A playful new single called "Who You Callin' Crazy" was released by The Rolling Stones on Oct. 20 as the latest teaser from the forthcoming deluxe edition of the band's latest album Foreign Tongues. Earlier in October, the Stones announced an extended "Loose Lips" version of the album, which will feature five previously unreleased songs, all written and recorded around the same time as the original tracklist of 14 songs. "Who You Callin' Crazy," whose official lyric video has been shared on YouTube, sees the British rock giants embracing an uplifting, feel-good sound. "If I look nervous, about to collapse/ if I'm squirming like a rat in a trap/ I keep blinking, my nose starts to twitch/ I keep scratching, don't know where to itch," Mick Jagger sings in the playful opening verse, building towards the confrontational, upbeat chorus, surrounded by backing singers: "I wanna know who, who you calling crazy." Other new songs on the deluxe edition include "Bad Luck Hideaway," which was shared on Oct. 16 and features a duet vocal by Jagger and Keith Richards, as well as drums by the late Charlie Watts. That track was previously released as a bonus track on the iTunes exclusive edition of Foreign Tongues, and was recently made available via online platforms as the B-side to "Mr Charm." The "Loose Lips" edition of Foreign Tongues will drop Nov. 27 via Polydor/Universal Music. - New Musical Express, 10/20/26...... 
A tribute to country rock icon Gram Parsons will take place at Los Angeles' Troubadour on Nov. 11 ahead of Parsons' posthumous induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three days later. Emmylou Harris, one of Parsons' key musical collaborators during his short lifetime, will top the bill, along with Elvis Costello, who covered a pair of Parsons songs on his 1981 country covers album Almost Blue and contributed to the 1999 tribute album Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons. Also featured will be sets of Parsons tunes from the likes of the Black Crowes, Margo Price, Grace Potter, Jesse Welles, the Head and the Heart, Madison Cunningham, Jim Lauderdale, Harper Simon and Grahame Lesh, as well as L.A.'s Parsons-infuenced country rockers Beachwood Sparks. The event is being co-produced by Parson's daughter, Polly Parsons, along with Vector Management and Rolling Stone editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin, along with the Parsons estate and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The show will benefit the L.A. sober living house for women Friendly House Foundation and Backline, which provides mental health and wellness resources for music industry professionals and their families. During his brief, hugely influential career, Parsons performed with the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the International Submarine Band and released two beloved solo albums, including GP and Grievous Angel, honing a unique sound that drew from country, R&B and folk and is widely credited with laying the groundwork for the alt-country and country rock genres. Parsons, who died in Sept. 1973 at age 26 of an accidental overdose, will be inducted into the Rock Hall in the Early Influence category at this year's ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Nov. 14. The ceremony will be taped and telecast on ABC and Disney+ in December. - Billboard, 10/21/26...... Alice Cooper's third memoir, Devil On My Shoulder, has become an international bestseller three weeks after its Oct. 6 release and topped charts across The New York Times, The Sunday Times and Amazon. Cooper says that 90% of the stories in his third book are true, marking a change from his 1976 autobiography, Me, Alice: The Autobiography of Alice Cooper, which he dismissed as "a drunken rant," and affirms that this account is more reliable. "Nobody really pushed Me, Alice," Cooper recalled to Billboard. "Nobody pushed Golf Monster. They were kind of OK, and they were fun. But this was the book we actually took a lot of time on." Cooper explained that the goal of his 2026 tome is not to invent a persona -- since he's already done that -- but to reckon with the man behind it. Across the pages of Devil On My Shoulder, Cooper revisits the addiction he battled in the '70s and '80s that eventually led to his sobriety, his return to Christianity and the tension between his stage character and the real him. The memoir has been released in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook options. Meanwhile, the shock rock icon is preparing to hit the road for his fall North American tour, with upcoming stops in cities including Richmond, Atlantic City, St. Louis, San Diego, San Jose, Las Vegas, and Windsor, Ontario. - Billboard, 10/20/26...... On Oct. 20 The Beatles' Apple Corps unveiled ambitious plans to transform the "Beatles Story" museum in Liverpool into an 100,000-square-foot attraction set to open in 2028, alongside a "Yellow Submarine"-themed viewing experience atop St. John's Beacon, the city's second-tallest building. The redevelopment will see the long-running, award-winning Beatles attraction relocate from its current home at Albert Dock to the former St Johns Market site in St Johns Shopping Centre, directly opposite Liverpool Lime Street train station, and will more than quadruple its current footprint. Fans can register their interest via the official Beatles website at thebeatles/liverpool. Apple Corps, the company founded by The Beatles in 1968 to oversee their creative and business interests, will take over the running of the "Beatles Story" at its existing location before moving the attraction to its new home in 2028. It will mark the company's second permanent Beatles fan experience, following a planned destination at the band's Savile Row headquarters in London, which is due to open at the end of 2027. In a statement, Paul McCartney said: "I find it incredible and humbling that people are still interested in our story and it's very exciting to me that The Beatles Story and The Beacon are being transformed in such an exciting way in the heart of Liverpool city. He continued: "I love Liverpool. It's part of who I am, it's part of who The Beatles are. If you'd told us this was going to happen when we were hanging out and getting started we'd never have believed it. The extraordinary plans the Apple Corps team have shown me for The Beatles Story take me right back to that journey, from Liverpool to the world and back home again. It couldn't have happened without Liverpool and I can't wait for people to be able to step into our story and share the experience." Ringo Starr also weighed in: "Liverpool was, and still is, a music city. And now we are expanding the The Beatles Story Experience in Liverpool. The beat goes on. I also love that proceeds from every ticket will go back to support new Liverpool artists. It is great to be part of this - deep down I am still a Scouser - I love what Apple (Corps) and Liverpool are doing. Peace and love, Ringo." - Billboard, 10/20/26...... 
