My Chemical Romance Guitarist Dedicates New Song to Trans Teen Leelah Alcorn

Saddened and angered by the tragic suicide of 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn last Sunday, My Chemical Romance lead guitarist Ray Toro has dedicated his new song "For the Lost and Brave" to the deceased trans teen.

Wrote Toro on his blog:

I wrote this song about a year ago, waiting to release it on my record when it was complete. There have been many times that I've almost put it out, but have always found a reason to hold it back. But lately there seems to be so much hate and misunderstanding in this world. 

As I'm sure many of you felt after reading the news of young Leelah Alcorn taking her own life, my heart sank. I felt sick. Yet another young life gone because of not being heard, not being understood, and not being unconditionally loved for who they truly were. After hearing her story, and reading her final Tumblr post, I finally felt it was time to share this song. 

It is time we learn to accept each other for who we truly are. Being seen, heard, and truly loved as our authentic selves is something we all want, and something we all deserve.

Listen to "For the Lost and Brave",

Kid Rock Calls Rap-Rock 'Gay,' Says He's Not Looking Forward to Marrying Gay Couples As An Ordained Minister

As far as rock stars go Robert James Ritchie, better known as Kid Rock, has never come off as being the most tolerant when it comes to members of the gay community, but he’s also never really been an explicit homophobe.

Rock showed off that trademark, middle of the road thinking in a recent interview with the Guardian in which he admits that while he’s down with the idea of gays being able to marry, actually officiating a gay wedding would give him pause. Later on in the interview, however, Rock regrettably goes on to describe the the current state of rap-rock music as “gay.”

“Rap-rock was what people wanted at the time, and they still love those songs at shows,” he said of the genre that made him famous. “But it turned into a lot of bullshit and it turned out to be pretty gay. If someone says you can’t say “gay” like that you tell them to go fuck themselves. You’re not going to get anything politically correct out of me.”

Unsurprisingly, this isn't a first for Rock. Back in 2009 when asked if he was using Twitter, the self-described “redneck” rocker pejoratively called the social network gay. Three years later, however, Rock appeared in a public service announcement alongside Sean Penn that hinted at his actual support for same-sex marriage.

Though Rock identifies as a Republican, he made no qualms about expressing his discontent with the party in a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone in which he reaffirmed his ideological support of same-sex marriage and suggested that he’d consider voting for Hillary in 2016.

‘The Very Best Of Adam Lambert’ Will Be Released In May

Adam Lambert is hard at work on a new album of new material that will hopefully be released sometime soon but today we learn that his former record label is moving forward with the release of a Best Of compilation of Adam‘s hits as a way to squeeze more money out of their former artist. The Very Best of Adam Lambertwill be released on May 27 and it will feature songs from the two albums he recorded for RCA Records as well as songs that he performed during his days on American Idol … for those of you interested in that sort of thing.

Ricky Martin's 'Vida' Heats Up The 2014 World Cup And Brazil's Beaches

After his recent stint as a superhero, Ricky Martin produced a bilingual feel-good song called "Vida" with dancey, Latin beats as part of the 2014 World Cup official soundtrack.

It’s quite catchy and the video (which was shot in Brazil) has a quick shot of two hunky beach-goers affectionately holding hands — awwwww!

Kylie Minogue's 'Sexercize', the Sweaty Male Version

Tyler Clementi's Story to Be Told by SF Gay Men's Chorus in Musical Suite

On March 25th, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus will premiere a series of songs, "Tyler's Suite," celebrating the life of Tyler Clementi (right). The college student was himself a musician before his suicide in 2010, which in turn prompted a great deal of national discussion surrounding the issue of LGBT youth and bullying.

The musical piece will be comprised of multiple movements written by some of today's great composers, including Stephen Schwartz, and is being presented as part of a larger performance titled "Luster: An American Songbook."

BroadwayWorld.com reports:

"As a soundtrack of American life during the time of the Great Depression and two world wars, the American Songbook consists of timeless music that translated positive values and an optimistic spirit," says [Artistic Director Dr. Timothy] Seelig. "The Chorus continues that tradition, presenting a new set of songs by today's premier American composers, offering hope and bringing to light the important cultural issues of today through the story of Tyler Clementi."

...

With the help of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, SFGMC commissioned a musical work that will add eight new songs to the soundtrack that is the American Songbook of the 21st century, honoring the memory of a beloved son, brother and friend. "Tyler's Suite" creates a new story of inclusion, dignity and acceptance for other youth and their families, through a musical experience that inspires community, activism and compassion. The story is one of hope and encouragement to families everywhere.

Other composers involved in the project include "John Bucchino, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carnelia, John Corigliano, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Horne, and Pamela Stewart." The piece will also be performed by gay men's choruses in Chicago, Los Angeles, NYC, San Diego, Dallas, and Seattle.

Visit the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus website for tickets and more information.

Imagine

Wonderful: A message for our LGBT brothers and sisters in Russia

Random Audience Member Picked by Kristin Chenoweth Stuns Hollywood Bowl with Voice

At Saturday night's concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Kristin Chenoweth chose a random audience member to join her on stage for a performance of "For Good" from Wicked.
The audience member (also, a voice teacher) Sarah Horn, explains:

Toward the end of the second half of the performance, Kristin wanders on to the pasarel. She held a mic up to a lady in front of me and asked if she knew the song "For Good." Nope. I took the chance, as I was directly behind Kristin, to stand up and wave and say, "I know the song!"

This is not like me - to jump up and wave my arms like a crazy person and raise my voice at a celebrity. As soon as she turned to look at me, I say right back down... and calmly said, "Hiiiii." ...

