Posted by Administrator on February 1, 2024
Billy Joel shared his first new lyrical single in nearly 20 years, "Turn the Lights Back On," on YouTube on Feb. 1. A wistful, swaying piano ballad, the song recalls the intimate conversation the Piano Man has been having with his fans for nearly six decades. "Nothing is different, we've been here before/ Pacing these halls, trying to talk/ Over the silence," Joel sings over his familiar, warm piano playing. And pride sticks out its tongue/ Laughs at the portrait/ That we've become/ Stuck in a frame, unable to change," he continues in lines that hint at grappling with accepting ourselves as we are. Produced by Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Freddy Wexler, the song was composed by Joel, Wexler, Arthur Bacon and Wayne Hector. The 74-year-old pop legend will perform the song live for the first time during the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 4, which will air live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. EST. Joel's last pop effort was 2007's "All My Life," which he wrote with his then-wife, Katie Lee; the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. - Billboard, 2/1/24...... 
Due to "overwhelming demand," Joni Mitchell has added a second show the following evening to her previously announced concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 19. Marking the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter's first shows in Los Angeles since 2000, the "Joni Jam" will also feature Mitchell's longtime fan and friend Brandi Carlile on the Oct. 19 and 20 dates. The latest concert announcement for Mitchell, 80, comes ahead of her performance at the Grammys in L.A. on Feb. 4, a first for the singer who won the first of nine competitive Grammys in 1970 and, in 2002, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy. Mitchell is nominated in the best folk album category for her Joni Mitchell at Newport album, which captures her surprise 2022 performance at the Newport Folk Festival, her first public performance following an aneurysm suffered in 2015. It was her first full public concert since the turn of the century. In June 2023, another Joni Jam happened in Quincy, Wash. with special guests Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Marcus Mumford and Wynonna Judd, among others. It was her first ticketed show in 20 years. January marked the 50th anniversary of Mitchell's seminal 1974 LP Court and Spark, a critical and commercial success which is still winning over new fans and influencing new generations of artists. - Billboard, 1/31/24...... Guitars owned and used by former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler have sold for over a staggering £8 million at a Christie's auction in London, which was much higher than had been estimated. More than 120 of Knopfler's guitars and amps -- including the 1983 Gibson Les Paul used to record "Money For Nothing" and "Brothers In Arms," which was also played at the iconic Live Aid concert in 1985 -- were sold on Jan. 31 with 25% of the proceeds being donated to various charities, including the Red Cross, wildlife advocates Tusk, and children's non-profit, Brave Hearts of the North East. The sale attracted bidders and buyers form 61 countries, with a final total including buyer's premium, confirmed at £8,840,160. Knopfler was able to set a new auction record with his 1959 Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard which was sold for £693,000, making it the highest sale for that specific guitar model. "I am so pleased that these much-loved instruments will find new players and new songs as well as raising money for charities that mean a lot to me," Knopfler said of the auction. "It has been heart-warming to witness how much these guitars mean to so many people and I am also pleased that they will continue to give joy to many through the songs recorded over the years with me," he added. Formed in 1977, Dire Straits briefly split in 1988 before reforming to release one more studio album, 1991's On Every Street. They permanently disbanded in 1995, after a total of six records. Knopfler then pursued a solo career, where he experimented with folk and roots music in albums including 2004's Shangri-La and 2006's All The Roadrunning, a duets album with Emmylou Harris. He is currently working on his tenth solo album. - New Musical Express, 2/1/24...... 
They're "Back (and Back and Back and Back) in Black." AC/DC's music video for the title track of their 1980 album has become the Aussie headbangers' second visual to reach one billion views on YouTube, following their hit "Thunderstruck." In the video, the group performs the high-energy hit on a small stage, as new frontman Brian Johnson belts out, "Back in black / I hit the sack / I've been too long, I'm glad to be back." Back in Black is AC/DC's biggest-selling LP, in which they re-teamed with Highway to Hell producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange in the Bahamas to pick up the pieces, just months after frontman Bon Scott died Feb. 19, 1980 at the age of 33. - Billboard, 1/31/24...... A federal judge ruled on Jan. 31 that a tribute band sued by Earth, Wind & Fire for trademark infringement can continue to try to prove its bold counterargument: That the legendary R&B group abandoned the intellectual property rights to its name. Faced with a lawsuit for using the name "Earth Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion" at concerts, the tribute band first argued in 2023 that the original group had allowed plenty of other tribute bands to use its name without repercussion -- so many, in fact, that it could no longer claim any exclusive legal rights to it. Lawyers for EWF have called that argument meritless and demanded that it be dismissed, but in his decision, Judge Federico A. Moreno refused to do so. Though he said EWF Legacy Reunion might ultimately find it "difficult" to prove that "abandonment" argument, he said they had "done enough" to avoid having it tossed out entirely in the early stages of the case. EWF has continued to tour since founder Maurice White died in 2016, led by longtime members Philip Bailey, Ralph Johnson and White's brother, Verdine White. The band operates under a license from an entity called Earth Wind & Fire IP, a holding company owned by Maurice White's sons that formally owns the name. In a March 2023 lawsuit, that company accused Legacy Reunion of trying to trick consumers into thinking it was the real EWF. Though it called itself a "Reunion," the lawsuit said the tribute band contained only a few "side musicians" who briefly played with EWF many years ago. Tribute acts -- groups that exclusively cover the music of a particular band -- are legally allowed to operate, and they often adopt names that allude to the original. But they must be clear that they are a tribute band, and they can get into legal hot water if they make it appear that they are affiliated with or endorsed by the original. In 2021, ABBA filed a similar case against a what it called a "parasitic" band called ABBA Mania. - Billboard, 1/31/24...... The premium cable channel Showtime was sued in Delaware court on Jan. 31, claiming their 2022 George Jones and Tammy Wynette series George & Tammy unfairly portrays Wynette's final spouse George Richey as "a devious husband" who abused and manipulated her. "The series depicts Richey as a devious husband who abused Wynette and Richey's prior wife, facilitated and encouraged Wynette's addiction to prescription painkillers, and engaged in financial and managerial manipulation of Wynette," write attorneys for Richey's widow, Sheila Slaughter Richey. The case is not a defamation lawsuit, but actually accuses Showtime of violating a 2019 settlement agreement that allegedly barred Wynette's daughter, Georgette Jones, from making disparaging statements about Richey. Since George & Tammy was based on Georgette's 2011 memoir about her parents, the lawsuit claims that Showtime committed so-called tortious interference with contract -- meaning the network essentially encouraged Georgette to breach her settlement with Richey's estate. "The defendant [was] specifically told, in a written letter delivered prior to the broadcast of the Series, that the Series was based on and featured disparaging information that was the ill-gotten product of Georgette's violation of the agreement," the estate's lawyers wrote. "Nonetheless, Showtime chose to broadcast the Series anyway." A Showtime spokesperson has denied the lawsuit's allegations, saying "We see no plausible basis for any claim against Showtime." Released in Dec. 2022, George & Tammy was well-received by critics -- particularly Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain's respective portrayals of Jones and Wynette. Both were later nominated for Emmy Awards for their performances. The six-episode limited series was based on The Three of Us: Growing Up with Tammy and George, Georgette Jones' 2011 memoir, and she's listed in credits as a "consulting producer" on the series. - Billboard, 1/31/24...... 
