Seventies artist Gloria Gaynor is among the entertainers performing on the PBS special A Capitol Fourth on July 4 at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT. The "I Will Survive" diva will help ring in the USA's 246th birthday Glee's Darren Criss, Grammy-winning blues man Keb' Mo', "Never Enough" belter Loren Allred and gospel singer Yolanda Adams. Meanwhile, cable news channel CNN's Fourth in America Special will feature musical performances from several '70s stars, including The Beach Boys, Chicago, Foreigner, Kool & The Gang, REO Speedwagon and Sammy Hagar & The Circle. The special will highlight firework shows in cities from coast to coast, including Washington, DC, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco. The special will also be streamed live on CNN.com, iOS and Android apps, and CNNgo. - TV Guide, - TV Guide, 7/4/22...... Cher has weighed in on the recent controversial decision by the US Supreme Court that overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that protected a woman's choice to have an abortion nationwide. "If Every time Men Had Sex, They Risked Death, Physical Disability, A Life Altering Interruption In Their Education,Or Career, & The Sudden Life Long Responsibility For Another Human Being, I Think They'd Expect A Choice In The Matter," Cher tweeted on June 26. Her post follows her fellow liberal diva Bette Midler's Instagram message on June 24 which read, "The three #Trump #SCOTUS appointees all lied to Congress and to the American people during their confirmation hearings, when they all stated that #ROEVWADE was settled law. They are all radical traditionalist Catholics and are shoving America ever further to the right." - Billboard, 6/26/22...... 
David Bowie is getting the Barbie treatment once again, this time to mark the 50th anniversary of the album that "ch-ch-ch-changed" his career, 1972's Hunky Dory. The Barbie Signature Collection released its second, limited-edition "Barbie as Bowie" doll on June 29. The dapper doll stands 11.5 inches tall and is decked out in a replica of Bowie's iconic powder-blue suit worn in the "Life on Mars?" music video produced and directed by Mick Lock. It features bright red hair -- à la Bowie's '70s glam era -- with bold blue eye shadow bringing the epic look to life. Produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, Hunky Dory is considered one of the most pivotal albums in Bowie's discography and "reflected my newfound enthusiasm for this new continent that had been opened up to me," the artist once said in a 1999 interview. - Billboard, 6/29/22...... Dolly Parton fans can now have the ultimate hotel stay -- the opportunity to spend at least two nights aboard her personal tour bus while visiting the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. In March 2022, Dollywood s DreamMore Resort and Spa acquired the tour bus and created the Dollywood "Suite 1986 Tour Bus Experience," which lets fans take a look at the bus used by the country icon from late 2008 through Mar. 2022. The cost for the experience begins at $10,000, and a portion of the profits from each stay will be donated to the Dollywood Foundation. "I have homes all over the United States, but my favorite place is the bus because that way I can just feel those wheels rolling," Parton said in a statement. "I'm a true gypsy at heart." - Billboard, 6/28/22...... The new Elvis Presley biopic Elvis has danced ahead of the summer's No. 1 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick to win the win the weekend box office race and top the domestic chart in its debut. In a rare box office tie, June 26 studio estimates had the Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis in a rare box office tie with Top Gun: Maverick, but final weekend numbers tallied on June 27 show Elvis grossing $31.1 million after a strong Sunday, according to Warner Bros. Elvis, from Warner Bros., has older moviegoers to thank for opening ahead of expectations: 56% of the audience so far is over the age of 35, including a whopping 29 percent over 55. Luhrmann's frenetic Presley biopic skewed female (57%) and, not surprisingly, played best in the South. Audiences bestowed it with an A- CinemaScore.com score and a 94% score on RottenTomatoes.com (the Rotten Tomatoes critics' score is lower, or 79%). Overseas, the biopic took in $20 million from its first 52 markets for a global start of $50.5 million. The U.K. and Australia led with $4.7 million each. - The Hollywood Reporter, 6/27/22...... In related news, with the new Elvis biopic, booming song publishing valuations of songs he recorded, and his continued cultural cache, the value of Elvis Presley's estate is doing gangbusters. His Memphis home and museum Graceland draws 700,000 visitors a year, and Presley's posthumous popularity is constant, with occasional spikes from movies or other cultural events. In addition to Graceland, the late Presley's song catalog is the jewel of his estate holdings. Thanks to a series of savvy deals by Presley's longtime manager, Col. Tom Parker, the estate's holdings include a huge, perennially profitable chunk of his publishing. Parker, who was prescient about the value of songwriters' catalogs in recorded music, demanded early on that Presley (and himself) receive half the publishing on songs he recorded. "For the most part, if you wanted Elvis to sing your song, you needed to give him half the publishing rights, says Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Graceland Holdings and Elvis Presley Enterprises. "I would say the estate controls close to half of the good stuff." Presley's catalog generated publishing royalties that averaged and estimated $12 million annually over the last three years. In 2020, the entire Presley estate's value was $400 to 600 million. "Muhammad Ali was my client for many years. I look around now, and I'm not so sure people remember [him]," says Jay Fishman, managing director of Financial Research Associates, a business valuation firm that specializes in celebrity estates, once appraising Michael Jackson's estate in a court hearing. "Elvis seems to have endured longer than any of them." - Billboard, 6/25/22...... The UK paper The Mirror is reporting that Ozzy and wife Sharon Osbourne want to install bat boxes in their UK home, hoping to protect the species. Ozzy once notoriously bit the head off a bat during a gig in the 1980s, but now he says the couple have made plans to turn their mansion near Beaconsfield into a bat sanctuary. Ozzy and Sharon ecently revealed that they're set to leave Los Angeles for a life in Buckinghamshire due to high taxes in the US, and local news reports hint that the pair have an elaborate plan for their UK home. The couple have made no comment on the reported plans yet. Osbourne recently announced his new solo LP Patient Number 9 will hit stores in early September with an A-list cast of contributors including Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, Zakk Wylde and Mike McCready. - New Musical Express, 6/28/22...... 
