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No Doubt’s Tom Dumont Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

2026-04-13T17:09:32.276Z

Ahead of No Doubt’s May 6-June 13 at Las Vegas’ Sphere, guitarist Tom Dumont has disclosed a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease. However, he assured fans he is still able to play his instrument and will participate in the upcoming concerts.

Dumont, 58, said on Instagram he saw a neurologist when “a number of symptoms” began to manifest and was eventually diagnosed with an early-onset form of Parkinson’s. “It’s been a struggle. It’s a struggle every day,” he said. “And I’ll make another video with details about what Parkinson’s entails. The good news is, I can still play music. I can still play guitar. I’ve been doing really well.”

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He added that he’s been inspired to speak out by social media posts from other Parkinson’s patients. “I think it helps erase some of the stigma and it raises awareness, obviously, and awareness is really important for prevention and for research,” he said.

Dumont said No Doubt has spent “the last couple of months” in prep for Sphere by “looking through old footage and looking at old photographs and relearning old songs and rehearsing and creating all the video stuff for the screens. It’s kind of made me think about how grateful I am for the life I’ve gotten to lead as a musician all these years.”

No Doubt reunited at the 2024 edition of Coachella after being inactive for nearly nine years. Since, the Gwen Stefani-led group has only performed at the FireAid benefit in Los Angeles in January 2025.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Update: Lady Gaga, Doechi Team For ‘Prada’ Sequel Song

2026-04-13T16:52:09.921Z

Updating a story first posted here on April 6, Lady Gaga and Doechii will enliven The Devil Wears Prada 2 with the original song “Runway,” which is out now after being teased earlier this week in the final trailer for the film. Set for May 1 release, Prada 2 finds Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles from the 2006 original, which was nominated for two Oscars and three Golden Globes.

“Runway” was co-produced by frequent Gaga collaborator Andrew Watt, Bruno Mars, Cirkut and Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II. Watt is also one of the co-writers along with Gaga, Mars, Doechii, Cirkut, D’Mile and Jayda Love.

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Gaga, who also has a cameo in Prada 2, has been vocal about her Doechii fandom. “You don’t often see someone come out of the gate with a pen that feels immediately legendary. That’s Doechii to me,” she told British Vogue in 2025. “I fell in love with her music and her raw, deeply personal perspective. The power in her words, her vulnerability, the way she rhymes with this wild mix of audacity and emotional precision — it struck me to the core.”

The Devil Wears Prada 2 also stars Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh, Tracie Thoms and Simone Ashley. For Gaga, it’s her first film role since 2024’s Joker: Folie à Deux, which was savaged by critics.

As for Hathaway, she’s also stepping up to the mic. As previously reported, she plays the titular pop star in the upcoming film Mother Mary, the soundtrack for which will feature her singing songs co-written and co-produced by Charli xcx and Jack Antonoff. The self-described “psychosexual pop opera” will be in theaters nationwide on April 24, with the soundtrack arriving a week earlier on A24 Music.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

YOSHIKI Set to Make Triumphant Return with Prestigious Two-Night Engagement at Walt Disney Concert Hall

2026-04-13T16:47:41.466Z

YOSHIKI is officially back and ready to conquer Los Angeles. The composer, pianist, and X Japan leader has announced a two-night engagement at Walt Disney Concert Hall on July 16 and 17. Tickets for the hotly-anticipated concerts go on sale today (April 10th) at 10 a.m. PT.

Billed as “Classical 2026,” the performances, dubbed “Scarlet Night” and “Violet Night”, will feature completely different setlists, with YOSHIKI leaning into both his classical roots and the legendary musicianship that has made him Japan’s biggest rock star. These shows mark YOSHIKI’s long-awaited return to the U.S. stage, following a period of uncertainty stemming from his third cervical spine surgery in late 2024. That major procedure temporarily cast doubt on whether he would perform live again.

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“To perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall is an honor, and in this moment it’s personal,” says YOSHIKI. “After my surgery, I wasn’t sure when I would return to the stage. These two nights are a celebration of resilience and the bond I share with my fans.”

WATCH: YOSHIKI “Classical 2026” at Walt Disney Concert Hall – extended trailer

While classical piano remains central to the performances, YOSHIKI has hinted at something less traditional. He promises the upcoming shows will be “emotional, powerful, and explosive,” with new sounds and ideas shaping what he views as an artistic rebirth.

The announcement arrives during a particularly active stretch for the artist. In recent weeks, YOSHIKI staged a run of sold-out shows in Tokyo and delivered a historic performance at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix Finals with a special rock and classical arrangement of Japan’s national anthem, prompting a massive social media reaction worldwide.

Yoshiki at F1 Grand Prix Finals (Photo Courtesy of A List Media Entertainment)

Elsewhere, the musical innovator has continued to pop up in unexpected places. Earlier this year, he shared the stage with Josh Groban in Japan and made a surprise appearance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, joining the Jonas Brothers in front of 18,000 fans. The cross-genre collaborations highlight the breadth of his appeal, spanning classical, rock, and pop audiences alike.

Named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, YOSHIKI has long operated beyond traditional genre lines. With over 50 million records sold, his résumé spans chart-topping rock albums, film scoring, fashion design, and philanthropy through his Yoshiki Foundation America. In 2024, he also became the first and only Japanese artist to be immortalized with a hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Yoshiki at “Classical 2026 Tokyo” (Photo Courtesy of A List Media Entertainment)

The influential force behind X Japan and the Last Rockstars has several classical albums to his credit. He has collaborated with everyone from George Martin and Bono to will.i.am., St. Vincent, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen, Gene Simmons, and the Chainsmokers.

Now, with “Classical 2026,” YOSHIKI returns to one of Los Angeles’ most acoustically cherished venues for what promises to be a deeply personal and likely unpredictable pair of performances.

YOSHIKI “Classical 2026” at Walt Disney Concert Hall
“Scarlet Night” and “Violet Night”
July 16 and 17, 2026
Tickets and Information: https://www.yoshiki.net/disneyhall2026

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Strokes Tussle With ‘Reality’ On New LP

2026-04-06T19:09:41.399Z

The Strokes will return with their first album in six years this summer in the form of Reality Awaits, which the band announced on social media today (April 6).

Soundtracked by 13 seconds of music, the clip features a vintage sports car and the magazine ad-style kicker “In the Flesh, It’s Even Sexier.” No other information has been revealed about the follow-up to 2020’s The New Abnormal, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. That project was itself the Strokes’ first album since 2013’s Comedown Machine.

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The announcement of Reality Awaits comes as the Strokes return to live duty for the first time this year, after the Julian Casblancas-led band performed only six times combined in 2024 and 2025. The group will play such festivals as Coachella, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo, Shaky Knees, Sea.Hear.Now and Tokyo’s Summer Sonic through late September.

In another twist, guitarist Nick Valensi was an unexplained no-show from a Saturday gig at San Francisco’s Warfield and will not play tonight at a gig at the city’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. His replacement is ex-Longwave leader Steve Schlitz, whose band was on the rise in New York around the time of the Strokes’ Is This It-era explosion and most recently filled in for Valensi during a September 2025 Las Vegas show.

For whatever it’s worth, Casablancas implied he and Valensi no longer speak to each other in a November 2025 interview for the Lonely Island and Seth Meyers podcast. Casablancas has also been at work for months at New York’s Flux Studios on the latest album from his side project the Voidz, but no details have emerged about its release date.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Philanthropist Amy Green & Grammy Winner Black Coffee Celebrate “An Evening of Music & Impact” in Aspen

2026-04-06T19:03:08.808Z

A cross-section of music, fashion, and philanthropy converged on The St. Regis Aspen Resort on March 26 for what hosts Amy Green and Black Coffee billed as “An Evening of Music & Impact.” The purposeful, high-gloss gathering benefitted the hosts’ respective charities: The Green Vision Foundation and The Black Coffee Foundation.

High profile guests embraced the night’s “Gilded Wild” theme, with attendees leaning into animal prints and maximalist flair. The successful event, sponsored by CounterSpike, fused runway looks with DJ culture to heighten awareness of the parallel missions of both causes.

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Amy Green, Black Coffee

Partygoers were treated to an uplifting and celebratory performance at the outset from Grammy-winning DJ and South African native Black Coffee — born Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo — that also marked his 50th birthday. Later, guests gathered for a private dinner at Marea inside The Snow Lodge, the seasonal nightlife outpost curated by Jayma Cardoso.

Fashion played a central role in the evening’s programming. A runway presentation from Bronx Banco delivered a burst of saturated color and sculptural tailoring, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for statement-making silhouettes worn by a global roster of cultural icons including Beyoncé, JLo, Miley Cyrus, Doja Cat, Ciara, Kelly Rowland and Paris Hilton.

Eco-philanthropist, entrepreneur and co-host Green also held her own reveal: a new GIADA loungewear capsule crafted from Vegetable Cashmere, a plant-based textile derived from soy protein that aims to merge sustainability with high-end comfort. GIADA is created by women, for women, looking for more functionality and ethics in their wardrobe and those dressing with high-end intention. GIADA’s design philosophy is grounded in three core principles, Vegan Luxury, Limited, Low-Impact Production, and New York Craftsmanship.

Natalie De’Banco, Amy Green, Elen Capri, Sofia Resing

The guest list drew figures from fashion, philanthropy, and social circles, including Ellen Capri, model Sofia Resing, Bronz and Banco designer Natalie De Banco, Bo McCourt, Polly and Noah Bremen, Chelsea Washington and the owners of The St. Regis Aspen, Stephane and Sabrina De Baets, plus additional supporters of both foundations. As the evening wound down, the room shifted from formal gala to intimate celebration, culminating with cake and a group rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Black Coffee.

Beyond the fanfare, the event functioned as a fundraiser and awareness platform. Proceeds and partnerships supported initiatives spanning youth education, disability services, women’s empowerment, and biodiversity conservation, causes championed by both The Green Vision Foundation and The Black Coffee Foundation.

Green Vision was established by Green with her husband Gary, who currently owns the Union Soccer League’s Union Omaha franchise and Minor League baseball teams like the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Montgomery Biscuits.

“We believe that sport and music are two of the most powerful forces in the world, capable of bringing people together across borders, cultures, and generations,” Gary says.

“As a family deeply rooted in the world of sport and lifelong lovers of music, we have built our lives around these shared passions,” he explains. “We have witnessed firsthand how these universal languages create connection, energy, and unity.”

Amy Green, Gary Green

Green Vision has become a vehicle for change, bringing together influential communities to protect our planet, empower underserved populations, and create meaningful opportunities for future generations. The foundation has become an increasingly visible player in global conservation, backing efforts in anti-poaching, ocean restoration, and rainforest preservation, while convening donors and policymakers through events like its annual Footprint of Life Gala.

Meanwhile, The Black Coffee Foundation continues its work in South Africa, focusing on sustainable support systems for disabled and underserved communities, with an emphasis on education and long-term development.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jack White Jams Two New Songs Pre-‘SNL’

2026-04-06T18:59:19.616Z

Just in time for his sixth career appearance tomorrow (April 4) on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Jack White is back with his first new music of 2026.

The former White Stripes frontman has released the rollicking “G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs” and “Derecho Demonico” on streaming platforms; limited-edition tri-color and black seven-inch vinyl go on sale tomorrow at Third Man Records online and retail shops in Nashville, Detroit, and London. Black seven-inch vinyl will be available at independent record stores next week.

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New music-wise, White hasn’t been heard from since his 2024 album No Name, which was surprised released on vinyl several weeks before it became available in other formats. He was inducted last year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the White Stripes.

White will spend chunks of the spring and summer on tour internationally, beginning May 30 in Latvia and concluding Aug. 23 in Istanbul. His only stateside show at the moment will be at the Borderland festival in East Aurora, N.Y., the weekend of Sept. 18.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Weezer’s Back ‘Again’ With New Single

2026-04-01T19:23:53.777Z

As expected, Weezer has unveiled “Shine Again,” the lead single from its as-yet-untitled debut for Reprise/Warner Records. The cut had been distributed to fans on USB drives during a performance last week at tiny Venice, Ca., venue Hinano Cafe.

The upcoming album was produced by Swedish veteran Klas Åhlund (Robyn, Charli xcx, Madonna) and Kenny Beats (IDLES, Vince Staples). It’s the follow-up to 2021’s Van Weezer, the band’s sixth and final release for Atlantic, which debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.

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“The car door / the pavement / the drop off / the waving / turn signals tell someone / the dog walk / the dishes / the good morning kisses / I’m nailing / each task on my list,” frontman Rivers Cuomo sings with pride on “Shine Again.”

Weezer has been hosting Weezer: The Gathering — Initiation Week for fans since last week, with activities including a trivia night at Barney’s Beanery and a pickleball tournament against band members.

Weezer will support the new music on a 32-city fall tour with support from the Shins and Silversun Pickups. Dates begin Sept. 8 in Sacramento, Ca., and conclude Oct. 24 in Los Angeles. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday (April 3).

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bruce Springsteen Preaches Hope, Defiance At Tour Opener

2026-04-01T19:17:32.546Z

As expected, Bruce Springsteen came out raging against the American political machine last night (March 31) at the kickoff of the E Street Band’s Land of Hope and Dreams tour in Minneapolis, during which he debuted a full band version of his protest song about the two local citizens shot to death by I.C.E. agents, “Streets of Minneapolis.”

The Boss uttered a long, anti-Donald Trump preamble before opening with the first performance of Edwin Starr’s “War” since 2003. “This White House is destroying the American idea and our reputation around the world,” he said. “To many, we are no longer looked upon as an often imperfect but strong defender of democracy standing for the global good. We are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are now, to many, America the reckless, unpredictable, predatory rogue nation. That is this administration’s and this president’s legacy. This is happening now.”

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Musically, the set list didn’t stray all that far from recent E Street Band tours, with favorites such as “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “The Promised Land,” “Hungry Heart” and “Badlands” contrasted by the highly political “American Skin (41 Shots),” a solo acoustic “House of a Thousand Guitars” and a show-closing cover of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.”

Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello played on 11 of the 27 songs, including a cover of local legend Prince’s “Purple Rain” for the first time in a decade. Springsteen dedicated the performance to Prince as “the maestro.”

“If you’re feeling helpless, hopeless, betrayed, frustrated, angry, I know. I mean, that’s why the E Street Band is here tonight,” Springsteen said at one point. “This is a tour that was not planned. We’re here tonight because we need to feel your hope and your strength, and we want to bring some hope and some strength for you. I hope we did that. All I can say is, god bless Alex Pretti, god bless Renee Good, god bless you and god bless America.”

The Land of Hope and Dreams tour runs through May 27 in Washington, D.C.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dreams Come True on Flea’s First Solo Record

2026-03-30T20:58:53.085Z

Honora is the album Flea has always wanted to make. Now 63 years old, the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist has worked on numerous side projects, appeared in films, and even penned an autobiography. Yet, Honora is Flea’s first solo record. Back in 1991, Flea told a friend that he wanted to craft “an instrumental record with deep hypnotic grooves, trippy melodies layered on top, meditations on a groove.” Three and a half decades later, he made it happen.

Honora exists in a strange place. It’s essentially a jazz record, which will likely turn off RHCP fans. And jazz heads may approach the record with skepticism since Flea’s day job band is often maligned by “serious” music fans, including by one musician who turns up on a song here as a guest vocalist.

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But just check out the pedigree of the folks Flea worked with to bring Honora to life. Rather than team up with older musicians, the bassist joined forces with some of the hottest names in modern jazz, including saxophonist Josh Johnson (who also produced the album), bassist Anna Butterrss, guitarist Jeff Parker, and drummer Deantoni Parks. By surrounding himself with youthful collaborators, Flea has created an album full of surprises and daring moments.

After the brief “Golden Wingship,” Honora truly kicks off with “A Plea.” It’s one of the few tracks to feature Flea on vocals and rather than sing, the bassist rants like Gary Burger from the Monks, decrying how politics have destroyed our society and that peace and love is the true answer. It may sound like watered-down flower power, but Flea is self-aware. “I’m not being corny this shit is real,” he claims before the backing vocalists repeat his peace and love mantra.

Of the 10 tracks, six are original compositions and the rest are covers. If anything, Honora doesn’t play like a cohesive record, especially since the four covers are sequenced together near the end. The album also allows Flea to pick up the trumpet, something he does well on a cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” and Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain.” And you know he has been waiting his whole life to deliver George Clinton’s opening monologue.

Nick Cave sings lead on a cover of “Wichita Lineman” and Thom Yorke lends his vocals to the twitchy original “Traffic Lights.” But the true standout here is “Frailed,” a 10-minute instrumental juxtaposing Flea’s spectral trumpet against a minimalist dub beat and strange electronic atmospherics.Honora may be too weird for “Scar Tissue” fans, but that’s quite all right. With this record, Flea has made a bold statement that fuses his lifelong love for jazz with the weird sensibility he has brought to many non-RHCP projects, proving that a true artist holds down the foundation of all those stadium-sized pop songs.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dua Lipa To Curate 2026 London Lit Fest

2026-03-30T20:55:25.294Z

Pop polymath Dua Lipa is adding another line to her ever-expanding résume — this time as a literary tastemaker. The Grammy- and BRIT-winning star has been tapped to curate the 2026 edition of the London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, marking a high-profile collision of global pop and the written word.

Running Oct. 21 through Nov. 1, the 19th annual event will see Lipa take the reins for opening weekend (Oct. 24–25) while shaping programming across the full slate in collaboration with her Service95 Book Club. Lipa’s role is part of Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary celebrations and the U.K.’s National Year of Reading, positioning her role both as a curator and cultural bridge between pop audiences and literary spaces.

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Since launching Service95 in 2023, Lips has turned her book club into a global platform, pairing monthly selections with in-depth author conversations and using her reach to spotlight issues like censorship, access and marginalized readers. “Reading has anchored me through every chapter of my life — from being the new kid at school in a new country to finding quiet refuge on tour,” she said in a statement. “Curating the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival is a dream come true. I’m thrilled to indulge one of my greatest obsessions: books and the brilliant minds behind them. I can’t wait to dive into the imaginations of some of my favorite authors in one of London’s most iconic cultural spaces.”

Details on the lineup and ticketing are still under wraps, but organizers promise a mix of established heavyweights and emerging voices, plus free events aimed at widening access. The festival slots into a stacked anniversary program featuring “You Are Here,” a large-scale collaboration involving Danny Boyle, Paulette Randall, Gareth Pugh, and Carson McColl, the Harry Styles-curated Meltdown concert series (the lineup for which has yet to be revealed) and a major exhibition from Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery.

As previously reported, Lipa continues to work on her next studio album and has also been cast in the A24 film Peaked, which centers on “the two girls who traumatized you in high school” attempting to recapture their former glory at a 10-year reunion. It co-stars Emma Mackey, Laura Dern, Heated Rivalry‘s Connor Storrie and Simone Ashley and was written and directed by Molly Gordon (The Bear, Oh, Hi!).

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

25 Years On, Gorillaz Is Still Shining Lights In Dark Places

2026-03-24T18:52:02.751Z

For the last 25 years, Gorillaz has occupied a rare portion of cultural real estate that few bands or artists have ever been able to own without dissolving into nostalgia or irrelevance.

When their self-titled album Gorillaz dropped on March 26, 2001, it felt borderless and ironic in a way that didn’t come off as cynical. It arrived as we were recovering from a post Britpop hangover, when nu-metal and boy bands populated the airwaves and music was much more tribal than it is today. We were entering the homestretch of MTV’s relevance when this weird project led by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and illustrator Jamie Hewlett came along and gave us something we had never seen or heard before: moving images and characters full of color mixed with sonic experimentations that transcended the traditional boundaries of genre and taste.

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It was Britpop residue mixed with hip-hop, dub, funk, and soul that could be fun or melancholy, but never devoid of love and affection. It dissolved genre by not allowing us to pigeonhole their sound into a definitive box, and treated collaboration with other artists as a part of their architecture. It slithered between soundscapes and defied categorization without it feeling like a statement, even though it was. That statement grew, and it expanded, and then six months after Gorillaz debuted, the world changed.

It’s tempting to look at a pre 9/11 world through rose-tinted glasses, but that’s not the point. In early 2001, irony could still feel loose and playful without feeling cruel. It’s hard to separate great bands from the era in which they rose to prominence. When we think of musical artists, a lot of them are inextricably tied to time. Close your eyes and think of Grateful Dead, N.W.A., or the Ramones, and imagine that music in your head. It will take you back in time to a place that you may not have even been alive to see, but somehow their music and aesthetic has the power to conjure up that imagery in your mind.

Gorillaz has always been an exception to that rule, unlike other bands, their sound is elastic enough to wrap itself around whatever moment we’re living through. They not only seem to exist outside of classification, but outside of time altogether. Which is why seeing them perform on “SNL” a couple of weeks ago in military fatigues and berets made me stop dead in my tracks. It was the first time that it occurred to me that for the majority of this band’s existence we have been at war and we are likely marching towards war again.

They performed “Clint Eastwood” off their debut album as their first song of the night, and even though it has happened before, it’s definitely rare for an artist to perform a song that was a hit decades prior. “Saturday Night Live” opened up with a song that was a hit 25 years prior. It confused me initially because I had listened to their new album The Mountain, which I personally consider an instant classic, and I was looking forward to seeing them perform some new music on live TV.

Gorillaz c-creator Damon Albarn in 2001. (Credit: Simon King/Redferns)

But, then once I saw they had Del the Funky Homosapien with them I understood what they were doing, and what Gorillaz were always doing. This wasn’t a typical performance by a typical artist. This was really a tribute to the time we’ve spent with Gorillaz and a reminder that through everything we’ve seen since 2001, Gorillaz has never been that far away. They’ve been growing with and alongside us, functioning as a sort of musical guide that lights up when it feels like we’ve drifted too far into dark waters. Not to guide us to safety, but to remind us that we’re still moving.

Hearing them play “Clint Eastwood” reminded us of where we started.

Hearing them play “The Moon Cave” off The Mountain later in the show showed us where we are going.

And it’s who we’ve all become in between those songs that is the achievement. That’s the throughline.

It was the past and future sharing the same stage, reminding us that moving through time doesn’t have to be all that scary as long as we have things like Gorillaz to remind us of where we are. As long as we have that, I don’t think we can get so lost that we can’t be found.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Robyn’s ‘Sexistential’ Surveys Middle-Aged Desire, Doubt

2026-03-24T18:39:11.774Z

Eight years is a long time to wait for a Robyn album, especially when her absence has only made her fingerprints more visible across a contemporary dance-pop world now ruled by the likes of Charli xcx. In the interim, entire scenes have absorbed her lessons about emotional directness without melodrama and club music that simultaneously thinks and feels, but often without matching her clarity or nerve.

Thankfully, Sexistential (Young) arrives not as a nostalgia exercise or victory lap, but as proof that Robyn’s particular synthesis of pleasure, vulnerability and pop rigor remains maddeningly hard to replicate. If anything, it lands with the calm authority of someone who knows the room has been holding its breath to hear what she’s been cooking up in her Stockholm laboratory for most of the past decade with producers such as Klas Åhlund and Oscar Holter.

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That confidence is established immediately on opener “Really Real,” which drops you into a French Touch churn of rubbery bass and bumping beats, accented by strange guitar squeals and disorienting, munchkin-voiced exclamations. Lyrically, it’s bracing in its intimacy of chronicling the exact second a relationship disintegrates, which is rendered with erotic candor and emotional recoil. “You’re mid-performance / I’m planning my escape / Right there when you call my name / I want to swallow but it ain’t the same,” she sings with coolly devastating effect, as the Tron: Legacy-era Daft Punk pulse resists settling into anything comforting.

“Dopamine” follows with a propulsive melody and stacked, treated vocals that subtly echo the muscular melancholy of Robyn’s immortal 2010 hit “Dancing on My Own,” recasting romantic intensity as both chemical and cosmic. This duality — knowing exactly what something is yet still surrendering to how it feels — runs throughout the album. “Blow My Mind” leans into that abandon most overtly, pairing Auto-tuned vocals and increasingly alien sound design with lyrics that are gleefully raunchy and disarmingly sweet. “Ravish me, tear into my flesh / button down my shirt / go on, make a mess,” she coos, collapsing sex, affection and awe into the same sultry breath.

The album’s cultural flashpoint title track earns its hype less through shock than through sheer fluency. Robyn raps (really well!), overshares about one-night stands while on IVF and “scrolling on my feed while breastfeeding” and philosophizes with a looseness that feels radical precisely because of who she is: a woman in her mid-40s refusing discretion as a form of dignity. It’s messy, funny, horny and alive, and that openness provides Sexistential its biggest jolt.

Not every track hits with equal force. “Sucker for Love,” salvaged from sessions for a 2014 EP with Norwegian dance mavens Röyksopp, feels comparatively undercooked, its sentiments familiar without as much melodic or production panache to elevate them. But even minor Robyn songs gain friction from her voice, which remains peerless in its ability to reverberate inside your head and from halfway across the dance floor.

By the time closer “Into the Sun” dissolves, Sexistential feels less like a comeback than a recalibration. In an industry that still polices female desire by age and tone, Robyn sings, fucks and doubts out loud, at full volume. This is what freedom actually sounds like, and why the world has been waiting for Sexistential for so long. Odds are that you’re dancing along with it right now.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mumford, The Strokes Surf To Sea.Hear.Now

2026-03-24T18:02:32.332Z

Mumford & Sons and the Strokes will headline the next edtion of the Sea.Hear.Now festival, which will take place Sept. 20-21 on the beach in Asbury Park, N.J. Also near the top of the bill are the Offspring, Goo Goo Dolls, Fontaines D.C., the War on Drugs, Moby, Chaka Khan, Pixies, the All-American Rejects, Ziggy Marley, Shaggy and Men at Work.

Sea.Hear.Now was established by rock photographer Danny Clinch, Tim Donnelly and HM Wollman in partnership with promoter C3 Presents. In recent years, it has featured local legend Bruce Springsteen as well as the first Pearl Jam show following the COVID 19-related cancellation of their Gigaton tour.

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Among the surfers participating in beachfront competitions will be Sam Hammer, Cassidy McClain, Cam Richards, Balaram Stack, Rob Kelly, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason, Tommy Ihnken, Logan Kamen, Jamie DeWitt, Cole Deveney, Audrey Iglay, Paul Francisco, Mia Gallagher, Eden Edwards and Cruz Dinofa.

Art installations will be anchored by local visual artist Pork Chop and surf photographer Bruce Chrisner, while Clinch will again host the Transparent Gallery featuring work from acts on the Sea.Hear.Now lineup and surprise pop-up performances. Tickets go on sale Thursday (March 26).

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

JAY-Z Books Yankee Stadium For Anniversary Gigs

2026-03-18T22:54:39.630Z

A day after announcing his return to the live stage while backed by the Roots at their Roots Picnic on May 30 in Philadelphia, JAŸ-Z has revealed even bigger plans.

The rap superstar, who has rarely performed in public since concluding his 4.44 Tour in late 2017, will play July 10-11 at New York’s Yankee Stadium. The first show is expected to honor the 30th anniversary of JAŸ-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, while the second will celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, which came out the same day as the Sept. 11, 2011, terrorist attacks. The latter was followed with sequels in 2002 and 2009.

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Further details, including ticket on-sale information and whether the artist born Shawn Carter will be backed by the Roots or other live musicians, have yet to be made public.

“A full-throated response to ‘too much West Coast dick licking,’ Jay-Z’s debut posited young Shawn as the East Coast alpha male,” SPIN wrote of Reasonable Doubt in a May 2004 guide to the best of gangsta rap. “Jigga gave his days as a mover and shaker on the Brooklyn streets the Joel Silver multiplex treatment — midnight drug deals with Peruvian drug kings and Cristal-popping parties that go till six in the morning.”

As for The Blueprint, Andy Greenwald wrote for SPIN at the time that it “forsakes big pimping and gets personal, and by personal, we mean personal — we even learn which cousins used to wash behind lung Jigga’s ears (thanks, Mickey!). But look past the onanism and dig the planet’s most charismatic egoist flowing like the Cristal did on previous records. Plus: one-take vocals and a whole mess of steaming vitriol. Punk record of the year? Fo’sheazy!”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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Jason P. Woodbury & the Nightbird Singing Quartet Journey to the End of the Night

2026-03-16T15:27:10.414Z

The cover of the self-titled debut from Jason P. Woodbury & the Nightbird Singing Quartet speaks volumes: It’s modeled on the indelible design of Vintage Contemporaries, a 1980s publishing imprint that helped launch such coolly eclectic authors as Barry Hannah, Jay McInerney, Thomas McGuane and Joy Williams, and depicts a rooster crowing on a mid-sized city street, backed by a night sky and an enormous moon. “Nightbird” as a title would fit right in with this literary milieu, and Woodbury’s sharp, stylized sensibility is attuned to musical tradition, as well.

Opening track “Birdsong” sets itself firmly within a particular sound and aesthetic—lots of hazy yet expertly treated reverb balanced by a crisp attention to rhythm, and yearning, panoramic melodies bolstered by atmospheric studio effects: canyon echoes, thunderstorm roars, brushfire crackle. The echo-haunted twang of Rick Heins’ pedal steel and Woodbury’s drifty high-plains tenor reaches toward an astral melancholy even as Andrew Bates’ slouching upright bass and the tactile shuffle of Zachary Toporek’s drums keep things swinging on the ground. Other tracks like “Calling From Somewhere” and “Thunder Deepens” continue to explore this territory—already extensively mapped out by Wilco and My Morning Jacket, among others—mixing muscular mysticism with sweeping, faintly sun-bleached grandeur. It’s an effective formula, worked out with grace and precision.

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Woodbury and his collaborators have so much taste and know-how that they could have hit cruise control and made an entire album of impeccably produced, perfectly enjoyable and largely unchallenging country art-rock. Instead, they go for something more complex and, at times, less appealing on the surface. The first verse of “What Else Is New” has a blunt, harmonically static quality, pounding thunk-thunk piano propping up a deliberately flat vocal melody. But the track’s initial inertia makes the small bursts of guitar squall that punctuate verse two more effective, while the later shift into a handclap-peppered, piano-driven rave-up feels like a full-on revelation. Woodbury’s vocals mirror the music’s combination of epiphany and blasé routine: “Peace surpassing understanding / Yeah, well, what is left to say?” he sings. The answer to that question: Perhaps nothing; maybe everything.

The more colorful “When I Get Lonesome (Again)” carries a similar ambivalence. Riding a hopscotch beat and spun-sugar keys, it sounds more like a parody of a beach party than the genuine article. The chorus leaves the beach for the boardwalk, its cocky doo-wop inflections presenting loneliness less as an inner weakness and more as a loyalty test. Woodbury’s world is full of misdirection, with sincerity masquerading as irony and the real camouflaging itself in the artificial. Epiphanies arrive in the form of common sense, while the obvious is described in prophetic terms. Album closer “The Season Has Arrived” avoids the simplicity of meteorological cycles in favor of something more enigmatic and surreal: redirected helicopters, portals made of muddy river water, “the heart of Christ aflame in your haunted guts.” Over a beat that alternates between driving, shuffling, and lurching, Woodbury sings “Maybe you could make it better or simply slide.” He doesn’t spell out which action he’s going to choose, but the song ends with sampled birdsong, a literal presentation of the opening track’s subject. This time, however, it sounds like the night has ended, the sun is rising, and the birds are waking up.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

For Anjimile, the Truth Always Reveals Itself

2026-03-16T15:23:18.324Z

Fairy lights strung across Anjimile Chithambo’s wall cast a warm, pinkish glow across the singer-songwriter’s bedroom. “I know you didn’t mean that gay,” he says when I say I love the lights. “But I deeply feel like a fairy.”

This sends both of us into peals of laughter, effectively breaking the ice in an instant. Anjimile (pronounced ann-JIM-uh-lee, “Jimi” to his friends) is fun. His laughs are big and he’s a smiley talker. He gives off a low-key relatability as he looks earnestly through his glasses and plays with the brim of his camouflage cap, pulling it up and down often.

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This is not the personality I expected, considering Anjimile makes almost uncomfortably intimate folk-inspired music using emotive finger plucks of an acoustic guitar, paired with a voice that unfolds like a blooming flower. His third album, You’re Free to Go, is a genuine triumph for the Malawi-descended, Texas-born, North Carolina-based artist, who has been documenting his life experiences through his releases.

His official debut, Giver Taker (2020), reflects his recovery after an extended stint in rehab and a halfway house and his transition from a cis-woman lesbian to a trans man. Its follow-up, The King (2023), is a reaction to his anger and the racial unrest in the country. You’re Free to Go explores Anjimile’s relatively recent ability to let go of what he cannot change and to embrace the changes he’s experienced. Much like his prior releases, there is a significant gap between when the songs were written and when audiences hear them.

“Why shouldn’t you wait?” Anjimile asks, leaning in with one eye closer to the camera. “This isn’t Wendy’s hot and fresh and now. It’s something that cooked in the oven for years. I have to live with it. And more importantly, I have to make sure I can survive first and then have time to make art and record this shit and then tour it sometimes and still remain alive in capitalism. Shit’s fucked up.”

Anjimile ended up in Durham via Boston, where he was attending Northeastern University, initially as an English major, which he later switched to music industry after performing at some open mic nights—without informing his conventionally minded parents. He participated in the university’s co-op program, their term for internships, at the now-defunct Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant and Music Club, where he made flyers, oversaw contracts, and edited press releases. The experience put him off the business side of music.

(Credit: Xander Opiyo)

After releasing Giver Taker, he connected with his Durham-based management company. At the same time, he was looking to move somewhere warmer without returning to Texas. Los Angeles was out of the question because when he was recording The King there, “I chose to eat a $12 hot dog,” he says. “I couldn’t hang. I just couldn’t afford it. If the world is ending and I’m going to die broke, I might as well be next to a tree and be able to afford groceries a bit more.”

You’re Free to Go was produced by Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mavis Staples), who lives down the street from Anjimile. They met through the Durham music network created by the Psychic Hotline record label and Glow Management. “Chillers,” Anjimile—who is prone to endearing corny phrases—calls them: “Cool-ass motherfuckers.” His first meeting with Cook was social, five years ago. He returned a couple of weeks later to jam, and they wrote “Ready or Not,” one of the songs on You’re Free to Go. They spent a lot of time together but didn’t start working on the album until much later.

“It was the bomb.com,” says Anjimile about recording with Cook. “It was the most luxurious, cozy, homey, full experience. He has an aura of peace. It just radiates and he brings it out in other people. I feel like it helped me reset my own vibe so I could keep writing and move on from one album process to the next.”

This close relationship with producers has been a throughline for Anjimile. His major takeaway from making Giver Taker with his friends Gabe Goodman and Justine Bowe was staying focused during studio sessions. “There’s a lot of downtime where I’m not singing, not playing an instrument, not saying anything and not visually reacting,” he explains. “But I am in a space where people are recording and my presence in those spaces is energetically extremely important. I need to lock in and be paying the utmost attention—even if it’s a dude playing three piano notes in a slightly different way for an hour.”

You’re Free to Go

From Shawn Everett, who produced The King at his home studio in Los Angeles, Anjimile says he learned, “Confidence. Absolute trust in the creative threads and plants that bloom in his mind. He will take the time to water them and see these ideas to fruition—whether or not they end up being part of the project. It takes so much confidence to not only fully trust the vision, but also, if needed, to completely toss it out.”

Cook, Anjimile says, trusts the goodness of his intentions—and the goodness of the intentions of the universe. “He’s a lucky guy—and not just because he’s a white dude, but because he’s a good man,” he says. “I watched him be showered with all these incredibly cool, unique and oddly specific opportunities tailored to his strengths. I’m finding that as I let that sense of luck and wonder in my own life, I’m experiencing the same synchronicities. Maybe Brad is teaching me the power of synchronicity.”

Despite the synergy with his producers, before going into any studio session Anjimile’s songs are primarily written alone, at home, and demoed there. They start with a plucked melody on guitar. Once the chords reveal themselves, he says the air in the room changes and there is absolute focus. “Somewhere in that focus also lies the subject matter and I know immediately in my heart what the song is about. The truth reveals itself.”

He says “Ready or Not,” written about his mother, who hasn’t accepted his transition, allowed the other songs on You’re Free to Go—which aren’t about that topic—to come through. This includes the gorgeous song “Afarin,” the Farsi word for “well done,” and also a female name. Anjimile looks like he’s been caught out when I ask about the song, but admits it is about a woman with that name. When I tell him to say hi to her for me, he says they don’t speak anymore. The love songs on the album are about his partner of the last two years.

There are a few collaborators on the album: Hippo Campus’ Nathan Stocker, who plays guitar and some other instruments (“he rips all over”), Bon Iver’s Matt McCaughan on drums and percussion (“casually the best at what he does”), and one of Anjimile’s heroes, Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, who lends background vocals on “Destroying You,” “Enough,” and “Ready or Not,” which Anjimile says is “The craziest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

(Credit: Xander Opiyo)

The album title implies heartbreak, but Anjimile’s take on it is hopeful. He points out that it’s something positive the police might say to you. Instead, he’s saying it to everyone in his life that he loves and cares for—as a mantra of freedom, a suggestion, and sometimes even a threat. “In my ideal heart,” he says, “It’s what I’m whispering to my younger self before I give them a pat on the back, and they try the monkey bars for the first time.”

Anjimile’s songs have always brimmed with honesty, but on You’re Free to Go he reaches new depths that are palpable to the listener. His voice, in particular, sounds relaxed and open. He credits this in part to no longer trying to pursue music as a full-time career.

“I don’t think that’s realistic for me—certainly not post the 2023 tour,” he says. “I didn’t have health insurance for a long time. I’m mentally ill. I take antidepressants. I’m trans. I take testosterone. It’s been a real cluster. I need a job with health insurance. I need to live a stable lifestyle.”

To this end, he’s been applying for what he calls “day jobs,” which I call “side hustles,” reminding him that music is his day job. He agrees, but that doesn’t make landing a well-suited side gig any easier. He is starting to realize that working at Chipotle (“again”) is not the right fit and that perhaps the universe wants him to land a more meaningful position. Just today he applied to some music teaching jobs and says, “I felt the energy of the intention, my trust of that, and my excitement towards that, spinning through the air as I sent the job applications. I love working with kids. I love music education. That stuff makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It makes me feel relaxed about my music career and my music career related obligations.”

Falling in love with his partner has also informed Anjimile’s life direction. “My goals have changed,” he says. “Instead of wanting to play XYZ Festival, this weekend, for example, my partner is going to buy chicks to start raising some chickens in the big backyard. I’m moving in in May. I want to be a co-gardener. That sounds like a really fun goal.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

‘Demon Hunters,’ ‘Sinners’ Nab Top Oscar Music Honors

2026-03-16T15:08:55.308Z

Music from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners took top honors at last night’s (March 15) 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, with the former’s “Golden” by HUNTR/X winning Best Original Song and the latter’s Ludwig Göransson earning Best Original Score.

Sinners also received Best Actor honors for Michael B. Jordan, Best Original Screenplay for writer/director Ryan Coogler and Best Cinematography. Shaboozey, Brittany Howard, Buddy Guy, Miles Caton, Raphael Saadiq, D-Nice and ballet star Misty Copeland joined forces during the Conan O’Brien-hosted ABC telecast for a performance of the film’s “I Lied to You.”

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HUNTR/X’s EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami also performed “Golden,” which became the first K-pop song to win an Oscar. Beyond its Song win, KPop Demon Hunters was named Best Animated Feature.

The night’s big winner was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which hauled in Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (for an absent Sean Penn) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Jessie Buckley was named Best Actress for Hamnet and Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons.

In a touching ode to late costar Robert Redford, 83-year-old Barbra Streisand sang a portion of “The Way We Were” in her first Oscars performance since a 2013 salute to another former collaborator, composer Marvin Hamlisch.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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New Film To Spotlight George Michael’s ‘Faith’ Era

2026-03-16T15:04:59.390Z

George Michael’s 1988 Paris concert in support of his breakthrough solo album Faith will form the backbone of a new film from Mercury Studios, George Michael: The Faith Tour, which will be released in theaters worldwide later this year. The project will be accompanied by The Faith Tour, an 18-track live album featuring solo and Wham! tracks which was released at the time with only 11 songs. Additional details have yet to be announced.

The Faith Tour was directed by Andy Morahan and David Austin from once-lost footage shot by 14 cameras at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on May 30-31, 1988. Michael was 24 at the time and enjoying massive success with Faith singles such as “I Want Your Sex,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try” and “Monkey.” He became the only British male solo artist to land four No. 1 hits from the same album on the Billboard Hot 100.

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“One of the reasons for making sure there is more funk-oriented material on this album, as part of my new career, is to get people to hear the other songs on this album,” Michael told SPIN of Faith in 1987. “The most important songs for me are not the funk songs. There are some songs that transcend anything I could possibly do on some dance level. The stuff I’m most proud of are the ones based around my song-making as opposed to my record-making. My songs are not usually contemporary but are usually something that transcends a contemporary sound. People will hopefully remember them in five or 10 years. I feel this is not a pop album. It has a far more earthier feel to it, more black-based, simpler and more aggressive than anything I’ve done before. I’ve even added a jazz ballad. There’s a strange mix of influences here that gel together.”

The movie will open with an original short film by Mary McCartney and is narrated by an unseen Michael. Previously unseen photos by Herb Ritts and behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the “Faith” music video will also be included.

Born Georgios Panayiotou as the son of a Greek-Cypriot restaurateur, Michael was obsessed with music from a young age and formed Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley when he was just 18. One of the biggest stars on earth in the late ’80s and early ’90s, he struggled with with fame and sexuality in the years that followed before dying of natural causes on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53.

Michael was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2023.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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Shabaka Picks Up the Sax and Drops Some Beats

2026-03-09T16:11:08.767Z

In the early days of 2023, Shabaka Hutchings announced he’d be putting down his saxophone. This meant curtains or an indefinite hiatus for his celebrated jazz bands Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, and a flute-heavy palette for his debut full-length as a leader, 2024’s Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace. But one of the first melodies you hear on Of the Earth’s opening track, “A Future Untold,” comes from a horn. True, it’s played low and slow, and is introduced by a floating spiral of synth, flute, and chimes, riding the edge of the track’s rubato rotation like a leaf on the edge of a whirlpool. It’s a far cry from even the mellowest moments of Shabaka’s prior work with the instrument, but it’s still a saxophone, and the London musician’s cutting, richly hued tone remains as aggressively contemplative as ever.

Just because Shabaka has returned to old ways, however, doesn’t make Of the Earth a step back. In several respects, it marks a continuation of his unpredictable, idiosyncratic journey, and yet another sharp departure from his previous path. While Perceive Its Beauty featured a cornucopia of guest-stars, Of the Earth is a profoundly solo affair, with every instrument, beat, and soundscape fashioned by Shabaka. Suave hip-hop rhythms animate tracks like “Those of the Sky” and “Dance in Praise,” and Shabaka makes his debut as an emcee on “Go Astray” and album closer “Eyes Lowered,” rapping with a methodical, almost methodical, tracelike flow that can obscure an unexpected levity—”Go Astray” appears to quote Enya. But Shabaka’s former collaborator and fellow flute fanatic André 3000 shouldn’t worry yet—the vocals on Of the Earth feel like an offshoot of Shabaka’s newfound interest in production, rather than the point.

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(Artwork by Atiba Jefferson)

The main source of Of the Earth‘s appeal lies not in its reeds or its bars but in its construction, a balance of meticulously assembled layers and roughshod techniques. The intricate “Those of the Sky” mixes loops, sequencers, and sampled birdsong with flute and sax melodies in precise calibration. But just as all the elements really begin to dance, it cuts off, as if the tape had run out or a switch had been suddenly flipped. A bracing bit of informality, it injects some haphazard spontaneity into what’s otherwise a very precise sound world. Shabaka’s beats likewise have a bluntly casual, bouncing quality, as on the weighty foursquare thump that erupts in the middle of “Step Lightly,” or the handball-like ricochet of “Ol’ Time African Gods.” But they can also move with surprising poise, as on “Light the Way,” which has the feline momentum of Autechre or Aphex Twin, but with flutes providing the hooks instead of synthesizers.

Shabaka’s trajectory so far has been the product of both determination and restlessness, a series of drastic shifts carried out with deliberate purpose. Of the Earth, the first release on Shabaka’s own label, could be a fruitful new beginning, a temporary detour or a jumping-off point to something else entirely. Whatever the case, it’s another step toward wherever Shabaka needs to go.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Anne Hathaway Sings Charli xcx In ‘Mother Mary’

2026-03-06T21:52:31.591Z

Anne Hathaway steps up to the mic as the titular pop star in the upcoming film Mother Mary, the soundtrack for which will feature her singing songs co-written and co-produced by Charli xcx and Jack Antonoff. The first to emerge, “Burial,” can be sampled below.

Directed by David Lowery, Mother Mary also stars Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber and FKA twigs, the latter of whom contributed original music. The self-described “psychosexual pop opera” will be in theaters nationwide on April 24, with the soundtrack arriving a week earlier on A24 Music.

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Per the synopsis, “long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm (Coel) on the eve of her comeback performance.”

Charli xcx has been highly visible across film in recent months, having recently penned the soundtrack for Margot Robbie-starring remake of Wuthering Heights and starred in her own mockumentary, The Moment.

As for Hathaway, she previously sung in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Miserables.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Fugazi Releasing Long-Bootlegged Steve Albini Sessions

2026-03-06T21:48:33.992Z

Fugazi is officially releasing something of a holy grail for ’90s underground music lovers: the pioneering Washington, D.C. band’s long-bootlegged fall 1992 session with late producer Steve Albini for material eventually released the following year on the album In on the Kill Taker.

Featuring Albini’s entire original mix taken directly from the master tapes, the material is being made available as a name-your-own-price download on Bandcamp, with all proceeds benefiting the non-profit organization Letters Charity. Albini and his widow Heather Whinna were longtime supporters of the endeavor, which uses art as a conduit to transform passive compassion into immediate assistance through the distribution of money, given without expectation or judgment, directly to families experiencing poverty.

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Fugazi picks the story up from here in a note on Bandcamp:

“In the fall of 1992, the members of Fugazi were deep in the process of finishing up the songs that would eventually come out as the In on the Kill Taker album the following year. The band had been working on the songs for a couple of years and had gotten as far as recording a few of them at [D.C.-area recording studio] Inner Ear as well as making numerous practice recordings, but by late October they seemed to have hit a bit of a wall. In an attempt to shake things up, it was decided that they would take up Steve Albini’s standing invitation to do a free recording at his Electrical Audio Studio, which at the time was located in the basement of his house on North Francisco in Chicago.

Fugazi and Steve had crossed paths numerous times over the years and had become friends and admirers of each other’s work. The band really appreciated Steve’s aesthetic, especially the early Jesus Lizard records and it seemed like the change of scenery would help them get a better perspective on the songs they had written.

In early November, a minivan was rented, loaded up with gear, and driven to Chicago by Ian [Mackaye] and Joe [Lally], while Brendan [Canty] and Guy [Piccioto] made the 12-hour drive in Brendan’s station wagon. They arrived at Steve’s house and immediately got to work. The original plan was to spend a weekend recording just two or three songs, but once everything was set up and the tape was rolling, they just kept on tracking.

The hang itself was epic and in the downtime, when they weren’t recording, a deeper affinity and friendship was quickly realized. Steve would show off his culinary skills making the group fresh pasta from scratch, after which they would all gather around his kitchen table to play Corickey, a dice game the band had taught him in London a couple of years before. This was a shared obsession and a constant feature of any time spent together. Steve would then traumatize the band with screenings from his collection of outré videos and they would spend hours talking about punk rock. The laughter was non-stop.

In those three or four days, 12 songs ended up getting recorded and mixed –the entirety of the eventual In on the Kill Taker album. During playbacks in Steve’s upstairs mixing room everyone was very excited by the results. However, once the band was driving back home to DC with cassettes of the rough mixes to check out it was clear that this was a session that wasn’t going to be released. The two vehicles met at a rest stop in Ohio and there both sets of band members realized they had come to the same conclusion independent of each other. It’s difficult to explain the issue, but, for as incredible as things felt while at Electrical, the songs sounded flat in subsequent listens. A few days after returning home, Albini wrote to the band with a similar opinion and it was decided to nix the recording.

Less than a month later, Fugazi went into Inner Ear Studio with producer Ted Nicely to make what would become the official In on the Kill Taker album which was released by Dischord in June 1993, while the so-called “Albini Session” was shelved. Though the Chicago recordings have been under lock and key for over three decades, some tapes have leaked out and poor-quality versions of some of the songs have ended up on the internet.”

Fugazi closed with a request for fans to “please be generous” when donating. The band has not played in public since 2002 although members allegedly jam from time to time in private and have turned down highly lucrative offers to reunite.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Silversun Pickups Will Never Stick to the Script

2026-02-23T16:45:32.485Z

On an afternoon when Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger are supposed to be talking with me about Silversun Pickups’ new album Tenterhooks, Aubert can’t help but steer the conversation towards his other love: movies.

He just drove a couple hours from his home in Los Angeles to attend the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and is giddy with excitement about attending a special event where actor Michael B. Jordan will discuss the movie Sinners.

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“I love that movie so much. I saw it five times. I wanted to show it to other people,” Aubert admitted of the breakaway horror/blues origin story film, created by Ryan Coogler. To his point, the movie currently has 16 Academy Award nominations, the most of any motion picture in history.

“He took the whole band crew to see it,” Monninger piped in with a twinge of derision. “He tries to take us to movies when we’re on tour.”

This dynamic has existed since the two were roommates in the early 2000s in L.A.’s Silver Lake neighborhood, at a time the Silversun Pickups were just getting their footing. Aubert and Monninger would host movie nights for friends, including eventual bandmates Christopher Guanlao and Joe Lester. But Monninger admittedly would always fall asleep. “It was basically her ASMR,” Aubert joked, adding, “At one point, I wanted to make a compilation of all the movie endings she missed.”

Aubert’s Ebert-like passion still comes out nowadays as he logs regular appearances on the “Breakfast All Day” podcast where he shares “out of the theater reactions” to various releases. He’s also proud to admit he’s won Oscar movie polls at watch parties each of the last seven years. Naturally, he predicts Sinners will win big this year.

More than the film’s obvious merit, though, Aubert’s proclivity towards the flick may have to do with the fact that he just may be a vampire, too.

During the making of Tenterhooks, the frontman and guitarist ended up in the hospital due a severe ear infection that eventually required blood transfusions. “It started to hurt so bad, I was taking ibuprofen, but I wasn’t eating, and it cut a hole in my stomach. I started losing blood and was in the hospital for like five days,” Aubert shared of the terrifying medical event, before cutting the recollection with his sense of humor. “It was interesting because I could taste someone else’s blood behind my mouth. And it made me wonder if, like, vampires think this person tastes like shit. This person tastes great.”

