Olivia Newton-John, the beloved English-born and Australian-raised singer who became one of the most successful female recording acts of the 1970s and 1980s, died on Aug. 8 at her home in California. She was 73. In a statement posted on her official Facebook page, Newton-John's family wrote: "Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time." The post continued, "Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund (ONJFoundationFund.org)." 
Born on Sept. 28, 1948 in Cambridge, England into an academic family -- her father was headmaster of a Melbourne college and her grandfather was Nobel Prize-winning physicist Max Born -- Olivia moved with her family to Australia at age five, and during her early teens, formed a group with three other girls, the Sol Four. When that ended, the high school dropout sang solo in a coffee lounge, and impressed the customers so much that she was urged to enter a TV talent contest, which she won and was sent to England a year later. Shortly after arriving, she formed a duo called Pat and Olivia with fellow Australian Pat Carroll, who would later marry Olivia's longtime producer, John Farrar. When Carroll's visa expired, Newton-John was sent back to Australia, where she joined an attempt by The Monkees creator Don Kirshner to make British version of that manufactured group. While still in Australia, she had met Bruce Welch of The Shadows, to whom she became engaged in 1971; he also acted as her record producer. Olivia then began making frequent appearances on TV variety shows, and began touring with British superstar Clif Richard. She appeared regularly on Richard's series It's Cliff Richard, which boosted the U.K. sales of her first single, the Bob Dylan-penned "If Not For You," which also became a No. 25 hit in the U.S. Other British hits followed -- including covers of George Harrison's "What Is Life" and John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads" -- before her American breakthrough occurred in 1973 with her first U.S. LP, Let Me Be There, which went gold aided by its No. 6 title track. 
"Let Me Be There" would win the singer a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, but as her country-flavored singles -- including "If You Love Me, Let Me Know," "I Honestly Love You," "Have You Never Been Mellow", and "Please Mr. Please" -- continued to go gold and rise to the Top 5 on the C&W as well as pop charts in 1974 and 1975, a number of country performers resented her presence on the country chart. When she won the 1974 Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association, some members quit in protest. As she relocated to Los Angeles, her girl-next-door image was shed in 1978 with the release of the nostalgic 1950's-set film Grease, which would go on to become the most profitiable movie musical ever made until that time, grossing over $150 milion worldwide and yielding three gold singles for the artist -- "You're The One That I Want" (No. 1), sung with co-star John Travolta, "Summer Nights" (No. 5, another Travolta duet), and "Hopelessly Devoted To You" (No. 3). With 16 U.S. Top 40 hits from 1971 through 1979, Newton-John's hit singles of the decade had become so prolific that chart researcher Joel Whitburn has ranked her as the No. 12 most successful singles artists of the 1970s. In 1980, Olivia reached the U.S. Top 20 with her former collaborator Cliff Richard with "Suddenly," and also appearing that year in the film fantasy Xanadu, a commercial flop even though the soundtrack album went double platinum. Newton-John's sexier image from Grease was reinforced with two platinum albums, Totally Hot (1978) and Physical (1981), the latter of which boasted three hit singles in 1982, including the No. 1 title single "Physical," which took up residence at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks straight. Newton-John also headlined a series of TV specials for ABC, including A Special Olivia Newton-John, Olivia Newton John-Hollywood Nights and Olivia Newton John: Let's Get Physical. All three received Emmy nominations in technical categories. 
In 1983, she reunited with Travolta in the critical and commercial bomb Two of a Kind, but its soundtrack still spun off two charting hits: "Twist of Fate" (No. 5, 1983) and "Livin' in Desperate Times" (No. 31, 1984). In 1984, she married actor Mat Lattanzi, and the couple have a daughter, Chloe, born in 1986. That same year she opened a chain of clothing stores called Koala Blue. After an unsuccessful album in 1988 titled The Rumour, Olivia signed to Geffen Records the next year, where her first release was a collection of children's songs and lullabies, Warm and Tender. Active in numerous environmental protection efforts since the birth of her daughter, Olivia was honored by Queen Elizabeth II with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the early '80s. Newton-John had been open about her breast cancer journey since she was first diagnosed in 1992 at the age of 43, and in 2019 released a memoir, Don't Stop Believin', in which she wrote about her long struggle with cancer. She went on to raise millions for cancer research, and inspire others with the disease as well. She is survived by her second husband, John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; and several nieces and nephews. Within hours of her death, her dear movie co-star and friend John Travolta posted on Instagram: "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!" - The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock/Billboard, 8/8/22.
