After weeks of teasers on the web and billboards across the globe, The Rolling Stones officially announced on May 5 that their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, will be released on July 10 with core members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood joined by a diverse list of guest artists including Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Ahead of the LP, the band has released two tracks from the project on Spotify.com: album opener "Rough and Twisted" and lead single "In the Stars," as well as an official Foreign Tongues trailer on YouTube. The trailer shows the trailer and producer Andrew Watt, who also helmed the band's 2023 effort Hackney Diamonds, working hard -- and goofing off -- in the studio. The full project was created in less than a month at Metropolis Studios in West London, with Jagger describing it as "a very intense few weeks recording... we went as fast as we could" with Wood adding "the atmosphere in the room was so creative... The whole band was on top form throughout the whole process. Very often we nailed it on the first take. I hope everyone loves it." Meanwhile in other Stones news, ABKCO Music, which owns the Stones' early catalog, has settled with Behr Paint company over an in Instagram advertisement that allegedly featured an unlicensed version of the Stones' 1966 hit "Paint It, Black." Lawyers for both parties filed a joint notice of settlement ending the lawsuit on May 4. ABKCO sued Behr in Nov. 2025, alleging the paint company didn't pay to use "Paint It, Black" in a 2022 Instagram ad that showed a person spray-painting furniture. The lawsuit stated that the song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1966, is "one of the most valuable copyrights in the history of popular music." Behr broadly denied all wrongdoing in an initial response to the claims. Terms of the resolution were not disclosed, though ABKCO alleged in its complaint in 2025 that synch licenses for "Paint It, Black" typically fetch fees between the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars. Neither party has commented on the settlement so far, and the band is not involved in the ligigation. - Billboard, 5/5/26...... 
On May 4 the Eagles added more 2026 dates to their Sphere residency in Las Vegas, extending their run as the artist with the most dates overall at the innovative immersive venue to 64 shows. The legendary California country rock band kicked off their latest Sphere stint in Sept. 2024, adding dates a handful at a time and setting the record for the most shows with the announcement of the February dates in Oct. 2025 at 52. The previous record belonged to Dead & Co. at 48 shows. They began their 2026 Sphere residency on Jan. 23, playing a total of 14 shows in January, February, March and April. The new dates will extend their run into the fall: Sept. 18-19, Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 27-28. The current lineup includes sole remaining original member Don Henley along with bassist Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, Vince Gill and the late Glenn Frey's son Deacon Frey. Meanwhile, Henley remarked about how "very different" the band's recent show at the 55th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2 was from performing in the Sphere. "This is very different from the Sphere," Henley quipped to laughs and cheers from the daytime NO crowd, who were very grateful to be under blue skies and sunshine on that day versus the two previous days of rain and muddy fields at Jazz Fest. "We got some sunshine up in here," he added. In a pivot from their Sphere set, the Eagles returned to their traditional opening number of "Seven Bridges Road" instead of the bombastic Vegas opener of "Hotel California," which instead kicked off the final three songs of the robust 19-song setlist. The most notable omission of the final songs from the setlist was "Desperado," the title track from their 1973 album, and when the band wrapped up about 25 minutes earlier than the schedule had promised, fans were hopeful they might return for the Henley ballad -- but the stage gear being broken down behind them proved otherwise. "We've been playing these songs for you for about 53 years now, and we hope to continue to do that," Henley said onstage. And most importantly, the sold-out crowd in the Crescent City got sunshine. - Billboard, 5/4/26...... Great news for Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers fans has turned out to be not so great for Bruce Springsteen fans in the City of Brotherly Love. After the Sixers advanced to the second round of the NBA finals by beating the Boston Celtics in a playoff series for the first time in 44 years -- besting their rivals 109-100 in game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series on May 2 and becoming just the 14th team in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit -- The Boss and the E Street Band have reshuffled their "Land of Hope & Dreams" North American tour. The original E Street Band date was squeezed in between a run of New York shows, including a show on May 5 in Elmont, N.Y. bookended by the first of two shows at Madison Square Garden on May 11 (with a second one on May 16) and a stop at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on May 14. The Philly show will now come after what was supposed to be the E Street Band's May 27 finale at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. "Due to the NBA and NHL playoff schedule, the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert at Xfinity Mobile Arena has been rescheduled for May 30," the band wrote on Instagram on May 2. Tickets for the original date, May 8, will be honored on the new date. - Billboard, 5/4/26...... 