It took six months for Aubert’s ear to fully heal and thankfully he didn’t have any permanent hearing damage. “I had to take a hearing test, and I don’t know why, but my hearing is not that bad,” he said with a shrug. “I thought, wow, I’ve really worked hard over the years for that not to be the case.”

The worst part of it all was that he wasn’t able to really listen to the band’s new album as it was actively in production with the legendary Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage) behind the boards. Silversun Pickups has continually worked with Vig since 2019’s Widow’s Weeds, calling him “family” at this point.

“The thing I love the most about making records is all the stuff before it’s finished, when things aren’t cemented in and it’s still got wanderlust because you’re still working on it and you still have an imagination with it. I love that experience with an album, but I just didn’t get to have that this time,” Aubert shared, “so I really relied on my bandmates and Butch.”

They delivered. What resulted on Tenterhooks (released February 6 on the band’s own label, New Machine) is an evolved collection of songs that continue Silversun Pickups’ commitment to never play by a rule book or stick to formulaic slop. The album opens with the emo-like wails of “New Wave” and follows with the bass-heavy rock churn of “The Wreckage” before dipping its psychedelic toes into the Monninger-led “Au Revoir Reservoir.” Other standouts include the ’90s alt-rock stamp of “Interrobang” and the down-tuned cinematic splendor of “Running Out of Sounds,” which is a bold-faced lie as far as the band is concerned. Silversun Pickups will tour on the album through May, coming off Aubert’s winter acoustic solo trek where, he said, “I’ve been less shy with my instrument than I have in a long time.”

(Credit: Claire Marie Vogel)

The new album name is an interesting one, even if it’s not in everyone’s vocabulary. “I was really surprised people haven’t heard the expression ‘on tenterhooks,’” Aubert admitted, noting this is not the first time this has happened. “The other one that always threw me for a loop is that we have a record called Neck of the Woods. And I was like, that is as fundamental as it gets but there were still so many people who were like, so what is that about? I had to wonder, are these too old-timey?” As he speaks, he does so with the conviction of a dad to a 10-year-old, his son Nico, who recently shamed him with the whole “6-7” meme.

But, I remind Aubert, the Tenterhooks title seemingly falls in a long line of rock records and songs that have introduced other young people to new words, i.e. Helmet’s “Milquetoast,” Local H’s love of “copacetic” on “Bound for the Floor” and Seven Mary Three’s “Cumbersome.” After using the excuse to break out into a passionate sing-along of the latter, Aubert regained his composure and shed more light on the purposeful intention behind the album name.

“It’s like anxiety or nail biting, like you’re apprehensively awaiting something … and who doesn’t feel that right now,” he admitted before quickly taking a more vocal political stance. “There’s always plenty of people who say, stay in your lane. And I’m like, what are you talking about? You mean we can’t talk about the things that are literally affecting our lives? They’re not staying out of our lanes. They’re mucking with our worlds. This is Gestapo shit. This is the craziest stuff I’ve ever seen, like only in movies,” he added, tying it back into his cinematic worldview. “And so to cowardly say you can’t speak about that is wild.”

At a recent Q&A event in L.A. with Vig, the band put those thoughts into action, giving all proceeds to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights L.A. that’s been around since 1986 with a mission to advance the rights of immigrants and refugees.

“They could use everyone’s help,” Monninger shared of partnering with the nonprofit organization.

“One thing we’ve learned is that it’s always up to us to fix everything,” Aubert added, clarifying, “I mean society. Humans. People. The towns. It’s literally up to us. And we’re very lucky people to be able to have a world that we get to do this for a living and express ourselves. And part of it is giving back to our world as much as we can.”

Tenterhooks and its wider messaging also comes at an interesting personal time for the band as 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Carnavas, which produced the early hit “Lazy Eye” and sent Silversun Pickups into its quick rise. “It’s weird because it still feels fresh to us,” said Monninger before Aubert quickly jumped in with a rebuttal. “But we don’t have the same nostalgia for it,” he said, referencing fans who will often come up to the band after gigs and share how they’ve listened to “Lazy Eye” since high school.

“This sounds so stupid to say, but because we don’t take ourselves seriously, I’ve had to learn to respect our band in front of those people and learn to say thank you,” he admitted. If it sounds gruff, his stance is better understood with some context of the random and unassuming way the band was started in the first place.

“Everyone likes to talk about how I saw her on the plane stealing alcohol,” Aubert joked, referencing when he and Monninger, in college in the ’90s, were both on a plane from L.A. to London to embark on an exchange program with Cambridge University and she pilfered goods from the bar cart. “But actually, I remember Nikki from the very first meeting about the trip. Her mom was so intense and I was like, wow, that woman is not letting that girl speak,” he joked. “So when I saw her stealing the alcohol, I thought, I judged her wrong.”

It was that natural confidence he saw in Monninger that has been a backbone of the band ever since, even as sexism reared its head in the early days. “I wouldn’t be able to go backstage because no girlfriends were allowed. Or they would think I was the publicist and would let my husband through and not me. I’m like, what?” the bassist and vocalist recalled. “We came up from playing at Spaceland and the Silverlake Lounge on the East side of L.A. where there was a girl in every band, so that was so odd to us.”

Monninger, too, played a key role in those early London days, choosing the small club shows she took Aubert to, shows which would eventually shape the band’s musical path.. “We saw Green Day in like a 200-person club. Radiohead, too. I initially said no to that,” Aubert shamefully admitted. “I was like the ‘Creep’ band? I didn’t know it at the time but it changed my life.”

(Credit: Claire Marie Vogel)

Silversun Pickups recently had another blast from the past when making the wackadoo video for their new single “The Wreckage,” in which an alien takes over an unsuspecting woman’s body in a bathroom stall at a dive bar. It features a cameo from one of the band’s other favorite movie stars, Jack Black. The actor is married to the band’s longtime friend, cellist Tanya Hayden, who used to play onstage with Silversun Pickups many eons ago. The band takes partial credit for bringing her and Black together.

“Tanya was an unofficial fifth member that would come on stage sometimes. This before we were signed, years before we made a record,” Aubert explained. “A friend of mine wanted us to be a part of this Doctors Without Borders benefit in Los Angeles with Tenacious D. Jack saw Tanya and remembered her from the high school that they used to go together, and he always liked her. And so they rekindled and got married and had kids from that very stage.”

In Hollywood speak, they’d call that a happy ending. It’s one of the beauties of living and working in Tinsel Town, according to the band. “Because the thing about L.A. is it’s a thousand small towns,” explained Aubert, comparing the atmosphere to, of course, a movie. “If you’ve seen the movie Licorice Pizza, as an Angeleno, that was very right on the money. It’s where things feel dreamlike and a little out of reach,” he added. “That’s just how it functions, to the chagrin of some people, but also to the delight of adventurers that still have a lot to explore.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Linda Perry Revisits ‘Beautiful’ For New Solo LP

2026-02-23T16:40:19.681Z

Christina Aguilera took the Linda Perry-penned “Beautiful” to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002, and now Perry is revisiting the Grammy-winning song as the lead single of her next solo album, Let It Die Here. The album is out May 8 on Perry’s 670 Records through Kill Rock Stars and is her first solo effort since 1999’s After Hours.

“When I wrote ‘Beautiful, ‘I had no idea I was struggling inside,” Perry shares. “‘I am beautiful no matter what they say’ — ‘they’ represents the insecurities we all face [and] the fear that makes people unkind simply because someone or something is different. ‘Beautiful’ is about self-expression [and] being free to be whoever you want to be. Don’t you bring me down today. Don’t you dare try to make me feel less than, not good enough or ugly because I don’t look like you. Don’t treat me like I don’t matter just because I do not speak or think like you. I will shine in every single way, and no one can take that from me, you or anyone.”

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Perry will perform “Beautiful” tomorrow (Feb. 24) on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The song is also the subject of a new music video directed by Perry’s ex-partner Sara Gilbert, and stars their child Rhodes, actor Lukas Haas and the children of a number of celebrity friends. “Sara Gilbert captured the innocence and vulnerability of a brave child unafraid to show the world who they are,” says Perry. “While stepping in front of a neophobic crowd, our star shines a light on how beautiful difference can be.”

“Rather than a traditional music video, I approached ‘Beautiful’ as a short film about finding confidence and strength in the face of intolerance,” offers Gilbert. “My hope is that it encourages even a handful of people to be braver in their truth — and perhaps a few others to reconsider what beauty can mean.”

Perry began writing material for the album while filming the documentary that shares its title. The movie will premiere theatrically in New York on the same day as the solo LP’s release, followed by a May 15 L.A. premiere and a May 19 wide U.S. release.

As previously reported, Perry and the members of the reformed 4 Non Blondes are also aiming to release their first new album since their 1992 debut, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!

Here is the track list for Let It Die Here:

Albatross
Balboa Park
Stupid Yellow Kite
Push Me In the River
Is That All You Got
Let It Die Here
Mourning
What Lies With You
I Am Daughter
Anxiety
The Suitcase
Beautiful
Feathers In A Storm
Deep Breath
Now That She’s Gone
Sunday Best
Liberation

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bon Iver Looks Back With ‘Volumes’ Archival Series

2026-02-23T16:32:52.533Z

Bon Iver may be on an extended hiatus from live performance, but group leader Justin Vernon is looking back through his concert vault for the first release in a long-percolating new archival series, VOLUMES.

Out April 3 on Jagjaguwar, the debut installment is dubbed VOLUMES: ONE “SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC CONCERTS 2019-2023 BON IVER 6 PIECE BAND” and rounds up nine performances from the group’s last four years’ worth of touring before the break, plus — despite the album title — a solitary track from 2017.

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The material largely focuses on Bon Iver’s more experimental music of this era from the albums 22, A Million and i,i, as performed by Vernon, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Jenn Wasner, Matthew McCaughan, Michael Lewis and Sean Carey. Also featured is the pandemic-era release “P.D.L.I.F.” and the 2014 fan favorite “HEAVENLY FATHER,” the studio version of which has long been absent from streaming services.

A cover of Mahalia Jackson’s “A Satisfied Mind” has been lifted from a 2017 show in Portland, Me.; the song was previously performed by Vernon’s pre-Bon Iver band, DeYarmond Edison.

Says Vernon of VOLUMES: ONE, which has been in the works since 2020, “this particular set of 10 songs is like, ‘here, if you’ve never heard Bon Iver, or you have and you didn’t like it, this might be for you.’ This is what we became. This is really us at our best. This is it.”

Future editions of the series will comprise other live shows, demos, unreleased recordings and other previously unheard material. Vernon talked further about the concept in a new episode for NTS Radio, which can be sampled here.

Vernon is expected to take the stage with the pickup cover band Bon Dylan in July at the return of his Eaux Claires festival in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wi.

Here is the track list for VOLUMES: ONE:

INTRO – The Forum, Los Angeles, CA. Sep 15 2019
MAN LIKE U – The Forum, Los Angeles, CA. Sep 15 2019
WE (feat. Bizhiki) – Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, MN. Oct 03 2019
JELMORE – Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta, ID. Jan 19 2020
666 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving, TX. Apr 03 2022
HEAVENLY FATHER – Mediolanum, Milan, IT. Nov 05 2022
P.D.L.I.F. – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, AU. Feb 26 2023
HEY, MA – Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago, IL. July 23 2023
A SATISFIED MIND – State Theatre, Portland, ME. Dec 08 2017
33 “GOD” – WOMADelaide Festival, Adelaide, AU. Mar 10 2023
Sh’DIAH (boardmix) – Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, CA. Oct 06 2019

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bleachers Bounce Back With New Single, LP

2026-02-11T23:18:17.370Z

Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers will be back this spring with their fifth album, everyone for ten minutes, which will be available May 22 from Dirty Hit. The lead single, “you and forever” is out now in tandem with an Alex Lockett-directed video starring Antonoff’s wife, actress Margaret Qualley.

“Despite the moments where it briefly peers into darkness, it’s essentially an optimistic record that feels lovestruck and hopeful, leaping from harmony-laden folk rock to shimmering pop soul to the sax-assisted New Jersey sound that Bleachers have become synonymous for,” reads a description of everyone for ten minutes.

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It’s the follow-up to 2024’s self-titled album, which topped out at No. 62 on the Billboard 200 and featured co-writes with Lana Del Rey, Florence Welch and the National’s Aaron Dessner. Later that year, Bleachers re-recorded their 2014 debut, Strange Desire, as the renamed A Stranger Desire.

Earlier this month, Antonoff earned a share of the Best Rap Song Grammy for his contributions to Kendrick Lamar and Lefty Gunplay’s “tv off” as well as Record of the Year for Lamar and SZA’s “luther.” In doing so, he became just the fourth person to win all four major Grammy categories: Album, Record and Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tame Impala Touring With Djo, Dominic Fike

2026-02-11T23:14:37.030Z

Tame Impala will return to North America starting in July for a fresh round of touring with support from Djo and Dominic Fike, per a teaser post on Instagram. So far, only the cities have been revealed, with dates and venues expected to be announced imminently.

The shows come in continued support of the Kevin Parker-led group’s latest Columbia album, Deadbeat, which debuted at No. X on the Billboard 200 and has spawned the giant streaming hit “Dracula.” A remix featuring BLACKPINK’s JENNIE was recently released, while album closer “End of Summer” just won the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Recording.

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Tame Impala played just 15 shows behind Deadbeat last year and will also visit Europe and the U.K. in April and May before coming back stateside this summer.

Djo, the recording project of Stranger Things star Joe Keery, remains one of the hottest artists on the planet thanks to the resurgence of his 2024 hit “End of Beginning” after the Netflix show wrapped in late December. The song is up to an astonishing 2.2 billion streams on Spotify to date. Keery previously appeared in the video for Deadbeat track “Loser.”

Columbia labelmate Fike hasn’t released an album since 2023’s Sunburn, although he did issue a mixtape dubbed Rocket last summer as well as the single “White Keys” in November.

Here are the new cities for Tame Impala’s 2026 tour:

Miami
Tampa, Fl.
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Montreal
Toronto
Boston
Charlotte, N.C.
Nashville
Columbus
Minneapolis
Seattle
Vancouver
Portland, Or.
Denver
Phoenix
Dallas
Houston

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bad Bunny Parties With Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin At Super Bowl Halftime Show

2026-02-09T19:33:15.602Z

Bad Bunny made history yet again as the first Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner to perform entirely in Spanish last night (Feb. 8) at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, welcoming surprise guests Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin for an homage to the sounds and sights of his native Puerto Rico.

The nine-song performance began in a sugarcane field as Bunny emerged with “Tití me preguntó,” as the scene pulled back to reveal a table of older men playing dominos. Throughout, Bunny surveyed the proceedings from the roof of a pink and orange house, which he eventually fell through and then emerged onto the playing field loaded with dancers that included Cardi B, Karol G and actors Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal.

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He sang a few lines of Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” atop an old white pickup tuck before moving yet again through a corridor lined with string players in black tie. Clad in an elegant powder blue dress, Gaga was then revealed as part of a set modeled on a Puerto Rican wedding, replete with the very real married couple slicing a piece of wedding cake and Bunny waking up children who’d fallen asleep on chairs. Gaga sang her hit “Die With a Smile” and then danced joyously with Bunny and the wedding party guests.

Later, Bunny swigged something from a shot glass, handed his Grammy to a little boy and made way for Martin, who sang the “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” introduction to “El apagón” moments before a mock power outage on the field. The scene cut to Bunny reappearing in the sugarcane field underneath the electrical towers, one of which he then scaled.

The performance wound down with “DtMF,” as the artist spiked the football he’d been carrying on and off throughout the performance and then bounded into the locker room flanked by people holding the flags of dozens of countries. “God bless America,” he proclaimed near the finale.

Bunny also played portions of “Yo perreo sola,” “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” and “NUEVAYoL,” the latter two of which steam from the massive album Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Last weekend, it became the first non-English LP to win Album of the Year at the Grammys.

“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be easy,” Bunny said earlier in the week when asked about the show’s contents. “I know that I told them that they had four months to learn Spanish [but] hey don’t even have to learn Spanish. It’s better if they learn to dance. There’s no better dance than the one that comes from the heart. That’s the only thing they need to worry about and enjoy.”

“It was my absolute honor to be a part of Benito’s halftime show,” Gaga beamed on Instagram afterwards. “Thank you Benito for inviting me and thank you to the entire cast for welcoming me onto your stage. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Added Martin, “they need to give me several hours to process the tsunami of emotions I’m feeling.”

Bad Bunny will resume his tour in support of Debí Tirar Más Fotos Feb. 13 in Buenos Aires. His 2025 residency in Puerto Rico brought in an estimated $200 million for the local economy.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Noah Kahan Nails Down Summer Stadium Trek

2026-02-02T17:49:54.202Z

Noah Kahan’s new single has already topped the Spotify U.S. chart within hours of its release, and the Vermont singer/songwriter is aiming for further new heights this summer with his first full stadium tour. Following the April 24 release of The Great Divide (Mercury), Kahan will hit the road beginning June 11 in Orlando, Fla., with support from Gigi Perez.

Produced by Aaron Dessner and Gabe Simon, the album’s title track got a further boost last night (Feb. 2) during the Grammy Awards, when its complete music video, directed by Parker Schmidt, aired as part of a Mastercard commercial on the broadcast. Kahan is teaming with the credit card company for various activations surrounding the tour, including VIP tickets and experiences. Click here for overall ticket details.

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“From a long silence forms a divide, a great expanse demanding attention,” Kahan wrote on Instagram last week of the follow-up to 2022’s breakthrough album Stick Season. “I stare across it. I see old friends, my father, my mother, my siblings, my younger self, the great state of Vermont. I want to scream these feelings, to gesticulate wildly at the figures on the other side, but my voice has grown hoarse and muted after years of climbing a ladder towards the wild, spiraling dreams that have materialized in front of me.”

“Instead, I wrote them down next to a piano in Nashville, next to a pond in Guilford, Vermont, in a legendary studio in upstate New York, on a farm with a firetower in Only, Tennessee,” he continued. “The songs are the words I would say if I could. They are the fears I dance with in the moments before I drift off to sleep. The music here is my best attempt to delve deeper into the people, places and feelings that have made me who I am. I am grateful for all of it, for all of you, for listening to them, if you choose to do so.”

Here are Noah Kahan’s tour dates:

June 11th // Orlando, FL // Kia Center
June 26th // Philadelphia, PA // Citizens Bank Park
June 28th // Toronto, ON // Rogers Stadium
July 1st // Cincinnati, OH // Great American Ball Park
July 3rd // Pittsburgh, PA // PNC Park
July 10th // Boston, MA // Fenway Park
July 11th // Boston, MA // Fenway Park
July 14th // Chicago, IL // Wrigley Field
July 18th // Queens, NY // Citi Field
July 22nd // Washington, DC // Nationals Park
July 25th // Raleigh, NC // Carter-Finley Stadium
July 27th // Atlanta, GA // Truist Park
July 30th // Arlington, TX // Globe Life Field
August 2nd // St. Louis, MO // Busch Stadium
August 5th // Minneapolis, MN // Target Field
August 8th // Denver, CO // Coors Field
August 15th // Pasadena, CA // Rose Bowl Stadium
August 17th // San Diego, CA // Petco Park
August 19th // Phoenix, AZ // Chase Field
August 21st // San Francisco, CA // Oracle Park
August 25th // Sandy, UT // America First Field
August 28th // Vancouver, BC // BC Place
August 30th // Seattle, WA // T-Mobile Park

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Post Malone, Jelly Roll Reprising ‘Big’ Stadium Tour

2026-02-02T17:46:11.632Z

Hours after they both came up big on the Grammys stage, Post Malone and Jelly Roll have confirmed an extension of their BIG ASS Stadium Tour, which played to more than a million fans and grossed $170 million last summer. The tour will resume May 13 in El Paso, Texas, and has dates on the books through July 28 in Salt Lake City.

Rising country star Carter Faith will open all shows, tickets for which go on sale Feb. 10 to the general public. The BIG ASS tour will also intersect with a number of festivals, including Stagecoach on the Coachella grounds in late April, Carolina Country Fest in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood, N.J.

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On Feb. 1 at the Grammys in Los Angeles, Jelly Roll won three honors, led by Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken. He gave an impassioned speech at the podium, stressing how music and the Bible helped him endure several jail sentences on drug and robbery charges. “There was a time in my life that I was broken. That’s why I wrote this album,” he said. “I didn’t think I had a chance. There was days that I thought the darkest things.”

As for Malone, he paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne with a performance of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” backed by guitarist Andrew Watt, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Here are Post Malone and Jelly Roll’s tour dates:

Fri Apr 10 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Tortuga Music Festival*
Sun Apr 26 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach Music Festival*
Wed May 13 – El Paso, TX – Sun Bowl Stadium
Sat May 16 – Albuquerque, NM – Boots In The Park Festival*
Tue May 19 – Waco, TX – McLane Stadium
Sat May 23 – Baton Rouge, LA – Tiger Stadium
Tue May 26 – Birmingham, AL – Protective Stadium
Fri May 29 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Sun May 31 – Panama City Beach, FL – Gulf Coast Jam*
Fri Jun 05 – Oxford, MS – Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
Sun Jun 07 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Country Fest*
Tue Jun 09 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
Fri Jun 12 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
Tue Jun 16 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
Sat Jun 20 – Wildwood, NJ – Barefoot Country Music Festival*
Mon Jun 22 – East Hartford, CT – Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
Thu Jun 25 – Cleveland, OH – Huntington Bank Field
Sat Jun 27 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest*
Tue Jun 30 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium^
Sat Jul 11 – Fayetteville, AR – Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Wed Jul 15 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Stadium
Fri Jul 17 – Ames, IA – Jack Trice Stadium
Tue Jul 21 – Missoula, MT – Washington-Grizzly Stadium
Fri Jul 24 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
Tue Jul 28 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rice-Eccles Stadium

* Festival appearance
^ Without Jelly Roll

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bruce Springsteen Crashes Tom Morello Anti-ICE Rally In Minneapolis

2026-02-02T17:04:26.952Z

Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance this afternoon (Jan. 30) in Minneapolis during a Tom Morello-organized daytime benefit concert for the families of slain protestors Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during which he live debuted his just-released protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” and then dusted off his 1995 track “The Ghost of Tom Joad” for a guitar-solo filled electric version backed by Morello and other musicians.

In Springsteen’s most full-throated rebuke yet of the Donald Trump administration, “Streets of Minneapolis” found him blasting the “federal thugs” who killed Pretti and Good and vowing, “we’ll remember the names of those who died on the streets of Minneapolis.” “Citizens stood for justice / Their voices ringing through the night,” the 76-year-old rock legend sang. “And there were bloody footprints / Where mercy should have stood / And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.” See fan-shot footage below.

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Morello only announced the Concert of Solidarity & Resistance To Defend Minnesota at the 1,550-capacity First Avenue two days ago, dovetailing with Springsteen having released “Streets of Minneapolis” that same day despite having only written it last Saturday. The event also featured performances by Rise Against, Ike Reilly and jazz guitarist Al Di Meola, while Morello played songs from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave such as “Killing in the Name” and “Like a Stone.”

It concluded with an all-hands-on-deck run through of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Power to the People,” after which hometown hero Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” blared over the house speakers.

“This is a celebration of resistance, and that one day we’ll create a little bit of the world we want to see,” Morello told the crowd. Earlier this week when announcing the show, he said, “we are coming to Minneapolis where the people have heroically stood up against ICE, stood up against Trump, stood up against this terrible rising tide of state terror,. Where the people have stood up for their neighbors and themselves, for democracy and justice. Ain’t nobody coming to save us except us and it’s now or never.”

Springsteen and Morello have worked together frequently over the past two decades, with the latter subbing for E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt during tours in 2013 and 2014. Morello and his Rage Against the Machine bandmates frequently covered “The Ghost of Tom Joad” in concert and eventually released their version on the 2000 album Renegades.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Netflix Doc To Cover Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Slovak

2026-02-02T16:59:49.722Z

Netflix will explore the early period of the Red Hot Chili Peppers career in the aptly named documentary The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which will premiere March 20. Per Variety, the film will focus on the formative role of original guitarist Hillel Slovak, who died of a drug overdose in 1988.

The movie was directed by Ben Feldman and is based on new interviews with Chili Peppers members Flea and Anthony Kiedis, plus Slovak’s friends and family. It was produced by Asta Entertainment, Submarine Entertainment and Polygram Entertainment and was reportedly screened for interested parties at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

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However, the Peppers released a statement clarifying their involvement and that the documentary is more focused on Slovak rather than the history of the band itself. They wrote, “about a year ago, we were asked to be interviewed for a documentary about Hillel Slovak. He was a founding member of the group, a great guitarist, and friend. We agreed to be interviewed out of love and respect for Hillel and his memory. However, this documentary is now being advertised as a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary, which it is not. We had nothing to do with it creatively. We have yet to make a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary. The central subject of this current Netflix special is Hillel Slovak and we hope it sparks interest in his work.”

Slovak’s wacky, perverse sense of humor and natural hunger for funk and freedom were the spark which became the Peppers’ signature hyperkenesis, but his death followed a headlong dive into addiction which had been deepening for years. In 1990, Kiedis told SPIN that the song “Knock Me Down” from the album Mother’s Milk was inspired by Slovak’s sad decline.

“The initial impetus for that song came to me while we were in England [in May 1988],” he recalled. “Hillel had a pretty bad drug habit when we left L.A, and when we got there he commenced experiencing withdrawal symptoms. He was really ill, but at the same time he didn’t seem to have compassion for his life or consider that he wasn’t beyond death or humiliation because of drugs. It just dawned on me that here he was in the face of misery, but he still wasn’t ready to concede that drugs were lessening his level of life and beauty. So the idea of ‘knock me down’ came to me, like someone’s got to knock him down before he dies. Because he’s not bigger than life. Then we came back to L.A, and immediately both of us started using again and then he died a very short time afterward, ’cause he was alone. I hadn’t really tried to reach him for a week. I could have saved him — I know CPR really well, and I’ve brought back a couple of friends who died from an OD.”

“It’s a true honor to partner with Netflix to bring The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to a global audience,” Feldman said of the project. “At its heart, this is a deeply relatable story — about the friendships that shape our identities and the lasting power of the bonds forged in adolescence. What’s less relatable, of course, is that here those friends went on to create one of the greatest rock bands in history. I’m profoundly grateful to the band and to Hillel’s family for their trust and generosity, and to Netflix for helping bring this story to the world stage.”

The Chili Peppers are expected to take the year off while Flea promotes and tours in support of his debut solo album, Honora, due March 27 from Nonesuch.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Cat Power Takes Us Back In Time With New EP ‘Redux’

2026-01-26T21:08:44.657Z

It looks like Chan Marshall gets the last laugh. Pitchfork’s oft-dismissive review of her 2006 album The Greatest doesn’t even talk about the music until its third paragraph. Instead, it begins with the artist’s mental health struggles, calling her “Beautifully Tortured.” But as we arrive at the 20th anniversary of that album’s release, Marshall will be playing The Greatest in its entirety on tours in the United States and Europe. She will also release Redux, a three-song EP, available both digitally and on 10-inch vinyl via Domino Recording Co.

Time has been kind to The Greatest. As Amy Phillips wrote in that same review, “the middle chunk of The Greatest just feels old. It’s beyond “adult”: These songs seem musty and outdated, like stuff my grandparents might have danced to during The War.” But Marshall is an old soul, and rather than make music for the indie kids and hipsters, she crafted an album that sounded wistful, melancholy, and mature for its time. Twenty years on, The Greatest has a timeless quality that some short-sighted reviewers couldn’t understand.

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For Redux, Marshall convened Dirty Delta Blues—her heavy-hitting backing band—to record the EP at Church House Studios in Austin, Texas. Featuring guitarist Judah Bauer (The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion), keyboardist Gregg Foreman (The Delta 72, Jesse Malin), bassist Erik Paparozzi (Lizard Music), and drummer Jim White (Dirty Three, Hard Quartet) and recorded by Stuart Sikes, the EP serves as a brief appetizer for the tour which kicks off in Houston on February 12. It is also a reason to pull out your copy of The Greatest.

Redux begins with a cover of James Brown’s “Try Me.” Abandoned during the original sessions for The Greatest, this new version may lack the fire of Brown’s original but lends itself well to Marshall’s soulful voice. The EP continues with a new version of “Could We,” a Marshall original first featured on The Greatest. Hewing closer to the rendition Marshall performed live when promoting The Greatest, this version feels more lived-in than the original, with the horns missing and Foreman’s keyboard featuring prominently.The EP closes with a cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Marshall said she recorded the song to honor Teenie Hodges, who played guitar on The Greatest and passed away in 2014. Though Marshall’s rendition doesn’t eclipse Sinéad O’Connor’s popular cover, this version isn’tt trying to reach the same transcendent heights. Instead, Marshall does what she has always done best—crafted inspired music that both soulful youngsters and their grandparents could dance to.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Violet Grohl Inks With Republic Records

2026-01-26T20:56:15.714Z

Two days after releasing her debut single on Bandcamp, Dave Grohl’s 19-year-old daughter Violet has signed with Republic Records through her own Auroura Records imprint. Two additional, previously Bandcamp-only tracks, “THUM” and “Applefish,” are also out now on all streaming platforms, with a full-length album expected later this year.

“From the moment we met Violet, it was clear that she represents the next generation of artists,” said Republic SVP of A&R/Operations Kristina Grossmann. “The music is immediate, intentional and her voice holds a rare duality. She is unapologetically cool and is a fearless female voice. We couldn’t be more excited to help bring her vision and this album to life.”

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Earlier this week, Violet Grohl paid tribute to late filmmaker David Lynch with the song “What’s Heaven Without You,” which she released in honor of what would have been Lynch’s 80th birthday. The track was produced by Justin Raisen (Kim Gordon, Yves Tumor) and Anthony Paul Lopez, and was written by Grohl with Raisen and Persia Numan. The latter is the daughter of new wave icon Gary Numan, whose song “Down in the Park” was covered by Foo Fighters on the 1996 collection Songs in the Key of X.

“This song was written in David Lynch’s memory alongside two of my favorite collaborators in the world, Persia Numan and Justin Raisen,” Violet Grohl says. “A few days after the chaos and devastation of the L.A. fires, we came together in our sadness and grief and let it pour out into this song. We hope you can find some resonance in it. The impact he left on art is truly magical. We miss you David.”

Violet Grohl has sang onstage with Foo Fighters on numerous occasions in recent years, participated in her dad’s Hannukah Sessions series and also contributed vocals to the song “Show Me How” from the Foos’ 2023 album But Here We Are.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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The Dual Personalities of Tyler Ballgame

2026-01-26T20:50:37.274Z

“Anybody could be ‘Ballgame,’ says Tyler Ballgame. “You could be ‘Charles Ballgame.’” The singer-songwriter is referring to baseball great Ted Williams, who earned the nickname “Teddy Ballgame” for his unparalleled talent and unrelenting passion for the sport; a figure Ballgame admires and ultimately took inspiration from.

Ballgame is in Brooklyn for a show at the small neighborhood bar, Union Pool, which ironically, has neither billiards tables nor a swimming pool.

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He’s wearing a white knitted sweater, his shoulder-length brown hair tucked behind his ears, and a scruffy beard. He’s soft-spoken and shy, unexpected for the big bear of a man that he is. Equally unexpected is his soulful tenor singing voice, which critics have likened to a cross between Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.

But it was the album, Nilsson Sings Newman, an all-time favorite of his, that Ballgame says taught him how to croon with such warm and earnest vulnerability.

“When I first discovered it, I was like, oh, finally a real singer singing Randy Newman songs,” he says. “And as I got older and listened to more Randy Newman, Randy’s the better singer, because he makes you feel more than Harry Nilsson. Nillson is an incredible singer. He makes you feel a ton. But his voice is so perfect, it’s almost unrelatable. Randy Newman’s voice makes me feel so much of the ugliness of the characters in his songs; that’s real singing.”

It’s no surprise then, that Ballgame elicits a similar response from his ever-growing fanbase when hearing him perform, particularly at his live shows, where his knack for connecting with his audiences on such an intimate level has put him on a career trajectory to stardom.

Before he found success as a musician, he was Tyler Perry, a Berklee College of Music dropout living in his mother’s basement in Rhode Island during the COVID pandemic.

Credit: El Hardwick

He counts The Beatles, The Who, and Jim Croce as some of his earliest musical influences, but it was when he saw Fleet Foxes perform “Mykonos” on “Saturday Night Live” while at a sleepover in 2009 that he says made him realize he wanted to play music for a living.

“It changed something within me,” he says.

Between playing cover gigs, he worked at his stepfather’s dog-training business and wrote songs, chronicling his failing music journey. His Tyler Ballgame persona started out as an ironic character in one of those songs, “Got a New Car,” the first single off his upcoming debut album, For the First Time, Again, out January 30.

“It was kind of like a little joke at myself, like, ‘Tyler Ballgame got his hopes up, you know, that it would actually work out for him,” he says, quoting the lyrics.

For the First Time, Again

Ballgame admits that he was in a pretty deep depression for the entirety of his 20s, and smoked a lot of weed. He tells me he’d wake up in the morning, get high until he eventually dozed off, then wake up and do it over and over again until it was bedtime.

He says that during his childhood, he was lauded and praised for his singing voice, for having a true musical gift. His family had high expectations that he would do something special with his talents. Instead, he quit college and moved back home.

“I think a lot of it was just weighing the weight of expectation around being a gifted child,” he says. ‘That gifted-child-to-depressed-adult pipeline is very real. It was just a lot of sitting around feeling sorry for myself and trying to wrestle the illusion of the mantle of control via self-sabotage. I wasn’t who I was supposed to be. Like, I was this artist that would never find an audience, and that would never be able to make art and would have to be a square peg in a round hole…get a regular job and be a regular person.”

At the urging of his mother, Ballgame began seeing a therapist, a nutritionist named Courtney Huard who became an important mentor for him during his recovery. She worked with him through the lens of Ballgame’s unhealthy relationship to food and body image, among his other patterns of self-abuse. He also found inspiration to change from the teachings of philosophers Eckhart Tolle and Alan Watts.

“I kind of had the wool pulled from my eyes around the nature of ego and human suffering,” he says. “I was like, oh shit! I’m just one flavor of how a brain is either in order or disorder. And all the space between it freed me from the association of that. And then you realize the only thing that’s real is the right now, the present moment. And so much of our suffering and tension in our lives is not being able to square with expectations for the future or dwelling on things from the past. And both of those things are not real and don’t exist anywhere in reality.”

On a whim, he applied for a commercial real estate job in Los Angeles, lying about the fact that he had no degree and no experience. He was hired, and within two weeks, with support from his family and Huard, he moved across the country to Venice Beach.

Viewing his move as a new lease on life, armed with his acoustic guitar and a renewed sense of self-confidence, Ballgame began performing his own songs at open mics, eventually forming a band. As he explored names for his new project, he started reading through some old lyrics he had written back in Rhode Island. He came across “Got a New Car.” But this time, the meaning of Tyler Ballgame, he realized, was different. Rather than a joke, it was aspirational.

“Ballgame is a character, it’s a mask that I wear to be able to be bold on stage and be the archetypal front man, and occupy this space where I can end up showing more of myself…it’s the blank canvas that gives me the license to free myself from the shackles of Tyler and be Ballgame,” he says. “It’s just been really freeing.”

Credit: El Hardwick

After a year of playing to increasingly larger audiences, Ballgame met acclaimed indie musician-producers Jonathan Rado (Foxygen, The Lemon Twigs, Weyes Blood) and Ryan Pollie (Los Angeles Police Department), who urged him to make an album. Over the next few weeks, Ballgame and Rado recorded more than an album’s worth of his original songs.

Around this same time, Ballgame learned about the death of his former counselor, Huard, back in Rhode Island, the victim of a murder-suicide by her husband.

“People come in and out of your life and are there for a really important time,” he says. “I now see myself and my journey as a branch off of her legacy, her life’s work, and what she stood for and the points she chose to push at and use her life force and energy towards. I’m now within that heritage, and that means a lot to me.”

Many of the songs Ballgame and Rado recorded make up For the First Time, Again. The 12 tracks are rooted in classic rock, indie, and Americana.

On “You’re Not My Baby Tonight,” Ballgame channels the late Roy Orbison as he croons, “Well, I knew you once / I know you now,” his voice flowing from conversational whisper to full-throated soaring, “I’ve known you forever / Can’t wait to meet you for the first time again.”

Ballgame lets loose on “Matter of Taste,” which is one of the best tracks on the album, as he growls and whoops with exuberant confidence about wanting love but not necessarily needing it.

But it’s “Goodbye My Love,” that Ballgame considers really special.

“I remember hearing it for the first time,” he says. “Rado sent it to me the night that we made it, and I got really scared actually, because it was the first thing that I’d ever been a part of that I thought was objectively great and was objectively compelling on a level where it felt like, oh, that could change my life.”

Ballgame attributes his former counselor, Huard, as part of the inspiration for writing the album. “Even though the person’s gone, all that love that builds, all the firmament of who we are and how we relate to each other can never go anywhere,” he says. “It’s just in another face. It’s just in another form. And that’s been really foundational to writing this record and just how I view my role as an artist, and helps me be strong and bold.”

Reflecting on his darker days, back before he found success, living in his mother’s basement, depressed and rudderless, Ballgame doesn’t regret the poor choices he made back then. “I’m actually very grateful for that space because it made me who I am now,” he says. “I think my unique perspective, having kind of taken those lumps, is actually more valuable to the world than just being a gifted snot-nose kid, you know?”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Death Cab For Cutie Inks With ANTI-, Plots Tour

2026-01-26T20:47:32.206Z

Death Cab for Cutie have signed with ANTI- Records following the fulfillment of their two decade run at major-label Atlantic, for which the Ben Gibbard-led band released six albums (two of which sold more than 1 million copies). Death Cab has also confirmed a summer tour with support from Jay Som, Japanese Breakfast and Nation of Language.

“We are thrilled to be joining the roster at ANTI- which includes some of our favorite artists, old friends and in many cases, both,” said Gibbard of the label, which is home to everyone from Tom Waits and Mavis Staples to MJ Lenderman and Fleet Foxes. “We also can’t wait to begin this new chapter with the wonderful staff at ANTI- and share with you what we’ve been working on.”

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The group’s 11th studio album is expected at some point this year. It will be the follow-up to 2022’s Asphalt Meadows, which spawned two No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s Adult Alternative Airplay chart in “Here to Forever” and “Pepper.”

Meanwhile, Death Cab’s upcoming outing begins July 10 in Minneapolis and runs through Aug. 7 in Paso Robles, Ca. Beforehand, the group will perform at Denver’s Outside Days festival on May 29. Tickets go on sale Jan. 30.

“One of my favorite parts of being in this band is getting to be out on the road with artists that inspire us. Japanese Breakfast, Jay Som and Nation of Language have made some of our favorite albums in recent years and we’re stoked they’ll be joining us this summer,” Gibbard enthuses.

Here are Death Cab for Cutie’s tour dates:

May 29 – Denver, CO – Outside Days
July 10 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory *Jay Som
July 11 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre *Jay Som
July 12 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park *Jay Som
July 14 – Cincinnati, OH – MegaCorp Pavilion *Jay Som
July 15 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion *Jay Som
July 17 – Philadelphia, PA – Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts *Japanese Breakfast
July 18 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC *Japanese Breakfast
July 19 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre *Japanese Breakfast
July 21 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *Japanese Breakfast
July 22 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek *Japanese Breakfast
July 24 – St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre #Nation of Language
July 25 – Bentonville, AR – The Momentary #Nation of Language
July 26 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove #Nation of Language
July 29 – Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater #Nation of Language
July 31 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre #Nation of Language
August 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre #Nation of Language
August 3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre #Nation of Language
August 4 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park #Nation of Language
August 6 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
August 7 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

‘Disco’ Days: New Harry Styles Album Due In March

2026-01-15T23:22:55.505Z

The wait will soon be over for long-suffering Harry Styles fans, as the former One Direction singer has confirmed a March 6 release for his fourth Columbia studio album, KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. The project was executive produced by Styles’ longtime collaborator Kid Harpoon.

As of yet, there’s not much additional information about the set, other than that it contains 12 tracks and can be pre-ordered on CD, vinyl, cassette and other formats through Styles’ web site. See the cover art below.

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KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. follows Styles’ 2022 album Harry’s House, which debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and the Official U.K. Charts. It eventually won the Grammy for Album of the Year and was supported by an 18-month world tour that included long residencies at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.

In recent days, rumors have been flying that Styles will reprise the idea later this year, although his camp has been mum about details.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Emerging Vocalist Victoria Ibek is One to Watch in 2026

2026-01-12T18:25:34.196Z

“Every time I want to stop, I remember there’s someone somewhere who is silently inspired by the things I do and that motivates me to keep going.” – Victoria Ibek

If you ask emerging vocalist, songwriter and beat maker Victoria Ibek what her favorite music genre is, she’ll tell you she’s a #1 fan of pop, hip hop, dance, jazz, Latin, classical, funk… well, you get the idea. It goes back to believing that “good music is good music” and you simply know it when you hear it.

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If there’s one thing to know about Victoria, it’s that she creates more than good music, whether it’s from lyrical or drum beat making or her honey sweet vocal range that’s slightly tinged in a Nigerian accent. The 24-year-old musician is inspired as much by Eartha Kitt, Aretha Franklin and Donna Summer as she is by Beyoncé, Victoria Monét, Normani and Chlöe x Halle.

When watching her YouTube Shorts channel she presents as a fearless hip hop artist with a steely gaze. Yet when you speak to her in person, she is poised, while politely explaining that she’s really an introvert who just likes to perform. She prefers wine and game nights in with friends over club nights out with a crew. Although her music implies it’s more about dance floors, relationship intelligence, and extreme confidence to express emotions from elation to anger.

The range expressed in her listening choices is reflected in Victoria’s own music. One minute she’s an R&B crooner on the track, “Dreams,” a melodic, vocally driven pop track, then the next she’s telling a romantic interest exactly where they stand on, “Wish U Were,” her current favorite song because of its sharp confidence and edge. You can imagine a producer getting a hold of “Tomorrow Night (feat. Jared Silao)” with its flirtatious lyrics (delivered by both artists) and catchy beats to master a club banger heard from Vegas clubs to Dubai yacht parties. The track, “Don’t Leave Me,” contains an upbeat, dance pop and R&B quality that transcends into a hypnotic structure. All of Victoria Ibek’s music suggests great possibility, whether her songs end up as chart-climbing pop hits or dance club sensations.

Victoria is currently living in Los Angeles after winning a full BandLab Creator Grant to pursue her music. She was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina then spent a few years growing up in her mother’s native Nigeria. She and her sister lived there for six years until Victoria was 16 and returned to North Carolina to complete high school. Their mother took them there to connect the girls to their roots and African family before she passed away. Victoria says that when she lived in Nigeria, she had to figure out how to make music and write songs because she didn’t grow up playing instruments. “But obviously I’m Nigerian, so the infectious rhythms are always going to be a part of me.” Her own upbeat track, “Good Vibes Only,” demonstrates that Nigerian sensibility with its celebratory vibe and get-up-and-dance rhythm, as the title implies. It feels like a throwback to her Mother’s generation or even earlier.

“My mother wanted to give us a little bit of our culture and make sure that we understood where we came from, which is why I’m also a big proponent of believing that you have to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going,” she asserts. “I spent six beautiful years there meeting people and learning about my family and I couldn’t have been happier.”

The only traditional instrument she has mastered so far is the ukulele, a small four-stringed instrument in the lute family. It has a bright cheerful sound popularized in Hawaii although it is made from a fierce Portuguese machete. Somehow it feels like a metaphor for Victoria’s own soul – cheerful on the outside yet built on strength and intent.

Perhaps in-part because both her parents passed away when she was young, outside of her passion for creating music, Victoria has a deep desire to help children. “My whole life I’ve been obsessed with helping children. My mom ran a daycare center while we were growing up and my first real job was as a Certified Nursing Assistant, working with kids with disabilities. Now that I’m an adult, I still work with kids doing music therapy. The whole reason I started playing the ukulele was because I was working at a music therapy center and they taught me how to play it for the kids. It’s important to make sure we do as much as possible to help the future because the adults you see are a result of how they were treated as kids, you know?” What she calls her “whole second life outside of music” has been dedicated to children’s care to make sure “they are good enough to help the future that we all want to see.”

As a child herself, she claims to have started making music as soon as she could talk. “I would be singing songs, not the right words, just singing as many words as I could remember in the song that I liked.” Her earliest musical memory was of Rihanna. “My sister and I had matching pink and blue radios, and we had one CD (Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad). We never had another CD in my life. We would share back and forth because we’d never listen at the same time. I remember the first song that I ever learned how to sing correctly was ‘Umbrella.’ I genuinely thought I was Rihanna at the time.” The next record Victoria remembers is Beyoncé’s I Am… Sasha Fierce because everyone in her household knew the “Single Ladies” dance so she was expected to know the routine front to back. “I am a dance person. I need to be able to move. I need people to be able to move. And I feel like between the music videos of ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Single Ladies,’ I just have to dance, and people must be dancing with me. Something has to be shaking when I’m singing.”

That’s why today she finds herself making music that makes people feel something physical beyond simple emotion. “If you like music that’s loud and in your face, but is meaningful, then that’s the type of music I make. I love a good party song but if you listen to the lyrics, you’ll find out that I’m usually singing about something deeper than just having fun.”

As Victoria got older, people suggested that she join this band or this choir group, but she decided to make her own music instead. “I got into making my own music and writing my own songs. I actually had to learn software and teach myself how to make my own beats, write, produce, mix and master. So, I started BandLab in the early days around 2018. I was one of the more active creators, I would say. I just started to brand myself, connect myself, meet people here and there, and go out and perform. I did as much as I could to be in my passion project because I wasn’t one of those people who grew up being trained in music.” She currently has 15.7K followers on the music creation and collaboration platform.

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Ibek

Today, she sees moving to LA as her life-changing opportunity to purely focus on music. “Up until then, I had spent most of my life focused on school… getting my Bachelor of Science in Pre-med at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte because I didn’t want to study music. I wanted to make sure I had something else on the educational side. So, when I finished college, I decided that now was the time to really pursue my music. Getting the opportunity with BandLab to participate in their program really helped me get my feet wet and create music. Every week we wrote, produced, made new songs and got feedback. Everything turned around in a week. Now, a year later, I have my whole project done and everything that I’m releasing is from that. It’s been a beautiful time.”

Victoria claims that, for her, writing lyrics is purely in the moment. It truly depends on what’s going on in her life at that exact moment. “Unfortunately, I’m an empath, and I say unfortunately, because I cannot help but write exactly where I am in every day, every time I pick up the pen. If I don’t know what I’m feeling, after I write a song, I know I’m still mad at who I’m writing about or that I don’t talk to the person anymore or I’m still in love with that person. I think about it spiritually when I write lyrics and make music because I can’t help but be connected to a song in that way.”

Outside of BandLab, you can find Victoria playing live shows in Los Angeles at clubs like The Peppermint Club, The Dime and Soul of LA Lounge. “I’m doing everything an aspiring musician does – going to all the venues, trying to meet as many people as I can and network. I’m scoping the land out, figuring out where I need to be to stay elevated. I like living in LA because I like to be wherever the music is. I like to be close to where everybody is more of a community, and I didn’t find that in Charlotte. You have to go where the people are. As an aspiring artist, you must believe in yourself more than the money. So, for right now, we’re following our hearts instead of the money (laughs).”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

A Symphony of Sound

2026-01-12T18:09:07.757Z

Roxanne Shanté is listening to her Juice Crew partner Masta Ace talk about RZA’s upcoming EP, Juice Crew, when she has an a-ha moment. Unbeknownst to her, RZA had started the project years ago to accompany the 2017 release of the Shanté biopic Roxanne Roxanne.

Suddenly it all clicked.

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Song titles like “Single Mothers,” “Lolita,” and “Roxanne the Truth” made more sense. This isn’t just a random EP featuring members of the legendary Juice Crew—it was an album with a specific intention: tell Roxanne Shanté’s story.

“To tell you the truth, this is my first time on the call hearing that that’s what it was,” she admits. “I just found out about the project this year.”

Fellow Juice Crew members Big Daddy Kane and Craig G, who are also on the call, smile at her revelation as she continues, “All these songs are about me. I can really say all these muthafuckin’ songs was really about me.”

Shanté appears genuinely surprised. Though she smashed through barriers as one of the first female battle rappers in hip-hop and recently earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her pioneering role in the culture, there’s a sense it doesn’t feel real to her. Then again, it did take nearly 40 years for her to receive the recognition she deserved.

As a teen, Shanté was battling grown men on the streets of New York and rose to hip-hop infamy with the 1984 release of “Roxanne’s Revenge,” an answer track to “Roxanne Roxanne” by U.T.F.O. It was the spark that lit the fuse for the infamous Roxanne Wars between Shanté and another young female rapper called The Real Roxanne. But life happened and by age 25, she had largely retreated from the public spotlight.

Roxanne Shante performs in 1988. (Credit: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Since then, women like Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, Eve, Foxy Brown, and The Lady of Rage have continued down the path laid by Shanté and other pioneering female rappers like MC Sha-Rock from the Funky 4 +1.

The Juice Crew EP perfectly encapsulates her trials and tribulations while allowing Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and Shanté the space to flex their rhyming prowess. But to Shanté, there’s a deeper meaning.

“During my first time hearing some of the tracks, especially the one that’s done by Craig G, ‘Lolita,’ I literally was in tears because it gave me a chance to hear how my brothers really saw my life during the time we were growing up,” she explains. “It really touched my heart.”

And the feelings are mutual. The love and respect between the four Juice Crew members on the call is palpable. Kane points out it wasn’t just women who were influenced by Shanté—men were, too.

“When we look at a lot of women in the hip-hop game, Lil’ Kim came from Biggie, Lauryn came from the Fugees, and Foxy came from Nas and JAY-Z and so on and so on. In Shanté’s case, she was the first, and a whole bunch of male artists were birthed by her. By what she set off with ‘Roxanne’s Revenge,’ it led to MC Shan, Biz Markie, Craig G, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, and Master Ace. All of these men have careers because of this young lady. And the craziest thing about it, with the exception of Craig, is she’s younger than all of us.”

Masta Ace at Fletcher’s One Stop in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990. (Credit: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Momentum for the Juice Crew project began building in November 2025 with the release of “Open Ya Eyes,” a potent mixture of Kane’s buttery lyrical delivery and RZA’s cinematic, blaxploitation-inspired production. For Craig G, jumping on the project was an easy decision.

