Nancy Sinatra is the latest musician requesting Pres. Donald Trump refrain from using their (or their family's) music in his political messaging. On Apr. 18, the '60s hitmaker and daughter of famous entertainment icon Frank Sinatra took to X/Twitter to rage at the president for posting a video of her late tuxedo-wearing dad singing his iconic 1969 ballad "My Way" at Madison Square Garden in 1974 on his Truth Social platform with no context or commentary earlier in the weekend. "This is sacrilege," Nancy posted on X in response to a person who wrote, "Omg, @NancySinatra will not be happy about this. Trump goes against everything that Frank stood for. He was a big champion for equality and supported the Civil Rights movement." When another fan asked if there is anything Nancy can do to prevent Trump from posting her father's music, the "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" singer replied, "Unfortunately no. The only people who can do something are the publishers" (the song's publishers are Because Music and Primary Wave). Nancy also reposted a fan comment that read: "Trump may love Sinatra, but Sinatra did not love Trump." In March, the frequent Trump critic tweeted, "Not only is trump insane but he is an extreme danger to America and the world." "My Way," which was also famously covered by Elvis Presley in his 1970s concerts, is an English-language adaptation of the French song "Comme d'habitude," with lyrics written by Paul Anka. Trump's use of music in various campaigns has continued to court controversy. He played songs including "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Start Me Up" during his 2016 rallies, leading The Rolling Stones to follow in the footsteps of Adele, Neil Young, Steven Tyler, Foo Fighters, ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, R.E.M, Jack White, Celine Dion and Prince's estate. - Billboard, 4/20/26...... 
Bruce Springsteen jammed with The Doors' drummer John Densmore on Apr. 18 at he American Music Honors, an annual event organized by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center at Monmouth University in New Jersey. The Doors were among those honoured at the event, and Springsteen joined Densmore, as well as The E Street Band's Steve Van Zandt and the Disciples Of Soul house band for a rendition of The Doors' 1967 hit "Light My Fire." "There is no one in the room in danger of filling Jim Morrison's leather pants tonight," Springsteen quipped to the crowd after taking to the stage. Densmore and guitarist Robbie Krieger are the only surviving original members of the L.A.-based The Doors, and the drummer said at the event: "The Doors played in Asbury Park, and guess who was in the audience - the Boss!" "Hey, if our music helped Bruce shout out his bride, I'm hip," he added, referring to Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa, who was apparently also at the 1986 gig. "It apparently worked, "Densmore continued. "They've been together quite a while. You know, so long that maybe Patty's the Boss!" Also at the event, Patti Smith, Dr. Dre, Dionne Warwick, The Band and The E Street Band all picked up American Music Honors. At the end of the show, many of the honorees came together to play Smith's "People Have The Power." Fan-shot footage of the Springsteen/Doors collab can be viewed on X/Twitter. - New Musical Express, 4/19/26...... Cher has filed for conservatorship of her son Elijah Blue Allman for a second time following a string of arrests in recent months. In late 2023, Cher applied for a conservatorship over Elijah, her 49-year-old son with the late Gregg Allman, claiming that he was "substantially unable to manage his financial resources" due to "severe mental health and substance abuse issues." Allman later filed an objection to his mother's request, stating that he was not in need of a conservatorship and claiming that Cher would be "unfit to serve." The family then reached a private settlement in 2024, having paused court proceedings to attempt to resolve the matter privately. Now, Cher has once again filed for conservatorship, submitting the application to Los Angeles Superior Court earlier in April. The case states that Allman "has significantly deteriorated since a prior conservatorship petition was filed in 2023" and that "The proposed conservatee is currently in custody in the State of New Hampshire in a locked psychiatric hospital in an attempt to restore him to competency to face criminal charges in two cases." Allman was reportedly arrested for causing a disturbance at a private school on Mar. 1, while two days later he was arrested again after allegedly breaking into a home in Windham, N.H. Gregg Allman died in 2017 and Elijah reportedly receives an annual allowance of $120,000 per year from his trust. Cher has in the past claimed that the money is spent primarily on "drugs, expensive hotels and limousine transportation." Documents filed by Cher's lawyers in 2023 suggested that she was concerned that "any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah's life at risk." Meanwhile, Elijah's estranged wife, Marieangela King, is asking a court to intervene in her spousal support battle, claiming that Elijah is behind on child support payments as he's currenlty under hospital care. On Apr. 14, King asked the Superior Court of California for assistance in having the trustee of Allman's estate make direct payments to her amid his health ups and downs. King and Allman married in Dec. 2013 after meeting in Germany. Their 13-year relationship was marked by ups and downs, including a 2021 divorce filing by Allman, which was dismissed in 2024. King filed for divorce in Apr. 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. Allman was ordered in summer 2025 to pay her $6,500 per month. King alleged that she hasn't received spousal support since Nov. 2025. - NME/Music-News.com, 4/18/26...... 
