Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Steely Dan’s Becker dies after surgery
Pitt & Jolie ‘rekindle flame after realising life’s miserable apart’
Walter Becker WALTER Becker, cofounder of the band Steely Dan, has died aged 67.
The guitarist had been “very ill and underwent surgery last month”, said reports in America.
Becker wrote hits in the 1970s with Donald Fagen, including Reelin’ in the Years and Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. The band won four Grammys for Two Against Nature after reforming in the 1990s.
Fagen, 69, said: “Walter Becker was my friend, partner and bandmate since we met as students in 1967.” He said Becker was “an excellent guitarist, a great songwriter and hysterically funny”.
Hinting at Becker’s drugs battle, he added: “His habits got the best of him by the end of the 70s.” WHEN Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split last year, things were so toxic the show really did appear to be over.
But the Hollywood stars have apparently realised they still love each other and Brangelina could be set for a comeback.
The realisation reportedly came this summer, when they staged their first meeting in 10 months at a pal’s home in Beverly Hills to clear the air.
Their biographer, Ian Halperin, said: “Brad took the first step. Then they collapsed into each other’s arms. I’ve spoken to many people around them and no one could see how they could possibly recover. But both of them realise they are happier together than apart.
“Once they cleared the air, things started to improve.”
Their split came in September last year, after two years of marriage. The final straw for Angelina, 42, was said to be a row between Pitt, 53, and their son Maddox, 16, on a private jet.
Halperin said: “Angie was angry about the incident between Brad and Maddox. She threw everything she had at him. It was toxic.”
Brad and Angelina met on the set of 2005’s Mr & Mrs Smith, while he was married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston. In their 12 years together, they seemed to have one of the most solid relationships in showbiz – and an enviable family with biological kids Shiloh, 11, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 11, and adopted Maddox, Pax 13, and Zahara, 12. Brad was Angelina’s rock after mum Marcheline died in 2007 and supported her when she had her ovaries removed and a double mastectomy after learning she had a cancer-risk gene.
But hectic schedules, and Angelina’s humanitarian work, meant they spent months travelling. It is believed the nomadic lifestyle took its toll and they want to scale it back to help them reconnect.
Angelina and the kids moved to a £19million mansion in LA while Brad is in a £1million bungalow nearby.
His drinking is believed to have been an issue but he has quit and been in therapy. Angelina is said to be impressed – and is believed to have been seeing a spiritual counsellor.
But while they may be taking steps to rebuild their relationship, the divorce could still go ahead. Angelina is said to think things started to unravel after they wed and divorce could be a fresh start.
The drastic shift comes after she revealed she has struggled alone.
She told an interviewer: “I don’t enjoy being single. It’s not something I wanted. Emotionally, it’s been a very difficult year.”
So Brangelina might, just might, get a re-run. “Hollywood loves a ‘happily ever after’ ending,” said Halperin. “And no one wants it more than Brad and Angie.”