Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on January 26th, 2023

Known for playing the mouth harp on such rockin' Rolling Stones tracks as "Midnight Rambler" and "Gimme Shelter," Mick Jagger has teamed up with Lee Oskar Harmonicas to launch his own line of harmonicas. Sir Mick's collection, available in 10 major diatonic keys, goes on sale on Feb. 8. "Always loved Lee Oskar harmonicas, and now I've been lucky enough to collaborate with them on a harmonica of my own," Jagger said in a statement. Priced at $60 (£49.99), the harmonicas boast both of their names and come in a "Mick Jagger branded custom case to keep it safe." If the name Lee Oskar sounds familiar, he was the original harmonica player for rock-fusion legends War and his harmonica contributions can be heard on such hit singles as "Low Rider." - Music-News.com, 1/26/23...... Bruce Springsteen has risen to the No. 2 spot on the UK's Official Charts Company's Americana Chart for the year of 2022 for his latest release, Only The Strong Survive. Springsteen managed this feat in less than two months, with the album of soul/R&B covers having been released on Nov. 11. The album, his 21st studio effort, also peaked in second place on the Official Albums Chart upon its release. Springsteen and his E Street Band will kick of an international arena/stadium tour in Feb. 2023, with dates across North America, the U.K. and Europe stretching deep into summer. - Music-News.com, 1/25/23...... TV adverts during the annual Super Bowl NFL championship game can often attract as much attention as the game itself as advertisers roll out their best ads to stand out from the competition, and Ozzy Osbourne is getting in on the action in 2023 in a Super Bowl ad as an office fresh face -- dressed up for work in a dress shirt, tie and an office-appropriate amount of eyeliner -- for the workplace finance/HR software company Workday. In the 15-second preview clip which can be viewed on YouTube, Ozzy plays the new guy in the typing pool who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the worker bees. "Who's the new guy?," asks his cubicle mate, as the woman at the desk next to him whispers, "I don't know, but he's supposed to be some kind of rock star." Cue Ozzy spinning around in his chair looking sweetly menacing, what with his tattoos, handful of rings, long hair and raccoon eyes. "Which one of you wants a piercing?," he asks sweetly as the guy across from him points to their co-worker. "On Sunday, February 12th, the corporate world will be rocked," the screen reads at the end of the clip. According to Variety, the full one-minute ad from the first-time Super Bowl advertiser Workday slated to air in the third quarter will also feature Joan Jett and Gary Clark Jr. The 2023 Super Bowl LVII will take place on Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. - Billboard, 1/26/23...... The National Portrait Gallery announced on Jan. 25 that a trove of previously unseen Beatles photos taken by Paul McCartney as the Fab Four shot to global stardom in 1963 and 1964 will go on display in London this year. Titled "Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of The Storm," the exhibition will help mark the gallery's reopening on June 22 after a three-year refurbishment. Gallery director Nicholas Cullinan said Sir Paul approached the gallery in 2020 saying he had rediscovered a batch of photos from late 1963 and early 1964 that he had thought were lost. Cullinan added they were an extraordinary set of images of "such a famous and important cultural moment & taken by someone who was really, as the exhibition title alludes, in the eye of the storm." The exhibition is set to run through Oct. 1. McCartney's latest music release is Dec. 2022's The 73 Singles Box, which collected more than 50 years of singles in a wood crate that tells the story of Macca's post-Beatles career from 1970 to 2021. - Billboard, 1/25/23...... It has been revealed that David Crosby was working on new music when the 81-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died on Jan. 19. Speaking to Variety, guitarist Steve Postell said Crosby was talking about his new album on the day he died. "David didn't think he was gonna last for years, which he joked about all the time. But there was no sense that we weren't gonna be able to do this show and these tours," Postell said. "We were talking tour buses, and what kind of venues, and the whole team was all back together again -- the road manager and tour manager and sound guys -- on top of this band we'd put together. There was not even a remote sense that we weren't about ready to hit the world. And it's a shame people didn't get to hear it. This was something else. This was as close to the original thing" -- specifically, the original sound of Crosby, Stills and Nash -- "as we were gonna get. It was very powerful." Postell had been speaking on the phone with Crosby near the end after taking part in an "intimate" rehearsal in Santa Barbara the week before Crosby died; that was the follow to a full-band rehearsal in mid-December at which Postell said Crosby seemed "practically giddy with all of it." Postell said he was talking to the singer on the phone on the morning of Jan. 18 discussing plans for a two-night run in Santa Barbara at the Lobero Theatre in late February that they were considering recording for a live album; Crosby's death was announced the following day. The shows would have been Crosby's first live gigs since 2019. Meanwhile, SiriusXM talk show host Howard Stern fondly remembered Crosby on his Jan. 23 show, which can be heard on YouTube. "I did love that guy... let's see if I can articulate why I loved him so much," Stern said. "David was just so great, and what a voice!," he added while recalling the singer's final spot on the Stern in June of 2021 to promote that year's For Free album. "He was not