Longtime liberal activist and frequent Donald Trump critic Bette Midler was honored with the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla., on Oct. 16. Before accepting the award, Midler sang an updated version of folk icon Woody Guthrie's 1940s protest classic "All You Fascists (Bound to Lose)," and just so no one missed the message, she wore a T-shirt embossed with the blunt song title. "Justice doesn't always come from the courthouse," Midler said. "Sometimes the law is late, overdressed, and on the wrong side. Justice comes from a beat-up guitar instead. So, when I wanted to say something about what I was seeing going on today, I took his [Woody's] song, and I put new words in its mouth, because the old fights came back in new suits. They always do." She continued, "Thank you for accepting me, and for letting me rewrite the song, that became my small contribution to the Resistance. We're having a knife fight in a phone booth. These are hard and terrible times. A war is being waged against us, and we are all being drafted. Whether the letter arrives or not. Thank you for noticing that I showed up for duty." Midler released her spirited version of Guthrie's song on YouTube in April, accompanied by this message: "You know I've been around a long time, but I have never lived through what we are living through now. The great Woody Guthrie wrote this song many years ago. I changed some of the words to fit our times, and I hope you'll sing it when you are marching. Because sometimes people, sometimes you just gotta SING OUT!" Midler had teamed with Eric Kornfeld to write her derivative of Guthrie's protest classic. She also executive produced the video, which featured cameos by such celebrities as Barbara Hershey, Midler's co-star in Beaches, and David Hyde Pierce, her co-star in the Broadway revival of "Hello, Dolly!". The Woody Guthrie Prize seeks to recognize artists who reflect Guthrie's belief that music can be a force for social justice and change. Guthrie died in 1967 at age 55. Midler, 80, has won three Grammys, three Primetime Emmys and a Tony (plus a non-competitive Tony). She has received two Oscar nominations, and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021. Previous Woody Guthrie Prize recipients include U2, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Chuck D, Norman Lear, Kris Kristofferson and Pete Seeger, who was honored with the inaugural award in 2014. - Billboard, 10/17/26...... Rod Stewart, who recently underwent a heart procedure, has declared his condition is "f----ing brilliant" when asked by reporters as he escorted his wife Penny Lancaster out of a "Sinatra: The Musical" showing in London on Oct. 19. "I swam 400 meters the other day," added the 81-year-old Stewart, who canceled one of his concerts in June one hour before showtime due to a reported acute upper respiratory infection. Two months later, he underwent a coronary stent procedure, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the rest of his tour on doctor's orders. Stewart is now planning to return to the stage in 2027 for one last farewell tour, with dates set for April through July 2027. "Ladies and gentlemen, after much deliberation and sadness, I have to announce that next year will be my last tour ever," Stewart told fans on Instagram in September. "I'm not retiring, but this will be the last rock n' roll tour. So I want to thank you for everything you've given me and hopefully I've given you something in return." - Billboard, 10/20/26...... 
The B-52s have been tapped to be honored with the 2,861st star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame on Oct. 29. "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome the B-52s to the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a statement on Oct. 20. "Honoring The B-52s with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a celebration of their unforgettable music, fearless spirit and the nostalgia they've created for generations of fans. Their unique sound and energy have truly become part of Hollywood's musical history," she said. SiriusXM radio personality Richard Blade will emcee the event, and 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Go-Go's, who received their star in 2011, and musician/actor/comedian Fred Armisen, are set to speak at the livestreamed event. The group's star is located at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Amoeba Music. The B-52s peaked in 1989 with their album Cosmic Thing, which reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and remained on the chart for 65 weeks. The album spawned the back-to-back hit singles, "Love Shack" and "Roam." The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Ricky Wilson and Keith Strickland.Wilson died of AIDS-related illness in 1985, and Strickland stopped touring with the band in 2013. Following several farewell tour announcements, The B-52s will wrap its current "Cosmic De-Evolution Tour," which they are co-headlining with Devo, in Palm Desert, Calif., on Oct. 31. - Music-News.com, 10/20/26...... Michael star Jaafar Jackson has spoken about the cut third act of the Michael Jackson biopic that was set to deal with child abuse allegations. Released in Apr. 2026, Michael tels the story of the King of Pop from his time in the Jackson 5 to become one of the biggest solo stars in the world. However Michael didn't include any reference to the child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson, though the story was included in the initial screenplay. During production, a clause in a legal settlement was discovered, which forbid the Jackson estate from mentioning one of the accusers, Jordan Chandler, meaning that the production spent $15 million on reshoots. The movie ultimately ended at a different point in Jackson's life, shifting the narrative tension onto his relationship with his father, Joe (Colman Domingo). Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew who played the King Of Pop in the biopic, has now spoken about leaving that material on the cutting room floor. "It was a massive shoot. I've heard many stories from other actors about how much you shoot on a project that doesn't make it into the final picture. In the editing room, you go through scenes looking for specific performances or takes and things change constantly. So going in, I knew not everything we shot would make it into the final picture," he said in an interview with Variety. "But for me, it was the most rewarding experience because even the things that weren't used, the experience I got from them, made me a better actor. I feel like that will happen many more times with other projects. You wish a certain performance was in there and it's not. That's something you have to deal with when making a film. Seeing a film about your own family can make a lot of people uncomfortable because you have your own idea of what that is, and it's hard to capture it in a two-hour film. But the response I got from my family was incredible," he added. Michael had the biggest ever opening for a musical biopic and went on to take more than $1 billion at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing biopic of all time. In August, it was confirmed that Michael will be getting a sequel and will address abuse allegations from Michael's point of view. However, speaking to Variety, Jaafar confirmed that he's not been told "anything concrete" about the sequel. "Whatever decision is made, I'm more than ready to get back into it." - NME, 10/20/26...... Country Music Hall of Fame inductee John Anderson died "peacefully in his sleep" on Oct. 21, according to his family. He was 71. A native of Apopka, Fla., Anderson relocated to Nashville in 1971. An early job saw him nailing shingles onto the roof of the new Grand Ole Opry House ahead of that iconic building's 1974 opening. Anderson, who battled health issues in recent years but pushed through the pain, was known for such country hits as 1983 CMA Single of the Year "Swingin'," "Straight Tequila Night," and "Seminole Wind." With his distinctive voice, he landed five No. 1s, among 20 top 10s, on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, with those top 10s spanning 1981-95. On Top Country Albums, he notched five top 10s, from the years 1982-92. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2026. In addition to his family who said he "made every ordinary moment feel special," he was also praised by such fellow country stars as Blake Shelton and John Rich, who called him "my favorite country artist of all time." - Billboard, 10/21/26...... 
