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Mick Ralphs, whose guitar and songwriting powered two classic British bands, Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died. A spokesperson for Ralphs’ family confirmed the news to Rolling Stone. Ralphs was 81.

In 2016, Ralphs suffered a stroke after a series of Bad Company shows in the U.K. and was hospitalized; according to lead singer Paul Rodgers, who co-founded Bad Company with Ralphs in 1973, Ralphs had been in a nursing home in recent years. Bad Company had just been voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and are scheduled...

There hasn’t been any shortage of music documentaries on big screens lately, but most are presented as special events that come in and out for one or two nights on a weekend, without settling in for a regular run. The Sony Classics release “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” though, has defied expectations of what a modern rock doc can do in cinemas, on its way to finding the favor of fans as a home video hit, too. Its success is, well, highly becoming.

Director Bernard MacMahon sat down with Variety to talk about the long process of making and then finding a buyer for the film, admitting there were plenty of companies that turned it down. The objections were plentiful, as he recalls it, when he and producer Allison McGourty were touring executive suites. But maybe most curious of all, to those who didn’t get the film, is that it...

Terry Manning, a music producer and engineer who collaborated with Led Zeppelin, Big Star, and Zz Top, died at his home in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday. He was 77.

Just two weeks earlier, a jovial Manning recalled working with Jimmy Page and other giants of the music biz in an interview spanning his career from El Paso to Memphis, the Bahamas, and back. At the time of his death, he was still actively recording artists at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, 30 miles east of his hometown.

“I was so lucky...

From the start, director Bernard MacMahon and writer and producer Allison McGourty knew there would be obstacles involved in making a documentary about Led Zeppelin, especially one done with the band’s cooperation. This is a group that has famously and diligently guarded its legacy, always maintaining a sense of mystique and rebuffing many earlier pitches for a movie like that. “Our sense was that there was absolutely no intention of ever doing a Zeppelin film,” MacMahon says.

Atop that challenge was the matter of what would actually be in the film,...

Exclusive: Emma Roberts and her Belletrist Productions, who are behind Hulu’s popular drama Tell Me Lies based on Carola Lovering’s book, are looking to bring another female-driven novel to television. Roberts and producer Marci Klein are developing One Fifth, a TV series adaptation of Candace Bushnell’s novel One Fifth Avenue.

Originally published in 2008 by Hachette Books, One Fifth Avenue tells the story of the eponymous Art Deco skyscraper towering over one of Manhattan’s oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods — the sort of building you have to earn your way into — one way or another. For the women in One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they’ve carefully established — or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king’s wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person’s...

Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers Of London novels are heading to the small screen at last, and details have landed.

Writer Ben Aaronovitch came to prominence to many of us for writing two two seminal Sylvester McCoy Doctor Who stories – Remembrance Of The Daleks and Battlefield. These were in the late 1980s, under the stewardship of script editor Andrew Cartmel. Incidentally, if you want to know what the day to day process of creating this era of Doctor Who was like, Cartmel’s book Script Doctor, a collection of diary excerpts chronicling his time on the show, is well worth reading.

Post-Doctor Who, Ben Aaronovitch struck gold with novels. In 2011, he wrote Rivers Of London, the first in what would become a phenomenally successful, bestselling fantasy series.

The synopsis for that first book reads as follows:

Rivers of London follows a young officer in London’s Met Police, Peter Grant. After...

The annual Hudson River Park Gala will take place on October 10 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers.

Hosted by Hudson River Park Friends, the Hudson River Park Gala brings together Park supporters for one unifying purpose: to keep Hudson River Park beautiful, green and growing. The evening will celebrate the people – the neighbors, park members, volunteers, park users, staff and partners – who bring our Park to life every day and how the Park helps nourish the many families, businesses and community organizations that live, work and play in and around it.

Hudson River Park Friend’s Annual Gala will honor Matt Bomer, Actor, Producer and Director and Simon Halls, Founder/Partner of Slate PR; Alex and Miles Pincus, Co-Founders of Grand Banks and Crew and the Terminal Warehouse Development Team. The evening will be hosted by writer, producer and Emmy Award-nominated actress, Desi Lydic. Featuring musicians and dancers from The Juilliard School...