The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards has revealed he "hopes" the band will have new material recorded by the end of 2022. Speaking to host Matt Wilkinson for The Rolling Stones: 60th Anniversary Special podcast on Apple Music 1 on Aug. 3, Richards said that while he couldn't say in what formats the band would be releasing their new material, he hopes the band will "have recorded some stuff by the end of the year." "Anyway, I just make records and then we figure out how they come out, right? That's what I do," Richards said, noting he was unsure if the new songs will be made available on streaming platforms. The Rolling Stones are currently in the midst of their "SIXTY" world tour to commemorate six decades together as a band, having officially formed in June 1962. This summer, the band released the live double CD set, Live at the El Mocambo, and a box set of their mid-'60s singles, The Rolling Stones Singles - 1963-1966, in conjunction with their 60th anniversary. - New Musical Express, 8/3/22...... 
A remixed and re-edited edition of Billy Joel's 1990 concert film Live at Yankee Stadium will hit cinemas worldwide on Oct. 5 and 9 in a two-night global fan event. Shot live on 16mm color film on June 22-23, 1990, at the iconic New York Yankees stadium, the original concert has been updated in 4K with Dolby ATMOS audio and remixed from the original multi-track tapes according to a release announcing the project. Among the new footage included in the new version is a never-before-released performance of "Uptown Girl," as well as interviews with Joel and behind-the-scenes footage of the production. Trafalgar Releasing CEO Marc Allenby promises that "this re-edited concert is going to have fans of Billy Joel dancing in their seats in movie theaters worldwide." Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings will release the revamped Billy Joel - Live at Yankee Stadium on 2CD, 3LP, Blu-ray and digital formats on Nov. 4. To help promote the movie, a rocking version of "We Didn't Start the Fire" from the movie has been shared on YouTube. - Billboard, 8/3/22...... As David Crosby turns 81 on Aug. 14, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash legend says that "sadly" he thinks he's "too old to tour anymore." On Aug. 2, the iconic songwriter responded to a fan who'd suggested he announce a new run of tour dates in the near future. "I think I'm too old to tour any more... sadly," he wrote on Twitter. Crosby last toured in 2019, mounting an ambitious run of shows across North America from May into September. The last of those dates, on Sept. 17, 2019 at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, remains his most recent public performance. He did, however, play a private show in Toronto the following month, performing four songs for a live album with Michelle Willis. Crosby's latest comments echo remarks he made to New Musical Express in 2021, saying he didn't envision himself returning to the stage any time soon. "I think I'm done playing live," he said. "Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Byrds are done; they are history. I'm so proud of all that music. I think it's wonderful music and I want people to enjoy it, but it is history. We've done good work but don't expect to see it again," he added. However Crosby said he wasn't done with making music: "I do think that I'm going to make at least two more records. It's very important to me. I love making music, man. It's my favorite thing to do. I'm going to do another one with [his son] James. We're already writing it and I'm going to do another one with The Lighthouse band -- we're already writing that, too." - NME, 8/3/22...... Dolly Parton has been announced as among the 2022 recipients of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. The country superstar's long list of philanthropic efforts include making a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help fund coronavirus vaccine research in 2020, said in a statemen she was honored to receive the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. "I've always believed that if you are in a position to help, you should help, and I truly hope that I can be an inspiration for others to lift up those around them," said Parton, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November, and makes most of her donations through her Dollywood Foundation. "Whether through my Imagination Library or giving to COVID-19 research, I try to support things that have a special meaning for me. I hope everyone can find something they're passionate about supporting and do what they can to help make this world a better place," she added. The award, presented by the international family of Carnegie institutions to honor innovative philanthropists, debuted in 2001 and is normally awarded every two years. It was not issued in 2021 due to the pandemic. The 2022 honorees will receive their medals in a private ceremony in New York on Oct. 13. - AP, 8/3/22...... ABBA's Benny Andersson and Elton John have collaborated remotely on a new song mash-up of two of their respective biggest hits for the popular TikTok platform. Andersson played ABBA's 1979 hit "Chiquitita" while John played his 1973 smash, "Bennie And The Jets." In the TikTok video posted by Elton on Aug. 1, Andersson can be seen sat at his piano playing the opening bars to "Chiquitita" before it later pans to John who is seen at his piano playing "Benny And The Jets." "Heard that 'Chiquitita' was trending again... with Elton John!" the caption on the official ABBA TikTok account reads. The audio has since been used in over 54,000 videos on the TikTok app. Meanwhile, John -- who played his final New York-area show late last month as part of his ongoing (and extended) "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour" -- also made in late July by earning his latest nod at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Along with fellow nominee Madonna, the Rocket Man holds the distinction of having also been nominated at the very first VMAs back in 1984. - NME/Billboard, 8/2/22...... 
