On Mar. 23 Barry Manilow announced he's releasing his first new studio album of mostly new material in nearly 15 years, What a Time, on June 5. Primarily produced by Manilow and longtime collaborator Michael Lloyd, the album will be Manilow's 33rd studio LP and his first mostly original LP since 2011's 15 Minutes, his 15th top 10 album on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. Manilow, 82, first made the top 10 in Feb. 1975 with Barry Manilow II. The star has released the first single from the album, "Sun Shine," ahead of the album that echoes his ebullient 1977 hit "Daybreak," along with a video that doesn't feature the singer but focuses instead on an attractive young couple getting ready for the day. Manilow wrote or co-wrote all but two of the 13 tracks, teaming with John Bettis to write three of the songs. The album announcement arrives amid a time of both health challenges and professional validation for Manilow. 
On Dec. 22, 2025, he announced a diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer, for which he underwent surgery. On Mar. 3, he released an upbeat video in which he declared "But I am getting stronger and I have great doctors and wonderful friends and family, but I am so looking forward to getting back on stage." Meanwhile, Manilow is opening up for the first time about his "nightmare" lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. In a cover story for the new issue of People magazine, Barry said his "nightmare" lung cancer surgery and long recovery "really, really made me take stock of my life." "You just don't even think about [how fragile life is]. And suddenly, you have lung cancer," he says. "But I'm still here. I'm not all here; there's part of me that isn't here -- they took out a part of me, and now I've got to figure out, 'What do I do?'." He described going initially going to a doctor in Nov. 2025 for hip pain that turned into a more serious diagnosis. Unexpectedly, a pelvic MRI expanded to a scan of his lungs when the doctor heard that the singer had suffered through two recent bouts of bronchitis. "If he hadn't done that, man. He saved my life, because there's no symptoms for what I had. I could go on, nothing hurt -- but they found the dot in my lung," he says. "They called me and said, 'Could be cancer.' That's a bad word. 'Not me. F--k you. I can't have cancer.' If it had gone any further, then I would be up s--t's creek. It just so happened that it hadn't spread, and boy oh boy, I thought I might be dying." Manilow said he doesn't remember his "nightmare" hospital stay and that he is grateful that he didn't have to undergo further invasive treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. Manilow also announced a long list of upcoming U.S. tour dates, running from Apr. 13 to Jan. 21, 2027. - Billboard, 3/24/26...... The executors of Michael Jackson's estate say the late King of Pop's daughter Paris Jackson doesn't have any reason to complain about their spending on the long-anticipated MJ biopic Michael, arguing that objections lodged by Paris "betray a complete lack of understanding about how the motion picture industry works." Paris, 27, is fighting over finances with estate lawyer John Branca and A&R executive John McClain, co-executors who've overseen MJ's fortune since his death in 2009. The estate is still in Los Angeles probate court, where a retired judge has been appointed to referee disputes like this one with the superstar's survivors. After losing an earlier challenge to the executors' spending, Paris' attorneys filed an objection this fall focused on the estate's 2021 account statements. This objection accused Branca and McClain of aiming to "enrich and aggrandize" themselves and criticized their roles as producers on the upcoming Michael biopic, including Branca's casting of Miles Teller to play a younger version of himself. Branca and McClain have now filed their own document saying there's zero validity to Paris' complaints: "These meritless objections are a profound waste of the court's time and, ironically, the estate's money," reads the executors' response filed on Mar. 19 in probate court. The pair claim their work has generated billions of dollars for Michael's estate, $65 million of which has already gone to Paris. Much of that revenue has come from entertainment projects produced by Branca and McClain, including the Broadway show "MJ The Musical" and the 2009 documentary Michael Jackson's This Is It. A source close to Paris, meanwhile, says, "It's a shame the executors are lobbing personal attacks against a beneficiary instead of providing basic transparency and accountability. If the estate is interested in clarifying the facts, they could just release all the years of financial records Paris has been requesting. Without them, Paris and the rest of the Jackson family are totally in the dark." - Billboard, 3/24/26...... 
On Mar. 21 Neil Diamond announced he will release his third and final album collaboration with veteran producer Rick Rubin, Wild At Heart, on CD, vinyl and digital platforms via Capitol/UMe on May 8, with limited edition colored vinyl and 2CD versions also available. Diamond's previous collaborations with Rubin, 2005's 12 Songs and 2008's Home Before Dark, were met with critical and commercial success, and the songs that make up Wild At Heart were initially recorded during the Home Before Dark sessions. Now Diamond has revisited the material, fleshing out nine new songs that will now be released for the first time, as well as an alternate take of the Home Before Dark track "Forgotten." Speaking about Rubin, Diamond has said: "My work with Rick was a labor of love, and I'm so gratified that these songs will finally be set free into the world to complete our trilogy of work." Diamond, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2018, retired from touring in the same year. He briefly came out of retirement in 2022 to sing 'Sweet Caroline' during the curtain call of A Beautiful Noise, a Broadway musical about his life. The country-flavored title track of Wild At Heart can be streamed on YouTube. - NME, 3/21/26...... On Mar. 24 Willie Nelson announced the 2026 lineup for his annual Outlaw Music Festival and a 12-date tour slated to kick off on July 3 at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Tex. The Outlaw festival will be topped by Nelson and his family band, along with the Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow and Wilco. The festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, will once again feature Nelson, 92, topping the bill, though this year's roster of shows has been pared down, with a release saying for that reason, "each night carries added significance, a rare chance to experience a living legend alongside a powerhouse lineup of iconic voices and next-generation trailblazers." The tour will feature appearances from Nelson's son, Lukas Nelson and Sierra Hull, as well as Stephen Wilson Jr., Margo Price, Lily Meola, Rodney Crowell, Robert Randolph and Don Was with the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. "Being on the road and playing for the fans is what I love to do. We don't get to do as many shows as we used to, so every night out there means a little more," Willie said a statement. "I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and making it a special time." Meanwhile, Nelson's new album Dream Chaser will feature a new collaboration with Bob Dylan. The 10-track LP will be the followup to 2025's Workin' Man. Willie has already shared the title track of Dream Chaser on YouTube, and the album will be released on May 29. Another track from the LP, "I Can't Read Your Mind," was co-written with his friends Dylan and Buddy Cannon. Nelson and Dylan have toured extensively together in the past, including at the Outlaw Music Festival Tour in 2025 and 2024, but rarely shared a credit on a song. The last time they did so was on "Heartland"' from Nelson's 1993 album Across The Borderline. - Billboard, 3/24/26...... Speaking of Bob Dylan, the rock bard has covered Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown" for the first time ever at his inaugural 2026 "Rough And Rowdy Ways" tour show. Dylan has been playing shows on the tour since Nov. 2021 and the most recent leg kicked off at the Orpheum Theatre in Omaha, Neb. on Mar. 21. The 16-song set saw Dylan make adjustments to the familiar setlist and stage setup from previous legs of the tour, including a switch to acoustic guitars over electric and a keyboard over his usual grand piano. The tour continues until the final announced show in Abilene, Tex. on May 1. By that point, the tour will have consisted of over 300 shows. - New Musical Express, 3/22/26...... 
