Posted by Administrator on May 30th, 2025
ABBA celebrated the third anniversary of their acclaimed Voyage show at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on May 27 alongside the likes of Elvis Costello, U2's Adam Clayton, Guy Garvey, Richard Osmon and Myleene Klass. With ABBA members Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad in attendance at the purpose-built ABBA Arena, the event saw a revamped setlist with the introduction of the ABBA tunes "Super Trouper," "The Name Of The Game" and "Money, Money, Money" into the Voyage set, while "When All Is Said And Done" was removed. The new songs were rapturously received by the hardcore fans in attendance, and also came with stunning new choreographed visuals. "When we first opened we never imagined that we'd still be in London three years on," said the band in a statement. "We're very grateful that so many of you have joined us. Of course, the reason for us being able to sustain our concert for so long is because of our incredible audience. As we say in Sweden... Vilken resa!" ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus has promised that Voyage will eventually travel around the world -- with the venue and setup taking two years to build from scratch: "We hope to stay in this venue for as long as we can. We hope they'll have us for many years, and we might build other replicas of this in other places: Asia, Australia, North America. There are lots and promoters and cities that we're talking to at the moment about that." - New Musical Express, 5/28/25...... 
'70s pop idol Shaun Cassidy will kick off a 50-city "The Road to US" tour in Nashville on Sept. 13. "The truth is, in my whole career I never really toured -- because as a kid, I was working on The Hardy Boys, [TV show] so I'd go out on weekends, and then I got a week here or two weeks there in the summer," Cassidy says. "But this tour that I'm starting will be the biggest commitment of 50 shows and more to come I've ever had in my life." Following in the footsteps of his late older half-brother David Cassidy, Shaun burst onto the pop scene in 1976 with the Eric Carmen-penned hit "That's Rock 'n Roll." The breakthrough hit reached No. 3 on the pop chart and was followed by his chart-topping cover of The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron," and "Hey Deanie," which reached No. 7. Cassidy, the son of Oscar-winning The Partridge Family actress Shirley Jones and Tony-winning actor Jack Cassidy, released five studio albums between 1977 and 1980 on Curb/Warner Bros. including the Todd Rundgren-produced Wasp. Simultaneously, he also was acting on The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, which ran from 1977-1979. Cassidy then focused on the stage, appearing in plays on Broadway and London's West End during the '80s and early '90, before segueing into behind-the-scenes TV work in the mid-'90s. Since then, he has had an extremely successful second career creating, writing and and/or producing such acclaimed television series as American Gothic, Cold Case, Cover Me, The Agency and, most recently, New Amsterdam. In 2020, he began to tour sporadically as a one-man show that expanded to a full band, ending with five sold-out nights at 54 Below in New York City in 2023. But now he says he felt called to do another tour in order to "gather people, connect them and have a shared experience... so important at this at this stage in our world, I think." Between geographic segments of the tour, Cassidy says he'll come back home to his wife and four children in Santa Barbara, Calif., and tend to the wine they produce, My First Crush, which donates a portion of its proceeds to the food charity No Kid Hungry. Hitting many smaller markets, the tour is scheduled to wind down on Jan. 18, 2026 in El Cajon, Calif. "My early shows were just scream-a-thons, I couldn't talk to anybody," he says. "Now I actually can engage with people and look them in the eye and see that they've had a life, and I've had a life, and I'm just so grateful to share it." - Billboard, 5/28/25...... Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor were formally awarded the 2025 Polar Music Prize on May 28. The musicians accepted the award from Sweden's King Carl Gustaf in recognition for the entirety of their career. Speaking on stage, May shared, "In this special moment, I contemplate how that younger Brian May in 1974 would have felt if he knew that we would be living this kind of dream 50 years in the future." Taylor added, "When we started our band, we had ambitions, but never dreamed of the journey that was to follow. We were fortunate in the fact that our four wildly different personalities came together to achieve a wonderful chemistry." Known as the "Nobel Prize of Music," the Polar Music Prize is a Swedish international award for "significant achievements in music and/or musical activity" and was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, best known as the manager of the Sweden's ABBA. It is annually given to one popular musician and one classical musician. Previous winners include Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Dizzy Gillespie and Björk. - Music-News.com, 5/28/25...... Several musicians have paid tribute to Rick Derringer following news of the legendary rock guitarist's death on May 27. "God bless Rick Derringer. It was great playing with him in the All Starrs. I send peace and love to his family," wrote Ringo Starr. "Weird Al" Yankovic, whose first album was produced by Derringer, wrote on Instagram: "I'm very sad to say that my friend, rock guitar legend Rick Derringer, has passed. Rick produced my first 6 albums and played guitar on my earliest recordings, including the solo on 'Eat It.' He had an enormous impact on my life, and will be missed greatly. RIP." The band Foghat posted: "We just sadly heard that Rick Derringer has passed. We did many many shows with Rick back in the 70's. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, family & friends. RIP Rick," while Derringer's former bandmate Edgar Winter posted a tribute to the late rocker on Facebook. - NME, 5/28/25...... 
