Ronnie Wood has revealed the new long-rumored Faces album has stalled because it's hard to make the Rolling Stones guitarist's schedule line up with his former Faces bandmate Rod Stewart's. Rumors of a Faces reunion, which would also include drummer Kenney Jones, have been swirling for years, and recently gained momentum in June when Wood joined Stewart during his "Legends Slot" appearance at the UK's Glastonbury 2025 for the Faces classic "Stay With Me." Earlier in 2025, Jones told The Telegraph newspaper that the band had recorded "about 11 tracks" at RAK Studios in London. However during a recent appearance on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Wood said, "We've got these songs that we're working on from back in the day, but it's hard to make our times tally... When we do get a chance to get in the studio again, we will finish off these songs. We've got a good body of songs going." In 2020, Wood, Stewart and Jones performed a live rendition of "Stay With Me" at that year's BRIT Awards. The following year, Wood spoke to The Times and said that his bandmates recently visited his new London home and that they "have been recording some new Faces music." Faces' founding keyboardist Ian McLagan died of a stroke back in 2014, and bassist Ronnie Lane passed away more than a decade earlier in 1997. Active from 1969-1975, the band recorded four studio albums after being formed from the ashes of the Small Faces. - New Musical Express, 10/12/25...... 
Posting on his Neil Young Archives site, Neil Young says he's pulling his music from Amazon.com because Amazon founder Jeff Bezos supports the Trump administration. "The time is here. FORGET AMAZON," Young posted under a header that includes the words, "BEZOS SUPPORTS THIS GOVERNMENT," a reference to Bezos. "Soon my music will not be there," Young continued. "It is easy to buy local. Support your community. Go to the local store. Don't go back to the big corporations who have sold out America." Young's post also included a larger call for people to discontinue shopping at Amazon and the upscale grocery chain Whole Foods, which the online retail giant acquired in 2017. The musician also seemed to call for a boycott of Facebook, writing "FORGET FACEBOOK" under a logo of the social media platform's parent company, Meta. In August, Young left Facebook after a Reuters report claimed Meta had allowed AI chatbots to communicate with minors using "romantic or sensual" language. "We all have to give up something to save America from the Corporate Control Age it is entering," Young continued. "They need you to buy from them. Don't." Finally, Young referenced the current shutdown of the U.S. government, writing, "They shut down our government your income your safety your family's health security. Take America Back together, stop buying from the big corporations support local business. Do the right thing. Show who you are." Young, who has been openly critical of Pres. Donald Trump over the years, released the song "Big Crime" with his band Chrome Hearts in September that railed against recent actions by the president -- who is never mentioned by name -- with lyrics like, "No more money to the fascists/ The billionaire fascists/ Time to blackout the system/ No more great again." An exact date when Young's music will be pulled from Amazon has yet to be announced. - Billboard, 10/10/25...... In related news, Blue Öyster Cult has addressed the use of Pres. Donald Trump's use of their 1976 hit "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" in an AI video mocking Democrats. In the clip, a rendering of Trump wearing a dark cloak hits a cowbell to the notorious beat of "Reaper," while a faux VP JD Vance plays the drumset. "Dems, you babies/ Here comes the reaper," reads onscreen text in place of the song's actual lyrics. "Gonna tie your hands Cry baby end your plan." Shortly after the video was posted, the group shared a statement on Instagram and its other socials. "Let's clarify a few things: BLUE ÖYSTER CULT was not contacted or notified in advance," the group wrote. Though the bandmates didn't explicitly say whether they personally approved of the song's inclusion, they did make sure to distance themselves from the video's creation. "The copyright in the song (Don't Fear) The Reaper is 100% owned by SONY MUSIC," their post continued. The rockers added, "BLUE ÖYSTER CULT has no legal right to either authorize or withhold usage, which is 100% controlled by SONY MUSIC." Trump's frequent use of AI has quickly become a hallmark of his social media strategy, posting countless pieces of AI-generated content to his social media, including doctored images falsely portraying Taylor Swift as one of his supporters in 2024. - Billboard, 10/7/25...... Queen has been named the UK's most played rock act of the 21st century according to a new PPL chart to celebrate the country's upcoming National Album Day 2025. The chart says the band have amassed over 400 million seconds of radio and TV airplay in the UK, the equivalent of 12.5 years of continuous play this century, with their most played track being "A Kind Of Magic." "Congratulations to Queen on this great accolade in such a significant anniversary year for their first Number One album ['A Night At The Opera']," PPL DEO Peter Leathem said in a statement. "It's a testament to their expansive and much-loved music catalogue that they continue to mean so much to UK audiences to this very day." Reacting to the accolade, guitarist Brian May said: "Astounding news! Bearing in mind that most of Queen's major works were done in the 20th century, it's amazing to top a 21st century list. Big thanks to all our fans." Queen are set to release a 50th anniversary vinyl reissue of A Night At The Opera which features their iconic hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" on National Album Day on Oct. 18. It will be given a release on crystal clear vinyl and gold labels worldwide. Other '70s acts making the top 10 include David Bowie (#2), Fleetwood Mac (#5), The Rolling Stones (#7), and The Police (#8). - NME, 10/8/25...... 
Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain is denying he's planning to leave the band, despite recent claims to that effect from the band's guitarist Neal Schon. On Oct. 9, Schon posted on X that Cain "announced his farewell to Journey tonight...[but] I'm nowhere near done! Journey has so much more life ahead! I'm sure we will have a great tour!" In response to Schon's comments, Cain's representatives released a statement on X, denying that he had given any confirmation that he is quitting the band: "We will be touring with Jon all through 26-27 celebrating the music we've created." Schon later clarified that Cain would still tour with the band for all dates in 2026 and 2027, although no tour dates have yet been announced. "Jonathan Cain remains an active member of Journey," the statement read. "And any reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate. He is fully dedicated to touring with the band over the next couple of years and has only expressed plans to retire at a later time." Earlier Cain did, however, suggest in a recent appearance on the Strang Report podcast that he has plans to leave Journey, describing a 2026 tour with the band as "our farewell Journey tour," adding: "So I'll be saying goodbye to that." Cain and Schon have been locked in a bitter public dispute for some time -- in 2024, Cain filed a lawsuit against Schon during the band's co-headline tour with Def Leppard, on grounds of frustrations over his "expenses related to the tour," including "budgeting and spending" of the band's credit card over personal expenses. Schon, who is the band's lead guitarist and sole original member, owns 50% of the band via entity Freedom 2020, with Cain owning the other half, making it a deadlock when it comes to company decisions. Cain is the second longest serving member of Journey, having joined it in 1980. - NME, 10/11/25...... Speaking of Def Leppard, the English hard rockers became the 2,824th entertainment act to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a ceremony in Los Angeles on Oct. 9. Officials from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce presented the band -- currently comprised of Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Savage, Vivian Campbell, and Rick Allen -- with the honor under the category of "Recording" in recognition of their contribution to the music industry. "Are we in good company or what?" Elliott declared. "So, from all of us up here, including (founding member) Pete Willis and the late great Steve Clark, we all say to each and every one of you, to our collective families, especially our parents who helped us get where we are now, just simply to our incredible, loving fan base out there, two words -- thank you." Also in attendance was Jon Bon Jovi, who noted his band and Def Leppard hit it off immediately after first hooking up in 1986. "Hanging out with Joe and the guys felt like hanging with my own band, but with a different accent," he quipped. - Music-News.com, 10/10/25...... 
Oscar-nominated Irish actress Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird, Little Women) has reportedly been cast as Linda McCartney in the upcoming Beatles "Four Film Cinematic Event" directed by Sam Mendes. Deadline.com is reporting that -- according to multiple sources -- Ronan will portray Paul McCartney's first wife in the upcoming series of biopics. Reps for distributors Sony Pictures are yet to make an official comment. Ronan, 31, has received four Oscar nominations across an illustrious career and appeared in addiction-recovery drama The Outrun in 2024. More recently, she led the dark comedy Bad Apples, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September. Ronan joins a cast that includes Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. With scripts written by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne, the films are expected to arrive in spring 2028, though official details currently remain scant. Linda Eastman and Paul met in 1967, and they were married until her death from cancer in 1998. She was a photographer, musician and animal rights activist who founded a vegetarian food company. She also performed alongside Paul as part of his post-Beatles band, Wings. - Billboard, 10/9/25...... KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was hospitalized after a car crash in Malibu, Calif., on Oct. 7. According to NBC4 Los Angeles the crash was reported to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department just before 1:00 p.m. PT when Simmons' Lincoln Navigator reportedly crashed into a parked car on Pacific Coast Highway. He told deputies on the scene that he had either fainted or passed out before the crash, according to the L.A. Sheriff. Simmons' wife, Shannon Tweed, told NBC4 that the rocker was recovering at home, while a rep for KISS told Billboard on Oct. 8 that Simmons is "already back to work." Also on Oct. 8, Simmons posted on his X account thanking everyone for "the kind wishes" and assuring, "I'm completely fine. I had a slight fender bender. It happens. Especially to those of us [who are] horrible drivers. And that's me. All is well." Meanwhile, in November KISS are slated to perform together for the first time since Dec. 2023, when they wrapped up their End of The Road Tour with a two-night stand at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The band also announced in March that they would reunite as part of the three-day KISS Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas event, which runs Nov. 14-16 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The event promises two makeup-free KISS Unmasked shows -- one acoustic and one electric -- plus activities with Simmons, founding frontman Paul Stanley and 2002-23 guitarist/vocalist Tommy Thayer. - Billboard, 10/8/25...... Dolly Parton is assuring fans that she's "OK" amid online rumors that had been spreading regarding the 79-year-old singer's health. "I don't think God is through with me and I ain't done workin'," the Country Music Hall of Famer said in a video on Instagram on Oct. 8. "Well, today's Oct. 8 and obviously I'm here doing some commercials for the Grand Ole Opry, which is why I'm dressed kinda like a country-western girl, but before I got started, I wanted to say, I know lately, everybody thinks that I am sicker than I am do I look sick to you?! I'm workin' hard here," she said in the video. "Anyway, I wanted to put everybody's mind at ease, those of you that seem to be real concerned, which I appreciate," she said, noting that she appreciated fans' prayers. Dolly went on to emphasize that that she's doing fine for now, though she does have some health issues to address. "I want you to know that I'm OK," she continued. "I've got some problems as I mentioned.... Nothin' major, but I did have to cancel some things so I could be closer to home, closer to Vanderbilt, where I'm kinda havin' a few treatments here and there." Rumors about Parton's health kicked into high gear on Oct. 7 after her sister Freida posted on social media, asking for people to pray for the singer. Freida soon followed up with a post apologizing for worrying fans and saying that Parton had simply been feeling "under the weather." - Billboard, 10/8/25...... Kraftwerk have added two UK shows to their 2026 "Multimedia" UK and Ireland tour due to "exceptional demand." In summer 2026, Kraftwerk will kick off the shows at Dublin's Bord Gais Energy Theatre on May 17, before heading to Belfast, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Glasgow, Stockton, Sheffield, Brighton, Bristol and Bournemouth. They will then play shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, before rounding off the tour with gigs in Liverpool, Nottingham and finally Edinburgh's Playhouse on June 9. Founder Ralf Hütter and Co. have now announced that two extra dates will be added -- a second performance at Manchester's O2 Apollo on May 23, and an evening show at London's Royal Albert Hall at 10:00 p.m. on June 5 (following a 6:00 p.m. show on the same day). The German electronic pioneers have already taken the tour through North America earlier in 2025, as well as playing a set at Coachella. Earlier in October, they announced dates for the UK and Ireland leg, their first tour in the region since 2017. While Kraftwerk have not toured the UK since 2017, they did appear at the Forever Now Festival in Milton Keynes in June. The band's "Multimedia Tour" began back in 2012 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. - NME, 10/11/25...... 
