Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on March 16th, 2026

Barbra Streisand honored her late The Way We Were co-star Robert Redford during the In Memorium segment of the 98th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Mar. 15. Streisand described Redford, who died in Sept. 2025 at age 89, as "an intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail and won the Academy Award for best director, and I miss him now more than ever." "He was a brilliant, subtle actor, and we had a wonderful time playing off each other, because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do or say," she continued. "And I'm thrilled that The Way We Were is now considered a classic love story, but it's also about a dark time in our history, the late '40s and early '50s, when people were informing on each other and subject to loyalty oaths." She wrapped up her fond words by singing a snippet of her No. 1 1974 theme song from the 1973 film, which also won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 1974 Oscars. - Billboard, 3/15/26...... The iconic "Black Strat" played by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmouir on such classics as "Money" and "Comfortably Numb" has smashed the all-time record for the most expensive guitar ever sold. During a Christie's auction in New York on Mar. 12, the guitar was sold to an unidentified buyer and smashed the pre-sale estimate of $2-$4 million. According to the New York Times, the black Fender Stratocaster purchased by Gilmour in 1970 from New York's beloved Manny's Music store in Manhattan is covered in scratches and chipped paint from decades of use, and was played by Gilmour on every studio recording from 1972-1983, as well as during many live performances in that period. The winning bidder, who submitted bids online, paid $14.55 million for the instrument after a 21-minute bidding war. That was more than double the price of $6.01 million paid in 2020 for late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Martin D-18E acoustic guitar which he played on MTV Unplugged just months before his Apr. 1994 death. The guitar was one of a number of high-profile items that went under the gavel as part of a sale of items from late Indianapolis Colts owner and pop culture memorabilia collector Jim Irsay, who died in 2025. Irsay bought Gilmour's guitar in 2019 during a previous Christie's auction for just over $5 million. The Gilmour Strat was one of several items guitars from Irsay's expansive collection that were sold that day, which also included one of late Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia's custom "Tiger" guitars, which went for $11.56 million, as well as the Mustang electric guitar Cobain used in the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, which sold for $6.9 million, a new high for one of Cobain's guitars. The Irsay Collection sale will continue through Mar. 17, with a number of rare items up for bid, including a signed Paul McCartney's Hofner bass guitar and the handwritten lyrics to the Beatles track "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," a signed Eddie Van Halen "Frankenstrat" guitar, and one of late ZZ Top member Dusty Hill's custom sheepskin covered bass guitars, among many other items. - Billboard, 3/13/26...... It was announced on Instagram on Mar. 12 that a remastered version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Power To The People concert film is coming to cinemas worldwide this spring. Following on from the extensive NYC-era box set released in 2025, the film is a document of the "One To One" concerts that the couple held at New York's Madison Square Garden on Aug. 30, 1972. The two performances, one a matinee show and the other in the evening, were Lennon's only full-length concerts after leaving the Beatles, and they were also the last gigs John and Yoko played together. Now, a restored, re-edited and remixed version of the concert film, officially titled Power To The People: John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant's Memory and Special Guests - Live at the One To One Concert, New York City, 1972, will be shown in cinemas "worldwide" on Apr. 29 and May 3. The new version of the film, which was captured at the time by director Steve Gebhardt, has been "physically and digitally cleaned by hand" by Lennon's regular Grammy-winning team, led by youngest son Sean Ono Lennon. Tickets will go on sale on Mar. 20, to coincide with John and Yoko's 57th wedding anniversary. The "One To One" shows saw John and Yoko play to over 40,000 people and raised more than $1.5 million (2026 equivalent of $11.5 million) for disabled children. They played songs including "Imagine," "Come Together," "Instant Karma!" and "Hound Dog," and rounded out the show with a version of "Give Peace A Chance" with Stevie Wonder. - New Musical Express, 3/12/26....... Lionsgate Films announced on Mar. 10 that Michael Jackson superfans get a chance to see the upcoming biopic Michael a few days early. The studio announced that a limited number of screens for early-access viewings in premium formats on Apr. 22, two days ahead of its wide release that Friday. "For Michael Jackson's fans, Michael is the cinematic event they've been waiting for -- the movie captures both the soul and the spectacle of the boy who became the King of Pop," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Kevin Grayson in a statement. "These early access screenings, in IMAX and premium large formats, will immerse audiences in the electrifying performances and bring the power of Michael Jackson's iconic music to life. It's the perfect way to be the first to see the movie." The film directed by Antoine Fuqua (Stans, Bullet Train) stars Jackson's real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who pulls off a spot-on homage to his uncle in the trailer of the movie, from Jackson's signature electrifying dance moves to his laser-focused determination to produce pop music for the ages. - Billboard, 3/11/26...... Posting on his Neil Young Archives site that "politics today is sad and depressing for me," Neil Young has announced he's escaping the current tumultuous political world by working on a new album with his backing band The Chrome Hearts. "Folks, I am so hurt for this country," Young lamented. "I can't do it anymore. I can go out and demonstrate my feelings about it. We have the worst president in the history of our country. Every day, a bad TV show produced by DJT [Pres. Donald Trump] is what we get." He added: "Now, thankfully, once again, I'm in the studio recording a new album with the Chrome Hearts. I love the songs and the feelings of life and love. Music is. So far, we have eight new songs. They make me feel." Young and his band took aim at the president on their most recent collection, 2025's Talkin to the Trees, and on the track "Big Crime," on which the artist and persistent critics of Trump sings: "Don't need no fascist rules. Don't want no fascist school. Don't want soldiers on our streets. There's big crime in DC at the White House. No more money on the fascists. The billionaire fascists. Time to blackout the system." - Music-News.com, 3/12/26...... Bruce Springsteen will be among the contributors to a new tribute album to late The Pogues frontman Shane McGowan. 20th Century Paddy - The Songs Of Shane MacGowan is a collection of Pogues songs the late frontman "wanted to make himself," according to a press release. The release, set to drop on Nov. 13 on vinyl and digitally, will be accompanied by a limited edition deluxe bookpack edition featuring 3LPs, 2CDs, and a 56-page book of memorabilia and liner notes will also be made available. A first taste of the record, available for streaming on YouTube, is Springsteen covering a reimagined version of the classic Pogues hit "A Rainy Night In Soho." "Shane was all naked bottomless humanity," Springsteen said in the presser. "Threatening to force us to ask ourselves if we were living deeply, authentically. He was raw, hilarious, no apologies and profound. His soul was filled with the transgressive and ecstatic properties of the saints," he added. The Jersey rocker previously covered the track during his tour of Ireland in 2024, and the year before the Boss made a surprise visit to the late frontman ahead of his shows in Ireland. Following MacGowan's death he also wrote a touching tribute to The Pogues legend. Other artists set to feature on the record include the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Hozier, David Gray, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Johnny Depp, The Libertines, and many more. - NME, 3/12/26...... Making her first major public appearance of 2026, Dolly Parton delivered a keynote address on opening day at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, celebrating the park's 41st anniversary. "I've not been touring, as you know," the 80-year-old country/pop icon said. "I've had a few little health issues, and we're taking good care of them." Her Dollywood visit came months after she postponed her Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace due to undisclosed medical procedures. The residency, originally set to start in December, is now scheduled to begin in mid-September. The postponement also followed the death of her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, who passed away at age 82 in Mar. 2025. "I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on," the "Jolene" singer continued. "I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn't slow me down." Dolly then joked that she's "not dating anybody," before sharing more heartfelt words about her late husband. "I think Carl Dean's waiting for me," she said. "If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He'd be saying, 'Who's that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates.'" Parton also revealed that she's rewriting songs for her upcoming Broadway musical, "Dolly: An Original Musical," which is expected to launch in New York later in 2026. - Billboard, 3/14/26...... In an interview with Loudersound.com, Sammy Hagar says he'll never play with Alex Van Halen again, because he's a "negative" person. The two former Van Halen members haven't spoken in more than 20 years, and it remains unclear with the 78-year-old Hagar and the 72-year-old Van Halen no longer speak, though Alex didn't even mention Hagar's name in his 2024 memoir Brothers, writing only that Van Halen "had a lot of other singers over the