In other legal news, a long-simmering feud between the families of Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone has erupted into a new lawsuit over a proposed Netflix biopic about the legendary NY punk band. Joey and Johnny Ramone -- who were very much not actual brothers -- didn't like each other much in life, and it appears their heirs don't like each other much either. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan court, Johnny's widow, Linda Ramone, sued Joey's brother, Mickey Leigh, over allegations that he had "covertly" developed a planned Netflix movie starring Pete Davidson as Joey. She says that any movie based on the pioneering punk band requires her sign-off. "To permit defendants alone to tell the authoritative story of the Ramones would be an injustice to the band and its legacy," Linda's lawyers wrote. The case is the latest in years of battles between Linda and Mickey, who split 50-50 ownership of the Ramones IP. And it raises interesting legal questions about so-called life rights deals -- and how they raise unique challenges in the context of musical biopics. - Billboard, 1/30/24...... Elsewhere on the legal front, a London judge has issued a ruling that the heirs of Jimi Hendrix's former bandmates could continue to sue Sony Music over the rights to three classic albums, clearing the way for a trial next year to resolve the contentious lawsuit. The estates of bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell say they own a share of the rights to three albums created by the trio's Jimi Hendrix Experience, and they've been battling in court for more than two years to prove it. Sony had argued that the case should be dismissed because Redding and Mitchell both signed away their rights in the early 1970s shortly after Hendrix died, but a judge on London's High Court ruled on Jan. 29 that the dispute -- over "arguably the greatest rock guitarist ever" -- must be decided at trial. "My overall conclusion is that the claims in respect of copyright and performers' property rights survive and should go to trial," Justice Michael Green wrote in his ruling, obtained by Billboard. The judge wrote that Redding and Mitchell's heirs had "a real prospect of succeeding" on their argument that the decades-old releases "do not provide a complete defence" for Sony. It's unclear when the trial will take place. - Billboard, 1/29/24...... The Grateful Dead spin-off band Dead & Company announced on Jan. 31 it was reuniting for a Las Vegas residency at the Sphere. "In 2023, Dead & Company played their final tour. But there are other ways to make sure the music never stops," the Instagram video begins as audio of screaming fans can be heard. "And it's gonna be a ball." As music kicks in, a nighttime view of the Sphere appears with the band's red, white and blue skull logo slowly appearing on the side of the massive, 20,000 capacity state-of-the art venue. Dead & Company -- comprised of original GD members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, as well as John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge -- formed in 2015. (Bill Kreutzmann was originally part of the band as well, but exited in 2023, before the band kicked off its last trek.) Its "final tour" in 2023 grossed nearly $115 million, and sold nearly 850,000 tickets across 28 shows. That made the trek the supergroup's highest tour gross, with its previous best being the $53.7 million earned during the Fall Tour 2021. U2 opened up Las Vegas' Sphere in Sept. 2023 with its "U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere" show. - Billboard, 1/31/24...... A Talking Heads tribute album has been announced by A24 Music in commemoration of the 40-year anniversary of the New York New Wave quartet's Stop Making Sense concert film and accompanying soundtrack. The tribute album's track list mirrors that of the original LP, with fresh, new takes on the 16 tracks from a genre-spanning array of artists including Paramore, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, The National, Teezo Touchdown, Kevin Abstract and Jean Dawson, among others. The new compilation specifically celebrates the recent re-release of Stop Making Sense to theaters nationwide. Originally filmed and released in 1984, the acclaimed Jonathan Demme-helmed concert film chronicles four nights of performances on the band's 1983 tour in support of their Speaking in Tongues album, which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 200 that year. A sneak peak of Paramore's blazing "Burning the House Down" cover can be viewed on Spotify.com. - Billboard, 1/31/24...... 
Beach Boys principal Brian Wilson is mourning the death of his longtime wife Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who has died aged 77. Wilson took to Instagram on Jan. 30 to share the devastating news, alongside two photos of his wife. "My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning," he wrote, without indicating the cause of death. "Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost. Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her." The caption also featured a joint statement from the couple's five children -- Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan and Dash. "It is with a heavy heart that we let everyone know that our mom, Melinda Kay Ledbetter Wilson passed away peacefully this morning at home," they wrote. "We will miss her but cherish everything she has taught us. How to take care of the person next to you with out expecting anything in return, how to find beauty in the darkest of places, and how to live life as your truest self with honesty and pride." Brian and Melinda first met in 1986, when she sold him a Cadillac. They dated for three years, but rekindled their relationship in 1992 and tied the knot in 1995. Melinda's efforts to save Brian from the grips of mental illness were immortalized in the 2014 film Love & Mercy, when she was played by Elizabeth Banks, with John Cusack and Paul Dano playing Brian at different ages. - Billboard, 1/30/24...... On Jan. 29 a Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected Cher's request that her adult son be put into a court conservatorship controlling his money. had argued in a petition that 47-year-old Elijah Blue Allman's large payments from the trust of his late father, rocker Gregg Allman, are putting him in danger because of his struggles with mental health and substance abuse. But Judge Jessica A. Uzcategui was not convinced that a conservatorship was urgently needed and declined the petition, though she will still consider a larger, long-term conservatorship at a hearing in March. Cher observed the hearing remotely, appearing on a large screen in the courtroom throughout, but did not take part in the arguments. Allman was in the courtroom with his his attorneys, who acknowledged his previous struggles but argued that he is in a good place now, attending meetings, getting treatment and reconciling with his previously estranged wife. "We are thrilled that the court saw that he does not need a temporary conservatorship," Allman's lawyer said as he stood alongside him outside the courthouse. "He's got a lot of support, he's doing great." Cher's attorneys argued that the support Allman was getting was from people who tell him what he wants to hear and downplay the size of his problems. They said his current apparent sobriety and mental health were illusory. They said he suffers from bipolar disorder, has been recently homeless, and that having large amounts of money might lead to access to drugs that could endanger his life. Allman and his attorneys have consistently argued since the petition was first filed in December that none of this is true. - Billboard, 1/30/24...... 
On Jan. 29 Heart announced they'll launch a 2024 "Royal Flush" tour with a huge run of shows planned across North America, the UK and Europe. Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson will kick off their tour on Apr. 20 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., and will visit several cities including Portland, Montreal, Detroit, London and Stockholm as well as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Col. They will also play a handful shows in stadiums opening for Def Leppard and Journey. "We're excited and all geared up to hit the road in 2024 to perform for our devoted fans," lead vocalist Ann Wilson said in a press release. "The exceptional talent of the band -- Ryan, Ryan, Paul, Tony and Sean -- brings a whole new level of energy to Heart's live performance." Nancy Wilson added: "I am incredibly proud of the show that our band has crafted and am looking forward to reconnecting with our fans. We can't wait to share our music with everyone and celebrate the big electric energy of a completely live on the spot rock show." The sisters recently reunited for their first live shows together in almost half a decade, in California and their hometown of Seattle, around and on New Year's Eve. - NME, 1/29/24...... Elton John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin have been named 2024 recipients of the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The renowned songwriting duo is only the third pair to receive the prestigious award, following Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 2012, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan in 2019. Established in 2007, the Gershwin Prize honors artists whose creative works are collected and made accessible by the Library and acknowledges popular song's vital role in society. The prize is named for another legendary songwriting team, George and Ira Gershwin, whose papers are held by the Library. Other past recipients include Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Lionel Richie and Garth Brooks. John and Taupin will accept the prestigious honor on Mar. 20 at Washington, D.C.'s Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitution Hall. The invitation-only, all-star concert will premiere on PBS stations Apr. 8. Meanwhile, John's TV special Elton John AIDS Foundation: Let Your Inner Elton Out is among the recipients of a 2024 Anthem Award, which were launched in 2021 to highlight social impact work across the globe. This year's Anthem winners were selected from a pool of more than 2,000 submissions from 44 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. - Billboard, 1/30/24...... The Eagles have announced yet more additions to their "Long Goodbye Tour" on Jan. 22, marking the fifth time since first announcing their tour that the band has added additional dates to its lineup. The newly added dates are for the European leg of the tour, which now includes a three-show residency in Manchester, UK, on May 31, June 1 and June 4, as well as a show in Arnhem, Netherlands, on June 13. The group took to Instagram on Jan. 29 to make an announcement about the final tour extension and when to score tickets. - Billboard, 1/29/24...... 
