Robert Plant is set to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 25th Annual Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 16, at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium. The Americana Music Association is recognizing Plant for a lifetime of extraordinary contributions to Americana and American roots music. Throughout his celebrated career, the former Led Zeppelin frontman has maintained an abiding love for vintage and modern roots music, consistently exploring and advocating for the blues, folk, gospel, and country genres. Plant's groundbreaking collaborations with Alison Krauss and producer T Bone Burnett on the Grammy Award-winning album Raising Sand introduced millions of listeners to the depth of the genre, effectively prompting the Recording Academy to establish a dedicated Best Americana Album category. The artist continued this deep exploration alongside collaborators Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller for Band of Joy, and again on a second acclaimed duet album with Krauss in 2022, Raise the Roof. The Americana Awards are the highlight of Americanafest week, which celebrates groundbreaking artists and industry leaders who expand the roots music community. - Music-News.com, 7/20/26...... 
On July 27 Carly Simon revealed that she's been battling a pair of heath issues lately -- Parkinson's disease and a type of skin cancer. However Simon, 81, is vowing in a written statement to Billboard that she is "still very much here" despite her recent diagnoses. The "You're So Vain" singer cknowledged that she's gotten a number of letters lately asking about her "relative silence" and what she's been up to. "The truth is, I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease," she wrote. "It has taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly. Parkinson's is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable. Some days I'm so tired I can't get the day moving at all. On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work, and feel like myself." Simon said her issues began with arthritis in both knees and one hip, but after getting all three joints replaced, she figured her continued difficulty walking was part of the recovery process. As her mobility continued to deteriorate and she had trouble standing up from chairs and walking without assistance, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the Mayo Clinic. Parkinson's, a progressive brain disorder with symptoms including tremors, slowness in movement, limb stiffness and balance issues, affects an estimated 1.1 million people in the U.S. with nearly 90,000 people diagnosed with the disorder every year. Simon said she began treatment, including taking medication, to help with joint stiffness and other unspecified symptoms. "There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness. It does not consult my calendar before deciding what kind of day I am going to have," Simon wrote. She added that during the same unspecified period in which she was diagnosed with Parkinson's, which has no cure, she was also treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face. According to Mayo Clinic, the condition is a type of skin cancer that originates in the basal cells and most often occurs on areas of the body that have had a lot of sun exposure. And though the cancer was removed, the surgery affected Simon's appearance and made her more self-conscious about being seen in public. "I have always been more critical of my appearance than anyone else could possibly imagine (check out the irony of having written 'You're So Vain.')," she wrote. " And this gave my inner critic quite a lot of new material." Simon also revealed some good news for her fans -- she's begun recording a new album titled Comes in Waves. The 12-track album, which was primarily written and recorded at the singer's Martha's Vineyard home, is due out on Aug. 14. In addition to late rapper and friend John Fort, the album features appearances from the singer's son, Ben Taylor, and daughter, Sally Taylor, who painted the album's cover and contributed vocals to the project. A second single from the LP, "Peaches," is due out on July 31. Her most recent album of all-new material was 2008's This Kind of Love. - Billboard, 7/27/26...... The Beach Boys have rescheduled the remaining dates on their 2026 North American tour to allow singer Mike Love, who is the last remaining classic-era member of the iconic American band, to "recharge." The announcement came in a post on Love's Instagram page, in which the 85-year-old vocalist wrote that the break was intended to allow the veteran "Good Vibrations" group to catch their breath before they go back out on the road in the fall. "Playing for you is the highlight of our summer every year -- especially as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States while saluting the 60th Anniversary of Pet Sounds," Love wrote. "We've been having a blast out there, and to keep the good vibrations going strong, we'll be taking a short break to recharge before getting back on the road in September. Thanks for your love -- we can't wait to see you back out there for a September to Remember," he added. The announcement of the time-out on six weeks of shows, representing nearly 30 gigs, came just as the group was slated to perform at Virginia's legendary Wolf Trap on July 23. Love noted that all tickets for the postponed performances -- from July 23 through a planned Sept. 3 show in Pueblo, Colo. -- will be honored following the band's return to the road in September; fans are encouraged to contact their local box office for more information. The 11 rescheduled dates stretch from a Sept. 24 show in West Springfield, Mass. to a May 8, 2027, concert in Enoch, Ala. - Billboard, 7/24/26...... 
Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar has extended an unexpected invitation to his fellow former VH singer -- David Lee Roth -- following the recent cancellation of many of Roth's upcoming tour dates. On July 23, it was revealed original VH vocalist Roth had canceled the majority of his scheduled live appearances, with the exception of a performance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota on Aug. 7. Roth, who announced the tour in January, had been slated to perform a series of amphitheater and theater dates across the United States. Shows in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky and Illinois were removed from his official website davidleeroth.com, while four August and September performances remained available for purchase through Ticketmaster. He has yet to publicly comment on the cancellations. After learning of the canceled dates, Hagar -- VH's other longtime frontman and Roth's sometimes rival -- posted a heartfelt video on social media expressing his support. "Hey, Dave. Sammy here. I just got a call from Michael Anthony about your tour getting canceled. And I wanna say from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I hope you're well. I hope there's not a physical problem," he posted on X/Twitter. He continued, "Honestly, Mike [Anthony] and I love the fact that you've been out there doing it, supporting the greatest band in the world that we were both part of. And, yeah, I'm really sorry. That's f---ed up. Supporting what we did in this band to keep this music alive. You and I, Mikey, Al, Ed cannot be replaced. So, when you're ready to carry on, you go, brother. Mike and I support you." Hagar then extended a surprise olive branch, inviting Roth to make a guest appearance during his upcoming Las Vegas residency. "Come to Vegas for the residency in September," the Red Rocker said. "Come on, join us. Sing a couple songs, MC the damn show. Come out and just do what the f-- you do, which is pretty damn entertaining! Anyway, hope you're well. I really do. God bless, brother." Hagar's "Best of All Worlds Tour" Residency launches Sept. 18 at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas and runs through Sept. 26. Hagar replaced Roth as Van Halen's lead singer following Roth's 1985 departure, guiding the band through a multi-platinum run. He served as the group's vocalist from 1985 to 1996 and returned for a second stint from 2003 to 2005. Roth first rose to fame as VH's original frontman, leading the band from 1974 to 1985 and appearing on its first six studio albums before launching a successful solo career. He returned to VH in 2007 and remained with the band until its final years before Eddie Van Halen's death in 2020. - Billboard, 7/26/26...... Bruce Springsteen and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick were honored with a new ACLU award, the Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports, on July 24. Springsteen -- who closed the event with a solo rendition of "Streets of Minneapolis" -- and Kaepernick were honored as part of an awards ceremony hosted by actress Laverne Cox. "It's important for us to recognize all of the people who are contributing to the fight to protect civil rights and civil liberties," ACLU president Deborah Archer said. "Those folks -- actors, athletes -- these folks have all shown up in incredibly powerful ways." Kaepernick's honor comes a decade after he knelt during the national anthem in protest against police violence and racial inequality. Springsteen's ACLU awards performance of "Streets of Minneapolis" can be viewed on his official YouTube channel. - Billboard, 7/25/26...... R&B legends Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight performed a co-headlining show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on July 24. Now 86, Robinson hasn't lost a step, singing and moving well and still a master showman. He was also personable, speaking warmly about Gladys Knight, who he said he's known since they were teenagers ("one of the greatest voices of our time") and doing a spot-on and very funny impression of Stevie Wonder's head-turning mannerisms (by way of introducing "The Tears of a Clown," which the two music legends cowrote with Henry Cosby). Although Knight still has moments where she can summon the fire and passion that have made her such a beloved singer for so many years, many of her songs were truncated and re-arranged to better suit her current capabilities. She relied heavily on her three back-up singers, who even took lead parts on occasion. Her 18-song setlist was capped off with her 1973 No. 1 hit, "Midnight Train to Georgia." Robinson closed his show with a cover of William DeVaughn's 1974 hit "Be Thankful for What You Got" (which DeVaughn wrote). - Billboard, 7/25/26...... 
Bernie Taupin has announced the release of his first solo album in almost 40 years, The Sea Has No Mercy. The longtime Elton John songwriting partner will release the followup to his three previous solo efforts -- 1971's Taupin, 1980's He Who Rides the Tiger and his most recent solo effort, 1987's Tribe. "With age comes wisdom, which is a natural progression," Taupin told Rolling Stone while announcing the album on July 28. "I don't regret any of the records I've made in the past. They all had a point at the time they were made. But this is the most satisfying record I've ever made." Taupin continued: "I'm talking about in my own canon, not with the Elton thing, because that's a completely different ballpark... I wanted to be able to express my own feelings on my own level in my own writing. That's what makes it more important than anything else I've ever done." Taupin, 76, explained that he thought he was done making his own music for many years, but working on his 2023 memoir, Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me, and a new track for his upcoming documentary film made him realize he "had all of these songs in my head". "I found myself just coming up with all of these ideas," he noted. "In the long run, the album became a manifesto of somebody who's 76 years old looking back, reflecting, and just a little bit pissed off at the world." Taupin also indicated that he's already "written five or six songs that I've been playing around with and going back and forth with" for the follow-up to The Sea Has No Mercy. - Music-News.com, 7/28/26...... Mirroring their success on the U.K.'s Official Albums Chart, The Rolling Stones have debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Top Album Sales chart dated July 25 with their latest studio LP Foreign Tongues. On the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, Foreign Tongues debuts at No. 7, extending the Stones' own record for the most top 10s (with 39) since the chart began publishing on a regular, weekly basis in March of 1956. Foreign Tongues takes a bow in the top 10 on six total U.S. Billboard album charts: Top Album Sales (No. 1), Billboard 200 (No. 7), Top Rock Albums (No. 2), Top Rock & Alternative Albums (No. 3), Vinyl Albums (No. 3) and Indie Store Album Sales (No. 3). Billboard's Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on pure album sales (physical and digital download purchases combined). The chart's history dates to May 25, 1991, the first week the magazine began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. - Billboard, 7/24/26...... The Beatles' achievement of scoring the U.K.'s bestselling album of all time with their 1967 opus Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band has been broken by British alternative faves Oasis and their 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. Oasis' sophomore album appears at No. 3, making it the highest-ranking studio album on the list, with two compilations albums -- Queen's Greatest Hits and ABBA's Gold -- topping the overall list. The OCC reports that Morning Glory has sold 6.2 million chart units since its release, boosted by last summer's "Live 25" reunion tour. At the time of its release, it was the second-fastest selling album of all time behind Michael Jackson's Bad. Classic albums from Fleetwood Mac (Rumours, No. 6), Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon, No. 7), Michael Jackson (Thriller, No. 8), Bob Marley & The Wailers (Legend, No. 9) and Dire Straits (Brothers in Arms, No. 10) round out the top 10. The Official Charts Company updated the UK's bestselling albums of all time as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations; it was last updated in 2016. - Billboard, 7/22/26...... In other Beatles-related news, George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison and longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich have formed the new band called Dragonflies and shared their debut single. "Slower," which also serves as the record's opening track and combines tape loops, layered percussion and Harrison's vocals with a hazy, trip-hop-influenced sound. It arrives alongside a hand-drawn, psychedelic video directed by UK animator Ruffmercy, whose previous credits include work with Nirvana, The Chemical Brothers and Nas. After inviting Harrison to his studio in Brixton, Godrich and Dhani began constructing new songs from tape loops and working quickly without a fixed plan. "It's like one person throwing something in the air and the other person catching it," Godrich said of their creative process. Harrison added: "He's a machine. He has strong opinions about what he wants to hear, and for me it's very humbling. That's why it's such a new experience." Harrison, the only child of George and Olivia Harrison, first emerged as a member of the alternative rock band thenewno2, before forming the supergroup Fistful Of Mercy with Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur. He released his first solo album, 'In///Parallel', in 2017, followed by 'Innerstanding' six years later, and has also composed music for film and television projects including Beautiful Creatures, Good Girls Revolt and Dogs. In 2025, he executive-produced the first official music video for his father's "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)." Harrison and Godrich's eponymus debut Dragonflies will drop on Sept. 18 via Dark Horse Records/BMG, the label originally founded by George Harrison. - New Musical Express, 7/26/26...... Lucasfilm Studios has announced the rerelease of the original 1977 Star Wars movie to celebrate the franchise's 50th anniversary. A newly restored version of the film will play in theaters from February 19, 2027, for a limited time. The company did not reveal what improvements have been made to the restored version. The film's original release did not have the subtitle "A New Hope," which was added later by director George Lucas. Since its release, the original theatrical version has been screened very rarely. In the years after it came out, Lucas famously made alterations to the film, with the updated version being the one most fans are familiar with. The 2027 rerelease will give fans a restored version of the film in theaters. - ComingSoon.Net, 7/24/26...... 
