Posted by Administrator on February 23rd, 2025
Smokey Robinson has responded to a rumor about a '70s song he wrote which is speculated to be about an alleged affair with his fellow Motown legend Diana Ross, saying he "could not possibly have experienced everything" he has written music about. Robinson, 84, spoke to The Times about his music, the soul genre, and hanging out with the likes of The Beatles and Marvin Gaye. He was also asked about his 1975 track "The Agony and The Ecstacy" (available on YouTube) and whether it was about the affair he was having with Ross at the time. "As a songwriter, I could not possibly have experienced everything I've written about, and that song seemed like a good idea because so many people were in that situation," he said. "I've known Diana Ross since she was eight years old, man! She's precious to me. She's my longest living friend. Oh yeah, she's my babe." Smokey had been married to Claudette Robinson for more than a decade when he had the alleged affair with Ross. Robinson is scheduled to play his first UK show in over 15 years this summer in East Sussex. He will play a headline set at the "Love Supreme Jazz Festival" in Glynde Place in the South Downs, which will run from July 4 to 6. - NME, 2/17/25...... 
He isn't quite "slip-slidin' away" yet -- on Feb. 18 Paul Simon announced an ambitious 2025 North American tour on Twitter/X, some seven years after he retired from playing live. The 55-show, 19-city "A Quiet Celebration" trek will kick off in New Orleans' Saenger Theater on Apr. 4, hitting most major American cities and Vancouver, B.C. Runs of five shows in New York's Beacon Theater (6/16,18, 20, 21, 23) and Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall (7/9, 11, 12, 14, 16) are included in the run, which finally wraps in Seattle's Benaroya Hall on Aug. 3. The legendary 83-year-old singer-songwriter played what at the time was described as his final ever concert in Sept. 2018 in Queens, New York's Flushing Meadows Corona Park. "I've often wondered what it would feel like to reach the point where I'd consider bringing my performing career to a natural end," he said at the time. "Now I know: it feels a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating and something of a relief." In 2024, Simon opened up about being diagnosed with hearing loss while recording his 2023 album Seven Psalms, describing the process as "incredibly frustrating." A year earlier he had told The Times that he lost "most of the hearing in my left ear," saying the process happened "quite suddenly." "Nobody has an explanation for it," he explained, "so everything became more difficult." However, Simon went on to tell The Guardian in Nov. 2024 that he was "optimistic" about returning to perform live, saying he was "hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert." On Feb. 16, Simon made a surprise return to live performing when he was joined by rising singer Sabrina Carpenter for a duet of the Simon & Garfunkel classic "Homeward Bound" on the 50th-anniversary episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Introducing the performance, Simon told the audience: "I sang this song with George Harrison on Saturday Night Live in 1976," to which Carpenter responded: "I was not born then. And neither were my parents." Their duet can be streamed on YouTube. NBC has said the 3 1/2 hour extravaganza was watched by nearly 15 million people, the network's most-watched prime-time entertainment telecast in five years. It will be available to stream on Peacock. - NME, 2/18/25...... Speaking of the SNL special, Paul McCartney closed out the event with a stirring performance of The Beatles' Abbey Road medley, "Golden Slumbers"/ "Carry That Weight"/ "The End." Sir Paul, who was a musical guest on the show in 1980, 1993, 2010 and 2012 and made cameos in 2006, 2013 and 2015, also previously appeared on SNL's 40th anniversary special. His performance with members of his touring band -- guitarist Rusty Anderson, bassist/guitarist Brian Ray, keyboardist Paul "Wix" Wickens and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. -- can be viewed on YouTube. In 1993, McCartney appeared in a skit with the late SNL cast member Chris Farley in which a starstruck Farley asked the Beatle legend "In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.' Is that true?," before being overjoyed when the artist said he thinks it is. Now some fans are speculating Macca's latest SNL performance was a nod to Farley. The skit can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 2/17/25...... In other Beatles-related news, details of the forthcoming John Lennon documentary Borrowed Time: Lennon's Last Decade have been revealed. The film follows the legend as he evolves beyond The Beatles, creating revolutionary music and standing at the forefront of anti-war protests that would make him one of the most influential pop culture icons of all time. Musicians, journalists, and close friends of the man himself set the record straight on the truth behind many famous Lennon moments, brought to life by rare archive footage, including never-before-seen interviews. For the first time ever, the full story of how John and Yoko Ono met is revealed and the curtain is lifted on the 1981 comeback tour that, sadly, never came to be. Speaking on the upcoming release director Alan G. Parker said: "I am so excited to share Borrowed Time: Lennon's Last Decade with UK audiences. I've made a number of films, but this is the first one that feels personal. I never met John Lennon, but through his music he became the older brother that this bullied kid needed." Borrowed Time: Lennon's Last Decade opens in UK cinemas on May 2, with an exclusive Director's Cut available on the Icon Film Channel on the same day. Special Q&A events about the documentary are to be announced soon. - Music-News.com, 2/20/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Ringo Starr has told Britain's Mojo magazine that he loves living in Los Angeles, where he has lived on and off since 1973. "When I first came to America and we landed in New York, I wanted to live in New York," said Starr, who was born and raised in Liverpool. "And then we want on tours around and we came to Los Angeles, I'd think, 'Uh ... maybe Los Angeles. No New York! Maybe Los Angeles. L ... A!' I just loved the atmosphere. I loved the light. I loved the heat." Despite this, Ringo says he's never been tempted to surf in the Pacific Ocean. "It took me seven years to go to the ocean. A limo took me down the Pacific Coast Highway. I got out the car, walked across the beach, put my feet in the water, turned around, walked back to the car and went for lunch." - Music-News.com, 2/17/25...... 
