Laurie Anderson: Last News

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor“It’s a little surreal, seeing my best friend’s face blown up so big,” says multimedia artist Laurie Anderson, gesturing to a giant photo of her late husband, Lou Reed’s, at the beginning of a media tour of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ stunning exhibit on the legendary singer, songwriter and Velvet Underground co-founder. It is open to the public — and free of charge — beginning Thursday (June 9).“We’ve been working for years to put this together,” she continued, “and I just wanted to say that it’s my dream to have [the archive of] this great poet of New York in the Public Library.” While she did not mention this during the tour, the archive was originally intended to join those of James Joyce, Norman Mailer and Don DeLillo at the University of Texas, but Anderson changed her mind after a handgun law allowing people to carry handguns on college campuses was passed in the state; the NYPL acquired much of the archive in 2017.

Lou Reed was the H&R Block of classic rockers: The man kept his receipts.In fact, “Lou Reed: Caught Between the Twisted Stars” — an exhaustive exhibit that opens at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on Thursday — displays just how diligent the “Walk on the Wild Side” icon was about retaining proof of his purchases. One of the showcased receipts is even for the studded dog collar he wears on the cover of his 1974 live album “Rock ’n’ Roll Animal,” which Reed — in true New Yorker fashion — bought from the West Village sex shop the Pleasure Chest.“His father was an accountant and taught Lou to keep receipts, keep records and all that sort of thing,” said curator Jason Stern, who was Reed’s assistant in his final years and now works with his widow, Laurie Anderson.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs part of the celebration around the late Lou Reed’s 80 th birthday, an album of his earliest demos — comprising a number of Velvet Underground classics recorded in 1965, along with several songs dating back to his college and teen years — will be released August 26 on Light in the Attic Records in partnership with Reed’s longtime partner Laurie Anderson.The album, titled “Words & Music, May 1965,” is the inaugural release from the Lou Reed Archive Series, and dovetails with the opening Thursday of an extensive Reed exhibit at the New York Public Library, titled “Lou Reed: Caught Between the Twisted Stars.” The album includes the earliest known recordings of such classics as “Heroin,” “Pale Blue Eyes,” “Iʼm Waiting for the Man” and several unreleased tracks. See the full tracklist below; listen to Reed’s 1965 demo of “I’m Waiting for the Man”:The bulk of the album is comprised of the 1965 tracks, which were recorded with the assistance of Reed’s future bandmate John Cale.

Lou Reed album will share never-before-heard material and early versions of some of the star’s most iconic songs.‘Words & Music, May 1965’ is set to be released on August 26 via Light In The Attic in partnership with Reed’s partner Laurie Anderson, in tandem with celebrations for what would be the musician’s 80th birthday.The songs on the album were written by Reed and recorded to tape by his future Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale. Reed posted the tape to himself as a “poor man’s copyright” and it remained sealed in its original envelope for nearly 50 years.The record will include the earliest known recordings of iconic tracks including ‘Heroin’, ‘Pale Blue Eyes’ and ‘I’m Waiting For The Man’.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Locarno Film Festival will celebrate U.S. musician, performance artist and filmmaker Laurie Anderson with its lifetime achievement award dedicated to creative pioneers.The prominent Swiss fest dedicated to international indie cinema will be feting Anderson with its Vision Award Ticinomoda, and screening her two feature-length films, “Heart of a Dog” (2015) which is dedicated to Lou Reed, and the restored 4K version of “Home of the Brave” (1986).Anderson will be given the award on Aug.

A.D. Amorosi When is a timeless children’s tale not quite right for children’s theater? When it is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved and ever-so-slightly surreal 1942 novella, “The Little Prince.” Published following France’s liberation during World War II, the French aristocrat turned military aviator’s story was always something of an adult-oriented, nebulous dreamscape, one in which a tousled-haired young prince travels through space, lands on various planets (including Earth) and touches quietly on topics as nuanced as love and as rough as our loss of humanity and earth’s natural resources.“The Little Prince” is a lovely, delicate story.

