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A Few More Things: Coldplay, Gov’t Mule and David St. Hubbins
Coldplay to close Paralympic Games, Gov’t Mule set to honor Levon Helm’s legacy during a second set at the Mountain Jam festival and Spinal Tap’s rhythm guitarist tweets his condition after being hit by a car.
Photo: AP Photo / The Canadian Press
Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
“Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us,” Coldplay’s Chris Martin said. “[Closing Ceremonies Artistic Director] Kim Gavin and [Closing Ceremonies designer] Misty Buckley are working hard to put on a spectacular Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony for the athletes and spectators in the stadium, and everyone watching around the world, and we are so happy to be involved.
“It will be one of the biggest nights of our lives and we’re very excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that will close London 2012 in style.”
Click here to learn more about the Paralympic Games in London.
Gov’t Mule To ‘Ramble’ For Levon
Fans browsing the Mountain Jam festival website probably couldn’t help but notice that Gov’t Mule will perform a set June 2 consisting of a “tribute ramble” in honor of Levon Helm who passed away April 19 after a long bout with cancer.
But Warren Haynes and his Gov’t Mule cohorts won’t be going it alone. They will be joined by members of the Levon Helm Band including Amy Helm, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and the LHB Horns.
Taking place in Hunter, N.Y., in 2010 the festival closed with a “Levon Helm 70th Birthday Jubilee” that included Steve Earle, Patterson Hood, Warren Haynes and, of course, Helm himself. Click here for the festival’s website.
St. Hubbins Tweets Condition
Spinal Tap guitarist David St. Hubbins has been tweeting his condition after being hit by a car in New York City earlier this week.
St. Hubbins is, of course, actor Michael McKean, although many fans of The Tap probably prefer it the other way around, saying McKean is the somewhat fictional character St. Hubbins portrays.
McKean/St. Hubbins was walking in the vicinity of West 86th Street & Broadway May 22 when a car jumped the curb and knocked him down, breaking his leg.
Now listed in “stable” condition, McKean recently reassured fans via Twitter.
“Lucky man: best wife, great kids, awesome docs and nurses, priceless friends; a little overwhelmed by the sweet tweets. Love all y’all.”
McKean’s wife, actress Annette O’Toole, also reassured fans about her rock star/actor husband, tweeting, “Thank you dear people for your love and support. @MJMcKean and I so appreciative. He is getting great care. Spirits are good. Grateful, we.”
Photo: AP Photo
Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls and David St. Hubbins at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
The accident means McKean won’t be performing on Broadway anytime soon. Up until his car vs. pedestrian mishap, McKean was staring in “Gore Vidal’s The Best Man” with Angela Lansbury, John Larroquette and Darth Vader James Earl Jones. In place of McKean, the role of Dick Jensen is now being portrayed by co-star James Lecesne.