Posted by Administrator on July 14th, 2025
Speaking to the UK paper The Daily Express, The Beach Boys' Mike Love revealed that he and the late Brian Wilson sang together in the weeks before Wilson's death on June 11 at age 82. "I was able to visit Brian three weeks before he passed. What Brian wanted me to do was to sing for him," Love said. Brian asked me to sing 'Fun, Fun, Fun', so I sang that. Then he said: 'Sing 'Surfin' USA!'', so I sang 'Surfin' USA' to him. I sang 'I Get Around' for Brian, too. We even harmonised on a song called 'Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring'. That was a song by The Four Freshmen, a group which was a huge influence on The Beach Boys' harmonies." Soon after Wilson's passing, Love posted on Instagram that "Our journey together was filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, laughter, complexity and most of all, LOVE. Like all families, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I never stopped being in awe of what he could do when he sat at a piano or his spontaneity in the studio." - New Musical Express, 7/12/25...... 
After King Crimson guitarist Jakko Jakszyk told Goldmine magazine earlier in July that the English prog-rock icons were working on a new studio album, King Crimson manager David Singleton has taken to social media to urge fans not to get too excited about the prospect. "It was an amazing thing to have done, and in a way, part of it's still happening," said Jakszyk, who joined the veteran band in 2013. Jakszyk went on to say the band has "been doing it piecemeal," and with "a view to it coming out in some format at some point. But who knows when?" Now Singleton says "there is indeed the seed of a new recording [but] whether it is an album, whether it sees the light of day, whether it is something else is unknown. As is the outcome of any creative process." King Crimson was initially formed in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, Michael Giles, and Peter Sinfiel, with the band releasing their debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, the following year. Initially disbanding in 1974 after seven albums, further reunions would take place throughout the '80s and '90s, with the group's most recent record, The Power to Believe, arriving in 2003. Co-founder McDonald passed away in Feb. 2022, and the group's songwriter, lyricist and synth player Peter Sinfield died in Dec. 2024. The group was hit with another death when ex-percussionist Jamie Muir passed in February. It was assumed King Crimson was over after their last tour in 2021, and 79-year-old Fripp -- the only continuous member from the original lineup -- told Rolling Stone in 2022 that future tours from the band would only take place "if I knew for certainty that King Crimson touring was the only way to prevent World War III." Jakszyk also teased the release of his and Fripp's album, The Scarcity Of Miracles. "Plus, there's also an album I made with Robert before I joined Crimson called The Scarcity Of Miracles. There's a version of it that's about to come out with loads and loads of extra stuff." - Billboard/Music-News.com, 7/14/25...... Neil Young took to the stage at the BST Hyde Park festival in London on July 11 and wowed the audience with a setlist of his timeless classics. Accompanied by the raw energy of his new band the Chrome Hearts, Young effortlessly worked through 18 songs, treating the sold-out crowd to hits spanning his lengthy career. Fan favorites like "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Be the Rain," "Southern Man," and "The Needle and the Damage Done" resonated through the venue, offering a taste of every era of Young's beloved discography. "Thank you, folks, I really appreciate you being here," Young shared with the adoring audience, with a "Love Earth" symbol emblazoned behind him -- a nod to his 2022 collaboration with Crazy Horse. Classics such as "Cinnamon Girl," "After The Gold Rush," and "Name of Love" showcased Young's subtle sentiment and powerful rock prowess. The magical "Harvest Moon" perfectly coincided with the setting sun, creating a truly cinematic moment. Young concluded his set with a two-song encore featuring the anthemic "Throw Your Hatred Down" and "Rocking in the Free World," leaving the crowd chanting along. After Stevie Wonder performed a headlining set on July 12, the festival ended abruptly on a dour note on July 13 after the event's final live show was canceled when headliner Jeff Lynne of Jeff Lynne's ELO was forced to withdraw due to medical reasons. The previous day, organizers announced that "Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow's BST Hyde Park show." Posting on their website bst-hydepark.com, they added that "Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff's mind today -- and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time." The whole July 13 concert, which was also to include performances by Steve Winwood and the Doobie Brothers as well as Lynne, was cancelled. The decision came days after Lynne, 77, axed a concert in Manchester UK shortly before he was scheduled to come out on stage. Lynne had appeared on stage in Birmingham in a hometown send-off a week ago, but was unable to play his guitar owing to a broken wrist, suffered during a taxi crash in London. - Music-News.com, 7/12/25...... 
