Composer George Benjamin: Don't label me, I'm British

LONDON (Reuters) - Rats 'stream like hot metal, to the rim of the world' and children, lured by the music of a Pied Piper-like exterminator, disappear into a hillside in British composer George Benjamin's eerie 2006 mini-opera 'Into the Little Hill'.

Benjamin claims they're still alive, and perhaps better off, inside that hill, where the 'piper' leads them after the minister fails to pay him for exterminating the rats, but one can't help but wonder how much oxygen they're getting.

'Written on Skin', his next opera and again a collaboration with British playwright Martin Crimp, will have its premiere at the prestigious Aix-en-Provence festival in France in July.

But despite its provocative title, and the unsettling nature of his first opera, Benjamin, 52, swears up and down nothing happens that is nearly as nasty as the title might suggest.

'People I've mentioned it to, particularly women, go 'phwew', as if it's got something quite erotic about it,' he said in a recent interview at his London home, in a leafy neighborhood, with an environmentally friendly Toyota Prius hybrid parked in the narrow driveway outside.

A retrospective of his music this weekend at London's Southbank Centre is the occasion for the chat, the fact that he is one of Britain's leading composers is the reason.

'But the 'skin' we're talking about is parchment, on the whole,' Benjamin continues. 'Because it's the story of an illuminator entering the kingdom of a lord in the 13th century in Provence, hence the premiere in Aix, and the lord's wife becomes interested in him and trouble ensues, of a pretty extreme kind, eventually.'

More than that he's not giving away, at least not in this interview at his home where he has a grand piano in the living room, and American soprano Renee Fleming's latest CD on his stereo. He does briefly produce a copy of the score, as if to prove that a composer renowned for taking his time getting his notes on paper has done the job, long before opening night.

'I wrote 95 to 100 minutes of music in 26 months, and fully scored as well, so when the last note was written the piece was completely finished. So statistically I am accelerating,' he laughs. 'But I still find it very hard. At least with opera, the blockages don't last months, they last days or weeks.'

And what style of music would that be, for a composer who, despite his comparatively young age, is about to have a retrospective that is a London 2012 Festival countdown event -- counting down, of course, to the Olympics which start in July?

Is it in the category of music which goes by the ghostly, or perhaps sci-fi-sounding name 'spectral', referring to compositions that emphasize tone color over harmony, melody and all that old-fashioned stuff? That's how Benjamin's music is described on the Internet, but he is having none of it.

'I don't like the idea of joining any groups or being filed under any particular drawer. I think your job as a composer is to be independent...I am, after all, from this country and I believe in independence, being outside and doing your own thing.'

Music lovers can hear a whole weekend of Benjamin's 'own thing', which is not a huge body of work, from his seminal orchestral piece 'Antara' for chamber ensemble and electronics on Saturday, to his later 'Palimpsests' for full orchestra on Sunday, with music of his hero, the late Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti, thrown in, at Southbank. But don't go expecting to hear 'Written on Skin'. Not a peep until July.

Here's what else Benjamin had to say about his apprenticeship with France's mystical and birdsong-loving musical giant Olivier Messiaen, how he's yet another composer bowled over by movie director Stanley Kubrick and his use of music in films and why even if you've never heard of Benjamin or anything he's written, he suggests you open your ears:

Q: Messiaen was your main teacher and you had a very productive apprenticeship with him in Paris in the 1970s. Apparently he helped you to avoid falling into the clutches of the Darmstadt school of music, which with its formalism and advocacy of 12-tone music -- rather than lovely melodies -- produced pieces that, for some people, gave music a bad name.

A: 'Messiaen said break away from Darmstadt...I'm glad I was 20 years old and I didn't feel the obligation to become a Darmstadt-type composer. And it has to be said that it only really lasted in its tremendous pulling power for about a decade, if that...But Europe had been through the worst catastrophe in a thousand years, so some things had to be examined from the root. Seeing in an abstract way was a noble thing to do but it led to a form of music that was too esoteric and that became a form of really horrid academicism quite quickly.'

Q: So Ligeti, who did love a tune, and Kubrick, who used some of his music for '2001: A Space Odyssey' and other films, were more your style?

A: 'Apart from (Disney's) 'Fantasia', his (Kubrick's) are the only films that really use music in a dignified and grown up way. I like the way he choreographs his apparently spontaneous narratives to music, literally. In 'The Shining' the editing and the actors' words are all inserted and timed according to the music underneath. It gives the feeling of being spontaneous and natural but it's a ballet, in fact.'

