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Fed up neighbours band together to boot out squatters

A group of resourceful residents living in a cul-de-sac on the New South Wales Central Coast have banded together to kick out a mob of squatters who had been wreaking havoc on and in the vacated home of a disabled man. Walls had been destroyed, a car had been set alight – and the community had finally said they'd had enough. "For the last several months we've had squatters living in our cul-de-sac running a 24-hour a day, drive-through drug den," local resident Christy told A Current Affair. Christy claimed squatters and drug users have been a problem next door for years. "Lots of fighting, brawling, threats to kill each other, to shoot each other," she said. "(They say), 'Bitch better have my money', you know, constantly." Christy then told the programme that things had ramped up recently, and it all culminated in the lighting of a dangerous car fire. "The flames were like two storeys tall. My whole house reeks of burned tyres and we've all had enough. We all have little girls ... and we can't let our kids out," Christy said. "My partner woke me up in the morning (and said), 'Oh my god, there's a car fire' so we ran out and looked out the window and yeah, that was too far," another neighbour, Dean Rainback, said. Rainback said the fire was the final straw for him and his young family. "There's trees over there where the car is and that house right next door could have caught fire," he said. "I'm from Texas, we don't put up with this kind of crap," Christy said. "So we decided we would take things into our own hands and get them out ourselves." Christy said she gave her unwanted neighbours "a verbal warning" to let them know the "jig is up, we've had enough". "I also shouted it in the house - 'Tomorrow's the day. It's over'," Christy said. True to her word, Christy and the other neighbours confronted the squatters and kicked them out! The group of frustrated neighbours then surveyed the damage and were shocked by what they saw. After removing all the junk, they boarded up the house, so no one could get back inside. The unit belongs to a disabled man named Terry who is now living with his mother after disability support workers who were paid to care for him failed to do so. "I think that is a disgrace, that it has been left to neighbours to do this," she said. The neighbours have now organised a council pick-up to get rid of the squatters' mess. Images: A Current Affair

Travel Trouble

If you want your child to be more resilient, get them to join a choir, orchestra or band

One of the most important qualities for a young person to develop is resilience. This involves their ability to overcome adversity. Resilience is perhaps more important now than ever. Today’s young people have been <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-youth-in-brief/contents/summary">facing adversity on a mass-scale</a>, thanks to COVID and all the disruptions to their education and social, home and working lives. The good news is, resilience is not just something you are born with. It <a href="https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/ca34a20a-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/ca34a20a-en#chapter-d1e10348">can be learned</a> from our experiences and interactions with others. Parents may not be aware that one way to develop resilience is through group music making, such as in a school or community choir, orchestra or band. <h2>Our research</h2> We wanted to investigate how group music making can develop skills beyond just learning to play an instrument or sing. Our <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au/research/projects/music-resilience-project">study</a> is based on the Tasmanian Youth Orchestras, which include accomplished musicians aged from 14 to 25. This includes the state youth orchestra as well as two other orchestras, specialist ensembles and two choirs. For our project, we collected comments from players, managers and conductors/teachers on a closed Facebook site and then did eight follow-up interviews. Our findings show how qualities like teamwork, empathy and grit – all components of resilience – can be developed through group music making. <h2>Teamwork</h2> In order for a group of players to make a piece of music work, they have to work together. People have to listen to each other, understand what is happening around them, and be prepared to change how they play something (slow or fast, loud or soft) depending on how the group is performing. You need to be able to value the contributions of other people, not just your own. So, <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au/research/projects/music-resilience-project/teamwork">we found</a> if you are playing in a band, you are learning team work skills. As David*, a conductor told us: "After a while, players realised that they were ultimately responsible to the other players not to the conductor." <h2>Empathy</h2> Players also need to be able to understand others in a group and share their feelings. In a choir or orchestra, the music making is a shared creative experience – that involves the whole body. And this is where <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au/research/projects/music-resilience-project/empathy">empathy</a> comes in. Empathy, like teamwork, can be cumulative, growing over time through rehearsals and performances, as players and teachers support one another. As brass player Tom said, "I have to understand that I am not always going to be the main focus of a piece." Another player, Simon, told us about his realisation that other people were also having to work hard (and it wasn’t just about him). "You certainly aren’t the only person having to practise your doubles [playing two notes at once] for that piece." <h2>Grit</h2> It is important for young people to develop a “<a href="https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/">growth mindset</a>”, where they understand effort makes them stronger and learning is a long-term commitment. This is where <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au/research/projects/music-resilience-project/grit">grit</a> also comes in: pursing a goal and sticking with it even if it takes a lot of work or gets difficult. It can take many months to learn a piece of music up to performance standard. And learning an instrument requires practice every day. So commitment is a key part of learning music. Lawrence, a player, told us about participating in his school musical, "There were many points throughout the year which I felt like giving up […] but it was something I had committed to […]. I kept working on playing the music to the best of my ability, even if it felt like I couldn’t do it." Tory, a choir conductor, described performance as both “safe and unsafe”. Young people in a choir learn to deal with the unexpected as part of performance. And this takes a kind a bravery. "You’ve got safety in numbers, to some extent, but you are still stepping into the unknown every time you walk on stage to do a thing. You can rely on each other, because you’ve rehearsed, but stuff does go pear shaped. Stuff happens […] It’s an incredibly useful life skill to be able to go, ‘well, that sucked’ […] and go, all right ‘let’s [go again]’." <h2>Why music?</h2> But what is so special about music in fostering resilience? Young people also work in sporting teams or academic assignments. They can also work together while playing games. Playing music provokes activity in many different parts of the brain at the same time. Listening to music that we like triggers the pleasure/reward centre of the brain. Dopamine and serotonin are released, resulting in that “feel good” sensation, and <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/this-is-your-brain-on-music-daniel-levitin/book/9780241987353.html?source=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw48OaBhDWARIsAMd966B_bnNSq0206FOdSKqjfAEbrRWPkyKsh1tlY4v7eD1JGqZMB5qYGmoaAgmKEALw_wcB">providing an incentive</a> to keep engaging with music. Learning a musical instrument also <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2021/01/14/JNEUROSCI.1985-20.2020/tab-article-info?versioned=true">strengthens connections</a> in the brain, linking the auditory cortex to parts of the brain involved in the processing of complex information. This link has <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02023/full">been shown</a> to improve memory, motor functions and learning in other subject areas. Making music with others also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661313000491">affects levels</a> of the bonding hormone oxytocin, supporting a sense of togetherness, while reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and boosting immune function. For young people, music can provide valuable respite from study and daily life, and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1049732320944142">help</a> manage and express their emotions. So, if you want your child to be a team player who is empathetic and shows grit, our research suggests that joining a music group could be the answer. *names have been changed Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-you-want-your-child-to-be-more-resilient-get-them-to-join-a-choir-orchestra-or-band-190657" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Music