Films starring Keanu Reeves have been removed from streaming platforms in China following the actor's support for Tibet.Chinese streaming platforms including Tencent Video and iQiyi have taken down films and video content featuring Canadian actor after he participated in a Tibet-related concert organised by a non-profit founded by the Dalai Lama.Reeves, 57, took part in the virtual concert alongside Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, and Iggy Pop on March 3.Chinese nationalists are said to have protested the actor joining in on the concert.The actor's acclaimed blockbusters including the Matrix and John Wick franchises, as well as Speed, were among the films that have been removed. Axed:Keanu Reeves movies REMOVED from Chinese streaming platforms over his support for Tibet (Pictured; 2019)It is not yet clear exactly when the films were taken down.The Los Angeles Times, which first reported the content removal on Thursday said at least 19 of his movies were pulled from Tencent Video.

Keanu Reeves‘ films have reportedly been pulled from several streaming services in China.The Los Angeles Times reports that Reeves’ films have been removed from major streaming services in the country such as iQiyi, Tencent Video, Bilibili, and Xigua Video.Deleted films on iQiyi include The Matrix trilogy, Speed, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Something’s Gotta Give and The Lake House.The Los Angeles Times report that at least 19 films were removed from Tencent Video while Youku and Migu Video now house only Toy Story 4, in which Reeves voices a character.NME has reached out to representatives of Reeves for comment.It comes after Reeves attended at the 35th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert on March 3. The actor participated in the virtual concert alongside Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, and Iggy Pop.The event once again featured artistic direction from composer Philip Glass, who was celebrating his 85th birthday at the event. All proceeds from the benefit went to Tibet House US.In the past, China has blacklisted many high profile figures who have supported Tibet or the Dalai Lama, its former head of state.

Zack Sharf Movies starring Keanu Reeves have reportedly been scrubbed from China streaming platforms such as Tencent Video, Youku and Migu Video following the actor’s public support for Tibet earlier this year. Reeves was announced in January as a performer for the 35th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert alongside Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper and Iggy Pop. Philip Glass serves as the benefit’s artistic director.

EXCLUSIVE: Vito Schnabel (Before Night Falls), Julia Fox (Uncut Gems) and Steven Van Zandt (The Sopranos) have signed on to star in the dark comedy The Trainer, which Tony Kaye (American History X) is directing from a script by Schnabel and Jeff Solomon.

Vivienne Chow Chinese nationalists are threatening to boycott the recently-released sci-fi blockbuster “The Matrix: Resurrections” as news about its star Keanu Reeves joining the Tibet House U.S. Benefit Concert in March spread across mainland China social media.The backlash from angry Chinese patriots known as “little pinks,” the term for an informal army of young nationalists who often make “wolf warrior” style of pro-Beijing, anti-foreign comments, could finish off the box office run of the fourth instalment of “The Matrix” series.Its performance has already been mediocre and it will likely be sidelined from Tuesday next week when eight major Chinese titles open in time for Lunar New Year holidays. Figures from Endata show that the film has grossed RMB78 million ($12.3 million) after a 14-day release.

Wilco have announced the full line-up for this year’s edition of their Solid Sound festival, with two dozen acts spanning a diverse range of genres and formats.Riding hot on the heels of this month’s Sky Blue Sky – the four-day Mexican festival that saw Wilco play three separate shows, as well as a solo set from frontman Jeff Tweedy – Solid Sound will take place at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) over the extended weekend of May 27-29.Joining the alt-rock icons will be a slew of their contemporaries both established and emerging, with acts like Japanese Breakfast, Sylvan Esso, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Iceage and Hand Habits billed high.Tweedy will also play a special set with a range of as-yet-unannounced guests, billed on the poster (which you can find below) as ‘Jeff Tweedy & Friends’.Elsewhere at the festival, John Hodgman and Jean Grae will host a showcase of stand-up comedy, with guests like Negin Farsad, River Butcher and Nick Offerman.Other standout inclusions are a set by the Sun Ra Arkestra directed by Marshall Allen, a performance by Nels Cline’s Consentrik Quartet, and the ‘On Fillmore’ installation led by Finnish pop singer Jonna Tervomaa.A post shared by Wilco (@wilco)Tickets for Solid Sound will include full access MASS MoCA – hailed as the US’ most expansive gallery of contemporary art – with current attractions including installations by the likes of James Turrell, Laurie Anderson, Sol LeWitt, Jenny Holzer, and Anselm Kiefer. Three-day passes can be purchased from the festival’s website.Meanwhile, Wilco were recently inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame.