Appearing on his SiriusXM radio show Ozzy Speaks with co-host Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne says he's going to make it to the stage for the final Black Sabbath show "by hook or crook." "I haven't done any physical work for the last seven, six and a half, seven years," Ozzy said, promising that "by hook or by crook, I'm gonna make it [to the stage at Villa Park]," where Black Sabbath's final gig on July 5 in their hometown of Birmingam, UK, will find them joined by an all-star roster that will also include Metallica, Anthrax, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Slayer, Smashing Pumpkins, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine and many more. "I've got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal," he said of the intense training he's undergoing following a rough several years that included spinal surgery and a Parkinson's disease diagnosis. "It's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got." Ozzy, 76, said he's definitely waking up and stressing about the show at times, but he knows that getting worked up is not what will get him through his first show with Sabbath bandmates guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward in more than 20 years. "Sometimes [I stress], but what I do, if I start obsessing all the time, I'll be insane by Friday, you know?" he said. "So, I'm just taking it one day at a time and when I do it one day at a time. You know, when we were talking about this [obsessive-compulsive disorder], whatever. I have that badly. All I can say is I'm giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show, I'll do it." Ozzy's full interview can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/29/25...... On May 28 Smokey Robinson filed a countersuit against four longtime housekeepers who accused him of rape earlier in the month, claiming the allegations were part of an "extortionate scheme" by the women and their attorneys. The new cross-complaint, filed in Los Angeles court, came three weeks after the unnamed housekeepers filed a $50 million civil lawsuit over allegations that the legendary Motown singer repeatedly raped them over nearly two decades in his employ. In the countersuit, defense attorneys for Robinson went on offense -- accusing the four women and their attorneys (John W. Harris and Herbert Hayden) of defamation, invasion of privacy, civil conspiracy and even elder abuse over the "fabricated" allegations. "The depths of plaintiffs' avarice and greed knows no bounds," Robinson's attorney Christopher Frost writes. "During the very time that the Robinsons were being extraordinarily generous with plaintiffs, plaintiffs were concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons... and wrongfully destroy the Robinsons' well-built reputations." Robinson was sued on May 6, accused of forcing the housekeepers to have oral and vaginal sex in his Los Angeles-area bedroom dozens of times between 2007 and 2024. The singer's wife, Frances Robinson, was also named as a defendant over claims that she didn't do enough to stop the abuse, despite knowing that he had a history of sexual misconduct. According to the new filing, the housekeepers and their lawyers made "pre-litigation demands for $100 million or more" before filing their case. When that failed to work, the new filing says the accusers went public with the allegations as loudly as they could. In addition to the sexual abuse allegations, the lawsuit also claimed that the Robinsons paid their employees below minimum wage, and that Frances Robinson created a hostile work environment replete with screaming and "racially-charged epithets." The accusers also filed a police report, leading the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to open a criminal investigation. In addition to defamation and other wrongdoing, the Robinsons say the accusers tried to "hide, conceal, and destroy evidence exposing their illegal scheme," including by taking Frances Robinson's phone and deleting text conversations. The filing hinted that the Robinsons would seek additional penalties for such "spoliation" of evidence. - Billboard, 5/28/25...... The continuing saga of Zak Starkey's departure from The Who received another installment on May 28 when the band's former drummer called reports that he "retired" from his position in iconic group as "f-kin total bollox" while insisting that he was, indeed, "fired" from the group. Starkey's position as the band's drummer has been uncertain since a show at London's Royal Albert Hall in March. Reports suggested that Daltrey was unhappy with Starkey's playing on the night, and a number of songs were cut short. Starkey -- Ringo Starr's son and a prolific session drummer -- has been a part of the live lineup since 1996. In a statement, the band said, "The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future." Starkey was reinstated to band briefly after "communication issues" were resolved, but following the announcement of The Who's farewell tour dates in North America, guitarist Pete Townshend confirmed that time had "come for a change" in relation to their drummer, and that Scott Devours would be taking on the role. On May 26 the drummer shared an Instagram post stating that Roger Daltrey had said that Starkey had not been "fired," but "retired" on his own to work on his project with supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos. Two days later, on Wednesday (May 28), Starkey shared a new Instagram update calling the report "f-kin total bollox," insisted that "I was fired" and that Daltrey's "new word for it is 'retired' to complete my other musical projects." He continued, "I have no plan's whatsoever for the fall as I thought I was touring with The Who and my mantra band mates are v busy in oasis and happy Mondays until the new year. So this is simply a load of bollox & Am I fired, retired, deffo not tired as I'm 20 years younger than these guys as they keep saying." The Who will kick off the U.S. leg of their farewell tour on August 16 at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. - Billboard, 5/29/25...... 
To celebrate his forthcoming album Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, John Fogerty has released three newly recorded versions of Creedence Clearwater Revival classics: "Up Around the Bend," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," and "Porterville," the latter originally released in 1967 under the band's earlier name, The Golliwogs. The new recordings are labeled "John's Version," a nod to Taylor Swift's "Taylor's Version" project, though Fogerty now owns his masters. He won control over his publishing rights in early 2023, ending a legal battle that spanned five decades. "For most of my life I did not own the songs I had written," Fogerty said in a statement. "Getting them back changes everything. Legacy is my way of celebrating that -- of playing these songs on my terms, with the people I love." The album features Fogerty's sons Shane and Tyler on guitars, and Shane co-produced the album with his father. Julie Fogerty, John's wife, served as executive producer. "I knew firsthand how much it meant for John to get his publishing back," said Julie. "It has been so joyful and beautiful since this happened for him. This is a celebration of his life's work. It is the biggest party for the good guy/artist winning." Legacy, due out Aug. 22 via Concord Records, features 20 tracks, including CCR staples like "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," and "Down on the Corner." The project arrives as Fogerty celebrates his 80th birthday on May 28 with a pair of shows at New York's Beacon Theatre, ahead of a European summer tour