Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on May 10th, 2026

Ringo Starr's new country-themed album Long Long Road has debuted in the top 10 of Billboard's Album Sales Chart dated May 9 after its Apr. 24 release. Long Long Road becomes the former Beatle's second top 10 on the Album Sales Chart, which launched in 1991, following last year's Look Up. Long Long Road debuted on a total of five Billboard charts, including Top Album Sales (No. 9), Indie Store Album Sales (No. 11), Americana/Folk Albums (No. 15), Vinyl Albums (No. 15) and Top Country Albums (No. 40). Starr's new album marks his 22nd solo album and his second co-written and produced by T Bone Burnett, following Look Up, with collaborations from the likes of Sheryl Crow, Sarah Jarosz, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and St. Vincent. - Billboard, 5/8/26...... In related news, Ringo's first ever debut with Paul McCartney, "Home To Us," has been shared on YouTube. The track is the second to be shared from Macca's new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which arrives on May 29, following on from the powerful nostalgic lead single "Days We Left Behind." After that lead single dropped, reports started to emerge that Ringo would appear on the record as a guest drummer, and at a special fan album playback event at Abbey Road Studios on May 5, Sir Paul confirmed that rumours were true. He played the full album exclusively for the 50 lucky fans in attendance, and confirmed that the song with Starr was called "Home To Us" and set for release on May 8. "Home To Us" is the first music the two Beatles icons have made together as a duet, and also features Sharleen Spiteri and The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde on guest vocals. McCartney plays the majority of instruments on the song -- much like in his 1970 solo debut album, McCartney -- and it is produced by Andrew Watt. McCartney will take the stage on the season finale of NBC's Saturday Night Live on May 16 to perform selections from The Boys of Dungeon Lane, his fifth appearance as SNL's musical guest, with Emmy winner and former SNL player Will Ferrell hosting. - NME, 5/6/26...... Eric Clapton decided to end his gig early at Madrid's Movistar Arena on May 7 after a fan in one of the front rows hurled a vinyl LP at the veteran rocker which hit him in the chest. The guitarist, playing the Spanish capital as part of his current European tour, had just finished a rendition of his U.S. 1980 hit "Cocaine," and had been scheduled to return for an encore of the blues standard "Before You Accuse Me" in his 13-song set, but in the end he chose not to retake the stage. "Very sad indeed. What kind of idiot does that?," one fan posted on X/Twitter along with footage of Clapton's show. Clapton, who released his latest album Meanwhile in 2024, is set to play a huge one-off show in the UK this summer, at the Sandringham Estate on Aug. 23. He will be joined on the bill by Ronnie Wood and His Band, as well as Andy Fairweather Low and The Low Riders. More fan-shot footage of the Madrid show can be streamed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 5/9/26...... Michael Jackson's classic 1982 LP Thriller has zoomed from 48-7 following the release of the Michael biopic in movie theaters on Apr. 24, with the Michael soundtrack debuting at No. 8 on Billboard's Album Sales Chart dated May 9. The King of Pop's solo song catalog registered a collective 137.5 million official on-demand streams for the week of Apr. 24-30 in the US, according to Luminate, up 146% and more than doubling his previous career high. Thriller's No. 7 debut marks the album's best showing since reaching the same position in Dec. 2022 after a 40th anniversary reissue. Excluding that celebration, Thriller last ranked higher on the chart dated June 2, 1984, at No. 6. Just weeks before, the blockbuster, wrapped 37 weeks at No. 1 across 1983-1984, still the most weeks at No. 1 by an album by a singular artist in the chart's history. It also charted a total of seven Top 40 singles from 1983-84. Prior to the Michael era, the late icon, who died in 2009, recorded a high of 53.7 million for the week of Oct. 25-31, 2019, spurred by the now-annual Halloween resurgence for "Thriller." Michael covers Jackson's life from 1966 to 1988, including time with both The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons groups with his brothers. As such, those acts' catalogs experience massive increases too, with the former's songs pulling 10.1 million streams in the tracking week, up 135% from the previous week's 4.3 million. The Jacksons, meanwhile, surge to 4.9 million clicks for their tracks, up 57% from 2.1 million last week. At the box office, Michael has also generated a huge commercial response. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, grossed $97 million in its first weekend in the U.S. and Canada and $218.8 million worldwide, both the highest ever opening figures for a biopic. - Billboard, 5/6/26...... Ronnie Wood has revealed that he has a tribute to Beach Boys' Brian Wilson on the new Rolling Stones album, Foreign Tongues. Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Wood revealed that he learned of Wilson's passing while in the studio working on Foreign Tongues, and wanted to play something from the heart that expressed how he felt after hearing the news. "I was so moved that day, and disappointed and sad, I had so much feeling because Brian Wilson died. I'll never forget," he said, going on to reveal that he wrote a nine-minute guitar solo which helped him channel his emotions. That solo was later cut down to around five-minutes, and now features in a song called "Back In Your Life." "That week Sly Stone died too, I thought, 'Oh, no. It's so sad'. It came out through my guitar, the feeling, in just one take. I didn't do that, the guitar played itself," he added. The 14-track Foreign Tongues is set for release on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. Wood's Tonight Show interview can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 5/8/26...... Cher and her frequent songwriting collaborator Diane Warren have scored a number of chart hits over the years, including such classics as "If I Could Turn Back Time," "Just Like Jesse James" and "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," and on May 8 Warren reposted an Instagram post which Cher made earlier: "You're annoying but U write great songs." The post included a seemingly recent smiling pic of the duo hanging out, along with Warren's reaction to the star's backhanded praise: "haha thnx Cher." The singer's Warren-penned and co-produced massive 1989 hit "If I Could Turn Back Time" rose to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and they've teamed up for more than a dozen other classics, including the Golden Globe-winning Burlesque soundtrack hit "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," the country-leaning 1989 song "Just Like Jesse James," as well as 1991's "Save Up All Your Tears," 1987's "Perfection," "Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore?," "Love and Understanding" and several others. Cher's last album of original material was 2013's dance-heavy Closer to the Truth, and her most recent project was her 2023 Christmas album, which debuted atop the Top Holiday Albums chart in 2023. Meanwhile, the family drama between Cher and her son, Elijah Blue Allman, continues as Allman filed a court document in the Superior Court of Los Angeles on May 5 asking a judge to slash the spousal support payments he makes to his estranged wife, Marieangela King. Elijah claims the reason is his mother stopped supporting him financially. Allman, 49, said he used to receive $10,000 a month from Cher, but that money allegedly stopped coming in Aug. 2021, according to PageSix.com. He told the court he now only receives $10,000 monthly from a trust tied to his late father, Gregg Allman. After taxes, he says his income works out to about $6,790 a month. Right now, Allman is required to pay King $6,500 a month in spousal support. His lawyers are asking the court to cut that amount down to $1,651 monthly. In the filing, Allman also accused King, 38, of making "no efforts to become self-supporting" since the couple split in 2021. The pair married in 2013. Allman first filed for divorce in 2021, but the case was later dismissed after the couple reconciled. King then filed for divorce herself in Apr. 2025. Their next court hearing is set for July 17. The latest legal battle comes as Cher continues trying to gain conservatorship over her son due to ongoing addiction and mental health struggles. - Billboard/Canoe.com, 5/8/26...... Barry Manilow shared a new version of his 1992 album track "Another Life" on YouTube on May 8. Co-written by Andrew Hill and Preston Sturges, "Another Life - 2026" explores the distance between former lovers, as one struggles to come to terms with the relationship's end. Arranged by Manilow and longtime collaborator Michael Lloyd, the new 2026 recording retains the song's wistful core while deepening its sense of nostalgia. Manilow was in his late 40s when he first recorded the song. He's now in his 80s and has had to confront a serious health challenge, giving the song added meaning. Manilow first recorded the song for his 1992 box set The Complete Collection and Then Some... The song wasn't officially released as a single, but as an album track, it reached No. 33 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. The new single follows Manilow's first public appearance since undergoing surgery for lung cancer. On Apr. 23, Manilow appeared at the American Advertising Federation's Hall of Fame gala in New York City to accept the President's Award, recognizing his iconic work in advertising, including writing famous jingles for McDonalds and other companies, before he launched his recording career in the early 1970s. "Another Life - 2026" is the final preview from Barry's forthcoming album What a Time, his first collection of nearly all-original material in almost 15 years. The album is due June 5. After his recovery is complete, the singer says he plans to tour throughout 2026. - Billboard, 5/8/26...... A new Ian Curtis exhibition will open in New York this summer and will feature rare archival material, including handwritten Joy Division lyrics. Held at the Voltz Clarke Gallery between June 25 and July 22, "Ian Curtis: Insight" will bring pieces from the late singer's archive to the United States for the first time and offer a new perspective on the UK's iconic Manchester artist. On display will be an "intimate and revealing" selection of handwritten lyrics, photographs, personal letters, ephemera and artefacts. They are being brought over from the The John Rylands Library at The University of Manchester, where they are housed as part of the British Pop Archive. Many of the pieces from the archive have never come to the US before, and organizers say that bringing them across the pond now, 46 years after Curtis' death, proves how his music continues to resonate with people across the globe. "This exhibition is part of The University of Manchester's remit to share our Special Collections globally," said Professor Christopher Pressler, University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library. Curtis and his bandmates first founded Joy Division in Salford, England back in 1976 under the name Warsaw. They changed their name to Joy Division in early 1978, and stayed together until the frontman took his own life in May 1980, after battling depression and epilepsy. Bandmates Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris went on to form New Order after his death, and have made numerous tributes to the late singer over the years. Both Joy Division and New Order will enter the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as a single act during a ceremony in Los Angeles in November, following previous nominations in 2023 and 2025. - NME, 5/8/26...... During a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning on May 3, Sting praised the "extraordinary work ethic" of his six children, and doubled-down on not passing his fortune down to them. Sting has two children with his first wife, son Joe Sumner and daughter Fuschia Sumner, as well as four kids with his second wife, Trudie Styler, Mickey, Jake, Eliot and Giacomo Sumner. "I think that's a form of abuse that I hope I'm never guilty of," Sting said, adding that all of his kids have been blessed with an "extraordinary work ethic," whether from their famous dad's DNA or from him simply being very frank about his financial planning. "Guys, you got to work," Sting says he told his kids. "I'm spending our money. I'm paying for your education. You've got shoes on your feet. Go to work. That's not cruel. I think there's a kindness there and a trust that they will make their own way. They're tough, my kids." Speaking about his stage musical," The Last Ship," in which he pays tribute to the hard-working shipbuilders fallen upon hard times in his home city of Newcastle, the 74-year-old musician said he took to heart the values of those working-class folks. "The working class works and wants to work. I'm one of those people, I love to work," he said. Sting's "3.0" US tour kicked off at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. on May 6. His CBS Sunday Morning interview can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/6/26...... Stanley Simmons, the group comprised of the sons of KISS' Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, have announced their debut album. Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons first revealed in early 2025 that they were working together on the project, saying at that time that they had written and recorded 10 songs together. Now, they have revealed that their album Dancing While The World Is Ending will be released on Aug. 28, and they have given a taste of it with the singles "Body Down" and the title track on YouTube. Stanley Simmons played their first ever live show on May 4 in San Diego, Calif., with followed by three further shows in the Golden State. As for KISS, the launch date for their Las Vegas avatar shows has been tentatively scheduled for 2028. Production will be overseen by Pophouse Entertainment, the founding investor behind ABBA's Voyage show. - NME, 5/4/26...... Deep Purple have confirmed their new studio album SPLAT! will arrive via EarMusic Records on July 3. Rather than leaning on their legacy, the group say the new material captures the same energy that defined their classic era. Frontman Ian Gillan said the current line-up feels like a modern reflection of the band's 1970s peak. He said: "Where we are now with this incarnation of Deep Purple feels very much like a very 'now' version of Deep Purple as it was in the seventies." For SPLAT!, he band once again worked with legendary producer Bob Ezrin -- known for his work with Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, KISS and Lou Reed -- crafting what they describe as "their heaviest album in years," recorded live together in the studio. Gillan says the new songs sit comfortably alongside some of their most iconic work. "I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with 'Highway Star', 'Smoke on the Water', 'Lazy' -- the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from '69 to '73," he said. At the center of SPLAT! is a concept developed by Gillan, exploring the end of humanity not as destruction but as transformation -- a shift beyond physical existence. SPLAT! marks the latest chapter in a career that has seen the band sell more than 120 million albums since forming in 1968. The band will support the album with an extensive 2026 touring schedule, including 86 shows across 28 countries on three continents. Gillan said the group are thriving as they enter this next phase, adding: "Deep Purple is in a great place right now." SPLAT! will be released in multiple formats, including CD, digital, standard 2LP, limited purple and limited transparent yellow vinyl editions, along with a Limited Vinyl Box Set with 2LP+CD+3x10inch and 7inch formats. Deep Purple will mount an 8-date UK tour behind the new record in November. - Music-News.com, 5/6/26...... Veteran rock drummer Carmine Appice has spoken out about the rumours that Led Zeppelin asked him to join after John Bonham's death in 1980. Speaking on the Talk Louder podcast, Appice confirmed that he was aware of the rumours at the time that he was aware of the speculation he would replace Bonham, but says he was never approached by the band in any formal capacity. Appice recalled that he had heard that it might come down to a choice between himself and Cozy Powell of The Jeff Beck Group, but that even if he had been asked, he would have been unable to accept, as he was on tour with Rod Stewart at the time. "I would've, but I was with Rod," Appice explained. "It's not like I was with nobody, we'd just finished doing six nights at the Forum [in Los Angeles]." "So, Rod said to me, 'Are you gonna join Led Zeppelin?' I said, 'Not that I know of.' I said, 'I know there's rumours, but I never got a call or nothing.' He said, 'Oh, that's good. Let's keep [the rumours] going. There's rumours that I'm gonna retire, so let's keep it going. We'll just sell more tickets.' I said, 'OK.' So that's what we did. But I was never asked." Bonham passed away on Sept. 25, 1980 at the age of 32 after aspirating vomit following heavy alcohol consumption. In the end, Zeppelin chose not to replace him, feeling he was irreplaceable, and they disbanded the group shortly afterward. Phil Collins filled in on drums for the metal icons' appearance at Live Aid in 1985, while Bonham's son Jason Bonham has played at the few subsequent Led Zep shows, including their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1995 and at the huge Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London's O2 in 2007. In addition to his time with Stewart, Appice has also sat behind the kit for Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Appice's full Talk Louder interview can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 5/4/26...... Police were called to the Los Angeles home of The Four Seasons lead singer Franki Valli on the evening of May 3, according to TMZ.com. A report claimed that someone had violated a restraining order related to a domestic dispute, an LAPD spokesperson told People magazine. The "My Eyes Adored You" singer was granted a three-year restraining order against his son Francesco Valli in Apr. 2024. According to dispatch audio obtained by People, a 38-year-old man was "banging on the door demanding entry." L.A. police officers, including a police helicopter, responded to the home and found no evidence of a crime. The air unit then cleared the scene. Then less than a minute later, another call was generated from the address for a "family dispute - restraining order violation." "This is a private family matter, and it was resolved before the authorities arrived," a rep for Valli told People. The restraining order was granted after Francesco attempted to break into his father's property in 2024. Valli's younger son Emilio claimed that Francesco "repeatedly physically threatened to harm or kill" him and his father. In the filing, he noted that threats like this had been happening for "several months" but had escalated since Valli financially cut off Francesco. Francesco was ordered to have no contact with Emilio or Valli and to stay at least 100 yards away from their homes, cars and workplaces. The restraining order is set to expire on Apr. 29, 2027. Valli shares Francesco and twins Emilio and Brando with his third wife, Randy Clohessy. Valli had three daughters, Celia, Antonia and Francine, with his first wife, Mary Mandel. Celia and Francine died in separate incidents in 1980. - Music-News.com, 5/7/26...... Alex Ligertwood, the Scottish singer best known for his work with Santana, died at his Santa Monica, Calif. home on Apr. 30. He was 79. "It's with great sadness and heartache to announce the passing of my sweet dear Alex Ligertwood," his wife Shawn Brogan wrote in a statement. "Alex died peacefully in his sleep with his doggy Bobo by his side. [He] was loved by so many. If you knew him, you loved him. He touched so many with his extraordinary voice. He was all heart and soul." Ligertwood played with a wide range of artists, but is best remembered for his stints as lead vocalist with Santana between 1979 and 1994. His soulful voice helped to define that era of the Latin rock band, featuring on albums including Marathon (1979), Zebop! (1981) and Sacred Fire: Live In South America (1993). He sang on some of the band's most beloved tracks, including "Winning," "Hold On" and "You Know That I Love You," during a period when Santana pivoted to more of an AOR style. Born in Glasgow on Dec. 18, 1946, Ligertwood began playing skiffle in the 1950s and joined the band The Senate, and prior to joining Santana, he also worked alongside The Jeff Beck Group and Average White Band, building a reputation as a standout vocalist. In recent years, he continued to perform live and he released a solo album Outside The Box in 2019, and had performed his final show just a few weeks before his passing, capping a career that spanned six decades. - NME, 5/4/26...... Media mogul Ted Turner, who pioneered the modern 24-hour news culture when he launched the CNN channel in 1980, died on May 6. He was 87. Mr. Turner launched Cable News Network as the first dedicated rolling news channel, which soon became a central part of the media landscape. The network initially faced scepticism and struggles, being mocked as the "Chicken Noodle Network" in its early years by those who thought it would not succeed. But the channel proved its worth by providing speedy and continuous updates of stories like the assassination attempt on US Pres. Ronald Reagan in 1981, and the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986. Then it truly came of age with its live rolling coverage from Iraq during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. But CNN was far from Turner's only outlet. He began his career by taking over the successful family billboard company when his father took his own life, then bought a radio station in Atlanta, Ga. Within a decade, that station had become the foundation of the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and its boss was one of the biggest media moguls in the US. He was also known for his brash personality, which earned him the nicknames "the Mouth of the South" and "Captain Outrageous." He even lived in CNN's headquarters for a number of years, often walking around the newsroom in his bath robe, "eager to debate the day's news," according to current CNN CEO/chairman Mark Thompson. Born Robert Edward Turner III was in Cincinnati on Nov. 19, 1938, Mr. Turner grew up mostly in Savannah, Ga. The foundation of his broadcasting empire was a money-bleeding UHF station, then WTCG, in Atlanta, which he bought in 1970 for $2.5 million. Beyond the media, Mr. Turner was a world-class yachtsman, winning the America's Cup in 1977. In 1983, a Rupert Murdoch-sponsored yacht collided with Mr. Turner's boat in an Australian race, which led Mr. Turner to challenge Murdoch to a fist fight. Mr. Turner also owned sport properties including the Atlanta Braves baseball team, Atlanta Hawks basketball team and Atlanta Thrashers ice hockey team. Mr. Turner's television empire also included the TBS and TNT channels, Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network. He made a short-lived, ill-fated $1.5 billion acquisition of the MGM film studios in 1985. He went on to buy film and TV companies Castle Rock Entertainment and New Line Cinema in the 1990s, before his company merged with Time Warner. He eventually sold his company to Time Warner in a fateful deal that wiped out a lot of his fortune and was seen as something that took his power away in the media. He then became a major philanthropist, donating $1 billion to the United Nations and millions more to environmental causes, and promoted and invested in clean energy. He was married to actress Jane Fonda from 1991 until 2001. In 2018, Mr. Turner revealed he had Lewy body dementia, a degenerative nerve disease. In an Instagram post on May 7, Jane Fonda paid tribute to Mr. Turner: "He swept into my life, a gloriously handsome, deeply romantic, swashbuckling pirate and I've never been the same," the 88-year-old actress wrote. "He needed me. No one had ever let me know they needed me, and this wasn't your average human being that needed me, this was the creator of CNN, and Turner Classic Movies, who had won the America's Cup as the world's greatest sailor. He had a big life, a brilliant mind and a soaring sense of humor." Survivors include two children from his first marriage, Laura and Teddy; three children from his second marriage, Rhett, Beau and Jennie; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. - BBC.com, 5/6/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on May 5th, 2026

