Cher's son Elijah Blue Allman was arrested on Feb. 27 and charged with simple assault and trespassing after acting belligerently at an elite private high school in New Hampshire, of which he has no association. Allman, 49, was booked into the Merrimack County Jail and also charged with criminal threatening and disorderly conduct, the latter of which is illegal in the state but not considered a crime. At about 7 p.m., Concord police responded to reports that Allman was disturbing people in the dining hall of St. Paul's School. After charging Allman, police said he was released on bail as his case works through the court system. Allman, a resident of Southern California, has no apparent connection to the school, and it remains unclear why he was there. An investigation is ongoing, and reps for Cher and St. Paul's School have yet to comment on the incident. In June 2025, Allman was hospitalized following an overdose at his home after authorities responded to reports of erratic behavior. Drugs were later discovered at the residence, according to TMZ.com. The incident occurred roughly two months after his wife, Marieangela King, filed for divorce following 13 years of marriage. Cher sought a conservatorship over Elijah Blue in 2023, alleging he was "substantially unable to manage his own financial resources due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues." She also claimed King had interfered with his efforts to seek treatment, TMZ reported. The case was dismissed in late 2024. - AP/Billboard, 3/1/26...... 
Seventies artists Phil Collins and Joy Division/New Order are among the 17 new names proposed for induction into the class of 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the Cleveland-based hall and museum announced on Instagram on Feb. 25. Alternative faves Oasis made the shortlist for the third consecutive year, while Joy Division and New Order, who are listed together as one candidate, are also up for a third time, having been nominated in 2023 and 2025. Other repeat nominees are Mariah Carey, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Sade and The Black Crowes. First-time nominees include Collins, Lauryn Hill, Jeff Buckley, Wu-Tang Clan, Pink, INXS, Luther Vandross, Shakira, New Edition and Melissa Etheridge. As a member of Genesis, Collins was previously inducted into the Rock Hall in 2010, and if he were to be successful this year, he would become the 29th artist to be inducted into the Rock Hall multiple times. Joy Division, formed in Manchester, UK in 1976 and led by the late Ian Curtis, was one of Britain's most admired post-punk bands, and released their first album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979. A panel of more than 1200 artists, historians and industry professionals will choose the organization's class of 2026, and that announcement will be made in April. Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after their first commercial recording was released, and fans can also vote for their favorites at rockhall.com, with their top five choices being counted as one vote from the "fans ballot." - New Musical Express, 2/25/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's daughter Kelly Osbourne is pushing back at criticism of her appearance after she accepted a BRIT Awards Lifetime Achievement prize that had been awarded to Ozzy on Feb. 28. Kelly took the stage alongside her mother Sharon Osbourne, who delivered an emotional acceptance speech that Kelly accentuated by quipping, "Up the Villa," in tribute to Ozzy's beloved Aston Villa (the speech can be viewed on YouTube). In the hours following the show, however, Kelly posted on her Instagram Stories (also available on X/Twitter) to reveal that she had received some abusive messages about her appearance on the show. Without specifying the nature of the criticisms, she wrote: "There is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something. Kicking me while I'm down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most." "None of it proves strength," she continued. "It only reveals a profound absence of compassion and character. I'm currently going through the hardest time in my life. I should not even have to defend myself. But I won't sit here and allow myself to be dehumanized in such a way!" It comes after previous comments from Kelly in Dec. 2025 in which she hit back at hurtful comments about her weight loss. "To the people who keep thinking they're being funny and mean by writing comments like 'Are you ill?' or 'Get off Ozempic, you don't look right'. My dad just died, and I'm doing the best that I can," she said. Also during the ceremony, pop star Robbie Williams led an all-star tribute to Ozzy, singing "No More Tears" backed by a band made up of regular Ozzy collaborators Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde. Fan-shot footage can be streamed on X/Twitter. - NME, 3/1/26...... 
