MUSIC NEWS: MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015
JASON ALDEAN GETS MARRIED
Jason Aldean has married former ``American Idol'' contestant Brittany Kerr. Aldean tells Us Weekly magazine they were married in Mexico on Saturday evening. Aldean calls it ``the best day ever.'' Kerr says she feels like the luckiest woman to have been able to marry her best friend. Aldean made tabloid headlines when he admitted to acting inappropriately with Kerr while still married to his first wife, Jessica.
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TWISTED SISTER DRUMMER A.J. PERO DIES
Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider says his heart breaks knowing he will never feel the power of A-J Pero's drums anymore or see Pero's face smiling from sheer joy. Pero died of an apparent heart attack Friday while touring with Adrenaline Mob. Pero was 55. Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French says Adrenaline Mob band members found Pero unresponsive on their tour bus in Poughkeepsie, New York. Pero was famous for the scene in the ``We're Not Gonna Take It'' video in which he hits a drum covered in glitter. French says the band is considering what to do about the Twisted Sister tour dates in the summer.
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THE LEFT BANKE'S FACEBOOK HACKED AFTER KEYBOARDIST DEATH
As if The Left Banke were not already reeling from the death of keyboardist Michael Brown: their Facebook page got hacked. Brown died of heart failure at his home in Englewood, New Jersey, on Thursday. He was 65. The band's official fan Facebook page posted on Saturday someone hacked the site and took down the announcements about Brown's death. They have since been reposted.
Brown co-wrote The Left Banke's biggest hit, ``Walk Away Renee,'' which hit number 14 in 1966. He also wrote ``Pretty Ballerina,'' a number-15 hit in 1966.
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SLIPKNOT GUITARIST AND BROTHER CHARGED
Slipknot guitarist Mick Thomson and his brother have been charged after they got into a knife fight with each other at Thomson's home. Police in Clive, Iowa, say both Thomson and his brother Andrew are responsible in a March 11 assault that landed both of them in the hospital. Mick Thomson had a stab wound to the back of his head, but the injuries to both brothers were not life-threatening. Both brothers have been charged with disorderly conduct by fighting. They are due in court next Monday.
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DIRECTOR OF GREGG ALLMAN FILM SAYS HE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILTY FOR TRAGEDY
The director of the movie about Gregg Allman says it's ultimately his responsibility for the death of a camera assistant in February 2014. ``Midnight Rider'' director Randall Miller issued a statement to The Associated Press saying the death of Sarah Jones ``was a horrible tragedy that will haunt me forever.'' He says he relied on his team but it was his decision to shoot the scene on a Georgia railroad bridge. The crew had mistakenly thought no trains were expected, but a freight train plowed through the set and killed Jones. Miller pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing, in part so that his wife and business partner would not face charges and in part to spare Jones' family from having to relive the crash at trial.
JOHN LEGEND NEEDS A BREAK
John Legend is taking a break this week, then it's back to work. Legend says he needs a vacation so he's taking this week off, but he'll jump into the studio next Monday to really start writing again. Legend isn't worried about creating another big hit like ``All of Me.'' He says he doesn't think about having to write another song like that but about writing great songs. He says he wants to discover new things about himself creatively.
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WORK WILL BEGIN ON SEATTLE'S JIMI HENDRIX PARK
Ground is expected to be broken next month on Jimi Hendrix Park in Seattle. The city has accepted a bid from a developer to transform an open green space near the Northwest African American Museum into a park to honour Hendrix, with the blessing of the Hendrix family. The first phase will include a timeline of Hendrix's career, a butterfly garden and a gathering space for performances. The second phase will include a shelter house and a ``shadow wave wall'' featuring silhouettes of Hendrix.
The park is scheduled to open this fall.
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SNOOP DOGG IS CREATING HBO SHOW
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Snoop Dogg is developing a new series for H-B-O. Snoop says he's working with ``Menace II Society'' director Allen Hughes on a show about 1980s Los Angeles. Snoop says it's a dream come true to be able to tell a story the right way on the right network.
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DAVE STEWART, ADAM LEVINE CREATE SONGWRITER REALITY SHOW
Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Adam Levine of Maroon 5 will team up for a music competition show that focuses on songwriters. The Hollywood Reporter reports the show will be called ``Songland'' that focuses on regular people with compelling stories trying to pitch their songs to producers and musicians.
