Music News: Zach Sobiech story headed to Hollywood
by Staff
February 02, 2016
Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to make a movie based on the story of Zach Sobiech — the Lakeland teenager who died of osteosarcoma in 2013, just after his 18th birthday, leaving a musical legacy including the unforgettable song "Clouds." His mother Laura Sobiech told the family's story in her 2014 memoir Fly a Little Higher, which is to be the basis for the planned film. The project is now in development, but nothing more is yet known about the timeline for the film's production. (Star Tribune)
Lady Gaga will take two big turns in the spotlight this month. She'll sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, and she'll perform a David Bowie medley in tribute to the late icon at the Grammys on Feb. 15. Nile Rodgers, who produced Bowie's hit album Let's Dance, will serve as musical director for the tribute. (Rolling Stone)
"People need to stop calling me a 'whiny baby' because I write songs about heartache and my feelings," writes Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino in a new essay about sexism and the music industry. "Did anyone call the Beatles 'whiny babies' for singing the lyrics 'This boy wants you back again'? Did anyone call them 'desperate' or 'needy' for singing 'Oh please say to me / You’ll let me be your man / And please say to me / You’ll let me hold your hand'?" (Pitchfork)
Taylor Swift, the Weeknd, Adele, Drake, Ed Sheeran, and Justin Bieber are contending for Favorite Song in the 2016 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. All six are also contending for Favorite Male, or Favorite Female, Singer; Best New Artist nominees include Alessia Cara, DNCE, OMI, Shawn Mendes, Silento, and Walk the Moon. The awards will be presented live on Nickelodeon on March 12; don't bet against the Vine celebrity. (Billboard)
Disclosure have announced a North American tour that runs April through June, including festival gigs at Coachella and Firefly, among others. (Rolling Stone)
Guns N' Roses have made plans to head down to Mexico City for a show on April 19 — between their two headlining Coachella weekends. The reunited rock gods have also booked a pair of Vegas shows on April 8 and 9. (Billboard)
Usher, Future, and Leon Bridges will headline this year's Roots Picnic — the annual festival curated by the Tonight Show house band. Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson of Broad City helped the band roll out the lineup for this year's festival, which takes place on June 4 in Philadelphia. (Pitchfork)
After seven years, Steve Jones — a founding member of the Sex Pistols — is bringing his show Jonsey's Jukebox back to the L.A. airwaves, where it can now be heard on KLOS. "I'm 60 now," says the guitarist optimistically, "and I don't know if I can do this s--t anymore." (Billboard)
In an ad that will appear during this year's Super Bowl, Steven Tyler confronts a singing portrait of himself made out of Skittles. (Rolling Stone)
