Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on September 19th, 2023

Although Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang Van Halen performed several Van Halen classics at 2022's tribute concert in honor of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, Wolfgang says covering VH classics is something he doesn't intend on doing in the future. "It was wonderful. It was the exception where it was like, this would be the time to do it," Wolfgang recently told Fozzy singer Chris Jericho on his Talk Is Jericho podcast. "Taylor was such a huge fan and to get my own satisfaction of doing a direct Van Halen tribute for dad, it felt like the right thing to do in that moment. I'm really proud of it." Wolfgang then explained why that occasion was the exception to his usual rule, where he doesn't incorporate his father's songs into his own performances. "I'm happy to be able to prove myself. The important key distinction is that I'm not doing what my dad did, I'm my own person, I'm my own musician it's why I don't play any Van Halen music or have a plan to play Van Halen music during my sets." He continued: "Even my dad hated doing covers back in the day, his quote resonates with me all the time where he says 'I'd rather bomb with my own music than succeed with somebody else's', and that's exactly how I feel about playing Van Halen music. I'd much rather fail on my own than succeed heartlessly by playing 'Panama'." Wolfgang, who currently leads the band Mammoth WVH, has previously faced scrutiny from detractors for supposedly failing to honor his father by not playing his songs live. - New Musical Express, 9/17/23...... On Sept. 17 Neil Young announced on X/Twitter he'll be releasing a 50th anniversary reissue of his classic 1973 LP Time Fades Away on Nov. 3. In addition to Time Fades Away's original eight songs, the new anniversary release will also include the bonus song "The Last Trip to Tulsa," which was originally released in Nov. 1973 as the B-side to the album's single, which was the title track. It also appeared on 2020's Neil Young Archives Vol. 2: 1972-1976. The album can be pre-ordered at Young's Neil Young Archives website, and it will also be available at "music retailers everywhere" upon release according to the website. Purchases made through his website will come with a high-resolution digital download of the album. In June, Young kicked off his first tour since 2019, playing a series of solo acoustic dates on the west coast in his first run of headline gigs since pre-pandemic. Earlier in the year, he reunited with his CSN&Y bandmate Stephen Stills at a show in Los Angeles and performed at Willie Nelson's 90th birthday party alongside Snoop Dogg, Beck and more. - NME, 9/17/23...... Dolly Parton has revealed to BBC Radio2 that Elvis Presley loved her oft-covered ballad "I Will Always Love You" and wanted to record it, but couldn't reach an agreement with Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker. "'I wouldn't let Colonel Tom Parker [have the rights to the song]," Parton said. "Elvis loved it. I talked to Priscilla [Presley] not very long ago, she said, 'Elvis sang it to me when we were on the courthouse steps after we got divorced.' He loved the song and wanted to do it. Had it worked up. They'd already called me to come down to the studio and to hear part of the song." However, the night before, Dolly said Parker called her and said he wouldn't do anything with Presley unless he had the publishing rights, and when Parton refused to give up the copyright for the song, he said he couldn't agree to her terms. "I Will Always Love You" reached new levels of popularity when Whitney Houston recorded her own version in 1992 for the film The Bodyguard. Parton is currently gearing up to release her 49th solo album, Rockstar, which will be released on Nov. 17 and will feature nine original songs and 21 covers of rock classics by such acts as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Heart and Prince. - NME, 9/17/23...... Former members of the Sex Pistols have signed a new global publishing deal with BMG Music, which includes Steve Jones, Paul Cook and the estate of Sid Vicious' portion of credit for the legendary punk band's entire catalog. In a statement, BMG said: "Sex Pistols are among the most important and recognizable rock bands in history, and their legacy is felt across fashion, art and society." The company's VP in music publishing, Michael Howe, added: "Steve, Paul, and Sid's works with Sex Pistols are among the most important cultural and creative music of the last half-century. Their impact on society and the performing arts is orders of magnitude greater than the group's incredibly brief lifespan and recorded output would suggest. The band's influence resonates as deeply today as it did in 1977." The news of the deal comes after former frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) distanced himself from the Sex Pistols after accusing them of aiming to "cash in" on Queen Elizabeth II's death, accusing the other three and their management of approving a number of requests against his wishes "on the basis of the majority court-ruling agreement." - NME, 9/15/23...... In a new interview with the UK paper The Guardian, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons said he feels "immortal" as long as his "schmeckle works." Simmons also opened up about his previous claim that he has slept with over 4,000 women across his 50-year-long career, and admitted that he is "guilty as charged" when it comes to being motivated by sex. "Listen. Men are idiots," Simmons said. "There isn't enough blood to power two heads at once, so a lot of really stupid decisions can get made when that little head takes over." When you're a woman and you see a man, and he's big and he's got a hairy chest and he's good-looking, and you see that, what you're seeing is a mirage. That's actually a 14-year-old horny kid. Just still young, dumb and full of cum. We can't even think straight when we see you. I don't say this as a defence, because I stand guilty as charged of everything." He continued, likening the feeling to that of KISS' impressive number live shows over the years, adding that as long as his "schmeckle works," he would be willing to have the band play forever as it makes him "feel immortal." Simmons, 74, also opened up about his relationship with his co-founding KISS bandmate Paul Stanley, comparing it to the mutually beneficial relationship of Beatles members John Lennon and Paul McCartney. "Paul's like the brother I never had," Simmons said. "I wouldn't have been able to do anything on the level that I've been able to do on my own without Paul. And I'd like to think it's the same the other way around. You can't do it all yourself, you're just not as good. The biggest ever influence on me was the Beatles, and clearly Lennon and McCartney were so much better together than when they each went solo Having someone around who's questioning and taking things apart is what really makes things better." KISS are currently in the midst of their final final scheduled performances of their ongoing farewell tour. The tour is set to wrap with a final ever performance in Madison Square Garden, New York, in December. The location was chosen as it is close to where the band first formed in 1973. - NME, 9/15/23...... Micky Dolenz of the legendary '60s pop group The Monkees has announced he will be releasing an EP of R.E.M covers, including a version of "Shiny Happy People." Dolenz, the sole surviving member of The Monkees, says the four-track EP will be titled Dolenz Sings R.E.M and in addition to "Shiny Happy People" will feature "Radio Free Europe," "Man on the Moon" and "Leaving New York." According to an interview with Rolling Stone, the project came about as a result of a conversation Dolenz had with 7A Records co-owner Glenn Gretlund. "I was talking to Glenn about what to do next. The band R.E.M. came up. I went, 'Wow, that's very cool.' I'm a big fan And I've heard through the grapevine that the band were fans of The Monkees. I found that incredibly flattering," Dolenz said. R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe shared his excitement for Dolenz's covers EP, telling the magazine, "These songs are absolutely incredible. Micky Dolenz covering R.E.M. Monkees style, I have died and gone to heaven." Dolenz Sings R.E.M is set for release on Nov. 3 via 7A Records. It will be available on a special yellow vinyl pressing. Elsewhere, Dolenz has embarked on a handful of tour dates to honor his late bandmates. He'll play The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, and play select dates in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in October. - NME, 9/14/23...... The New York Post's Page Six column is reporting that Cher and her recent ex-boyfriend Alexander "AE" Edwards have apparently rekindled their romance, which began back in Nov. 2022 after they were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles and made their red carpet debut as a couple at a Versace fashion show in March. Cher, 77, and the music exec, 37, were photographed holding hands on Sept. 15 as they left Funke restaurant in Beverly Hills, Calif. after dinner with Colombian singer J Balvin and his girlfriend Valentina Ferrer. Alexander reportedly held open the car door for Cher and simply beamed when asked by paparazzi if they were back together. Once they were both inside the vehicle, they could reportedly be seen laughing and chatting with their heads close together. They made their red carpet debut as a couple at a Versace fashion show in March, however two months later TMZ.com reported that they had broken up "a couple weeks ago." During their relationship, the couple had hinted that they were engaged, however, a source told the celebrity gossip outlet for the split report that they were not. - Music-News.com, 9/18/23...... That 70's Show star Ashton Kutcher is stepping back from his leadership role at Thorn, the anti-human trafficking organization co-founded by the actor, after he and his wife/actress Mila Kunis made a character statement on behalf of That 70's Show cast member Danny Masterson, who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted on two of three forcible rape charges this past May. Kutcher resigned as Thorn board chair in a letter to the board published to the organization's website on Sept. 15. The letter cited Kutcher and partner Kunis' character letter for convicted rapist and fellow That '70s Show star Danny Masterson. "After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning, and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as