A photo of an overweight man with a white beard attending Elvis Presley's annual birthday tribute event at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., on Jan. 8 is being put forth by some loyal Elvis fans as proof that the King of Rock & Roll is still alive. The photo, which is being shared on the "Elvis Presley Is Alive" Facebook page, also shows security personnel "guarding" the King to protect his anonymity, the fans claim. Since Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42, some fans have always insisted that he faked his own death so that he could live a more low-key life. - New Musical Express, 1/17/17...... In other Elvis-related news, a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against the city of Memphis and Elvis Presley Enterprises, the owner of Graceland, on Jan. 18 by five African-Americans who claim they were discriminated against at a protest by a coalition associated with the Black Lives Matter movement during the annual Presley death vigil last August. The protest by The Coalition of Concerned Citizens coincided with a candlelight vigil at Graceland, which has been held every year on the Aug. 16 anniversary of his death. Protesters, most of them black, gathered on the street leading to Graceland, yelling slogans such as "black lives matter," and their protest came at a time when racial tensions were heightened nationally following the killings of black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota and the shootings of five Dallas police officers in retaliation. The lawsuit says officers blocked about 60 protesters from entering the permitted area where Presley's fans gathered on a public street, and officers allowed mostly white people who said they were going to the vigil to pass through. Elvis Presley Enterprises issued a statement the following day saying that their tourist attraction has a history of being inclusive. The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and unspecified damages. - AP, 1/19/17......
Def Leppard has premiered a video for their 2015 eponymous Def Leppard LP track "Let's Go," the opening number from their upcoming live album/DVD And There Will Be A Next Time -- Live From Detroit. The concert is from the English rockers' stop at the DTE Energy Music Theatre, and the set is scheduled to hit stores on Feb. 10. There Will Be A Next Time features the group's entire 17-song set, including its medley of "Hysteria" and the late David Bowie's "Heroes." The set also comes with official music videos for "Let's Go," "Dangerous" and "Man Enough," as well as a lyric video for "Let's Go." Def Leppard will launch a pre-order site on PledgeMusic.com on Nov. 15 to give fans early access to select tracks and exclusive merchandise. Frontman Joe Elliott & co. will launch a tour in April 2017 that will last much of the year. - Billboard, 11/11/16...... Fans of David Bowie are seeking funding for a new statue in tribute to the rock icon to be erected in the town of Aylesbury, north of London. In 1971, Bowie debuted songs from his Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust albums at the Friars Club in Aylesbury, and he also referenced the rea's Market Square in the opening lines of the Ziggy track "Five Years." A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to finance the bronze statue designed by sculptor Andrew Sinclair, with organizers seeking £100,000 for the project. Fans have so far donated £26,420 to the cause. The statue would be complemented with a working soundsystem that would play a Bowie song every hour throughout the day and evening. In other Bowie news, a sale of Bowie's art collection conducted by Sotheby's in London smashed expectations, with a painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat selling for more than 7 million pounds ($8.8 million). The first part of the two-day Bowie sale on Nov. 10 netted 24.3 million pounds ($30.3 million), more than double its upper pre-sale estimate. The top lot, Basquiat's "Air Power," sold for 7.1 million pounds ($8.8 million). Another, untitled Basquiat sold for 2.4 million pounds ($2.96 million). Bowie played Andy Warhol in Basquiat, director Julian Schnabel's 1996 biopic of the American artist. The sale, which includes 400 items in all, also includes pieces of furniture and design from Bowie's collection. - New Musical Express/AP, 11/8/16...... Phil Collins announced on Nov. 8 that he'll be one of the headliners at British Summer Time at Hyde Park in June 2017, part of his recently announced comeback solo tour. Collins had already announced a run of shows throughout Europe as part of his "Not Dead Yet" tour, and the Summer Time gig will be the biggest concert yet. "The reaction from the British public has been overwhelming," Collins said in a statement. "I can't wait to play Hyde Park and see everyone there. I will be playing all of the songs that people love." Collins' previously announced dates include five nights in London at Royal Albert Hall, two dates in Cologne, and two dates in Paris, all set for June 2017. - NME, 11/8/16...... Sting has announced he will headline a concert at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards, which takes place on Dec. 2 at the Wynn hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Sting will perform both a classic hit from his catalog as well as a new song from his latest album 