After weeks of teasers on the web and billboards across the globe, The Rolling Stones officially announced on May 5 that their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, will be released on July 10 with core members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood joined by a diverse list of guest artists including Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Ahead of the LP, the band has released two tracks from the project on Spotify.com: album opener "Rough and Twisted" and lead single "In the Stars," as well as an official Foreign Tongues trailer on YouTube. The trailer shows the trailer and producer Andrew Watt, who also helmed the band's 2023 effort Hackney Diamonds, working hard -- and goofing off -- in the studio. The full project was created in less than a month at Metropolis Studios in West London, with Jagger describing it as "a very intense few weeks recording... we went as fast as we could" with Wood adding "the atmosphere in the room was so creative... The whole band was on top form throughout the whole process. Very often we nailed it on the first take. I hope everyone loves it." Meanwhile in other Stones news, ABKCO Music, which owns the Stones' early catalog, has settled with Behr Paint company over an in Instagram advertisement that allegedly featured an unlicensed version of the Stones' 1966 hit "Paint It, Black." Lawyers for both parties filed a joint notice of settlement ending the lawsuit on May 4. ABKCO sued Behr in Nov. 2025, alleging the paint company didn't pay to use "Paint It, Black" in a 2022 Instagram ad that showed a person spray-painting furniture. The lawsuit stated that the song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1966, is "one of the most valuable copyrights in the history of popular music." Behr broadly denied all wrongdoing in an initial response to the claims. Terms of the resolution were not disclosed, though ABKCO alleged in its complaint in 2025 that synch licenses for "Paint It, Black" typically fetch fees between the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars. Neither party has commented on the settlement so far, and the band is not involved in the ligigation. - Billboard, 5/5/26...... On May 4 the Eagles added more 2026 dates to their Sphere residency in Las Vegas, extending their run as the artist with the most dates overall at the innovative immersive venue to 64 shows. The legendary California country rock band kicked off their latest Sphere stint in Sept. 2024, adding dates a handful at a time and setting the record for the most shows with the announcement of the February dates in Oct. 2025 at 52. The previous record belonged to Dead & Co. at 48 shows. They began their 2026 Sphere residency on Jan. 23, playing a total of 14 shows in January, February, March and April. The new dates will extend their run into the fall: Sept. 18-19, Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 27-28. The current lineup includes sole remaining original member Don Henley along with bassist Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, Vince Gill and the late Glenn Frey's son Deacon Frey. Meanwhile, Henley remarked about how "very different" the band's recent show at the 55th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 was from performing in the Sphere. "This is very different from the Sphere," Henley quipped to laughs and cheers from the daytime NO crowd, who were very grateful to be under blue skies and sunshine on that day versus the two previous days of rain and muddy fields at Jazz Fest. "We got some sunshine up in here," he added. In a pivot from their Sphere set, the Eagles returned to their traditional opening number of "Seven Bridges Road" instead of the bombastic Vegas opener of "Hotel California," which instead kicked off the final three songs of the robust 19-song setlist. The most notable omission of the final songs from the setlist was "Desperado," the title track from their 1973 album, and when the band wrapped up about 25 minutes earlier than the schedule had promised, fans were hopeful they might return for the Henley ballad -- but the stage gear being broken down behind them proved otherwise. "We've been playing these songs for you for about 53 years now, and we hope to continue to do that," Henley said onstage. And most importantly, the sold-out crowd in the Crescent City got sunshine. - Billboard, 5/4/26...... Great news for Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers fans has turned out to be not so great for Bruce Springsteen fans in the City of Brotherly Love. After the Sixers advanced to the second round of the NBA finals by beating the Boston Celtics in a playoff series for the first time in 44 years -- besting their rivals 109-100 in game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series on May 2 and becoming just the 14th team in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit -- The Boss and the E Street Band have reshuffled their "Land of Hope & Dreams" North American tour. The original E Street Band date was squeezed in between a run of New York shows, including a show on May 5 in Elmont, N.Y. bookended by the first of two shows at Madison Square Garden on May 11 (with a second one on May 16) and a stop at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on May 14. The Philly show will now come after what was supposed to be the E Street Band's May 27 finale at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. "Due to the NBA and NHL playoff schedule, the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at Xfinity Mobile Arena has been rescheduled for May 30," the band wrote on Instagram on May 2. Tickets for the original date, May 8, will be honored on the new date. - Billboard, 5/4/26...... Pres. Donald Trump is claiming that his dance moves to the Village People's "Y.M.C.A." helped drive a resurgence of the song on the Billboard charts. During a speaking engagement at Florida's The Villages retirement community on May 1, Trump took credit for the 1970s smash hit that topped Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart in late 2024, more than four decades after its original release. "That song was No. 5 32 years ago, and it went to No. 1 32 years later," Trump erroneously stated during his speech. "It went to No. 1 for months during the last months of the campaign." The ubiquitous disco-era track -- described by the president as the "gay national anthem" -- was frequently used during his 2024 presidential campaign and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Top Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart that November. Following its original release in late 1978, "Y.M.C.A." peaked at No. 2 on the main Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. In Dec. 2024, Village People founder Victor Willis spoke out about why he allowed Trump to use "Y.M.C.A." at rallies and events leading up to his election win. Willis originally asked Trump to stop using the song in 2020 but later reconsidered after realizing that the politician seemed to "genuinely like" it and was "having a lot of fun" with "Y.M.C.A.," he wrote in a lengthy Facebook post in late 2024. Willis also noted that the dance tune has only "benefited greatly" in terms of chart placements and sales since Trump incorporated it into his campaign. "Therefore, I'm glad I allowed the President Elect's continued use of Y.M.C.A.," Willis wrote. "And I thank him for choosing to use my song." During his speech on May 1, Trump also noted that First Lady Melania Trump isn't a fan of his onstage reaction to "Y.M.C.A." "She hates when I dance to what is sometimes referred to as the gay national anthem," the president said. "She hates it." He added, "We love that song. But [Melania] goes, 'Darling, please.' You know, she's a very elegant woman. She goes, 'Darling, please don't dance. It's not presidential.' I said, 'It may not be presidential, but I'm leading by 20 points in the polls or something.'" Trump ended his speech by showcasing his signature dance -- featuring fist pumps and hip shakes -- as "Y.M.C.A." played at the close of his address at the Florida retirement community. - Billboard, 5/3/26...... Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry made a surprise appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live on May 2, emerging from the wings to introduce Olivia Rodrigo's performance of her new single "drop dead" -- giving the rising singer a rock 'n' roll co-sign in front of a live Studio 8H audience. Harry introduced Rodrigo's first musical performance of the night, which saw the singer-songwriter perform "drop dead" in an airy green and pink dress, rocking out to the boisterous, energetic track. The single -- released Apr. 17 -- debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rodrigo's fourth chart-topper. Pioneering New Wave band Blondie has sold over 40 million records worldwide since forming in New York in 1974, and announced in 2025 that a new album, High Noon, would arrive in spring 2026. - Billboard, 5/3/26...... On May 1 Barry Manilow postponed the latest in a series of delays of his Las Vegas residency at the Westgate Resort & Casino since revealing his Stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis in Dec. 2025. But Manilow, 82, says he is making great progress and expects to return to the Westgate stage in July. In an Instagram Story posted on May 1, Manilow opened with, "Good news! I went to the doctor yesterday and he said I'm making great progress and look great! All the training and exercising I've put in is paying off. He did say, however, that I'm not quite ready for Vegas. This means I won't be able to return for our May shows at Westgate Las Vegas." The "Copacabana" singer also confirmed he will be ready for his June arena shows in the U.K. "The Westgate Las Vegas is my home away from home and I'll see you all in July," he said. In Dec. 2025, Manilow underwent surgery to remove a cancerous spot from his left lung and has not performed since. The singer's February Las Vegas residency dates were the first to be pushed back, followed by his arena tour launch dates from late February through March, and then his April arena shows -- each time on his doctor's advice that his body needed more time to recover. Despite the setbacks, Manilow has remained determined to return to the stage. His Las Vegas residency at Westgate is scheduled to run through Dec. 2026, and his farewell arena tour -- billed as "The Last Concerts" -- has rescheduled dates still on the books. In March, his latest single "Once Before I Go" became a top 10 hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, making him the only artist in history to score an AC hit in six consecutive decades -- a run stretching from the 1970s through the 2020s. His new album What a Time, -- his first of new material in nearly 15 years -- is due June 5. - Billboard, 5/2/26...... In related news, Dolly Parton cancelled her Las Vegas residency, which the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member originally postponed in Oct. 2025 due to an unspecified illness, says it will now not go ahead at all. In a lengthy Instagram Reel on May 4, the country/pop legend shared an update about her health. "Well, hey there, it's Dolly, and I'm here to give you an update on a few things going on in my life," she began. "I have some good news and a little bad news. But the good news is I'm responding really well to meds and treatments, and I'm improving every day. Now, the bad news is that it's gonna take me a little while before I'm up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say." Parton then used the idea of restoring a classic car to be "better than ever" as a metaphor for her health issues. "When they raised the hood on this old antique, they realised that I need to rebuild my engine and that my transmission is slipping, my oil pan is leaking, my muffler's busted and my shocks and pistons need to be replaced. And for sure, my spark plugs need to be changed, because you know, as well as I know, that I can't lose my spark," the "Jolene" hitmaker quipped. Anyway, I know I'm being silly, but I'm just tryin' to keep everything light and airy," the "9 to 5" performer shared. Dolly also noted that despite her health challenges, she is still working, making videos, recording and preparing for her museum and hotel opening in Nashville this year. Additionally, she's been reworking "Dolly: A True Original Musical," which is set to debut on Broadway later this year. - Music-News.com, 5/5/26...... '70s artists Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Grateful Dead, Ramones and John Prine were among the 