Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on July 4th, 2026

As rumored, Stevie Nicks was among the performers during the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 3. Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, who attended the wedding with her GMA colleagues, confirmed Nicks' performance the following morning on GMA. Swift also took part in a soundcheck with Nicks at Madison Square Garden earlier Friday, according to The New York Times. It was unclear which songs Nicks performed during the ceremony or whether Swift joined the iconic singer onstage. Swift and Nicks have shared a close friendship for years, performing together at the 2010 Grammy Awards, and Nicks later contributed a poem titled "For T-- and me" to Swift's The Tortured Poets Department album. Swift also referenced Nicks on "Clara Bow," the closing track on the standard edition of her 2024 album. Meanwhile, Dolly Parton is expressing her gratitude to Swift and Kelce for the couple's generous pre-wedding donation of $2 million to Parton's Imagination Library, a literacy program that provides free books to children. The couple donated a total of $26 million to charities across the U.S., including the Grammy Museum Foundation, New York Cares, Harvesters in Kansas City, and Parton's Imagination Library. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude," Parton said in part in an Instagram post. "So, hey, when you have your first born, can I have it? Because that is gonna be one special baby!," she added. - Billboard, 7/4/26...... Elton John has reportedly landed a hologram residency in Las Vegas with "more advanced" technology than the ABBA-themed project ABBA Voyage. John, 79, stepped away from touring in 2023 but is now believed to have landed a mega-money deal for the show at the brand-new Hard Rock Hotel opening in Las Vegas in 2027. Not only will it feature the "Tiny Dancer" hitmaker in hologram form, but avatars of his past collaborators Dua Lipa and Kiki Dee will duet with Sir Elton. "It's similar to the ABBA Voyage show in London, but far more advanced as the technology has come on so much," a source told the U.K. paper The Sun's "Bizarre" column. "It's going to look phenomenal." Despite scaling back his live performances, Elton shows no signs of slowing down completely. The rock superstar recently revealed he quietly completed a brand-new album -- and it only exists because his eyesight troubles forced him to rebuild his entire creative process from scratch. While accepting the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize at the Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto in May, he explained that his eye condition made his usual lyric-first method impossible. "I've had eye trouble recently and I always make records by looking at lyrics and writing to lyrics, and so I'm kind of f----- at the moment," he told the audience. - Music-News.com, 7/1/26...... Rush have teamed up with Fantoons -- the L.A.-based animation studio that has created Rush-themed puzzles, mugs, cereal boxes and bass pickguards over the past decade -- for a special-edition T-shirt benefiting the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24. The two massive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes which struck less than a minute apart, have claimed more than 2,200 lives and left 11,000 injured, with thousands of citizens still unaccounted for. "In the rawest hour, asking for help, the band answered the way they always have: without hesitation, with open hands and open hearts, collaborating on this one-of-a-kind shirt that will change lives," Venezuelan Fantoons director David Calcano said in an Instagram statement. All profits from the colorful, limited-edition shirt featuring the group's iconic Starman logo will go to Hogar Bambi, an organization that has provided shelter for Venezuela's orphaned and abandoned children for more than three decades. The charity is now working to provide food, medicine and shelter for the youngest victims of the disaster. The T-shirt news comes after Rush was forced to postpone two Texas shows on June 30 and July 2 at Dixies Arena in Fort Worth due to singer/bassist Geddy Lee's health. "We are deeply sorry to share that we must postpone our June 30 and July 2 shows," the band posted on Facebook. "Geddy has been diagnosed with laryngitis and bronchitis. After being evaluated by his doctors, he has been advised that he needs additional time to rest and recover before returning to the stage," it added. As a result, the show originally scheduled for June 30 has been pushed back to July 11, while the July 2 gig will now take place on July 13, with tickets for both shows to be honored on the new dates; fans who cannot attend the rescheduled shows can get refunds at point of purchase. Following next week's rescheduled Fort Worth shows, the group is slated to move on to a four-night stand at the United Center in Chicago on July 16, 18, 20 and 22. The reunion tour is currently scheduled to wrap up with an April 10, 2027 gig in Helsinki, Finland. - Billboard, 7/2/26...... David Bowie's archive at London's V&A East Storehouse is set to go on tour across the UK. The David Bowie Centre opened at the new working store and visitor attraction at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford last autumn. It comprises over 90,000 of the late star's possessions, as well as curated exhibitions of objects by Bowie collaborator Nile Rodgers and super-fans The Last Dinner Party. On July 1, organizers announced that a new national tour will bring highlights from the V&A's Bowie archive to venues across the UK over multiple years. More than 100 pieces from the collection are to go on show in Dundee, Blackpool, Hull, County Durham, Bristol and beyond for "David Bowie: On Tour," The trek will give fans the only opportunity to see such a range of items from the icon's personal archive up close, outside of London's V&A East Storehouse. Visitors can expect a "rare glimpse into David Bowie's creative process and how he shaped his iconic image, music, video, TV and film work", per a press release. Highlights include Bowie's legendary costumes, musical instruments, career-spanning photography, and some never-before-seen items such as Polaroids for make-up and costume fittings. Next up, the archive will head to Showtown in Blackpool (June to Sept. 2027), the Bowes Museum in County Durham (Oct. 2027 to Jan. 2028), the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull (Feb. to May 2028), and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (June to Sept. 2028). Further venues are to be announced in due course, according to organisers. - New Musical Express, 7/1/26...... Bob Dylan guitarist Bob Britt has spoken out about his recent departure from Dylan's live backing band. Over the last weekend in June, Britt was reported to have left the touring line-up after he shared a brief social media post that was later deleted. He had played with Dylan since 2019, and been a regular fixture during the "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour. Britt has now shared an update on the situation via Facebook, confirming that he was "not fired" by Dylan. "Apparently there are quite a few threads out there with people speculating about my departure from the Bob tour. I'd like to clear it up," he began. "I was not fired but left of my own accord for reasons I would prefer to keep private. I will miss my band mates and crew." Britt continued, saying he was "looking forward to getting back to doing sessions (give me a call)". He then hinted that a return to live performing could be on the cards at some point, adding: "As far as any touring goes, we will see what the future holds." Dylan has since enlisted Chicago-based jazz and blues musician Joel Paterson as his sole guitarist, after Britt's original replacement, acclaimed jazz guitarist Julian Lage, is said to have stepped back due to scheduling conflicts. Paterson played his first show with Dylan and co. in Austin, Tex. on June 29. Dylan's current trek is set to wrap in Nashville on Aug. 1. - NME, 7/1/26...... Jermaine Jackson is getting another chance at defending himself against claims that he raped a session musician coordinator in 1988. The Jackson 5 member, who has also had a prolific solo career with hits like "Daddy's Home", "Let's Get Serious" and "Do What You Do," was sued for sexual assault and battery in 2023. Jackson did not respond to the claims for more than two years, leading a Los Angeles judge to award a $6.5 million default judgment to accuser Rita Butler Barrett in June. It was at this point that Jackson finally appeared in court, flatly denying the rape allegations and saying he was unaware of the case until reading media reports about the default judgment. Jermaine, who lives in Bahrain, argued that he did not receive legal papers served at his mother's Encino home or via notices in the Los Angeles Times. He also noted that he changed his name to "Jermaine Jacksun" in 2013, meaning he was sued under the wrong legal name. Judge Elaine W. Mandel credited these arguments in her June 30 order, which wiped the $6.5 million judgment and restarted the litigation process. Jackson will now get another opportunity to file legal papers responding to Barrett's lawsuit, which alleges he showed up at her Los Angeles-area home unannounced in the spring of 1988, forced his way through the door and violently raped her. A music contractor who worked with Jackson in the late 1980s, Barrett brought the case under a one-year legislative window that lifted the statute of limitations for certain sexual assault claims. "Jermaine is adamant that he did not rape the plaintiff," said his lawyer, Bret Lewis, in a statement to Billboard. "I would add that the alleged conduct is not characteristic of the Jermaine Jackson/sun that I have known for years as his long-time attorney. We intend to vigorously defend these allegations." In other Jackson family news, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Human Nature," "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," "Thriller," "Bad" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" are currently dominating Billboard's Top Movie Songs chart for May 2026 on the heels of the release of the MJ biopic Michael in late April. After "Billie Jean" bowed at No. 3 on the April 2026 Top Movie Songs survey, the 1983 tune rules May's list on the strength of 84.2 million official streams and 8,000 downloads sold in the U.S. that month, according to Luminate. Those metrics drove the song, which reigned for seven weeks on the Hot 100 in its time, back onto the weekly chart, rising as high as No. 15 on the May 23 ranking. - Billboard, 6/30/26...... Bruce Springsteen was among the music dignitaries to speak at Clive Davis' funeral on the morning of June 29 at Central Synagogue in New York City. Springsteen shared fond memories of his early days finding his footing in the music industry and how Davis' tutelage shepherded him to stardom. (Springsteen signed to Columbia Records in 1972, where Davis served as president, when he was just 22 years old, and the two have remained close friends for over half a century.) He recalled turning in his Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. debut album, but Davis kicked it back to the rocker after listening and implored him to record songs that could have radio appeal. That same night, Springsteen recalled, he wrote "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night," both of which went on to be singles from his debut and catalog-defining tracks. "Two songs that totally changed the profile and perception of that album," he said. "Clive then filmed himself reciting the lyrics to 'Blinded by the Light' like it was some New Jersey Shakespeare." "Clive was big and bombastic and brave and full of ideas and just believed, believed, believed. He dressed like a king. He was born to run everything," the rocker playfully continued. He added that Davis never missed a New York performance of his for the rest of his career, even attending his tour stop in Newark, N.J., earlier this year, which saw Davis standing up for the entire show. Clive Davis passed away at 94 on June 22 while surrounded by family at his New York home. A private burial followed on June 29. Springsteen concluded his remembrance: "Nothing but love, Clive, thank you." - Billboard, 6/29/26...... Lionel Richie returned to the stage in Pittsburgh on June 30 a week after postponing dates on his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire due to an unexplained illness. On June 24, Richie cut short his June 24 show in St. Paul, Minn., due to what was described at the time as an unexpected dizzy spell on the opening night. "I had you worried there for a minute, huh?" he joked during the show. "You have no idea what I have been through in the last 24 hours, listening to my friends tell me their advice on what I should be doing." While Richie has not made a statement about his condition or diagnosis, after doctor-ordered rest, the 77-year-old singer appeared to be in fine form in fan-posted footage of him performing his 1984 No. 3 hit "Stuck On You" and his 1977 Commodores No. 4 hit "Easy." Richie's 26-date joint tour with the "Shining Star" hitmakers -- their third batch of shows together after earlier runs in 2023 and 