Paul McCartney pulled out all the stops for his headlining slot at the UK's Glastonbury Festival on June 25, while becoming the event's oldest-ever solo headlier (at age 80). Sir Paul brought out several fellow big-name rock stars including Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who came on to play "Saw Her Standing There" and "Band on the Run." Then Bruce Springsteen was invited out to jam on The Boss' "Glory Days" and the early Lennon-McCartney song "I Wanna Be Your Man." Macca also paid tribute to his late Beatles bandmate George Harrison, who died in 2001, by performing the Harrison-penned "Something." Then thanks to modern technology, he sang with footage of John Lennon, assassinated in 1980, on the Let It Be track "I've Got a Feeling," with fan shot footage of the performance shared on YouTube. Meanwhile Paul is facing controversy for showing a clip of actor Johnny Depp behind him as he sang "My Valentine" during his set, with many fans flooding social media to share mixed reactions to the playing of the clip. Some say they were disappointed he appeared to be backing the actor, while others sided with his ex-wife Amber Heard in her court fight against Depp. Some 200,000 people attended the four-day festival at Worthy Farm in southwest England, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. McCartney was due to play Glastonbury in 2020, however that year's festival and the 2021 edition were both scuttled by the coronavirus pandemic. - Billboard/Bang Showbiz, 6/26/22...... KISS prompted laughter and online mockery following a recent concert in Vienna, Austria on June 26, where the band's logo was displayed with an Australian flag insignia. The mishap took place at the end of the band's show at Wiener Stadthalle, with the phrase "KISS LOVES YOU VIENNA" being displayed on the screen as fans were leaving the arena. As pointed out by Twitter user Ben Nguyen, however, the KISS logo featured the Australian flag, rather than the flag of Austria, of which Vienna is the capital city. In spite of the mix-up being shared online hundreds of times in the days since the performance, KISS have yet to publicly address it. The band are currently on their "End Of The Road" world tour, which they are claiming to be their last. It comes some 20 years after their original "Farewell Tour" that ran across 2000 and 2001. - NME, 6/28/22...... Elton John brought his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour to London on June 24, performing his 130th concert in the British capital. Sir Elton, 75, had the sell-out crowd at the first night of the "American Express Presents BST Hyde Park" event singing and dancing for almost two-and-a-half hours as he brought what he himself noted was the 233rd show of his FYBR tour to the capital and admitted he'd treasure the evening forever. "Thank you for your kindness and loyalty over the past 50 years. When I stop next year you'll be a part of my memories," he told the audience. John -- who was backed by a six-piece band including his long-term live collaborators drummer Nigel Olsson, guitarist Davey Johnstone and percussionist Ray Cooper -- kicked off his set with"Bennie and the Jets," swiftly followed by "Philadelphia Freedom" and "I Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues." While the high energy songs such as "Crocodile Rock," "The Bitch Is Back" and "Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting" had the crowd dancing and singing, the slower paced numbers such as "Tiny Dancer" and "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" didn't subdue the audience, with most continuing to sing along, or simply staring in awe at Elton in action. Encores included his recent No. 1 hit Cold Heart and an emotional version of his first ever hit, "Your Song," before closing out with the only possible choice -- "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." - Music-News.com, 6/26/22...... 
Speaking of the BST Hyde Park event, the Eagles hinted during their performance at the fest on June 26 that their show could be their last ever in London. The Eagles headlined BST on that night, with Robert Plant + Alison Krauss, Little Big Town, Cam, Morgan Wade, The Wandering Hearts and Patrick Droney on support. During the show, Eagles co-founding member Don Henley said: "In case we don't pass this way again, I want to thank you all for embracing these songs, taking them into your hearts and your homes -- we appreciate it." During the 23-song set, the band -- also comprised of Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit and Vince Gill -- played tracks from across their five decades, including hits like "Tequila Sunrise," "Witchy Woman" and "Hotel California." The Eagles also paid tribute to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins with a rendition of "The Boys of Summer." Elsewhere during the show, tennis great John McEnroe made a cameo for the final number "Already Gone," along with his wife Patty Smyth. Deacon Frey, the son of late frontman Glenn Frey, also made an appearance for "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Take It Easy." - NME, 6/27/22...... In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Def Leppard's Joe Elliott revealed his band's stadium tour will travel to Europe in 2023. The "Pour Some Sugar On Me" rockers are currently on a jaunt across North America, but the 62-year-old Elliott has promised fans there will be "loads" more dates in Ireland and beyond. "One gig is absolutely confirmed so far, and we're looking at a second one in a different city," Elliott said. "There will be another in Dublin, and loads around Europe. Some of them will just be festivals [with different bands], but others will be what we're currently doing here in North America." Def Leppard's "The Stadium Tour" sees the British hard rockers joined by Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett. The US leg is currently due to conclude on Sept. 9 at the Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium in Nevada. - Music-News.com, 6/27/22...... Neil Young has announced his plans to release Noise & Flowers, a live album and film compiled from material recorded during his most recent tour of Europe and the UK, on Aug. 5 via Warner Bros. Records. The first preview of the release -- Young and his backing band The Promise of the Real's performance of "From Hank To Hendrix" -- was shared on YouTube alongside the announcement. The statement, in part, reads: "The tour that 'Noise & Flowers' chronicles took place shortly after the death of Young's longtime manager, Elliot Roberts. In a new blog post, Young explained that he and his wife were en route to the airport -- where they would fly to Europe ahead of the tour's start -- when he learned of Roberts' passing. They returned home for his funeral, but powered on with the tour nonetheless." "During the tour," Young wrote, "we had a poster of Elliot on a road case, right where he always stood during all shows. Everyone who was with us felt that this tour was amazing for its great vibe. The Real and I delivered for Elliot." In the liner notes for Noise & Flowers, Young further expounded: "Playing in his memory [made it] one of the most special tours ever. We hit the road and took his great spirit with us into every song. This music belongs to no one. It's in the air. Every note was played for music's great friend, Elliot." - NME, 6/25/22...... 
Ken Williams, the prolific songwriter who rose from participating in his U.S. Air Force singing group in the '60s to co-writing The Main Ingredient's timeless 1972 R&B smash "Everybody Plays the Fool", died June 17 in Manhasset, N.Y. He was 83. Before writing hundreds of songs for Peaches & Herb, Donny Hathaway, The Four Tops and many others, Mr. Williams was in an Air Force group, the Chuck-A-Lucks, stationed in Great Falls, Mt. They were supposed to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, but a scheduling conflict forced the singers back to the base. "Talk about a hurt group," Williams said. "But you can't win 'em all." After the Air Force, Mr. Williams moved to New York City and, playing in jazz clubs, made enough music-industry connections to begin working with Peaches & Herb. He wrote and produced several of the pop duo's hits, including "Two Little Kids," "We've Got to Love One Another," "For Your Love" and "Love Is Strange." After that, he was hot, and wrote for the Four Tops ("Seven Lonely Nights"), Hathaway ("Love, Love, Love") and many others. Mr. Williams grew up in Fernandina Beach, Fl. -- he received the key to the city in 2004 -- and learned music in high school band class. But it was songwriting, not singing, that would make his career, and in 1968, he founded a publishing company called A Dish-A-Tunes LLC, which owns more than 500 songs. Mr. Williams is survived by his wife, Mary Seymour Williams, a Broadway performer; a sister, Dorothy Jones; sons Kenny Williams Jr., Kevin D. Williams and Kalvin Williams; a daughter, Cheryl Nicholson; and a stepson, Kenny J. Seymour. - Billboard, 6/27/22.
Paul McCartney played a warm-up gig at Frome's Cheese & Grain in Somerset, UK on the evening of June 24, ahead of his Glastonbury headline set the next night. The 800 capacity venue took to Twitter on June 23 to announce that it would be hosting the legendary Beatle for a surprise gig, writing: "@PaulMcCartney Live in Frome? Tomorrow night at 5pm? Ok then!" Tickets could only be purchased at the venue and were available on a strictly first come first served basis. McCartney arrived on stage just after 6:00 pm, playing to an audience that included Olivia Harrison, Judd Apatow, Leslie Mann, AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Olivia Rodrigo. His set included "I Wanna Be Your Man," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be." Before "Out Of College" he told the crowd: "Here's a song that we've never done live in England until tonight, so it's a first for Frome." As he left the stage, he thanked fans saying: "Thank you Frome-anians, we had a good time in here tonight. This was a good idea." - New Musical Express, 6/24/22...... 
