Prince's 'Yellow Cloud' guitar goes under the hammer

LOS ANGELES, United States - Prince's iconic "Yellow Cloud" electric guitar is to go under the hammer in Beverly Hills with an opening bid of $30,000, a US auction house said Friday.

It was the singer's instrument of choice during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and its eccentric design went on to form part of the infamous symbol that he adopted as his name during his contract dispute with Warner Bros.

"One glimpse and you have no doubt that this is Prince's guitar," Garry Shrum, director of music memorabilia at Texas-based Heritage Auctions, said in a statement.

The pop legend died at the age of 57 on April 21 with no will and no recognized children, with his sister and five half-siblings listed as heirs and a special administrator temporarily put in charge of his estate.

Prince was rarely photographed during the late 1980s without the bright yellow maple wood instrument, complete with a gold-tinted "tune-o-matic" style bridge, tailpiece and machine heads and a distinctive elongated upper horn.

"As celebrity stage-used instruments go, this piece is as unique as Beethoven's piano or John Coltrane's saxophone," he added.

The Yellow Cloud was used in the studio, in videos and at gigs until the neck broke on a French TV show in 1994.

It was repaired but confined to the recording studio and eventually made way for the "Symbol" guitar identified with Prince's later work.

It will be sold at Heritage's Beverly Hills auction house on June 24-25 alongside a number of other rarities, including a 1970s demo tape with track listing written in Prince's own hand.

The cause of the singer's death has yet to be determined but investigators are examining whether he was killed by prescription painkillers.

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No signs of trauma, suicide in Prince death: police

CHANHASSEN, United States – There was no evidence of trauma on Prince's body when he was found unresponsive in an elevator at his huge compound or any indication the late music icon committed suicide, US authorities said Friday.

Stunned fans massed outside the superstar's Paisley Park studio complex on the outskirts of Minneapolis are looking to an autopsy carried out earlier in the day to resolve the mystery around the sudden loss of their idol.

But medical officials cautioned it could be weeks before they can conclusively say what killed the enigmatic award-winning musician, whose death at age 57 plunged the entertainment world into grief.

Prince was found dead on Thursday, a week after he was hospitalized for flu-like symptoms that he later downplayed. There have been reports the incident may have been triggered by an overdose of an opioid-based painkiller.

"We have no reason to believe at this point that this was a suicide," Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson told a packed news conference.

"But again, this is early on in the investigation and we're continuing to investigate," he said. A search warrant for Prince's vast studio complex will be filed in the coming days, but authorities stressed this was standard procedure.

The sheriff said there were "no obvious signs of trauma" on Prince's body, noting: "A sign of trauma would be some sign of violence that had happened, there was no sign of that at all."

Olson said Prince was alone at the premises when he died and refused to comment on reports of painkiller use.

Prince -- a Grammy and Oscar winner who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 -- was last seen alive on Wednesday evening by staff at the compound, but his body was only discovered the following morning.

The local medical examiner's office says preliminary autopsy results will take days and the results of a full toxicology scan could take weeks.

Asked if Prince's body showed signs of drugs or a drug overdose, the medical examiner's spokeswoman Martha Weaver said: "There's no information at this time in regard to exactly what you’re talking about, as part of the investigation."

- Heartbreak –

Grieving fans around the world took to wearing purple -- Prince's signature color -- in his honor.

Those milling about outside his studio complex to pay their respects placed flowers and handwritten messages at the scene, which has become a place of pilgrimage.

In turn, Prince's staff delivered 50 boxes of pizza to fans.

Many in Minneapolis said how proud they were of the city's native son, and how saddened they were by the thought he died alone, as well as by the suggestion his death could be linked to an overdose of painkillers.

"It breaks my heart," said Cindy Legg, a 41-year-old nurse. "Hopefully it was just God needed him in heaven."

Entertainment website TMZ, citing unnamed sources, reported that Prince was treated last week for an overdose of Percocet after a show in Atlanta, when his private jet made an unscheduled landing in Moline, Illinois.

"Multiple sources in Moline tell us Prince was rushed to a hospital and doctors gave him a 'save shot'... typically administered to counteract the effects of an opiate," TMZ said. AFP could not immediately verify the report.

- Carnival-like –

Small in stature but an electrifying live performer, Prince became an international sensation in the 1980s, fusing rock and R&B into a highly danceable funk mix.

The sudden loss of the "Purple Rain" legend, who was acclaimed for his instrumental wizardry and soaring falsetto, prompted an outpouring of tributes -- and spontaneous celebrations.

In New York, director Spike Lee led a Prince sing-along at a packed block party in Brooklyn while in Minneapolis, where a bridge was lit up in purple in Prince's memory, the atmosphere was carnival-like with fans bursting into song.

"You know, he was the greatest artist of all time. There will never be another one like him," said Antonio Harper, one of thousands who partied through the night in Prince's hometown in a bittersweet farewell.

"I cried, I cried a few times all night," said Melody Johnson, part of the crowd at the First Avenue club, where Prince shot "Purple Rain," the rock musical featuring songs from the album of the same name.

"Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin was one of many in the entertainment industry to honor the singer, describing him as "an original and a one of a kind."