Tony Thorpe, the guitarist and vocalist who assisted in the propulsion of the English glam-rock group The Rubettes to international success in the 1970s, has died at the age of 80. Mr. Thorpe's death was announced in a statement shared to his official Facebook page, which remembered him as "a father to Clay, a husband to Shirle, a friend to many, and a mentor to countless musicians young and old." The message added that despite Mr. Thorpe's declining health in recent months, "his fierce intellect and sharp sense of humour" never faltered, and said he would leave "an unfillable hole in the lives of all who knew him, or his music." Formed in 1973, The Rubettes emerged near the end of the glam-rock era with a distinctive blend of 1950s-inspired doo-wop harmonies and pop-rock. Dressed in their trademark white suits and cloth caps, the group broke through with "Sugar Baby Love," which topped the U.K. singles chart for four weeks in 1974 and reached No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, introducing the band to American audiences. The Rubettes would go on to score additional international hits with songs including "Tonight," "Juke Box Jive" and "I Can Do It." Mr. Thorpe joined the band's classic lineup in 1974 alongside Alan Williams, John Richardson, Mick Clarke, Bill Hurd and Pete Arnesen, serving as both lead guitarist and a songwriter. He also stepped in as a vocalist, singing lead on the band's single, "Baby I Know." Mr. Thorpe exited The Rubettes in 1979, though he remained active across multiple musical projects. Before and after his time with the group, he worked with artists like Cilla Black and Tommy Steele, and even taught music at Blackburn College. He published his own memoir, A Bride's Nightie, back in 2014. - Billboard, 7/22/26.
As their new joint exhibition "The Kinks: Brothers" opens in London on July 24, co-founding The Kinks members Ray and Dave Davies say they are "getting on great" and wouldn't rule out a future reunion. The exhibition, on display at the Gibson Garage, sees the brothers collaborate with British portrait painter Christian Furr, who has reimagined a 1968 passport photobooth picture of the brothers taken in East Finchley, North London, in a series of mixed-media works on paper and canvas. Dave, who has had a sometimes contentious relationship with Ray, reportedly cried when he first saw Furr's paintings, with the images prompting him to consider his fractured relationship with his brother. "It made me think, 'What the hell are we doing?' There were times where I couldn't stand him. I was storming out of the studio." Dave added that their relationship had always been "built on trust, although we hated each other." However Daves says the animosity has now subsided. "It's miraculous, really, how we've become so bonded. We enjoy each other's company. We were getting on great. We have fluctuated between getting on really well and not getting on at all over the years but there's always been telepathy, since childhood," he said. Asked whether they could perform together again, Dave replied: "I don't know, but never say never." Ray and Dave last shared a stage in 2015, when Ray joined his brother in London for a performance of "You Really Got Me," and they later worked together on new Kinks material in 2019. More recently, the brothers presented a united front in March when electronic singer/musician Moby described the lyrics to The Kinks' 1970 single "Lola" as "gross and transphobic." Dave responded that he was "highly insulted" by Moby's description of his brother's lyrics, adding: "Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We're not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?" Dave later revealed that Ray had responded by asking: "Who the f--- is Moby?". "The Kinks: Brothers" is set to run until Sept. 6, and the official exhibition announcement can be viewed on Instagram. - New Musical Express, 7/23/26...... 
A federal judge has refused Cher's request that Sonny Bono's widow Mary Bono repay more than $1 million in legal bills the music legend racked up during their court battle over royalties to "I Got You Babe" and other Sonny & Cher hits. Cher wanted to be reimbursed for the legal fees she spent defeating Mary Bono's effort to stop paying royalties under Cher's divorce settlement with Sonny -- an argument rejected by a judge in 2024. Cher claimed Mary had "dragged" the case out for years by taking "unreasonable positions." On July 20, Judge John A. Kronstadt said the rules that would have allowed such forced repayment didn't apply to Cher and Mary's specific dispute, since it centered more on contracts than federal copyright law: "The motion is denied," he wrote. The ruling leaves Cher the winner of the overall case, but stuck paying an eye-watering legal tab she says ended up at $1,023,605 -- a bill that's not atypical for top-flight law firms handling years of complex litigation. Mary is currently challenging Cher's earlier victory in the case at a federal appeals court, which has yet to rule on it. Sonny and Cher's 1978 divorce settlement gave her a permanent 50% cut of the publishing revenue from songs written before they split up, including "The Beat Goes On" and "Baby Don't Go." Bono later married Mary, then passed away suddenly in a 1998 skiing accident. Sonny's music publishing grants became eligible for termination beginning in 2018, prompting Mary to notify publishers of her intent to reclaim certain interests. Cher, 79, rose to fame alongside Sonny in the 1960s before establishing a decades-long solo career that brought her Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy wins. In February, the music legend made a special appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. - Billboard, 7/21/26...... Deceased '80s pop sensation George Michael's former manager Andros Georgiou has says he hopes that a previously-unfinished duet between Michael and his good friend Elton John can be released, over three decades after it was recorded. Michael worked with Sir Elton on a chart-topping remake of John's 1975 hit "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" in the 1990s, following them singing it together at Live Aid in 1985. He died on Christmas Day in 2016 due to issues related to heart and liver disease. Now, his former manager Andros Georgiou has revealed that the former WHAM! singer once started work on a duet with Sir Elton -- providing vocals for a song called "This Kind Of Love." The track has remained unfinished and unreleased for over three decades now, however Georgiou has expressed hopes to add the final touches and release it posthumously. Georgiou discussed "This Kind Of Love" with the UK tabloid The Sun as he is promoting his new film Trojan Souls, which centers on Michael's unreleased 1993 album of the same name and was set to see him collaborate with big names including Stevie Wonder, Sade, Seal and Aretha Franklin. It ultimately got shelved due to disputes with the label. "Elton came in to do a song called 'This Kind Of Love'," Georgiou told the paper, adding that he has also got an "incredible interview with Elton that no one has seen" yet, which he is "saving for when the film gets snapped up by a streamer like Apple." In that interview, the manager said, John shares his admiration for the "Careless Whisper" singer and adds that he would "literally do anything for George." - NME, 7/22/26...... Instagram. - New Musical Express, 7/23/26...... 