A "lost" Creedence Clearwater Revival show of the revered U.S. rockers' Apr. 14, 1970 show at London's Royal Albert Hall will be released in its entirety for the first time on Concord's Craft Recordings on Sept. 16. At The Royal Albert Hall serves as the audio companion to the Jeff Bridges-narrated documentary, Travelin' Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall, which will be released on the same day. The movie, directed by Bob Smeaton, follows the band from its El Cerrito, Calif.-roots in the mid-to-late '60s through the Royal Albert Hall show. The gig features the classic CCR line-up of John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford, one year before Tom Fogerty left the band and the group disbanded. The full 12-song performance includes such classics as "Fortunate Son," "Proud Mary" and "Bad Moon Rising," the latter of which has been shared on YouTube. The LP will be available on 180-gram vinyl, CD, and cassette, while Walmart will offer a gray "Tombstone Shadow" vinyl and Target a "Green River" vinyl. Two months after the initial releases, Craft will put out a Super Deluxe Edition Box Set, a 2-LP/2-CD/1-Blu-ray collection, which includes the concert on 180-gram vinyl and CD, as well as a second CD with additional music from the film. The Blu-Ray offers the full film and the album in hi-resolution and Dolby Atmos. The set, which includes other extras, is capped at 5,000 copies worldwide. - Billboard, 8/2/22...... On Aug. 1 a Minnesota judge signed off on a deal that will finally end the long court battle over Prince's $156 million estate, more than six years after the funk-rock legend died without a will. The agreement paves the way for disbursement of Prince's assets, including $6 million in cash and many times that in music rights and other intangibles. They'll be split between three heirs and their families, their advisers, and Primary Wave -- which owns roughly half of the estate. Because Prince died with no children or spouse, his six half-siblings were named legal heirs. Three have since sold all or most of their shares to Primary Wave; three others have retained their stakes. Advisors L. Londell McMillan and Charles Spicer, who are partnered with the three heirs who declined to sell, also control an undisclosed stake. A bank, Comerica Bank & Trust, was named as a court-appointed administrator, handling the estate's affairs while the probate case was litigated. After years of messy wrangling among those parties, the last major hurdle was cleared in January with when the heirs reached a deal with the Internal Revenue Service to set a final tax valuation $156 million. Then in February, the judge overseeing the case approved a basic structure for how the assets would be split between the heirs and Primary Wave. A rep for Primary Wave said the company was "extremely pleased that the process of closing the Prince Estate has now been finalized." - Billboard, 8/1/22...... Sting interrupted his concert in Warsaw, Poland on July 30 to warn his audience that democracy is under attack worldwide and to denounce the war in Ukraine as "an absurdity based upon a lie." The former The Police frontman sked a popular Polish actor, Maciej Stuhr, to come onstage to translate his warning that democracy is "in grave danger of being lost unless we defend it. ""The alternative to democracy is a prison, a prison of the mind. The alternative to democracy is violence, oppression, imprisonment and silence," Sting said and then ran his hand across his neck in a throat-cutting gesture. The 70-year-old delivered his message in a country that borders Ukraine, where Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24 that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. Poland has become the place of refuge for more Ukrainians than any other country. Sting drew strong applause in particular when he said that democracy is something messy and frustrating "but it is still worth fighting for." After his speech he performed his 1988 hit "Fragile," whose lyrics include the words that "nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could." - Billboard, 7/31/22...... 