Pres. Donald Trump is claiming that his dance moves to the Village People's "Y.M.C.A." helped drive a resurgence of the song on the Billboard charts. During a speaking engagement at Florida's The Villages retirement community on May 1, Trump took credit for the 1970s smash hit that topped Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart in late 2024, more than four decades after its original release. "That song was No. 5 32 years ago, and it went to No. 1 32 years later," Trump erroneously stated during his speech. "It went to No. 1 for months during the last months of the campaign." The ubiquitous disco-era track -- described by the president as the "gay national anthem" -- was frequently used during his 2024 presidential campaign and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Top Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart that November. Following its original release in late 1978, "Y.M.C.A." peaked at No. 2 on the main Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. In Dec. 2024, Village People founder Victor Willis spoke out about why he allowed Trump to use "Y.M.C.A." at rallies and events leading up to his election win. Willis originally asked Trump to stop using the song in 2020 but later reconsidered after realizing that the politician seemed to "genuinely like" it and was "having a lot of fun" with "Y.M.C.A.," he wrote in a lengthy Facebook post in late 2024. Willis also noted that the dance tune has only "benefited greatly" in terms of chart placements and sales since Trump incorporated it into his campaign. "Therefore, I'm glad I allowed the President Elect's continued use of Y.M.C.A.," Willis wrote. "And I thank him for choosing to use my song." During his speech on May 1, Trump also noted that First Lady Melania Trump isn't a fan of his onstage reaction to "Y.M.C.A." "She hates when I dance to what is sometimes referred to as the gay national anthem," the president said. "She hates it." He added, "We love that song. But [Melania] goes, 'Darling, please.' You know, she's a very elegant woman. She goes, 'Darling, please don't dance. It's not presidential.' I said, 'It may not be presidential, but I'm leading by 20 points in the polls or something.'" Trump ended his speech by showcasing his signature dance -- featuring fist pumps and hip shakes -- as "Y.M.C.A." played at the close of his address at the Florida retirement community. - Billboard, 5/3/26...... Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry made a surprise appearance on NBC's Saturday Night Live on May 2, emerging from the wings to introduce Olivia Rodrigo's performance of her new single "drop dead" -- giving the rising singer a rock 'n' roll co-sign in front of a live Studio 8H audience. Harry introduced Rodrigo's first musical performance of the night, which saw the singer-songwriter perform "drop dead" in an airy green and pink dress, rocking out to the boisterous, energetic track. The single -- released Apr. 17 -- debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rodrigo's fourth chart-topper. Pioneering New Wave band Blondie has sold over 40 million records worldwide since forming in New York in 1974, and announced in 2025 that a new album, High Noon, would arrive in spring 2026. - Billboard, 5/3/26...... 
On May 1 Barry Manilow postponed the latest in a series of delays of his Las Vegas residency at the Westgate Resort & Casino since revealing his Stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis in Dec. 2025. But Manilow, 82, says he is making great progress and expects to return to the Westgate stage in July. In an Instagram Story posted on May 1, Manilow opened with, "Good news! I went to the doctor yesterday and he said I'm making great progress and look great! All the training and exercising I've put in is paying off. He did say, however, that I'm not quite ready for Vegas. This means I won't be able to return for our May shows at Westgate Las Vegas." The "Copacabana" singer also confirmed he will be ready for his June arena shows in the U.K. "The Westgate Las Vegas is my home away from home and I'll see you all in July," he said. In Dec. 2025, Manilow underwent surgery to remove a cancerous spot from his left lung and has not performed since. The singer's February Las Vegas residency dates were the first to be pushed back, followed by his arena tour launch dates from late February through March, and then his April arena shows -- each time on his doctor's advice that his body needed more time to recover. Despite the setbacks, Manilow has remained determined to return to the stage. His Las Vegas residency at Westgate is scheduled to run through Dec. 2026, and his farewell arena tour -- billed as "The Last Concerts" -- has rescheduled dates still on the books. In March, his latest single "Once Before I Go" became a top 10 hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, making him the only artist in history to score an AC hit in six consecutive decades -- a run stretching from the 1970s through the 2020s. His new album What a Time, -- his first of new material in nearly 15 years -- is due June 5. - Billboard, 5/2/26...... In related news, Dolly Parton cancelled her Las Vegas residency, which the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member originally postponed in Oct. 2025 due to an unspecified illness, says it will now not go ahead at all. In a lengthy Instagram Reel on May 4, the country/pop legend shared an update about her health. "Well, hey there, it's Dolly, and I'm here to give you an update on a few things going on in my life," she began. "I have some good news and a little bad news. But the good news is I'm responding really well to meds and treatments, and I'm improving every day. Now, the bad news is that it's gonna take me a little while before I'm up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say." Parton then used the idea of restoring a classic car to be "better than ever" as a metaphor for her health issues. "When they raised the hood on this old antique, they realised that I need to rebuild my engine and that my transmission is slipping, my oil pan is leaking, my muffler's busted and my shocks and pistons need to be replaced. And for sure, my spark plugs need to be changed, because you know, as well as I know, that I can't lose my spark," the "Jolene" hitmaker quipped. Anyway, I know I'm being silly, but I'm just tryin' to keep everything light and airy," the "9 to 5" performer shared. Dolly also noted that despite her health challenges, she is still working, making videos, recording and preparing for her museum and hotel opening in Nashville this year. Additionally, she's been reworking "Dolly: A True Original Musical," which is set to debut on Broadway later this year. - Music-News.com, 5/5/26...... '70s artists Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Grateful Dead, Ramones and John Prine were among the 25 top-selling acts with new releases for Record Store Day 2026. More than 350 album and single products were issued for RSD 2026, and the top-selling album was the four-LP clear vinyl release of Pink Floyd's Live From the Los Angeles Sports Arena, April 26th, 1975, according to Luminate. The project was also issued as a 2-CD set, and the CD edition was the No. 24 best-selling RSD 2026 album title. Petty and the Heartbreakers' Live at Paradise Rock Club, 1978 was the 10th top seller, followed by Talking Heads' The CBS/Columbia Demos (No. 16); Grateful Dead's Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA, June 11, 1976 (No. 19); Ramones' Summer In the City: Live In San Francisco, 1979 (No. 22); and Prine's BBC Sessions (No. 23). David Bowie's "Hallo Spaceboy," a fluorescent pink-colored 12-inch vinyl, was the top-selling RSD 2026 exclusive single. The yearly independent RSD celebration was held on Apr.18 and boasted a bevy of albums and singles (mostly vinyl titles) issued for RSD, and exclusively sold through indie record stores. - Billboard, 5/1/26...... 