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger called Prince "one of the most unique and talented artists of the last 30 years."

- On the turntable -
Prince -- whose huge catalogue of hits includes "1999," "Cream" and "Kiss" -- was prolific in his output, recently releasing albums through streaming site Tidal, and had taken to scheduling shows at the last minute to avoid scalpers.

President Barack Obama, who invited Prince to play a private White House show last year, let slip that he played some of his records Friday morning at the US ambassador's residence in London, where he is staying.

"It happens there's a turntable and so this morning, we played 'Purple Rain' and 'Delirious' just to get warmed up before we left the house," Obama told a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"He was a great performer. And creative and original and full of energy. And so it's a remarkable loss."

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David Bowie makeshift memorial spotted in NYC

SOHO, New York City - David Robert Jones, more popularly known as pop music icon David Bowie, lived the final years of his life at his penthouse home in Soho, New York.

In a fortuitous timing, Bowie released his latest album "Blackstar," including this ominous track "Lazarus," on his 69th birthday, just two days before he passed, Sunday. He was battling cancer for 18 months.

"David’s passing was a shock to us. We had the honor of meeting him once, 25 years ago, in 1991. He was a chameleon, as an actor, as a musician, he was so endlessly creative, even when he composed Blackstar, which was his last work, he contemplated his own death, unbeknownst to everyone else," said Bill Greenman of Bellmore, New York.

Outside his Soho home, tears flowed and his music is played on cellphones. Hundreds of flowers, photos and other memorabilia’s pile up a makeshift memorial--a fitting tribute to the pop icon.

New Yorkers believe Bowie’s legacy will live for decades to come.

"He was always a star. He was always at the top of his game. I also think that his legacy will live on for centuries. He’ll be looked upon in the distant future as one the great artist of any era," Greenman added.

Bowie’s legacy will be honored at the Carnegie Hall on March 13.

What was originally a tribute concert has become a memorial concert featuring Cyndi Lauper among many other artists who will commemorate the music icon.

Read more on Balitang America.

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Tributes pour in for music icon David Bowie

LONDON -- The death of music icon David Bowie drew tributes from around the world Monday, with figures from music and show business recalling his transformation of music and trailblazing, androgynous style.

Here are some of the reactions:

- Madonna: "Talented. Unique. Genius. Game Changer. The Man who Fell to Earth. Your Spirit Lives on Forever!"

- British Prime Minister David Cameron: "I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss."

- Long-term Bowie producer Tony Visconti: "I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry."

- US musician Kanye West: "David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime."

- Singer and producer Pharrell Williams: "David Bowie was a true innovator, a true creative. May he rest in peace."

- British astronaut Tim Peake: "Saddened to hear David Bowie has lost his battle with cancer – his music was an inspiration to many."

- Actor Russell Crowe: "RIP David. I loved your music. I loved you. One of the greatest performance artists to have ever lived. #sorrow"

- Comedian Ricky Gervais: "I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie."

- Cher: "DEVASTATED... A LEGEND IS GONE"

- British rocker Billy Idol: "He inspired us to go beyond the norm & reach out & dispel the void of life in 70's England wth r own art forms...."

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Bowie dies after 18-month battle with cancer

LONDON -- David Bowie, a music legend who used daringly androgynous displays of sexuality and glittering costumes to frame legendary rock hits "Ziggy Stardust" and "Space Oddity", has died of cancer.

He was 69.

"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer," read a statement on Bowie's Facebook page dated Sunday.

Born David Jones in the Brixton area of south London, Bowie took up the saxophone at 13. He shot to fame in Europe with 1969's "Space Oddity."

But it was Bowie's 1972 portrayal of a doomed bisexual alien rock star, Ziggy Stardust, that propelled him to global stardom. Bowie and Ziggy, wearing outrageous costumes, makeup and bright orange hair, took the rock world by storm.

Bowie said he was gay in an interview in the Melody Maker newspaper in 1972, coinciding with the launch of his androgynous persona, with red lightning bolt across his face and flamboyant clothes.

He told Playboy four years later he was bisexual, but in the '80s he told Rolling Stone magazine that the declaration was "the biggest mistake I ever made," and he was "always a closet heterosexual."

The excesses of a hedonistic life of the real rock star was taking its toll. In a reference to his prodigious appetite for cocaine, he said: "I blew my nose one day in California," he said. "And half my brains came out. Something had to be done."

Bowie kept a low profile after undergoing emergency heart surgery in 2004 but marked his 69th birthday on Friday with the release of a new album, "Blackstar," with critics giving the thumbs up to the latest work in a long and innovative career.

British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "I grew up listening to and watching the pop genius David Bowie. He was a master of re-invention, who kept getting it right. A huge loss."

Steve Martin from Bowie's publicity company Nasty Little Man confirmed the Facebook report was accurate. "It's not a hoax," he told Reuters.

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What Maegan wishes her father Freddie did

MANILA – Amid the family feud they are currently embroiled in, Maegan Aguilar wishes her father, OPM icon Freddie Aguilar, did certain things that could have prevented their misunderstanding.

