Music with Kirsten Zemke
Kirsten brings us some "swamp rock" - a genre that emerged in the American South, particularly Louisiana and Mississippi in the early 70s.
Muddy Waters
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RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Tarantino film actor Michael Madsen dies aged 67
Michael Madsen, pictured during a visit to Italy in 2019. Photo: AFP / NurPhoto Actor Michael Madsen, a stoic actor who worked frequently with director Quentin Tarantino and appeared in various acclaimed films from the 1980s onward, has died, according to his publicist Liz Rodriguez. He was 67. Rodriguez told CNN that Madsen had a cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday morning (US time). "Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many," said a joint statement from his managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith of Bohemia Entertainment and Rodriguez. Sgt Christopher Jauregui, watch commander for Los Angeles Sheriff Department Lost Hills Station confirmed to CNN on Thursday that deputies responded to Madsen's home in Malibu and found him "unresponsive." He was pronounced dead at 8:25am local time and no foul play was suspected, Jauregui added. Madsen was a prolific dramatic actor who was best known for his work in several of Tarantino's films, including Reservoir Dogs, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and the Kill Bill films. Known for his stony looks and calm, sometimes menacing demeanor, Madsen could play a menacing villain (see Kill Bill ) as well as a protagonist, as seen in 1995's Species. Having gotten his start in TV in the early '80s - an early role on St Elsewhere in 1983 first put him on the map - Madsen soon transitioned to films, where he made an impression in 1991's Ridley Scott-directed hit Thelma & Louise , in which he played Louise's (Susan Sarandon) put-upon love interest Jimmy. The next year saw his first collaboration with Tarantino in Reservoir Dogs , the uber-violent ensemble piece in which Madsen played Mr Blonde. Thus began a prolific time for the actor - who appeared in primarily action films along with westerns like 1994's Wyatt Earp. While much of Madsen's oeuvre strayed into B-movie territory, he continued to appear in higher profile hits as well, such as Donnie Brasco in 1997, the James Bond film Die Another Day in 2002, and 2005's Sin City. Madsen's knack for demented villains was perfected in his portrayal of Sidewinder in the Kill Bill franchise, one of the foes Uma Thurman's Bride must vanquish before defeating her main nemesis. The films were split into two volumes in 2003 and 2004. Other roles in which he shined include 2004's noir western Renegade and The Hateful Eight , another Tarantino film, from 2015. "You'll make a great film when you least expect it, or don't really anticipate it … I don't have a crystal ball or time machine, I can't know what's going to happen," Madsen told Vulture in 2008. "I just want longevity." Madsen's off-screen life was marked by some legal and personal troubles. Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery misdemeanour after a dispute with his wife DeAnna Madsen, according to Variety and online arrest records. The actor filed for divorce from DeAnna Madsen one month later. In 2019, Madsen was arrested for DUI, his second within 10 years, and in 2012, was arrested following a physical altercation with his then-teenage son. Madsen was open about his struggles, telling the Independent in a 2020 interview that he went through some "terrible, terrible times," including his DUIs and an injury following a motorcycle accident. "Fame is not what it's cracked up to be," he added. "I'm not complaining, because I've had a great life. But it can wreak havoc on you if you're not protected." In 2022, Madsen's son Hudson died by suicide in Hawaii. "I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened," Madsen told the LA Times. With over 320 credits to his name on IMDb, Madsen also had a whopping 18 titles in development at the time of his death. In the statement from his representatives following his death, they said Madsen had been "doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives ." He was, the statement said, "really looking forward to this next chapter in his life." Madsen was also preparing to release a book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. "My career is like a heart monitor," he said in a 1992 interview on the Reservoir Dogs DVD. "I get involved in a good project now and then to keep things going … every movie you make can't be great, no matter who you are." -CNN
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Māori-Greek artist takes a slice of Aotearoa to the Big Apple
Jimmy James Kouratoras has two decades of experience in the film industry as a scenic artist and 12 years as a solo artist. Photo: Supplied They say there's nothing you can't do when you're in New York, which is spot on for a Māori-Greek artist who got to witness his work light up Manhattan. Jimmy James Kouratoras' Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors painting is currently being shown in New York's Theatre District as a part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, and it has featured on a 10-metre high digital billboard. "It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities," he said. It is the artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015, when an older piece was exhibited at the Agora Gallery. Hei Tiki - for the love of our ancestors painting on a digital billboard in Manhattan Photo: supplied Every brushstroke is a salute to his Māori and Greek whakapapa. His new piece brings "heavens, the earth, nature, and the human realm in close quarters with each other" and his tīpuna are portrayed as elements