Pres. Donald Trump's longtime critic Bruce Springsteen has been attacked by a fellow musician -- Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain -- for making his opposition to the president a fixture of his shows. Cain, 76, took aim at Springsteen, also 76, during an appearance on the podcast The Complete Disaster Network (available on YouTube), where he said he "used to like" him and was once a Democrat himself before changing party allegiances. "I used to be a Democrat back in the old days," said Cain, who also happens to be the husband of Trump administration adviser Paula White-Cain. "But I couldn't go there anymore, you know? I'm a diehard conservative." Cain continued: "And guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce, you know? Him and who's the other one? [Actor] Robert DeNiro. I mean, who cares, guys? Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music." After adding that he doesn't "spend 10 minutes talking about his Christian/conservative background on stage," Cain attacked Springsteen over his iconic tune "Born in the USA." "You were born in the USA, weren't you, dude? So act like it. But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it's a kind of a diss toward our country," Cain said. During the show, Cain also mentioned his new patriotic song "Winds of Freedom," which is said to be inspired by Eric Metaxas, an evangelical author and personality. Cain says he integrates his political views in the song, adding that other artists like Ted Nugent and Kid Rock had also done so. "We love our flag, and we love our nation, and we grew up that way," Cain said. - TheDailyBeast.com, 7/21/26...... On July 20 Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr surprised Beatles fans who were on the "Magical Mystery Tour" bus tour in Liverpool. Fans on the tour that day were left amazed when a car pulled up at a red traffic light beside them, and none other than Sir Paul himself leaned out the window to greet them. As if the chances of bumping into a member of The Beatles on the sightseeing tour were not slim enough, the guests were also greeted by Ringo Starr, who was on a FaceTime call with McCartney at the time. "It was surreal," said tour guide Neil Morton to the BBC. "I had pulled up at the traffic lights on Hope Street when who should I see - Sir Paul with Ringo on FaceTime!" "He waved to us and everybody took photos. The passengers could not believe it," Morton continued, also adding that while McCartney took time to wave to the fans, however "nobody really got a chance to speak with him." Macca was back in his hometown of Liverpool to present Adolescence actor Stephen Graham with an award from his performing arts school. McCartney is a co-founder of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), and was enlisted to present a companionship honor to Graham -- who grew up in the Merseyside town of Kirkby. As highlighted by BBC News, the institute has other connections to The Beatles, as it is based at the former Liverpool Institute school attended by McCartney and George Harrison, and is also a neighbor to the Liverpool Art College where John Lennon previously studied. Footage of McCartney waving to fans on the bus tour can be viewed on X/Twitter. - NME, 7/21/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's widow Sharon Osbourne and the couple's children Jack and Kelly Osbourne participated in the first ever "Ozzy Day" held in Ozzy's hometown of Birmingham, UK, on July 22. Fans showed up to pay their respects the the Prince of Darkness, and a brass band performed Black Sabbath classics. The mechanical "Ozzy The Bull" statue in New Street station was decorated with the singer's iconic glasses and more. Ahead of the inaugural event, his son Jack urged fans to share stories about Ozzy on the first anniversary of his death, saying that he wanted to "fill the entire day of July 22 with just awesome Ozzy stories." His daughter Kelly also spoke about how she was coping one year on, saying that she doesn't "just mourn the father I lost. I mourn the soul I was before [his] death." "As Ozzy would say, 'When you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just head bang,'" Sharon said in an interview with the BBC. She also said that she remembers him most for being "authentic," "so genuine" and "funny." "I mean we could have the worst arguments in the world but we would end up laughing because he would say something so ridiculous that we would just crack up," she shared, adding that it was fitting that Ozzy Day is held in his hometown because it is "the home of metal" and "wouldn't work anywhere else." Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi also shared a touching message on Instagram, saying that he "still can't believe that he's not with us." "We always stayed in touch, almost every week or so and we'd usually talk about our ailments and then about what we'd been doing that particular week," Iommi wrote. "I still can't believe that he's not with us." - NME, 7/23/26...... 