In what is likely a major disappointment to many fans, Ozzy Osbourne has said he won't play a full Black Sabbath set at the band's upcoming farwell show on July 5 in Birmingham, UK. Osbourne made the announcement on his Ozzy Speaks program on SiriusXM channel Ozzy's Boneyard, where he provided an update as to his plans for the recently-announced "Back to the Beginning" concert with the "ultimate" Sabbath lineup of Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. "I'm not planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath but I am doing little bits and pieces with them," the "War Pigs" singer explained. "I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable." Osbourne hasn't performed a full set since Dec. 31, 2018 on the final date of his "No More Tours" tour. Just two months later, the heavy metal pioneer was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and any plans for further large-scale performances have been affected by numerous cancellations and health issues. "I am trying to get back on my feet," Osbourne added. "When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I'm not dead. I'm still actively doing things." Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Guns N' Roses, Tool and Jason Mamoa have been added to the lineup of the final Black Sabbath concert. Aquaman actor Momoa will host the event, while Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello will serve as musical director. Other previously announced acts include Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Rival Sons, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, songwriter-producer Andrew Watt, and bassist Dave Ellefson. Osbourne and Billy Morrison have shared their new single, "Gods Of Rock N Roll," on YouTube. The track is a reworking of the Morrison song "Gods," which appeared on his 2015 album God Shaped Hole. The track saw Ozzy co-write and sing on the original, and now it has been reimagined with a 61-piece orchestra featuring new guitar aspects from Steve Stevens. - Billboard, 2/16/25...... Matt Sorum, a former drummer with Guns N' Roses, says Steven Tyler will never return to touring just weeks after the Aerosmith frontman made a return to the stage as part of his sixth annual "Jam for Janie" Grammy Awards viewing party. With Sorum serving as Musical Director, the event was only the second time that Tyler had performed live since a 2023 vocal injury which halted Aerosmith's touring schedule, and the first time since the band announced their formal retirement in August of 2024. During Jam for Janie, Tyler sung covers of songs by Extreme and Led Zeppelin, and four Aerosmith staples. However, despite the positive response from fans, Sorum told Joe Rock of Long Island radio station WBAB that the strain of global touring would prevent Tyler from performing on a large scale once again. "Some fans were a little bit, like, 'Well, he can sing.' Well, let me just explain what's happening with Steven Tyler, 'cause he's a really good friend," Sorum explained. "He went out and sang. And it was a really big moment for him because he hurt himself bad. Now, is he gonna tour again? No, he's not. Because, and I explained this to people, Steven cannot put himself under the rigors of doing a full worldwide tour because there's a lot of pressure." Sorum went on to explain that Tyler "is 77 years old and a perfectionist... And if he doesn't sing correctly, it bothers him." On Sept. 9, 2023, Tyler fractured his larynx, necessitating the postponement of shows on Aerosmith's Peace Out tour. Ultimately, these shows were canceled entirely when the band announced their retirement from touring in Aug. 2024. In January, Aerosmith's Joe Hamilton said that "if [Aerosmith does] anything in the future, it would come from him." - Billboard, 2/18/25...... 
Queen guitarist Brian May. Created with significant design input from May, only 100 of the Brian May SJ-200 12-String models will be available worldwide in a limited run via Gibson.com, the Gibson Garage Nashville and London, and authorized Gibson dealers. In a press release, May said he "had the idea for the guitar when I needed a 12-String on tour, and the one I was accustomed to wasn't performing right on stage." "The guys at Gibson very kindly said, 'We'll make you something special that you can use on the tours.' One of the things I asked for was for the octaves to be placed around the other way from where it is normally done, because I like to pick upwards and hear the top notes when I'm playing," he added. Referring to his other career as an astronomer, he said: "Gibson was able to put the universe on it in a figurative way and the planet Mercury is here, and that is a little nod to a friend of mine that is always with me." An episode of the Gibson TV podcast with May introducing the instrument has been shared on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 2/19/25...... The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has topped the $100 million threshold in worldwide box-office grosses, according to boxofficemojo.com. The film, which has grossed $104 million as of Feb. 18, now ranks No. 8 on Billboard's list of music biopics with the highest worldwide grosses -- between the 2004 Ray Charles biopic Ray at No. 7 ($124 million) and the 2019 French singer Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose at No. 9 ($87.5 million). Released in December, A Complete Unknown received eight Oscar nominations on Jan. 23, and made Oscar history as the first music biopic to receive three acting nods -- for Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. The runaway all-time highest grossing biopic continues to be the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), with a worldwide gross of $910.8 million. - Billboard, 2/16/25...... In other rock biopic news, Jimmy Page has thanked fans for their "humbling and inspiring" reaction to the new IMAX documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin. Page took to Instagram on Feb. 17 to send his personal thanks for the film's enthusiastic reception. "In light of your incredible responses and the demand for the Becoming Led Zeppelin film from those of you that have either viewed it at the IMAX or during its general cinema release, I must say that feedback from fans is just humbling and inspiring," he wrote. Currently in UK cinemas, Becoming Led Zeppelin is the first authorized account of the band's history ever to come to the big screen, and has been in production since first being announced back in 2019. Since hitting IMAX screens on Feb. 5 and receiving a general cinema release two days later, Zeppelin fans have been flocking to see the film, which features new interviews with Page, frontman Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones, as well as rare archival interviews with the late drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980. - NME, 2/17/25...... 
A unique version of the classic Procol Harum single "A Whiter Shade of Pale" featuring late singer Gary Brooker is among the songs on the new charity album Think Loud 4 Parkinson's. The LP was put together by esteemed manager Ian Grant -- who helped steer the careers of the likes of Big Country, The Cult, The Stranglers, Elizabeth McGovern and many more -- and music producer Paul Mitchell, along with two others, in response to Grant's own experience living with Parkinson's disease for the last nine years. For the special version of "A Whiter Shade of Pale," Mitchell took the performance of the song from the "Remembering Gary Brooker" memorial concert that took place at G Live in Guilford, England, on Dec. 4, 2023. That performance features a 15-year old live vocal recording of Brooker -- who passed away from cancer in Feb. 2022, at the age of 76 -- matched to Procol Harum's live rendition of the track in tribute to the singer at that gig. Speaking at the launch of the album at the offices of Cure Parkinson's in London, Mitchell said: "Gary's widow Frankie Brooker very kindly allowed us to take some tracks from that concert. "The 'Whiter Shade of Paler' version on this -- and this is how valuable this album is going to be -- is super rare. The music is the band playing live in December 2023, but the vocal is Gary Brooker's vocal from Boston in 2010 and it's all synchronised together. It is an absolute one-off." All profits from the LP go to Cure Parkinson's to help the charity fund their vital research into the neurodegenerative disease. It additionally features an array of covers and rare tracks from such other music legends as Leo Sayer, Queen drummer Roger Taylor and former Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley. - Music-News.com, 2/16/25...... Rick Buckler, a longtime rocker best known as the drummer for legendary UK band The Jam, has died. He was 69 years old. News of his death was announced on X via a heartfelt message from his bandmate Paul Weller. "I'm shocked and saddened by Rick's passing.... We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time & Rick was a good guy and a great drummer whose innovative drum patterns helped shape our songs. I'm glad we had the chance to work together as much as we did. My thoughts are with [Rick's wife Lesley] and his family at this very difficult time." The Jam was formed in 1972 in Woking, Surrey. Buckler was in the original lineup as drummer, and the group released their debut single "In the City" in 1977, and released their debut album of the same name that same year. The band made waves via their political statements, rising up against police brutality, the British government and beyond. Overall, the group released six albums, their final project being 1982's The Gift, which peaked at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart. After a world tour in support of the album, the group disbanded due to a decision from Weller. After his time in The Jam, Buckler formed Time UK with Jimmy Edwards and Ray Simone, and later formed a new The Jam tribute band called The Gift. - Billboard, 2/18/25...... 