On July 10 Paul McCartney announced he's heading back out on the road for his first North American swing since 2022. Titled "Got Back 2025," the 19-date trek is slated to launch at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA on Sept. 29, then visit Las Vegas (10/4), Albuquerque (10/7), (10/11), Des Moines (10/14), Minneapolis (10/17), Tulsa (10/22), New Orleans (10/29), Atlanta (11/2, 3), Nashville (11/6), Columbus (11/8), Pittsburgh (11/11), Buffalo (11/14), Montreal (11/17) and Hamilton, Ontario (11/21) before winding down with a two-night stand at the United Center in Chicago on Nov. 24-25. The tour is the indefatigable former Beatle's follow-up to his run of three surprise shows at the intimate Bowery Ballroom in New York in early February, and close-out performance of an Abbey Road medley at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special just days later. While a number of the stops are in cities the singer has played before, a few will be first-time visits, including Albuquerque and the Palm Springs kick-off. Tickets are set to go on sale on July 18. Sir Paul first launched his Got Back run of shows in 2022 with 16 sold-out U.S. gigs, followed by an international edition the next year and 20 more concerts in South America, Mexico, the U.K. and Europe in 2024. Meanwhile, Macca has discussed his creative approach to music in a new interview with BBC Radio 3's Sound Sources host Elizabeth Alker. "You can do something apparently very strange with a piece of music and then you listen to it, and you go 'Oh I really like that'. It's like abstract art I mean, not everything we see is clear and figurative," he said. "Sometimes when you're asleep or you rub your eye, you see an abstract. So, your mind knows about it. We know about this stuff. So, it was the same with music." The full program can be streamed at the BBC.co.uk site. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 7/10/25...... In more touring news, Bob Dylan has announced a string of UK and Ireland dates for his ongoing "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour for November. The latest batch of dates will see Dylan playing Brighton (11/7), Swansea (11/9, 10, 11, 13), Coventry (11/14), Leeds (11/14), Glasgow (11/16, 17), Belfast (11/19, 20), and Killarney (11/23, 24) before wrapping at Dublin's 3Arena on Nov. 25. The "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour sprung from the folk-rock icon's 2020 studio album of the same name and has been running since Nov. 2021. The 10th leg of the tour ran across North America in March and April this year and saw him dipping into his back catalog, including the first performance of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" in 15 years. - NME, 7/10/25...... Jackson Browne, Patti Austin and Seth MacFarlane will be among the musicians and celebrities feting legendary lyricist Alan Bergman on his 100th birthday on Sept. 11 at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif. Bergman and his late wife Marilyn, who died in 20022 at age 93, are probably best-known for writing exquisite ballads such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Pieces of Dreams" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?," but they couldn't be typecast. They also wrote witty and zesty theme songs for such TV series as Maude, Good Times and Alice. The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, including best original song for "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair and "The Way We Were" from the movie of the same name, and three Grammy Awards, including song of the year for "The Way We Were." Barbra Streisand, who took "The Way We Were" to the top of the US pop chart in 1974, will be making a video appearance during the event. Streisand previously paid tribute to the Bergmans on her Grammy-nominated 2011 album What Matters Most - Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman. The event will serve as a benefit for the Jazz Bakery, of which Bergman is a founding board member. The nonprofit listening room is one of the most respected jazz spaces in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 7/10/25...... 
Two months after announcing the upcoming publication of a long-awaited memoir, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has announced the release of a "definitive" greatest hits collection. On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits, due Sep. 5 on Cat-O-Log Records in partnership with Universal Music Recordings, will be the music icon's first-ever career-spanning collection of his emotive and moving songs from his nearly 60-year recording career, spanning from 1967's Matthew & Son through his 2023 King Of A Land LP. The new release will also include a 24-page booklet containing all the lyrics and never-before-seen reflections on the music by Yusuf himself. "I'm pleased that, at last, a collection of recordings includes some important songs I wrote after my evolvement, 'Take The World Apart' and 'Heaven / Where True Love Goes' for instance, reflecting the peace and happiness which has since changed my life," he said in a press release. "It's really humbling to think about how many souls have been traversing this journey with me." The singer recently performed at the BST Hyde Park festival in London on July 11, as a special guest to Neil Young. Meanwhile, his memoir that was first announced in May, Cat On The Road To Findout, is set for release in the UK on Sep. 18 and in the US on Oct. 7. Yusuf will embark on a rare UK concert and book tour to promote the new album and memoir, his first UK tour in nine years. The seven-show tour begins on Sep. 6 at Cambridge's Corn Exchange and concludes on Sep. 22 at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. - Music-News.com, 7/10/25...... Days after performing the final show of Black Sabbath in Birmingham, UK on July 5, Ozzy Osbourne has announced his new memoir, Last Rites, described by publisher Grand Centra/Hachette as the "shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Osbourne's descent into hell." The follow-up to Ozzy's 2009 memoir I Am Ozzy, Last Rites will cover the various health crises the 76-year-old metal god has endured over the past few years, including the Parkinson's diagnosis that contributed to him announcing his retirement from touring. "At the age of sixty-nine, Ozzy Osbourne was on a triumphant farewell tour, playing to sold-out arenas and rave reviews all around the world. Then disaster," reads the presser announcing the book. "In a matter of just a few weeks, he went from being hospitalized with a finger infection to having to abandon his tour -- and all public life -- as he faced near-total paralysis from the neck down." But in his own signature no-nonsense style, Osbourne was defiant about his desire to keep rocking, despite his challenges. "Look, if it ends tomorrow, I can't complain," Ozzy notes in the release. "I've been all around the world. Seen a lot of things. I've done good and I've done bad. But right now, I'm not ready to go anywhere." In addition to the book, Osbourne has announced that he's auctioning off a handful of abstract paintings he created with chimpanzees to benefit the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida that helps rescue chimpanzees from animal testing labs and zoos. "I've never sold my paintings. But these abstract collaborations I did with ape artists from @SaveTheChimps are now available at Omega Auctions to raise funds for the sanctuary," he wrote in an Instagram post in which he posed -- holding a banana, naturally -- with some of the colorful canvases. "Each signed painting is named for one of my songs, and there are only five, so bid now for your favorite! Auction closes July 17." Fans can bid on the canvases at bid.omegaauctions.co.uk, and check out his Last Rites book tralier on YouTube. - Billboard, 7/11/25...... Speaking of Ozzy and Black Sabbath's final gig, it has been reported that the "Back To The Beginning" farewell show has "raised a ton of money" for charity. Musician Tom Morello, the show's music director, wrote on Instagram on July 8 that "more than $190 million will be donated to houses and hospitals for children... We raised a ton of money for a great cause and so many great musicians & bands & fans all over the world paid tribute to the ALL TIME greats." However, a spokesperson from concert promoter LiveNation has said: "Reported charity figures around Back To The Beginning are not a true reflection and are indeed false. Ozzy and [event co-organizer] Sharon [Osbourne] in due course will announce correct figures." - NME, 7/9/25...... The final years of David Bowie's career are set to be showcased in a huge new box set, I Can't Give Everything Away (2002-2016). The release, set for Sept. 12, will include faithfully reproduced versions of the original albums where possible, with the CDs gold-plated as opposed to the usual silver. A vinyl box set contains the same content as the CD set, and will be pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl. Created alongside Bowie's co-producer Tony Visconti, the set is named after the closing track of Blackstar, Bowie's final studio album. Released only days before he died in 2016, the record had hinted at the star's ill health prior to his passing, and has long since been a subject of fascination for fans convinced it served as his official farewell, with many claiming that its lyrics can be interpreted as the singer tackling his own mortality. The new box set is the sixth in a reissue series which has so far included: Five Years (1969-1973), Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976), A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982), Loving The Alien (1983-1988) and Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001). The latest instalment consists of 12 CDs, 18 vinyl records and a digital download and streaming format. There's also an accompanying book for the physical box sets, featuring previously unpublished notes, drawings and handwritten lyrics by Bowie. The announcement of the new box set can be viewed on X. - NME, 7/9/25...... 
