Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on July 24th, 2026

As their new joint exhibition "The Kinks: Brothers" opens in London on July 24, co-founding The Kinks members Ray and Dave Davies say they are "getting on great" and wouldn't rule out a future reunion. The exhibition, on display at the Gibson Garage, sees the brothers collaborate with British portrait painter Christian Furr, who has reimagined a 1968 passport photobooth picture of the brothers taken in East Finchley, North London, in a series of mixed-media works on paper and canvas. Dave, who has had a sometimes contentious relationship with Ray, reportedly cried when he first saw Furr's paintings, with the images prompting him to consider his fractured relationship with his brother. "It made me think, 'What the hell are we doing?' There were times where I couldn't stand him. I was storming out of the studio." Dave added that their relationship had always been "built on trust, although we hated each other." However Daves says the animosity has now subsided. "It's miraculous, really, how we've become so bonded. We enjoy each other's company. We were getting on great. We have fluctuated between getting on really well and not getting on at all over the years but there's always been telepathy, since childhood," he said. Asked whether they could perform together again, Dave replied: "I don't know, but never say never." Ray and Dave last shared a stage in 2015, when Ray joined his brother in London for a performance of "You Really Got Me," and they later worked together on new Kinks material in 2019. More recently, the brothers presented a united front in March when electronic singer/musician Moby described the lyrics to The Kinks' 1970 single "Lola" as "gross and transphobic." Dave responded that he was "highly insulted" by Moby's description of his brother's lyrics, adding: "Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We're not transphobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?" Dave later revealed that Ray had responded by asking: "Who the f--- is Moby?". "The Kinks: Brothers" is set to run until Sept. 6, and the official exhibition announcement can be viewed on Instagram. - New Musical Express, 7/23/26...... A federal judge has refused Cher's request that Sonny Bono's widow Mary Bono repay more than $1 million in legal bills the music legend racked up during their court battle over royalties to "I Got You Babe" and other Sonny & Cher hits. Cher wanted to be reimbursed for the legal fees she spent defeating Mary Bono's effort to stop paying royalties under Cher's divorce settlement with Sonny -- an argument rejected by a judge in 2024. Cher claimed Mary had "dragged" the case out for years by taking "unreasonable positions." On July 20, Judge John A. Kronstadt said the rules that would have allowed such forced repayment didn't apply to Cher and Mary's specific dispute, since it centered more on contracts than federal copyright law: "The motion is denied," he wrote. The ruling leaves Cher the winner of the overall case, but stuck paying an eye-watering legal tab she says ended up at $1,023,605 -- a bill that's not atypical for top-flight law firms handling years of complex litigation. Mary is currently challenging Cher's earlier victory in the case at a federal appeals court, which has yet to rule on it. Sonny and Cher's 1978 divorce settlement gave her a permanent 50% cut of the publishing revenue from songs written before they split up, including "The Beat Goes On" and "Baby Don't Go." Bono later married Mary, then passed away suddenly in a 1998 skiing accident. Sonny's music publishing grants became eligible for termination beginning in 2018, prompting Mary to notify publishers of her intent to reclaim certain interests. Cher, 79, rose to fame alongside Sonny in the 1960s before establishing a decades-long solo career that brought her Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy wins. In February, the music legend made a special appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award. - Billboard, 7/21/26...... Deceased '80s pop sensation George Michael's former manager Andros Georgiou has says he hopes that a previously-unfinished duet between Michael and his good friend Elton John can be released, over three decades after it was recorded. Michael worked with Sir Elton on a chart-topping remake of John's 1975 hit "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" in the 1990s, following them singing it together at Live Aid in 1985. He died on Christmas Day in 2016 due to issues related to heart and liver disease. Now, his former manager Andros Georgiou has revealed that the former WHAM! singer once started work on a duet with Sir Elton -- providing vocals for a song called "This Kind Of Love." The track has remained unfinished and unreleased for over three decades now, however Georgiou has expressed hopes to add the final touches and release it posthumously. Georgiou discussed "This Kind Of Love" with the UK tabloid The Sun as he is promoting his new film Trojan Souls, which centers on Michael's unreleased 1993 album of the same name and was set to see him collaborate with big names including Stevie Wonder, Sade, Seal and Aretha Franklin. It ultimately got shelved due to disputes with the label. "Elton came in to do a song called 'This Kind Of Love'," Georgiou told the paper, adding that he has also got an "incredible interview with Elton that no one has seen" yet, which he is "saving for when the film gets snapped up by a streamer like Apple." In that interview, the manager said, John shares his admiration for the "Careless Whisper" singer and adds that he would "literally do anything for George." - NME, 7/22/26......

