Plus: Strokes Wrap LP; Kid Rock Hits Road in January
Florida Governor Pursuing Jim Morrison Pardon
Outgoing Florida Governor Charlie Christ said he will submit Jim Morrison as a posthumous candidate to be pardoned for the two convictions the singer received after allegedly exposing himself at a Miami concert in 1969. “I just think it’s the right thing to do,” Christ said. “In some ways it seems like a tragic conclusion to a young man’s life to have maybe this be a lasting legacy, where we’re not even sure that it actually occurred.” Morrison was appealing the conviction at the time of his death in 1971. [New York Times]
Strokes Finish Recording New LP
The Strokes are done recording their fourth LP and hope to release it early next year, according to a tweet from singer/songwriter Julian Casablancas. “[The album is] still not going to be out for a few months — mixing, etc,” he wrote. “But just finally finished it, [Monday] actually.” The band began recording the LP in February with producer Joe Chiccarelli. [NME]
Ke$ha Funny or Die Video Explains “The Story of $”
Ke$ha released a parody video on Funny or Die called “The Story of the $,” detailing how a pizza joint’s use of a dollar sign in the singer’s name at her birthday party destroyed her plans to become a CPA and set her on a “downward spiral to success and fame.” [Funny or Die]
Wyclef Releases Haiti-Themed “Election Time” Video
Wyclef Jean, whose aspirations to run for president of his native Haiti were thwarted earlier this year, released a video for his song “Election Time.” The clip alternates scenes of hardship and happiness in the earthquake-stricken country with footage of Wyclef singing on a mountaintop. Jean’s If I Were President: My Haitian Experience EP will be released December 7. [Billboard]
Kid Rock to Kick Off Tour With 40th Birthday Bash
Kid Rock will undertake a two-month-long North American tour that launches with a concert celebrating his 40th birthday at the 60,000-seat Ford Field in his hometown of Detroit on January 15 (although his birthday is actually on the 17th). [MTV News]
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