In an interview with the New York Times published on Apr. 18, Jesus Christ Superstar composer Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed that he's a recovering alcoholic and started a current journey to sobriety more than a year ago. Lloyd Weber, 78 and an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner) member, says checking into a rehab clinic "didn't work," but joining AA meetings is something he's "adored." "Sixteen months ago I decided that I needed help and it's the best thing that ever happened to me," Weber told the paper. Though he'd previously talked about quitting drinking in 2015 and 2016, while producing "School of Rock" on Broadway, Lloyd Webber says he'd started to drink again. The composer, whose "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" is presently on Broadway, says he began "getting into a downhill spiral and about 18 months ago the family were in a desperate state, and added, "My wife was feeling she couldn't go on." "When you're a wine drinker, you don't think of yourself as well, alcoholics drink spirits," he said. "That was the shocking thing for me, when I realized that I was drinking vodka to hide it." "I'm lucky that nothing did go very wrong. I haven't had some frightful accident. But then you begin to think of the near misses," he admitted. "I thought that I was getting away with it. The thing is, I am deeply sorry and I can only apologize to people if I made a mess." On attending AA meetings, which he now attends daily, he shared, "What I love about it is you go into a room and everybody's equal. I've made friends that I wouldn't have thought possible." Lloyd Weber added he's currently working on two new musicals -- one that's based on the 2006 film The Illusionist and the other based on the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. - Billboard, 4/18/26...... Nearly 40 years after its release, Fleetwood Mac has charted its first hit on the Billboard Global 200, which charts the most popular songs around the world, with "Everywhere." The melodic nugget, from the band's 1987 album Tango in the Night, entered the Billboard Global 200 dated Apr. 18 at No. 188 led by 9.6 million streams worldwide April 3-9, according to Luminate. Boosting its profile in recent years, it has soundtracked ads for Chevrolet and PayPal (the latter featuring comic actor Will Ferrell giving his all to hit its high notes). Over on the Adult Contemporary chart, "Everywhere" became the Mac's second of three No. 1s, directly following the set's "Little Lies." Since the Global 200 launched in September 2020, FM has now charted four songs on the survey, first reaching No. 10 that October with the revived "Dreams," which brought the band to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1977. The song ranks at No. 40 on the latest Global 200 with 19.2 million streams worldwide. Two other '70s songs prominent in the group's catalog have hit new Global 200 highs this year: "Landslide" reached No. 123 in January and "The Chain" climbs to a new No. 102 best on the latest ranking. Artists who have covered "Everywhere" include The Corrs, Niall Horan and Anne-Marie, Chaka Khan, Lissie and Hayley Sabella. - Billboard, 4/16/26...... The UK charity Centrepoint has cut ties with Sharon Osbourne after the Ozzy Osbourne widow and TV personality announced she was planning to attend a so-called "Unite the Kingdom" rally in London's Trafalgar Square organized by controversial right-wing British political figure Tommy Robinson in May. Centrepoint, which provides accommodation and support to homeless people aged 16-25, has now distanced itself from Osbourne as a celebrity ambassador. In a statement, the charity said: "This sort of event does not align with our values," per the Guardian. It added: "Centrepoint has a proud history of supporting young people whatever their background, ethnicity or religion. If we want young people to thrive in this country then we need to ensure our society continues to allow them to live without fear and able to access the opportunities they need to start education or work and leave homelessness behind." The charity also expressed its gratitude to Osbourne for supporting its Omaze campaign, which raised money by selling entries for a sweepstakes-style draw to win a 5million home overlooking Lake Windermere, along with 250,000 in cash. "While Sharon supported us on this campaign, for which she was referred to as an ambassador as is standard for Omaze prize draws, she is not an official ongoing ambassador of Centrepoint and we have no plans to work together in the future," it said. Robinson, who has been eager to gain endorsement from celebrities, has celebrated Osbourne's support for the upcoming rally. The previous "Unite The Kingdom" march, meanwhile, took place last September, drawing over 100,000 members of the public, with speeches from Robinson and Elon Musk among others. At least 25 people were arrested and 26 police officers were injured at the event. - NME, 4/18/26...... 
Pink Floyd have joined forces with fashion house FC Internazionale Milano and Sony Music Italy to launch a new fashion collection, celebrating 50 years of its Wish You Were Here album. A new range of exclusive products have been launched, including an anthem jacket which will be worn by players during the pre-match of Inter vs. Cagliari, and a bundle with a t-shirt and vinyl. There is also a new PFFC Collection arriving, which is a capsule inspired by the football team founded by the band in the '70s. Members David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright, alongside various friends and members of the crew, put together the team when they would arrange football matches during breaks in their busy touring schedule. It also comes with the distinctive lettering seen in the original photo and a 50th anniversary logo of 'Wish You Were Here' on the back, which has been especially adapted for the Club. Aside from jerseys and shirts, there are also scarves, tote bags, guitar picks, and drumsticks available in the collection. Other new products from the Inter Milan and Pink Floyd collab include a limited edition Anthem Jacket, which the Nerazzurri will wear during the pre-match of Inter vs. Cagliari on Apr. 17, and a special bundle consisting of an original T-shirt and an Exclusive Blue Vinyl. The jacket is limited to 400 numbered pieces, and the bundle will be limited to 1908 copies. All products are available now on the official Inter online store, and at Inter Stores Milano, Castello, and San Siro. The bundle is on sale from Apr. 30 via the Sony Music Italy store. The announcement of the new fashion collaboration comes as the band dropped a 50th anniversary release of Wish You Were Here, which went on to become a Top 10 charting album across the world. A promotional video for the fashion line can be viewed on YouTube. Meanwhile, "Herman the Pig," the large-scale inflatable stage prop used during Roger Waters' 1990 The Wall - Live in Berlin performance by Pink Floyd, is among the standout items going up for an online sale conducted by Propstore, one of the world's leading entertainment memorabilia auction houses, in the UK on Apr. 30. The sale will feature over 400 lots of rare and sought-after music memorabilia from some of the world's most celebrated artists, with a combined estimated value of $2 million, led by a significant group of items from Pink Floyd spanning the band's early formation through to its large-scale live productions. The full catalog can be viewed at Propstoreauction.com. - NME/Music-News.com, 4/15/26...... Billboard has confirmed that Paul McCartney's upcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane will include a new collaboration with Ringo Starr called "Home To Us." The track has been labelled as reminiscent of the classic Beatles sound, and it sees the two trading vocals line-by-line, while Starr also contributes drums to the track. The song reportedly also includes contributions from Chrissie Hynde and Sharleen Spiteri, but as McCartney has explained, Ringo's involvement came together late in the process. "I saw Ringo and said I worked with this guy Andrew [Watt, producer]," he said. "Ringo came over to Andrew's studio and played a little bit of drums." From there, there was a series of misunderstandings, with Starr being a "bit pissed" with Watt when he was led to believe that his contribution was not enough, but McCartney was inspired to finish the song, focusing it on their childhoods in Liverpool. Sir Paul's new album is described as having him "in a candid, vulnerable and deeply reflective mood, writing with rare openness about his childhood in post-war Liverpool, the resilience of his parents, and early adventures shared with George Harrison an dJohn Lennon long before the world had ever heard of Beatlemania." The first taste of the record arrived in March the form of the tender single "Days We Left Behind," which takes McCartney back to the days of "smoky bars and cheap guitar" and was shared on on YouTube. - Billboard/NME, 4/17/26...... Prince's former drummer Charles "Chazz" Smith has revealed that the late iconic funk-rocker loved showing off his room full of fan mail after he shot to fame in the early 1980's. As part of a series of interviews to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his shock passing, Smith told the Guardian: "When he got famous he was flabbergasted that girls would drive all the way from places like Detroit to park outside his house, but he couldn't wait to show me his room full of fan mail. I'm really happy with what he was able to accomplish, but I'm also sad because if he'd had a regular life he may still be here today. What if he didn't have to take the whole world on from day one, or fight the record industry for the freedom to be himself?" Chazz added about the pain in Prince's life: "From the 18-hour recording sessions to the dancing, he pushed himself to the absolute limit and I don't think you ever get over losing a child (Amiir Nelson, who Prince had with his first wife Mayte Garcia, who died from Pfeiffer syndrome type 2 at six days old.) "He had a lot on his shoulders for a very long time. People are gonna talk about the great things he did for a very long time, but there was a lot of heartbreak." Prince passed away on Apr. 21, 2016, aged 57, when he was found unresponsive in an elevator at his sprawling Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minn. His death was later ruled an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. - Music-News.com, 4/16/26...... 