Scottish drummer Jamie Muir, a former drummer of the British prog rock group King Crimson, died of as yet undisclosed causes on Feb. 17. He was 82. News of his passing was confirmed by his friend and bandmate Bill Bruford, who wrote on Facebook: "Jamie Muir died today, 17.02.2025, in Cornwall, UK, with his brother George by his side." Mr. Muir was best known for his stint with the legendary King Crimson from 1972 to 1973, playing most prominently on their fifth studio album Larks' Tongues In Aspic, released in 1973. Born in Edinburgh in 1942 and educated at the Edinburgh College Of Art, he moved to London in the 1960s as a passionate jazz trombonist, before switching to percussion. In London, he was involved in several free improvisational groups, including The Music Improvisation Company, and played with respected figures such as Derek Bailey and Evan Parker. King Crimson leader Robert Fripp invited him to join the band via a phone call in the summer of 1972, alongside a new incarnation of the band that included Yes drummer Bruford, bassist John Wetton and violinist David Cross. After just a year, and just days after the release of Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Muir abruptly left King Crimson and moved to a monastery in southern Scotland to pursue life as a Buddhist monk. He did return to music in 1980, appearing on albums by Bailey and Parker, as well as the soundtrack of the 1983 British independent film Ghost Dance. In 1990, he withdrew from the music industry once again, opting to devote his time to painting. Mr. Muir's passing comes just months after King Crimson songwriter and lyricist Peter Sinfield died, aged 80, on Nov. 14. Robert Fripp paid tribute to Mr. Muir on Instagram, writing: "Jamie Muir was a major, and continuing, influence on my thinking, not only musical. A wonderful and mysterious person. Of the five members of KC 1972, Jamie had the greatest authority, experience and presence. Fly well, Master Muir." - NME, 2/18/25.
Willie Nelson's 13th annual Luck Reunion concert has been set for March 13 at his ranch in Spicewood, Tex. Nelson's Willie Nelson & Family will top the bill, but the 2025 will also feature the likes of Charley Crockett, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, Willie's sons Micah and Lucas Nelson, and "more than one surprise guests." The concert will also feature a tribute to Willie's late close friend and Country Music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson. Ticket information is available at www.luckpresents.com. - Billboard, 2/14/25...... The lineup for the 2025 Love Rocks Benefit concert, set for the legendary Beacon Theatre in NYC on Mar. 6, will feature sets from Cher, Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald, Alicia Keys, Beck, Kate Hudson, Mavis Staples, Phish's Trey Anastasio and many more. The ninth annual benefit supports God's Love We Deliver -- an organization that cooks and delivers medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves. God's Love We Deliver was founded in 1985 as a response to the AIDS pandemic and now serves people living with more than 200 different diagnoses. The organization has served more than 40 million meals to date, with this year marking the group's 40th anniversary. Past performers at God's Love shows have included Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Jon Bon Jovi, Dave Grohl, Dave Matthews and The Black Crowes. - Billboard, 2/12/25...... 
A rep for Don Felder says the former Eagles guitarist is "feeling much better" after a medical emergency during a Rock Legends Cruise performance on Feb. 13. In a video shared by an attendee and posted on the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com, Felder is seen introducing the Eagles classic, "Tequila Sunrise," sharing the inspiration behind the song before he began strumming his guitar to perform it. He then appears to look to crew members on the side stage and lose balance, before a member of his team and his bandmates helped escort him offstage. The crowd cheered in support for the musician before the video ends. Posting on Instagram, his rep said medical personnel determined that Felder "was deemed to be suffering from dehydration... He was given fluids, and is feeling much better." The statement continued that the remainder of Felder's cruise performances will be rescheduled to "ensure he has ample time to rehydrate and recover fully," before concluding, "Thank you for your understanding and remember -- drink your water!" Felder, 77, performed with the Eagles from 1974 to 2001, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 1998. After his departure from the group, he filed two lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, breach of implied-in-fact contract and breach of fiduciary duty, though the case was settled in 2007. Felder published the book, Heaven and Hell: My Life in The Eagles, in 2007. - Billboard, 2/14/25...... In other Eagles-related news, a rare book dealer filed a lawsuit against band co-founder Don Henley, their manager Irving Azoff, and their attorneys in New York state court on Feb. 6. Henley and his co-defendants are being sued by Glenn Horowitz, one of the men who was criminally charged for allegedly attempting to sell handwritten lyrics connected to the Eagles' 1976 album Hotel California, claiming they and their attorneys engaged in a "malicious prosecution" that harmed his reputation and caused him financial losses and emotional distress. Horowitz claims the parties falsely alleged that he and his two co-defendants in the criminal case "knew or had reason to believe" that the lyric sheets "had been unlawfully obtained" and nonetheless attempted to profit off of them via an online auction. However, Horowitz claims the men and their attorneys knew all along that the notes had been acquired through legal means in the first place. Horowitz, a rare book dealer, and his co-defendants -- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi and memorabilia auctioneer Edward Kosinski -- were criminally charged in 2022 over an alleged conspiracy to resell the lyrics that had been handwritten by Henley while working on the band's iconic Hotel California. At the time, prosecutors had accused the three men of hiding the fact that the documents had been stolen from Henley's home by Ed Sanders, a journalist hired by Henley and Azoff to write a never-published book on the Eagles in the late 1970s. But in a stunning turnaround in March 2024, Manhattan prosecutors dropped the case after Henley produced new evidence previously withheld under attorney-client privilege that cast doubt on his and Azoff's allegations. The judge in the case subsequently dismissed the charges and chastised Henley, Azoff and their attorneys for "obfuscat[ing] and hid[ing] information that they believed would be damaging to their position that the lyric sheets were stolen." Horowitz and his wife are asking for damages amounting to more than 10 million dollars over being "deprived of their liberty, suffering humiliation, defamation, diminished reputation and loss of business and/or wages." Henley and Azoff's attorney, Dan Petrocelli, said the Horowitzes' suit "highlights the dark underbelly of the memorabilia business that exploited the brazen, unauthorized taking and selling of Mr. Henley's handwritten lyrics... The only malicious prosecution involved here is the filing of this case by Mr. Horowitz." - Billboard, 2/10/25...... 