Paul McCartney has taken part in the Mannequin Challenge craze, the latest viral sensation that follows the Ice Bucket Challenge and the Harlem Shake. In it, people film themselves holding poses and staying completely motionless -- like mannequins. There's usually music playing in the background and a lot of the videos so far have been soundtracked by hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles." Now McCartney has joined in with his own version, also soundtracked by Sremmurd's track. "Love those Black Beatles," read a caption accompanying Macca's Mannequin Challenge video on Nov. 10. In the clip, Sir Paul stands by his grand piano, one hand tickling the ivories and the other reached out, seemingly in mid-song rapture. As the camera pans around him, you can probably guess which line from Sremmurd's current Top 10 hit blares out: "Black Beatle, bitch/ Me and Paul McCartney related!" - Billboard, 11/10/16...... Over 190 black & white photos from Elton John's personal photo collection have gone on display in "The Radical Eye," an exhibition which has opened at London's Tate Modern gallery. The photos usually adorn John's 18,000 square foot apartment in Atlanta, one of his several homes. John, who began buying photographs after he became sober in 1990, says collecting photos is a "a much healthier addiction," and his collection of 8,000 images is one of the largest troves of 20th-century photography in private hands. The photos on display were taken between 1915 and 1950, and include two dozen photos by surrealist Man Ray, including ones that usually hang above John's bed. The exhibition opened on Nov. 10, and will run through May 7. - AP, 11/10/16...... John Fogerty played an impromptu set that included the classic Creedence Clearwater Revival numbers "Proud Mary" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" after he completed his keynote Q&A session at the Billboard Touring Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Nov. 10. Earlier, Fogerty told the gathering of music execs that he was "scared to death of being a one-hit-wonder" when CCR started out. "After a while I started worrying about what was gonna happen after "Susie Q," Fogerty said of the 1968 cover hit. "It was a novelty and I knew it. I started to get busy staying up late and writing songs. I started strumming on the Rickenbacker and 'Proud Mary' came out." Fogerty, 71, also quipped that he dilegently practices his guitar playing, "because Brad Paisley is still better than me." Previous keynote Q&A's for the global touring business conference, now in its 13th year, have included conversations with Roger Waters, Gene Simmons and Chris Cornell. - Billboard, 11/11/16...... The slew of fellow musicians and celebrity admirers reacting to the recent death of revered singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen included several '70s musicians, including Charlie Daniels, Paul Stanley, Bette Midler and Carole King. "Rest in peace Buddy, I learned a lot about music from you," Charlie Daniels tweeted on Nov. 11, while Paul Stanley posted "RIP Leonard Cohen. A poet, songwriter and rogue till the end. Hallelujah." Bette Midler tweeted "Leonard Cohen has died. Another magical voice stilled," while Carole King simply posted "R.I.P. Leonard Cohen." Cohen, whose "Hallelujah" was one of the most covered songs in modern music history," passed away on Nov. 7 at age 82. - Billboard, 11/10/16...... 
In a new interview with the Washington Post, Eagles co-founding member Don Henley has slammed the U.S. Copyright Office over the sudden replacement of Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante. In October, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced that Pallante would be removed from her position, a move that was met with dismay from many members of the music industry and creators' rights groups. "She was a champion of copyright and stood up for the creative community, which is one of the things that got her fired," Henley said of Pallante, before turning his attention to Hayden. "The Librarian wants free content, and the copyright office is there to protect creators of content. They are diametrically opposed ideologies... [Hayden] has a long track record of being an activist Librarian who is anti-copyright and a Librarian who worked at places funded by Google." In her position as Register, Pallante was seen as a generally fair and sympathetic figure when it came to expanding creators' rights, and advocated for updating many of the Copyright Office's tech-based policies. "There's a mindset that the digital giants have fostered that everything on the internet should be free," Henley told the Post. "When they say they want free and open access, that's code for, 'We want free content.'" Henley added that "you don't make any money from recording music anymore... The streaming services have wiped out that revenue stream." - Billboard, 11/10/16...... Kraftwerk could be forced to cancel a gig in Buenos Aires later in November due to a ban on electronic music events in the Argentinian city. In April, the city ruled to ban all electronic events after the deaths of six people at Time Warp festival. The local government said they would no longer approve permits for major electronic music festivals until a new law is introduced to prevent drug-related deaths at music events. The German electronic music pioneers had been scheduled to play Buenos Aires' Luna Park Stadium on Nov. 23. Kraftwerk have announced they'll tour the UK in 2017, and the band was also recently nominated for next year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. - NME, 11/10/16...... Actor Robert Redford has announced he will retire from acting once he completes the two movie projects he is working on. Redford, 80, made the announcement in an interview with his grandson Dylan Redford for the Walker Art Center, where he will appear at an event on Nov. 12. "Once they're done then I'm going to say, 'OK, that's goodbye to all that,' and then just focus on directing," he said. Redford has two acting projects in the pipeline including a love story for older people called Our Souls at Night with Jane Fonda and a lighter piece with Casey Affleck and Sissy Spacek called The Old Man and the Gun. Redford adds he will turn his attention to painting as a creative outlet. "It's just me, just the way it used to be, and so going back to sketching - that's sort of where my head is right now... So, I'm thinking of moving in that direction and not acting as much," he said. The veteran actor first directed in 1980 with Ordinary People, which won him a Best Director Oscar, and he is also the founder the Sundance Institute, which helps independent filmmakers and runs the annual Sundance Film Festival. - WENN.com, 11/11/16...... 
