Friday, May 31, 2024

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on June 5th, 2024

Cher says she's "proud" of her boyfriend Alexander "A.E." Edwards after he participated in a brawl with rapper Travis Scott and producer Southside during an afterparty at the Cannes International Film Festival in France on May 23. Cher, who has been romantically linked with Edwards since late 2022 after the couple met at Paris Fashion Week, said "I'm Proud of Alexander" in a post on X on June 1. "He Didn't Start The fight Against 2 Men,& He finished it, Gotta Love Him." Cher's legion of X fans were quick to support the 78-year-old diva's comments, happy to see her support A.E. and that everything was all right in wake of the incident. "Bless him, isn't it crap all the rubbish that gets published, sad that you've had to comment on this. Hope AE is ok and you are too xxxx," one fan responded. The altercation went down at Richie Akiva's Cannes Film Festival afterparty behind the DJ booth when Scott and A.E. began to argue, but it's unclear what exactly sparked the disagreement. Following the brief tussle with punches exchanged, security diffused the fight. Meanwhile Cher recently emerged victorious in a long-running legal battle with Sonny Bono's widow that centered on the messy intersection between federal copyrights and state-level divorce law. A federal judge ruled on May 29 that Mary Bono must continue paying Cher her cut under the couple's decades-old divorce settlement. - Billboard, 6/3/24...... Kate HudsonAs Almost Famous actress Kate Hudson releases her debut album Glorious this spring, she opened up about her transition to music to Rolling Stone, 20 years after she first made her acting debut. Although Hudson, the daughter of Goldie Hawn, said she hasn't turned her back on acting, she hopes to see the two worlds collide in the form of a Stevie Nicks biopic. "I think for all girls who love rock, Stevie's just our number one," Hudson said. "Her whole life experience and the music. Fleetwood Mac, that whole journey from before Stevie to after Stevie? And her relationship with Lindsey [Buckingham]? It's like a trilogy. There's so much there. To me, that's like the ultimate rock 'n' roll story." Explaining what a role like that would mean to her and her relatives, she added: "My family might disown me if I ever got a chance to play Stevie. 'Cause they'd be like, 'Can we not go method?' I would probably go way too far into that character." Hudson, who also starred in such Hollywood blockbusters as How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Bride Wars and more, said she would also love to play Dusty Springfield one day -- not only because of her music, but because of her personal life too. "To me it's also about the interesting life, and being able to tell that story correctly. I think Dusty Springfield is a really interesting story," she said. "She's one of my favourites and she was very shy. She had a lot of stage fright. Really fascinating woman. I think she struggled with being open about her sexuality. That could be a very powerful movie." While there are no plans for a biopic to be made about either Nicks or Springfield at present, this type of film has become increasingly popular lately with biopics of Queen, Elvis Presley, Elton John and Bob Marley becoming some of the most commercially successful films in recent years. A video of Hudson's new single, "Talk About Love," can be viewed on YouTube. Stevie Nicks will embark on her 2024 UK and Ireland tour in Dublin in July. - New Musical Express, 6/4/24...... Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are continuing their successful collaboration with a 2024 summer tour that kicked off on June 2 in Tulsa, Okla. "I think it started off very tentatively," Plant said in a recent conference call with Krauss of the pair going on the road together over the last few summers. "Myself and Alison were very cagey about the whole idea, having been apart for such a long time, and as it developed, it just felt very natural. And there are places to play, and if you don't play them, somebody else will." This is the third consecutive summer the pair are on the road together, a tradition that began after the 2021 release of their second collaborative album Raise The Roof. The album arrived 14 years after their debut project, Raising Sand, which won album of the year at the 2009 Grammys. Both projects found the duo covering songs by artists as disparate as The Everly Brothers and Calexico, along with a few of their own originals. Plant also weighed in on whether there's anything left to learn about Led Zeppelin as a new Zeppelin documentary is set to be released: "Maybe. I'm not sure. I saw some bits of it a while back. It's taken from very early on, so it's pre-shorts. The pre-shorts and post-shorts eras." The Plant/Krauss tour will visit 36 cities in the U.S. and Canada over the summer, with 10 of the dates alongside Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan and Celisse on the Outlaw Music Festival tour. - Billboard, 6/4/24...... In what he describes as his "long-awaited review" of Prince Harry's memoir Spare, John Lennon's son Sean Ono Lennon has called the royal an "idiot." "My long awaited review of Prince Harry's autobiography is two words. 'Spare Me.'," Lennon posted to X on May 29. One user took aim at Lennon and commented: "Well, you were the spare Lennon," with the musician replying: "If you say so." Another user went on to say that it took Harry "courage" to open up and write his book. Lennon jokingly replied: "The todger story certainly took some courage," referring to Harry's account of having frostbite on his genitals. Lennon then went on to call the Duke an "idiot" and a "buffoon," adding: "I'm very disappointed with his outlook. I was hoping he'd be smarter." He also hit back at the claims that that he "based his whole life on his father's success," tweeting: "I mean, I don't care but I did win an Oscar this years so I think I'm doing okay." Sean won an Oscar at this year's Academy Awards for Best Animated Short for War Is Over!. Meanwhile the John Lennon Estate recently partnered with the Lumenate app for a series of meditation mixes, developed from the musician's 1973 track "Mind Games." They were made with the help of Ono Lennon, and arrive in time for Mental Health Awareness Month. - NME, 6/3/24...... In other Beatles-related news, George Harrison's white Washburn EA20 Woodstock acoustic guitar he played onstage during an iconic segment of the Prince's Trust All Star Rock Concert is set to be auctioned on Gottahaverockandroll.com on June 7. The instrument is estimated to sell for between $75,000-$100,000. - Music-News.com, 6/4/24...... Steve MillerOn June 1 Steve Miller shared his thoughts on rap superstar Eminem's interpolation of Miller's chart-topping hit "Abracadabra" in Eminem's latest single, "Houdini." "There is a long chain of stories, poetry, lyrics, and musical roots that have crossed cultures and generations inspiring the whole world for hundreds of years and in all those lines of thought, music, and rhythm there are special artists who take it all in and create new original ideas from their own feelings and experiences," Miller wrote in a lengthy message on Instagram. "You are one of those timeless originators building something new on a long musical legacy of original artists." He continued, "I have always tried to credit, honor, and respect the major influencers in my life and to always credit, honor royalties and share knowledge of their work through my own work. I didn't know it would be this way when I was a kid trying to make a living playing music and making records, I only knew I had to respect the art that came before me and fight for it too among all the crooks, thieves, and imposters." "Abracadabra" spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1982. In addition to Eminem, Miller's music has been sampled by numerous other artists over the years, including other hip-hop stars like Nas, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Beastie Boys and N.W.A. "Houdini" is the lead single off of Em's 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace), which is expected to arrive this summer. - Billboard, 6/1/24...... Some of Detroit's biggest stars -- including Diana Ross, Jack White and Big Sean -- will headline a Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central event to celebrate Ford Motor Company's six-year restoration of Motown's Michigan Central Station on June 6. The Station first opened in 1913, as was one of the grandest and tallest train depots in the United States. However, it closed in 1988 as travel preferences and technology changed, and remained vacant until Ford's acquisition of the property in 2018. Since then, the company has been working to restore The Station and retrofit it with modern technological infrastructure to support its next chapter. The event, already sold-out, will stream live exclusively on Peacock on June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Additionally, NBC will air a one-hour primetime special on June 9 starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The concert will also stream locally on Local 4+ and ClickOnDetroit.com. - Billboard, 6/3/24...... ABBA was honored with The Order of the Vasa, one of the most prestigious knighthoods in Sweden, on May 31 during a ceremony headed by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf. The Order of the Vasa was handed out for the first time in almost 50 years, with ABBA members Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad becoming "Commander of the First Class" of the order for "very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life." The Royal Order of Vasa, which is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden or for Swedish interests as well as the successful performance of public duties and assignments, was dormant until late 2022, when it was reactivated after regulations opened the Royal Orders to Swedish citizens again. "The order you get today today is Sweden's thanks for your exceptional efforts," the monarch said before handing out orders to "13 exceptional Swedes." Andersson, Faltskog, Lyngstad, who now uses the last name Reuss walked up using a cane, and Ulvaeus received the order in an event that was aired live on Swedish media. Earlier in 2024, candidates were nominated by the public and the Swedish government and the king approved the nominees that included the four ABBA members. The quartet has not performed together live for four decades, but released a comeback album, Voyage, in 2021. The digital "ABBA-tars" opened in London in 2022. - Billboard, 6/2/24...... The Grateful Dead spinoff band Dead & Company paid tribute to late NBA legend and massive Deadhead Bill Walton during a performance at Sphere in Las Vegas on May 30. During their performance of 1978's "Fire on the Mountain," the screen of the Sphere showed a montage of photos of Walton hanging out with the band, wearing the merch and more. The tribute also featured a stunning display of Walton's jersey number, 32, adorned in tie dye and roses. Photos of tribute can be viewed on the band's Instagram page. The band also paid tribute to Walton previously in an Instagram post, saying, "Fare you well, fare you well, we love you more than words can tell. Bill was an irreplaceable force and spirit in our family. Father Time, Rhythm Devil, biggest deadhead ever. Over 1000 shows and couldn't get enough. He loved this band and we loved him..." - Billboard, 5/31/24...... Former The Police frontman Sting will front his new power rock trio to headline the BBC's Radio 2 in the Park 2024 festivities in Preston in September. Fresh off his STING 3.0 tour, Sting (vocals, bass), long-time collaborator Dominic Miller (guitar) and drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers) will be performing selections of music from Sting's timeless discography, including solo hits, surprise rarities and Police classics, on Sept. 7. After launching in Germany last week, the STING 3.0 Tour has already received an amazing reaction from fans and media. The festivities take place in Moor Park in Preston, Lancashire on Sept. 7 and 8, with a Park Pre-Party on the DJ stage on Sept. 6. Headlining the Sept. 8 show will be Pet Shop Boys. Radio 2 is the UK's most listened to radio station with 13.23 million weekly listeners. - Music-News.com, 6/3/24...... Van HalenVan Halen at 50, a new unauthorized Van Halen book by veteran rock bio writer Martin Popoff, celebrates the San Francisco-based rock band's "Top 50 Historic Moments." Hitting stores on May 28, the book not only aims to explore some of the band's most historic moments, but provides fans with a precious keepsake featuring candid photos of the four bandmates on