Obituary

EXCLUSIVE: The 26th annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) has set The Obituary of Tunde Johnson as their opening night film. The fest takes place on October 24-31. The film, written by up-and-comer Stanely Kalu and directed by Ali LeRoi, will make its U.S. premiere after debuting to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. The story follows the titular character (played by 13 Reasons Why actor Steven Silver), a gay, black teenager trapped in a time loop that forces him to relive his own brutal murder at the hands of a police officer on duty. The Obituary of Tunde Johnson marks LeRoi’s feature directorial debut and Kalu’s first produced feature screenplay. In addition, Mati Diop’s directorial debut Atlantics will make its U.S. premiere at the fest. The romance set in Senegal was awarded the Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival as well as the Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Related Story New … [Read more...] about ‘The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson’ To Open 26th Annual Austin Film Festival

Teenage actress Laurel Griggs, who made her Broadway debut at age 6 next to Scarlett Johansson and appeared on Saturday Night Live, has died, according to reports and an online obituary. She was 13 and the cause of death was a massive asthma attack, according to her family. Griggs died on Nov. 5, according to an obituary and several news reports. She debuted in the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Johansson at age 6. She then joined Once, where she had a long run in the role of Ivanka, according to her IMDB page. Griggs lived with her parents in New York City. Actress Eliza Holland Madorem who also played Ivanka in Once, posted a salute to Griggs in an Instagram post. “I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of one of my Ivanka sisters,” Madore wrote. “Laurel- you were always smiling and always made other people laugh.” … [Read more...] about Laurel Griggs Dies: Broadway Actress Who Played Ivanka In ‘Once’ Was 13

David Berman, the singer-songwriter best known for leading the long-running, critically acclaimed indie band Silver Jews, died Wednesday at the age of 52. Drag City, the Chicago record label that released all of the group’s albums dating back to 1994’s Starlite Walker, confirmed the musician’s death. The cause of death was suicide, per the New York City medical examiner (via the New York Times). “We couldn’t be more sorry to tell you this. David Berman passed away earlier today,” the label wrote in a statement. “A great friend and one of the most inspiring individuals we’ve ever known is gone. Rest easy, David.” Berman formed Silver Jews in 1989 with Stephen Malkmus and another future Pavement member, Bob Nastanovich. While the group contained a perpetually rotating cast of musicians, Berman remained at the center throughout their entire run. Starting with Starlite Walker, the group released six acclaimed albums, including … [Read more...] about Silver Jews’ David Berman Dead at 52

Little Feat’s Paul Barrere, who served as guitarist and vocalist in the boogie rock band for nearly 50 years, died Saturday at the age of 71. The band confirmed Barrere’s death in a statement. While no cause of death was provided, the guitarist was undergoing treatment in his long battle with liver disease; in 1994, Barrere contracted hepatitis C, and in 2015 was diagnosed with liver cancer. “It is with great sorrow that Little Feat must announce the passing of our brother guitarist, Paul Barrere, this morning at UCLA Hospital,” Little Feat said in a statement. “Paul auditioned for Little Feat as a bassist when it was first being put together—in his words, ‘as a bassist I make an excellent guitarist’—and three years later joined the band in his proper role on guitar.  Forty-seven years later, he was forced to miss the current tour, which will end tomorrow, due to side effects from his ongoing treatment for liver disease.” … [Read more...] about Little Feat Guitarist Paul Barrere Dead at 71

Nick Tosches, the novelist and music journalist who penned acclaimed books about subjects ranging from Jerry Lee Lewis and Hall & Oates to Sonny Liston and country music, has died at the age of 69. The New York Times confirmed Tosches died Sunday at his Manhattan home. No cause of death was announced, but a friend told the Times that Tosches had been ill. In a Rolling Stone review of The Nick Tosches Reader – and an overview of the “Noise Boys” music critics that include Tosches, Lester Bangs and Richard Meltzer – Robert Christgau called Tosches, “a master crime reporter whose manner yokes Homer, Hemingway, and some ’60s tit magazine I’m not literate enough to ID, author of a comical, biblical Jerry Lee Lewis bio that trumps Albert Goldman coming and Peter Guralnick going.” Tosches began his career as a music journalist in the early Seventies for magazines like Creem, Fusion, Circus and Rolling Stone; his album reviews for Rolling … [Read more...] about Nick Tosches, Music Journalist and Novelist, Dead at 69