'70s artists Van Morrison and Chaka Khan were among the major winners at the Jazz FM Awards 2026 with PPL and PRS for Music on Apr. 16, as leading figures from across jazz, soul and blues gathered at KOKO in London for one of the leading events in the international jazz calendar. Hosted by Doc Brown, the ceremony celebrated artists shaping the future of jazz alongside the icons whose influence continues to define the genre. Legendary singer-songwriter Morrison was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Jools Holland, recognizing his extraordinary contribution to music across more than six decades. Global icon Chaka Khan received the Impact Award, presented by Sarah Jane Morris, while rising Mercury Prize-winning London group Ezra Collective were presented with a brand-new award for Outstanding Contribution to UK Jazz by Courtney Pine. The ceremony also featured a series of standout live performances celebrating the breadth of contemporary jazz and soul. Sir Van Morrison delivered a special performance of "Snatch It Back and Hold It" backed by the Van Morrison Alumni Band, while British soul legend Omar, visionary multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray, and acclaimed vocalist Yazmin Lacey also performed on the night. Since its inception in 2013, the Jazz FM Awards have become one of the leading events in the international jazz calendar, celebrating artists across jazz, soul and blues while recognizing both emerging talent and globally established icons shaping the future of the genre. Sir Van recently told the London Times that his dad, an electrician at the Harland Wolff shipyard, played jazz records "day in and day out," exposing him to a sound that would underpin his blend of soul, blues and folk. Asked whether he would be performing today if it was not for his father's record collection: "Probably not. That was a huge influence. I was hearing jazz when I was a very young kid. My father played jazz records day in and day out. Skiffle came out of jazz, blues came out of jazz, so it was interconnected." - Music-News.com, 4/17/26...... Barbra Streisand has expressed her delight over seeing a traffic sign with one of her iconic taglines installed in New York City. Earlier in 2026, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal announced that a sign with the words "Hello, gorgeous!" would be mounted near the Brooklyn Bridge. Taking to Instagram on Apr. 16, Babs gushed over the sign, which is a reference to the first line she utters as Fanny Brice in the 1968 feature, Funny Girl. "You're looking at the new sign that will greet people as they enter Manhattan from Brooklyn," she wrote in the caption. "NYC is where I found my voice. It gave me a chance, a stage, and a lifetime of inspiration. There's nowhere else like it! Welcome to the Big Apple!" The 83-year-old, who won an Oscar for her performance in the film, went on to note that "Hello, gorgeous!" continues to have a lot of "meaning" to her. "As a teenager, I still remember that milelong ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan. It felt like a magical journey. Leading not just into the city but into my future, a place where dreams could come true. Welcome to the city that never sleeps, Manhattan. And may all your dreams come true," she declared in a voiceover. - Music-News.com, 4/16/26...... Actress Joy Harmon, best known for a provocative short scene in the 1967 classic rural prison farm film Cool Hand Luke, died at home in Los Angeles on Apr. 14 after being ill with pneumonia for weeks. She was 87. Ms. Harmon's short and wordless performance in Cool Hand Luke mesmerised characters in the film and audiences alike, in a three-minute car-washing scene rife with sexual innuendo. In the scene, the voluptuous Ms. Harmon washes a car and squeezes soap from a sponge on her body, drawing the attention and remarks of prisoners who watch as they dig a ditch. Although officially credited as The Girl, her character was called "Lucille" by one of the prisoners distracted by her car washing. It became the best known moment of her career, which spanned 32 credited appearances in movies and TV from the 1950s to the early 1970s, according to IMDB. "I was just washing a car to the best of my ability and having fun with it, with the sponge and everything," Ms. Harmon told Entertainment Weekly in 2017. "My concept of the [scene] was not like what came out. I was not aware that there were two meanings to things that I was doing, and I'm still not really that much aware of what they all were." Ms. Harmon started in the entertainment business as a child model and pageant queen and worked her way up through appearances on comedy and quiz shows. Most of her movie roles were through the 1960s and she also appeared in series including Bewitched, Batman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, The Beverley Hillbillies, The Odd Couple and The Monkees. After acting, she worked at Disney Studios and in 2003 she opened a bakery in Los Angeles but still got fan mail sent to her every week. She is survived by three children and nine grandchildren. - BBC.com, 4/16/22...... 