and off the stage. Van Halen at 50 features 192 pages and covers five decades of the rockers' career, including the band's formation, notable appearances at Texxas Jam, Farm Aid and Monsters of Rock, as well as pages dedicated to trivia-worthy topics like Eddie Van Halen's finger-tapping technique, the band's album art, and the eternal Dave [Roth] vs. Sammy [Hagar] question, according to the official description. It also features an oral history on Ed that uses more than 50 hours of interviews with the guitarist to capture his history. - Billboard, 5/31/24...... Earlier in 2024, The Who's Pete Townshend briefly mentioned the idea of a Who avatar tour or show during an interview with The New York Times. The guitarist told the outlet that he wanted the group to "play every territory in the world" before they "crawl off to die." But he later explained that "The Who isn't (Roger) Daltrey and Townshend onstage at 80, pretending to be young... It's the four of us in 1964, when we were 18 or 19. If you want to see The Who myth, wait for the avatar show. It would be good!," Townshend mused. Now, Daltrey has spoken with Ultimate Classic Rock about the possibility of The Who doing an avatar show. The publication gave an example of the format by citing the ABBA Voyage spectacle in London, which is celebrating its second anniversary in June. "What, we're going to go out and do ABBA covers? I don't think so. I'd look f---ing awful in a mini dress!," Daltrey joked. After pausing to seriously consider the prospect of a virtual Who gig, the singer added: "I've never thought about it. I wouldn't want to go and see it." Daltrey is due to embark on a "semi-acoustic" solo tour of North America in July. The Who played two orchestral shows at London's Royal Albert Hall in March as part of this year's Teenage Cancer Trust gig series. The second night featured a surprise guest appearance from Eddie Vedder. - NME, 5/31/24...... In 1971, a few hundred young people from around the world stood on a lush hilltop in Italy and sang about their collective desire to "buy the world a Coke." The now iconic Coca-Cola commercial became a hallmark moment in advertising history and a bona fide hit: A version of "I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" by British pop group The New Seekers reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Half a century later, Coca-Cola has its eyes on the charts again, but with a very different and ambitious strategy: through music created by superstar artists in collaboration with Coke itself; promoted and distributed by those artists' labels; and supported by label partner Universal Music Group (UMG), which will assist with promotional and playlist strategy. On a recent day in Seoul, for instance, K-pop sensation NewJeans recorded R&B-infused pop track "How Sweet," sung in English and Korean, which arrived May 24 as both the lead 2024 Coke Studio song and the title track to the act's latest mini-album. The girl group is just one example of the global stars Coke has signed to its roster. Colombian phenomenon Karol G is also working with the brand, and internationally in-demand electronic producer Peggy Gou has created a club banger with, as Coke puts it, a "timeless beat" that "will cross borders and genres." Coke says it will roll out two more original songs with selected artists in 2024. Coca-Cola will hold the 14th annual edition of its own festival, the Coca-Cola Music Experience, in September in Madrid. - Billboard, 5/31/24...... During the June 4 episode of The Osbournes podcast, Ozzy Osbourne revealed he developed a "hate" for doctors after his 2003 4-wheeler accident which necessitated surgery in which metal rods were installed in his body. Ozzy, Sharon Osbourne and their kids Jack and Kelly Osbourne spoke to a friend named Dr Greg about emergency room work. "We have a lot of love and respect for emergency room doctors, because they saved Dad's life," Kelly said of Ozzy. "In England on the NHS and everything, I saw first-hand how quickly you have to make such an important decision with such little information." Dr Greg responded, "That definitely happens sometimes... In some cases it's hard, because you don't know what's going on. But in some cases that becomes very, very easy, because there's first-order principles for us -- we talk about ABCs in the emergency room." When Kelly asserted that Ozzy, 75, would "love going to the doctor", Sharon replied, "Not anymore." "I f---ing hate them," Ozzy said of his doctors. "I've probably seen more doctors than this guy (Dr Greg)." Osbourne announced in 2023 that he needed to undergo another operation, this time on his neck. "I'm going for an epidural soon because what they've discovered is the neck has been fixed," he explained at the time. "Below the neck there's two vertebrae where the bike hit me and disintegrated, there's nothing left of 'em. All I know is... is right now I'm in a lot of pain. I'm in a lot of discomfort." - Music-News.com, 6/5/24...... The Sex PistolsFormer The Sex Pistols members Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and Steve Jones are joining forces with Frank Carter to save the historic West London venue Bush Hall with two concerts on Aug. 13 and 14. The Sex Pistols, one of the most influential rock bands of all time, will be joined by the electric frontman Frank Carter at Bush Hall to perform the Sex Pistols' iconic 1977 album Never Mind The Bollocks in its entirety. Funds raised from the gigs will go directly towards preserving the revered independent London venue. Both Cook and Jones grew up around the venue, attending as punters themselves, while Carter performed at Bush Hall back in 2012 for his debut live show with his former group, Pure Love. "We're doing a benefit for Bush Hall with the famous Frank Carter. We're going to be playing Pistols numbers cause they need support and they need the money," Cook says. "We thought it would be a great way to stop it going under. This is my local venue. I grew up in Shepherd's Bush and I still live round here. It would be a real shame to see it disappear and we want to keep it going. So everyone get down to the gig!" Frank Carter says, "This has been a joy from start to finish. When the Sex Pistols call, you answer. I'm very excited to be a part of it." - Music-News.com, 6/3/24...... Michael Jackson's children and mother have been blocked from receiving funds from his trust until his estate resolves a legal issue. Prince, 27, Paris, 26, and Bigi Jackson, 22, as well as their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, 94, have been temporarily cut off from the King of Pop's trust. According to court documents obtained by People, they will not be able to receive any money until the estate resolves an ongoing dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The legal issue began when IRS officials issued the estate "a note of deficiency" following a tax audit and claimed executors "undervalued its assets" and owed "$700 million in taxes and penalties." The estate argued the findings and won its case in 2021. However, it has since filed a motion for the value of the singer's back catalogue to be reconsidered. This means the value of the estate for tax purposes is currently undetermined and the beneficiaries of the trust cannot receive funds until it is finalized. In the documents, attorneys asked for a portion of the estate to be given to the family trust, but this request was denied because it couldn't be determined "what amount could be safely distributed at this time." Executors then suggested Michael's beneficiaries receive funds through the "family allowance." - Music-News.com, 5/31/24.

Longtime Donald Trump critics Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand are among the stars in the entertainment world reacting to the news that former president Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his sensational hush money case. On May 30, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts lobbied against him for falsifying records in an attempt to cover up hush money payments to porn actress Stormi Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 presidential elections, which he won. Daniels alleged that she had sexual relations with Trump in 2006, which he has continually denied. "Convicted felon Donald Trump is blaming the judge, the jury and New York for being found guilty on 34 counts. He will never accept accountability for his crimes. Americans must not allow this felon anywhere near the White House again," Streisand posted to X. Midler also took to X to post: "Donald Trump doesn't belong in my city... We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot. A two-bit playboy lying his way into the tabloids... A clown. This city is pretty accomodating. We make room for clowns. But a person like Trump can't run the country. That does not work, and we all know that" above pics of Trump and his New Yorker nemesis Robert DeNiro. Other '70s personalities reacting to the Trump verdict include Rob Reiner, Henry Winkler, Mark Hamill and Lynda Carter. The guilty verdict now makes Trump the first-ever President of the United States to be convicted of a crime, and he is due to return to Manhattan court on July 11 for his sentencing. - New Musical Express, 5/31/24......Elton JohnElton John announced on Instagram on May 29 that he and his Elton John AIDS Foundation are challenging fans to take on his 1970 hit "Your Song" as part of a new "Speak Up Sing Out" campaign, giving one entrant the chance to meet him and his husband David Furnish, who is the foundation's chairman, in June. Designed to help end the stigma against the LGBTQ community on social media, the challenge asks participants to post vertical videos of personalized renditions of the Rocket Man's most famous ballad, a No. 8 US hit that was co-written with his longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. More specifically, the foundation is calling on fans to sing one of the track's final lines -- "I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind, that I put down in words how wonderful life is while you're in the world" -- and mark their clips online with the hashtag #SpeakUpSingOutGiveaway. After finishing the song, contestants are to name and tag someone who has inspired them to embrace their authentic selves. Fans should also make sure they're following the Elton John AIDS Foundation on Instagram before entering. "Living boldly and fearlessly is what I strive for every day, but I know firsthand the importance of having a support system that empowers you to do so -- a privilege I'm immensely grateful for," John said in a statement. "This (LGBTQ+) Pride Month, I extend a heartfelt invitation to stand with me and the Foundation to honor the champion in your life," he added. The giveaway ends June 18 at 8 p.m. ET. Afterward, one contestant will be chosen to win a trip to meet John and Furnish later that month. - Billboard, 5/29/24...... Willie Nelson's new album The Border becomes the latest in his 150+ LP discography as it hit stores on May 31 via Legacy Recordings. The Border features 10 newly-recorded studio performances by the 91-year-old country/pop star, including four new compositions he co-wrote with Buddy Cannon: "Once Upon a Yesterday," "What If I'm Out of My Mind," "Kiss Me When You're Through," "How Much Does It Cost" and "Hank's Guitar," which was co-written by Cannon and Bobby Tomberlin. Among the many projects Nelson has lined up for 2024 include his popular 4th of July Picnic concert, this time held in a new location at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, N.J., just outside Philadelphia, and his annual Outlaw Music Festival Tour, which kicks off June 21 in Alpharetta, Ga., and features many of the same artists as will appear at the July 4 event -- Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Mavis Staples. Nelson has made The Border available to be streamed in full on Spotify.com. - Billboard, 5/31/24...... John LennonThe iconic "lost" 1964 Framus Hootenanny acoustic guitar used by John Lennon during the 1965 sessions for the Beatles' Help! album set a new record when it sold for $2.9 million at a Julien's auction on May 29. The auction was conducted at the Times Square Hard Rock Café in New York. The Framus 12-string -- which was also used by Lennon's late Beatles bandmate George Harrison during the sessions for the Fab Four's 1966 Rubber Soul LP and was heard and seen on the Help! album and movie -- was purchased via a phone bid from an undisclosed buyer. The guitar went missing for nearly 50 years after Lennon gave it to Gordon Waller of the British duo Peter & Gordon, who he and Paul McCartney had been writing songs for. Waller, in turn, gave it to his manager, who stashed it in an attic of his home, according to Julien's. Julien co-founder Darren Julien said in a YouTube video that a British man found the guitar and its case in his parent's attic when they were moving out and promptly reached out to the auction house, who authenticated it with a Beatles expert. The guitar was initially valued at an estimated $600,000-$800,000 before selling to the anonymous buyer for $2,857,500. Julien's said the sale made it the most expensive Beatles guitar to ever sell at auction. In 2015, another Lennon acoustic guitar sold at auction for a then-record $2.4 million. - Billboard, 5/30/24...... In other Beatles news, a blue plaque of English Heritage has been placed at George Harrison's childhood home in Liverpool. Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison, unveiled the tribute at the house in Arnold Grove, Liverpool. Olivia went on to say that the plaque was "a source of family pride." Harrison -- who passed in 2001 at the age of 58 after battling cancer -- was born in 1943 and lived in the terraced house in the Wavertree district of the city until the age of seven. The plaque is one of the first official English Heritage blue plaques to be placed on a property outside London. The Liverpool Beatles Museum posted a pic of the plaque to their X account, and video of Olivia talking about her pride about the honor can be viewed on the Liverpool Council's X page. - NME, 5/24/24...... After Ozzy Osbourne revealed earlier in May that he would "jump at the chance" to play a final Black Sabbath show with co-founding drummer Bill Ward -- who backed out of playing the band's reunion shows between 2011 and 2017 over an "unreasonable" contract -- Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler says he and Ozzy "have agreed" to play one final Sabbath concert. Butler recently appeared on SirisuXM's Eddie Trunk podcast and told Trunk that he and Osbourne have "agreed" to play one last show. Butler said: "Of course there's an interest [on my part to do it], but there's a big 'but' -- you'd have to speak to Bill [Ward] about it. Everybody wants to do it [but I don't know if he is] capable [of pulling it off]." Since then, guitarist Tony Iommi has also weighed in on the potential reunion: "That'd be a nice thing to actually do, but whether it happens will be another thing. But we'll see. I mean, who knows?" At the beginning of 2024, Ozzy's wife/manager Sharone Osbourne revealed that Osbourne was planning "two more shows to say goodbye" before he fully retires from performing live. Sharon recently dropped a huge hint that Ozzy will play two gigs in Aston, Birmingham, at Villa Park, the home of Premier League giants Aston Villa. She said: "We will do it in Aston Villa where Ozzy is from," with at least one of the shows to feature Geezer Butler, and possibly other BS members. - NME, 5/30/24...... Duane Betts says that he's been "holding up" since the death of his father, Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, on Apr. 18 at the age of 80. And while he and Allman Betts Band partner Devon Allman -- son of the late ABB leader Gregg Allman -- don't necessarily need more reason to pay tribute to their fathers' musical legacy, Betts says there's a different kind of charge in playing their songs now. "Now that he's gone it changes it a little more," says Betts, who was named after the late Duane Allman and played at times in his father's post-Allman Brothers band, Great Southern. "I think the spirit is always with me, whether I'm playing those particular songs or I'm playing my own songs. He had kinda been in poor health for awhile, so I was already playing for him and getting a lot of inspiration (from) thinking about him and what his legacy means to me, personally. I love playing that music and really treasure it 'cause it's precious. so it's nice to play a few of their tunes and mix 'em with our originals I do with the Allman Betts Band or a Duane Betts show. Allman Betts has been mixing a variety of ABB tunes into its current spring tour, including selections such as "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," "Blue Sky," "Jessica," "Melissa," "Midnight Rider," "Dreams," "Seven Turns" and "Sailin 'Cross the Devil's Sea," as well as Allmans-popularized covers like Sonny Boy Williamson's "One Way Out" and Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues." So far, Allman Betts has released only one album, 2020's Bless Your Heart, but Betts says "we haven't really gotten that far" on recording a follow-up. "We have a few more shows later in the summer, and we're just having a great time on tour and not thinking about anything else yet," says Betts, who released a solo album, Wild & Precious Life, in July 2023. - Billboard, 5/30/24...... HeartOn May 30 Heart announced in an Instagram post that they were cancelling the European leg of their Royal Flush tour, which was scheduled to kick off June 20 and run through July 12 and include several festival spots, to enable singer Ann Wilson time to recover from a medical procedure. "We regret to inform you that all upcoming Heart performances in Europe are canceled," reads a statement from the band. The band deeply regrets this unfortunate circumstance and hopes to return to Europe soon." The statement added that Wilson "will undergo a time-sensitive but routine procedure for which the minimum recovery time is six weeks." As it stands, Heart will return to the road July 30, for a concert at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Oh., with Def Leppard and Journey, the first in a lengthy run of stadium and arena shows in the U.S. and Canada. Heart's Royal Flush tour marks the band's return to the road for the first time in five years. The North America leg kicked off Apr. 20 in Greenville, S.C., with Cheap Trick as support on most dates, while Squeeze was set to open on a handful of those now-nixed summer European dates. - Billboard, 5/30/24...... In related news, on May 25 Bruce Springsteen was forced to postpone four shows in Europe "under doctor's direction." Springsteen canceled his performance in Marseille, France, the same day the show was scheduled to take place, noting on Instagram that the postponement was "due to vocal issues." "Bruce is recuperating comfortably," an update posted on Springsteen's Instagram account said on May 26, but went on to announce that more tour dates were being postponed. In March, Springsteen and the E Street Band relaunched their world tour after a six-month break due to the singer's battle with peptic ulcer disease. According to the latest update, Springsteen and the E Street Band are currently set to resume their stadium tour in Madrid on June 12. Springsteen's upcoming tour dates can be viewed on his official website. - Billboard, 5/26/24...... Sony is reportedly in talks to acquire Queen music catalog and its other music assets, according to Bloomberg.com. There have been multiple reports that Queen's catalog was up for sale since Music Business Worldwide first broke the news in May 2023. So far, Queen is believed to have had initial conversations about the potential deal with Disney, which owns the band's masters for North America, and Universal Music Group. According to sources, the deal is being shopped by the band's lawyers. Sources say that Queen was seeking $1.2 billion for its music assets, a price tag that limited the number of prospective suitors. In order to swallow the hefty price tag, Sony is reportedly partnering with an undisclosed financial player. Previously, Sony had help in acquiring the Bruce Springsteen master recording catalog from Eldridge Industries, which at one time owned Billboard magazine. If Sony completes the deal, it could very well be the biggest music asset deal ever made, even if it does not command the highest valuation for an artist's music assets. In late 2023, Sony bought half of the Michael Jackson estate for about $600 million, according to sources, though Sony never confirmed the acquisition. - Billboard, 5/29/24...... As Patti LaBelle reached her milestone 80th birthday on May 24, the legendary R&B singer teased a potential collaboration with her "new best friend," rising rapper Cardi B. LaBelle's close friend Whoopi Goldberg threw Patti a surprise party on that day attended by the likes of Gayle King, Fat Joe, Tamron Hall and more, and during the party LaBelle revealed plans for her next album and a possible collaboration on the horizon with Cardi B. LaBelle told Entertainment Tonight she loves the idea of working with Cardi B. "Why not," she said. "[Cardi's] like one of my new best friends. And to know that she was into Patti LaBelle, she's like my new buddy." The pair previously joined forces last Thanksgiving to combine their products for a delectable holiday side dish. LaBelle added that her upcoming album should arrive in 2024, and the title is inspired by her age combined with the amount of time she's spent working in the music industry. "It should be out at the end of this year, and it's called 8065," she said. "I'm 80 years young and 65 years in show business." LaBelle's new LP will be the followup to her holiday-themed album Miss Patti's Christmas in 2007. Meanwhile, Patti will be among the headliners at Pres. Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's second annual Juneteenth Concert, which will take place on June 10 on the White House's South Lawn. Also performing will be Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, Brittney Spencer, Doug E. Fresh and Roy Wood, Jr., among more. The Juneteenth concert will take place during Black Music Month, and this year's performers were selected for "their mark on the culture in studios, pulpits, and stages over their successful careers," per a White House press release. - Billboard, 5/30/24...... Sylvester Stallone"Eye of the Tiger," the legendary pump-up anthem by classic rockers Survivor used in the 1982 Rocky III movie, has just hit 1 billion views on YouTube. The video for the 1982 song, which spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, begins with a repetitive picked guitar part over cymbal crashes is quintessential early '80s, mostly consisting of the band's five members power walking down city streets looking focused and fierce. In addition to serving as the theme song for Rocky III, the propulsive track was also a single from Survivor's third studio album of the same name. Founding guitarist Frankie Sullivan -- who co-wrote the song with founding rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Jim Peterik -- confirmed to Guitar Player magazine in an interview in March of this year that Survivor was not Rocky III star Sylvester Stallone's first choice. Sullivan revealed that Stallone used Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" in an early cut of the film, but was unable to keep it in the final version. After Stallone had dinner with his good friends Tony and Ben Scotti of Scotti Brothers Records, Stallone agreed to call Sullivan and ask him to come up with a song for the film. After watching the film, Sullivan said it became a scramble to finish the track, with the music taking "about 10 minutes," while the lyrics bubbled for three days. "We had 90 percent of them, but we couldn't come up with a title," the guitarist recalled. While looking through the script he spotted a line where rival Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) reminds Rocky that he used to have the eye of the tiger. "And that was our title," Sullivan said. - Billboard, 5/30/24...... A self-described scammer based in Nigeria has taken credit for the failed attempt to auction off Elvis Presley's iconic Graceland residence in Memphis, Tenn. Earlier in May, it was reported that actress Riley Keough, Presley's granddaughter, was taking legal action to halt the court-approved sale of Graceland. The fate of the iconic residence was thrown into question due to events stemming back to 2018, when a deed of trust was allegedly signed by Keugh's late mother Lisa Marie Presley and secured a $3.8 million loan from Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC in Missouri. The company claimed that Graceland was used as collateral in the loan, which was never paid back. After taking the matter to court, it was confirmed just days before the auction that Keough had been successful in her plea, and a Tennessee judge had blocked the planned sale of Graceland. According to The New York Times, a self-described scammer based in Nigeria has come forward and taken credit for the plan to send the iconic property to auction -- saying that he was working as part of an identity theft ring. In his email to the paper, the individual said that he and his colleagues typically scam the vulnerable and the elderly, and turned their sights to the Memphis estate. "We figure out how to steal. That's what we do," he told The