and a performance at Glastonbury Festival. Fogerty has shared "Up Around The Bend" (John's version) from the new LP on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/29/25...... Rod Stewart has confirmed that Ronnie Wood will join him for a Faces reunion during his "Legends" set at the UK's Glastonbury 2025. In a new interview on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Stewart explained that he was still in regular contact with the Rolling Stones guitarist. The pair were previously bandmates in the late '60s/early '70s blues rock band, alongside surviving Faces drummer Kenney Jones. Faces hinted at a comeback in April, with Jones revealing in an interview with The Telegraph that the band had recorded "about 11 tracks" at RAK Studios in London for a new album -- which would be their first full-length effort in over 50 years. "I can't see it coming out this year. But I can see it coming out next year," Jones said. "Everyone's doing different things. We do little snippets [of recording] here and there. Then all of a sudden, The Stones are out [on tour] again, Rod's out again..." First formed in 1969 through a merger between members of Small Faces and the Jeff Beck Group, Faces existed for six years before guitarist Wood left to join the Stones, and Stewart continued his burgeoning solo career. The group have released four albums, with 1971's A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse hitting No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. Glastonbury will take place at Worthy Farm, Somerset on June 25-29) with headliners The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo. Stewart last performed at the festival in 2002, topping the bill alongside Coldplay and Stereophonics that year. Meanwhile, Sir Rod capped the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 26 by accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award and treating the audience to a rendition of his 1988 hit "Forever Young." Stewart, 80, was introduced by five of his eight children -- Kim, Ruby, Renee, Liam and Sean -- who honored their dad's 60-year career. "I'm absolutely flabbergasted -- I had no idea they were here," a gobsmacked Stewart said after hugging it out with his brood, cheekily joking that he's got "eight all together... I didn't have a television." Rod the Mod's acceptance of the award can be viewed on YouTube.- Billboard, 5/28/25...... Billy Joel's daughter Alexa Ray Joel took to Instagram on May 25 to thank fans for their support and share an uplifting message after her father revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a type of brain disorder. "SOUND UP =J We love you and we got you, Pop!," Alexa wrote alongside a black-and-white illustration of a father holding his young daughter's hand. "I just wanted to thank you all for the beautiful outpouring of love and support amid the recent news of My Father's health diagnosis. My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I've ever known... and he's entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength." Christie Brinkley, Alexa's mother, also shared a message of support for her ex-husband on May 24, wishing Billy "lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery.... you're OUR piano man." Earlier in May Joel announced the cancellation of all upcoming performances due to complications related to NPH. "This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance," he said in a statement. "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health." The cancellations include several scheduled appearances throughout summer and fall 2025, as well as early 2026, including joint shows with Sting, Rod Stewart, and Stevie Nicks. - Billboard, 5/26/25...... 
Neil Young performed his 1983 deep cut "My Boy" for the first time in 42 years on the grounds of Ontario's Lakefield College School during a special benefit concert on May 23. The solo acoustic show marked Young's first full performance of 2025 and supported restoration efforts for a historic 116-year-old cottage nearby. Despite the cold and rainy conditions, attendees paid up to $1,500 for tickets to witness Young's intimate 18-song performance. While the set featured classics like "Heart of Gold," "Comes a Time" and "Sugar Mountain," it was the mid-show performance of "My Boy" that drew audible emotion from the crowd. Originally released on 1985's Old Ways LP, the banjo-led ballad is a tribute to Young's eldest son, Zeke Young. The song had not been performed live since the 1983 solo Trans tour. Hours earlier, Young had posted a vintage photo on social media of himself with Zeke and his late father, renowned Canadian journalist Scott Young. "Practicing for Lakefield, I was playing 'My Boy,' thinking about my own dad. I knew he must have heard this song," Young wrote. "My dad was a great guy and Zeke is a wonderful son. I think 'My Boy' is my favorite recording of all the ones I have done." The show comes ahead of Young's "Love Earth Tour," which launches June 18 in Sweden. The U.S. leg kicks off Aug. 8 in Charlotte, N.C. The setlist is expected to spotlight tracks from Young's upcoming album Talkin' to the Trees, which drops June 13 via Reprise. Young's May 23 "My Boy" performance has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 5/26/25...... Live Odyssey, a new attraction in Camden, UK which combines a show, an exhibition museum and live experience together, debuted on May 25. Attendees are taken through six decades of music via a two-and-a-half-hour adventure that captures the evolution of British music, from the early anthems of the '60s and '70s to the Britpop explosion of the '90s and today's cutting-edge hits. During its debut week John Lennon's sister Julia Baird unveiled a multi-sensory immersive exhibit dedicated to the late Lennon which "details the early years that shaped Lennon through to a life of stratospheric fame with The Beatles" through artifacts, paintings, drawings, writings, moving photographs, provided by James Wilkinson. This includes a recreation of Lennon's childhood bedroom, which Baird described as "very moving." "If you're a Beatles fan you've either been to Mendips or seen a picture of John's childhood home, where he had what is known as 'the box room'," Baird says. "You couldn't fit much in there. You had six inches to move everywhere. It's very true to life: the bed, the red quilt, the lot. It's a good imitation of what his room was like. He was in there writing all the time and doing his cartoons." The recreated bedroom can be viewed on Instagram. - NME, 5/25/25...... Paul W. Downs, the co-creator, co-writer and co-director of the hit HBO Max comedy series Hacks, has revealed that Cher turned down the opportunity to guest star on the series three times. "Well, one person in particular we asked to be on the show Seasons 1, 2 and 4 - and that person is Cher," Downs said on a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Downs, who plays Deborah's manager Jimmy, then explained that the creators went to major lengths to convince Cher after the singer's team advised them to mention her ice cream brand Cherlato. "So we wrote a commercial for Cherlato. Deborah (Jean Smart) was gonna go to the Cherlato factory, she was gonna taste all the Cherlato, she was gonna love the Cherlato, and then when it came down to shoot, we got a pass," he continued. "Now, people usually say, 'I love the show, but respectfully, I don't have time.' Once, Javier Bardem said, 'I cannot say yes right now,' which is Spanish for 'no.' And so we said, 'Is there any feedback? Can we change the script?' And her manager said, 'Well, this is the quote from Cher: I don't want to do it.'" - Music-News.com, 5/27/25...... 