Chaka Khan has been confirmed as the curator of the UK's 2024 Meltdown Festival, set for ten days between June 14 and 23 at London's Southbank Centre. Khan, 70, will be in charge of putting on a lineup of artists to celebrate her 50 years in music for this year's Meltdown. "The Southbank Centre's about to light up! We're going to funk it up, rock every crowd, and touch every soul. It's a community celebration, an all-ages bash. Join us and immerse yourself in a world that's vibrant, diverse, and absolutely unforgettable," said the Grammy-winning singer who fronted the funk group Rufus before she went on to have a tremendous solo career propelled by the R&B hit "I'm Every Woman" in 1978. During her stay in England, Khan will also be performing in Woodstock (6/13) and Lewes (7/5,6 and 7). - Music-News.com, 1/29/24...... Stop, in the name of chic!....Diana Ross, 79, has been selected as the face of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent's spring 2024 campaign. "My mama is on fire! Hoping to mature in this direction," gushed her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross. - People, 1/29/24...... Renowned British photographer and Depeche Mode collaborator Brian Griffin died "peacefully" in his sleep on Jan. 29. He was 75. Throughout his career, the Birmingham native famously worked with artists such as Siouxsie Sioux, Kate Bush, Ultravox, R.E.M., Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, Ringo Starr, Queen and Peter Gabriel. However, he was most widely recognised for his work with Depeche Mode. In 1989, The Guardian named Griffin "photographer of the decade," and later that year he left still photography behind to focus on TV commercials, music videos, and films. He also went on to acquire a production company, where he worked as a commercial director. He returned to still work around the turn of the century, and famously directed a documentary for Sir Paul McCartney. - NME, 1/30/24.
Gary Glitter appeared in front of a UK parole board in the fourth week of January as the "Rock and Roll Part 2" performer and convicted pedophile made a bid to be freed from prison. The 79-year-old Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed for 16 years in Feb. 2015 after being found guilty of sexually abusing three young girls between 1975 and 1980. Glitter was sentenced for attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one for having sex with a girl under 13. During sentencing, Judge Alistair McCreath said he could find "no real evidence" that he had atoned for his crimes. In Feb. 2023, the disgraced star was automatically freed from prison after serving half his 16-year sentence. The following month, however, Gadd was returned to custody after breaking his bail license conditions. Richard Scorer, a lawyer who is representing one of Gadd's victims, said the board would not hear from her or read his letter detailing the singer's "total lack of remorse." "She hasn't been given any opportunity to read her witness impact statement," Scorer explained, adding"We do not know what information has in fact been provided to the panel hearing regarding the matter today -- the process is shrouded in secrecy despite previous promises from the Parole Board to adopt a more open approach." Scorer said however he "hopes the board take this matter very seriously as it is yet more evidence of Gadd's lack of remorse, and contempt for his victims." Parole board decisions in the UK are usually made public 14 days after the hearing. In October, a request for Gadd's parole hearing to take place in public was rejected because it was too difficult to contact all his victims. In March 2023, it was announced that Netflix was developing a three-part documentary series about Gary Glitter. - New Musical Express, 1/25/24...... 
In conjunction with Black History Month, cable channel A&E will premiere a new two-night James Brown documentary, Say It Loud, on Feb. 19 and 20. "He [James] was a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the civil rights movement," Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger said about the late "Godfather of Soul," who died in 2007. "I've always admired James and learned so much from him." Jagger also served as one of the documentary's executive producers, and reflects on the musician's impact in a trailer for the documentary, which has been shared on YouTube. Featuring never-before seen archival interviews and performances, the documentary chronicles Brown's hard-fought journey from seventh-grade dropout to being crowned the "hardest working man in show business." In addition to Jagger, the film also features insights from the likes of Questlove, Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Jimmy Jam, Rev. Al Sharpton and Brown's children Deanna, Yamma and Larry. - Billboard, 1/26/24...... Bruce Springsteen will be among the artists performing at a MusiCares Person of the Year gala tribute to his fellow New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi on Feb. 2 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, two nights before the 66th annual Grammy Awards at the adjoining Crypto.com Arena. "I'm looking forward to seeing these talented musicians take the stage for the MusiCares gala. I'm honored they are able to be with us for such a wonderful night," Bon Jovi, who is also scheduled to perform, said in a statement. Springsteen received the honor in 2013, and other past recipients include Tom Petty (2017), Bono (2003) and Don Henley (2007). Comedian Jim Gaffigan will host the 33rd annual benefit gala, which will also feature performances from Jelly Roll, Melissa Etheridge, Jason Isbell, Shania Twain, Brandy Clark and Goo Goo Dolls, among others. In addition to his musical achievements, the 61-year-old Bon Jovi is being recognized for his philanthropic work. In 2006, he established the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which is dedicated to disrupting the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness. - Billboard, 1/26/24...... In a new interview with the UK's MOJO magazine, Paul McCartney credited Johnny Cash for inspiring him to form his '70s band Wings. "After the end of The Beatles I was faced with certain alternatives," Sir Paul says. "One was to give up music entirely and do God knows what. Another was to start a super-band with very famous people, Eric Clapton and so on. I didn't like either so I thought: 'How did The Beatles start?' It was a bunch of mates who didn't know what they were doing," he continued. "That's when I realised maybe there is a third alternative: to get a band that isn't massively famous, to not worry if we don't know what we're doing because we would form our character by learning along the way. It was a real act of faith. It was crazy, actually." Macca then said he watched Johnny Cash one night with his wife, Linda, and found his idea for a new band. "We were in bed one night," he said, "newly married, when Johnny Cash came on the telly with a new band he'd formed with Carl Perkins, a big hero of mine. There they were, playing with some country musicians I had never heard of, looking like they were having fun. I thought: here's Johnny, he's back, he's doing it. So I turned to Linda and said: Do you want to form a band? And she went: 'Sure.' That's how our relationship was. Do you want to go and live on a farm in Scotland? 'Why not?'" Wings are set to release the 50th anniversary reissue of their seminal album, Band On The Run, including some new "underdub" mixes, on Feb. 2. "This is Band on the Run in a way you've never heard before," said McCartney of the new mixes. "When you are making a song and putting on additional parts, like an extra guitar, that's an overdub. Well, this version of the album is the opposite, underdubbed." The new Band on the Run comes two months after the death of former Wings member Denny Laine on Dec. 5. - NME, 1/26/24...... 
