Rush, Deep Purple, Public Enemy and N.W.A. are among the group of first-time nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
They join returnees Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Randy Newman, Donna Summer and Kraftwerk among the 15 artists vying for entry.
Even in the iPod age, the list of nominees up for induction in 2013 is as eclectic as they come. Motown also is represented by first-ballot entries The Marvelettes.
Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, acknowledged the variety of this year’s nominee class in a Thursday news release.
“The definition of ‘rock and roll’ means different things to different people, but as broad as the classifications may be, they all share a common love of the music,” Peresman said.
Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj take feud public
Is this “Idol” threat an idle threat?
Mariah Carey told Barbara Walters her fellow “American Idol” judge Nicki Minaj threatened to shoot her, Walters reported on ABC’s “The View” Thursday morning.
Consulting her notes, Walters recounted a phone conversation with Carey just before the talk show went on the air, with new details of Tuesday’s blowup between Carey and Minaj that partly was captured on video made public on the TMZ website.
“Mariah said she doesn’t feel comfortable emotionally,” Walters reported. “But she will continue with the show because she loves the show.”
Walters issued an invitation to Minaj, a past guest of “The View,” asking her to return to the show to give her side of the story.
But Minaj instead responded with a string of Twitter postings.
Patrons support Athens eatery with R.E.M. ties
ATHENS — Long lines of customers have been forming at a Georgia restaurant that inspired the name of rock band R.E.M.’s “Automatic for the People” album.
Owner Dexter Weaver says he’s grateful for the outpouring of support for Weaver D’s Delicious Fine Foods in Athens, The Athens Banner-Herald reported.
At times, lines of customers have stretched out the door of the iconic soul-food restaurant.
A utility employee showed up last week to cut off the gas to the restaurant, Weaver said. Weaver paid what he could, and the business has remained open, he said.
“There have been outpours of love,” he said. “Donations and all. They want to help me pay our bills.”
Other customers have made donations or just told Weaver to keep the change and “put it toward the cause,” he said.
Weaver has been running the restaurant for more than 25 years.
R.E.M., which began its rise to fame in Athens, adopted Weaver’s “Automatic for the People” motto for its 1992 album.
Dorothy’s ruby slippers to be displayed in London
WASHINGTON — Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” are leaving Washington on their first international journey to London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Judy Garland wore the shoes in the 1939 film in which she played a Kansas farm girl on a magical journey. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced the rare loan of its popular slippers Thursday.
They will be shown with Dorothy’s blue-and-white gingham dress in “Hollywood Costume,” an exhibit opening Oct. 20 in London. Curators say it’s the first time Dorothy’s dress and shoes have been together since the movie was filmed. The dress is part of a private collection.
The Smithsonian plans to hold a departure ceremony Tuesday. The slippers will return Nov. 21.
Jewelry stolen from Julianne Moore’s home
NEW YORK — Approximately $127,000 worth of jewelry has been stolen from actress Julianne Moore’s New York City brownstone.
Police say a complaint was filed with the NYPD on Oct. 1. They said Thursday that a necklace, bracelets and watches were reported missing.
They say the robbery occurred at the home in Manhattan’s West Village sometime between June 6 and Aug. 28.
Police say the brownstone was under renovation and about 15 to 25 construction workers had access to the house during that time.