Speaking on her UK chat show The Talk, Sharon Osbourne revealed her husband Ozzy Osbourne is set to undergo a "very major operation" in June that will "determine the rest of his life." Sharon said that she plans on joining Ozzy in Los Angeles for the operation on June 13 "and I have to be there... it's really going to determine the rest of his life." In May, Ozzy revealed to Classic Rock magazine that he's waiting to have neck surgery as he "can't walk properly these days" due to lasting damage from a 4-wheeler accident in 2003, however it is unclear whether the surgery Sharon spoke of is the same neck surgery Ozzy mentioned. Osbourne has recovered from accidents and several bouts of illness over the past few years and in January of 2020, he confirmed a "challenging" diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. In April, Sharon revealed he had tested positive for Covid-19. - New Musical Express, 6/10/22...... 
The Public Broadcasting System is set to premiere a new documentary about legendary Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, Long Promised Road, on June 14 and 9:00 p.m. Eastern/8:00 p.m. Central (check local listings at pbs.org). The latest installment in PBS's American Masters series lets the at-time tentative and vulnerable Wilson -- who turns 80 on June 20 -- look back at a life of remarkable ebbs and flows. "The Brian you see goofing around? That's Brian to me," says his good friend, Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine, who for 70 hours spirited Wilson around southern California to meaningful spots from his past for the documentary. "He's engaged and curious and funny in ways people don't really know." Fine adds that from a young age, music was Wilson's salvation over beatings from an overbearing father and later in life, a virtual nine-year imprisonment by psychologist Eugene Landy. "Music gave him joy. And the recognition that his music did that for others -- I think it took him till now for that to register," Fine adds. - TV Guide, 6/13/22...... After being perched at the top of Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart for 34 straight weeks, Elton John and Dua Lipa's "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" has become the second-most popular song on that chart since it began in Jan. 2013. Luminate (formerly MRC Data) reports that "Cold Heart" drew 23.4 million all-format radio airplay audience impressions and 8.4 million U.S. streams and sold 3,300 downloads in the May 27-June 2 tracking week. Only Marshmello and Bastille's "Happier" has led longer on this chart: for 69 weeks in 2018-20. In other chart action, a remake of KISS's "I Was Made for Lovin' You" by House Gospel Choir has debuted at No. 46 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. The song hit No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in Aug. 1979, representing a notable disco turn for the glam rockers. Meanwhile, venerable British rockers Def Leppard have reached the top of the Top Hard Rock Albums chart for a fourth time with its new album Diamond Star Halos. In the May 27-June 2 tracking week, the LP earned 34,000 equivalent album units, with 32,000 units via album sales, according to Luminate. Halos also debuted at No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart. On the all-format Hot 200 album chart, the new set bows at No. 10, marking Def Leppard's eighth Top 10. The lead single from Halos, "Kick," hit No. 34 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, the band's first appearance on the list since "Four Letter Word" reached No. 30 in 2003. - Billboard, 6/9/22...... Cher, a longtime idol of the LGBTQ+ community, announced on June 8 she's giving back to the community by releasing a line of products through luxury Italian fashion house Versace. Perfectly timed for Pride Month, the collection, appropriately titled CHERSACE, is a collaboration between Cher and Donatella Versace. Available through the kqzyfj.com website, the line consists of black shirts emblazoned with the fashion house's ornate logo in a rainbow and bedazzled rainbow variant, embroidered logo socks, and a baseball cap with Cher's signature decorating the side. Prices for the items range from $125 and $3,350 and all proceeds will go to Gender Spectrum, which specializes in helping the LGBTQ+ community, particularly children and young people. Cher posted a snapshot on Instagram of her wearing a bedazzled T-shirt from the collection on Instagram and captioned the image, "Maybe it's me, but I think this Versace t-shirt is kinda giving Cher." - Billboard, 6/8/22...... The legendary rags-to-riches tale of country icon Dolly Parton told in storybook form is currently the No. 1 children's women's biographies book on Amazon.com. Written by New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopolous, I Am Dolly Parton uses storytelling and adorable illustrations to spotlight one of country music's brightest stars. Released on June 7, the book is also No. 3 on the roster of all children's books on Amazon. It is part of the "Ordinary People Change the World" series, which is inspired by the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, and encourages kids to dream big. - Billboard, 6/8/22...... 
Blondie announced on June 8 it will release its first-ever box set on Aug. 26. Blondie: Against the Odds 1974-1982 is a 124-track collection that will include their first 6 Chrysalis studio albums along with 36 previously unissued recordings as well as a two volumes of liner notes, and track-by-track commentary from band members Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison and Gary Valentine. A 120-page illustrated discography, dozens of previously unpublished photos, and essays from producers including Mike Chapman also complement the set. All tracks are remastered from the original analog tapes and the set comes in a variety of formats, including a super-deluxe 10-LP collector's edition, a deluxe 4LP vinyl version and deluxe 8-CD and 3-CD editions. In a statement, frontwoman Harry said: "I am excited about this special collection. When I listen to these old tracks, it puts me there like I am a time traveler. As bad as it was sometimes, it was also equally as good. No regrets. More music." - Billboard, 6/8/22...... Speaking of Blondie, former Sex Pistols member Glen Matlock is currently touring as part of Blondie's live band and says he is relieved to be outside the UK now due to "terrible, turgid Tories." Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Matlock said: "I think one of the things is that, you know, how worse off we would be if [Boris] Johnson was a president, that would be even worse. I'm really quite pleased to be out of England at the moment, the terrible, turgid Tories have just been getting on top of me." Matlock continued: "So to be touring, as I have been, I got asked very last minute to play with Blondie, we've been touring over here (in the US) and I just not long got back from Mexico, it's been really quite refreshing to do something different and step outside and see how other people see us." The Sex Pistols' notorious anti-monarchy hit "God Save The Queen" was reissued on June 3 and hit the top spot in England exactly 45 years after it was notoriously denied Number One by the BBC. The band also released a commemorative coin celebrating the song's anniversary. - NME, 6/6/22...... A June 5 concert by British alternative faves Coldplay at New Jersey's the Meadowlands featured a special surprise guest -- Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen. And, because it was New Jersey and because Coldplay frontman Chris Martin happens to have a very special tribute to the state's musical patron saint tattooed on his arm, of course the crowd went bananas when the Boss strolled out to play a mini 2-song set on the satellite "C" stage on the stadium floor. June 5 was the second of a two-night stint at MetLife Stadium and as Springsteen was slipping on an acoustic guitar amid the traditional lusty "BRUUUUUUCE!" chants, he noted that he was surrounded by superfans on, and off, the stage. "Hello, New Jersey!" Springsteen said, "Well, like Chris said, he had this song tattooed on his arm for a while, so I guess I've gotta sing it." The song in question is the title track from Springsteen's 2009 Working on a Dream album -- Martin has the title on his left bicep -- and the two harmonized on the chorus during the unplugged performance, with Martin taking the second verse, including the lines: "Rain pourin' down, I swing my hammer/ My hands are rough from working on a dream/ I'm working on a dream." Springsteen stuck around for one more, with Martin backing him up on a stripped-down take on the Born in the USA track "Dancing in the Dark." Fan footage of the Springsteen cameo has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 6/6/22...... 