Former Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler will release his tenth solo album, One Deep River, on Apr. 12 via his own EMI-distributed label, British Grove. Knopfler has already shared the album's lead single, "Ahead of the Game," which tells the tale of a struggling musician. Knopfler says the album's title track is about the River Tyne in his home city of Newcastle in the North East of England. "Crossing the Tyne is always on your mind," he says. "It's what you were doing when you were leaving as a youngster and that feeling is always the same every time you do it. You're heading out or you're coming back, and it just connects with your childhood. The power of it doesn't go away." Meanwhile, on Jan. 31, Knopfler is selling 120 of his guitars to benefit multiple charities, including the British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave Hearts Of The North East. The sale will take place at Christie's in London, with estimates ranging from £300 to £500,000. - Music-News.com, 1/25/24...... If anyone could lay claim to the old saying "always the bridesmaid but never the bride" when it comes to the best original song Oscar award, it's veteran songwriter Diane Warren. Warren is getting up there on the all-time list of top Oscar nominees for the award, and her nod this year for "The Fire Inside," sung by Becky G in Flamin' Hot, is her 15th -- a tally equaled by only five other songwriters in the 90-year history of the category. Moreover, this is the seventh year in a row Warren has been nominated, the longest continuous streak of nominations in this category since Sammy Cahn was nominated eight years running from 1954-61. "I'm so excited about being nominated for 'The Fire Inside'!!," Warren said in a statement after her nomination was announced on Jan. 23. "This song is all about passion. It's the theme song not only for the movie Flamin' Hot but a theme song for dreamers everywhere with that Fire Inside to make their dreams come true." Previous best song Oscar nods for Warren include "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (1987, from Mannequin performed by Starship), "Because You Loved Me" (1996, from Up Close & Personal performed by Celine Dion, "How Do I Live" (1997, from Con Air performed by Trisha Yearwood, and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (1998, from Armageddon performed by Aerosmith). - Billboard, 1/25/24...... Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth has slammed Wolfgang Van Halen, VH latest bass player and son of VH guitarist Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli, in an audio clip he posted to X and also shared on YouTube. "This f----n' kid," Roth says, "he's complaining the entire tour like I'm not paying enough attention to him on stage. He's complaining to everybody around me -- the business manager, the security guy, the clothing lady -- 'Dave's not paying enough attention to me.'" The clip opens with a throwback to Roth's brief stint helming The David Lee Roth Show, as he launches into an imaginary chat with a comedy-voiced "Jesus Christ," a thinly-veiled barb at Wolfgang securing the gig with VH thanks to him being of the son of guitar "god" Eddie Van Halen. Roth also recounts touring tales where, in New York, Wolfgang "commandeered a couple of monkeys to go in back, behind my back, over to the side of the stage and throw out these two great dames that I invited to be my guests to the show... In fact, you aren't gonna believe this shit. This f----n' kid, what he doesn't know is that these two dames work for the accounting firm that represent him, not me. But as usual, he, just like his uncle and his uncle's brother, stiffed them for tickets." It's unclear what ticked-off Roth, and Wolfgang, who now leads the band Mammoth WVH, has yet to respond. - Billboard, 1/25/24...... In other Van Halen-related news, former VH vocalist Sammy Hagar found out some shocking news on the newest episode of the PBS genealogy series Finding Your Roots. In a preview clip of the episode (shared on YouTube), the rocker finds out that his DNA does not match any men with the last name Hagar, meaning that genetically, that is not his last name. "Get out of here. This is nutty as anything I've ever imagined," Hagar said, before confirming that he did want to find out what his real biological surname is. After discovering that his DNA matches 27 men with the last name Belcher, Hagar was blown away. "What a trip," he said, visibly shocked. Finding Your Roots is hosted by educator Henry Louis Gates Jr., and features DNA diagnosticians analyzing genetic code, tracing bloodlines and occasionally debunking beliefs. - Billboard, 1/22/24...... 
On Jan. 24 Elton John announced a new book that will chronicle his half-century on the road. The 256-page Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories of My Life on Tour arrives on Sept. 24 through the Disney publishing imprint Hyperion Avenue, and promises readers "an epic visual journey through the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour while Elton reaches back in time to reflect on key moments in his astounding touring history and reminisces about the beginning of his career... Fans also get a rare glimpse at Elton's personal archive of posters, sketches, and never-before-seen photographs and postcards." Writing on Instagram, Sir Elton said: "I am incredibly excited to announce my new book, Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories of My Life On Tour, which goes behind the scenes on my final tour, from Allentown, PA, to Stockholm, Sweden and everywhere in between." John also revealed the technicolor book cover, which finds him standing next to a psychedelic piano in a trippy forest. Elton wrapped his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road outing on July 8, 2023, five years after its launching -- and being delayed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic, illness and injury. It earned grosses of $939.1 million and 6 million tickets sold over 330 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore. The 76-year-old singer has said that he does not want to tour again, but noted he might play sporadic shows in the future. - Billboard, 1/25/24...... Cher has been accused of "abusive behaviour" in a conservatorship battle over her son Elijah Blue Allman's estate. Recently released court documents reveal that Allman claims that he has refrained from the use of illicit substances that "have historically caused the incidents that have given rise to my mother's concern." His estranged wife, Marieangela King, has also claimed that Cher "categorically unfit to serve as conservator," and alleged that she has "witnessed and experienced abusive behavior coming mostly from Elijah's mother." In the original petition filled by the "Believe" singer, the documents alleged that Allman's estranged wife, is not fit to be conservator because of "their tumultuous relationship has been marked by a cycle of drug addiction and mental health crises." Allman, however, claims that he is fully capable of controlling his own life. "I have been living a sober life, reconciling with my spouse, paying my bills, and paying attorneys to secure my ability to maintain independent of my mother's control," he declared in court documents. "I remain free of illicit substances, capable of and committed to managing the money I receive quarterly from the trust left by my late father." Earlier in January, Cher was denied a request for an emergency temporary conservatorship over Allman. - NME, 1/25/24...... The Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) announced on Jan. 24 that it will honor late The Band co-founder Robbie Robertson and acclaimed director Martin Scorsese with their Spirit of Collaboration Award at the fifth Annual SCL Awards to be held on Feb. 13 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The award recognizes a composer/director relationship which has resulted in a prodigious body of work. Robertson worked in various capacities on 11 films Scorsese directed over a 45-year period, including The Last Waltz, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, The Color of Money, Casino, Gangs of New York, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence, The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon. Robertson died last August at age 80. On Jan. 23, he received a posthumous Oscar nod for best original score for Killers of the Flower Moon. He was the first composer to receive a posthumous Oscar nod in that category in 47 years, since Bernard Hermann received a pair of posthumous nods for his scores to Taxi Driver and Obsession. - Billboard, 1/24/24...... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's primetime awards show airing on ABC on Jan. 1 was a hit for the ABC television network, drawing 13 million total viewers and a 0.38 rating among people people aged 18 to 49, according to Nielsen data. Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners were among the inductees, and highlights included a surprise pop-in by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Elliott's raucous closing medley, among other choice moments. - Billboard, 1/24/24...... On Jan. 24 Bob Dylan announced a run of U.S. dates on his Never Ending Tour in support of his 2020 album Rough and Rowdy Ways. The trek kicks off with a pair of dates at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Mar. 1 and 2. The mostly Southern gigs will then hang in the state for gigs in Clearwater, Fort Myers, Orlando and Jacksonville, before moving on to Athens (GA), Charlotte, Fayetteville and Asheville (N.C.), Louisville (KY), Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis (TN) before winding down with gigs in Springfield (MO), Wichita (KS) and a final gig at the Music Hall of Fair Park in Dallas on Apr. 4. - Billboard, 1/24/24...... 
