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Ahmaud Arbery’s Alleged Murderer Was Encouraged By Cops To Be A Vigilante
Source: Sean Rayford / Getty As more details unfold regarding the senseless murder of Ahmaud Arbery, it appears that Gregory McMichael was put up to the task of vigilante justice by local police. According to a text message exchange between cops and the homeowner of a residence under construction, the elder McMichael was framed as the point man for overseeing criminal activity in the neighborhood. TMZ reports: According to text messages between an officer of the Glynn County Police Department and Larry English, the owner of the home under construction where Ahmaud’s alleged killers claim he was trespassing, police told English to call Greg instead of cops whenever Larry needed assistance. The officer texted Greg’s phone number to Larry, informing him McMichael was his neighbor and instruct...
5 Things I’d Rather Do Than Listen to Lionel Richie’s Upcoming ‘We Are the World’ Remake
Remember when Lionel Richie threatened to curate a new version of “We Are the World” a few months ago? Reuters reports that Richie, along with his American Idol co-hosts Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, will perform the song on Sunday night’s edition of the show, featuring several bodies hidden under Idol’s floorboards: Fantasia, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, Ruben Studdard, and Scotty McCreery, as well as this season’s remaining 11 finalists. 5. Lick an entire package of q-tips. After it’s been used. 4. Let Robert Pattinson cater my wedding. 3. Eat a stop sign, covered in pigeon shit. 2. Perform one hour of (unpaid) emotional labor for Mike Pence. 1. Look through the Trapt guy’s browser history. Enjoy former renditions of the sweet kiss of death ...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (May 16)
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week: Shakira honors professors in Colombia In honor of Teacher’s Day in Colombia on Friday (May 14), Shakira shared photos of students and teachers from her Fundación Pies Descalzos in action. “Teachers are the pillars of society. With their dedication they build a world with equal opportunities for all boys and girls every day, inspiring them to develop their full potential in life! Now more than ever their work is essential!” she expressed on Instagram. Wisin & Yandel kick off fan contest Despite putting most of their 2020 plans on hold, Wisin & Ya...
Astrid Kirchherr, Photographer of The Beatles, Dead at 81
Astrid Kirchherr, the German photographer who shot some of the earliest and most striking images of The Beatles and helped shape their trend-setting visual style, has died at age 81. She died Tuesday in her native Hamburg, days before her 82nd birthday, her friend Kai-Uwe Franz told The Associated Press. Her death was first announced by Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, who tweeted Friday that Kirchherr made an “immeasurable” contribution to the group and was “intelligent, inspirational, innovative, daring, artistic, awake, aware, beautiful, smart, loving and uplifting.” According to the German publication Die Zeit, she died of a “short, serious illness.” “God bless Astrid a beautiful human being,” Ringo Starr tweeted. George Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, tweeted that Kirchherr was “so...
Little Richard to Be Buried at Historically Black College in Alabama
Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard will be buried at Oakwood University, a historically black university in Huntsville, Alabama. Gerald Kibble, director of Oakwood Memorial Gardens, said the private funeral will be held Wednesday (May 20) and will not be open to the public. Little Richard’s close friend Pastor Bill Minson said the singer was an alumnus of the university. Little Richard died May 9 at the age of 87 in Tennessee due to bone cancer. The cemetery is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist university.
Keith Urban Performs Drive-In Concert, Exclusively for First Responders
Keith Urban performs first American drive-in concert, exclusively for first responders Taking a page from those in Germany and Denmark, country music superstar Keith Urban performed one of America’s first pandemic-era drive-in concerts on Thursday. Even better, it was held exclusively for first responders. The private, unannounced event took place just 45 minutes east of Nashville at the Stardust Drive-In Movie Theater. A resident of Music City, Urban played an hour-long set for a crowd comprised of more than 200 doctors, nurses, and other emergency medical employees from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. According to a press statement, there were nearly 125 parked vehicles in attendance, all safely spaced apart, and they each honked and flashed their lights throughout the show in supp...