Legendary band hits back after PM’s ukulele session

New Zealand band Dragon have hit back at Prime Minister Scott Morrison after his "cynical" cover of their cult classic song on a special interview with 60 Minutes. In the sit-down interview with Karl Stefanovic, the PM is filmed with his family, strumming a ukulele while singing the band's smash hit April Sun in Cuba. In a response to the serenade, Dragon has accused Scott Morrison of using their song to "humanise" himself in the face of the Australian public ahead of the upcoming federal election.In a statement released by the band, they accused the PM of dragging the band into the headline for "all the wrong reasons" in what they believe was a "cynical" act of electioneering in order to strike a cord with Australians. The band also used their statement to resurface damning criticism of the PM for taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, which saw 34 people lose their lives and nearly 3,000 homes destroyed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from the band Dragon after the Prime Minister of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a> appeared on television singing one of their songs. They said it was “a cynical move by a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time”. <a href="https://t.co/85RVXFtF2S">pic.twitter.com/85RVXFtF2S</a>— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenMcDonell/status/1493057963753418754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>"It is a cynical move for a politician to co-opt music in an attempt to humanise themselves come election time," the band's statement said."Maybe if his trip to Hawaii had not been cut short, he could have learnt the lyrics to the rest of the chorus."In the now-viral video of Scott Morrison performing the tracks he repeats one line twice ("Take me to the April sun in Cuba, oh oh oh"), rather than progress the song along with the original lyrics.The song was originally penned in 1977 by two New Zealanders who were living in Australia, and became a smash hit in Australia and New Zealand after placing in the top 10 in both country's music charts. When the video of Scott Morrison playing the ukulele first surfaced in a preview for the 60 Minutes interview, it was instantly branded as "extremely cringe" by viewers. Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, suggested the performance was a cynical ploy to improve Mr Morrison’s image ahead of the federal election.“We need to brace ourselves for how far he will go the more desperate they get,” she wrote on Twitter.Image credits: Nine - 60 Minutes / Twitter