Saying it's time to "call it a day," former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman has announced his final U.S. tour will kick off on Mar. 19 at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Conn. He'll then visit Montclair, N.J. (3/20), Huntington, N.Y. (3/22), Collingswood, N.J. (3/23), Derry, N.H. (3/24), Red Bank, N.J. (3/26), and Vienna, VA (3/27 and 28), before wrapping in Albany, N.Y.'s Egg Center for the Performing Arts on Mar. 29. On his official website, Wakeman also announced a 7-date tour of Mexico and South America in April, which he noted would mark the start of his last-ever concerts as a "one-man show." The statement however, suggests that the keyboardist will not be retiring yet, noting that he will spend the future "[concentrating] on composing, recording and collaborating with other musicians." To clarify any confusion, Wakeman took to X to explain: "In March I perform 9 shows in the USA which will be the beginning of the very last one man show tours there. The main bulk of shows will be in October [and] November [and] if demand is there, may carry on into 2025." In the statement on his website, Wakeman stated that he had always intended to stop touring by his 77th birthday.... I have thoroughly enjoyed performing the various one-man shows, but it's time to call it a day." To commemorate the musician's final solo tour, he will premiere a new piece of music during the performances. Entitled "Yessonata," the 30-minute work will weave melodies from Yes material into a cohesive sonata form. Wakeman was a member of Yes for most of the band's career, being featured every album from their classic 1972 LP Fragile, to their 1997 live album Keys to Ascension 2. In addition, Wakeman served as a sessionist for various artists including Elton John, Lou Reed, Black Sabbath and most notably, David Bowie. His work appears appears on several of Bowie's most iconic songs and albums, including "Space Oddity," his 1971 album Hunky Dory, and his magnum opus, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. - NME, 1/24/24...... The Doobie Brothers have announced a 38-date 2024 U.S. tour, with special guests Steve Winwood and the Robert Cray Band set to open on select dates. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, featuring Michael McDonald (vocals/keyboards), Tom Johnston (vocals/guitar), Pat Simmons (vocals/guitar) and multi-instrumentalist John McFee, will kick off the run with a June 15 gig at the White River Amphitheatre in Seattle, WA. Visiting a number of cities they haven't played for years, the tour will hit Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Knoxville, New York, Boston, Detroit, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Denver before winding up in Seattle. The 2024 outing follows on the heel's of the Doobies' 2023 50th anniversary swing, which reunited McDonald, Johnston, Simmons and McFee on stage for their first tour in 25 years. - Billboard, 1/22/24...... On Jan. 22 the Eagles announced on Instagram what they're calling their final-ever U.K. shows as part of the veteran country-rock group's Long Goodbye final tour. Eagles members Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, with Vince Gill and Deacon Frey -- announced a three-show residency run at the new Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester on May 31, June 1 and June 4. The gig at the U.K.'s largest indoor arena will feature support from the group's fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, Steely Dan. Due to high demand, on Jan. 25 the band announced the addition of two shows in Manchester, on June 7 and 8. The Eagles are scheduled to hit the road again on Feb. 2 for the first of two shows at the Moody Center in Austin, TX, followed by a run of North American stops in St. Louis, Omaha, Tulsa, Houston, New Orleans, Hollywood (FL), Orlando, Toronto and Charlotte before heading overseas. - Billboard, 1/22/24...... John Fogerty has announced he will visit Australia for the first time since 2012 when he headlines the Country Fest Queensland this easter. Morgan Evans, Lee Kernaghan, James Johnston and many others are also on the bill, set for March 30 and 31. According to a post by festival reps on Instagram, the rock legend will perform a set of his own songs, then a second set playing Creedence Clearwater Revival classics -- something he hasn't done in Oz since 1972. - Billboard, 1/22/24...... Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne has revealed that Ozzy is planning "two more shows to say goodbye" before he fully retires from performing live. Speaking about her husband's future during her "Cut The Crap" show at London's Fortune Theatre on Jan. 21, Sharon told journalist Jane More: "He won't tour again but we are planning on doing two more shows to say goodbye as he feels like, 'I have never said goodbye to my fans and I want to say goodbye'." Sharon continued: "His voice is still absolutely perfect. And all the time he has been off he still does his singing lessons. Even if you don't like his music, you can't not like Ozzy." She reportedly hinted that Osbourne, 75, would stage the pair of farewell concerts at the Villa Park football stadium in his home city of Birmingham. "We will do it in Aston Villa where Ozzy is from," Sharon told Moore and the audience in attendance. Ozzy announced his retirement from touring in Feb. 2023, calling off his scheduled European and UK tour dates in the process. Later that month, however, he said he hoped to return to the stage at some point in the future. - NME, 1/23/24...... 
Billy Joel announced on X on Jan. 22 that he's putting out his first pop single in nearly two decades, "Turn the Lights Back On," on Feb. 1. Columbia Records, Joel's longtime label, will release the song on Feb. 1 to all digital service providers and on limited edition 7" vinyl. It will be accompanied by a lyric video on Joel's YouTube channel. The song, which Joel wrote with Freddy Wexler, Arthur Bacon and Wayne Hector and was produced by Wexler -- includes the lyrics, "Did I wait too long to turn the lights back on?" It's Joel's first song released with words since 2007's "All My Life," a lush, Sinatra-like ballad Joel wrote for his then wife, Katie Lee, that reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart. There is no word yet if "Turn the Lights Back On" is a one-off or a precursor to more material, but the artist has been open about his hesitation to return to his pop heyday, making the new song all the more welcome. "I'm not ruling out the possibility of writing songs again," he told Billboard in 2007, a few months after "All My Life's" release. "I suppose if I had the motivation to write a song, I'm not gonna stop myself from doing it. I just haven't felt the compulsion to write songs in pop form. I guess these days I just think of myself as a composer." Meanwhile, Joel has been added to the lineup of performers at the 2024 Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Joel is the seventh performer announced to perform on the Grammy telecast, following Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Travis Scott, Luke Combs and Burna Boy. Joel is the first of the announced performers who isn't a current Grammy nominee. He is, however, a five-time Grammy winner, winning each of the Big Three awards in a two-year span in 1979-80 -- album of the year for 52nd Street and record and song of the year for "Just the Way You Are." He also received a Grammy Legend Award in 1991. The 74-year-old Joel has sold over 160 million albums around the world, emerging as "the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States," and garnering six Grammys out of 23 nominations. - Billboard, 1/22/24...... The estate of late counterculture comedian George Carlin filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles on Jan. 25 against the media company behind a fake hourlong comedy special that purportedly uses artificial intelligence to recreate the late standup comic's style and material. The suit asks that a judge order the podcast outlet, Dudesy, to immediately take down the audio special, George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead," in which a synthesis of Carlin, who died in 2008, delivers commentary on current events. Carlin's daughter, Kelly Carlin, said in a statement that the work is "a poorly-executed facsimile cobbled together by unscrupulous individuals to capitalize on the extraordinary goodwill my father established with his adoring fanbase." The Carlin estate and its executor, Jerold Hamza, are named as plaintiffs in the suit, which alleges violations of Carlin's right of publicity and copyright. The named defendants are Dudesy and podcast hosts Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. "None of the Defendants had permission to use Carlin's likeness for the AI-generated 'George Carlin Special,' nor did they have a licence to use any of the late comedian's copyrighted materials," the lawsuit says. The defendants have not filed a response to the lawsuit and it was not clear whether they have retained an attorney. They could not immediately be reached for comment. The AI issue was a major sticking point in the resolution of 2023's Hollywood writers and actors strikes. Josh Schiller, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the "case is not just about AI, it's about the humans that use AI to violate the law, infringe on intellectual property rights, and flout common decency." - AP, 1/26/24...... David Beckwith, the veteran publicist whose crowning achievement was his work representing Elvis Presley's Graceland museum since it opened more than four decades ago, died on Jan. 19 in Phoenixafter his hip replacement surgery was followed by sepsis. He was 67. When Presley's home in Memphis, Tenn., was first opened to the public in July 1982, Beckwith helped manage the 700-plus members of the media there for the opening news conference with Priscilla Presley. He continued his work with Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises until his death. Beckwith was a pioneer in the LGBTQ+ community, serving on the local and national boards of the Human Rights Campaign, and was instrumental in creating Los Angeles' Outfest, the world's largest LGBTQ+ film festival. Survivors include Dietrich Nelson, his partner of 42 years and husband of 15 years, and his pets Edie, Arlen, Daisy and Doris. - Billboard, 1/23/24...... 