Chairman of the Board, effectively immediately. I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve," Kutcher wrote. The actor, who founded the organization with fellow actor and ex-wife Demi Moore, noted despite his more than a decade and a half of work focused on supporting sexually exploited people globally, his letter in support of Masterson was another form of the historical silencing of the victims whom the organization fights for. "Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences. This is precisely what we have all worked to reverse over the last decade," he said. "The mission must always be the priority, and I want to offer my heartfelt apology to all victims of sexual violence and everyone at Thorn who I hurt by what I did. And to the broader advocacy community, I am deeply sorry." Earlier in September, Kutcher and Kunis published a joint video apology to their Instagram after their character references requesting sentencing leniency for Masterson -- who is facing a minimum of 30 years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of rape -- were publicized. - The Hollywood Reporter, 9/15/23...... Rolling Stone magazine and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame co-founder Jann Wenner was removed from the Rock Hall's board of directors on Sept. 16 after making comments that were seen as disparaging toward Black and female musicians. Wenner created a firestorm doing publicity for his new book The Masters, which features interviews with musicians Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend and U2's Bono -- all white and male. Asked by The New York Times why he didn't interview women or Black musicians, Wenner responded: "It's not that they're inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest. You know, Joni (Mitchell) was not a philosopher of rock 'n' roll. She didn't, in my mind, meet that test," he told the paper. "Of Black artists -- you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I suppose when you use a word as broad as 'masters,' the fault is using that word. Maybe Marvin Gaye, or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn't articulate at that level," Wenner said. Late the same evening, Wenner apologized through his publisher, Little, Brown and Company, saying: "In my interview with The New York Times I made comments that diminished the contributions, genius and impact of Black and women artists and I apologize wholeheartedly for those remarks." He added: "I totally understand the inflammatory nature and badly chosen words and deeply apologize and accept the consequences." Wenner reportedly was given a final chance to explain himself to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation during an emergency conference call before he was voted off the organization's board of directors. With the board's high-profile music industry executives dialing in, Wenner made a "self-serving and poorly articulated attempt to explain himself," according to a source. Wenner co-founded Rolling Stone in 1967 and served as its editor or editorial director until 2019. He also co-founded the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which was launched in 1987. - AP, 9/16/23.

On Sept. 14 the Rolling Stones announced the full track list for their upcoming album Hackney Diamonds. The 12-track LP includes the previously announced collaboration with Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, "Sweet Sound of Heaven," alongside "Bite My Head Off," with bass from Paul McCartney and "Get Close" and "Live By the Sword," which have piano from Elton John. Hackney Diamonds, the Stones' first new studio album or original material in 18 years, is due out on Oct. 20. The album -- which ends with the first-ever original song to include a nod to the band's name ("Rolling Stone Blues") -- was recorded all around the world, in Los Angeles, London, New York City and Nassau, Bahamas. Meanwhile, frontman Mick Jagger has revealed the band is already at work on the follow-up to Hackney Diamonds. In an interview with The New York Times, Jagger said that he doesn't think the new album will be "the last Rolling Stones album," before confirming that a follow-up is currently in the works. "We've got almost three-quarters through the next one," he said. The Stones' most recent album came in the form of a blues covers LP, Blue & Lonesome, in 2016. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 9/14/23...... A "Dead Ahead Festival" celebrating the Grateful Dead songbook with two nights of curated collaborations has been set for the Moon Palace Resort in Riviera Cancún, Mexico, from Jan. 12-15, 2024. Grateful Dead alumni Bobby Weir and Mickey Hart will perform at the fest, as well as frequent The Dead collaborators Jeff Chimenti, Oteil Burbridge, Don Was, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedesch and special guest Sturgill Simpson. Dead Ahead will also feature daytime pool parties, curated activities throughout the resort and nightly concerts on the beach. Guests are encouraged to flex their weekend with tours of the Yucatan Peninsula's natural beauty and rich Mayan culture through various off-site adventures. The event was announced on DeadAheadFest's Instagram page, and more info can be found at deadaheadfestival.com. - Billboard, 