Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

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Sunday, January 26, 2025

The Rolling Stones are expected to announce in the coming weeks that they'll play four UK dates at Tottenham's Hotspur Stadium in northern London as part of a European tour this summer. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood -- all in their 70s and 80s -- have reportedly been planning an extension of their "Hackney Diamonds" tour -- which launched in the US in Houston in Apr. 2024 and concluded in Missouri in July -- for months. The Stones haven't played a gig in their home country since 2022, when they wowed audiences at two Hyde Park concerts. An official announcement by the band is expected in the coming weeks. It is reported to include dates in Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Paris along with the London gigs. - Music-News.com, 1/23/25...... After the British government expressed support for a policy that would allow tech companies to use creators' works to train AI models unless creators specifically opt out, Paul McCartney says the proposed AI copyright law could "rip off" artists. In an interview with the BBC set to air on Jan. 26, Sir Paul warned that the proposal could "rip off" artists and lead to a "loss of creativity." "You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don't own it, and they don't have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off," McCartney, 82, said. "The truth is, the money's going somewhere Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote 'Yesterday'?" In late 2024 the UK government, currently controlled by the Labour Party, launched a consultation to explore how copyright law can "enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training" while also ensuring "AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content." But McCartney maintains that it's the government's job to protect the people. "So you know, if you're putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them," he said in the interview. The Beatles' final song, "Now and Then," released in 2023, utilized a form of AI called "stem separation" to help surviving members McCartney and Ringo Starr clean up a 60-year-old, low-fidelity demo recorded by John Lennon, making it suitable for a finished master recording. In early 2024, around 200 musicians signed an open letter directed at tech companies, digital service providers and AI developers. The letter criticized irresponsible AI practices, calling it an "assault on human creativity" that "must be stopped." - Billboard, 1/25/25...... In other Beatles-related news, a new documentary focusing on a pivotal 18-month period in the lives of John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono will be released exclusively in IMAX on April 11. One to One: John & Yoko, directed by Kevin Macdonald, will then make it's streaming debut later in 2025 on the Max platform. The core of the film will focus on John and Yoko's "One to One Concerts," a two-show charity event for children with special needs that took place at Madison Square Garden in Aug. 1972. The concert featured the only full-length performances by Lennon following the Beatles' split two years earlier. The benefit shows also featured performances by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sha Na Na and Roberta Flack, among others. One to One made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2024 and will be featured this month at the Sundance Film Festival. A high-energy one-minute trailer for the doc, available for streaming on YouTube, features home movie footage of the couple on the Staten Island Ferry, hanging with Andy Warhol and visiting the Statue of Liberty, where they both famously gave a power fist salute to the quintessential symbol of freedom and opportunity. The montage is cued to their song "New York City," a chronicle of the couple's love affair with the city Lennon called home until his murder in Dec. 1980. - Billboard, 1/22/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Ringo Starr's new country album Look Up has debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard all-genre Top Album Sales Chart for the week of Jan. 25. The 11-song album, recorded in Nashville and produced by T Bone Burnett, was released Jan. 10 and reached the No. 7 position on the chart in its debut week. It also opens at a career-best No. 27 on the Top Country Albums Chart, marking Ringo's second entry on the list, and at No. 12 on Americana/Folk Albums Chart. - Billboard, 1/22/25...... An anxiously awaited Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Michael's nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, has been delayed due to a recently-revealed, decades-old legal agreement barring any portrayal of the family of one of his abuse accuser. Lionsgate Films announced in Nov. 2024 that the film is being pushed back from an April 2025 release to October 2025 with no further explanation at the time, however now it has been revealed by Puck.com that the filmmakers were forced to scrap key portions of the movie because they would potentially violate a legal contract reached with the family of Jordan Chandler, a then-13-year-old boy who accused the superstar singer of molestation in the 1990s. In the agreement, Jackson's team reportedly promised not to dramatize the Chandlers in any capacity, however the script reportedly portrays Jackson as a "naive victim of the money-grubbing Chandlers" and features a scene of the boy's father "threatening to leverage his son's accusations to 'destroy' his ex-wife and Jackson's career." Jackson's estate is reportedly funding the necessary re-shoots to the movie, and the filmmakers will seek Lionsgate's approval for a revised script and shooting strategy as soon as possible. Lionsgate is reportedly "hopeful" about the October release date and producer Graham King says he is "confident that his team can fix the movie." The Jackson estate has always vehemently denied all claims of child molestation by Michael, pointing out that the singer was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial and arguing that his accusers are simply seeking monetary gain from an artist who cannot defend himself because defamation law does not extend to dead individuals. - Billboard, 1/24/25...... Meanwhile, the superstar singer credited with helping to discover Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 has announced details of a "Symphonic Celebration" UK tour. Diana Ross announced on Jan. 24 that she'll embark on a seven-date arena tour of the UK on June 22 at Birmingham's BP Pulse Live arena. The tour continues the following night with a stop at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, before heading to the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on June 25. The "Touch Me In the Morning" singer will then visit Manchester (26/6), Leeds (28/6), and Liverpool (30/6) before wrapping at The O2 in London on July 2. The Hall Orchestra will be accompanying the singer on the Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool shows, while the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will perform in Glasgow and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will take to the stage with Ross in London. - New Musical Express, 1/24/25...... The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame wants a federal judge to toss out a copyright lawsuit over an image of Eddie Van Halen, arguing that it made legal fair use of the image by using it as part of a museum exhibit designed to "educate the public about the history of rock and roll music." The lawsuit, filed in 2024, claims the Rock Hall never paid to license photographer Neil Zlozower's image -- a black-and-white photo of late-'70s Van Halen in the recording studio -- before blowing it up into an eight-foot-tall display in the Cleveland museum. But in a motion to dismiss the case filed on Jan. 21, the Rock Hall says it didn't need to. Attorneys for the museum say the offending exhibit was protected by "fair use," a rule that allows copyrighted works to be reused legally in many contexts, including education and commentary. Zlozower filed his case in October, claiming the Hall made an "exact copy of a critical portion of plaintiff's original image" for the exhibit, which he claimed "did not include any photo credit or mentions as to the source of the image." - Billboard, 1/22/25...... The first trailer for the eagerly anticipated new Sly Stone documentary, Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), dropped on Jan. 22 on YouTube. Directed by The Roots drummer Questlove, the film promises to unpack the unbelievable highs, and shocking lows of '70s musical supernova Sly Stone and his band Sly and the Family Stone. Set to begin streaming on Hulo on Feb. 13, Sly Lives! chronicles the pioneering multi-racial band, who burst onto the scene in 1968 with their first hit, "Dance to the Music," before becoming household names thanks to 1969 No. 1 hit "Everyday People." The group that preached unity and brotherhood went on to score a number of other indelible Top 10 hits, including "Hot Fun in the Summertime," "Dance to the Music," and No. 1 smashes "Family Affair" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)." The film, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in January, is the follow-up to Questlove's Oscar-winning 2021 Summer of Soul doc about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival (aka "Black Woodstock"). - Billboard, 1/24/25...... KISS's "I Was Made for Lovin' You" has topped the final 2024 week of Billboard's Top TV Songs chart after a synch in the Disney+ show What If?. "I Was Made for Lovin' You" racked up 8.6 million official on-demand U.S. streams and 1,000 downloads in Dec. 2024 after being heard in the fourth episode of the third season of What If?, according to Luminate. The anthology series based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe premiered its third season on Dec. 22 with an eight-episode run that concluded Dec. 29. It's the second high-profile synch for "I Was Made for Lovin' You," a No. 11 hit on the Hot 100 singles chart in Aug. 1979, in the last year, following the song's appearance in the 2024 film The Fall Guy (both KISS' original and a cover by Yungblud). "I Was Made for Lovin' You" also reached a new peak of No. 2 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart dated Jan. 18, 2025, as viewers continued to catch up on What If?. - Billboard, 1/23/25...... Songwriter Diane Warren received her 16th Oscar nomination for Best Original Song during the Oscar nominations ceremony on Jan. 23 -- a tally equaled by only three other songwriters in the 91-year history of the category. Warren was nominated this year this year for "The Journey," sung by H.E.R. in The Six Triple Eight, and also becomes the woman with the most Best Original Song nods. Meanwhile, Elton John received his fifth Oscar nomination for co-writing "Never Too Late" for his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. It's the second nod for his collaborator Bernie Taupin; and the first for fellow collaborators Brandi Carlile and Andrew Watt. Also, the new acclaimed Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown received a total of 8 nominations across various Oscar categories. - Billboard, 1/23/25...... Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's sixth annual "Jam for Janie" Grammy Awards viewing party has been set for Feb. 2 at the Hollywood Paladium. Hosted by Grammy-winning comedian Tiffany Haddish, the evening features a powerhouse lineup of performers, including Tyler's fellow Aerosmith members Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton along with Billy Idol, Joan Jett and Linda Perry, among others. A special highlight will be a reunion performance by members of Aerosmith, who played their final show in Sept. 2023 before announcing they were disbanding. The event supports Janie's Fund, the rocker's nonprofit aiding young women and girls who have survived abuse, and expands its philanthropic reach this year to benefit the L.A. Fire Department Foundation and the Widows, Orphans, and Disabled Firefighter's Fund. The event will welcome more than 100 firefighters who have been at the forefront of combating the California wildfires, to celebrate the major night in music. The event is named after Aerosmith's 1989 hit "Janie's Got a Gun," which peaked at No. 4 on the hit parade and won the band their first Grammy for Best Rock Performance. Tickets and sponsorship details are available at JaniesFund.org. - Billboard, 1/23/25...... '70s artists Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rod Stewart, Sting, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks are among the performance line-up for the upcoming FireAid benefit concert. The event was first announced earlier this month in support of the victims of the devastating early January Los Angeles wildfires and will take place on Jan. 30 concurrently at the Intuit Dome and the KIA Forum. Other major artists confirmed for the event include Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rod Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day. The full lineup can be viewed on Instagram. - NME, 1/22/25...... The four founding members of Black Sabbath -- vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward -- have been recommended to be honoured in their hometown of Birmingham UK with the honorary title of City Freeman. The title recognizes the contributions that the recipient has made to the city. "Birmingham has a fantastic musical culture and Black Sabbath are a major part of that history, a pioneering band that still influences today's musicians," said city council Deputy Leader Cllr Sharon Thompson. "They have become synonymous with the city and have been true ambassadors throughout their phenomenal careers. Conferring these honors on these Birmingham legends would be the perfect way of saying thank you for all that they have done for the city." Black Sabbath, who first formed in the inner-Birmingham area of Aston in 1968, are long considered to be pioneers of heavy metal, with their influence being felt by bands such as Metallica, who inducted the rock legends into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019, Birmingham named both a bench and a bridge after the band. In 2024, Osbourne stated his desire to visit the bench, claiming he would do so "if I have to crawl there." - Billboard, 1/22/25...... In related news, fans of heavy metal will now have a chance to study their favourite genre at degree level thanks to a Dutch university. Summa College in Eindhoven has a new faculty called "The Metal Factory" where it teaches students how to "master the art of growling" in its singing classes, as well as playing guitar, bass, drum and keyboard for metal audiences. According to a post on The Metal Factory's official website, the curriculum "train[s] you to become an independent artist/entrepreneur in the music industry" and goes on to say that career opportunities after completing your degree include composing, producing and "teaching and coaching." It adds: "We also have alumni who eventually graduated in copyright, management, music therapy or speech therapy. Metal Factory offers everyone who wants to be professionally involved in music a broad foundation for the future." Any potential students interested in studying on the course can attend an open day at Dynamo Eindhoven on Jan. 26. - NME, 1/20/25...... A previously unreleased Tina Turner song, "Hot For You Baby," will appear on the the upcoming 40th anniversary edition of the late rock icon's 1984 career-peak album, Private Dancer. The uptempo rocker featues Turner's signature gritty, urgent vocals over a galloping beat and a chorus of male backing vocalists repeating the title phrase back to her. Private Dancer rose to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and included the Hot 100 No. 1 smash "What's Love Got to Do With It." The previously unreleased song will be featured on the anniversary release due out on Mar. 21, which will also come in a 5CD/Blu-Ray version that will rope in more never-before-released songs, live performances and music videos. Among the special extras is an upgraded 55-minute "Private Dancer Tour" show filmed in 1985 that featured guest spots from David Bowie and Bryan Adams. "Hot For You Baby" has also been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 1/23/25...... Sting announced on Jan. 22 that he is pulling out of his next few public engagements as he recovers from a temporary throat infection. In a post on his Instagram, the former The Police frontman's team wrote that he would be canceling his scheduled appearance at the Jan. 23 Bass Magazine Awards, as well as his Jan. 24 and Jan. 26 concerts in Phoenix and Wheatland, Calif., based on "advisement from his doctor." The message also confirmed that Sting can no longer perform at Cherrytree Music Company's 20th-anniversary concert in Los Angeles, which was slated for Jan. 25 but will now take place May 29. Rapper Shaggy, Mike Einziger of Incubus and more guests were also expected to perform. Sting's Phoenix show has been rescheduled to June 1, while his Wheatland performance has been postponed to May 28. "Fans should retain their tickets for the postponed shows, as they will be honored on the new dates," the post on his Instagram reads. "Sting sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience and extends his gratitude to the fans for their understanding." One day after the announcement, Sting personally addressed fans with a follow-up message on his account. "I am steadily improving from a temporary throat infection which has prevented me from singing," he revealed, thanking fans for "all of the well wishes." "I'm looking forward to resuming my performances and rescheduled shows soon," he added. Sting is currently in the midst of his "Sting 3.0" tour. After a special joint performance with Billy Joel at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 8, the "Every Breath You Take" singer will embark on a run of Latin American shows starting Feb. 14 in Rio de Janeiro. - Billboard, 1/22/25...... After more than a yearlong hiatus, season four of the Rock & Roll High School With Pete Ganbarg podcast launched on Jan. 23 with an interview with Chaka Khan. This season's other guests include Tony Orlando, Squeeze's Chris Difford, Randy Bachman, Al Stewart, Tears for Fears' Curt Smith, Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian and America's Gerry Beckley. New episodes will debut every other Thursday and are available on all major streaming outlets and the podcast's website. Host Pete Ganbarg started Rock & Roll High School, named after the beloved Ramones' punk classic, several years ago as president of A&R at Atlantic Records when he realized that a number of the younger A&R staffers at Atlantic were unaware of the roots of popular music. At first it was an in-person lecture series, and he then began bringing in guests, including Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice and iconic record executives such as Clive Davis and Seymour Stein. - Billboard, 1/22/25...... Garth Hudson, The Band's virtuoso keyboardist and all-around musician who drew from a unique palette of sounds and styles to add a conversational touch to such rock standards as "Up on Cripple Creek," "The Weight" and "Rag Mama Rag," has died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Jan. 21 at a nursing home in Woodstock, N.Y. He was 87. A rustic figure with an expansive forehead and sprawling beard, Mr. Hudson was a classically trained performer and self-educated Greek chorus who spoke through piano, synthesizers, horns and his favoured Lowrey organ. No matter the song, Mr. Hudson summoned just the right feeling or shading, whether the tipsy clavinet and wah-wah pedal on "Up on Cripple Creek," the galloping piano on "Rag Mama Rag" or the melancholy saxophone on "It Makes No Difference." The only non-singer among the five The Band musicians celebrated for their camaraderie, texture and versatility, Mr. Hudson mostly loomed in the background, but he did have one showcase: "Chest Fever," a Robbie Robertson composition for which he devised an introductory organ solo ("The Genetic Method"), an eclectic sampling of moods and melodies that segued into the song's hard rock riff. Formed in the early 1960s as a backing group for rocker Ronnie Hawkins, The Band was originally called The Hawks and featured the Arkansas-born Levon Helm and four Canadians recruited by Helm and Hawkins: Mr. Hudson, Robertson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel. The Band mastered their craft through years of performing as unknowns -- first behind Hawkins, then as Levon and the Hawks, then as the unsuspecting targets of outrage after hooking up with Bob Dylan in the mid-1960s. All joined Dylan on his historic tours of 1965-66 (Helm departed midway), when he broke with his folk past and teamed with The Band for some of the most stirring and stormiest music of the time, enraging some old Dylan admirers but attracting many new ones. The group would rename itself The Band in part because so many people around Dylan simply referred to his backing musicians as "the band." Mr. Hudson played briefly with the English band The Call; appeared with various latter incarnations of The Band, usually featuring Mr. Hudson, Danko, and Helm; assisted on solo albums by Robertson and Danko; and joined Danko and Helm for a performance of Pink Floyd's The Wall at the Berlin Wall. Other session work included records by Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen and Emmylou Harris. The son of musicians, Mr. Hudson was born in Windsor, Ont., in 1937 and received formal training at an early age. He was performing on stage and writing before he was even a teenager, although by his early 20s he had soured on classical music and was playing in a rock band, The Capers. Mr. Hudson also organized his own projects, although his first solo effort, The Sea to the North, came out on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In 2005, he formed a 12-piece band called The Best!, with his wife on vocals. "Garth Hudson Presents: A Canadian Celebration of The Band" was a 2010 tribute featuring Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn and other Canadian musicians. Mr. Hudson was the eldest and last surviving member of The Band: Robertson, the band's guitarist and lead songwriter, died in 2023 after a long illness. Keyboardist-drummer Manuel killed himself in 1986, bassist Danko died in his sleep in 1999, and drummer Helm died of cancer in 2012. The Band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. - AP, 1/22/25.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

A new 50th anniversary vinyl reissue of David Bowie's ninth album Young Americans will arrive via Parlophone Records on Mar. 7 -- the same day the original collection was released back in 1975. The disc will be available on a half-speed mastered LP and a picture disc LP with a poster, pressed from the same master. Per a press release on X, the follow-up to 1974's Diamond Dogs saw Bowie "broaden his musical horizons once more, embracing what he called 'Plastic Soul'." The now-classic single "Fame" (co-written by John Lennon and Bowie's then-guitarist, Carlos Alomar) would give the late icon his first No. 1 in the US. The Young Americans album -- featuring the lead single of the same name -- was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Penn., with a band that featured Mike Garson (keys), the late Luther Vandross (vocals) and David Sanborn (saxophone). Sessions also took place at New York City's Electric Lady and the Record Plant. Produced by Bowie's longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, the full-length project had been partly inspired by the "Philly Sound." - NME, 1/16/25...... On Jan. 21 Lynyrd Skynyrd announced a summer four-city UK arena tour set to begin on July 15 at the Manchester AO Arena. The run will mark the first new dates for the legendary Southern Rock band in England since 2019, as well as the half century since the band's debut, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd. "Celebrating 50 Years of Lynyrd SkynyrdUK Tour" dates also include Birmingham (16/7) and Brighton (18/7) before wrapping at London's OVO Arena Wembley on July 19. "It's about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about," frontman Johnny Van Zant said in a statement. "There's nothing like getting out there, playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music." In 2023, the band announced that they would be continuing following the passing of guitarist Gary Rossington, the only member of Skynyrd to play on all of their albums and was the last surviving member of the original line-up. Opening for the band on the tour will be Blackberry Smoke, and £1 from every ticket sold will go to supporting grassroots music via the newly launched Live Trust. - New Musical Express, 1/21/25...... Steve Lukather of Toto has criticized the alternative band Weezer for its cover of Toto's hit "Africa," calling the circumstances surrounding it "weird." Weezer covered the tune in 2018 following a fan-driven campaign, and Toto returned the favor the same year with their take on Weezer's "Hash Pipe." Although Toto gave their seal of approval at the time, now it seems that things aren't so friendly between the two bands. Speaking to host Matt Pinfield on his New & Approved podcast, Lukather provided some new insight into their relationship, after Pinfield mentioned Cuomo "loving" "Africa." Lukather quickly interjected, saying: "I don't know about him loving the song, man. I don't think that's the case at all." He went on to say that he didn't believe the cover was done in good faith, but that Toto had the last laugh anyway. "I think he did it to take the piss out of it and it blew up in his face," he told the podcast. "Now he's gotta play it every night!" Lukather continued, saying that Cuomo wasn't so open to him: "I tried to reach out to this guy and be friendly and it just got weird," he explained. "I don't want to get into it, but peace and love. It was good for them, it was good for us. God bless." Meanwhile Toto is preparing for a 2025 UK and European headline tour, which includes a stop at London's Wembley Arena. - NME, 1/20/25...... The lineup for the 2025 MusiCares Person of the Year benefit gala held in tribute to the Grateful Dead in Los Angeles was revealed on Jan. 20, as The Hollywood Reporter announced the artists attached to the Grammy Week event scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Dead & Company (which includes Grateful Dead co-founders Bob Weir and Mickey Hart), John Mayer, Mick Fleetwood with Stewart Copeland, Norah Jones, Vampire Weekend, Dwight Yoakam, Sammy Hagar and the War on Drungs are among those set for the event, as well as previous GD collaborator Bruce Hornsby. Andy Cohen will be the MC. Original GD members Weir, Hart and Bill Kreutzmann will be recognized for their contributions to music, their philanthropic efforts and the groups pioneering role in fostering communities through their concerts and activism. Two of the bands founding members, the late Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh, who passed away in Oct. 2024, will be honored posthumously. It was confirmed that the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year event will go on as planned last week, amid the wildfires that have devastated the Los Angeles area. The announcement came a day after the Recording Academy said the Grammys are still on for Feb. 2. The MusiCares Person of the Year gala raises funds for the support of the MusiCareshealth and human services programs. - Billboard, 1/20/25...... Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton has shared "Sound of a Train," the debut single of his new band Close Enemies, on YouTube. Announced by Hamilton in 2024, Close Enemies kicked off a US tour on Jan. 8 in Philadelphia and a full length album from the band is thought to be in the works although as yet, no release date or album title has been revealed. The tour will also hit Pawling, N.Y. (1/23), Nashville (1/25) and Chicago (1/28) before wrapping in Chicago on Jan. 29. Close Enemies is made up of Hamilton, a founding member of the UK band The Babys, alongside drummer Tony Brock, guitarists Peter Stroud and Trace Foster and singer Chasen Hampton. Foster was Hamilton's bass technician in Aerosmith, and Stroud has previously worked with names including Sheryl Crow and Don Henley. - NME, 1/20/25...... Carole King's 1975 children's album Really Rosie is being rereleased on vinyl on Feb. 28 to commemorate its 50th anniversary. A collaboration with the late legendary children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, Really Rosie featured 11 songs which she composed and performed, with story and lyrics by Sendak. The project encompassed an animated TV special that aired on CBS on Feb. 19, 1975 and also a soundtrack album. The album did very well, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and later receiving a Grammy nod for Best Recording for Children. Another reason for Really Rosie's success was King didn't "dumb down her songwriting just because the songs were aimed at kids." AllMusic.com called it "that rare children's album with the wit and intelligence to capture the imaginations of adult listeners as well." Really Rosie was co-produced by industry legend Lou Adler, who produced all of King's albums from Tapestry (1971) through Thoroughbred (1976), and Sheldon Riss. King voiced the title character in the TV special, which was released on VHS in 1993 but has never been released in its entirety on DVD. The stage production of "Really Rosie" has remained a staple for children's theater groups since premiering in 1978. - Billboard, 1/17/25...... Neil Young and his new band The Chrome Hearts shared their first single, "big change is coming," on YouTube on Jan. 17. Stylised in all lower-case, the boisterous, defiant track captures a rock song in its purest form. "Big change is coming, you know what you gotta do/ Big change is coming, could be bad or it could be good," Young promises throughout, while huge guitars and drums drive the track forward. "For seven decades, [Young's] songs have addressed where life has been and where it is going," according to a press release. "'big change Is coming' takes another big bold step in looking at where that might be. The way this new song confronts the big questions facing life right now makes it an instant thriller," it adds. Young and Chrome Hearts are scheduled to headline one of the nights at the UK's Glastonbury Festival later in 2025. Young recently announced that he is set to release his "lost" album Oceanside Countryside from the '70s, and shared his praise for the "great" new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. - NME, 1/17/25...... Queen guitarist Brian May's wife has shared a health update about her husband following his minor stroke in Sept. 2024. At the time, May told fans about the minor stroke he experienced, saying it came on "all of a sudden, out of the blue,"and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was "a little scary" but praised the "fantastic" medical care he had received. Throughout his recovery, his actress wife Anita Dobson has shared updates with fans. Late last year, she revealed that while it was "a challenge", he had regained use of the affected arm. Late last year, she revealed that while it was "a challenge," he had regained use of the affected arm. The most recent update, given in an interview with the UK paper The Sun, seems to be as encouraging, with the 75-year-old saying her husband was "stable." "The start of the year has been up and down," she said. "We both had the flu but we took the kids to Lapland. 15 of them." "Brian is stable now," she added, noting that he had "never been happier" since they moved to the countryside. She said long-time animal rights activist May "loves the birds and the animals" and spends his time feeding "the birds and the badgers, foxes and pheasants." The Doctor Who actress also said they're "taking each day as it comes," adding: "It makes you realise that at any minute it could be you. You don't have to necessarily be old, It could be anyone." In 2020, the guitarist was admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack caused by an arterial disease. He told fans that he was "very near death" after doctors found he had three congested arteries. Queen wrapped up a run of tour dates with Adam Lambert in February of 2024, and do not have any other live shows scheduled currently. - NME, 1/18/25...... Although Devo's song "Uncontrollable Urge" from its 1978 album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! was never released as a single, its use in the MTV staple Ridiculousness earns its author, Devo co-founder and vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh, an estimated $1 million per year. When Ridiculousness first launched in 2012, the viral video series used a cover of "Uncontrollable Urge" by host Rob Dyrdek. Over 12 years later, the program boasts over 1,500 episodes, becoming a staple of MTV in the process. Famously, the show saturates the network so much that in Aug. 2020, the industry outlet The Ringer noted it was played on repeat for 36 hours straight. Two months earlier, Variety noted that 113 of a single week's 168 hours (or 67.3%) were filled with episodes of Ridiculousness. For Mothersbaugh -- who has penned music for beloved series such as Rugrats and Pee-wee's Playhouse, and scored films for directors such as Wes Anderson -- the revenue from the ubiquity of Ridiculousness generates around $1 million annually, according to estimates from his wife and manager Anita Greenspan. "I've written so many other songs for films and television shows," Mothersbaugh recently explained to Rolling Stone. "I would've been shocked [years ago] if you told me this is the one that would become this prime source of income." Devo's biggest single on the pop chart, however, is 1980's "Whip It," which peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 after being issued as the second single from their Freedom of Choice LP. - Billboard, 1/16/25...... After 50 years of touring with the likes of Montrose, Van Halen and his own successful solo tours, Sammy Hagar says he's sick of touring and plans to concentrate on residencies at major night clubs instead for his live performing. Hagar, 77, made the admission to The Miami Herald ahead of a recent guest appearance at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where he expressed his disdain with the grueling nature of the touring cycle. "I don't think I want to go on tour anymore. I hate to say that, because I don't want to piss my fans off, Hagar explained. "I'll go out and do a one-off show and do things like that, but the residency is going to give me a good extension of my career. That's what Im hoping for," he adds. The Red Rocker's comments came just months after his The Best of All Worlds Tour, which saw him perform throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan. Even then, a series of Birthday Bash performances throughout Mexico and Las Vegas followed, with 2025 set to feature a number of performances for Hagar, namely his "The Best of All Worlds Tour Residency" in Las Vegas throughout April and May. "With this, I don't have to travel, I don't have to unpack and pack and get on an airplane every day, he continued. "You know, at my age, it hurts my shoulders to do all this. And I have to perform. I'm a performer, at the end of the day. I keep telling my manager, 'Don't take any tours, let me do this residency. If I like it enough, Ill do another one. And if that's successful I'll do another one, and I can squeeze a few more years out of my career." Hagar last released a studio album, Crazy Times, in 2022, with his band The Circle. That album was also promoted with a series of dates throughout North America, though it remains their last large-scale tour to date. - Billboard, 1/16/25...... Actor David Schwimmer revealed that during his previous career as a process server one of the more prominent interactions he had was with rock icon Rod Stewart. "One summer after my freshman year in college, I was just looking for work," Schwimmer said during an appearance on CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. "And my mom said, 'Well, you can be a process server for me. My mom was a divorce lawyer. So I was the guy who would pop out of the bushes and serve you divorce papers. At the time I was 18, and I'm like James Bond. Im not James Bond! 'Cause you're tipped off as to where they might be. As he continued, Schwimmer turned his focus to one of his more famous "targets during this line of work." "Once, and oh man, thank goodness I've never run into him since, added, "but I served Rod Stewart. I don't even know if he knows. I don't think he knows. "He knows now, replied host Stephen Colbert before jokingly giving Schwimmer some sage advice. "Change your locks, man. He is vengeful." Stewart was previously married to Alana Stewart from 1979 to 1984, which coincides with the timeframe of Schwimmer's time as a process server. In 1990, Stewart married Rachel Hunter, though they would divorce in 2006 following a separation in 1999. Since 2007, hes been married to Penny Lancaster-Stewart. Stewart is set to hit the road once again in February, performing across the U.S. before returning to Las Vegas to continue his Caesars Palace residency. He's also confirmed to play Glastonbury 2025. - Billboard, 1/15/25...... Bob Dylan's original lyrics to his 1960s hit "Mr. Tambourine Man" have sold at auction for a whopping $500,000, almost 60 years to the day after Dylan first recorded it. The lyrics were sold via Juliens Auctions alongside a number of other Dylan items -- including a signed oil painting and numerous pieces of original art -- which were originally part of the personal collection of late American journalist Al Aronowitz. Famed for introducing Dylan to The Beatles in 1964 and for being the first manager of The Velvet Underground, Aronowitz spoke about his unique connection to "Mr. Tambourine Man" in a 1973 article -- of which an original version was included in the sale: "Bob Dylan wrote 'Mr. Tambourine Man' one night in my house in Berkeley Heights, N.J., sitting with my portable typewriter at my white formica breakfast bar in a swirl of chain-lit cigaret [sic] smoke, his bony, long-nailed fingers tapping the words out on my stolen, canary-colored Saturday Evening Post copy paper while the whole time, over and over again, Marvin Gaye sang 'Can I Get a Witness?' from the 6-foot speakers of my hi-fi in the room next to where he was, with Bob getting up from the typewriter each time the record finished in order to put the needle back at the start." Aronowitz continued, "At the breakfast bar I found a waste basket full of crumpled false starts. I took it out the side door to empty it into the trash can when a whispering emotion caught me, like a breeze that sometimes gently stops you cold just because of its own ghostly power to make you notice it. I took the crumpled sheets, smoothed them out, read the crazy leaping lines, smiled to myself at the leaps that never landed and then put the sheets into a file folder. I still have them somewhere." The lyrics as sold made up two pages of yellow paper which contained three progressive drafts of the lyrics, typewritten and providing an insight into Dylans writing process. The lyrics are believed to date back to March of 1964, based upon the information available. Dylan first began performing "Mr. Tambourine Man" privately in 1964, eventually recording the track as part of a number of takes on Jan. 15, 1965. The song was later included as the first song on the acoustic side to Dylan's fifth album, Bringing It All Back Home, in Apr. 1965. Though "Subterranean Homesick Blues" from the same album was Dylan's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "Mr. Tambourine Man" would become his first to top the chart, albeit when The Byrds released a cover as their debut single that same month. Meanwhile, Dylan has seen his massive back catalog earn 11.6 million U.S. on-demand streams in the week ending Dec. 26 following the release of the new acclaimed Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. - Billboard, 1/19/25...... Ringo Starr celebrated the release of his new country album Look Up with two concerts at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15. Each show featured Starr welcoming a star-studded lineup of his fellow music luminaries, including Sheryl Crow, Jack White, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, The War and Treaty, Jamey Johnson, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Mickey Guyton, Sarah Jarosz and Larkin Poe. Legendary producer/musician T Bone Burnett, the producer of Look Up, hosted the show, welcoming artists throughout the evening, as some performances featured artists in collaboration with Starr, while other performances featured the evenings guest offering solo performances. "I feel blessed tonight, with all these great players coming out," Starr told the audience, as he performed a selection of songs from Look Up with the other musicians. The show concluded, appropriately, with an all-star singalong of The Beatles classics "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help From My Friends," which saw additional artists join Starr onstage, including rock and country music trailblazer Brenda Lee (the Beatles once opened for Lee back in the 1960s, prior to the Fab Four's breakthrough). - Billboard, 1/16/25...... In related news, Ringo's son Zak Starkey says he was "s------g my pants" before playing the iconic Liverpool venue The Cavern for the first time with his band Mantra of the Cosmos. Interestingly, Zak had only visited his dad's home city once before and had never stepped foot inside the famous music venue where the legendary Liverpool band -- which also included Paul McCartney and the late John Lennon and George Harrison -- started out. That all changed when Zak's group -- completed by Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder and Bez and former Oasis bassist Andy Bell -- played two shows there in one day, with Zak admitting it was a "surreal" experience. Ahead of the gigs, former Oasis drummer Zak contacted the group's guitarist Noel Gallagher for some reassurance. The Wonderwall hitmaker sings on the supergroup's latest single, "Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)," which was launched at the Cavern gig. Zak told the Liverpool Echo: "It was very surreal. I was s------g it -- proper s------g it until I got on there and it was amazing. The music is like holy music isn't it." Recounting his conversation with Noel, he added: "Before I was ss------g my pants. I was sitting in my room, and I text Noel saying I was s------g it. He said, 'Get down there and get on, what are you talking about?'" Ahead of the gigs, Zak spoke about playing the venue his parents used to go on dates to. The musician -- whose late mother Maureen worked as a hairdresser in Liverpool -- said: "Can't believe I've never even been there. There's a great deal of family heritage at the Cavern, aside from the Beatles, my parents courted there who knows I may have even been conceived there." - Music-News.com, 1/20/25...... David Lynch, the iconic experimental filmmaker known for his dark, surrealist vision in the television classic Twin Peaks, as well as films including Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, died on Jan. 16. He was 78. His death comes just five months after he announced that he was housebound over fears he'll contract COVID-19 after being diagnosed with emphysema from many years of smoking. At the time, he added that he wasn't planning to make another film. "I would try to do it remotely, if it comes to it, Lynch said. "I wouldn't like that so much. The Missoula, Montana, native, was a one-time painter who enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before he shifted his focus to making films. His breakthrough came via 1977's Eraserhead, which became popular in the midnight movie underground circuit. Among his many notable films include 2001's Mulholland Drive starring Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts and Laura Harring; and 1986's Blue Velvet, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern. On the small screen, he was best known as the visionary behind the mystery drama series Twin Peaks, which ran for two seasons from 1990 to 1991 and returned for a third season in 2017. The series won three Golden Globes and two Emmys, as well as a 1991 Grammy for best pop instrumental performance for the Angelo Badalamenti-composed theme music. Lynch also directed several music videos for artists including Nine Inch Nails and Moby. "There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us," his family said in a statement. "But, as he would say, 'Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole. It's a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.'" - Billboard, 1/16/25...... Legendary baseball player/broadcaster/comedian Bob Uecker, the voice of his hometown Milwaukee Brewers who after a short playing career earned the moniker "Mr. Baseball" and honors from the Hall of Fame, died on Jan. 16 after a battle with small cell lung cancer since early 2023. He was 90. Mr. Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster who earned his nickname during one of his numerous appearances on Johnny Carson's late night show. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Mr. Uecker was a beloved member of the baseball community and a pillar of the sport in Wisconsin. He signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and reached the majors in 1962. He'd last six seasons in the big leagues as a backup catcher, finishing with a .200 average and 14 homers. He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 1964 and also played for Atlanta and Philadelphia. Career highlights? I had two," he often joked. "I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets." Even as his celebrity status grew nationwide, Mr. Uecker savored the opportunity to continue calling games to fans in his hometown. "To be able to do a game each and every day throughout the summer and talk to people every day at 6:30 for a night game, you become part of people's families," Mr. Uecker once said. "I know that because I get mail from people that tell me that. That's part of the reward for being here, just to be recognized by the way you talk, the way you describe a game, whatever." Mr. Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, N.Y., crowd of about 18,000 in stitches. Mr. Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, New York, crowd of about 18,000 in stitches. "I still -- and this is not sour grapes by any means -- still think I should have gone in as a player," he quipped. But Uecker's comedy was just a part of his abilities. His warm storytelling and delivery made Uecker a natural to become one of the first color commentators on network TV broadcasts in the 1970s with ABC. In the '90s, he teamed up with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan for the World Series. From there, Mr. Uecker reached most households as one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in popular commercials for the beer brand based out of Milwaukee and Uecker later launched his TV acting career in 1985 on the ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere. Uecker played George Owens during the successful 122-episode run of the series that lasted six years, as the head of the family and sports writer in a home that brings in a butler who struggles to adapt to an American household. The Brewers announced Mr. Uecker's death, calling it "one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history." In a statement released by the club, Mr. Uecker's family said he had battled small cell lung cancer since early 2023. "Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter," the family said. - CBSNews.com, 1/16/25...... Former Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes has died at age 65. "It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer," according to a statement on social media. "He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn't know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room." The statement continued, "He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog. In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years." Sykes joined Thin Lizzy in 1983, appearing on their album Thunder and Lightning. He then joined Whitesnake in 1987, contributing to two of their albums. - Music-News.com, 1/21/25.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

On Jan. 14 Bob Dylan created a TikTok account days before the popular social media platform could get banned in the US. "Explore the world of Bob Dylan, now on TikTok. #bobdylan," stated the caption of the first, and currently only, post which features a series of clips from various Dylan eras soundtracked to songs including "Like a Rolling Stone," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," and "Hurricane." Dylan's move comes as TikTok has announced plans to cease operations in the US on Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court blocks or delays its ban. This, however, would be a last resort if the Supreme Court decides to enforce laws that will force the Chinese-owned platform to sell to a third party and break ties with parent company ByteDance. ByteDance has said that it has no intentions to sell the app. Dylan's last-minute attempt to see what TikTok is about follows a pattern in his behavior. In 2024, Dylan started to use X (formerly Twitter) more than he did before, posting birthday wishes and general messages on top of his usual announcements, as new Twitter owner Elon Musk was driving people away from the platform. Meanwhile, actor Timothée Chalamet rode a Lime bike into London for the UK premiere of the Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Once he hit the red carpet, Chalamet got off the bike and ended his ride using his mobile phone before turning to get photographed. Dylan has praised Chalamet's performance in the film, describing him as a "brilliant actor" and saying he is "sure he's going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me." The film will hit cinemas on Jan. 17 in the UK. - New Musical Express, 1/15/25...... As Elvis Presley fans recently celebrated what would have been the King of Rock & Roll's milestone 90th birthday on Jan. 8, Elvis' granddaughter Riley Keough says her late mother Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson "were in love" when they were married in 1994. In a conversation with podcast host Alex Cooper on Cooper's Call Her Daddy show on Jan. 15, Keough, 35, shed some rare insight on her mom's romance with the King of Pop. "The one thing I know is that they were in love, and that their love for one another was genuine," Keough told Cooper. "Everything else I don't know, because I wasn't there for it." Lisa Marie -- Elvis' only child, who died at 54 years old in Jan. 2023 -- shared Riley and late son Benjamin Keough with first husband Danny Keough. Lisa Marie was later married to Jackson from 1994 to 1996, after which she wed Nicolas Cage (2002-04) followed by music producer Michael Lockwood (2006-21), with whom she shared twin daughters. Riley also reflected on how her childhood changed with Jackson -- who died in 2009 -- entered the picture. "Our life wasn't crazier," she said candidly. "That already existed: the press, the crazy, the paparazzi and all that. I think when she saw Michael's life, there were things he had that she didn't have," continued the Daisy Jones & The Six actress. "Before that, she was with my dad, and their life was very simple. She didn't have 10 million assistants. She didn't need all that, and I think that changed." Keough's full Call Her Daddy interview can be heard on Spotify.com. Meanwhile, Elvis' ex-wife and Riley's mom Priscilla Presley paid tribute to Lisa Marie on Jan. 12, the second anniversary of her late daughter's death. Next to an Instagram post featuring a picture of Lisa Marie crouching down, with a slight smile on her face, Priscilla wrote, "I miss you more than words can say. I wish I could hold you, talk to you, see your smile just one more time. I wish you could see how much you are still loved, how deeply you are missed by all of us who carry you in our hearts." The message cued to a lilting instrumental version of the 1972 Elvis hit "Always on My Mind" and signed "Mom," was a poignant memorial for the late singer who died of a heart attack in Jan. 2023 at age 54. - Billboard, 1/15/25...... The Sex Pistols have announced the upcoming release of three live albums from their raucous 1978 US tour. For the first time, fans will be able to relive the punk legends' ferocious concerts that led to their demise at their final concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Jan. 14, 1978 -- before they reformed in 1996. The sets were recorded at South East Music in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 5, Longhorns Ballroom in Dallas, Tex., on Jan. 10, and the finale at Winterland Ballroom. The first vinyl, available in red, from the Atlanta gig will be available from Feb. 28. The white vinyl of the Dallas concert goes on sale on Mar. 28, and the San Francisco vinyl, in blue, on Apr. 25. All three shows will also be available digitally and on CD. - Music-News.com, 1/14/25....... The Eagles announced on Jan. 15 that they are pledging $2.5 million to FireAid, the benefit concert for Los Angeles wildfire victims set for Jan. 30 at the Intuit Dome. There is no word whether the Eagles, who are currently in the middle of a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, will play the show, and no acts have been announced for the benefit yet. The event, billed as "an evening of music and solidarity" and produced by longtime Eagles manager Irving Azoff and his family alongside concert promoters Live Nation and AEG Presents, with proceeds donated toward an organization created to rebuild Los Angeles infrastructure, as well as support displaced families and advance fire prevention technologies and strategies. The timing works in their favor to take advantage of artists in town for the Grammys, which are slated for Feb. 2. An estimated 1,000+ people in the music community in Los Angeles are also being supported by MusiCares -- the non-for-profit arm of The Grammys and Recording Academy. MusiCares says scores of people had been in touch since they launched their "Fire Relief Effort" on Jan. 8. The series of wildfires, which began on Jan. 7, have led to the confirmed deaths of 24 people, the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents and an estimated 12,000 buildings destroyed. It has been confirmed that the 2025 Grammys will proceed as planned and raise funds for those hit by the LA wildfires. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 1/15/25...... In related news, Ringo Starr has announced he is taping special L.A. wildfire relief concerts at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 14 and 15 to give a little help to his friends in the West. The former Beatle's upcoming concert special will air this spring on CBS and Paramount+, with some of the proceeds benefiting wildfire relief amid the ongoing crisis in the Los Angeles area. Titled "Ringo & Friends at the Ryman," the two-hour special will find Starr performing songs from his new country album, Look Up, which arrived Jan. 10. He'll be joined by a star-studded list of friends on stage, including Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle -- both of whom collaborated on the drummer's new LP -- as well as Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Mickey Guyton, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Jarosz, Jamey Johnson, Brenda Lee, Larkin Poe, The War and Treaty, and Jack White. Ringo will also delve into his life and career as his guest stars reflect on their own personal memories of his influence in the special. Proceeds from the show will go toward the American Red Cross supporting people affected by the fires devastating L.A. County. Meanwhile, Starr has revealed that he and Elton John's mum left one of the Rocket Man's gigs due to not knowing any of his songs. Speaking to The Sunday Times about an Elton concert that he attended at London's Wembley Stadium, Starr said: "He came on and said, 'I'm only going to do the new album.' Me and his mother left after three tracks because we didn't know them." Addressing why he no longer introduces new songs during his All-Starr Band shows, the drummer said: "The band sounds great. We have a fun time and we just do it. In the late '90s I would put in, like, two or three from the new album, and you could feel the room empty. It happens to everybody." Elsewhere in the chat, Ringo also addressed his vocals, admitting that he is not a fan of his voice. "I can hold a tune, as long as it's in my key," he told the paper. "And it just worked out with the Beatles because John and Paul were great writers. That's what made us. I'd get one song. And a couple of them were really good, you know, 'With a Little Help from My Friends' and 'Yellow Submarine.' They're still huge and I still do them on tour. They wrote me a lot of really nice songs." - Billboard/NME, 1/14/25...... David Bowie lieutenants Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey have announced details of a new 8-city UK Bowie tribute tour for 2025, which will see them celebrating the music and life of the late rock superstar. Visconti was Bowie's long-time producer and friend, as well as the bass player on his early LP The Man Who Sold The World, while Woodmansey was one of the Spiders From Mars and the artist's drummer from between 1970 and 1973. They will perform live renditions of some of Bowie's best known songs as part of the supergroup Holy Holy. The tour launches on May 15 in London at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, followed by dates in Leeds (15/5), Birmingham (16/5), Manchester (18/5), Newcastle (21/5), Oxford (29/5) and Bristol (30/5) before wrapping at Liverpool's O2 Academy on May 31. Bowie passed away in Jan. 2016 at the age of 69. - NME, 1/14/25...... In a new interview with the Speaking with Podpakas podcast, original AC/DC singer Dave Evans revealed the story behind how the hard-rocking Aussies came up with their name. Evans recalled how the members were writing music together as part of an unnamed band, when Alan Kissacks, a man involved with putting the band together, told them that they had secured a New Year's Eve slot at Australia's Chequers nightclub. "We had to get a name because it was only in a few weeks. So we started tossing names around between us, but no one could agree," Evans explained. "I had some really great names, but they didn't like them. What we said was that, [in time for] the next rehearsal, we'd all come with three names each, put them in a hat and we'd pick one out. And whatever it was, that was what we were gonna call ourselves," he added. According to Evans, he arrived with three potential names the following day, but the band decided to scrap the idea after being suggested the name "AC/DC" by a relative. "When we all arrived together, Malcolm Young said to us, 'Look, my sister-in-law' [wife of his older brother, George] has suggested a name AC/DC'. And I thought it's an easy name to remember and it was on the side of a lot of electrical appliances," Evans told Podpokas. AC/DC means alternate current and direct current [and] a lot of appliances were AC/DC. I thought: 'Free advertising free advertising on the side of all these appliances, and it's easy to say, and it means power.' It all went through my head very quickly. And I said yes." Concluding, he recalled: "Malcolm looked at us and said, 'Well, shall we call ourselves AC/DC?' And we all put our hands up. It was unanimous. We all shook hands and we were AC/DC those three names [I came up with], I went home and threw them away." According to Evans, he arrived with three potential names the following day, but the band decided to scrap the idea after being suggested the name "AC/DC" by a relative. "When we all arrived together, Malcolm Young said to us, 'Look, my sister-in-law' [wife of his older brother, George] has suggested a name AC/DC'. And I thought it's an easy name to remember and it was on the side of a lot of electrical appliances," Evans told Podpokas. "AC/DC means alternate current and direct current [and] a lot of appliances were AC/DC. I thought: 'Free advertising free advertising on the side of all these appliances, and it's easy to say, and it means power.' It all went through my head very quickly. And I said yes." Concluding, he recalled: "Malcolm looked at us and said, 'Well, shall we call ourselves AC/DC?' And we all put our hands up. It was unanimous. We all shook hands and we were AC/DC those three names [I came up with], I went home and threw them away." AC/DC is set to play 13 stadium shows across the US and Canada throughout April and May. The band wrapped up the 2024 UK and European leg of the trek in Dublin's Croke Park on Aug. 17. Their ongoing "Power Up" tour is in support of AC/DC's 17th and latest studio album of the same name, which was released in 2020. - NME, 1/13/25...... After a tumultuous relationship with incoming president Donald Trump over the use of their songs at his political rallies, the Village People took to Facebook on Jan. 13 to announce that they have "accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump's campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump." The post continued: "We know this won't make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost. Therefore, we believe it's now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump." According to TheHill.com, the group will perform at Trump's "victory rally" at Capital One Arena in Washington, and at the Liberty Inaugural Ball. "Y.M.C.A.," along with "Macho Man," were popular song choices at Trump campaign rallies during his 2020 and 2024 campaign rallies. In December, Village People frontman Victor Willis doubled down on why he chose to let the president-elect play "Y.M.C.A." at rallies and events, saying he "didn't have the heart" to block the usage -- despite originally asking Trump to stop in 2020 -- upon realizing that the politician seemed to "genuinely like" and was "having a lot of fun" with "Y.M.C.A." Plus, as Willis noted, the dance tune has only "benefited greatly" in terms of chart placements and sales for the group since the twice-impeached Trump incorporated it into his campaign. - Billboard, 1/13/25...... Rod Stewart and wife Penny Lancaster have been appointed ambassadors for The King's Foundation. The couple have come on board as King Charles III celebrates 35 years of his charity, which focuses on practical education and training programs aimed at building stronger communities and transforming lives. Stewart, who just turned 80, and Lancaster, 53, join other celebrity ambassadors including Sienna Miller, David Beckham and Naomi Campbell. "We are so pleased to be coming on board as ambassadors for The King's Foundation and look forward to lending our support to this worthwhile cause, particularly during such a significant year for the charity," the "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" singer said. Penny added, "As a volunteer special constable, the Foundation's approach to building communities -- and how access to green spaces can help build better, healthier places -- is particularly important to me. It's an honour to be working with the Foundation and I can't wait to meet more of the inspiring people who both learn with and work for the organisation." The couple are set to visit the charity's headquarters, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, later in January. During the visit, they will meet staff at the health and wellbeing centre to learn more about their perimenopause programs and support services. Stewart has been a long-time supporter of King Charles' other charities, including the Prince's Trust (now the King's Trust) which helps disadvantaged young people access business opportunities that may not be available to them in their everyday lives. Stewart will play the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on Feb. 23. - Music-News.com, 1/14/25...... Speaking with Boston radio station WBUR, Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton revealed that he and his former bandmates "could do something" in the future if frontman Steven Tyler was willing. Hamilton said that while Tyler is well underway with his "healing process" after seriously injuring his voice during a gig in 2024, the chances of the band making any new announcements are slim. "Steven's healing process is going really, really well, but it goes at its own pace," he said. "Maybe Aerosmith will do something in the future, but it's a big 'if', and the last thing I want to be doing is to try and push Steven in that direction. If we do anything in the future, it would come from him." The comments come after the bassist was asked last summer how hopeful he is, on a scale of one to 10, that the band will reunite. "On the hope scale, I'm somewhere between seven and nine. We won't be doing any tours from now on, but I'll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along," he told AARP magazine. "This isn't the first time black clouds have been on our horizon -- and somehow the sun managed to come out. Time and hope are all we have at the moment," he added, while also dismissing hopes for a Las Vegas residency. Aerosmith's final live show, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY in Sept. 2023, was held as part of their "Peace Out" tour, which began earlier that year but only saw the band play three nights, before rescheduling the rest of the dates after Tyler injured his larynx. Hamilton said in 2024 he "can't imagine" the band continuing with a new singer, and added: "I'm sure all of us have music in our future and it will manifest itself in ways that we haven't planned yet. I've been playing in a band with some good friends. We have a bunch of really good songs and we hope to be putting them out soon and hopefully doing some gigs." Shortly afterwards, the bassist announced details of his first shows with a new band called Close Enemies. - NME, 1/13/25...... Remembering late legendary soul singer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave who passed away on Jan. 10 at age 89, Bruce Springsteen shared a heartfelt message on Instagram on Jan. 11. "Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America's greatest soul voices. There simply isn't another sound like Sam's soulful tenor in American music," the Boss wrote. He continued, "Having had the honor to work with Sam on several occasions, he was a sweet and funny man. He was filled with stores of the halcyon days of soul music, and to the end had the edge of deep authenticity in his voice I could only wonder at." The two friends shared both the stage and studio over the years. Moore contributed backing vocals to several tracks on Springsteen's 1992 album, Human Touch, while Springsteen reciprocated on Moore's 2006 song "Better to Have and Not Need." One of Springsteen and Moore's most memorable live performances took place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert in New York in Oct. 2009, where they joined the E Street Band to perform "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'." Moore passed away in Coral Gables, Fla. The cause of death was complications from surgery. - Billboard, 1/11/25.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Billy Joel took to Instagram on Dec. 10 to announce a one-off summer 2025 concert with Rod Stewart at New York's Yankee Stadium on July 18. The event is part of Joel's ongoing string of stadium shows with A-list guests, which have also included Stevie Nicks and Sting, John Mayer, Jason Bonham and Trey Anastasio. On Jan. 17, the Piano Man will kick off his 2025 touring schedule with a gig at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., followed by a team-up with Sting at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 8. Sting will also join Joel in Syracuse on Apr.11, Milwaukee on Apr. 26, Charlotte on May 10 and Salt Lake City on May 23. Nicks will share the stage with him on Mar.h 29 at Ford Field in Detroit and the last scheduled date so far this year, an Aug. 8 show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Stewart will also be on hand for a gig at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on July 5 in a prelude to the Yankee Stadium gig. - Billboard, 1/10/25...... Ringo Starr released his new country & western-themed album, Look Up, on Jan. 10 via Lost Highway/UMG Nashville. Produced by T Bone Burnett, the set is Starr's first full-length album in six years after releasing a series of EPs. "I did love country music before I was in the band," says the former Beatles drummer, who tried to move to Texas when he was 18 because of his fondness for country and blues music. "We got plenty of it in Liverpool, because the lads who were in the merchant navy would bring not only rock and roll over, but country -- and when country bands went on tour in England, they always played Liverpool." With Ringo singing lead, the Fab Four famously remade such country hits as Buck Owens' "Act Naturally" and Carl Perkins' "Honey Don't," and in 1970, Starr's second solo LP, Beaucoups of Blues, was a country album he recorded in Nashville with noted country producer/musician Pete Drake, famous for his work with Tammy Wynette, Bob Dylan and Charlie Rich. Burnett recruited leading Americana, folk and bluegrass music artists including Alison Krauss, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Larkin Poe and Lucius to appear on Look Up, many on multiple tracks. Look Up's first single, "Time on My Hands," features classic country elements of heartbreak and lost love over an aching pedal steel, but like many Ringo songs -- and as reflected in the album's title -- it ends on a positive note. "If you listen to a lot of my songs, not only the country but the pop songs, the last verse is always an up," Starr says. "That's what I want to present -- there's a break in the clouds and the light comes through." - Billboard, 1/10/25...... Elton John's 2017 greatest hits collection Diamonds has finally hit No. 1 on the UK's Official Albums Chart in its 374th week on the tally (Jan. 10). Featuring a number of the Rocket Man's biggest hits, including "Your Song," "Tiny Dancer, "Rocket Man" and "Candle in the Wind," the compilation has surged to the top to dethrone Ed Sheeran at No. 1. When first released in 2017, Diamonds reached No. 5 and peaked at No. 2 following Elton's Glastonbury headline set in June 2023. The Official Charts Company reports that it hasn't left the top 100 since its release and has spent more weeks on the chart than any of John's other LPs. Meanwhile, Elton announced on Instagram on Jan. 7 that rising country singer Chappell Roan will perform at his annual Oscars viewing party in March. Joining Elton and his husband David Furnish as co-hosts for the event will be the likes of Jean Smart, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka to raise funds for AIDS research and to quell the negative stigma surrounding AIDS in the LGBTQ community. "David and I are thrilled to gather with friends and supporters once again, and we're honoured to welcome the bold and authentic Chappell Roan as this year's performer, whose artistry embodies the power of music to inspire change," John told Rolling Stone magazine. Other confirmed attendees at the event include Mick Jagger, Sean Penn, Sharon Stone, Megan Thee Stallion and Hozier. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 1/10/25...... Actor Rob Lowe has used a recent episode of his Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast to reflect on how he almost embarked upon a music career thanks to the L.A.-based hitmakers Toto. During a chat with journalist, author, and fellow podcaster Bill Simmons, the pair switched their focus to the world of '80s music and the recent Yacht Rock genre documentary Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary. Lowe responded to Simmons' praise about Toto's success at the 1983 Grammy Awards (in which they won three awards, with group leader David Paich winning two additional awards) by recalling how he once had a brush with the Los Angeles rockers. "I got one for ya," Lowe said. "There was a minute in the '80s where I was definitely doing too much Bolivian marching powder and just being a f--king lunatic," Lowe remembered. "And [it was] also coming at the time in a young actor's career where they're too old to play the roles they've been playing, but they're too young to play the roles that will last you the rest of your life, which are really the great ones. And you can kind of feel it. I love music so much, as evidenced by this talk and all of that, that I got it into my head that maybe I should think more about music and I cut a demo with Toto." Lowe did not elaborate on the track further, and it's unclear what happened to the demo that he recorded with Toto, or if it may ever see a potential release - ideally on a future sequel to the Yacht Rock documentary. Lowe's full chat with Simmons can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 1/9/25...... Appearing on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Jan. 8, Cher reflected on her partnership with her late singing partner and ex-husband Sonny Bono, shared the story behind her iconic driver's license, and revealed unexpected anecdotes from her legendary journey. "Doing the show kept us together because on the show we had so much fun," she told host Jimmy Kimmel. "We were equal. That was...I mean, I loved it. We worked so well together, and it really kept us closer longer than I really wanted." Starting with their breakthrough hit "I Got You Babe" in 1965, Sonny & Cher became one of the defining musical acts of their era. The duo's humor and chemistry later transitioned seamlessly into television, making The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour a staple of 1970s entertainment, even as their personal relationship faced challenges. in a lighter moment, Cher discussed the process of obtaining a driver's license that features only her first name. "I don't have a last name, so it just says Cher on my driver's license," she explained. "You have to prove that someone could know you, like the populace could know you by that name. It's not easy." As Cher fans eagerly anticipate the follow-up to her new memoir, Cher: The Memoir, Part One, Cher joked that she "hasn't even started" the second volume yet. At the end of the interview, Cher left the audience laughing as she told Kimmel, "You're a lot nicer and funnier than I thought you would be." - Billboard, 1/8/25...... Bob Dylan has been rolling "like a rolling stone" on the streaming charts in the wake of the new Timothée Chalamet-starring Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. During the week ending Dec. 26, one day after the release of A Complete Unknown in the US, Dylan's catalog earned 11.6 million U.S. on-demand streams, according to Luminate, leaping to 20.2 million streams the following week (ending Jan. 2), in the first full tracking week since the film's wide release. Compared to Dylan's streaming numbers from one month earlier, in which his catalog earned 8.1 million streams in the week ending Dec. 5, A Complete Unknown has helped the legend's weekly streaming numbers grow by roughly 150%. Meanwhile, some of Dylan's early classic songs (which Chalamet sings himself in the film) have gotten replayed since its release, with listeners wanting to either revisit or discover the original versions. "Like a Rolling Stone" earned 1.64 million streams in the week ending Jan. 2, a 232% increase from its streaming total five weeks ago (494,000 during the week ending Nov. 28). Meanwhile, "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin' posted streaming jumps of 215% and 174%, respectively, from their weekly totals during the last full tracking week of November. With the announcement of the Academy Awards nominations set for Jan. 17, and the Oscars ceremony scheduled for Mar. 2, these streaming numbers may stay boosted -- or keep climbing -- for a few more months. - Billboard, 1/8/25...... In related news, as multiple devastating wildfires continue to spread through the greater Los Angeles region, music and music-related events -- including several tied to the current film awards season in the city -- are being canceled or postponed out of both safety concerns and respect for the unfolding situation. An A Complete Unknown screening and dinner set for Jan. 9 is among the events canceled. As dangerous wildfires continue to rapidly spread across Los Angeles County, a number of famous residents are among the thousands of people whose homes were affected by the tragedy. Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren took to Instagram on Jan. 8 to reveal that her beach home was one of the properties that was burned down. "This is the last pic I took of [my late friend] Leah's rock from my beach house," Warren posted. "I've had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone." The west-side Palisades Fire, fanned by strong winds, has caused 30,000 people to evacuate as it has burned at least 28,000 acres and claimed 16 lives as of Jan. 11. Meanwhile, a benefit concert for victims of the LA wildfires has been announced. Dubbed FireAid, the show has been described as an "evening of music and solidarity," and will take place at LA's Intuit Dome on Jan. 30. Proceeds from the concert will help to rebuild the communities lost by the wildfires that began on Jan. 7, supporting displaced families and advancing fire prevention technologies to ensure that, in the future, the city is better prepared for fire emergencies. - Billboard/NME, 1/8/25...... As former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Jan. 29 at age 100, was memorialized at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9, country stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood paid tribute to the nation's 39th commander-in-chief with a moving cover of John Lennon's 1971 homage to peace, "Imagine." Brooks played the song's iconic melody on an acoustic guitar, singing, "Imagine there's no heaven/ It's easy if you try/ No hell below us/ Above us, only sky," his voice echoing through the majestic 188-year-old Washington National Cathedral, which has hosted the funeral and memorial services for almost all of the 21 Presidents who've died since Congress approved its charter in 1893. The deliberate pace of the performance -- and the addition of a piano accompaniment -- appeared to move many of the dignitaries on hand, which included all the former living Presidents. Soon-to-be-ex-President Joe Biden bowed his head at one point as his successor, former President Donald Trump seemed to close his eyes briefly during the performance. "You may say I'm a dreamer/ But I'm not the only one," Brooks sang as wife Yearwood joined in, matching his vocals on the lines, "I hope someday you'll join us/ And the world will live as one." That final line was delivered as the couple looked into each other's eyes and held the moment for a beat, with Brooks leaning in to give Yearwood, his wife since 2006, a kiss on the cheek. In addition to the Brooks/Yearwood performance and a number of other moving tributes from Carter's family, the funeral included a eulogy by Biden, who is less than two weeks away from the end of his term, after which he will be replaced by twice-impeached former President Trump. After the funeral, Pres. Carter's body will be flown back to Georgia for a private family funeral before he is buried on the grounds of his home in Plains next to his late wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter. Footage of the "Imagine" performance has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 1/9/25...... The official trailer for the upcoming Led Zeppelin biopic, Becoming Led Zeppelin, has been shared on YouTube. The film, powered by awe-inspiring, psychedelic, never-before-seen footage, performances, and music by the seminal heavy metal band, will be screened in IMAX theaters on beginning Feb. 7. The film is told in Led Zeppelin's own words and is the first officially sanctioned film on the group. - Music-News.com, 1/10/25...... An Australian construction company has issued an apology following the demolition of a Sydney home that once housed future AC/DC members Angus Young and his brother Malcolm Young. The house, which had been located at 4 Burleigh Street in the Western Sydney suburb of Burwood, was reportedly razed in late 2024 following a sale in Feb. 2023 for AUD $5.8 million. The Young family moved to the Burleigh Street address in 1965 after time spent at other houses in the suburb, with brothers Angus and Malcolm honing their musical talents while living there. In 1973, the pair would co-found AC/DC, who have since become one of Australia's most successful rock exports of all time. The legacy and importance of the address to the Sydney community had been recognized numerous times over the years. In 2013, the house was listed on the National Trust Register of Historic Houses, and in 2024 the local Burwood Council commissioned a mural of Angus and Malcolm by artist Claire Foxton which is still visible on the side of 12 Burleigh Street. News broke of the house's demolition in late December, with outrage from both fans and the local community reaching the Burwood Council, who defended the demolition despite the presence of the address on the National Trust. In a statement from Burwood Square general manager Leon Kmita, the company has shared their regret for the demolition, claiming they were unaware of the cultural importance held by the house. "We regret that the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property's background with us," Kmita said. "Learning about this connection after our plans were already underway has shocked us. We are genuinely sorry for this oversight." According to Kmita, the Burwood Square team are in the process of attempting to salvage materials so they can create a "special space" for fans of AC/DC to "gather to celebrate the band's enduring legacy." "While we cannot change the past, we are dedicated to celebrating this significant part of their story," he added. "To the global fanbase of AC/DC, please know that we hear you, appreciate your deep admiration for this legendary band, and are devoted to making this right." - Billboard, 1/7/25...... KISS principals Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have reached a settlement to end a wrongful termination lawsuit accusing them of firing their longtime hairstylist after he complained about "unsafe working conditions" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With a jury trial set to get underway later in January, attorneys for both sides told a Los Angeles judge on Jan. 7 that they had "resolved" the case, in which David Mathews claimed that he had been abruptly terminated in 2022 after serving as the band's hairstylist for 30 years. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed in court filings and neither side immediately returned requests for comment. Mathews sued the iconic rock band in 2023, alleging he had been fired in retaliation after he repeatedly raised concerns about the band's allegedly lax approach to the pandemic. Among other allegations, he said he was forced to work in close proximity to band members like Simmons even when they were sick. "He was coughing and blowing his nose in the dressing room while still insisting that he felt fine," Mathews wrote of one encounter with Simmons. "Once again, Mr. Mathews was required to be in Mr. Simmons presence to perform his job duties." Mathews isn't the only person to sue over Kiss over the band's COVID-19 protocols. The band is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Francis S. Stueber, a longtime guitar tech who died in Oct. 2021 while quarantining in a hotel room. The suit claims that the band ignored their own safety rules and failed to arrange medical aid to Stueber after he fell ill. - Billboard, 1/7/25...... Rush have reflected on their 2015 farewell tour, saying that they "let our British and European fans down" by not giving them the chance to say goodbye. The Canadian band played 35 headline shows across North America almost 10 years ago, having formed over four decades prior. Drummer Neil Peart died from brain cancer in early 2020, aged 67. During a new interview with ClassicRock.com, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson recalled how they had initially wanted to visit more countries as part of the trek -- but said Peart didn't want to head out on the road at all. "I'd pushed really hard to get more gigs so that we could do those extra shows and I was unsuccessful," Lee said of the trio's "R40 Live" tour. "I really felt like I let our British and European fans down. It felt to me incorrect that we didn't do it, but Neil [Peart] was adamant that he would only do 30 shows and that was it." He continued: "That to him was a huge compromise because he didn't want to do any shows. He didn't want to do one show. So, in his mind, he'd compromised already. He said, 'I'll do 30 gigs, don't ask me for any more'. I just kind of felt I owed an explanation to them, the audience. It's part of why I went into the detail I did about Neil's passing in the book [Lee's memoir, My Effin' Life], was to let fans in on what went down. That it wasn't a straight line." Elsewhere, Rush paid tribute to their former producer Peter Collins in summer 2024 following his death aged 73. - NME, 1/7/25...... Folk singer Peter Yarrow of the beloved 1960s trio Peter, Paul & Mary died on Jan. 7 at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan following a four-year battle with bladder cancer. He was 86. With his high tenor melding seamlessly with baritone Paul Stookey and contralto Mary Travers, Mr. Yarrow and this singing partners produced some of the most beloved songs of the 1960s, taking the lead on classics "Puff the Magic Dragon," "The Great Mandala" and "Day Is Done," all of which he wrote or co-wrote. Perhaps the group's most well-known track, "Puff the Magic Dragon," was penned by Mr. Yarrow based on a poem by fellow Cornell grad and author Leonard Lipton about a magical dragon name Puff and his human friend, child Jackie Paper, who take off on adventures in the magical land of Honalee. Fans of the 1963 song -- which was later turned into a beloved 1978 animated special and two follow-up sequels -- were convinced that it was larded with secret drug references, tagging it as a trojan horse ditty about smoking weed, a claim both Lipton and Mr. Yarrow repeatedly denied. The song was one of the group's most successful on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 2 on the tally in May 1963. Following Mr. Yarrow's death and Travers' passing in 2009 at age 72, Stookey, 87, is the group's last living member. "Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest," daughter Bethany Yarrow said in a statement. Born in Manhattan on May 31, 1938, Mr. Yarrow began performing in New York's burgeoning Greenwich Village folk scene after graduation from Cornell University in the late 1950s. After a performance at the Newport Folk Festival, he met the event's founder and famed music manager Albert Grossman, who shared his idea for putting together a vocal group in the vein of The Weavers, a harmony quartet from the 1940s and 50s that sang traditional folk and labor songs as well as children's tunes and gospel; it originally featured beloved folk singer/songwriter Pete Seeger. It was Bob Dylan manager Grossman's idea to put Mr. Yarrow and Travers together, with the latter later suggesting the addition of Stookey, who both had performed with on the folk scene. After signing to Warner Brothers Records, they debuted in 1962 with the song "Lemon Tree," which peaked at No. 35 on the Hot 100. Quickly establishing their folk credentials, they followed up with the 1949 Seeger/Lee Hayes-penned protest anthem "If I Had a Hammer," which won them two Grammy Awards in 1962 for best folk recording and best performance by a vocal group; they were also nominated for best new artist that year. They picked up two more Grammys the next year in the same categories for their cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and a fifth one in 1969 (best recording for children) for the Peter, Paul and Mommy LP, which peaked at No. 12 on the album chart. Among their string of hits on the Billboard Hot 100 were their 1969 No. 1 cover of John Denver's "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," as well as the No. 9 charting "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" and the No. 21 hit "Day Is Done." They were also well-known for their charting covers of such Dylan classics as "Blowin' in the Wind" (No. 2, 1963) and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" (No. 9, 1963), scoring a total of five top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. Two of those albums, a self-titled collection from 1962 and 1963's In the Wind, reached No. 1. In keeping with the tenor of the era, the group were also notable for their strong, progressive political stance in song ("The Cruel War," "Day Is Done") and in practice. They participated Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in 1963, performing Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" (and "If I Had a Hammer") on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, helping to cement that song's place as a civil rights anthem. It was around that time that Mr. Yarrow was accused of taking "immoral and indecent liberties" with a 14-year old girl, Barbara Winter, after she and her older sister came to his hotel room for an autograph and he answered the door naked and forced her to perform a sex act on herself. The singer was indicted and sentenced to one to three years in prison, and ended up serving just three months. He later apologized for the incident and was granted a presidential pardon by Jimmy Carter in Jan. 1981, just before the late president's final day in office. Mr. Yarrow was also an indefatigable anti-war protester, helping to organize the anti-Vietnam National Mobilization to End the War protest in 1969 in Washington that drew nearly 500,000 fellow anti-war activists, as well as 1978's anti-nuclear benefit show Survival Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured appearances by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash and Gil Scott-Heron, among others. In 2000, he founded Operation Respect, a non-profit that aimed to tackle the mental health effects of school bullying. Following solo ventures by all three, the trio reunited several times over the ensuing years, including for a 1972 concert to support George McGovern's failed presidential campaign, his 1978 Survival Sunday anti-nukes show and a summer reunion tour that same year. By 1981 they were back together for good, performing and releasing five more albums before Travers' death. - Billboard, 1/7/25...... Grammy-nominated singer and controversial anti-gay rights activist Anita Bryant has died at age 84. The news was shared by The New York Times, which reported that Ms. Byrant died from cancer on Dec. 16 while at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Local newspaper, The Oklahoman, also made the announcement and shared a statement from the singer's family which read: "May Anita's memory and her faith in eternal life through Christ comfort all who embraced her." Born in Oklahoma in 1940, Ms. Bryant first began singing at age six and went on to make various television and radio appearances throughout her childhood. She was given her own show, The Anita Bryant Show, aged just 12-years-old. As a teenager, she took home the trophy at the Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant and came second runner-up in the 1959 Miss America pageant, also going on to share her debut album that same year. As she centred her efforts on her music career, she performed at both Republican and Democratic national conventions and also made her way into the US charts with songs "Till There Was You," "Paper Roses" and "In My Little Corner Of The World." Towards the end of the '60s, she became a spokesperson for Florida Citrus, although was later dropped from the role after becoming a vocal opponent of gay rights. The late '70s saw her lead an anti-LGBTQ+ raly that tried to repeal a Florida ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. The "Save Our Children" rally was successful, although it damaged her image and led to a nationwide boycott of the juice from the state. In solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, bars also stopped serving screwdriver cocktails. Later, she would reveal in an interview that she lost roughly $500,000 in concert bookings as well as a deal to host her own television show. She also became one of the first people to be hit in the face with a pie as a form of protest in 1977. She was dropped by Florida Citrus in 1980 and her split from husband Bob Green also saw her lose support from conservatives. She later married Charles Dry, although never succeeded in reviving her career. In 2019, a biopic about her life starring Ashley Judd was reported as being in the works, and before then she was the subject for both the 2016 play Anita Bryant's Playboy Interview and the 2018 musical "The Loneliest Girl In The World." - NME, 1/10/25...... Legendary soul singer Sam Moore, half of the seminal duo Sam & Dave, died on Jan. 10 in Coral Gables, Fla., due to complications from surgery. He was 89. Mr. Moore, who was revered by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Garth Brooks and Jon Bon Jovi, had an instantly recognizable tenor, first heard on such call-and-response classics as Sam & Dave's 1960s hits "Hold On, I'm Coming" and the Grammy-winning "Soul Man," both of which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, as well as "I Thank You" and "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby." The duo, who performed at Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial concert at Madison Square Garden following his assassination in 1968, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 by Billy Joel. Mr. Moore, who grew up in Miami, began singing in church and drew the attention of another legendary Sam, Sam Cooke, who wanted Mr. Moore to replace him in his gospel group The Soul Stirrers. However, after seeing Jackie Wilson perform, Mr. Moore shifted from gospel to pop and was performing at the King O'Hearts Club when he met Dave Prater and the two formed Sam & Dave. Legendary Atlantic Records executives Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler saw the pair at the King O'Hearts Club and signed them to the label in 1965. Wexler passed them to Atlantic's southern partner, Stax Records, where Isaac Hayes and David Porter took them under their wing and produced their iconic hits. Following Sam & Dave's breakup in 1970, Mr. Moore signed to Atlantic as a solo artist. He recorded a solo album produced by King Curtis featuring Donny Hathaway and Aretha Franklin. However, after Curtis was murdered in 1971, the album was shelved. He reunited with Dave for a few years, but spiraled into heroin addiction, which was chronicled in the DA Pennebaker/Chris Hegedus documentary Only the Strong Survive. Interest in the duo was greatly revived by 1980's The Blues Brothers movie, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The pair's main theme was their boisterous version of "Soul Man." In the early '80s, Mr. Moore became sober with the help of Joyce McRae, whom he married in 1982 and who became his manager. Mr. Moore went on to perform for six U.S. presidents -- Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump -- and was a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center Honors. Springsteen invited Mr. Moore to perform on his 1992 Human Touch album, as well as Only the Strong Survive, his 2023 album of soul covers. At the time of his death, Mr. Moore was working on a gospel album with Rudy Perez. He is survived by Joyce, daughter Michelle and grandchildren Tash and Misha. - Billboard, 1/11/25...... Cult psychedelic folk musician and painter Ed Askew has died at age 84. Mr. Askew was born in Connecticut in 1940 and began his career as a painter, graduating from Yale School Of Art in 1963, before making the shift to become a musician. He released his debut album Ask The Unicorn in 1968, and went on to gradually develop a cult following in the '80s after moving to New York City and developing a unique style of acid and folk. Ask The Unicorn was later re-released by Drag City Records in 2015 as a resurgence of interest in Mr. Askew's work arose, and throughout his career the songwriter shared 11 studio albums. One of his most listened-to releases was the 2013 album For The World. Released via Tin Angel, it included musical collaborations with Sharon Van Etten, Mary Lattimore, Marc Ribot, and more. Aside from the full studio albums, Mr. Askew also self-released hundreds of songs on cassettes and later on his Bandcamp page. - NME, 1/7/25.