As Linda Ronstadt reissues a 50th-anniversary vinyl edition of her 1975 album Prisoner in Disguise, the retired iconic pop singer has written an accompanying letter looking back at the album that further cemented her reputation as a major '70s singing talent and supreme song interpreter. Ronstadt brought her powerhouse, supple vocals to the Peter Asher-produced album, whether it be on her tender version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" (the two later came together with Emmylou Harris for the revered group Trio), as well as a gorgeous interpretation of Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears" and spunky, upbeat take on Martha and the Vandellas' "Heat Wave," which reached No. 5 on the hit parade. In a letter obtained by Billboard, Ronstadt writes, "It's hard to believe that it's been [50] years since the initial release of my sixth solo album, Prisoner in Disguise. Thinking back over that half-century, there are several things that stand out in my memory." The letter serves almost as a time capsule of the history of Southern California rock and the incredible singer/songwriter community that she surrounded herself with in the '70s, whether it be Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who were in her band before leaving to found the Eagles, or upon first hearing the title track, written by J.D. Souther. Linda says she wanted to record Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears" because they are both sopranos, and he "has a beautiful, soprano-like voice and sings in my keys, so I could easily sing along with him on the radio." She also revealed she admonished her old bandmate Glenn Frey, an aggressive card player, to take it easy on Smokey during poker games "because I had a crush on [him] and I was afraid he wouldn't like me if he lost too much money to my guitar player." In addition to addressing the now legendary singer/songwriters who contributed tracks, including Neil Young, James Taylor, Jimmy Cliff and Lowell George, Ronstadt gives special credit to a source of support who was left out of the original liner notes -- a teddy bear named Alfred. "[That] was the name I gave to the three-foot teddy bear that Peter Asher installed in the vocal booth for me during the sessions for the project... I guess you could say that Alfred would qualify as a support animal, for he was certainly a great comfort to me. Sadly, his name did not make it into the original credits, but I'm taking this opportunity to correct that right now. Thank you, Alfred." The 180-gram, 45RPM two-LP Prisoner in Disguise vinyl set is available for order on the Mobile Fidelity Labs website and was mastered from the original analog master tapes. In 2021, Ronstadt, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2012, sold her recorded music assets to Irving Azoff's Iconic Music Group. The deal formed a partnership between Iconic and Ronstadt and her business team -- including manager John Boylan and Janet Stark -- to market her catalog and preserve her legacy in the digital era. - Billboard, 10/8/25...... Drummer Thommy Price, known for his work with Joan Jett and the Blackhawks and Billy Idol, died on Oct. 10 of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 68. Posting on Instagram, Price's wife Stefunny confirmed the death, calling him "a devoted husband and proud father and powerhouse drummer and songwriter." Price played with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts from 1987 until 2017 and Jett was among those to pay tribute to him on Instagram. "He was a drummer's drummer and admired by so many. Our hearts are heavy. Sending love to his beautiful family. We love you Thommy," the post reads. Also paying tribute on Instagram was Billy Idol. "Thommy was a fantastic musician and drummer who, in 1983, came in at the last minute and put his definitive stamp on my 'Rebel Yell' album," he wrote. "He helped us to bring it to an incredible finish and toured with us on the Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile tours." Price was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1956 and also played with Scandal, Mink DeVille and Love Crushed Velvet. He also played on studio records by a range of artists, including Roger Daltrey, The Waterboys, Blue Oyster Cult, The Psychedelic Furs, Ronnie Spector and Debbie Harry. He is survived by his wife Stefunny and daughter Brooklyn. - NME, 10/11/25...... Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning star of the 1977 Woody Allen comedy classic Annie Hall and 1972's acclaimed The Godfather, has died at the age of 79. No details about the cause of death have been provided. Keaton won an Oscar for her performance in the title role of Annie Hall and was nominated three more times, for Reds (1981), Marvin's Room (1996) and Something's Gotta Give (2003). Known as a master of both comedy and drama, Keaton landed an early role as Kay Adams-Corleone, the wife of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone, in Francis Ford Coppola's epic mafia classic The Godfather. The same year, she starred in Play It Again, Sam, opposite Allen, with whom she would make a total of eight feature films, including Manhattan, Sleeper and Love And Death. Born on Jan. 5, 1946 in Los Angeles, Keaton and studied drama at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, where she began performing on stage. She gained notice in the 1968 Broadway production of Hair and made her screen debut in 1970's Lovers And Other Strangers. After winning the Oscar for Annie Hall, she pivoted to more serious work, including playing the feminist and political activist Louise Bryant in Warren Beatty's Reds and a leukemia patient in Marvin's Room. The prolific actor continued to show off her comic talents, in titles such as The First Wives Club, Baby Boom, Father Of The Bride and Something's Gotta Give, and found success later in her career with Morning Glory, Book Club and Hampstead. Her directoral credits include the 1987 video for Belinda Carlisle's hit "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," the same year as her directorial debut film Heaven, a documentary about the afterlife, was released. She is survived by her adopted daughter Dexter and son Duke. - NME, 10/11/25...... 