On July 30, Ringo Starr announced he'll be releasing a "cleverly-named" new mini-album titled EP3. "[The] cleverly-named EP3, featuring four brand-new tracks with longtime collaborators Steve Lukather, Linda Perry, Dave Koz, Jos Antonio Rodriguez, and Bruce Sugar" is due out on Sept. 16 on CD and download, with cassette and vinyl due out in the fall, according to a statement announcing the project that promises some of Ringo's "instantly-recognizable vocals, feel-good lyrics, and easy-breezy melodies." "I am in my studio writing and recording every chance I get," Starr explained in a press release. "It's what I have always done and will continue to do, and releasing EPs more frequently allows me to continue to be creative and give each song a little more love," he added. As a sneak peek, the former Beatles drummer dropped the bouncy single "World Go Round," a mid-tempo rocker in which the peace and love-loving octopus gardener talks about how we are all in this together, on YouTube. The new songs, which also include "Everyone and Everything," "Let's Be Friends" and "Free Your Soul," were recorded at Starr's Roccabella West home studio. - Billboard, 8/1/22...... Mo Ostin, the legendary label executive who led Warner Brothers Records through a storied time of both artistic and commercial success for more than 30 years, died in his sleep July 31. He was 95. Mr. Ostin, who signed and/or worked with such artists as The Kinks, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, R.E.M., Randy Newman and many more, was "one of the greatest record men of all time, and a prime architect of the modern music business," said Tom Corson, co-chairman and COO, Warner Records, and Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-chairman and CEO, Warner Records, in a joint statement. "One of the pivotal figures in the evolution of Warner Music Group, in the 1960s Mo ushered Warner/Reprise Records into a golden era of revolutionary, culture-shifting artistry. Over his next three decades at the label, he remained a tireless champion of creative freedom, both for the talent he nurtured and the people who worked for him. Mo lived an extraordinary life doing what he loved, and he will be deeply missed throughout the industry he helped create, and by the countless artists and colleagues whom he inspired to be their best selves. On behalf of everyone at Warner, we want to thank Mo for everything he did, and for his inspiring belief in our bright future. Our condolences go out to his family at this difficult time," their statement read. Mr. Ostin ran Warner Bros. from a storied multi-leveled brown wood building, nicknamed the Ski Lodge, in Burbank. He made it a haven for creativity, with artists frequently dropping by to visit and play new music. After Jac Holzman's Elektra Records became part of the Warner Bros.-Seven Arts company (following Warner Brothers Records and Atlantic Records), Mr. Ostin, Holzman and Atlantic founders Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun helped form WEA, the global distribution system that handled their releases and brought distribution in-house. Among those paying tribute to Mr. Ostin on social media were Van Halen's Sammy Hagar and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea. Mr. Ostin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and who received a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy in 2017. - Billboard, 8/1/22...... Revered sports broadcaster Vin Scully, the longtime voice of baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers and who called various nationally televised football and golf contests for CBS Sports from 1975 to 1982, died on Aug. 2. He was 94. Mr. Scully started his broadcasting career in 1949 after attending Fordham University, where he studied journalism and was a student broadcaster. He joined the Dodgers radio and television booths in the 1950 season, when they were still in Brooklyn. Mr. Scully came with the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958 and stayed with the club until his retirement in 2016. He also worked national broadcasts for Major League Baseball, the NFL, the PGA Tour and also worked for NBC Sports from 1983-89. Mr. Scully was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as the Ford C. Frick Award winner in 1982 and received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award from Bud Selig in 2014. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Pres. Barak Obama in 2016. Mr. Scully and his second wife, Sandra, were married for 48 years before her passing on Jan. 3, 2021. Scully had four children, two stepchildren, 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten called Mr. Scully "one of the greatest voices in all of sports... his voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever." - CBS Sports, 8/3/22...... 