During a BBC Radio 2 interview in the midst of the recent Queen Elizabeth II platinum jubilee celebration, Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor revealed that they recently uncovered a previously unheard song featuring late founding vocalist Freddie Mercury's vocals. "We did find a little gem from Freddie that we'd kind of forgotten about," Taylor told host Zoe Ball in the chat. "And it's wonderful. Actually, it was a real discovery." While Taylor and May did not reveal the track's title, other sources have reported it to be "Face It Alone." Taylor called it "a very passionate recording" and confirmed that the song will be available in September and that it was recorded during 1988 sessions for the band's penultimate album with Mercury, The Miracle, which included the singles "I Want It All" and "Scandal." May said that he and Taylor had been considering releasing the song but also thought "Oh no, we can't really rescue that." But they went back again recently and with some help from studio wizards May said they were able to spruce up the recording. Meanwhile in other Queen news, the band has reached a new chart milestone in their native UK with their 1981 album Greatest Hits. The LP has reached 1,000 weeks on the Official Albums Chart Top 100, becoming just the third album to do so, and the first by a British act or a rock band. The hits collection, which originally enjoyed four weeks at No. 1, is one of the prog-rockers' ten No. 1 UK albums, and it's recognized as the best-selling album in British recorded music history with more than six million copies sold. Only albums by Bob Marley and the Wailers (Legend) and ABBA (Gold - Greatest Hits) have notched more time on the same chart with 1,032 and 1,048 weeks, respectively. - Billboard, 6/7/22...... The Rolling Stones paid tribute to their '60s rivals the Beatles by performing their John Lennon and Paul McCartney-penned hit "I Wanna Be Your Man" for the first time since 2012 at their Liverpool concert on June 9. The Stones performed in Liverpool for the first time in more than 50 years, at Anfield Stadium, having last played at the legendary Empire Theatre in 1971. During the show, frontman Mick Jagger revealed they were planning to cover Liverpool FC anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry And The Pacemakers as they were at the football ground, which drew a mixed reaction of boos and cheers from the audience. He said: "But, we decided instead to do a cover of a song written by some other local lads so we're doing this especially for you Liverpool, OK?" Jagger, along with fellow surviving Stones Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood also dedicated the show to late drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021 aged 80. Mick told the crowd: "In 1962 we met a drummer called Charlie Watts and this is our first tour in England we've done without him so we'd like to dedicate this show to Charlie." The Stones will travel to Amsterdam for a show on June 13, then be back on UK soil for a pair of BST Hyde Park shows on June 25 and July 3. They kicked off their 60th anniversary tour of Europe on June 1 in Madrid and it runs through July 31 in Stockholm. - Music-News.com, 6/10/22...... 
Todd Rundgren and former King Crimson and David Bowie guitarist Adrian Belew have shared details of a "Celebrating David Bowie" tribute tour that's due to hit North America in the fall. Rundgren and Belew will be joined by a roster of versatile musicians including Spacehog's Royston Langdon, Fishbone's Angelo Moore and Jeffrey Gaines on the 15-date tour to pay tribute to the late, influential British musician. Bassist Angeline Saris, drummer Michael Urbano, saxophonist Ron Dziubla, and guitarist Scrote (Angelo Bundini), who put together the first "Celebrating David Bowie" tour in 2017, are also in the tour's backing band. The tour will commence in San Diego on Oct. 6, also visiting Beverly Hills (10/7), San Jose (10/8), Anaheim (10/9), Prior Lake, Minn. (10/13), Quebec City (10/17), Montreal (10/18) and Annapolis, Md. (10/31). In November, it hits Atlanta (11/3), Buffalo (11/5), Nashville (11/7), Denver, (11/10), Albuquerque (11/11), and Tuscon (11/12) before wrapping in Phoenix on Nov. 13. - NME, 6/6/22...... Lou Reed's widow Laurie Anderson and Light in the Attic Records announced on June 6 they have created a partnership for the release of a "Lou Reed Archive Series" that will kick off on Aug. 26 with a rarities-packed release titled Words & Music, May 1965. The album features never-before-heard versions of such future Velvet Underground classics as "Heroin," "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "Pale Blue Eyes," all presented in their earliest-known incarnations. It will drop on what would have been the late punk godfather's 80th birthday; he died in 2013 at age 71 of liver disease. A 6-song digital EP, Gee Whiz, 1958-1964, will drop on Oct. 7 and feature the folk covers and original blues recordings from 1963-64. - Billboard, 6/6/22...... Paul Vance, writer of the hit '60s novelty song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," died on May 30 at age 92, his daughter Paula revealed via Facebook. A cause of death was not revealed. "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," which was released in June of 1960 and performed by Brian Hyland, reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became a staple of Mr. Vance's, adding to an impressive catalogue that already contains hits co-written alongside partner Lee Pockriss, such as Perry Como's 1958 signature song "Catch a Falling Star." The tune also earned Mr. Vance a Grammy nomination in 1958 -- the first year of the awards -- for song of the year, while Como's recording nabbed him a Record of the Year nod. Other notable tunes by Mr. Vance and Pockriss include Clint Holmes' 1973 hit "Playground In My Mind," David Geddes' 1975 Top 5 track "Run Joey Run," and Natalie Cole, and Esther Phillips and Dee Dee Warwick's cover of "I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do " (originally performed by Astrud Gilberto). He is survived by his children Paula, Joseph, Philip and Connie Vance. - Billboard, 6/6/22...... 
