Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on December 22nd, 2024

To paraphrase a lyric by Michael McDonald in "What a Fool Believes," the Yacht Rock genre "has a place in our lives." The smooth-sounding genre, a mix of pop rock with jazz and R&B melodies, mostly consists of songs popular in the late 1970s and early '80s (think McDonald, Christopher Cross and Kenny Loggins, for example). It's explored in Yacht Rock: A Documentary, a new Music Box doc which premiered on MAX on Dec. 11. Yes, the genre's name is silly -- but that's because it came from a low-budget 2005 comedy webseries that was also responsible for reigniting passion for the style. "I thought it was so unique that you have this 'genre' invented 25 years after this music was dominating the pop charts," says director Garret Price, who features interviews with McDonald and Cross, as well as newer musicians such as Questlove and Mac DeMarco, in his film. "While the name originated from comedy, the music itself was anything was a joke," he adds. A joke? That's what a fool believes. - TV Guide, 12/9/24...... Seventies artists Frankie Valli, The Clash and Prince are among the artists who were selected to receive lifetime achievement awards from the Grammy's Recording Academy in 2025. As a member of The Four Seasons, Valli was nominated for a best new artist Grammy in 1963, but lost to Broadway star Robert Goulet. Valli, 90, has been nominated for five competitive Grammys, for both Four Seasons and solo works, but has yet to win. His 1967 swoon-classic "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was nominated for two Grammys. He received his most recent nod as a featured artist on the Grease soundtrack, which was nominated for album of the year, and his sleek and sexy recording of Barry Gibb's title song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Formed in 1976 in the vanguard of British punk, The Clash were pioneers in integrating elements of militant reggae, dub, funk, jazz, and hip-hop into their music. The Clash won their sole Grammy in 2003 -- best long form music video for "Westway to the World." That same year, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their classic LP London Calling was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. Frontman Joe Strummer, who died in 2002, is being honored with this lifetime achievement award along with fellow band members Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Nick "Topper" Headon, all of whom are now 69. Prince, who died in 2016 at age 57, won seven Grammys and an Oscar (best original song score for Purple Rain), and three of his albums -- 1999, Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times -- have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 in his first year of eligibility and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024. Other lifetime achievement award recipients include Frankie Beverly, Dr. Bobby Jones, Taj Mahal and Roxanne Shante. Those honored with trustees awards include producer/engineer Glyn Johns, known for his work with The Who, The Faces and The Eagles and "Misty" songwriter Erroll Garner. The awards will be presented during Grammy Week at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Feb. 1 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... In other awards news, Elton John is among the artists shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars for best original song by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on Dec. 17. John and Brandi Carlile are shortlisted for co-writing "Never Too Late," the title song of Elton's new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. Eno, documentary about legendary British musician Brian Eno, was also shortlisted for an Oscar for best documentary feature, however the Elton John: Never Too Late documentary failed to make the shortlist. Nominations will be announced Jan. 17, and the 97th Oscars will be held on Mar. 2, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide. The show will also stream live on Hulu for the first time. - Billboard, 12/17/24...... Speaking of Elton John, the Rocket Man revealed during his Dec. 18 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that "the juices have never dried up" and his creative drive remains as strong as ever. "They never want to dry up because I'm always looking to create things. It's just having the space now to do it at my own time. Of course there will be new Elton John music," he said to cheers from the crowd. His "Never Too Late" collaborator joined him during the interview. The two shared stories about their friendship and creative process, including how Brandi's heartfelt letter to Elton sparked their relationship. Elton described their bond, saying, "I was doing a residency in Vegas