Q: Why should anyone who thinks music began and ended with Pachelbel's 'Canon' come to your retrospective?

A: 'The world changes, music changes, music has always changed, music will always change. Not every piece written is a glowing masterpiece...but if you're sufficiently curious you come across some amazing pieces which will speak to you, if you have an open mind and ear.'

(Editing by Paul Casciato)



This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.

Underwood tops Billboard album chart, Beastie Boys return

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 'American Idol' winner and country music star Carrie Underwood topped the Billboard 200 chart on Wednesday with her fourth studio album 'Blown Away,' while the Beastie Boys returned after the death last week of Adam 'MCA' Yauch.

'Blown Away' sold 267,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan, coming only second to Madonna's 'MDNA' earlier this year, which sold 358,000 copies in its initial week of release. This is Underwood's third album to debut at No. 1 on the chart.

The death of Beastie Boys' Yauch last week led to a rise in sales of the band's catalog of albums, as their 1986 record 'Licensed To Ill' re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 18 with 19,000 copies sold.

Six other Beastie Boys albums also re-entered the Billboard 200 chart, with collective sales of 55,000 in the two days following Yauch's death last Friday. Online music streaming site Spotify said it saw a 1700 percent increase in people listening to Beastie Boys songs between May 3 and 4.

Grammy-winning blues singer Norah Jones' fifth studio album, 'Little Broken Hearts,' entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2 after selling 110,000 copies, while the new 'Now 42' music compilation of current hits including those by Kelly Clarkson, Chris Brown and Gotye, entered the chart at No. 3 with sales of 95,000.

Rapper B.o.B.'s second album, 'Strange Clouds,' debuted at No. 5 with sales of 76,000, leaving Adele's Grammy-winning '21' at No. 4, the only non-new entry in the top five this week.

Two more new albums entered the top 10, with the soundtrack from hit TV musical 'Smash' at No. 9 and gothic rocker Marilyn Manson's tenth studio album 'Born Villain' debuted at No. 10. Last week's chart-topper, Jack White's 'Blunderbuss,' fell to No. 7 this week.

Gotye continues to lead an unchanged top five on Billboard's Digital Songs chart with 'Somebody That I Used To Know' featuring Kimbra. Maroon 5's 'Payphone' featuring Wiz Khalifa, Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe,' Fun.'s 'We Are Young' featuring Janelle Monae, and Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' fill the No. 2 to No. 5 positions respectively.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)



This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF CELEBRITIES.

Jermaine Paul crowned season winner on "The Voice"

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jermaine Paul of Team Blake won TV singing contest 'The Voice' on Tuesday night, taking home a recording contract with Universal Republic Records, a $100,000 cash prize, and a shot at his dream of singing stardom.

Paul collapsed into a hug from his coach Blake Shelton and wiped away tears as he thanked his wife, children, and all of the people who voted for him, ending his speech by exclaiming 'nobody but Jesus!'

The former backup singer for Alicia Keys took center stage as he sang R. Kelly's 'I Believe I Can Fly' to close out the show, which he also sang in his final performance on Monday's penultimate episode of the show. Paul received embraces from his wife and family members as he sang.

Paul beat out fellow contestants Juliet Simms of Team Cee Lo (Green), Tony Lucca of Team Adam (Levine), and Chris Mann of Team Christina (Aguilera). Host Carson Daly revealed that Paul edged out second place finalist Simms by fewer than four percentage points.

Tuesday's special two-hour finale included a plethora of performances from stars such as Justin Bieber, Lady Antebellum, Flo Rida, and Hall & Oates. Contestants previously voted off the show were invited back to perform with the four finalists.

'The Voice' became one of the most-watched TV shows in the United States earlier this season and was seen a challenge to Fox's top-rated singing show 'American Idol.'

During the season, it proved very competitive against 'Idol,' especially in the coveted 18-49 viewer group where the two shows are in a close race to be the most-watched program.

But 'Idol' draws many millions more total viewers than 'The Voice' - an average audience size of 19.2 million this season compared to 14.8 million for 'The Voice', according to figures from the two TV networks.

(Reporting By Andrea Burzynski; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)



This article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE.

Tracy Morgan "fine" after Denver health scare

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - For the second time this year, high altitudes wreaked havoc on '30 Rock' star Tracy Morgan, who had to be briefly hospitalized on Saturday when he became dehydrated and suffered flu-like symptoms in Denver.