Iconic '70s folk rock singer Jim Seals, who teamed with fellow musician Dash Crofts on such 1970s soft-rock smashes as "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl" and "We May Never Pass This Way Again," has died of an undisclosed chronic illness at his home in Nashville. He was 80. His death was announced on June 7 by several people, including John Ford Coley, who had formed the '70s duo England Dan and John Ford Coley with Seals' older brother, Dan Seals. Further details were not immediately available. "This is a hard one on so many levels as this is a musical era passing for me," Coley wrote. "And it will never pass this way again as his song said. He belonged to a group that was one of a kind. I am very sad over this but I have some of the best memories of all of us together. Rest In Peace Jimmy." Mr. Seals and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts were Texas natives who had known each other since they were teenagers and had previously been in The Champs, which before they joined had a hit single with "Tequila," and a group including Glen Campbell. They formed Seals and Crofts in the late 1960s and over the next several years were among a wave of successful soft-rock groups that included America, Bread and England Dan and John Ford Coley. The pair racked up three Top 10 Billboard hits including "Summer Breeze," "Diamond Girl" and "Get Closer" (featuring Carolyn Willis). Their other popular songs included "Hummingbird," "You're the Love" and "We May Never Pass This Way Again." Seals and Crofts also released the controversial "Unborn Child," an anti-abortion song that came out the year after the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and was banned by some radio stations. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in the '90s, Mr. Seals said of the song: "It was our ignorance that we didn't know that kind of thing was seething and boiling as a social issue. On one hand we had people sending us thousands of roses, but on the other people were literally throwing rocks at us. If we'd known it was going to cause such disunity, we might have thought twice about doing it." Two of the duo's albums, Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl, made the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, at No. 7 (Dec. 1972) and No. 4 (Aug. 1973), respectively. Summer Breeze went on to be the No. 2 most popular album of the year on Billboard's chart recap for 1973 (behind only War's The World Is a Ghetto). Seals and Crofts broke up in 1980 but reunited briefly in the early 1990s and again in 2004, when they released the album Traces. Mr. Seals also performed on occasion with his brother Dan, who died in 2009. He is survived by his wife, Ruby, and their three children. Brady Seals, a member of country band Little Texas and Mr. Seals' cousin, wrote on Instagram: "I just learned that James 'Jimmy' Seals has passed. My heart just breaks for his wife Ruby and their children. Please keep them in your prayers. What an incredible legacy he leaves behind." - Associated Press, 6/7/22...... Alec John Such, bassist and an original member of Bon Jovi who was credited as bringing the band together, has died at 70, the band announced on Twitter on June 5. "We are heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of our dear friend Alec John Such," the group's statement said. "He was an original... Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We'll miss him dearly." Such was a member of Bon Jovi when they released the No. 1 albums Slippery When Wet (1986) and New Jersey (1988), both of which topped the Billboard 200. The Yonkers, N.Y. native remained with the group through 1994 and was replaced by bassist Hugh McDonald. - Billboard, 6/5/22.
Former Genesis frontman and '80s solo star Peter Gabriel is planning to release his first new solo album in 20 years later in 2022, according to his longtime drummer Manu Katché. In an interview with the French magazine L'Illustr, Katché said Gabriel's band are "finishing our new album" and will take it out on a world tour next year. In 2020, Gabriel told the UK's Uncut that "I'm excited by what is being cooked at the moment -- I have been slowed down quite a lot by lockdown, we've not been able to have Dickie my engineer here -- but I have enough songs that I like to make a record I'm proud of." Gabriel's activity of late also includes contributing to Arcade Fire's latest acclaimed album WE, lending vocals to the song "Unconditional II (Race and Religion)." He also stopped by London's O2 stadium to watch his former band Genesis' final show ever earlier in 2022. - New Musical Express, 6/5/22...... 
A bevy of '70s artists including Rod Stewart, Queen, Elton John and Diana Ross performed at the United Kingdom's Platinum Party At the Palace at Buckingham Palace on June 4 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 70th anniversary on the throne. Although the 96-year-old monarch attended some of the opening ceremonies on June 2, she opted not to attend the star-studded London concert in her honor or her beloved Epsom Derby on June 4, as well as a special service of Thanksgiving in her honor at St. Paul's Cathedral on June 3. The Party At the Palace was kicked off by Queen + Adam Lambert in an open-air show outside the palace to the delight of thousands of the Queen's well-wishers, followed by performances from Duran Duran, Stewart (who led a rendition of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"), opera singer Andrea Bocelli, and John, who sang his hit "Your Song" remotely as his image was displayed on the front wall of the palace. Ross closed the show with a medley of several of her biggest hits, her first U.K. live performance in 15 years. - Billboard, 6/4/22...... In related news, the Sex Pistols' notorious anti-monarchy anthem "God Save The Queen" has become the biggest-selling single in the UK after the 1977 hit was reissued on June 3. "God Save The Queen" hit the UK's top of the pops exactly 45 years after it was notoriously denied Number One after being banned by the BBC. The protest song was officially released by the band via Virgin Records in May 1977. Despite being banned, it reached number two on the UK's singles chart (the track was listed as a blank on the latter to avoid causing offence) though fans believed it was kept from top spot in purpose. The irreverent punk band's signing to Virgin and re-release of the single came after the band had been controversially dropped by their previous label A&M, prompting the destruction of 25,000 unreleased copies of "God Save The Queen." Only a handful of copies of the original A&M release are known to survive, with one selling for £13,000 back in 2019. Meanwhile, former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), said in a recent interview with British talk show host Piers Morgan that he is "actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well." "I've got to tell the world this. Everyone presumes that I'm against the royal family as human beings, I'm not," Lydon said. "I'm actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well. I applaud her for that, and that's a fantastic achievement. I'm not a curmudgeon about that." - New Musical Express, 6/5/22...... Elton John took to Instagram on June 3 to assure fans that he's in "top health" after a tabloid report claimed he was "frail" alongside a picture of the rock legend being helped into a wheelchair at Leipzig Airport in Germany in late May. In the pic, the 75-year-old Rocket Man was seen wearing a Gucci track suit and mask as he was transferred to a wheelchair while in Germany for two shows on his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour. "I want to thank all my fans for reaching out to ask about