Rick Wakeman delivered a masterful performance at the "Starmus VIII" astronomical gathering at Tenerife in the Canary Islands on Oct. 20. The prog-rock titan debuted his brand-new composition, "Echoes from Black Holes." Merging grand classical structures and cosmic storytelling, the world premiere captivated an audience filled with eminent scientists, astronomers, and music enthusiasts. The piece grew from an idea by Starmus co-founder Garik Israelian, who envisioned taking a historic lecture on black holes delivered by the late Stephen Hawking, dividing it into distinct segments, and setting it to music paired with vivid backdrop visuals. Inspired by Hawking's concepts, Wakeman took the vision and brought it to life, interspersing his dramatic keyboard arrangements with Hawking's own recorded voice to seamlessly bind the musical movements together. As the final section concluded, the venue erupted into an enthusiastic standing ovation. Wakeman initially left the stage to roaring applause, but with the audience refusing to leave their seats, the keyboard wizard returned for an extraordinary two-song encore. To cap off the evening, the former Yes keyboardist offered a brilliant display of his musical genius by reimagining two Beatles classics through the lens of legendary classical composers. He first performed "Help!" styled as a romantic piece by French composer Camille Saint-Sanës, before transforming "Eleanor Rigby" into a dark, driving arrangement in the theatrical tradition of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. The entire performance by Wakeman, who has struggled with recent health scares, can be viewed on YouTube. - Music-News.com, 10/20/26...... Betty McGuire, the actress best known for her role as grandmother Kate Malone on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains, died Oct. 8 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund's Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills, Calif., of natural causes. She was 100. Ms. McGuire had a seven-year run on Growing Pains as Kate Malone, mother to Joanna Kerns' Maggie. She was a recurring character in Seasons 1-2 and again in Seasons 4-7. Aside from Growing Pains, Ms. McGuire's career in television includes appearances in shows including Falcon Crest, The Doris Day Show Columbo, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Hill Street Blues, ER, CSI: Miami, MacGyver, Moonlighting and Charlie's Angels. On the silver screen, Ms. McGuire appeared in feature films such as Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke and Michael Crichton's Coma. Later in life, Ms. McGuire volunteered as a receptionist and advocate at the Coalition for Economic Survival legal clinic in Los Angeles to offer support for low-income tenants facing eviction. She was an active resident of The Motion Picture & Television Fund Home. On Channel 22, the on-campus TV station at the retirement community, she hosted her own talk show, GabFest. - Variety, 10/19/26...... Richard Riehle, known for his roles in Office Space, Star Trek, and Halloween II, has passed away at 78. The veteran actor appeared in more than 400 film and television projects during his career. Riehle died of natural causes in Los Angeles, according to his friends, TMZ.com reported. Born in Menomonee Falls, Wisc., in 1948, the actor was best known for playing Tom Smykowski in the acclaimed workplace comedy Office Space, which also featured Jennifer Aniston and Ron Livingston. Riehle made his film debut in the 1975 True Grit sequel Rooster Cogburn, which featured Riehle in an uncredited role alongside John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn. He also appeared in numerous TV shows such as Grounded for Life, One Life to Live, Dragnet, Quantum Leap, The Golden Girls, Roseanne, The West Wing, ER, Modern Family, The Mindy Project, NCIS, The Middle, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. - Variety, 10/19/26.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on Oct. 15, Billy Joel revealed he's "not allowed to drive" after stepping away from the stage in 2025 and is preparing to auction off his beloved collection of over 70 vintage motorcycles. Announcing he was canceling his previously scheduled 2025-2026 tour at the time, Joel said that the brain disorder he'd been experiencing had "been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance" and that he was undergoing physical therapy under his doctor's instructions. In his Hollywood Reporter interview, Joel said, "I have to take a series of tests before I know," adding, "I can't drive right now. I'm not allowed to drive." He said a neurologist informed him that "every time you do a show, it's like you're getting a concussion." Billy continued: "I'm into my 70s now, and I realized I can't ride as much as I used to. I don't want to die like a bug on a windshield. So I thought I'd put a lot of them on auction." He said his brain disorder makes riding a bit "iffy," and he realized "it's time for me to turn it over to somebody else." In September, The Piano Man said that he didn't want people worrying about his health. "I know people are worried about me because they read that I have a brain disorder, which sounds a lot worse than it actually is," he said on SiriusXM when taking calls from fans. "I'm okay. My balance isn't that good. Lost a little bit of my hearing, but that may have to do with my age, too, and the rock and roll life and the loud volume probably didn't help. But I'm fine. I want people to not have to worry about me. I'm okay." Joel has been collecting and restoring vintage bikes for decades, and for 15 years, he ran 20th Century Cycles on Long Island, a shop for storing and servicing his bikes that doubled as a free museum to showcase his collection before shuttering the business in 2025. The auction of his personal motorcycle collection is scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21. - Rolling Stone, 10/15/26...... 
More than six decades after becoming a permanent resident of the U.S., Canadian-born Joni Mitchell has officially become a United States citizen. The legendary singer/songwriter shared the news via an Instagram post on Oct. 13, posting a photo of herself smiling while holding a miniature American flag. She also uploaded a video showing her being applauded as she stepped forward during her citizenship ceremony. "A journey that began 62 years ago," she captioned the post, and did not provide further details about her decision to pursue American citizenship. Born in Fort Macleod, Alberta, in 1943, Mitchell first moved to the U.S. in the mid-1960s, settling in Los Angeles and becoming a defining figure in the Laurel Canyon music scene alongside fellow singer/songwriters and musicians such as members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Over the decades, Mitchell built a catalog that would influence generations of artists, earning her a place among the most celebrated and recognized songwriters in popular music. Her relationship with the U.S., however, has not always been straightforward. During a 2024 performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Mitchell made her political feelings known with a blunt expletive directed at then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. She followed it with a lament about her inability to vote as a Canadian citizen, jokingly referring to herself as "one of those lousy immigrants." Mitchell, who celebrates her 83rd birthday on Nov. 7, leaves an extraordinary legacy behind her and has spent decades influencing American music. - Billboard, 10/13/26...... Roger Waters has called Metallica frontman James Hetfield a "complete prick" who has "an IQ of about three" after Hetfield made comments during a Metallica show at the Las Vegas Sphere on Oct. 10 criticizing other artists with "bullshit agendas" about the world's issues. "Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you with their bullshit, OK," he shared. "No bullshit. We're here to forget about all the outside shit, OK? Metallica's agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby!" Although Hetfield didn't mention any names, some fans have speculated that it could be a nod to rapper Macklemore, who was dropped as a support act for Ed Sheeran's "Loop" tour after making a speech calling for a "free Palestine," or possibly other younger artists including Hayley Williams, who criticized ICE during her recent concerts, or even Tom Morello who recently enlisted Jack Black, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen and more for his politically-charged "Power To The People" festival. Now, former Pink Floyd star Waters has shared his thoughts on the comments made by Hetfield, calling him a "prick." "Can we stop talking about this prick?" he said when making a guest appearance