As Americans recoil from the bombshell decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24 to wipe a half century of reproductive rights away -- overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that protected a woman's choice to have an abortion -- Seventies stars Bette Midler and Carole King were among the many musicians voicing their personal outrage and concern on social media. Posting on Twitter shortly after the announcement, Midler wrote: "The three #Trump #SCOTUS appointees all lied to Congress and to the American people during their confirmation hearings, when they all stated that #ROEVWADE was settled law. They are all radical traditionalist Catholics and are shoving America ever further to the right." In her Tweet, King said: "Taking a right away from more than half the population affects every member of the family. Reproductive healthcare is on the ballot. Organize & plan your vote." Also reacting negatively to the news were Halsey, Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey and Margo Price. The troubling decision came with a chilling addition from justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote that the Supreme Court "should reconsider previous cases such as "Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell, which protect contraception, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. - Billboard, 6/24/22...... Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp have shared their cover of The Beach Boys' classic "Caroline, No" along with an accompanying music video on YouTube, marking the fourth track the duo has unveiled from their upcoming cover album, 18. The video features Beck and his live band performing the song -- an electric guitar-led instrumental version of the BB original -- onstage. Depp doesn't appear in the video, though he is currently traveling as a special guest on Beck's European tour. Beck and the Pirates of the Carribean actor, who just recently prevailed in a high profile libel lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, have already released three other tracks from 18 -- a cover of the Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs," Depp's original "This Is A Song For Miss Hedy Lamarr," and a cover of John Lennon's "Isolation. The rest of the 13-song album drops on July 15. Meanwhile, the Alice Cooper-led supergroup Hollywood Vampires which also features Depp, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen has announced a six-date European tour which will kick off on June 22, 2023, in Oberhausen, Germany, followed by shows in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg's Rockhal; Olympiahalle in Munich; Stadtpark in Hamburg; Berlin's Zitadelle Spandel; and Zitadelle Mainz in Mainz, Germany. "The Hollywood Vampires are BACK!! We're coming to Germany and Luxembourg Summer 2023!," the band posted in Instagram. - Billboard/NME, 6/23/22...... On June 21 Billy Joel announced a one-off stadium show in Australia set for Dec. 10 at the imposing Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The concert, Joel's first in Melbourne in 14 years, is presented by Frontier Touring in partnership with Always Live, a state-wide live music project initiated by the concert promoter's late chief Michael Gudinski. Always Live was created with the ambition to restart Victoria's legendary live scene, and quash the memory of those months-long lockdowns, with support by the state government through Visit Victoria. "To announce Billy Joel for one night only at the MCG after the success of the Foo Fighters early this year is a great coup for Victoria and something that our team at Frontier are proud to be able to deliver," Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant said in a statement. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 4 at 10:00 am AEST at frontiertouring.com/billyjoel. - Billboard, 6/21/22...... 
Stephen Stills, whose music helped define the sound of the Woodstock generation, has signed a new, multifaceted partnership with Irving Azoff's Iconic Artists Group assets management firm that aims to burnish that legacy with the 77-year-old singer-songwriter's current fans and attract new ones by getting his songs and albums on the playlists of the younger streaming set. The deal includes IAG's purchase of a controlling interest in Stills' intellectual property, including his music publishing catalog of 1,000-plus songs from his stints in Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY); Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN); Manassas; The Rides and The Stills-Young Band, as well as his solo career. Among the classics the deal covers are "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, "Southern Cross and "Love the One You're With." Additionally, IAG has acquired Stills' recorded-music assets from his solo work, his interests in the aforementioned groups and an interest in Stills' band trademarks, as well as his name, image and likeness. Stills joins an elite roster of acts at IAG, which Azoff co-founded in Jan. 2020: Stills' former bandmate David Crosby, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt and Nat "King Cole. Azoff and Stills' friendship spans over 50 years. They met when Azoff, now 74, was a young upstart at Geffen-Roberts, the Sunset Boulevard management company run by David Geffen and Elliot Roberts, who handled, among other acts, CSN. - Billboard, 6/24/22...... Elton John's 50th anniversary reissue of his 1972 Madman Across the Water album has debuted in the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 200 LP chart for the week dated June 25 -- its first appearance on that chart in nearly 50 years. Madman, containing the hit singles "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer," was first released in 1972 and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 in February of that year. The new reissue set also arrives on Billboard's Top Rock Albums and Catalog Albums charts. Madman was reissued on June 10 in five new configurations -- a deluxe digital album, a two-CD set, a four LP vinyl box set, a super deluxe three-CD/one-blu-ray box set and a single-LP colored vinyl pressing. All but the latter includes an array of bonus tracks. All versions of the album, old and new, are combined for tracking and charting purposes. Meanwhile, Elton is partnering with Apple's new Fitness+ app just in time for Pride Month in June. The brand new exercise initiative creates curated playlists of music by a single artist -- from Elton to Katy Perry to Prince to Daft Punk -- to soundtrack users' workouts. "I am honored to have my music curated into playlists for Apple Fitness+ workouts in hopes of inspiring people around the world to move together, as we collectively celebrate Pride Month," John offered in a statement to People. "Music universally brings people together and now more than ever, it's important to champion our diversity and love people for who they are. Each Monday for the next four weeks, new types of workouts will be programmed into Fitness+ ranging from cycling and HIIT to yoga, strength training, treadmill and even dance. For its first iteration, Sir Elton's music is set to the yoga workout, where trainer Molly Fox utilizes his classic hits like "Tiny Dancer," "Daniel," "Your Song," "Blessed" and more. His entire playlist can be viewed on Apple.com. - Billboard, 6/22/22...... 