my health, after the tabloids ran a silly story about my 'looking frail' in a wheelchair," Elton wrote. "The true story is that I'm in top health, loving my shows and playing and singing at my very best. I give 100% every night and never want to disappoint, especially after everyone has waited so long to get back to seeing shows. Your response to every show has been phenomenal and I'm loving every minute of it." John explained that after a "rousing" two-and-a-half hour show, "we arrived at Leipzig airport just before curfew, to find part of the airport had closed. It was an extremely long walk to get to the plane, so my team kindly laid on a wheelchair so I could rest my hip after doing the show. That's all folks." He added that the following night he played another "blockbuster" gig in Bern and he was looking forward to his June 4 show at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. Meanwhile, Elton has announced his curated support acts for his upcoming concert at BST Hyde Park in London on June 24. Joining John at the sold-out gig will be a hand-picked line-up featuring Rina Sawayama, Gabriels, Let's Eat Grandma, BERWYN, Thomas Headon, Tom A Smith and Juanita Euka. The full details of the show can be found on BST Hyde Park's Twitter page. It is possible that the BST show will be Elton's final ever London tour date. - Billboard/NME, 6/3/22...... The Doobie Brothers posted on Twitter on June 4 that they've been forced to reschedule several concert dates set for June after members of their touring party tested positive for Covid-19. The Doobies said their June shows in Indiana, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina have been moved to July. "We want to apologize to our fans," the band posted. "Several members of the Doobies touring party came down with Covid and we had no choice but to reschedule the below dates. We look forward to seeing you all very soon." The concerts are part of the Doobie Brothers' North American tour celebrating their 50th anniversary. The trek features founding band members Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons and John McFee reunited with their later member, Michael McDonald. - Billboard, 6/4/22...... 
One day after a Virginia jury awarded actor Johnny Depp more than $10 million in his libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard in a sensational trial, guitar legend Jeff Beck announced that he has a full-length collaborative album due out this summer with the former Pirates of the Caribbean star. "I met this guy five years ago and we've never stopped laughing since. We actually made an album. I don't know how it happened. It will be out in July," Beck told a crowd at the Sage Gateshead in Gateshead, England during a June 2 show in which Depp joined him on stage for a run of songs that included covers of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" as well as the John Lennon song "Isolation," a cover of which the pair released in 2020. A fan's recording of Beck's comments can be viewed on Twitter. Depp surprised fans earlier in the week at Beck's May 28 show in Sheffield, England when he jumped on stage to perform "Isolation" and the other covers, then did it again on May 29 and 30 during Beck's gigs at Royal Albert Hall in London. Before becoming one of Hollywood's most in demand actors, Depp harbored dreams of rock stardom and over the years has collaborated with everyone from Iggy Pop to Marilyn Manson and the supergroup Hollywood Vampires, featuring Alice Cooper and Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry. - Billboard, 6/3/22...... Just call him "Dr. Ringo." Beatles legend Ringo Starr finally made it to Boston on June 2 to receive his honorary degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Berklee originally announced that Starr would receive a doctorate in music at commencement ceremonies in May, but Ringo was unable to attend then and instead addressed the graduating class in a recorded statement. In the video, Starr banged around on a drum kit before sending his customary "peace and love" greeting while congratulating the class of '22. "I'm a doctor at last! I never went to college, but I certainly have had a lot of experience making music, so I supposed I earned this in my own way," he said. But with Ringo and his All Starr Band in town for a show, the school held a special ceremony earlier in the day to honor his lifelong contributions to the music scene that featured performances of Starr's hit songs, arranged and performed by Berklee students. Starr, 81, told the story of how he picked up drumming when he was 13 and very ill and someone brought some percussion instruments to the hospital to keep him busy. He was hooked. Starr, 81, told the story of how he picked up drumming when he was 13 and very ill and someone brought some percussion instruments to the hospital to keep him busy. He was hooked. "I just wanted to be a drummer from that moment on," he said. "It was my big dream and it's still unfolding. I get to play with great guys, like the band here. It's just a great life I lead." Gregg Bissonette, the drummer in the All Starr Band, and Berklee President Erica Muhl provided opening remarks. Starr recently kicked off his first tour since 2019 with the ASB by announcing an NFT collection comprised of digital artworks accompanied by signed canvas prints created by himself. - AP, 6/3/22...... Elsewhere on the Fab Four front, John Lennon's son Julian Lennon has released an official cover of his late dad's peace anthem "Imagine," and shared it on Spotify.com. In April, Julian performed the track for the first as part of the "Stand Up For Ukraine" campaign, a global fund-raising effort broadcast from Warsaw, Poland, and shared it on YouTube. At the time, he wrote "Today, for the first time ever, I publicly performed my Dad's song, 'Imagine'" adding: "The song reflects the light at the end of the tunnel, that we are all hoping for." A portion of the proceeds from the new release will be donated to Ukraine refugee relief through Lennon's nonprofit, The White Feather Foundation to Global Citizen. - NME, 6/1/22...... Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang Van Halen has lashed out at the reality TV show Autopsy for a new episode based around the 2020 death of his dad. Autopsy digs into the stories behind the death of public figures, and its network Reelz shared a sneak peak on May 31 into its new special, Autopsy: The Last Hours Of Eddie Van Halen. Set to air on Reelz on the evening of June 5, a synopsis of the special says in part: "Often relying on alcohol and other substances to maintain his creativity Eddie would spend many years in and out of rehab. He was a workaholic often pushing his body to the limits in order to perform while secretly battling illness. Eddie died at the age of 65 from cancer but if caught early Eddie's disease had reasonable survival rates so what exactly happened? Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter will analyse every detail of his life in order to piece together what else may have been going on in his body, ultimately leading to his untimely death." In response to the show being teased, Wolfgang shared an angry response on Twitter, calling the show "disgusting and "heartless." "F--- [Reelz], f--- everyone that works on this show, and f--- you if you watch it. F---ing disgusting trying to glamorise someone"s death from cancer. Pathetic and heartless," he posted. In November 2020, Wolfgang released his debut solo single, "Distance," a cut from his debut album. The proceeds from the sale of the track were donated to the Mr Holland"s Opus Foundation (MHOF), reportedly in "support of school music programs and as a dedication to his late father." - NME, 6/2/22...... 