25 top-selling acts with new releases for Record Store Day 2026. More than 350 album and single products were issued for RSD 2026, and the top-selling album was the four-LP clear vinyl release of Pink Floyd's Live From the Los Angeles Sports Arena, April 26th, 1975, according to Luminate. The project was also issued as a 2-CD set, and the CD edition was the No. 24 best-selling RSD 2026 album title. Petty and the Heartbreakers' Live at Paradise Rock Club, 1978 was the 10th top seller, followed by Talking Heads' The CBS/Columbia Demos (No. 16); Grateful Dead's Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA, June 11, 1976 (No. 19); Ramones' Summer In the City: Live In San Francisco, 1979 (No. 22); and Prine's BBC Sessions (No. 23). David Bowie's "Hallo Spaceboy," a fluorescent pink-colored 12-inch vinyl, was the top-selling RSD 2026 exclusive single. The yearly independent RSD celebration was held on Apr.18 and boasted a bevy of albums and singles (mostly vinyl titles) issued for RSD, and exclusively sold through indie record stores. - Billboard, 5/1/26...... Peter Gabriel has shared an uplifting, politically charged new single, "Won't Stand Down," which he says hopes to "encourage some sort of activism." The track is the latest to be shared from the English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist as part of his new album O\I. Set to be his 11th studio album, the record is the follow-up to 2023's 'I/O' and the two records were written around the same time. Each song on the forthcoming album will receive both "Bright-Side" and "Dark-Side" mixes and will be released to align with this month's full moon and new moon. Singles so far have dropped steadily each month, and included January's "Been Undone," February's "Put the Bucket Down," March's "What Lies Ahead" and April's "Till Your Mind Is Shining." Speaking about "Won't Stand Down," Gabriel posted on X/Twitter: "The song began around a chord sequence which I liked and which felt quite poppy and playful, so I just kept on playing around with it till I had something." With the latest song, the "Bright-Side" version is the first to be released, and it comes as an uplifting, empowering song that offers both hope and inspiration to pursue change in the world. "A million mothers looking forward/ They're all looking out ahead/ In the haze they can make out a planet/ Alive, or was it dead?," Gabriel sings in the ethereal, invigorating first verse. "Moving out in so many directions/ This is not the way we want to live/ It's not the way it has to be." It gradually builds towards the euphoric-yet-tranquil chorus: "But we won't stand down/ Until there's something better showing on the ground." "It's really a song to encourage some sort of activism," the singer shared, adding that he originally wanted to create music for The Elders.org -- the organization founded by Nelson Mandela that sees independent global leaders fight for justice, human rights and a more sustainable planet. A "Dark-Side Mix" of "Won't Stand Down" will also be arriving later in May. - New Musical Express, 5/1/26...... Movie director Steven Soderbergh has revealed he used generative AI for his new documentary, John Lennon: The Last Interview, in collaboration with Meta. The filmmaker, known for iconic movies such as Black Bag, Erin Brockovich, and the Ocean's Eleven trilogy, is working with the late Beatle's estate to bring to life the last interview he gave, promoting the album Double Fantasy with his wife and collaborator, Yoko Ono. The task for the documentary was to provide images for the audio-only interview. Most of it that will be archival material. However, the Oscar-winner has revealed that 10 per cent of the film will feature AI-generated video footage, portraying surreal moments that he claims are not possible through creative methods. "So now we've got it kind of laid out in chapters and we begin to fill in the areas in which John and Yoko are speaking about a specific experience that they had, or a specific piece of music, or a specific person, and layer in archival material over that text -- sometimes stills, sometimes motion, video," he told Deadline. "And we have a version of the movie in which the only holes that remain now are the sections where John and Yoko are talking in abstract philosophical terms." "This comprises about 10 per cent of the entire film, but it's a real problem because we've got to come up with something -- some imagery that enhances what they're saying, but is metaphorical," he continued. "So we're starting to experiment with AI, trying to see if we can build some images that'll fit alongside this text. I'm trying to articulate ideas that will result in something interesting, and we're running out of money." Soderbergh said the doc's producer, Michael Sugar suggested collaborating with Meta "because they're building some video generative tools," and he agreed. Soderbergh conceded that AI "is a very emotional subject lately. Understandably so." However, he claimed he is using it in a way that isn't replacing human endeavor. "There are two ways of using it," he argued. "There's a way of using AI in which your intention is to fool somebody or manipulate them, to create an image that you want them to think is real. And then there's a use, which is what we're doing in the documentary, where it's obvious that it is AI and that it is being used essentially in the way that you would use VFX or CGI or any sort of non-photographic technology." He also explained the Lennon estate's support of the approach. "I asked Sean [Ono Lennon], 'What do you think your dad's take on this tech would've been?' And he said, 'Oh, he would've wanted to engage.' He loved all new technology. All The Beatles did. He would want to play with it just to see what it could do. He goes, 'That was the way he was. ' How he would've felt about it ultimately, we'll never know, but he said he would've wanted to play with it." John Lennon: The Last Interview will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later in May. - NME, 5/5/26...... In other Beatles-related news, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney have commented on Ringo's first-ever recorded duet with McCartney on Sir Paul's new LP The Boys of Dungeon Lane, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which will be released on May 8 ahead of the full album's release on May 29. Speaking about the duet, "Home to Us," Paul said: "Ringo went round to the studio and drummed a bit. I said to Andrew [Watt, the producer], we should make a track and send it to him. So this song is done totally with Ringo in mind. "In writing the song I'm talking about where we came from. In common with a lot of people, you come from nothing and you build yourself up." Paul then explained how their upbringing in Liverpool has influenced their new duet. He said: "Ringo was from the Dingle, and that was well hard. He said he used to get mugged coming home, because he worked. Even though it was crazy, it was home to us. I made the song around that idea and sent it to Ringo. "He sent me back a version where he just added some lines to the chorus, so I thought, maybe he doesn't like it. I rang him and he said he thought I only wanted him to sing one or two lines, and I said I'd love to hear him sing the whole thing. So we took my first line, Ringo's second line, and then we had a duet. We'd never done that before." The record, Paul's first solo album in more than five years, has been described as a revealing collection of never-before-shared stories and personal memories from one of the most influential musicians of all time. - Music-News.com, 5/5/26...... Queen guitarist Brian May has gone from local hero to a bit of a frustrated gardener in his quiet English village. In 2025, May made headlines in Elstead after donating 3,000 daffodil bulbs to brighten the church green. The gesture struck a chord with locals, and May regularly shared updates online as the flowers grew. By his own account, the response was overwhelmingly positive, according to CNN.com. May planned to donate more bulbs to expand the display across the main village green, but that plan has now been scrapped after local officials stepped in and shut it down. In a recent Instagram post, May said he was "quite thrilled" by the "happy comments" about this year's blooms and gave a shoutout to "Team Daffodil," the group of volunteers who helped plant them. The tone shifted, however, when he revealed that Elstead Parish Council had rejected his latest offer due to safety concerns. The council argued the daffodils could interfere with sightlines for traffic and make it harder for people to cross the green, reports the UK paper The Sun. Officials said they have "a responsibility to balance community initiatives with safety," ultimately deciding the risks outweighed the benefits. May didn't buy that explanation. Telling his 3.6 million followers he was "reluctantly" cancelling the order, he questioned how flowers with "18-inch stalks could (obstruct) anyone's view" -- especially when the green is often surrounded by parked cars, including what he joked is a "7-foot-high ice cream van!!!" Now 78, May has been navigating health concerns and career decisions as the same time. In Sept. 2024, he revealed he had suffered a "minor stroke" that briefly left him unable to control his arm, according to the AP. He later confirmed he had recovered and could still play guitar. On the touring front, May has also hit pause on U.S. plans. In a January interview, he described the country as "a dangerous place at the moment" following the deaths of two U.S. citizens involving immigration officials in Minnesota. The comment rules out near-term projects like a potential Las Vegas residency -- something he had previously been excited about. In fact, during a Rolling Stone interview marking the 50th anniversary of "Bohemian Rhapsody," May had been enthusiastic about performing at the Sphere in Vegas, saying the band could create something "stupendous." - Canoe.com, 5/1/26...... Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning on May 3, Sting revealed that he has no plans to retire anytime soon. Asked whether he ever considers taking a vacation or slowing down from his busy schedule, the 74-year-old Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) -- joked that he didn't understand the concept. "I like to work," he smiled. "Could I retire? I'm not sure I could do it. I haven't developed that skill to just sit and do nothing. Perhaps I'm afraid of it. I haven't prepared myself for it. But while I'm still fit enough to do my work, I will continue. At some point, I hope I have the objectivity to say, 'OK, you've done enough. Go and sit on the farm.'" Reflecting on his pivot from pop music to working in the theatre, Sting emphasized that he has no regrets. "I'm very grateful for the pop career, and it was a certain time in my life when I was of a certain age and looked a certain way and made a certain kind of music. But it can't be my entire life. I don't want to be just defined from how I was at the age of 25. I'm 74 now," the "Roxanne" hitmaker continued. The former The Police frontman and Shaggy are currently promoting the 2026 tour of Sting's original musical "The Last Ship," in which he plays shipyard foreman Jackie White. "I immediately knew Shaggy was the perfect man for the job. He has a great sense of mischief, a great sense of joy, but he's also a natural actor," he praised, while Shaggy interjected: "He knows me better than me! I was like, 'I can't really,' and he was like, 'No, you can do that.' And then I'm doing it, and I was like, 'I hate admitting that he was right!'" "The Last Ship" opens at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on June 9. - Music-News.com, 5/4/26...... Beau Starr, the American actor best known for playing Sheriff Ben Meeker in the Halloween 4 and Halloween 5 horror films, has died of natural causes at his Vancouver home, according to TMZ.com. He was 81 years old. He also had a supporting role in Martin Scorsese's 1990 mob classic Goodfellas as the abusive father of Ray Liotta's Henry Hill. His other film credits include Fletch, Speed, Cinderella Man, Devil in a Blue Dress and Born on the Fourth of July. Mr. Starr got his start playing various characters on the Canadian sketch show Bizarre. He went on to have small roles in other popular series like Psych, Knight Rider, The A-Team, MacGyver, TJ Hooker, Three's Company, Remington Steele, The Fall Guy, Night Court, Matlock, Moonlighting, Murder She Wrote and NYPD Blue. - Variety.com, 5/3/26.

