DARREN'S BITS
April 22nd - Coog Features Print E-mail

Entertainment News This Morning: (Weekdays at 10:20am)

The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial is giving people the chance to act in a Johnny Depp movie, trade volleys with Andre Agassi or pose with the next president of the United States. The human rights organization is offering the experiences as part of its annual online auction, which ends on May 7. Last year's auction raised more than $500,000.

Because of the success of ``March of the Penguins,'' Disney hopes movie-goers will march to the box office for a new line of nature films. Disney plans a series of documentaries -- the first is called ``Earth.'' It'll be released in the U-S on Earth Day, April 22nd of next year. ``Earth'' is about a yearlong journey of three mothers, a polar bear, elephant and humpback whale, with their offspring.

Anthony Zuiker (ZWY'-kur) will answer the question: ``Who Are You?'' Zuiker is the creator and executive producer of the ``C-S-I'' shows. He's writing his memoir, tentatively called ``Mr. C-S-I.''  Zuiker will cover his journey from Las Vegas bellhop to Hollywood producer. He'll also write about his gangster father. The memoir will be published in the fall of next year.

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Classic Rock Calender: (Weekdays at 11:20am)

Those born on April 21st share a birth date with Peter Frampton (1950).

In 1967, Pink Floyd's first single, ``Arnold Layne,'' entered the British record charts.

In 1967, Reprise Records signed the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Their first single was ``Hey Joe.''

In 1969, John Lennon and Paul McCartney recorded ``The Ballad of John and Yoko.'' It was released under the Beatles' name, although neither George Harrison nor Ringo Starr appeared on the record.

In 1969, the Who premiered their 90-minute rock opera ``Tommy'' at a concert in Dolton, England. The unannounced debut was followed by an official premiere in London two weeks later.

In 1979, the Rolling Stones played two concerts for the blind in Oshawa, Ontario. The shows were done in lieu of a jail sentence for guitarist Keith Richards, who'd been convicted two years earlier in Toronto of heroin possession.

 

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The Drive Nooner - Random Rock News: (Weekdays at 12:10pm)

Sir Paul McCartney has told people to think seriously about becoming a vegetarian in order to control global warming. The former Beatle, who is a longtime vegetarian, said that the meat industry was one of the biggest contributors to climate change. In an interview with PETA, Paul said, “I would urge everyone to think about taking this simple step to help our precious environment and save it for the children of the future.” A report by the United Nations in 2006 found that cattle rearing creates more greenhouse gases than transportation.

Night Ranger will release the band's first studio album in a decade on July 1st. The album, “Hole In The Sun”, also commemorates the pioneering rock outfit's 25th anniversary as a band.

Van Halen made a triumphant return to the stage in Nevada on Thursday, more than five weeks after postponing their reunion tour due to Eddie Van Halen's ill health. The group was forced to put their roadshow on hold in March, to allow the 53-year-old guitarist time to "continue medical tests to define a course of treatment." The precise reason for his brief medical hiatus has not been disclosed, but Eddie joined his bandmates on stage in Reno on Thursday night, played Tiger Woods' charity event in Vegas over the weekend and now are set to resume touring. Singer David Lee Roth was ecstatic at the comeback, proclaiming: "Better late than never!"

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This week's theme on the Classic Rock Challenge at 12:25pm, we honour “Earth Day.”

Here's Lance Bulmer winning a pair of passes to the Del-Tech Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships May 2-3 at the UNBC Northern Sport Centre ... and also a pass to the Home Show this weekend.

 

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Classic Rock Song Facts: (Weekdays at 1:20pm)

Bob Ezrin produced this. He created the sound that led the group to commercial success.

This was Alice Cooper's first hit. They had a very popular stage show, but their first 2 albums didn't sell well. If this didn't produce, they probably would have been dropped by their record label.

 

John Lydon auditioned for The Sex Pistols by singing along to this as it played on a juke box. Their manager, Malcolm McLaren, gave him the job and renamed him Johnny Rotten.

Creed covered this on the soundtrack to the 1998 movie The Faculty.

In 1998, Cooper sued Kiss, claiming that "Dreamin'," from their Psycho Circus album, resembled this too closely. The case was settled a year later.

At the time, Cooper was not really 18. He was 23.