years" following original VH frontman David Lee Roth's departure in 1985. Hagar told Rolling Stone in 2025 that he and Alex hadn't spoken in 21 years. Though the interviewer suggested that Alex was unhappy with Hagar's 2011 memoir -- which went into detail about the low points of Eddie Van Halen's life -- and that he was just generally a more private person than Hagar, the Red Rocker disagreed. "I think Al's angry because I'm out doing it... And he can't. He's not a singer. He's not a guitar player. He is not really a band leader. And he seems like he doesn't want to play drums or can't play drums anymore, and he can't go write a new record," Hagar said. "If I put myself in his shoes, I would feel terrible if I couldn't do it anymore." He went on to encourage Alex to "just leave me alone," saying he would do the same for him. "Everything's good. I'm making you money, by the way, Al," he told RS. "I'm out there selling Van Halen records and keeping the name alive, keeping the music alive." Hagar previously had a falling out with Eddie, but the two had reportedly "buried the hatchet" before Eddie died in 2020. Hagar has also previously criticized Roth, saying on Steve-O's Wild Ride podcast that Roth "ain't like his persona. "[David's] not a fun guy. He doesn't play well with others. I'm not sure what his problem is," Hagar said. "He's a chest-beating motherf---er. And God bless him, 'cause the early stuff is frickin' great." - People, 3/11/26...... REO Speedwagon played a surprise reunion concert in Peoria, Ill. on Mar. 7, more than a year after calling it quits. The show, fronted by lead singer Kevin Cronin was a special tribute to late guitarist Gary Richrath, a Peoria native who died in Sept. 2025. According to UltimateClassicRock.com, the lineup included Cronin, Syracuse, N.Y. native Alan Gratzer on drums, bassist Bruce Hall, and retired keyboardist Neal Doughty playing a short set of REO Speedwagon favorites like "Ridin' the Storm Out," "Take It on the Run," and "Roll With the Changes." Former vocalist Mike Murphy, who briefly replaced Cronin in the '70s, and Richrath's son Eric Richrath also performed. It was an "amazing tribute for Gary at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Being back on stage with Mike, Kevin, Alan and Neal was awesome. Having Gary's son, Eric, join us made it all the more special," Bruce Hall wrote on Facebook. "We ended the week with a private showing at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66.... Good things are happening. Long Live REO Speedwagon!!" It's unclear if the event will open the door for a full reunion tour. The band played its last official concert as REO Speedwagon on Jan. 1, 2025, after announcing a split due to "irreconcilable differences." REO Speedwagon, fronted by Cronin since 1972, is best known for '70s and '80s rock hits like "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Take It On the Run," and "Keep on Loving You." In 2025 Cronin said that he may continue performing solo and will also work on finishing his memoir, tentatively titled Roll With the Change: My Life Within and Without REO Speedwagon. - Syracuse.com, 3/10/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack Osbourne and his wife Aree have welcomed a baby girl named Ozzy Matilda Osbourne after Jack's famous dad. Born on Mar. 5, Matilda was announced to the world in a joint Instagram post along with grandma Sharon Osbourne. The birth of Ozzy Matilda comes nearly eight months after the loss of her grandpa Ozzy, who died of a heart attack in July 2025 at age 76. Ozzy Matilda Osbourne is Jack's fifth child, joining Pearl, Andy and Minnie from his first marriage to Lisa Stelly and Maple with Aree. - Billboard, 3/11/26...... Billy Joel's daughter Alexa Ray Joel has given a health update amid her famous Piano Man dad's brain disorder diagnosis. "He's doing physical therapy regularly and he's doing great," Alexa Ray, the rocker's only child with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, told The Hollywood Reporter. He's lost weight as he's on his diet. I'm so proud of him. He's such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He's a fighter. He's always been a fighter and talks in his documentary about how life's like a fight," she added. The legendary pop star, recently the subject of HBO's two-part, 2025 documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, canceled all upcoming tour dates when he revealed that he was dealing with normal pressure hydrocephalus. At the time, he said in a statement that his condition -- which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain -- had been exacerbated by his performing and led to issues with his balance, vision, and hearing. A tribute event to Joel, "The Music of Billy Joel," was held on Mar. 12 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Alexa Ray, along with Wyclef Jean, Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas, Train's Pat Monahan, Rufus Wainwright, and others performed some of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's many tunes from over the years, including "Tell Her About It," "Vienna," and "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant." Joel, 76, surprised the crowd at a concert by Turnstiles, a