Sharon Van Etten and Josh Homme Team for Cover of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”: Stream
Sharon Van Etten and Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme have joined forces for a modernized rendition of the classic plea for harmony “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”. But whereas Nick Lowe’s original and Elvis Costello’s popular cover layered hope with frustration, Van Etten and Homme’s take weighs heavier in the COVID-19 era. Theirs is a twangy, lamenting version, as if the lack of change between Lowe’s 1974 recording and the world in 2020 has only weighed down the lyrics. Still, darker though it may be, there is a tone of resilience in their voices as they harmonize on the lines, “So where are the strong?/ And who are the trusted?/ And where is the harmony?” After all, belief that things can and will be better is the only way we’re going to get through times lik...
First Country: New Music From Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks, Chase Rice & More
First Country is a compilation of the best new country songs, videos and albums that dropped this week. This week’s edition of First Country has lauded veterans, promising newcomers and the welcome return of a pair of siblings who have left us without new music for too long. The Brothers Osborne, “All Night” [embedded content] Ready to forget your problems for three minutes? Then the new Brothers Osborne is for you. “All Night,” co-written by TJ and John Osborne, is a feel-good, rocking little ditty that opens with a “Pretty Woman”-like opening guitar lick before exploding into a fun romp. “I’ve got the good if you’re got the time/I’ve got the moon if you’ve got the shine,” sings TJ. If country clubs were open right now, this one would instantly bring crowds to the dance floor and in...
Hailey & Justin Bieber Say This Sitcom Is a ‘Palate Cleanser for the Soul’
For the latest installment of their Facebook Watch series, The Biebers on Watch, Hailey and Justin Bieber went live to answer questions from fans. When asked about the sitcom Friends, the couple couldn’t help but gush, noting that it’s their favorite show. “We watch Friends every night before we go to bed,” Hailey revealed, before adding, “I watched all of Friends from start to finish when I was single, I watched it every day.” “It’s a good palate cleanser for the soul in the sense of–you know how you have ginger when you have sushi? Same vibe,” the “Sorry” singer added. The conversation soon turned to the topic of marriage, and fans wanted to know how the couple felt about being married so young (Justin was 24 and Hailey...
Taeyeon Earns 15th Top 10 on World Digital Song Sales With ‘Happy’
The powerhouse vocalist has earned more than 30 top 10 hits as a soloist and in a group. We hope this week’s chart news can make Taeyeon a bit more “Happy.” The K-pop superstar returns to Billboard‘s World Digital Song Sales chart with “Happy” entering at No. 9 this week. The nostalgic R&B-pop track sold 1,000 downloads in the week ending May 8, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. The No. 9 debut for “Happy” marks Taeyeon’s 15th top 10 entry on World Digital Song Sales to date. Since making her first solo appearance in 2014 with the song “Breath,” sung alongside fellow K-pop singer Jonghyun, Taeyeon has been a consistent chart force. The star earned her highest-charting single in early 2016 with “Rain” ...
Anthrax & Suicidal Tendencies Members Deliver Rocked Out Version of Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’
They’re the bad guys (duh). That’s the message Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and Suicidal Tendencies bassist Ra Diaz are sending with their hard rock rendition of Billie Eilish‘s Hot 100 chart topper, “bad guy.” The new rendition still features the 18-year-old star’s vocals, while Benante, accompanies on drums and guitar, and Diaz plays bass. “My daughter @miiabenante would play @billieeilish in the car all the time, when I heard the song #oceaneyes I was hooked,” Benante wrote on Instagram announcing the cover. “When this song came out I knew it was going to blow up and it did. @ra_diaz and I Loved this tune and wanted to do a Remix of it. We added some crunch, some funk, some Gr...
The Pretty Reckless Return with Heavy New Song “Death by Rock and Roll”: Stream
The Pretty Reckless are back with the new single, “Death by Rock and Roll”, a guitar-driven anthem highlighted by singer Taylor Momsen’s powerful pipes. The new song comes shortly after it was announced that the band had signed a new deal with Fearless Records. The track kicks off with a heavy guitar riff and features Momsen singing about the deaths of various characters, ending each of their stories with, “But on my tombstone when I go/ Just put ‘Death by Rock and Roll’.” Momsen’s vocals range from silky smooth in the verses to a full-on scream toward the end of the song. “In a lot of ways, this new album feels like a rebirth and our first single, ‘Death by Rock and Roll’, represents that salvation that my favorite music brings me,” said Momsen in a press release. “Rock is freedom and thi...