Pres. Donald Trump's longtime critic Bruce Springsteen has been attacked by a fellow musician -- Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain -- for making his opposition to the president a fixture of his shows. Cain, 76, took aim at Springsteen, also 76, during an appearance on the podcast The Complete Disaster Network (available on YouTube), where he said he "used to like" him and was once a Democrat himself before changing party allegiances. "I used to be a Democrat back in the old days," said Cain, who also happens to be the husband of Trump administration adviser Paula White-Cain. "But I couldn't go there anymore, you know? I'm a diehard conservative." Cain continued: "And guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce, you know? Him and who's the other one? [Actor] Robert DeNiro. I mean, who cares, guys? Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music." After adding that he doesn't "spend 10 minutes talking about his Christian/conservative background on stage," Cain attacked Springsteen over his iconic tune "Born in the USA." "You were born in the USA, weren't you, dude? So act like it. But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it's a kind of a diss toward our country," Cain said. During the show, Cain also mentioned his new patriotic song "Winds of Freedom," which is said to be inspired by Eric Metaxas, an evangelical author and personality. Cain says he integrates his political views in the song, adding that other artists like Ted Nugent and Kid Rock had also done so. "We love our flag, and we love our nation, and we grew up that way," Cain said. - TheDailyBeast.com, 7/21/26...... On July 20 Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr surprised Beatles fans who were on the "Magical Mystery Tour" bus tour in Liverpool. Fans on the tour that day were left amazed when a car pulled up at a red traffic light beside them, and none other than Sir Paul himself leaned out the window to greet them. As if the chances of bumping into a member of The Beatles on the sightseeing tour were not slim enough, the guests were also greeted by Ringo Starr, who was on a FaceTime call with McCartney at the time. "It was surreal," said tour guide Neil Morton to the BBC. "I had pulled up at the traffic lights on Hope Street when who should I see - Sir Paul with Ringo on FaceTime!" "He waved to us and everybody took photos. The passengers could not believe it," Morton continued, also adding that while McCartney took time to wave to the fans, however "nobody really got a chance to speak with him." Macca was back in his hometown of Liverpool to present Adolescence actor Stephen Graham with an award from his performing arts school. McCartney is a co-founder of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), and was enlisted to present a companionship honor to Graham -- who grew up in the Merseyside town of Kirkby. As highlighted by BBC News, the institute has other connections to The Beatles, as it is based at the former Liverpool Institute school attended by McCartney and George Harrison, and is also a neighbor to the Liverpool Art College where John Lennon previously studied. Footage of McCartney waving to fans on the bus tour can be viewed on X/Twitter. - NME, 7/21/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's widow Sharon Osbourne and the couple's children Jack and Kelly Osbourne participated in the first ever "Ozzy Day" held in Ozzy's hometown of Birmingham, UK, on July 22. Fans showed up to pay their respects the the Prince of Darkness, and a brass band performed Black Sabbath classics. The mechanical "Ozzy The Bull" statue in New Street station was decorated with the singer's iconic glasses and more. Ahead of the inaugural event, his son Jack urged fans to share stories about Ozzy on the first anniversary of his death, saying that he wanted to "fill the entire day of July 22 with just awesome Ozzy stories." His daughter Kelly also spoke about how she was coping one year on, saying that she doesn't "just mourn the father I lost. I mourn the soul I was before [his] death." "As Ozzy would say, 'When you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just head bang,'" Sharon said in an interview with the BBC. She also said that she remembers him most for being "authentic," "so genuine" and "funny." "I mean we could have the worst arguments in the world but we would end up laughing because he would say something so ridiculous that we would just crack up," she shared, adding that it was fitting that Ozzy Day is held in his hometown because it is "the home of metal" and "wouldn't work anywhere else." Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi also shared a touching message on Instagram, saying that he "still can't believe that he's not with us." "We always stayed in touch, almost every week or so and we'd usually talk about our ailments and then about what we'd been doing that particular week," Iommi wrote. "I still can't believe that he's not with us." - NME, 7/23/26...... The classic 1971 children's musical fantasy film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is getting a cinema re-release for its 55th anniversary in August. Wonka is set for a rerelease in two special anniversary screenings on Aug. 2 and Aug. 5, 2026, marking the film's 55th anniversary. The rerelease also features a special introduction by renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin. Directed by Mel Stuart, the film follows Charlie Bucket [Peter Ostrum], a poor young boy from a struggling family. He finds one of five coveted golden tickets in a Wonka chocolate bar, granting him a chance to tour the eccentric candy maker Willy Wonka's [Gene Wilder] chocolate factory along with four other children. Charlie and his Grandpa Joe [Jack Albertson] go inside the factory filled with chocolate rivers, giant candy creations, and the ever-mischievous Oompa Loompas. As the tour unfolds, each child faces the consequences of their own choices, while Charlie's honesty and kindness eventually set him apart. Although Wonka had a modest theatrical run upon its original release, grossing around $5.8 million at the box office, it later became a beloved classic through TV broadcasts and home media releases with format upgrades. The film currently holds an 84% Tomatometer score and an 87% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes.com. The rerelease trailer can be streamed on YouTube, and tickets are currently on sale now through the Fathom Entertainment website and participating theaters' box offices. - ComingSoon.net, 7/23/26...... 