The Moody Blues bassist/vocalist John Lodge died "suddenly and unexpectedly" on Oct. 10, according to a Facebook post by his family. He was 82. "It is with the deepest sadness that we have to announce that John Lodge, our darling husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law and brother, has been suddenly and unexpectedly taken from us," his family said. "As anyone who knew this massive-hearted man knows, it was his enduring love of his wife, Kirsten, and his family, that was the most important thing to him, followed by his passion for music, and his faith," they continued, nodding to his evangelical Christian beliefs. We will forever miss his love, smile, kindness, and his absolute and never-ending support. We are heartbroken, but will walk forwards into peace surrounded by the love he had for each of us. As John would always say at the end of the show, thank you for keeping the faith." His family continued: "He was never happier than being on stage. He was just a singer in a rock'n'roll band and he adored performing with his band and son-in-law, Jon, and being able to continue sharing this music with his fans." Born in Birmingham, England on July 20, 1945, Mr. Lodge joined the Moody Blues in 1966 with fellow singer Justin Hayward, following the departures of guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine and bassist Clint Warwick. He featured on some of band's best-known albums including 1967's Days Of Future Passed and 1968's more experimental effort In Search Of The Lost Chord. Mr. Lodge also played on hits including "Nights In White Satin," "Question" and "Isn't Life Strange." In 1975, he collaborated with Hayward on the U.S. top 20 album Blue Jays, and in 1977 released the solo LP Natural Avenue. Mr. Lodge continued making records with the Moody Blues until their final album, December, Christmas LP released in 2003. They performed live until 2018, the same year that they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. His death follows the recent passing of Moodies keyboard player and founding member Mike Pinder, whose death was confirmed by Mr. Lodge in Apr. 2024. - NME, 10/10/25.
Elton John played to the biggest crowd since he quit touring in 2023 on Oct. 5 after a Grand Prix race in Singapore. Elton's 16-song set lasted for 90-minutes before an audience of 70,000 people after the Formula One race, and packed with the biggest songs from his illustrious career. The performance came two years on from the conclusion of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, which wrapped with an emotional concert in Stockholm, Sweden in the summer of 2023. "Singapore, you were electric!" John wrote on Instagram after the show. "What a feeling being with over 70,000 of you - thank you for being such an incredible crowd." John always said that he would possibly still play "the odd show" after retiring from touring. So far, these have included the 50th annual Candlelight Concert in the US in Dec. 2024 and the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center last summer. In 2023, Sir Elton also played live at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, where he inducted his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. His final UK headline performance took place in June 2023, when he delivered a historic, career-spanning set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival. Fan-captured footage from the Singapore show can be viewed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 10/7/25...... 
On Oct 6 Rush surviving members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced they'll embark on their first tour in 11 years beginning in June 2026. The legendary prog rockers announced dates for a 12-show North American swing they are calling the "Fifty Something Tour." It will mark the first time singer/bassist Lee and guitarist/vocalist Lifeson hit the road since the group wrapped their "R40" 40th anniversary tour on Aug.1, 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles. According to a press release, the outing will be a celebration of Rush's "music, legacy and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart"; the band's time-keeper and primary lyricist died of the brain cancer glioblastoma on Jan. 7, 2020 at age 67. Fittingly, the tour will kick off on June 7 with the first of two shows at the KIA Forum in L.A., followed by shows in Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York and Toronto, wrapping up on Sept. 17 at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The "evening with" shows will feature the band playing two sets a night, with each show featuring a distinctive set of songs pulled from a setlist of 35 hits and fan favorites. They will be joined on the dates by German drummer/composer/producer Anika Nilles, 41, who has performed with Jeff Beck and released four solo albums. "It's been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of RUSH alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil," wrote Geddy Lee in a statement. "A lifetime's worth of songs that we had put our cumulative hearts and souls into writing, recording and playing together onstage. And so, after all that has gone down since that last show, Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we f---ing miss it, and that it's time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music... No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable," he added. Fans can get in on a Rush artist pre-sale by signing up at Ticketmaster.com by Oct. 9 at 11:50 p.m. ET; the general on-sale beings on Oct. 17 at 12 p.m. local time for the U.S. and Canada and 11 a.m. local time for Mexico. Meanwhile, in January Rush released the 50-track super deluxe anthology RUSH 50, which runs from the first-ever reissue of their 1973 debut single through a live recording of the final song the trio played together during the "R40 Tour" closer at the Forum. - Billboard, 10/6/25...... Among the more salacious claims in Lionel Richie new memoir Truly is that his "We Are The World" collaborator Michael Jackson was nicknamed "Smelly" for poor hygiene and would "wear pants until they were unwearable." Richie says the King of Pop led an "eccentric" day-to-day life, "like an absent-minded professor but still a kid." He went on to claim that late music producer Quincey Jones, who worked with Jackson on some of his most famous songs, would tease Jackson with the nickname "Smelly." He also claims in his book: "Michael would laugh too, realizing that he was oblivious to the fact that he hadn't changed or washed his clothes for a couple of days or so... We all have our quirks." Richie says his poor hygiene was partly due to his extreme level of fame, saying he couldn't simply visit a department store to buy things or risk being mobbed by fans. Also, he says when he sent clothes for cleaning, they'd often never be returned on account of his fame. "Everybody kept something for a souvenir," writes Richie. "He just got into the habit of wearing the same pants until they were unwearable." He continues: "(Michael) was on tour performing in the elaborate costumes made for him by his stylists, or he was in his pyjama bottoms and slippers in the studio or he was in his going-out attire. Or he was at home in something loose and comfortable so he could practice his dance moves and play with his menagerie of pets." - NME, 10/6/25...... As she kicked off her 2025 North American tour at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 1, Stevie Nicks performed a Fleetwood Mac track no one could have expected. Towards the end of her career-spanning set, Stevie surprised the audience by performing "Angel" for the first time since 1983. Not only was it the first time she's performed the track in over four decades, it's also the first time she's played the track solo. Elsewhere during her set, she performed a slew of other FM classics such as "Dreams," "Gypsy," "Gold Dust Woman," "Rhiannon" and "Landslide." She also covered Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" and performed her own solo hits "Outside The Rain," "The Lighthouse," "Stand Back," "Edge Of Seventeen" and more. Fan-shot footage of Stevie's "Angel" performance has been shared on X.com. Nicks's tour was originally set to kick off in August, but was rescheduled after the singer suffered a shoulder fracture. The August and September dates have since been rescheduled for late October, November and December. Meanwhile, a reissue of Nicks and her former partner Lindsey Buckingham's 1973 LP Buckingham Nicks recently debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart in the US. - NME, 10/3/25...... 
