What do the following authors have in common: J.D. Salinger, Emily Brontë, and Oscar Wilde? They are famous for writing just one novel.

J.D. Salinger? The Catcher in the Rye. Emily Brontë? Wuthering Heights. And Oscar Wilde? The Picture of Dorian Gray. Home runs. Classics. Enduring favourites. Lasting fame. Millions of copies sold around the planet. But in each case, there were no follow-ups. They were all one and done.

J.D. Salinger became a recluse. Emily Brontë died shortly after the publication of Wuthering Heights. And Oscar Wilde stayed with writing plays. As novelists go, they are all one-hit wonders.

When it comes to music, one-hit wonders are an endless source of amusement. How can someone become internationally famous for decades when they only have one song that anyone cares about?

These are special cases where lightning is captured exactly once. And no matter how many more songs these artists wrote, they would never, ever achieve that extreme level of fame again. A single song overshadows every other effort.

Let’s apply this to the history of alt-rock. What songs and artists qualify?

It took a bunch of research, but I think I managed to crack it using a combination of statistics. And we’re now up to episode four of five in this mission: the 50 all-time biggest alt-rock one-hit wonders.

Songs heard on this show:

• Doctor and the Medics, Spirit in the Sky
• Enigma, Sadeness (Part 1)
• Edwyn Collins, A Girl Like You
• Peter Schilling, Major Tom (Coming Home)
• White Town, Your Woman
• Meredith Brooks, Bitch
• Marcy Playground, Sex and Candy
• The Caesars, Jerk It Out
• Chumbawamba, Tubthumping
• The La’s, There She Goes

Here’s Eric Wilhite’s playlist.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on these stations.

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© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Have you ever noticed that Dave Grohl always seems to be chewing gum? On stage, in interviews, during his time with Nirvana and especially now with the Foo Fighters, Dave always seems to be chomping away. As it turns out, there’s a quasi-medical reasoning to Grohl’s gum appreciation.

He says it keeps his mouth and throat lubricated, which makes shouting and singing much easier. And the flavour of choice? Dentyne Ice, to keep Grohl’s microphone minty-fresh.

But the habit has its drawbacks, too. At a Foo Fighters gig in 1997, Dave’s screaming sent sweet saliva flying all over his equipment. The microphone kept working just fine, but it had made a new friend. A hungry honeybee was drawn in by the sugary spittle and attacked Dave every time he leaned in to sing.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Unexpectedly seeing your favourite band in a movie can sometimes eclipse the flick itself. These are some of the cameos that brought rock to the silver screen.

Want to see Josh Homme playing hair metal in a giant afro? The Queens of the Stone Age frontman appeared in the comedy Hot Rod in 2007, doing just that.

Jack White also made a comedy cameo in 2007 – he played a karate-chopping Elvis Presley in Walk Hard.

For horror comedy fans, The Offspring singer Dexter Holland has his head comically torn apart as the band performs in 1999’s Idle Hands.

And finally, Blink 182 appeared in the original American Pie, also in ’99, when they were at their height with the Enema of the State album. They didn’t do much more than ogle at a computer screen, but they fit the movie well. But Travis Barker probably wasn’t happy with the appearance. He was accidentally credited as Scott Raynor, Blink’s previous drummer.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A consumer spending tracker conducted by RBC found that Canadian spending on gasoline rose 9.1 per cent in March, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to drive oil prices higher.

“A sharp increase in gasoline prices, tied to geopolitical tensions, boosted spending at fuel stations, and contributed to strength in essentials’ purchases,” the tracker states.

Aside from purchasing gasoline, overall spending still rose in March, with “service categories remain the primary source of non-gasoline related growth with entertainment and arts leading gains.”

RBC says that growth shows how consumers are “reinforcing the ongoing shift toward experience-related spending.”

Spending on groceries and household and construction fell 0.8 per cent from March, along with dining by 0.6 per cent.

However, spending on travelling increased 0.9 per cent from March, and clothing, shoes and related apparel rose 0.7 per cent.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax starting next Monday until Labour Day.

Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, said Canadians can expect to see a notable change in prices “pretty quickly” from that, with an “average savings about $4 to $8 on a gasoline fill-up.”

“It’s going to be savings for consumers all summer long,” he said.

The Canadian Automobile Association currently lists national Canadian gas prices as 174.9 cents a litre, a slight rise from 173.2 cents a litre listed Tuesday.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Anglers rescued from Georgian Bay when an ice shelf broke off while they were fishing in March are off the hook after Owen Sound council voted against sending a bill for the cost.

One of those votes against was from the councillor who originally suggested looking into billing the anglers, Deputy Mayor Scott Greig.

Coun. Brock Hamley voiced his opposition at an April 13 council meeting, saying tourism was an important part of the community and that the motion alone had already caused “reputational damage.”

“I can almost bet you people are thinking twice about coming here,” Hamley said.

