newsmakers

newsmakers

Allman Brothers band member dies in Fla.

BRADENTON, Fla.

Former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dan Toler has died after a two-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 65.

Family friend Steve Fayette confirmed earlier this week that Toler passed away in his sleep.

Toler, who is originally from Indiana, joined the Allman Brothers in 1979. In 1982, he joined The Gregg Allman band along with his brother, David “Frankie” Toler.

Dan Toler played on the Allman Brothers’ 1979 comeback album “Enlightened Rogues” and also “Reach for the Sky.”

Both Tolers played in the band’s “Brothers of the Road.” The Tolers spent the rest of the 1980s touring and recording the gold album “I’m No Angel” with The Gregg Allman Band.

Lohan committed to turnaround

LOS ANGELES

Lindsay Lohan is committed to turning her life around and wants to record public service announcements on the dangers of domestic violence, alcohol abuse and drunken driving, her attorney said Wednesday.

Mark Heller told The Associated Press that the actress’ plans are independent of a criminal case that could return her to jail on charges that she lied to police about being a passenger in her car when it slammed into a dump truck in June.

The “Liz & Dick” star has been sentenced repeatedly to jail, rehab and community service since her first pair of arrests for driving under the influence in 2007. She spent several months in court-ordered psychotherapy until a judge released her from supervised probation in March 2012.

As part of the intense psychotherapy sessions, Lohan is in the beginning stages of trying to become an inspirational speaker to young people, he said.

Rocker Scott Weiland responds to firing

NEW YORK

Singer Scott Weiland said he learned that he’d been fired by the Stone Temple Pilots when the band released a one-sentence statement to the media Wednesday.

“I learned of my supposed ‘termination’ from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press,” he wrote in a statement. “Not sure how I can be ‘terminated’ from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that’s something for the lawyers to figure out.”

The statement by the band said: “Stone Temple Pilots have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland.” No other information was provided.

Weiland said he’s focusing on his solo tour, which kicks off Friday in Flint, Mich.

Wire reports