Country/pop icon Dolly Parton is getting a Tennessee children's hospital renamed in her honor as the East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn., announced on Feb. 26 it will now be known as the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. Parton has long been known for her commitment to helping those in her native Tennessee and for helping children. And she's done so with businesses and programs including her Dollywood theme park and the Imagination Library, which provides books for children under age 5. In a video announcement on Instagram, Parton said, "Now I've always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up, healthy, hopeful and surrounded by love. That belief is what brought me together with the incredible folks at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. For nearly 90 years, their teams have provided compassionate and talented care. They see children not just as patients, but as precious lives, each with a story and with a future... when we come together for our children, there's no limit to what we can do." The Knoxville-based 152-bed East Tennessee Children's Hospital opened in 1937 and offers full capabilities to care for seriously ill children in a unique environment, as well as providing pediatric health care training opportunities for smaller hospitals. - Billboard, 2/26/26...... A source close to Mick Jagger is denying that he gave the producers of the new Melania Trump documentary Melania permission to use The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" in the film. Melania producer Marc Beckman had told Variety that Jagger not only approved of the song's use, but was also "actually involved" and "gave his blessing." Now a source close to Jagger has told The Guardian that he felt scepticism over Jagger's cooperation was required as the producer was attempting to promote the documentary. A spokesperson for the Stones also told the newspaper that the band did not liaise with Beckman over the use of the track in the film, and that the deal was made between the producers and music company ABKCO, which owns the rights to the band's pre-1971 material. The film, which follows the First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Pres. Donald Trump's second inauguration in Jan. 2025, opens in his Mar-a-Lago resort using "Gimme Shelter" as the soundtrack. Guns N' Roses, Grace Jones and Prince's estate all refused to have their music used in Melania. The Stones have previously objected to the use of their music in Trump rallies, too, alongside Guns N' Roses, Jones, Prince's estate, Foo Fighters, ABBA, Adele, Neil Young, Queen, R.E.M, Jack White, Celine Dion and Bruce Springsteen. - NME, 2/27/26..... Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, it has been announced that Tom Morello will join the New Jersey rocker and his E Street Band at every show of the upcoming "Land Of Hope And Dreams" US tour. On Feb. 17, the the Boss announced the 19-date run of arena and stadium dates, which will pointedly kick off in the beleaguered Minneapolis, Minn., on March 31 and wrap up in Washington, DC on May 27. The shows are sure to be politically charged, given Springsteen's recent fiery contribution to the anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis and beyond, which included a raucous show at First Avenue in the city on Jan. 30, where he debuted his new anti-Donald Trump song "Streets Of Minneapolis." That show was organised by Rage Against The Machine's Morello, and now it has been confirmed that the singer/guitarist will join Springsteen for the entire tour, playing on "selected songs" at every date. Announcing the tour, Springsteen said: "We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair -- the cavalry is coming!" Speaking about joining the 'Land Of Hope And Dreams' tour, Morello has said: "I was reminded how important our platform is, and how crucial the resistance work is that our music can do together at this dangerous historical juncture. Together, Bruce, the E Street Band, and I are going to turn a spotlight on the current threats to democracy and human rights happening all around us on the 'Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour' in the spirit of freedom, justice and rock n roll." - NME, 2/25/26...... 
Paul McCartney has revealed his favorite films after joining the online social cataloging service and fan review site Letterboxd.com. Sir Paul gave an interview to his website, paulmccartney.com, on Feb. 26, where he was asked about his favorite films and documentaries. He told fans that tends to like movies and documentaries more than long series, and one that "really stuck" with him is the 2021 film Cow, which chronicles the daily life of a dairy cow. "It's pretty hardcore, but very good. It reminded me of Linda's song of the same name, which is equally as powerful." Then, in response to a question about the film reviewing website, McCartney shared his top four films. "The Girl Can't Help It, I always love that one and watch it again and again," he wrote. "On the Waterfront, with Marlon Brando, fantastic film. Get Out, I think Jordan Peele did a great job with that. And The Last Waltz - that's a nice one to round it out." Macca then officially joined Letterboxd, where he listed the above films as his favorites. He also gave some insight into his new documentary, Paul McCartney: Man On The Run, writing that watching the film was "like a period of my life flashing before my eyes." "It's wonderful because it's full of different emotions and facets. One of the big things for me is seeing so much of Linda, which is great for me and the kids," he added. The documentary, directed by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Best Of Enemies) arrived on Amazon Prime Video on Feb. 27, and an accompanying soundtrack was released the same day. - NME, 2/27/26...... Actress Lauren Chapin, known for playing the giggly tomboy daughter of Robert Young in the popular 1950s sitcom Father Knows Best, died on Feb. 24 in Miami. She was 80. Her death, in a hospital, was confirmed by her daughter, Summer Chapin, who said the cause was cancer. Ms. Chapin played the youngest of the three wholesome, upbeat, all-American children in the show, known as "Kitten," but led a personal life in traumatic contrast to her best-remembered role. As she wrote in a well-received memoir, Ms. Chapin was raised by a sexually abusive father and an alcoholic mother who pushed her three children into acting careers. Her life completely fell apart, she said, after Father Knows Best went off the air in 1960, and she began to feel like a 14-year-old has-been. By the time she was 18, she said, she made several suicide attempts, was married and divorced, and had eight miscarriages. In 1964, she sued her mother for her television earnings, claiming her mother had forced her to sign over all rerun benefits. She later said she never earned any money from syndication. I really felt like God was out to get me," Ms. Chapin recalled in a 1989 interview on the syndicated talk show Live With Regis and Kathie Lee. She spent nearly two decades in crises -- addicted to heroin, working as a call girl, in prison for check forgery, stints in psychiatric facilities -- until she said she became a born-again Christian and evangelical minister. She reportedly raised millions of dollars to help abused children and gave religious testimonials about suffering and endurance. "I'm not proud of my past, but in a strange way, I'm thankful for it," she once said. "If Christ can love a person like I was, He can love anyone. To me, that's the real message of my past." Ms. Chapin's marriages to Gerald Jones, Wilton Walls Jr. and Robert L. Kelley ended in divorce. In addition to her children Summer and Matthew, both from relationships, she is survived by a brother, Michael Chapin; and two grandsons. Her brother Billy Chapin, who as a child starred with Robert Mitchum in the Gothic-horror film The Night of the Hunter (1955), died in 2016. - The New York Times, 2/25/26...... 
