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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 8 July 2017
Detroit’s musical rebellion theme of revue led by Don Was

By JEFF KAROUB Stone and “The Motor City
Associated Press Is Burning,” recorded by
DETROIT (AP) — When days legendary bluesman and
of deadly rioting broke out Detroiter John Lee Hooker
in Detroit a half-century a couple months after the
ago, Don Was lived on the riots, and covered a year
city’s outskirts, about to later by Michigan-based
turn 16. He’d already been punk pioneers MC5.
turned on to the power of Was, a Grammy-winning
protest music, but the un- producer behind songs
rest that enveloped 25 city for the Rolling Stones, Iggy
blocks and claimed 43 lives Pop, Ringo Starr, Bonnie
was another turning point Raitt and most recently,
altogether. the late Gregg Allman,
“I just remember that as a said Detroit long has been
moment where you could a hotbed for rebellious
no longer ignore the injus- music of many genres by
tice and the anger that virtue of its industrial ethic
was behind that,” said — from Hooker cutting re-
64-year-old Was, a veteran cords while working on the
musician, producer and auto assembly line to the
president of Blue Note Re- sonic “fireball behind the
cords. “Things were just in MC5.”q
your face — you couldn’t In this Feb. 6, 2015 file photo, musician and producer Don Was arrives at the 2015 MusiCares Per- “There’s a brand of music
just go about your business son of the Year event in Los Angeles. that comes out of Detroit
anymore.” Associated Press — a little raw, aggressive
Was brings those realities — I think that’s political,”
into leading the 10th De- on the eve of the riot’s 50th said the theme of rebellion a culture of rebellion, there said Was.
troit All-Star Revue on July anniversary. For about a is “really broad.” is great music to go along “Detroit being a working-
15 at Orchestra Hall. The week in July 1967, city was “In the most general sense, with it.” class town meant that
concert is part of the 25th convulsed in violence that it represents any kind of dis- Music that’s important to people were working hard,
Concert of Colors — a began when police ar- sent from the status quo, him — and likely working its not necessarily at jobs that
free, multi-day festival cel- rested black patrons at an from convention,” he said way into the set — includes they were dying to do but
ebrating the musical and after-hours bar. by phone from his home in “For What It’s Worth” by jobs that could keep a
ethnic diversity of the city. The revue includes alumni southern California. “It’s an Buffalo Springfield, “Re- family at a minimal level
This year’s revue sets out of Motown Records and attempt to improve your spect Yourself” by the Sta- of survival. ... It’s a harsher
to commemorate Detroit’s serves as a reunion for Was’ own life or the lives of many ple Singers, “Everyday Peo- reality than some other
history of musical rebellion band, Was (Not Was). He people. ...Wherever there is ple” by Sly and the Family places.”q

‘Valerian’ director says Rihanna is focused, generous on set

By LINDSEY BAHR Rihanna, who wasn’t avail- ward, Besson said Rihanna
AP Film Writer able for an interview, was “was lovely.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Direc- the director’s first choice “What was good was when
tor Luc Besson says getting for the pivotal role and he she was on the set she’s 200
Rihanna’s team on board figured it couldn’t hurt to percent focused with you,
for her role in the sci-fi epic ask. She’d had a main role no entourage, she’s there.
“Valerian and the City of a in the 2012 film “Battleship” When she’s there, she’s
Thousand Planets” was a and the animated “Home,” there,” Besson said.
little painful at first. and cameos in “This Is the “The problem, sometimes,
Rihanna’s manager Jay End” and “Annie.” is to have her there,” the
Brown was a fan of Bes- He was surprised at how in- French director added
son’s films like “The Profes- volved her team was at the with a smile, to which his
sional” and “La Femme Ni- outset. wife and producer Virginie
kita” but they had to make “They’re very protective Besson-Silla quickly jumped
sure they trusted Besson of her,” he said “So be- in and said, “No, no, she’s
and his crew before they fore you get in, you have was good!”
committed. to prove that you’re hon- “She was good,” Besson
The pop superstar co-stars est and you’re there for a agreed. “She was amaz-
in “Valerian,” out July 21, good reason ... . It’s a little ing and so focused. I was
as a burlesque dancer painful at the beginning, surprised by how much she
named Bubble who per- but after a while you go, was ready and open to the
forms in a seedy club ‘Yeah, we get it.’” director ... She was at my
owned by Ethan Hawke. Once the Grammy winner’s service and I was surprised
Although it’s a relatively team decided to move for- at the beginning. q
small part in the film star-
ring Cara Delevingne and This image released by STX Entertainment shows Rihanna, who
Dane DeHaan, it’s already portrays a burlesque dancer named Bubble, in Luc Besson’s sci-
being hailed by early view- fi epic, “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” in theaters
ers as a scene-stealing per- on July 21.
formance. Associated Press