Billy Joel cover band, in January, when he joined them onstage to perform his songs "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Big Shot." The Grammy winner is also the father of daughters Della Rose, 10, and Remy Anne, 8, whom he shares with Alexis Roderick, his wife since 2015. - Entertainment Weekly, 3/12/26...... In a recent street interview with TMZ.com, KISS singer/bassist Gene Simmons slammed actors Ben Stiller and Mark Ruffalo for what he called preaching politics instead of doing their art. Stiller, 60, recently went public with his frustration over the Donald Trump administration using a clip from his 2008 comedy film Tropic Thunder in an official video. The video mixed movie scenes with real footage of U.S. airstrikes, framing it as a triumphant montage. Stiller took to social media, demanding the clip's removal and labeling it as propaganda. He stated he had no interest in his work being tied to real-world conflicts, emphasizing that war isn't a movie. This wasn't the first time Stiller has weighed in on politics, but it hit a nerve amid ongoing debates about U.S. actions abroad. Simmons told TMZ this as a perfect example of why stars should stay in their lane. He argued that regular folks don't need lectures from the elite. The interview quickly went viral, racking up views on YouTube and shares across platforms like X and Facebook. Simmons also zeroed in on Ruffalo, 58, who's known for his outspoken views on everything from climate change to anti-Trump sentiments. Simmons mispronounced his name as "Mark Buffalo" in a mocking tone, then imitated a reporter asking Ruffalo about politics before dismissing it with, "I don't care." "People work hard for a living, and they don't want to be lectured by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces," he added. Not everyone is on board with Simmons' viewpoint though. Some pointed out the irony, with Facebook users asking, "Does he realize the irony that he is a celebrity commenting on politics?" "If only he would take his own advice," Chris_H posted. Others noted, "Isn't he a celebrity? Doesn't he voice his opinion every chance he gets?" - WealthofGeeks.com, 3/13/26...... Cher's son Chaz Bono married his longtime partner, Shara Blue Mathes, on Mar. 8 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. The dress code was "Hollywood Glam Formal," according to the couple's wedding website. Their relationship goes back decades, with the pair having met as teenagers at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Their life journeys continued over the years until they eventually reconnected and made their romance official in Jan. 2017. "I first met Shara more than 40 years ago when we were just teenagers," Chaz, 57, told People. "I think it's safe to say that not many grooms ultimately end up marrying the very first girl they ever kissed so many years later." Chaz continued, "She makes me feel complete knowing she will always be there beside me as partner, my best friend, and the love of my life. No matter what life brings us, we will always be safer and stronger together ... and we are home." Cher, 79, looked on from the front row as the couple took a romantic dip at the end of the black aisle, which was lined with glowing red candles and moody floral arrangements. Chaz is the child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, and the singer is also a mother to son Elijah Allman, 49, whose father is Cher's late ex-husband, Gregg Allman. Cher has been supportive of Chaz over the years, once telling a friend, "I admire my son Chaz's courage for sharing his personal journey. Most important to me is that he is very happy. That's what I care about the most. He has my love and support." - People, 3/13/26...... Blake Emmons, a Canadian country music icon and TV personality, has died at age 81. Mr. Emmons hosted the CTV series Funny Farm, which was billed as Canda's answer to Hee Haw in 1974. He also hosted The Country Place in the 1970s, and he hosted the game show Chain Reaction in 1985. He was also known for his charitable contributions, hosting the ACT Telethon for Camp HE-HO-HA for disabled children in the 1970s and late in the decade he helped develop the Telemiracle telethon. His hit single singles in Canada included 1969's "You're My Woman" and 1976's "Sunchild" and "Let Me Do Something Lord." - PennLive.com, 3/13/26...... Phil Campbell, the longtime guitarist of Motörhead, has died. He was 64. Campbell's death was announced on Mar. 14 through the Instagram account for his band, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Philip Anthony Campbell, who passed away peacefully last night following a long and courageous battle in intensive care after a complex major operation," the statement read. "Phil was a devoted husband, a wonderful father, and a proud and loving grandfather, known affectionately as 'Bampi'. He was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be missed immensely. His legacy, music and the memories he created with so many will live on forever." The reason for Campbell's original operation is yet to be disclosed. Born in Wales in 1961, Campbell began his music career in the 1970s with the metal band Persian Risk before being recruited by Lemmy Kilmister to join Motörhead in 1984 following the departure of guitarist Brian Robertson. Campbell's first album with Motörhead was the band's seventh, Orgasmatron, released in 1986. He went on to become the group's longest-tenured guitarist, spending three decades with the band until they parted ways following Kilmister's death in 2015. Campbell recorded 16 albums with Motörhead during his time with the metal act. - Billboard, 3/14/26.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on March 11th, 2026