Pat Carroll, the gregarious Emmy-winning comedienne who was a television mainstay for decades before segueing to a voiceover career that included portraying the villainous sea witch Ursula in The Little Mermaid, died on July 30 of pneumonia at her home in Cape Cod, Mass. She was 95. Ms. Carroll's perky personality, screwball wit and impeccable timing made her a great second banana, and Sid Caesar, Red Buttons, Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, Steve Allen and Charley Weaver were among those who called upon her to make their programs funnier. Her antics on Caesar's Hour earned her an Emmy in 1957, and she was nominated for her work on the classic variety show the following year. Ms. Carroll played Bunny Halper, the high-spirited wife of nightclub owner Charley Halper (Sid Melton), on three seasons of The Danny Thomas Show in the early 60s; was Hope Stinson, who shared ownership of a newspaper with Ted Knight's character, on the last season (1986-87) of Too Close for Comfort; and appeared opposite Suzanne Somers on the 1987-89 series She's the Sheriff. Ms. Carroll stood out as a cranky patient who shared a hospital room with Mary Richards (the latter was there to have her tonsils taken out) on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1971, and she portrayed Lily Feeney, the mother of Cindy Williams' character, on a 1976 installment of Laverne & Shirley. Other TV credits included Love, American Style, My Three Sons, Police Woman, Busting Loose, The Love Boat, Trapper John, M.D., Evening Shade, Designing Women and ER, and she was also a game show favorite on such shows as To Tell the Truth, The Match Game, I've Got a Secret, Password All-Stars, You Don't Say and The $10,000 Pyramid. Ms. Carroll was married to Lee Karsian from 1955 until their divorce in 1976, and they had three children: Tara, an actress; daughter Kerry, a casting director; and late son Sean, who died in 2009. - The Hollywood Reporter, 7/31/22...... Star Trek actress, Nichelle Nichols passed away due on July 30 to natural causes at age 89. Her acting career lasted for over 40 years, and the actress made great strides in the representation of woman of color in not only television but space programs. Ms. Nichols, who played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series from 1966 to 1969, was awarded the NASA Exceptional Public Achievement Medal in 2021 for "diversifying NASA's ranks." In an Instagram post, her son Kyle Johnson said "Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all," and concluded by saying "Live long and prosper." - The Sun, 7/31/22....... Pro basketball great Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics legend and social justice champion who "used his platform to fight for Black people" as Magic Johnson once said, died at 88 on July 31. As a fearsome 6'10" center who led the Celtics to 11 NBA championships in 13 years in the 1950s and '60s, Mr. Russell is regarded as the winningnest man in sports (he also scored two NCAA championships at the University of San Francisco and a gold Medal with Team USA at the 1956 Melbourne games), and defined his success not by wins and losses but by those revolutionary moments that required rising to the occasion. Mr. Russell is survived by his fourth wife, Jeanine, and two children from his first marriage. - People, 8/15/22.
New David Bowie subway cards have just been introduced in New York City's massive subway system. Bowie MetroCards are now available at Broadway-Lafayette station, just a few blocks from where the late rock legend used to live in SoHo for a portion of his life. The entire Broadway-Lafayette station has been transformed into something of a tribute to Bowie, too Advertisements for the "David Bowie Is" exhibition -- currently in progress at the Brooklyn Museum -- decorate the station, and outside, there's another giant Bowie mural. Costing $6.50, the new MetroCards reportedly have a two ride minimum. Meanwhile, Bowie's former collaborators are bringing Bowie's musical "Lazarus" back to life in New York City. "Lazarus" will be returning to the Big Apple for the first time since Bowie's death, in a one-night performance on May 2 at Kings Theater in Brooklyn. The new iteration is a screening of a previously filmed London performance accompanied by a live band. Dexter's Michael C. Hall will return to his leading role, with the original band performing 20 of Bowie's songs as they were arranged by the artist and band leader Henry Hey. The one night performance boasts a team of Bowie's peers behind the scenes, who joined the new project in order to preserve the artist's original vision. "I would like people to know that David Bowie really was -- far above being an incredible artist and an incredible performer -- he was, most importantly, an amazing human being," Hey said. - New Musical Express/Billboard, 4/17/18...... James Taylor and Bonnie Raiit are gearing up for a 17-date co-headlining summer tour that's set to kick off May 8 in Jacksonville, Fla. "We're a good 30 percent ahead of where we were last time," says Taylor's manager, Sam Feldman, of ticket sales for the upcoming arena road trip. The tour will cover 30-plus markets between the U.S. and Europe, where the pair will join fellow