The classic 1971 children's musical fantasy film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is getting a cinema re-release for its 55th anniversary in August. Wonka is set for a rerelease in two special anniversary screenings on Aug. 2 and Aug. 5, 2026, marking the film's 55th anniversary. The rerelease also features a special introduction by renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin. Directed by Mel Stuart, the film follows Charlie Bucket [Peter Ostrum], a poor young boy from a struggling family. He finds one of five coveted golden tickets in a Wonka chocolate bar, granting him a chance to tour the eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka's [Gene Wilder] chocolate factory along with four other children. Charlie and his Grandpa Joe [Jack Albertson] go inside the factory filled with chocolate rivers, giant candy creations, and the ever-mischievous Oompa Loompas. As the tour unfolds, each child faces the consequences of their own choices, while Charlie's honesty and kindness eventually set him apart. Although Wonka had a modest theatrical run upon its original release, grossing around $5.8 million at the box office, it later became a beloved classic through TV broadcasts and home media releases with format upgrades. The film currently holds an 84% Tomatometer score and an 87% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes.com. The rerelease trailer can be streamed on YouTube, and tickets are currently on sale now through the Fathom Entertainment website and participating theaters' box offices. - ComingSoon.net, 7/23/26...... 1950s rockabilly artist Vernon Taylor died on July 12 after a lengthy battle with dementia. He was 89. Born Vernon Walton Alderton on a farm in the small town of Layhill, Md., near Baltimore, on Nov. 9, 1937, Mr. Taylor developed an interest in music and at the age of 15 he and three friends formed a band called The Nighthawks, and played at fire halls and private parties in the Washington, D.C. area. They also had a stint on an hour-long local TV show. After his late 1950s' first singles "Losing Game" and "Why Must You Leave Me" weren't hits, he left his first record label Dot Records. It was after an American Bandstand appearance that legendary Sun Records founder-producer Sam Phillips signed him and Taylor released two singles, including "Today Is A Blue Day" by on of Elvis Presley's songwriters, Jack Clement. While neither were huge hits, they were beloved by rockabilly fans. He released four albums with Sun Records and his rockabilly classics included "I've Got the Blues," "Your Lovin' Man" and "Mystery Train." He recorded his last CD in 2000 and retired from the printing industry at the age of 79 due to bouts of anxiety and dementia. Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Brenda Alderton, three children and five grandchildren. - Canoe.com, 7/23/26...... James "Jim" Gilstrap, a singer whose credits include the Good Times theme song and Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," died on July 18 of natural causes, according to his nephew Geoffrey Gilstrap. He was 79. Gilstrap sang the song for Good Times, which ran from 1974-79, with Blinky Williams. The catchy, gospel-tinged tune ("Keepin' your head above water/Making a wave when you can") was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The singer was also a featured vocalist with Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove album and contributed to many of the singer's recordings. He sang the first two lines of Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" ("You are the sunshine of my life/That's why I'll always be around"). Singer Lani Groves sang the next two lines ("You are the apple of my eye/Forever you'll stay in my heart") before Wonder's vocals kick in, with Gilstrap and Groves continuing to sing backup. The song, from Wonder's 1972 album Talking Book, won the Grammy Award for best male pop vocal performance. He also worked on Wonder's Innervisions LP. In 1975, he signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records and released a single, "Swing Your Daddy" that reached No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart. The song peaked at No. 64 in Australia. He released an album, Love Talk, in 1976. Throughout his career, Gilstrap also collaborated with the likes of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, The Jacksons, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, James Ingram and George Benson, among many others. "Jim was one of the most respected session vocalists of his generation, bringing his powerful and soulful voice to countless recordings that helped define the sound of popular music," his nephew said. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and his children. - The Hollywood Reporter, 7/19/26...... 
1950s and 1960s rock & roll hitmaker Freddy Cannon who brought energy and vigor to pop radio playlists in the early rock era, died on July 17 in a California hospice facility. He was 89. Mr. Cannon's longtime friend, iHeart Radio's Tom Cuddy, confirmed that Mr. Cannon died following a brief bout with cancer, and his children Conny and Billy were with him in the days before his death. Mr. Cannon landed three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Tallahassee Lassie" (No. 6 in 1959), "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" (No. 3 in 1960) and "Palisades Park" (No. 3 in 1962). His nickname "Boom Boom" was inspired by the big bass drum sound on his records. Mr. Cannon reportedly holds the record for the most appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand (110 appearances), and also made the top 15 on the Hot 100 in 1965 with the rollicking hit "Action" from Clark's daily ABC-TV series Where the Action Is. The artist, who notched 23 Hot 100 hits between 1959 and 1981, was born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. on Dec. 4, 1936 in Revere, Mass. He lived in the state until he was in his late teens when he and his wife Jeanette moved to Philadelphia on the advice of legendary TV host Dick Clark, the city were Clark produced his daily American Bandstand broadcast for ABC-TV. He worked with some of the top musical performers of that era, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chubby Checker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Connie Francis and Brenda Lee, and performed on many of the popular music TV shows of the era, including Shindig, The Midnight Special, Hullabaloo, Where the Action Is and Sha Na Na. Mr. Cannon was reportedly working on music at his home in Oxnard, Calif., right up to his death. He is survived by his children, Conny and Billy; his sister, Mary Lou; his son-in-law, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Beth; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. His wife (and high school sweetheart) Jeanette, preceded him in death on Sept. 25, 2024, and his son, John, died on Apr. 13, 2026. - Billboard, 7/19/26.
On July 16 Bob Dylan officially announced he'll embark on a brand-new UK tour in 2026 in November and December that will feature a five-night stand at London's Royal Festival Hall. Alongside his London residency, the tour will stop at major venues across the country, including Bournemouth, Birmingham, and Sheffield, followed by a double-night run at the Opera House in Blackpool before he heads to London. Dylan's ongoing "Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour" -- named after his surprise, critically acclaimed 2020 studio album -- has been met with massive international praise. The upcoming London dates will mark the legendary artist's first performance in the British capital since a triumphant three-night run at the Royal Albert Hall back in 2024. The UK tour will be hosted in partnership with Yondr, which requires all attendees to secure their mobile phones and video cameras in specialized pouches for the duration of the performance to ensure an intimate and completely undistracted atmosphere. - Music-News.com, 7/16/26...... As they score their 15th UK Number One on the Official Albums Chart on July 17 with their 25th studio LP 
AC/DC kicked off their 2026 North American tour in Charlotte, N.C., on July 11 with a 21-song setlist packed with hits. The Aussie headbangers opened up with their classic "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" from 1979's Highway To Hell, followed by the title track from that record later in the night. Two songs from their latest album, 2020's Power Up made the cut too: "Shot In The Dark" and "Demon Fire," as did five songs from fan favorite 1980 album Back In Black, including "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Hells Bells" and the title track. The set wrapped up with "T.N.T" and "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)," and the set also came just two days after their late frontman Bon Scott would have turned 80-years-old. The dates, which mark the latest leg of the rock icons' "PWR/UP" tour, continued in Ohio, before more shows in Wisconsin, Texas and Colorado later in July. In August, AC/DC will play in California, Nevada, Georgia and more, before wrapping up the North American leg in Montana, New Jersey, Philadelphia and more. - NME, 7/15/26...... David Byrne has announced a new UK book tour later in 2026 to promote his new book 