But the comedian, who had to miss a scheduled standup performance in Denver Saturday because of the illness, is now back in New York City and feeling fine, his rep tells TheWrap.

TMZ.com first reported the news.

Morgan himself updated fans on Twitter Monday, writing, 'Feeling a little better . had to call in sick on Saturday. I'm sorry I had to cancel. Love you Denver. I'll make it up to you.'

Morgan had to be hospitalized in Park City, Utah in January, after he collapsed during an awards ceremony at the Sundance Film Festival.

CBGB's looks for new location, plans NY music festival

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's legendary punk-rock music venue CBGB's may be on its way back -- in a new location with new music.

New club investors are currently pursuing a permanent downtown Manhattan venue for the club that shuttered its doors in 2006, according to a club spokesman, who emphasized the managers of new venue will not be trying to emulate the past.

'They are hoping to open a new venue focused on new music,' the spokesman said. 'They are not trying to recreate the past but hope to open a space in the spirit of CBGB.'

In addition, the first CBGB music festival will take place over four days from July 5-8 and showcase 300 indie bands at dozens of venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as film screenings and panel discussions.

The club that existed on the border of Manhattan's East Village -- its full name is CBGB & OMFUG, or Country Bluegrass Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers -- became the epicenter of the punk-rock scene in the 1970s launching bands like the Ramones, Talking Heads, Television and Blondie.

The closing down of the club in 2006 after a rental dispute signaled the end of an era and the gentrification of The Bowery area that now houses luxury apartment buildings with modern glass facades. The club's founder, Hilly Kristal, died in 2007, and since then CBGB's was dismantled and only existed to sell club merchandise.

The club's estate, with Hayes' daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman as its co-executor, sold the rights recently to the club's assets to a new group of investors who are currently pursuing the new venue and have planned the annual festival, according to the club spokesman.

'It's a relief to know that it's not going to die,' Burgman told the New York Times, who first reported the story and said there was six investors behind the new venture. 'It's going to be reborn.'

After Kristal's death the club became weighed down in legal disputes over the assets, and Krugman emerged from a legal battle as the co-executor of the estate.

A spokesman for the club did not comment on what the assets sold for. The investor group purchased the rights to the club's global intellectual property and physical assets.

Kristal founded the club in 1973. Despite the name the club became a breeding ground for punk and new wave music and was played by The Jam, The Cramps and Nico, among others.

(Reporting By Christine Kearney, Editing by Jill Serjeant)



This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF CELEBRITIES.

Ramone memoir reveals charming, grumpy punk icon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Johnny Ramone, guitarist for seminal punk band the Ramones, pioneered a fast, no-nonsense sound that made him one of the most influential guitarists of all time.

'Commando: the Autobiography of Johnny Ramone,' released nearly 8 years after Ramone, born John Cummings, died of prostate cancer at age 55, reads like a Ramones song: short and to the point, but with plenty of color to keep things interesting.

The book, recently published by Abrams Image, was written from a series of interviews Ramone gave in the final years of his life for the purposes of a memoir.

'He wanted to have his last words because he knew he was dying and he was always kind of a misunderstood character,' Ramone's wife, Linda Cummings Ramone, said in an interview.

Linda enlisted author and former Black Flag singer, Henry Rollins, as well as her manager, John Cafiero, to put together the 176-page book, which is peppered with photos and collected memorabilia.

The result is a raw telling of Ramone's life story, from a blue collar New York upbringing playing baseball and roughing up neighborhood kids, to early Ramones gigs with Blondie and The Talking Heads at punk-rock bastion venue CBGBs.

It also sheds light on the ongoing tensions that took place within the band, and his more than 20-year romance with Linda, who once dated his former friend and bandmate Joey Ramone.

'When I left Joey to go with Johnny, it was intense, because nobody wanted the band to break up. The band was always first,' Linda said.

'Joey and Johnny didn't talk. Did I have something to do with it? Well, yeah, of course, a bit, but musically Joey and Johnny were growing apart. That was more the tension in the band,' she added, citing a 1994 Christmas card shown in the book that Joey sent Johnny, a gesture Linda said showed how those tensions had thawed toward the end.

Other parts of the book detail Ramone's thoughts on his famously brash personality, his sometimes meticulous nature and musical inspirations.

While Ramone described himself in the book as an angry person for much of his life, beginning as 'the terror of the neighborhood,' he also lets on that his favorite place on earth was Disney World, and when he listened to music, chances were he was listening to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, or Elvis.

