Our Lady Peace earns five for Juno
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland — Toronto-based rock group Our Lady Peace leads the Juno Awards nominations this year, earning five nods for their recent album, “Spiritual Machines” from Columbia. The Juno Awards are the Canadian equivalent to the Grammy Awards.
This year’s ceremony takes place on April 14 at One Stadium in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and will be hosted by the Barenaked Ladies.
Hard rock band Nickelback and veteran singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen each earned four nominations for their 2001 releases. Following close behind with three nominations are Sum 41, Diana Krall and Hawksley Workman.
Promoter Michael Cohl will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the ceremony. Cohl is also nominated, along with Producer/musician Daniel Lanois, in the best producer category for U2’s “Beautiful Day” and “Elevation.”
The event will be broadcast live by CTV, boasting performances by Alanis Morissette, Nelly Furtado, Diana Krall, Amanda Marshall, Nickelback, Sum 41 and the Barenaked Ladies.
Artists allign to form New Power Project
Music artists R.E.M., the Roots, Live and the Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson have recently joined other performers in the Save Our Environment coalition.
New Power Project formed to actively oppose the U.S. Senate’s proposed energy plan which won approval from the House of Representatives last year.
These artists and others are encouraging their fans to visit the coalition’s official Web site and contact their senators to lobby against the plan, including a recommendation for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“Drilling in our last wild places like the Arctic Refuge? Risking Three Mile Islands with more nuclear power? That thinking is as old as fossil fuels,” said the Beastie Boys’ Mike Diamond. “We would all benefit from a plan inclusive of environmental conservation, fuel efficiency, and alternative energy sources.”
Author Abbott dies in suicide hanging
Author Jack Henry Abbott was found Sunday in his single cell at Wende Correctional Facility in New York, after hanging himself with a bed sheet and a shoelace.
Abbott, 58, was famous for turning his letters from prison to Norman Mailer (written between 1978 and 1981) into the best-selling book “In the Belly of the Beast.”
Abbott was serving time for a bank robbery and a fatal stabbing of a fellow inmate.
Six months after his parole in 1981, Abbott stabbed and killed a 22-year old aspiring actor, resulting in his most recent conviction.
Olympics earn high ratings for NBC
Friday’s broadcast of the Olympic opening ceremonies on NBC was the highest-rated televised opening ever.
About one-fourth of the American population, approximately 72 million viewers, tuned in to watch the ceremony that featured performances by R&B singer R. Kelly, pop star Sting, classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma and country artists the Dixie Chicks and LeAnn Rimes along with the Utah children of light.
February 14, 2002
