Barbra Streisand honored her late The Way We Were co-star Robert Redford during the In Memorium segment of the 98th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Mar. 15. Streisand described Redford, who died in Sept. 2025 at age 89, as "an intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail and won the Academy Award for best director, and I miss him now more than ever." "He was a brilliant, subtle actor, and we had a wonderful time playing off each other, because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do or say," she continued. "And I'm thrilled that The Way We Were is now considered a classic love story, but it's also about a dark time in our history, the late '40s and early '50s, when people were informing on each other and subject to loyalty oaths." She wrapped up her fond words by singing a snippet of her No. 1 1974 theme song from the 1973 film, which also won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 1974 Oscars. - Billboard, 3/15/26...... 
The iconic "Black Strat" played by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmouir on such classics as "Money" and "Comfortably Numb" has smashed the all-time record for the most expensive guitar ever sold. During a Christie's auction in New York on Mar. 12, the guitar was sold to an unidentified buyer and smashed the pre-sale estimate of $2-$4 million. According to the New York Times, the black Fender Stratocaster purchased by Gilmour in 1970 from New York's beloved Manny's Music store in Manhattan is covered in scratches and chipped paint from decades of use, and was played by Gilmour on every studio recording from 1972-1983, as well as during many live performances in that period. The winning bidder, who submitted bids online, paid $14.55 million for the instrument after a 21-minute bidding war. That was more than double the price of $6.01 million paid in 2020 for late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's Martin D-18E acoustic guitar which he played on MTV Unplugged just months before his Apr. 1994 death. The guitar was one of a number of high-profile items that went under the gavel as part of a sale of items from late Indianapolis Colts owner and pop culture memorabilia collector Jim Irsay, who died in 2025. Irsay bought Gilmour's guitar in 2019 during a previous Christie's auction for just over $5 million. The Gilmour Strat was one of several items guitars from Irsay's expansive collection that were sold that day, which also included one of late Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia's custom "Tiger" guitars, which went for $11.56 million, as well as the Mustang electric guitar Cobain used in the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, which sold for $6.9 million, a new high for one of Cobain's guitars. The Irsay Collection sale will continue through Mar. 17, with a number of rare items up for bid, including a signed Paul McCartney's Hofner bass guitar and the handwritten lyrics to the Beatles track "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," a signed Eddie Van Halen "Frankenstrat" guitar, and one of late ZZ Top member Dusty Hill's custom sheepskin covered bass guitars, among many other items. - Billboard, 3/13/26...... It was announced on Instagram on Mar. 12 that a remastered version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Power To The People concert film is coming to cinemas worldwide this spring. Following on from the extensive NYC-era box set released in 2025, the film is a document of the "One To One" concerts that the couple held at New York's Madison Square Garden on Aug. 30, 1972. The two performances, one a matinee show and the other in the evening, were Lennon's only full-length concerts after leaving the Beatles, and they were also the last gigs John and Yoko played together. Now, a restored, re-edited and remixed version of the concert film, officially titled Power To The People: John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant's Memory and Special Guests - Live at the One To One Concert, New York City, 1972, will be shown in cinemas "worldwide" on Apr. 29 and May 3. The new version of the film, which was captured at the time by director Steve Gebhardt, has been "physically and digitally cleaned by hand" by Lennon's regular Grammy-winning team, led by youngest son Sean Ono Lennon. Tickets will go on sale on Mar. 20, to coincide with John and Yoko's 57th wedding anniversary. The "One To One" shows saw John and Yoko play to over 40,000 people and raised more than $1.5 million (2026 equivalent of $11.5 million) for disabled children. They played songs including "Imagine," "Come Together," "Instant Karma!" and "Hound Dog," and rounded out the show with a version of "Give Peace A Chance" with Stevie Wonder. - New Musical Express, 3/12/26....... Lionsgate Films announced on Mar. 10 that Michael Jackson superfans get a chance to see the upcoming biopic Michael a few days early. The studio announced that a limited number of screens for early-access viewings in premium formats on Apr. 22, two days ahead of its wide release that Friday. "For Michael Jackson's fans, Michael is the cinematic event they've been waiting for -- the movie captures both the soul and the spectacle of the boy who became the King of Pop," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Kevin Grayson in a statement. "These early access screenings, in IMAX and premium large formats, will immerse audiences in the electrifying performances and bring the power of Michael Jackson's iconic music to life. It's the perfect way to be the first to see the movie." The film directed by Antoine Fuqua (Stans, Bullet Train) stars Jackson's real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who pulls off a spot-on homage to his uncle in the trailer of the movie, from Jackson's signature electrifying dance moves to his laser-focused determination to produce pop music for the ages. - Billboard, 3/11/26...... 
Posting on his Neil Young Archives site that "politics today is sad and depressing for me," Neil Young has announced he's escaping the current tumultuous political world by working on a new album with his backing band The Chrome Hearts. "Folks, I am so hurt for this country," Young lamented. "I can't do it anymore. I can go out and demonstrate my feelings about it. We have the worst president in the history of our country. Every day, a bad TV show produced by DJT [Pres. Donald Trump] is what we get." He added: "Now, thankfully, once again, I'm in the studio recording a new album with the Chrome Hearts. I love the songs and the feelings of life and love. Music is. So far, we have eight new songs. They make me feel." Young and his band took aim at the president on their most recent collection, 2025's Talkin to the Trees, and on the track "Big Crime," on which the artist and persistent critics of Trump sings: "Don't need no fascist rules. Don't want no fascist school. Don't want soldiers on our streets. There's big crime in DC at the White House. No more money on the fascists. The billionaire fascists. Time to blackout the system." - Music-News.com, 3/12/26...... Bruce Springsteen will be among the contributors to a new tribute album to late The Pogues frontman Shane McGowan. 20th Century Paddy - The Songs Of Shane MacGowan is a collection of Pogues songs the late frontman "wanted to make himself," according to a press release. The release, set to drop on Nov. 13 on vinyl and digitally, will be accompanied by a limited edition deluxe bookpack edition featuring 3LPs, 2CDs, and a 56-page book of memorabilia and liner notes will also be made available. A first taste of the record, available for streaming on YouTube, is Springsteen covering a reimagined version of the classic Pogues hit "A Rainy Night In Soho." "Shane was all naked bottomless humanity," Springsteen said in the presser. "Threatening to force us to ask ourselves if we were living deeply, authentically. He was raw, hilarious, no apologies and profound. His soul was filled with the transgressive and ecstatic properties of the saints," he added. The Jersey rocker previously covered the track during his tour of Ireland in 2024, and the year before the Boss made a surprise visit to the late frontman ahead of his shows in Ireland. Following MacGowan's death he also wrote a touching tribute to The Pogues legend. Other artists set to feature on the record include the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Hozier, David Gray, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Johnny Depp, The Libertines, and many more. - NME, 3/12/26...... Making her first major public appearance of 2026, Dolly Parton delivered a keynote address on opening day at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, celebrating the park's 41st anniversary. "I've not been touring, as you know," the 80-year-old country/pop icon said. "I've had a few little health issues, and we're taking good care of them." Her Dollywood visit came months after she postponed her Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace due to undisclosed medical procedures. The residency, originally set to start in December, is now scheduled to begin in mid-September. The postponement also followed the death of her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, who passed away at age 82 in Mar. 2025. "I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on," the "Jolene" singer continued. "I just got myself kind of where I needed to build myself back up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But, all is good. It didn't slow me down." Dolly then joked that she's "not dating anybody," before sharing more heartfelt words about her late husband. "I think Carl Dean's waiting for me," she said. "If I should show up at the pearly gates with somebody else, he would not like that. He'd be saying, 'Who's that little pisser? You leave him outside the gates.'" Parton also revealed that she's rewriting songs for her upcoming Broadway musical, "Dolly: An Original Musical," which is expected to launch in New York later in 2026. - Billboard, 3/14/26...... 
In an interview with Loudersound.com, Sammy Hagar says he'll never play with Alex Van Halen again, because he's a "negative" person. The two former Van Halen members haven't spoken in more than 20 years, and it remains unclear with the 78-year-old Hagar and the 72-year-old Van Halen no longer speak, though Alex didn't even mention Hagar's name in his 2024 memoir Brothers, writing only that Van Halen "had a lot of other singers over the years" following original VH frontman David Lee Roth's departure in 1985. Hagar told Rolling Stone in 2025 that he and Alex hadn't spoken in 21 years. Though the interviewer suggested that Alex was unhappy with Hagar's 2011 memoir -- which went into detail about the low points of Eddie Van Halen's life -- and that he was just generally a more private person than Hagar, the Red Rocker disagreed. "I think Al's angry because I'm out doing it... And he can't. He's not a singer. He's not a guitar player. He is not really a band leader. And he seems like he doesn't want to play drums or can't play drums anymore, and he can't go write a new record," Hagar said. "If I put myself in his shoes, I would feel terrible if I couldn't do it anymore." He went on to encourage Alex to "just leave me alone," saying he would do the same for him. "Everything's good. I'm making you money, by the way, Al," he told RS. "I'm out there selling Van Halen records and keeping the name alive, keeping the music alive." Hagar previously had a falling out with Eddie, but the two had reportedly "buried the hatchet" before Eddie died in 2020. Hagar has also previously criticized Roth, saying on Steve-O's Wild Ride podcast that Roth "ain't like his persona. "[David's] not a fun guy. He doesn't play well with others. I'm not sure what his problem is," Hagar said. "He's a chest-beating motherf---er. And God bless him, 'cause the early stuff is frickin' great." - People, 3/11/26...... REO Speedwagon played a surprise reunion concert in Peoria, Ill. on Mar. 7, more than a year after calling it quits. The show, fronted by lead singer Kevin Cronin was a special tribute to late guitarist Gary Richrath, a Peoria native who died in Sept. 2025. According to UltimateClassicRock.com, the lineup included Cronin, Syracuse, N.Y. native Alan Gratzer on drums, bassist Bruce Hall, and retired keyboardist Neal Doughty playing a short set of REO Speedwagon favorites like "Ridin' the Storm Out," "Take It on the Run," and "Roll With the Changes." Former vocalist Mike Murphy, who briefly replaced Cronin in the '70s, and Richrath's son Eric Richrath also performed. It was an "amazing tribute for Gary at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Being back on stage with Mike, Kevin, Alan and Neal was awesome. Having Gary's son, Eric, join us made it all the more special," Bruce Hall wrote on Facebook. "We ended the week with a private showing at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66.... Good things are happening. Long Live REO Speedwagon!!" It's unclear if the event will open the door for a full reunion tour. The band played its last official concert as REO Speedwagon on Jan. 1, 2025, after announcing a split due to "irreconcilable differences." REO Speedwagon, fronted by Cronin since 1972, is best known for '70s and '80s rock hits like "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Take It On the Run," and "Keep on Loving You." In 2025 Cronin said that he may continue performing solo and will also work on finishing his memoir, tentatively titled Roll With the Change: My Life Within and Without REO Speedwagon. - Syracuse.com, 3/10/26...... Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack Osbourne and his wife Aree have welcomed a baby girl named Ozzy Matilda Osbourne after Jack's famous dad. Born on Mar. 5, Matilda was announced to the world in a joint Instagram post along with grandma Sharon Osbourne. The birth of Ozzy Matilda comes nearly eight months after the loss of her grandpa Ozzy, who died of a heart attack in July 2025 at age 76. Ozzy Matilda Osbourne is Jack's fifth child, joining Pearl, Andy and Minnie from his first marriage to Lisa Stelly and Maple with Aree. - Billboard, 3/11/26...... 
