Bruce Springsteen joined forces with the Asbury Park, N.J., band Bleachers at Shadow of the City Festival on Aug. 28. "There's nothin' like playing at home. There's nothing like being 16 years old and having to sell a certain amount of tickets so you can play inside the Pony, and it's just your cousins at the show," Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff told the crowd. "There's nothing like playing in the place you wrote the songs from. There's nothing like going through a lot, then being reunited with your people. It means the world, everybody. It means the world to be supported by you and my friends and my family." As Antonoff began playing a cover of Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl" (which was famously covered by Springsteen in 1985), the Boss walked out on stage to join him. They then launched into a rendition of "Chinatown," which has been shared on YouTube. Springsteen and Bleachers first collaborated in Dec. 2020, recoridng a stripped-back rendition of "Chinatown" on the roof of Electric Lady Studios in New York City. After that acoustic version, they performed it together once before its fully electric form in 2022. Springsteen's 2026 "Land Of Hope And Dreams" tour wrapped up in Philadelphia in May, a trek inspired by his objection to the administration of Pres. Donald Trump and ICE's killing of two citizens in Minnesota. Trump called on his supporters to boycott the "overpriced concerts," while Springsteen branded him a "President who can't handle the truth" at the first show. - New Musical Express, 8/31/26...... 
In related news, '70s/'80s hitmaker Christopher Cross delivered a lighthearted apology to Canadians at a recent concert in Toronto on Aug. 30, telling the audience that he's "sorry and embarrassed" that the U.S. president has embroiled the United States in a trade war with the Great White North. In between songs at RBC Amphitheatre, the "Sailing" singer took a moment to address the ongoing tensions between his home country and the one he was visiting. "I want to tell you how much we love your country and appreciate your country very much," Cross said on behalf of his band. "I'm just very sorry and embarrassed that we have an ahole for a president." Cross also asked the Canadians in the crowd not to "give up" on America. "We have an election coming up, and we're gonna do our best to fix it," he continued. "Then we'll be buying all your s--t again and you'll be buying all our s--t... we can be victims of corporate greed together." Then Cross said that was "enough preaching." "I'm sure you'll be reading in the paper where I've been ejected from my country, but that's OK. I wanted to say what I had to say," he added. The U.S. and Canada have been at odds since August, when trade negotiations between the two countries turned to the implementation of tariffs affecting the prices of a number of products. Cross's latest album, Take Me As I Am, was released in 2017. His two U.S. No. 1 hits include "Sailing" (1980) and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (1981). - Billboard, 9/1/26...... Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster has assured his fans that he'll "come back stronger than ever" following his heart operation. Stewart, 81, was forced to cancel the remaining dates on his 2026 North American tour in August to recover from a routine coronary stent procedure. Sharing an update on his health, Lancaster told the Press Association that the "Maggie May" musician was "back at full speed in his day-to-day activities" and will eventually be strong enough to perform again. "I mean, he does not sit down, I can never find him, he's, you know, he's got his hobbies, I mean he's just been in the gym working out, but we were under strict instructions about the level of workout he could do, and it's a gradual, build him up, build him up, kind of thing," she said. "But he's going to come back stronger than ever, I found it hard enough as it was to slow him down so now he feels like he's got a new lease of life." Lancaster added that Stewart was "devastated" to cancel his tour dates and "can't wait to see his fans again" when he gets back out on the road next year. Lancaster, who has been married to the rocker since 2007, also pointed out that Stewart's high-energy performances are similar to "running a sprint." "I did have to explain to the doctor what Rod's performances are like, he doesn't just sit down on a stool or behind a piano, he runs around for nearly two hours with four different costume changes because he's sweating through everything," she stated. In addition to the last dates on his "One Last Time Tour," Stewart also had to cancel his Encore Shows residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. A stent is a small tube that acts like a scaffold to help keep a narrowed or blocked artery open, restoring blood flow. - Music-News.com, 1/9/26...... The estate of Prince released a funky, career-spanning 10-song vault collection called Timeless on Aug. 28 in memory of the 10th anniversary of the artist's death. The Estate -- which released the set in partnership with Legacy Recordings-- said it represents the first-ever Prince release to cover every major era of the singer's career, spanning recordings tracked when he was a Minneapolis teenager in 1977 through ones cut in 2016. Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose on Apr. 21, 2016 at his Paisley Park estate in Minnesota. In addition to the album, the estate dropped an official video for "The Guilty Ones" on YouTube, featuring a compilation of live and music video footage spanning the singer's career. The Timeless album can also be streamed on Spotify.com. The release is part of a year-long commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Prince's death. - Billboard, 8/28/26...... 
Dolly Parton was laid to rest in a private family funeral in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 28, three days after her passing at age 80. The country legend was buried next to her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in 2025 at 82. Dolly's great niece, Lainey Parton confirmed details about the private ceremony in an Instagram post. "This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words," she wrote. The funeral for the singer who died following what was described as a brief battle with cancer was held at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. While no further details about her funeral were provided, Parton's nephew, Brian Seaver, revealed in a video that his aunt had a special request for how she should be buried. "Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy," Seaver said. "He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest." In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dolly said she wanted an old country-gospel hymn, "If We Never Meet Again" that was her father's favorite and played at his funeral, played at her funeral instead of one of her chart-topping hits. On Aug. 29, Doly was honored by her fellow country stars and peers at the Grand Ole Opry, where Carly Pearce, Jelly Roll, Kathy Mattea, Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle, Channing Wilson and Parton's niece, Jada Star took the stage at the Nashville institution that inducted Parton into its ranks in 1969. Writing on Instagram, the Opry said: "There are artists who make country music. And then there are artists who become part of its very heart. That's Dolly Parton." The Opry also dedicated its regularly scheduled Saturday night show to Parton. Other tributes include a two-day dual city "Dollyfest," set for Nashville, Tenn. and London, England, across two consecutive weekends in 2027. The event had originally been planned as a multi-artist event for January 2026 and was slated to feature Parton as both a performer and host. The fest will now transform into an international, two-day and double-weekend party to honor the multi-hyphenate singer, songwriter, entertainer, philanthropist, author and businesswoman. Specific dates and/or potential performers will be announced at a later date. The east Tennessee native is also set to be honored by the University of Tennessee football team with a commemorative helmet sticker that every Vols player will wear for the entire upcoming season, according to Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel. Huepel said the players' helmets will be adorned by an orange butterfly inscribed with the "Jolene" singer's "Dolly" signature. Also, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee confirmed on Aug. 28 that the Nashville airport will be renamed in honor of Dolly following a petition reaching over 160,000 signatures on a petition on Change.org. "Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," he said. "At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness," he added. Meanwhile, Parton's musical catalog experienced a vault of 1,143% in official on-demand streams in the United States week over week following her Aug. 25 death, according to Luminate. In the Aug. 21-27 tracking period, Dollys's music was streamed 116.7 million times in the U.S., up from 9.4 million streams the previous week (Aug. 14-20). On Aug. 26, the day after her death, Parton was the most streamed artist in the U.S., with 54.3 million streams occurring that day; the next closest act, Drake, earned 41.9 million. Top streamed songs include "Jolene" (10.2 million streams), "I Will Always Love You" (6.5 million streams), "9 to 5" (9.5 million streams) and "Coat of Many Colors" (4.5 million streams). Along with Ultimate Dolly Parton on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, Parton appears with The Essential Dolly Parton (No. 85, 14,000 units). Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection joins both sets on Top Country Albums (No. 41, 9,000 units). Across the pond, Dolly is on track to claim her first-ever U.K. Number 1 single with "9 to 5," following an outpouring of love from fans following the country legend's death. Her other classics, including "Jolene" and "Islands in the Stream," are also dominating the upper reaches of the U.K.'s Official Chart forecast. - Billboard, 8/31/26...... 