“The Wu-Tang has never hesitated to say that the Juice Crew was a blueprint to their crew,” he says. “They’ve always given us props. They’ve always talked about how they basically took that blueprint and went a step further with it. To me, it’s like a circle. They always talk about how we inspired them to do what they do.”

Masta Ace was equally as honored to participate. He was originally approached by RZA’s brother, 9th Prince, who told him the soundtrack would accompany the Roxanne Roxanne biopic.

“Like Kane said, if anybody’s deserving of it, it’s her because she was the catalyst for all of us,” Ace says. “If there was no ‘Roxanne’s Revenge,’ we probably would have not formed as a crew and got together anyway.”

Shanté, clearly moved by their sentiments, doesn’t hesitate to express her admiration for them, as well.

“My hip-hop brothers are the greatest, they’re icons,” she says. “This is not just some small crew that’s put together. We’re talking about superstars. To be able to see them take bits and pieces of my life and put them in songs, and now say, ‘Listen, this is for you,’ just really makes me feel honored.”

Shanté begins to choke up but stops herself, noting she’s “filming some shit.” She adds with a laugh, “I can’t let my face take over. I can’t cry. I can’t mess up my makeup.”

She adds, “I love y’all. I appreciate y’all so much,” to which Kane replies, “We love you, too, baby girl!”

Big Daddy Kane poses in 1988. (Credit: Catherine McGann/Getty Images)

The topic drifts to beloved Juice Crew member Biz Markie, who died in July 2021 at age 57. Affectionately nicknamed the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” Biz brought comedic relief to the crew. His vibrant, outgoing personality made him a crowd favorite and the crew was understandably heartbroken when they lost him. Shanté talks about missing Biz on “Roxanne the Truth,” a reminder that grief is still a heavy burden to bear.

“He’d absolutely be on this call with us if he was still here,” Shanté says. “Biz might have wanted two songs, knowing Biz. Biz might have felt like, ‘Yo, I’m going to do this one, and then I want to do another one,’ because there was always a wonderful sibling rivalry and competition in the Juice Crew, but it never stopped us from being brothers and sisters.”

Kane hops in, “Biz was definitely the master of one-upping somebody. Either he has one too or he had it first [laughs]. It would have been very, very interesting just to hear his take on this project and see where he went with it, because you know it would have been something funny.”

The foursome continue to muse on Biz’s ability to “be funny without even trying,” and—just for a brief moment—it was like he was there.

“You could have the worst day, get around Biz and you gonna laugh,” Craig says. “That’s what I miss about him most. I’ve been backstage with him, having a bad day, and he made a joke and I just totally forgot about it.”

As hip-hop enters its 53rd year, it looks promising for the OGs. In addition to Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It Series…, which included albums by De La Soul, the late Big L, Nas and DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Slick Rick, and Mobb Deep, artists like Public Enemy, MC Lyte, L’Trimm’s Lady Tigra, EPMD’s Erick Sermon, and Kid Capri are pumping out new projects, yet another reminder hip-hop isn’t just a “young man’s game.”

But there’s still more work to do.

“There’s a lot of education that needs to take place about the pioneering years,” Craig says. “There’s a lot of legends that contributed to this culture very early. I was literally just a kid that was dubbing tapes. I don’t want that history to get lost, especially now in the age of AI, where people are just creating their own versions of truth and facts. The Hip Hop Museum is one of the sources hopefully that will preserve the true history of our culture and the beginnings of it.”

The ‘Juice Crew’ EP arrives January 16 and includes contributions from another fallen member of the Juice Crew, Grand Daddy I.U.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Grateful Dead Co-Founder Bob Weir Dies At 78

2026-01-12T17:54:43.104Z

Bob Weir, who joined the Grateful Dead on guitar and vocals at the age of 16 and then spent the next 60 years helping shepherd its legacy, died today (Jan. 10) at the age of 78. According to a social media post from his family, the jam band legend was diagnosed with cancer in July just before Dead & Company played three 60th anniversary concerts at Golden Gate park in their San Francisco hometown.

The Dead stopped performing together after guitarist Jerry Garcia’s 1995 death, but over the course of several generations, the songs became mystic canticles, complete with their own affirmations of durability: “No, our love will not fade away;” “I will get by;” “Get back truckin’ on.” These are bumper stickers and favored tattoos, a skull and roses iconography and a condition of being. These mantras may be recycled, but they acquire a simplistic profundity in the context of broader testament. To the converted, the Grateful Dead have created a natural history of unlikely survival and spontaneous miracles; gunslinger lore, astral journeys and psychedelic fables — the band beyond description, Jehovah’s favorite choir, the music that never stops — even if the jams of “Drums/Space” could stand for a little more brevity.

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Weir and longtime Dead drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann formed Dead & Company in 2015, with John Mayer filling Garcia’s mighty shoes. Onstage, Weir resembled a cowboy Moses descending from Mt. Tamalpais declaiming outlaw epics about bloody shootouts in El Paso corrals, estimated prophets on burning shores and lightning trains that haven’t run since long before half the audience were hatched.

As a Palo Alto teenager, Weir met Garcia at Dana Morgan’s Music Store on New Year’s Eve 1963. They jammed that evening, setting the stage for the proverbial long, strange trip that continues to unfold. For most of the band’s existence, Weir was the baby-faced, clean-shaven ladies man, who largely ducked the worst ravages of the road.

Writing for SPIN in 2021, Jeff Weiss said of Weir, “now, he is 74-years old, singing western spirituals about ‘living in a silver mine,’ wearing a cotton-white shroud of facial hair, a Stetson and a bandanna that makes him look like he discovered the Comstock lode in 1859. It’s with him that the faith of the enterprise resides; his integrity unimpeachable, his voice somehow richer for its erosion, the herky-jerky rollicking cadences of his youth substituted for a whiskey and grapeshot timbre. At one point on the third night [during Dead & Company’s initial run at Sphere in Las Vegas], the holographic visuals in the background seem to morph Weir into a fluorescent blue and black trail of stardust, tufted by his lion in winter mane, making him seem like the face of God. It’s slightly absurd, maybe, but if we were going to cast that role among anyone still walking the earth, Weir might be the best remaining option.”

See the Weir family’s post below and check back for updates on this developing story.

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.

For over 60 years, Bobby took to the road. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music. His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them. Every chord he played, every word he sang was an integral part of the stories he wove. There was an invitation: to feel, to question, to wander and to belong.

Bobby’s final months reflected the same spirit that defined his life. Diagnosed in July, he began treatment only weeks before returning to his hometown stage for a three-night celebration of 60 years of music at Golden Gate Park. Those performances, emotional, soulful and full of light, were not farewells, but gifts. Another act of resilience. An artist choosing, even then, to keep going by his own design. As we remember Bobby, it’s hard not to feel the echo of the way he lived. A man driftin’ and dreamin’, never worrying if the road would lead him home. A child of countless trees. A child of boundless seas.

There is no final curtain here, not really. Only the sense of someone setting off again. He often spoke of a 300-year legacy, determined to ensure the songbook would endure long after him. May that dream live on through future generations of Dead Heads. And so we send him off the way he sent so many of us on our way: with a farewell that isn’t an ending, but a blessing. A reward for a life worth livin’.

His loving family, Natascha, Monet and Chloe, request privacy during this difficult time and offer their gratitude for the outpouring of love, support and remembrance. May we honor him not only in sorrow, but in how bravely we continue with open hearts, steady steps and the music leading us home. Hang it up and see what tomorrow brings.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

THE PRODIGIOUS SON

2026-01-06T16:54:56.406Z

A quarter century since the passing of his father — beloved Cockney poet, punk, and actor Ian Dury — there is much that unites the sound of vocalist-composer Baxter Dury to his dad. And more that does not. Especially now that Baxter’s dry, witty brand of sing-speak is married to the bubbling-over electronic music of last Fall’s Allbarone.

“It’s a forensic question, innit?” poses Baxter about connecting the dots between father and son. “There is a London growl to my voice that’s deep. I don’t sing. He didn’t sing. We share outsider music. Is all that by accident? Of course not. I was brought up by two ambitious artistic people [his mom is portraitist Elizabeth Rathmell]. His influence is there. When I work, I often think about his delivery and timing, not all the time. Do the words, ‘nepo baby’ frighten me? No. I love it. So, where do you go from there?”

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Where it went, first, were charmed post-punk albums filled with nuanced character studies and tall tales, on 2005’s Floor Show, 2014’s It’s a Pleasure and 2017’s Prince of Tears.

Extending his formats from brusque Brit-pop and gruff soul-hop into dance music, he enjoyed “seeing people move” when testing the waters of electronica during collaborations with Étienne de Crécy in 2018, and Fred Again for 2021’s “Baxter (These are My Friends)”.

Aiding Dury on Allbarone is Paul Epworth, the multi-platinum producer for Adele and Florence & the Machine, who met Baxter after a 2024 Glastonbury performance and pushed for collaboration.

“I had songs, but Paul didn’t listen to them, as he had the ideas. He ignored me in a polite way,” says Dury with a laugh. “Confused initially, I listened for once.”

The results on Allbarone are deadpan tracks such as the Pet Shop Boys-like “Kubla Khan” and the rudely repetitive “Return of the Sharp Heads”.“I just reached out and snatched the most poignant things near to me — mostly confessional, really abstract – in response to the music he threw at me,” says Baxter. “It was all very unedited. It was all very freeing.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Governors Ball Grooves With Lorde, Rocky, Stray Kids

2026-01-06T16:48:15.000Z

Lorde, A$AP Rocky and Stray Kids will delight the throngs at the Governors Ball festival from June 5-7 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, N.Y., as part of a youthful, genre-agnostic lineup.

Beyond rapper Baby Keem, who hasn’t performed live in several years or released new music, also set to appear are Kali Uchis, JENNIE, KATSEYE, Geese, Major Lazer, Pierce the Veil, Japanese Breakfast, Dominic Fike, Blood Orange, Clipse, Mariah the Scientist, Wet Leg, Amyl and the Sniffers, Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist, the Dare, 2hollis, Ravyn Lenae and Del Water Gap.

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Tickets go on sale Thursday (Jan. 8). Click here for more information.

New York native Rocky is returning to Gov Ball after headlining in 2021, while Lorde has not appeared at the event since 2017. Both will be supporting new albums, with Rocky’s first in eight years, Don’t Be Dumb, due Jan. 16, and Lorde promoting last year’s Virgin, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

“We’re proud to support Governors Ball and grateful for their ongoing commitment to Flushing Meadows Corona Park,” said the venue alliance’s director Anthony Sama. “Their partnership helps demonstrate how responsible events can contribute to the care, vitality, and long-term sustainability of one of New York City’s most important and iconic public spaces.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Peter Gabriel Prepping New Album, ‘o\i’

2026-01-05T16:40:45.740Z

With his 1982 song “I Have the Touch” enjoying new visibility thanks to its inclusion in the Timothée Chalamet-starring film Marty Supreme, Peter Gabriel is turning his attention to his next studio album, oi. The project’s lead track, “Been Undone,” can be sampled below in its Tchad Blake-helmed Dark-Side Mix.

“I’m delighted to say that tonight, at the full moon, we will be beginning another year of full moon releases under the name oi,” Gabriel wrote on his web site of the follow-up to 2023’s i/o. “The songs are a mix of thoughts and feelings. I have been thinking about the future and how we might respond to it. We are sliding into a period of transition like no other, most likely triggered in three waves; AI, quantum computing and the brain computer interface. Artists have a role to look into the mists and, when they catch sight of something, to hold up a mirror.”

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He continued, “these are my lumpy bits i/o: the inside has a new way out and oi: the outside has a new way in. We are not, and have never been, the exclusively self-determining, independent beings that have been given the run of the world. We are something else, a part of nature, a part of everything and feeling a connection, shaking our booty and giving and receiving some love can help us find our place — and put a big smile on our faces. Some of these songs are going to form part of the brain project that I’ve been exploring for a number of years, and some just make me feel happy. I hope you like them.”

As with i/o, the songs will be released once a month through December with mixes from Blake and Mark “Spike” Stent, whose creations are called Bright-Side mixes. Each track is also accompanied by custom artwork; this time, it’s Ciclotrama 156 (Palindrome) by São Paulo–based artist Janaina Mello Landini.

“The way she takes the rope and moves it out, unravelling it, is almost like fractals or tree trunks and looks like the brain in some ways too, so I see a lot of entry points,” Gabriel said of the image.

Gabriel has not played live since wrapping the i/o tour in Houston in October 2023. Watch him talk in greater detail about the upcoming album here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Every T. Rex Album, Ranked

2026-01-05T16:32:46.279Z

Mark Feld was born in London in 1947, and adopted the stage name Marc Bolan as a teenager. Like many British rock stars of his generation, Bolan flirted with different sounds as he adapted to the rapidly changing times, starting a skiffle band as a child before becoming a mod and then a psychedelic folkie. By the early ’70s, though, Marc Bolan had developed a sound of his own that made him the leader of a new movement as the frontman of T. Rex, the quintessential glam rock band. Bolan’s fuzzed-out guitar tone, androgynous fashion sense, and playfully poetic lyrics became the foundation of an entire genre.

From 1970 to 1973, T. Rex scored 10 Top Ten hits on the U.K. charts, most of which never appeared on albums, including “Ride a White Swan,” “Hot Love,” “Children of the Revolution,” and “20th Century Boy.” Bolan didn’t pivot away from the glam rock zeitgeist as dramatically as his friend and chart rival David Bowie, but he gradually expanded T. Rex’s sound with soul and disco influences.

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Bolan tragically died in a car crash in 1977, just two weeks shy of his 30th birthday, bringing an abrupt end to T. Rex. The catalog he created, however, continues to be massively influential on multiple generations of musicians, frequently covered and featured in film and television soundtracks. T. Rex was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

Marc Bolan in 1972. (Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

The documentary AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex, featuring interviews and performances from a massive number of stars, was released digitally September 5 after a brief New York theatrical run over the summer. Here’s a look back at the remarkable body of work that Bolan created in his decade in the spotlight.

**13. Billy Super Duper (as Marc Bolan & T. Rex) (1982)**

Bolan didn’t regularly make concept albums like many of his contemporaries, but in 1975 he worked on and then abandoned a rock opera called Billy Super Duper. Years later, a posthumous T. Rex album was released under that title that included a few of its songs, as well as 1977 tracks for the album Bolan was making at the time of his death, planned to be called Jack Daniels, and a stray 1972 outtake. Despite the material’s disparate origins, and instrumental overdubs recorded in 1982 to finish some tracks, Billy Super Duper feels almost like a real T. Rex album, but not a great one.

**12. My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair… But Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows (as Tyrannosaurus Rex) (1968)**

In the London pop scene, as in paleontology, Tyrannosaurus Rex was a major figure before becoming better known by the abbreviation T. Rex. Marc Bolan recorded four Tyrannosaurus Rex albums as an acoustic duo, usually with percussionist Steve Peregrin Took, before Bolan shortened the name and went electric. As you can expect from a band whose drummer wore a cape and named himself after one of Tolkien’s hobbits, Tyrannosaurus Rex were far more theatrical and playful than folk rock contemporaries like Fairport Convention. And their earliest songs like “Dwarfish Trumpet Blues” can be downright silly.

**11. Unicorn (as Tyrannosaurus Rex) (1969)**

Sometimes it’s striking how much Bolan’s early folk songs contain the same strutting rhythms and bubblegum melodies that would make him into a teen idol once he went electric. Songs like “Chariots of Silk” and “Warlord of the Royal Crocodiles” are still a little lightweight, but producer Tony Visconti gets a lot of atmosphere out of putting a little reverb on bongos and acoustic guitar.

**10. Dandy in the Underworld (1977)**

Bolan lived just long enough to witness the first flowering of British punk and new wave, and recognize how many of those musicians had grown up on T. Rex. In the final months of his life, he hosted the weekly ITV series “Marc,” showcasing young bands like the Jam, Generation X, and Boomtown Rats. Dandy in the Underworld, released a few months earlier, was hailed as a comeback for glammy hits like “I Love To Boogie,” but it’s hard not to wonder what exciting directions Bolan could have gone in next that might have fed off the new energy that was taking London by storm.

**9. Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages (as Tyrannosaurus Rex) (1968)**

A few months after the single “Debora” became Tyrannosaurus Rex’s first Top 40 hit on the U.K. charts, the song opened the band’s second album as “Deboraarobed,” with the second half of the track played in reverse. Unfortunately, nothing else on Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages has that same impish mix of pop hooks and studio experimentation. Steve Peregrin Took’s melodic accompaniment on pixiephone (a toy glockenspiel) on “The Travelling Tragition” is a soothing contrast to his furious bongo rhythms on the rest of the album.

**8. A Beard of Stars (as Tyrannosaurus Rex) (1970)**

Steve Peregrin Took was replaced by Mickey Finn for Bolan’s fourth and final album under the full Tyrannosaurus Rex moniker. Crucially, Bolan also bought a Fender Stratocaster and started overdubbing more electric guitar on A Beard of Stars. On the closing track “Elemental Child,” Finn switches to bass and Bolan shreds, offering a drumless preview of the sound that would vault them to the top of the charts over the following year.

**7. Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow (as Marc Bolan & T. Rex) (1974)**

Gloria Jones, the American soul singer best known for releasing the first recording of “Tainted Love,” started touring with T. Rex as a backing vocalist in the early ’70s, and began a relationship with Bolan, giving birth to his son Rolan in 1975. Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, credited to Marc Bolan & T. Rex, marked the beginning of Jones providing more soulful harmonies for the band, leading their “Cosmic Choir,” as the backing vocalists were called. England’s most revered pedal steel guitarist, B.J. Cole, also adds some textures to Zinc Alloy that are distinct from every other T. Rex album.

**6. T. Rex (1970)**

Bolan and Finn were still a duo when they first cut their name down to simply T. Rex, but their sound was increasingly punchier.“Beltane Walk” in particular gets a chugging groove going with just a tambourine and a gently tapped snare drum. Flo & Eddie, the American vocal duo best known for their work with the Turtles and Frank Zappa, provided the high harmonies on the first four T. Rex albums that became a staple of the group’s biggest hits. “Jewel” was one of several T. Rex songs that was given an unsettlingly sinister edge in the 2024 horror movie Longlegs, with Nicolas Cage playing a mysterious and terrifying character who idolized Bolan. “Bolan is clearly infatuated with mysticism, as well as the pure sounds of the English language,” Todd Everett wrote in the Rolling Stone review of T. Rex.

**5. Futuristic Dragon (1976)**

Futuristic Dragon was something of a return to the fantasy imagery of the Tyrannosaurus Rex era, with lyrics about moon maids and Zeus’s kiss, and artwork by Geroge Underwood, who also drew the cover of My People Were Fair and Had Sky In Their Hair… Musically, though, Futuristic Dragon was a continuation of Bolan’s turn towards funk and soul. In fact, the “Dreamy Lady” single was credited to “T. Rex Disco Party.” Today “Chrome Sitar” is the album’s most popular track thanks to its appearance in the 2013 film Frances Ha.

**4. Light of Love (1974) / Bolan’s Zip Gun (1975)**

The band may have been far more popular in the U.K., but America got a taste of T. Rex’s sixth album several months before Bolan’s homeland. Eight new songs appeared on the U.S. release Light of Love with three older tracks in 1974, and the following year the definitive version of the album, Bolan’s Zip Gun, was released in England. By this point, the fickle London music press had begun to turn on Bolan, but the self-produced album is a more fully realized version of Zinc Alloy’s psychedelic soul.

**3. Tanx (1973)**

It was commonplace in British bands to release standalone singles in between LPs in the ’70s. And the non-album singles that were recorded during sessions for Tanx threatened to overshadow the album, including “20th Century Boy,” “Children of the Revolution,” and “Solid Gold Easy Action.” If those songs appeared on Tanx, it would be in serious contention for T. Rex’s best album. As it is, Tanx is still a deep cut paradise, overflowing with underrated jams like “Born to Boogie” and “The Street & Babe Shadow.” “There ain’t no lyric sheet and that, I think, is the point of Tanx. It’s the real T-Rex non-verbal boogie album,” Wayne Robins wrote in the Creem review of the album.

**2. Electric Warrior (1971)**

In early 1971, Bolan appeared on Top of the Pops in a shiny sailor suit with glitter on his face, codifying the look of the emerging glam rock movement. That September, T. Rex released its first album as a quartet, perhaps glam’s defining LP, with swinging grooves and thicker textures on “Jeepster” and “Get It On,” the only T. Rex song that really made waves in America. “The great ‘Bang a Gong’ extends his subject matter into the rock myth itself, which has its limits but sure beats unicorns,” Robert Christgau wrote in the Village Voice review of Electric Warrior.

**1. The Slider (1972)**

Bolan was such a massive star in England in 1972 that even the Beatles were in his thrall. John Lennon praised his lyrics while Ringo Starr directed a T. Rex documentary, Born to Boogie, during the recording of The Slider (Starr is famously credited for the album’s iconic cover photo, though Visconti has asserted that he actually took the picture). The Slider was T. Rex’s highest-charting album in the U.S., although its singles failed to continue the crossover success of “Get It On.” The album does, however, rock a little harder than Electric Warrior, and Guns N’ Roses later covered its heaviest song, “Buick MacKane.” Bolan’s signature guttural “Yeah!” that features heavily on later albums made its first appearance on songs like “Chariot Choogle” and “Baby Strange,” a dramatic contrast to his usual falsetto croon.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Best Music Videos of 2025

2025-12-30T16:34:28.771Z

Rumors of MTV’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. In October, it was announced that many of MTV’s subchannels in Europe and South America would be discontinued at the end of 2025. But the social media telephone game quickly led to many believing that MTV as a whole, in the U.S. and everywhere else, was shutting down. It isn’t, but how much would it matter at this point? Music videos haven’t been a major part of the television landscape, on MTV or anywhere else, in decades, but the medium continues to thrive online, mainly on YouTube.

SPIN’s list of the best music videos of 2025 includes flashy, expensive clips from superstars like Chappell Roan and Drake as well as smaller productions that showcase up-and-comers like Devon Again and Ecca Vandal.

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Doja Cat attends the 2025 LACMA Art + Film Gala at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, on November 1, 2025. (Credit: Monica Schipper/FilmMagic)

25. “Parachute,” Hayley Williams

Directed by Zachary Gray

The second verse of “Parachute” features a visceral vocal performance of some of the most vulnerable lyrics of Hayley Williams’s career. So it’s jarring and unexpected, and yet somehow perfect, when the Paramore frontwoman lip syncs those lines with a blank, emotionless expression in the minimalist video for the Grammy-nominated track from her third solo album Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party.

24. “Born Again,” Lisa featuring Doja Cat and Raye

Directed by Bardia Zeinali

The “Born Again” video brings together three young pop stars in their prime from around the world: Thailand, America, and England. Lisa of Blackpink, Doja Cat, and Raye play around with a lot of powerful historical imagery, dressing up like Cleopatra and Joan of Arc, but the haute couture and striking use of light and shadows are what make “Born Again” a great showcase for all three artists.

23. “Day One,” Bon Iver featuring Dijon and Flock of Dimes

Directed by Jos Diaz Contreras

“In 2025, Bon Iver announced his retirement, and the search began for his replacement,” the text at the beginning of the “Day One” video announces. What follows is an entertaining montage of singers of all ages auditioning to be the new Bon Iver, some of them wearing a ballcap and fake beard to mimic Justin Vernon’s signature look while lip syncing to “Day One.” Actors Cristin Milioti and Jacob Elordi and St. Vincent’s Annie Clark make cameos, and eventually the real Justin Vernon shows up, as do the song’s guest vocalists, Dijon and Jenn Wasner of Flock of Dimes.

22. “Sugar on My Tongue,” Tyler, the Creator

Directed by Tyler, the Creator

Tyler, the Creator has largely moved past the shock value of career-launching early videos like 2011’s “Yonkers,” where he famously appeared to eat a cockroach and then hang himself. Tyler still has a pretty dark sense of humor, though, and the video for the crossover hit from his 2025 surprise album Don’t Tap the Glass starts out innocuously enough before escalating quickly with bondage, blurred nudity, and an enormous prop tongue.

21. “I Will Dare,” The Replacements

Directed by Eric Kassel

A rising trend in the music industry is new videos for old songs. For instance, this year Rhino Records promoted a deluxe edition of the Replacements’ 1984 classic Let It Be with a newly produced music video for the album’s opening track. The “I Will Dare” clip is a slice of life in the CC Club, one of the iconic Minneapolis quartet’s old haunts, packed with references to Replacements song titles and other band trivia.

20. “Party 4 U,” Charli XCX

Directed by Mitch Ryan

Charli XCX was also spurred to shoot a video for an older song when her 2020 album cut “Party 4 U” went viral on TikTok this year and started charting internationally. On the 5th anniversary of the song’s original release, Charli released a “Party 4 U” video where she breaks down, then strips down, and destroys a billboard of her own face.

19. “This is the Killer Speaking,” The Last Dinner Party

Directed by Harv Frost

The Last Dinner Party and frequent collaborator Harv Frost love to pay homage to film history in the London band’s videos, mixing together different genres and references. And the video for “This is the Killer Speaking” is a hybrid of dark fantasy and spaghetti westerns, full of gunslingers as well as a centaur.

18. “Puni Police,” Shenseea

Directed by Jay Will

Jamaican dancehall star Shenseea’s profile rose in America this year with guest appearances on hits by Moliy and Mariah Carey. Shenseea’s best solo track of 2025, however, was “Puni Police,” a hilarious takedown of possessive lovers. The video takes the song’s premise literally, giving Shenseea’s jealous boyfriend a badge and a corkboard full of paranoid theories about who she might be cheating on him with.

17. “Revolving Door,” Tate McRae

Directed by Aerin Moreno

Tate McRae’s songs are usually either slow and emotive or seductive and danceable. “Revolving Door” splits the difference with a propulsive uptempo beat and a despondent lyric about a troubled relationship. With complex choreography as well as disorienting editing that reverses McRae’s movements, the “Revolving Door” video matches the song’s busy yet ominous sound, building to a tearful end with McRae powering through to begin the routine all over again.

16. “Striptease,” FKA Twigs

Directed by Jordan Hemingway

FKA Twigs was a dancer before she was a recording artist, and she consistently sets a high standard for creative and original choreography in her videos and live performances. The “Striptease” video, reminiscent of Jonathan Glazer’s classic clip for UNKLE’s “Rabbit in Your Headlights,” stars Twigs as a mysterious figure wandering into traffic in a busy tunnel, her body eventually contorted by CGI effects.

15. “2AM,” BigXThaPlug

Directed by KZA

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug was one of hip-hop’s biggest breakthrough artists in 2025, and the “2AM” video offered a cinematic depiction of one of his most narrative-heavy songs.

14. “Mad,” Renee Rapp

Directed by Luke Orlando

Singer/actress Renee Rapp is best known as a scene stealer in the 2024 Mean Girls remake and HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls. And her screen presence and comic timing are usually on full display on her music videos as well, with Rapp mugging and flirting to brighten the mood of a pissed girlfriend in “Mad.”

13. “Luther,” Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA

Directed by Karena Evans

This year Kendrick Lamar and SZA co-headlined a stadium tour while their collaboration “Luther” topped the Hot 100 for 13 consecutive weeks. The video feels less like a pop culture event than a gently inviting mood piece, though, featuring longer excerpts of the Luther Vandross sample that gave the song its title.

12. “Second Sleep,” Magdalena Bay

Directed by Amalia Irons

This year the L.A. duo Magdalena Bay followed up their breakthrough 2024 album Imaginal Disk with a new single, “Second Sleep,” that pivoted from electronic experimentation to a groovy retro pop sound. The song’s video was also refreshingly old-fashioned, with singer Mica Tenenbaum walking through a surreal world full of colorful sets and costumes.

11. “No Joy,” The Beths

Directed by Frances Carter

“No Joy” is a fast, catchy song with devastatingly relatable lyrics about depression. The video doubles down on that cognitive dissonance, with the Beths frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes visibly bummed out while her bandmates all sing and play with maniacal grins on their faces.

10. “Nokia,” Drake

Directed by Theo Skudra

“Nokia,” a Drake solo track from his PartyNextDoor collaboration album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, was the big smash hit that the Canadian superstar needed this year to start moving on from losing his 2024 rap battle with Kendrick Lamar. Choreographer Tanisha Scott, who previously worked on Drake’s hugely viral “Hotline Bling” video, returned to help make “Nokia” a fun, goofy glow-in-the-dark spectacle full of synchronized dancers.

9. “Bloom Baby Bloom,” Wolf Alice

Directed by Colin Solal Cardo

After three guitar-heavy albums, the British quartet Wolf Alice reinvented its sound on 2025’s The Clearing with the help of producer Greg Kurstin. The piano-driven lead single “Bloom Baby Bloom” was a dramatic reboot, with the band making a leap into musical theater with the song’s Bob Fosse-inspired video.

8. “Cruising to Self Soothe,” Ecca Vandal

Directed by Ecca Vandal and Richie Buxton

Australia-based singer-songwriter Ecca Vandal has been making songs that fuse punk rock and hip-hop, and shooting eye-catching videos for them, for over a decade. “Cruising to Self Soothe,” with Vandal dancing and screaming her head off in an empty concrete pool, became her first video to get a million views on YouTube this year, a career-launching moment that recently led to her getting booked for the 2026 edition of Coachella.

7. “The Subway,” Chappell Roan

Directed by Amber Grace Johnson

Chappell Roan hadn’t released a music video in nearly two years when she debuted her clip for “The Subway,” and her first new video since becoming a major star retains her unique sense of humor. Roan’s curly mane of hair becomes larger than life, literally, in “The Subway,” as rats crawl through her enormous flowing wig, and Roan gets dragged down the street after her hair gets caught in a taxi door.

6. “Denial is a River,” Doechii

Directed by Carlos Acosta and James Mackel

Doechii’s “Denial is a River” video pays tribute to old sitcoms like “Family Matters,” with cameos from stars including Zack Fox and Earl Sweatshirt. But Doechii breaks the fourth wall as the camera pans around to show the studio audience as the video, and her lyrics, take a dark turn that subverts the sunny nostalgic aesthetic of the clip.

5. “Gnarly,” Katseye

Directed by Cody Critcheloe

AI became ubiquitous in the music industry this year, often controversially used to produce videos, album covers, and even songs. The international girl group Katseye’s “Gnarly” video drew criticism for its use of AI, and there are still a lot of ethical debates about AI in the arts that need to be had. But the bizarre visuals felt like a natural match for the noisy hyperpop track’s sound and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and the human performances by the members of Katseye ultimately feel like the focal point of “Gnarly.”

4. “Cherry Cola,” Devon Again

Directed by Jooystin and Eliot Lee

In theory, we live in an age where an independent artist can use an iPhone to shoot a music video that’s as entertaining as anything from a well-financed major label artist. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it did happen in early December when Los Angeles alt-pop artist Devon Again released her latest video. Fireworks, pimples, and cans of soda all explode in the “Cherry Cola” video, a deliriously entertaining montage of sight gags, relatable problems, and sudden moments of beauty and profundity.

3. “Berghain,” Rosalia featuring Bjork and Yves Tumor

Directed by Nicolas Mendez

An entire symphony orchestra follows Rosalia around in the “Berghain” video, crammed into her apartment or walking down the street with her, providing a grand and dramatic soundtrack to every unremarkable moment in her life. The second half of the video pivots to some very different but equally striking imagery, as Rosalia’s home is suddenly filled with wild animals, including a small bird that performs Bjork’s part in the song.

2. “So Be It,” Clipse

Directed by Hannan Hussain

“So Be It” was released on YouTube and on social media before Clipse’s label was able to clear the song’s sample of Saudi Arabian composer Talal Maddah and put the track on streaming services. So for a few weeks, the best single from the Thornton brothers’ comeback album Let God Sort Em Out was only available as a video, a stylish black-and-white 35mm clip filmed at an opulent Long Island mansion. In the video’s most memorable sequence, three rotating Pusha T heads float in the air as he delivers the song’s snarling final verse dissing Travis Scott.

1. “Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter

Directed by Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia

Structuring a music video as a trailer for a movie that doesn’t exist is a great way to pack a lot of quick, entertaining vignettes into a few minutes. And the video for Sabrina Carpenter’s latest chart-topper is perhaps the best fake trailer video since My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” a dizzying barrage of increasingly unhinged imagery as Carpenter moves from one immature love interest to the next. By the time Carpenter fires a shotgun across a pool table or rides down the interstate in a motorcycle sidecar made out of a grocery cart, you’re starting to imagine a movie where all these absurd moments fit together into an actual plot.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

DARK SIDE OF THE DREAM

2025-12-30T16:29:46.056Z

Doctor Dark, based in part on the 1990 heavy metal trial around two disturbed teenagers’ suicide pact, allegedly inspired by listening to Judas Priest.

With crushing, claustrophobic soundscapes and creepy FX-wrenching vocals, the album’s three-act opera, complete with mad orchestration from classical conductor Edwin Outwater, evokes the specter of the late Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the famous assisted suicide proponent.

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Dr. Jack Kervorkian, a.k.a. “Dr. Death”, tickling the ivories at his Detroit home in 1997. (Photo by Joe McNally via Getty Images).

“A Residents project always starts with the tiniest crumb, then goes where that trail of crumbs leads them,” says Homer Flynn, the Residents’ costume designer and “spokesperson” since 1976 (and rumored to be in the group, but who would know?). “That crumb’s got to lead them somewhere.”

Doctor Dark started for the Residents with the botched 1985 suicide pact between James Vance and Raymond Belknap (Belknap died, Vance sustained life-altering injuries), and 1992’s documentary Dream Deceivers and the blame put on Judas Priest.

“Holding no blame for themselves, the parents sued Judas Priest and its record label for corrupting their sons with their music’s supposedly evil backwards messages, blahblahblah,” notes Flynn. The Residents were mesmerized by Dream Deceivers, but knew they couldn’t leave a bad story alone.

Judas Priest in 1978, the year they released Stained Class. In 1990 a Nevada judge ruled that a song from that album had not caused two young men in Sparks to shoot themselves in 1985. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images)

“That’s when bringing in a character based on Dr. Kevorkian came into play,” says Flynn. “The Residents wanted “Doctor Dark” to meet the surviving teenager from that suicide pact, and make their own path, find their own solution.”
It’s not a pop album. Distinct from other Residents releases, which is saying something considering the band’s typically abstract output, Doctor Dark makes a socio-political statement about who owns one’s life. “The Residents were aware they were making that statement, even though it wasn’t their intention. That’s just another path the Residents were willing to play out,” the shadowy Mr. Flynn tells us.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Longtime Cure Guitarist Perry Bamonte Dies

2025-12-29T20:36:04.823Z

Longtime the Cure guitarist/keyboardist Perry Bamonte, who played on such iconic albums as 1992’s Wish and was onstage with the U.K. band for nearly 500 shows over the past 35 years, has died at the age of 65 after a short illness.

A London native, the left-handed player had a brief stint working in a London furniture store before catching on the Cure’s road crew in 1984 with the encouragement of his brother Daryl, who at the time was their tour manager. From there, he served both as frontman Robert Smith’s personal assistant and guitar tech, and when keyboardist Roger O’Donnell exited the band in 1990, he joined as a full performing member.

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His contributions later enlivened a host of beloved Wish songs, including six-string bass work on “Friday I’m in Love” and “A Letter to Elise.” In that era, he performed on the live albums Paris and Show, plus the studio efforts Wild Mood Swings, Bloodflowers and a 2004 self-titled affair. Photography also played a substantial role in Bamonte’s creative vision, as he often snapped stunning images of the Cure’s journeys around the world.

Bamonte left the Cure in 2005 and focused on a career as an illustrator, but he returned in 2022 and remained ever since. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story,” the band said in a statement. They added that the 90 shows following Bamonte’s 2022 return were “some of the best in the band’s history, culminating with The Show of a Lost World concert in London [on Nov. 1, 2024]. Our thoughts and condolences are with all his family. He will be very greatly missed.”

The Cure are planning an extensive European summer tour next year, beginning the first week of June with a headlining performance at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival. It is unknown who will replace Bamonte on those dates.

Beforehand, Smith is curating the annual Teenage Cancer Trust charity concert series at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which begins March 23 and will feature My Bloody Valentine, Garbage, CHVRCHES and Manic Street Preachers.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Gatlinburg Shines Merry and Bright for 50th Anniversary Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade

2025-12-17T23:52:40.166Z

The 50th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade lit up downtown Gatlinburg on Friday, December 5, 2025, bringing joy, music and unforgettable moments to visitors and locals alike. With Grammy-nominated recording artist Hunter Hayes serving as Grand Marshal, Gatlinburg’s world-famous Winter Magic celebration blended tradition with surprise.

“Gatlinburg seems to call to all of us around Christmas, and I have incredibly fond memories of being there during the holidays with my family as a young performer,” Hayes told Spin. “I have a deep love and appreciation for that whole part of Tennessee.”

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Hunter Hayes (Photo Courtesy of Hunter Hayes)

And it showed. Hayes — who is celebrating his new EP Evergreen Christmas Sessions — led the Smoky Mountain procession with energy and festive spirit, delighting both local fans and out-of-town visitors with holiday greetings. The multi-platinum singer, known for his genre-blending sound and longtime popularity in country and pop music circles, brought added excitement and national attention to the event. The Grand Marshal position was sponsored by Gatlinburg’s own Ole Smoky Distillery.

Beyond Hayes, the 2025 parade featured an all-star roster of special guests and personalities. Luminaries included Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes (stars of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners/partners with Sugarlands Distilling Co.) and four time world champion pitmaster and culinary personality Myron Mixon. Pam Sutton, an honored figure representing moonshiner heritage and wife of the late legendary distiller Popcorn Sutton also appeared.

Hosts included Grand Ole Opry member and multi-platinum country favorite Mark Wills and award-winning television personality Nan Kelley — known for Top 20 Country Countdown and Opry Live — rounded out the list of stars who appeared.

Eighty-thousand revellers visited the parade route 2025’s incarnation off the annual celebration. The procession counted more than 70 festive floats, a dazzling array of over one million LED lights, larger-than-life balloons, spirited marching bands and Santa Claus himself.

Photo Courtesy of Visit Gatlinburg

Perhaps the most talked-about moment of the evening was a total surprise. A black bear wandered onto the parade route and calmly strolled down the Parkway, creating a viral moment that had spectators stunned and amused.

Surprises aside, the memorable event — which is recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast — was bolstered by significant community involvement. Area schools and local groups played a big role in the milestone festivities. Among them was the Lawrence County High School Band, which brought a spirited performance that energized the crowd and asserted the parade’s continued commitment to showcasing regional talent and holiday traditions.

For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be broadcast across 34 U.S. television markets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Viewing dates and times are available here. It will also be available through a collaborative partnership with Nexstar, allowing over 100 million viewers the chance to enjoy Gatlinburg’s holiday magic from home.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Rolling Stones Ready New Album, Won’t Tour In ’26

2025-12-17T23:48:57.133Z

It’s a day of mixed news for Rolling Stones fans, as the band has nixed plans for a 2026 stadium tour of U.K, and Europe but will release its second album with producer Andrew Watt at some point next year, sources confirm to SPIN.

Rumors about the Stones’ return to the road picked up in recent weeks, but the idea was tabled after guitarist Keith Richards, who turns 82 later this week, expressed concerns about the associated physical demands. For whatever it’s worth, he performed three songs with a smile in early November in New York during the Soho Sessions series, where he was backed by current Stones drummer Steve Jordan and guitarist Larry Campbell.

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The Stones have played about 20 shows per year since 2013, with the exception of 2020 and 2023. They have not been on stage since wrapping a North American stadium tour in Ridgedale, Mo. For now, it’s unclear if they may still perform next year in some fashion other than as part of a proper tour.

Meanwhile, work on the band’s as-yet-untitled new album with Watt has been underway in London for months, and the project may feature material originally recorded for 2023’s Hackney Diamonds that was left unused at the time.

That album, the Stones’ first of original music since 2005, boasted guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and former Stones bassist Bill Wyman. Hackney Diamonds was rewarded with the Best Rock Album trophy at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Green Day’s Mike Dirnt Talks About Creating Their Most ‘Essential’ Record in Years

2025-12-15T17:35:20.612Z

Sometimes even Mike Dirnt must escape from loud noises. The Green Day bassist and founding member has just been running around his Bay Area house shutting windows and doors, after gardeners unexpectedly turned up the blowers just when Dirnt was about to jump on the phone. “It was dead silent here until about five minutes ago,” he says with a laugh. “It sounded like they were cutting trees down everywhere.”

Minor interruptions aside, the last two years have been spectacular for Green Day, starting with the release of Saviors in January 2024, debuting at No. 4 in the U.S. It was followed by a tour that had the pop-punk hitmakers—also including singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and drummer Tré Cool—headlining stadiums and festivals around the world.

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Green Day. (Credit: Marina Chavez)

The band’s fourteenth studio album, including fan-favorites “The American Dream Is Killing Me” and “Bobby Sox,” was reissued in an expanded edition in May as Saviors (édition de luxe). On November 14, the band also released a 25th anniversary of 2000’s Warning, a commercial disappointment at the time following the double-platinum Nimrod, but for fans it’s become an essential part of the band’s musical history. Dirnt also has a new signature Epiphone bass that replicates the instrument that he played at more than 700 shows, and which he hopes will help inspire a new generation of musicians.

Now nearly four decades since the band’s early days playing at Oakland’s 924 Gilman Street club, Dirnt spoke with SPIN about his past and ongoing present with the punk/alternative rock act.

The year 1994 was a big one for Green Day, with the release of Dookie, multiple hits on the radio and MTV, a mud fight at Woodstock, and then the traveling Lollapalooza tour. How do you look back at that time now?

That was kind of the fuse, right? Woodstock and everything just sort of exploded after that. It was crazy. I wish at the time I would’ve taken a little more time to be in the moment. But how can you, you know? Things are so chaotic, so fun. We had something to prove back then. We were opening Lollapalooza, and we wanted to come out and basically show people what we can do.

By the time Lollapalooza actually happened, Green Day were already exploding, so being the opener was a weird position to be in.

Well, that was the thing. There was a little pressure because we had sold a lot of records. By the time we hit Lollapalooza, we had sold close to as many records as anyone else on [the bill]. You’re like, “Let’s see if we can’t make a splash.” That’s a good kind of humbling. [laughs]

When that happened, you went from being a punk band known to a particular musical community and became a group known to all kinds of people. Did that change how you saw what you did and what the possibilities were?

Me, Billie, and Tré basically just said, “It’s this or nothing.” We were getting too big for small clubs anyway. The shows were getting shut down at small clubs, and it was definitely sad a little bit because we were leaving some of our past behind, but we were moving into the mainstream. It was exciting too. I mean, at Lollapalooza, the Beastie Boys were so good on that tour. I remember just going, “Man, they’re just slaying it,” because they were doing all the instruments and rapping, and they were at a really hot point. And then also seeing Smashing Pumpkins, which to me are so musical and they sound so good. So it was like, okay, now we’ve got to focus our sights on getting there.

You recently talked about how you were also playing jazz at around the time of Dookie.

I always say my bass is like this really great roommate that doesn’t judge me. He is there when I need him—or her. It’s been an emotional outlet, but I’m not being guilted if I’m not, like, practicing scales. Back then, I was playing with a few friends that were really into jazz as well, and one of them gave me the Real Book [of jazz standards], and I started picking out the main keys and writing my own lines around whatever song they were playing, because I can’t read music. I’d write my own lines and sit in with them for eight or 10 songs.

(Credit: Emmie America)

What do you think that added to what you were doing as a musician?

It’s like a secret sauce for Green Day. Billie grew up singing standard tunes, and Tré started off playing jazz drums. That’s a great keystone for any good drummer. He plays great jazz. In fact, on this tour, he jumped in with a bunch of people at random spots and he just was killing it. That swing and that shuffle is something that we dip into a lot that other bands don’t always get to. I don’t have the dexterity of a lot of amazing bass players, but I do have a pretty good ear, and I hear melodies like crazy.

When Saviors was about to come out, you played it in full at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California, and the new songs were pretty immediate. Could you tell early on that it was a special record?

In the latter part of 2022, there were discussions about us touring in ’23. Billie and I were talking, and I said, “I feel like we’ve got about six really good songs right now, and I’d rather not be rushed. I feel like we’re onto something.” He said that’s exactly what he was thinking. I said, “A great album lasts forever, a great tour lasts a summer.” Billie said, “I want to write an essential record, essential to our catalog.” And that was it—the decision to go after it. And I think we did. I can snap a line from songs on Saviors to every one of our records: “Oh, that’s reminiscent of Kerplunk, that’s reminiscent of Nimrod, that’s reminiscent of Warning.” I could see the culmination of it all, but somehow it has this cohesive nature that is very present Green Day.

A lot of that has to do with the three of us, the way we’re playing off of each other. We got in a room and we really played these songs together. People say, “Oh, so what that you got in a room together?” It’s actually a thing though, because I’m hearing how hard Tré is hitting this snare, how hard he’s hitting that kick drum. You’re also in the room with each other’s emotions, and you can feel that too.

Was there a particular song during the making of that album where you felt like the band had tapped into something?

One of the first songs Billie wrote was “Saviors,” and that song felt like a mission statement. It was a wide palette we could go off of. And then there was stuff like “One Eyed Bastard”— it turns out James Gandolfini’s favorite record was Dookie. We got word back from Michael Imperioli of “The Sopranos” that [Gandolfini] would go back to his trailer and listen to Dookie on vinyl. Billie was getting a kick out of that, so he started writing this song that had this gangster overtone, the “Bada-bing, bada-bing, boom!” And I wrote this little Irish thing in the middle of the chorus, so it turned into a Gangs of New York thing, and you could hear all the different things firing. That’s when it’s really good. Tré’s doing really good drum work where he is making the song more dynamic and musical, and Billie’s got a great melody going, and I’m able to pepper in this other hook that was unexpected. We’re always going for that, but sometimes it really, really works. [laughs]

Green Day also put out this year the 25th anniversary of Warning. At the time, it was seen as a commercial disappointment. How do you feel about that record now?

I’ve always loved that record. That was a time where we wanted to expand musically and try new things, and we had come off of trying to do that with some songs on Nimrod, but this was just different. Billie was listening to a lot of different folk-type music and we wanted to lean in on that. It was certainly when Billie lyrically was digging into more social-political issues, and it was a turning point for us. Without that record, there’s probably no American Idiot.

That same year you guys played the Warped Tour, and because the album didn’t explode as before, it seemed like you were in a rebuilding period.

You’re not wrong. You can still believe in what you’re doing, but if people don’t get it, it lights a good fire, and I think that [happened] for us. We were watching other bands come up and get really popular that we felt were very similar [to Green Day]. In the long haul, it was really good for Green Day too. But at the time, it’s a pill to swallow.

Even for a band that’s had great success, there can be dramatic ups and downs during that early period. But Green Day persevered and today you’re playing stadiums.

I remember playing some shows in Europe and the arena’s half full, and that was tough. In Europe, house music was really kicking in everywhere, and there was just a real change that was going on in the world. All we could do is be the best Green Day we could do, and try and keep growing. We always wanted to be a band with a career arc, and we always wanted to push forward. It’s our job to create.

On the expanded Warning is the song “Scumbag,” which you wrote.

I had a falling out with a friend, and I over time realized he was a very toxic person. He’d come around and every time he did, there was something sort of charismatic about the person, but there’s also something super full of shit. [laughs]

Is “scumbag” one of your go-to words for that situation?

I think it’s a little classier than douchebag. [laughs]

Green Day has been playing stadiums, but playing smaller rooms still seems to appeal to the band.

It’s important to mix it up. One of my favorite shows of this whole thing was when we were in London, we decided day-of to play The Marquis bar, and it sits maybe 80 people. People were standing on the bar and everything. It’s a well-known bar and we played an acoustic set there. But there’s 650 people outside the club, outside the window, singing. It was epic. And I love those moments. I live for that stuff. The small club stuff and theater shows, it feels so intimate. There’s this sweet spot like the Bowery Ballroom—there’s an intimacy, but it also feels kind of big.

How did you end up playing music?

When we were really young, Billie showed me his guitar, and he tried to show me a couple chords, and I didn’t get it. I’d never held a guitar before. And then my mom’s roommate had a guitar, and this guy Pete started showing me chords. And one night me and Billie had a sleepover at his house, and I go, “You know I play guitar now, right?” He’s like, “What? You wanna learn a couple songs?” I sat on one bed, he sat on the other, facing each other. And we ended up figuring out “Crazy Train,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love,” and “Photograph.” That was it for a bunch of sixth graders. [laughs]

And choosing the bass?

I was 14 years old. We were having band practice, and our bass player had a dentist appointment. I looked at his bass and Billie goes, “You have to pick it up.” So I picked it up and we jammed through a couple tunes, and I was like, “Oh, man, here we go. I think I just turned into a bass player.” [laughs] It was like, this feels great. And I can be a little more muscular and dig into it.

(Courtesy of Gibson)

In those early days of Green Day, did punk rock become a mission for you?

I had a cassette player early on. We started going to Gilman and a friend of ours, whose name is Eggplant, he gave me a copy of this thing called East Bay Sampler and it had all these really great East Bay bands. The bass player roster in the Bay Area was really deep. These guys were awesome and melodic. No matter what type of music they were playing, they were fully committed to the melody. So [Green Day] were almost immediately going for songwriting.

How much did Green Day have to go through criticisms from punk rock gatekeepers when you started getting actually popular?

We sort of went through it earlier. [laughs] We could not get a gig at Gilman Street to save our life until John Kiffmeyer, the drummer on our first record, joined the band. Everyone was just like, “You’re too poppy.” I’m like, “Yeah, we’re fucking 14, 15 years old. We’re singing about girls. What else do we know?” [laughs] So we kind of dealt with that, where it was never fully embraced by the community. I love that community, but we were garnering fans and people liked what we were doing, so we just played to those people. At the end of the day, our melodies will speak loud and we’ll evolve as a band.

There is a history of punk rock musicians getting official signature instruments—Billie Joe Armstrong, Johnny Ramone, Joe Strummer. When did you first get yours?

Oh, my gosh. I think it was right around American Idiot. I didn’t even know that was a thing until we were well into fame. [laughs] I worked with Fender. I always really loved the Tele body shape. I put a lot of work into it. It’s about creating great instruments—same as a record: Let’s create something great that lasts longer than we do. I just give basses away like lollipops. The other side of it is just inspiring people to pick up an instrument. I remember in school, they just didn’t have any instruments. It took me a year to get 13 basses to the Los Angeles Unified School District to their music program. So sometimes I just buy them and give them out myself.