Billy Joel's daughter Alexa Ray Joel has given a health update amid her famous Piano Man dad's brain disorder diagnosis. "He's doing physical therapy regularly and he's doing great," Alexa Ray, the rocker's only child with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, told The Hollywood Reporter. He's lost weight as he's on his diet. I'm so proud of him. He's such a trooper, so resilient and committed to being healthy and proactive. He's a fighter. He's always been a fighter and talks in his documentary about how life's like a fight," she added. The legendary pop star, recently the subject of HBO's two-part, 2025 documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, canceled all upcoming tour dates when he revealed that he was dealing with normal pressure hydrocephalus. At the time, he said in a statement that his condition -- which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain -- had been exacerbated by his performing and led to issues with his balance, vision, and hearing. A tribute event to Joel, "The Music of Billy Joel," was held on Mar. 12 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Alexa Ray, along with Wyclef Jean, Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas, Train's Pat Monahan, Rufus Wainwright, and others performed some of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's many tunes from over the years, including "Tell Her About It," "Vienna," and "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant." Joel, 76, surprised the crowd at a concert by Turnstiles, a Billy Joel cover band, in January, when he joined them onstage to perform his songs "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Big Shot." The Grammy winner is also the father of daughters Della Rose, 10, and Remy Anne, 8, whom he shares with Alexis Roderick, his wife since 2015. - Entertainment Weekly, 3/12/26...... In a recent street interview with TMZ.com, KISS singer/bassist Gene Simmons slammed actors Ben Stiller and Mark Ruffalo for what he called preaching politics instead of doing their art. Stiller, 60, recently went public with his frustration over the Donald Trump administration using a clip from his 2008 comedy film Tropic Thunder in an official video. The video mixed movie scenes with real footage of U.S. airstrikes, framing it as a triumphant montage. Stiller took to social media, demanding the clip's removal and labeling it as propaganda. He stated he had no interest in his work being tied to real-world conflicts, emphasizing that war isn't a movie. This wasn't the first time Stiller has weighed in on politics, but it hit a nerve amid ongoing debates about U.S. actions abroad. Simmons told TMZ this as a perfect example of why stars should stay in their lane. He argued that regular folks don't need lectures from the elite. The interview quickly went viral, racking up views on YouTube and shares across platforms like X and Facebook. Simmons also zeroed in on Ruffalo, 58, who's known for his outspoken views on everything from climate change to anti-Trump sentiments. Simmons mispronounced his name as "Mark Buffalo" in a mocking tone, then imitated a reporter asking Ruffalo about politics before dismissing it with, "I don't care." "People work hard for a living, and they don't want to be lectured by people who live in mansions and drive Rolls-Royces," he added. Not everyone is on board with Simmons' viewpoint though. Some pointed out the irony, with Facebook users asking, "Does he realize the irony that he is a celebrity commenting on politics?" "If only he would take his own advice," Chris_H posted. Others noted, "Isn't he a celebrity? Doesn't he voice his opinion every chance he gets?" - WealthofGeeks.com, 3/13/26...... 
Cher's son Chaz Bono married his longtime partner, Shara Blue Mathes, on Mar. 8 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. The dress code was "Hollywood Glam Formal," according to the couple's wedding website. Their relationship goes back decades, with the pair having met as teenagers at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Their life journeys continued over the years until they eventually reconnected and made their romance official in Jan. 2017. "I first met Shara more than 40 years ago when we were just teenagers," Chaz, 57, told People. "I think it's safe to say that not many grooms ultimately end up marrying the very first girl they ever kissed so many years later." Chaz continued, "She makes me feel complete knowing she will always be there beside me as partner, my best friend, and the love of my life. No matter what life brings us, we will always be safer and stronger together ... and we are home." Cher, 79, looked on from the front row as the couple took a romantic dip at the end of the black aisle, which was lined with glowing red candles and moody floral arrangements. Chaz is the child of Cher and the late Sonny Bono, and the singer is also a mother to son Elijah Allman, 49, whose father is Cher's late ex-husband, Gregg Allman. Cher has been supportive of Chaz over the years, once telling a friend, "I admire my son Chaz's courage for sharing his personal journey. Most important to me is that he is very happy. That's what I care about the most. He has my love and support." - People, 3/13/26...... Blake Emmons, a Canadian country music icon and TV personality, has died at age 81. Mr. Emmons hosted the CTV series Funny Farm, which was billed as Canda's answer to Hee Haw in 1974. He also hosted The Country Place in the 1970s, and he hosted the game show Chain Reaction in 1985. He was also known for his charitable contributions, hosting the ACT Telethon for Camp HE-HO-HA for disabled children in the 1970s and late in the decade he helped develop the Telemiracle telethon. His hit single singles in Canada included 1969's "You're My Woman" and 1976's "Sunchild" and "Let Me Do Something Lord." - PennLive.com, 3/13/26...... Phil Campbell, the longtime guitarist of Motörhead, has died. He was 64. Campbell's death was announced on Mar. 14 through the Instagram account for his band, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Philip Anthony Campbell, who passed away peacefully last night following a long and courageous battle in intensive care after a complex major operation," the statement read. "Phil was a devoted husband, a wonderful father, and a proud and loving grandfather, known affectionately as 'Bampi'. He was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be missed immensely. His legacy, music and the memories he created with so many will live on forever." The reason for Campbell's original operation is yet to be disclosed. Born in Wales in 1961, Campbell began his music career in the 1970s with the metal band Persian Risk before being recruited by Lemmy Kilmister to join Motörhead in 1984 following the departure of guitarist Brian Robertson. Campbell's first album with Motörhead was the band's seventh, Orgasmatron, released in 1986. He went on to become the group's longest-tenured guitarist, spending three decades with the band until they parted ways following Kilmister's death in 2015. Campbell recorded 16 albums with Motörhead during his time with the metal act. - Billboard, 3/14/26.
Monday, March 16, 2026
Favorite Seventies Artists In The News
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Favorite Seventies Artists In The News
In 2016, British artist Chris Barker released his first ever "Sgt. Peppers"-style homage to famous, infamous and beloved figures that passed in that year, and has continued the project every December since then. Now after more than 1,000 tributes paid to late artists, Barker has announced his newest "Sgt. Peppers" image will be his last. "I never intended to make it an annual thing. It was supposed to be a one-off," Barker said in a statement Billboard. "But every year people would beg me to do it again until it kind of became a routine -- just something I did. Everybody loves those end-of-year tributes to the stars we've lost over the course of a year. 
You pick up the papers and look through the obituaries. You love the Oscars montage of stars who've passed. It's a primeval thing I suppose. You like being reminded of people you used to love that you'd forgotten about. And I'm touched that people enjoy the thing I produce so much. I really am," he added. He also recalled the inspiration of his first "Sgt. Peppers" homage: "It was the night of the U.S. election. I was staying up late in the U.K. to watch America elect their first ever female president or so I thought. But then things took an unexpected turn. The commentators started to say things like 'Florida is too close to call' and I began thinking what a strange year it had been. I wanted to get my feelings about the year down on paper and for some reason it came out as a parody of the famous Beatles album cover. I posted it online and went to bed. When I woke up -- on what coincidentally was my birthday -- everything had changed. [Donald] Trump was president, the world was in shock, I had a viral hit on my hands and the Washington Post was comparing me to Andy Warhol. Suffice to say it was big." What started out as his emotional, personal response to a seismic 2016 that also brought Brexit, as well as David Bowie and Prince's deaths turned into a annual, global conversation about who should have been included and who shouldn't have despite Barker's insistence that it was not meant to be comprehensive and is "just a personal take on things." The artist, however, never imagined he'd still be talking about it a decade later, as well as publishing a 100-page commemorative book compiling all the images that is due to ship to fans in early 2026, and can be pre-ordered at chrisbarkerprints.co.uk/sgtpepper. This year's swansong effort, which can be viewed on Instagram, was one of the most crowded ever, with 245 names on the list, including the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson, funk innovator Sly Stone, acclaimed vocalist Roberta Flack actors Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, Val Kilmer, Diane Keaton and Rob Reiner, and wrestler Hulk Hogan. - Billboard, 12/29/25...... 
Recently interviewed by The London Times, John Lydon has said his former Sex Pistols bandmates did not contact him following the death of his wife, Nora Forster, who died in Apr. 2023 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Lydon, known as Johnny Rotten during his time with the Pistols -- said he did not hear from the surviving Pistols, guitarist Steve Jones, bassist Glen Matlock or drummer Paul Cook after Forster's passing. "I expected some kind of connection when Nora died, but nothing," Lydon said. Lydon and Forster were married for nearly five decades. In the final years of her life, Lydon served as her full-time carer, frequently speaking publicly about the emotional and physical toll of Alzheimer's disease and how it reshaped his outlook on life. "All the things I thought were the ultimate agony seem preposterous now," he said at the time. "It's shaped me into what I am. I don't think I'll ever get over it." Lydon's comments arrive amid continued tension between the singer and his former bandmates, who have toured in recent years without him, performing Sex Pistols material with former Gallows frontman Frank Carter as lead singer. Lydon has been openly critical of the decision, describing the live shows as "karaoke" in previous interviews and questioning the group's artistic direction while speaking to the British outlet The i Paper about the tour, explaining that he largely felt "annoyed" by the whole affair and feared it would tarnish the group's legacy. "They're trying to trivialise the whole show to get away with karaoke but in the long term I think you'll see who has the value and who doesn't," Lydon said. "I've never sold my soul to make a dollar. It's the Catholic in me -- that guilt I don't want to trip." The Sex Pistols initially existed from 1975 until 1978, releasing their sole studio album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols in 1977. Famously -- or perhaps infamously -- the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, though refused to attend the ceremony, labeling the institution a "piss stain." - Billboard, 12/29/25...... Veteran Memphis Soul musician and songwriter Don Bryant has died at the age of 83. The news was shared by his family on Instagram on Dec. 26, who wrote: "Don loved sharing his music and songs with all of you and it gave him such great joy to perform and record new music. He was so appreciative of everyone who was part of his musical journey and who supported him along the way." Mr. Bryant is best remembered for his work alongside Ann Peebles, co-writing her timeless 1973 hit "I Can't Stand The Rain," among other tracks such as "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" and "Until You Came Into My Life." Mr. Bryant and Peebles also married in 1974. Born in Memphis on Mar. 16, 1942, he was immersed in gospel music from a young age, before entering the music industry in the '60s. He quickly became associated with Hi Records in the city, a label run by Willie Mitchell. Mr. Bryant and Peebles remained together, and it was only when the latter withdrew from music after suffering a stroke in 2012 that Mr. Bryant decided to return to the stage. He released two further solo records, Don't Give Up in 2017 and You Make Me Feel in 2020, to critical acclaim. "I Can't Stand The Rain" peaked at No. 38 on the U.S. hit parade and was once named as "the best song ever" by John Lennon. It was also sampled by Missy Elliott for her 1997 single "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)." - NME, 12/27/25...... 
Mick Abrahams, the original guitarist and founding member of Jethro Tull, died on Dec. 19 of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 81. Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson confirmed his passing via a post on their official website on Dec. 21, with news first emerging on a fan Facebook page that he had passed. "It is with great sadness that we learned yesterday of the passing of Jethro Tull founding member Mick Abrahams," Anderson wrote on Instagram, revealing he had sought confirmation of Abrahams' death. "Mick had endured worsening ill health for the last 15 years leaving him finally unable to perform or interact socially to any degree," Anderson posted. "Mick was vitally important to the early Tull formation out of the ashes of The John Evan Band and McGregor's Engine, the blues band he formed with Clive Bunker in the Luton/Dunstable area," he added. "We all offer our condolences to Mick's family and close friends, who can feel justifiably proud of his achievements and musical legacy," he concluded. Jethro Tull was formed in 1967, with Glenn Cornick and Clive Bunker joining Abrahams and Anderson on the recording of the group's first album, This Was. Abrahams would leave shortly after the album's completion and go on to form blues rock outfit Blodwyn Pig in 1968. Abrahams had suffered a heart attack in 2009, and the following year was reported to have been diagnosed with Mnire's disease, an inner ear condition which causes bouts of vertigo and hearing loss. Mick Abrahams is survived by his wife Kate, their two sons and his grandchildren. - New Musical Express, 12/27/25...... Howie Klein, a legendary record executive at Sire and Reprise Records, has died at the age of 77. The news was confirmed by his sister Michelle Swerdloff on social media on Christmas Day, who said he passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. "He had a truly amazing life and he lived it everyday," she wrote. "He will be missed by everyone who knew him and loved him. Good night to my dear brother." The Brooklyn-born Klein was considered one of the defining artist-friendly figures at the labels where he worked in the '80s and '90s, forging a reputation as a champion for creative freedom and working closely with the likes of Lou Reed, Ramones, Talking Heads, Green Day and Alanis Morissette. He started his career by booking performers such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Janis Joplin at Stony Brook University in New York. He moved to San Francisco and became a DJ at KSAN-FM in 1976, becoming an early vocal supporter of punk and new wave music. He co-founded 415 Records in 1978, launching acts including Romeo Void and Wire Train, before joining Sire Records in 1987, one of the key homes of alternative music in the US at the time. It was there that he helped to revitalise Lou Reed's career with the 1989 album New York, which is often seen as Reed's late-period peak. He was made president of Reprise Records in 1989, and there worked closely with Green Day, Ramones, Neil Young, Alanis Morissette, Ice-T, Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac. - NME, 12/27/25...... 