Country music songwriter Don Schlitz, the Grammy-winning composer of some of country's most enduring songs including "The Gambler" and "Forever and Ever, Amen," died on Apr. 16 in a Nashville hospital following a sudden illness. He was 73. Schlitz achieved greatness with his first recorded song, "The Gambler," which he wrote at the age of 23. It went on to win the Grammy for best country song in 1979, and made its performer Kenny Rogers one of the top stars in the country genre. "The Gambler," the lead track on Rogers' 1978 No. 1 country and No. 12 pop album of the same name, is a timeless tale of a card shark with sharp wits, and a reporter remarked that it would be the first line of his obituary when he informed him that it had been nominated for a CMA song of the year award (it also won that award). Born and raised in Durham, N.C., Schlitz briefly attended Duke University before moving to Nashville at age 20. According to legend he caught the bus to Music Row with just $80 in his pocket, and he knew how to play his cards right. But he was no one-hit wonder. He also crafted hits for Randy Travis, The Judds, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Keith Whitley and Alison Krauss, his creations including "On the Other Hand," "Forever and Ever, Amen," "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," "The Greatest," and "When You Say Nothing At All." All "are touchstones and inspirations that continue to influence songwriters and singers decades after they were written," reads a statement from the Grand Ole Opry, which in 2022 inducted Schlitz as a member. "His words and music have articulated the extraordinary emotions inherent in common experience." He was named ASCAP country songwriter of the year for four consecutive years, from 1988-91, and his collection includes a hattrick of CMA song of the year awards and a pair of CMA song of the year awards. He won a second Grammy in 1988, also in the category for best country song, with "Forever And Ever, Amen." Induction into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame came in 1993. Then, in 2012, Schlitz was elevated into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Rogers was on hand that night to salute Schlitz. "Don doesn't just write songs," the late superstar country/pop crossover singer remarked, "he writes careers." Later, he was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Schlitz's Grand Ole Opry nod saw him become the only non-artist songwriter inducted into the show in its 100-year history. The prolific music man also wrote the music and lyrics for the 1999 Broadway musical "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." On Apr. 18, the Grand Ole Opry dedicated its Apr. 18 show in Schlitz' honor. He is survived by his wife, Stacey; his daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon; his son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz; his grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla, and Lilah; his brother Brad Schlitz; and his sister Kathy Hinkley. - Billboard, 4/17/26.
KISS' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have revealed the launch date for the band's long awaited Las Vegas avatar show, and will apparently include "new songs." After KISS played the final show on their farewall tour in Dec. 2023, they announced that their "new era" would involve live shows where they would be replaced by their digital avatars. The holograms also debuted at that gig, where they performed 'God Gave Rock And Roll To You' after the real band left the stage at Madison Square Garden. Simmons later said that the avatars would "get better" after a less-than-enthusiastic public response, and he said that "about 200 million" dollars was being invested in the technology. Now, in an interview with Pollstar magazine, Simmons and Stanley have said the show is tentatively scheduled to launch in Las Vegas in 2028. Production on the shows will be overseen by Pophouse Entertainment, the company behind ABBA's acclaimed "Voyage" show, and it will be Pophouse's first US-based show. "It's going to be the iconic face personas, the Demon, the Starchild and so on. Who you want to place into that line-up is up to you," Simmons told the outlet. Responding to a question about what songs will be included, Stanley said it will "have all the classics through the years and some surprises," while Simmons added that "you're gonna get all that stuff, and also new songs" which have been "written by us." In Nov. 2024, Stanley said the show would be like "Cirque Du Soleil meets Star Wars and a KISS concert," claiming the avatars will look "identical" to them. - New Musical Express, 4/14/26...... In related news, ABBA have reached the "incredible milestone" of 4 million visitors to their "Voyage" live show. The groundbreaking concert residency sees digital CGI versions of the four members of ABBA performing in the purpose-built ABBA Arena in East London, and since launching in 2022, four million people have been in attendance. "Voyage" passed the one million visitor mark in Apr. 2023, and as of the second weekend in Apr. 2026, it will have quadrupled that number. "Reaching four million visitors is an incredible milestone for ABBA Voyage, and a testament to the fans who have travelled from across the world to be part of this experience," ABBA said in a statement. "From those visiting for the first time to the many who return again and again, it's their energy and passion that bring the concert to life every night. To see audiences continue to embrace the concert and the joy of our music is truly special, and it's been incredible to watch the concert become a global phenomenon," they add. In the four years since it launched, ABBA "Voyage" has staged 1,415 concerts with audiences collectively spending more than 141,500 hours at the show. "Dancing Queen"' alone has played for 4,800 minutes. In 2023, ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus told New Musical Express that "We hope to stay in this venue for as long as we can. We hope they'll have us for many years, and we might build other replicas of this in other places: Asia, Australia, North America. There are lots and promoters and cities that we're talking to at the moment about that. Each one would take at least two years to build, but there will be announcements towards the end of this year or the beginning of next about where we actually are going. That's if we're going somewhere, which we will." - NME, 4/11/26...... 