at the time, so I asked her to come to Vegas and I played and sang on the record and as soon as I saw her, I became friends with her. It was like I'd known her all my life." Elton and Carlile's full Late Show interview can be watched on YouTube. Meanwhile, a new waxwork of Sir Elton was unveiled by Madame Tussauds London on Dec. 20. The new figure depicts a moment from the musician's high-flying early days, when America came calling and the artist was at the peak of his powers -- out in space and at his gravity-defying best. The attraction, which can be viewed on the LondonLive X page, is styled from Elton's legendary 1975 Midsummer Music one-day festival at Wembley Stadium -- hands on the key, bejewelled jumpsuit, flamboyant glasses, and platform-shoed feet in the air. "Capturing Elton's phenomenal stage presence -- and that iconic keyboard handstand -- in figure form is quite the challenge, and the result is one of our most technically ambitious figures to date," Madame Tussauds London general manager Steve Blackburn said in a statement. In still more Elton news, the 78-year-old pop superstar unveiled a brand new video for his holiday classic, "Step Into Christmas," on Dec. 18. In the video, actress/model Cara Delevingne takes on the lead role as 1970s Elton. In the Dan French-directed clip, the 1973 yuletide song is given new life when Delevingne slips on a pair of John's signature flashy shades and colorful, quilted bell-bottom suit with high-heeled boots to lip synch along to the jaunty ditty that has long been an upbeat antidote to the melancholy, wistful sounds of other Christmas standards. The new (and old) "Step Into Christmas" videos can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/18/24....... Over 30 minutes of rare Black Sabbath footage from their 1976 "Technical Ecstacy" tour has now emerged online available for fans to view. The newly unearthed live film was shot at the iconic metal band's show at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California on Nov. 9, 1976. The venue held a 10,000 capacity and saw the likes of Bob Segar & The Silver Bullet Band and Boston open for the group. The footage shows a young, fresh-faced Ozzy Osbourne dominating the stage while adorned in what appears to be a navy blue jacket with a long white fringe hanging down across its wingspan. Of the night's 14-song set, the newly released footage only shows Sabbath's performances of "Symptom Of The Universe," "Snowblind," "All Moving Parts (Stand Still)," "War Pigs," "Gypsy" and "Children Of The Grave" -- with the latter song previously available on YouTube for a few years now. The rare footage can be checked out on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 12/18/24...... A Dec. 20 press release from the Bruce Springsteen camp has revealed the 75-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend will be extending his global tour with the E Street Band, as well as celebrating some milestones and dusting off unheard gems from the archives. "Upcoming releases in 2025 will include a look back at Springsteen's storied recoding career, featuring never-before-heard material," read the release, which did not specify when the songs are from or what format they will be released in. In 1998, Springsteen dropped the hefty four-disc box set Tracks, which featured 66 songs, mostly never-before-released, as well as b-sides, demos and alternate versions of previously released material. It also noted that the New Jersey rocker will "continue his involvement" in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere, in which The Bear star Jeremy Allen White will portray a young Bruce. A celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Boss's landmark album Born To Run is also on tap for 2025, along with a 45th anniversary marking of 1980's The River and he 30th anniversary of the Grammy-winning acoustic folk rock album The Ghost of Tom Joad and the 20th of 2005's Devils & Dust. Bruce and the band will kick off a spring/summer run of European dates in the spring in Manchester, UK on May 14. The tour will include stops in France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain before winding down on July 3 in Milan, Italy at San Siro Stadium. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... Paul McCartney was joined by his Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood on the final night McCartney's global "Got Back"' tour at London's The O2 arena on Dec. 19. After honoring his late bandmate John Lennon during "I've Got A Feeling," McCartney said to a giddy crowd, "We've got another surprise for you. Bring to the stage the mighty, the one and only Mr Ringo Starr." The pair hugged on stage before McCartney quipped, "Should we rock? Get on your kit lad" to Ringo before the two jammed on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and "Helter Skelter." Wood also appeared onstage during the show, playing guitar on "Got Back." McCartney introduced the song by talking about his old Höfner bass guitar that was stolen over 50 years ago, and was eventually returned after a public appeal. Holding the Höfner onstage, McCartney revealed that it was the bass' first stage appearance since it had gone missing: "I haven't played it in 50 years." There was also a festive surprise with a performance of his 1979 song "Wonderful Christmastime," accompanied by the Capital Choir who provided backing vocals on the song as snow confetti filled the venue. McCartney, who looked visibly emotional at the conclusion of "Now and Then," the 'final' Beatles song released in 2023 which was completed through the use of assistive AI, has no more shows lined up in the near future, but promised the crowd at the conclusion that "we'll see you again soon." His performance with Ringo has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/20/24...... In other Beatles news, whisky maker Ballantine's has launched limited-edition John Lennon and Elton John celebratory whiskies just in time for the holidays. The new duo of limited-edition bottle designs which have been crafted to capture the essence of Lennon and John are the latest addition to Ballantine's True Music Icons collection, which previously saw the whisky company pay tribute to the likes of AC/DC and Queen. The new editions not only honour Lennon and John for their contributions to music, but also celebrate their friendship which was highlighted by the former Beatle's single "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" featuring pair's iconic performance together in New York City's Madison Square Garden back in 1974, 50 years ago. Lennon's edition of the Whisky sees his self-portrait sketch logo on the bottle's label, while John's edition features a blue label with a holographic 'E' star logo as well as a drawing of his legendary 1975 performance at Dodger Stadium. The whiskies can be purchased at the ballantines.com website. - NME, 12/17/24...... John Lennon's son Julian Lennon has undergone emergency following a skin cancer diagnosis. Julian recently took to Instagram to reveal his recent health scare, explaining that he had been on the way to New York for a Good Morning America appearance and press junket in support of his latest book, Life's Fragile Moments, when he received word from Dr. Tess Mauricio that melanoma had been discovered on his skin. "So instead of going home to put my Christmas tree up and happily finish the year off, relaxing at home, I flew directly back to Los Angeles, after all my work in New York was done, and went directly from LAX airport, to surgery, with a surgeon recommended by Dr Tess, [Dr. Tim Neavin] -- who spent several hours cleaning up and operating on me, with large margins, in the hope that we have, at the end of the day -- clear margins, which would mean being free from cancer," Lennon wrote. "The operation was a success, but we have yet to have the results of the biopsy, which we may not receive before Christmas." As he continued his post, he shared his gratitude for his medical team for their fast work at coordinating such rapid surgery and for "hopefully saving my life." "One can never be too confident in circumstances like this, but we all believe that Dr Tim has saved the day. So fingers crossed for now," he wrote, concluding with "this is also a timely reminder to all, to please get yourself checked out by your doctor... and you may just be saving your own life." Lennon's fittingly-titled latest book, Life's Fragile Moments, was released earlier in December as is his first photography collection, and features stills taken over two decades, including landscapes, urban scenes, and intimate portraits. - Billboard, 12/19/24...... Blondie have announced the release of a new album in 2025, with production helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleton. The news was shared on social media by guitarist and co-founder Chris Stein, who posted a black-and-white photo of lead singer Debbie Harry and Congleton in the studio on Bluesky, accompanied by the caption, "With John Congleton. New Blondie record next year." The new album will mark the band's first album since 2017's Pollinator, also produced by Congleton. That record earned critical acclaim and featured collaborations with artists like Joan Jett, Charli XCX and Johnny Marr. Known for his work with St. Vincent and Angel Olsen, Congleton's involvement hints at a modern, innovative approach for Blondie's upcoming release. - Billboard, 12/19/24...... To honor what would have been the 83rd birthday of Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White