Bonnie Raitt performed a two-night stand at New York's Beacon Theatre beginning on the summer solstice date of June 21. "I love coming back to the Beacon," declared Raitt, as she took the stage with her five piece band to open with "Made Up Mind," the lead single from her recently released 18th studio album, Just Like That. It wasfollowed by "Waitin' For You to Blow," also from the new album that "we're all really proud of," said Raitt. The 72-year-old singer looked simply magnificent, with her trademark cascade of red hair, fronted by a white forelock, wearing a luminous blue shirt and black jeans. Raitt sat beside her keyboardist Glenn Patscha to play the lead electric piano on "Nick of Time," the title song from her massively successful 1989 breakthrough album, which led her to win three Grammy Awards (including album of the year) in 1990. "It's hard to believe it's been 30 years," said Raitt. With the passage of time and the loss of loved ones, the lyrics she wrote and sang three decades ago were even more poignant: "Life gets mighty precious, when there's less of it to waste." Raitt is a masterful interpreter of others' compositions, as she proved once more in the closing songs of the show: a sensual drive through "Need You Tonight" from INXS; a fiery rendition of the Talking Heads classic "Burning Down The House"; and then a pair of songs she'd long since made her own -- a soft torch-song take on "I Can't Make You Love Me," originally co-written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, and the upbeat show-closing "Not the Only One, from Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady. - Billboard, 6/22/22...... Pink Floyd have announced a physical release date for their Ukraine benefit single "Hey Hey Rise Up," which marked the prog-rock icons' first new song in 25 years when it arrived digitally back in April. The new song will be available as both a 7-inch vinyl and CD single on July 15 in the UK, Europe and other markets, while it will be released on Aug. 3 in Japan. In North America, Canada, Australia and Mexico, it will arrive on Oct. 21. The B-side will feature a reworked version of "A Great Day For Freedom," from the band's 1994 album The Division Bell and reimagined by current frontman David Gilmour based on the original tapes for the track. "Hey Hey Rise Up," which can be streamed on YouTube, was recorded in March of 2022, and in addition to co-founding Floyd member Nick Mason, features a recording by Andriy Khlyvnyuk, the singer of Ukrainian band Boombox. Khlyvnyuk can be heard singing the patriotic Ukrainian song "The Red Viburnum" in Sofiyskaya Square, in the nation's capital of Kyiv. In a statement, Gilmour -- who has a Ukrainian family -- explained that the band released the song to draw attention to Russia's invasion of the country, and raise funds, with all proceeds from the song donated to Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief. "We want to express our support for Ukraine and in that way, show that most of the world thinks that it is totally wrong for a superpower to invade the independent democratic country that Ukraine has become," he said. - NME, 6/24/22...... In other Pink Floyd-related news, former member Roger Waters performed a medley of his hits from Floyd's 1979 album The Wall on CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on June 21. Accompanied by five-piece band and two backup singers, Waters first delivered "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" and sang in his signature gravelly tone while expertly plucking away at his guitar strings. Waters and his backup singers then flawlessly transitioned into "Another Brick in the Wall." A clip of Waters playing "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" and "Another Brick in the Wall" parts two and three has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 6/22/22...... The four-part Rolling Stones docuseries My Life As A Rolling Stone is slated to premiere on the premium cable channel EPIX on Aug. 7. Each one-hour episode dedicated to the legendary rock band's four members: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and the late Charlie Watts. Also featuring across the episodes will be the likes of Rod Stewart, Steven Tyler, Tina Turner and Chrissie Hynde. The series promises to explore different dimensions of each man's personality as well as their musical and cultural impact while diving into the band's creativity, inspirations, and adversities. "This distinctive documentary captures the raw and organic energy that defines The Rolling Stones, and tells the gripping, epic story of their journey," said EPIX president Michael Wright. "I am excited for viewers to experience this legendary band as few ever have before." The show will also air in the U.K. on BBC Two and iPlayer this summer. Meanwhile, Mick Jagger has said that he's ready to resume the Stones' UK and European tour after recently testing positive for Covid-19. One June 21 Jagger shared a short video message on Twitter in which he thanked the band's fans for their support. "Hi everyone, thanks so much for all your lovely messages - I really appreciate them," he said. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience about the shows. But we'll be on stage in Milan on Tuesday - see you there," he added. The band confirmed on June 20 that their "SIXTY" tour would resume as planned in Milan the next day. The band's Twitter account said that the frontman was "doing great" following his bout of Covid-19. Jagger himself told his followers on June 15 that he was "feeling much better." The Stones are set to play the first of two London shows on June 25 at BST Hyde Park. They'll wrap the European leg in Stockholm, Sweden on July 31. - Billboard/NME, 6/21/22...... 
As the new highly-anticipated Elvis Presley biopic Elvis hit U.S. theatres on June 24, Warner Bros. released a revealing final trailer for the movie on June 22. Brand new clips of actor Austin Butler portraying The King at different stages of his life are featured in the new two-minute teaser, stitched together with footage already unveiled in the film's previous two trailers. In one, a child Elvis -- who is well known for adopting the sounds of the African American blues, country and gospel music he loved as a child -- can be seen peeking through a broken wall panel to observe a Black performer playing the guitar and singing a high note into the microphone. In another, he takes command of his live band, instructing one player to "Bring that bass up, Jerry" and telling his brass section to mimic a melody he sings into the microphone. "This ain't no nostalgia show," he says. "We're gonna do something different." The Baz Luhrmann-directed movie also stars Tom Hanks as Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker. - Billboard, 6/22/22...... As legendary Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson turned 80 years old on June 20, his famous friends including Elton John, Bob Dylan and Smokey Robinson came together to create a sweet "Happy Birthday Brian" video shared on YouTube on that day. "Hi Brian, it's Elton," Elton John said as he opens the array of birthday wishes. "Have a wonderful 80th birthday with Melinda and your family. I'm in Denmark but I send you so much love. You've inspired me all my life. To me, you are the only real pop genius in the world and I love you very much." The clip also includes Carole King, Questlove, Smokey Robinson, Barry Gibb, Chuck D, Graham Nash, David Crosby, John Fogerty, Micky Dolenz, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, She and Him, Fleet Foxes, Joe Walsh, Cameron Crowe, John Cusack, Jeff Bridges and Wilson's former Beach Boys bandmate Al Jardine, who jokingly called himself "the guy who sings on your left." Bob Dylan closes out the video with an acoustic rendition of "Happy Birthday to You." The beloved musician is currently on his 2022 summer tour across the United States. - Billboard, 6/20/22...... A "Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom" held at Los Angeles' famous Hollywood Bowl on June 19 was headlined by the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, The Roots and Mickey Guyton and an all-Black symphony orchestra (The Re-Collective Orchestra) performing live for the first time in the venue's 100-year history. "Earth, Wind & Fire" these are three words that have become synonymous with good music, good vibes and overall funk, actor Miles Brown said as he introduced the six-time Grammy-winning act. "Now with over 90 million records sold worldwide, they've been spreading their uplifting message of hope, love and respect for over 50 years and they're here tonight to do what they do best." EW&F began their performance with their top 1978 Top 40 hit "Fantasy," then transitioned to deliver their No. 3 track "Let's Groove." The tune was followed up by "September," to which fans in the audience -- including Debbie Allen -- danced the night away. The concert came to a close when Mary, Mary, Michelle Williams and Anthony Hamilton -- Grammy winners all -- performed Sound of Blackness' classic song "Optimistic." Juneteenth (June 19) is the commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S., which became formally recognized as a federal holiday by Pres. Joe Biden in 2021. - Billboard, 6/20/22...... Ozzy Osbourne has announced his new album Patient Number 9 with the release of its 7-minute title track and video on YouTube ahead of the record's release this September. The title track also features guitar work from Jeff Beck, who joins an A-list cast of musicians guest-starring on the track including Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith, Metallica's Robert Trujillo, Zakk Wylde, and producer Andrew Watt. A music video has also been released alongside the single that sees Ozzy portraying the titular patient, hunched over in what appears to be a room in a mental asylum before he falls into a comic-book-esque world of madness. Lights project bats all over the room as Ozzy's iconic voice sings "When they call your name / Better run and hide / Tell you you're insane / You believe their lies." Set for release on Sept. 3, the album also includes contributions from Eric Clapton, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready. - NME, 6/24/22...... In other Heavy Metal news, Judas Priest have announced a new run of North American dates as part of their ongoing "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour. The new dates are due to begin in Wallingford, Conn. on Oct. 23, finishing up at Houston's 713 Music Hall on Nov. 29. Queensryche will be on support duties for those dates. The tour was originally due to begin in 2020 but was postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It kicked off in Aug.2021 instead, but was cut short when guitarist Richie Faulkner had to undergo emergency heart surgery. He had suffered an aortic aneurysm during the band's performance at the Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville, Ky. on Sept. 26. Judas Priest are currently on tour in mainland Europe, and will be joining Ozzy Osbourne in the UK in 2023 during his rescheduled "No More Tours 22" shows. - NME, 6/22/22...... 