News

‘The Beatles: Get Back’ glosses over the band’s acrimonious end

In the new film “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9735318/">The Beatles: Get Back</a>,” “Lord of the Rings” director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001392/">Peter Jackson</a> tries to dispel the myth of the the Beatles’ breakup. In 1970, Michael Lindsay-Hogg released “<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/original-let-it-be-movie-michael-lindsay-hogg-peter-jackson-get-back-1250561/">Let It Be</a>,” a film documenting the band’s recording sessions for their eponymous album. The movie depicted George Harrison arguing with Paul McCartney – and it hit theaters shortly after news of the band’s breakup emerged. Many filmgoers at the time assumed this depicted the days and weeks during which everything fell apart. By the time it hit theaters, nearly 16 months after filming, this rehearsal footage got mistaken for a completely different time frame. In 2016, Jackson gained access to Lindsay-Hogg’s original footage. Over the course of four years, he edited it into an eight-hour, three-part series, thanks to a streaming deal with Disney+. In their press rounds, both Jackson and McCartney have been eager to recast the legacy of this period. “I kept waiting for all the nasty stuff to start happening, waiting for the arguments and the rows and the fights, but I never saw that,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/nov/20/i-just-cant-believe-it-exists-peter-jackson-takes-us-into-the-beatles-vault-locked-up-for-52-years">Jackson told The Guardian</a> and others. “It was the opposite. It was really funny.” “I’ll tell you what is really fabulous about it, it shows the four of us having a ball,” <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-says-the-beatles-get-back-documentary-changed-his-perception-of-their-split-3095528">McCartney told The Sunday Times</a> after seeing the film. “It was so reaffirming for me.” It seems to be working: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/arts/music/beatles-get-back-peter-jackson.html">A recent New York Times headline proclaimed</a>, “Know How the Beatles Ended? Peter Jackson May Change Your Mind.” A lot of these sessions contain the irrepressible gags that made the Beatles famous. (Lennon and McCartney singing “Two of Us” in grandiose Scottish brogue almost steals Part Three.) But in their interviews, Jackson and McCartney accentuate the positive as if to paper over the acrimonious <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/paul-mccartney-says-he-sued-beatles-save-band-s-music-n1235898">history of lawsuits</a>, <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/beatles-catalog-paul-mccartney-brief-history-ownership-7662519/">the loss of the Lennon-McCartney publishing catalog</a> and the lurching solo careers that followed. <h2>A muddled chronology</h2> The timing of the theater release of the “Let It Be” sessions seeded confusion over how the group unraveled. “Let it Be” was shot in January 1969, just weeks after the “<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/review-the-beatles-white-album-186863/">White Album</a>” hit stores. The band then put these tapes aside to work on the larger project they intuited from this material, “<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-beatles-revolutionary-use-of-recording-technology-in-abbey-road-124070">Abbey Road</a>,” which they completed seven months later. The split actually came at a September 1969 meeting, when <a href="https://theconversation.com/inside-the-beatles-messy-breakup-50-years-ago-130980">Lennon told the others</a> he wanted a “divorce.” They persuaded him to keep his departure quiet until the band completed some contract negotiations. Then, in March 1970, <a href="https://theconversation.com/inside-the-beatles-messy-breakup-50-years-ago-130980">McCartney publicly proclaimed</a> he was “leaving the Beatles” to release his first solo album. An epic descent into suits, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-courtroom-hit-parade-the-beatles-top-ten-lawsuits-414216.html">countersuits</a> and press squabbles ensued. Harrison even wrote a song called “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzdw2WcSmb0">Sue Me Sue You Blues</a>.” Only in May 1970 did the “Let It Be” album and film come out, with the band’s messy divorce as the backdrop. After the initial theater run, “Let it Be” fell from view. For decades, the only way you could get a glance of it was through a black market copy. The Andy Warhol-esque, <a href="https://www.artforum.com/print/196704/the-value-of-didactic-art-36733">so-real-it’s-boring verité style</a> – the non-narrative approach then in vogue – flummoxed even 1970 audiences. But because the “Let It Be” album and film came out after “Abbey Road” – which was released in September 1969 – it quickly got mistaken for telegraphing their breakup, <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-says-the-beatles-get-back-documentary-changed-his-perception-of-their-split-3095528">a belief that the Beatles themselves seemed to internalize</a>. The Beatles’ own traumatic memories of this period kept the raw footage from this project in the vaults for over 50 years. In the meantime, bootleggers published nearly all of its audio. <h2>Conflict brewing</h2> Now at significant remove, the remaining Beatles – McCartney and Ringo Starr – <a href="https://variety.com/video/peter-jackson-get-back-beatles-secrets/">seem to have hired Jackson</a> for a rescue operation, disingenuously dubbing the film a “documentary” when they, in fact, served as executive producers alongside their Apple Records directors, Jeff Jones and Ken Kamins. In response to Jackson’s three-part series, which coincided with the release of <a href="https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/get-back-book-review-beatles-let-it-be-transcripts-1235087090/">a book of transcripts from the “Let it Be” sessions</a> and McCartney’s songwriting memoir, “<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-paul-mccartneys-the-lyrics-can-teach-us-about-harnessing-our-creativity-170987">Lyrics</a>,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/arts/music/beatles-get-back-peter-jackson.html">media outlets</a> <a href="https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/the-beatles-get-back">around the world</a> appear to have embraced this new version of history: that these sessions actually scanned as lighthearted, that – poof! – the scars had vanished. But the strange and beguiling thing about Jackson’s edit rises from how it displays an unstable mixture of groove and conflict. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Auta2lagtw4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The trailer for ‘The Beatles: Get Back.’ Despite the walkout from Harrison and continuous disagreements about what the project was – first a TV show, then a feature film and album, which needed a rooftop concert for a “payoff” – the band ultimately rallied to write the now-classic tracks “Something,” “Oh! Darling,” “Octopus’s Garden,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” and “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” along with Lennon’s “Polythene Pam” and “I Want You.” So Jackson’s “Get Back” clarifies the Beatles’ resolve to resume work and put their extra-musical squabbles aside. The music pulls them inexorably forward, and they trust these early song fragments enough to carry them. They have had bust-ups and walkouts and uncertainties and failures, and always found their way through. For Lindsay-Hogg and 1970 audiences, this all seemed bewildering and tense – the band kept a tight lid on internal rows. To the Beatles themselves, and to anyone who’s ever worked to keep a band together, it felt about par. Telling the average person to watch eight hours of freighted doubt and raw, undeveloped material is a big ask. <a href="https://www.theonion.com/new-beatles-doc-gives-man-greater-appreciation-for-how-1848132216">As The Onion joked</a>, “New Beatles Doc Gives Man Greater Appreciation For How Long 8 Hours Feels.” But there is a moment in Part Two of Jackson’s series – the first day on the set when Harrison doesn’t show up – when the rest of the band sits around talking about the situation. McCartney suddenly goes quiet. The camera lingers on him, and you can see him drift into a thousand-yard stare as he contemplates the looming uncertainties. He doesn’t quite tear up, but he does look as unguarded as he ever does, and markedly tentative. The moment catches hold because it’s so out of character – McCartney rarely displays himself unveiled, without pretense. The shot lingers and takes the measure of the man and the project, how much they have to overcome and how precarious everything suddenly feels. [Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletters to understand the world. <a href="https://memberservices.theconversation.com/newsletters/?source=inline-140ksignup">Sign up today</a>.] In retrospect, the miracle is not that they finished “Let It Be,” but how these sessions served as the warmup for their final lap, “Abbey Road.” After upending expectations with the contrasting breakthroughs of “Sgt. Pepper” and the “White Album,” figuring out what to do next would have confounded lesser souls. That five-decade gap where fans waited for a refurbished “Let It Be” tells you a lot about how fraught January 1969 seemed to its four principals – and how deep those scars went.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/169914/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tim-riley-440673">Tim Riley</a>, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director for Journalism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/emerson-college-3140">Emerson College</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-beatles-get-back-glosses-over-the-bands-acrimonious-end-169914">original article</a>. Image: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Movies