afraid to put out new music right up until the end of his life," added co-host Robin Quivers. Some of Crosby's last tweets saw him poking fun at the idea of heaven, calling "Eleanor Rigby" the best song by the Beatles and praising environmental activist Greta Thunberg. "I heard the place (heaven) is overrated," Crosby tweeted on Jan. 18. "David to the end," replied one fan, following Crosby's passing. "I hope you enjoy it nonetheless," added another. Earlier in the week, the avid Twitter poster quoted a tweet that claimed "People with tattoos will not go to heaven. People who drink alcohol will not go to heaven. People who also eat too much pork will not go to heaven." Also in a Jan. 18 tweet, Crosby claimed the Beatles' best song was "Eleanor Rigby" and called Greta Thunberg "brave" following her arrest by German police at a protest. Fans have been sharing footage of Crosby's last live performances online. Crosby and Michell Willis's duet performance of the Willis original "Trigger" was released in 2022 alongside a pro-shot video, and can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard/NME, 1/23/22...... James Taylor announced on Twitter on Jan. 24 that he'll kick off the summer of 2023 with a mini-residency with his All Star Band. "Thread alert! James and His All-Star Band are heading to Las Vegas for a five-night exclusive engagement at @TheChelseaLV inside @Cosmopolitan_LV. The shows will be held on June 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10," his account posted. Taylor and his band will play The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitian of Las Vegas starting June 3 for a weeklong run of five exclusive shows as part of their 2023 tour. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Jan. 28 via Ticketmaster and The Cosmopolitan's official website. Fans can also purchase tickets by calling (800) 745-3000. Ahead of the Vegas shows, Taylor will help headline the 2023 "Love Rocks NYC" benefit concert in March along with St. Vincent, The John Mayer Trio, Sheryl Crow and Mavis Staples. The special showcase at the Beacon Theater will help nonprofit food delivery charity God's Love We Deliver and also feature appearances by Stephen Colbert, Andy Cohen, Chevy Chase and Phoebe Robinson in between sets from Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Stephen Marley, Gary Clark Jr., Allison Russell and more. God's Love was founded in 1985 during the height of the AIDS epidemic and has been providing essential services during the Covid-19 pandemic, cooking and delivering more than 3.2 million meals to more than 10,500 New Yorkers living with severe illness. - Billboard, 1/24/23..... In related news, Elton John has sent students who covered one of his biggest hits, "I'm Still Standing," during the Covid lockdown free tickets to his show. Sir Elton says the pupils of Telford Priory School in Shropshire's cover of "I'm Still Standing," which can be viewed on YouTube, "really cheered me up" in a personal message, and shared that he had watched it three times in a row. "You did something brilliant and made a brilliant version of 'I'm Still Standing'," John he said in the message., and promised that the students would be guests at a future UK show when live music commenced again. The now ex-pupils can catch the Rocketman in Birmingham on June 10 as part of his final UK arena dates of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour. - NME, 1/24/23...... Mourners bid farewell to Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley during a funeral service on Jan. 22. The 42-year-old, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California, was remembered as a loving mother and an "old soul" who endured tragedy but persevered as a dedicated protector of her father's legacy as a rock 'n' roll pioneer and pop icon. More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of the Presley Graceland mansion on a gray, chilly Memphis morning, with some mourners holding flowers as they waited for the service to begin under the tall trees on the lawn of Graceland. The service began with the singing of "Amazing Grace" by Jason Clark & The Tennessee Mass Choir. "We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the love, compassion and support you have shown our family during this difficult time," said a message from the Presley family written on the program for the service. "We will always be grateful." Among those who spoke during the service were Lisa Marie's mother, actress Priscilla Presley; Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; Jerry Schilling, a close friend of Elvis; and former Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, who called Lisa Marie's parents Memphis' royal couple and a "conduit to the throne, the keeper of the flame." In a soft voice, Priscilla Presley read a poem from one of Lisa Marie's three daughters, Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood, entitled "The Old Soul," in which she calls her mother "an icon, a role model, a superhero to many people all over the world." After reading the poem, Priscilla said: "Our heart is broken. Lisa, we all love you." Music punctuated the service, with Billy Corgan, lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins, playing acoustic guitar and singing "To Sheila." Alanis Morissette sang "Rest;" Axl Rose, of Guns N' Roses, played piano and sang "November Rain;" and The Blackwood Brothers Quartet performed two songs. After the service, mourners walked through Graceland's Meditation Garden, where Lisa Marie was laid to rest in an above-ground grave next to her son Benjamin Keough, who died in 2020, and alongside her grandparents and great grandmother. - The Associated Press, 1/22/23...... As Willie Nelson prepares to celebrate 9 decades on planet Earth on Apr. 30, he'll be the subject of a five-part documentary debuting this month at the Sundance