Billboard is reporting that Dionne Warwick is planning the final album of her storied career, DWuets, and its first single, "Ocean in the Desert," will arrive on Mar. 20. In addition, DWuets will feature the first-time collaboration of Warwick, a five-time Grammy winner, and Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren. Commemorating that occasion, the album borrows part of its title from the duo's initials. Warren, also a 17-time Oscar songwriting nominee, wrote all the songs on DWuets, while Warwick's manager/son Damon Elliott produced all of the album's duets. Among the performing collaborators on DWuets are Emmy-, Tony- and Grammy Award-winner Cynthia Erivo, as well as rising and newly minted Grammy winner Kehlani, who contributes to the second single. Warwick and Erivo initially met when the latter performed "Alfie" while honoring Warwick at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2023. "Alfie," a pop (No. 15) and R&B (No. 5) hit for Warwick in 1967, is one of three of the songstress's classics inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, along with "Walk on By" and "Don't Make Me Over." Warwick's other accolades include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Of working with Erivo, Warwick commented in the press announcement, "It was such a joy to be in the studio harmonizing with such a talented entertainer as Cynthia. We immediately bonded and had so much fun recording this beautiful song." "It was so warm being in the studio with Dionne; it was like a mother-daughter relationship," added Erivo. "This experience was like the godmother of music coming in and saying to me 'I knight you.'" - Billboard, 3/9/26...... On Mar. 10 Alice Cooper announced details of a new "definitive autobiography," Devil On My Shoulder, confirmed plans for a new UK Q&A book tour. The memoir, the shock-rocker's first, is set to be published by Ebury Spotlight on Oct. 8, and promises to lift the lid on the huge career and the intriguing personal life of the 78-year-old rock icon. It promises to explore how Alice's two personas -- the theatrical, elaborate rock star, and the sober pastor's son who played him and has been married for 50 years -- intertwine. "Alice is still on tour around the world today, a proper senile delinquent playing hundreds of gigs every year, while I myself am reformed," Cooper said. "And with the benefit of hindsight and a certain maturity, I'd like to describe our journey to hell and back together, because it's not only rock stars who can lose their way." It will also reveal how the rocker, real name Vincent Damon Furnier, began the group 'Alice Cooper' in the late '60s, and later went on to adopt the name as his own moniker, and later change it legally after becoming lost in the character's identity. "I was born Vincent Damon Furnier but, seduced by my character's reputation, changed my name legally to Alice Cooper, and in the process lost sight of who I really was," Cooper added. "The mild-mannered, all-American boy I'd once been became a monster and a mortal danger to himself." There will also be anecdotes that feature some of Alice's most famous acquaintances, including Salvador Dal, Bob Hope, John Lennon, Groucho Marx, Vincent Price, Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Gerald Ford and Andy Warhol and others, as well as deeper topics explored. To celebrate the upcoming release, Cooper will be headed out on a UK book tour later in 2026, which kicks off on Oct. 11 at the New Theatre in Cardiff. From there, there are stops at the Cambridge Corn Exchange (Oct. 12), London Palladium and Brighton Dome over the following three-nights. Dates wrap up in Manchester (Oct. 16), Stockton (Oct. 17), Glasgow (Oct. 19) and Wolverhampton (Oct. 20). Cooper will also be among the headliners at the UK's "Louder Than Life" summer festival alongside the likes of Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Tool, Limp Bizkit, and others. In 2025, Alice reunited with his original group for an intimate show in London, and shared his first album with them in over 50 years, titled The Revenge Of Alice Cooper. - New Musical Express, 3/10/26...... Elton John will be honored with the 15th Glenn Gould Prize Laureate at an all-star Canadian gala in Toronto on May 9. Diana Krall, The Beaches, Ron Sexsmith, Jeremy Dutcher, LOONY, Emily D'Angelo, Ryan Wang and more -- all handpicked by John, who will be in attendance -- are to perform at the event at the city's Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort. Often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of the Arts," the Glenn Gould Prize recognizes a living individual of any nationality or creative field for a lifetime of artistic achievement that has