Posted by Administrator on July 19th, 2025
Blondie guitarist Chris Stein has revealed that the band's next album will be released around the "last quarter" of 2025. The follow-up to 2017's Pollinator had been scheduled for a 2025 release before the death of Blondie drummer Clem Burke in April at age 70, however the exact release date is not yet known. Posting on Twitter/X on July 18, Stein responded to a fan's question about the album that Burke "played the whole thing," though he added he didn't know if the band would be touring. The news comes after Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry said earlier this year that she "can't see a future of live performances as Blondie" without Burke behind the drums. - New Musical Express, 7/19/25...... 
Styx released its 18th studio album and third in seven years, Circling From Above, on July 18. Styx singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw -- whose avid interest in birds helped put a European starling on the album cover -- says the Pink Floyd-esque title track, "Build and Destroy," was inspired by a continuing interest in outer space. "There's an app I discovered a while back where you can look up and see all the space junk," he told Billboard. "It blew my mind that all this stuff is floating around up there. Every piece of equipment that's up there, that's basically junk, is owned by a country and that country knows where it is and is responsible for it. It's organized chaos, but it's a junkyard up there. As we discussed it in the studio we were getting ready to write songs, and that influenced some of the lyrics and ideas kept popping off and we had those two songs that go together." California-born Will Evankovich, who produced 2017's The Mission, 2021's Crash of the Crown and the new Circling From Above, became a full-fledged member of the band in 2021 and adds that all of the Styx albums he's been involved with "basically happen organically." "There's stuff Tommy and I were writing at first, and then involving Lawrence (Gowan, singer/keyboardist), they just took off on its own. It wasn't premeditated. Tommy's always writing; he's a very creative guy, and I think finding a new writing partner galvanized his interest. But we do it because we want to do it, not because of how many records we're gonna sell." Styx is currently on tour (with the Kevin Cronin Band and former Eagles guitarist Don Felder) playing 1977's triple-platinum The Grand Illusion in its entirety, however the group has only been able to work "Build and Destroy" from the new LP into its live set to date. But Shaw says they're looking forward to adding more of the Circling From Above songs into dates later this year, including the "Rockin' in Paradise Cruise" during October. "We'll definitely get to that as soon as August is over," Evankovich says. "People come to see the great catalog of music the band has, but I think by September we'll probably work a few new ones in there, probably two or three once we've cycled the Grand Illusion album." Fans can check out "Build & Destroy" on YouTube. - Billboard, 7/18/25...... Late Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty's 2.6 acre Malibu hideaway is back on the market a little less than a year after it was initially listed. Petty, known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a solo artist, used the property as his primary residence from 1998 until his death in 2017. Listing agent Myra Nourmand said the Malibu property, which features a four-bedroom main house and two detached guest houses, one of which served as Petty's studio, feels "like you're buying your own private park." "Every area has either a fountain, a bubbling brook, magnificent and mature trees," she told Homes.com. "It's an emotional sanctuary. And it takes many decades to create that." First hitting the market in 2024 with a $19 million price tag, the property never sold, and has been relisted for a reduced $15.5 million. Also up for sale is the Gainesville, Fla. native's former beach retreat in St. Augustine, Fla., which has been on the market since February. Petty's beach house at 5372 Atlantic View in St. Augustine is asking $2.95 million. He built the house in 1988 after buying the lot for $97,500, according to county property appraiser records. This would be right around when the rocker was recording his first solo album, Full Moon Fever. Sitting on less than a quarter of an acre, the 3,293-square-foot, three-story house includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a back deck with an in-ground pool and a private boardwalk leading to the shore. - Homes.com, 7/16/25...... 
The "Rumours" gang are at it again. Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham have sparked rumours of an imminent reunion after the two recently shared a pair of cryptic posts on Instagram. Nicks and Buckingham dated between 1972 and 1976 and had remained bandmates in Fleetwood Mac until Buckingham was fired from the band in 2018 after over 40 years in somewhat acrimonious circumstances relating to a disagreement over a tour, to be replaced by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell and Crowded House's Neil Finn. The two had appeared to be at loggerheads since then, but in an Instagram post on July 17 that no one saw coming, Nicks posted hand-written lyrics to the 1973 Buckingham Nicks tune "Frozen Love": "And if you go forward...." Buckingham then completed the lyric in his own hand-written Instagram post: "I'll meet you there." Founding band member and drummer Mick Fleetwood also joined in on the fun, sharing a video of himself listening to the duo's "Frozen Love," which was re-shared on the official Fleetwood Mac Instagram page. "If Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are back together this would be the biggest news in the history of news," was just one of the many responses to the correspondence by riled up Fleetwood Mac fans. The trio of posts follow comments from earlier this year when Fleetwood and Buckingham were pictured working on new music together in the studio. - NME, 7/18/25...... Mercury Studios posted on Instagram on July 17 that the Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath final concert "Back to the Beginning" will be released in theaters in early 2026 in an edited 100-minute version. "Presented as a love letter to Ozzy and the pioneering sound of Black Sabbath, the theatrical release will be a distilled version of the epic all-day event held at Villa Park," read the announcement about the feature that will feature footage from the all-star, all-day heavy metal gathering in Sabbath's hometown of Birmingham, UK on July 5 at Villa Park. "Featuring thunderous performances of 'War Pigs,' 'Iron Man,' 'Children of the Grave' and a show-stopping 'Paranoid,' the film promises a deeply personal and electrifying farewell from the godfather of heavy metal with exclusive behind-the-scenes access and interviews from this iconic live performance." And while the sold-out show welcomed 42,000 fans to witness the final bow in person, with more than five million more streaming the epic event via VOD, the film will give those who were not able to watch the original gig a chance to see the magic. According to Variety, after the theatrical release of the Back to the Beginning movie in early 2026, there will also be a physical version available later in the year, with additional details on the rollout and release dates to be announced later. Before that film arrives, the Paramount+ streaming channel will premiere a No Escape From Now documentary delving into Osbourne's health struggles and prep for the final Sabbath show later in 2025. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the "Back to the Beginning" concert raised more than $190 million for three charities, the highest-grossing charity concert in today's dollars since George Harrison and Ravi Shankar's 1971 Concert for Bangladesh popularized the very idea of an all-star benefit show. The funds will be distributed equally to Birmingham Children's Hospital, Acorn Children's Hospice and Cure Parkinson's. - Billboard, 7/18/25...... Bruce Springsteen has been tapped to receive the inaugural Legacy Award at the fifth annual Academy Museum Gala this fall, presented by The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The Boss is also slated to perform at the fundraising event, which will be held on Oct. 18 in Los Angeles. The Legacy Award "honors an artist whose body of work has inspired generations of storytellers and deeply influenced our culture," according to a press release. Springsteen, 75, won an Oscar for best original song in 1994 for "Streets of Philadelphia" from director Jonathan Demme's Philadelphia. He was nominated again in the category two years later for "Dead Man Walkin'" from Tim Robbins' Dead Man Walking. The event will help raise funds to support museum exhibitions, education initiatives and public programming, including screenings, K-12 programs and access initiatives in service of the public and the local community of Los Angeles. Last year's gala raised more than $11 million. Meanwhile, it has been announced that Springsteen's 2023-25 tour, which wrapped earlier in July, was his biggest moneymaker ever. With ticket sales of over $700 million, the tour earned more than twice the gross sales of his previous best-selling tour. - Billboard, 7/17/25...... 