French actress Brigitte Bardot, who revolutionized 1950s French cinema and became a symbol of sexual liberation, has died aged 91. The cinema icon -- "BB" as she was known in her home country -- acted in almost 50 films, including And God Created Woman, but retired in 1973 to devote her life to animal welfare. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation she established said in a statement that it was announcing her death with "immense sadness," adding she was "a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation." It did not specify where or when Ms. Bardot died. Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born in Paris in 1934 to a wealthy family, who wanted her to become a ballerina. She was discovered in her teens after posing on the cover of Elle magazine, swiftly becoming a sensation in her home country, and was persuaded to enter the cinema world. She played iconic roles, most notably in the 1956 film And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim, in which she played a sexually liberated woman. The film scandalized the American public and was banned in some US states, while the French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir hailed her as an icon of "absolute freedom." Through the late 1950s and 1960s, Ms. Bardot became a global phenomenon with roles in The Truth, earning critical acclaim for her dramatic depth; Contempt, a Jean-Luc Godard masterpiece; and Viva Maria!, showcasing her comedic flair alongside Jeanne Moreau. In 1986, she launched the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which works to protect wild and domestic animals. he became a vegetarian, and in 2013 even threatened to apply for Russian citizenship in protest against plans to kill two sick elephants in a French zoo. She was married four times and had one son, Nicolas, with French actor and film producer Jacques Charrier, who died in September. Her husband, whom she married in 1992, was Bernard d'Ormale, a former adviser to the late far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen. From the late 1990s, Ms. Bardot was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred after comments she made online and in interviews about Muslims. French President Emmanuel Macron said the nation was mourning "a legend of the century." "Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom," he said in a statement. "French existence, universal brilliance. She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century." - BBC.com, 12/29/25.
Elton John is celebrating the ongoing success of "Step Into Christmas," his 1973 Christmas song co-written with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Earlier in December, officials at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that "Step into Christmas" had been certified platinum for sales of one million units, and the Rocket Man took to Instagram on Dec. 23 to post a photo showing himself posing with two RIAA platinum record plaques. "A special Christmas present to me!" he exclaimed in the caption. "Step Into Christmas has gone platinum in the US and 4 platinum in the UK. To think a song released over 50 years ago is still part of so many people's festivities (and even sat in the UK Top 10 again this year!) is very special." The 78-year-old music icon wrapped his message with an expression of gratitude to his fans: "Thank you to everyone who keeps stepping into Christmas, year after year!" "Step into Christmas" peaked at No. 9 in the U.K. singles chart this year, behind songs by Mariah Carey, Wham! and Kylie Minogue. In 2024, Elton dropped a new video for "Step into Christmas," with Cara Delevingne taking on John's role, donning oversized glasses and a waistcoat. - Music-News.com, 12/24/25...... 
Queen's Brian May has shared previously unreleased Christmas song recorded by the pre-Queen band Smile. During his Planet Rock Christmas Special in the U.K. on Dec. 22, May revealed the lost Christmas song recorded in 1974, informing listeners that the particular version he played had never been heard before and that it is slated to be part of an upcoming 2026 re-release of the band's 1974 LP Queen II. "People might possibly have heard a bootleg version of 'Not for Sale (Polar Bear)' by Smile, it's a song that goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge no one has ever heard this version," said May. May added that the song was a "work in progress," and said he decided to "sneak" it into his holiday special because he's "fascinated to know what people think about it." Although the gentle acoustic ballad doesn't have an overtly Christmas-y vibe, late singer Freddie Mercury's yearning, wistful vocals give it the feeling of sad-eyed holiday nostalgia so familiar from other blue Christmas yuletide classics. "In the bright shop window sits the polar bear/ Makes the children's eyes light up to see him there/ Amongst the tinsel he gives everyone a smile," Mercury croons over acoustic guitars and brushed drums. "He's not for, not for, not for sale," he adds on the angelic chorus. "Not for Sale (Polar Bear)" can be streamed on YouTube. - Billboard, 12/23/25...... Priscilla Presley has celebrated her family's "unbreakable" bond with a new holiday photo on Instagram. Priscilla, who was married to the King of Rock & Roll from 1967 to 1973, posted a snap showing her blended family sitting around a dinner table. The image includes Priscilla, longtime friend Jerry Schilling, Michael Lockwood, Danny Keough, Riley Keough holding a baby, and 17-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. "Holiday 2025 & unbreakable family bond' - P," the 80-year-old wrote in the caption, crediting her relative, Barbara Iverson, for the photo. Though it's not clear exactly when the photo was taken, it displays a united front after the family hit headlines earlier in December when two of Priscilla's former business partners alleged that Riley is the biological mother of John Travolta's youngest son, Ben Travolta. In response, Priscilla's lawyers called the allegations "shameful" and said they will "absolutely will be addressed in court." - Music-News.com, 12/24/25...... Pink Floyd have shared the official video for their 1975 track "Wish You Were Here," 50 years after its release. The video, which can be viewed on YouTube, opens with a clip of the moon, before a string of disorientating images begin to flash on the screen, including sperm racing toward an egg, an eye filled with flames, and lights zipping through darkness. It then cuts to intimate shots of the band, showing nostalgic footage of them in the studio and running through a subway station. Throughout, psychedelic animations of a figurine floating through time and space are also featured. Earlier in December, the classic 1975 Wish You Were Here album was given a deluxe reissue with new digital and physical editions for its 50th anniversary, and on Dec. 19 it was announced that the reissued record had topped the UK's Official Albums Chart in time for Christmas. The record also topped the charts on its original release in 1975, and its success means that Pink Floyd are now the artist with the longest span between their first and last U.K. Number One albums, clocking in at 2,620 weeks, or over 50 years. - New Musical Express, 12/24/25...... 
On Dec. 22 Barry Manilow revealed that his doctor had found a "cancerous spot" in one of his lungs, and he'll be postponing his January concerts for treatment. "As many of you know, I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks," Manilow posted on his Instagram account. "Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK. The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It's pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That's the good news," he added. The 82-year-old "Mandy" singer continued that now his Christmas shows are done, he is undergoing surgery to have the cancer removed. "The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm their diagnosis," he shared. "So, that's it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns." Manilow went on to apologize to fans for having to postpone his previously scheduled January shows. "In the meantime, I'm counting the days until I return to my home away from home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine's weekend concerts on February 12-13-14 and throughout 2026," he added. "Something tells me that February weekend is going to be one big party!" He concluded his post by urging fans to take care of their health. "I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year," he wrote. "And remember, if you have even the slightest symptom get tested!" - Billboard, 12/22/25..... Paul McCartney has "got back" to the top of the US touring chart with a $51 million-plus gross in November. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, McCartney grossed $51.7 million and sold 150,000 tickets across 11 shows during his Got Back Tour in November, earning the highest grossing tour of the month. It's his second time at No. 1, after leading in May 2022. Even though McCartney's last triumph was three and a half years ago, it's all contributing to the same tour. He launched the Got Back Tour in Apr. 2022, and has continued with legs in the fall of 2023, 2024 and now 2025. Altogether, the tour has earned $410.7 million and sold 2.4 million tickets. Both of McCartney's monthly victories were from shows in the U.S., but Got Back has been a global affair. In between the tour's book-ending domestic legs, he went to Australia ($37.3 million) and Brazil ($36.3 million) in 2023, Latin America ($59.1 million) and Europe ($23.8 million) in 2024, and repeated in Mexico in both of those years ($37.9 million). Now beyond the $400 million and 2 million ticket thresholds, Got Back is the highest grossing and bestselling tour of McCartney's career. He has always been a reliable sell-out act, but has typically broken out his tours into one- or two-year endeavors. The 83-year-old star's ongoing post-COVID set is seemingly indefatigable, with stronger results in 2025 than its initial run in 2022. - Billboard, 12/23/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, Sean Ono Lennon says it's possible that future generations could lose touch with the music and legacy of the Beatles, a thought he admits once felt unimaginable. Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning on Dec. 21, Lennon, 50, reflected on his role as a steward of his late father John Lennon's legacy -- a responsibility he says has increasingly come into focus as culture, technology and listening habits continue to shift. "To forget about it? I do, actually," Sean said when asked if he believed younger generations could one day move on from the Beatles' catalogue. "And I never did before." Sean explained that while he has "technically" stepped into the role of caretaker for his father's work, following decades of stewardship by his mother Yoko Ono, he views the legacy as something shared with the wider world. "Obviously the world is also the custodian of his legacy," he said. "I'm just doing my best to help make sure that the younger generation doesn't forget about the Beatles and John and Yoko. That's how I look at it. My parents gave me so much that I think it's the least I can do to try and support their legacy in my lifetime. I feel like I just owe it to them. It's a personal thing," he added. Reflecting on the message at the core of his parents' work, Sean described their legacy as rooted in more than idealism alone. "It's peace and love," he said, "but it's also an attitude toward activism that's done with humor and love." Sean has continued to engage with his parents' work in contemporary ways. In 2023, he collaborated with filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker to release the animated short War Is Over!, inspired by John and Yoko's 1971 song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." The film won win an Academy Award for short film (animated) in 2024. - Billboard, 12/23/25...... 