on Dec. 19, Maurice's younger brother Verdine White With its vibrant fusion of R&B, soul and pop, "Superman" is immediately reminiscent of EWF's legendary zeitgeist. As Verdine expresses in a pleasing tenor (the first time that the group's renowned bassist is singing solo) on the song's chorus, "More than any other/ He would always understand/ He called me his little brother / I called him Superman." "Would you believe this is my first time [singing solo]," White says. "I was nervous, but it turned out beautifully. Now that the pressure is off, I think I'll do more." Still going strong 55 years after it 1969 inception, EWF hit the road earlier in 2024 year for a string of solo shows in addition to joint shows with Lionel Richie and Chicago. In 2025, the group will play the Hollywood Bowl on July 2, 3 and 4. Also in the works is an EWF documentary directed by Questlove. Asked how Maurice would react to "Superman," White says, "I think he'd chuckle and say, 'Man, I didn't know you could sing like that.'" A video of "Superman," which features photos and clips of Maurice, can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/19/24...... Unheard and unreleased music from Michael Jackson has been uncovered in an abandoned storage unit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, several cassette and DAT tapes containing unheard music from the late King of Pop were unearthed in an old storage unit in San Fernando Valley. The cache was discovered by former highway patrol officer Gregg Musgrove, who was "treasure hunting" at a friend's recently purchased abandoned storage unit in Van Nuys, which at one point belonged to singer and music producer Bryan Loren. A total of 12 tapes were uncovered, dating between 1989 and 1991. According to Musgrove's inventory list, at total of 15 unheard songs were found on the tapes, some of which had previously been teased, or have had snippets leaked. Some songs have been completely unheard of. Among those unreleased songs is a collaboration with LL Cool J titled "Truth On Youth." Earlier in 2024 the rapper confirmed they had recorded music together but that the songs weren't "good enough" to be released. However it appears that outside of Jackson's estate, it seems Musgrove would be the only one to hear the tapes. Musgrove and his attorney approached Jackson's estate with the tapes, but noted that the late "Billie Jean" singer's estate declined to purchase the tapes. Musgrove was later sent a letter by Jackson's estate, noting that while it doesn't claim ownership over the tapes, anyone who purchases the tapes in the future will not own the rights to the recordings or compositions -- which already belong to the estate. Jackson's estate has since confirmed that the tapes aren't master copies of the recordings -- the masters are currently housed in the estate's vault. "It should be clear to all that ownership and rights of exploitation to the recordings remain vested in MJJP Records and that nothing commercial or otherwise can be done with the DAT copies," the letter also stated. This essentially means that the tapes can never be released publicly, but can be heard privately by whoever is in possession of the recordings. Musgrove and his attorney have since made clear their intention to auction off the tapes to Michael Jackson enthusiasts, and have planned to bring them to four major auction houses soon. They estimate that the tapes will fetch a minimum of seven figures. - NME, 12/18/24...... A new documentary about former Genesis member and '80s/'90s solo star Phil Collins, premiered on Dec. 18 on the Drumeo YouTube channel. The doc, titled Phil Collins: Drummer First, captures the musician revisiting his drum kit for the first time in years, a moment that's both poignant and powerful. "It's still kind of sinking in," Phil says in the documentary. "I've spent all my life playing drums. To suddenly not be able to do that is a shock." Collins, now 73, has faced numerous health challenges stemming from a 2007 spinal injury that left him with limited mobility and complications such as drop foot. His drumming, once the heartbeat of Genesis and his solo career, has been sidelined in recent years. During Genesis' 2022 farewell tour, Collins passed the torch to his son Nic, who filled in on drums. Still, his connection to the instrument remains unshakable. "If I can't do what I did as well as I did it, I'd rather relax and not do anything," he reflects. "But if I wake up one day and I can hold a pair of drumsticks, then I'll have a crack at it. But I just feel like I've used up my air miles." The film also sheds light on Collins' legendary career, including anecdotes that illustrate his profound impact on music. - Billboard,12/19/24...... The Temptations celebrated the 60th anniversary of