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame unveiled its Class of 2026 inductees on the Apr. 13 episode of American Idol, with host Ryan Seacrest and RRHOF member Lionel Richie announcing the eight artists who made the cut out of a total of 17 who were nominated in late February. Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and hip-hop pioneers Wu-Tang Clan were inducted into the Performers category, with the Early Influence Award going to Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz; Afrobeat architect Fela Kuti; hip-hop boundary-breaker Queen Latifah; rap pioneer MC Lyte; and country rock godfather Gram Parsons. Musical Excellence Awards were given to Philly soul songwriter Linda Creed ("The Greatest Love of All"); producer Arif Mardin (The Bee Gees, Bette Midler); producer/musician Jimmy Miller (The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood); and producer Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Tom Petty). Finally, Ed Sullivan --whose groundbreaking variety show The Ed Sullivan Show introduced Americans to live performances from Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Jackson 5 and more -- receives the Ahmet Ertegun Award. Eight of the marquee names in the Class of 2026 are being inducted posthumously: Luther Vandross (died in 2005), Celia Cruz (2003), Fela Kuti (1997), Gram Parsons (1973), Linda Creed (1986), Arif Mardin (2006), Jimmy Miller (1994) and Ed Sullivan (1974). The nine acts on the 2026 ballot who didn't make it in this year include The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, New Edition, P!NK and Shakira. One of the main takeaways of this year's Rock Hall class is that the 1980s are "the new '60s & '70s," with no primarily '60s or '70s acts inducted this year (unless you count the Joy Division half of Joy Division/New Order, which released one of its two studio LPs in 1979) or even nominated. The 2026 Rock Hall induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, to be aired on ABC and Disney+ the following month. - Billboard, 4/13/26...... Paul McCartney has extended his history on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart with his new single "Days We Left Behind," which he shared on YouTube on Mar. 26. The song, from McCartney's forthcoming studio LP The Boys of Dungeon Lane, bowed at No. 22 on the A/C list dated Apr. 18, Sir Paul's highest A/C debut since 1978, when "With a Little Luck," with Wings, entered at No. 21. He last appeared on A/C with "Come On to Me," which hit No. 10 in Oct. 2018, becoming his 19th top 10 as a soloist. "Days We Left Behind" is also drawing early play at adult alternative radio, debuing at No. 7 on the Rock Digital Songs chart dated Apr. 11. "This is very much a memory song for me," McCartney, 83, shared in a statement announcing the new album, which drops on May 29 via MPL/Capitol Records. "The album title, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, comes from a lyric in this track. I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind, and I do often wonder if I'm just writing about the past, but then I think, 'How can you write about anything else?'," he said in a statement. - Billboard, 4/10/26...... Smokey Robinson has lost his bid to put an end to the claims brought by two of the five Jane Does accusing him of sexual assault. The Motown legend had asked a Los Angeles County judge to dismiss the claims as being too old to pursue because the to women stopped working for the Robinsons in 2020 and 2011. The singer maintained that California's "revival window" which has allowed women to resurrect historical assault claims did not extend to their separate allegations of a hostile work environment and unpaid wages. He also argued that the women had failed to show how they were prevented from filing those labour claims within the three-year statute of limitations. However the women's lawyer argued that "there was systematic sexual coercion, and that would have thwarted any reasonable investigation into wage rights... The plaintiffs have clearly stated that there was a systematic coercion for them to live under a code of silence." The judge ultimately sided with the women. In a $50 million lawsuit filed in May 2025, the first four Jane Does alleged they were sexually assaulted or raped repeatedly while working for Robinson and his wife, Frances, at their homes in the San Fernando Valley and Las Vegas. The Robinsons have denied the allegations and counter-sued the women for defamation and elder abuse. - Music-News.com, 4/14/26...... 
As Record Store Day approaches in the UK and US on Apr. 18, avid former Led Zeppelin frontman and avid record collector Robert Plant has been named as this year's Record Store Legend. "Record stores have always been a part of my life. For me, once you get to the physical record it's because you really want to know and be a part of what the artist was considering," Plant said during a recent visit to Cardiff, UK's Spillers Records. "And I know, as a guy who's been making records since 1966, people want to take home something very special, to enjoy all the elements of what an artist has put together. We want a connection between the music and the art of the whole thing," he added in the appearance, which has been shared on Instagram. The 19th installment of RSD, a celebration of independent record shops and vinyl culture in the UK involving more than 300 stores around the country, will take place on Apr. 18. Previous recipients of Record Store Legend include Elton John and Johnny Marr, while Plant himself is part of RSD 2026 as his EP "Saving Grace: All That Glitters" will be released for the occasion. This year's Record Store Day arrives with vinyl sales at their highest level in 20 years. The UK's Digital Entertainment and Retail Association report that the market for vinyl records grew by 18.6%, in value terms with over 7.5 million discs sold last year, generating 238 million. In the US, the Recording Industry Association of America released numbers in March showing vinyl sales surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2025. Other notable RSD 2026 releases include Bruce Springsteen - Live From Asbury Park 2024 and a Just Tell Me You Love Me various artists' tribute to Fleetwood Mac. - NME, 4/11/26...... After a teaser video of The Rolling Stones' new vinyl-only single as The Cockroaches, titled "Rough & Twisted," was uploaded to Instagram recently, a full rip of the tune has been shared online after the single was released as a vinyl-only "white label" record on Apr. 11. The physical edition was limited to just 1,000 numbered copies at independent record shops worldwide, and has since sold out. In the comments section on TikTok, one fan described the song as "early '70s Stones" with "today's production and engineering," with another fan writing: "This is so killer, holy shit." On Instagram, another person hailed the track's "big blues(rock) sound." "Yeah, why don't you drive me/ Down that rough and twisted road?/ Why don't you guide me/ 'Cause I don't know which way to go?," Jagger sings over distorted guitar in the first verse. The frontman later adds: "Yeah, all you feed me was just rancid rice and bones/ All I drank was muddy water/ As lonely as a saxophone/ Why don't you take me/ To where I wanna go? To Natchez, Mississippi, Sicily and Rome." The single serves as the first taste of Stones' as-yet-untitled new album, which is slated for release in July, and will be the band's first full-length effort since 2023's Grammy-winning Hackney Diamonds. - NME, 4/14/26...... 
