#WhatsHappening for November 17, 2016

Hey there, boys and girls. Hope you're doing well this week. If not- look at the bright side, tomorrow's Friday!

If you live in our area, you've doubtless heard about the fucking dipshit who tried to drive a tractor trailer across Holcomb Bridge Road in downtown Norcross earlier this week.

Seriously, though?

There are freaking signs everywhere saying NO TRUCKS. The driver should spend some time in lockup- just to inconvenience them as much as they inconvenienced the whole damned city.

Country singer Holly Dunn, who had a string of hits back in the late 80s and early 90s, died at home in Albuquerque on Monday after a short battle with cancer.

Dunn was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and three time Grammy winner. She was also the Academy of Country Music's Best New Female Vocalist in 1986, the Country Music Association’s Horizons Award winner in 1987, and BMI’s Songwriter of the Year in 1989.

She later moved into radio, working in Detroit at WWWW-FM before retiring completely from the music business in 2003 to concentrate on her art career- serving as PR coordinator for the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, co-owner of Pena-Dunn Gallery, and owner of the Art Song Gallery in Salado, Texas.

She was 59.

A letter from John Lennon to Paul and Linda McCartney from 1971 is up for auction at RR Auctions in Amherst, New Hampshire. Open bidding on the acrimonious missive closes tonight, and is expected to exceed $20,000. 

The letter, written in response to one from the late Linda chastising Lennon for not formally announcing that he was leaving the Beatles. 

The full text:

"Dear Linda and Paul-

I was reading your letter and wondering what middle aged cranky Beatle fan wrote it. I resisted looking at the last page to find out—I kept thinking who is it—Queenie? Stuart's mother?—Clive Epstein's wife?—Alan Williams?—What the hell—it's Linda!

You really think the press are beneath me/you? Do you think that? Who do you think we/you are? The ‘self-indulgent doesn't realize who he is hurting’ bit—I hope you realize what shit you and the rest of my 'kind and unselfish' friends laid on Yoko and me, since we've been together. It might have sometimes been a bit more subtle or should I say ‘middle class’—but not often. We both ‘rose above it’ quite a few times—& forgave you two—so it's the least you can do for us—you noble people.—Linda—if you don't care what I say—shut up!—let Paul write—or whatever.

When asked about what I thought originally concerning MBE, etc.—I told them as best as I can remember—and I do remember squirming a little—don't you, Paul?—or do you—as I suspect—still believe it all? I'll forgive Paul for encouraging the Beatles—if he forgives me for the same—for being—‘honest with me and caring too much’! Fucking hell, Linda, you're not writing for Beatle book!!!

I'm not ashamed of the Beatles—(I did start it all)—but of some of the shit we took to make them so big—I thought we all felt that way in varying degrees—obviously not.

Do you really think most of today's art came about because of the Beatles?—I don't believe you're that insane—Paul—do you believe that? When you stop believing it you might wake up! Didn't we always say we were part of the movement—not all of it?—Of course, we changed the world—but try and follow it through—GET OFF YOUR GOLD DISC AND FLY!

Don't give me that Aunty Gin shit about ‘in five years I'll look back as a different person’—don't you see that's what's happening NOW!—If I only knew THEN what I know NOW—you seemed to have missed that point….

Excuse me if I use ‘Beatle Space’ to talk about whatever I want—obviously if they keep asking Beatle questions—I'll answer them—and get as much John and Yoko Space as I can—they ask me about Paul and I answer—I know some of it gets personal—but whether you believe it or not I try and answer straight—and the bits they use are obviously the juicy bits—I don't resent your husband—I'm sorry for him. I know the Beatles are ‘quite nice people’—I'm one of them—they're also just as big bastards as anyone else—so get off your high horse!—by the way—we've had more intelligent interest in our new activities in one year than we had throughout the Beatle era.

That does not mean he thought Paul was #1.

Finally, about not telling anyone that I left the Beatles—PAUL and Klein both spent the day persuading me it was better not to say anything—asking me not to say anything because it would 'hurt the Beatles'—and ‘let's just let it petre out’—remember? So get that into your petty little perversion of a mind, Mrs. McCartney—the cunts asked me to keep quiet about it. Of course, the money angle is important—to all of us—especially after all the petty shit that came from your insane family/in laws—and GOD HELP YOU OUT, PAUL—see you in two years—I reckon you'll be out then—inspite of it all, love to you both, from us two.

P.S. about addressing your letter just to me—STILL….!!!"

The letter is "pre-certified" as real. I'm not sure if that means it's real or not. Paul isn't talking.

Bob Dylan won't be picking up his Nobel Prize in person, according to the Swedish Academy. 

A press release from the group says Dylan wrote a personal letter to the organization saying "he wishes he could receive the prize personally, but other commitments make it unfortunately impossible."

The press release added the Academy looked "forward to Bob Dylan’s Nobel Lecture, which he must give – it is the only requirement – within six months counting from December 10, 2016."

"That laureates decide not to come is unusual, to be sure, but not exceptional. In the recent past, several laureates have, for various reasons, been unable to come to Stockholm to receive the prize, among them Doris Lessing, Harold Pinter, and Elfriede Jelinek. The prize still belongs to them, just as it belongs to Bob Dylan."

Prince's NPG Records has filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing the Tidal music service of streaming the artist's music without permission after his death.

The suit claims that Prince gave permission to stream songs from only one of his albums, but says that other songs, including "Purple Rain," ''Little Red Corvette" and "1999," began streaming about six weeks after his death. 

The suit seeks a halt to the streaming and monetary damages. A spokesman for Tidal declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Look, I'm not happy Leonard Cohen died or anything- but I can't be the only person that thinks "Hallelujah" is terrible, can I?

Maybe it's just the versions of it that I've heard. I mean, the lyrics aren't bad.

Birthdays today include: Hanson's Isaac Hanson; Ben Wilson of Blues Traveler; Ronny DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe; Harry Rushakoff of Concrete Blonde; Jim Babjak of The Smithereens; Martin Barre of Jethro Tull; and Gordon Lightfoot. #MusicalBirthdays