Monday, January 6, 2025

Appearing alongside his recent "Never Too Late" collaborator Brandi Carlile as a presenter at the 2025 Golden Globes cereminy in Los Angeles on Jan. 5, Elton John joked about his recent eyesight issues as the pair announced Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as winners of the best original score category. "It's a very special night for me to be here because, I don't know if you know, but there's been stories going around about my regressive eyesight," John said. "I just want to reassure everybody -- it's not as bad as it seems. I'm so pleased to be here with my co-host, Rihanna," he said, pointing to Carlile. When Carlile announced that the Nine Inch Nails duo had won, John raised both fists into the air and let out a huge cheer. Elton opened up about his eyesight problems in November during a Good Morning America interview: "I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France," he said. "It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest." - Billboard, 1/5/25...... Speaking to the UK paper The Times, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry reflected on turning 80 later in 2025 and the "beauty of aging." "I don't walk around thinking every minute, 'Oh God, I'm going be 80' - but that's sort of how I feel," said Harry, who reaches her milestone decade on July 1. Harry continued: "My mother used to say in her head she was 25 and I'm the same. But thinking about it all the time could be your downfall. And I don't really want the same kind of life I did when I was younger. I've done that! That's the beauty of ageing -- you know what it's about. You have it in your heart and soul and your memory bank or does that sound like an excuse? Should I go out and party every night?" The "Call Me" singer also opened up about the prospect of dating in her advanced years. When asked whether she was currently in a relationship, she responded: "No! God forbid! I'm terrified. No, I'm kidding, but I don't think [being in a relationship] is possible. Do you?" Harry, who was once in a relationship with Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, explained that she wasn't "in the right position to be dating online," before being told about the celebrity dating app Raya.com. "OK, OK, I'll do it!" she replied. "And I'm going to get back in touch and let you know how it went. I'm definitely not so adventurous as I was, but I'm still curious. I like the way the world spins." Additionally, Harry revealed that she likes to flirt in the local hardware store. "Home Depot is where I do all my flirting... There are some big, strong men there." She remembered: "I found somebody there I thought was really sexy. He was working in the garden department. But he was busy. We just sort of looked at each other and did that [look]." Elsewhere in the interview, the frontwoman recalled how she was once surrounded onstage by a group of Hell's Angels. Blondie are due to release a new album later in 2025, helmed by in demand Grammy-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, The War On Drugs). It'll be the follow-up to 2017's Pollinator. - New Musical Express, 1/6/25...... In a new interview with the UK publication The Guardian, John Lennon's eldest son Julian Lennon says he's "not part of The Beatles' "inner circle." With the recent resurgence of the legendary quartet's work, including Peter Jackson's Get Back (2021), David Tedeschi and Martin Scorsese's Beatles '64 (2024), and the 2024 restoration of Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 film, Let it Be, Julian said he's often the last to know about any activity with the Fab Four's camp. "It's news to me half the time. I'm not part of the inner circle -- I never have been," he admitted. "You have to realise that when Dad left, when I was between three and five (it was a bit of a process), it was just mum and me, and we had nothing to do with the Beatles or Dad. I visited him on the odd occasion but we were very much on the outside. I'm thankful that Sean and I get on like a house on fire -- we're best buddies and he tells me what he can, but things are pretty secret on the Beatles front." He continued: "[It's] extraordinarily strange but I'm not upset about it. I'd rather be excited and impressed by what they did and continue to do. As a fan, I'm just as curious as anybody else, although I do find myself going, 'how is it possible that there's another Beatles film?'" Julian also spoke about his photography work and his newest release, the coffee table book Life's Fragile Moments. Alongside discussions of how new music isn't on the cards just yet (a failed attempt to hit the late-night talk show circuit in 2024 left him "heartbroken"), Julian said he continues to "build up a body of work, a foundation that I can stand on, that nobody can take away from me." "And I continue to do so," he said. "It's not to show off, it's just to prove to myself that I can actually do this stuff. I'm not interested in fighting other people's opinions." Lennon recently took to social media in December to urge his followers to undergo regular doctor visits following an emergency surgery after a second skin cancer diagnosis. Just before the end of the year, on Dec. 30, Lennon updated his followers that he had received "the 'all clear'" from his doctors. - Billboard, 1/5/25...... A statue of legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher was unveiled in Belfast city centre on Jan. 4. Gallagher, a County Donegal native, often played the Northern Ireland capital over his three-decade career and now has been immortalised with a bronze statue outside the city's Ulster Hall on Bedford Street, with a ceremony being held to mark its unveiling. "He's finally here!" announced the venue on X on Jan. 4. "Today we're celebrating the legacy of Rory Gallagher with the unveiling of a new statue of the legendary guitarist outside Ulster Hall." Members of Gallagher's family were joined by fans and local signatories for the unveiling, with the Lord Mayor of Belfast Mickey Murray commending Gallagher's authenticity and talent. The statue itself was created by Anto Brennan, Jessica Checkley and David O'Brien of Bronze Art Ireland, with the design being inspired by a photograph that first featured on the cover of a Jan. 1972 issue of Melody Maker magazine. Gallagher, who is often cited by the likes of Eric Clapton, The Edge and Brian May as one of the greatest players of all time, has sold over 30 million records worldwide. His most celebrated albums include his self-titled solo debut in 1971, Deuce later the same year and the live albums Live! In Europe (1972) and Irish Tour '74 (1974). In 2011, his "lost" live album Notes from San Francisco was released 33 years after its recording. Ulster Hall also screened a documentary film inspired by the latter album to mark the occasion. Gallagher had a number of health problems, before being admitted to hospital in London in 1995 for liver failure. After contracting a hospital superbug known as MRSA, he passed away later that year at the age of 47. - NME, 1/4/25...... After less than two weeks in release, the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has already ranked among the top-grossing music biopics of all time. According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, the film has grossed $41.7 million worldwide since its Dec. 25 release, securing a position between No. 18 Notorious (a 2009 Notorious B.I.G. biopic) and at No. 20, the 1993 Tina Turner biopic What's Love Got To Do With It. Timothée Chalamet stars in the film, which follows Dylan from Jan. 1961, when he moved from Minnesota to New York City, to July 1965, when he caused an uproar among fans by "going electric" at the Newport Folk Festival. Still riding high among the all-time top-grossing musicals are the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody ($910.8 milloin worldwide gross), followed by Elvis (2022, $288.7 million); Straight Outta Compton (2015, $210.6 million), and Rocketman (2019, $195.3 million). - Billboard, 1/5/25...... The Temptations are commemorating 60 years in show business with a 14-day Mexican Riviera Voyage on the Discovery Princess cruise ship in Dec. 2025. Serving as host for the cruise on the Discovery Princess, which is known as "The Love Boat" and is also celebrating its 60th anniversary, will be Jill Whelan, who portrayed the character Vicki Stubing on The Love Boat television series. Whelan, and The Tempts, were on hand on Jan. 4 on board the Discovery Princess to announce the special sailing. Prior to the performance, Whelan described the upcoming voyage as a "trip down memory lane" as she recalled that the iconic R&B group appeared as themselves on an episode of The Love Boat 40 years ago. During that episode, the group premiered its No. 2 R&B hit, "Treat Her Like a Lady." Of the group's timeless legacy, she added, "The Temptations have also been responsible for spreading messages of love over 60 years. And what is better than that." The Tempts also performed their classic hit "My Girl," which was released 60 years ago. The Royal Princess will depart from the Port of Los Angeles on Dec. 6 with an itinerary including two overnight stays in Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, as well as visits to Loreto, Manzanilla and Mazatlan. Additional music and other special guests plus various anniversary festivities will be announced soon. - Billboard, 1/5/25...... Carlos Santana has been forced to postpone his return to Las Vegas' House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino later in January due to a minor injury to his finger. The venue announced on its website Friday (Jan. 3) the postponement of the eight shows between Jan. 22 to Feb. 2, noting that ticket holders will receive refunds. In a statement to Variety, Michael Vrionis, president of Universal Tone Management, revealed that the guitarist suffered a fall that left him with a broken finger. "I am sorry to say that Carlos was out taking a walk at his vacation home in Kauai," he explained. "He took a hard fall, and he broke his little finger on his left hand. He had to have pins inserted in the finger. Unfortunately, he won't be able to play guitar for approximately six weeks. Doctors do say that he will recuperate fully." The statement continued: "Carlos is doing well and is anxious to be back on stage soon. He just needs to heal. Santana profoundly regrets these postponements of his upcoming performances, but accidents happen, and his health is our number one concern. He is looking forward to seeing all of his fans very soon." While the new dates are yet to be announced, Santana is set to return to the venue for nine shows starting on May 14 and wrapping up on May 25. He's also scheduled to go on a small Oneness Tour starting on Apr. 16. - Billboard, 1/3/25...... The latest in a seemingly endless stream of "lost" Neil Young albums, Oceanside Countryside, will be released on Feb. 14 via Reprise Records. "This analog original album was recorded in 1977 and unreleased. These songs are the original mixes done at the time of the recordings in the order I planned for the album," Young said in a statement about the latest release in his Analog Original Series (AOS). Oceanside Countryside was originally recorded from May-Dec. 1977, just before the release of his 1978 folk/country album Comes a Time, which featured such beloved songs as the title track, "Lotta Love," "Human Highway," "Field of Opportunity" and "Four Strong Winds." "I sang the vocals and played the instruments on Oceanside in Florida at Triad studios and Malibu at Indigo studio," Young aded. "I sang the vocals and recorded with my great band of friends, Ben Keith [steel guitar], Joe Osborn [bass], Karl T. Himmel [drums], and Rufus Thibodeaux [fiddle] at Crazy Mama's in Nashville on Countryside. I hope you enjoy this treasure of an Analog Original recording, recorded by Tim Mulligan, as much as I do. Listening to it now, I think I should have put it out back then." All the songs on Oceanside are performed solo by Young, with a group of friends joining him on Countryside, including Keith, Thibodeaux, Himmel and Osborne, with Tim Drummond on bass for "The Old Homestead," which also features The Band's Levon Helm on drums. Young noted that the tracklist for the upcoming album -- which was recorded on tape -- reflects how he originally planned to release the LP, which will be available in analog and on vinyl for the first time ever with the original mixes done at the time of the recording. - Billboard, 1/3/25...... In other Neil Young news, the singer has announced that he will be headlining the UK's Glastonbury Festival in June, just days after he said that he would withdraw from the festival and called it a "corporate turn-off." On Jan. 1, Young posted to his website: "The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all time favorite outdoor gigs," Young wrote in the brief update. "We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour." On Jan. 3, Young gave this update: "Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury festival, which I always have loved. Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing! Hope to see you there!" Glastonbury will take place at Worthy Farm, Somerset in England on June 25-29, and he will perform with his new band The Chrome Hearts. Young previously topped the bill in June 2009. - Billboard, 1/3/25...... As he spends time hanging around the set for an upcoming biopic of himself, Bruce Springsteen says so far he's very impressed with the movie's star, Jeremy Allen White. White, best known for playing perpetually harried chef Carmy Berzatto on the streaming TV series The Bear, has been filming the movie, titled Deliver Me From Nowhere, that will tell the story behind the making of the Boss' stark 1982 album Nebraska. In a recent chat with SiriusXM E Street Radio's Jim Rotolo, Springsteen, 75, talked about whether it's been strange to be on set as he watches Allen portray a thirtysomething version of him. "A little bit at first, but you get over that pretty quick and Jeremy is such a terrific actor that you just fall right into it," Springsteen said. "He's got an interpretation of me that I think the fans will deeply recognize and he's just done a great job, so I've had a lot of fun. I've had a lot of fun being on the set when I can get there." Springsteen continued: " [White] sings very well. You know, and Jeremy Strong [as Springsteen's longtime manager Jon Landau] and Odessa Young [as then-girlfriend Faye], you know, it's a tremendous cast of people. They cast the film beautifully, so it's very exciting." Directed and written by Scott Cooper and adapted from Warren Zanes' book of the same name, the movie has gotten full support from Springsteen. In the same interview with Rotolo, Springsteen also confirmed a late 2024 press release teasing that this year will bring a new collection that will "look back at Springsteen's storied recording career, featuring never-before-heard material." The full interview can be heard on YouTube. - Billboard, 1/3/25...... Billy Joel teamed up with drummer Jason Bonham for a rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" during a New Year's Eve concert at Long Island's UBS Arena on Dec. 31. Joel's end-of-year spectacular was a special for numerous reasons: not only was the night preceded by Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening as the opener, but the lengthy set saw the veteran musician roll out plenty of fan favorites for the night, along with a few rarer tracks from his extensive back catalog. While the seldom-heard 1982's "A Room of Our Own" from The Nylon Curtain LP got a look-in, rarer still was a performance of 1974's "Souvenir," from his album Streetlife Serenade, which received only its 13th showing from across the past 40 years. However, one of the most notable songs from the evening was one that wasn't Joel's own. Just over a third of the way through the set, Joel switched his focus to welcome Bonham and his band to the stage for a rendition of 1969's "Whole Lotta Love." "We're going to bring a guest onstage and do this next song," Joel said to the crowd. "We have fun playing this, especially with this guy. Please welcome Jason Bonham. You all know this song. It's not a piano song." With Bonham performing drums on the song his father helped make famous more than five decades ago, Joel's longtime guitarist and vocalist Mike DelGuidice sang lead on the track, relegating Joel to the background somewhat. The show also featured renditions of The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up," and Derek and the Dominos' "Layla," which was used to fill time ahead of the midnight countdown. The concert also wrapped up a big year for Joel, who not only concluded his record-breaking 10-year Madison Square Garden residency (earning $266.7 million from 1.9 million ticket sales to 104 shows), but also released "Turn the Lights Back On" -- his first new lyrical single in nearly 20 years. - Billboard, 1/1/25...... John Sykes, the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has said the institution will not be renamed, despite pressure from some artists. In recent years, there has been discussion whether the Hall should still use the "Rock and Roll" moniker after inducting a number of artists from outside traditional rock music, including Eminem, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Dolly Parton and Missy Elliott, however Sykes recently told Vulture magazine that he has no plans to change the name, stating that instead he will "communicate that rock and roll is open to all." "I think it's because some people don't understand the meaning of rock and roll," Sykes explained. "If you go back to the original sound in the '50s, it was everything. As Missy Elliott calls it, it was a gumbo. It just became known as rock and roll. So when I hear people say, 'You should just change it to the Music Hall of Fame,' rock and roll has pretty much covered all of that territory. Rather than throwing the name out, it's doing a better job of communicating to people where rock and roll came from and what it's truly about. Once they hear it that way, they understand." Sykes went on to explain what he believes are the true criteria that should qualify artists for the Hall. "It's music that has spirit to it, like a youth spirit," he said. "I think rock 'n' roll should have a very, very broad sense. I think there's room for a lot of different genres." - NME, 1/2/25...... Former Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee says he's "lucky to be alive" following a sepsis diagnosis over the holiday period. Posting on Facebook on Dec. 2, the Swedish percussionist shared news of his health scare, explaining that he had been hospitalized following a blood infection he described as "very serious." "I was admitted for three weeks but now I am home fighting this bastard bacteria," he shared. "Thankfully, I have received fantastic care at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, my hometown. So thanks a million to all the Doctors and Nurses that have been giving me the most excellent care. After several operations, I am now back home and the numbers are all going in the right direction. Still lots of recovery and rehab in front of me," he added. In a strange coincidence, Dee's brush with death occurred almost nine years to the day since his Motörhead bandmate Lemmy Kilmister passed away, on Dec. 28, 2015. Notably, his health scare also took place mere weeks after he took to social media to refute premature reports of his death. - Billboard, 1/2/25...... Two Maine businessmen have purchased radio station WKIT-FM from best-selling horror author and Maine resident Stephen King after he announced that the station and two others he owns would go silent after New Year's Eve. The buyers are the Maine-based duo Greg Hawes and Jeff Solari, who formed Rock Lobster Radio Group to run the station. "WKIT is the most legendary station in the region. It has tremendous history. We couldn't let it die," they said in a statement. King is a lifelong rocker and performed with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band that featured literary icons performing for charity. He announced late last year that at age 77 he thought it was time to say goodbye to the radio stations. "I'm sorry as hell to be closing down WKIT and its sister stations," King posted earlier this month on social media. "I held off the suits for as long as I could." Since getting into the terrestrial radio business in 1983, King has written over 50 novels, including well-known works such as It, Misery, The Dark Tower series, Pet Sematary, Under the Dome, Skeleton Crew, The Green Mile and 11/22/63, among many others. - AP/Billboard, 1/1/25...... Wayne Osmond, the second-oldest of the legendary teen idol group The Osmond Brothers (later simply The Osmonds), died on Jan. 1 after suffering a "massive stroke," according to his brother Merrill Osmond. He was 73. The singer and guitarist's family confirmed the news of his death in a statement to Salt Lake City news station, KSL TV. "Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children," the statement reads. "His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world. He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert. We love him and will miss him dearly." Following the news of his death, a number of Wayne's family members took to social media to honor him, including Donny Osmond who posted on X: "Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone. I'm sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother." Wayne, one of nine Osmond siblings, started a barbershop quartet in 1958 alongside his brothers Merrill, Alan and Jay Osmond. After getting discovered from a Disneyland performance, the boys were cast over a seven-year period on NBC's The Andy Williams Show beginning in 1962. When brothers Donny and Jimmy Osmond joined the group, they became known as The Osmonds and were the standout teen idols throughout the 1970s. The Osmonds had four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart -- "One Bad Apple" (No. 1 in 1971), "Yo Yo" (No. 3 in 1971), "Down by the Lazy River" (No. 4 in 1972) and "Love Me For a Reason" (No. 10 in 1974). Alan and Merrill Osmond co-wrote "Down by the Lazy River," making it the group's biggest self-penned hit. The group's top-charting album on the Billboard Hot 200 LP chart was Phase-III, which reached No. 10 in 1972. The Osmond family was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. Wayne is survived by his wife Kathlyn Louise White and their five children. - Billboard, 1/2/25.

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

When the Grammy Awards' Recording Academy nominated The Beatles for two awards -- Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance -- for their "final" single "Now and Then," fans of the band were pleased. However only the two surviving Beatles -- Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr -- will be eligible to receive a Grammy because due to Recording Academy rules the two deceased Beatles -- John Lennon and George Harrison -- have each been dead for more than five years and cannot meet the test for "new recordings" -- "material that has been recorded within five years of the release date." There is precedent for this. Nat "King" Cole was not nominated when daughter Natalie Cole won Record of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Performance in 1992 for their studio-created duet "Unforgettable." He had died in 1965. Furthermore, Lennon was not included the last time the Fab Four were nominated, 28 years ago, for Best Pop Performance and Best Music Video, short-form, both for "Free as a Bird," and Best Music Video, long-form for The Beatles Anthology. McCartney co-produced "Now and Then" with Giles Martin, the son of legendary Beatles producer George Martin. Both McCartney and Giles Martin are nominated for Record of the Year as producers of the single, as are eight engineer/mixers and a mastering engineer -- but not John and George. If "Now and Then" wins Record of the Year, McCartney will complete his sweep of the Big Four awards, though it will have taken him longer to do so than any other act in Grammy history. He won Best New Artist in 1965 (with The Beatles), Song of the Year in 1967 for "Michelle" (in tandem with Lennon) and album of the year in 1968 for The Beatles' landmark Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The winners of the 68th Grammy Awards are set to be revealed at a ceremony on Feb. 2, 2025 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 12/31/24...... Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar has labeled VH drummer Alex Van Halen's oversight of the "Van Hagar" era in his recent memoir Brothers as "blasphemy." Hagar, who fronted VH from 1985 to 1996, and again from 2003 to 2005, criticized Alex for effectively stopping the VH story after the departure of vocalist David Lee Roth, and overlooking not only Hagar's time as vocalist, but the temporary lineup featuring Gary Cherone, and their ultimate reunion with Roth. Sharing a photo of himself and guitarist Eddie Van Halen from 1991 on Instagram, Hagar began responding to comments on the post, including one who opined that "most purists believe VH ended with DLR." "It could have [ended], my friend, but instead we went on to sell over 50 million records for [a] No. 1 album [then] sold out every building and stadium in the world for a whole decade," Hagar responded. "That never happened again." VH experienced some of their biggest successes with their album 1984, which featured the No. 1 single "Jump," and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and become their highest charting release of the Roth era. The follow-up, 1986's 5150, was their first released with Hagar on vocals, and was the first of four consecutive No. 1 albums released with Hagar at the helm. Continuing his response, Hagar contended that Alex was doing both the band and his late brother a disservice by leaving the era out of the memoir. "Alex is not doing his brother's musical legacy justice by not acknowledging all the No. 1 albums and some great music Eddie and I wrote together -- not Alex -- but Eddie and I wrote together," Hagar continued. "To not acknowledge [those] 10 years of music is blasphemy to his brother's musicianship, songwriting and legacy." However, Hagar recently told Rolling Stone that he still hopes that he and his former bandmate are able to make peace at some point. "I understand he probably couldn't have done the whole era in one book. It would've been the Bible, the dictionary, so maybe he's got plans for a Volume 2. Who knows?" said Hagar. "I want to be friends, though. I don't want to play in a band with Al. I'm not asking for that. I can see that he's not capable of doing that. If he was, I'd be happy to play with him, but it's not what I'm looking for. I just want to friends again." - Billboard, 12/31/24...... Elvis Presley's The Classic Christmas Album has topped Billboard Top Rock Albums for the first time, rising two places to No. 1 on the Jan. 4, 2025-dated survey. In the week ending Dec. 26, the set earned 40,000 equivalent album units, a jump of 59%, according to Luminate. The Classic Christmas Album was released in 2012 and features 17 holiday-themed hits from Presley's catalog, including "Blue Christmas" and "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)." "Blue Christmas" was the album's top performer in streaming last week. It ranks at No. 2 on Rock Steaming Songs with 27.1 million official U.S. streams (up 61%). "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" also appears on the tally, at No. 11 (8.1 million, up 43%). The collection, which previously reached a No. 2 best on Top Rock Albums over the 2020 holiday season, is Presley's second No. 1 on the chart, which began in 2006, after Elvis Presley Forever led for a week in 2015. That album accompanied a "forever" postage stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service that year. "Blue Christmas" was the set's top radio track, with 9 million in audience (up 33%). Meanwhile, Elton John has scored his 60th Billboard Top 40 hit with his 2021 collaboration with Ed Sheeran, "Merry Christmas." The holiday song rose four places to No. 38, marking its first week in the chart's top 40 -- and John's milestone 60th top 40 hit and Sheeran's likewise landmark 25th. The collab, which Sheeran and John co-wrote, was released in 2021 and first peaked at No. 42 a year later. Presley is currently at No. 4 on the list of artists with the most Top 100 hits, behind Drake, Taylor Swift and Lil Wayne, while John is tied with Beyoncé in ninth place with 60 each. - Billboard, 12/31/24...... The Doobie Brothers shared details of a new album in 2025 in a Facebook post on Dec. 30. "It's hard to believe another year just shot by like a rocket!" the band wrote in their year-end wrap-up. "We're currently celebrating almost 56 years together as a band. 55 years since we released our very first self titled album The Doobie Brothers. It's been a long winding road since those early days but we're still working together, doing our best to remain creative, and looking forward to bringing our music to you folks out there again next year." They went on to write: "We have 10 new songs sung by Tom [Johnston], Michael [McDonald], and Pat [Simmons]. The three of us wrote songs and collaborated together. We had a lot of fun recording it and we feel very proud of the results. John McFee added his incredible musical talents as well. Once more we turned to the amazing John Shanks who produced, wrote, and played on the tracks with us. Fortunately we're back working with our friends at Warner Brothers/Rhino Records on this release. We'll probably debut a song soon after the first of the year and the full album will follow sometime in the Spring/Summer." The most notable takeaway from the band's update is the return of McDonald on an album of original music. Joining the band ahead of their Takin' It to the Streets LP in 1975, McDonald remained lead vocalist of the band until their 1982, overseeing some of their most popular releases, including 1978's Minute by Minute -- their only album to top the Billboard Hot 200. The last studio album of original material he recorded with the Doobies was 1980's One Step Closer, though he would feature on one song from 2010's World Gone Crazy, and feature on the band's 2014 covers/collaboration album Southbound. While McDonald rejoined the band as a full-time member in 2019, he was ultimately absent from their 2021 album, Liberté. - Billboard, 12/30/24...... Actress Monica Barbaro, who portrays Joan Baez in the new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, has revealed that Baez was "not fussed" about her portrayal in the film. "I struggled with this feeling of just so much gratitude for everything she's done and for being willing to speak to me and how much I admire her -- I tried to let that get out of the way and just have a conversation, but that's hard," Barbaro said in an interview with the UK paper The Guardian. Barbaro continued, sharing the research she did in preparation for the role: "Having studied her voice so closely -- her speaking voice, every interview in the 60s -- and then hearing Joan's voice now in her 80s, in real time, speaking to me, was an incredibly emotional experience: really cool and kind of mind-blowing." She added that Baez "was really not fussed" about her portrayal in the film. "I think I was more concerned on her behalf than she was for herself. I was sort of saying: you deserve your own biopic! So many biopics with different chapters of your life! And she said: 'I'm just sitting in my back yard watching the birds.' You know: I lived it, I did it." Starring Timothée Chalamet in the main role, A Complete Unknown premiered in US theaters on Christmas Day and will have its UK premiere on Jan. 17. - New Musical Express, 12/30/24...... In related news, the producer of A Complete Unkown has revealed he's attached for a new biopic on Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett and is in talks with "Mama Cass" Elliot's estate for a new film about the late The Mamas and the Papas singer. Peter Jaysen owns the company, Veritas Entertainment, that was involved in securing the rights to Dylan's musical archive and life story for A Complete Unknown. In an appearance on the podcast The Town With Matthew Belloni, he revealed that more big-name projects were in motion. "Due to our involvement with Bob [Dylan] doing A Complete Unknown, we've been fortunate enough that right now we're working on, with Wash Westmoreland, the great writer-director, a Syd Barrett movie, one of the founders of Pink Floyd," he confirmed. "We have had multiple Zooms with the estate of Mama Cass Elliot and met with her daughter, Owen, and are close to acquiring the rights to her book, My Mama Cass." Jaysen didn't mention release dates for either biopic nor give any timelines for their production. Barrett founded Pink Floyd in 1965 as their frontman and principal songwriter before leaving in 1968 over issues with his drug use and mental health. He spent the rest of his life out of the spotlight in Cambridge until he passed away in 2006. Meanwhile, Elliot, better known as Mama Cass, rose to fame as a member of The Mamas and the Papas in the 1960s. She died in 1974 at the age of 32. - NME, 12/27/24...... In a newly released fan capture of former Deep Purple members Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale participating in a Q&A event in Sydney, Australia on Oct. 3, Hughes revealed that his experience attending the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony of his former band Deep Purple was "f--king uncomfortable." "There was no, 'How are you tonight?' None of that," he said of his cold treatment by the other DP inductees -- Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice. "There was no family vibe, there was no hugging, there was no handshaking, there was no, 'How're you doing, pal?' None of that. And it was f--king uncomfortable. Let me tell you, it was uncomfortable." Hughes continued, saying that at the end of the event, he wanted to congratulate Gillan with a hug, but Gillan had put his arm out "'cause he did not want me to get near him." Hughes added that the incident "really upset me to the point of tears." "So I grabbed him and said to him, 'Oh shit.' I can't tell you what I said, but I thought it was very f--king stupid to do it on live TV where you have to show resentment or whatever you wanna call it. I was really upset. It didn't make me angry. It really hurt my feelings. Why did he do that? I don't know." Hughes added: "I've had my fair share of crappy, weird things happen. I wasn't the nicest guy when I was drunk. But to do that to a family member whilst I was thanking and congratulating him on his award He didn't wanna know it, didn't wanna fucking know. That was really rude." In 2024, Deep Purple embarked on their "=1 More Time" tour in support of their latest album =1, which included a performance at Montreux Jazz Festival. - NME, 12/30/24...... Neil Young has dug into his archives again for the latest addition to his "Fireside Sessions," pulling out "Pardon My Heart" for its first performance in over 50 years. The live rendition was shared to his Neil Young Archives website as part of his "Fireside Sessions" series, which in late December resulted in a rare performance of the track "Silver and Gold" on Dec. 25. Now, the second entry in the series has gone even deeper, resulting in an exceedingly-rare version of "Pardon My Heart." Originally released on Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Zuma album in Nov. 1975, the track had only ever been played twice previously, and not at all since its official release. Its debut performance took place at the Bottom Line in New York on May 16, 1974, when Young performed a surprirse set following a Ry Cooder show. Appearing as the penultimate song of the set, Young prefaced its debut by describing it as "a love song I learned recently." "I wrote it too," he added. "This is a love song. It's one of the saddest love songs I've ever heard." Just three months later, the track received its final live appearance when it was performed during Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's reunion tour in New York on Aug. 15. "Pardon My Heart" was penned by Young about the disolution of his relationship with Carrie Snodgress, who also inspired much of his Homegrown album. Despite being recorded throughout 1974 and 1975, Homegrown did not see a release until 2020. Though it currently remains to be seen whether more Fireside Sessions performances will arrive, Young also used his first entry in the series to announce that he would be releasing a new album titled Talking to the Trees, which will be accompanied by a North American and European tour with his new band, the Chrome Hearts. - Billboard, 12/29/24...... The former Morrison Hotel, immortalized by The Doors and their 1970 album of the same name, was significantly damaged by a fire that erupted in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 26. The four-story building, which has been vacant more than a decade, burned for nearly two hours before more than 100 firefighters brought the flames under control, according to the L.A. Fire Department. The Morrison Hotel was featured on the cover of The Doors' fifth album. Celebrated L.A.-based music photographer Henry Diltz made the image in 1969 and said years later that it took a little trickery to pull it off. A hotel clerk told the band they weren't allowed to take photos inside, but when the clerk stepped away, the group ran into the lobby and Diltz quickly got the photo looking through the window, with legendary frontman Jim Morrison in the middle. "It was a great old wooden building with many small rooms upstairs where transients and drinkers could sleep it off on a cot for $2.50 a night!" Diltz says. "I think the beautiful front window with "Morrison Hotel" in red letters was the best part of it! So did The Doors!" The album was viewed as a comeback to their roots for the band, coming on the heels of Morrison's on-stage arrest at a Miami concert that saw him convicted of indecent exposure and profanity. Los Angeles firefighters who first arrived at the blaze found heavy flames on the building's top floor. Several people who were in the building escaped without injuries, including three people rescued by firefighters from the third floor, according to the department. The building's roof collapsed, leaving its structural integrity in doubt, the department said. The building in recent years had been used as a training site for firefighters. Morrison and The Doors would release one final album, L.A. Woman, before he was found dead in a Paris bathtub on July 3, 1971. - Billboard, 12/28/24...... Marvin Gaye III, the eldest son of legendary singer Marvin Gaye, is being accused of assault, battery, false imprisonment and more in a new lawsuit. According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, the accuser, referred to as Jane Doe, claims she was called to Gaye's home in Jan. 2023 to mediate an argument between him and his then-wife Wendy. She states that her intention was to assist in "diffusing the situation," but events "escalated into a series of violent and threatening acts" perpetrated by Gaye including physical assault, verbal threats of death and the retrieval of a firearm. In court documents, the accuser claims that Gaye physically attacked her, pointed a gun at her and Wendy, and threatened to kill them. Gaye is further accused of orchestrating "acts of intimidation," including tampering with her vehicle by cutting the brakes, and arranging for his associates to surveil her home. As a direct result of Gaye's alleged conduct, the woman claims in court paperwork that she has suffered severe emotional distress including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia and weight loss. She is asking the court for an undisclosed amount of damages. Gaye denied the accusations to Us Weekly: "No way did that happen. It's all bullshit. I wouldn't do that. These are false claims." - Music-News.com, 12/31/24...... Legendary BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Johnnie Walker died on New Year's Eve at the age of 79, just two months after drawing his 58-year career to a close. The news was confirmed live on air on the station on Dec. 31 by his friend and colleague Bob Harris, who had taken over Walker's Sounds Of The 70s show after his recent retirement. Walker had the lung condition pulmonary fibrosis and stepped down from his shows, which also included The Rock Show on Radio 2, at the end of October. Walker's wife Tiggy said she "couldn't be more proud" of her husband for "how he kept broadcasting almost to the end and with what dignity and grace he coped with his debilitating lung disease." "He remained his charming, humorous self to the end, what a strong amazing man. It has been a rollercoaster ride from start to finish," she said. "And if I may say -- what a day to go. He'll be celebrating New Year's Eve with a stash of great musicians in heaven. One year on from his last live show. God bless that extraordinary husband of mine who is now in a place of peace." Walker was born on Mar. 30, 1945 and started his radio career in 1966 on pirate station Swinging Radio England before moving to the legendary Radio Caroline. He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969 and helmed the lunchtime show from 1971, where he promoted emerging artists such as Lou Reed, Steve Harley and Steely Dan. After a stint on US radio, he presented shows on BBC Radio 5 Live and GLR before joining Radio 2 in 1997, where he presented Drive from 1998 to 2006. He had presented Sounds Of The 70s since 2009 and The Rock Show since 2018 before bowing out of both programmes in late October to tend to his poor health. His final words on his final show were: "Walk into the future with our heads held high, and happiness in our hearts." The BBC's director general Tim Davie has paid tribute to Walker, describing him as a "pop radio pioneer and champion of great music," while Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas added: "Everyone at Radio 2 is heartbroken about the passing of Johnnie, a much loved broadcasting legend." The BBC have said that a collection of programmes showcasing Walker's life and career will be available on BBC Sounds shortly. - NME, 12/31/24...... Actress Linda Lavin, star of the long-running CBS sitcom Alice and a Tony winner for Neil Simon's play "Broadway Bound," died on Dec. 29. She was 87. A representative for Ms. Lavin confirmed the actress died unexpectedly due to complications from lung cancer that had been recently discovered. As recently as Dec. 4 Ms. Lavin attended the premiere of Netflix's dark comedy series No Good Deed at the streamer's Tudum Theater in Hollywood. Ms. Lavin established herself as a beloved character actor with her decade-long stint on Alice, the CBS comedy series adapted from Martin Scorsese's 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, with Ellen Burstyn in the title role. The series, which ran from 1976-85, starred Ms. Lavin as Alice Hyatt, a widow with a young son (played by Philip McKeon) who starts life again in Arizona, where she works at Mel's Diner (whose eponymous owner was played by Vic Tayback), alongside fellow waitresses Flo (Polly Holliday) and Vera (Beth Howland). Ms. Lavin was Emmy nominated for her work on the series in 1979, and won the Golden Globe for actress in a comedy or music for Alice in 1979 and 1980 and was nommed again in 1981. Alice was a top-30 show throughout its first eight seasons, finishing the 1979-80 season at No. 4, before finally dropping off in its last season. The series subsequently appeared in syndication. In 2015 she appeared in the comedy The Intern, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, and also kept busy with roles on such series as Netflix's No Good Deedand CBS' Elsbeth as well as the CBS comedy 9JKL. Other TV credits include appearances in B Positive, Being the Ricardos, Madame Secretary, Mom, The Good Wife, The Sopranos, Room 104 and more. Though Lavin made appearances on television after Alice, she was actually more of a stage actress and was Tony-nominated six times for roles in "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," "Broadway Bound," "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife," "Collected Stories" and "The Lyons." Born in Portland, Maine, Ms. Lavin first took the stage at the age of 5. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1959 with a degree in theater. The actress made her Broadway debut in 1962 in the Harold Prince-directed musical comedy "A Family Affair," followed by "The Riot Act" the next year. She made her television debut in a 1963 episode of The Doctors and Nurses and appeared in a 1969 segment of CBS Playhouse called "Sadbird." There were a few TV movies and guest appearances on Rhoda and Harry O before she did a one-season run from 1975-76 on ABC's hit police comedy Barney Miller as Det. Janice Wentworth. After starting Alice in 1976 she continued guested on other shows, including Phyllis and Family. Ms. Lavin was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2011. She was thrice married, the first time to actor Ron Liebman from 1969-81, the second time to actor Kip Niven from 1982-92. She is survived by her third husband, actor-drummer Bakunas. - Variety, 12/30/24...... Jimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer who won the presidency in 1976 in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. The longest-lived American president, Pres. Carter died more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Ga., where he and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, who preceded him in death in Nov. 2023 at age 96, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. "Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia," the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world, Pres. Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. "My faith demands -- this is not optional -- my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," he once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. Pres. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Pres. Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet his electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in Apr. 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn't long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 -- losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox -- and then immediately focused on the next campaign. In 1970, he ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman he mocked as "Cufflinks Carl." Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Mr. Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Mr. Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. A self-declared "born-again Christian," Pres. Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced -- including NBC's new Saturday Night Live show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. He campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he'd "kick his ass," but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with "make America great again" appeals and asking voters whether they were "better off than you were four years ago." The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his "malaise" speech, although he didn't use that word. He declared the nation was suffering "a crisis of confidence." By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. At 56, Pres. Carter returned to Georgia with "no idea what I would do with the rest of my life," and eventually founded The Carter Center. Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cited his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. "I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything," hetold the AP in 2021. "But it's turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years." Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. "I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes," he said in 2015. "I've had a wonderful life. I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence." "When I look at Jimmy Carter, I see a man not only for our times, but for all times," Pres. Joe Biden said in a tribute on X. "A man who embodied the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away. And while we may never see his likes again, we would all do well to try to be a little more like Jimmy Carter." Pres. Biden has declared Jan. 9 a national day of mourning for the late president, who will be honored with a state funeral in Washington, D.C. before being buried in his native Plains, Ga. - AP/Billboard, 12/29/24.

Sunday, December 27, 2024

REO Speedwagon played their final gigs under the REO Speedwagon moniker with gigs on Dec. 20 and 21 at Las Vegas' Venetian Theatre. At the Dec. 21 show, frontman Kevin Cronin said during a parting speech (shared on YouTube): "The REO Speedwagon name is being retired tonight. But the music, the spirit, the songs of REO Speedwagon will live on with this band and with me under the name Kevin Cronin. We hope you join us on that adventure." The band split their 19-song set into two portions: the first half saw them perform their 1980 No. 1 LP Hi Infidelity in full, while the second half saw them play an assortment of career hits. Cronin has announced will make his solo debut in January, and hopes to continue on with REO's current touring roster -- which includes Matt Bissonette, Dave Amato, Bryan Hitt and Derek Hilland -- albeit under a different name. Cronin has also suggested that he can see a case in which longtime REO bassist Bruce Hall joins the bands for select shows here and there, but doesn't consider Hall's return as a full-time member "as an option." In September, the announced that though "heartbroken" to do so, they will cease touring at the end of 2024, bringing an end to the popular Midwestern rock band due to "irreconcilable differences" between Cronin and Hall. - NME,12/23/24...... Gene Simmons of KISS announced on X on Dec. 24 that he'll hit the road with his Gene Simmons Band in the spring of 2025, with the tour kicking off at the Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, Calif. on Apr. 5. After five dates in Florida cities from Apr. 25-30, the tour will resume in Beaver Dam, Ky., on May 3, then move northeast with gigs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario before hitting Nashville, Ind., on May 20 and wrap with three Texas dates in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston on May 22, 23 and 24, respectively. KISS, meanwhile, are working on their upcoming avatar show, which band co-founder Paul Stanley has described as "Cirque Du Soleil meets Star Wars and a KISS concert." The production is being overseen by the company behind ABBA's Voyage show, in which the Swedish pop quartet were represented by holographic virtual avatars on stage. - NME, 12/24/24...... Speaking to podcast host Leona Graham on her Leona Graham Podcast, Queen's Brian May discussed such topics as potential new Queen music and how he "still get chills up the spine" when he hears classic tracks by Buddy Holly. "I think Roger (Taylor) and I both put stuff down from time to time," May said when asked about talk of new Queen music. "We do. And sometimes we get together and go, what you got? You know? So that kind of stuff happens and maybe there will be a point where we where we actually make the decision to do it." May said there's a "feeling of almost rebirth" because "selling (their copyrights) out to Sony.... means is they own the copyrights in all the past, but we will own the copyrights in the future. So in a way that's a kind of invitation to create something. And I think we may be able to rise to that challenge in some way." Reflecting on his biggest musical inspirations, May said most of all it was Holly and his band The Crickets: "I was just blown away, I still am, I still get chills up the spine when I hear like 'Maybe Baby'. It was so breathtakingly new, but also had this haunting beauty with those harmonies. And I've done my own versions of some of those songs, but they're always there inside me. Buddy Holly had a very short career. He had like two and a half years of of being a rock star. But the melodies he delivered during that time and the whole vibe of this rock music was, to me, immortal. And it's definitely still part of what I do." The full B side and first 3 episodes of The Leona Graham Podcast are now available to stream now free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. - Music-News.com, 12/24/24...... Speaking of new music, Paul McCartney has revealed that one of his 2025 New Year's resolutions is to finish an album. The former Beatles, who has just wrapped his 2024 "Got Back" tour, published a Q and A on his official website, answering end-of-year questions from fans. Topics ranged from his plans for the holiday season and what he is most grateful for. One fan asked McCartney if he has any New Year's resolutions for 2025. "Here's one: finish an album!," he responded. "I've been working on a lot of songs, and have had to put it to the side because of the tour. So, I'm hoping to get back into that and finish up a lot of these songs. So, how's about that? My New Year's resolution is to finish a new album! How about that for a teaser?" His last solo album was 2020's McCartney III, the long-awaited follow-up to 1970's McCartney and 1980's McCartney II While Sir Paul has no more scheduled shows for 2025, he ended his final London show on Dec. 19 by bringing out former bandmate Ringo Starr and saying "See you next time." - NME, 12/23/24...... After the acclaimed new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unkown debuted in the US on Christmas Day, the BBC4 is preparing fans for its UK premiere on Jan. 17 by unveiling plans to run a series of programmes that will dive into the career of the musician beginning Jan. 10 at 10:20pm GMT with a broadcast of the 2005 Dylan documentary Bob Dylan: No Direction Home. Afterwards, BBC4 will air Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom, a live concert film shot in California in 2021, while Dylan's "Never Ending Tour" was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Timothée Chalamet-starred A Complete Unknown charts the music great's transition from acoustic folk idol to electric rock star in the mid-'60s. Chalamet stars alongside Edward Norton (Pete Seeger) and Elle Fanning (Sylvie Russo), a fictionalised version of Dylan's first New York girlfriend Suze Rotolo, who died in 2011). The film is based on Elijah Wald's 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, And The Night That Split The Sixties. Meanwhile, clothing giant Levi Strauss & Co. has announced a new clothing line inspired by Chalamet's depiction of Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Levi's has launched "Levi's Vintage Clothing x A Complete Unknown," a collection that includes a jacket and a pair of jeans that are directly inspired by Chalamet's look in the film, which itself was closely modelled on original outfits donned by Dylan in the '60s. Among the options are a yellow tan, 100% leather jacket for $1200 (£955), which comes with sheet music for "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall," a replica cue card from the "Subterranean Homesick Blues"' video, special costume lining notes and a still photo of Chalamet wearing the same jacket. Also available are a $495 (£395) pair of jeans with a D-shaped buckle belt and sheet music for "Girl From The North Country" and a liner note quoting Dylan: "I'll let you be in my dreams / If I can be in yours." Levi's announced the clothing line in an Instagram post on Dec. 22. - NME, 12/23/24...... On Dec. 20 former Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham was granted a permanent restraining order by a judge in Los Angeles against an alleged female stalker who showed up at his house. During the hearing Buckingham, 75, testified as part of his plea for protection against a 53-year-old woman named Michelle. The court previously granted the rockstar a temporary restraining order but now Buckingham was awarded a full five-years of protection. Buckingham showed the judge the picture that Michelle left at his house when she showed up, and he also played an "unmarked audio clip" as evidence. The judge determined Buckingham had presented enough evidence to warrant a permanent order and ordered Michelle, who did not appear for the hearing despite being served with notice, to stay 100 yards away from Lindsey, his wife Kristen Buckingham and his son William Buckingham. The woman was also ordered to not contact, harass or threaten Buckingham in any manner. The restraining order will expire in Dec. 2029. In his petition for the restraining order, Buckingham accused accused Michelle of harassing his family since 2021 and claimed she accused him of being his father, which he said was not true. He said it all started when Michelle found his wife's business cell phone number. He said Michelle started calling Kristen, "sometimes, leaving long drawn-out messages that included the claim that she was my child and threats to kill me and my family." He said, "She also blamed me for facial deformities she apparently suffered as a child and demanded money." "I do not know [Michelle] and I am not her father," he told the court. The "Trouble" singer said police instructed Michelle to stop contacting Lindsey and his family in 2022. He said he believed it all stopped so he decided not to take any legal action, but then Michelle reappeared in 2024 when she showed up to his house to leave a collage of photos of her face with his face. He said two weeks later after Michelle made false reports to the police about his son being in danger in the house, police showed up at his home and conducted a search for 20 minutes, "leaving me outside in the cold handcuffed... and shaken" until they realized it was a false report. The court granted the petition in full at the hearing. - InTouchWeekly.com, 12/23/24...... On Dec. 25 Neil Young shared an Instagram video of him performing the title track of his 2000 album Silver and Gold for the first time in almost two decades. Written in 1981, "Silver and Gold" has rarely been performed live, and the last time the Canadian-born folk/rock legend sang it before a live audience was 2007. Interviewed in 2000, Young said he "tried [the song] several ways... I think, a total of 11 times with different people in all kinds of different configurations." He went on to say: "And we got 'em all, none of them are worth listening to. But this one here finally just got back to the roots of it and just sat down with my guitar and played it and said, 'That's it.' Because I love the song and I feel the song now and it means something to me now." In the video Young is shown playing guitar and softly singing while sitting by a fire. As it cuts off at the end, he can be heard saying: "Is that our first fireside session?" - New Musical Express, 12/26/24...... A cover of the Grateful Dead song "Ripple" by rising country music singer-songwriter and actor Sturgill Simpson during the GD's Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in Washington on Dec. 8 has been shared on YouTube. The GD were among the honorees in Pres. Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' final Kennedy Center Honors hosting. Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Bob Weir were in attendance at the ceremony, while bassist and co-founding member Phil Lesh, who died in October at age 84, was represented by his son Grahame. Former frontman Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995, was represented by daughter Trixie Garcia. During the ceremony, Simpson performed a cover "Ripple," though footage of the performance hadn't been shared until Dec. 22, when the ceremony was broadcast to public. Elsewhere during the ceremony, Pres. Biden said of the band: "In the San Francisco Bay at an inflexion point in history, the Grateful Dead have long since transcended 1960s counterculture." He went on to say: "Look, there's still a lot of Deadheads around," before pointing at himself, and adding: "No two performances even the same, but their spirit and joy is enduring. Tonight we honour Bobby, Bill and Mickey." The band's current touring ensemble, Dead & Co., has announced it will reprise its wildly successful "Dead Forever" residency at Las Vegas' Sphere in 2025 in celebration of its 60th anniversary. - NME, 12/23/24...... Classic rock fans can finally watch the 2024 Rock & Roll Induction Ceremony that went down in October on ABC on Jan. 1 at 8:00 p.m./9:00 central. The long-overlooked Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Kool & the Gang, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige and Dave Matthews Band were all inducted. Matthews said of the honored musicans: "We are swimming in deep water here." But the best moments, of course, revolved around the musical performances, of which there were many. Highlights include Cher and Dua Lipa belting out "Believe"; Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Chad Smith, Slash and Sammy Hagar banding together to salute Foreigner; Jennifer Hudson crooning alongside Dionne Warwick; and Dave Matthews Band "Burning Down the House" with a Talking Heads tribute at the end of the night. - TV Guide, 12/30/24...... Legendary Philly soul group The Stylistics have announced their first new album in nearly two decades, with the likes of Shania Twain, KISS's Gene Simmons, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, The Darkness' Justin Hawkins and the Tower of Power Rhythm Section all set to feature. Now, 56 years after their original formation and a full 17 years since their last full-length album That Same Way, the vocal group have announced a brand new album, Falling In Love With My Girl. Dropping on Feb. 21, the LP will be previewed by its lead single "Yes, I Will," a song co-written and co-performed by Twain, which will be available on Feb. 14. Stylistics singer Airrion Love has spoken about working alongside Twain on the track: "I fell in love with Shania Twain the first time I heard 'You're Still the One' -- a great song that I still love. When we heard there might be a chance to do something with her we said, "Hell yeah!" Twain said of the track, "It's a special song that came together on one special day at my home where I was hanging out with some friends and musicians. So I think it turned out great and I'm just really excited to share it with the whole world." The Stylistics recently completed a UK tour and are set to play a handful of shows in the US in January. - NME, 12/22/24...... Hard rock icons Alice Cooper and Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford have released "My Christmas List," a kid-friendly holiday song. The wholesome song is a collaboration with the charity Rock For Children, and is set to benefit Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers organisation, a non-profit that provides teenagers with after-school training in sound engineering, staging, lighting and video production. "My Christmas List," which can be streamed on YouTube, involves the singers telling Santa Claus of the things on their Christmas list, including a "rock balloon that can fly to the moon" and a "12-string can I can play in a band," while they also let Santa know to enjoy his trademark milk and cookies. In a spoken word section, Cooper suggests other things a child could ask for, telling them: "Seriously kid, always remember to never stop dreaming of the impossible, and believe in the magic of your imagination." A boy replies: "Thanks, Mr. Cooper! If I don't end up with those things from my list, then what I want for Christmas is this," as he holds up a scroll with the words "kindness and love" written on it. The track first appeared on the Rock For Children compilation Solid Rock Revival, released on Aug. 30.E arlier in December, meanwhile, Judas Priest announced two new UK headline shows in July as part of their 2025 European tour, including a co-headline show with Cooper. In May, Cooper is set to play the inaugural edition of Boardwalk Rock Festival in Ocean City, Maryland, alongside headliners Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Nickelback and Shinedown. - NME, 12/20/24...... Alfa Anderson, the singer on some of Chic's biggest hits, has died aged 78. Anderson's bandmate Nile Rodgers confirmed the news on Dec. 17 via Instagram. No cause of death has been given. Though initially she was studying to become a teacher, the Augusta, Ga.-born Anderson began recording background vocals for the likes of Dionne Warwick and Roy Buchanan, as well as on the Quincy Jones-produced 1978 soundtrack for The Wiz. During her time working on the film's soundtrack in 1977, she met Luther Vandross, who encouraged her to audition for Chic. At the time the band were recording their debut self-titled album, which Anderson wound up singing backing vocals on. Following the departure of Norma Jean Wright in 1978, she went on to become the group's lead vocalist. She then began to feature prominently on Chic's music, including their biggest albums: 1978's C'est Chic and 1979's Risque. Her voice can be heard on some of their most recognizable hits, including "Le Freak," "Good Times" and "My Forbidden Lover." Chic dissolved in 1983, and Anderson went on to become a frequent guest on Soul Train and the UK's Top of the Pops. She also sang on Chic-produced albums like Sister Sledge's We Are Family and Diana, by Diana Ross, and reunited with Vandross to tour internationally in the mid-1980s. The next two decades saw her appear on albums by Bryan Adams, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Squier, Sheena Easton and Bryan Ferry, among others. n 2015, she reunited with Chic to serve as one of the lead vocalists on "I'll Be There," their first single in nearly 25 years. That same year, Chic's "Le Freak" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and, three years later, was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. - NME, 12/22/24...... Actor Michael Cole, who died Dec. 10 at 84, was a high school dropout who reportedly slept under Hollywood freeways before his big break as Pete Cochran, part of ABC's hip undercover series The Mod Squad (1968-73), alongside Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III. Cole initially turned down the role that made him a star because, as he once told legendary producer Aaron Spelling, "I'm not going to take part of a guy who finks on his friends." He relented after realizing their job was to take down the adults exploiting kids. Befitting his character, Mr. Cole embraced the '60s hippie movement: "Isn't it interesting that a society would want to outcast somebody who wants to advocate love?" All three Mod Squad members reprised their roles in 1979's TV movie, The Return of the Mod Squad. - TV Guide, 12/30/24...... Richard Perry, one of the great record producers of the 1970s and '80s whose greatest hits include the likes of No. 1 singles "Without You" by Nilsson and "Your So Vain" by Carly Simon, died on Dec. 24 of cardiac arrest in a Los Angeles hospital, according to his friend Daphna Kastner. He was 82. Mr. Perry produced more than 30 top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, including Barbra Streisand's dynamic version of Laura Nyro's "Stoney End," in which one the legendary star dove into contemporary pop music for the first time; and a long string of hits by The Pointer Sisters, including the exhilarating "I'm So Excited" and "Jump (for My Love)." Other hits that have the unmistakable immaculate, powerful and precise Perry stamp include Leo Sayer's "When I Need You" (also a No. 1 on the Hot 100) and Burton Cummings' stately "Stand Tall" (a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 in 1977). Mr. Perry also received back-to-back Grammy nods for producer of the year, non-classical in 1977 and 1978. He had a 42-year span of top 10 albums on the Billboard Hot 200. He first made the top 10 in July 1968 with a very unlikely project, an album by pop-culture phenomenon Tiny Tim. He produced back-to-back No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 by two different artists -- Ringo Starr ("Photograph" and "You're Sixteen" in 1973-74) and Sayer ("You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" and "When I Need You, both in 1977)." The Starr smashes were historic -- the first and only time that a former Beatle had back-to-back singles that reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. Although very much a pop producer, Mr. Perry's music touched other genres, too. He produced Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson's "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1984 and won single of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards and was nominated in that category at the Country Music Association Awards. Mr. Perry also had No. 1 hits on the R&B and dance charts. He was born Richard Van Perry in Brooklyn, New York, on June 18, 1942, to Mack and Sylvia Perry, who manufactured and sold musical instruments and also served as music teachers. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1964 with a degree in music and theater, Mr. Perry returned to New York. He formed his own independent record production company, Cloud Nine Productions, in June 1965. In March 1967, he moved to Los Angeles. His first album production job was Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band's debut, Safe as Milk, which he co-produced with Bob Krasnow. The album was released in June 1967. That November, Perry was hired by Warner Bros. Records as a staff producer. His first assignment was recording Tiny Tim, who had become a novelty sensation on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, the runaway No. 1 show on TV. The ukelele-playing falsetto singer's debut album, God Bless Tiny Tim, rose to No. 7 on the Billboard 200, boosted by a remake of the 1920s novelty tune "Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips With Me," which became a top 20 hit on the Hot 100. Mr. Perry also recorded albums with legendary stars Fats Domino (Fats Is Back) and Ella Fitzgerald (Ella), both of which cracked the Billboard 200. Mr. Perry left Warner Bros. in 1970 and almost immediately became one of the most in-demand producers in pop. In 1973, Mr. Perry produced Starr's album Ringo. John Lennon wrote the opening track, "I'm the Greatest," which constituted the closest thing to a Beatles reunion in the decade between the band's breakup in 1970 and Lennon's death in 1980. Starr, Lennon and George Harrison all played on the track (along with Billy Preston and Klaus Voormann). Paul McCartney wasn't involved in the track, but he and Linda McCartney contributed another song, "Six O'Clock," which they appeared on. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, kept out the top spot by Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. In Jan. 1974, Rolling Stone named Mr. Perry "Producer of the Year" for 1973 in its Rolling Stone Music Awards "for his work with Carly Simon (with session drop-in Mick Jagger) and with Starr (with visitors Lennon, Harrison and McCartney)." In 1978, Mr. Perry played a record producer in American Hot Wax, a film about DJ Alan Freed. (In 1955, at age 12, Mr. Perry had been a regular at Freed's live shows at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater.) Mr. Perry and Carly Simon reunited in 2004 for the standards collection Moonlight Serenade, which reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and received a Grammy nod for best traditional pop vocal album. His last album project to make the top 10 was Rod Stewart's "Fly Me to The Moon" from The Great American Songbook, Vol. 5 in Nov. 2010. In Apr. 2020, he published his memoir, Cloud Nine: Memoirs of a Record Producer. His death was mourned by Rod Stewart and Barbra Streisand, among others, on Instagram. He is survived by his younger brothers Roger, Fred and Andrew. His marriages to Linda Goldner and Rebecca Broussard ended in divorce. Mr. Perry was in a relationship with actress and activist Jane Fonda from 2009 to 2017. - Billboard, 12/25/24.

Sunday, December 22, 2024

To paraphrase a lyric by Michael McDonald in "What a Fool Believes," the Yacht Rock genre "has a place in our lives." The smooth-sounding genre, a mix of pop rock with jazz and R&B melodies, mostly consists of songs popular in the late 1970s and early '80s (think McDonald, Christopher Cross and Kenny Loggins, for example). It's explored in Yacht Rock: A Documentary, a new Music Box doc which premiered on MAX on Dec. 11. Yes, the genre's name is silly -- but that's because it came from a low-budget 2005 comedy webseries that was also responsible for reigniting passion for the style. "I thought it was so unique that you have this 'genre' invented 25 years after this music was dominating the pop charts," says director Garret Price, who features interviews with McDonald and Cross, as well as newer musicians such as Questlove and Mac DeMarco, in his film. "While the name originated from comedy, the music itself was anything was a joke," he adds. A joke? That's what a fool believes. - TV Guide, 12/9/24...... Seventies artists Frankie Valli, The Clash and Prince are among the artists who were selected to receive lifetime achievement awards from the Grammy's Recording Academy in 2025. As a member of The Four Seasons, Valli was nominated for a best new artist Grammy in 1963, but lost to Broadway star Robert Goulet. Valli, 90, has been nominated for five competitive Grammys, for both Four Seasons and solo works, but has yet to win. His 1967 swoon-classic "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was nominated for two Grammys. He received his most recent nod as a featured artist on the Grease soundtrack, which was nominated for album of the year, and his sleek and sexy recording of Barry Gibb's title song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Formed in 1976 in the vanguard of British punk, The Clash were pioneers in integrating elements of militant reggae, dub, funk, jazz, and hip-hop into their music. The Clash won their sole Grammy in 2003 -- best long form music video for "Westway to the World." That same year, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their classic LP London Calling was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. Frontman Joe Strummer, who died in 2002, is being honored with this lifetime achievement award along with fellow band members Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Nick "Topper" Headon, all of whom are now 69. Prince, who died in 2016 at age 57, won seven Grammys and an Oscar (best original song score for Purple Rain), and three of his albums -- 1999, Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times -- have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 in his first year of eligibility and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024. Other lifetime achievement award recipients include Frankie Beverly, Dr. Bobby Jones, Taj Mahal and Roxanne Shante. Those honored with trustees awards include producer/engineer Glyn Johns, known for his work with The Who, The Faces and The Eagles and "Misty" songwriter Erroll Garner. The awards will be presented during Grammy Week at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Feb. 1 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... In other awards news, Elton John is among the artists shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars for best original song by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on Dec. 17. John and Brandi Carlile are shortlisted for co-writing "Never Too Late," the title song of Elton's new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. Eno, documentary about legendary British musician Brian Eno, was also shortlisted for an Oscar for best documentary feature, however the Elton John: Never Too Late documentary failed to make the shortlist. Nominations will be announced Jan. 17, and the 97th Oscars will be held on Mar. 2, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide. The show will also stream live on Hulu for the first time. - Billboard, 12/17/24...... Speaking of Elton John, the Rocket Man revealed during his Dec. 18 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that "the juices have never dried up" and his creative drive remains as strong as ever. "They never want to dry up because I'm always looking to create things. It's just having the space now to do it at my own time. Of course there will be new Elton John music," he said to cheers from the crowd. His "Never Too Late" collaborator joined him during the interview. The two shared stories about their friendship and creative process, including how Brandi's heartfelt letter to Elton sparked their relationship. Elton described their bond, saying, "I was doing a residency in Vegas at the time, so I asked her to come to Vegas and I played and sang on the record and as soon as I saw her, I became friends with her. It was like I'd known her all my life." Elton and Carlile's full Late Show interview can be watched on YouTube. Meanwhile, a new waxwork of Sir Elton was unveiled by Madame Tussauds London on Dec. 20. The new figure depicts a moment from the musician's high-flying early days, when America came calling and the artist was at the peak of his powers -- out in space and at his gravity-defying best. The attraction, which can be viewed on the LondonLive X page, is styled from Elton's legendary 1975 Midsummer Music one-day festival at Wembley Stadium -- hands on the key, bejewelled jumpsuit, flamboyant glasses, and platform-shoed feet in the air. "Capturing Elton's phenomenal stage presence -- and that iconic keyboard handstand -- in figure form is quite the challenge, and the result is one of our most technically ambitious figures to date," Madame Tussauds London general manager Steve Blackburn said in a statement. In still more Elton news, the 78-year-old pop superstar unveiled a brand new video for his holiday classic, "Step Into Christmas," on Dec. 18. In the video, actress/model Cara Delevingne takes on the lead role as 1970s Elton. In the Dan French-directed clip, the 1973 yuletide song is given new life when Delevingne slips on a pair of John's signature flashy shades and colorful, quilted bell-bottom suit with high-heeled boots to lip synch along to the jaunty ditty that has long been an upbeat antidote to the melancholy, wistful sounds of other Christmas standards. The new (and old) "Step Into Christmas" videos can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/18/24....... Over 30 minutes of rare Black Sabbath footage from their 1976 "Technical Ecstacy" tour has now emerged online available for fans to view. The newly unearthed live film was shot at the iconic metal band's show at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California on Nov. 9, 1976. The venue held a 10,000 capacity and saw the likes of Bob Segar & The Silver Bullet Band and Boston open for the group. The footage shows a young, fresh-faced Ozzy Osbourne dominating the stage while adorned in what appears to be a navy blue jacket with a long white fringe hanging down across its wingspan. Of the night's 14-song set, the newly released footage only shows Sabbath's performances of "Symptom Of The Universe," "Snowblind," "All Moving Parts (Stand Still)," "War Pigs," "Gypsy" and "Children Of The Grave" -- with the latter song previously available on YouTube for a few years now. The rare footage can be checked out on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 12/18/24...... A Dec. 20 press release from the Bruce Springsteen camp has revealed the 75-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend will be extending his global tour with the E Street Band, as well as celebrating some milestones and dusting off unheard gems from the archives. "Upcoming releases in 2025 will include a look back at Springsteen's storied recoding career, featuring never-before-heard material," read the release, which did not specify when the songs are from or what format they will be released in. In 1998, Springsteen dropped the hefty four-disc box set Tracks, which featured 66 songs, mostly never-before-released, as well as b-sides, demos and alternate versions of previously released material. It also noted that the New Jersey rocker will "continue his involvement" in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, in which The Bear star Jeremy Allen White will portray a young Bruce. A celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Boss's landmark album Born To Run is also on tap for 2025, along with a 45th anniversary marking of 1980's The River and he 30th anniversary of the Grammy-winning acoustic folk rock album The Ghost of Tom Joad and the 20th of 2005's Devils & Dust. Bruce and the band will kick off a spring/summer run of European dates in the spring in Manchester, UK on May 14. The tour will include stops in France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain before winding down on July 3 in Milan, Italy at San Siro Stadium. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... Paul McCartney was joined by his Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood on the final night McCartney's global "Got Back"' tour at London's The O2 arena on Dec. 19. After honoring his late bandmate John Lennon during "I've Got A Feeling," McCartney said to a giddy crowd, "We've got another surprise for you. Bring to the stage the mighty, the one and only Mr Ringo Starr." The pair hugged on stage before McCartney quipped, "Should we rock? Get on your kit lad" to Ringo before the two jammed on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and "Helter Skelter." Wood also appeared onstage during the show, playing guitar on "Got Back." McCartney introduced the song by talking about his old Höfner bass guitar that was stolen over 50 years ago, and was eventually returned after a public appeal. Holding the Höfner onstage, McCartney revealed that it was the bass' first stage appearance since it had gone missing: "I haven't played it in 50 years." There was also a festive surprise with a performance of his 1979 song "Wonderful Christmastime," accompanied by the Capital Choir who provided backing vocals on the song as snow confetti filled the venue. McCartney, who looked visibly emotional at the conclusion of "Now and Then," the 'final' Beatles song released in 2023 which was completed through the use of assistive AI, has no more shows lined up in the near future, but promised the crowd at the conclusion that "we'll see you again soon." His performance with Ringo has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... In other Beatles news, whisky maker Ballantine's has launched limited-edition John Lennon and Elton John celebratory whiskies just in time for the holidays. The new duo of limited-edition bottle designs which have been crafted to capture the essence of Lennon and John are the latest addition to Ballantine's True Music Icons collection, which previously saw the whisky company pay tribute to the likes of AC/DC and Queen. The new editions not only honour Lennon and John for their contributions to music, but also celebrate their friendship which was highlighted by the former Beatle's single "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" featuring pair's iconic performance together in New York City's Madison Square Garden back in 1974, 50 years ago. Lennon's edition of the Whisky sees his self-portrait sketch logo on the bottle's label, while John's edition features a blue label with a holographic 'E' star logo as well as a drawing of his legendary 1975 performance at Dodger Stadium. The whiskies can be purchased at the ballantines.com website. - NME, 12/17/24...... John Lennon's son Julian Lennon has undergone emergency following a skin cancer diagnosis. Julian recently took to Instagram to reveal his recent health scare, explaining that he had been on the way to New York for a Good Morning America appearance and press junket in support of his latest book, Life's Fragile Moments, when he received word from Dr. Tess Mauricio that melanoma had been discovered on his skin. "So instead of going home to put my Christmas tree up and happily finish the year off, relaxing at home, I flew directly back to Los Angeles, after all my work in New York was done, and went directly from LAX airport, to surgery, with a surgeon recommended by Dr Tess, [Dr. Tim Neavin] -- who spent several hours cleaning up and operating on me, with large margins, in the hope that we have, at the end of the day -- clear margins, which would mean being free from cancer," Lennon wrote. "The operation was a success, but we have yet to have the results of the biopsy, which we may not receive before Christmas." As he continued his post, he shared his gratitude for his medical team for their fast work at coordinating such rapid surgery and for "hopefully saving my life." "One can never be too confident in circumstances like this, but we all believe that Dr Tim has saved the day. So fingers crossed for now," he wrote, concluding with "this is also a timely reminder to all, to please get yourself checked out by your doctor... and you may just be saving your own life." Lennon's fittingly-titled latest book, Life's Fragile Moments, was released earlier in December as is his first photography collection, and features stills taken over two decades, including landscapes, urban scenes, and intimate portraits. - Billboard, 12/19/24...... Blondie have announced the release of a new album in 2025, with production helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleton. The news was shared on social media by guitarist and co-founder Chris Stein, who posted a black-and-white photo of lead singer Debbie Harry and Congleton in the studio on Bluesky, accompanied by the caption, "With John Congleton. New Blondie record next year." The new album will mark the band's first album since 2017's Pollinator, also produced by Congleton. That record earned critical acclaim and featured collaborations with artists like Joan Jett, Charli XCX and Johnny Marr. Known for his work with St. Vincent and Angel Olsen, Congleton's involvement hints at a modern, innovative approach for Blondie's upcoming release. - Billboard, 12/19/24...... To honor what would have been the 83rd birthday of Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White on Dec. 19, Maurice's younger brother Verdine White With its vibrant fusion of R&B, soul and pop, "Superman" is immediately reminiscent of EWF's legendary zeitgeist. As Verdine expresses in a pleasing tenor (the first time that the group's renowned bassist is singing solo) on the song's chorus, "More than any other/ He would always understand/ He called me his little brother / I called him Superman." "Would you believe this is my first time [singing solo]," White says. "I was nervous, but it turned out beautifully. Now that the pressure is off, I think I'll do more." Still going strong 55 years after it 1969 inception, EWF hit the road earlier in 2024 year for a string of solo shows in addition to joint shows with Lionel Richie and Chicago. In 2025, the group will play the Hollywood Bowl on July 2, 3 and 4. Also in the works is an EWF documentary directed by Questlove. Asked how Maurice would react to "Superman," White says, "I think he'd chuckle and say, 'Man, I didn't know you could sing like that.'" A video of "Superman," which features photos and clips of Maurice, can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/19/24...... Unheard and unreleased music from Michael Jackson has been uncovered in an abandoned storage unit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, several cassette and DAT tapes containing unheard music from the late King of Pop were unearthed in an old storage unit in San Fernando Valley. The cache was discovered by former highway patrol officer Gregg Musgrove, who was "treasure hunting" at a friend's recently purchased abandoned storage unit in Van Nuys, which at one point belonged to singer and music producer Bryan Loren. A total of 12 tapes were uncovered, dating between 1989 and 1991. According to Musgrove's inventory list, at total of 15 unheard songs were found on the tapes, some of which had previously been teased, or have had snippets leaked. Some songs have been completely unheard of. Among those unreleased songs is a collaboration with LL Cool J titled "Truth On Youth." Earlier in 2024 the rapper confirmed they had recorded music together but that the songs weren't "good enough" to be released. However it appears that outside of Jackson's estate, it seems Musgrove would be the only one to hear the tapes. Musgrove and his attorney approached Jackson's estate with the tapes, but noted that the late "Billie Jean" singer's estate declined to purchase the tapes. Musgrove was later sent a letter by Jackson's estate, noting that while it doesn't claim ownership over the tapes, anyone who purchases the tapes in the future will not own the rights to the recordings or compositions -- which already belong to the estate. Jackson's estate has since confirmed that the tapes aren't master copies of the recordings -- the masters are currently housed in the estate's vault. "It should be clear to all that ownership and rights of exploitation to the recordings remain vested in MJJP Records and that nothing commercial or otherwise can be done with the DAT copies," the letter also stated. This essentially means that the tapes can never be released publicly, but can be heard privately by whoever is in possession of the recordings. Musgrove and his attorney have since made clear their intention to auction off the tapes to Michael Jackson enthusiasts, and have planned to bring them to four major auction houses soon. They estimate that the tapes will fetch a minimum of seven figures. - NME, 12/18/24...... A new documentary about former Genesis member and '80s/'90s solo star Phil Collins, premiered on Dec. 18 on the Drumeo YouTube channel. The doc, titled Phil Collins: Drummer First, captures the musician revisiting his drum kit for the first time in years, a moment that's both poignant and powerful. "It's still kind of sinking in," Phil says in the documentary. "I've spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock." Collins, now 73, has faced numerous health challenges stemming from a 2007 spinal injury that left him with limited mobility and complications such as drop foot. His drumming, once the heartbeat of Genesis and his solo career, has been sidelined in recent years. During Genesis' 2022 farewell tour, Collins passed the torch to his son Nic, who filled in on drums. Still, his connection to the instrument remains unshakable. "If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything," he reflects. "But if I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I'll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I've used up my air miles." The film also sheds light on Collins' legendary career, including anecdotes that illustrate his profound impact on music. - Billboard,12/19/24...... The Temptations celebrated the 60th anniversary of their enduring hit "My Girl" on the recent NBC special A Motown Christmas, which aired Dec. 11. Surviving co-founding member Otis Williams and the other members of the group -- whose current lineup also features Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Tony Grant and Jawan M. Jackson -- performed a three-song set of hits that included "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "Get Ready" and, of course, "My Girl." "When we finished putting the vocals down on the song [in 1964], I said to [producer] Smokey [Robinson] in the control room, 'Man, I don't know how big a record this is going to be. But this is going to be a record," Williams says. "I still can't believe that here we are, some 60 years later and we're still going strong. Most groups don't get that kind of break. It was God's timing for Motown to start when it did. And here we are a part of something that will outlive all of us." Written and produced by fellow Motown legends and The Miracles founding members Robinson and Ronnie White, "My Girl" was released through Motown subsidiary Gordy on Dec. 21, 1964. Three months later, in March 1965, the song had ascended to the top of Billboard's pop and R&B charts, giving The Tempts their first No. 1 hit. In the years since its release, "My Girl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Then the Library of Congress chose it for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2017, calling the song "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The mega-hit has also crossed the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify. - Billboard, 12/17/24.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Barbra Streisand took to social media on Dec. 15 to give props to rising singer Gracie Abrams after Abrams performed two songs on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 14. "I just saw a wonderful new singer named GRACIE ABRAMS (@gracieabrams) on Saturday Night Live this weekend. And it turns out she's the daughter of my friend JJ Abrams!," the Funny Girl actress wrote, shouting out the Star Wars: The Force Awakens director, while sharing a photo of Abrams singing and playing guitar. The SNL performance of Abrams, who recently opened for Taylor Swift on the latter's record-breaking "Eras" tour, can be viewed on YouTube. Abrams and Streisand also have something else in common: Both are up for awards at the 2025 Grammys. The former is in the running for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance thanks to her "Us" duet with Swift, while Streisand earned nods for Best Song Written for Visual Media thanks to "Love Will Survive" (from the Peacock series The Tattooist of Auschwitz) and Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling recording for her memoir My Name Is Barbra. - Variety, 12/16/24...... After REO Speedwagon announced on Instagram on Sept. 16 that their upcoming U.S. dates will be their last, frontman Kevin Cronin says he wants to make it perfectly clear that ending REO was not his idea -- or desire. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever see this coming," says Cronin, who will make his solo debut on Jan. 25 in Thackerville, Okla. and will be part of next summer's "Brotherhood of Rock" tour with Styx and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. "I didn't want to end REO Speedwagon. This is sad, and I would do anything in my power to continue (as) REO Speedwagon. I never quit the band; I never will quit the band. I just got outvoted and... have to stop calling it REO Speedwagon at the end of this year." The vote Cronin refers to was a 2-1 decision with keyboardist Neal Doughty -- REO's sole remaining founding member from 1967, though he retired from touring during 2023 -- and Bruce Hall, bassist since 1977. Hall took a leave of absence during November of 2023 to have back surgery, with his spot filled by longtime Elton John and former David Lee Roth bassist Matt Bissonette. All three retained ownership interest in REO, however. In announcing its dissolution, the group said that Hall "had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect" and that "due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin." It also noted that Hall "never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans and crew he has loved for almost 50 years" while Cronin "too has never had any intention of leaving the band, and the fans and crew mean the world to him, as well." The initial Cronin solo tour show in Thackerville, Okla. on Jan. 25 will be titled "The Songs of REO Speedwagon," and he vows to continue playing the hits and fan favorites from his more than 40 years in the band. "It's gonna be called Kevin Cronin, but if you want to see an REO Speedwagon show, that's what it's going to be," explains Cronin, who's also been writing a memoir. Cronin adds he's also "really excited" to still be riding the storm out, but under his own name. "What I'm trying to concentrate on now is the future, and how fortunate I am to be in the position I am right now, artistically and creatively and musically," he says. "What I get in return for not touring under the name REO Speedwagon is to be able to tour in a band that is just firing on all cylinders and makes me happy and makes me fulfilled." The final show under the REO Speedwagon moniker takes place Dec. 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas. - Billboard, 12/16/24...... A New Jersey politician has been found to have shared a fake Spotify Wrapped in a bid to champion Bruce Springsteen. The Garden State's Democratic representative Josh Gottheimer took his eagerness to support Jersey legend Springsteen to the next level -- posting his results from Spotify Wrapped 2024 on X and showcasing his commitment to listening to The Boss. "No surprises here Fun fact: My first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!" he shared, alongside an image which showed his top five songs of the past 12 months being the singer's hits "Thunder Road," Because the Night," "Glory Days," "Badlands" and "The Rising." Upon the results being shared, however, some viewers were quick to notice slight discrepancies between the politician's results and the Wrapped results shared online by other Spotify users. After outlets like the New Jersey Monitor weighed in and asked him for comment, Gottheimer went on to reveal he had doctored the results to avoid including his children's choice in music in the list in another X post. "This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didn't share my account with my 12 and 15-year-old kids," Gottheimer said in a statement. "While it's Springsteen all day for me -- don't get me wrong, I still love listening to Taylor Swift!" Later, he went on to clarify his actual results for the Top Five songs and artists he had on Spotify for 2024 in yet another post. Springsteen still took first place on the artist list, and other names included Billy Joel, Drake, Travis Scott and Swift. The 2024 edition of Spotify Wrapped arrived earlier in December and, as ever, allowed users to reflect on their listening habits from the past 12 months in its "Celebration Of Your Year" experience. - NME, 12/12/24...... Lady Gaga has hooked up with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson to sing the classic AC/DC number "Highway to Hell" for Apple TV's A Carpool Karaoke Christmas special, which the streaming service premiered on Dec. 15. During Gaga's segment, she was joined by special guest Johnson to whom she revealed she has been a decades-long AC/DC fan. The pair then clasp hands and start belting out the band's "Highway To Hell" together. In the segment, Gaga also revealed she was a "headbanging" extra in an AC/DC video as a teenager. When Johnson first entered the car to join Gaga and Zane Lowe, Gaga said: "You want to hear something funny? I was in [2000's] 'Stiff Upper Lip' video." "I was 17 and I was an extra in the back and I was headbanging," she continued, prompting fans to share screenshots of her brief appearance in the video on social media. And they were like, 'Don't headbang. We want it to be modern.' And I was like, 'No, I can't. Like, there's only one move that I can do.'" The full episode of A Carpool Karaoke Christmas can be viewed on Apple TV+, and the Gaga/Johnson collaboration can be streamed on X. - New Musical Express, 12/16/24...... As his ongoing "Get Back" tour stopped in Manchester, UK on Dec. 14, Paul McCartney treated fans to a rare live rendition of his festive yuletide tune "Wonderful Christmastime" -- a moment that hasn't been seen live in six years. Sir Paul, 82, was joined by children from the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy, transforming the Co-Op Live arena into a winter wonderland. This performance was particularly special, as McCartney has only played "Wonderful Christmastime" live about a dozen times throughout his extensive solo career. The last time fans were treated to a live version was back in 2018 during a series of December shows in England and before that, it was during a Dec. 2016 performance on The Tonight Show. Originally released in 1979 as a standalone single, "Wonderful Christmastime" has become a staple of holiday playlists worldwide. The song was later included as a bonus track on some editions of the Beatles legend's McCartney II album. Earlier in December, "Wonderful Christmastime" reappeared on Billboard's Rock Streaming Songs chart at No. 15. It has previously flown to the runner-up rung in the 47 weeks it's spent on the list of the most-streamed rock tunes in the US. During the Manchester performance, Macca also treated fans to a mix of deep cuts and iconic hits like "Hey Jude" and "Band on the Run," in a hit-filled three-hour set. The early Beatles tunes that peppered the first hour of the set included a souped-up "Drive My Car" and the Motown-inspired "Got to Get You into My Life." McCartney's Manchester "Wonderful Christmastime" performance has been shared on YouTube. Meanwhile, the longtime vegetarian has launched an anti-bullfighting appeal ahead of his concerts in Madrid, Spain. In a new PETA campaign in Spain, the music legend declares, "I am Paul McCartney, and I oppose bullfighting." It comes as animal rights advocates in the country gather signatures for the No Es Mi Cultura popular legislative initiative, which aims to repeal the law that designates bullfighting as "cultural heritage" and empower Spanish communities to prohibit the violent blood sport. "Bulls feel pain and fear just as humans do, yet in the bullring they're terrorised, mutilated, and barbarically slaughtered in front of jeering crowds," says PETA Vice President for Europe Mimi Bekhechi. "PETA urges compassionate people everywhere to join Sir Paul McCartney in taking a stand against these bloody, merciless spectacles." International condemnation of bullfighting has continued to grow, including in Spain, where 93% of young people say they don't support the cruel spectacles. More than 100,000 PETA supporters have urged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to ban bullfighting. In more McCartney news, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has given Macca a shout-out during an appearance on CBS's The Late Show on Dec. 12. "When I was very, very young, my dad played me 'Rocky Raccoon' for the first time and I was so mesmerized by that song and the songwriting of it all that I fell in love with Paul McCartney," Carpenter told host Stephen Colbert. "I was convinced that was my husband, my future husband," she added of the now-82-year-old pop icon. "But he was quite old and I was so young I didn't understand that he was much older than me because I was looking at all these photos," she recalled thinking. "No, he's young, he's only like 10 years older than me. I didn't understand math I was a child." Colbert then asked Carpenter what it was like when she was finally able to meet the Beatles legend. "I just formed tears in my eyes and he was just so normal and casual and was so charming," she said. "It felt like I was entering an alternate universe like the Upside Down vibes? Like Stranger Things, but a lot happier than Stranger Things." What isn't strange, Carpenter noted, is that in every room McCartney enters he makes everyone feel "seen and heard," which was inspiring to see from someone she's "obsessed" with. Carpenter's Late Show interview can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 12/16/24...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Ringo Starr participated in a playback of his new country music-themed album Look Up at Third Man Records in London on Dec. 13. "I love my voice on this. I love all the tracks actually, and you know, they're all in my key," the world famous drummer told the UK paper The Sun. Starr was joined at the event by famous faces including ex-Led Zeppelin frontman Jimmy Page, 80, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, 77, Eric Clapton, 79, Sir Bob Geldof, 73, and 66-year-old Jools Holland. Ringo's new album comes after he told Variety he suffered a near-fatal illness that forced him to cancel solo shows this year. He said he had a high white blood cell count of 12,000, which can mean an infection or inflammation, describing it as "a mad thing eating my body." Ringo, a father of three, added: "That's what saved your life -- they were fighting the attacker. And so with pills and medication, I got over it in two weeks." - Music-News, 12/14/24...... Timothée Chalamet channeled Bob Dylan's early blonde-haired look at the New York premiere of the new Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown at New York's SVA Theater on Dec. 13. Chalamet, 28, paid tribute to the folk-rock icon by recreating Dylan's style from a 2003 Sundance Film Festival event. Dressed in a light blue beanie, black leather coat, gray patterned scarf, red flannel shirt and sporting dyed blonde bangs, Chalamet's ensemble closely mirrored a look Dylan wore to the Masked and Anonymous movie screening more than two decades ago. A Complete Unknown, which has its general release on Christmas Day, stars Chalamet as a younger version of Dylan. The film also features Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton. After His Bobness himself gave his stamp of approval to Chalamet's performance in the film on X earlier in December, Chalamet tweeted in response that he was "Floored... I am so grateful. Thank you, Bob." - Billboard, 12/14/24...... The new Elton John documentary Never Too Late began streaming exclusively on Disney+ on Dec. 13. Celebrating the extraordinary 50-year career of one of the biggest names in pop and rock music, it gives fans a peek at the legendary singer's life behind his rhinestone-encrusted glasses, as he prepares for his farewell live concert at Dodger Stadium, the same venue of his iconic 1975 performance. Directed by R.J. Cutler and John's husband/manager David Furnish, the film is jam-packed with unseen footage, rare interviews and an array of Elton's greatest hits as he explores the inspiring full-circle journey of his career. In his own words, the Rocket Man recounts the many struggles he's faced early on in life, to his rise to fame and career-defining sold-out shows. The official trailer for Elton John: Never Too Late can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/12/24...... In other Elton news, his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin recently told Time magazine in an interview to mark John being named the magazine's "2024 Icon of the Year" that the work he and Sir Elton did when the singer was in the depths of drug addiction "not the best." "I was terrified for him. It was absolutely horrible a lot of the work that we did in the times when he was at his worst wasn't the best of both of us," Taupin said. He added about watching Elton battle addiction forcing him to reform his heavy drug use for the sake of his work: "I wasn't able to creatively invest any time in writing material that related to him until he actually found himself, and then it was easier for me to reflect upon it." John has said he was introduced to cocaine around 1974 at the peak of his productivity, and even though he initially enjoyed the powder freeing him from his crippling shyness, it "soon took over his life." Time reported Elton now "divides his life into pre- and post-sober periods." Its profile highlighted how he has helped a series of others kick drugs, which has seen him become rapper Eminem's sponsor and get late The Band member Robbie Williams into rehab for the first time. Elton said about trying to coach people into giving up addictions: "It's tough to tell someone that they're being an a--h---, and it's tough to hear. Eventually I made the choice to admit that I'm being an a--h---." - Music-News.com, 12/14/24...... Cher has been "required to evacuate" her home in the wake of the dangerous Malibu wildfire. Known as the Franklin Fire, the conflagration has destroyed nearly 4,000 acres since beginning on Dec. 9. Other celebrities who reside in Malibu, including legendary comedy actor Dick Van Dyke and actress Mira Sorvino, have revealed they've also evacuated since the start of the Southern California natural disaster. The wildfire has caused forced evacuation orders and warnings for over 20,000 residents due to the wind-driven fire, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. - People, 12/11/24...... KISS bassist/singer Gene Simmons spent decades traveling the world as the fire-breathing bass player for KISS, taking with him the large road crews required for massive -- and expensive -- productions on some of music's biggest stages. Since KISS's final show in Dec. 2023, the former fire-breathing musician has been traveling considerably lighter as the frontman for the Gene Simmons Band, playing KISS favorites, some rarely heard Simmons solo tunes and familiar classics by the likes of Van Halen and Motörhead. Speaking with Billboard's "Behind the Setlist" podcast, Simmons says he has stripped down the tour to the essential elements -- the musicians -- and pockets more money from a Gene Simmons Band show than he netted as a member of KISS. "The local promoters provide the back line, and we just get up there and play," Simmons says. That's a sharp contrast to the complex -- and expensive -- production required to take KISS on the road. As a solo artist playing festivals and theaters, Simmons has "no managers, no private jets, no 20 tractor trailers, no 60-man crew, no huge shows -- and the pyro alone for every [KISS] show is ten grand, sometimes 50 [thousand dollars] if you go outdoors," he explains. "Enormous, enormous costs for doing that." Simmons adds he is "proud" to have performed those massive productions, but the Gene Simmons Band tour isn't trying to replicate the KISS stage show. "It's almost as if you decided to rent some amps in a garage and plug in," he says, "and then everybody from the neighborhood comes in It's very informal and a lot of fun." Simmons' entire interview can be heard on Spotify.com, as well as Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, Podbean or Everand. - Billboard, 12/12/24.

