Category Archives: Classic Hits/Oldies

Congress certifies Biden/Harris election win; Trump promises “orderly transition on January 20th”

January 7, 2021 – 1:00 pm

J. Scott Applewhite - Pool/Getty ImagesHours after a pro-Trump mob broke into the U.S. Capitol to protest the results of the 2020 election, Congress ratified the electoral votes cast in the general election and certified the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

The announcement was made by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar at 3:39 a.m. Thursday. Vice President Mike Pence then repeated the totals at 3:40 a.m., first for president, then for vice president.

Biden will take Trump's place in the White House on Jan. 20.

Rep. Louie Gohmert and other House Republicans attempted to object to Wisconsin's electoral votes but did not have a senator join the objection. Gohmert said a senator had withdrawn his objection.

Biden and Harris finished with 306 electoral votes, while Trump and Pence finished with 232. A minimum 270 electoral votes are needed to win the White House.

In a statement tweeted by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino following the news, President Trump said: "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!"

The statement marks the first time Trump has publicly acknowledged Biden's victory and agreed to a peaceful transfer of power.

Following Wednesday's protest and storming of the Capitol, four people are dead, according to Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee. One woman and two men suffered “medical emergencies” at the protests, and have subsequently died, Contee said during a press conference Wednesday night.

Another woman was shot and killed during a standoff inside the U.S. Capitol between law enforcement and pro-Trump rioters. The unidentified woman was shot by a Capitol police officer after "multiple individuals forced entry into the Capitol building, and attempted to gain access to the house and attempted to gain access to the house, room, which was still in session," Contee said Wednesday. She was transported to a local hospital where after all lifesaving efforts failed, and she was pronounced dead.

By Libby Cathey, Catherine Thorbecke, Morgan Winsor, and Rosa Sanchez
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Trump tries to justify chaos at Capitol while Biden, President Bush condemn violence

January 7, 2021 – 11:00 am

John Moore/Getty ImagesAs the chaotic scene continued in the nation's capital with the world watching, President Donald Trump continued to tweet his repeated his false claim that the presidential election was stolen from him and tried to justify the storming of the U.S. Capitol that he encouraged earlier in the day.

"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," he said.

After hours of chaos and as the Virginia State Police arrived at the U.S. Capitol Building, the president called on his supporters to "go home" in a one-minute video message posted to Twitter -- which has since been removed across social media. In the message, President Trump, without evidence, called the election "stolen" and fraudulent," but told the protesters to go home "in peace."

"It's a very tough period of time. There's never been a time like this where such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us from me from you from our country. This was a fraudulent election. But we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace."

"So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel -- but go home and go home in peace," he said.

Former President George W. Bush released a statement on what he called an "insurrection" at the U.S. Capitol, calling it "a sickening and heartbreaking sight."

"This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement," Bush said.

President-elect Joe Biden, who was scheduled to deliver afternoon remarks on the economy, addressed the unrest at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday afternoon from Wilmington, Delaware, and called on President Trump to "step up" and condemn the chaos being committed in his name.

"I call on President Trump to go on national television now, to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege," Biden said. "To storm the Capitol, to smash windows, to occupy offices, the floor of the United States Senate, rummaging through desks -- on the Capitol, on the House of Representatives -- threatening the safety of duly elected officials, it's not a protest. It's insurrection."

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Guns N’ Roses shares official video of “Black Hole Sun” cover

December 31, 2020 – 5:00 pm

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live NationGuns N' Roses has shared an official live video capturing the band's cover of the Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun."

The performance is featured in a collection of highlights from the "Welcome to the Jungle" rockers' set at Tennessee's Exit 111 festival in October 2019. The footage also includes renditions of the GN'R classic "Paradise City" and the Appetite for Destruction-era tune "Shadow of Your Love," plus the band's versions of Wings' "Live and Let Die" and Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

You can watch the video streaming now on YouTube.

GN'R first debuted their "Black Hole Sun" cover during a concert in Ireland back in May 2017 as a tribute to Chris Cornell, who'd just died earlier that month.

Meanwhile, you can listen to Cornell's version of GN'R's "Patience" on No One Sings Like You Anymore, a new covers record released earlier this month. Cornell recorded the collection in 2016, and it marks his final, fully completed studio album.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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U2’s Bono among stars who will voice characters in upcoming animated film ‘Sing 2’

December 22, 2020 – 12:00 am

Han Myung-Gu/WireImageU2 frontman Bono is among the major stars who'll be a part of Sing 2, the upcoming sequel to the hit animated 2016 film Sing.

The movie follows the animals from the first film as they hatch a plan to perform at the entertainment world's most prestigious venue. Bono lends his voice to a character named Clay Calloway, a reclusive rock star who also happens to be a lion.

In the film, Buster Moon -- a koala voiced by Matthew McConaughey -- and the animals have to impress a music mogul Jimmy Crystal, a wolf voiced by Bobby Canavale. The way they do that is to persuade a reluctant Calloway to sing in their show with them.