David Byrne has shared "She Explains Things To Me," the second single from his forthcoming new album, Who Is The Sky?, on YouTube. "Many times I have marvelled at how a friend (usually a female friend) seems to clock what is going on in a film between characters way before I do. Sometimes I understand poetry, but sometimes I need help," the former Talking Heads frontman explained about "She Explains Things To Me." "Though inspired by the [Rebecca] Solnit book Men Explain Things To Me there is a huge difference -- mansplaining is usually unasked for, in this case I am the one asking." Produced by Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), the album is also set to feature St. Vincent, Paramore's Hayley Williams, and The Smile drummer Tom Skinner. Who Is The Sky?' is said to "build upon the optimistic themes" presented in Byrne's successful American Utopia album in 2018, its tour, its successive Grammy-winning Broadway show and its Spike Lee-directed movie. The album will reportedly continue Byrne's "lifelong exploration of human connection and the potential for societal unity against the chaotic backdrop of the world," and will feature "more story songs than usual." - NME, 7/16/25...... The first part of the new Billy Joel documentary And So It Goes premiered on HBO Max on July 18, while the second part airs on July 25. With hit songs, like "Piano Man," "Uptown Girl," "We Didn't Start the Fire," and others, the special celebrates the life and over 60-year career in music of the Grammy Award-winning recording artist and had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival 2025 in New York on June 4. The film, an HBO original, is described as "an expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting." The official trailer has been shared on YouTube. Meanwhile, one of the documentary's directors has given a health update on the Piano Man, two months after the 76-year-old musician revealed that he'd been diagnosed with the brain disorder normal pressure hydrocephalus. Appearing on Good Morning America on July 16, Susan Lacy said Billy has been "doing physical therapy, he's healing, he's working on getting better." In May, Joel canceled all his planned summer shows due to the condition, which can affect vision, hearing and balance. At the time of the cancelations, Joel said that the decision came after the condition was "exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance." In May he canceled all his shows for 2025, which had included stops at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field in New York and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as well as shows in Cincinnati, New Orleans, Santa Clara, Calif., Hollywood, Fla. and Washington D.C. - Billboard, 7/17/25...... In other tour news, Steve Miller Band frontman Steve Miller has cancelled all dates on his 31-date summer/fall tour, which which was set to kick off Aug. 13 at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and run through Nov. 8 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Miller was also scheduled to perform at this year's Minnesota State Fair. "You make music with your instincts," Miller wrote in a note on his stevemillerband.com website announcing the cancellation. "You live by your instincts," he added, "Always trust your instincts." For Miller, those instincts told him to cancel his lengthy tour due to "the combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and massive forest fires [which] make these risks for you our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable." "You can blame it on the weather - the tour is cancelled," Miller wrote. "Don't know where, don't know when. We hope to see you all again," he concluded, before signing off and encouraging his followers to "please take care of each other." As of now, no information regarding refunds has been released to the public. - Billboard, 7/16/25...... 
On July 16 Robert Plant announced he'll release a new album of covers, Saving Grace, via Nonesuch Records on Sept. 26. Saving Grace is named after Plant's new band, featuring vocalist Suzi Dian, drummer Oli Jefferson, guitarist Tony Kelsey, banjo and string player Matt Worley and cellist Barney Morse-Brown. In conjunction with the announcement, Plant and the band have shared the album's lead single, "Everybody's Song," on YouTube. The single is the group's take on the 2005 original by the Minnesota indie rock band Low. "We laugh a lot, really. I think that suits me. I like laughing," Plant says of the band. "You know, I can't find any reason to be too serious about anything. I'm not jaded. The sweetness of the whole thing These are sweet people, and they are playing out all the stuff that they could never get out before. They have become unique stylists and together they seem to have landed in a most interesting place." Plant and Saving Grace will go on a 21-date tour behind the album in Europe and the U.S. this summer and fall. The schedule can be viewed on robertplant.com. - Billboard, 7/16/25...... A 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar stolen from The Rolling Stones more than 50 years ago has resurfaced in a collection recently acquired by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the time of the burglary, the instrument had been owned by former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who had previously purchased it from his bandmate Keith Richards in 1967. At the time of its theft, the instrument had already been part of musical history, having been played by Richards during the Stones' debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in Oct. 1964, and later by Taylor during their infamous Altamont Free Concert in Dec. 1969. Famed rock guitarists such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page were also said to have played the instrument as well. However, the location of the guitar has remained a mystery since Sept. 1971, having been reportedly stolen during the band's recording sessions for 1972's Exile on Main St. at Villa Nellcôte on France's Côte d'Azur. The story goes that the robbery occurred in broad daylight while occupants of Villa Nellcôte watched TV, having reportedly been conducted by Marseille drug dealers that Richards was said to have owed money to. The theft ultimately resulted in the loss of nine guitars, a saxophone belonging to Bobby Keys, and Bill Wyman's bass guitar. The trail was left cold until May of this year, when the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art announced it had received a "landmark gift" of more than 500 guitars from the "golden age of American guitar making," consisting of instruments made between 1920 and 1970. Taylor's business manager and partner, Marlies Damming, has claimed that the "flaming" pattern on the body of the guitar confirms it as Taylor's elusive instrument. "There are numerous photos of Mick Taylor playing this Les Paul, as it was his main guitar until it disappeared," Damming explained. "The interesting thing about these vintage Les Pauls (from the late 1950s), is that they are renowned for their flaming, which is unique, like a fingerprint." Additionally, an unnamed source stated that Taylor is "mystified as to how his property found its way into the Met's collection," and noted the musician had "never received compensation for the theft." - Billboard, 7/15/25...... 
Stevie Wonder has used an appearance at a recent concert to address the longstanding conspiracy theory that he isn't actually blind. Wonder -- who has been performing since the age of 11 and scored his first Billboard No. 1 with "Fingertips" at the tender age of13 -- has long been noted for his status as a blind man, having lost his vision weeks after his birth. However, his prolific output and tireless work in the music industry over the past 64 years has resulted in a half-serious theory that Wonder can in fact see. Though often shared as a tongue-in-cheek rumor, the Motown legend's ability to navigate the world around him has resulted in many of these theories coming to light. In 2019, former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal shared a tale of Wonder recognizing him in an elevator, while comedian and actor Anthony Anderson once recalled how he challenged Wonder to a basketball game. "What y'all don't know is, Stevie can see," he told Stephen Colbert in 2016. "It's just an act." Now, at a recent tour stop in Cardiff, Wales for his "Love, Light & Song" U.K. tour, Wonder used an opportunity to speak to the crowd to dispel the enduring speculation. "I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, 'When did I want to let the world know this?' But I wanted to say it right now," Wonder began in his monologue, which can be viewed on Instagram. "You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth. Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind. Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?" Wonder has not released a new studio album since 2005's A Time to Love, though since 2008, he has spoken about a new project titled Through the Eyes of Wonder, which has been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. "What I want to do with our live performances is to create visuals that [give] my take on how I see the world and how most various things affected me," he explained at the time. While in Cardiff, Stevie was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) during his concert at Cardiff's Blackweir Fields. The prestigious honor was presented on stage by RWCMD Principal Helena Gaunt and Director of Music Tim Rhys-Evans, marking a significant recognition of Wonder's monumental impact on the world of music. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 7/15/25...... David Kaff, a British musician and actor best known for playing keyboardist Viv Savage in the classic 1984 musical mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, has died at 79. The news was announced by Kaff's bandmates in the metal group Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom on July 13, who wrote on Facebook, "Our brother David Kaffinetti passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday. We are devastated by this event. David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he'd make you smile doing it! RIP dear brother." Kaff was born David Kaffinetti on Apr. 17, 1946 in the coastal town of Folkenstone in Kent, England and studied classical piano as a child before pivoting to rock in his teens and co-founding the prog rock group Rare Bird. The band was signed to former journalist Tony Stratton Smith's Charisma Records -- home to Genesis, Peter Gabriel, prog legends Hawkwind and the comedy troupe Monty Python -- and released five albums on the label between 1969 and 1974, scoring one U.K. singles chart hit with 1970's moody "Sympathy." Though he started out as a serious musician, Kaff made his biggest mark in director Rob Reiner's beloved send-up of rock pomposity. Appearing in the satirical film alongside stars and co-writers Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, Kaff played dopey keyboardist Viv Savage, whose most memorable line comes in the movie's credits when director Marty DiBergi (Reiner) asks for his philosophy of life. "Have a good time all the time," Savage says with a crooked smile of his party-all-the-time credo. Despite his limited screen time, Kaff got off a number of pithy one-liners in the film that gave fans such iconic bits as an amp that "goes to 11" and the announcement that Tap's drummer died in a "bizarre gardening accident." Among them is a scene when the band is billed beneath a puppet act at an amusement park and guitarist David St. Hubins (McKean) asks if Viv can play bandmate Nigel Tufnel's (Guest) bass line from the group's legendary triple-bass hit "Big Bottom," the keyboardist deadpans, "yeah, I got two hands, yeah, I can do it." Kaff is not expected to appear in the upcoming sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which arrives in theaters on Sept. 12, although he continued his Tap association over the years by appearing with the group on Saturday Night Live in 1984 and filming a comedic 1990 PSA for the hearing loss group H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education Awareness for Rockers). "Viv Savage of the band Spinal Tap speaks out on hearing loss," a voiceover says, as Kaff's Savage cluelessly asks, "what?". - Billboard, 7/15/25...... 