'70s novelty hitmaker Ray Stevens is reportedly recovering after undergoing a miniminally invasive heart surgery operation on July 7. On July 4, the "Everything Is Beautiful" singer complained of chest pains and was admitted to a Nashville-area hospital, where it was determined that he had suffered a mild heart attack. While in recovery, his performances at his West Nashville CabaRay Showroom have been canceled through July. Stevens, 86, a two-time Grammy winner, Stevens is known for both comedic songs such as "The Streak" and the "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival," but also touching songs such as the pop-country classic "Everything Is Beautiful," which won a Grammy for male pop vocal performance in 1971. "The Streak" was nominated for Country Music Association Awards for single of the year and song of the year in 1974. Stevens was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019. During his more than six decades in the spotlight, the talented musician has held roles as singer, songwriter, producer, music publisher, session musician, television star and real estate developer. He previously ran an entertainment venue in Branson, Mo. from 1981 to 1993, and in 2018, he launched the CabaRay entertainment venue in Nashville. Additionally, his shows at CabaRay have been aired on public television stations. He is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Music City Walk of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In March, he released his latest album Say Whut?, which included songs such as "Everybody's On The Telephone" and "The More You Cry." - Billboard, 7/8/25.
After the UK Government proscribed the political group Palestinian Action as a terrorist group under the government's Terrorism Act 2000 on July 5, Roger Waters has voiced his support for the group and declared his independence from the government. The proscription now means membership or public support for the group is classed as a criminal offense, and could result in up to 14 years of jail. In a three-minute video posted on 
The long-awaited Black Sabbath farewell concert took place at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK on July 5. Billed as "Back to the Beginning," the epic production ran for 11 hours after getting underway at 1:00 p.m. Birmingham time and was hosted by actor Jason Mamoa. Before five solo songs by Ozzy and his touring band ("I Don't Know," "Mr. Crowley," "Suicide Solution," "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "Crazy Train) and four songs by Ozzy and his fellow Black Sabbath bandmates -- Tony Iommi (guitar), Bill Ward (drums) and Geezer Butler (bass) -- ("War Pigs," "N.I.B," "Iron Man" and "Paranoid"), a number of artists performed covers of Sabbath material. British rocker Yungblud performed Sabbath's "Changes" with an all-star band; Anthrax performed "Electric Funeral" from Sabbath's 1970 album Paranoid, and Guns N' Roses took on "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" in their set. Footage of Sabbath's final performance has been shared on 
The acclaimed English band Gang of Four concluded their farewell tour in Amsterdam on July 5. The hugely influential post-punk band, fronted by Jon King, played their classic 1979 LP 
Interviewed by Vanity Fair, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry said she can't see herself "being on stage as Blondie" after the April 2025 death of Blondie drummer Clem Burke at age 70 after a battle with cancer. When asked what she was "most proud of," Harry responded: "I think the things I get most teary-eyed about are the relationships, good fortune, and the luck I've had working with some wonderful, exotic, talented people. Great minds." She went on to liken "keeping a rock band together for 50 years" to "a marriage," before touching on the changes to Blondie's touring line-up. Blondie co-founder Chris Stein no longer performs live with the group due to ongoing health issues. "It's sad that with Clem's passing and without having Chris on stage, I can't see myself being on stage as Blondie, even though I am the face of Blondie. But I'm proud of the music, and I would still like to do music... I want to feel that little spark of creativity, surprise -- those things. There's a little tingle of that, and I hope that will be there for me." Before Burke's death, Blondie were already scheduled to release a new album at some point in 2025. However, an exact release date is not yet known. The album would be the follow-up to 2017's Pollinator, helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleto. In the same interview Harry, who turned 80 on July 1, opened up about undergoing cosmetic surgery when asked whether she had ever felt any "pressure" to look good. "It's always been a tool for me. It's not like I started having cosmetic surgery as a kid in school -- I think nowadays a lot of girls are getting cosmetic surgery when they're 10, 11 years old," she responded. "God bless if it improves their lives and they feel happy. But as far as me having cosmetic surgery, it made me feel better about myself. Maybe it made me feel happy, or more confident. It was just something that I felt necessary at the time... women being attractive, and being a selling point, is clearly showbiz... if you're going to be in the business, be in it." - NME, 7/3/25...... Days before he takes the stage for what is being billed as his final show with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne has announced an upcoming collaboration with alt makeup brand Jolie Beauty. Osbourne, known for rocking copious amounts of eyeliner, has linked up with the Birmingham, UK-based brand for a collection of cosmetic and makeup products under the banner Ozzy Osbourne x Jolie Beauty. "We're not slowing down, this collab's a one-way ticket on the Crazy Train. No brakes. No rules. Just pure, unfiltered rock 'n' glam mayhem," the company wrote in an 