their enduring hit "My Girl" on the recent NBC special A Motown Christmas, which aired Dec. 11. Surviving co-founding member Otis Williams and the other members of the group -- whose current lineup also features Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Tony Grant and Jawan M. Jackson -- performed a three-song set of hits that included "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "Get Ready" and, of course, "My Girl." "When we finished putting the vocals down on the song [in 1964], I said to [producer] Smokey [Robinson] in the control room, 'Man, I don't know how big a record this is going to be. But this is going to be a record," Williams says. "I still can't believe that here we are, some 60 years later and we're still going strong. Most groups don't get that kind of break. It was God's timing for Motown to start when it did. And here we are a part of something that will outlive all of us." Written and produced by fellow Motown legends and The Miracles founding members Robinson and Ronnie White, "My Girl" was released through Motown subsidiary Gordy on Dec. 21, 1964. Three months later, in March 1965, the song had ascended to the top of Billboard's pop and R&B charts, giving The Tempts their first No. 1 hit. In the years since its release, "My Girl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Then the Library of Congress chose it for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2017, calling the song "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The mega-hit has also crossed the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify. - Billboard, 12/17/24.

Barbra Streisand took to social media on Dec. 15 to give props to rising singer Gracie Abrams after Abrams performed two songs on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 14. "I just saw a wonderful new singer named GRACIE ABRAMS (@gracieabrams) on Saturday Night Live this weekend. And it turns out she's the daughter of my friend JJ Abrams!," the Funny Girl actress wrote, shouting out the Star Wars: The Force Awakens director, while sharing a photo of Abrams singing and playing guitar. The SNL performance of Abrams, who recently opened for Taylor Swift on the latter's record-breaking "Eras" tour, can be viewed on YouTube. Abrams and Streisand also have something else in common: Both are up for awards at the 2025 Grammys. The former is in the running for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance thanks to her "Us" duet with Swift, while Streisand earned nods for Best Song Written for Visual Media thanks to "Love Will Survive" (from the Peacock series The Tattooist of Auschwitz) and Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling recording for her memoir My Name Is Barbra. - Variety, 12/16/24...... After REO Speedwagon announced on Instagram on Sept. 16 that their upcoming U.S. dates will be their last, frontman Kevin Cronin says he wants to make it perfectly clear that ending REO was not his idea -- or desire. "Never in my wildest dreams did I ever see this coming," says Cronin, who will make his solo debut on Jan. 25 in Thackerville, Okla. and will be part of next summer's "Brotherhood of Rock" tour with Styx and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. "I didn't want to end REO Speedwagon. This is sad, and I would do anything in my power to continue (as) REO Speedwagon. I never quit the band; I never will quit the band. I just got outvoted and... have to stop calling it REO Speedwagon at the end of this year." The vote Cronin refers to was a 2-1 decision with keyboardist Neal Doughty -- REO's sole remaining founding member from 1967, though he retired from touring during 2023 -- and Bruce Hall, bassist since 1977. Hall took a leave of absence during November of 2023 to have back surgery, with his spot filled by longtime Elton John and former David Lee Roth bassist Matt Bissonette. All three retained ownership interest in REO, however. In announcing its dissolution, the group said that Hall "had not recovered sufficiently to be able to perform at the level the fans have come to expect" and that "due to this complex situation, irreconcilable differences arose between Bruce and Kevin." It also noted that Hall "never had any intention of retiring or walking away from the band, fans and crew he has loved for almost 50 years" while Cronin "too has never had any intention of leaving the band, and the fans and crew mean the world to him, as well." The initial Cronin solo tour show in Thackerville, Okla. on Jan. 25 will be titled "The Songs of REO Speedwagon," and he vows to continue playing the hits and fan favorites from his more than 40 years in the band. "It's gonna be called Kevin Cronin, but if you want to see an REO Speedwagon show, that's what it's going to be," explains Cronin, who's also been writing a memoir. Cronin adds he's also "really excited" to still be riding the storm out, but under his own name. "What I'm trying to concentrate on now is the future, and how fortunate I am to be in the position I am right now, artistically and creatively and musically," he says. "What I get in return for not touring under the name REO Speedwagon is to be able to tour in a band that is just firing on all cylinders and makes me happy and makes me fulfilled." The final show under the REO Speedwagon moniker takes place Dec. 