Legendary lyricist Alan Bergman, known for penning the words to such iconic works as "The Way We Were" and the Maude theme, died at his home in Los Angeles on July 17. He was 99. Mr. Bergman and his wife, Marilyn Bergman (who died in 2022 at age 93), are probably best known for writing exquisite ballads such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Pieces of Dreams" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?," but they refused to be typecast. They also wrote the witty theme songs for such TV series as Maude, Good Times and Alice. The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, including best original song for "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair and "The Way We Were" from the movie of the same name, and three Grammy Awards, including song of the year for "The Way We Were." The Bergmans had a long and close relationship with Barbra Streisand, who saluted them on her Grammy-nominated 2011 album What Matters Most - Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman. The Bergmans received 15 Oscar nominations for best original song, and in 1983, they became the first (and still only) songwriters to be nominated for three Oscars for best original song in one year for "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" from Best Friends, "It Might Be You" from Tootsie and "If We Were in Love" from Yes, Giorgio. The Bergmans were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980 and received that organization's highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1997. They received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 2013. Mr. Bergman died just eight days after the announcement of a celebration in his honor on what would have been his 100th birthday on Sept. 11. Many of his friends and admirers were set to perform at a concert in his honor that night at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif. The event is expected to go on as planned, but pivot to a tribute rather than a birthday celebration. The event will serve as a benefit for the Jazz Bakery, of which Mr. Bergman was a founding member of the board. Barbra Streisand paid tribute to Mr. Bergman, who suffered from respiratory issues in recent months, but continued to write songs till the end, on Instagram with a warm message that accompanied a cozy shot of the two of them together. "Alan Bergman was not only a prolific lyricist, and incredible husband, father and grandfather, he was family to me-- a father figure. We met over 60 years ago, and we never stopped loving each other and collaborating together. My last conversation with him was about a wonderful song he was working on. At 99 his creative gifts still flowed. I like to think he's again in Marilyn's warm embrace and I'm sure they have started collaborating again on another song! I will miss them both.--Barbra" - Billboard, 7/18/25...... 
Beloved pop singer/actress Connie Francis, who in 1960 became the first woman to score a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her signature hit "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," died on July 17. She was 87. The news was confirmed by her publicist, Ron Roberts, in a Facebook post in which he wrote, "it is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that i inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night. I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news." Roberts did not reveal where Ms. Francis died or the cause of her death, which came two weeks after the singer told fans that she'd been rushed to the intensive care unit at a hospital in Florida suffering from what she described as "extreme pain." In March of this year Ms. Francis told fans that she was in a wheelchair due to a "troublesome, painful" hip and was undergoing stem cell therapy to deal with the issue. Born Concetta Franconero on Dec. 12, 1937, in Newark, N.J., Ms. Francis sold more than 40 million records and was one of the most popular female singers in the U.S., scoring 35 top 40 hits, including 16 top 10s and three No. 1s. After getting her start in pageants and a series of variety shows such as Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in the mid-1950s -- where she often played the accordion -- Ms. Francis embarked on a bid to break into the music business that was initially met with indifference after signing with MGM Records in 1955 and releasing a string of 10 flop singles. She was saved from obscurity when, on the verge of giving up on her showbiz dreams and preparing to attend college, her father convinced her to record a cover of the 1923 ballad "Who's Sorry Now," a song she initially rejected as sounding too fusty for her. Though it seemed to be yet another chart fail at first, six months after Dick Clark spun the track on his American Bandstand show in Jan. 1958, the song sold one million copies and Ms. Francis was launched into a career that included hit singles in a number of languages -- including Yiddish, Italian and Irish -- as well as a sideline acting career. Initially providing the off-screen singing voice only for stars including Tuesday Weld in 1956's Rock, Rock, Rock! and Freda Holloway in 1957's Jamboree, Ms. Francis became a star in her own right by 1960 with her role in the comedy Where the Boys Are and a series of other lighthearted sequel comedies and musicals including Follow the Boys, Looking for Love and 1965's When the Boys Meet the Girls. With a versatile, easy listening voice and confident style, Francis' hot streak also included a number of top five hits, including 1958's "My Happiness" and "Lipstick on Your Collar" and 1961's "Where the Boys Are." Her chart dominance began to wane, however, by the mid-1960s as popular taste shifted to more uptempo rock from the likes of The Beatles and other British invasion acts. After fading from the charts, Ms. Francis' life was touched a series of tragic incidents, including a cosmetic procedure to narrow her nose that same year that impaired her ability to sing, and a 1974 incident in which she was beaten and raped at knifepoint at a motel after performing at a music festival in Westbury, N.Y. She later sued the Howard Johnson's motel chain for failing to provide adequate security and was awarded a $2.5 million judgement. According to The New York Times the brutal assault threw Francis into an "emotional tailspin" that included a descent into a "nightmare of paranoia, suicidal depression and drug abuse." The struggles continued, including the singer being committed to a mental hospital by her father in the early 1980s, where she was diagnosed with manic depression. Francis later said she'd been misdiagnosed and that she had actually been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after the "horrendous string of events" in her life, in reference to the sexual assault, the cosmetic surgery effects on her voice and her younger brother George's murder in 1981. She retired from the music industry in 2018. "Connie Francis led a truly extraordinary life," UMe president/CEO Bruce Resnikoff said in a statement. "She gave the world countless, timeless songs and inspired generations with her voice, resilience, and trailblazing spirit. We are deeply saddened by her passing, but take comfort in knowing how joyful and fulfilled she felt in these last few months, as a new generation discovered her music and celebrated her legacy." - Billboard, 7/17/25
Speaking to the UK paper The Daily Express, The Beach Boys' Mike Love revealed that he and the late Brian Wilson sang together in the weeks before Wilson's death on June 11 at age 82. "I was able to visit Brian three weeks before he passed. What Brian wanted me to do was to sing for him," Love said. Brian asked me to sing 'Fun, Fun, Fun', so I sang that. Then he said: 'Sing 'Surfin' USA!'', so I sang 'Surfin' USA' to him. I sang 'I Get Around' for Brian, too. We even harmonised on a song called 'Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring'. That was a song by The Four Freshmen, a group which was a huge influence on The Beach Boys' harmonies." Soon after Wilson's passing, Love posted on Instagram that "Our journey together was filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, laughter, complexity and most of all, LOVE. Like all families, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I never stopped being in awe of what he could do when he sat at a piano or his spontaneity in the studio." - New Musical Express, 7/12/25...... 