Peter Gabriel has shared an uplifting, politically charged new single, "Won't Stand Down," which he says hopes to "encourage some sort of activism." The track is the latest to be shared from the English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist as part of his new album O\I. Set to be his 11th studio album, the record is the follow-up to 2023's 'I/O' and the two records were written around the same time. Each song on the forthcoming album will receive both "Bright-Side" and "Dark-Side" mixes and will be released to align with this month's full moon and new moon. Singles so far have dropped steadily each month, and included January's "Been Undone," February's "Put the Bucket Down," March's "What Lies Ahead" and April's "Till Your Mind Is Shining." Speaking about "Won't Stand Down," Gabriel posted on X/Twitter: "The song began around a chord sequence which I liked and which felt quite poppy and playful, so I just kept on playing around with it till I had something." With the latest song, the "Bright-Side" version is the first to be released, and it comes as an uplifting, empowering song that offers both hope and inspiration to pursue change in the world. "A million mothers looking forward/ They're all looking out ahead/ In the haze they can make out a planet/ Alive, or was it dead?," Gabriel sings in the ethereal, invigorating first verse. "Moving out in so many directions/ This is not the way we want to live/ It's not the way it has to be." It gradually builds towards the euphoric-yet-tranquil chorus: "But we won't stand down/ Until there's something better showing on the ground." "It's really a song to encourage some sort of activism," the singer shared, adding that he originally wanted to create music for The Elders.org -- the organization founded by Nelson Mandela that sees independent global leaders fight for justice, human rights and a more sustainable planet. A "Dark-Side Mix" of "Won't Stand Down" will also be arriving later in May. - New Musical Express, 5/1/26...... Movie director Steven Soderbergh has revealed he used generative AI for his new documentary, John Lennon: The Last Interview, in collaboration with Meta. The filmmaker, known for iconic movies such as Black Bag, Erin Brockovich, and the Ocean's Eleven trilogy, is working with the late Beatle's estate to bring to life the last interview he gave, promoting the album Double Fantasy with his wife and collaborator, Yoko Ono. The task for the documentary was to provide images for the audio-only interview. Most of it that will be archival material. However, the Oscar-winner has revealed that 10 per cent of the film will feature AI-generated video footage, portraying surreal moments that he claims are not possible through creative methods. "So now we've got it kind of laid out in chapters and we begin to fill in the areas in which John and Yoko are speaking about a specific experience that they had, or a specific piece of music, or a specific person, and layer in archival material over that text -- sometimes stills, sometimes motion, video," he told Deadline. "And we have a version of the movie in which the only holes that remain now are the sections where John and Yoko are talking in abstract philosophical terms." "This comprises about 10 per cent of the entire film, but it's a real problem because we've got to come up with something -- some imagery that enhances what they're saying, but is metaphorical," he continued. "So we're starting to experiment with AI, trying to see if we can build some images that'll fit alongside this text. I'm trying to articulate ideas that will result in something interesting, and we're running out of money." Soderbergh said the doc's producer, Michael Sugar suggested collaborating with Meta "because they're building some video generative tools," and he agreed. Soderbergh conceded that AI "is a very emotional subject lately. Understandably so." However, he claimed he is using it in a way that isn't replacing human endeavor. "There are two ways of using it," he argued. "There's a way of using AI in which your intention is to fool somebody or manipulate them, to create an image that you want them to think is real. And then there's a use, which is what we're doing in the documentary, where it's obvious that it is AI and that it is being used essentially in the way that you would use VFX or CGI or any sort of non-photographic technology." He also explained the Lennon estate's support of the approach. "I asked Sean [Ono Lennon], 'What do you think your dad's take on this tech would've been?' And he said, 'Oh, he would've wanted to engage.' He loved all new technology. All The Beatles did. He would want to play with it just to see what it could do. He goes, 'That was the way he was. ' How he would've felt about it ultimately, we'll never know, but he said he would've wanted to play with it." John Lennon: The Last Interview will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later in May. - NME, 5/5/26...... In other Beatles-related news, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney have commented on Ringo's first-ever recorded duet with McCartney on Sir Paul's new LP The Boys of Dungeon Lane, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which will be released on May 8 ahead of the full album's release on May 29. Speaking about the duet, "Home to Us," Paul said: "Ringo went round to the studio and drummed a bit. I said to Andrew [Watt, the producer], we should make a track and send it to him. So this song is done totally with Ringo in mind. "In writing the song I'm talking about where we came from. In common with a lot of people, you come from nothing and you build yourself up." Paul then explained how their upbringing in Liverpool has influenced their new duet. He said: "Ringo was from the Dingle, and that was well hard. He said he used to get mugged coming home, because he worked. Even though it was crazy, it was home to us. I made the song around that idea and sent it to Ringo. "He sent me back a version where he just added some lines to the chorus, so I thought, maybe he doesn't like it. I rang him and he said he thought I only wanted him to sing one or two lines, and I said I'd love to hear him sing the whole thing. So we took my first line, Ringo's second line, and then we had a duet. We'd never done that before." The record, Paul's first solo album in more than five years, has been described as a revealing collection of never-before-shared stories and personal memories from one of the most influential musicians of all time. - Music-News.com, 5/5/26...... 