'70s punk icon Iggy Pop broke out several classic tracks at the Coachella 2026 festival in California on Apr. 12, and ended his set by being wheeled away in a coffin. Iggy made his latest appearance at the iconic music fest after having played there solo for the first time in 2001, before reuniting with his band The Stooges for the first time in three decades back in 2003. Pop opened his show with back-to-back renditions of "T.V. Eye," "Raw Power," "I Got A Right" and "Gimme Danger," before heading into two solo fan favorites: "The Passenger" and "Lust For Life." Other hits in the 14-song setlist included the classics "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "Search And Destroy," and he introduced the song "1970" by making a nod to his age. "It's not easy being alive now. It's not easy to be old... it's not easy to be young," the rocker, who is set to turn 79 on Apr. 21 said, introducing the song. "It wasn't easy then." As well as working through his biggest hits from over the past few decades, the punk godfather also ended his show with a bang too -- getting into a black, red fur-lined coffin, and playfully crossing his arms over his chest and sticks his tongue out. The lid was then closed over him, and he was wheeled off the stage that way, with his arm sticking out the side and waving to the crowd along the way. That theatrical exit from the stage is the same way he ended his sets during his UK tour in 2025. After the performance, multiple viewers took to social media to celebrate the energy and charisma Pop is capable of displaying, even well into his 70s. "It's incredible and impressive that at 78-years-old he still dominates the stage like few others: raw, electric, and absolutely hypnotic. The father of punk in his most alive form," one fan wrote. "It is amazing that Iggy Pop can do what he's doing at nearly 80 years old, but if he wore a shirt no one would mind," one person quipped, while anther responded: "He was born shirtless and he'll die shirtless." Fan shot footage of the performance can be viewed on X/Twitter. - NME, 4/13/26...... After a bench warrant was issued for a 55-year-old LA woman who allegedly stalked and threatened former Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham for years before physically attacking the singer/guitarist in March, the woman has been arrested in Indiana. Los Angeles prosecutors have charged 55-year-old Michelle Dick with seven criminal counts after she allegedly hurled an unidentified substance at Buckingham in Santa Monica on Mar. 25. The felony complaint, filed on Apr. 6, alleges Dick stalked Buckingham between 2021 and Mar. 25 this year. The charges include making criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon involving a motor vehicle, and vandalizing Buckingham's car. Prosecutors claim the woman also stalked a second victim, identified as "Stephanie N.", placing her in reasonable fear for her safety. Buckingham's former bandmate Stevie Nicks' full name is Stephanie Lynn Nicks, but it has not been confirmed that she is the second victim. Buckingham sought a restraining order against Dick in Nov. 2024, alleging years of harassment. A judge granted the restraining order in Dec. 2024, requiring her to stay away from Buckingham, his wife, Kristen, and their son for five years. She was also ordered to keep her distance from their homes and vehicles. Buckingham told the court that Dick allegedly parked her car outside one of the homes he shares with his wife in 2024. "She began rambling about me being her father and suffocating her as a child," Buckingham wrote. He shared that subsequent threats on Instagram were directed at his wife. "This incident terrified my wife as she feared for her safety. Given that Ms Dick also knows my home address, I am terrified as well," he wrote. - Music-News.com, 4/14/26..... 
Roger Waters is on the lookout for a new singer to front his son's Pink Floyd tribute group Brit Floyd - after firing him from his touring solo band. Harry Waters previously played keyboards for his father on the road for 14 years. However, Harry revealed in 2023 that his dad had let him know that his services would no longer be required. "I was fired, it was pretty miserable," he said at the time, adding that his dad "wanted a change of blood, something new, something fresh." Harry then went on to join tribute act Brit Floyd, alongside one of Pink Floyd's former background singers, Durga McBroom, and their ex-saxophonist, Scott Page. Now, Roger has put out an "open invitation" on Instagram for a singer to join a brand-new tour scheduled for next year, "Roger Waters Presents LEGACY - A Pink Floyd Show Performed By The Harry Waters Band." The announcement for the upcoming dates is accompanied by the tagline: "The father's legacy, the son's band." In a statement, Roger wrote: "My son Harry Waters has put a great band and show together to go on the road next year to pay tribute to the music from the golden era of Pink Floyd, and maybe a couple of songs from my subsequent solo career. Harry's band is missing one thing: The voice I had when I was young [from] 'Comfortably Numb', to the high-pitched scream of 'You know how I need you to beat to a pulp on a Saturday night' from 'Don't Leave Me Now'. Can you do that? Are you that missing voice? If you are, this is your chance. This is an open invitation to audition for Harry's band. I'm serious." Those who wish to apply for the role can do so via an online form before Apr. 30. "Please be sure to submit a Pink Floyd song, with Roger on lead," the form reads. It also mentions the band's "tentative tour plans," stating that it will kick off next February and run for 20 weeks. - NME, 4/10/26...... Jermaine Jackson, the brother of Michael Jackson, shocked fans with a rare public appearance at the LA world premiere of the new MJ biopic Michael on Apr. 11. Jermaine, 71, first rose to fame as a founding member of the Jackson 5 alongside brothers Michael, Jackie, Tito and Marlon Jackson. Known for his smooth vocals and bass guitar skills, Jermaine contributed to hits like "I Want You Back" and "ABC," which helped cement the group's place in music history. After the Jackson 5 transitioned to The Jacksons in the mid-1970s, Jermaine briefly stayed with Motown to pursue a solo career, scoring R&B hits like "Daddy's Home" and "Let's Get Serious." He eventually rejoined his brothers and continued to perform with them through the 1980s, including during the legendary Victory Tour. In recent years, he has appeared less frequently in the public eye, focusing on family and occasional musical projects. Michael will officially open in the US on Apr. 24 and in the UK on Apr. 24. - JLAForums.com, 4/12/26...... Canadian thespian Richard Donat, known for being the voice of Deej on the 1980s Star Wars spin-off TV show Ewoks, has died at the age of 84. Among his most famous roles was the Stephen King character Vince Teagues on the Syfy show Haven, which was set in Mr. Donat's native Nova Scotia. He was also a fixture on CBC radio in "Canada at Christmastime," when he could be heard reading the Robert Louis Stevenson poem "Christmas at Sea." Mr. Donat's longtime wife Maggie Thomas and their sons Owen and Morgan were at his side when he died on Mar. 28, according to the funeral home's announcement. He purportedly suffered from illnesses in the last two years of his life and was treated at a hospital on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, where he has lived since 1989. Mr. Donat hailed from a showbiz family as the nephew of Oscar-winning English actor Robert Donat (Goodbye, Mr. Chips) and the brother of Peter Donat, known for his stints on the 1980s prime-time soap Flamingo Road and in the 1990s on The X-Files. The 1970s and 1980s also saw Richard land work in a number of Canadian films, such as the horror picture Death Weekend starring Brenda Vaccaro and the oil crisis satire Gas led by a young Howie Mandel. - DailyMail.com, 4/14/26...... 