2024 -- is slated to run through an Aug. 14 stop in Austin, Tex. - Billboard, 7/1/26...... The B-52's set at Frances's Retro C Trop music festival on June 27 was cancelled just minutes before a violent storm hit the area. "We are so sorry to everyone who came out to Chateau de Tilloloy yesterday," the band shared in a Facebook post after their slot on June 27 got cancelled. "The storm made it impossible to continue, and the safety of our fans and everyone on site had to come first," they continued. "A huge thank you to our touring crew for their work and care in keeping everyone as safe as possible throughout an incredibly dangerous situation. We hope everyone got home safely." The band also hit out at promoter who they claimed knew that a "dangerous storm was brewing." The festival, which described the storm as a tornado, later announced that they would be cancelling its final day the next day following the evacuation from the night prior. B-52's frontman Fred Schneider detailed the effect the chaotic weather had on the day in a lengthy post on his personal Facebook account, describing it as a "total disaster." "We felt terrible for the fans that have waited in the heat all day for us to perform. And then get very little warning to no warning from the promoter that it wasn't safe to stay out and make our way to the stage, there was lightning striking the band before our set," he posted. - NME, 6/29/26...... Authorities in the U.K. have charged disgraced British glam rock star Gary Glitter with additional counts of child sexual abuse in the country. Glitter, 82, (real name Paul Gadd) has repeatedly been convicted of pedophilia and is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in England for sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s. On July 2, London's Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service accused him of abusing a fourth girl under the age of 13 during that same period at a home in Kensington. "This follows allegations made by a woman relating to a period of alleged abuse that took place between 1978 and 1981," said lead prosecutor Bethan David in a public announcement. "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to do so." Glitter is charged in this new case with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and three counts of indecent assault. Police say the victim reported the alleged crimes in Jan. 2025 and that Glitter was interviewed as part of their lengthy investigation before charges were filed. Glitter, currently incarcerated at Channings Wood Prison in Devon, England, has been ordered to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court to address the charges on Aug. 5. - Billboard, 7/2/26...... Victor Willis, the longtime lead singer and frontman of costumed disco group the Village People and cowriter of such indelible dance anthems as "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man," died on June 30 following a brief illness, according to a post on the group's Facebook page. He was 74. "We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People," the post reads. "Victor passed on Tuesday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested." Willis' wife, Karen-Huff Willis, posted a similar message on her husband's FB page. Willis, who performed as both a police officer and naval officer in the group whose members were known for their colorful stage attire and fit physiques, was born on July 1, 1951, in Dallas, Tex., growing up in San Francisco's notoriously funky Haight-Ashbury district and singing gospel in his Baptist minister father's church as a young man before pivoting to soul music with his high school band. He used his acting and dance training at Antioch College to transition to musicals after a move to New York, where he joined the Negro Ensemble Company and appeared in the original Broadway production of "The Wiz" in 1976. His life changed in 1977 when French music producer Jacques Morali and his Can't Stop Productions partner Henri Belolo put out a call for background singers to lend a hand on an album by their group the Ritchie Family. Arranger/conductor Horace Ott suggested Willis, who was then tapped by the Can't Stop team to front a new kind of group they were putting together. Taking inspiration for the name from Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood, the producers quickly pulled together a backing band to make an appearance with Willis on American Bandstand. After the original lineup -- pretend cop Willis, Felipe Rose (American Indian), Alex Briley (soldier), Lee Mouton (biker), Mark Mussler (construction worker), David Forrest (cowboy) and brief, early non-costumed member Peter Whitehead -- made a splash on the show, the producers posted a recruitment ad that read "macho types wanted: must dance and have a mustache." They also leaned into what became the group's signature gimmick: job-related costumes for each man, with the original lineup shuffled to include Glenn Hughes (leather daddy), David Hodo (construction worker) and Randy Jones (cowboy). Formed at the peak of the disco revolution, the gay-coded group quickly became dance floor icons thanks to such booming anthems as the Willis cowritten "Macho Man" from their 1978 album of the same name, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Leaning further into the are-they-or-aren't-they nature of the group, the title of the band's third album, 1978's Cruisin', was either an homage to hopping in the car for a drive or a not-at-all-subtle reference to the gay slang term for searching around for casual sex. That album spawned yet another huge hit with "Y.M.C.A.," another Willis cowrite that hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 in early 1979 before going on to be one of the group's most successful and beloved singles. The Grammy Hall of Fame track with its signature hand jive motions has since become a staple at parties and sporting events, as well as being one of Pres. Donald Trump's favorite songs, one he frequently gyrates to during public appearances. Willis, who was straight, steadfastly denied that he wrote "Y.M.C.A." to be a "gay anthem," despite the double-entendre lyrics that appeared to suggest otherwise. "Young man, there's a place you can go, I said/ Young man, when you're short on your dough/ You can stay there and I'm sure you will find/ Many ways to have a good time," he sings on the tune. Willis left the group in 1979 amid the production for their disastrous movie musical Can't Stop the Music, and was replaced by the band's former tour backup singer, Ray Simpson. With disco's popularity at a nadir amid the rise of new wave, the group's 1981 album, Renaissance, which had them adopting the makeup and new romantic look of the day, was a flop. Willis briefly came back into the fold for 1981's equally unimpressive eighth album, Fox on the Box, which was later released in the U.S. in 1983 as In the Street. By 1983, Willis took leave again as the band underwent another in a rolling series of lineup changes and he began a decades long battle over copyright issues. After leaving the group, Willis would not perform Village People songs and did not record new music, though a 1979 solo album, Solo Man, was finally released in Aug. 2015. Willis, who entered the Betty Ford Clinic in 2007 following years of substance abuse, rejoined the group yet again in 2017 after a 2015 out-of-court settlement that gave him 50% ownership of some of the group's biggest hits. He appeared on the 2018 Christmas album, A Village People Christmas and performed with them at several events tied to Trump's second inauguration in Jan. 2025. - Billboard, 7/1/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on June 29th, 2026

Two longtime guitarists in Bob Dylan's live band have seemingly stepped away from the rock legend's ongoing "Rough and Rowdy Ways" tour. Acoustic guitarist Bob Britt was reported to have left the band after sharing a brief post social media that was later deleted. According to screenshots circulated by Dylan fans on Reddit.com, Britt posted "Sayonara Bobby" alongside an image showing a flight route from Austin, Tex., to Nashville during a day off from the tour. In a later comment, he reportedly wrote: "I quit." Britt has played with Dylan since 2019, and has been a regular presence during during his current tour. Britt's departure follows another recent change in Dylan's band, after electric guitarist Doug Lancio was recently replaced on stage by acclaimed jazz guitarist Julian Lage. Lancio, who had been part of Dylan's touring band since 2021, was absent from Dylan's June 17 show at the Santa Barbara Bowl. A reviewer for the Los Angeles Times noted that Lage had replaced Lancio onstage, although it remains unclear whether he is filling in temporarily or joining the line-up more permanently. Dylan's current US run is due to continue on June 29) at Moody Amphitheater in Austin, Tex., before wrapping in Nashville on Aug. 1. Dylan has dusted off several rarely performed live cuts lately on the tour, including "I Shall Be Released" and "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." - New Musical Express, 6/28/26...... The huge personal record collection of Tom Verlaine, the late frontman of the acclaimed '70s punk band Television, has gone on sale. Verlaine passed away in Jan. 2023 at the age of 73, and now his extensive archive of 4,000 vinyl records is being made available to the public, offering fans a glimpse into the music taste of the trailblazing New York band. The collection spans jazz, avant-garde, garage rock, psychedelia and experimental, and includes Verlaine's personal copies of Television's debut single "Little Johnny Jewel" and their landmark 1977 debut album Marquee Moon, alongside records by The 13th Floor Elevators, Nico, Albert Ayler, The Sonics, Love and Slint. The first batch of records became available through Discogs.com on June 26, with further titles set to be sold in person at Academy Records' Banker Street location in Brooklyn on July 10 and 11. Any remaining records will then return to Discogs on July 31. Purchases made through Discogs will include a certificate of authenticity confirming that the record came from Verlaine's personal collection. The collection can be checked out on Discogs.com. Television were one of the defining bands of the 1970s New York punk scene, emerging from CBGB alongside the likes of Smith, Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads. Their debut album Marquee Moon is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitar records of the era. Television released just one more album during their original run, 1978's Adventure, before splitting that year. They later reformed in 1992 for a self-titled third album and continued to tour intermittently in the decades that followed. - NME, 6/28/26...... In related news, Mick Jagger has named some of his favorite Rolling Stones albums and songs in a new interview with Today as he promotes the band's upcoming album Foreign Tongues. Asked if he had a favorite Stones album, Jagger replied: "I think Sticky Fingers is really good. I think Beggars Banquet is really good. I think Hackney Diamonds is pretty good, too." When asked if he had one favorite Rolling Stones song, Jagger answered: "I mean, there's so many different styles," he said. "You're running the gamut of 'Sympathy For The Devil', you know, 'Start Me Up', 'Angie', 'Honky Tonk Women'." The Stones are now preparing to release Foreign Tongues, their 25th studio album, on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. The 14-track record has been produced by Andrew Watt, who also worked on Hackney Diamonds. The iconic band has recently shared tracks from the new album -- "Divine Intervention" on YouTube, and "Jealous Lover" on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, Jagger has revealed that the idea of a big-screen Rolling Stones biopic "interests" him in a new interview with GQ magazine, although he admitted it would be difficult to decide which period of the band's sprawling 64-year career to focus on. The legendary frontman was asked about the possibility of the band receiving the biopic treatment in the context of Sam Mendes' upcoming four-film Beatles project. "Yeah, it interests me," Jagger replied when asked whether a similar treatment for the Stones would appeal to him. "I don't want to impart it to you, but, I know how I see it," he continued. "There's lots of ways of doing biopics. So most of the time when you do a biopic, you do one small section of someone's life bookended by some other stuff." Jagger then pointed to the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, which starred Timothée Chalamet and focused on Dylan's early years in New York and his controversial move from folk to electric music. "Take the Bob Dylan movie," Jagger said. "You do the moment when Bob went electric. You'd have to think, what are you going to zero in on? And where's your two years of interest? I mean that Bob Dylan one was two years, [the] James Brown one that I produced was slightly more." Asked which section of the Stones' history he would choose, Jagger added: "I don't know which section, because it's a long period." - NME, 6/28/26...... The estate of late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Leonard Cohen has decried the use of the singer-songwriter's