HAPPENINGS TEN YEARS TIME AGO

May 14 to 20, 1997

Crosby, Stills & Nash are inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame. Neil Young also gets the call, as part of Buffalo Springfield, while other inductees are Joni Mitchell, The Bee Gees, The Jackson Five, Parliament/Funkadelic, and The Young Rascals.

Michael Jackson tops the UK albums chart with his remix album Blood On The Dancefloor, and announces a sponsorship deal with a new soda called Mystery Drink. The King Of Pop also had a hand in the recipe of the beverage, a spokesman for the manufacturers telling reporters “At Michael’s request, we didn’t put anything artificial in it.” Reformed boozy rockers Motley Crue also unveil a new soft drink, Ty-D-Bol.

Phil Spector passes judgement on the Spice Girls who, while enjoying a second week at Number One in the US albums chart, are slated by Christian watchdog groups for their “bordering on pornography” promo videos. “There’s a big difference,” says the legendary girl group pioneer. “A porno movie has better music.”

Meanwhile, Spector is reported to be talks with Tom Cruise and Jerry Maguire director Cameron Crowe about a movie of his life, although industry insiders suggest that Spector’s multi-million dollar demands for the rights to use his classic “Wall Of Sound” hits on the soundtrack may prove to be an unassailable stumbling block.

Three rock veterans release new albums on the same day; Paul McCartney (Flaming Pie), Steve Winwood (Junction Seven), and John Fogerty (Blue Moon Swamp), the former Creedence Clearwater Revival man’s first new material in 11 years.

Kathy Burke wins the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Gary Oldman’s directorial debut Nil By Mouth. The jury, which included directors Tim Burton and Mike Leigh, name Sean Penn Best Actor for She’s So Lovely.

Performance director Donald Cammell’s last film, Wild Side, is given a video release in the original form its maker intended, a year after his suicide. The earlier decision of independent studio Nulmage Pictures to re-edit the movie and premiere it on cable television, bypassing cinemas, had been suggested as a contributary factor to Cammell taking his own life.

Magician David Blaine’s debut TV special is aired in the US, the ABC network impressed by the illusionist’s warm-up spots at the Grammys earlier in the year, and endorsements from superstar pals Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Madonna. “David is very contemporary, of his generation, hip and cool,” says network president Jamie Tarses. “We think he can pull in the young, urban audience.”

Miami Vice star Don Johnson is being sued by a female chauffer for sexual harassment. Court papers allege that the actor repeatedly tried to grope his driver while she was behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

Tiger Woods lands a $13 million sponsorship deal with American Express.

The new Labour government announces a plan to ban tobacco advertising from all UK sporting events.

Terry Staunton