Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on March 6th, 2026

Paul McCartney has paid tribute to his "dear old mate" and former The Quarrymen bandmate Len Garry, who died on Mar. 2 of pneumonia at the age of 84. Sir Paul shared a photo on Instagram of the original Quarrymen in tribute with the caption: "My dear old mate from the Quarrymen, Len Garry, has passed away. He was a lovely guy and I'm sad to see him go but glad that we had so many fun times together. Rest in Peace Len, Love Paul." McCartney and Garry began making music together as schoolboys and were both part of The Quarrymen's first steady line-up, which also consisted of John Lennon, Colin Hanton, Rod Davis, Pete Shotton and Eric Griffiths. Lennon was already part of the band when McCartney joined in 1957, which was how they first met. George Harrison later joined the group on bass and after numerous line-up and name changes, they became the Beatles. A further tribute shared on The Quarrymen's social media said: "He will be sorely missed by us and Beatle fans across the globe. Our thoughts are with Len's family and friends at this difficult time." - NME, 3/4/26...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Ringo Starr has announced his next album will be titled Long Long Road and released on Apr. 24. Featuring the likes of Sheryl Crow and St. Vincent, the 10-track record was co-written by Ringo and legendary producer T Bone Burnett, who he worked with on his 2025 record Look Up. It will also feature appearances from Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and Sarah Jarosz. "I'm blessed to have T Bone in my life right now and working with me on these records," Ringo said in a statement. "After we did the last record, which I love listening to, this one just sort of happened. I like to say sometimes I make the right moves, like you can go left or right at any point, and one of the right moves was hooking up with T Bone for Look Up, and now for this one, which I'm calling Long Long Road, because I've been on a long long road." The album was recorded in Nashville and L.A. and largely features the same musicians as Look Up. The country and Americana-influenced record was particularly influenced by late rockabilly legend Carl Perkins. Ringo said: "I recorded two Carl Perkins songs with The Beatles, and both T Bone and I wanted one on this record and he found this beautiful track I'd never heard before, I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore." Ringo and his All Starr Band will kick off a 10-date spring tour on May 29 in Temecula, Calif., also visiting San Diego; Charlotte, N.C.; Tuscon; Lincoln, Neb.; Paso Robles, Calif.; Albuquerque; San Jose; and Tempe, Ariz. before wrapping at L.A.'s Greek Theatre on June 15. - Music-News.com, 3/4/26...... Sharon Osbourne confirmed on Mar. 4 that Ozzfest will be resurrected in her late hubby Ozzy Osbourne's home town of Birmingham, UK as a two-day event at Villa Park, the home grounds of the Aston Villa Football Club, which also served as the site of Osbourne's final "Back to the Beginning" Black Sabbath farewell concert in 2025. We want to do two days in Aston Villa and then come to America," Sharon said on The Osbournes podcast before making a call-out to all the Ozzfest fans out there to let her know where the festival should visit and who they want to see in its latest incarnation. In keeping with Ozzy's push to showcase new, up-and-coming talent on Ozzfest, Sharon also said the team behind Ozzfest is looking for those kinds of bands right now, "because that's what your dad would want." Meanwhile, a huge statue of Ozzy is set to be unveiled at Hellfest in Clisson, France this summer in tribute to the late heavy metal icon. "Oh, there he is. Look at him, a rock god," Sharon said during an appearance on the MetalXS podcast while images of the in-progress statue were shown on a screen. "That is going to debut at Hellfest, and that is June 18th. And the whole family will be there to see it. And it's such a great tribute. It's amazing. So, I can only thank [Hellfest director] Ben [Barbaud]. Just bless you. It's an amazing piece of art." This year, Hellfest will run from June 18 to June 21 with a line-up including Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Limp Bizkit, Tom Morello and The Offspring, among many others. Also Sharon recently revealed that she's planning to take the Ozzy exhibition that's currently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to "tour the world." "Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero" was originally opened by Sharon on June 25, 2025, to coincide with the band's historic "Back To The Beginning" concert at Villa Park on July 5. It would serve as Black Sabbath and Ozzy's final show before his death two weeks later. Following Ozzy's death on July 22, 2025, the exhibition was extended until Jan. 2026 with the blessing of the Osbournes. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 3/5/26...... Longtime Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston has told Rolling Stone that he plans to retire from touring to focus on songwriting and recording. Johnston, 83, added that he still intends to join the band for special performances, specifically the upcoming July 2-4 gigs at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as part of the events celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary. After touring and recording with the BB for 61 years and performing upwards of 6,000 concerts, Johnston says "it's time for Part Three of my lengthy musical career." "I can write songs forever and wait until you hear what's coming!!! As my major talent beyond singing is songwriting, now is the time to get serious again," he continued. "In addition, I'm currently working on developing a speaking-engagement chapter of my career -- inspired in part by Cary Grant, who long ago made a similar move after his movie career... I might even sing 'Disney Girls' & 'I Write The Songs',!! he wrote, the latter in reference to, respectively, one of the handful of songs he wrote for the band, as well as the 1976 No. 1 Barry Manilow hit he penned. "This isn't goodbye, it's see you soon. I am forever grateful to be a part of the Beach Boys musical legacy." With the exception of a 2012 world tour in support of the That's Why God Made the Radio album, Johnston has been the only other old-school member of the group to tour with cofounding BB member Mike Love for the past 28 years. He originally joined in band in 1965, four years after its founding, to help fill in for musical mastermind Brian Wilson when he stepped aside to focus on studio recordings. After splitting in 1972 to pursue solo work and songwriting, Johnston returned in 1978 and had been a reliable touring and recording member ever since. Love becomes the lone original-era member still touring with the band; fellow co-founder singer/rhythm guitarist Al Jardine stopped touring with the Love-led version of the BB in 2012. Chris Cron, the lead singer for the BB tribute act Pet Sounds Live, will replace Johnston in the touring version of the group. - Billboard, 3/5/26...... Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1973 track "Free Bird" has netted big gains on multiple Billboard charts dated Mar. 7 after the song became the unofficial anthem for the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams at the 2026 Winter Olympics. "Free Bird" returns to Hot Rock & Alternative Songs at No. 15 on the strength of 3.2 million official U.S. streams (up 35%), 343,000 in radio airplay audience (up 17%) and 3,000 downloads sold (up 217%) in the week ending Feb. 26, according to Luminate. Older songs are allowed to re-enter rankings such as Hot Rock & Alternative Songs if in the top half of chart points and with a meaningful reason for their return. The driving anthem, from Skynyrd's breakthrough LP Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, blared after the U.S. men's and women's teams scored during the Olympics. The women's squad won the gold medal Feb. 19, following up its 2018 win, while the men's team triumphed among all nations for the first time since 1980 on Feb. 22. Each team added its third total gold medal, with the men's team also having won in 1960 and the women's, in 1998. "Free Bird" reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 during its original chart run in 1975. The set peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, becoming the first of the band's 12 top 40 entries, through Last of a Dying Breed (No. 14, 2012). - Billboard, 3/3/26...... Paraphrasing one of his most famous songs, Barry Manilow gave a cheery health update on Instagram on Mar. 3 after being forced to postpone his recent tour due to lung cancer surgery. "Well, looks like I made it and I look fabulous, right?," the 82-year-old singer said. Manilow, looking healthy and energetic, added, "You know, with everything that's going on in the world, I wanted to check in and share some good news. In fact, it's great news." Manilow's new single, "Once Before I Go," currently sits at No. 26 on the Mar. 7-dated Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The latest charting extends the Brooklyn-born singer's run of six decades, beginning in 1974 with his classic breakthrough hit "Mandy" and reaching into this year. "How do you like that?" Manilow asked about his single's success. "Like my grandmother once said, next thing you know, they'll be walking on the moon." Manilow thanked industry legend Clive Davis for suggesting the moving ballad -- written by acclaimed songwriters Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Demonte Posey -- as well as all the radio stations for playing it and fans for listening to the track. He also thanked everyone who has reached out with messages of support over the past few months as he dealt with his health emergency. "It's been a long ride and since I have no patience, it's been agony," he said. "But I am getting stronger and I have great doctors and wonderful friends and family, but I am so looking forward to getting back on stage." In February, Manilow revealed that he needed to reschedule some more shows and take additional time to recover from a January operation related to stage one lung cancer diagnosed last year. Following the tough visit with his surgeon, he postponed the first batch of 2026 arena dates originally scheduled to run from Feb. 27-March 17. Though Manilow is rescheduling his first 13 arena shows, he said at the time that his doctor felt it was still "likely" he could perform in Las Vegas on Mar. 26-28 and Apr. 2-4. His Mar. 26 Vegas residency show is still listed on his official website, which also lists an Apr. 13 show at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, N.Y. as his next confirmed non-residency date. - Billboard, 3/3/26...... After a recent round on the Rock Legends Cruise, The Guess Who principals Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman have announced they will be taking their recent ownership of The Guess Who moniker on the road this spring. The duo kicks off its "Takin' It Back Tour" at home with previously announced Canadian dates that begin May 26 date in Moncton, N.B. The U.S. run starts in late June, when it brings the show south of the border for two dozen concerts staring June 25 in Shakopee, Minn., wrapping on Aug. 23 in Vancouver, B.C. Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder opens the headlining dates. The tour marks the first time in 23 years Cummings and Bachman have toured as The Guess Who, following last year's legal triumph over what they call "the fake Guess Who," run for decades by bassist Jim Kale and drummer Garry Peterson, who cofounded the band with Bachman as Chad Allan & the Reflections during 1962 in Winnipeg. "It was enough already. They tarnished what we created," Cummings, who joined in 1966, told Billboard in a Zoom call with Bachman. "I remember I went on Facebook and talked to people and there were a lot of remarks about the fake Guess Who, about the band going on stage and kind of dishonoring the songs. So Randy and I are out here now, honoring the history of The Guess Who." Bachman adds, "You can only sit around for so long and watch people tarnish something you built, something that's intangible -- that's called a reputation. It's with music, it's with fans. It's making music that is the soundtrack of our lives, and everybody who hears it and buys it falls in love with it and cherishes it. To see it stolen and not given justice and then hearing about it from your fans was terrible. So be able to be part of that again and see the reaction of the fans, it's really special." The duo say they plan to keep The Guess Who on the road for the foreseeable future, but they say new music will have to wait. "There's no time for that right now," says Cummings, who released a solo album -- A Few Good Moments -- during 2024. "Right now, let's get out there and rekindle the legacy that has been tarnished. New music may come later, but that's not on our agenda right now. We're going out to rebuild what the fake band broke down." The band's ambitious 35-city North American tour will wrap in Vancouver, B.C. on Aug. 23. - Billboard, 3/3/26...... A group of siblings who claim they were abused by Michael Jackson have brought new child sex trafficking claims against the King of Pop's estate. Four of the five Cascio siblings -- Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole and Aldo -- alleged in a federal lawsuit filed on Feb. 27 that Jackson raped and molested them as children over the course of more than a decade, including at his Neverland ranch and while on the road for the Dangerous world tour and HIStory world tour in the 1990s. The fifth sibling, Frank Cascio, has made similar sex abuse claims in a separate pending legal proceeding. "Jackson groomed and brainwashed each plaintiff," reads the lawsuit, filed by attorney Howard King. "After the abuse started, he isolated them emotionally, and sometimes physically, from responsible adults and from each other. He plied them with drugs and alcohol. He showed them pornography, including pictures of unclothed children, to normalize the abuse and desensitize them. He made them fear and distrust others by convincing them that not only his life, but also their lives and the lives of their family members, would be destroyed if anyone found out what he was doing to them." A lawyer for Jackson's estate, Marty Singer, denied the Cascios' allegations in a Feb. 27 statement and said the new lawsuit is a "desperate money grab" and "transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael's estate and companies." - Billboard, 3/2/26...... Legendary Notre Dame college football coach Lou Holtz died on Mar. 4. He was 89. In his five-decade career, Mr. Holtz led football teams at several universities, including William & Mary, North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina. During his time with Notre Dame, he led the team -- known as The Fighting Irish -- to 100 victories. He won 249 total games across his 33 seasons of coaching. "Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime," Notre Dame said in a statement. The long-time Republican spoke at the party's convention in 2020 to endorse Donald Trump for president. Pres. Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honour, that December. "Holtz is remembered for his enduring values of faith, family, service, and an unwavering belief in the potential of others," his family said in a statement. Videos of his inspirational speeches to his players before games earned him fans in the years after his coaching career ended. Following his sport career, he went on to become a commentators for broadcasters ESPN and CBS. - The BBC, 3/4/26...... On Mar. 4 the Los Angeles City Council officially designated the iconic The Brady Bunch house in the San Fernando Valley as a Historic-Cultural Monument. The house was used for exterior shots only on The Brady Bunch and recently underwent a $1.9 million renovation to transform the interiors to match the show sets on HGTV's A Very Brady Renovation. The current owner, Tina Trahan, opened up the property for a limited run of tours in Nov. 2025. "Long before it became a pop culture pilgrimage site and backdrop for countless photo ops, the Brady Bunch House helped shape America's vision of family life in the late 1960s and early '70s -- especially the idea of a blended family," Adrian Scott, president of the L.A. Conservancy, told the Los Angeles Times. He added: "We're thrilled to see it now designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument, ensuring the Brady Bunch -- and their iconic home -- remain part of Los Angeles' story." On Jan. 15, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted to recommend the house, located at 11222 Dilling St., in Studio City, as a landmark. The Planning and Land Use Commission approved the designation a month later, and the city council made the final unanimous approval. The Brady home was first constructed in 1959 by architect Harry M. Londelius, according to the Times. It was later used in exterior shots of during The Brady Bunch's entire run from 1969 to 1974. All of the shows interior scenes were filmed on a studio set nearby. A $1.9 million renovation by HGTV brought in 28 million viewers as the Brady siblings helped perfect the 2,000 sq. ft., addition. In 2023, Brady superfan Trahan and her husband Chris Elbrecht, a former chief executive of HBO, purchased the property for $3.2 million, but at the time Trahan described it as "her worst investment ever." The network subsequently filmed a limited series entitled A Very Brady Renovation, in which hosts Drew and Jonathan Scott worked with fellow HGTV stars and the actors who played all six Brady kids to transform the interior of the home to match what was seen in the show. - People, 5/5/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on March 1st, 2026

Cher's son Elijah Blue Allman was arrested on Feb. 27 and charged with simple assault and trespassing after acting belligerently at an elite private high school in New Hampshire, of which he has no association. Allman, 49, was booked into the Merrimack County Jail and also charged with criminal threatening and disorderly conduct, the latter of which is illegal in the state but not considered a crime. At about 7 p.m., Concord police responded to reports that Allman was disturbing people in the dining hall of St. Paul's School. After charging Allman, police said he was released on bail as his case works through the court system. Allman, a resident of Southern California, has no apparent connection to the school, and it remains unclear why he was there. An investigation is ongoing, and reps for Cher and St. Paul's School have yet to comment on the incident. In June 2025, Allman was hospitalized following an overdose at his home after authorities responded to reports of erratic behavior. Drugs were later discovered at the residence, according to TMZ.com. The incident occurred roughly two months after his wife, Marieangela King, filed for divorce following 13 years of marriage. Cher sought a conservatorship over Elijah Blue in 2023, alleging he was "substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues." She also claimed King had interfered with his efforts to seek treatment, TMZ reported. The case was dismissed in late 2024. - AP/Billboard, 3/1/26...... Seventies artists Phil Collins and Joy Division/New Order are among the 17 new names proposed for induction into the class of 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the Cleveland-based hall and museum announced on Instagram on Feb. 25. Alternative faves Oasis made the shortlist for the third consecutive year, while Joy Division and New Order, who are listed together as one candidate, are also up for a third time, having been nominated in 2023 and 2025. Other repeat nominees are Mariah Carey, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Sade and The Black Crowes. First-time nominees include Collins, Lauryn Hill, Jeff Buckley, Wu-Tang Clan, Pink, INXS, Luther Vandross, Shakira, New Edition and Melissa Etheridge. As a member of Genesis, Collins was previously inducted into the Rock Hall in 2010, and if he were to be successful this year, he would become the 29th artist to be inducted into the Rock Hall multiple times. Joy Division, formed in Manchester, UK in 1976 and led by the late Ian Curtis, was one of Britain's most admired post-punk bands, and released their first album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979. A panel of more than 1200 artists, historians and industry professionals will choose the organization's class of 2026, and that announcement will be made in April. Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after their first commercial recording was released, and fans can also vote for their favorites at rockhall.com, with their top five choices being counted as one vote from the "fans ballot." - New Musical Express, 2/25/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's daughter Kelly Osbourne is pushing back at criticism of her appearance after she accepted a BRIT Awards Lifetime Achievement prize that had been awarded to Ozzy on Feb. 28. Kelly took the stage alongside her mother Sharon Osbourne, who delivered an emotional acceptance speech that Kelly accentuated by quipping, "Up the Villa," in tribute to Ozzy's beloved Aston Villa (the speech can be viewed on YouTube). In the hours following the show, however, Kelly posted on her Instagram Stories (also available on X/Twitter) to reveal that she had received some abusive messages about her appearance on the show. Without specifying the nature of the criticisms, she wrote: "There is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something. Kicking me while I'm down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most." "None of it proves strength," she continued. "It only reveals a profound absence of compassion and character. I'm currently going through the hardest time in my life. I should not even have to defend myself. But I won't sit here and allow myself to be dehumanized in such a way!" It comes after previous comments from Kelly in Dec. 2025 in which she hit back at hurtful comments about her weight loss. "To the people who keep thinking they're being funny and mean by writing comments like 'Are you ill?' or 'Get off Ozempic, you don't look right'. My dad just died, and I'm doing the best that I can," she said. Also during the ceremony, pop star Robbie Williams led an all-star tribute to Ozzy, singing "No More Tears" backed by a band made up of regular Ozzy collaborators Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde. Fan-shot footage can be streamed on X/Twitter. - NME, 3/1/26...... Country/pop icon Dolly Parton is getting a Tennessee children's hospital renamed in her honor as the East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., announced on Feb. 26 it will now be known as the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. Parton has long been known for her commitment to helping those in her native Tennessee and for helping children. And she's done so with businesses and programs including her Dollywood theme park and the Imagination Library, which provides books for children under age 5. In a video announcement on Instagram, Parton said, "Now I've always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up, healthy, hopeful and surrounded by love. That belief is what brought me together with the incredible folks at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. For nearly 90 years, their teams have provided compassionate and talented care. They see children not just as patients, but as precious lives, each with a story and with a future... when we come together for our children, there's no limit to what we can do." The Knoxville-based 152-bed East Tennessee Children's Hospital opened in 1937 and offers full capabilities to care for seriously ill children in a unique environment, as well as providing pediatric health care training opportunities for smaller hospitals. - Billboard, 2/26/26...... A source close to Mick Jagger is denying that he gave the producers of the new Melania Trump documentary Melania permission to use The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" in the film. Melania producer Marc Beckman had told Variety that Jagger not only approved of the song's use, but was also "actually involved" and "gave his blessing." Now a source close to Jagger has told The Guardian that he felt scepticism over Jagger's cooperation was required as the producer was attempting to promote the documentary. A spokesperson for the Stones also told the newspaper that the band did not liaise with Beckman over the use of the track in the film, and that the deal was made between the producers and music company ABKCO, which owns the rights to the band's pre-1971 material. The film, which follows the First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Pres. Donald Trump's second inauguration in Jan. 2025, opens in his Mar-a-Lago resort using "Gimme Shelter" as the soundtrack. Guns N' Roses, Grace Jones and Prince's estate all refused to have their music used in Melania. The Stones have previously objected to the use of their music in Trump rallies, too, alongside Guns N' Roses, Jones, Prince's estate, Foo Fighters, ABBA, Adele, Neil Young, Queen, R.E.M, Jack White, Celine Dion and Bruce Springsteen. - NME, 2/27/26..... Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, it has been announced that Tom Morello will join the New Jersey rocker and his E Street Band at every show of the upcoming "Land Of Hope And Dreams" US tour. On Feb. 17, the the Boss announced the 19-date run of arena and stadium dates, which will pointedly kick off in the beleaguered Minneapolis, Minn., on March 31 and wrap up in Washington, DC on May 27. The shows are sure to be politically charged, given Springsteen's recent fiery contribution to the anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis and beyond, which included a raucous show at First Avenue in the city on Jan. 30, where he debuted his new anti-Donald Trump song "Streets Of Minneapolis." That show was organised by Rage Against The Machine's Morello, and now it has been confirmed that the singer/guitarist will join Springsteen for the entire tour, playing on "selected songs" at every date. Announcing the tour, Springsteen said: "We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair -- the cavalry is coming!" Speaking about joining the 'Land Of Hope And Dreams' tour, Morello has said: "I was reminded how important our platform is, and how crucial the resistance work is that our music can do together at this dangerous historical juncture. Together, Bruce, the E Street Band, and I are going to turn a spotlight on the current threats to democracy and human rights happening all around us on the 'Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour' in the spirit of freedom, justice and rock n roll." - NME, 2/25/26...... Paul McCartney has revealed his favorite films after joining the online social cataloging service and fan review site Letterboxd.com. Sir Paul gave an interview to his website, paulmccartney.com, on Feb. 26, where he was asked about his favorite films and documentaries. He told fans that tends to like movies and documentaries more than long series, and one that "really stuck" with him is the 2021 film Cow, which chronicles the daily life of a dairy cow. "It's pretty hardcore, but very good. It reminded me of Linda's song of the same name, which is equally as powerful." Then, in response to a question about the film reviewing website, McCartney shared his top four films. "The Girl Can't Help It, I always love that one and watch it again and again," he wrote. "On the Waterfront, with Marlon Brando, fantastic film. Get Out, I think Jordan Peele did a great job with that. And The Last Waltz - that's a nice one to round it out." Macca then officially joined Letterboxd, where he listed the above films as his favorites. He also gave some insight into his new documentary, Paul McCartney: Man On The Run, writing that watching the film was "like a period of my life flashing before my eyes." "It's wonderful because it's full of different emotions and facets. One of the big things for me is seeing so much of Linda, which is great for me and the kids," he added. The documentary, directed by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Best Of Enemies) arrived on Amazon Prime Video on Feb. 27, and an accompanying soundtrack was released the same day. - NME, 2/27/26...... Actress Lauren Chapin, known for playing the giggly tomboy daughter of Robert Young in the popular 1950s sitcom Father Knows Best, died on Feb. 24 in Miami. She was 80. Her death, in a hospital, was confirmed by her daughter, Summer Chapin, who said the cause was cancer. Ms. Chapin played the youngest of the three wholesome, upbeat, all-American children in the show, known as "Kitten," but led a personal life in traumatic contrast to her best-remembered role. As she wrote in a well-received memoir, Ms. Chapin was raised by a sexually abusive father and an alcoholic mother who pushed her three children into acting careers. Her life completely fell apart, she said, after Father Knows Best went off the air in 1960, and she began to feel like a 14-year-old has-been. By the time she was 18, she said, she made several suicide attempts, was married and divorced, and had eight miscarriages. In 1964, she sued her mother for her television earnings, claiming her mother had forced her to sign over all rerun benefits. She later said she never earned any money from syndication. I really felt like God was out to get me," Ms. Chapin recalled in a 1989 interview on the syndicated talk show Live With Regis and Kathie Lee. She spent nearly two decades in crises -- addicted to heroin, working as a call girl, in prison for check forgery, stints in psychiatric facilities -- until she said she became a born-again Christian and evangelical minister. She reportedly raised millions of dollars to help abused children and gave religious testimonials about suffering and endurance. "I'm not proud of my past, but in a strange way, I'm thankful for it," she once said. "If Christ can love a person like I was, He can love anyone. To me, that's the real message of my past." Ms. Chapin's marriages to Gerald Jones, Wilton Walls Jr. and Robert L. Kelley ended in divorce. In addition to her children Summer and Matthew, both from relationships, she is survived by a brother, Michael Chapin; and two grandsons. Her brother Billy Chapin, who as a child starred with Robert Mitchum in the Gothic-horror film The Night of the Hunter (1955), died in 2016. - The New York Times, 2/25/26...... Flamboyant actor/singer Monti Rock III, known for his scene-stealing role as DJ Monti in the iconic 1977 film classic Saturday Night Fever, passed away in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 23. He was 86. While central character John Travolta's star-making turn as Tony Manero remains central to the film's legacy, fans also remember the supporting characters who gave the story its emotional weight and authenticity. One of these actors was Monti Rock III, who played the beloved DJ Monti at the disco the characters visited, The 2001. Mr. Rock is best remembered from a scene (which can be viewed on YouTube) where he calls out to Travolta and his fellow dancers. He says, "Hello, again! This is beautiful Monti, your delicious DJ!" Odyssey. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mr. Rock died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The site confirmed Rock's death via a longtime friend, Lucille Thaler. She added that he had been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the years before his death, and also stated that in Dec. 2024, he suffered a broken hip, for which he received surgery. In an undated interview with the website UltimateClassicBands.com, Mr. Rock discussed his career, including his work with Disco-Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, a disco group that had two hit singles, "Get Dancin'" (1974) and "I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo (Doo Dat Dance)" (1975). The group later earned a lyrical nod from the Pet Shop Boys on their 1996 album Bilingual, with the song "Electricity" referencing them in the line, "It's the greatest show with the best effects, since Disco Tex & the Sex-O-Lettes." To UltimateClassicRock.com, the entertainer claimed the group had sold "seven million records" and released three albums before SNF producer Robert Stigwood recruited him to appear in the now-classic film. Of his role in SNF, Mr. Rock said, "It made me legit in many ways. Robert Stigwood liked me basically. It changed my life, actually. I had three years of premieres and talk shows, and I made a lot of money. I did a few other bad films." The entertainer also made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. - Parade, 2/25/26.

Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, known for hits such as "Bad Blood," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Laughter in the Rain," died in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, after being rushed to a local hospital earlier in the day when he said he was feeling unwell. He was 86. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," a family statement posted to the singer's Instagram account said. "A true rock n' roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed." Born on Mar. 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Mr. Sedaka began his career while he was still a teen in the 1950s, becoming one of the world's first teen pop stars. He would go on to form The Tokens, a doo-wop group which later had a hit of its own with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," before meeting his neighbor Howard Greenfield, who would become his songwriting partner, with their partnership going on to sell 40 million records in just the four years between 1959 and 1964. While on a two-year scholarship to the Julliard School in New York City, he sold his first tune, "Stupid Cupid," a hit for Connie Francis in 1958, as was his "Where The Boys Are" (which Francis sang in the hit teen movie of the same name) in 1961. On the advice of fellow songwriter Doc Pomus, he signed with Al Nevins and Don Kirshner's Aldon Publishing, which got him signed with RCA Records as a singer. In 1959 he had two hits: "The Diary" (#14) and "I Go Ape" (#42). More Sedaka-Greenfield hits followed between 1959-1962: "Oh! Carol" (#9), "Stairway to Heaven" (#9), "Calendar Girl" (#4), "Little Devil" (#11) and "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" (#6), "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (#1) and "Next Door to an Angel" (#5). After his performing career slowed in 1963, Mr. Sedaka and Greenfield continued to write hits for others, including "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" and "Puppet Man" for the Fifth Dimension and "Rainy Jane" for Davy Jones. After Mr. Sedaka began a performing comeback in England in 1973 he split up with Greenfield, and made three LPs in Britain with Graham Gouldman of 10cc coproducing. Elton John then helped him resume his U.S. performing and recording career, first by reissuing cuts from the three British LPs on one U.S. package, Sedaka's Back, then by signing him to his Rocket Records label. Sedaka's Back (#23, 1974) and The Hungry Years (#16, 1975) both went gold. "Laughter In the Rain" was a No. 1 hit for Mr. Sedaka in 1974, and his "Love Will Keep Us Together" (cowritten with Greenfield) was a No. 1 hit for the Captain and Tennille, winning a 1975 Grammy as Record of the Year. His second recording streak culminated in 1975 with another No. 1 smash, "Bad Blood," which featured Elton on backing vocals. He followed it with a bluesy reworking of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (#8, 1976), and "Love in the Shadows" (#8, 1976). He then resumed his songwriting collaboration with Greenfield, and became a successful MOR ballad singer and made numerous concert and TV appearances, including being one of Saturday Night Live's first musical guests, and also appearing as a guest judge on American Idol. In all, he had 30 songs reach the Billboard pop chart, with nine of them becoming top 10 hits, and 11 of his albums making the all-genre Billboard Hot 200 album chart. In 1980 he and his daughter Dara Sedaka recorded "Should've Never Let You Go," which reached No. 19 on the pop chart. In addition to his five Grammy nods, Mr. Sedaka was also celebrated and recognized for his work throughout his career. He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and Special International Award from the British professional songwriters association The Ivors, and more. Although his fans mounted a sustained campaign to have him inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame over the years, he was never inducted or nominated. In 2024, Mr. Sedaka partnered with Primary Wave to acquire a stake to the masters and publishing rights of his catalog. He is survived by his wife, Leba -- whom he married in 1962 -- daughter Dara, son Marc, and three grandchildren. - Billboard/The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock, 2/27/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on February 24th, 2026

Describing his latest visit to his surgeon as "very depressing," Barry Manilow announced on Feb. 20 that he's postponing more shows on his rescheduled arena tour which had been set to launch in Tampa, Fla. on Feb. 27. Manilow, 82, posted on Instagram that he's taking additional time off as he continues recovering from cancer surgery in mid-January relating to a stage one lung cancer diagnosed late in 2025. "I was sure that I would be able to do the Arena shows in a few weeks," the "Mandy" singer wrote. But he says his doctor "shook his head" and told him, "Barry, you won't be ready to do a 90 minute show. Your lungs aren't ready yet. You're in great shape considering what you've been through, but your body isn't ready. You shouldn't do the first Arena shows. You won't make it through." Manilow admitted that he had "a feeling" the surgeon would respond that way. "Deep down, I wanted to go back -- but my body knew what my heart didn't want to admit: I wasn't ready," he wrote. Although Manilow is rescheduling his first 13 arena shows, his doctor said it was still "likely" he could still perform shows on his Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino residency on March 26-28 and April 2-4. "Deep down, I wanted to go back -- but my body knew what my heart didn't want to admit: I wasn't ready," the singer wrote. "I'm SO, SO sorry I have to reschedule some of these first Arena shows. Again!" His official website is still listing sold-out U.S. concert dates for mid- through late April. - Billboard, 2/22/26...... Rush fans across the word received good news on Feb. 23 as founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced on Instagram that they will be touring across the UK, Europe and South America in 2027. The new run of shows, set to kick off in June, following an announcement by the duo earlier that they would be returning to the stage this year for a "Fifty Something Tour" across the US, Canada and Mexico. The legendary Canadian prog-rockers last performed together for a farewell tour in 2015, playing 35 headline shows across North America, five years before drummer/lyricist Neal Peart died from brain cancer in early 2020, aged 67. The new tour will mark their first live shows without Peart. All 22 North American live shows planned immediately sold-out, leading to more dates being added -- bringing the total shows of the 2026 leg to 58. So far, 24 shows in 13 countries have been confirmed, marking the first time the band has played in Europe since 2013, as well as 17 years since visiting South America. They are pegged as an "Evening With Rush" event, and will see the band play two sets each night. Joining Lee and Lifeson will be German drummer, composer, and producer Anika Nilles, who has performed as Jeff Beck's drummer and has released four solo albums. Also joining them will be The Who's keyboard player, Loren Gold. Dates for the 2027 tour kick off in Buenos Aires on Jan. 15, and continue with stops in So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and more, before heading over to Europe the following month. Those shows include stops in Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and more in February, before four UK dates in March. UK shows include a stop at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Mar. 8, a show at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Mar. 12, and two gigs at The O2 in London on Mar. 16 and 18. From there, seven more dates are planned for Europe, closing with a show at the Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki on Apr. 10. "We can't wait to get back to all these cities we haven't played in so long, as well as hitting some new places we've yet to play," Lee said in a statement. "Both Alex and I are loving the hours of rehearsal time we're spending with Anika and now Loren, learning around 40 songs which will enable us to keep the shows evolving, playing some different songs on different nights." In January, Rush released RUSH 50, a 50-track super deluxe anthology, and on Mar. 13, they'll drop an expanded boxset of their 10th studio album originally released in 1984, Grace Under Pressure. - New Musical Express, 2/23/26...... In the new Paul McCartney and Wings documentary Man on the Run, Sean Ono Lennon comes to McCartney's defense over Paul's surprisingly terse response when interviewed shortly after John Lennon's murder in December 1980. Sir Paul ended the minute-long interview about his lifelong friend and Beatles bandmate by saying, "Drag isn't it? OK, cheers. Bye-bye." Nearly half a century later, the son of Lennon and Yoko Ono has responded to McCartney's "robotic" reaction in the new documentary. "I always notice the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice. Really felt like someone who was unable to process what was going on," Sean, 50, says in Man on the Run. "He just seemed almost robotic, which I think some people took possibly as coldness, but I never took it as that, 'cause I understood even then what it was like when something that terrible happens," he added. In a later TV interview, Macca explained his cold remarks. "I had plenty of sort of personal grief, but I'm not very good at kind of public grief," he said. "All I could muster was like, 'It's a drag,' and it was like I couldn't say anything else, I just couldn't." In the documentary, Paul's daughter Stella McCartney recalled the exact moment her dad got the phone call notifying him of Lennon's death. "I remember that moment. I remember the phone ringing. I remember some, the biggest reaction I'd ever seen, and him leaving the kitchen and going outside," the fashion designer, 54, says. "That was heartbreaking, like truly heartbreaking." Man on the Run is in theaters on Feb. 19 and Feb. 22. The film features archival footage from the decade leading up to Lennon's death, along with interviews with