Queen guitarist Brian May has gone from local hero to a bit of a frustrated gardener in his quiet English village. In 2025, May made headlines in Elstead after donating 3,000 daffodil bulbs to brighten the church green. The gesture struck a chord with locals, and May regularly shared updates online as the flowers grew. By his own account, the response was overwhelmingly positive, according to CNN.com. May planned to donate more bulbs to expand the display across the main village green, but that plan has now been scrapped after local officials stepped in and shut it down. In a recent Instagram post, May said he was "quite thrilled" by the "happy comments" about this year's blooms and gave a shoutout to "Team Daffodil," the group of volunteers who helped plant them. The tone shifted, however, when he revealed that Elstead Parish Council had rejected his latest offer due to safety concerns. The council argued the daffodils could interfere with sightlines for traffic and make it harder for people to cross the green, reports the UK paper The Sun. Officials said they have "a responsibility to balance community initiatives with safety," ultimately deciding the risks outweighed the benefits. May didn't buy that explanation. Telling his 3.6 million followers he was "reluctantly" cancelling the order, he questioned how flowers with "18-inch stalks could (obstruct) anyone's view" -- especially when the green is often surrounded by parked cars, including what he joked is a "7-foot-high ice cream van!!!" Now 78, May has been navigating health concerns and career decisions as the same time. In Sept. 2024, he revealed he had suffered a "minor stroke" that briefly left him unable to control his arm, according to the AP. He later confirmed he had recovered and could still play guitar. On the touring front, May has also hit pause on U.S. plans. In a January interview, he described the country as "a dangerous place at the moment" following the deaths of two U.S. citizens involving immigration officials in Minnesota. The comment rules out near-term projects like a potential Las Vegas residency -- something he had previously been excited about. In fact, during a Rolling Stone interview marking the 50th anniversary of "Bohemian Rhapsody," May had been enthusiastic about performing at the Sphere in Vegas, saying the band could create something "stupendous." - Canoe.com, 5/1/26...... Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning on May 3, Sting revealed that he has no plans to retire anytime soon. Asked whether he ever considers taking a vacation or slowing down from his busy schedule, the 74-year-old Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) -- joked that he didn't understand the concept. "I like to work," he smiled. "Could I retire? I'm not sure I could do it. I haven't developed that skill to just sit and do nothing. Perhaps I'm afraid of it. I haven't prepared myself for it. But while I'm still fit enough to do my work, I will continue. At some point, I hope I have the objectivity to say, 'OK, you've done enough. Go and sit on the farm.'" Reflecting on his pivot from pop music to working in the theatre, Sting emphasized that he has no regrets. "I'm very grateful for the pop career, and it was a certain time in my life when I was of a certain age and looked a certain way and made a certain kind of music. But it can't be my entire life. I don't want to be just defined from how I was at the age of 25. I'm 74 now," the "Roxanne" hitmaker continued. The former The Police frontman and Shaggy are currently promoting the 2026 tour of Sting's original musical "The Last Ship," in which he plays shipyard foreman Jackie White. "I immediately knew Shaggy was the perfect man for the job. He has a great sense of mischief, a great sense of joy, but he's also a natural actor," he praised, while Shaggy interjected: "He knows me better than me! I was like, 'I can't really,' and he was like, 'No, you can do that.' And then I'm doing it, and I was like, 'I hate admitting that he was right!'" "The Last Ship" opens at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on June 9. - Music-News.com, 5/4/26...... Beau Starr, the American actor best known for playing Sheriff Ben Meeker in the Halloween 4 and Halloween 5 horror films, has died of natural causes at his Vancouver home, according to TMZ.com. He was 81 years old. He also had a supporting role in Martin Scorsese's 1990 mob classic Goodfellas as the abusive father of Ray Liotta's Henry Hill. His other film credits include Fletch, Speed, Cinderella Man, Devil in a Blue Dress and Born on the Fourth of July. Mr. Starr got his start playing various characters on the Canadian sketch show Bizarre. He went on to have small roles in other popular series like Psych, Knight Rider, The A-Team, MacGyver, TJ Hooker, Three's Company, Remington Steele, The Fall Guy, Night Court, Matlock, Moonlighting, Murder She Wrote and NYPD Blue. - Variety.com, 5/3/26.
U2's Bono will present the Harry Belafonte Social Justice Award to Bruce Springsteen during the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, set for June 3-14 in New York. "There are few figures who embody the spirit of Tribeca's Harry Belafonte Award more fully than Bruce Springsteen," said festival co-chair and co-founder Jane Rosenthal about the New Jersey rocker's tireless work to follow in the footsteps of civil rights activist/singer Harry Belafonte by using his platform to speak out and advance "equality, dignity and human rights." In addition to his longtime friend and fellow activist Bono, the Boss will also receive tributes from punk godmother Patti Smith and actor Robert De Niro. De Niro will also take part in a 50th anniversary celebration of his landmark film Taxi Driver, with a screening of the gritty 1976 drama and conversation between the actor and the movie's director, Martin Scorsese. More info on this year's programming and tickets can be found at tribecafilm.com. - Billboard, 4/28/26...... In other Bruce Springsteen news, during a concert in Austin, Tex. on Apr. 26 the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon offered "prayers of thanks" that Pres. Donald Trump wasn't injured during an Apr. 25 incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner when a California man named Cole Tomas Allen who was brandishing several weapons charged through a security checkpoint in the lobby outside the hotel ballroom where the event was being held. "We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return," said frequent Trump antagonist Springsteen during the E Street Band' show at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex., on Apr. 26. "We also send out a prayer of thanks that our President, nor anyone in the administration, nor anyone attending, was injured at last night's incident at the [White House] Press Correspondents' Dinner." He added, "We can disagree. We can be critical of those in power, and we can peacefully fight for our beliefs. But there is no place in any way, shape, or form for political violence of any kind in our beloved United States." - Billboard, 4/27/26...... 