Cher has congratulated Kate Bush on passing her in the U.K. record books after Bush's "Running Up That Hill" finally reached the top of the pops on June 17. With Bush's hit conquering the survey some 37 years after its release, the English singer broke at least third chart records, one of which saw Cher bumped from the record books. At 63 years and 11 months, Bush becomes the oldest female artist to hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, eclipsing Cher, who was 52 when "Believe" led the chart in 1998. There's no animosity from Cher, just "mega respect." "Bravo Kate," Cher tweeted. "Records are meant to be broken. Remember back in the day, when women had short sell-by dates We had to fight our way through the testosterone curtain, and we did it so the girls who came after us could sing as long as they want to. Mega respect," she added. Kate Bush is now the fifth oldest artist to score a U.K. No. 1 single, a list led by the late Captain Tom Moore who was 99 years, 11 months when the charity-fundraising song he appeared on, "You'll Never Walk Alone," topped the U.K. chart in 2020. - Billboard, 6/20/22...... Roger Daltrey has two generations of Townshends in his solo band as he kicked off his rescheduled U.K. tour dates on Bournemouth on June 20. The Who frontman has booked both Simon Townshend, the brother of Who guitarist/singer Pete Townshend, and Simon's son, Ben Townshend, to support him on his tour. Guitarist and singer Simon has played shows with The Who in the past, while Ben has played on several of Simon's records as well as albums by The Cornerstones. The news comes as Daltrey embarks on his 12-date UK tour where he'll play Who classics and solo songs as well as host some fan Q&As. Daltrey's summer U.K. tour dates, which wrap on July 17 at the London Palladium, have been rescheduled from 2021. - NME, 6/20/22.
As Paul McCartney turned 80 years old on June 18, the famous former Beatle was messaged with numerous tributes on social media from his legion of fellow famous musicians, other celebrities, and fans. "They say it's your birthday Saturday happy birthday Paul love you man have a great day peace and love Ringo and Barbara love love peace and love," Ringo Starr tweeted alongside a photo of himself flashing the peace sign. John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono also tweeted a photo of herself and Paul captioned with the message: "Dear Paul, Happy 80th Birthday and many, many more! From a partner in Peace& love, yoko." Meanwhile, Sean Ono Lennon marked the special occasion by sharing a video of himself on 
Steve Miller was among the new inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame during an in-person ceremony on June 16 in New York City, after two years of Covid-related cancellations. Miller was inducted by actor Bryan Cranston, who shared that his whistling on Malcolm in the Middle led to an improbable ASCAP membership. Cranston said he had an "instant camaraderie, music without the music" when he first met Miller backstage at a Broadway show. When Cranston mused that "no one knows what the hell a line like 'pompatus of love' means" in the Steve Miller Band's No. 1 1973 hit "The Joker," Miller provided some oblique light on the famously obtuse lyric. "'Pompatus of love?' My attorney is here tonight and he will explain what it is and how much it costs when you say it," Miller said of the line, which some have traced back to a 1954 song from the doo-wop group The Medallions. Also honored that evening was songwriter/singer Paul Williams, a 2001 SHOF inductee who received the "gold standard" Johnny Mercer Award at this ceremony. Teary and fiery at various points during his speech, Williams spoke about his 32-year sobriety and his hope that someday, someone will write a song befitting comedian-turned-war hero, Ukraine Pres. Zelenskyy. There was also a Muppet connection, with Kermit the Frog appearing via video to salute Williams for "saying in words and music the longing each of us feels inside." - Billboard, 6/17/22...... Elton John began the UK leg of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour in Norwich on June 15, delivering a 23-song set and kicking off the night with "Bennie And The Jets." Elsewhere at the gig fans were treated to classics "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "I'm Still Standing," "Crocodile Rock," and the main set closer "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting." "Tonight is the 229th show on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. We have about 103 shows to do," Sir Elton told the audience at one point. "It's been quite a journey and it all ends next July. But I want to thank you because I won't be playing here again. I want to thank you for all the memories, all the love you've sent me, all the loyalty, the kindness, the letters, the dressing up, the costumes, the multiple shows you've been to. It means the world to me and I will never forget you guys," he added. Fan-shot footage of the gig can be viewed on 
Neil Diamond, who has rarely been seen in public since retiring from touring in 2018 after announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, made an appearance during the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park on June 18 to sing his beloved song "Sweet Caroline." Diamond, 81, stepped out during the 8th inning of the Red Sox's battle against the St. Louis Cardinals to deliver a rousing rendition of the song, with Broadway actor Will Swenson, who portrays Diamond in the new "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical," at his side. The show is scheduled to hit Broadway this fall after its six-week run at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre from June 21-July 31. Diamond last performed at Fenway Park in 2013 -- just days after the Boston Marathon bombing -- and "Sweet Caroline" has been an 8th inning tradition at the ballpark since 1997. The singer announced his retirement from the live stage in 2018 after canceling dates in Australia and New Zealand, citing his Parkinson's diagnosis. "I plan to remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come," Diamond wrote on his website at the time. "This ride has been "so good, so good, so good' thanks to you. A clip of his Fenway "Sweet Caroline" performance has been shared on 
During a recent interview this week for Apple Music 1, Robert Plant revealed to Canadian media personality George Stroumboulopoulos that he was offered a role in the original Game of Thrones. "I don't want to get typecast," Plant joked of his reasoning for declining the part. "I started that s--- go back to 'Immigrant Song' and Led Zeppelin being part of cultural exchange in Iceland with the Icelandic government. So they didn't know what they'd invited onto their little island," Plant said. "I love Western European history from maybe the Bronze Age up through all the old religion and when we were really in touch with our Earth," he continued. "The Viking thing, the whole idea of playing in Iceland and experiencing this landscape and people. Yeah, I've got a lot to answer for, because I've never seen so many bands with double-bladed axes." As for what particular role he was offered in the wildly popular HBO series, Plant could not remember. "I got to ride a horse and go [lifts head]," he cheekily added. The final episode of Game of Thrones, which aired on May 19, 2019, brought in a series record of 19.3 million viewers. Plant's interview has been shared on 
George Benson praised his "amazing London" fans as he took to the stage at the Hampton Court Palace Festival 2022 in London on June 16. The 79-year-old R&B legend wowed the sell-out crowd on a hot summer's night at the historic venue and took a moment before playing his 1983 hit single "Lady Love Me (One More Time)" to share his love for the UK capital. "We're finally back here at Hampton Court. People are moving from all over the world to London. You're amazing. London is amazing," the "This Masquerade" singer said. Benson's setlist was packed with his greatest hits such as "Turn Your Love Around," "In Your Eyes," "Shiver" and "Never Give up on a Good Thing," which prompted the audience to join him in a mass singalong. At the end of the show Benson left the stage to raucous applause and cheering only to return for an encore which included a cover of Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" and The Drifters's classic "On Broadway," which he covered on his 1978 album Weekend in L.A. The Hampton Court Palace Festival is a series of special and unique open-air concerts, with artists performing in an intimate 3,000-seat auditorium in Base Court, set against the backdrop of Henry VIII's magnificent Tudor Palace. - Music-News.com, 6/18/22...... The Rolling Stones announced on 