English Heritage, the charity responsible for the National Heritage Collection of England, announced on X/Twitter that late T. Rex legend Marc Bolan will be among several Londoners who will be honoured with a new London blue plaque in 2025 for their significant impact on the city's cultural landscape. Bolan, the charismatic frontman of glam-rock band T. Rex, was known for his flamboyant style and shape-shifting music and will be honoured with a plaque at one of his former addresses in West London. Others to be honoured with a blue plaque include actress Audrey Hepburn, poet Una Marson, ballerina Alicia Markova, novelist Barbara Pym and artist Graham Sutherland. In 2024, English Heritage paid tribute to George Harrison by unveiling a blue plaque at Harrison's childhood home in Liverpool. - New Musical Express, 2/13/25...... Performing a surprise concert at New York's iconic Bowery Ballroom on Feb. 11, Paul McCartney relived his Beatlemania days with several of the band's classic tracks and paid tribute to late bandmate John Lennon. McCartney, 82, announced the impromptu gig earlier in the day and, unsurprisingly, it swiftly sold out, with 575 lucky fans treated to a once-in-a-lifetime show. Sir Paul, backed by guitarist Rusty Anderson, guitarist and bassist Brian Ray, keyboardist Paul "Wix" Wickens and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. -- kicked off proceedings in style performing the 1964 Beatles hit "A Hard Day's Night," then dusted off his '70s band Wings' 1975 track "Letting Go," which he hadn't performed live in 11 years. 1966's Revolver track "Got to Get You Into My Life" followed, and other rarities included Wings' "Let Me Roll With It" -- which was last featured in his set at the iTunes Festival in 2007 -- alongside a jam of "Foxy Lady" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Elsewhere, Macca gave a stirring stripped-back acoustic performance of the tear-jerking Beatles tune "Blackbird." McCartney was amused to reminisce about the Beatlemania days when he heard a "Beatles scream" and demanded more shrieking from the "girls." "OK, let's get it out of the way. Girls, give me a Beatles scream," he quipped. Paul also paid tribute to Lennon when performing The Beatles' "final song," 2023's "Now And Then," which Lennon had penned in the 1970s and was finished with the help of AI. He said: "Let's hear it for John." After performing a three-song encore of "Golden Slumbers," "Carry The Weight" and "The End" from Abbey Road, the legend declared: "This has been a blast -- we've loo-ved it." McCartney was in the Big Apple to help NBC's Saturday Night Live celebrate its 50th anniversary on Feb. 16. The venerable comedy show announced on X/Twitter on Feb. 14 that musical performances by McCartney, Paul Simon, Cher, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne and other famous acts will be combined with a three-hour primetime special which will feature various live sketches which will see both past and present SNL cast members, special guests, and retrospectives celebrating the show's 50th anniversary. The special will air 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. - Music-News.com/Billboard/NME, 2/14/25...... Appearing on TMZ's new 2 Angry Men podcast on Feb. 12, Village People frontman Victor Willis told hosts Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos that the group's 1978 classic "Y.M.C.A." has an intentional dual meaning. "That was something that I credited myself on is writing my songs with what is called a double entendre," Willis said. "I would write a song to where you can take it any kind of way you wanted it. If you're straight, you can take the lyrics for somebody straight or if you were gay, you could take it for somebody gay." Willis then insisted that "there's like 10% of the gay community that have been coming to my shows and have been there over the past 10 years," although Levin and Geragos insisted that the number would be higher. Willis recently sent a cease and desist letter to Jim Jeffries after the comedian's claims about the song being a "gay anthem." "[Jeffries] went over the line when he got into saying it had to do with men having sex in the bathroom," Willis said. "There is nothing in my lyrics that says anything about that. We approached him and he apologized and said he was going to rephrase what it was he said and say it differently, because the way he said it as worded was defamatory," he added. - Billboard, 2/13/25...... 