On Oct. 1 The Who performed their final show of their North American farewell tour at the Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, Calif. Surviving co-founding members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and co. opened the performance with a live rendition of "I Can't Explain," before rocking other Who chestnuts including "Substitute," "Who Are You," "I Can See For Miles" and "Pinball Wizard." The penultimate track of the night was "The Song Is Over" from the band's 1971 fifth studio album, Who's Next, and the band made a final goodbye with a tender performance of "Tea & Theatre" -- a single from their 11th studio set, 2006's Endless Wire. "I suppose, you know, it's goodbye," Townshend told the audience at the end. "That's what it is. To what we know as The Who, it's goodbye. What Roger and I will get up to next, who knows? If we last any longer, I'm sure we'll get up to all kinds of mischief. We'll do stuff together, I'm sharing some stuff, all kinds [of] bits and pieces. But for this kind of thing, it's goodbye. And you were last!" Daltrey said: "Thank you so much for your support, over all the years. It means so much to us. It was every band's dream in the '60s to make it in America. And thanks to you guys, you made it happen for us. Thank you so much!" A fan-shot clip of the moment has been shared on YouTube. It currently seems unlikely that there will be a final album from The Who. Townshend expressed his desire for the band to make another record in 2024, but said there was "a bit of a river to cross" in convincing Daltrey. "What's the point?" Daltrey said in 2023. "We released an album four years ago [2019's WHO], and it did nothing. It's a great album too, but there isn't the interest out there for new music these days. People want to hear the old music. I don't know why, but that's the fact." - NME, 10/3/25...... In a new Ozzy Osbourne documentary aired by BBC One on Oct. 2, Ozzy reflected on the "emotional" yet "terribly frustrating" final Black Sabbath show this summer. Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home is an intimate film that charts the final years of the rock icon's life as he prepared to get fit enough to perform at the huge "Back To The Beginning" farewell show in Birmingham on July 5. In poignant scenes at the end of the documentary, Osbourne spoke about the experience of performing in front of 44,000 people for one final time. In footage captured five days after the show, Ozzy sat in his kitchen with his son Jack and daughter Kelly Osbourne, and they reflected on their favorite moments from the gig. "I have to say that my favourite part of the whole weekend was when dad sang 'Mama, I'm Coming Home'," Kelly said. "I don't feel like there was one dry eye. Oh my god, dad, everybody was crying." Ozzy responded: "I got all emotional with that. I couldn't f---ing get the words out, I was just swallowing my f----ing emotion." Jack interjected to say: "The guys from Metallica, Slayer, Tool, everybody was just up there, like, crying." The conversation prompted Ozzy to share: "The only thing I really got what was terribly frustrating for me, I had to sit there instead of running across the stage. That was fucking torture, because I wanted to get off that [chair] so much... It was very humbling, to sit in that chair for nine songs. What a great way to go out, that gig was." Another new Ozzy documentary, No Escape From Now, details the Prince Of Darkness' final six years and is now streaming in the US via Paramount+. Its trailer can be viewed on YouTube. - NME, 10/3/25...... AC/DC has been hit with a formal noise complaint by the Edinburgh council after playing a show at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium over the summer. On Aug. 21, AC/DC played their first gig in Scotland in a decade with a high-octane set that garnered eight complaints from locals about the noise pollution, the BBC reported. Environmental health officers were said to have carried out noise measurements at the venue and other city locations, and reported that the "permitted noise level was exceeded" during the AC/DC concert, with officials pointing largely to fireworks set off at the end of the shows for the excessive noise. A spokesperson for the council said they will now recommend that fireworks are not used during future events at the stadium. Also hit with a noise complaint was Oasis, who played three concerts earlier in the month that also attracted complaints. - NME, 10/2/25...... 