The now grown up baby from Nirvana's album cover is suing the band

The baby who appeared on the famous Nirvana album cover in 1991 is now suing the band. Spencer Elden, who is now 30 years old, is suing surviving Nirvana band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, as well as Kurt Cobain's estate for allegedly violating federal child pornography statutes and child sexual exploitation. The lawsuit also names the photographer who snapped the image, Kirk Weddlem and the labels behind the release fo the album. Spencer was photographed naked as a child for the band's most iconic album cover, and is now claiming his legal guardians never signed a release “authorising the use of any images of Spencer or of his likeness, and certainly not of commercial child pornography depicting him.” Spencer claims he has suffered “lifelong damages” and is also suing for distribution of private sexually explicit materials and negligence. The famous album cover was snapped by chance, as Spencer's father Rick was a good friend of the photographer. Nick spoke to NPR in 2008 and said, “[Weddle] calls us up and was like, ‘Hey Rick, wanna make 200 bucks and throw your kid in the drink.” The image, which shows a baby Spencer in the pool diving after a $1 note, quickly became an iconic image and Spencer has recreated the album cover several times to celebrate anniversaries of the release. The lawsuit filed by Spencer states, “The permanent harm he has proximately suffered includes but is not limited to extreme and permanent emotional distress with physical manifestations, interference with his normal development and educational progress, lifelong loss of income earning capacity, loss of past and future wages, past and future expenses for medical and psychological treatment, loss of enjoyment of life, and other losses to be described and proven at trial of this matter.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Legal

Why Princess Beatrice’s wedding band is so special

Princess Beatrice added her own personal touch to the royal wedding tradition as she married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on Friday morning. Being the first royal to wed at Windsor’s Royal Chapel of All Saints, Beatrice was forced to keep a guest list of 20 people due to COVID-19 guidelines. And while everyone is focusing on the stunning wedding dress she borrowed from her grandmother the Queen, they forgot to focus on one accessory that’s different from many royal brides before her. Her wedding band. Beatrice’s wedding band was designed by jeweller Shaun Leane, who also created her Art Deco-meets-Victorian engagement ring. According to Hello, the platinum and diamond band was made to fit around the engagement ring and was crafted in consultation with the couple. "I am thrilled for the happy couple, it warms my heart to see two wonderful people unite in love as much as Edoardo and Beatrice do," the British jeweller said in a statement. Over the last 100 years, most royal brides have chosen gold wedding bands, which is why Beatrice’s ring is different from the rest. Many royal wedding rings have been created from a single lump of gold taken from the Clogau St David mine in Wales since 1923. These include the bands belonging to Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Old family tradition or not, it was clear Beatrice had her own vision for her wedding ring.

Beauty & Style

Fan favourites Dave Matthews Band announce 2020 Australian tour

Fans of the Dave Matthews Band would be thrilled with the announcement that the band are coming back to Australia. It’s been six years since they’ve been on Australian shores as they’re heading down for Bluesfest. Bluesfest is a festival in Byron Bay that starts on April 9th and finishes on the 14th of April 2020. The lineup includes iconic bands such as Crowded House, John Butler, Lenny Kravitz and the Cat Empire. The festival started back in 1990 and initially had 6,000 attendees. The festival now attracts over 100,000 music fans and is a family-friendly event. Dave Matthews Band are also performing two shows on top of Bluesfest, with one in Sydney on the 15th of April and one in Melbourne on the 17th of April in 2020. They made the announcement on their Instagram page. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B32k8rrgN4p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B32k8rrgN4p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">is announcing two long-awaited headline shows for their loyal Aussie fans. Returning to Australia for the first time since 2014, @davematthewsband will play at @FirstStateSuperTheatre in Sydney, on April 15th and at @mcourtarena, Melbourne on April 17th. DMB is also playing on April 13th at the @bluesfestbyronbay. An online presale for the Sydney and Melbourne shows is available for Warehouse members beginning Tuesday, October 22ndat 2PM (local venue time). Visit http://https://warehouse.davematthewsband.com/ to join the Warehouse. A @livenation presale begins Wednesday, October 23rd at 3PM (local venue time). For complete tour, ticket and VIP Experience information, visit: http://livenation.com.au. Tickets for both shows go on sale to the public Friday, October 25th at 1PM (local venue time) at http://livenation.com.au. With every ticket purchase to the Australian shows you will receive a free download of “Come Tomorrow”. #SeeYouOnTheRoad</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/davematthewsband/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Dave Matthews Band</a> (@davematthewsband) on Oct 20, 2019 at 1:04pm PDT </div> </blockquote> However, the iconic seven-piece band are reeling from their Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction for 2020. Fans are now able to vote for your favourite Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 nominees to help them reach the top 5 of the official fan ballots. You simply Google your favourite band who are in the list, and are able to select up to 5 nominees daily. Voting ends January 10th, 2020. They spoke to <a href="https://www.apnews.com/8a8a595f7e4c4d36930f3873fa3edcc3">AP News</a> about the announcement. “It’s a real honour,” Matthews told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “Even if they stick us in a holding pen for a few years, that’s OK. Just to get on that list. I can’t believe I’m on a list with Whitney Houston, Motorhead and T. Rex. That’s pretty awesome.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3425znn_Q8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3425znn_Q8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">You can vote DAILY on @google through January 10th! Vote NOW for @davematthewsband to be inducted into the @rockhall’s Official Class of 2020: http://goo.gle/RHFanVote #LinkInBio #RockHall2020</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/davematthewsband/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Dave Matthews Band</a> (@davematthewsband) on Oct 21, 2019 at 10:20am PDT </div> </blockquote> Tickets for <a href="https://www.bluesfest.com.au/tickets/">Bluesfest</a> and the Dave Matthews Band <a href="http://livenation.com.au/">additional shows</a> are on sale now.

