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Music News: Linkin Park share Carpool Karaoke recorded days before Chester Bennington's death

Linkin Park sing 'Carpool Karaoke' with Ken Jeong.
Linkin Park sing 'Carpool Karaoke' with Ken Jeong.Apple Music

by Jay Gabler

October 12, 2017

Linkin Park have released an episode of Carpool Karaoke filmed just days before the death of frontman Chester Bennington. Comedian Ken Jeong drives along with the band in the episode of Apple Music's spinoff from the popular James Corden TV segment.

As Billboard notes, "In light of Bennington's death, it's hard not to focus on his wide smile and endless enthusiasm during the segment, in which he talks about his terrible jobs (leaf blowing), the joy he takes in talking to his kids about their dreams and his willingness to be a total goofball when Jeong leads the trio onto a tricked-out karaoke bus to sing Lynyrd Skynyrd covers with a random senior citizen."

Target Center officially reopens

The giant scissors came out to cut the ribbon on Thursday as Target Center officially reopened after months of renovations. Improvements include "a new state-of-the-art scoreboard, refreshed restrooms, new seats, upgraded sound system and digital signage. The exterior also undertook a transformation, with new paneling added around the entire arena and the addition of a three-story glass atrium and new Life Time Lobby anchoring the building on the corner of 6th Street and 1st Avenue."

That's according to a press release from the Minnesota Timberwolves, whose Oct. 20 home opener will be the first public event in the renovated venue. The first music artist to play the rehabbed arena will be country star Alan Jackson, on Oct. 28.

AMA noms announced

This year's American Music Award nominations were announced on Thursday morning, and — no surprise — the crowd-voted awards are going to be awarded to some of today's most popular artists. Artist of the Year nominees include the Chainsmokers, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran. "The 2017 American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC," notes Billboard)

Wilco slate reissues

Wilco have announced reissues of their first two albums, A.M. (1995) and Being There (1996). "The new editions will feature an array of bonus tracks, including alternate takes, unreleased songs and live recordings," reports Rolling Stone, noting that both reissues hit shelves on Dec. 1.

One especially tantalizing rarity: the A.M. reissue will include "When You Find Trouble," the last studio recording made by Jeff Tweedy’s previous band Uncle Tupelo. For now, take a listen to a live rendition of "Passenger Side."

Roger Daltrey announces memoir

Who fans, make a space on your bookshelves. Roger Daltrey is writing a memoir, scheduled for publication about a year from now. It's been a long time coming, said the singer in a statement announcing the book.

"It's taken three years to unpack the events of my life, to remember who did what when and why, to separate the myths from the reality, to unravel what really happened at the Holiday Inn on Keith Moon’s 21st birthday. I hope the result is more than just another autobiography. I've been lucky enough to live in interesting times. I've witnessed society, music and culture change beyond recognition. That I'm still here to tell my tale when so many others around me didn't make it is nothing short of a miracle." (Rolling Stone)

This show is for the dogs

Artist Ben Sisto is hitting the road with a touring exhibit containing over 250 artifacts related to — wait for it — "Who Let the Dogs Out?" Yes, Sisto has spent the last seven years studying the 2000 hit by the Baha Men, and America is the richer for it. Sisto tells Vice that the project started as a quick fix to the song's Wikipedia page, and things just...progressed from there. The exhibit, titled Who Let the Dogs Out Out, isn't coming to Minnesota, but Sisto and his paraphernalia will be in Chicago next month.