Electronic musician Moby is facing strong pushback from The Kinks' lead guitarist and co-founder Dave Davies after criticizing one of the British Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band's signature hits, "Lola." In a recent edition of its "Honest Playlist" series in which the UK paper The Guardian asks musicians to talk about the songs that mean the most to them, Moby called the Kinks' 1970s US No. 9 hit a track he can no longer listen to. "'Lola' by the Kinks came up on a Spotify playlist, and I thought the lyrics were gross and transphobic," Moby told the paper about the song that tells the tale of a young man's romantic encounter with a transgender woman or drag queen in a Soho nightclub. "I like their early music, but I was really taken aback at how unevolved the lyrics are," he added. Those comments did not sit well with Davies, who shot back in a Mar. 22 post on X/Twitter in which he wrote, "I don't wanna show the guy up, but Moby should be careful what he says. The cockettes and their friends used to follow us around on tour. We appreciated them," the guitarist said in reference to the gender-bending 1970s psychedelic hippie troupe. "Why is Moby being so rude about this simple song? We're not trans phobic. Why does he have to have a go at us?" In addition, Davies posted a letter he said was sent to himself and his brother, Kinks singer Ray Davies, from their good friend and pioneering trans punk icon Jayne "Wayne" County, who wrote about what "Lola" meant to her back in the day. County wrote that when she first heard the song she was both "thrilled and amazed" that the Kinks would record a song about a trans person and wondered if anyone else had clocked what the song was about. "'Lola' will always be one of those songs that for me 'broke the ice' so to speak! A song that breaks down barriers and brings a used to be, hush, hush subject to the forefront and makes it sound perfectly natural to be singing a song about a 'girl' named Lola!" Moby has yet to respond to Davies' comments. - Billboard, 3/23/26...... The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is teaming up with Bruce Springsteen on a 30-second video soundtracked by his 1984 hit "Born In The U.S.A." a week before the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a landmark case about Pres. Donald Trump's administration's attempts to rewrite the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. The song, which has been improperly hijacked by years by people at political events who've mistaken its seemingly fist-pumping patriotic chorus as a jingoistic anthem akin to the "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!," actually describes the thoughts of a disillusioned Vietnam veteran lamenting his meager options back home. Now the Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a birthright citizenship case stemming from a Jan. 2025 executive order from Pres. Trump attempting to curtail the 14th Amendment's grant of automatic citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.A. The new "Born In The U.S.A." video shows a series of different types of American families that could be impacted by the ruling. "We're reminding President Trump what it means to be born in the U.S.A.," reads the caption to the video. "We're honored that the one and only Bruce Springsteen trusted us with use of his iconic anthem ahead of our landmark Supreme Court case Trump v. Barbara, where we're challenging President Trump's attempt to overturn birthright citizenship. The 14th Amendment speaks for itself." The ACLU sued Trump within two hours of the executive order attempting to revoke birthright citizenship in the case the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on beginning on April 1, after several other lower courts already ruled to block the order. The video can be checked out on YouTube. Meanwhile, Springsteen has announced his intention to play his anti-ICE protest song "Streets of Minneapolis" in Minnesota's Twin Cities on Mar. 28 during St. Paul's No Kings rally. Springsteen dropped the politically charged song in January as a broadside against the Trump administration's deadly incursion into the city that resulted in the killing of two American citizens: 37-year-old mother of three Rene Good and 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti. "You want to try to meet the moment," Springsteen told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Mar. 23. "The No Kings movement is of great import right now. When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment, it elevates your job to another level. And I'm always in search of that," he added. The appearance will come just a few days before The Boss kicks off his "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour on Mar. 31 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. - Billboard, 3/23/26...... 
On Mar. 2, what would have been Karen Carpenter's 26th birthday, her brother Richard Carpenter posted a loving tribute on his official Instagram page. "Today, the second of March, 2026, would have been my late sister's 76th birthday," Richard wrote. "Karen's marvelous, timeless alto, was perfect, truly perfect, and able to interpret with ease from the heart, any type of popular song, whether it be 1937's 'I Can Dream, Can't I?' to 1961's 'Please Mr. Postman,' all the while appealing to millions of listeners around the world and to this day." He closed with a sincere declaration that reflected the monumental loss Karen's death was for the world and for Richard personally: "I realize one should never say 'never,' but there will never be another Karen." Karen died on Feb. 4, 1983, at just 32, from heart failure brought on by anorexia nervosa. In the more than four decades since, Richard has continued and honored the legacy of The Carpenters. He last performed a song from the duo's catalog in April 2025 at an event for the The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1994 and honors their legacy. The theater, which features a lobbe that displays Carpenters memorabilia, is located on the campus of California State University Long Beach, which Richard and Karen both attended shortly before they rose to fame together. - Yahoo Entertainment, 3/2/26...... For the KISS Army member who has everything, ex-KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent is selling his new album, Guitarmageddon, "in master format only" for $2 million. Just months after selling his limited-edition single for $225, Vincent has announced the news of a 10-track album. The musician, who played with KISS between 1982 and 1984, might be selling what he describes as "one of the greatest rock albums of all time" for "only" $2 million -- but he's offering fans some unique perks with the purchase. Additionally, the price would not include copyright and trademarks related to Vincent or the album, only a perpetual license to use the brand name 'Vinnie Vincent Invasion' and 'Vinnie Vincent' for the album. The website states "a separate agreement can be arranged and negotiated" for those interested in purchasing the copyright. For those who feel the album's price tag is too hefty, individual songs are also available to buy for $200,000 each. According to the website, "no refunds will be made once the buyer receives the masters and artwork." Vincent has previously defended the high price tags of his music, writing on Facebook: "I understand the bitching, the moaning, the whining about price, but you must also understand that my situation is as such that my music is so desired that it will be targeted and taken from me immediately, which I cannot/will not allow. I wish it was not this way, but I'm honoured that it is. It's a double-edged sword for me, but I sincerely hope that when you think it through you will understand the dilemma I face." He went on to compare his single to "caviar or fine art," stating that "not everyone can afford it" and asserting that "fair market price" was "yesteryear." - NME, 3/19/26...... Songwriter Chip Taylor, who penned such rock classics as "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning," died on Mar. 24. He was 86. The announcement was made by his record lable Train Wreck Records and no cause of death has been reported. "Known for songs that captured the emotion and spirit of the times, Chip created a catalog over a six decade career that included works for a diverse range of artists including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Shaggy, and Tina Turner," an obituary posted by Train Wreck read in part. Born James Wesley Voight in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1940, Mr. Taylor was the youngest of three sons, including his older brother, actor Jon Voigh. He originally followed in the footsteps of his professional golfer dad Elmer, playing golf in college in South Carolina, before returning to New York and adopting his stage name to become a singer/songwriter. His earliest success came with "Wild Thing," which was a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 three times: first as a No. 1 hit in 1966 by The Troggs; then as a comedy recording by Senator Bobby featuring Bill Minkin (No. 20 in 1967); and finally Fancy (No. 14 in 1974). It was also famously covered by the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Another big hit was "Angel of the Morning," a top 10 hit twice by two different artists: first by Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts (No. 7 in 1968) and then by Juice Newton (No. 4 in 1981). It was a top 40 hit twice on the Hot Country Songs chart as well, thanks to versions by Connie (No. 34 in 1970) and Newton (No. 22 in 1981). "Angel of the Morning" was also interpolated in Shaggy's 2001 No. 1 Hot 100 hit "Angel," featuring Rayvon. A prolific performer who released than 30 albums in his lifetime starting in 1971 and extending through last year, Mr. Taylor was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016. His wife Joan died in 2025, and the couple is survived by their two children, Kristian and Kelly, and five grandchildren. - Billboard, 3/24/26...... 
Actress Valerie Perrine, best known for playing Lex Luthor's girlfriend in the original Superman films and starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in the Lenny Bruce biopic Lenny, died at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Mar. 23. She was 82. Her friend and caregiver, Stacey Souther, shared news of her death with fans in a Facebook post, writing: "It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away. She faced Parkinson's disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining. She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest -- and what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it." Souther asked her fans to consider donating to a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her funeral costs. "Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson's, her finances are exhausted," he said. "Let's come together to make her last wish a reality -- she truly deserves it." Ms. Perrine was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015, a neurodegenerative disorder that would eventually take away her ability to live independently. Souther, a filmmaker, became her caregiver. Her battle with the disease would be the subject of Souther's documentary Valerie, which was released in 2019. A former Las Vegas showgirl, Ms. Perrine made her big-screen debut in the film Slaughterhouse-Five in 1972, an adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's sci-fi novel. Her appearance in "Steambath," a play that aired on PBS in 1973, raised eyebrows when she became the first woman to intentionally expose her breasts on TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Other roles she took on in the 1970s included playing the girlfriend of Jeff Bridges' race-car driving character Elroy Jackson Jr. in The Last American Hero and portraying Honey Bruce, the stripper wife of Hoffman's Lenny Bruce in Lenny. Her performance in the 1974 biopic earned her a best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and nominations at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. She then took on the role of Eve Teschmacher, the secretary and love interest of Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor in Superman: The Movie in 1978 and its sequel in 1980. She would continue acting in the following decades with her last role in the 2016 comedy Silver Skies, according to IMDb. - Canoe.com, 3/23/26.