KISS announced on July 15 they are cruising back to Las Vegas for their annual "KISS Kruise: Land-locked in Vegas" event. The second edition of the terra firma-based dry voyage will take place from Nov. 13-15 at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and feature a special all-star tribute to the band's original guitarist Ace Frehley, who died in Oct. 2025 at 74. "The Ace Frehley All-Star Tribute" will feature a memorial to the "Spaceman" from singer/bassist Gene Simmons, guitarist/singer Paul Stanley, former guitarist Tommy Thayer and longtime drummer Eric Singer. The bandmates -- who each personally selected a song that they will perform individually as part of the tribute -- will be joined by as-yet-unannounced special guest stars, with support from the Ace Frehley Band. "Another year of the KISS Kruise experience and the best one yet is on the way. Everything we've learned at sea and on land over the past years is going into making this the ultimate weekend with us," said Stanley in a statement. "No ship?!? No problem! What's so awesome about KISS Kruise: Land-Locked is that it's a full-scale resort takeover created to give us all 100% of what we've come to love and expect. We can't wait to be back together with the KISS Army and Navy from around the world for more killer performances, incredible artists, events, and exclusive experiences you won't find anywhere else." Other festivities include a KISS look-alike contest, KISS Army karaoke, late night DJ sets, interactive and replica exhibits, archival displays, and exclusive merch. Ticket and accomodations information can be found at kisskruisevegas.com. - Billboard, 7/15/26...... A new book by Paul McCartney's former manager Richard Ogden includes claims that Sir Paul wasn't exactly the most genial musician all the time, despite his outward appearance as the eternally "thumbs aloft" family man in Wings and in his solo career since. In 
In a new interview with BBC Radio 2, Queen drummer opened up about the chances of the band touring again. "Well, it is a big machine to gear up, if you know what I mean." He went on to say that he "loved playing live, always have," but the possibility of a future tour is largely down to how guitarist Brian May feels about it. "I think it's more down to Brian [May] than me," he said, before giving it his approval, adding, "So if we both wanna do it, I'd be happy to. But we'll see. Never say never." Taylor then praised current Queen frontman Adam Lambert, saying, "We have been working for a while with Adam Lambert, who has the most incredible voice." Taylor's comments come after May said earlier this year that he would refuse to tour in the US, reasoning that the country is a "dangerous place." Before that, the longtime animal rights activist said that Queen would not headline Glastonbury Festival "because of the politics of the people who run it," citing founder Michael Eavis' support of badger culling in the UK over the years. Last fall, May revealed that Queen had worked on some new material with Lambert, and said they had considered bringing their live show to The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. "I'm very keen on the Sphere," May explained. "It's got my mind working." May's wife Anita Dobson implied in December that, despite Queen working on new music, it was unlikely that they would resume full-scale touring. "They will do little bits and bobs, but they won't do those big tours," she said. May suffered a minor stroke in 2024, and last November said his health issues had served as a "wake-up call." - NME, 7/14/26...... Speaking of The Sphere, Rush are reportedly "in talks" over a residency at the innovative Las Vegas venue. The "Tom Sawyer" hitmakers -- who were previously said to have rejected a Vegas residency at the T-Mobile Arena in late 2015 and early 2016 -- are thought to have been in talks with Sphere bosses "for a while," according to The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column. "The Sphere has become the premium entertainment spot in Vegas," the source said. "All the acts who have performed there have been at capacity for every show because audiences love the audio-visual experience." - Music-News.com, 7/17/26...... Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, whose career stretched decades but who became unforgettable to millions as the gentle "Pigeon Lady" in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, died on July 16. She was 81. At 19, Ms. Fricker landed an uncredited role in the 1964 film Of Human Bondage, kicking off a career that would eventually make her one of Ireland's most respected performers. After years of television and film work, Ms. Fricker broke through in 1986 as nurse Megan Roach on the BBC drama Casualty. Four years later came the role that changed everything -- playing the mother of Daniel Day-Lewis' Christy Brown in My Left Foot, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1990. U.S. ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh described Ms. Fricker as "a giant of Irish film," writing on X that "From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland's stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic." - Canoe.com, 7/17/26...... Veteran TV actor Hal Williams, who appeared in American sitcom staples like 227 and 
ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus was the opening keynote speaker at the UN's AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland on July 13 and said artists "deserve a place at the table" in the age of AI. Ulvaeus asked the simple question "AI is good for whom?" and urged the audience to remember the point of view of artists and creatives in the pursuit of AI development. "A technology is good when the human beings whose work made it possible are not erased by it, when they consent to it, when they share in what it creates," he said. Ulvaeus continued that he hopes "one extra chair will always be reserved at that table for the creators whose work made these systems possible. These tools are extraordinary, but they could not have been built without us." Ulvaeus has never been shy about embracing emerging technology -- just a few years ago, the iconic Swedish pop quartet used "motion capture and motion learning" to create the groundbreaking virtual ABBA Voyage show in London, which uses technology to de-age and simulate the performances of the four singers night after night. "Some people sometimes ask me, 'How can you lecture the world about AI and human creativity, and then sell tickets to watch a machine perform as you?'" he explained. "The answer is one word: consent. We chose it. We participated in it. We are paid for it. The technology serves the artist because the artists were at the table from the very beginning, and the audiences love it. So, I guess that's AI for good." Ulvaeus continued, "I'm not going to stand here and tell you that machine-made music is cold or soulless, and that audiences will always hear the difference. I know that isn't true. I am genuinely in awe of the tools that have been built, but awe is not the same as acceptance." Notably, Ulvaeus did not complain about how record labels and publishers specifically are treating licensed training data, but his address added to the growing chorus of music industry power players asking for consensual AI training in 2026. - Billboard, 7/13/26...... Appearing at his annual "Peace and Love" event on July 7 to celebrate his 86th birthday, Ringo Starr revealed that The Beatles had one rule on long van rides: "own up to the fart." Offering the tip to young musicians starting out, he said: "If you're in the van and you fart - own up to it." "We just occasionally with four guys in a three-hour car journey, one of us would make a noise. And at the beginning, it was like 'well, it wasn't me." Starr continued: "And we realized, well, just to get it out of the way, say I did it. And it worked a treat and it took the pressure off. It wasn't a thing. We didn't like go oh, 'I'm going next'." Elsewhere, Ringo -- who continues to hit the road with his All Star Band -- confessed that he intended to quit touring in 2021, but five years on, he cannot get enough of playing live. "I have been calling it the last tour since 2021 -- and my kids are fed up with me now. I say ' That's it - I am not going out anymore'; and they are like 'oh dad you said that last year'," the infatigable musician said. "And I out again. I am out this year. It is what I do. It is how it is. I have got a great band and it just works. We used to rehearse for two days, now we rehearse for two hours and we are ready to rock." Ringo also admitted he's clueless about why he connects so strongly with younger generations: "I don't know (why I appeal to them), but I have got 10 grandkids. I don't know what it is. It is one of those things." - Music-News.com, 7/13/26...... 