U2's Bono will present the Harry Belafonte Social Justice Award to Bruce Springsteen during the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, set for June 3-14 in New York. "There are few figures who embody the spirit of Tribeca's Harry Belafonte Award more fully than Bruce Springsteen," said festival co-chair and co-founder Jane Rosenthal about the New Jersey rocker's tireless work to follow in the footsteps of civil rights activist/singer Harry Belafonte by using his platform to speak out and advance "equality, dignity and human rights." In addition to his longtime friend and fellow activist Bono, the Boss will also receive tributes from punk godmother Patti Smith and actor Robert De Niro. De Niro will also take part in a 50th anniversary celebration of his landmark film Taxi Driver, with a screening of the gritty 1976 drama and conversation between the actor and the movie's director, Martin Scorsese. More info on this year's programming and tickets can be found at tribecafilm.com. - Billboard, 4/28/26...... In other Bruce Springsteen news, during a concert in Austin, Tex. on Apr. 26 the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon offered "prayers of thanks" that Pres. Donald Trump wasn't injured during an Apr. 25 incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner when a California man named Cole Tomas Allen who was brandishing several weapons charged through a security checkpoint in the lobby outside the hotel ballroom where the event was being held. "We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return," said frequent Trump antagonist Springsteen during the E Street Band' show at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex., on Apr. 26. "We also send out a prayer of thanks that our President, nor anyone in the administration, nor anyone attending, was injured at last night's incident at the [White House] Press Correspondents' Dinner." He added, "We can disagree. We can be critical of those in power, and we can peacefully fight for our beliefs. But there is no place in any way, shape, or form for political violence of any kind in our beloved United States." - Billboard, 4/27/26...... A judge in London has ruled that former Jimi Hendrix Experience members, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, signed away their copyrights in "clear and unequivocal" terms in their lawsuit over UK royalties against Sony Music. Following a seven-day trial this past December, U.K. High Court Justice Edwin Johnson released a lengthy decision on Apr. 28 dismissing the claims brought against Sony by the families of Redding and Mitchell. In the long-running suit that began in 2021, the pair's estates have claimed they're being unfairly deprived of royalties from three classic Jimi Hendrix Experience albums, including the 1968 chart-topper Electric Ladyland. Sony, which has distributed Hendrix's music since 2009 under an exclusive license with Hendrix's heirs, maintains that it owes nothing to the two families. Justice Johnson ultimately sided with Sony after determining that Redding and Mitchell signed away future royalties as part of the band's 1966 recording agreement. According to the judge, this contract gave full copyright ownership to producers Michael Jeffrey and Chas Chandler in "clear and unequivocal" language. Moreover, the judge said that even without these copyright ownership issues, all claims would be barred by settlements signed by both Redding and Mitchell with the Hendrix estate during probate proceedings in the early 1970s. A spokesperson for both Sony Music and the Hendrix estate, which is run through the business entity Hendrix Experience, said in a statement that they are "thankful that this litigation, which has lasted over four years, has come to an end." Janie Hendrix, Jimi's sister and the CEO of his estate, also said in her own statement, "I have nothing but positive memories of Noel and Mitch. Experience Hendrix's longstanding relationships with both reflect a consistent commitment to honouring and supporting the musicians who were part of Jimi Hendrix's history." - Billboard, 4/28/26...... Talking to People magazine, Ringo Starr revealed he refused to sing "one of the saddest lines" in a song written by his current collaborator T-Bone Burnett for his new country album Long Long Road. "One of the saddest lines was 'Why do we die?'.... I wouldn't sing it! I made it 'Why can't we fly' and then sent it back to him! But that's country, isn't it? Like, you're in the bar, the wife's left, the dog's dead and you don't have any change for the jukebox. I got into [the genre] with Hank Williams and all those people. There was a sad aspect to country music." The genre is relatable to many people, and while the 85-year-old drummer doesn't think he's "good at advice," he had a tip for people struggling with life: "Play it a bit faster! I'm not all that good at advice, but move forward. That's the thing. Move forward and move on -- on down the road. That's why this [album] is Long Long Road. I was reflecting on myself. This has been a long, long road with a few bad moments but lots of great moments. I'm blessed." Ringo, who kicks off a spring/summer tour with his All-Starr Band on May 29 in Temecula, Calif., also recently told Variety that he wants to get a bunch of songs together for a new EP to wrap up his project with Burnett. "Well, we're doing it because this year I'm only doing 12 gigs," he said. "I've got the records going, with Universal, and I've got the best-of going. And I've got this idea for doing some other tracks and maybe an EP and will put that out as well." Asked if he can provide any further details about what to expect from the EP, he replied: "The idea is just getting the songs and putting 'em together and seeing how it works." - Music-News.com, 4/29/26...... The Rolling Stones have seemingly confirmed that the title for their upcoming album will be Foreign Tongues after a series of cryptic billboards that feature the iconic Stones logo and the same phrase repeated in various languages have popped up across the globe. It comes shortly after they shared their new vinyl-only single, "Rough & Twisted," under the moniker The Cockroaches earlier in April. In a similar fashion to the recent run of billboards, the band prompted rumours of their return after cryptic posters emerged across London. Fans have already drawn a link between the two, given the lyrics for the latest single feature the line: "Why don't you teach me/ Teach me all those foreign tongues?" The single serves as the first taste of the new album, which is slated for release in July. It'll be the band's first full-length effort since 2023's Grammy-winning Hackney Diamonds. The band's latest posters in such cities as Manchester, UK, and Warsaw, Poland, can be viewed on Rolling Stone magazine has announced that it will host its first-ever festival on July 4 in Kingston, N.Y., with headliners including Noah Kahan, Gigi Perez, Sydney Rose, Devon Gilfilian and more. The boutique event, dubbed Stateside, will "channel the timeless spirit of Americana with music, hot dogs, fireworks, an artisan market and local food vendors" and take place on Independence Day at Hutton Brickyards' 4,000-capacity riverfront property, according to a press release. The show will be headlined by Kahan, who just released his fourth studio album, The Great Divide, and feature a whole day of pop, rock, indie, folk and country performers including Gigi Perez, Sydney Rose, Arcy Drive, Bo Staloch, Devol Gilfillian, Derby, Calder Allen and Michaela Anne. After a day of music, the night will end with a firework display following Kahan's set. The Stateside Festival poster can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 4/27/26...... David Lee Roth made a surprise appearance at the Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, Calif., on Apr. 25, joining Teddy Swims onstage for a performance of "Jump," Van Halen's 1984 single. During their set, Swims brought Roth onstage after performing his recent single "Mr. Know It All" and "Some Things I'll Never Know," both from his debut studio album I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), released in Sept. 2023. The recent performance took place amid a turbulent evening at this year's Stagecoach, where high winds earlier in the night had forced a temporary evacuation of the festival grounds and prompted a series of schedule changes, including the removal of several artists, including Journey and Riley Green, from the lineup. The evacuation was triggered by high winds that intensified across Indio's Empire Polo Club. An "emergency evacuation" message appeared on screens across the site, instructing attendees to "move quickly and calmly to the nearest exit," while alerts sent via the festival's official app directed festivalgoers to leave the area. Despite the weather, Swims' set went ahead, with Roth's appearance providing one of the night's most high-profile moments as fans gathered following the festival's reopening. Stagecoach, one of the largest country music festivals in the United States, is held annually at the same site as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and draws tens of thousands of attendees each year. - Billboard, 4/27/26...... Even though he died in 2009, Michael Jackson-mania is still in full force as the new MJ biopic Michael earned a record-breaking $97 million domestic opening and a global launch of $217.4 million after opening on Apr. 24. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Antoine Fuqua-directed film delivered the biggest opening ever for a music biopic, surpassing Universal's rap doc Straight Outta Compton, which debuted to $60.1 million in 2015. Fox's Queen/Freddie Mercury film Bohemian Rhapsody opened to $51 million in 2018, ranking as the second-biggest debut for a music biopic. Michael now also holds the biggest domestic opening of all time for a biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer ($80 million), not adjusted for inflation, according to THR. Michael grossed $38.5 million domestically on opening day and was off to a strong start overseas, with an international launch in the $114 million range, THR reports. "This record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team of producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, an amazing cast led by Jaafar Jackson's singular performance, our world-class partners at Universal, the cooperation and support of the Michael Jackson Estate, and our tireless and exceptionally talented Lionsgate team," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement. "Above all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office. If you give audiences what they want, they will come." Michael, which charts the superstar's rise from fronting The Jackson 5 in the 1970s to launching a solo career that reached historic heights, is the first installment of a planned two-part biopic, with the the second installment possibly starting to shoot as early as this year. Meanwhile, in the spirit of fans acting out the iconic 1975 comedy The Rocky Horror Picture show, a new dance trend is taking place at screenings of Michael, which is annoying some cinema-goers. Many have taken to social media to hit out at those wanting to dance at the theater instead of watching the film. "I was thinking about going to see Michael tomorrow in the theater, but stuff like this makes me want to watch it at home instead," one person wrote, sharing footage on X/Twitter of a fan performing one of Jackson's routines beneath the screen. "If I pay to see a MOVIE, I don't want to see anyone else dancing other than Michael." "There's a difference between enjoying the moment and disrupting everyone else's experience," another agreed, while a third added: "I don't want to see anything like it. As a paying customer I'd prefer to watch the movie I paid to see and not some narcissistic attention whore trying to create a viral moment." However some movie patrons have described it as "one of the best movie-going experiences" they've had. They argue that the trend simply shows people enjoying his music and adding to an electric atmosphere in the cinema. "You have zero sense of fun or humour. You have zero energy. You are all Karens now and you suck," one person shared, defending the trend, and another praised it as making the cinema feel like "a live concert" and "a full-blown MJ revival." "Michael Jackson made music so ppl can dance to it," another person chimed in on X, and someone else described it as "magical." - Billboard/NME, 4/26/26...... Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s girl group The Ronettes, died on Apr. 26 at the age of 80. Her passing was announced by her daughter, Nedra K Ross, in a Facebook post. "At approximately 8:30 this morning, our mother, Nedra Talley Ross, went home to be with the Lord," she wrote. "She was safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved. Thank you, Lord." Ms. Talley Ross, Estelle Bennett and Ronnie Spector rose to prominence while working with Ronnie's husband, legendary record producer Phil Spector, in 1963. Together, The Ronettes recorded songs including "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You" and "Walking in the Rain." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. A tribute posted on the group's official Instagram page noted, "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Nedra Talley Ross' passing. She was a light to those who knew and loved her... [The Ronnettes'] voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group's story and their defining influence will live forever. Rest peacefully dear Nedra. Thanks for the magic." Estelle Bennett died in 2009 at age 67 due to colon cancer. Her sister, Veronica Bennett, known as Ronnie Spector after marrying Phil Spector in 1968, died in January 2022 at age 78 after a battle with cancer. - Music-News.com, 4/28/26...... Tony Wilson, the bassist, songwriter and co-founder of the '70s British disco/soul troupe Hot Chocolate, died on Apr. 24 in his native Trinidad of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 78. Wilson's daughter shared the news in an emotional Facebook post, writing that her father "left us today, April 24th 2026," and adding that he "left a lot of music behind forever and ever." She described their final conversations as deeply meaningful, saying he had recently asked for prayers and expressed a sense of peace about his passing, writing "The peace that I have is knowing that his soul escaped. He is in and at peace." Born in Trinidad, Wilson moved to the UK as a young man and began pursuing music in the early 1960s, first as a solo act in 1964, when he released his debut single "Yes I Do" on Decca Records. His life changed in 1969 when he teamed up with vocalist Errol Brown to form Hot Chocolate. The band went on to break new ground for Black British artists on the US charts, carving out a distinctive place in pop and soul history. Hot Chocolate scored global success with a string of hits between 1975-78, most famously the 1975 classic "You Sexy Thing" (#3, US), which Wilson co-wrote. The track became a defining anthem of the decade and remains one of the most recognizable songs in British pop culture. Other hits include "Emma" (#8, US), "Disco Queen" (#28, US), "So You Win Again" (#31, US), and "Every 1's A Winner" (#6, US). Wilson departed Hot Chocolate in 1975, releasing two albums, I Like Your Style and Catch One. - Music-News.com, 4/28/26...... In the midst of Cher's decision to file for conservatorship of her son Elijah Blue Allman, 49, on Apr. 16 amid his addiction, mental health and legal issues, it's been revealed that Elijah is the father of a 15-year-old girl named Ever, whom Cher, 79, learned of only in June 2025. The girl's mother, Kayti Edwards, 49, who is the step-granddaughter of actress Julie Andrews, 90, via her late husband Blake Edwards, told the UK tabloid The Sun that first-time grandmother Cher is "really trying" to build a bond with Ever, and they both spent the night at Cher's hom in September. Edwards said Elijah -- who is currently in custody in a New Hampshire psychiatric hospital -- "wanted to see [Ever] and have a relationship with her, but he wasn't in any fit state." - People, 5/4/26...... Controversial outlaw country music singer/songwriter David Allan Coe, best known for his '70s songs "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" and "Longhaired Redneck" as well as the '80s tracks "The Ride" and "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," died on Apr. 29, his widow Kimberly confirmed to Rolling Stone. He was 86. "One of the best singers, songwriters, and performers of our time (and) never to be forgotten," she wrote to the outlet. "My husband, my friend, my confidant and my life for many years. I'll never forget him and I don't want anyone else to ever forget him either." Mr. Coe also composed hits for several other artists, including "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" for Tanya Tucker and "Take This Job and Shove It," popularized by Johnny Paycheck. The latter earned Mr. Coe a Grammy nomination. Over the course of his career, the musician released over 40 albums, including the controversial LP's Nothing Sacred and Underground Album in the late '70s and '80s. While he had used racist language before, Mr. Coe sparked outrage over the use of racial slurs, hate speech and homophobic and misogynistic lyrics in those two albums. He denied he was a racist at the time. In addition, the musician also got into legal trouble in the 2010s. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to obstructing America's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from collecting taxes and was ordered to pay nearly $1 million he following year. Mr. Coe was married six times, most recently to Kimberly in 2010. He is survived by his wife and his five children: Tyler, Tanya, Shyanne, Carson and Shelli. - Music-News.com, 4/30/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on April 25th, 2026

A judge has denied Cher's bid to have a conservator placed in charge of the finances of her son, 49-year-old Elijah Blue Allman. Earlier in April, Cher submitted an application to Los Angeles Superior Court to file for conservatorship, with the case stating that Allman "has significantly deteriorated" since 2023. "The proposed conservatee is currently in custody in the State of New Hampshire in a locked psychiatric hospital in an attempt to restore him to competency to face criminal charges in two cases," the filing stated. Now, a Los Angeles County judge has denied the request on Apr. 24, saying she did not see the urgency of the claim and confirming she would reconsider the matter at a second hearing in June. "I certainly understand the concerns of Mr. Allman's friends and family regarding his behaviour," Judge Jessica A. Uzcategui said. "But those concerns do not necessarily equate to a finding that the proposed conservatee lacks capacity or that a probate conservatorship is appropriate. I am going to deny the temporary conservatorship without prejudice." Allman appeared at the hearing remotely from his New Hampshire hospital, speaking only to ask for his attorney to represent him and to thank the judge for her ruling. Allman was reportedly arrested for causing a disturbance at a private school on March 1, while two days later he was arrested again after allegedly breaking into a home in Windham, New Hampshire. Elijah Blue's father, Gregg Allman died in 2017 and Elijah reportedly receives an annual allowance of $120,000 per year from his trust. Cher has in the past claimed that the money is spent primarily on "drugs, expensive hotels and limousine transportation." Elijah Blue later filed an objection to his mother's request, stating that he was not in need of a conservatorship and claiming that Cher would be "unfit to serve." The family then reached a private settlement in 2024, having paused court proceedings to attempt to resolve the matter privately. - New Musical Express, 4/25/26...... An authorized Ramones exhibit will open at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas on July 4, and Rhino Records has announed a series of reissues and remastered, upscaled Ramones videos. To mark the group's 50th anniversary, the Ramones and Rhino Records are launching a year-long celebration that will include the only authorized exhibition dedicated to the seminal punk band. The show organized and curated by the Punk Foundation in collaboration with late guitarist Johnny Ramone's wife Linda Ramone and Ramones Production Inc., will feature the band's music, memorabilia, along with public and member's only performances, artist conversations, interactive experiences, artist-led tours and other events. The museum will also host a 4th of July bash featuring the Ramones tribute band Mama's Boy. In addition, between now and the end of 2026, the band and Rhino will announced a series of physical reissues and releases, as well as tribute performances and newly remastered, upscaled videos for such classics as "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Psycho Therapy," "Rock N' Roll High School," "Sheena is a Punk Rocker," "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)," "We Want the Airwaves," "Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?" and others. - Billboard, 4/24/26...... In other '70s punk news, the 2026 edition of the CBGB Festival in NYC will feature a mix of classic and contemporary punk and new wave acts, topped by former Smiths singer and solo performer Morrissey, as well as punk godmother Patti Smith, Interpol and the Sex Pistols, featuring charter members guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock and drummer Paul Cook, with singer Frank Carter subbing in for original vocalist Johnny Rotten/John Lydon. The event honoring the legendary punk club in New York's East Village that beginning in 1973 was the launching pad for the first wave of American punk acts such as the Ramones, Smiths, Television, Blondie and