Could Aerosmith make one last live return after announcing in 2024 that they would be retiring from touring in the wake of Steven Tyler's serious vocal injury -- fracturing his larynx as well as having damaged vocal cords? Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry hinted as much during a recent appearance on SiriusXM radio's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk podcast. When asked if fans could ever see the band on stage again, Perry said: "Well, yeah, I'm always hoping, but going on the road, it's a big deal pulling that together," with the 74-year-old axman adding: "There's so much planning, and what it takes out of you physically, it's a lot more than people realize. It's one thing when you're doing it when you're 25 or 30, but it's another when you're starting to get up there like us. It's a really physical thing, going out on stage." Perry says he's also sure that Tyler, 77, would be able to sing a full concert again if he could get the strength back in his voice. Asked if Tyler could perform a full show, Perry said: "You know, I think he would. I think it's just a matter of getting there, you know? I mean, it's like, you know, I mean, we're up there, man. I've got enough left in me. I still wanna do [a final Aerosmith show]... So, we'll see what happens." Meanwhile, Perry will be touring across the US this summer with his group The Joe Perry Project. - Music-News.com, 7/1/25...... Ringo Starr has reportedly told the director of the upcoming four-part Beatles biopic that he should rewrite parts of the script. According to the New York Times, Starr worked with director Sam Mendes for two days to go over the scripts for the drummer's individual film. Ringo, according to the report, "offered extensive notes" to Mendes to ensure it was an accurate reflection of his life -- particularly of his childhood growing up in Liverpool and of his first marriage to Maureen Starkey Tigrett. "He had a writer -- very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I. That's not how we were. I'd say, 'We would never do that,'" Ringo is reported as saying. However after the edits, Starr said he was satisfied. "But he'll do what he's doing," he said of Mendes, "and I'll send him peace and love." The films are expected to be released in early 2028. In the same interview, Ringo said he still thinks he's 24 when he looks in the mirror. Starr, who turns 85 on July 7, said: "It blows me away. I look in the mirror and I'm 24. I never got older than 24," he told the Times, adding to himself, "But guess what? You did." Since 1989, Ringo has toured the world with his Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and credited performing regularly with how he maintains his energy. "I love what I'm doing. When I first started... my mother would come to the gigs. She would always say, 'You know, son, I always feel you're at your happiest when you're playing your drums,'" the Liverpool native recalled. "So she noticed. And I do." - NME/Music-News.com, 7/3/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. has announced that Tom Greene has been appointed as its new CEO, effective in September. Greene joins the company having previously fulfilled an operating role for the Harry Potter franchise, including stints running Pottermore Publishing and Wizarding World Digital, a joint venture between Warner Bros and Pottermore. His most recent role was as COO of Blast, an entertainment company working with the video game developers and publishers on production, commercialization and audience growth of their Esports programs. "It is a huge honour to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history," Greene said in a statement. "Like so many people around the world, I grew up in a household obsessed with The Beatles and their music. At a time when the world might need more of the Beatles' spirit, there are so many new and innovative ways to bring their unique magic to all generations of fans. I cannot wait to get started," he added. Greene will be replacing Jeff Jones after 17 years as Apple Corps' CEO, during which he oversaw the band's foray into video games (The Beatles: Rock Band), a number of films and documentaries directed by the likes of Ron Howard and Peter Jackson, and the band's "final song," "Now and Then." - Billboard, 7/1/25...... Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan's co-headlining Outlaw Music Festival Tour has been temporarily delayed after a powerful storm damaged gear during a recent stop in Missouri, forcing the cancellation of their July 1 show in Oklahoma. The June 29 concert at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Mo., was abruptly cut short when heavy rains and high winds swept through the venue. According to a statement from organizers, festivalgoers were evacuated for safety, but not before the storm reportedly waterlogged artist instruments and damaged key production equipment. As a result, the July 1 show at Lucky Star Amphitheater in El Reno, Okla., has been canceled. The tour is expected to resume July 4 in Austin, Tex., where Nelson traditionally hosts his annual 4th of July Picnic. That show, taking place at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, is set to feature Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Tami Neilson, and Asleep at the Wheel. - Billboard, 6/30/25...... 