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas. - Billboard, 12/16/24...... A New Jersey politician has been found to have shared a fake Spotify Wrapped in a bid to champion Bruce Springsteen. The Garden State's Democratic representative Josh Gottheimer took his eagerness to support Jersey legend Springsteen to the next level -- posting his results from Spotify Wrapped 2024 on X and showcasing his commitment to listening to The Boss. "No surprises here Fun fact: My first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!" he shared, alongside an image which showed his top five songs of the past 12 months being the singer's hits "Thunder Road," Because the Night," "Glory Days," "Badlands" and "The Rising." Upon the results being shared, however, some viewers were quick to notice slight discrepancies between the politician's results and the Wrapped results shared online by other Spotify users. After outlets like the New Jersey Monitor weighed in and asked him for comment, Gottheimer went on to reveal he had doctored the results to avoid including his children's choice in music in the list in another X post. "This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didn't share my account with my 12 and 15-year-old kids," Gottheimer said in a statement. "While it's Springsteen all day for me -- don't get me wrong, I still love listening to Taylor Swift!" Later, he went on to clarify his actual results for the Top Five songs and artists he had on Spotify for 2024 in yet another post. Springsteen still took first place on the artist list, and other names included Billy Joel, Drake, Travis Scott and Swift. The 2024 edition of Spotify Wrapped arrived earlier in December and, as ever, allowed users to reflect on their listening habits from the past 12 months in its "Celebration Of Your Year" experience. - NME, 12/12/24...... Lady Gaga has hooked up with AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson to sing the classic AC/DC number "Highway to Hell" for Apple TV's A Carpool Karaoke Christmas special, which the streaming service premiered on Dec. 15. During Gaga's segment, she was joined by special guest Johnson to whom she revealed she has been a decades-long AC/DC fan. The pair then clasp hands and start belting out the band's "Highway To Hell" together. In the segment, Gaga also revealed she was a "headbanging" extra in an AC/DC video as a teenager. When Johnson first entered the car to join Gaga and Zane Lowe, Gaga said: "You want to hear something funny? I was in [2000's] 'Stiff Upper Lip' video." "I was 17 and I was an extra in the back and I was headbanging," she continued, prompting fans to share screenshots of her brief appearance in the video on social media. And they were like, 'Don't headbang. We want it to be modern.' And I was like, 'No, I can't. Like, there's only one move that I can do.'" The full episode of A Carpool Karaoke Christmas can be viewed on Apple TV+, and the Gaga/Johnson collaboration can be streamed on X. - New Musical Express, 12/16/24...... As his ongoing "Get Back" tour stopped in Manchester, UK on Dec. 14, Paul McCartney treated fans to a rare live rendition of his festive yuletide tune "Wonderful Christmastime" -- a moment that hasn't been seen live in six years. Sir Paul, 82, was joined by children from the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy, transforming the Co-Op Live arena into a winter wonderland. This performance was particularly special, as McCartney has only played "Wonderful Christmastime" live about a dozen times throughout his extensive solo career. The last time fans were treated to a live version was back in 2018 during a series of December shows in England and before that, it was during a Dec. 2016 performance on The Tonight Show. Originally released in 1979 as a standalone single, "Wonderful Christmastime" has become a staple of holiday playlists worldwide. The song was later included as a bonus track on some editions of the Beatles legend's McCartney II album. Earlier in December, "Wonderful Christmastime" reappeared on Billboard's Rock Streaming Songs chart at No. 15. It has previously flown to the runner-up rung in the 47 weeks it's spent on the list of the most-streamed rock tunes in the US. During