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Def Leppard has been confirmed to co-headline the inaugural Boardwalk Rock Festival in Ocean City, Md. in 2025. The two-day event, which runs May 17 and 18, will also feature the likes of Mötley Crüe, Alice Cooper, Nickelback, Shinedown, Bush, Chevelle, Puddle of Mudd, 3 Doors Down, Candlebox, Night Ranger and Everclear. The festival will feature three stages two on the beach and one on the iconic Ocean City boardwalk offering fans a scenic and immersive experience. The event also includes access to the boardwalk's restaurants, bars, and shops, along with Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, home to a Ferris wheel, double-decker carousel, roller coaster, and more. Tickets go on sale Dec. 13 and start at $165 for single-day general admission, with two-day passes available for $195. - Billboard, 12/12/24...... Paul McCartney's ambitious yet ultimately abandoned collaboration with legendary sci-fi author Isaac Asimov has been unveiled in vivid detail through a new book published on Dec. 10, The McCartney Legacy, Volume 2: 1974 80, by authors Adrian Sinclair and Allan Kozinn. The proposed film that never came to fruition, tentatively titled Five and Five and One, featured an eccentric plot that intertwined aliens, McCartney's band Wings -- consisting of his wife Linda McCartney and ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine -- and their efforts to take Earth by storm. McCartney's original treatment for the story was brief, about 400 words long, but Asimov expanded it into a more detailed 1,800-word version. A fragment of McCartney's treatment reveals the unique premise: "A 'flying saucer' lands. Out of it get five creatures. They transmute before your very eyes into 'us' [Wings]. They are here to take over Earth by taking America by storm and they proceed to do this supergroup style. Meanwhile -- back in the sticks of Britain -- lives the original group, whose personalities are being used by the aliens." McCartney personally approached Asimov in 1974 to collaborate on the script, meeting in New York since Asimov had an aversion to flying. He quipped about the author's reluctance: "He can imagine himself into far-off galaxies, but he wouldn't get on a plane." Asimov expanded on the story, evolving the alien invaders into "energy-beings" from a dying planet who sought to occupy the Wings members rather than clone them. However, the beings were unable to comprehend human emotions like love, adding a philosophical layer to the narrative. Despite the intriguing concept, the project stalled. By early 1975, the collaboration was shelved, with Asimov reportedly leaving a pointed critique scrawled on the first page of his treatment: "Nothing ever came of this because McCartney couldn't recognize good stuff." The new book is part of a larger series chronicling McCartney's career and follows the first volume covering 1969-1973, which was published in 2022. In other McCartney-related news, actor Paul Mescal has apparently been tapped to star as Macca in the upcoming Beatles biopic series about each of the four members. During a conversation with director Christopher Nolan after a screening of Gladiator II at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles on Dec. 10, the film's director Ridley Scott discussed his next project, a thriller titled The Dog Stars. When asked if Mescal will star in the movies following his Gladiator role, Scott noted that the actor's schedule might prevent that from happening as he will be starring in Sony Pictures' upcoming Beatles project. "Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sony has yet to officially confirm Mescal's casting in the biopics, which will be helmed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... In a new interview with ClassicRock.com, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman said the passing of Stones drummer Charlie Watts in 2021 at age 80 "would've been a good time" for the band to end. Wyman joined the Stones in 1962, replacing Dick Taylor on bass and remained with the band for over 30 years until his departure in 1993. Watts would join the group officially as their drummer in 1963, a role he held until his death in 2021. Wyman told ClassicRock.com that although Stones principals Mick Jagger and Keith Richards attempted to get him to stay in the band, his desires for other projects outweighed the prospects of the band. Wyman also added that while he viewed himself as a replaceable member, he felt that the group's demise would have coincided with the death of Watts. "When Charlie left, I thought they would close. I really did," he explained. "They could replace the bass, but I didn't think they could replace Charlie, and his charisma, and what a great guy he was, but they went on, which surprised me. I wouldn't say it disappointed me, but it surprised me. I think it would've been a good time for them to.... But I don't think they've got anything else to do, otherwise they'd do it, wouldn't they?" he added. Watts says he still keeps busy, noting "I've got six different things I'm doing all the time, and I'm so happy doing them." Wyman added bass to a track on the band's 2023 album, Hackney Diamonds, his first time recording with the group since 1989, and has performed live with the band on a handful of occasions since his exit. Meanwhile, the Stones are celebrating the one-year anniversary of Hackney Diamonds with a special 2-LP vinyl re-issue. The special edition on "clear blue splatter" vinyl features the original 12-track album plus seven additional live tracks recorded at a record release party at the Racket venue in New York. That bonus disc features a mix of new tracks from the album ("Bite My Head Off," "Angry," "Whole Wide World"), as well as such classics as "Shattered," "Tumbling Dice," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and a live version of "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" with Lady Gaga. The band has posted a Hackney Diamonds anniversary edition announcement on Instagram. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 12/10/24...... On Dec. 10 James Taylor announced he is hitting the road next summer with his all-star band for an extensive 2025 North American tour. The 24-show, 20-city outing will feature support from vocal harmony trio Tiny Habits. The tour is slated to kick off on May 5 with a show at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ, followed by amphitheater gigs in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Toronto before winding down at the BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, N.H. on July 1. The outing will feature a few double-downs, including a pair of nights at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego, a pair at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA, two at the Chateau St. Michelle Winery in Seattle, Wash. and a double-night run at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Col. Sales to the general public began on Dec. 11 through Ticketmaster. Taylor, 76, is headed back on the road after a busy 2024, which found him hitting amphitheaters across the U.S. and playing a benefit "Concert for Carolina" in October to raise funds for North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene, as well as performing at the DNC and at a Kamala Harris/Tim Walz rally in October. - Billboard, 12/10/24...... During a recent conversation with Lifeminute, former Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler shared the plans that Ozzy Osbourne has for the final Sabbath performance. Butler revealed that he remains in contact with the ailing Osbourne and said: "Ozzy was talking to me about, when he does his farewell concert -- which he still wants to do -- He's dying to still get out there and play, and he suggested, at his very final concert, for the four of us to get up onstage and maybe do three or four songs together. And that would be it, finished." Butler also noted that the potential show would be a "one-off" and not any kind of lasting Black Sabbath reunion, adding: "Definitely no more tours." In Nov. 2023, Ozzy addressed his declining health and shared that he might have to "accept the fact" that a live comeback would potentially not be possible due to issues such as his battle with Parkinson's disease and recovery from multiple surgeries. "I'm taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will," he told Rolling Stone UK at the time. "But it's been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life." Butler's full interview can be viewed on YouTube. Meanwhile, Butler recently reacted to the Aston Villa Football Club debuting its new "Black Sabbath football kit," calling it a "dream come true." - NME, 12/11/24...... The widow of the Ramones member Johnny Ramone, Linda Cummings-Ramone, has won a legal victory over band frontman Joey Ramone's brother, Mickey Leigh, in their never-ending feud over control of the pioneering punk band's legacy. The decision made public on Dec. 10 by an arbitrator says that Leigh's manager, David Frey, must be terminated as a director on the board of Ramones Productions Inc., the corporate entity that controls the Ramones' music and other assets. Ruling that Frey had breached his fiduciary duty to the company, the arbitrator said Leigh's manager had "fostered a dysfunctional and disruptive relationship" with Cummings-Ramone and had engaged "in conduct that harms the Ramone brand, rather than promoting that brand." The latest scuffle began in January, when Cummings-Ramone sued Leigh in New York state court, including allegations that he and Frey had "covertly" developed an "unauthorized" biopic not just about Joey, but "the story of the Ramones." In the lawsuit, Cummings-Ramone said that any "authoritative story of the Ramones" would require her sign-off: "To permit defendants alone to tell the authoritative story of the Ramones would be an injustice to the band and its legacy." The ruling, which must be confirmed by a New York judge, resolves only a single issue in the larger lawsuit and leaves other issues to be resolved in court. Leigh has also sued Cummings-Ramone in a separate lawsuit in federal court, accusing her of trademark infringement and other violations; that case also remains pending. - Billboard, 12/11/24...... An animated Patti LaBelle will feature in an upcoming holiday episode of The Simpsons. As announced on Dec. 11, the "On My Own" singer will deliver a musical performance in the double episode premiering Dec. 17 on Disney+, exactly 35 years after the original The Simpsons holiday special aired in 1989. The streaming platform also shared a trailer for the project, titled "The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful," on YouTube, showing Homer wreaking havoc on Springfield after famed mentalist Derren Brown hypnotizes him into thinking he's Santa Claus. - Billboard, 12/11/24...... As Elvis Costello prepares to kick off his 2025 "Radio Soul" tour in Seattle on June 12, the "Watching the Detectives" singer says he'll focus heavily on his early material. "For any songwriter, it has to be a compliment if people want to hear songs written up to fifty years ago," Costello said of decision to focus on his early work, namechecking the draft of "Radio Radio" as an example. The tour takes its name from an early version of "Radio Radio," which Costello had written in 1974 as a member of Flip City. Initially inspired by Bruce Springsteen, the final version was issued on 1978's This Year's Model and has since been considered one of Costello's finest works. The tour will see Costello lifting from his first 11 albums, ranging from 1977's My Aim is True to 1986's Blood & Chocolate. This period featured some of Costello's most enduring tracks, including "Watching the Detectives", "Pump it Up", "Everyday I Write the Book" and "Oliver's Army" to name a few. For the tour, Costello will be joined by his backing band The Imposters. "The Imposters are a living, breathing, swooning, swinging, kicking and screaming rock and roll band who can turn their hands to a pretty ballad when the opportunity arises," he said. The tour will run for 17 dates with stops including Portland, Or., San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Nashville, Tenn., before wrapping up in Miami Beach, Fla., on July 12. - Billboard, 12/10/24...... On Dec. 11 Elton John was named by Time magazine as its 2024 Icon of the Year. In a new cover story for the magazine -- which will reveal its pick for Person of the Year on Dec. 12 -- John sat for an interview in which he looked back over his career, and considered his own legacy. "If people remember that we tried to change the world a little bit, we were kind, we tried to help people And then, apart from that, there was the music," he said. Throughout his wide-ranging interview, John talked about myriad aspects of his life, including his faith, sobriety and relationship with his late mother. He also reflected on aspects of his job in the industry, including his distaste for performing in music videos. "Music videos should be made by good-looking people like Harry Styles. I'm not very good at looking at myself," he explained "I don't think you ever lose that body consciousness. I just think it stays with you forever." It was also revealed that John moves onto a new song if he can't nail a melody in an hour. "He likes to write fast -- if he can't get a tune for the lyrics he's given in an hour or so, he moves on to new ones," his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin said. Time's cover featuring Icon of the Year Elton John can be viewed on the Time.com website. Meanwhile, in a new interview clip with Good Morning America posted on YouTube on Dec. 10, the 77-year-old icon opened up about the moment he realized his name change had "caught up" to him: right before his historic performance at Dodger Stadium in 1975. "Reginald is a really old-fashioned name," Elton began. "It's shortened to Reggie, which I hated." "I just didn't like it, and as soon as I could, I changed my name," he continued. "I was very clever, I thought, 'No one's really called Elton, so I'll be Elton and I'll be the only Elton.' I wanted to leave my childhood and that persona behind, and that caught up with me. I realized I put everything into my work and my art, my recording, and there was nothing underneath there. I was just a void. I left little Reggie behind, but little Reggie was still inside of me," he added. - Billboard, 12/11/24...... Santana have announced some UK headline shows for their summer 2025 "Oneness" tour, suggesting that a Glastonbury performance could be on the cards. Fronted by Carlos Santana, the band is due to play gigs at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, Manchester's Co-op Live and London's O2 in June 2025. This will follow a run of dates in Europe, and come ahead of further concerts on the continent. These include stops in Budapest, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna and Cologne. The announcement says the band will "perform high-energy, passion-filled songs from their 50-year career, including fan favourites from Abraxas to Woodstock to Supernatural, and beyond." The newly confirmed shows currently leave Santana available for a potential slot at Glastonbury 2025 on June 27 or June 29. However, the group do have performances scheduled in Europe on either side of these days. The full tour schedule can be viewed on Instagram. Santana released their 26th and most recent studio album, Blessings And Miracles, in 2021. A documentary film about the group's frontman, titled Carlos, arrived in 2023. - NME, 12/11/24...... The musical legacy of revered but complex and underappreciated pop songwriter Laura Nyro is being celebrated with the recent release of Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995, a limited-edition box set from Britain's Madfish Records. It includes Nyro's 10 studio albums, along with six live albums (two previously unreleased), the 1966 demo tape that landed her first recording contract at the age of 18 and a "Live & Rarities" disc including more demos, alternative versions, outtakes and live tracks. The collection also comes with a coffee-table sized book of liner notes by Vivien Goldman, a foreword by Elton John and remembrances from Calello, Jackson Browne, Clive Davis, Lou Adler, John Sebastian and others. The Bronx-born Nyro possessed a three-octave voice and was best known for songs such as "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "And When I Die" and "Stoney End," which were turned into hits when covered by the the likes of The Fifth Dimension, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Barbra Streisand. In addition to music Nyro was an avid feminist and animal rights activist. She passed away Apr. 8, 1997 from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 (her mother died of the same disease, at the same age 22 years earlier) and was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2012). - Billboard, 12/9/24...... Neil Morrissey -- the voice of Bob in the UK-based children's show Bob The Builder -- has revealed that there were once some talks about involving Bruce Springsteen in a rendition of the theme tune, but the plans were nixed by the record label to avoid appearing "political." Speaking to The Guardian, Morrissey looked back at the time the show's creators decided to release the theme as an official single, and how they were taken aback by the impressive mark it left on the UK charts. "The TV show was going bonkers all around the world. By the time it came to the end of 2000, someone said: 'Why don't we re-record the theme tune as a single?' We didn't think anything would come of it, even though it was a lot of fun," Morrissey recalled. Morrissey went on to recall how there were brief talks to bring the single into the spotlight once again when Barack Obama began his campaigns in the US presidential election. The idea arose as the leader of the Democratic Party would adopt the slogan "Yes we can" -- which also features in the theme song for the children's show. "When Barack Obama came into office and started to say 'Yes we can' all the time, I said: 'Here's an opportunity -- we could phone up Bruce Springsteen and see if he wants to record a version,'" Morrissey revealed, before confirming that the idea was shot down in a bid to not divide opinion. "But Hit Entertainment, who owned the rights, weren't biting. I don't think they wanted Bob to get in any way political." The first episode of Bob The Builder aired in April 1999, and the series would continue regularly up until New Year's Eve 2011. - NME, 12/10/24...... According to new figures released on Dec. 9, ABBA's Voyage virtual concert residency has contributed £140 billion to the UK economy. Voyage, which features digital avatars depicting the Swedish pop icons as they appeared in 1979, generated the sum between its opening in May 2022 to May 2024. During that time, the live concert experience has attracted over two million visitors, with 31 per cent travelling from outside of the UK. According to a new report by music, culture and creative economy consultancy Sound Diplomacy, attendees spent an average of 220 per day in London, as well as the cost of the ticket to the show at Stratford's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The most positive impact is felt in the local boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, with local restaurants and bars receiving £51.26 million, commercial shops gaining £27.28 million and accommodation £66.38 million. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said: "ABBA Voyage has been a phenomenal success story for London, boosting our economy by more than £1 billion and showing again why our capital is a global leader for music and culture." - NME, 12/9/24...... Judas Priest announced on Instagram on Dec. 9 that they have extended their 2025 European tour by announcing two new UK shows -- one of which being a co-headline date with Alice Cooper. The first of which will take place on July 23, and see frontman Rob Halford and co. joined by Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons as they head to the Scarborough Open Air Theatre. The latter will be held two days later and is scheduled as a co-headlining gig with Cooper at The O2 in London on July 25. This is now the final scheduled gig of the upcoming tour. The tour comes in support of the band's latest album, Invincible Shield, and was originally set to consist of 12 shows with stops in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, France and more between June and July. The upcoming run of shows comes shortly after the band completed their run of North American shows. - NME, 12/9/24...... George Joseph Kresge Jr., better known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist "The Amazing Kreskin," died on Dec. 10 in Caldwell, N.J., where he spent much of his life. He was 89. Kreskin's friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, told the AP that Mr. Kresge had not been feeling well in recent weeks but otherwise did not provide a cause of death. Inspired by the crime-fighting comic book character Mandrake the Magician, The Amazing Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s, making guest appearances on talk shows hosted by everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks -- whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted his own show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books, including Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin and Mental Power Is Real. Though Kreskin made "predictions," he did not claim to have paranormal or clairvoyant powers, and did not like to be considered a "psychic". One of his best known tricks was to find his own check for his current performance. If he did not find it, he did not get paid for that day. He would instruct the audience to hide an envelope containing his paycheck, while he was escorted off stage and into seclusion by other members of the audience. He then re-emerged and hunted through the audience, almost always being able to ferret out the correct location. Although he was a talk show regular, one host wasn't amused by a Kreskin stunt. In 2002, he claimed that a UFO would appear over Las Vegas on the night of June 2, and added that he would donate $50,000 to charity if he was wrong. Hundreds of people gathered in the desert, in vain. Kreskin acknowledged to radio personality Art Bell that his prediction was a hoax, a way of proving that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the year before had made people susceptible to manipulation. Bell called the ruse "lame, lame, lame" and banned him from his show. Kreskin's popularity peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s, though he continued to perform into the 2020s. He appeared regularly on WPIX in New York City, and annually on both the Fox News Channel and CNN to give his New Year's Day predictions for the coming year. His last television appearance was on Fox Business on May 2, 2023, predicting the 2024 Super Bowl winner, and his last scheduled performance was on March 7, 2024, a "pendulum seminar" on Zoom. The 2008 movie The Great Buck Howard is based on the experiences of writer-director Sean McGinly, who worked briefly as Kreskin's road manager. Galway said that Kreskin continued to make live appearances well into his 80s, and only stopped earlier this year after injuring himself in a fall. Kreskin never married and left no immediate survivors. "His career was his life. That was his marriage," Galway said. "He was dedicated to his craft." - AP, 12/11/24.

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris Jackson has announced her engagement to her longtime boyfriend and bandmate/producer Justin Long. Paris, 26, is the only daughter of King of Pop Jackson and released her debut album, Wilted, in 2020. Paris addressed her sexuality on Instagram in 2018 after a fan asked if she was bisexual. "That's what you guys call it so I guess, but who needs labels," she said a the time in later-deleted post. In the end she said, "and i'm not 'bisexual,' i just love people for people. i don't label myself so please don't label me." Paris, who began dating Long in 2022, announced the engagement with a series of pictures on Instagram. - Billboard, 12/6/24...... Alice Cooper, his daughter Calico, and Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash have teamed up for a motorcycle-themed kids song called "Freewheelin'." The high-energy track, which can be streamed on YouTube, sees Alice and Calico sing "I'm freewheelin' on my new bike / It's the best thing that I like / Now you're freewheelin' riding by yourself / Pedalling faster without any help," describing the joys of riding a bike while Slash throws in an electrifying guitar solo. The song is featured in the children's album Solid Rock Revival, which also features the likes of Judas Priest's Rob Halford and Run DMC's Daryl "DMC" McDaniels and was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Children's Music Album category in 2025. Proceeds from the LP benefit Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers -- a nonprofit organisation providing free after-school training in music, dance, art, and more for teens ages 12-20. Cooper was recently announced as an opening act for the pop-punk New Jersey band My Chemical Romance's 2025 US stadium tour, a somewhat divisive choice after the shock rocker's comments in 2023 that being transgender was mostly "a fad." - New Musical Express, 12/6/24...... German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk announced a 2025 North American tour on YouTube on Dec. 5. Kicking off in Philadelphia on Mar. 6, the 25-city run includes the group's previously announced performances at Coachella 2025. This tour celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the group's fourth album, Autobahn, widely considered one of the essential blueprints for electronic music, along with Kraftwerk's first U.S. tour in 1975 behind the LP. Following the trek, the group will also perform in June at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, U.K. On the upcoming trek, called the Multimedia Tour, the four-man group will include original Kraftwerk member Ralf Hütter, who co-founded Kraftwerk with Florian Schneider in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1970. (Schneider passed away in 2020 at the age of 73.) The 2025 tour announcement comes with a corresponding video by pro skateboarder and noted Kraftwerk fan Tony Hawk, with the clip showing the skater and three pals doing skate tricks while dressed in the de facto Kraftwerk uniform of a crisp shirt and tie. Kraftwerk, who will also co-headline the the inaugural Forever Now festival in the UK on June 22, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. - Billboard, 12/5/24...... In a Facebook post on Dec. 2 defending President-elect Donald Trump's use of the Village People's iconic disco song "Y.M.C.A." at his campaign rallies, VP frontman Victor Willis says he'll sue if the song is referred to as a "gay anthem," but legal experts say he's unlikely to win. Willis sharply denied that he had intended the track to be aimed at the gay community -- calling it a "false assumption" and "completely misguided." But he also went a step further than that, warning that next month his team would "start suing each and every news organization" that refers to "Y.M.C.A" as a "gay anthem," calling such a description "defamatory." "The song is not really a gay anthem other than certain people falsely suggesting that it is," Willis wrote in the post. "And this must stop because it is damaging to the song." However top attorneys who specialize in media law say that if Willis does sue "because it was not written to be a gay song because of the simple fact I'm not gay," such claims would face serious obstacles in court. "Mr. Willis' threatened libel claim would be a nonstarter for numerous reasons," says Adam I. Rich, a music and free speech attorney at the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine. Rich says for starters, to prove such an accusation -- also known as libel -- Willis would need to show that an offending news outlet had made a statement of fact that's capable of being proven false, and not merely a statement of opinion that he disagrees with -- a form of speech safeguarded by the First Amendment. Another, even more basic problem for any lawsuit against media outlets is the fact that Willis is a "public figure" -- a status that makes it very hard to win a defamation lawsuit. Under U.S. Supreme Court precedents, he'd need to prove that offending statement (either calling his song a "gay anthem" or claiming a hidden lyrical meaning) was not only factually false, but that the writer knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Released by the Village People in Oct. 1978, "Y.M.C.A" eventually reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was emblematic of the late-1970s disco craze. The buoyant track and its trademark alphabetic dance have become one of music's enduring phenomenons, blasted for years at sporting events, wedding dance floors and, of late, Donald Trump rallies. - Billboard, 12/5/24...... A new trailer for the upcoming Led Zeppelin authorized documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin features previously-unheard audio from late Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. Soundtracked by the band's 1969's track "Whole Lotta Love," the trailer (available on YouTube) features visuals of the band's kaleidoscopic career, interspersed with recent interviews with surviving band members. "The first time we played together, it was stunning," Bonham says at the end of the trailer. "It was like a gift from heaven, wasn't it?" The doc has been in the works for some years, with director Bernard MacMahon helming the project following the success of his 2017 exploration into U.S. roots music, American Epic. Featuring the participation of the three surviving members -- singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, and bassist John Paul Jones -- the project was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, at which point it was noted as being in the post-production phase. "When I saw everything Bernard had done both visually and sonically on the remarkable achievement that is American Epic, I knew he would be qualified to tell our story," Page said at the time. Becoming Led Zeppelin is set for release in IMAX cinemas on Feb. 7. - Billboard, 12/5/24...... In other Zeppelin news, Jimmy Page has teamed up with Gibson Guitars to launch new EDS-1275 Doubleneck VOS custom guitar, modeled after the one he defined in the 1970s after the guitar was introduced in 1958. Gibson and Page joined forces in a new partnership at the start of the year, and first shared a limited Collector's Edition version of the guitarist's iconic double neck axe back in March as part of Gibson's celebration of its 130-year history. Priced at just under $8,800, the spec of the new variant includes a double-cutaway one-piece mahogany body, both necks having a 12" radius, bound Indian rosewood fretboards, aged cellulose nitrate parallelogram inlays and more. "The Gibson EDS-1275 allowed him to play the numerous 6 and 12-string acoustic and electric guitar parts of 'Stairway to Heaven' during live performance," a description from Gibson reads. "He also later used the EDS-1275 for 'The Song Remains the Same', 'The Rain Song', 'Celebration Day', 'Tangerine', and more recently live at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in a November 2023 tribute to Link Wray." More information can be found on the Gibson.com website. - NME, 12/5/24...... Brian May's wife Anita Dobson has shared another update on the musician after he suffered a stroke earlier in 2024. "He's much better now, he's stabilised now, which is brilliant," Dobson told the UK's The Mirror paper on Dec. 5. "I just hope we don't have any more reoccurrence." She continued: "He's got the use of that arm, which was a bit of a challenge, back now. So, yeah, he's good to go now. He's playing the piano quite a lot in the house. He likes a lot of Beethoven. I love it - the piano in the house is really, just very relaxing. He didn't actually try [to play an instrument] until after he'd recovered quite a bit. And then he very slowly started to pick up an acoustic guitar and gradually just exercise the muscles. And it very quickly came back." She added: "He's just retraining the messages from your brain to that arm, that it's actually okay to do what it used to do. It was scary. And also being a genius for someone like that. His brain's overloaded, that's what it is. He's too clever for his own good." The Queen guitarist, 77, told fans about the health scare in a post on social media in September, but assured his followers that he was on the road to recovery. He explained that the "minor stroke" came on "all of a sudden, out of the blue," and left him without any control over one of his arms. He said the incident was "a little scary" before recalling the "fantastic" medical care he had received. "The good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days," he said at the time. Later, actor Dobson (EastEnders) explained that her husband was "doing great" and said the couple were "very pleased" with the progress he was making. She went on to say she was "completely confident" that May would "make a full recovery." Queen wrapped up a run of tour dates with current frontman Adam Lambert in February, and do not have any other live shows scheduled currently. Meanwhile, Queen Extravaganza, the official tribute band of Queen, are due to embark on a UK and Ireland tour in 2025. The upcoming gigs will celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Bohemian Rhapsody." - NME, 12/5/24...... On Dec. 4 the Grateful Dead touring ensemble Dead & Co. announced it will reprise its Dead Forever residency at Las Vegas' Sphere in 2025 in celebration of its 60th anniversary. The 18 shows, slated to take place from March to May, follow the band's 30-date run at Sphere in 2024, which grossed $131.8 million. Dead & Co. is comprised of founding Dead members Bobby Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, alongside Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge and John Mayer. Kreutzmann played with Dead & Co. from 2015 to 2022 but sat out its 2023 final tour and 2024 Sphere residency; a representative for Dead & Co. confirmed Kreutzmann will not perform with the band at Sphere in 2025. "[The Sphere is] a marvel in terms of what you can do visually with it during a show," Weir says. "It was an interesting challenge for us -- but I thought we met it." "Very cool, very cool, Sphere, very cool," Hart adds. - Billboard, 12/5/24....... As Sean Lennon and the rest of his family prepare to mark the 44th anniversary of father John Lennon's death in New York City in 1980 on Dec. 8, Sean recently told BBC Radio 6 that his dad's untimely passing has had an impact on countless individuals throughout the world. No more have felt that impact, Sean says, than his mother Yoko Ono. Sean claimed that Yoko "never has moved on from that relationship" since John's passing, but agreed that the recent rerelease of John's 1973 LP Mind Games was something of a "love letter" to his parents. "I've never put it that way but I would say it's my best effort to try to be a good son," Sean said. Sean touched on his parents' relationship around the record's creation. At the time of Mind Games' writing, John was in the midst of the 18-month "lost weekend"' period in which he was separated from Ono. "A lot of people said like, 'Yoko wasn't around for this record, why are they featuring her in the booklet' or something," Lennon began. "And I think there's a lot of history, there's a lot of assumptions made about that time period because they were sort of on their way towards that famous separation that people called The Lost Weekend. But the truth is, even when they were apart they were always talking, so I don't think they ever really broke up, all his stuff was still in the apartment with my mum, it's not like they had a real separation. And on top of it, all my dad was thinking about was her. You look at the album cover, it's a collage of my mum literally the size of a mountain, and he's this little tiny thing sort of fading into the background" he continued. "And I think it's clear what his view of my mum was in his life. She was monumental, obviously. And the whole album is about her." - Billboard, 12/4/24...... In a new interview with Planet Rock radio's podcast, Uriah Heep founding guitarist Mick Box revealed that the band will continue to tour after their 2025 UK farewell dates, which were announced at the end of September. Uriah Heep announced the UK leg of their final tour will kick off in Birmingham on Feb. 19, with the string of headline shows also seeing them play Bristol, Gateshead, Glasgow, Manchester, London and Bexhill through Feb. 27. "Well, it'll take two to three years to go around, and then once we've done that, we'll still be doing festivals and weekend work and stuff like that, but the long arduous tours we're not gonna do anymore," Box told Planet Rock. "And I don't think it's logistically possible now with the way things are with carnets for equipment to get through territories. Bus prices tripled. And we did 11 flights the other month and five of them were cancelled, so it's getting really hard to make those things work," he added. Box then went on to discuss his plans for life post-Uriah Heep. "I guess we'll do [some] writing and go in the recording studio and do other aspects of the of the game," he said. "But as I say, we're still gonna be touring, still gonna be playing. It's just that we're not doing the really long stuff. We'll do it in sections rather than a whole long splurge." Box's full interview can be viewed on YouTube. The Heep's 25th and most recent full-length record, Chaos & Colour, came out in early 2023. The band's current line-up consists of Box alongside Phil Lanzon, Bernie Shaw, Russell Gilbrook and Dave Rimmer. - NME, 12/4/24...... Posting on X/Twitter on Dec. 4, Bob Dylan has given his stamp of approval to the upcoming Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, as well as its starring actor, Timothée Chalamet. "There's a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role," the rock legend wrote. "Timmy's a brilliant actor so I'm sure he's going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me. The film's taken from Elijah Wald's Dylan Goes Electric -- a book that came out in 2015. It's a fantastic retelling of events from the early '60s that led up to the fiasco at Newport. After you've seen the movie read the book," he added. Also starring Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy, the biographical drama was directed by James Mangold, who has revealed that the "Blowin' in the Wind" artist personally gave feedback on the script. - Billboard, 12/4/24...... On Dec. 3 Eric Clapton announced a run of UK headline shows for 2025. "Eric will return next year to London's @RoyalAlbertHall for a limited run of 3 shows," his X/Twitter post reads. "Additionally, he will play just one show outside the capital, at Nottingham's @nottinghamarena, his first show in that city since 2008." Clapton will play Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on May 18 -- his first stop in the city since 2008 -- then head to London for three performances at the historic Royal Albert Hall on May 21, 23 and 24. Clapton played four concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall this May following gigs in Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin and Manchester. Slowhand has since hit the road in Europe, South America and North America. He released his 22nd solo studio album, Meanwhile, online in October. Physical editions of the record will come out in January. - NME, 12/4/24...... The creators of the hit Broadway play "Stereophonic" have reached a settlement to resolve a copyright lawsuit claiming they stole elements of the show from a memoir about the infamous recording of Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album Rumours. The deal will resolve a case, filed in October by music producer Ken Caillat, that called playwright David Adjmi's Tony Award-winning show an "unauthorized adaptation" and "willful infringement" of the 2012 book Making Rumours, a memoir detailing his work on the famed album. Terms of the deal were not disclosed in court filings, and neither side immediately returned requests for comment. "Stereophonic" debuted on Broadway last fall, eventually winning five Tony Awards including best play, best direction of a play and best featured actor in a play. Featuring the music of Arcade Fire's Will Butler, it tells the story of a fictional rock band struggling to record an album in the mid-1970s. Critics quickly noted the similarities to the difficult process behind Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, which featured high tensions and heavy drug usage. A reviewer for the Wall Street Journal said the play was "fictionalizing Fleetwood Mac"; another critic said the play "isn't literally about Fleetwood Mac, but c'mon." In their Oct. 2 lawsuit, Caillat and co-author Steven Stiefel said the hit play "presents a nearly identical story arc as Making Rumours," told from the same perspective of a sound engineer in a recording studio, about five characters who are "undeniably analogous to the members of Fleetwood Mac." If the case had gone to trial, it would have presented tricky legal questions. Under U.S. law, historical events cannot be monopolized under copyrights, and nobody can claim exclusive ownership over the real story behind the making of Rumours. But specific creative elements of how such a story is told can be protected by copyrights, and film, TV and stage producers often license non-fiction books as the basis for their works. - Billboard, 12/4/24...... More than a decade since it first launched, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer has announced the closure of his Rockin' & Roastin' Coffee line. Kramer announced the news via a message shared to the coffee brand's website on Nov. 29, citing "no realistic alternative" to its impending closure. "To all of Rockin' & Roastin"s loyal subscribers and my coffee loving fans along the way - It is with deep deep sadness that we have had to make the decision to close the business of Rockin & Roastin' Coffee," the message read. "After the years of working to recover from the devastation to our business from the impact of Covid, significant increases in the cost of doing business and the tragic, painful loss of my wife, Linda, there just is no realistic alternative but to close our proverbial doors." Kramer closed the post by noting that all orders received through Saturday, Nov. 30 would be filled, but no orders will be taken thereafter. Rockin' & Roastin' Coffee was first launched by Kramer in 2012 after years spent on the road as a touring musician and being subjected to copious cups of bad coffee. "I set out to streamline my experiences and become a coffee expert," he said. "I knew I had to come up with something that would satiate even the most discerning java enthusiast. After countless amounts of research (I might be an honorary chemist by now), sampling endless batches and hitting the presses in nearly every continent, my Rockin' & Roastin' Coffee dream was born. The result? Some of the finest, purest kick-ass coffee on the planet, sure to please the palate of any 'coffee-sseur.'" In 2013, Rockin' & Roastin' Coffee landed a hotel partnership deal, and in 2016, Joey Kramer's Rockin' & Roastin' Cafe opened its doors in North Attleboro, Mass., about 40 miles outside Aerosmith's birthplace of Boston. - Billboard, 12/1/24...... Barry Manilow announced on Dec. 3 that he signed on for a "lifetime residency" at his longtime venue: the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. "It's been an incredible journey performing at the International Theater," the "Copacabana" singer said in a statement about signing on the dotted line to continue his long run at the resort's International Theater. "David Siegel and the Westgate team have been like family to me, and I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to call Westgate home for the rest of my career." Earlier this year, Manilow set a new Sin City record when he passed Elvis Presley's run of 636 performances at the venue. Manilow launched his "The Hits Come Home" residency at the Westgate Hotel in 2021, marking the third Vegas hotel at which the "Mandy" singer has had a residency. He set up shop at the Las Vegas Hilton from Feb. 2005 to Dec. 2009, during which he had two shows, "Manilow: Music and Passion" (which was filmed for a Primetime Emmy-winning PBS special) and "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits." He followed with his "Manilow Paris Las Vegas" at the Paris Hotel & Casino at Las Vegas in March 2010, which ran through Dec. 11, 2012. Manilow will be back on stage at the International in December when he kicks off his annual run of "A Very Barry Christmas" holiday shows on Dec. 5, followed by gigs on Dec. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. His 2025 International Theater dates begin on Feb. 13. Tickets are on sale now through the Westgate Resorts website. Manilow performed across the U.S. this summer as part of his "Last Concerts" tour, winding down with a series of five shows at New York's Radio City Music Hall in October. On Dec. 19, Manilow and his band will perform a medley of holiday carols on the NBC special A Very Barry Christmas. The singer will also be performing a selection of his greatest hits, including "Copacabana" and "Mandy," in the special which originates from the Westgate and airs at 10:00 p.m./9:00 central. - Billboard, 12/3/24...... Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison and King Crimson's Adrian Belew have announced their 2025 "Remain In Light" UK and European tour on Instagram. The five-date run will see Harrison and Belew make their way across the EU and UK beginning with a gig in Stockholm on May 18. From there, the duo will make stops in cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen, Cologne, Warsaw and Luxembourg before heading over to the UK with stops in Manchester and Wolverhampton. The tour will wrap up on June 7 in London. The tour is named "Remain In Light" which also serves as the title of Talking Heads' 1980 LP. It marked the third and final of the band's albums to be produced by Brian Eno, and saw a number of additional musicians brought in to contribute to the LP, including Belew, who played guitar. - NME, 12/3/24...... One year after playing their final live appearance at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Dec. 2, 2023, KISS are celebrating the show with a new video recap of the performance. "One year ago, today -- December 2, 2023 -- The last KISS Tour ever reached The End Of The Road with one final epic performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City!" the group wrote on social medoa. "Re-live the magic of that night with this awesome MSG concert recap." The video has been shared on YouTube. Across 23 tracks, the band waved goodbye to their legions of fans with a fitting set full of their famous hits and live favorites -- complete with their trademark stage spectacle. The concert, played before a 20,000-strong crowd, was also streamed live via PPV.COM. Notably, the final show was accompanied by the news that the group intend to live on as digital avatars after their split. The band made the surprise announcement at the end of the show, with vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley telling fans "your love, your power, has made us immortal... The new Kiss era stars now!" - Billboard, 12/2/24...... Elton John made it to the opening night of his new musical in London on Dec. 1, but the pop icon admitted that he could hear the show, but could not see any of it. John, 77, said he struggled to watch the stage debut of "The Devil Wears Prada" because, as he told the audience, "I haven't been able to come to man of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight." He added, "So it's hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it and, boy, it sounded good tonight." The singer wrote the score for the stage musical based on the beloved 2006 movie about an eager young journalist (Anne Hathaway) trying to make her mark at a fashion magazine lorded over by an imperial, demanding editor (Meryl Streep). John recently told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts that he suffered an eye infection this summer that has turned into a complete loss of vision in his right eye, which has impacted his ability to work on new music. "I unfortunately lost my eye sight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France," said Elton. "It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest." John teased a new album last year, but now that project is up in the air as the manages his poor vision. "There's hope and encouragement that it will be okay," John said. "But I'm kind of stuck in the moment, because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording& I don't know. Because I can't see a lyric, for start." John's most recent album was 2021's Record Store Day reissue of a shelved late 1960s album Regimental Sgt. Zippo. - Billboard, 12/2/24...... AC/DC have announced they will hit the road in spring 2025 for their first U.S. tour in nine years. The 2025 "Power Up" North American tour is slated to hit 13 stadiums across the nation from April through May. The outing is slated to kick off on Apr. 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, before moving on to Arlington, TX, Pasadena (CA), Vancouver, Las Vegas, Detroit, Foxborough (MA), Pittsburgh, Landover (MD), Tampa, Nashville and Chicago before winding down on May 28 at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland. The North American swing in support of the band's 2020 Power Up album is an extension of the 2024 European leg of the tour, which also filled stadiums. - Billboard 12/2/24...... Roger Daltrey has added two huge outdoor gigs to his 2025 "Alive And Kicking And Having Fun" UK tour. The first of The Who frontman's new shows will be held in Halifax on July 30, and comes as part of the "TK Maxx presents Live at the Piece Hall" series. The second will be held on Aug. 8, and is as part of the Margate Summer Series at Dreamland. "Here we go again! After touring the US with this band of phenomenal musicians, I can't wait to get back on the road in the UK with these shows," Daltrey said in a new statement on Instagram. "It's a joy to be on stage performing and sharing familiar songs in an unfamiliar way." Now, two new shows have been confirmed for next summer, and each will see him backed by a nine-piece band and playing the hits from across his solo discography and time with The Who. The shows come as an extension to his already announced tour dates for the UK next year. These include a slot at London's Palladium, as well as gigs in Brighton, Dundee, Glasgow, Manchester and more. Daltrey, who kicked off a solo, semi-acoustic North American tour on Dec. 6, recently told Billboard that he's "sick" of fans looking up his setlists on the internet ahead of his live shows: "Too many people reveal songs. There's no surprises left with concerts these days, because everybody wants to see the setlist. I'm sick of it. The internet's ruined the live shows for me. Who wants to know what's coming next? People forget about surprises. I can't stand it." - NME, 12/2/24...... Legendary Motown icon Smokey Robinson will perform his first UK show in over 15 years next summer at the Love Supreme Jazz Festival in East Sussex. The festival returns next summer to Glynde Place in East Sussex from July 4 to July 6. Robinson will also perform at Boston's Boch Center Wang Theatre on Dec. 8. Robinson also co-hosts the Dec. 11 Christmas special A Motown Christmas on NBC at 9:00 p.m./8 central. Co-host Halley Bailey will join Smokey and such stars as The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Jamie Foxx and Jordan Sparks. - Music-News.com/TV Guide, 12/3/24.

Monday, December 2, 2024

Speaking to The Empire Files podcast, Roger Waters has attacked Thom Yorke of Radiohead over his stance on the Israel-Palestine issue. Waters revealed that he had an email exchange with Yorke after signing an open letter urging Radiohead not to play in Israel as "a system of apartheid has been imposed on the Palestinian people." Waters said: "I wrote [Yorke] a sort of email that went, 'I'm sorry if you thought I was being confrontational'. He wrote back and he said, 'Normally, people on one side of an argument at least have the decency or the grace or the something to have a conversation.' So then I wrote him back, and I said, 'Thom, the people in BDS (the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement) have been trying to have a conversation with you for months! And so have I!'" Asked how the conversation concluded, Waters replied: "That the guy's a complete prick!" Waters also addressed the criticism Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood faced when working on a musical project with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa this summer. "It's complete bullshit," he said. "There is no argument to be made. There is the oppressed and the oppressor. The oppressed are the indigenous people of Palestine, the oppressor are the settler-colonial visitors from North America and North Europe There is nothing difficult to understand. It is not a conflict. It is a genocide, Thom and Jonny!" Greenwood performed with Tassa in Tel Aviv in May, and the day before, he reportedly participated in protests calling for hostages held in Gaza to be released and new elections to be held. Waters' complete interview can be viewed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 12/1/24...... Appearing on the pilot episode of John Mayer's new SiriusXM show How's Life on Nov. 28, Billy Joel debuted an unheard song called "Every Time." Asked by Mayer if he had any parts of an unfinished song he would be comfortable sharing with listeners, Joel revealed that there was indeed a "spare part" that he had been toying with for "years and years and years and years." He said he "had always told myself I was going to do something with this, something's going to happen with this. It's a really nice piece of music." Confirming that he did not think anyone had ever heard it, he began to play a dramatic, moody solo piano break named "Every Time." He quipped, "The thought behind that was, 'I'll screw it up every time'." Joel and Mayer appeared on stage together in October in Los Angeles for a rendition of Joel's The Bridge track "This Is The Time" for only the second time in public. Joel's interview with Mayer can be streamed on YouTube. Joel recently announced two new UK live shows -- in Edinburgh and Liverpool -- for June 2025, and has also announced a string of new tour dates across the US for 2025 with support from Sting and Stevie Nicks. - NME, 11/29/24...... Speaking to the UK sports radio show talkSPORT on Nov. 27, Rod Stewart said his upcoming performance at the UK's Glastonbury festival in the Sunday teatime Legends slot will "cost him a fortune," but he has no regrets. Stewart told the hosts that he required no time to mull over the offer, claiming he accepted the opportunity to perform "immediately." "It's a great honour, it's going to cost me a fortune to do it - $300,0000," Stewart explained. "I've got to bring all my band back from America, of course Glastonbury don't pay for that. But I don't care if it cost me $1,00,000, I would have done it. It's a great honour. It really is the greatest honour," he added. "I'm proud, ready and more than able to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June." This will be Stewart's first appeance at the festival since he headlined the festival's Pyramid stage in 2002. He will return to North America in March as part of his "One Last Time" 2025 tour. With various dates scheduled betwen March and August, he'll also be returning to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas throughout March, May and June for more shows in his extended Vegas residency. Meanwhile, the "Maggie May" singer has slammed British TV host Gregg Wallace for allegedly "bullying" his current wife, Penny Lancaster. Stewart, 79, has been married to wife number three Lancaster, 53, since 2007, and in 2021 she was a contestant on the BBC's Celebrity MasterChef. Rod says Penny was "humiliated" by Wallace, 60, while she was competing on the show and he was a judge. Wallace is currently suspended from the BBC show following accusations of past inappropriate sexual comments -- which he has denied. Taking to Instagram, Sir Rod unleashed on the disgraced host, writing, "So Greg Wallace gets fired from Master Chef. Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn't you? You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya. Sir Rod Stewart." Wallace has been accused by 13 people of making inappropriate sexual comments while working with him across various iterations of the MasterChef show over a 17-year period. Wallace's lawyers told the BBC that it is "entirely false" that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. An investigation by Masterchef's production company Banijay UK is ongoing. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 11/28/24...... In other Glastonbury festival news, Nile Rodgers has accidentally confirmed that he and Chic will be performing at Glastonbury 2025. Taking to the stage at London's Roundhouse for the UK's Rolling Stone Awards on Nov. 28, the musician accepted the award for Music Icon and let slip that he was already preparing to get up to some havoc with previously announced headliner Rod Stewart at the Worthy Farm site. "We're going to have a blast because we follow him directly," Rodgers joked. "Rod and I have been friends for 80 gazillion years, so that means he's gonna play tricks on me He's probably gonna pinch my bum, because he always does that. I don't know what the hell he gets out of that." He continued: "We're gonna have a great time together. I don't know who's in his current band, but we'll probably be jamming. Regardless of what the world may think, Rod Stewart and I, we really love each other. We really are quite close." Usually, the first line-up poster for Glastonbury is unveiled in early March, meaning no further artists are confirmed for roughly four months. Rodgers was soon notified by someone that his appearance hadn't been announced, to which he laughed and responded: "Am I not supposed to give that away? I always say too much." The first batch of general admission tickets for Glastonbury 2025 sold out in just 35 minutes on Nov. 15, following a sale of coach/ticket packages three days prior. This year, organizers introduced a new online queuing system to purchase tickets -- which divided customers. - NME, 11/29/24...... Responding to rumors that actor Barry Keoghan will portray him in an upcoming four-part Beatles biopic, Ringo Starr recently told Entertainment Tonight that "I think it's great... I believe he's somewhere taking drum lessons. I hope not too many!" Keoghan is already an Oscar nominee, thanks to his work in 2022's The Banshees of Inisherin. Starr's interview can be viewed on the Entertainment Tonight website. Although no official casting announcements have been announced yet, other actors rumored to be circling the project include Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Charlie Rowe as George Harrison. Early in 2024, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced four separate Beatles biopics -- one focusing on each member of music's most iconic band. Sam Mendes, the Oscar-winning director whose credits include American Beauty (1999), Skyfall (2012) and 1917 (2019), will helm all four films and produce them through his Neal Street Productions. "I'm honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies," Mendes said in a statement at the time. - Billboard, 11/27/24...... In other Beatles news, a handwritten letter which sees John Lennon pitching a new band to Eric Clapton is set to be auctioned in December. The eight-page letter, which is dated Sept. 29, 1971, is a draft of the final version which was sent to Clapton that same year. The contents of the letter show the beginnings of what could have been an interesting chapter in the story of rock music, with Lennon asking Clapton to form a new band. "You must know by now that Yoko (Ono) and I rate your music and yourself very highly, always have," the letter begins. As Lennon continues, he touches on Clapton's then-current dark period, which was marred by heroin addiction and a retreat from public appearances. "Eric, I know I can bring out something great, in fact greater in you that had been so far evident in your music," Lennon adds. "I hope to bring out the same kind of greatness in all of us, which I know will happen if/when we get together." The letter ultimately pitches the idea of Clapton performing as part of the prospective band, which would have included previous Plastic Ono Band members Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins and Phil Spector. "And of course we had YOU!!! in mind as soon as we decided," it continues. By the time of the letter's writing, Clapton had previously performed as part of the Plastic Ono Band, appearing as part of the iterations of the group that existed between September and December 1969. Ultimately, Clapton would turn down Lennon's offer of joining the John's "supergroup." The draft of the letter also includes numerous corrections and edits, though it's unknown what the final version that was sent to Clapton looked like. Helmed by International Autograph Auctions Europe SL, the missive will go to auction on Dec. 5 for an expected sale of £100,000 - £150,000 (approximately $104,000 - $157,000), with bidding registrations already open. This isn't the first time the letter has gone up for sale, however, with a 2012 auction expecting the item to sell for a total of $30,000. The letter can be viewed on the autographauctions.eu website. - Billboard, 11/26/24...... Some of the ashes of late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister are set to go on display at Stringfellow's strip club in London. Kilmister, who is considered to be one of the most influential figures in metal rock history, died in Dec. 2015 at the age of 70, shortly after learning he had been diagnosed with cancer. Stringfellow's, founded by late UK businessman and nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow, was a popular destination for the Motörhead frontman, who was a longtime friend of Stringfellow's. For the display, the ashes will be arriving on Dec. 18, and set to be displayed in an urn shaped like the singer and bassist's trademark cavalry hat. A ceremony will be held to celebrate the permanent fixture arriving in the venue, and is set to be attended by Lemmy's bandmate, guitarist Phil Campbell. "Stringfellow's always held a special place in Lemmy's heart. He loved the rock'n'roll spirit Peter brought to the club, he loved the relaxed environment, and he certainly loved the view," said Motörhead manager Todd Singerman. "I know he's relieved he can get back to enjoying one of his favorite places on the planet!" This is far from the first time that Lemmy has made headlines for the location in which his ashes will be displayed -- a convoy of 55 Harley Davidson bikers escorted a bust of his ashes to Nottingham Rock City earlier this summer. As well as that, some went to Los Angeles Rainbow Bar & Grill, some got scattered at the Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, and Metallica's James Hetfield has even had some of the ashes incorporated into a spade tattoo on his middle finger. In February of this year, it was confirmed that plans to erect a statue of Killmister in the town where he was born had been approved by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. - NME, 11/28/24...... In a recent appearance on CBS This Morning, the Grateful Dead revealed that they were planning a 60th anniversary prior to the death of GD member Phil Lesh, who died on Oct. 25 at age 84. Surviving band members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart said that a reunion project for the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary had been in the works, with plans for the four members to get together and jam once more. "We were going to see where it goes," Weir said. "But we were just going to play the four of us. And now there's only three of us." "I was hoping that we could play with him again one more time," added Kreutzmann. "So that was my sadness on that one, 'cause I know he wanted to play with us again, too." "We were kickin' it around," Weir continued. "In fact, we were gonna get together and kick some songs around tomorrow." The Grateful Dead first formed in 1965 and performed for 30 years with various lineups until their split following the passing of lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia in 1995. The four musicians previously reunited for the 50th anniversary "Fare Thee Well" concert in 2015. Lesh, Weir, Kreutzmann and Hart will be saluted in December as part of the prestigious 2024 Kennedy Center Honors, with 2023 recipient Queen Latifah hosting. - Billboard, 11/27/24...... The Beach Boys have announced a huge outdoor concert in the UK next year as their only show in Britain for 2025. The iconic California-based band's "The Sounds of Summer" tour will hit Englefield House in Berkshire on on July 20. "Rock On" hitmaker David Essex is on board to perform as a special guest, as well as "To Sir With Love" singer Lulu, who earlier this year announced her retirement from touring after 60 years in music. The current iteration of the BB will not feature founding member Brian Wilson, who retired from touring in 2022 and was recently placed under a court conservatorship due to a "major neurocognitive disorder." This summer, the band was joined on tour by Full House actor John Stamos, who played drums with the band for 16 shows as they commemorated the 50th anniversary of their 1974 compilation album Endless Summer. An authorized documentary directed by Frank Marshall, The Beach Boys, was also released in 2024. It was touted as a "celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music." - NME, 11/29/24...... The Kinks have launched their own variety of premium loose leaf teas, inspired by the hits from their discography. Posting the announcement on X/Twitter on Nov. 25, the band says each variation is a nod to their discography, and has been blended and roasted in Sussex. They include "Waterloo Sunset," "Victoria" and "Autumn Almanac." "We're thrilled to share The Kinks' tea collection, which is available to pre-order now! Sit down and have a cuppa with your Kinks tea and teapot, and then you can do the dishes with your Kinks tea towel! Hallelujah!," the band posted, along with a link at TheKinksTea.com. According to a press release, "The theme and lyrics of each song is mirrored in the blends and corresponding packaging, creating an all round sensory experience for the discerning tea drinker. With black, herbal and low caffeine teas included in the range, they can be enjoyed at any time of the day, any day of the year. Or even, all day and all of the night. It also draws light to the lyrics "Tea in the morning, Tea in the evening, Tea at supper time," which featured on their 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies. As well as the different tea blends, a range of ceramic teapots and teacups are also available, as well as a bespoke Kinks tea towel. The teas come in packs of 100g, and are priced at £6 each. The ceramics and accessories are all limited edition and range between £12 and £50. News of the new tea range comes amid long-running rumours that the band could be reuniting. While the group have never formally split, brothers Dave and Ray Davies have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. In 2023, frontman Ray said a potential Kinks reunion remained "in the lap of the gods," and would only come to fruition if they could lock in "a show that gives us the credit we deserve." In 2021, the Kinks staged a livestream event, titled The Moneygoround, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their classic album Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One. More recently, member Dave Davies reacted to what hes described as a "fucking horrible AI cover of one of the bands songs, and also spoke out after spotting his Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame trophy being put up for auction on eBay. Formed in 1963, the original four members of the Kinks -- Dave, his brother Ray, bassist Pete Quaife and drummer Mick Avory -- were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990, reuniting for the first time in many years. - NME, 11/26/24...... The last filmed show of the '70s ska band The Specials with lead singer Terry Hall, before his untimely death in 2022, is set to air on UK television. The Specials: Live From Coventry Cathedral was filmed in the band's hometown in 2019 as part of their 40th anniversary tour over a four-day engagement at the local landmark. The band announced its release on social media yesterday on Nov. 28. The concert film will now be screened for the first time via Sky Arts on Dec. 20 at 9:00 pm UK time. The final performance of The Specials with Hall took place on Aug. 20, 2022 at Ottery St. Mary in Devon as part of the Beautiful Days Festival. Hall, the band's charismatic frontman and a mental health advocate, passed away at the age of 63 after a "brief illness." The band's bassist, Horace Panter, subsequently confirmed that Hall had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver. - NME, 11/29/24...... Legendary musician, composer and producer Brian Eno has spoken to the BBC World Service programme In The Studio about his creative process and the innovative ways music can be used for the good of the planet. The documentary follows Eno into the studio as he works in collaborative partnerships on new material that list "Earth" as co-writer. On climate change, Brian says: "I notice that hardly any of our politicians are talking about the most important problem. The most important problem isn't a few immigrants coming into the country on boats. The most important problem isn't China developing AI. The most important problem is that the ship is sinking, and it's happening quite fast, and a lot of my friends and people I knew were also concerned about this issue. What can we do about it? Those people in government aren't doing anything about it. How can the rest of us do anything, well, we have to somehow take it into our own hands." In 2021 Eno founded the ground-breaking organisation EarthPercent, a charity which aims to raise $100 million by 2030. The money -- from royalties of partner artists -- is being used to reduce the environmental impact of the music industry. Among the musicians with whom he is currently collaborating are Coldplay, Nile Rogers, Michael Stipe, Anna Calvi and Louis VI. The In The Studio program aims to "take you into the minds of the world's most creative people, with unprecedented access." - Music-News.com, 11/30/24...... Marshall Brickman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter whose wide-ranging career spanned some of Woody Allen's best films, the Broadway musical "Jersey Boys" and a number of Johnny Carson's most beloved sketches, died on Nov. 29 in Manhattan, his daughter Sophie Brickman told The New York Times. He was 85 and no cause of death was cited. Best known for his extensive collaboration with Allen, beginning with the 1973 film Sleeper, Mr. Brickman and Allen co-wrote the acclaimed films Annie Hall (1977), Manhattan (1979) and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). The loosely structured script for Annie Hall, in particular, has been hailed as one of the wittiest all-time comedies. It won Mr. Brickman and Allen an Oscar for best original screenplay. In his acceptance speech (Allen skipped the ceremony), Mr. Brickman referenced one of the film's many oft-quoted lines, saying: "I've been out here a week, and I still have guilt when I make a right turn on a red light." "If the film is worth anything," Mr. Brickman told Vanity Fair in 2017, "it gives a very particular specific image of what it was like to be alive in New York at that time in that particular social-economic stratum." Mr. Brickman and Allen had met in the early 1960s, when Allen was breaking through as a stand-up comedian. Mr. Brickman was brought on to write jokes for him. At the time, he had been playing banjo for the folk group the Tarriers. In one of the many twists of Mr. Brickman's career, it was an album he and his college roommate Eric Weissberg recorded that later made the soundtrack to 1972's Deliverance, including "Dueling Banjos." Mr. Brickman, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the son of Jewish socialists Abram (who fled Poland during WWII) and Pauline (Wolin) Brickman, who was from New York. They later moved to the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, where Mr. Brickman grew up. His start in show business, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in science and music, came with the Terriers, replacing actor Alan Arkin in the group. By the late '60s, Mr. Brickman was head writer for Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. There, one of his most enduring contributions were the Carnac the Magnificent sketches, during which Carson played a "mystic from the East" who could divine answers to unseen questions. Mr. Brickman's other TV credits included Candid Camera, The Dick Cavett Show and The Muppet Show. Mr. Brickman wrote and directed the 1980 film Simon, starring Arkin as a psychology professor brainwashed into believing he's from outer space. He also directed 1983's Lovesick, with Alec Guinness as the ghost of Sigmund Freud, and 1986's The Manhattan Project, about a high schooler who builds a nuclear weapon for a school project. With Rick Elice penning the music, Mr. Brickman wrote the Broadway musical "Jersey Boys," about the 1960s rock group The Four Seasons. It ran on Broadway for 12 years beginning in 2005, and was later adapted into a movie helmed by Clint Eastwood. He and Elice also wrote the 2010 musical "The Addams Family." He is survived by his wife, Nina, daughters Sophie and Jessica, and five grandchildren. - AP, 12/1/24.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

The Eagles announced their remaining 2024 and upcoming 2025 shows at Las Vegas' Sphere in an Instagram post on Nov. 26. Demand to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers has surpassed that of the amount of dates, which has led the rock band to extend its Sphere stay for a sixth time -- especially after the rave night-one review of their debut Sept. 20 performance. After most recently adding four new dates, the Eagles residency will now go until mid Apr. 2025, giving fans even more chances to see the band perform. The Eagles currently have 20 shows scheduled from Dec. 6 through Apr. 12. They took over from Dead & Company, who brought their never-ending road trip to the venue from May through August, who took over from Phish's four-show residency in late April. U2 kicked off the Sphere's concert shows in Sept. 2023, doing 40 shows through early Mar. 2024. The 18,000-seat immersive venue has drawn rave reviews for its 160,000-square-foot wraparound 16K LED screen and seat-shaking array of more than 1,500 speakers. - Billboard, 11/26/24...... In a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Sammy Hagar says he wants to try to make peace with Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen after their nearly two-decade long estrangement. "It's on my bucket list that I will not take this to my grave, and I don't want Al taking it to his grave," Hagar says. "I've put the olive branch out there many times, and I just put it out again to (Van Halen manager) Irving Azoff." Hagar famously replaced VH's original singer David Lee Roth in 1985 after the latter left the group to pursue a solo career. Along with Eddie Van Halen on guitar, brother Alex on drums and Michael Anthony on bass, they recorded four platinum records before Hagar left the band in 1996, replaced by Gary Cherone. He reunited with the band for a 2004 tour, but their fractious relationship continued offstage leading Hagar to exit the band once again. Roth returned to the lineup in 2007 and they embarked on three world tours over the next eight years, making one record along the way -- 2012's A Different Kind of Truth. Hagar's comments come after the recent release of Alex's memoir Brothers, which deals with the early years of VH but doesn't include any mention of Sammy's time with the band. "Why he left me out, I would like to hear him explain that someday, because I don't get it completely," Hagar said. "I know that he's bitter about some things, whatever that is It's like, 'If you don't want that era, that even gives me more justification to say I own it then,' because no one else can do it, and he can't do it even without me," he added. But Hagar credited Alex for focusing on his brotherly bond with Eddie, who died of throat cancer in Oct. 2020, and said that maybe his era with the band will be covered off in a sequel. "I understand he probably couldn't have done the whole era in one book. It would've been the Bible, the dictionary, so maybe he's got plans for a Volume 2. Who knows?" - Canoe.com, 11/25/24...... Interviewed by the U.K. paper The Sun at London's Lyceum Theatre on Nov. 25, Cher said that her next album will be her last ever. "This is probably my last album that I'm gonna do," the 78-year-old singer said. "I'm really excited. They are great songs and I'm just really excited that I'm doing it. I'm really excited to be doing anything now." She joked, "I'm older than dirt now, OK? I'm the oldest person I meet in almost every room unless I'm in an old folks' home. I don't care if you're 50. I'd give anything to be 60 again. I was a f---ing hottie!" Reflecting further on her age, she continued, "It's weird too because I know I'm older, but I don't know how to feel it. I don't know how to feel any different than the way I've always felt. I like hanging with younger people, not just men. I like young people because a lot of my friends don't want to have that much fun. They can just go off and be old fogies." Cher's career began in 1964 as part of the hitmaking duo Sonny and Cher with her late ex-husband Sonny Bono. Her most recent original album, Closer to the Truth, was released in 2013 -- while an album of ABBA covers, titled Dancing Queen was unleashed in 2018. She released her first Christmas album in 2023. One of the revelations in Cher's new memoir, Cher: The Memoir, Part One, is that the name on her birth certificate was wrong. Cher explained that when her mother, Georgia Holt, gave birth to her in 1946, a nurse visited her room and asked what she planned to name her baby. "My mother replied, 'Well, Lana Turner's my favourite actress and her little girl's called Cheryl. My mother's name is Lynda, so how about Cherilyn?'" When the Grammy winner decided to change her legal name to Cher in the late 1970s, she dug out her birth certificate. "I was shocked to discover that I was officially registered as Cheryl," Cher wrote in her memoir, "and asked my mother, 'Do you even know my real name, Mom?'" Her mum, who gave birth to her at age 19, responded, "Let me look at that!" before adding, "I was only a teenager, and I was in a lot of pain. Give me a break." - Music-News.com, 11/26/24...... The UK's legendary Glastonbury Festival announced on X/Twitter on Nov. 26 that Rod Stewart will perform at next year's Sunday teatime Legends slot, which often draws some of the biggest crowds of the entire weekend. Stewart, 79, previously appeared at the festival as a headliner in 2002, joining Coldplay and Stereophonics as bill-toppers that year. Speaking about the booking, Stewart said he was "proud, ready and more than able to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury." The Sunday Legends slot is one of the most coveted in the festival's history, with the likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Lionel Richie, Kylie Minogue, Diana Ross and Shania Twain taking on the Legends slot since its first edition in 1970. 2025's edition will mark the final event to take place at Worthy Farm before the traditional fallow year in 2026, which sees the landowner Michael Eavis and his family allow the grounds to recover every four years. The festival will return again in 2027. - Billboard, 11/26/24...... In an interview that aired on Good Morning America's Robin Roberts on Nov. 25, Elton John revealed that an eye infection he suffered this summer has turned into the loss of vision in his right eye, which is impacting his ability to create. John, 77, told Roberts that "it's been a while" since he's worked on new music, something he's been unable to figure out because of his poor eyesight. "I unfortunately lost my eye sight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France," said John in the interview during which his eyes were somewhat obscured by a pair of green framed eyeglasses with a yellow tint to on the lenses. "It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest." Roberts flew to England to talk to Sir Elton about his new doc, Never Too Late, noting that at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year he teased a new album, a project whose future is now up in the air due to his poor vision. "There's hope and encouragement that it will be okay," John said. "But I'm kind of stuck in the moment, because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording I don't know. Because I can't see a lyric, for start." John said he's working on getting his eyesight back, but the infection has "floored" him for the moment because he can't see, or watch anything. When Roberts suggested that, after all his health struggles, John is "still standing" -- as he sang on his 1983 hit "I'm Still Standing" -- the singer had to agree. "Exactly. I'm so lucky. I'm the luckiest man in the world," he said. John has been open in the past about his various health struggles, including hearing loss, knee and hip replacement surgery, as well as prostate cancer and a the implantation of a pacemaker to treat an irregular heartbeat. He recently told Rolling Stone: "I don't have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix," in reeling off his many surgeries. "I don't have a prostate. I don't have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip." Never Too Late, which Elton says is titled after a new song he's recorded that was written by his friend Brandi Carlisle, will begin streaming on Disney+ on Dec. 13. The full interview can be viewed on the Good Morning America website. - Billboard, 11/25/24...... Disney have announced the replacement of its famous Aerosmith-themed Rock 'N' Rollercoaster in its Hollywood Studios park in Florida, ostensibly after the Boston-based rockers announced earlier in 2024 that their touring days have come to an end after frontman Steven Tyler seriously injured his voice during a gig. The ride is described on the website as featuring three inversions, two rollover loops, and one corkscrew. It also has a peaking speed of just shy of 60mph. Named the Rock 'N' Rollercoaster, the attraction has had Aerosmith as the face of the ride for over two decades, while the band's biggest hits including "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)," "Walk This Way," "Back In The Saddle" and "Sweet Emotion" play from the speakers. Now, it has been confirmed that Tyler and co. will be replaced on the ride, and The Muppets will now be the main attraction. Similarly, The Muppets released a rock-inspired series on Disney+ last year called The Muppets Mayhem, which included appearances from huge names like Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee and actor Danny Trejo. In a statement from Disney, a spokesperson said "The Muppets will be taking over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music's biggest stars for a rockin' music festival!" The Rock 'N' Rollercoaster opened in July 1999, and a second version opened at the Walt Disney Studios Park in France in 2002. The latter was ultimately re-designed with an Avengers theme. An official closing date for the Aerosmith-inspired Rock 'N' Rollercoaster has not been shared yet. A promo video for the current Rock 'N' Rollercoaster can be viewed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 11/25/24...... A new Beatles documentary from producer Martin Scorsese and director David Tedeschi, Beatles '64, is set to premiere on the Disney+ streaming channel on Nov. 29. Its subject is a familiar one: the Fab Four's arrival in the United States on Feb. 7, 1964, and the cultural maelstrom that followed. "Visually they are a nightmare: tight, dandified, Edwardian-Beatnik suits and great pudding bowls of hair," Newsweek sneered in a contemporaneous cover story quoted at length onscreen. "Musically they are a near-disaster: guitars and drums slamming out a merciless beat that does away with secondary rhythms, harmony, and melody." But while most accounts of the Beatles' U.S. invasion treat the boys themselves as conquering heroes, Beatles '64 does something a little different. It turns a refreshing and revealing lens on the band's first stateside fans as well -- the vast majority of them teenage girls, a group all too easily dismissed at the time. "These young women discovered something that nobody else knew," director Tedeschi (who previously edited Scorsese's Rolling Thunder Revue and George Harrison: Living in the Material World documentaries), tells Yahoo Entertainment. "And it turned out to be true." To capture that bigger, broader picture, Tedeschi raided the archives of the Maysles Brothers, the revolutionary fly-on-the-wall documentarians who followed the Beatles for their entire two-week initial visit, unearthing 17 minutes of never-before-seen footage in the process. All of the Maysles' material was then restored to crystalline 4K by director Peter Jackson's Park Road Post studio in New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Beatles' iconic Ed Sullivan Show appearances and raucous first U.S. concert at the Washington (D.C.) Coliseum were demixed and remixed using the same AI-assisted innovations as their other recent releases. And a handful of hardcore fans were asked to reflect on their youthful obsession, 60 years after the fact. The result is a triumph of technology and storytelling -- our clearest view yet into what Beatlemania looked like, sounded like and, most importantly, felt like for those who lived it. - Yahoo! Entertainment, 11/26/24...... In other Beatles-related news, Sean Ono Lennon has revealed to People magazine that he started making music in order to "fill the void" left by the death of his father, John Lennon. "I never played music because I was good at it," Sean explained. "I lost my father and I didn't know how to fill that void. Learning how to play his songs on guitar was a way to process the loss with an activity that made me feel connected to him," added Sean, who was born in 1975 to John and the artist Yoko Ono, and was only five years old when his father was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in 1980. "When you've lost a parent, things like that motivate you- because you're trying to find them. Making music always made me feel like I was getting to know him better." Sean has released a number of solo records, including this year's Asterisms, and in recent years has become a sought-after producer for alternative bands including Fat White Family, Temples and The Lemon Twigs. Sean has also recently been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for the reissue of his father's 1973 album Mind Games, for which Sean oversaw new "meditation" mixes. "The whole album is about my mum," Sean explained in the new interview. "My dad declared to the world that 'John and Yoko' were one word. I think he always had his heart set on her. He was so in love with her. They had a legendary love and I think that this album is infused with that love. You can hear it." - NME, 11/23/24...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, a guitar played by George Harrison in the early days of the Beatles has sold at auction for $1.27 million (£1.01million). The Resonet Futurama guitar was purchased by Harrison at a music store in Liverpool in 1959 and he went on to play it at at least 324 Beatles shows. The Nashville auction house Julien's had listed the expected price between $600,000 and $800,000, but the eventual price tag makes the instrument the most expensive guitar owned by Harrison ever to be sold at auction. The item was sold as part of an auction titled "Played, Worn & Torn II' that ran on Nov. 20-21. Other lots from music history were also donated by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and Prnce. - NME, 11/23/24...... Jon Davison, the current vocalist for prog-rock legends Yes, has addressed the accusations made in a lawsuit by former bandmate Riz Story, calling them "blatant lies." Story sued the band earlier in November claiming the band stole parts of his song "Reunion" from his 2014 film A Winter Rose for their own track "Dare To Know" (available for streaming on YouTube). Story alleged that the melody was first conceived of when he and Davison were in a band with late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins back in the '90s. He also claimed they were founding members of a band called Anyone. While Davison has confirmed that they were in a band with Hawkins, they were not founding members of Anyone. Instead, they were in a band called Blash Meth, and he left before it became Anyone years later. "Any suggestion that I might have heard this generic melody when we were younger, let alone thought it was worthy of Yes, is utterly absurd," he wrote. "As anyone who studies the Yes albums will know meticulous care is taken on every song to correctly credit the songwriters. On The Quest, I have credits on 6 of 11 songs, hardly the "nearly every other song" that is incorrectly stated in their claim to try and support their fiction," he added. Davison implied that Story filed the lawsuit because he felt rejected after "hoping to work with Yes, and, I'm sorry to say, failing." He also argued that the melody isn't original. In other Yes news, former keyboardist Rick Wakeman has been playing his final solo tour in the United States, stating when it was announced that it is time "to call it a day." - NME, 11/22/24...... Alice Brock, whose Massachusetts-based eatery helped inspire Arlo Guthrie's deadpan Thanksgiving standard, "Alice's Restaurant Massacree," has died at age 83. Her death, just a week before Thanksgiving, was announced on Nov. 22 by Guthrie on the Facebook page of his own Rising Son Records. Guthrie wrote that she died in Provincetown, Mass., her residence for some 40 years, and referred to her being in failing health. Other details were not immediately available. "This coming Thanksgiving will be the first without her," Guthrie wrote. "Alice and I spoke by phone a couple of weeks ago, and she sounded like her old self. We joked around and had a couple of good laughs even though we knew we'd never have another chance to talk together." Born Alice May Pelkey in New York City, Brock was a lifelong rebel who was a member of Students for a Democratic Society among other organizations. In the early 1960s, she dropped out of Sarah Lawrence College, moved to Greenwich Village and married Ray Brock, a woodworker who encouraged her to leave New York and resettle in Massachusetts. Guthrie, son of the celebrated folk musician Woody Guthrie, first met Brock around 1962 when he was attending the Stockbridge School in Massachusetts and she was the librarian. They became friends and stayed in touch after he left school, when he would stay with her and her husband at the converted Stockbridge church that became the Brocks' main residence. On Thanksgiving Day, 1965, a simple chore led to Guthrie's arrest, his eventual avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War and a song that has endured as a protest classic and holiday favorite. Guthrie and his friend, Richard Robbins, were helping the Brocks throw out trash, but ended up tossing it down a hill because they couldn't find an open dumpster. Police charged them with illegal dumping, briefly jailed them and fined them $50, a seemingly minor offense with major repercussions. By 1966, Alice Brock was running The Back Room restaurant in Stockbridge, Guthrie was a rising star and his breakout song was an 18-minute talking blues that recounted his arrest and how it made him ineligible for the draft. The chorus was a tribute to Alice -- whose restaurant, Guthrie pointed out, was not actually called Alice's Restaurant -- that countless fans have since memorized: "You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant/ You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant/ Walk right in it's around the back/ Just a half a mile from the railroad track/ You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant." Guthrie assumed his song was too long to catch on commercially, but it soon became a radio perennial and part of the popular culture. Alice's Restaurant was the title of his million-selling debut album, and the basis of a movie and cookbook of the same name. Alice Brock would write a memoir, My Life as a Restaurant, and collaborate with Guthrie on a children's book, Mooses Come Walking. At the time of her death, they had been discussing an exhibit dedicated to her at her former Stockton home, now the Guthrie Center, which serves free dinners every Thanksgiving. Brock ran three different restaurants at various times, although she would later acknowledge she initially didn't care much for cooking or for business. She would also cite her professional life as a cause of her marriage breaking up, while disputing rumors that she had been unfaithful to her husband. Her honor was immortalized by Guthrie, who late in "Alice's Restaurant" advised: "You can get anything you want" at Alice's Restaurant, "excepting Alice." - Billboard, 11/23/24...... Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking host of such game shows as Wheel of Fortune, Love Connection and Scrabble who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, died on Nov. 24 at his home in Texas. He was 83. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Mr. Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. Mr. Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Mr. Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Mr. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. In 1983, Mr. Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV's Love Connection, for which he coined the phrase, "We'll be back in two minutes and two seconds," a two-fingered signature dubbed the "2 and 2." In 1984, he hosted TV's Scrabble, simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. Other career highlights included hosting the shows Lingo, Greed and The Chuck Woolery Show, as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of The Dating Game from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV's "Melrose Place." Mr. Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network's first attempt at a reality show, Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned, which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Mr. Woolery and his rock group, The Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics. Mr. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. His death was announced by his podcast co-host and friend Mark Young. "Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him," Young wrote. In addition to his wife, Mr. Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said. - AP, 11/24/24.

Friday, November 22, 2024

The widow of guitar great Jeff Beck has decided to put her late husband's guitar collection up for auction in January. Beck's widow Sandra said it was a "massive wrench" to let the guitars go, but added, "I know Jeff wanted for me to share this love. After some hard thinking I decided they need to be shared, played and loved again." Valued at an estimated $1.3 million (£1 million), the 90 guitar collection includes an oxblood Gibson Les Paul that Beck played throughout the 1970s and features on the cover of his 1975 album Blow By Blow. That item alone is expected to fetch between $440,000 (£350,000) and $630,000 (£500,000). Other items include a 1954 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster and a white Stratocaster that Beck played for 16 years. Amelia Walker, head of Private and Iconic Collections at Christie's, described the guitars as "really beautiful" and said "These are things that he used. They've got the indents of his fingernails on the fret boards." Beck replaced Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds in 1965, before forming his own Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and others, and going on to have a long and successful solo career. He died suddenly at the age of 78 in January 2023, after contracting bacterial meningitis. - Music-News.com, 11/18/24...... In related news, a piano used by members of Fleetwood Mac to compose classic songs such as "Sara" and "Songbird," before later being played by Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and more, is headed to auction. The Grand Hamilton piano is being offered for sale by English singer/songwriter Robbie Patton, who first came across the instrument when beginning a lifelong friendship with Stevie Nicks in 1975. "One day, I'm in the house of Stevie and she has two pianos, one of them was this black Grand Hamilton Piano where she wrote most of her songs on," Patton explained. "She wrote everything on the piano, she really cherished it as her own." Some of the songs composed on the piano include "Songbird" from the band's 1977 classic Rumours, and "Sara," which peaked at No. 7 on the hit parade upon its release as the second single from 1979's Tusk. The piano hit the road that same year, with Patton serving as opening act for the band on their tour. Christine McVie reportedly used the piano on stage between 1982 and 1983 in support of their Mirage album before it returned to Nicks' home. The lead single from that album was "Hold Me," which was co-written by McVie and Patton and peaked at No. 4. Patton requested the instrument as payment, where it came into his possession and found some famous players in the process. "I used to work for all the big musicians, Elton John, for four and a half years," he explained. "John Reid managed Elton John and then Queen. Freddie Mercury even came by for a recording session and used the piano. Elton John used the piano. The people who have touched this piano are crazy!" Though it has since been refurbished and lacquered, the listing states that the keys have never changed. It also comes with a letter of authenticity signed by Patton, Nicks, and the late McVie in 2015. Bidding on the piano, conducted by GottaHaveRockAndRoll.com, is open until Dec. 16, with a minimum bid of $50,000. Only a handful of bids are expected, it seems, with an estimated sale range of between $100,000 and $200,000. - Billboard, 11/22/24...... In other Fleetwood Mac news, Apple Original Films has unveiled plans for a new definitive and fully authorized documentary chronicling the legendary band. Promising to "delve into Fleetwood Mac's meteoric rise and the personal and professional dynamics that shaped their legacy," surviving band members will, for the first time, narrate their own extraordinary story, supported by exclusive interviews, archival footage, and unseen material, including tributes to the late Christine McVie. The documentary, which is yet to be titled, is being directed by five-time Academy Award nominee Frank Marshall, and joins Apple Original Films' prestigious catalog of projects, including the Academy Award-winning CODA and the Emmy-winning STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie. - Billboard, 11/19/24...... In more auction news, Olivia Newton-John's iconic leather Grease jacket is being auctioned for a good cause by Julien's in conjunction with Turner Classic Movie's A Week of Hollywood Legends program. The event, which will take place from Dec. 10 to Dec. 13 at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and online at Julien's Auctions' website, will feature an auction of more than 400 pieces of the legendary Grammy winner's iconic wardrobe, instruments, fine art, jewelry, memorabilia, personal mementos and more. A standout piece from the auction is the beloved leather jacket that Newton-John wore as Sandy Olsson in the final scene of the 1978 classic film, Grease. Other treasures up for bidding include her "Summer Nights," "Physical" and "Have You Never Been Mellow" gold record awards, and her1974 American Music Award for favorite country female vocalist. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, that was founded by Newton-John and her husband, John Easterling. The independent charity sponsors global research into plant medicine treatments for cancer. Newton-John died in Aug. 2022 at the age of 73 after a decades-long battle with breast cancer. A preview of A Week of Hollywood Legends can be viewed on YouTube. The auction event comes just weeks after an exhibition of Newton-John's collection opens at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Nov. 22. - Billboard, 11/20/24...... In a new interview with the U.K.'s The Sunday Times, Pete Townshend revealed that he has "suicidal" thoughts when he wakes up every morning. "When I first wake up I'm suicidal, actually suicidal," he said about what he describes as "chemical depression." The Who guitarist spoke about choosing to wake up between 2am and 5am each day to help with his mindset, explaining: "I'm still in the state that I was the day before." Townshend added he has "a couple of cups of tea" and "two digestive biscuits," which he says is "apparently equal to 17 sugar lumps, and I feel happy." Townshend sought help from a professional therapist as a younger man, but did not find it to be useful for him, but he does find value in keeping journals. "If I start my journals before I have my cup of tea, I'll paint a very bleak picture of my life. Despite the fact that I have everything that I want and everything that I need. And I have had a really extraordinary life." - NME, 11/18/24...... Bob Dylan has responded to a woman who claimed to be one of his past backing dancers after she posted that she was told not to make eye contact with the legendary singer/songwriter. After Dylan shared his thoughts on Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds after watching their recent concert in Paris in a tweet on his official X/Twitter account, a woman by the name of Cheryl Henry responded: "My Joy was taken away after rehearsing as one of the Backup dancers for your set on the Grammys in NYC 1991. We all had to walk single file to exit thru the backstage area, past the dressing rooms where you were standing wearing a hooded black robe, kinda like the boxers used to wear & you said to me as I passed you 'Now don't you go cutting that long red hair of yours before tomorrow night," began her tweet. She continued: "By the time I reached the exit door at Radio City, I had been told not to return. Nadine (who was running things) had told us all before NOT to make eye contact with you! I guess I snuck a peek as I passed you! I had a letter with me also from an old friend of yours Katherine Perry who knew you in your West Village days. It wasn't meant to be Gemini Man," referring to Dylan's zodiac sign. Dylan then responded to her post on Nov. 20: "Saw your reply. Just want you to know I've never told anybody not to make eye contact with me. That is just ridiculous. And the next time you see me please look straight into my eyes." Meanwhile, first reactions to the new Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown have praised titular star Timothée Chalamet for delivering "the performance of the year." Chalamet stars alongside Edward Norton (Pete Seeger) and Elle Fanning (Sylvie Russo, a fictionalised version of Dylan's first New York girlfriend Suze Rotolo, who died in 2011) in the film which is based on Elijah Wald's 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, And The Night That Split The Sixties. Film critic Scott Menzel wrote: "Timothée Chalamet delivers the performance of the year in A Complete Unknown. A true tour-de-force where Chalamet is never seen. Chalamet's performance is not just about the voice and look but rather all of the little nuances and mannerisms that he perfectly brings to his life in his portrayal of Bob Dylan. Great supporting performances too from Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger." Other critics praising Chalemet and his co-stars include Clayton Davis of Variety and The Playlist's Gregory Ellwood. Directed by James Mangold and exec-produced by Dylan, A Complete Unknown charts Dylan's controversial switch from acoustic to electric guitar in the mid-'60s and will be released in US cinemas on Dec. 25, with a UK release to follow on Jan. 17. - New Musical Express, 11/21/24...... A live Chicago release, Chicago & Friends - Live at 55, hits stores on Nov. 22 and captures the iconic band's epic 31-song performance filmed over two nights before 10,000 fans at Ocean Casino Resort in celebration of their 55th birthday party in Atlantic City, N.J. in 2023. At both shows the current incarnation of the band was joined by guest vocalists (Chris Daughtry, Robin Thicke, Judith Hill, VoicePlay) and guitarists (Steve Vai, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram) as well as pedal steel virtuoso Robert Randolph. The brassy group's five and a half decades of hits are well-represented, and there's no question the additional personnel injected a little more octane into the shows. Live at 55 was directed by Brian Lockwood and produced by Academy Award winner Barry Summers. It was screened in North American movie theaters during April. The shows celebrated the anniversary of Chicago's debut Chicago Transit Authority album (the group changed its name shortly thereafter), which turned 55 on April 28 of this year. Chicago trumpeter Lee Loughnane says new Chicago music may be coming soon: "There's always music going on. We all write. We're all still creative. We can always do an album; it's just a matter of the circumstance and the timing and all the other aspects of putting an album together. But the ability is always there." - Billboard, 11/21/24...... The Elton John documentary Elton John: Never Too Late is among the 169 features that are vying for nominations in the best documentary feature film category for the 2025 Oscars. Members of the Academy Awards' documentary branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees. The shortlist of 15 films will be announced on Dec. 17, and a complete list of eligible films can be viewed at Oscars.org. Meanwhile, a new Broadway musical featuring music by John and lyrics by Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears will be closing on Dec. 8, after just 29 regular performances from its premiere on Nov. 14. "Tammy Faye: The Musical," about the scandal-plagued 1970s-80s televangelist/singer Tammy Faye Bakker, scored decent reviews in its premiere run in London in 2022, but was plagued by poor reviews in New York, where it failed to find an audience. Sir Elton reacted to the news on social media by congratulating the cast and crew for their "extraordinary hard work and talent... it's been a true honour to collaborate with you all." John composed the music for one of Broadway's most enduring modern hits, "The Lion King," as well as for the Tony- and Grammy-winning "Aida," "Billy Elliot: the Musical," "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Lestat," with the latter also having a brief run on Broadway, closing after 33 preview and 39 performances in 2006. - Billboard, 11/21/24...... In a new interview with CBS Mornings, Paul Simon spoke to reporter Anthony Mason about his journey with hearing loss and his search for ways to manage it. In 2023, Simon explained to British paper The Times that he began to experience hearing loss in his left ear while recording his 2023 song cycle, Seven Psalms. "Quite suddenly, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and nobody has an explanation for it," he explained. "So everything became more difficult." Simon admitted to Mason that "it was incredibly frustrating." "I was very angry at first that this had happened," noting his greatest fear is the possibility or no longer writing or composing. "I guess what I'm most apprehensive about would be if I can't hear well enough to really enjoy the act of making music," he added. Though Simon wrapped up his final tour in 2018, he's still making sporadic appearances here and there. Most recently, he performed a surprise set at New York City's Irish Arts Centre, and weeks prior, he performed for The SoHo Sessions as part of a fundraiser for the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss. "I'm going through my repertoire and reducing a lot of the choices that I make to acoustic versions. It's all much quieter," he explained. "It's not 'You Can Call Me Al.' That's gone. I can't do that one." But Simon said that his desire to create hasn't been affected despite his ability to perfectly hear the fruits of his labor. "You know Matisse, when he was suffering at the end of his life, when he was in bed, he envisioned all these cut-outs and had a great creative period," he noted. "So I don't think creativity stops with disability. So far, I haven't experienced that. And I hope not to." - Billboard, 11/20/24...... The audiobook version of Cher's new memoir Cher: The Memoir, Part One, which dropped on Nov. 19, is available for a limited time to Amazon.com customers for only 99 cents. For a limited time, eligible Amazon customers can join Audible for only 99 cents per month for the first three months. The Audible membership will renew at $14.95/month after the promo ends but you can cancel anytime. In her new memoir, Cher talks love, motherhood, loss and triumph -- from her earliest childhood memories to her marriage and divorce from Sonny Bono and forging her own path as a solo artist. The book also details Cher's relationship with rocker Gregg Allman, motherhood and her bout for independence. The audiobook is read in part by Cher and narrated by Tony Award-winning actress Stephanie J. who starred in The Cher Show. Cher and Brooks alternate between chapters creating a "unique audiobook treatment" to immerse listeners into her life story. Other juicy tidbits include her revelation that Bono once "seriously thought" about killing her. Cher also claims in the book that John Lennon once stripped off his clothes during a drunken night at the Playboy Mansion in 1974. The "Believe" hitmaker recalled having dinner at a restaurant in Los Angeles with the Beatle and his friend, singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, and asking the pair if they wanted to visit Hugh Hefner's famed mansion for its Sunday movie night. According to Cher, Lennon was "dying" to see the property so she drove them to the mansion, at which point she realised her companions were "drunker than I'd thought." Cher, a regular guest at the Playboy Mansion, led Lennon and Nilsson to the swimming pool's Grotto -- where they stripped naked. "Giggling and falling over each other, John and Harry followed me out into the grounds. Sitting them down inside the infamous Grotto -- it was like a huge cave that one end of the swimming pool went into -- I went to find a drink and when I came back they were standing in the middle of the Grotto naked but still in the water, thank God," she wrote in the book, which has been serialized by The Daily Mail. When the pop legend told the pair they were not a "pretty" sight, they threatened to leave the water. "I was trying not to laugh, but it was impossible not to as they threatened to wander around the mansion naked. It took me ages to get them back in their clothes. It was like herding drunks," Cher continued. She noted that while the mansion was "notorious for drunken orgies," the Sunday movie nights were more relaxed events featuring cocktails, dinner and the latest films. Meanwhile, Cher and Bono's widow, Mary Bono, are currently in a dispute over the royalties to some of the duo's biggest songs, including "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On," six years after conflict first arose when Bono's copyright grants became eligible for termination. At the time, Mary intervened to invoke the right, and was then sued by Cher in 2021 for $1 million (£792,000), with Cher saying she was left blindsided by Mary's attempt to claim her half of Sonny's composition royalties. In May 2023, a judge ruled that Cher's divorce agreement with her ex-husband would overrule Mary's bid to claim his profits, but in a court hearing on Nov. 18, Mary's lawyer argued that Cher's right to collect half of the composition royalties for the two aforementioned hits ended over two years ago, on July 1, 2022. - Billboard/NME, 11/19/24...... German electro-pop legends Kraftwerk will be among the headiners at the 2025 Coachella festival, which returns to Indio, Calif., over two weekends this April 13-15 and 20-22. As always, the bill is heavy on electronic artists -- of the roughly 150 artists on the bill, a third are dance/electronic acts. Other headliners include Green Day, Lady Gaga and Post Malone, with a special set from Travis Scott. Kraftwerk is set to perform on Apr. 13 and 20. - Billboard, 11/20/24...... Stevie Wonder has announced he'll be bringing his "Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart" concert to Los Angeles on Dec. 14. His upcoming performance at the city's Crypto.com Arena will also be part of the celebration marking the legendary Motown artist's 25th House Full of Toys holiday benefit. Borrowing its name in part from Wonder's current single, "Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart," the initial 11-date tour launched Oct. 8 in Pittsburgh and wrapped on Nov. 2 in Chicago. Its nine other stops included New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Greensboro, N.C. and Grand Rapids, Mich. And as Wonder noted at the onset of the tour's initial run, he "will be offering a designated number of complimentary tickets to those in our communities who are already working tirelessly to fix our nation's broken heart." Tickets go on sale Nov. 22, and more info can be found on the Crypto.com Arena website. - Billboard, 11/19/24...... Headlining the Corona Capital Festival in Mexico City on Nov. 17, Paul McCartney invited guitarist Jack White and singer-songwriter St. Vincent on stage to jam some Beatles songs. Macca treated fans in the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Stadium to a 29-song set covering the breadth of his career. For "Get Back," Sir Paul invited St. Vincent to the stage, with Annie Clark lending searing guitar solos to a spirited performance of the 1969 track, before exchanging kisses with McCartney. St. Vincent made a second appearance for the show's epic finale, a rendition of "The End," which also saw Jack White adding his distinctive serrated guitar tone to the mix. Fan-captured footage of the performance can be viewed on YouTube. McCartney's performance was the grand finale of his tour in the region. In his fourth performance on Mexican stages -- and his first time at the famous festival in Mexico City -- the star achieved the feat of gathering the largest number of attendees the Corona Capital has seen in its 14-year history, according to promoter Ocesa, with nearly 82,000 people. - NME, 11/18/24...... Ringo Starr has shared the new track "Thankful" featuring Alison Krauss, the latest single from his upcoming country album Look Up, on YouTube. "I love this track," Starr said in a statement. "I wrote it with my producer and engineer Bruce Sugar, and I feel we put an LA country sound to it. For the lyrics, I always like to focus on the positive, and for this song in particular, about what we can be thankful for. I hope it brings you some joy and peace and love." Starr previously shared the album's lead single "Time On My Hands." Comprised of 11 songs, Starr wrote the album alongside T Bone Burnett, Billy Swan and Bruce Sugar, and it marks his first full album in the country style in over 50 years and first LP since 2019. Starr is set to showcase the album in Nashville with a headline show at the Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 14 and 15. - NME, 11/18/24...... Ozzy Osbourne has unveiled a T-shirt he designed in support of a campaign seeking to ban trophy hunting -- a hobby he calls "totally crazy." A video clip published on YouTube on Nov. 18 by Ban Trophy Hunting UK shows Osbourne and his wife Sharon decked out in his custom-made t-shirts, which read "Ozzy says 'No trophy hunting!'." "You've got to be barking to kill an innocent animal and then take photos of yourself laughing about it," the former Black Sabbath frontman said in a statement. "We've all got to do our bit. I like to design things so I've done a t-shirt for the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting. The government said it would ban hunting trophies, so get on with it! Tell your MP you want it banned right now! Get yourself an Ozzy t-shirt for Christmas and help save the animals!" Sharon added that they hope "everyone buys this t-shirt and help raise funds to fight these awful people." Right-wing musician and avid hunter Ted Nugent reacted to Ozzy's video by posting his own video of himself with signed skulls of animals he's killed. - NME, 11/19/24...... Sammy Hagar took to Instagram on Nov. 18 to announce a Las Vegas residency, after $1 million of his and Guy Fieri's tequila was hijacked in a heist in Texas 11 days earlier. The residency will feature his Best Of Both Worlds band, which is comprised of guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Kenny Aronoff. The string of dates is made up of nine nights at the Dolby Live at Park MGM. The musician will take over the venue on Apr. 30 2025 followed by May 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, and 17. "I'm so looking forward to this residency and being able to stay in one place so we can get the sound and production completely dialed in," Hagar said in a press release. "It also allows the band to experiment with the setlist every night -- that's why it's going to be exclusive to Las Vegas." As a celebration of the residency, Hagar and Anthony will perform during the halftime show of the upcoming Las Vegas Raiders game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 24th at Allegiant Stadium. The announcement of Hagar's Vegas residency comes after Hagar and Guy Fieri's joint tequila business -- Santo Tequila -- experienced a hijack with thieves stealing two trucks with roughly $1 million of merchandise in Texas during the weekend of Nov. 9. According to Fox News, a representative of Hagar shared that the trucks were stolen in Laredo after crossing the boarder into the US. A total of 4,040 cases of tequila (24,240 bottles) were stolen. The representative added that the robbery appeared to be an "organized crime effort where the trucks were illegally double brokered to different carriers who transferred the product to their trucks." - NME, 11/18/24...... Sting will be among the headliners at the Cherrytree Music 20th Anniversary Concert, planned for Jan. 25 at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Net proceeds will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The record label, management firm and music publisher, established in 2005 by Grammy-award songwriter/musician/producer, music executive and artist manager Martin Kierszenbaum, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Kierszenbaum was nominated for two Grammy awards for his writing, performance and production work on Lady Gaga's The Fame album and his writing, playing and production on Sting and rapper Shaggy's expectation-defying collaboration, 44/876. - Billboard, 11/19/24...... In a remarkable coincidence, two Bee Gees drummers have died just four days apart. The death of Dennis Bryon, who played on some of the platinum-selling sibling trio's biggest hits, at age 75 was confirmed by former Bee Gees member Blue Weaver on Facebook on Nov. 14. "I am lost for words at the moment Dennis has passed away. Kayte, Dennis's wife has just called me and asked if I would let all friends and fans know. This was such a shock," he wrote in the update. "Dennis has been my friend, since we were in our first band together age 15. His great drumming will always Stay Alive," Weaver wrote. The two also worked together in the UK bands Amen Corner and Fair Weather. Born in Cardiff, Wales in 1949, Byron began drumming as a teenager and went on to join the Gibb brothers in 1973 -- just as they made their transition into disco. He famously contributed to hits including "Night Fever," "How Deep Is Your Love," "Stayin' Alive" and "You Should Be Dancing, and and continued recording with the band through the rest of the decade, with his final recorded efforts with the Gibbs appearing on 1979's Spirits Have Flown, which spawned yet more No. 1 hits in "Tragedy", "Too Much Heaven" and "Love You Inside Out." Bryon has the distinction of being the only drummer in pop history -- besides the Beatles' Ringo Starr -- to have five songs in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. After leaving the Bee Gees, Bryon moved to Nashville and began a long career as a session musician, performing and recording with Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Jimi Hendrix, Dave Edmunds and, more recently, The Italian Bee Gees. He released a memoir, You Should Be Dancing, in 2015. Bryon took over the drum seat from Colin "Smiley" Petersen, who died on Nov. 18 at the age of 78. Petersen joined the English-Australian band formed by brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb in 1966, playing on a string of early hits that cemented the trio's vocal prowess, including "To Love Somebody," "I Started a Joke" and "Holiday." He first contributed to the band's 1966 album Spicks and Specks, before playing on all four of their LPs released under Polydor/Atco. Petersen's final album with the Bee Gees was Cucumber Castle in 1970, after which he eventually left the group following disagreements with manager Robert Stigwood. He subsequently formed the band Humpy Bong with singer-songwriter Jonathan Kelly and Tim Staffell, which broke up shortly after. He then went on to start a management company in 1969 with his wife Joanne Newfield. The couple have two sons, Jaime and Ben. Petersen performed shows with the band as recently as Nov. 16 in Queensland, Australia. Following the deaths of Maurice Gibb in 2003 at 53 and twin Robin in 2012 at age 62, eldest sibling Barry, 78, is the last surviving member of the Bee Gees. - NME/Billboard, 11/20/24.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