After King Crimson guitarist Jakko Jakszyk told Goldmine magazine earlier in July that the English prog-rock icons were working on a new studio album, King Crimson manager David Singleton has taken to social media to urge fans not to get too excited about the prospect. "It was an amazing thing to have done, and in a way, part of it's still happening," said Jakszyk, who joined the veteran band in 2013. Jakszyk went on to say the band has "been doing it piecemeal," and with "a view to it coming out in some format at some point. But who knows when?" Now Singleton says "there is indeed the seed of a new recording [but] whether it is an album, whether it sees the light of day, whether it is something else is unknown. As is the outcome of any creative process." King Crimson was initially formed in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, Michael Giles, and Peter Sinfiel, with the band releasing their debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, the following year. Initially disbanding in 1974 after seven albums, further reunions would take place throughout the '80s and '90s, with the group's most recent record, The Power to Believe, arriving in 2003. Co-founder McDonald passed away in Feb. 2022, and the group's songwriter, lyricist and synth player Peter Sinfield died in Dec. 2024. The group was hit with another death when ex-percussionist Jamie Muir passed in February. It was assumed King Crimson was over after their last tour in 2021, and 79-year-old Fripp -- the only continuous member from the original lineup -- told Rolling Stone in 2022 that future tours from the band would only take place "if I knew for certainty that King Crimson touring was the only way to prevent World War III." Jakszyk also teased the release of his and Fripp's album, The Scarcity Of Miracles. "Plus, there's also an album I made with Robert before I joined Crimson called The Scarcity Of Miracles. There's a version of it that's about to come out with loads and loads of extra stuff." - Billboard/Music-News.com, 7/14/25...... Neil Young took to the stage at the BST Hyde Park festival in London on July 11 and wowed the audience with a setlist of his timeless classics. Accompanied by the raw energy of his new band the Chrome Hearts, Young effortlessly worked through 18 songs, treating the sold-out crowd to hits spanning his lengthy career. Fan favorites like "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Be the Rain," "Southern Man," and "The Needle and the Damage Done" resonated through the venue, offering a taste of every era of Young's beloved discography. "Thank you, folks, I really appreciate you being here," Young shared with the adoring audience, with a "Love Earth" symbol emblazoned behind him -- a nod to his 2022 collaboration with Crazy Horse. Classics such as "Cinnamon Girl," "After The Gold Rush," and "Name of Love" showcased Young's subtle sentiment and powerful rock prowess. The magical "Harvest Moon" perfectly coincided with the setting sun, creating a truly cinematic moment. Young concluded his set with a two-song encore featuring the anthemic "Throw Your Hatred Down" and "Rocking in the Free World," leaving the crowd chanting along. After Stevie Wonder performed a headlining set on July 12, the festival ended abruptly on a dour note on July 13 after the event's final live show was canceled when headliner Jeff Lynne of Jeff Lynne's ELO was forced to withdraw due to medical reasons. The previous day, organizers announced that "Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow's BST Hyde Park show." Posting on their website bst-hydepark.com, they added that "Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff's mind today -- and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time." The whole July 13 concert, which was also to include performances by Steve Winwood and the Doobie Brothers as well as Lynne, was cancelled. The decision came days after Lynne, 77, axed a concert in Manchester UK shortly before he was scheduled to come out on stage. Lynne had appeared on stage in Birmingham in a hometown send-off a week ago, but was unable to play his guitar owing to a broken wrist, suffered during a taxi crash in London. - Music-News.com, 7/12/25...... 
On July 10 Paul McCartney announced he's heading back out on the road for his first North American swing since 2022. Titled "Got Back 2025," the 19-date trek is slated to launch at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA on Sept. 29, then visit Las Vegas (10/4), Albuquerque (10/7), (10/11), Des Moines (10/14), Minneapolis (10/17), Tulsa (10/22), New Orleans (10/29), Atlanta (11/2, 3), Nashville (11/6), Columbus (11/8), Pittsburgh (11/11), Buffalo (11/14), Montreal (11/17) and Hamilton, Ontario (11/21) before winding down with a two-night stand at the United Center in Chicago on Nov. 24-25. The tour is the indefatigable former Beatle's follow-up to his run of three surprise shows at the intimate Bowery Ballroom in New York in early February, and close-out performance of an Abbey Road medley at the SNL50: The Anniversary Special just days later. While a number of the stops are in cities the singer has played before, a few will be first-time visits, including Albuquerque and the Palm Springs kick-off. Tickets are set to go on sale on July 18. Sir Paul first launched his Got Back run of shows in 2022 with 16 sold-out U.S. gigs, followed by an international edition the next year and 20 more concerts in South America, Mexico, the U.K. and Europe in 2024. Meanwhile, Macca has discussed his creative approach to music in a new interview with BBC Radio 3's Sound Sources host Elizabeth Alker. "You can do something apparently very strange with a piece of music and then you listen to it, and you go 'Oh I really like that'. It's like abstract art I mean, not everything we see is clear and figurative," he said. "Sometimes when you're asleep or you rub your eye, you see an abstract. So, your mind knows about it. We know about this stuff. So, it was the same with music." The full program can be streamed at the BBC.co.uk site. - Billboard/Music-News.com, 7/10/25...... In more touring news, Bob Dylan has announced a string of UK and Ireland dates for his ongoing "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour for November. The latest batch of dates will see Dylan playing Brighton (11/7), Swansea (11/9, 10, 11, 13), Coventry (11/14), Leeds (11/14), Glasgow (11/16, 17), Belfast (11/19, 20), and Killarney (11/23, 24) before wrapping at Dublin's 3Arena on Nov. 25. The "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour sprung from the folk-rock icon's 2020 studio album of the same name and has been running since Nov. 2021. The 10th leg of the tour ran across North America in March and April this year and saw him dipping into his back catalog, including the first performance of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" in 15 years. - NME, 7/10/25...... Jackson Browne, Patti Austin and Seth MacFarlane will be among the musicians and celebrities feting legendary lyricist Alan Bergman on his 100th birthday on Sept. 11 at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif. Bergman and his late wife Marilyn, who died in 20022 at age 93, are probably best-known for writing exquisite ballads such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Pieces of Dreams" and "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?," but they couldn't be typecast. They also wrote witty and zesty theme songs for such TV series as Maude, Good Times and Alice. The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, including best original song for "The Windmills of Your Mind" from The Thomas Crown Affair and "The Way We Were" from the movie of the same name, and three Grammy Awards, including song of the year for "The Way We Were." Barbra Streisand, who took "The Way We Were" to the top of the US pop chart in 1974, will be making a video appearance during the event. Streisand previously paid tribute to the Bergmans on her Grammy-nominated 2011 album What Matters Most - Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman. The event will serve as a benefit for the Jazz Bakery, of which Bergman is a founding board member. The nonprofit listening room is one of the most respected jazz spaces in Los Angeles. - Billboard, 7/10/25...... 