Norman Jewison, the Canadian-born director of such acclaimed films as In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof and Moonstruck, died on Jan. 20 at his home. He was 97. A seven-time Oscar nominee, Mr. Jewison received the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences in 1999. Known for his ability to coax great performances out of his actors -- 12 of his players were nominated for Oscars, while five of his features made the cut for best picture -- the most distinguished film director in Canadian history often used conventional genre plots to take on social injustice. Mr. Jewison earned best director and best picture nominations for Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Moonstruck (1987); received another nom for helming In the Heat of the Night (1967), a winner for best picture; and added two others for producing the wacky Red Scare comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) and A Soldier's Story (1984). Other directoral credits include Send Me No Flowers (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Rollerball (1975), F.I.S.T. (1978), And Justice for All (1979), Agnes of God (1985) and Other People's Money (1991). Frederick Jewison was born on July 21, 1926, in Toronto, where his parents ran a general store/post office. He developed an early interest in the arts, studying piano and music theory at the Royal Conservatory, and staged and appeared in shows and musical comedies in high school. Following graduation, Mr. Jewison made his professional debut in a minstrel show, which he also directed and co-wrote, then served in Canada's Navy during World War II. Back home, he graduated from the University of Toronto's Victoria College in 1949 with a B.A. in general arts. He worked as a cab driver in Toronto and occasionally performed as a radio actor for the CBC. In 1950, he moved to London for a two-year work-study stint with the BBC. In 1950, CBS invited Mr. Jewison to New York to update the venerable TV musical Your Hit Parade. After he booked African-American singer Tommy Edwards, who had a hit with "It's All in the Game," to be on the program, he was called to a Madison Avenue meeting with a representative from Lucky Strike cigarettes, the show's South Carolina-based sponsor. The CBC called him back to work in the new medium of television, and Mr. Jewison wrote, directed and produced some of his country's most popular shows and specials. Mr. Jewison served as producer of the 1981 Academy Awards, which were rescheduled after President Reagan was shot, and he earned an Emmy nomination in 2002 for directing the HBO telefilm Dinner With Friends. Mr. Jewison returned to Toronto in 1978 and lived on a 240-acre farm in Ontario. He hosted a gala picnic for years at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 1982, Mr. Jewison was made an officer of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian decoration, then set out to establish the Canadian equivalent of the American Film Institute. Survivors include his second wife, Lynne St. David, and three children. - The Hollywood Reporter, 1/22/24.
Melanie Safka, the beloved '70s singer-songwriter behind such hits as 
That summer, she was one of only three female solo performers, along with Joan Baez and Janis Joplin, to perform at the generation-defining Woodstock Music and Art Fair in upstate New York. The candles the crowd held up during her opening-night set at the festival inspired her first U.S. hit, 1970's "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" which went to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year came "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma," which would be covered by artists from Ray Charles to Miley Cyrus and adapted into commercial jingles for decades after. The artist later released the single "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" and a cover version of The Rolling Stones "Ruby Tuesday." The latter release earned her a top 10 in the UK. Melanie founded her own record label, Neighborhood Records, in 1971. Its biggest hit was "Brand New Key," which went to No. 1 in the US, and No. 4 in the UK. "People in the Front Row," a danceable jam from her 1971 LP Garden in the City, got prominent placement in the most recent season of the series Black Mirror. By the mid-1970s Melanie's popularity waned, but she would maintain a following and keep recording and playing live into the 2010s. Melanie was married to her manager and producer Peter Schekeryk from 1968 until his death in 2010. According to Variety, Melanie had been in the studio earlier in January working on a new album of covers called Second Hand Smoke, which would have marked her 32nd full-length LP. She had reportedly already recorded some songs for the new album, including new versions of Morrissey's "Ouija Board Ouija Board," Radiohead's "Creep"' and Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence." It is due to be released via Los Angeles-based label Cleopatra, which had also planned to reissue the majority of her back catalog. Melanie is survived by their children, Leilah, Jeordie and Beau Jarred, who requested that on Jan. 24 fans "light a candle in honor of Melanie... Raise, raise them high, high up again. Illuminate the darkness, and let us all be connected in remembrance of the extraordinary woman who was wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to so very many people." - AP/New Musical Express, 1/25/24.