Film Festival. Willie Nelson & Family is described by co-director Thom Zimny as an engrossing, unflinching and ultimately loving portrait of a cultural icon who has lived "a rich life of beauty and struggle." The film captures the complexity of the 89-year-old Nelson, who dreamed in his boyhood of becoming a singing cowboy like his movie idols, and became one of the most acclaimed songwriters and singers of his age, as well as a celebrated actor, author and activist, living through decades of tragedies and triumphs. "I related to Willie's story on many levels," says Zimny. "Nelson's music is very cinematic" and his story tells of "a person who connected to music deeply and also had a rich life of beauty and struggle... what was really important was that we got the trust and support of the family to sit down with Willie and really explore a lot of those different chapters." Meanwhile, a star-studded 90th birthday party for Nelson is set for L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl on Apr. 29 and 30, with headliners including The Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers gathering for a two-day concert event, billed as "Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90." "I can't think of a better way to spend my 90th birthday than being surrounded by family, friends and of course the fans who made this all possible," Nelson said via a statement. "It's an honor to perform with such an incredible group of artists at such an iconic venue." On Mar. 3, Nelson will release his release his upcoming studio album, I Don't Know a Thing About Love, a set of classic Harlan Howard songs. - Billboard, 1/24/23...... Star Wars composer John Williams and songwriter Diane Warren added to their considerable Oscar legacies on Jan. 24 as this year's Oscar nominations were announced. Williams received his record-extending 48th nomination in a scoring category for The Fabelmans, while Warren received her 14th nomination for best original song for "Applause" from Tell It Like a Woman, a total matched by only seven songwriters in history. Williams has now received scoring nods in seven consecutive decades -- each decade since the 1960s. Should he win, Williams, 90, would become the oldest Oscar winner in history. It is the sixth consecutive year that Diane Warren has had a nominated song. Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne also received his second Oscar nomination, for co-writing "This Is a Life" from Everything Everywhere All at Once with Ryan Lott and Mitski. Byrne shared the award for best original score 35 years ago for The Last Emperor, on which he collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su. In the acting category, Austin Butler received a best actor nod for his starring role in the Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis biopic ELVIS. Appearing on the Today show on Jan. 24, Butler was asked about the recent loss of Lisa Marie Presley. "I think about how much I wish she was here right now to get to celebrate with me," he said. "It's the same thing with ELVIS, I wish that they could be in these moments. It feels kind of strange to celebrate at a time of such deep grief. I sort of think of it as a way to honor her." Later that same day, Butler said in a statement that "Three years ago I got the role of a lifetime and have been living in a dream ever since. It has been my honor and privilege to take on the role of the icon, father, husband, and son -- Elvis Presley. This was a labor of love for everyone involved." - Billboard, 1/24/23...... Stevie Nicks announced on Jan. 23 that she is extending her 2023 North American tour. The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman first announced tour plans -- a small series of co-headlining shows alongside Billy Joel -- in Nov. 2022, and she received so much enthusiasm from fans, she says that she's chosen to extend the run of previously announced dates. After a Mar.10 co-headlining show with Joel in Los Angeles, Nicks' solo trek will officially begin March 15 at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena. Nicks will then make stops in Las Vegas (3/18), San Francisco (3/23), New Orleans (4/2), Toronto (6/20), Chicago (6/23) and more before concluding at Louisville's KFC Yum! Center on June 27. As for the Grammy winner's co-headlining dates with the Piano Man, she'll do nine dates separate from her own solo trek. Further tour details can be found on her Instagram announcement. - Billboard, 1/23/23...... Music publishing and talent management company Primary Wave announced its acquisition of The Doors members Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek's rights as it pertains to their involvement with The Doors. This includes the guitarist and late keyboardists recorded music, publishing, trademarks and merchandise rights and income. Jim Morrison, the band's lead singer, and John Densmore, its drummer, continue to own the remaining interests in the Doors rights. Though terms of the deal were not disclosed, Billboard estimates that The Doors master recording catalog generates nearly $10 million in annual revenue, with band royalties coming to about $4.4 million thanks to a heritage contract, which likely carries a generous 50% royalty payment on streaming licensing. Billboard further estimates that the band s catalog generates about $5 million in publishing and that the band takes in another $1 million in merchandising. In total, that comes out to $10.4 million in royalties for the band, with Krieger and Manzarek s share at $5.2 million. Consequently, Billboard estimates that Primary Wave paid anywhere from $75 million to $100 million for The Doors music income streams and other intellectual property rights it acquired. Primary Wave declined to comment. "We are looking forward to growing the legacies of Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek," says Larry Mestel, CEO and founder of Primary Wave Music. "We are also very happy to be working alongside such an industry icon as (Doors manager) Jeff Jampol to tastefully grow opportunities for The Doors. - Billboard, 1/23/23...... The L.A.