In related news, Ringo Starr posted on his RingoStarr.com website on June 11 that the remaining dates of his 2022 summer tour have been postponed after two of his All-Starr Band members tested positive for Covid-19. Starr says the 12 concerts left on his North American trek will be pushed to Sept. 2022 after it was discovered that keyboardist Edgar Winter and guitarist Steve Lukather were diagnosed with Covid-19. "We are so sorry to let the fans down," Starr said in the statement. "It's been wonderful to be back out on the road and we have been having such a great time playing for you all. But as we all know, Covid is still here and despite being careful these things happen. I want to thank the fans for their patience, I send you all peace and love, and we can't wait to be back in the fall," he added. Ringo, 81, and his band which includes Colin Hay of Men at Work and Hamish Stuart of Average White Band, were nearly halfway through the 22-date tour prior to its halt. The trek, Starr's first outing since 2019, kicked off in Ontario, Canada, on May 27. Ringo and the band previously announced a fall tour that is scheduled to begin on Sept. 23 at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Conn., and wrap Oct. 20 at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. The postponed summer dates will be added to the band's fall schedule, which can be viewed on Ringo's site. - Billboard, 6/11/22...... In yet another tour rescheduling due to Covid, Lindsey Buckingham has confirmed new UK and European shows -- at London (10/1), Glasgow (10/3), Liverpool (10/4) and Dublin (10/6) -- after announcing in May that he was forced to postpone the tour after he and members of his live band and crew contracted Covid. Buckingham's UK run will follow rearranged gigs in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Germany. Original tickets are valid for all the corresponding new dates. - New Musical Express, 6/14/22...... On June 10 it was announced that Jeff Beck and actor/musician Johnny Depp will once again appear onstage at the upcoming Montreux Jazz Festival, set for July 1 to July 16 on the shoreline of Lake Geneva, Wis. Beck's show on July 15 at the Auditorium Stravinski had already been announced, but festival organizers revealed on 
On June 13 Sting announced on 
Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne 
Never a big fan of Britain's royal family, Elvis Costello has branded the recent "Platinum Party at the Palace" in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne "s--t" and singled out Sir Rod Stewart's performance for particular criticism. "I mean, I know you all love him and he's one of yours and everything, but Rod. What the f---? I must say, listen we all have bad nights vocally, but for f---'s sake, 'Sweet f---ing Caroline'? Are you f---ing kidding me?" The 67-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member continued his rant: "I mean I've been in show business 45 years so I do know a thing or two. How is it that nobody suggested Rod sing 'You Wear It Well'?" (Stewart's wife, Penny Lancaster, previously defended her husband in a BBC interview and insisted it wasn't his choice to sing the Neil Diamond classic -- that "it's the Queen's favourite you have to do it so he didn't have much of a choice.") Elvis then joked that another concert performer, Diana Ross, who sang "Chain Reaction," could have chosen other tracks from her back catalogue that would have been more appropriate. He quipped: "Listen, Diana Ross had a whole playlist of songs that would have fitted the occasion: 'You Keep Me Hanging On', 'I'm Living In Shame'. I'm not saying 'Love Child'. You never heard it from me." US fans of Costello can catch the rocker on Aug. 14 at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Miss. - Music-News.com, 6/12/22...... Singer Julee Cruise, best known for her soundtrack work with director David Lynch and as a former member of The B52's, died by suicide on June 9 in Pittsfield, Mass. She was 65. Her death was announced on Facebook on June 10 n a post apparently by her husband, the author Edward Grinnan. It read: "I said goodby to my wife, Julee Cruise, today. She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace." Cruise famously sang the song "Falling," which featured lyrics by Lynch and music by Angelo Badalamenti. The instrumental was used as the theme tune for Lynch's acclaimed Twin Peaks series in 1990, with the vocal version and two other songs, "Into The Night" and "The Nightingale" appearing on the official soundtrack. Her first collaboration with Lynch was for the 1986 film Blue Velvet, which prominently features another Badalamenti collaboration, "Mysteries Of Love." In the 1990s she became a member of The B-52s, touring sporadically throughout the decade as a stand-in for Cindy Wilson. In 1993, she released a cover of Elvis Presley's "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears" for the soundtrack of Wim Wenders' Until the End of the World. - NME, 6/10/22...... Actor Philip Baker Hall, known as one of Hollywood's most distinctive, versatile and accomplished character actors, died at his home in L.A. on June 12. He was 90 years old. Effortlessly funny, and usually deadpan, Mr. Hall was a guest star on everything from Seinfeld to Family Ties to the animated feature Bojack Horseman (as the voice of Hank Hippopopalous). But he was a formidable presence in drama too -- and a particular favorite of director Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in small but juicy roles, most memorably in 
Prolific Billboard chart guru Joel Whitburn, one of the pre-eminent chart historians of the last 50-plus years, has died at age 82. The news was first shared on Facebook by Mr. Whitburn's protégé, longtime friend and Record Research Inc. co-worker Paul Haney, who wrote that the legendary industry figure "passed away peacefully overnight" on Tuesday (June 14). "He had been having some serious health issues recently, but his passing still comes as a shock," Haney continued. After founding the Record Research Inc. company in 1970, Mr. Whitburn became one of the leading authors of reference books on the Billboard charts, releasing over 100 total entries of series like Top Pop Singles, Top 40 Hits, Top 40 Albums and Top 40 Country Hits. Particularly in the time before the internet made archival chart information widely available, his books proved invaluable in providing the whole industry with reliable chart stats and records, becoming fixtures on the bookshelves for DJs, execs, writers and artists alike. (His accurate reporting also made it more difficult for publicists and labels to credibly fudge the chart achievements of their artists, a notoriously common practice in the early '70s.) Born in the Milwaukee area town of Menomonee Falls, Wis., in 1939, Mr. Whitburn grew up as a sports and music obsessive in the '50s, he became a Billboard devotee after seeing the magazine for the first time on a trip to the city with his mother. "I saw Billboard and I didn't know what it was," he recalled in a 2014 interview. "I grabbed it and started paging through it, and saw all these big, full-page ads for all these artists I had listened to on the radio... And then, all these charts ... top 20 charts, top 30 charts, with all these songs that I loved." From there, he begged his father to cover the $10 cost to be an annual subscriber to the magazine. "It was October 1953 when I first subscribed, and I don't think I've missed an issue through today," he offered. "I look forward to it every week. I can't go a week without reading my Billboard." When the Billboard Hot 100 arrived for the first time as Billboard's flagship songs chart in Aug. 1958, Mr. Whitburn made it his primary focus. He made index cards cataloguing all the relevant information of the songs listed on the magazine's then-two-page chart spread, tracking their movement on the chart from week to week. After founding his Record Research Inc. company in 1970, he released his first Top Pop Singles book. Further series followed, starting with Top Pop Albums and eventually encompassing genre-specific charts for rock, R&B, country, easy listening and more. (Eventually, Rhino Records also started to release dozens of hits compilations based on Mr. Whitburn's books.) Mr. Whitburn was also famous for his peerless record collection, which contained over 200,000 45 rpm singles, as well as "every album that has ever charted [on Billboard] all the way up to today." In his Facebook post announcing Whitburn's death, Paul Haney grouped his mentor with household name and late legendary longtime American Top 40 host Casey Kasem, in terms of his all-time chart idols. "I never got to meet Casey, but I did have the privilege of working closely with Joel for 30+ years," he wrote. "I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me my dream job and trusting me to work on the books that bear his name. Rest in peace, big guy." - Billboard, 6/14/22.