In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson said he is "very far from wanting to retire." Anderson, 78, said he hopes he will still be capable of recording and performing for some time because he still has the energy and desire to keep going. "Who knows what the future holds? I hope to be physically capable for a few more years and mentally capable beyond that," he said. "What I can tell you is that, in terms of energy and commitment, I'm very far from wanting to retire." While Jethro Tull released a new album, Curious Ruminant -- their third record since 2022 -- in 2025, Anderson said Tull doesn't yet have any further new music in the pipeline but thinks whatever comes next will be "a bit different." "In the months to come, I may well get the itch again, call our record company and say, 'How about another one?' but it all depends how well Curious Ruminant does," he noted. "If we do make another record, it will necessarily have to be a bit different. I can imagine a reversal to something quite basic -- not all the way back to our blues roots, but maybe something more stripped-down. I sometimes toy with the idea of a four-piece band." Ian is also hoping to see some of his earlier work "changed for the better" with plans to reissue some of his previous albums. "There are certainly a few more that Warner Music have the rights for and are intent on doing," he said. "Crest of a Knave is being talked about and could have some changes for the better in the right hands. Something like Under Wraps, I'd like to see improved upon too, because there's some really great playing on there, particularly from [guitarist] Martin Barre." Meanwhile, Jethro Tull has announced they'll be playing three shows in the U.K. in 2026 -- in Newcastle on Apr. 23; Sheffield on Apr. 29; and Southampton on May 15. - Music-News.com, 12/24/25...... Bob Dylan has offered a unique description of his friend and fellow music icon Willie Nelson for an article on the country legend, describing him as an "Ancient Viking Soul" among other things. In a The New Yorker profile on Nelson titled "How Willie Nelson Sees America," the folk legend was asked to describe the veteran artist, whom he worked with on the 1993 song "Heartland" and recently coheadlined the 2025 Outlaw Music Festival tour. "How can you make sense of him?" Dylan replied. "How would you define the indefinable or the unfathomable? What is there to say? Ancient Viking Soul? Master Builder of the Impossible? Patron poet of people who never quite fit in and don't much care to? Moonshine Philosopher? Tumbleweed singer with a PhD? Red Bandana troubadour, braids like twin ropes lassoing eternity? What do you say about a guy who plays an old, battered guitar that he treats like it's the last loyal dog in the universe?" In April, just before his 92nd birthday, Willie Nelson released Oh What A Beautiful World, his 154th studio album in total, and his 77th solo effort. Dylan's interview with the New Yorker can be watched on YouTube. - NME, 12/23/25...... Peter Gabriel has personally thanked the director of the new film Marty Supreme for including his song "I Have The Touch" on its soundtrack. Director Josh Safdie's movie stars Timothe Chalamet as the American table tennis prodigy Marty Mauser, a character loosely inspired by the real-life ping pong champion Marty Reisman. Although set in the 1950s, the film includes a number of anachronistic songs on its soundtrack, including tracks by Tears For Fears, New Order, Public Image Ltd. and Gabriel's "I Have The Touch" from his 1982 fourth solo album. Gabriel wrote on his official Instagram page, "I was delighted that 'I Have The Touch' was chosen for the soundtrack of Marty Supreme. The song is rarely asked out for a dance and I have always loved table tennis. Now there seems to be a real buzz about the film. Thank you to the director Josh Safdie!" Chalamet's promotion campaign for the movie has been making countless headlines, including him collaborating with UK rapper EsDeeKid, and thereby quashing rumours that he was actually the real-life identity behind the anonymous musician. As for Gabriel, his WOMAD Festival has announced a Glasgow edition for 2026, to go alongside its Wiltshire event in July. - NME, 12/21/25...... The legendary Scottish rock band Nazareth has announced a new lead singer after splitting with its longtime frontman. Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew announced on Dec. 21 that "Carl Sentance and Nazareth have come to a parting of the ways, and he is no longer with the band." Sentance had been the group's lead vocalist since 2015. "We would like to introduce you now to our new lead singer, Gianni Pontillo," Agnew said. "Those who have seen and heard Gianni will already know what an incredible voice he has, and those of you who haven't are in for a wonderful surprise when you come to see us in 2026." Agnew continued: "Next year is going to be one of the busiest in Nazareth's history, so there is a good chance to see the new lineup, and we can't wait to introduce you to this man's amazing talent. See you in rock." Sentance had been with Nazareth for the past decade, most recently completing the band's 2025 tour dates in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 17. No reason was given for his departure, but Sentance also worked as a solo artist, releasing the album Silent Angels in 2024. Pontillo has been the lead singer of the German hard rock band Victory since 2019. Co-founded by Agnew in 1968, Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock / heavy metal band best known for '70s and '80s hits like "Love Hurts," "Hair of the Dog," "This Flight Tonight," "Dream On" and "Where Are You Now." Agnew, who turns 80 in 2026, leads the band's current lineup. The original lineup included singer Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton and drummer Darrell Sweet, who have all died. Nazareth's upcoming tour dates, which were previously billed as a "farewell" tour, include two U.S. concerts: May 2 at Family Arena in Saint Charles, Mo.; and May 8 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minn. Both shows will also feature Foghat, which recently announced it will kick off its "Twang and Bang Tour" on Jan. 9 in Fort McDowell, Ariz. - Syracuse.com, 12/22/25...... 
Joe Walsh made a surprise appearance during a concert by the indie rock band the War on Drugs at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia on Dec. 20. In addition to "In the City" by the Eagles and TWOD's "Under the Pressure," Walsh and the band played a rocking rendition of his 1973 solo hit, "Rocky Mountain Way." During a 2012 interview on The Howard Stern Show, the 78-year-old Walsh opened up about his inspiration for writing "Rocky Mountain Way" not long after he released his debut solo album, Barnstorm. "I'm living in Colorado and I'm mowing the lawn," he recalled. "I look up and there's the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and there's snow on them in the summer. And it knocked me back because it was just beautiful. And I thought, 'Well I have committed. I'm already in Colorado and it's too late to regret the James Gang. The Rocky Mountain way is better than the way I had, because the music was better.' I got the words. Bam!" In 1985, the song was used as the title to Walsh's 1985 compilation album, which included previously released songs from Barnstorm, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get and So What. Walsh's performances with the War on Drugs can be streamed on YouTube. - Parade, 12/22/25...... KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent is pushing back after a fan backlash over his pricey new single, "Ride the Serpent." Fans were left dismayed when learning his new music would cost $200, with Vincent calling them out as "f---ing babies" over their complaints. When announcing the news of "Ride the Serpent," Vincent explained it would be a limited CD release with only 1000 copies available. The CD would also be signed by the guitarist and be priced at $200 each. The KISS guitarist has previously commented on the price tag as a way to stop pirating and illegal downloads of the song. He also explained that refunds would be made available if they didn't meet their expected sales threshold. Despite the explanation, fans were left angered by the cost. "I fear, though, that this price will deter people from truly enjoying your beautiful art in this horrendous economy, especially if it will be this way for each single," a fan said on Facebook. Another fan added that Vincent's new music would be released as a whole album and at the often-seen market price of $18.99. The fan went on to criticize Vincent's lack of economic awareness. The common thread of comments had Vincent fighting back and standing his ground over his reasoning. He claimed artists have a right to set standards for their art. "First of all, consider the analogy to caviar or fine art," he said. "Not everyone can afford it. That simple. Second, I resent your 'personal life's needs ... prices alleviate my burdens' insult. Who the f--- are you to assume such a theory because you can't afford or don't want to pay or don't agree with my price?... Oh but you expect a fair market price of 18.99... That was yesteryear. Welcome to the new agenda. Artists can and will set their own standards and rules for the purchase price of their art, when they've had their fill of being ripped off ... that's (if) there are any or many artists of value left, aside from the standard list. If you don't agree with the price, don't buy it. It's that easy." - Parade, 12/23/25..... Chris Rea, the British blues rocker best known for his 1978 soft rock hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" and the wistful, jazzy holiday hit "Driving Home for Christmas," has died at 74. The news was announced by the singer/guitarist's family on his official Instagram page on Dec. 22, where they wrote, "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Chris, who died peacefully earlier today following a short illness. Chris's music has created the soundtrack to many lives, and his legacy will live on through the songs he leaves behind." No additional information was available about when Rea died or the manner of death. Rea released two dozen albums over his 50-year career, including two that reached No. 1 on the U.K. albums charts -- 1989's The Road to Hell and 1991's Auberge -- and landed one song in the U.S. top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," which topped out at No. 12 in the summer of 1978. One of the singer's other most beloved tracks is a seasonally appropriate one, the melancholy 1986 ballad "Driving Home For Christmas," about a wintry trip home for the holidays penned while he was actually driving back from Abbey Road Studios in London through snowy traffic while longing to be in the cozy confines of home. His seasonal classic, originally recorded in 1986, was featured on his 1988 compilation, New Light Through Old Windows, and in the years since it has become an annual favorite, often ending the year as one of the top 10 Christmas singles on the U.K. charts. While he never toured the U.S., Rea was a solid draw in his native country, as well as in Australia and Japan and he earned his first No. 1 album in the U.K. in 1989 with his best-selling album, The Road to Hell. Rea was was also a racing enthusiast who participated in the 1993 British Touring Car Championship, collected and restored classic racing cars and recorded the sweeping, emotional ballad "Saudade" in a tribute to three-time Formula One racing champ Ayrton Senna for the BBC's 1995 documentary about the beloved Brazilian driver's life and tragic death on the course at the San Marino Grand Prix. - Billboard, 12/22/25...... 
Sixties hitmaker Jerry Kasenetz, who with his production partner Jeff Katz was the hottest producer of bubblegum music in the late 1960s, died Dec. 6 in a hospital in Tampa, Fla. He was 82. Born May 5, 1943, in Brooklyn, Mr. Kasenetz was the eldest of five children. He met his fellow Brooklyner Katz when both were undergraduates at the University of Arizona, and the pair promoted a campus concert by the Dave Clark Five. Their first production was for R&B singer Christine Cooper. "S.O.S. Hearts in Distress" bubbled under the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 101 in Feb. 1966. Between 1967-68, Mr. Kasenetz and Katz produced six million-selling singles, including five that reached the top five on the Hot 100: The Music Explosion's "Little Bit o' Soul" (No. 2); Ohio Express' "Yummy Yummy Yummy" (No. 4); and 1910 Fruitgum Co.'s "Simon Says" (No. 4), "1,2,3 Red Light" (No. 5) and "Indian Giver" (No. 5). Their million-seller that missed the top five was Ohio Express' "Chewy Chewy" (No. 15). In 1968, they even had a top 30 hit on the Hot 100 as artists. The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestra Circus reached No. 25 in Dec. 1968 with "Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)." The song, written by Joey Levine and Artie Resnick, featured members from the groups they had produced. "Little Bit o' Soul," which was a catchy pop-rock song, but not really bubblegum, was released on Laurie Records. Kasenetz-Katz had most of their successes on Neil Bogart's Buddah Records: Ohio Express, 1910 Fruitgum Co. and their own hit. They sometimes used the nameplate Super K Productions. In 1969, Crazy Elephant (on Bell Records) took "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin," another Kasenetz-Katz production, to No. 12 on the Hot 100. Bubblegum reached its peak of popularity at the same time that hard rock, at the opposite end of the musical spectrum, became a major force. The best-selling single of 1969 was The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar," which was not a Kasenetz-Katz production, but was in their wheelhouse. (Jeff Barry produced that smash, which he co-wrote with Andy Kim.) Nearly a decade removed from their run of hits, Kasenetz-Katz produced one more big hit: Ram Jam's rock-leaning rendition of "Black Betty," a song recorded by Lead Belly in 1939, which hit No. 18 in Sept. 1977. Although Kasenetz and Katz were never nominated for a Grammy, nor are they in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the pair found their niche and delivered hit after hit. Kasenetz is survived by brothers Iver and Bruce, sons Darren and Brett and two grandchildren. Katz is still living at 82. - Billboard, 12/23/25.
'70s stars Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross are among the celebrities featured in an initial tranche of documents related to deceased pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein that were released by the US Dept. of Justice on Dec. 19. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 for sex trafficking and was found dead in his jail cell in August of that year, with authorities later determining that he hanged himself. Since his death, there has been a campaign for the full publication of all documents and photos and to reveal high profile names he associated with. Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell in Aug. 2019, was infamous for his connections across entertainment, politics and business, and the context of images where he is seen alongside artists like Jackson, Jagger and Ross are unclear, as is his level of association with those pictured. One image of Jackson shows him standing with former president Bill Clinton and Ross, who pose together next to multiple other faces who are redacted from the image. Another shows Jagger posing for a photo with Clinton and a woman whose face is redacted. Jagger, Ross and Jackson's estate are yet to comment on the images. Meanwhile, Diana Ross will be among the headliners on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on Dec. 31. She'll be performing live from Times Square near midnight, when the show's audience is at its peak. (Carrie Underwood filled that prime spot on last year's show.) - New Musical Express, 12/20/25...... 