Here’s your first look at fully coloured, interior pages for Here Be Dragons – the next phase of Rivers of London comics, set in the world of the bestselling novel series. For this upcoming series, comic series writers Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London) and Andrew Cartmel (The Vinyl Detective) are joined by BAFTA-nominated scriptwriter, and award-winning New York Times bestselling author James Swallow, with artwork by José María Beroy (pencils), David Cabeza (inks) and Jordi Escuín (colour).

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And its name… Wyvern! After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attacked by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called in to investigate. Peter and Nightingale find themselves drawn into a battle between two groups of hunters – one human, and one fae – as they uncover a legacy of...

Ben Aaronovitch’s fantasy series “Rivers of London” is set for screen adaptation.

The adaptation will be a co-production between Pure Fiction Television, See-Saw Films (“Heartbreaker”) and Aaronovitch’s production company Unnecessary Logo, which he recently established with John Berlyne and Keith Northrop.

It is the first deal to be announced following the inauguration of Pure Fiction Television, which was founded by former Heyday Television president Tom Winchester last fall. See-Saw have a minority stake in the company alongside talent agency Hamilton Hodell.

As well as the nine “Rivers of London” books, the deal includes Aaronovitch’s short stories, novellas, and graphic novels.

Aaronovitch, who started his career as a writer on “Doctor Who,” has expanded the “Rivers of London” universe into novellas, short stories, comics, games and graphic novels. The books have sold five million copies globally. He will write the adaptation as well as executive produce through Unnecessary Logo.

Written by Celeste Bronfman | Art by Jose Maria Beroy, David Cabeza | Published by Titan Comics

A couple of quick observations here before diving in. Firstly, it’s welcome back to Rivers of London, which is a book I have been reviewing since it first appeared in comic book form back in 2015 if memory serves. Secondly, this may be the first time we have a Rivers story arc that hasn’t had either creator Ben Aaronovitch or co-writer Andrew Cartmel doing the actual writing. Andrew Cartmel is now Script Editor, so essentially looking over the shoulder of new writer Celeste Bronfman, who has rather large shoes to fill. It’s nice to see artist Jose Maria Beroy back, although now just pencilling with David Cabeza inking. Could this preview a more regular publishing schedule?

The original team have always been very busy and the gaps are probably due to scheduling as much as anything else.

Exclusive: After making a new overall deal at Netflix for his 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks late last year, Spike Lee has set Steven Jackson to join his company in the post of Head of Production and Development. Jackson had been Manager of Original Series and Interactive at Netflix, and he moves into his new position immediately. Jackson will be responsible for overseeing a slate of projects to fulfill the potential of that Netflix deal.

At Netflix, Mr. Jackson oversaw the company’s expanding catalog of interactive content and a slate of live action half hours including Cobra Kai, Dear White People, The Upshaws and the upcoming Blockbuster series. Prior to joining Netflix, Steven held creative roles at Chernin Entertainment and Paramount Pictures, where he worked on such films as Rocket Man, Coming 2 America, Without Remorse and Top Gun Maverick.

“It Is With Great Excitement That My Brother Steven...

HBO has cast Juliebeth Gonzalez, Maya Eshet, Tyson Ritter, Kate Lyn Sheil, Liz Sierra and Finley Rose Slater in “The Idol,” the upcoming modern-day cult drama from “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson, multi-hyphenate The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Reza Fahim.

The hourlong drama series, which is currently in production, centers on a self-help guru and sect leader who develops a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol. Gonzales will be a regular in the cast, while the five announced additions will be recurring stars on the show.

The Weeknd will star in the show alongside Lily-Rose Depp, Suzanna Son, Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Steve Zissis, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga, Anne Heche and Australian electropop singer and actor Troye Sivan.

“The Idol” is executive produced and written by The Weeknd, Fahim and Levinson, as well as Joe Epstein. Also executive producing are Kevin Turen, Aaron Gilbert for Bron, Ashley Levinson, Nick Hall,...

HBO has fleshed out its cast for music industry drama series The Idol. Juliebeth Gonzalez has been added as a series regular, and Maya Eshet (Teen Wolf), Tyson Ritter (Preacher), Kate Lyn Sheil (House of Cards), Liz Sierra and Finley Rose Slater (Playing With Fire) will recur in the series, co-created by Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Reza Fahim. The high-profile one-hour drama is currently in production.