Music

The band Queen are now richer than Queen Elizabeth due to Bohemian Rhapsody success

The rock band known as Queen are very happy with the worldwide success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody, despite the film being panned by critics when it was released last year. The remaining members of the group, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon are now worth a combined $815 million (AUD). This means that when combined they have a higher net worth than the Queen, who is believed to be valued at $678 million. Despite the film seeing Rami Malek winning a Best Actor Oscar and a BAFTA for his portrayal as Freddie Mercury as well as the film winning best film at the Golden Globes, critics weren’t a fan of the film. Many reviewers left comments saying, “Freddie Mercury biopic bites the dust” and, “This karaoke-style paean is all style and no soul”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQh4ZBH4_W/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQh4ZBH4_W/" target="_blank">Freddie & Rami side-by-side for the Live Aid scene in #BohemianRhapsody ✨</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/officialqueenmusic/" target="_blank"> Queen</a> (@officialqueenmusic) on Jan 30, 2019 at 4:13am PST </div> </blockquote> The remaining members of the band didn’t seem to mind as the film has made almost $1.5 billion at the box office worldwide despite costing $73 million to make. A film insider revealed to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6994685/Queen-band-richer-Queen-success-Bohemian-Rhapsody-film.html">The Daily Mail</a> that the band will be very well off due to the success of the film. “They will be massively in profit. Because Queen Films made the film, they are quite high up the waterfall of money that cascades down from the film. “This film was created and managed by Queen, which means they can protect their share. I would expect the studio to get around 50 per cent and the rest to go to the surviving Queen members and the Freddie Mercury estate.”

Music

Band pulls out of Sunrise appearance over race row

A major international band is set to snub breakfast morning TV show Sunrise, as part of the continued backlash <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/2018/03/sunrise-shame-breakfast-show-faces-backlash-after-racist-segment/" target="_blank">to the segment where host Samantha Armytage</a> talked about taking Aboriginal children out of abusive family environments. Grammy-award winners, Portugal. The Man, who are known for smash hit Feel It Still, where scheduled to perform on the Channel 7 show this morning. But the band released a statement on Instagram, referring explicitly to the controversial segement that was aired back in March. “We do not want to be part of that show at this time,” the band wrote. “We come from rural Alaska and hold very close to our hearts the Indigenous people of our home. “While we are by no means experts in your countries [sic] history we know there are problems that, like ours, are yet to be resolved and only being amplified by the recent statements on Sunrise.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 41.424272818455364% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BiOe-3BHLE3/" target="_blank">A post shared by TheLordsOfPortland (@portugaltheman)</a> on May 1, 2018 at 12:23am PDT </div> </blockquote> This decision comes in the wake of months of protests against the morning program that was accused of racism for airing a segment where a panel discussed white families adopting indigenous children from abusive homes. What are your thoughts?

News

Melbourne woman finds rubber band in Coles chicken pie

A Melbourne woman has found a <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2017/10/did-you-know-about-the-coles-bbq-chicken-hack/" target="_blank">rubber band in a Coles Thai chicken pie</a>, sharing the nasty supermarket surprise with other shoppers on social media. Tina Vang purchased the $3 pie from a Coles outlet in the Melbourne CBD on Thursday, and was reportedly horrified to find the band nestled between the meat and the pastry. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcoles%2Fposts%2F1660376334026375&width=500" width="500" height="631" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> “I accidentally ate one piece, but I didn't realise at first until I took out the pie from the box,” Vang told <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/" target="_blank">Daily Mail Australia</a>. “I hope I don't have any rubber band in my tummy… that's very disgusting in the pie.” After Vang posted a photo of the contaminated pie to the Coles Facebook page, the supermarket responded saying they’d send the video to the ‘National Quality Team’. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcoles%2Fposts%2F1659238210806854&width=500" width="500" height="669" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> “We'd encourage you to return to any of our stores with your receipt for a full refund or replacement of the pie that you've purchased,” a Coles spokesperson told Vang. What are your thoughts?

Money & Banking

The surprising stories behind iconic band names

Once a band makes it to the airwaves, we rarely think to wonder about the origins of its name, but the stories are often fun, fascinating, or downright weird. Let’s take a look at some iconic band names, and how they came to be. 1. The Human League Originally named “The Future”, this late-70s-formed band decided a rebranding was necessary once lead singer Philip Oakley came aboard. Keyboardist Martyn Ware suggested “The Human League”, taking inspiration from a science fiction board game called Starforce Alpha Centauri. 2. Chubby Checker While not a band, Ernest Evans (aka Chubby Checker) took on his stage name after being inspired by Fats Domino. Already called “Chubby” by his friends, Evans added some tasty alliteration with “Checker” for a name that rolls off the tongue. 3. The Velvet Underground This band was shown Michael Leigh’s book about the 1960s’ secret sexual subculture, and loved the name so much that they borrowed it for themselves. 4. The Killers Easily one of the most iconic bands of the 21st century, the Killers took their name from another group’s music video. New Order’s 2001 single, “Crystal”, featured a fake band named, you guessed it, “The Killers”. 5. Lynyrd Skynyrd The Freebird rockers took their name from their high school PE teacher, Leonard Skinner, who didn’t approve of boys who had long hair. Skinner had a good relationship with the band, however, once introducing them at a concert, and allowing them to use a picture of a sign for his real estate business inside their third album. 6. Simple Minds The Scottish group initially had a false start as Johnny and the Self-Abusers, but after a lone single was released, the group broke apart, and reformed with new members to become Simple Minds. The name was taken from iconic David Bowie song, “Jean Genie” (“So simple minded he can’t drive his module”). 7. Coldplay Apparently, a friend of lead singer Chris Martin’s told him that his own band didn’t want the name “Coldplay” anymore. Upon hearing this, the band now formerly known as Starfish (and Pectoralz prior to that) seized upon the name. The original Coldplay is reported to have taken the name from a children’s anthology of poems entitled Child’s Reflections: Cold Play. 8. Pink Floyd Band member Syd Barrett took the names of two blues musicians (Pink Anderson and Floyd Council), and smooshed them together to create one of rock’s most iconic monikers. What’s your favourite weird band name? Let us know in the comments!