"Clay Calloway is quite the character," Bono tells Rolling Stone. "I like to think I was part of his construction. [Director] Garth Jennings asked me about singing and where it came from. I surprised myself and him by answering with a line that would make it into the film: 'Some people sing for a living, some people sing to survive.'"

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer adds, "Clay Calloway is a lion who lost his roar. A singer who lost his reason to sing when he lost his muse. A retired, reclusive rockstar with a big shaggy mane and low-frequency rumble of a grumble. He's also got guns on his property…paintball guns…and a mixed relationship with his fans."

Sing 2 also will feature Pharrell Williams, Halsey, Eric Andre, Letitia Wright and Chelsea Peretti, who'll join returning cast members Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly and Nick Kroll.

Sing 2 is currently scheduled to hit theaters December 22, 2021.

By Matt Friedlander and Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Joe Biden apparent winner in PA, now president-elect

November 7, 2020 – 5:01 pm

Scott Olson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- ABC News can characterize Joe Biden as the apparent winner in Pennsylvania, giving him 273 total electoral votes -- a win that makes him president elect. Based on these numbers and those in other states, Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.

ABC News was able to characterize Biden as the apparent winner of Pennsylvania after the state, as of 11:35 a.m., put Biden ahead with 49.6% of ballots cast (3,345,724) over President Trump's 49.1% (3,311,310 votes).

Biden said in a statement Saturday, "I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris. In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America. With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together."

Saturday marks 48 years to the day that Biden, then 29 years old, was elected in his first Senate race on November 7, 1972.

For first time in history, the first and second in line to the presidency will be women: Sen. Kamala Harris as vice president, followed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, tweeted, "So proud of you" with a photo of him embracing his wife, the vice president elect. Sen. Harris' win makes her husband the first 'second husband' in U.S. history.

For his part, President Trump released a defiant statement through his campaign, claiming, "this election is far from over” and blasting Biden for "rushing to falsely pose as the winner."

Trump also promised a coming legal fight. "Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated," he said. "The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots."

The president again pushed unfounded claims that "Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room -- and then fight in court to block their access."

Check ABCNews.com for continuing election coverage and updates.

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Too soon to call presidential race, young voters turned out less than expected

November 4, 2020 – 11:00 am

iStock/simon2579

Election Day has turned to night as polls across the country closed with some municipalities announcing they will resume tabulating Wednesday morning.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, former Vice President Joe Biden briefly addressed the nation from Wilmington, Delaware, projecting confidence in the race and called for patience as the nation tabulates a record number of mail-in and absentee ballots.

President Donald Trump teased he would make a statement from the White House, which took place an hour later.

For President Trump's speech, which he made around 2:30 a.m. ET, he opened with a joke saying, "this is, without question, the latest news conference I ever had." The president made a fiery 10 minute speech, saying that "a group of very sad people" are trying to steal the election, which he called "a fraud" and vowed he would go to the Supreme Court to "have all voting to stop."

As for the states that are already accounted for, President Trump is projected to win Iowa, Florida, Ohio, Idaho, Utah, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, South Carolina, the Dakotas, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas and Nebraska.

Meanwhile, Biden is projected to win Virginia, New Mexico, California, Illinois, New Hampshire, Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Minnesota and the District of Columbia.

As of 1:45 A.M. ET, Biden leads with 220 electoral votes while President Trump has 213 -- the winner requires 270 votes to win.

Pennsylvania, a major battleground state, is projected to wrap up the count by Friday before the election, but did not provide an exact timeline. Philadelphia will continue counting absentee ballots, with the next updates coming at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

In Michigan, only 16 percent of the early vote is in with 49 percent of the expected vote in as of early Wednesday, with Tracy Wimmer, a spokesperson for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson telling ABC News, "We're still looking at some time tomorrow, but we really don't have a guess of when."

One of the most decentralized election systems in the country, Wisconsin state officials have repeatedly told ABC News that they expect full statewide results could come in the early hours of Wednesday morning

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday, at least 100 million early votes were cast. Nationally, voters have cast 73.4 percent of the total votes counted in the 2016 general election.

Hawaii and Texas have already surpassed their 2016 total and five other states -- Montana, North Carolina, Georgia, New Mexico and Nevada -- are close to doing the same.

Most surprisingly in the election however is, young voters did not increase their showing at polls, despite expert predictions.

The 18-29 year-olds and 30-44 year-olds make up the same percentage of the electorate as they did in 2016.

Those youngest voters are breaking toward Biden by much more than they did to Hillary Clinton in 2016, but among 30-44 year olds, Biden is only winning by about the same as Clinton. There are no major third-party candidates this year, while 10 percent of young people voted for a third-party candidate or gave no answer in exit polls.

Older voters, over 65, make up a similar percentage of the vote as they did in 2016, making up about 21 percent in preliminary exit polls compared to 20 percent in 2016.

There was concern that voting remotely for college kids who were not on campuses this year could be a factor, but after the protests this summer it is a surprising outcome.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Axl Rose shares Election Day poem encouraging voting

November 3, 2020 – 3:35 pm

Mark Horton/Getty ImagesAxl Rose has shared a statement encouraging fans to vote today, Election Day.