The [Epiphone] G-3 is sort of shaped like my Millennium Falcon. [laughs] I have the Star Wars birthday [May 4, as in “May the Fourth Be With You”]. I’m a Star Wars kid. My [old] G-3, I played 700-something shows on my bass years ago. You look up any old pictures of me traveling the world, it’s always that bass. It was such a huge part of my sound and look when I was younger. It’s just bigger. I can’t wait to see really small people—like small girls or really skinny little guys—playing this because that’s how I was when I was a kid. You’re playing this monstrous bass. The smaller you are, the cooler it looks.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Update: Rob Reiner, Wife Murdered By Son At L.A. Home

2025-12-15T17:25:56.332Z

Director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were murdered by their 32-year-old son Nick at their Los Angeles home, according to multiple reports. Per TMZ, the couple were discovered Sunday afternoon (Dec. 14) and appeared to have “suffered lacerations consistent with a knife.

Nick Reiner is now in Los Angeles Police Department custody. He reportedly struggled for years with drug addiction and homelessness.

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Rob Reiner, 78, was the son of legendary writer/actor/director Carl Reiner. He starred from 1971-1978 as the lovable Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family, and went on to direct such beloved films as Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men and When Harry Met Sally. But it was his stewardship of the pioneering 1984 rock’n’roll mockumetary This Is Spinal Tap that cemented his place in the hearts of music fans.

Reiner directed, co-wrote and starred as the film’s fictional director, Mary DiBergi, who chronicled a disastrous album launch and U.S. tour by fading U.K. rockers Spinal Tap (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer). The film’s spot-on portrayal of rock’n’roll behavior and clichés became the stuff of legend — memorized on tour buses by bands all over the world and its dialog recited like Bible verse for decades ever since.

“We’re the first generation that grew up on rock’n’roll — we love rock’n’roll! So to find that crease between paying homage and loving rock n’roll and at the same time making fun of it, that was a tricky line to walk,” Reiner told People earlier this year. “Virtually everything that happens is taken from something that we either experienced with people, because in the late ’60s, the rock’n’roll world and the improv world, which is where I come from, there was kind of a cross-pollination there, so I was very much aware of what goes on tour and what happens, [and] we got stories from people that we knew.”

A sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, was released in September and reunited Reiner with McKean, Guest and Shearer, plus real-life musicians such as Paul McCartney and Elton John.

This is a developing story.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

How Run-DMC Made Christmas Cool for Hip-Hop

2025-12-15T17:21:29.959Z

“Christmas in Hollis” almost didn’t happen. According to Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, when Bill Adler, Def Jam Recordings’ first publicist, presented him, Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell, and Joseph “Run” Simmons with the opportunity to participate in the 1987 charity album, A Very Special Christmas, they were skeptical.

The project featured some of the most influential artists of that era, including Madonna, U2, Whitney Houston, and Bruce Springsteen, and had a goal of raising millions for the Special Olympics. Certainly, there were no other rappers involved; rap was still relatively new. There was also a sense DMC was slightly intimidated by the sheer talent of superstars contributing to the cause.

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But Run-DMC, who by this time had already released three classic albums and were superstars in their own right, were ultimately convinced by Adler to move forward with the record only because he and Jam Master Jay had stumbled across the perfect sample: 1968’s “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter.

Bobby Shriver, son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, served as A Very Special Christmas’ producer alongside Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine and then-wife Vicki Iovine. Shriver, like DMC, credits Adler for igniting the spark that led to “Christmas in Hollis.”

Recorded at Chung King Studios in New York City, the song came together quickly, with Run and DMC writing their respective verses in a matter of hours. It, along with A Very Special Christmas, was wildly successful. The video, directed by NYU film student Michael Holman, was in heavy rotation on MTV—despite a budget of just $800.

Run-DMC in 1987. (Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

“The record itself did very well because the whole god damn world picked up that album because of the artists on it,” Adler says. “Run-DMC was exposed to folks who’d never heard of them before. Profile Records decided they’d pay for the video. Run-DMC made a cute video and that video blew the fuck up on MTV, and I’m sure helped to further open the door at MTV they’d started to open in 1984 with their first album.”

A Very Special Christmas went on to be certified 4x-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and raised more than $16 million for the Special Olympics in its first year alone. A Very Special Christmas 2 arrived in 1992 and a third volume was released in 1997, and each included Run-DMC.

Here, we talk to DMC, Adler, and Shriver about the making of “Christmas in Hollis,” its impact, and how it all came together—elves and all.

Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay), Darryl McDaniels (DMC), and Joe Simmons (Rev Run) of Run-DMC in 1987. (Credit: David Redfern/Redferns)

A Very Special Connection

Bill Adler: Russell [Simmons] was going out to nightclubs everywhere, and he became friends with Bobby Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family. Basically, his mom founded the Special Olympics. He said he’d been working on what would become the first of a series of Special Olympics Christmas albums. So this opportunity for Run-DMC comes up and I don’t even know if Russ was thinking about it, but it meant a little more than usual to me because I was paying attention to Christmas music and not the typical shit.

Jimmy Iovine had already been recording a bunch of the top superstars of the era, making Christmas tracks with them. It turned out that all of them just did a cover version of a Christmas standard, so I said to Run-DMC, “Why don’t you guys do something unique, something original?” And what I suggested as a concept for him, I said, “Call it ‘Christmas in Hollis,’ and that resonated with the two of them.

Bobby Shriver: I met Jimmy and he assigned to me the duty of all the New York artists, one of whom was Run-DMC. So I’m like, “How am I going to meet these guys? There’s no way.” But a guy who I knew in New York called them. I don’t know how he got ahold of Bill. Then I went down to see Jay and Run—not Russell. And then when Russell realized, “Oh this is going to happen,” he called me up and then we started running around. He was a very entertaining person and obviously was always very plugged into the record business. Because I had no idea what the record business was or how to get anything done in the record business, I latched on to him very quickly because I figured that he would know how to do things.

DMC: At first we thought it was a corny idea. They didn’t believe in hip-hop, right? So then it gets popular. Now everybody wants you to do a rap. They want the cereal rap, they want the auto company rapping, and a minute ago you didn’t think it was worthy of anything. So when they came to us with the idea to do a Christmas rap song, we was like, “No, that’s corny.” We was at a point, we only making “Rock Box,” “Sucka MCs,” “King of Rock,” and “It’s Like That.” Even though Bill said it was for the Special Olympics, we didn’t think we could fit in there, because it was Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and a bunch of others, but we was like, “No, that ain’t our vibe. It’s good, but it’s not for us.” It sounded more like “We Are the World” or something. There was nothing wrong with that, but we were too busy. We wanted to do beats, rhymes, and scratch, and do what we do. We didn’t feel that sonically it fit in with Whitney and Bruce and all of that, doing what those type of artists do.

Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, among many other celebrity musicians, at the U.S. Top of the Pops show in Los Angeles, California, December 23, 1987. (Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images)

Diggin’ in the Crates

BA: They’re in the studio so I met them there and brought with me a cantaloupe crate of some of the Christmas records that I’d been picking for my Christmas Jollies [personal compilation]. I went to meet with Jay because he’s the guy that’s going to make a decision about the music. Run fucked off and went to another room to smoke a joint. I showed Jay the records and he started to puddle his way through them. Pretty early on in the process, he pulled out this album and it was a various artist collection issued by Atlantic Records in 1968. But one of the first cuts on the album is Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa.” He puts the needle on the record and he’s looking for beats. Typically, he’d put the needle down, listen for five seconds, reject it, and move on to the next track. But in this case, he puts the needle down and listens for five seconds then picks it up and puts it back at the beginning of the track, and he listens again. Then he picks it up after 15 seconds or so and puts it down a third time. All of a sudden, here comes Run and D from the next room. Nobody had even said anything to them. They’d been listening and vibing to it. That’s how it became the backing track.

DMC: We didn’t want to do nothing corny, so Bill Adler brought the sample. Bill and Jay found a sample of “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter. Him and Jay did some crate digging, found that sample and said, “You’re not going to do no corny ‘Jingle Bells,’ sleigh ride stuff. Y’all going to rap over this.” It wasn’t a Christmas song, it was a break beat, so Run and I immediately wrote our rhymes. That kind of changed everything in an instant.

For the emcees, the beat says everything, so when Bill Adler said, “This is what we’re going to use,” it was easy to do. Run wrote his rhyme, I wrote my rhyme. Seven or eight years ago, somebody said to me, “D, would you believe Christmas used to be only Nat King Cole with “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” and Bing Crosby “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas?” He said, “Now Christmas is Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Run-DMC with hip-hop.” The little thing was, “Oh, this is nice for the Special Olympics.” The cause was good and everything.

On the Road Again

DMC: In 1987, we was always on the road. I went from high school to the road. I was 23 in ’87. This was in the midst of Raising Hell, the adidas deal, and “Walk This Way.” And it was crazy when they said, “Y’all want to listen to the album with Bruce?” We was already three albums in. “Walk This Way” was changing the world. The adidas deal was unheard of at the time. How could you get more superstardom? Now you’re qualified to do a Christmas song like Perry Como and on a record with Whitney Houston and all the other giant pop and rock artists. It’s crazy. I got a sneaker deal just like all the athletes, and I don’t play no sports. You just look cool. It was insane.

Christmas in Hollis

DMC: It took me two minutes to write my vocals. Because with my vocals, I just focused on what it was really like in my household every Christmas since I was a kid, like Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens. It was just me telling you what Christmas really is like for me in Hollis, Queens. That’s all that I knew. In my household, my mother and father was like, “Honey, me and your father are Santa Claus.” They just told me. It was beautiful, though. I would go to the store and pick out my own toys. I understood what Santa Claus meant, but my mom, she was like hip-hop—she was keeping it real with me. I remember when Bill Adler contacted us, we pretty much went straight to the studio. We had the rhymes written in an hour, and we was laying the verses that night, and that was only because the beat was so dope.

The “Ill Badler” Effect

DMC: I’ll give it to Bill, but Bill will always give it to Jay because Jay did the crate digging. But Bill was right. Bill was the encouragement for Jay to go that deep into it. Then when he reached out to me, he said, “This is what we found.” As soon as I heard that beat drop, I was like, it’s Christmas time in the house! The beat was the motivating factor to get us to the record. And then you know what’s cool about that? After we laid it, we learned Jimmy Iovine was the one that mixed it. He was the engineer.

BS: Bill really made the thing happen. With all love to Russell, he didn’t make it happen. Bill did all the work.

Run-DMC performs on stage during the Adidas Three Stripes Festival in 2024. (Credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for adidas)

Santa’s Workshop

DMC: We didn’t know we had a hit until the video. Even though Run-DMC, LL COOL J, and other rappers were out there, rap was still fairly new. They didn’t believe it was going to be around. They still thought it was a fad. So we thought it was just going to be a rap song people would find on the Very Special Christmas album. You could go back to the ’80s and pick something up and say, ‘What? They put a little rap on it? That might not be that good.” But we knew what we did was dope for us. And it was an honor to be on the album, but we never thought it was going to do anything. Once it started getting popular and getting played by DJs like Red Alert, Mr. Magic, Awesome 2, whatever DJs was in L.A., and whatever DJs was in Cleveland, I guess the producers of the record and the record company saw it was popular, so then they said, “We got to make a video for this one.” Once the video was done, it was iconic. That was another step up.

Reindeer Games

DMC: We had to fly into New York for one day, do the video, and fly back out the next morning to be on the road. I was tired as hell. They put all the Christmas feeling in there, but they let us be our hip-hop selves, so it made the day go good. We didn’t have to dress up. We got our adidas suits on. All we had to do was be ourselves. We did put on some Christmas hats and threw up some confetti and all of that, but we didn’t have to do nothing out of character.

Family Ties

DMC: Many people might not know the lady cooking the meal in the kitchen scene is really my mother. That’s my real mother, right, the lady chasing the elf, and the lady that Jam Master Jay takes the mistletoe and gives a kiss to. That’s my mom. We came off the road, and they had my mother there. I was surprised she did it. But I guess it was easy for her, because she really cooked.

Christmas Today

Around the holidays, I can’t go to the mall or to the store or walk through the airport without 50,000 people yelling my lyrics at me every year since it came out. It don’t matter whether it’s Muslim people, Asian people, Italian people, everyone could relate to it. It does what music is supposed to do—bring people together. We made Christmas cool for everybody without it being a Catholic or Christian thing. It put us up there with Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole. It’s one of the most famous Christmas songs ever written. Put it like this, it made Run-DMC just as popular as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Christmas. Every year for the rest of the existence of this universe, I got a hit record, and it’s called “Christmas in Hollis.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

THE LADY OF THE LOWLANDS

2025-12-15T17:15:30.559Z

“I don’t appreciate things without an erotic charge,” says Lera Lynn, a singular wanderer on the Americana borderlands of country. “I know people really love Taylor Swift, but there’s no sex in that music — no sex or death. That’s what I find lacking in some pop music.”

To Lynn, who has declined big label approaches to lay her own trails through seven albums, including this year’s Comic Book Cowboy, music needs to explore all our raw ways and shadows. Without sex and death, without hunger and termination, “it’s kind of like eating a dish that doesn’t tick all the flavor profile boxes. They’ve gotta be present,” says Lera, who plays not to one flavor but flows through them all. “That’s just who I am.”

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The spellbindingly grim end of things was evident when bruised, filthy, her teeth yellow and veins marked from needles, Lera Lynn stood where she was told, for two heavy-duty men in the Black Rose to look at. “I wasn’t sure how to react — it was awkward,” she says. The bar was an ever-dark corner of a grim industrial town on LA’s fringes. Everyone was dirty inside. Ahead of coming in that day to start her run as the resident doomed junkie bar-siren giving a melancholic musical respite to season two of True Detective, she’d been told: “We need you for eyeline.” “I was like, ‘What is that?’” Being eyeline, she learned, is being an offscreen mark for onscreen people to occasionally glance at. No singing this day. She stood on her X. When the men, Vince Vaughn and Colin Farrell, walked in and looked at Lera, it was her first eye contact with either: “an intense moment.” And then off came the unseen track marks, yellow teeth, and other signifiers of life lost. Day over for her.

Did Lera do it right? Was she good eyeline?

“I don’t know,” she says. “I didn’t want to distract them — I understood that much.”

A different day in the Black Rose, scuzzed out again but now on camera, she’d sing “My Least Favorite Life,” a bleakly tantalizing song (“the blue pulls away from the sky”) conjured up for the show by Lera, T Bone Burnett, and Rosanne Cash.

Lera was here because T Bone Burnett, True Detective’s music producer, had sought out the Nashville-based singer-songwriter. T Bone had heard and sensed something in her that was right for the neo-noir anthology. “He’s a perceptive guy,” says Lera, who doesn’t need to read Bukowski — although she does (“I like how he was a no-bullshit kinda writer”) — to know dive life.

This story starts way back when Lera was a child moved by her parents around Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, as her mother sang and her father drank and drugged and chased work as a mechanic fixing heavy machinery.

“He had a brilliant mechanical mind but he couldn’t get it together. I can’t imagine having water bottles full of Canadian whisky all day long and ever expecting to have a functioning life,” Lera says. “Meth was in there, too. Probably a little of everything.” Amidst the instability and its toll, or accentuated by instability and its toll, or simply as adolescence is, Lera’s teenage years were “full of ecstatic moments and traumatic moments — everything is so extreme, right?”

She sang and learned instruments, with her victory in a high school talent show giving her the confidence to land a residency in a duo at a lively, two-storey Mexican restaurant. The friend who played guitar alongside her “taught me how to smoke weed and how to play bar chords. My Mom represented me as my manager and told them I was 21 — when I was 15 — so they hired me and gave me margaritas,” says Lera. “At 15, but I looked older. I’m tall. I’ve always been tall. I’m 5’9” and almost 6’ with heels on.”

Lera had grown up with her mother singing, doing songs like Brenda Lee’s “Break It to Me Gently” (but the Juice Newton version). For the diners’ entertainment, Lera covered Nirvana and No Doubt, among others.

When she was 16, her parents divorced and Lera stayed with her mom. “My father was very unstable and unhealthy. He was an addict and that was a tough thing to navigate, being an only child and trying to figure out by myself what all of it meant.” The father and daughter grew estranged “because he was never sober and we couldn’t communicate. There was so much scar tissue — impassable barriers,” says Lera. He’d call from time to time, asking why she didn’t love him, so as the years went by and with Lera juggling anthropology at college, bartending, and singing in Athens, Georgia, she stopped answering.

“I don’t use this word often, but this @^%$…” says Lera (Photo by David McClister)

And then one day, with Lera 22 and her dad 44, he died.

As next of kin, Lera went to his house but didn’t get in. “His girlfriend and her kids were there and when I knocked on the door they threatened to shoot me. Then they called the police on me and the police made me leave,” she says. “I was not allowed to enter the home for a while.”

Her father died with $200 in the bank, a broken down truck, a dilapidated house with a defunct mortgage, some tools, and a few personal effects: his old belt, boots, and sunglasses. Before Lera could get in, the vultures broke into his toolboxes and stripped what they wanted — including the belt, boots, and sunglasses — leaving a grieving, angry 22-year-old to watch the ransacked house foreclosed.

“It was dark, dark stuff,” she says. Her state of mind? “Furious; furious and grieving at the same time. An emotional basketbase. And angry at him, too, for not having his shit together and for dumping all this on me and for having $200. I didn’t even have the money to cremate him. I was just a college student, bartending, trying to scrape by.” In some ways grieving a dead addict is more a continuation, or even aftermath, than it is a whole new shock, because “I’d already grieved the loss of him.”

Multiple times her father appeared: “like his ghost,” says Lera, who eventually had to tell him, out loud, to leave her alone. “And then that stopped. Maybe that was all in my head, but it worked.” The music she found herself listening to through this time included Ray LaMontagne’s Till the Sun Turns Black (with blue gems like “Empty”, in which Ray quietly sings: “I’ve been to hell and back so many times / I must admit you kinda bore me”).

In the thick of it all her boss from a bar back in Athens reached out. “I don’t use this word often, but this cunt,” says Lera, “my boss, this sexist moron, was like ‘I know your dad died or whatever but when are you gonna be back at work?’ I was like, ‘OK, I’ll come back to work.’ He would always sit at the bar and tell me, ‘Make me something.’ And I would make him a drink and he would never like it. But he would never tell me what he wanted. And he did that to me that day — my first day back at work. I was like, ‘Can you tell me what you want today?’ and he was all ‘No.’ So I said, ‘You know what? You can go fuck yourself. I quit.’”

Harrowed, steeled, liberated, untethered, hurt, alive, ecstatic, bold Lera Lynn grew and grew as a songwriter and performer, gigging more and touring further afield, shifting the balance from interpreting others to becoming who she is.

In her late 20s, she set up in Nashville and released her first album, 2011’s Have You Met Lera Lynn, following it up with The Avenues, the opening song of which, “Out to Sea” (a sublime performance of which she gives on Late Show with David Letterman) opens with lyrics that chart a course for the borderlands of Lynn. “Take me to the land’s divide,” she sings. “Let the waters rush out to tide / For this is all a dream / And I’ll let it all go.”

T Bone Burnett heard the call, Lera thinks, because “you can tell when somebody’s been through some stuff and they’re writing — you can hear it.” He asked her out to LA, and had her cast as the castaway siren of the Black Rose, where she sings her way back through the rings of her formation. One charged number, “Lately”, follows Vince Vaughn’s declaration that “everything’s ending: time to wake up.”

On cue, our soiled siren then gets to work performing in a deserted bar. “Lately I’m not feeling like myself,” she sings. “When I look into the glass I see someone else.”

“That’s meta,” says Lera.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Stevie Nicks, Lorde, Eagles Are In Jazz Fest Groove

2025-12-15T17:08:11.122Z

Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart Kings of Leon, Lainey Wilson, Teddy Swims, Lorde, Jon Batiste, Tyler Childers and David Byrne will headline this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which runs from April 23-May 3 at Fair Grounds Race Course.

As of now, this is Nicks’ only confirmed show of 2026 and her first appearance at Jazz Fest. Stewart previously appeared at the event in 2007 and 2018 and will visit New Orleans as part of a world tour next year.

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The two-weekend extravaganza will also feature RAYE, Nas, Alabama Shakes, Herbie Hancock, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas, Bruce Hornsby, T-Pain, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Isley Brothers, Trombone Shorty, Jason Isbell, Irma Thomas, Nicholas Payton featuring Butcher Brown and dozens more.

Following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa, the festival is putting the focus on Jamaica at its Cultural Exchange Pavilion, which will host sets from Ziggy and Stephen Marley, Sean Paul, Burning Spear, Protoje, Original Koffee and Lila Iké.

Tickets are on sale now through Jazz Fest’s website. Special discounts are available for Louisiana residents.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Altin Gün Salutes Neşet Ertaş On New Album

2025-12-09T20:06:18.903Z

Amsterdam-based Turkish psych purveyors Altin Gün mine the catalog Anatolian legend Neşet Ertaş for the source material on their new album, Garip, which will be released Feb. 20 through ATO Records.

Ertaş penned hundreds of songs and recorded more than 30 albums from 1957 onwards and is revered for updating the ashik folk tradition for modern listeners. He died at the age of 74 in 2012, six years after being awarded the State Medal of Distinguished Service by the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

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“Both of my parents are from Turkey, from the same area he is from,” Altin Gün’s Erdinç Eçevit says of Ertaş. “It’s the music that I grew up with. When I was five, six years old, my grandfather always had cassettes by Neşet Ertaş and I used to listen to it all day long. Then, I was too young to really understand the lyrics and the meaning, but I really liked the melodies. [They’re] stories about what he’s facing in life. The Turkish traditional music is the blues of the Turkish people.”

A video for lead single “Neredesin Sen” can be seen below. Garip also features collaborations with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra and will be supported by a 2026 European tour, beginning Jan. 31 in Maastricht, Holland. It’s the follow-up to 2023’s Aşk, which debuted at a career-best No. 4 on Billboard‘s Heatseekers chart and No. 15 on the Top Independent Albums tally.

Part of Altın Gün’s appeal is that its music can be thoroughly enjoyed even if the listener can’t understand a word of Turkish. “That’s what I like about our music,” bassist Jasper Verhulst, who is a longtime fan of the Anatolian genre but is far from fluent in the language, previously told SPIN. “It’s very universal, I guess, even though it’s exotic. Apparently, it still speaks to a lot of people.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dijon Jams With Justin Vernon, Nick Hakim On ‘SNL’

2025-12-08T17:39:09.633Z

Artist/producer Dijon coaxed Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon back to the live stage last night (Dec. 6) during his performances on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, as the latter joined a super-sized band for the occasion also featuring Zack Villere, Nick Hakim and former Dirty Projectors vocalist Amber Coffman.

Dijon contributed to Vernon’s 2025 Bon Iver comeback album SABLE, fABLE, and Vernon returned the favor by making his first high-profile appearance on stage since an Aug. 2024 campaign rally for presidential candidate Kamala Harris in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wi. Vernon has also not performed live in any form in support of SABLE, fABLE, which is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Alternative Music Performance (“All Is Peaceful Love”) at the upcoming Grammy Awards.

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However, Vernon teased his intentions by joining Dijon onstage at New York’s Terminal 5 on Thursday as part of a three-show area run that also featured guest turns from frequent collaborator mk.gee. At an April event with clothing designer Todd Snyder, he admitted, “I’m not going to sing for a while. I’m going take a second. I sang plenty on this record, man. Let this record be the performance. I’ll figure out how to sing in front of people again later. Why play a new version? You worked five years on it. It would be like putting a new chore coat out and then spray-painting it yellow the second day it was available.”

Dijon was performing in support of his latest album, Baby, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. He also shares an Album of the Year nomination for his work on Justin Bieber’s comeback album, SWAG.

“Tour has been gorgeous and we just got to rock on live TV SNL-syle for those out there in da wild,” he wrote on Instagram. “Grateful, true and couldn’t do it without the most divine squad ever. Grateful and buzzin and everyone who has bought a ticket is a light.”

See Dijon’s Saturday Night Live performances below.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Lily Allen Taking ‘West End Girl’ On Tour

2025-12-08T16:55:36.125Z

With her new BMG album West End Girl still buzzing, U.K. artist Lily Allen has announced a nine-date North American tour in support of it next spring.

Allen will perform the project in its entirety at the gigs, which begin April 3 in Chicago and wrap April 28 in San Francisco. Click here for tickets, which are available for presale on Dec. 10-11 and will go up for the general public the next day.

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West End Girl has drawn raves for its frank depiction of Allen’s tumultuous personal life, including her split from Stranger Things actor David Harbour. “It’s the pleasure of listening to a master storyteller who makes your jaw drop by seeming to have spilled all the tea almost at the outset, and then the tea just keeps on coming. Not since Boston in 1773, maybe, has anyone dumped it this massively, or this fulfillingly,” said Variety.

Allen will celebrate West End Girl with a Dec. 13 appearance on the Josh O’Connor-hosted episode of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, her first since 2007. She’ll sandwich the North American shows with extensive U.K. touring next year, starting March 2 in Glasgow. Dates are on tap through July 7 — Allen’s third performance at London’s O2 Arena.

Here are Lily Allen’s North American tour dates:

04/03 – The Auditorium – Chicago, IL
04/07 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON
04/11 – Orpheum Theatre presented by Citizens – Boston, MA
04/14 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY
04/17 – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark – Philadelphia, PA
04/19 – Warner Theatre – Washington, DC
04/21 – Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA
04/25 – Orpheum Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
04/28 – The Masonic – San Francisco, CA

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

5 Albums I Can’t Live Without: Randy Bradbury of Pennywise and 84 Days

2025-12-08T16:45:47.928Z

Name Randy Bradbury

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Best known for Bassist of the band Pennywise.

Current city Huntington Beach.

Really want to be in I am right where I want to be!

Excited about I’m excited about our (84 Days) debut album (released on November 7). I’ve been wanting to make an album like this forever.

My current music collection has a lot of Late ‘70s rock and punk. The Clash, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, Boston, and also some newer bands like Home Front.

And a little bit of (Genre): Lord Huron, The Handsome Family, and even a Juice WRLD track.

Preferred format I mostly just stream music nowadays—it’s convenient. I’m not into music that’s difficult to access. I’ll take the easiest format and turn it up.

5 Albums I Can’t Live Without:

1 Machine Gun Etiquette, The Damned

From the moment I heard the bass intro to “Love Song” I thought this was the best and most well-rounded punk rock album I ever listened to. It’s got power and energy from every instrument, great choruses and vocals. Captain Sensible plays the best guitar solos all over the album. It’s the whole experience.

2 The Black Album, The Damned

Another well-rounded album by The Damned. They could play fast, slow, melodic, raunchy…they could do it all. On this album they added Paul Gray on bass who is a major influence on my playing and one of my favorite bass players ever.

3 Suffer, Bad Religion

This album sounds so powerful and cohesive. It’s so melodic. It’s full of harmonies and so much power. This album changed the whole sound of punk rock from the day it came out even till now.

4 No Control, Bad Religion

This is like Suffer 2.0. Somehow, they made this one sound even more cohesive, melodic, and powerful than Suffer. The two are neck and neck as two of the still current best punk albums ever. The Clash’s first album comes to mind as one of the best also, but they aren’t on this list.

5 Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath

Sabbath are just one of the best rock bands ever. Even when I got into punk, I still kept blasting Sabbath. Iommi is the absolute riff master, nobody can touch him. Geezer is so amazing, every best bass lick I’ve ever done is some version of what I thought Geezer was doing. Bill Ward was doing his version of Bonham, so good. Ozzy isn’t on this record. Even factoring everything Ozzy meant to the world of Rock, nobody can touch Dio vocally. Dio is the absolute best and this album is amazing.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Screw Parenting Books, I Have Noah Kahan

2025-12-01T20:48:11.579Z

“You guys are so happy right now, I feel bad for what’s about to happen,” Noah Kahan jokes from the center of Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway’s stage. It’s a running joke for the musician, but although he plays music that makes people want to cry, his New England-inspired poetry is more powerful than its ability to embrace little light. As he says, with a smirk directed toward his own family sitting in the audience, the songs he’s about to play might “make you have a tough conversation with your dad.”

Kahan has summoned the 5,000 people in attendance to “raise a lot of fucking money” for the singer’s Busyhead Project. Named after Noah Kahan’s 2019 debut album and aimed at providing resources and information needed to end the stigma around mental health, the New England native was inspired to start the initiative in 2023 after a lifelong struggle with his own mental health. He has since then raised $4 million, and this benefit show in Boston has added another $1.5 million, along with an official city of Boston proclamation that November 20 is now known as “The Busyhead Project Day.”

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(Credit: Rachel O’Driscoll/Boston Red Sox)

Like a lot of Kahan’s fans, I’m no stranger to mental health struggles. I come from a long line of anxious humans and between small avalanches of panic attacks through my 20s, and the taught pull of genetically inherited agoraphobia through my 30s, I married and had two children. My oldest daughter is now 10 and on the precipice of all of the big things—teenagedom, hormones, heartbreak, and the unavoidable disorienting spin of anxiety.

As Kahan sings about medication, pills, and anger, she stands beside me in the crowd, shifting this way and that, trying to catch a glimpse of him beyond the grownups screaming his lyrics. This is only her second concert, and I think back to my first show at 10. My uncle was the manager of the wild Bad Brains, and I watched them from the back of the small NYC venue with my dad and very pregnant mom. It was memorable, for sure, maybe a little frightening, but I know that this experience, and Noah’s music in general, will create important memories for my daughter. As a mother, listening to Kahan’s honesty about depression and anxiety with her feels like the parenting help that I need most right now.

Our approach to mental health has no doubt changed over the years. Social media is bursting with reels and memes about the Boomer generation’s inability, or refusal, to work on themselves. Researchers are finding that Gen Z, while more transparent about mental health, are facing new challenges due to social media and the pressures it brings for portraying perfection and happiness. Noah’s music has arrived at just the right time. Not just for me as a mother, but for the younger generations (or “digital natives” as some call them).

(Credit: Rachel O’Driscoll/Boston Red Sox)

Some might ask why I’m so eager to share music that focuses on someone’s lowest points with my daughter. Why not simply bounce around the living room to the AI-designed songs of KPop Demon Hunters? I’ve debated plenty of times with my husband about my love of sad music—why it’s the best kind of music and always at the top of my playlists. Because it’s real, and that’s what makes it powerful and beautiful. Kahan’s lyrics skim away the fluff, leaving the most meaningful and vulnerable—”And I divvied up my anger into 30 separate parts / keep the bad shit in my liver and the rest around my heart.” His honesty sets him free and in turn, helps to pave an easier path for the generations behind him. Before giving over to the lights and sounds of his new song “Deny, Deny, Deny,” Kahan stands before us and admits more to the crowd about his time recording the new album The Great Divide (due to release around the end of this year or early 2026). “I’ve been through a lot, and making this album was pretty hard, but,” he adds, proving my point about the beauty of hard shit, “I’ve never been more proud of the music that’s going to be out for you guys.”

(Credit: Rachel O’Driscoll/Boston Red Sox)

As I stand with my daughter in the middle of MGM Music Hall and watch her absorbing the energy of not only Kahan, but the thousands of people around her who are cheering for Kahan’s efforts in mental healthcare, I’m grateful. His outspokenness and work with The Busyhead Project, and his ability to give my daughter and me a beautiful way to bond and talk about mental health, is something that I hope can continue for years to come. His music, lyrics, words of support spoken into the microphone—it’s important for his generation, my generation, and the generation of kids we’re raising. By singing about it, by making something terrible into something beautiful, I can only hope that my daughter and her younger sister can learn from artists like Kahan. I don’t want them to find resilience in his music—in fact, I kind of hate that word—but rather learn to accept their own heads and hearts, to use each unbearable worry or moment of sadness to uncover and be outspoken about their own truths.

“You guys are really making a difference and it means so much to me—it’s going to mean so much to people who need these resources,” Kahan tells the crowd about the money raised for Busyhead Project. And then, before things can get too serious, reminding us there’s always room for humor, he adds, “Alright, we’re going to play a song about wishing the worst for people.”

(Credit: Rachel O’Driscoll/Boston Red Sox)

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Evanescence Emerge For First Tour In Four Years

2025-12-01T20:08:26.713Z

Evanescence is bringing Spiritbox, Nova Twins, Poppy and K.Flay along for a 2026 world tour, the band’s first in four years. Dates begin June 11 in West Palm Beach, Fl., and will run through Oct. 26 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside Denver.

“This year has been so inspiring in so many ways — creating so much new music, playing some bucket-list shows and working with so many artists that give us life,” says frontwoman Amy Lee. “We are taking all of that fire and energy and inspiration and building it into an epic 2026 for our fans. Collaborating with K.Flay, Poppy and Courtney Le Plante made me want to create a world where we could share stages together, and I’m thrilled we are going to make it happen! I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on, and I can’t wait for this incredible tour.”

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Click here for full tour dates and tickets, pre-sales for which begin tomorrow (Dec. 2). One dollar from each seat will be donated to humanitarian aid organizations in partnership with PLUS1.

Before the tour, Evanescence can be seen Dec. 13 at KROQ’s Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles and the April 25 Las Vegas edition of the jam-packed Sick New World festival.

Evanescence’s last studio album was 2021’s The Bitter Truth, which debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. This year, the group released the new song “Afterlife” for the Netflix anime movie Devil May Cry as well as “Fight Like a Girl” with K.Flay, which ran over the end credits of the movie Ballerina.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

With Thom Yorke Ailing, Radiohead Postpone Copenhagen Gigs

2025-12-01T20:05:34.124Z

Radiohead are postponing their shows planned for tonight (Dec. 1) and tomorrow in Copenhagen to allow frontman Thom Yorke to recover from “an extreme throat infection which has made it impossible for him to sing. Treatment is underway.”

The dates are being moved to Dec. 15-16, and tickets “will be automatically transferred to the new corresponding date,” per the band, which is winding down their first run of performances since 2018. Two additional Copenhagen shows are still on tap for Dec. 4-5 as is a four-night run in Berlin — depending on Yorke’s health.

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“We have been so blown away by the audience reactions on these dates and are loving being back on stage again,” the band continued. “Needless to say, we feel terrible that we have been forced to postpone these shows.”

Radiohead have performed 45 different songs across the first 12 shows, including rarities such as “Sit Down. Stand Up,” “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” and “(Nice Dream)” which have not been played in years.

“I guess the wheels came off a bit, so we had to stop,” Yorke told the Sunday Times in a recent interview about Radiohead’s long break between touring. “There were a lot of elements. The shows felt great but it was, like, let’s halt now before we walk off this cliff.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Reggae Pioneer Jimmy Cliff Dies At 81

2025-11-24T18:37:51.283Z

Jimmy Cliff, whose performance in the1972 film The Harder They Come helped reggae music dent the mainstream for the first time, died today (Nov. 24) at the age of 81. According to a statement from his family, the cause was a seizure followed by pneumonia.

Cliff had his first hit, “Hurricane Hattie” at 14, in the late ’50s, having talked his way into the record business while still at school (it was actually his third released single). Over the next few years, he had a few hits locally and helped shepherd future reggae legends Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley before moving to the U.K., having signed to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records. In 1967, he released his first major album, Hard Road to Travel, which included a cover of “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and only touched on the reggae sound to come.

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Following the 1970 protest song “Vietnam,” which Bob Dylan called one of the best he’d ever heard, Cliff starred in and wrote the title song for The Harder They Come. The movie revealed for the first time the birthplace of reggae — a paradoxical place of squalor and sunshine. The movie is music-laden, and at least partially about music, but it’s not a musical. It’s a gangster film about a kid (played by Jimmy) who comes to Kingston to break into the recording business, fails and becomes a small-time bad boy in a local crime gang, kills a cop, runs from the law and — well, it ends in tears.

Although Cliff appears on only four of the soundtrack’s 10 songs, “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Many Rivers To Cross,” “Sitting in Limbo” and the title cut are all classics.

“The film stands up very well,” Cliff told SPIN in 2022. “The director [Perry Henzell] was saying, ‘I don’t want any actors in my movie. I just want people who play themselves.’ Mainly all of the actors in the movie were playing themselves. That’s why it stood up. Everyone was being real. But I never stole. I never killed (laughs).”

For the next 40 years, Cliff performed and recorded around the world, collaborated with the Rolling Stones, Annie Lennox and the Clash’s Joe Strummer, acted in the ’80s comedy Club Paradise with Robin Williams and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

His 2012 album Rebirth was produced by Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and included a cover of the Clash’s “The Guns of Brixton.” It debuted at a career-high No. 76 on the Billboard 200 and won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album.

Asked how he maintained a message of peace, love and unity amid constant racism and discrimination, Cliff told SPIN, “I boil it down to having grown up in the ghetto. I could have gone either way — I could have gone like Ivan, in the movie, or gone the way I have now. I had to be optimistic to survive, or you sink like a stone. So, I put it down to that. I just have to stay optimistic. That attitude has become a part of me.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Man/Woman/Chainsaw is Slaying Their Way to Our Ears

2025-11-24T18:02:52.285Z

If the name of the band Man/Woman/Chainsaw sounds familiar, that’s because its members took inspiration from Carol J. Clover’s 1992 book, Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, which explores the “final girl” horror film trope.

“Completely stolen,” says Emmie-Mae Avery (vocals, keys, synths), referring to the band’s name during a video call from London, where the group is based.

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Avery is a bit late to the call because she’s just finishing dinner. Vocalist-guitarist Billy Ward has already joined—and we chit-chat as we wait for her to get situated.

“Chorizo pasta-making went a little bit over expected,” says Avery, laughing, her screen on audio only. “Okay, right. I’m just joining on my laptop.”

She suddenly appears onscreen, and we get down to business.

I discovered Man/Woman/Chainsaw—an art-punk group steadily gaining mainstream traction—on KEXP’s YouTube channel, a raucous live performance recorded in-studio back in March, blown away by their symphonic grunge-punk sound.

The band started during the lockdown in 2021, when middle school (or secondary school, as they call it in the U.K.) friends Ward and Vera Leppänen (vocals, bass) began performing cover songs together. They eventually recruited other members in high school, evolving into their current six-piece lineup, which includes Clio Starwood (violin), Billy Doyle (guitar), and Lola Cherry (drums).

(Credit: Pooneh Ghana)

“From the get-go, there are spaces [in the U.K.] where you can get a show when you’re 16 and have never done anything before,” says Ward. “You can just kind of jump straight into that. Pretty much within two months, we were doing like three or four shows a week sometimes.”

Since the band’s inception, Man/Woman/Chainsaw has played well over 100 live shows; not bad for a group whose members are all 21 and younger.

“We’ve done our Hamburg, definitely,” says Ward, referring to the Beatles’ early days of playing long, grueling sets in the German city’s red-light district years before appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

The band actually did play Hamburg, Ward tells me, a few weeks prior to this interview.

Like the Beatles, playing so many shows helped Man/Woman/Chainsaw hone their craft and perfect their songs.

“I think especially in the start, we were always testing out new material, because we weren’t really recording anything,” says Avery. “We were just trying to make the best half-hour live set as we could. Whereas, I feel like if you go straight into recording stuff, you don’t always get that feel for it, which I feel is the most important part. Playing live is the most important thing.”

Man/Woman/Chainsaw put out a few singles, most notably “Any Given Sunday,” “Back/Burden,” and their 2023 breakthrough “What Lucy Found There,” which has garnered 362,800 streams on Spotify, before signing to Oxford, Mississippi-based indie label, Fat Possum Records, and releasing their first EP, Eazy Peazy, in November 2024.

The EP was recorded with Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox at Echo Zoo studio in Eastbourne, and is a thrilling, beautifully chaotic, cinematic sonic adventure, leading with the driving immediacy of “The Boss” and concluding with the electric-guitar-driven, symphonic passion of “EZPZ.”

(Credit: Pooneh Ghana)

Though Eazy Peazy hasn’t quite propelled them to stardom, it’s certainly afforded them much more global attention, including their most recent high-profile appearance at SXSW earlier this year.

“It felt like just a holiday, pretty much,” says Avery. “We played seven shows in four days, which was quite a lot. But it was really fun. It was so hot in March. We were like, ‘This is a holiday, let’s eat pizza and go out and get on Lime scooters.’ Yeah, it was lit.”

“I ate so much junk. It was great,” Ward chimes in.

I ask if they ate barbecue while they were in Texas. Because when you’re in Texas, you have to eat barbecue.

They did.

“It was possibly one of the nicest things I’ve eaten in my life,” says Ward.

Our interview is during a busy time for the band, as they’re in the middle of recording their debut album. At this moment, they’re not allowed to say much about it, other than the record will be released sometime next year.

The band, however, has a new single, “Only Girl,” which came out November 17. And, they’ve switched to a new label, Fiction Records, home to, most famously, the Cure and St. Vincent.

One of Man/Woman/Chainsaw’s big goals is to play more shows in America. Despite the success they had at South By Southwest, though, they say they’ll wait until things are a little less chaotic here in the States before returning. Until then, they’ll be playing more shows in the U.K. and continuing work on their upcoming album.

“Recording music has been really fun,” says Ward. “I think down the line we want to keep, just pushing it, like just do as many live shows as we can get in front of people, have fun…and see where that goes. And then have fun making records. Get a bit weird with it, try to just make good songs over the next few years.”

“Forever,” adds Avery.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Donald Glover Reveals He Had A Stroke

2025-11-24T17:33:57.858Z

“I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana, and I did the show anyway,” he said. “I couldn’t really see well, so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital, and the doctor was like, ‘you had a stroke.’ And the first thing I thought was like, ‘oh, here I am still copying Jamie Foxx.’ That’s really like the second thing. The first thing was like, ‘I’m letting everybody down.’”

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Beyond the stroke, Glover said he also broke his foot and that “they found a hole in my heart. So I had this surgery, and then I had to have another surgery.” The New World tour began a month earlier in Oklahoma City and drew strong reviews for its stage design and use of technology. It came on the heels of what Glover said will be the final Childish Gambino album, Bando Stone and the New World, as well as a film of the same name.

Despite these setbacks, the artist’s first show in more than a year seemed to go off without a hitch, and even featured the live debut of “Psilocybae (Millennial Love)” from 2024’s Atavista and first-time cover of Outkast’s “Protoype” in tandem with acclaimed Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson.

“They say everybody has two lives, and the second life starts when you realize you have one,” Glover said. “You have one life, guys. You should be living your life how you want. If we have to do this again, it can only get better.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

‘SNL’ Books Ariana, Cher, Lily For Final 2025 Shows

2025-11-18T21:30:40.610Z

The following week, actor Josh O’Connor will host and the resurgent Lily Allen will perform for the first time since 2007. The latter’s no-holds-barred new album, West End Girl, has become a quick critical darling and is also sizzling on the U.K. charts.

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The last show of the year on Dec. 20 will be led by Ariana Grande, while Cher will serve as the musical guest for the first time since 1987. Grande, who has hosted thrice previously, will be plugging her film Wicked: For Good, which hits theaters Friday (Nov. 21).

Dijon will be the most unfamiliar name to mainstream viewers, although his production work on this year’s Justin Bieber comeback album SWAG has elevated his profile significantly and earned him a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Dijon was also recognized for his own album, Baby, which enjoyed rave reviews.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Lorde, The xx, Turnstile Gather For Kilby Block Party

2025-11-18T21:21:59.025Z

Lorde, the xx and Turnstile will headline the seventh Kilby Block Party, which will return to the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City from May 15-17. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Nov. 19), with the lowest-priced early bird options expected to go clean very quickly.

Kilby Block Party will feature an undercard loaded with indie and alternative favorites, including Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Modest Mouse, Alex G, Blood Orange, Father John Misty, Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus and Magdalena Bay. Also appearing are American Football, Grandaddy, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Hannah Cohen, Kevin Morby and Show Me the Body.

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For Lorde, Kilby Block Party will be her first North American festival appearance in more than three years. Similarly, the xx have not performed in any capacity since 2018, while Turnstile, which recently scored five Grammy nominations, have never before co-headlined such a high-profile event.

Local promoters S&S Presents will once again expand the event’s footprint within the fairgrounds, including the utilization of Days of ‘47 Arena for a smaller stage and reorienting other stages to cut down on sound bleed. Fans can also take in the Crusher Cup skateboarding competition presented by Skullcandy and check out evening shows from festival acts in such local venues as Kilby Court, Urban Lounge and Metro Music Hall.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses Ready For Rockville

2025-11-18T21:14:17.258Z

Foo Fighters and Guns N’ Roses will round out the headliners for the 2026 edition of Welcome to Rockville, which, as previously reported, will also feature My Chemical Romance and Bring Me the Horizon when it returns to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl., on May 7-10.

Turnstile, Five Finger Death Punch, Godsmack, Staind, the Offspring, Parkway Drive, Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White, Lamb of God, A Day To Remember, Rise Against and Yellowcard are all near the top of the bill for the Danny Wimmer Presents-promoted festival, which last year drew a record-breaking 230,000 attendees.

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“Fifteen years in, Rockville has grown into something bigger than I ever imagined,” Wimmer says. “Last year’s record-breaking crowd raised the bar for what this festival could be, and this year’s lineup lives up to that energy. Rock only grows when every era and every sound has a place, and it’s important to me that all corners of this world are represented here. Being able to deliver a lineup like this in my home state is something I’m truly grateful for.”

Welcome to Rockville will also offer a May 6 kickoff party on the festival grounds, with performances by Fuel, Local H, Adelitas Way and Ashes Remain. Click here for tickets.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Rock Hall Welcomes Soundgarden, White Stripes, Outkast

2025-11-10T16:47:24.273Z

Soundgarden, the White Stripes, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Joe Cocker and Chubby Checker were enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last night (Nov. 8) during a Los Angeles ceremony flecked with superstar contributions from Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Chappell Roan and Missy Elliott.

“When the Seattle music scene exploded, it resurrected rock and roll for me,” actor Jim Carrey professed while inducting Soundgarden’s surviving members Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd and Hiro Yamamoto. “When I heard Soundgarden for the first time, I wasn’t just excited — I wanted to put a flannel shirt on and run into the streets screaming, my mother smoked during pregnancy!”

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The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen stepped in for late frontman Chris Cornell on “Rusty Cage,” with an assist from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, while fellow Seattle veteran Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains joined when Brandi Carlile fronted the band for “Black Hole Sun.”

“I am just really, really happy that he got to make music with his friends,” Cornell’s daughter Lily said after Carrey’s speech. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. I know how much purpose that gave him, and how much it’s meant to people who have heard that music. That’s what I’ll be holding in my heart tonight.”

His younger daughter Toni, 21, also sang “Fell on Black Days” with guitar accompaniment from Heart’s Nancy Wilson. “I just wish he were here to see this tremendous honor for himself,” she said. “I know how proud he would have been, but he’s the only reason why I do music, so being here and being able to share my voice because of him is amazing.”

Jack White represented the White Stripes amid the absence of reclusive drummer Meg White during their induction, the speech for which was given by fellow Detroit rocker Iggy Pop. “I hear echoes of the Who, Small Faces, the Beatles, hard rock and country blues in Jack’s playing,” Pop offered. “He could do it all. And the writing he is capable of was something that was not typical of the great Detroit bands of the ’60s and ’70s. This was more melodic, more hooky. After all, it was a new century and the White Stripes’ music was coming from a foundational love instead of revolution, and with time to turn a page.”

Feist and Olivia Rodrigo at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony (photo: Kevin Kane / Getty Images for RRHOF).

In his acceptance speech, White acknowledged he’d spoken with Meg “the other day” and that “she’s very sorry she couldn’t make it tonight, but she’s very grateful for the folks who have supported her throughout all the years. To young artists, I want to say, get your hands dirty and drop the screens and get out in your garage or your little room and get obsessed. Get obsessed with something. Get passionate. We all want to share in what you might create.” The duo’s music was repped by guest performers Rodrigo and Feist on “We’re Going To Be Friends” and Twenty One Pilots on the inescapable “Seven Nation Army.”

Both members of pioneering rap duo Outkast were in the room for their induction last night, but they also chose not to stage together for what would have been their first performance since a 2014 reunion tour. Instead, Andre 3000 watched from the audience as Big Boi led a guest-filled run through “ATLiens” with J.I.D., “Ms. Jackson” with Doja Cat (who forgot the words at one point), a sizzling “B.O.B.” with Tyler, the Creator, a shaky “Hey Ya!” with Janelle Monae, “The Way You Move” with Sleepy Brown and “The Whole World” with Killer Mike.

To begin the show, Wonder, the Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Flea, Beck, Maxwell and Jennifer Hudson teamed for a Sly Stone tribute of “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Higher.” Another fallen legend from 2025, Brian Wilson, got his own salute by John, Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer Kenny Aronoff and bassist Don Was on the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.”

Lauper focused her induction speech on the influence “of the women in the industry who came before me. My shoulders are broad enough to have the women that come after me stand on mine, and the little kid in me still believes that rock’n’roll can save the world.” The artist was inducted by Roan, who dusted off a Lauper-inspired outfit for the occasion and even accidentally said the “F word” during her remarks (“I messed up so bad by refusing to get contacts,” she joked).

“Cyndi embodies every quality of an artist that I admire,” Roan said. “She’s a born performer and a revolutionary songwriter. A forever fashion icon and a fierce advocate and ally. From the very beginning, she owned every ounce of who she was.” Lauper then performed with a pickup band including Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock and ex-Smashing Pumpkins bassist Ginger Pooley on “True Colors,” “Time After Time” with rising U.K. singer RAYE and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” with the latter, Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa.

Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers was too ill to attend the induction, leading to drummer Simon Kirke carrying performances of “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Can’t Get Enough” with assistance from the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Nancy Wilson. Cocker, who died in 2014, was feted by Bryan Adams (“It’s one thing to cover a song — it’s another to make it your own,” he said of his famed cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends”), and Elliott helped welcome Salt-N-Pepa as the first female rap group in the Hall.

Warren Zevon, Lenny Waronker, Carol Kaye, Thom Bell and Nicky Hopkins were also inducted this year via special categories.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Hayley Williams Leaks Her Own Solo Tour Dates

2025-11-10T16:40:46.700Z

In typically irreverent fashion, Paramore’s Hayley Williams has purposefully leaked details for her first-ever solo tour, which will begin March 28 in Atlanta. Williams intended to tour solo in 2020 behind her album Petals for Armor, but was unable to do so during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming dates will be in support of her latest collection, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, which was released digitally this summer and on vinyl yesterday (Nov. 7) by her Secretly Distribution-distributed label, Post Atlantic. Ego Death also landed four Grammy nominations yesterday: Best Alternative Music Album, Best Alternative Music Performance (for “Parachute”), Best Rock Performance (for “Mirtazapine”) and Best Rock Song (for “Glum”).

