Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé have all signed on to headline the Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn of New York's Central Park on Saturday, September 26th.
This free, ticketed event is in support of the new Global Goals, a United Nations program to fight inequality, protect our planet and end extreme poverty by 2030.
Free tickets for the show are being awarded by lottery to those who take online actions on GlobalCitizenFestival.com to help the world’s poor. Everyone else can just kick back and watch it at home. MSNBC and YouTube will air it live.
Hey Donald, You"ve Got to Change Your Evil Ways.
Carlos Santana, who was born in Mexico in 1947, doesn't look very kindly on presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.
Carlos writes: "Donald Trump, Spirit requires integration, total acceptance of everyone in this blessed planet. I invite you to utilize your power of wealth to restore, amend and heal your relationship with ALL your sisters and brothers. It's never too late to graduate from the university of FEAR. I believe in YOU. Your light can make a difference on our great nation. When the power of love replaces the love for power, divinity is who you really are -- LIGHT. Peace to you, your family and all your immigrant employees, Carlos.”
ED SHEERAN: Doesn't Smell Like Teen Spirit
Plenty of stars, both female and male, have started selling their own fragrances in recent years, but Ed Sheeran isn't on the bandwagon.
Ed tells Britain's Sun that he was approached by a company that wanted to market a scent with his name on it, but quickly turned down the offer -- in part because he believes fans think he smells "like sweat, shame and stale cigarettes."
The ginger-haired singer says, "Someone was asking me about setting up my own perfume the other day... I think I look like I don't wash. I do shower twice a day but I don't think anyone would buy a perfume." (ContactMusic)
KEITH RICHARDS: Stepping Out Solo in September
Keith Richards will release Crosseyed Heart, his third studio solo album -- the first in more than 20 years -- on September 18th. The first single, "Trouble," will be out July 17th, two days after the end of The Rolling Stones' Zip Code tour.
Keith says, "I had a ball making this new record and working with drummer Steve Jordan and guitarist Waddy Wachtel again. There’s nothing like walking into a studio and having absolutely no idea what you’re going to come out with on the other end. If you're looking for ‘Trouble,’ you've come to the right place.”
Other titles on the 15-track collection include "Robbed Blind,” “Love Overdue,” “Blues in the Morning,” "Lovers Plea," "Nothing on Me," "Amnesia" and “Illusion,” a duet with Norah Jones, who co-wrote the song.
Keith's other studio albums are Main Offender (1992) and Talk Is Cheap (1988).
GREEN DAY: Only Summer Date Axed
Green Day's only show of the summer has been canceled.
The band was supposed to headline the new NiFi Fest at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky August 28th through the 30th. But the festival's promoters issued a statement on Wednesday that said, "We simply cannot deliver the NiFi vision and fan experience at our desired level of excellence given the lack of ticket sales to date." Refunds will be issued within the next two weeks.
The festival lineup had also included Kings of Leon, Gov’t Mule, Weezer, Spoon, Bleachers, The New Pornographers and Benjamin Booker.
JIMMY EAT WORLD: Jim's Solo Series
Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World will release his first solo music this summer.
The frontman will release a bunch of digital singles to go along with his solo tour, starting this Friday with the new original "I Will Go." Every Friday between now and August 14th, Adkins will put on a digital single, with all of the tracks being released as a set of three seven-inch singles on September 11th. That physical release will have three originals and three covers -- including takes on Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and Beck's "Don't Act Like Your Heart Isn't Hard."
Adkins continues his U.S. solo tour Thursday in Columbia, South Carolina.
GRATEFUL DEAD: End of an Era in More Ways Than One
Not only did Fare Thee Well mark the end of the Grateful Dead, it appears to have marked the end of a time when concert-goers are routinely busted for smoking pot -- at least in Chicago, where weed is already decriminalized.
Billboard reports that, for 200,000 Deadheads who gathered in and around Soldier Field over the three days of Fare Thee Well, there were only three marijuana-related arrests -- and just one for possession of over 15 grams, which is still a felony there. During that same period, seven people were killed and 40 others shot in Chicago, so chasing pot smokers probably shouldn't be a police priority there.
A bill to decriminalize marijuana possession in the entire state of Illinois is currently awaiting the signature of governor Bruce Rauner, who actually attended Fare Thee Well on Friday.