He was also a fastidious saver and was planning for retirement even before the first Ramones show in 1974. Following the band's last performance, in 1996 at the Hollywood Palace, the Ramones were making more money than when they were together, having established fans around the world.

DOWN-PICK

One of those fans was Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. He said he first heard the Ramones in 1977 when he was 14 years old and Ramones standards 'Sheena is Punk Rocker,' 'Rockaway Beach,' and 'Blitzkrieg Bop' all played on the radio within a week.

'I was hooked,' he told Reuters, adding that Ramones had an enormous impact on the way he plays guitar.

Hammett first met Ramone in 1986 at a comic book convention and the two later became close friends. He said he asked Ramone why it was he always down-picked, rather than strumming the guitar in a typical up-and-down style. Ramone, who was self-taught, said it was just to keep time.

'I thought to myself, 'Wow, something as simple as that was the basis of his style that went on to create the basis of punk rock and heavy metal'.'

Other fans and friends included Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, seen in 'Commando' wearing the wig Ramone had made when he was receiving radiation treatment, and Lisa Marie Presley, who ensured Ramone was the best man at her wedding to Nicolas Cage.

Presley told Reuters in an interview that Ramone, who had an Elvis-themed room in his house long before she took him to visit Graceland, played a major role in her life.

'He had a paternal thing with me. He was looking out for me,' she said in an interview, describing Ramone as 'grumpy, but charming.'

Much of 'Commando' shows Ramone living and breathing his band, which took its name from a pseudonym, Ramon, that Paul McCartney once used.

Even after the band called it quits, it was not until singer Joey Ramone, born Jeff Hyman, died of lymphoma in 2001, that Johnny Ramone, No. 16 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the top 100 greatest guitarists of all time, really knew it was over.

Bassist Dee Dee Ramone, born Douglas Colvin, died the following year of a heroin overdose. That was around the time when Johnny Ramone, who was himself battling the cancer that would take his life, was working on what would become 'Commando.'

Helped by the little black books that he filled throughout his career with the details of every Ramones show - all 2,263 of them - Ramone opened up the past, from punching out Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, to the challenge of working with gun-totting producer Phil Spector, to touring the world.

'It's exactly how Johnny would want it,' said Linda. 'It's like a Ramones show. Boom, boom, boom.'

(Editing by Christine Kearney)

Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch dies of cancer, aged 47

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Adam Yauch, a founding member of pioneering hip-hop group the Beastie Boys who captivated fans with their brash style in early hits like 'Fight for Your Right (To Party)', died on Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 47.

'It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam 'MCA' Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys ... passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer,' said a statement posted on the band's website.

In July 2009, Yauch disclosed that he had been diagnosed with a tumor in his left salivary gland and lymph node, and he later underwent surgery and sought medical treatment in Tibet, among places. In October of that year, he said he was 'feeling healthy, strong and hopeful' that he had beaten the disease.

But as recently as last month, it was apparent the Beastie Boys' bassist was very ill as he was forced to miss his group's introduction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Yauch, who went by the stage name MCA, founded the Beastie Boys with his two friends, Michael Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Adrock). In the rap genre that was dominated by African American acts, the Beasties stood out for their ethnicity - three white Jewish kids from Brooklyn, New York.

They formed initially as a punk-rock band following that 1970s music movement, but soon switched to rap as it gained prominence on the street and in underground clubs in the early 1980s. Their breakout album was 1986's 'Licensed to Ill,' which featured the hit 'Fight for Your Right (To Party).'

The Beasties would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four No. 1 albums and win three Grammys.

Longtime associate and friend Russell Simmons, a co-founder of Def Jam Records, the label that first signed the Beasties to a record deal, posted a message on his website saying 'Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly. I was always inspired by his work. He will be missed by all of us.'

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch also directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including 'So Whatcha Want,' 'Intergalactic,' 'Body Movin' and 'Ch-Check It Out.'

While the Beasties remained active in music over the years, Yauch went on to found independent film company Oscilloscope Laboratories which makes and distributes low-budget, art-house fare. It recently released the drama 'We Need to Talk About Kevin.'

Oscilloscope issued a statement Friday saying it was 'deeply, deeply saddened' by Yauch's death and calling him, 'an amazing leader, a dear friend and an incredible human being.'

Outside music and film, Yauch founded the Milarepa Foundation, which raised money for post-September 11 disaster relief and other causes.

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.

(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom)



This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF BIKINI BABES.