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The 20-track Ego Death was produced by Daniel James and sports contributions from Steph Marziano, Elise Joseph James, Brian Robert Jones, Joey Howard and Jim-E Stack.

Williams will be supported on the road by Water From Your Eyes and Snuggle, with more shows expected to be added, including summer festival appearances. As of yet, there are no details regarding ticket on-sale timing.

Here are Hayley Williams’ tour dates:

March 28: Atlanta (Tabernacle)
March 31: Toronto (Massey Hall)
April 3-4: Boston (Citizens House of Blues)
April 6-7: Philadelphia (Franklin Music Hall)
April 9-10: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)
April 14: Baltimore (The Lyric)
April 18: Minneapolis (Fillmore)
April 21-22: Chicago (Chicago Theater)
April 25, 27: Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)
May 2: Austin (ACL Live at the Moody Theater)
May 5: Phoenix (Van Buren)
May 7, 9: Oakland, Ca. (Fox Theater)
May 12-13: Los Angeles (The Wiltern)
June 5: Milan (Alcatraz)
June 8: Amsterdam (Paradiso)
June 10: Cologne, Germany (Live Music Hall)
June 15: Berlin (Tempodrom)
June 22: Manchester, U.K. (Academy)
June 26: Glasgow (O2 Academy)
June 29: Dublin (National Stadium)

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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Hunter Hayes Unveils ‘Evergreen’ Holiday EP; Chosen as Grand Marshal for 2025 Gatlinburg Christmas Parade

2025-11-10T16:31:02.961Z

Hunter Hayes is stepping into the 2025 holiday season in a major way. The Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist and Platinum-selling artist has spent the past year in his Evergreen era – marked by genre-bending production, soulful storytelling, and a mission to celebrate growth. This December, Hayes will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 50th Anniversary of the Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, which is set for December 5th in Tennessee. Before he waves to tens of thousands of fans along the Smoky Mountain parade route, Hayes is gifting fans an early present today (November 7^th), with the arrival of his Evergreen Christmas Sessions EP.

The four-song project features Hayes’ signature blend of intricate musicianship and heartfelt takes through timeless holiday favorites. Opening with a glistening, jazz-inflected rendition of “Winter Wonderland,” the track flows seamlessly into a tender version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Hayes then delivers a hushed, soulful “Silent Night” before cutting loose with a bluesy, good-time spin on the holiday classic “Run Run Rudolph.”

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“There’s a calm and peaceful Christmas vibe to the EP, which was intentional,” Hayes tells Spin. “For me, Christmas music has always been about spending time with family and friends – the people you love. And I hope this project becomes part of those yearly traditions.”

Recorded in Los Angeles with his band during a few days off from tour last July, Evergreen Christmas Sessions serves as a companion to Hayes’ larger Evergreen vision – a side chapter inspired by the same themes of growth, gratitude and connection, reimagined through holiday classics. The project follows the Evergreen songs released earlier this year: “Around the Sun,” “Wait, “Fragile,” and “Every Piece.” Known for his electrifying live shows and his ability to make even the quietest moments feel intimate, Hayes approached the sessions with the same spirit he brings to the stage. “This project felt like a jam session with family,” Hayes says.

Photo Courtesy of Visit Gatlinburg

When the award-winning Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade commemorates its 50^th year next month, 80,000 attendees will line the streets of Gatlinburg to witness Hayes lead the celebration. The Smoky Mountain fete is recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast and will feature 70 to 90 lighted floats, plus marching bands, giant balloons, and of course, Santa Claus himself. The annual festivity will also broadcast nationwide on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on local television stations in over 40 markets throughout the U.S. and available to stream to over 100 million viewers through a collaborative partnership with Nexstar.

As for his Grand Marshal honor, Hayes – a Louisiana native – says, “I have a deep love and appreciation for that whole part of Tennessee. Gatlinburg seems to call to all of us around Christmas, and I have incredibly fond memories of being there during the holidays with my family as a young performer. When I was asked to participate, it felt like the perfect way to celebrate the Evergreen Christmas Sessions release.”

Photo Courtesy of Visit Gatlinburg

Now in its 50th year, the Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade has grown to become one of the nation’s most enchanting holiday traditions. The 2025 Grand Marshal sponsor is Ole Smoky Distillery, a longtime Gatlinburg institution known for its craft moonshine and whiskey.

With Hayes front and center, this year’s celebration promises to be truly unforgettable. The Evergreen Christmas Sessions EP, meanwhile, makes for the perfect soundtrack to a December night spent by the fire, with the Christmas tree glowing and the season in full swing.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo Team Up and Get Dirty

2025-11-04T19:28:26.511Z

On the surface, and let’s be honest, underneath the surface too, Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo make unlikely collaborators. The intersection of DIY noise rock and instrumental guitar soli (as John Fahey called it) has been a lonely crossroads, but somehow the Oklahoma City musicians make it look like a fruitful place to cut deals and hatch plots.

Both Pedigo and Chat Pile have some things in common—locale being the most obvious, since Hayden grew up in the Texas Panhandle. And both have clearly figured out how to attract an audience to their usually marginal styles of music, in ways that go beyond talent—there are plenty of turbulent weirdos and skilled Fahey acolytes out there in the dingy burgs of the fading frontier, but few have headlined Dutch heavy-music festivals (Chat Pile) or modeled on a fashion runway (Pedigo). In the Earth Again (October 31) provides a look at what makes each of these artists stick out, and what might bind them together.

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At least since Metallica’s The Black Album, it’s been no secret that heavy dynamics can pair surprisingly well with melodic elements. Chat Pile tweaks the formula by hinting at consonance while jettisoning commercial metal’s production values. With Pedigo’s cleanly picked yet brooding lines supporting their corroded textures and raw nerves, Chat Pile’s sound achieves a new kind of sweep. Pedigo’s studied approach, meanwhile, gains an unsettling focus often lacking in his sometimes overly streamlined compositions. Hardcore fans of either band might object first—on tracks like glittering instrumental opener “Outside,” Chat Pile’s violence has been curbed, while the pummeling howl of cuts like the “Never Say Die!” submerge Pedigo’s thoughtful starkness underneath a wave of numb, mutilated fury.

But even when disappearing in service of the other artist, both Chat Pile and Pedigo come off somehow stronger. Their shared vision of the forgotten Southwest, curdled cowboy illusions, and grubby rural-suburban dystopia packing a powerful punch. Some effective blends do occur, merging Pedigo’s forlorn twang with Chat Pile’s unhinged bluster, as on doomer anthem “The Magic of the World,” or “Demon Time,” which features exquisitely bleary vocals from Raygun Busch and a thorny Pedigo lead, all set off by tolling death-chords from Chat Pile guitarist Luther Manhole and bassist Stin. And the contrast of CP drummer Cap’n Ron’s remorseless, wet-cement rhythms with Pedigo’s barbed burble (check out the deranged “Fission_Fusion”) always delivers a jolt. The track with the best title on the album, “I Got My Own Blunt to Smoke,” shows Pedigo at his unadorned best, while the middle section of “Radioactive Dreams” is a blast of chugging ache—pure, uncut Chat Pile.

The real surprise, though, lies in how this collaboration reveals the feral streak that has always run through Pedigo’s acoustic guitar meditations, and the thwarted tenderness that lies at the heart of Chat Pile’s wounded roar. Wordless country-blues and scarred, sludge-laden laments both turn out to be different strains of Americana, a hopeless, disfigured shadow country that might form the republic’s true face.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Foo Fighters Go Full Circle During Amazon Music Live’s Streaming Series

2025-11-04T19:12:26.933Z

"Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs during Amazon Music Live Season 4 at East End Studios on October 30, 2025, in Glendale, California. (Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Amazon Music)" />Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs during Amazon Music Live Season 4 at East End Studios on October 30, 2025, in Glendale, California. (Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Amazon Music)

It’s been more than 30 years since Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters—his chart-topping rock group, which saw the drummer take front and center stage after Nirvana, proving his chops as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. If there was any doubt that the band would continue after recent personal and line-up woes, he put them to rest last week, announcing the 12-date North American Take Cover stadium tour with Queens of the Stone Age. They also popped up recently via special small club shows in the U.S., including a recent surprise set in San Luis Obispo.

Nobody does big arena rock better than these two groups, but the Foos in-your-face energy is another beast altogether in an intimate setting. I’ve been lucky enough to see them play a couple of tiny venue shows in the past (including the Dragonfly in Hollywood and the now-shuttered Spaceland in Silver Lake) and they blended the blissfully communal experience of a big concert with a no-frills jam feel, not unlike watching your friend’s band at a backyard house party.

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On October 30, Grohl and bandmates Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, llan Rubin, and Rami Jaffee (who actually is a long-time friend of mine), shared this vibe, performing inside a circle of fans and cameras for Amazon Music Live, the streamer’s post-Thursday Night Football concert series, livestreamed from a studio in Glendale, California.

On the ground and in the round, the band whipped up hit after hit in a faithful fashion that nonetheless felt fresh and maybe more ferocious than ever thanks to the wildly invigorating rhythms of Rubin, who joined the band to replace Josh Freese this past summer. Rubin, 37, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Nine Inch Nails, making him its youngest living inductee ever. Freese, who toured with FF after Taylor Hawkins died, took Rubin’s place in NIN, marking a curious musical swap. All three are/were the best beat busters in the business, but after seeing Rubin’s aggressive and giddy playing style in this up-close forum—which recalls Grohl’s Nirvana and QOTSA kit stylings—it all sort of made sense. Sometimes it’s all about chemistry, and the current line-up really has it.

The band did not play the new single, “Asking for a Friend,” which was somewhat disappointing. It would’ve been cool to see it alongside the earlier material. It also kind of felt like Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way” video, which Grohl remarked mid-set after looking around. We watched from a slightly elevated platform that encircled the band and definitely thought the same thing as we sang along to all their anthems, including “All My Life,” “Times Like These,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly,” “This Is a Call,” “No Son of Mine,” “The Pretender,” “Best of You,” and “Monkey Wrench.”

In addition to the tour, Grohl promised more surprise small gigs to come, too. “Anyone who wants to see us rip a three-hour long show in a sweaty little club, keep your eyes peeled and come out and see us,” he said, before thanking Amazon and his fans for their support the past three decades, echoing sentiments from his recent note on the band’s Substack, Foo Fighters Field Notes. “We never say goodbye…we’re a band that’s been around so long we can’t stop playing.”Watch the Foo Fighters Amazon Music Live show—filmed in atmospheric black and white—via rebroadcast here. Tickets for the Take Cover stadium tour are on sale now.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jimmy Eat World Tease ‘Loud’ EP With New Song

2025-11-04T19:07:27.104Z

“Failure” was recorded during 2019 sessions for the album Surviving but was ultimately held back from that project. The song was co-produced by the band and Justin Meldal Johnsen, while Failure leader Ken Andrews engineered and mixed. Check out its skateboarding-themed video below.

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Something(s) Loud also includes “Something Loud” in both original and acoustic versions, “Place Your Debts” in its maiden form plus a TW Walsh remix and a cover of Crooked Fingers’ “Call to Love” with Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino.

“By 2021, it felt like distancing restrictions were finally easing and we could get back on the road,” Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins says. “Our Surviving album had barely been released before we were performing live again and reconnecting with fans. Coming out of the pandemic, it didn’t feel right to tour without offering something more, so we took the chance to share a few more tracks we’d been working on. At the time, it seemed like listeners were gravitating toward playlists rather than full albums, so we decided to meet them where they were.”

Although details are scant, Jimmy Eat World are promising “more big plans” in 2026.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mumford & Sons Confirm Second LP In A Year

2025-10-29T20:35:10.462Z

The material came together quickly last fall at Dessner’s upstate New York studio Long Pond, but was temporarily put on hold while Mumford & Sons focused first on completing the album RUSHMERE, which was released in late March.

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Dessner, who previously worked with Mumford on their chart-topping 2015 album Wilder Mind, helped secure guest appearances by Chris Stapleton, Gigi Perez and Gracie Abrams for the upcoming 14-track set.

“We feel like we’re hitting our prime as a creative force,” says Marcus Mumford. “We’re putting everything we have into this now, and we’re using everything about our experience so far to embrace exactly who we are. We’re comfortable in our skins these days. And Prizefighter is us going for it – serious and playful, sometimes bruised and always hopeful. We’re nowhere near done yet. I hope and believe and we’re in the beginning of something we don’t want to let up on. I’m more excited to be in this band than I’ve ever been.”

Mumford & Sons begin a 22-date U.K. and European tour begins Nov. 6 in Stockholm and concludes Dec. 10-11 at the O2 in London. The band will be back in the U.S. for a one-off Dec. 27 appearance at San Diego’s Wild Horses Festival, and will also play Noah Kahan’s Out of the Blue festival in Cancun in early January and the Innings Festival in Tempe, Az., in late February.

Here is the track list for Prizefighter:

“Here’”(with Chris Stapleton)
“Rubber Band Man” (with Hozier)
“The Banjo Song”
“Run Together”
“Conversation With My Son”
“Alleycat”
“Prizefighter”
“Begin Again”
“Icarus” (with Gigi Perez)
“Stay”
“Badlands” (with Gracie Abrams)
“Shadow of a Man”
“I’ll Tell You Everything”
“Clover”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tame Impala Deliver ‘Deadbeat’ Debuts At Tour Opener

2025-10-29T20:16:39.606Z

Performing in the round for the first time, Tame Impala was at times nearly drowned out by the screams of a younger female demographic — some of whom perhaps only discovered the band in recent years through Parker’s collaborations with artists such as Dua Lipa and Justice. Parker also professed to be suffering from some kind of illness (he was drinking Throat Coat tea throughout), but his voice rarely sounded strained throughout the two-plus hour, 24-song set.

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During the first portion, Tame Impala alternated older favorites such as “Breathe Deeper,” “Elephant” and “Gossip” with more electronic- and dance-driven new tracks such as “Dracula,” “Afterthought” and “My Old Ways,” the latter of which benefited from a heavy, psychedelic breakdown during its midsection.

“So, as you might know, this is the first night of the world tour,” Parker said. “So that means it’s a pretty epic night, and there’s nowhere more epic than to kick this shit off than New York City. It also means anything can happen, and by that I mean for the better, but also, anything can fall apart at any moment, just so you know. But it’s all very exciting and electric.”

After “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” the band ran through an instrumental snippet of the new “No Reply” as the camera followed Parker off the stage, through a tunnel and then into a bathroom. Thankfully, the cameraman panned down to Parker’s shoes as the artist relieved himself. When he walked back into the arena, he sat down on a smaller platform at the back of the floor, which was encircled by lamps and synthesizers. Parker proceeded to play and sing the new songs “Ethereal Connection” and “Not My World” while at times laying flat on his back.

With the aid of confetti cannons and state-of-the-art lasers, the set revved back into rock’n’roll action with “Let It Happen” and “Alter Ego,” the lone song lifted from the band’s 2010 debut, Innerspeaker. To begin the encore, Tame Impala played Parker’s Grammy-winning Justice collaboration, “Neverender,” for the first time, then closed things out with the hit “The Less I Know the Better” and the seven-minute Deadbeat finale “End of Summer.”

Deadbeat is the follow-up to 2020’s The Slow Rush and debuted last week at No. 4 the Billboard 200. After Tame Impala’s fall shows conclude Nov. 17 in Los Angeles, the group will be back in action with a spring tour of Europe and the U.K., beginning April 4 in Porto, Portugal. Parker will also be on the DJ decks for three early December shows in Australia opening for Justice.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

‘Cornucopia Live’ Captures Björk At the Height of Her Live Power

2025-10-28T19:09:53.654Z

Taken from the September 1, 2023, performance at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Cornucopia was initially released as a concert film directed by Ísold Uggadóttir earlier this year, along with a shortened audio-only version streaming on Apple Music. This new version, released on vinyl and CD, contains the entire 90-minute experience. The concert film is also available on DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray.

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The show was part of Björk’s Cornucopia tour, which ran from 2019 to 2023. With half its songs pulled from Utopia (2017), the rest of the set is drawn from various corners of the musician’s career, including songs from her newest album Fossora (2022). At an hour and a half, the live record certainly feels its length at times, but the advantage to the vinyl version is the opportunity to take breaks between each side.

After a brief introduction featuring nature sounds, Björk begins the concert with a divinely ethereal version of “The Gate.” Backed by a choir, strings, and other instruments such as flute, Björk’s voice commands the listener’s attention. Without the extravagant visuals to pull attention away, this audio-only iteration puts the singer front and center without distraction. For example, on “Show Me Forgiveness” from Medúlla (2004), she turns in an emotional, captivating a capella performance. Meanwhile, “Isobel”—the sole song from Björk’s ’90s output—is updated to a more languid pace but still retains the twitchy feeling of the original.

As on Utopia, flute plays a major role here. The instrument playfully courses over the brief, spoken-word “Arpeggio.” But not everything is lightness here. The flute stabs in devastating blows over the nearly 11-minute “Body Memory.” And “Sue Me,” which comes later in the record, can feel rough-hewn. Yet, like all of Björk’s music, beauty peeks out from even the most difficult terrain. By the time Cornucopia Live ends with a gorgeously devastating version of “Future Forever,” we are reminded yet again that Björk is a demanding artist who refuses to pander. She does not tour often and when she does, the shows are often reserved for major cities. Cornucopia Live allows those who missed the tour, and those who want to relive it, the chance to experience the power of Björk live.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tool, My Chemical Romance Set For Sonic Temple

2025-10-28T18:37:02.756Z

Tool, My Chemical Romance, Shinedown and Bring Me the Horizon will headline the next Sonic Temple festival at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Oh., which will take place May 14-17. Pierce the Veil, Breaking Benjamin, the Offspring, Staind, Good Charlotte, Godsmack and Megadeth will further anchor the bill.

Sonic Temple drew 175,000 fans to this year’s event, after which promoter Danny Wimmer Presents extended its partnership with the venue through 2030. Click here for tickets.

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The lineup will be rounded out by Lamb of God, All Time Low, Public Enemy, Coheed & Cambria, Black Label Society, Tom Morello, Anthrax, DragonForce, Coal Chamber, the Darkness, Alter Bridge, Sublime, Hawthorne Heights, and Simple Plan, among dozens of others.

Beyond the music, American painter Terry Urban and Bob’s Burgers creator Jay Howell will create installations throughout the grounds, while the Caduceus Wine Garden will offer selections from such purveyors as Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan’s Merkin Vineyards.

For My Chemical Romance, whose summer stadium tour drew an average of 45,000 per night, Sonic Temple will be one of three Danny Wimmer Presents festivals the band plays in 2026, including Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Louder Than Life in Louisville, Ky.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

]]> https://www.spin.com/2025/10/rogue-wave-sub-pop-reissues/

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:01:00 +0000

https://www.spin.com/?p=646664

Rogue Wave's Zach Rogue, Graham LeBron, Evan Farrell and Pat Spurgeon circa "Descended Like Vultures" (photo: Sub Pop Records).

Bay Area-reared indie rock outfit Rogue Wave will reissue its first two albums, Out of the Shadow and Descended Like Vultures, in expanded editions through former label Sub Pop on March 27. New colored vinyl pressings of both projects with their original track lists are also available for pre-order.

Out of the Shadow was initially released in early 2003 on Rogue Wave’s own Responsive Records imprint and reappeared the following June on Sub Pop. The album introduced the band’s homespun, heartfelt indie sound with such songs as “Endless Shovel,” a live version of which was included on the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack.

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For Rob Thomas, Music Has Always Led the Way

2025-10-22T17:54:34.203Z

As I greet Rob Thomas on our video call, he asks me if I’m getting any of “the weather” that they’re experiencing in the New York City area, where he lives.

Unaware of the torrential storms that were, at the time of our call, getting ready to pound his region and leaving it in a state of emergency, I tell him that here in southeast Tennessee, it’s finally feeling like fall. As I sit on my large front porch, clear blue skies are overhead with a moderate temperature of 76 degrees and practically no humidity. There’s a wonderful breeze that’s causing the first few brown leaves of the season to fall from the oaks in my front yard.

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I certainly didn’t mean to rub it in. But that’s okay. Thomas goes with it.

“Fall’s my favorite time of year,” he says. But Thomas will soon be departing on the Australian leg of his All Night Days tour—supporting his sixth solo album of the same name, released September 5th—and won’t be able to enjoy the fall foliage he loves so much.

Accompanying the Matchbox Twenty frontman is his 27-year-old son, Maison, whom he recently hired as his solo band’s guitarist. Thomas’ son also has his own band, the Lucky, which opened for Thomas during a few of his U.S. tour dates.

“He’s one of my best friends in the world,” says Thomas, wearing a black T-shirt, looking pretty much the same as he did almost 30 years ago, when Matchbox Twenty released its debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in 1996. “It’s been the most fun that he’s had. When I mentioned it, the first thing he said was, ‘This will be the most time we’ve gotten to spend together at one time.’ I thought that was the sweetest thing ever, because I felt the same way.”

Growing up, however, Thomas didn’t have the same experience with his own parents.

Thomas’ mother, Mamie, was 16 when she gave birth to his older half-sister, Melissa, and 21 and remarried by the time Thomas was born in Landstuhl, Germany. His father, Bill, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, left when he was 2, due to Thomas’ mother’s alcoholism.

(Credit: Randall Slavin)

“Me and my dad weren’t very close because my dad couldn’t handle my mom, and I understand that, but at the same time, he lumped me in with her and then cut us both off as a means of his survival,” Thomas says.

With very little money, Thomas, Melissa, and his mother moved to a trailer park in South Carolina to be close to his maternal grandmother, who ran a small gas station, where she sold moonshine and marijuana under the counter. When he was 10, they moved to Florida.

While Thomas says he and his mother could be very close, their household was far from stable. “It was a very Jekyll and Hyde situation,” he says. “[She was] the kind of woman who would buy extra gifts at Christmas, so if anybody came by, she’d have something to give to people. The kind of person that, when I was a young Dukes of Hazzard fan, came into my room to explain to me why that giant flag on my wall didn’t mean the General Lee. Everyone loved my mom. When they met my mom, she was this light, and she was so much fun, and everybody thought that she was the best. And then it would swing on a dime to these very physical, violent situations.”

Two years later, his sister left home to get married, and his mother was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which meant Thomas was forced to be her sole caretaker at 12, which inspired one of Matchbox Twenty’s biggest hits, “3 AM.”

Thomas’ mother eventually went into remission, and Thomas felt his relationship with her strain once again because of her drinking.

It was in spite of his mother that he found music.

“It wasn’t something that she encouraged,” he says. “It was something that she openly told me I was never going to be good at, and I was never going to make it at, and I needed to let it go. Which I think in her own way was probably her protecting me, because it does seem like a pipe dream to do something like that.”

(Credit: Randall Slavin)

Dropping out of high school at 17, he hitchhiked around the South, slept on park benches and at friends’ houses, and along the way, met a group of musicians when he moved to Orlando.

“I’m not sure if it was that I was looking for music or if it was just something that was so comforting to find, like a fraternal group that I felt like took me in and I could start to build an extended family, where maybe I didn’t have one at home,” he says.

In 1993, Thomas, along with bassist Brian Yale, drummer Paul Doucette, and guitarists Jay Stanley and John Goff, formed Tabitha’s Secret. The band had a loyal following but eventually broke up. Thomas, Doucette, and Yale formed another group, this time with Adam Gaynor and Kyle Cook on rhythm and lead guitar, respectively: Matchbox Twenty.

With hits like “Push,” “Real World,” and “If You’re Gone,” among others, Matchbox Twenty dominated the late 1990s and early 2000s. The band took several breaks over the years. Thomas put out five solo albums between 2005 and 2021, sporadically reuniting with his Matchbox Twenty bandmates to tour and release two more records, 2012’s North and Where the Light Goes in 2023.

It was during the sessions for Where the Light Goes that Thomas began writing the songs that would appear on All Night Days. While three of his solo songs ended up on Matchbox Twenty’s fifth album, “I Believe It,” and “No Good at Loving You” were tracks the band worked on that landed on Thomas’ new album.

(Credit: Randall Slavin)

But it’s the song “Thrill Me” that holds particular weight with him at this stage in his life, a song that’s about his wife, Marisol Maldonado.

“I’ve been with my wife for 27 years,” he says. “We’ve had spectacular fights. But she’s the closest person in the world to me. And I feel like ‘Thrill Me’ is the kind of love song that I probably couldn’t have written when I was younger. I think as I get older, there’s no fear of sentimentality.”

With sentimentality comes vulnerability. And “Hard to Be Happy,” the album’s third track and lead single, which is, as of this writing, at No. 9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, is a perfect example of that. With lyrics such as, “So if you see me crying / I don’t need no consolation / I just need some time / And I know that I’m gonna be fine but I can’t say why,” I ask Thomas if he is happy.

“No,” he says. “I mean, I feel like I can find happiness pretty easily. And that just means finding some peace and solitude in your own head. The end is hurtling at us at a greater speed every day. And everything that we do to some degree is just to try and not think about the fact that that’s happening. So [to] that degree, I don’t trust anybody who just says, ‘Oh, I’m happy,’ because you’re hiding something.”

He admits, though, that at 53, he’s happy more times than he’s not. And that’s partly because he’s always surrounded himself with male friends who support each other, like his Matchbox Twenty bandmates.

“The biggest joke we always have is somebody says, ‘Oh man, you look great.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, but I’m dead inside,’ and I’m only half joking. Not being aware that that exists inside of you means you neglect it. And if you neglect it, then it grows and it becomes an even bigger part of you.”

He tells me that before his mother passed away in 2007 at 55, he lied to her over the phone about not being able to visit her. “I just couldn’t take the drama,” he says, “And then, when she passed, I think there’s a piece of me that stayed there. Like my emotional growth just kind of stopped in that little zone, so much so that it’s palpable. There was also this guilty, guilty feeling of how much easier things were going to be. That took a long time to just be okay with feeling that way.”

Thomas believes emotional balance is something you have to find in your own way. For him, ever since he was a runaway teenager, music has been the answer. He is a man who feels comfortable baring his soul. No subject is off limits. He doesn’t save his vulnerability for his songwriting. He’s completely honest about the effects of being a child of an alcoholic.

Thomas admits that he’s a heavy drinker. “It’s not healthy, and you figure I would learn by now,” he says. “But I think I didn’t also come along with the unbelievably volatile personality that was attached to my mom; it always just kind of comes across as like, ‘Well, look at Rob. He gets so friendly when he drinks.’”

It’s something his wife and therapist have talked to him about, though he tells me he’s not quite ready to stop. He also talks to me about his OCD, his compulsive counting and touching tendencies, all of the little ticks he’s adopted in an attempt to control his environment out of a fear that something bad will happen if he doesn’t; a common affliction from childhood trauma as a means to cope. His songwriting, he says, is a product of that as well.

(Credit: Randall Slavin)

“I think that writing manifests itself in the same way that I can’t have too many unanswered emails, I have to go through and I have to make sure that they’re cleared out in my head if I’m writing,” he says. “And eventually I need to get that valve released so I can add more songs into there. If not, I really feel like a physical buildup in my head of all of these songs and melodies and ideas that are floating around.”

With the 30th anniversary of Matchbox Twenty’s debut release approaching next year, Thomas and his bandmates have been chatting about how to commemorate the occasion, though no plans have been made yet. He looks back at the band’s success as a gift and how their definition of success has changed over the years. When they started out, success meant getting a record deal. Then it meant having one of their albums go gold. After, it meant continuing to churn out more hits, year after year.

That’s a Herculean task for any band to achieve.

It was Bruce Springsteen who helped Thomas change his perspective while the two were at Rock in Rio 2013, that there were going to be periods where the music doesn’t feel like it’s connecting, that the band may not seem relevant. But Springsteen urged him to be patient and to keep going, because music is passed down to the next generation. In other words, the pendulum will swing back the other way eventually.

Springsteen, of course, was right. Matchbox Twenty’s 2023 Slow Dream tour was one of the band’s most successful, grossing $35 million from its North American dates.

Thomas realizes that most of the fans coming to Matchbox Twenty shows aren’t coming to hear new songs. And he’s okay with that.

“I had a really nice moment in my career where I was part of the zeitgeist,” he says. “If you have that moment and you do the right thing with it, then that can be a career as you get older. But eventually you have to let that moment go. There’s nothing cooler than seeing an old biker singing every word to ‘3 AM’ next to an 8-year-old girl who’s crying because she’s singing ‘3 AM.’ It’s a piece of success that feels very real, but it’s not something that we could have ever anticipated.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Rosalía Readies ‘LUX’ For November Release

2025-10-22T01:55:03.087Z

Rosalía will make a grand re-entry next month with her fourth album, LUX, which is due Nov. 7 from Columbia. The project was unveiled last night (Oct. 20) around Madrid’s Gran Via, where the lights were turned off and on while revealing the official album artwork (see below).

LUX was recorded with the London Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Daníel Bjarnason and features such vocalists as Björk, Carminho, Estrella Morente, Silvia Pérez Cruz, the Escolania de Montserrat i Cor Cambra Palau de la Música Catalana, Yahritza and Yves Tumor.

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Per Columbia, “the album traces a widescreen emotional arc of feminine mystique, transformation, and transcendence — moving between intimacy and operatic scale to create a radiant world where sound, language and culture fuse as one.”

LUX will feature three exclusive tracks on its CD and vinyl editions, which can be pre-ordered here. It’s the followup to 2022’s MOTOMAMI, which topped charts in Spain and Portugal and reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Albums chart.

After starring in Calvin Klein’s fall 2025 campaign, Rosalía will make her acting debut next year in the third season of HBO’s Euphoria.

Here is the track list for LUX:

MOV I

1. Sexo, Violencia y Llantas
2. Reliquia
3. Divinize
4. Porcelana
5. Mio Cristo

MOV II

6. Berghain
7. La Perla
8. Mundo Nuevo
9. De Madrugá

MOV III

10. Dios Es Un Stalker
11. La Yugular
12. Focu ‘ranni [Exclusive]
13. Sauvignon Blanc
14. Jeanne [Exclusive]

MOV IV

15. Novia Robot [Exclusive]
16. La Rumba Del Perdón
17. Memória
18. Magnolias

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tame Impala Unveils New Tunes On ‘Sound Check’

2025-10-22T01:51:48.571Z

Tame Impala unveils three songs from its just-released album, Deadbeat, as part of the first installment of the new live video series Sound Check at Cherry Lane Theatre. Filmed at the A24-owned New York venue, the episode sports the live debut of album opener “My Old Ways” plus the pre-release singles “Dracula” and “Loser.”

With Tame Impala’s first tour since March 2023 about to begin next week, fans can get a sneak preview of the Kevin Parker-led group’s current live setup in the Sound Check video, which finds Parker encircled onstage by guitarist/keyboardist Dominic Simper, guitarist/keyboardist Jay Watson, guitarist/keyboardist/percussionist James Ireland, keyboardist/percussionist Julien Barbagallo and bassist Cameron Avery.

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The three-song set was directed by Sean Durkin (The Iron Claw). After “Dracula,” one of the musicians says to Parker off-camera, “good harmonies. Did you do a wrong lyric in one of the verses?” “I fucked up,” Parker admits.

Deadbeat is the follow-up to 2020’s The Slow Rush and is expected to debut in the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 this week. After Tame Impala’s fall shows conclude Nov. 17 in Los Angeles, the group will be back in action with a spring tour of Europe and the U.K., beginning April 4 in Porto, Portugal.

Parker will also be on the DJ decks for three early December shows in Australia opening for Justice, with whom he collaborated on the French electronic duo’s hit 2024 album, Hyperdrama.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

D’Angelo Dies At 51 After Cancer Battle

2025-10-15T17:18:52.797Z

Beloved R&B singer D’Angelo has died at the age of 51 after battling prostate cancer, according to his family. The musician, whose real name was Michael Archer, had backed out of a June performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia “due to a longer-than-expected surgical recovery” without revealing specifics.

“We are heartbroken to announce that ‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌Michael D’Angelo Archer‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home,” said a family statement. “We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left to the world.”‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌

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“Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo,” DJ Premier wrote on X. “We [had] so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep peacefully.”

Raised in Richamond, Va., as the son of a Pentecostal preacher, D’Angelo struggled to reconcile his sexed-up musical persona with deeply embedded religious convictions. His 1995 debut, Brown Sugar, was an ode to weed and women, whose organic, throwback grooves owed more to the progressive mindset of late-’80s/early ’90s Native Tongues hip-hop than to the slick, digitized R&B of the day made by Boyz II Men and Keith Sweat.

Led by the provocative, nearly nude video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” 2000’s Voodoo was a very different story. It evolved from more than three years’ worth of sessions, mainly at New York’s Electric Lady Studios, and featured an impressive roster of soul, funk, and jazz players such as Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who became D’Angelo’s musical copilot, keyboardist James Poyser, guitarist Charlie Hunter and trumpeter Roy Hargrove.

“What was cool about it,” Thompson told SPIN in 2008, “was D had the A room [of the studio] on lockdown, and Common had the B room. Then Common brought [producer] Jay Dee inside, and next thing you know, both camps are working in each other’s studio.” Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli and Mos Def visited frequently, creating a ground zero for what Thompson called “a left-of-center” black music renaissance.”

The Roots Picnic set was to have been only D’Angelo’s second full concert since 2016. “Due to an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery I had earlier this year, I’ve been advised by my team of specialist[s] that the performance this weekend could further complicate matters,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “It is nearly impossible to express how disappointed I am not to be able to play with my brothers the Roots. And even more disappointed not to see all of you.”

“I’m so thankful to my beautiful fans for continuing to rock with me and I thank you for your continued support,” he added. “I’m currently in the lab and I can’t wait to serve up what’s in the pot.”

Thompson was instrumental in coaxing D’Angelo to release the 2014 album Black Messiah after a nearly 15-year hiatus. The path to that project, and the aftermath of the success of Voodoo, were chronicled in the 2019 documentary Devil’s Pie: D’Angelo, directed by Dutch filmmaker Carine Bijlsma. It also addressed the artist’s struggles with substance abuse, the loss of family members, fame and his recovery from a major car accident.

“Black Messiah is both ancient and fresh — a surging mass of old blues and new soul built from classic thought and rebel spirit, unending angst and beautiful struggle, sunshine and moonlight and cynicism and sex and fighting and loving and losing and praying and cussing and hating and hoping,” SPIN wrote in its contemporary review of the album.

D’Angelo’s only on-stage appearances since concluding promo work behind Black Messiah were at a 2021 Verzuz show at New York’s Apollo Theater and at that year’s Tribeca Film Festival, plus an April 2022 cameo with Questlove and Raphael Saadiq while covering Sly & the Family Stone’s “Babies Makin’ Babies” during the Netflix Is a Joke festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Saadiq previously told Rolling Stone that D’Angelo was actively working on new music, but nothing has come to light beyond “I Want You Forever,” his Jay-Z-assisted contribution to last year’s The Book of Clarence soundtrack.

D’Angelo is survived by three children. The mother of his first son, fellow R&B singer Angie Stone, died in a car accident in March.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

New York Alt-Rock Band SAMSARA is on the Verge

2025-10-06T23:46:57.416Z

The meaning of the word Samsara (the cycle of death) may imply the opposite of Nirvana (the circle of life), yet the New York band of the same name is not unlike the iconic grunge band that still defines an era of misfit musicians from the 90’s. Yet the alt rock band, SAMSARA’s musical oscillation and talent stands on its own merit.

SPIN discovered SAMSARA on ReverbNation via the music creation and discovery platform BandLab where their tracks jumped out as fully formed calling cards among other developing acts on the popular music mastering app. Not unlike emerging bands before them, SAMSARA has played NYC dive bars, had the chord pulled on them for being too loud and misunderstood by audiences and venue owners, and played New York’s Mercury Lounge at key turning points in developing their live performance prowess, songwriting, and edgy yet beautiful sound.

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The five-member act started out playing covers – from Billie Eilish (“Bad Guy”) to “Little Sister” by Elvis – at Food Truck Festivals around their native New York. Today, their smart, hard-driving sound belies each member’s 20-something age. Guitarist and vocalist Charlie LoMonaco was ten years old when he first met bassist John Devito and drummer Ben Bustamante at School of Rock, the performance-based music education program for young New York musicians. “It really taught us how to perform in front of an audience,” explains Ben, “and it’s where every single one of us met at different times.”

“I remember when I met them I was 14,” says lead vocalist Dylan Trif. “They were the most tight knit musicians I’d seen for our age because they had known each other for so long already, and I was like, Oh, f***, how do I get in on this? And I slowly finagled my way in… secretly.”

Photo Courtesy of SAMSARA

Today, SAMSARA’s technical ability melds with vocal and lyrical chops to create an evocative, determined sound that sets them apart from other rising musicians. LoMonaco is now a graduate of Berklee College of Music where lead vocalist Dylan is currently enrolled. John acquired a prestigious history degree from upstate New York, while Ben attended community college in Long Island for studio recording but learned more from studying the drumming of John Bonham and Dave Grohl. Rhythm guitarist Brendan Sandhovel remains a mysterious secret weapon that the other members swear they can’t live without. He’s the computer scientist in the group. You can hear the band’s diverse sonic influences in Queens of the Stone Age, U2, Arctic Monkeys, early Coldplay, Black Sabbath, and even My Bloody Valentine.

SAMSARA’s blown out songs are powerful and infectious. Edgy lovelorn storytelling and vocals match assaulting guitars, ominous chord structures and amped up rhythm. Their sound is melancholic and downcast yet cacophonous not unlike British rockers The Editors.

The track “Shadow” unravels a tale of loss traversing through the light and dark of a traumatic night that is dream-like and real all-at-once. On the uncompromising drive of “Nirvana,” Dylan’s vocals and lyrics land somewhere between Julian Casablancas in The Strokes, Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner, and Billy Idol. The more metal sounding, “Tell Us Your Name,” is marked by heartbreak and possessed guitars. It was the band’s first track where they felt their true sound started to emerge. “Filthy Habit” reveals an addictive love and an unsuccessful attempt to break it. Yet it is the mournful track, “411,” that haunts the listener with its jangly Britpop guitars and tight rhythms washing over chord structures and vocals that pine for an ill-fated love (“But you had to say that we are gonna fade away…”). “Awake” is the most British rock sounding track, yet it is also distinctly American.

SPIN caught up with the guys on a Saturday night in September where they were eager to talk about their music, desires, and future aspirations of playing Madison Square Garden and a British festival like Leeds and Reading or Glastonbury, plus finish a full-length album by year’s end.

When people ask you about the band’s sound, how do you describe it to them?

(Dylan) Hard alt rock is a good way of describing it. It’s really interesting because all of us listen to such different music. None of us in the band have the same music taste, and I think that’s why we have such a unique sound. It’s because we take everything from different genres. What I like to say is that SAMSARA is alt rock with a mix of grunge and shoegaze. Shoegaze is a very generous one. But there are so many different components of what everyone listens to.

For instance, John just loves metal! This guy can go on and on about metal. I like the 2000s, a lot of pop alternative rock. Ben is just a crazy John Bonham type of drummer… that’s just how he started off. When you have that power from the drums, then some grit from the bass, and then Charlie in his own little world – he’s like a machine on guitar – then Brendan comes in with this chugging that brings it down. Somehow it all goes together. One of my favorite bands is Coldplay. I love early Coldplay… the album Parachutes with the song “Yellow.” I put Coldplay-esque melodies over all the music underneath our sound. I don’t know how to explain it but when you add all of these different genres in, it gets into all of our minds on one track.

Tell us about the first song that you ever wrote as SAMSARA, “Tell Us Your Name” (2019).

(Dylan) John wrote the baseline. It was when we first started the band and we used to spend every day of the summer together. Like, three months. We probably spent 90 days of the summer together and we wrote one song. It was good.

(Ben) I feel so bad for my parents. Everybody was playing close to my house, right next to the living room… rehearsing so loud, going over the song over and over.

(Charlie) But it made us so tight as a band where you can just glance at somebody and know exactly what they’re thinking… onstage and in the studio. It made us super locked in together. It was like an incubator.

SAMSARA has so many songs already. Can you explain how they all come together in your song writing process:

(John) Sometimes we get to send demos and sometimes we’ll have the opportunity to write together in the same room.

(Ben) Dylan writes all the lyrics but songs can come in from anywhere. We all dabble in different instruments which helps in our songwriting, and performing too. It’s really interesting and helps with our process. It makes us different from other bands.

A lot of the time, Dylan and I work on Logic (the app), and we’ll send little ideas to each other here and there. And I’m like, ” Oh, I think this might be cool.” And then Dylan will be like, “Nah, I don’t like it. I like this.” It’s super important to be honest with each other, or else it won’t happen. Then we’ll show it to the band. Then if everybody’s cool with it, it starts to become bigger. Then people who actually know how to play their instrument will start playing the parts how they are intended to sound. They bring in the skills! We always thought it was a good idea to have songs that were powerful, that hit you. Like how Dylan writes his lyrics over the songs, it’s very melodic. Then when we pull back on a song, it gives the audience a second to breathe and take in what just happened.

(Dylan) It’s funny, though, because whenever I’m writing, I’ll be like, okay, I can’t play that well, but Charlie can… John can do that… then Ben can do that. But we’re all very locked in rhythmically because we can all play drums so it comes together rhythmically. We all definitely play more than one instrument, some more than others, which really helps in our songwriting, although writing songs is more difficult now with me being a little far away in Boston. Since I’ve been at school, we’ll write individually then send it to each other, just to get the ideas out and be like, Hey, just thinking about this, what do you guys think we can do with it? If we agree over text, we’ll listen to it and try it out.

Photo Courtesy of SAMSARA

Tell us about how you all play more than one instrument and use that to describe the other guys:

Vocalist Dylan on Bass Player John: John is a crazy drummer and a crazy guitarist. He won’t admit it, but he’s insane at playing every instrument. He’s probably better than all of us! He’s better at playing secondary instruments than we are at playing our primary ones.

Drummer Ben on Vocalist Dylan: He’s the best singer ever. I remember when I first met him. He was 14 and came in to School of Rock. He auditioned and I heard him sing for the first time. It felt like the room was shaking. I felt it in my chest and I got chills. I was like, dude, this is crazy. How does this guy have such a powerful voice? His voice is so good and I actually love Dylan’s lyrics a lot.

Guitarist Charlie on Drummer Ben: Ben’s guitar playing is super inspiring to me because he comes at it from a different perspective. Let’s say he writes a riff or a chord progression, and then I transcribe that where I riff from what he’s doing but play it my way. Then somebody who doesn’t have, for example, a formal guitar education, like Dylan or Ben, will come in. I got into Berklee for guitar, so when somebody like that will come in and show me weird chord shapes that they’re playing, it becomes a challenge for me. It’s fun to explore different melodic pathways.

Vocalist Dylan on Guitarist Charlie: It’s funny, though, because whenever I’m writing, I’ll be like, okay, I can’t play that well, but Charlie can. John can do that, and then Ben can do that. But we’re all very rhythmic so it comes together. We are all very locked in rhythmically because we can all slightly play drums.

Guitarist Charlie on Rhythm Guitarist Brendan: He’s our second guitarist. He joined the band when John went to college in 2019 and we didn’t have a bass player. We had met him at School of Rock. He came through when I was about 15 – a little bit later than the rest of us. But Brendan clicked right away. He had the same humor and same ability. He was keeping up with us. He just got added in and nothing changed. He gelled and kept on rolling with it. So when John got back, we were like, we should keep this guy around!

Conclusion

How does a really good band even come together? Is it through innate talent, technical skills, a soul connection, a great name, drive, comradery, or even fate? Most successful bands can’t even tell you. They can only guess at how they achieved an elevated status in a competitive music landscape. In general, it’s a little bit of everything. If that’s true, then SAMSARA is sitting pretty.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Rush Reuniting For 2026 Anniversary Shows

2025-10-06T23:43:42.380Z

Rush will celebrate a milestone anniversary by hitting the road next year for the first time since the 2015 death of legendary drummer Neil Peart. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, who are both now 72, will be joined for the shows by new drummer Anika Nilles, who previously played with Jeff Beck and has released four solo albums.

The Fifty Something tour will begin June 7 in Los Angeles and run through Sept. 17 in Cleveland. Rush will play two sets each night selected from a pool of 35 songs, including hits and rarities. Click here for tickets.

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“It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of Rush alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil,” says Lee. “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 fucking miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of Rush music. So in 2026 my BFF Lerxst (aka Alex Lifeson) and I are going to hit the road once again to pay tribute to our past and to Neil by performing a vast selection of Rush songs in a handful of cities. No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable.”

“Yet, life is full of surprises, and we’ve have been introduced to another remarkable person; an incredible drummer and musician who is adding another chapter to our story while continuing her own fascinating musical journey,” he continues. “Her name is Anika Nilles, and we could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated Rush fanbase, whom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role. Before we hit the stage, we also hope to add another musician or two to expand our sound a wee bit and free up Alex and I, in order to show off some of our new fancy dance steps. Lerxst, Anika and myself, along with many of our longstanding crew members have been hard at work rehearsing and designing the kind of Rush show you’ve grown accustomed to expect from us. We dearly hope you will come along and help us celebrate our history together.”

Lee and Lifeson have performed together on a handful of occasions since Peart’s death, most notably for two 2022 tribute concerts in memory of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

“We are thrilled to support the Fifty Something tour, celebrating a band whose music has resonated and inspired fans for generations, and to honor Neil’s extraordinary legacy as both a drummer and lyricist,” said Peart’s widow Carrie and daughter Olivia. “Neil’s musicianship was singular. Compositions of intricacy and power that expanded what rhythm itself could express. As both drummer and lyricist, he was irreplaceable. Inimitable in his artistry, and unmatched in the depth and imagination he brought to the lyrics that inspired and moved so many, he profoundly shaped how fans connected with him and the band, giving voice and meaning to their own lives. As the band enters this new chapter, it promises to be truly unforgettable. We are excited to see how their new vision unfolds, and to hear this legendary music played live once again.”

Here are Rush’s tour dates:

June 7, 9: Los Angeles (Kia Forum)
June 18: Mexico City (Palacio de los Deportes)
June 24, 26: Fort Worth, Tx. (Dickies Arena)
July 16, 18: Chicago (United Center)
July 28, 30: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Aug. 7, 9: Toronto (Scotiabank Arena)
Sept. 17: Cleveland (Rocket Arena)

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Snapped: Passion Pit Debuts at Cascade Equinox with Rare DJ Set (A Photo Essay)

2025-10-06T23:40:23.294Z

Bringing an inspired DJ set to the Pacific Northwest’s Deschutes County Fairgrounds, indie-electronic favorites Passion Pit joined Disclosure, Sylvan Esso, TroyBoi, Big Gigantic, Chromeo (DJ Set) and others for the storied Cascade Equinox festival. Passion Pit front man Michael Angelakos also joined up with hyperpop/dubstep artist Tracey Brakes for an epic b2b during the set.

With its stunning high elevation surroundings as the backdrop, Cascade Equinox featured a wide range of offerings, including a “vendor marketplace, kids zones, a roller rink, workshops, culinary commons, a healing sanctuary, yoga, beer and wine tastings, interactive art installations, and live art.” To add to the mix, live acts included High Step Society, Moon Hooch, New Constellations, Pink Talking Fish, and White Denim.

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Special thanks to Jennifer “Sage” Hylwa and Jason Meyers for the images.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Seth MacFarlane Picks Up Where Sinatra Left Off on ‘Lush Life’

2025-09-29T18:05:14.016Z

You know Seth MacFarlane’s voice. You’ve heard it a million times as Peter, Brian, and Stewie Griffin. Or maybe as Stan and Roger Smith on “American Dad!” Or maybe as the eponymous bear from the Ted movies.

If you’ve seen a Seth MacFarlane vehicle, you’ve not only heard his voice plenty, but you know that music, specifically the old classics and showtunes, are at the cornerstone of his creative output. MacFarlane always pulled off an impressive feat with his shows and movies, where the “edgy” and “irreverent” humor was always counterbalanced with an appreciation for the classics. MacFarlane, for all of the sophomoric humor, was always an old soul, it seems.

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So for anyone familiar with MacFarlane’s work—any of it, really—hearing that he’s put out an album of Frank Sinatra songs isn’t too out of character.

(Credit: Autumn de Wilde)

Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements is more than just karaoke. MacFarlane, having already put out eight albums that showcase his natural gift for the croon and love for the Great American Songbook, dug deeper than the surface-level Sinatra hits and piece together 12 arrangements that were only partially finished at the time of his death.

“I was aware of Sinatra, but I didn’t really take the time to listen to Sinatra until I was in college,” MacFarlane says. “And when I did, I started to hear something that was very different from any other vocalist that I had heard before or since. It was what he was doing with the band. You could take Sinatra’s voice out. Set aside the fact that he remains, in my opinion, the greatest vocalist in the history of popular song, and I know I’m far from alone in that. You take his voice out of it, and there are things going on with the accompaniment, the orchestra, that are just so far beyond anything that you hear elsewhere, even at that time. If you listen to Dean Martin or Bing Crosby, the arrangements are fantastic, but what’s going on with Sinatra is something truly classical, something truly, truly great.”

Lush Life, which came out in June, is as much a love letter to the arrangements and the accompaniment, to Sinatra the bandleader, as it is to Sinatra the voice. Even if MacFarlane came to Sinatra relatively late, he had already developed a deep appreciation for the orchestra, something he carried with him for his whole career into animation, film, and television, and something that feels even more special in not only the digital age, but the age where someone can type in a prompt for a musical number and the robots have spat something out by the time they’ve poured a cup of coffee.

“I think even if the audience doesn’t know what they’re hearing is live acoustic music, it somehow makes the show feel a little more important. It makes it feel like it has a little more significance to it,” he says. “When I was a kid, every afternoon or Saturday morning cartoon show used an orchestra. You could hear it in the scores. And subsequently I managed to get my hands on some of those sessions from those old cartoons, and they’re surprisingly great. The quality of the composition was better than some movies today. It’s something that I think is oftentimes neglected. A show will spend millions and millions and millions of dollars to make a series look gorgeous with state-of-the-art visual effects and breathtaking photography, and then there will be, like, a Casio scoring it. And it always seems like they just didn’t skip the landing. So it’s something that I think is really important for any show, certainly an animated show.”

It’s crucial to note that MacFarlane is also far from just some rich fan playing Rat Pack Fantasy Camp here, throwing his showbiz weight and money around to get the rights to these songs. The Sinatra estate knew Seth already from his working relationship with Frank Sinatra Jr., who had multiple appearances on “Family Guy.” MacFarlane had established himself by now as not only an appreciator, but someone who had the musical chops and deep reverence for the music to take these fossils of ideas and bring them to life, faithfully. The last thing he wanted was to create a “Pet Sematary” version of his hero’s music.