Rod Stewart reunited with his Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood during the celebrated mid-afternoon legend's slot at the Glastonbury 2025 festival on June 29. Backed by an extended string section and strains of bagpipes, Stewart went into the smooth rock of opener "Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)," before greeting the audience with: "Enjoy yourselves ladies and gentlemen, please. Music brings us together - we need music!" Joined by Wood, the pair played the 1971 Faces classic 
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has announced he's bringing his "This Is Not A Drill" tour to cinemas worldwide with This Is Not A Drill - Live from Prague - The Movie. Set for global release by Sony Music Vision and Trafalgar Releasing, the film will have limited screenings on July 23 and 27. Recorded and filmed during Waters' impactful performance at Prague's O2 Arena on May 25, 2023, the movie has been meticulously edited by long-time collaborator Sean Evans. Billed by Waters as his "first ever Farewell Tour," the show is Waters' statement against what he describes as a "corporate dystopia," dedicated to those fighting for "the soul of humanity." The film features 20 classic Pink Floyd and Roger Waters tracks, including "Us & Them," "Comfortably Numb," "Wish You Were Here," and "Is This The Life We Really Want?," alongside Waters' recently celebrated new song, "The Bar." Tickets for worldwide cinema screenings are on sale now at www.rogerwaters.film. Beyond the big screen, the live audio and visual recording will be released on Aug. 1 via Legacy Recordings in 
Speaking of Paul McCartney, the Beatles legend has named three of his favorite albums of all time. Responding to a message in an ongoing segment on his 
Speaking of Australia, one of the country's most famous daughters, Olivia Newton-John, has a new documentary about her life and career in development. On June 24, Deadline.com published a press released reporting that Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Nicole Newnham is working on a project about the late Hollywood singing legend for Netflix. The film will chronicle ONJ's childhood in England and Australia as well as her early pursuit of a career in the music industry. In addition, the documentary will explore her rise to fame alongside John Travolta in the iconic 1978 musical film, Grease. "In her own words, through vivid archival and via reminiscences from close friends and collaborators, we'll follow Olivia's journey as the world falls madly in love with her and she ascends to the height of fame, only to be confronted by challenges of epic proportions," a summary reads. "By discovering how to stay true to her beliefs, Olivia changed our culture for the better, bending it towards kindness, inclusivity, and love." Newton-John died at the age of 73 in 2022 following a battle with breast cancer. The film will be produced by R.J. Cutler, whose last project was a documentary about Martha Stewart for Netflix. - Music-News.com, 6/25/25...... Forget about all that recent "farewell" talk from Foreigner -- the band's upcoming change of singing guard, from Kelly Hansen to Luis Maldanado, may well make for a more productive Foreigner, according to bassist Jeff Pilson. "There's just a lot of forward movement, and the band is incredibly excited," Pilson, who's been with Foreigner since 2004 (and was also part of Dokken), says. "What started off as being a farewell tour now ended up being Kelly's last tour and (the band) moving forward." Back in 2022 Kelly Hansen positioned himself as the primary driver behind Foreigner's Historic Farewell Tour, which began the following year. "This catalog of songs, it's extremely challenging for a rock tenor vocalist like myself to sing," he explained at the time. "I never thought in a million years I'd be singing these songs in the (original) keys at this age (then 61), and I don't know how much longer I can do that at the level I need toIf I'm not doing it for real, I shouldn't be doing it." Foreigner's farewell tour got under way during the summer of 2023 and has been extended a couple of times since, due to demand -- bolstered by the band's long-awaited induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Oct. 2024. The lead vocalist change may also open the door for fans to hear more music for Foreigner in the near future. The group has recorded two Spanish-language tracks sung by Maldonado, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, including a duet version of their classic "I Want to Know What Love Is" with Joy Huerta of the Latin Grammy-winning duo Jesse & Joy. Pilson says more of those are planned. Pilson adds he's also sifting through additional unreleased and in-progress recordings, and hopes some brand new material will be recorded as well. Original Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm has indicated he's definitely on board to contribute in whatever manner he can. And Pilson adds that Foreigner founder/guitarist Mick Jones -- who had to retire from touring due to Parkinson's Disease -- remains "really supportive" of Foreigner continuing and releasing new music. - Billboard, 6/25/25...... Stevie Nicks has announced eight additional dates for her upcoming North American tour later this year. In April, the former Fleetwood Macsinger and songwriter confirmed that she would be playing across the US and Canada with an original run of nine dates in August and October. Now, the tour has been extended, with a show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Aug 8 now set to kick off the string of dates. Extra shows have also been added in Hollywood, Fla. (9/3) and Detroit (9/7), as well as Portland (10/1), Sacramento (10/4), Atlantic City (10/18), Charlotte (10/21 and Hartford (10/25). A press release at the time of the original announcement indicated that "Nicks will continue to enchant audiences with her unmistakable voice, poetic lyrics and transcendent live performances" at the gigs. She had been due to play some shows with Billy Joel this summer, but the "Piano Man" singer has been forced to cancel all of his upcoming tour dates following a diagnosis with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus. - NME, 6/23/25...... Eddie Van Halen's musician son Wolfgang Van Halen has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Black Sabbath farewell concert over tour commitments. Speaking to WRIF Detroit recently, Wolfgang explained of the situation: "I, unfortunately, had to back out because the Creed tour starts the day after, and I wouldn't be able to pull it off -- unfortunately. I'm very excited to watch it, but I unfortunately had to back out." The farewell Sabbath concert, dubbed "Back To The Beginning," is set for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK. - NME, 6/26/25...... 
Longtime E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt has revealed he's being forced to sit out several upcoming shows with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band as he recovers from emergency surgery. Van Zandt shared the news via X on June 23, revealing that what initially felt like food poisoning turned out to be appendicitis. He was treated in San Sebastin, Spain, following a show in the city and praised the medical team for their swift care. Springsteen and the E Street Band are in the midst of a European stadium run, with the next stop scheduled for Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on June 27, followed by back-to-back dates at Milan's San Siro Stadium on June 30 and July 3. "I'm hoping to get back on stage for at least one of the shows in Milan," Van Zandt added. "Thank you all for all the good vibes. See you soon." Van Zandt last performed onstage with Springsteen in San Sebastin on June 24. No formal announcement has been made regarding a fill-in, though the band has adjusted their lineup in the past to accommodate health-related absences. - Billboard, 6/24/25...... Typographer Jim Parkinson, the artist behind Rolling Stone magazine's iconic logo, died on June 27 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 83. The San Francisco Bay Area native attended California College of Arts and Crafts, where he graduated in 1963, and worked as an artist at Hallmark Cards, where he moved from "drawing rabbits" to the lettering department, where he honed his craft. In 1971, he was hired to create lettering and drawings for Rolling Stone, which was headquartered in San Francisco at the time. Mr. Parkinson was enlisted to redesign its logo in 1977, in time for the magazine's 10th anniversary. A few years later, he brought new life to the design with the now-iconic elongated tail on the "R." That rework became the longest-running version of the logo, lasting until 2018. (He was also behind a flatter version that ran from 2018 through 2022.) He went on to design logos for dozens of other publications, including Esquire, Variety, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, and logos for bands including Credence Clearwater, Kansas and the Doobie Brothers. Mr. Parkinson died in Oakland and is survived by his wife and book artist Dorothy Yule. A memorial for him is also expected in the fall. - Billboard,...... Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television's most honored journalists, died on June 26 in a New York City hospital. He was 91. Mr. Moyers' son William said his father died at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York after a "long illness." On the day Pres. John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Mr. Moyers was in Austin helping with the presidential trip. He flew back to Washington on Air Force One with newly sworn-in Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson, for whom he held various jobs over the ensuing years, including press secretary. In 1967, Mr. Moyers became publisher of Long Island-based Newsday and concentrated on adding news analyses, investigative pieces and lively features. His next venture was in public television and he won critical acclaim for Bill Moyers Journal, and interview series. He was chief correspondent of CBS Reports from 1976 to 1978, went back to PBS for three years, and then was senior news analyst for CBS from 1981 to 1986. His projects in the 21st century included Now, a weekly PBS public affairs program; a new edition of Bill Moyers Journal and a podcast covering racism, voting rights and the rise of Donald Trump, among other subjects. Over the years, the Hugo, Okla., native was showered with numerous honors, including more than 30 Emmys, 11 George Foster Peabody awards, three George Polks and, twice, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Gold Baton Award for career excellence in broadcast journalism. In 1995, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Mr. Moyers married Judith Davidson, a college classmate, in 1954, and they raised three children, among them the author Suzanne Moyers and author-TV producer William Cope Moyers. Judith eventually became her husband's partner, creative collaborator and president of the production company they founded in 1986. - AP, 6/26/25...... 