AC/DC guitarist Stevie Young was hospitalized in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Mar. 19 four days before the Aussie hard rockers were play three shows in the South American city on Mar. 23, 27 and 31. "Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, AC/DC band member Stevie Young was not feeling well," a spokesperson for the band told Billboard on on Mar. 20. "Out of an abundance of caution, he was admitted to a local hospital where he is undergoing a full battery of tests," adding that "Stevie is doing well and in good spirits. He is looking forward to getting on stage on Monday." Stevie Young has been AC/DC's rhythm guitarist since 2014, when he replaced his uncle Malcolm Young who retired from music due to health issues related to dementia; he died three years later in Nov. 2017 at age 64. The veteran "Back in Black" group are scheduled to play three sold-out shows at Buenos Aires' 85,000-capacity Monumental Stadium in late March. The gigs will be AC/DC's first performances in Argentina since 2009, when they played for nearly 200,000 fans over three shows at the same stadium on their "Black Ice" world tour. AC/DC launched the "Power Up" tour in support of their 17th studio album of the same name in May 2024 in Germany. After touring Europe that year, North America and their native Australia in 2025, they picked things back up in Feb. 2026 with a trio of shows in So Paulo, Brazil and two gigs in Santiago, Chile. - Billboard, 3/20/26...... 
Peter Frampton announced on Instagram on Mar. 17 that he'll be dropping his first album of original music in 16 years on May 15. "This record is a very special one for me," Frampton said of the LP, Carry the Light "I got to write and produce it with my son Julian [Frampton], as well as work with some wonderful friends along the way." Among the featured artists are Sheryl Crow, who sings with Frampton on "Breaking the Mold," and H.E.R., who plays guitar alongside the "Baby, I Love Your Way" singer on "Islamorada." Tom Morello fittingly appears on a track titled "Lions at the Gate," which is described as a "protest song" in a release. Also on the record are Graham Nash on "I'm Sorry Elle," Benmont Tench on the album's first single, "Buried Treasure," and saxophonist Bill Evans on "Can You Take Me There" and "Tinderbox." Frampton's last proper album, Thank You Mr. Churchill, dropped in 2010 and appeared on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, on which the guitarist has scored 14 entries total. His 1976 live album, Frampton Comes Alive!, spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the chart. Frampton has credited Crow for helping him become inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. "[Sheryl] stirred the pot big-time and made people aware -- including some of the board members, I think," Frampton told Billboard in 2024 of crediting Crow with his nomination to the Rock Hall. "They thought I was already in." Frampton's announcement and the single "Buried Treasure" can be streamed on Instagram. - Billboard, 3/17/26...... Appearing on Sirius XM's The Julia Cunningham Show, Irish actor Barry Keoghan discussed working on the forthcoming Beatles biopic, describing his co-stars as "brothers." The unique format of the films, in which Sam Mendes directs a film for each member of the band, was discussed and the actor was enthusiastic about his time filming. "It's going to be an event and you know and we knew that coming on board" he said. "What an exciting event to be part of, and no better filmmaker to do it than Sam, you know, so I'm having an absolute f---ing brilliant time and elevating my craft and, you know, making brothers as well on set." Keoghan is joined by Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. His full interview can be viewed on YouTube. - New Musical Express, 3/20/26...... The cause of Neil Sedaka's death on Feb. 27 at age 86 has been revealed three weeks after the passing of the "Laughter In the Rain" singer. The New York Post reports that Sedaka died of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a chronic condition caused by the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in artery walls -- often referred to as plaque -- which can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow resulting in blood clots that can lead to heart attack or stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. Kidney failure also contributed to Sedaka's passing, according to a death certificate reportedly obtained by the paper, which noted that his occupation was listed as "singer-songwriter" and that he was embalmed at the Hollywood Funeral Home and buried at Beth Olam Cemetery in Los Angeles on Mar. 3. In an Instagram post after his passing, his family described the Brooklyn-born musician as "a true rock n' roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed." - Billboard, 3/19/26...... 
Elton John and husband David Furnish's annual Oscars viewing party held at West Hollywood Park on Mar. 15 raised a historic $10.6 million for the global fight to end the AIDS epidemic. Co-hosted by John, Furnish, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, the 34th annual event featured a aw, unfiltered performance by rising double-platinum British artist Lola Young. "Elton, David, and the Foundation are all about celebrating who you really are," Young said, emphasizing the responsibility of her generation to advocate for LGBTQ+ communities and those still affected by HIV. Elton echoed the sentiment, praising Young as "bold, brilliant, and completely herself" amidst a legendary night for British talent. The fundraising reached a fever pitch during an auction led by Lydia Fenet. The centerpiece was an original artwork titled "Tiny Dancer" by Jack Coulter. Coulter, who experiences synesthesia, translated sound into color while John performed a rare, solo piano rendition of the classic song. Meanwhile, Mick Jagger and his fiancé Melanie Hamrick made a glamorous appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscar party on the same evening. Hamrick, 38, smiled alongside her 82-year-old significant one, who sported a teal shirt and matching sport coat. While Jagger and Hamrick are engaged, they seem to have no official plans to get married, but Hamrick says that doesn't mean they may not pursue it in the future. "We've been engaged two or three years," Hamrick told Paris Match, a French publication, in 2025. "Maybe one day we'll marry, maybe not. We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything." Jagger has said he is considering retiring from touring after a recent harrowing experience involving Hamrick being physically attacked at a private members' club in London. The experience involving Hamrick has forced him to "reassess his priorities," according to an insider. In February, Hamrick shared online that she'd been "physically attacked at Annabel's Mayfair." That is a private members' club in London. - Music-News.com/Parade/RealityTea.com, 3/16/26...... Veteran pop songwriter Diane Warren has responded to her record-breaking Oscars loss, losing her 17th nomination for Best Original Song for "Dear Me," meaning she now holds the record for the most nominations without a win. Warren made light of her latest loss on social media after the ceremony, writing, "Well at least I'm consistent! And I set a new record tonite!! But U know me, I will be back if you'll have me (sic)!!!" Warren, 69, may well keep her promise as she has been nominated for Best Original Song every year since 2016 and is likely to return again in 2027. The songwriter was previously tied with sound mixer Greg P. Russell with 16 nominations and no wins. The Mar. 15 ceremony gave her the all-time record for the most nominated person to not yet have a competitive Oscar. "Dear Me," performed by Kesha during the Oscars, was featured in her documentary Diane Warren: Relentless. However, she lost out to "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters. While she has yet to win a competitive Oscar, Warren was bestowed an honorary Academy Award in 2022. - Music-News.com, 3/16/26...... On Mar. 19 executives at entertainment firm Pophouse announced that they had completed a "strategic transaction" with BMG music to become the majority owner of Tina Turner's catalog. We are incredibly proud to be entrusted with helping celebrate and develop Tina Turner's extraordinary legacy," Pophouse exec Johan Lagerlf said. "Tina Turner is not only one of the greatest artists of all time, but a force of nature whose impact extends far beyond music. We look forward to developing new and exciting projects that respectfully carry her legacy forward for generations to come." Pophouse also acquired Turner's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights, and the terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Based in Sweden, Conni Jonsson and ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus founded Pophouse Entertainment in 2014. The firm is known for investing in ABBA Voyage, the concert residency which features iconic band ABBA as virtual avatars. Turner died at the age of 83 in May 2023 following years of poor health. - Music-News.com, 3/19/26...... 