Cher made her first appearance as musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 38 years on Dec. 20 by delivering a spirited performance of "DJ Play a Christmas Song" and a rocking cover of Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run." Both tracks appear on Cher's 2023 holiday album, Christmas, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart that year and blends classic holiday tunes with original tracks, featuring guest appearances from Michael Bublé, Cyndi Lauper, Darlene Love, Tyga and Stevie Wonder. Her "DJ Play a Christmas Song" and "Run Rudolph Run" performances can be viewed on YouTube. Cher's last SNL appearance as a musical guest was on Nov. 21, 1987. Cher has also made two cameos on the show: once during a Nicolas Cage-hosted episode in 1992 and again earlier in 2025 for the program's 50th-anniversary special. Near the end of the Dec. 20 show, Cher also appeared in a sketch in which she performed a rendition of the Eagles' "Please Come Home for Christmas" with host Ariana Grande. The show also paid a brief tribute to late actor Rob Reiner, honoring the filmmaker's early and influential role in the show's history. Reiner hosted the third-ever SNL episode on Oct. 25, 1975, at a time when the series was still defining its identity. Unlike the show's first two hosts, George Carlin and Paul Simon, Reiner fully participated in sketches throughout the episode, helping establish the host-as-performer format that would become central to SNL's structure. The episode is now considered a foundational moment in the show's evolution. - Billboard, 12/21/25...... Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley has responded after being hit with another shocking claim amid her legal battle with two former business advisor who have now alleged that Riley Keough -- the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla -- is the biological mother of John Travolta's son. Priscilla's former business advisors Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko first sued her in Feb. 2024 over accusations of unfair business conduct. Now they are claiming in court documets that Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston, used the Daisy Jones & The Six actress' donated eggs to conceive their now 15-year-old son. In exchange, Keough allegedly received "an old Jaguar" car and up to $20,000 in payment. Before, Travolta and Preston -- who shared two other children together -- had allegedly been using eggs provided by Elvis and Priscilla's late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley (Keough's mother), to try to conceive, according to the documents. The lawsuit also claims that Michael Lockwood, who was married to Lisa Marie, provided the alleged information to Kruse and Fialko. "Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko are heartbroken that they have been forced to file their most recent amended complaint. They have been accused of horrific acts that are not supported by any evidence whatsoever," the plaintiffs' lawyers told TMZ.com. In a statement shared with Billboard, Priscilla's lawyers Marty Singer and Wayne Harman said, "These recent outrageous allegations have absolutely nothing to do with the claims in this case. The conduct is shameful, and it absolutely will be addressed in court." - Billboard, 12/18/25...... Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has celebrated his band's 1975 LP Wish You Were Here landing the 2025 UK Christmas Number One spot with a post on Instagram on Dec. 19. "Raising a glass to the wonderful news that Wish You Were Here is the UK's Christmas Number 1 album," the singer/guitarist posted. A deluxe Wish You Were Here 50th anniversary edition was released on Dec. 12, and on Dec. 19 it was announced that it had topped the UK's Official Albums Chart for Christmas. The album did not top the UK charts on its original release in 1975, and its success means that Pink Floyd are now the artist with the longest span between their first and last UK Number One albums, clocking in at 2,620 weeks, or over 50 years. The reissue is Floyd's second Number One album of the year, following Pink Floyd At Pompeii - MCMLXXII, the live album of a 1971 show that was released as a concert film in 1972 and re-released with newly mixed audio earlier in 2025. While it is the iconic prog-rock band's first UK Christmas Number One album, they did land the coveted Number One single in 1979 with "Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2." - NME, 12/20/25...... It appears the "sweet emotions" between Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and his longtie girlfried Aimee Preston have come to an end. According to TMZ.com, the couple has called it quits on their relationship with multiple sources telling them the couple have broken up -- though it's unclear when they separated and what led to the split. Steven hired Aimee as his personal assistant back in 2012. They started dating in 2014 but waited until the 2016 Oscars to go public with their romance, holding hands at Elton John's AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party. The couple made things work for over a decade despite a 39-year age gap, and Aimee was often by Steven's side at Hollywood events, premieres, and the like. - TMZ.com, 12/19/25...... 
To celebrate the 26th edition of his House Full of Toys holiday benefit concert, Stevie Wonder said in a promo video earlier in the year that he was "switching things up" in 2025. Instead of performing for one night, the Grammy-winning Motown legend would perform across four nights -- Dec. 18, 19, 20 and 21 -- at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, however, Wonder is canceling his "big idea" owing to "little time" -- with plans to present the benefit concert again next Christmas. In a statement Wonder read on his L.A. radio station KJLH, he explained, "A week and a half ago I came up with the idea of doing four nights at the Fonda Theatre to raise money for House Full of Toys. Big idea. Little time. So because of that little time, I've decided to cancel all four shows. Yet still I will this year put my money where my heart is by giving a substantial donation for the children for House Full of Toys. And next year, we will again do House Full of Toys with the big idea and enough time to put it together." Refunds are being offered to those who already purchased tickets. Wonder's annual benefit concert asks that attendees bring an "unwrapped toy or unwrapped gift of joy." Presented by the singer/songwriter's nonprofit We Are You Foundation, House Full of Toys helps assist children, people with disabilities and families in need. - Billboard, 12/17/25...... A Billy Joel tribute concert is being planned at New York's Carnegie Hall on Mar. 12 where an all-star group of performers will play his songs to benefit music programs for kids. The Piano Man, who is on a break from touring while he recovers from the neurological condition normal pressure hydrocephalus, will be feted by the likes of Rob Thomas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Train's Pat Monahan, Gavin DeGraw, Bettye Lavette, Matt Nathanson, Joy Oladokun, Tanya Tucker, War & Treaty, Rufus Wainwright and his own daughter, singer Alexa Ray Joel. The show is latest gig from promoter Michael Dorf in support of his Music Of benefit series that has raised more than $2 million for music education programs in New York over the past twenty years. Previous honorees in the series have included Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, Prince, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, R.E.M. and more. - Billboard, 12/17/25...... '70s artists Paul Simon, Cher and Chaka Khan are among the artists set to receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year's Grammy Awards. The Grammys' Recording Academy have announced that Latin rock guitar legend Carlos Santana will also pick up the honor, while Whitney Houston and Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti will be posthumously recognized. Elton John's lyricist Bernie Taupin, record executive Sylvia Rhone and Latin jazz musician Eddie Palmieri -- who passed away in August - will also be honored with the Trustees Award, while classical composer John Chowning will receive the Technical Grammy Award. The awards will be presented at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, the night before the main ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 1. The Lifetime Achievement award is presented to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made "creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording". It was first awarded to Bing Crosby in 1963, while recent recipients have included The Clash, Prince, N.W.A., Donna Summer and Nirvana. - NME, 12/20/25...... 
Speaking of Donna Summer, the '70s disco queen is the latest songwriter to be inducted posthumously into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Summer, who died in May 2012 at age 63, was honored during an intimate ceremony held on Dec. 15 in The Butterfly Room at Cecconi's in West Hollywood, Calif. Her widower, Bruce Sudano, attended, as did their daughters Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez; her close friends and immediate family; and members of the SHOF West Coast Events Committee. In a statement, Sudano said, "It's important to me because I know how important it was for Donna. The backstory is, with all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked. So, for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she's very happy somewhere." Paul Williams, a 2001 SHOF inductee, led the induction, which celebrated Summer's songwriting contributions and enduring musical legacy. "Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century, she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music," Williams said in a statement. "She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love." Summer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2024. - Billboard, 12/16/25...... The Rolling Stones have reportedly called off a 2026 U.K./European tour whose dates were never officially announced. According to a Variety report on Dec. 16 which cited an unnamed source close to the band, the Stones have walked back the plans for the outing they had not officially confirmed. Variety cited "reports" that guitarist Keith Richards, who turned 82 on Dec. 18, was unable to "commit" to another rigorous road outing. In a recent story in the British tabloid The Sun, Stones touring pianist Chuck Leavell said that the band were planning their first run of shows since a 20-date 2024 North American run in support of their Hackney Diamonds album after being forced to pull back from plans for a summer 2025 U.K. swing, which was also never confirmed. Leavell suggested that Richards and frontman Mick Jagger, also 82, are not ready to stop touring. "They don't want to hang up the rock 'n' roll shoes yet," Leavell reportedly said. "There's no doubt in my mind." Leavell also reportedly said the band has been working on a new album and that "I am also sure that the band wants to perform." The Variety report pointed to another Sun story that cited an unnamed American music critic, who claimed that Richards told his bandmates that he "didn't think he could commit and wasn't keen on a big stadium tour for over four months." Neither Richards nor Jagger have commented on the reports on their social feeds. - Billboard, 12/16/25..... On Dec. 13 Rod Stewart stopped a concert at the OAKA Sports Hall in Athens, Greece to shout at a fan for "spoiling" the show. Stewart was singing his 1979 hit "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" when he became annoyed at a spectator and stopped singing. "Out the f---ing way," he said. "You're spoiling the show for everybody. Out the way. Leave. We don't need you here." It appeared the man Rod shouted at was upset that someone else was holding up a sign. "All she's doing is putting up a sign," Rod continued. "It's not hurting you is it, mate?" Fans took to social media to joke that Stewart, 80, star was annoyed that his beloved football team Celtic FC had lost earlier in the day. "Rod Stewart pissed off! What happened?" someone posted on TikTok after sharing the footage of the exchange. Another follower joked, "Probably mentioned St Mirren' and 'His team got beat 3-1 today." After a performance in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 17, Stewart will kick of an American leg of his tour in the US in February. In 2024 the star revealed he was planning to end large-scale tours, but he didn't want to stop performing altogether. "This will be the end of large-scale world tours for me, but I have no desire to retire," he said. "I love what I do and I do what I love. I'm fit, have a full head of hair and can run 100 metres in 18 seconds at the jolly old age of 79." - Music-News.com, 12/17/25...... 
Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Höfner Guitars, the brand behind his iconic bass, after they recently filed for bankruptcy. The guitar and bass manufacturer, most famous for making the Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass guitar -- which has been dubbed the most important bass in history for its role in recording numerous Beatles hits -- filed for bankruptcy in Germany earlier in December, per Guitar.com. The Höfner bass was the first bass McCartney ever bought, purchasing it in 1961 for £30 ($38) in Hamburg, Germany. Taking to Facebook, Sir Paul wrote that he's "very sad" to see them go out of business. "They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since. It's a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely," he said. "It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years," he added. McCartney's original bass was stolen from the musician in 1972, only to be returned to him in 2024. It came after he and longtime Beatles fans had attempted numerous times to recover the stolen instrument over the course of its 50-plus year absence -- including the Lost Bass campaign, which began in 2018 but only began to make progress in 2023. The bass was originally believed to have disappeared in Jan. 1969 when the Beatles were recording the Get Back/Let It Be sessions. However, during investigations by the Lost Bass Project team, they discovered that it was instead stolen three years later. It was found by Cathy Guest, who found the bass in her attic following the death of her husband Hadyn, who Cathy believes in turn inherited the bass from his brother Graham. The Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass is the same one that can be heard on classic hits including "Love Me Do," "She Loves You" and "Twist and Shout." - NME, 12/19/25...... Rob Shuter's Shuterstack.com is reporting that the funeral for late actor/director/activist Rob Reiner will be a private, carefully guarded ceremony. "They know how many people want to pay their respects," one insider told the gossip columnist, "but this first goodbye is strictly about family and the people who were in their lives every single day." No date has been announced, but now that the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's official report has been released, the funeral is expected to take place within days. Reports indicate the date and time will not be announced to the public, and security will be tight. "The family is in shock," another source said. "They cannot handle a public spectacle right now. This is about dignity, safety, and grief." According to these reports, the guest list will not be large, but it will include big names who were in the Reiner's orbit, including Michelle and Barack Obama, Billy Crystal and Larry David, among others. Rob Reiner's son Nick Reiner has been charged with first-degree murder of his father Rob and mother Michele Reiner and could even face the death penalty. An impromptu memorial service was held for the Reiners one day after their passing, following the Jewish tradition of being buried within 24 hours of passing. Rob's dear friend Albert Brooks, along with Crystal, his wife, Janice, comedians Larry David, Bill Hader and Conan O'Brien, gathered at Brooks' Brentwood estate on Dec. 15, according to Daily Mail UK. - StyleCaster.com/EntertainmentNow.com, 12/18/25...... Texas singer/songwriter Joe Ely died on Dec. 15 in Taos, N.M., from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's disease and pneumonia, according to his spokesperson. He was 78. Amarillo, Tex., native Ely was raised in Lubbock, Tex., and later moved to Austin and was part of an influential wave of progressive country rock artists who helped establish Austin as a live musical capital. His music crossed lines and helped birth the Americana genre. Bruce Springsteen, a longtime friend of Ely's, paid tribute to Ely on Facebook: "Over here, we're deeply saddened by the loss of Joe Ely, a singular American singer, great musician and great artist," he wrote. "I was lucky enough to count Joe as a true friend and I will miss that voice and his companionship. Our hearts go out to his wonderful wife Sharon and the family. We've lost an American classic." Joe Ely opened for The Clash for the first time in 1979 in Texas, then in the United Kingdom in 1980 on the band's London Calling tour. He then opened for the Rolling Stones on several dates in 1981. Ely had multiple charting albums and was honored at April's American Music Awards hosted at the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University in New Jersey on Apr. 26. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie. - Billboard, 12/15/25...... Actor Gil Gerard, star of the 1979-81 NBC series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, died on Dec. 16 after a battle with "a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer," his wife, Janet, announced in a Facebook post. He was 82. In 1977 films, Mr. Gerard had played Lee Grant's romantic interest in Airport '77 and had starred as a moonshiner in the Appalachia-set comedy Hooch when he was approached to star in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, co-produced by Glen A. Larson at Universal Television. Buck Rogers lasted two seasons and a total of 32 episodes through Apr. 1981 before being canceled. Mr. Gerard then toplined a series of telefilms including 1982's highly rated Help Wanted: Male, also starring Suzanne Pleshette, and played a bachelor cop who teaches martial arts skills to a youngster (Ernie Reyes Jr.) on the 1986-87 ABC series Sidekicks. Before appearing in Buck Rogers, he spent the next several years appearing in commercials -- more than 400 by his count -- and played POW turned doctor Alan Stewart on the NBC soap The Doctors from 1973-76. He also appeared with Cliff Robertson in Man on a Swing (1974). Mr. Gerard, who had a long friendship with former president Bill Clinton, was married four times, including once to actress Connie Sellecca (Hotel) from 1979 until their 1987 divorce. In addition to Janet, his wife of 18 years, survivors include his son with Sellecca, Gib. - The Hollywood Reporter, 12/16/25...... 