9/13/23...... Speaking on the premiere edition of his The Osbournes Podcast on Sept. 12, Ozzy Osbourne revealed he's preparing to undergo further surgery due to injuries he sustained in previous accidents. In 2019 Osbourne suffered a fall which dislodged metal rods that were put into his body after a quad bike crash in 2003. The former Black Sabbath frontman is also living with Parkinson's, having been diagnosed with the disease in early 2020. On the podcast, he said that he's set to have his fourth significant surgery related to his structural damage. "My lower back is I'm going for an epidural soon because what they've discovered is the neck has been fixed. Below the neck there's two vertebrae where the bike hit me and disintegrated, there's nothing left of 'em," he explained. "All I know is right now is right now I'm in a lot of pain. I'm in a lot of discomfort." Ozzy's full podcast conversation with wife Sharon Osbourne, daughter Kelly Osbourne, and others has been shared on YouTube. - NME, 12/13/23...... The newly formed Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) has announced its inaugural class will include Gordon Lightfoot, who died on May 1, and John Prine, who died in 2020. The first induction ceremony for recipients and their families will take place in Apr. 2024. Living and deceased artists, songwriters, record executives, managers and concert promoters tied to elevating folk, Americana and roots music were all eligible. The inaugural class of 29 was selected by a designated nomination committee that includes industry experts as well as FARHOF's board of directors. The class consists of 10 solo living artists (which includes the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and James Taylor), 11 solo legacy artists (including Lightfoot, Prine, Pete Seeger, Richie Havens and Johnny Cash, all of whom are deceased, though the rules don't stipulate that), four groups or duos (including Peter, Paul & Mary, The Band and The Byrds in addition to The Weavers), three non-performers and one recipient of the Paul Robeson Artist/Activist Award. The Folk America Roots Hall of Fame, which launched in 2019, is a cultural and education initiative of the Boch Center, which is located inside the Wang Theatre in Boston. - Billboard, 9/13/23...... In related news, the Americana Honors & Awards announced its lifetime achievement, trailblazer and legacy award honorees for its 22nd Annual Americana Honors & Awards show, set for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. on Sept. 20. The nominees are Charley Crockett's "I'm Just a Clown," Bonnie Raitt's "Just Like That," Zach Bryan's "Something in the Orange," Allison Russell featuring Brandi Carlile's "You're Not Alone," and Margo Price's "Change of Heart." Every year, the Americana Music Association announces six member-voted annual awards and lifetime achievement awards including the Legacy of Americana Award, co-presented with the National Museum of African American Music. - Billboard, 9/8/23...... Atlantic Records has announced it will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a multi-pronged, year-long campaign that celebrates some of its most iconic titles on vinyl. Already started is the release of 90 classic titles, many on crystal clear, colored or recycled vinyl, curated by Atlantic Records chairman/CEO and noted audiophile Craig Kallman. Titles include Yes' Fragile, Dusty Springfield's Dusty in Memphis, Phil Collins' No Jacket Required, Hootie & the Blowfish's Cracked Rear View and Crosby, Stills & Nash's self-titled album. Kallman says he began working on the project, which is running in conjunction with Rhino Entertainment, a number of years ago, printing out spreadsheets highlighting every significant title of the past 75 years. "It was stacks of paper making sure we didn't miss anybody. It was painstakingly done. There was a lot of internal debating," he says. While titles started rolling out a few months ago, forthcoming releases include Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams, on Oct. 20 and Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV on Oct. 27. The collection includes a number of titles that have been out of print, as well as releases that have never come out on vinyl. All releases are tagged with a 75th-anniversary logo. The anniversary also includes a coffee table book from luxury art book publisher Taschen, which is expected to come out in 2024. "That's been a labor of love," Kallman says. "We're excited to have a fitting chronicle of the history of the company with extraordinary photos and great essays." - Billboard, 9/12/23...... Paul Simon participated in a Q&A session at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on Sept. 10 after the premiere of the new Simon career-spanning documentary, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. After a three-and-a-half-hour documentary on his life, Paul Simon had only sympathy for the audience. "You're probably exhausted," he told the crowd. The 81-year-old Simon, himself, hadn't watched the film before its debut, and he didn't watch it on Sept. 10, either. "I'll get up the courage to see it, no doubt," he promised. The film, which is seeking distribution at TIFF, is an expansive look at the Grammy-winning musician's decades-spanning career, from growing up in Queens, N.Y., with