The Who's Pete Townshend says he's "working on getting well" so he can play with his legendary band "in the future," after announcing he was pulling out of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival due to ongoing health issues. Townshend, 81, has suffered damage to his left foot and is experiencing balance problems. Despite pushing hard to recover in time for the Sept. 26 and 27 event at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex., he says the long flight from the U.K. isn't sensible in his current condition. "I'm so sorry to say that due to damage to my left foot, and subsequent issues with my balance, I cannot commit to travel to appear at the upcoming Crossroads Festival in Austin," Townshend posted to X/Twitter. "I so desperately wanted to appear, and have battled to get in shape, and I am improving, but the long flights from London, and the jetlag on my return, would cause backtracking I really can't afford." Townshend has instead made a generous $50,000 donation to Clapton's Crossroads Center -- a drug treatment clinic near St Philip's, Antigua -- via his own charity, Double O, which supports addiction-recovery organizations. He continued: "I am making a $50,000 donation to the festival cause from my charity Double O, and one day I hope I can accept Eric's invitation to appear with him. He has now asked me several times. There has always been some issue, in this case it is my recovery from my knee replacement in February of 2025, and some complications." He closed by saying, "Meanwhile I will keep working on getting well so I can work with Roger [Daltrey] and The Who in future." The post was captioned: "We love you @PeteTownshend_, feel better and we are so appreciative of your donation (sic)." The Who played what was billed as their last ever shows in 2025. Meanwhile, it appears that The Who is re-hiring drummer Zak Starkey ahead of a possible European tour after an acromonious split between the two parties in 2025. "We had a rehearsal recently to make sure we can think about doing some shows in Europe," Starkey recently told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Roger Daltrey added that Starkey had been behind the kit and that "it sounded great." Starkey later shared a screenshot of the report on Instagram. "Nice one Rog x," he wrote. "Lookin forward to tearin it up with The Who again The rehearsal was great. I don't think we've ever rehearsed as tough as that usually we drink tea and talk about what time we're going home!" Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, began playing with The Who in 1996 and remained their touring drummer for nearly three decades, but his position was suddenly thrown into doubt following the band's Teenage Cancer Trust shows at London's Royal Albert Hall in March last year. During "The Song Is Over," Daltrey stopped the performance and complained that he could not hear the key over the drums, and the band were subsequently reported to have fired Starkey following an "acrimonious" fallout. Starkey said he was "surprised and saddened" by the decision, maintaining that he did not believe there had been a problem with his performance. He had also recently recovered from a serious blood clot in his leg. Elsewhere, Roger Daltrey has said he believes social media is "destroying civilization." Daltrey, 82, blasted Gen Z and influencers for their dependence on social media and insisted "everybody's screaming" at each other online but no one is listening. According to DailyMail.com, he told the audience during a recent gig at Yaamava' Resort Casino in Los Angeles: "When you think about it, we've got this new world of social media which seems to be destroying civilization. I think. A platform for everybody to scream at each other, but nobody's f------ listening. "So, everybody's screaming. Oh, yeah. What's that all about? And how many friends have you really got when you look at 'Oh, I got all these likes'. That's just your ego. Let it go. Let it go. It's not worth it. So, when it comes to the end, and I'm getting close. Closer than you think. How many friends have you really got? We did a song once. How many friends have you really got? You can count them on one hand. Never a true word was written." Daltrey followed his rant about today's youth by playing his teen rebel anthem "My Generation." - Music-News.com/New Musical Express, 9/2/26...... 