Flamboyant actor/singer Monti Rock III, known for his scene-stealing role as DJ Monti in the iconic 1977 film classic Saturday Night Fever, passed away in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 23. He was 86. While central character John Travolta's star-making turn as Tony Manero remains central to the film's legacy, fans also remember the supporting characters who gave the story its emotional weight and authenticity. One of these actors was Monti Rock III, who played the beloved DJ Monti at the disco the characters visited, The 2001. Mr. Rock is best remembered from a scene where he calls out to Travolta and his fellow dancers. He says, "Hello, again! This is beautiful Monti, your delicious DJ!" Odyssey. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mr. Rock died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The site confirmed Rock's death via a longtime friend, Lucille Thaler. She added that he had been diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the years before his death, and also stated that in Dec. 2024, he suffered a broken hip, for which he received surgery. In an undated interview with the website UltimateClassicBands.com, Mr. Rock discussed his career, including his work with Disco-Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, a disco group that had two hit singles, "Get Dancin'" (1974) and "I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo (Doo Dat Dance)" (1975). The group later earned a lyrical nod from the Pet Shop Boys on their 1996 album Bilingual, with the song "Electricity" referencing them in the line, "It's the greatest show with the best effects, since Disco Tex & the Sex-O-Lettes." To UltimateClassicRock.com, the entertainer claimed the group had sold "seven million records" and released three albums before SNF producer Robert Stigwood recruited him to appear in the now-classic film. Of his role in SNF, Mr. Rock said, "It made me legit in many ways. Robert Stigwood liked me basically. It changed my life, actually. I had three years of premieres and talk shows, and I made a lot of money. I did a few other bad films." The entertainer also made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. - Parade, 2/25/26.
Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, known for hits such as "Bad Blood," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Laughter in the Rain," died in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, after being rushed to a local hospital earlier in the day when he said he was feeling unwell. He was 86. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," a family statement posted to the singer's Instagram account said. "A true rock n' roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed." 
Born on Mar. 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Mr. Sedaka began his career while he was still a teen in the 1950s, becoming one of the world's first teen pop stars. He would go on to form The Tokens, a doo-wop group which later had a hit of its own with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," before meeting his neighbor Howard Greenfield, who would become his songwriting partner, with their partnership going on to sell 40 million records in just the four years between 1959 and 1964. While on a two-year scholarship to the Julliard School in New York City, he sold his first tune, "Stupid Cupid," a hit for Connie Francis in 1958, as was his "Where The Boys Are" (which Francis sang in the hit teen movie of the same name) in 1961. On the advice of fellow songwriter Doc Pomus, he signed with Al Nevins and Don Kirshner's Aldon Publishing, which got him signed with RCA Records as a singer. In 1959 he had two hits: "The Diary" (#14) and "I Go Ape" (#42). More Sedaka-Greenfield hits followed between 1959-1962: "Oh! Carol" (#9), "Stairway to Heaven" (#9), "Calendar Girl" (#4), "Little Devil" (#11) and "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" (#6), "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (#1) and "Next Door to an Angel" (#5). After his performing career slowed in 1963, Mr. Sedaka and Greenfield continued to write hits for others, including "Workin' on a Groovy Thing" and "Puppet Man" for the Fifth Dimension and "Rainy Jane" for Davy Jones. After Mr. Sedaka began a performing comeback in England in 1973 he split up with Greenfield, and made three LPs in Britain with Graham Gouldman of 10cc coproducing. Elton John then helped him resume his U.S. performing and recording career, first by reissuing cuts from the three British LPs on one U.S. package, Sedaka's Back, then by signing him to his Rocket Records label. Sedaka's Back (#23, 1974) and The Hungry Years (#16, 1975) both went gold. "Laughter In the Rain" was a No. 1 hit for Mr. Sedaka in 1974, and his "Love Will Keep Us Together" (cowritten with Greenfield) was a No. 1 hit for the Captain and Tennille, winning a 1975 Grammy as Record of the Year. His second recording streak culminated in 1975 with another No. 1 smash, "Bad Blood," which featured Elton on backing vocals. He followed it with a bluesy reworking of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (#8, 1976), and "Love in the Shadows" (#8, 1976). 
He then resumed his songwriting collaboration with Greenfield, and became a successful MOR ballad singer and made numerous concert and TV appearances, including being one of Saturday Night Live's first musical guests, and also appearing as a guest judge on American Idol. In all, he had 30 songs reach the Billboard pop chart, with nine of them becoming top 10 hits, and 11 of his albums making the all-genre Billboard Hot 200 album chart. In 1980 he and his daughter Dara Sedaka recorded "Should've Never Let You Go," which reached No. 19 on the pop chart. In addition to his five Grammy nods, Mr. Sedaka was also celebrated and recognized for his work throughout his career. He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and Special International Award from the British professional songwriters association The Ivors, and more. Although his fans mounted a sustained campaign to have him inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame over the years, he was never inducted or nominated. In 2024, Mr. Sedaka partnered with Primary Wave to acquire a stake to the masters and publishing rights of his catalog. He is survived by his wife, Leba -- whom he married in 1962 -- daughter Dara, son Marc, and three grandchildren. - Billboard/The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock, 2/27/26.