It has been revealed that the surviving members of The Cars -- guitarist Elliot Easton, drummer David Robinson and keyboardist Greg Hawkes -- have been working on new music started by late Cars frontman Ric Ocasek. The trio of the legendary new wave band have been building a collection of tracks from the dozens of demos Ocasek left behind, as was teased in the new Cars biography The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told by Buffalo Tom frontman Bill Janovitz. According to Janovitz, after Ocasek's passing Hawkes received a trove of more than 20 demo recordings, curated by one of Ocasek's longtime confidants. Among them was "I Just Can't Stay," a rare gem showcasing vocals from both Ocasek and late bassist Benjamin Orr, believed to originate from their collaborative days before The Cars officially formed. After initial production work with Ed Valauskas and engineer Joel Edinberg, Hawkes invited drummer David Robinson and guitarist Elliot Easton to join the effort. Easton is said to have started adding his guitar parts in Aug.2024, starting with "I Just Can't Stay" and "Can't Stop the Rain." The latter boasts an epic solo by Easton. Janovitz penned: "Elliot's twenty-five second solo on 'Can't Stop the Rain' is sure to put smiles on the faces of fans, as it did for me." As it stands, there is no official release date for the project. The book notes that the estates of Ocasek and Orr are said to be "optimistic that disagreements about Cars' business would not get in the way of giving their fans unheard Cars music." Ocasek died at the age of 75 from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in 2019. His last music release was his final solo album, 2005's Nexterday. Orr lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 53 in 2000. The Cars, formed in Boston in 1976, reunited in 2010 and released the album Move Like This in 2011, but disbanded again shortly afterward. The band came together once more for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018. - Music-News.com, 10/2/25...... Film and television actor James (Jim) Mitchum, the son of the legendary Hollywood star Robert Mitchum, died on Sept. 20 at his home in Skull Valley, Ariz. He was 84. Jim Mitchum appeared in over 35 titles between 1949 and 1994, including such titles as Thunder Road and Moonrunners. - Variety, 10/2/25...... Ike Turner, Jr., musician and son of Ike Turner and Tina Turner, died on Oct. 4 in Los Angeles, just one day after his 67th birthday. The musician had suffered from kidney failure after several years of ill health. His niece also told TMZ.com that he had struggled with heart problems and had a stroke in September. The musician, who largely stayed away from the spotlight despite the fame of his parents, lost his father, Ike, in 2007 at the age of 76, followed by Tina, who died at 83 in 2023. Ike and Tina married in 1962 and shared four children. Tina adopted Ike Sr.'s two sons from his previous relationship -- Ike Jr. and Michael Turner. When he was a teenager, Ike Sr. took his son out of the studio to join him in running his recording studio. He also worked for a short time as Tina's sound engineer. Both Ike Jr. and his father went on to win a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album, Risin' with the Blues,, in 2007. - NME, 10/6/25...... 
Chris Dreja, a core member of the seminal British blues-rock band The Yardbirds and who helped shape the sound of some of their biggest hits, passed away on Oct. 2, according to his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy. He was 79. "It is with a deep sadness that I have to announce that my brother-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythm guitarist and also bass player has passed away after years of health problems," Levy posted. "I share the pain with my sister Kate who took care of him during all those years and his daughter Jackie... May he RIP." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, into which Dreja was inducted as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992, paid homage to the band's "innovations in feedback and distortion" and credited them for informing a slew of burgeoning genres like psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and punk in their short-lived but highly influential tenure" in a post on X/Twitter. They also noted that Dreja co-wrote all their material once he joined in the early '60s, including the seminal hit "Over Under Sideways Down'" on their self-titled 1966 album and several tracks on 1967's Little Games. Dreja's former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page also paid tribute on Instagram, sharing a picture of the two of them together and writing: "I heard today of the passing of musician Chris Dreja, who passionately played with the iconic Yardbirds, on rhythm guitar and then the bass. I hadn't seen him in a while, and I wish I had. RIP Chris." Born Christopher Walenty Dreja, the musician grew up in Kingston Upon Thames and was immersed in rock and roll music from his teen years. His brother was a classmate of original Yardbirds lead guitarist Anthony "Top" Topham, who he'd ultimately form The Yardbirds with. In 1963, Dreja and Topham, alongside Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith, co-founded the Metropolitan Blues Quartet, a blues band which later evolved into The Yardbirds. Dreja started out as their rhythm guitarist but switched to bass in 1966 following Samwell-Smith's departure and Page's arrival. Subsequent years saw Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck pass through the band as lead guitarist. The years that followed saw Clapton leave the band for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Beck's addition to their line-up. The years that followed were their most successful, spurning tracks like "Evil Hearted You," "Still I'm Sad," "Over Under Sideways Down" and their 1966 self-titled album -- often called "Roger the Engineer," after the cover Dreja illustrated. His artistic endeavours also saw him work as as a photographer for many years, shooting the likes of Bob Dylan, Tina Turner and Led Zeppelin. After the Yardbirds split, Page went on to form the latter band and offered Dreja a spot as their bassist, which he wound up declining, instead opting to pursue photography. Dreja went on to co-found Box of Frogs with former bandmates McCarthy and Samwell-Smith in the early 1980s. He later reunited with drummer Jim McCarty to revive The Yardbirds in the '90s, touring and recording with a rotating cast of musicians until stepping back in 2013 due to health issues. - NME, 10/2/25.