Art Garfunkel to the success of Graceland, the sensational 1986 album he made with South African musicians. In Restless Dreams, which takes its name from a lyric in "The Sound of Silence" ("In restless dreams I walked alone"), also intimately captures Simon painstakingly assembling his latest album, Seven Psalms, which was released in May. Simon added that he wished some of his earlier recording sessions had been filmed, like those for 1970's Bridge Over Troubled Water or Graceland. In Restless Dreams does include some rare footage, including 16mm dailies from the making of the 1969 documentary Songs of America and early rehearsals of Graceland. After some prodding, Simon acknowledged that he is still making music and recently wrote a new song. He says ideas are also still coming to him at night, too. "The other night I dreamed again," he said, to applause. "I dreamed it would be a good idea if I wrote a song called 'It's What's His Name.'" - AP, 9/12/23...... Also appearing at the Toronto International Film Festival, on Sept. 11, were members of the legendary New Wave band Talking Heads, who made their first public appearance together in over 20 years at the event. The long-awaited reunion of David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison was staged in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the band's legendary concert film, Stop Making Sense (1984). The quartet were joined by moderator Spike Lee (who produced and directed Byrne's American Uptopia) for a brief Q&A following the debut screening of A24's 4K restoration of the movie. It's so good to be here with my bandmates tonight," said Frantz. "It's been a long time." All four members reportedly sat in separate rows to watch the screening, but claimed "[no] tensions were on display." Despite prior speculation, Talking Heads did not perform acoustically or mention their tumultuous break-up. They instead spoke mainly about Stop Making Sense, which Lee described as "the greatest concert film ever." Byrne explained: "When I was watching this just now, I was thinking, 'This is why we come to the movie theaters'. This is different than watching it on my laptop -- this is really different." Later, Harrison touched on "the lasting power of the film" and how Talking Heads were "having so much fun onstage" while recording the show. "[There is] love and fun, and the audience is brought right into it," he said. "Every time anybody watches it, it brings back that wonderful emotion." Talking Heads' full Q&A at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival has been shared on YouTube. - NME, 9/12/23...... Aerosmith's North America farewell tour has been postponed temporarily after frontman Steven Tyler suffered an injury to his vocal cords, Tyler posted on social media on Sept. 12. "I'm heartbroken to say I have received strict doctor's orders not to sing for the next thirty days," Tyler says. "I sustained vocal cord damage during Saturday's show that led to subsequent bleeding. We'll need to postpone a few dates so that we can come back and give you the performance you deserve." Concerts set for Detroit, Chicago, Washington, Toronto, Raleigh and Cleveland have been pushed back so far, to late January and February, and all previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates, reads a statement from the band. Refunds will be available for those unable to attend, and anyone with questions regarding refunds are asked to contact the point of purchase. Live Nation is producing Aerosmith's final North American trek, which is scheduled to run through Jan. 2024. "It's not goodbye it's PEACE OUT! Get ready and walk this way, you're going to get the best show of our lives," read a statement announcing the tour. "Every night will celebrate the five decades of Aerosmith's groundbreaking hits as they celebrate 50 years as America's greatest rock band." - Billboard, 9/12/23...... The late Jimmy Buffett's signature song "Margaritaville" has returned to the Billboard Hot 100 in the Top 40 after his death on Sept. 1 at age 76. "Margaritaville" re-entered at No. 38 on the Sept. 16-dated ranking. It reached No. 8 in July 1977, and had last appeared on the chart dated Aug. 27, 1977. Meanwhile, Buffett also posthumously boasts the week's top-selling song with the single, as well as the top-selling album, Songs You Know By Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit(s). "Margaritaville" contributes to Buffett's big week on multiple Billboard charts, as fans flocked to his trademark feel-good sound following his death. In the Sept. 1-7 tracking week, his song catalog surged by 1,476% to 78.6 million official on-demand streams and 7,022% to 103,000 paid downloads in the U.S., according to Luminate. His albums collectively soared by 2,378% to 109,000 equivalent album units in that span. Further, his all-format radio airplay audience bounded by 338% to 21.2 million. Jane Slagsvol, Jimmy's wife, shared a letter on Sept. 9 on Buffett's official website filled with gratitude for those who surrounded the pair and showed support throughout Buffett's illness and career. The "Come Monday" singer/songwriter died at age 76 at his home in Sag Harbor on Long Island, N.Y., on Sept. 1 from skin cancer. "Jimmy was love," she wrote in tribute to her late husband. "Every cell in his body