NATIONAL POST ARTS

Why we won’t let musicians rest in peace
It’s called the “death effect” and it’s the same for actors, authors and artists — whether it’s an increase in exposure or a supply-induced demand (no more painter, no more paintings), public hunger for a person’s work grows exponentially following their passing. When it comes to musicians, however, the situation has the added element of necromancy, a sort of pop culture-tinged resurrection. From conspiracy theories claiming fake deaths to companies using technology to revive long-gone artists, audiences refuse to let musicians rest in peace. (Illustration by Steve Murray)

Justin Bieber announces North American tour

With seven Canadian dates! Click here for more details.

With Heroes, Willie Nelson is still a rebel rebel
“We had a couple of pots over there at the Bulldog and then at The Grey Area and then hit two or three good spots after that,” Nelson says, adding, “you probably wouldn’t remember it,” when asked what a night on the town is like in Amsterdam with him and Snoop Dogg. However, Nelson takes his advocacy seriously and is not only the president of the 26-year-old Farm Aid, which has raised US$39-million to help the American family farmer, but is outspoken on everything from the war in Afghanistan to ending the marijuana laws that have imprisoned about 20 million Americans since 1965.

“Most people who know anything at all know that marijuana is a good medicine for stress and a nice recreational drug for responsible adults and it should not be criminalized,” he says. “If we legalize it and bring our folks home from around the world fighting wars over oil, we’d all be a lot better off.” (Illustration by Kagan McLeod/National Post)

LMFAO to headline, co-host MMVAs

The chart-topping Los Angeles electro-pop duo will co-host and perform at this year’s MuchMusic Video Awards.

The hit-making pair — consisting of Redfoo, whose real name is Stefan Gordy, and SkyBlu, a.k.a. Skyler Gordy — have sent two singles to No. 1 in Canada, Party Rock Anthem and Sexy and I Know It.

The April showers are behind us, and you know what that means: It’s time to look at the cultural happenings for May 2012! Click on our guide for daily highlights in movies, TV, music and more. Sure, there are flowers out there, but you don’t have to spend every day looking at them!

Jack White goes out on his own

It’s hard to overstate the nine-time Grammy winner’s importance on the past decade of music and culture, but The White Stripes helped usher in the popular look and feel of indie garage rock that introduced everyone from Michel Gondry to The Black Keys. White, famous for his minimalist aesthetic, falsetto and love of the blues, is finally releasing an album under his own name April 24. The new disc is called Blunderbuss and White has invited media from all over the world into his lair to catch an exclusive performance and talk about how it was made. We were there!