classic track "Hallelujah" during Pres. Donald Trump's rally kicking off the "Great American State Fair" in Washington, D.C. on June 24 celebrating the U.S.'s 250th anniversary. During the event, Long Island opera singer Christopher Macchio joined forces with the Marine Band's Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear to perform the oft-covered 1984 song. Ahead of the rally, Cohen's estate posted its objection to the planned use of song, which was still used at the rally. "The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song 'Hallelujah' is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24," a statement posted to Cohen's Instagram account reads. "This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage." The statement ends with a tongue-in-cheek nod to one of the president's favorite social media sign-offs, simply stating: "Thank you for your attention to this matter." According to the Recording Industry Association of America, "Hallelujah" has been performed by more than 300 singers across multiple languages and decades, including high-profile versions by Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Pentatonix and the Shrek soundtrack. Before Cohen's 2016 death, he had reacted to the song's multitude of covers in a 2009 interview with The Guardian, saying, "I was reading a review of a movie called Watchmen that uses it, and the reviewer said, 'Can we please have a moratorium on "Hallelujah" in movies and television shows?' and I kind of feel the same way. I think it's a good song, but too many people sing it." - Billboard, 6/24/26...... Lionel Richie has postponed his next two concerts after cutting the opening night of his co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire short after suffering a dizzy spell on stage in Minnesota earlier in June. Richie, 77, told the crowd he needed to sit down while performing because he felt dizzy. He forged ahead with singing "Dancing on the Ceiling," then left the stage for an intermission. Nevertheless, Lionel took the opportunity to joke to the crowd. "When you're feeling dizzy, sit your ass down," he said. Less than an hour later, saxophone player Dino Soldo told the crowd that the show was canceled because Lionel was "not feeling well," according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. On June 25, Live Nation Chicago posted on Instagram that the former Commodores member and '80s solo superstar's back-to-back performances in Chicago on June 26 and Columbus, Oh., on June 27 had been pushed back "under advisement by doctors to rest and return to full health." "Lionel is heartbroken to postpone these two shows and cannot wait to be back performing for his fans," it reads. "We apologize for any inconvenience this causes fans who have tickets for these two shows. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon." His concert on June 30 in Pittsburgh is still expected to go on as planned. - Billboard, 6/26/26...... Billy Joel's 1974 breakthrough hit "Piano Man" has topped Billboard's Top TV Songs chart after a synch in the eighth episode of Amazon Prime Video's The Boys' fifth season which was also its series finale. In a scene that helped conclude the show's seven-year run, "Piano Man" racked up 19.1 million official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads in May 2026 en route to its No. 1 bow on the TV Songs chart, according to Luminate. Other '70s songs making the chart include Bill Withers' "Lovely Day" from Netflix's The Boroughs (No. 3), Bob Seger's "Night Moves" also from The Boroughs (No. 5), and Steely Dan's "Do It Again" from HBO's Euphoria (No. 6). - Billboard, 6/25/26...... As tension builds for the rumoured anxiously-awaited imminent marriage of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in early July, Stevie Nicks is said to be among the performers during the ceremony for the worldwide pop superstar and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. Swift was also recently spotted celebrating the New York Knicks' recent victory with the HAIM sisters, notably while wearing a shirt that read "Stevie Nicks," which many have taken as an Easter egg about her upcoming nuptials. Now, reports from Page Six and Rolling Stone have seen multiple sources claim that not only will Nicks be in attendance, but will be performing at the ceremony. The pair's friendship is well-documented, with Swift saying she was "very lucky to have the guidance of Nicks last year." The two also went on a celebratory night in Dublin after Swift wrapped a three-show run in the city on her "Eras Tour" trek in 2024, and, the same night that they were pictured at the Hacienda bar, Nicks was seen looking visibly emotional at Swift's concert after she performed the Midnights track "You're On Your Own, Kid." The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman previously thanked the singer-songwriter for penning the song, because it captured how she felt about losing her bandmate Christine McVie. Wedding plans have so far been shrouded in secrecy, but further details emerged this week with a New York Times report that revealed a permit had been filed with New York City to close the streets around Madison Square Garden for an event on July 3, which points further towards the city's arena as the chosen venue. The Times additionally reported that festivities will kick off on July 2 with "an intimate gathering of about 100 people followed by a larger event that will include "about 1,000 guests the next day." Before those reports appeared to confirm the date, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to have let it slip that the ceremony would be held in the city in early July. - NME, 6/28/26...... Billy Idol and his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens were inducted into the Hollywood Rockwalk on June 23 during a ceremony at Guitar Center's flagship Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard. The ceremony was hosted by legendary radio personality Richard Blade, and Idol and Stevens commemorated the occasion with a handprint ceremony outside the store. They joined more than 150 artists and innovators who have been honored by the Rockwalk since its founding in 1985, including the likes of Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. Idol, who began his career in the late '70s as a member of Generation X, received a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards on May 25, where he and Stevens performed three of his biggest hits, "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face" and "Dancing With Myself." On Nov. 14, Idol and Stevens will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 6/24/26...... Daryl Hall posted a statement on Instagram on June 23 saying he's "already feeling better" after he underwent a kidney transplant. The Hall & Oates co-founder announced that he had received the kidney from a "living donor." "Hi everybody!" he began. "I thought you should know that I recently received a kidney transplant from a very kind and generous living donor. It happened a couple of weeks ago, and I'm already starting to feel better. It was, according to my doctors, a complete success!" He went on to note that he should be "back to normal" in a few months. "So get ready for more music and lots of Daryl's House shows. You all take care!" the 79-year-old added. Back in 2005, Hall was forced to postpone a string of Hall & Oates shows as he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Though Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, Hall and John Oates announced in 2023 that they would no longer perform together due to a legal battle over their publishing rights. The dispute was resolved in August 2025. Hall released his sixth solo album, D, in June 2024. Most recently, he has hosted Live from Daryl's House, an online music series in which the singer-songwriter performs with his band and various guests at his home in Millerton, N.Y. - Music-News.com, 6/24/26...... Rising Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie has joined the line-up for "Bowie: Live On The Loch," the upcoming charity celebration of David Bowie's life and legacy. The event is taking place at Cameron House on the banks of Loch Lomond on Nov. 7 and 8, in aid of Save The Children, and it will mark the 10th anniversary of Bowie's death. The band that backed Bowie during his legendary Glastonbury 2000 headline set -- guitarist Earl Slick, keyboardist Mike Garson, bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, multi-instrumentalist Mark Plati and drummer Sterling Campbell -- are reuniting for a one-off live performance over the weekend. Reflecting on joining the line-up, Beattie said: "Being asked to play with this band is one of the greatest honours of my life. If it wasn't for Bowie, there's no way I'd be a singer or a songwriter." "My dad had a 'magic cupboard' that was filled with vinyl and Bowie was at the forefront of that," he added. "It's an incredible privilege to share the stage with such legends. I just hope I can do the songs justice." - NME, 6/28/26...... Actress Ann Blyth, who drew a 1946 Oscar nomination for her memorable performance as the spoiled, selfish daughter of Joan Crawford's hard-working, devoted title character in the classic film Mildred Pierce, died on June 24 at age 98. The dark beauty was also noted for her roles in prison drama Brute Force (1947), the Mario Lanza vehicle The Great Caruso (1951) and 1957's The Helen Morgan Story with Paul Newman. Ms. Blyth made her single Broadway appearance in the original production of Lillian Hellman's WWII drama "Watch on the Rhine" in 1941-42. She toured with the show in Los Angeles, where she was noticed and given a screen test at Universal. The Mount Kisco, N.Y., native and devout Catholic focused on family after her film career essentially ended in 1957 as well as musical theater, appearing in "The Sound of Music," "The King and I," "Carnival," "Bittersweet," South Pacific," "Show Boat" and "A Little Night Music." She made several appearances on the TV Western Wagon Train in the early 1960s and starred in the "Queen of the Nile" episode of The Twilight Zone in 1964. Later she appeared a couple of times on Quincy, M.E. before her final television appearance on Murder, She Wrote in 1985. - Variety.com, 6/26/26...... David Clayton-Thomas, the Blood, Sweat & Tears lead singer and songwriter behind such hits as "Spinning Wheel, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "And When I Die," died on June 24 at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. He was 84. No cause of death was provided, but the rep said the musician died peacefully and that a memorial benefit concert will soon be held in his honor supporting Peacebuilders Canada, an organization that promotes restorative justice for youth, which he championed for years up until he died. Born in Surrey, England on Sept. 13, 1941, Mr. Clayton-Thomas started out as a soloist who first earned major recognition in Canada for anti-war song "Brainwashed" in 1966. He joined Blood, Sweat & Tears a couple of years later following the departure of former bandleader Al Kooper, and the group entered a period of immense popularity. The group's first album, Child Is Father to the Man, was not a huge hit (only climbing to No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart in June 1968), but it was highly-regarded, receiving a Grammy nomination and voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. BS&T's next two albums, Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969) and Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 (1970) topped the Hot 200, with the former climbing to No. 1 for seven nonconsecutive weeks and the latter heading the charts for two weeks. The band spawned three No. 2 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with Blood, Sweat & Tears 3: "Spinning Wheel," "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "And When I Die." It won a Grammy for album of the year in 1970. A track from the album, "Variations on a Theme by Eric Satie," won Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance, and the album was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. After helping usher several other tracks onto the top 40, including 1970's "Hi-De-Ho" and 1971's "Go Down Gamblin'," the group's popularity began to wane and Mr. Clayton-Thomas briefly left the group in 1972, the same year his self-titled solo album charted on the Billboard Hot 200. A few years later, however, he returned, remaining as a constant in Blood, Sweat & Tears' lineup until 2004, with the act billed as "Blood, Sweat & Tears Featuring David Clayton-Thomas." Mr. Clayton-Thomas would resume his solo work shortly after that, releasing album Aurora in 2005 followed by The Evergreens in 2008, Soul Ballads in 2010, A Blues for the New World in 2013, Combo in 2016, Canadiana in 2016, Mobius in 2018 and Say Somethin' in 2020. He also worked as an A&R rep for several labels, as well as a reporter for TV stations. His accolades include an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, a Juno Award and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He is survived by his daughters, Ashleigh Clayton-Thomas and Christine Graham. He is survived by his daughters, Ashleigh Clayton-Thomas and Christine Graham. - Billboard, 2/25/26.