Children's programming legend and beloved puppeteer Sid Krofft, who alongside his brother Marty created popular '70s children's TV shows like Land of the Lost and H.R. Pufnstuf, died on Apr. 10 of natural causes at the home of his friend and business partner, Kelly Killian. He was 96. "Sid Krofft was an icon who did what he loved most until the very end - being out in public with his legions of fans," his publicist Adam Fenton said in a statement. "Sid never slowed down, attending his final show where it all began just last November in his home state of Rhode Island. Sid was a beacon of light and will be greatly missed," he added. Born in Montreal, Quebec, and raised in Rhode Island, Mr. Krofft worked as a puppeteer in vaudeville and Ringling Bros. circus before he and his brother Marty Krofft (who died in 2023 at age 86) set their sights on television. After a stint working for Hanna-Barbera's The Banana Splits, the brothers created and produced H.R. Pufnstuf in 1969, a children's TV series featuring puppets that was very attuned with the psychedelia of the era. Though the show was short-lived, lasting only one season of 17 episodes, H.R. Pufnstuf would later become a cult series and became a launchpad for similar Krofft productions. In the 1970s, the Kroffts produced The Bugaloos, Lidsville, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, and Land of the Lost, with the latter series -- about a time-warped family sent back to an era of stop-motion dinosaurs -- adapted into a Will Ferrell-starring big screen film in 2009. Sid and Marty also headlined their own Krofft Supershow in the mid-1970s, while their puppeteering featured on variety shows ranging from The Brady Bunch Hour and Raquel Welch's Really Raquel to Richard Pryor's Pryor's Place and Donny & Marie. The Kroffts would later receive a Lifetime Achievement award from the Daytime Emmys as well as a joint star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Marty, who was eight years younger than Sid, died in 2023 at age 86. The Brady Bunch star Maureen McCormick took to Instagram to mourn her friend and mentor upon learning of his death. "Rest in peace Sid Krofft" she captioned the update. "Thank you for the sweetest memories." In the featured image, the actress and two of her Brady Bunch costars posed with Mr. Krofft and others at his and Marty's Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in 2020. - au.rollingstone.com/TVInsider.com, 4/12/26.
Rush fans across the word received good news on Feb. 23 as founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced on 
Longtime Journey fans were predictably excited when the band co-founder keyboardist Jonathan Cain hinted that he and bandmate guitarist Neal Schon had asked original singer Steve Perry to rejoin the group for their 60-show "Final Frontier" goodbye North American tour. "Neal already asked," Cain told UltimateClassicRock.com earlier in February, "and he [Perry] says he's thinking about it. I hope he comes out. It's never too late. We've got 100 shows, so he's welcome at any one of them." However their hopes were dashed when Perry definitively shut the door on a final tour with his old mates in an 
The estate of "Shaft" icon Isaac Hayes has reached a private settlement with Donald Trump after suing the president and his campaign. The case was launched over the unauthorized use of the 1966 soul classic "Hold On, I'm Comin'," co-penned by Hayes and R&B duo Sam & Dave who made the song famous, at Trump's campaign rallies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the estate had previously demanded $3 million (£2.22 million), Rolling Stone reports. In court filings, the estate accused Trump of personally selecting the song and playing it at least 133 times without permission. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, also alleged the campaign recorded and distributed videos containing the song despite objections from Hayes' heirs. "Donald Trump represents the worst in integrity and class with his disrespect and sexual abuse of women and racist rhetoric," the musician's son, Isaac Hayes III, wrote on social media in an X post that has since been deleted. On Feb. 23, the estate filed a voluntary dismissal in federal court. In a statement, representatives for the estate said the lawsuit had been "mutually resolved" and that the family was "satisfied with the outcome." "This resolution represents more than the conclusion of a legal matter," the statement read. Isaac Hayes died in 2008, and his estate is one of several artists who have taken action over unauthorized use of their music at Trump rallies, including The White Stripes, Eddy Grant, Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Tom Petty, Village People and Celine Dion. - Music-News.com, - 2/24/26...... In related news, just hours after Donald Trump White House communications director Steven Cheung referred to Bruce Springsteen as a "loser" in a pun-filled statement denigrating the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's announcement of an upcoming U.S. arena tour, Democratic Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin had his own spicy retort. Cheung, in a statement to Politico.com, said: "When this loser Springsteen comes back home to his own City of Ruins in his head, he'll realize his Glory Days are behind him and his fans have left him Out in the Street, putting him in a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out because he has a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain. Now Rep. Raskin, a frequent critic of the president, has responded, writing on 
"Boldly going" where even he hasn't gone before, legendary Star Trek actor William Shatner has announced he's planning a new Heavy Metal album featuring covers of the likes of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and others. In an 
Proclaiming "the cavalry is coming," Bruce Springsteen announced on Feb. 17 that he and his E Street Band will launch a 2026 "Land of Hope & Dreams Tour" in Minneapolis' Target Center on Mar. 31 for a 20-city run that will wrap in Washington, D.C. on May 27. "We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair -- the cavalry is coming!" said Springsteen in a 
Rare and high-quality footage of Led Zepplin performing in Amsterdam in the early '70s has surfaced online. The "Stairway To Heaven" rock icons played in the Dutch capital in May 1972, just six months after the release of their classic fourth album 
