Wow. Neil Young must really hate awards shows. I mean, where most people probably would have used the old standby "prior commitments" or "scheduling conflicts," to get out of attending the Junos tonight in Winnipeg, the rock legend went all out and had a brain aneurysm.
(It's ironic, really, because normally the three-hour parade of Canadian "talent" itself is accused of causing hemorrhaging or other grey matter malfunctions.)
"I'm really disappointed that I won't be able to make it to Winnipeg for the Junos as I had hoped," said Young, apparently with a straight face.
"I grew up there and was really looking forward to the show as well as spending some time with my old friends.
"Thanks to my doctors, I'm feeling a lot better now, so I hope I can get a rain check."
Word has it that Young felt the effects of it early last week, but delayed doing anything about it -- i.e. having surgery -- until he was done a recording session in Nashville.
Nothing like having your priorities in order and, oddly enough, you look at Young and the first thing that pops to your mind is health.
No word yet on who organizers will get to replace the Canadian music icon, but suggested fillers include Corey Hart, Gino Vannelli or Alannah Myles.
If anyone can find them.
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OSBOURNES UNDER A CLOUD
Anyone who doesn't believe that messing in the occult can have terrible consequences should look no further than the Osbournes.
It seems like a day doesn't go by when some horrible tragedy or affliction befalls the pants-wetting Prince of Darkness and his hapless clan.
This week, the Munsters made the headlines twice for the wrong reasons -- the first when their house caught fire early and then later in the week daughter Aimee and mom Sharon had to drop out of a London performance of The Vagina Monologues because Aimee was taken ill.
The latest mini tragedies join other terrible things to happen to them in recent memory, such as cancer, drug addiction, weight problems, ATV accidents, robberies and daughter Kelly's singing career.
It really is remarkable -- this many bad things haven't happened to one family since Diff'rent Strokes was cancelled.
The cynic in me would say it's almost as if the Osbournes wanted these things to happen to them or welcomed them -- as if it were a way for them to remain in the headlines until one of them actually does something valid or worthwhile.
But, of course, that's just silly talk.
Firstly, because chances of any one of them doing anything valid is almost nil, and also, if there's any group of people that hates publicity more than the Osbournes, I certainly haven't seen them live their lives out on MTV.
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BACKSTREET NEVER WENT AWAY
You thought they did, but they say they didn't -- aging boy band (man band?) Backstreet Boys say they never really went away prior to this current small club reunion tour, which kicked off last week.
I'd love to believe them and think we had all just collectively stopped caring about them.
As it sits, the quintet of pretty boys will release a new CD this summer, cheekily titled Never Gone.
Please, please never say never.
No word on a local date, but apparently an arena tour is planned after these dates, which means we can always hope.
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QUICK HITS:
N.E.R.D. talking out of turn? Apparently Pharrell Williams has retracted his statement to BBC Radio that his project with fellow Neptunes member Chad Hugo is dead because of issues with the record company. "N.E.R.D. is still very much a band," Williams said in a statement. "We are playing a show together in Japan in two weeks. And we continue to appreciate the support from all our fans." ... Courtney Love as Linda Lovelace? What inspired casting! And what better way to prove to authorities you've got your life back in order and you deserve your child back than signing on to portray a fellating porn star on the big screen ... According to MTV.com, Sinead O'Connor is in a Kingston, Jamaica studio recording a reggae album ... Eclectic West Coast Canadian songwriter Veda Hille has signed to eclectic XTC frontman Andy Partridge's record label. Hille's new album Return of the Kildeer will be released on Partridge's Ape Records April 23 ... Pixies frontman Frank Black will release a solo album later this summer. The disc, due July 19 and titled Honeycomb, is said to be an Americana flavoured record ... One more concert rumour to mull over -- The Rolling Stones in Edmonton. Word is heating up, the band will be hitting the road this summer/fall with a Commonwealth Stadium show part of the plans.