Rush fans across the word received good news on Feb. 23 as founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced on 
Longtime Journey fans were predictably excited when the band co-founder keyboardist Jonathan Cain hinted that he and bandmate guitarist Neal Schon had asked original singer Steve Perry to rejoin the group for their 60-show "Final Frontier" goodbye North American tour. "Neal already asked," Cain told UltimateClassicRock.com earlier in February, "and he [Perry] says he's thinking about it. I hope he comes out. It's never too late. We've got 100 shows, so he's welcome at any one of them." However their hopes were dashed when Perry definitively shut the door on a final tour with his old mates in an 
The estate of "Shaft" icon Isaac Hayes has reached a private settlement with Donald Trump after suing the president and his campaign. The case was launched over the unauthorized use of the 1966 soul classic "Hold On, I'm Comin'," co-penned by Hayes and R&B duo Sam & Dave who made the song famous, at Trump's campaign rallies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the estate had previously demanded $3 million (£2.22 million), Rolling Stone reports. In court filings, the estate accused Trump of personally selecting the song and playing it at least 133 times without permission. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, also alleged the campaign recorded and distributed videos containing the song despite objections from Hayes' heirs. "Donald Trump represents the worst in integrity and class with his disrespect and sexual abuse of women and racist rhetoric," the musician's son, Isaac Hayes III, wrote on social media in an X post that has since been deleted. On Feb. 23, the estate filed a voluntary dismissal in federal court. In a statement, representatives for the estate said the lawsuit had been "mutually resolved" and that the family was "satisfied with the outcome." "This resolution represents more than the conclusion of a legal matter," the statement read. Isaac Hayes died in 2008, and his estate is one of several artists who have taken action over unauthorized use of their music at Trump rallies, including The White Stripes, Eddy Grant, Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Tom Petty, Village People and Celine Dion. - Music-News.com, - 2/24/26...... In related news, just hours after Donald Trump White House communications director Steven Cheung referred to Bruce Springsteen as a "loser" in a pun-filled statement denigrating the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's announcement of an upcoming U.S. arena tour, Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin had his own spicy retort. Cheung, in a statement to Politico.com, said: "When this loser Springsteen comes back home to his own City of Ruins in his head, he'll realize his Glory Days are behind him and his fans have left him Out in the Street, putting him in a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out because he has a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain. Now Rep. Raskin, a frequent critic of the president, has responded, writing on 
"Boldly going" where even he hasn't gone before, legendary Star Trek actor William Shatner has announced he's planning a new Heavy Metal album featuring covers of the likes of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and others. In an 
Proclaiming "the cavalry is coming," Bruce Springsteen announced on Feb. 17 that he and his E Street Band will launch a 2026 "Land of Hope & Dreams Tour" in Minneapolis' Target Center on Mar. 31 for a 20-city run that will wrap in Washington, D.C. on May 27. "We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair -- the cavalry is coming!" said Springsteen in a 
Rare and high-quality footage of Led Zepplin performing in Amsterdam in the early '70s has surfaced online. The "Stairway To Heaven" rock icons played in the Dutch capital in May 1972, just six months after the release of their classic fourth album 
In the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast Rock & Roll High School, legendary guitarist/songwriter Richard Thompson joins two-time Grammy-winning producer Pete Ganbarg to chronicle a five-decade career that redefined British folk-rock. Thompson, a founding member of Fairport Convention, offers an intimate look at a legacy built on what he calls the delicate balance of "tradition and innovation." Reflecting on his formative years in London, Thompson recalls witnessing the birth of British rock at the Marquee Club, specifically the early residency of The Who. "It was quite extraordinary," Thompson says. "The Who in the early days were writing great short pop songs before it became bombastic, anthemic, stadium-sized -- it was really wonderful, tight, well-constructed music." Thompson's journey took a pivotal turn when he met producer Joe Boyd, a figure he credits with the survival of his creative circle. "I don't know what would have happened without Joe on the scene," Thompson explains. "I'm not sure anybody else had the ears to take someone like Nick Drake and allow him to express himself... He is so important to us." The episode dives deep into the highs and lows of the Fairport era, including the "deeply traumatic" van accident that claimed the lives of his drummer and girlfriend, as well as the origins of the anthem "Meet on the Ledge." Thompson notes with a sense of wonder that the song has now "become public property." A songwriter's songwriter, Thompson has seen his work covered by everyone from R.E.M. to Bonnie Raitt. However, one specific interpretation stands above the rest. "Tom Jones is the one that would absolutely knock my socks off," he says of the Welsh legend's cover of "Dimming Of The Day." "In terms of what a great guy, what a great singer -- and how flattering to have Tom do your song." From his iconic duo with Linda Thompson to his enduring solo career, Richard Thompson remains a master of his craft. Thompson will kick off a 5-date US tour at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on Mar. 26, then visit Solana Beach, Calif. (4/1), Santa Barbara, Calif. (4/5), Napa, Calif. (4/11) and Seattle (4/17). - Music-News.com, 2/13/26...... A video of John Travolta speaking about his private plane use has sparked outrage online, and this comes after a photo of Travolta's Florida mansion that some called "disgusting" showed a couple of his jets casually parked in the back. In a 
Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two Godfather movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in Tender Mercies, died "peacefully" at his home in Middleburg, Va, on Feb. 15. He was 95. "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," his wife Luciana Duvall wrote on 
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the famed civil rights leader who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president, died peacefully surrounded by his family on the morning of Feb. 17. He was 84. Rev. Jackson was hospitalized for observation in Nov. 2025, and doctors said he'd been diagnosed with a degenerative condition called progressive supranuclear palsy. He revealed in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which affects the nervous system and slowly restricts movement and daily activities. Rev. Jackson called it a "physical challenge," but he refused to let it prevent him from continuing his civil rights advocacy. His father, Noah Lewis Robinson Sr., also had Parkinson's and died of the disease in 1997 at the age of 88. Long known for his activism and political influence, Rev. Jackson spent his life dedicated to pursuing civil rights for disenfranchised groups both in the United States and abroad. His "unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity," his family said. "A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless ... leaving an indelible mark on history," they added. As a young man, he became a member of Dr. King's circle and was with Dr. King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. That same year, Rev. Jackson was ordained by the Rev. Clay Evans, though he had dropped out of Chicago Theological Seminary three credits shy of a degree in order to work in the civil rights movement with Dr. King. He was later awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 2000 from the seminary, based on his life's work and experience. Over the years, he received over 40 honorary doctorate degrees from top universities across the country, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based organization he led for decades. Rev. Jackson was born in Greenville, S.C., on Oct. 8, 1941. His mother, Helen Burns Struggs, was 16 and unmarried and gave him the name Jesse Burns. In his teenage years, his mother married Charles Jackson, and Rev. Jackson took his new stepfather's surname. In high school, Rev. Jackson was an honors student, according to Stanford's King Institute, which helped him win a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He studied there before transferring to the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1964. As the civil rights movement grew, Rev. Jackson became involved in local activism. In 1960, a push to desegregate a local public library led Rev. Jackson down the road to become a leader in student-led sit-ins. After his graduation, he left his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary to join Dr. King in Selma. There, he asked for a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group of religious leaders led by Dr. King that focused on nonviolent protests and demonstrations, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Rev. Jackson, with the support and trust of Dr. King, helped lead SCLC's Chicago chapter and spearheaded Operation Breadbasket, a community empowerment campaign. His age and ambition led to numerous fights with leadership, including several arguments with King himself, according to Stanford's King Institute. The pair reconciled in 1968 in Memphis as they gathered for another civil rights protest. In a now-famous photograph from that fateful time, Rev. Jackson stands to the right of Dr. King and fellow leaders Hosea Williams and Ralph Abernathy on the balcony of Memphis' Lorraine Motel. The next day, at almost the exact same spot, Dr. King was assassinated by a gunman. Following Dr. King's death, Rev. Jackson was unable to reconcile with the SCLC. Instead, he founded PUSH, a Chicago organization whose name stands for People United to Save Humanity. In 1984, he also founded The Rainbow Coalition, which focused on social justice through voter engagement and representation. The two organizations merged in 1996. The same ambition that chafed SCLC leaders also led Rev. Jackson to make a run for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in 1984 and 1988. He received 18% of the primary vote in 1984, placing third overall and winning several states. But his campaign was marred by controversy over an antisemitic remark he made about New York's Jewish community in a Washington Post story. Former Vice Pres. Walter Mondale ultimately went on to win the nomination and lose to Republican incumbent Pres. Ronald Reagan. Yet even without holding office, Rev. Jackson continued to stand as a major political figure, championing the release of foreign nationals held in Kuwait in the lead-up to the Gulf War, becoming a "shadow senator" to lobby for statehood for Washington, D.C., and working as a special envoy under Pres. Bill Clinton. In 2000, Pres. Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He is survived by five children with his wife of more than 60 years, Jacqueline, another daughter, and countless figures who were inspired by his leadership. Public observances will be held in Chicago, according to his family. Final arrangements for celebration of life services, including all public events, will be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, they say. - CBS News, 2/17/26.