on Katie Halper's podcast. "I'm so bored with him. He's just showing that he's a complete prick. He's got an IQ of about three, and why we're talking about him, I honestly don't know, because he's a nobody." Waters continued: "He may have a few hundred million dollars or whatever, but he's a prick, and he's no musician. I heard them playing acoustic instruments, and they couldn't. It was appalling." Metallica have been largely apolitical over the years, and back in 2017 Hetfield said that he wanted to keep his thoughts about Donald Trump to himself, arguing that politics "separates" people. Footage of Hetfield's swipe at other artists has been shared on X, and Waters' comments can be viewed on Instagram. - New Musical Express, 10/16/26...... The early '80s English rock supergroup Asia is returning with its first studio album in 12 years, Indigo. Asia's history is almost too perfectly engineered to be true: four musicians drawn from major prog-rock acts of the 1970s -- John Wetton of King Crimson, Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Steve Howe of Yes and Geoff Downes of the Buggles -- came together in 1982 to form a supergroup that quickly became something much bigger, with their self-titled debut reportedly selling as many as 80,000 copies a day. Then came changes. Wetton gave way to John Payne on lead vocals as the 1980s became the 1990s, and Asia continued producing chorus-driven, highly melodic rock. In 2006, the original four reunited for three albums and tours before members once again began peeling away. Wetton died in 2017, following the release of Asia's 2014 studio album, Gravitas. Downes now leads a new lineup of Asia with vocalist Harry Whitley on Indigo, and the collection balances radio-ready rock with ambitious progressive explorations while honoring the band's legacy and his songwriting partnership with Wetton. There are the radio-friendly songs of their 1982 debut similar to "Heat of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell," but also longer, more experimental pieces that allow the musicians to stretch. Indigo doesn't erase or replace either chapter of the band's history. Instead, it shows how Asia can sound when its history is allowed to evolve. Indigo arrives on Nov. 6, and he official video for the album's first single, "Arcadia," can be streamed on YouTube. - Canoe.com, 10/15/26...... Neil Young is raving about the new controversial Tom Cruise film Digger, calling it "the best film I have ever seen." Co-written and directed by Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant) and follows oil tycoon Digger Rockwell (Cruise) as he tries to save the lives of thousands from an environmental disaster that he's behind. The satirical black comedy also features plenty of genre-twists which divided critics, who largely panned the film. While the movie has struggled at the box office -- only taking in $20 million against a production budget of $160 million and is on track to become one of the biggest flops in Hollywood history -- several artists have praised the film. Actress Anne Hathaway called it "smart, trippy, aggressive, funny and ambitious" in a glowing review on her Letterboxd account, and Neil Young has shared a lengthy blog post where he calls Digger the "best movie I've ever seen." "None of the reviews I have read describe this film adequately, in my opinion. They seem to miss the overall effect and most of them are negative," he wrote. "This film lives in a world of art. It is its own best review. Don't read any other reviews and forget this one before you see Digger." He went on to say that it would be "misleading" to view Digger as your typical Tom Cruise blockbuster. "I do not view this film as a commercial venture. Rather it is an artful film of our times. The things that are said in Digger are a direct reflection of today's political and social world. The film is so full of artful expression and radical change ups, that it may be too much to take in for those expecting a commercial film like we are used to today." He described Digger as a "must see for those frustrated by the lack of genuine engagement present in much, if not all, of today's offerings," and encouraged fans to see it with "an open mind." "Stick with it when you are sure it is no good. Stay. Don't be confused by its approach. This is the greatest film -- work of art I have seen, and that's just my opinion," he continued. "You must stay open and see it. Forget everything I said." The Digger official trailer can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 10/16/26...... 
Former Black Sabbath and Deep Purple singer/bassist Glenn Hughes has told fans that he is on the mend after undergoing another major heart procedure. In an Instagram post on Oct. 16, Hughes said he is "Now Home after an 8 day stay, and a 10 hour open heart surgery operation, called aortic valve replacement, exactly the same procedure I had done in 2013, at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Westwood, LA." Hughes, 75, praised his doctor, the head of cardiothoracic surgery at UCLA, and the staff and assured fans, "Each day as I move forward, I am getting my energy back. There is only love in my life. There are no mistakes." In August, Hughes announced that he was retiring from touring effective immediately, calling off a planned six-week tour due to health issues and giving up on life on the road after half a century on doctor's advice that he needed heart surgery. "This past year, I've had some health issues. The results from numerous MRIs, CT scans, and an echocardiogram have alerted my medical team, that I need another open-heart surgery," he wrote at the time. "I really have no option and no choice as health is my number one priority. Grateful to have been chosen with a life full with the gift of music Thank you for walking beside me." Beginning his career as the singer of the British funk-rock band Trapeze in the early 1970s, Hughes got the chance of a lifetime when he was tapped to replace Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover in 1973, where he sang alongside lead singer David Coverdale on three albums. After Deep Purple's original breakup, Hughes struck out on his own, releasing his 1977 solo debut, Play Me Out, the first of more than a dozen solo LPs he's released. He played with a number of bands throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, including stepping in to sing lead vocals on the 1986 Black Sabbath album Seventh Star. In his new post, Hughes kept a chin-up attitude about his health, writing, "Everything is in its right place. Never believe that there is something wrong in your life. You are where you're supposed to be. Going through those experiences that are necessary for you right now. When you become angry at yourself, because you don't like the experiences that you are going through, you are hindering your growth. Rather be grateful, & thankful, for every experience that you're going through." - Billboard, 10/16/26...... The deluxe reissue of The Beatles' 1965 LP Rubber Soul has risen to the top of Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, also claiming first place on the publication's Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts. In the week ending Oct. 8, Rubber Soul earned 58,000 equivalent album units in the United States, up 1,626% from the previous period's 4,000, according to Luminate. Of its 58,000-unit sum, 50,000 copies are via album sales, which allows the set to reenter the all-genre Top Album Sales chart at No. 1, the band's eighth leader since the chart launched in 1991. It also tops Vinyl Albums with 24,000 copies being sold via the vinyl configuration, the English quartet's seventh top spot on the 15-year-old chart. Rubber Soul becomes The Beatles' seventh No. 1 on Top Rock Albums, which began in 2006. It first reigned in 2007 with Love (the companion album to its Cirque du Soleil show) and had most recently reigned via a similar reissue of Revolver in 2022. Reissues of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 2017 and Abbey Road in 2019 have also topped the chart in previous years; for the reissues, all versions of the album are combined for tracking and charting purposes. Rubber Soul was reissued in a variety of configurations, including a four-CD, five-LP reissue includes original and new mixes of the album as well as demos and alternate session takes. It also contains a home demo of the previously unheard song "Little Girl" that was written and recorded by John Lennon. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney has claimed he can remember details of his birth. Appearing on Amy Poehler's podcast Good Hang on Oct. 13, Paul explained that he believes can actually remember being born. These things, you don't know if you've made it up. But I have this feeling that I kind of remember being born," he began. "I was born in a place in Liverpool called Walton Hospital, which was a real old Victorian thing; I think it had been something else before a hospital." Sir Paul went on to list some details of the hospital, however he emphasized that he is unsure whether the memories are real or if he had dreamed them up later. "So, I kind of remember white tiles, very sort of hygienic white tiles and chrome instruments and a clanging, because I was a forceps birth. They had to pull me out," the 84-year-old continued, adding: "I don't know if it's true." Also on the podcast, Macca cleared up an annoying "tall tale" that he says filmmakers keep getting wrong about The Beatles. When Poehler asked who was the tallest Beatle, McCartney said a bit defensively, "We were all the same height," holding up a finger in emphasis. "You really were," Poehler said with a sly smile as she willfully opened the Pandora's box. "You know I've got a thing about that, do you?" McCartney shot back as Poehler feigned ignorance and let out a laugh. After Poehler said "You really were," McCartney said: "Oh my God. Well, we were all the same height and Ringo [Starr] was a bit smaller." Elsewhere, the animal rights group PETA has sent an official letter to the UK's Omega Auctions asking for 43 Elswick Street, the Liverpool house where McCartney first learned to play the guitar, to be donated to the charitable organization. With the property set to go under the hammer, PETA aims to transform the historic home into a dedicated museum celebrating the music legend's lifelong advocacy for animals and the planet. In the letter, PETA highlights how McCartney has spent decades using his global music platform, voice, and influence to encourage environmental stewardship and kindness toward animals. As a committed vegetarian, McCartney once famously declared, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Alongside his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney, he has carried forward the legacy of his late wife, Linda McCartney, through impactful global initiatives such as Meat Free Monday, inspiring millions worldwide to leave animals off their plates. Finally on the Fab Four front, Sean Ono Lennon has clarified fan speculation about how his deceased dad John Lennon divided inheritance between him and his half brother Julian Lennon. Replying to a post on X on Oct. 11 in which someone presumed, "One guy inherited most of the estate, the other largely cut out and forced to engaged in decades-long litigation in pursuit of a comparatively small share of it. Unbearably painful and enraging for the one, surely pretty darn awkward for the other. That they remain friends (and largely always were) is testimony to the redemptive power of being a chill dude with broad implications for the wider world." The comment was tied to a post from Sean a day earlier of the Lennon brothers enjoying a nice day out in nature to celebrate his 51st birthday and, according to Sean, the commenter got it all wrong. "Julian and I inherited the same amount from our dad," he wrote. "Our trusts were equal. Although his was slightly more, but negligibly so." Sean is the adult son of John and wife Yoko Ono and Julian, 63, is Lennon's eldest, from his six-year marriage to his first wife, Cynthia Lennon. The two appear to have developed a close relationship and often share pictures together on their socials, including posing together at the 2021 Los Angeles premiere of Peter Jackson's Beatles miniseries Get Back. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 10/15/26...... 
On Oct. 15 Blondie announced their first new album in nine years, High Noon, will be released on Feb. 26 via BMG Music. According to a release, the 13-track set mixes their "classic punk/new wave energy with dance music and Latin rhythms" on songs that feature contributions from former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, and Beirut's Zach Condon, among others. It is also the last recording co-founders singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein made with late drummer and fellow co-founder Clem Burke before his death in 2025. "This album is classic Blondie -- an amalgamation of all our different influences and eras into something new," said Harry in the statement. "This music feels grounded in the present, shaped by who we are and how we're living now." High Noon will be the New Wave icons' first LP of new material since 2017's Pollinator, and like that album, High Noon was produced by John Congleton, and the group said that following Burke's death at 70 from cancer in Apr. 2025 the record took on added meaning. "It's been a long, strange ride, and somehow here we are with another Blondie album," said Stein of the latest from the band formed in New York in 1974, which now stands as one of the last remaining groups still making new music from an era that spawned the likes of Talking Heads, The Ramones, Television and Patti Smith. "I'm not sure what the f--- I'm supposed to say at this point, except that we're incredibly grateful for all your support over the years." The new album's first single, the Johnny Marr-penned "Spectral Eyes," can be previewed on Spotify.com. - Billboard, 10/15/26...... The Rolling Stones have announced a release date for a deluxe edition of their 25th album Foreign Tongues, just five months after its July release. The update, dubbed Foreign Tongues, Loose Lips, is due out on Nov. 27 from Capitol Records and it will feature five new songs from the sessions for the LP that has already spawned the singles "Rough and Twisted," "In the Stars," "Jealous Lover" and "Mr. Charm." It will feature the previously issued iTunes bonus track "Bad Luck Hideaway," a duet between singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards that was recently made available across other digital platforms as the B-side the latest streaming single "Mr. Charm." Also included will be "Who You Callin' Crazy," featuring British jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine, which was released digitally on Oct. 16. The other songs include "Where There's a Will," "Human Tide," and "She Still Comes Around," none of which have been previously available. All five extra songs will be available in a standalone vinyl edition, as well as in a deluxe 2CD edition and across all digital formats. The vinyl edition -- which will come on heavyweight red vinyl -- will feature all five Loose Lips songs on LP, alongside the original Foreign Tongues album. - Billboard, 10/14/26...... Al Jardine says that despite years of animosity and legal battles between himself and fellow founding The Beach Boys member Mike Love, he still feels for his former longtime bandmate after seeing footage of the 85-year-old Love struggling during a recent performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. "It's shocking and I was really depressed," Jardine told Rolling Stone about his concern for Love performing with the surf pop legends at a time when the last remaining original member of the group is struggling with his health. "I had to really shake myself out of it just to get onstage. Just the optics of it were just awful and I'm speechless," Jardine, 84 said of the feelings he had watching Love remain seated during the band's show and sing the occasional background as the bandleader told the audience that he's been "going through some health issues for quite a while." That same night Jardine, the only other surviving member of the BB, was playing his own show with fellow former BB band members Bruce Johnston and David Marks at the Cerritos Center for the Performing arts in Cerritos, Calif. His gig also featured appearances from Carnie Wilson (late BB founder Brian Wilson's daughter and member of the 1990s group Wilson Phillips), Marilyn Wilson (Brian Wilson's first wife), as well as Jan and Dean's Dean Torrence. Asked if he thinks Love's band are going to play more shows, Jardine said: "That's just not right, that I can see. Obviously, he's a total pro. He wants to be onstage, but he just doesn't know how not to do it. He doesn't know what else to do, so I think he's trapped." Love has sued ardine several times over his use of the Beach Boys name, including in 2003 for touring under the names "Beach Boys Family & Friends," claiming that the gigs represented unfair competition with the Love-led Beach Boys. The Beach Boys have a handful of upcoming dates on their schedule, including a Nov. 11 performance at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park in Orlando, Fla., and a Nov. 13 show at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Va., as well as a May 8, 2027 booking at River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta, Canada. - Billboard, 10/14/26...... 