-based pop duo Sparks has re-signed with Island Records after almost 50 years to release their 26th studio album, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. The sibling duo of Ron and Russell Mael's breakthrough third record, Kimono My House, came out via the label back in 1974. Sparks remained with Island until 1976. Their seventh LP, 1977's Introducing Sparks, was released through Columbia (US) and CBS (UK). Per a press release, the follow-up to 2020's A Steady Drip will arrive in May and see the band continue down a "unique and uncompromising path," and is described as a "bold, genre defying, modern masterpiece." The group made the announcement on Twitter, and have yet to share a single, tracklist or official artwork for the new album. "Sparks have always been one of the most original, ground-breaking and creative groups in pop and their longevity is partly down to their ability to constantly reinvent themselves. It's an honour and thrill having Sparks back on Island," label president Louis Bloom said. - Billboard, 1/24/23...... '70s German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream are among the third wave of performers announced for the upcoming South By Southwest (SXSW) festival, set for Mar. 10-19 in Austin, Tex. The annual showcase event and conference announced a first round of nearly 200 artists in Oct. 2022; that list included Armani White, Algiers and Balming Tiger. A second wave dropped in December, and featured The Zombies, Lemon Twigs, Ambr and Osees. Also on the bill in 2023 are New Order, rapper Killer Mike, Venbee and Teenage Joans. - Billboard, 1/25/23...... Promoting his new album Head on a Stick which hits stores on Jan. 26, former The Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock told the London Times that he "got a bit fed up" of seeing Iggy Pop's penis during their time touring together. Matlock played bass on Pop's 1980 album Soldier and toured with him the year before, which often resulted in the punk legend apparently flashing his manhood onstage. "The problem with flashing your willy on stage is that you have to get ready to flash your willy on stage," Matlock says. "And he always did it in front of me. I got a bit fed up with seeing it, to be honest. It's not that impressive." Matlock is also confirmed to support Iggy on his forthcoming outdoor London show this summer with Blondie. - New Musical Express, 1/26/23...... Stuntman Robbie Knievel, the son of legendary daredevil Evel Knievel, died of pancreatic cancer on Jan. 13. He was 60. Robbie jumped his motorcycle over a 200 foot chasm of the Grand Canyon in 1999, however his dad famously failed at jumping 1,600-foot over the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in 1974 when the parachute on his "Skycycle" opened prematurely. - People, 1/30/23...... Former child star Lance Kerwin, best known for appearing in NBC TV series James at 15 and starring in the film Salem's Lot, has passed away at age 62, his daughter confirmed in a Facebook post. "I am so sorry to those we have not been able to reach out to personally to notify but Lance Kerwin passed away yesterday morning," Savanah Kerwin posted on Jan. 26. "We appreciate all the kind words, memories, and prayers that have been shared. As the coming weeks progress, I will share more information about after life ceremonies. He loved each and every one of you," she added. Information on Lance's cause of death is yet to be provided. During the early years of his career, Kerwin appeared in TV series Little House on the Prairie, Shazam! and Gunsmoke. He went on to star in The Bionic Woman and then landed the titular role of James Hunter in James at 15, a teen drama series that aired from 1977 to 1978. Kerwin's breakthrough part saw him play a teenager who was fascinated with photography but was forced to move from Oregon to Massachusetts with his family. The series, which was later changed to James at 16, sparked some complaints as James embarked in pre-marital sex, losing his virginity in the process. In 1979, Kerwin starred as film buff-turned-vampire Mark Petrie in made-for-TV movie Salem's Lot, directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and based on the Stephen King horror novel of the same name. He also appeared with Ben Gazzara and Robby Benson in another made-for-TV movie in 1977, The Death of Richie. - Bang Showbiz, 1/26/23.

In a four-minute video posted to Twitter on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 16), Stevie Wonder called on his fans to "honor the principle of peace and unity" and asked his followers to consider whether they ever take on board the late civil rights activist's teachings. "Forty years, what have we done for the planet? How have we really helped each other? Where has poverty been eliminated, why are guns still protected, and why has hate been elevated?" Wonder commented. "Truthfully, we've done very little in 40 years," the 72-year-old R&B legend argued. Wonder added, "Now it is time for us to grow the f---- up, and get out of our virtual delusions that sell murder, mayhem, terrorism, and hate... Dr King, I wish I could say you were here. But it feels like we did not deserve you then, and we're not much better now." Continuing, he added, "And people... I believe deep in my soul the universe is watching us - and she is p**sed. But will we fix it? I hope so." Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983. The activist was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39. - Music-News.com, 1/17/23...... As Pink Floyd announced a special 50th anniversary box set of their iconic 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon on Facebook on Jan. 19, fans of the band are hitting out at conservatives who have mistaken the famous "rainbow prism" album cover as being "woke" and LGBTQ-supporting. To launch the new box set, the band shared an updated version of the art for the album as their official Facebook profile picture. It sees the prism with "50" written inside it. Within the "0" is the colors of the rainbow, which is reminiscent of the original Dark Side album artwork (designed by the UK firm Hipgnosis). However, some conservative-leaning fans apparently saw the new profile picture as a statement of advocacy for the LGBTQ+ movement, and shared their anger at what they believed was a "woke" move. "Lose the rainbow, you're making yourself look stupid!" one wrote, with another saying they won't listen to Pink Floyd again in the future. "Are you going woke with rainbows?" another angry fan added. "Is there a straight flag? I want equal representation, don't get me wrong, we should all be true to who we are." In response, a number of Floyd fans laughed at the misguided anger, with one writing in the comments section: "I thought it was a joke and had to come see for myself. Are people really having tantrums over the rainbow that has ALWAYS been there in that iconic cover?" Another added: "You know you're homophobic when you get mad at the rainbow that has always been Pink Floyd's logo. It shines out of the triangle; represents the start of life and all the paths taken and influences over a lifetime." Former Star Trek actor and gay tolerance advocate George Takei also took to Twitter on Jan. 20 to post: "The furor from the right over the 50th anniversary post by Pink Floyd as "going woke with rainbows" is peak MAGA ignorance. It's a prism of their own making, as it were." The new Dark Side Of The Moon box set will arrive on Mar. 24, one day after the 50th anniversary of its UK release and will celebrate the seminal record through a newly remastered version of the original release. The reissue will feature a CD and gatefold vinyl of the album, plus Blu-Ray and DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. In addition, it will also include another Blu-Ray disc of an Atmos mix plus CD and LP of The Dark Side Of The Moon - Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974. The live recording will also be released independently on CD and vinyl on the same day as the box set, marking the first time it will be available as a standalone album. An accompanying photo book, Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon: 50th Anniversary, will also arrive on Mar. 24. Curated by photographer Jill Furmanovsky and created in collaboration with the band, it will feature rare and previously unseen photos taken during the "Dark Side" tours between 1972 and 1975. Elsewhere, Pink Floyd will celebrate the milestone anniversary by inviting a new generation of animators to create music videos for any of the songs on the album as part of a new competition, and fans will also be able to experience Dark Side at planetariums around the world as the band recall their successful stargazing events at the London Planetarium in 1973. Over the last five decades, Dark Side of the Moon has become one of the best-selling albums of all time and is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums in history. - New Musical Express, 1/21/23...... The legal battle between Journey two remaining core members -- keyboardist Jonathan Cain and guitarist Neal Schon -- got messier on in the second week of January when Cain filed a countersuit against Schon, who sparked a legal battle by accusing Cain of blocking access to "critical financial records" linked to band's American Express credit card account. In his countersuit, Cain is accusing Schon of spending over $1 million on the band's shared Amex card, including $400,000 in a single month in 2022. Schon's use of the [shared] AMEX card for personal expenses created serious liquidity problems for the band, as the AMEX balance had to be paid every month, and there were insufficient revenues to pay for other expenses as Schon saddled Journey with over $1 million of his personal expenses," Cain's lawyers wrote in the new complaint, filed Jan. 13. Cain's countersuit included a number of specific allegations about Schon's spending habits. Once given access to the band's Amex, Cain says Schon promptly spent over $100,000 in Jan. 2022. Then in March, he allegedly spent a whopping $400,000 in charges at Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City and other retailers. In a statement to Billboard, Schon's attorney Skip Miller called the allegations "ridiculous" and "as phony as a three dollar bill." He said the countersuit was merely "sour grapes after a recent incident in which Schon demanded that Cain stop playing events for former Pres. Donald Trump. "We want Cain to just focus on Journey and its fans," Miller said. - Billboard, 1/20/23...... Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger -- and the entire Stones music catalog -- are now on the popular social media platform TikTok. The band's official account, along with the individual accounts of Jagger and Keith Richards, will share exclusive behind-the-scenes content and more. Jagger celebrated the occasion on Jan. 20 by posting his first video dancing to "Sympathy for the Devil." "Hello TikTok, we have joined your world," Jagger says from the recording studio in his introductory clip. "You can follow up @therollingstones and @jagger. So excited to see what you create with our music. Use #TheRollingStones so we can check it out& Oww!" The Stones jumping on the TikTok bandwagon also means their entire catalog of hits will now officially be made available for TikTok users to stitch, lip-synch and otherwise create with on the social platform via the Sounds page. Also to mark the occasion, the