Times. "I had fun figuring this one out and it didn't succeed very well. The Times also reported that the email was written in Luganda, a language spoken in Uganda. "The chance of succeeding in what they were trying to do -- that is, to get the property auctioned off and get the proceeds and then use the money -- doesn't seem to be the actual intent, unless they are incredibly stupid," says Northwestern University criminal justice professor Dr Nikos Passas. "So, the question is then, 'What was the intent, and who was behind it?'" - NME/AP, 5/29/24...... Cher has won her lawsuit against Sonny Bono's second wife over royalties to "I Got You Babe" and other hits after a federal judge ruled on May 29 that Mary Bono must continue paying the "Believe" singer her cut under the couple's decades-old divorce settlement. More than 20 years after Sonny's death, Mary argued that she no longer needed to pay royalties to Cher thanks to copyright law's so-called termination right -- a provision of federal law that allows songwriters and their heirs to win back control of their intellectual property rights decades after they gave them away. Judge John A. Kronstadt ruled that the federal termination rules do not trump Sonny and Cher's 1978 divorce settlement, which gave the singer a permanent 50% cut of the publishing revenue from songs written before the couple split up. The ruling means that Cher will continue to receive publishing royalties for her catalog of songs created with Sonny, including "The Beat Goes On" and "Baby Don't Go." According to Wednesday's ruling, more than $400,000 in royalties owed to Cher have piled up since the dispute began. Mary can appeal the ruling to a federal appeals court, and her attorney said that regardless of how the case plays out, Mary and Cher would continue to work "collaboratively and respectfully" in order to "uphold and honor Sonny's musical legacy." - Billboard, 5/29/24...... Barry ManilowBarry Manilow was back on stage at the London Palladium on May 28 after cancelling one of his farewell shows at the legendary venue the previous day on "doctor's orders." According to Metro UK, the singer, 80, called off his May 27 gig with just hours to go, writing on Instagram, "Unfortunately, under doctor's orders, we must cancel tonight's 27th May Barry Manilow concert." Hundreds of disappointed fans were reported to be lined up outside the theater when the news was announced. Though upset, "Fanilows" spread the love to the "Mandy" singer in comments on the X post about the rescheduling, with one writing, "Good news, what a relief to know you're feeling better (if the doctor is OK, I'm happy you can perform today). You can count on me tonight and for the 10 other concerts (evening & afternoon)." Manilow is in the middle of a nine-show residency run at the venue entitled "The Last, Last UK Concerts." The shows are slated to run through June 9. The setting is fitting because the London Palladium was where the "Mandy" singer performed his first UK gigs in 1978. Manilow's tour schedule can be viewed on Instagram, and fan footage from the May 28 concert has been shared on X. - Billboard, 5/29/24...... ABBA will receive the The Order of the Vasa -- one of the most prestigious knighthoods in their native Sweden -- at a ceremony on May 31. Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad will receive the royal Order of Vasa as "Commander of the First Class" for "very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life." The Royal Order of Vasa, which is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden or for Swedish interests as well as the successful performance of public duties and assignments, was dormant until late 2022, when it was reactivated after regulations opened the Royal Orders to Swedish citizens again. Earlier this year, candidates were nominated by the public and the Swedish government and King Carl XVI Gustaf approved the nominees that included the four ABBA members. ABBA's 1974 Eurovision Song Contest turned the group into a pop juggernaut, by far the most successful band to win the pan-continental music contest. The quartet's melodic disco pop sold hundreds of millions of records worldwide. The stage musical "Mamma Mia!" based on the group's songs is 25 years old and spawned two movies. Meanwhile, Ulvaeus and Andersson hinted that live version of ABBA's Voyage avatar show featuring human performers could appear at the UK's Glastonbury festival in 2024. "Oh yes! It's a brilliant idea," said Ulvaeus, who with Andersson took part in a Q&A during a second anniversary Voyage celebration in London on May 27. "They're a great band, why shouldn't they play?" - AP, 5/31/24...... Dead & Company has extended its residency at Las Vegas' Sphere for an additional six shows this August, with the new dates added due to "increased demand." The new shows are verified for Aug. 1-3 and Aug. 7-10, an extension to what's said to be a "must-see" immersive experience that celebrates the legacy of the Rock Hall-inducted Grateful Dead, combining their songbook with the Sphere's technical spectacles. Dead & Company's previously announced, 24-date residency began May 16 and was expected to run through July 13. The group -- which includes GD founding member guitarist/singer Bob Weir and longtime drummer/percussionist Mickey Hart, as well as John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge -- formed in 2015. Co-founder drummer Bill Kreutzmann was originally part of the band as well, but he exited in 2023, before the band kicked off what it called its "final tour" last summer. Meanwhile, Dead & Company have paid tribute to late NBA legend and GD fan Bill Walton, who passed away on May 27 at age 71 following a battle with cancer. Walton was a lot of things: the 1977-78 NBA MVP, two-time league champion, sportscaster and, perhaps most famously, a huge Deadhead. In a tribute to their biggest superfan, the surviving members of the GD honored Walton in an Instagram post on the Dead & Company feed, saying, "Fare you well, fare you well, we love you more than words can tell. Bill was an irreplaceable force and spirit in our family. Father Time, Rhythm Devil, biggest deadhead ever. Over 1000 shows and couldn't get enough. He loved this band and we loved him." The post included several pics of Walton in his signature tie dye vibing out at Dead shows over the years, including several shots of him in elaborate, colorful costumes honoring the times he dressed up as "Father Time" for Dead shows on New Year's Eve. - Billboard, 5/28/24...... Peter FramptonPeter Frampton will be honored as a recipient of the Les Paul Spirit Award during a private event at the Gibson Garage venue in Nashville on June 9. The annual award, created and presented by the Les Paul Foundation, goes to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation will be made in the honoree's name to the charity of his choice. Frampton is the fourth recipient of the award, following Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers and U2's The Edge. The Les Paul Spirit Award is made from hand-carved acoustic boards built by Paul, who died in 2009 at age 94, that he used in his home studio. Given the unique nature of the studio pieces which are being used to create them, no two Les Paul Spirit Awards will be exactly the same. Frampton, 74, was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle condition called inclusion body myositis (IBM) in 2019. Despite that health challenge, he continues to write and perform. - Billboard, 5/28/24...... The Swedish five-piece rock band The Hives have teamed up with Spotify for their Spotify Singles to release their rendition of Blue Swede's 1974 hit track "Hooked on a Feeling." Released on March 29 of that year, "Hooked on a Feeling" made history by becoming the first single by a Swedish artist to take the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. "Hooked on a Feeling" has racked up over 660 million streams on Spotify to date, in part thanks to its feature in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Reservoir Dogs. For their version of the song, which can be streamed on Spotify.com, The Hives swapped the song's original slower tempo for something much louder and more boisterous. Speaking about the cover in a press release, The Hives' frontman Pelle Almqvist said: "I think there's a synergy effect of Swedish music having made it abroad, and you feel like it's possible. We can't make it more perfect than the original is, so we went the other way instead: ruined it, but made it sound exciting." - NME, 5/24/24...... After causing controversy in 2023 by speaking out against inclusivity and diversity changes being implemented by the Academy Awards, Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss has sparked new outrage after delivering a rant during a recent screening of his 1975 movie Jaws that attendees categorized as "transphobic, sexist and homophobic." In a video shared to YouTube, Dreyfuss, who also starred in American Graffiti, The Goodbye Girl and What About Bob?, was seen walking out ahead of the screening to the sounds of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" wearing a floral print dress. According to a social media account shared on X, Dreyfuss "went off the rails" when he spoke about his experience working with Barbra Streisand on Nuts, who he "didn't listen to because she's a woman and women shouldn't have that power." Dreyfuss also allegedly "started down the road of how you shouldn't be listening to some 10-year-old who says they want to be a boy instead of a girl." Elsewhere, Dreyfuss allegedly called his Jaws director Steven Spielberg "a genius but an idiot" and said their other collaboration, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, was only a success because he "convinced Spielberg to hire him instead of Gene Hackman." "This was disgusting," posted one attendee on the Facebook page of Beverly's The Cabot theatre. "How could the Cabot not have vetted his act better. Apparently (I found out too late), he has a reputation for spewing this kind of racist, homophobic, misogynistic bullcrap." On Facebook, one moviegoer said he left after 20 minutes. "Should have been fun, but what a disappointment. Dreyfuss is a pathetic clown and an intolerant jerk," he wrote. Another said Dreyfuss was "behaving like an ass." As Dreyfuss' appearance made the rounds online, the Cabot issued a statement of apology. "We regret that an event that was meant to be a conversation to celebrate an iconic movie instead became a platform for political views. We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for the discomfort it caused to many patrons," the statement read. - Canoe.com, 5/28/24...... Doug IngleDoug Ingle, the original singer and organist of psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly, died on May 25. He was 78, and a cause of death was not provided. Ingle's son Doug Ingle Jr. shared the news of his father's passing on Facebook, writing, "It's with a heavy heart & great sadness to announce the passing of my Father Doug Ingle. Dad passed away peacefully this evening in the presence of family. Thank You Dad for being a father, teacher and friend. Cherished loving memories I will carry the rest of my days moving forward in this journey of life." Ingle, writer of Iron Butterfly's signature song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," was the last surviving member of the group's classic lineup, which was formed in San Diego in 1966. Drummer Ron Bushy died in 2021 at age 79, bassist Lee Dornan passed in 2012 at age 70, and guitarist Erik Brann died in 2003 at age 52. Following numerous lineup changes early on, Ingle and Bushy was part of the five-piece Iron Butterfly that released the act's 1968 debut album, Heavy. Soon after, the band's other three members departed and were replaced by Brann and Dornan, who were part of the lineup that released the 17-minute version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." A shortened version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968, one of four Iron Butterfly titles to impact the chart. Its parent album hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart (and remained on the chart for 140 weeks, a long run at the time for a rock album), while 1969's Ball went to No. 3. Ingle remained with Iron Butterfly through the release of its 1970 album, Metamorphosis, and left when the band broke up a year later. Ingle did not take part in an Iron Butterfly reunion organized by Bushy and Brann in the mid-1970s, but he did perform with various versions of the group over the decades before retiring from performing in 1999. The official audio of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" has been shared on YouTube by Rhino Records. - Billboard, 5/26/24.