Actor Robert Vaughn, the debonair, Oscar-nominated actor whose many film roles were eclipsed by his hugely popular turn in the iconic '60s TV spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., died on Nov. 11 after a brief battle with acute leukemia, according to his manager, Matthew Sullivan. He was 83. Born Robert Francis Vaughn into a theatrical family Nov. 22, 1932, in New York City, Mr. Vaughn broke into show business "after a two month struggle" in 1956, and starred in his first movie, No Time to Be Young, in 1957 after he was discharged form the Army. He went on to appear in a number of movies and television shows, and earned an Oscar nomination in 1959 for his supporting role in The Young Philadelphians, in which he played a wounded war veteran accused of murder. He eventually landed a lead role as urbane superspy Napoleon Solo in NBC's The Man From U.N.C.L.E., which debuted in 1964. The show was an immediate hit, particularly with young people, and was part of an avalanche of secret agent shows (I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Secret Agent), spoofs (Get Smart), books (The Spy Who Came in From the Cold) and even songs (Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man") inspired by the James Bond films. Mr. Vaughn's Napoleon Solo character was teamed with Scottish actor David McCallum's Illya Kuryakin, a soft-spoken, Russian-born agent, and the pair put aside Cold War differences for a greater good, worked together each week for the mysterious U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement) in combating the international crime syndicate THRUSH. After the show was canceled in early 1968 due to sagging ratings, Mr. Vaughn and McCallum reunited in 1983 for a TV movie, The Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. in which the super spies were lured out of retirement to save the world once more. Mr. Vaughn, a liberal Democrat, was also drawn to politics in several of the roles he chose, portraying US presidents Harry S. Truman, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt in various screen and stage projects. Mr. Vaughn also remained active in movies in his later career, usually in character roles in such films as The Venetian Affair, The Bridge at Remagen, Julius Caesar (the 1970 British version starring Charlton Heston), The Towering Inferno, S.O.B., Superman III and Delta Force. Mr. Vaughn is survived by his wife, Linda Staab Vaughn, their son Cassidy and daughter Caitlin. - AP, 11/11/16.
Canadian poet/novelist/singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, a highly influential recording artist whose literate, evocative material was covered by many artists including Judy Collins and Jeff Buckley, died at his home in Los Angeles on Nov. 7. He was 82. Born in Montreal on Sept. 21, 1934, to a middle class family with Judaic roots, Mr. Cohen began studying music and poetry at a young age, taking up the clarinet but later turning his attention to writing as he grew older. After attending McGill University, Mr. Cohen published his first book of poetry, Let Us Compare Mythologies, and his first novel, Beautiful Losers, in 1966, and began to set his poems to music. When Judy Collins recorded his song "Suzanne" that same year, his solo career began to take off, and Columbia Records signed him and released his debut album, The Songs of Leonard Cohen, the following year. Full of haunting compositions which were well suited to his lugubrious, flat vocals, The Songs of Leonard Cohen was well received, as was its follow-up, Songs From a Room, though it didn't have the impact of its predecessor. Mr. Cohen then embarked on a series of live appearances in the U.S. and Europe, and for his first European tour in 1970, he employed a backing group called The Army which included his future producer, Bob Johnston, who also produced Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. A reserved, slightly academic figure who was reportedly dismayed by the adulation fostered by live appearances, Mr. Cohen lacked the necessary stimulus to be a rock star, and his singles did not chart in the U.S. His 1971 release, 
After the monastery years, Mr. Cohen's career was jump-started in 2001 when his backup singer Sharon Robinson released Ten New Songs, which was co-written by Mr. Cohen. In 2012, the masses finally began catching on with the release of his LP Old Ideas, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, and 2014's Popular Problems, which debuted at No. 15. Mr. Cohen began touring in earnest again in 2008, delivering generous, acclaimed shows that were chronicled on a series of concert albums and live videos. Mr. Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 by Lou Reed, who lauded him as being mong the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters." Other honors include induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, four Juno awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Acheivement Award in 2010. He was also awarded several literary prizes and honorary university degrees, and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian award, in 2011. HIs romantic relationships included Marianne C. Stang (the subject of "So Long, Marianne"), artist Suzanne Elrod -- with whom he had son Adam and daughter Lorca but never married -- French photographer Dominque Issermann, and actress Rebecca De Mornay. Mr. Cohen's death was announced by his son and current producer, Adam Cohen, on Facebook on Nov. 10, who stated "We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries" and that his father "passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records... He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humor." A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. - Billboard, 11/10/16.