Billy Joel announced on May 23 that he's been forced to cancel all of his upcoming shows due to a medical condition that affects his ability to perform. In a statement shared to 
Although he reached his milestone birthday of 80 on Jan. 10, Rod Stewart says he has "so much more music" to make and has no less that three new albums in the works. Speaking to AARP The Magazine, he said: "There's so much more music I want to create. I've got a covers album, a country album, and a Faces album all in the works. I just can't stop. Even when I'm spending time with my grandkids, my passion for music drives me. I feel like I've done everything I've ever wanted, but there's still more to come." Stewart also admitted he enjoys performing at concerts "more" now than when he was a young musician, and he can appreciate "how lucky [he's] been." "When I feel I might be sick enough to cancel a concert, that's when I go, 'Maybe I'm getting old.' Then a couple of days later, bang, I'm back at it again. I enjoy doing concerts more than I did back then. Maybe I've come full circle to appreciate how lucky I've been." In November, Hot Rod confirmed he will play the coveted legends slot at this year's Glastonbury festival, posting on Instagram: "I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that I'll be playing Glastonbury Festival 2025! After all these years, I'm proud and ready and more than able to take the stage again to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June. I'll see you there!" - Music-News.com, 5/23/25...... Sony Music Vision has announced it will produce a new Judas Priest documentary, to be co-directed by Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello. The film, titled The Ballad Of Judas Priest, has yet to receive a release date, but will be co-directed by Morello and established heavy metal filmmaker Sam Dunn (Metal: A Headbanger's Journey). The band said in a statement, per Variety: "We have lived and breathed metal for over five decades, and finally in this documentary we are summoning our congregation to officially witness our lives uncensored, in a never-before-seen waythe cassock comes off, revealing Priest in all its metal glory!" Meanwhile, Morello will serve as "musical director" for Black Sabbath's final gig this July, however Judas Priest will not be participating, saying they were unaware of the gig until it was too late. After a show with the Scorpions in July which celebrates the German band's 60th anniversary, Priest will be hitting the road again in 2025 for a co-headline tour with Alice Cooper. It'll feature gigs across North America, Europe and the UK, and includes a stop at The O2 in London on July 25. - NME, 5/22/25...... Bruce Springsteen is doubling down on his stance that the US government is "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous," even after his remarks on the subject at a Manchester, UK concert infuriated Pres. Donald Trump. One week after criticizing the Trump administration during a speech at his European tour kickoff show in England -- leading Trump to launch into a series of vitriolic posts targeting him on his Truth Social platform -- the Boss has released a Land of Hope & Dreams EP featuring a recording of the address as its opening track. "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, and has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration," he says in the audio snippet. "Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us, raise your voices against the authoritarianism, and let freedom ring." The New Jersey rocker then dives into 2001's "Land of Hope & Dreams," which is also the name Springsteen's ongoing tour. In addition to the politically charged speech, the six-track project also features live takes of the musician and his band performing "Long Walk Home," "My City of Ruins" and "Chimes of Freedom" in Manchester. There's also a three-and-a-half-minute recording of Springsteen once again critiquing the state of American politics later in the show. "In my country, they're taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on American workers, they're rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and moral society," he says in the clip. "They're abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom." The EP comes shortly after Trump responded to Springsteen's onstage remarks by calling him "highly overrated" and "dumb as a rock" on Truth Social, adding at the time, "This dried out 'prune' of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare.'" He later accused Springsteen -- along with Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey and Bono -- of taking part in an "illegal election scam" for Kamala Harris, alleging that he accepted an undisclosed payment from the 2024 Democratic nominee to endorse her for president. Trump still hadn't let the matter go as of May 21, when he shared a bizarre edited video of himself golfing -- and appearing to hit and knock over Springsteen with his ball -- on Truth Social hours after the Land of Hope & Dreams EP dropped. Springsteen's new Land of Hope & Dreams EP can be streamed on 
Brian Eno published on open letter to Microsoft on 
Grammy-nominated songwriter Roger Nichols, best-known for co-writing such Carpenters hits as 
French police have recovered a bust from late Doors frontman Jim Morrison's grave, 37 years of it was stolen. The sculpture, created by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin, was placed on Morrison's grave in Paris' Pre Lachaise Cemetery to mark the tenth anniversary of his passing, on July 3, 1981. However, the bust was stolen seven years later, in May 1988, with Vanity Fair magazine noting that two individuals were reported to have taken the statue after being locked in the cemetery overnight. After years of rumor and innuendo surrounding its fate, Parisian police have now announced the heavily-graffiti'd bust has been recovered, with its rediscovery occurring during a search related to a fraud case. No further details regarding its whereabouts for the past 37 years have been announced, nor has word been shared as to whether it will return to its original location atop Morrison's grave. Morrison passed away in Paris on July 3, 1971 under murky circumstances at the age of 27. He was buried at the city's Pre Lachaise Cemetery where his grave site swiftly became one of the world's most-visited memorials of a late musician. In February, it was announced that the Paris City Council had decided to name a footbridge overlooking Bassin de l'Arsenal in Morrison's honor. Just weeks earlier, it was reported that the former Morrison Hotel, made famous by the Doors and their 1970 
In other award news, Steve Miller is set to become the 2025 recipient of the Les Paul Spirit Award on June 9 during a private event at the Gibson Garage venue in Nashville. The event will take place on what would have been electric guitar pioneer and performer Les Paul's 110th birthday. Miller is the fifth recipient of the award, following co-founding Grateful Dead member Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers, U2's The Edge and Peter Frampton. "I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be honored with the Les Paul Spirit Award than Steve Miller," Michael Braunstein, executive director of LPF, said in a statement. "Not only is he an extraordinary talent and a wonderful friend of the Les Paul Foundation, Steve holds the very distinct title of being Les' godson. They had a very unique relationship which Les cherished. If anyone understands the 'spirit' of Les Paul, it's Steve." Miller and Paul were both signed to Capitol Records in their heydays, and also had a long and personal relationship. A young Miller was introduced to Paul, who gave him his first informal guitar lessons and taught him his first three chords. Miller has often recalled how these early experiences watching Paul perform and receiving personal instruction were pivotal in inspiring his own musical journey. Miller joined Paul on stage at the latter's 90th birthday concert in New York City in 2005. The annual Spirit award, created and presented by the LPF (in partnership with Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson), goes to an individual who "exemplifies the spirit of the late Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music." In addition to the award, a grant from the LPF will be made in the honoree's name to the charity of his choice. - Billboard, 5/20/25...... Just weeks after The Who drummer Zak Starkey was fired and subsequently rehired by the band, Who guitarist Pete Townshend has announced the band is once again parting ways with Starkey. Starkey's membership saga began in April when a spokesman for the group claimed that "the band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall," referring to a pair of gigs the month prior. A report from those shows claimed that vocalist Roger Daltrey had stopped several songs mid-performance, citing difficulty hearing the band over the drums. Starkey later issued a statement noting he was "surprised and saddened" by the news, though Townshend later claimed Starkey was back in the band following the resolution of "communication issues." While fans were eager to reference "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" in regard to Starkey's reinstatement, the entire saga appears to have started all over again, with the band announcing a new drummer ahead of their forthcoming farewell tour. "After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change," Townshend shared on 