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on May 26th, 2024

Stevie Wonder treated fans to surprise impromptu performance of his 1977 classic "Sir Duke" following his delivering of the 2024 commencement address at the Peabody Conservatory's graduation ceremony at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore on May 22. The Motown legend also was honored with the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America during the ceremony. Fred Bronstein, dean of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, presented Wonder with the medal. The George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America is the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute, and was also presented to a dancer, Misty Copeland for the first time ever. "Stevie Wonder and Misty Copeland have dedicated their lives to making art and to lifting up others through music and dance, inspiring audiences and setting powerful examples for generations of younger performers," Dean Bronstein said in a statement. Wonder, also a 25-time Grammy winner, won album of the year with three consecutive studio albums in the 1970s, a feat that has yet to be duplicated. In 1999, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. - Billboard, 5/24/24...... The Beach BoysAs the new highly anticipated Beach Boys authorized documentary The Beach Boys premiered on May 24, BB co-founders Al Jardine and Mike Love sat down with Billboard at Hollywood's EastWest Studios to comment on the film. Jardine says he first met Brian and Carl Wilson, cousins of Love, in high school some 60 years ago and, according to Love, "the blending developed into something much more sublime." The key to the Beach Boys' stunning vocal arrangements, was "sublimating your individuality" for the good of the overall sound...we were obsessed with that," Love adds. The Beach Boys, initially comprised of Jardine, Love, Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, have charted 55 songs on the pop charts -- starting with their first sun-drenched single, "Surfin'," in 1962, and including four No. 1's: 1964's "I Get Around," 1965's "Help Me, Rhonda," 1966's "Good Vibrations" and 1988's "Kokomo." The documentary examines the band's creation in Hawthorne, Calif., and how they became, as the film attests, "America's band" -- and have remained so, with their upbeat music spanning more than half a century. "Certainly my goal was to find out how it all happened, and to tell the individual stories of each member," says director Frank Marshall, who has directed previous music documentaries on the Bee Gees and James Taylor/Carole King. "It's very complicated. A couple of members come and go and come back. And so it was really a journey for me of exploring how this group came together and what made it tick." The five original band members reunited again briefly on May 21 at the premiere of the documentary in Los Angeles, and Love says he looks at the whole process as a gift. "We're grateful and thankful and somewhat honored to have this documentary that Mr. Marshall has taken under wing," he says. "It's a fantastic thing to have happen at this stage of our lives." The official trailer of The Beach Boys can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/24/24...... On May 23 a Tennessee chancery court judge blocked the planned auction sale of Elvis Presley's iconic Graceland residence in Memphis, just days after if was reported that Elvis' grandaughter Riley Keough was taking legal action to halt the court-approved sale of the property. Keough, the daughter of Elvis' only child Lisa Marie Presley, is currently the owner of the iconic 13.8-acre estate, and came into the position following the sudden death of her mother in Jan. 2023. The fate of the iconic residence was thrown into question due to events stemming back to 2018, when a deed of trust was allegedly signed by Lisa Marie and secured a $3.8 million loan from Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC in Missouri. The company claimed that Graceland was used as collateral in the loan, which was never paid back. Keough, best known for her roles in such Hollywood productions as Daisy Jones & the Six, Logan Lucky and Mad Max: Fury Road, has been instrumental in fighting these claims, and stated that the Tennessee residence shouldn't go to auction as her mother never signed anything over nor borrowed any money from the company. Her lawsuit was filed on May 15 and also saw Keough claim that the creditor -- identified in a public notice of sale as Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC -- doesn't exist, and the loan's notary public never notarized it. Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issue a temporary injunction against the proposed auction, ruling that "there was no validity to the claims" and "there will be no foreclosure." Judge Jenkins added that "Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have a best-in-class experience when visiting his iconic home." The case will now proceed toward more detailed litigation over the Keough's allegations that the evidence "strongly indicates the documents are forgeries," and eventually toward a final ruling. Naussany Investments have not publicly shared a statement following the ruling. The 14-acre Graceland compound was opened to the public in the '80s as a music history theme park. It is still open today and, according to the venue, it attracts roughly 600,000 visitors a year and is the second most-visited private residence in the US, behind The White House in Washington. - New Musical Express, 5/23/24...... The winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music were revealed at the annual Ivor Novello Awards ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London, on May 23, with Bruce Springsteen in attendance to receive Fellowship of The Ivors Academy, presented to him by previous Fellow and close friend, Sir Paul McCartney. With this, the New Jersey rocker becomes the first ever international songwriter that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its 80-year history, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the craft of songwriting and impact on the UK's cultural landscape. Presenting the prize, Macca, who jammed with Springsteen onstage along with Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl during his headline slot at the UK's Glastonbury festival in 2022, jokingly said: "Like Bruce's concerts, I'm going to keep this brief," referencing the Boss' trademark 3+ hour concerts, before adding that he "couldn't think of a more fitting" recipient "except maybe Bob Dylan, or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on." McCartney's good-natured ribbing continued: "He's known as the American working man but he admits he's never worked a day in his life." Accepting the award, the 74-year-old Springsteen hugged the former Beatles star and referenced his "long and wonderful history" in the UK, thanking the "extraordinary" fans who have been with him since his first show in Hammersmith some 50 years ago. He went on to say that performing for his fans "remains one of the greatest privileges and honours of my life as a musician." "I want to thank you for taking my music into your hearts and into your souls. I want to thank you for including me in the challenging and beautiful cultural life in the UK," he added. During the ceremony Springsteen also treated the audience to a performance of his classic number "Thunder Road." Also during the ceremony, Elton John's esteemed songwriting partner Bernie Taupin was recognized with the Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. It is the ninth Ivor Novello awarded to Taupin, 50 years on from his first win for "Daniel" with Sir Elton in 1974. Known for his longstanding and hugely successful songwriting partnership with John, he has also written for artists as diverse as Starship, Heart, Willie Nelson, Courtney Love and Brian Wilson. Taupin recently revealed that Elton's 32nd studio album is "done" on the The Other Songs Live podcast, saying "Elton and I have an album coming out very soon, but I daren't say anything about it because I'm under strict orders to keep schtum. It's all done and recorded." He went on to hint that the album will "surprise" and "excite" people, adding: "I think it's quite brilliant and quite contemporary and it will certainly surprise a lot of people and excite a lot of people and hopefully be successful." The Ivors with Amazon Music, as the awards are officially branded, went to a total of 26 songwriters and composers across 14 categories. - Music-News.com/NME, 5/24/24...... Alana SpringsteenIn other Springsteen-related news, The Boss's country artist daughter Alana Springsteen recently brought friends together in a Nashville backyard to crack a Bud Light beer and offer a glimpse into her songwriting process and more. "When I think of country music, I think of home. I think of where I grew up -- family -- all the best things," the Alana explained in her installment of the Billboard presents Bud Light Backyard content series. "I've just always experienced my life through music. Once I started writing my own songs, I never looked back. That was it for me." A 23-year-old country singer with a soulful voice and vulnerable songwriting style, Springsteen had a publishing deal by her mid-teens, and knows a thing or two about storytelling. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Va., she grew up singing in church and received her first guitar at the age of seven. She credits her uncle for teaching her chords and technique early on. After an impressive 2019 self-titled debut EP, she shared two more projects ahead of her first-ever full length LP, Twenty Something, which dropped in 2023. "The secret to writing great songs and being creative is just keeping it casual," she added, adding that collaboration with her trusted circle of friends that includes Corey Kent and Dalton Dover helps the everyday process. Her interview has been shared on YouTube. Fans 21 and older in age can catch Alana when she and several country hitmakers perform as part of Billboard presents Bud Light Backyard, a two-day concert event at Tin Roof Nashville set amid CMA Fest. The singer is scheduled to hit the stage, alongside Kent and Dover, on June 7. - Billboard, 5/22/24...... In the latest episode of his The Osbournes podcast, shared on YouTube Shorts, the Prince Of Darkness' son Jack Osbourne asked his family - consisting of Ozzy, his mother Sharon Osbourne and his sister Kelly Osbourne -- what their greatest fears are. Ozzy Osbourne that he is scared of rats and then followed that by saying "And your mom," referring to his wife and manager, Sharon (a seemingly odd response following his legendary infamous 1982 incident where he bit off the head of a live bat during a concert in Iowa). Kelly went on to respond to her dad saying that his fear was Sharon by calling him "such a dick," with Sharon agreeing with her. Sharon went on to reveal that her greatest fear are both heights and fire, and Kelly shared that she is currently "dealing with" being "faced with death in everything" that she does. The full episode can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 5/23/24...... Nile Rodgers, the award-winning songwriter, composer, producer and guitarist and co-founder of Chic, was one of two recipients of the 2024 Polar Music Prize from the hands of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a royal ceremony held at Stockholm's Grand Hotel on May 21. Rodgers spoke from the heart when accepting his award from the king. "I know that music changes lives," Rodgers told the audience of 532 invited guests. "I've been told, 'Artists are the gatekeepers of truth.' I am honored to be here tonight in such distinguished company. Congratulations to the outstanding Esa-Pekka Salonen and all the past recipients of the Polar Music Prize. To have been acknowledged in the same way as Paul McCartney, Led Zeppelin, Chuck Berry, Joni Mitchell, Ennio Morricone and so many more of my heroes is a dream come true." Also honored with the 2024 Polar Music