Led Zeppelin has finally allowed "Stairway to Heaven" to be used on screen in the trailer for the upcoming movie Narnia: The Magician's Nephew because of their love for C.S. Lewis. The pioneering heavy metal band have never let the original recording of their iconic 1971 track be licensed for use in a film or TV series before, but filmmaker Greta Gerwig says she was able to convince them for her latest offering. Speaking during a Q+A with former late night TV host Stephen Colbert, she said: "They had not let it be used in anything. I was so moved that they allowed me to use the song." Gerwig said she spoke to Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, who wrote the song, and got them to personally sign off on using the song in marketing for Narnia. "I showed them and I talked to them, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. They did it because they saw the heart of the story in the film and they, too, love C.S. Lewis, and they have a reverence for his work. The whole thing was very fortuitous. I'm so happy that it got to be this song," she sad. Gerwig added she was determined to use "Stairway" in her film's first trailer as a way of introducing her adaptation. "It's an epic song. It's an amazing song. It's a narrative. It's about a spiritual journey. It's about the true path of enlightenment and spirituality, and then this path of false idols and the wrong roads you can go down. And I was like, 'This is exactly the story of this movie.'," she noted. Led Zeppelin have rejected several approaches to use "Stairway" on screen in the past. In 1992's Wayne's World, the titular character did play the opening notes in the guitar store, but the band forced them to remove the snippet from broadcast, video and foreign releases. The band also rejected a proposal by director Cameron Crowe for the song to be used in his 2000 film Almost Famous. Starring Daniel Craig and Cary Mulligan, Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will open in theaters on Feb. 12, 2027, before arriving on Netflix on Apr. 2. The full official trailer can be viewed on YouTube. - Music-News.com, 10/16/26...... Michael Jackson's legendary 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance is getting a documentary titled Spectacle: Michael Jackson at the Superbowl. Directed by Bao Nguyen, whose previous credits include Netflix's The Greatest Night in Pop, the feature-length documentary will explore the behind-the-scenes journey that brought Jackson's halftime show to life. The film will also include never-before-seen footage of the pop superstar and his team, giving fans a new perspective on a performance that helped reshape one of television's biggest annual events. A newly released teaser, available on YouTube, shows a glimpse of the spectacle, with footage of Jackson commanding the stage at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., in his signature military-inspired outfit as thousands of fans fill the venue, chanting his name. The clip also previews the documentary's title before revealing its February premiere on Hulu and ESPN. Jackson's appearance at Super Bowl XXVII on Jan. 31, 1993, marked a turning point for the halftime show. Instead of a typical intermission between the game's two halves, the performance was an event of its own. It helped establish the halftime stage as a destination for some of the biggest names in music. Elsewhere, MJ has surged to the front of the pack in the race for the UK's Official biggest album of 2026 as the third quarter comes to a close. Following the release of the cinematic biopic Michael in April, public interest in the King of Pop's legendary musical catalogue has reached a massive fever pitch. His 2005 compilation release, The Essential Michael Jackson, has now amassed over 508,000 UK chart units this year alone. That impressive tally sees the late icon overtake Olivia Dean's acclaimed record The Art of Loving at No. 2, as well as Harry Styles' Kiss All The Time. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 10/13/26...... For the 36th time, Sammy Hagar has celebrated his birthday with a star-studded bash at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Hagar celebrated turning 79 on Oct. 13 over three nights -- Oct. 9, 11 and 13 -- with guest-filled rock n' roll festivities, and says he already has his eye on turning 80 with a different kind of party next year. "My dream would be to play somewhere where I can accommodate every ticket request, and everybody who never got to be at the Bash could come to this final bash," Hagar told Billboard. Hagar says that this year he received 100,000 requests for about 1,600 tickets over the three nights, a number that continues to grow every year. "I would love to be able to say to everyone, 'Guess what? You're all gonna be able to get a show.' If I have to play four or five nights somewhere, maybe I play a big stadium, maybe we block off the whole town of Cabo and do it for free. I don't know what we're gonna do yet, but I do know for my 80th birthday, that would be the dream." For this year's bash, Hagar assembled a house band reuniting him with members of his Waboritas -- guitarist Vic Johnson and bassist Mona Gnader -- joined by drummer Kenny Aronoff from Chickenfoot and Hagar's recent Van Halen-oriented Best of All Worlds band, and guitarist Stevie Salas. Hagar says he plans on focusing on his "Red Rocker" years in 2026, which, he adds, will include the entire debut album from Montrose from 1973. "The musicians wanted to do that stuff," Hagar explains. "I'm really looking forward to doing the full Montrose record. That's gonna be pushing my ass, lemme tell ya. I was 24 years old!" - Billboard, 10/13/26...... 
Sir Cliff Richard celebrated his 86th birthday on Oct. 14 alongside his devoted fans at a special afternoon tea event held at London's Intercontinental Hotel on Park Lane. Hosted by UK radio legend Ken Bruce, the gathering marked the upcoming release of his 48th studio album, Only Number Ones, with the music icon exclusively sharing a selection of new tracks with those in attendance. Fans who secured entry by pre-ordering the album were treated to photos with the "Devil Woman" singer and enjoyed a classic afternoon tea featuring sandwiches, scones, and bespoke desserts. During the event, Sir Cliff was presented with a birthday cake to celebrate his milestone year. Guests also heard an exclusive preview of "My Sweet Lord" and his brand-new version of "Oh, Pretty Woman" --a track originally taken to No. 1 in the UK by Roy Orbison 62 years ago, which Sir Cliff officially released on his birthday. "I am so thrilled to have been able to celebrate my 86th birthday with my fans," said Sir Cliff. "They have always been very special to me and are the reason why I continue to make music and tour. They helped me all of these years to get to number one, and it is great that I am now able to give back with my own versions of number one tracks that I personally love." Arriving on Nov. 27 in the UK and Dec. 4 in the US via major streaming platforms and retailers, Only Number Ones sees Sir Cliff put his signature touch on iconic chart-toppers spanning eight decades. The record features covers of tracks originally made famous by The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, The Monkees, Elvis Presley and Harry Styles, alongside a fresh 2026 rendition of "White Christmas." - Music-News.com, 10/15/26.