The L.A.-based pop duo Sparks is on track to score their first-ever UK No. 1 album with MAD!, the 28th studio album by the brothers Ron and Russell Mael. Currently, Sparks' best UK Official Albums Chart position is a No. 4 peak for their 1974 LP Kimono My House. - Music-News.com, 5/28/25...... "Chicago Mike" Sumler, Kool & the Gang's beloved "hype man" during their live shows, died in a car crash in Georgia's Cobb County just after midnight on May 24 after colliding with another vehicle on Veterans Memorial Highway near Buckner Road. He was 71. Sumler spent more than three decades with Kool & The Gang and was known for being the group's energetic hype man during live shows. "He always wanted to see other people succeed in the business that he'd been around most of all of his life," Adrian Meeks of Song Source Music Group said. "He was the bridge, you know, for inspiring artists and songwriters and producers and musicians to the legends." "'Chicago Mike' contributed so much to the music and entertainment communities," said Mableton, Ga. mayer Michael Owens. "His style and energy added flare and excitement to Kool and the Gang for decades. The city of Mableton, council members and I join his family, friends and fans in mourning his loss." Sumler is just the latest member of the group to pass away; Kool & The Gang's drummer George Brown most recently passed in 2023 after a battle with cancer. - Billboard, 5/28/25.
Legendary rock guitarist-singer-songwriter Rick Derringer, who penned such classics as "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and "Real American," died on May 26 in Ormond Beach, Fla. He was 77. Derringer's caretaker, Tony Wilson, shared news of the passing on his Facebook page on May 27. No cause of death was announced although Derringer had reportedly been in ill health in recent months. "Derringer's legacy extends beyond his music, entertaining fans with his signature energy and talent," the announcement reads. "His passing leaves a void in the music world, and he will be deeply missed by fans, colleagues, and loved ones." His wife, Jenda Derringer, was reportedly at his side, as was Wilson. A virtuoso rock guitarist, Derringer's career as a performer, songwriter and producer spanned six decades. In addition to finding fame as part of The McCoys with hits such as 1965's "Hang On Sloopy," the Ohio native and Florida resident also worked on music for a wide variety of artists, from Cyndi Lauper to Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Alice Cooper, KISS and "Weird Al" Yankovic. A fiery and remarkably versatile guitarist, a strong singer and a high-profile presence on New York's rock scene of the '70s and '80s, the musician charted four albums on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart -- starting with All American Boy, which reached No. 25 in 1974, followed by Spring Fever in 1975, Derringer in 1976, and Sweet Evil and Derringer Live in 1977. His efforts with the Edgar Winter Group, Shock Treatment and The Edgar Winter Group With Rick Derringer, would chart in 1974 and 1975, respectively. He also had one LP make it onto the Jazz Albums chart: 2002's Free Ride. Born Richard Dean Zehringer in Ohio in 1947, the young Derringer received a guitar for his ninth birthday and began playing local gigs with his uncle, a country musician, before he was in high school. As a teen he formed a band called The McCoys with his brother Randy. In the summer of 1965 the songwriting-production team The Strangeloves -- comprised of Richard Gottehrer, Jerry Goldstein and Bob Feldman, who had scored a major hit with "I Want Candy" -- hired the group as a backing band and soon after enlisted them to record a cover of the song "My Girl Sloopy," originally released by The Vibrations the previous year. With the title altered to "Hang on Sloopy," the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 that summer -- replacing Barry McGuire's grim "Eve of Destruction" -- around the time Derringer (still working under his born name) turned 18. "Hang on Sloopy" has become a kind of theme song for Derringer's home state and, in a foretelling of his later years making music for professional sports, has been a staple of Ohio State football game for decades. The McCoys, who opened for the Rolling Stones on their first major North American tour, had minor follow-up hits but did not repeat that success, and the group began working with blues guitarist Johnny Winter in the late 1960s. After a few years, Derringer joined forces with Johnny's brother, touring with and playing on and producing albums by the Edgar Winter Group. The partnership with Edgar produced a massive single with 1972's "Frankenstein," an instrumental the band had been playing around with for years; the title came from the look of the master tape, which had so many segments spliced together that the musicians said it resembled the horror-movie character's stitches. 
The song, produced by Derringer, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 1973; he went on to replace Ronnie Montrose in the band shortly after and remained the Edgar Winter Group's guitarist and producer for the next three years. Also in 1973, Derringer enjoyed his first solo hit with "Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo" -- originally recorded by Johnny Winter; the song has had such a long life that it was used in the fourth season of Stranger Things. After leaving Edgar Winter's band, Derringer launched his eponymous group in 1976, which toured extensively throughout the decade and released several albums; their concerts were heavy on guitar dueling and showmanship, and climaxed with Derringer and his second guitarist dramatically throwing their guitars to each other from opposite sides of the stage. Throughout the 1970s and '80s Derringer also worked extensively as a session musician, playing on albums by Steely Dan (including Countdown to Ecstasy, Katy Lied and Gaucho), Todd Rundgren, Alice Cooper, KISS and even Barbra Streisand. In the early 1980s he soloed on two massive singles written by Meat Loaf mastermind Jim Steinman: Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All." He also produced "Weird" Al's first album; and even gave Patti Smith her first major credit, on the song "Jump" from his All-American Boy LP. Two of the most important pieces of Derringer's legacy, however, will always be the songs "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and "Real American." The former reached No. 23 on the Hot 100 in 1974 -- marking Derringer's highest career peak on the chart -- while the latter is known for its use as pro wrestler Hulk Hogan's theme song. The tune was also used as campaign music for both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as sitting president Donald Trump. In 2017, Derringer was working on a new version of the song that would "transcend politics and bring the nation together," according to his manager Kenn Moutenot, who was also the drummer in The Rick Derringer Band. Derringer was still releasing music up until 2022. That year, he dropped a track called "Let It Be the Blues," which followed a 2018 cover of Aimee Zimmerman's "Always Be Your Mom" with Jenda. In his later years he toured with Ringo Starr's All Starr Band as well as Peter Frampton, Carmine Appice and others, aligned with conservative causes and released several Christian-themed albums with Jenda. - Billboard/Variety, 5/27/25.