It is ... I'm Eighteen ... Alice Cooper !

(Search facts on your favorite songs at www.songfacts.com)
 
Rob's Alice Cooper Interview Print E-mail

Rob Mitchell's reward for getting up early and covering the Morning Show for Doug Jones was an opportunity to chat with Alice Cooper.

Here's Rob's interview split into three segments!

Good Job Rob!

Remember, tickets for Alice Cooper September 23rd at CN Centre are still available through Ticketmaster. 

 
 
April 21st - Coog Features Print E-mail

Entertainment News This Morning: (Weekdays at 10:20am)

Two new movies are tops at the theatres. Jackie Chan and Jet Li are kicking the stuffing out of the competition. ``The Forbidden Kingdom,'' starring the martial-arts dream team opened at number-one, with nearly 21 million dollars this weekend. Another new movie opened in second place, the romantic comedy ``Forgetting Sarah Marshall.'' ``Prom Night'' fell to third, followed by the debut of ``88 Minutes'' starring Al Pacino.

Actress Sandra Bullock was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver over the weekend while filming a new movie in Massachusetts. Bullock and her husband -- Jesse James -- were unhurt after their S-U-V was hit head-on by a female driver whose blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. Police Lieutenant Jerry Cook says Bullock was concerned for the driver of the other car.

Bullock is in Massachusetts filming a romantic comedy called ``The Proposal.''

U-S President Bush will make a cameo on ``Deal or No Deal'' tonight. He will be cheering-on U-S Army Captain Joe Kobes (KO'-bus). Bush will thank the purple heart soldier for serving three tours of duty in Iraq.

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Classic Rock Calender: (Weekdays at 11:20am)

Those born on April 21st share a birth date with Iggy Pop (1947).

In 1960, Dick Clark testifies before the congressional committee investigating payola

In 1963, The Beatles and Rolling Stones meet for the first time during a Rolling Stones performance at Crawdaddy Club.

In 1969, Janis Joplin makes her first London concert appearance at Royal Albert Hall, a performance considered one of the best of her career

In 1971, Rolling Stones release “Sticky Fingers.”

In 1978, Sandy Denny died. She sang alternating vocals with Robert Plant on Zeppelin's “Battle of Evermore.”

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The Drive Nooner - Random Rock News: (Weekdays at 12:10pm)

Queen's Brian May has jokingly hinted that the upcoming tour might be the last tour for the group. Queen + Paul Rodgers' new album is being readied for release on September 1st with a 14 country, seven week tour to follow.

ZZ Top, one of a few major bands in rock history to never have had a personnel change in almost a 40-year history, are set to release their first ever live DVD. “ZZ Top - Live From Texas” will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on June 24th. With a running time of more than two hours, the disc is filled with the kind of southern sizzle ZZ Top is world-famous for. “Live From Texas” features 17 barnburners of blues, barrelhouse boogie and deliciously fuzz-toned hard rock.

Paul Kantner will now pay Grace Slick and former manager Bill Thompson so he can tour as Jefferson Starship. Kantner has settled a lawsuit with Slick and Thompson, who had sued to stop him from using the name. Lawyers say it was a friendly settlement among people who have known each other for decades. Kantner will pay Slick and Thompson a modest licensing fee to use the name and he will continue performing as Jefferson Starship as long as he acknowledges that Slick and Thompson own the rights to the name.

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This week's theme on the Classic Rock Challenge at 12:25pm, we honour “Earth Day.”

Here's Don Neufeld winning a pair of passes to the Del-Tech Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships May 2-3 at the UNBC Northern Sport Centre. 170 athletes from western Canada will be competing.

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Classic Rock Song Facts: (Weekdays at 1:20pm)

The song comes from an album produced by Nile Rodgers, who gave the album a funky sound that was something different for Bowie. Rodgers founded the Disco band Chic and produced hits for Diana Ross and Madonna.

Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar. Bowie was impressed when he saw Vaughan perform at the Montreaux Jazz festival a year earlier.

This was Bowie's only transatlantic #1 hit.

Smashing Pumpkins covered this song live in 1998

It is ... Let's Dance ... David Bowie !