May Britt, the statuesque Swedish actress who starred in such films as The Blue Angel and Murder, Inc. before becoming the second wife of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., died on Dec. 11 at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, according to her son Mark Davis. She was 91. Spotted and signed by famed Italian producer Carlo Ponti when she was 18, Ms. Britt starred in several films in Italy before she was screen-tested in Rome and signed to a contract by 20th Century Fox in 1957. Often described as a warmer, more approachable Greta Garbo, Ms. Britt came to fame when she starred as the scandalous cabaret entertainer Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel (1959). Ms. Britt and Sammy Davis first met after he performed at the Mocambo nightclub on the Sunset Strip and invited her to a party, according to a 2014 biography written by Tracey Davis, their daughter. Soon after, Davis broke off his engagement to Canadian dancer Joan Stuart. Ms. Britt converted to Judaism (her fiance had converted in 1961), and he announced to the press in June 1960 while in England that they were engaged. Ms. Britt and Davis were married by a rabbi on Nov. 13, 1960, at his home on Evanview Drive in Los Angeles, followed by a reception for about 200 guests at the Beverly Hilton. Frank Sinatra, Davis' partner in the legendary "Rat Pack," served as the best man. She was 26, he was 34. At the time, interracial marriages were illegal in 31 states, and coincidentally or not, 20th Century Fox elected not to renew her contract shortly after their engagement was announced. They received death threats throughout their relationship and at times employed 24-hour armed guards to protect them. Ms. Britt gave up her career while married to Davis and did very little acting after they divorced. She showed up on episodes of The Danny Thomas Hour, Mission: Impossible, The Most Deadly Game and The Partners and starred in the 1976 horror film Haunts. Amid reports linking Davis to singer-dancer-actress Lola Falana, the couple divorced in Dec. 1968, but their daughter told the Los Angeles Times in 2014 that her parents "never fell out of love." Ms. Britt didn't get married again until May 1993, when she wed Lennart Ringquist, an entertainment executive and horse breeder. He died in Jan. 2017. In addition to her sons, survivors include her sister, Margot, and her grandchildren, Andrew, Ryan, Sam, Montana, Greer and Chase. Tracey Davis died in Nov. 2020 after a short illness at age 59. - The Hollywood Reporter, 12/18/25...... British fashion designer Antony Price, who has worked with the likes of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Roxy Music, has died aged 80. The legendary designer is also known for his sculptured silhouettes and theatrical styles, such as the pastel suits Duran Duran wore in the vidoes for their hit "Rio." In a statement from the office of Roxy Music frontman Brian Ferry, Alex Fury noted Price's "ground-breaking relationship with musicians," calling him "one of the most significant and influential British fashion designers of the last century." "Price's work with Roxy Music was the first time a fashion designer had collaborated with musicians to refine their visual iconography as a key part of their creative expression, and established a template still shaping both music and fashion industries today," it added. - NME, 12/18/25.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Favorite Seventies Artists In The News
Bruce Springsteen gave a rare live performance of "Streets Of Philadelphia" at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 18. The Boss was on hand at the fifth annual event hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to receive the inaugural Legacy Award, which honors artists who have "inspired generations of storytellers and deeply influenced our culture." Springsteen played an acoustic set at the event, which included a performance of his Oscar-winning track "Streets Of Philadelphia," which was written for Jonathan Demme's acclaimed AIDS drama Philadelphia. Also in his set were "Atlantic City" from 1982's Nebraska and his 2000s live favorite "Land Of Hope And Dreams." Fan-captured footage of the performance can be viewed on Instagram. - New Musical Express, 10/19/25...... 
The UK paper The Sun is reporting Fleetwood Mac is in talks to create a TV show and one-off concert after news that band members are planning to reunite to mark the 50th anniversary of their landmark album Rumours. Plans said to be under discussion for 2027 include a one-off live show, a television special, and a behind-the-scenes documentary revisiting the making of the 1977 record, The Sun reports, and an anniversary edition of Rumours featuring unreleased studio material is also being developed by Warner Records. Should the reunion come to fruition, it would be the band's first since 2019 and would pay tribute to late keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, who died in 2022. According to the article, drummer and band founder Mick Fleetwood, 78, is leading efforts to bring the surviving members -- singer Stevie Nicks, 77, guitarist/singer Lindsey Buckingham, 76, and bassist John McVie, 79 -- together for the project. "Fleetwood Mac are discussing new projects and how to mark Rumours' big 5-0. For certain there is a special edition version of the album coming, which the band and label have been secretly looking at," a source said. "But also there is a significant hope that it is time for the definitive documentary on all the chaos in the studio that created the magic on record. John and Christine were divorcing and she was dating their lighting guy. Stevie and Lindsey were over just before she and Mick enjoyed a brief fling. And drugs and booze were everywhere. The desire is for everyone to sit down and present their side of events on screen," the source continued. It added, however, that a new tour is "unlikely at this stage" but "there is a desire to pay tribute to Christine in some way and a live show around Rumours seems a very fitting way." - Music-News.com, 10/22/25...... In other 50th anniversary news, Neil Young has announced a 50th anniversary re-release for his 1975 album Tonight's The Night. The limited-edition reissue will contain the full album alongside six bonus tracks, made up of unreleased alternate versions of songs from the era and a collaboration with Joni Mitchell. The album will include a version of "Lookout Joe" that was recorded at S.I.R. Studio in Los Angeles in 1973 in place of the original and a new take on the record's title track. Also included are unreleased versions of "Walk On," "Everybody's Alone" and "Speakin' Out," an early version of "Wonderin'" and a collaborative version of Mitchell's "Raised On Robbery." The reissue will be released on CD, 2-LP and clear 2-LP versions on Nov. 28. Young's sixth album, Tonight's The Night was released in June 1975. It had been recorded two years earlier but Young's label Reprise delayed its release, reportedly due to the bleakness of the subject matter and its rough sound. Meanwhile, rumors that Young, Joan Baez and Willie Nelson would be performing at an "all-American alternative" to the Super Bowl halftime show appear to be the result of AI-generated fake updates that have been circulating online. One of the posts claims that the two of them will be performing there as it is "a heartfelt and patriotic alternative to the Super Bowl 60 halftime event" that will "honour the enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk," the conservative activist who was shot and killed in September. "With Joan's golden voice and Neil's grace-filled harmony, the All-American Halftime Show will turn the world's biggest stage into a moment of hope and homecoming," it read. While reps for both Young and Baez have not commented on the AI-post, it is pretty clear that neither have any intention of performing at the event. A rep for Nelson was quick to dismiss a performance by the country/pop legend at an alternative halftime show, telling Rolling Stone: "They obviously don't know anything about Willie, do they?". The rumors began after Puerto Rican rap star Bad Bunny was announced to headline the Feb. 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, which sparked backlash from right-wing leaders in the US, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Bad Bunny has admitted that he won't be touring the US during his forthcoming world tour due to fears over ICE agents raiding his concerts. - NME, 10/22/25...... In other Neil Young news, in a new interview with Rolling Stone Micah Nelson, the son of Willie Nelson and a longtime bandmate of Neil Young's, reveals that Young was feeling "really sick" and "drained" before he formed his latest band Chrome Hearts. Nelson said Young was going through a rough patch towards the end of 2024, and seemed to be taking a step back from music due to his tour with Crazy Horse being halted due to a number of health issues among members. Sharing how it took a toll on the frontman, Nelson shared: "I knew how bummed out Neil was. He wasn't feeling like making music. He was really sick. He was trying to get over that and just get his energy back. Then he was really bummed out about what happened and how it all went down. And that just kind of drained him a lot, and doused this flame. I was like: 'Is Neil fading away? This is unacceptable'." Nelson then said he was adamant to rekindle Young's love of music and encourage him to pursue a new project -- ultimately helping lead to the formation of the Chrome Hearts. "Whenever you want to do the thing again, just call me up and I'm ready to go'," Nelson said he told Young. "I'd call him a lot and check in on him and remind him how he's not old," he told the outlet. "I was like: 'Do whatever you got to do, man. Take your time. I get it. Recharge. The tank has got to fill back up, and that can take time, but whenever you want to do the thing again, just call me up and I'm ready to go'.... it took a few years once he started again to really, really get back in the groove." - NME, 10/20/25...... 
The Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock has told the Daily Star paper that the band "have ideas" for making new music with their new frontman Frank Carter. In 2024, bassist Matlock, guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook of the punk legends' original line-up enlisted former Gallows frontman Carter to take on lead vocals in place of John Lydon for a series of shows at London's Bush Hall. The line-up has since gone on to play tours around the UK and have announced shows in North and South America. Now, Matlock has suggested that the new version of the band is prepared to record new music together too and are currently considering their options. "We talked about it with Steve Jones," Matlock told the paper. "We have ideas and Frank is a very good lyricist. Everyone has ideas, but we're very busy at the moment and haven't had a chance to really work things out." Matlock also reflected on how any new music would impact the band's legacy. "Above all, we have to ask ourselves if the public really wants us to release new music," he said. "In the end, who knows?" The Pistols and Carter were due to kick off their North and South American dates in September, but were forced to postpone when Jones broke his wrist. They told fans that the gigs would be rescheduled when he has fully recovered. - NME, 10/22/25...... People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have reached out to former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, urging him to temporarily change his name to "Robert Plant Wool." The push comes as November, which PETA categorizes as "Plant Wool Month," raises more awareness by the organization for plant alternatives to sheep's wool. In a letter to the Plant, PETA notes that the short-term name change would make more people aware of plant-powered yarns, including those made from hemp, cotton, orange waste, and more. It also would help the push to have people turn away from animal wool and cashmere industries, which it criticises as environmentally-destructive and sometimes abusive. "Plant Wool Month celebrates animal-free and plastic-free yarns that promote sustainable fashion while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting the animals with whom we share this precious planet," said PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen. "PETA is asking Robert Plant to sing the praises of plant wool with a temporary name change that reminds everyone that nothing compares to soft, natural, and eco-friendly plant wool." PETA also maintains that Plant Wool Month will generate more recognition for "hard-working crop farmers, innovative textile makers, and pioneering designers who grow, spin, and work with these beautiful yarns to create knitwear, suits, and more." Plant has not yet responded publicly to the letter from PETA. Meanwhile, Plant is currently on tour in the US behind his latest solo album Saving Grace, wrapping on Oct. 22 with a show at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles. - NME, 10/21/25...... 
Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins is slamming the unauthorized use of his hit "Danger Zone" in a new AI video shared by Pres. Donald Trump which shows the president flying a plane and dumping feces on protesters set to "Danger Zone." In a statement posted to his Instagram account on Oct. 20, the former Loggins & Messina member and '80s/'90s solo star said that the POTUS' use of his song in the clip shared Oct. 18 was completely "unauthorized" and that "nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied." "I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately," he continued. "I can't imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us. Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together." "We're all Americans, and we're all patriotic," Loggins added. "There is no 'us and them' -- that's not who we are, nor is it what we should be. It's all of us. We're in this together, and it is my hope that we can embrace music as a way of celebrating and uniting each and every one of us." Trump's video with "Danger Zone" -- which was famously used in the 1986 Top Gun movie -- comes amid nationwide "No Kings" gatherings in the U.S. and around the world protesting the twice-impeached politician's policies. The video appeared to be Trump's response to the protests, as it depicts him wearing a crown while flying the plane that unleashes piles of feces onto the heads of AI-generated protestors holding up signs on the streets below. Trump's continued use of such AI videos featuring artists' music without their permission has consistently irritated musicians, and earlier in October Blue Öyster Cult distanced themselves from the president after "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was used in an AI clip that mocked Democrats. The Trump administration has appeared to double down on their bomber video, with a White House rep responding to Loggins' complaint with a Top Gun meme: a picture of stars Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards on the tarmac with the movie's superimposed catchphrase "I Feel the Need For Speed." - Billboard, 10/20/25...... Rush has announced that German drummer Anika Nilles will be backing original members Geddy Lee (bass/vocals) and Alex Lifeson (guitar) on the band's upcoming 50th anniversary tour which is set to kick off on June 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. Also, on Oct. 20 Lee and Lifeson announced that they have added 17 new shows in Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Edmonton, Seattle and Vancouver to the outing on which they will pay tribute to late drummer/lyricist Neil Peart. Following the previously announced kick off on June 7 with the first of four sold out shows at the Kia Forum, the band will hit Mexico City, Fort Worth, Texas, Chicago, New York and Toronto for multiple nights before hitting Philly on Aug. 21 for the first of the newly revealed shows. The tour will then move on to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Aug. 26, the Bell Centre in Montreal on Sept. 2 and TD Garden in Boston on Sept. 12. Fans are encouraged to sign up for a Rush artist pre-sale for the new shows at livemu.sc/rush by 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 23; no code is needed, with access tied to the user's account. The artist pre-sale begins on Oct. 27 at 12 p.m. local time in the U.S. and Canada. A general on-sale will begin at 12 p.m. local time at www.rush.com on Oct. 31 in the U.S. and Canada. German drummer/composer Anika Nilles has performed with Jeff Beck and released four solo albums. - Billboard, 10/20/25...... Oscar-winning filmmaker Cameron Crowe has recalled an interview he had with David Bowie in a new memoir called The Uncool. Crowe, who began his career as a journalist with Rolling Stone (with his experiences documented in 2000 film Almost Famous), spent 18 months on the road with Bowie in the 1970s, and in his new book he recounts the time he revisited the interviews with Bowie decades later. "He didn't want to go back there," Crowe told The Independent. "I would read his quotes back to him. Like, 'you said Patti Smith and Kraftwerk would be all that's remembered from this time', but he wouldn't bite. He kept batting it all back to me, and eventually just said, 'Cameron, those were the insane ramblings of a young man addicted to amphetamines'." Crowe reiterated: "He just didn't want to go back there. He was in love with his wife, having a beautiful life living in Soho." Crowe was then asked whether he was sad that Bowie couldn't recall a lot of their time together, reflecting: "You know what, I spent a lot of time thinking about it. I think he remembered it all. He just didn't want to remember it with me, but that's OK." Meanwhile, the director is set to helm a new Joni Mitchell biopic, and teased in his latest interview that it is "a movie about somebody worth making a movie about, and something that really has my voice in it." The film, which is rumoured to star Anya Taylor-Joy and Meryl Streep as the younger and older versions of the music icon, was expected to be released this Christmas, though will miss that deadline. Crowe has described the project as "Joni's life... through her prism. It's the characters who impacted her life that you know and a lot that you don't know. And the music is so cinematic." - NME, 10/20/25...... 
In related news, Debbie Harry has revealed who she'd like to play her in a potential Blondie biopic. If it were somebody like Florence Pugh, I would be in heaven... I just think she's a great actor and she could do anything," Harry told the London Times. In 2014, Harry said she supported the idea of a Blondie biopic, and that a film would help people have a "finer appreciation" of the iconic New Wave group. At the time, she said: "It's difficult. You can only really skim the surface. If it's good entertainment, honest, well-acted and directed? Maybe," she replied when asked about her thoughts on the matter. "I think many people could be informed and have a finer appreciation of the person or era." Harry released her book Face It: A Memoir in 2019, charting her rise in the downtown New York City scene of the 1970s to become a global superstar, as well as how she overcame heroin addiction, bankruptcy and Blondie breaking up. A biopic could be based on any of the Blondie members' memoirs, with Chris Stein sharing his Under A Rock in 2024, and Harry's Face It coming out in 2019. - NME, 10/20/25...... Ozzy Osbourne's daughter Kelly Osbourne has thanked fans in Ozzy's hometown of Birmingham, UK for their support while accepting a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the metal pioneer at the Birmingham Awards, and later reflected on what the city meant to him. "Last night I had the honor of accepting my father's life time achievement award on his behalf at the @birminghamawards," she later wrote in an Instagram post," Kelly posted on Instagram. "I can't thank everyone enough for their love and support. I know that my dad was shining down on us from heaven with pride because being a #Brummy meant more to him than anything," she continued. "He loved the city and he loved the people. This honor would have meant the world to him. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. #birminghamforever." The award comes in the wake of his passing in July, aged 76, just 17 days after he played one last show as the frontman of the metal band at the "Back To The Beginning" concert in Birmingham. It was Osbourne's first full gig since 2018, having undergone multiple surgeries in the following years. He also experienced other health problems, including Parkinson's disease. - NME, 10/19/25...... The upcoming Sundance film festival in Utah will feature multiple tributes to its late co-founder Robert Redford including a screening of his first independent movie, organizers announced on Oct. 22. Hollywood legend Redford, who starred in hits like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid before becoming an Oscar-winning director, died in September at the age of 89. His passing caused an outpouring of grief from the US filmmaking community -- many of whose leading lights got their start at the indie movie festival he created, including Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh. "Robert Redford's dedication to the power of storytelling shaped independent cinema," said a festival statement. "In honor of his memory, a commemorative screening of Downhill Racer (released in 1969) will be presented, his first independent film and a passion project that was his catalyst for the creation of Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival," it said. Starring Redford as an obsessive skier competing in the Winter Olympics, Downhill Racer was described by late esteemed film critic Roger Ebert as "the best movie ever made about sports -- without really being about sports at all." In his first significant venture behind the camera, Redford pitched and developed the film, though he did not receive a formal producer credit. Multiple other celebratory events for Redford will be held throughout the festival, which starts Jan. 22. It will be the final Sundance held in Utah, before the festival -- having outgrown its base in the ski resort of Park City -- moves to Boulder in neighboring Colorado. The festival's lineup of new feature film and documentary premieres will be announced in the coming weeks, with tickets on sale from Oct. 22. - AFP, 10/22/25...... 
While chances of a Fleetwood Mac reunion appear to be improving, it's just the opposite for a potential Pink Floyd reunion, with David Gilmour recently doubling down on an interview in 2024 in which he said -- referring to his former bandmate Roger Waters -- he would rather "steer clear of people who actively support genocidal and autocratic dictators like Putin and Maduro." In a new interview with The Telegraph, Gilmour was asked what it would take for him to join forces with Waters again. "Nothing," he replied. "There is no possible way that I would do that." Going into further detail in the 2024 interview, Gilmour explained: "Nothing would make me share a stage with someone who thinks such treatment of women and the LGBT community is OK. On the other hand, I'd love to be back on stage with [Pink Floyd keyboardist] Rick Wright, who was one of the gentlest and most musically gifted people I've ever known." Gilmour's wife Olly Samson has also been vocally outspoken against Waters' politics, accusing him in 2023 of being "anti-Semitic to [his] rotten core" and "a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac". Gilmour re-shared Samson's post, adding that "every word [is] demonstrably true. "Waters himself issued a statement in response, in which he described Samson's comments as "incendiary and wildly inaccurate," adding that he "refutes [them] entirely." He also said that he was "taking advice as to his position" regarding the claims. Gilmour has also said he finds it "wearisome" to have to talk about Waters. "Do you know what decade of my life I was in when Roger left our pop group? My thirties. I am now 78. Where's the relevance?" he told Britain's Mojo magazine in 2024. In a Rolling Stone interview, however, he also stated that "one day there are things I will talk about." - NME, 10/19/25.
The Bob Dylan "Rough and Rowdy Ways" tour which has been in progress for four years has released 1,500 additional tickets for the Coventry, UK show on Nov. 13 due to increased capacity at the city's Building Society Arena. The legendary singer-songwriter is due to kick off a European leg of the tour on Nov. 7 in Brighton, followed by three shows in Swansea (Nov. 9, 10, 11), Coventry (Nov. 13), Leeds (14/11), Glasgow (16, 17/11), Belfast (19, 20/11), and Killarney (23, 24/11) before wrapping in Dublin on Nov. 25. Dylan's most recent leg of the tour ran across North America in March and April and saw him dipping into his back catalogue -- including the first performance of '"The Times They Are A-Changin'" -- in 15 years. He recently announced the release of Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through The Open Window, 1956-1963, which will drop Oct. 31 via Columbia/Legacy Recordings. - New Musical Express, 10/16/25...... 
The Eagles will soar higher in 2026 by adding eight additional dates to their long-running residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas. The new dates -- Jan. 23-24, Jan. 30-31, Feb. 20-21, and Feb. 27-28 -- will make their 52-date residency the longest-running one of any band at the innovative venue so far, breaking out of a tie with Dead & Company's 48 shows. The Don Henley-led band launched its Sphere stint in Sept. 2024, and after an initial spate of dates spanning five months, have rolled out extensions a handful of concerts at a time, most recently adding eight October and November dates last April. Presale registration for the shows is available now through the Eagles.com website. Among the other acts performing at the Sphere since its Sept. 2023 debut are U2, Phish, Anyma, Kenny Chesney and Backstreet Boys, and the Zac Brown Band will debut its run in December. - Billboard, 10/13/25...... British actor James Norton, currently appearing in Netflix hit House Of Guinness, is reportedly under consideration to play The Beatles' former manager Brian Epstein in the forthcoming biopics about the band. Epstein met the band in 1961 and became their manager until his death in 1967, aged just 32. Often nicknamed "The Fifth Beatle," he was portrayed in a 2024 biopic called Midas Man by fellow British actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd. In an apparent acknowledgement of the news, Norton shared a screenshot of the Deadline article on his Instagram account with the caption "Brian d." Earlier in 2025, it was revealed that the legendary band will be portrayed by Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn, and on Oct. 9, it was revealed Soairse Ronan will be playing Linda McCartney. Beatles -- A Four-Film Cinematic Event is scheduled to be released in Apr. 2028. - NME, 10/15/25...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, a five-string banjo once played by John Lennon has been given a new home at The Salvation Army's iconic Strawberry Field in Liverpool, as part of a celebration of the late Beatles' 85th birthday on Oct. 9. Originally owned and played by John's bandmate Rod Davis in The Quarrymen -- the band that would later evolve into The Beatles -- the instrument is now on display at the attraction, giving Beatles fans the chance to delve deeper into the band's rich heritage. The banjo, which is kindly on loan from collector Ashley Davie, will go on display alongside the world-renowned collection of artefacts on display at Strawberry Field, including the famous "Imagine" piano, on which John composed one of the greatest peace anthems of the 20th century. The banjo was played by Rod at all The Quarrymen's early gigs, including the historic Woolton Village Fete on 6 July 1957 -- the day John first met Paul McCartney. A new incarnation The Quarrymen played performed an exclusive live performance on Oct. 9 to celebrate Lennon's birthday, part of a string of activities which included a first look at a brand-new photomosaic wall, featuring 1,300 images submitted by Beatles fans, Quarrymen members and Strawberry Field supporters from across the world. "It's an incredible honour to be here and unveil this special banjo at Strawberry Field, a place held dearly by John and where he spent much time during his childhood," said Rod Davis. "Performing here on what would have been his 85th birthday was a poignant way to mark the occasion and to remember his enduring legacy." Based in Woolton, Liverpool, Strawberry Field is an award-winning visitor attraction located at the iconic site immortalised by Lennon in The Beatles' hit, "Strawberry Fields Forever." The attraction, which is owned by The Salvation Army, tells the story of John's childhood, offering visitors an immersive experience that includes the original red gates of Strawberry Field, and the magical gardens where John played, climbed trees and dreamed as a child. As part of the schedule to mark Lennon's birthday, a group of lucky Beatles fans were also taken on an exclusive tour beyond Strawberry Field itself to the pivotal places of Lennon's childhood, from The Salvation Army site that inspired his iconic song to the very streets, schools and classrooms where his story began. Visitors are being invited to mark John's birthday by leaving their own messages of peace, which will be displayed on the original Strawberry Field gates. - Music-News.com, 10/11/25...... 