Composer/conductor Lalo Schifrin, who composed the unforgettable instrumental theme from Mission: Impossible among countless other iconic series and movies, died on June 26 at age 93. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin on June 21, 1932, Mr. Schifrin was a second-generation musical talent. His father was the concert master for the Buenos Aires Philharmonic for more than three decades. The younger Schifrin began playing piano at the tender age 5. When he was about 16, his classmates turned him to jazz records, and he was hooked for life. He studied music and law for four years at the University of Buenos Aires, and received a scholarship to the Paris Conservatory of Music in 1952. In 1956, Mr. Schifrin returned to Buenos Aires, formed his own jazz band and became active writing music for TV and radio programs.Mr. Schifrin arrived in New York City in 1958, and reconnected with early mentor Dizzy Gillespie in 1960, and worked on Gillespie's hit album, Gillespiana, which brought both musicians Grammy nominations. Mr. Schifrin received 19 Grammy nominations spanning 40 years (1962-2002) and multiple genres (both jazz and pop) and skillsets (composition, arrangement and performance), and won four Grammys. He received four Primetime Emmy nominations -- three for Mission: Impossible and one for his music for David Wolper's The Making of the President 1964. He received six Oscar nominations, five for scores (Cool Hand Luke, The Fox, Voyage of the Damned, The Amityville Horror and The Sting II) and one for a song, "People Alone" from The Competition (1980), which he co-wrote with lyricist Will Jennings. For all he accomplished, Mr. Schifrin's Mission: Impossible theme is unquestionably his greatest hit. His music for that drama series, which aired on CBS from 1966-73, brought him two Grammy Awards, three Primetime Emmy nominations and high placements on the Billboard charts. The theme reached No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Jan. 1968. It won a Grammy for best instrumental theme in 1968 and was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017. Mr. Schifrin also wrote the pitch-perfect theme song for Mannix (also produced by Geller), which helped that Mike Connors P.I. series stay on the air for eight years (one year longer than M:I). His other TV themes include The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Medical Center, Starsky & Hutch, T.H.E. Cat and Petrocelli. His other film scores, not already named, include The Cincinnati Kid, Bullitt, Enter the Dragon and all three Rush Hour films. He is survived by his wife, Donna; sons Will, a TV writer (The Fairly OddParents), and Ryan, a writer-director (Abominable); a daughter, Frances; and four grandchildren. - Billboard, 2/26/25...... Walter Scott Jr., whose buttery vocals alongside his identical twin Wallace Scott were the hallmarks behind hitmaking R&B group The Whispers, died on June 26 in Northridge, Calif., after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 81. The Los Angeles-based quintet is best known for its spate of R&B hits in the '80s such as its first No. 1 with dance anthem "And the Beat Goes On," followed by the sensual ballad "Lady," the up-tempo groove "It's a Love Thing" and the group's second No. 1 with another dance track "Rock Steady," which also reached No. 7 on the Hot 100. All told, The Whispers charted 15 top 10 R&B hits, beginning in 1970 with the group's No. 6 breakthrough ballad "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong." The quintet also counts eight top 10 R&B albums in its catalog including two No. 1s: The Whispers and Love Is Where You Find It. Recording for various labels including Soul Clock, Janus and Soul Train, The Whispers began to hit its stride in 1978 after signing with Dick Griffey's Solar Records, scoring No. 10 on the R&B chart with "(Let's Go) All the Way" followed by the top 15 "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out." A year later came "And the Beat Goes On." In addition to their elegant vocals and scintillating harmonies, the group was heralded as well for its smooth dance routines onstage, making The Whispers a concert draw well into the 2000s. The Whispers were inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2014. Mr. Scott is survived by his wife, Jan, two sons, three grandchildren and brother Wallace. - Billboard, 6/27/25...... 