In the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast Rock & Roll High School, legendary guitarist/songwriter Richard Thompson joins two-time Grammy-winning producer Pete Ganbarg to chronicle a five-decade career that redefined British folk-rock. Thompson, a founding member of Fairport Convention, offers an intimate look at a legacy built on what he calls the delicate balance of "tradition and innovation." Reflecting on his formative years in London, Thompson recalls witnessing the birth of British rock at the Marquee Club, specifically the early residency of The Who. "It was quite extraordinary," Thompson says. "The Who in the early days were writing great short pop songs before it became bombastic, anthemic, stadium-sized -- it was really wonderful, tight, well-constructed music." Thompson's journey took a pivotal turn when he met producer Joe Boyd, a figure he credits with the survival of his creative circle. "I don't know what would have happened without Joe on the scene," Thompson explains. "I'm not sure anybody else had the ears to take someone like Nick Drake and allow him to express himself... He is so important to us." The episode dives deep into the highs and lows of the Fairport era, including the "deeply traumatic" van accident that claimed the lives of his drummer and girlfriend, as well as the origins of the anthem "Meet on the Ledge." Thompson notes with a sense of wonder that the song has now "become public property." A songwriter's songwriter, Thompson has seen his work covered by everyone from R.E.M. to Bonnie Raitt. However, one specific interpretation stands above the rest. "Tom Jones is the one that would absolutely knock my socks off," he says of the Welsh legend's cover of "Dimming Of The Day." "In terms of what a great guy, what a great singer -- and how flattering to have Tom do your song." From his iconic duo with Linda Thompson to his enduring solo career, Richard Thompson remains a master of his craft. Thompson will kick off a 5-date US tour at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on Mar. 26, then visit Solana Beach, Calif. (4/1), Santa Barbara, Calif. (4/5), Napa, Calif. (4/11) and Seattle (4/17). - Music-News.com, 2/13/26...... A video of John Travolta speaking about his private plane use has sparked outrage online, and this comes after a photo of Travolta's Florida mansion that some called "disgusting" showed a couple of his jets casually parked in the back. In a 
Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor of matchless versatility and dedication whose classic roles included the intrepid consigliere of the first two Godfather movies and the over-the-hill country music singer in Tender Mercies, died "peacefully" at his home in Middleburg, Va, on Feb. 15. He was 95. "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," his wife Luciana Duvall wrote on 
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the famed civil rights leader who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president, died peacefully surrounded by his family on the morning of Feb. 17. He was 84. Rev. Jackson was hospitalized for observation in Nov. 2025, and doctors said he'd been diagnosed with a degenerative condition called progressive supranuclear palsy. He revealed in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which affects the nervous system and slowly restricts movement and daily activities. Rev. Jackson called it a "physical challenge," but he refused to let it prevent him from continuing his civil rights advocacy. His father, Noah Lewis Robinson Sr., also had Parkinson's and died of the disease in 1997 at the age of 88. Long known for his activism and political influence, Rev. Jackson spent his life dedicated to pursuing civil rights for disenfranchised groups both in the United States and abroad. His "unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity," his family said. "A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless ... leaving an indelible mark on history," they added. As a young man, he became a member of Dr. King's circle and was with Dr. King when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. That same year, Rev. Jackson was ordained by the Rev. Clay Evans, though he had dropped out of Chicago Theological Seminary three credits shy of a degree in order to work in the civil rights movement with Dr. King. He was later awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 2000 from the seminary, based on his life's work and experience. Over the years, he received over 40 honorary doctorate degrees from top universities across the country, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based organization he led for decades. Rev. Jackson was born in Greenville, S.C., on Oct. 8, 1941. His mother, Helen Burns Struggs, was 16 and unmarried and gave him the name Jesse Burns. In his teenage years, his mother married Charles Jackson, and Rev. Jackson took his new stepfather's surname. In high school, Rev. Jackson was an honors student, according to Stanford's King Institute, which helped him win a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He studied there before transferring to the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1964. As the civil rights movement grew, Rev. Jackson became involved in local activism. In 1960, a push to desegregate a local public library led Rev. Jackson down the road to become a leader in student-led sit-ins. After his graduation, he left his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary to join Dr. King in Selma. There, he asked for a position with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group of religious leaders led by Dr. King that focused on nonviolent protests and demonstrations, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Rev. Jackson, with the support and trust of Dr. King, helped lead SCLC's Chicago chapter and spearheaded Operation Breadbasket, a community empowerment campaign. His age and ambition led to numerous fights with leadership, including several arguments with King himself, according to Stanford's King Institute. The pair reconciled in 1968 in Memphis as they gathered for another civil rights protest. In a now-famous photograph from that fateful time, Rev. Jackson stands to the right of Dr. King and fellow leaders Hosea Williams and Ralph Abernathy on the balcony of Memphis' Lorraine Motel. The next day, at almost the exact same spot, Dr. King was assassinated by a gunman. Following Dr. King's death, Rev. Jackson was unable to reconcile with the SCLC. Instead, he founded PUSH, a Chicago organization whose name stands for People United to Save Humanity. In 1984, he also founded The Rainbow Coalition, which focused on social justice through voter engagement and representation. The two organizations merged in 1996. The same ambition that chafed SCLC leaders also led Rev. Jackson to make a run for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in 1984 and 1988. He received 18% of the primary vote in 1984, placing third overall and winning several states. But his campaign was marred by controversy over an antisemitic remark he made about New York's Jewish community in a Washington Post story. Former Vice Pres. Walter Mondale ultimately went on to win the nomination and lose to Republican incumbent Pres. Ronald Reagan. Yet even without holding office, Rev. Jackson continued to stand as a major political figure, championing the release of foreign nationals held in Kuwait in the lead-up to the Gulf War, becoming a "shadow senator" to lobby for statehood for Washington, D.C., and working as a special envoy under Pres. Bill Clinton. In 2000, Pres. Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. He is survived by five children with his wife of more than 60 years, Jacqueline, another daughter, and countless figures who were inspired by his leadership. Public observances will be held in Chicago, according to his family. Final arrangements for celebration of life services, including all public events, will be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, they say. - CBS News, 2/17/26.