George Clinton, the mastermind behind the legendary bands Parliament/Funkadelic, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Jan. 19. Acknowledging all the members of his bands over the years, Clinton (a.k.a. "Dr. Funkenstein") said, "Lots of them are here, lots of them not. But for all of them I say thanks and I'm blessed to be representing a bunch of funky mothers. Thank you, Hollywood!" Clinton's star, the walk's 2769th, is located at 6752 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the Musicians Institute. Also speaking at the ceremony were Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and songwriter Janie Bradford. As the leader of Parliament/Funkadelic, Clinton steered the way across the cosmos to such classics as "(I Wanna) Testify," "P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)," "Star Child (Mothership Connection)," "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)," "Flash Light," "Aqua Boogie," "One Nation Under a Groove," "(Not Just) Knee Deep" and "Atomic Dog," from such notable albums as Parliament's 
A running feud between former Van Halen lead singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar has escalated after Roth claimed that Hagar was "sex probed by aliens." Roth and Hagar have been locked in a war of words for the past several months, with Hagar recently stating their was "no f---ing way" he would want to do a full tour with Roth in honor of Eddie Van Halen who died at age 65 in Oct. 2020 after long battle with cancer. Roth's latest retort came in the form of a 
Earth, Wind & Fire are among the first wave of performers being announced for CBS's upcoming Super Bowl Soulful Celebration 25th Anniversary special, set to air on the network on Feb. 10 at 8:00 p.m. EST. Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, stars of the CBS series The Neighborhood, the special will be taped on Feb. 7 during Super Bowl LVIII week in Las Vegas. The taping will take place at the Pearl Theater in the Palms Casino Resort. Also performing will be The Players Choir. The ensemble of NFL talent has been a staple of the league's Super Bowl weekend festivities for 16 seasons. Additional Super Bowl Soulful Celebration performers, honorees and partners will be announced in the coming weeks. Launched in 1999 during Super Bowl XXXIII, the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration was formerly known as the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, and has previously welcomed such entertainers as Snoop Dogg, Gladys Knight and Fantasia. - Billboard, 1/18/24...... Speaking of Earth, Wind & Fire, the legendary rock-soul troupe have extended their co-headlining "Sing A Song All Night Long Tour" with Lionel Richie into the first half of 2024. The pair's joint tour kicked off last year with a 20-date run around the United States, and they have now extended it for 13 more shows this spring. New dates include Knoxville, Tenn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Birmingham, Al.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Orlando, Fla. in May, and 11 shows in June in such cities as San Antonio, Tex.; Kansas City, Mo.; Tulsa, Okla.; Omaha, Neb.; and Louisville, Ky. The full tour intinerary can be viewed on Richie's 
If you missed the big screen re-release of Talking Heads' acclaimed 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense you're in luck. The movie will be back in select theaters in the U.S., Canada and U.K. starting Jan. 27 after its well-received 2023 4K re-release. The latest reboot is thanks to independent film company A24 (Everything Everywhere All At Once, Uncut Gems), which snagged the worldwide rights to the film to coincide with its 40th anniversary. According to Variety, the film will have residencies in a number of cities during the run, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and others. Tickets and screening locations and dates can be found at 
On Jan. 16 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band announced they'll launch a 31-city farewell tour on Mar. 21 in Bowling Green, Ky. Their "All the Good Times: The Farewell Tour" will mark the conclusion of multi-city runs that aided the band during the recording of their classic 
The Eagles played four shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on their "Long Goodbye Final Tour" on Jan. 5, 6, 12 and 13. "It's good to be back here at the Forum," band co-founder Don Henley told the audience. "We consider the Forum to be our home field. They've improved the place a lot since then. Remember all those ugly yellow and orange seats?" he said with a laugh, recalling the slightly different color scheme when the Lakers played at the Forum before moving to Staples Center in 1999. Throughout their 21-song set, the Eagles sprinkled in tributes to peers they've lost, including bandmates Glenn Frey and Randy Meisner. Frey passed away in 2016, and his son Deacon Frey, now 31, has been filling in for his late dad, alongside Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, in the band since their Classic West performance at Dodger Stadium in 2017. Founding member Randy Meisner -- who left the band after 1976's Hotel California album -- died this past summer, so this is the band's first tour since. "We're going to dedicate this to the memory of Mr. Randy Meisner," Henley said to introduce "Take It to the Limit," which was the band's only single to feature the bassist on lead vocals and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 and spent 23 weeks on the chart -- their longest-charting hit on the tally. "Sing it with him," Henley implored, as Gill took over on Meisner's sky-high vocals. The band also played Henley's 1984 solo hit "The Boys of Summer," dedicating it to their "dear friend," the late Jimmy Buffett, who died in Sept. 2023. Steely Dan served as the opening act, doing a robust 12-song set and remembering some friends of their own, with leader Donald Fagen making sure to shout out his band co-founder Walter Becker, who died in 2017. The Eagles will wrap their winter 2024 tour on Mar. 16 in Charlotte, N.C. - Billboard, 1/15/24...... Blondie have announced an extra show on their 2024 UK tour at Halifax Piece Hall this summer due to huge demand. The US new wave band's first outdoor show at the Halifax venue, taking place June 9 has sold out. They have now added a second on June 7, 2024 at the same venue. Debbie Harry and co. have also been announced for the very first Plymouth Summer Sessions, alongside Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Madness and Sting. This year they're also set to headline Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, Calif. with Duran Duran and Interpol. - NME, 1/15/24...... Paul McCartney's younger brother Mike McCartney has shared a health update after spending his 80th birthday in hospital. On Jan. 8, Mike shared a photo of himself on 
'70s hitmaker Tony Orlando has announced his forthcoming tour will be his last and kick off with dates across three consecutive nights at South Point Casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 19-21; followed by shows at Niagara Falls, Ontario (2/27, 28); Des Plaines (3/2) and St. Charles, Ill. (3/3); Atlantic City, NJ (3/16); and Uncasville, Conn. (3/22). Orlando's final performance in Vegas should be an emotional one, wrapping 51 years as a headliner on the Strip. "Performing live shows for 63 years has been a "glorious dream-come-true run," the 79-year-old recounts. "And man oh man I will miss the audiences, friends, and fans who have stuck by me for these last sixty-three incredible years OMG I will miss them for sure! But now it's time to grow and turn a new page in my life. How exciting." Travel today is "grueling," he notes. "And then when you add the overhead the cost to travel with eight band members on the road and then you add five and six hours of delays or cancellations at airports. And not many non-stops, and then your connections end up being canceled." All of that, approaching the age of 80, "well this is not a smart or good match. So, it's time."It's "time for a new journey," he adds. Part of that trip involves the launch of Tony Orlando Productions and Explosive Film and Entertainment companies. "I also plan to pay more attention to writing a Broadway show," he adds, and "pitching my ideas for films and writing my next book. And maybe even managing the careers of some new and young talent." Orlando's '70s group, Tony Orlando & Dawn, charted three No. 1 singles from 1971-75 -- 
Patti Smith has made her first public appearance since her late 2023 hospitalization, to honor Lily Gladstone. In December, the punk poetess as forced to cancel a show in Bologna after a "sudden illness" prompted her to be rushed to the hospital. A few days later, it was reported that the singer was "in good health," with Smith taking to social media: "I am resting, as the doctor ordered, grateful to have had such care, though being painfully aware that many are not so fortunate." Nearly a month later, Smith has made her first public appearance to present Gladstone with the award for Best Actress at the National Board of Review Awards Gala. She won the honor with her performance in Martin Scorsese's Killers Of The Flower Moon, for which she also won a Golden Globe. Smith praised the film in her speech, saying: "It pierces the vein of human weakness, greed, cowardice, and betrayal. And what is more piercing than the face of Lily Gladstone as the camera captures the shifting tones of her interior process seamlessly embodying the courageous Mollie Burkhart?" "Within the fabric of the film, even off-screen, Lily is like the new moon that can be felt, but not seen," she continued. "She has always felt." - NME, 1/13/24...... Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley paid tribute to the couple's daughter Lisa Marie Presley on the first anniversary of her death, who died from an intestinal obstruction that constricted blood supply to her digestive tract at age 54 on Jan. 12, 2023. "Today is a very solemn day. It's been a year since your passing and not a day goes by where I don't think about and miss you. Rest in peace, Lisa. You are in the arms of your beloved father now. Only that& gives me comfort. Mom," Priscilla posted to 