The Public Broadcasting System is set to premiere a new documentary about legendary Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, Long Promised Road, on June 14 and 9:00 p.m. Eastern/8:00 p.m. Central (check local listings at pbs.org). The latest installment in PBS's American Masters series lets the at-time tentative and vulnerable Wilson -- who turns 80 on June 20 -- look back at a life of remarkable ebbs and flows. "The Brian you see goofing around? That's Brian to me," says his good friend, Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine, who for 70 hours spirited Wilson around southern California to meaningful spots from his past for the documentary. "He's engaged and curious and funny in ways people don't really know." Fine adds that from a young age, music was Wilson's salvation over beatings from an overbearing father and later in life, a virtual nine-year imprisonment by psychologist Eugene Landy. "Music gave him joy. And the recognition that his music did that for others -- I think it took him till now for that to register," Fine adds. - TV Guide, 6/13/22...... After being perched at the top of Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart for 34 straight weeks, Elton John and Dua Lipa's "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" has become the second-most popular song on that chart since it began in Jan. 2013. Luminate (formerly MRC Data) reports that "Cold Heart" drew 23.4 million all-format radio airplay audience impressions and 8.4 million U.S. streams and sold 3,300 downloads in the May 27-June 2 tracking week. Only Marshmello and Bastille's "Happier" has led longer on this chart: for 69 weeks in 2018-20. In other chart action, a remake of KISS's "I Was Made for Lovin' You" by House Gospel Choir has debuted at No. 46 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. The song hit No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in Aug. 1979, representing a notable disco turn for the glam rockers. Meanwhile, venerable British rockers Def Leppard have reached the top of the Top Hard Rock Albums chart for a fourth time with its new album Diamond Star Halos. In the May 27-June 2 tracking week, the LP earned 34,000 equivalent album units, with 32,000 units via album sales, according to Luminate. Halos also debuted at No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart. On the all-format Hot 200 album chart, the new set bows at No. 10, marking Def Leppard's eighth Top 10. The lead single from Halos, "Kick," hit No. 34 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, the band's first appearance on the list since "Four Letter Word" reached No. 30 in 2003. - Billboard, 6/9/22...... Cher, a longtime idol of the LGBTQ+ community, announced on June 8 she's giving back to the community by releasing a line of products through luxury Italian fashion house Versace. Perfectly timed for Pride Month, the collection, appropriately titled CHERSACE, is a collaboration between Cher and Donatella Versace. Available through the 
Blondie announced on June 8 it will release its first-ever box set on Aug. 26. 
During a BBC Radio 2 interview in the midst of the recent Queen Elizabeth II platinum jubilee celebration, Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor revealed that they recently uncovered a previously unheard song featuring late founding vocalist Freddie Mercury's vocals. "We did find a little gem from Freddie that we'd kind of forgotten about," Taylor told host Zoe Ball in the chat. "And it's wonderful. Actually, it was a real discovery." While Taylor and May did not reveal the track's title, other sources have reported it to be "Face It Alone." Taylor called it "a very passionate recording" and confirmed that the song will be available in September and that it was recorded during 1988 sessions for the band's penultimate album with Mercury, The Miracle, which included the singles "I Want It All" and "Scandal." May said that he and Taylor had been considering releasing the song but also thought "Oh no, we can't really rescue that." But they went back again recently and with some help from studio wizards May said they were able to spruce up the recording. Meanwhile in other Queen news, the band has reached a new chart milestone in their native UK with their 1981 album Greatest Hits. The LP has reached 1,000 weeks on the Official Albums Chart Top 100, becoming just the third album to do so, and the first by a British act or a rock band. The hits collection, which originally enjoyed four weeks at No. 1, is one of the prog-rockers' ten No. 1 UK albums, and it's recognized as the best-selling album in British recorded music history with more than six million copies sold. Only albums by Bob Marley and the Wailers (Legend) and ABBA (Gold - Greatest Hits) have notched more time on the same chart with 1,032 and 1,048 weeks, respectively. - Billboard, 6/7/22...... The Rolling Stones paid tribute to their '60s rivals the Beatles by performing their John Lennon and Paul McCartney-penned hit "I Wanna Be Your Man" for the first time since 2012 at their Liverpool concert on June 9. The Stones performed in Liverpool for the first time in more than 50 years, at Anfield Stadium, having last played at the legendary Empire Theatre in 1971. During the show, frontman Mick Jagger revealed they were planning to cover Liverpool FC anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry And The Pacemakers as they were at the football ground, which drew a mixed reaction of boos and cheers from the audience. He said: "But, we decided instead to do a cover of a song written by some other local lads so we're doing this especially for you Liverpool, OK?" Jagger, along with fellow surviving Stones Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood also dedicated the show to late drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021 aged 80. Mick told the crowd: "In 1962 we met a drummer called Charlie Watts and this is our first tour in England we've done without him so we'd like to dedicate this show to Charlie." The Stones will travel to Amsterdam for a show on June 13, then be back on UK soil for a pair of BST Hyde Park shows on June 25 and July 3. They kicked off their 60th anniversary tour of Europe on June 1 in Madrid and it runs through July 31 in Stockholm. - Music-News.com, 6/10/22...... 