A judge in London has ruled that former Jimi Hendrix Experience members, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, signed away their copyrights in "clear and unequivocal" terms in their lawsuit over UK royalties against Sony Music. Following a seven-day trial this past December, U.K. High Court Justice Edwin Johnson released a lengthy decision on Apr. 28 dismissing the claims brought against Sony by the families of Redding and Mitchell. In the long-running suit that began in 2021, the pair's estates have claimed they're being unfairly deprived of royalties from three classic Jimi Hendrix Experience albums, including the 1968 chart-topper Electric Ladyland. Sony, which has distributed Hendrix's music since 2009 under an exclusive license with Hendrix's heirs, maintains that it owes nothing to the two families. Justice Johnson ultimately sided with Sony after determining that Redding and Mitchell signed away future royalties as part of the band's 1966 recording agreement. According to the judge, this contract gave full copyright ownership to producers Michael Jeffrey and Chas Chandler in "clear and unequivocal" language. Moreover, the judge said that even without these copyright ownership issues, all claims would be barred by settlements signed by both Redding and Mitchell with the Hendrix estate during probate proceedings in the early 1970s. A spokesperson for both Sony Music and the Hendrix estate, which is run through the business entity Hendrix Experience, said in a statement that they are "thankful that this litigation, which has lasted over four years, has come to an end." Janie Hendrix, Jimi's sister and the CEO of his estate, also said in her own statement, "I have nothing but positive memories of Noel and Mitch. Experience Hendrix's longstanding relationships with both reflect a consistent commitment to honouring and supporting the musicians who were part of Jimi Hendrix's history." - Billboard, 4/28/26...... Talking to People magazine, Ringo Starr revealed he refused to sing "one of the saddest lines" in a song written by his current collaborator T-Bone Burnett for his new country album Long Long Road. "One of the saddest lines was 'Why do we die?'.... I wouldn't sing it! I made it 'Why can't we fly' and then sent it back to him! But that's country, isn't it? Like, you're in the bar, the wife's left, the dog's dead and you don't have any change for the jukebox. I got into [the genre] with Hank Williams and all those people. There was a sad aspect to country music." The genre is relatable to many people, and while the 85-year-old drummer doesn't think he's "good at advice," he had a tip for people struggling with life: "Play it a bit faster! I'm not all that good at advice, but move forward. That's the thing. Move forward and move on -- on down the road. That's why this [album] is Long Long Road. I was reflecting on myself. This has been a long, long road with a few bad moments but lots of great moments. I'm blessed." Ringo, who kicks off a spring/summer tour with his All-Starr Band on May 29 in Temecula, Calif., also recently told Variety that he wants to get a bunch of songs together for a new EP to wrap up his project with Burnett. "Well, we're doing it because this year I'm only doing 12 gigs," he said. "I've got the records going, with Universal, and I've got the best-of going. And I've got this idea for doing some other tracks and maybe an EP and will put that out as well." Asked if he can provide any further details about what to expect from the EP, he replied: "The idea is just getting the songs and putting 'em together and seeing how it works." - Music-News.com, 4/29/26...... The Rolling Stones have seemingly confirmed that the title for their upcoming album will be Foreign Tongues after a series of cryptic billboards that feature the iconic Stones logo and the same phrase repeated in various languages have popped up across the globe. It comes shortly after they shared their new vinyl-only single, "Rough & Twisted," under the moniker The Cockroaches earlier in April. In a similar fashion to the recent run of billboards, the band prompted rumours of their return after cryptic posters emerged across London. Fans have already drawn a link between the two, given the lyrics for the latest single feature the line: "Why don't you teach me/ Teach me all those foreign tongues?" The single serves as the first taste of the new album, which is slated for release in July. It'll be the band's first full-length effort since 2023's Grammy-winning Hackney Diamonds. The band's latest posters in such cities as Manchester, UK, and Warsaw, Poland, can be viewed on Rolling Stone magazine has announced that it will host its first-ever festival on July 4 in Kingston, N.Y., with headliners including Noah Kahan, Gigi Perez, Sydney Rose, Devon Gilfilian and more. The boutique event, dubbed Stateside, will "channel the timeless spirit of Americana with music, hot dogs, fireworks, an artisan market and local food vendors" and take place on Independence Day at Hutton Brickyards' 4,000-capacity riverfront property, according to a press release. The show will be headlined by Kahan, who just released his fourth studio album, The Great Divide, and feature a whole day of pop, rock, indie, folk and country performers including Gigi Perez, Sydney Rose, Arcy Drive, Bo Staloch, Devol Gilfillian, Derby, Calder Allen and Michaela Anne. After a day of music, the night will end with a firework display following Kahan's set. The Stateside Festival poster can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 4/27/26...... 
David Lee Roth made a surprise appearance at the Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, Calif., on Apr. 25, joining Teddy Swims onstage for a performance of "Jump," Van Halen's 1984 single. During their set, Swims brought Roth onstage after performing his recent single "Mr. Know It All" and "Some Things I'll Never Know," both from his debut studio album I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), released in Sept. 2023. The recent performance took place amid a turbulent evening at this year's Stagecoach, where high winds earlier in the night had forced a temporary evacuation of the festival grounds and prompted a series of schedule changes, including the removal of several artists, including Journey and Riley Green, from the lineup. The evacuation was triggered by high winds that intensified across Indio's Empire Polo Club. An "emergency evacuation" message appeared on screens across the site, instructing attendees to "move quickly and calmly to the nearest exit," while alerts sent via the festival's official app directed festivalgoers to leave the area. Despite the weather, Swims' set went ahead, with Roth's appearance providing one of the night's most high-profile moments as fans gathered following the festival's reopening. Stagecoach, one of the largest country music festivals in the United States, is held annually at the same site as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and draws tens of thousands of attendees each year. - Billboard, 4/27/26...... Even though he died in 2009, Michael Jackson-mania is still in full force as the new MJ biopic Michael earned a record-breaking $97 million domestic opening and a global launch of $217.4 million after opening on Apr. 24. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Antoine Fuqua-directed film delivered the biggest opening ever for a music biopic, surpassing Universal's rap doc Straight Outta Compton, which debuted to $60.1 million in 2015. Fox's Queen/Freddie Mercury film Bohemian Rhapsody opened to $51 million in 2018, ranking as the second-biggest debut for a music biopic. Michael now also holds the biggest domestic opening of all time for a biopic, surpassing Oppenheimer ($80 million), not adjusted for inflation, according to THR. Michael grossed $38.5 million domestically on opening day and was off to a strong start overseas, with an international launch in the $114 million range, THR reports. "This record-breaking performance is a testament to the incredible filmmaking team of producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, an amazing cast led by Jaafar Jackson's singular performance, our world-class partners at Universal, the cooperation and support of the Michael Jackson Estate, and our tireless and exceptionally talented Lionsgate team," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said in a statement. "Above all, it reflects the tremendous outpouring of love and affection from moviegoers around the world, underscoring the strength and vitality of the theatrical box office. If you give audiences what they want, they will come." Michael, which charts the superstar's rise from fronting The Jackson 5 in the 1970s to launching a solo career that reached historic heights, is the first installment of a planned two-part biopic, with the the second installment possibly starting to shoot as early as this year. Meanwhile, in the spirit of fans acting out the iconic 1975 comedy The Rocky Horror Picture show, a new dance trend is taking place at screenings of Michael, which is annoying some cinema-goers. Many have taken to social media to hit out at those wanting to dance at the theater instead of watching the film. "I was thinking about going to see Michael tomorrow in the theater, but stuff like this makes me want to watch it at home instead," one person wrote, sharing footage on X/Twitter of a fan performing one of Jackson's routines beneath the screen. "If I pay to see a MOVIE, I don't want to see anyone else dancing other than Michael." "There's a difference between enjoying the moment and disrupting everyone else's experience," another agreed, while a third added: "I don't want to see anything like it. As a paying customer I'd prefer to watch the movie I paid to see and not some narcissistic attention whore trying to create a viral moment." However some movie patrons have described it as "one of the best movie-going experiences" they've had. They argue that the trend simply shows people enjoying his music and adding to an electric atmosphere in the cinema. "You have zero sense of fun or humour. You have zero energy. You are all Karens now and you suck," one person shared, defending the trend, and another praised it as making the cinema feel like "a live concert" and "a full-blown MJ revival." "Michael Jackson made music so ppl can dance to it," another person chimed in on X, and someone else described it as "magical." - Billboard/NME, 4/26/26...... 
Nedra Talley Ross, the last surviving member of the 1960s girl group The Ronettes, died on Apr. 26 at the age of 80. Her passing was announced by her daughter, Nedra K Ross, in a Facebook post. "At approximately 8:30 this morning, our mother, Nedra Talley Ross, went home to be with the Lord," she wrote. "She was safe in her own bed at home with her family close, knowing she was loved. Thank you, Lord." Ms. Talley Ross, Estelle Bennett and Ronnie Spector rose to prominence while working with Ronnie's husband, legendary record producer Phil Spector, in 1963. Together, The Ronettes recorded songs including "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You" and "Walking in the Rain." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. A tribute posted on the group's official Instagram page noted, "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Nedra Talley Ross' passing. She was a light to those who knew and loved her... [The Ronnettes'] voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that would change music. Her contribution to the group's story and their defining influence will live forever. Rest peacefully dear Nedra. Thanks for the magic." Estelle Bennett died in 2009 at age 67 due to colon cancer. Her sister, Veronica Bennett, known as Ronnie Spector after marrying Phil Spector in 1968, died in January 2022 at age 78 after a battle with cancer. - Music-News.com, 4/28/26...... Tony Wilson, the bassist, songwriter and co-founder of the '70s British disco/soul troupe Hot Chocolate, died on Apr. 24 in his native Trinidad of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 78. Wilson's daughter shared the news in an emotional Facebook post, writing that her father "left us today, April 24th 2026," and adding that he "left a lot of music behind forever and ever." She described their final conversations as deeply meaningful, saying he had recently asked for prayers and expressed a sense of peace about his passing, writing "The peace that I have is knowing that his soul escaped. He is in and at peace." Born in Trinidad, Wilson moved to the UK as a young man and began pursuing music in the early 1960s, first as a solo act in 1964, when he released his debut single "Yes I Do" on Decca Records. His life changed in 1969 when he teamed up with vocalist Errol Brown to form Hot Chocolate. The band went on to break new ground for Black British artists on the US charts, carving out a distinctive place in pop and soul history. Hot Chocolate scored global success with a string of hits between 1975-78, most famously the 1975 classic "You Sexy Thing" (#3, US), which Wilson co-wrote. The track became a defining anthem of the decade and remains one of the most recognizable songs in British pop culture. Other hits include "Emma" (#8, US), "Disco Queen" (#28, US), "So You Win Again" (#31, US), and "Every 1's A Winner" (#6, US). Wilson departed Hot Chocolate in 1975, releasing two albums, I Like Your Style and Catch One. - Music-News.com, 4/28/26...... In the midst of Cher's decision to file for conservatorship of her son Elijah Blue Allman, 49, on Apr. 16 amid his addiction, mental health and legal issues, it's been revealed that Elijah is the father of a 15-year-old girl named Ever, whom Cher, 79, learned of only in June 2025. The girl's mother, Kayti Edwards, 49, who is the step-granddaughter of actress Julie Andrews, 90, via her late husband Blake Edwards, told the UK tabloid The Sun that first-time grandmother Cher is "really trying" to build a bond with Ever, and they both spent the night at Cher's hom in September. Edwards said Elijah -- who is currently in custody in a New Hampshire psychiatric hospital -- "wanted to see [Ever] and have a relationship with her, but he wasn't in any fit state." - People, 5/4/26...... 