Leon Wildes, a prominent immigration lawyer best known for his landmark, yearslong fight in the 1970s to prevent John Lennon from being deported and enable the former Beatle to receive permanent residency in the U.S., died on Jan. 8 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. He was 90. Mr. Wildes' son -- immigration attorney and Englewood, N.J. Mayor Michael Wildes -- said his father had been in failing health after a series of strokes. "Dad felt he effectively lived the American Dream for a kid from Olyphant PA and spent his life facilitating the same experience for scores more," said Michael Wildes, who is also the managing partner for the firm his father helped start, Wildes & Weinberg. "He was beloved by his family, was extraordinarily humble, and beloved by our Bar." Leon Wildes was a graduate of the New York University School of Law who co-founded Wildes & Weinberg in 1960 and, by the end of the decade, had gained enough stature to serve as president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. His name would become part of musical and political history after an old law school classmate, Alan Kahn, called in 1972 and told him that Lennon and Yoko Ono needed his help getting their visas extended. Mr. Wildes agreed to meet with the couple at the Manhattan offices of Apple Records, the label founded by the Beatles in the late 1960s. But he did have one embarrassing confession about Lennon and his artist wife. "I have no idea who these people are," he told Kahn, later saying he misheard their names as "Jack Lemmon and Yoko Moto." What Mr. Wildes initially thought would be a formality turned into one of the most dramatic legal struggles of the era. John and Yoko had moved from England to New York City, trying to track down Ono's daughter from a previous marriage, Kyoko Chan Cox, whom her ex-husband had abducted. The couple also were active in the New Left politics of the time, opposing the Vietnam War and backing efforts to defeat Pres. Richard Nixon in his bid for re-election. With the minimum voting age lowered from 21 to 18, Lennon's plans included a 1972 tour of the U.S. that would potentially attract millions of young people. As government files later revealed, some Nixon supporters feared that Lennon could damage Nixon politically. In a Feb. 1972 memo sent to Sen. Strom Thurmond, a South Carolina Republican and a member of a Senate subcommittee on internal security, aides recommended a "strategic countermeasure," terminating Lennon's visa. The government would also try to deport Ono, a Tokyo native, but she was granted permanent residency in 1973. Descended from European Jews, Mr. Wildes grew up in a small Pennsylvania community where he was often the only Jew in his class. He attended Yeshiva College as an undergraduate and became interested in immigration law after working with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in the late 1950s. Mr. Wildes published articles in the Cardozo Law Review among other journals and wrote a book on the Lennon case, 
It has been confirmed that singer/actress Selena Gomez will portray Linda Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic about the "You're No Good" singer. According to Great Eastern Music, a music publisher founded by Ronstadt's manager John Boylan, Gomez is "attached to play Linda" and the "long-rumored Linda Ronstadt biopic is now up-and-running." According to an announcement on 
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that a stage adaptation of Prince's original 1984 film Purple Rain is under development, with a world premiere in the works. Forty years after the funk/pop icon unleashed his Purple Rain film and soundtrack album, the adaptation is set to feature a score by the late Prince, with a book by Pulitzer Prize-finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who is currently enjoying the Broadway run of his acclaimed drama "Appropriate." Jacobs-Jenkins' book will be based on the original Purple Rain screenplay, which was written by Albert Magnoli (who also directed the original film) and William Blinn. The 1984 film version starred Prince as The Kid, a burgeoning Minneapolis rock musician who trudges his way through rival bands, fleeting romances, and a gritty home life. To date, the film has grossed nearly $70 million worldwide, and, in 1985, it won the Academy Award for best original song score. The accompanying soundtrack of the same name was also smash success, spending 24 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and spawning five Top 40 hits including the No. 1 "When Doves Cry." - The Hollywood Reporter, 1/8/24...... Appearing on the popular SiriusXM podcast Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson revealed his arthritis is "slowly getting worse," but he is now "used to it." Lifeson, 70, has suffered from psoriatic arthritis -- a form of arthritis with a skin rash -- for nearly 20 years, but says the medication he is on to deal with it has been "very effective" over the years. "I'm on two biologics, so sort of like a double whammy in dealing with it. And it's been very, very effective," Lifeson said. "Despite the side effects and all of that, it's been a really effective regimen for me, and it's really helped my hands. I have times where the inflammation has its own mind, and that's when you'll see me shaking my hands [while I am playing]. But it is what it is, and I can still get by, and I'm so used to it, I don't really even think about it that much anymore." He added that he's no longer "interested" in hitting the road with his guitar "after 40 years of touring." "I enjoyed it when we did it. There were lots of ups and downs," he noted. In June 2020, Lifeson admitted to a WFAN radio host that he hadn't felt "inspired or motivated" to play music since drummer Neil Peart's death aged 67, six months earlier in Jan. 2020."After Neil passed in January, I've played very little guitar. I don't feel inspired and motivated.... Every time I pick up a guitar, I just aimlessly kind of mess around with it and put it down after 10 minutes. Normally, I would pick up a guitar and I would play for a couple of hours without even being aware that I'm spending that much time. So I know it'll come back." - Music-News.com, 1/10/24...... During the latest episode of The Osbournes Podcast, Ozzy Osbourne shared that his recovery is going well, but it's going to "take time." Chatting with fellow musician Billy Morrison, Osbourne said that "I just came back from the doctor today and my blood clots are gone, everything's back to normal. I can bend my neck. I just gotta get my balance going now." Ozzy, 75, underwent his fourth and final spinal surgery in Sept. 2023 and is now focusing on managing his Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2003. "I'm not seeing so many doctors anymore," Osbourne continued. "I'm just seeing the Parkinson's doctor but I'm not having surgery or anything. I had seven surgeries in five years." He added, "It's a slow recovery because I'm not as young as I used to be so recovery of anything is gonna take time." Osbourne had metal plates inserted into his neck after he suffered a fall in 2019. They were later removed as were causing him further pain. Osbourne and Corey Taylor of Slipknot, along with the likes of Billy Idol, Steve Vai members of Run-DMC and 4 Non Blondes, are set to appear on Billy Morrison's new album. It will be released on Apr. 19, with lead single "Drowning" coming on Feb. 23. - Music-News, 1/10/24...... 
Roger Daltrey announced on Jan. 8 that he'll close out the nearly quarter-century run of his Teenage Cancer Trust fundraising gigs in March with a week-long series of all-star shows benefitting the British charity dedicated to helping young people needing nursing care and support after diagnosis. Taking place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the shows will feature Daltrey's legendary band The Who taking the stage on Mar. 18 and 20 with an orchestra, with support from Squeeze. Noel Gallagher has been tapped to headline on Mar. 21 with support from Blossoms. There will also be an as-yet-unannounced lineup of stand-up comedians on Mar. 19, a Mar. 22 gig by Young Fathers and a Mar. 23 lineup featuring the Chemical Brothers and DJ Paul Holroyd. The final show -- dubbed "Ovation" -- on Mar. 24 will be a blow-out celebrating the 24 years of TCT shows featuring Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, The Stereophonics' Kelly Jones, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller. Daltrey has been hosting and curating the fundraising shows since 2000, raising more than $40 million to date, which the organization said has paid for more than a million hours of specialist care from TCT nurses, or 13 TCT hospital care units. Daltrey has announced that beginning in 2025 the concert series will continue with a series of guest curators. - Billboard, 1/8/24...... In other Who-related news, Pete Townshend admitted in a new interview with Guitar.com that "all guitarists are intimidated" by the young guitarists who post videos of themselves shredding on social media. Townshend spoke of using the guitar as a technical tool when it comes to composing music. "I think one of the things that all guitarists of today are intimidated by is these young guys on Instagram that shred to hell and back, or to heaven and back, I should say, who started when they were six. But we are just our fingers." The veteran axman added that despite the "intimidation," he's happy that he has developed his own style rather than focusing on "flashy runs": "What I'm happy about is I can do two days of practice and learn some really flashy runs if I want to, though I'm still stuck with the old order, which is trying to make sure I don't let my fingers play a series of cliches." Meanwhile, the future of The Who remains unclear, as Townshend said that they have to "have a chat about what happens next" following the conclusion of their final orchestral tour date at the Sandringham Estate over the summer. "I think it's time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next. Because Sandringham shouldn't feel like the end of anything but it feels like the end of an era," he said recently. - NME, 1/9/24...... American alternative rock band Wilco have shared a cover of David Bowie's classic track "Space Oddity" to celebrate what would have been the late star's 77th birthday on Jan. 8. The live recording of the cover, which can be viewed on 
Cher has shared the cuddly picture of herself with latest beau Alexander "AE" Edwards on