Stevie Nicks has joined the countless Democratic politicians, gun control advocates and fellow musicians in the fight to end gun violence and strengthen gun laws in the United States, sharing a statement on Twitter on June 1 in response to the devastating mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school that killed 19 children and 2 adults. "My hope for this country is that the lawmakers just find a way to make buying an assault rifle -- more difficult," the Fleetwood Mac frontlady wrote. "There is just no reason to have a gun that would disintegrate a deer -- or a small animal, if you are, indeed, an honorable hunter. When those guns go into the hands of obviously disturbed people, it gives them a sense of unbelievable power that they have never felt before. Power, used in a bad way, is the opposite of 'power' used in a good way. Once people have felt the power of those guns, they are never the same. They are addicted. And then there is no turning back," she added. Nicks then urged lawmakers to "make it really hard for them to get that gun," adding, "No one is trying to take away guns from people who get them for a good reason. Guns are not toys. Background checks are not that hard." Saying that she's "dying inside" for the victims of the recent Robb Elementary School shooting, Stevie asked lawmakers "do you want to be remembered as the people who finally gathered together in unity and empathy -- as the people who stopped it?" On the same day as Nicks' post, multiple people were killed in yet another mass shooting on a hospital campus in Tulsa, Okla. - Billboard, 6/1/22...... As the hotly anticipated Elvis Presley biopic, Elvis, is set to premiere in American theaters on June 24, Presley's estate is attempting to require local Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas who perform weddings to obtain a license. "As the guardians of the Elvis Presley estate, it is our responsibility to safeguard his legacy, said a spokesperson for Authentic Brands Group. "This includes ensuring that all products, services and advertisements utilizing Elvis' name, image or likeness are officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises." The development comes weeks after ABG sent a cease and desist letter to a number of Las Vegas chapels where Presley impersonators officiate weddings, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. Notably, Nevada's law on the right of publicity expressly allows for the legal use of a celebrity's likeness by "impersonators in live performances" -- likely a nod to the long-standing and beloved tradition of Elvis look-alikes in Las Vegas. Whether performing a marriage ceremony counts as such a "performance" is unclear. In its statement to Billboard, ABG says that this move is less about using those tools to elbow out the fleet of Elvis impersonators who perform weddings in Las Vegas, and more about closely partnering with them. "Elvis is embedded into the fabric of Las Vegas history," ABG's statement concludes, "and we are committed to protecting and expanding his legacy for generations to come." - Billboard, 6/1/22...... As the Rolling Stones kicked off their "SIXTY"' anniversary tour at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Spain on June 1, Keith Richards has reflected on why he thinks the band have stuck it out for six decades. "Life's just too interesting to die. Anything I wanted to do had to be done -- I couldn't slack off. And hey, there was just an awful lot of cocaine involved," Richards told the UK paper The Sun. "Sixty years is a hell of a long time. How do you do that? I think the most important thing is that the people in the band want to stay together. That helps! We had our ups and downs, of course. But in the end we always noticed that we are more creative together. And, of course, across these -- my God! -- six decades, you have got used to each other. The special thing about being part of a well-rehearsed group is knowing the others so well that you can predict up to a certain point what is going to happen next," he added. The Stones' opening night saw Sir Mick Jagger, 78, Ronnie Wood, 75, Richards and 65-year-old drummer Steve Jordan power through the 19-song set list with ease. A special tribute to late sticksman Charlie Watts, who died aged 80 in 2021, started the show with a video montage played during "Street Fighting Man." The Stones' European trek concludes in Stockholm, Sweden on July 31. - Music-News.com, 6/3/22...... 
In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Graham Nash says he "took full advantage" of the coronavirus pandemic by throwing himself into writing and recording a new solo album, as well as teaming up with his old Hollies bandmate Allan Clarke. Nash says he couldn't be happier with the work they've done. Nash said: "I took full advantage of the lockdown. What I've been doing is making music remotely. I am one track from finishing a new solo record, done remotely. Also, it isn't mixed yet but I've finished recording a new album with my friend Allan Clarke. Allan has been my oldest friend -- I've known him since I was six years old and that means he has been my friend for 74 years. He quit The Hollies many years ago because he didn't feel that he could reach those high notes on those beautiful songs that he did. But Allan has been singing unbelievably well and I'm very happy with this record." Meanwhile, despite his advancing years, Nash says he still loves getting out on the road and wouldn't tour if he didn't enjoy it as much as he does. "It's only my calling. I've been lucky enough to be rich enough not to ever worry about money again in my life, and it gives me great freedom," he said. "I want to be there, I don't have to be in the middle of Elgin, Illinois, in the pouring rain. I don't have to be here, I want to be here. And it shows! People are leaving these theatres with gigantic smiles on their faces and that's what I want," he added. - Music-News.com, 6/5/22...... Dave Smith, known as "the father of MIDI" and the founder of Sequential Synth, has died at age 72. "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Dave Smith has died. We're heartbroken, but take some small solace in knowing he was on the road doing what he loved best in the company of family, friends, and artists," said an announcement on the Sequential website. Smith invented a range of synths that were used by electronic artists throughout the 1980s as well as by Radiohead on their experimental "Kid A." Taking to Twitter, The Cure's Roger O'Donnell wrote: "So sad to hear of Dave Smith's death. He started Sequential Circuits who made some of the most iconic synths from the early '80s until now. He invented MIDI!!! The Prophet 5 is one of the greatest synths ever made, he will never be forgotten. Great man and a dear friend." Also paying tribute to Smith on social media were Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. - NME, 6/2/22.