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame revealed its nominees for the Class of 2025 on Feb. 12, with Mariah Carey, Oasis, Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes making the cut. Eight of those 14 acts -- Bad Company, the Black Crowes, Checker, Cocker, Idol, Maná, Outkast and Phish -- are first-time nominees, while the other six have been in RRHOF consideration in years past. Those names will now be narrowed down by an international panel of more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry players, with a fan-voted element factored in. That group's selected nominees will be revealed in late April, as well as whether they'll be entering in the Musical Influence or Musical Excellence categories, and who the year's Ahmet Ertegun award recipient will be. An induction ceremony in Los Angeles will follow in the fall. Industry insiders predict Oasis, The White Stripes, Outkast, Phish, Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper and Joe Cocker, in that order, have the best odds of being inducted, while an informal Billboard fan poll showed support for Phish, Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Billy Idol, Soundgarden and Chubby Checker. Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers says that "[Our] fans and friends have been lobbying for this nomination persistently for years and they never gave up, so big thanks to them. According to them, Bad Company fits all of the criteria and then some to be inducted." Drummer Simon Kirke, however, is more inclined to also note that it's about time. "I think it's been a long time coming. It has rankled me a bit," Kirke says. "We've been around a long time and we've influenced a lot of bands, and I think it's a place that we deserve. I'm just pleased that we're at least on the ballot. I'm happy and I'm honored, and fingers crossed that we make it." Formed during 1973 in London, Bad Company brought together Rodgers and Kirke from Free, guitarist Mick Ralphs from Mott the Hoople and bassist Boz Burrell, fresh out of King Crimson. The group was managed by the legendary Peter Grant and signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label. Its self-titled 1974 debut hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200, going five-times platinum and launching enduring rock radio hits such as "Can't Get Enough" (No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Movin' On" (No. 19) and the song "Bad Company." Four of the band's other 11 studio albums went platinum or better, as did the 1985 compilation 10 From 6. All told Bad Company sold more than 40 million records worldwide, with a cadre of other top 40 Hot 100 hits such as "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Young Blood," "Shooting Star" and "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy." The original Bad Company foursome came to a stop in 1982, and Bad Company last toured during 2019. Kirke confirms that "I think it's safe to say (the band's) playing days are pretty much over." He and Rodgers are still active, however. Though Rodgers is also battling health issues -- he's suffered several strokes since 2016 and 2019 -- he released the solo album Midnight Rose during 2023 and is continuing to write new material. Kirke, meanwhile, has written a stage musical about addiction that's currently being shopped and is planning to record his fourth solo album during the spring. - Billboard, 2/12/25...... On Feb. 12 The Jacksons shared details of three UK shows this summer. Comprised of founding members Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson, brothers of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, the band are set to break out hits from their lengthy discography as they headline GuilFest at Stoke Park in Guilford, Surrey on July 5. From there, they'll take to the stage at the Heritage Live Shows at the Englefield House in Berkshire on July 19. For their set at GuilFest, the band -- formerly known as The Jackson 5 -- will join Razorlight at the top of the bill. They also join other previously announced acts on the 2025 line-up, including KT Tunstall, Soul II Soul, The Amy Winehouse Band, Sleeper, Elvanna, Stereo MCs and Dub Pistols. At the Heritage Live gig, they will appear alongside Sister Sledge, Boney M and Maizie Williams. For the Essex show, Sister Sledge will also be performing, as will Miss Disco. The news of their UK shows arrives months following the death of founding member Tito Jackson, who passed away on Sept. 15 at age 70 after he suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. At the time, the group's manager said The Jacksons were "far advanced" in the process of recording and releasing their first album since 1989's 2300 Jackson Street. - NME, 2/12/25...... Though not known as a country artist, Sammy Hagar will be among the eclectic lineup of headliners at this year's Stagecoach Country Music Festival, set for the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., on April 25-27. Hagar will perform on the final night of the festival on the event's Palomino Stage, with other notable performers during the three days including Lana Del Rey, Nelly, Tracy Lawrence, Goo Goo Dolls, Tommy James & the Shondells and Crystal Gayle. - Billboard, 2/11/25...... 
Patti Smith has announced she'll be hitting the road in the U.K. and U.S. this fall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her iconic debut album, Horses. The singer will be joined by longtime side men guitarist Lenny Kaye and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, who both played on the seminal 1975 LP that is considered a punk classic and is often cited by R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe as the album that made him want to make music, and has been enshrined in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry as a historically significant work. Her Patti Smith Group will kick off the 20-date jaunt on Oct. 6 at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The outing is then booked to hit Madrid, London, Burssels, Oslo and Paris before moving over to the U.S. for theater gigs in Seattle, Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. before winding down on Nov. 29 at the Met in Philadelphia. "Please join us to help celebrate the final ride of our irreverent thoroughbred," read a statement announcing the run that will mark the first time in 20 years that Smith, 78, has performed the whole album. In 2005, she celebrated its 30th anniversary at that year's Meltdown Festival in London, which she curated. Before she hits the road, Smith will be feted at a March 26 all-star concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, "People Have the Power: Celebrating the Music of Patti Smith," which will feature appearances by Stipe and members of Sonic Youth and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. In January, Smith assured fans that she was okay after collapsing on stage in So Paulo, Brazil on Jan. 29. The health scare came a month after Smith was ordered by a doctor to rest following a brief stay in an Italian hospital to deal with what was described as a sudden, unnamed illness, resulting in the cancellation of a pair of European shows. - Billboard, 2/11/25...... Van Morrison has added two Scotland shows to his forthcoming 2025 UK tour. In addition to the initially confirmed four gigs in Nottingham (3/18), Birmingham (3/19), Oxford (3/23, 24) and Stroud (3/24), Morrison has scheduled a pair of headline concerts in Scotland at the end of the trek. He'll take to the stage at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall on Mar. 30, before heading to Edinburgh for a performance at Usher Hall the following night. Morrison had previously announced two homecoming shows at Whitla Hall in Belfast on February 21 and 22, as well as European headline gigs in Antwerp, Brussels and The Hague. - NME, 2/11/25...... The legacy of legendary folk singer Joan Baez was celebrated on Feb. 8 with a star-studded Sweet Relief Musicians Fund benefit show at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco. Performers included Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Margo Price, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Morello, Joe Henry, Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal and Baez herself. There were also appearances by Jackson Browne and the Glide Ensemble. Actress Monica Barbaro, who recently received an Oscar nomination for playing Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, was in attendance, as were Linda Ronstadt and local counterculture icon Wavy Gravy. Eric Steinberg, executive director at Sweet Relief Musicians Fund said, "We're thrilled to celebrate 30 years of Sweet Relief while honoring the great Joan Baez and her amazing career. Joan has supported our charity for many years, and it was a privilege to honor her alongside so many incredible artists." Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides services and financial assistance for career musicians and music industry professionals. Grants are earmarked for medical and vital living expenses, including insurance premiums, prescriptions, medical treatment and operative procedures, housing costs, food costs, utilities, and other basic necessities. The event raised more than $600,000, and 100% of all donations will go to Sweet Relief for California fire relief for distribution to victims. - Billboard, 2/10/25...... 