The UK paper The Sun is reporting Fleetwood Mac is in talks to create a TV show and one-off concert after news that band members are planning to reunite to mark the 50th anniversary of their landmark album 
The Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock has told the Daily Star paper that the band "have ideas" for making new music with their new frontman Frank Carter. In 2024, bassist Matlock, guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook of the punk legends' original line-up enlisted former Gallows frontman Carter to take on lead vocals in place of John Lydon for a series of shows at London's Bush Hall. The line-up has since gone on to play tours around the UK and have announced shows in North and South America. Now, Matlock has suggested that the new version of the band is prepared to record new music together too and are currently considering their options. "We talked about it with Steve Jones," Matlock told the paper. "We have ideas and Frank is a very good lyricist. Everyone has ideas, but we're very busy at the moment and haven't had a chance to really work things out." Matlock also reflected on how any new music would impact the band's legacy. "Above all, we have to ask ourselves if the public really wants us to release new music," he said. "In the end, who knows?" The Pistols and Carter were due to kick off their North and South American dates in September, but were forced to postpone when Jones broke his wrist. They told fans that the gigs would be rescheduled when he has fully recovered. - NME, 10/22/25...... People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have reached out to former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, urging him to temporarily change his name to "Robert Plant Wool." The push comes as November, which PETA categorizes as "Plant Wool Month," raises more awareness by the organization for plant alternatives to sheep's wool. In a letter to the Plant, PETA notes that the short-term name change would make more people aware of plant-powered yarns, including those made from hemp, cotton, orange waste, and more. It also would help the push to have people turn away from animal wool and cashmere industries, which it criticises as environmentally-destructive and sometimes abusive. "Plant Wool Month celebrates animal-free and plastic-free yarns that promote sustainable fashion while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting the animals with whom we share this precious planet," said PETA Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen. "PETA is asking Robert Plant to sing the praises of plant wool with a temporary name change that reminds everyone that nothing compares to soft, natural, and eco-friendly plant wool." PETA also maintains that Plant Wool Month will generate more recognition for "hard-working crop farmers, innovative textile makers, and pioneering designers who grow, spin, and work with these beautiful yarns to create knitwear, suits, and more." Plant has not yet responded publicly to the letter from PETA. Meanwhile, Plant is currently on tour in the US behind his latest solo album Saving Grace, wrapping on Oct. 22 with a show at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles. - NME, 10/21/25...... 
Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins is slamming the unauthorized use of his hit "Danger Zone" in a new AI video shared by Pres. Donald Trump which shows the president flying a plane and dumping feces on protesters set to "Danger Zone." In a statement posted to his 
In related news, Debbie Harry has revealed who she'd like to play her in a potential Blondie biopic. If it were somebody like Florence Pugh, I would be in heaven... I just think she's a great actor and she could do anything," Harry told the London Times. In 2014, Harry said she supported the idea of a Blondie biopic, and that a film would help people have a "finer appreciation" of the iconic New Wave group. At the time, she said: "It's difficult. You can only really skim the surface. If it's good entertainment, honest, well-acted and directed? Maybe," she replied when asked about her thoughts on the matter. "I think many people could be informed and have a finer appreciation of the person or era." Harry released her book Face It: A Memoir in 2019, charting her rise in the downtown New York City scene of the 1970s to become a global superstar, as well as how she overcame heroin addiction, bankruptcy and Blondie breaking up. A biopic could be based on any of the Blondie members' memoirs, with Chris Stein sharing his Under A Rock in 2024, and Harry's Face It coming out in 2019. - NME, 10/20/25...... Ozzy Osbourne's daughter Kelly Osbourne has thanked fans in Ozzy's hometown of Birmingham, UK for their support while accepting a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the metal pioneer at the Birmingham Awards, and later reflected on what the city meant to him. "Last night I had the honor of accepting my father's life time achievement award on his behalf at the @birminghamawards," she later wrote in an Instagram post," Kelly posted on 
While chances of a Fleetwood Mac reunion appear to be improving, it's just the opposite for a potential Pink Floyd reunion, with David Gilmour recently doubling down on an interview in 2024 in which he said -- referring to his former bandmate Roger Waters -- he would rather "steer clear of people who actively support genocidal and autocratic dictators like Putin and Maduro." In a new interview with The Telegraph, Gilmour was asked what it would take for him to join forces with Waters again. "Nothing," he replied. "There is no possible way that I would do that." Going into further detail in the 2024 interview, Gilmour explained: "Nothing would make me share a stage with someone who thinks such treatment of women and the LGBT community is OK. On the other hand, I'd love to be back on stage with [Pink Floyd keyboardist] Rick Wright, who was one of the gentlest and most musically gifted people I've ever known." Gilmour's wife Olly Samson has also been vocally outspoken against Waters' politics, accusing him in 2023 of being "anti-Semitic to [his] rotten core" and "a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac". Gilmour re-shared Samson's post, adding that "every word [is] demonstrably true. "Waters himself issued a statement in response, in which he described Samson's comments as "incendiary and wildly inaccurate," adding that he "refutes [them] entirely." He also said that he was "taking advice as to his position" regarding the claims. Gilmour has also said he finds it "wearisome" to have to talk about Waters. "Do you know what decade of my life I was in when Roger left our pop group? My thirties. I am now 78. Where's the relevance?" he told Britain's Mojo magazine in 2024. In a Rolling Stone interview, however, he also stated that "one day there are things I will talk about." - NME, 10/19/25.