AC/DC fans are speculating that the Aussie headbangers may be gearing up to announce a new North American tour for 2025. While nothing has been officially announced by the band at time of writing, fans have begun speculating that a tour announcement is on the way after a new update briefly appeared online. On Nov. 11, several fan sites for the band reported how a Facebook event was listed for AC/DC -- taking place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. on Apr. 11, 2025. It was soon removed from Facebook, and the band have yet to comment about it. Prior to it being taken down, the page reportedly stated that tickets would be going on sale on Nov. 15 -- meaning that if a US tour is to be announced, the official confirmation should be coming imminently. If a North America tour does come to fruition, it'll come on the heels of band wrapping up the 24th and final show of their "Power Up" UK and Europe tour. The last date of the extensive tour took place at Croke Park in Dublin on Aug. 17. AC/DC are also rumored to be among the headliners for the 2025 Glastonbury festival, alongside Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day and more. - NME, 11/12/24...... As an expanded two-disc anniversary edition of George Harrison's 1973 chart-topping album Living In The Material World hit stores on Nov. 15, George's son Dhani Harrison says that his father "really loved this album because of what it stood for." "It was designed to help people living in the material world -- it had a purpose," says Dhani, who curated the new release with his mom and Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison. "It always meant a lot to him. He named his charity after it, so it was also the beginning of the foundation, which still goes on today." Royalties from the 50th anniversary edition will go to the Material World Foundation. The new set is part of an expanded deal with BMG that the Harrison estate's Dark Horse Records signed with BMG in 2023. It features a new mix of the original LP by Grammy Award-winning engineer Paul Hicks, a second disc (on LP and CD) that includes an outtake of each song as well as two rarities, "Miss O'Dell" and, on CD only, the unreleased "Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)" (which Harrison contributed to Ringo Starr's 1973 album, Ringo, and recorded with Starr and members of The Band). The package also includes a 60-page hardcover book featuring previously unseen images and memorabilia from the period. "We're going in chronological order," says Dark Horse CEO Dhani about the estate and label's approach to reissuing his father's catalog. "There was obviously (The Concert For) Bangladesh in-between but that's a full concert movie, so that doesn't affect the order as we release his solo studio albums." Dhani says the estate began working concurrently on The Concert for Bangladesh, with Peter Jackson helping to restore footage of the film "so it's of the same quality as Get Back." Dark Horse is looking at doing something similar with Harrison's 1974 tour as well. "If there's any way of doing Dark Horse (the album) and the Dark Horse '74 tour in the same way as well, that's my ultimate goal," Dhani says. "The band is incredible, and the shows set the template for bringing classical Indian music and rock n' roll together. "All these releases require so much work. It took us five years to do the All Things Must Pass 50th anniversary. We started doing all this in 2001 -- we've been at it for nearly 25 years and we're only up to the second album." - Billboard, 11/15/24...... In other Beatles-related news, a rare Patek Philippe watch bought for John Lennon by Yoko Ono just months before his death is to be returned to her. Estimated to be worth $4.5 million (£3.6 million), was a 40th birthday gift to the former Beatle in 1980. It bears the inscription "(JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER LOVE YOKO 1091980 N.Y.C", on the back of its 18-carat gold face -- a line from a song the couple composed together the same year, court documents showed. The watch is said to have changed hands and countries several times after it was taken by Ono's Turkish chauffeur in 2006, the court heard. He claimed he had her consent to take the watch. Once in Turkey, the watch, which Ono bought just two months before Lennon's assassination, changed hands again in 2010 before being sold to a German auction house who sold it to an Italian national living in China. The court heard she only discovered that it had been stolen in 2014 after a Geneva-based company, commissioned by the Italian to assess its value, tipped off her lawyer. On Nov. 14, a Swiss court ruled that the watch did not belong to the Italian, paving the way for its return to Ono. It is currently being held for safekeeping in Geneva by the lawyer of the appellant. - NME, 11/15/24...... In a new interview with Kate Thornton's Greatest Hits Radio podcast on Nov. 15, Elton John opened up about his children's relationship with his fame, saying they are "not interested in being in the limelight." The Rocket Man and his husband David Furnish have two sons, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, 13, and Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, 11, both born via surrogacy. Explaining how his parenting style is different from that of his own parents, he added: "When the kids were born I didn't want them to have any fear. I grew up in the 1950s and everything was 'children should be seen and not heard.' I was treading on eggshells everywhere and I didn't ever want my children to feel like that." Elton continued: "They're not interested in being in the limelight. In fact Zachary, our eldest, didn't really want to be filmed at all, he doesn't like it, but we explained the situation to him and he agreed to be filmed at the Dodgers Stadium." John was referring to the filming of Never Too Late, the new Disney+ documentary that followed him as he prepared for his final North American stadium show at the Los Angeles stadium in Nov. 2022. "At the end of the day what matters most? My career and my success or my family and I've got it in perspective now - my family matters most," John said. "I'm lucky enough to have had the career I've had and still have but now it's being able to enjoy that part of my life and really focus on the important things." The film has a limited theatrical release in the UK and US on Nov. 15, before its premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 13. The doc "pulls back the curtain" on Elton's life, featuring "never-before-seen concert footage of him over the past 50 years, as well as hand-written journals and present-day footage of him and his family." It received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Also on Nov. 15, a song of the same name that was written specifically for the film was released and shared on YouTube, a duet between John and Brandi Carlile. The official trailer for Elton John: Never Too Late can also be viewed on YouTube. Meanwhile, Elton's friend and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin revealed in May that John's 32nd studio album is "all done and recorded," though no release date has been announced. - NME, 11/15/24...... Cher has revealed that her relationship with her former singing partner and late ex-husband Sonny Bono "wasn't love at first sight" because Sonny didn't find her "particularly attractive." In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Cher gave her unfiltered side of the story of first time crossing paths with her Sonny & Cher counterpart. "I thought it was like when Tony met Maria," she told interviewer Anthony Mason, recalling how she met him at a coffee shop in 1962. "I mean, everybody disappeared. And it was just the two of us," Cher continued. "But he didn't like me. It wasn't love at first sight. It was something. I never felt it before." But while the "Believe" artist was all about Bono from the start, she says he preferred her friend. "He said, 'You know, you can come and stay with me,'" she reflected. "And I was like, 'Okay, you know.' And he went, 'No, no, I don't find you particularly attractive.' So, I was upset and happy at the same time." Cher was famously 16 when she met a then-27-year-old Sonny, with the couple eventually getting married in 1964 and rising to fame via their husband-and-wife band. They split up a decade later and finalized their divorced in 1975, and Sonny, a former member of Congress, tragically died in a 1998 skiing accident at age 62. While speaking to CBS, Cher also disputed that their age gap ever felt "strange." "[Sonny] was kind of childish," she said. "He got to be with me & because I didn't expect anything. I didn't want money. I didn't think about anything, you know. And all these other women that were his age, they wanted him to be grownup." A clip of Cher recounting her memories about Sonny can be viewed on X. - Billboard, 11/14/24...... A new documentary shows Elvis Presley like he's never been seen before. Netflix's Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis (streaming now) explores the significance of the rock and roll legend's Singer Presents....ELVIS, commonly called the "'68 Comeback Special," that aired on NBC on Dec. 3, 1968, when he was at a major crossroads in his career. Through its use of rarely seen rehearsal footage, the doc shows just how much unease Elvis had about this moment' "People would think, 'How could he be nervous? He's Elvis Presley," the singer's ex-wife Priscilla Presley says. "[But] he was very nervous." Though Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, tried to get him to do a family-friendly Christmas special, Elvis insisted on a return to his rock roots. The special went on to become the highest-rated show of the year for NBC. Elvis dedicated himself to live performances from then on, and he played hundreds more concerts before his death at age 42 in 1977. With the documentary, Priscilla says, "I really want the kids of this generation to know why he was the King of Rock and Roll." Meanwhile, Elvis Evolution, a new Presley immersive experience that's using AI to bring back the King, is set to debut in London in May. The show will use archival material and cutting-edge technology to bring Presley's musical journey to life. - People, 11/25/24...... After first announcing their farewell tour over two years ago, The B-52s are still going strong, announcing an additional run of dates for their ongoing Las Vegas residency on Nov. 12. Announced alongside the completion of their current residency, the New Wave vets will return to The Venetian Resort in Vegas next year, performing five shows across Apr. 11, 12, 16, 18, and 19. The trio, comprised of Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider, initially announced shows at The Venetian back in 2022 when they revealed their ongoing farewell tour. That run of dates included three shows at the venue in Oct. 2022, though additional shows were announced for May, and Aug. and Sept. 2023. The group wrapped up their latest residency on Nov. 13, having played another handful of shows in April. Known for their pioneering status in the new wave genre and unique aesthetic, the group's lineup has revolved around the quartet of Schneider, Pierson, Wilson and Keith Strickland. Founding guitarist Ricky Wilson died from an AIDS-related illness in 1985. Strickland, meanwhile, has not been part of the touring ensemble since 2013. - Billboard, 11/12/24...... Some of John Lydon's (aka Johnny Rotten) handwritten lyrics to Sex Pistols songs are set to be auctioned through RR Auctions. In 1977, Lydon penned the lyrics to two Sex Pistol hits, "Holidays In The Sun" and "Submission," on a single sheet of paper when putting together the band's one and only album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols. Lydon's handwritten lyric sheet also includes the lyric "A cheap holiday in other people's misery" at the top corner, suggesting it might've been a last-minute addition. The lyric sheet is the spotlight item in RR Auction's Marvels of Modern Music sale, which also includes a copy of With The Beatles signed by all four members, a signed copy of Queen's A Night At The Opera, a custom Prince guitar and more. The auctions can be checked out at the RR Auctions website. Meanwhile, Lydon and his band Public Image Ltd (PiL) have announced a UK and Ireland headline tour for 2025, set to kick off on May 22 at Bristol's O2 Academy. - NME, 11/13/24...... The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced on Nov. 15 that beloved late actress Betty White will adorn one of its 2025 Forever stamps. Known for roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, Boston Legal, and others, the actress died in late Dec. 2021, less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn't announced a release date for the stamp. "An icon of American television, Betty White (1922-2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades," the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston. "The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals." Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston's photo. "I'd love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK," Stephanos posted on Facebook. - Billboard, 11/16/24...... Rod Stewart is threatening to sell his luxury Italian sports cars due to a long-running battle over potholes in his native UK. "I am extremely fortunate and eternally grateful to be the owner of these five beautiful hybrid sports cars, which, in my opinion, are true 'works of art'," posted "Hot Rod," who lives in Harlow, Essex, on his Instagram account. He continued: "Unfortunately, because of the potholes on our roads, I may have to find new owners for them. I've been driving these iconic Italian cars since the 70s, and I absolutely love and adore them. This post is for my fans -- thank you, as you are the sole reason I own them. And to all the trolls don't bother; I never read the comments." Stewart's latest pothole rant comes after he previously took it upon himself to try to fix the roads in 2022, claiming "no one can be bothered to do it" in a post of himself and friends filling in the holes. "People are bashing their cars up. The other day, there was an ambulance with a burst tyre. My Ferrari can't go through here at all," he posted at the time. "This is the state of the road near where I live in Harlow and it's been like this for ages. So me and the boys thought we would come and do it ourselves." In response to his latest pothole concerns, a spokesperson for Essex County Council told BBC News: "We'd like to reassure Sir Rod Stewart that Essex County Council is investing more money this year than ever in maintaining and repairing the roads of Essex. An additional 37m is being invested to address potholes and carry out larger scale works, like resurfacing and vegetation clearance, through our priority one programme. As a result, more potholes around the county are being fixed, so Sir Rod can join other Essex residents sailing along our roads." - New Musical Express, 11/15/24...... The cause of death of music legend Quincy Jones, who passed on Nov. 3 at age 91, has been revealed. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health revealed on Nov. 13 that he died of pancreatic cancer, with no other contributing factors cited. On Nov. 11, the 28-time Grammy-winning producer, arranger and composer was laid to rest in an "intimate ceremony included Mr. Jones' seven children, his brother, two sisters, and immediate family members," according to a statement shared with The Associated Press. Among his family's survivors are his seven children, including actress Rashida Jones. - Billboard, 11/13/24...... Peter Sinfield, a songwriter and lyricist for '60s/'70s prog-rock icons King Crimson and also collaborated with the likes of Roxy Music, Cher, Cliff Richard and Celine Dion, died on Nov. 14. He was 80. Although no cause of death was announced, Mr. Sinfield was said to have been suffering from declining health for several years. Instrumental in King Crimson's success, Mr. Sinfield co-founded the band with guitarist Robert Fripp and was responsible for naming them and finding their first rehearsal space in the cafe basement on Fulham Palace Road. The band's original roadie and lights operator, he also sourced the artwork by his friend Barry Godber for the front the cover of King Crimson's 1969 debut album, In The Court Of The Crimson King. From 1969 until 1971, he provided the group's lyrics and took on the role of art director commissioning the covers of the albums Court, In The Wake Of Poseidon, Lizard and Islands, which he also co-produced with Fripp. Mr. Sinfield departed from the band a year later, after Fripp asked him to leave, but he went on to produce Roxy Music's self-titled debut album before releasing his own solo album Still in 1973. That same year he was recruited by fellow prog pioneers Emerson, Lake & Palmer, with whom he contributed lyrics for "Benny The Bouncer" and "Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression" for their fourth studio album Brain Salad Surgery, as well as other ELP songs. In 1975, he also co-wrote the UK Number Two ELP hit, "I Believe in Father Christmas," with Greg Lake. During the '80s and the '90s, he was responsible for co-writing successful hit singles for the likes of Cher, Cliff Richard, Celine Dion, Bucks Fizz and Five Star. In 2014, Fripp invited Mr. Sinfield to provide an updated take on the lyrics of "21st Century' Schizoid Man." News of his passing was shared by Fripp on his and the band's X/Twitter page. - NME, 11/15/24...... Shel Talmy, the pioneering American producer behind the hits of '60s "British Invasion" bands including The Who and The Kinks, died at his Los Angeles home on Nov. 13 from complications due to a stroke, according to his friend, songwriter and archivist Alec Palao. He was 87. An instrumental figure in the British Invasion, Mr. Talmy helped shape British rock's sound in the 60s. Having moved from Chicago to London in 1962, he got his start in the music industry in the late fifties at Decca Records. He started working with The Kinks two years later, and produced their landmark hit, "You Really Got Me," and played a significant role in The Who's early career, having signed them to his production company and produced "My Generation" and "I Can't Explain." Elsewhere, he worked on David Bowie's early singles and produced for The Easybeats, Manfred Mann, Chad & Jeremy, Pentangle and more. In his later years, Mr. Talmy took to sharing tales of "swinging London" with fans on Facebook, and also prepared a written statement before his death that was shared posthumously: "Preferably [read] with 'You Really Got Me', 'My Generation', 'Friday On My Mind' or your choice of favourite ST production cranked in the background.... Hi to all, and many thanks to all of you who have been reading my rock stories for all this time, it has been greatly appreciated," it read. "Please note, that if you're reading this now, this is my final vignette, as I am no longer residing on this plane of existence, and have "moved on", to wherever that may be." Wrapping up the post, Mr. Talmy wrote that he "had a good run," but was "delighted" to have been told he had a "legacy that will last even longer." In the post's final line, he joked: "I look forward to meeting some of you in the future who are reading this, but LOL, don't hurry to get here, I'm not going anywhere!" Kinks guitarist Dave Davies has led tributes to Mr. Talmy, writing on X/Twitter: "I really loved the man. He was really crucial to the beginning of our career. I send all my love and condolences to his family. He was a really sweet gentle soul. Rest in Peace Shel Talmy." - NME, 11/15/24...... Jazz drumming pioneer Roy Haynes, who performed with the likes of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and more, died on Nov. 12. He was 99 years old. In 1956, Mr. Haynes teamed up with Quincy Jones -- who sadly also died earlier in November at the age of 91 -- to release the split LP Jazz Abroad. The two would later reunite for Ray Charles' 1961 classic Genius + Soul = Jazz. Throughout the rest of his career, Mr. Haynes would on appear on jazz classics by such legendary artists as Coltraine, Davis, Eric Dolphy, Jackie McLean, and many more. He had appeared on hundreds of albums -- both as bandleader and a sideman -- and released his last album Roy-Alty in 2011. Among the numerous accolades he collected during his life include two Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2012 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jazz Foundation of America in 2019. He was one of the last surviving drummers from the swing and bebop eras of jazz music. "Thanks for all your hipness dad R.I.P," his son Craig Holiday Haynes posted in tribute. - NME, 11/14/24.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

On Nov. 11 The Who's Roger Daltrey announced plans for a 2025 UK solo tour set to launch on Apr. 20 at Brighton Dome. Daltrey will also play London (4/21), Southend-on-Sea (4/23), Wolverhampton (4/24), Dundee (4/26) and Glasgow (4/28), Edinburgh (4/30), and Gateshead (5/1) before wrapping at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on May 4. "Here we go again!," Daltrey said about the tour. "After touring the US with this band of phenomenal musicians, I can't wait to get back on the road in the UK with these shows. It's a joy to be on stage performing -- up close and personal for the audience, chatting with them and playing familiar songs in an unfamiliar way." Meanwhile, Daltrey's surviving Who co-founder Pete Townshend recently revealed that he found Daltrey's pro-Brexit stance "very problematic." Townshend himself voted "Remain" in the 2016 EU referendum and told the UK's Daily Telegraph he didn't agree with his bandmate's stance on Brexit: "[That was] very problematic for me. I think he was wrong. But we are a nation divided down the middle." Despite Daltrey's views on Brexit, the guitarist added: "He's not a fascist Right-winger, he's a very decent man. But it felt to me that with respect to the arts, and particularly to music, the free flow of life from all of the history of Europe was going to be denied to our young people." The Who recently confirmed they would "definitely" return in 2025, according to Townshend. - New Musical Express, 11/11/24...... The estate of Jerry Garcia has partnered with an AI voice company to bring the late Grateful Dead guitarist, singer and songwriter's AI-recreated voice to its Iconic Listening Experience on the ElevenReader app. Now, Deadheads using the app can hear Garcia's voice read out audiobooks, e-books, articles, poetry, fan stories, PDFs and more in 32 different languages. In addition to the ElevenReader, Garcia's voice model will also be used in various upcoming projects associated with the Jerry Garcia Foundation. This could include narrated documentaries, audio art exhibits and more. Garcia is the latest in a string of partnerships between ElevenLabs and the estates of famous celebrities. Already, the AI voice company has rolled out voice models for Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds and Sir Laurence Olivier to its Iconic Listening Experience. According to a company spokesperson, ElevenLabs worked "in close collaboration with the Jerry Garcia Estate to ensure that the reproduction of Garcia's voice was as authentic and true to his legacy as possible." - Billboard, 11/11/24...... Bruce Springsteen opened his first post-election concert in Toronto on Nov. 6 with a rousing performance of "Long Walk Home." "This is a fighting prayer for my country," Springsteen told the crowd at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto as he and the E Street Band launched into the 2007 song "Long Walk Home" from 2007's Magic album. The band then tore into the mid-tempo rocker whose lyrics felt especially timely in light of Springsteen's vocal, emphatic support of Vice President Kamala Harris' losing campaign against former and now future president Donald Trump. "Last night I stood at your doorstep/ Trying to figure out what went wrong," he sang on the song with the poignant refrain: "It's gonna be a long walk home/ Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me/ Gonna be a long walk home." Though he didn't comment further on the relevance of the song's themes, their plainspoken poetry did the talking for him. "My father said 'Son, we're lucky in this town/ It's a beautiful place to be born/ It just wraps its arms around you/ Nobody crowds you and nobody goes it alone,'" he sang, followed by another verse layered with Springsteen's signature dream of a better tomorrow and faith in the resilience of the American spirit: "Your flag flyin' over the courthouse/ Means certain things are set in stone/ Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't." The Boss had been all-in for Harris, throwing his weight behind the 11th-hour candidacy by filming the moving "Hope and Dreams" campaign video in which he said, "This election is about a group of folks who want to fundamentally undermine our American way of life. Donald Trump does not understand this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American. I want a president who reveres the Constitution, who wants to protect and guide our great democracy, who believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, who will fight for women's rights and a woman's right to choose, and who wants to create a middle class economy that serves all our citizens." Fan video of the performance can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 11/7/24...... Appearing on Steve-O's Wild Ride! podcast, Paul Stanley has said KISS' upcoming avatar show will be like "Cirque Du Soleil meets Star Wars and a KISS concert." The future production will be overseen by Pophouse Entertainment, the company behind ABBA's Voyage show, in which the Swedish pop quartet were represented by holographic virtual avatars on stage. "What we'll be doing with these amazing avatars will take us to another place, another level. Now, those [preview images] images at the Garden were really -- I had mixed feelings about showing those because they're so early on, they look nothing like that," the guitarist/vocalist said. He continued: "I mean, the avatars are identical. I mean, they look like us. And I think the idea was really just to show people that we're going to move on and continue, but it won't be like that. And what we're putting together with George Lucas and Pophouse, this amazing company out of Sweden, is an immersive experience that you'll come to, and there'll be heat and fire and wind and things flying around. The idea of us making a recreation of a concert, I mean, how long can you look and go, 'Wow, that looks just like an amplifier'? That's not what we're doing. I would say it's Cirque Du Soleil meets Star Wars and a KISS concert. So it's gonna be amazing." Pophouse acquired KISS' catalog, brand name and IP in April, while the band first unveiled their 'new era' at the final show of ftheir farewell tour last December in Madison Square Garden. After leaving the stage, the band members' avatars were revealed, and they went on to perform "God Gave Rock And Roll To You." Stanley's full interview can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 11/9/24...... David Gilmour brought the first of five nonconsecutive shows in November to New York's Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9. Prior to the show beginning in earnest, Gilmour's bassist Guy Pratt (also a member of Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets band) came out to politely but firmly urge the audience to stay "present" throughout the show and avoid the urge to watch the entire thing through the screen of a cell phone -- and more importantly, keep your phone's flashlight off ("David hates that"). The songs from The Dark Side of the Moon in the first half of his set got the biggest roar of approval, and while it was immensely satisfying to hear faithful renderings of tunes like "Breathe (In the Air)" and "Time," his stripped-down take on "The Great Gig in the Sky" during the night's second half was arguably more memorable. The visuals on this tour behind his new solo album Luck and Strange aren't quite as theatrical or prop heavy as what former bandmate Roger Waters brings to the road, but it boasts its fair share of production flourishes, from bouncing inflatable balls during "High Hopes" to harrowing video animations to blazing green lasers. For the encore, Gilmour and his band performed "Comfortably Numb" from what looked like a prison cell of white lights. Despite the show featuring eight songs from Luck and Strange, the MSG crowd stayed present, riveted, mostly seated and "comfortably numb" until the very end. Meanwhile, in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gilmour claims he was "bullied" into making the final Pink Floyd album The Endless River in 2014. Gilmour explained that while recording The Division Bell in 1994, they'd produced many hours worth of ambient music that was originally meant to make up a new instrumental record. However, when this release never happened, Gilmour claims their record label then insisted that the ambient recordings were released. Gilmour explained: "I'll tell you: When we did that album, there was a thing that Andy Jackson, our engineer, had put together called 'The Big Spliff' -- a collection of all these bits and pieces of jams [from the sessions for The Division Bell] that was out there on bootlegs. A lot of fans wanted this stuff that we'd done in that time, and we thought we'd give it to them. My mistake, I suppose, was in being bullied by the record company to have it out as a properly paid-for Pink Floyd record. It should have been clear what it was -- it was never intended to be the follow-up to The Division Bell. But, you know, it's never too late to get caught in one of these traps again." Gilmour also addressed rumors that Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon was written to synchronize with the 1939 classic movie The Wizard Of Oz during a Nov. 7 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. When asked if the theory was true, Gilmour joked: "Well of course it was." He went on: "We listened to it Polly [Samson, Gilmore's wife] and I, years ago. Somebody said you put the needle on and on the third roar of the MGM lion, you put the needle on for the beginning of 'Dark Side' and there's these strange synchronicities that happen." Gilmour then admitted: "There are these strange coincidences." In 2016, it was also suggested that the album syncs perfectly with Star Wars: The Force Awakens by another fan theory after a video was uploaded of the album playing in time with the movie. Gilmour's Tonight Show interview has been shared on YouTube, as well as his performance of "Dark and Velvet Nights" from Luck and Strange. - Billboard/NME, 11/10/24...... Robert Plant has starred in a new commercial for Italy's Trenitalia rail service and its Frecciarossa high-speed trains. The new ad, which has been shared on YouTube, features clips of the singer at a terminal in Rome, travelling on a train, and performing with his acoustic band, Saving Grace -- whose cover of Low's "Everybody's Song" soundtracks the ad. Plant is also seen having coffee with Saving Grace vocalist Suzy Dian at the first-class Freccia Lounge, and chatting to her in another moment while travelling in one of Frecciarossa's Executive Class train cars. Earlier in 2024, Plant and Dian completed a UK headline tour, and performed as part of this year's Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at London's Royal Albert Hall in March. Following the UK dates, Plant and Alison Krauss set off on a North American tour that wrapped in September, having last toured together in 2022, which itself was their first complete tour in 12 years. In June, they shared a new version of Led Zeppelin's classic track "When The Levee Breaks," the duo's first single since their second collaborative album Raise The Roof was released in 2021. The pair also performed Zeppelin classics "The Battle Of Evermore" and "Rock And Roll," as well as a medley that includes "Gallows Pole." It was recently revealed that the long awaited Zeppelin documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin has been completed and is finally set for a cinema release. The authorized film features new interviews with Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, as well as rare archival interviews with the late John Bonham, who died in 1980. An official release date for the documentary is yet to be announced. It is the first time that Led Zeppelin have participated in a documentary in 50 years. - NME, 11/8/24...... In other Led Zeppelin-related news, Jimmy Page's ongoing feud with neighbor Robbie Williams has reignited over plans to fell a "fungus-infested" tree. Williams has made a request to the Kensington and Chelsea Council to axe a tree in his garden, after his tree surgeon Michael Goatly has said the Norway maple is reportedly afflicted with honey fungus. But now an objection has been apparently submitted by Williams' neighbors. Page has not been explicitly listed in the objection, but he did previously object to Williams' plans to cut down trees last year. "There is no explanation as to why this tree need be felled, only a series of photos showing parts of it are damaged," the objection reads. "Should there not be a written report that accompanies each proposed felling and what courses of action could be done before the final resort of felling this tree?" The pair, who live in West London, have been involved in a long-running feud since 2014. Page originally objected to Williams' home renovations after concerns its vibrations would cause "catastrophic damage." Despite the Take That frontman being granted permission to renovate his reported £17.5 million home, Williams complained that he couldn't move into his home, and later calling the Led Zeppelin guitarist "mentally ill" -- for which he then apologized. The feud flared up once again in 2018 after reportedly Williams wanted to build an underground gym and pool, with Page once again citing his fears that the vibrations caused from the renovations could cause "irreversable damage." That same year, Kensington and Chelsea Council granted the singer permission to go ahead with the changes. - NME, 11/8/24...... On Nov. 8 The Beatles' purported "final song" "Now and Then" was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards -- marking the first time a song created with the assistance of artificial intelligence has earned a Grammy nomination. When "Now and Then" first came out in late 2023, the disclosure that it was finalized utilizing AI caused an uproar. At the time, many fans assumed that the remaining Fab Four members -- Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr -- must have used generative AI to deepfake the late John Lennon. That was not actually the case. Instead, the Beatles used a form of AI known as "stem separation" to help them clean up a 47-year-old, low-fidelity demo recorded by Lennon around 1977 and to make it useable in a finished master recording. However, some fans have drawn attention to the use of AI to isolate Lennon's original demo recording in the song. One post on X/Twitter noted (in Spanish): "Everything is fine with The Beatles - But this Grammy nomination is quite forced - And on top of that with AI to try to separate John Lennon's vocals from the piano of the original demo." This was countered by another X user, however, who argued: "The Beatles DID NOT USE AI to create a song but rather to isolate John Lennon's voice from a record that already existed and recorded new parts in a traditional way. winning the Grammy would be the least they could do for the last song made by the greatest band of all time." The two nominations for "Now and Then" mark the Fab Four's first nominations at the Grammy Awards in decades and the fourth time the group has been nominated in the Record of the Year category. They were first nominated in the category in the mid-1960s with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and were later nominated for "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be" as well. The Beatles have never won in this category. With this nomination, the Beatles are setting the record for the longest span between nominations for any artist in history. However, Lennon and Harrison, who died in 1980 and 2001 respectively, do not meet Grammy eligibility requirements as they did not contribute newly recorded elements to the track, and are not listed in the official nomination. The winners of the 68th Grammy Awards are set to be revealed at a ceremony on Feb. 2, 2025 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. - Billboard/NME, 11/8/24...... In other Grammy-related news, former president Jimmy Carter is on track to become the oldest Grammy winner ever for his audiobook Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration. Pres. Carter, 100 years old, is nominated for best audio book, narration and storytelling recording. If Pres. Carter wins, this would be his fourth Grammy, which is more than any other president. He previously won in 2007 for Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis, in 2016 for A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety, and in 2019 for Faith -- A Journey for All. Two other former U.S. presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, have each won two Grammys. The oldest Grammy winner record is currently held by blues pianist Pinetop Perkins, who was 97 in 2011 when he won best traditional blues album for Joined at the Hip. He is followed by the late Tony Bennett (95 in 2022), and the late George Burns (also 95 in 1991). Carter, who was president from 1977-1980, has had the longest life of any U.S. president. - Billboard, 11/11/24...... Sting has said he had doubts about appearing on as a mega mentor for Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg's teams on NBC's singing competition series The Voice on Nov. 11. "I was reticent, to be honest," Sting says. "The premise of the show is frightening to me, this sort of competition. I think art and music aren't really competitions. If you win the U.S. Open, you are the best player at that particular time. But singing is different. Everybody's voice is unique." But the former The Police frontman says he found the experience rewarding. "It was very nourishing to see a small piece advice that you're given and then their next run through, they put that into action and the whole thing is raised," he says. Sting, a former schoolteacher, adds he found the contestants needed very little instruction. "I'm still a student of music, but I've been doing it for a long time, so I can give them a tiny hint," he says, "but the standard of singing is so high, there's nothing you can say. They know how to sing. There's little bits of presentation or posture or the way that you present yourself I can probably help, but technically, they're great singers." As far as the best advice he ever got from a mentor came from his dad and he clearly took it to heart. "He said go to sea. See the world. Make something of yourself," he says. "Basically, take a risk." On Nov. 12, Sting's stripped-down "Sting 3.0" tour starts a five-date run in Los Angeles. The outing wraps in Sweden in July. Meanwhile, Sting has revealed his thoughts on the legacy of The Police's "Every Breath You Take" following the numerous allegations against Sean "Diddy" Combs. In 1997, Diddy sampled The Police's 1983 chart-topping song for his own release, "I'll Be Missing You." Now that Diddy is facing charges for sex trafficking, racketeering and transporting for prostitution, Sting has shared his thoughts on the disgraced rapper's sample. In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Sting replied when asked if he thought the Police hit had been polluted by Diddy's cover: "No. I mean, I don't know what went on [with Diddy]. But it doesn't taint the song at all for me. It's still my song." In 2023, Diddy said that he was forced to pay Sting £4,020 ($5,000) each day for the rest of his life for the sample. However, he quickly backtracked the comment, saying he was "was joking! It's called being facetious! Me and @OfficialSting have been friends for a long time! He never charged me $3K or $5K a day for 'Missing You.' He probably makes more than $5K a day from one of the biggest songs in history." Diddy was first arrested in September, and was charged with sex trafficking, transporting for prostitution and more. He was denied bail after offering a $50 million bond and was reportedly placed on suicide watch as he awaits trial in a Brooklyn, NY jail. The artist has since appealed against the bail denial. His trial date is scheduled for May 5, 2025. - Billboard/NME, 11/8/24...... Quincy Jones was laid to rest in a private ceremony in Los Angeles on Nov. 10, a week after his death in the Bel Air section of L.A. on Nov. 3 at age 91. The family of the 28-time Grammy-winning producer, arranger and composer said in a statement to The Associated Press that the "intimate ceremony included Mr. Jones' seven children, his brother, two sisters, and immediate family members." The family did not reveal the cemetery where the ceremony took place, and added that they remain "enormously grateful for the outpouring of condolences and tributes from his friends and fans from around the world." A larger, more public memorial is also being planned. Tributes to the music giant after his death came from some of the biggest figures in media and politics. Saturday Night Live, which he once hosted, paid tribute to him a night before his service with a memorial photo in a quiet moment of the show. In lieu of flowers, Jones' family asks for donations to JazzFoundation.org. - Billboard, 11/11/24.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

After UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed the country's new budget in an Oct. 30 speech, The Who's Roger Daltrey has criticized it as a "kick in the balls" to the charity sector. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Daltrey said that some of the changes announced may have "catastrophic effects" on cancer charities, including his own Teenage Cancer Trust, which he has curated for over 20 years. Although he has recently stepped back from some of his responsibilities for the organization, he remains passionate about supporting cancer charities. He warned that tax hikes may force cancer charities to get rid of specialist nursing staff. Daltrey said, in part: "If we can't raise more money we will have to lay people off. We have specialist nurses that are trained specifically to care for that 13-24 age group, and I don't like to think about the consequences of this. To lose nurses would be catastrophic." In other Who news, Pete Townshend said the band will "definitely" return in 2025. Speaking to the Standard, Townshend revealed that The Who will "do something next year." Though he never explicitly shared what that is, his answers to the newspaper imply that they may be hitting the road. He revealed that he had "met with Roger for lunch," and that they're in "good form". "We love each other. We're both getting a bit creaky, but we will definitely do something next year." - New Musical Express, 11/6/24...... Former president Donald Trump's decisive win over Vice Pres. Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election has drawn stunned reaction from many in Hollywood and the music industry, including one of his longtime detractors, Bette Midler. Taking to social media, Midler quoted journalist and essayist H.L. Mencken in one of the night's most scathing responses. "When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental. The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people." The quote continues, "On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." Trump would be the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election. He also stands to be the first person convicted of a felony to be elected president and, at 78, he will be the oldest person at the outset of a presidential term. - Billboard, 11/6/24...... Former Genesis frontman and '80s solo star Peter Gabriel announced on Nov. 5 that his WOMAD festival will be taking a break next year, before returning to a "new home" for 2026. WOMAD, which stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, was founded by Gabriel in 1980 with the aim of spotlighting an eclectic mixture of genres. Since then, the festival has travelled to 27 countries across the world, while the main UK event has taken place in Charlton Park in Wiltshire since 2007. This year was its 42nd edition and will be its last in Charlton Park. In a statement, Gabriel has shared that, after 17 years in Wiltshire, WOMAD is "moving to a new home" that is "not far" from the current site. "To ensure that the festival can continue to thrive for years to come in our new location, we have decided to take a year off in 2025 before returning fully charged in 2026," he added. In 2023 Gabriel appeared in a video by Artist for Action to Prevent Gun Violence, an organization that asks Americans to vote to eradicate gun violence in the country. "As much as I love the United States, I am always appalled at the ease with which anyone can get a weapon," Gabriel says in the video. He also weighed in on the AI debate, saying, "I'm probably just as scared [of AI] as everybody else, but I like to jump in the river rather than talk about itI do think about it quite a lot, and I think not enough people are thinking about it." - NME, 11/5/24...... Bruce Springsteen stopped by the set of the upcoming biopic about him, Deliver Me From Nowhere, on Nov. 4 to visit its titular star, Jeremy Allen White during filming. Springsteen and The Bear actor were photographed together alongside director Scott Cooper while shooting a scene in a car dealership in Bayonne, New Jersey. White and Springsteen were seen hugging and sharing a smile, as well as taking a look at some classic cars. The cars included a Chevrolet Z28 Camaro, which the Boss has said was the first car he ever bought, and could indicate the content of the scene being filmed. In the movie, White will play '80s-era Springsteen, with the film chronicling the recording of his acclaimed 1982 album Nebraska. The biopic is being produced by Disney's 20th Century Studios, and the shoot is happening mostly on location in Springsteen's native New Jersey and New York. The biopic was first announced in April. Springsteen recently shared his thoughts on White's casting, saying: "I only had to see him on The Bear, and I knew he was the right guy, because he had that interior life, but he also had a little swagger." Deliver Me From Nowhere does not yet have a confirmed release date, but should arrive on screen sometime in 2025. - NME, 11/6/24...... In a new interview with the UK paper The Sun, Art Garfunkel revealed that a recent reunion with Paul Simon left him in tears, feeling he had "hurt" his former musical partner. Simon & Garfunkel were one of the best-selling acts of the 1960s, selling over 100 million records and recording timeless hits such as "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "The Sound of Silence" and "Mrs. Robinson." However, they also became known for their troubled relationship, with artistic disagreements leading to their breakup in 1970. They have performed together sporadically since then, but not since 2010. That year, they had planned a huge reunion tour across North America, but it was shelved after one show, with Garfunkel suffering from vocal issues. Simon later commented that he felt "let down" by the cancelled tour. "I didn't feel I could trust him any more," he told biographer Robert Hillman. Garfunkel, in response, described Simon as a "monster with a Napoleon complex." However, in the new interview Garfunkel revealed that the duo shared a lunch together recently and that "it was very, very warm and wonderful." Recounting his complex emotions from the meeting, he added: "There were tears. I was crying at a certain point because I felt that I had hurt him. But there were hugs. I'm cherishing this two-week-old memory of having lunch with Paul Simon." In October, Simon revealed that he was feeling "optimistic" about a potential live return, after going through the "scary, frustrating" experience of a near-total loss of hearing in his left ear. He had previously spoken about how he had not "accepted" his hearing loss but was in the process of finding a new solution which would help him return to the stage. - NME, 11/4/24...... Judas Priest announced on their Instagram page on Nov. 4 that the band will embark on a new string of tour dates across Europe in 2025. Touring behind their latest album Invicible Shield, Priest's tour will consist of 12 shows with stops in Norway (6/14), Germany (6/17, 18), Italy (7/1), Switzerland (7/3), Poland (7/7), Sweden (7/10), France (7/15) and more. The European tour announcement comes shortly after the conclusion of Judas Priest's North American tour. During that tour, the band performed a mix of Invincible Shield and fan favorites across nine classic albums. Recently, the band's bassist Ian Hill has said that Judas Priest are in the midst of re-mixing their debut album Rocka Rolla, which has just turned 50: "It's just coming out shortly, I believe. It's only a few weeks away, I'm sure it is It's gonna be re-released, which is great news. It's finally got the production it's always needed." - NME, 11/5/24...... It has been announced that Eddie Murphy will portray funk-rock legend George Clinton in an upcoming biopic directed by Bill Condon and produced by Murphy. The script, written by Virgil Williams, is based on Clinton's memoir Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You?, which traces his roots in 1940s North Carolina to becoming a pioneer of funk and founding the musical collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Murphy and Condon previously joined forces on 2006's Dreamgirls, another musical drama, inspired by Motown Records and The Supremes starring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson. Murphy received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film. Parliament-Funkadelic released their last album Medicaid Fraud Dog in 2018, marking their first new music in 38 years. Shortly after, Clinton announced his retirement from the road in 2019 and played his final shows in 2022 after they were delayed by the pandemic. In 2024, he appeared on Kamasi Washington's new album Fearless Movement, on the track "Get Lit." Clinton has previously been portrayed by Wiz Khalifa in the 2023 film Spinning Gold. Clinton will also executive produce the new biopic. - NME, 11/2/24...... On Nov. 4, Iggy Pop took to Instagram to announce two "landmark" UK shows in London and Glasgow for 2025. The shows will celebrate Iggy's musical legacy and will see him perform hits from across his five-decade career -- from his work with The Stooges to his solo music. According to a press release, the punk icon will also be joined by "special guests" and a band of "celebrated collaborators," though no names have currently been announced. The two UK shows will take place at London's iconic Alexandra Palace on May 28, before heading to Glasgow on June 3 to play O2 Academy. Iggy has been re-visiting his back catalogue recently, singing a collection of Stooges songs for the first time in over a decade earlier this year. During a performance with Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner and Matt Sweeney, the punk icon surprised fans with some of the band's classic hits, from "1970" to "I Got A Right." Pop also recently announced a new live album titled Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2023. The 18-track record captures his career-spanning set at the Montreux Jazz Festival in July last year. It is due for release on CD, Blu-Ray, 2LP gatefold vinyl, digital download and streaming on Jan. 24 via earMUSIC. - NME, 11/4/24...... In a new interview with the Associated Press, Willie Nelson paid tribute to his "great friend" and former The Highwaymen bandmate Kris Kristofferson, saying he "hated to lose him." "He was a great songwriter. He left a lot of fantastic songs around for the rest of us to sing, for as long as we're here," Nelson said. "Kris was a great friend of mine. And, you know, we just kind of had a lot of fun together and made a lot of music together -- videos, movies. I hated to lose him. That was a sad time." Reflecting on their work together, he added, "If you just take the music part of it and go back to, you know, Waylon [Jennings] and Kris and John [Johnny Cash] and, you know, all of us working together, the Highwaymen. And then I am the only one left. That's just not funny." Kristofferson died on Sept. 28 at the age of 88, four years after announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry. Known for songs like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," he was also a celebrated actor, starring in films including A Star Is Born and Heaven's Gate. Nelson recently released an emotional version of The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??," taken from his upcoming 153rd album Last Leaf On The Tree. - NME, 11/3/24...... Could '70s singer-songwriter and pop-rock hitmaker Andrew Gold be the new "King of Halloween"? For most of his career, Gold (who died 2011) was primarily associated with two singles: The heartrending story song "Lonely Boy" (a No. 7 hit in 1977) and the heartwarming "Thank You for Being a Friend" (a No. 28 hit in 1978 -- though better associated with a Cynthia Fee cover version, used as the theme to the '80s sitcom The Golden Girls). But thanks to some TikTok trending that first started at the end of the 2010s, Gold is now best known to younger fans as the guy behind 1996's "Spooky, Scary Skeletons," a cartoon-y Halloween number that has been remixed and memed to death over the past half-decade. "Skeletons" (available for streaming on YouTube) racked up 11.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams for the week ending Nov. 2, according to Luminate -- a massive number, and a bump of 1,146% from the 898,000 streams the song notched six weeks earlier. It's not the only song of Gold's to see such gains, either, as his entire 1996 set Halloween Howls: Fun & Scary Music is also way up, including his version of the classic theme to The Addams Family -- which amassed 2.1 million streams for that same week. All in all, Gold totaled 14.7 million streams for the week, up 1,040% from his 1.3 million total the week of Sept. 19 -- proving that Gold is on the verge of becoming the standard for Halloween-week streaming performance. - Billboard, 11/6/24...... Speaking to Guitar World magazine, Black Sabbath guitarist Toni Iommi says that the Hard Rock Café won't let him have one of his favourite guitars back, despite agreeing that they would. Iommi says that his beloved 1964 Gibson "Monkey" SG Special, which he played on the early Sabbath albums, has been in possession of the restaurant chain, and now they are reluctant to let him have it back. "The guy who used to buy memorabilia for the Hard Rock came to England and visited me," Iommi explained. "He wanted to buy some stuff and I said it should be fine. I'd retired the Monkey SG because it was too valuable to me; I didn't want to take it on the road and risk it getting damaged. He offered to buy it and it seemed like a good idea because the guitar could be displayed for people to see and kept safe, instead of sitting in a case somewhere in my storage. But the deal was if I ever wanted it back, I could let him know and buy it back for the same price. It seemed fair enough, a good deal." However, Iommi revealed that the individual in question has since passed away, and the deal he made is now seemingly lost. "We tried to get in touch with Hard Rock to get it back and they knew nothing about the deal," he added. The Hard Rock did, however, commission a run of replicas of the Monkey SG in 2021, including a limited edition batch that included the knicks and stickers of the original model. - NME, 11/3/24...... Former Jackson 5 star Tito Jackson was laid to rest during a funeral service in Los Angeles on Nov. 4. Tito, the brother of Michael Jackson, died on Sept. 15 at the age of 70 following a heart attack while on a road trip with his business partner Terry Harvey in New Mexico. Tito's family and friends, including siblings LaToya and Marlon Jackson, Michael's daughter Paris Jackson and son Bigi Jackson, gathered at Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles to pay their respects to the late singer. In addition to his three sons, Tito is survived by his mother Katherine Jackson, 94, and siblings Rebbie, Jackie, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Janet. Michael passed away in 2009 aged 50. - Music-News, 11/5/24...... Musical titan Quincy Jones, the composer and producer who added his tasteful polish to recordings by everyone from Ray Charles to Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, died on the evening of Nov. 3 at his home in Bel Air, Calif., surrounded by his children, siblings and other family members. He was 91. "Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones' passing," the Jones family said in the statement. "And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones' heart will beat for eternity." A renowned jazz and pop musician, Mr. Jones was also a prolific cross-genre arranger, conductor, record label executive and civil rights advocate. His talent and drive led to an almost unparalleled career in entertainment, with a long and varied list of credits including composing the score for the Oscar-winning film, In the Heat of the Night," producing Michael Jackson's blockbuster Thriller album and gathering dozens of pop and rock stars to record the 1985 charity single "We Are the World." Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was born in Chicago on March 14, 1933 to a carpenter father and a mother who suffered from mental illness, Jones developed a love of music early on and took up the piano. His family eventually moved to Seattle, Wash., and Mr. Jones began taking lessons from famed horn player Clark Terry. He also met and became close friends with a then-unknown pianist named Ray Charles. The pair would enjoy a lifelong friendship. As a teenager he began performing with jazz bands, and his talent at composing and arranging music drew the attention of bandleader Lionel Hampton. He earned a scholarship to Schillinger House (now known as Berklee College of Music) in Boston, from which he graduated in 1951. After graduation he headed out on tour with Hampton and his band, and soon arranging and recording for such legends as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan and his friend Ray Charles. In 1961 Mr. Jones was hired by Mercury Records as their artists-and-repertoire director. He made history three years later when he was promoted to vice president, making him the first African-American man to hold such a position within a white owned record label. He had his first pop hit with Leslie Gore's No. 1 1963 single "It's My Party," and also worked with the likes of Sinatra and Peggy Lee during his time with the label. That same year found him scoring what would be the first of many Grammys, with the initial one being for the arrangement the Count Basie Band song "I Can't Stop Loving You." In the 1960s he also began composing music soundtracks including In The Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood. He worked with A & M Records from 1969 to 1981 and formed his own label his own record label, Qwest. In 1982 Mr. Jones had one of his most famous collaboration when he produced Michael Jackson's best-selling album Thriller. Thriller sold more than 20 million copies in 1983 alone, helped Jackson become the first major Black artist to have a video played on MTV and influenced countless performers. Three years later he called on Jackson and a host of other stars for the charity single "We Are the World." That same year he found success on the big screen with producing the Steven Spielberg-directed film The Color Purple. Jones also had a hit on the small screen with and the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which starred Will Smith. Mr. Jones was married to his high school sweetheart Jeri Caldwell from 1957 to 1966, and the couple had had one daughter, Jolie. In 1967 he married Swedish model Ulla Andersson, and they had two children, Martina and Quincy Jones III, before divorcing in 1974. That same year Mr. Jones married actress Peggy Lipton, a union which lasted until 1990, and produced two daughters, actresses Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones. He also had a daughter, Rachel, with dancer Carol Reynolds, and a daughter -- fashion model Kenya Kinski-Jones -- with actress Nastassja Kinski. Mr. Jones didn't slow down personally or professionally in his later years; in 2014 he produced the documentary Keep on Keepin' On about his mentor, jazz trumpeter Clark Terry. In 2023, Mr. Jones celebrated his 90th birthday with a star-studded two-night tribute at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured performances from Stevie Wonder among others. In the wake of his passing, Elton John was one of the many famous musicians who paid their respects with a photo of the two men together at one of the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar viewing parties on Instagram. "Nobody had a career as incredible as Quincy Jones. He played with the best and he produced the best. What a guy. Loved him," John wrote on Instagram. "Always a loyal supporter of this important fundraiser," he added. His "We Are The World" collaborator Lionel Richie posted on X: "Wow, Q -- what a great ride!! -- with love always." - CNN, 11/4/24.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Elvis Costello has said that suing Olivia Rodrigo over her song "Brutal," which seemingly took inspiration from his angsty 1978 anthem "Pump It Up," would be "ludicrous." "[Sometimes] artists allude to [other songs] in their own arrangements. Like Olivia Rodrigo's producer obviously did," Costello said in a new interview with Vanity Fair. "Now, I did not find any reason to go after them legally for that, because I think it would be ludicrous. It's a shared language of music. Other people clearly felt differently about other songs on that record," the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer explained. Costello is seemingly referring to a series of copyright issues with Rodrigo's singles, including "Deja Vu," which she once said was partly inspired by Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" before quietly retroactively crediting Swift as a co-writer. For her single"Good 4 U," she retroactively credited and split royalties with Paramore's Hayley Williams and Josh Farro after listeners pointed out similarities between the song and "Misery Business." - Billboard, 10/30/24...... In related news, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled on Nov. 1 that Ed Sheeran's hit "Thinking Out Loud" did not infringe the copyright to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On", saying the two songs share only "fundamental musical building blocks" that cannot be owned by any single songwriter. In a ruling issued more than a decade after the contemporary pop star's chart-topping hit was first released, the court rejected an infringement lawsuit filed by Structured Asset Sales, a company that owns a small stake in the rights to Gaye's song. The case argued that Sheeran's song copied a chord progression and rhythm from Gaye's 1973 No. 1 hit, but the appeals court said the lawsuit was essentially seeking "a monopoly over a combination of two fundamental musical building blocks." Sheeran has faced multiple lawsuits over "Thinking," a 2014 track co-written with Amy Wadge that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ultimately spent 46 weeks on the chart. He was first sued by the daughter of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the famed 1973 tune with Gaye. That case ended in a high-profile trial last year, resulting in a jury verdict that cleared Sheeran of any wrongdoing. Although the ruling is a major victory for Sheeran, he still faces another lawsuit from SAS claiming his song violates the copyright covering the sound recording to "Let's Get It On" rather than the written music. - Billboard, 11/1/24...... In other Motown-related news, NBC has announced it will be ringing in the holiday season with A Motown Christmas special. Hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey, the two-hour special will feature Motown legends (Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations) and contemporary stars (Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Jamie Foxx) performing more than 25 of the label's timeless hits as well as holiday favorites. A Motown Christmas will air Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and the next day on Peacock. Prior to A Motown Christmas, NBC has aired two Motown television specials: Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Motown Returns to the Apollo. Each won the Emmy Award for outstanding music or comedy program. - Billboard, 11/1/24...... R.J. Cutler, the co-director of the forthcoming Elton John documentary Never Too Late, has spoken about how the early part of Elton's career came at a "dark time." Cutler, who directed the film with John's husband David Furnish, said that despite being prolific at the start of his career in 1970, it was an uncertain time in the music industry following the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. "I shared with David that there was a great story to be told about the first five years of [Elton's] career," Cutler told IndieWire.com. "Between 1970 and 1975, Elton released 13 albums in five years, seven of which went to Number One. It was a remarkable creative output at a time when rock and roll didn't know what its future was. The Beatles had broken up, the [Rolling] Stones weren't touring. Jimi [Hendrix] was dead. Janis [Joplin] was dead. It was a dark time." Elton John: Never Too Late aims to "pull back the curtain" on John's life, featuring "never-before-seen concert footage of him over the past 50 years, as well as hand-written journals and present-day footage of him and his family." It follows the musician as he reflects on his life and 50-year career as he prepared for his final North American stadium show at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in Nov. 2022. The documentary received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and will have a limited theatrical release on Nov. 15 in the US and the UK before its worldwide premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 13. - New Musical Express, 10/31/24...... As a newly remixed and restored edition of Queen's 1973 debut album hit stores on Oct. 25, Queen guitarist Brian May explained to Britain's Mojo magazine why he decided to revamp all the guitar parts for the reissue. "I'm not saying the original version was bad -- it just wasn't what we dreamed of," he told the outlet. "Freddie [Mercury, singer] and John [Deacon, bassist], too, were always conscious of this thing in our past which seemed like it couldn't be fixed." May went on to explain that "everything" from the original version had been improved on the reissue. "Every instrument has been re-examined from the bottom up. The guitars were originally recorded very dry, so we've remedied that," he added. May then recalled some criticism he had received from his father about the sound of Queen's debut record. "I remember my dad saying, 'There's no ambience, Brian. I don't feel like I'm in the room with you playing next to me'," he said. But we weren't in a position to lay down the law, and we felt that if we stepped out of line we would lose the opportunity altogether." Queen I - 2024 Mix is available on single CD and vinyl formats, as well as a 6-CD/1-LP deluxe boxset. - NME, 10/30/24...... Jeff Lynne's ELO announced on X/Twitter on Oct. 29 they have extended their UK "Goodbye Tour," adding two new UK dates for 2025. The first of the two new dates will be a homecoming show -- held on July 5 and taking place at the Utilita Arena in the band's home base of Birmingham. The second will be held at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on July 9. The announcement comes just days after the band shared details of what would be their final tour -- confirming a farewell show at London's BST Hyde Park on July 13. The band's 2025 London show marks their first slot at the outdoor music series in over a decade. They last took to the stage at Hyde Park in 2014, and that gig marked their first festival performance in 30 years. - NME, 10/29/24...... Grateful Dead guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir threw his support behind the Democratic presidential ticket of Vice Pres. Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz on Oct. 28, taking to Instagram to share a photo of himself wearing a Dead-inspired Harris-Walz 2024 shirt, alongside a snap of Walz holding the tee and another with his wife, Natascha Muenter, holding up a Harris sign. Weir is the latest musician to put his support behind Harris as the presidential election nears. Most recently, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin were among the artists who showed support for the VP after a speaker at a recent Donald Trump rally made a racist joke about Puerto Rico. Meanwhile a 50th anniversary edition Grateful Dead lyric book has found its way back to the top of Amazon.com's bestselling chart for music bibliographies and indexes. The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics, originally published in Oct. 2015, offers an in-depth guide for Deadheads curious about the stories behind your favorite GD songs. It's even been given GD's stamp of approval with founding member Weir saying, "this book is great... Now I'll never have to explain myself," according to the book's official description. - Billboard, 10/28/24...... In more election-related news, the estate of Aretha Franklin has given its blessing to a new Kamala Harris campaign ad that uses the Queen of Soul's 1968 classic "Think" in the background. As Harris reminds voters of freedoms achieved over the decades over historic footage -- including the right to vote for Black Americans and women, as well as a woman's right to "make decisions about her own body" -- the song's "Freedom" refrain plays. Franklin's estate reportedly reached out to the Harris campaign after Harris expressed her love for Franklin at the Democratic National Convention. The estate made her music available and specifically suggested "Think" as a good option. The campaign fully embraced the idea for the get-out-the-vote ad, which is running on YouTube and other online outlets, as well as connected TV/premium streaming services. Franklin, who passed away in 2018, supported Democrats for decades, including performing the national anthem at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. She sang a majestic version of "My Country, Tis of Thee" at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration in 2009. She also sang at a farewell event for Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, in 2015. - Billboard, 10/30/24...... In a new interview with MSNBC's Morning Joe program, Stevie Nicks revealed she didn't vote until age 70, and she regrets it. "I never voted until I was 70, but I regret that. I've told everybody that onstage for the last two years," Nicks, 76, said. "I regret that and I don't have very many regrets. There's so many reasons. You can say, 'Oh, I didn't have time. I was this and that.' In the long run, you didn't have an hour? You didn't have an hour of your time that you could have gone and voted." The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman also discussed the inspiration behind her recently released track, "The Lighthouse", a song inspired by the fight for abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. "We have to find a way to bring back Roe vs. Wade," she explained, noting that musicians should speak out more about causes in their music. "In the end of the 50s and 60s and into the 70s, everyone was writing protest songs. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills -- it was lots and lots and lots. I would say to all my musical poets that write songs to write some songs about what's happening like I did." Nicks' full Morning Joe interview can be streamed on MSNBC.com. - Billboard, 10/30/24...... Bruce Springsteen and John Legend performed during a Kamala Harris rally in Philadelphia on Oct. 28. Alongside speeches from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, and former Pres. Barack Obama, the event at Temple University's Liacouras Center also featured a handful of songs performed by Legend and Springsteen. Springsteen's three-song acoustic set followed Legend's performance, opening with a rendition of his 1978 single "The Promised Land," and featuring a version of 2001's "Land of Hope and Dreams." The New Jersey rocker closed his performance with a rendition of "Dancing in the Dark," which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984 and marks the highest-charting song of his career. Fan-shot footage of the performance has been shared on Instagram. Springsteen's appearance at the Philadelphia rally took place just days after he appeared at Harris' rally in Georgia, wherein he told supporters that while Harris is "running to be the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump is running to be an American tyrant." Meanwhile in a new interview with the UK paper The Telegraph, the Boss lashed out at Trump, describing him as "mentally ill." "This is a guy who is committed to none of these things. He's an insurrectionist," Springsteen said. "You know, he led a coup on the United States government, so there's no way he should be let anywhere near the office of the presidency." He also chimed in after his friend, manager and producer Jon Landau described Trump's message as the polar opposite of former President Barack Obama. "Not to mention, he's mentally ill," Springsteen said. Meanwhile on Oct. 28, Disney's 20th Century Studios shared the first look at actor Jeremy Allen White, who will portray Springsteen in a new biopic of the music icon due in 2025, with a new photo. Wearing a very Springsteen-esque combo of a black leather jacket and a slightly unbuttoned red flannel shirt, White gazes pensively into the distance with his darkened curls perfectly capturing a younger version of the "Born in the U.S.A." singer. "I only had to see him on The Bear, and I knew he was the right guy, because he had that interior life, but he also had a little swagger," Springsteen recently told The Telegraph of his of his new movie doppelgänger. - Billboard/NME, 10/30/24...... Appearing at the Detroit Opera House on Oct. 28 to promote her new book Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty, former First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that here eighth book (fifth as the sole author) was inspired by watching Joni Mitchell sing "Both Sides Now" -- the hit song that gave Clinton's book its title -- at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February. "I saw her and she sang 'Both Sides Now,' which is one of my all-time favorite songs," said Clinton, who suggested the "young people" in the crowd Google it. "It's about life and love and I listened to her sing it. She'd had a cerebral aneurysm [in 2015] and there she was back on stage singing that incredible anthem about what you think of life, what you think of love at different points of your own journey. I heard that song in my twenties. Obviously I've heard it in every decade of my life, and I wanted to take a moment to write some essays about where I see my life now, and particularly about my family, about my friends, about some of these experiences I've had, like being First Lady of our country, but also politics, which I care deeply about." - Billboard, 10/29/24...... Jackson Browne will be among the headliners for Steve Earle's 10th Annual Benefit to Help the Keswell School for Autistic Students concert at Town Hall in New York on Nov. 4. Earle's son, John Henry, was diagnosed with autism when he was 19 months old and for the past decade, Earle has used his artistry and career-long friendships to raise funds to help the school with an annual performance. The show is a rare opportunity to see Browne in a small venue. "Jackson and I have been showing up for each other's causes for a long time," says Earle. Presented by Earle and City Winery, the benefit will feature a guitar pull format, "all four artists on stage at the same time, just kind of swapping songs and telling stories," Earle says. "It's a unique experience for the audience." Earle will draw from his repertoire of classics like "Guitar Town" and "Copperhead Road," which he recently re-recorded live for his new solo acoustic concert album Alone Again. Other performers on the bill include Bob Dylan collaborator Margaret Glaspy and the husband-and wife duo of Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. - Billboard, 11/1/24...... Speaking to the UK's Evening Standard, Pete Townshend says that The Who will "definitely return" in 2025. Townshend recently told the paper that the band will "do something next year," and though he never explicitly shared what the band's plans entail, his comments suggest that the band could be hitting the road sometime in 2025. Now he has revealed that he had "met with Roger [Daltrey] for lunch a couple of weeks ago," and that they're in "good form." "We love each other. We're both getting a bit creaky, but we will definitely do something next year," he said. The guitarist went on to explain: "The album side of it Roger's not keen. But I would love to do another album and I may try to bully him on that. The last big tours that we've done have been with a full orchestra, which was glorious, but we're now eager to make a noise and make a mess and make mistakes." In March, Townshend teased that the band had one "final" thing left to do before they "crawl off to die" and teased a farewell tour. Less than a month later, he retracted his statement, saying he was "being sarcastic." On another note, Townshed said he was "disappointed" that UK alternative faves Oasis have decided to reunite for a highly anticipated upcoming world tour, "because I really like their solo albums." Oasis's Liam Gallagher has released three solo records from 2017-2022, while brother Noel Gallagher made four records with his band High Flying Birds, that latest being 2023's Council Skies. - NME, 10/29/24...... Michael Jackson has scored his fifth entry in YouTube's "Billion Views Club" with his 1988 gangster-themed single "Smooth Criminal." The track from Jackson's seventh album, 1987's Bad, was brought to vivid life by director Colin Chilvers, who tapped into a 1930 gangster nightclub vibe for one of MJ's most beloved videos. Jackson also paid homage to one of his musical and dancing heroes in it via a white suit and matching fedora that tipped its hat to dancer/actor/singer Fred Astaire. The nearly 10-minute mini movie also features the King of Pop's signature "anti-gravity lean." "Smooth Criminal," which can be watched on YouTube, joins a handful of other all-time-classic MJ videos with more than one billion YouTube views, including such beloved hits as "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "They Don't Care About Us" and MJ's Halloween-appropriate 14-minute scarefest, "Thriller." - Billboard, 10/30/24...... A star-studded concept album inspired by the 1979 cult film The Warriors has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Compilation Albums chart, and in the top 25 on both the Top Album Sales and Top Current Album Sales rankings (all dated Nov. 2). The new 26-song project, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, was released on Oct. 18 and boasts such artists as Cam'ron, Ghostface Killah, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Marc Anthony, Nas, Billy Porter, Busta Rhymes, RZA and Shenseea. In addition, two cast members from the 1979 film also appear on the album: James Remar and David Patrick Kelly. Warriors was available to purchase in its first week as a CD, digital download and vinyl LP. - Billboard, 10/29/24...... Prolific actress/singer/dancer Terri Garr, who brought her buoyant personality to Mel Brooks' 1974 classic Young Frankenstein and was Oscar-nominated for the 1982 romantic comedy Tootsie, died on Oct. 29 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 79. An influential performer to comedians including Tina Fey, Garr was a familiar face in dozens of TV shows and films of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. Born in Ohio, she moved to Los Angeles, graduated North Hollywood High School, and attended Cal State Northridge before moving to New York to study acting. Starting out as a go-go dancer, she can be seen shimmying behind the performers in filmed rock concert The T.A.M.I. Show and in six Elvis Presley features, most choreographed by her mentor David Winters. During the 1960s and 1970s, she had bit parts on sitcoms including That Girl, Batman, The Andy Griffith Show, M*A*S*H, The Odd Couple and The Bob Newhart Show. Garr's first speaking role came in The Monkees' offbeat feature film Head, written by Jack Nicholson, whom she had met in an acting class. On the "Assignment Earth" episode of Star Trek, she played a ditsy secretary, the first in a string of many such roles. She became a regular singer and dancer on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour before landing a role in Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation. Coppola cast her again in One From the Heart. Among her other roles were the wife of John Denver's character in Oh, God the mother of the boy protagonist in The Black Stallion and roles in Dumb and Dumber and Mom and Dad Save the World. She hosted Saturday Night Live three times and appeared frequently on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night With David Letterman. Her career slowed in the late 1990s, though she continued to take on small roles in films including Dick and Unaccompanied Minors, and as the voice of Mary McGinnis in two Batman animated films, Batman Beyond: The Movie and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. On the TV sitcom Friends, she played Phoebe Abbot in three episodes in 1997 and 1998. She published an autobiography, Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood, in 2006. The actress revealed in 2002 that she had been diagnosed with MS, and she suffered an aneurysm in 2006. She is survived by her daughter, Molly O'Neil, and grandson Tyryn. - Variety, 10/29/24.