Controversial outlaw country music singer/songwriter David Allan Coe, best known for his '70s songs "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" and "Longhaired Redneck" as well as the '80s tracks "The Ride" and "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," died on Apr. 29, his widow Kimberly confirmed to Rolling Stone. He was 86. "One of the best singers, songwriters, and performers of our time (and) never to be forgotten," she wrote to the outlet. "My husband, my friend, my confidant and my life for many years. I'll never forget him and I don't want anyone else to ever forget him either." Mr. Coe also composed hits for several other artists, including "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" for Tanya Tucker and "Take This Job and Shove It," popularized by Johnny Paycheck. The latter earned Mr. Coe a Grammy nomination. Over the course of his career, the musician released over 40 albums, including the controversial LP's Nothing Sacred and Underground Album in the late '70s and '80s. While he had used racist language before, Mr. Coe sparked outrage over the use of racial slurs, hate speech and homophobic and misogynistic lyrics in those two albums. He denied he was a racist at the time. In addition, the musician also got into legal trouble in the 2010s. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to obstructing America's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from collecting taxes and was ordered to pay nearly $1 million he following year. Mr. Coe was married six times, most recently to Kimberly in 2010. He is survived by his wife and his five children: Tyler, Tanya, Shyanne, Carson and Shelli. - Music-News.com, 4/30/26.
To celebrate one of the UK's most innovative and influential bands of the rock and roll era, Britain's Royal Mail revealed on Oct. 3 that a set of 60th anniversary The Who stamps are available for pre-order at www.royalmail.com/thewho and by telephone on 03457-641-641. The eight stamps feature images of some of the band's most popular and iconic album covers: My Generation (1965); Tommy (1969); Who's Next (1971); Quadrophenia (1973); Who Are You (1978); Face Dances (1981); Endless Wire (2006); and WHO (2019). Completing the set is a miniature-sheet featuring two publicity group shots and two images of the band's dynamic live performances at the Marquee Club, London, in 1967 and the Kings Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, in 1973. Commenting on the honor, frontman Roger Daltrey said: "The artwork on the album sleeves was almost as important to the success of the record as the music. It's great to be reminded of them," while guitarist Pete Townshend said: "Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! It's what I've done on stage all my life, sometimes in the air. At last, my stamping, and that of my buddy Roger, has been honoured properly, and will help letters, parcels and birthday cards travel through time and space, just as we have." The Who become the seventh music group to feature in a dedicated Royal Mail stamp issue -- following on from: The Beatles (2007); Pink Floyd (2016); Queen (2020); The Rolling Stones (2022); Iron Maiden (2023); and The Spice Girls (2024). - Music-News.com, 10/3/24...... A producer who worked on Fleetwood Mac's legendary 1977 album 
Frankie Valli has "cleared the air" after viral videos of him at recent shows sparked concern from fans. Footage of the Four Seasons legend, who turned 90 this year, performing during his recent concerts appeared to show him lip-syncing while displaying difficulty keeping up with the music. A series of videos circulated on social media over the weekend, with many expressing concern over his wellbeing. "I love Frankie Valli but this isn't right," one person shared on 
Emmylou Harris will receive the ASPCA Henry Bergh Award at the 2024 Humane Awards for her passionate commitment to animal welfare. In 2004, Harris established Bonaparte's Retreat with the goal of rescuing shelter dogs. Bonaparte's Retreat continues to save dogs most in need at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control and at municipal shelters in surrounding counties. She is also a board member of Crossroads Campus, a nonprofit that transforms lives by creating opportunities for individuals facing poverty and homelessness to care for homeless dogs and cats. Harris has recorded 32 studio albums since her debut on tiny Jubilee Records in 1970, received Billboard's Century Award in 1999, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2018. She has aalso massed 13 Grammy Awards, including album of the year for her featured role on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, and won three CMA Awards, again including album of the year for that Billboard Hot 200-topping soundtrack.- Billboard, 9/30/24...... Following news the death of Kris Kristofferson at the age of 88 on Sept. 28, tributes have poured in from some of the biggest names in the music industry, honoring the legendary songwriter and actor whose influence spanned decades. Barbra Streisand, who co-starred with Kristofferson in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, spoke of the qualities that made Kristofferson not just a talented performer, but also a deeply respected figure in both music and film. "The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A., I knew he was something special," Streisand wrote on 
Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant revealed on Sept. 26 that his daughter has been diagnosed with "brain mass" and that four forthcoming Skynyrd shows would not be going ahead as Johnny, 63, would be leaving the tour to be with his daughter following an "emergency illness." Van Zant says his youngest daughter Taylor has been diagnosed with brain mass, an abnormality often associated with a tumour. Johnny said that doctors do not believe the mass is cancerous, but tests are ongoing, he added: "We are not out of the woods yet, but we are in a lot better position than we thought we were in in the beginning." The musician also revealed that his longtime tour bus driver, Brad Gibson, is currently in intensive care following a freak accident on a scooter. Johnny took over frontman and songwriting duties from his late brother, Lynyrd Skynyrd founder, Ronnie Van Zant, when the band was revived in 1987. The elder Van Zant was killed along with two other group members Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie Gaines, in a plane crash in 1977. - Music-News.com, 9/30/24...... The English post-punk band Gang Of Four have announced their 2025 US farewell tour set to kick off next early next spring. They will be performing their classic 1979 debut album 
It was revealed on Oct. 1 that John Amos, the Emmy-nominated actor who starred as the stoic father on the Norman Lear-developed '70s sitcom 
Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, who wrote such country-rock standards as "Me and Bobby McGee," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and later became an A-list Hollywood actor, died at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Sept. 28. He was 88. With his long hair, bell-bottomed slacks and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he represented a new breed of country songwriters, along with such peers as Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall. "Kris brought it kind of from the dark ages up to the present-day time, made it acceptable and brought great lyrics -- I mean, the best possible lyrics," Nelson told 60 Minutes in a 1999 segment about Mr. Kristofferson. "Simple but profound." Born in Brownsville, Tex., on June 22, 1936, Mr. Kristofferson received a Ph.D. from Pomona College where he played football and became a Golden Gloves boxer. He received a master's degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford in England, and after becoming a U.S. Army pilot, turned down an appointment to teach English at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to pursue songwriting in Nashville after a meeting with Johnny Cash. Hoping to break into the industry, he moved to Nashville in 1965 worked as a part-time night janitor at Columbia Records' Music Row studio in 1966, at the same time Bob Dylan was recording tracks for his seminal Blonde on Blonde album. His break came in 1969, when Cash gave "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" to Roger Miller who made it a country hit. Mr. Kristofferson appeared on Cash's TV show, and Cash also had a hit with "Sunday Mornin'." Mr. Kristofferson was a singer himself, releasing his debut album 
His 1971 album The Silver-Tongued Devil and I was a critical success and went gold, however his recording career declined the next year after 1972's Border Lord was panned. Meanwhile, an acting career took off with 1972's 
In other 2024 presidential campaign-related news, the estate of Isaac Hayes has filed a lawsuit against Republican candidate Donald Trump over what they allege is copyright infringement, stating that the late artist's song "Hold On, I'm Coming" was used on "multiple occasions during various political rallies" of Trump's without authorization. The paperwork, dated Monday, Aug. 11, identifies 134 counts copyright infringement at campaign rallies from 2022-2024. "We demand the cessation of use, removal of all related videos, a public disclaimer, and payment of $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, 2024. Failure to comply will result in further legal action," reads a statement posted on Hayes' son, Isaac Hayes III. However, given no choice, the paperwork reads, that legal action could extend to "federal litigation." The family also posted their intent to sue Trump on 
Devo recently popped in to NPR's Tiny Desk studio for a raucous four-song set for the public radio series that featured one obscure track they hadn't performed live in more than four decades. With founding singer/keyboardist Mark Mothersbaugh leading the charge alongside brother and longtime guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh and original bassist Gerald Casale, the group bounded out of the gate with the bluesy, bouncing rarity "It Takes a Worried Man." The song -- inspired by the folk/roots classic "Worried Man Blues" -- was originally recorded for the little-seen 1982 nuclear panic comedy Human Highway, which was directed by Neil Young, who also co-starred alongside Dean Stockwell, co-writer Dennis Hopper and Devo, who played radioactive waste garbage men in orange outfits and hard hats accented by plastic tubes that snaked down into the band member's noses. In addition to Mothersbaugh's sermon-like breakdown about how everyone is just going for that "big ice cream cone in the sky," the song featured a wiggy keyboard solo from the frontman, who, alas, was not wearing the band's signature red flower bucket hat. Devo ended the set with another song from their 1978 debut 
George Harrison's 1971 The Concert For Bangladesh live charity album, featuring Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell and more, is set to arrive across streaming platforms for the first time. Not only will it come with all of the astonishing performances from the line-up, it will also contain a new bonus track: the original studio version of Harrison's song "Bangla Desh," which was released as a single in July 1971. All net proceeds after taxes will be donated to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF at the US Fund for UNICEF. Held across two sold-out concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden back in August 1971, the concerts are considered to be the first major music benefit of its kind and saw the music icon assemble a star-studded event for a common humanitarian goal. Harrison organized the shows in a bid to raise both awareness and funds for the 10 million East Pakistani refugees who had fled over the border into India, and were facing challenges including the threat of hunger and disease. Setting the precedent that music could be used to serve a higher cause, the MSG shows saw the former Beatle team up with Ravi Shankar, and invite Dylan, Starr, Russell, Eric Clapton and Billy Preston to perform at the non-profit event. By the point they took to the stage, little public attention had been drawn to the crisis in East Pakistan/Bangladesh and few outside of the region were aware of how to help those affected. "The musicians were great. I mean they completely put down their own egos to play together and to do something because the whole vibe of that concert was that it was something bigger than the lot of us," Harrison said at the time. The concerts were later turned into a 
Lou Reed's songwriting work before he joined the seminal New York rock band Velvet Underground has been compiled into a single album, Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65. The album's opening track is The Primatives' "The Ostrich" that features Reed on lead vocals. Other artists featured include The Beachnuts, The Hi-Lifes, Ronnie Dickerson, The Hollywoods, The Roughnecks and The Surfsiders. The compilation album is due for release on Sept. 27 via Light in the Attic, in partnership with Reed's widow Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive. - NME, 8/14/24...... A release date for the forthcoming Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has been set for Christmas Day (Dec. 25) in the United States, according to a post by Searchlight Pictures on Aug. 6 on 
Even as Rod Stewart was forced to cancel what was supposed to be the 200th, and final, show in his 13-year Las Vegas residency on Aug. 7 due to strep throat, the indefatigable pop legend announced the same day that he'll resume his residency in 2025. "Vegas, I'm having too much fun for this to end so we are coming back for an encore!," Sir Rod posted on 
A star-studded tribute album to Talking Heads' acclaimed film Stop Making Sense has debuted atop Billboard's Compilation Albums chart for the week dated Aug. 10. First released as a digital download and via streaming services in May, 
Late folk-country icon John Denver has returned to the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, as a writer via MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly) and Jelly Roll's new single, "Lonely Road." The track, released July 26, launches at No. 33 on the Hot 100 with 10.5 million official streams, 646,000 in radio airplay audience and 12,000 sold in the United States in the week ending Aug. 1, according to Luminate. The song, MGK's fourth top 40 Hot 100 hit and Jelly Roll's seventh, reimagines Denver's breakthrough anthem as a recording artist, 
Comedian/actor Steve Martin has turned down a chance to portray Democratic presidential hopeful Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, on the upcoming 50th season of