The Eagles will soar higher in 2026 by adding eight additional dates to their long-running residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas. The new dates -- Jan. 23-24, Jan. 30-31, Feb. 20-21, and Feb. 27-28 -- will make their 52-date residency the longest-running one of any band at the innovative venue so far, breaking out of a tie with Dead & Company's 48 shows. The Don Henley-led band launched its Sphere stint in Sept. 2024, and after an initial spate of dates spanning five months, have rolled out extensions a handful of concerts at a time, most recently adding eight October and November dates last April. Presale registration for the shows is available now through the Eagles.com website. Among the other acts performing at the Sphere since its Sept. 2023 debut are U2, Phish, Anyma, Kenny Chesney and Backstreet Boys, and the Zac Brown Band will debut its run in December. - Billboard, 10/13/25...... British actor James Norton, currently appearing in Netflix hit House Of Guinness, is reportedly under consideration to play The Beatles' former manager Brian Epstein in the forthcoming biopics about the band. Epstein met the band in 1961 and became their manager until his death in 1967, aged just 32. Often nicknamed "The Fifth Beatle," he was portrayed in a 2024 biopic called Midas Man by fellow British actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd. In an apparent acknowledgement of the news, Norton shared a screenshot of the Deadline article on his 
Actor/musician Johnny Depp joined Patti Smith on stage on Oct. 12 during a London concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Smith's seminal album 
Carlos Santana is pushing back on viral rumors that he's opposed to his fellow Latino performer Bad Bunny being booked for the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show next February. Since Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime headliner, viral rumours -- partially made through AI -- have circulated the internet claiming that Mexican-American guitarist Santana pushed back against the idea of the Puerto Rican rapper playing the coveted slot. Meanwhile, other posts claimed that Santana had even petitioned to replace the "Perfumito Nuevo" rapper at the sporting event. Now, Santana and his manager have provided statements to Billboard debunking those claims. "AI has accelerated the spread of misinformation, making it harder for the truth to break through the noise. Don't rely on random or unverified posts -- even well-meaning outlets can get misled," Santana's manager wrote. Santana said in his own statement: "I congratulate and celebrate Bad Bunny's success and his position right now with the world and with the Super Bowl. I feel total oneness with what he's doing because we are here to utilize art to complement and bring the world closer to harmony and oneness." The Grammy-winner continued: "However, we're living in a time of fear, division, separation, superiority and inferiority. Fear is the flavour right now. Fear is what motivates ignorant people to put words in my mouth -- saying that I didn't want Bad Bunny to be represented at the Super Bowl. I never said that, nor would I ever. Just to be clear, my heart is in total harmony with Bad Bunny, and I celebrate his success, his triumph and his phenomenal achievement. Anything other than that is coming from people's ignorance. We're living in a time when hostile forces love to create conflict, separation and division, because the hostile forces don't like unity, harmony, oneness and joy. They want people to be miserable and to spend too much time in their minds. I spend a lot of time in my heart, and in my heart I celebrate Bad Bunny. I can't stop playing his song 'Monaco' -- there's something really magical about it." Bad Bunny's Super Bowl slot has received a wave of criticism from the ring-wing community, who believe that the rapper -- despite hailing from Puerto Rico, a territory of the U.S. -- should not be performing at the sporting event. The right-wing backlash to the news was almost immediate, with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticizing the NFL for choosing him as their halftime performer, despite the largely Spanish-performing artist being a US citizen. Pres. Donald Trump's administration has also stirred controversy by confirming that ICE agents will be present at the Super Bowl to apprehend any illegal immigrants, and the President himself has branded Halftime Show slot "crazy" and says he's "never heard of him." - NME, 10/14/25...... The BBC Factual arm of the BBC has ordered five new history commissions, among them a program charting the abuse allegations against Michael Jackson. With a working title of Legacy: Michael Jackson, the three part documentary series will explore Jackson's rise to fame, as well as the "abuse allegations and enduring legacy of one of the most successful pop stars of all time," per an announcement from the BBC. "With access to rare intimate archive, and revelatory interviews with those closest to him, this is the most fully rounded and authoritative portrait of Jackson yet produced," it continued. "A deeply researched study of a trailblazing musical genius, whose personal life remains a complex enigma." The doc will also examine the stories behind Jackson's biggest hits, as well as his innovative videos and live performances, touching on how his estate is still able to generate billions of dollars from his work. The comprehensive look at his life and legacy will begin with his early Jackson 5 years in the racially segregated landscape of '60s America, to the controversies that dogged him in his final years. - NME, 10/13/25...... 