the Talking Heads, among many others, will take place on Sept. 26 at Under the K Bridge Park in Brooklyn. Also on this year's bill, classic acts Buzzcocks, Bikini Kill, Agnostic Front, Circle Jerks and Haywire, as well as contemporary acts keeping the flame alive such as Upchuck, Militarie Gun, High Vis, Bad Nerves and Panic Shack. A CBGB Festival poster can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 4/22/26...... A legal battle concerning Black Sabbath's early demos has been resolved, with all four original members regaining ownership of the songs they recorded as Earth in 1969. In 2025, it was announced that a compilation of demos recorded by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward in 1969, when they still went by the name Earth, was to be released under the title Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes. The tracks were recorded in Zella Studios in Birmingham, with a new release said to be overseen by Jim Simpson, the band's manager at the time, with an initial release date of July last year. That release did not materialize, and Sharon Osbourne spoke out against the project at the time, issuing a lengthy social media post in which she outlined the Black Sabbath legal position, which disputes the legal ownership of the recordings. "We settled with Jim Simpson and the band now have their demos back," Sharon said in a new interview. "And all four of them own it, which is where it should be. All of that stuff should be theirs. So it all ended well. So, yeah, they own them." Meanwhile, rapper Yungblud celebrated Ozzy and Black Sabbath at a show in Birmingham, UK on Apr. 23. Yungblud treated the crowd in Birmingham to a particularly poignant rendition of his cover of Sabbath's "Changes." In the intro, the video screen showed some fans holding up a sign that read: "Ozzy would be proud." The audience also chanted Osbourne's name. Yungblud performed at Sabbath's final-ever show, held in Birmingham last summer, where he gifted Osbourne a custom-made gold cross. His Birmingham performance of "Changes" can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 4/25/26...... On Apr. 23 a Los Angeles judge dismissed Smokey Robinson's defamation counterclaims against former employees suing the Motown legend for sexual abuse. Judge Kevin C. Brazile ruled there isn't sufficient evidence to hold Robinson's former anonymous housekeepers and their lawyers liable for calling the singer a rapist at a press conference in 2025. However the decision is not a ruling on the veracity of the women's underlying sexual assault allegations; it's focused only on the defamation claims, which are subject to a higher pleading standard due to free speech laws. Robinson still has separate counterclaims pending against the housekeepers for allegedly deleting evidence and stealing from his family. Those claims are moving forward through discovery alongside the women's core sexual assault allegations, with a trial scheduled for 2027. A lawyer for the accusers, John Harris, said in a statement that the ruling "stands as a powerful and unequivocal victory for our clients and for survivors everywhere who refuse to be silenced." The legal battle began in May 2025, when the four unnamed women filed a $50 million lawsuit alleging the 85-year-old artist had sexually abused them between 2007 and 2024. Later on, another female housekeeper and a male car mechanic joined the lawsuit anonymously with additional assault claims. obinson vehemently denied all wrongdoing, saying the "vile, false allegations" were merely "an ugly method of trying to extract money." He countersued the accusers within weeks. The plaintiffs also filed police reports after they sued Robinson, leading the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to open a criminal investigation. No charges have been brought to date. - Billboard, 4/23/26...... Bob Dylan has added a dozen dates to his summer "Rough and Rowdy Ways" 2026 US tour in support of his 39th studio album of the same name on the meandering tour that originally kicked off in Nov. 2021. Among the new cities on the routing for this summer are stops in Cincinnati (7/10), Pittsburgh (7/12), Philadelphia (7/14), Boston (7/16), Gilford, N.H. (7/18), Bridgeport, Conn. (7/19), Queens, N.Y. (7/21) and Richmond, Va. (7/23), as well as Raleigh (7/28) and Wilmington, N.C (7/29)., Atlanta (7/31) and Nashville (8/1). The new shows announced will include opening acts Lucinda Williams and Jimmie Vaughn on most of the dates, with country singer Brittney Spencer and X singer/bassist John Doe's John Doe Folk Trio also joining on select dates. Pre-sale for the new shows is open now on ticketmaster.com/bob-dylan-tickets/. - Billboard, 4/22/26...... A 5-bedroom home in Benton, Ill., where a young George Harrison visited in Sept. 1963 just before he shot to worldwide fame with the Beatles, is up for sale. Harrison made his unassuming trip, when he shopped for records and bought a guitar from local shops, to visit his sister Louise Harrison Caldwell's home at 113 McCann St., about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, and the house had a date with the wrecking ball in 1995. However a group of activists including Louise, who moved away in the late 1960s, stepped in to save it. In the mid-1990s, a state agency bought the five-bedroom bungalow built in 1935 from a subsequent owner with plans to flatten it for parking. Beatles mega-fan Robert Bartel of Springfield, a Beatles author and documentarian, alerted the media and Fab Four loyalists. Local investors repurchased it from the state and opened the "Hard Day's Nite Bed and Breakfast," featuring the couch Harrison traded guitar licks on and stacks of other loaned Beatles memorabilia, including a bevy from Bartel. The bed-and-breakfast closed in 2010. Benton resident Grady Adams has since operated it as regular bed-and-bath apartments but now wants to sell, listing it for $105,000. Brian Calcaterra, Benton's director of economic development, suggested the city draft an ordinance to protect the house from demolition by a new owner, but Benton Mayor Lee Messersmith said the city council has not discussed the matter. Harrison never returned to Benton, though, dying in 2001 at 58. Caldwell was 91 when she died in 2023. Meanwhile, Harrison's ex-wife Pattie Boyd has wondered aloud who will play her in the upcoming Beatles biopics directed by Sam Mendes. Boyd, a model and photographer who was married to the guitarist between 1966 and 1977 before she married Eric Clapton (who wrote the song "Layla" for her), posted on X/Twitter earlier in April: "I wonder who will be cast to play me? That's assuming that I get to feature in any of the movies." Based on responses to Boyd's post, it seems as if one actor seems to be a favorite of many: White Lotus - Season 3 cast member Aimee Lee Wood. Mendes said all four Beatles biopics will be released in Apr. 2028, and that they'll be the "first binge-able theatrical experience." - Associated Press/HuffPost.com, 4/17/26...... In other Beatles-related news, Sean Ono Lennon has defended a famous photograph of his father and mother John Lennon and Yoko Ono with a maid, claiming it was not taken with ironic intent. Taking to X/Twitter on Apr. 22, Sean responded to an image of John and Yoko at one of their well-known "bed-ins," standing by a maid in the process of making their bed. The couple held this particular "bed-in" at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel in Mar. 1969 to protest the Vietnam War. In response to a tweet captioning the photo saying "the irony should not be lost," Sean replied: "There is zero irony in letting a maid do her job. Thinking otherwise is a very goofy take. They were not protesting maid service." He went on to say that "many people don't seem to know what irony is," adding: "Protesting a war while being in a honeymoon suite with maid service is not irony, it is absurdity, or comedy. To be ironic they would have to have protested the war while driving a tank. Now THAT would've been ironic. Thank you." When someone pointed out the irony of the "bed-in" itself being a "spoil of capitalism" -- ironic given John and Yoko's complaints of American capitalism pushing back against communism -- Lennon called the opinion a "boring kind of gotcha." "You could make this same kind of argument for anyone wearing jeans at a war protest. Like 'Omg isn't it ironic you used a sharpie marker to write that anti war sign?!'" he explained. - NME, 2/23/26...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Ringo Starr, who released his 22nd solo album Long Long Road on Apr. 24, has told New Musical Express that he puts his longevity down to simply a "love" of music, and the need to collaborate -- especially with his ongoing supergroup, the All-Starr Band. "I'm a drummer, so you need a few guys around you," Ringo said. "I'd like to go on tour with just me and the drums! [At one point] I thought, 'Now I need all these other guys', and then I thought to put this All-Starr Band together [in 1989]. I had a phone book in those days, and everyone I phoned said yes. "I realized I had to close my book or otherwise there would be 40 people on stage! We got a good band together and I was a little nervous about it as it was the first time. Beyond me and Levon [Helm of The Band] as drummers, I had Jim Keltner, my favourite drummer, up there for security. We had three drummers." After his tour behind the new LP with All-Starrs wraps, Starr says he plans on sitting down with collaborator Bruce Sugar to "write a few more songs," just ahead of an increased spotlight on the Beatles legend thanks to Universal putting together a new "best of" Ringo album, and Sam Mendes' upcoming biopics about each of the Beatles (where Ringo will be played by Saltburn star Barry Keoghan). Starr will embark on a US tour from the end of May throughout the summer, before his annual "Peace & Love" birthday event on July 7. He also features on "Home To Us," a track from Paul McCartney's new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due on May 29. - NME, 4/24/26...... The first reviews for the new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, starring his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson, are in, and critics are apparently not thrilled with the big-screen story of the King of Pop. On Apr. 21, reviews of Michael were allowed to begin on rottentomatoes.com, and the film has a 32% critics score. A score of around 60% is generally considered to be a good rating. The UK critics in particular have not been so kind to the movie, with the BBC calling the film "a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie" and gave it one star, and The Guardian proclaiming that the "clichéd Jackson biopic is bland, bowdlerised and bad," while the Independent dubbed it a "risible biopic" that turns Jacko into "a 20th-century Jesus." But across the pond, the reception was somewhat more favorable, with The Hollywood Reporter writing: "If you're even remotely nostalgic for the time