Two months after announcing the upcoming publication of a long-awaited memoir, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has announced the release of a "definitive" greatest hits collection. On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits, due Sep. 5 on Cat-O-Log Records in partnership with Universal Music Recordings, will be the music icon's first-ever career-spanning collection of his emotive and moving songs from his nearly 60-year recording career, spanning from 1967's Matthew & Son through his 2023 King Of A Land LP. The new release will also include a 24-page booklet containing all the lyrics and never-before-seen reflections on the music by Yusuf himself. "I'm pleased that, at last, a collection of recordings includes some important songs I wrote after my evolvement, 'Take The World Apart' and 'Heaven / Where True Love Goes' for instance, reflecting the peace and happiness which has since changed my life," he said in a press release. "It's really humbling to think about how many souls have been traversing this journey with me." The singer recently performed at the BST Hyde Park festival in London on July 11, as a special guest to Neil Young. Meanwhile, his memoir that was first announced in May, Cat On The Road To Findout, is set for release in the UK on Sep. 18 and in the US on Oct. 7. Yusuf will embark on a rare UK concert and book tour to promote the new album and memoir, his first UK tour in nine years. The seven-show tour begins on Sep. 6 at Cambridge's Corn Exchange and concludes on Sep. 22 at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. - Music-News.com, 7/10/25...... Days after performing the final show of Black Sabbath in Birmingham, UK on July 5, Ozzy Osbourne has announced his new memoir, Last Rites, described by publisher Grand Centra/Hachette as the "shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Osbourne's descent into hell." The follow-up to Ozzy's 2009 memoir I Am Ozzy, Last Rites will cover the various health crises the 76-year-old metal god has endured over the past few years, including the Parkinson's diagnosis that contributed to him announcing his retirement from touring. "At the age of sixty-nine, Ozzy Osbourne was on a triumphant farewell tour, playing to sold-out arenas and rave reviews all around the world. Then disaster," reads the presser announcing the book. "In a matter of just a few weeks, he went from being hospitalized with a finger infection to having to abandon his tour -- and all public life -- as he faced near-total paralysis from the neck down." But in his own signature no-nonsense style, Osbourne was defiant about his desire to keep rocking, despite his challenges. "Look, if it ends tomorrow, I can't complain," Ozzy notes in the release. "I've been all around the world. Seen a lot of things. I've done good and I've done bad. But right now, I'm not ready to go anywhere." In addition to the book, Osbourne has announced that he's auctioning off a handful of abstract paintings he created with chimpanzees to benefit the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida that helps rescue chimpanzees from animal testing labs and zoos. "I've never sold my paintings. But these abstract collaborations I did with ape artists from @SaveTheChimps are now available at Omega Auctions to raise funds for the sanctuary," he wrote in an Instagram post in which he posed -- holding a banana, naturally -- with some of the colorful canvases. "Each signed painting is named for one of my songs, and there are only five, so bid now for your favorite! Auction closes July 17." Fans can bid on the canvases at bid.omegaauctions.co.uk, and check out his Last Rites book tralier on YouTube. - Billboard, 7/11/25...... Speaking of Ozzy and Black Sabbath's final gig, it has been reported that the "Back To The Beginning" farewell show has "raised a ton of money" for charity. Musician Tom Morello, the show's music director, wrote on Instagram on July 8 that "more than $190 million will be donated to houses and hospitals for children... We raised a ton of money for a great cause and so many great musicians & bands & fans all over the world paid tribute to the ALL TIME greats." However, a spokesperson from concert promoter LiveNation has said: "Reported charity figures around Back To The Beginning are not a true reflection and are indeed false. Ozzy and [event co-organizer] Sharon [Osbourne] in due course will announce correct figures." - NME, 7/9/25...... The final years of David Bowie's career are set to be showcased in a huge new box set, I Can't Give Everything Away (2002-2016). The release, set for Sept. 12, will include faithfully reproduced versions of the original albums where possible, with the CDs gold-plated as opposed to the usual silver. A vinyl box set contains the same content as the CD set, and will be pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl. Created alongside Bowie's co-producer Tony Visconti, the set is named after the closing track of Blackstar, Bowie's final studio album. Released only days before he died in 2016, the record had hinted at the star's ill health prior to his passing, and has long since been a subject of fascination for fans convinced it served as his official farewell, with many claiming that its lyrics can be interpreted as the singer tackling his own mortality. The new box set is the sixth in a reissue series which has so far included: Five Years (1969-1973), Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976), A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982), Loving The Alien (1983-1988) and Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001). The latest instalment consists of 12 CDs, 18 vinyl records and a digital download and streaming format. There's also an accompanying book for the physical box sets, featuring previously unpublished notes, drawings and handwritten lyrics by Bowie. The announcement of the new box set can be viewed on X. - NME, 7/9/25...... 
'70s novelty hitmaker Ray Stevens is reportedly recovering after undergoing a miniminally invasive heart surgery operation on July 7. On July 4, the "Everything Is Beautiful" singer complained of chest pains and was admitted to a Nashville-area hospital, where it was determined that he had suffered a mild heart attack. While in recovery, his performances at his West Nashville CabaRay Showroom have been canceled through July. Stevens, 86, and a two-time Grammy winner, is known for both comedic songs such as "The Streak" and the "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival," but also touching songs such as the pop-country classic "Everything Is Beautiful," which won a Grammy for male pop vocal performance in 1971. "The Streak" was nominated for Country Music Association Awards for single of the year and song of the year in 1974. Stevens was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019. During his more than six decades in the spotlight, the talented musician has held roles as singer, songwriter, producer, music publisher, session musician, television star and real estate developer. He previously ran an entertainment venue in Branson, Mo. from 1981 to 1993, and in 2018, he launched the CabaRay entertainment venue in Nashville. Additionally, his shows at CabaRay have been aired on public television stations. He is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Music City Walk of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In March, he released his latest album Say Whut?, which included songs such as "Everybody's On The Telephone" and "The More You Cry." - Billboard, 7/8/25.