In early March, multiple emergency crews responded when dozens of anglers called for help from the ice.

Numerous agencies, including Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services, responded. The stranded anglers had to be airlifted to safety by two OPP helicopters.

During a council meeting on March 23, Greig advised he planned to put forward a motion at the April 13 meeting to ask staff to prepare a report on the costs borne by the city and prepare invoices proportionally.

At Monday’s meeting, Greig began the discussion saying the idea had received a “terrific” response from across the province.

“I had more emails in support of and I believe public attitude certainly is much more in support of holding the fisherman more financially responsible for the cost that day,” he told his fellow councillors.

He said while it was a rescue and that’s what emergency services are there for, helping the fishermen may have kept emergency services from assisting in another emergency.

Greig previously called the anglers being trapped on the ice “foreseeable” and “predictable” given the temperatures in the area at the time of the rescue. Environment Canada historical data shows temperatures in nearby Wiarton, Ont., sat at about 5 C around 12 p.m., but nearly hit 13 C a day earlier.

Asked about the added operational costs from March 8, Owen Sound Fire Chief Phil Eagleson told councillors it was an additional $4,700, noting it was from fuel and staff time.

Opposition to the motion was also signaled by Coun. Carol Merton, who pointed out emergency services involved in the rescue would not provide the personal information of the anglers as it’s private.

“We have been advised that it (personal information) will not be shared with us, so there is no process or ability to invoice these individuals for the rescue,” Merton said.

She also added while Owen Sound Fire Department was in attendance for assistance, they did not actually rescue the anglers, and so the city can’t invoice for a service “provided by others.”

Merton said Grey County Paramedics and OPP were the specific agencies involved.

When the notice of motion was first made last month, angler Kevin Fox told Global News billing people for a rescue could set a “precedent” and people might second-guess calling for help.

In his remarks Monday, Greig said he believed it was unlikely people wouldn’t call 911 if their life was in danger or fault someone who called on their behalf if they themselves were unconscious.

In the end, seven councillors and the mayor voted against the proposal, including Greig.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Visitors to Ontario provincial parks this summer will be able to drink alcohol in more areas starting this summer.

Todd McCarthy, minister of environment, conservation and parks, says updated rules around where alcohol can be consumed “are intended to improve the overall park experience and support local tourism.”

The new rules will allow adults 19 and older to drink alcohol beyond their individual campsites, including picnic areas, beaches and other day use areas.

The government enabled the changes in a red tape reduction bill last year and now says they will take effect for the 2026 season.

Parks will have signage indicating areas that are still alcohol-free.

Premier Doug Ford’s government has taken many steps to liberalize alcohol sales and use, including most recently allowing tailgating at cultural events.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

The township of Minden Hills, Ont., has declared a state of emergency as it faces flooding across areas in Haliburton County.

Heavy rainfall over the past week, along with melting snow, has caused water levels to rise on the Gull River, which flows through the heart of the town of Minden. The declaration was made Tuesday afternoon.

Many streets in the downtown area are already flooded. Flooding is a regular occurrence during wet springs in the cottage country region. Spring floods in 2013 and 2019 caused significant damage to many homes in Minden.

“Residents in areas that are susceptible to flooding should take necessary precautions to protect property and continue to monitor developing conditions,” the township stated.

One road in the region is closed due to a washout. Bobcaygeon Road, located two kilometres north of Minden, has been cutoff since Monday. A number of roads have limited access for local traffic due to ponding conditions.

More rain is expected over the next 10 days, prompting further concerns for more flooding.

 

Sandbags are available at the Minden Curling Club parking lot. Residents can also fill their own sandbags.

“Residents are encouraged to think of their neighbours, don’t forget about those around you that may have difficulty with this task,” the township said.

Homeowners are also asked to ensure their sump pumps are working properly and all residents are advised to use caution near bodies of water.

— more to come

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

An American YouTuber who sparked outrage in South Korea for provocative stunts, including dancing on and kissing a statue honouring victims of wartime sexual slavery, was sentenced to six months in prison on public nuisance and other charges by a Seoul court on Wednesday.

The Seoul Western District Court found Ramsey Khalid Ismael, a self-proclaimed internet “troll” known online as Johnny Somali, guilty of multiple charges, including obstruction of business and distributing fabricated sexually explicit content, according to The Associated Press.

Somali, 25, was ordered into immediate detention following the verdict. He had been barred from leaving South Korea since his indictment in 2024 after he was deemed a flight risk.

Prosecutors had sought a three-year term for Somali, who also faced accusations of harassing staff and visitors at an amusement park, disrupting a convenience store by blasting music and upending noodles onto a table, causing similar scenes on a bus and subway and distributing non-consensual deepfake videos.

The court said Somali displayed “severe” disrespect for South Korean law and noted that he offended countless people with livestreamed stunts aimed at generating YouTube revenue.