when his songs were ubiquitous on pop charts, at parties and on dance floors worldwide, the movie will be a warm rush of transporting pleasure," it gushed. Also complimentary is USA Today, sharing that, "Jaafar may share his late uncle's megawatt smile, lithe frame and Bambi eyelashes. But his liquid dance moves -- highlighted as he teaches gang members the footwork in the 'Beat It' video -- and soft-spoken cadence are studied to perfection." Meanwhile, Leaving Neverland MJ biopic director Dan Reed has criticized the new MJ biopic, claiming that the musician was "worse than Jeffrey Epstein' -- the notorious late millionaire alleged pedophile. Reed directed the HBO-produced, two-part Leaving Neverland back in 2019, which focused on interviews with Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who alleged that they were sexually abused as children by Jackson. In 2024, Reed slammed the then-upcoming biopic Michael as "startlingly disingenuous," claiming it discredits Robson and Safechuck's experiences with the singer. Now that the film has hit theaters, he's questioned why the new biopic failed to acknowledge the abuse allegations against Jackson. "It says that people don't care that he was a child molester. Literally, people just don't care," Reed said in a new interview with Hollywood Reporter. "I think a lot of people just love his music and turn a deaf ear. And short of having actual video evidence of Michael Jackson engaged in sexual intercourse with a seven-year-old child, I don't know what would be sufficient to change these people's minds. "How can you tell an authentic story about Michael Jackson without ever mentioning the fact that he was seriously accused of being a child molester?" he added. - Music-News.com/NME, 4/22/26...... Kraftwerk have lost one of the longest-running copyright cases in music history over a sample of their song "Metall Auf Metall." The dispute centres around a short excerpt of the 1977 track that was used in the 1997 song "Nur Mir" by German rapper Sabrina Setlur, produced by Moses Pelham and Martin Haas. It began as a domestic German copyright claim in the late '90s, and Kraftwerk members Ralf Hütter and the late Florian Schneider were initially successful in their case that the unlicensed use of their song constituted infringement. However, that ruling was subsequently appealed, overturned and referred on several occasions to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), resulting in a three-decade long legal battle over the regulation of sampling in Europe. A 2019 ruling held that sampling a recognisable section of a recorded song can amount to copyright infringement unless the sample is changed to the point that it becomes no longer identifiable. Now, a ruling on Apr. 14 in the CJEU's court in Luxembourg has ruled that a song can qualify as a "pastiche" if it evokes an existing recording in a recognizable but transformed form, but remains "notably different" from the original and engages in "artistic or creative dialogue" with the original. This represents a defeat for Kraftwerk, as it effectively confirms that Pelham and Haas' use of the sample falls within the "pastiche" category. Kraftwerk's "Multimedia"' UK and Ireland tour is set to kick off in Dublin on May 17 and will take in a total of 17 dates, including three in London's Royal Albert Hall on June 4, 5 and 6. It wraps in Edinburgh on June 9. - NME, 4/21/26...... Ronnie Wood has announced some UK and European headline shows for his 2026 solo tour. The Rolling Stones guitarist confirmed in March that he'd be taking to the stage at the legendary Paradiso in Amsterdam on Sept. 7. He later added a second night at the venue due to demand. Now, he's shared details of two extra gigs in the UK and Germany. Wood will play at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on Aug. 21, before heading to E-Werk in Cologne on Sept. 3. Imelda May is set to appear on stage with Wood and his band at the forthcoming concerts. "I'm looking forward to kickin' ass with my back catalogue and some new songs -- look out London!" Wood said in a statement. Wood will also support Eric Clapton at his huge show at the Sandringham Estate this summer. - NME, 4/21/26...... Alan Osmond, the eldest singing member of the '70s family singing group The Osmonds, died on Apr. 20 in the group's native state of Utah of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 76. The family revealed that Osmond died surrounded by his wife Suzanne and their eight sons. Osmond -- who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987 -- and his nine siblings grew up as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ogden, Ut., getting their start in music singing in their church choir. At age nine, he started a barbershop quartet with brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay Osmond in 1958, with the squeaky clean group quickly picking up gigs at Disneyland in L.A. and frequent guest spots NBC's The Andy Williams Show variety hour from 1962-1967. Alan, referred to as "No. 1" by his younger brothers, took up the mantle as the group's leader, with the family band originally forming as a way to raise money for hearing aids for their hearing impaired older brothers, Virl and Tom Osmond. In 1963, the brothers were joined by younger sibling and future break-out star Donny Osmond, then six-years-old, who made his debut on the Williams show, turning the quartet into a quintet. A few years later, their youngest brother, Jimmy Osmond, joined the band as well. The Osmonds, who were known as "one-take Osmonds" for their efficiency, precision and constant rehearsing, moved on to The Jerry Lewis Show from 1967-1969 and slowly morphed from a vocal group to a pop/rock group, signing to MGM Records and recording at the famed Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama. It was there they recorded their only No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, 1971's Jackson 5-esque bubblegum pop bop "One Bad Apple." The legendarily clean-cut, family-friendly band followed up with the more R&B-leaning, horn-spiked "Yo Yo" (1971, No. 3 on Hot 100), "Down By the Lazy River" (1972, No. 4), the lush ballad "Love Me For a Reason" (1974, No. 10) and the rocking "Crazy Horses" (1972, No. 14), which were among the 13 songs the group landed on the pop charts. Alan married Suzanne Pinegar, a BYU cheerleader, in 1974 and they had eight sons. In 1980, Alan and brother Merrill founded the Stadium of Fire in Provo, Ut., which now regularly hosts one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the country. Alan, who in addition to singing and playing rhythm guitar was also a producer on the ABC variety program Donny & Marie (1976-1979) and a key songwriter and producer of the family band, retired from performing in 1987 following his MS diagnosis. The singer and his family were also key players behind the Children's Miracle Network Telethon, which raised more than $2 billion for children's hospitals in the U.S. He also helped found the One Heart Foundation, which provided support to orphans. Donny Osmond paid tribute to his brother in a loving Instagram post on Apr. 21 that featured one of the earliest black and white pictures of the pair as children. "Even back then, you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me. That's who he was. My protector. My guide. The one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine," Donny wrote. "Alan was our leader in every sense of the word. His tireless work helped build everything we became. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed -- not just to me, but to every member of our family. I owe him more than I can ever fully express. I love you, Alan. Thank you for always being there for me. Till we meet again." - Billboard, 4/21/26...... Dave Mason, the veteran singer-songwriter and guitarist with Traffic and brief Fleetwood Mac member as well as a successful '70s solo artist, died on Apr. 19 at home in Gardnerville, Nev. He was 79. The news was confirmed in a statement from his publicist, who said: "On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason. On Sunday, April 19, the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame inductee, celebrated songwriter, musician, singer and author passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada," the Instagram post reads. "Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved," it added. From a prolific career that saw him play with an extensive range of musical legends, Mason is best remembered for his time with the British psych-rock band Traffic, writing and singing lead vocals on two of their biggest songs, "Hole In My Shoe" and "Feelin' Alright?," the latter becoming a hit for Joe Cocker. He was also behind the hit songs "Only You Know And I Know," which became associated with the band Delaney & Bonnie, and "We Just Disagree," a 1977 solo hit for Mason. During his career, Mason played alongside The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Wings, Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac. Born on May 10, 1946 in Worcester, UK, Mason began playing guitar aged 16, influenced by Buddy Holly, and became a roadie for the Spencer Davis Group in the mid-'60s, where he met Steve Winwood. When Winwood left the band in 1967 and formed Traffic, he hired Mason on guitar and they quickly scored multiple Top Ten hits in the UK. Mason was fired from Traffic in 1968, and he became an in-demand session player, contributing 12-string guitar on Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" and playing the Asian instrument the shehnai on the Stones' "Street Fighting Man." He was also a part of the sessions for Harrison's All Things Must Pass, and after relocating to the US, he toured with Clapton on the Delaney & Bonnie & Friends tour in the early '70s. Mason also released a string of solo albums in the '70s and '80s, including Alone Together, Headkeeper, and It's Like You Never Left as well as a full-length collaboration with the Mamas & The Papas' Cass Elliot, and he also played guitar on Paul McCartney and Wings' 1975 hit "Listen To What The Man Says," and teamed up with Michael Jackson on "Save Me" in 1980. He later joined Fleetwood Mac in 1993, playing on their album Time two years later, and he would rejoin Traffic a number of times, including for their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. In late 2025, Mason announced his retirement from touring on Instagram, citing health challenges, and "closing the curtain on 60 remarkable years of rock n' roll and marking the end of a significant era in music history." "He retires from touring a happy man with a heart full of gratitude to his band members, business colleagues, and especially his legions of fans who made his life one of deep satisfaction and fulfilment," the statement read. "The immensity of his joy remains solid as he steps back from the stage." He is survived by his wife Winifed Wilson, his daughter Danielle, nephew John Leonard and niece Michelle Leonard. - NME, 4/22/26.