McCartney, Lennon, and others. It will stream on Amazon Prime starting Feb. 27. An official trailer has been shared on YouTube. - The Daily Beast, 2/19/26...... Longtime Journey fans were predictably excited when the band co-founder keyboardist Jonathan Cain hinted that he and bandmate guitarist Neal Schon had asked original singer Steve Perry to rejoin the group for their 60-show "Final Frontier" goodbye North American tour. "Neal already asked," Cain told UltimateClassicRock.com earlier in February, "and he [Perry] says he's thinking about it. I hope he comes out. It's never too late. We've got 100 shows, so he's welcome at any one of them." However their hopes were dashed when Perry definitively shut the door on a final tour with his old mates in an X/Twitter post on Feb. 20. "I've been hearing these recent rumors, and I wanted to speak to you all directly," Perry wrote. "While I'm always grateful for the love people still have for Journey, the rumors about me rejoining the band are simply not true, and I want to gently put them to rest. I completely understand why people would hope for that. The music we created together means a great deal to me too." Perry added that he plans to continue working on "new creative work" and focusing on music that reflects where he is today. "Thank you for your continued support throughout the years," he added. "Your loyalty has never gone unnoticed, and I am forever humbly grateful." Since leaving the band he had fronted since 1978 in 1987, Perry has released the 2018 solo album Traces and the 2021 Christmas album The Season, as well as dueting with Dolly Parton on a cover of Journey's "Open Arms" on her 2023 Rockstar album and singing backing vocals on songs by Robert Cray, Mindi Abair and a number of others. Journey's lineup for what is being billed as their farewell tour will include Cain, guitarist Neal Schon and vocalist Arnel Pineda, as well as drummer/singer Dean Castronovo, keyboardist/singer Jason Derlatka and bassist Todd Jensen. - Billboard, 2/20/26...... Sharon Osbourne has said that her late husband Ozzy Osbourne "knew" he was nearing the end of his life around the time of the "Back To The Beginning" final show in the summer of 2025, but powered through because "he wanted to do it so bad." Speaking about Ozzy's health in the run-up to the epic gig during an appearance on the Dumb Blonde podcast, Sharon said that the Prince Of Darkness was aware of his ill health around the time of the show, but was determined to make it to the event. "Two weeks before the show, they said he could probably die, and he did. But he wanted to do it so bad," she said. "He needed it. And [he was] like, 'Whether I die in two weeks or I die in six months, I'm still dying. And I want to go my way.' And he did. He went like a rock star." She also opened up about how the Heavy Metal pioneer had fought off sepsis earlier that year, and as a result "knew it was time" to start thinking realistically about the limited time he had left. "When he came out [of hospital], they said, 'You know, Ozzy, this could kill you.' And he said, 'I'm doing my show.' He went out like a king," she shared. "The thing is when you've lived your life that way, it was, like, 'OK, six months more to go out the way I want to go out'," she added. "It's like when you get really old who is still smoking and they're 78 years of age, you're like 'Just let him smoke. Leave him alone. He's 78.' He went the way he wanted to go. He knew." Sharon also went on to say that his death, aged 76, happened "so quick," and described him as "a king." "He loved people. He loved his audience. He loved them so much. And even if you didn't like his music, you couldn't dislike him," she added, also saying that she is still finding it "hard" to come to terms with the loss. "I'm getting there. It's hard," she said. "I'm gonna keep working and I'm going to keep doing what I do in my life. And that's it." Sharon's full Dumb Blonde interview can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 2/24/26...... The estate of "Shaft" icon Isaac Hayes has reached a private settlement with Donald Trump after suing the president and his campaign. The case was launched over the unauthorized use of the 1966 soul classic "Hold On, I'm Comin'," co-penned by Hayes and R&B duo Sam & Dave who made the song famous, at Trump's campaign rallies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the estate had previously demanded $3 million (£2.22 million), Rolling Stone reports. In court filings, the estate accused Trump of personally selecting the song and playing it at least 133 times without permission. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, also alleged the campaign recorded and distributed videos containing the song despite objections from Hayes' heirs. "Donald Trump represents the worst in integrity and class with his disrespect and sexual abuse of women and racist rhetoric," the musician's son, Isaac Hayes III, wrote on social media in an X post that has since been deleted. On Feb. 23, the estate filed a voluntary dismissal in federal court. In a statement, representatives for the estate said the lawsuit had been "mutually resolved" and that the family was "satisfied with the outcome." "This resolution represents more than the conclusion of a legal matter," the statement read. Isaac Hayes died in 2008, and his estate is one of several artists who have taken action over unauthorized use of their music at Trump rallies, including The White Stripes, Eddy Grant, Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Tom Petty, Village People and Celine Dion. - Music-News.com, - 2/24/26...... In related news, just hours after Donald Trump White House communications director Steven Cheung referred to Bruce Springsteen as a "loser" in a pun-filled statement denigrating the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's announcement of an upcoming U.S. arena tour, Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin had his own spicy retort. Cheung, in a statement to Politico.com, said: "When this loser Springsteen comes back home to his own City of Ruins in his head, he'll realize his Glory Days are behind him and his fans have left him Out in the Street, putting him in a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out because he has a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain. Now Rep. Raskin, a frequent critic of the president, has responded, writing on X/Twitter on Feb. 18: "America has no kings, but we've got one Boss and his name is Bruce Springsteen. Unlike our faux-King, the Boss fights for freedom and democracy for everyone. I cannot wait to hear him sing "Streets of Minneapolis' loud enough to rattle the walls of what's left of the White House." The latter was a pointed reference both to Trump's dismantling of the historic East Wing of the White House in October to make way for the president's long-dreamed-of gilded ballroom, as well as the ire provoked by Springsteen's powerful anthem memorializing the killing of American citizen and mother of three Renee Good, 37, by an ICE agent Jonathan Ross in January. Raskin then took another swipe at Trump by doubling-down on conservative group Turning Point USA's attempt to counter Bad Bunny's historic halftime show with a pre-taped Kid Rock livestream by making a salacious suggestion. "Maybe the President will counter-program when Springsteen comes to town by singing a love song to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Trump-Kennedy Center, another American institution Trump is bulldozing," he wrote, in reference to the late convicted child sex offender and trafficker (and his imprisoned accomplice), who was close friends with Trump, who reportedly has been mentioned in the Epstein files over 1,000 times, for many years. Raskin, who said he's seen The Boss 13 times, added that he can "feel it in my bones -- Bruce and the band are going to bring a Rock-and-Roll Resurrection to America and a Rock-and-Roll Exorcism to Washington, D.C. This may be the hottest ticket on the planet. I will be very much out in the street when they come to town." - Billboard, 2/19/26...... "Boldly going" where even he hasn't gone before, legendary Star Trek actor William Shatner has announced he's planning a new Heavy Metal album featuring covers of the likes of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and others. In an Instagram post on Feb. 19, the 94-year-old actor best known for playing the irascible James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek series and movies as well as police sergeant T.J. Hooker in the 1980s, said that "I have explored space. I have explored time. Now... I explore distortion. Yes. You read that correctly. I am releasing a HEAVY METAL album." He continued: "Thirty-five metal virtuosos. Thunderous guitars. Chaos with purpose. Covers of legends like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest -- and a few originals forged in the same cosmic fire." "This project is, quite literally, a gathering of forces. Loud imagination. Honest intensity. Unapologetic exploration," the articulate Shatner closed. Although Shatner didn't reveal the album title, which classic metal songs he's covering, or who those virtuoso players will be, according to Blabbermouth.com he promised that the collection will be "a gathering of forces -- each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty." Shatner first made his musical debut back in 1968 with the beyond bizarre The Transformed Man LP featuring his florid readings of The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" and Elton John's "Rocket Man." An author, civilian astronaut, equestrian and pitchman -- Shatner is currently appearing in a cheeky Kellogg's Raisin Bran commercial as "Will Shat," and has recorded with a number of hard rock icons in the past. Among the legends he's rocked with are Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore, the MC5's Wayne Kramer and punk icon Henry Rollins, among many others. "At 94, one does not slow down. One turns the volume up," he said in his post. "So prepare yourselves. We are about to boldly headbang where no one has headbanged before. Stay tuned. The metal voyage begins this year." - Billboard, 2/20/26.