On Mar. 17 Judy Collins announced her final tour, dubbed "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes," will get underway in July and continue through November, with additional encore performances planned afterwards. The 86-year-old singer-songwriter and folk-rock icon will head out on her last ever performing jaunt, prefaced with some "warmup" shows in June, before the tour officially launches on July 4 at the "America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together" celebration in Williamsburg, Va. While dates are scheduled all over the U.S. through Nov. 29 at this time, more shows are still to be announced. After the main tour, Collins will keep the music going with "a series of encore performances for devoted fans and new audiences alike" dubbed the "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes -- Celebration Encore." She will be joined by a series of special guests throughout the tour, including Bruce Cockburn, Richard Thompson, the High Kings, Elles Bailey, Livingston Taylor and others. Fans can expect some of her biggest hits including her 1968 cover of "Both Sides, Now" by Joni Mitchell and her 1975 cover of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns," released on her best-selling platinum album Judith. Her latest release was 2022's Spellbound, which was her first ever full album of original material. Collins has released more than 30 studio albums in her six-decades-long career, and is celebrated for her mix of folk and Americana music and her pure soprano voice. She also famously inspired the Crosby, Stills & Nash song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes." On Mar. 24, her singing career will be honored as she is inducted into the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, along with Leonard Cohen, Aretha Franklin, Jackson Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Neil Young. - Parade, 3/17/26...... '60s pop icon Lulu has revealed she once had a brief sexual relationship with David Bowie, and compared his thighs to those of supermodel Naomi Campbell. During an interview with British ITV daytime show This Morning, Lulu spoke about the pair's relationship for the first time publicly. "You know what? I have never said, 'Yes, I had sex with David Bowie,' until now. This is the first time I've said it because I've always chosen not to speak about it. It was private... I wouldn't share the details anyway," she added. "I do have boundaries. I'm learning to have boundaries." Lulu told host Louis Theroux on his podcast about how she would best describe the status of the relationship they had. "I had a brief relationship [with him]... a fling," she said, before the host recalled seeing a 2015 interview she did with a UK paper, in which she complimented the 'Starman'"s thighs in particular. "I think you don't have to have had an intimate relationship with David Bowie to know he had the best thighs," she told Theroux. "He and Naomi Campbell. He never wore tights. Well, he did occasionally, but he would often come on with a swimsuit on, and you'd go, 'Jesus!' she added, before the host asked her what "was so special about them." "They were very strong thighs!" Lulu replied. Both Lulu and Bowie had a professional relationship as well as a personal one, and worked together on a version of "The Man Who Sold the World," which previously featured on Bowie's 1970 album of the same name. The "To Sir, With Love" singer would then go on to look back fondly on that collaboration in 2016, shortly after the rock icon's death from cancer. "Making a record with David Bowie was pretty rock 'n' roll!," she told Good Housekeeping. "I thought he was so cool and I wasn't so cool. But when he met me, he said, 'You have a fuck off voice and I'm going to make a hit with you. I always perform 'The Man Who Sold the World', the song that we recorded together in 1974," she added. In 2025, Lulu opened up about her battle with alcohol in her new memoir, If You Only Knew, and later admitted that opening up about her sobriety and struggles for the first time felt "liberating." Lulu's full interview with Theroux can be streamed on Spotify.com. - NME, 3/18/26...... 
On Mar. 17 Heart frontwoman Ann Wilson announced that she'll embark on a 10-stop North American tour to screen her forthcoming documentary In My Voice. After each screening, Wilson will participate in a live Q&A alongside director Barbara Hall (Madam Secretary, Army Wives). As the title suggests, In My Voice is Wilson's tale told in her own words. The documentary explores Wilson's life from growing up a military child to becoming a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Featured in the doc are highlights pulled from the singer's archive of home movies, journals, photographs and never-before-seen footage. Wilson's family members, bandmates and fellow artists will make cameos and share commentary on the artist's incredible career, in which she flourished in a male-dominated rock scene in the '70s. The film tour will kick off in Seattle on May 11 before making its way across the U.S., Vancouver and Toronto before concluding in Boston. The teaser for the film can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 3/17/26...... During an recent interview on the celebrity gossip show Extra, Sting opened up on his "fairy-tale" life as well as his rough beginnings. The "Roxanne singer" described his childhood horror of having to work in a "hellscape" as he promoted his new stage musical, "The Last Ship." "I was born next to a shipyard," said Sting . "It's a noisy hellscape, infernal row, very dangerous work. I wanted to escape that. I watched thousands of men every morning walk to work past my house and I'd think, 'Is this my destiny? Is this what I have to do?'" Fortunately, Sting, 74, was able to bypass the dockyards of his hometown, Newcastle, by earning a place at a good school, which led to his eventual music career. "I did everything in my power to escape it," he shared. "So, I got a scholarship to a school and I became a musician, a successful one." However, Sting said, he had an ordinary life as a teacher before finding fame with his New Wave band The Police -- which he credited with keeping him grounded. "Until the age of 25, I was a schoolteacher," he recalled. "I had a mortgage. I paid tax. I voted. I was a citizen. I didn't just go from school to being a celebrity, which I think is very difficult, so I'm grateful for my normal life because it makes the one I have now... it balances it out." The Police had their first UK number-one hit in 1979 with the song "Message in a Bottle," and were immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. - Music-News.com, 3/18/26...... It has been revealed that actress Annabel Schofield, who was best known for her memorable role as Laurel Ellis on the beloved '70s/'80s primetime soap opera Dallas, has died at the age of 62. The Welsh-born actress and model actually passed away on Feb. 28 in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As a fashion model, she was represented by London's Take Two Agency and appeared on hundreds of fashion magazine covers and starred in major designer and brand campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Rimmel, Revlon and Boots No. 7. Weeks before she died, Schofield turned to Instagram to provide a health update after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from her nasal cavity. "It was very exciting to finally get this done but I'm not out of the woods yet," she shared on Jan. 20. "I'm very wobbly and now waiting to find out if I need more chemo or radiation. I swear it never seems to end. Hopefully this week's MRI will reveal a nice clear image," she added. Schofield also set up a GoFundMe to raise funds to support her fight against cancer, which had grown to nearly $35,000. "I'm really tired of asking for help, but I have no choice until I can get back to work," she shared. - PennLive.com, 3/19/26..... 
Chuck Norris, longtime actor and martial artist, died on Mar. 19 after being hospitalized earlier in the week in Hawaii after an undisclosed medical emergency. He was 86. "It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning," his family said in a statement. "While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace. To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family," the statement added. Born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Okla., in 1940, Mr. Norris moved with his family to Torrance, Calif., when he was 12. He joined the U.S. Air Force after high school in 1958 and learned martial arts while serving in South Korea. After returning to the United States, he competed in martial arts competitions (he was a six-time World Professional Middleweight Karate champion) and opened his own studio, where he trained celebrity clients, including Steve McQueen. Over the years, he developed his own style of karate, known as Chun Kuk Do or the Chuck Norris System. Mr. Norris got his first big break in Hollywood in 1972, appearing opposite Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon. He went on to star in a steady stream of martial arts movies and action films, including Breaker! Breaker! (1977), Force of One (1979), The Octagon (1980), An Eye for an Eye (1981), Silent Rage (1982) and Missing in Action (1984), Missing in Action 2 (1985), The Delta Force (1986) and Firewalker (1986). His television career took off in 1993 with the debut of Walker, Texas Ranger. The show ran for eight full seasons on CBS. Mr. Norris continued making films during and after TV success, even playing himself in the 2004 hit comedy Dodgeball. The last mainstream movie he appeared in was The Expendables 2, in 2012. He starred in Agent Recon, a 2024 sci-fi action film, and will appear in Zombie Plane alongside Vanilla Ice, which will be released later in 2026. He also appeared with Christie Brinkley in a long-running series of cable TV infomercials promoting fitness equipment. Tributes to the late star came from several of his fellow action movie icons, including Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme, and from Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas, where the actor owned a ranch. - Yahoo Entertainment, 3/20/26.