Monday, October 28, 2024

Bruce Springsteen is pushing back on a July report in Forbes magazine that the blue collar hero had an estimated fortune that it pegged as "conservatively north of $1.1 billion." "I'm not a billionaire. I wish I was, but they got that real wrong," Springsteen, 75, told the U.K.'s Telegraph paper on Oct. 27 without offering up a more accurate net worth. He did, however, note that the figure was even less likely because, he's spent "too much money on superfluous things," again without specifically describing what those things are. The Boss did, however, reveal to another publication that he pays the members of his E. Street Band -- which include the band's six longest-tenured core members, as well eight additional live performers and a four-man horn section -- "a tremendous amount of money... that greases the wheels pretty good." Springsteen, who sold his catalog to Sony in 2021 for an estimated $500 million, was speaking to London's Business Insider to promote his new Hulu doc, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. On Oct. 24, Springsteen performed at a political rally for Vice Pres. Kamala Harris in Atlanta, treating the crowd to "The Promised Land," "Land Of Hope And Dreams" and "Dancing In The Dark." Before launching into his acoustic performance, Springsteen hit out at opposing Presidential candidate Donald Trump. His performance can be viewed on YouTube. Springsteen has long been political in his music, but first publicly endorsed a President in 2008 when he announced his support for Barack Obama. Since then, he's endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, going as far as to narrate his campaign ad and perform at his inauguration in early 2021. Meanwhile, James Taylor joined Harris' VP choice, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, during his rally in Wilmington, N.C. on Oct. 24. Taylor performed alongside his wife, Kim, and his son, Henry. - Billboard/NME, 10/28/24...... In related news, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters took to X/Twitter on Oct. 28 to urge his followers not to vote for either Harris or Trump, due to their respective stances on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Waters claims both candidates "both support murdering children... they are both evil beyond all imagination... there is no lesser evil." The controversial musician then urged followers to vote for independent candidates Dr. Jill Stein, Butch Ware, Cornel West, Melina Abdullahor Socialist Equality candidate Joseph Kishore, instead. Waters has frequently spoken on the issue since October 2023 when over a thousand Israelis were killed by Hamas forces at a music festival. In still more election-related news, Stevie Wonder is teaming up with John Legend and other contemporary African-American artists as part of the Democratic National Committee's Black Voter Outreach Campaign. On Oct. 28, the DNC announced a historic "I Will Vote" ad campaign targeting Black voters through ads in 55 Black publications and on 48 Black radio stations across the United States. Wonder, Legend, and former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett-Coles are set to lend their voices to the campaign, alongside Emmy-winning actress and producer Kerry Washington. Some of the Black digital and print publications that will feature the new ad campaign include African News Digest, The Baltimore Times, Ebony News Today, The New Orleans Tribune, Pride Magazine, Star of Zion, Word In Black and The Villager. - NME, 10/28/24...... Promoting his new memoir Brothers, Alex Van Halen has told Rolling Stone magazine that his brother Eddie Van Halen took a whole bottle of steroid pills shortly before he died because he liked the "superhuman feeling" they gave him. Alex says Eddie took the pills not in an effort to harm himself, but to chase the feeling he thought they would give him, explaining that Eddie had the pills as medication to combat swelling after surgery to remove a brain tumour. "Common sense was not Ed's strong point," he said. "If two's good, twenty's better. That was our mantra." Alex recently shared the full six-minute version of "Unfinished," the final song that he and Eddie wrote and recorded together, on YouTube. - NME, 10/26/24...... Grateful Dead, a band that was never even nominated for a Grammy but nevertheless became one of the most legendary live rock acts in history despite charting only one Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, will be honored as the 2025 MusiCares Persons of the Year during Grammy Week in January. The 34th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 31, 2025, two nights before the 67th annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena. Grateful Dead is the third band to receive the honor, following Fleetwood Mac in 2018 and Aerosmith in 2020. Marking the band's 60th anniversary in 2025, original members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bobby Weir will be recognized for their contributions to music, their philanthropic efforts and their pioneering role in fostering communities through their concerts and activism. The event will also include posthumous tributes to Jerry Garcia, one of the band's founders, who died in 1995 at age 53, and Phil Lesh, who died on Oct. 25 at age 84 (see below). "It's simple: we all need music. It speaks to each of us, offering what we need to face what life presents -- enhancing our joys, helping us spread them, and making our sorrows easier to bear. We can't imagine a world without it," the band said in a joint statement. "As our ol' pal, Jerry, used to say, 'You get some, you give some back,' a tremendously effective way to share those benefits... We also want to recognize the community of Dead Heads for their unwavering support over the years -- we wouldn't be here without you." Formed in 1965, Grateful Dead is one of the most influential bands in American history, renowned for their distinctive blend of rock, folk, jazz and avant-garde music. In December, the band will be included in the 47th class of the Kennedy Center Honorees, alongside Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, Francis Ford Coppola and the Apollo Theater in Harlem. - Billboard, 10/25/24...... Eagles guitarist and solo star Joe Walsh's 2024 VetsAid annual benefit show, which was set for UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY on Nov. 11, has been canceled by its organizers, citing "reasons beyond their control." Despite the cancellation, VetsAid will still disburse $400,000 in grants to the recently announced grant recipients. "The wellbeing of our veterans and their families remains my foremost concern and the primary mission of VetsAid," Joe Walsh said in a statement announcing the cancellation. "While I am disappointed in the cancellation of this year's event and apologize for any inconvenience to our fans, I am thrilled to share that VetsAid will provide $400,000 in grants to these fine organizations who will focus these funds on the ground in New York and New Jersey to veterans who have sacrificed so much and asked for so little in return." Walsh added that Ticketmaster will be contacting all ticket holders with refund instructions. The first VetsAid took place in 2017 and featured Walsh -- a Gold Star son -- jamming on his own songs and collaborating with Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban and Gary Clark Jr., while subsequent editions welcomed the likes of Chris Stapleton, Ringo Starr, ZZ Top, Brad Paisley, Eddie Vedder, Gwen Stefani, Nine Inch Nails, Black Keys, Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne's ELO and Stephen Stills. To date, the events have distributed $3.5 million. More info about VetsAid can be found on its website. - Billboard, 10/25/24...... In 1980, King Crimson co-founder Robert Fripp contributed lead guitar to David Bowie's album track "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" for Bowie's Scary Monsters album. Now to celebrate Halloween, Fripp and his wife Toyah Wilcox have covered "Scary Monsters" as part of their ongoing Sunday Lunch video series. The duo's performance clip can be viewed on YouTube. This December, the duo will hit the road for their Christmas Party 2024 tour of the UK, which will see them visit Edinburgh, Sunderland, Bath, and London before wrapping in Wolverhampton days before the yuletide holiday. Meanwhile, King Crimson has just released a 50th anniversary edition of their 1974 album Red, which features new mixes of its songs by producer and band manager David Singleton dubbed as the "Elemental Mixes." - New Musical Express, 10/28/24...... Queen's Brian May has revealed that the band's ex-bassist, John Deacon, "still has a 'yes' or 'no' say" in Queen. May made the revelation in a new interview with the UK's Mojo magazine, telling them Deacon still had input in Queen's decisions -- despite officially retiring in 1997 (and having only performed periodically with the band since Freddie Mercury's death in 1991). "John still has a 'yes' or 'no' say," May said.. "We get messages that he's happy with what we're doing, but he doesn't want the stress of being involved creatively, and we respect that. Freddie [Mercury] we can't talk to, sadly. But the four of us worked as a team for so long that Roger [Taylor] and I have a pretty good idea what our fellow Queen members would be saying. This thing is longer that anybody's marriage." Recently, Taylor has been teasing new Queen music to come, which will be their first new material after 30 years. - NME, 10/24/24...... The console used to record the Beatles' legendary Abbey Road album has been restored and is up for sale on Reverb.com. The EMI TG12345 recording console -- which was used by the Fab Four to create their final LP in 1969 -- was created specially for EMI studios in 1968 and was the first of 17 consoles created by EMI. It played an important role in the ambitious sound that the band sought for Abbey Road The recording console, which disassembled and remained unused for over five decades, took five years to restore under the guidance of Beatles collaborator and former EMI engineer Brian Gibson. Gibson and a team of audio engineers and technicians were able to assemble the console with 70 per cent of its original parts and "faithfully reproduced the replacement parts to seamlessly work alongside their older counterparts." Speaking about the console on Reverb.com, Dave Harries -- who participated in numerous Beatles recording sessions with the machinery in the 1960s -- shared: "Abbey Road is one of the best albums that's ever been made, and it sounds so good because of this recording console. Because of the way that Abbey Road was recorded, the album has a distinctive sound that hallmarked the future of pop recording." He continued: "This particular console is a one-off. It's unique. You can't replace it. It sounds so good that it holds up against any modern console and, in many respects, it's probably better. Because in those days, it was built to a different standard -- cost, no object. EMI built this to be the best in the world." After the Beatles' breakup in 1970, the console was also used for various solo projects by all four members -- John Lennon ("Instant Karma!"), George Harrison ("All Things Must Pass"), Ringo Starr (Sentimental Journey) and Paul McCartney. A video presentation of the console by Reverb has been shared on YouTube. - NME, 10/23/24...... In other Beatles-related news, a rendition of the group's classic "Michelle" by late soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross is among the 21 tracks featured on Vandross's upcoming album Never Too Much: Greatest Hits. The compilation, due Dec. 13, is part of the celebration underscoring the Nov. 1 theatrical premiere of the new Vandross documentary Luther: Never Too Much. In announcing the release of "Michelle" and Never Too Much: Greatest Hits, Epic Records and Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings note that additional details about the recording "remain a mystery." What is known is that is longtime friend and background vocalist Fonzi Thornton discovered a cassette labeled "Luther Vandross Michelle 6/1/89." However, no further information about the recording such as location or session players has yet come to light. Vandross's "Michelle" can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 10/25/24...... In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning on Oct. 27, Stevie Nicks explained why she decided to champion the historically polarizing cause of abortion in her new song "The Lighthouse," which was inspired by the fight for abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. "Because everybody kept saying around me, not to me, just around me, 'Well, somebody has to do something...somebody has to say something,'" she told correspondent Tracy Smith. "And I'm like, 'Well, I have a platform,'" she continued. "I tell a good story. So maybe I should try to do something. I was also there. I was, been there, done that." Nicks has previously been open about having sought reproductive care when she was younger. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, she reflected on getting an abortion in the late '70s after getting pregnant by her "Leather and Lace" collaborator Don Henley. "Don was the first guy I actually went out with after Lindsey [Buckingham] and I broke up," she told the publication. "I go to my GYN, and he says, 'Well, you've been protected by your Copper-7 IUD, but you have a tipped uterus. That IUD is only protecting half of you, and we didn't know that.'" "Now, what the hell am I going to do?" she continued. "I cannot have a child. I am not the kind of woman who would hand my baby over to a nanny, not in a million years. So we would be dragging a baby around the world on tour, and I wouldn't do that to my baby. I wouldn't say I just need nine months. I would say I need a couple of years, and that would break up the band, period. So my decision was to have an abortion." Women's healthcare is one of the reasons the "Edge of Seventeen" singer is backing Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Nicks' full interview can be viewed on X/Twitter. Meanwhile in a new interview with Rolling Stone Nicks said she hopes Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce get married and have kids "if she wants that," and that she gave her former Fleetwood Mac bandmate and romantic partner Lindsey Buckingham"300 million chances" before cutting him off for good. - Billboard, 10/25/24...... Dolly Parton has been named the 2024 recipient of the PEACE Through Music Award, which honors an American music industry professional, artist or group who has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music works to advance peace and mutual understanding globally. The award is presented jointly by the Recording Academy and the U.S. State Department. Parton, a 10-time Grammy winner who also received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2011, was celebrated on Oct. 25 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. She was not in attendance, but sent a video acceptance. "To say that I was honored to accept the PEACE Through Music Award from the Recording Academy and the U.S. State Department would be putting it mildly," Parton said. "I was very touched and moved by that. If I have been an inspiration in any way through some act of kindness or through some music that I have written, well, that makes me feel like I have done my job properly. Thanks again for such a great honor." - Billboard, 10/25/24...... Blondie co-founder, guitarist and photographer Chris Stein took to his official Instagram account on Oct. 25 to reveal that Blondie will be releasing a new album sometime in 2025. Stein shared a black and white photo of Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry sitting in the studio, with the caption "New Blondie album next year." The band's last full-length release was 2017's Pollinator, which marked their 11th studio LP and featured contributions from Johnny Marr, Joan Jett, Laurie Anderson, Sia, Dev Hynes and Dave Sitek. The album was recorded at the famous NYC recording studio The Magic Shop, which is where David Bowie laid down his final album Blackstar. - NME, 10/25/24...... In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, director Cameron Crowe has revealed that he expects to release his new Joni Mitchell biopic Christmas 2025. "I'm super excited. We're going to start in by the end of this year and hopefully have it done for Christmas next year," the Almost Famous director revealed. While he did not share any information on the film's cast, or the specific periods of Mitchell's life that the movie will explore, Crow likened the biopic to the 1983 Tom Petty documentary Heartbreakers Beach Party. "It's Joni's life, not through anybody else's prism. It's through her prism. It's the characters who impacted her life that you know and a lot that you don't know. And the music is so cinematic," he noted. Earlier in 2024, it was reported that Meryl Streep -- a close friend of Mitchell -- has been in talks to portray an older version of the singer-songwriter in the upcoming biopic. Neither Crowe, Streep or Mitchell have confirmed the casting. Meanwhile, Mitchell performed her first headlining concerts in Los Angeles in 24 years on Oct. 19 and 20, and also hosted a secret star-studded jam backstage that included Elton John, Chappell Roan, Brandi Carlile, Lucy Dacus and more. A full video of the backstage antics has been shared on Instagram. - Billboard/NME, 10/24/24...... Billboard magazine's inaugural Top Movie Songs chart has just debuted, and the Bee Gees' "Tragedy" claims the first No. 1 spot after its synch in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The film, a sequel to the 1988 favorite Beetlejuice, was released on Sept. 6 and again stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara alongside franchise newcomers Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe and more. In September, "Tragedy," which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1979, earned 3.8 million official on-demand U.S. streams and earned 2,000 downloads, according to Luminate. "Tragedy" also featured in one of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's pre-release trailers. The movie has topped the US box office in its first three weeks of release. - Billboard, 10/23/24...... The Rolling Stones' "Hackney Diamonds Tour" has been confirmed as the biggest summer tour ever of their vaunted career. The tour kicked off at Houston's NRG Stadium on Apr. 28, bringing the Stones to more than 40,000 fans. By the time the band wrapped at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 17, it had scored the highest-earning summer of its career. Its 2022 jaunt, "Sixty," earned $120.8 million, and the biggest of its four "No Filter Tour" legs brought in $177.8 million in 2019. While they've made more money on yearslong treks, Mick Jagger & co. have never earned more than $200 million in a single season. The tour was in support of the band's Hackney Diamonds album, released in Oct. 2023. The set marked the Stones' first album of original material since 2005's A Bigger Bang. Hackney Diamonds debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 200 -- the group's highest-charting album since Bang also hit No. 3 -- and extended the band's record for the most top 10s on the chart. - Billboard, 10/24/24...... Former Commodores and '80s solo superstar Lionel Richie has announced he'll be heading back to the UK and Ireland for a summer 2025 arena tour. The tour will be Richie's first UK and Ireland shows since 2016. The tour kicks off at the SSE Arena in Belfast on May 31 before moving on to Glasgow on June 4 and stopping off in London, Sheffield, Birmingham and two nights in Manchester. The run of dates will conclude with another night in London on June 15. - NME, 10/24/24...... Actor Ron Ely, the hunky and handsome Texas native who portrayed the Lord of the Jungle on the first Tarzan series for television in the 1960s, died on Sept. 29 at the home of one of his daughters near Santa Barbara, Calif. He was 86. The 6-foot-4, blue-eyed Mr. Ely had appeared opposite Clint Walker in The Night of the Grizzly and with Ursula Andress in Once Before I Die in films released in 1966 when he was hired to don the loincloth in a new NBC series executive produced by Sy Weintraub. Mr. Ely was offered the Tarzan gig after former NFL linebacker Mike Henry, who had played the Edgar Rice Burroughs creation in three '60s films, abruptly quit after he was bitten in the jaw by a chimp. (He would go on to sue over unsafe working conditions.) Tarzan, which also filmed in Central America and Mexico, premiered in Sept. 1966, and Mr. Ely had to perform his own stunts during the two-season, 57-episode run. (Since he was wearing hardly any clothing, it was hard to find a look-alike stunt double, he said.) Ronald Pierce Ely was born on June 21, 1938, in Hereford, Tex. He graduated from Amarillo (Texas) High School in 1956 and then attended the University of Texas at Austin for a year before heading to California. He made his screen debut playing a pilot in the 1958 film adaptation of "South Pacific", then signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. A year later, he tried to smooch Betty Anderson (Elinor Donahue) on an episode of Father Knows Best, played the older brother of Dwayne Hickman's character in the pilot for The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis and appeared with Barbara Eden on the syndicated TV version of How to Marry a Millionaire. He also starred as the pulp adventurer Doc Savage in a 1975 film and replaced Bert Parks as host of the Miss America pageant. In the 1990s, he played a retired Superman on Superboy and a big-game hunter in the syndicated Tarzan the Hunted and had published two novels that featured private eye Jake Sands. A tragedy in Mr. Ely's life occurred on Oct. 15, 2019, when his second wife, former Miss Florida Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, was stabbed to death in their Santa Barbara-area home by their son, Cameron, 30, who deputies found outside the house and fatally shot. Survivors include his daughters Kirsten and Kaitland. "The impact he had on others is something that I have never witnessed in any other person -- there was something truly magical about him," Kirsten said in a statement. - The Hollywood Reporter, 10/23/24...... Singer Jack Jones -- the velvet-voiced crooner who had such hits as "Wives and Lovers" and "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," but may be best-known today for singing TV's The Love Boat theme -- died on Oct. 23 at Eisenhower Medical in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 86. His widow, Eleonara Jones, said the cause of his death was leukemia, which he had battled for two years. Mr. Jones had three No. 1 hits on Billboard's Easy Listening chart (now known as Adult Contemporary): "The Race Is On" (1965), "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" (1966) and "Lady" (1967). Mr. Jones received a Grammy nod for best vocal performance, male for "The Impossible Dream," the standout ballad from the Broadway musical "Man of La Mancha." The song, which also received a Grammy nod for song of the year, was so popular on TV variety shows and in nightclubs that it became a cliché. Earlier in the 1960s, Mr. Jones won two Grammys for best vocal performance, male for his renditions of Tony Velona's "Lollipops and Roses" and Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Wives and Lovers." Mr. Jones had three top 20 albums on the Billboard Hot 200: Wives and Lovers, Dear Heart and The Impossible Dream. Mr. Jones' death comes just seven months after Steve Lawrence, a singer of similar quality and style, died at 88. They were two of the finest singers of what was then known as easy listening music -- music that fell out of favor as rock boomed in the late 1960s and 1970s. That music has seen a rebirth in recent decades under a new branding -- traditional pop -- with such new stars as Michael Bublé. Mr. Jones, born in Los Angeles on Jan. 14, 1938, was married to actress Jill St. John from 1967-69. They were one of the top celebrity couples of that era, each with a highly successful career. It was one of Mr. Jones's six marriages. He continued to perform in casinos, performing arts centers and cabarets until shortly before his death. In addition to his current wife Eleonora Donata Peters, he is survived by two daughters and two stepdaughters. - Billboard, 10/24/24...... Grateful Dead bassist and co-founder Phil Lesh "passed peacefully" on Oct. 25, according to a statement from his family. He was 84 and died of as yet undisclosed causes. "He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you respect the Lesh family's privacy at this time," the statement read. Born in Berkeley, Calif. on Mar. 15, 1940, Mr. Lesh was originally a classically trained trumpeter and appreciator of avant-garde classical and free jazz. After short-lived studies at a variety of music schools, he met bluegrass banjo player Jerry Garcia in 1962. He was part of the original line-up of Grateful Dead in 1965, alongside Garcia (on lead guitar and vocals), Bob Weir (on rhythm guitar and vocals), Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (on keyboards, harmonica, and vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (on drums). He was the last to join the band under their original name of the Warlocks before they changed it to Grateful Dead. At the time of joining, Mr. Lesh had never picked up a bass guitar but grew to develop a distinctive style influenced by jazz in particular that sometimes made his instrument sound like a second lead guitar. He contributed especially significantly to some of the band's earliest works and played on all 13 of the Dead's studio releases and 10 official live albums between 1967 and 1990. Following the death of Garcia in 1995, Mr. Lesh participated in various touring iterations of the band including the Other Ones (1998-99), the Dead (2003-04, 2008-09) and Furthur (2009-13). The surviving members performed publicly together for the last time on the "Fare Thee Well" tour shows in Northern California and Chicago. Mr. Lesh was not a part of the recent incarnation Dead & Company featuring Weir and the band's other significant drummer Mickey Hart alongside John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane. He did, however, play in Phil Lesh and Friends and with the Terrapin Family Band, an offshoot of his family-run music hall and restaurant Terrapin Crossroads, which opened in California in 2012. Mr. Lesh had run into health issues in the final decades of his life, including a liver transplant in 1998. He was treated for prostate cancer in 2006 and later bladder cancer in 2015 before undergoing surgery on his back in 2019. In 2017, Bass Player magazine ranked Mr. Lesh as the 57th greatest bassist of all time. "More an improvising composer than mere bassist, Lesh elevated the Grateful Dead from hippie jam band to an artistic ensemble capable of reaching heights of interactive ecstasy," the magazine wrote. "Balancing roots with bouncy, offbeat upper-register figures, he could spin long motivic statements sometimes lasting over a minute, often steering the band into daring new harmonic territory." - NME/Billboard, 10/25/24.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA), which honors composers, songwriters and music supervisors for their contributions in music for film, TV, and other media, has tapped Elton John's longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin for an Outstanding Career Achievement Award. The ceremony, now in its 15th year, will be held on Nov. 20 at The Avalon in Hollywood, Calif. Taupin and John were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and received that organization's top honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 2013. In 2020, they received both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for best original song for co-writing "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from the hit biopic Rocketman. Earlier in 2024, they received the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, as well as an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Most recently, Taupin cowrote (with John, Brandi Carlile and Andrew Watt) the original song "Never Too Late" for the Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. Remarkably, their only songwriting collaboration to receive a Grammy nomination was the soundtrack to the 1971 teen romance film Friends, which won Best Original Score for a Motion Picture or a Television Special. Past HMMA Career Achievement Award recipients include Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson, Diane Warren, Earth Wind & Fire, Glen Campbell and Dave Mason. - Billboard, 10/23/24...... Gibson Guitars has announced a limited run of Jimmy Page 1964 SJ-200 guitars, as well as a Collector's Edition, to celebrate its 130th anniversary. Gibson is paying homage to the guitar that Page played on Led Zeppelin's self-titled 1969 debut album -- the iconic mid-60s Gibson SJ-200. Available now, the faithful recreation of the historic guitar has been designed to capture all distinctive traits -- including the vivid Cherry Tea sunburst finish. Only 50 of the 1964 SJ-200 Collector's Edition, which included a signature from Page, and 100 of the Jimmy Page 1964 SJ-200 have been made, each with "significant input" from the guitarist, according to a press release. Page talks about his collaboration with the guitar manufacturer on the Gibson TV YouTube channel. Earlier in 2024, Page joined Queen's Brian May and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi to launch the new "Gibson Garage" in London. Gibson also announced a new Jeff Beck "YardBurst" 1959 Les Paul Custom in honor of the late former Yardbirds member earlier in the year. - New Musical Express, 10/22/24...... The '60s British Invasion band The Zombies have partnered with music distributor Q Prime to re-release the band's first four albums, it was announced on Oct. 22. Under the agreement, Q Prime will manage marketing, manufacturing, distribution and licensing for the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees' new imprint, Beechwood Park Records. The imprint includes The Zombies' catalog, which the group acquired the rights to in 2023 from Marquis Enterprises Ltd., its original production company it signed with in 1964. Starting in 2024, Q Prime will physically reissue four of The Zombies' albums, remastered from the original tapes. This includes the band's seminal 1968 album, Odessey & Oracle, in its original mono mix; the LP, which was recorded for £1,000, includes the classic songs "Time of The Season," "Care of Cell 443 and "This Will Be Our Year." Its release will coincide with a new Zombies documentary, Hung Up On A Dream, directed by musician and filmmaker Robert Schwartzman. The Zombies' four surviving founding members are lead singer Colin Blunstone, keyboardist Rod Argent, bassist Chris White and drummer Hugh Grundy. The band first charted in the U.S. in 1964 with "She's Not There," which peaked at No. 2. - Billboard, 10/22/24...... In a new interview with Guitar World magazine, KISS co-founder Gene Simmons speaks about his bass-playing preferences, saying that Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers doesn't have a "memorable" style. "There are an awful lot of amazing bass players, like Jaco Pastorius and the jazz guys. Or guys like Flea, who is really good on his instrument, but I can't remember anything he plays -- and I also do not like the sound of a bass being slapped," Simmons said. The bassist/vocalist explained that he has a "less is more" approach, before quoting Eric Clapton: "The hardest thing to do is to know what notes to put in a solo, and what notes not to put in a solo. Sometimes, if it's shockingly simple, and barely moving at all, but I can hum it, that's what matters because it's memorable." He added that "I don't consider myself -- and was never really interested in being -- a bass virtuoso. I don't like show-offs in music. I'm much more attracted to things that are memorable. It's part of the joy of music for me." KISS finished their farewell tour in New York in December 2023, but they have since shared plans for an "immersive" avatar show that will be "beyond anything that anyone else has contemplated." - NME, 10/22/24...... Stevie Wonder called out Donald Trump for the former president's recent derogatory remarks about Detroit during Wonder's concert at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 22. "I just gotta say for the record, I don't like nobody talking bad about Detroit," the Motown icon told a sold-out crowd on the latest stop of his "Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart Tour." He then led the audience in a chant of "Don't cha do it!," pointedly aimed at Trump. Wonder was referencing Trump's disparaging remarks during an Oct. 13 speech to the Detroit Economic Club, where he warned that if his Democratic opponent, Vice-President Kamala Harris, is elected, "the whole country will end up being like Detroit -- a mess." Wonder, who has endorsed Harris as "not just any woman, a wonderful woman, and she has done the work consistently," announced his Sing Our Song! tour in September, a few weeks before its Oct. 8 opening in Pittsburgh. The tour will see him playing 11 shows, mostly in "swing states," in the wake of his surprise single, "As We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart." The song is available for streaming on YouTube. Wonder's tour wraps up Nov. 2 in Chicago. - Billboard, 10/23/24...... In related news, Bruce Springsteen has announced he'll be headlining a series of "When We Vote We Win" concerts in late October in support of Democratic presidential nominee Vice-Pres. Kamala Harris. The two events will take place alongside Harris and former President Barack Obama on Oct. 24 and 28 in Atlanta and Philadelphia, respectively. Additional shows will be announced in the coming days, according to Rolling Stone. Earlier in October, Springsteen took to Instagram to voice his support for the Harris/Tim Walz ticket. He shared that what makes America "great" are values that Harris believes in -- "freedom, social justice, equal opportunity, the right to be in love with who you want," he shared, before adding that Donald Trump "is the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime." Meanwhile, the Boss attended the Los Angeles premiere of his new Hulu documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, on Oct. 21 at the Academy of Motion Pictures Museum's David Geffen Theater. The Thom Zimny-directed documentary, a must-see for any Springsteen fan, pulls back the curtain on how the now-75-year-old rocker's 1923-24 global trek with the E Street Band came together. By the time the first show was played in Tampa in Feb. 2023, Springsteen had released three new albums and it had been six years since the E Street Band had toured due, in part, to the Covid pandemic. The film takes fans behind the scenes from the first day of rehearsals in a small, black box theater in New Jersey to stages across the world and, in the process, tells the story of the band's 50 year friendship. In one of the film's more poignant passages, musician and Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa reveals she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018 and how that has affected her ability to tour with the band. The deaths of longtime band members Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons are also discussed in loving detail. Also attending the L.A. premiere were the likes of Jackson Browne, John Densmore, Richie Sambora, Brandi Carlile, Catherine O'Hara and Danny DeVito. Road Diary premieres on TV in the US on the Hulu and Disney+ streaming channels on Oct. 25, and gets its UK TV premiere on the Disney+ channel the same day. - Billboard, 10/22/24...... Highlights of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Oct. 19 in Cleveland include Dua Lipa and Cher kicking off the show with a stunning rendition of Cher's "Believe," and Cher throwing some shade on the Rock Hall during her induction acceptance speech. The live audience came together to celebrate the extensive RRHOF Class of '24, which includes Cher, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy Osbourne, Kool & the Gang, A Tribe Called Quest, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner and Peter Frampton. Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton were honored for their musical influence; and Jimmy Buffett, Dionne Warwick, MC5 and Norman Whitfield each earned awards for musical excellence. Dressed in a slinky, black dress, Dua Lipa brought the audience to their feet in the opener with a rendition of Cher's "Believe." By the time the bridge came around, Cher herself emerged dressed in a leather bustier and black chaps, helping Dua finish out the song in fabulous fashion. For those that wanted to see the 78-year-old icon deliver a solo performance, Cher made sure to give them an encore before accepting her induction into the Rock Hall, performing a rousing rendition of "If I Could Turn Back Time" to a screaming crowd. Known for her sharp wit, Cher didn't spare anyone during her induction speech -- including the Rock Hall itself. When remarking on her long-awaited induction into the Hall, Cher cracked that it felt harder than it needed to be. "It was easier getting divorced from two men than it was getting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," she joked. "I want to thank David Geffen, because he wrote a letter and sent it to the directors, and now, ha ha, here I am!" After being inducted by Pearl Jam's Michael McCready, Peter Frampton triumphantly took to the stage to perform some of his greatest hits, kicking things off with "Baby (Something's Happening)." But the performance's best moment came when Keith Urban joined the legendary guitarist onstage for a guitar-sparring duet to "Do You Feel Like We Do." Trading licks back and forth (and even pulling out a talk box for the song's iconic breakdown), the pair made for one of the best rock performances of the evening. Dave Matthews served double duty at Saturday's ceremony, attending as both an inductee and an artist paying tribute to one of the greats: Jimmy Buffett. Taking to the stage armed with his acoustic guitar, Matthews bid a tearful farewell to the iconic tropical rock singer. "I'm so happy to be here to honor Jimmy," he said, fighting back tears. "He made everyone feel special; he made me feel very special. I wish he could be here, but it's too late." A cavalcade of rock and pop stars performed several of Foreigner's hits, including Demi Lovato, Sammy Hagar and Kelly Clarkson. Kool & the Gang performed an absolutely thrilling medley of their greatest hits, powering through "Hollywood Swinging," "Get Down on It," "Ladies Night," and "Jungle Boogie," before closing out their stellar set with a banging rending of "Celebration." Ozzy Osbourne watched as his legacy as the "greatest frontman in history" (as Jack Black put it) was tributed by a parade of some of the biggest names in music, including Wolfgang Van Halen, Jelly Roll, Billy Idol and Zakk Wylde. After a hilarious introduction from Julia Roberts -- which included the tale of her misadventures Googling the band she was honoring -- the Dave Matthews Band closed out 2024 RRHOF induction ceremony with one, glorious jam of some of their most beloved tracks -- "Ants Marching," "Crash Into Me," "So Much to Say" and "Too Much" -- before encoring with what Matthews said was some "walking away music" -- a fired up rendition of Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" in honor of the 40th anniversary of the band's Stop Making Sense documentary. - Billboard, 10/20/24...... Joni Mitchell performed her first headlining concerts in Los Angeles in 24 years on Oct. 19 and 20, breaking out numerous rarities that had not been played live in decades. The legendary singer-songwriter kicked off the 27-song "Joni Jam" set with "Be Cool," which was last performed in 2000 (fan-shot footage can be viewed on YouTube). She then gave "Harlem In Havana" its live debut before moving on to "Hejira," which was also last played in 2000. Other songs that we performed for the first time in years included "Cherokee Louise" (first time since '95), "Coyote" (first since '01), "God Must Be A Boogie Man" (first since 1983), "Sunny Sunday" (first since 1995), and more, including the politically charged "Dog Eat Dog," which she had not performed since 1985. After performing that tune, a fan shouted an insult directed towards Donald Trump, promoting Mitchell to echo back: "F--- Donald Trump." Mitchell continued: "Everybody get out and vote. This is an important one. I wish I could vote -- I'm Canadian. I'm one of those lousy immigrants." She performed a second night of her all-star Joni Jam on Oct. 20. Across both nights, Mitchell's band was made up of musicians such as Brandi Carlile, Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold, Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford, Jon Batiste, Jacob Collier and many more. Earlier in 2024, Mitchell won her 10th Grammy Award, for Best Folk Album for her 2023 live album Joni Mitchell at Newport. The album was recorded at the musician's 2022 surprise set at the legendary music festival -- at which she last appeared in 1969 -- delivering a 13-song set that featured Brandi Carlile on the tracks "Carey," "A Case Of You" and "Big Yellow Taxi." - NME, 10/21/24....... Ringo Starr is returning to one of his favorite genres -- country music -- on his first new full-length album in six years, Look Up. The album, set for release on Jan. 10 and teased on Oct. 18 with the release of the weepy ballad "Time On My Hands," finds the former Beatles drummer collaborating with the legendary T-Bone Burnett on both songwriting and production duties. "I have loved Ringo Starr and his playing and his singing and his aesthetic for as long as I can (or care to) remember," said Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Burnett, 76, in a statement. "He changed the way every drummer after him played, with his inventive approach to the instrument. And, he has always sung killer rockabilly, as well as being a heartbreaking ballad singer. To get to make this music with him was something like the realization of a 60-year dream I've been living. None of the work that I have done through a long life in music would have happened if not for him and his band. Among other things, this album is a way I can say thank you for all he has given me and us." Burnett wrote or co-wrote nine of the songs on Starr's 21st solo album, on which the peace-and-love advocate sang and played drums; one song so written by Billy Swan and another was co-written by Starr and Bruce Sugar. According to a press release announcing the project, Starr co-wrote the album's closer, "Thankful," which features one of Burnett's previous collaborators, bluegrass singer/fiddler Alison Krauss. From the country-tinged Beatles songs he performed and wrote, including "Act Naturally," "What Goes On" and "Don't Pass Me By," to his 1970 sophomore solo album Beaucoups of Blues, Starr has dipped his toe into the genre since his early, pre-Beatles days playing in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. In fact, the release added, Starr was so enamored with country and blues as a teenager that he tried to emigrate from London To Texas in his younger years after learning that blues great Lightnin' Hopkins lived there. Starr's first new full-length album since 2019's What's My Name will get a proper country welcome on Jan. 14-15, 2025 when the singer/drummer headlines the legendary Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Tenn.; tickets for the show will go on sale on Oct. 25. - Billboard, 10/18/24...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Apple Corps Ltd CEO Jeff Jones has announced he'll be retiring from the company after 17 years in the role. Apple Corps Ltd was founded in 1968 by the Fab Four to control the band's interests across music, film, publishing and more. The role of CEO was previously held by the band's longtime publicist Neil Aspinall from 1968 to 2007. Jones joined the team in 2007 following a role as an executive vice president at Sony/BMG, with a history repackaging classic catalogs from artists like Miles Davis. During his time as CEO of Apple Corps, Jones led several projects for the company including the launch of the band's website and spearheaded the move to make The Beatles' music available digitally on iTunes in 2010. He also worked with video game producers Harmonix to launch the Beatles' Rock Band game and the company's 18-year partnership with Cirque Du Soleil for the "The Beatles: Love" stage show which ended in July 2024. Jones also acted as an executive producer on several filmed projects, such as Ron Howard's documentary The Beatles: Eight Days A Week -- The Touring Years and Peter Jackson's three-part Get Back series, released in 2021 on Disney+. He also supervised the remastering and repackaging of several of the band's iconic albums including "The White Album," and his most recent projects included overseeing the release of the Beatles' final song "Now and Then" in 2023, and serving as an executive producer on the upcoming Beatles '64 documentary, produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by David Tedeschi, set to be released in November. A statement from Apple Corps Ltd on Oct. 21 reads: "The whole Apple Corps family wishes Jeff Jones all the very best and would like to express our sincere gratitude for his invaluable contributions to the company and the legacy of The Beatles." - Billboard, 10/21/24...... Among the salacious details in former John Lennon and Yoko Ono assistant Elliott Mintz's new memoir We All Shine On: John, Yoko, and Me is how Ono was "forced" to listen to John having "loud, raucous sex" with another woman in their bedroom one night in 1968 after John became upset and got drunk after Richard Nixon was elected to his first term as president. "Throughout it all, Yoko sat on the sofa, in stunned, mortified silence, as other guests began awkwardly getting up to leave - until they realized that their coats were in the bedroom where John was having sex," Elliot, 79, writes. Elliot explains the event created a rift between the couple that they struggled to repair, adding Yoko told him, "I can forgive him, but I don't know if I can ever forget what happened. I don't know if it will ever be the same." We All Shine On: John, Yoko, and Me hit stores on Oct. 22. - Music-News.com, 10/23/24...... After their founding 55 years ago, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), led by Jeff Lynne, have announced their date and location of their final live show. The gig will take place in London's Hyde Park next year as part of BST Summertime festival on July 13, 2025. Jeff Lynne's ELO are the first act to be announced for the annual run of gigs in the central London location. "My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014," Lynne said in a statement. "It seems like the perfect place to do our final show. We couldn't be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans. As the song goes, 'we're gonna do it One More Time!'" Tickets for the show go on sale on Oct. 25, and a range of special guests are set to join the lineup, which will be announced at a later date. Jeff Lynne's ELO are currently in the midst of their "Over and Out" US tour, which will conclude with a pair of shows at Los Angeles' Kia Forum on Oct. 25 and 25. Formed in 1970 in Birmingham, ELO became a stalwart of the British rock scene throughout the following decades. Initially composed of Lynne, songwriter Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, the group released their eponymous debut album in 1971 and went on to release 14 studio albums, most recently in 2019 with From Out of Nowhere. In the late '70s and early 1980s, the band amassed six Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking with "Don't Bring Me Down" in 1979 at No. 4. They had similar success on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart with five Top 10 entries . Several of their albums, including 1977's Out Of The Blue, were awarded platinum status in the US by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). - Billboard, 10/21/24...... Alex Van Halen has unveiled the full six-minute version of "Unfinished," the final song that the Van Halen drummer wrote and recorded with his late brother Eddie Van Halen. In September, it was reported that the last song the siblings ever wrote together would be included in the audiobook version of Alex's new memoir, Brothers, with Alex sharing a brief clip of the track with fans on Instagram alongside a series of family photos. While the drummer has previously been absent from the public eye following Eddie's death in 2020, he made a rare statement and shared his motivations for writing the book. "This is my tribute to my brother; my way of saying goodbye," he said. "Ed, I love you and miss you. When I see you again, I'm gonna kick your ass!" The book hit shelves on Oct. 22 via HarperCollins. The final track he and Eddie wrote together was a marked departure from VH's signature sound and is instead more of a sombre instrumental, featuring electric and acoustic guitar. The full version can be downloaded from van-halen.com or streamed on YouTube. - NME, 10/22/24...... The V&A family of museums in London has announced that it will be opening a new visitor attraction, the V&A East Storehouse, in 2025, which will be home to a new David Bowie store and visitor attraction. The East Storehouse will be open to the public from May 31, and located at East Bank -- the new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is set to home over 500,000 works, including the Glastonbury Festival Archives, costumes from Elton John and PJ Harvey, vintage shirts, Samurai swords and many more. It will also house over 100 curated mini-displays. Later in 2025, the long-awaited David Bowie Centre will be opening at the new site and expected to contain an archive of over 90,000 items related to the iconic artist, including some of his most famous outfits and song lyrics. The items will trace Bowie's "creative processes as a musical innovator, cultural icon, and advocate for self-expression and reinvention," and have been acquired by the V&A through the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. The Victoria and Albert Museum began as the Museum of Manufactures in London in 1852, and its foundation stone laid by Queen Victoria in 1899. It has evolved into state-of-the-art galleries, spanning the last 5,000 years of human existence. - NME, 10/22/24...... 60 years after its debut, The Temptations' 1964 hit "My Girl" has become a hit at Citi Field in Queens, NYC since New York Mets star Francisco Lindor began using it as his walk-up song in late May, and fans continue singing the lyrics even after Lindor's plate appearance is underway. This prompted The Tempts to detour to NYC on an off day from their current tour to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "My Girl" before the Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-6 on Oct. 18 and closed to 3-2 in the NL Championship Series. Wearing blue tuxedos with orange pocket squares, the five singers stood on the warning track behind home plate and sang an a cappella version of the national anthem that highlighted their harmonic excellence as Lindor watched from the foul line behind first base and sang along. They then donned Mets jerseys and sang "My Girl" with music backing them on the sound system as Lindor warmed up with sprints on the outfield grass, smiling widely and bobbing his head. He reached the dugout by the end and exchanged his special pregame handshake with with teammate Pete Alonso. Asked whether he was a baseball fan, the 82-year-old Temptations founder Otis Williams coughed and said in a low, sing-song voice: "Dodgers." Released on Dec. 21, 1964, "My Girl" became the soul group's first No. 1 hit the following March and has been streamed 1 billion times on Spotify.com. The song's impact became clear to Williams during a 1965 concert at Harlem's Apollo Theater. "We went out on the stage and we did the show without 'My Girl'. They damned near called us every name except the child of God," he said, "so we know we can never, ever take that the song out." Williams, who turns 83 on Oct. 30, is the last original member of the group. He has no intention of retiring. "I tell people I'm going to ride the hell out of the horse," he said. "When I get off the horse, it's going to be bald. That's a lot of rides when you ride the horse bald." - Billboard, 10/19/24.

Friday, October 18, 2024

An Oct. 17 concert in London by rising singer Dua Lipa featured a surprise performance by Elton John as the Rocket Man joined Dua during an encore of their 2021 smash hit collaboration "Cold Heart." The show was filmed for an upcoming television special, which is set to be announced soon. The pair had previously performed "Cold Heart" live at John's concert at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in 2022. A clip of the performance can be viewed on X. Meanwhile, Sir Elton's remarkable half-century career is being honored by Madame Tussauds London when the wax museum unveils a one-of-a-kind, gravity-defying figure later this year that pays homage to the pop icon's wild and wooly 1970s heyday. According to a press release, a new exhibit will feature a wax model of the singer doing one of his patented keyboard handstands, with his legs in the air above his head and his hands firmly planted on the piano keyboard. "Back in the 1970s, his first figure was our first talking figure, and in 2024 we're determined to go big again," says a Madame Tussauds spokesman. "The figure's iconic, gravity-defying pose will capture the essence of Elton's legendary early performances in a way that only Madame Tussauds London can. This will be our most structurally complex figure to date in our centuries-old history and it is going to be a real showstopper when we unveil it later this year." The museum released behind-the-scenes images from the creation of the figure on Instagram on Oct. 16. Elsewhere, a new Elton John documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, debuts on Disney+ on Dec. 13. - Billboard, 10/16/24...... Fleetwood Mac fans are buzzing about a potential band reunion after a wave a recent online activity by the legendary group. Recently a new "official" account for the band was launched on Instagram. The verified page is currently set to private, and is followed by just eight people -- including members Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood. An official Fleetwood Mac profile was also set up on TikTok recently -- although no content has been shared there as of yet. However, the account has almost 14,000 followers at the time of writing. "Fleetwood Mac making an official Instagram and TikTok we are cooked," wrote one user on X/Twitter on Oct. 12. Another shared: "Fleetwood Mac making an Instagram. Somebody sedate me." This came as Nicks made her first appearance on Saturday Night Live in 41 years on Oct. 12, where she performed her new single "The Lighthouse" (shared on YouTube) and her classic solo track "Edge Of Seventeen" (also shared on YouTube ). While some people discussed a potential reunion, others noted the recent 45th anniversary of the band's 12th album Tusk -- and said a reissue could be in the works. Elsewhere, guitarist/singer-songwriter Lindsey Buckingham -- who was fired from the band in 2018 -- wished Tusk a "happy birthday" in a post on Instagram. In the caption, he reflected on drawing "a creative fork in the road" with the experimental record following "the enormous commercial success" of its predecessor, 1977's Rumours. In other Fleetwood Mac news, founding drummer Mick Fleetwood has just released Blues Experience, a collaborative album with ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. The album's most stunning moment is its closing, a rendering of Christine McVie's FM signature song "Songbird" followed by a spoken word coda by Fleetwood, mourning McVie's death on Nov. 30, 2022. "'Songbird' came out of the blue, and we couldn't not include it," Fleetwood says. "It was around the time when Christine had passed, and we found ourselves doing that song, which was not predetermined... Christine was a huge loss for me and for millions and millions of people." - New Musical Express/Billboard, 10/15/24...... As the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame prepares for its class of 2024 induction ceremony on Oct. 19, word has spread that two of Foreigner's inductees, founding guitarist Mick Jones and drummer Dennis Elliott, won't be attending the event. Jones, who founded Foreigner during 1976 in New York, is battling Parkinson's disease, and Elliott posted a note to Facebook that he would also not be attending the event. "We were finally given the schedule last night, and it is not to our satisfaction," Elliott posted. "So we are staying home. We have been asking for weeks, and they have waited until the very last minute to send it knowing we were all packed and going to bed. Totally unacceptable to us. Hope you have a good time." RRHOF sources say one specific point of contention was that only band members were to walk the red carpet before the show, without their spouses. Fans responding to Elliott offered support, with one writing "this is very sad news" and another calling it a "travesty." Foreigner did issue a statement via its social media saying, "FOREIGNER is greatly looking forward to Saturday's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The band will be joined by Demi Lovato, Sammy Hagar and Kelly Clarkson in a set celebrating the induction of the guys who started it all almost fifty years ago. Original members Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood and Rick Wills will be there to accept the awards on behalf of the band's leader and founder Mick Jones, drummer Dennis Elliot, and Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi who are no longer with us." Foreigner, which finished third in the RRHOF fan vote, will be part of a class of 2024 that also includes Mary J. Blige, Cher, the Dave Matthews Band, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest in the performer category. - Billboard, 10/17/24...... In related news, former Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson lead guitarist James Burton is set to become a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame at their Medallion Ceremony on Oct. 20. Burton will become the 17th individual to be inducted into both the Country Music and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was admitted to the Rock Hall in 2001, with his induction speech given by longtime fan Keith Richards. Since the 1950s, Burton has recorded and performed with many artists, including several who are likewise in both Halls: Presley, Johnny Cash, The Everly Brothers and Jerry Lee Lewis. He is just the second person to be admitted to both Halls who is not known, at least in part, as a recording artist. The other is Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. Burton, 84, is one of just four of these double inductees who is still living. The others are Willie Nelson, 91; Brenda Lee, 79; and Dolly Parton, 78. Three double inductees -- Cash, The Everly Brothers and Phillips -- lived to see both of their inductions, though they have since died. - Billboard, 10/14/24...... On Oct. 14 Disney+ announced on X that a new Beatles documentary from producer Martin Scorsese and director David Tedeschi, Beatles '64, will premiere on the streaming platform on Nov. 29. Per an official description, the forthcoming doc "captures the electrifying moment of The Beatles' first visit to America" over 60 years ago. "Featuring never-before-seen footage of the band and the legions of young fans who helped fuel their ascendance, the film gives a rare glimpse into when The Beatles became the most influential and beloved band of all time," the press release continues. Co-produced by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison, John Lennon's son Sean Ono Lennon, the film includes rare footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles and features live performances from the Beatles' debut US live concert at the Washington, DC Coliseum and their Ed Sullivan Show appearances. Additionally, viewers will see newly filmed interviews with McCartney and Starr, as well as fans whose lives were transformed by the Fab Four. To coincide with the film's release, seven US 1964 Beatles albums have been analogue cut for 180-gram audiophile vinyl from their original mono master tapes for global release on Nov. 22 via Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe. The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono features the 1964 Beatles albums which have been out of print on vinyl since 1995. - NME, 10/14/24...... In other Beatles-related news, a shirt signed by football legend Pelé has been gifted to Paul McCartney. Pelé signed the shirt in 2019 before his death from cancer in 2022 at age 82, with the intention of giving it to iconic rock star, but a meeting never materialized. Now, McCartney has been presented with the shirt by Pelé's manager and sister ahead of Paul's second stadium show in So Paulo, Brazil on Oct. 16. In a photograph, the Beatles icon can be seen holding up the shirt, which reads: "Paul, keep the ball rolling. I love you. Pelé." Elsewhere, McCartney helped a couple get engaged during a soundcheck on his "Got Back" tour stop in Santiago, Chile on Oct. 11. The music icon noticed Chilean couple Yamil Alamo, a McCartney lookalike, and Leonora Pereira, dressed as 1970s versions of himself and his late wife Linda McCartney, holding a sign that read: "Paul: Give us a handshake and we'll get married." During the soundcheck at Estadio Monumental, Santiago, Sir Paul invited the couple on stage. Alamo knelt down and proposed to his girlfriend of six years in front of McCartney. McCartney's "Got Back" tour is set to continue across South America, the UK and Europe over the coming weeks. In still more Beatles news, it was been announced on Oct. 15 that the U.K.-based organization PPL will collect broadcast and public performance royalties globally for both the estate of John Lennon and Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. "PPL has shown they are the leaders in advocating for neighboring rights globally," said the Lennon estate in a statement. "We have the utmost respect for the team and look forward to working with them." Lennon released 11 solo albums as a performer, and landed 25 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 both as a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist. He also landed three No. 1 albums as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 200. Meanwhile, the Beatles have been named as the ultimate British group by BBC Radio 2 listeners. The Fab Four saw off competition from the likes of Queen, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd to top the poll that was organized to mark National Album Day -- which has the theme of Great British groups this year -- on October 19. - NME/Billboard, 10/17/24...... In a new interview with ClassicRock.com, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman opened up about his tenure with the "World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band," revealing that he and some of his bandmates were struggling financially. Wyman was asked if he left the band at the right time -- he left in 1993 -- and replied that he should have left earlier. "I hung on for a three-tour ending across '89 and '90, after seven years of nothing, and I'd ended up with a bank overdraft of £200,000, because we weren't earning anything," he explained. Wyman continued: "Mick [Jagger] and Keith [Richards] were totally wealthy, so they weren't bothered, but me, Charlie [Watts] and Ronnie [Wood] were scraping by. Ronnie started to do art to feed his family. Anyway, I only started playing with them again in the hope it'd only be a couple of years, because I had all these other things I wanted to do." He explained that Jagger and Richards had greater wealth due to their songwriting and publishing royalties, but that he, Jones, Watts and Wood were only making about a tenth of what Jagger and Richards were. He also discussed the criticism the band received after they left the UK in 1971, becoming tax exiles in the south of France. "We had no f---ing money," he said. "[Former Stones manager Allen] Klein had all the money, and when you wanted anything you begged him to send you some money. You're in the red with your bank, so you weren't partying all the time, you were worrying about how to pay your bills. It was a nightmare," added Wyman, who briefly returned to the Stones in 2023 to record a track for their album Hackney Diamonds. - New Musical Express, 10/17/24...... Cher stunned the audience of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Oct. 15 with powerful performances of two of her most inspiring hits, "Strong Enough" and "Believe." After a powerful choir intro, with photos of Cher from different stages in her career flashing on the back screen, the superstar appeared onstage in a sparkling black jumpsuit and matching jet-black hair. She kicked off the performance with her 1998 hit, "Strong Enough," and delivered the emotive verses surrounded by her dancers, before belting the empowering chorus. The 78-year-old star then strutted down the runway and stepped onto a gold platform to perform her 1998 classic, "Believe," as some of Victoria's Secret's most beloved models walked the runway in angel wings and classic red and pink lingerie, including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Candice Swanepoel and Adriana Lima. Cher headlined the all-female lineup of the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, following performances from LISA, Orianthi and Tyla. Fan-shot footage of Cher's performance has been shared on X. - Billboard, 10/15/24...... Billy Joel reunited with his pals Axl Rose and John Mayer during a concert at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Oct. 12. Mayer was brought out as the first guest of the night, joining Joel for a rendition of "This Is The Time." It is only the second time that the pair have performed this song together; the first time being in 2008. Later on in the show, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose joined the Piano Man onstage to perform a cover of Wings "Live and Let Die." In July, Joel played his historic 150th -- and last -- show as part of his Madison Square Garden residency, bringing out Rose to perform a number of songs. He had been playing one show at the iconic venue every month since Jan. 2014. Fan-shot footage of the Mayer and Rose performances can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 10/14/24...... Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is set to direct the filming of a tribute concert in honor of late The Band member Robbie Robertson. Scorsese will direct the "Life Is A Carnival: A Musical Celebration Of Robbie Robertson" tribute concert, which took place at LA's Kia Forum on Oct. 17), for a future release. Artists performing at the show included Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mavis Staples, Margo Price, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby and Taj Mahal, among others. Robertson, who died in August 2023 at age 80, scored several of Scorsese's films, including Raging Bull, Casino, The Wolf Of Wall Street, The Irishman and Killers Of The Flower Moon. Scorsese previously documented The Band's farewell show The Last Waltz, which was released in 1978 and is widely considered an all-time classic music documentary. - NME, 10/17/24...... It was announced on Oct. 17 that Randy Newman has sold his share of his recorded music and publishing rights to Litmus Music, a catalog-acquiring firm backed by private-equity giant Carlyle Group. The deal encompasses Newman's seminal film scores along with his catalog of popular solo hits. The rights acquisition includes his compositions for Disney franchises like Toy Story ("You've Got a Friend in Me," "We Belong Together"), Monsters, Inc. ("If I Didn't Have You") and The Princess and the Frog ("Almost There"), among others. The list of non-animated movies he has worked on over the decades includes The Natural, Three Amigos, Awakenings, The Paper, Maverick, Ragtime, Pleasantville, Meet the Parents, Seabiscuit and his recent pairing with director Noah Baumbach, for The Meyerowitz Stories and Marriage Story. The lifelong Angeleno, who turns 81 in November, launched his career in 1968 with a self-titled solo debut but came into his own in the following decade with a string of critically acclaimed albums including 1970's 12 Songs, 1972's Sail Away, 1974's Good Old Boys and 1977's Little Criminals. - Billboard, 10/17/24...... Village People co-founder Victor Willis says he will not be taking legal action against the campaign of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after Trump has continued to play the group's 1979 hit "Y.M.C.A." despite his objections. "I have been inundated with hundreds of complaints from the public and press about Donald Trump and his campaign's use of my song," Willis recently told Billboard. "Me, and the Village People as well, have in the past opposed Trump's use of 'Y.M.C.A.' and we have made this very clear to him," says Willis, who is the song's lyricist and one of the owners of the song's copyright. "Some fans are demanding that I sue. I am not going to sue the President over his use of 'Y.M.C.A.' because it's stupid and just plain hateful," Willis added. "Though I don't dislike Trump, I am a registered Democrat who supports Kamala Harris for President." He added that Harris is also free to play the song if she wants to. RNC spokesperson Taylor Rogers noted that the Trump campaign has the appropriate licenses from performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP to play "Y.M.C.A." and other music heard at Trump's town hall event in Oaks, Pa. on Oct. 14 during which Trump halted the planned Q&A session to cue up a playlist of his favorite songs. Trump has accrued a long list of artists who have objected to his use of their songs at his events, including Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Jack White, Adele, Celine Dion, Earth, Wind & Fire, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, R.E.M. and the estates of George Harrison, Isaac Hayes and Prince. - Billboard, 10/16/24...... The Eagles have added four more dates in March 2025 to their ongoing residency at Las Vegas' Sphere. The legendary country-rock band will play the mind-bending venue on Mar. 7, 8, 14 and 15, after their previously announced gigs in October, November, December, January and February. The full list of Eagles dates can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 10/16/24...... Ozzy Osbourne is expressing his "shock" over the shooting of his former guitarist Jake E. Lee, calling it "another senseless act of gun violence." Lee was shot multiple times in Las Vegas on Oct. 15, and a rep for the musician says he is expected to make a "full recovery." Local authorities are currently investigating the shooting and said they believe that is was "completely random. Lee performed in Osbourne's solo band between 1982 and 1987, contributing to his albums Bark At The Moon (1983) and The Ultimate Sin (1986). He also joined the Prince Of Darkness on numerous tours. Speaking to TMZ.com, Osbourne explained: "It's been 37 years since I've seen Jake E. Lee, but that still doesn't take away from the shock of hearing what happened to him today. It's just another senseless act of gun violence. I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade. I just hope he'll be OK." - NME, 10/16/24...... Juicy tidbits from Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen's upcoming memoir Brothers include Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell and Joe Satriani almost becoming members of VH, and why the band's plans to reunite with vocalist David Lee Roth fell through. Alex says he and late brother Eddie Van Halen had met Ozzy with wife and manager Sharon Osbourne in 2001 to lay out plans for him to record an album with the band, however, Ozzy became entangled with MTV to launch The Osbournes, the reality show about the family that became a smash hit upon its debut in 2002, and couldn't follow through with joining VH. After the death of Eddie, Alex says he brought to Roth the idea to pay tribute to Eddie during each gig on a VH tour. "I said, 'Dave, at some point, we have to have a very overt -- not a bowing -- but an acknowledgment of Ed in the gig. If you look at how Queen does it, they show old footage.'" he recalls. "And the moment I said we gotta acknowledge Ed, Dave f---in' popped a fuse. The vitriol that came out was unbelievable." This moment was "the thing that broke the camel's back," Alex adds. "'You talk to me like that, motherf---er, I'm gonna beat your f----ing brains out. You got it?'" he recalls how he felt towards Roth. "And I mean that. And that's how it ended." Brothers is set for an Oct. 22 release via HarperCollins. - NME, 10/15/24...... In a new interview with the UK's Uncut magazine, Queen drummer Roger Taylor hints that the band may release their first album of new material almost 30 years after their last. "Brian [May] and myself were talking the other day, and we both said that if we feel we have some good material, why not? We can still play. We can still sing. So I don't see why not." Since the death of frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991 and the posthumous release of the Queen album Made in Heaven in 1995, surviving band members May, 77, and Taylor, 75, have continued to tour as the band -- with American singer Adam Lambert providing lead vocals. - Music-News.com, 10/15/24...... Authorities in the UK have upgraded the 1977 ABBA film ABBA: The Movie to PG for its commentary about group member Agnetha Faltskog's bottom. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has changed the film's rating from a U to a PG because of its "mild sex references" and "language." The mockumentary follows a fictional radio DJ as he tries to get an interview with the quartet -- which also includes Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad -- during the band's 1977 sellout tour of Australia. Among the scenes highlighted by the BBFC are two sequences when members of the band express "rueful amusement" about the press's preoccupation with Faltskog's bottom, two years after she won the "Rear of the Year" award. The board said some people might find the language "discriminatory." It has produced new parental guidance for the film 47 years after its release, drawing attention to the use of the words "bloody," "God" and "hell" as well as an excerpt from the Swedish band's song "When I Kissed The Teacher." The board also highlighted a conversation between band members when they referred to press reports about them ordering a "kinky velvet bed." Parents are alerted to cigarette smoking in the film and a conversation when band members tell a reporter they don't use drugs. - Music-News.com, 10/13/24...... Alice Cooper has told the UK paper The Metro that he didn't expect to be performing after he turned 30 years old, but he's "still having fun." Asked if he is surprised by his longevity, Alice told the paper's "Sixty Seconds" column: "You can ask Mick Jagger that too, and Keith Richards! We never thought we would even reach the age of 30. That was the age we all thought we would retire. I had no idea that 46 years later I would still be doing this and still having fun. It's amazing my energy level has maintained. I can't explain it except for the fact that I got sober 41 years ago." Cooper added: "I've always stayed slim, I never got overweight. I can still wear clothes that I wore in high school. I don't really have to watch my diet, I just don't eat very much." The legendary shock-rocker added that he has no intention of calling time on a career that has spanned more than 60 years any time soon. Alice explained: "I've always said I'll retire when I physically can't do it anymore, or when the audience doesn't show up. That right there tells you you're done if nobody is showing up. We've sold out every show, pretty much. Why would you retire from something that you love doing? I genuinely still get off on it." Cooper is currently on the road again with Rob Zombie on their "Freaks on Parade" tour. - NME, 10/11/24...... In the wake of John Amos's death on Aug. 21 at age 84, Amos's family and and friends are still fighting over the Good Times star. A group of loved ones including his daughter Shannon Amos, 58 -- who accused her brother K.C., 54, of elder abuse in 2023 -- claimed in a statement on social media that K.C., Eugune Brummet and John's longtime publicist Belinda Foster prevented access to the actor before he died. "We were deeply concerned that our father may have been neglected and isolated during his final days," they said, while revealing that they learned of his death 45 days later when the news was made public on Oct. 1. Foster claims it was John's wish to delay the announcement of his death and pointed to an appearance he filmed for Suits L.A. prior to his death, medical professionals who deemed John "mentally sound" and his media interviews as evidence of his "state of mind." - People, 10/21/24...... Former The Police frontman and '80s/'90s solo star Sting made a surprise appearance at the funeral of Robert F. Kennedy's widow Ethel Kennedy at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, on Oct. 17. Following a eulogy by former Pres. Bill Clinton, Sting, guitar in hand, performed a rendition of this emotional 1987 hit "Fragile." "We have a surprise that's not on the program, but we are incredibly grateful and honoured to have a singer who my grandmother loved," Ethel Kennedy's grandson Joe Kennedy III told the funeral attendees. Pres. Joe Biden, who spoke at the end of the service, became visibly emotional while listening to the song. Joe Kennedy later told the audience he was "honored to announce one final surprise" before Biden's eulogy, introducing Stevie Wonder as a "dear friend of my grandfather and grandmother." The Motown legend sang The Lord's Prayer before going into a special rendition of "Isn't She Lovely," inserting Ethel's name into the song and calling for the audience to sing along while he played the harmonica. Ethel Kennedy died at 96 years old on Oct. 10. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968 while he was running for the Democratic presidential nomination. - Music-News.com, 10/17/24...... Mitzi Gaynor, the effervescent peformer was known for appearing in Hollywood musicals including There's No Business Like Show Business and Anything Goes alongside Bing Crosby, died on Oct. 17. She was 93 years old. Ms. Gaynor's managers announced her death in an Instagram post, noting that she "passed away peacefully" of natural causes. "For eight decades she entertained audiences in films, on television and on the stage," read the announcement. "She truly enjoyed every moment of her professional career and the great privilege of being an entertainer." Ms. Gaynor, born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber in Chicago on Sept. 4, 1931, was best known for her run of starring roles in a series of 1950s movie musicals, including 1954's There's No Business Like Show Business, 1956's Anything Goes and 1957's Les Girls. Born to a violinist father and dancer mother, Ms. Gaynor got an early start on her career when her family moved from Detroit to Los Angeles when she was 11-years-old, leading to her landing a spot as a singer/dancer in the Los Angeles Civil Light Opera two years later. By 17, she signed a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox, making her film debut in 1950's My Blue Heaven, where she starred alongside Betty Grable. By the next year she landed her first starring role in the musical western Golden Girl, where she played a character based on early 20th century actress Lotta Crabtree. Her first big screen success came in 1952 with the musical Bloodhounds of Broadway -- based on a Damon Runyon story -- which kicked off nearly a decade of starring roles that showcased her versatility and winning, shining personality, which manifested in film with a mix of innocence and sex appeal. Her winning streak continued with top billing in the WWII romantic musical South Pacific, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best motion picture actress - comedy/musical for her exuberant performances of "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" and "Some Enchanted Evening." She appeared in a handful of other movies over the next few years, including 1963's For Love or Money with Kirk Douglas, Gig Young and Julie Newmar, before pivoting to a successful run as the hots of a series of TV specials. Ms. Gaynor also famously performed between the two sets by the Beatles on a Feb. 16, 1964 episode of The Ed Sullivan Show, singing a 13-minute medley of "Too Darn Hot" along with "The More I See You," "Birth of the Blues" and "When the Saints Go Marching In." The episode from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach aired a week after Sullivan legendarily introduced the Fab Four to American audiences in one of the most-watched TV moments of all time. The statement announcing Ms. Gaynor's death and some of her career highlights can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 10/17/24.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Barbra Streisand is among the top contenders for a Grammy for best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording category for the audiobook of her long-awaited memoir, My Name Is Barbra. That was also the title of her first TV special in 1965, for which she won a Primetime Emmy (outstanding individual achievements in entertainment -- actors and performers), and a companion album for which she won a Grammy (best vocal performance, female). My Name Is Barbra isn't the only case where a music star repurposed one of their old titles. Former The Doobie Brothers member Michael McDonald is entered with his audiobook What a Fool Believes, which he titled after Doobies' classic, which won Grammys for record and song of the year in 1979. Dolly Parton's audiobook Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones could also receive a Grammy nod. The country queen was nominated in at least one category in 36 of the Grammys' first 66 years, a remarkable show of sustained voter appeal. She has been nominated in each of the last five years. But she has yet to be nominated in this category. The Recording Academy will announce its list of nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards on Nov. 8, and the 2025 Grammys take place on Feb. 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 10/10/24...... Just a week after Bruce Springsteen released a video supporting the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket of Vice-Pres. Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, two more major Seventies pop/rock stars have added their names to the growing list of musicians supporting the Harris/Walz ticket. Writing on his Neil Young Archives site on Oct. 11, Neil Young officially came out in support of Harris for the next president, describing her as "an honest, forthright truth teller." "She is an honest forthright truth teller who is experienced in the White House, free from ambiguity or evasiveness, who goes straight to the point," Young wrote. "Clear headed, young enough to hold the office for a couple of bright future terms, Kamala Harris is a good person who is unafraid to take on criminals and uphold the law of the USA. She's my candidate for the future of this great country." Young added he believes Harris "will take on the billionaire class and make them pay their share of taxes. She will not owe them any favors. She is a kind, considerate American." In August, Young granted Harris' running-mate Walz permission to use his song "Rockin' In The Free World" on the campaign trail, after having sued former president and Republican contender Donald Trump for his use of it. Meanwhile, Stevie Wonder has "re-endorsed" the Harris campaign in a new political ad with Oscar-winning director Spike Lee. The video, which was shared by Harris on X/Twitter on Oct. 11, sees the Motown legend, 25-time Grammy winner and 1989 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee discussing his friendship with her in a conversation with Lee. "I was excited about Kamala years before people knew who she was," Wonder says. "I'm very happy for the future. I'm very happy because I know and believe that she will be the next president of these United States. Not to make you guys feel bad, but it takes a woman. But not just any woman, a wonderful woman. And she has done the work consistently." Wonder previously endorsed Harris at the Democratic National Convention back in August. Upon taking to the stage on the DNC's third night, he told the crowd: "We must keep on keeping on until we are truly a united people of these United States and then we will reach a higher ground," before performing his 1973 hit "Higher Ground." - New Musical Express, 10/12/24...... Accepting a Legacy Award at the 2024 Attitude Awards in London on Oct. 9, Elton John mocked multi-billionaire Elon Musk. Taking to the stage to accept his trophy from awards sponsored by the British gay lifestyle mag Attitude, Sir Elton said he was "honored" by the award, and also used his acceptance speech to recall how he "loves being gay." "It's been a long journey for me, with lots of ups and downs, and finally, peace of mind," he began. "Music saved me - when I was happy, and when I was miserable." Recalling how he went on to create his non-profit organization, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, he said that he was inspired after watching "everyone else march and do so much for people who were being ignored in the USA and around the world." John added that "I'm so happy to be a gay man." "I love my husband, my children -- I have benefits as a gay man I never thought I'd be able to have. It's been the most incredible success," he added. "We're very lucky to live in a country that gives us the rights we have. But there are still people who don't have those rights, and I intend to fight for those rights until the day I die." After being presented the trophy -- which comes in the shape of the letter 'A' -- Sir Elton concluded: "Is this the award? What does 'A' stand for? 'Arsehole' comes to mind but let's not talk about Elon Musk tonight - let's have a good time!" While he didn't elaborate more on why he feels that way about Musk, the comments do come after the Rocket Man announced that he was quitting Twitter in 2022, shortly after Musk's takeover of the platform. In his announcement, he cited changes in the social media platform's policy allowing "misinformation to flourish unchecked," as his reason for the departure. After Musk bought the company, a spike in hate speech on the site was reported. - NME, 10/10/24...... The estate of '70s R&B icon Barry White has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court claiming that a prominent sample at the heart of Future and Metro Boomin's chart-topping hit "Like That" infringes the copyright to a 1973 song by White -- but they aren't accusing the stars of any wrongdoing. White's estate is claiming that a 1986 hip-hop song called "Everlasting Bass" by the duo Rodney-O (Rodney Oliver) & Joe Cooley stole key elements from White's 1973 song "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby." Attorneys for the White estate say they waited nearly four decades to sue over the song because it was "released prior to the internet and was not widely distributed," leaving the estate "unaware of the song when it was first released." However they certainly became aware when the song was heavily sampled in "Like That," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this year -- so prominently that Future and Metro Boomin credited Rodney-O & Joe Cooley as co-writers. By using an infringing sample, the lawsuit claims that "Like That" also infringes White's copyrights: "'Like That' copies substantial elements of 'I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Babe' and including but not limited to the iconic, immediately recognizable bass line," the estate wrote in its complaint. But crucially, the White estate isn't accusing Future, Metro Boomin or co-creator Kendrick Lamar of any legal wrongdoing. The lawsuit pins the blame solely on Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, saying they agreed to defend the stars against such accusations when they cleared the sample. White's "Gonna Love You" is one of the legendary singer's top commercial hits, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1973 and ultimately spending 18 weeks on the chart. - Billboard, 10/9/24...... Retired KISS principal Gene Simmons is being slammed on social media for what some dub his "creepy" remarks during his judging stint on the Oct. 8 "Hair Metal Night" installment of ABC's Dancing With The Stars. Some viewers said Simmons treated the female dancers as if they were in a beauty pageant, pointing to Simmons saying he couldn't decide which of the contestants Amendola and pro dancer Witney Carson was more "hot hot hot," and 24-year-old actress Chandler Kinney (Pretty Little Liars) that she "fogged up my glasses" and that she "moved me -- not just with your gyrations, but with your beautiful face." "ABC needs to issue an apology after having Gene Simmons on there and subjecting their cast to that... Why didn't a producer tell him to knock it off," wrote one X user, while another joked, "Gene Simmons comments about the ladies are giving the energy of the gross uncle who corners you at the reunion." Well known for speaking his mind on all manner of subjects, Simmons has been called out before for his thoughts on the opposite sex, including over a passage in his 2017 book, On Power, in which he wrote that "leveraging sexuality is still the fastest route to the top for women." - Billboard, 10/9/24...... After dropping on Oct. 8, Lisa Marie Presley's posthumous memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown is the No. 1 bestseller in Amazon.com's "love and loss" category, and even became an Oprah's Book Club pick. Readers have rated the memoir 4.8 stars, describing it as a "heartbreaking" read that was a "labor of love." Before Lisa Marie's death in 2023, she had one last request for her daughter Riley Keough: to finish her memoir. According to the official description, Keough used tapes recorded by her mother to complete the memoir. As the only daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, the late 54-year-old Lisa Marie lived a riveting life, which is retold by not only her, but the Daisy Jones & The Six actress Keough as well. Keough wrote a letter that opens the book and provides a touch of her own perspective, including her thoughts and process on "faithfully" completing her mother's memoir. Among the sensational revelations in the book is that Lisa Marie was so overcome with grief following the death of her son Benjamin Keough that she kept his body packed in dry ice in her home for two months. "My mom had my brother in the house with us instead of keeping him at the morgue," Keough wrote in the book. "They told us that if we could tend to the body, we could have him at home, so she kept him in our house for a while on dry ice." Keough said that it was important for her mother to have proper time to say goodbye to her son, who died by suicide in 2020. "The same way she'd done with her dad. And I would go and sit there with him," she said, noting that California doesn't have any laws that mandate exactly when a body needs to be buried or disposed of. Both Lisa Marie and her son are buried at Graceland, where Elvis is also interred. - Billboard, 10/9/24...... Bruce Springsteen's new touring documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, will become the latest rock doc to be showcased in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Screening Series when the movie will be shown at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan on Oct. 15, followed by a screening at the David Geffen Theater at the Motion Picture Academy in Los Angeles on Oct. 21. Both showings -- which are private, and invite-only -- will be followed by a conversation with Springsteen, his longtime manager/producer Jon Landau and the movie's director, Thom Zimny in a chat moderated by RRHOF chairman John Sykes. The screening series that launched in 2023 to showcase the best in music films and documentaries will preview the Springsteen film before it debuts on Hulu and Disney+ on Oct. 25. "Bruce Springsteen is one of the great artists and storytellers of our time," said Sykes in a statement. "With this film, we hear firsthand from Bruce about how music has shaped his life and learn the story behind how his legendary E Street Band continues to redefine the live music experience for over five decades." Road Diary had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where the director talked about the film chronicling the band's preparation for their 2023-2024 world trek. Meanwhile, the E Street Band's global trek will keep rolling on Oct. 31 when it hits the Bell Centre in Montreal. - Billboard, 10/8/24...... To mark the 60th year of the formation of The Doors back in 1965, the band is planning releases of some key archival material, a new book, and more. On Nov. 22, a limited edition (3,000 copies) audiophile vinyl box set The Doors 1967-1971 that houses the band's six studio albums the band released during late frontman Jim Morrison's lifetime. A week later, for Record Store Black Friday, Rhino High Fidelity will release a four-disc remastered vinyl edition of Live in Detroit, taken from a May 8, 1970, concert at the city's famed Cobo Arena. The 25-song set is the longest concert the Doors ever performed, according to current band manager Jeff Jampol of JAM Inc. Following those recordings, in early 2025, will be Night Divides the Day, a 344-page book from Britain's Genesis Publications that includes new interviews with drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger, archival material from Morrison and the late keyboardist Ray Manzarek, commentary from other colleagues, friends and admirers, a treasure trove of photos, and a foreword by Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic. The 2,000 numbered box sets will be signed by Krieger and Densmore and come with rare demo recordings of "Hello, I Love You" and "Moonlight Drive" on a 7-inch vinyl disc. Jeff Jampol says these are only the beginning of the Doors' 60th festivities. "Here we are 60 years later talking about them, and they're just as relevant and the music is more relevant than ever, and the message," Jampol, who also represents the Morrison estate, says. "I want to preserve it because I think it's relevant for new generations. We're trying to do two things here. We want to do interesting things and fun things for Doors fans, who are great 'cause they've always been here with us and they'll support whatever it is we're doing, and they're excellent passers-on of the baton. Then we also want to expose the Doors to people who are not as familiar and this group of potential new fans, which is thousands of times larger. So we're trying to serve those two distinct fan bases." Other 60th anniversary plans for 2025 are still being finalized, including museum exhibitions and art installations and possibly additional archival releases. Densmore -- who played with Krieger during February of 2016 in Los Angeles for a "Stand Up to Cancer" benefit on what would have been Manzarek's 77th birthday -- says he'd also like to see some sort of performance be part of the celebration. "The Doors 60th at the Hollywood Bowl would be quite wonderful," Densmore says of the venue where the group recorded and filmed a concert during July 1968 (and returned in 1972, after Morrison's death in 1971). "Willie Nelson did his 90th birthday at the Bowl, so it'd be wonderful to have something like that -- me and Robby would play a little bit here and there, and there'd hopefully be lots of wonderful artists that would show up for that. I'd love to see something like that happen." - Billboard, 10/8/24...... Johnny Neel, a songwriter and former member of the Allman Brothers Band and the Dickey Betts Band, has died at age 70 of as yet undisclosed causes. One of his former bandmates, Warren Haynes, confirmed the news of Neel's death in a heartfelt post on Facebook. "Aside from being an amazing musician and singer, Johnny was one of the funniest people on the planet -- a true character... There was always music in his head. It was his savior. Whenever we were writing together, he was an endless fountain of ideas, and the same on stage or in the studio.... we had a lot of fun times and created a lot of beautiful memories. Hence the stories. Johnny's music and his legend will live on forever. Miss you Neely." Born on June 11, 1954 in Wilmington, Delaware, Neel joined the ABB on keyboards and harmonica in 1989 and worked with the group on the 1990 album, Seven Turns, on which he co-write four songs including the hit single "Good Clean Fun." He also co-wrote "Maydell" from the group's final album, 2003's Hittin' the Note. - Billboard, 10/8/24...... Cissy Houston, a Gospel music legend and the mother of Whitney Houston, died on Oct. 7 while under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease. She was 91. Cissy Houston -- born Emily Drinkard -- began her musical career in 1938 as part of the vocal group the Drinkard Four alongside her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky. She then formed a group called The Sweet Inspirations in 1963 with her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The Sweet Inspirations later provided backing vocals for the likes of Dionne Warwick (also Cissy's niece), Otis Redding, recorded on tracks like Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl," Jimi Hendrix's "Burning of the Midnight Lamp," Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way," and in 1969 backed Elvis Presley during his Las Vegas residencies. Rebranding herself Cissy Houston and venturing into a solo career in 1970, Ms. Houston quickly grew to be a prominent name in gospel music, but would also lend her voice to R&B, soul and disco projects. She won two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album; once in 1997 and again in 1999. She also recording backing vocals for the likes of Chaka Khan, Paul Simon, Beyoncé and more. She would also provide live backing vocals for her superstar singing daughter Whitney for a short period of time, and had appeared in several of Whitney's music videos and films. Following Whitney's death in 2012, Cissy released a memoir in which she revealed new information about her late daughter's substance abuse issues and that she was "angry she died alone." "Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives," her daughter Pat Houston said in a statement. "A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts." - NME, 10/8/24.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Dolly Parton announced on Oct. 4 that she's donating a total of $2 million to aid relief efforts for the recent Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of her native east Tennessee along with Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The Country Music Hall of Famer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee apeared at a press conference at a Walmart parking lot in Newport, Tenn. to reveal she's donating $1 million of her own money, and add another $1 million for relief efforts through her various business enterprises, such as Dollywood and Dolly Parton's Stampede. "I'm sure a lot of you wondering where I've been," Parton, 78, said during the event. "Everybody's saying, 'Where's Dolly?' Well, I've been like everybody else trying to absorb everything going on, trying to figure out all the best ways to do this." She added, "I look around and I think, 'These are my mountains, these are my valleys, these are my riversthese are my people, and this is my homeI just want you to know, I am totally with you, I am part of you, I love you." Also appearing at the event was Walmart president/CEO John Furner, who pledged his corporation's charity foundation would add upwards of $10 million toward relief efforts. Parton has previously donated millions to help relieve flooding in Middle Tennessee in 2021, COVID vaccine research at Vanderbilt University on 2020, and wildfire relief in east Tennessee in 2016. - Billboard, 10/4/24...... Paul Simon took to Instagram on Oct. 7 to update fans about his near-total hearing loss condition in his left ear, which he first revealed in 2023. The veteran singer-songwriter said he hadn't "accepted" his hearing loss but was in the process of finding a new solution which would help him return to the stage, but that he's now "optimistic" about a live return. In another interview with The Guardian, he explained that he is "hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert" and is "optimistic" after performing seven songs with two guitarists at a fundraiser for the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, his longest performance in five years. However, he did say that "six months ago I was pessimistic" and that it was a "scary, frustrating" feeling to lose his hearing. In 2023, the "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover" singer revealed that he had suddenly lost the majority of his hearing in his left ear while recording his 15th studio LP Seven Psalms. In 2018, Simon embarked on his "Farewell" tour and played what was billed as his final concert at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, N.Y. Reflecting on the show in the same interview, the musician shared that it was "an act of courage to let go" and went on to describe the "natural end" of performing as "a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating and something of a relief." - New Musical Express, 10/7/24...... During a recent reader interview in The Guardian, David Gilmour swore that he'll never work with his former Pink Floyd bandmate Roger Waters again, saying he avoids people who "support genocidal and autocratic dictators." Asked by a fan if he'd ever perform again on stage with Waters, Gilmour said "absolutely not." Then, in a pointed attack seemingly aimed at some of Waters' more controversial comments in recent years about the war in Ukraine and his seeming support of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and authoritarian Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, Gilmour took aim at the bassist/singer. Waters has frequently stirred controversy with his political views about Israel and the war in Ukraine. His comments about the government of Israel led to his record company, BMG, dropping the Floyd co-founder and solo performer earlier in 2023 after Berlin police opened an "incitement to public hatred" investigation into the musician, who had scheduled a concert in the German capital, over Holocaust victim Anne Frank imagery, also wearing a costume resembling the Nazi SS soldier uniform. Water denied the claims, writing on X, writing "The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms. Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated." Gilmour and Waters have been at odds since the bassist split with the group in 1984, trading barbs in the press as Waters continues to tour and perform Floyd music alongside his solo material, while the Gilmour-led Floyd ceased touring in 1994. - Billboard, 10/4/24...... In related news, former Roxy Music member and veteran producer Brian Eno shared an open letter on Instagram on Oct. 7 imploring the International Criminal Court to "exercise the mandate it has been given to prosecute war crimes" against Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas terrorists, who attacked the country one year ago. Eno and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis wrote that the ongoing military campaign from Israel "amounts to a well-planned, fully-fledged genocide." According to Reuters, Palestinian health authorities have said Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 people. The attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 killed over 1,200 people. "Israel retaliated with overwhelming military force," Eno continued. "A year on the carnage continues, resulting in at least 50 thousand Palestinian deaths so far, and no sign of an end... If this is allowed to happen without any serious reaction from the rest of the world we will have sacrificed any right to the moral high ground and given the nod to any other state that wants to behave in a similar fashion. So, in the following letter we are appealing to the International Criminal Court to exercise the mandate it has been given to prosecute war crimes." Eno has been a vocal force amid the ongoing atrocities, and joined forces with Nadine Shah, Maxine Peake and more in performing at a special benefit event in support of Palestine at London's Union Chapel in April, with all proceeds going to Amos Trust's emergency appeal for Gaza. - NME, 10/7/24...... It's not exactly a shocker, but Bruce Springsteen endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Vice Pres. Kamala Harris in an Instagram post on Oct. 3. "We are shortly coming up on one of the most consequential elections in our nation's history," he explains in the video, in which the liberal "Born in the U.S.A." star is seen at the bar of what appears to be a diner. "Perhaps not since the Civil War has this great country felt as politically, emotionally and spiritually divided as it does at this moment. It doesn't have to be this way. The common values, the shared stories that make this a great and united nation are waiting to be rediscovered and retold once again. That will take time, hard work, intelligence, faith and women and men with the national good guiding their hearts." He continued that what makes America "great" are values that Harris believes in -- "freedom, social justice, equal opportunity, the right to be in love with who you want," he shared, before adding that Donald Trump "is the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime." He concluded by noting that his right to vote is "one of the most precious possessions I have," and that he respects everyone's "choices" as a fellow American citizen. The Boss's endorsement was praised by Harris' VP running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. "Wow. As a lifelong fan of The Boss, I couldn't be more honored to have his support," Walz wrote on X the following day along with a repost of Springsteen's plainspoken video. Springsteen is among a long list of A-list stars who've lined up to support the Harris/Walz campaign, joining Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Lil Nas X, Barbra Streisand, Ariana Grande, Stevie Nicks, Cardi B, Katy Perry and many more. - Billboard, 10/3/24...... During the 2024 Harvest Moon benefit gig in Lake Hughes, Calif. on Oct. 5, Neil Young and Stephen Stills joined forces to perform their song "Hung Upside Down" for the first time in 57 years. To start the collaboration, the two former Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Buffalo Springfield bandmates broke out a rendition of the title track from their collaborative 1976 album Long May You Run, before continuing with "Human Highway." The latter was originally meant to be released as part of CSNY's Deja Vu album, but instead was released on Young's 1978 solo LP Comes A Time. From there, the two turned heads by playing the Buffalo Springfield song "Hung Upside Down" for the first time in 57 years. Originally released in 1967, the song hadn't been played live since Buffalo Springfield's heyday. "The worst four words you can hear in a live performance are 'here's a new song'. But this is actually a new version of an old song that took two centuries to write. It's called 'Hung Upside Down'," Stills said before the rendition. Other tracks the two performed together included "Helplessly Hoping," "Helpless," "Field Of Opportunity," "Love The One You're With" and more. The event helped to raise funds for the Bridge School and the Painted Turtle Camp. The former is a non-profit organisation for children with severe speech and physical impairments, while the latter was formed by Paul Newman, and looks to give opportunities to children who are faced with life-threatening and chronic illnesses. The appearance with Stills came as the two reunited in 2023 to pay tribute to late bandmate David Crosby. It marked their first on-stage appearance together in four years. - NME, 10/7/24...... As the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame prepares for its class of 2024 induction ceremony on Oct. 19, the Cleveland-based hall and museum revealed on Instagram on Oct. 4 that Ozzy Osbourne's solo career induction will feature the likes of Jelly Roll, Jack Black, Billy Idol, Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde. "I don't know what to think. I'm still in shock that I'm getting inducted for a second time," Ozzy, who was previously enshrined with Black Sabbath in 2006, told Rolling Stone. Ozzy said having the country singer Jelly Roll on board makes perfect sense. "Who doesn't love Jelly Roll?," Ozzy said. "His voice is soulful, pure, and dirty. I'm so honored that someone would do this for me who I've never had the pleasure of meeting." it is unknown if Osborne -- who retired from touring in 2023 following a series of serious health issues over the past few years -- will perform at the event that will also feature the inductions of Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Peter Frampton and Kool & the Gang. The 2024 RRHOF induction ceremony will livestream on Disney+ on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. ET. ABC will air a primetime special featuring the evening's biggest moments on Jan. 1, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, which will be available on Disney+ and Hulu on Jan. 2. Meanwhile, Osbourne admitted that he is "not completely sober" and has been "tempted" to use "stronger drugs" due to his ongoing health issues" in a recent appearance on the Madhouse Chronicles Podcast. His full interview can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 10/4/24...... Elvis Costello has announced a new boxset reissue of his 1986 album King Of America. The record, and this expanded deluxe version, is a celebration of Costello's love of American music, and was originally recorded with producer and Americana legend T Bone Burnett. It will feature a total of 97 tracks and a 35-page essay written by Costello, illustrated with never-before-seen photographs from Costello's tours from the era. The 57-page booklet will also be housed in a 12" x 11.5" package, complete with cover art by Terence Donovan. In conjunction with the boxset, Costello has shared a cover of the new release's track "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line," a 1968 track originally recorded by Waylon Jennings, on YouTube. The recording was captured live at the Royal Albert Hall in London when Costello played a six-date residency at the venue in early 1987. Recorded with backing band The Confederates, it has never been made available before. The full 1987 Royal Albert Hall concert is included in the boxset, as is a disc of demos and three discs of albums from throughout Costello's career that are also inspired by traditional American music. - NME, 10/5/24...... Streams of Kris Kristofferson songs have skyrocketed nearly 2,300% following the death of the beloved country legend on Sept. 28 at age 88. Kristofferson's official on-demand U.S. streams reached nearly 1.9 million in total for his catalog on Sept. 30, a jump of 2,292% from the 79,000 total his discography had amassed the prior Monday (Sept. 23), according to Luminate. A big chunk of that number of course went to "Why Me," Kristofferson's lone No. 1 hit on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and his biggest crossover hit (No. 16) on the Billboard Hot 100, with the song rising 1,442% over the same timespan. Meanwhile, The Highwaymen -- the outlaw country supergroup which counted Kristofferson among its members -- also saw a serious spike in listening, gaining 229% to 725,000 streams. And though they were performed by other artists, a couple of the most famous hits he wrote also saw more modest gains: Janis Joplin's Hot 100-topping "Me and Bobby McGee" was up 19% to 110,000 streams, and Sammi Smith's "Help Me Make It Through the Night" was up 56% to 11,000 streams. - Billboard, 10/3/24...... Paul McCartney debuted a live performance of what has been billed as the "final" Beatles song during the kickoff of his marathon South American leg of his Got Back tour in in Montevideo, Uruguay on Oct. 1. Sitting at a piano as the AI-assisted Peter Jackson-directed video for the song unspooled behind him, McCartney, 82, crooned the melancholy ballad whose wistful chorus found him singing, "Now and then/ I miss you/ Oh, now and then/ I want you to be there for me/ Always to return to me." According to Setlist.fm, McCartney's sprawling 37-song, nearly three-hour setlist at Estadio Centenario included a mix of Beatles classics ("A Hard Day's Night," "Getting Better," "Blackbird," "Something," "Helter Skelter") and Wings hits ("Junior's Farm," "Let Me Roll It," "Let 'Em In," "Jet"). "Now and Then" debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in Nov. 2023, marking the group's historic 35th top 10 entry. The song was billed as the last-ever song by the group that split in 1970. It was first recorded as a demo in 1977 by the late John Lennon and was originally slated to appear on one of the editions of the band's Anthology series before being shelved due to the poor quality of the original recording. Fan shot footage of the performance can be viewed on YouTube. In other Beatles-related news, a 60th anniversary vinyl reissue of the Fab Four's 1964 A Hard Day's Night LP has been announced for Oct. 19 in celebration of National Album Day. It will come in the form of a limited edition 180g white pressing. Released as the Beatles' third studio album, A Hard Day's Night also served as a partial soundtrack to the band's first film of the same name and includes its titular track and "Can't Buy Me Love" which both became transatlantic No. 1 singles for the group. In still more Beatles news, a new documentary titled 1964 is coming to Apple TV+ this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the group conquering the United States. The film will reportedly document the band's rapid rise in American culture, including new interviews and archival footage of the band's shows. The news comes after the announcement in September that a new boxset comprised of the US versions of the band's albums in 1964 and 1965 would also be coming out on Nov. 22 via Apple Corps Ltd., Capitol and UMe. The 180-gram audiophile vinyl have been made from the original mono master tapes. - Billboard/NME, 10/3/24...... On Oct. 2 The Eagles announced more dates for their 2024 and 2025 residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. The gigs, which kicked off on Sept. 20, feature ticket prices beginning at $175. Since kicking off its run of concerts on Sept. 29, 2023 with the first of 40 shows by U2, the 18,000-seat immersive venue has drawn rave reviews for its 160,000-square-foot wraparound 16K LED screen and seat-shaking array of more than 1,500 speakers. The full list of Eagles dates can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 10/2/24...... Former Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert is slamming what she calls "apalling" Little House reunion events, claiming organizers misled attendees into believing she was participating when she was not. The cast of the beloved period drama recently announced that they would no longer support or appear at fan events produced by Jack Bishop and Gravel Road Markets, and now Gilbert, who played writer Laura Ingalls Wilder on the series, is tearing into the allegedly mismanaged events. "From what I understand, it became a waking nightmare," Gilbert said of an event in Pennsylvania in a new interview with People magazine. "They ran [out of] food. He oversold tickets. He didn't pay the vendors." Gilbert said that the events were "a shocking affront to the fans of Little House on the Prairie," adding, "If I were the owner of the IP, I would be infuriated because I think it really sheds a terrible light on the brand." Gilbert and more than a dozen of her Little House costars, including Karen Grassle (Caroline Ingalls), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) and Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle), announced on Sept. 6 that they had cut ties with Bishop's company, citing "disappointing events in Connecticut and Pennsylvania." The cast said they asked Bishop to remove their names and likeness from any promotional assets for future events, which were scheduled to take place in Tennessee, South Dakota, Missouri, and Texas. "This decision was not made lightly but with compassion, concern, and great respect for the well-being of our multigenerational fans," they wrote in their statement. Then, on Oct. 1, the cast released another joint statement accusing Bishop of failing to comply with their wishes and "refusing to announce the cancellation" of future Little House events, claiming that Bishop is listing the castless events as "sold out" rather than canceled. "Mr. Bishop appears to be taking advantage of Little House fans by failing to inform them and his ticket vendor, Eventbrite, that the Little House cast has permanently ended our relationship with him," they wrote. "This misrepresentation of event status has likely confused ticket buyers and complicated the process of requesting refunds." With a cast led by former Bonanza actor Michael Landon, Little House on the Prairie debuted on NBC on Sept. 11, 1974, running for nine seasons before wrapping on Mar. 21, 1983. - Entertainment Weekly, 10/5/24.