One of the more sensational rumors in rock music lore is that "Mama Cass" Elliot of The Mamas and the Papas died choking on a ham sandwich. Now a new Mama Cass biopic that aims to dispel that rumor and tell the "California Dreamin'" singer's story has cast its titular role. Baby Reindeer phenom Jessica Gunning is set to play Mama Cass in the movie which will be based on the memoir of Elliot's daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, called My Mama, Cass. According to a press release, the biopic "is not a Mamas & the Papas biopic" and will focus on Cass, who died in her sleep in 1974 in London at the age of 32, with the cause of her death being ruled as a heart attack. According to her autopsy, the singer died in her sleep after feeling unwell the previous evening, and there were no drugs in her system. "I can't believe we're still talking about the sandwich after all these years," Elliot-Kugell told Rolling Stone. "I started running my mom's estate when I was 18. One of the first things I remember thinking is, 'We've got to stop that ham sandwich rumor thing,' because it was so painful. It wasn't enough that we had lost her, to then be [made into] a joke." In the years before, the "California Dreamin'" singer's home in Laurel Canyon, Calif., became a hub for the talented and beautiful in the prelude to the storied 1967 "Summer of Love," welcoming guests from Joni Mitchell to Eric Clapton. Cass was a founding member of the Mamas and Papas vocal group and went on to embark on a solo career after they disbanded. She released her final album, the live album Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, and died a year later. The biopic hasn't yet got a director, although the screenplay is being written by Emma Forrest and is planned to use Cass's voice in songs. Jessica Gunning, who had previously starred on the Outlaws, shot to fame for her portrayal of Martha Scott, a woman obsessed with a struggling comedian, in Baby Reindeer. She's also set to appear in the upcoming The Magic Faraway Tree movie, out on Mar. 27. - The Daily Beast, 2/13/26...... In related news, actress Bijou Phillips, the daughter of Mamas and Papas members, the late John Phillips and Michelle Phillips, is still in urgent need of a kidney, even after receiving hundreds of donor offers from fans after posting about her search online. According to sources close to Phillips, the situation is "touch and go by the minute," and the offers have been "incredible outpouring of support," but "doctors haven't found a match yet," according to TMZ.com. Bijou is seeking kidney donors with blood types B negative, B positive, O negative, or O positive. The model/actress was born with underdeveloped kidneys and had to undergo a kidney transplant nine years ago to manage the medical issue. She has since suffered from serious complications following the initial surgery in 2017, including a serious case of the BK virus. Her original organ transplant failed, leaving her in the life-threatening state she is in now. Bijou is currently hospitalized at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Phillips divorced That '70s Show star Danny Masteron in 2023, after the actor was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two convictions of forcible rape from two separate 2003 incidents. - The Daily Beast, 2/12/26...... 
Interviewed on the LegendsNLeaders podcast, KISS's Gene Simmons reiterated his belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shouldn't induct hip-hop stars, saying the genre "doesn't speak [his] language." During the interview Simmons was explaining that he thinks critics and official musical institutions can't be trusted to determine a band or artist's relevance when he brought up the Rock Hall as an example. "The fact that, for instance, Iron Maiden is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when they can sell out stadiums, and Grandmaster Flash is," he began. "Ice Cube and I had a back and forth -- he's a bright guy, and I respect what he's done. [But] It's not my music. I don't come from the ghetto. It doesn't speak my language. I said in print many times: Hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras & -- it's called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame." Simmons continued: "But [Ice] shot back and said, 'No, it's the spirit of rock n' roll.' OK, fine & I just want to know when Led Zeppelin's gonna be in the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. Music has labels, because it describes an approach." KISS was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2014, two years after which Ice Cube earned a spot in the institution's hallowed halls as part of pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A. The latter is one of several hip-hop stars the Hall has welcomed, along with rap icons such as Jay-Z, LL Cool J and Missy Elliott. In the same interview, Simmons also compared Taylor Swift's fame to the Beatles' heyday, calling it "almost cultish." The bassist spoke about how powerful it is as a musician to see fans connect with your music in real time -- something he says is more validating of an artist's dominance than anything else. "The only analogy I can point to is the Swifties of today," he said. "Yes, the songs are cool, and [Taylor's] wonderful, we know her, but it's more than that," he continued. "It's almost a gathering of the tribes & The Beatles had that. It was called Beatlemania. It's almost cultish. You're a member of that, and there's a connection." Simmons' full LegendsNLeaders interview can be viewed on 
Officials in New York City have announced plans to co-name the Greenwich Village's West 8th Street after guitar god Jimi Hendrix as part of a national education initiative. The ceremony, set for Feb. 24, will take place at the doorstep of Electric Lady Studios, the hallowed recording facility Hendrix founded in 1970 and which remains a premier, operational hub for musical innovation today. Led by District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein, the street naming serves as the high-profile launch for a national education partnership between Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. and Stevie Van Zandt's TeachRock. This collaboration introduces a new multimedia curriculum, "Jimi Hendrix: Rock's Trailblazing Innovator and Influential Guitarist," designed for middle and high school students. The curriculum utilizes exclusive archival footage from Hendrix's iconic 1967 Monterey Pop performance. Through a partnership with NYU's MusEdLab, students can even use interactive digital tools to experiment with the guitar effects and sonic breakthroughs that defined Hendrix's signature sound. The event brings together Van Zandt, Janie Hendrix (President/CEO of Experience Hendrix), and local educators to bridge the gap between rock history and modern classrooms. "Jimi Hendrix wasn't just a legendary musician; he was a fierce advocate for peace, racial equity, and social justice," noted Epstein. Van Zandt added, Hendrix's story reminds young people that "creativity has no limits." The two add that by connecting one of rock's most historic landmarks to a national network of schools, "Jimi Hendrix Way" ensures that the artist's journey will continue to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers. - Music-News.com, 2/12/26...... A new immersive David Bowie show, "David Bowie: You're Not Alone," is coming to London in April, showcasing some of the iconic musician's most famous performances as well as rarely seen material. The show contains a mixture of rarely seen and never-before-exhibited material selected from thousands of hours of film from the David Bowie Archive in New York, from Space Oddity to "Heroes" to Blackstar. The 360 immersive experience is produced by Lightroom, which has previously collaborated with the likes of David Hockney and Tom Hanks, and written and designed by Mark Grimmer of 59, the creative director for the V&A's "David Bowie Is" exhibition, as well as Tom Wexler. Performance footage is combined with photography, drawings, lyrics, personal notes and audio recordings, with the film structured in thematic chapters in a looping presentation. Among the footage included is a somewhat awkward transatlantic TV interview with Russell Harty in 1975 and the reconstructed set of the "Diamond Dogs" tour. As with previous Lightroom exhibitions, the footage will be projected all around the cube-shaped room, placing visitors at the centre of his live performances. As for the music, each track has been newly reconfigured to work with Lightroom's specialised spatial audio system to guide guests through Bowie's illustrious career. One of Bowie's most famous songs, "Heroes," has seen a huge streaming surge in recent weeks after being featured in the final episode of Netflix's Stranger Things. According to Luminate data, the track saw a boost of almost 500% on streaming services. - NME, 2/10/26...... 