After the UK Government proscribed the political group Palestinian Action as a terrorist group under the government's Terrorism Act 2000 on July 5, Roger Waters has voiced his support for the group and declared his independence from the government. The proscription now means membership or public support for the group is classed as a criminal offense, and could result in up to 14 years of jail. In a three-minute video posted on 
The long-awaited Black Sabbath farewell concert took place at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK on July 5. Billed as "Back to the Beginning," the epic production ran for 11 hours after getting underway at 1:00 p.m. Birmingham time and was hosted by actor Jason Mamoa. Before five solo songs by Ozzy and his touring band ("I Don't Know," "Mr. Crowley," "Suicide Solution," "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "Crazy Train) and four songs by Ozzy and his fellow Black Sabbath bandmates -- Tony Iommi (guitar), Bill Ward (drums) and Geezer Butler (bass) -- ("War Pigs," "N.I.B," "Iron Man" and "Paranoid"), a number of artists performed covers of Sabbath material. British rocker Yungblud performed Sabbath's "Changes" with an all-star band; Anthrax performed "Electric Funeral" from Sabbath's 1970 album Paranoid, and Guns N' Roses took on "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" in their set. Footage of Sabbath's final performance has been shared on 
The acclaimed English band Gang of Four concluded their farewell tour in Amsterdam on July 5. The hugely influential post-punk band, fronted by Jon King, played their classic 1979 LP 
Interviewed by Vanity Fair, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry said she can't see herself "being on stage as Blondie" after the April 2025 death of Blondie drummer Clem Burke at age 70 after a battle with cancer. When asked what she was "most proud of," Harry responded: "I think the things I get most teary-eyed about are the relationships, good fortune, and the luck I've had working with some wonderful, exotic, talented people. Great minds." She went on to liken "keeping a rock band together for 50 years" to "a marriage," before touching on the changes to Blondie's touring line-up. Blondie co-founder Chris Stein no longer performs live with the group due to ongoing health issues. "It's sad that with Clem's passing and without having Chris on stage, I can't see myself being on stage as Blondie, even though I am the face of Blondie. But I'm proud of the music, and I would still like to do music... I want to feel that little spark of creativity, surprise -- those things. There's a little tingle of that, and I hope that will be there for me." Before Burke's death, Blondie were already scheduled to release a new album at some point in 2025. However, an exact release date is not yet known. The album would be the follow-up to 2017's Pollinator, helmed by Grammy-winning producer John Congleto. In the same interview Harry, who turned 80 on July 1, opened up about undergoing cosmetic surgery when asked whether she had ever felt any "pressure" to look good. "It's always been a tool for me. It's not like I started having cosmetic surgery as a kid in school -- I think nowadays a lot of girls are getting cosmetic surgery when they're 10, 11 years old," she responded. "God bless if it improves their lives and they feel happy. But as far as me having cosmetic surgery, it made me feel better about myself. Maybe it made me feel happy, or more confident. It was just something that I felt necessary at the time... women being attractive, and being a selling point, is clearly showbiz... if you're going to be in the business, be in it." - NME, 7/3/25...... Days before he takes the stage for what is being billed as his final show with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne has announced an upcoming collaboration with alt makeup brand Jolie Beauty. Osbourne, known for rocking copious amounts of eyeliner, has linked up with the Birmingham, UK-based brand for a collection of cosmetic and makeup products under the banner Ozzy Osbourne x Jolie Beauty. "We're not slowing down, this collab's a one-way ticket on the Crazy Train. No brakes. No rules. Just pure, unfiltered rock 'n' glam mayhem," the company wrote in an 
Could Aerosmith make one last live return after announcing in 2024 that they would be retiring from touring in the wake of Steven Tyler's serious vocal injury -- fracturing his larynx as well as having damaged vocal cords? Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry hinted as much during a recent appearance on SiriusXM radio's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk podcast. When asked if fans could ever see the band on stage again, Perry said: "Well, yeah, I'm always hoping, but going on the road, it's a big deal pulling that together," with the 74-year-old axman adding: "There's so much planning, and what it takes out of you physically, it's a lot more than people realize. It's one thing when you're doing it when you're 25 or 30, but it's another when you're starting to get up there like us. It's a really physical thing, going out on stage." Perry says he's also sure that Tyler, 77, would be able to sing a full concert again if he could get the strength back in his voice. Asked if Tyler could perform a full show, Perry said: "You know, I think he would. I think it's just a matter of getting there, you know? I mean, it's like, you know, I mean, we're up there, man. I've got enough left in me. I still wanna do [a final Aerosmith show]... So, we'll see what happens." Meanwhile, Perry will be touring across the US this summer with his group The Joe Perry Project. - Music-News.com, 7/1/25...... Ringo Starr has reportedly told the director of the upcoming four-part Beatles biopic that he should rewrite parts of the script. According to the New York Times, Starr worked with director Sam Mendes for two days to go over the scripts for the drummer's individual film. Ringo, according to the report, "offered extensive notes" to Mendes to ensure it was an accurate reflection of his life -- particularly of his childhood growing up in Liverpool and of his first marriage to Maureen Starkey Tigrett. "He had a writer -- very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I. That's not how we were. I'd say, 'We would never do that,'" Ringo is reported as saying. However after the edits, Starr said he was satisfied. "But he'll do what he's doing," he said of Mendes, "and I'll send him peace and love." The films are expected to be released in early 2028. In the same interview, Ringo said he still thinks he's 24 when he looks in the mirror. Starr, who turns 85 on July 7, said: "It blows me away. I look in the mirror and I'm 24. I never got older than 24," he told the Times, adding to himself, "But guess what? You did." Since 1989, Ringo has toured the world with his Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and credited performing regularly with how he maintains his energy. "I love what I'm doing. When I first started... my mother would come to the gigs. She would always say, 'You know, son, I always feel you're at your happiest when you're playing your drums,'" the Liverpool native recalled. "So she noticed. And I do." - NME/Music-News.com, 7/3/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. has announced that Tom Greene has been appointed as its new CEO, effective in September. Greene joins the company having previously fulfilled an operating role for the Harry Potter franchise, including stints running Pottermore Publishing and Wizarding World Digital, a joint venture between Warner Bros and Pottermore. His most recent role was as COO of Blast, an entertainment company working with the video game developers and publishers on production, commercialization and audience growth of their Esports programs. "It is a huge honour to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history," Greene said in a statement. "Like so many people around the world, I grew up in a household obsessed with The Beatles and their music. At a time when the world might need more of the Beatles' spirit, there are so many new and innovative ways to bring their unique magic to all generations of fans. I cannot wait to get started," he added. Greene will be replacing Jeff Jones after 17 years as Apple Corps' CEO, during which he oversaw the band's foray into video games (The Beatles: Rock Band), a number of films and documentaries directed by the likes of Ron Howard and Peter Jackson, and the band's "final song," "Now and Then." - Billboard, 7/1/25...... Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan's co-headlining Outlaw Music Festival Tour has been temporarily delayed after a powerful storm damaged gear during a recent stop in Missouri, forcing the cancellation of their July 1 show in Oklahoma. The June 29 concert at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Mo., was abruptly cut short when heavy rains and high winds swept through the venue. According to a statement from organizers, festivalgoers were evacuated for safety, but not before the storm reportedly waterlogged artist instruments and damaged key production equipment. As a result, the July 1 show at Lucky Star Amphitheater in El Reno, Okla., has been canceled. The tour is expected to resume July 4 in Austin, Tex., where Nelson traditionally hosts his annual 4th of July Picnic. That show, taking place at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, is set to feature Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Tami Neilson, and Asleep at the Wheel. - Billboard, 6/30/25...... 