10cc's Graham Gouldman and Kevin Godley celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1975 hit "I'm Not In Love" on Vernon Kay's BBC Radio 2 program Piano Room on the morning of Feb. 14. Accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Maida Vale studios, Gouldman and Godley performed their seminal hit "I'm Not In Love" plus their new single -- "I Don't Wanna Get To Heaven," and a cover of The Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream." When Kay asked about "I'm Not In Love" going through different iterations, Godley said: "There were two versions, the first recording of it was dreadful. It sucked. So we put it to one side. We knew it was a good song and then we came back to it when we were deeper into the album and discovered this new way of approaching it and suddenly it came to life." A full 10cc reunion seems unlikely however, as Godley said "no" when asked if there was a chance the band would be getting back on stage together. - Music-News.com, 2/14/25...... On Feb. 12, Nordoff and Robbins, the UK's largest music therapy charity that uses music to transform lives, announced the first wave of winners for the 2025 O2 Silver Clef Awards. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour will be the 2025 recipient of the coveted O2 Silver Clef Award, which celebrates outstanding contributions to music. "It's such an honour to receive the O2 Silver Clef Award," Gilmour said in a statement. "Music speaks its own language and it's inspiring to see Nordoff and Robbins using it to make a real difference to people's lives. What they do reminds us of music's ability to reach across boundaries and bring people together." Gilmour and other 2025 winners, including Rick Astley and Soul II Soul, will be celebrated at an exclusive awards evening hosted by broadcaster Edith Bowman on July 2 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London. Previous winners of the prestigious O2 Silver Clef Award include David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Ed Sheeran, The Rolling Stones, Kylie Minogue and many more. First held in 1976, the O2 Silver Clef Awards is Nordoff and Robbins' largest annual fundraising event, raising over 13.5 million for the charity across its 49-year history. - Music-News.com, 2/12/25...... Ozzy Osbourne's new single "Gods of Rock N Roll" has already appeared on the charts days before its official release date of Feb. 14. It comes as the song as a new version of the Billy Morrison song "God," which appeared on his 2015 album God Shaped Hole The track saw Osbourne co-write and sing on the original, and now it has been reimagined as an orchestral edition featuring new guitar contributions from Steve Stevens. The reason that it has found its way onto the charts already comes as Morrison gave the new version of the track its premiere while on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard channel last month. Since then, it has been picked up by other radio stations and has made its way to the Number 26 spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. "Gods Of Rock N Roll (Orchestral)" is set to feature on the upcoming deluxe edition of Morrison's 2024 album The Morrison Project, which will arrive digitally on Feb. 21. - NME, 2/11/25...... Sir Tom Jones and Sugababes have been unveiled as headliners for the UK's 2025 Camp Bestival. The "She's A Lady" hitmaker and the "Freak Like Me" group will top the bill at the family festival at Lulworth Cove in Dorset, which takes place between July 31 and Aug. 3. They join previously confirmed headliners Basement Jaxx. Other acts on the stacked bill include Lightning Seeds, The Zutons and drum and bass legend Goldie, who will perform with a full band. - Music-News.com, 2/12/25...... 
The Stylistics have shared their first new song in more than 16 years, "Yes, I Will," featuring country star Shania Twain. The '70s soul legends -- who are behind the hits "You Are Everything," "Betcha by Golly, Wow," "I'm Stone in Love with You," "Break Up to Make Up" and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" -- have joined forces with the "You're Still the One" hitmaker on the lead single from their star-studded album Falling In Love With My Girl, their first in almost 20 years. Twain says she came up with the song and just so happened to be with musicians Steve Luthaker, Ray Parker Jr and Nathan East at the time, who contributed to the finished tune, but she says it wasn't until The Stylistics added their vocals that it "really came together." "I'm not known for making Soul records but Soul has always been a big influence for me musically," Twain says. "I'm so in awe of The Stylistics for their natural talent and effortless delivery. I can listen to their voices endlessly. I had this idea for the song Yes, I Will it all came together quite quickly for me lyrically and melodically, it was just a natural flow." The 21-track collection by the iconic group -- comprised of Airrion Love, Herb Murrell and Jason Sharp -- also features the likes of Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, KISS' Gene Simmons, and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Falling In Love With My Girl -- the group's follow-up to 2008's That Same Way -- drops on Feb. 21. - Music-News.com, 2/13/25....... In a new interview with People, Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley set the record straight on the end of her relationship with the King of Rock & Roll. Priscilla, 79, was married to Elvis from 1967 until 1973 and birthed his only child -- the late Lisa Marie Presley, who died in 2023 aged 54. Director Sofia Coppola released her film, titled Priscilla, in 2023 and it chronicled the romance between the star and the late music legend -- who died in 1977 aged 42. While the film was based on Priscilla's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, Presley says the film failed to depict the end of the relationship accurately. "The only thing was the ending. I wasn't really happy about the ending. It didn't end that way, and we ended -- Elvis and I ended very lovingly," she told People. Presley made her comments to the magazine during a panel event at MegaCon Orlando -- where she went on to explain she remained close to Elvis after their divorce. She divulged, "We kept our relationship. We did. He would drop by my home unannounced, and I was going with someone by the way, and he would come unannounced. Thank God it was two o'clock in the morning, and I knew who it was, so I quickly tried to get to the door before he rang the doorbell, and of course he came in, we went in the kitchen, we talked for a couple of hours." - Music-News.com, 2/12/25.
As part of the huge wave of releases for Record Store Day on Apr. 12, previously unreleased performances from John Lennon's post-Beatles final full-length solo concerts will be released on vinyl as Power To The People - Live At The One To One Concert, New York City, 1972. The special 180-gram yellow vinyl will feature performances by John and Yoko Ono' Plastic Ono Band, backed by the NYC group Elephant's Memory, from their pair of "One to One" benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City. John and Yoko played a matinee and evening performance to a total of 40,000 people on Aug. 30, 1972, to benefit children with special needs, and raised a whopping $1.5 million, with some of the money raised going to the Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, N.Y., which was infamous for its poor conditions. The historical event, two years after the dissolution of the Beatles, also saw performances by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack. Produced by the couple's son, Sean Ono Lennon, the four tracks have been remixed and re-engineered from the original multi-track tapes by Paul Hicks and Sam Gannon. They include the previously unreleased performances of "Well Well Well," "Cold Turkey" and Yoko's "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For A Hand In The Snow)," while "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)" has been newly remixed. The release is limited to just 5500 copies worldwide, and more info can be found on recordstoreday.com. Meanwhile, the One To One concerts are explored in great detail in the forthcoming film, One to One: John & Yoko. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, Marley), the documentary is an expansive look at the 18 months John and Yoko spent living in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s and delivers never-before-seen material and newly restored footage of John's only full length, post-Beatles concert. The film will air on HBO in the US and will be available to stream on Max in late 2025. - Music-News.com, 2/7/25...... Celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie has had her appointment to one Canada's highest honors -- The Order of Canada -- terminated by the country's Governor General following an investigation into Indigenous ancestry. Sainte-Marie had claimed she believed she was born on the Piapot First Nation reserve in Saskatchewan and had been adopted by the Santamaria family that raised her in Wakefield, Mass., attributing her adoption to the "Sixties Scoop," a period in the 1960s when many Indigenous babies were taken from their parents and adopted by white families. In the fall of 2023, however, a CBC Fifth Estate investigation cast doubt on her claims of Indigenous ancestry. The investigation produced a birth certificate for Sainte-Marie which lists her presumed adoptive parents as her birth parents. It also features interviews with Sainte-Marie's family members calling her claim to Indigenous identity "an elaborate fabrication," and contextualizes Sainte-Marie's career within a phenomenon of high-profile public figures who have fabricated Indigenous identity. As a young adult, Sainte-Marie was adopted by Emile Piapot and Clara Starblanket Piapot of the Piapot First Nation in Saskatchewan in accordance with Cree law and customs. Sainte-Marie issued a statement around the investigation. "For a long time, I tried to discover information about my background," she wrote. "Through that research what became clear, and what I've always been honest about, is that I don't know where I'm from or who my birth parents were, and I will never know." In a follow-up statement, she affirmed her truth. "I have never lied about my identity," Sainte-Marie said, adding that the investigation included "mistakes and omissions." In her six-decade career, Sainte-Marie has won an Oscar and a Golden Globe (both for co-writing "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman), the Polaris Music Prize, seven Juno Awards (including four in categories honoring aboriginal or indigenous music), and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, in addition to her appointment to the Order of Canada. She was first appointed to the Order in 1997, and in 2019 was made a Companion of the Order, the highest level within the Order. The 83-year-old artist also had a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 with "Mister Can't You See." - Billboard, 2/10/25...... 