of nature. "As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege." The Waikato-Tainui and Cretan Greek tāne has also been named a finalist in this year's National Contemporary Art Award. Hosted by Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery, the competition had a record 480 entries shortlisted to just 53 artists. The exhibition will run from 1 August to 16 November and the winners will be announced on 31 July. "This acknowledgement isn't just about me - it's about the kaupapa, the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art," Kouratoras said. The painting, Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors, is currenting showing in New York City. (This image has been rotated) Photo: supplied He never took the usual art school route, but naturally draws from his bloodline to create contemporary artwork that every so often aligns with socio-political topics. "I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space here, the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape." As a part of his solo exhibition, Kouratoras' latest creation is dedicated to the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka, or the traditional Māori lunar calendar. Matariki Sacred Waters - Where Land Meets the Sky , accompanied by 14 paintings and seven Pou sculptures, is now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail ahead of sentencing on prostitution charges
Photo: AFP/ NurPhoto / Image Press Agency Music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied his bid to be released from jail ahead of his sentencing. The music mogul has been found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking but convicted of a less serious prostitution charge after a high-profile marathon trial in New York. The jury , after 13 hours of deliberation, found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. But he was acquitted of a major racketeering charge and two sex trafficking charges that could have sent him to prison to life. Combs bowed his head, quietly pumping his fists in his lap and bringing his hands together in a prayer as the verdicts were read out. At one point, he looked towards the ceiling, appearing to express deep relief. He shook hands with one of his lawyers, who embraced each other - two of them teared up in joy - and mouthed thanks to the eight-man, four-woman jury as they filed out of the courtroom. The relatively quick verdict arrived after seven weeks of at-times excruciating testimony, in which prosecutors had accused Combs of being the boss of a decades-long criminal group who directed loyal employees and bodyguards to commit myriad offenses at his behest. Janice Combs, centre, mother of Sean "Diddy" Combs, waves as she departs Manhattan's Federal Court alongside her grandchildren and family members after the verdict. Photo: AFP / Timothy A. Clary Jurors announced a partial verdict late Tuesday (US time) and said they were deadlocked on the racketeering charge - but Judge Arun Subramanian instructed them to keep working. Combs, once one of the most powerful figures in the music industry, had vehemently denied all charges. Along with racketeering, Combs was charged with sex trafficking two women: singer Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane. Both were in long-term relationships with the entrepreneur and hip-hop pioneer, and they each testified about abuse, threats and coercive sex in wrenching detail. They both said they felt obligated to participate in Combs-directed sexual marathons with hired men. Combs's lawyers insisted the sex was consensual. They conceded domestic violence was a feature of his relationships -- one harrowing example of him beating and dragging Ventura was caught on security footage that has been widely publicized. Yet while disturbing, that did not amount to sex trafficking, the defence said. Jurors ultimately agreed. Ventura's lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, released a statement saying she had made an "indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice." "She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion," read the statement, adding that Ventura's "courage" in speaking out allowed for Combs's two convictions. Combs's family members, present throughout the trial that began in early May, clapped and cheered for him in court. His mother waved cameras as she left the building with a smile. Influencers and YouTubers have scurried around the court complex throughout the trial, jumping on livestreams to offer hot takes and conspiracy theories. "The mainstream media is so mad right now that a Black man isn't going down!" shouted one content creator. Combs has been incarcerated at a notorious Brooklyn prison since he was arrested in September 2024. The defence immediately requested he be released on bond - they suggested $1 million - and permitted to travel between Miami, Los Angeles, and New York while he awaits sentencing. They said they would hand over his passport to court officials. A ruling on the matter is expected later today. "He would be nothing short of a fool, which he is not, to violate any conditions the court set," defence attorney Marc Agnifilo said, adding that Combs "treasures" the "opportunity he has been given." But lead prosecutor Maurene Comey opposed the request, accusing the defence of trying to "downplay the seriousness" of the convictions. The guilty findings confirm that Combs transported both Ventura and Jane for purposes of prostitution during the sometimes days-long sex parties. Comey emphasized that the encounters included a pattern of violence and drug use, conduct she said should "merit a lengthy period of incarceration." Comey called Combs a flight risk who "does not have a respect for the law." Sentencing will occur at a later date. - AFP / Reuters