The series, which will be filmed in and around Los Angeles, sees pop star Tesfaye, known for hits including “Blinding Lights,” starring alongside Lily-Rose Depp, as revealed by Deadline in September, as well as co-writing and exec producing.

The Idol, set against the backdrop of the music industry, centers on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol.

In addition to Tesfaye and Depp, the six new actors...

HBO has officially ordered The Weeknd’s drama series “The Idol,” Variety has learned.

The Weeknd will star in the six-episode series, which was first announced as being in development in June, as well as serving as the co-creator. Set against the backdrop of the music industry, the series centers on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol.

Along with The Weeknd it was previously announced that Lily-Rose Depp would star in the series. Amy Seimetz is also now onboard to direct all six episodes. Variety has also learned that eight more actors have been added to the cast.

Suzanna Son (“Red Rocket”), Melanie Liburd, Tunde Adebimpe, Steve Zissis, Troye Sivan, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, Nico Hiraga, and Anne Heche have all been cast in the series. Son, Zissis, and Sivan will all appear in series regular roles while the other five are recurring.

Ronnie Wood has always seemed like he’d be nothing if not an enjoyable hang. That proves to be very much the case with “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” a documentary about the Rolling Stones guitarist from British director Mike Figgis (“Leaving Las Vegas”), who has clearly been hitting it off for quite a while with the musician … although Wood is so hail-fellow-well-met, you suspect he might have a good rapport with anybody. A surfeit of conviviality and a storied 60-year career do not always add up to a great story, though, and so “Somebody” will be liked by hardcore Stones fans down here more than raved about by anyone hoping Figgis has sussed out a narrative worthy of one of his fictional projects.

When Wood is glimpsed in the doc’s opening, there are pianos tinkling instead of guitars blaring, as we see him at work on his other passion,...

Led Zeppelin Was Once Presented with Their Gold Albums at a Live Sex Show in Sweden A rare Nsfw photograph of the event. by kate hakala In one of those rare bits of pop culture ephemera that seems to have slipped through the cracks, a Reddit user posted a unique photograph of the time Led Zeppelin visited a sex club in 1973. On March 5th, the legendary rockers were presented with their Gold albums at a sex club in Stockholm, Sweden following the release of their album Houses of the Holy. Legend has it that manager Peter Grant suggested to Metronome Records that Led Zeppelin host their Platinum and Gold reception at notorious sex club Chat Noir instead of some dull reception hall. Swedish music photographer Bengt H. Malmqvist was there to capture the spectacular moment when a couple climbed on the stage and starting performing in front of the [...]...

Ronnie Wood turned down the chance to join Led Zeppelin. The Rolling Stones guitarist was once managed by Peter Grant who helped turn the 'Stairway to Heaven' band into one of the world's biggest music acts but Ronnie admits he was unimpressed when he first heard them and was asked to join them. Speaking on his Absolute Radio show, Ronnie said: 'Peter Grant, used to manage myself and Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart and Mickey Waller and Nicky Hopkins back in the good old days. He was behind a band that was going to be called The New Yard Birds, which I had an offer to join, and I said 'I can't join that bunch of farmers'. Anyway,...

Peter Grant has announced details of the lead single from his first album in four years. 'Too Close' marks the first cut from his debut record of original material, and is released on September 4. Describing the track, Grant said: "To me this isn't your typical sad song, it's about the regret of losing love, when the spark has gone and realising that we sometimes get excited and carried away. "Sometimes things move too fast and that as hard as it is to say it, even after (more)...

Jack White has said that he has more freedom to branch out in his side projects than older bands did. The musician has released albums with The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather alongside his work with The White Stripes. White told The Daily Telegraph: "They didn't have that kind of freedom back in the '60s. "If Paul McCartney had wanted to stop in 1968 and start another band, I'm sure everyone would've said, 'Whoa, what the hell are you doing?'. If Jimmy Page had done it in 1975, [Led Zeppelin manager] Peter Grant wouldn't have been very happy about that." He added: "Maybe because of the environment (more)...