Bobby Sherman, one of the top teen heartthrobs of late 1960s and early '70s, died after a battle with kidney cancer on June 24. He was 81. "It is with the heaviest heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Bobby Sherman," his wife, Brigitte Poublon, announced alongside actor John Stamos in an Instagram post. "Bobby left this world holding my hand -- just as he held up our life with love, courage and unwavering grace through all 29 beautiful years of marriage," Poublon added. "I was his Cinderella, and he was my prince charming. Even in his final days, he stayed strong for me. That's who Bobby was -- brave, gentle and full of light." Mr. Sherman was a teen idol just before, and briefly concurrent with, Donny Osmond and the late David Cassidy. But there was a difference: Mr. Sherman was 26 in 1969 when "Little Woman" became his first smash hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3. By comparison, Cassidy was 20 in 1970 when The Partridge Family topped the Hot 100 with "I Think I Love You." Osmond was just 13 in 1971 when The Osmonds topped the Hot 100 with "One Bad Apple." Being older than his rivals may have shortened Sherman's run at the top. His entire Hot 100 career, from first hit to last, spanned just two and one-half years. Mr. Sherman first rose to fame playing youngest brother Jeremy Bolt on the TV series Here Come the Brides, which aired on ABC from 1968 to 1970. One of his brothers was played by David Soul, who also went on to become a pop hitmaker. Soul topped the Hot 100 in 1977 with the ballad "Don't Give Up on Us." He died in Jan. 2024 at age 80. Here Comes the Brides had a zesty theme song, "Seattle," but even with two singers in the cast, it was Perry Como who had a top 40 hit on Hot 100 with the song in the spring of 1969. But Como's No. 38 hit was nothing compared to the enormous success Sherman had with both singles and albums from 1969-71 on Metromedia Records. Sherman's first smash, "Little Woman" reached No. 3 for two weeks in Oct. 1969 -- while The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" was in its third and fourth weeks at No. 1. These hits proved that bubblegum could do big business. Mr. Sherman followed "Little Woman" with three more top 10 hits in 1969-70 -- "La La La (If I Had You)," "Easy Come, Easy Go" and "Julie, Do Ya Love Me." All four of these hits were certified gold by the RIAA. Mr. Sherman also had three top 20 albums on the Hot 200 -- Bobby Sherman, Here Comes Bobby and With Love, Bobby. All three of these albums were likewise certified gold. Born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. on July 22, 1943, in Santa Monica, Calif., Mr. Sherman grew up in Van Nuys, Calif., with his sister Darlene. (Future songwriting legend Diane Warren also grew up in Van Nuys.) 
He first recorded for Starcrest Records in 1962, and was a regular on Shindig!, the pop music TV show which aired on ABC from 1964-66. Mr. Sherman made one-off appearances in such series as Honey West, The Monkees and The Partridge Family, the latter appearance serving as a "back-door pilot" for his own ABC series 
The 40th anniversary of the historic 1985 Live Aid benefit concert will be commemorated with radio and TV specials in the UK and US. On July 13, the UK's Greatest Hits Radio will re-broadcast the legendary 1985 benefit concert in its entirety in a 10-hour special by British radio veteran Simon Mayo. Titled Live Aid Relived, the program will feature performances by David Bowie, Paul McCartney, The Who, U2 and Queen, whose iconic 21-minute Live Aid set is widely regarded as one of the greatest live performances of all time, among others. The broadcast will run from noon local time, and include commentary from other Live Aid performers like Spandau Ballet frontman Martin Kemp and cast members from the upcoming Live Aid musical "Just For One Day." The special will close with the final episode of Live Aid: 40 Years On, a documentary series featuring interviews with Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, Queen's Roger Taylor and Brian May, and promoter Harvey Goldsmith. Originally broadcast to 1.9 billion people across 150 countries, Live Aid was a global benefit event staged at London's Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's JFK Stadium to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The concert raised over 114 million but has also since faced criticism regarding perceptions of African nations and aid distribution. Geldof, co-founder of the Band Aid Charitable Trust and the man behind the original concert, said the re-broadcast serves as a reminder of music's enduring power. "Thank you Greatest Hits Radio for hopefully letting people know that they are not powerless in the face of human monstrosity," Geldof said. "What better time than now to know and understand the power of music and what it can achieve." Meanwhile in the US, the CNN special Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On the World is a four-part series that tells the story of how Geldof and U2's Bono inspired the largest global music events in history. It features interviews with several Live Aid principals and global leaders of the time, along with rare archival footage of performances and backstage. It premieres on the network on July 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. - New Musical Express/CNN, 6/23/25...... In related news, The Who's Pete Townshend has offered a ringing endorsement of the above mentioned Live Aid musical, "Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical," currently being staged at London's Shaftesbury Theatre. Townshend even admitted he loves "the show more than I did the gig," a high compliment for the theatrical retelling of the iconic 1985 concert. Adding to the buzz, the musical's original cast recording has just released its latest single, a surprising rendition of The Who's classic "Pinball Wizard" sung by an actor portraying Live Aid promoter Harvey Goldsmith. The Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording) is set to drop on July 18 in the US on 
On June 23 AC/DC announced they're planning a long-awaited stadium tour of their native Australia for November and December of 2025, marking their first national run since 2015. The rockers' Power Up tour will kick off Nov. 12 at Melbourne Cricket Ground and includes stops in Sydney (11/21), Adelaide (11/30), Perth (12/4) and Brisbane (12/14), with tickets going on sale via TEG Van Egmond. The tour follows AC/DC's massive European and North American legs earlier in 2025, and continues the band's celebration of their 2020 studio album Power Up, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. The release became AC/DC's third No. 1 album in the U.S., joining 2008's Black Ice and 1981's For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). It also marked their 26th charting album on the Billboard 200, and 10th top 10 overall. The Australian shows will feature support from Amyl and the Sniffers, who frontwoman Amy Taylor called the "highlight of my literal life" when announcing the news on social media. AC/DC's current lineup features guitarist Angus Young, vocalist Brian Johnson, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug and bassist Chris Chaney. - Billboard, 