On Jan. 21 Lynyrd Skynyrd announced a summer four-city UK arena tour set to begin on July 15 at the Manchester AO Arena. The run will mark the first new dates for the legendary Southern Rock band in England since 2019, as well as the half century since the band's debut, 
Carole King's 1975 children's album Really Rosie is being 
Although Devo's song "Uncontrollable Urge" from its 1978 album 
Bob Dylan's original lyrics to his 1960s hit "Mr. Tambourine Man" have sold at auction for a whopping $500,000, almost 60 years to the day after Dylan first recorded it. The lyrics were sold via Juliens Auctions alongside a number of other Dylan items -- including a signed oil painting and numerous pieces of original art -- which were originally part of the personal collection of late American journalist Al Aronowitz. Famed for introducing Dylan to The Beatles in 1964 and for being the first manager of The Velvet Underground, Aronowitz spoke about his unique connection to "Mr. Tambourine Man" in a 1973 article -- of which an original version was included in the sale: "Bob Dylan wrote 'Mr. Tambourine Man' one night in my house in Berkeley Heights, N.J., sitting with my portable typewriter at my white formica breakfast bar in a swirl of chain-lit cigaret [sic] smoke, his bony, long-nailed fingers tapping the words out on my stolen, canary-colored Saturday Evening Post copy paper while the whole time, over and over again, Marvin Gaye sang 'Can I Get a Witness?' from the 6-foot speakers of my hi-fi in the room next to where he was, with Bob getting up from the typewriter each time the record finished in order to put the needle back at the start." Aronowitz continued, "At the breakfast bar I found a waste basket full of crumpled false starts. I took it out the side door to empty it into the trash can when a whispering emotion caught me, like a breeze that sometimes gently stops you cold just because of its own ghostly power to make you notice it. I took the crumpled sheets, smoothed them out, read the crazy leaping lines, smiled to myself at the leaps that never landed and then put the sheets into a file folder. I still have them somewhere." The lyrics as sold made up two pages of yellow paper which contained three progressive drafts of the lyrics, typewritten and providing an insight into Dylans writing process. The lyrics are believed to date back to March of 1964, based upon the information available. Dylan first began performing "Mr. Tambourine Man" privately in 1964, eventually recording the track as part of a number of takes on Jan. 15, 1965. The song was later included as the first song on the acoustic side to Dylan's fifth album, Bringing It All Back Home, in Apr. 1965. Though "Subterranean Homesick Blues" from the same album was Dylan's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "Mr. Tambourine Man" would become his first to top the chart, albeit when The Byrds released a cover as their debut single that same month. Meanwhile, Dylan has seen his massive back catalog earn 11.6 million U.S. on-demand streams in the week ending Dec. 26 following the release of the new acclaimed Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. - Billboard, 1/19/25...... Ringo Starr celebrated the release of his new country album 
Legendary baseball player/broadcaster/comedian Bob Uecker, the voice of his hometown Milwaukee Brewers who after a short playing career earned the moniker "Mr. Baseball" and honors from the Hall of Fame, died on Jan. 16 after a battle with small cell lung cancer since early 2023. He was 90. Mr. Uecker was best known as a colorful comedian and broadcaster who earned his nickname during one of his numerous appearances on Johnny Carson's late night show. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Mr. Uecker was a beloved member of the baseball community and a pillar of the sport in Wisconsin. He signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and reached the majors in 1962. He'd last six seasons in the big leagues as a backup catcher, finishing with a .200 average and 14 homers. He won a World Series ring with St. Louis in 1964 and also played for Atlanta and Philadelphia. Career highlights? I had two," he often joked. "I got an intentional walk from Sandy Koufax and I got out of a rundown against the Mets." Even as his celebrity status grew nationwide, Mr. Uecker savored the opportunity to continue calling games to fans in his hometown. "To be able to do a game each and every day throughout the summer and talk to people every day at 6:30 for a night game, you become part of people's families," Mr. Uecker once said. "I know that because I get mail from people that tell me that. That's part of the reward for being here, just to be recognized by the way you talk, the way you describe a game, whatever." Mr. Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, N.Y., crowd of about 18,000 in stitches. Mr. Uecker was honored by the Hall of Fame with the Ford C. Frick award in 2003 and spent nearly 20 minutes keeping the Cooperstown, New York, crowd of about 18,000 in stitches. "I still -- and this is not sour grapes by any means -- still think I should have gone in as a player," he quipped. But Uecker's comedy was just a part of his abilities. His warm storytelling and delivery made Uecker a natural to become one of the first color commentators on network TV broadcasts in the 1970s with ABC. In the '90s, he teamed up with Bob Costas and Joe Morgan for the World Series. From there, Mr. Uecker reached most households as one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in popular commercials for the beer brand based out of Milwaukee and Uecker later launched his TV acting career in 1985 on the ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere. Uecker played George Owens during the successful 122-episode run of the series that lasted six years, as the head of the family and sports writer in a home that brings in a butler who struggles to adapt to an American household. The Brewers announced Mr. Uecker's death, calling it "one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history." In a statement released by the club, Mr. Uecker's family said he had battled small cell lung cancer since early 2023. "Even in the face of this challenge, his enthusiasm for life was always present, never allowing his spirit to falter," the family said. - CBSNews.com, 1/16/25...... Former Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes has died at age 65. "It is with great sorrow we share that John Sykes has passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer," according to a statement on social media. "He will be remembered by many as a man with exceptional musical talent but for those who didn't know him personally, he was a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic man whose presence lit up the room." The statement continued, "He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum and always pulled for the underdog. In his final days, he spoke of his sincere love and gratitude for his fans who stuck by him through all these years." Sykes joined Thin Lizzy in 1983, appearing on their album Thunder and Lightning. He then joined Whitesnake in 1987, contributing to two of their albums. - Music-News.com, 1/21/25.
As Elvis Presley fans recently celebrated what would have been the King of Rock & Roll's milestone 90th birthday on Jan. 8, Elvis' granddaughter Riley Keough says her late mother Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson "were in love" when they were married in 1994. In a conversation with podcast host Alex Cooper on Cooper's Call Her Daddy show on Jan. 15, Keough, 35, shed some rare insight on her mom's romance with the King of Pop. "The one thing I know is that they were in love, and that their love for one another was genuine," Keough told Cooper. "Everything else I don't know, because I wasn't there for it." Lisa Marie -- Elvis' only child, who died at 54 years old in Jan. 2023 -- shared Riley and late son Benjamin Keough with first husband Danny Keough. Lisa Marie was later married to Jackson from 1994 to 1996, after which she wed Nicolas Cage (2002-04) followed by music producer Michael Lockwood (2006-21), with whom she shared twin daughters. Riley also reflected on how her childhood changed with Jackson -- who died in 2009 -- entered the picture. "Our life wasn't crazier," she said candidly. "That already existed: the press, the crazy, the paparazzi and all that. I think when she saw Michael's life, there were things he had that she didn't have," continued the Daisy Jones & The Six actress. "Before that, she was with my dad, and their life was very simple. She didn't have 10 million assistants. She didn't need all that, and I think that changed." Keough's full Call Her Daddy interview can be heard on 
The Eagles announced on Jan. 15 that they are pledging $2.5 million to FireAid, the benefit concert for Los Angeles wildfire victims set for Jan. 30 at the Intuit Dome. There is no word whether the Eagles, who are currently in the middle of a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, will play the show, and no acts have been announced for the benefit yet. The event, billed as "an evening of music and solidarity" and produced by longtime Eagles manager Irving Azoff and his family alongside concert promoters Live Nation and AEG Presents, with proceeds donated toward an organization created to rebuild Los Angeles infrastructure, as well as support displaced families and advance fire prevention technologies and strategies. The timing works in their favor to take advantage of artists in town for the Grammys, which are slated for Feb. 2. An estimated 1,000+ people in the music community in Los Angeles are also being supported by MusiCares -- the non-for-profit arm of The Grammys and Recording Academy. MusiCares says scores of people had been in touch since they launched their "Fire Relief Effort" on Jan. 8. The series of wildfires, which began on Jan. 7, have led to the confirmed deaths of 24 people, the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents and an estimated 12,000 buildings destroyed. It has been confirmed that the 2025 Grammys will proceed as planned and raise funds for those hit by the LA wildfires. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 1/15/25...... In related news, Ringo Starr has announced he is taping special L.A. wildfire relief concerts at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 14 and 15 to give a little help to his friends in the West. The former Beatle's upcoming concert special will air this spring on CBS and Paramount+, with some of the proceeds benefiting wildfire relief amid the ongoing crisis in the Los Angeles area. Titled "Ringo & Friends at the Ryman," the two-hour special will find Starr performing songs from his new country album, 