In October 2024, Somali sparked outrage in South Korea after posting a video of himself kissing and performing a lap dance on the Statue of Peace, a bronze statue commemorating victims of the Japanese military’s sexual slavery during the Second World War.

He apologized for his actions and claimed that he was “not aware of the significance of the statue” before removing the clip from YouTube.

In addition to his prison term, Somali was sentenced to an extra 20 days in detention and is barred for five years from working with children and people with disabilities following his release, NBC News reports.

“The defendant repeatedly committed crimes against unspecified members of the public to generate profit via YouTube and distributed the content in disregard of Korean law,” the court said.

Media in South Korea reported that Somali apologized for his actions before entering court on Wednesday.

“I think justice will be served. I’m remorseful, I’m sorry for my crimes,” Somali said.

The Korea Herald reported that Somali received a reduced sentence due to the “absence of severe harm to victims.”

Somali was also detained at a 2024 protest in Tel Aviv after making inappropriate remarks towards a female police officer.

Somali was streaming the protest on his social media accounts at the time of the incident and recorded himself calling the officer a “b–ch” and told her, “I’ll slap that a–,” among other comments.

He was arrested on suspicion of interfering with a police officer in the performance of duty, insulting a public servant, rioting in a public place and violation of privacy, according to the Times of Israel.

Somali was also arrested in Japan for trespassing on a construction site in Osaka in 2023 and was fined around US$1,000 (C$1,374.75) for disrupting a restaurant with loud music.

— With files from The Associated Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The City of Ottawa says more drivers are speeding in school zones five months after the Ontario government shut off automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras.

A new report for the city’s public works and infrastructure committee cites preliminary data showing that speeding is up at locations where the cameras were installed.

Staff note the findings do not factor in signage the province has ordered to replace those cameras; those signs are still being installed, the report added.

“Based on data from the original pilot cameras, driver compliance with posted speed limits showed sustained and continuous improvement year over year. From 16 per cent before the cameras were installed to 87 per cent after four years,” staff said in the report, which was based on data from six of eight sites due to technical issues causing data unavailability.

“High-end speeding was also greatly reduced, dropping from 14 per cent before installation to only 0.3 per cent after four years.”

Just one week after their removal, compliance with the posted speed limit dropped to 62 per cent from 87 per cent. Instances of high-end speed rose to 2.2 per cent from 0.3 per cent.

Twelve weeks post-ASE, speed compliance sank to 41 per cent and reports of speeding were at 4.5 per cent.

“That’s a significant decline, and a clear setback when it comes to road safety in our communities,” Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney, who chairs the committee, said in a post on X Tuesday.

“As we move forward with our traffic safety plan, we will need to identify and implement alternative measures that ensure drivers slow down and residents feel safe on their streets.”

Premier Doug Ford railed last year against the cameras, saying they don’t work and calling them a municipal “cash grab.”

A study from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children disagreed with that assertion, finding that speeding was reduced by 45 per cent in Toronto. Despite this, Ford was unwavering in his plan to replace the cameras, which caught cabinet ministers’ vehicles speeding more than 20 times.

The day before the ban officially came into place, the government unveiled $210 million for cities to install speed bumps, roundabouts and flashing signs instead.

An initial amount of $42 million was made immediately available and divided based on existing programs. The remaining $168 million will be shared among municipalities after they complete plans for 2026.

Staff said the province has committed up to $23.8 million to replace the cameras, which brought in roughly $15 million every year.

Without them this year, Ottawa can expect to generate just $800,000 from outstanding infractions, staff said.

The city also needs to shrink the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan capital program to $7.5 million from $15 million given the “loss of this major funding source.”

“This is not the direction we want to be heading, but the data is clear and it reinforces the need to act,” Tierney wrote.

https://x.com/TimTierney/status/2044175612948951205

The committee is scheduled to discuss the report at its April 23 meeting.

— with files from Isaac Callan

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Thirteen types of sandwiches, subs and wraps sold by convenience chain 7-Eleven are being recalled due to the risk of listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled was triggered by 7-Eleven, according to a notice posted online by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and covers products sold in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Below are the recalled products:

• Turkey, Ham & Swiss Sub
• Chicken Caesar Wrap
• Egg, Bacon & Cheddar on English Muffin
• Egg, Sausage & Cheddar on English Muffin
• Pizza Sub
• Hungryman Sub
• Roast Beef Wedge
• Tuna Salad Wedge
• Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wrap
• Rotisserie Chicken Chipotle Wrap
• Hoagie Sub
• Japanese Style Egg Salad Sandwich
• Veggie Wrap

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently conducting a food safety investigation, which “may lead to the recall of other products.”

The CFIA is also verifying that the recalled products are being removed from the marketplace.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the recalled products.

According to earnings filings published last week, 7-Eleven’s North American operator plans to close 645 stores in the 2026 fiscal year, including Canadian and American locations.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.