Billy Joel announced on May 23 that he's been forced to cancel all of his upcoming shows due to a medical condition that affects his ability to perform. In a statement shared to 
Although he reached his milestone birthday of 80 on Jan. 10, Rod Stewart says he has "so much more music" to make and has no less that three new albums in the works. Speaking to AARP The Magazine, he said: "There's so much more music I want to create. I've got a covers album, a country album, and a Faces album all in the works. I just can't stop. Even when I'm spending time with my grandkids, my passion for music drives me. I feel like I've done everything I've ever wanted, but there's still more to come." Stewart also admitted he enjoys performing at concerts "more" now than when he was a young musician, and he can appreciate "how lucky [he's] been." "When I feel I might be sick enough to cancel a concert, that's when I go, 'Maybe I'm getting old.' Then a couple of days later, bang, I'm back at it again. I enjoy doing concerts more than I did back then. Maybe I've come full circle to appreciate how lucky I've been." In November, Hot Rod confirmed he will play the coveted legends slot at this year's Glastonbury festival, posting on Instagram: "I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that I'll be playing Glastonbury Festival 2025! After all these years, I'm proud and ready and more than able to take the stage again to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June. I'll see you there!" - Music-News.com, 5/23/25...... Sony Music Vision has announced it will produce a new Judas Priest documentary, to be co-directed by Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello. The film, titled The Ballad Of Judas Priest, has yet to receive a release date, but will be co-directed by Morello and established heavy metal filmmaker Sam Dunn (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey). The band said in a statement, per Variety: "We have lived and breathed metal for over five decades, and finally in this documentary we are summoning our congregation to officially witness our lives uncensored, in a never-before-seen waythe cassock comes off, revealing Priest in all its metal glory!" Meanwhile, Morello will serve as "musical director" for Black Sabbath's final gig this July, however Judas Priest will not be participating, saying they were unaware of the gig until it was too late. After a show with the Scorpions in July which celebrates the German band's 60th anniversary, Priest will be hitting the road again in 2025 for a co-headline tour with Alice Cooper. It'll feature gigs across North America, Europe and the UK, and includes a stop at The O2 in London on July 25. - NME, 5/22/25...... Bruce Springsteen is doubling down on his stance that the US government is "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous," even after his remarks on the subject at a Manchester, UK concert infuriated Pres. Donald Trump. One week after criticizing the Trump administration during a speech at his European tour kickoff show in England -- leading Trump to launch into a series of vitriolic posts targeting him on his Truth Social platform -- the Boss has released a Land of Hope & Dreams EP featuring a recording of the address as its opening track. "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, and has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration," he says in the audio snippet. "Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us, raise your voices against the authoritarianism, and let freedom ring." The New Jersey rocker then dives into 2001's "Land of Hope & Dreams," which is also the name Springsteen's ongoing tour. In addition to the politically charged speech, the six-track project also features live takes of the musician and his band performing "Long Walk Home," "My City of Ruins" and "Chimes of Freedom" in Manchester. There's also a three-and-a-half-minute recording of Springsteen once again critiquing the state of American politics later in the show. "In my country, they're taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on American workers, they're rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and moral society," he says in the clip. "They're abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom." The EP comes shortly after Trump responded to Springsteen's onstage remarks by calling him "highly overrated" and "dumb as a rock" on Truth Social, adding at the time, "This dried out 'prune' of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare.'" He later accused Springsteen -- along with Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey and Bono -- of taking part in an "illegal election scam" for Kamala Harris, alleging that he accepted an undisclosed payment from the 2024 Democratic nominee to endorse her for president. Trump still hadn't let the matter go as of May 21, when he shared a bizarre edited video of himself golfing -- and appearing to hit and knock over Springsteen with his ball -- on Truth Social hours after the Land of Hope & Dreams EP dropped. Springsteen's new Land of Hope & Dreams EP can be streamed on 
Brian Eno published on open letter to Microsoft on 
Grammy-nominated songwriter Roger Nichols, best-known for co-writing such Carpenters hits as 
French police have recovered a bust from late Doors frontman Jim Morrison's grave, 37 years of it was stolen. The sculpture, created by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin, was placed on Morrison's grave in Paris' Pre Lachaise Cemetery to mark the tenth anniversary of his passing, on July 3, 1981. However, the bust was stolen seven years later, in May 1988, with Vanity Fair magazine noting that two individuals were reported to have taken the statue after being locked in the cemetery overnight. After years of rumor and innuendo surrounding its fate, Parisian police have now announced the heavily-graffiti'd bust has been recovered, with its rediscovery occurring during a search related to a fraud case. No further details regarding its whereabouts for the past 37 years have been announced, nor has word been shared as to whether it will return to its original location atop Morrison's grave. Morrison passed away in Paris on July 3, 1971 under murky circumstances at the age of 27. He was buried at the city's Pre Lachaise Cemetery where his grave site swiftly became one of the world's most-visited memorials of a late musician. In February, it was announced that the Paris City Council had decided to name a footbridge overlooking Bassin de l'Arsenal in Morrison's honor. Just weeks earlier, it was reported that the former Morrison Hotel, made famous by the Doors and their 1970 
In other award news, Steve Miller is set to become the 2025 recipient of the Les Paul Spirit Award on June 9 during a private event at the Gibson Garage venue in Nashville. The event will take place on what would have been electric guitar pioneer and performer Les Paul's 110th birthday. Miller is the fifth recipient of the award, following co-founding Grateful Dead member Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers, U2's The Edge and Peter Frampton. "I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be honored with the Les Paul Spirit Award than Steve Miller," Michael Braunstein, executive director of LPF, said in a statement. "Not only is he an extraordinary talent and a wonderful friend of the Les Paul Foundation, Steve holds the very distinct title of being Les' godson. They had a very unique relationship which Les cherished. If anyone understands the 'spirit' of Les Paul, it's Steve." Miller and Paul were both signed to Capitol Records in their heydays, and also had a long and personal relationship. A young Miller was introduced to Paul, who gave him his first informal guitar lessons and taught him his first three chords. Miller has often recalled how these early experiences watching Paul perform and receiving personal instruction were pivotal in inspiring his own musical journey. Miller joined Paul on stage at the latter's 90th birthday concert in New York City in 2005. The annual Spirit award, created and presented by the LPF (in partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson), goes to an individual who "exemplifies the spirit of the late Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music." In addition to the award, a grant from the LPF will be made in the honoree's name to the charity of his choice. - Billboard, 5/20/25...... Just weeks after The Who drummer Zak Starkey was fired and subsequently rehired by the band, Who guitarist Pete Townshend has announced the band is once again parting ways with Starkey. Starkey's membership saga began in April when a spokesman for the group claimed that "the band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall," referring to a pair of gigs the month prior. A report from those shows claimed that vocalist Roger Daltrey had stopped several songs mid-performance, citing difficulty hearing the band over the drums. Starkey later issued a statement noting he was "surprised and saddened" by the news, though Townshend later claimed Starkey was back in the band following the resolution of "communication issues." While fans were eager to reference "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" in regard to Starkey's reinstatement, the entire saga appears to have started all over again, with the band announcing a new drummer ahead of their forthcoming farewell tour. "After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change," Townshend shared on 
