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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rascal Flatts joins Journey on stage

From Wire Reports

Even before Journey and Rascal Flatts got on stage together for CMT’s Crossroads concert Saturday, they were already in perfect harmony.

In an interview Friday, the bands joked around together, finished each other’s sentences, and talked about playing together this summer.

The groups performed together on the CMT Awards last summer in Nashville.

“Last time we were in Nashville too, (Flatts guitarist) Joe Don ( Rooney) came down here and he came on stage with us and ripped it up, so we’ve been sort of talking ever since then,” Journey founder Neal Schon said. “It’s like a natural progression.”

“It’s really just a dream come true,” said Gary LeVox, Rascal Flatts’ lead singer. “You really have to pinch yourself because you can’t believe that you’re singing ‘Don’t Stop Believin” and all of the amazing Journey songs that have just been a piece of American music.”

Ben Affleck was named outstanding director for “Argo” at the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards, held Saturday night at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles.

The win solidifies “Argo” as an Oscar front-runner, after the film also claimed key honors from the Screen Actors and Producers guilds last weekend.

“I don’t think this makes me a real director, but I think it means I’m on my way,” Affleck said in a speech.

The other nominees for the feature directing award were Kathryn Bigelow for “Zero Dark Thirty,” Tom Hooper for “Les Miserables,” Ang Lee for “Life of Pi” and Steven Spielberg for “Lincoln.”

The birthday bunch

Comedian David Brenner is 77. Actor Gary Conway (“Burke’s Law”) is 77. Drummer John Steel (The Animals) is 72. Singer Florence LaRue (The Fifth Dimension) is 69. Singer Alice Cooper is 65. Actor Michael Beck is 64. Actress Lisa Eichhorn is 61. Country singer Clint Black is 51. Bassist Dave Buchanan (Yankee Grey) is 47. Singer Natalie Imbruglia is 38. Singer Gavin DeGraw is 36.