Rod Stewart reunited with his Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood during the celebrated mid-afternoon legend's slot at the Glastonbury 2025 festival on June 29. Backed by an extended string section and strains of bagpipes, Stewart went into the smooth rock of opener "Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)," before greeting the audience with: "Enjoy yourselves ladies and gentlemen, please. Music brings us together - we need music!" Joined by Wood, the pair played the 1971 Faces classic 
Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has announced he's bringing his "This Is Not A Drill" tour to cinemas worldwide with This Is Not A Drill - Live from Prague - The Movie. Set for global release by Sony Music Vision and Trafalgar Releasing, the film will have limited screenings on July 23 and 27. Recorded and filmed during Waters' impactful performance at Prague's O2 Arena on May 25, 2023, the movie has been meticulously edited by long-time collaborator Sean Evans. Billed by Waters as his "first ever Farewell Tour," the show is Waters' statement against what he describes as a "corporate dystopia," dedicated to those fighting for "the soul of humanity." The film features 20 classic Pink Floyd and Roger Waters tracks, including "Us & Them," "Comfortably Numb," "Wish You Were Here," and "Is This The Life We Really Want?," alongside Waters' recently celebrated new song, "The Bar." Tickets for worldwide cinema screenings are on sale now at www.rogerwaters.film. Beyond the big screen, the live audio and visual recording will be released on Aug. 1 via Legacy Recordings in 
The Who have apparently parted ways with their current touring drummer, Zak Starkey, after nearly three decades, following the band's recent run of London shows. A spokesman for the legendary English group 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." Tensions reportedly came to a head in mid-March when Daltrey complained onstage about Starkey's performance during The Who's Teenage Cancer Trust charity gigs. A report of the first performance suggested that Daltrey stopped several songs mid-performance, citing difficulty hearing the band over the drums. It also said that Daltrey paused their final song, "The Song Is Over," and told the audience: "To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can't. All I've got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can't sing to that. I'm sorry guys." On Apr. 13, Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, posted an all-caps message to his Instagram pate that "Toger Daktrey [sic]... [was] unhappy with Zak the drummer's performance at the Albert Hall a few weeks ago is bringing formal charges of overplaying and is literally going to Zak the drummer." Starkey joined the band during their 1996 "Quadrophenia" world tour. He was introduced to drumming by The Who's original drummer, Keith Moon, a close family friend of the Starrs', who gave him a drum kit for his eighth birthday. He went on to play major shows with the group, including the 2010 Super Bowl and the 2012 London Olympics. Zak Starkey has also played with the likes of Oasis, Johnny Marr, Paul Weller and Graham Coxon. He currently performs in the recently-formed supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, also featuring former members of the Happy Mondays, Black Grape, Oasis and Ride. - Billboard, 4/16/25...... Canadian-born music legend Neil Young is wading into his native country's upcoming federal election, throwing his support behind Liberal Leader Mark Carney. In a message posted to his Neil Young Archives, Young, who resides in the United States, said he wanted to tell the newly-minted prime minister, "How much I appreciate and support what you are trying to do for our great country, Canada." Watching U.S. Pres. Donald Trump's continuing rhetoric about wanting Canada to become part of the U.S. has apparently left Young worried about the future of his home country. "Canada is facing threats to its very existence, incredibly from people we thought were our friends," he wrote. "They want our resources, they want our land, they want our fisheries, they want our water, they want our Arctic, maybe they want our souls. I know the U.S. president could use a soul." Young added that it will take "more than bravado to fight this kind of threat," saying that the country's next leader will have to have "brains, deep economic knowledge of how the world works (and) strong, intelligent strategies." "Mr. Carney, I believe you are the person to do it," he wrote. "I believe you are the person our country needs to lead us through this crazy situation and bring us out the other side as a stronger, smarter, more resilient Canada, our core values of caring and fairness and generosity intact, along with our souls." Young's support for Carney comes after the Liberals tapped comedian Mike Myers -- who also doesn't live in Canada -- for a series of political ads last month. The spot, which generated over 13.5 million views on X, ends with Myers asking Carney a question that's been on the minds of a lot of Canadians lately: "Let me ask you, Mr. Prime Minister, will there always be a Canada?" "There will always be a Canada," Carney says confidently. - Canoe.com, 4/16/25...... In other Neil Young news, the rocker, Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers shared the stage at U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' Fighting Oligarchy rally at Los Angeles' Grand Park. The event, which centered on anti-corporate messaging and grassroots political reform, also featured solo sets from all three artists. Young, who closed out the rally, began his brief performance with "Rainbow of Colors," a song from his 2019 album Colorado, before launching into "Rockin' in the Free World." Midway through the song, Baez and Rogers walked onstage to join him, taking turns on vocals and leading chants of "Power to the people" and "Take America back" between verses. Young, a longtime supporter of progressive causes, first released "Rockin' in the Free World" in 1989 on his album Freedom, and has performed it across decades of political moments. In 2020, the rocker filed a copyright infringement lawsuit over Donald Trump's unauthorized use of "Rockin' in the Free World" at campaign events. Fan-shot footage of the rally performances has been shared on 
Barry Manilow has announced he will take a break from his ongoing Las Vegas residency for a series of 16 North American arena dates in what is being called his "final North American concert tour" over the coming months. Dubbed "The Last Concerts," Manilow's upcoming run of arena shows will launch on May 23 in Pittsburgh, also hitting such markets as Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit and Cleveland through June 5. After a brief return to his ongoing Vegas residency, he'll play cities inlcuding Spokane, Seattle, Portland and Oakland, Cal., before wrapping in Sacramento on July 19. Those dates will again be followed by a return to Las Vegas, and a handful of holiday shows in December. "I couldn't be more thrilled to visit these great cities of which I have so many fond memories," Manilow said in a statement. "Each one is special to my touring history." News of the "Copacabana" singer's upcoming North American dates comes just a few months after he announced a lifetime residency at his longtime home, the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Manilow launched his "The Hits Come Home" residency at the Westgate Hotel in 2021, playing his first residency at the hotel (when it was known as the Las Vegas Hilton) from Feb. 2005 to Dec. 2009. He followed with his "Manilow Paris Las Vegas" at the Paris Hotel & Casino at Las Vegas from Mar. 2010 to Dec. 2012. His current run of residency dates see him booked until Dec. 13, though he will perform five shows for "Manilow's A Gift of Love VII" concerts at Palm Desert's McCallum Theatre only days later. - Billboard, 4/15/25...... Elton John and Brandi Carlile's first collaborative album, 
AC/DC kicked off their first North American tour in nine years with a 21-song set at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Apr. 10. The show featured five songs from the band's 1980 classic Back in Black, and they opened the show with the Highway to Hell cut "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)." Songs like "Riff Raff" and "Let There Be Rock" were performed with extended guitar solos courtesy of Angus Young, while "T.N.T" and "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" rounded up the show as encore picks. The 13 dates under the 'PWR UP' tour will see Aussie headbangers cross the continent over a six-week period, and will conclude in Cleveland's Huntington Bank Field on May 28. This tour also marks the band's first run of shows with their new line-up, comprising singer Brian Johnson, guitarists Angus and Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug, and new bassist Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction, Alanis Morissette). After their North American trek, the rock veterans will hit the road for 12 dates across 10 European countries this summer kicking off in Prague on June 26. It'll run through to Aug.21 in Edinburgh, which will mark their first show in Scotland in a decade. The "Power Up"' tour takes its name from AC/DC's 2020 album of the same name, their 17th studio record. - NME, 4/11/25...... Pink Floyd has shared a 
On Apr. 14 Stevie Nicks announced on 
Wink Martindale, a rock 'n' roll disc jockey and good friend of Elvis Presley who gained fame as the host of such TV game shows as Tic-Tac-Dough, Gambit and High Rollers, died on Apr. 15 in Rancho Mirage, Cal., according to his publicist. He was 91. The friendly Martindale, who had a 74-year career, was known for his resonant voice, vivid sport coats and, especially, his curious first name. "When I was a kid in Jackson, Tennessee, one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn't say 'Winston,' which is my given name. He had a speech impediment, and it came out sounding like 'Winky,'" Mr. Martindale explained to ABC News in 2014. "So Winston turned into Winky, and then I got into the business and Wink it was! It served me well." Mr. Martindale recorded for Dot Records -- Pat Boone was another artist on that label -- and his "Deck of Cards," a narrative release from 1959, sold more than 1 million copies. He also sang "All Love Broke Loose" during the 1958 film Let's Rock. His second wife, Sandy, whom he married in 1975, dated Presley on and off until shortly before the singer wed Priscilla Wagner in 1967, and she appeared as a dancer in Viva Las Vegas (1964) and other Elvis movies. "Elvis is responsible for me marrying Wink," she said in a 2015 interview. "When [Mr. Martindale] said he was from Tennessee, I said, 'He must be a nice guy,' because I loved the state, I loved all the guys, I loved everything in the state of Tennessee because Elvis was such a wonderful part of my life." Winston Conrad Martindale was born on Dec. 4, 1933, in Jackson. His former Sunday school teacher managed WPLI, a 250-watt radio station, and gave him his first job in radio at $25 a week in 1951. He was 17 and a senior in high school. A few years later, he made the big move to WHBQ in Memphis, about 90 miles away from home, where he hosted a radio show in the morning and a popular kids TV show, Wink Martindale of Mars Patrol, in the afternoon. "All of a sudden I became a radio personality that everyone knew and respected to a television 'star,' and the kids loved me!" he said in a 2010 interview. Mr. Martindale happened to be back at WHBQ on one evening in July 1954 when he helped arrange to get Presley to the station for his first-ever radio interview, shortly after the debut of his song "That's All Right." Mr. Martindale hosted the American Bandstand-like show Top Ten Dance Party in Memphis -- Elvis was a big get for him on that show -- then asked for and was granted a transfer to Los Angeles' KHJ (radio and television) in 1959. He hosted another local Dance Party program, this one from Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica, and later had a 12-year run as the midday personality on the Gene Autry-owned station KMPC beginning in 1971. Mr. Martindale said he became interested in hosting a TV game show in 1965 when he learned that Password's Allen Ludden would "go in two days a week and tape five shows one day and five shows the next and the other five days play golf. I went to my agent and said, 'How about sending me on a game-show hosting interview?'" He eventually landed at NBC's What's That Song? (billed as Win Martindale) and worked for a year on that, the first of the 20 game shows that he hosted (only Bill Cullen did more). He was on Tic-Tac-Dough for a decade, did two shows for producer Chuck Barris (How's Your Mother-in-Law? and Dream Girl of '67) and produced game shows as well. Mr. Martindale co-hosted and helped produce a cerebral palsy telethon in his hometown for more than a decade and published an autobiography, Winking at Life, in 2000. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame six years later and on Oct. 13, 2007, he was one of the first inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. In addition to his wife, survivors include his daughters, Lisa, Lyn and Laura; his sister, Geraldine; and his "honorary son," Eric. - The Hollywood Reporter, 4/15/25.