Music

Why so many old bands are making a comeback

David Beer is an Associate Professor in Sociology at the University of York. His research focuses on pop culture and new media. The announcement that 1980s pop trio <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39691240" target="_blank">Bananarama are to reform</a> is the just the latest in a long line of recent comebacks. From Boyzone to Wet Wet Wet, Take That to Jamiroquai, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Stone Roses, The Verve, Sleeper, These Animal Men, Northern Uproar, S Club 7, 5ive and Cast, musicians of old are intent on trying on their faded stardom for size. Even Menswe@r tried it, albeit with only one original member. The news that <a href="http://www.nme.com/news/music/elastica-reunite-return-studio-1956368" target="_blank">Elastica were reuniting</a>, however, disappointingly turned out to be premature. Comebacks seem to be everywhere. They are not limited to a particular genre, but they do often seem to be bound to a particular era. The success levels might vary somewhat, but we seem to be living in a cultural moment that is defined by the comeback. Of course, there have been plenty of comebacks before, but right now they’re close to being ubiquitous. It’s tricky to know exactly what is happening here. Music cultures have always had one foot in the past. Classic songs, signature sounds, attachments to older formats like vinyl, intertextual reference points, remastered and reissued albums and the like, have long been a central part of how music is made and consumed. But the comeback is a more material and pronounced version of these tendencies. The comeback represents a more obvious and direct impulse to revisit. Why come back? Nostalgia undoubtedly plays a part. Inevitably bands who return for a second innings are driven by a desire to revisit particular moments or to experience again music from more youthful times. The myths and memories are likely to mix together a little here. Some suggest that the prominence of the comeback is further evidence of <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/is-pop-music-evolving-or-is-it-just-getting-louder/" target="_blank">culture stalling</a>; that we have reached something of a <a href="http://thetornadotimes.com/opinion/todays-music-lacks-authenticity-and-creativity-s/" target="_blank">creative dead end</a> and therefore can only <a href="http://ppcorn.com/us/2016/01/02/the-demise-of-creativity-in-the-music-industry/" target="_blank">look backwards</a>. The point here, mistakenly, would be to think that an absence of creativity has left a void that the comeback fills. A slightly more positive take on this is that we have seen the emergence, over the last ten years or so, of a <a href="https://theconversation.com/back-on-record-the-reasons-behind-vinyls-unlikely-comeback-39964" target="_blank">new kind of retro culture</a> which looks to the past for its resources and which uses pastiche to enliven culture today. Simon Reynolds has called this mythical revisiting of music’s archives “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/may/29/retromania-simon-reynolds-review" target="_blank">retromania</a>”. This may play a part, but I’d suggest that we need look beyond explanations bedded in the music industry if we are to understand the rise of the comeback. We can gain a richer understanding of these comebacks by thinking about how music scenes are deeply rooted in our identities – and about the important role that music takes in shaping how <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1749975508091034" target="_blank">we connect with the social world</a>. A sociological view <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0038038506062030" target="_blank">Research has shown</a> that music fans continue to have an attachment to the <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=1ZSG7ApWrvwC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&ots=drtHkps3-_&sig=qzfIlAlBtAggseDdiRUz_6Vl5wo#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">music of their youth</a> as they move into later life. They might listen to other things and change their style of dress, but the <a href="http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7700/" target="_blank">music remains embedded in their identities</a>. We have a strong connection with the music that forms a central part of our own biographies. Elsewhere it has been found that music plays an important role in how we handle our emotional lives. A classic study by the sociologist <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/sociology/sociology-general-interest/music-everyday-life?format=PB&isbn=9780521627320" target="_blank">Tia DeNora</a> found that we use music in our everyday lives to influence and stimulate our emotions and feelings, to negotiate our moods or to help us to recall or revisit memories and times. This shows that people are likely to seek out opportunities to engage with that musical past both in terms of reaffirming their identities but also because of the emotions and memories that the music embodies for them. So we need not see these comebacks as a sign of cultural failure. This comeback music will have been central to how generations of people have negotiated their lives, so having a chance to experience it in the live arena is likely to be appealing. Music scenes, are, after all, moments when our personal biographies mix with broader social changes and cultural movements. The comeback is hard to explain because those explanations are likely to be based upon a kind of inbuilt nostalgia. When we compare music’s past with its present we are also comparing different moments in our own lives . It is hard to understand changing music cultures when we are basing this understanding on our own changing biographies. Bananas about Bananarama Yet Bananarama’s comeback is undoubtedly part of a cultural movement, a comeback culture that is far greater than before. Like vintage and retro clothing, the <a href="https://theconversation.com/back-on-record-the-reasons-behind-vinyls-unlikely-comeback-39964" target="_blank">resurgence of vinyl</a>, retro arcade video gaming, the trend for revisiting and remaking classic films and TV shows (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493405/" target="_blank">CHIPS</a> being the most recent), and “<a href="https://theconversation.com/keep-calm-and-carry-on-conquered-the-world-but-it-was-too-mundane-for-world-war-ii-28519" target="_blank">Keep calm and carry on</a>” style memorabilia, the comeback trend illustrates how complex relations are between yesterday and today. The comeback is, above all else, fuelled by a desire to access and experience the cultural moments that defined our lives and identities, not the collapse of cultural creativity. It is rooted in the attachments that people form as they live with music and as they recall those times and experiences. And so the political and social uncertainty that has defined recent years might well provide the backdrop for the comeback to thrive. It is much more likely that people are seeking assurance and security by turning back to the songs that provide an anchor for their identities or which enable them to negotiate the emotional impact of a seemingly uncertain social world, than that they feel alienated or disappointed by the music of today. Written by David Beer. First appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-become-more-forgetful-with-age-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-70102" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.<img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/76810/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/>