R&B icon Gladys Knight has announced that she is "easing into fewer performances" to spend more time with her family. Knight, 82, recently posted on Instagram that "After much soul searching I've decided that I will be easing into fewer performances while focusing on transitioning into the next stage of my career and life moving forward. I'll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era." Her decision comes after some performances that didn't hit her high standards. In August, Knight and Smokey Robinson performed at the Hollywood Bowl. While Robinson appeared to have not lost a step, Knight wasn't her typical self. "She relied heavily on her three back-up singers, who even took lead parts on occasion. She didn't introduce them, or any of her six musicians, or speak to the audience in any meaningful way beyond banalities like 'you're so beautiful.' She never mentioned Robinson," a reviewer for Billboard reported from the scene. Sadly, Knight "barely got through this show, and only by leaning heavily on her backup singers. Artists need to know when it's time to bow out gracefully." As the leader of Gladys Knight And The Pips, the legendary singer helped shape the sound of Motown in the 60's and 70's: "Midnight Train to Georgia" was a No. 1 hit and instant classic, but the soul act's run extended long after that 1973 hit. In recent years, Knight has been a regular on the awards circuit. She was saluted by the Recording Academy in 2024 with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the previous year received the National Medals of Arts, the United States' highest award given to artists and their patrons. Kennedy Center Honors came in 2022. Knight, along with her backing group, The Pips, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. - Billboard, 8/28/26...... David Byrne's latest international tour is coming to theaters, with the hometown concerts being shot on 70mm film by director Brady Corbet. Launching in Sept. 2025, Byrne's "Who Is The Sky?" tour travelled to four continents and over 150 shows, with 13 musicians creating what the press release described as a show that "blends visual art, storytelling, and music into one compelling live performance." The tour's multi-night stop at Baltimore's The Hippodrome has been captured by Corbet, and Byrne was quoted in a press release at being amazed by the results. "When Brady told me he wanted to shoot our show in 70 millimeter (70 millimeter!) I didn't realize what a difference it would make until I saw some frames he sent me," shared Byrne. "He was right, it really does capture the wide screen visual scope of the show. I've never seen anything like it." Brady Corbet is best known as the director of The Brutalist, winning Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for the epic drama as well as earning three Oscar nominations. He has also directed The Childhood of a Leader with Robert Pattinson and Vox Lux starring Natalie Portman. The film is currently in post-production, with distribution and release date yet to be announced. Byrne has previously worked with award-winning filmmakers before, such as Jonathan Demme on Talking Heads' seminal concert movie Stop Making Sense, as well as Spike Lee on the 2020 stage production "David Byrne's American Utopia." - NME, 8/28/26...... Cher has slammed her daughter-in-law Marieangela King-Allman, painting her as a fame seeker "on a quest for money." The "Believe" singer recently filed court documents arguing against King-Allman becoming guardian of her song, Elijah Blue Allman. Elijah, 50, is currently under a psychiatric hold at a New Hampshire psychiatric/correctional facility as he faces multiple criminal charges over two separate incidents -- one in which he broke into a house, and another in which he created a "disturbance" in the dining hall of a local private prep school. While Elijah and Marieangela are still technically married, Cher's legal team argued they were long estranged and that her daughter-in-law was merely seeking fame and fortune. "The New Hampshire State Hospital, and the rest of the family remain adamantly opposed to Mrs. King-Allman serving given her estrangement from Elijah," court documents filed by Cher's lawyer, Justin Gold, stated. "As evidenced by the previously pending divorce, her refusal and failure to assist Elijah and Kayti Pease while he was struggling before he was arrested in New Hampshire, and/or because the family believes that she is inserting herself back into the picture on a quest for money and/or a bit of fame." In the court filing, Cher claimed Marieangela had done nothing to assist Elijah in the aftermath of his arrests and hospitalisation. "Mr. Allman's condition was not unknown to her, as Kayti Pease had repeatedly and often requested that Mrs. King-Allman assist her in providing care for Mr. Allman," the filing said. "Mrs. King-Allman never lifted a finger to help, despite the fact that Mr. Allman was supposedly her spouse. Now that a conservatorship is pending, Mrs. King-Allman clearly sees a financial opportunity to control his income, and she has attempted to seize the opportunity created by his incarceration to try to reinsert herself back into his life." - Music-News.com, 9/1/26...... 
The celebrity gossip site TMZ.com is reporting that Lionel Richie checked himself into intensive care shortly after his performance in St. Louis on Aug. 29. The outlet reported the news of the Grammy winner's hospitalization amid his "Sing a Song All Night Long" tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. During the show, he had asked his team to bring him a chair while performing encore song, "All Night Long." The American Idol judge, 77, previously cut a concert short in St Paul, Minnesota, on 24 June after falling ill on stage. During that show, which was the first of his tour, Richie told the crowd he was feeling dizzy and performed "Dancing on the Ceiling" while seated, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down," he joked, before sitting down at a piano to perform "Three Times a Lady" and then taking an impromptu intermission. Richie postponed two shows in the aftermath of that incident, as his doctors advised he "rest and return to full health." The former The Commodores member and '80s/'90s superstar later assured fans he was "doing well" in an Instagram post. Thank you for every message, every kind word, and for all your love. I'm doing well, and I'm grateful for all of you," he shared. Richie is next scheduled to perform on Sept. 26 in San Francisco. - Music-News.com, 9/1/26...... The Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter have announced a raft of new dates for their forthcoming winter "50 Years Of Punk" tour. Earlier in 2026, they announced an arena tour marking five decades since punk's most momentous year, with 1976 seeing the original line-up play a series of legendary gigs in now mythic venues like The Marquee, The 100 Club, The Nashville and the El Paradiso strip club. A series of headline dates kicking off at Dublin's 3Arena on Dec. 7 along with further dates at Edinburgh's Corn Exchange (12/9), Glasgow's O2 Academy (12/10), and London's Brixton Academy (12/18) and Eventim Apollo (12/20) were initially announced. Now further dates at Leeds O2 Academy (12/4), Newcastle NX (12/5), Liverpool Olympia (12/12), Birmingham O2 Academy (12/14), Portsmouth Guildhall (12/15) and Bristol Prospect Building (12/16) have been added to the schedule. A flurry of incendiary shows came before they recorded 1977's seminal Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols were maybe best immortalized by their stop at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall. Widely considered some of the most influential shows of all time, the two shows at the Manchester venue are credited with inspiring musicians who'd go on to be in bands including Joy Division, The Smiths and The Fall. The band, reformed with Carter as vocalist in 2024 -- initially to raise funds for London's Bush Hall venue but have since played everywhere from Australia to Japan, making several stops at European festivals and playing a show at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust. - NME, 9/1/26.
Reaction to the sudden death of Dolly Parton on Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer continues to reverberate around the world days after the country music queen's passing. A petition advocating for the Nashville International Airport in her native Tennessee to be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport in honor of the singer has exploded on Change.org after it was originated by Nashville comedian Lydia Popvich in 2025. Popvich updated the pitch on Aug. 26, noting that it retained a key supporter in Tennessee State Sen. Todd Warner, who she said had pledged to introduce legislation to make the name change happen. In addition, Nashville City Council member Russ Bradford responded to the petition, writing, "I'm proud to sponsor a resolution asking the Metro Nashville Airport Authority to consider renaming BNA to Dolly Parton International Airport." Meanwhile, Parton's Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., announced that it would remain open after her passing. 
