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Music News: Mesabi Iron Range inspires Bob Dylan to build stuff out of iron

by Staff

September 07, 2016

Bob Dylan is building a 26-foot iron gate for a new casino in Maryland.

Why, Bob?

"I’ve been around iron all my life ever since I was a kid," said Dylan in 2013 when he first displayed his iron work. "I was born and raised in iron ore country, where you could breathe it and smell it every day. And I’ve always worked with it in one form or another."

Dylan has a predictably poetic description of his reasons for undertaking his latest project, to be called Portal. "Gates appeal to me because of the negative space they allow. They can be closed, but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways, there is no difference."

Portal will go on display later this year at the new MGM National Harbor casino in Prince George's County, Md. (New York Times)

Jack White shares interactive timeline

Jack White has unveiled an interactive timeline of his career as he prepares to release Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016. At each of 26 dates spanning White's career, notes Billboard, the timeline includes "videos of live performances, old gig posters and promotional shots."

Today's Kanye/Drake news

Kanye West unveiled his latest fashion line in a Yeezy Season 4 event live-streamed via Tidal. The striking show featured masses of models spaced out across lawns on New York's Roosevelt Island. (Pitchfork)

Meanwhile, West confirmed that he's working on a collaborative album with Canadian rap str Drake. "We're just working on music, working on a bunch of music together, just having fun going into the studio," says Kanye. (Rolling Stone)

As Drake performed with Future on Tuesday night in Phoenix, one of their tour buses was robbed — and this wasn't just a few amps. An estimated $2 million to $3 million in jewelry is missing; reportedly, the jewelry was the property of Drake's DJ. (Pitchfork)

Some consolation, perhaps: according to Billboard, Drake had the song of the summer. "One Dance," a Views cut featuring WizKid and Kyla, spent ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100. (Billboard)

Hit the road, jack

It's true: the headphone jack will disappear on Apple's next iPhone. The iPhone 7, introduced amidst much fanfare on Wednesday, will rely on wireless signals to connect with headphones and other accessories. (New York Times)

Today's movie/musical news

Johnny Depp will play Detective Russell Poole in a forthcoming movie based on the true story of the investigation of the Notorious B.I.G.’s death. Poole argued that the rapper's murder was committed in retaliation for the shooting of Tupac Shakur. The movie, Labyrinth, is set to begin filming later this year. (Pitchfork)

Meat Loaf is headed to Broadway (maybe, eventually). The singer's cult-classic 1977 album Bat Out of Hell is being adapted into a musical that will debut in February in Manchester, England. Meat Loaf isn't personally involved with the production, which is being overseen by songwriter Jim Steinman. (Billboard)

Rock moms: The book

Dave Grohl’s mom is writing a book about — well, about being a rock star's mom. Virginia Hanlon Grohl talked to the mothers of rockers including Dr. DreAmy Winehouse, and Michael Stipe for her book, From Cradle to Stage: Stories From the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars. The book hits shelves next spring, just in time for Mother's Day. (Pitchfork)

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