Music

Singers band together for Bee Gees special

International singers joined together with sole surviving Bee Gees member Barry Gibb for a Bee Gees special on CBS. The Stayin’ Alive special was taped in LA and was a Grammy salute that celebrated the legacy of the band in the form of a disco celebration. The Bee Gees who formed in 1958 won 15 Grammy awards and sold more than 220 million records worldwide before the deaths of Maurice in 2003 and Robin in 2012. The special which was taped on February 14 fell on the 50th anniversary of the Brothers Gibb. <img width="498" height="345" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35508/bee-gees_498x345.jpg" alt="Bee Gees (1)"/> The special also marked the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Fever which starred John Travolta but featured the Bee Gees on the soundtrack. “Something happens to me when I put on a white jacket trimmed with black,” Travolta said onstage. “I just have this involuntary urge to do this [doing Tony Manero's signature pointing move].” Celine Dion, whose husband Rene Angelil passed away last year, sang an emotional rendition of Immortality. <img width="499" height="330" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35506/celine_499x330.jpg" alt="Celine"/> Celine. who stunned in a navy-blue Elie Saab gown, came into the audience to serenade Barry who was sitting in the front row. Music icons Stevie Wonder and John Legend performed together How Can You Mend A Broken Heart. Musicians who also appeared in the tribute include Keith Urban, Ed Sheeran, Tori Kelly and Kelsea Ballerini. Demi Lovato also appeared on the special to participate in the opening medley and her cover of If I Can’t Have You. On February 12 some of these singers appeared in a shorter tribute to the Bee Gees during the Grammy Awards. Image credit: CBS via Twitter

Music

PETA asks iconic Aussie band to change its name

The head of campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written to members of the iconic 1980s Aussie rock group Hunters and Collectors, requesting they change their name ahead of the band's Adelaide reunion tour. PETA admitted that the letter to members of the group is something of a publicity stunt, intended to draw attention to the plight of thousands of native waterbirds that are, “facing an agonising death on the wetlands at the hands of shooters.” Ashley Fruno, PETA’s director of campaigns, wrote, “Changing its name would be a win-win situation for the band. The name would no longer be synonymous with animal suffering, and the move would help persuade people to aim for less violent hobbies.” The letter coincides with the band’s reunion concert at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. The letter reads: “As your Adelaide reunion show is coming up, now is the perfect time for a band namelift. Might you consider ‘Hunters & Collectors of Antiques’, ‘Hunters & Collectors of Vinyl Records’, or even ‘Hunters & Collectors of Beer Cans’ as possible replacements? You could even enlist the help of your fans to crowdsource the holy grail of names on social media. “Do you see what we see? By agreeing to change your name, you would help raise awareness of the cruelty inherent in hunting waterbirds and give ducks a fighting chance.” To see the letter in full <a href="http://www.peta.org.au/news/peta-asks-hunters-collectors-name-change/" target="_blank">click here</a>. What’s your take? Do you think it’s a clever ploy to draw attention to an important issue? Or is it simply an unreasonable request? Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2016/12/bob-king-50-years-of-music-photography/">Bob King celebrates 50 years of music photography</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2016/04/the-surprising-real-names-of-singers/">The surprising real names of famous singers</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2016/05/1970s-songs-that-defined-a-decade/">1970s: songs that defined a decade</a>

News

Grandmother treated to mariachi band for 85th birthday

Last week it was Josie Reza’s birthday. To celebrate, her family booked a mariachi band to play for her. The music choice was an especially significant one, as Josie use to enjoy listening to the Mexican folk music with her late husband. In fact, it was the last thing they had all done together as a family just before he passed away. Josie’s 85th birthday was the first time she had listened to mariachi music since, and she clutched a framed photograph of her husband throughout their performance. In one photo, she is starring at his picture as she listens to the music. Josie’s granddaughter, Alicia, told Buzzfeed “She misses him very much every day… we all miss him… It was a bittersweet moment”. Alicia added that it was one Josie and her family would remember forever. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/08/how-i-feel-about-becoming-a-senior-citizen/">How I feel about becoming a “senior citizen”</a> <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/07/is-happiness-really-what-we-are-after-in-retirement/">Is happiness really what we’re after in retirement?</a> <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/07/my-simple-secret-for-a-happy-retirement/">My simple secret for a happy retirement</a>