"Dolly's heartfelt wish was that Dollywood always remain a place of joy, hope and togetherness a space where families and friends could honor her memory, not with silence, but with laughter, music and shared dreams," a statement on its website by park president Eugene Naughton said in part. "While we grieve her loss, we are honored and committed to carry her light forward. Her legacy will continue to shine in every melody sung, every smile shared and every dream kindled within these gates." Parton has made frequent visits to the park over the years, including its 40th anniversary celebration in Mar. 2025, which took place less than two weeks after the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. She was scheduled to appear at Dollywood a couple of weeks prior to her death to support the opening of its new NightFlight Expedition ride, but canceled due to then-unspecified health issues. Elsewhere, Dolly's Imagination Library program has been honored by the Library of Congress. The organization shared a tribute to the singer on Aug. 25, shortly after news of her dying at the age of 80 was shared earlier that day. "The Library is devastated to learn of the passing of @DollyParton, a music legend and titan of children's literacy," the federal establishment wrote on X. "Her Imagination Library program has earned multiple Library Literacy Awards and, in 2018, she visited us to donate its 100 millionth book to our collection and host a story time," the post continued, alongside a sweet photo of Parton reading a book to a group of enraptured children seated on the floor in front of her. Elsewhere, it has been revealed that the country music icon left behind a song more than a decade before her death that she specifically instructed would not be heard until her 100th birthday in 2046. At Dollywood's DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., sits a locked chestnut box containing a recording of an unreleased Parton song called "My Place in History." The song was written in 2015, the same year the resort opened, and Parton specifically arranged for it to be unveiled on what would have been her 100th birthday: Jan. 19, 2046. Inside the box is a CD containing the recording, along with a CD player so that future generations will be able to hear it, outwardly a Dolly time capsule. The country legend even acknowledged the uncertainty of leaving technology from 2015 to be opened decades later. "There's no telling what music is going to be by then," she wrote in her 2020 book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. "Hopefully, it will play and the whole thing ain't rotted." Parton also joked that she hoped she would live long enough to hear the song herself when the box eventually opened. She was 69 when she wrote and recorded "My Place In History." Meanwhile, in the week before her death it was reported that Parton was exploring "avatar performances" as part of several new ways to perform for fans in the future. Now, her team have revealed the extent of her planning, saying in a new statement that the musician "worked up until the day she died." "She loved seeing her dreams come to life, and loved knowing her work brought people joy. Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come," says her longtime manager Danny Nozell. "As the leader of the team responsible for overseeing her legacy, we will ensure the many dreams she had yet to fulfil are brought to life. Many projects were in various stages of development, and we want to be transparent with her fans about this fact. If you see unreleased music, products, books, experiences, and campaigns launched through official Dolly Parton channels, you can have confidence in knowing that she placed her personal stamp on it." They then shared an overview of some of the active projects at the time of Parton's death, which include Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stops, Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel, Dolly Dolls, and a Dolly's Life Of Many Colors Museum opening in Nashville on Sept. 29. In the entertainment realm, a musical, "DOLLY: A True Original Musical On Broadway," is set to open on January 19 2027 -- what would have been Parton's 81st birthday -- while further details of a Dolly avatar show, a biopic, a docuseries and a scripted series will be revealed soon. Finally, Dolly's iconic 1973 track "Jolene" has topped Apple Music's U.S. songs chart a day after her death. "Jolene," released in Oct. 1973 before the album of the same name dropped the following year, was loosely inspired by a bank teller who flirted with her husband, Carl Dean, who died in Mar. 2025 at the age of 82. As well as the top country hit, several other songs by the country music icon made the top 10, including "I Will Always Love You," "9 to 5," and "Islands in the Stream." - Billboard/NME/Music-News.com, 8/26/26...... 
In a new interview with E! News, Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack Osbourne promised that the forthcoming Ozzy biopic will be for the people, not "artsy, esoteric." "I have this mantra, and I always say it, when in meetings with my mom or doing anything with the family business. It's, 'give the fans what they want,'" said Jack. "That's our people, that's who we're catering for, that's what my dad wrote music for, that's what he toured for, it's why we did the shows we did. It's been a big theme." Jack revealed that the script for the film being developed by Sony Pictures and Polygram Entertainment in conjunction with the family is already finished and that the call is out for directors now for the project that has not yet announced a shooting schedule or potential release date. The good news is that the family already has someone in mind for the title role, but it's too early to reveal who that is. "I'm not allowed to say, but conversations have been had, and if it all works out, it's gonna be awesome," Jack said. An Ozzy biopic was first revealed by Osbourne's widow Sharon Osbourne in 2021 that would chronicle the couple's 45-year love affair. "Our relationship at times was often wild, insane and dangerous but it was our undying love that kept us together," Sharon said at the time. - Billboard, 8/27/26...... Barry Manilow announced on Aug. 26 that he's taking a break from his Las Vegas residency at the International Theater at Westgate that had been planned to kick off in late August, as well as six shows scheduled for September in order to rest and recuperate from his battle with stage 1 lung cancer. "Hi everybody - Barry here," he wrote in an Instagram post. "And I want you to be the first to know that we're going to take a quick break. We just finished a fantastic summer tour. 29 shows in 68 days. The shows were fantastic. The audiences were fantastic. And I sounded fantastic. But it seems that we were pushing a little too hard," he added. The decision came after Manilow, 83, postponed his planned 2026 arena tour and delayed his February residency shows in Vegas in the wake of surgery for lung cancer in December. He was slated to return to the stage at Westgate on Aug. 20, but that show was called off just before curtain, followed by the cancelation of last weekend's Friday and Saturday gigs due to reported "technical and vocal problems." The message ended with Manilow adding that new Westgate dates will be in September. Manilow had treatment for stage 1 lung cancer in December, including surgery to remove a cancerous spot from his left lung, which resulted in the singer pushing back his planned February Las Vegas residency dates, as well as his February, March and April arena shows on doctor's advice to rest. - Billboard, 8/26/26...... Ahead of a new expanded special edition of The Beatles' Rubber Soul set to drop on Oct. 2, an early "songwriting work tape" of one of the album's key tracks, "Day Tripper," has been shared on YouTube. "Day Tripper," recorded during the sessions for Rubber Soul in 1965, was first developed by John Lennon as a folk song, and later turned into the final rocking version with lead vocals by Paul McCartney a month later. The newly released recording shows the two working on it together -- and features audio of them laughing together and also noting the high level of sound being captured on tape. The finished version was later completed during an eight-hour studio session. With the new version of the album. It will be presented in new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes for the first time in over six decades, and come in a box-set alongside the original mono mix and the original Capitol US Album version (which did not include "Day Tripper"). Alongside the original tracklist -- which features fan-favorites including "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," "Nowhere Man," "Michelle" and "In My Life" -- there will also be "We Can Work It Out" and a selection of previously unreleased session recordings and home demos. - New Musical Express, 8/26/26...... 