In a new interview with the UK's Uncut magazine, Keith Richards has suggested that The Rolling Stones may favor residencies over traditional touring because physical demands of travel have become the biggest obstacle to the band performing live. "I don't know if tours are possible," Richards said. "It's the travelling that takes it out of you. But I do see the possibility of us doing residency somewhere. Wherever it is, London, New York, Paris, anywhere. I'll play Rome! But I don't see why they shouldn't be able to throw some shows together in a new format." Richards' comments come after Mick Jagger recently told BBC Radio 2 that he hopes to tour the Stones "as soon as possible" -- though he acknowledged it would not happen this year. The band scrapped plans for a U.K. and European stadium tour in 2026 after Richards was unable to commit to the run. The band's latest and 25th studio album, Foreign Toungues, will drop on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music and feature guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and the band's late drummer Charlie Watts. It includes previously released tracks "Rough and Twisted" and "In the Stars," as well as a cover of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good." Meanwhile, on June 19 the Stones announced the launch of a Speaking in Tongues podcast featuring interviews with Jagger, Richards and guitarist Ronnie Wood. Narrated by Norah Jones, the podcast will feature behind-the-scenes insight into the making of the LP over six episodes, with the band sharing studio techniques, creative influences and their songwriting process. The first episode goes live on June 25, and its trailer can be streamed on Spotify.com. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 6/23/26...... During a concert in West Valley City, Utah on June 19, Rod Stewart was forced to pause after nearly fainting onstage and requiring an oxygen tank. Stewart, 81, appeared visibly unwell and was seen doubling over in discomfort before using an oxygen tank to assist with his breathing, according to TMZ.com. After struggling to finish his hit "Young Turks," Stewart appeared less mobile than usual and leaned against stage equipment before members of his team brought out an oxygen tank, as seen in video footage published by TMZ. The "Maggie May" singer later told the crowd that he had nearly fainted but insisted that the "show must go on." He then jokingly asked, "Would you mind if I sat down for this one?" before continuing the performance and finishing the show seated in a chair. TMZ noted that West Valley City sits at approximately 4,300 feet above sea level, which may have contributed to the incident. In late May, Stewart suggested that his current "One Last Time" farewell tour could mark the end of his large-scale touring career. "I've got 40-odd shows this year and that's not really a lot," Stewart said during a football chat show in the U.K. And I'm touring the U.K. next year and doing the O2 and that will probably be it, I think. I'll have to do something new... come on your show more often." He added that after his remaining dates this year and a planned U.K. run in 2027, he may step away from major touring commitments. Stewart currently has numerous U.S. dates scheduled throughout July and August as part of his "One Last Time" tour. The trek is set to conclude with a show in St. Louis on Aug. 15, then he'll head to Las Vegas for a handful of residency dates. - Billboard, 6/21/26...... Actor Paul Avery and his wife Sheila Avery died in a house fire in their Blairstown, N.J., home early on June 16. Firefighters responded to their home, approximately 80 kilometres west of Newark, and found the couple in critical condition, New Jersey State Police told the Ridgeview Echo, a local news organization founded by the late actor. Upon the troopers' arrival, the residence was fully engulfed in flames," police said in a statement Friday. "Two individuals were in the residence at the time of the fire, and both succumbed to their injuries. The fire remains under investigation, and no additional information is available." They were both treated with CPR, but died shortly after being rescued, police said. The blaze was declared under control around 1 a.m. shortly after firefighters entered the home. The cause is still under investigation. Mr. Avery, 81, began his acting career in the 1970s, playing a TV cameraman in Superman: The Movie in 1978 and Hughie the bartender on All My Children. He remained in the recurring role for a dozen years before his exit from the soap opera. He also made appearances in Tales from the Darkside, Three's Company and Soap. In addition to acting and writing, the former journalist was also a member of the United States National Guard and spent a year serving as a helicopter crew chief in the Vietnam War. - Canoe.com, 6/19/26...... The Jackson 5 members Marlon and Jackie Jackson announced on Instagram on June 22 they are reuniting for a string of U.K. shows later in 2026. The siblings are co-founders of the beloved Motown group -- which also starred their late brother Michael Jackson until 1984 -- and will be taking to the road in "Jackson 5 Live In Concert" for four concerts, kicking off on Nov. 6 in Manchester. Following the performance at the O2 Apollo, the pair will move on to Cardiff's Utilita Arena on Nov. 8, before heading to the Wolverhampton Civic on Nov. 11. The tour will wrap at London's Eventim Apollo on Nov. 13. Marlon and Jackie will be supported on the concerts by London disco band Heatwave, most famous for tracks such as "Boogie Nights" and "Always and Forever." "Jackson 5 Live In Concert" comes amid the huge worldwide success of biopic Michael, which documents the "Thriller" singer's life and stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson, son of J5 member Jermaine Jackson, in the lead role. Speaking recently about seeing Jaafar on the big screen as his late sibling, Marlon recently told People: "Jaafar is unbelievable. As a matter of fact, I think he's the only one that could have done this. I'm watching the movie and sometimes I'm thinking I'm watching Michael up there, and I forget 'Oh, it's Jaafar.'" - Music-News.com, 6/22/26...... It's not as good as catching Paul Simon on the singer-songwriter's "A Quiet Celebration Tour," but it's the next best thing. On June 26, fans can enjoy Simon's brand-new two-hour concert special, Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert, streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Expect deep cuts, new arrangements and timeless hits recorded live at McCaw Hall in Seattle. It's also a story of triumph -- a legendary performer learning the stage again after beginning to experience hearing loss. - AP, 6/24/26...... Actress Anne Schedeen, best known for playing ALF matriarch Kate Tanner on the 1986-1990 NBC sitcom, died on June 14. She was 77. Born in Portland, Ore., in January 1949, Sheeden first tried acting in a local theatre before she moved east to New York to kick-start her professional career in the entertainment industry. She was cast as one of Jack Tripper's (John Ritter) girlfriends in Three's Company, and also had credits in Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, and ER. In 1986, she was cast as Kate Tanner in ALF, which follows the titular alien who landed in the family's garage and moved in. Speaking of her time on the show, she recalled to People magazine: [It was] extremely slow, hot, and tedious. If you had a scene with ALF, it took centuries. A 30-minute show took 20 to 25 hours to shoot. Some of the actors in the cast had difficult personalities. The whole thing was a big, dysfunctional family." In a post on Schedeen's Facebook page, her family penned: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share Annie has passed peacefully. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of creative energy, whip-smart humour, delight in her family, adoration for little dogs, burning hatred for Trump, passion for second-hand thrifting, and love for a good story. We are bereft without her. We loved her so so much, as did all who met her." A cause of death is yet to be revealed. - NZHerald.co.nz, 6/18/26...... Director and television creator James Burrows, who helmed episodes of such beloved TV comedies as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Laverne & Shirley, The Bob Newhart Show and many other classic shows, died on 19. He was 85. "We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James 'Jimmy' Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family," his family said in a statement. "For more than five decades, [he] was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history [who] helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world," the family added. The time and place of his death were not disclosed. Mr. Burrows won 11 Emmy awards for excellence in television and helmed more than 1,000 episodes of hit programs, working as a director, producer and writer. He was among the early innovators of the multi-camera sitcom when his prolific career began in the 1970s directing episodes of Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Laverne & Shirley. He is first Emmy came for directing Taxi, a groundbreaking comedy starring Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman and Tony Danza, about the rough and tumble staff of a New York City taxicab company. He directed 236 episodes and also co-created Cheers with longtime collaborator James Brooks, as well as its spin-off Frasier. His other hit shows include The Big Bang Theory Mike & Molly, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Recently, the director took a rare step in front of the camera and starred as himself in The Comeback, reuniting with Friends star Lisa Kudrow for a show that pokes fun at life behind the scenes working on a sitcom in Hollywood. - AFP, 6/20/26...... Clive Davis, the legendary music exec who guided the careers of such stars as Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys, died on June 22 at his home in New York from age-related illness. He was 94. Mr. Davis rose to prominence while serving as president of Columbia Records from 1967 to 1973, before founding his own label, Arista, where he signed Manilow and stars including Aretha Franklin, Patti Smith and Dionne Warwick, among many others. In 2000, he founded J Records, which was responsible for launching acts including Keys and Maroon 5 to superstardom. Known as "The Man With the Golden Ears," Mr. Davis became an industry icon for helping shape the popular sound of genres including pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop during a career that spanned more than 60 years. In the process, he signed, mentored and/or worked closely with such legendary artists as Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Alan Jackson, Luther Vandross, Kenny G, Usher, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, Rod Stewart and Jennifer Hudson. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and received a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy in 2000. Born in Brooklyn on Apr. 4, 1932, Mr. Davis attended New York University, from which he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in political science. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1956, he began his music business career in the legal department of Columbia Records at age 28. In 1967, he rose to president of Columbia's parent company CBS Records, where he signed Janis Joplin and her band Big Brother and the Holding Company after seeing them perform at the Monterey International Pop Festival. While at CBS, Davis demonstrated a knack for signing other future stars, including Santana, Billy Joel and Aerosmith. Fired from CBS Records in 1973 after being accused of misappropriating company funds, which he denied, Mr. Davis formed his own label, Arista Records, where he worked with artists as diverse as Manilow and Patti Smith. Manilow had Arista's first No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, "Mandy," in 1975. That same year, Davis plucked Patti Smith from relative obscurity to release her hugely influential and successful 1975 debut album Horses. He also helped engineer comebacks for a number of older stars whose careers had lost some of their shimmer, from Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick to Santana, whose 1999 collaborative album Supernatural went multi-platinum and scored a total of nine Grammy wins, including album of the year. Including his Grammy win for that album, Davis won four Grammys during his lifetime out of five nominations. Mr. Davis' biggest success at Artista came when he signed Whitney Houston, the younger cousin of Arista artist Dionne Warwick. On the release of her 1985 self-titled debut album, Houston shot to fame with a trio of No. 1 hits on the Hot 100, including "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "Greatest Love of All." Houston went on to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, notching a total of 11 No. 1 hits on the pop charts during the course of a career that was cut short with her death in 2012. In 2002, after BMG purchased a majority stake in J Records, Mr. Davis was named president and CEO of RCA Music Group. He remained in that role until 2008, when, at age 76, he was named chief creative officer at Sony BMG, and, later, chief creative officer at Sony Music Entertainment, a title he held until his death. He published an autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life, in 2013. Outside of music, Mr. Davis became known for his humanitarian efforts, including his work battling the AIDS epidemic beginning in the mid-1980s. "To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives," said the Davis family in a statement. "He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations. Barry Manilow reflected on the pair's partnership spanning more than five decades. "My heart is heavy with the loss of my friend Clive Davis," Manilow wrote. "For fifty years we worked together, created together, argued together, and celebrated together. Yes, some would say it was business. But to Clive, it never was. It was family. And I was honored to be a part of his. Thank you Clive. I wish we could do it all again." - Billboard, 6/22/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on June 19th, 2026

'70s music icons Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen were among the famous artists and celebrities helping to launch the new presidential museum of former Pres. Barack Obama on June 18. The grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago also featured a galaxy of other superstars, including performances and appearances from U2 members Bono and The Edge, Christina Aguilera, Common, Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, and The Roots. The $850 million Center was financed through private donations and sits on a 19.3-acre campus in the city's Jackson Park. It officially opens to the public on June 19, "Juneteenth," with a series of celebrations and events planned for the public throughout the weekend. - Billboard, 6/17/26...... The Clash bassist Paul Simonon's smashed bass guitar will go on display at a new branch of the London Museum at Smithfield Market on Nov. 28. Simonon's Fender Precision bass was damaged by the musician during a concert at The Palladium in New York City on Sept. 20, 1979, and photographed by legendary rock photog Pennie Smith. According to Simonon, he became frustrated at the venue bouncers who were not allowing the audience to stand for the show. "That frustrated me to the point that I destroyed this bass guitar," he explained in a 2011 interview with Fender. "Unfortunately you always sort of tend to destroy the things you love." The bass went on to feature on one of the genre's most recognizable LP covers for the band's London Calling album, and was housed at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for many years. The London Museum's regeneration of the historic Smithfields Market site has been several years in the making and was announced in 2016, and will house many other notable musical items, including tablas belonging to British Bhangra pioneer Kuljit Bhamra, the genius behind cult favorite album Punjabi Disco. - Billboard, 6/18/26...... Bette Midler and Patti Smith were among the performers at an all-star "Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert For the First Amendment" event at New York's Town Hall on June 14. The gathering organized by the Committee For the First Amendment -- a group originally formed in 1947 during the McCarthy Red-scare era -- featured a fiery speech from actor/activist Jane Fonda took aim at the blockbuster Paramount-WBD mega-merger and what she described as government efforts to silence free speech. "Right now, the government and its cronies [are] routinely violating its First Amendment to silence artists," Fonda said before enumerating a list of actions taken by the Pres. Donald Trump administration and its right-wing supporters. "Shuttering institutions like the Kennedy Center, defunding museums and the National Endowment of the Arts, and banning books, canceling TV, hosts who speak out. It's really bad. And it's being allowed by cowardly corporations. I'm not gonna name names right now. But I am honored now to pass the mic to artists and activists who continue to speak up and sing out so that we might be inspired to rise up." Midler said she was overjoyed to be part of a community that's "so bright, so intelligent, so well-meaning so desperate for justice," before performing a fiddle-flecked cover of Woody Guthrie's "All You Fascists," adding in some of her own topical lyrics. "Hey there all you fascists, let me put you straight/ When you come for the rest of us we'll fight you at the gate/ And you will lose, you fascists bound to lose/ We'll battle ICE together until they cut and run/ Just like in Minneapolis and when the midterms come/ You're bound to lose, you fascists bound to lose," she sang before a performance later by Smith, who sang her 1988 protest classic "People Have the Power." Among the other artists and activists who spoke at the event were Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Lily Gladstone, RuPaul's Drag Race's Miss Peppermint, Joy Reid, and others. The full event can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 6/15/26...... Long-lost footage of The Beatles performing on the BBC's Top of the Pops program has reportedly been found and will be restored. The Beatles appeared on the show on Mar. 19, 1964 to record live performances of "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can't Do That," the A-side and B-side of a single released the following day which went on to become their fourth UK Number One. However like many early episodes of Top of the Pops, the footage was not preserved by the BBC and it has not been seen for decades. Now, the UK film preservation group Film Is Fabulous have said that they were presented with a 35mm BBC negative of the performance at the recent British Film Collectors' Convention in Surrey. They claim the family of a deceased former industry professional passed the precious film to them, and they will work to restore the footage and return it to the BBC Archives. "Discussions will also be held with other parts of the corporation to ensure the content is made available to a wide audience," Film Is Fabulous wrote on Facebook. Describing the footage, the group said: "Recorded on the 19th March 1964, at the BBC's Television Theatre (since renamed The Shepherd's Bush Empire), in London, the inserts beautifully captured the Fab Four at the height of Beatlemania. Passages of the recording show the studio, the technicians, and the make-up ladies. There were four takes of the first song, 'Can't Buy Me Love', with two being aborted because of technical errors. During breaks, the Beatles openly joked, and could be seen dancing to amuse themselves. The other song, 'You Can't Do That', had two takes. During the second of these recordings John Lennon pulled a funny face when the camera came in for a 'close-up'. It's an amusing piece of Beatle history." Footage of the performance can be streamed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 6/18/26...... A series of events has been organized to celebrate what would have been the 80th birthday of Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett this fall. Barrett -- who passed away in July 2006, aged 60 -- will be celebrated through a spectacular live concert in the UK at Cambridge Corn Exchange on Oct. 10, when Kula Shaker will headline the event, supported by the likes of Soft Machine, Men on the Border, Radhika and the Pink Floyd tribute band Punk Floyd. "Eighty years after his birth, Syd Barrett's influence remains as powerful as ever," said event co-organizer Neil Jones. "His music, creativity and unique vision continue to inspire artists and audiences across generations. It's especially fitting that this celebration takes place in Cambridge, the city at the heart of his story. Bringing together live music, art and a new album on World Mental Health Day is a fitting tribute to one of the city's most extraordinary cultural figures," he added. The anniversary will also be marked with the release of a new tribute album on Oct. 9, called Clowns and Jugglers, celebrating Barrett's creative legacy and his enduring influence in the music business. It will feature brand-new studio recordings, previously unreleased material and standout live performances, alongside new interpretations of some of Syd and Pink Floyd's most iconic songs, while the album sleeve also features one of his most iconic images, created by Mark Wilkinson. A major exhibition exploring Barrett's life, art and cultural impact will also run from Oct. 3-9 at Cambridge Openspace arts venue and will showcase original paintings and sketches by Barrett, alongside prints of larger works. All proceeds will be donated to mental health charities. Barrett grew up in Cambridge and adopted the nickname "Syd" in his teens. He was the principal songwriter and driving creative force in the early days of Pink Floyd. But just when the band's career was taking off, Barrett's drug use and mental health issues resulted in increasingly erratic behaviour. It led to his departure from the band and his eventual return to Cambridge, where he lived a quiet life and was happiest when painting. He died in 2006. - Music-News.com/NME, 6/18/26...... The 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be the newest movie experience coming to the Las Vegas venue the Sphere. As it did with The Wizard of Oz, Sphere Entertainment says it will use its "advanced technologies to enhance" the original 1975 film for the venue. "Since The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in 1975, it redefined audience participation and became a cultural phenomenon. With Sphere, we have the opportunity to take that spirit of immersion to an entirely new level," said Jim Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment, in a statement. In the case of The Wizard of Oz, Sphere used AI to expand the film's visuals to better fit the venue's curved, 160,000-square-foot screen. It also digitally restored them using an AI-powered "super resolution tool" to render the images in "ultra-ultra-high-definition," according to Google, which worked with Sphere on the project. Due to the expanded canvas, "composites" of characters were also added to some scenes in which they were originally absent. - Billboard, 6/16/26...... Interviewed by the UK show Sunday Sitdown, Mick Jagger opened up about the Rolling Stones' new album Foreign Tongues and expressed his enthusiasm once