Prize that night was Esa-Pekka Salonen, world-renowned composer and conductor and the current music director for The San Francisco Symphony. - Billboard, 5/21/24...... Apple Music has released its own list of "The 100 Best Albums of All Time," and the result has been surprising to many music fans. Lauryn Hill's 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill topped the list, with Michael Jackson's timeless classic Thriller taking the second spot, and the Beatles Abbey Road coming in third. Also placing in the top 10 were the likes of Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé. Streaming giant Apple's experts worked alongside a select group of artists, songwriters, producers and industry professionals to curate the list, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music. The entire list can be viewed at 100best.music.apple.com/us. - Music-News.com, 5/23/24...... Chaka KhanRapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, already the object of several accusations alleging he raped or abused at least eight women, has yet another story that makes him look even worse than he already does -- this time that he disprespected iconic R&B singer Chaka Khan and had her son beaten up, according to Khan's daughter. Indira Milini Khan brought her anger toward the 54-year-old Diddy by commenting on his Instagram apology video from May 19. "I'm glad this is happening to you," Indira posted on X. "You got in my mother's face and publicly disrespected her yelling and screaming like a lunatic." Khan continued, revealing what happened when her younger brother attempted to defend his mother. "When my little brother tried to get you out of my mother's face your security jumped my 19 year old brother," she wrote. With one family member disrespected and another physically harmed, Indira could only revel in all that was happening to the former REVOLT chairman, especially given the fact they were the consequences of his actions. "These may be your dark days but I'm singing and dancing watching your demise...@chakakhan isn't it great mom," she wrote with several smiling and dancing emojis. Diddy's public perception took its worst hit yet on May 17 when CNN shared footage of him assaulting his former partner Cassie Ventura in a now-closed Los Angeles hotel in 2016. His former partner attempted to enter an elevator, only for Diddy to find her, grab her by the neck, and toss her to the ground. He kicked her once, gathered the belongings she'd dropped, and then kicked her again. He then attempted to drag her back to their hotel room while wearing just a towel. Later in the video, the father of seven could be seen throwing objects at her. Although Combs took to social media to apologoze, other social media users weren't receptive to his apology for two major reasons: one, the apology contradicted his Dec. 2023 statement where he denied all of the allegations against him and promised to fight for his name, truth, and legacy. Secondly, he did not address Ventura by name or directly apologize to her. - Vibe.com, 5/23/24...... An unauthorized Earth, Wind & Fire "Reunion" band has agreed to fork over the cash after a judge ruled that it had infringed the R&B group's trademarks by suggesting it was the real thing. The tribute act has been ordered to pay the legendary R&B group $750,000 in damages for using its trademarked name in ways that a federal judge called "deceptive and misleading." The payment, announced in a court filing on May 21, will effectively end a year-long lawsuit in which the band alleged that the tribute act -- "Earth, Wind & Fire Legacy Reunion" -- infringed the trademark rights to the famous name by suggesting it was the real thing. Earlier in 2024, the federal judge overseeing the case sided with EWF, ruling that the tribute act's conduct had been "deceptive and misleading." A trial had been scheduled to figure out how much Legacy Reunion would need to pay, but the two sides have now reached an undisclosed settlement on that question. In the May 21 filing, the judge disclosed the total that Legacy Reunion had agreed to pay -- $750,000, plus interest -- a rare step following settlements, which are typically kept private. Neither side immediately returned requests for comment. 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 controlled by Maurice White's sons that formally owns the rights to the name. - Billboard, 5/22/24...... Taking to Instagram on May 20, Queen's Brian May has praised The Who's Pete Townshend, saying that he "basically invented" rock guitar. May shared an image of himself with Townshend alongside a past quote he'd given about the musician, in which he described him as "the master of mood change, a master of the suspended chord." It added: "Pete Townshend's a god of guitar and always will be! I'd seen him stand there and let the guitar explode into life on its own." In the caption, May reiterated his admiration for Townshend. "I'm glad I said this -- I probably don't say it enough," he said. "I can't imagine Rock Guitar without Pete Townshend. Looking back, it seems to me he basically invented it!" He continued: "I was lucky enough to be there watching. My playing owes so much to him. I'm not talking about the blues-influenced playing which also underpinned the evolution of 70s and 80s rock music -- Townshend brought to the scene a blistering clang of super-amplified but not over-saturated chords -- razor-edged monoliths crashing angrily through our brains, biting rhythmic hammer blows which would change the likes of me forever." May went on to instruct his followers to "listen to those suspended chords in 'I'm A Boy'", adding: "How did Townshend invent that?" Other recommendations included "Substitute" and "I Can't Explain." May signed off with: "Good Morning folks !! You have your assignment for the day!" - NME, 5/21/24...... The Grateful Dead spinoff band Dead & Company kicked off its six-week residency at Las Vegas' spectacular Sphere venue on May 17. Other May dates include 24-31. In June, the band will perform on June 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. July dates include July 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12 before wrapping on July 13. The Sphere gives artists the opportunity to give fans a fully immersive concert experience that'll transform how they watch groups perform. The Dead joins a growing list of legendary artists taking over Sin City, but with a twist. Instead of performing on a simple stage, the Sphere gives a 360-degree view filled with graphics associated with the band -- and that includes the classic dancing bears. Tickets are still on sale for you to see the Dead & Company: Dead Forever residency live and in person, but dates quickly are quickly selling out. - Billboard, 5/21/24...... Speaking of Las Vegas, the Nevada city is reportedly a "strong contender" for a new KISS hologram show. After KISS played their final concert at New York's Madison Square Garden in Dec. 2023, they surprised fans by debuting digital versions of themselves created by the teams behind ABBA's lucrative Voyage hologram show. Speaking at the "Keep Memory Alive" annual Power of Love gala in Las Vegas this month, KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer is quoted by the UK paper The Sun's "Bizarre" column as saying: "A show like this needs a theatre which is built specifically for the show, so we have to decide where it's going to be. And there's considerations about New York, Singapore, Dubai, London of course, but Las Vegas as well is a strong contender. And I'm a big fan of Las Vegas. This is where I live. So I can see something like that possibly happening here, but we'll just have to wait and see." - Music-News.com, 5/23/24...... RushEven though a Rush reunion is unlikely to happen, guitarist Alex Lifeson has been playing songs from the band he was a member of for five decades with lead vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee again. In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock he says he and Lee have been playing old Rush songs during weekly hangouts. "We decided that we would play some Rush songs. Because, you know, we haven't played these songs in 10 years," Lifeson tells the magazine. "We started that a couple of weeks ago. We get together one day a week over at his place. We just picked some Rush songs and we started playing them and we sound like a really, really bad Rush tribute band." Rush played their final show in 2015 and called it quits after drummer Neil Peart died in Jan. 2020. In the years since, Lifeson and Lee have kept themselves busy with a variety of side projects -- including Lifeson's Envy of None band he co-founded in 2021 -- but the two have maintained a close bond that stretches back to the early '70s. Playing together, casually, has been a fun exercise, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Lifeson says. "Trying to figure out the songs, I'm thinking, 'Why did we write that so difficult? Why is this so hard to play?'" he says. "After about three run-throughs of all of these songs, muscle memory kicks in and your hand just goes to where it goes. You sort of get out of the way and you play and you go, 'Thank God, I did make this simpler than it felt.'" But Lifeson cautioned that he and Lee have no plans to reform Rush with a new drummer for a tour. "I'm 70. It's not as easy to get my fingers to do what my brain tells me to do," he says. "They're much lazier than they used to be and they have a poor memory. Doing this really helps a lot, and it's fun. That's it. The whole thing was that in the beginning, it was just fun. We're having a riot together doing that. There's no rhyme or reason. We're not planning on going back on the road, finding a new drummer or anything like that. It's just fun to do it." - Canoe.com, 5/22/24...... Neil Young and Crazy Horse have announced a new archival album, Early Daze, which they collaborated on in 1969. The album is due to arrive on June 28 via Reprise Records, and is now available for pre-order. Early Daze, per the Neil Young Archives website, "showcases the band's unique style at the end of the 1960s, capturing the essence of their live performances and their contribution to the evolution of rock & roll." It will comprise 10 songs, including a total of six unreleased tunes from Crazy Horse's early line-up of guitarist Danny Whitten, drummer Ralph Molina, bassist Billy Talbot, keyboardist Jack Nitzsche and Young. Familiar songs like "Everbody's Alone," "Cinnamon Girl" and "Birds" will receive releases with different mixes with the new release. Early Daze will be available on CD, digital and vinyl formats. Two vinyl packages will be available: a standard black vinyl, and a limited edition clear vinyl that comes with an exclusive poster. In February, Crazy Horse revealed their new album FU##IN' UP, which contains songs from the band's 50 year career, freshly recorded for 2024. The album arrived in April, and the band are currently on tour in North America until May 23. - NME, 5/20/24...... Dolly Parton has shared an emotional tribute to actor Dabney Coleman, who died at his home in California on May 16 at age 92. Mr. Coleman starred as Franklin Hart Jr. in the 1980 film 9 To 5 alongside Parton (who played Doralee Rhodes), Jane Fonda (Judy Bernly) and Lily Tomlin (Violet Newstead). In an post on Instagram on May 20, Parton wrote: "Dabney was a great actor and became a dear friend. He taught me so much when I was doing my first movie, 9 to 5. He was funny, deep and smart." She continued: "We remained friends through the years and I will miss him greatly as many people will. Love, Dolly." Directed by Colin Higgins, 9 To 5 catapulted Parton -- who was already an established country/pop musician -- permanently into mainstream popular culture. The film was adapted into a five-season TV show of the same name, which aired in the 1980s. A musical stage version opened on Broadway in 2009, with Parton writing new songs for the project. It hit the West End in London in 2019, and has toured the UK in 2012-2013 and 2021-2022. The movie's theme song, also titled "9 To 