As hundreds of Ozzy Osbourne fans dressed in honor of the late Prince of Darkness during the 2026 edition of the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Ozzy's widow Sharon Osbourne shared her approval. A video on Instagram shows a group called the Dead Rock Stars marching through the city during the Krewe Of Muses parade on Feb. 12 wearing Ozzy's iconic round glasses, and donning long dark wigs, crucifix jewellery and black clothing. There is also a flame-emblazoned float in tribute to Osbourne, as well as some banners, as Ozzy's 1991 ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home" plays over a sound system in the street. The Grand Marshall was someone dressed as Sharon on board the float. Sharon then showed her appreciation of the nod by sharing a video from the event on her Instagram Stories feed. According to BBC News, more than 200 people took part in the Ozzy homage. Meanwhile, Sharon has reportedly been offered an ABBA Voyage style hologram show for Ozzy's final "Back To The Beginning" charity concert held in his hometown of Birmingham, UK in July 2025, just weeks before he passed away at the age of 76. "The plan was always to put the concert out in some form, but naturally, after Ozzy died, everything stopped," a source close to the Osbournes told the UK paper The Sun. "Sharon is now in a place where she is able to think about work again and is considering the options on the table. Talks are ongoing and the offers range from a simple concert film to an ABBA Voyage-style show," he added. - New Musical Express, 2/18/26...... Proclaiming "the cavalry is coming," Bruce Springsteen announced on Feb. 17 that he and his E Street Band will launch a 2026 "Land of Hope & Dreams Tour" in Minneapolis' Target Center on Mar. 31 for a 20-city run that will wrap in Washington, D.C. on May 27. "We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair -- the cavalry is coming!" said Springsteen in a YouTube video. "Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be taking the stage this spring from Minneapolis to California to Texas to Washington, D.C., for the Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour. We will be rocking your town in celebration and in defense of America -- American democracy, American freedom, our American Constitution and our sacred American dream -- all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government in Washington, D.C. Everyone, regardless of where you stand or what you believe in, is welcome -- so come on out and join the United Free Republic of E Street Nation for an American spring of Rock n' Rebellion! I'll see you there!" Springsteen has relentlessly attacked Pres. Donald Trump and his immigration enforcement policies, including the actions of the ICE agency under his administration, both before and after the controversial shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE officers in Minneapolis. His latest tour will mark the first E Street Band shows in North America since 2024. The European leg of "The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour" played to more than 700,000 fans across Europe last spring and summer before concluding in Milan. Other dates on the tour include Portland, Ore. (4/3), Inglewood, Calif. (4/7, 9), San Francisco (4/13), Phoenix (4/16), Newark, N.J. (4/20), Sunrise, Fla. (4/23), Austin, Tex. (4/26), Chicago (4/29), Atlanta (5/2), Belmont Park, N.Y. (5/5), Philadelphia (5/8), New York City (5/11), Brooklyn, N.Y. (5/14), Pittsburgh (5/19), Cleveland, Oh. (5/22) and Boston (5/24) before wrapping at the Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on May 27. Not surprisingly, a spokesman for Pres. Trump hit back at the Boss's tour announcement, calling the New Jersey rocker a "loser" whose tour will flop. "When this loser Springsteen comes back home to his own City of Ruins in his head, he'll realize his Glory Days are behind him and his fans have left him Out in the Street, putting him in a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out because he has a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain," Steven Cheung told Politico.com. "Bruce Springsteen has long made clear he's no Trump fan -- a message he's doubling down on with his new tour," he added. Recently, Springsteen has criticized Trump's deployment of ICE across the country, calling for ICE to "get the f--- out of Minneapolis" and lent his classic 1984 hit "Born In The U.S.A." to soundtrack a new anti-ICE video. - Billboard/NME, 2/17/26...... Baz Luhrmann, the Australian filmmaker behind the 2022 ELVIS biopic and the new EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert documentary, has revealed he's working on a stage musical centred around the life and career of Presley. During an interview with Dan Morrissey for the Magic Radio podcast (available for streaming on Instagram), Luhrmann was asked about rumors he was considering future projects about the iconic singer, and said that he's thinking of doing a stage production next. "It's being worked on, it's happening," he replied. "I don't know if I was supposed to announce it but, hey, I just did." He added that while he is behind the project, he isn't heavily involved this time around -- likening it to how he enlisted writer/director Alex Timbers to take the reins on the 2001 film adaptation of Moulin Rouge. "I'm not doing it because I have this thing I've learned I can never go backwards," he said. "I can't be me when I was 28 doing Romeo + Juliet [1996], but I love handing it on. I'm not precious. I'm like 'Take my baby!'." Luhrmann has also teased multiple times that a four-hour "director's assembly" version of his 2022 ELVIS film could be on the way, and has also created the latest documentary and concert film about the "Burning Love" singer. Meanwhile, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in Sept. 2025. It focuses on the singer's 1970 Las Vegas residency, features narration from Elvis himself from rediscovered audio recordings, and also utilizes over 50-hours of never-before-seen footage that Luhrmann uncovered while working on the 2022 biopic. It will be released in IMAX theatres on Feb. 20 before a general cinematic release the following week. Sony and RCA Records recently confirmed the full tracklist for the soundtrack, which includes remixes of classic live recordings and new mixes. - New Musical Express, 2/16/26...... Public Enemy's Chuck D has responded to KISS's Gene Simmons' recent comments that hip-hop shouldn't belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Earlier in February, Simmons appeared on the Legends and Leaders podcast and hit out at the inclusion of hip-hop in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the episode, Simmons lamented "the fact that Iron Maiden is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash is." The fire-breathing rocker also hit out at the hip-hop/rap genre itself in a racially veiled comment. "It's not my music. I don't come from the ghetto. It doesn't speak my language." Simmons faced an onslaught of backlash for his "tone deaf" comments, including from Chuck D, who took to social media to reiterate that rock and roll as a term was more inclusive than he made out. Talking to TMZ.com, the rapper said Simmons had wilfully forgotten about the "roll" part of the Hall's name, which spans several genres. "Everything else other than rock, when rock 'n' roll splintered in the '60s, is the roll," he said. "Soul music, reggae, hip-hop, which is rap music. Hip-hop is a culture, so it embodies sight, sound, story, and style. But music, the vocal on top of the music, has already been determined. So that's the roll, that's flow, that's the soul in it. KISS are rock gods, but they don't have a lot of roll to them." Simmons made similar waves in 2016 following NWA's induction into the Rock Hall Of Fame, telling Rolling Stone at the time he was "looking forward to the death of rap." At that year's ceremony, hip-hop artist MC Ren responded to his comments and pointedly told him: "Hip-hop is here forever. We're supposed to be here." - NME, 2/15/26...... Rare and high-quality footage of Led Zepplin performing in Amsterdam in the early '70s has surfaced online. The "Stairway To Heaven" rock icons played in the Dutch capital in May 1972, just six months after the release of their classic fourth album Led Zeppelin ("IV"), at one of two warm-up shows for their US tour later that year. Footage of the show was captured for the Dutch music TV show Popzien but has only previously appeared online in low quality -- but now a high-resolution four-minute clip has surfaced. It shows the band arriving at the airport in Amsterdam, where they are greeted by the rock promoter Lou Van Rees, and then shows the opening of their show at the 10,000-capacity Oude RAI Amsterdam, including the first song of the gig, "Immigrant Song." After the Amsterdam show on May 27, they played in Brussels the following night, before kicking off the US tour in Detroit on June 6. The rare footage can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 2/14/26...... In related news, Alex Van Halen has revealed his intentions to perform unheard Van Halen, and is in search of a lead singer. The 72-year-old co-founding VH drummer has teamed up with hard-rock/AOR multi-instrumentalist Steve Lukather to help complete what had originally been intended as the band's next studio album before iconic guitarist Eddie Van Halen's death in 2020. Speaking to Brazilian YouTube channel KazaGasto, Van Halen explained that fans have long asked about unheard tracks, but he's determined not to release anything that feels incomplete. "We're not putting anything out in its early, unfinished state -- that wouldn't make sense," he said. "I'm lucky to have Steve Lukather, who was very close to Ed, and we're working on shaping a record that meets the standard we left off at. It can't just be, 'Here's some music we found.' It has to be up to our expectations." The musician went on to clarify that the core of the album was already in motion before Eddie's passing."These recordings were meant to become the next Van Halen record, but everything stopped when Ed died," he noted. "The drums, guitar and bass are already there. What we never got to was the vocals -- and all the subtle touches, the glue that holds it together." Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen's original bass parts remain part of the sessions, and now Alex and Lukather are focused on finding the perfect singer. Their first choice, Free/Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers, was unable to take part due to health issues, and Alex says the singer, like Rodgers, needs to come from their generation to truly connect with the material. "Music is about shared experience. I'm 72 -- we need someone who lived through the same musical era we did. Otherwise, it won't have the same depth," Alex shared. Past lead vocalists of VH include David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone. - Music-News.com, 2/19/26...... Members of Toronto's Art Gallery of Ontario will be able to preview Paul McCartney's "Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm" photo exhibit during it's only Canadian stop beginning on Feb. 26. The exhibit, spread over 10,000 square feet on the AGO's fifth floor, is made up of 250 pictures taken by the Beatles' singer-bassist-songwriter over three months between Dec. 1963 and Feb. 1964 as the Fab Four travelled from Liverpool to London, Paris, New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami. "It's very much a show about memory," Flavia Frigeri, Curatorial and Collections Director at the National Portrait Gallery, London, said during a media preview on Feb. 18. "It's also very much about collective memory. It's almost like a time capsule. And during this time, it was really the whirlwind of Beatlemania and it all started with a Pentax camera that Paul McCartney took along with him on this journey." Frigeri said it wasn't until 2020 that the photos, part of a 1,000-picture collection, were unearthed from the McCartney Productions archive and the exhibit debuted first in London in 2023 and has since travelled the world, now landing in Toronto. McCartney first was introduced to photography through his younger brother Mike McCartney and would go on to marry accomplished photographer Linda Eastman. His daughter Mary McCartney is also a photographer. Among the exhibit's photo highlights in black and white and color are backstage shots at concerts and TV studios, and videos of them at a news conference in America and on The Ed Sullivan Show. "Paul McCartney - Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm" is open to AGO Members' until Feb 26, then passholders until Mar. 22, and then the public from Mar. 24-June 7. - Canoe.com, 2/18/26...... In the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast Rock & Roll High School, legendary guitarist/songwriter Richard Thompson joins two-time Grammy-winning producer Pete Ganbarg to chronicle a five-decade career that redefined British folk-rock. Thompson, a founding member of Fairport Convention, offers an intimate look at a legacy built on what he calls the delicate balance of "tradition and innovation." Reflecting on his formative years in London, Thompson recalls witnessing the birth of British rock at the Marquee Club, specifically the early residency of The Who. "It was quite extraordinary," Thompson says. "The Who in the early days were writing great short pop songs before it became bombastic, anthemic, stadium-sized -- it was really wonderful, tight, well-constructed music." Thompson's journey took a pivotal turn when he met producer Joe Boyd, a figure he credits with the survival of his creative circle. "I don't know what would have happened without Joe on the scene," Thompson explains. "I'm not sure anybody else had the ears to take someone like Nick Drake and allow him to express himself... He is so important to us." The episode dives deep into the highs and lows of the Fairport era, including the "deeply traumatic" van accident that claimed the lives of his drummer and girlfriend, as well as the origins of the anthem "Meet on the Ledge." Thompson notes with a sense of wonder that the song has now "become public property." A songwriter's songwriter, Thompson has seen his work covered by everyone from R.E.M. to Bonnie Raitt. However, one specific interpretation stands above the rest. "Tom Jones is the one that would absolutely knock my socks off," he says of the Welsh legend's cover of "Dimming Of The Day." "In terms of what a great guy, what a great singer -- and how flattering to have Tom do your song." From his iconic duo with Linda Thompson to his enduring solo career, Richard Thompson remains a master of his craft. Thompson will kick off a 5-date US tour at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on Mar. 26, then visit Solana Beach, Calif. (4/1), Santa Barbara, Calif. (4/5), Napa, Calif. (4/11) and Seattle (4/17). - Music-News.com, 2/13/26...... A video of John Travolta speaking about his private plane use has sparked outrage online, and this comes after a photo of Travolta's Florida mansion that some called "disgusting" showed a couple of his jets casually parked in the back. In a YouTube Short from 10X Studios shared on Sept. 28, Grant Cardone asked him in an interview, "Why do you have three planes?... I got one plane. I barely can handle it." "It's a practical reason. I'm a pilot myself. ... If I have one jet that's inoperable, I have one to back it up," the Saturday Night Fever icon responded. The interview was originally taped in front of a live audience as part of the 10X Growth Conference 2021 on building wealth. The lavish setup at his home, which includes a runway almost leading straight to his door as part of the Jumbolair Aviation & Equestrian Estates community he lives in, received backlash online just several months ago. The property sits in an aviation-themed community in Ocala, Fla., designed for residents who prefer to taxi their planes straight to their homes. Travolta clarified that he holds 12 jet ratings, including the Boeing 747, 707, Gulfstream, and Learjet, and he prefers to fly himself instead of chartering. For Travolta, it's just a part of the lifestyle he's built, and it was perhaps more understandable during a time when jet pollution and the effects of rising global temperatures were not as well understood -- under the mentality of if you have the good fortune to hit it rich, you go ahead and spend the money however you want. However when the planet is experiencing extreme weather events due to human-caused rising global temperatures, indulgence to this degree may be less practical and more harmful. "How much money could he have pissed away just to get rated on 12 jets?" one commenter under the YouTube Short frustratedly asked. "It's no different than anybody else with a hobby. ... So I guess it depends upon how much money you have to spend on what you like," another added in defense of Travolta. - TheCoolDown.com, 2/16/26...... Donny Osmond is being sued by a concertgoer who attended a show during Osmond's residency at Harrah's Las Vegas in 2025, alleging she was struck by an inflatable lit-up ball in the audience. Illinois resident Joanne Julkowski is suing the 68-year-old Osmond, his production company, and Harrah's, alleging she was injured by an oversized prop during his show, and seeking $15,000 in damages. Julkowski, who filed her lawsuit in Nevada's Clark County District Court on Feb. 10, claims she experienced "severe emotional distress, including psychological trauma, fear, anxiety, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life," from the incident, according to the lawsuit. The suit additionally seeks unspecified punitive damages, lost wages, and payment of attorney's fees, per the filing. Julkowski claims that she suffered a "traumatic" retinal injury and retinal detachment in her right eye, requiring surgical intervention and resulting in visual impairment, as well as concussion-related head, and neck injuries. The woman claims that the injuries required "extensive medical care, services, and treatment for her injuries, and may, in the future, be required to obtain additional future medical care" due to the defendants' alleged negligence. Reps for Osmond and Caesar's Entertainment, which owns Harrah's, have yet to comment. - People, 2/17/26...... Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two Godfather movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in Tender Mercies, died "peacefully" at his home in Middleburg, Va, on Feb. 15. He was 95. "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," his wife Luciana Duvall wrote on Facebook. "His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented." The bald, wiry Mr. Duvall didn't have leading man looks, but few "character actors" enjoyed such a long, rewarding and unpredictable career, in leading and supporting roles, from an itinerant preacher to Josef Stalin. Beginning with his 1962 film debut as Boo Radley, the reclusive neighbor in To Kill a Mockingbird, Mr. Duvall created a gallery of unforgettable portrayals. They earned him seven Academy Award nominations and the best actor prize for Tender Mercies, which came out in 1983. He also won four Golden Globes, including one for playing the philosophical cattle-drive boss in the 1989 miniseries Lonesome Dove, a role he often cited as his favorite. Mr. Duvall had been acting for some 20 years when The Godfather, released in 1972, established him as one of the most in-demand performers of Hollywood. He had made a previous film, The Rain People, with Francis Ford Coppola, and the director chose him to play Tom Hagen in the Godfather mafia epic that featured Al Pacino and Marlon Brando among others. Mr. Duvall was a master of subtlety as an Irishman among Italians, rarely at the center of a scene, but often listening and advising in the background, an irreplaceable thread through the saga of the Corleone crime family. Mr. Duvall was awarded an Oscar in 1984 for his leading role as the troubled singer and songwriter Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies, a prize he accepted while clad in a cowboy tuxedo with Western tie. Among other notable roles: the outlaw gang leader who gets ambushed by John Wayne in True Grit; Jesse James in The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid; the pious and beleaguered Frank Burns in M-A-S-H; the TV hatchet man in Network; Dr. Watson in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution; and the sadistic father in The Great Santini. Robert Selden Duvall grew up in the Navy towns of Annapolis and the San Diego area, where he was born in 1931. He spent time in other cities as his father, who rose to be an admiral, was assigned to various duties. After two years in the Army, he used the G.I. Bill to finance his studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, hanging out with such other young hopefuls as Robert Morse, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman. After a one-night performance in "A View From the Bridge," Mr. Duvall began getting offers for work in TV series, among them The Naked City and The Defenders, before landing his first movie role in To Kill a Mockinbird. "It was an honor to have worked with Robert Duvall. He was a born actor as they say, his connection with it, his understanding and his phenomenal gift will always be remembered. I will miss him," his Godfather co-star Al Pacino told the AP, while Robert De Niro said "God bless Bobby. I hope i can live till I'm 95. May he Rest in Peace." He is survived by his fourth wife, Luciana Pedraza, 42 years his junior and with whom he starred in Assassination Tango. - Billboard, 2/16/26...... Grammy-winning songwriter Billy Steinberg, co-writer of such pop classics as Madonna's "Like A Virgin," Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" and the Bangles' "Eternal Flame," died of cancer in Los Angeles on Feb. 16, 10 days away from his 76th birthday. The lyricist, who landed chart hits for more than 30 years, also penned such tunes as the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You," the Bangles' "In Your Room" and the Divinyls' "I Touch Myself." Taylor Dayne, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Bette Midler, Cheap Trick, Belinda Carlisle and many other artists also recorded his songs. A 2011 inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Fresno, Calif., native grew up in Palm Springs, Calif. After attending Bard College in New York's Hudson Valley, he pursued a career as an artist with his band Billy Thermal. While they may not have flourished, Steinberg's career took off after the group's guitarist played "How Do I Make You," penned solely by Steinberg, for Linda Rondstadt, who recorded it for her Mad Love album in 1980. The song reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. After his longtime writing partner Tom Kelly retired, Steinberg continued to write, often with Rick Nowels, including penning Dion's "Falling Into You," the title track for Dion's 1996 album, which won album of the year for the 39th Grammy Awards and for which both Steinberg and Nowels took home a Grammy. He is survived by his wife, Trina; his sons, Ezra and Max; his sisters, Barbara and Mary; and his stepchildren, Raul and Carolina. - Billboard, 2/16/26...... The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the famed civil rights leader who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president, died peacefully surrounded by his family on the morning of Feb. 17. He was 84. Rev. Jackson was hospitalized for observation in Nov. 2025, and doctors said he'd been diagnosed with a degenerative condition called progressive supranuclear palsy. He revealed in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which affects the nervous system and slowly restricts movement and daily activities. Rev. Jackson called it a "physical challenge," but he refused to let it prevent him from continuing his civil rights advocacy. His father, Noah Lewis Robinson Sr., also had Parkinson's and died of the disease in 1997 at the age of 88. Long known for his activism and political influence, Rev. Jackson spent his life dedicated to pursuing civil rights for disenfranchised groups both in the United States and abroad. His "unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity," his family said. "A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless ... leaving an indelible mark on history," they added. As a young man, he became a member of Dr. King's circle and was with Dr. King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. That same year, Rev. Jackson was ordained by the Rev. Clay Evans, though he had dropped out of Chicago Theological Seminary three credits shy of a degree in order to work in the civil rights movement with Dr. King. He was later awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 2000 from the seminary, based on his life's work and experience. Over the years, he received over 40 honorary doctorate degrees from top universities across the country, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based organization he led for decades. Rev. Jackson was born in Greenville, S.C., on Oct. 8, 1941. His mother, Helen Burns Struggs, was 16 and unmarried and gave him the name Jesse Burns. In his teenage years, his mother married Charles Jackson, and Rev. Jackson took his new stepfather's surname. In high school, Rev. Jackson was an honors student, according to Stanford's King Institute, which helped him win a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He studied there before transferring to the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1964. As the civil rights movement grew, Rev. Jackson became involved in local activism. In 1960, a push to desegregate a local public library led Rev. Jackson down the road to become a leader in student-led sit-ins. After his graduation, he left his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary to join Dr. King in Selma. There, he asked for a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group of religious leaders led by Dr. King that focused on nonviolent protests and demonstrations, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Rev. Jackson, with the support and trust of Dr. King, helped lead SCLC's Chicago chapter and spearheaded Operation Breadbasket, a community empowerment campaign. His age and ambition led to numerous fights with leadership, including several arguments with King himself, according to Stanford's King Institute. The pair reconciled in 1968 in Memphis as they gathered for another civil rights protest. In a now-famous photograph from that fateful time, Rev. Jackson stands to the right of Dr. King and fellow leaders Hosea Williams and Ralph Abernathy on the balcony of Memphis' Lorraine Motel. The next day, at almost the exact same spot, Dr. King was assassinated by a gunman. Following Dr. King's death, Rev. Jackson was unable to reconcile with the SCLC. Instead, he founded PUSH, a Chicago organization whose name stands for People United to Save Humanity. In 1984, he also founded The Rainbow Coalition, which focused on social justice through voter engagement and representation. The two organizations merged in 1996. The same ambition that chafed SCLC leaders also led Rev. Jackson to make a run for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in 1984 and 1988. He received 18% of the primary vote in 1984, placing third overall and winning several states. But his campaign was marred by controversy over an antisemitic remark he made about New York's Jewish community in a Washington Post story. Former Vice Pres. Walter Mondale ultimately went on to win the nomination and lose to Republican incumbent Pres. Ronald Reagan. Yet even without holding office, Rev. Jackson continued to stand as a major political figure, championing the release of foreign nationals held in Kuwait in the lead-up to the Gulf War, becoming a "shadow senator" to lobby for statehood for Washington, D.C., and working as a special envoy under Pres. Bill Clinton. In 2000, Pres. Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He is survived by five children with his wife of more than 60 years, Jacqueline, another daughter, and countless figures who were inspired by his leadership. Public observances will be held in Chicago, according to his family. Final arrangements for celebration of life services, including all public events, will be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, they say. - CBS News, 2/17/26.