Barry Manilow canceled two shows on his residency at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino after walking off the stage on Oct. 8 after only two songs, reportedly telling the crowd, "Talk amongst yourselves," and didn't come back. Manilow, 83, had only just returned to the venue for what his team called a "triumphant welcome-back concert" following a weeks-long break, but is reportedly struggling with a bout of bronchitis and "had to cancel his Friday and Saturday shows," a representative for the musician and the venue told Variety. The illness carries particular significance for the "Copacabana" singer. He disclosed in Dec. 2025 that he had been diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, discovered after doctors ordered scans while he was recovering from a bout of bronchitis; he subsequently underwent surgery. The health issues repeatedly postponed his Westgate residency, originally set to begin in February, before he returned to the stage in the U.K. and resumed Vegas dates in July. In late August, he announced another break after a demanding summer run, saying "we were pushing a little too hard." His team has not said whether upcoming dates -- the residency is listed to continue Oct. 15 -- will be affected. Manilow's Westgate residency has made him one of Vegas' most enduring headliners, with his tally of shows at the venue surpassing Elvis Presley's record. Attendees have said they later received refund emails from Ticketmaster for the canceled shows. - Billboard, 10/10/26...... Co-founding Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill announced his retirement from the British heavy metal group on Oct. 9, effective immediately. "It is with heavy hearts that we are sending out this personal message from our Ian.he has been the backbone of Judas Priest for so long and will be greatly missed by us all," Judas Priest posted on 
On Oct. 8 Def Leppard announced an extensive 2027 North American arena tour that will take the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rockers from coast to coast and up through Canada from early spring through summer. The 45-date outing featuring support from Goo Goo Dolls and The Struts is slated to kick off on Mar. 2 at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., and feature stops in Montreal (3/5), Detroit (3/7), Toronto (3/9), Boston (3/17), Nashville (3/19), Chicago (3/25), Denver (3/29), Los Angeles (5/1), San Francisco (5/5), Seattle (5/9), Vancouver (5/14), Houston (6/1), St. Louis (6/7), Tampa (6/13), Atlanta (6/17), Cleveland (6/21), New York (6/23) and Philadelphia (6/27) before winding down on July 2 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The band closed out their third residency at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace in February and have an upcoming run of October gigs in Hollywood, Fla., followed by several stops in Mexico, and shows in El Salvador, Costa Rica and Ecuador. They will close out their 2026 schedule with November gigs in Colombia, Argentina and Chile. Def Leppard will also be the subjects of an upcoming feature-length documentary, Long Live Def Leppard, which is slated for release in theaters in 2027. - Billboard, 10/8/26...... Journey drummer Deen Castronovo was reportedly rushed to hospital on Oct. 8 after falling ill during Journey's performance at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. A reporter for a local paper posted on X that Castronovo "had a medical emergency after two songs" and "was helped off the stage," later posting that the show continued after a 20-minute delay. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, co-founder and lead guitarist Neal Schon then told the crowd that Castronovo was en route to the hospital and that the band's drum tech, Steve Toomey, would fill in. Later during the show, Schon dedicated the concert to Castronovo. "This concert's for Deen tonight. I'd love you all to pray for him. Everybody's been going through a lot. I think he's going to be fine." Journey are making their final go-round with a lineup featuring Castronovo, Schon, Jonathan Cain, and singer Arnel Pineda, who joined the group in 2007, replacing original lead singer Steve Perry. Castronovo, 62, played drums and contributed vocals for Journey from 1998 until 2015, and later rejoined the group. A former member of Bad English and Hardline, he has also played for the late Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai, Paul Rodgers and GZR, with Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler. Journey's ongoing "Final Frontier" North American tour expanded in May with the announcement of 40 additional concerts. Journey has yet to share an update on Castronovo's condition. - Billboard, 10/9/26...... Art Garfunkel postponed his upcoming UK tour on Oct. 10 after being diagnosed with a respiratory infection. Garfunkel had been due to bring his "What A Wonderful World"' tour to Watford, Manchester, Wolverhampton and London in mid-October, beginning at the Watford Colosseum on Oct. 13. Now all four shows have now been postponed, with Garfunkel revealing that a visit to his doctor during rehearsals led to the diagnosis. "During rehearsals for my upcoming concerts, I nearly postponed a scheduled appointment with my physician," the 84-year-old crooner said in a statement. "Thankfully, my wonderful wife, Kim, insisted that I keep it. As it turns out, I have been diagnosed with a respiratory infection, and my doctor has advised me to take some time to rest and recover." He continued: "My heart is broken that I must postpone these performances. At this season of my life, to be so warmly received by audiences and surrounded by so much love is a gift beyond words. Singing for you has always been one of the greatest joys of my life, and the thought of disappointing you saddens me deeply." The venues are currently working to reschedule the performances, and ticket holders have been advised to retain their tickets while new dates are arranged. "I promise you that I will return to the stage and sing for you as soon as my health allows," Garfunkel added. "Please don't worry about me. I'm in good hands, and I expect to be just fine." His next currently listed show is at L'Olympia in Paris on Oct. 21, followed by a series of US dates beginning in Virginia on Oct. 30. - NME, 10/10/26...... 
After Steven Tyler teased that Aerosmith would play their first gigs in three years in an 
Cher's follow-up to her bestselling memoir Cher: Part One: The Memoir has been scheduled to drop on Apr. 20, 2027, and is now available for 
NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, the former tight end, Super Bowl-winning coach of the Chicago Bears, and TV analyst whose gruff "Iron Mike" style was parodied on Saturday Night Live, died on Oct. 9. He was 86. The cigar-smoking Mr. Ditka said his "Iron Mike" nickname derived from his upbringing in a Pennsylvania steel town, but his brusque manner and short temper contributed to his tough image. He became a larger-than-life character, whether he was sticking a wad of gum on a photographer's camera lens or berating a referee behind his trademark sunglasses. His persona was so large that he inspired a recurring sketch on SNL in the early '90s known as "Bill Swerski's Superfans." Created by Robert Smigel and Bob Odenkirk, the skit had several Chicago sports fans (played by Smigel, George Wendt, Joe Mantegna, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, et al) sitting around a table at Ditka's sports bar, drinking, smoking and gorging themselves on assorted meats while extolling the greatness of "Da Bears" and the Windy City's other teams. Born on Oct. 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Penn., Mr. Ditka was recruited by 40 schools coming out of Aliquippa High and chose the University of Pittsburgh to stay close to home and pursue a career in dentistry. He was a three-sport star at Pitt, also excelling in baseball and basketball. (The Panthers retired his No. 89 in football, and he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968.) The Bears selected Mr. Ditka fifth overall in the 1961 draft, and he won Rookie of the Year honors after catching 58 passes and scoring 12 touchdowns, extraordinary numbers for a tight end in that era. After retiring from playing, he was hired by Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry as an assistant coach in 1973, and spent nine years on Landry's staff as Dallas captured three NFC titles and won another Super Bowl. He coached the Bears from 1982-92, guiding the 1985 team to a Super Bowl rout of the New England Patriots 22 years after winning an NFL championship with Chicago as a standout player. The 1985 Bears, widely considered among the most dominant teams in NFL history, went 15-1 during the regular season before trouncing three playoff opponents by a combined 91-10 margin. Mr. Ditka was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, and also worked as an analyst for NBC and CBS, and later appeared as an ESPN commentator on a variety of platforms. Mr. Ditka was married twice and had four children, Michael III, Mark, Megan and Matthew. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Mike Ditka," his family said in a statement. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach and leader of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever." - AP, 10/10/26.