5," became one of Parton's biggest hits. The track earned the country star an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and four Grammy Award nominations. - NME, 5/21/24...... Famed Italian disco and progressive trance DJ and vocalist Franchino died on May 19 after "weeks" of hospitalization for carcinoma, a form of cancer that begins in cells that make up the skin or the tissue lining organs, such as the liver or kidneys. He was 71. Franchino started DJing in 1970 at the 7eleven Disco Club in Florence, Italy before taking on residencies across the country in cities like Tuscany and Elba. After spending a good amount of time in Ibiza, he developed a love for progressive trance and began pioneering the genre in Italy in the late '80s and early '90s. His death was announced by his management via a post on Instagram. A translation of the statement reads: "With immense sadness and deep sorrow, the family and close friends announce the passing of the beloved Franchino, who passed away today after several weeks in the hospital. You were a special person for all those people who were lucky enough to know you, and you brightened our lives with your smile, your strength and your courage." - NME, 5/21/24...... Richard ShermanRichard M. Sherman, the Oscar-winning songwriter who partnered with his late brother to craft tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book, died on May 25 at the age of 95. Mr. Sherman, who also co-wrote "It's a Small World (After All)" -- considered to be among the most performed songs ever -- as well as "You're Sixteen," a 1960 hit for Johnny Burnette which Ringo Starr took to No. 1 on the hit parade in 1974, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of age-related illness, Disney announced. Members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recipients of the National Medal of Honor, Richard and his older brother, Robert Sherman, wrote an estimated 1,000 songs and music for 50 movies, and they were reportedly responsible for more movie musical songs than anyone in history. For their work on Mary Poppins (1964), the Sherman brothers made two victorious trips to the Academy Awards stage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, accepting the trophies for best original score and best song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee"). Their movie work also included The Parent Trap (1961) -- which featured "Let's Get Together," their inventive "duet" performed by Hayley Mills -- The Sword in the Stone (1963), Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), The AristoCats (1970), Snoopy, Come Home (1972), Charlotte's Web (1973), Tom Sawyer (1973) and The Tigger Movie (2000). Richard Sherman was born in Manhattan on June 12, 1928, 30 months after his brother. Their mother was a Broadway actress and their father was Tin Pan Alley composer Al Sherman. Robert died in March 2012 at age 86. B.J. Novak played him, and Jason Schwartzman portrayed Richard, in the Disney film Saving Mr. Banks (2013), about the making of Mary Poppins. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth; his children, Gregory, Victoria and Lynda; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. - The Hollywood Reporter, 5/25/24...... Country music artist Frank Ifield -- who also is credited with helping to launch The Beatles into stardom -- died "peacefully" on May 18. He was 86. Mr. Ifield was reportedly given a guitar at the age of 13 and self-taught when it came to playing and writing songs. The musician released 44 records in just six years and was the top recording artist in Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. After moving to the UK, he introduced his fans to soon-to-be rock legends The Beatles, as the band acted as the opener for him at his live shows. He also famously performed to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1965 as he appeared at the Royal Variety Show. In 2009, Mr. Ifield was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the arts as an entertainer. He is survived by his wife Carole Wood and two children. - NME, 5/20/24.

As the sale of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion and burial site is set for May 23 in Memphis, Tenn., Presley's actress granddaughter Riley Keogh is challenging what she claims is the "fraudulent" sale of the iconic property. Keogh, 34, is the current owner of Graceland and has filed a lawsuit against the company that her late mother Lisa Marie Presley borrowed money from for a $3.8 million loan, using Graceland as collateral. Now the company is claiming Lisa Marie didn't pay back the loan before her untimely death in Jan. 2023 at age 54. Keogh is claiming her mother never borrowed any money from the company, and documents that reportedly show otherwise "are fraudulent." A hearing on the intended sale of the Graceland property is set for chancery court in Shelby county on May 22. Keogh became the estate heir when Lisa Marie died, and was named sole trustee of the property after a legal dispute with her grandmother, Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, 78. Lisa Marie inherited the property when Elvis died in 1977, and it became open to the public as a museum in 1982. Elvis, Lisa Marie, and Lisa Marie's son Benjamin are all buried at Graceland. Priscilla confirmed last year that it's her wish to be buried next to her father on the estate when she dies. - Music-News.com, 5/20/23...... Prince's Oscar-winning film Purple Rain is getting a 4K high definition re-release to celebrate its 40th anniversary. A special-edition Blu-ray re-release that features the film in 4K Ultra HD quality is set to drop on June 25. The set also includes a digital code that allows viewers to watch and stream Purple Rain on their laptop or portable DVD player. Special bonus features include commentary from the film's director and music videos for the singles off the album. On May 21, a Purple Rain 40th anniversary book featuring rare photography and track-by-track analysis from music journalist and author Andrea Swensson was released, and already landed itself the No. 1 spot on the bestseller list on Amazon for romance movies. - Billboard, 5/16/24...... Willie NelsonWillie Nelson has joined the list of grown musician cookbooks by teaming with his wife Annie Nelson for a cookbook featuring their favorite recipes, all infused with cannabis. Willie and Annie Nelson's Cannabis Cookbook: Mouthwatering Recipes and the High-Flying Stories Behind Them, due on Nov. 12, is based on meals the country/pop legend has consumed on his nationwide tours, at the ranch, at home and in his favorite cities. Each recipe in the Nelson weed cookbook is paired with stories from the artist and his wife and aim to be easy to recreate. You can expect everything from Buffalo wings, chocolate cake and even fried chicken as well as a chapter dedicated to providing cannabis-infused base ingredients such as cannabutter, finishing oil, simply syrups, sugars, salts and tinctures. In addition to authoring his new cookbook Nelson, who celebrated his 90th birthday earlier in 2024, has been keeping active by attending the Stagecoach festival, performing with Kermit the Frog for the Luck Reunion concert, and is gearing up for his annual Fourth of July Picnic celebration. - Billboard, 5/20/24...... Queen's Brian May teamed up with the American punk band The Offspring for a live performance of The Offspring's "Gone Away" and Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy" during the band's recent set at the Starmus VII festival in Bratislava, Slovakia, on May 13. The festival was billed as the "world's largest science, music and other arts festival" and is the brainchild of astrophysicist Garik Israelian and the Queen guitarist himself (who also happens to be an astrophysicist). Video of the May/Offspring jam has been shared on YouTube. Elsewhere, May also joined French composer and performer Jean-Michel Jarre at Bridge from the Future, the opening concert for the Starmus Festival. May came on stage as a special guest and performed "Deuxime Rendez-Vous" -- the first live performance of the piece since December 2013 -- "New World Symphony," "Last Horizon" and a cover of Queen's "Brighton Rock." He then came back on stage for the encore "The Time Machine" to close out the night. - New Musical Express, 5/20/24...... Despite previously claiming there was "not a lot of joy" in the newly restored Beatles documentary Let It Be, Ringo Starr has now given the 1970 Michael Lindsay-Hogg-directed film his seal of approval. Earlier in May, Ringo told the AP that "I think [restorer/director] Peter Jackson has done an incredible job. For me, not a lot of joy in it. It's from the point of view of the director, and that was up to him." In 2021, Starr also said: "I didn't feel any joy in the original documentary, it was all focused on one moment which went down between two of the lads [Paul McCartney and George Harrison]. The rooftop concert was also only about seven to eight minutes long. With Peter's [documentary] it's 43 minutes long." Now, Starr has seemingly done a U-turn on his original comments. Speaking to the UK's Evening Standard paper, Ringo said: "I thought the re-edit of Let It Be was great. The original one has just come out again that Michael Linsday-Hogg did, and the edit -- I love the edit." He did however continue to state that he was disappointed in the original film, but felt that the re-edit of Lindsay-Hogg's work contained a greater focus: "It's just on the lads and the playing and the music and the chat about the songs." - NME, 5/17/24...... In other Beatles-related news, a "wall of noise" at a recent Fab Four tribute concert has led to concertgoers walking out of the venue. The gig took place at the 1,000-year-old Winchester Cathedral in England, and saw numerous attendees leave the event early due to the "deafening acoustics" at the historic venue. Hundreds of people were in attendance to see the "ultimate tribute" to the iconic rock band, but reports later emerged that the choice of venue led to a "wall of sound" being created, and the songs becoming indistinguishable from one another. With tickets for the event going for around £40 per person, numerous attendees claimed they couldn't tell which song was playing at the "Beatles by Candlelight" concert. "We had been looking forward to it for weeks, we were really excited. We thought it would be a really nice evening, but no," one concertgoer told The Telegraph about the experience. "The noise level was unbelievable. You could not understand which track they were playing until there were a few breaks in it my ears were ringing," they added. "I'm not sure whether it was the acoustics of the cathedral. I don't think the band could have been that bad. I feel for them." The paper also shared that while some left early, just a "handful of people" returned following the interval. A spokesman for Winchester Cathedral shared a statement that the venue was "very disappointed that the quality of the concert that we hosted on Saturday fell short of the cathedral's and our guests' expectations" and they are "working with the Beatles by Candlelight production company and our sound engineers to understand what went wrong and to ensure this does not happen in the future." Winchester Cathedral was immortalized to American pop fans with a 1966 No. 1 hit of the same name by The New Vaudeville Band, the creation of British composer/record producer Geoff Stephens. - NME, 5/16/24...... Frankie ValliWeeks after legendary The Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli and his son Emilio Valli were granted a temporary restraining order against Valli's oldest son, Francesco Valli, a judge extended the order on Apr. 29 for three more years. Emilio, 29, said in his initial court filing that his brother Francesco, 36, had repeatedly threatened both Emilio and Frankie, 90, over "the past several months," as Frankie had been financially supporting Francesco but recently made that support contingent on Francesco's entering a residential drug-treatment program. The most recent incident occured on Apr. 5, when Francesco allegedly "repeatedly physically threatened to harm or kill" Emilio. "Frankie is saddened by these unfortunate events," a rep for the "Grease" singer said in April. Frankie has another son, Brando Valli, who is the twin of Emilio, and the siblings attended their dad's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on May 3. - People, 5/27/24...... On May 17 Cher and her son Elijah Blue Allman agreed to "pause all legal proceedings" surrounding the "Believe" singer's attempt to act as his temporary conservator. Cher and Elijah Blue attended a private mediation session, after her request to act as his conservator was denied for a second time in January, and agreed to suspend the conservatorship plans "to allow the Parties to continue working together to privately and confidentially resolve this matter," according to a spokesperson. Cher, 77, has been trying to get a conservatorship for her son, 47, due to him being able to access large sums of money from his late father Greg Allman's estate. Cher maintained that being able to access that amount of money put Elijah at risk due to his previous mental health and substance abuse issues. Elijah's legal team argued that a conservatorship wasn't necessary. Elijah has been in rehab and is currently three months sober. Court documents requested that if a conservatorship is needed, Cher is "unfit to serve" in the role, and he would prefer it was given to his wife, Marieangela "Queeny" King. "Under no circumstances am I comfortable having my mom as my conservator even if that was necessary," Elijah stated in documents. Elijah filed for divorce from Marieangela in 2021 after ten years of marriage, but have recently reconciled. - Music-News.com, 5/17/24...... Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett has shared the reason why he "made the right decision" to leave the band with Classic Rock magazine. "There was an aspect of claustrophobia that invaded my time with Genesis," Hackett told the magazine, "and I had to work outside the band. I think if you're feeling creative and you've got that album or that book or that film inside you, you don't want to let it fester. You've got to get it out there." Hackett continued: "Genesis was becoming a little bit too much of a closed shop and it was affecting my ability to sleep. I agonized over leaving the band for a good two years and then I thought, 'No, I've got to make a leap of faith at this point in time.' And there's no doubt that I made the right decision." The lead guitarist was part of the band from 1971-1977, where he helped shape their creative arc in the band's early days. He has since been cited as an influence on musicians such as Eddie Van Halen and Rush's Alex Lifeson. Genesis played their last show together in Mar. 2022 at London's O2 Arena. - NME, 5/16/24...... Appearing on The Madhouse Chronicles podcast with his close friend and host Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne revelaed that he would "jump at the chance" to play a final Black Sabbath show with co-founding drummer Bill Ward. Towards the end of the interview, Ozzy watches footage of Sabbath's final show at Birmingham's Genting Arena on Feb. 4, 2017. "That must have been cool for you? How did you feel? Were you glad it was done?" Morrsion asked Ozzy, to which he replied: "Yeah, but I was sad that Bill wasn't there. I mean Tommy Clufetos, my drummer, did a great job. But he ain't Bill Ward." Morrison then went on to ask Osbourne if he was content with the "arc of the legend of Black Sabbath?" "No," Ozzy replied. "Because it wasn't Black Sabbath that finished it. It's unfinished. If they wanted to do one more gig with Bill, I would jump at the chance. Do you know what would be cool? If we went to a club or somewhere unannounced and we just got up and did it. We started up in a club." Originally, Ward was part of the Nov. 2011 Black Sabbath reunion but pulled out in early 2012, attributing an "'unreasonable contract" as his reason for departure. Drummer Clufetos stepped in and performed live on the Black Sabbath Reunion Tour and the swansong The End Tour. - NME, 5/16/24...... Led ZeppelinThe long-awaited first authorized Led Zeppelin documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics, which has announced plans to distribute the film in North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia (except Japan) and Benelux. The hybrid documentary-concert film reportedly features never-before-seen footage, performances and music and is described as an "experiential cinematic odyssey exploring Led Zeppelin's creative, musical and personal origin story," told in Led Zepp's own words in the first officially sanctioned movie about the band. In 2021, a work-in-progress version of the film was screened at the Venice Film Festival, and received a 10-minute standing ovation. The film follows the band's four members -- singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and late drummer John Bonham -- as they rise up through the British music scene in the 1960s playing in small clubs. It follows them to a fateful rehearsal in 1968 that changed the course of their careers and culminates in their first tour of America in 1970 as they ascended to rock superstardom. The film features a new sound mix, previously unseen materials from the archives of all four members, including home movies and family photos, as well as exclusive interviews with Page, Plant and Jones, and never-before-heard interviews with Bonham. Becoming Led Zeppelin was written and directed by Bernard MacMahon (American Epic) and Allison McGourty, with director MacMahon saying that the team spent "years designing this film to be experienced on the big screen with the best possible sound." A release date has yet to be announced for the film, but you can watch an official Venice teaser clip prepared for the Venice debut on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/16/24...... The premium cable channel HBO premiered the first two episodes of Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. on May 20, a four-part series that tells the story of the famous Memphis sould label, founded by Jim Stewart in 1957. Stax Records, co-owned by Stewart's sister Estelle Axton, hurdled racial barriers to become mainstream classics by artists such as Otis Redding ([Sittin' On] the Dock of the Bay"), Isaac Hayes ("Theme from Shaft"), Sam & Dave ("Soul Man") and Booker T. & the MG's ("Green Onions"). In relaying its story, Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. integrates restored and remastered archival performance footage and interviews with the creatives and executives who helped shape the label's musical and cultural impact amid its business highs and lows. In addition to Stewart and Axton, interviews are featured with former Stax president/owner Al Bell, guitarist Steve Cropper, musician/songwriter David Porter, singer-songwriter Carla Thomas, just to name a few. - Billboard, 5/20/24...... Jamaican-born singer Jimmy James, the frontman of the '60s Jamaican dance band The Vagabonds and the voice behind the enduring ballad "Come to Me Softly," died on May 15 in London from complications of Parkinson's disease and a heart condition that ultimately led to his decision to retire from performing. He was 84. Born in Brown's Town, Jamaica, Mr. James moved to the island's capital of Kingston to pursue music in the 1950s. He recorded songs for producers including Clement Dodd and Lindon Pottinger, the latter of which produced the early and original version of "Come to Me Softly." The Vagabonds were formed in 1960, and the group relocated to the United Kingdom at the height of the British Invasion in 1964. Throughout their time together, the group played alongside fellow legends including The Who, Rod Stewart and Jimi Hendrix. They released six studio albums together from 1966 through 1977. Mr. James & the Vagabonds released two Billboard Hot 100 hits: Come to Me Softly" (which James wrote), which hit No. 76 in 1968, and "I Am Somebody," which hit No. 94 in 1976. In between those two hits, they bubbled under the Hot 100 with a version of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine." Mr. James went on to record throughout the 1970s, with "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" and "Now is The Time." He is survived by his wife Paula, his five sons, two daughters and his grandchildren. - Billboard, 5/16/24...... Filmmaker Roger Corman, who directed and produced hundreds of low-budget horror and sci-fi movies and helped launch the careers of Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and others, died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. No cause of death was given. He was 98. - People, 5/27/24...... Dabney ColemanPopular comic actor Dabney Coleman, best known for his roles in such iconic films as 9 to 5, Tootsie and On Golden Pond as well as a stint in the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman TV series, died on May 17 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 92. Described as "the actor audiences loved to hate," the Emmy-winning Mr. Coleman also portrayed an irascible talk show host in upstate New York on NBC's Buffalo Bill, but that critical favorite lasted just 26 episodes. He had at least three other cracks at headlining his own sitcom, but ABC's The Slap Maxwell Story, Fox's Drexell's Class and NBC's Madman of the People never made it through their first seasons before being canceled. More recently, the good-natured Mr. Coleman brought along his signature mustache to play Burton Fallin, the owner of a law firm and father of Simon Baker's character, on the CBS drama The Guardian; was Atlantic City power broker Commodore Louis Kaestner on HBO's Boardwalk Empire; and played John Dutton Sr. (the father of Kevin Costner's character) on the Paramount+ hit series Yellowstone. Born Dabney Wharton Coleman on Jan. 3, 1932, in Austin, Tex., Mr. Coleman was the youngest of four children. After his father died of pneumonia when he was 4, Mr. Coleman's mother raised the family in Corpus Christi, and he became a nationally ranked junior tennis player. After attending Virginia Military Institute and serving in the Army, he moved back to Austin to study law at UT. He left college a semester short of graduation and headed for Manhattan and Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse at age 26. His first onscreen speaking appearance came on a 1961 episode of Naked City -- he earned $90 for that -- and he and his second wife, actress Jean Hale (the Mad Hatter's fetching moll on Batman), moved to Los Angeles in 1962. Mr. Coleman appeared on such shows as Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Outer Limits, Hazel, I Dream of Jeannie and The Fugitive before recurring as Marlo Thomas' neighbor, the obstetrician Leon Bessemer, on the first season (1966-67) of That Girl. In 1976, Mr. Coleman appeared as the feisty Fernwood, Ohio, mayor Merle Jeeter on Norman Lear's late-night soap-opera satire, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. His voluminous other film credits include The Trouble With Girls (1969), Downhill Racer (1969), The Towering Inferno (1974), North Dallas Forty (1979), Melvin & Howard (1980) and Modern Problems (1981), among many others. Mr. Coleman won a supporting actor Emmy in 1987 for his work on the ABC telefilm Sworn to Silence, was nominated twice for playing Buffalo Bill Bittinger, and once for his turn as old-school sportswriter Slap Maxwell. "My father crafted his time here on Earth with a curious mind, a generous heart and a soul on fire with passion, desire and humor that tickled the funny bone of humanity," Mr. Coleman's daughter, singer Quincy Coleman, said. "As he lived, he moved through this final act of his life with elegance, excellence and mastery. A teacher, a hero and a king, Dabney Coleman is a gift and blessing in life and in death as his spirit will shine through his work, his loved ones and his legacy & eternally." In addition to Quincy, survivors include his other children, Randy, Kelly and Meghan, and his four grandchildren. - The Hollywood Reporter, 5/17/24.