In a new interview with Britain's Mojo magazine, The Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward said he doesn't expect the legendary UK rock outfit to make a comeback. The Moody Blues have been inactive since 2018, and Hayward admits he finds it difficult to see the band returning following the passing of drummer Graeme Edge -- the last surviving original member -- in 2021. "There's only me and Lodgy (bassist John Lodge) left," Hayward told Mojo. "When Graeme died, it really affected me. He loved the group so much. Me and John, we always had things outside of the band, but Graeme devoted his whole life to it. And I just think some of that particular magic is gone." Hayward continued: "I don't want to be in a tribute band -- actually, that's not fair -- I'm just saying that when Graeme passed the enthusiasm for it changed. And I'm really liking what I do now." Hayward, who has been in the music business for 60 years, said he feels fortunate never to have felt the "pressure" of being a celebrity. "I did have my time when I would get recognised, particularly around when 'Forever Autumn' was a hit, but that passes," he said. Hayward and Lodge enjoyed the hit 'Blue Guitar' away from the Moodies and the musician joked that the colour has followed him throughout his career. "It's something that a promoter will hang on you," he joked. "But I remember right at the beginning, Mike (Pinder, keyboardist) was hung up with a record called 'Mood Indigo'. And so there was always that aura around us, of blue, that stuck. My life is colour coded, though -- certain things on certain days, and I don't think I'm unusual in that. Today is green. What's tomorrow? Orange. Is there a blue day? Oh, yes... but I'm gonna have to leave it hanging there." - Music-News.com, 5/18/25...... Seventies artists Carlos Santana and Emmylou Harris were among the music acts performing at the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on May 16 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Though it's not their stated purpose, the Grammy Hall of Fame serves as a second chance for the Grammys organization to honor recordings they may have missed when they were first released. Of this year's 13 honorees, 11 were released since the inception of the Grammy Awards. Of those 11, only two -- Santana's Supernatural (1999) and Harris' Wrecking Ball (1995) -- had won Grammys when they were eligible. Only one other -- Luther Vandross' Never Too Much (1981) -- had even been nominated. The Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, presented jointly by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum, was conceived as a way to elevate the stature of the annual Hall of Fame inductions, which had long announced with little more than a press release. The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's national trustees in 1973, initially to honor recordings that were released prior to the inception of the Grammy Awards in 1959. The selection criteria was long ago changed to include any recording that is at least 25 years old. The Grammy Hall of Fame used to be the only major institutional award to honor classic recordings, but the arrival in 2002 of the National Recording Registry, administered by the Library of Congress, means the Grammy Hall of Fame no longer has this field all to itself. - Billboard, 5/17/25...... Elton John has slammed Britain's Labour government for its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright law, calling the government "absolute losers" and saying he feels "incredibly betrayed" over plans to exempt major tech firms pursuing AI from aspects of copyright law. Appearing on the BBC show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on May 18, he told the host that ministers' plans to allow AI firms to use artists' content without paying would be "committing theft, thievery on a high scale." Criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer's team, Sir Elton said they would "rob young people of their legacy and their income", adding that he thought they were "just being absolute losers, and I'm very angry about it," and also described Technology Secretary Peter Kyle as "a bit of a moron." John's intervention comes as the House of Lords aimed to force AI companies to disclose what material they were using to develop their programmes. Their proposals were rejected by the House of Commons. A government spokesperson told the BBC that "no changes" to copyright laws would be "considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators." The U.K. government's proposals to allow tech firms to use copyrighted material as training data have come under fire from numerous other major figures in the music industry, including Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox and Dua Lipa. - Music-News.com, 5/19/25...... During his slot at Willie Nelson's "Outlaw Music Festival Tour" stop on the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, Calif., on May 15, Bob Dylan covered Rick Nelson's 1972 "comeback" hit 
Barbra Streisand has recruited Paul McCartney to join forces for a new version of Sir Paul's 2012 single "My Valentine," which was released on May 16 via Columbia Records. "What if it rained? We didn't care/ He said that someday soon the sun was gonna shine/ And he was right, this love of mine/ My valentine," Babs coos on the opening verse, before McCartney takes over to sing, "As days and nights would pass me by/ I'd tell myself that I was waiting for a sign/ Then she appeared, a love so fine/ My valentine" over a lush combination of strings and piano. The cozy love song originally served as the lead single from the former Beatles member's 2012 solo album Kisses on the Bottom, where it was one of just two original songs on the LP and featured an assist from Eric Clapton on guitar. Now, the reimagined version for two is the second preview of Streisand's upcoming duets album, 
Sitcom and Broadway actor George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on the hit 1980s comedy Cheers, died on the morning of May 20, his family has announced. He was 76. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the family said in a statement. "He will be missed forever." The family has requested privacy during this time. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe during the 1970's before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, didn't have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. "My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word.' The word was 'beer.' I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.' So I went in, and they said, 'It's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar," Wendt told GQ magazine in an oral history of Cheers. Wendt became a fan favourite in and outside the bar -- his entrances were cheered with a warm "Norm!" -- and his wisecracks always landed. "How's a beer sound, Norm?" he would be asked by the bartender. "I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in," he'd respond. Wendt also found steady work onstage, putting on Edna Turnblad's housecoat in Broadway's "Hairspray" beginning in 2007, and appearing in the Tony Award-winning play Art in New York and London. He starred in the national tour of "12 Angry Men" and appeared in a production of David Mamet's "Lakeboat." He also starred in regional productions of "Death of a Salesman," "The Odd Couple," "Never Too Late" and "Funnyman." He is survived by his wife, Second City alum Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm's never-seen not-so better half, Vera, on Cheers; his children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel; and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew. - AP, 5/20/25.