enriched humanity. "In selecting Elton John, we chose to honour someone whose artistic achievements have been transformed into profound social impact," said former prime minister Kim Campbell, who serves on the prize jury. "He has used his success to change lives, embodying the very highest ideals of the arts." Established in 1987, the Prize includes a $100,000 award for the Laureate, who also personally selects a young artist to receive the $25,000 Glenn Gould Protgé Prize, celebrating the vital role of mentorship. Through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, founded in 1992, John has also helped raise over $650 million US for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care worldwide. John is also married to Torontonian David Furnish and the couple have two children. - Canoe.com, 3/9/26...... The BBC is reportedly planning a major televised tribute to David Bowie this summer, stepping in to fill the gap left by the off-year of the Glastonbury Festival. The UK paper The Mirror reports that the broadcaster is preparing a star-studded celebration of the late music legend -- who died aged 69 in Jan. 2016 following a private cancer battle -- featuring a roster of high-profile performers backed by an all-star band and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Organisers reportedly want the event to serve as a long-overdue national salute to Bowie, whose influence continues to shape generations of artists. One source described the project as "a thank you to David Bowie and a celebration of his continued influence among today's artists," adding that the scale of the show will be unlike anything previously staged for the late icon in the UK. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and the music-therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, echoing Bowie's long association with charitable causes. Despite the artist's towering legacy, the UK has never hosted a Bowie tribute concert of this magnitude. The largest to date took place at New York's Carnegie Hall four months after his death in 2016, featuring performances from Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Stipe. Meanwhile, the Bowie supergroup Holy Holy, featuring musicians who closely collaborated with the rocker including drummer Woody Woodmansey and Tony Visconti, will embark on a farewell tour of the UK this fall. The 12-date run begins in Glasgow on Sept. 3, and concludes in Hull on Sept. 19, with a London show at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on Sept. 10. - Music-News.com, 3/10/26...... A huge statue of Ozzy Osbourne is set to be unveiled at the UK's Hellfest this summer in tribute to the late Heavy Metal pioneer. Ozzy's wife, Sharon Osbourne, shared the news at the MIDEM music industry conference in Cannes, France on Mar. 4, and gave fans a glimpse of the statue, too. Oh, there he is. Look at him, a rock god," Sharon said while images of the in-progress statue were shown on a screen. "That is going to debut at Hellfest, and that is June 18th. And the whole family will be there to see it. And it's such a great tribute. It's amazing. So, I can only thank [Hellfest director] Ben [Barbaud]. Just bless you. It's an amazing piece of art." This year, Hellfest will run from June 18 to June 21, with Bring Me The Horizon, Iron Maiden, Limp Bizkit and The Offspring headlining. Ozzy's statue can be viewed during Sharon's interview on YouTube, about 48 minutes into the video. Meanwhile, Sharon has revealed that she's planning to take the Ozzy exhibition that's currently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to "tour the world." "Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero" was originally opened by Sharon on June 25, 2025, to coincide with the band's historic "Back To The Beginning" concert at Villa Park on July 5. It would serve as Black Sabbath and Ozzy's final show before his death two weeks later. - NME, 3/5/26...... Interviewed in a cover story for the new People magazine, Valerie Bertinelli describes herself as "a survivor" after her last relationship, with writer Mike Goodnough, ended in a difficult breakup in 2024, two divorces, struggles with weight, and being sexually abused at 11, which she reveals in her new memoir, Getting Naked. "I had no plan to reveal this," the former One Day at a Time and celebrity chef star says. "This was going to be a book about teaching people how to love themselves. Then I had a huge anxiety attack at the end of '24 that really brought me to my knees, and I knew I needed to do more work, and that's when I really dug deep." Asked why she decided to reveal it now, Bertinelli says: "If I can help anybody, then great. Now, this has taken me 10 years at least [but] I don't feel shame about it anymore... I guess because I'm healing from it, and it's not so scary anymore. I can say it out loud. I was sexually assaulted. It doesn't feel like it owns me anymore." Bertinelli, 65, says there will "always be a huge part of my heart that contains Ed (Eddie Van Halen, her first husband)." "He gave me the greatest gift: our son (Wolfgang Van Halen). Would we have ever been intimate again? I don't think so. But I've never loved another man the way I loved Ed." Up next for Val: On May 9 she returns to acting in the Lifetime movie Love, Again alongside Eric McCormack, which she calls "a gorgeous love story." - People, 3/16/26...... Tommy DeCarlo, who spent nearly 20 years singing with classic rockers Boston following the death of original vocalist Brad Delp, died on Mar. 9. He was 60. DeCarlo's family confirmed his death on social media, noting that he'd been diagnosed with brain cancer last September. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our Dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026. He fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end," the family wrote. "During this difficult time, we kindly ask that friends and fans respect our family's privacy as we grieve and support one another. Rest in peace, Dad." "When I first began to listen to Boston as a young teenager, I absolutely loved Brad's voice," DeCarlo penned in a bio on the official Boston website. "It wasn't like I was trying to sing like Brad; it was just that I loved to sing along with him." At the time, in the mid-70s, Boston was one of the biggest rock groups in the world, with their 1976 self-titled debut quickly went platinum on the strength of hits like "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind." In 2007, after Delp died by suicide, DeCarlo joined the band. He spent the next two decades touring with Boston. He leaves behind his wife, Annie, and his two adult children, Talia and Tommy Jr. - Music-News.com, 3/10/26...... Iconic counterculture musician Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and the Fish, whose Vietnam War protest anthem "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" became a defining song of the 1960s protest movement, died at his home in Berkeley, Calif., on Mar. 9 from complications related to Parkinson's disease, according to his wife. He was 84. Born Joseph Allen McDonald on Jan. 1, 1942, in Washington, D.C., Mr. McDonald rose to prominence as the frontman of Country Joe and the Fish, a San Francisco Bay Area psychedelic rock band that emerged from the counterculture scene in the mid-1960s. The group blended politically charged lyrics with psychedelic rock and became closely associated with the anti-war movement of the era. McDonald's most enduring composition, "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag," became a rallying cry for Vietnam War protesters. The song reached global notoriety during Mr. McDonald's solo appearance at the 1969 Woodstock festival, where he led the crowd through the now-famous "Fish Cheer," a call-and-response chant that encouraged hundreds of thousands of attendees to spell out an expletive before launching into the anti-war anthem. The performance was later included in the documentary film Woodstock. Reflecting on the song decades later, McDonald said its message was intentionally aimed at political leadership rather than soldiers fighting in the conflict. "The important thing about the Fixin' to Die Rag was that it had a new point of view that did not blame soldiers for war," McDonald told TheStreetSpirit.com in a 2016 interview, adding, "It just blamed the politicians, and it blamed the manufacturers of weapons. It didn't blame the soldiers. Someone who was in the military could sing the song, and the attitude is, 'Whoopee, we're all going to die'. Most peace songs of the era blamed the soldiers for the war." Country Joe and the Fish released their debut album, Electric Music for the Mind and Body, in 1967. The record helped establish the band within the San Francisco psychedelic rock movement alongside groups such as Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead. After the group dissolved in the 1970s, Mr. McDonald continued recording and performing as a solo artist, releasing dozens of albums across folk, rock and politically themed songwriting. His 1986 album Vietnam Experience revisited the cultural impact of the war that had defined much of his early work. Before launching his music career, Mr. McDonald served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1962. He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1965 and soon co-founded Country Joe and the Fish in Berkeley with guitarist Barry "The Fish" Melton. Although his commercial peak came during the late 1960s counterculture era, Mr. McDonald remained active in music for decades, performing at festivals and continuing to write songs reflecting on war, politics and social change. His music became closely intertwined with the protest-song tradition of the late 1960s, a period when artists increasingly used popular music as a platform for political expression. Alongside figures such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, Mr. McDonald helped shape the soundtrack of the anti-war movement, using satire and sharp political commentary to capture the frustrations of a generation confronting the Vietnam War. He worked with Vietnam War veterans' associations, and continued writing and performing up until the 2010s. - Billboard, 3/9/26.

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

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on March 1st, 2026

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

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