more to hit the road. "I'd love to. I really want to and I'm ready to go," he replied when asked if the band were planning on announcing more tour dates. Jagger also suggested that fans won't have long to wait to see them live, and while a tour may not be planned for 2026, they are talking about plans for 2027. "I don't think we're gonna do shows this year, but hopefully we'll do shows next year," he said. As for the sound of the new record, the frontman said he "hopes" people see it as a "classic Stones album", but is certain it has "got something for everyone" across the 14 tracks. The Stones' 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues hits stores on July 10 and will feature guest appearances from Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood and the band's late drummer Charlie Watts. On June 18, the band announced that the album's second single will be "Jealous Lover," and drop on June 26. Shifting away from the upbeat, driving pop-rock energy of their previous single, "In The Stars," the new track leans heavily into a soulful, deep R&B groove. The song is anchored by a captivating, distinctive falsetto lead vocal performance from Jagger, with Winwood adding a warm, retro texture to the soundscape with his performance on the Rhodes piano and organ. - NME/Music-News.com, 6/16/26...... The Who frontman Roger Daltrey was presented with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award at a ceremony in London on June 18. The accolade is reserved for music creators who have made pioneering contributions to the industry, placing Daltrey in the company of previous recipients such as Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones. Knighted for his services to music and charity, Daltrey was celebrated for a career spanning electrifying rock operas like Tommy and decades of tireless philanthropic curation for the Teenage Cancer Trust. "Roger's cultural impact is legendary," stated ASCAP Chairman and President Paul Williams. "His extraordinary music career has been defined by his unstoppable energy, passion, authenticity and a voice that has shaped the sound of rock and roll." The invite-only event recognized the British creative minds behind some of the year's biggest global hits in music, film, and television, and during the evening acclaimed actor Idris Elba was presented with the ASCAP Creative Voice Award, an honor celebrating members whose career achievements seamlessly blend creative spirit with community advocacy. - Music-News.com, 6/18/26...... Rod Stewart is in hot water with some fans after attending a World Cup game just hours after abruptly cancelling a concert. On June 13, the 81-year-old rocker was spotted cheering for Scotland in the stands at a World Cup game, just hours after cancelling a concert in California due to health reasons. Just a day before, Stewart's team shared a statement to his Instagram Stories, detailing that "on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take the stage this evening." Stewart later followed up with his own statement less than an hour before a California gig was scheduled to start, adding: "Following treatment, I'm feeling much better, but my voice is not. I'm very disappointed and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans." Then, over the weekend, he shared a video of himself flying to Boston in a private jet alongside his sons. "Here we are flying off to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup," Stewart said in the Instagram video. "It's been 28 years, so these kids, I've told them about it, but they've never been. I've been to seven World Cups." They ended the video with a high-energy chant of "No Scotland, no party," sparking criticism from some fans in the comment section, given he'd cancelled the aforementioned show in Chula Vista less than an hour before he was set to take the stage. Later that day, Stewart was seen throwing his arms in the air in the stands as he celebrated Scotland's victory. Stewart has over 20 dates remaining in the US this year, and in a recent interview on TalkSport, he looked ahead to next year, hinting that he is considering calling it a day after one last UK run. "Then I'm touring the UK next year, doing The O2, and that'll probably be it, I think," he said. "I'll have to do something new, come on your show more often, maybe." - NME, 6/15/26...... Bob Dylan has given his insight into the positives and negatives of aging, saying you "outlive the clocks that have been chasing you." The iconic singer/songwriter contributed to a piece in the New York Times on the occasion of Pres. Donald Trump's 80th birthday on June 14, with a selection of octogenarians giving their perspective on what it means to hit that milestone. Dylan, 85, opted not to address Trump directly or reference his politics, but instead gave a thoughtful reflection on his own experiences. "The best thing about being 80 is that you outlive the clocks that have been chasing you," he wrote. "It's freedom from that lie that anything was ever under control. You don't chase the parade anymore. You're an old king from some vanished country. You're harder to program." He also pointed to some negatives, adding: "The old fire in your heart still tells you to do this and that, but your body says we already did it. Also, nothing surprises you. It sounds like a luxury but it's not, and also you've run out of illusions." Dylan continued: "The really worst part about being 80 is that you find, at last, you've got an understanding of something that might have altered everything in the past, had it come at a time when something could still be altered. When you're young you think that time moves forward. At 80 you know that it doesn't, it stands still. We're the ones that move." - NME, 6/14/26...... Six decades after its initial release, The Kinks have officially broken the historic record for the longest gap between UK number-one singles with a rerelease of their 1966 classic, "Sunny Afternoon." The tune has re-entered the Official UK Charts at Number 1 on the 7" Vinyl Singles Chart, while simultaneously clinching the Number 4 spot on the Official Physical Singles Chart and Number 12 on the Official Singles Sales Chart. Originally written by frontman Ray Davies as the lead single for the band's fourth studio album, Face to Face, the satirical tale of lost wealth famously turned tax-time blues into a baroque pop anthem. The track topped the national chart for two weeks during the summer of 1966, ultimately becoming an era-defining snapshot of wry British songwriting. Pitchfork Media later cemented its legacy by naming it one of the greatest songs of the 1960s. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the track, the band has issued a specialized, limited-edition 7" vinyl package featuring the remastered original mono recording alongside its classic B-side, "I'm Not Like Everybody Else." The exclusive, sunshine-colored physical release features a commemorative written message from legendary English football hero Sir Geoff Hurst, who famously scored a hat-trick during the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The monumental chart achievement adds to a long list of accolades for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, who have earned an Ivor Novello Award, secured four certified Gold albums, and amassed over 50 million record sales worldwide throughout their influential career. - Music-News.com, 6/15/26...... TV personality Gene Shalit, the Today show film critic and arts commentator whose pouf of ebony hair, bushy mustache, funhouse eyeglasses and floppy bow ties -- not to mention his groan-inducing puns -- made him a kooky and welcome presence on morning television for decades, died on June 12. He was 100. "He passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life," his family told NBC News in a statement. Born on Mar. 25, 1926, in New York, Mr. Shalit was raised in New Jersey, where his father purchased a drug store. Starting his career as a print journalist, he was the senior film critic for Look and wrote the "What's Happening?" page for Ladies Home Journal for a dozen years. He also authored articles published The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, TV Guide, Seventeen, Glamour and McCall's. He reached national fame as an on-air personality for the Today show, where he interspersed his entertainment coverage with offbeat in-the-field reports and improvisational hijinks on set. He started as a part-time Today show contributor in 1970 before moving to a full-time role three years later. He earned national fame as the program's go-to movie analyst, offering his take on summer blockbusters, awards contenders and other big-screen projects until his retirement in 2010. He stood out from the broadcast television crowd with his colorful bowties and puffy hair. He often studded his reviews in the Today show "Critics Corner" with puns and other cheeky turns of phrase, endearing him to millions of viewers. "The Silence of the Lambs may be all wool and a yard wide, but it makes a terrific yarn," he said in his review of the 1991 horror classic, which won best picture at the Academy Awards the following year. He rarely minced words when a movie left him cold. In panning X-Men, he said the first entry in the hit superhero franchise "should not be taken seriously. In fact, it should be taken with two aspirin." Judd Apatow's Funny People is "passable," he said -- "speaking colonically." In addition to surveying Hollywood releases, Mr. Shalit interviewed some of the biggest stars of the day, from Oprah Winfrey to Harrison Ford. His questions ranged from the serious to the silly, such as when he asked Kermit the Frog whether he planned to marry Miss Piggy. In more recent years, Mr. Shalit largely retreated from the public eye. He was married to Nancy Lewis for 28 years, from 1950 until her death in 1978. - NBC News, 6/12/26...... Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Walter Parazaider, a co-founding member of Chicago, died on June 17 after a six-year battle with Alzheimer's. He was 81 years old. His wife, JacLynn, told TMZ.com that she was beside her beloved husband's side when he passed at 2:10 a.m. on June 17. His daughter Felicia Helen Parazaider also confirmed his death in a Facebook post. "My father, my hero, is gone," she wrote in part. "There's no more pain. No more struggle. This was the worst six years. The hardest season of my life. And I'm so grateful that my dad is not suffering anymore. I love you poppy, my Pal." Known for his skills as a saxophonist and ability to play multiple instruments, Mr. Parazaider helped found Chicago in 1967 with his friends Peter Cetera, Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Danny Seraphine in the city after which the band was named -- although the group originally called themselves The Big Thing followed by Chicago Transit Authority before shortening the latter to one word. The lineup would change over the years, but Mr. Parazaider was a constant member of the band up until his retirement in 2018. He and his bandmates scored a multitude of hits with Chicago, including three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s: 1976's "If You Leave Me Now," 1982's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and 1988's "Look Away." The band also notched five Billboard 200-topping albums, with Chicago V spending nine weeks atop the chart in 1972. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Mr. Parazaider's death comes about six years after the musician was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He was one of the estimated 6.9 million people in the United States who live with the disease, which is the most common cause of dementia and involves a buildup of proteins that causes brain cells to die over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. - Billboard, 6/17/26.