The family of the late Ozzy Osbourne visited a huge Halloween pumpkin mural of Ozzy Osbourne at a farm in Hampshire, UK on Oct. 11. Sharon Osbourne, along with children Jack and Kelly Osbourne visited the Ozzy "pumpkin pyramid" at Sunnyfields Farm in Totton, Hampshire, where each year a mural is built from pumpkins, the subject of which is decided by public vote. This year, the annual poll saw 70% of the public vote for an Ozzy-themed mural in the wake of his passing in July, aged 76, just 17 days after the iconic Black Sabbath frontman played one last show as the frontman of the metal band at the "Back To The Beginning" concert in Birmingham. It was Osbourne's first full gig since 2018, having undergone multiple surgeries in the following years. He also experienced other health problems, including Parkinson's disease. On display since Oct. 4, Sunnyfields' Ozzy mural took 16 people four-and-a-half hours to create and will run through Halloween on Oct. 31. A video of the mural being created, and the Osbournes' visiting, can be viewed on 
Co-founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley died on Oct. 16 "peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall at his home," according to a statement shared by his family. He was 74. "We are completely devastated and heartbroken," the family wrote in the statement. "In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace's memory will continue to live on forever!" Earlier on Oct. 16, TMZ.com reported that Frehley was on life support after suffering a brain bleed when he fell at home weeks ago. The musician had canceled his performance at the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, Calif., after suffering what was then described as a "minor fall resulting in a trip to the hospital." "He is fine, but against his wishes, his doctor insists that he refrain from travel at this time," a statement read on his Instagram at the time. Less than two weeks later, Frehley's team announced on social media that he would be canceling all of his remaining appearances in 2025 "due to some ongoing medical issues." Born Paul Daniel Frehley in New York City in 1951, Frehley co-founded KISS in 1973 with singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist/singer Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. Among the songs Ace helped write for KISS were classics like "I Was Made For Lovin' You," "Rock And Roll All Nite," "Detroit Rock City," "Love Gun" and more, and he designed the group's iconic logo. The members' identities were famously kept secret until a decade after their debut, by which Frehley had left the band to pursue a solo career, coupled with his struggles with substance abuse and rising tension within the band about their direction. In the years following his exit from KISS, Frehley formed a new band, Frehley's Comet, which released two albums but failed to achieve commercial success. He reverted to using his own name for this 1989 album Trouble Walkin',, which saw former bandmate Criss provide backing vocals. Frehley would rejoin KISS for their reunion in 1996 and stayed with them until 2002. He did not join them for their farewell world tour in 2022. Frehley and Simmons had a notably rocky relationship, with Simmons in 2019 claiming that Frehley was fired from the band for his substance abuse, while Ace argued that he was 12 years sober by then and quit "of my own free will, because you and Paul [Stanley] are control freaks, untrustworthy and were too difficult to work with." Earlier in October, Frehley cancelled his remaining solo dates for 2025 due to "some ongoing medical issues," which has since been confirmed as the fall he suffered. Frehley's former bandmates Simmons and Stanley are among a slew of fellow musicians and friends that have paid tribute to the iconic rocker, also known as "Spaceman." 
"Our hearts are broken. Ace has passed on. No one can touch Ace's legacy. I know he loved the fans. He told me many times. Sadder still, Ace didn't live long enough to be honored at the Kennedy Ctr Honors event in Dec. Ace was the eternal rock soldier. Long may his legacy live on!," Simmons posted to 
The 40th anniversary Farm Aid benefit concert held on Sept. 20 at Minneapolis' Huntington Bank Stadium is expected to be the most successful Farm Aid in many years. Headlined by founding musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, the 12-hour show sold over 36,000 tickets and drew contributions solicited on air during a five-plus-hour broadcast of the event on CNN. "It's one of the highlights of my life to have been part of this," said Young, flanked by Nelson and Mellencamp, and joined by fellow Farm Aid board members Dave Matthews and Margo Price, during a press conference on the morning before the event. "That said, there's one thing that really strikes me about this day. And what I would like to say is, we need money so we can give it to the farmers and support the farmers. And we need to get it from these big corporations and billionaires that have taken all the farmers' land or a great portion of it." "We want donations from them," added Young. "Huge donations to Farm Aid. We don't want to give them favors. They bought hundreds and thousands of acres of farmland in this country as investments. And they're living the good life. They need to stand up and pay a conscience tax to the farmers of America!" Also performing during the show was Hibbing, Minn., native Bob Dylan, whose offhand remark at Live Aid in July 1985 led Nelson to launch Farm Aid. On a darkened stage, behind a piano and wearing a hoodie, Dylan opened his set with "All Along the Watchtower," which along with such classics as "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" received dramatic but engaging rearrangements. And in an apparent acknowledgment of his roots, he sang the seldom performed "Highway 61 Revisited," inspired by the road that traverses Minnesota enroute to the Mississippi Delta. Young began his penultimate set with his band Chrome Hearts before event closer Nelson with his newly penned protest song "Big Crime" that takes direct aim at Washington, D.C. "Rockin' in the Free World" followed, then the soft lament of "Long Walk Home," with its lyric "America, America/ Where have we gone?" It was notable that Young included a powerhouse, electric version of "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)," which he performed acoustically at the first Farm Aid in 1985. A heartfelt "Old Man" closed his set. Young, who has frequently spoken of the Farm Aid cause from the stage, said: "This