And only now, after eight previous albums, does he feel like he was the man for the job.

“By the time we got around to this, I was comfortable enough settling into that Goldilocks zone of doing what it is that I do and making this a series of recordings that don’t just sound like covers,” he says. “But also, very much trying to keep in mind what not only Sinatra would have wanted, but what the arrangers would have wanted, perhaps more importantly. What Nelson Riddle would’ve wanted, Billy May and Don Costa, what these arrangers would’ve wanted out of these recordings. And so that was something that was very much in the forefront of my mind and the mind of [producer] Joel McNeely and [conductor] John Wilson and [engineer] Rich Breen and everyone else who worked on the album.”

Seth MacFarlane and Nick Kroll in 2024. (Credit: Araya Doheny/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

“Everyone else” includes more than 60 players on the album.

After the Sinatra estate entrusted MacFarlane with the archives, he got to work with his team to start the archaeology aspect of it: using everything they knew about Sinatra’s arrangements and arrangers to find clues as to where these half-finished ideas were going.

“It was a lot of educated guesswork,” MacFarlane says. “If it was a Billy May chart, for example, there are certain hallmarks of his style that are instantly audible, and that would kind of serve as a little bit of an anchor and a little bit of a compass. Where it was, ‘OK, if he’s doing that with the saxes, he probably wants this a little slower, would be our guess.’ It’s from years of listening and getting an education in this music from the exploration of it on its own, but just working with all of these great musicians over the past 15 years from whom I’ve learned enormous amounts about each individual instrument. And so there are things in the charts that give you little clues that tell you maybe what was going on in the head of the arranger, and that can inform things like tempo and dynamics.”

MacFarlane says he’s glad that this opportunity struck now, rather than 15 years ago. But over his career in music, he’s tried to learn from everyone he’s worked with, and now feels adequately prepared to take on the challenge and face the higher stakes of what is essentially putting forth what he believes Frank Sinatra would have wanted for his music, and putting his own voice on it.

(Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Woodman Canyon LLC)

“It was a balance,” he says. “It was a balance between making this something that was very much ours and at the same time acknowledging that we want this to sound the way Sinatra and his arrangers would’ve wanted it to sound.”

Seth MacFarlane is very aware that you have heard his voice before, and chances are good that it was synced up with an animated character on the screen when you heard it. But he’s confident that the listener, by and large, will be able to separate him from wherever and whatever else they recognize him from.

“I’ve been very gratified that people have been able to separate this and recognize, by using their own ears, that we’re people who take this very seriously, and there’s nothing about it that’s slapped together,” MacFarlane says. “There’s nothing about it that’s a side gig. When we do it, we do it whole hog. […] We didn’t half-ass this. We didn’t treat this like a vanity project. This is serious fucking music. We love this music.”

Seth MacFarlane performs in 2025. (Credit: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

This is the project that MacFarlane has been preparing his whole life for, in a way. He might not have ever guessed that some day, after countless seasons of what is now iconic adult comedy animation, a handful of films, even more television shows, he would be the guy that Frank Sinatra’s daughter would entrust her father’s legacy to. But, now that it’s happened, he’s sure glad he’s the one who got the call.

“On the one hand it was without a doubt a great honor, and on the other hand it was like, thank God, I wouldn’t want anyone to fuck this up,” MacFarlane says. “And I know we won’t fuck this up.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bad Bunny Boards Super Bowl LX Halftime Show

2025-09-29T17:59:48.560Z

Bad Bunny will be the first Puerto Rican artist to headline Apple Music’s Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Ca. The news was revealed tonight (Sept. 28) following weeks of speculation about potential stars Taylor Swift and Adele.

“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” said the artist, who previously made a cameo during Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s 2020 performance. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture and our history.”

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The booking is notable in that Bunny has intentionally avoided performing in the United States in fear of the events being targeted by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. His Debí Tirar Más Fotos world tour begins Dec. 5 in Costa Rica and will run through a July 17-18 finale in Milan. It follows a massively successful 31-show residency in Puerto Rico, which brought an estimated $200 million-plus to the local economy.

Bunny has previously announced shows on tap on Feb. 5-7 in Santiago, although it’s unclear if they will be impacted by his Super Bowl participation.

“What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring,” said Roc Nation founder Jay-Z, whose company has selected the halftime show performer since 2019. “We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”

Kendrick Lamar headlined the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Past performers include Rihanna, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, the Weeknd, Usher and Lady Gaga.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Doja Cat’s Pop Life

2025-09-29T17:53:53.929Z

Even in our post-genre era, Doja Cat remains hard to pigeonhole. Since hitting superstardom in 2019, her hits have shifted between hip-hop, pop, R&B, Afrobeat, and even indie singer-songwriter. But even with all that, I didn’t expect Vie.

In the lead-up, buzz suggested Vie would be a retro pop album. And it is, but let’s be honest, every third song on mainstream radio these days can claim some retro element. Like, here’s a little ’80s Latin freestyle synth, or a dash of early ’90s smooth production. Usually, it’s a flourish that plays like a sonic callback on an otherwise clearly modern song.

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So it was refreshing to hear Doja Cat say fuck that formula.

Here, Doja is blending all the genres and elements she loves into her own personal capital-P Pop sound. Yes, the synthetic beats and sax on opening track “Cards” confirm that Vie is her ’80s pop album, but that’s just the starting point. She covers the true breadth of ’80s pop. Early single “Jealous Type” brings Control-era Janet Jackson vibes, while “Couples Therapy” is more of a sultry Prince groove, and“All Mine” calls to mind Anita Baker R&B. Well, after you get past an ’80s reference I never expected in 2025: the Grace Jones dialog sample from Conan the Destroyer that opens “All Mine.” That touch of shock is what separates Vie from other ’80s-loving homages. Doja always adds something unexpected to the proceedings, whether it’s a tight rap bridge (“Jealous Type”), backing falsettos (“Couples Therapy”), or a Go Team!-ish schoolyard chant outro (“All Mine”).

This playful experimentation continues across the album. “AAAHH Men!” is a pulsing, future club shout-along built atop the Knight Rider theme song and Busta Rhymes’ 1998 rave up “Turn It Up/Fire It Up (Remix).” “Stranger” finds Doja playing with melodies and synths you’d hear on 2010’s indie pop for an ode to owning one’s queerness. Re-teaming with Sza could have been predicted, but it’s on “Take Me Dancing,” a song that otherwise sounds like something I could’ve heard rollerskating in 1987. Hell, Doja Cat even shows that she can be a one-person HAIM on the album closer, “Come Back.”

Of course, as is often the case when you swing for the fences—or when you don’t cut down a 15-track album—not every song is a stand-out. Oddly, the moments that pop the least are the ones that sound most like modern pop. There is a block of songs on the last third— “Silly! Fun!”, “Acts of Service,” and “Make It Up”—that sound like the radio-friendly, expected follow-ups to hits like “Say So” or “Agora Hills.” They’re solid enough, but feel tame compared to the joyful surprises across the rest of the album. But hey, maybe having a few too many songs makes Vie even more of a throwback to the CD era?
Across all of Vie, though, Doja Cat feels like she’s opening up, putting more of herself in her lyrics to the point of risking vulnerability. In doing so, she ultimately comes off stronger and more confident than ever. Earlier this week, people online criticized Vie’s cover photo—of Doja in white dress, dangling from a yellow parachute that’s caught in a tree—as not matching their expectations. But that’s what’s so refreshing about Vie. We need more artists—especially pop stars at Doja Cat’s level—to take big leaps. Sure, maybe they’ll crash into a tree, but in this case, she sticks the landing.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Post Malone, Lainey Wilson Pull Up For Stagecoach Fest

2025-09-25T21:57:30.693Z

Post Malone, Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson will headline the annual Stagecoach festival on April 24-26 at Empire Polo Club in Indio, Ca., as part of a wildly diverse lineup that moves ever farther from the event’s country roots.

Although genre mainstays such as Bailey Zimmerman, Brooks & Dunn, Riley Green, Lyle Lovett, Wynonna Judd, Little Big Town and Red Clay Strays will be in attendance, Stagecoach will also play host to borderline head-scratchers such as Journey, Pitbull, rappers BigXthaPlug and Ludacris, Third Eye Blind, the Wallflowers and Counting Crows.

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In addition, Diplo will return for the sixth year of his Diplo’s HonkTonk, and chef Guy Fieri will reprise his Stagecoach Smokehouse with BBQ tastings and cooking demos. Tickets go on sale Oct. 2 for the fest, which sold out in advance in 2025 and takes place at the same venue that hosts the Coachella festival the prior two April weekends. Amazon Music is back as the livestream partner.

“My first Stagecoach was in 2022 on the SiriusXM Stage at 2:30PM in the afternoon,” recalls Wilson. “Look how far we’ve come, y’all! I’m honored to headline this year. This is a career highlight and I can’t wait to see everyone there.” Adds Johnson, “I’ll never forget the first time I got the call to play Stagecoach. We were on one of the smaller stages and I remember wondering if anyone would even know our songs. Now, here we are invited back to headline the Mane Stage. What a ride. I hope y’all bring the energy, because it’s gonna get western.”

Meanwhile, the winner of the CBS competition show The Road, which premieres Oct. 19, will perform on the Mane Stage and take home a $250,000 prize.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

YUNGBLUD Rocks With Aerosmith On ‘More’ EP

2025-09-22T20:07:30.559Z

One More Time constitutes Aerosmith’s first new music in 12 years and was produced by Matt Schwartz. Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford and Tom Hamilton all participated in the recording sessions, although Guns N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver’s Matt Sorum sat in for ailing drummer Joey Kramer.

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Beyond “My Only Angel,” the EP includes the original songs “Problems,” “Wild Woman” and “A Thousand Days,” plus a new rendition of Aerosmith’s 1976 favorite “Back in the Saddle.” The artwork was designed by Chrome Hearts, in a first for the luxury brand.

“A year ago, I got a call that YUNBLUD wanted to come to Sarasota to work with me and write some songs,” Perry says. “I had heard his single and said, hell yeah, this guy’s got the juice. Four days in the studio and we got to know each other along with his team. I called Steven and told him, you have to hear this guy YUNGBLUD — he’s the real deal. Fast forward to May and we’re in the studio with Steven recording new music. The end result turned out to be an amazing collaboration between Aerosmith and Yungblud. Let the music do the talking.”

“For Joe and me it was another cosmic collision to find ourselves in the studio with this outrageously talented and positively wild animal named Dom,” adds Tyler. “Here’s this kid that lives his life out loud [and] grew up on our records and the British Invasion, and now we’re in the studio together creating something that bridges generations. He devoured all the same greats looked up to and then he started to dream on. It’s as simple as that.”

“Aerosmith have been such a staple of rock’n’roll and showmanship for me, so I’ve been ready for this my whole life,” enthuses YUNGBLUD. “As soon as we entered the studio, the chemistry exploded and the songs just poured out of us. It’s the kind of collaboration that young me wouldn’t even dream of, so to sit here holding a vinyl in my hand that says Aerosmith and YUNGBLUD on it is truly blowing my mind. Steven and Joe are at the top of their game and working with them is a huge fucking honor. I’m making records with my heros, the show is insane every night and rock’n’roll is waking the fuck up, whether you like it or not. I’m loving every second.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Taylor Swift Bringing ‘Showgirl’ To Worldwide Cinemas

2025-09-22T20:03:30.556Z

Tickets are on sale now for AMC Theaters screenings and hundreds of others around the globe. Having dealt with zesty throngs of Swift fans when her Eras Tour film was released theatrically in 2023, AMC says “guests are welcome to sing and dance during” the screenings despite such activities being “normally prohibited during traditional showtime. To help ensure everyone’s enjoyment of the show, guests may not stand on seats or block any aisles or stairs.”

The Life of a Showgirl was produced by Max Martin and Shellback, the Swedish powerhouses who previously contributed to such Swift projects as Red and Reputation. “These guys, they’re just geniuses in different avenues and different ways,” Swift said last month on the New Heights podcast co-hosted by her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce. “We had so much more dexterity to what we do. It’s almost like we’d all grown up so much. Shellback and I were in our early 20s when we started working together. This was the time when all three of us in the room were carrying the same weight as creators. We knew we had to bring the best ideas we’ve ever had. That effervescence has come through on this record. This is the record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time — 12 songs for my 12th album.”‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌

Swift has been off the road this year while working on new material and completing the acquisition of the rights to her entire music catalog, which were controversially sold to a third party in 2019. She and Kelce were engaged in late August.

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To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Update: My Chemical Romance Extend 2026 Tour

2025-09-22T19:55:30.667Z

Updating a story first posted here on Saturday, My Chemical Romance have bolstered their 2026 touring plans following the announcement that they will perform at three major U.S. festivals next year promoted by Danny Wimmer Presents, including Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Fl., Sonic Temple in Columbus, Oh., and Louder Than Life in Louisville, Ky.

Beyond previously confirmed shows South America, Asia and the United Kingdom next year, the Gerard Way-led band will reprise complete performances of their beloved 2006 genre classic The Black Parade in Europe and the U.S., starting June 30 in Liverpool, England. U.S. action begins Aug. 9 at New York’s Citi Field, with those shows featuring such opening acts as Franz Ferdinand, Pierce the Veil, Modest mouse, Iggy Pop, the Breeders, Babymetal, Jimmy Eat World and the Mars Volta.

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The 2026 festival news was conveyed via the main stage video screens at Louder Than Life on Friday, which was followed by a performance of My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade” by the Louisville Cardinal Marching Band. Welcome to Rockville will take place May 7-10, with Sonic Temple set for the weekend after and Louder Than Life going down on Sept. 18.

My Chemical Romance’s 2025 roadwork concluded Saturday at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival, with 450,000 tickets sold for the band’s 10 stadium headline gigs. In June, Way and company reissued their 2004 sophomore effort, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge as a remixed and remastered deluxe edition on CD, digital and multiple vinyl variants.

Here are My Chemical Romance’s 2026 tour dates:

January 22, 2026 – Bogotá, Colombia – Vive Claro
January 25, 2026 – Lima, Peru – Estadio Nacional
January 28, 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Estadio Bicentenario
January 29, 2026 – Santiago, Chile – Estadio Bicentenario
February 01, 2026 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Estadio Huracán
February 05, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Allianz Parque
February 06, 2026 – São Paulo, Brazil – Allianz Parque
February 13, 2026 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio GNP Seguros
February 14, 2026 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio GNP Seguros
April 18, 2026 – Incheon, South Korea – Paradise City Culture Park
April 22, 2026 – Bangkok, Thailand – Impact Challenger Hall
April 25, 2026 – Bulacan, Philippines – Philippine Arena
April 28, 2026 – Singapore, Singapore – Indoor Stadium
April 30, 2026 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – National Stadium Bukit Jalil
May 03, 2026 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Hammersonic Festival
May 10, 2026 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville
May 14, 2026 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple
June 30, 2026 – Liverpool, UK – Anfield Stadium
July 04, 2026 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park
July 08, 2026 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium
July 10, 2026 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium*
July 11, 2026 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium*
July 15, 2026 – Florence, IT – Visarno Arena
July 18, 2026 – Madrid, ES – Iberdrola Music
August 09, 2026 – New York, NY – Citi Field – with Franz Ferdinand
August 13, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium – with Pierce The Veil
August 18, 2026 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park – with Modest Mouse
August 21, 2026 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park – with Iggy Pop
August 24, 2026 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field – with Sleater-Kinney
August 27, 2026 – Denver, CO – Coors Field – with The Breeders
August 30, 2026 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park – with Babymetal
September 06, 2026 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field – with Jimmy Eat World
September 12, 2026 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome – with The Mars Volta
September 18, 2026 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life
October 21, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
October 23, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
October 24, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Coachella Calls On Sabrina, Bieber, Karol G

2025-09-16T17:58:15.700Z

Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G will headline the 2026 edition of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, which descends on Empire Polo Field in Indio, Ca., from April 10-12 and 17-19. See the complete poster below.

The always-eclectic lineup pulls from nearly every music genre and era imaginable, with Italian DJ Anyma presenting the world premiere of a show dubbed “Æden” and Radiohead participating in something described as “the Bunker debut of Kid A Mnesia.” No further details have yet been announced, and it is unclear if the band will actually be present in person.

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Carpenter anchors the Friday Coachella bill alongside the first performance by The xx in eight years, what appears to be the debut of a collaborative Nine Inch Nails/Boys Noize set, Disclosure, Turnstile, Teddy Swims, KATSEYE, Devo, Blood Orange, Moby and Wednesday.

On Saturday, Bieber takes the stage in tandem with the Strokes, Addison Rae, David Byrne, Interpol, Alex G, Sombr, Swae Lee, Labrinth, Geese, PinkPantheress, Green Velvet and Lambrini Girls. The artist has largely been off the road since September 2022 but returned in recent weeks with the two-part Def Jam album SWAG.

Karol G leads the lineup on Sunday, followed by appearances from Young Thug, Kaskade, Lauvey, Iggy Pop, FKA twigs, Clipse, Wet Leg, the Rapture, Suicidal Tendencies, Gigi Perez, Royksopp and Model/Actriz.

Tickets go on sale Friday (Sept. 19) at 11 a.m. PT.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dogs, Dildos, and Double Neck Guitars: 10 Items Margaret Cho Can’t Live Without

2025-09-16T17:40:35.627Z

Was there ever a time before Margaret Cho? For as long as I can remember, the ever-relevant, effortlessly funny comedian—who also counts actor, musician, and entrepreneur on her résumé—has been part of the zeitgeist.

A five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee, Cho leaves an impression any time she appears. My personal favorite is Cho as Lynne, the fashion show producer on Sex and the City’s “The Real Me” episode, where she tells Carrie Bradshaw: “You are fucking doing my show.” And more recently, as herself on Hacks, holding her own against the series’ lauded star Jean Smart in “The Captain’s Wife” episode.

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But Cho has main character energy, and her countless credits prove it. Whether top-billed or anywhere in the opening credits, she’s a natural. The same goes for her stand-up tours and specials—so many that I’ve lost count.

Earlier this year, Cho released her third music album, Lucky Gift, with songs that blend personal reflection and sharp cultural commentary—much like her comedy. Just last month, Goat Song Records reissued six of her classic specials: I’m the one That I Want, Notorious C.H.O., Assassin, Revolution, Beautiful, and Cho Dependent, alongside a brand-new one, Best in Cho. Few people pun their own name better.

Her stand-up comedy tour “Choligarchy” is already underway, hitting select cities—some for multiple dates—through mid-2026. Four decades in, Cho is still very much in her prime.

Here, she shares 10 of her life essentials, which—true to form—include two items tied to her “puss.” Only one of them is used in that area, and it’s purely medical. Cho ’nuff.

(Credit: Nick Spanos)

Dogs

Where would we even be without them? I mean they are essential to life and the perfect companions and family members. My dog Lucia is my closest friend and my favorite living creature and lots more. I’m like, “What is essential? Dogs!”

Cats

I mean, not to ever put them in second place, they are just as important as dogs. Hilarious, beautiful, loving, warm. My life is improved greatly by the cats in it. They all sleep on me, and I’m so honored to be there. It’s like a weighted vibrating blanket.

YouTube

It’s like everything that you want to watch but forgot to, then all this other stuff commenting on it. It’s like every obscure track on a forgotten album by a band you aren’t sure you remember. It’s kind of like the whole of existence remixed and redone randomly and sometimes skillfully and sometimes not. I go deep and I’ve never regretted premium.

Hitachi Magic Wand

Yeah, it’s a sex toy, but actually, as I age, I’m using it for a massager. It’s kind of sad, but it gets at those aches and pains better than anything.

Respin x Joylux vFit PLUS Red Light Intimate Wellness Device

It’s basically a dildo that lights up with red light to help revitalize your old menopausal junk. It helps a lot and when I use it my puss lights up from within like it’s telling a ghost story.

Dopey Podcast

It’s all about drugs, addiction, and dumb shit. Recovery can be hilariously dark and absurd and this show captures it. I love it and the community surrounding it.

Chicken Caesar Wraps

For some reason this is my fave meal lately. Kind of crunchy, kind of a salad, kind of a sandwich, always yummy.

Double Neck Guitars

It’s twin inspiration, it’s two instruments in one, and it hurts your back!!! But it’s essential to me since I’m too lazy to get up and get another instrument. I’d rather do it all in one go.

Moskinto

It’s stickers that you put on your mosquito bites to stop scratching them. If I didn’t have these I’d be 100% a bloody stump.

AirPods

I love these. I always want to swallow them but I manage to resist it. Once I was rocking out in an airplane toilet and one flew out and lodged in a sticky turd stain. I had to flush it. I still hear the faint strains of “Good Luck Babe” emanating from it in my nightmares.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

6 Alt-Rock Artists You Need to Hear Right Now

2025-09-15T19:11:23.414Z

1. The Earth & All Within

Blending the grandiosity of arena rock with the refinement of orchestral music, Philadelphia artist, The Earth & All Within, introduces a bold new take on the genre with his self-titled debut album, The Earth & All Within. Described as a “Millennial Rock Opera,” the project pushes boundaries both musically and conceptually. Tracked at Milkboy the Studio in Philadelphia and Gradwell House Recording in New Jersey, the album showcases lush string arrangements performed by the Philadelphia String Quartet—whose members bring experience touring with acts like Trans-Siberian Orchestra—woven seamlessly into James Ellis’s gritty, guitar-centric compositions. Influenced by modern rock titans such as Foo Fighters, Green Day, and Radiohead, the album offers a cinematic sound that feels both familiar and refreshingly ambitious. With The Earth & All Within, Ellis carves out a distinctive voice, bridging the worlds of classical finesse and rock intensity.

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Photo Courtesy of Fallin’ Astronauts

2. Fallin’ Astronauts

Vienna’s rising indie-pop duo Fallin’ Astronauts are poised for a breakthrough with their captivating new single ‘Higher’ and subsequent EP. The track offers a stunning mix of lush guitar work, cinematic atmosphere, and heartfelt lyricism — the first glimpse into their debut EP, MONO, set to release this October. Drawing inspiration from acts like Coldplay and Imagine Dragons, “Higher” floats effortlessly between emotional depth and uplifting energy. With MONO, vocalist Maximilian Hamedinger and guitarist Emil Breit embrace raw minimalism, aiming to create something deeply personal and sonically bold. “It’s about stripping back the noise to find something real,” they explain. Classically trained and creatively fearless, the duo have already made waves across Europe and Asia — including features in Illustrate, Plastic, and a live performance on South Korea’s TBS eFM. Fallin’ Astronauts are ready for liftoff.

Photo Courtesy of D3lta

3. D3lta

With over a million streams under his belt, airplay on BBC Radio 2, and a memorable set at SXSW 2024, D3lta is carving out a place of his own in the music scene. This year, he’s taken the stage alongside JC Stewart and headlined tours throughout both the U.K. and Greece, further establishing his reputation for electric live performances. Looking ahead, D3lta is preparing for a busy stretch, including new tour dates and the release of his latest single, ‘Kids’, set to drop this autumn. All of this builds toward his most ambitious project yet: a full-length album slated for 2026, packed with anthemic choruses, raw emotion, and his signature alt-pop flair.

Photo Courtesy of My Life As A Moth

4. My Life As A Moth

The project that would become My Life As A Moth emerged during 2020, sparked by a quiet moment when a pale moth landed on a dormant piano, breaking a spell of creative silence. Based in London, the genre-blending artist soon unveiled her first album, Miss Queenie’s Jamboree—a release praised by BBC Radio 6 and Absolute Radio for its vivid, surreal style. Now working alongside Keir Adamson and Ellie Mason (of Voka Gentle), she has completed a second album, recorded in a makeshift studio in a shed. Due for release next April, it reimagines her beginnings through a bold and experimental lens.

Photo Courtesy of Electron

5. Electron

Breaking away from a landscape crowded with trends and imitation, London-based band Electron are forging a sound that refuses to be boxed in. Their latest release, “You Betray,” is a fierce and unfiltered expression of emotional unrest. It’s aggressive, vulnerable, and entirely unapologetic. Fusing the sharp intensity of metalcore with the rawness of post-grunge, “You Betray” carries a heavy emotional weight, but rather than being consumed by it, the band transforms it into something defiantly alive. The lyrics tackle themes of alienation, fractured identity, and the exhausting pursuit of self-acceptance. Rather than offering easy answers, the song sits in the discomfort and makes something honest out of it. Already gaining attention from tastemakers such as Kerrang!, BraveWords, and Notion, Electron stand apart by leaning into the uncomfortable. “You Betray” is now streaming everywhere.

Photo Courtesy of Honeybadger

6. Honeybadger

Blending elements of punk, grunge, and indie rock with unapologetic energy, Brighton-based trio Honeybadger are quickly becoming a standout force in the UK rock circuit. Comprised of siblings Eddy (vocals/guitar) and Joe Widdows (drums), along with bassist Luca Brett-Smith, the band has built a reputation for their gritty, high-octane sound. Their music has already caught the attention of major tastemakers, with support from BBC Introducing and BBC Live Lounge, and placements on prominent playlists including Spotify’s Fresh Finds Rock and Shockwave, as well as Apple Music’s New in Rock and New in Punk. After the release of their self-titled EP in 2024, Honeybadger are making waves again with fresh singles like “Too Slow” and “Gonna Break,” with “Kill Switch” due out in October — all building momentum for a packed 2026 tour schedule.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bad Bunny, Amazon Pact For Puerto Rico Initiatives

2025-09-15T19:07:56.903Z

Bad Bunny and Amazon Music are teaming for a variety of initiatives based in the artist’s native Puerto Rico, including a global livestream of a newly added Sept. 20 finale for his No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí: Una Más residency at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.

The run began July 11 and its first nine shows were reserved exclusively for residents of Puerto Rico. The new Sept. 20 gig falls on the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which caused widespread destruction on the island.

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The partnership aims to “uplift Puerto Rico’s economy and create meaningful change across the island,” including work already being done by Fundación Rimas and and Fundación Good Bunny to add “education programs, technology resources and an enriched STEM curriculum for students and teachers.”

Also on tap are programs to support farmers and improve access to fresh produce, plus a curated Amazon.com storefront, comPRa Local, featuring Puerto Rican products, music and everyday goods.

“Puerto Rico is our home, and everything we do is shaped by the island and its people,” says Bad Bunny manager Noah Assad of RIMAS Entertainment. “This collaboration is about more than music — it’s about honoring our culture and making sure the world not only sees Puerto Rico but also supports and invests in it. Together with Amazon, we’re creating something that will last long after the show ends.”

No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí: Una Más was staged in support of Bad Bunny’s album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, a limited-edition vinyl version of which featuring photos from the residency will be available for preorder exclusively through the Amazon Music app on Saturday.

“By combining music, Amazon technologies, commerce and community programs at scale, we’re engaging global audiences to this historic moment while strengthening Puerto Rican communities,” says Amazon Director of Music Latin-Iberia Rocío Guerrero. “We are incredibly proud of this multi-year collaboration, which turns the power of music into meaningful and lasting progress for the island.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Gorillaz Gather With IDLES, Sparks On ‘The Mountain’

2025-09-12T15:42:08.268Z

Gorillaz have gathered another highly eclectic cast of collaborators for their ninth album, The Mountain, which will be released March 20 on the Damon Albarn-led band’s new KONG label. Lead track “The Happy Dictator” features sibling pop auteurs Sparks and can be sampled below.

Among the other artists lending a hand on the 15-track The Mountain are IDLES, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan & Ayaan Ali Bangash, Anoushka Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Asha Puthli, Bizarrap, The Roots’ Black Thought, Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys, Jalen Ngonda, Kara Jackson, Omar Souleyman, the Clash’s Paul Simonon, Trueno and Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def).

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The voices of departed musicians such as Bobby Womack, De La Soul’s Dave Jolicoeur, the Fall’s Mark E. Smith, Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, rapper Proof and even actor Dennis Hopper are also represented on the project.

The Mountain was produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton and Remi Kabaka Jr., and recorded in London, India, Syria, Los Angeles and Miami. The album’s lyrics are sung in Arabic, English, Hindi, Spanish and Yoruba.

Gorillaz will support The Mountain with a U.K. and Ireland arena tour next spring, beginning March 21 in Manchester. The group will also stage its first stadium concert at London’s Tottenham Hotspur on June 20, with opening sets from Sparks and Trueno.

Here is the track list for The Mountain:

“The Mountain” (feat. Dennis Hopper, Ajay Prasanna, Anoushka Shankar, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
“The Moon Cave” (feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda and Black Thought)
“The Happy Dictator” (feat. Sparks)
“The Hardest Thing” (feat. Tony Allen)
“Orange County” (feat. Bizarrap, Kara Jackson and Anoushka Shankar)
“The God of Lying” (feat. IDLES)
“The Empty Dream Machine” (feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
“The Manifesto” (feat. Trueno and Proof)
“The Plastic Guru” (feat. Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
“Delirium” (feat. Mark E. Smith)
“Damascus” (feat. Omar Souleyman and Yasiin Bey)
“The Shadowy Light” (feat. Asha Bhosle, Gruff Rhys, Ajay Prasanna, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash)
“Casablanca” (feat. Paul Simonon and Johnny Marr)
“The Sweet Prince” (feat. Ajay Prasanna, Johnny Marr and Anoushka Shankar)
“The Sad God” (feat. Black Thought, Ajay Prasanna and Anoushka Shankar)

Here are Gorillaz’ 2026 tour dates:

March 21 – MANCHESTER, Co-op Live
March 22 – BIRMINGHAM, bp pulse LIVE
March 24 – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro
March 25 – LEEDS, First Direct Arena
March 27 – CARDIFF, Utilita Arena
March 28 – NOTTINGHAM, Motorpoint Arena
March 29 – LIVERPOOL, M&S Bank Arena
March 31 – BELFAST, SSE Arena
April 1 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
June 20 – LONDON, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

LCD Soundystem Ready Annual NYC Residency

2025-09-12T15:37:20.740Z

Extending a New York-area tradition since 2017, LCD Soundsystem will be back in action this winter with another residency, this time comprising 12 shows across three weekends at Knockdown Center in Maspeth, Queens. Dates for the Bowery Presents-produced run begin Nov. 20 and conclude Dec. 13.

Although the James Murphy-led group has previously anchored its residency at Brooklyn Steel, this year’s edition will be held only at Knockdown Center – a change inaugurated last year. It will also take full advantage of the unique Knockdown Center space with live opening acts, nightly afterparties with special guest DJs, a DFA Records swap meet and even an on-site take on Murphy’s Four Horsemen wine bar.

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Tickets go on sale Sept. 19. Click here for more information.

Before the residency, LCD will visit New Haven. Ct., tonight (Sept. 12), the Sea.Hear.Now festival in Asbury Park, N.J., tomorrow and the Portolo festival in San Francisco on Sept. 20. The group will also open for Pulp on Sept. 25-26 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and stage a New Year’s Eve run on Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 1 in Aspen, Co.

As for the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s American Dream, LCD has been working on and off for the past several years at Murphy’s New York studio but few concrete details have emerged.

Here are LCD Soundsystem’s residency dates:

Nov. 20: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Nov. 21: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Nov. 22: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Nov. 23: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 4: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 5: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 6: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 7: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 10: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 11: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 12: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)
Dec. 13: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center)

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

BABYMETAL Is Bringing Kawaii Metal to the Masses

2025-09-08T20:24:45.470Z

That song ultimately appeared on the band’s international debut album, 2014’s BABYMETAL, along with the driving, swirling “Gimme Chocolate!!” Not everyone in the metal world took the group seriously then, but they’ve earned some real respect in the years since, building an audience while playing festivals and arenas around the world. In the band’s mythology, they did it all for the mystical Fox God, as fans cheer on BABYMETAL’s current lineup led by Su-metal and singer-dancers Moametal and Momometal.

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Under the ongoing guidance of producer Kobametal, BABYMETAL has just released Metal Forth, which debuted last week at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. That’s not only a milestone for BABYMETAL, but is the first time in pop music history that an all-Japanese-fronted act has charted so high in the U.S. It happened with the help of an all-star cast of hard-hitting collaborators on several tracks, including Poppy, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Spiritbox, and Russian extreme metal act Slaughter to Prevail.

The band celebrated the coming release of Metal Forth with an intimate performance in July at the Regent Theater in Los Angeles, pushing their self-proclaimed “Metal Resistance” forward in 2025. With the help of a translator, Su-metal, Moametal, and Momometal discussed this latest chapter in the BABYMETAL saga.

BABYMETAL has now been a band for 15 years. What does it mean for you that kawaii metal continues to thrive?

Su-metal: At first, we faced a lot of criticism, but by believing in our music and persevering for 15 years, we’re now happy to be recognized as “new metal” or “kawaii metal.” At the same time, I feel we must take on the responsibility of being pioneers in this field, and we’re working hard with the mindset that we want our latest work to always be our strongest, constantly updating and surpassing our past selves.

What was the mission behind your Metal Forth album?

Moametal: As the word forth suggests, the title carries the meaning of wanting to move metal forward, to keep moving ahead with metal. It’s also a double meaning for our fourth album. Isn’t it a great title? I’m actually very proud of it.

In this album, we collaborated with musicians across the boundaries of age, gender, and nationality. Collaborating with musicians who are believed to lead the future of the metal scene [is] truly inspiring, and we enjoyed the time pushing each other higher. Together with them, I want to broaden the horizons of metal and energize the scene even more. And I hope Metal Forth will also become a part of your own journey, always with you.

You have several high-profile guests this time. What was it like to collaborate with so many on one album?

Momometal: It was incredibly inspiring, and there was so much to learn. We were able to create music with them that we had never made before, and that opened a new door for us. Along the way, I discovered that there is still so much more to try. And just as the album title suggests, through this production process I truly experienced what it means to go beyond metal.

(Credit: Anthony Tran)

I’ve heard that Poppy was a fan of BABYMETAL from when you first started. How was it to sing with her on “From Me to U”?

Su-metal: This track uses a lot of electronic sounds, and for the vocal parts I wanted to give it a futuristic feeling, almost as if an android were singing. But then Poppy’s powerful shouts come in, breaking that image and expressing something very human at the same time. That contrast was really cool. Touring together, I found Poppy to be stylish and adorable, yet with such a strong and cool voice. She’s truly a very captivating artist

What is the meaning of that song for you?

Moametal: This song represents the latest form of kawaii metal. It was written by Jordan Fish, formerly of Bring Me the Horizon, who knows us very well, and we had the chance to produce this song together with Poppy, who not only is a fan of BABYMETAL but truly loves what we do. Creating this song with them allowed us to show what kind of kawaii metal we can deliver right now, and I feel it’s something our fans have been waiting for. This is also my favorite track on the album, and every time we perform it live, I get so excited.

On “Song 3,” you sing with the growling, Russian, bear-wrestling Alex Terrible, frontman from Slaughter to Prevail. What do you think of how your very different voices work together?

Momometal: I had a lot of fun collaborating with Alex Terrible. When I first heard Alex’s powerful and intense growls, I was really fired up. In the parts where we exchange growls back and forth, I tried to imitate him in a way, but at the same time I put my energy into not losing against him. His soul-shaking screams bring so much excitement to the song, and I learned a lot from the experience.

How did these partnerships shape the overall direction of Metal Forth?

Moametal: This album turned out beautifully chaotic, in the best sense. It’s genre-rich and refuses to be categorized into one neat box. But what united all our collaborators was this shared belief in creating something extraordinary. That’s why, despite every track having a totally different vibe, they all somehow become unmistakably BABYMETAL. I find that fascinating. The influence on our convictions and artistic spirit has been incredibly positive. Now, whenever I see our collaborators achieving success or performing live, I feel this overwhelming pride as their teammate! [laughs]

I really want more people to know about these incredible artists we work with, and I hope they feel similarly about us. It motivates me to make sure our work lives up to that kind of mutual admiration.

(Credit: Anthony Tran)

Metal has a strong tradition of rebellion and defiance. How does that align with your own personality, and what is the most rebellious thing you’ve ever done as part of BABYMETAL or in your life?

Su-metal: Since I was in elementary school, I’ve traveled to many places on world tours. I wasn’t with my parents, so I could stay up late and snack as much as I wanted. I even lied to them, saying I went to bed early.

How do you prepare for a performance?

Moametal: Me and Momometal practice the choreography right up until the performance day, while Su-metal keeps practicing her singing until the very last minute. Even when our bodies ache, we don’t want to give in. We want to give our best, so we always find ourselves back in the rehearsal studio without even thinking. [laughs] For me, eating is also really important. I’m such a foodie. I love sharing meals with people I love, so I truly enjoy spending that time with the BABYMETAL members.

You recently celebrated the new album by performing at the Regent Theater in Los Angeles, which only holds 1,100. What was that show like for you and the band?

Momometal: It was just so much fun. Everything felt so close and intimate that I was actually nervous at first!! I could really feel the audience’s energy more directly, and it made me so excited, like, “This is what a live show is all about!” The whole venue easily came together as one, and I truly felt a great sense of unity—it was such an amazing concert. Even after the show, I was so hyped up that I couldn’t fall asleep for a while.

What have you noticed about BABYMETAL fans from watching them from the stage these last 15 years? How have they changed over time?

Su-metal: When we had just formed the band, I mostly saw metalheads and people who were into Japanese culture in the audience. But these days, I feel like there’s such a wide range of fans, even from babies to elderly people. At metal concerts, there are circle mosh pits and crowd surfing, so sometimes I worry if everyone is safe. But it seems like the people around are always looking out for each other, and seeing all those smiles from the stage makes me really happy.

Do you feel like the larger metal community sees BABYMETAL differently now than when you first started?

Moametal: I think things have definitely changed, especially from the audience’s side. Back in the early days, I felt like many people came just out of curiosity, wanting to see something unusual. But now, I feel like more people see us and recognize us as artists.

Of course, in the beginning I was only 10 years old and so small, so I think it was hard for the audience to understand what kind of artist we really were. But after 15 years of continuing BABYMETAL, we’ve grown not only in age and height, but also in how much the BABYMETAL name has spread. Thanks to that, more people look at us with genuine eyes. No matter how people see us, I’m just happy that so many have discovered BABYMETAL, and I feel truly lucky to meet so many fans.

What is the current state of the “Metal Resistance” being led by BABYMETAL? How do you personally relate to this idea of resistance, both in music and life?

Su-metal: When we first formed the group, our music was so far removed from the conventions of metal at the time that we received a lot of criticism. But we kept believing in our music and continued to perform, proving through our live shows that this is our kind of metal and that we were serious about facing metal head-on.

Now, that experience has become a great source of confidence. I’ve learned that if you keep believing in yourself and keep moving forward, there will always be people who recognize you. And having bandmates and supporters by our side is such a strong source of strength—that’s why we’re still able to continue our Metal Resistance today.

“Gimme Chocolate!!” exploded as an international hit and is the first song many heard from BABYMETAL. What does that song mean to you now when you perform it?

Moametal: Even people who don’t know BABYMETAL know this song, and it has become one of the essential songs that always gets the crowd excited at festivals. The moment the intro of “Gimme Chocolate!!” starts playing, the cheers rise, and my own energy naturally rises with everyone else’s.

Although it usually comes in the latter half of the set, because it’s such a well-known song, I really want to perform it carefully. I take a breath and focus on delivering it with care. I also keep in mind that I want people to not only enjoy listening to the song but also to love it even more after watching the performance.

“Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!” has become an anthem for your fans. What does that song mean to you now and how do fans react when you perform it?

Momometal: When this song starts playing, I can see fans moving around, almost like they’re getting ready to headbang. For us too, it feels like we’re headbanging together with the audience, sharing that moment as if we’re having a conversation. Performing it gives us so much power!

How do you think you have grown as a singer and live performer?

Su-metal: To be honest, I’m not always sure how I’ve grown. But in recent years, through collaborating with many different artists, I feel like they’ve helped bring out new sides of BABYMETAL. While trying to match the unique color each artist brings, I’ve experimented with different ways of singing for each song, and through that process, I’ve realized our possibilities have expanded.

What do you personally love most about metal music?

Momometal: I really love that thrilling feeling when the deep bass resonates all the way through my body—it gives me chills in the best way. Also, when I watch passionate performances from other metal musicians, I feel so inspired and energized by the soul they put into their music.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Haute & Freddy Run Away with the Circus

2025-09-08T20:22:10.766Z

It was just last year that Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp, two seasoned Los Angeles-based pop songwriters, were feeling a little burnt out, and decided to do something different on the weekends for fun. “We really felt like there wasn’t room to be wild and infuse what inspired us into what we were working on,” Buzz says over the phone from L.A. “So I think we both in our own ways started saying no to a lot of stuff and found ourselves with a little more free time. Lance and I were playing each other these really obscure favorite records from our childhood and all this stuff, and really lighting up.”

The result was some infectiously catchy alt-pop songs that felt a little quirkier than what they might have come up with for a big-name client. “In songwriting sessions there is kind of this pressure of, like, ‘We have to make a hit today, we have to make something amazing, I want this artist to invite me back, I want them to know that I’m good,’” says Shipp. “We kinda just throw all that out. We just literally just play around with sounds with no expectation and no pressure. That’s kinda just how we do it.”

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Within a few months, Buzz and Shipp had not just songs but whole new alter egos, Haute & Freddy, that came with a wardrobe full of retro costumes and a hint of a backstory. “From the beginning we were really inspired by these old circus flyers, and this kind of fairytale we were putting together,” says Buzz. “Like okay, we were raised in the circus and we ran away because no one understood us and now we’re causing trouble. And I mean, I just happened to like bloomers, Lance just happened to like pirate tops. It was all these things converging, we didn’t know it was gonna fit together so well in the minds of anyone until it did.”

(Credit: Zoe Donahue)

By the end of 2024, the duo had released their debut single and video “Scantily Clad” and played their first few shows in L.A. and New York, establishing a Haute & Freddy template that sounds like ‘80s synth pop and looks like a period piece about the 1700s or 1800s. Of course, those aesthetics have always gone together to some extent, dating back to New Romantic groups like Adam and the Ants and Culture Club.

Haute & Freddy take things a bit further with their carnival atmosphere and playful choreography. But you can find familiar echoes and parallels all over their moodboard, from Soft Cell’s erotic cabaret to Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, and even other recent rising stars like Chappell Roan and the Last Dinner Party. For Buzz, it’s a chance to indulge in her instincts as a frustrated theater kid. “I was in high school trying to get lead roles and always not getting the lead in the musical,” she laughs.

Buzz and Shipp both came to Los Angeles with a dream, she from Texas and he from Michigan. They seem disinterested in name-dropping the pop superstars they’ve written for, which include Katy Perry and Britney Spears, but you can hear the years of finely honed songcraft that they’re able to let loose as Haute & Freddy. “Shy Girl,” the most popular of the five singles they’ve released over the past year, has amassed millions of streams since dropping in April, and it feels an appropriate anthem for two musicians who’ve worked hard behind the scenes but also enjoy the spotlight. “‘Shy Girl’ is very powerful to me emotionally,” Buzz says. “It reminds me of everything that I want this project to be, in the sense of freedom and self-liberation. We still listen to it, like, just for fun in the car.”

(Credit: Zoe Donahue)

The duo followed “Shy Girl” up with a midtempo love song in August, “Sophie,” which has quickly become their most popular video on YouTube. “I do feel like ‘Sophie’ showcases a different color of Haute & Freddy, and we did that on purpose,” Buzz says. ”We wanted to establish that early.”

So far Haute & Freddy have largely performed with a duo, with Shipp on drums, accompanied by backing tracks and sometimes costumed dancers. But as “Shy Girl” and “Sophie” have grown the duo’s fanbase, known affectionately as the Royal Court, they’ve added a bassist to their band to perform around the country, including in Buzz and Shipp’s home states.

In June, Haute & Freddy appeared at Electric Forest, a festival in rural Michigan, and were able to stand out and connect with music lovers at an event dominated by EDM producers and jam bands. “It was like, okay, this is literally the circus sideshow happening in the forest at 1:00 a.m., everyone was loving it,” Buzz says. “Here’s these fans all dressed up like jesters and clowns and everyone can escape for a while here, and get a balloon crown and be knighted in this silly way.”

(Credit: Zoe Donahue)

For Shipp, it was a chance to show his crazy new project to some of his family. “My sister and her husband actually got to come out and see us, and it was really great, I’ll never forget that,” he says. “My sister was blubbering like a baby the whole time. Every photo she’s in, just tears streaming down her face.”

In October, Haute & Freddy will play Austin City Limits, which should be a similar full circle moment for Buzz, who grew up a couple hours away in Houston. “I’m very excited to bring the rebellion to Austin,” she says.

It’s not lost on the duo that this success came to them when they took a break from the commercial pressures of working in the music industry and followed their bliss. “We were just writing songs for fun, and we had no intention of putting them out,” says Shipp. “But we just had so much fun that we were like, ‘Let’s just post about it and see what happens.’”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Alabama Shakes Break Decade-Plus Silence With New Song

2025-09-02T17:31:02.836Z

Amid their first tour since 2017, Alabama Shakes have released “Another Life,” their first new song in more than a decade. The track precedes their debut album for new label Island Records, a release date for which has yet to be announced.

“Another Life,” which the band has been playing live on its current tour, was recorded in Nashville with frequent producer Shawn Everett.

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“When we wrote ‘Another Life,’ I was thinking about all the lives we carry,” says vocalist/guitarist Brittany Howard. “The ones we’re living right now, the ones that slipped away because of different choices, the what ifs, the what wasn’t meant to be, the goodbyes and the chance encounters that feel divine. This song is about those threads and how they stretch across time and space, connecting every version of who we are. It’s about letting them come together, letting them harmonize and realizing that goodbye isn’t really goodbye. It’s more like, I’ll see you later. A collective story that never stops unfolding. I’m glad we opened this door into this reality of us making music together again.”

Before returning to the road this year, Alabama Shakes’ last proper concert was eight years ago at Montreal’s Osheaga festival, after which Howard embarked on a successful solo career. The group reunited for a secret nine-song set in December in Tuscaloosa, Al.

Alabama Shakes have dates on tap through Sept. 27 in Irving, Tx., and will also appear Nov. 15 at the Corona Capital festival in Mexico City.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

My Chemical Romance Covers Smashing Pumpkins With Billy Corgan

2025-09-02T17:26:24.471Z

My Chemical Romance has covered Smashing Pumpkins’ 1995 rock radio staple “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” on a handful of occasions during its massive summer tour, but the rendition tonight (Aug. 29) at Chicago’s Soldier Field had extra bite. The group welcomed Pumpkins frontman and Windy City native Billy Corgan to guest on the tune, which closed the evening.

My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way related a story about being “super sad” during the COVID-19 pandemic and having a momentous reaction while watching an Instagram video of a kid play along to “Bullet” in his bedroom. “I felt the blade of Christ enter my chest,” he said. “I was wild. I never felt anything like that in my life.”

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“This song is the ultimate rock defiance to me,” he added. “It’s like ssearing an imprint on the universe in pure fucking defiance. It is the best rock’n’roll song ever fucking made.”

“Great fun!,” Corgan wrote on Instagram afterwards. “And fantastic gig by the boys. Just killed it in front of a massive Chicago crowd.”

My Chemical Romance’s 2025 roadwork will conclude Sept. 20 at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival. The group will visit South America, Asia and the United Kingdom next year, beginning Jan. 25 in Lima, Peru. Meanwhile, the Pumpkins will visit Asia, the Middle East and India through Oct. 12 in Mumbai.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Next Big Names in Music: 2025’s Top Emerging Artists

2025-08-27T20:16:37.020Z

As the music industry continues to transform, a new wave of artists is redefining genres, pushing creative boundaries, and captivating audiences around the world. From trailblazing veterans launching bold new projects to rising stars forging their own paths, these ten musicians are poised to shape the sound of 2025. Their styles span rock, pop, blues, country, folk, and beyond—fusing classic influences with modern innovation to forge deep, lasting connections with listeners. With exceptional skill, genre-blending artistry, and powerful storytelling, these artists are set to leave a significant mark on the evolving musical landscape.

Jenn and J Kyle

Jenn and J Kyle are a pop-country duo defined by their dynamic vocal harmonies, emotive writing, and rock edge. Originally solo artists, Jennafer Lynsey (lead vocals) and J. Kyle Reynolds (lead vocals, background vocals, and guitar) decided to take their personal connection a step further when they married their musical talents to become a duo. Together they have now performed alongside artists like Dailey & Vincent as well as the Oakridge Boys. The pairing of Jenn and J Kyle created an unmatched candor of camaraderie that can be felt on stage and heard in the studio. Their new single “So Fine” is a double entendre with heartache and enamor woven between the lines.

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M. Maggie

M• doesn’t chase waves—she makes them. With over 200 million streams and a global cult locked in from TRNDSTTR, M. Maggie has cemented her place at the top, no question. Her latest drops, “Ride the Wave” and “Oh Nah Nah,” are pure summer fuel—dripping in attitude, rhythm, and that signature M• energy that turns listeners into lifers. This isn’t a rise; it’s a reign.

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The Summit

Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, The Summit’s unique blend of both classic and southern rock continues to captivate fans all over North America. With a big sound that includes powerful vocals and distinctive melodies, the band is very reminiscent of rock royalty from the 60s and 70s. The Summit’s self-proclaimed “Vintage Rock and Roll” style has already seen them tour with legendary acts such as ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, and Collective Soul. Their new record “Firebirds & Aviators” is an anthem to their upbringing in music and was produced by Will Turpin of Collective Soul at Reel 2 Real Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Claybrook

Claybrook is an electrifying force in the music scene, known for his high-energy performances and unforgettable sound. With a rapidly growing international fanbase, he’s gaining attention for both his innovative production style and commanding stage presence. His blend of creativity, drive, and authenticity resonates powerfully with audiences worldwide. As his momentum builds, Claybrook is poised to make a lasting impact on the global stage — and he’s just getting started.

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Drew Cagle & The Reputation

Drew Cagle & The Reputation is an emerging rock band from Central Illinois leading the charge for a boisterous new genre known as “attitude rock,” which combines a modern hard rock defiance with the vintage sound of the 80’s sunset strip.

DC&R’s new full length album “Bad Attitude” is an eight song unapologetic haymaker of strutting hard rock swagger. The album’s lead single “All Figured Out” reached #1 on the MediaBase Classic Rock Radio Charts in the US and was featured on Alice Cooper’s radio show last fall. The title track features a collaboration with guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns / Guns N Roses) that spent many weeks on the Active Rock Charts as well. DC&R have built quite the reputation as a live act, performing alongside dozens of rock heavyweights including Puddle of Mudd, Living Colour, Mr. Big, and more.