David Johansen, the co-founder and frontman of the iconic '70s punk band The New York Dolls, has revealed that he is battling a brain tumor and stage four cancer. The news came via a Sweet Relief Fund in his name seeking to raise money for the singer's ongoing care in which his daughter, Leah Hennessey, revealed the extent of her 75-year-old father's health issues. "Five years ago at the beginning of the pandemic we discovered that David's cancer had progressed and he had a brain tumor," Leah wrote. "There have been complications ever since. He's never made his diagnosis public, as he and my mother Mara are generally very private people, but we feel compelled to share this now, due to the increasingly severe financial burden our family is facing." She noted that in a further blow, the singer known for his outrageous, high-energy stage persona, fell down a flight of stairs after Thanksgiving and broke his back in two places. Following a week-long hospital stay and a successful surgery, Leah said her dad has been bedridden and incapacitated since then and "due to the trauma, David's illness has progressed exponentially and my mother is caring for him around the clock." The family said that their most immediate needs are for full-time nursing, physical therapy and funding for day-to-day vital living expenses, aimed at helping Johansen regain "some mobility and independence." Donations to Johansen can be made via the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund at 
On Feb. 5 it was revealed that the most iconic lineup of Black Sabbath -- frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward -- will play live together for the first time in two decades on July 5 at Villa Park in their hometown of Birmingham, UK. The news of the final live show, dubbed "Back To The Beginning," was announced at the home of Aston Villa by Iommi and Sharon Osbourne, the manager and wife of the iconic Sabbath frontman Ozzy, as well as on 
The UK's Royal Mail announced on Feb. 6 that they will celebrate Australia's AC/DC with an official series of 12 special Royal Mail stamps. The stamps will mark the 50th anniversary of the band's debut album High Voltage and will depict the group in live performances in venues around the world. There will be 12 stamps in total, with four of them featuring the covers of four of the band's classic albums - High Voltage, Highway To Hell, Back In Black and Power Up. That band line-up will also be presented in a miniature sheet together. David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said: "AC/DC is one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Over the past half century, they have recorded some of the best-known rock anthems and have given us 'Back In Black' -- the biggest-selling rock album of all time. These stamps capture a sample of their electrifying live performances, along with some of their most iconic album covers, and celebrate their significant contribution to the world of rock music." AC/DC become the eighth artist to be honoured with their own dedicated Royal Mail stamp range, following on from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Spice Girls and The Who. The AC/DC stamps can be viewed and pre-orderd at 
Donny Osmond is set to share the stage with a younger version of himself from 1972 "thanks to some mind-blowing AI and CGI technology." The Osmonds star, 67, has shared introduced his new "co-star" for the remaining dates of his solo residency at Harrah's Las Vegas -- an avatar of 14-year-old teenage heartthrob Donny. In an Instagram video introducing "AI Donny," he said: "I have a new co-star at my Las Vegas residency, and we are going to be making history together. Can you imagine sharing the stage with your 14-year-old-self? Well, it's happening, thanks to some mind-blowing AI and CGI technology, I'm going to be talking and singing with Donny Osmond, you know the one from 1972." Donny is then joined by the avatar and asks him: "What does it feel like to sing with yourself 50 years in the future?" The young Donny said it was like performing with his "grandpa." To which, the real Donny replied: "You're my grandson, Daxton Osmond." At a click of the fingers, Donny and Daxton's faces interchanged. The "Puppy Love" hitmaker started his residency at Harrah's in Las Vegas back in 2021 and it will wrap in June. Speaking about the rise in the use of AI (artificial intelligence), Donny previously told Fox News Digital: "AI is a tool, not a substitute. So, I love the prospects of AI. I love what it can do for me as a producer, as an artist -- as a tool. And that's it." - Music-News.com, 2/7/25...... Guitarist Mike Ratledge, a co-founder of the British psych-rock band Soft Machine, died on Feb. 5. He was 81. The news of his passing was shared by his former Soft Machine bandmate John Etheridge, who explained that the death was related to a recent illness. "Incredibly sad news that my great friend and Soft Machine legend passed away two hours ago after a brief illness," he wrote. "Mike was the backbone of Soft Machine in the early years and a man with an absolutely incisive mind -- a marvellous composer and keyboardist. A real renaissance man -- so talented, cultured, charming -- and a wonderful companion. We used to meet every few weeks for over 40 yrs -- a treat for me. What a loss to all of us and his sisters and wonderful girlfriend Elena, who were with him at the end." Mr. Ratledge was born in Kent in 1943 and began his time in the music industry as a teenager when he Daevid Allen and joined his band the Daevid Allen Trio. As well as that, he grew up learning piano and clarinet and went on to get a degree in psychology and philosophy from Oxford's University College. He formed Soft Machine with Allen, Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers in 1966, and although the members would shift over the years, he remained the longest-serving member. He left the group in 1976. The band would make a name for themselves through their psych-pop, progressive sound and blend of jazz fusion. Alongside his work with Soft Machine, Mr. Ratledge also took on work as a composer and producer, working on various projects on television and in the theatre. He also famously joined forces with composer Karl Jenkins for his Adiemus: Songs Of Sanctuary album, and continued to work with Jenkins in the following years. - NME, 2/6/25.