Keanu Reeves, Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson and more.Once again featuring artistic direction from composer Philip Glass, who is celebrating his 85th birthday with the event, the benefit will stream on March 3 via Mandolin – tickets are available here, with all proceeds going to Tibet House US.Elsewhere on the bill are the likes of Laurie Anderson, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Margo Price, Phish‘s Trey Anastasio, Punch Brothers and more, with greetings by Iggy Pop and Bernard Sumner.A post shared by Tibet House US (@tibethouse.us)It’s unclear what shape Reeves’ performance for the virtual event will take, but it wouldn’t be so outlandish for the Matrix star’s appearance to be musical in nature.From 1991 to 2002, Reeves played bass in the alternative rock band Dogstar, with the group releasing two albums in their time together – 1996’s ‘Our Little Visionary’ and ‘Happy Ending’ in 2000.

David Harbour steps out in a sharp suit for a special screening of his new movie, Black Widow, hosted by The Cinema Society & Synchrony in East Hampton, New York, on Friday (July 2).

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorA screening of “Black Widow” in the Hamptons over the 4th of July weekend attracted a star-studded crowd.The guest list included David Harbour, who plays The Red Guardian in the latest installment of the MCU, and Drew Barrymore, Ellen Pompeo, Chris Ivery, Brooke Shields, Chris Henchy, Gayle King, Don Lemon, Tim Malone, Zachary Quinto, Christie Brinkley, Jennifer Esposito, Jesper Vesterstrøm, John and Justine Leguizamo, Stephanie March, Dan Benton, Kyle MacLachlan, Desiree Gruber, Maye Musk, Wendi Murdoch, Donna Karan, Cynthia Nixon, Christine Marinoni, Shawn Levy, Laurie Anderson, Bruce Weber, Nan Bush, Kathryn Gallagher, Bryce Lorenzo, Alexa Ray Joel, Marci Klein, Sophie Sumner, Jam

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAnnie Lennox, Cage the Elephant and Black Pumas will join the line-up for the 34th Annual Tibet House US Virtual Benefit Concert on Wednesday night (February 17).

Liz Phair has released ‘Hey Lou’, her first new song in two years.The American singer’s latest effort is a heartfelt homage to both Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson and comes accompanied by a video that features puppet versions of both iconic artists.While the track itself features references to Anderson’s seminal classic ‘O Superman’, Phair says it is a behind-closed-doors look at their famous relationship.“Have you ever wondered what love looks like for your favorite celebrity couple behind closed doors?,” Phair said.“Hey Lou imagines a day in the life of two music legends, whose union was an inspiration for rock bands and a source of curiosity for die hard romantics.”It marks the latest single from Phair’s next studio album ‘Soberish’, which

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorEddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers, Brittany Howard, Laurie Anderson and more will perform at the 34th Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert, which returns this year for a special virtual edition, combining live and pre-recorded segments streaming via the livestream platform Mandolin.Also joining composer and artistic director Philip Glass at the event, which is ordinarily held at New York’s Carnegie Hall, are Valerie June, Angélique Kidjo, Tenzin Choegyal, Rubin Kodheli and more to be announced.The concert will begin with a personal video message from the 14th Dalai Lama.Tickets for this year’s special virtual concert are on sale now ($25-$250).

Eddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers and more artists will perform on the upcoming Tibet House benefit livestream.The event, which will replace the organisation’s typical annual benefit concert this year, will mark the 34th anniversary of the non-profit.The livestream will be broadcast on February 17 and will be comprised of both live and pre-recorded segments.

Chris Willman Music WriterBrandi Carlile, Cyndi Lauper, Cynthia Erivo, Yola and Laurie Anderson will be among the stars paying tribute to honorees like John Prine, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Philip Glass, Chicago and Philip Glass in “Great Performances: Grammy Salute to Music Legends,” set to air Oct. 16 on PBS.The annual special, now in its fifth year, offers a fuller celebration of the Recording Academy’s lifetime achievement winners, after they are acknowledged earlier in the year in passing at the Grammys.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWhen veteran music producer Hal Willner passed away due to complications believed to be associated with Covid-19 on April 7, a day after his 64th birthday, the music community in New York and beyond was devastated.