As Paul McCartney turned 80 years old on June 18, the famous former Beatle was messaged with numerous tributes on social media from his legion of fellow famous musicians, other celebrities, and fans. "They say it's your birthday Saturday happy birthday Paul love you man have a great day peace and love Ringo and Barbara love love peace and love," Ringo Starr tweeted alongside a photo of himself flashing the peace sign. John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono also tweeted a photo of herself and Paul captioned with the message: "Dear Paul, Happy 80th Birthday and many, many more! From a partner in Peace& love, yoko." Meanwhile, Sean Ono Lennon marked the special occasion by sharing a video of himself on 
Steve Miller was among the new inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame during an in-person ceremony on June 16 in New York City, after two years of Covid-related cancellations. Miller was inducted by actor Bryan Cranston, who shared that his whistling on Malcolm in the Middle led to an improbable ASCAP membership. Cranston said he had an "instant camaraderie, music without the music" when he first met Miller backstage at a Broadway show. When Cranston mused that "no one knows what the hell a line like 'pompatus of love' means" in the Steve Miller Band's No. 1 1973 hit "The Joker," Miller provided some oblique light on the famously obtuse lyric. "'Pompatus of love?' My attorney is here tonight and he will explain what it is and how much it costs when you say it," Miller said of the line, which some have traced back to a 1954 song from the doo-wop group The Medallions. Also honored that evening was songwriter/singer Paul Williams, a 2001 SHOF inductee who received the "gold standard" Johnny Mercer Award at this ceremony. Teary and fiery at various points during his speech, Williams spoke about his 32-year sobriety and his hope that someday, someone will write a song befitting comedian-turned-war hero, Ukraine Pres. Zelenskyy. There was also a Muppet connection, with Kermit the Frog appearing via video to salute Williams for "saying in words and music the longing each of us feels inside." - Billboard, 6/17/22...... Elton John began the UK leg of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour in Norwich on June 15, delivering a 23-song set and kicking off the night with "Bennie And The Jets." Elsewhere at the gig fans were treated to classics "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "I'm Still Standing," "Crocodile Rock," and the main set closer "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting." "Tonight is the 229th show on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. We have about 103 shows to do," Sir Elton told the audience at one point. "It's been quite a journey and it all ends next July. But I want to thank you because I won't be playing here again. I want to thank you for all the memories, all the love you've sent me, all the loyalty, the kindness, the letters, the dressing up, the costumes, the multiple shows you've been to. It means the world to me and I will never forget you guys," he added. Fan-shot footage of the gig can be viewed on 
Neil Diamond, who has rarely been seen in public since retiring from touring in 2018 after announcing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, made an appearance during the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park on June 18 to sing his beloved song "Sweet Caroline." Diamond, 81, stepped out during the 8th inning of the Red Sox's battle against the St. Louis Cardinals to deliver a rousing rendition of the song, with Broadway actor Will Swenson, who portrays Diamond in the new "A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical," at his side. The show is scheduled to hit Broadway this fall after its six-week run at Boston's Emerson Colonial Theatre from June 21-July 31. Diamond last performed at Fenway Park in 2013 -- just days after the Boston Marathon bombing -- and "Sweet Caroline" has been an 8th inning tradition at the ballpark since 1997. The singer announced his retirement from the live stage in 2018 after canceling dates in Australia and New Zealand, citing his Parkinson's diagnosis. "I plan to remain active in writing, recording and other projects for a long time to come," Diamond wrote on his website at the time. "This ride has been "so good, so good, so good' thanks to you. A clip of his Fenway "Sweet Caroline" performance has been shared on 
During a recent interview this week for Apple Music 1, Robert Plant revealed to Canadian media personality George Stroumboulopoulos that he was offered a role in the original Game of Thrones. "I don't want to get typecast," Plant joked of his reasoning for declining the part. "I started that s--- go back to 'Immigrant Song' and Led Zeppelin being part of cultural exchange in Iceland with the Icelandic government. So they didn't know what they'd invited onto their little island," Plant said. "I love Western European history from maybe the Bronze Age up through all the old religion and when we were really in touch with our Earth," he continued. "The Viking thing, the whole idea of playing in Iceland and experiencing this landscape and people. Yeah, I've got a lot to answer for, because I've never seen so many bands with double-bladed axes." As for what particular role he was offered in the wildly popular HBO series, Plant could not remember. "I got to ride a horse and go [lifts head]," he cheekily added. The final episode of Game of Thrones, which aired on May 19, 2019, brought in a series record of 19.3 million viewers. Plant's interview has been shared on 
George Benson praised his "amazing London" fans as he took to the stage at the Hampton Court Palace Festival 2022 in London on June 16. The 79-year-old R&B legend wowed the sell-out crowd on a hot summer's night at the historic venue and took a moment before playing his 1983 hit single "Lady Love Me (One More Time)" to share his love for the UK capital. "We're finally back here at Hampton Court. People are moving from all over the world to London. You're amazing. London is amazing," the "This Masquerade" singer said. Benson's setlist was packed with his greatest hits such as "Turn Your Love Around," "In Your Eyes," "Shiver" and "Never Give up on a Good Thing," which prompted the audience to join him in a mass singalong. At the end of the show Benson left the stage to raucous applause and cheering only to return for an encore which included a cover of Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" and The Drifters's classic "On Broadway," which he covered on his 1978 album Weekend in L.A. The Hampton Court Palace Festival is a series of special and unique open-air concerts, with artists performing in an intimate 3,000-seat auditorium in Base Court, set against the backdrop of Henry VIII's magnificent Tudor Palace. - Music-News.com, 6/18/22...... The Rolling Stones announced on 