Alice Cooper has thanked a man in his home state of Arizona with a signed copy of his latest album after the man found Cooper's credit card in a gas pump. After Cooper had been golfing in the Payson, Ariz. area, he'd lost his card at a gas station after leaving it at a pump. It was later found by a local named Geoff Guy, who somehow managed to get it back to the veteran shock-rocker, and was rewarded with a signed copy of his latest album, The Revenge Of Alice Cooper. After finding the card, Guy's wife suggested he call Cooper's Phoenix-based charity, the Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center, and, after doing so, he was able to get it back to Cooper on June 8, right before the rocker set off on his European tour. "The guy is a legend for people of my generation, that's for sure, and I'm really glad I could help get it back to him," Guy told a local TV station. Cooper and Guy appeared side by side in a local news segment, with Cooper stopping for pictures and thanking Guy for making "a good call" right before he set off for his tour. The tour kick-off follows Cooper announcing details of a new "definitive autobiography" titled Devil On My Shoulder, and confirming plans for a new Q&A book tour for later in 2026. Guy was interviewed about the incident on the Chaz and AJ podcast, which can be streamed on Instagram. - New Musical Express, 6/14/26...... Carly Simon has revealed the first single on her upcoming first album in 20 years will be "Howl," a letter to a friend whose lover has just left them. "'Howl' lives in that space between betrayal and forgiveness, where anger has to be voiced before it can be released," the 82-year-old singer/songwriter said in a press release about the track. "It's about letting the frustration out, so it doesn't sit and simmer. The song begins in anger, but it moves toward forgiveness and speaks to any situation where trust has been broken." The lyrics include the words, "Howl like the wind/Roar like the river/Wail like the rain/Cry, shout, and shiver," before it says, "Call love a liar." Simon wrote and recorded her new album, titled Comes in Waves, at her studio in Martha's Vineyard. It contains nine new songs, plus two songs she had written previously and revisited. Her children, son Ben Taylor, and daughter, Sally Taylor, both feature on the album, and Sally produced the artwork for the album. Simon's label says the theme of Comes in Waves is "resetting oneself." The album "does not attempt to recreate the past," according to a statement, but "continues the conversation Simon has been having with her audience for decades, one grounded in truth, vulnerability, and a refusal to simplify emotion. It is a reminder of an artist still fully engaged with her craft, still asking questions, and still finding new ways to articulate what it means to live, to love, and to let go." Comes In Waves will drop on Aug. 14. - Music-News.com, 6/12/26...... Michael, the box office smash Michael Jackson biopic that premiered on Apr. 24, has surpassed the 2018 Freddie Mercury/Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody as the highest-grossing music biopic of all time, crossing $911.9 million worldwide as it continues its global rollout. The Lionsgate and Universal co-production has surpassed Bohemian Rhapsody's total gross with $358.6 million at the domestic box office and $553.3 million internationally -- with Universal generating $540.5 million of the international total after acquiring foreign theatrical and ancillary rights. With the film opening in Japan on June 14, Michael is expected to push past $1 billion worldwide in 2026, joining the company of Universal's Super Mario Galaxy Movie. By comparison, Bohemian Rhapsody grossed $216.6 million domestically and $694.3 million internationally for a $910.9 million global total. Both films were produced by Graham King, meaning King has now broken his own all-time box office record for music biopics. Michael's other records include the largest global opening weekend ever for a music biopic, the highest-grossing domestic biopic of all time, and the most successful biopic ever in France, surpassing La Vie en Rose. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan and with Michael's nephew Jaafar Jackson in the titular role, the film was forced to undertake $50 million in reshoots after the Jackson estate identified a key issue with a plot point in the screenplay concerning one of Jackson's accusers, who was not meant to be dramatised in the film. Meanwhile, MJ child abuse accusers James Safechuck and Wade Robson have been given a new trial date for 2028. The pair, who appeared in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland where they detailed their alleged abuse by Jackson, allege that they were befriended by the singer and abused at his Neverland ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., between the ages of 7 and 10. They also accused employees of his companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, of helping enable and conceal the alleged abuse. Robson, a choreographer and director, and Safechuck, a writer, actor, and director, sued MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures for negligence, breach of duty, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in separate lawsuits in 2013 and 2014, respectively. After consolidating their cases in 2024, the two men and their lawyer, John Carpenter, previously wanted their case heard before the release of the recently released Michael biopic, but the case faced a series of delays and was previously set for trial in October 2027. On June 12, a judge in California agreed to set a new trial date in the sexual abuse case brought by the men. Judge Michael E. Whitaker set the new trial date for Feb. 14, 2028, but he ordered everyone back for another hearing in September to keep the case on track. The Jackson estate has adamantly and repeatedly denied that he abused either of the boys, and has emphasised that Robson testified at Jackson's 2005 criminal trial that he had not been abused, and Safechuck said the same to authorities. - Billboard/NME, 6/14/26...... On June 10 the music publishing and talent management company Primary Wave announced it has entered into a new partnership with the estate of late '70s disco icon Donna Summer. The deal will see Primary Wave work alongside Summer's estate to expand the reach of her song catalog and recordings. It also includes her name, image and likeness (NIL) rights. Through the agreement, the company will work closely with the estate on new marketing, branding digital and sync opportunities, along with film and TV projects. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to a press release, Summer, a primary force in bringing disco to the mainstream, has sold more than 100 million albums globally. Her catalog includes 17 studio albums, three of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200. That includes 1978's Bad Girls, which spent six weeks atop the tally. She also enjoyed four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, including "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," "MacArthur Park" and "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," and placed a total of 14 songs in that chart's top 10. The five-time Grammy winner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2025. She died in 2012 at age 63. - Billboard, 6/10/26...... Speaking to reporters on the red carpet after attending the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony on June 11, John Fogerty said he thought "whoever that Bob Dylan guy was" would be a great fit to portray him in a planned biopic of the legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival co-founder and frontman. Fogerty, of course, was referring to the hot young actor Timothee Chalamet, who took on the role of the iconic singer-songwriter for the critically acclaimed biopic A Complete Unknown. Earning a BAFTA nod and eight Oscar nominations, the film saw Chalamet perform some of Dylan's biggest hits himself, rather than mime them. Fogerty said he was "really excited" about the biopic of his life which is currently in the works, with the script currently being written. "That's such an honou, to get a movie made about you," he said. "I'm thrilled and happy that this is finally going to come out. I think they're working on it. That's about all I can say." When asked who he'd want to play him in a film about him, Fogerty quipped, "I used to joke, 'Oh, Brad Pitt!'. Speaking to another reporter the same night, the "Centerfield" singer was asked about his dream casting, and said he'd pick: "Whoever that Bob Dylan guy was. That would be great." The musician kept details of the new film largely under wraps, but told The Hollywood Reporter he'd be content with whoever got cast. "Years ago, probably in the middle of all the dark times, I would tell people, 'Someday they're going to make a movie about me, but I'll be too old to play myself,'" he said. "It's kind of like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz singing about someday.... Whoever they find that makes it work, I'll be happy with." - NME, 6/14/26...... Speaking of Bob Dylan, the rock bard has delved into his The Basement Tapes LP once again, this time playing "I Shall Be Released" for the first time in 18 years at a recent concert. During his gig at Oregon's Cuthbert Amphitheatre on June 9, Dylan brought back the song he last played at a 2008 concert in Warsaw. He wrote the track in 1967, and he and the Band recorded it during their "Basement Tapes sessions." The Band also recorded their own version of the song without Dylan, and they used it as the closing track on their 1968 debut Music From Big Pink. It comes after he opened a previous Washington gig on June 6 with anotherBasement Tapes cut, "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." The song, which he hasn't played in concert since 2012, saw him joined on vocals by his guitarists Doug Lancio and Bob Britt, a callback to the Larry Campbell and Charlie Sexton era in the late '90s to early '00s, when it was far more common for his bandmates to sing with him. - NME, 6/13/26...... Paul McCartney has paid tribute to his artist friend David Hockney, who passed away peacefully at his home in the UK on June 11 at the age of 88. The Bradford native died after a career that saw him lauded as one of the most influential and celebrated artists of the 20th century. A defining figure in British art, his works included "A Bigger Splash" and "Portrait Of An Artist (Pool With Two Figures)." One of the friends he made over the years was Beatles legend McCartney, who has shared a personal tribute to him on his Instagram page. Alongside a photo of the two arm in arm, McCartney wrote: "David Hockney was a friend and an incredible painter. I knew him during the 1960s and kept a friendship going till he died on Thursday, the 11th of June. He was very clever witty and fun to be with." "His paintings often gave off a feeling of great joy," he added. "Nancy and I enjoyed visiting his studios in California where we took a drive along Mulholland Drive which he made famous all over again in his sensational paintings. Or in his London studio. The rooms were filled with paintings. Often some of the most recent pictures that he had done. He would talk about them and his very particular views on art. He felt that it was important to see correctly. He wasn't a great fan of perspective and was always involved in inventing new ways to view the world. His many paintings, drawings, films and other media like iPad drawing he took readily to and mastered." Meanwhile, Sir Paul has defended the lyrics to "Momma Gets By," the closing track of his acclaimed new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane. The song concerns a put-upon wife who shoulders the burden of family life while her feckless husband shirks his responsibilities. "Momma gets by while papa gets high," McCartney sings, "She makes enough to raise a family." Later, he adds: "Even though he's complicated, she takes it in her stride / What are his silly faults compared to what she feels inside?" Certain corners of the internet and music press have questioned the song's gender politics, with one fan writing on Reddit: "It's a nice melody, lovely string