Former Journey frontman Steve Perry and country/pop icon Willie Nelson unveiled a new duet version of the Journey hit "Faithfully" on 
Yusuf/Cat Stevens will release his long-awaited memoir, 
Pres. Donald Trump's ears must surely be burning after Bruce Springsteen slammed the US president and his administration during the kickoff concert of his "Hopes and Dreams" European tour at Manchester, England on May 14. The New Jersey rocker unloaded on Trump from Manchester's Co-Op Live stage, telling the audience "the mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll, in dangerous times" shortly after walking on stage. "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, and has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration," he continued, as captured in a clip filmed by a concertgoer and posted to 
The story of The Doors is one that has been told many times -- by writers, by filmmakers, by the band members themselves in their respective memoirs. But the new 
King Crimson co-founder Robert Fripp is recovering after undergoing emergency heart surgery in April, the musician revealed in a 
While a roster of heavy metal greats have been lined up for the upcoming final Black Sabbath "Back to the Beginning" show in Birmingham, U.K. on July 5, one iconic head-banging act is conspicuously absent: Judas Priest. However there appears to be a very good explanation for their absence, according to frontman Rob Halford: they're double-booked. Speaking to LouderSound.com, Halford explained that his band is slated to join the Scorpions in Hanover, Germany on that date for a 60th anniversary celebration of the German rock group. "I had no idea it [the Sabbath show] was happening. It all got announced and was a big deal," Halford said of the Scorpions and Priest concert taking place more than 630 miles away from Ozzy's show. "Suddenly I get this phone call [from Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne], 'Robbie, I know you've got this gig with Scorpions, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys. He'd love to see you.'" But Halford said as much as he'd like to be on hand for the last run with Ozzy and the gang, trying to pull double-duty would be too difficult. He said Sharon even offered to fly him back to Birmingham on the day of the show to make an appearance a la Phil Collins' legendary Concord flight from London to Philadelphia to play two sets at Live Aid in July 1985, but he thinks it might be "dangerous even with a private plane, there's a word called 'technical', where something could go wrong, or the weather that time of year could cause problems I was absolutely gutted [to miss the show]." Though Halford will not be on hand, former longtime Priest guitarist K.K. Downing will perform at the show alongside members of Limp Bizkit, Smashing Pumpkins, Megadeth, Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Soundgarden and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. - Billboard, 5/9/25...... Motörhead has announced the band's first recording of its classic lineup, featuring Lemmy Kilmister, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is set for release. The "lost" album 
Speaking of The Who, on May 8 the legendary UK band announced they'll play their final run of shows in North America this coming August and September as part of a farewell tour. The announcement was made by guitarist Pete Townshend at a press conference in London with singer Roger Daltrey appearing via video link. The tour -- named after their 1971 song "The Song is Over," a deep cut on their classic album Who's Next -- kicks off in Newark, N.J. on Aug. 19 and runs through major cities including Philadelphia (8/21), Atlantic City (8/23), Boston (8/26), Wantagh, NY (8/28), New York (8/30), Toronto (9/2, 4), Chicago (9/7), Los Angeles (9/17, 19), Mountain View, Cal. (9/21), Vancouver, BC (9/23) and Seattle (9/25) before wrapping in Las Vegas on Sept. 28. The band has not announced any further shows outside of the U.S. and Canada at this time. Tickets will be available through The Who Fan Club, beginning May 13. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general sale starting May 16 at 10 a.m. local time. More info can be found at www.thewho.com. While the announcement casts doubt over the chances of their farewell tour rolling into the UK and Europe after scheduled shows in North America, they apparently haven't completely ruled it out. "Let's see if we survive this one," Daltrey said during the press conference. "I've just finished a solo tour of the UK. I've got to say that touring America is a damn site easier than touring the UK. For some reason, the UK has made it as difficult as possible to go from A to B. In America, you seem to want to make it as easy as possible -- but we are in the land of 'no'. I don't want to say it won't happen, but equally I'm not confident in saying that there will be." Townshend continued: "I would agree completely. I really enjoyed the last [UK] tour that we did [in 2023], but it was a strange one. We played a lot of open air gigs, but we had an insurance problem, which meant we couldn't play some of the more classic places that one plays on a UK tour. The door is open to us. We could do a week at The O2, a couple of weeks at the Royal Albert Hall, but we don't do consecutive shows. We like to do a show and take a break." - Billboard/NME, 5/8/25...... Screenwriters lined up for the upcoming four Beatles biopics have been revealed, and include three acclaimed Tony-, Oscar- and BAFTA winning scribes. They include Tony Award-winning writer Jez Butterworth (Ford v Ferrari, Spectre) Oscar winner Peter Straughan (Conclave, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and BAFTA- and Tony Award-winner Jack Thorne (Adolescence, Enola Holmes). It is not yet known how the workload will be shared and if each writer will work on their own film or if they will collaborate on all four of the titles that are being collectively referred to at the moment as The Beatles -- A Four Film Cinematic Event. The films mark the first time Apple Corps. Ltd. and the Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film. Each movie will tell the story of one of the members, with all four intersecting "to tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history," according to a press release. The movies, directed by Sam Mendes and distributed by Sony Pictures, are slated to hit screens in Apr. 2028. - Billboard, 5/8/25...... The final clue on the Jeopardy! game show on May 7 seemed to be way too easy -- at least for any self-respecting Beatlemaniac -- but not one of the contestants got it right. The category was The Grammys and the clue was: "Best New Artists at the 7th Annual Grammys, this band would be nominated the next six years, but not again until the 39th and 67th events." The current champion wrote down "Who is the Marine Marching Band," and