Rod Stewart has shared details of a new best-of album which will drop just before his milestone performance the UK's Glastonbury festival this summer. Dubbed Ultimate Hits, the forthcoming LP comes as part of his 80th birthday celebrations and is set for release on June 27 via Warner. It's being touted as the first-ever solo-career-spanning hits collection from the legendary songwriter, and will include his signature breakthrough songs "Handbags and Gladrags" and "Maggie May," and move through to follow-up hits like "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?," "Hot Legs" and "Baby Jane." Various versions include 
The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has released a statement saying Russia's just announced ban on its services will "undoubtedly endanger lives." In a statement released Apr. 3, the prosecutor general's office of the Russian federation banned both the British and U.S-registered foundations of the EJAF from offering its services in Russia, designating the non-profit as an "undesirable organization" -- a classification that would allow the state to prosecute and potentially jail individuals affiliated with the charity if they continue working in Russia. EJAF responded with a statement saying it is "devastated to learn of its new label under Russian law." "This decision by the Russian Federation will undoubtedly endanger lives and disrupt critical HIV prevention efforts for ordinary Russian citizens," the statement reads. "At a time when we have the tools and knowledge to defeat HIV, it is heartbreaking to be unable to support them." The organization pointed out that, according to the Russian governments own reporting, over 1.2 million Russians were living with HIV in 2024, and nearly half a million of those people had not received medical treatment. "Despite this setback, we will continue our work across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the Foundation is the largest philanthropic HIV/AIDS funder," the organization said. Russia's move comes as a double whammy to the EJAF -- in February, the administration of Pres. Donald Trump announced it was eliminating more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's) foreign aid contracts, which the EJAF said "could have devastating effects on the HIV response." - Billboard, 4/10/25...... In other Elton John news, the Rocket Man and his current collaborator Brandi Carlile have dropped a raw, emotional making-of short for their first joint album together, 
Pete Best, the original drummer for The Beatles, has announced his retirement. The 83-year-old Best announced his retirement on X, with his brother Roag Best confirming that the drummer will no longer be performing as part of the eponymous Pete Best Band going forward. "Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we've had. However, everything comes to pass," Roag noted. "My brother Pete Best has announced today he is retiring from personal appearances and performing with the group. His daughter has informed me its due to personal circumstances." Pete himself acknowledged his retirement, reposting the original announcement and adding, "I had a blast. Thank you." Best's association with The Beatles began in the late 50s when The Quarrymen -- which was comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ken Brown -- approached his mother Mona to perform at her Liverpool venue, the Casbah Coffee Club. The Quarrymen evolved into The Beatles in 1960, and following brief stints with Tommy Moore and Norman Chapman, the group recruited Best as their drummer ahead of launching a residency in Hamburg, Germany in August of that year. After two years with The Beatles, Best was ousted by manager Brian Epstein in favor of Ringo Starr. Various stories have circulated as to the reason for Best's dismissal, though his alleged lack of ability, his chemistry within the band, and his purported attractiveness have since been raised as possible explanations behind his firing. Following his time with the band, Best performed with other bands including Lee Curtis and the All-Stars and The Pete Best Combo, which notably attempted to capitalize on Best's prior work by releasing an album coyly titled Best of the Beatles. Best later enjoyed a successful career in civil service, raised a family, qualified for early retirement, and made millions from the Beatles' Anthology One album, which featured 12 tracks on which he drummed. The Pete Best Band is currently scheduled to perform at the Liverpool Beatles Museum on Aug. 23, though it's currently unknown if Best's retirement from the band will impact the planned appearance. More info can be found at liverpoolbeatlesmuseum.com. - Billboard, 4/7/25...... In other Beatles-related news, John Lennon's half-sister Julia Baird has said that an actor from Liverpool should play him in the forthcoming Beatles biopics, directed by Sam Mendes. Speaking to The Telegraph, Baird weighed in on her late brother's casting, in which it was recently announced that London-born actor Harris Dickinson (Babygirl) will play Lennon. "Yes, of course" she replied when asked if it should be a Scouser (a person from Liverpool) playing him. "No one else can get that Liverpool intonation. Nobody," she said. On the subject of being consulted about the movie, Baird replied: "[Mendes is] never going to ask me! I'm the last person he would want to talk to because then he can't make it up." Later in the interview, she described John Lennon as: "a brilliant older brother, very bossy -- a family trait." She does, however, regret his fame, given it led to his murder at the hands of fanatic Mark David Chapman in 1980. "To be John's sister is a privilege that I couldn't begin to describe to you. But given the choice I wish he'd never seen a guitar." When asked why, she replied: "Well, then he might have been an art teacher and he'd still be here." All four films -- one dedicated to each Beatle -- will premiere in Apr. 2028, in what Mendes describes as the first "bingeable moment in cinema." - NME, 4/7/25...... Patti Smith has announced she'll release a new memoir, 
Paul Simon kicked off his 2025 North American tour in New Orleans on Apr. 4, following a return from retirement and struggles with his hearing. The opening night of his "A Quiet Celebration" tour also came as a huge milestone, as it was his first headline performance in two years, following rumours that he may never play live again due to severe hearing loss. Taking to the stage at the Saenger Performing Arts Theater, the 83-year-old kicked off the set with a handful of songs from his most recent studio album, Seven Psalms and was joined by his wife Edie Brickell for renditions of "Wait" and "The Sacred Harp." As the set developed, Simon moved into some of his most popular tracks including "Homeward Bound," "Slip Slidin' Away" and "Graceland," before wrapping up the 19-song setlist with performances of two huge Simon & Garfunkel songs: "The Boxer" and "The Sound Of Silence." Simon worked alongside the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to help overcome the obstacles around playing live. This included repositioning the monitors on stage and opting for smaller venues with better acoustics -- allowing him to hear himself better during the performances. Other stops on the tour include Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas, Boston, Chicago and more throughout the summer, including five shows at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles and five shows at New York's Beacon Theatre. Footage from the NO show can be viewed on 
Clem Burke, the founding drummer of Blondie, died on Apr. 6 following a battle with cancer. He was 70. The group announced Burke's passing the following day on