arrangement, but the lyrics and message that it's ok to have a deadbeat drug addict absentee husband / co parent if you love him? Really odd, and so impersonal!" Speaking to UK comedian Rob Brydon onstage at The Roundhouse in north London on June 10, McCartney explained: "Sometimes you write songs about somebody you know, or an experience that you've had. And sometimes you just make 'em up 'cause you're in a more theatrical mood. I imagined this [track] like a play. I don't know the characters, but I'm imagining the woman and then the song is told from the perspective of the kid. So it just kind of unfolded itself. I was imagining the musical Porgy and Bess and that sort of thing. It's like a little theatrical story; a little musical theatre moment about this woman." He continued: "Some people would say, 'Oh, she's a bit of a sucker 'cause the guy's a bit of a waster.' But for me she's a very strong woman and it explains that in the song. I'm very proud of her and women like her." As the crowd cheered, McCartney added: "There's a lot of strong women out there." - NME, 6/13/26...... Queen drummer Roger Taylor has announced his seventh solo album, Violence Insane In A Beautiful World, will be arriving Sept.18. Marking his first full-length release since 2021's No. 3 UK LP Outsider, the drummer, songwriter and vocalist has launched the album with its first single, "Come On Summer (It's Party Time)," featuring a vibrant performance from South Africa's Ndlovu Youth Choir, who famously went viral for their Zulu-language rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. The album, recorded largely by Taylor himself with long-time collaborator Joshua J. Macrae and members of his touring band, explores what he calls the tension between the world's beauty and its escalating turmoil. He said: "There is a theme what a beautiful world we live in, don't f--- it up. The violence in the world seems to be as bad as it ever was but kindness is very important. It seems to be forgotten quite a lot." Although not a concept album, the record threads together Taylor's reflections on global conflict, environmental damage and political unrest, while still leaning into optimism and the "eclecticism" that has defined his solo work. The Ndlovu Youth Choir appear on three tracks -- a collaboration Taylor describes as transformative: "They're just wonderful it gives the songs a whole new dimension." The album also includes an emotional cover of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy," which Taylor calls "one of the greatest ballads ever written." Taylor will embark on a short UK tour behind the new album -- his only UK shows of 2026 - performing with the same band that joined him on the Outsider tour. The run begins Sept. 21 in Newcastle before heading to Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Swansea and London's Roundhouse, where Taylor last appeared as a guest of Foo Fighters in 2011. It wraps on Sept. 29 in Swansea. - Music-News.com, 6/10/26...... Bruce Springsteen has apologized to U2 frontman Bono for refusing to license "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" for a new advertisement for the clothing brand GAP in partnership with Bono's AIDS foundation (RED). While presenting Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at Tribeca Festival in New York on June 13, the Bono recalled asking the Boss to license the 2007 track after he'd joined forces with the clothing brand for the (PRODUCT) RED campaign, which raised money to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. "That was a big mistake," Springsteen said, drawing laughs. "I should have said yes." He called the song one of his "personal favorites" and one that the "audience doesn't really care" about. "That was just a song that I love," he continued. "Damn it, I still think back: 'Bono asked you to put this thing on a commercial on television.' I should have f---ing done it! People would hear it like a hit, you know? So I have to apologize." At the beginning of the event, Tribeca Festival founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal introduced Bono, who then heaped praise on the New Jersey rocker. "Bruce Springsteen is America," Bono said. "Bruce made poetry from the voices of the people and set that poetry to music. We honor him tonight as a musician and poet and as an activist and a patriot." In conversation, Bono and Springsteen talked about bringing political resistance to the masses with Springsteen's "Land Of Hope And Dreams" tour, throughout which he has used his time on stage to mount criticisms of the Donald Trump regime. It was prompted by the killing of two Minneapolis citizens by ICE agents earlier in the year, with the Boss saying that US citizens are "living through some very dark times" as the "American values that have sustained us for 250 years are being challenged as never before." Fan-shot video of Springsteen wrapping up the event by performing "Land of Hope and Dreams" can be viewed on Instagram. - NME, 6/14/26...... New Wave legends DEVO and The B-52s are set to perform at London's O2 on June 20, 2026, followed the next evening with a show at Manchester's AO Arena. The two UK dates come as an extension to their "Cosmic De-Evolution Tour," which has already seen them take to stages across the US and Canada. The two groups say they will rotate who tops the bill each night. "We keep trying to fight about who gets to be the opening band so we can go out to the restaurant after the show," said DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh. Joining the two bands at the London and Manchester shows will be Scottish punk legends The Rezillos and fellow New Wave artist Lene Lovich. - NME, 6/13/26...... In a new interview with Vulture magazine, Paul Stanley says KISS' secret weapon has always been their larger-than-life personas. The rock icon says the face paint-wearing group have spent five decades as "Batman with a guitar and Superman with a Marshall amplifier," a comparison he made while looking back at the moments that turned KISS into one of rock's most enduring acts. Stanley pointed to the release of their raucous 1975 live album Alive! as the moment everything shifted. "Alive! was such a turning point for us," he said. "We wanted you to be in the crowd and have a sense of empowerment to hear the noise of people next to you between songs, because technology doesn't really allow for multisensory overload." The album, he added, finally showcased "the power and commitment of us as a band." He believes the band's visual identity -- the makeup and ageless personas -- has been just as crucial to their longevity as the music itself. Fans who see KISS today, he said, still feel like they're watching the same superhero figures they first encountered in the '70s. He added: "Part of what has been our strength over the years is looking the same onstage. The idea of being omnipotent, of being ageless, is incredibly powerful So in that way, we're timeless superheroes -- Batman with a guitar and Superman with a Marshall amplifier." Another way they are securing their legacy is with their digital avatar show. "There's no reason for us to live within the boundaries of other rock bands," the musician recently said on the Rock of Nations podcast. "They live within those boundaries because that's all they can be. And it's great, but we are not that -- we're KISS." - NME, 6/12/26...... The Rolling Stones have announced they're teaming up with Marvel Studios to launch a special vinyl collector series for their new album Foreign Tongues. For a limited time, a special collector's release of the album will be on offer -- replacing the original artwork with Marvel-inspired designs. There are five variants on offer, one shows the Hulk carrying a truck with the Stones' iconic lips logo on the side, one shows Spider-Man crafting the logo out of webs, and another shows Captain America crashing through a wall covered in the design. Other variations include Thor holding his hammer, with the lips logo being formed by lightning around him, and one of Wolverine standing in front of the design. Each design has been designed by Marvel illustrators especially for this release, and they can be pre-ordered at therollingstonesshop.com. Foreign Tongues is due July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. Meanwhile, Stones frontman gave a surprise impromptu performance at the Half Moon pub in St Clements in Oxford on June 7, performing as part of the pub's weekly folk session. Jagger was in attendance with his partner, former American ballerina Melanie Hamrick, and they were there as guests of Oriel College. The college confirmed that the couple had drinks and dinner at the college, before heading off to the pub with Stones keyboard player Matt Clifford and Oriel Politics academic Robert Cheah. There, they delivered an impromptu performance of traditional song "Handsome Molly," which Jagger covered on his 1993 solo album Wandering Spirit. Speaking to BBC News about the surprise appearance, an employee at the Half Moon said that they were "delighted" by Jagger taking to the stage, and added that the venue "prides itself on its authentic atmosphere and welcoming community." "Our Sunday folk session has been going for many years and is open to everyone -- whether you're a beginner player or an international rock star," they added. "You never know what to expect at the Half Moon." Footage of the performance has been shared on Instagram. NME, 6/11/26...... As Taylor Swift prepares to wed fiance Travis Kelce in one of the biggest celebrity events of the season, the current reigning pop queen performed a duet with Randy Newman at the world premiere of Toy Story 5 in Los Angeles. Before a screening of the fifth instalment of Pixar's Toy Story film series, the music superstar took to the stage to sing "I Knew It, I Knew You" at a piano. In addition, Swift was joined by the Toy Story franchise's long-running composer Newman for a rendition of his 1995 track, "You've Got a Friend in Me." The theme song has been incorporated into the soundtracks of all of the Toy Story films, starting with the 1995 original. Swift, who recently became the youngest woman inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, thanked all the artists and animators who worked so hard on creating the feature. Swift's performance can be viewed on YouTube. - Music-News.com, 6/10/26...... A dystopian sci-fi movie based on the iconic 1973 Emerson, Lake & Palmer track "Karn Evil 9" is in development. The Radar Pictures-produced movie has secured a director and screenwriter, and reportedly has the cooperation of the band's management and surviving members. As reported by Variety, the film draws its name and thematic core from "Karn Evil 9," the sprawling half-hour track from the band's 1973 album, Brain Salad Surgery. Written by Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and lyricist Peter Sinfield, the piece fused rock, classical motifs, and futuristic dread in a way that had no clear precedent in popular music. Its album cover, designed by H.R. Giger, became an enduring image of the era. The official synopsis hints that the story complements contemporary anxieties. "When Zak, a brilliant but troubled musical prodigy, is invited to perform at a major music festival simulcast in the world's most popular video game, he is shocked to discover the game's mysterious creator may be using him to promote a terrifying new technology. In a harrowing twist, our hero comes to believe that this technology may be of inestimable benefit to humanity. And he is hunted by ruthless, anti-technology mercenaries." Isaac Ezban, the Mexican filmmaker behind the acclaimed thriller The Incident, has signed on to direct, while Tim Hedrick, a veteran writer on Avatar: The Last Airbender, has penned the screenplay. Ezban described the project in vivid terms. "This is, quite literally, a miracle of a movie and just the kind of movie I had always dreamt of directing," he said in a statement. Hedrick argued that "Karn Evil 9" functions as a cultural precursor to landmark sci-fi films. "'Karn Evil 9' predates The Matrix and The Terminator, but it anticipates both of those films, as well as our present moment of technological chaos. I can't wait to explore this world." - ComingSoon.net, 6/12/26.