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Sony Music announced on Oct. 2 that they've bought the recorded music assets, merchandising and name, image and likeness of Pink Floyd for $400 million, however the band's music publishing assets were not a part of the deal. Since the group started shopping its recorded music assets about two years ago, the assets were shopped to all the big players -- BMG, Concord, Primary Wave and other private equity-backed music buyers -- but Sony always had the inside hand on the deal given that it serves as the group's distributor. For a while, the assets were pulled off the block due to some infighting between group members, according to published reports. This deal marks the third big music asset deal Sony has made in the last 12 months, having previously bought 50% of Michael Jackson's music assets in a deal that valued them at $1.205 million; and Queen's music assets for about $1.2 billion. - Billboard, 10/2/24...... To celebrate one of the UK's most innovative and influential bands of the rock and roll era, Britain's Royal Mail revealed on Oct. 3 that a set of 60th anniversary The Who stamps are available for pre-order at www.royalmail.com/thewho and by telephone on 03457-641-641. The eight stamps feature images of some of the band's most popular and iconic album covers: My Generation (1965); Tommy (1969); Who's Next (1971); Quadrophenia (1973); Who Are You (1978); Face Dances (1981); Endless Wire (2006); and WHO (2019). Completing the set is a miniature-sheet featuring two publicity group shots and two images of the band's dynamic live performances at the Marquee Club, London, in 1967 and the Kings Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, in 1973. Commenting on the honor, frontman Roger Daltrey said: "The artwork on the album sleeves was almost as important to the success of the record as the music. It's great to be reminded of them," while guitarist Pete Townshend said: "Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! It's what I've done on stage all my life, sometimes in the air. At last, my stamping, and that of my buddy Roger, has been honoured properly, and will help letters, parcels and birthday cards travel through time and space, just as we have." The Who become the seventh music group to feature in a dedicated Royal Mail stamp issue -- following on from: The Beatles (2007); Pink Floyd (2016); Queen (2020); The Rolling Stones (2022); Iron Maiden (2023); and The Spice Girls (2024). - Music-News.com, 10/3/24...... A producer who worked on Fleetwood Mac's legendary 1977 album Rumours is suing the creators of the hit Broadway play "Stereophonic," claiming they stole material from his memoir about working on the legendary album. In a lawsuit filed on Oct. 2 in Manhattan federal court, Ken Caillat and co-author Steven Stiefel call the Tony Award-winning show an "unauthorized adaptation" of their 2012 book Making Rumours -- and accuse "Stereophonic" playwright David Adjmi of "flagrant and willful infringement." "'Stereophonic' copies the heart and soul of Making Rumours," attorneys for the two men write in their complaint. "The striking similarity is readily apparent right from the beginning of the show." Featuring the music of Arcade Fire's Will Butler, "Stereophonic" debuted on Broadway last fall, eventually winning five Tony Awards including best play, best direction of a play and best featured actor in a play. Critics quickly noted the similarities to the infamous story of the recording session for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, which featured high tensions and heavy drug usage. A reviewer for the Wall Street Journal said the play was "fictionalizing Fleetwood Mac"; another critic said the play "isn't literally about Fleetwood Mac, but c'mon." The case presents tricky legal questions. Under U.S. law, historical events cannot be monopolized under copyrights, and nobody can claim exclusive ownership over the real story behind the making of Rumours. But specific creative elements of how such a story is told can be protected by copyrights, and film, TV and stage producers often license non-fiction books as the basis for their works. In their case, Caillat and Stiefel claim that Adjmi copied those exact kinds of creative choices when he created his play: "'Stereophonic''s audience not only sits in the same place that Mr. Caillat sat, but the show also depicts Mr. Caillat's wild ride as it is described in Making Rumours." - Billboard, 10/2/24...... Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton has shared details of his first shows with a new band called Close Enemies. News of the new band comes as Aerosmith confirmed that their days of touring had come to an immediate end, following frontman Steven Tyler seriously injuring his voice at a gig. "Hey, I need to tell you something about a band I'm playing with called Close Enemies. We have a bunch of good songs recorded. We're going to release one soon," Hamilton posted on X/Twitter. "Meanwhile, we're doing a show in Nashville on October 11 in Nashville at a place called Eastside Bowl. Please come!" The rest of the Close Enemies line-up is comprised of drummer Tony Brock (The Babys), singer Chasen Hampton, and guitarists Peter Stroud and Trace Foster. Aerosmith's final ever live show took place at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. in Sept. 2023. It was held as part of their 'Peace Out' tour, which began last year, but only saw the band play three nights, before rescheduling the rest of the dates after Tyler injured his larynx. - NME, 9/30/24...... Frankie Valli has "cleared the air" after viral videos of him at recent shows sparked concern from fans. Footage of the Four Seasons legend, who turned 90 this year, performing during his recent concerts appeared to show him lip-syncing while displaying difficulty keeping up with the music. A series of videos circulated on social media over the weekend, with many expressing concern over his wellbeing. "I love Frankie Valli but this isn't right," one person shared on Twitter, with another calling it "a tough watch." Now the singer has told People magazine that "I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone forcing me to go on stage." "I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air," he said. "I am blessed to be 90 years old and still be doing what I love to do and as long as I am able, and audiences want to come see me, I am going to be out there performing as I always. I absolutely love what I do. And I know we put on a great show because our fans are still coming out in force and the show still rocks. How do we do the show?! The Four Seasons sound was always about layering vocals and instruments. We use our 60 years of experience so we sound like the records. I sing, I have singers who sing, great arrangements & everything. I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone forcing me to go on stage. Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn't want to do." The "Grease" singer concluded: "I plan to be doing shows as long as I can, delivering that great Four Seasons sound. Like that line in 'Jersey Boys,' I'm like that bunny on TV, that just keeps going and going and going. Chasing the music." In August, a representative for Valli dismissed claims that the singer was having health problems, telling the New York Post: "Frankie is doing just fine and super happy to still be performing. The audiences are filling venues and listening to some great music. Frankie is doing what he loves to do at 90. We should all be so lucky." Valli is still actively touring and has a string of US dates planned throughout the rest of 2024 and into 2025. - NME, 10/1/24...... Speaking at the premiere of his new career-spanning documentary Elton John: Never Too Late on Oct. 1, Elton John joked with the crowd that "To be honest with you, there's not much of me left." "I don't have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don't have a prostate, I don't have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee," the Rocket Man said. "In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip. But I'm still here." John went on to credit his fans and his family for his ongoing career, calling them "the people that made me". "I want to thank David, Zachary and Elijah for making me the happiest man in the world," he said. "I found complete and utter happiness and bliss when I met David [Furnish], and when I had my children, our children. And it satisfied me so much. I've never felt happiness like I have now." Elton John: Never Too Late follows the musician as he reflects on his life and 50-year career as he prepared for his final North American stadium show at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in Nov. 2022, which was also livestreamed on Disney+. The film is due to premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 13 worldwide, and will reportedly "pull back the curtain" on the singer's life, featuring "never-before-seen concert footage of him over the past 50 years, as well as hand-written journals and present-day footage of him and his family." The official trailer for the film can be streamed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 10/2/24...... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band announced on Oct. 1 that they've added eight new shows to their previously-rescheduled European jaunt -- including concerts in England, France, Germany and Spain. The newly-confirmed dates kick off May 17 with the first of two nights at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. All told, Springsteen and Co. will play 12 dates on their 2025 run of the U.K. and Europe, including previously-rescheduled shows in Marseille, Prague and Milan, which were initially called off in May on doctor's orders, as the rock legend recovered from "vocal issues." The announcement of new dates follow the world premiere of the Thom Zimny-directed documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which arrives Oct. 25 on Hulu and Disney+. - Billboard, 10/1/24...... Late soul music legend Otis Redding will be honored posthumously with a star the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 a.m. PT at 6150 Hollywood Blvd. Redding's star is in the category of live theatre/live performance. Five-time Grammy-winning producer (and previous Walk of Fame honoree) Jimmy Jam will emcee the star ceremony. Accepting the award will be the singer's daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews. "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honored to dedicate a star to the legendary Otis Redding, whose music continues to inspire generations," Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies, said in a statement. Redding has long been regarded as one of the greatest soul singers in popular music history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 1999. After releasing a slew of hits between 1964 and 1967, Redding played at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967. But less than six months later, on Dec. 10, 1967, he died in a plane crash in Madison, Wisc. en route to a concert. He was just 26. His deeply moving posthumous single, "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay," shot to No. 1 in early 1968 on the pop and R&B charts. - Billboard, 9/27/24...... Emmylou Harris will receive the ASPCA Henry Bergh Award at the 2024 Humane Awards for her passionate commitment to animal welfare. In 2004, Harris established Bonaparte's Retreat with the goal of rescuing shelter dogs. Bonaparte's Retreat continues to save dogs most in need at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control and at municipal shelters in surrounding counties. She is also a board member of Crossroads Campus, a nonprofit that transforms lives by creating opportunities for individuals facing poverty and homelessness to care for homeless dogs and cats. Harris has recorded 32 studio albums since her debut on tiny Jubilee Records in 1970, received Billboard's Century Award in 1999, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2018. She has aalso massed 13 Grammy Awards, including album of the year for her featured role on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, and won three CMA Awards, again including album of the year for that Billboard Hot 200-topping soundtrack.- Billboard, 9/30/24...... Following news the death of Kris Kristofferson at the age of 88 on Sept. 28, tributes have poured in from some of the biggest names in the music industry, honoring the legendary songwriter and actor whose influence spanned decades. Barbra Streisand, who co-starred with Kristofferson in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, spoke of the qualities that made Kristofferson not just a talented performer, but also a deeply respected figure in both music and film. "The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A., I knew he was something special," Streisand wrote on Instagram. "Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born." In the film, the duo performed "Evergreen," the love theme that Streisand herself had composed for the movie. The song (with lyrics by Paul Williams) went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, becoming a hallmark of their collaboration. Streisand fondly recalled the magic of their musical partnership: "In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I'd written for the film's main love theme, 'Evergreen.'" Meanwhile Dolly Parton, who also shared a close friendship with Kristofferson, posted "What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you." in an Instagram post. Kristofferson and Parton performed duets such as "From Here to the Moon and Back" and "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" over the years. Other country artists posting tributes to Kristofferson include Reba McEntire, Travis Tritt, Eric Church, Roseanne Cash and rock & roller Sammy Hagar, who shared a photo on Facebook of the two fishing together. "heynow old friend. I hope the fishin's good where you're going," Hagar wrote. "we're all gonna miss you. RIP" - Billboard, 9/30/24...... On Sept. 30 Neil Young shared details of a limited edition of his classic 1974 album On the Beach to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Set to arrive on Nov. 8 via Reprise, the new version will come exclusively on a limited edition clear vinyl. It'll be available via the Neil Young Archives, as well as standard music retailers. On The Beach came as the follow-up to Young's chart-topping Harvest album, which was shared two years earlier, and it marked the second entry in his "Ditch Trilogy." It featured collaborations from The Band's Rick Danko and Levon Helm, Crazy Horse's Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina and his longtime CSNY collaborators Graham Nash and David Crosby. "This was Young at his most adventurous, and pointed to several new musical directions for him, yet to be defined," reads a press release, recalling how 'On The Beach' saw the singer-songwriter hit a new milestone in his career. - NME, 9/30/24...... On Sept. 30 Billy Joel announced new UK live shows for next year which will mark his only European tour dates for 2025. The first will be take place at Edinburgh's Scottish Gas Murrayfield on June 7, marking his first time playing in the city for 46 years. The second is scheduled for June 21, when Joel will head to Liverpool's Anfield Stadium to perform his first gig in the city for 45 years. The two exclusive UK shows come just days after the Piano Man took to social media to announce a string of new tour dates across America. Kicking off at the start of the New Year, the run of shows begins with an opening gig in Florida on Jan. 17, and is followed by shows in Indiana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and many more across the first half of 2025. - NME, 9/30/24...... Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant revealed on Sept. 26 that his daughter has been diagnosed with "brain mass" and that four forthcoming Skynyrd shows would not be going ahead as Johnny, 63, would be leaving the tour to be with his daughter following an "emergency illness." Van Zant says his youngest daughter Taylor has been diagnosed with brain mass, an abnormality often associated with a tumour. Johnny said that doctors do not believe the mass is cancerous, but tests are ongoing, he added: "We are not out of the woods yet, but we are in a lot better position than we thought we were in in the beginning." The musician also revealed that his longtime tour bus driver, Brad Gibson, is currently in intensive care following a freak accident on a scooter. Johnny took over frontman and songwriting duties from his late brother, Lynyrd Skynyrd founder, Ronnie Van Zant, when the band was revived in 1987. The elder Van Zant was killed along with two other group members Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie Gaines, in a plane crash in 1977. - Music-News.com, 9/30/24...... The English post-punk band Gang Of Four have announced their 2025 US farewell tour set to kick off next early next spring. They will be performing their classic 1979 debut album Entertainment! in its entirety as well as a handful of fan favourites and deep cuts from their discography. The tour will commence on Apr. 20 2025 at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville, Massachusetts. From there, the group will make stops in cities such as Montreal, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Witchita, Seattle, San Francisco and more before wrapping on May 29 2025 at the Music Box in San Diego, Calif. All the farewell tour dates can be viewed in their Instagram post. Elsewhere, Gang Of Four will be releasing a remastered edition of their third album, 1982's Songs of the Free on vinyl. The pressing is set for release on October 25 via Matador Records. - NME, 10/2/24...... Prince's "Purple Rain" house has been listed on the popular rental site Airbnb.com. The singer's former bandmates will allow paying guests to stay at the Minnesota property for the first time, with only 25 one-night stays available. Newly restored, the property features extravagant interiors boasting velvet wallpaper, mirrored ceilings and even a golden toilet, with Prince's former Revolution bandmates Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman explaining they wanted to pay tribute to his 1984 movie, Purple Rain. "Purple Rain is the greatest movie of all time. This is not opinion, this is fact," the women wrote in the property's Airbnb listing. "Now, 40 years after the movie's release, we're bringing it back to life. Not only did we lock down The Kid's unforgettable childhood home, but we also restored the interior to a new level of glory. The whole place is a tribute-nay, a shrine-to both the movie itself and the moment in time that launched Prince into the stratosphere." One night at the Purple Rain house will cost guests just $7 (£5.24). Visitors will also have the opportunity to discover a "secret door" to a hidden "room filled with treasures" in the house, as well as see some of Prince's most famous stage costumes. Prince died in 2016 from a self-administered Fentanyl overdose, with his death ruled an accident by the medical examiner. - Music-News.com, 9/27/24...... Baseball great Pete Rose died of natural causes which stemmed from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease on Sept. 30 at his home in Las Vegas. He was 83. Diabetes also was cited as a contributing factor, according to the findings of the Clark County coroner. Mr. Rose was one of the most controversial figures in baseball for decades. The 17-time all-star holds the major league record for hits with 4,256. He also earned two Gold Gloves and won three World Series championships during his 24-year career, spent mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. However, he was banned from the sport in 1989 for betting on baseball, which made him ineligible for enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame. While he spent years denying the allegations, Rose ultimately owned up to his mistake in 2004, but insisted that he had never bet against his own team. Major League Baseball released a tribute to Rose following his death, but did not mention his ban. "Major League Baseball extends its deepest condolences to Pete Rose's family, his friends across the game, and the fans of his hometown of Cincinnati, Philadelphia and beyond who admired his greatness, grit and determination on the field of play. May he rest in peace," the league said in the statement. Mr. Rose was reportedly in good spirits the day before his death, spending Sunday with fellow members of the Reds' World Series teams from 1975 and 1976. A photo from the Facebook page of the Music City Sports Collectables and Autograph Show showed Rose in a wheelchair along with former teammates Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Sr. - Canoe.com, 10/2/24...... It was revealed on Oct. 1 that John Amos, the Emmy-nominated actor who starred as the stoic father on the Norman Lear-developed '70s sitcom Good Times, died Aug. 21 in Los Angeles of natural causes, his son, K.C. Amos, announced. He was 84. "He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father," K.C. said in a statement. "He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor." Mr. Amos played football at Colorado State University and had training camp tryouts with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League, before seeing his showbiz career take off after he landed a gig to play WJN-TV weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The New Jersey native received his Emmy nom for portraying Toby, the older version of Kunta Kinte, on the acclaimed 1977 ABC miniseries Roots, and he had a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on NBC's The West Wing. After showing up a dozen times as the good-natured Gordy on the first four seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the barrel-chested Amos was invited to read for the part of James Evans Sr., the husband of Esther Rolle's Florida Evans and father of their three kids, on a new CBS series, Good Times. The 1974-79 show, created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by Norman Lear, was set in an inner-city Chicago apartment located in the projects. It was the first sitcom to center on an African-American family. Amos starred on the show for three seasons, but he soon disapproved of the silly, stereotypical storylines that surrounded their oldest son on the series, J.J. -- played by the comic Jimmie Walker -- and he went public with his criticism, which led to his firing from the landmark sitcom for objecting to stereotypes and admittedly letting his temper get the best of him. "I wasn't the most diplomatic guy in those days, and [the show's producers] got tired of having their lives threatened over jokes," he said in an interview. "So they said, 'Tell you what, why don't we kill him off? We can get on with our lives!' That taught me a lesson -- I wasn't as important as I thought I was to the show or to Norman Lear's plans." Mr. Amos also had a career on the big screen, beginning with Melvin Van Peebles' blaxploitation classic Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971), and he played the manager of a McDonald's-like restaurant who hires an African prince (Eddie Murphy) and his right-hand man (Arsenio Hall) in Coming to America (1988). John Alan Amos Jr. was born on Dec. 27, 1939, in Newark, N.J. His father drove a tractor-trailer and worked as a mechanic, and his mother, Annabelle, was a housekeeper who eventually went back to school and became a nutritionist. At East Orange High School, Mr. Amos drew cartoons and wrote columns for the school newspaper, played a convict in a production of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" and was a star running back. - The Hollywood Reporter, 10/1/24.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, who wrote such country-rock standards as "Me and Bobby McGee," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and later became an A-list Hollywood actor, died at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Sept. 28. He was 88. With his long hair, bell-bottomed slacks and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he represented a new breed of country songwriters, along with such peers as Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall. "Kris brought it kind of from the dark ages up to the present-day time, made it acceptable and brought great lyrics -- I mean, the best possible lyrics," Nelson told 60 Minutes in a 1999 segment about Mr. Kristofferson. "Simple but profound." Born in Brownsville, Tex., on June 22, 1936, Mr. Kristofferson received a Ph.D. from Pomona College where he played football and became a Golden Gloves boxer. He received a master's degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford in England, and after becoming a U.S. Army pilot, turned down an appointment to teach English at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to pursue songwriting in Nashville after a meeting with Johnny Cash. Hoping to break into the industry, he moved to Nashville in 1965 worked as a part-time night janitor at Columbia Records' Music Row studio in 1966, at the same time Bob Dylan was recording tracks for his seminal Blonde on Blonde album. His break came in 1969, when Cash gave "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" to Roger Miller who made it a country hit. Mr. Kristofferson appeared on Cash's TV show, and Cash also had a hit with "Sunday Mornin'." Mr. Kristofferson was a singer himself, releasing his debut album Kristofferson in 1970 on the Columbia-distributed label Monument, but many of his songs were best known as performed by others. In March 1971, Janis Joplin recorded a version of "Bobby McGee," which went to No. 1 on the pop charts. Joplin, who had a close relationship with Mr. Kristofferson, changed the lyrics to make "Bobby McGee" a man and cut her version just days before she died in 1970 from a drug overdose. The recording became a posthumous No. 1 hit for Joplin. Around the same time Sammi Smith took his "Help Me Make It Through the Night" to No. 8 on the pop chart and No. 1 on the country chart. His 1971 album The Silver-Tongued Devil and I was a critical success and went gold, however his recording career declined the next year after 1972's Border Lord was panned. Meanwhile, an acting career took off with 1972's Cisco Pike, and two years later he appeared in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, which also co-starred singer Rita Coolidge whom he married in 1973. His other film credits include Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976), Semi-Tough (1977), Convoy (1978), and a remake of A Star Is Born in 1976 with Barbra Streisand. Mr. Kristofferson kicked a 20-year drinking problem in the late Seventies, and continued to tour and record, though with much less commercial success. He did some co-headlining shows with Coolidge until their divorce in 1980, and appeared in over a dozen films since then including Heaven's Gate (1980), SongWriter (1984) (in which he co-starred with fellow "outlaw" Willie Nelson), Trouble in Mind (1985) and Sodbusters (1994). He also starred in numerous made-for-TV movies and mini-series. Later in his career all of his major country hits were collaborative efforts with Nelson, Cash, and Waylon Jennings, including 1985's "Highwayman" (No. 1, C&W), "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train" (No. 15, C&W) and 1990's "Silver Stallion" (No. 25, C&W). His other earlier solo hits include "Why Me," "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do)," "Watch Closely Now," "A Song I'd Like to Sing" and "Jesus Was a Capricorn." Mr. Kristofferson retired from performing and recording in 2021, making only occasional guest appearances on stage. - The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll/CBS News, 9/30/24.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Billy Joel announced on Instagram on Sept. 27 that he'll play five one-night-only U.S. stadium gigs in 2025 with support from recent tour mates Sting and Stevie Nicks. The Piano Man will kick off the run on Feb. 8 in Indianapolis, then hit Syracuse, NY (4/11), Charlotte, NC (5/10), and Salt Lake City (5/23) with Sting opening all those dates; on Mar. 29 Nicks will be on hand for a concert at Ford Field in Detroit. Joel's current tour takes him to St. Louis (9/27) with Sting, followed by shows in Inglewood, CA (10/12), San Antonio, Tex. (10/25). Later 2024 concerts include stops in Las Vegas and Hollywood, FL. Earlier this summer, Joel wrapped up his historic 10-year MSG residency, which ran for 104 shows and earned $266.7 million on sales of 1.9 million tickets. Meanwhile, Sting has announced a series of UK festival and outdoor headline shows for summer 2025. The former Police frontman is due to perform headlining sets at Isle Of Wight Festival on June 20th and Latitude (June 24 to 27), along with a string of other appearances continuing into July. The performances will form part of his "STING 3.0" world tour, which he kicked off in Europe earlier in 2024, followed by the North American leg. - Billboard/NME, 9/27/24...... Speaking of Stevie Nicks, the rock icon dropped a powerful new song called "The Lighthouse" inspired by the overturning of Roe v. Wade on Sept. 27. The track opens with a melodic pinging beat and anthemic sound effects as Nicks sings softly, "I have my scars, you have yours/ Don't let them, take your power." As the song intensifies and eventually morphs into an explosive rock n' roll head-banger, the former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman encourages women to "stand up and take it back" in reference to women's rights, specifically abortion access. "They'll take your soul they'll take your power/ Unless you save it," she belts. "And that's that/ Unless you stand up and take it back." Nicks also dropped a music video for "The Lighthouse" on YouTube, which finds her singing passionately inside the lantern room of an actual lighthouse looking out onto stormy seas. It also splices in photos taken from women's rights marches. Speaking of the song, Nicks revealed that she "wrote this song a few months after Roe v. Wade was overturned" in June 2022. "It seemed like overnight, people were saying, 'What can we, as a collective force, do about this,'" she continued in her note. "For me, it was to write a song." "I have often said to myself, 'This may be the most important thing I ever do,'" Nicks added. "To stand up for the women of the United States and their daughters and granddaughters -- and the men that love them. This is an anthem." - Billboard, 9/27/24...... Ringo Starr has been forced to cancel the two final shows of the summer 2024 tour with his All-Starr Band after coming down with a cold. The group was scheduled to perform at Philadelphia's TD Pavilion at The Mann on Sept. 24 and at NYC's Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 25, however, "after consulting a doctor [Starr] was advised to cancel these two remaining shows and get rest," according to a press release. "As always, Ringo and the All Starrs send peace and love to their fans and hope to see them soon," the statement concludes, after encouraging them to contact their ticket distributor for refunds. Ringo released has latest recording, a four-track EP titled Rewind Forward, in Oct. 2023. - Billboard, 9/24/24...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, a book version of John Lennon's 1973 album Mind Games sits atop Amazon.com's bestseller list for celebrity photography after dropping on Sept. 24. The new book is giving fans an exclusive look into the making of Mind Games through never-before-seen photography, letters and lyrics written by the late artist and wife Yoko Ono. It features an in-depth look at the creation, recording and release of the album in addition to news clippings of Lennon during that period of his life, along with commentary from fellow musicians, friends, engineers and other key figures. Coinciding with the launch of the book, a deluxe 6-CD/2-Blu-ray remixed and reissued version of Mind Games is being released. - Billboard, 9/26/24...... Also releasing a new book about his farewell tour that promises to be an "epic visual journey" is Elton John. The Rocket Man is taking his final trip down the yellow brick road in Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories of My Life on Tour, which gives fans exclusive access to his record-breaking Farewell tour with never-before-seen photos and postcards from his life on the road. Each page spotlights key moments and memories from the almost five-year spanning tour, written by John himself, with a forward by Sir Elton's husband and manager, David Furnish. Meanwhile, Elton has heaped praise on the Irish band Fontaines D.C. in a new interview on his Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music. "For me, you're the best band out there at the moment," John told Fontaines D.C.'s frontman Grian Chatten. "Having watched you at Glastonbury, having heard the new album, you've just grown every album... You seem to have found your feet with this album in such a big way it's a brilliant record," he added. - Billboard, 9/24/24...... After actress Shailene Woodley revealed she's set to star in and produce a Janis Joplin on Sept. 10, her collaborator and songwriter Linda Perry told Entertainment Weekly that the documentary will be a "raw and honest" look at the last days of Joplin, who died from a heroin overdose at age 27. "I've been waiting decades for this movie to be made," Perry told the publication. "There are no words to convey how honoured I am to be included in what I believe to be a raw and honest look into Janis Joplin's last days." She continued: "Shailene Woodley's emotional commitment and dedication to Janis is inspiring. I believe her! Shailene lives for the art and I can't think of a better person to portray such a powerful, emotional, and complex artist." In a statement, Woodley said she "discovered she could sing" during preparation for the project. "California meant so much to Janis Joplin -- from the stoops of San Francisco to the wooden walls of Sunset Sound, the state became the stage upon which she explored not just the world of music, but the world of her vibrant humanity," Woodley said. - NME, 9/26/24...... Herb Alpert has released his 50th studio album -- appropriately titled 50 -- and says he "can't believe I've recorded 50 albums out there." "I've been married (to singer Lani Hall) 50 years this year. A lot of things have happened in my life that are so startling. I never dreamed of having a career like I've had. I'm certainly grateful for it." But the 89-year-old insists he's "not on a victory tour." "It's not about that. It's that I love doing it. I love to play the horn. I love to play the horn. I love playing with great musicians. I love doing it. I'm a right-brain guy; I play, I'm painting for over 50 years, sculpting for over 40. It just gives me reason to be," he says. Born in Los Angeles into a musical family, Alpert began writing songs during the late '50s and putting out records of his own, first billed as Dore (his given name) Alpert, in 1960. Since then, he's sold more than 74 million records worldwide with his Tijuana Brass band and on his own; placing 39 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 (including two No. 1s); winning eight Grammy Awards; receiving a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy; winning a Tony; getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006; and receiving the National Medal of the Arts in 2013. Alpert was also the "A" in the famed A&M Records label, which he started in 1962 with Jerry Moss. Moss passed away 13 months ago, and another of A&M's stalwarts, Brazilian keyboardist and Brasil '66 bandleader Sergio Mendes, died on Sept. 5 -- another death that hit close to home for Alpert, who signed the group to A&M and produced its 1966 debut album. It was Mendes who introduced Alpert to Hall, too, when she was part of Brasil '66. "He was an extraordinarily gifted musician. We just hit it off," Alpert says of Mendes. "He was into life. He was a very unusual guy. He's missed by everyone who came into contact with him." 50, currently the No. 1 new Jazz release on Amazon.com, features Alpert's usual mix of original compositions and covers. "I don't have a master plan for recording an album," he says. "I don't have a concept. I just take songs that I like, and when I feel it's worthy of putting out there for other people to listen to, I put out an album. But really I'm just trying to entertain myself more than anything." - Billboard, 9/26/24...... Sony Music Vision and Columbia Records announced on Sept. 26 that a new Barbra Streisand documentary will dive even deeper into the Grammy-winning diva's life than her bestselling 2023 memoir My Name Is Barbra. "For years I've been thinking about the best way to share the vast amount of content I've been safely storing in my vault. These films, photos and music masters -- many never seen or heard by the public -- hold some of my most cherished memories," said Streisand in a statement about granting the production unprecedented access to her personal archives, including hundreds of hours of never-before-seen video, photos and audio recordings, as well as personal items from throughout her career. According to the press release announcing the project, the series will "offer an intimate and comprehensive exploration of every facet of the iconic multi-hyphenate, who, in a career-spanning six decades, has excelled in every area of entertainment." It added that the access to Streisand's personal archives alongside contemporary verit will provide an "in-depth look at Streisand's star-studded past and her current artistic endeavors." A title and release date for the doc have not yet been announced. - Billboard, 9/26/24...... Neil Young suprised fans during a show at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY on Sept. 24 by performing his elusive 1977 song "Hey Babe" live for the first time ever. In 1977, Young wrote and released "Hey Babe" along with backing from Crazy Horse, Linda Ronstadt and Nicolette Larson as part of his eighth studio album American Stars 'N Bars. For the 47 years since its release, the song was just one of two tracks off the record that had never been performed live, alongside "Will To Love." Following the cancellation of a summer tour with Crazy Horse due to an undisclosed illness, the 'Rockin' In The Free World' singer returned to the stage to perform at the 2024 edition of Farm Aid at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY on Sept. 21. In June, the band released a new archival album, Early Daze. Footage of his rare performance of "Hey Babe" can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 9/26/24...... Daryl Hall is prepping for a short fall tour with '80s hitmaker Howard Jones. The eight-date tour launches in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 7, heads north to Evans, Ga., on Nov. 16, Nashville and Knoxville in Tennessee, and culminates in Atlantic City, N.J., on Nov. 23. "Howard and I get along really well, and I think he's great," says Hall. Before the tour kicks off, Hall will perform a free, private concert on Oct. 31 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Daryl's House Club venue and restaurant in Pawling, N.Y. - Billboard, 9/25/24...... Black Sabbath co-founders Tony Iommi and Bill Ward have shared a new photo together. The Birmingham natives were in their home city on Sept. 24 to attend the Lord Mayor's reception for International Birmingham Day. Iommi shared the photo on X, alongside the caption: "You just never know who you'll bump into in Birmingham!" The impromtu meeting comes in the midst of rumours about the possibility of a one-off reunion show from the band. Ward himself shared his thoughts on a potential gig in July, writing on X, "I'm in for playing some of everyone's old favourites. Loved playing them then, I'd love to play them one last time." Ward parted ways with the metal legends in 2012, citing an "unreasonable contract." He would go on to miss the band's Reunion Tour and the swansong The End Tour, which culminated in 2017. Ward's post followed Ozzy Osbourne, Iommi and Geezer Butler all expressing interest in the idea recently. - NME, 9/25/24...... The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled an eclectic list of performers and presenters for its Class of 2024 induction ceremony, set for Oct. 19 at Cleveland, Ohio's Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (not far from the RRHOF's Cleveland headquarters. Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Julia Roberts, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lucky Daye, Mac McAnally, Method Man, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Slash and The Roots will all be on hand at the ceremony, however it's not yet known which performers and presenters are attached to which 2024 Rock Hall inductees. The Class of 2024 includes Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest in the performers category. In the musical influence category, Alexis Korner, John Mayall and "Big Mama" Thornton will be inducted; all three pioneers are deceased, with Mayall dying at the age of 90 this July, just three months after his induction was announced. Additionally, Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield enter the Rock Hall in the musical excellence category. Suzanne de Passe will be given the Ahmet Ertegun Award. The event will livestream on Disney+ on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. ET. ABC will air a primetime special featuring the evening's biggest moments on Jan. 1, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, which will be available on Disney+ and Hulu on Jan. 2. - Billboard, 9/25/24...... Traffic co-founder and '70s solo star Dave Mason canceled his forthcoming US tour on Sept. 25 after being diagnosed with a "serious heart condition." Mason, 78, had been scheduled to embark on a run of solo concerts this autumn, with it recently being announced that the singer-songwriter, guitarist and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee would be forced to "miss the first couple [of] shows in Phoenix and Las Vegas" following "the advice of doctors." However, his team has since shared a statement to announce that the full tour has been axed due to health reasons. "Dave Mason has announced the cancellation of his Fall 'Traffic Jam 2024' west coast tour after doctors detected a serious heart condition during a routine appointment that requires immediate medical attention," reads a post on Instagram. "His team of doctors expect a full and successful recovery, and Mason plans to resume his touring plans in 2025." In a statement, Mason said: "I'm heartbroken to have to cancel these dates, but it's doctor's orders. I'll be back, and better than ever, in 2025." A total of 13 shows have been shelved, including concerts in Phoenix, Santa Barbara and San Diego, as well as a book sigining in Carson City. Mason co-founded the psychedelic rock band Traffic in 1967, alongside guitarist Steve Winwood, drummer Jim Capaldi and multi-instrumentalist Chris Wood. He is perhaps best known for the group's 1968 song "Feelin' Alright?," which was covered by Joe Cocker. Additionally, Mason joined Fleetwood Mac for a brief stint in the early-to-mid-'90s, and contributed to their 1995 album Time. He has also worked with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney. His 15th and latest solo studio record, Alone Together, Again, was released in 2020. Mason recently published a memoir, titled Only You Know & I Know -- which explores "his colourful, unique, and ultimately triumphant journey through a life in music." - NME, 9/25/24...... In a new interview with The Sun newspaper, Van Morrison says he will "never sing a lyric the same way twice." "I am basically a jazz singer. No matter what genre I'm working in, I'm always improvising," he said. "Jazz is always forward moving and forward looking. I learned from the Louis Armstrong school. Louis said, 'I never sing a song the same way twice.'" Morrison added he likes to sing songs that are as "relevant" today as they were when they were written. He noted: "When I do songs live, I often change lyrics here and there, bringing them up to the present." Also he admits he no longer relates to his 1967 classic "Brown Eyed Girl" and cringes when he sings it live. He confessed: "How can a 79-year-old guy sing about something he wrote when he was 20? It's basically a teenage song. I can't relate to it much now, you know." Morrison will play the Bottom Lounge in Chicago on Sept. 28, and has two shows set for the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Oct. 20 and 21. His new album, New Arrangements and Duets, features two collaborations with Willie Nelson. - Music-News.com, 9/26/24...... Just in time for the sprint to the Nov. 5 presidential election, Bruce Springsteen released the 15-track live collection The Live Series: Songs of Conscience. The collection of live performances recorded between 1981-2023 features songs that ask hard questions about where we are, where we've been and where we're going, including "This Land Is Your Land," "The Promised Land," "Born in the U.S.A.," "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)," "Souls of the Departed," "Long Walk Home," "The Rising," "Sun City" and "Last Man Standing," among others. The album can be streamed on Spotify.com. Also, the entire show of his Sept. 15 headlining slot at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, NJ is available on CD and as a stream via nugs.net. The Sea.Hear set included the tour premieres of the songs "Blinded By the Light," "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?," "Thundercrack," "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Meeting Across the River," as well as the returns of "Local Hero," "Jungleland" and "Jersey Girl." - Billboard, 9/23/24...... Journey lead guitarist Neal Schon has come to the defense of bandmate and vocalist Arnel Pineda, days after the singer told fans he will quit the band "for good" if they want him to leave following their Rock in Rio 2024 set. Earlier in September, the band performed at the Brazilian festival, where Pineda's performance was slammed by fans. This was further amplified by a Facebook video that went viral after showcasing the Filipino singer struggling to hit the right notes for "Don't Stop Believin'." On Sept. 23, Schon shared a clip from the Rock In Rio stage in hopes of clearing the situation with fans. He states that the band only found out "much later" that their PA setup was "extremely limited by Avenged Sevenfold," who were set to perform at the stage at midnight, hours after Journey's 7:00 pm slot. "That means that hardly hardly any sound can get out of the PA to the audience," he writes. "It's a bullshit move. Check out the audience. They loved it the rest of its fabricated crap." - NME, 9/25/24...... Queen guitarist Brian May shared a post on Instagram on Sept. 27 expressing his "painful decision" to resign as The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) vice president after being left with "no other option." May resigned over what he described as "appallingly bad standards of animal welfare in member farms of the RSPCA Assured scheme." "In line with the organisation's core principles," May continued, "and in the clear knowledge that supervision of the Assured scheme had failed and was continuing to fail, I feel the only acceptable policy would have been complete dismantling of the scheme. Instead, the RSPCA have tried to defend their position, and in doing so, in my view, have sacrificed their integrity." He added that "I hope that the RSPCA and Save-Me Trust can continue to fight on the same side in the future, against the agencies of abuse against animals." Meanwhile, May's wife Anita Dobson has told The Sun that her husband is "doing great -- he's on the road to recovery, he's doing really, really well" after a "minor stroke that came on all of a sudden, out of the blue" earlier in September left him without any control over one of his arms. "He's been told to rest. It's hard to keep him resting, but he needs to, otherwise he won't get well," she added. - New Musical Express, 9/27/24...... Uriah Heep announced a farewell UK tour for 2025 in an Instagram post on Sept. 24. The London-based rock band, who formed in 1969, will hit the road for the UK leg of "The Magician's Farewell" world tour next February. They are due to play headline gigs in Birmingham, Bristol, Gateshead, Glasgow, Manchester, London and Bexhill. "Under the very apt title of 'The Magician's Farewell' we will start our final journey on the road," says Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box. "This isn't going to be one of those long, dragged out goodbyes but we do intend over the next 2-3 years to play as many places possible and see you all for one last time. I want to reiterate that the band will continue to play shows as long as we can after we are done touring but these will be limited to one off festival type events and the like." Box added: "On behalf of the band and myself I want to thank you all for the continued support you have always given us and it means so much to us. Look forward to seeing you all again very soon 'Appy Days!" Uriah Heep released their debut album Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble back in 1970. Their 25th and most recent full-length record, Chaos & Colour, came out in early 2023. The band's current line-up consists of Box alongside Phil Lanzon, Bernie Shaw, Russell Gilbrook and Dave Rimmer. - NME, 9/24/24...... Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry is starring in a new campaign for Gucci. Harry, 79, is promoting the "Blondie Bag Collection." The campaign photos show her sitting with the Large Top Handle Bag, worth $6980 (£5205), in the back of a black cab, alongside a Yorkie dog. "What I like the most about Debbie Harry is her irreverence. She is a free spirit in her choices, and she is still an icon," said Creative Director of Gucci, Sabato De Sarno. "I have always been a fan of Blondie; they marked specific moments of my life and inspired generations. She is American but she has a strong connection with London." The bag isn't named after the band though; it gets its name from a Gucci design from the 70s. The campaign comes after Harry announced she was cancelling several Blondie concert dates during August and September. Blondie are working on a new album, which is believed to be set for release in 2025. - Music-News.com, 9/26/24...... ABBA singer Björn Ulvaeus has married his partner Christina Sas in a ceremony officiated by the comedian and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. Ulvaeus, who has been married twice before, met Sas in Nuremberg, Germany, in 2021 in connection with the release of his band's last album Voyage. The wedding took place in Copenhagen on Sept. 21 in the presence of close friends and family. Ulvaeus posted a number of photos from the day on Instagram, one of which showed the host of BBC show QI, Toksvig, dressed in red robes standing next to Ulvaeus and his wife Sas. ABBA originally comprised two couples -- Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, and Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Fältskog and Ulvaeus, who married in 1971, divorced in 1980, while Andersson and Lyngstad divorced in 1981 -- a year before the band split. Ulvaeus was also previously married to Lena Kallersj. Earlier this year, ABBA marked the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win with "Waterloo" by releasing a 50th-anniversary reissue of their iconic album in celebration of the milestone. - NME, 9/23/24...... Freddie Salem, former guitarist of the Florida southern rock group The Outlaws, died on Sept. 23 from complications due to cancer. He was 70. "Freddie passed from complications due to cancer and will be remembered for his outgoing personality and passion for music," reads a statement from the band posted on social media. "He first appeared with the Outlaws on the [1978] album 'Playin' To Win' and then remained in the band for the following four albums [1979's 'In The Eye Of The Storm', 1980's 'Ghost Riders', 1982's 'Los Hombres Malo' and 1986's 'Soldiers Of Fortune']." The Outlaws went on to describe Salem as "an electric performer and beloved musician and he will be missed." The late guitarist and vocalist left The Outlaws in 1983 after the group were dropped by Arista Records. He had initially stepped in to replace original member Henry Paul, who departed the line-up in 1977. However, Paul remains a current member of The Outlaws following numerous stints in the band. He is joined by Dave Robbins, Randy Threet, Jeff Aulich, Jimmy Dormire and Mike Bailey. Additionally, Salem appears on The Outlaws' 1978 live album Bring It Back Alive. Salem -- who was born in Akron, OH on May 15, 1954 -- wrote numerous other Outlaws tracks such as "Don't Stop," "White Horses," "Long Gone" and "Devil's Road." He recorded a solo album too, Cat Dance, under the moniker Freddie Salem And The Wild Cats. Elsewhere, he enjoyed a lengthy career as a session guitarist and producer. The Outlaws -- who were formed in Tampa, FL in 1967 -- have previously supported the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Who. - NME, 9/24/24...... British actress Maggie Smith, star of stage, film and Downton Abbey died on the morning of Sept. 27 in a London hospital, surrounded by loved ones. She was 89. The masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969 also gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Ms. Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said in a statement that their mother "leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother." Ms. Smith was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, with a clutch of Academy Award nominations and a shelf full of acting trophies. She remained in demand even in her later years, despite her lament that "when you get into the granny era, you're lucky to get anything." Jean Brodie, in which she played a dangerously charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher, brought her the Academy Award for best actress, and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) as well in 1969. She added a supporting actress Oscar for California Suite in 1978, Golden Globes for California Suite and Room with a View, and BAFTAs for lead actress in A Private Function in 1984, A Room with a View in 1986, and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne in 1988. She also received Academy Award nominations as a supporting actress in Othello, Travels with My Aunt, Room with a View and Gosford Park, and a BAFTA award for supporting actress in Tea with Mussolini. On stage, she won a Tony in 1990 for "Lettice and Lovage." Her work in 2012 netted three Golden Globe nominations for the globally successful Downton Abbey TV series and the films The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet. Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, on the eastern edge of London, on Dec. 28, 1934. She summed up her life briefly: "One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, one's still acting." Her father was assigned in 1939 to wartime duty in Oxford, where her theatre studies at the Oxford Playhouse School led to a busy apprenticeship. "I did so many things, you know, round the universities there. If you were kind of clever enough and I suppose quick enough, you could almost do weekly rep because all the colleges were doing different productions at different times," she said in a BBC interview. Ms. Smith was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, in 1990. She married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967. They had two sons, Christopher and Toby, and divorced in 1975. The same year she married the writer Beverley Cross, who died in 1998. - AP, 9/27/24.

Monday, September 23, 2024

The Who's Pete Townshend has revealed that he admires Taylor Swift in an interview with the What It Takes podcast. "I'm a song dreamer in a sense," he said. "So I love the great songwriters of my father's era, Gershwin and so on. And also the great songwriters of today, past The Beatles and all the rest of them to Taylor Swift." Townshend went on to praise Swift, saying: "I love what she does, too. Not that she's necessarily absolutely always to my taste, but I just love the fact that she seems to love it, that she seems to be having so much fun. That's what I identify with." Meanwhile, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's son Sean Ono Lennon has weighed in on the international pop phenom on X: "I have never been a fan of her music, although I can't think of a single song so I don't really know if I like it or not," he wrote. "But I know she is a uniquely successful American. A young woman who has done things in a way that no one has done before her." Sean also responded to former US president Donald Trump saying that he "hates" the "Shake It Off" singer after she announced her support for Trump's opponent, Vice Pres. Kamala Harris. "Hating on Taylor Swift is not a good look," Ono Lennon tweeted on Sept. 15. He continued: "A more 'presidential' or gracious criticism might have been something like 'She is a brilliant young woman. I have a lot of respect for what she has accomplished. I don't believe she knows the reality of the party she is endorsing. - NME, 9/22/24...... In other Beatles-related news, George Harrison's 1973 No. 1 solo album Living in the Material World is receiving a massive 50th anniversary boxset reissue featuring 12 previously unreleased early recordings from the album. Three versions of the re-issue have been announced: the standard edition, deluxe edition and the super deluxe edition. Approved and overseen by Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison and their son Dhani Harrison, the standard edition of the album will be available in CD and LP formats featuring a brand-new mix by Grammy-winning producer Paul Hicks. The standard edition will also be available on digital and streaming platforms. The deluxe edition will come in 2CD and 2LP formats, with 12 previously unheard and unreleased early recordings from the album's production cycle. The super deluxe edition -- which is limited to just 5,000 units worldwide -- will come with 2CDs, 2LPs, Blu-ray of Dolby Atmos, a 60-page booklet with extensive sleeve notes, photography, and artwork from the Harrison archive, as well as a 7" single of the previously unheard recording of, "Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)" featuring The Band members Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko, alongside Harrison's former bandmate Ringo Starr. To accompany the reissue's announcement, the previously unreleased and remixed "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (Take 18)" has been released. "I hope you revisit 'Living in the Material World' or discover it for the first time, and as you listen, share George's wish for himself and mankind Give me Love. Give me Peace on Earth," Olivia Harrison said in a statement, with Dhani Harrison adding: "....For those of you who are just discovering this album; This record was released in service and with deep love for all our Brothers and Sisters around the world who populate this dualistic system we live in called Earth. Peace be upon all sentient beings." The anniversary reissues are due on Nov. 15 via Dark Horse/BMG. - NME, 9/20/24...... The latest installment of Willie Nelson's Farm Aid Festival drew some 21,000 fans to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Sept. 21 for a day of celebration, activism and song. Nelson was joined by his fellow Farm Aid board members -- Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price -- on a bill with Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson with the Travelin' McCourys, Charley Crockett, Cassandra Lewis and others. New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul gave welcoming remarks before two indigenous acts -- the ensemble known as Kontiwennenh:W, from the Akwesasne community of northern New York, and the Wisdom Indian Dancers, who have performed at every Farm Aid since 1990 -- began the joyous hours of music. The first Farm Aid concert was staged on Sept. 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois. Since then, Farm Aid has raised nearly $80 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture, while also building connections in the battles against climate change and social injustice. - Billboard, 9/22/24...... A week after scoring his third solo No. 1 album in his native UK with Luck and Strange, David Gilmour has landed his first U.S. No. 1 on Billboard's 33-year-old Top Album Sales chart. Luck and Strange debuted atop the tally dated Sept. 21. The set, which also marks his third top 10-charting effort on the list, sold 30,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending Sept. 12, according to Luminate. Of Luck and Strange's first-week sales of 30,000, physical sales comprise 25,000 copies and digital download sales comprise 5,000. The album's first-week vinyl sales were bolstered by its availability across four variants, helping it debut at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart. The set was also a sturdy seller at independent record stores, with nearly 4,500 sold through that retail sector. It debuts at No. 2 on the Indie Store Album Sales chart. On the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, Luck and Strange arrives at No. 10, marking Gilmour's third top 10 set on the ranking. Meanwhile, Gilmour has told the UK's Mojo magazine that there are three classic songs by his former band Pink Floyd that he "no longer feels comfortable singing." "There are songs from the past that I no longer feel comfortable singing," he said. "I love 'Run Like Hell'. I loved the music I created for it, but all that 'You'd better run, run, run' I now find that all rather, I don't know a bit terrifying and violent." He continued: "'Another Brick In The Wall' is another one I shan't be doing. I don't think I've done that with my own band, but I certainly did it in the post-Roger Pink Floyd, against my better judgment. The same with 'Money'. I won't be doing that." Gilmour's upcoming European tour, which kicks off on Sept. 27 in Rome, includes five shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London. At the end of October, he'll travel to Los Angeles for three nights at the Hollywood Bowl, then play four nights at New York's Madison Square Garden beginning on Nov. 4. - Billboard/NME, 9/19/24...... Current Journey frontman Arnel Pineda has offered to quit the arena rock band into which he was recruited in 2007 after some fans slammed his performance during a Journey show at the Rock in Rio festival earlier in September. After a Facebook video from the show showing Pineda struggling to hit the right notes for "Don't Stop Believin'" went viral, Pineda took to Facebook on Sept. 22 to share that he's been thankful for his time with the band. He linked back to the previously mentioned video and wrote: "no one more than me in this world feels so devastated about this its really amazing how 1 thousand right things you have done will be forgotten just cause of THIS and of all the place, its in Rock In Rio." Pineda continued: "mentally and emotionally, ive suffered already, and im still suffering but i'll be ok" before offering fans the chance to vote for him to stay or leave the band: "I am offering you a chance now (especially those who's hated me and never liked me from the very beginning) to simply text GO or STAY right here and if GO reaches 1million i'm stepping out for good." However since the post went live, support for the singer has been overwhelming, with an abundance of comments calling for him to "stay." In 2020, Pineda shared new details on his upcoming biopic, which will be directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked). At the time, the film's script was being finalized, but little on its production has transpired since. The film was first announced in 2018. Journey recently quietly cancelled their UK and Ireland 50th anniversary arena tour that was meant to launch on Nov. 2 and run through Nov. 17 amid continued feuding between keyboardist Jonathan Cain and guitarist Neal Schon. - New Musical Express, 9/23/24...... The Roots drummer Questlove announced on Instagram on Sept. 21 that he will direct an upcoming documentary about Earth, Wind & Fire. Questlove says the project is slated for a 2025 release and will be the "definitive story" of the iconic R&B band. "The story of how a band led by a genius from Chicago changed our way of thinking, our minds and our hearts," Questlove wrote alongside a teaser clip. "Having been baptized in the afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I've learned about them, I've learned about us & more importantly I've learned about and rediscovered myself in the process." The rock doc will also include exclusive access to the group's archives of visual, audio and written material, along with the approval of the estate of Maurice White and the band. EWF's Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson said in a joint statement, "We look forward to this in-depth journey of our band, and are so excited to have Questlove directing the documentary." Questlove took home an Oscar for best documentary feature in 2022 for Summer of Soul, which he directed and executive produced. He is also currently working on a Sly Stone documentary. - Billboard, 9/21/24...... The long-running late-night live sketch comedy variety show Saturday Night Live (SNL), which premiered on NBC in 1975, announced the host and performer line-up for the first five episodes of season 50 in a recent Instagram post. The season premiere on Sept. 28 will be hosted by Jean Smart, with a live performance from Jelly Roll. October 5's episode will see Coldplay perform, hosted by Nate Gargatze. The following week, Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks will perform while being hosted by Ariana Grande. Nicks' Oct. 12 performance is notable as the singer last performed on the show back in 1983. - NME, 9/19/24...... David Bowie's performance at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2004 was revealed as the winner of a UK fan-voted poll on Sept. 20. The announcement was made at the launch of "Experience 25," an exhibition celebrating the festival's entire history, held at London's O2. Fans were able to vote from a long list of previous Isle of Wight Festival performances on the festival's official socials. Bowie topped a number of other iconic moments, including Joni Mitchell silencing a 500,000 strong crowd and Amy Winehouse joining The Rolling Stones onstage in 2007. Also making the list was Jimi Hendrix's last ever UK performance at the venue in 1970, and one of Fleetwood Mac's first shows as a full band since the late 1990s, in 2015. - Music-News.com, 9/20/24...... The Eagles opened their residency at the Las Vegas Sphere on Sept. 20, where state-of-the-art 2024 technology finally caught up to the band's enduring artistry and created a technicolor display worthy of their classic, illustrative songs from the 1970s and beyond. The band -- made up of Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Vince Gill and the late Glenn Frey's son Deacon Frey, as well as a team of longtime touring musicians -- was never overpowered by the Sphere's floor-to-ceiling visuals because the 20-song set made up exclusively of hits always held its own against the immersive spectacle. The band took a moment on opening night to perform a twofold tribute for fallen friends, starting out with Henley's solo hit "The Boys of Summer" for the late king of summer Jimmy Buffett, who died in Sept. 2023 at age 76, and then moving on to "Heartache Tonight" to remember the song's co-writer JD Souther, who died on Sept. 18 at age 78. "I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge a couple of people, one of whom we lost a year ago this month, Mr. Jimmy Buffett," Henley began the tribute. "We're dedicating this next song to him. And then the song we're going to do after this next song, I want to acknowledge the co-writer of that song, who we lost three days ago, Mr. JD Souther. JD, as some of you may know, played a pivotal role in the Eagles. He wasn't in the band, but he certainly co-wrote some of our biggest hits, including 'Best of My Love,' 'New Kid in Town' and the one we're going to play after this next song called 'Heartache Tonight.' So these songs go out to those boys, Mr. Buffett and Mr. Souther. Sing it so they can hear you." The band's encores included "Take It Easy," the Joe Walsh hit "Rocky Mountain Way," "Desperado" and "Heartache Tonight." After Sept. 27 and 28 dates, the band will perform four shows at the venue in October, four in November, four in December, and four in January 2025, wrapping on Jan. 25. - Billboard, 9/21/24...... Michael Jackson's estate has filed a legal action against an unnamed man who it claims has threatened to resurface ugly abuse allegations ahead of the upcoming release of a biopic about the King of Pop. Jackson's estate has filed a private arbitration case against the accuser, claiming his alleged threats violate an earlier, never-before-reported settlement over the abuse accusations. The name of Jackson's accuser and the details of his supposed allegations were not disclosed in media reports. It's unclear when the arbitration case was filed, or what exactly it alleges. The Jackson estate would not confirm the accuracy of the reports and declined to comment on the matter. The threats to go public come as the Jackson estate prepares for the premiere of Michael, a movie about the singer's life starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the titular role. The biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua, is set for release in Apr. 2025. Jackson, who died suddenly in 2009, was never convicted or held legally liable on any accusation of child molestation, but is still dogged by such allegations. Two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, continue to claim Jackson sexually abused them as children, spending the last decade pursuing civil lawsuits. And their allegations were amplified in 2019 by HBO docuseries Leaving Neverland, which laid out their claims in disturbing detail. The Jackson estate has always vehemently denied all such claims, pointing out that the singer was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial and arguing that his accusers are simply seeking monetary gain from an artist who cannot defend himself because defamation law does not extend to dead individuals. Meanwhile, Jackson's iconic "Thriller" music video from 1983 has just surpassed a billion views on YouTube. The milestone marks the King of Pop's fourth visual to join the Billion Views Club after "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "They Don't Care About Us." Directed by John Landis and boasting a voiceover from Vincent Price, the 13-minute clip premiered on MTV in Dec. 1983. The video follows Jackson watching a scary movie with his date, which ultimately leads to a ghoulish full moon transformation and some now-instantly recognizable choreography by Michael Peters that Jackson performs alongside his fellow monsters and zombies. "Thriller" is also the is the most-downloaded Halloween-themed hit of all-time, according to data from Nielsen SoundScan. - Billboard, 9/20/24...... In other Jackson-related news, the manager of Michael's iconic family band The Jacksons says that the group was "far advanced" in the process of recording and releasing their first album since 1989's 2300 Jackson Street at the time of Tito Jackson's recent death on Sept. 15 at age 70. Jacksons manager Garry Wilson says that "of course,Tito will still strongly feature" in the new album," and that "the brothers would now want the album to be a tribute to both Tito and Michael." The Jacksons have also participated "for some time" in filming a documentary series by a top production company, Wilson adds, including Tito Jackson's final show Sept. 10 in Munich. Wilson said the Jacksons' team is negotiating with "several major TV networks" on when and how the series might be released. - Billboard, 9/20/24...... To underscore the message in his new single "Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart," Stevie Wonder has announced he'll be laying 10 select dates during October in advance of the critical 2024 US presidential election in November. Produced by Wonder Productions and promoted by AEG Presents in partnership with Free Lunch, the "Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart" junket launches Oct. 8 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Calling for "joy over anger, kindness over recrimination, peace over war," Wonder has also slotted October performances in New York City (10/10); Philadelphia (10/12); Baltimore (10/15); Greensboro, N.C. (10/17); Atlanta (10/19); Detroit (10/22); Milwaukee, Wis. (10/24); and Minneapolis, Minn. (10/27). He'll wrap with the 10th performance in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 30. "I've always felt that singing and expressing love throughout our world can make a major difference -- it always has and always will," Wonder said in a statement. "Truthfully, I miss you; I miss performing. So I will be singing my songs, your songs; we will be celebrating songs and music as together we fix our nation's broken heart." - Billboard, 9/20/24...... Oprah Winfrey will host a new Elvis Presley special, The Presleys - Elvis, Lisa Marie And Riley, on CBS this fall. Oprah will tour the historic Presley estate in Memphis, Tenn., and interview Presley's actress granddaughter, Riley Keough. The interview comes more than a year after Keough's mother and Elvis' only child, Lisa Marie Presley, died on Jan. 12, 2023 at age 54 from natural causes due to the effects of a small bowel obstruction from bariatric surgery. Before she died, Lisa Marie recorded stories of life for a memoir. Keough worked to compile the recordings into a posthumous memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, which is set to be released on Oct. 8 via Random House Books, the same day Winfey's special is scheduled to air. The upcoming interview with Keough will include memories of Lisa Marie, as well as never-before-seen family photos, videos and more. The Presleys - Elvis, Lisa Marie And Riley airs Oct. 8, at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. - Billboard, 9/17/24...... Kathryn Crosby, an actress and the widow of Bing Crosby, died of natural causes on Sept. 20 at her home in the Northern California city of Hillsborough. She was 90. Appearing under her stage name of Kathryn Grant, Ms. Crosby appeared opposite Tony Curtis in Mister Cory in 1957 and Victor Mature in The Big Circus in 1959. She made five movies with film noir director Phil Karlson, including Tight Spot and The Phoenix City Story, both in 1955. Other film credits include The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Anatomy of a Murder, and Operation Mad Ball before marrying famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby. She met Bing Crosby while doing interviews for a column she wrote about Hollywood for her hometown newspaper. They were married in 1957, when she was 23 and he was 54. She curtailed her acting career after the wedding, although she appeared often with Crosby and their three children on his Christmas television specials and in Minute Maid orange juice commercials. She became a registered nurse in 1963. After Crosby's death at age 74 in 1977, from a heart attack after golfing in Spain, she appeared in stage productions of "Same Time, Next Year" and "Charley's Aunt." She co-starred with John Davidson and Andrea McArdle in the 1996 Broadway revival of "State Fair." She is survived by children Harry, Mary, an actor best known for the TV show Dallas, and Nathaniel, a successful amateur golfer. She was married to Maurice Sullivan for 10 years before he was killed in a 2010 car accident that seriously injured Crosby. - Billboard, 9/21/24...... John David "JD" Souther, known for his work as an artist, songwriter and actor, and his collaborations with artists including The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, died peacefully on Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico. He was 78. Born in Detroit on Nov. 2, 1945 and raised in Amarillo, Tex., Souther became one of the foremost musical architects in the 1970s country-rock scene. He began recording with a local group in Texas known as The Cinders; the group would release a single on Warner Bros. as John David and the Cinders. Souther released his self-titled debut LP in 1972, then teamed with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay to release the album The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. Souther followed with the 1976 solo album Black Rose, which included a collaboration with Ronstadt, "If You Have Crying Eyes." During the '70s he also forged a friendship with the Eagles' Glenn Frey and would collaborate as a writer on many of the Eagles' biggest hits, including "New Kid in Town," "James Dean," "Doolin-Dalton" and "Best of My Love." Souther also co-wrote the Eagles' 1979 hit "Heartache Tonight" alongside Frey, Bob Seger and Don Henley, and co-wrote Henley's 1989 hit song "The Heart of the Matter." Souther also wrote songs including Bonnie Raitt's "Run Like a Thief," and Ronstadt's "Faithless Love" and "White Rhythm and Blues." Souther and Ronstadt also collaborated together on songs including "Prisoner in Disguise" and "Hearts Against the Wind," which was featured in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy starring John Travolta. Souther's most well-known solo hit came in 1979 with "You're Only Lonely," which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1981, Souther nearly notched another top 10 on that chart, as his collaboration with James Taylor, "Her Town Too," reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2015, he released his final album, Tenderness. As an actor, Souther appeared in movies including My Girl 2, Deadline and Postcards From the Edge, and in television series including Thirtysomething, Purgatory and a recurring role on Nashville. Souther was honored with one of songwriting's highest honors, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, in 2013. The Eagles paid tribute to Souther on Sept. 18 in a heartfelt message posted on their official website: "We have lost a brother, a friend and a brilliant collaborator, and the world has lost a great songwriter, a pioneer of the Southern California sound that emerged in the 1970s," the veteran country rock band wrote. "J.D. Souther was smart, talented, well-read, and in possession of a wicked sense of humor. He loved a good meal, a good movie, and a good Martini and he loved dogs, adopting many, over the course of his lifetime. We mourn his loss and we send our condolences to his family, his friends, and his many fans around the world. He was an extraordinary man and will be greatly missed by many. Adios, old friend. Travel well." Souther had been set to launch a new tour with Karla Bonoff on Sept. 24 in Phoenix. He is survived by two sisters, his former wife and her daughter, as well as his dogs Layla and Bob, as well as many colleagues within the music community. - Billboard, 9/18/24.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

A source close to Elton John has told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column that the superstar has finished work on his 32nd studio album which he's quietly been working on all year, but plans to release it are now up in the air because the 77-year-old singer is battling a serious eye infection that has left him with limited vision. "The initial plan was for a Christmas release and to end the year on a high with the new album and his new documentary," the source said, referring to the new rock doc Elton John: Never Too Late. "But his health has meant things are up in the air," the source added. "A few people are surprised that Elton has managed to complete it by the end of the summer, but now it has officially been handed in." - Music-News.com, 9/15/24...... A report in Variety says that Pink Floyd is reportedly in "advanced" talks to sell their music catalog at a price that's apparently between $400 million and $500 million. Variety claims that the deal has been complicated in recent years due to former Floyd bassist Roger Waters' political statements, most recently against Israel and Ukraine. In response, guitarist David Gilmour had attacked Waters with claims of anti-Semitism. In a new recent interview with Rolling Stone, Gilmour spoke about selling the band's catalog. "To be rid of the decision making and the arguments that are involved with keeping it going is my dream," he said, adding that it's mainly to do with "getting out of the mud bath" -- one that's likely referring to Waters' controversial and outspoken views. Meanwhile, Gilmour is celebrating his third solo No. 1 album in his native UK with Luck and Strange. The musician's fifth studio collection now joins On An Island (2006) and Rattle That Lock (2015) in a trio of solo chart-toppers. Luck And Strange also tops the Official Vinyl Albums Chart. - NME, 9/14/24...... Despite initially claiming that her son Elijah Blue Allman's life would "be at risk" if left to his own devices, Cher has given up her attempt to take over control of his personal affairs, including his finances. Cher applied for conservatorship of Elijah, whose father is the late Gregg Allman, in 2023 when she claimed he could not properly take care of himself or "manage his own financial resources" because of his alleged struggles with drug abuse. In court documents, Cher claimed "any funds distributed to Elijah will immediately be spent on drugs... leaving [him] with no assets... and putting [his] life at risk." In response, Elijah acknowledged he had "struggled with addiction and spent money in ways that have not always been the most responsible" in the past, he was now "clean and sober." Now in a recent court hearing, Cher's lawyer Gabrielle Vidal said the singer and her son had "privately resolved this matter" via mediation. He later told People magazine that "Mr. Allman's team successfully defended the bid, resulting in Cher voluntarily dismissing her petition. "This outcome allows the parties to focus on healing and rebuilding their family bond, a process that began during mediation and continues today," he added. In other Cher-related news, the diva has confirmed she'll be headlining the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Oct. 15 in Brooklyn, New York. Cher will be headlining the brand's first big runway showcase in six years -- and she'll be leading a lineup of all-women artists for the first time ever. The iconic fashion house shared the news on Instagram with a video of the 78-year-old superstar singing her 1998 No. 1 hit "Believe," giving fans a taste of what she'll bring to the VS runway this fall. "It's a woman's world, so it's understood that you can't have a fashion show without the mother of fashion herself @Cher!" the caption reads. Victoria's Secret canceled the program -- which featured the world's most recognizable models walking the runway in lingerie and avant-garde angel wings -- after the 2018 show amid growing backlash to the brand's lack of inclusivity and perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards. In 2019, parent company L Brands stated its desire to "evolve the marketing of Victoria's Secret" in the show's absence. This year, supermodel Gigi Hadid will once again walk for VS alongside another seasoned Angel, Tyra Banks. And the wings will also be making a grand return. "We've read the comments and heard you," the company wrote on Instagram in May. - Music-News.com/Billboard, 9/14/24...... The assets of the legendary Los Angeles recording studio The Record Plant, where Michael Jackson, Prince, Lady Gaga and dozens of other music superstars made classic albums for decades, has been purchased by veteran producer Rafa Sardina in a bankruptcy hearing. Sardina, a Grammy-winning producer who has worked with Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Sheryl Crow, among others, purchased the studio's assets for $500,000, taking over ownership of dozens of speakers, sound boards, microphones, cassette decks, CD recorders and other valuable sound equipment that was the heart of the studio for decades. Founded in 1968, the Record Plant has been the standard for music production due to its high-end equipment and an emphasis on service and luxury that made rock megastars feel like they were in their own homes. Thanks to perks like a hot tub room, stars such as John Lennon and Fleetwood Mac literally took over studio rooms in the studio's early days; after it moved to its current location on North Sycamore Avenue in Los Angeles, Beyoncé rented every room to make her album Lemonade and Kanye West and Pharrell rode motorized scooters through the hallways. Sardina interviewed successfully at Record Plant early in his career before deciding to work at a different studio. A lower bid, according to court documents, came from Italian producer Patrizio Moi, who has occupied a Record Plant studio room known as Digi-Plant since 2014. He offered $50,000. Moi has said he hopes to take over the studio and run it as if it never closed, however that will be harder to do so now that the studio's high-tech equipment is likely to be removed. - Billboard, 9/16/24...... It appears it's "R.I.P. R.E.O." Members of REO Speedwagon took to Instagram on Sept. 16 to announce that their upcoming U.S. dates will be their last due to intractable conflicts between the two longest-tenured members -- vocalist/keyboardist Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall. "Bruce has intended to be Back On the Road Again by now," the statement reads. "If it were up to just him, he'd be back on tour & but it's not up to just him." Hall has been off the road recuperating from back surgery while REO was touring with Train this summer. The message also noted that Cronin also "never had any intention" of leaving the band, but that things came to a head over unexplained stressors, leading to the difficult decision to call it a road day. "Due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin. So, it is with great sadness that we announce REO Speedwagon will cease touring effective January 1, 2025," they announced. "[Keyboardist] Neal [Doughty], Kevin, and Bruce thank their fans for all their years of loyal support and for giving back to the band such wonderful memories that will remain with each of them forever." Train and REO launched their 44-date co-headlining Summer Road trip on July 8 and wrapped it up on Sept. 11; only Train peformed at the latter show in Phoenix due to Cronin's illness. The band recently had to cancel shows in Chula Vista, Calif. and Phoenix, Ariz. after Cronin was felled by an undisclosed illness. The group has a final round of headlining dates slated to kick off on Sept. 27 at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif. before playing what will now be their swan song on Nov. 23 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. REO Speedwagon formed in Champaign, Ill. in 1967 with an initial lineup featuring lead singer Terry Luttrell and a rotating roster of guitarists, releasing three albums with as many lead vocalists before Cronin joined in time for 1972's R.E.O./T.W.O. LP; Cronin split before 1973's Ridin' the Storm Out album. After sitting out three additional studio albums, Cronin returned for the 1976 incarnation of R.E.O., which set the stage for their breakthrough with 1978's punny You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish. But it was 1980's High Infidelity that cemented their reputation as AOR radio soft rock gods thanks to Hot 100 charting hits "Keep On Loving You" (No. 1), "Take It on the Run" (No. 5), "In Your Letter" (No. 20) and "Don't Let Him Go" (No. 24). The band released six more albums, including their final original studio effort, 2007's Find Your Way Home. A holiday album, Not So Silent Night & Christmas with REO Speedwagon, was released in 2009. - Billboard, 9/17/24...... Heartbreakers Beach Party, a long-lost Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers documentary that was also notably the directing debut of Oscar-winning director Cameron Crowe, is set to finally be screened in cinemas this fall with a new restoration. Crowe filmed and completed the project, which depicts the band recording and promoting their fifth album Long After Dark, in 1983. In a press statement Crowe reveals the film never made it to cinemas in the 1980s. "The fact that it was yanked from MTV after only one airing at 2:00 A.M. just shows that it was indeed an outlandish feast for fans in all the best ways," he says. The film will be released in cinemas worldwide on two days only: Oct. 17 and 20. Crowe says he was reunited with 16mm reels of the film, which were long thought to be lost for decades, earlier in 2024. "Heartbreakers Beach Party occupies a special place in my heart," says Crowe. "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers leaned into the making of the film with a kind of hilarious music-filled honesty that still feels fresh forty years later. It was also my first experience as a director. Thanks to Adria Petty and the Petty Estate, along with our co-filmmakers Danny Bramson, Phil Savenick, Doug Dowdle and Greg Mariotti, I'm so happy we're bringing it back in all its reckless glory," he adds. Meanwhile, the Long After Dark album will be reissued in October as a double disc and contains seven recordings that remained unreleased up until now. These include Petty's "Never Be You," which became a chart-topping hit for Rosanne Cash in 1984, as well as "Don't Make Me Walk the Line" and "Ways To Be Wicked." The latter was released as a single by Lone Justice in 1985. - NME, 9/14/24...... In a conversation with Billboard's "Behind the Setlist" podcast, KISS frontman Paul Stanley teases that the band's digital future is "beyond anything" anyone else has contemplated. After the culmination of The End of the Road Tour in December, KISS began the year with the sale of its name and likeness and plans to live eternally in the digital world. Details are scarce, but the band has said the virtual performance should launch in Las Vegas in 2027. Although Stanley didn't say exactly how KISS will carry its legacy into the future, he and fellow KISS co-founder Gene Simmons have typically ambitious goals. In April, KISS sold its name and likeness rights to Pophouse, the Swedish company that helped build ABBA Voyage around virtual versions of ABBA's four members made to look decades younger. Although those early generations of avatars wowed audiences, KISS isn't content to replicate the previous models, says Stanley. "We're creating something that's not a concert," he explains. "The idea of a hologram -- and it's not a hologram, but that term seems to get thrown around a lot -- but the idea a simulated concert is not what we want to do. Frankly, I would find that boring." Stanley's full interview can be streamed on Spotify.com. In other KISS news, Gene Simmons has said Oasis fans are "entitled to f--- off" if they're unhappy with Ticketmaster's dynamic pricing plan. Tickets went on sale for a highly anticipated reunion between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher at the end of August and officially sold out within a few hours. However, the entire process was far from smooth, with millions flocking to try to grab tickets and many being left disappointed after several issues cropped up. Another sore point came as dynamic pricing was used; a process which sees prices hiked up due to high demand. Now, following the whole debacle, various other figures from the music industry have weighed in on the situation, and shared whether or not they support the idea of 'dynamic pricing' being used for live music events. Interviewed by Forbes magazine, Simmons said those upset witht he prices are "entitled to f---- off." "You have the ultimate power, supply and demand," he began, referring to disappointed fans. "Whatever the pricing is, is all academic. Somebody sits in a room and tries to figure out how far the rubber band can stretch. And if you're not selling tickets, guess what happens? The price goes down. Capitalism!" Earlier in the interview, the KISS bassist was asked about his thoughts on the Britpop legends, having previously been "a bit wishy-washy on them" in the past. Simmons revealed he was now a "big fan" of the band...."it's brilliant marketing, whether by hook or by crook, whether it's by accident or plan... All the great pairings: [John] Lennon and [Paul] McCartney, [Mick] Jagger and [Keith] Richards, they all turn on each other after a while, then they get back together again! It always works [out] good for them because, again, people want to hear those songs! hey've got lots of fans and they'll do great. Good luck! More power to them." KISS, the band performed the final show of their farewell tour in New York last December, and told fans that they were looking at designing an ABBA Voyage-style live show that would see them take to the stage as avatars. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 9/16/24...... Judas Priest kicked off their latest North American tour in Montreal on Sept. 13. The heavy metalers are continuing their support for their 2024 album Invincible Shield, two months after a sojourn in Europe that concluded in July at Istanbul, Turkey. The setlist for the night saw a mix of Invincible Shield and fan favourites across nine classic albums, including "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," "Breakin' the Law," "Love Bites" and "Devil's Child," encoring with "The Hellion"/"Electric Eye," "Hell Bent for Leather" and "Living After Midnight." On the same day, the band issued the 50th anniversary edition of Rocka Rolla, which features a brand new mix by longtime collaborator and producer Tom Allom. The effort sprang from the band learning in 2022 that the owner of label Gull Records -- which released the band's first two albums Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny -- was keen to sell them the master and publishing rights for the albums. The remixes are now available to stream on digital platforms, with vinyl and CD copies arriving on Nov. 22 - NME, 9/14/24...... Ted Nugent has responded to Pearl Jam's recent anti-gun cover of Nugent's song "Stranglehold" after the grunge rockers briefly covered the song during a show on Sept. 12 in Baltimore's CFG Bank Arena. Frontman Eddie Vedder ad-libbed the "Stranglehold" lyrics: "I don't own a gun/ I don't ever want to own a gun/ I don't own a gun, never want to own a gun," after guitarist Mike McCready played it's iconic opening riff. Vedder didn't comment beyond that, instead opting to launch straight into "Even Flow." However, longtime gun rights advocate Nugent caught wind of it and made his own statement on social media, taking to X to write: "hey Eddie join me on my RAV [Real America's Voice show] spirit campfire to discuss how your insane liberal policies have created an explosion in engineered violent recidivism while you fight to disarm helpless innocent citizens." In 2021 -- despite homicides in the US rising by 30 per cent in 2020 over the previous year -- the outspoken conservative musician claimed America didn't have a gun problem and blamed a "failed court system" that too easily allows for criminals to be released. Pearl Jam, on the other hand, have been vocal about resisting increasing gun violence. in 2018, they debuted the new single "Can't Deny Me," and dedicated it to the Parkland students who had been campaigning for gun control since the fatal Florida shooting on Feb. 14 that year. Nugent would go on to say the Parkland shooting survivors were "pathetic" and had "no soul." - NME, 9/14/24...... Bob Dylan has treated fans to a live performance of "All Along the Watchtower" for the first time in six years, opening his show at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio with the 1967 classic. "Watchtower," which appears on Dylan's eighth studio album, John Wesley Harding -- has been covered by various artists throughout the years but is mainly associated with guitar god Jimi Hendrix and his electrifying rendition which was recorded with the Jimi Hendrix Experience for their third studio album, 1968's Electric Ladyland. Released only six months after Dylan's original, Hendrix's cover became a Top 20 hit the same year it was released and received a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 2001. Dylan first performed "All Along The Watchtower" live at the launch of his reunion tour with The Band on Jan. 3, 1974. Since then, it has become his most played track, racking up a total of 2,285 times performed live. His performance of the song has been referred to as "a cover of a cover" due to his influence of Hendrix's version. His Cuyahoga Falls rendition of "Watchtower" can be viewed on YouTube. Meanwhile a new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, is set for release in the US on Christmas Day, while it receives a UK release sometime in January. - NME, 9/13/24...... Country singer Tommy Cash, who was the younger brother of Johnny Cash, died on Sept. 14 of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 84. Tommy's passing came just one day after the 21st anniversary of Johnny's 2003 death from compliations of diabetes. Born in Dyess, Ark., on April 5, 1940, Tommy followed the artistic path of his older brother, enlisting in the U.S. Army and workingas a radio DJ for the Armed Forces, and later performing as a musician with Hank Williams Jr.'s band. His solo music career began to take off after scoring his first record deal in 1965. Three years later, he released his debut album, Here's Tommy Cash, and scored his first top 10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs in 1970 with "Six White Horses," a tribute to John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. The track, which reached No. 4, was later covered by country great Waylon Jennings. Tommy scored two more top 10 hits on Hot Country Songs in 1970 with "Rise and Shine" and "One Song Away." He went on to perform as a musician over the decades, teaming up with his big brother Johnny on "Guess Things Happen That Way" in 1990. Tommy scored two more top 10 hits on Hot Country Songs in 1970 with "Rise and Shine" and "One Song Away." He went on to perform as a musician over the decades, teaming up with his big brother Johnny on "Guess Things Happen That Way" in 1990. - Billboard, 9/14/24...... Tito Jackson, one of the founding members of the legendary Jackson 5, passed away on Sept. 15 after reportedly suffering a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. He was 70. Born Toriano Adaryll Jackson on Oct. 15, 1953, in Gary, Indiana, Tito was an integral part of the Jackson family's musical dynasty. He, along with his brothers Michael, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie Jackson, formed The Jackson 5 in the 1960s. They were later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Tito's rhythm guitar work and the harmonies of his brothers helped the group achieve meteoric success, culminating in their signing to Motown Records in 1968. Their debut single, "I Want You Back," became an instant sensation, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as did their subsequent hits "ABC" and "I'll Be There." While his younger brother Michael often dominated the spotlight, Tito's steady presence as a musician and performer was crucial to the band's success. The Jackson 5's 1969 debut album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, marked the beginning of their chart-topping career, with numerous tracks from that era becoming cultural staples. In the 1970s, the group rebranded as The Jacksons after leaving Motown. Tito continued to perform and tour with his brothers through the 1980s, contributing to albums like Destiny and Triumph, both of which saw significant success on the Billboard Hot 200 and R&B charts. Beyond his work with The Jackson 5, Tito pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Tito Time in 2016. His single "Get It Baby" reached No. 19 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. Tito is survived by his three sons, Taj, Taryll, and TJ, who formed their own musical group, 3T, and by his numerous grandchildren. His ex-wife Delores "Dee Dee" Martes passed away in 1994. - Billboard, 9/16/24.