band curated a special playlist on TikTok featuring 44 of their songs, including "Start Me Up," "It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)," "Miss You," "Angie," "Beast of Burden" and more. As of Jan. 20, Jagger's personal TikTok account has amassed more than 58,000 followers. The band's official TikTok page, meanwhile, has begun posting old interviews from the 1960s as well as tutorials for fans to learn how to "Dress Like the Stones," "Move Like the Stones" and perform a famous Keith Richards guitar chop. Not merely icons of a bygone era, the Rolling Stones remain in high demand after more than six decades. Their most recent tour, a 14-date European run last summer, grossed $120.8 million from 712,000 tickets, according to figures reported by Billboard Boxscore. - Billboard, 1/20/23...... "Gonna Be You," the new upbeat synth-pop track featuring Debbie Harry, Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper and Gloria Estefan used in the upcoming sports comedy movie 80 for Brady, has been shared on YouTube. "Gonna Be You" was penned by songwriter Diane Warren for the film, which is set to arrive in US and UK cinemas on Feb. 3. The film stars Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field as four best friends who travel to Houston to see Tom Brady play as part of the New England Patriots in the 2017 Super Bowl. "When I wrote 'Gonna Be You' for 80 for Brady, I wanted to write a song that celebrated these women's deep friendship," Warren said in a statement. "Since 80 was in the title I got a crazy idea, why not get some of the most iconic singers from the '80s, who are still amazing and always will be, to all sing it?" Warren continued. "Everyone I approached said yes and was just as excited as me!! I'm honored to have Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, and Debbie Harry on this song!! 'Gonna Be You' is that song you want to sing along to with all your good friends!" Meanwhile, Dolly Parton is also currently working on a rock covers album which will feature contributions from Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Steven Tyler, among many others. During an appearance on the daytime talk show The View on Jan. 17, Parton talked about the new album, titled Rock Star, and the interview has been shared on YouTube. Parton recently celebrated her 77th birthday on Jan. 19 with a new song titled "Don't Make Me Have To Come Down There," which she says was was spoken by God from the top of a mountain during a dream she had, waking her from her sleep. It can also be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 1/20/23...... On Jan. 20, less than two months ahead of his 81st birthday, John Cale released his new album, Mercy. It's 12 tracks of enigmatic electronic soundscapes presided over by his resonant voice, which is alternately warm and harrowing as he welcomes an eclectic group of next-generation indie artists to collaborate with him -- including Laurel Halo, Animal Collective, Weyes Blood, Actress, Sylvan Esso, Fat White Family, Dev Hynes and Tei Shi. Cale says he got to know his most recent collaborators when he "put on a bunch of Velvet Underground 50th anniversary concerts in Europe and the U.S. [in 2017]." "The way it happened, I'd written the songs and finished them before I went on tour. When I was on tour, I was hoping some work could be done in the studio for me to finish the album when I got back. And the pandemic happened. Unpleasant situation. Very strange. I thought, 'Well, that really screws up my recording plans,' so I listened to all the songs and wondered who I could get to add their style and singing." - Billboard, 1/19/23...... Neil Young has penned a loving tribute to his late bandmate David Crosby, who died at age 81 on Jan. 19. In a personal note posted on his Neil Young Archives site on Jan. 20, Young called Crosby "the soul of CSNY" and that Crosby's voice and energy were "at the heart of our band." "His great songs stood for what we believed in and it was always fun and exciting when we got to play together," Young posted, recalling such songs as Crosby's anguished hippie anthem "Almost Cut My Hair" and the twisty, harmony-drenched title track "Deja Vu," from the quartet's 1970 debut album. Young said those songs and many others that Crosby wrote were, "wonderful to jam on and [Stephen] Stills and I had a blast as he kept us going on and on. His singing with Graham [Nash] was so memorable, their duo spot a highlight of so many of our shows." "Lots of love to you," Young signed off. "Thanks David for your spirit and songs, Love you man. I remember the best times!" Meanwhile, Graham Nash shared his thoughts on Crosby on Facebook. "It is with a deep and profound sadness that I learned that my friend David Crosby has passed. I know people tend to focus on how volatile our relationship has been at times, but what has always mattered to David and me more than anything was the pure joy of the music we created together, the sound we discovered with one another, and the deep friendship we shared over all these many long years," Nash said. "David was fearless in life and in music. He leaves behind a tremendous void as far as sheer personality and talent in this world. He spoke his mind, his heart, and his passion through his beautiful music and leaves an incredible legacy. These are the things that matter most. My heart is truly with his wife, Jan, his son, Django, and all of the people he has touched in this world," he added. In a statement to Billboard, Stephen Stills shared: "David and I butted heads a lot over time, but they were mostly glancing blows, yet still left us numb skulls. I was happy to be at peace with him. He was without question a giant of a musician, and his harmonic sensibilities were nothing short of genius. The glue that held us together as our vocals soared, like Icarus, towards the