The statement is presented in the form of a poem, with the Guns N' Roses frontman offering different reasons to vote in each stanza.

"VOTE/For The Future/Of Our Country/Our Planet/Your Planet/This Planet/The Only Planet We Have," Rose writes.

Rose has been more politically vocal in recent years, and has been critical of President Donald Trump and his administration.

"In general my posts in regard to current events, politics or social issues [are] usually coming from a sense of outrage, obligation n' responsibility to say something at times when I feel not to is being complicit (as opposed to a desire for attention or self promotion)," Rose previously wrote in a statement defending his right to speak out.

Here is Axl Rose's entire Election Day poem:

VOTE
Whatever It Takes

VOTE
Take A Side
Make A Stand

VOTE
With Courage
In The Face Of Fear
And Intimidation

VOTE
Through All The Noise
Lies
And Distractions

VOTE
For The Country
For A Better World
For DEMOCRACY

VOTE
For The Future
Of Our Country
Our Planet
Your Planet
This Planet
The Only Planet We Have

VOTE
For Those Who Fought,
Suffered And Died
To Create And Protect
Your Right To Vote

VOTE
For Loved Ones
For You
And For US
Together As One
And If It Helps...

Vote Knowing There Are Those
Hoping, Praying N’ Counting On
You Won’t
And Would Do Virtually ANYTHING
They Thought They Could Get Away With
To Stop You

VOTE

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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U2 hosting online concert film watch party today celebrating ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ reissue’s release

October 30, 2020 – 4:00 pm

Island Records/UMCThe expanded 20th anniversary reissue of U2's 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind got its release today in multiple configurations, and to celebrate the collection's arrival, the band is treating fans to an online watch party of the 2001 concert film, Elevation Tour: Live in Boston, at 2 p.m. ET.

The streaming event, which will be viewable at U2.com, also will feature a live Q&A with U2 guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton. The movie captures the band performing during three concerts at Boston's Fleet Center in June of 2001 while on tour in support of All That You Can't Leave Behind.

The film will continue to be available for viewing on demand for 48 hours after the initial screening.

Audio performances from the Boston shows are among the bonus tracks featured on the deluxe versions of the All That You Can't Leave Behind reissue.

As previously reported, the Super Deluxe five-CD and 11-LP editions of the reissue feature various B-sides, outtakes, live tracks, alternate versions and remixes, plus a poster and a 32-page hardcover book of previously unseen photos.

Released October 30, 2000, All That You Can't Leave Behind marked U2's return to more straightforward rock after a decade of experimenting with dance and electronic music throughout the '90s with Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, produced hit singles in "Beautiful Day," "Elevation," "Walk On" and "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of," won numerous Grammys, and has been certified four-times platinum.

In advance of the reissue this week, U2 released a new video for "Stuck in a Moment," which you can check out at the band's official YouTube channel.

By Matt Friedlander
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers are back to “writing new music,” says John Frusciante

October 23, 2020 – 3:30 pm

Peter Pakvis/RedfernsRed Hot Chili Peppers are back to "writing new music," according to guitarist John Frusciante.

Speaking to Australia's Double J radio, Frusciante shares that the band had been rehearsing together prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We were rehearsing for a couple months, and then the quarantine started, and then we stopped rehearsing for a couple months, and then we went back to rehearsing," Frusciante says. "We're moving ahead with what we're doing, we're writing new music."

Frusciante, who previously played with the Chili Peppers from 1988 to 1992 and between 1998 and 2009, rejoined the band late last year. He says that returning to the group feels like "returning to family."

"I'm extremely comfortable with those people," Frusciante explains. "It was as if no time had gone by at all when we started playing, pretty much, with a couple of minor exceptions, like how [drummer] Chad [Smith] and I gradually got our communication together in a new way."

"Basically, we're all just as comfortable with each other as we ever were, and it just felt like that right off the bat," he adds.

Meanwhile, Frusciante just dropped a new solo album called Maya, which is described as his "first instrumental electronic album under his own name."

By Josh Johnson
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Channel of high definition lights: U2 relaunching YouTube channel with remastered video

September 17, 2020 – 6:00 pm

Credit: Anton Corbijn U2 is relaunching its YouTube channel with newly remastered versions of over 100 videos.

A press release claims the undertaking is "unprecedented," and promises that the updated visuals will boast the "highest possible standard," including HD and 4K quality.

"U2 has worked with some incredible filmmakers and directors over the years, and it's always been a lot of fun," says guitarist The Edge. "Like a lot of people, I'm partial to a tumble down a YouTube rabbit hole…I hope you enjoy."

The project officially begins this Friday at noon ET with the premiere of the 4K remastered version of the "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" video.

New content will be uploaded to the U2 YouTube channel each week over the next year. Along with the remastered videos, the channel will be populated with "previously unreleased live, behind-the-scenes and remixed content."

In other U2 happenings, a 20th anniversary expanded edition of 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind will be released October 30.

By Josh Johnson
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