Co-founding Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward took to 
The Rolling Stones launched their new album 
Actor Randolph Mantooth, known for playing paramedic Johnny Gage on the 1972-77 NBC series 
Comedic actress Louise Lasser, best known for playing the befuddled Mary Hartman on the hit 1970s syndicated sitcom 
The Ramones announced on July 7 that a 50th anniversary tribute to the iconic '70s punk rockers' 
In other Beatles-related news, Ringo Starr was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Liverpool on the occasion of his 86th birthday on July 7. "I want to thank the University of Liverpool for this honorary degree and for coming all the way to LA to bestow it. I'm really honoured," the BBC reported Starr as saying, and the drummer also encouraged attendees to "follow your dreams." "I've been thinking back on my life a lot lately," Starr mused. "And when I chose to become a drummer full-time, my family discouraged me. And they could have been right, but they weren't. It all worked out." Ringo continued: "So to all the graduates back in Liverpool, I send peace and love and want to say don't be afraid to follow your dreams, or take that right turn and see where it goes." University of Liverpool chancellor, Wendy Beetlestone, added that it was a "great privilege to recognise Ringo, whose influential musical work, particularly in The Beatles, has helped shape the identity and global reputation of Liverpool," the BBC reported. Starr's birthday is a globally recognised event in the music world. Since 2008, he has hosted an annual event encouraging fans everywhere to pause and say or think "Peace and Love" precisely at noon in their local time zones. - Music-News.com, 7/8/26...... On July 8 Elton John took to 
Ozzy Osbourne's widow Sharon Osbourne has marked her first wedding anniversary without Ozzy with a tribute to her late husband on 
Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter Brian Potter, best known for co-producing Glen Campbell's 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy album, died June 30 in Granada Hills, Calif. He was 87. Mr. Potter, who was born in Essex, England, played in bands as a teen and even toured across the U.K. and Europe briefly as the drummer for Chuck Berry, scored his first hit in 1965 as a songwriter on the Small Faces' debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It," written with Ian Samwell. The song reached No. 14 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Potter met Dennis Lambert, a singer/songwriter in the U.S. Army stationed in Europe, and the pair became songwriting partners, leading to Potter moving to the U.S. Together, the pair landed numerous hits starting with 1969's anti-war song "One Tin Soldier," which was first recorded by The Original Caste. A 1971 version by Coven became the theme to the movie Billy Jack, and Skeeter Davis' rendition received a Grammy nomination for best female country vocal performance. Several hits penned by the Potter/Lambert team followed, including writing and producing a number of albums for The Four Tops following the R&B group's departure from Motown, that included such hits as "Keeper of the Castle" and "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)," from the Lambert/Potter-produced album 1972's Keeper of the Castle. The pair landed their own imprint, Haven Records, at Capitol Records, and in the mid-'70s began working with Campbell on the 1975 Rhinestone Cowboy concept album about an aging country musician. The 
Elton John has reportedly landed a hologram residency in Las Vegas with "more advanced" technology than the ABBA-themed project ABBA Voyage. John, 79, stepped away from touring in 2023 but is now believed to have landed a mega-money deal for the show at the brand-new Hard Rock Hotel opening in Las Vegas in 2027. Not only will it feature the "Tiny Dancer" hitmaker in hologram form, but avatars of his past collaborators Dua Lipa and Kiki Dee will duet with Sir Elton. "It's similar to the ABBA Voyage show in London, but far more advanced as the technology has come on so much," a source told the U.K. paper The Sun's "Bizarre" column. "It's going to look phenomenal." Despite scaling back his live performances, Elton shows no signs of slowing down completely. The rock superstar recently revealed he quietly completed a brand-new album -- and it only exists because his eyesight troubles forced him to rebuild his entire creative process from scratch. While accepting the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize at the Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto in May, he explained that his eye condition made his usual lyric-first method impossible. "I've had eye trouble recently and I always make records by looking at lyrics and writing to lyrics, and so I'm kind of f----- at the moment," he told the audience. - Music-News.com, 7/1/26...... Rush have teamed up with Fantoons -- the L.A.-based animation studio that has created Rush-themed puzzles, mugs, cereal boxes and bass pickguards over the past decade -- for a special-edition T-shirt benefiting the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24. The two massive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes which struck less than a minute apart, have claimed more than 2,200 lives and left 11,000 injured, with thousands of citizens still unaccounted for. "In the rawest hour, asking for help, the band answered the way they always have: without hesitation, with open hands and open hearts, collaborating on this one-of-a-kind shirt that will change lives," Venezuelan Fantoons director David Calcano said in an 
David Bowie's archive at London's V&A East Storehouse is set to go on tour across the UK. The David Bowie Centre opened at the new working store and visitor attraction at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford last autumn. It comprises over 90,000 of the late star's possessions, as well as curated exhibitions of objects by Bowie collaborator Nile Rodgers and super-fans The Last Dinner Party. On July 1, organizers announced that a new national tour will bring highlights from the V&A's Bowie archive to venues across the UK over multiple years. More than 100 pieces from the collection are to go on show in Dundee, Blackpool, Hull, County Durham, Bristol and beyond for "David Bowie: On Tour," The trek will give fans the only opportunity to see such a range of items from the icon's personal archive up close, outside of London's V&A East Storehouse. Visitors can expect a "rare glimpse into David Bowie's creative process and how he shaped his iconic image, music, video, TV and film work", per a press release. Highlights include Bowie's legendary costumes, musical instruments, career-spanning photography, and some never-before-seen items such as Polaroids for make-up and costume fittings. Next up, the archive will head to Showtown in Blackpool (June to Sept. 2027), the Bowes Museum in County Durham (Oct. 2027 to Jan. 2028), the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull (Feb. to May 2028), and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (June to Sept. 2028). Further venues are to be announced in due course, according to organisers. - New Musical Express, 7/1/26...... Bob Dylan guitarist Bob Britt has spoken out about his recent departure from Dylan's live backing band. Over the last weekend in June, Britt was reported to have left the touring line-up after he shared a brief social media post that was later deleted. He had played with Dylan since 2019, and been a regular fixture during the "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour. Britt has now shared an update on the situation via 