David Bowie lieutenants Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey have announced details of a new 8-city UK Bowie tribute tour for 2025, which will see them celebrating the music and life of the late rock superstar. Visconti was Bowie's long-time producer and friend, as well as the bass player on his early LP The Man Who Sold The World, while Woodmansey was one of the Spiders From Mars and the artist's drummer from between 1970 and 1973. They will perform live renditions of some of Bowie's best known songs as part of the supergroup Holy Holy. The tour launches on May 15 in London at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, followed by dates in Leeds (15/5), Birmingham (16/5), Manchester (18/5), Newcastle (21/5), Oxford (29/5) and Bristol (30/5) before wrapping at Liverpool's O2 Academy on May 31. Bowie passed away in Jan. 2016 at the age of 69. - NME, 1/14/25...... In a new interview with the Speaking with Podpakas podcast, original AC/DC singer Dave Evans revealed the story behind how the hard-rocking Aussies came up with their name. Evans recalled how the members were writing music together as part of an unnamed band, when Alan Kissacks, a man involved with putting the band together, told them that they had secured a New Year's Eve slot at Australia's Chequers nightclub. "We had to get a name because it was only in a few weeks. So we started tossing names around between us, but no one could agree," Evans explained. "I had some really great names, but they didn't like them. What we said was that, [in time for] the next rehearsal, we'd all come with three names each, put them in a hat and we'd pick one out. And whatever it was, that was what we were gonna call ourselves," he added. According to Evans, he arrived with three potential names the following day, but the band decided to scrap the idea after being suggested the name "AC/DC" by a relative. "When we all arrived together, Malcolm Young said to us, 'Look, my sister-in-law' [wife of his older brother, George] has suggested a name AC/DC'. And I thought it's an easy name to remember and it was on the side of a lot of electrical appliances," Evans told Podpokas. AC/DC means alternate current and direct current [and] a lot of appliances were AC/DC. I thought: 'Free advertising free advertising on the side of all these appliances, and it's easy to say, and it means power.' It all went through my head very quickly. And I said yes." Concluding, he recalled: "Malcolm looked at us and said, 'Well, shall we call ourselves AC/DC?' And we all put our hands up. It was unanimous. We all shook hands and we were AC/DC those three names [I came up with], I went home and threw them away." According to Evans, he arrived with three potential names the following day, but the band decided to scrap the idea after being suggested the name "AC/DC" by a relative. "When we all arrived together, Malcolm Young said to us, 'Look, my sister-in-law' [wife of his older brother, George] has suggested a name AC/DC'. And I thought it's an easy name to remember and it was on the side of a lot of electrical appliances," Evans told Podpokas. "AC/DC means alternate current and direct current [and] a lot of appliances were AC/DC. I thought: 'Free advertising free advertising on the side of all these appliances, and it's easy to say, and it means power.' It all went through my head very quickly. And I said yes." Concluding, he recalled: "Malcolm looked at us and said, 'Well, shall we call ourselves AC/DC?' And we all put our hands up. It was unanimous. We all shook hands and we were AC/DC those three names [I came up with], I went home and threw them away." AC/DC is set to play 13 stadium shows across the US and Canada throughout April and May. The band wrapped up the 2024 UK and European leg of the trek in Dublin's Croke Park on Aug. 17. Their ongoing "Power Up" tour is in support of AC/DC's 17th and latest studio album of the same name, which was released in 2020. - NME, 1/13/25...... 
After a tumultuous relationship with incoming president Donald Trump over the use of their songs at his political rallies, the Village People took to Facebook on Jan. 13 to announce that they have "accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump's campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump." The post continued: "We know this won't make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. Our song 
Speaking with Boston radio station WBUR, Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton revealed that he and his former bandmates "could do something" in the future if frontman Steven Tyler was willing. Hamilton said that while Tyler is well underway with his "healing process" after seriously injuring his voice during a gig in 2024, the chances of the band making any new announcements are slim. "Steven's healing process is going really, really well, but it goes at its own pace," he said. "Maybe Aerosmith will do something in the future, but it's a big 'if', and the last thing I want to be doing is to try and push Steven in that direction. If we do anything in the future, it would come from him." The comments come after the bassist was asked last summer how hopeful he is, on a scale of one to 10, that the band will reunite. "On the hope scale, I'm somewhere between seven and nine. We won't be doing any tours from now on, but I'll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along," he told AARP magazine. "This isn't the first time black clouds have been on our horizon -- and somehow the sun managed to come out. Time and hope are all we have at the moment," he added, while also dismissing hopes for a Las Vegas residency. Aerosmith's final live show, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY in Sept. 2023, was held as part of their "Peace Out" tour, which began earlier that year but only saw the band play three nights, before rescheduling the rest of the dates after Tyler injured his larynx. Hamilton said in 2024 he "can't imagine" the band continuing with a new singer, and added: "I'm sure all of us have music in our future and it will manifest itself in ways that we haven't planned yet. I've been playing in a band with some good friends. We have a bunch of really good songs and we hope to be putting them out soon and hopefully doing some gigs." Shortly afterwards, the bassist announced details of his first shows with a new band called Close Enemies. - NME, 1/13/25...... Remembering late legendary soul singer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave who passed away on Jan. 10 at age 89, Bruce Springsteen shared a heartfelt message on 
Ringo Starr released his new country & western-themed album, 
Actor Rob Lowe has used a recent episode of his Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast to reflect on how he almost embarked upon a music career thanks to the L.A.-based hitmakers Toto. During a chat with journalist, author, and fellow podcaster Bill Simmons, the pair switched their focus to the world of '80s music and the recent Yacht Rock genre documentary Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary. Lowe responded to Simmons' praise about Toto's success at the 1983 Grammy Awards (in which they won three awards, with group leader David Paich winning two additional awards) by recalling how he once had a brush with the Los Angeles rockers. "I got one for ya," Lowe said. "There was a minute in the '80s where I was definitely doing too much Bolivian marching powder and just being a f--king lunatic," Lowe remembered. "And [it was] also coming at the time in a young actor's career where they're too old to play the roles they've been playing, but they're too young to play the roles that will last you the rest of your life, which are really the great ones. And you can kind of feel it. I love music so much, as evidenced by this talk and all of that, that I got it into my head that maybe I should think more about music and I cut a demo with Toto." Lowe did not elaborate on the track further, and it's unclear what happened to the demo that he recorded with Toto, or if it may ever see a potential release - ideally on a future sequel to the Yacht Rock documentary. Lowe's full chat with Simmons can be viewed on 
In related news, as multiple devastating wildfires continue to spread through the greater Los Angeles region, music and music-related events -- including several tied to the current film awards season in the city -- are being canceled or postponed out of both safety concerns and respect for the unfolding situation. An A Complete Unknown screening and dinner set for Jan. 9 is among the events canceled. As dangerous wildfires continue to rapidly spread across Los Angeles County, a number of famous residents are among the thousands of people whose homes were affected by the tragedy. Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren took to 
An Australian construction company has issued an apology following the demolition of a Sydney home that once housed future AC/DC members Angus Young and his brother Malcolm Young. The house, which had been located at 4 Burleigh Street in the Western Sydney suburb of Burwood, was reportedly razed in late 2024 following a sale in Feb. 2023 for AUD $5.8 million. The Young family moved to the Burleigh Street address in 1965 after time spent at other houses in the suburb, with brothers Angus and Malcolm honing their musical talents while living there. In 1973, the pair would co-found AC/DC, who have since become one of Australia's most successful rock exports of all time. The legacy and importance of the address to the Sydney community had been recognized numerous times over the years. In 2013, the house was listed on the National Trust Register of Historic Houses, and in 2024 the local Burwood Council commissioned a mural of Angus and Malcolm by artist Claire Foxton which is still visible on the side of 12 Burleigh Street. News broke of the house's demolition in late December, with outrage from both fans and the local community reaching the Burwood Council, who defended the demolition despite the presence of the address on the National Trust. In a statement from Burwood Square general manager Leon Kmita, the company has shared their regret for the demolition, claiming they were unaware of the cultural importance held by the house. "We regret that the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property's background with us," Kmita said. "Learning about this connection after our plans were already underway has shocked us. We are genuinely sorry for this oversight." According to Kmita, the Burwood Square team are in the process of attempting to salvage materials so they can create a "special space" for fans of AC/DC to "gather to celebrate the band's enduring legacy." "While we cannot change the past, we are dedicated to celebrating this significant part of their story," he added. "To the global fanbase of AC/DC, please know that we hear you, appreciate your deep admiration for this legendary band, and are devoted to making this right." - Billboard, 1/7/25...... KISS principals Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have reached a settlement to end a wrongful termination lawsuit accusing them of firing their longtime hairstylist after he complained about "unsafe working conditions" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With a jury trial set to get underway later in January, attorneys for both sides told a Los Angeles judge on Jan. 7 that they had "resolved" the case, in which David Mathews claimed that he had been abruptly terminated in 2022 after serving as the band's hairstylist for 30 years. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed in court filings and neither side immediately returned requests for comment. Mathews sued the iconic rock band in 2023, alleging he had been fired in retaliation after he repeatedly raised concerns about the band's allegedly lax approach to the pandemic. Among other allegations, he said he was forced to work in close proximity to band members like Simmons even when they were sick. "He was coughing and blowing his nose in the dressing room while still insisting that he felt fine," Mathews wrote of one encounter with Simmons. "Once again, Mr. Mathews was required to be in Mr. Simmons presence to perform his job duties." Mathews isn't the only person to sue over Kiss over the band's COVID-19 protocols. The band is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Francis S. Stueber, a longtime guitar tech who died in Oct. 2021 while quarantining in a hotel room. The suit claims that the band ignored their own safety rules and failed to arrange medical aid to Stueber after he fell ill. - Billboard, 1/7/25...... Rush have reflected on their 2015 farewell tour, saying that they "let our British and European fans down" by not giving them the chance to say goodbye. The Canadian band played 35 headline shows across North America almost 10 years ago, having formed over four decades prior. Drummer Neil Peart died from brain cancer in early 2020, aged 67. During a new interview with ClassicRock.com, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson recalled how they had initially wanted to visit more countries as part of the trek -- but said Peart didn't want to head out on the road at all. "I'd pushed really hard to get more gigs so that we could do those extra shows and I was unsuccessful," Lee said of the trio's "R40 Live" tour. "I really felt like I let our British and European fans down. It felt to me incorrect that we didn't do it, but Neil [Peart] was adamant that he would only do 30 shows and that was it." He continued: "That to him was a huge compromise because he didn't want to do any shows. He didn't want to do one show. So, in his mind, he'd compromised already. He said, 'I'll do 30 gigs, don't ask me for any more'. I just kind of felt I owed an explanation to them, the audience. It's part of why I went into the detail I did about Neil's passing in the book [Lee's memoir, My Effin' Life], was to let fans in on what went down. That it wasn't a straight line." Elsewhere, Rush paid tribute to their former producer Peter Collins in summer 2024 following his death aged 73. - NME, 1/7/25...... 