Friday, September 13, 2024

Queen have announced a newly mixed, mastered, expanded reissue of their 1973 self-titled debut album will arrive on Oct. 25. Titled Queen I, the boxset comes with six CDs and 1 LP, and contains 63 tracks with 43 brand new mixes. The song "Mad The Swine" -- originally absent from the 1973 release -- has also been reinstated to its original place in the running order. It was absent from the original LP following a difference of opinion between the band and one of its producers, however, it is now reinstated as the album's fourth song. A 108-page book containing handwritten lyrics and memorabilia also accompanies the release. Arriving Oct. 25, the reissue has been remixed and restored by Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua Macrae and Kris Fredriksson to fit in with the sound that the band always wanted it to have. - NME, 9/11/24...... Although Eric Clapton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on three different occasions, he had some choice words to say about the Cleveland-based hall and museum in a new interview with the UK's The Real Music Observer. Speaking of his own inductions, he said "I came to that thing, whatever it is... I think of it as a frat boys club that happened to lure [me] in. I think the fact that they had [former Atlantic Records president and Hall Of Fame chairman] Ahmet Ertegun was the ticket for me. He was doing it for people like Ruth Brown and The Drifters, all those early Atlantic artists that were being forgotten. And then, it just kind of started to snowball." Although he had his reservations due to the involvement of Rolling Stone magazine, he said his friend and The Band member Robbie Robertson was involved with it too, and persuaded him to do it. However, he made it clear that he wasn't happy with many of the Hall Of Fame's decisions, saying, "The fact that someone like J.J. [Cale] has never even been suggested is proof of what that thing is or proof of what it isn't. It's not like he'll ever come up. It's not their thing. I don't know what their thing is. But he's too anonymous for those guys." When it was mentioned that Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers hasn't been inducted -- he's turned it down in the past -- Clapton said, "He's a rebel. It's not a place for rebels. It's establishment stuff." Clapton's full interview can be streamed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 9/12/24...... Apple Corps Ltd., Capitol Records and UMe have announed that a new Beatles vinyl box set comprised of their 1964 American albums will be released on Nov. 22 to celebrate 60 years of global Beatlemania. Seven albums by the iconic band originally compiled for U.S. release between Jan. 1964 and Mar. 1965 by Capitol Records and United Artists have been analogue cut for 180-gram audiophile vinyl from their original mono master tapes. Titled The Beatles: 1964 US Albums In Mono, the set's reissues feature faithfully replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts containing essays written by American Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer. The albums' new vinyl lacquers were cut by Kevin Reeves at Nashville's East Iris Studios, and the box set collects the seven albums. All of them -- except the narrated 2-LP The Beatles' Story -- will also be available individually. A trailer for the new release has been shared on YouTube. - NME, 9/12/24...... In other Beatles-related news, Oasis are reportedly in talks with Ringo Starr's son Zak Starkey for the drummer's role in their upcoming reunion tour, which Oasis members Liam and Noel Gallagher announced recently. Zak played with Oasis previously from 2004 until 2008, taking over from Alan White. Chris Sharrock played with the band for the final year before they split in 2009. Starkey left the band after a falling out with Noel, reportedly over his ongoing commitments with The Who. Meanwhile, Zak's famous drummer band is currently touring the US with his All-Starr Band, with dates in La Vista, Neb., on Sept. 13; Medford, Mass. on Sept. 19; Uncasville, Conn. on Sept. 21; and Philadelphia on Sept. 25. - Music-News.com, 9/8/24...... Days after Taylor Swift finally threw her support for Democratic presidential nominee Vice-Pres. Kamala Harris, Linda Ronstadt posted a missive to her Instagram account on Sept. 11 also giving the Harris/Tim Walz ticket her endorsement, but not before writing a scathing screed directed at former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who had announced plans to hold a rally on Sept. 12 in a Tucson, Ariz. hall named after Ronstadt. "It saddens me to see the former President bring his hate show to Tucson, a town with deep Mexican-American roots and a joyful, tolerant spirit," Ronstadt, who included a photo of her holding a kitten, writes. She continued: "I don't just deplore his toxic politics, his hatred of women, immigrants and people of color, his criminality, dishonesty and ignorance -- although there's that. For me it comes down to this: In Nogales and across the southern border, the Trump Administration systematically ripped apart migrant families seeking asylum. Family separation made orphans of thousands of little children and babies, and brutalized their desperate mothers and fathers. It remains a humanitarian catastrophe that Physicians for Human Rights said met the criteria for torture." Ronstadt, whose father was of Mexican descent, goes on to further castigate Trump, closing with "Trump first ran for President warning about rapists coming in from Mexico. I'm worried about keeping the rapist out of the White House." The "You're No Good" singer then went after Trump's running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance: "I raised two adopted children in Tucson as a single mom. They are both grown and living in their own houses. I live with a cat. Am I half a childless cat lady because I'm unmarried and didn't give birth to my kids? Call me what you want, but this cat lady will be voting proudly in November for @kamalaharris and @timwalz." Also giving her support to Vice-Pres. Harris shortly after the Swift endorsement was Stevie Nicks. "As my friend @taylorswift so eloquently stated, now is the time to research and choose the candidate that speaks to you and your beliefs," Nicks wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of herself with her tiny canine. "Only 54 days left until the election," she continued. "Make sure you are registered to vote! Your vote in this election may be one of the most important things you ever do." Similar to Swift, who signed her own endorsement "Childless Cat Lady" -- a dig at Democrats previously made by Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance -- Nicks stamped her post with "Childless Dog Lady." The "Edge of Seventeen" singer's message comes amid a whirlwind 24 hours for the Harris-Walz campaign, which saw Harris debate Trump for the first time on Sept. 10. Shortly afterward, Swift gave her highly anticipated seal of approval on Instagram, writing that she was supporting the former prosecutor because "she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them." - Billboard, 9/11/24...... The final figures for Billy Joel's historic 10 1/2-year residency at New York's Madison Square Garden (MSG) are in. "Billy Joel at The Garden" earned $266.7 million and sold 1.9 million tickets over 104 shows since launching 2014, according to Billboard Boxscore. He played one show at MSG every month except for June 2017 and Dec. 2022, with a year-and-a-half hiatus due to COVID-19, from Mar. 2020 through Oct. 2021, plus Jan. 2022 in the height of the first Omicron wave. Joel's 2014 shows averaged $2 million per show, steadily creeping up to $2.5 million by 2019. Joel's final MSG show topped the entire run, bringing in more than $5 million from 18,576 tickets on July 25. That's more than double the sub-$2 million revenue from the opening show on Jan. 27, 2014. Ultimately, "Billy Joel at The Garden" is the third-highest grossing concert residency in Billboard Boxscore history, passing U2's brief-but-powerful opening run at Las Vegas' Sphere. - Billboard, 9/11/24...... Talking Heads' iconic film Stop Making Sense is set to return to cinemas in the UK and Ireland in an IMAX format. The Jonathan Demme film will be screened across 300 IMAX locations across the two countries on Oct. 2 as part of the ongoing celebrations of its 40th anniversary. Stop Making Sense previously came back into cinemas earlier in 2024. Last year, A24 Studios released a remastered 4K version of the 1984 movie on the big screen to mark its 40th anniversary. Talking Heads members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison also reunited at a special screening as part of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. - NME, 9/11/24...... '70s/'80s hitmakers Toto have announced they'll headline a UK and European tour in 2025. The L.A.-based Toto, whose hit singles include "Africa" and "Hold The Line," will hit the road on Feb. 1 at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, with performances also at arenas in Birmingham (Feb. 2), Manchester (Feb. 4) and London (Feb. 5). From there, Toto will head to Europe for gigs in Brussels, Paris, Zurich, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and other locations throughout the month and into early March. Joining founding members Steve Lukather (guitar/vocals) and Joseph Williams (vocals) on the tour will be Greg Phillinganes (keyboards/vocals), Shannon Forrest (drums), John Pierce (bass), Warren Ham (horns/percussion) and Dennis Atlas (keyboards/vocals). Christopher Cross is set to support the group at the concerts. Toto released their 14th and final studio album, Old Is New, in 2018. The are also scheduled to return to Brazil for the first time in 17 years, at Soa Paulo on Nov. 24 and Rio De Janeiro on Nov. 26. - NME, 9/11/24...... The elusive Janis Joplin biopic became closer to reality on Sept. 10, as actress Shailene Woodley announced she has received a commitment for a $2.49 million tax credit from the California Film Commission for the film. "I have a feeling Janis would be smiling ear to ear, zipping down the PCH in her psychedelic Porsche knowing her story is bringing opportunities and funding to the city and people that held so much significance to her," Woodley, who will star in and produce the film, said in a statement. "Thank you to the California Film Commission's Film & Television Tax Credit Program -- myself and the other producers on this project believe California is the only place to film a slice of Janis's life with authenticity and truth -- and we are so grateful to have received the green light to do so!," she added. The Joplin biopic from Temple Hill qualified for just under $10 million in production expenditures for a 30-day shoot in California, according to the state's film commission. Joplin died in 1970 at age 27 and a biopic of the legendary singer has yet to be produced, but not for a lack of trying. Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel, P!nk and Melissa Etheridge, among others, were earlier on board to play Joplin in movies that never got to production. - The Hollywood Reporter, 9/10/24...... Heart has rescheduled their first tour in five years after sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson were postponed due to Ann's recent cancer scare. Sharing an animated video set to the group's 1975 hit "Crazy on You," Heart broke the news of the band's return to the road via Instagram on Sept. 9. "We can't wait to resume the Royal Flush Tour in 2025!" the group wrote, directing fans to buy tickets on Heart's website. "We hope to see all of you good people there!" The new string of shows kicks off Feb. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas, followed by over a month of arena shows across Los Angeles, Phoenix, Boise, Montreal, Ottawa and more. As of now, the run ends Apr. 5 in Quebec. - Billboard, 9/9/24...... Sting has released his first new music since his 2021 album The Bridge. The former Police star has shared "I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)," which boasts a blues beat inspired by Bo Diddley's 1955 single "Bo Diddley Beat," and sees him sing, play bass and guitar. Sting's new trio, dubbed STING 3.0, features Dominic Miller on guitar, Chris Maas on drums and Martin Kierszenbaum on organ. The band headlined BBC's Radio 2 In The Park concert in Preston, England, on Sept. 7, and will kick off a North American tour on Sept. 17 and 18 at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit, Mich. - Music-News.com, 9/5/24...... A&M Records and UMe announced on Sept. 9 that a new collection of holiday classics by the Carpenters will be released on Nov. 1. Titled Christmas Once More, the newly remixed and remastered 16-track collection is personally curated by Richard Carpenter and includes fan favorites such as "Merry Christmas Darling," featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, "Sleigh Ride" and "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays." The album title is a play on the title of the duo's 1973 pop smash "Yesterday Once More," which was later used as the title of a 1985 hits collection by the duo. The Carpenters have been associated with Christmas since 1970, the year they burst to stardom with "Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun." That holiday season, they released "Merry Christmas Darling," a nostalgic Richard Carpenter-Frank Pooler ballad that reached No. 1 on Billboard's annual Christmas Singles lists in 1970, 1971 and 1973. The song, which can be streamed on YouTube, remains a classic, and ranked No. 41 on Billboard's 2023 list of the 100 Best Christmas Songs of All Time. - Billboard, 9/10/24...... Primary Wave Music and Prince Legacy, two companies with ties to Prince's assets, released a statement on Sept. 9 in response to reports of an unreleased documentary accusing the late musician of physical and emotional abuse. "Those with the responsibility of carrying out Prince's wishes shall honor his creativity and genius," the statement reads. "We are working to resolve matters concerning the documentary so that his story may be told in a way that is factually correct and does not mischaracterize or sensationalize his life. We look forward to continuing to share Prince's gifts and celebrate his profound and lasting impact on the world." On Sept. 8, a lengthy report from the New York Times Magazine revealed that an unreleased nine-hour documentary from O.J.: Made in America filmmaker Ezra Edelman featured interviews with dozens of Prince's former business partners, lovers, friends and associates which included multiple allegations of physical and emotional abuse. The article chronicled a dense back-and-forth between the film's production team and Prince's estate in a battle over the documentary's release. Per NYT, the project has been in development with Netflix for nearly five years. - The Hollywood Reporter, 9/10/24...... David Gilmour is on track to claim the No. 1 spot on this week's U.K. Official Albums Chart midweek update with his latest release, Luck and Strange. If the album maintains its lead, this would be the ex-Pink Floyd singer/guitarist's third solo chart-topper, following Rattle That Lock in 2015 and On an Island in 2006. Meanwhile, Gilmour has shared his thoughts on the upcoming Oasis reunion shows, and said that bands should "stick to" a set price for tickets. Tickets for the Oasis reunion went on sale at the end of August and officially sold out within a few hours. However, the entire process was far from smooth, with millions flocking to try to grab tickets and many being left disappointed after several issues arose, including Ticketmaster's "dynamic pricing policy," which sees prices hiked up due to high demand. Speaking with ITV News, Gilmour said: "I think Oasis should do exactly what they want to do. I'm not sure about this strange ticketing thing that's going on. They should put a price on tickets and stick to it." Gilmour performed his first live gig in four years at an East Sussex pub's open mic night on Sept. 9, performing alongside his daughter Romany Gilmour at The Neptune Live Music Bar in Hove, East Sussex. Footage of the performance can be checked out on X. - Billboard, 9/10/24...... Bruce Springsteen's wife and E Street Band member Patti Scialfa opens up about her recent battle with blood cancer in the new documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 8. Scialfa reveals she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in 2018, which resulted in her dialing back her public appearances and performances with husband Springsteen's E Street Band over the past few years. "This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go," she says in the film that looks at the relationship between the 74-year-old rock icon and his longtime bandmates. "Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that's been a treat. That's the new normal for me right now, and I'm OK with that." Scialfa, 71, who has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984 as a backing vocalist and guitarist -- and married Springsteen in 1991 -- was not on hand for the premiere, although her famous rocker husband was, and also participated in a post-screening Q&A. In addition to being a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, Scialfa has also released three solo albums. Fans have noted her absence on stage during the E Street Band's current stadium tour, which is the group's first major outing since 2016. Road Diary, an intimate look at the rock band's current world tour and the unique backstage dynamic between the players, will stream on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Oct. 25. The trailer can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 9/9/24...... Also in Toronto promoting a new film was Elton John for his new Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. During the film festival, the Rocket Man revealed to reporters that a "severe" eye infection has left him with "limited vision" in one eye. "What's happened with my eye has been very distressing," he said. "Because I'm used to getting out in the morning, looking at all the newspapers, looking at the charts, looking at everything, how the world is doing creatively. And I've lost that for the time being." However, the 77-year-old John remains "optimistic" about his recovery. "It's been seven weeks since I've been able to see out of this (eye). But the prospect is good. I had a hell of a time with this right eye. It's a hell of a bug that got into it," he explained. "And sometimes I feel forlorn. But most of the time I feel grateful that I've still got it. And I just have to be patient. And I've had so much support. So I'm always optimistic." Elton also revealed to his movie audience what he wants his tombstone to say: "I don't want it to say he sold a million records. I want it to say he was a great dad and great husband." Elton John: Never Too Late highlights John's rise to global rock stardom, beginning with his iconic 1975 Dodger Stadium concerts and concluding with his 2022 Farewell Yellow Brick Road show at the same venue. Directed by RJ Cutler and David Furnish, Elton's husband, it will be available to watch on Disney+ beginning Dec. 13. - Variety/Music-News.com, 9/10/24...... Mark Moffatt a legendary Australian guitarist and producer, died on Sept. 6 following a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 74. Moffatt was responsible for more tracks than another other single producer in the APRA Top 30 Australian songs, a list published in 2001 to celebrate the PRO's 75th anniversary. And he produced a remarkable 15 ARIA Hall of Fame inductees. In 1976, Moffatt produced The Saints' "(I'm) Stranded," a song that lit the powder keg that was the punk scene. Production stints with EMI and TCS Studios in Melbourne paved a way to Sydney in 1980, where Moffatt joined Festival Records as in-house producer, working on some of the biggest names in Australian music for more than a decade. Moving to Nashville in 1996, Moffatt was APRA/AMCOS' inaugural Nashville member relations representative from his appointment in 2014, until he retired from the role in June 2024. During his time there, he was awarded the CMA Global Achievement Award. - Billboard, 9/9/24...... Frankie Beverly, the honey-coated baritone frontman for the soul and funk group Maze, died on Sept. 10 of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 77. Also doubling as Maze's writer and producer, Beverly was the lead force behind a string of memorable R&B hits and fan faves that through the years became cultural and generational backdrops for many family barbecues, reunions and parties. Beginning in the late '70s with "While I'm Alone" and running through the mid-'90s, the group's musical legacy includes "Feel That You're Feelin'," "Southern Girl," "Running Away," the No. 1 singles "Back in Stride" and "Can't Get Over You" and, of course, "Before I Let Go." That 1981 hit took center stage again in 2019 when Beyoncé lovingly covered the song and included it as a bonus track on her Homecoming: The Live Album. Born in Philadelphia on Dec. 6, 1946, Beverly founded two groups before moving to California with the second group, rebranded as Raw Soul. That's when Beverly experienced an early career high point: Raw Soul tapped as the opening act for soul icon and mentor Marvin Gaye. It was also Gaye who christened the group with a new moniker, Maze. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly notched its first R&B top 10 in 1978 with "Workin' Together." The group became just as famous, however, for its must-see stage shows. Beverly, wearing his signature all-white casual slacks and T-shirt topped off by a baseball cap, presided over what seemed more like a church revival than concert. From start to finish, he and Maze would keep fans on their feet, dancing in their seats and aisles while singing along word-for-word at the top of their voices. That's why the group spent 15 years, beginning in 1995, as the Essence Festival's closing staple. The festival paid tribute to Beverly's legacy on July 3 with a special tribute. Beverly was also honored in April when a street in his childhood East Germantown neighborhood was renamed Frankie Beverly Way. In addition, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly received a BET Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards in July 2012. - Billboard, 9/11/24...... James Earl Jones, the prolific film, TV and theater actor whose resonant, unmistakable baritone was most widely known as the voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader, died on Sept. 9 at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y. He was 93. After overcoming a profound stutter as a child, Mr. Jones established himself as one of the pioneering Black actors of his generation, amassing a bountiful and versatile career spanning over 60 years, from his debut on Broadway in 1958 at the Cort Theatre -- renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022 -- to his most recent performance in 2021's Coming 2 America. For that film, Jones reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer from the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America -- one of several roles, along with Darth Vader, that Jones revisited, including the voice of King Mustafa in Disney's animated feature The Lion King in 1994. Among his more than 80 film credits, Mr. Jones' other notable movies include as a B-52 bombardier in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove (his feature film debut), as the first Black president of the United States in 1972's The Man, as the fearsome villain in 1982's Conan the Barbarian, as a reclusive author in 1989's Field of Dreams, as a blind former baseball star in 1993's The Sandlot, and as a minister living in apartheid South Africa in 1995's Cry, the Beloved Country. Jones was nominated for four Tony Awards, and won two, in 1969 for playing boxer Jack Johnson in "The Great White Hope" (which he reprised on film in 1970, receiving his only Oscar nomination), and in 1987 for originating the role of Troy Maxson in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Fences." He was nominated for eight primetime Emmy awards, winning twice in 1991, for supporting actor in the miniseries Heat Wave, about the 1965 Watts riots, and for lead actor in the drama series "Gabriel's Fire," about a wrongfully imprisoned ex-cop who becomes a private detective. It wasthe first time an actor won two Emmys in the same year. Mr. Jones earned a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement award in 2009, an honorary Oscar in 2011 and a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 2017. His Grammy award in 1977 for spoken word album makes Mr. Jones only one a handful of actors to be a member of the elite "EGOT" club. His television credits, which number over 70, including many movies and miniseries such as Roots and The Atlanta Child Murders, recurring roles on L.A. Law, Homicide: Life on the Street and Everwood, and guest roles on shows like The Simpsons, Picket Fences, Law & Order, Frasier and House. Born in 1931 on a farm in in Arkabutla, Miss., Mr. Jones initially set out to study medicine as an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, but wound up more interested in drama. His first stage role was a small part in the 1957 Off Broadway production "Wedding in Japan." He took side jobs to supplement occasional theater work in Broadway's "Sunrise at Campobello," "The Cool World" and "The Pretender." He also appeared in summer stock. Mr. Jones was first married to actress-singer Julienne Marie. His second wife of 34 years, actress Cecilia Hart, died in 2016. He is survived his son, Flynn Earl Jones. - Variety, 9/10/24.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Billy Joel's Madison Square Garden special won three Creative Arts Emmy awards on Sept. 7 during a ceremony held at the Peacock Theater at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. The Joel special, Billy Joel -- The 100th Live at Madison Square Garden won for best sound editing; lighting design/lighting direction; and technical direction and camerawork. But it lost the top award in its field, Outstanding Variety Special (pre-recorded) to the Dick Van Dyke special 98 Years of Magic. This is the second year in a row that award went to a show celebrating a TV legend in his or her 90s, with Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love winning in 2023. As the executive producer/performer of the MSG special, Joel would have won his first Primetime Emmy if the program had won. He has won five Grammys and a Tony. Also taking home a Creative Arts Emmy that evening were The Beach Boys, with their eponymous Disney+ special winning for outstanding sound mixing for a nonfiction program. An edited presentation of the awards from both nights of the Creative Arts Emmys will air on Sept. 14, at 8:00 p.m. PT on FXX, and it will be available for streaming on Hulu. The 76th Emmy Awards will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theatre on Sept. 15, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT on ABC. The broadcast will be available for streaming the next day on Hulu. - Billboard, 9/8/24...... The first ever authorized feature-length documentary about the life of Jimi Hendrix is being planned by director Bao Nguyen, who helmed the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, about the making of the 1985 smash hit charity single "We Are the World," earlier in 2024. To be titled Jimi, the film will, according to a press release, tell the story of a "transformational period in music history when Jimi Hendrix set the world -- and his guitar -- on fire." "Through this film, I hope to capture the vibrant atmosphere of the 1960s music scene, and his meteoric rise to superstardom, culminating in the legendary show at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival -- a triumphant homecoming where his incendiary performance didn't just set his guitar alight -- it ignited a cultural shift that changed the course of music history," Nguyen says. The late guitar god's sister, Janie Hendrix, has endorsed the project, saying: "Just as Bao Nguyen has achieved in his films highlighting the lives of other iconic figures who influenced pop culture, this presentation of Jimi's London experience will be inspiring and informative -- a story told the way it should be." Meanwhile, another Hendrix-related doc, Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision, is due out Oct. 4. It's an exploration of the iconic studio in New York. Hendrix died in 1970 at the age of 27 and his estate has never given permission for a full-length documentary, until now. - New Musical Express, 9/7/24...... As his new solo album Luck and Strange hit stores on Sept. 6, David Gilmour has revealed details of his forthcoming tour behind the new LP, his first concert trek in eight years. It kicks off on Oct. 9 with the first of six shows at London's famed Royal Albert Hall. He'll also play four Los Angeles area dates -- starting Oct. 25 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., and moving to three concerts at the Hollywood Bowl -- and five at Madison Square Garden in New York, wrapping up Nov. 10. "I'm thinking more modern times than old times," Gilmour says of the setlist, "but there'll be some songs from the '70s, '80s, '90s. All the way through, there'll be some stuff, but I'm focusing perhaps a bit more on the new album and the newer material." And, he hopes, there will be more new material in less than the nine years he took before making Luck and Strange. "My intention is to gather some of these people together and get back and start working on something else in the new year," Gilmour says. "What you want is a few things to get started with and hope it all starts flowing, and that's what I'm hoping will happen." A preview of Luck and Strange is currently available for streaming on Spotify.com. Meanwhile, Gilmour has told Rolling Stone magazine that it would be a "dream" to sell Pink Floyd's catalog, not because of the financial gain the sale would bring but it would allow him to het out of the "mud bath" with his former bandmate Roger Waters. "I am not interested in that from a financial standpoint. I'm only interested in it from getting out of the mud bath that it has been for quite a while," he said. The "mud bath" he refers to is most likely referring to the tension between him and Waters which has run for a number of years now. While it has gone on for decades, it came to a head again recently when Gilmour attacked Waters with claims of anti-Semitism. It kicked off in Feb. 2023, when Gilmour's wife Polly Samson shared a tweet in which she accused Waters of being "anti-Semitic to [his] rotten core," as well as "a [Vladimir] Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac." Gilmour then re-shared Samson's tweet, adding that "every word [is] demonstrably true." Waters himself issued a statement in response, which saw him describe Samson's comments as "incendiary and wildly inaccurate" and continued that he "refutes [them] entirely". He added that he was "taking advice as to his position" regarding the claims. Elsewhere in the interview, Gilmour said that he finds it "boring" talking about his disagreements with Waters. "As I said before, he left our pop group when I was in my 30s, and I'm a pretty old chap now, and the relevance of it is not there. I don't really know his work since. So I don't have anything to say on the topic." - Billboard, 9/6/24...... A new David Bowie documentary is claiming that the lyrics to one of Bowie's signature songs, "Heroes," was inspired by a day in 1977 he spent with his erstwhile girlfriend Clare Shenstone, instead of about an embrace the rock icon witnessed between his producer Tony Visconti and Visconti's girlfriend, German singer Antonia Maass, at the Berlin Wall. Bowie himself had given that as the key inspiration for the song's lyrics, but now a new BBC documentary, Bowie in Berlin, has cast doubt on the song's backstory. The doc claims that "Heroes," the title track to Bowie's 1977 studio album, in fact contains a lot of specific details about "an extraordinary day" Bowie and Shenstone, a model, actor and artist who had a relationship with Bowie in the mid-1970s, spent together in the German capital. Shenstone, a model, actor and artist who had a relationship with Bowie in the mid-1970s, claims that in fact the song contains a lot of specific details about "an extraordinary day" the two spent together in Berline. She says she told Bowie that morning about a dream she had in which she was swimming with dolphins, which she claims Bowie then referenced with the line, "I wish you could swim/Like dolphins can swim." Shenstone says the couple later crossed into East Berlin via Checkpoint Charlie. "We spent a couple of hours at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the guards were goose-stepping," she said. "We held hands very tightly and just took it all in, it was so extreme as an experience. We walked along the other side of the wall. There were spotlights and you could see the guns silhouetted and we were holding hands and he took my other hand and he kissed me. It was so beautiful." Shenstone says when she later heard the song, she recognized that day "immediately." "I knew what each word meant, and it described exactly from moment to moment what that day was about," she said. Bowie In Berlin is set to air on BBC Radio 4 on Sept. 14. - New Musical Express, 9/7/24....... Alex Van Halen has shared a snippet of "Unfinished," the last song he recorded with his late brother Eddie Van Halen, on Instagram. It was recently reported that the last song that Alex and Eddie ever wrote together would be included in the audiobook version of Alex's new memoir, Brothers. While the drummer has previously been absent from the public eye following Eddie's death in 2020, he made a rare statement sharing his motivations for writing the book. "This is my tribute to my brother; my way of saying goodbye," he said. "Ed, I love you and miss you. When I see you again, I'm gonna kick your ass!" It's set for release on Oct. 22 via HarperCollins. A series of VH family photos also appears alongside the Instagram snippet of "Unfinished." - NME, 9/6/24...... Bruce Springsteen will be among the headliners at the 18th annual "Stand Up for Heroes" benefit, which will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as part of the New York Comedy Festival. Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Norah Jones, Jon Stewart, Questlove and Mark Normand are confirmed for the annual benefit, which raises awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation. The charity's mission is to ensure that our nation's veterans, service members, and their families have stable and successful futures, and the event will take place at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in Manhattan and feature performances by these and other stars of music and comedy. In the past, Springsteen -- who is a regular at the event -- has peppered his set with dirty jokes such as this one he told at the 2022 event: "During sex, you burn off as many calories as if you ran 8 miles," he said. "But who can run 8 miles in 30 seconds? Got that off the Internet." Tickets are on sale at the event's website. - Billboard, 9/5/24...... A federal judge issued a temporary order on Sept. 3 prohibiting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his campaign from playing Issac Hayes' "Hold On, I'm Coming" at rallies. Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. sided with Hayes' estate weeks after Hayes' heirs accused Trump of using the song without a license. "I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license," the judge said at a hearing, as reported by CNN. The judge's order bars the campaign from continuing to publicly perform the song at future rallies while the case plays out, but the judge denied a request for a more expansive order that would have forced the campaign to pull down videos of rallies in which the song can be heard. An attorney for the Hayes estate did not immediately return a request for comment. An attorney for Trump confirmed that the order was issued, though he stressed that the campaign had already agreed to stop using the song at rallies. Hayes' estate sued Trump in August, accusing the campaign of using "Hold On" at rallies and in video recordings of those events. Hayes co-wrote the 1966 song, which was performed and released by the duo Sam & Dave. The estate then went a step further, filing a federal lawsuit on Aug. 16 against Trump, his campaign, the Republican National Committee and others. The case accused the campaign of infringing copyrights, but also of violating federal trademark law -- essentially claiming that the campaign's use of the song made it appear that Hayes or his heirs had endorsed Trump's bid to return to the White House. The campaign has claimed that its use of Hayes' song was covered by a so-called blanket license it purchased from BMI, which grants political campaigns the legal right to perform millions of different copyrighted songs at rallies. But the Hayes estate says it withdrew the song from that catalog in June -- and that the Trump campaign was notified of the change in writing. It's also unclear if such a license would cover the use of the song in video recordings of the rallies. - Billboard, 9/3/24...... The Guess Who has settled a legal battle over trademark rights to the legendary Canadian band's name. In a statement, former GW principals Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings said they had reached a deal to resolve their lawsuit against fellow original members Jim Kale and Garry Peterson -- ending a legal battle among the four original members of the band best known for hits like "American Woman" and "These Eyes." Under the deal, Bachman and Cummings said they will acquire full control over the trademark to the band's name. Monetary terms and other aspects of the agreement were not disclosed in the announcement, and no legal papers announcing the settlement have yet been filed in court. "We are pleased to have reached a resolution that honors our shared history and allows us to move forward with a new sense of purpose and camaraderie," Bachman said, with Cummings adding that they were "committed to preserving and celebrating the legacy for our fans." Attorneys for Kale and Peter didn't immediately return a request for comment. As recently as April, their attorneys called the lawsuit "a complete farce" and threatened to "hold Bachman and Cummings accountable for their wrongful and extortionate conduct." The battle between the members of The Guess Who was just the latest clash between bandmates over the legal rights to classic group names. Journey, Stone Temple Pilots and Jefferson Starship have all fought protracted litigation over their trademarks, as have members of The Rascals, The Ebonys, The Commodores and The Platters. - Billboard, 9/4/24...... Queen guitarist Brian May has revealed that he recently suffered a minor stroke that resulted in damage to his left arm. May, 77, described a "health hiccup" last week that made him temporarily unable to control the hand he uses to pick out chords on his guitar, even as he assured his fans that he's on the mend. "I think good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because it was in some doubt because that little Health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago and what they called it was a minor stroke and all of a sudden -- out of the blue - I didn't have any control over this arm so was a little scary," May said in a video posted on his website in which he wiggled his left hand as proof that he's getting better. "I have to say I had the most fantastic care and attention from Frimley Hospital where I went blue lights flashing the lot. Very exciting!!," he added. May said he initially didn't want to say anything because, "I really don't want sympathy. PLEASE DON'T DO THAT cuz it'll clutter up my inbox and I hate that." The good news, he said, is that he's okay now and that he's listening to his doctors, who have "grounded" him, which means no driving, no flying and no raising his heart rate too high. The health update came as May is busy promoting his recently aired new documentary, Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me, which chronicles his decades long campaign to end the UK's annual culling of badgers. His video can also be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 9/4/24...... In related news, May's fellow rock icon Elton John took to Instagram on Sept. 3 to reveal that he has been struggling with a "severe eye infection" that left him "with only limited vision in one eye." "I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sigght returns to the impacted eye," Sir Elton added. John then thanked the doctors and nurses that have been caring for him, noting that he's "been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far." He signed the note with his name, "with love and gratitude." Meanwhile, Elton and his husband David Furnish attended the world premiere of Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late at the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 6. The film starts and ends with the Rocket Man performing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles -- in 1975 after his big breakthrough and again in 2022 on his farewell tour -- while looking back at his prolific time as an artist in the '70s, including his unhappiness behind the scenes with his abusive boyfriend-manager John Reid, and an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. "This remarkable time in music history, where was rock and roll going to go? And the answer was Elton John," said director R.J. Cutler in an interview the following day. "Suddenly, Elton becomes a pop writer because he can write for guitar now (after Davey Johnstone joined the band). I mean, it's really a fascinating evolution from singer-songwriter to massive pop star." The documentary gets a limited theatrical run on Nov. 15, and later streams on Disney+ on Dec. 13. - Billboard, 9/3/24...... Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) has announced details of a second 2025 UK and Ireland spoken word tour. His "I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right" UK tour began in May. The shows promised to see the singer deliver an "untamed, unscripted and uncensored" spoken word session. Lydon will be visiting England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales next autumn, 2025. A press release says next year's events will see Lydon reflecting on "Sex Pistols, Public Image Limited (PiL), his art and his life's story during informal evenings of conversation and audience questions." Speaking about the event, Lydon said: "I could be shit. I could be shite. I'm left-handed. John Lydon or John Rotten." The new tour will launch on Sept. 10, 2025, in Dundalk, Ireland and wrap on Nov. 24 at the Hippodrome in London Golders Green. - NME, 9/4/24...... Cher is reportedly "in talks" for the legends slot at the 2025 edition of the legendary UK Glastonbury rock festival. According to a report by The Sun, the "Believe"' hitmaker is said to be in "meaningful talks" with the event organisers and is already planning to fit the festival around some plans for some headline shows in the UK. "Cher is practically the legend of all pop music legends. She would be incredible," a source told the outlet. "It's been a long time coming but she is finally in meaningful talks with Glastonbury about playing the legend's slot. Everything is very much in the planning stages but Cher is hoping to play a handful of shows in the UK next year and Glastonbury could be one of them. The idea of a full-scale tour just doesn't interest her anymore." MailOnline.com reported that it had contacted a representative for Cher for comment on the rumours, however there has not yet been an official comment from the singer's team. Shania Twain took on the slot at this year's edition, while Yusuf/Cat Stevens played in 2023. Performers previous to that include Diana Ross, Barry Gibb, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and Kylie Minogue. - NME, 9/3/24...... According to founding Judas Priest member and bassist Ian Hill, the band are planning to re-release their debut album Rocka Rolla with a new mix. Hill revealed the plans for a 50th anniversary edition of Rocka Rolla during an interview on the Talkin' Rock with Ian Hill podcast, which can be viewed on YouTube. He said: "It's just been re-engineered by Tom Allom after all of these years. The multi-tracks were in remarkably good condition, and he's changed some of the sounds, made it more modern and obviously remixed it. And he's done a great job." He continued, noting that he believes it will be released soon: "It's just coming out shortly, I believe. It's only a few weeks away, I'm sure it is. Yeah, but he's redone it. It's gonna be re-released, which is great news. It's finally got the production it's always needed." Rocka Rolla was released on Sept. 6, 1974, and is best known for songs like "One for the Road," the title track and "Run of the Mill." Judas Priest most recently released their 15th studio album, Invincible Shield, in March this year. - NME, 9/3/24...... An expanded, deluxe edition of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' Long After Dark is set to be released in October. The new version of the hard rocking 1982 album will arrive in stores on Oct. 22, more than 40 years after it was first released. Set to arrive via Geffen/UMe on Oct. 18, the new variant will come as a double disc and contains seven recordings that remained unreleased up until now. These include Petty's "Never Be You," which became a chart-topping hit for Rosanne Cash in 1984, as well as "Don't Make Me Walk the Line" and "Ways To Be Wicked." The latter was released as a single by Lone Justice in 1985. The other bonus tracks include four songs that were filmed for a French TV Special at the Record Plant in Hollywood -- the same site where much of 'Long After Dark' was recorded. "Despite it being a golden era of The Heartbreakers playing at the height of their powers, it is widely known as the band's most misunderstood and underrated success," reads a press release. Ahead of the album re-release, the fan favorite "Straight Into Darkness" has been shared with a new video. The new version of the 1982 album will arrive as a triple-disc set containing 2 CDs and a Blu-ray audio disc with additional hi-res stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of the album and bonus track, and as a double black vinyl. It also comes with remastered audio, plus liner notes from journalist David Fricke, and commentary from both Petty producer Jimmy Iovine and filmmaker Cameron Crowe. - NME, 9/2/24...... '50s-inspired musician Screamin' Scott Simon of the band Sha Na Na died on Sept. 5 in Ojai after a long battle with sinus cancer, his daughter Nina Simon announced. He was 75. A member of Sha Na Na from 1970 until they quit touring in 2022, Simon sometimes played the piano with his feet as he belted out such hits as Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and Danny & the Juniors' "At the Hop." Simon and Sha Na Na performed in the 1978 film adaptation of Grease as "Johnny Casino and the Gamblers," playing six doo-wop numbers in the high school dance scenes. Meanwhile, Simon partnered with Louis St. Louis to write "Sandy," sung by John Travolta. The film's soundtrack went on to become one of the top albums of all time, with sales of more than 30 million copies. While Sha Na Na primarily played classic '50s and '60s songs, Simon composed multiple songs and solo albums performed by the band and by himself on records and on TV. In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife, Deborah; another daughter, Morgan; stepson Nick; and granddaughters Rocket and Naomi. - The Hollywood Reporter, 9/6/24...... Will Jennings, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning co-writer of Titanic's "My Heart Will Go On" and other hit songs by Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Whitney Houston, died on Sept. 7 at his home in Tyler, Tex. He was 80. During his career, the superstar lyricist and Songwriters Hall inductee co-wrote six songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: Barry Manilow's "Looks Like We Made It" (1977); Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes' "Up Where We Belong" (1982); Winwood's "Higher Love" (1986); Houston's "Didn't We Almost Have It All" (1987); Winwood's "Roll With It" (1988); and Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" (1998). Mr. Jennings also collaborated with Clapton on "Tears in Heaven," which hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks in 1992. The tribute to Clapton's late son, who died tragically in a high rise apartment building accident, also earned the pair a song of the year trophy at the 35th annual Grammy Awards. Mr. Jennings won best original song at the Academy Awards in 1983 for co-writing An Officer and a Gentleman's "Up Where We Belong" alongside Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie. He took home the same honor in 1998 for the Titanic classic "My Heart Will Go On," which he co-wrote with composer James Horner (who died in 2015). The Dion-sung ballad also won Grammys for record and song of the year. He is survived by his wife, Carole, and his sisters, Joyce and Gloria. - Billboard, 9/7/24...... Bossa nova producer, composer, pianist and song interpreter Sergio Mendes died at home in Los Angeles on Sept. 5 after struggling with complications from Covid. He was 83. The legendary Brazilian superstar, whose career spanned more than three dozen albums released across six decades, helped craft the modern sound of crossover Brazilian pop thanks to such indelible hits as "Mas Que Nada" and "Magalenha." Beginning in his teens, Mr. Mendes -- who was born on Feb. 11, 1941 in Rio de Janeiro -- focused on dreams of becoming a classical pianist before being inspired by the then bubbling bossa nova explosion in the late 1950s that put a jazzy spin on the popular samba style. After moving to the U.S. in 1964, Mr. Mendes formed the first in a series of eponymous bands, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '65 and released The Swinger From Rio album, with contributions from his mentors, Antnio Carlos Jobim and American jazz trumpeter Art Farmer, followed by a live album recorded with his Brasil '65 crew, In Person at El Matador. Bouncing between recordings for Atlantic Records and Capitol, Mr. Mendes released albums at a furious pace throughout the late 1960s, quickly cementing his status as one of the premier ambassadors for the swinging bossa nova sound. But it was when he signed to jazz great Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss' A&M Records that Mr. Mendes' album sales and chart success began to take off thanks to the renamed Brasil '66's debut single, the Jorge Ben-penned "Mas que Nada." His output continued apace in the 1970s, when he released more than a dozen albums, including 1970's Stillness, which featured new lead vocalist (and later wife) Gracinha Leporace and Love Music, his third album with the reconfigured band -- now known as Brasil '77. The familiar formula continued apace, mixing songs by Jobim with covers of well-known tunes by Stevie Wonder and Leon Russell. He continued to release music throughout the 2000s, including his final studio album, 2020's In the Key of Joy. In addition to his Grammy award (for 1992's Brasileiro) and two Latin Grammys, Mr. Mendes was nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for his theme song to the animated film Rio, Real in Rio. Mendes was also profiled in the 2020 documentary Sergio Mendes: In the Key of Joy. His final performances took place in Nov. 2023 during a series of well-received shows in Paris, London and Barcelona. In an Instagram tribute, longtime friend and label boss Alpert wrote, "Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country passed away quietly and peacefully. He was a true friend and extremely gifted musician who brought Brazilian music in all its iterations to the entire world with elegance a joy." - Billboard, 9/6/24...... British pop art pioneer Derek Boshier, who collaborated with David Bowie and The Clash, among others, died on Sept. 6 at the age of 87. The Portsmouth-born artist was known for his work within the British pop art world and took pride and inspiration from his working-class roots. Upon finishing his studies at the Royal College of Art in London in 1962, he went on to teach at the Central School of Art and Design, where one of his students was The Clash frontman Joe Strummer. Mr. Boshier would go on to design the band's second songbook which featured a collection of the artist's drawings and paintings. In 1979, Boshier had a successful art exhibition titled "Lives," which caught the attention of Bowie who requested an introduction with Mr. Boshier. From there, the two would go on to have a friendship lasting over three decades that saw Mr. Boshier contribute to the design of Bowie's thirteenth studio album Lodger that same year. According to the artist's publicist, Mr. Boshier was one of the recipients of a handwritten note by the icon prior to his death in 2016. The note saw the "Let's Dance" singer praise Mr. Boshier for his art book at the time, with Bowie telling Mr. Boshier that his work "cascades down the generations." - NME, 9/6/24...... Legendary British bass guitarist Herbie Flowers, who contributed to recordings by the likes of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Elton John, Cat Stevens, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to name a few, died of as yet undisclosed causes on Sept. 5, according to a close family member. He was 86. His start as a musician came in 1956 when, aged 18, he was conscripted into the Royal Air Force. There, he played the tuba as a bandsman, before eventually taking up double bass shortly followed by electric bass. Once his military service was complete, he spent a brief period as a bandsman on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth. Eventually, he began working as a session musician, lending his talents to producers such as Shel Talmy, Mickie Most, Steve Rowland, Richard Perry, Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti. In 1969, Mr. Flowers became a founding member of the group Blue Mink. Their biggest hit was "Melting Pot," which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart that year. Alongside Blue Mink, he was also a member of T. Rex, Rumplestiltskin and Sky. By the end of the 1970s alone, it was estimated that Mr. Flowers had played bass on 500 hit recordings. Perhaps his most famous contribution was the bassline he wrote for Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" -- taken from his seminal 1972 album Transformer. It was the only song by Reed to reach the Top 20 in the US charts. Mr. Flowers also played on Bowie's 1974 album Diamond Dogs and on his 1969 single "Space Oddity." The official X page for Bowie wrote of Mr. Flowers' "incredible musicianship over many decades," and said the bassist be "sorely missed." "Though we've not managed to have it officially confirmed, if the news is correct, we are very sad to learn of the passing of Herbie Flowers in the last couple of days," the statement read. "His work with Bowie and associates over the years is too long to list here. Aside from his incredible musicianship over many decades, he was a beautiful soul and a very funny man. Our thoughts are with his family and friends." - NME, 9/8/24.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Roger Waters has responded to Australian musician Nick Cave after Cave criticized Waters' stand on a boycott of Israel, telling him "it's not complicated." Guesting on the Reason podcast on Aug. 28, Cave said Waters' support of the BDS movement for Palestinian rights is "embarrassing" and "deeply damaging." Posting on Instagram to his 1.3 million followers, Waters explained that the UK paper Independent ran a piece about Cave's statements and reached out to him for a comment. "Let's see if they f---ing publish it or not," Waters said in the video, and read his comment aloud. He said, in part: "Dear Independent, here is my response to the Aussie bloke. Nick Cave. Nick f---ing Cave. The Palestinian mother/father carrying the bits of her or his dead child back along the bitter road to nowhere in a plastic bag pauses on the roadside to scratch a message in the rubble. Nick, here's the message. Dear Nick Cave, we, the Indigenous people of Palestine, in this agony, implore you, please don't cross the BDS picket line to sing for your supper in Israel. It's not complicated, Nick. It's not complicated. That act -- singing for your supper in Israel, Nick -- that act serves to whitewash the 75-year-old Zionist Israeli occupation, land theft, apartheid, and genocide of our people, Nick. Please, please, please follow the example of Roger Waters and Brian Eno and many, many thousands of others who are active in the BDS movement. Nick, pay attention." Waters, now 80, has been a supporter of the boycott (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions or BDS) movement since 2011. - New Musical Express, 9/1/24...... In other Pink Floyd-related news, David Gilmour has told the UK paper The Sun that his tenure in the legendary psychedelic rock band receives "way too much deference." Gilmour reflected on the weight of his achievements with the band, saying: "After you achieve these dizzying heights, people tend to show you way too much deference. It becomes hard to retrieve the setup you had when you were young. In the earlier stages of Pink Floyd, we could be as rude and insulting to each other about our personalities and our music as we wanted -- and yet everything would be all right in the end." Referencing Roger Waters' exit from the band in 1985, he said "No one ever stomped off permanently, until that bloke did." Gilmour explained he felt "thrust into being band leader," but prefers "a more collaborative approach." On Apr. 27, Gilmour posted to X announcing that his new solo album, Luck and Strange, will be released on Sept. 6. More recently, he said the new album is the "best" music he's made since The Dark Side Of The Moon. Gilmour will tour behind the new album later in 2024, marking his return to the stage for the first time in eight years. It includes five shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London. - NME, 8/30/24...... Stevie Wonder dropped a new song titled "Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart" on Spotify on Aug. 30 that features a strong call for unity over an acoustic guitar as he demands in the hook: "Can we fix our nation's broken heart?/ Are we brave enough to try?" While the song is not political in its lyrics, the track's release is timely with the American presidential election coming up in November. Wonder took the stage on the third night of the Democratic National Convention in August, sharing some powerful remarks for the audience before performing "Higher Ground," off his 1973 album, Innervisions. "This is a moment to tell your children where you were and what you did," he declared. "When we stand between history's pain and tomorrows promises we must choose courage complacency." Throughout his career, Wonder has always stood up against injustices through song, most recently in 2020 by releasing two new songs, "Where Is Our Love Song?" and "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate." He also lobbied hard to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday in 1986. - Billboard, 8/30/24...... On Aug. 28 Barry Manilow filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the Hipgnosis Song Fund (HSF) in federal court in California for what he claims are unpaid bonuses related to the music rights company's acquisition of his catalog in 2020. The suit by the "Mandy" singer, along with his management company Hastings, Clayton & Tucker Inc, or Stiletto Entertainment, follows a similar lawsuit HSF filed in August in London alleging breach of contract relating to the bonus payments. Before Blackstone's $1.6 billion acquisition of HSF and its prized portfolio that includes songs by Manilow, Shakira, Red Hot Chili Peppers and others, shareholders of the publicly listed music royalty trust had revolted over, among other things, the late disclosure of some $40 million in unpaid bonus checks owed to artists. That liability on the fund's balance sheet combined with suspension of investors' dividends and accounting scandals ultimately led to investors giving the fund's board a vote of no confidence a move that resulted in Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis separating from the fund and investment adviser and to the fund's board selling the portfolio to Blackstone. Hipgnosis acquired 100% of Manilow's worldwide recording royalties (excluding SoundExchange royalties), comprising 917 songs, for an initial purchase price of $7.5 million in 2020. The deal included some of the 81-year-old singer's biggest hits, including "Mandy," "I Write the Songs," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You" and "Copacabana (At the Copa)." In the 14-page complaint, Manilow and Stiletto Entertainment say HSF agreed to make two additional payments of $750,000 each if HSF's earnings from the catalog reached certain benchmarks. Manilow and his management company claim those benchmarks have been met, but that HSF engaged "in a prolonged game of cat and mouse to avoid that obligation." - Billboard, 8/30/24...... The most recent legal battle between Journey members Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon appears to be over after Schon conceded to the appointment of a neutral third party to resolve the "deadlock" that Cain has claimed is crippling the band's operations. On Aug. 28, a Delaware judge appointed a so-called "custodian," former Chancery Court judge Joseph R. Slights, to break ties between the two longtime bandmates. The ruling came a month after Cain sued Schon seeking such an umpire, claiming their endless disputes pose "a severe threat of harm" to the band's "storied history of musical greatness." The order comes after Schon agreed to the appointment of such a neutral party. In his written ruling, the judge wrote: "Schon does not oppose the court's appointment of a custodian with the power to act as a third, deadlock breaking director." In a statement, a spokesman for Cain said he was "elated with the outcome and looks forward to moving beyond this matter so that Journey can continue the band's 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour." In a Facebook post in late August, Schon said recent accusations leveled by Cain against him and his wife were "slanderous" and that he "can't stress enough how much it upset me and how wrong they are." But he hinted that a deal was close to resolve the lawsuit by appointing a neutral third party like Judge Slights. Legal battles are nothing new for Cain and Schon, as the two have repeatedly fought in court over the band's finances over the past two years. - Billboard, 8/28/24...... Moon Unit Zappa was only 14 years old when she helped her father, art rock legend Frank Zappa, accomplish something he had done before. Their 1982 collaboration "Valley Girl," on which Moon performed the stream-of-consciousness, quasi-rap vocals, became her dad's first and only Top 40 hit. Behind the scenes, though, her home life wasn't easy. Now 56, Moon is telling all in her new memoir Earth to Moon, which details her complicated relationship with her frequently absent father, who died in 1993, and her emotionally abusive mother, Gail Zappa, who died in 2015 and whom Moon calls her "first bully." Now a mother to daughter Mathilda, 19, whom she shares with her ex-husband Matchbox Twenty drummer Paul Doucette, Moon says she's "dancing more than your average person might" and "giving myself a second chance at a childhood." Earth to Moon is due via HarperCollins on Aug. 20. - People, 9/2/24...... Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has reflected on coming out in the late '90s and how it's "never too late." In a recent interview with Fugues.com, Halford was asked if other gay musicians had asked him for advice before coming out. Halford publicly came out while performing live on MTV in 1998. "Yes, that has happened, but I won't name names because everyone comes out when it's their time," he said. "As we all know, set yourself free. It's such a difficult thing for us to do, even now in 2024 because we still have this ongoing challenge of hate and bigotry and intolerance and divisiveness. You think it would be a lot easier, but it's not. The struggle is still very real for young people, and that's where I hope any conversations I have with others do some good." He continued: "You know, I read a story not long ago about a guy in his 90s who came out just before he took his dying breath. Glory hallelujah! It's never too late to set yourself free because, as we know, once you're out, the attacks float away. I'm f---ing here, I'm queer, get f----ng used to it!" He also added that coming out "saved his life" along with becoming sober. Judas Priest released their 15th album, Invincible Shield, in March. - NME, 8/30/24...... The Kinks guitarist/vocalist Dave Davies has blasted an AI cover of his pioneering British rock band's song "You Really Got Me," saying it's like "a horror show." The YouTube clip of the song, claiming to be a "new original song," was called "Hop Skip Jump!" and uploaded to YouTube back in January, but has since been deleted. Reacting to the video, Davies posted to X: "What the f---- is this??? This Kinks AI cover is like horror show sounds f----in horrible." Star Wars actor Mark Hamill commented to say it had been taken down, writing "You will be happy to know when I clicked on this it said 'video unavailable.' (Still curious what The Kinks AI would sound like though)." Davies, 77, also recently took to his X account to share his shock that his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trophy up for sale on the auction site eBay "without his consent." The marble plaque from the Kinks' 1990 induction was listed on the re-sale site for $12,500 (£9,860). Davies insisted he had no idea how he lost the award but believes it could have been at the time of his stroke in 2004, as he was "incapacitated." The owner of Colony Records in New York was the seller and said he would come to an agreement with Dave. He wrote: "follow me and shoot me a message on X we will work it out." And it seems they did as the listing was removed. - Music-News.com, 8/29/24...... After the editors at MailOnline.com claimed on Aug. 27 that Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster were "desperately" trying to work on their relationship and had reached a "stalemate" over whether they should continue living in Los Angeles or move back to the U.K., Stewart took to Instagram the following day to insist that the allegations were "erroneous." "We wanted to put the record straight," Stewart wrote. "There is absolutely no rift between Penny and I and no disagreement over where we should reside, in fact, it's the opposite. We moved permanently back to our beloved Britain a year ago but are fortunate to also have homes in different countries, which we love to visit. Originally, we did think it made sense to sell our house in L.A., but having spent a wonderful time there this summer with family and friends during my Vegas residency, we realised that it makes sense to keep our house there." Rod went on to note that two of his children still live at the home in L.A., dubbed Celtic House. And to conclude, the 79-year-old "Maggie May" singer insisted he is a "lucky man." "Penny and I could not be more in love with each other after 27 glorious years. Please trust me on this... there's no disharmony in our marriage," he added. Rod and Penny, 53, wed in 2007 and share two sons; Alastair, 18, and Aiden, 13. He also has six other children from previous relationships. Stewart wrapped on his latest residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in August, and is set to play the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Sept. 8. - Music-News.com, 8/29/24...... Highlights of late Fleetwoood Mac keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie's personal collection went on exhibit at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, Tenn. on Aug. 30. The day after the exhibition concludes on Oct. 15, a two-day auction dubbed "Property From the Life and Career of Christine McVie" will take place at the same venue and online via Julien's Auctions, marking the first time the items have been offered to the public. More than 650 of McVie's belongings will be available to bid on in the auction, including the Hammond XK-5 organ she played on tour with Fleetwood Mac (estimated $6,000-$8,000), a Yamaha CLP-470PE digital piano from her London home ($3,000 -- $5,000), a model KP-180-122 Leslie speaker in a red road case labeled "3rd Encore Christine's Locker" ($2,000 -- $4,000), Tusk chord sheets with unknown handwritten lyrics ($800-$1,200) and two setlists annotated by McVie ($600-$800). Pieces of fine art and jewelry will also be for sale. The proceeds of the auction will benefit MusiCares as well as other charities in the U.K. "Christine McVie was a legendary artist and a beloved member of the MusiCares family, always showing deep compassion for those in the music community," said the organization's executive director, Laura Segura, in a statement. "The proceeds from this auction will continue her legacy of giving back, ensuring that musicians receive the support they need. Her love for music and for those who create it will continue to inspire us all." A Julien's video of the auction items can be viewed on YouTube. McVie died in Nov. 2022 at the age of 79. A few months later, her cause of death was revealed to be a stroke. - Billboard, 8/29/24...... Bruce Springsteen has contributed a cover of punk stalwart Jesse Malin's "She Don't Love Me Now" to the new Malin benefit album Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin. "Bruce gave it that Stax-soul-thing that we were dreaming of when we recorded the original. It's so surreal to me," said Malin in a statement. Indeed, in Springsteen's hands -- and with the backing of Malin's band -- the song sounds like a lost soul classic that could have easily fit on The Boss's 2022 R&B/soul covers LP Only the Strong Survive, complete with tasty Hammond organ and a perfectly placed saxophone solo from the E Street Band's Jake Clemons. "Oh, you don't love me when you say/ Oh, all I got is lost/ I'm hanging on that cross/ All I got and all I wanna and all I got is/ Oh, she don't love me now, she don't love me now," Springsteen croons on the song that will appear on the all-star album whose proceeds will benefit Malin's Sweet Relief artist fund as the beloved punk troubadour, 57, continues his recovery from a spinal stroke he suffered in 2023 that left him partially paralyzed. A lyric video for the "She Don't Love Me Now" cover has been shared on YouTube, and Silver Patron Saints is due out Sept. 20. Meanwhile, actor Jeremy Allen White has opened up about preparations for his upcoming role as Springsteen in his biopic, Deliver Me From Nowwhere (reportedly set around the making of Springsteen's classic 1982 album Nebraska). Speaking to GQ magazine, White explained: "I'm really lucky that there's sort of a team of folks now in place to help young actors portray rock stars. I've got a really talented group of people helping me train vocally, musically, to get ready for this thing." The actor, who previously revealed he had texted The Boss in the hopes of meeting him in London, also shared that Springsteen was "really supportive of the project," adding: "I've had some access to him and he's just the greatest guy." The Bear star was announced as part of the film in April after Deadline.com reported that White was the favorite to play a young Springsteen in the movie, which was announced this January. No release date for the film, which will adapt Warren Zane's 2023 novel Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, has been announced yet.- Billboard, 8/28/24...... ABBA has become the latest in a series of pop/rock groups asking Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to stop using their music at campaign rallies, but the Trump campaign says it has permission. "ABBA has recently discovered the unauthorized use of their music and videos at a Trump event through videos that appeared online," a rep for ABBA said in a statement. "As a result, ABBA and its representative has promptly requested the removal and deletion of such content. No request has been received; therefore, no permission or license has been granted," the statement continued. But a spokesman for the Trump campaign said it had obtained a license. "The campaign had a license to play ABBA music through our agreement with BMI and ASCAP," the spokesperson told the Associated Press. ABBA joins a long list of performers who've objected to Trump using their songs. Ahead of the 2020 election, that included Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Celine Dion, Adele, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M. and Guns N' Roses. Campaigns don't need an artist's express permission to play their songs at rallies as long as the political organization or the venue has gotten what's known as a "blanket license" from the performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI. The Swedish daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet said its reporter attended a July Trump rally in Minnesota where ABBA's "The Winner Takes it All" was played. Universal Music in Sweden said videos had surfaced of ABBA's music being played at at least one Trump event. - AP, 8/30/24...... Actor James Darren, who went from teen idol status acting in youth-oriented movies like Gidget to become an actor in TV shows such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and T.J. Hooker and a singer and director, died on Sept. 2 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 88. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Darren studied acting with Stella Adler in New York and was signed to Columbia Pictures, where his first role was in Rumble on the Docks. He went on to appear in films including Operation Madball and Gunmen's Walk before being cast in the 1959 teen movie Gidget, starring Sandra Dee and Cliff Robertson. Darren also sang the title track for the hit movie, which was based on the experiences of a teenaged surfer girl in Malibu and later became a popular TV series. The Gidget theme song launched a successful singer career for Mr. Darren, who had a gold record with "Goodbye Cruel World" in 1961 and released at least 14 albums. He continued to appear in feature films including The Guns of Navarone, The Gene Krupa Story, All the Young Men and Because They're Young. He reprised his role as Moondoggie in Gidget Goes Hawaiian and again in Gidget Goes to Rome, though he was tired of the typecasting by then. Moving into television, he starred in the series "The Time Tunnel and after a brief sojourn in Italy appearing in Jess Franco's Venus in Furs, he went on to guest-star on numerous series including Love, American Style, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. Mr. Darren was a regular on T.J. Hooker from 1983 to 1986 and also moved into TV directing, working on series including Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place. In 1998, he found a new generation of fans in 1998 as Vic Fontaine, the holographic lounge singer on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. His son, broadcaster Jim Moret, said that Mr. Darren had been able to express his love for his family while being treated in the cardiac unit. "He was a good man. He was very talented," Moret said. "He was forever young." Mr. Darren is survived by his wife Evy, sons Jim Moret, Christian Darren and Tony Darren and five grandchildren. - Variety, 9/3/24.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Neil Young has finally spoken about his recent decision to cancel the remaining shows of his summer tour with Crazy Horse. In late June, Young and Crazy Horse took to his Neil Young Archives website to announce the cancellation of those shows, revealing that a couple of band members fell ill following their gig at Detroit's Pine Knob and would have to take "a big unplanned break." Now in a recent Zoom conference call for his NYA followers (captured via Reddit), Young addressed the cancellations, recapping how he felt before and during most of the shows that were played. "I was doing great and we were moving right along. Everybody's loving the shows," he said. "Then I just woke up one morning on the bus and I said, 'I can't do this. I gotta stop.' It was like I felt sick when I thought of going on stage. My body was telling me, 'You gotta stop.' So I listened to my body. Then it gets into all the legal matters: 'You got this, you got that, people bought tickets, they did this, they did that.' I understand that. What matters to me is the art of playing, and the music. That's what matters. That's what people loved. That's what they come to see. But if that's not there, me going is not happening. My body told me to not do it." Young then shared an updated on how he's feeling, and the health of his Crazy Horse members: "But now I'm starting to feel like I could do it again and that's a great feeling. Not all of Crazy Horse -- this happened to a couple of us, and we're not all the way back. Crazy Horse will be back, god willing. And we'll play more." He also shared: "We haven't announced any shows yet, but they are mostly theaters that I played before, little theaters, and then I can play a little bit of acoustic, and then have the band come out and play. They'll probably be on the East Coast and then going towards Michigan and then Ohio, and then a few other ones. They won't be marathons. They won't be two hours and 10 minutes of blasting rock and roll like it was with Crazy Horse." Young is still scheduled to co-headline the 2024 edition of Farm Aid at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Sept. 21. In June, Young and Crazy Horse released a new archival album, Early Daze, recorded in 1969. - New Musical Express, 8/29/24...... Bryan Ferry has shared a new single called "Star" -- his first new music in over a decade -- ahead of his upcoming compilation Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023, which is set for release on Oct. 25. The trippy "Star," described as "an anxious, darkly gleaming slab of pounding post-techno," began as a "sketch" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, and was developed by Ferry and painter and writer Amelia Barratt, who also features onto the track. "'Star' is a collaboration with the painter and writer Amelia Barratt," Ferry says. "A couple of years ago I helped her record an audiobook here in my studio. I was very impressed by her writing, and this is the first song we did together. I'm very excited about this new work -- there's a lot more to come." The former Roxy Music frontman's Retrospective, which boasts 81 songs, is described in a press release as "a celebration of Bryan Ferry's peerless career as a solo artist, spanning a period of over 50 years of music and 16 solo albums, bringing the story right up to the present with a snapshot of his latest work." Retrospective will be the first collection to span the entirety of Ferry's solo career, covering 16 solo albums and over five decades of recordings. The new collection brings together his recordings with various labels over the years, including Virgin, Polydor and BMG, and will be available in a 5-CD deluxe box set, accompanied by a 100-page hardback book with extensive new liner notes and rare and unseen photographs and imagery. There will also be a 2-LP gatefold edition titled The Best Of Bryan Ferry, comprising 20 tracks, and a 1-CD version made from the same choices. Ferry has shared a video for "Star" on YouTube. - NME, 8/28/24...... Carole King joined a "Swifties for Kamala" live conference call to show support for Democratic presidential candidate Vice-President Kamala Harris on Aug. 27. "I am a Swiftie, and Taylor [Swift] and I are actually friends," the iconic singer-songwriter said. "We have had conversations backstage and I see her as sort of my musical and songwriting granddaughter. We have a lovely relationship, and I'm so proud of her," she told the thousands of listeners who tuned into the livestream. King also noted that her favorite song of Swift's is "Shake It Off" from 1989. King added that she was "excited about Kamala, because so many people are excited about Kamala, and I have met her... I admire her and the stars lined up, and Joe Biden did a really gracious, hard thing to do, and I'm so proud of him. But this is about you. I know you have your ways of communicating and social networking and organizing." King then encouraged Swifties to become in-person volunteers, and take part in door knocking and phone calling to rally voters, even giving them door knocker tips that she's learned over the years. To conclude, King shared that because Swift helped induct her into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 by performing the legend's classic, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," she will return the favor. She then delivered a "surprise song" for the Swifties for Kamala by briefly singing the chorus of "Shake It Off." "Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play/ And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate/ Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake/ I shake it off, I shake it off," she mused. The full "Swifties for Kamala" kickoff call can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 8/27/24...... In related news, Vice-President Harris recently took part in the music game Track Star, where she had to guess a song by a few seconds of its instrumental, winning money for each correct answer. Harris easily identified a song from Stevie Wonder, whom she called "one of the greatest musicians who ever lived... He's a lyricist, he's a poet, he's very active on social justice issues and he's actually a friend." After relating how both of her parents loved music, she concluded by noting that "the song everyone should know is Roy Ayers Ubiquity's 1976 hit, "Everybody Loves the Sunshine"... It's one of my favorite songs." Harris' appearance on Track Star can be viewed on TikTok. - Billboard, 8/23/24...... Previously unseen footage of David Bowie performing "Starman" during his Ziggy Stardust tour has been uncovered. In 2019, footage of Bowie's first TV appearance as Ziggy was unearthed after it was presumed lost for 47 years. The clip saw the late singer make his debut as his new and most legendary incarnation on UK ITV's Lift Off with Ayshea -- a month before his now iconic Top Of The Pops appearance. It was feared that the footage would never be seen again, as it was not stored by the station. However, the performance was recorded by one viewer and was found on an old computer tape in 2019, before later being included in the BBC documentary David Bowie: The First Five Years -- Finding Fame. The newly-shared video comes from the Bowie's Ziggy Stardust UK tour that took place between 1972 and 1973 and was filmed by late Bowie collaborator and photographer Mick Rock. Parlophone Records is releasing a new compilation of tour clips in celebration of the first-ever Dolby Atmos spatial audio version of Bowie's seminal 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The new mix of the album will be available on Blu-Ray Audio on Sept. 6. Bowie's previously unseen footage of "Starman," along with a new mix on the song, has been posted on YouTube. - NME, 8/27/24...... Former Megadeath guitarist Marty Friedman has revealed that he once missed out on a chance to join KISS because he was "too short." In an interview with Sam Ash Music (which can be viewed on YouTube), Friedman, best known for his decade-long tenure with Megadeth from 1990 to 2000, was asked if there was any KISS song he would have liked to play guitar on. "I would've wanted to be on any KISS song," Friedman responded. "I'll give you a quick story about that -- when they were changing guitar players a long time ago, I got a call from KISS' people. They say like, 'Do you think you'd be interested in auditioning for KISS?' I'm like, 'Tell me when and where.' They came back and were like, 'We've got a couple of questions for you. You don't have any facial hair, do you?' No. 'You got long hair right?' Right. 'You're skinny right?' Right. 'And you're over 6 feet tall?' and I'm like, 'What? I'm 5'7" but I'll have an operation, I'll do something.'" Unfortunately for Friedman, his height proved to be a deal-breaker. "They were like, 'I'm sorry, it's not going to work out.' I was so bummed." Despite the disappointment, Friedman acknowledged the importance of image for a group like KISS. "I get why they did it. KISS is meticulous about their image, and having a height difference wouldn't fit the band's aesthetic." - Billboard, 8/27/24...... Performing at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Aug. 23, Bruce Springsteen made it clear that he and his E Street Band won't retire from performing anytime soon, despite recent rumors to the contrary. In front of a passionate crowd, Springsteen dismissed any talk of a farewell tour with his signature sass. "We've been around for 50 f---ing years, and we ain't quitting!" he declared in a speech that has been shared by one fan on X. "We ain't doing no farewell tour bulls--t! Jesus Christ! No farewell tour for the E Street Band!" He added, "Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out. I ain't going anywhere!" However, the latest tour has not been without its challenges. Last September, Springsteen was forced to postpone several dates due to health issues, rescheduling them for 2024. The current leg of the tour will continue with performances in Toronto and Vancouver before wrapping up on Nov. 22. Fans can also look forward to the upcoming documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band, set to be released on Disney+ and Hulu this October. - Billboard, 8/26/24...... The never-ending legal war between the Ramones frontman Joey Ramone's brother and Johnny Ramone's widow over control of the iconic punk band heated up once again on Aug. 23 when Joey's brother Mitchel Hyman (better known as Mickey Leigh) filed a new lawsuit in Manhattan federal court accusding Johnny's wife, Linda Cummings-Ramone, of violating federal trademark law by carrying out an "unrelenting quest" to associate herself with the Ramones. As is typical of the nasty dispute between the two heirs (who each control exactly half of the band's holding company), the lawsuit pulled no punches -- calling Cummings-Ramone a former "groupie" with an "insatiable personal desire to shine a spotlight on herself." "Ms. Cummings-Ramone has made and continues to make blatant attempts to exploit and personally capitalize on and benefit from the name, goodwill and legacy of the Ramones -- that is, to try to push the false narrative that she is the heiress to & the Ramones' legacy," Leigh's lawyers write. "She most certainly is not. She is nothing more than a blatant self-promoter and an infringer." Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Ross Hyman) and Johnny Ramone (John William Cummings) were not actually brothers, and they had a notoriously chilly relationship during their decades as bandmates. In the years since the two died in the 2000s, that feud has seemingly continued between Leigh and Cummings-Ramone. As the executors of Joey's and Johnny's respective estates, Leigh and Cummings-Ramone each own half of Ramones Productions, the entity that controls the band's music and other assets. But that partnership has not gone smoothly, featuring multiple lawsuits and arbitrations over the past decade. The latest scuffle began in January, when Cummings-Ramone sued Leigh in New York state court over allegations that he had "covertly" developed an "unauthorized" biopic (believed to be Netflix's announced Ramones movie starring Pete Davidson as Joey). In the lawsuit, Cummings-Ramone said that any "authoritative story of the Ramones" would require her sign-off: "To permit defendants alone to tell the authoritative story of the Ramones would be an injustice to the band and its legacy." Eight months later, with the earlier case still pending, Leigh is now on offense -- claiming that Cummings-Ramone has infringed the band's trademarks held by Ramones Productions by using them herself. His new case repeatedly takes aim at her use of the name "Linda Ramone" despite the fact that "Ramone" was not the legal surname of her late husband nor any other band member. - Billboard, 8/26/24...... The English hard rock band Status Quo played what is likely their final show in Taunton, Somerset on Aug. 23. Status Quo, which formed back in 1962, concluded their most recent tour of Europe and the UK at the Taunton venue. In June, lead singer Francis Rossi had stated that this would be the band's final tour. "I don't think we will go again," he told the Daily Mirror. "And as far as the rest of the band are concerned it's the last tour too. I just can't see us doing it one more time." n 2023, Rossi also told Classic Rock magazine that their 2019 album Backbone, their 33rd album overall, would be their final one. Rossi blamed the band's decision not to make new music on royalty payouts by streaming platforms like Spotify: "It's even worse than it was when we were all getting ripped off in the sixties," he said. "It makes you sound mercenary saying it, but it's something we've sweated over and they're giving you a quarter of a penny per stream? F--k you. So do I think there'll be another Status Quo album? No, I don't," he said. While the band went on hiatus in 1984, they reconvened with a new line-up for 1985's Live Aid event. Status Quo shared a picture from their likely final gig on Instagram with a message for their fans. "That's a wrap! You, the Quo Army, did us proud. Thank you to every one of you for coming out and supporting us on #SQ24 and all the tours that came before," they write. "Thank you, Taunton and goodnight." Fan-shot footage of the band performing their "last song ever live," "Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)," can be viewed on YouTube. Status Quo's final show being in Taunton is fitting, as founding members Rossi and Rick Parfitt, who passed away in 2016, first met in Somerset. - NME, 8/25/24...... The last song that Alex and Eddie Van Halen ever wrote together will be included in the audiobook version of Alex's new memoir Brothers. Alex was the drummer and co-founder of Californian hard rock legends Van Halen, who he formed in 1972 with his younger brother, lead guitarist Eddie. The drummer has been largely absent from the public eye since the death of Eddie in 2020 at the age of 65, but is preparing to release his memoir on Oct. 22 via HarperCollins. the audiobook version of the book will feature a special treat for Van Halen fans: as Alex narrates his story, it will be soundtracked by "Unfinished," the final track he and Eddie wrote together. Speaking about the motivation behind writing Brothers, Alex has said: "This is my tribute to my brother; my way of saying goodbye. Ed, I love you and miss you. When I see you again, I'm gonna kick your ass! I was with him from day one. We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800-square-foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic." Van Halen disbanded in 2020 following Eddie's death. They released 12 albums in the period from their 1977 signing to 2020 and Alex and Eddie were the two constant members of the band throughout their career. - NME, 8/22/24...... The Jacaranda, the historic site where The Beatles first played, was honored with a commemorative plaque from World Origin Site on Aug. 23. In Aug. 1960 at The Jacaranda on Slater Street in Liverpool John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison played alongside Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best for their first performance under the name that was to make musical history, The Beatles. The location of this historic performance has long been acknowledged by dedicated fans and music historians, yet it remains relatively unknown to the wider fan base. However, this is about to change, as tourists to the Fab Four's hometown will soon be able to take a photo in front of the place where The Beatles truly began. World Origin Site places plaques at pivotal locations where groundbreaking events shaped the modern world. Among its accredited sites are landmarks such as the first rocket launch, the Wright brothers' inaugural powered flight, and the discovery of penicillin. The plaque at The Jacaranda marking The Beatles' first performance has now joined this esteemed company. While still embracing its Beatles heritage, The Jacaranda now thrives as more than a simple tourist spot. It hosts live music every night, serving as a vital hub for grassroots performances and sustaining Liverpool's musical heritage and future. "Being awarded World Origin Site status is an amazing privilege for us," says Graham Stanley, Director of The Jacaranda. "It probably wasn't a big gig for the band; their name and reputation were really made during the Hamburg tour which began just days later. But our venue is where they adopted the most famous band name in history." - Music-News.com, 8/23/24...... The estate of Isaac Hayes has been granted an emergency hearing over Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's use of the Hayes co-penned soul classic "Hold On, I'm Coming" without authorization during multiple recent campaign rallies. "The Federal Court has granted our request for an Emergency Hearing to secure injunctive relief," the late soul singer's song Isaac Hayes III wrote on X. "Donald Trump, the RNC, Trump, Trump for President Inc. 2024, Turning Point and The NRA are required to appear in court September 3rd, 2024 at the Northern U.S. District Federal Court in Atlanta. See you in court." On Aug. 11, lawyers for Isaac Hayes Enterprises filed a notice of copyright infringement and threatened further legal action against the Trump campaign over its use of the Sam & Dave classic at multiple Trump rallies without authorization from 2022-2024. Hayes III, writing on X on Aug. 10 and 11, said in part, "We demand the cessation of use, removal of all related videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, 2024. Failure to comply will result in further legal action." Hayes died Aug. 10, 2008, at the age of 65. He and David Porter wrote "Hold On, I'm Coming," which was recorded by soul duo Sam & Dave, and issued on the Stax label in 1966, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. - Billboard, 8/25/24...... Seventies hitmaker Roberta Flack is among the contributors to a new poetry album titled On Imagination which celebrates life through the lenses of contemporary African American poetry and lyrical art. Available now, the project features 12 poems performed by legendary Black women artists and cultural icons such as Flack, Valerie Simpson, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and Dr. Angela Y. Davis. The project was first revealed in commemoration of this year's Juneteenth celebration with Dr. Davis reciting Jordan's 1982 poem, "Moving Towards Home." The full-length album's cast of performers also includes Valerie June, Danyel Smith, Genesis Be, Lori Lightfoot and Flyana Boss. - Billboard, 8/24/24...... Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton has spoken out about how the future may look for the band after the band confirmed that their days of touring have come to an immediate end, following frontman Steven Tyler seriously injuring his voice at a gig on Sept. 9, 2023, in Elmont, N.Y. "First let me start by clearing up some information on Steven's injury," Hamilton said during a recent appearance on the podcast Charlie Kendall's Metalshop (available on YouTube). "We were playing the third show of our 'Peace Out' tour last September. During the third song of the set, Steven had a fall that resulted in a fracture to his larynx. Somehow he finished the show. Don't ask me how. It's a testament to his strength and desire to give the people what they came for. It wasn't a case of him blowing his throat out by doing something wrong." He continued, "He has been healing well and working his ass off to get ready to go back out on the road but it just wasn't possible. The decision was made by the team which includes the band and our dedicated management We don't know what the future holds but it won't include touring." Hamilton was also asked if the band would consider going on the road with a replacement vocalist in the future -- an idea which was quickly shot down by the musician. "There's been no talk at all about going on the road with another singer. I can't imagine it," he said. "I'm sure all of us have music in our future and it will manifest itself in ways that we haven't planned yet. I've been playing in a band with some good friends. We have a bunch of really good songs and we hope to be putting them out soon and hopefully doing some gigs," he added. - NME, 8/22/24...... Frank Carter and former Sex Pistols members Paul Cook, Glen Matlock and Steve Jones have announced four more dates around the UK in September. Having debuted with three fundraising nights at London's Bush Hall earlier in August, the quartet promptly announced a new London date at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London for Sept. 26, which sold out in 5 minutes. The new shows are this September at Nottingham Rock City (20th), Birmingham O2 Academy (21st), Glasgow O2 Academy (22nd) and Manchester Academy (24th). As with the earlier gigs, the band will be performing the Pistols' iconic 1977 album Never Mind The Bollocks... It's the Sex Pistols in its entirety. "There was an overwhelming response on social media from fans asking to play different parts of the country," says Steve Jones, "So guess what? It will be done. We will be tighter than a rat's arse by the time we get to Kentish Town." - Music-News.com, 8/23/24.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Mavis Staples, formerly of the legendary group The Staple Singers which charted two Billboard Hot 100 pop chart No. 1 hits in the Seventies with "I'll Take You There" in 1972 and "Let's Do It Again" in 1975, has claimed her first top 10 as a solo lead artist on a Billboard airplay chart thanks to "Worthy," which has risen three spots to No. 9 on the Adult Alternative Airplay survey dated Aug. 24. Concurrently, "Worthy" ranks at its No. 42 high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 858,000 audience impressions in the week ending Aug. 15, according to Luminate. Staples, 85, released her most recent album in 2022, the Levon Helm collaboration Carry Me Home, which was recorded in 2011 before Helm's death; it peaked at No. 2 on the Blues Albums chart, marking her fifth top 10. Her own We Get By became her first No. 1 on Blues Albums in 2019. Staples also made solo appearances on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 1970-92, along with a visit to Hot Gospel Songs in 2006. - Billboard, 8/21/24...... The owner of two reel-to-reel audio tapes containing a one-of-a-kind, superior-quality Beatles concert, recorded directly from the soundboard at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens on Aug. 17, 1965, says he's looking to sell the historic recording. Only seven people have purportedly heard the reels, from the show nearly 60 years ago at the height of Beatlemania. The question now is who will buy it, how much it could be worth -- and whether it will ever be released for the public at large to hear it. "I have never offered it for sale before," Piers Hemmingsen, a Toronto-based Beatles historian and author of The Beatles in Canada series, says. "This is the best recording of any Beatles concert in Canada, if not North America, other than what was professionally recorded for The Beatles themselves." For a band as legendary as the Beatles, any rare artifact is likely to draw a horde of prospective buyers, but a singular recording of a concert held at the band's apex is a rarity among rarities. Hemmingsen, who has a copy on three cassette tapes for listening purposes only, says the reels contain The Beatles' entire afternoon set, the opening acts, venue announcements about upcoming events (The Beach Boys, wrestling), and a press conference with The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein, their PR person Tony Barrow and the BBC's Brian Matthew, held at the long-shuttered Maple Leaf Gardens' Hot Stove Lounge. One appraiser estimated that the reels could be valued at between $60,000 and $80,000, and could go at auction for as much as $100,000 or more. But the only potential buyer with the ability to release the recording to the public would be The Beatles' Apple Corps -- and so far, there has been no offer. The Beatles played just nine concerts in Canada, six of which were at Maple Leaf Gardens: two on Sept. 7, 1964; two on Aug. 17, 1965; and two on Aug. 17, 1966. Hemmingsen also owns the only other known Toronto recording from one of the 1966 concerts, which he obtained on eBay in 2008 from a U.S. seller and donated to the University of Toronto in 2017. In related news, The Beatles' 1964 North American Tour contract archive is currently up for auction at Gottahaverockandroll.com and is estimated to sell for over $400,000. Included in this historic collection are 24 performance contracts signed by Beatles' manager Brian Epstein or NEMS employee Bernard Lee for every city The Beatles performed in during their historic North American tour from Aug. 19 to Sept. 18, 1964. Each contract also comes with the rider signed by either Brian Epstein or Bernard Lee. Missing is Kansas City, MO on Sept. 17, 1964 due to it being an "add-on" concert after the tour was set. While some performance contracts have surfaced for both the 1965 and 1966 tours, none have ever surfaced in a public auction for the 1964 tour making this archive a historic Smithsonian-type collection. All of the riders contain the infamous "Desegregation Clause." - Billboard/Music-News.com, 8/23/24...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Paul McCartney made a surprise appearance at an intimate show by producer Andrew Watt and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on Aug. 20 at the Stephen Talkhouse venue at the Hamptons, an affluent seaside area in New York. McCartney took to the stage midway through their set -- which saw Watt and Smith accompanied by guitarist G.E. Smith and a horn section -- where he performed covers of The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" and Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World." During the cover of the latter song, McCartney was joined on vocals by Watt's model girlfriend Charlotte Lawrence. The performance can be viewed on YouTube. In a Dec. 2023 profile by The New York Times, Watt revealed that he ended up writing an as-yet-released song with McCartney during what was planned as a casual meeting. "Suddenly, we had a song," Watt said. "From a cup of tea to a song. Doesn't it sound easy?" Before that rendezvous, McCartney guested on The Rolling Stones' 2023 album Hackney Diamonds that was produced by Watt. McCartney will kick off a tour of South America in October, along with three dates in Mexico in November. - New Musical Express, 8/21/24...... As Vice-President Kamala Harris was officially nominated to become the first Black woman and first Indian-American to accept a major party presidential nomination during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19-22, a slew of entertainers including '70s artists Stevie Wonder and Pattie LaBelle. Appearing on the third night of the convention on Aug. 21, Wonder said, "We must keep on keeping on until we are truly a united people of these United States and then we will reach a higher ground" before launching into a spirited rendition of his beloved 1972 classic "Higher Ground." Night two (Aug. 20) saw Patti LaBelle belt her way through "You Are My Friend" to soundtrack the in memoriam segment. The emotional performance marked a notable return to the DNC for the icon, who previously covered Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" at the 2004 convention, when John Kerry was voted the party's presidential nominee. The soul legend has also thrown her music support behind the Joe Biden administration, performing on the White House South Lawn for the President's Juneteenth concert on June 10. Neil Young gave permission for vice-presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz to cap his emotional acceptance speech on Aug. 21 with a recording of "Rockin' in the Free World." In 2020, Young sued Republican nominee Donald Trump for copyright infringement for playing "Rockin'" and "Devil's Sidewalk" at rallies, with Young saying that in "good conscience" he could not allow his music to be used by the divisive former reality TV star. Unfortunately for fans of James Taylor, a planned performance by the folk-rock icon was cut for time amid a lengthier-than-planned lineup of speakers on the first night of the convention -- something Taylor addressed in a statement posted to X the following day. In his message to fans, Taylor began by saying he was fully prepared to go on stage at the Chicago event, having had a "great rehearsal" prior to his scheduled performance time. Photos and videos on social media also show that he and his band had done a soundcheck shortly before he was cut. "It was exciting to see and hear so many of the speakers at the opening night of the Democratic convention here in Chicago," he wrote. "But it became clear, as the evening unfolded, that there wouldn't be time for our 'You've Got a Friend' with cello and voices." The "Fire and Rain" musician went on to suggest that "maybe the organizers couldn't anticipate the wild response from the floor of the United Center... Anyway, sorry to disappoint," he added. "But a great and inspirational, quintessentially American moment. We were honored to be there." - Billboard, 8/23/24...... Ozzy Osbourne fans are probably familiar with Ozzy's love of dogs, and now Osbourne is mourning the loss of his beloved fur baby Rocky. Osbourne, 75, took to Instagram on Aug. 22 to share the news of his death of his 15-year-old best pal Pomeranian. "Two days ago I lost my good friend Rocky who has been at my side for 15 years," he tweeted on Aug. 22 alongside a pic of the adorable little guy snuggled in his arms. "I'll see you on the other side my friend. I love you always." Ozzy is slated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist on Oct. 19 in Cleveland. Though he isn't likely to perform for his second induction -- Black Sabbath was enshrined in 2006 -- he said in a recent statement that he plans to attend the ceremony. "I'm really looking forward to attending the induction ceremony in Cleveland this October," Ozzy said. "More importantly, I am so blessed to have had such an incredible career with amazing fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin over the years." - Billboard, 8/23/24...... Don McLean says he does not want a slice of his smash Seventies hit "American Pie" if it comes topped with "woke bulls--t" -- something he spoke at length about in a new interview with Metro. When asked about his iconic hit which topped the pop chart for four weeks in 1972, the 78-year-old singer/songwriter said he feels the eight-minute-plus track predicted the current state of the U.S. "The song really does open up a whole historical question about what happened in the '60s and assassinations and the history that forms the backbone of the song as it moves forward," he said. "This song talks about the fact that things are going somewhat in the wrong direction, and I think that they're still going in the wrong direction. I think most people looking at America now kind of think that too." He continued: "I mean, we certainly have a wonderful country, and we do wonderful things, but we also are in the middle of all this woke bullsh--t," he continued. "All this other stuff that there is absolutely no point to, as far as I can see, other than to undermine people's beliefs in the country. That's very bad." "There's so much anger out there," he added. "So many of these college students have been given everything, and they're just angry. They don't know why they're angry. They don't even know what to be angry about. It's really a symptom of the fact that they're frustrated. They don't have a path that they can tread in life that leads to a better life." Meanwhile In another interview with The Standard, McLean described Taylor Swift as a "monster star, the size of the galaxy" and a "person who is an example of what talent and really hard work can accomplish." "She's working all of the time, and she does everything that she does better than everybody else, whether it's a video or a performance or songwriting or records or whatever," he added. "The only thing is that she stays happy." Before Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021, "American Pie" was the longest song to ever reach No. 1 on the singles chart. After the song's 4-week record was broken, McLean told Billboard, "If I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor." - Billboard, 8/21/24...... Journey guitarist Neal Schon has offered his side of the story in his dispute with his bandmate Jonathan Cain concerning Cain's recent lawsuit against him over what he describes as Schon's tour-related expenses including "budgeting and spending" of the band's credit card over personal expenses. Cain filed the suit at the end of July while Journey was on a co-headline tour in the US with Def Leppard, along with guests The Steve Miller Band and Cheap Trick, and Journey has since cancelled their UK and Ireland 50th anniversary arena tour, which was due to run in October and November. Now, in a new Facebook post, Schon has offered his side of the story, and has revealed that the band have opted to bring in "someone impartial" to help smooth over their differences. "Anyone who follows Journey will know that Jon Cain and I don't always see eye-to-eye on everything Or, sometimes, on pretty much anything," he wrote. "Recently, Jon Cain made a number of claims and slanderous accusations about me and my wife -- and I can't stress enough how much it upset me and how wrong they are. I am determined to take the high road and push all this aside for the moment to focus on our fans, the tour and all who give so much to make things happen," he added. Schon went on to say he's "glad that Jon now agrees with me that the current dynamic can't continue and it's also why I'm pleased that we're going to bring in someone impartial to help us resolve our disputes, bring clarity to what we're doing and allow us, as a band, to get back to what we should all focus on -- making music and performing for our fans." Cain claims that Schon exceeded a nightly limit of $1,500 for hotel accommodation, which was allegedly previously agreed upon, and has spent up to $10,000 per night for hotel rooms for him and his wife. He also alleges that Schon has allowed Journey's road crew to fly business class, to book hotel rooms in their home cities, and to travel between cities via private jet -- all without authorization from Cain. - New Musical Express, 8/24/24...... Daryl Hall shut down his Aug. 21 concert at the PNE Fair in Vancouver, Canada after just three songs, saying he felt ill. The Philly soul veteran's manager Jonathan Wolfson said afterward that he has tested positive for Covid and would also be cancelling an Aug. 23 show at the Albertsons Boise Open in Idaho. "Daryl feels horrible about having to cancel and would like to thank the many concerned fans for their well wishes," said Wolfson in a statement. PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance said Hall tried to perform as part of the PNE Fair's Summer Night Concerts series but "he left the stage because he was not well and couldn't return." "He wants his fans in Vancouver to know how sorry he is and he looks forward to returning to Vancouver soon," said Ballance. "I know that the PNE along with all of his fans here in B.C. are sending him our best wishes to feel better soon." Hall had stepped into the concert lineup after '70s new wave rockers Blondie cancelled a series of shows including the Vancouver date. - Canoe.com, 8/22/24...... Music by John Williams, a documentary exploring the career of legendary film composer John Williams, will have its world premiere at the American Film Institute's 38th AFI Fest on Oct. 23 in Los Angeles. The film -- produced by Lucasfilm Ltd., Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries -- takes a comprehensive look at Williams' unparalleled career, which includes 54 Oscar nominations and five wins for the likes of Jaws, Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler's List. Following the World Premiere at AFI FEST presented by Canva, Music by John Williams will have a limited theatrical release and will premiere on Disney+ on Nov. 1. - Billboard, 8/22/24...... Nearly 18 years after the death of James Brown, the privately held music publishing and talent management company Primary Wave is planning to reinvigorate the "Godfather of Soul"'s legacy starting with Brown's home in Brown's Beech Island, S.C. The estate sits on 62.8 acres on James Brown Boulevard, behind wrought-iron gates and down a sloping drive that passes through a lake and several other outbuildings. The house is built around an Asian garden in the center, where Brown liked to sit. Primary Wave, founded by veteran label executive Larry Mestel in 2006, purchased the assets of Brown's estate in Dec. 2021 for a reported $90 million, and the company has a long history of reinvigorating the intellectual property of music's giants, both living and departed, whether through new remixes, samples or interpolations of their work, partnerships with brands. But the Brown deal marked the first time the company acquired an actual house, and is hoping it could become the "next Graceland." The compound, which sits just across the Savannah River from Augusta, Ga., was a home almost entirely preserved as it was on the day Brown died on Christmas day 2006, down to the Christmas tree that still stands in the foyer, with unopened presents underneath. If things go to plan, Augusta, Ga. will soon be even more widely known as the home of James Brown -- the City of Soul, perhaps, or of Funk -- where his legacy and influence are on full display. "In order to create an overall immersive experience, we need the city of Augusta to help tell those stories," says Primary Wave's Songhay Taylor, who runs point on all things Brown house-related. "Where he shoeshined, where he buck-danced, where he would do shows, where he went to church -- all of those things that are part of the overall story." - Billboard, 8/22/24...... AC/DC played their final gig of their 2024 comeback tour on Aug. 17 at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. The Aussie rock legends' 21-song setlist saw them perform the likes of "Thunderstruck," "Hell's Bells," "High Way To Hell," "Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" and more from their five-decade-long career. The show closed out their comeback tour and saw the group kick off the celebratory night with their hits "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" and "Back To Black." The set also featured "Demon Fire" and "Shot In The Dark"' from their latest album, 2020's Power Up. The band also dusted off some deep cuts such as "Riff Raff," "Stiff Upper Lip," "Shot Down in the Flames" and "Rock 'n' Roll Train'." The show marked the final extended set of dates with vocalist Brian Johnson since 2016. That year, Johnson had to step away from the band's '"Rock or Bust Tour" due to hearing issues, with Axl Rose stepping in and joining the band for two dozen gigs. Their Dublin performance of "Back in Black" has been shared on YouTube. - NME, 8/20/24...... Foreigner has shared an unreleased track called "Turning Back the Time" from their upcoming compilation of the same name ahead of that 18-song best-of sets release on Oct. 4 via Rhino Records. "There are a number of songs that Lou Gramm and I wrote together that have never seen the light of day," Foreigner founder Mick Jones says. " Turning Back the Time' was co-written with Marti Frederiksen. Marti and I recently revisited and reworked the song. Because of the time that had passed we were able to go back to it with a fresh perspective. The sentiment of the song spoke to us now more than ever and with the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction we thought it an ideal time to let the world hear it." The upbeat and melodic track weighs in at just under three minutes, with lyrics about "the times I was growing up and the road that brought me here," and how seeing the Beatles on TV "changed everything deep inside of me." It also references "the double vision day," a nod to Foreigner's second album. Particularly poignant in light of Jones' battle with Parkinson's disease, which has kept him off stage for the last few years, the chorus intones, "There's something missing my life, so I'm turning back the time." The album's other 17 tracks draw from Foreigner's nine studio albums, including "When It Comes to Love" with current Foreigner frontman Kelly Hansen. - Billboard, 8/20/24...... Phil Collins may be working on new music for the first time in over two decades according to record producer and journalist Simon Napier-Bell, who has interviewed Collins at his home in Switzerland for a new documentary about the UK's iconic Marquee Club, which closed its doors in 2008 after 50 years. Posting on Facebook on Aug. 19, Napier-Bell wrote that Collins was "in top form, full of wicked stories," and "hugely fun," before revealing that the former Genesis singer/drummer had recently had his studio revamped. "For sure, before too long we're going to hear some new music," Napier-Bell continued. Collins hasn't released an album of original music since Disney's Brother Bear soundtrack in 2003. One year prior to that, he released his last solo studio album Testify. In June, Collins announced a 30th anniversary box set of his 1993 album Both Sides, due for release on Sept. 20 via Rhino Records. The lavish Both Sides (All the Sides) box set comes with five vinyl records -= two of which are the original album remastered at half-speed by Abbey Road Studios' Miles Showell, and three feature demos, B-sides and live recordings from that era. In 2023, Collins' Genesis bandmate Mike Rutherford shared an update on the singer's health, saying he was "much more immobile than he used to be." Collins has experienced issues with his health since suffering a spinal injury in 2007, which damaged vertebrae in his upper neck and also left him with nerve damage. The injury has impacted his ability to perform, and at Genesis' last ever show in Mar. 2022, he performed in a wheelchair. - NME, 8/20/24...... KISS' Gene Simmons was presented with the keys to Niagara Falls city and North Tonawanda in New York during a special ceremony held in front of North Tonawanda City Hall on Aug. 18. That's not all however, as Mayor Robert Restaino revealed that a downtown street in Niagara Falls -- running between a section of Main Street between Pine and Cedar avenues -- has also been temporarily renamed to Gene Simmons Boulevard as an act of acknowledgement toward Simmons' significant investments in the Niagara Falls-based beverage business Rock Steady Sodas. Simmons said in a portion of his speech: "The business community in Upstate New York is alive and thriving, and I am honoured to be a part of it. This is the ideal picture of a homegrown family business exemplifying strong values and commitment to quality. The people and their work ethic make Niagara Falls a wonderful place to do business." The ceremony can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 8/20/24.

