‘SNL’ character for NHL season’s start
Hockey fans are ready to “do that hockey” and so is Chance The Rapper. With the NHL kicking off the 2019-20 season Wednesday, the league posted a video of Lazlo Holmes, Chance’s infamous “Saturday Night Live” character, interviewing the Vegas Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault. Among figuring out the proper pronunciation...
KISS to rock for sharks, fans under the seaVideo
Having played nearly every corner of the Earth in a nearly 50-year career, the rock band KISS is taking its show to a new place — under the sea, where they will perform for great white sharks and eight fans separated from them by a small submarine. As part of...