News

10 best Australian bands of all time

We Aussies are a talented bunch, from John Farnham to Kylie Minogue, our home-grown stars have produced some unforgettable hits. And though we’ve made it big in the world of pop, as a nation of rock n’ roll lovers, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the 10 Australian bands who made the biggest impact both here and internationally. Flip through the gallery above to find out our picks for the best home-grown rock bands of all time. Have you been lucky enough to see one of these bands live? Tell us about your experience in the comments below! Related links: <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/05/1970s-songs-that-defined-a-decade/">1970s: songs that defined a decade</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/05/greatest-rock-guitarists-of-all-time/">The 10 greatest rock guitarists of all time</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/03/rock-and-roll-hits-banned-from-being-played/">6 rock ‘n’ roll hits banned from being played</a>

Music

Family band together to give grandmother trip of a lifetime

In 2012, Adele Draper was getting ready for the trip of a lifetime with her husband of 58 years, Norman. The Kiwi couple were set to embark on an around the world cruise that would take them from Sydney to London to New York and South America. But before they could go tragedy struck. Norman fell ill and sadly passed away. Obviously Adele put the plans on the backburner, with the family concerned about what it would be like to cruise by yourself for over 114 days. And for a moment it looked as though she would abandon the idea entirely. But now, with the help of her daughters Karen and Jenny Lee and their families, Adele is finally going to fulfil her dream to cruise around the world. Karen is going to travel with Adele all the way to London, where Jenny Lee will hop on with her sons Connor and Jayden to enjoy the rest of the trip. If this story reveals anything it’s the important of living in the moment and appreciating what and who we have around us. To see Adele’s story, watch the video above. Have you ever been on a cruise with your family, and how did you find the experience? Please let us know in the comments below. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/5-things-you-must-do-to-avoid-seasickness-on-a-cruise/">5 things you MUST do to avoid seasickness on a cruise</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/10-things-you-must-never-do-in-a-cruise-cabin/">10 things you must never do in a cruise cabin</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/po-ships-first-new-zealand-cruise/">P&O’s first cruise around New Zealand</a>

Cruising

The surprising original names of famous bands

Would The Beatles have been as big as they were if they remained “The Quarrymen”? How about if Van Halen didn’t change their name from “Rat Salad”? Thankfully, we’ll never have to know what a Rat Salad concert would be like, but you may be surprised to learn how many of the world’s biggest bands came close to sticking with their original (and much worse) names. Queen was once “Smile” Could you imagine Freddie Mercury fronting a band called “Smile”? Neither could we. Fortunately, the band saw sense. “The concept of Queen is to be regal and majestic,” Mercury told <a href="http://spazioinwind.libero.it/simonege/shared/interviews/(13).htm" target="_blank">Circus</a>. “Glamour is a part of us and we want to be dandy. We want to shock and be outrageous.” Simon and Garfunkel were once “Tom and Jerry” We don’t blame you if the image of a cat and mouse suddenly spring to mind. They changed the name after deciding to stay true to their roots. “I always felt it was a big shock to people when Bob Dylan turned out to be Bobby Zimmerman. It was important that he should be true,” Simon said. The Beach Boys were once “The Pendeltons” Brian Wilson originally named the band after their favourite woollen plaid shirts. Wilson was never thrilled with the change, suggesting they shorten their new name to simply “Beach”, but none of the other members went for it, believing they’d always be The Beach Boys. Can’t argue with that! Kiss was once “Wicked Lester” The crazy glam-rock band founded by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley originally started a band under the name Wicked Lester. When they gained drummer Peter Criss and told him of their idea to become Kiss, he said “That's a terrible pansy name.” He later changed his mind, saying the name was “sexual, it's cool.” Pink Floyd were once “Screaming Abdabs” Named after an old-fashioned British slang term similar to “heebie-jeebies”, the band also performed early on under the name “Tea Set”. They finally opted for Pink Floyd, as a tribute to two blues artists Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Black Sabbath were once “The Polka Tulk Blues Band” Today they’re known as the fathers of heavy metal, but back in the day, Ozzy Osbourne’s band first united in the late ‘60s playing blues rock. It turns out, they weren’t the only ones who went by this name in the UK, and decided to change to Black Sabbath after the Boris Karloff film of the same name. Which of these bands is your favourite? Tell us why in the comments below! Related links: <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/04/heartbreaking-meaning-behind-songs/" target="_blank">The real meaning behind these songs is heartbreaking</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/04/the-surprising-real-names-of-singers/">The surprising real names of famous singers</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/03/surprising-facts-about-the-beatles/">8 facts about The Beatles most people don’t know</a>

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‘The Beatles: Get Back’ glosses over the band’s acrimonious end

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Grandmother treated to mariachi band for 85th birthday

10 best Australian bands of all time

Family band together to give grandmother trip of a lifetime

The surprising original names of famous bands

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

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Information

Keep up to date

Search

Fed up neighbours band together to boot out squatters

If you want your child to be more resilient, get them to join a choir, orchestra or band

Legendary band hits back after PM’s ukulele session

‘The Beatles: Get Back’ glosses over the band’s acrimonious end

The now grown up baby from Nirvana's album cover is suing the band

Why Princess Beatrice’s wedding band is so special

Fan favourites Dave Matthews Band announce 2020 Australian tour

The band Queen are now richer than Queen Elizabeth due to Bohemian Rhapsody success

Band pulls out of Sunrise appearance over race row

Melbourne woman finds rubber band in Coles chicken pie

The surprising stories behind iconic band names

Why so many old bands are making a comeback

Singers band together for Bee Gees special

PETA asks iconic Aussie band to change its name

Grandmother treated to mariachi band for 85th birthday

10 best Australian bands of all time

Family band together to give grandmother trip of a lifetime

The surprising original names of famous bands

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