Briefs

Neil Young gives his

music to Greenland

Neil Young is giving the people of Greenland the gift of song — his songs, that is.

The veteran rocker announced Tuesday on his blog that he is providing free access to his entire music catalogue to residents of Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory, whose futures have lately become a point of tension between the U.S. and NATO.

“I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government,” Young wrote.“

The offer is for a year — though Young said renewing is possible — and applicants need to have a Greenland-based cellphone.

The offer is in stark contrast to Young’s recent decision to deny listeners his catalogue on the streaming Amazon Music platform, a swipe at its founder, Jeff Bezos, who has supported U.S. President Donald Trump.

Reggae drum legend

Sly Dunbar dead at 73

Lowell (Sly) Dunbar, the Jamaican drummer whose work in the rhythm section of Sly and Robbie built the backbone of modern reggae, has died. He was 73.

“As one half of Sly & Robbie, Sly helped shape the sound of reggae and Jamaican music for generations. His extraordinary talent, innovation and lasting contributions will never be forgotten. Sly’s music, spirit and legacy touched people around the world, and we are deeply grateful for the love and support during this difficult time,” Dunbar’s family said in a statement.

Born Lowell Fillmore Dunbar in 1952 in Kingston, Jamaica, Dunbar was a teen drum prodigy who played on Lee (Scratch) Perry and the Upsetters’ 1969 single Night Doctor and Dave and Ansel Collins’ LP Double Barrel.

After meeting bassist Robbie Shakespeare in 1972, the pair built distinct rhythms such as the insistent Rockers groove that bolstered canonical reggae tracks. Their enormous catalogue includes work from Peter Tosh (with whom they recorded five LPs, including 1977’s influential Equal Rights), Burning Spear, Bunny Wailer and Gregory Isaacs.

The pair’s rhythm work is among the most sampled in all of hip hop, believed to have been used on hundreds of thousands of songs.

Sydney Sweeney hangs

bras from iconic sign

They say any attention is good attention.

Actress Sydney Sweeney was in the spotlight Monday after being captured on video recently scaling the H of the Hollywood sign under the cloak of darkness to hang up some bras.

TMZ reported on the footage, which was part of a promotion for Sweeney’s upcoming lingerie line. But according to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the alleged publicity stunt was not authorized.

The chamber owns the intellectual property rights to the sign, which is managed by the non-profit Hollywood Sign Trust. Neither the chamber nor the trust knew about the apparent Sweeney stunt until they saw the video, officials told the Los Angeles Times.

Footage obtained by TMZ shows Sweeney climbing up the Hollywood sign to help string up a clothesline of assorted bras across the familiar landmark. She is accompanied by a small crew that is filming her handiwork.

The team did obtain a general permit to film in the area from FilmLA. But as is explained on the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce website, filming the sign itself requires additional clearance and payment of a licensing fee.

A police report that could trigger a trespass investigation and review by prosecutors has not been filed, according to L.A. Police Officer Tony Im, a department spokesperson.

— wire services