Bruce Springsteen announced on Aug. 25 he is returning for another year of supporting veterans at the annual "Stand Up for Heroes" charity event, which in 2026 is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Boss will perform at the event which raises money for members of the military facing injury or illness, as well as their families, on Nov. 9 at Lincoln Center in New York City. The Resilient, a band that includes wounded U.S. combat veterans, is also on the bill along with Alex Warren, and the event will be hosted by comedian Jon Stewart. This year's benefit will take place three days into the 2026 New York Comedy Festival, which will run from Nov. 6 to Nov. 15. Springsteen has a nearly perfect attendance record at "Stand Up for Heroes," appearing at almost every one of the annual showcases since 2007. - Billboard, 8/25/26...... Eric Clapton and John Mayer have joined forces for a limited-edition guitar collection in aid of charity. On Aug. 26, Billboard's Guitar Center unveiled its 2026 exclusive Crossroads guitar collection, with limited-edition guitars across five models. The line-up was created in collaboration with Clapton and includes a new John Mayer x PRS Silver Sky. Mayer will debut the model onstage at this year's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Austin, Tex. Previous Clapton-exclusive guitars have been a hot commodity at Guitar Center, with the remake of the singer's 2006 "Blackie" flying off the shelves in just four hours, the fastest-selling guitar launch at that time. Almost two decades later, in 2025, the Gibson Custom Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul sold out in under 12 hours. The new collection is available at Guitar Store and at stores nationwide and online. Fans at the 2026 Crossroads Guitar Festival, which runs from Sept. 26-27, can also shop the collection at The Guitar Center Experience. - Billboard, 8/26/26...... On Aug. 22 ZZ Top returned to the stage for the first time following the death of longtime drummer Frank Beard. The band performed at Austin's Moody Theater, "one of Frank's favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him," according to a press statement. Following Beard's death at age 77 on Aug. 17, ZZ Top canceled two tour dates in Salt Lake City on Aug. 18 and Colorado Springs on Aug. 19. The band previously announced that it would resume its current "The Big One! Tour" with back-to-back shows this weekend at Austin City Limits. During the Aug. 22 show, drummer Michael Monahan stepped in behind the kit. Both Monahan and longtime drum tech John Douglas had been filling in for Beard as he dealt with health issues in recent years. ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons addressed his bandmate's death once during the performance, during the group's introductions after the first song, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. "I guess some of you probably know there's a new man in town," Gibbons said of Monahan. "In fact, it all started a little while back. [Bassist Elwood Francis] and I got an unexpected call from our dear Frank Beard, our dear drummer for 50 years. I've never heard him admit, he said, 'My bass drum foot's a little weak. Can you get my man [Monahan] to take over?' I said, 'Oh yeah, yeah, he's been doing pretty good.' Frank said, 'Yeah, that's what worries me.'" Gibbons then shifted his tone to a more upbeat one, telling the audience, "We're all here for a celebration, you know what's going on. So we're gonna have a good time." Footage of Gibbons introducing the band's new drummer can be viewed on Instagram. ZZ Top will remain on the road through October as part of the band's The Big One! Tour. The group will then travel to South America for additional shows in November. The band hasn't yet announced whether Monahan will remain behind the kit for those performances. - Billboard, 8/23/26...... Elton John has unveiled his family's annual summer playlist during the latest episode of his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music, featuring track selections curated alongside his husband David Furnish and their sons, Zachary and Elijah. The collection bridges generational tastes, pairing legacy artists with contemporary electronic and dance producers. Selections include Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground," Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Could You Be Loved," and Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down A Dream." Reflecting on Petty's catalog, John highlighted the 1989 album Full Moon Fever as one of the finest rock records ever produced. John clarified that the radio broadcast represents an abbreviated selection from a broader personal playlist used by the family throughout the season. The full episode of Rocket Hour is available to stream on demand via Apple Music and Apple Podcasts. - Music-News.com, 8/25/26...... Richard Lloyd, the guitarist in the acclaimed '70s New Wave band Television, has been diagnosed with bile duct cancer and is seeking financial help. The bile ducts are small tubes that connect different organs, including the liver and gall bladder and are part of the digestive system. Although bile duct cancer is treatable, in can be difficult to treat, which is what Richard is facing. Friends have rallied support through a newly launched GoFundMe fundraiser as Richard is unable to tour. Created by his Richard Lloyd Group bandmate Sean Seymour, the GoFundMe explains that the musician is dealing with "tumors in his liver, including one located dangerously close to a major blood vessel." Seymour says the tumour's position means doctors would struggle to carry out an operation without causing damage. Richard has already endured seven ICU admissions and repeated medical crises, including deadly sepsis twice, on top of liver and kidneys complications. All the money raised will help Richard and his wife Sheila better manage the financial pressure created by his illness, covering medical bills, everyday costs, and the impact of him being unable to work while Sheila provides full-time care. The goal is $80,000 (58,690), and they are already midway to the target. Television frontman Tom Verlaine died in 2023, aged 73, and the band has been inactive ever since. - Music-News.com, 8/25/26...... 
TV and movie actress Shelley Fabares, the star of classic sitcoms The Donna Reed Show and Coach and who appeared in three films with Elvis Presley, died on Aug. 22 in Los Angeles. She was 82. Born in Santa Monica, Calif., in January 1944, Ms. Fabares grew up around Hollywood. Her mother, Elsa, started her modeling career at a young age, which led to roles on TV. Ms. Fabares' aunt, Nanette Fabray, was a well-known Broadway star and film supporting player who also transitioned to TV roles. Among Ms. Fabares' early TV breaks was a two-episode stint on The Loretta Young Show in 1954. Her first major film credit came in a supporting role in the 1956 Rock Hudson drama Never Say Goodbye, for Universal International. She had a brief career as a singer during her time on The Donna Reed Show, notching a No.1 hit with her 1961 track "Johnny Angel." She parlayed her TV fame into a series of teen-centric B-movie romps including opposite Fabian in 1964's "Ride the Wild Surf," and she co-starred with Elvis Presley in 1965's Girl Happy, 1966's Spinout and 1967's Clambake. Some of her other TV credits include The Little People, Forever Fernwood, The Practice, Hello Larry, Highcliffe Manor, Fantasy Island, One Day at a Time and The Love Boat. She had a key role on one of the most lauded