was filled with joy. He smiled all the time, even when he was deeply ill. And his sense of humor never wavered. Jimmy was always the optimist, always twinkling, always making us laugh." She added: "One of the last songs Jimmy recorded was 'Bubbles Up.' He sings, 'Just know that you are loved, there is light up above, and the joy is always enough. Bubbles up.' Jimmy knew he was loved. Right until the end, he looked for the light." The official "Bubbles Up" lyrics video can be viewed on YouTube. Slagsvol also published two personal photos of the couple, who married in 1977 and shared three children together. Buffett, who was signed to Sun Records before his death, will have his final album, Equal Strain on All Parts, released later this year on Nov. 3. The album contains a total of 14 tracks and includes features from Emmylou Harris, Lennie Gallant, Angelique Kidjo, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Paul McCartney -- the latter of whom remarked on two of the album's tracks, "Bubbles Up" and "My Gummie Just Kicked In" (both released on Friday, Sept. 8) in his Sept. 2 tribute message to Buffett. - Billboard, 9/11/23...... AC/DC have confirmed their line-up for their upcoming gig at Power Trip festival, their first performance in seven years. Across three days at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. -- the venue for Coachella -- the Aussie hard rockers will play alongside Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool on Oct. 6, 7 and 8. At the show, the band's bassist Cliff Williams will come out of retirement, while drummer Phil Rudd will be replaced my Matt Laug. Rudd had been replaced by the band in 2014, before rejoining for 2020 album Power Up. Williams, meanwhile, retired following the band's "Rock Or Bust" world tour. Brian Johnson also returns on vocals after being replaced by Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose on their last tour, and Angus and Steve Young will be on guitar. In audio from their rehearsals posted to X/Twitter, the band wrote: "PWR UP for Power Trip! Listen to the rehearsal of the boys powering up with Cliff Williams, who's coming out of retirement for the festival and Matt Laug on drums." - NME, 9/10/23...... On Sept. 11 Cher announced her very first Christmas album, Are You Spending Christmas With Me?, will be ready for Christmas 2023 with a pair of recent Instagram posts. "It's a Cher Christmas album. It's not your mother's Christmas album," Cher teased on Good Morning Britain in the UK a few days earlier, adding that she is "really, really excited because there's millions of people on it, and I've never had duets. I've never had people on any of my records." The diva kept mum about exactly who will be featured on the album since the collaborations were a "last-minute thing," but did say the artist features are "special." - Billboard, 9/11/23...... Also getting into the holiday spirit in 2023 is Billy Joel, who has announced a special New Year's Eve concert on Dec. 31 at the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. This will not only mark the "Piano Man" singer's debut performance at the arena, but will be his first show back on Long Island since 2018. Joel's official Instagram account made the announcement on Sept. 7 with a photo of the outside of the arena followed by the show date. "Kicking off the New Year with a bang! Long Island's very own Billy Joel is returning to his roots for an unforgettable New Year's Eve at UBS Arena at Belmont Park on December 31, 2023!," the caption said. - Billboard, 9/11/23...... Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor have announced the line-up of their "official tribute band" Queen Extravaganza and announced a run of tour dates for 2024. Queen Extravaganza has been touring together for over a decade and features a line-up that was hand-picked by May and Taylor to perform their music. May and Taylor have now confirmed that the line-up for next year's tour, which gets underway in Wolverhampton, UK on Feb. 26 and runs through a Mar. 21 date in Belfast, includes Nick Radcliffe on guitar, Franois-Olivier Doyon on bass, George Farrar on drums and Alirio Netto and Gareth Taylor on vocals. - NME, 9/11/23...... An exclusive clip from the upcoming Marc Bolan & T. Rex documentary AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex has been shared by New Musical Express. In the clip, Bolan is seen rehearsing the track "The Children Of Rarn," pulled from T. Rex's 1970 self-titled album. He later talks about the impact of musicians Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix in archival interview footage. AngelHeaded Hipster arrives in UK cinemas for one night only on Sept. 14. It will be released widely on Sept. 22 and on streaming services from Nov. 6, 2023. Bolan, who died in a car crash at the age of 29 in 1977, is survived by his son Rolan. In 2020, the musician was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of T. Rex, who originally formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1967. - NME, 9/8/23...... Legendary punk pioneers The Buzzcocks were added to the Music Walk Of Fame in Camden, UK on Sept. 8, where they joined other music icons on the Camden strip including David Bowie, The Who, Madness and Amy Winehouse. The celebration is designed to honour the huge impact the