Actor/musician Johnny Depp joined Patti Smith on stage on Oct. 12 during a London concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Smith's seminal album Horses. Depp joined Smith during the first of two consecutive nights at the London Palladium, coming out during the encore. Smith introduced her entire band to the audience and then added: "And Johnny? And Johnny Depp? The original Johnny." It was a reference to the line, "the boy looked at Johnny" from her Horses track "Land/Horses." Depp played guitar on the album track "People Have the Power," with Smith's daughter Jesse on keyboards. Smith is currently celebrating her iconic 1975 record with her band, including two members of the original group, Lenny Kaye and Jay Dee Daugherty, along with keyboardist/bassist Tony Shanahan, who has been in the line-up for 30 years. She will play further "Horses"' tour dates in Brussels, Oslo, and Paris through Oct. 21, then kick off a U.S. leg in Seattle on Nov. 10. Other stops included Oakland, Calif., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia through Nov. 29. Horses was included in the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry, and inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2021. A deluxe 50th anniversary edition of Horses dropped on Oct. 10. - NME, 10/14/25...... English singer/songwriter Sam Fender has released a new track featuring Elton John called "Talk To You." The heartwarming tune, which has become a fan favourite in Fender's live shows, was recorded in the sessions for Fender's album People Watching, which recently won the prestigious Mercury Prize. In a joint statement about the song, Sam said: "Talk To You was written during the People Watching sessions at British Grove. It's a song about the end of a long relationship - about the regret, the mistakes and the lessons that come with it. It's that feeling of losing your best friend and coming to terms with that." He continued: "I was playing around with the riff and thought what I need is a really good pianist and then hmmm, I wonder who I can call? And of course, who better than Elton John." Sir Elton, 78, commented: "Sam was writing and recording in a studio in West London and called to say he'd written a song with a piano riff that he thought would sound great with me playing it. I couldn't resist, and it was so much fun playing it for him. I truly love Sam. He's been a friend for many, many years and it's incredible to see him grow into being a truly world class artist." "Talk To You" is set to feature on a deluxe expanded edition of People Watching, which will go on sale Dec. 5 with eight additional tracks. - Music-News.com, 10/17/25...... 
Carlos Santana is pushing back on viral rumors that he's opposed to his fellow Latino performer Bad Bunny being booked for the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show next February. Since Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime headliner, viral rumours -- partially made through AI -- have circulated the internet claiming that Mexican-American guitarist Santana pushed back against the idea of the Puerto Rican rapper playing the coveted slot. Meanwhile, other posts claimed that Santana had even petitioned to replace the "Perfumito Nuevo" rapper at the sporting event. Now, Santana and his manager have provided statements to Billboard debunking those claims. "AI has accelerated the spread of misinformation, making it harder for the truth to break through the noise. Don't rely on random or unverified posts -- even well-meaning outlets can get misled," Santana's manager wrote. Santana said in his own statement: "I congratulate and celebrate Bad Bunny's success and his position right now with the world and with the Super Bowl. I feel total oneness with what he's doing because we are here to utilize art to complement and bring the world closer to harmony and oneness." The Grammy-winner continued: "However, we're living in a time of fear, division, separation, superiority and inferiority. Fear is the flavour right now. Fear is what motivates ignorant people to put words in my mouth -- saying that I didn't want Bad Bunny to be represented at the Super Bowl. I never said that, nor would I ever. Just to be clear, my heart is in total harmony with Bad Bunny, and I celebrate his success, his triumph and his phenomenal achievement. Anything other than that is coming from people's ignorance. We're living in a time when hostile forces love to create conflict, separation and division, because the hostile forces don't like unity, harmony, oneness and joy. They want people to be miserable and to spend too much time in their minds. I spend a lot of time in my heart, and in my heart I celebrate Bad Bunny. I can't stop playing his song 'Monaco' -- there's something really magical about it." Bad Bunny's Super Bowl slot has received a wave of criticism from the ring-wing community, who believe that the rapper -- despite hailing from Puerto Rico, a territory of the U.S. -- should not be performing at the sporting event. The right-wing backlash to the news was almost immediate, with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticizing the NFL for choosing him as their halftime performer, despite the largely Spanish-performing artist being a US citizen. Pres. Donald Trump's administration has also stirred controversy by confirming that ICE agents will be present at the Super Bowl to apprehend any illegal immigrants, and the President himself has branded Halftime Show slot "crazy" and says he's "never heard of him." - NME, 10/14/25...... The BBC Factual arm of the BBC has ordered five new history commissions, among them a program charting the abuse allegations against Michael Jackson. With a working title of Legacy: Michael Jackson, the three part documentary series will explore Jackson's rise to fame, as well as the "abuse allegations and enduring legacy of one of the most successful pop stars of all time," per an announcement from the BBC. "With access to rare intimate archive, and revelatory interviews with those closest to him, this is the most fully rounded and authoritative portrait of Jackson yet produced," it continued. "A deeply researched study of a trailblazing musical genius, whose personal life remains a complex enigma." The doc will also examine the stories behind Jackson's biggest hits, as well as his innovative videos and live performances, touching on how his estate is still able to generate billions of dollars from his work. The comprehensive look at his life and legacy will begin with his early Jackson 5 years in the racially segregated landscape of '60s America, to the controversies that dogged him in his final years. - NME, 10/13/25...... 
The family of the late Ozzy Osbourne visited a huge Halloween pumpkin mural of Ozzy Osbourne at a farm in Hampshire, UK on Oct. 11. Sharon Osbourne, along with children Jack and Kelly Osbourne visited the Ozzy "pumpkin pyramid" at Sunnyfields Farm in Totton, Hampshire, where each year a mural is built from pumpkins, the subject of which is decided by public vote. This year, the annual poll saw 70% of the public vote for an Ozzy-themed mural in the wake of his passing in July, aged 76, just 17 days after the iconic Black Sabbath frontman played one last show as the frontman of the metal band at the "Back To The Beginning" concert in Birmingham. It was Osbourne's first full gig since 2018, having undergone multiple surgeries in the following years. He also experienced other health problems, including Parkinson's disease. On display since Oct. 4, Sunnyfields' Ozzy mural took 16 people four-and-a-half hours to create and will run through Halloween on Oct. 31. A video of the mural being created, and the Osbournes' visiting, can be viewed on YouTube. More than 73,000 people are expected to view the mural throughout October. Previous mural designs include ones based on the films Beetlejuice, Paddington and The Nightmare Before Christmas, the latter of which won a Guinness World Record for the largest cucurbit mural. - NME, 10/13/25...... The family of recently deceased Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton has revealed the cause of her death on Oct. 11 at age 79 was due to pneumonia. "The Keaton family are very grateful for the extraordinary messages of love and support they have received these past few days on behalf of their beloved Diane, who passed away from pneumonia on October 11," the family said in a statement to People magazine. Her family -- which includes 25-year-old son, Duke, and 29-year-old daughter, Dexter -- went on to list the causes that were close to the Annie Hall star's heart and asked her fans to donate to charity as a tribute to her."She loved her animals and she was steadfast in her support of the unhoused community, so any donations in her memory to a local food bank or an animal shelter would be a wonderful and much appreciated tribute to her," the message concluded. People, the first outlet to report Keaton's death, spoke to a friend who said the actor's health "declined very suddenly" in recent months. She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her," the confidante told the outlet. "It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit." One of Keaton's close friends told TMZ.com that Keaton had been ill for a while and that her death was "not a shock." The source added that, "In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren't fully aware of what was happening." - AP, 10/16/25...... 10cc's Graham Gouldman says American rapper Doja Cat's sampling of 10cc's 1975 chart-topping hit "I'm Not in Love" has brought the veteran pop rock band's music to "a different audience." "I'm Not In Love " was was revived on Doja Cat's 2023 track "Shutco" and Gouldman has quipped that he is "down with the kids" after the unlikely crossover with the 29-year-old performer. "Ah, you see, I'm down with the kids, man! [Laughs] I don't mind these things," Gouldman recently told New Musica Express. "It's great if it works artistically, and it also helps to bring the music of 10cc to a different audience that wouldn't have normally bothered with it." "I'm Not In Love" was recently covered by Pretenders bandleader Chrissie Hynde and The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers on her Duets album, but Graham was none the wiser in the same interview. He reacted: "Really?! Our publishers never tell us anything! That's brilliant. I liked The Pretenders' version; I just love Chrissie Hynde's voice." - Music-News.com, 10/14/25...... 
Co-founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley died on Oct. 16 "peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall at his home," according to a statement shared by his family. He was 74. "We are completely devastated and heartbroken," the family wrote in the statement. "In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace's memory will continue to live on forever!" Earlier on Oct. 16, TMZ.com reported that Frehley was on life support after suffering a brain bleed when he fell at home weeks ago. The musician had canceled his performance at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, Calif., after suffering what was then described as a "minor fall resulting in a trip to the hospital." "He is fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time," a statement read on his Instagram at the time. Less than two weeks later, Frehley's team announced on social media that he would be canceling all of his remaining appearances in 2025 "due to some ongoing medical issues." Born Paul Daniel Frehley in New York City in 1951, Frehley co-founded KISS in 1973 with singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist/singer Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. Among the songs Ace helped write for KISS were classics like "I Was Made For Lovin' You," "Rock And Roll All Nite," "Detroit Rock City," "Love Gun" and more, and he designed the group's iconic logo. The members' identities were famously kept secret until a decade after their debut, by which Frehley had left the band to pursue a solo career, coupled with his struggles with substance abuse and rising tension within the band about their direction. In the years following his exit from KISS, Frehley formed a new band, Frehley's Comet, which released two albums but failed to achieve commercial success. He reverted to using his own name for this 1989 album Trouble Walkin',, which saw former bandmate Criss provide backing vocals. Frehley would rejoin KISS for their reunion in 1996 and stayed with them until 2002. He did not join them for their farewell world tour in 2022. Frehley and Simmons had a notably rocky relationship, with Simmons in 2019 claiming that Frehley was fired from the band for his substance abuse, while Ace argued that he was 12 years sober by then and quit "of my own free will, because you and Paul [Stanley] are control freaks, untrustworthy and were too difficult to work with." Earlier in October, Frehley cancelled his remaining solo dates for 2025 due to "some ongoing medical issues," which has since been confirmed as the fall he suffered. Frehley's former bandmates Simmons and Stanley are among a slew of fellow musicians and friends that have paid tribute to the iconic rocker, also known as "Spaceman." 
"Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace's legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn't live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!," Simmons posted to X on Oct. 16. Stanley shared his "favorite photo" with his late ex-bandmate, and fondly recounted their first encounter. "I remember 1974 being in my room at the Hyatt on Sunset in LA and I heard someone playing deep and fiery guitar in the room next door," he writes. "I thought "Boy, I wish THAT guy was in the band!" I looked over the balcony He was. It was Ace. This is my favorite photo of us," he wrote on X. Alice Cooper posted on Instagram that "Ace was an absolute Guitar hero to so many people. I did more tours with him than anybody else, as far as opening for us, for quite a long time, so we became quite good friends. And you know, he always brought it every night. He did it every night. And it's just hard to see somebody like that go. We know that right now that the KISS fans are certainly in mourning and certainly his family and certainly everybody that knew him. Ace was an ACE." Other rock and music icons paying tribute include Pearl Jam, Tom Morello, Nile Rodgers, Steve Vai and Tool. KISS will be honored at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, taping Dec. 7 and airing Dec. 23 on CBS. Frehley will be just the third person to receive the honor posthumously. - Billboard/NME, 10/17/25.