Bruce Springsteen was among the music dignitaries to speak at Clive Davis' funeral on the morning of June 29 at Central Synagogue in New York City. Springsteen shared fond memories of his early days finding his footing in the music industry and how Davis' tutelage shepherded him to stardom. (Springsteen signed to Columbia Records in 1972, where Davis served as president, when he was just 22 years old, and the two have remained close friends for over half a century.) He recalled turning in his Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. debut album, but Davis kicked it back to the rocker after listening and implored him to record songs that could have radio appeal. That same night, Springsteen recalled, he wrote "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night," both of which went on to be singles from his debut and catalog-defining tracks. "Two songs that totally changed the profile and perception of that album," he said. "Clive then filmed himself reciting the lyrics to 'Blinded by the Light' like it was some New Jersey Shakespeare." "Clive was big and bombastic and brave and full of ideas and just believed, believed, believed. He dressed like a king. He was born to run everything," the rocker playfully continued. He added that Davis never missed a New York performance of his for the rest of his career, even attending his tour stop in Newark, N.J., earlier this year, which saw Davis standing up for the entire show. Clive Davis passed away at 94 on June 22 while surrounded by family at his New York home. A private burial followed on June 29. Springsteen concluded his remembrance: "Nothing but love, Clive, thank you." - Billboard, 6/29/26...... Lionel Richie returned to the stage in Pittsburgh on June 30 a week after postponing dates on his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire due to an unexplained illness. On June 24, Richie cut short his June 24 show in St. Paul, Minn., due to what was described at the time as an unexpected dizzy spell on the opening night. "I had you worried there for a minute, huh?" he joked during the show. "You have no idea what I have been through in the last 24 hours, listening to my friends tell me their advice on what I should be doing." While Richie has not made a statement about his condition or diagnosis, after doctor-ordered rest, the 77-year-old singer appeared to be in fine form in fan-posted footage of him performing his 1984 No. 3 hit "Stuck On You" and his 1977 Commodores No. 4 hit "Easy." Richie's 26-date joint tour with the "Shining Star" hitmakers -- their third batch of shows together after earlier runs in 2023 and 2024 -- is slated to run through an Aug. 14 stop in Austin, Tex. - Billboard, 7/1/26...... The B-52's set at Frances's Retro C Trop music festival on June 27 was cancelled just minutes before a violent storm hit the area. "We are so sorry to everyone who came out to Chateau de Tilloloy yesterday," the band shared in a Facebook post after their slot on June 27 got cancelled. "The storm made it impossible to continue, and the safety of our fans and everyone on site had to come first," they continued. "A huge thank you to our touring crew for their work and care in keeping everyone as safe as possible throughout an incredibly dangerous situation. We hope everyone got home safely." The band also hit out at promoter who they claimed knew that a "dangerous storm was brewing." The festival, which described the storm as a tornado, later announced that they would be cancelling its final day the next day following the evacuation from the night prior. B-52's frontman Fred Schneider detailed the effect the chaotic weather had on the day in a lengthy post on his personal 
Victor Willis, the longtime lead singer and frontman of costumed disco group the Village People and cowriter of such indelible dance anthems as 
Formed at the peak of the disco revolution, the gay-coded group quickly became dance floor icons thanks to such booming anthems as the Willis cowritten "Macho Man" from their 1978 album of the same name, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Leaning further into the are-they-or-aren't-they nature of the group, the title of the band's third album, 1978's Cruisin', was either an homage to hopping in the car for a drive or a not-at-all-subtle reference to the gay slang term for searching around for casual sex. That album spawned yet another huge hit with "Y.M.C.A.," another Willis cowrite that hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 in early 1979 before going on to be one of the group's most successful and beloved singles. The Grammy Hall of Fame track with its signature hand jive motions has since become a staple at parties and sporting events, as well as being one of Pres. Donald Trump's favorite songs, one he frequently gyrates to during public appearances. Willis, who was straight, steadfastly denied that he wrote "Y.M.C.A." to be a "gay anthem," despite the double-entendre lyrics that appeared to suggest otherwise. "Young man, there's a place you can go, I said/ Young man, when you're short on your dough/ You can stay there and I'm sure you will find/ Many ways to have a good time," he sings on the tune. Willis left the group in 1979 amid the production for their disastrous movie musical Can't Stop the Music, and was replaced by the band's former tour backup singer, Ray Simpson. With disco's popularity at a nadir amid the rise of new wave, the group's 1981 album, Renaissance, which had them adopting the makeup and new romantic look of the day, was a flop. Willis briefly came back into the fold for 1981's equally unimpressive eighth album, Fox on the Box, which was later released in the U.S. in 1983 as In the Street. By 1983, Willis took leave again as the band underwent another in a rolling series of lineup changes and he began a decades long battle over copyright issues. After leaving the group, Willis would not perform Village People songs and did not record new music, though a 1979 solo album, Solo Man, was finally released in Aug. 2015. Willis, who entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 2007 following years of substance abuse, rejoined the group yet again in 2017 after a 2015 out-of-court settlement that gave him 50% ownership of some of the group's biggest hits. He appeared on the 2018 Christmas album, A Village People Christmas and performed with them at several events tied to Trump's second inauguration in Jan. 2025. - Billboard, 7/1/26.