the Manchester performance, Macca also treated fans to a mix of deep cuts and iconic hits like "Hey Jude" and "Band on the Run," in a hit-filled three-hour set. The early Beatles tunes that peppered the first hour of the set included a souped-up "Drive My Car" and the Motown-inspired "Got to Get You into My Life." McCartney's Manchester "Wonderful Christmastime" performance has been shared on YouTube. Meanwhile, the longtime vegetarian has launched an anti-bullfighting appeal ahead of his concerts in Madrid, Spain. In a new PETA campaign in Spain, the music legend declares, "I am Paul McCartney, and I oppose bullfighting." It comes as animal rights advocates in the country gather signatures for the No Es Mi Cultura popular legislative initiative, which aims to repeal the law that designates bullfighting as "cultural heritage" and empower Spanish communities to prohibit the violent blood sport. "Bulls feel pain and fear just as humans do, yet in the bullring they're terrorised, mutilated, and barbarically slaughtered in front of jeering crowds," says PETA Vice President for Europe Mimi Bekhechi. "PETA urges compassionate people everywhere to join Sir Paul McCartney in taking a stand against these bloody, merciless spectacles." International condemnation of bullfighting has continued to grow, including in Spain, where 93% of young people say they don't support the cruel spectacles. More than 100,000 PETA supporters have urged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to ban bullfighting. In more McCartney news, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has given Macca a shout-out during an appearance on CBS's The Late Show on Dec. 12. "When I was very, very young, my dad played me 'Rocky Raccoon' for the first time and I was so mesmerized by that song and the songwriting of it all that I fell in love with Paul McCartney," Carpenter told host Stephen Colbert. "I was convinced that was my husband, my future husband," she added of the now-82-year-old pop icon. "But he was quite old and I was so young I didn't understand that he was much older than me because I was looking at all these photos," she recalled thinking. "No, he's young, he's only like 10 years older than me. I didn't understand math I was a child." Colbert then asked Carpenter what it was like when she was finally able to meet the Beatles legend. "I just formed tears in my eyes and he was just so normal and casual and was so charming," she said. "It felt like I was entering an alternate universe like the Upside Down vibes? Like Stranger Things, but a lot happier than Stranger Things." What isn't strange, Carpenter noted, is that in every room McCartney enters he makes everyone feel "seen and heard," which was inspiring to see from someone she's "obsessed" with. Carpenter's Late Show interview can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 12/16/24...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Ringo Starr participated in a playback of his new country music-themed album Look Up at Third Man Records in London on Dec. 13. "I love my voice on this. I love all the tracks actually, and you know, they're all in my key," the world famous drummer told the UK paper The Sun. Starr was joined at the event by famous faces including ex-Led Zeppelin frontman Jimmy Page, 80, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, 77, Eric Clapton, 79, Sir Bob Geldof, 73, and 66-year-old Jools Holland. Ringo's new album comes after he told Variety he suffered a near-fatal illness that forced him to cancel solo shows this year. He said he had a high white blood cell count of 12,000, which can mean an infection or inflammation, describing it as "a mad thing eating my body." Ringo, a father of three, added: "That's what saved your life -- they were fighting the attacker. And so with pills and medication, I got over it in two weeks." - Music-News, 12/14/24...... Timotheé Chalamet channeled Bob Dylan's early blonde-haired look at the New York premiere of the new Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown at New York's SVA Theater on Dec. 13. Chalamet, 28, paid tribute to the folk-rock icon by recreating Dylan's style from a 2003 Sundance Film Festival event. Dressed in a light blue beanie, black leather coat, gray patterned scarf, red flannel shirt and sporting dyed blonde bangs, Chalamet's ensemble closely mirrored a look Dylan wore to the Masked and Anonymous movie screening more than two decades ago. A Complete Unknown, which has its general release on Christmas Day, stars Chalamet as a younger version of Dylan. The film also features Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton. After His Bobness himself gave his stamp of approval to Chalamet's performance in the film on X earlier in December, Chalamet tweeted in