6/23/25...... The Jacksons announced on June 19 they're preparing to release their first album since the death of their beloved older brother and band member Tito Jackson, who passed away in Sept. 2024 at the age of 70 after suffering a fatal heart attack. The legendary family pop group, which is now comprised of original Jackson 5/Jacksons members Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson, have continued the family band and will share their first studio project since 1989's 2300 Jackson Street "soon." Jackie told the UK paper Daily Star: "We got a new album coming up soon, as The Jacksons. I can't talk a lot about it but it's the brothers, and it's gonna be great." In the meantime, fans can catch The Jacksons at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex, UK, on July 19, as part of the Heritage Live Festivals series. Jackie said of the huge outdoor gig: "Fans should bring their dancing shoes. "We'll be doing all our hit songs." - Music-News.com, 6/19/25...... Neil Young kicked off his summer European tour with his band Chrome Hearts at the Dalhalla open-air theatre in Rättvik, Sweden, on June 18 when they wheeled out such classics as "Like A Hurricane," "Cinnamon Girl," "The Needle and the Damage Done" and "Harvest Moon," with fans in attendance saying the setlist was "wonderfully left field." The show kicked off with a solo from Young, an acoustic version of "Sugar Mountain" that gave way to "'Be The Rain" once the rest of the band joined him. The track comes from Young's 2003 rock opera Greendale, and hasn't had a live outing since 2014. Young's run of dates will see the Canadian musician make his way across Europe with stops in Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, along with a headlining set at the UK's Glastonbury Festival in June, followed by a headline slot at BST Hyde Park in July. In August, they'll head over to the US for a 15-date run across the country starting with a gig on August 8 at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, and will make further stops in Richmond, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Denver, Vancouver and more before wrapping up on September 15 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. A clip of his Rättvik performance of "The Needle and the Damage Done" can be viewed on 
In one of the most unlikely musical pairings imaginable, 80's "hair band" Mötley Crüe has recruited country music legend Dolly Parton for a duet version of the Crüe's classic single "Home Sweet Home." Parton joins in on the chorus of the 1985 power ballad, and takes the lead on the second verse. The reimagined "Home Sweet Home," released June 20 and available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more, will be featured on 
In a recent interview with the UK's The Daily Express, Suzi Quatro insisted that she was "never a sex, drugs and rock and roll girl" at the height of her 70's fame. Quatro, 75, came to global prominence in the 1970s with hits like "Devil Gate Drive," "48 Crash" and "Stumblin'," but admitted as she gears up for another tour that she always knew that she was going into a "profession" above all else. "I'm celebrating 62 years in the business next year," Quatro said. "It's a big tour across the UK- an entertaining two-hour rock and roll show with all the hits and a few surprises. I play the piano, drums and a seven-minute bass solo... I take you on a journey through my life." She continued: "I'm the rehearsal queen. I rehearse as if it was a live show, running around. If I'm not working, then I make sure I'm going to the gym. It means on stage, I still have that energy. I've partied, had the odd room wreck but I was never a sex, drugs and rock and roll girl. I was brought up in a musical family. My dad told me aged 15, 'Suzi, you've found what you want to do in life. This is a profession. If there's 10 people or 10,000 in the audience, everyone's paid to see you, and you owe them'. That's been embedded in me." Meanwhile, Quatro admitted that she will "take to [her] grave" that she attained the sort of fame when she did at a time when it was all a male-dominated indisutry, and insisted that she did it all without "stripping off" for her audience: I'll take to my grave that I was the first female rock musician to have worldwide success. There are many more female musicians today, but they tend to be too influenced by male opinion. I wore a jumpsuit, but I showed no flesh. You don't have to strip off to be sexy." - Music-News.com, 6/22/25...... Cher and the late Gregg Allman's son Elijah Blue Allman has reportedly been discharged from hospital after being treated for a drug overdose. Earlier in June, the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com reported that the musician, 48, had been rushed to a hospital in Southern California after emergency services responded to a call about a man "behaving erratically." A spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (SBCSD) later shared that "deputies located drugs inside the home" and an investigation was ongoing. On June 22, insiders confirmed to TMZ that Elijah had returned to his property near Joshua Tree and "continues to recover." - Music-News.com, 6/23/25...... R&B singer-musician-producer Cavin Yarbrough, half of the duo Yarbrough & Peoples, passed away on June 19 owing to complications from heart disease. He was 72. Yarbrough & Peoples are best known for their crossover dance/funk hit "Don't Stop the Music." Released in 1980, the song spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 1981 and also reached No. 19 on the Hot 100 singles chart. The RIAA gold-certified single was featured on the pair's also gold-certified debut album, The Two of Us, which topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for two weeks and rose to No. 16 on the Hot 200 albums chart. The duo went on to score another Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs with "Don't Waste Your Time" in 1984. Its engaging mix of R&B, soul, funk, pop and dance -- graced by its smooth and spirited vocals -- also sparked three additional top 10s on the chart during the pair's '80s heyday: "Heartbeats," "Guilty" and "I Wouldn't Lie." Born in Dallas, Yarbrough was a classically trained pianist who first met fellow Dallas native Peoples as youngsters taking piano lessons. The pair's friendship and creative bond later led to establishing their own band. It was Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band who discovered Yarbrough & Peoples, bringing them to the attention of Lonnie Simmons, who signed them to his Los Angeles-based label, Total Experience Records. "He was the love of my life, my protector. Now he's my guardian angel," Yarbrough's wife and longtime music partner, Alisa Peoples, said in a statement. - Billboard, 6/22/25...... 
Legendary rock guitarist Mick Ralphs, the co-founding guitarist of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died at age 81. The musician's Bad Company bandmates announced his death on their 
The song would become a Top 5 US hit the next year for Mr. Ralphs' next band, Bad Company. Formed with former Free members Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke and former King Crimson member Boz Burrell, the band recorded its