WFNX Sold To Clear Channel Entertainment
I was the first one to break this story on the morning of May 16th as the unfortunate announcement came in that WFNX was to be sold to Clear Channel and subsequently, all DJ's and staff members were fired. It was a difficult and heartbreaking story to report on, and it was one that I was reluctant to post since I couldn't come to terms with how major this story would become. WFNX has been the radio station largely responsible for my music tastes up until this point, and was the outlet that initially got me into listening to alternative and indie music. They probably did the best job of breaking new Boston area bands better than any other station in New England and were known the world over for their cutting edge style that set them apart from their contemporaries in the radio world. I will forever be grateful to WFNX for introducing me to the world of music as I know it today.
The Death of Whitney Houston
Just a day before music's biggest evening, The Grammys, a report surfaced that pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead in her bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel where she was due to make an appearance at a pre-Grammy party hosted by her mentor Clive Davis. An unfortunate and tragic end to a stunning talent who immediately made an impact on the music scene when she released her debut album in 1985, and reached superstardom after her take of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" shot to #1 worldwide and made the soundtrack to the film, The Bodyguard, one of the best selling soundtracks in music history with close to 20 million in sales. Her career stalled in recent years, as she became known for her exploits with husband Bobby Brown that made her a front page regular on supermarket tabloids all across the country. A not entirely surprising end to a promising and talented career, much like the same way Amy Winehouse died.
The Death of Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch
Another prominent musician who left us this past year was Beastie Boys Adam Yauch, who died of salivary gland cancer after first being diagnosed 3 years ago. Adam Yauch was an extremely talented artist who helped create the Beastie Boys and released their acclaimed debut album Licensed To Ill in 1986, selling over 10 million copies and became an influential group in the world of hip-hop. The group were also known for their extraordinary humanitarian efforts, and were heavily involved in the Tibet independence movement, which influenced Adam to become a practicing Buddhist and went on a Vegan diet as well after first being diagnosed with cancer. He was an immense talent who helped transition those who traditionally only listened to rock music, and helped them become hip-hop fans.
The Starting Line Announce 10th Anniversary "Say It Like You Mean It" Tour
One of my favorite pop-punk bands ever The Starting Line, announced earlier this past summer that they'll be embarking on a 10th anniversary tour commemorating the release of their debut album "Say It Like You Mean It". This was the announcement that myself and thousands of other Starting Line fans were clamoring for quite some time, and providing for an immediate jolt of excitement and anticipation for the start of the tour, which will be stopping by The Paradise in Boston on December 27th. Yours truly will be there in attendance, and I can't wait to hear one of the seminal albums of my youth live from back to end in one extraordinary night for sure.
Harvard Baseball Team Covers Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe"
One of the more entertaining and enjoyable news stories from this past year was the hilarious and well thought out cover video of the Harvard University baseball team and their take on this summer's inescapable jam, "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen. The video features the band lip-synching the words to the song, while performing a syncopated dancing routine using their hands and trying so hard not to crack up laughing while doing it at the same time. If you watch closely, you'll see in the left hand corner of the screen one member of the team who is taking a nap. That person is actually asleep and was not intended to be part of the video, but made the video even that more enjoyable. All throughout, this video was a hilarious and entertaining experience that is worthy of replaying over and over again.
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