the other two contestants wrote down "Springsteen" and "The Rolling Stones," respectively. As host Ken Jennings pointed out, the last answer was closer, but still not right. The correct answer, of course, is the Beatles. They won Best New Artist at the 1965 ceremony, were nominated every year from 1966-1971, and then were nominated again in 1997 (when they won a total of three Grammys for The Beatles Anthology and "Free as a Bird") and earlier in 2025 (when they won best rock performance for "Now and Then"). - Billboard, 5/7/25...... Gene Simmons has clarified that not all members of KISS may appear together at "KISS Army Storms Vegas," the upcoming three-day fan event scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. "This is much more a fan gathering," Simmons told Farmingdale, N.Y. radio station 94.3 The Shark in a new interview. "The KISS Army are taking over the Virgin Hotel and we will show up, but I don't even know if the entire band's gonna be there. I know Paul [Stanley] and I are gonna be there, and Tommy [Thayer]. Bruce Kulick probably will show up, and we'll jam, answer questions and stuff. It ain't a concert, we're gonna do none of that stuff. I may even bring my solo band up there just for fun." The event will mark KISS's first public appearance since the group wrapped its "End of the Road" farewell tour at New York's Madison Square Garden in Dec. 2023. Simmons previously told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in March that the band would not perform in makeup during the Las Vegas event, staying true to their vow that the MSG show was their final appearance in full costume. "There's no stage show. There's no crew. We won't have 60 people levitating drum sets and all that stuff," he said at the time. "KISS Army Storms Vegas" will celebrate the fan club's 50th anniversary and will feature Q&A sessions with Stanley, Simmons and longtime manager Doc McGhee. Additional performances will include sets from Thayer's former band Black 'N Blue, Sebastian Bach and KISS tribute bands. - Billboard, 5/8/25...... 
Smokey Robinson is denying shocking new claims of sexual assault by four of his former housekeepers, saying through his attorney that the "vile, false allegations" are merely "an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon." In a statement issued on May 7, Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost says he will "fiercely defend" both Robinson and his wife, Frances, against the $50 million lawsuit claiming the R&B legend raped four different housekeepers over the course of nearly two decades. "As this case progresses, the evidence (the crucial element that guides us) will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon -- $50 million dollars, to be exact," writes Frost. Frost says he plans to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and address "numerous aspects of the complaint that defy credulity as well as issues relating to purported timelines, inconsistencies and relationships between the plaintiffs and others." Frost's statement comes one day after Smokey and Frances Robinson were sued in Los Angeles state court by four of their former housekeepers. The employees, suing anonymously, say Robinson forced them to have oral and vaginal sex in his bedroom dozens of times between 2007 and 2024. The housekeepers claim wife Frances shares blame because she did nothing to stop the alleged abuse, despite knowing that her husband had a history of sexual misconduct and that he'd previously struck settlements with assault victims. The lawsuit also says the Robinsons paid their employees below minimum wage, and that Frances Robinson created a hostile work environment replete with screaming and "racially-charged epithets." The settlements cited in Tuesday's lawsuit have not been previously reported, and there's no apparent record of prior sexual assault lawsuits against Smokey Robinson. This means that, if legitimate, the deals were likely struck confidentially and outside of court. Lawyers John Harris and Herbert Hayden, who represent the housekeepers suing Smokey and Frances Robinson, issued a statement later on May 7 responding to Frost's comments: "We stand behind our four clients' truthful claims, which are neither false nor vile, but clearly describe Mr. Robinson's despicable criminal acts." - Billboard, 5/8/25...... Video game company Rockstar Games unleashed the second trailer for its long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI on May 6, and fans are headed back to Vice City. GTA has a penchant for perfectly curating the soundtrack to match the game's vibe, and they did it again with The Pointer Sisters' 1986 hit "Hot Together" playing throughout the trailer to the forthcoming Bonnie and Clyde crime saga. About a minute into the trailer, the groovy instrumental begins to play as the main protagonist duo, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, reunite when Lucia gets out of prison. The couple rekindle their flame and pick up with they left off, making plays across the city. "Hot Together" arrived as the title track for The Pointer Sisters' 1986 album, which peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 200. The Pointer Sisters grew up in West Oakland and reached mainstream acclaim in the 1970s and 1980s. The R&B/soul group won three Grammy Awards and has seven Billboard Hot 100 pop hits to its name, including "Automatic" and "Jump (For My Love)." The full trailer for GTA VI can be viewed on 
Country music star Johnny Rodriguez, a popular Mexican American singer best known for chart-topping hits in the 1970s such as "I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind," "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico" and "That's the Way Love Goes," died on May 9 in San Antonio from health complications, according to his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez. He was 73. Rodriguez was named the most promising male vocalist at the 1972 Academy of Country Music Awards, and his debut, Introducing Johnny Rodriguez, was nominated for album of the year in 1973. More than a dozen of his albums and singles landed in the Top 10. Rodriguez later said his career suffered after he began to use drugs and alcohol excessively. Born Juan Rodriguez in Sabinal, Texas, in 1951, Rodriguez was discovered at 18 by music promoter Happy Shahan after he was heard singing in a jail cell, where he was briefly held for a minor offense, according to a Ken Burns biography on PBS.org. His musical influences ranged from mariachi to honky-tonk, shaped by his South Texas upbringing. "I was drawn to country music because I could relate more to what they were singing about," he told Burns. "And also it was just like the music of our people. In Mexican music, you have stories. Mexican music and country music said almost the same thing, just in different languages," he said. His debut album,