legend Paul Simon's farewell tour for two shows in Dublin and London. - Billboard, 4/13/18...... Doors from rooms where such iconic rockers as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell once stayed at the Chelsea Hotel in New York have been sold at auction, selling for thousands of dollars each. Dylan's door went for a whopping $100,000 alone, while the door to a room occupied by Cohen and Joplin during an affair that is rumoured to have inspired Cohen's track "Chelsea Hotel No. 22" went for $85,000. Jimi Hendrix and Madonna's doors went for $13,000 each. The doors were reportedly rescued by Jim Georgiou, a former tenant, who saw them being thrown away and arranged to take possession of them. - New Musical Express, 4/13/18...... Director Milos Forman, who earned Oscars for his movie masterpieces 
British pop singer Cliff Richard has begun his High Court battle against the BBC, after the corporation broadcast a police raid on his Berkshire home in 2014. Richard, 77, is seeking "very substantial" damages after the BBC acted on a tip-off from South Yorkshire Police and offered live coverage of a raid on his apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, as part of an investigation into a historical child sex abuse allegation. Sir Cliff was previously questioned over the allegation, but he has constantly maintained his innocence and has never faced charges. The BBC has confirmed that they will "defend ourselves rigorously," and argued in court that South Yorkshire Police attempted to "shoot its messenger." The public broadcaster also claims that it was in the public interest to broadcast the raid, and insists that their reporting "fully respected the presumption of innocence" of the popular singer. The BBC previously offered an apology to the singer in 2016. - NME, 4/13/18...... Character actor Tim O'Connor, best known for portraying Elliot Carson, Mia Farrow's father and Dorothy Malone's husband on more than 400 episodes of the 1960s ABC primetime soap Peyton Place, has died. He was 90. Mr. O'Connor also starred as Dr. Elias Huer on the 1979-81 NBC sci-fi series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, starring Gil Gerard, and on a memorable 1975 episode of All in the Family, he guest-starred as a former sweetheart of Edith's (Jean Stapleton) from Scranton, Pennsylvania, who's interested in rekindling their childhood romance. - The Hollywood Reporter, 4/12/18...... Actor R. Lee Emery, best known for his Golden Globe-nominated portrayal of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, has died after complications from pneumonia. He was 74. Ermey had several other mostly authority figure roles to his credit, including Sheriff Hoyt in 2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, a police captain in Se7en, and the voice of the plastic army men's leader Sarge in Toy Story. - Variety.com, 4/16/18...... Sitcom actor Harry Anderson, who presided over the hit NBC comedy Night Court for nine seasons, was found dead at his home in Asheville, N.C., on Apr. 16. He was 65. No foul play was suspected, according to police. After his family moved to Los Angeles, the amiable Rhode Island native began performing magic on variety TV series like The Mike Douglas Show, The Late Show With David Letterman, and Saturday Night Live; the latter led to his role as con artist Harry "The Hat" Gittes on Cheers, which in turn led to a starring role as Judge Harry Stone on Night Court. - Variety.com, 4/16/18.
Fleetwood Mac released a statement on Apr. 9 announcing that Lindsey Buckingham will be replaced on the band's upcoming tour by both Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House. A disagreement with Buckingham over the tour was apparently the reason for his firing, and the band said it "wishes Lindsey all the best." There was no comment regarding his future plans with the group. The band's Facebook page was also updated on Apr. 9 to an illustrated image, notably scrubbing Buckingham's image from its profile (although band images including Buckingham still remain on the page). The news initially broke in the first week of April after former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Billy Burnette posted -- then deleted -- a tweet declaring Buckingham out. The band added that it is "thrilled to welcome the musical talents of the caliber of Mike Campbell and Neil Finn into the Mac family... With Mike and Neil, we'll be performing all the hits that the fans love, plus we'll be surprising our audiences with some racks from our historic catalogue of songs... Fleetwood Mac has always been a creative evolution... We look forward to honoring that spirit on this upcoming tour." Buckingham, responsible for such hits as "Tusk" and "Go Your Own Way," joined Fleetwood Mac along with his then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks in 1974 and has been with them on an intermittent basis since then, taking time away to record six solo albums. Although Fleetwood Mac are yet to release specific details of their 2018 tour, it's believed that it will kick off in the US in the fall. - Rolling Stone/Billboard, 4/9/18...... An electronic treatment of Paul Simon's classic 1986 solo album Graceland is being prepped for a June 1 release. 