TV movies of the 1970s, ABC's Brian's Song, starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams in the true story of the friendship between two NFL players as one of them faces terminal cancer. Ms. Fabares played Joy Piccolo, the wife of Caan's Brian Piccolo. Ms. Fabares was briefly married to influential music and movie producer Lou Adler in the mid-1960s. In 1984, Ms. Fabares married actor Mike Farrell, known for his long run on the CBS comedy M*A*S*H. In the 1980s and '90s, Farrell and Ms. Fabares were active in numerous political and social causes, including protesting U.S. activities in Central America and supporting the anti-nuclear movement that took root in Southern California in the late 1970s. After Coach ended its run, Ms. Fabares had few film and TV credits as she battled health problems. In 2000, she went through a very public health crisis in which she needed -- and ultimately successfully received -- a liver transplant. Her experience of waiting nearly two years for a donor liver to become available helped raise public awareness for the acute need for organ donations. "We will miss her deeply -- not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives," her family said in a statement. "We take comfort in knowing that Shelley's work and the memories she created with those who loved her will continue to live on," they added. - Variety, 8/23/26...... Jaye P. Morgan, one of the top female recording artists of the 1950s with seven top 40 pop hits in 1954-55 alone, including "That's All I Want From You," and who later became a frequent talk show guest and game show panelist -- infamously taking off her blouse on The Gong Show -- died on Aug. 24 of natural causes in Longview, Wash. She was 94. Her longtime attorney and friend, Mark Sendroff, said Ms. Morgan had been living with her nephew and niece, Duke Morgan Spencer and Peggy Sue Spencer. Ms. Morgan's biggest hit was 1954's "That's All I Want From You," which reached No. 3 on the Most Played by Jockeys chart and No. 5 on the Best Sellers in Stores list. In the Billboard Hot 100 era, she scored three hits: "Are You Lonesome Tonight" (No. 65 in 1959); "Miss You" (No. 78, 1959); and "I Walk the Line" (No. 66, 1960). Later, she would become a regular guest on The Tonight Show and make appearances with Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett and Mike Douglas as well as spots on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. But it was her years hamming it up as a celebrity judge -- along with Jamie Farr and Rip Taylor -- on the chaotic The Gong Show starting in 1976 that cemented her fame. On the show, amateur performers tried out their acts, and when one of the judges couldn't stand it anymore, they smashed a gong, ending the proceedings. Whichever performer won the day's show received a check for the random amount of $516.32. On one episode, Eugene Patton -- the dancing stagehand performing as Gene Gene the Dancing Machine -- started his thing when Morgan opened her shirt to expose her breasts, helping bring an end to the show's run on NBC in 1978. "It paid good money, and it was great exposure. I really enjoyed it," she told the Los Angeles Times in 1992. "Jaye P. Morgan's devil-may-care ad libs on television game shows have probably made her more famous as a personality than as a singer," The New York Times wrote in 1984. "But the same kooky recklessness that inspires Miss Morgan's remarks is also a part of her musical sensibility." Her film credits include The All-American Boy with Jon Voight, Loose Shoes, The Gong Show Movie, Night Patrol and the 2002 Miramax release Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, directed by George Clooney. Married and divorced three times, Ms. Morgan is survived by a son, Paul Kane. - Associated Press, 8/26/26...... 
Acclaimed British actor, author, comedian and singer Tim Curry, best known for playing cross-dressing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the iconic 1975 cult movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, died on Aug. 25 at his Toluca Lake, Los Angeles home of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 80. After gaining notice as part of the original cast of the British production of the musical Hair in 1968, Mr. Curry rose to international stardom in the role that would come to define his half-century career as the lascivious, lingerie-wearing Frank-N-Furter in the original stage production of "The Rocky Horror Show," a b-movie send-up that chronicles the misadventures of a naive couple who take refuge from a storm in the home of mad scientist Furter. Though he would go on to perform in dozens of other plays and movies, it was his role in Rocky Horror that made Curry an international star, with audiences transfixed by his show-stopping, bump-and-grind introductory number, "Sweet Transvestite," as well as the cabaret-like "I Can Make You a Man" and the emotional ballad "I'm Going Home," among others. He famously reprised the role in the musical film adaptation in 1975, with that movie becoming a staple of interactive midnight screenings in which fans dressed up as his character (and others), and came armed with props mimicking the action on screen. Born Timothy James Curry on Apr. 19, 1946 in Grappenhall, Cheshire England, he showed musical talent early on, graduating with a degree in English and drama from the University of Birmingham in 1968. Following his breakout role in the "Rocky Horror" stage musical, Mr. Curry appeared in a string of stage plays and TV projects, including a lauded performance as William Shakespeare in the six-part 1978 British Will Shakespeare mini-series. His film career also took off, landing him roles in another cult classic, Times Square, as well as a scene-stealing turn as "Rooster" in the 1982 film adaptation of Annie. He scored another classic role in 1985 in the Ridley Scott fantasy film Legend as the Lord of Darkness and another that year as Wadsworth the butler in the film adaptation of the board game Clue. He earned a Best Lead Actor Tony nomination in 1980 for his titular role in "Amadeus" and spent much of the next two decades bouncing between Broadway and London's West End in a series of starring roles in "The Threepenny Opera," "The Art of Success," "My Favorite Year" (for which he earned his second Tony nomination) and as Scrooge in the 2001 musical "A Christmas Carol." After moving the U.S., Mr. Curry began a run of television roles, including his Emmy-nominated portrayal of Winston Newquay in the triple role on the 1983 anthology series Tales From the Crypt, as well as a return to horror as Pennywise the Clown in the 1990 miniseries Stephen King's It. In addition to his long list of stage, screen and television roles, Mr. Curry appeared on the Rocky Horror soundtrack -- which reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart in 1978 -- and released his debut album, a collection of mostly covers, on A&M Records in 1978, Read My Lips. His second LP, 1979's more rocking collection of originals, Fearless, reached No. 53 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the minor hit "I Do The Rock," which topped out at No. 96 on the Billboard Hot 100. His third album, 1981's Simplicity, peaked at No. 112 on the album chart. Mr. Curry was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for his reading of A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. Mr. Curry, who suffered a stroke in 2012 and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair, released his memoir, Vagabond, in 2025. - Billboard, 8/26/26.
