Poor Newt Gingrich. Already under siege from Super PACs, media members and politicians in the tank for Mitt Romney , guy is about to lose his own theme song! The candidate is being sued by a company which owns the rights to Survivor’s 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger,” for using the inspirational Rocky III tune at campaign events. Rude Music Inc., owned by a member of Survivor, filed the suit against Newt for jacking the song to push a political agenda … that the band clearly isn’t a fan of. Newt, who has surged into contention for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, has been using the song at various political events from 2009-present. And probably not for much longer. Newt Gingrich Enters to Eye of the Tiger RMI claims Gingrich, along with his campaign team, Newt 2012, Inc., recently
New Jersey will honor Clemons by flying flags at half-staff on Thursday. By Gil Kaufman Clarence Clemons Photo: Getty Images Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to his musical brother, late sax player Clarence Clemons , on Tuesday at a memorial service in Florida. The titanic 69-year-old musician died on Saturday at a Palm Beach hospital after complications from a recent stroke. The private two-hour funeral at a small church near Palm Beach was attended by Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, as well as fellow E Street bandmember Steven Van Zandt, singer Jackson Browne and Miami Heat general manager Pat Riley. “Clarence was a man of unconditional love, but his love came with a lot of conditions,” Springsteen said of his friend of more than four decades. His comments drew some knowing laughs and nods from the crowd of 150 packed into the small Royal Poinciana Chapel, according to the U2 to Coldplay and Slash, paid tribute to Clemons . “His partnership with Bruce Springsteen and the rest of the E Street Band brought great pride to our state and joy to every fan of this music around the world.” Clemons was born in Virginia in 1942, but moved to Jersey as a youth counselor before joining Springsteen’s band. “On a personal note, when I heard about the Big Man’s passing on Saturday night, I was struck with an overwhelming feeling that the days of my youth were now finally over,” Christie said in a statement. “My condolences to Clarence’s family and all the members of the E Street Band.” Related Photos Clarence Clemons: A Career In Photos Related Artists Bruce Springsteen
E Street Band member, 69, suffered stroke in his home in Florida. By Jocelyn Vena Clarence Clemons Photo: Getty Clarence Clemons, legendary member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, has suffered a stroke according to The Associated Press. A source close to the saxophonist confirmed to the AP that the 69-year-old suffered the stroke in his Florida home on Sunday night; no further details about his health were currently available at press time. However, Showbiz 411 reported that the musician’s condition is very serious. Most recently, Clemons was featured on Lady Gaga’s massive Born This Way album, appearing on two tracks and performing with her live on “American Idol” last month. Clemons, also known as “The Big Man,” began performing with the E Street Band in 1972, giving an assist on Springsteen’s debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. . In addition to appearing on 20 albums with Springsteen, including the breakthrough Born to Run, he’s worked with a number of other artists including Gaga, Jackson Browne and Ringo Starr. He’s also appeared in films like “New York, New York”and “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” as well as TV shows like “The Wire” and “The Simpsons.” Recently, however, he has had problems with his health, and following the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s tour in 2009, he had to have both knees replaced and a spinal fusion surgery, according to Rolling Stone. But he vowed, “As long as my mouth, hands and brain still work I’ll be out there doing it.” When MTV News caught up with Gaga’s longtime collaborator, Fernando Garibay, the producer recalled how excited Gaga was to hit the studio with one of her icons for the songs “Hair” and her latest single, “Edge of Glory.” “She grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and she goes, ‘Can we get Clarence?’ And I go, ‘Of course we can get Clarence. You’re Lady Gaga!’ ” he said. “You can see the years of influence and you can see her lighting up when he’s playing [with her in the studio].” Send your well-wishes to Clarence Clemons in the comments below. Related Videos Track By Track: Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Related Artists Bruce Springsteen Lady Gaga
Phish’s Trey Anastasio, E Street Band guitarist ‘Little’ Steven Van Zandt will also honor this year’s inductees. By Ryan J. Downey Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Green Day ‘s Billie Joe Armstrong — one of the most commercially successful punk-rock bandleaders in history — will have a chance to honor one of his genre’s pioneers when he pays tribute to the Stooges at this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, set for March 15. Billie Joe will be joined by Phish ‘s Trey Anastasio, who will welcome Genesis, according to Rolling Stone. The ceremony will take place at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria. Wyclef Jean will be on hand to induct reggae icon Jimmy Cliff. E Street Band guitarist “Little” Steven Van Zandt, equally well known as Sil from “The Sopranos” and respected as a curator and connoisseur of garage rock, will lavish praise on the Hollies. The Bee Gees’ Barry and Robin Gibb will be there to talk about their ’70s pop contemporaries in ABBA. Record executive David Geffen will be honored by Jackson Browne, whose debut album was also the first release for the impresario’s Asylum Records. Carole King will induct this year’s group of songwriters. Former frontman-turned-solo artist Peter Gabriel will reportedly not take part in the Genesis induction. Last year, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea inducted Metallica, who invited former bass player Jason Newsted to perform with them. It was a decided effort to avoid the train wreck of the Van Halen induction, where only former members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony showed up for the ceremony. Related Artists Green Day
It’s one thing to lose to Barack Obama. It’s quite another, one would think, to have Jackson Browne get the better of you. As it happens, John McCain chalked up just such a loss..
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