1950s rockabilly artist Vernon Taylor died on July 12 after a lengthy battle with dementia. He was 89. Born Vernon Walton Alderton on a farm in the small town of Layhill, Md., near Baltimore, on Nov. 9, 1937, Mr. Taylor developed an interest in music and at the age of 15 he and three friends formed a band called The Nighthawks, and played at fire halls and private parties in the Washington, D.C. area. They also had a stint on an hour-long local TV show. After his late 1950s' first singles "Losing Game" and "Why Must You Leave Me" weren't hits, he left his first record label Dot Records. It was after an American Bandstand appearance that legendary Sun Records founder-producer Sam Phillips signed him and Taylor released two singles, including "Today Is A Blue Day" by on of Elvis Presley's songwriters, Jack Clement. While neither were huge hits, they were beloved by rockabilly fans. He released four albums with Sun Records and his rockabilly classics included "I've Got the Blues," "Your Lovin' Man" and "Mystery Train." He recorded his last CD in 2000 and retired from the printing industry at the age of 79 due to bouts of anxiety and dementia. Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Brenda Alderton, three children and five grandchildren. - Canoe.com, 7/23/26...... James "Jim" Gilstrap, a singer whose credits include the Good Times theme song and Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," died on July 18 of natural causes, according to his nephew Geoffrey Gilstrap. He was 79. Gilstrap sang the song for Good Times, which ran from 1974-79, with Blinky Williams. The catchy, gospel-tinged tune ("Keepin' your head above water/Making a wave when you can") was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The singer was also a featured vocalist with Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove album and contributed to many of the singer's recordings. He sang the first two lines of Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" ("You are the sunshine of my life/That's why I'll always be around"). Singer Lani Groves sang the next two lines ("You are the apple of my eye/Forever you'll stay in my heart") before Wonder's vocals kick in, with Gilstrap and Groves continuing to sing backup. The song, from Wonder's 1972 album Talking Book, won the Grammy Award for best male pop vocal performance. He also worked on Wonder's Innervisions LP. In 1975, he signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records and released a single, "Swing Your Daddy" that reached No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart. The song peaked at No. 64 in Australia. He released an album, Love Talk, in 1976. Throughout his career, Gilstrap also collaborated with the likes of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, The Jacksons, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, James Ingram and George Benson, among many others. "Jim was one of the most respected session vocalists of his generation, bringing his powerful and soulful voice to countless recordings that helped define the sound of popular music," his nephew said. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and his children. - The Hollywood Reporter, 7/19/26...... 1950s and 1960s rock & roll hitmaker Freddy Cannon who brought energy and vigor to pop radio playlists in the early rock era, died on July 17 in a California hospice facility. He was 89. Mr. Cannon's longtime friend, iHeart Radio's Tom Cuddy, confirmed that Mr. Cannon died following a brief bout with cancer, and his children Conny and Billy were with him in the days before his death. Mr. Cannon landed three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Tallahassee Lassie" (No. 6 in 1959), "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" (No. 3 in 1960) and "Palisades Park" (No. 3 in 1962). His nickname "Boom Boom" was inspired by the big bass drum sound on his records. Mr. Cannon reportedly holds the record for the most appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand (110 appearances), and also made the top 15 on the Hot 100 in 1965 with the rollicking hit "Action" from Clark's daily ABC-TV series Where the Action Is. The artist, who notched 23 Hot 100 hits between 1959 and 1981, was born Frederick Anthony Picariello Jr. on Dec. 4, 1936 in Revere, Mass. He lived in the state until he was in his late teens when he and his wife Jeanette moved to Philadelphia on the advice of legendary TV host Dick Clark, the city were Clark produced his daily American Bandstand broadcast for ABC-TV. He worked with some of the top musical performers of that era, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chubby Checker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Connie Francis and Brenda Lee, and performed on many of the popular music TV shows of the era, including Shindig, The Midnight Special, Hullabaloo, Where the Action Is and Sha Na Na. Mr. Cannon was reportedly working on music at his home in Oxnard, Calif., right up to his death. He is survived by his children, Conny and Billy; his sister, Mary Lou; his son-in-law, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Beth; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. His wife (and high school sweetheart) Jeanette, preceded him in death on Sept. 25, 2024, and his son, John, died on Apr. 13, 2026. - Billboard, 7/19/26.