Jazz drummer-composer Paul Motian dies aged 80

NEW YORK (AFP) ― The influential U.S. jazz drummer and composer, Paul Motian, died Tuesday at the age of 80 in New York, a close friend said.“Paul did pass away early this morning,” Carole d’Inverno, a painter, told AFP. Jazz producer Hans Wendl said Motian had died from complications from Myelodisplastic Syndrome, a bone disorder.In the latter half of his career Motian became a band leader, playing with saxophonist Joe Lovano, guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist Masabumi Kikuchi among others, an

Nov. 23, 2011

Queen reigns 20 years after Mercury

LONDON (AFP) ― Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago on Thursday but his star has only burned brighter in the two decades since, with Queen and their larger-than-life frontman as popular as ever.The British rockers, marking their 40th anniversary this year, are among the world’s biggest-selling artists ever ― with most of their sales coming in the 20 years since Mercury died.Queen’s guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor are busier than ever and Mercury’s songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and

Nov. 23, 2011

Fans strip off in support of Ai Weiwei

BEIJING (AFP) ― Ai Weiwei fans have again rallied behind the outspoken Chinese artist after he revealed he is being investigated on pornography charges ― by posting naked pictures of themselves online.Supporters of Ai ― who disappeared into custody for 81 days earlier this year ― raised money when he was saddled with a 15-million-yuan ($2.4 million) bill in alleged back taxes, a move he called politically motivated.Their online drive to send him money totaled nearly nine million yuan, enabling A

Nov. 22, 2011

U.S. returns stolen painting to Germany

BERLIN (AP) ― An American university returned a 15th century painting to a Berlin museum on Monday, more than six decades after the valuable piece was stolen in the chaotic aftermath of World War II.The Flagellation of Christ was one of more than a dozen paintings that disappeared from Berlin’s Jagdschloss Grunewald museum during the summer of 1945, looted by British and Russian soldiers.The painting, which originally formed a wing of an altarpiece, was later sold and ended up in the Indiana Uni

Nov. 22, 2011

Stallone, Klitschko brothers present ‘Rocky’ musical

BERLIN (AFP) ― U.S. superstar Sylvester Stallone has teamed up with heavyweight boxing legends Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko for what is billed as the world’s first musical version of “Rocky,” producers said Monday.Stallone said he had always envisaged creating a musical version of the 1976 Oscar-winning rags-to-riches story of Rocky Balboa, a down-at-heel amateur boxer who bravely fights the world champion in a bruising and bloody bout.“I always had the idea of Rocky as a musical. At the end of

Nov. 22, 2011

Bruce Springsteen plans world tour

WASHINGTON (AFP) ―Bruce Springsteen is making plans for a world tour in the new year, with European dates to be revealed in a matter of days, as well as a new album of new material, his official website brucespringsteen.net said Sunday. “A lot of you have been hearing that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be on tour in 2012. That is absolutely correct,” it said, confirming speculation on fan sites over the past several days. “The European dates run from the middle of May until end of

Nov. 21, 2011

Beyonce on secrecy of pregnancy

NEW YORK (AP) ― It’s tough to keep a pregnancy a secret when you’re in the public eye, and for a while, Beyonce thought the jig was up.“The whole time I definitely was thinking, ‘Everyone knows, everyone can see,’” said the singer before the screening of her new concert DVD Sunday in New York.It became particularly difficult for her to hide the growing baby bump when the Grammy-winner performed for four nights to sold-out crowds at New York’s Roseland Theater in August.

Nov. 21, 2011

Taylor Swift wins 3 trophies at AMAs

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Taylor Swift was crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards for a second time.“This is so crazy!” the country superstar said after beat such contenders as Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to capture all three awards that she was nominated for at Sunday’s ceremony, including artist of the year, the show’s highest accolade that she previously claimed in 2009.“I ended up writing the record by myself, so the fact that you would honor it this way, you have no idea what

Nov. 21, 2011

KOCIS unveils new slogan for 40th anniversary

Korean Culture and Information Service this week announced its new slogan for its 40th year anniversary, which it selected from entries from the public. The slogan reads: “Reaching out Constantly, Resounding Globally!”KOCIS, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, had organized a public contest for the slogan from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3. A total of 297 people, including foreigners, submitted entries.The winning phrase was created by Cho Han-gyeong, 24, from South Chungcheong Prov

Nov. 17, 2011

Botero sculpture fetches $1.7m in New York

NEW YORK (AP) ― Fernando Botero’s monumental bronze “Dancers” has fetched more than $1.7 million at a New York auction, setting a new record for a sculpture by the renowned Colombian artist.The sculpture, which depicts a couple standing face to face, as if about to start a dance, was made in 2007 and bought directly from Botero.It was acquired at the first session of Christie’s Latin American Art sale on Tuesday, by a private European buyer whose identity was not revealed.The previous record for

Nov. 16, 2011

Ai Weiwei: Feels like I just paid $1.3m ransom

BEIJING (AP) ― Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei said Wednesday he feels like he has paid a ransom, after depositing $1.3 million into a government account while he contests a huge tax bill months after being held in police detention.Chinese tax authorities say Ai’s design firm, Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd., owes 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) in back taxes and fines. Ai disputes the government’s tax-evasion allegations and says he does not even own the company involved.The guarantee

Nov. 16, 2011