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 1978 trend-setting stoner film 
BMG Music announced on Apr. 10 that it has inked an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Ringo Starr that will cover Starr's Beatles and solo catalog, spanning nearly 50 years, as well as future compositions. Among the over 150 titles included in the deal are his songwriting contributions with the Beatles' "What Goes On" from Rubber Soul, "Flying" from Magical Mystery Tour, "Don't Pass Me By" from the "White Album," "Octopus's Garden" from Abbey Road and "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" from Let It Be, as well as other rarities. As a solo artist, Starr has released 19 studio albums, spanning from 1970's Sentimental Journey to last year's Give More Love. Starr has been awarded nine Grammy Awards and has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- first as a Beatle and again as a solo artist. In March, he was honored with a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and his charity work. "I love making music and the song writing process -- and putting new music out there to play along side the old," Ringo said in a statement. "How great to be working with BMG who are excited to have my entire catalogue." Starr will be heading out on tour later this year with a new iteration of his All Starr Band. - Billboard, 4/10/18...... In other Beatles-related news, authorities in Toronto, Canada are working to identify a woman who allegedly stole an individual stone from a Yoko exhibit at the Gardiner Museum on Apr. 6. The rock, which has an appraised insurance value of $17,500, was part of a three-part interactive instillation from Ono called The Riverbed. One of these three parts is an interactive work called "Stone Piece," which "features a pile of river stones that have been honed and shaped by water over time," according to the museum's website. "Ono has inscribed some of the stones with words, such as dream, wish, and remember. Visitors are invited to pick up a stone and hold it, concentrating on the word, and then placing the stone upon the pile of other stones in the center of the room." - Spin.com, 4/9/18...... About 300 Merle Haggard fans turned up in the late country music icon's hometown of Bakersfield, Calif., on Apr. 7 to celebrate the naming of a United States Post Office in Haggard's honor. The event fell on the two-year anniversary of Haggard's death -- and what would have been his 81st birthday -- and was also attended by his sister. Norm Hamlet, who played in the "Okie From Muskogee" singer's band for nearly a half-century, told a local paper that Haggard would've been humbled by the honor. - AP, 4/8/18...... Soul songwriter Ron Dunbar, who co-wrote countless soul classics including Freda Payne's 
Gospel/pop singer Yvonne Staples, who rose to fame as one of the voices of powerhouse trio The Staple Singers, died at her home in Chicago's South Shore on Apr. 10. She was 80. Yvonne performed on the Staple Singers hits including "Respect Yourself," 
Posting on his 
Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain is denying he's planning to leave the band, despite recent claims to that effect from the band's guitarist Neal Schon. On Oct. 9, Schon posted on 
Oscar-nominated Irish actress Saoirse Ronan (Ladybird, Little Women) has reportedly been cast as Linda McCartney in the upcoming Beatles "Four Film Cinematic Event" directed by Sam Mendes. Deadline.com is reporting that -- according to multiple sources -- Ronan will portray Paul McCartney's first wife in the upcoming series of biopics. Reps for distributors Sony Pictures are yet to make an official comment. Ronan, 31, has received four Oscar nominations across an illustrious career and appeared in addiction-recovery drama The Outrun in 2024. More recently, she led the dark comedy Bad Apples, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September. Ronan joins a cast that includes Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. With scripts written by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne, the films are expected to arrive in spring 2028, though official details currently remain scant. Linda Eastman and Paul met in 1967, and they were married until her death from cancer in 1998. She was a photographer, musician and animal rights activist who founded a vegetarian food company. She also performed alongside Paul as part of his post-Beatles band, Wings. - Billboard, 10/9/25...... KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was hospitalized after a car crash in Malibu, Calif., on Oct. 7. According to NBC4 Los Angeles the crash was reported to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department just before 1:00 p.m. PT when Simmons' Lincoln Navigator reportedly crashed into a parked car on Pacific Coast Highway. He told deputies on the scene that he had either fainted or passed out before the crash, according to the L.A. Sheriff. Simmons' wife, Shannon Tweed, told NBC4 that the rocker was recovering at home, while a rep for KISS told Billboard on Oct. 8 that Simmons is "already back to work." Also on Oct. 8, Simmons posted on his 