Elvis Costello has revealed he once pitched himself as the bandleader for the now-canceled CBS late night talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Interviewed on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, Costello said that he pitched himself for the job before the show's original bandleader, Jon Batiste, got the gig. "It was an impulsive thing to put myself forward," Costello said of his offer to have himself an his band, the Impostors, serve as the house band on the show that was canceled by the network and aired its final show on May 21 of this year. Costello said when host Stephen Colbert asked his advice about the role, "I said, 'What about me?' And I think he thought I was joking, and I said, 'No, I'm not joking.'" While a Colbert spokesperson did not comment on the report, Costello said there were "serious discussions" about him taking on the role that he said he pitched after watching acts such as the long-running Tonight Show house band The Roots deftly navigate a four-show-a-week gig while also recording new music and avoiding the grind of touring. Costello, 72, who noted that after he pitched himself (and his band) he quickly realized the idea might not work for them, as they're scattered across the U.S. and Europe, including France-based keyboardist and longtime collaborator Steve Nieve. "I started to think about how much it asked of my bandmates, that they would all have to relocate," said Costello, who is the only member of the group based in New York, where the show taped. "It would have never worked. We would've been asking an awful lot, and the money involved and everything would've been unbelievable to relocate three band members to New York," he added. Though he missed out on the Colbert gig, the "Veronica" singer ended up making an appearance on the May 21 Late Show finale, where the host sang the My Aim Is True deep cut "Jump Up" with Costello, Batiste and his bandleader successor, Louis Cato, as part of a medley that featured a Paul McCartney-led "Hello Goodbye." - Billboard, 10/6/26...... Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Dave Matthews and Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler were among the musicians participating in the inauguaral edition of Tom Morello's "Power To The People" festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., on Oct. 3. Held to "bring together artists, fans, activists, organizations and community leaders for an unforgettable day celebrating the power of music and collective action to inspire change," the event organized by the Rage Against The Machine frontman saw some unique collaborations when it kicked off early that day. One of the biggest moments of the festival came when School of Rock star Jack Black took to the stage alongside Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Cypress Hill, Tom Morello, Public Enemy's Chuck D, and Anthrax's Scott Ian to break out a cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," which has been shared on 
Alice Cooper released his third memoir, 
A new David Bowie tribute called "Bowie80" started on Oct. 5 with a series of events celebrating what would have been the iconic musician's 80th birthday on Jan. 8, 2027. As part of the collection, there will be special events, releases, anniversaries, collaborations and fan experiences around the world, as well as limited-edition merchandise made especially for the occasion. To kick off the initiative is a new partnership with Nordstrom, who will be celebrating the music legend with three immersive shops in its Seattle, NYC, and Chicago flagships. Each will hold a range of exclusive and limited-edition collections, and collaborations also come from Undercover, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith and AllSaints. Also in the US, there is a celebration of Bowie from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, which is hosting a retail pop-up that will run from mid-November up until January across its museum store, online shop, and airport location. The Rock Hall will also be holding some fan events, including Bowie-themed presentations, trivia, and an exhibition. More details about the latter, including the photographers included in the exhibition will be announced at a later date. Limited edition merchandise for the celebration of Bowie's 80th birthday will be launched by Perryscope Productions, longtime merchandising representatives for Bowie, on his webstore. Other new events as part of "Bowie80" include "Strange Fascination" -- a major photography exhibition celebrating the artistry and evolution of the songwriter -- which is held at Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York City and West Hollywood next February, as well as a new live symphonic concert production called "BOWIE (breaking) GLASS." On top of all that, there will also be another collaboration with the V&A in London for "Bowie80" -- this time showing artefacts from Bowie's 90,000-item archive. After launching in London, it will head on tour, going to Dundee and Blackpool in 2027, before visiting further venues in 2028 and 2029. - NME, 10/5/26...... Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has teased the band my perform their first live show in more than three years in a stort video with famed rock photographer Ross Halpin posted on 
Former The Doobie Brothers member and '80s solo star Michael McDonald has reconnected with a son he put up for adaption at age 14, nearly 6 decades later. McDonald made contact a year and a half ago with biological son Michael Goessling, who recalls putting it together over a preliminary phone call that he was related to a rock star. Adopted as a baby, 59-year-old Goessling told NBC that he never knew his biological parents until last year, when he received a letter informing him that they wanted to meet him. His first conversation with McDonald was over the phone. "I just said: 'What a voice that guy has!'" Goessling said. "It just sounded so familiar, but I couldn't place it. Finally, I just said: 'Are you Michael McDonald?' And he chuckled and he said, 'Yeah, I'm afraid so.'" Goessling also figured out the identity of his birth father after McDonald told him he was a musician with a gig that night at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. A quick Google search showed that the Doobie Brothers were booked for the venue on that date. "There are still days I wake up, and my first thought is I am coming out of the craziest dream, and it's been a year and a half," Goessling added. "I'm still trying to get my head around all of it." Back when McDonald was 14, he had a child with his middle-school girlfriend. The pair put the child up for adoption, and the musician went on to replace Tom Johnston as the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers. McDonald has five Grammys to his name and helped the Doobie Brothers score Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 
R&B icon Freddie Jackson, known for such hits as "You Are My Lady," "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" and "Love Me Down," died on Oct. 5. He was 70. Born in Harlem, N.Y., on Oct. 2, 1956, Jackson began singing as a youth in his church choir. At that point in time, he met his later record producer and songwriting partner Paul Laurence. As a member of Laurence's group LJE (Laurence Jones Ensemble), Jackson began playing clubs in New York before relocating west in the late '70s to join the California funk band Mystic Merlin. After returning to New York, Jackson reteamed with Laurence at Hush Productions, where he sang on demos and doing background vocals for Melba Moore, Evelyn "Champagne" King and Angela Bofill. Stepping out on his own, he hit his stride as a solo singer with Capitol Records in 1985 with the R&B No. 1 "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)," which reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. He received two Grammy nominations in 1986 -- best new artist and best R&B vocal performance, male, for "You Are My Lady." From there, Jackson churned out a string of 10 No. 1 R&B gems -- as well as several top 10 singles -- between 1985 and 1992. All told, Jackson logged 35 entries on the R&B songs chart with his silky-smooth tenor: 19 went top 10, and with 10 reigning at No. 1. On the albums front, Jackson scored four No. 1s on the R&B chart: Rock Me Tonight, Just Like the First Time, Don't Let Love Slip Away and Do Me Again. He also earned a top 10 slot for Time for Love. Jackson continued to record well into the 2000s (including 2006's Transitions and 2010's For You), and remained a popular concert and festival draw. His additional career credits include the 1989 soundtrack for the film All Dogs Go to Heaven ("Love Survives" with Irene Cara), an appearance as a singer on a 1989 episode of The Golden Girls ("Two Rode Together") and a cameo in the 1990 movie King of New York. "It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Freddie Jackson, who went home to rest last night," his family posted on