Todd Rundgren and former King Crimson and David Bowie guitarist Adrian Belew have shared details of a "Celebrating David Bowie" tribute tour that's due to hit North America in the fall. Rundgren and Belew will be joined by a roster of versatile musicians including Spacehog's Royston Langdon, Fishbone's Angelo Moore and Jeffrey Gaines on the 15-date tour to pay tribute to the late, influential British musician. Bassist Angeline Saris, drummer Michael Urbano, saxophonist Ron Dziubla, and guitarist Scrote (Angelo Bundini), who put together the first "Celebrating David Bowie" tour in 2017, are also in the tour's backing band. The tour will commence in San Diego on Oct. 6, also visiting Beverly Hills (10/7), San Jose (10/8), Anaheim (10/9), Prior Lake, Minn. (10/13), Quebec City (10/17), Montreal (10/18) and Annapolis, Md. (10/31). In November, it hits Atlanta (11/3), Buffalo (11/5), Nashville (11/7), Denver, (11/10), Albuquerque (11/11), and Tuscon (11/12) before wrapping in Phoenix on Nov. 13. - NME, 6/6/22...... Lou Reed's widow Laurie Anderson and Light in the Attic Records announced on June 6 they have created a partnership for the release of a "Lou Reed Archive Series" that will kick off on Aug. 26 with a rarities-packed release titled Words & Music, May 1965. The album features never-before-heard versions of such future Velvet Underground classics as "Heroin," "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "Pale Blue Eyes," all presented in their earliest-known incarnations. It will drop on what would have been the late punk godfather's 80th birthday; he died in 2013 at age 71 of liver disease. A 6-song digital EP, Gee Whiz, 1958-1964, will drop on Oct. 7 and feature the folk covers and original blues recordings from 1963-64. - Billboard, 6/6/22...... Paul Vance, writer of the hit '60s novelty song 
Iconic '70s folk rock singer Jim Seals, who teamed with fellow musician Dash Crofts on such 1970s soft-rock smashes as "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl" and "We May Never Pass This Way Again," has died of an undisclosed chronic illness at his home in Nashville. He was 80. His death was announced on June 7 by several people, including John Ford Coley, who had formed the '70s duo England Dan and John Ford Coley with Seals' older brother, Dan Seals. Further details were not immediately available. "This is a hard one on so many levels as this is a musical era passing for me," Coley wrote. "And it will never pass this way again as his song said. He belonged to a group that was one of a kind. I am very sad over this but I have some of the best memories of all of us together. Rest In Peace Jimmy." Mr. Seals and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts were Texas natives who had known each other since they were teenagers and had previously been in The Champs, which before they joined had a hit single with "Tequila," and a group including Glen Campbell. They formed Seals and Crofts in the late 1960s and over the next several years were among a wave of successful soft-rock groups that included America, Bread and England Dan and John Ford Coley. The pair racked up three Top 10 Billboard hits including "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl" and "Get Closer" (featuring Carolyn Willis). Their other popular songs included "Hummingbird," "You're the Love" and "We May Never Pass This Way Again." Seals and Crofts also released the controversial "Unborn Child," an anti-abortion song that came out the year after the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and was banned by some radio stations. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in the '90s, Mr. Seals said of the song: "It was our ignorance that we didn't know that kind of thing was seething and boiling as a social issue. On one hand we had people sending us thousands of roses, but on the other people were literally throwing rocks at us. If we'd known it was going to cause such disunity, we might have thought twice about doing it." Two of the duo's albums, 
A bevy of '70s artists including Rod Stewart, Queen, Elton John and Diana Ross performed at the United Kingdom's Platinum Party At the Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 70th anniversary on the throne. Although the 96-year-old monarch attended some of the opening ceremonies on June 2, she opted not to attend the star-studded London concert in her honor or her beloved Epsom Derby on June 4, as well as a special service of Thanksgiving in her honor at St. Paul's Cathedral on June 3. The Party At the Palace was kicked off by Queen + Adam Lambert in an open-air show outside the palace to the delight of thousands of the Queen's well-wishers, followed by performances from Duran Duran, Stewart (who led a rendition of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"), opera singer Andrea Bocelli, and John, who sang his hit "Your Song" remotely as his image was displayed on the front wall of the palace. Ross closed the show with a medley of several of her biggest hits, her first U.K. live performance in 15 years. - Billboard, 6/4/22...... In related news, the Sex Pistols' notorious anti-monarchy anthem "God Save The Queen" has become the biggest-selling single in the UK after the 1977 hit was reissued on June 3. "God Save The Queen" hit the UK's top of the pops exactly 45 years after it was notoriously denied Number One after being banned by the BBC. The protest song was officially released by the band via Virgin Records in May 1977. Despite being banned, it reached number two on the UK's singles chart (the track was listed as a blank on the latter to avoid causing offence) though fans believed it was kept from top spot in purpose. The irreverent punk band's signing to Virgin and re-release of the single came after the band had been controversially dropped by their previous label A&M, prompting the destruction of 25,000 unreleased copies of "God Save The Queen." Only a handful of copies of the original A&M release are known to survive, with one selling for £13,000 back in 2019. Meanwhile, former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), said in a recent interview with British talk show host Piers Morgan that he is "actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well." "I've got to tell the world this. Everyone presumes that I'm against the royal family as human beings, I'm not," Lydon said. "I'm actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well. I applaud her for that, and that's a fantastic achievement. I'm not a curmudgeon about that." - New Musical Express, 6/5/22...... Elton John took to 
One day after a Virginia jury awarded actor Johnny Depp more than $10 million in his libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard in a sensational trial, guitar legend Jeff Beck announced that he has a full-length collaborative album due out this summer with the former Pirates of the Caribbean star. "I met this guy five years ago and we've never stopped laughing since. We actually made an album. I don't know how it happened. It will be out in July," Beck told a crowd at the Sage Gateshead in Gateshead, England during a June 2 show in which Depp joined him on stage for a run of songs that included covers of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" as well as the John Lennon song "Isolation," a cover of which the pair released in 2020. A fan's recording of Beck's comments can be viewed on 
Stevie Nicks has joined the countless Democratic politicians, gun control advocates and fellow musicians in the fight to end gun violence and strengthen gun laws in the United States, sharing a statement on 
In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Graham Nash says he "took full advantage" of the coronavirus pandemic by throwing himself into writing and recording a new solo album, as well as teaming up with his old Hollies bandmate Allan Clarke. Nash says he couldn't be happier with the work they've done. Nash said: "I took full advantage of the lockdown. What I've been doing is making music remotely. I am one track from finishing a new solo record, done remotely. Also, it isn't mixed yet but I've finished recording a new album with my friend Allan Clarke. Allan has been my oldest friend -- I've known him since I was six years old and that means he has been my friend for 74 years. He quit The Hollies many years ago because he didn't feel that he could reach those high notes on those beautiful songs that he did. But Allan has been singing unbelievably well and I'm very happy with this record." Meanwhile, despite his advancing years, Nash says he still loves getting out on the road and wouldn't tour if he didn't enjoy it as much as he does. "It's only my calling. I've been lucky enough to be rich enough not to ever worry about money again in my life, and it gives me great freedom," he said. "I want to be there, I don't have to be in the middle of Elgin, Illinois, in the pouring rain. I don't have to be here, I want to be here. And it shows! People are leaving these theatres with gigantic smiles on their faces and that's what I want," he added. - Music-News.com, 6/5/22...... Dave Smith, known as "the father of MIDI" and the founder of Sequential Synth, has died at age 72. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Dave Smith has died. We're heartbroken, but take some small solace in knowing he was on the road doing what he loved best in the company of family, friends, and artists," said an announcement on the Sequential website. Smith invented a range of synths that were used by electronic artists throughout the 1980s as well as by Radiohead on their experimental "Kid A." Taking to