response that he was "Floored... I am so grateful. Thank you, Bob." - Billboard, 12/14/24...... The new Elton John documentary Never Too Late began streaming exclusively on Disney+ on Dec. 13. Celebrating the extraordinary 50-year career of one of the biggest names in pop and rock music, it gives fans a peek at the legendary singer's life behind his rhinestone-encrusted glasses, as he prepares for his farewell live concert at Dodger Stadium, the same venue of his iconic 1975 performance. Directed by R.J. Cutler and John's husband/manager David Furnish, the film is jam-packed with unseen footage, rare interviews and an array of Elton's greatest hits as he explores the inspiring full-circle journey of his career. In his own words, the Rocket Man recounts the many struggles he's faced early on in life, to his rise to fame and career-defining sold-out shows. The official trailer for Elton John: Never Too Late can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/12/24...... In other Elton news, his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin recently told Time magazine in an interview to mark John being named the magazine's "2024 Icon of the Year" that the work he and Sir Elton did when the singer was in the depths of drug addiction "not the best." "I was terrified for him. It was absolutely horrible a lot of the work that we did in the times when he was at his worst wasn't the best of both of us," Taupin said. He added about watching Elton battle addiction forcing him to reform his heavy drug use for the sake of his work: "I wasn't able to creatively invest any time in writing material that related to him until he actually found himself, and then it was easier for me to reflect upon it." John has said he was introduced to cocaine around 1974 at the peak of his productivity, and even though he initially enjoyed the powder freeing him from his crippling shyness, it "soon took over his life." Time reported Elton now "divides his life into pre- and post-sober periods." Its profile highlighted how he has helped a series of others kick drugs, which has seen him become rapper Eminem's sponsor and get late The Band member Robbie Williams into rehab for the first time. Elton said about trying to coach people into giving up addictions: "It's tough to tell someone that they're being an a--h---, and it's tough to hear. Eventually I made the choice to admit that I'm being an a--h---." - Music-News.com, 12/14/24...... Cher has been "required to evacuate" her home in the wake of the dangerous Malibu wildfire. Known as the Franklin Fire, the conflagration has destroyed nearly 4,000 acres since beginning on Dec. 9. Other celebrities who reside in Malibu, including legendary comedy actor Dick Van Dyke and actress Mira Sorvino, have revealed they've also evacuated since the start of the Southern California natural disaster. The wildfire has caused forced evacuation orders and warnings for over 20,000 residents due to the wind-driven fire, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. - People, 12/11/24...... KISS bassist/singer Gene Simmons spent decades traveling the world as the fire-breathing bass player for KISS, taking with him the large road crews required for massive -- and expensive -- productions on some of music's biggest stages. Since KISS's final show in Dec. 2023, the former fire-breathing musician has been traveling considerably lighter as the frontman for the Gene Simmons Band, playing KISS favorites, some rarely heard Simmons solo tunes and familiar classics by the likes of Van Halen and Motörhead. Speaking with Billboard's "Behind the Setlist" podcast, Simmons says he has stripped down the tour to the essential elements -- the musicians -- and pockets more money from a Gene Simmons Band show than he netted as a member of KISS. "The local promoters provide the back line, and we just get up there and play," Simmons says. That's a sharp contrast to the complex -- and expensive -- production required to take KISS on the road. As a solo artist playing festivals and theaters, Simmons has "no managers, no private jets, no 20 tractor trailers, no 60-man crew, no huge shows -- and the pyro alone for every [KISS] show is ten grand, sometimes 50 [thousand dollars] if you go outdoors," he explains. "Enormous, enormous costs for doing that." Simmons adds he is "proud" to have performed those massive productions, but the Gene Simmons Band tour isn't trying to replicate the KISS stage show. "It's almost as if you decided to rent some amps in a garage and plug in," he says, "and then everybody from the neighborhood comes in It's very informal and a lot of fun." Simmons' entire interview can be heard on Spotify.com, as well as Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, Podbean or Everand. - Billboard, 12/12/24.