A total earworm song - I didn't know anything about the band behind it though. I was surprised to see that it was the biggest selling album in New Zealand's history. I would have thought that Crowded House would have held that honor. Speaking of CH, one of the other stories on the page mentions that they are in the process of recording a new album.

I think Crowded House is sometimes considered an Australian group, because even though Neil (and Tim, on occasion), other members were Australian and they formed in Australia. Also, from what I recall learning from Pop-Up Video -- the source of all great video-era music knowledge -- How Bizarre went from country to country to country hitting huge numbers one place after another for two years. CH only had one real "hit."

True, about the formation in Australia & Aussie members, but Neil is always the heart and soul of that band so I consider them Kiwis, which is probably totally unfair. I just love Neil Finn so much. :-) Also, I'm a huge Split Enz fan and they are undisputed Kiwis. :-) I wonder how their albums sold in relation to OMC in NZ?

#1 Kiwi band of all time = Flight of the Conchords. Don't try to fight it.

Aw! Movie producer David Brown has passed away. He has been married to Helen Gurley Brown for 50 years. They were so tight - it must be so hard for her right now. :-( I always had a soft spot for him because I think he looks just like the guy from the Monopoly game. I also imagine he had a voice like Thurston Howell III. Do not ask me how my mind works. Please. ;-) ETA: I don't know this young man, but Boston Legal fans probably will - He played attorney Garrett Wells on the show: Justin Mentell dies in Wisconsin car crash.

Ian Carmichael, my Lord Peter Wimsey and many people's Bertie Wooster, passed away. He sounds like he was a lovable man, devoted to charities, who played lovable buffoons and then went on to play the smartest guy in the room. Guess I'm drawn to that sort. RIP Ian Carmichael OBE. "He had that love of life and love of people; he gathered people around him like other people gather butterflies or postage stamps."

I am really sad and unhappy to report that designer Alexander McQueen has taken his own life. He was a brilliant and complicated man who was an amazing artist. Today is the kick off of New York Fashion Week and I can't help but think that this is going to cast a major pall on the event. I'm just so shocked. :cry:

I just saw the news. In the article I read, the police would not comment about how he died. Are they saying that he committed suicide now. This is terrible. He was such a brilliant designer.

The inventor of the Frisbee has died. Let's all fling something for him today, shall we?

AMcQ was all anyone was talking about yesterday at Fashion Week. It's so sad. I read an account yesterday that said he had hanged himself. His mom, who he was very close to, died last week and he was devastated. A very sad end for someone who was so fascinating, but he made an incredible impact in his short life.

Mystery writer Dick Francis has died at the age of 89.

He was one of my favorite mystery writers. Even though I hadn't heard that he was ill, I sort of assumed it. His last 4 or 5 books were written by him with his son.

Another loss for the SF world. One of the better know Golden Age SF writers, Philip Klass (he wrote under the pseudonym William Tenn) died on Feb 7. His first published story was in 1946 and his last in 2002.