In a new interview with Britain's Mojo magazine, The Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward said he doesn't expect the legendary UK rock outfit to make a comeback. The Moody Blues have been inactive since 2018, and Hayward admits he finds it difficult to see the band returning following the passing of drummer Graeme Edge -- the last surviving original member -- in 2021. "There's only me and Lodgy (bassist John Lodge) left," Hayward told Mojo. "When Graeme died, it really affected me. He loved the group so much. Me and John, we always had things outside of the band, but Graeme devoted his whole life to it. And I just think some of that particular magic is gone." Hayward continued: "I don't want to be in a tribute band -- actually, that's not fair -- I'm just saying that when Graeme passed the enthusiasm for it changed. And I'm really liking what I do now." Hayward, who has been in the music business for 60 years, said he feels fortunate never to have felt the "pressure" of being a celebrity. "I did have my time when I would get recognised, particularly around when 'Forever Autumn' was a hit, but that passes," he said. Hayward and Lodge enjoyed the hit 'Blue Guitar' away from the Moodies and the musician joked that the colour has followed him throughout his career. "It's something that a promoter will hang on you," he joked. "But I remember right at the beginning, Mike (Pinder, keyboardist) was hung up with a record called 'Mood Indigo'. And so there was always that aura around us, of blue, that stuck. My life is colour coded, though -- certain things on certain days, and I don't think I'm unusual in that. Today is green. What's tomorrow? Orange. Is there a blue day? Oh, yes... but I'm gonna have to leave it hanging there." - Music-News.com, 5/18/25...... Seventies artists Carlos Santana and Emmylou Harris were among the music acts performing at the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on May 16 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Though it's not their stated purpose, the Grammy Hall of Fame serves as a second chance for the Grammys organization to honor recordings they may have missed when they were first released. Of this year's 13 honorees, 11 were released since the inception of the Grammy Awards. Of those 11, only two -- Santana's Supernatural (1999) and Harris' Wrecking Ball (1995) -- had won Grammys when they were eligible. Only one other -- Luther Vandross' Never Too Much (1981) -- had even been nominated. The Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, presented jointly by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum, was conceived as a way to elevate the stature of the annual Hall of Fame inductions, which had long announced with little more than a press release. The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's national trustees in 1973, initially to honor recordings that were released prior to the inception of the Grammy Awards in 1959. The selection criteria was long ago changed to include any recording that is at least 25 years old. The Grammy Hall of Fame used to be the only major institutional award to honor classic recordings, but the arrival in 2002 of the National Recording Registry, administered by the Library of Congress, means the Grammy Hall of Fame no longer has this field all to itself. - Billboard, 5/17/25...... Elton John has slammed Britain's Labour government for its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright law, calling the government "absolute losers" and saying he feels "incredibly betrayed" over plans to exempt major tech firms pursuing AI from aspects of copyright law. Appearing on the BBC show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on May 18, he told the host that ministers' plans to allow AI firms to use artists' content without paying would be "committing theft, thievery on a high scale." Criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer's team, Sir Elton said they would "rob young people of their legacy and their income", adding that he thought they were "just being absolute losers, and I'm very angry about it," and also described Technology Secretary Peter Kyle as "a bit of a moron." John's intervention comes as the House of Lords aimed to force AI companies to disclose what material they were using to develop their programmes. Their proposals were rejected by the House of Commons. A government spokesperson told the BBC that "no changes" to copyright laws would be "considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators." The U.K. government's proposals to allow tech firms to use copyrighted material as training data have come under fire from numerous other major figures in the music industry, including Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox and Dua Lipa. - Music-News.com, 5/19/25...... During his slot at Willie Nelson's "Outlaw Music Festival Tour" stop on the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, Calif., on May 15, Bob Dylan covered Rick Nelson's 1972 "comeback" hit 
Barbra Streisand has recruited Paul McCartney to join forces for a new version of Sir Paul's 2012 single "My Valentine," which was released on May 16 via Columbia Records. "What if it rained? We didn't care/ He said that someday soon the sun was gonna shine/ And he was right, this love of mine/ My valentine," Babs coos on the opening verse, before McCartney takes over to sing, "As days and nights would pass me by/ I'd tell myself that I was waiting for a sign/ Then she appeared, a love so fine/ My valentine" over a lush combination of strings and piano. The cozy love song originally served as the lead single from the former Beatles member's 2012 solo album Kisses on the Bottom, where it was one of just two original songs on the LP and featured an assist from Eric Clapton on guitar. Now, the reimagined version for two is the second preview of Streisand's upcoming duets album, 
Sitcom and Broadway actor George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on the hit 1980s comedy Cheers, died on the morning of May 20, his family has announced. He was 76. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the family said in a statement. "He will be missed forever." The family has requested privacy during this time. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe during the 1970's before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, didn't have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. "My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word.' The word was 'beer.' I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.' So I went in, and they said, 'It's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar," Wendt told GQ magazine in an oral history of Cheers. Wendt became a fan favourite in and outside the bar -- his entrances were cheered with a warm "Norm!" -- and his wisecracks always landed. "How's a beer sound, Norm?" he would be asked by the bartender. "I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in," he'd respond. Wendt also found steady work onstage, putting on Edna Turnblad's housecoat in Broadway's "Hairspray" beginning in 2007, and appearing in the Tony Award-winning play Art in New York and London. He starred in the national tour of "12 Angry Men" and appeared in a production of David Mamet's "Lakeboat." He also starred in regional productions of "Death of a Salesman," "The Odd Couple," "Never Too Late" and "Funnyman." He is survived by his wife, Second City alum Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm's never-seen not-so better half, Vera, on Cheers; his children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel; and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew. - AP, 5/20/25.