George Harrison’s guitars are featured in a new iPad app, the Celtic Woman tour welcomes a new member, and Elton John’s husband disses Madonna over the Material Girl’s Golden Globes win.
Check Out George’s Guitars
How would you like a close-up look at the many guitars that made up George Harrison’s collection? You’ll get your chance next month when a new iPad app is released.
Brought into this world by Bandwdth Publishing in conjunction with Harrison’s estate, “The Guitar Collection: George Harrison” enables fans to browse the collection while a recording of Harrison’s voice introduces the instruments and the former Beatle plays sections of songs.
The app includes the history of each guitar, including when Harrison added it to his collection. The video portion of the app includes footage of Ben Harper, Josh Homme, Mike Campbell and Harrison’s son Dhani playing the guitars. Another great guitarist – Gary Moore – talks about Harrison’s guitar legacy.
Priced at $9.99, The Guitar Collection: George Harrison will be released on iTunes Feb. 23, just two days before what would have been Harrison’s 69th birthday.
Celtic Woman Welcomes McFadden
There will be a new face when this year’s Celtic Woman tour rolls into your town. She’s London West End musical stage star Susan McFadden, who is joining the group as founding member Lisa Kelly prepares for the birth of her fourth child.
Beginning her professional career at the age of 11 when she starred in the title role of a Dublin production of “Annie,” McFadden’s first taste of adult fame occurred when winning ITV’s reality show “Grease Is The Word” landed her the starring role of “Sandy” in the West End production of “Grease.” McFadden’s theatrical roles also include “Serena” in the U.K. premier of “Legally Blonde The Musical” and the lead in “Elle Woods.”
“I have followed Celtic Woman’s success over the years and am delighted and honored to have been asked to be part of something so special,” McFadden said. “I can’t wait to tour with ‘Believe’ and perform with Mairead [Nesbitt], Lisa [Lambe] and Chloe [Agnew].
Dissing Madonna
Viewers watching the Golden Globes Awards Sunday night probably couldn’t help notice Elton John’s rather perturbed expression when Madonna won Best Original Song for “Masterpiece.” The tune appeared in the Madonna-directed film “W.E.”
Elton and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin also had a horse in the race. Their “Hello Hello” from “Gnomeo & Juliet” was also contending for the award.
If Elton appeared upset over Madge’s win, his husband David Furnish was downright angry and took to Facebook to express his feelings, writing “Madonna. Best song???? F**k off!!!”
But Furnish didn’t stop there.
“Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism. And her critisism of Gaga shows how desperate she really is.”
Celeb gossip reporter TMZ notes that Elton mentioned Madonna before the Golden Globes telecast, saying he believed she had no “f**kin’ chance” of winning.
Maybe it’s just the season to diss Madonna. Last fall while leaving a Los Angeles restaurant, Gene Simmons was asked if he had any thoughts about her headlining this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, to which the KISS bassist replied, “I love all karaoke singers, I love all the girl singers who get up and sing with tapes … shame on you!” before adding “By the way, Madonna’s terrific … I hate the tapes.”