Her 1981 theme song from the movie 9 to 5 (in which she also starred) reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Adult Contemporary chart, a feat she repeated with 1983's Kenny Rogers duet "Islands in the Stream," written for them by The Bee Gees. In total, she topped the Billboard Hot 100 twice and topped the Hot Country Songs chart 25 times. In 1986, she took over the Pigeon Forge, Tenn., theme park Silver Dollar City, and reopened it as Dollywood (with a replica of her childhood home). Trio, her 1987 collaboration with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, was a neo-traditionalist setting for the three singers' exquisite harmonies, and a platinum hit. After her appearance in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, Dolly returned her focus to recording country music, and rarely performed live for most of the '90s. In 1993, she recorded Honky Tonk Angels with fellow Country icons Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, and 1999's Trio II became another gold album of collaborations. In 1994, she published her memoir, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. Dolly returned to the road in the 2000s, touring extensively in North America and Europe, and headlining at England's Glastonbury Festival in 2014. The 2015 TV movie Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors was based on her autobiographical 1971 rags-to-riches song. The same year, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort expanded her theme park. Her other movie credits include Rhinestone Cowboy with Sylvester Stallone and Steel Magonolias with Julia Roberts. Even into her seventies, Dolly's voice, persona and appearance remained remarkably close to what they'd been in the earliest years of her career, maintained by a penchant for plastic surgery. "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap," she would quip. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on her first nomination, and the singer experienced a major resurgence late in her career a year later when Rockstar, largely a collection of rock covers, debuted at No. 3, her pinnacle on the all-genre chart. The album, which featured contributions from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, goddaughter Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Elton John and others, also debuted at No. 1 on Top Album Sales chart, providing her with her biggest sales week in the modern era. Though primarily lauded as a country artist, she made detours (with albums and/or songs) into such genres as Americana/folk, bluegrass, children's music, Christian, dance/electronic and pop. The Imagination Library, which provides books monthly to children from birth to age 5 and has donated over 150 million books to date, was one of her many philanthropic projects. In the early days of COVID, she also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which helped fund the Moderna vaccine. In 2024, Dolly released the album Smoky Mountain DNA: Faith, Family and Fables, which featured the icon performing with members of her extended family, and the project hit No. 1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Albums chart. Countless artists posted tributes to the music and pop culture icon on social media, including Paul McCartney, who posted a thoughtful statement on 
Elton John wrote on his 
Legendary British Invasion pop stars The Hollies have announced the end of their touring career after 63 years, bringing one of England's longest-running rock bands to a close. The news was confirmed in a statement on Aug. 20, which explained that guitarist Tony Hicks was stepping away from touring for health reasons. Drummer Bobby Elliott, the other long-running member still with the group, added that he was also retiring in solidarity with his bandmate. "After more than six decades, The Hollies' touring career will come to a close with immense gratitude to the fans who have supported them around the world," the statement read. Naming themselves after legendary '50s Rock & Roll star Buddy Holly, The Hollies were formed in Manchester in 1962 by childhood friends Allan Clarke and Graham Nash and joined by Hicks in 1963, the band made a successful for Parlophone Records at Abbey Road Studios, while Hicks' former bandmate in The Dolphin, Elliott, followed later in the year, with bassist Eric Haydock completing the classic line-up. The band became known for their distinctive three-part harmonies and became one of the defining bands of the British Invasion, with hits including "I'm Alive," "Bus Stop," "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," "Stop Stop Stop," "The Air That I Breathe" and 
The Beatles' company Apple Corps Ltd have announced a new unique partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG) to handle the licensing and merchandising for the renowned band. Apple Corps, founded in 1968 by The Fab Four to handle their business interests, and UMG announced on Aug. 19 that they had reached a "holistic agreement" that will see the latter "take The Beatles' iconic story to fans across generations and around the world." The deal relates to digital and physical merchandising, licensing, and e-commerce surrounding the legendary band. Apple Corps' headquarters at 3 Savile Row will also be open to the public for the first time in 2027, with a fan experience that promises "seven floors of never-seen-before material from Apple Corps Ltd's extensive archives, rotating exhibitions, a fan store, and the recreation of the original studio where 'Let it Be' was recorded." Tom Greene, CEO of Apple Corps Ltd, said in a press release: "We are delighted to partner with UMG on a new global merchandising deal. There has never been a more exciting time to work on The Beatles as we look ahead to the 3 Saville Row fan experience in 2027, and our biopic movies in 2028. The Beatles message has never been more relevant or needed in the world today, and we look forward to delighting millions of fans with everything we have planned." The announcement comes ahead of director Sam Mendes' four-part Beatles biopic The Beatles -- A Four-Film Cinematic Event, due for simultaneous release in 2028. - NME, 8/20/26...... Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed that he is once again fighting cancer. In an interview with El Salvadorian station YSKL, the 63-year-old musician discussed his philosophy for keeping a positive, hopeful attitude after revealing in 2013 that he was battle Hodgkin's lymphoma, which he said returned in 2015 and yet again recently. "There's only been one time that I felt it was gonna kill me," Campbell said of his diagnosis. "In the winter of 2023, I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening. And I realized at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive I did that in January of '25 . Unfortunately, it didn't stick. So the cancer has returned, and I'm continuing treatments to manage it." Campbell said he plans to try another transplant within the next few years with a different donor to see if that will stick, but in the meantime, he is going to keep performing with the band as well as his side project, the Last in Line, and racing rally cars, a lifelong obsession. "I love cars and I love driving," he said. "And as a child, I thought, 'If I don't play guitar for a living, I'm gonna be a race-car driver.' So I'm very, very, very fortunate and blessed that I get to do both." Campbell, who logged time in Ronnie James Dio's band, Dio, as well as Whitesnake and the British new wave metal band Sweet Savage, joined Def Leppard in 1992 following the death of founding guitarist Steve Clark. Def Leppard are slated to play the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. on Oct. 15, followed by dates in Mexico and Central and South America in October and November. - Billboard, 8/21/26...... 
Footage has been unearthed from Jimi Hendrix's iconic 1969 Woodstock performance, which was filmed by a drama student who snuck onto the stage. Hendrix's now-legendary gig took place at Woodstock in Bethel, N.Y., in Aug. 1969, where the guitar icon took to the stage with his newly formed band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, a.k.a. Band of Gypsys. The set closed out the festival, and is now set to mark its 57th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a new film called Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock - A Second Look has been released, and it features rarely seen footage from the show. Some of that new material is recently unearthed footage from 22-year-old drama student Albert Goodman, who snuck onto the stage during the set and filmed some of it using two open-reel videotapes. Goodman hid behind a friend carrying a guitar to get access to the stage, and filmed it from behind percussionist Juma Sultan. He was assumed to be a member of the film crew who were hired to capture footage of the whole show, and his footage shows Hendrix standing just 15 feet in front of him. In the newly unearthed footage, Hendrix is seen playing "Purple Haze," "Voodoo Child," "Message To Love," and his improvised interpretation of "The Star-Spangled Banner," as well as rare footage of him playing "Hear My Train a Comin'." The latter song is available for streaming on 