sun. I am deeply saddened at his passing and shall miss him beyond measure." - Billboard, 1/20/23...... Such Motown Records royalty as The Temptations, Four Tops and Lionel Richie and non-Motown artists as John Legend will perform at the 2023 Persons of the Year tribute concert honoring Motown founder Berry Gordy and one of its greatest stars, Smokey Robinson. The gala will be held at the L.A. Convention Center on Feb. 3, two nights before the 65th annual Grammy Awards. This marks the first time that there have been co-honorees. Gordy is also the first executive to receive the honor. The roster of performers also includes The Isley Brothers, who recorded two albums for Motown's Tamla subsidiary in the 1960s, and Michael McDonald, who received a 2013 Grammy nomination for best pop vocal album for Motown, a tribute album to the label. It also includes EGOT recipient John Legend whose huge crossover success owes a great deal to the trails blazed by Motown in the 1960s. The event includes a reception and silent auction, followed by a dinner and tribute concert. Since 1991, money raised from this gala has gone toward MusiCares programs that assist the music community, including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, preventative clinics, personal emergencies, and disaster relief. - Billboard, 1/19/23...... Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer trilogy and more recently Emancipation has been recruited to direct the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael. "The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am," said Fuqua in a statement. "For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson. I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work -- the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible," Fuqua added. The film will be co-produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Jackson estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain, with the screenplay penned by John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall), who previously worked with King on Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004). The involvement of Jackson's estate in the project suggests that the movie won't deal with the allegations of child sexual abuse that were levelled against the singer during his career and after his death in 2009. But according to distributor Lionsgate, the film will address all aspects of Jackson's life. - NME, 1/18/23...... "Toxic Las Vegas," the Elvis Presley and Britney Spears mash-up of Presley's "Viva Las Vegas" and Spears' "Toxic," has debuted at No. 26 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart for the week dated Jan. 21. The track earned 493,000 U.S. streams and sold 500 downloads in the Jan. 6-12 tracking week, according to Luminate. Heard in the 2022 Presley biopic Elvis, and released Jan. 6, the track is a mash-up of two classics from different eras: Presley's "Viva Las Vegas" and Spears' "Toxic." "Viva Las Vegas," credited to Presley with The Jordanaires, reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964; "Toxic" rose to No. 9 in 2004. The star pairing gives Presley his inaugural appearance on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, which premiered 10 years ago. It's the eighth placement for Spears, who earned her second No. 1 last September, alongside Elton John on "Hold Me Closer." - Billboard, 1/19/23...... In other Elvis-related news, his only child Lisa Marie Presley has reportedly been laid to rest at the Presley Graceland mansion in Memphis ahead of her public memorial service on Jan. 22. According to Us Weekly and Entertainment Tonight, Lisa Marie was buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland -- which has become a shrine for Elvis's fans since his passing in 1977 -- on Jan. 19. She was laid to rest next to her son Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in 2020 aged 27. According to earlier reports, his grave in the family cemetery was moved slightly to create space for his mother's. Lisa Marie's father Elvis and paternal grandparents Gladys and Vernon Presley are also buried in the Meditation Garden. Lisa Marie's three daughters -- Riley, 33, and 14-year-old twins Finley and Harper -- her mother Priscilla Presley and ex-husbands Danny Keough and Michael Lockwood will reportedly be among those gathering at Graceland for a private service before the public memorial. The public event will be live-streamed from Graceland on Jan. 22. Mourners will gather on the front lawn of the estate for the service, after which there will be a procession to view Lisa Marie's final resting place. The mansion, now a museum and popular tourist attraction, will be inherited by Lisa Marie's daughters following her passing. "Graceland was given to me and will always be mine," she said in a 2013 interview. "And then passed to my children. It will never be sold." Lisa Marie was the sole heir to her father's estate, which she assumed in 1980 following the icon's death in 1977. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Coroner announced that Lisa Marie's cause of death had not yet been determined following an initial autopsy examination. Her cause of death has been deferred, pending further tests. "Presley was examined on Jan. 14 and the cause of death was deferred," Sarah Ardalani, spokesperson with the LA County Dept. of Medical Examiner-Coroner, told CNN. "Deferred means that after an autopsy, a cause of death has not been determined and the medical examiner is requesting more investigation into the death, including additional studies. Once the tests/studies come back, the doctor evaluates the case again and makes the cause of death determination." The 54-year-old former pop singer died on Jan. 12 after being hospitalized earlier in the day following a report of a woman in full cardiac arrest at her home in Calabasas, Calif. - Billboard/NME, 1/18/23...... On Jan. 18, Joe Walsh announced that the proceeds from his sold-out November 2022 VetsAid benefit concert -- named after his non-profit -- would be going to help those who served. "Today I am thrilled to announce $650,000 disbursed in grants to our Ohio charity partners after VetsAid 2022," Walsh shared via Instagram, along with photos breaking down the distribution of funds from the concert's earnings. According to a press release, VetsAid divided the proceeds from the concert event -- which featured performances from Walsh and the James Gang, and special appearances from Dave Grohl, Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, The Breeders and the OSU Marching Band -- to establishments chosen by Walsh and the organization's board, including Save a Warrior, QL+ Foundation, Hire Heroes USA, Paralyzed Veterans of America's Buckeye Chapter, Semper Fi & America's Fund, Travis Manion Foundation and the National Veterans Memorial & Museum. Walsh says VetsAid is scheduled to return in 2023, and will be taking place in San Diego. - Billboard, 1/18/23...... Randy Newman has postponed his upcoming UK and European tour after undergoing neck surgery. The L.A.-based singer/songwriter was set to begin an overseas tour in February, but has confirmed that the tour will now not take place due to Newman's recovery time from surgery being longer than expected. The dates were first announced in 2019 and set for 2020, but then moved to 2022 due to Covid-19 restrictions before the neck surgery pushed them to 2023. No new dates have been revealed yet. "Recently, I noticed I was shrinking. People over whom I had towered now towered over me. Could this be payback for having written Short People?" Newman wrote in a Jan. 16 statement on Twitter. "Turns out, my neck was broken. They operated on me successfully, I think. For even now, I look less like an anteater and more like a folk rock artist from the early '60s. But the doctor said I'm not quite ready to tour. I was really looking forward to coming to Europe to perform. I miss performing a great deal and I look forward to a time when I can come. I'm sorry I won't see you this time but I will see you soon," he added. - NME, 1/17/23...... Billy Joel paid tribute to recently deceased guitar hero Jeff Beck during his show at New York's Madison Square Garden on Jan. 14, performing two covers -- "People Get Ready" and "You May Be Right/Going Down." Following Beck's Jan. 10 death, Joel took to Twitter and said: "I just heard the sad news that the great virtuoso guitarist, Jeff Beck, has died. He was one of my heroes. I was fortunate to meet him recently and I'm very grateful now that I was able to tell him how much I admired his musical skill. This is the end of an era." Then, at his MSG show, Joel performed two covers to honor Beck. "He was a musician that I always loved. He was the best. I couldn't let the night go by without doing something by Jeff," said Joel before launching into a rendition of 'People Get Ready', which was originally recorded by Beck and Rod Stewart for 1985's Flash. At the end of the show, after performing "Big Shot" and "You May Be Right," Joel played The Alabama State Troupers' "Going Down," which the Jeff Beck Group covered on their self-titled third album. The covers can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 1/15/23...... There's a story beyond Roberta Flack's monster hits ("The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly With His Song") about the classically trained, civil rights-battling star with that glorious voice. Roberta Flack, from PBS's American Masters series, features archive material and interviews (Jesse Jackson) which make that clear. American Masters: Roberta Flack premieres on PBS on Jan. 26 at 9/8 Central (check local listings at pbs.org). - TV Guide, 1/16/23...... Emmy- and Grammy-winning video director Bruce Gowers, who directed the seminal Queen video "Bohemian Rhapsody" and directed nine-plus seasons of American Idol, died on Jan. 15 of complications from an acute respiratory infection in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 82. Mr. Gowers called the shots for 234 episodes of American Idol from 2002-11, from the first season to the 10th, and won his Emmy for outstanding directing for a variety, music or comedy series in 2009. His Grammy trophy came in 1986 for his work on the music video for Huey Lewis and the News' "Heart of Rock and Roll." Eight years later, he received a DGA award for helming the CBS special Genius: A Night for Ray Charles. Along the way, he directed comedy specials from Richard Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy and Paula Poundstone and music specials from Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. The New Kilbride, Scotland native's touch on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," filmed at Elstree Studios in London in Nov.1975 in about three hours for the BBC's Top of the Pops, helped Freddie Mercury and his mates find superstardom and proved to be a defining moment in the history of the music video business. It was the first music video ever aired by the influential Top of the Pops, and he said he got $590 for the gig. "It changed the way music was perceived; everyone was doing videos and bands were seeing their sales and chart positions rise if their videos were good," he told the Daily Mail in 2018. "The only thing that upsets me is that they have been using my video for 40 years, and they have never paid me a dime or said thank you." Mr. Gowers also directed music videos for Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Prince, John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Rush, The Bee Gees, Supertramp, Journey and The Tubes, among others. For the past 23 years, he and his wife Carol Rosenstein resided in Malibu. - The Hollywood Reporter, 1/18/23.