NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Spidey swings back with $140M launch

LOS ANGELES

Your new friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has spun himself a $65 million opening weekend and $140 million in his first six days at U.S. theaters.

Overseas, Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” added $129.1 million, raising its international total to $201.6 million and worldwide haul to $341.2 million since it began rolling out a week earlier in some foreign markets.

The previous weekend’s No. 1 film, Universal’s comedy “Ted,” fell to second-place with $32.6 million, raising its domestic total to $120.2 million.

Coming in third with $20.2 million was Disney-Pixar’s “Brave.”

Among new releases, Oliver Stone’s drug-war thriller “Savages” opened at No. 4 with a solid $16.2 million weekend, also for Universal.

Rounding out the top five was “Magic Mike” with $15.6 million.

Treme Brass Band singer Batiste dies

NEW ORLEANS

Lionel Batiste, the vocalist, bass drummer and assistant band leader of the Treme Brass Band has died. He was 81.

Band leader Benny Jones Sr. says Batiste was ill about a month before his death Sunday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Jones says Batiste had been with his band since it was formed in 1995, but had played bass drum since childhood.

Clarinetist Michael White says Batiste, known as “Uncle Lionel,” used his drum to stay afloat in the floods after Hurricane Katrina.

The “Treme 2012” poster is a photograph of Batiste. Toni Rice of the Multicultural Tourism Network says the group is donating part of poster sales to help with Batiste’s medical and funeral costs.

Ringo Starr turns 72 with peace and love

NASHVILLE, TENN.

The 1960s mop top is gone, but Ringo Starr is still flashing a peace sign.

The former Beatle marked his 72nd birthday in Nashville Saturday by holding a “peace and love” moment at noon. He asked people worldwide to do the same at 12 o’clock in their time zones.

The idea came to him in 2008 when an interviewer asked him what he wanted for his birthday. Since then, he has held events each year in cities such as New York, Chicago and Hamburg, Germany.

Frank weds partner

NEWTON, MASS.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank has wed his longtime partner in a ceremony officiated by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

Frank spokesman Harry Gural says the 72-year-old congressman married 42-year-old Jim Ready in a Saturday evening wedding at the Boston Marriott hotel in Newton. Gural says more than 300 friends, family and colleagues attended.

Mickey Mouse takes stage in North Korea

PYONGYANG, N. KOREA

Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh took the stage in North Korea during a concert Friday for new leader Kim Jong Un, in an unusual performance featuring Disney characters.

Performers dressed as Minnie Mouse, Tigger and others danced as footage from “Snow White,” “Dumbo,” “Beauty and the Beast” and other Disney movies played on a massive backdrop, according to still photos shown on state TV.

The inclusion of characters popular in the West — particularly from the U.S., North Korea’s wartime enemy — is a notable change in direction for performances in Pyongyang.

Associated Press