When it comes to news TV, we’re caught between a rock star and a hard place.
By ET Bureau |
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One might argue that Roger Waters is just another brick in the wall of ‘experts’ populating news panels across the globe.
You could call a spade a spade. But can you call a rock star just a rock star? Thanks to their various political-humanitarian gigs, even the mononymous ones like U2’s Bono make up for what they lack in surnames with a stream of titles — political/peace activist, humanitarian, philanthropist, environmentalist, heavy, et al.
Pink Floyd member Roger Waters has earned all these epithets — and more. But what got everyone's goat this time was the singer-songwriter-bassist being labelled a ‘political expert’ by an Iranian TV channel when airing his comments on US President-elect Joe Biden, leading the channel to revise his credentials to ‘someone with activities in the field of socio-political music’.
One might argue that Waters is just another brick in the wall of ‘experts’ populating news panels across the globe.
In India, there’s the retired generals, token left, right and middle-wingers — or that man who trended on social media for transmuting into a geology, education and India-Vietnam relations expert on different news channels.
The second-most abused term — after expert, that is — is the political ‘pundit’. Its origins before a vowel change may be Sanskrit, conjuring up a wise man, but mass media has downgraded him or her to a commentator ‘not shy about sharing political opinions’. And Waters sure fits the bill, doesn’t he?
Rock And A New Role: Paul McCartney Has A New Book; Other Legends With Interests Beyond Music
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Sir Roderick David Stewart or Rod Stewart loves kitbashing and scratch building. In simpler words, the Hall of Famer is heavily into model railroading. He has a 1,500-square-foot model-train layout in his Beverly Hills residence, which is a model of New York’s Grand Central Station.
The singer traces his interest in trains back to his childhood in London. He never had a train set, but British Rail operated not far from the shop his parents ran.
(Image: rodstewart.com)
Sir Roderick David Stewart or Rod Stewart loves kitbashing and scratch building. In simpler words, the Hall of Famer is heavily into model railroading. He has a 1,500-square-foot model-train layout i..
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'Iron Maiden’s' Bruce Dickinson dons a few too many hats when not captivating audiences with his voice. Apart from a musician, Dickinson is also an airline pilot, author, broadcaster, fencer and entrepreneur.
And if you thought these were just hobbies, he is accomplished at each one of them. There are books and film scripts to his credit; he has competed at fencing internationally, hosted his radio show for BBC and even created a successful beer.
'Iron Maiden’s' Bruce Dickinson dons a few too many hats when not captivating audiences with his voice. Apart from a musician, Dickinson is also an airline pilot, author, broadcaster, fencer and entr..
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The world lost a brilliant musician in 2016 when David Bowie passed away. Hailed as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie dabbled in acting too. But what he was passionate about was art. A painter and artist himself, the ‘Space Oddity’ singer’s art collection was legendary, most of which was sold after his death.
In an interview to The New York Times, he had famously said, “Art was, seriously, the only thing I’d ever wanted to own.”
The world lost a brilliant musician in 2016 when David Bowie passed away. Hailed as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie dabbled in acting too. But what he was passionate ..
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James Hetfield, the frontman of heavy metal band Metallica, is obsessed with cars and motorcycles. The musician has an enviable collection of vintage automobiles that was even put on display recently at the Los Angeles’ Peterson Automotive Museum. The 10 custom cars he donated to the museum included a 1948 Jaguar Black Pearl, which he built from scratch.
James Hetfield, the frontman of heavy metal band Metallica, is obsessed with cars and motorcycles. The musician has an enviable collection of vintage automobiles that was even put on display recently..
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When not wowing his audience with his genius on the bass guitar, the 'Primus' frontman Les Claypool spends time making wines. What began as a simple project for personal use today is a boutique business called Claypool Cellars.
Staying true to his whacky sense of humour, Colonel Claypool names his wines based on his music. Think ‘Purple Pachyderm’ or ‘Pink Platypus’.
(Image: Facebook)
When not wowing his audience with his genius on the bass guitar, the 'Primus' frontman Les Claypool spends time making wines. What began as a simple project for personal use today is a boutique busin..