As Linda Ronstadt reissues a 50th-anniversary vinyl edition of her 1975 album 
The Moody Blues bassist/vocalist John Lodge died "suddenly and unexpectedly" on Oct. 10, according to a 
On Oct 6 Rush surviving members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced they'll embark on their first tour in 11 years beginning in June 2026. The legendary prog rockers announced dates for a 12-show North American swing they are calling the "Fifty Something Tour." It will mark the first time singer/bassist Lee and guitarist/vocalist Lifeson hit the road since the group wrapped their "R40" 40th anniversary tour on Aug.1, 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles. According to a press release, the outing will be a celebration of Rush's "music, legacy and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart"; the band's time-keeper and primary lyricist died of the brain cancer glioblastoma on Jan. 7, 2020 at age 67. Fittingly, the tour will kick off on June 7 with the first of two shows at the KIA Forum in L.A., followed by shows in Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York and Toronto, wrapping up on Sept. 17 at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The "evening with" shows will feature the band playing two sets a night, with each show featuring a distinctive set of songs pulled from a setlist of 35 hits and fan favorites. They will be joined on the dates by German drummer/composer/producer Anika Nilles, 41, who has performed with Jeff Beck and released four solo albums. "It's been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of RUSH alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil," wrote Geddy Lee in a statement. "A lifetime's worth of songs that we had put our cumulative hearts and souls into writing, recording and playing together onstage. And so, after all that has gone down since that last show, Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we f---ing miss it, and that it's time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music... No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable," he added. Fans can get in on a Rush artist pre-sale by signing up at 
On Oct. 1 The Who performed their final show of their North American farewell tour at the Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, Calif. Surviving co-founding members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and co. opened the performance with a live rendition of "I Can't Explain," before rocking other Who chestnuts including "Substitute," "Who Are You," "I Can See For Miles" and "Pinball Wizard." The penultimate track of the night was "The Song Is Over" from the band's 1971 fifth studio album, Who's Next, and the band made a final goodbye with a tender performance of "Tea & Theatre" -- a single from their 11th studio set, 2006's Endless Wire. "I suppose, you know, it's goodbye," Townshend told the audience at the end. "That's what it is. To what we know as The Who, it's goodbye. What Roger and I will get up to next, who knows? If we last any longer, I'm sure we'll get up to all kinds of mischief. We'll do stuff together, I'm sharing some stuff, all kinds [of] bits and pieces. But for this kind of thing, it's goodbye. And you were last!" Daltrey said: "Thank you so much for your support, over all the years. It means so much to us. It was every band's dream in the '60s to make it in America. And thanks to you guys, you made it happen for us. Thank you so much!" A fan-shot clip of the moment has been shared on 
It has been revealed that the surviving members of The Cars -- guitarist Elliot Easton, drummer David Robinson and keyboardist Greg Hawkes -- have been working on new music started by late Cars frontman Ric Ocasek. The trio of the legendary new wave band have been building a collection of tracks from the dozens of demos Ocasek left behind, as was teased in the new Cars biography 
Chris Dreja, a core member of the seminal British blues-rock band The Yardbirds and who helped shape the sound of some of their biggest hits, passed away on Oct. 2, according to his sister-in-law, Muriel Levy. He was 79. "It is with a deep sadness that I have to announce that my brother-in-law Chris Dreja, former member of legendary band The Yardbirds, rhythm guitarist and also bass player has passed away after years of health problems," Levy posted. "I share the pain with my sister Kate who took care of him during all those years and his daughter Jackie... May he RIP." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, into which Dreja was inducted as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992, paid homage to the band's "innovations in feedback and distortion" and credited them for informing a slew of burgeoning genres like psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and punk in their short-lived but highly influential tenure" in a post on