members have had on the industry since their formation in 1976. The ceremony took place in the London borough and featured the official unveiling, tributes and archive video footage. It was hosted by two high-profile Buzzcocks fans: Carl Bart of The Libertines and BBC Radio London presenter Gary Crowley, and concluded with an appearance from classic Buzzcocks line-up member Steve Diggle. "It's a great honour to be inducted into the Camden Walk Of Fame," the musician said of the milestone moment. "Camden has always been a magical musical inspiration - like Buzzcocks' music the two have walked the path of greatness." In 2024 Diggle and co. are set to release a 45th Anniversary Edition of their classic compilation Singles Going Steady via Domino Records. They are also currently underway with a new studio album, and Giggle is also set to release his perspective of the band's remarkable story with the release of his upcoming book Autonomy. On July 1, the Buzzcocks joined Iggy Pop's "Dog Day Afternoon" punk spectacular in London. The special one-day event also featured sets from Blondie, Generation Sex and Lambrini Girls. - NME, 9/7/23...... The buyer of the iconic The Brady Bunch house in North Hollywood, Calif., has called her purchase "the worst investment ever. Cable channel HGTV purchased the home in 2018 for $3.5 million after outbidding musician Lance Bass. The outside of the house had been used for exterior shots famously used on the '70s ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch (1969-1974), but all inside shots were filmed on a soundstage. For that reason, the actual house's interior did not match what viewers saw on television. HGTV used that to its advantage. It created the special series, A Very Brady Renovation, starring several HGTV stars and former Brady Bunch cast members involved in renovating the space. It was the cast's first time reuniting in more than 15 years. The home was listed for sale in May for $5.5 million. It sold to Tina Trahan, 53, for $3.2 million, representing a 9% loss for the property, not counting the renovation costs. Before HGTV bought it, the same family lived there for 50 years, according to People. Trahan, who is married to former HBO chief executive Chris Albrecht, described the purchase as "the worst investment ever" despite her nostalgia. "Nobody is going to live in it," she told WSJ. "It's almost like a life-size dollhouse." Adds listing agent Danny Brown: "There's no normal average family that could move in there and live in it, so it was almost like you were selling a fixer. What am I going to compare it to, the Freddy Krueger house on Elm Street or the Home Alone house?" - AP, 9/12/23...... Mylon LeFevre, the founding member of Mylon and Broken Heart whose 1987 album Crack the Sky earned him a Grammy award for best gospel performance by a duo, group, choir or chorus, died on Sept. 8 rom complications with cancer, his wife Christi LeFevre revealed in a statement posted to Facebook. He was 78. LeFevre was born into the southern gospel family group The LeFevres, and started singing and performing with them from an early age. The late musician's solo singing career formally kicked off at age 17, when he wrote his first song "Without Him." After singing the track at the National Quartet Convention in Memphis, Tenn. while in the army, LeFevre was noticed by Elvis Presley, who was impressed enough by the track that he later recorded it for his 1967 album, How Great Thou Art. LeFevre released his debut solo album, New Found Joy in 1964, and followed it up with Your Only Tomorrow in 1968. In the the 1970's and '80s, LeFevre recorded and performed with stars like The Who, Elton John, Geroge Harrison, Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, Berry Oakley, Little Richard and Billy Joel. In 1981, LeFevre formed Mylon and Broken Heart after stepping back from secular music; the band recorded 10 of Lefevre's 22 albums, and in 1988 received the rock album of the year GMA Dove Award for Crack the Sky. He was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in 2005. - Billboard, 9/13/23...... Actress Gayle Hunnicutt, whose best-known work came as Vanessa Beaumont, the mother of J.R. Ewing's illegitimate son, in the final three seasons of Dallas, died on Aug. 31 at a hospital in London, according to her ex-husband Simon Jenkins. She was 80 years old. Her TV career began with a role on the shortlived small-screen adaptation of Mister Roberts and included roles on The Beverly Hillbillies, Get Smart and in Marlowe opposite James Garner. In 1970, Ms. Hunnicutt met and later married David Hemmings, who himself was already a major star on the heels of Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow Up. The duo moved to England, where her career took off. They co-starred in two horror films, Fragment of Fear in 1970 and Voices in 1973. That same year, she played opposite Roddy McDowell in The Legend of Hell House. After divorcing Hemmings in 1975, Ms. Hunnicutt wed journalist Simon Jenkins in 1978. Jenkins was knighted for services to journalism in the 2004. The couple divorced in 2009. Throughout the '80s, she appeared on American TV staples such as Taxi, Matt Houston and Fantasy Island before she found her way into the final three seasons of the Texas-set juggernaut Dallas. - Deadline.com, 9/6/23.