Folk singer Peter Yarrow of the beloved 1960s trio Peter, Paul & Mary died on Jan. 7 at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan following a four-year battle with bladder cancer. He was 86. With his high tenor melding seamlessly with baritone Paul Stookey and contralto Mary Travers, Mr. Yarrow and this singing partners produced some of the most beloved songs of the 1960s, taking the lead on classics "Puff the Magic Dragon," "The Great Mandala" and "Day Is Done," all of which he wrote or co-wrote. Perhaps the group's most well-known track, "Puff the Magic Dragon," was penned by Mr. Yarrow based on a poem by fellow Cornell grad and author Leonard Lipton about a magical dragon name Puff and his human friend, child Jackie Paper, who take off on adventures in the magical land of Honalee. Fans of the 1963 song -- which was later turned into a beloved 1978 animated special and two follow-up sequels -- were convinced that it was larded with secret drug references, tagging it as a trojan horse ditty about smoking weed, a claim both Lipton and Mr. Yarrow repeatedly denied. The song was one of the group's most successful on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 2 on the tally in May 1963. Following Mr. Yarrow's death and Travers' passing in 2009 at age 72, Stookey, 87, is the group's last living member. "Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life. The world knows Peter Yarrow the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest," daughter Bethany Yarrow said in a statement. Born in Manhattan on May 31, 1938, Mr. Yarrow began performing in New York's burgeoning Greenwich Village folk scene after graduation from Cornell University in the late 1950s. After a performance at the Newport Folk Festival, he met the event's founder and famed music manager Albert Grossman, who shared his idea for putting together a vocal group in the vein of The Weavers, a harmony quartet from the 1940s and 50s that sang traditional folk and labor songs as well as children's tunes and gospel; it originally featured beloved folk singer/songwriter Pete Seeger. It was Bob Dylan manager Grossman's idea to put Mr. Yarrow and Travers together, with the latter later suggesting the addition of Stookey, who both had performed with on the folk scene. After signing to Warner Brothers Records, they debuted in 1962 with the song "Lemon Tree," which peaked at No. 35 on the Hot 100. Quickly establishing their folk credentials, they followed up with the 1949 Seeger/Lee Hayes-penned protest anthem "If I Had a Hammer," which won them two Grammy Awards in 1962 for best folk recording and best performance by a vocal group; they were also nominated for best new artist that year. They picked up two more Grammys the next year in the same categories for their cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and a fifth one in 1969 (best recording for children) for the Peter, Paul and Mommy LP, which peaked at No. 12 on the album chart. Among their string of hits on the Billboard Hot 100 were their 1969 No. 1 cover of John Denver's "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," as well as the No. 9 charting "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" and the No. 21 hit "Day Is Done." They were also well-known for their charting covers of such Dylan classics as "Blowin' in the Wind" (No. 2, 1963) and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" (No. 9, 1963), scoring a total of five top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. Two of those albums, a self-titled collection from 1962 and 1963's In the Wind, reached No. 1. In keeping with the tenor of the era, the group were also notable for their strong, progressive political stance in song ("The Cruel War," "Day Is Done") and in practice. They participated Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington in 1963, performing Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" (and "If I Had a Hammer") on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, helping to cement that song's place as a civil rights anthem. It was around that time that Mr. Yarrow was accused of taking "immoral and indecent liberties" with a 14-year old girl, Barbara Winter, after she and her older sister came to his hotel room for an autograph and he answered the door naked and forced her to perform a sex act on herself. The singer was indicted and sentenced to one to three years in prison, and ended up serving just three months. He later apologized for the incident and was granted a presidential pardon by Jimmy Carter in Jan. 1981, just before the late president's final day in office. Mr. Yarrow was also an indefatigable anti-war protester, helping to organize the anti-Vietnam National Mobilization to End the War protest in 1969 in Washington that drew nearly 500,000 fellow anti-war activists, as well as 1978's anti-nuclear benefit show Survival Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl, which featured appearances by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash and Gil Scott-Heron, among others. In 2000, he founded Operation Respect, a non-profit that aimed to tackle the mental health effects of school bullying. Following solo ventures by all three, the trio reunited several times over the ensuing years, including for a 1972 concert to support George McGovern's failed presidential campaign, his 1978 Survival Sunday anti-nukes show and a summer reunion tour that same year. By 1981 they were back together for good, performing and releasing five more albums before Travers' death. - Billboard, 1/7/25...... Grammy-nominated singer and controversial anti-gay rights activist Anita Bryant has died at age 84. The news was shared by The New York Times, which reported that Ms. Byrant died from cancer on Dec. 16 while at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Local newspaper, The Oklahoman, also made the announcement and shared a statement from the singer's family which read: "May Anita's memory and her faith in eternal life through Christ comfort all who embraced her." Born in Oklahoma in 1940, Ms. Bryant first began singing at age six and went on to make various television and radio appearances throughout her childhood. She was given her own show, The Anita Bryant Show, aged just 12-years-old. As a teenager, she took home the trophy at the Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant and came second runner-up in the 1959 Miss America pageant, also going on to share her debut album that same year. As she centred her efforts on her music career, she performed at both Republican and Democratic national conventions and also made her way into the US charts with songs "Till There Was You," "Paper Roses" and "In My Little Corner Of The World." Towards the end of the '60s, she became a spokesperson for Florida Citrus, although was later dropped from the role after becoming a vocal opponent of gay rights. The late '70s saw her lead an anti-LGBTQ+ raly that tried to repeal a Florida ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. The "Save Our Children" rally was successful, although it damaged her image and led to a nationwide boycott of the juice from the state. In solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, bars also stopped serving screwdriver cocktails. Later, she would reveal in an interview that she lost roughly $500,000 in concert bookings as well as a deal to host her own television show. She also became one of the first people to be hit in the face with a pie as a form of protest in 1977. She was dropped by Florida Citrus in 1980 and her split from husband Bob Green also saw her lose support from conservatives. She later married Charles Dry, although never succeeded in reviving her career. In 2019, a biopic about her life starring Ashley Judd was reported as being in the works, and before then she was the subject for both the 2016 play Anita Bryant's Playboy Interview and the 2018 musical "The Loneliest Girl In The World." - NME, 1/10/25...... 