Monday, August 19, 2024

Bob Dylan will contribute a cover of the Cole Porter standard "Don't Fence Me In" for an upcoming biopic about former Pres. Ronald Reagan. Starring Dennis Quaid as the 40th President of the United States, the film will also feature music by Gene Simmons, Clint Black and Tanya Tucker. Dylan's rendition of the Porter-written classic, which was popularized by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters, Gene Autry, Kate Smith and more performers in the 1940s, will reportedly play during the end credits of Reagan. Quaid, a conservative who is currently supporting former president and current 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, told Spin magazine that he was "honored to have Bob join our film." "We gave him the freedom to do any song he wanted to do, whether an original or a cover, and he chose 'Don't Fence Me In.' That was extra special since it was a song that Gene [Autry] made famous. Bob is a great lover of the American Songbook and we were delighted with the way he delivered the song. He's a national treasure and was the perfect addition to the film." The Sean McNamara-directed film, which hits theaters on Aug. 30, will also include Gene Simmons' version of the 1930s standard "Stormy Weather" and Clint Black's take on John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," according to Spin. - Billboard, 8/18/24...... A Missouri woman has been federally charged with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft following an alleged attempt to fraudulently sell Elvis Presley's Graceland earlier in 2024. Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, was arrested for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, Presley's mansion located in Memphis, Tenn. The fate of Graceland was thrown into question in May, when a deed of trust emerged, which was allegedly signed by Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley in 2018 to secure a $3.8 million loan from Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC in Missouri. The company claimed that Graceland was used as collateral in the loan, which was never paid back. On Aug. 16, the US Justice Department alleged that Findley falsely claimed Lisa Marie, who died unexpectedly in Jan. 2023, took out the loan from Naussany Investments -- a bogus private lender -- pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan and failed to repay the debt. The DOJ alleged that Findley was seeking $2.85 million from Presley's family to settle the alleged debt, and published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper announcing that Graceland would be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Prosecutors also claimed that Findley used a variety of aliases associated with a fictitious private lender called Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC (Naussany Investments). This includes allegedly posing as a Nigerian scammer to take credit for the plan earlier this year. If convicted, Findley could face up to 20 years in prison. In May, it was reported that actress Riley Keough -- who is also the granddaughter of the late music icon and the current owner of Graceland -- was taking legal action to halt the court-approved sale of the estate. After taking the matter to court, it was confirmed just days before the auction that Keough had been successful in her plea, and a Tennessee judge had blocked the planned sale of Graceland. Later in May, a self-described scammer based in Nigeria came forward to take credit for the plan to send the iconic property to auction -- saying that he was working as part of an identity theft ring. The DOJ is now alleging that Findley was posing as the scammer. Elvis first purchased the mansion back in 1957, and lived there until his death in 1977. In the years since, it has been a popular destination for fans who want to pay their respects to the musician. Elvis is buried there, as are his parents, his daughter Lisa Marie, and her son Benjamin Keough. - New Musical Express, 8/17/24...... In other Elvis-related news, superfans of the King of Rock 'n' Roll will soon be able to take a $6K for a day insider tour of Graceland. A group of up to four people, and up to only eight guests per day, will be given access to some of the Presley family's favorite places on the Graceland grounds for the first time since it opened to the public in 1982. On the seven-hour tour, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy access to the family's favorite activities with golf cart rides around the grounds, a horse photo op and guided walk through the home's front pasture, and a "high-end dinner" at the newly renovated Moriah's House, which is said to offer stunning views of Graceland's landscape from the back pasture. (Moriah's House was named after Lisa Marie Presley's pony, which was once housed there.) The new "Presley for a Day Tour" launches on Sept. 6, and tours are now available to book through Jan. 2025 at the Graceland.com website. - Billboard, 8/15/24...... Seventies R&B singers Candi Staton and William Bell will be among 10 artists inducted into the 2024 class of inductees of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Staton topped Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1976 with "Young Hearts Run Free," while Bell hit No. 1 on the same chart with "Tryin' to Love Two" in 1977. Other performers inducted include legendary drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles, Jeffrey Osbourne, Regina Belle, Terry Stewart, Kenny Lattimore, Rose Marie McCoy, Ginuwine and Ken Hawkins. The 13th annual National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Oct. 6 at the Marriott Cleveland East in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. More than 300 R&B artists inducted since its National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame's inception in 2013. The roster includes legends such as James Brown, Prince, B.B. King, New Edition, The O'Jays, The Temptations, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson and Whitney Houston. - Billboard, 8/16/24...... Barbra Streisand was the marquee star participating in a virtual "Jewish Women For Kamala" rally on Aug. 15 in support of Democratic presidential contender Vice-President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. "It's been said that Jewish women are known to speak out and tell you what they think and I'm one of them," said Streisand, seated in a bespoke library. "I'm so tired of hearing [former Pres. Donald] Trump put down America, saying 'Make America Great Again' because America has been great since 1776. And it's still great in 2024." The "Evergreen" singer said she's supporting Harris/Walz because she wants a president who believes we can "do anything if we work together." She praised the replacement Democratic ticket for bringing a new sense of "optimism, energy and excitement" to the campaign since Harris stepped in for Pres. Joe Biden more than two weeks ago in an unprecedented switch at the top of the ticket with less than 100 days to go in the neck-and-neck race. The full 90-min. "Jewish Women for Kamala" call can be viewed on YouTube. The call is the latest in a series of similar digital rallies that have brought together the likes of "white dudes," Deadheads, Swifties, Black men and women and several other niche voting demos that have drawn more than 16,000 attendees, according to organizers. - Billboard, 8/16/24...... Willie Nelson's son Micah Nelson says his 91-year-old dad is "facing death with grace" on Willie's upcoming studio album Last Leaf on the Tree. "There are little side-quests, but that became the through-line - facing death with grace," says Micah, who also produced the LP. The album's first single, released on Aug. 15, is a cover of Tom Waits' "Last Leaf" which Willie previously recorded as a collaboration with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards back in 2011. Last Leaf on the Tree also features another Waits song -- "House Where Nobody Lives" -- as well as covers of tracks by the Flaming Lips, Beck and Neil Young. The album also features "Wheels" which was written by Micah and "Color of Sound," a collaboration by Willie and Micah. Micah previously worked with his dad on the Nelson family albums Willie and the Boys in 2017 and 2021's The Willie Nelson Family but this is the first time he has produced one of his dad's records. Last Leaf on the Tree, Willie's 153rd album and 76th studio album, will land on Nov. 1 via Legacy Recordings. - Music-News.com, 8/16/24...... The Hipgnosis Song Fund, a six-year-old, London-listed investment trust that has amassed a huge catalog of 65,000 copyrights including songs by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Journey, Shakira, Blondie and Neil Young among others, is suing Barry Manilow over bonus payments relating to its acquisition of the singer's catalog four years ago. The lawsuit was filed at the High Court in London on Aug. 12 and the case is listed as breach of contract, but details of the claim are not publicly available. Three defendants are listed on the court filing: Manilow; Manilow Productions; and the artist's management company -- Hastings, Clayton & Tucker Inc trading as Stiletto Entertainment. News of the court case was first reported by the Financial Times, and the claim is understood to be for a low sum in the single digit millions. A spokesperson for Hipgnosis described the dispute as a "routine commercial matter concerning the interpretation of certain clauses in a contract regarding bonus payments, which the court is ideally placed to address." "While we regret that this couldn't be resolved directly between the parties, we continue to hold Barry and his music in the highest possible regard and we are confident that this can be resolved in a fair and reasonable way," the spokesperson went on to say. The court action comes almost exactly four years after Hipgnosis announced that it had acquired 100% of Manilow's worldwide recording royalties (excluding SoundExchange royalties) in his catalog, comprising 917 songs, for an undisclosed figure. The deal included some of the 81-year-old singer's biggest hits, including "Mandy," "I Write the Songs," "Looks Like We Made It," "Can't Smile Without You" and "Copacabana (At the Copa)." In July, the private equity group Blackstone completed a $1.6-billion acquisition of Hipgnosis following a tumultuous year in which the publicly traded fund faced a shareholder revolt following a series of missteps and accounting scandals, culminating in bitter infighting between the fund's board and its investment manager, Hipgnosis Song Management. - Billboard, 8/14/24...... Those not fortunate enough to attend the Sept. 2023 all-star tribute to Bruce Springsteen's beloved 1982 solo album Nebraska in Nashville will get a chance to view the event when Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska: A Celebration in Words and Music start airing on most PBS stations across the country on Aug. 31 (some stations will begin showing as early as mid-August, check your local listings). The first trailer for the special features footage of Noah Kahan singing an acoustic "Atlantic City" and musician/author Warren Zanes talking about the enduring legacy of the sparse album about dead-enders, law benders and no chancers struggling to rise above. "Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska has stayed with me over decades," says Zanes, who hosts the show and wrote a whole book about the album, 2023's Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. The preview also features Emmylou Harris singing "The Price You Pay," Lyle Lovett crooning "My Father's House," Lucinda Williams tackling another non-Nebraska classic, "Born in the U.S.A." and Eric Church performing a touching solo version of the Born in the U.S.A. album hit "Dancing In the Dark." The special was taped during an intimate gig at Analog in Nashville's Hutton Hotel on Sept. 19, 2023, with the musicians performing covers in between Zanes' storytelling about the songs recorded in The Boss' New Jersey bedroom. "I wrote a book about Nebraska because the recording stayed with me over decades," Zanes said in a statement. "Every time there was trouble in my life I reached for Nebraska. When I started doing events around the book's publication, I quickly realized the best of them had music. When I went to Nashville, I had a remarkable cast of musicians to help me tell this story." - Billboard, 8/14/24...... Sting recently teamed up with legendary French highwire stuntman Philippe Petit as the latter recreated his iconic Twin Towers highwire stunt -- an unauthorized walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City done on Aug. 7, 1974 -- for the 50th anniversary of the amazing stunt. Petit, 74, took the opportunity to recreate the stunt at Manhattan's Cathedral of St. John the Divine as Sting sat down below and performed his tracks "Fragile" and "Fields Of Gold'" while accompanied by a live orchestra. Sting closed out the night with a song titled "Let the Great World Spin" from his upcoming musical about Petit. The stunt can be viewed on TikTok. Sadly, Petit would never be able to actually recreate his famous highwire stunt across the Twin Towers due to the terrorist attack on Sept.11, 2001 which saw the collapse of both buildings. Speaking to the AP about his latest performance, Petit shared that his aim was not to "remind people of the doomed day," but to honour his remarkable feat and the legacy of the towers. "It adds a certain significance when you discuss a legend or a piece of history, even when the object of that history is no longer present. That's the miracle of memory," he said. Meanwhile, Sting is currently on tour and is set to make his way to North America soon with an Aug. 31 concert in Aspen, Col., followed by September shows in Detroit, Toronto, St. Louis and Philadelphia. His 30-show/15-city run will wrap with three-night stand in Los Angeles beginning Nov. 12. - NME, 8/13/24...... On Aug. 19 John Cale took to Instagram to announce details of a 2025 UK and European tour, set to kick off at Le Trianon in Paris on Mar. 3. From there, it'll continue the following night with a show at Cirque Royal in Brussels and on Mar. 6 with a stop at Tollhaus in Karlsruhe. Further shows include dates in Munich, Stuttgart, Luxembourg, Berling, Utrecht and more, before Cale heads over to the UK for eight headline dates beginning on Mar. 20 in Nottingham, followed by shows in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and more. From there, the tour wraps up with a final stop at Vicar Street in Dublin on Mar. 31. The tour arrives on the heels of The Velvet Underground founder and Welsh musician releasing his most recent studio album, POPtical Illusion in June. Produced by Cale and longtime partner Nita Scott in Los Angeles, it marked his second album in just over a year, and features his new single "Davies and Whales." - NME, 8/19/24...... Keith Richards' iconic Gibson L6S Guitar, which the Rolling Stones guitarist used in 1975/1976, is currently up for auction on GottaHaveRockandRoll.com. Gibson Guitars gave the guitar to Richards to get him to try and endorse the guitar, and Richards then gave it to Patrick Stansfield, the Stones' tour manager in the 1970's. Stansfield acquired the guitar directly from Keith and then sold it in the early 2000's. An identical guitar can be seen in the Stones' "Hot Stuff" and "Fool To Cry" promotional videos as well as several European shows. The starting bid is $20,000, and it's expected to fetch between $50,000-$100,000. - Music-News.com, 8/15/24...... Beloved power pop musician Greg Kihn, best known for his Top 40 hits "Jeopardy" and "The Breakup Song," died on Aug. 13 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 75. Born on July 10, 1949, in Baltimore, Md., Kihn moved to San Francisco in the mid 1970s, where he became one of the first artists signed to Matthew King Kaufman's Beserkley Records. He formed the Greg Kihn Band, featuring guitarist Robbie Dunbar, bassist Steve Wright, and drummer Larry Lynch, and the group released a self-titled album in 1976. Through the 1970s, Kihn released an album each year. In 1981, Kihn scored his first major hit with "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)," from the Rockihnroll album. The track hit No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop songs chart. Two years later, he unveiled the dance-ready hit, "Jeopardy," which climbed to No. 2 on the Hot 100 in May 1983. Beyond his success as a musician, Kihn was also an accomplished author. He wrote four horror fiction novels, including 1996's Horror Show and 1998's Shade of Pale. 1998's Big Rock Beat and 1999's Mojo Hand were written as sequels to Horror Show. He also wrote Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians, which compiled stories from him and other rock musicians including Pete Townshend, Joan Jett and more. His 2013 novel, Rubber Soul, was a Beatles-themed murder mystery story. Kihn is survived by Jay Arafiles-Kihn, his wife; his son, Ryan Kihn, and daughter, Alexis Harrington-Kihn; as well as his grandchildren. - Billboard, 8/15/24...... Maurice Williams, a rhythm and blues singer and composer who with his backing group The Zodiacs became one of music's great one-shot acts with the classic ballad "Stay," died on Aug. 6 at the age of 86. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame revealed news of the death and did not immediately provide further details. A writer and performer since childhood, Mr. Williams had been in various harmony groups when he and The Zodiacs began a studio session in 1960. They unexpectedly made history near the end with their recording of "Stay," which Mr. Williams had dashed off as a teenager a few years earlier. Over hard chants of "Stay!" by his fellow vocalists, Mr. Williams carried much of the song and its plea to an unnamed girl. Midway, he stepped back and gave the lead to Shane Gaston and one of rock's most unforgettable falsetto shouts -- "Oh, won't you stay, just a little bit longer!" Barely over 1 minute, 30 seconds, "Stay" is among the shortest chart-toppers of the rock era, the song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in Nov.1960 and was the group's only major success. But it was covered by the likes of The Hollies and The Four Seasons among others early on and endured as a favorite oldie, and is perhaps best known from when Jackson Browne sang it live for his 1977 Running On Empty album. "Stay" also was performed by Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and others at the 1979 No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden, and appeared in its original version on the blockbuster Dirty Dancing soundtrack from 1987. The song was inspired by a teenage crush of Mr. Williams's, Mary Shropshire. "(Mary) was the one I was trying to get to stay a little longer," he told the North Carolina publication Our State in 2012. "Of course, she couldn't." Mr. Williams was born in Lancaster, S.C., and sang with family members in church while growing up. He was in his teens when he formed a gospel group, the Junior Harmonizers, who became the Royal Charms as they evolved into secular music and then the Zodiacs in honor of a Ford car they used on the road. Meanwhile, he was a prolific writer and needed little time to finish what became his signature hit. "It took me about 30 minutes to write 'Stay,' then I threw it away," he later told www.classicsbands.com. "We were looking for songs to record as Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. I was over at my girlfriend's house playing the tape of songs I had written, when her little sister said, 'Please do the song with the high voice in it.' I knew she meant 'Stay.' She was about 12 years old and I said to myself, 'She's the age of record buying,' and the rest is history. I thank God for her." - Billboard, 8/17/24...... Pioneering daytime talk show host Phil Donahue, who launched an indelible television genre that made household names of Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Kelly Clarkson and many others, died on Aug. 18 after a long illness. He was 88. Dubbed "the king of daytime talk," Mr. Donahue was the first to incorporate audience participation in a talk show, typically during a full hour with a single guest. "Just one guest per show? No band?" he remembered being routinely asked in his 1979 memoir, Donahue, My Own Story. The format set The Phil Donahue Show apart from other interview shows of the 1960s and made it a trendsetter in daytime television, where it was particularly popular with female audiences. Later renamed Donahue, the program launched in Dayton, Ohio, in 1967. Mr. Donahue's willingness to explore the hot-button social issues of the day emerged immediately, when he featured atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair as his first guest. He would later air shows on feminism, homosexuality, consumer protection and civil rights, among hundreds of other topics. The show was syndicated in 1970 and ran on national television for the next 26 years, racking up 20 Emmy Awards for the show and for Mr. Donahue as host, as well as a Peabody for Donahue in 1980. It included radio-style call-ins, which Mr. Donahue greeted with his signature, "Is the caller there?" The show's last episode aired in 1996 in New York, where Mr. Donahue was living with his wife, actress Marlo Thomas. He met Thomas, the That Girl star of the 1960s who was a household name at the time and would later become a regular on Friends, when she appeared on his show in 1977. He was born Phillip John Donahue on Dec. 21, 1935, part of a middle-class Irish Catholic family in Cleveland. After a series of early jobs in radio and TV, Mr. Donahue was invited to move an earlier radio talk show to Dayton's WLWD television station in 1967. It moved in 1974 to Chicago, where it stayed for years, then ended its run in New York. Mr. Donahue returned briefly to television in 2002, hosting another Donahue show on MSNBC. The station canceled it after six months, citing low ratings. Mr. Donahue also co-directed the 2006 documentary Body of War, which was nominated for an Oscar. - AP, 8/19/24...... Peter Marshall, who hosted the popular game show The Hollywood Squares for more than 15 years and had a long career as an actor, singer and comic, died on Aug. 15 of kidney failure at his Encino, Calif. home. He was 98. Mr. Marshall won four Daytime Emmys for hosting the syndicated Hollywood Squares from 1966-81. The tic-tac-toe game featured two contestants agreeing or disagreeing with celebrities who provided answers to Mr. Marshall's questions -- which ranged from silly to ribald. The format has been revived a few times over the years, with a new 2024 edition hosted by Nate Burleson with Drew Barrymore in the famed center square is to premiere in midseason. Among the scores of stars who appeared on Hollywood Squares were Walter Matthau, Gloria Swanson, Glenn Ford and Milton Berle, as well as regulars Paul Lynde -- who often killed as the center square -- Rose Marie, Nipsey Russell, Cliff Arquette and Wally Cox. Born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30, 1926, in Huntington, W.V., Mr. Marshall had a long career in showbiz before his Hollywood Squares gig. Boasting a memorable voice, he worked as a DJ for Armed Forces Radio after being drafted into the Army stint during World War II and as an NBC page and a theater usher. Mr. Marshall teamed with Tommy Noonan in 1949 for a comedy act that sold out nightclubs and did The Ed Sullivan Show twice. They appeared together in movies including The Rookie (1959) and Swingin' Along (1961). He had bit parts in some early 1950s movies and became an contract player at Twentieth Century Fox, appearing in such films as Ensign Pulver, The Cavern and Annie, in which he played radio crooner Bert Healy. He got his TV start guesting on '50s variety shows as part of a comedy team with Tommy Farrell. Later that decade, he appeared in episodes of series including Men of Annapolis and The Millionaire. He also appeared in Manhattan Tower, the first color special NBC aired. Mr. Marshall authored the 2002 memoir Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square. He is survived by his Laurie, his wife of 35 years, two daughters, one son and 12 grandchildren. Another son, David LaCock, died of Covid complications in 2021. - Deadline.com, 8/15/24...... Revered actress Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker The Notebook, died on Aug. 14 at her home in Indian Wells, Calif. She was 94. Her passing was confirmed on Aug. 14 by representatives for her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes, who revealed earlier in 2024 that his mother had Alzheimer's disease. Operating outside the studio system, the husband-and-wife team of John Cassavetes and Ms. Rowlands created indelible portraits of working-class strivers and small-timers in such films as A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria and Faces. Ms. Rowlands made 10 films across four decades with Cassavetes, including Minnie and Moskowitz in 1971, Opening Night in 1977 and Love Streams in 1984. She earned two Oscar nods for two of them: 1974's A Woman Under the Influence, in which she played a wife and mother cracking under the burden of domestic harmony, and Gloria in 1980, about a woman who helps a young boy escape the mob. In addition to the Oscar nominations, Ms. Rowlands earned three Primetime Emmy Awards, one Daytime Emmy and two Golden Globes. She was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 2015 in recognition of her work and legacy in Hollywood. "You know what's wonderful about being an actress? You don't just live one life," she said at the podium. "You live many lives." A new generation was introduced to Ms. Rowlands in her son's blockbuster romantic drama The Notebook, in which she played a woman whose memory is ravaged, looking back on a romance for the ages. Her younger self was portrayed by Rachel McAdams. (She also appeared in Nick Cassavetes' Unhook the Stars in 1996.) In her later years, Ms. Rowlands made several appearances in films and TV, including in The Skeleton Key and the detective series Monk. Her last appearance in a movie was in 2014, playing a retiree who befriends her gay dance instructor in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. Her other notable movies included Lonely Are the Brave with Kirk Douglas, Two Minute Warning (Charlton Heston), Tempest (co-starring with Cassavetes and Molly Ringwald, in her screen debut) and the mother who wants to do right by her children in Paul Schrader's 1987 study of a blue-collar family Light of Day. When no film scripts attracted her, she appeared in TV series such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bonanza, Dr. Kildare and The Virginian. One of her career delights was co-starring with her icon Bette Davis on the TV movie Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter in 1979. She and Cassavetes met at the American School of Dramatic Arts when both their careers were beginning. They married four months later. In 1960 Cassavetes used his earnings from the TV series Johnny Stacatto to finance his first film, Shadows. Partly improvised, shot with natural light on New York locations with a $40,000 budget, it was applauded by critics for its stark realism. - AP, 8/14/24.

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

A rep for Frankie Valli has confirmed the 90-year-old Four Seasons legend is doing fine after he appeared to struggle during an Aug. 3 show in Saratoga, Calif. During the concert, Valli appeared weak and struggled to lip-sync to some of his biggest hits during his performance. A video of the show, which has since gone viral on social media, showed the "My Eyes Adored You" singer holding onto a handrail as he struggled to climb a short flight of stairs. The clip also showed the musician lip-syncing to his 1978 hit "Grease," but seemingly struggling to keep up with the track. Soon after the video was posted, fans began questioning why the nonagenarian is still performing live. But in an Aug. 14 statement to The New York Post, his rep says, "Frankie is doing just fine and super happy to still be performing. The audiences are filling venues and listening to some great music. [He is] doing what he loves to do at 90. We should all be so lucky." - Music-News.com, 8/14/24...... The BBC announced on Aug. 13 that Brian May will host a one-off documentary on their network about his work in the field of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and how to prevent it without resorting to badger culling. The Queen guitarist has been a long-time opponent of badger culling in the U.K. and the documentary, Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers And Me, follows him on a four-year project to eradicate the disease -- which can devastate cattle populations -- without harming the badgers. "I don't blame people for being suspicious of me in the beginning, because, you know, I'm a guitarist," said May. "You know I'm a rock star. What am I doing? Why would I have some contribution to make? I came in to save the badgers. I now realise that to save the badgers, you have to save everybody because it's a mess. It's a tragic human drama where people's hearts are broken," he added. The show sees him team up with vet Dick Sibley and farmer Robert Reed -- whose farm was chronically infected with bTB -- to eliminate the disease without badger culling. May says he hopes to show the wider farming community that he's found "the real source" of the disease's spread and they can thus change their policies, and that his documentary will "outrage viewers" about the practice of badger culling. The documentary will air on Aug. 23 at 9:00 pm on BBC Two. Meanwhile, May recently responded to the news that Aerosmith would be retiring, explaining that the announcement "brought a tear" to his eye. "The career of Aerosmith is truly something to celebrate forever. All things must pass -- but the inspiring work of Aerosmith will live on -- along with the memories of truly one of the most awesome bands to ever hit a stage," he said in part on social media. - New Musical Express, 8/13/24....... Speaking of Aerosmith, the Boston-based rockers' final show has just been uploaded to YouTube in 4K video. The band's last gig took place on Sept. 9, 2023 at the UBS Arena in Elmont, NY and no one -- including the band themselves -- knew it would be their last. The concert was part of their "Peace Out" tour, which kicked off last year, but the band only played three nights, before rescheduling the rest of the dates after frontman Steven Tyler injured his larynx. The night saw the Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers perform their hits such as "Sweet Emotion," "Love in an Elevator," "Livin' on the Edge" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." They also went on to perform a cover of bluesman Rufus Thomas' "Walking the Dog" and played their song "Bright Light Fright" -- taken from their Draw The Line album -- for the first time since 1994. Ironically, their final live song was "Happy Birthday to You," bringing out a giant chocolate cake to celebrate guitarist Joe Perry's 73rd birthday the following day. Aerosmith's last studio, Music From Another Dimension!, arrived in 2012. Steven Tyler's last studio album, We're All Somebody from Somewhere, was released in 2016. - NME, 8/12/24...... John Oates, formerly of Hall & Oates, will be honored for his contributions to the art of songwriting when he is honored with BMI's Troubadour Award on Sept. 16 in Nashville. "John Oates has enriched Nashville and its music scene with his special blend of soulful storytelling and guitar playing," said BMI Nashville exec Clay Bradley in a statement. "His influence has elevated our community to be more accepting and open to all genres of music. We are proud to honor him as this year's BMI Troubadour." Oates began his BMI affiliation in 1972, and he has previously been named a BMI Icon for his influence on generations of songwriters. Among his accolades are 10 BMI pop awards and 30 BMI Million-Air Awards for songs including "Maneater," "I Can't Go For That," "Out of Touch" and "Sara Smile." As a member of Hall & Oates, he has recorded 21 albums and earned six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers. Hall & Oates were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. Oates moved to Nashville in 2010 and embedded himself in Nashville's Americana music community, releasing several solo projects, including 2020's Live in Nashville and his most recent, 2024's Reunion. The Troubador Award recognizes a songwriter who has made "a profound impact on the creative community as their craft continues to set the pace for generations to follow," according to BMI. The upcoming invitation-only event will include tribute performances and commemorative speeches from special guests, in addition to a cocktail reception and dinner. Previous Troubadour Award winners include Billy Gibbons, John Hiatt, John Prine and Lucinda Williams. - Billboard, 8/13/24...... The Jewish women's group backing Democratic presidential candidate Vice Pres. Kamala Harris announced on Aug. 12 that Barbra Streisand will join in the latest virtual gathering of their voters supporting Harris on Aug. 15 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Described as "thousands of pumped up Jewish women ready to get Kamala elected," the group aims to "show [its] enthusiasm and support" for Harris and newly appointed running mate Tim Walz. Streisand will serve as a guest speaker and share "why she's so passionate about electing Kamala Harris as our next president," according to a press release. Streisand was one of the first major musicians to voice her support for Harris when president Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month, shortly after which he endorsed his second-in-command for the role. All genders and Jewish allies are also welcome to join the e-meeting, according to the event's website. Those interested in attending can register online. Black women, Hispanic women, White "dudes," Black men, Asian Americans, Native Americans and members of the LGBTQ+ community have also all put together virtual voter-led meetings in support of Harris. - Billboard, 8/12/24...... In other 2024 presidential campaign-related news, the estate of Isaac Hayes has filed a lawsuit against Republican candidate Donald Trump over what they allege is copyright infringement, stating that the late artist's song "Hold On, I'm Coming" was used on "multiple occasions during various political rallies" of Trump's without authorization. The paperwork, dated Monday, Aug. 11, identifies 134 counts copyright infringement at campaign rallies from 2022-2024. "We demand the cessation of use, removal of all related videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, 2024. Failure to comply will result in further legal action," reads a statement posted on Hayes' son, Isaac Hayes III. However, given no choice, the paperwork reads, that legal action could extend to "federal litigation." The family also posted their intent to sue Trump on X. As recently as July 31, in Harrisburg, Pa., Trump has been using "Hold On, I'm Comin' to close his rallies -- prompting the family's legal action. Hayes and David Porter wrote "Hold On, I'm Coming," which was recorded by soul duo Sam & Dave and issued on the Stax label in 1966, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hayes died Aug. 10, 2008, at the age of 65. For the "Theme from Shaft," he was awarded the Oscar for best original song in 1972, making him just the third Black person, after Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Poitier, to win an Academy Award in any competitive field. Scores of top artists and songwriters have also objected to the Trump campaign's use of their songs at political rallies since he first ran for president in 2015 -- among them The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Adele, Rihanna, Neil Young, Steven Tyler, Village People and the estates of Tom Petty and Sinead O'Connor. - Billboard, 8/12/24...... Gloria Gaynor is suing one of her former producers, Joel Diamond, for $2 million, claiming he and the companies he controls "utterly failed to live up to their obligations to keep Plaintiffs apprised of how their work was being licensed and used, while wrongfully exacting economic benefits they were not entitled to by exploiting that very relationship." According to the court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Gaynor's attorneys allege the producer "concealed and suppressed all payments to Gaynor," and that Diamond falsely claimed ownership of several of her songs, including "I've Been Watching You," "You're All I Need to Get By" and the disco anthem "I Am What I Am." The "I Will Survive" singer alleges Diamond also listed himself as a co-writer on at least one song. "At no time did Gaynor write a song with Diamond. To her knowledge, Diamond has never been a songwriter," the complaint states. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Diamond countered, "I am in the process of retaining counsel. The allegations are demonstrably false. The written contract is very clear and has been in place for 40 years. Sony has acknowledged that I own 100 per cent of the rights. Any statement contrary to this fact is defamatory and I intend to exercise my legal rights to the fullest extent." Meanwhile, Gaynor is preparing for two concerts later in 2024 -- Aug. 30 in Cardiff, Tramshed, UK and Oct. 30 in Carteret, NJ. - Music-News.com, 8/12/24...... Rod Stewart's Instagram account revealed on Aug. 9 that the "Maggie May" singer has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancelation of two summer concerts that were originally scheduled for Aug. 9-10. "We regret to announce that tonight's Rod Stewart concert in Stateline, NV and his August 10 show in Lincoln, CA have been postponed, as the singer recovers from a summer strain of Covid-19," the statement said, hours before he was expected to take the stage. The shows have already been rescheduled, his team announced on the same update. Stewart, 79, is set to perform at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, Calif., on Aug. 18; two days later he'll take the stage at Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys in Stateline, Nev., on Aug. 20. The statement also shared that "ticket holders should hold on to their tickets as they will be honored for the rescheduled shows." Stewart's illness follows the singer missing the 200th show of his long-running Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace on Aug. 7, when he cited strep throat as the reason for his absence. At the time, he noted on Instagram, "Most people can work with strep throat but obviously not me. I'm absolutely gutted. I've been looking forward to this concert for so long. My deepest regrets for any inconvenience this has caused." Those who missed out on his Vegas run will get another chance to catch the star at Caesars Palace in 2025, at encore dates of his residency show during select weekends in March, May and June of next year. "Vegas, I'm having too much fun for this to end so we are coming back for an encore! Don't miss The Encore Shows Las Vegas Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace March 12-22 & May 29-June 8!" Stewart wrote to fans on Aug. 7. Tickets for Stewart's 2024 concert dates went on sale on Aug. 12. - Billboard, 8/10/24...... Elton John took to Instagram on Aug. 10 to congratulate rising American singer Chappell Roan on "the meteoric rise of a midwestern princess." The "Good Luck Babe" singer recently achieved her first UK Number One album with The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess almost a year after its release. John took to Instagram to praise her efforts, sharing a picture of the two together and writing: "Congratulations to @chappellroan on her first UK Number 1 album. The meteoric rise of a midwestern princess -- Brilliant pop music that brings the world together at a much needed time." John has also praised Roan's song "Red Wine Supernova" in 2023, and the pair appeared together on his Apple Music podcast Rocket Hour, and discussed her rapid rise to fame. "I rang you the other night and said, 'Listen, I'm not stalking you, but I'm as excited about your album's success as you are,' he said. "It's wonderful to see true talent being recognized." - NME, 8/10/24...... Devo recently popped in to NPR's Tiny Desk studio for a raucous four-song set for the public radio series that featured one obscure track they hadn't performed live in more than four decades. With founding singer/keyboardist Mark Mothersbaugh leading the charge alongside brother and longtime guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh and original bassist Gerald Casale, the group bounded out of the gate with the bluesy, bouncing rarity "It Takes a Worried Man." The song -- inspired by the folk/roots classic "Worried Man Blues" -- was originally recorded for the little-seen 1982 nuclear panic comedy Human Highway, which was directed by Neil Young, who also co-starred alongside Dean Stockwell, co-writer Dennis Hopper and Devo, who played radioactive waste garbage men in orange outfits and hard hats accented by plastic tubes that snaked down into the band member's noses. In addition to Mothersbaugh's sermon-like breakdown about how everyone is just going for that "big ice cream cone in the sky," the song featured a wiggy keyboard solo from the frontman, who, alas, was not wearing the band's signature red flower bucket hat. Devo ended the set with another song from their 1978 debut Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, the galloping, herky jerky "Come Back Jonee." - Billboard, 8/9/24...... On Aug. 9 David Gilmour released a new track, "Dark and Velvet Nights," from his upcoming album Luck and Strange on YouTube. The groovy rock track was written by Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson and is about their loving relationship. In a statement about the track, Gilmour said: "The music sprang out one day. It was so exciting to have come across this groove. Polly had given me a beautiful poem for our wedding anniversary, which was sitting on the desk right next to me, so I picked it up and sang it on the track, to hear what it would sound like with words. I played it to Polly, and she said, 'Lovely, great, I'll need fiddle with it a bit.' So she added a couple of verses, and there it was -- very serendipitous." Gilmour is due to perform several concerts this year, marking his return to the stage for the first time in eight years. It includes five shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Luck and Strange will drop on Sept. 6. - NME, 8/9/24...... In a new interview with Record Collector magazine, Pete Townshend revealed that he was "very sexually attracted" to Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger. Townshend -- the guitarist and co-founder of The Who -- has previously identified as pansexual, an orientation defined by attraction to people regardless of sex or gender identity. In the interview, Townshend revealed that he had what he would consider "a couple of homosexual affairs", saying: "I tried them out, and I very much enjoyed them." He continued: "I've made a couple of really close friends that I'm still friendly with today. But it wasn't what worked for me, sexually speaking - and didn't fit into my life, somehow." The guitarist also reflected on one sexual attraction he experienced with Jagger, saying: "I was very sexually attracted to [Jagger]. And possibly to a few other people in my life." Back in 2012, Townshend publicly defended the size of Jagger's penis after Keith Richards claimed in his autobiography Life that the singer had a "tiny todger." In a press conference, the guitarist said: "What I remember of the size of Mick Jagger's penis -- I remember it as being huge and extremely tasty." He also discussed his feelings about the "Sympathy For the Devil" singer in his own 2012 autobiography Who I Am, writing: "Mick is the only man I've ever seriously wanted to f---." - NME, 8/9/24...... On July 24 at the Old Marylebone Town Hall in London, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood's son Tyrone Wood married Faye Harris, the daughter of Iron Maiden guitarist Steve Harris. Tyrone's mother is Ronnie's ex-wife, former model Jo Wood, while Faye's mother is Steve's ex-wife, Lorraine Jury. - People, 8/19/24...... George Harrison's 1971 The Concert For Bangladesh live charity album, featuring Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell and more, is set to arrive across streaming platforms for the first time. Not only will it come with all of the astonishing performances from the line-up, it will also contain a new bonus track: the original studio version of Harrison's song "Bangla Desh," which was released as a single in July 1971. All net proceeds after taxes will be donated to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF at the US Fund for UNICEF. Held across two sold-out concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden back in August 1971, the concerts are considered to be the first major music benefit of its kind and saw the music icon assemble a star-studded event for a common humanitarian goal. Harrison organized the shows in a bid to raise both awareness and funds for the 10 million East Pakistani refugees who had fled over the border into India, and were facing challenges including the threat of hunger and disease. Setting the precedent that music could be used to serve a higher cause, the MSG shows saw the former Beatle team up with Ravi Shankar, and invite Dylan, Starr, Russell, Eric Clapton and Billy Preston to perform at the non-profit event. By the point they took to the stage, little public attention had been drawn to the crisis in East Pakistan/Bangladesh and few outside of the region were aware of how to help those affected. "The musicians were great. I mean they completely put down their own egos to play together and to do something because the whole vibe of that concert was that it was something bigger than the lot of us," Harrison said at the time. The concerts were later turned into a triple album box set and a feature film -- raising millions of dollars for UNICEF. Its official trailer can be viewed on YouTube, and a preview can be streamed on Spotify. - NME, 8/9/24...... The Sex Pistols members Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and Steve Jones joined forces with British singer Frank Carter on Aug. 13 to play the Pistols' 1977 classic Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols in its entirety to raise funds for Bush Hall in Shepherd's Bush, west London. Now, following an "overwhelming response" to the sold-out gigs, the Pistols and Carter have confirmed that they'll be returning to London for another live concert, at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on Sept. 26. In a statement, guitarist Jones said: "The response to the Bush Hall shows has been overwhelming and it's a privilege to help out a local venue like that. And it became obvious that there are many more fans who want to see us." He continued: "Playing with Frank has been such a pleasure that we wanted to extend the fun. So Kentish Town, here we come." Earlier in 2024 Bush Hall revealed that it needed to raise 42,000 through crowdfunding to prevent it from losing its music status, as it saw a 24.5% decrease in live music bookings in 2023. - NME, 8/14/24...... George Underwood, the artist behind some of David Bowie's most iconic album covers, has donated a new painting to an upcoming War Child charity exhibition. War Child, the charity that provides support to children and their families in conflict zones across 15 countries, recently announced "Sound & Vision" -- "an innovative fundraising exhibition and global online auction." The annual exhibition, curated by Art On A Postcard, will see artists respond to an iconic lyric in order to raise awareness and funds for children impacted by conflict. For its inaugural year, Underwood is among 33 leading contemporary artists who have created work inspired by the Bowie lyric "We like dancing and we look divine," taken from the late singer's 1974 hit "Rebel Rebel." The exhibition will take place at 180 Studios, London on Sept. 26 and 27, and a global, online auction will run from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1. After meeting at school, Underwood and Bowie formed a band. However, their musical partnership didn't last after Underwood punched Bowie in a fight over a girl. In later years, however, Underwood created artwork for some of Bowie's biggest albums, including Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, as well as the first T. Rex album cover. During his life, Bowie was an avid supporter of War Child. In 1994, alongside Brian Eno, Bowie curated "Little Pieces from Big Stars," an innovative exhibition raising funds for the charity. - NME, 8/8/24...... Lou Reed's songwriting work before he joined the seminal New York rock band Velvet Underground has been compiled into a single album, Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. The album's opening track is The Primatives' "The Ostrich" that features Reed on lead vocals. Other artists featured include The Beachnuts, The Hi-Lifes, Ronnie Dickerson, The Hollywoods, The Roughnecks and The Surfsiders. The compilation album is due for release on Sept. 27 via Light in the Attic, in partnership with Reed's widow Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive. - NME, 8/14/24...... A release date for the forthcoming Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has been set for Christmas Day (Dec. 25) in the United States, according to a post by Searchlight Pictures on Aug. 6 on X. The James Mangold film starring Timothée Chalamet in the titular role will hit cinemas across the UK on Jan. 17. The film's release date comes after its first trailer arrived in July. A Complete Unknown also stars Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz and Scoot McNairy. The biopic is set to explore Dylan's meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts, his transition to using the electric guitar in the '60s, his rise to fame, and his subsequent achievement of icon status in the folk-rock music industry. - NME, 8/7/24...... A yellow Schecter Cloud electric guitar owned and played by Prince is currently up for auction at GottaHaveRockandRoll.com. This particular guitar was part of Prince's inventory and was used during performances and rehearsals. It was also a main part of testing due to it being a prototype for the Schecter range that he had commissioned for general sale. What is also rare about the guitar is that it was the prototype and therefore does not contain the stamped Schecter serial number below the 'Diamond Series' logo on the headstock, this is due to it being built for Prince himself rather than general sale. It was instead entered into the PRN MUSIC CORP inventory. The guitar, now owned by one of Prince's guitar techs, is finished in yellow with symbol inlays which was said to have been one of Prince's favorite combinations for the cloud. It also comes with a hard flight case with a soft purple lining. Bidding starts at $60,000 and is estimated to sell for over $100,000. - Music-News.com, 8/13/24.

Friday, August 9, 2024

With a new documentary of his '70s band Wings set to debut in cinemas in September, Paul McCartney says he "enjoyed looking back" for the film, titled One Hand Clapping. "It's so great to look back on that period and see the little live show we did," Paul said. "We made a pretty good noise actually. It was a great time for the band, we started to have success with Wings, which had been a long time coming." Directed by David Litchfield, One Hand Clapping details the recording sessions for the band's the live studio album of the same name at London's Abbey Road Studios back in 1974. The footage, much of it rare, was filmed back in the '70s at the height of Wings' fame for a TV special which was never aired. It now features a new introduction from the Beatles legend as well as a "backyard session" with the musician performing Buddy Holly songs and unreleased track 'Blackpool" on his acoustic guitar. The documentary will also feature previously unseen Polaroid photographs from the recording sessions. Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, said of the documentary release: "This cinematic experience will transport audiences back to a golden era of rock and roll while captivating new fans with the magic of this iconic band. It's a must-see event for music lovers of all generations." - Music-News.com, 8/9/24...... Even as Rod Stewart was forced to cancel what was supposed to be the 200th, and final, show in his 13-year Las Vegas residency on Aug. 7 due to strep throat, the indefatigable pop legend announced the same day that he'll resume his residency in 2025. "Vegas, I'm having too much fun for this to end so we are coming back for an encore!," Sir Rod posted on Instagram. "Don't miss The Encore Shows Las Vegas Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace March 12-22 & May 29-June 8!," he wrote along with footage of himself in his signature wild-pattern outfits singing his 1971 classic "Maggie May." The news came just a few hours after Stewart, 79, announced that illness required him to cancel what was slated to be the final show in his long-running residency at Caesars Palace. "I'm desperately sorry to miss this 200th show celebration," he wrote on Instagram. "Most people can work with strep throat but obviously not me. I'm absolutely gutted. I've been looking forward to this concert for so long. My deepest regrets for any inconvenience this has caused." In that post, he teased "thankfully we'll now be returning in 2025 and I hope to see you all there." - Billboard, 8/8/24...... Bob Dylan played his classic track "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" for the first time in almost a decade at an "Outlaw Music Festival" touring stop in Boise, Idaho on Aug. 7. As he co-headlines with Willie Nelson on the tour, Dylan has been making headlines for putting obscure reworks into old standards. However, now he is digging back into his own catalogue of tracks to surprise audiences and keep his set lists unpredictable. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35," the opening track on his classic 1966 LP Blonde on Blonde and features the iconic chorus "everybody must get stoned," was played live for the first time since 2016. Fan shot footage of the performance can be viewed on YouTube. Also, Dylan's track "Spirit on the Water" was back on the setlist for the first time since 2018. When the "Outlaw Music Festival Tour" kicked off, Dylan started it off with a typically unpredictable setlist of '50s blues and country covers and deep cuts. His opening set included versions of Willie Dixon's "My Babe," Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie" and Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart," as well as four separate songs from his own 2012 album Tempest, including "Long And Wasted Years" and "Scarlet Town." Meanwhile, the Timothée Chalamet-starring biopic of the musician, titled A Complete Unknown, is set to hit cinemas this winter. Chalamet has reportedly been working with the same team that assisted Austin Butler for Elvis. - New Musical Express, 8/8/24...... Country star Zach Bryan had quite a surprise for fans attending his concert at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 8, bringing out guest performers Bruce Springsteen, The Lumineers and Shane Gillis, who performed with Bryan throughout the show. Springsteen, who recently collaborated with Bryan for "Sandpaper" on his latest album, The Great American Bar Scene, joined Bryan on stage to perform "Atlantic City." "An absolutely insane night at the Linc," one fan posted on X. It's not the only time The Boss has joined Bryan for a surprise performance. On Mar. 27, Bryan joined the rocker onstage at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, where they performed two tracks, including the pair's collaboration "Sandpaper." Fans of Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" will instantly recognize the chugging beat on "Sandpaper," which is identical to the feel of his 1984 hit. Bryan has also previously covered Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. classic "I'm on Fire" on several occasions, live and in the studio. - Billboard, 8/8/24...... With the last two surviving original The Who members -- Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey -- coming to the end of their illustrious careers, there has been discussion of the band making another album, with Townshend seeming the more enthusiastic between the pair. Speaking to TheDailyBeast.com, Townshend, 79, said: "I don't know what's gonna happen with The Who. I'm hoping Roger [Daltrey] and I can find some common ground and find some way to work again, possibly without an orchestra, because I think we've done that. But also, there's this sense that we're in the last tour period of our career. Are we just hoping to do what Bob Dylan does and just keep going?" He explained that he's "encouraged" by Daltrey's solo tour, and likes the idea of them putting a small band together. But, he says, "Roger and I don't converse. We don't talk. So, it might be difficult to land on something that we both share an interest in. But it's there for the taking, I think." TheDailyBeast then asked Townshend if he'd like to get Daltrey, 80, into the studio to make an album and promote it with a tour, but he said he wasn't going to "bully" his bandmate into it. "I don't want to have the job that I used to have around the time of 'Quadrophenia', which is bullying everybody in The Who to do exactly what I want to do," he said. "It was no fun. And at the end of that, Roger knocked me out. I asked for it, but he knocked me out." He added: "Anyway, I'm hopeful. I'm certainly not saying that we won't do anything, but Roger and I do have a bit of a river to cross. And once we cross that river, we'll see what happens." - NME, 8/7/24...... A star-studded tribute album to Talking Heads' acclaimed film Stop Making Sense has debuted atop Billboard's Compilation Albums chart for the week dated Aug. 10. First released as a digital download and via streaming services in May, Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute To Stop Making Sense arrives at No. 1 on the Compilation Albums tally after its July 26 release on CD and vinyl. Combined, all configurations of the album, digital and physical, sold a little over 2,000 copies in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 1 according to Luminate -- with nearly all the sales from its CD and vinyl formats. The effort boasts acts such as Miley Cyrus, Lorde and Paramore covering songs performed by Talking Heads in its celebrated 1984 film Stop Making Sense. A restored version of Stop Making Sense premiered on Sept. 11, 2023, at the Toronto International Film Festival before garnering a general theatrical release later that month. On Aug. 18, 2023, a remastered edition of the Stop Making Sense soundtrack was released, boasting the complete concert for the first time. On Everyone's Getting Involved, the cover songs are ordered in the same sequence as they are performed in the Stop Making Sense film. Among the tracks are "Psycho Killer" (covered by Cyrus), "Heaven" (The National), "Burning Down the House" (Paramore), "Once In a Lifetime" (Kevin Abstract), "Genius of Love" (Toro y Moi featuring Brijean) and "Take Me to the River" (Lorde). Meanwhile, Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense soundtrack has entered the Soundtracks chart at No. 8, Vinyl Albums at No. 7, Indie Store Album Sales at No. 3 and Top Album Sales at No. 16. - Billboard, 8/8/24...... Journey announced the cancellation of their UK and Ireland 50th anniversary arena tour on Aug. 6. The famous AOR band had been due to embark on their "Freedom Tour" in late October with special guests Cheap Trick, but now it has been confirmed in a brief statement that the 11-date tour has been scrubbed. "Due to circumstances beyond the band's control, Journey's UK and Ireland tour is unfortunately cancelled," the message reads. "Refunds will be made from your point of purchase." As of Aug. 6 the band had not yet announced the news on their official social media accounts. However, the shows have been listed as cancelled on Ticketmaster, and their planned London concert has also been removed from The O2's website. The scrapped UK and Ireland leg would have followed Journey's current run of North American stadium shows with Def Leppard, which is set to conclude in early September. The cancellation comes shortly after Journey keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Jonathan Cain reportedly filed a new lawsuit against bandmate Neal Schon while on tour in the US. According to Bloomberg Law, the suit was filed on the grounds of frustrations over Schon's "expenses related to the tour," including "budgeting and spending" of the band's credit card over personal expenses. In other Journey news, Schon recently recalled to the UK paper The Guardian of being "terrified" when the band's iconic track "Don't Stop Believin'" was used in Glee. "I was terrified by that because I thought it was a teenybopper show, not so cool for us," Schon revealed. "Little did I know that it would open up a younger generation to our music. I'm a rocker and a blues guy, and we always joke that if I think something is too schmaltzy, it's usually gonna be big!" "Don't Stop Believin'" was named as the Biggest Song Of All Time by Forbes magazine in March this year, going 18x platinum. - NME, 8/6/24...... Memphis, a new 111-track, five-disc box set that mines recordings from five different locations in Mississippi-born Elvis Presley's adopted hometown in Tennessee, is due Aug. 9 from RCA/Legacy. Presley's recording sessions in the Sun Recording Studio, the American Studios, the Stax Studio, the Mid-South Coliseum and Graceland Mansion's Jungle Room are featured on the set. On three of the studio discs, previously released tracks are remixed strictly using the instrumentation from the core tracking session, leaving out material that was overdubbed at a later date. "By not having the additional strings and backing vocals, there [is] an intimacy to it that would reveal things that we hadn't heard before," says Memphis producer Ernst Jorgensen, a well-established Presley authority. "So songs come out with a different feel to them." The Presley package coincides with the 70th anniversary of his seminal recording of "That's All Right," the 1955 single that launched his career. - Billboard, 8/6/24...... David Gilmour has declared his upcoming solo album, Luck and Strange, has some of the "best" music he's made since the classic 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side Of The Moon. "It's over 50 years now since 'The Dark Side Of The Moon'," Gilmour said in a new interview with Prog magazine. "My feeling is that this album is the best album I've made in all those years since 1973 when 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' came out." Elsewhere in his chat, Gilmour teased that he'll soon begin work on a follow-up to Luck And Strange, and is eagerly anticipating reuniting with several of the album's collaborators: "Our plan is just to get this one out and run it and then do another one straight away. I will be working with all these people again." Recorded over five months in Brighton and London, Luck And Strange is set for release on Sept. 6. Gilmour is due to perform several concerts behind the new album across the globe this year, marking his return to the stage for the first time in eight years. The tour will stop in Rome, London, Los Angeles and New York from Sept. 27 through Nov. 9, with several shows at each stop. - NME, 8/6/24...... Late folk-country icon John Denver has returned to the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, as a writer via MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly) and Jelly Roll's new single, "Lonely Road." The track, released July 26, launches at No. 33 on the Hot 100 with 10.5 million official streams, 646,000 in radio airplay audience and 12,000 sold in the United States in the week ending Aug. 1, according to Luminate. The song, MGK's fourth top 40 Hot 100 hit and Jelly Roll's seventh, reimagines Denver's breakthrough anthem as a recording artist, "Take Me Home, Country Roads," which wound its way to No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1971. Denver tallied 14 top 40 hits of his own through 1982, when "Shanghai Breezes" reached No. 31. He recorded four No. 1 singles, among seven top 10s. Denver, who died in 1997, appears in the Hot 100's top 40 as a writer for a second time in the past decade -- with both via reworkings of "Take Me Home, Country Roads." In Oct. 2016, "Forever Country," by Artists of Then, Now & Forever, hit No. 21. The song, released in celebration of 50 years of the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, is a medley of three favorites: "Take Me Home, Country Roads," Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" and Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again." The all-star track also spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Lonely Road" concurrently debuts at No. 5 on the Hot Rock Songs chart, No. 7 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and No. 13 on Hot Country Songs. Denver's enduring original "Take Me Home, Country Roads" has drawn 931 million official on-demand streams in the U.S. to date. It has also totaled 230 million in radio reach and sold 1.8 million downloads. - Billboard, 8/5/24...... During the encore of a show on Sammy Hagar's "Best of All Worlds" tour with drummer Jason Bonham, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and guitar god Joe Satriani at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Michigan on Aug. 2, Hagar, 76, took a moment to acknowledge the then-new information and give Aerosmith props for their longevity and spirit. "We had some crazy news today," Hagar told the audience. "We got here this afternoon sometime and we're all sitting around backstage and a friend of ours that works for Aerosmith came and said, 'Yeah, Aerosmith called retirement today. They quit. They stopped.' God bless 'em. It's a horrible thing. What a great f---ing loss." Hagar added, "we love those guys. We all grew up with those guys. You grew up with them, we grew up with them, Mike and I. They've been our competitors to Van Halen for f---ing 10 years. You know what I'm saying? 'F--- those guys.' No, no, no, but we really do like them. It's just that we're mad at them. But anyway, what a shame." A video of Hagar's comments can be viewed on YouTube. Three months after rescheduling the remaining dates on their "Peace Out" farewell tour, Aerosmith announced their official retirement from touring on Aug. 2 due to frontman Steven Tyler's ongoing vocal cord injury. - Billboard, 8/5/24...... The third annual Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp for women only will take place Dec. 5-8 in Los Angeles and feature such rock legends as Nancy Wilson (Heart), Lita Ford (The Runaways), Sheila E. (Prince), Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper) and Rhonda Smith (Jeff Beck). "Rock Fantasy Camp for women is a meaningful gathering of women together. As a military brat I never felt constrained by my gender," Nancy Wilson says. "Encouraging women to wield their power outside confining gender expectations is always a happy task for me." The capacity for the camp is around 80 campers divided into up to 14 bands. Each band is assigned a counselor who mentors them throughout the four days and helps prepare the musicians for the closing concert where they play with the rock headliners at the Viper Room on the Sunset Strip. The counselors themselves are a constellation of heavy hitters, including Roxy Petrucci (Vixen), Eva Gardner (P!nk), Jennie Vee (Eagles of Death Metal), Julia Lage (Vixen), Jennifer Oberle (Sarah McLachlan) and Britt Lightning (Vixen), who also serves as the event's musical director. The camp is open to musicians of all levels, who are evaluated beforehand to make sure they are placed in the appropriate band and each participant is sent a song list to start rehearsing. The four days are filled with rehearsals, masterclasses, Q&As and jam sessions. More info can be found at www.rockcamp.com. - Billboard, 8/5/24...... Comedian/actor Steve Martin has turned down a chance to portray Democratic presidential hopeful Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on the upcoming 50th season of NBC's Saturday Night Live, which premieres on Sept. 28. With Maya Rudolph's wildly popular impression of Kamala Harris on SNL, fans clamored to see who the late-night comedy show would pick to play Harris' new running mate, Tim Walz. With similar hairstyles and their signature glasses, many fans quickly drew comparisons between Walz and Martin, who's been a frequent SNL guest but never a formal cast member. According to the Los Angeles Times, SNL producer Lorne Michaels called Martin to offer him the role on the upcoming 50th season premiere, but the "King Tut" singer declined. "I wanted to say no and, by the way, he wanted me to say no," Martin said. "I said, 'Lorne, I'm not an impressionist. You need someone who can really nail the guy.' I was picked because I have gray hair and glasses." Although Martin initially leaned into the fun, writing on social platform Threads that he "just learned that Tim Walz wants to go on the road with Marty Short," he also noted the impression comes with a long-term commitment of performing on the show. "It's ongoing," Martin told the Times. "It's not like you do it once and get applause and never do it again. Again, they need a real impressionist to do that. They're gonna find somebody really, really good. I'd be struggling." Rudolph, for her part, will reportedly her Emmy-winning role on the show as Kamala Harris. She reportedly pushed the shooting schedule for the comedy series Loot from August to January to accommodate playing the role through the election season. She first played Harris in 2019 when the then-California senator was running for president and continued with the role after she was announced as Joe Biden's running mate. - AP, 8/7/24.

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Elton John celebrated 34 years of sobriety on July 31 with a post on Instagram. Sir Elton shared a picture of his Alcoholics Anonymous coin that featured the phrase, "To thine own self be true." The words "unity" "service" and "recovery" were embossed along the triangle while inside, the number "34" appeared in roman numerals. He captioned the image "34 years clean and sober. My life has never been better." John, who took a year off from work in 1990 to attend recovery after years of addiction issues, opened up about just how bad his addition was in his 2019 memoir, Me. Elton recalled the time he hijacked a Rolling Stones show while high on cocaine, as well as the moment he mistook Bob Dylan for his gardener while high -- describing him as "scruffy." In 2020, ahead of an online screening of his film biopic Rocketman, John said despite the debauched lifestyle of many musicians in '70s LA who regularly took cocaine to the point that few commented on it, his cocaine use was so extreme by comparison that it was "noticed" by many. John has spoken extensively about his addiction in the past. In 2019, the musician said he feared he wouldn't be able to perform sober after he took a year long break to have treatment for addiction. "After I finally surrendered and decided to seek treatment for my addiction, there came a point when I wondered if I would ever go back to work as Elton John again," he told in a Variety magazine "Recovery" issue. - New Musical Express, 8/2/24...... Three months after rescheduling the remaining dates of their "Peace Out" farewell tour, Aerosmith officially announced their retirement from touring with an Aug. 2 Instagram post amid frontman Steven Tyler's ongoing vocal cord injury. "It was 1970 when a spark of inspiration became Aerosmith. Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades. Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock 'n' roll history," the statement began. "It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives." The statement continued that Tyler "has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury," before adding, "We've seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision -- as a band of brothers -- to retire from the touring stage." The band then thanked their crew and team before concluding with a message to their fans. "A final thank you to you -- the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You've made our dreams come true," they wrote, noting that all tickets purchased will be refunded. Tyler first revealed that he injured his voice in Sept/ 2023. "I'm heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor's orders not to sing for the next thirty days," he explained at the time. "I sustained vocal cord damage during Saturday's show that led to subsequent bleeding. Aerosmith, formed in 1970 by Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. - Billboard, 8/2/24...... A rare collection of Michael Jackson's signed drawings was scheduled to be auctioned off in Los Angeles on Aug. 3. The 78 sketches made using wax pencils and pastels as well as watercolors include images of the singer in a Jedi-style robe, as well as drawings of chairs, Michelangelo's David, a number of U.S. presidents, Peter Pan, pop art icon Andy Warhol, Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II. "Get ready to own some of the most coveted pieces of art by one of the biggest music icons in the world," reads a description from auction house Kings Auctions. "These one of a kind pieces of art aren't just an investment, they are your chance to own a piece of music history." "He was influenced by many art genres, from classical and architectural to pop art and even formal portraiture. He also had a great fondness for London and British customs," the auction house added of the sketches, all of which are signed and some of which are double-sided. However, the Jackson estate is challenging the authenticity of the drawings. "The Estate of Michael Jackson does not accept that this artwork was created by Michael Jackson," a rep for the estate told Billboard. "Our representatives examined this artwork several years ago while it was being stored in a hangar at the Santa Monica airport, and the inspection only raised further concerns. We have made this clear to the auction house and others many times since. The Estate asked for evidence that these works were in fact created by Michael, and no sufficient evidence has ever been produced. Caveat emptor." The collection, including images Jackson sketched of shoes, doors, chairs, keys, bi-planes, the gates of his Neverland Ranch and flowers, can be browsed on Instagram. - Billboard, 8/1/24...... The never-ending legal feud between Journey members Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon has erupted once again, with Cain filing a new lawsuit against Schon over claims that his "exorbitant" spending is threatening to cripple the band's touring operations. In a complaint made public in Delaware court on July 30, Cain claimed that Schon's alleged spending -- including unilaterally chartering private jets and charging personal expenses to their shared American Express card -- has led to a "deadlock" that must be resolved. "The deadlock between the company's directors is now interfering with the company's ability to take even the most basic actions and is causing significant disruptions in the smooth operation of the company," Cain's lawyers write, adding that the problems "pose a severe threat of harm to the company and to Journey's storied history of musical greatness." Legal battles are nothing new for Schon and Cain, the two key remaining members of the iconic rock band that's still a big ticket seller decades after its "Don't Stop Believin'" heyday. In 2022, Schon sued Cain over allegations that his bandmate had unfairly blocked his access to the Amex account, "interfering" with the band's activities and delaying payments to crew members and vendors. A few months later, Cain countersued -- claiming he had placed those restrictions on the Amex to stop Schon from "misusing" the company card, including spending $400,000 in a single month. The new case largely rehashes those same disagreements over spending -- like Cain claiming that Schon has "spent up to $10,000 per night for hotel rooms for him and his wife" during their most recent tour. But in technical terms, the new case focuses narrowly on the governance of Freedom 2020 Inc., a Delaware-based corporate entity they created to operate Journey's touring. Since Cain and Schon each control exactly 50% of the company, the lawsuit says the two have reached an impasse that has spilled into other aspects of the band's operations, like managing their staffers. The lawsuit claims the strife between Cain and Schon has also led to other problems, including disagreements about whether to accept an advance from AEG for their most recent tour, the purchase of cancellation insurance and other problems. - Billboard, 8/2/24...... Ted Nugent has teamed up with his son Rocco Winchester Nugent on a new song about the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The mid-tempo track, "Who Shot Trump," featuring laconic vocals from Rocco -- who usually records under the name "rocco, moon" -- was recently uploaded to YouTube and finds the pair repeating a series of Trumpian talking points while warning "they f---ed up." Rocco goes on to describe watching Fox News that day and seeing Trump turn his head as the assailant's bullet nicked his ear during an outdoor rally in Butler, PA, suggesting that intended target Trump was "clearly touched by the hand of God." The FBI has determined that Trump was struck by a bullet, or a bullet fragment, that grazed his ear in the incident in which attendee Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed and a number of other attendees were wounded; Crooks was shot and killed by snipers shortly after he opened fire from a roof near the rally site. Nugent has long been a full-throated supporter of former one-term President Trump, who is currently in an increasingly tighter race with expected Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. The former Senator and San Francisco prosecutor stepped in two weeks ago when Pres. Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race and endorsing his VP. - Billboard, 8/1/24...... A new Fleetwood Mac live album, Mirage Tour '82, will be released on Sept. 20 in 2xCD, 3xLP vinyl and digital formats. The set captures the magic of the band's iconic performances at The Forum in Los Angeles during their 1982 Mirage Tour. Some of the band's greatest hits, such as "Landslide," "Dreams," and "Don't Stop" are among the newly available live tracks. A live version of "Don't Stop" has been released for streaming ahead of the album launch. "In September 1982, Fleetwood Mac embarked on a 31-city U.S. tour in support of Mirage, the band's fourth consecutive multiplatinum album and third No. 1 in America," according to a press release. "Both shows at The Forum were recorded, and Mirage Tour '82 combines songs from both into a single concert experience." Mirage, the band's thirteenth studio album, was issued on June 18, 1982 and produced several hit singles, including "Hold Me," which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart. The release follows last year's Rumours: Live, which debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart dated Sept. 23, 2023. This marked Fleetwood Mac's highest chart debut since their studio album Say You Will opened at No. 2 in May 2003. Rumours: Live featured recordings from the band's Aug. 29, 1977, concert at The Forum during their Rumours Tour. - Billboard, 7/31/24...... A 100th birthday celebration in honor of former Pres. Jimmy Carter will take place on Sept. 17 in Atlanta headlined by an all-star group of musicians and celebrities. "Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song" will come ahead of the ailing former commander-in-chief's centenary on Oct. 1. Among the musical acts booked for the show are: the Allman Brothers Band's Chuck Leavell, D-Nice, Drive-By Truckers, Eric Church, GROUPLOVE, Maren Morris, the War and Treaty and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, along with expected appearances from former Atlanta Braves star Dale Murphy, rapper Killer Mike and actor Sean Penn. Organizers said other guests will be announced at a later date. The show at Atlanta's historic Fox Theatre will also celebrate Pres. Carter's tireless work advocating for human rights, public health and democracy around the world through the Carter Center. Pres. Carter, the nation's 39th President (1977-1981), has been in his Plains, GA home since Feb. 2023 receiving hospice care and was last seen publicly at his late wife former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's funeral in November. The Associated Press reported that Jason Carter said in a statement that his grandfather remains in good spirits and still enjoys watching his beloved Atlanta Braves on TV and listening to music. "Whether it was on his record players, on the campaign trail, or on the White House lawn, music has been and continues to be a source of joy, comfort and inspiration for my grandfather," Jason Carter said. The Fox Theatre's announcement of the event can be seen on X. - Billboard, 8/2/24...... On July 31 Elvis Presley's actress granddaughter Riley Keough announced a book tour in support of her late mother Lisa Marie Presley's upcoming memoir. The memoir, which was partially written by Presley and later finished by her daughter Keough upon request, is titled From Here to the Great Unknown and is due for release via Random House on Oct. 8. The finished product sees Keough tell her mother's story through Lisa Marie's own words via tape recordings, and Keough's own reflections of her relationship with her mother. Now, Keough has announced a book tour in support of the book. For the tour, she will also be joined by currently unnamed special guests at each of the tour stops. The tour will take place across six dates in October, with stops in New York City (10/9), Memphis's Graceland (10/12), St. Louis (10/13), Nashville (10/14), London, UK (10/15) and Los Angeles (10/20). Lisa Marie Presley, born in 1968, was the only child of Elvis and Priscilla and died of a small bowel obstruction at the age of 54 after an emergency admission to the hospital in Jan. 2023. She went on to pursue her own music career, within which she released three studio albums, namely To Whom It May Concern in 2003, Now What in 2004, and Storm And Grace in 2012. The former two albums peaked in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 album charts. - NME, 7/31/24...... U.S. House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries announced on Aug. 1 that a bronze statue of country icon Johnny Cash will become the first professional musician to take its place in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. The tribute to Cash will be unveiled during a ceremony in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall on Sept. 24. The eight-foot tall statue of a stern-looking Cash holding a Bible and a guitar was designed by sculptor Kevin Kresse, who says he "couldn't be happier with these choices for Arkansas... I'm also extremely proud to be a native son of Arkansas, getting this opportunity to sculpt an Arkansas icon for the nation's Capitol." Cash, born in Dyess, AR, will be enshrined alongside civil rights activist Daisy Bates, whose statue was put in place in May. With his signature rumbling baritone voice and songs of faith, murder, longing and love, Cash was a beloved country outlaw best known for such iconic tracks as "I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Man in Black" and "Daddy Sang Bass," and many others. Cash's enshrinement will place him in good company alongside such historic figures as Amelia Earhart, inventor Thomas Alva Edison, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Andrew Jackson, Hellen Keller, astronaut John Swigert, Jr., George Washington and many others. Johnson, Jeffries, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Cash's family are expected to attend the unveiling. Cash died in 2003 at age 71 due to respiratory failure tied to complications from diabetes. The announcement and a picture of the statue can be viewed on Instagram and X. - Billboard, 8/2/24...... Ozzy Osbourne has apologized to Britney Spears for mocking the pop singer's dance videos on the latest episode of his clan's The Osbournes podcast. The spat originally began in mid-July ago when Ozzy criticized Spears' dancing videos, saying on the podcast that he was, "fed up of seeing poor old Britney Spears [dancing] on YouTube every f---in' day. It's sad, very, very sad," with wife Sharon Osbourne adding, "poor little thing." At the time, Spears shot back with a terse Instagram post that has since been deleted, in which she said, "I'm gonna tell the Osbourne family who is the most boring family known to mankind to kindly f--k off!" After first replaying Ozzy's offensive comments, Ozzy offered up a less appeasing peace offer than offspring Jack Osbourne and Kelly. "Britney, I really owe you an apology," Ozzy said. "I'm so sorry for making that comment. However, it would be better if you didn't do the same f---ing dance every day! Change a few movements I love Britney Spears, but it's the same dance every day!" That comment drew a loud guffaw from Jack, while Kelly noted that she is a fan of Britney's dancing -- "Britney, never stop dancing, I love your dancing it makes you happy" -- while apologizing on behalf of the family if she felt offense, with Sharon adding "I like Britney a lot." The family also objected to Ozzy's claim that it was, literally, the same dance every day, with Kelly and Jack noting that sometimes "there's knives." Ozzy then leaned into a less strings-attached amends, adding, "I really do apologize. I love you and I think you're beautiful." Spears has long made a habit of posting dance videos from her home in which she does interpretive moves to her favorite songs. Ozzy's apology can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 7/30/24...... In an interview with Britain's Mojo magazine, the L.A.-based pop duo Sparks says they "feel an obligation" to continue making high-quality music. Sparks, made up of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, have released 26 albums in a career spanning more than half a century but refuse to let the standard of their work diminish as they are always gaining new fans. "There are so many newer fans that have kind of come our way of late," Ron said. "We feel an obligation, which we always do, to keep the quality high. We're lovers of pop music, and we think it's a disservice to pop music to come out with stuff that isn't cool." Sparks are preparing to release another new album in 2025 and Ron explained that the band are going against convention by making their music more "aggressive" as they grow older. "I think that the assumption for a band that, say, has been around for as long and has made as many albums as we have -- I won't mention years - is that we would be introspective and mellow down a touch," says Ron, 78. "You know, the usual things where musicians try to come to grips with mortality and all those sorts of things. We're not like that. It still has a pretty high degree of aggression to it, I think." Russell, 75, added that the forthcoming album will be "consistent" with the "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" band's previous material. "I think it's consistent with the lyric universe that Sparks has always had, with some issues that are maybe not treated so much in normal pop music, or issues that are, treated in a way that's not clichéd," he said. - Music-News.com, 7/28/24.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

After Republican Vice President candidate JD Vance's comments in a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson that "We're effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and choices that they've made" recently went viral on the internet and mainstream media, Bette Midler took to X on July 25 to playfully rally her fellow "childless cat ladies" of the world by sharing a photo of the iconic cat lover herself, Taylor Swift, on the cover of Time magazine with her beloved cat Benjamin Button lounging over her shoulder. "Giddyup and GO, #ChildlessCatLadies!" Midler wrote. Another celebrity to take a stand against Vance is Jennifer Aniston, who has been open with her struggles with fertility over the past few years. She aimed Vance's decision to vote in June to block legislation that would protect access to IVF. "I truly can't believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States," the Friends actress wrote on her Instagram Stories. "All I can say is Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too." - Billboard, 7/25/24...... Billy Joel concluded his historic 10-year residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City with a sold-out show on July 25. To mark the occasion, The Tonight Show talk show host Jimmy Fallon joined the Piano Man to present him with a banner celebrating 150 shows at the New York venue. "Congratulations," Fallon said. "I love you. New York City loves you. The world loves you. You've given us all great memories of being here. And now we get to watch you get a memory. You're never going to forget this night here." Joel's two youngest daughters, Della, eight, and Remy, six, then took to the stage to join dad as he performed his 1978 hit "My Life." Joel was also joined on stage by Guns N' Roses star Axl Rose, with the duo performing renditions of Wings' "Live and Let Die" and AC/DC's "Highway to Hell." Fan video of the Rose and Joel performances has been shared on YouTube. Joel then continued with a number of hits including "Uptown Girl," "Only The Good Die Young," "Piano Man,""It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and "We Didn't Start The Fire," before inviting Axl back on stage for the final song of the night, "You May Be Right," which segued into a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll." Joel kicked off the MSG residency in Jan. 2014 and played at the venue once every month over the next decade. With his final show, he set a record for the arena by giving his 150th lifetime performance on its stage. Joel, 75, will travel to the U.K. in August to play a stadium show in Cardiff, Wales with Chris Isaak. He will then play a series of headlining shows in North America including Cleveland, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Las Vegas, sharing the bill with Rod Stewart or Sting. In February, he released his first new pop song in 17 years, "Turn the Lights Back On." - Music-News.com, 7/27/24...... In a new interview with the UK paper The Sun, Rod Stewart reflected on approaching his milestone 80th birthday next Jan. 10. "I'm aware my days are numbered but I've got no fear. We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket," he said. "I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can. I say few -- probably another 15. I can do that easy mate, easy," he added. "I'm not like I was in the '70s and '80s and I can't stay up all night, get drunk and go mad and still have a voice just like that. Nowadays I have to protect my voice before and after every show." In February it was reported that Stewart had sold his back catalogue for close to $100 million (£79.3million) to Irving Azoff's Iconic Artists, who now owns his publishing catalogue, recorded music and a stake of Stewart's likeness and image rights. In a statement to the The Wall Street Journal, Stewart said of the deal: "Irving and I are a couple of old-timers and I believe we have a mutual respect and admiration for each other. My life's work is in safe hands with him." Meanwhile, Stewart was recently booed at a gig in Germany after he expressed his support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. - NME, 7/28/24...... Speaking to The Sunday Mirror, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason discussed the potential to forge a Pink Floyd reunion via artificial intelligence. "It would be fascinating to see what AI could do with new music. If you tried to run it as a sort of 'Where did Pink Floyd go after?'," Mason said. "The thing to do would be to have an AI situation where David [Gilmour] and Roger [Waters] become friends again," he continued, adding: "We could be like ABBA by the time we've finished with it." Mason also spoke of the feud between Waters and Gilmour, who declared Pink Floyd was over in 2015 by saying the band had "run its course," and Waters, expressing disappointment that it had overshadowed the band: "In a 55-year career, most of it was great fun. We were enormously privileged to be in a successful band and tour the world and hang out with really interesting people. It's a gold card to meet all sorts of your favourite sportsmen and actors." Mason, who currently plays some of Floyd's earlier music as Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets alongside Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and bassist Guy Pratt, also reflected on continuing to perform Floyd songs. "The best thing about keeping the thing going is for our benefit," he said. "It makes sense to keep it going rather than shutting it down. I also enjoy it because the more time passes, the more you can look at it with a rosier glint." Gilmour has also discussed the possibility of an ABBA-style Floyd show, saying he would agree to it under "a series of very, very difficult and onerous conditions." "I thought the images of them were sort of OK, but they weren't ever going to convince me it was real," he once said of his experience watching ABBA's Voyage show. "If you're down the sort of mosh pit end of the thing and it's all going on, it's probably great. The best moment for me was when the live band played a song ['Does Your Mother Know'] on their own." When asked if a Pink Floyd hologram show would ever be a possibility, he answered: "If someone came up with all the money and all the brilliant ideas -- and then once we've agreed to a series of very, very difficult and onerous conditions -- I'd say, 'Yeah, OK.'" - New Musical Express, 7/28/24...... Actor Jeremy Allen White, star of the FX comedy-drama series The Bear and was tapped back in January to play Bruce Springsteen in an upcoming biopic, has apparently been texting with the Boss in the hopes of meeting him in London to prepare for his upcoming role. White revealed to Variety that he has "texted and emailed" Springsteen in the run up to the New Jersey rocker's July 27 show at London's Wembley Stadium. "I'm really excited to see him perform," White said, cheekily adding that Springsteen texts "like a boss." The film is reportedly set to explore the making of Springsteen's 1982 classic album Nebraska. Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Hostiles) will write and direct the film, which is based on Warren Zane's 2023 book, Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. In other Bruce news, Springsteen will be in Toronto, Canada, in early September during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival for the debut of longtime collaborator Thom Zimny's Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, a documentary that follows the singer-songwriter's latest world tour. He also recently took part in Mark Knopfler's star-studded charity re-recording of "Going Home," which also featured the likes of Brian May, Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood and many more. - NME/Canoe.com, 7/27/24...... Pete Townshend has released a new box set of live solo performances, Live in Concert 1985 - 2001, which assembles some of The Who guitarist's most memorable live shows away from the band in an expanded 14-CD box set and digital offering featuring seven long-out-of-print live albums. When the compilation landed at his door in late June, Townshend says he grew reflective thinking about his time away from The Who that has been an indelible part of music since their 1965 debut My Generation. "I needed a creative outlet outside of The Who. I needed to be a solo artist," Townshend said of his independent tours and seven solo studio albums -- 1972's Who Came First; 1977's Rough Mix; 1980's Empty Glass; 1982's All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes; 1985's White City: A Novel; 1989's The Iron Man and the 1993 concept album Psychoderelict. But listening back through the new anthology, Townshend says he's reminded how he's never felt at home onstage. "The weird thing about me, compared to most artists, is despite the fact that I look like I'm enjoying myself, I don't really feel that," he muses. "It's not that I don't feel good about performing, I just don't know who that guy is that's up there on the stage. He isn't me. As a creative, I'm happiest in a studio. I don't like touring. I don't like travelling. I like to be at home in my studio being creative on my own." Townshend, 79, said that his decision to really embrace an identity as a solo artist was inspired by the death of the band's original drummer Keith Moon in 1978. "Keith Moon's death came at a time where The Who were already struggling creatively. After Keith died, I think the logical thing for me would have been to end my tenure with The Who and choose a solo career," he said. "I thought it would be good to work with a different drummer, because Keith's style was very much decorative. It was not a rhythmic style and I'd been contained in a sense with The Who." - Canoe.com, 7/27/24...... German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk paid tribute to the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto with a cover of "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" on July 27 at the Fuji Rock Festival in the renowned composer's home country of Japan. "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" is taken from the 1983 war film of the same name, whose soundtrack was the first that Sakamoto created in his illustrious career. Indeed, his soundtrack has been credited as one of the key reasons the film went on to become a cult classic despite mixed reviews from critics. Sakamoto also starred in the film alongside David Bowie, which was based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post, a prisoner of war in Java during World War II. Sakamoto died in March 2023 at the age of 71, having been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in a decade. Sakamoto was originally diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, which is now in remission, but shared details of a rectal cancer in 2021. A posthumous album, Opus, is set to be released on Aug. 9. Kraftwerk's version of "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" has been shared on X. - NME, 7/27/24...... Dick Asher, a music industry pioneer who served as president at PolyGram and Columbia Records and worked with some of music's biggest names, including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and Bon Jovi, died peacefully at his home in Boca Raton, Fla., on July 25. He was 92. Born in New York City in 1932, Mr. Asher began his professional journey after graduating from Tufts University and Cornell Law School. After serving in the Marine Corps, he joined CBS Records (now Sony Music) in the mid-1960s as vp of business affairs. Following Bob Dylan's near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1966, Mr. Asher famously traveled to Woodstock, N.Y., to negotiate the superstar's contract renewal. Mr. Asher left CBS to briefly work at Capitol Records but returned to the label in 1971 to work with Clive Davis at Columbia Records. He later served as deputy president of Columbia, where he played a crucial role in stabilizing the company's finances. In the 1980s, Mr. Asher stood up to the powerful network of independent promoters known as "The Network," who had monopolized radio airplay through payola and other questionable practices. To do this, he released Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" without their involvement, an episode recounted in the book Hit Men by Frederic Dannen. His resistance to The Network ultimately helped lead to Congressional hearings that exposed and dismantled the group's operations in the mid-1980s. Mr. Asher's tenure at Columbia ended in 1983 after conflicts with the company's president, Walter Yetnikoff. He subsequently joined Warner Communications and later became the president/CEO of PolyGram Records in 1985. During his time at PolyGram, the company released several blockbuster albums, including Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet and Def Leppard's Hysteria. He left PolyGram in 1990 following a contractual dispute and returned to law practice, providing consultancy services to various artists and companies. Later, Mr. Asher became an original director for Electronic Arts for more than two decades. In the 1990s, he moved to Florida and joined Florida Atlantic University as an affiliate professor of commercial music. He is survived by his wife, Sheila, a son, Jeffrey, and four grandchildren. - Billboard, 7/25/24...... During her set at Glasgow's OVO Hydro stadium on July 24, Stevie Nicks opened up about the health condition that had impacted her UK tour earlier in July and led to her postponing shows in Glasgow and Manchester, with her camp stating she had "sustained a leg injury" and required a "minor surgical procedure" as a result. "I don't know what happened," she told the audience. "I just got this weird infection, and it just went crazy." Nicks went on to say that she was staying at a "fabulous castle" in Scotland with some of her crew at the time, adding: "We get here days early because we want to be here for a few days." She continued: "I finally just looked at my assistant -- it was like two in the morning -- and I said, 'I think we need to go to emergency'. She looked at me and I said, 'I'm not kidding! I think we need to go to the hospital'. And so our butler -- this wonderful man -- throws us in his BMW Sedan, and off we sped through the night to a hospital." Nicks confirmed that she spent two days in hospital. "They let me go back to the castle, and we cancelled this show," she explained. "This whole tour I've been fighting what started here, and I would be damned if I wasn't coming back here." Fan shot footage of Nicks's speech can be viewed on YouTube. Before fulfilling her planned dates in Manchester and Glasgow, Nicks headlined BST Hyde Park in London where she was joined onstage by Harry Styles. The pair played an emotional joint rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" in tribute to Christine McVie on what would have been the late musician's birthday. They also performed "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" -- Nicks' 1981 collaboration with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. - NME, 7/25/24...... John Bennett, a veteran BBC Northern Ireland broadcaster, died peacefully on the evening of July 26, surrounded by his family. No cause of death has been given. Mr. Bennett's broadcasting career spanned almost 60 years. During that time, he became one of Northern Ireland's most famous radio personalities, presenting music, entertainment, sports and current affairs programmes for the BBC since 1965. In 1974, on New Year's Eve, he co-launched BBC Radio Ulster alongside Gloria Hunniford. Hunniford has shared a tribute to Mr. Bennett, calling him "A giant in broadcasting." "He was a truly gifted, gracious and generous man," she added. "His contribution to audiences in Northern Ireland and beyond is immeasurable." He was most celebrated for his work on The Sunday Club, which he presented for over 44 years. In Jan. 2023, Mr. Bennett was awarded an MBE for services to Television and Radio Broadcasting. Shortly after, he was inducted into the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame. His citation said that he had "left an indelible mark on the broadcasting landscape." - NME, 7/29/24...... A Polish television journalist has been suspended by the Polish state broadcaster for reacting to an Olympic Games opening ceremony performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" by saying it was a "vision of communism." TVP, the Polish broadcaster, issued a statement that day saying that the journalist and sports commentator, Przemyslaw Babiarz, would not be allowed to comment on air anymore during this summer's Games. Lennon's song asks to imagine no heaven or hell, no countries, and no possessions. "This is a vision of communism, unfortunately," Babiarz said during the grand opening ceremony along the Seine River in Paris -- comments that immediately triggered controversy for those watching in Poland. TVP said in its statement announcing his suspension: "Mutual understanding, tolerance, reconciliation -- these are not only the basic ideas of the Olympics, they are also the foundation of the standards that guide the new Polish Television. There is no consent to violate them." State media has been an ideological battleground in Poland for years. It was used as a mouthpiece by the right-wing populists who governed Poland from 2015-23. However Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a centrist politician whose broad coalition took power in December, acted quickly to remove their control of the airwaves. Many Polish conservatives condemned the mixing of LGBTQ+ themes with a Last Supper tableau during the opening ceremony. - AP, 7/28/24...... It has been revealed that William L. Calley Jr., a junior Army officer who became the only person convicted in connection with the My Lai Massacre of 1968, died on Apr. 28 at a hospice center in Gainesville, Fla. He was 80. The Washington Post obtained a copy of his death certificate from the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County. The Post was alerted to the death, which was not previously reported, by Zachary Woodward, a recent Harvard Law School graduate who said he noticed Mr. Calley's death while looking through public records. Although he was once the country's most notorious Army officer, a symbol of military misconduct in a war that many considered immoral and unwinnable, Mr. Calley had lived in obscurity for decades, declining interviews while working as a jeweler in Columbus, Ga., not far from the military base where he was court-martialed and convicted in 1971. A junior-college dropout from South Florida, Mr. Calley found a home in a military that was desperately trying to replenish its lower ranks as the war escalated in Vietnam. Mr. Calley was quickly tapped to become a junior officer, with minimal vetting, and was soon promoted to second lieutenant, commanding a platoon in Charlie Company, a unit of the Army's Americal Division. The company sustained heavy losses in the early months of 1968, losing men to sniper fire, land mines and booby traps as the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong launched coordinated attacks in the Tet Offensive. On the morning of Mar. 16, 1968, the unit was airlifted by helicopter to Son My, a patchwork village of rice paddies, irrigation ditches and small settlements, including a hamlet known to U.S. soldiers as My Lai 4. Over the next few hours, Mr. Calley and other soldiers in Charlie Company shot and bayoneted women, children and elderly men, destroying the village while searching for Viet Cong guerrillas and sympathizers who were said to have been hiding in the area. Homes were burned, and some women and girls were gang-raped before being killed. An Army investigation later concluded that 347 men, women and children had been killed, including victims of another American unit, Bravo Company. A Vietnamese estimate placed the death toll at 504. For more than a year and a half, the details of the atrocity were hidden and covered up from the public. A report to headquarters initially characterized the attack as a significant victory, claiming that 128 "enemy" fighters had been killed. Gen. William C. Westmoreland, the top commander in Vietnam, praised American forces at My Lai for dealing a "heavy blow" to the Viet Cong. - The Washington Post, 7/28/24.