In related news, Ringo Starr posted on his RingoStarr.com website on June 11 that the remaining dates of his 2022 summer tour have been postponed after two of his All-Starr Band members tested positive for Covid-19. Starr says the 12 concerts left on his North American trek will be pushed to Sept. 2022 after it was discovered that keyboardist Edgar Winter and guitarist Steve Lukather were diagnosed with Covid-19. "We are so sorry to let the fans down," Starr said in the statement. "It's been wonderful to be back out on the road and we have been having such a great time playing for you all. But as we all know, Covid is still here and despite being careful these things happen. I want to thank the fans for their patience, I send you all peace and love, and we can't wait to be back in the fall," he added. Ringo, 81, and his band which includes Colin Hay of Men at Work and Hamish Stuart of Average White Band, were nearly halfway through the 22-date tour prior to its halt. The trek, Starr's first outing since 2019, kicked off in Ontario, Canada, on May 27. Ringo and the band previously announced a fall tour that is scheduled to begin on Sept. 23 at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Conn., and wrap Oct. 20 at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. The postponed summer dates will be added to the band's fall schedule, which can be viewed on Ringo's site. - Billboard, 6/11/22...... In yet another tour rescheduling due to Covid, Lindsey Buckingham has confirmed new UK and European shows -- at London (10/1), Glasgow (10/3), Liverpool (10/4) and Dublin (10/6) -- after announcing in May that he was forced to postpone the tour after he and members of his live band and crew contracted Covid. Buckingham's UK run will follow rearranged gigs in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Germany. Original tickets are valid for all the corresponding new dates. - New Musical Express, 6/14/22...... On June 10 it was announced that Jeff Beck and actor/musician Johnny Depp will once again appear onstage at the upcoming Montreux Jazz Festival, set for July 1 to July 16 on the shoreline of Lake Geneva, Wis. Beck's show on July 15 at the Auditorium Stravinski had already been announced, but festival organizers revealed on 
On June 13 Sting announced on 
Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne 
Never a big fan of Britain's royal family, Elvis Costello has branded the recent "Platinum Party at the Palace" in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne "s--t" and singled out Sir Rod Stewart's performance for particular criticism. "I mean, I know you all love him and he's one of yours and everything, but Rod. What the f---? I must say, listen we all have bad nights vocally, but for f---'s sake, 'Sweet f---ing Caroline'? Are you f---ing kidding me?" The 67-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member continued his rant: "I mean I've been in show business 45 years so I do know a thing or two. How is it that nobody suggested Rod sing 'You Wear It Well'?" (Stewart's wife, Penny Lancaster, previously defended her husband in a BBC interview and insisted it wasn't his choice to sing the Neil Diamond classic -- that "it's the Queen's favourite you have to do it so he didn't have much of a choice.") Elvis then joked that another concert performer, Diana Ross, who sang "Chain Reaction," could have chosen other tracks from her back catalogue that would have been more appropriate. He quipped: "Listen, Diana Ross had a whole playlist of songs that would have fitted the occasion: 'You Keep Me Hanging On', 'I'm Living In Shame'. I'm not saying 'Love Child'. You never heard it from me." US fans of Costello can catch the rocker on Aug. 14 at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Miss. - Music-News.com, 6/12/22...... Singer Julee Cruise, best known for her soundtrack work with director David Lynch and as a former member of The B52's, died by suicide on June 9 in Pittsfield, Mass. She was 65. Her death was announced on Facebook on June 10 n a post apparently by her husband, the author Edward Grinnan. It read: "I said goodby to my wife, Julee Cruise, today. She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace." Cruise famously sang the song "Falling," which featured lyrics by Lynch and music by Angelo Badalamenti. The instrumental was used as the theme tune for Lynch's acclaimed Twin Peaks series in 1990, with the vocal version and two other songs, "Into The Night" and "The Nightingale" appearing on the official soundtrack. Her first collaboration with Lynch was for the 1986 film Blue Velvet, which prominently features another Badalamenti collaboration, "Mysteries Of Love." In the 1990s she became a member of The B-52s, touring sporadically throughout the decade as a stand-in for Cindy Wilson. In 1993, she released a cover of Elvis Presley's "Summer Kisses, Winter Tears" for the soundtrack of Wim Wenders' Until the End of the World. - NME, 6/10/22...... Actor Philip Baker Hall, known as one of Hollywood's most distinctive, versatile and accomplished character actors, died at his home in L.A. on June 12. He was 90 years old. Effortlessly funny, and usually deadpan, Mr. Hall was a guest star on everything from Seinfeld to Family Ties to the animated feature Bojack Horseman (as the voice of Hank Hippopopalous). But he was a formidable presence in drama too -- and a particular favorite of director Paul Thomas Anderson, who cast him in small but juicy roles, most memorably in 
Prolific Billboard chart guru Joel Whitburn, one of the pre-eminent chart historians of the last 50-plus years, has died at age 82. The news was first shared on Facebook by Mr. Whitburn's protégé, longtime friend and Record Research Inc. co-worker Paul Haney, who wrote that the legendary industry figure "passed away peacefully overnight" on Tuesday (June 14). "He had been having some serious health issues recently, but his passing still comes as a shock," Haney continued. After founding the Record Research Inc. company in 1970, Mr. Whitburn became one of the leading authors of reference books on the Billboard charts, releasing over 100 total entries of series like Top Pop Singles, Top 40 Hits, Top 40 Albums and Top 40 Country Hits. Particularly in the time before the internet made archival chart information widely available, his books proved invaluable in providing the whole industry with reliable chart stats and records, becoming fixtures on the bookshelves for DJs, execs, writers and artists alike. (His accurate reporting also made it more difficult for publicists and labels to credibly fudge the chart achievements of their artists, a notoriously common practice in the early '70s.) Born in the Milwaukee area town of Menomonee Falls, Wis., in 1939, Mr. Whitburn grew up as a sports and music obsessive in the '50s, he became a Billboard devotee after seeing the magazine for the first time on a trip to the city with his mother. "I saw Billboard and I didn't know what it was," he recalled in a 2014 interview. "I grabbed it and started paging through it, and saw all these big, full-page ads for all these artists I had listened to on the radio... And then, all these charts ... top 20 charts, top 30 charts, with all these songs that I loved." From there, he begged his father to cover the $10 cost to be an annual subscriber to the magazine. "It was October 1953 when I first subscribed, and I don't think I've missed an issue through today," he offered. "I look forward to it every week. I can't go a week without reading my Billboard." When the Billboard Hot 100 arrived for the first time as Billboard's flagship songs chart in Aug. 1958, Mr. Whitburn made it his primary focus. He made index cards cataloguing all the relevant information of the songs listed on the magazine's then-two-page chart spread, tracking their movement on the chart from week to week. After founding his Record Research Inc. company in 1970, he released his first Top Pop Singles book. Further series followed, starting with Top Pop Albums and eventually encompassing genre-specific charts for rock, R&B, country, easy listening and more. (Eventually, Rhino Records also started to release dozens of hits compilations based on Mr. Whitburn's books.) Mr. Whitburn was also famous for his peerless record collection, which contained over 200,000 45 rpm singles, as well as "every album that has ever charted [on Billboard] all the way up to today." In his Facebook post announcing Whitburn's death, Paul Haney grouped his mentor with household name and late legendary longtime American Top 40 host Casey Kasem, in terms of his all-time chart idols. "I never got to meet Casey, but I did have the privilege of working closely with Joel for 30+ years," he wrote. "I will be eternally grateful to him for giving me my dream job and trusting me to work on the books that bear his name. Rest in peace, big guy." - Billboard, 6/14/22.