Legendary soul singer Sam Moore, half of the seminal duo Sam & Dave, died on Jan. 10 in Coral Gables, Fla., due to complications from surgery. He was 89. Mr. Moore, who was revered by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Garth Brooks and Jon Bon Jovi, had an instantly recognizable tenor, first heard on such call-and-response classics as Sam & Dave's 1960s hits "Hold On, I'm Coming" and the Grammy-winning "Soul Man," both of which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, as well as "I Thank You" and "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby." The duo, who performed at Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial concert at Madison Square Garden following his assassination in 1968, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 by Billy Joel. Mr. Moore, who grew up in Miami, began singing in church and drew the attention of another legendary Sam, Sam Cooke, who wanted Mr. Moore to replace him in his gospel group The Soul Stirrers. However, after seeing Jackie Wilson perform, Mr. Moore shifted from gospel to pop and was performing at the King O'Hearts Club when he met Dave Prater and the two formed Sam & Dave. Legendary Atlantic Records executives Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler saw the pair at the King O'Hearts Club and signed them to the label in 1965. Wexler passed them to Atlantic's southern partner, Stax Records, where Isaac Hayes and David Porter took them under their wing and produced their iconic hits. Following Sam & Dave's breakup in 1970, Mr. Moore signed to Atlantic as a solo artist. He recorded a solo album produced by King Curtis featuring Donny Hathaway and Aretha Franklin. However, after Curtis was murdered in 1971, the album was shelved. He reunited with Dave for a few years, but spiraled into heroin addiction, which was chronicled in the DA Pennebaker/Chris Hegedus documentary Only the Strong Survive. Interest in the duo was greatly revived by 1980's The Blues Brothers movie, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. The pair's main theme was their boisterous version of "Soul Man." In the early '80s, Mr. Moore became sober with the help of Joyce McRae, whom he married in 1982 and who became his manager. Mr. Moore went on to perform for six U.S. presidents -- Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump -- and was a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center Honors. Springsteen invited Mr. Moore to perform on his 1992 Human Touch album, as well as Only the Strong Survive, his 2023 album of soul covers. At the time of his death, Mr. Moore was working on a gospel album with Rudy Perez. He is survived by Joyce, daughter Michelle and grandchildren Tash and Misha. - Billboard, 1/11/25...... Cult psychedelic folk musician and painter Ed Askew has died at age 84. Mr. Askew was born in Connecticut in 1940 and began his career as a painter, graduating from Yale School Of Art in 1963, before making the shift to become a musician. He released his debut album Ask The Unicorn in 1968, and went on to gradually develop a cult following in the '80s after moving to New York City and developing a unique style of acid and folk. Ask The Unicorn was later re-released by Drag City Records in 2015 as a resurgence of interest in Mr. Askew's work arose, and throughout his career the songwriter shared 11 studio albums. One of his most listened-to releases was the 2013 album For The World. Released via Tin Angel, it included musical collaborations with Sharon Van Etten, Mary Lattimore, Marc Ribot, and more. Aside from the full studio albums, Mr. Askew also self-released hundreds of songs on cassettes and later on his 
Speaking to the UK paper The Times, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry reflected on turning 80 later in 2025 and the "beauty of aging." "I don't walk around thinking every minute, 'Oh God, I'm going be 80' - but that's sort of how I feel," said Harry, who reaches her milestone decade on July 1. Harry continued: "My mother used to say in her head she was 25 and I'm the same. But thinking about it all the time could be your downfall. And I don't really want the same kind of life I did when I was younger. I've done that! That's the beauty of ageing -- you know what it's about. You have it in your heart and soul and your memory bank or does that sound like an excuse? Should I go out and party every night?" The "Call Me" singer also opened up about the prospect of dating in her advanced years. When asked whether she was currently in a relationship, she responded: "No! God forbid! I'm terrified. No, I'm kidding, but I don't think [being in a relationship] is possible. Do you?" Harry, who was once in a relationship with Blondie co-founder Chris Stein, explained that she wasn't "in the right position to be dating online," before being told about the celebrity dating app Raya.com. "OK, OK, I'll do it!" she replied. "And I'm going to get back in touch and let you know how it went. I'm definitely not so adventurous as I was, but I'm still curious. I like the way the world spins." Additionally, Harry revealed that she likes to flirt in the local hardware store. "Home Depot is where I do all my flirting... There are some big, strong men there." She remembered: "I found somebody there I thought was really sexy. He was working in the garden department. But he was busy. We just sort of looked at each other and did that [look]." Elsewhere in the interview, the frontwoman recalled how she was once surrounded onstage by a group of Hell's Angels. Blondie are due to release a new album later in 2025, helmed by in demand Grammy-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, The War On Drugs). It'll be the follow-up to 2017's Pollinator. - New Musical Express, 1/6/25...... In a new interview with the UK publication The Guardian, John Lennon's eldest son Julian Lennon says he's "not part of The Beatles' "inner circle." With the recent resurgence of the legendary quartet's work, including Peter Jackson's Get Back (2021), David Tedeschi and Martin Scorsese's Beatles '64 (2024), and the 2024 restoration of Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 film, Let it Be, Julian said he's often the last to know about any activity with the Fab Four's camp. "It's news to me half the time. I'm not part of the inner circle -- I never have been," he admitted. "You have to realise that when Dad left, when I was between three and five (it was a bit of a process), it was just mum and me, and we had nothing to do with the Beatles or Dad. I visited him on the odd occasion but we were very much on the outside. I'm thankful that Sean and I get on like a house on fire -- we're best buddies and he tells me what he can, but things are pretty secret on the Beatles front." He continued: "[It's] extraordinarily strange but I'm not upset about it. I'd rather be excited and impressed by what they did and continue to do. As a fan, I'm just as curious as anybody else, although I do find myself going, 'how is it possible that there's another Beatles film?'" Julian also spoke about his photography work and his newest release, the coffee table book Life's Fragile Moments. Alongside discussions of how new music isn't on the cards just yet (a failed attempt to hit the late-night talk show circuit in 2024 left him "heartbroken"), Julian said he continues to "build up a body of work, a foundation that I can stand on, that nobody can take away from me." "And I continue to do so," he said. "It's not to show off, it's just to prove to myself that I can actually do this stuff. I'm not interested in fighting other people's opinions." Lennon recently took to social media in December to urge his followers to undergo regular doctor visits following an emergency surgery after a second skin cancer diagnosis. Just before the end of the year, on Dec. 30, Lennon updated his followers that he had received "the 'all clear'" from his doctors. - Billboard, 1/5/25...... 
A statue of legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher was unveiled in Belfast city centre on Jan. 4. Gallagher, a County Donegal native, often played the Northern Ireland capital over his three-decade career and now has been immortalised with a bronze statue outside the city's Ulster Hall on Bedford Street, with a ceremony being held to mark its unveiling. "He's finally here!" announced the venue on 
The latest in a seemingly endless stream of "lost" Neil Young albums, Oceanside Countryside, will be released on Feb. 14 via Reprise Records. "This analog original album was recorded in 1977 and unreleased. These songs are the original mixes done at the time of the recordings in the order I planned for the album," Young said in a statement about the latest release in his Analog Original Series (AOS). Oceanside Countryside was originally recorded from May-Dec. 1977, just before the release of his 1978 folk/country album 
Billy Joel teamed up with drummer Jason Bonham for a rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" during a New Year's Eve concert at Long Island's UBS Arena on Dec. 31. Joel's end-of-year spectacular was a special for numerous reasons: not only was the night preceded by Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening as the opener, but the lengthy set saw the veteran musician roll out plenty of fan favorites for the night, along with a few rarer tracks from his extensive back catalog. While the seldom-heard 1982's "A Room of Our Own" from The Nylon Curtain LP got a look-in, rarer still was a performance of 1974's "Souvenir," from his album 