DC&R have been described in the online music press as “rock revivalists.” The new release of Bad Attitude seeks to bring the revival to the masses, with white hot guitar solos, soaring vocals and disarmingly thoughtful lyrics, the Midwest rockers seem to be planting the seeds for a new wave of authentic rock n roll.

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Gabby

Brazilian pop sensation Gabby B dropped her vibrant new EP XOXO on February 14, 2025, delivering a bold fusion of Reggaeton, Brazilian Funk, and Latin Pop. The project dives deep into themes of love, empowerment, and self-expression, with standout tracks like “Brinca” featuring Brray and “Sorry, No Confío” featuring Genio La Musa that highlight her dynamic sound and bilingual edge. Songs like “AMG,” “Bad Boy,” and “La Disco T K” reveal both the sensual and emotional layers of her artistry, making XOXO a fiery, feel-good journey. With millions of views online and performances at major events across the globe, Gabby B has captured audiences in the US, UK, Japan, South Africa, and beyond. This EP marks a major step in her rise as a powerhouse in Latin pop—celebrated for her infectious rhythms, fearless energy, and cultural versatility.

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Mountain Climer

Mountain Climer, the moniker of Indiana native Jeremy Climer, showcases his genre-blending artistry on Before You Turn Out the Lights, weaving together country, folk, and indie-rock with vivid storytelling. From the warm twang of “American Oak” to the eerie pulse of “Cut Enough Wood,” Climer effortlessly shifts moods while exploring themes of love, loss, and mortality. Tracks like “Paper Gowns” pair upbeat grooves with sobering lyrics, reminding listeners that even the catchiest melodies can carry weighty truths. Producer Paul Mahern and a team of seasoned players help bring the songs to life with dynamic, textured arrangements. The result is a fresh, emotionally resonant album that proves Climer is an artist worth watching.

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The Rust Belt

The Rust Belt was formed by Michael Bilinski (Pagan) and Vex X (Starskream) while their bands were sidelined by the pandemic. They recruited Bill Lloyd (Edit/Erase) and The Voice fnalist Ryan Whyte Maloney to fill out the lineup. They have gone on to win numerous awards and be included in The Museum of Post Punk & Industrial Music. Following Ryan’s tragic death earlier this year, the band is moving forward with a new album. The Voice alum Snoop Dogg is among the artists appearing on the project.

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Jessica Carter Altman

Jessica Carter Altman is making her mark with a sound that seamlessly blends emotional depth and polished pop sensibilities. Her debut album Aftermath, released in June 2024, showcases her powerful vocals and introspective songwriting. She has toured with pop favorites BBMAK and singer-songwriter Tyler Hilton, winning over audiences with her magnetic stage presence. With standout tracks like her latest single “Mirror Mirror,” Altman is carving out her place in the industry—one heartfelt lyric at a time.

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ELECTRIC RAMBLE

Electric Ramble is a Rock and Roll band out of New Orleans delivering high-energy performances and deeply rooted, groove-heavy songs. Known for their airtight live show and magnetic stage presence, the band has built a loyal following through explosive sold out sets at venues like Tipitina’s and festivals like the New Orleans French Quarter Fest. Their sound blends raw Rock and Roll grit with vintage soul and a modern rock edge — a mix that feels both classic and new. Frontman Evan Hall leads the group with a voice steeped in emotion and fire, backed by the dynamic rhythm section of Tyler Self (bass), William McMains (drums), and Brook Danos (guitar). Their latest single, “Let It Roll,” captures the full scope of their sound: tight, soulful, and built to move a crowd. Electric Ramble is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting and authentic bands in the Southern region. “Let It Roll” is available now on all streaming platforms.

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SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bright Eyes Are Back At The ‘Table’ On New EP

2025-08-27T20:09:35.138Z

The first single, “Dyslexic Palindrome,” features Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra, whose group has toured with Bright Eyes of late. “Alynda Segarra is one of the most soulful people I have ever encountered,” Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst says. “Everything that passes through them is haunted by the weary ghost of American music past. I have had the good fortune of recording and performing with them on many occasions and I am always blown away by Alynda’s ability to channel what is both intangible and universal. Seemingly walking along in a second line of skeletons. Blowing on a valiant horn. I know it sounds crazy but, yet, there Alynda is. Always so very present but with one foot on the other side.”

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Kids Table also includes previous single “1st World Blues,” a cover of Lucinda Williams’ “Sharp Cutting Wings (Song to a Poet)” and lyrical nods to Clue‘s Mrs. Peacock, late Clash frontman Joe Strummer, Salman Rushdie and William Shakespeare. It’s the follow-up to 2024’s Five Dice, All Threes, which was the group’s first album in four years.

Bright Eyes are on a brief west coast tour that features an appearance on Saturday (Aug. 30) at Seattle’s Bumbershoot festival. Three shows in Singapore and Japan are on tap in November in December.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mau y Ricky Are Building Their Own Latin Music Empire

2025-08-27T20:07:40.762Z

After nearly a decade of penning multi-platinum hits for themselves and other artists, the Latin superstars are opening a new door to more creative control with their EP La Llave, releasing August 28. In addition to launching their own record label, Mau y Ricky’s studio sits inside a compound that they’re building as a hub for creatives like themselves.

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There’s passion and intention behind every word when the brothers speak about the future and using their platform for good. Mau, the more level-headed, and Ricky, the wild child, are perfectly in sync when it comes to making music together.

“We’re excited for this point of our career where we’re able to do what we want,” Ricky says. “We’re excited for what’s to come and we’re having fun with it.” Mau adds, “We put in a lot of hard and beautiful work to be the owners of our music.”

Mau y Ricky. (Credit: Erick Fernando / @erickfernandoq)

Mau and Ricky Montaner are the sons of Argentine-born Venezuelan pop legend Ricardo Montaner. The brothers were born in Caracas and grew up watching and even performing with their father at his sold-out concerts. In a “nepo baby” era of celebrities being afraid to admit having famous relatives, that’s never been the case for Mau y Ricky. In fact, the elder Montaner has a cameo in their song “Muriendo de Miedo” from last year’s Hotel Caracas album.

“I can proudly tell you that I am so lucky to grow up in the musical family that I did because I was able to do this [ever] since I can remember,” Ricky says. “I have been making music and building towards this moment that we’re living now since I was a little kid.” Mau adds, “Seeing how our dad did his job with so much grace, how he was always so loving to everybody, and how everyone loved him back inspired us artists.”

Despite having the Montaner last name, success didn’t come easy for the brothers, who started performing as MR in 2011, rebranding as Mau y Ricky in 2016. But it was their songwriting that brought them their own well-earned success, penning hits like Karol G’s “Pineapple,” Becky G and Natti Natasha’s “Sin Pijama,” and Ricky Martin and Maluma‘s “Vente Pa’ Ca.” From there, Mau y Ricky earned multiple Latin Grammy nominations and amassed over a billion views on YouTube with their global smash “Desconocidos” featuring Manuel Turizo and their future brother-in-law Camilo.

Mau y Ricky. (Credit: Erick Fernando / @erickfernandoq)

“Songwriting was such a beautiful and unexpected blessing that we didn’t think would put us on the route that we’re on now,” Mau recalls. “It’s really cool because we got to befriend a lot of artists that we admire. We started getting that credit from our peers within the industry. That gave us the ability to say that we’re completely in love with making music whether it’s for us or other people.”

After establishing themselves as undeniable hitmakers, Mau y Ricky seamlessly weaved their playful and boundary-pushing pop into 2019’s reggaeton-infused Para Aventuras y Curiosidades, 2020’s punk-leaning Rifresh, and the Desgenerados Mixtape. To show that no genre is out of bounds for the duo, one of their biggest hits is the heartbreaking banda song “Llorar y Llorar” with Mexican crooner Carín León.

But despite flying high, Mau y Ricky suffered the first blow to their career after parting ways with Sony Music Latin in late 2022. “I feel like this is a very difficult career to follow and remain sane in,” Mau admits. “It has such extreme ups and downs that can be really hard on one person. Having my brother’s support has helped me soften those falls. Being there for each other has been fundamental to our wellbeing and mental health.”

With a fresh start, Mau y Ricky signed with Warner Music Latina and created their own label, Why Club Records, in 2023. The first LP on their imprint was the adventurous Hotel Caracas. Mau y Ricky pulled inspiration from a homecoming trip they took to Venezuela to reconnect with their roots. Since returning to Miami, they’ve found a sense of community with other Venezuelan artists who feature on the alluring La Llave EP. Danny Ocean and Yorghaki jump on the bachata-inflected “Samaná,” Lagos join them on the exhilarating “Noche de Luna,” and Elena Rose lends her voice to “Agua.”

“Our trip to Venezuela gave us a new purpose, a new identity, and a new group of friends,” Ricky says. “It’s helped consolidate the Venezuelan movement that we’re proud to be part of. Having gone back and reconnected personally with who we are gave us a sense of responsibility to take our platform and push it forward to the next generation.”

(Credit: Erick Fernando / @erickfernandoq)

Not only is La Llave bringing a close to the Hotel Caracas era, it also closes their time with Warner. Mau y Ricky forge ahead as independent artists with Why Club Records. After a sold-out tour on the East Coast earlier this year, they’re planning to head to the West Coast in 2026 in support of their next album. At the same time, Mau y Ricky are investing into the compound that will include three recording studios, a wellness center, and a place where they can grow The Why Podcast, hosted by Mau and designed to help people find their life’s purpose. They’re hoping to be a resource for the next wave of artists, songwriters, and producers, which could include Mau’s son Apollo in the future.

“We realized that we don’t want to leave this industry how we found it,” Mau says. “It’s always been our dream to help other artists’ dreams come true. If my son decides to be a part of this industry, which by the looks of it, I think he will be, I want to make sure that I do everything in my power and with our platform for it to be better.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Bon Jovi Update ‘Forever’ With Springsteen, Jelly Roll

2025-08-27T20:06:15.789Z

Bon Jovi have rounded up a deep roster of special guests for an updated version of their 2024 album Forever, which will reappear Oct. 24 via Island in a new Legendary Edition. A new single, “Red, White and Jersey” is out on Friday (Aug. 29), along with a fresh take on original album closer “Hollow Man” with fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen.

Other contributors include James Bay, Robbie Williams, Jelly Roll, Jason Isbell, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Billy Falcon, the War & Treaty, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, Lainey Wilson, Avril Lavigne, Marcus King and Latin star Carin León. Forever debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 upon its original release.

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“This album is more than just a collection of collaborations — it is an album borne out of necessity,” says frontman Jon Bon Jovi. “My vocal cord surgery and subsequent rehab was a well-documented journey that played out while releasing Forever in June 2024. I was singing well enough in the studio for the recording, but the vocal demands and rigors of touring were still out of reach for me. Without the ability to tour or promote an album we were all very proud of, I decided to call on some friends to help me in my time of need. All are great singers, artists and also just great people. The result is an album with a new viewpoint and new spirit — a collaboration album that proves we all get by in this world with a little help from our friends. I feel tremendous joy and gratitude releasing this album and I think it shows in the music. I can say with certainty that there is always something bigger than ME, and that’s WE.”

In June, Bon Jovi returned to the stage for their first full concert since late April 2022 as part of a private, phone-free show organized by Runaway Tours. The band’s future touring plans have yet to be announced.

Here is the track list for Forever (Legendary Edition):

1. Red, White and Jersey
2. Legendary (with James Bay)
3. We Made It Look Easy (with Robbie Williams)
4. Living Proof (with Jelly Roll)
5. Waves (with Jason Isbell)
6. Seeds (with Ryan Tedder)
7. Kiss the Bride (with Billy Falcon)
8. The People’s House (with the War & Treaty)
9. Walls of Jericho (with Joe Elliott)
10. I Wrote You a Song (with Lainey Wilson)
11. Living in Paradise (with Avril Lavigne)
12. My First Guitar (with Marcus King)
13. Hollow Man (with Bruce Springsteen)
14. We Made It Look Easy / Hicimos Que Pareciera Fácil (with Carin León)

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Endless Summer: A Dispatch From Bad Bunny’s San Juan Residency

2025-08-25T22:49:37.466Z

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, decided he’s homebound for the summer. During prime festival and touring season, the megastar—whose latest album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos) hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts, his fourth album to do so—leveraged his celebrity to manifest one of the underlying purposes of his art. After spending years bringing Puerto Rico to the world, his homegrown show at San Juan’s famous Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (El Choli, if you’re local) was designed to bring the world to the island.

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Aptly named No me quiero ir de aqui (I Don’t Want To Leave), Bad Bunny’s completely sold-out summer residency is an unabashed love letter to Puerto Rico. Entering the arena, the floor is flanked by two stages: a mountain that feels uprooted straight out of El Yunque National Forest, vaguely shaped like a cemí (a Taíno nature spirit), and a pink casita whose interior doubles as a VIP area. Anyone who sees the small house up-close can attest to the fact that the little house is authentic Caribbean architecture, the kind of space that could belong to any tía out in Fajardo or Ponce or Bayamón.

The spectacle opens theatrically: At center stage, a woman searches for a camera. At the same time, a man finds a blanket covering drums used for plena, a traditional Puerto Rican genre. Slowly, out of the mountain, dancers emerge donning traditional jíbaro garb worn in Boricua folk tradition, some complete with pava straw hats (an unofficial symbol of this era that doubles as a show of Puerto Rican pride). The man of the hour subtly appears stage-left, kicking off the night with new song “ALAMBRE PúA”.

A man wears a straw hat with the Puerto Rican flag in the background before the start of the first show of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny’s 30-date concert residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, on July 11, 2025. (Credit: Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP)

No me quiero ir de aquí is split into three of the island’s key genres: plena, perreo, and salsa. Bad Bunny adapted his songs to each, plena drums replacing the dembow rattle on beloved hits like “La Santa” (originally recorded with Daddy Yankee) and “Vete.” When he appeared at la casita for the reggaeton-heavy section of the night—which included YHLQMDLG-era opus “Safaera” (recorded in 2020 with Jowell & Randy, and Ñengo Flow) and Un Verano Sin Tí’s “Titi Me Preguntó”—he comfortably waltzed between the roof and the front porch. His transition back to the mountain was soundtracked by local plena collective Pleneros de la Cresta, who thanked the audience after a lively jam out to “CAFé CON RON”: “Thank you for getting the world to hear plena puertorriqueña!”

One of the residency’s biggest draws is the rotating cast of guests. For its 19th iteration, Lorén Aldarondo Torres of Puerto Rican indie band Chuwi sang her “Weltita” verse from the mountaintop. Later, when the casita was transformed into a party de marquesina like the ones where reggaeton was born, the soundtrack was none other than Ivy Queen herself. The undisputed Queen of Reggaeton held court over the stadium from the casita’s entrance with a medley of her hits, snarling signature song “Quiero Bailar” like it was the last time she’d sing it. Before going back to the mountains, Bad Bunny tried bending the audience to his will again, encouraging everyone to turn off their phones and be in the moment. Most of the arena followed suit, and the audience presence was palpable.

Before switching to salsa, a video about the genre’s African roots was played, and Benito emerged in a suit. Backed by Los Sobrinos, he reinterpreted “Callaíta” with timbaleros and bongos. If he wasn’t already, Bad Bunny was fully in control of the audience for “Baile Inolvidable”, the salsa standout from this era. Arguably the show’s biggest moment after his sobering rendition of “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii” right before, it was a tremendous show of artistic growth, one where Bad Bunny channeled salsa legends like Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón while remaining more himself than we’ve ever seen him.

It wasn’t until the end that I realized three hours had flown by. I was ready for more, almost disappointed that there wasn’t. That feeling was a shock: A big-budget arena show can often drag. Bad Bunny’s generosity as a performer is on full display from the moment you approach El Choli to the second you leave, an eternal moment frozen in the endless summer of the Caribbean heat. It’s something that can only exist here, something Bad Bunny did well to remind us when he first popped out of la casita, right as the initial electric guitar chords of house-influenced banger “Neverita” reverberated through the arena: “Summer ended in most of the world, but we’re in PR.”

All quotes have been translated from Spanish.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Kendrick Lamar Makes Surprise Appearance With Clipse In L.A.

2025-08-25T18:27:08.437Z

Pusha and No Malice had already begun performing “Chains & Whips,” the studio version of which features Lamar, when the artist himself emerged from the back of the stage to rhyme his verse. Afterward, he took a moment to salute the influence of Clipse, whose recent album, Let God Sort Em Out, was their first in nearly 16 years.

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“This is our home city,” he said. “It’s such a privilege to be in front of motheruckin’ legends, man. I’ma be out there watching with y’all.. These are my motherfuckin’ people from day one. Love y’all.”

Clipse are on a North American tour in support of Let Got Sort Em Out through Sept. 11 in Baltimore. European dates are on tap beginning Nov. 5 in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Watch fan-shot footage of the Clipse/Lamar performance below.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mastodon Salutes Brent Hinds At First Show In Alaska

2025-08-25T18:21:08.347Z

Mastodon saluted late member Brent Hinds at the end of its first show ever in Alaska last night (Aug. 22), a day after the guitarist, who left the band in March, was killed in an Atlanta motorcycle accident. See fan-shot footage from the Alaska State Fair performance below.

“We lost somebody very special to us yesterday. Brent Hinds. 25 years with us as our guitar player,” drummer Brann Dailor said from the stage. “One of the most creative, beautiful people that we’ve ever come across in this this world tragically left us. Very, very unfortunate. We loved him so so so very much. And you know, we had the ups and downs of a 25- year relationship. You know what I mean? It’s not always perfect. It’s not always amazing. But we were brothers to the end and we really loved each other. We made a lot a lot of very beautiful music together.”

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“I think that that’s going to stand the test of time, evidenced by you people here tonight,” he continued. “So, we will continue to play Brent’s beautiful, beautiful music that he helped us make. We formed this band together and traveled the world together, slept in a van together, laid our heads down on beds of fuckin’ kitty litter, got way too drunk to remember anything the next day about a thousand million times over and over again.The love that we shared and the beauty, all the audiences that we played for, all the stages we stepped on. We’re just at a loss for words. We’re absolutely devastated and crushed to lose him and to be able to never have him back again. But you guys made it okay for us to come by the stage and do this tonight.”

Mastodon’s only remaining shows of the year will take place Sept. 26 at the Levitation festival in Austin and Nov. 15 in New Orleans as part of a loaded bill also featuring the reunited Acid Bath and Power Trip.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

A Stellar Return: Chance the Rapper Unveils Star Line at Airbnb-Powered Adler Planetarium Experience

2025-08-18T17:13:30.544Z

Chicago has a way of making music feel bigger than sound. It’s in the air, the skyline, and woven into the city’s history — and on a warm Thursday night in July, the stars were shining on the Adler Planetarium. Chance the Rapper revealed Star Line, his first album in six years, during an exclusive, Airbnb Experiences–curated listening event that felt less like an album release and more like a shared cosmic meditation. Airbnb guided us through a listening experience that was as much an artistic statement as it was a celebration of community.

This marked Chance’s fifth collaboration with Airbnb—each one more immersive than the last. During cocktail hour, as Danny and I sipped our Star Line–inspired watermelon margaritas, Chance made his way around the room to personally welcome guests. Gathering everyone with a warm smile, he said, “I feel pretty loved. My kids are here, my mama’s here… and y’all wanted to spend time sitting in a room with me listening to my music.”

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He then led us into the dome. Before the lights dimmed, Chance stood front and center, beckoning the group in as they sank into oversized bean bag chairs. More than a polite introduction, he granted us access into his creative world. Pointing to the notepad and pen tucked inside each goodie bag, he encouraged us to use them as he had while making the album—to capture the thoughts, feelings, and images the music stirred.

Photo Courtesy of Airbnb Experiences

This wasn’t about passively hearing an album — it was about experiencing it the way Chance himself had — through introspection, curiosity, and radical self-reflection. As he put it, “If there’s anything that stands out, I do implore you to let it sit with you. If you have questions about it, I’ll take a few at the end.”

As the music began, the planetarium’s domed ceiling became a canvas, its celestial glow framing every note as the city’s vibrancy pulsed through the room. Under that canopy of stars, the setting felt destined for an album called Star Line.

Enveloped by sound, the headphones delivered a clean, uninterrupted listening experience directly to those lucky enough to be present. Lyrics lit up the 360-degree dome, perfectly in sync with the songs. Archival footage, recording session clips, and live dancers gave the album texture and movement. In between songs, Chance’s kids wandered around, giggling before eventually falling asleep — a reminder this night was also about family.

Somewhere between the poetry, the fire sampling, the punch of the beats, and the weight of the history they carried, I wanted to give Chance a hug — partly out of admiration, partly because the music felt so deeply personal. My mind was racing with questions about how it all came together, and lucky for me, I was able to ask Chance personally.

During the Q&A and in his SPIN interview, Chance opened up about the meaning behind the album’s name: “The project’s called Star Line. It’s named after the Black Star Line shipping company owned and operated by Black folks in the ’20s, started by Marcus Garvey and the UNIA. The goal… was to create a larger collective network for Black folks across different diasporas.”

He explained how that history extends into the music: “The Black Star… was also a symbol of hope across different political movements… whether it’s in Ethiopia with Haile Selassie, or in Ghana with Kwame Nkrumah. Stars are also just a thing in Black history, period — if you think about the North Star that Black folks followed to get to the North in the US.”

Chance told SPIN the making of Star Line was both celebratory and deeply intentional, “It was a lot of traveling… so with that, there is hella partying, for sure. But it was also very thoughtful and intentional.”

He also described the bittersweet final stretch: moving from an ever-changing mix of ideas in the studio to a single finished statement. For him, it was about crafting something that reflects the moment in time, not just chasing perfection.

When I asked to sum up the record, he didn’t hesitate: “It’s poetic, moving, and it is available now for pre-order.”

The Airbnb collaboration was born from Chance’s desire to bring fans closer to the music’s meaning, “I call it Writings on the Wall. It’s a way of showing my new music in an intimate space and really contextualizing it. We use lighting and projection to give you a visual and a fully encompassing space. It’s 360 projection… all the senses are engaged, and the mind is there because you have the lyrics in a readable format that emphasizes rhythm and can expound on double meanings or symbolism in the music.”

Photo Courtesy of Airbnb Experiences

In the planetarium’s dome, those visuals and words surrounded and captivated us — turning each track into a living, breathing piece of art.

This night could’ve happened in a theater or a club, but the Adler Planetarium — paired with Airbnb’s immersive ethos — made it other-worldly. Airbnb Experiences are designed to put people inside worlds they’d normally only glimpse from the outside, and this event did exactly that.

Great experiences do more than provide a night of entertainment — they stay with you. Listening to Star Line for the first time in this context made it more than an album, it was a constellation map. That night, under the stars, with Chance’s artistry and Airbnb’s vision, we traced it in real time.

Experience Star Line for yourself tomorrow, August 15th.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

John Power Explains How Cast Landed the Most Coveted Support Slot in Music

2025-08-18T16:59:02.735Z

The last time I saw John Power, frontperson of Cast, was at a mutual friend’s wedding, where he was throwing up out of the hotel window. That was 24 years ago. When I remind him, he says, “Well, you know, those were hedonistic days.”

Power doesn’t look any worse for wear. Cast just finished opening for Oasis on the first 10 dates of the Live ’25 Tour, and in a few days he’ll resume that role for the rest of the shows. These include Oasis’ New York (that is, New Jersey) and Los Angeles dates, plus a headlining slot at New York City’s Sony Hall September 3.

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Being in the most coveted support slot in music isn’t where Liverpool-born and -bred Power expected to be four decades into his career. He started as bass player in the La’s, best known for their perennial “There She Goes,” arguably the first Britpop song before the movement had a name. He left after five years, switched back to rhythm guitar and formed Cast. Their debut, All Change—marking its 30th anniversary—emerged at the height of Britpop, became the fastest-selling debut on their label, and was certified double platinum in the U.K. But they didn’t keep up the momentum. The group disbanded and reunited more than once, releasing seven albums. Power put out three solo records and briefly rejoined the La’s. This is Cast’s third reformation, perfectly timed with the ’90s revival, not unlike the ’60s resurgence three decades ago.

“It’s become something more than a show,” Power says of the Oasis tour. “It’s a vicious world out there, and there’s so much joy in the gigs. People are going ape shit. I’ve watched many of the shows to the end because it’s an amazing, uplifting vibe all the way through. Oasis, to give them their due, are on top form. Liam is singing amazing. His voice is better than I’ve heard in a decade or more. It’s got a brightness that reminds you of Oasis in their heyday. Watching Noel’s expressions and nuances, he’s having the time of his life. As a musician myself, who’s perceptive, I’m picking up on little things the band seem to be doing different. You do these loose moves when it’s fucking happening. They’re in a really good place.”

(Credit: Jim Mitcham)

“It’s strange how things come around, but they do. The timing, fucking hell, you couldn’t mention Britpop at the end of the ’90s. You’d get tarred and feathered. It was a burden. Now it’s the coolest thing again. It has to lie dormant for life to come back into it.”

Cast supported Oasis at their landmark Knebworth shows in 1996. Last year, promoting their 2024 album Love Is the Call, they opened for Liam Gallagher on his Definitely Maybe 30 Years tour. Power got a call from Liam soon after.

“He was really excited,” Power recalls. “He was like, ‘John, I’ve spoken to Noel, and we want you to open.’ He went through loads of contemporary bands and said, ‘I don’t want all this. I want this tour to open with a rock ‘n’ roll chord.’ He started singing ‘Sandstorm.’ We wouldn’t be on this tour if it wasn’t for Liam. There’s no doubt. It wasn’t a business decision. We’re there because Liam and Noel pushed and said, ‘We want them on the tour.’ That’s such a massive nod from our peers. It really authenticates our legacy.”

Power has had plenty of ups and downs. The other day, he says, someone told him they’d seen him walking through Bristol with his acoustic guitar and thought, “There’s John Power, doing his thing. Nobody knows him anymore. He’s still walking around with a guitar, troubadour vibe.”

Cast playing during the Oasis Live ’25 Tour. (Credit: Jim Mitcham)

The “troubadour vibe” is something he keeps returning to. “You dig deep when you’re playing to 40 people—or 15—on a Tuesday night in a wine bar in Birmingham and nobody fucking gives a shit,” he says. “After having success, you realize you’re singing, and it’s not even to the audience. These songs are about me and my journey. You keep holding them embers, blow on them, and never let them go out.”

Even before the Live ’25 slot, Power was having a big year. He walked his eldest daughter down the aisle, which, he says, was “the biggest day of my fucking year.” He completed a cathartic six-week theater tour of monologue and music, telling his life story through words and songs. He realized what he’d thought of as separate chapters were all one story.

Armed with this awareness, he began writing Cast’s next album, Yeah Yeah Yeah (due January 2026) with Youth producing. The first single, “Poison Vine,” features “London’s first lady of soul” P.P. Arnold, and shares its DNA with “Gimme Shelter.” British radio has already embraced it. The follow-up single, “Way It’s Gotta Be (Oh Yeah),” also with Arnold, arrives August 22, just before the North American Live ’25 dates.

John Power of Cast. (Credit: Paul Husband)

“Any one of these events would have been the biggest event of the year,” says Power. “But to have them all running consecutively through to releasing the new album in January, talk about alignment. You couldn’t fucking make it up.”

Even with all the excitement, Power is, dare we say, zen. “You get to a certain age, and you recognize the present is where you’ve got to remain,” he says. “It’s liberating. You know you’re passing through. It’s not a bad thing. It’s the way it’s meant to be. You couldn’t tell a younger me—who was fickle—that. I’m very happy to be in this moment. It feels sweeter than the big scale success we had in the U.K. before because I was too flippant. I was a young, nihilistic, immortal wannabe rock star. I appreciate things much more now.”

He adds, “The good old days are fucking right now. I’m riding that wave. Ultimately, this wave is going to crash on the shore. But fuck me, what a wave, we’re surfing it all the way.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Maye Opens the Heavens

2025-08-11T16:49:38.177Z

Maye Osorio couldn’t sleep. One day, while buying a yoga mat at the Grand Central Market’s Bazaar in Downtown Los Angeles, she found out why.

“I had a meeting that day in that building, and I saw a lady who was selling yoga mats, so I went up to her and she just started reading me como una vidente (like a clairvoyant),” Maye says. “She started telling me there were nine spirits in my house. I bought nine white candles, placed one in each room, and did a little ritual. Things started happening: a gust of wind came out of nowhere and opened a window. Something definitely left, and in that conversation, she said my mission in life was to ‘abrirle el cielo a la gente’ (open the sky for people).”

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Maye’s long-awaited debut, whose Spanish title translates as “Music to Open the Sky,” is an exercise in the ethereal. Born in Caracas and raised in Miami, the Venezuelan indie singer-songwriter established herself as a gentle emerging force in Latin alternative music with an effortlessly bilingual sound caught between dream pop and bolero, a Cuban genre similar to the torch song that revolves around bongos, acoustic guitar, and heart-wrenching lyrics full of yearning.

Her second official single, “Tú” (“You”), released in 2019, is perhaps the perfect example: a slow-moving love song set to a sliding electric guitar with an echo of bongos and shaker grounded by Maye’s voice, light as if it came on a gentle breeze. The song has rightfully entranced the world, racking up millions of streams. She’s ventured into alternative rock (like debut song “My Love,” with its sweltering guitar-driven beat change in the chorus), and has even covered Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s Oasis-era sadboi post-breakup hit “LA CANCIÓN,” imbuing everything she sings on with a quiet fire.

Música Para Abrir El Cielo is an album about attempting to reconnect with yourself and the world through (and after) rupture, and sees Maye further sharpening her muted magic, expanding herself until she soars. Moving between playful and dramatic indie rock and slow-burning boleros, she gets a little less gentle without losing any of her gentleness, more brutally honest without sacrificing her tenderness. She started recording with producers Mick Coogan and Scott Dittrich near the end of 2022 with “Una Medalla,” a lively pop-rock track about the extreme sport of living without your lover’s stare. The song opened the door to more sonic play in that direction, also enlisting long-time collaborators Fernando Belisario and Pat Howard.

Maye’s debut album Música Para Abrir el Cielo. (Credit: Fernando Manuel Osorio)

Though Maye lent her honey-voiced breathiness to tracks by DannyLux and Vanessa Zamora—as well as lending her pen to Omar Apollo and Pharrell, and opening for The Marías during their Cinema tour—she’s never been the main artist on a collaboration until “Lento.” One of the album’s more upbeat moments sees Maye duet with Beto Montenegro of Rawayana, the Venezuelan alternative band that won the Grammy for Best Latin Rock Album earlier this year.

“I was introduced to Beto through a friend. They had been working with Mick [Coogan], and we all ended up getting in a room together. We were missing a festival song. Mick had the perfect instrumental that he had worked on with Scotty [Dittrich],” says Maye of the collaboration. “Writing with Rawayana was easy, but also kind of challenging because they were fast. It felt like I had to keep up with them, which was challenging in a great way. Now we have more than five songs written, but ‘Lento’ was the first one that we did together, and it flowed naturally. We just had so much fun doing it.”

(Credit: Gara)

Though she expands her register toward the danceable, the standouts here are her slower moments. “Bailemos,” driven by her voice and an acoustic guitar before the refrain is echoed back via whistle, calls to mind indie’s great balladeers like Rodrigo Amarante. And of course, the boleros: Using the familiar sounds of the classic genre, she turns it on its head. Cheeky “Peter Pan” sees Maye send an ex back to where he came from. On “Luna De Miel,” she reflects on nostalgic first moments now lost to time. Album standout “Ella” glimmers as Maye sings about belonging to herself and healing in solitude (translated from the spoken outro in Spanish): “Everything is fine, everything has always been fine / You just have to open your eyes / And realize that, sometimes, you’re drowning in a glass of water.” The album’s climax, “Ángel,” continues the heavenly metaphors and combines bongos with anthemic guitar and an energy that could fill a stadium on a song about finding love again. Maye’s boleros, and her use of these sounds, were compelling from the start, but largely leaned into the genre’s trappings of pedestalled loves and universe-stopping kisses. Here, she focuses her approach, channeling these classic sounds toward new meanings: healing from bad love, finding oneself after the dust clears, looking bravely toward new beginnings.

“I’ve always loved listening to Los Panchos or Celia Cruz’s album Boleros; I always got this nostalgic feeling from that time when I heard them. I grew up with them and wanted to make them my own,” says Maye of the genre. “On songs like ‘Luna de Miel’ and ‘Ella,’ I really wanted to make sure those elements were present. When I wrote those songs, I was trying to channel a spirit of independence and self-empowerment. I had ended a really long relationship and felt like I needed to be alone. I’m still on that journey as we speak, and it’s felt good. I’m reminding myself who I am, no matter who is beside me.”

(Credit: Gara)

As of press time, Maye has wrapped her first headlining tour. She was accompanied by family, as she has been from the start. Maye has collaborated with her sister Ana, who makes a cameo in the “Tú” video and sang backup on Maye’s Tiny Desk concert, and brother Fernando, who shot most of her single artwork, including the cover of Música Para Abrir El Cielo. In a full-circle moment, Latin Grammy-winning father Fernando Osorio, who earned his trophy working with Celia Cruz, served as her opening act. Grounded in her roots and her day ones, Maye’s new era shines bright, a beam of light reflecting off the sea after breaking through a throng of clouds.

“I’ve had a connection to the sky for as long as I can remember; I’ve always loved sunsets or sunrises and seeing the sunrise on the beach,” she confides, when asked about the album’s title and her dreams for Música Para Abrir El Cielo. “It has a deep meaning for me. It’s also about authentically being yourself. I hope it takes people on a journey, and I’m just happy that it’s out and it’s doing the thing already.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Primus Parties At L.A. Show With Tool Members, Matt Stone

2025-08-11T16:31:31.430Z

Chancellor and Burr (on drums) drove the rhythm section on “Too Many Puppies,” while Stone manned the drum kit for a cover of King Crimson’s “Thela Hun Ginjeet,” which Primus had only performed a handful of times since 1994. See fan-shot footage below.

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Segall joined in the fun for a cover of Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.” that he and Primus had debuted late last month in New Orleans, and Carey assumed the drum throne for the main-set closing “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.” The show closed with fellow opener MonoNeon lending a hand on “Southbound Pachyderm,” from Primus’ 1995 album Tales From the Punchbowl.

Primus’ Onward & Upward tour, which features new drummer John Hoffman, concludes tonight and tomorrow in Sacramento, Ca. The group released its first song with him, the Maynard James Keenan-featuring “Little Lord Fentanyl,” in May.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

GHOSTBUSTER

2025-08-05T18:29:14.672Z

As I pull up to Sunny War’s small, red and black Craftsman bungalow, the last remnants of the 4 inches of snow that fell earlier in the week are melting under the blue, cloudless sky over her historic Glenwood neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

She invites me in to sit at her small dining room table. A record player sits on her filled, two-tiered vinyl cabinet. A spool of Christmas lights are on the desk behind where she sits. An eclectic collection of art and posters hang on what seems like every square inch of wall in the house, along with a banjo.

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Sunny — born Sydney Lyndella Ward — is shy, soft-spoken, and doesn’t make a lot of eye contact. Which is not what I expected from someone who writes lyrics like:

All the words I take with a grain of salt / Cos I know you’re fake, but it’s not your fault / Sucking dick for a dollar’s not the only way to hoe

She is wearing black leggings and a black hoodie, sleeves pulled up to reveal several arm tattoos, and a silver chain around her neck. She was born in Nashville, she tells me, but moved to Los Angeles when she was 12 with her mom and stepfather. She moved to Chattanooga almost three Christmases ago. This house belonged to her grandmother, then her father before he passed away.

“He was a hoarder, so we had to clean really intensely,” she tells me, almost mumbling. “And then there was a lot of water damage, and then I had to replace the roof and I had to start getting the foundation raised.”

She wrote three of the songs on her new album, Armageddon in a Summer Dress, in this house — “Walking Contradiction,” “No One Calls Me Baby,” and “Ghosts.”

The record, which follows her breakout Anarchist Gospel, was released on February 21 and features Valerie June, John Doe of X, Crass’ Steve Ignorant, Tre Burt, and Jack Lawrence of the Raconteurs. Her music, as she describes it, is a blend of folk, alternative, and blues.

“Ghosts” has a particularly interesting story behind it. Sunny had been living in her father’s house — which had no power — for about a year and was broke. She was basically squatting, she says. “It was winter time. I didn’t have gigs until spring.”

She started hearing voices and was convinced she was being haunted by her father. So she wrote a song about it.

When she finally got the house inspected, she was told it had a gas leak. “I was being gas-poisoned the whole time I was living here,” she says.

“So, the house wasn’t really haunted?” I say.

“No, there was just a gas leak and I was going insane. I was chain smoking in here too. So a lot of the songs that I wrote here, I was just in a weird state of mind.”

After hearing about her time in Los Angeles, though, this story was somehow not that surprising.

As a kid, Sunny loved Mötley Crüe but quickly became obsessed with Bad Brains, Crass, X, and other punk bands. She started running away from home at 14, hanging out with “gutter punks,” as she describes them, on Venice Beach, busking along the boardwalk. Then she discovered alcohol.

“I would be missing for three days and then my mom would call the cops and say I was a missing child. And then I would end up back home,” she says. “That was the first time I tried crystal meth with some older people in a hotel room and then later, I started doing heroin.”

By the time she moved to San Francisco at 16, she was completely strung out and stayed that way for three years. When she was 19, she was arrested and stayed in jail for a year. “I think that pretty much saved me somehow,” she says.

After she got clean, she recorded her first album, Worthless, in 2014.

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

Over the next few years, her following grew as she played shows and released five more independent albums before signing with New West Records and releasing Anarchist Gospel in 2023. Since then, she’s toured with Mitski, Iron & Wine, John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X, and — through a special request by Bonnie Raitt — appeared on Austin City Limits.

Since she’s been in Chattanooga, she’s played around town, testing out the local music scene, playing bluegrass and punk at some open-mic nights at Cherry Street Tavern.

As I leave, I think about her song, “I Got No Fight” off Anarchist Gospel:

Will I survive the war inside my head? / Tossing and turning in my lonely bed

Been up all night waiting for day to come / I want it over long before it’s done

I got no fight, I got no fight, I got none

I got no fight, no fight, I got no fight, I got none

I see the opposite: Sunny War is a fighter, and I have a feeling she’ll survive whatever comes her way.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Hayley Williams Has A Nashville ‘Party’ In New Video

2025-08-05T18:25:16.044Z

A week after surprising fans with a drop of 17 new singles, Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams has unveiled a video for the song “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.” Described as a “portrait” of the artist’s Nashville hometown, the Zachary Gray-directed clip finds her milling around the city’s popular Broadway district, hanging out with Tennessee House of Representative Justin Jones and even belting out some tunes in a karaoke bar.

Williams released the batch of new music on DSPs through her Post Atlantic imprint, which is distributed by Secretly Distribution. They were produced by Daniel James and also include contributions from Brian Robert Jones, Joey Howard and Jim-E Stack.

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Although not labeled as an album, the batch of fresh material follows Williams’ two pandemic-era solo releases, 2020’s Petals For Armor and 2021’s Flowers for Vases. Paramore returned in 2023 after a five-year hiatus with This Is Why, which won two Grammys.

In other news, Williams guests with David Byrne on the song “Open the Door” from the upcoming Netflix animated film The Twits, arriving Oct. 17. Byrne wrote and produced three other original songs, “We’re Not Like Ev’ryone Else,” “Lullaby” and “The Problem Is You,” for the project, which is based on characters by Roald Dahl and boasts voice acting by Natalie Portman and Emilia Clarke.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar Lead MTV VMA Noms

2025-08-05T18:13:08.471Z

Lady Gaga (12), Bruno Mars (11) and Kendrick Lamar (10) lead the nominees for the 2025 edition of the MTV Video Music Awards, which will air live for the first time on CBS on Sept. 7 from UBS Arena just outside Manhattan. The show will also be simulcast on MTV and stream on Paramount+ in the United States.

18-time winner Gaga’s nods include Video, Song and Best Collaboration for the Mars team-up “Die With a Smile,” while Mars picked up seven other nominations for his smash hit “APT.” with ROSÉ. Other acts recognized multiple times include Sabrina Carpenter (8), Ariana Grande and the Weeknd (7), Billie Eilish (6), Charli xcx (5), Bad Bunny, Doechii, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, Miley Cyrus and Tate McRae (4 each).

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Among the first-time nominees are Alex Warren, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, sombr, the Marías, Blake Shelton and even late rapper Mac Miller. Details about performers, hosts and other honorees are forthcoming.

Fighting it out for Video of the Year will be Grande’s “brighter days ahead,” Eilish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Carpenter’s “Manchild” and the Weekend and Playboi Carti’s “Timeless.” Non-Gaga challengers for Artist of the Year include Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and the Weeknd.

Fan voting is underway in 19 categories through Sept. 5, with Best New Artist remaining open for submissions once the broadcast begins.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Talking Heads Reissue Campaign Offers More Versions of ‘More Songs About Buildings and Food’

2025-07-29T15:58:10.038Z

Though the final Talking Heads album came out in 1988, the band never really went away. Unlike defunct groups trapped in a cycle of rediscovery every generation or so, Talking Heads have remained indelible, hip with both the folks old enough to remember and art-damaged youngsters seeing David Byrne in an oversized suit for the first time. Short-lived enough to never sell out or go stale, and somehow dodging the cultural appropriation accusations sometimes hurled at contemporaries such as Peter Gabriel and Blondie, Talking Heads are also blessed with frequent enough reissues to keep their music in the conversation. Byrne has also aged into a patron saint of all things cool, including collabs with Annie Clark and Hayley Williams plus his American Utopia Broadway show.

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Beginning last November with an expansive set of the band’s debut, Talking Heads: 77, Rhino reissued sophomore record More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978) on July 25. Featuring not only a remaster of the record and a disc of rarities, the super deluxe and deluxe editions also include a live recording of the band’s 1978 show at New York’s Entermedia Theatre. The CD set also includes a Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound and stereo mixes of the album, plus live footage of the Entermedia show and a 1978 concert in Berkeley. For analog fans, there will be a 4-LP version of the complete set and a 2-LP iteration featuring the album and rarities collection.

While the rarities are mainly alternate versions of the songs and the live shows are electrifying, More Songs About Buildings and Food is reason enough to buy the set. Deftly avoiding the sophomore slump, the album straddles the line between the twitchy, angular tracks of the debut and the wild experimentation to come.

More Songs About Buildings and Food shifts the focus from Byrne to the tight synchronicity of Tina Weymouth’s bass and Chris Frantz’s drums. Working with producer Brian Eno here on what would begin a run of three classic albums, the band focused on the sinuous interplay between Weymouth and Frantz. Clocking in at just over 40 minutes, the record has a breakneck pace, one that is more immediate and danceable than its quirky predecessor.

Though tracks such as “Thank You for Sending Me an Angel” and “Artists Only” are Talking Heads at their fervent best, More Songs About Buildings and Food is known for the pair of songs that come at the end. The slowed-down take on Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” is one of the band’s most-loved tracks, a cover that, despite Byrne’s hesitations, became their first Top 40 hit. Meanwhile, final track “The Big Country” may sound conventional in its country-tinged hues. It did allow Byrne to stretch out as a lyricist as he judges Middle America from an airplane.

More Songs About Buildings and Food may presage the peaks of Fear of Music (1979) and Remain in Light (1980), but it is part of a four-classic-albums-in-four-years tour de force that few bands pulled off. Still, it is a transitional album, one where Byrne’s art-rock approach wrestles with the dance music Weymouth and Frantz brought to the table, synthesized through Eno’s studio trickery, one that continues to hook fans no matter how cool or square.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Owl and the Jazzman

2025-07-29T15:46:26.262Z

Jazz trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire has a recurring theme in his music: owls. In December 2023, he released the Grammy Award-nominated Owl Song, and his latest, just released and extraordinary record, honey from a winter stone, includes a track called “Owled.” His compositions are rich and complex, but the owl thing begs further inquiry…

“Maybe 15 years ago I was somewhere in Eastern Europe, and we were going to dinner before a gig,” he recalls. “There was this man with an owl on his shoulder, but I didn’t think anything of it. We’re walking and all of a sudden the owl turned its head and looked straight in my eyes.

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“I stopped and we were just staring at each other. From that moment, I said, ‘Oh, whatever that thing is, I’m connected to it.’ From then on, I could feel the owls in nature. I’m really connected to them.”

Akinmusire built a studio in the back of his house and every once in a while an owl will perch in the tree above it as he records. However, the emotive power behind his music is anything but owl-like still. Beginning with the lead single, “muffled screams,” and ending with “s-/Kinfolks,” honey from a winter stone swells with dark, lingering notes — sometimes loud, sometimes soft — accented by improvised lyrics from fellow Grammy nominee Kokayi, who sprinkles hip-hop prowess across the project.

For Akinmusire, the album touches on the struggles he faces as a Black man in America and the resilience he has developed as a result.

“It’s about contrast,” he added. “I imagine that the stone is gray, dewy and wet, and there’s this golden, almost luminescent drop of honey on top. It’s also this idea that I’ve been exploring for a while now in my music and in my art: the middle. I’m always trying to put things that are seemingly polar opposite really close together.

“In the next few years, I’m going to be part owl and part lion. There’s an urgency building inside of me that I haven’t felt since my teenage years, maybe early 20s. I just feel like roaring.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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Bleachers Jam With Hayley Williams, Maren Morris At Newport Folk

2025-07-29T15:41:18.131Z

Jack Antonoff and Bleachers rolled out a host of high-profile guests last night (July 25) during their closing set at the Newport Folk Festival, including Paramore’s Hayley Williams for a brand new song as well as Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Waxahatchee, Weyes Blood, Maren Morris, Rufus Wainwright and Dan Reeder.

Williams played the shoegaze-steeped “Mirtazapine” for the first time after debuting it recently on the air at Nashville public radio station WNXP. “I could never be without her / I had to write a song about her,” sings in an apparent ode to the antidepressant, a proper release for which has yet to be announced. She stuck around for a cover of Modern English’s “I Melt With You,” jumping up and down in time with the song’s familiar synth melody.

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Earlier, Weyes Blood’s Natalie Mering duetted with Antonoff on the Ella Fitzgerald-popularized “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” and remained onstage to team with Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield for the Roy Orbison classic “You Got It.” Morris earned huge cheers when she emerged for Bleachers’ “Don’t Go Dark,” while Wainwright stunned the audience with his exquisite vocal performance during Bob Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet.”

Tweedy, who performs at Newport tomorrow, kept things current while lending a hand on Bleachers’ cover of Lana Del Rey’s “Margaret” and then offered a bouncy version of Wilco’s “Kamera.” The set wound down with a rendition of the Waterboys’ mid-’80s hit “The Whole of the Moon,” which Bleachers has been covering live over the past several years.

Newport Folk continues today with sets from Luke Combs, Public Enemy, Saya Gray, Remi Wolf, the Lemonheads and Iron & Wine.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Michael ‘Fitz’ Fitzpatrick of Fitz and the Tantrums Shares His 10 Essential Vacation Destinations

2025-07-23T19:05:48.920Z

Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick is on vacation with his family, which includes three young sons. It’s a brief getaway for the Fitz and the Tantrums frontperson, coming just ahead of the release of the band’s sixth album, Man on the Moon, and a 31-date headlining summer tour.

“So much testosterone and shitty listening,” he says of fathering three boys. “But they’re my dudes and they’re good dudes. I usually have to tour most summers, so I try to sneak a vacation with them at the beginning, which is why I coordinated this one.”

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Summer is peak season for Fitz and the Tantrums’ party-starting jams. Fitz and bandmate Noelle Scaggs recently joined the Savannah Bananas on the Banana Ball field last month to perform their perennial, happy-making smash, “Handclap.” Their choreographed rendition with the exhibition barnstorming baseball team had the whole stadium clapping and singing along.

Most of Man on the Moon keeps this uplifting tone. The album nods to the band’s origins, recalling their 2010 full-length debut, Pickin’ Up the Pieces—a collection of feel-good bops influenced by Motown, ’60s soul, and ’80s new wave. Since then, Fitz and the Tantrums have racked up a string of radio hits and navigated multiple sonic evolutions, ultimately coming full circle.

(Credit: Matty Vogel)

“Having a hit is fun,” says Fitz. “It’s an experience to see your song become a cultural phenomenon. To get to have a piece of music you made live that, is incredible. We’ve been lucky enough to do it a bunch of times. But there’s a lot of expectation that goes with that, even for myself.”

Radio no longer being the dominant force in breaking songs gave Fitz a sense of freedom. He was liberated from the pressure to deliver an album full of hits. Instead, as the band’s primary songwriter, he prioritized “feeling over gusto.” Still, Man on the Moon is loaded with signature Fitz and the Tantrums party bangers, including “Young Days,” “Umbrella,” and “OK OK OK.”

“When I sing from my heart, and I sing in a more soulful way, it feels the most natural, and that’s where my voice is always shining the brightest,” he says.

While Fitz and the Tantrums aren’t a political band, Fitz couldn’t ignore the onslaught of absurd news headlines that shaped daily life. That unease seeped into “One Day” on Man on the Moon, where he confronts the hate he sees in the world. “It’s horrifying to see the glibness and callousness and the way that people think they can speak to each other,” he says. “Trying to explain to my three young boys, trying to teach them right from wrong in a very crazy time, that shit is real.”

Fitz has found an antidote—at least temporarily. Here, he shares 10 essential vacation destinations for when you need a break from the news cycle.

(Credit: Matty Vogel)

Marseille, France

It’s like Paris, but with sunshine and a sea breeze.

Calanques of Cassis, France

A stunning national park, think Yosemite on the ocean. Take a boat trip to really catch a vibe.

Aix-en-Provence, France

An incredible city in the south of France with an amazing arts festival every summer.

Bandol, France

It’s a sleepy beach town on the French Riviera that’s perfect for some low-key beach vibes without the crowds.

Saint-Tropez, France

They have an amazing flea market for incredible vintage clothing finds, and you can do some spying on the ultra-rich yachts in the port.

Rapallo, Italy

A quieter town near Portofino. Same vibe, less crowds.

San Fruttuoso, Italy

Take the ferry from Rapallo to this cove you can only reach by boat. There’s one small beach club, two restaurants, and one church. It’s not to be missed!

Fiskardo, Greece

It’s like living in a nature preserve. Come here to truly feel like you escaped the world. Don’t miss the cliff diving at Foki Beach!

Bobbio, Italy

It’s less than two hours from Milan. You can get a taste of Tuscany without having to drive all the way there.

Dolomites, Italy

Incredible summertime hikes in the Italian alps, and incredible food.

