Cher is poised to become an animated character.  And who didn’t see this coming?  She is in talks to team up with Bob Geldof (of Live Aid fame) to participate in an animated feature called Fly Squad – First Strike!.  It’s about three insects who enter a chemical plant to find an antidote to a toxin that could kill them all.  Perhaps they should have called it The Last Roundup – but perhaps that’s too on the nose.  Cher’s character would be the mother of the main insect, while Geldof plays an insect rocker organizing Insect Aid.  Why not ask Joan Collins to reprise her memorable role in Empire of the Ants?  I smell a hit – or maybe it’s just citronella!

One of my favorite performers is the luminous Susanna Hoffs (both as a solo artist and with The Bangles).  She’s announced two gigs that couldn’t be more different.  From September 10-16, she will be opening for Billy Idol’s It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again tour.  Then, from September 21-26, she’ll be at the famed Café Carlyle in NYC.  For a singer-songwriter who enjoys connecting with an audience, this is a perfect gig (her colleague Belinda Carlisle was announced for a two-week run at the legendary venue – Carlisle at the Carlyle – during the summer of 2020, which was cancelled due to Covid).  Here’s another coincidence – back in 2022, The Go-Go’s were announced to open for Idol on a UK tour.  That tour was cancelled due to Idol’s health.

Speaking of Belinda, she just wrapped up as a special guest for Take That’s The Circus Live stadium tour in the UK.  But, fear not – she’s got some special stateside gigs coming up.  She returns to host and perform at her annual Belinda Carlisle’s Animal People Alliance Christmas Party at The Abbey in West Hollywood.  The show is a bit early this year – December 3^rd.  But, you know, she’s a busy gal!  Also appearing at the gig will be Debbie Gibson and Carson Kressley – forever thwarting rumors that they are the same person.  Back to Belinda – she’ll then do a few shows on the east coast as part of her Heavenly Hits tour.  On December 30^th, she’s at Palladium Times Square in NYC.  On New Year’s Eve, she’ll be at the Ridgefield Playhouse in CT.  Then she’s in Bethlehem, PA on January 2^nd.  Get your tickets early.

For the past couple of months, we’ve been monitoring the precarious health of Bonnie Tyler.  Back in May, she was hospitalized in Portugal, which led to intestinal surgery and a medically induced coma.  At the time, doctors were optimistic for a full recovery.  She even reportedly awoke from her coma.  Alas, last week her condition deteriorated.  She passed away at 75.