Early this week, Maegan lambasted the "Anak" singer for being a "bad father" after he allegedly threw her and her children out into the streets.

Maegan alleged that since her father married his then 17-year-old girlfriend in Islamic rites last November, Freddie’s attitude toward her and her own family gradually worsened.




Speaking on "Umagang Kay Ganda" on Thursday, Maegan said what simply started as an argument over "rotten vegetables" could have ended differently had her father directly told her that he wants them to leave his house.

"Sa akin lang kasi, kung gusto na niya akong paalisin, sana hindi na pinaabot sa tiniis niya tapos sumabog siya. Sana nagsabi na siya na 'Anak, ayaw ko na kayo dito.' Kasi meron siyang issue about us being there. Bigyan naman kami ng ample time," she said.

Maegan said she started to live in Freddie's home only in 2011.

"Hindi ako habangbuhay nakatira sa kanya. Pinauwi niya kami kasi gusto niya makasama mga anak ko habang baby. It's been okay until this year na parang inuunti-unti na nung asawa yung mga nakatira sa bahay namin," she said.

Maegan earlier accused Freddie's wife of "poisoning his mind" so she would have control of the music legend's money.

Asked if she's just probably jealous of his father's new wife, Maegan said, "Meron kasi sanang existing relationship between father and daughter na dapat hangga't ako na yung tumanda, tatay ko pa rin siya sana. Kaso sa statement niya, 35 years ko na daw siyang ama. Ano, tapos na ba? Hanggang doon na lang 'yun?

"Mahirap kasi kapag unconditional ka magmahal tapos walang saysay sa taong pinagbigyan mo ng unconditional love," she added.

Prodded if she thinks she was also at fault, Maegan said, "Ang alam ko sa sarili ko, 35 na ako, may pinagdaanan na ako sa buhay, sa tingin ko meron na akong tamang pag-iisip para sabihin sa tatay ko na 'Nagawa ko na ang lahat. Hindi mo na dapat ako parusahan sa mga nagawa ko dati kasi na-redeem ko na.'"

Since Freddie allegedly threw them out of his house, Maegan said she and her family are now staying with her bandmate.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Obama salutes entertainers taking a Washington bow

WASHINGTON - Music legend Led Zeppelin was recognized on Sunday alongside entertainers from stage and screen for their contributions to the arts and American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors, lifetime achievement awards for performing artists.

The eclectic tribute in Washington, alternated between solemn veneration and lighthearted roasting of honorees Academy Award-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, wisecracking late-night talk show host David Letterman, blues guitar icon Buddy Guy, ballerina Natalia Makarova and Led Zeppelin.

"I worked with the speechwriters - there is no smooth transition from ballet to Led Zeppelin," President Barack Obama deadpanned while introducing the honorees in a ceremony in the White House East Room.

Friends, contemporaries and a new generation of artists influenced by the honorees took the stage in tribute.

"Dustin Hoffman is a pain the ass," actor Robert DeNiro said in introducing Hoffman, the infamously perfectionist star of such celebrated films as "The Graduate" and "Tootsie."

"And he inspired me to be a bit of a pain in the ass too," DeNiro said with a big smile.

At a weekend dinner for the winners at the State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted that the performing arts often requires a touch of diplomacy as she toasted Makarova, a dance icon in the former Soviet Union when she defected in 1970.

Tiler Peck of the New York City Ballet, who performed in "Other Dances," one of Makarova's signature roles, said she has studied her idol's technique for years.

"This is a role she created," Peck said.

Despite the president's misgivings about his own speech, the performance at the Kennedy Center navigated the transition from refined ballet to gritty blues music when the spotlight turned to Guy, a sharecropper's son who made his first instrument with wire scrounged from around his family's home in rural Louisiana.

"He's one of the most idiosyncratic and passionate blues greats, and there are not many left of that original generation...," said Bonnie Raitt, who as an 18-year-old blues songstress was often the warm-up act for Guy.

George "Buddy" Guy, 76, was a pioneer in the Chicago blues style that pushed the sound of electrically amped guitar to the forefront of the music.

"You mastered the soul of gut bucket," actor Morgan Freeman told the Kennedy Center audience. "You made a bridge from roots to rock 'n roll."

In a toast on Saturday night, former President Bill Clinton talked of Guy's impoverished upbringing and how he improvised a guitar from the strands of a porch screen, paint can and his mother's hair pins.

"In Buddy's immortal phrase, the blues is 'Something you play because you have it. And when you play it, you lose it.'"

It was a version of the blues that drifted over the Atlantic to Britain and came back in the finger-rattling rock sound of Led Zeppelin.

Jimmy Page, 68, was the guitar impresario who anchored the compositions with vocalist Robert Plant, 64, howling and screeching out the soul. Bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, 66, rounded out the band with drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980.

The incongruity of the famously hard-partying rock stars sitting in black tie under chandeliers at a White House ceremony was not lost on Obama.

"Of course, these guys also redefined the rock and roll lifestyle," the president said, to laughter and sheepish looks from the band members.

"So it's fitting that we're doing this in a room with windows that are about three inches thick - and Secret Service all around," Obama said. "So, guys, just settle down."

The gala will be aired on CBS television on December 26.

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