Ray Stevens is set to be honored with a star-studded concert at Nashville's Opry House on Nov. 9. "Don't Look, Ethel! A Salute to the Musical Genius of Ray Stevens" will be hosted by comedian Cledus T. Judd with performances from Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie Milsap, Jamey Johnson, Gretchen Wilson, Mark Chesnutt, The Gatlin Brothers, Lee Greenwood and many more. "I've always been so fond of the Nashville music community, and I'm truly honored that they would want to do this tribute," Stevens said in a statement. "All my life I've wanted to be successful in the music business and have people appreciate what I create. That's impossible without the fans. I'm so grateful for all of them!" In the 1960s, Stevens' slate of novelty hits such as "Gitarzan" and "Harry the Hairy Ape" earned him pop hits, while he also became an in-demand Nashville studio musician and songwriter, including playing trumpet during recording session for Elvis Presley and playing on Waylon Jennings' recording of "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line." Stevens also wrote and produced Dolly Parton's 1966 song "Busy Signal." By 1970, he had been called upon as a summer replacement for television host Andy Williams, and in preparing for the gig, he wrote the uplifting track 
Long-tenured ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, a key part of one of the longest-lasting consistent band lineups in rock history, passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Tex., on Aug. 17. He was 77. A press release from longtime band publicist Bob Merlis confirmed his passing on Aug. 18, stating that Beard was "in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, TX with family members at his side." Born on June 11, 1949, in Frankton, Tex., Beard had served as stickman for the Texas blues-rock trio since 1969, when he made the jump from the more psychedelic-oriented local group American Blues to ZZ Top. At that point, the latter group consisted of Beard, singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Billy Ethridge. After Ethridge quit the band and was replaced by Dusty Hill, the band's power-trio lineup was locked in, and would not change for the next half-century. ZZ Top became national rock stars in the mid-'70s with the release of its breakthrough LP 
(Ironically, Beard was the one member of the group to go clean-shaven; "Frank's beard is on his driver's license," quipped Gibbons.) ZZ Top's 1983 album Eliminator spawned a trio of MTV smashes ("Gimme All Your Lovin," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs") and would ultimately be certified diamond by the RIAA, becoming the group's biggest album. While Beard's drumming on the set was somewhat smoothed out by the group's increasingly processed, new wave-friendlier sound, he still helped provide the singles much-needed muscle and backbone under the shiny guitars and synths. (Beard also got married for the second time shortly before the album's release, with he and wife Debbie Meredith remaining together -- with twin sons Rory and Nico born in 1985 -- until his death.) The group released two albums in the 21st century, 2003's Mescalero and 2012's La Futura, and continued to tour with the same three-man lineup it had held since 1969, the longtime consistency of its lineup an extreme rarity among popular rock bands. In 2004, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2019, it was the subject of the Netflix documentary That Little Ol' Band From Texas. Sadly, the group was finally forced into lineup changes with the 
Roxy Music has announced on 
Founding Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore joined his old bandmates recently at a concert in Wantagh, N.Y. for a rendition of the group's 1972 classic song, "Smoke On The Water," and says the reunion could be the "last time" the bandmates ever see each other. Interviewed about the gig by Guitar Player magazine, Blackmore said: "It was very moving because I went on very quickly and had to play immediately. I couldn't warm up, but I wasn't there to be playing correct notes." "I was there to see old friends I hadn't seen in 40 years and we're all getting older. I think we realised it could be the last time we see each other, maybe," he added. Earlier in the conversation, Blackmore explained: "I woke up one morning thinking, the day before their show [thinking], 'You know it would be good for the fans if I just got up for one song, probably 'Smoke' and just show that were not at each other's throats and don't hate each other'." He then spoke further about the "very emotional" reunion with his fellow classic members Ian Gillan, Ian Paice and Roger Glover, admitting that it was "tricky." "I didn't play anything too technical, as I felt I should stick to the rudiments of being simple," Blackmore continued. "I still lost my place at one point, but it's not why I was there. I was there to heal any wounds - but there weren't any wounds. Everyone was like, we were in the army, all along the Western front and we were all getting together again. Very emotional moment." The concert also saw the first performance Blackmore shared with Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey in 44 years, following the latter's exit from Rainbow in 1982. Blackmore discussed his past clashes with Gillan that led to his departure from Deep Purple in 1993, too. "We're two alpha guys," he explained. "I'm used to running a band, and I think he's used to running a band. So we clashed in the old days. But all that changed." Deep Purple are currently out on a North American tour in support of their latest album, 
Legendary pop songwriter Jimmy Webb is celebrating turing 80 on Aug. 15 by announcing a new album, 
'70s pop singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop has unveiled a new song he recorded for his 1976 debut album, Careless. The album included the now Yacht Rock classic, the swaying "On & On," which peaked at No. 11 on the hit parade, as well as its breezy predecessor "Save It for a Rainy Day," which reached No. 22. Bishop is releasing a 50th anniversary edition of Careless which can be ordered on 
Dave Marsh, one of the most influential music writers of his generation and a passionate activist for health care, social justice and freedom of expression, died on Aug. 14. He was 72. The cause of his death has not been reported but he had been in declining health in recent years. Born in Pontiac, Mich., in 1950, Marsh grew up immersed in the sounds of Detroit -- Motown, R&B, and rock 'n' roll -- inspiring a lifelong belief in the power of music. He was among the first editors of Creem magazine when it launched in 1969. He also wrote extensively for Rolling Stone and other publications and authored more than two dozen books on artists including Elvis Presley, The Who and Bruce Springsteen. His 1979 biography, Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story, became a New York Times bestseller. In 1993, Marsh shared a Grammy for best album notes for Aretha Franklin's Queen of Soul. He also co-founded the newsletter Rap & Rock Confidential and, in 2004, joined SiriusXM, hosting Kick Out the for 19 years, along with Live from E Street Nation and Live from the Land of Hope and Dreams. He was married to Barbara Carr, longtime co-manager of Springsteen. Following the death of their daughter, Kristen Ann Carr, in 1993 at age 21 of sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, Marsh co-founded and served as a trustee of the The Kristen Ann Carr Fund to advance sarcoma research and support families affected by cancer. "Here on E Street, the irreplaceable loss of Dave Marsh has us heartbroken," Springsteen wrote in a statement shared on 
On Aug. 12 Rod Stewart cancelled the remaining dates on his North American farewell tour after undergoing a routine coronary stent procedure. Stewart, 81, had been scheduled to perform at Ohio's Riverbend Music Center on Aug. 9, but cancelled the show at the last minute, stating in a press release that it was due to an "unforeseen but minor medical procedure." The 1994 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee than went on to cancel his remaining tour dates after the procedure. He was set to perform at Morton Amphitheater in Kansas City, Mo. on Aug. 15), Las Vegas on Aug. 18 for a performance at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, followed by gigs in Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, plus a run of shows in Mexico (Sept. 9-13). In a statement issued to Rolling Stone, Stewart's reps said he was "doing well" and that "on the advice of his doctors, he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage. Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates." In his own message posted to 
Rock's most famous combination lead guitarist and astrophysicist has shared his advice on how best to view the solar eclipse in northern Europe on Aug. 12. Brian May, who is qualified astrophysicist after achieving a PHD degree in 2007, gave regular updates about the celestial phenomenon on his 
Iconic U.K. New Wave rocker Elvis Costello has announced he will play a solo acoustic show at Canada's Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Nov. 21 as a fundraiser for the Owen Hart Foundation. This will be the second time the foundation has hosted Costello, an iconic and influential performer who released his first album, 
Ben Jones, the actor-turned-politician best known for playing Cooter Davenport on the 1979-1985 CBS series