On Feb. 5 Elton John and Brandi Carlile announced details of a new collaborative album called 
Cheap Trick will be among the headliners at the upcoming Pure Imagination Fest on May 17 in Prescott, Ariz. Other headliners include Grammy-nominated artist Matisyahu, and Grammy winning hip-hop group Arrested Development. Also on the bill is the 80s ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk outfit English Beat, as well as Gone Gone Beyond, Kelsey Waldon, Ponderosa Grove, Bird and Byron, Kids In America, Pijama Piyama and Dutch Holly. Since its debut in 2022, the female-founded and curated Pure Imagination Fest has become a standout experience, seamlessly merging music, nature, and culture with an eco-conscious ethos in the traditional lands of several Native American tribes. "Pure Imagination is about more than just music," event founder Candace Devine says. "It's about creating an unforgettable experience where people can connect, be inspired, and celebrate the power of art in one of the most beautiful places in the world." The event's 2024 promo video can be viewed on 
The Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 2 featured a star-studded tribute performance recognizing producer/composer/instrumentalist Quincy Jones's varied musical achievements throughout the decades. The performance was introduced by actor Will Smith, who acknowledged his career would not be what it is without Jones, who produced Smith's debut acting gig TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The musical portion of the tribute to Jones began with legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock playing Jones' classic '60s instrumental "Killer Joe." Hancock was then joined by vocal powerhouse Cynthia Erivo for a show-stopping performance of "Fly Me to the Moon," which became a signature song for Frank Sinatra with Jones arranging his performance. The duo were then replaced by country star Lainey Wilson for a rollicking performance of Jones' '90s rave-up "Let the Good Times Roll." After that, Hancock was welcomed back to the keys, along with all-time great Stevie Wonder on harmonica for a rendition of Jones' version of jazz staple "Bluesette." Wonder then capped the tribute by introducing (and leading the crowd in a singalong of) "We Are the World," the all-star USA for Africa charity single that Jones produced 40 years earlier in 1985. Jones is one of the most decorated figures in the history of the Grammys, winning 28 awards over the course of his generation-spanning career -- including two album of the year wins for Micheal Jackson's Thriller (1984) and his own Back on the Block (1991). Also during the Grammys, The Rolling Stones picked up a Best Rock Album award for their 2024 album Hackney Diamonds. Accepting the trophy on the Stones' behalf, Andrew Watt, producer of Hackney Diamonds, said: "Talked to Mick [Jagger] yesterday and he just wanted to say a big thank you to the Academy from the entire band. The legendary Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons was also honored with a Special Merit Award by the Recording Academy on Feb. 1. Valli made note of how long it took the Recording Academy to get around to him. Valli has never won a Grammy, on his own or in the Four Seasons, which landed their first three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962-63. "This has been an incredible evening," he said. "I don't know what took so long, but that's the way it goes." - Billboard, 2/2/25...... As he attended the Janie's Fund Grammys viewing party in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood opened up to US Weekly about his former bandmates Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham "I always have a fantasy that [Stevie] and Lindsay would pal up a bit more and just say everything's OK for them both. But we've had such an incredible career," Fleetwood told the magazine. This is not the first time Fleetwood has opened up about wanting Nicks and Buckingham to be friendlier. In 2024, he spoke to Mojo and shared: "It's no secret, it's no tittle-tattle that there is a brick wall there emotionally. Stevie's able to speak clearly about how she feels and doesn't feel, as does Lindsey. But I'll say, personally, I would love to see a healing between them -- and that doesn't have to take the shape of a tour, necessarily." In 2024, Buckingham shared that he would rejoin the Fleetwood Mac line-up "in a heartbeat," and Nicks has said there's "no reason" for the band to get together after the passing of Christine McVie. It was announced in 2024 that a "fully authorised," "definitive" Fleetwood Mac documentary to chronicle the history of the legendary band is in the works. - NME, 2/4/25...... 
Also at the Janie's Fund Grammy Viewing Party at the Hollywood Paladium, former Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler made his first return to the stage since Aerosmith's announcement that they were retiring from touring. Performing with Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt, Tyler's six-song set featured a rendition of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic", Extreme's "More Than Words" with Mick Fleetwood, and "Dream On" with Lainey Wilson. Joined by Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton and the Black Crowes' Chris Robinson for performances of "Sweet Emotion," and "Walk This Way," the high-profile set closed out with a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker." The performance was only Tyler's second time appearing on stage since his vocal injury. In May 2024 -- months before Aerosmith announced their retirement from touring -- Tyler performed "Mama Kin" with the Black Crowes in London. At the time, the Black Crowes were planning to resume their role as the opening act for Aerosmith's then-postponed "Peace Out" tour later in the year. While performing in Elmont, NY on Sept. 9 of that year, Tyler fractured his larynx, necessitating the postponement of shows on their "Peace Out" tour. Ultimately, these shows were canceled entirely when the band announced their retirement from touring in Aug. 2024. It's currently unclear whether Tyler's return to the live stage could result in anything more in the future, though Hamilton did speak to Boston's WBUR in January to give an update on the possibility of one-off Aerosmith appearances down the line. "Steven's healing process is going really, really well, but it goes at its own pace," Hamilton told the station. "Maybe Aerosmith will do something in the future, but it's a big if and the last thing I want to be doing is to try and push Steven in that direction. If we do anything in the future, it would come from him." - Billboard, 2/3/25...... AC/DC announced on 
Joni Mitchell made a rare live appearance at the LA FireAid benefit show at the Kia Forum on Jan. 30. At the event to provide financial support for the victims of the recent devastating Los Angeles wildfires, one of the most memorable moments came as the 81-year-old iconic singer-songwriter took to the stage for a moving rendition of her hit "Both Sides Now" from her 1969 album Clouds. The singer remained seated on a gold throne as she broke out the track, and was joined by Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, as well as Lucius, Taylor MacKall, Blake Mills, and Abe Rounds. Footage of the performance can be viewed on