After this, she moved down the line and asked a guy if he knew the song and bantered with him for a few seconds. Afterwards, she said something about going back to pick me because I was a girl. Then, she invited me up on stage.

I sat there for a moment, stunned. Then the backup singer motioned for me to get up. I shot up out of my chair as my heart leaped up past my throat and started beating in my ears. I don't really remember what happened between the box and when I first set foot onstage except that there was now a microphone in my hand.

Kristin had no idea what was to come. And that's pretty much where the video picks up.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Perform Marriage Equality Anthem 'Same Love' at VMAs: VIDEO

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took home the MTV Moonman for "Best Video with a Social Message" for their marriage equality anthem "Same Love" featuring Mary Lambert.

They later performed the song, with an introduction by gay NBA player Jason Collins and A$AP Rocky, and special guest Jennifer Hudson.

Get More: 2013 VMA, Artists.MTV, Music

Get More: 2013 VMA, Artists.MTV, Music, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Cher featuring Lady Gaga - The Greatest Thing

New original song from Steve Grand: Stay With Me

From Steve: I cannot even express how excited I am to unleash this song to you guys when its finished!! I'm working all day every day trying to get this record done and out into the world. Gotta get it just right...

U.S. Band Bloodhound Gang Banned From Russia Concert After Bassist Shoves Nation's Flag Down His Pants

Activists threw eggs and tomatoes at the band's vehicle while en route to the airport, while Russian prosecutors are considering opening a criminal case. 

Getty Images

Jared Hasselhoff performs at a 2009 show.

The American rock group Bloodhound Gang was kicked out of a Russian music festival and pelted with eggs after videos emerged of its bass player shoving a Russian flag down his pants at a recent concert in Ukraine. Russian prosecutors are even considering whether to open a criminal case in the matter, which comes amid a rise in U.S.-Russian tensions.

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Videos posted online of Wednesday's concert in the Ukrainian city of Odessa show bass player Jared Hasselhoff pushing the Russian white, blue and red flag down the front of his pants and pulling it out the back. He then shouted to the audience: "Don't tell Putin," a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The incident outraged the Russian government. Maria Minina, a spokeswoman for the weeklong Kubana festival in southern Russia, said Saturday that the band's headlining performance the previous night had been canceled because of its treatment of the flag.

The American band is known for its sexually explicit songs, including "The Bad Touch," with its unforgettable lyrics: "You and me, baby, ain't nothin' but mammals, so let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel."

Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky tweeted Friday night that he had spoken with officials in the southern Krasnodar region, known as Kuban. "Bloodhound Gang is packing its bags," he said in the Twitter post. "These idiots will not perform in Kuban."
Hasselhoff was questioned Saturday by police, according to the Russian Interior Ministry, which said prosecutors have been asked to decide if the musician could be charged with defaming the Russian flag.
 

The bass player apologized late Friday at a news conference held at the music festival in the city of Anapa, the local Yuga.ru news portal reported. He was quoted saying that he had meant no offense and explaining that it was a band tradition for everything thrown from the stage first to be passed through his pants. Hasselhoff said he decided to throw the flag because some fans had seemed disturbed to see it hanging on the stage. 

 

The scandal caused by the American band in Russia comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries over National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who was given temporary asylum in Russia last week to help him evade prosecution in the U.S.

As the Bloodhound Gang members were driving to the Anapa airport on Saturday, activists from a pro-Kremlin youth group threw eggs and tomatoes at their vehicle, Yuga.ru reported.

The band members were taken off their afternoon flight to Moscow after they had already boarded the plane, Russian news agencies reported, citing airline officials. After being questioned by transport police, they took a later flight, the reports said.

Emblem3 - Chloe (You're The One I Want)

Even more songs from Steve Grand!

Crowd waiting for Green Day concert breaks into Bohemian Rhapsody

The crowd was waiting for Green Day to come out and perform when they played Bohemian Rhapsody on the loudspeakers to fill in the wait. So the crowd started singing along.

How to Love - Steve Grand

Jillette Johnson's 'Cameron' is a Boy Who's a Little 'Different'

Singer Jillette Johnson uploaded the music video to her song "Cameron" to YouTube last week, an affirming piece about a little boy who's a little "different." The opening verse goes:

"Cameron's in drag;
Makes his father mad.
Since he was a little boy
He always felt more comfortable in lipstick."

The piece gets more amazing from there.

Gay Quartet Heats Up Their Strings With Mozart - Kelly Clarkson Mash-Up

Well-Strung, the gay singing string quartet founded in 2012, has released a music video for their newest song, a mash-up of Mozart's "A Little Night Music" and Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone." Seems like an odd combination, no? Turns out, that's just Well-Strung's niche.  

The group's website gives a little more information:

One Direction step aside, there’s a new kind of boy band on the circuit. The all-male string quartet Well-Strung features classical musicians who sing putting their own spin on the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, Rihanna, Adele Lady Gaga, and more! Their debut show sold-out Joe’s Pub on May 1st, 2012 in New York after being workshopped at Ars Nova NYC in February. 

Well-Strung stars first violinist Edmund Bagnell, second violinist Christopher Marchant, cellist Daniel Shevlin and violist Trevor Wadleigh.

I had the privilege of interviewing and writing a story about the group, as well as seeing them perform, this spring at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York. They are kind, personable, and have an excellent stage presence. Not to mention, their musicality is impressive, all the more so in that they sing and play at the same time. 

After finding success in New York and Provincetown, MA, this hunky quartet is spreading its wings this year, with gigs in Chicago, Miami, and even London. They are definitely ones to keep your eye on.

For information regarding the group's members, tour dates, videos, and more, visit their website.

Watch and listen,

What are you listening to this weekend?