John Fogerty is set to receive the Johnny Mercer Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame's top honor, at the annual SHOF Induction and Awards Gala on June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York. The Mercer Award is reserved for a songwriter or songwriting team who has already been inducted into the SHOF and whose body of work is of such high quality and impact that it upholds the high standards set by Johnny Mercer, the lyricist on such standards as "Moon River" and "The Days of Wine and Roses." Fogerty was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 as a member of Creedence Clearwater Revival. He's the 12th person to be inducted into the Rock Hall as a performer and also receive the Mercer Award from the SHOF. He follows Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Dolly Parton, Phil Collins (inducted into the Rock Hall as a member of Genesis), Elton John, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie and Neil Diamond. SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers praised Fogerty as "one of those rare talents who is unmistakably himself." "His style of composition is rock and roll mastery," Rodgers said. "It's what I've always personally believed in, something I call 'The art of complex simplicity.' He's done what I believe all great songwriters do. He makes us feel. He deserves this award as much as anyone who's ever received it, or will receive it, in the future. I send my congratulations to John Fogerty." - Billboard, 2/10/26...... Catalog company ABKCO, owner of the Rolling Stones music catalog, says its recent court victory over unlicensed music in classic rock documentaries provides key clarity on the limits of "fair use," a hot-button issue in the AI-focused copyright conversation of 2026. On Feb. 4, a New York federal judge held filmmaker Robert Carruthers and his company Coda Publishing liable for infringing 80 songs owned by ABKCO and Universal Music Group (UMG) in documentaries about the Rolling Stones, ABBA, U2, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Carruthers had argued that the critical commentary included in the documentaries renders them fair use -- a tenet of copyright law that allows unlicensed works to repurposed for "transformative" creations. But Judge Katherine Polk Failla said simply getting a few critics to juxtapose "hot takes" next to reproduced videos does not "in any way transform the songs about which they are speaking." Fair use is a big deal in current copyright law ecause of artificial intelligence. Across dozens of lawsuits across the country, technology developers have argued that the "transformative" nature of AI makes it fair use for them to train models on existing work without paying for licenses. Now that the judge has rejected Carruthers' fair use defense and granted judgment in favor of ABKCO and UMPG further litigation will ensue to determine what kind of financial damages are owed. Judge Failla has ruled that Carruthers' infringement was willful, which could entitle the music companies to enhanced damages. - Billboard, 2/9/26...... 
In other Rolling Stones-related news, Mick Jagger's fiance Melanie Hamrick has been left "shaken" and "heartbroken" after being attacked outside a London club. The former ballerina revealed on her Instagram Stories on Feb. 10 that she was grabbed from behind outside the private members' club Annabel's in London's Mayfair district. "This is incredibly hard to share, but I was physically attacked at Annabels Mayfair tonight (sic)," Hamrick wrote in a since-deleted post. "I'm so thankful to my friends for protecting me. Two people grabbed me from behind and thank god for good people who stepped in to help me." Melanie added, "I'm shaken, sad and heartbroken that people can treat each other this way." According to The Sun, the attack was an opportunistic mugging attempt outside the upscale venue. Hamrick, 38, has been in a relationship with the Stones frontman since 2014. After two years of dating, they welcomed their first child together -- a son named Deveraux -- in 2016. The boy is Jagger's eighth child. Hamrick confirmed speculation that she and Jagger were engaged in an interview with Paris Match in Apr. 2025, revealing that she and the 82-year-old had been engaged "two or three years," but were in no rush to get married. "Maybe one day we'll marry, maybe not," she said. "We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything. We try to support each other, be there for each other, and make sure everyone is happy. That's all that matters to me and all I strive for." Jagger was previously married to Bianca Jagger from 1971 to 1978 and has been in long-term relationships with Marianne Faithfull, Jerry Hall and L'Wren Scott. - Music-News.com, 2/11/26...... A cassette recording of Ozzy Osbourne rehearsing in 1980 has been unearthed in an attic. Labelled "Ozzie Last Day," the cassette is an early listen at what would go on to become the heavy metal legend's first work with his solo band. The 12-minute bluesy jam session captures Ozzy alongside his beloved guitarist Randy Rhoads, as well as bassist Bob Daisley, ahead of the recording of the Blizzard of Ozz album. As reported by Sky News earlier in February, the recording was discovered in the attic of David Jolly, who befriended Ozzy after a turbulent period saw him fired by Black Sabbath and had started to put together his solo band. Daisley, now the only surviving member of that era, confirmed the authenticity of the tape to Sky News, telling them the recording took place prior to the trio aligning with drummer Lee Kerslake. "As soon as I heard it, I thought, 'Yes, that's us, that's Ozzy's voice,'" Kerslake said. "I don't know if we were auditioning a drummer and just loosening up a bit, or we're just clowning about but it wasn't a song we were working on because we had definite songs by then, we had several songs." In June 2025, it was announced that a compilation of demos that Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward recorded in 1969, back when they still went by the name Earth, was to be released under the title Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes. That release didn't wind up happening, and Ozzy's wife/manager Sharon Osbourne spoke out against the project in November, issuing a detailed social media post outlining Black Sabbath's legal position, which disputes the legal ownership of the recordings. The "Ozzie Last Day" cassette can be checked out on 
Interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning on Feb. 8, Eagles co-founder Don Henley said his Grammy-winning California rock band will disband after it completes its residency at the Sphere venue in Las Vegas at the end of February. Asked if the Eagles are finally going to quit, Henley said, "You know, I think this year will probably be it. And I've said things like that before, but I feel like we're getting toward the end... And that will be fine too." When asked if it's definitely the end for the band, which formed in 1971, he added: "I think so, yeah. And I'm OK with that." Henley went on to reveal he is hoping to spend more time with his family and tending to his garden as well as travelling when he no longer has to consider his responsibilities with the group. "I would like to spend more time with my family and I would like to spend more time growing vegetables and I'd like to... I've traveled all over the world, but I haven't seen much of it because we see the airports and the hotel room and the venue, and we don't get out much, you know," he said. "And so I'd like to go back to some of the same places I've been and see more of those places, you know, before it all disappears or it gets vaporized or whatever." The Eagles, who have been playing shows on their lengthy "The Long Goodbye" tour, recently became the first group with an album certified quadruple diamond platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for their 1976 hits collection 
Don McLean has marked his 10-year relationship with reality star Paris Dylan in an Instagram tribute of a photo of the couple together in May 2024 when they attended a state dinner at the White House. "Happy anniversary, Paris," McLean wrote in his caption. "We've been together for more than 10 years, and you are the love of my life." Dylan, who turns 32 in February, commented, "Love of my life," with a red heart emoji. The 80-year-old 
KISS has joined the elite club of a billion YouTube views with their hit "I Was Made For Lovin' You," hitting the 10-digit milestone with 
Appearing in London's High Court during his breach of privacy suit against the UK tabloid Daily Mail on Feb. 6, Elton John condemned what he called a "sickening" press intrusion into his family's private life. John, 78, described how the Daily Mail allegedly breached his family's privacy after the birth of his eldest son, Zachary, in 2010 and reported on his own health in a manner he found deeply distressing. Elton noted that 10 Daily Mail articles published between 2002 and 2015 were based on information obtained unlawfully, and said the intrusion was "truly sickening" and "outside even the most basic standards of human decency." The Rocketman added he felt "passionately" about "how wrong it is that such gross invasions could have been inflicted upon us and our family and friends without us ever knowing." During the hearing, Catrin Evans KC, representing Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers Limited, asked the singer whether he had complained at the time the articles were published, to which he responded, "I can't remember." "We did not know the extent of the seriousness of what had gone on," he continued. "When we knew the seriousness of what had gone on, we took action, because we were outraged." Elton told the court that while he accepts being in the public eye, that does not mean forfeiting his right to privacy, stating that "deeply personal things which I have a right to deal with in private are fair game." John's husband, David Furnish, testified the previous day and told the court that a 2010 article included details from their son Zachary's birth certificate before they had received it themselves. Lawyers for ANL have maintained that the article was sourced "entirely legitimately." - Music-News.com, 2/6/26...... Fred Smith, bass player for the New Wave bands Television and an original member of Blondie, died on Feb. 5 after battling an unspecified "illness long and hard these last few years," his bandmates revealed. He was 77. Smith got his start as the original bassist for Angel and the Snake, which would later become Blondie, in 1974. He left the band the following year to join Television, replacing frontman Richard Hell. He stayed with Television as a core member until their split in 1978, playing on 1977's seminal hit "Marquee Moon" from their 
LaMonte McLemore, a co-founder of the '60s/'70s Grammy-winning soul/pop group The 5th Dimension, died of natural causes on Feb. 3 at his home in Las Vegas. Mr. McLemore, who suffered a stroke several years ago, was 90. Born Sept. 17, 1935, in St. Louis, Mo., Mr. McLemore enlisted in the Navy early in life and worked as an aerial photographer. Before setting his sights on dual careers as a music artist and as a professional entertainment and sports photographer for Jet magazine and other publications, the multi-faceted Mr. McLemore sought a baseball career in the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system. An author as well, Mr. McLemore co-authored the 2014 autobiography From Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension: A Life Fulfilled in Baseball, Photography, and Music with Robert-Allan Arno. A popular crossover fixture in the late '60s and early '70s music scene, The 5th Dimension formed in Los Angeles and was originally comprised of McLemore, Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo and Ron Townson (who died in 2001). Known for its signature silky harmonies and sophisticated fusion of R&B, soul and pop, the group cemented its success through hits such as "Up, Up and Away," "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)," "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic" and