Is the time when people and the farmers have got to come together as never before." - Billboard, 9/21/25...... Fleetwood Mac has quashed rumours that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has invited them to reunite for her 60th birthday party. The band have not played together since a children's hospital benefit concert in San Francisco in Nov. 2019, and it has been widely thought that any chance of a reunion was unlikely due to Christine McVie's passing in 2022. However, a report on Sept. 20 in the U.K. paper Daily Mail suggested that Rowling was planning on hiring them to play at her two-day 60th birthday party later this year. Representatives for the band were quick to respond to the speculation, telling Rolling Stone that "this is categorically false" and even stating that it is "not in the realm of true." Even if a Fleetwood Mac reunion does not appear to be on the cards, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham fuelled fresh speculation on Sept. 5 about a possible reunion of their Buckingham Nicks duo, sharing a joint Instagram post that featured an old clip of the two onstage. Elsewhere, Nicks has said she's working on a new album, saying it was made up of "real stories, memories of mine, of fantastic men." Meanwhile, Mick Fleetwood and Buckingham recently teamed up with Miley Cyrus for a song called "Secrets" from her upcoming album, and released a video on 
David Byrne performed the Talking Heads hit "Psycho Killer" for the first time in 19 years as he launched the North American leg of his solo world tour in Pittsburgh on Sept. 16 with an eclectic mix of Talking Heads hits, solo material, a handful of live debuts and even a cover of Paramore' "Hard Times." The biggest surprise of the set, however, came towards the end of the performance when Byrne played "Psycho Killer" -- something he famously hasn't done live for the first time since 2006. For the acoustic performance, Byrne ditched his iconic oversized Talking Heads-era suit for blue overall, as he was backed by a throng of dancers. Elsewhere during the set, Byrne played Talking Heads hits like "Heaven," "And She Was," "Houses In Motion," "Once In A Lifetime" and set closer "Burning Down The House." Byrne's solo tour will carry out across North America through December, followed by a tour of Australia and New Zealand in January and February. February will also see him kick off a stint across the UK and Europe until March. Footage of his "Psycho Killer" performance in Pittsburgh can be viewed on 
Aerosmith and English singer/songwriter/actor Yungblud have confirmed that they have collaborated on an EP called "One More Time." The two acts collaborated earlier in September when Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry joined Yungblud in paying a moving tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at the 2025 MTV VMAs. After the performance, the two of them shared a clip on social media suggesting they had a "secret," and later confirmed that they had worked together on a powerful single called "My Only Angel," a teaser of which Yungblud uploaded to 
Vintage rock 'n' roll star and songwriter Sonny Curtis, known for writing the raw classic "I Fought the Law" for the Bobby Fuller Four and composing the 
Elton John has released Touched By Gold, a new documentary short on 
Neil Young and his latest backing band, The Chrome Hearts, are the object of a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by the luxury brand Chrome Hearts. The high-end Chrome Hearts brand have been active since the late '80s and are well known for the luxury clothing, jewellery and accessories that has been outfitting musicians, designers and athletes for decades. The company is now seeking an injunction that would immediately force Young to stop using the Chrome Hearts name, with the damages they're seeking as yet unspecified. Los Angeles-based Chrome Hearts contend that they never "granted a license" or gave Young "any form of permission to use intellectual property belonging to Chrome Hearts," with the complaint adding: "Defendants have copied Chrome Hearts' federally registered trademarks in an effort to exploit Chrome Hearts' reputation in the market." As well as Young and his Chrome Hearts bandmates -- namely Micah Nelson, Corey McCormick, Anthony Logerfo, and Spooner Oldham -- Young's production company, The Other Shoe Productions, was also named as a defendant in the suit. The brand said that by making and selling merchandise bearing the name "Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts" (NYTCH), the "Heart of Gold" singer and his band would "likely cause confusion" in the marketplace. While none of Young's merchandise mimics any of Chrome Hearts' trademarked logos, the brand claimed that third-party apparel vendors have "apparently already mistakenly assumed there is a connection between NYTCH and Chrome Hearts, and are actively promoting that purported connection." The complaint also claims the company had notified Young's team about the alleged trademark infringement back in July, but they continued to tour under that name and sell merchandise emblazoned with it. Meanwhile, the singer who had a hit long ago with "Old Man" will celebrate his 80th birthday at star-studded Toronto concert in his native Canada this fall. "NY80: A Celebration of Neil Young and His Music" is set for Nov. 12 at Massey Hall, and feature performances by Young, Kathleen Edwards, Donovan Woods, Serena Ryder, Joel Plaskett, Julian Taylor, Matt Mays, and other Canadian performers. All proceeds from the event will be donated to MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and The JUNO Awards. Born in Toronto on Nov. 12, 1945, Young first gained fame in the 1960's as a member of Buffalo Springfield, then as a solo artist and member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and often backed by the band Crazy Horse. He recently played two shows at Toronto's Budweiser Stage this summer. - NME/Canoe.com, 9/15/25...... Organizers of the 40th anniversary edition of the renowned Farm Aid charity concert have confirmed that this year's festival will proceed as planned at the University of Minnesota, following a resolution between the university's administration and striking workers. On Sept. 13 the organizers posted on 
Pink Floyd announced on Sept. 12 that their landmark 1975 LP 