(Search facts on your favorite songs at www.songfacts.com)
 
April 18th - Coog Features Print E-mail

The Drive proudly sponsors the Canadian Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" at Massich Place Stadium, May 10th and 11th. Teams are involved in fundraising efforts, including "Possy's Posse," a team led by Diane Rogers ...

 

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This weekend,The Drive gives you a chance to win the Stones soundtrack, "Shine A Light." Ray Anderson is a big Stones fan and now adds a new disc to his collection ...

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Entertainment News This Morning: (Weekdays at 10:20am)

Ozzy says he's ``an idiot.'' That's because he trusted his tribemates on ``Survivor.'' Ozzy even had the Hidden Immunity Idol, but didn't play it during the Tribal Council. Here are Ozzie's closing comments.

Now, more on last night's show with our Survivor corespondent, Collette, from the Fine Arts Dental Lab ...

Kristy Lee Cook from ``American Idol'' has been engaged all this time and no one knew it. Cook says her boyfriend, Andy, proposed to her March 15th. Cook kept her mouth shut about her engagement because she was already under enough stress. She hasn't set a wedding date but she's thinking next June.

David Hasselhoff has agreed to pay $25,000 a month to support his ex-wife and children. Hasselhoff and Pamela Bach have joint custody of the children. The couple also agreed to joint ownership of their San Fernando valley home and will divide the family's cars, bank accounts and Hasselhoff's pensions from acting and directing guilds.

Honours are going to some legendary names in the world of television. Bea Arthur, Merv Griffin, Larry Gelbart, who wrote the T-V version of ``MASH,'' and Sherwood Schwartz, who created ``Gilligan's Island'' and ``The Brady Bunch,'' will be inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be later this year.

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Classic Rock Calender: (Weekdays at 11:20am)

In 1966 Liverpool's Cavern Club was sold by receiver after going into bankruptcy.

In 1970 Van Morrison's Moondance hits album charts.

In 1981 Yes announce their split. They've since re-grouped.

In 1988 legendary writing team Holland-Dozier-Holland were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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The Drive Nooner - Random Rock News: (Weekdays at 12:10pm)

Sad news from Springsteen's E Street Band camp. Danny Federici, who for 40 years provided the keyboard sound for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, died yesterday in New York City after a three year battle with melanoma. He was 58. He had taken a leave of absence in November during the band's current tour but returned to play portions of a show in Indianapolis in March.

AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has confirmed reports that the band is recording its new album in Vancouver. Speaking to a Los Angeles radio station, Johnson revealed that the band has been in the studio for about five weeks now and added, "We're working with Brendan O'Brien, [Bruce] Springsteen's producer, and he's a great guy. He knows exactly what we want, and so far, it sounds really good." Asked if the band would hit the road, Johnson replied, "I would probably thinks so, yeah. I always hate to say yes in case something happens, but I really do think we will be out there.”

A documentary about the creation of Cirque du Soleil's Beatles production “Love” will be released on DVD June 24th. “All Together Now” explores how George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte got the production rolling and shows producers George and Giles Martin remixing Beatles songs for Love as well as rehearsals leading up to its debut in Las Vegas.

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This week's theme on the Classic Rock Challenge at 12:25pm, in honour of my sister Caroline's birthday, is “Family Members.”

Here's Daryl Allan winning two DVDs from the “Classic Albums” series. The Doors and John Lennon Plastic Ono Band.

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Classic Rock Song Facts: (Weekdays at 1:20pm)

This was written by Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren who says the song was not written to express anything specifically religious, though it certainly expresses spiritual searching and other ideas. People have attributed all sorts of alternative meanings to it, but he suggests taking the song as it is.

This was the group's first major hit.

The Oak Ridge Boys recorded this for the album “When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You'd Hear.”

This song has appeared in several movies, including Heroes (1977), Happy Gilmore (1996) and Anchorman - The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004).

This song is featured in the South Park episode "Guitar Queer-O." In the episode, Stan and Kyle become obsessed with the video game Guitar Hero, and through the episode often play, "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas !

(Search facts on your favorite songs at www.songfacts.com)
 
April 17th - Erin from Relay For Life Print E-mail

The Drive proudly sponsors the Canadian Cancer Society "Relay for Life" at Massich Place Stadium on May 10-11. Registration deadline is Friday.

Here's my conversation with Erin Reynolds from the Canadian Cancer Society.

 
 
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