Meanwhile, Canada's favorite daughter Joni Mitchell reflected on how she built a new life "like a phoenix" in a poignant speech at the Junos on the same night. After Mitchell, 82, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on behalf of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), the previously LA-based singer-songwriter noted she was "so glad" to be back in her homeland after living in the U.S. for "many, many years." Addressing PM Carney, the "The Circle Game" singer noted, "We are so lucky... We are so fortunate to have him... I'm living in the States, and you know what's happening there." Then she went on to reference her past health issues. I had a (brain) aneurysm, which changed my life - oddly, for the better," the 82-year-old continued. "I went into a coma, which helped me to quit smoking. And my house filled up with the most wonderful nurses. I was on the road with men for years and years; now I live with a house full of women... So, my life has changed for the better out of a catastrophe like a phoenix. Thank you very much for this honour." After receiving the prestigious prize, Mitchell joined fellow native Canadians Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell for a rendition of her 1970 hit, "Big Yellow Taxi," amid a tribute medley. The Grammy Award-winning artist has made only a few public appearances since suffering a brain aneurysm rupture in March 2015. - New Musical Express/Music-News.com, 3/30/26...... The estate of Bob Marley has filed a lawsuit against the global cannabis company Tilray over what it claims are unpaid licensing fees for the deceased Jamaican music icon's official marijuana brand, Marley Natural. The suit, filed in Maryland on Mar. 27, alleges Tilray owes nearly $11.3 million for the use of Marley's name, image, likeness, signature and trademarks on Marley Natural cannabis products. Marley's estate accuses Tilray and its partners of "elaborate efforts to avoid paying" and a "scheme to defraud." The complaint seeks $11.3 million from Tilray for fraud and breach of contract, which they contend accounts for the $13 million in missing licensing fees, minus a $1.7 million settlement that Marley's heirs already obtained from a related subsidiary. Marley's estate, helmed by the late singer's daughter Cedella Marley, has been diligently working for decades to expand and market his legacy. The family's profile of businesses includes the Tuff Gong record label, music tech company House of Marley and Marley Coffee. - Billboard, 3/30/26...... As promised, Bruce Springsteen performed "Streets of Minneapolis" at the flagship No Kings rally in St. Paul, Minn., outside the State Capitol building on Mar. 28. Springsteen addressed an estimated crowd of more than 200,000 and delivered the third live performance of the protest anthem since its January release. Introduced to the stage by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, The Boss spoke at length before playing the song, honouring the state's resistance to Pres. Donald Trump's administration's Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement campaign. "This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis, but they picked the wrong city," he told the crowd. "The power and the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota was an inspiration to the entire country. Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare -- and these invasions of American cities -- will not stand. You gave us hope, you gave us courage." He went on to name the two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, killed by ICE agents during the operation. The crowd then chanted "ICE out now" as Springsteen launched into the song. Springsteen wrote and recorded "Streets of Minneapolis" in the immediate aftermath of the shootings, releasing it within days. He debuted the song live on January 30 at a benefit concert at Minneapolis' First Avenue, and performed it a second time earlier this week at Democracy Now!'s 30th anniversary event in New York. The No Kings rally -- the third round of nationwide protests against the Trump administration -- drew millions of participants across more than 3,100 registered events in all 50 states. The St. Paul event served as the national flagship, with a bill that also included Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Jane Fonda, Tom Morello and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, among others. - Billboard, 3/29/26...... 
On Mar. 26 Paul McCartney announced a reflective new album, 
Former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm announced on Mar. 27 that he'll be playing selected dates in the US from May until October behind his third and latest solo LP, 
Actress Eve Plumb, forever immortalized as the often-overlooked middle daughter Jan Brady on the classic 1969-1974 ABC sitcom 
Actress Mary Beth Hurt, who was nominated for three Tonys and appeared in numerous films including Interiors and The World According to Garp, died on Mar. 29 from Alzheimer's. She was 79. Her death was confirmed via a joint Facebook post from her daughter, Molly Schrader, and her husband, writer-director Paul Schrader. "She was an actress, a wife, a sister, a mother, an aunt, a friend, and she took on all those roles with grace and kind ferocity," read the post. "Although we're all grieving there is some comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering and reunited with her sisters in peace." Hurt worked on stage, in films and in television and collaborated with her husband, Schrader, on Affliction and Light Sleeper. Born Mary Beth Supinger in Marshalltown, Iowa, she was married to Oscar-winning actor William Hurt from 1971 to 1982, after a four-year separation. She studied acting at the University of Iowa and then at NYU and made her debut on the New York stage in 1974. She was Tony-nominated for her performances in "Crimes of the Heart," for which she won an Obie, "Trelawny of the Wells" and "Benefactors." Woody Allen cast her in her first film role in the 1978 
Dash Crofts, one half of the '70s soft rock duo Seals and Crofts, died of heart failure on Mar. 26. He was 85 years old. The news was announced on