Bobby Hart, one half of the top 1960s songwriting and performing duo Boyce & Hart, passed away at his home in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 10. He was 86. A posting on the duo's Instagram page reads: "Very sad news to report: Bobby Hart, the songwriting dynamo who was half of the duo responsible for so many Monkees songs, has died. With partner Tommy Boyce, Bobby penned tracks like "I Wanna Be Free," "Last Train to Clarksville," the iconic Monkees [TV show] theme, and so many more, in addition to his solo songwriting career with hits like "Hurts So Bad" for Little Anthony and the Imperials. He will be remembered for his incredible talent and his innate spirituality.... You will be so missed, Bobby." Mickey Dolenz -- who is the only surviving member of The Monkees -- also paid tribute to Mr. Hart on Instagram on Sept. 14: "Another great is gone. Bobby Hart, who along with Tommy Boyce, penned and produced some of the Monkees' greatest hits not only made a vital contribution to the popular success of the Monkees, but even more importantly to the essence, the very spirit of the entire venture. His talent, charisma, good humor and calmness in the face of what at times was nothing less than a maniacal roller coaster ride often brought a sense of peace that heartened everyone around him. He was the stillness that is the eye of the hurricane. Rest in peace, Bobby." After Mr. Hart -- whose health had been deteriorating since he broke his hip in 2024 -- and Boyce stopped working with The Monkees, the duo continued working together, releasing the albums Test Patterns and I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite (whose title track reached No. 8 in the US in Jan. 1968), as well as appearing in sitcoms I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. The pair also penned the theme for the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives. The duo also toured with the Monkees' Dolenz and Davy Jones in 1975. Tommy Boyce died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1994. Mr. Hart had been married twice, most recently to singer Mary Ann Hart, and leaves behind two children. - Music-News.com, 9/15/25...... Actress Pat Crowley, best known for leading the 1965-67 NBC sitcom Please Don't Eat the Daisies, died of natural causes on Sept. 19, two days before her 92nd birthday. Her death was announced by her son, Jon Hookstratten, who is the executive vice president of administration and operations at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Born Patricia Crowley on Sept. 17, 1933, in Olyphant, Pa., Ms. Crowley left her hometown for New York as a teenager with her sister Ann. The pair found success on Broadway, Ann in "Oklahoma!" and "Paint Your Wagon," and Ms. Crowley playing the lead in "Southern Exposure" in 1950. She then broke into film with Paramount's Forever Female in 1953, starring alongside Ginger Rogers and William Holden as a young actress who wants the lead role in a play. That same year, she starred in Money From Home with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year for her performances. Though she would go on to accrue more than 100 screen credits, guest starring on various TV shows throughout her career, Ms. Crowley is best known for Please Don't Eat the Daisies, the series based on the 1960 movie of the same name starring Doris Day. She played mother of four Joan Nash, who blew past traditional housewife tropes and worked as a freelance newspaper columnist. After Daisies, she continued appearing on popular TV shows well into the 2000s, with roles on Columbo, Friends, Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Frasier, Charmed and Murder, She Wrote. Her final film role was in 2012's Mont Reve. She was married to the late Ed Hookstratten, the powerful entertainment attorney who represented the likes of Johnny Carson, Elvis Presley, and Vin Scully. Ms. Crowley is also survived by her daughter, Ann; son-in-law Robert; daughter-in-law Marion; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. - Entertainment Weekly, 9/20/25...... 
Robert Redford, one of the most influential actors in Hollywood of the last 50 years, passed away in his sleep at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah on Sept. 16. He was 89 and no specific cause of death has been revealed. Mr. Redford's press agent Cindi Berger announced the sad news, adding that Sundance was "the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy." Born on Aug. 18, 1937, in Santa Monica, Calif., Mr. Redford attended the University of Colorado, Pratt Institute of Design, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He found success in television in such series as Playhouse 90, The Twilight Zone and Perry Mason, and theater (in 1959's "Tall Story"), then made his big-screen debut in 1962's War Hunt and starred alongside Jane Fonda in 1967's Barefoot in the Park, the film adaptation of the popular Neil Simon play. In 1969, Mr. Redford transitioned into superstardom in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid playing the Sundance Kid, with his fellow blue-eyed heartthrob actor Paul Newman starring as Butch Cassidy. Mr. Redford became one of Hollywood's top leading men in the 1970s, with featured roles in 1972's 
He later decried the commercialization that had become associated with the Sundance name. He was also a keen environmental campaigner, and once testified before the US congress on behalf of funding for the arts. Tributes for Mr. Redford have poured in, praising the star's "everlasting impact." His Out of Africa costar Meryl Streep led the tributes, saying saying: "One of the lions has passed. Rest in peace my lovely friend." Costar Jane Fonda, a lifelong friend, remembered him as "a beautiful person in every way." "It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone," Fonda said. "I can't stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for," she added. His The Way We Were costar Barbra Streisand called him "one of the finest actors ever." "Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting, and one of the finest actors ever... He was one of a kind, and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him," she said. Director Ron Howard, writing on X, described Mr. Redford as "a tremendously influential cultural figure" and an "artistic gamechanger." Mr. Redford is survived by his wife Sibylle Szaggars who he married in 2009. He had previously been married to Lola Van Wagenen,and the couple had four children before divorcing in 1995. One of their children, Scott, died at the age of two months from sudden infant death syndrome, and James, died of cancer in 2020. He is also survived by two daughters -- Shauna, an artist, and Amy, a director. - ComingSoon.Net/BBC.com/TheDailyBeast.com, 9/16/25.