The Essentials is a thematic annotated list where artists share their top ten non-music-related (but potentially music-adjacent) items.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Post Animal Answers the Question: “What’s a Good Life?”

2025-07-23T19:00:04.012Z

Before Joe Keery became famous for his role as the big-haired, lovable Steve Harrington on Stranger Things, he was a founding member, drummer, and guitarist for the psych-prog rock band Post Animal.

While his character—a bully and foil to Charlie Heaton’s Jonathan Byers—was supposed to be killed off by the end of the first season, showrunners the Duffer Brothers, along with executive producer Shawn Levy, saw potential in Keery’s performance and made him a core cast member of the show. While Harrington has gone on to become one of the most endearing characters in Stranger Things’ almost 10-year run, it left Keery little time to contribute to Post Animal due to the increasing demands of the hit Netflix show, forcing the actor-musician to leave the group after the band’s first album, When I Think of You in a Castle, in 2018.

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Keery, who wasn’t available for an interview, stated in a 2018 Bustle article, “It’s important to disassociate Steve from Stranger Things to this band because I think it will eventually hurt the band. Those guys are such talented musicians…I think it’s important that they’re hitting the pavement for a while and making a name for themselves, and it’s not necessarily associated with Stranger Things.” In the same article, he expressed hope that eventually he would be able to play again with Post Animal. “It’s just about finding time,” he said.

(Credit: Pooneh Ghana)

The band carried on, releasing two other albums, Forward Motion Godyssey in 2020 and 2022’s Love Gibberish, before the members began focusing on personal projects.

Now, with the fifth and final season of Stranger Things premiering later this year, Keery’s back with his bandmates Matt Williams (guitar/vocals), Javi Reyes (guitar/vocals), Jake Hirshland (guitar/keyboard/vocals), Dalton Allison (bass/vocals), and Wesley Toledo (drums/vocals). Even better, the group is releasing a new album, IRON, out July 25.

Allison, Hirshland, and Williams started playing together in Chicago in 2014. Keery—who was working in a restaurant with Williams at the time—joined the three-piece initially as the drummer. But Keery had a desire to play guitar, so Hirshland recruited Toledo to play drums instead. After Keery left due to his ongoing Stranger Things commitment, Reyes joined the band. Now that Keery’s back, the group has grown to six members.

While Toledo and Reyes still remain in Chicago, everyone else in the band has moved to other cities. But Chicago is where they formed, and the music scene there is what helped shape the group.

Post Animal—which was heavily influenced by Australian psych bands Tame Impala, Pond, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard—started out playing a lot of DIY and house shows around Chi-Town, which helped them hone their sound.

But, Toledo says, it wasn’t until Post Animal began touring with one of Chicago’s most popular bands, Twin Peaks, that the group began to grow its audience.

“We went on tour for the first time in 2017 with Twin Peaks, and that was kind of a big thing for us because Twin Peaks was pretty popular in the indie rock sphere,” says Toledo over a video call. “And having that opening slot for them was a pretty big deal for us at the time, to get us out in front of their fans.”

Hirshland chimes in. “I feel like we learned how to perform from these people. These sweaty, high-energy shows that we were playing really informed that. And we ended up being a hybrid, garage-psych thing.”

You can hear that musical blend of garage rock mixed with dreamy psych-prog rock Hirshland refers to on the band’s first three albums, particularly with songs like “Castle,” “Love Is Trouble”, and “How Do You Feel.”

“I think once we started getting more interested in playing a little heavier rock and more prog, I think we were a little bit more heady and trying to push boundaries,” says Toledo. “It was just intense, really fun, honestly, when you’re wanting to up the energy a little bit in the recording and in the playing.”

IRON, however, is different; not only because Keery is back in the band’s lineup, but in its more polished tone.

“We’re older and a little bit more interested in the different turns that you can take when you’re creating something,” says Toledo. “And I think we’re better at knowing when to do that in the creative process.”

Holed up in the middle of the woods in Indiana, the six musicians, including Keery, wrote the songs that would make up IRON in 2024, each member exchanging song ideas and taking turns on lead vocals. The result is a melting pot of sounds and genres—more psych and prog rock, of course, with flourishes of synth pop and folk—that flow together to create a rich, multilayered soundscape. Maybe it was the experience of writing music in the seclusion of nature, but the whole record has a much more laid-back vibe than Post Animal’s previous efforts, with standouts such as the acoustic intro track “Malcolm’s Cooking,” “Last Goodbye,” and “Pie in the Sky.”

One of Hirshland’s favorite tracks, however, is the incredibly catchy “Dorien Kregg.”

“I can’t wait for people to hear this song,” he says. “I feel like it’s something so new for us, but it also hearkens so much to the soul of the band. I remember Dalton specifically going off to write the lyrics and then coming back and basically putting on a stage play for us.”

While he loves the way the song turned out, with lyrics such as “This is the story of Dorien Kregg / he’s always thinking but got nothing to say / always dreaming but he’s stuck in his way / always saving it for some other day / too late / too late,” it was the experience of creating and recording it that stands out to him.

“It was just such an unusual but amazing recording experience,” says Hirshland. “He was just putting himself out there in such an impressive way and doing exactly what he needed to do. And I was just impressed and surprised. And it was, for me, one of those memorable, magical moments that can occur when you’re recording music, watching your friend go nuts in front of you, but it’s just exactly right.”

Toledo, on the other hand, is particularly excited about IRON’s sixth track, “What’s a Good Life,” a synth-laden, dreamscape of a song about self-acceptance.

“I’m super proud of that one,” he says.”I think we all are. That was incredibly fun to make that song. We really found that song during the first session.”

(Credit: CJ Harvey)

Toledo recalls that they wrote the song at night, and the band had gathered in the living room, surrounded by the soft glow of lights, and they worked together to come up with the chord progressions.

“There was an idea of wanting to change keys to kind of journey through the song, but we were having a hard time with the theory element of like, what is the chord that goes next?” he continues. “And I just remember we were having so much fun trying to do that and trying to maneuver and discover that, and just building that song from the ground up, which was probably one of the most memorable moments for me. I personally love that song, and I think it’s a really great encapsulation of the kind of band that we are and what we want to be.”

Having Keery back to make this album was also what helped make the creation of IRON so memorable. His comeback started with a group text in the summer of 2023. “Should we write some music together?” The five members of Post Animal were not necessarily on hiatus, but simply focusing on other projects.

While Keery was still invested in filming the last season of Stranger Things, the SAG-AFTRA strike was happening, so he wasn’t actively working. The band recorded the new album in three sessions, beginning around Thanksgiving 2023 and concluding in January 2024.

The goal, Toledo says, was never to make an album, just to get together again and write some music. “We didn’t really have expectations for what it was going to be,” he says. “We just were like, let’s just go do what we used to do and see what happens.”

Post Animal will be headlining their North American tour in support of IRON this fall.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jakob Nowell Was Born For This

2025-07-21T16:38:24.997Z

It’s natural that Jakob Nowell might not want to be told this. If that’s the case, he handles it gracefully, humbly accepting the compliment, but not dwelling on it. To dwell on it one way or another—agreeing or downplaying—might seem like a lose-lose to him. Either he comes off as cocky or falsely modest. That, and there’s the fact that it’s normal for anyone to get a little sick of people telling them they look/sound/act so much like their parents.

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And Jakob Nowell isn’t trying to be like his father.

That comes with a mountain of expectations, some positive, some negative, that he is, honestly, quite nervous about living up to.

Which is interesting because, you know, he sounds just like him.

Sublime is one of those bands that, for a while, seemed more mythological than human—a logo on a T-shirt or sticker—more than an actual band. That’s because, for a long time, it wasn’t an active band. Bradley Nowell, the almost legendary face and voice of one of Long Beach’s greatest ever exports—which says a lot in a town with a port that big—passed away in 1996, two months before the band’s self-titled, third studio album’s release and songs like “Santeria,” “What I Got,” and “Wrong Way” put them on the map when he wasn’t around to see it.

Jakob was 11 months old.

After that, Sublime was prevalent on airwaves and at chill functions, but aside from a few one-offs, collaborations with surviving members and friends, and rarities releases, it wasn’t until 2009 when the band really became anything resembling what it once was, enlisting singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez as Sublime with Rome. It was pretty close. It was probably as close as a lot of fans thought they could get without the aid of what then would have probably been a hologram, or today through the use of AI. Yuck.

Sublime in 1995 (Credit: Steve Eichner/WireImage)

That is, until Jakob Nowell came into the fold.

It started again just as a one-off, a fundraiser for HR of Bad Brains. But Jakob, along with the original rhythm section of Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson (whom he refers to as his “uncles”), thought it was fun enough to keep thinking about.

Then things got bigger, quick, with an opportunity to play at Coachella in 2024. And it was there in the desert that Nowell was handed his father’s guitar to play—the same guitar he was pictured next to as an infant, his father the same age that Jakob is now. It could’ve been another one-off, but it worked just too well to not pursue further, leading up to the three getting back into the studio together and writing music as Sublime, with a new album on the way later this year.

It’s all just too perfect, at least from the outsider point of view. Jakob sounds just like Bradley, he has the right name, he has the right look, he knows where the band came from. What about it wouldn’t be perfect?

To look deeper, though, is to remember that Jakob is a young adult who lost a parent at a young age. There’s a lifetime of experiences and relationships to this music that his father left behind when he passed away, and it isn’t as simple as throwing the guitar on and ripping into “40 oz. to Freedom” like it’s karaoke. Just because the music is upbeat doesn’t mean there aren’t scars attached.

“It’s very complicated emotions that you feel when doing stuff like this,” he says. He’s shirtless, as he seems to be in every video that exists of him playing with Sublime. He’s in the studio in San Pedro, California, putting the finishing touches on the upcoming Sublime release, adding voicemails to add some bona fide Long Beach flavor to the record, just like his dad and “uncles” had back in the day. He’s restless, moving around the room, sometimes getting sidetracked mid-sentence to joke around with his friends, chastising them for using the bathroom without lighting palo santo, or complimenting them on an instrumental melody they’re working on.

Sublime in 1995 at Asbury Park Boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey. (Credit: Steve Eichner/WireImage)

He’s having a lot of fun right now, as in today. Maybe it’s because the album is just about done and the pressure is waning. And he’s certainly having fun on stage. But he is not carefree about this whole thing, or resting on his last name as some birthright to take the job. It’s the opposite, really. He’s careful to never call it “my band.” There’s connection and love for it, but you can tell he’s treading very carefully to not act like he’s owed anything, or that his situation is more tragic than any others.

“When I first started playing with my dad’s band, oh, dude, I felt this constant feeling of stress and anxiety, to the point where I couldn’t even enjoy playing these big shows,” he says. “There’s imposter syndrome, one, and then there’s the ‘I don’t deserve this,’ two, and then there’s the ‘Someone else would be better at this,’ or ‘Is this even what my dad would have wanted?’”

If there’s one human being on earth that deserves this position, that the fans would want in this position, it’s Jakob Nowell, isn’t it?

I say this to him.

He agrees for a second, reluctantly, but then tosses out that, technically, Rome was the first pick.

Long story short: Sublime with Rome lasted seemingly as long as it took for Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh to make things work with the younger Nowell. That Wilson-Gaugh-Nowell trio came together at the end of 2023 for the HR benefit. Jakob stepped in with the legendary guitar at Coachella, and Ramirez announced that he’d depart Sublime with Rome at the end of 2024, and Jakob would be stepping in full-time with new music on the way.

Eric Wilson and Bradley Nowell of Sublime perform at Wetlands Preserve nightclub in New York City in 1995. (Credit: Steve Eichner/Getty Images)

What Sublime with Rome lacked was the same thing any band trying to recreate a loss lacks: the soul of the missing piece. This is not a slam on Rome, nor is it his fault. His greatest sin was that he just wasn’t Bradley.

Jakob Nowell isn’t either, nor fully aspires to be. Because gaining perspective on your parents as people is a complicated thing. To do it in front of a crowd is brutal.

A lot of growing up is embracing the fact that your parents are human beings with their own internal lives. They had lived lives before you, and they often made mistakes. As you get older, you can see it with greater perspective and understand them as people. But, for Jakob, a lot of that came with the world thinking they knew his dad.

“When I was a kid, the way I felt about who I am and who I’m related to and the whole cosmic journey of life has changed,” he says. “It’s always going to change. But, it’s almost missing the point. I think the point is that everybody has complicated emotions about family, coming of age, coming into your own, and being fulfilled and productive. So it’s taken me the entirety of my life up until now to get to a place where I’m finally starting to feel positive feelings about it all.

“You can’t just sit there and think all day about how bummed you are that you’re not the thing you want to be, or that you have to live up to another thing. It’s just never going to get anywhere.”

“They talk about, ‘You can’t think your way into better actions, but you can act your way into better thinking’”, quoting AA. He has been sober since 2017.

Last name be damned, this was another job that he was simply auditioning for. This involved diving deep through the Sublime catalog in a way he perhaps might never have done before, listening not just for the voice and the emotions of his father, but how he sang it.

He just wanted to do a good job.

“If you’re asked to join a new project like that, this is what you’re supposed to do as a professional,” he says. “You’ve got to understand what the band’s going for, and how you can either add to it and make sure that your style is not subtracting. … I think naturally my chords are similar to my dad’s, but my approach to singing is different from his.”

He paid attention to things like vowel sounds and the occasional fluttery vibrato his dad would put on a word, evident on the new single, “Ensenada.” Pay attention to when he sings “on my mind” and draws out that last word. The way he softly sets down words like “no more.” It sounds familiar, huh? Like he said, his genetics gifted him similar vocal chords, but he had to consciously make them sing like a Sublime song, rather than something he would sing for his own bands like Jakob’s Castle.

Sublime performs on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2024 (Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)

He opens up a little more about his connection to Bradley his father, not Bradley the rockstar.

“It’s when you go deep, you know, you see a lot of who a person is like,” he says. “I feel like our soul is spelled out in all of our artistic works, no matter what they are. So, you know, a lot of people’s parents die and don’t leave them shit. All they have is like a baseball cap to remember them by or whatever. So diving deep through the catalog helped me connect with my father and helped improve me as a musician or performer.”

There’s new Sublime music on the way. And it sounds like Sublime music. It’s clear Gaugh and Wilson click with their old pal’s scion. It feels right, right from the jump. It continues where they left off, the entire life that took place between the release of that self-titled album and now just adds even more richness to it.

Connection is really at the heart of this. More than figuring out the way the songs sounded, Jakob tapped into the soul of Sublime beyond the music. They were as much a Long Beach community institution as they were a band, putting the city on the map. Sublime made a record label, Skunk Records, to put out their own music and boost their friends, and now Jakob’s doing the same with his own label, Svnbvrnt. Sublime captured life for a bunch of young knuckleheads in their neck of the woods and Nowell has his own crew of musicians and friends to keep that spirit alive now.

That’s what Jakob wants to tap into more than anything.

Jakob Nowell of Sublime performs during the 2025 Boston Calling Music Festival at Harvard Athletic Complex. (Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Boston Calling)

“Once it took me long enough playing these shows and trying to build up Svnbvrnt Records to try to exalt the careers of my friends’ bands and try to shed a light on a greater group of people, I realized that our favorite music and art, and Sublime in particular, is sort of a response and a result of a scene of people in Southern California living anyways,” he says.

He nods his head toward his friends, also shirtless, noodling around on a guitar.

“The guys in there are drinking tequila and making punk rock music.”

He cares very deeply about Sublime, because Sublime is more than just the T-shirts and songs from 30-plus years ago that still resonate today. And he cares very deeply about what Sublime means to you.

“What is more important than trying to be big or get chicks and play cool shows, I think it’s more about those intense moments where someone’s hurt and you’ve gotta visit them in the hospital and everyone shows up. Or people rally together and help someone who’s down because you all met at a show together. Or you got fired from your job or broke up with your person, and all you have is that one CD or playlist. If I had a part in someone’s soundtrack to the highs and lows of their life, that’s just really special and cool to me, man.”

He sounds just like him, doesn’t he?

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Billie Eilish Teams With James Cameron For 3-D Concert Film

2025-07-21T15:51:45.165Z

Billie Eilish is teaming with Terminator, Titantic and Avatar director James Cameron for a 3D project, which the singer announced yesterday (July 19) while onstage in Manchester, England. The exact nature of the collaboration hasn’t been confirmed, but it will encompass footage shot at Eilish’s four Manchester concerts through Wednesday.

“So, you may have noticed that there are more cameras than usual in here,” the artist said from the stage yesterday. “Basically, I can’t say much about it, but what I can say is that I’m working on something very, very special with somebody named James Cameron, and it’s going to be in 3D. So, take that as you will and these four shows here in Manchester, you and me are part of a thing that I am making with him. He’s in this audience somewhere, just saying. So, don’t mind that, and also I’ll probably be wearing this exact outfit for like four days in a row.”

More from Spin:

Eilish, who is touring in support of her hit 2024 album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, has previously pulled back the curtain on her career in the 2021 R.J. Cutler-directed film Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry and teamed with Netflix for the same year’s concert film Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles.

Cameron, a three-time Oscar winner, will be back in theaters on Dec. 19 with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in a series that began in 2009.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Korean Brit Pop

2025-07-15T20:50:56.679Z

I don’t remember how I discovered the British-invasion-inspired band HOA, but I was confused when I came across one of the group’s 2024 singles, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow (I Love You).” The music sounded uncannily like the Beatles and the band even looked like them.

In the video, HOA are huddled together in a cramped living room, pink and green floral curtains behind them. The drummer sits behind a simple snare drum and high hat, the lead guitarist playing what appears to be a red Gretsch sitting on the couch, the rhythm guitarist on acoustic, and the bassist playing what looks like a Höfner violin bass.

More from Spin:

But one distinctive factor: they are Korean. Were they lipsynching? They sounded so Beatles-like, with those early-’60s melodic harmonies and tight musicianship. It turns out, no, they were not lipsynching at all.

Kim Kyumock (keyboard & second guitar), Jeong Jongbeom (drums), Kim Hwi (lead guitar), and Lim Jinhwa (bass & vocals) formed HOA — which in Korean roughly means, “a me who can be liked” — something we can all relate to — in 2015, and since then have released a mix of original songs such as “Push Man,” “I Don’t Know Why,” and, most recently, “Don’t Be A Loser.” They also release damn good Beatles cover songs, from “If I Fell” to “Hey Jude,” as well as covers of other Brit Pop bands.

“The sound of that era, as I hear it now…is incredibly fascinating,” says Kyumock. “It feels wonderfully vintage yet undeniably sophisticated — a captivating blend of classic and trendy elements.”

HOA’s Beatles covers have modest viewership on YouTube, but their original songs have tens of thousands of views.

“Many people have said this is music they can enjoy with their grandfather and father,” says Jinhwa. “Imagining multiple generations dancing and singing together in one place through our music makes me incredibly happy.”

The band had its first overseas performance at Jakarta’s Lalala Festival last year and plans on touring more in 2025, along with releasing more singles before doing a full-length album.

“If Paul or Ringo were to come across our videos, I’d be delighted,” says Kyumock. “It would be wonderful to remind them they are still revered and influential musicians among younger generations here in East Asia.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

X and Los Lobos: Celebrating ‘99 Years of Rock n’ Roll’ Together

2025-07-15T20:35:49.733Z

For the first and last time, venerated L.A. rock bands X and Los Lobos will join forces for a historic co-headlining tour that gets underway in Denver on July 19^th. The extensive ’99 Years of Rock n’ Roll’ Tour of North America runs through late November and not only celebrates the respective 48- and 51-year tenures of these musical trailblazers but does so with each of their actual original line-ups in place.

Look for the Exene Cervenka and John Doe-fronted punk pioneers in X to fire off musical missives like “Adult Books,” “White Girl,” and “The Hungry Wolf.” Meanwhile, their longtime friends in Los Lobos pull from a songbook stocked with enduring rave-ups like “Don’t Worry Baby,” “I Got Loaded” and 1987’s chart-topper “La Bamba.”

More from Spin:

It’s hard to imagine how the L.A.music scene and punk and alternative music as we know it might have evolved were it not for the raw power of X’s Ray Manzarek-produced landmark 1980 debut ‘Los Angeles.’ And the same should be said for ‘How Will The Wolf Survive?’ Los Lobos’ revered 1984 long-player stands tall as an innovative amalgam of blues, country and vintage rock n’ roll informed by their Mexican-American musical roots.

“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun? Wouldn’t it be crazy?” says Cervenka. “So we asked Los Lobos if they wanted to do a tour. And they said yes! And it just so happened that we had 99 years together in total. I had always wanted to do something like this and always thought it was a great idea, but back in the beginning, concert promoters would never go for it. So, we had to wait and wait and now we finally get our turn! For us, it’s really a dream come true.”

X (Photo Credit Kristy Benjamin)

When you consider the fact that Doe and X drummer D.J. Bonebrake also played alongside Los Lobos’ saxophonist/keyboardist Steve Berlin in the late ‘70s L.A. punk outfit The Flesh Eaters (with esteemed ally Dave Alvin of The Blasters), it’s clear that these friendships run closer to family. “We’ve known each other so long,” Berlin says. “And we love those guys. I mean, we were all at each other’s weddings way back when, you know?”

“It is truly amazing that both line-ups are intact and unchanged and we’re all still playing good music,” Berlin continues, marveling at the longevity of both bands. And while he asserts that Los Lobos has no plans to stop their always active touring schedule, fans of X should be forewarned that this is likely their last big tour.

“We will continue to do some live things next year. Hopefully, we’ll be doing some festivals and other significant events,” Exene explains. “But we won’t be driving around the Midwest in a van for weeks at a time anymore and staying in Holiday Inns.” In other words, these 2025 shows should not be missed.

In anticipation of the “99 Years” tour, we’re championing the Top 10 most important moments of its respective co-headliners:

10. X forms in 1977

Vocalist Exene Cervenka, bassist/singer John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer D.J. Bonebrake first came together in tandem with the ascension of the Los Angeles punk scene. The group’s fiery debut single “Adult Books” was released the following year by local independent label Dangerhouse and featured “We’re Desperate” on the flipside. It left an indelible stamp on the music world.

9. Manzarek Gets X

Founding Doors member and keyboardist Ray Manzarek produced the band’s 1980 Slash debut ‘Los Angeles.’ This album features the rockabilly-tinged scorcher “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene” and “Soul Kitchen,” a fast blast through the song first made famous by Manzarek’s bandmate Mr. Mojo Risin’. It is considered one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

8. Exene and John Get Hitched

Cervenka and Doe tied the knot in 1980. Although they divorced five years later, they’ve retained an undeniable connection and chemistry affirmed by the fact that they have continued writing and performing music together for the past 40 years.

7. Album of the Year

1981’s ‘Wild Gift’ is arguably X’s definitive punk album. It was named the album of the year by The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times at a time when REO Speedwagon’s Hi Infidelity was being shoved down everyone else’s throats. Again helmed by Manzarek, the album’s lone single “White Girl” was purportedly written by Doe about Germs bassist Lorna Doom. It was a favorite on KROQ in L.A. around the time it was released.

6. Hooray For Hollywood

X appeared in Penelope Spheeris’ 1981 punk documentary ‘The Decline of Western Civilization,’ alongside Fear, Circle Jerks, Black Flag and The Germs. John Doe caught the acting bug soon after, and has since been seen in countless movies and television shows, including Road House, Boogie Nights and Roswell.

5. “The Hungry Wolf”

“The Hungry Wolf” spearheaded 1982’s ‘Under The Big Black Sun,’ becoming X’s first MTV breakthrough while spotlighting DJ Bonebrake’s thundering drums and Billy Zoom’s charging guitars. Their first album for major label Elektra Records also marked a stylistic shift toward country and mournful material like “Riding with Mary,” which was influenced by the sudden death of Exene’s older sister Mirielle.

4. “Wild Thing”

X released a memorable cover of The Troggs’ classic “Wild Thing” as a non-LP single in late 1984. The soaring rendition would later surface in the Charlie Sheen film Major League and paved the way for a more mainstream sound. The following year, the band even landed a significant hit on rock radio with “Burning House of Love” (#27), from their record ‘Ain’t Love Grand.’ Recently, an animated video narrated by Cervenka about the song was released which can be seen here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buva9ags5ic]

3. The Knitters

A side project featuring Exene, John and DJ without Zoom surfaced in 1985. The Knitters’ widely heralded folk and country-influenced album ‘Poor Little Critter on the Road’ included Dave Alvin from the Blasters, who stayed on for the next X album. 1987’s roots rock-inflected ‘See How We Are’ touted the exceptional singles “4th of July” and the title track.

2. ‘Alphabetland’ and ‘Smoke & Fiction’

Zoom returned to the band in 1998 and X kept active through the years, mostly for live dates. Then in 2020, they unleashed ‘Alphabetland’ to universal acclaim and hit the road. They did so again after their ninth and final studio album ‘Smoke & Fiction’ was released in 2024 to high praise. Now, X’s participation in ’99 Years of Rock n’ Roll,’ will mark their final tour. This, according Doe, is because he has no interest in letting the band become a shadow of what it was and wants X to bow out on top.

1. X’s Legacy

X’s influence cannot be denied. Pearl Jam has covered their political anthem “The New World” from 1983’s ‘More Fun in the New World.’ Elsewhere, performers from Nirvana and Social Distortion to The Replacements and an array of Americana artists like Neko Case and Lucinda Williams have name-checked the group.

10. Los Lobos Align in 1973

Los Lobos formed in East L.A. when founding members David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, accordion), Louie Perez, Jr. (drums) Cesar Rosas (vocals, guitar) and Conrad Lozano (bassist) came together. The band’s saxophonist keyboardist and producer Steve Berlin left the Blasters to join them in 1984. Together they’ve built a musical legacy like no other by embracing their Mexican-American pride. They can be counted alongside legends like Ritchie Valens and Santana for their contribution to the evolution of Chicano rock.

9. ‘How Will The Wolf Survive’

On the heels of the group’s Best Mexican-American Grammy performance for the 1983 instrumental “Anselma” (which can be found on the EP ‘…And a Time To Dance’) Los Lobos unveiled their aforementioned 1984 breakthrough album. The T-Bone Burnett and Berlin-produced offering fused elements of folk, punk, blues, country, zydeco and rock and earned the band widespread critical acclaim and notoriety.

8. “La Bamba”

In 1987, Los Lobos topped the charts in the U.S. and the U.K. with their rendition of “La Bamba.” It was one of six Valens songs the group recorded for the blockbuster biopic of the same name. The soundtrack sold a staggering two million copies.

7. ‘La Pistola Y El Corazon’

Los Lobos’ 1988 Spanish-Language album explored Tejano, Mariachi and Mexican folk and earned the group their next Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American performance.

6. Live Collaborations

Los Lobos have been active in social causes through music, including Farm Aid and have shared the stage with giants of rock like Bob Dylan, U2, The Grateful Dead and U2 through the years.

5. Elvis, Tom and Beyond

Los Lobos has collaborated in the studio with some impressive friends, including artists like Elvis Costello, John Hiatt, Levon Helm, Ry Cooder and Tom Waits.

4. Continuous Praise

Throughout the 1990s, Los Lobos profile remained strong as they pushed the boundaries of what their music should be. Albums like ‘The Neighborhood’ and ‘Kiko’ showed artistic growth and continued to earn the band critical praise. The latter became one of the best sellers in Los Lobos’ catalog and gave way to the retrospective compilation ‘Just Another Band from East L.A.’

3. Hall of Fame

In 2000, Los Lobos was inducted into the Latin Music Hall of Fame. This honor recognized their global impact on Latin music. The same year the band shared its beloved 86-track box set ‘El Cancionero: Mas y Mas’.

2. ‘The Ride’

In 2004, Los Lobos released the collaborative album featuring numerous guests including Bobby Womack, Waits, Ruben Blades, Dave Alvin, Richard Thompson, Costello, Mavis Staples and Garth Hudson.

1. National Heritage Fellows / California Hall of Fame

In 2021, for their contributions to American music and culture, Los Lobos were honored by the National Endowment for the Arts as National Heritage Fellows, the highest honor bestowed in the United States for folk and traditional arts. In 2022, Los Lobos were recipients of the Arts Award from the Hispanic Heritage Awards at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and won their fourth Grammy for Best Americana Album for Native Sons. In 2024, the band was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jeff Tweedy Triples Up On New LP, ‘Twilight Override’

2025-07-15T20:11:13.504Z

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy has rounded up 30 new songs for his latest solo album, Twilight Override, which will be spread across three different discs upon their Sept. 26 release by the band’s dBpm Records. The tracks “One Tiny Flower,” “Out in the Dark,” “Stray Cats in Spain” and “Enough” are available to sample below.

“When you choose to do creative things, you align yourself with something that other people call God. And when you align yourself with creation, you inherently take a side against destruction,” Tweedy muses. “Youʼre on the side of creation. And that does a lot to quell the impulse to destroy. Creativity eats darkness. Sort of an endless buffet these days — a bottomless basket of rock bottom. Which is, I guess, why Iʼve been making so much stuff lately. That sense of decline is hard to ignore, and it must be at least a part of the shroud Iʼm trying to unwrap. The twilight of an empire seems like a good enough jumping-off point when one is jumping into the abyss.”

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“Twilight sure is a pretty word, though,” he continues. “And the world is full of happy people in former empires, so maybe thatʼs not the only source of this dissonance. Whatever it is out there (or in there) squeezing this ennui into my day, itʼs fucking overwhelming. Itʼs difficult to ignore. Twilight Override is my effort to overwhelm it right back. Here are the songs and sounds and voices and guitars and words that are an effort to let go of some of the heaviness and up the wattage on my own light. My effort to engulf this encroaching nighttime (nightmare) of the soul.”

The album was recorded and self-produced by Tweedy at Wilco’s longtime Chicago studio the Loft and sports contributions from his musical children, Spencer and Sammy, plus frequent collaborators James Elkington, Sima Cunningham, Macie Stewart and Liam Kazar. The artist will preview material from it during a Substack livestream at 4pm ET today (July 15).

“Iʼm not trying to imply that I had this all mapped out as a story,” Tweedy admits. “The way that this ended up falling together and being arranged, it does tell a story that I think I wanted to tell. Thatʼs what a process does for me. This is why it sounded right to me in this order, aside from tempos and music.”

Tweedy will support Twilight Override with an extensive fall solo tour, beginning Oct. 8 in Three Oaks, Mi. Beforehand, he’ll play July 27 at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. Wilco is also on the road through late August, including several dates as part of the Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson co-headlined Outlaw Music Festival.

In related news, Wilco members John Stirratt and Pat Sansone have reactivated their Autumn Defense side project for their first album since 2014. Here and Nowhere will be released Oct. 10 by Yep Roc and will be supported by a nine-date fall tour, starting Oct. 24 in Vienna, Va.

Here is the track list for Twilight Override:

Disc 1
1. One Tiny Flower
2. Caught Up in the Past
3. Parking Lot
4. Forever Never Ends
5. Love Is for Love
6. Mirror
7. Secret Door
8. Betrayed
9. Sign of Life
10. Throwaway Lines

Disc 2
1. KC Rain (No Wonder)
2. Out in the Dark
3. Better Song
4. New Orleans
5. Over My Head (Everything Goes)
6. Western Clear Skies
7. Blank Baby
8. No Oneʼs Moving On
9. Feel Free

Disc 3
1. Lou Reed Was My Babysitter
2. Amar Bharati
3. Wedding Cake
4. Stray Cats in Spain
5. Ainʼt It a Shame
6. Twilight Override
7. Too Real
8. This Is How It Ends
9. Saddest Eyes
10. Cry Baby Cry
11. Enough

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Second Memoir, ‘Last Rites,’ Due In October

2025-07-10T20:41:56.343Z

Fresh off what was billed as his final live performances as a solo artist and as a member of Black Sabbath last weekend in Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne has set an Oct. 7 release for his second memoir, Last Rites, from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group.

According to a statement, the book will include the 76-year-old hard rock legend’s thoughts on the Back to the Beginning concert, which raised a reported $200 million for charity. It will also chronicle his significant health setbacks over the past seven years, which have left him unable to stand or walk for extended periods of time.

More from Spin:

“At the age of 69, Ozzy Osbourne was on a triumphant farewell tour, playing to sold-out arenas and rave reviews all around the world,” reads a description on the book’s preorder page. “Then, disaster. In a matter of just a few weeks, he went from being hospitalized with a finger infection to having to abandon his tour—and all public life—as he faced near-total paralysis from the neck down. Last Rites is the shocking, bitterly hilarious, never-before-told story of Osbourne’s descent into hell.”

The follow-up to 2012’s I Am Ozzy will also touch on “his turbulent marriage to wife Sharon, his encounters with fellow hellraisers including Slash, Bon Scott, John Bonham and Keith Moon and the harrowing final moments he spent with Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister.”

“People say to me, if you could do it all again, knowing what you know now, would you change anything? I’m like, fuck no. If I’d been clean and sober, I wouldn’t be Ozzy,” the Prince of Darkness says. “If I’d done normal, sensible things, I wouldn’t be Ozzy. Look, if it ends tomorrow, I can’t complain. I’ve been all around the world. Seen a lot of things. I’ve done good … and I’ve done bad. But right now, I’m not ready to go anywhere.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Paul McCartney Plots Fall North American Tour

2025-07-10T20:28:41.412Z

McCartney is showing no signs of slowing down. The 83-year-old Beatle will embark on a fall North American leg of his Got Back tour, starting Sept. 29 in Palm Desert, Ca. Dates are on the books through Nov. 24-25 in Chicago.

Got Back will visit a range of arenas, amphitheaters and even the new, 4,500-capacity Pinnacle in Nashville — a nod to the series of small club shows McCartney played earlier this year in New York’s tiny Bowery Ballroom.

More from Spin:

Tickets go on sale July 18 for what will be McCartney’s first North American tour since 2022. On that run, the artist was feted for his 80th birthday at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium by home state rockers Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.

McCartney can currently be heard in tandem with Barbra Streisand on a new version of his song “My Valentine” from the latter’s latest album, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two. “I thought, well, this will be easy because it’s my song. It’s ‘My Valentine.’ What can go wrong?’ But what I’d forgotten was that they’d arranged it so that it had to go in Barbra’s key and then in my key,” he said in a post on his web site. “So, to get from Barbra’s key into mine was kind of difficult, and I had to launch in not knowing what key I was in. Mine was lower, hers was higher. It wasn’t easy at all!

Here are Paul McCartney’s tour dates:

September 29 — Palm Desert, CA — Acrisure Arena
October 4 – Las Vegas, NV — Allegiant Stadium
October 7 – Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
October 11 – Denver, CO — Coors Field
October 14 – Des Moines, IA — Casey’s Center
October 17 – Minneapolis, MN — U.S. Bank Stadium
October 22 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
October 29 – New Orleans, LA — Smoothie King Center
November 2 – Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
November 3 – Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
November 6 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
November 8 – Columbus, OH — Nationwide Arena
November 11 – Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
November 14 – Buffalo, NY — KeyBank Center
November 17 – Montreal, QC — Bell Centre
November 18 – Montreal, QC — Bell Centre
November 21 – Hamilton, ON – TD Coliseum
November 24 – Chicago, IL — United Center
November 25 – Chicago, IL — United Center

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Rapture Revive For First Tour Since 2012

2025-07-08T16:47:42.725Z

2000s era New York rock outfit the Rapture will return to the live stage later this year for their first tour since 2012 and first shows of any kind since four California-area one-offs in 2020. The trek will begin Sept. 16 in Minneapolis and run through Nov. 23 in Barcelona; click here for tickets, which go on sale tomorrow (July 9).

“This has been a long time coming,” says frontman Luke Jenner. “Years ago when I stepped away from the band, I was needing time and space to piece together my life. I needed to fix my marriage, be there for my son and ultimately work on myself. This tour marks a new chapter for me, one shaped by everything I’ve lived through and learned along the way. I’ve achieved everything I hoped to achieve through music, and now I get to use it to help anyone else who maybe needs it like I did back then.”

More from Spin:

The Rapture broke through in 2003 with the DFA Records release Echoes, which boasted the iconic dance-driven rock single “House of Jealous Lovers.” The group’s last studio album, In the Grace of Your Love, came out in 2011.

“Sometimes people ask me if I have guilty pleasures, and I don’t any more,” Jenner told SPIN in 2011 when asked if he’d ever considered working in a different style of music. “I’m old enough to say, ‘Who cares what somebody thinks.’ While I’m not going out dancing at clubs anymore, I did that for years. It’s still there. It doesn’t take much to wake that up in me. I love dance music just as much as I love rock’n’roll, and I don’t see much of a distinction.”

Here are the Rapture’s tour dates:

09.16 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
09.18 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
09.19 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
09.21 – Portola Festival – San Francisco, CA
09.23 – Humphrey’s – San Diego, CA
09.24 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
09.26 – Emo’s – Austin, TX
09.27 – The Studio at The Factory – Dallas, TX
09.30 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
10.01 – Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
10.03 – Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
10.04 – Masonic Temple Theater – Detroit, MI
10.05 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
10.07 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
10.08 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
10.09 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
10.10 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
11.11 – St. Luke’s – Glasgow, UK
11.12 – New Century Hall – Manchester, UK
11.13 – HERE at Outernet – London, UK
11.15 – Fabrik – Hamburg, DE
11.17 – Huxleys – Berlin, DE
11.19 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, NE
11.20 – Salle Pleyel – Paris, FR
11.21 – Trix – Antwerp, BE
11.23 – Razzmatazz 2 – Barcelona, SP

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Sorry, Baby’ Dares Us to Smile

2025-07-08T16:43:14.702Z

Wedding comedy with difficult subject matter is serious business. It takes a deft hand to craft a film that intertwines laughter with trauma without coming off as insulting or pandering. Recent films such as Amsterdam (2022) and Don’t Look Up (2021), despite being made by skilled directors David O. Russell and Adam McKay, tried to skewer fascism and climate change but got killed by critics for tone-deafness. Even Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi’s 2019 dramedy, split critics and fans on its handling of the Holocaust.

This tightrope act makes Sorry, Baby, the debut feature by director-writer-star Eva Victor, even more miraculous. By reinvigorating what is possible with independent film, Sorry, Baby—released in select theaters June 27—is an often hilarious, frequently devastating look at, not only the aftermath of a sexual assault but also a woman’s place in academia.

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Victor stars as Agnes, a young, acerbic, fully tenured English professor at a small but prestigious liberal arts college in New England. Told nonchronologically, the film tells the story of how Agnes went from graduate student to professor at the same college and the evolution of the friendships she forged there, as well as the sexual assault that redefined both of those things.

The film begins as Agnes is visited by friend and former classmate, Lydie (Naomi Ackie). They are exceptionally close, even sleeping in the same bed. During this visit, which is filled with sharp and funny dialogue, we learn that Lydie is concerned about her friend. Victor is a good observer of character, slipping hints into her dialogue, never outright telegraphing what has transpired in the past. It’s clear that Agnes is not okay, and Lydie knows it. Before leaving, Lydie asks her friend if they ever leave the house.

Sorry, Baby then flashes back from present to past, showing us Agnes before and after the traumatic event. However, Victor is wise to make an assault the centerpiece. The violence happens off camera. There are no Hollywood pretensions of revenge or forgiveness. Simply, there is Agnes—and Agnes’s suffering. Yet, Victor does not allow the protagonist to be defined by sexual assault.

This is a quiet movie about unquiet things. Victor packs Sorry, Baby with so many excellent and unforgettable moments, from Agnes’ awkward and honest sexual encounters with her neighbor (Lucas Hedges) to a wonderful cameo by John Carroll Lynch as a crusty but caring sandwich shop owner who comes across the protagonist while having a panic attack. A lesser movie would turn Sorry, Baby’s script into trauma porn or a melodramatic weeper. Instead, the film signals that Victor is a major new talent who knows how to tell a difficult story, one that doesn’t pander and somehow makes us laugh through the tears.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Pearl Jam Drummer Matt Cameron Steps Down From Band

2025-07-08T16:39:32.720Z

In a stunning development, drummer Matt Cameron, who joined Pearl Jam in 1998 shortly after Soundgarden split up, is stepping away from the band.

In a statement posted this morning (July 7) on social media, the 62-year-old musician wrote, “after 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, one filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter.”

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“I am forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over,” he continued. “It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

In their own statement, Pearl Jam wrote, “from being one of our first musical heroes in the bands Skin Yard and the mighty Soundgarden, to playing on our first demos in 1990, Matt Cameron has been a singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer. He has propelled the last 27 years of Pearl Jam live shows and studio recordings. It was a deeply important chapter for our group and we wish him well always. He will be deeply missed and is forever our friend in art and music. We love you Matt.”

A San Diego-area native who moved to Seattle in 1983, Cameron was already a scene heavyweight by the time he joined Soundgarden three years later — capable of thundering through jagged time signatures, gifted with ghost notes and ready to employ more stately rhythms when a song called for them. Perhaps more than any other drummer of his generation, Cameron has been a galvanizing force for every lineup he’s joined.

Through his friendship with future Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Mike McCready, he played on early demos of material that would appear on the band’s 1991 debut, Ten, and also manned the kit for the 1990 Temple of the Dog album in tribute to late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood (the latter featured a then-unknown singer named Eddie Vedder). And while he enjoyed massive success with Soundgarden through the first half of the 1990s on the strength of albums such as Superunknown and Badmotorfinger, Cameron was a free agent at just the right time in the spring of 1998 when Pearl Jam’s then-drummer, Jack Irons, opted to leave the band.

His first show was on May 7, 1998, in Seattle, and barring a handful of COVID-19 related absences in recent years, he’s been a rock behind the drum kit for Pearl Jam ever since, even while pulling double duty with Soundgarden following their 2010 reunion. He played on every Pearl Jam album since 2000’s Binaural, and his final performance with the band was on May 18, 2025, in Pittsburgh at the finale of the tour in support of 2024’s Grammy-nominated Dark Matter.

“Working with them is totally pro,” Cameron told SPIN of Pearl Jam in 2001. “They can sell out any arena anywhere in the world. They’re kind of in a special league. They can tour really comfortably but keep it kinda small as well. Punk-rock arena rock is the way they approach it.”

With the bombast and precision of a top-shelf metal drummer but a deep knowledge of punk and garage rock and a flair for oddball time signatures, Cameron has accumulated massive respect across generations. When British electronica stars the Prodigy wanted to conquer America and cross over to rock fans, they sought Cameron out to provide drum loops for 1997’s The Fat of the Land. When Rush frontman Geddy Lee made his first solo album, 2000’s My Favourite Headache, he chose Cameron to occupy the stool usually held down by Neil Peart. Cameron has also served as a mentor to numerous younger drummers, particularly late Foo Fighters member Taylor Hawkins, with whom he also recorded music.

Cameron’s style in Pearl Jam was highlighted on Dark Matter at the behest of producer Andrew Watt, who told SPIN last year, “I had a conversation with a friend of mine who was like, what’s Matt Cameron in Pearl Jam? Matt Cameron in Pearl Jam is like Temple of the Dog, right? It’s Soundgarden drums over Stone riffs. You also have to remember that Matt Cameron also played on the demos of Ten. When Eddie Vedder went surfing and listened to that original instrumental cassette, he was hearing Matt Cameron’s drums, not Dave Krusen’s. When you’re together for a long time, everyone becomes better musicians and a master of their craft. In Pearl Jam, there was a time where each guy would bring in their demo and already have an idea for the drums. Matt would do what’s right for the song and expand on it a little bit. I didn’t want that to happen here. I wanted each of their instincts to be able to come out fresh and unaltered, and that’s what is on this record, which was written by every member of the band on every song. Every song started with a riff and then went through the filter of each guy together.”

Pearl Jam is off the road through the rest of 2025, leaving them time to decide on a Cameron replacement. Meanwhile, Soundgarden’s surviving members continue work on music recorded prior to Cornell’s 2017 suicide, following the resolution of a lawsuit with his widow over next steps.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Not Guilty On Three Most Serious Charges

2025-07-02T15:24:03.402Z

Bad Boy Records mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was found not guilty this morning (July 2) on the three most serious of the five criminal charges filed against him last year involving sex trafficking and racketeering, but he was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

A sentencing date has yet to be set. Combs, who previously pled not guilty to all charges, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on the prostitution counts.

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The verdict came after a lurid, eight-week trial involving testimony from Combs’ former partner, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, that he abused and assaulted her over a decade-plus period. The jury was shown a 2016 security camera video of Combs beating Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway after she attempted to flee one of his sex-fueled “freak-off” parties.

This is a developing story.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Kendrick, Tyler, Nas Jump Aboard Clipse Comeback Album

2025-06-30T21:16:58.777Z

Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, Nas, John Legend and the-Dream all lend a hand on LET GOD SORT EM OUT, the first new Clipse album in nearly 16 years. As previously reported, the project, due July 11, was produced by longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams.

LET GOD SORT EM OUT is brothers Pusha T and Malice’s follow-up to 2009’s ‘Til the Casket Drops. Having focused on their own projects following the tour in support of it, the duo reunited at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards and have played a handful of concerts since then, including at last year’s Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona.

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“I’m a parent. I’m a grandparent. But I’ve always been conscious of the things that I say, that I put out into the world,” Malice recently told the New York Times. “I’ve said a lot of things that I knew better than, but the fact that I did it, I still talked about it. I’ve always painted both sides. I recall on a record I said, ‘I seen ’em pay for they fix when they kids couldn’t eat.’ That was a real line — that’s something I really saw, with a mother that I dealt with and her kids were hungry. I talk about how those kinds of things made me feel.”

A North American tour in support of the new album will get underway Aug. 3 in Boston and run through Sept. 10 in Detroit.

Here is the track list for LET GOD SORT EM OUT:

The Birds Don’t Sing feat. John Legend & Voices of Fire
Chains & Whips feat. Kendrick Lamar
P.O.V. feat. Tyler, The Creator
So Be It Pt. II
Ace Trumpets
All Things Considered feat. The-Dream & Pharrell Williams
M.T.B.T.T.F.
E.B.I.T.D.A. feat. Pharrell Williams
F.I.C.O. feat. Stove God Cooks
Inglorious Bastards feat. Ab-Liva
So Far Ahead feat, Pharrell Williams
Let God Sort Em Out / Chandeliers feat. Nas
By the Grace of God feat. Pharrell Williams

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Olivia Rodrigo, Robert Smith Find ‘Heaven’ At Glastonbury

2025-06-30T20:38:05.031Z

Weeks after jamming with former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne at Governors Ball in New York, Olivia Rodrigo welcomed the Cure’s Robert Smith to duet on his band’s classics “Friday I’m in Love” and “Just Like Heaven” yesterday (June 29) at the Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England.

“He’s perhaps the best songwriter to come out of England,” Rodrigo said of Smith, who strummed his trusty black acoustic guitar while trading vocals with the American pop star. “He is a Glastonbury legend and a personal hero of mine.”

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Rodrigo performed at Glastonbury in 2022 but made her headlining debut yesterday in front of a massive crowd. “Holy fucking shit, this is the most people I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” she exclaimed. “This is a dream come true. I actually can’t believe this is my life right now.”

However, the final day of Glastonbury was not without controversy, after the group Bob Vylan shouted “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]” during their performance. Per Deadline, Bob Vylan have since been dropped by their booking agency, UTA.

“Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” the festival said in a statement shortly afterwards.

Today, the BBC admitted it should have immediately taken down Bob Vylan’s livestream. “The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen,” the broadcaster said. “The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”

Group member Bobby Vylan shrugged off the issue on Instagram, flatly stating, “I said what I said. It is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us. Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change. Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organizing online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”

Irish act Kneecap, one member of which is under British investigation for previous onstage comments in support of a Palestinian terrorist organization, did not address their own recent travails onstage at Glastonbury, and their set was not included on the livestream.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Public Enemy Put Tech, Ageism In The Crosshairs On Surprise New LP

2025-06-30T20:34:23.255Z

While most of Public Enemy’s biggest songs — including “Fight the Power” and “Don’t Believe the Hype” — tackle social injustice, systemic racism, media bias and other socio-political topics, Chuck D and Flavor Flav have other, equally timely concerns on their minds on Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025, a new album surprised released yesterday (June 27) on the eve of an international tour opening for Guns N’ Roses.

Chuck D tells SPIN that Black Sky songs such as “Siick” and “Ageism” focus on the pitfalls of a technology-obsessed society and discrimination against our aging hip-hop elders. “There’s so much to say because there’s so much that we’ve seen and experienced in this world over the last five years, so to say that you’re an MC that can’t come up with enough topics is absolutely fucking crazy,” he says. “So many artists operate off of self-interest to the point where there’s a fear of saying anything outside of that self-interest.

“And I’m not trying to show or prove anything,” he continues. “The only thing I’m trying to prove with this record is me and Flavor could work together — and it sure did come out that way.”

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However, it was a long time in the making. The 12 tracks on Black Sky Over the Projects, the follow-up to 2020’s What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down?, are divided into two parts in a fashion Chuck D likens to Outkast’s Speakerboxx/The Love Below. “Me and Flavor said, you’re going to do your productions and I’ll jump on it, and I’m going to do mine with my team. Then, the teams came together. It was also kind of my test to see how serious Flav was.”

Rumblings another Public Enemy album could be on the horizon began earlier this year, when Chuck D hopped on Flav’s single “Everywhere Man.” Their chemistry, established in the 1980s as students at Long Island’s Adelphi University, was still there, but they had to iron out some of the kinks that initially led to their most recent hiatus.

For his part, Flav had to sober up after years of substance abuse, but Public Enemy’s 2023 performance during the Grammy Awards’ 50th anniversary of hip-hop segment, Chuck saw how committed he was to getting back on track. “The hip-hop generation and a lot of black folk, we try to tell people that longevity is the key and health is wealth,” he says. “Public Enemy was, regardless of all the other parts, going nowhere if Flavor wasn’t right. And that was one of the best things that he could have done — get his health right.”

Black Sky is available via a pay-what-you-wish model through Bandcamp and arrived hours before Public Enemy’s show last night at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where attendees were gifted a CD copy. The group begins a run with Guns N’ Roses tomorrow in Viby J, Denmark, and will return to North America this summer for appearances at the Newport Folk Festival in late July and Shaky Knees in Atlanta in late September.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Lorde Opens Glastonbury With Surprise ‘Virgin’ Set

2025-06-30T20:31:13.606Z

“Thank you so much for being with us on the day that Virgin is born,” the New Zealand-reared singer told the crowd. “We decided to play the whole record for you, front to back. This may be a one of one, you know? I didn’t know if I’d make another record to be honest, but I am back here, completely free. And I’m so grateful to you for waiting.”

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None of the 11 Virgin songs had been played at a proper concert before today’s set, which concluded with the vintage favorites “Ribs” and “Green Light.”

Glastonbury continues today with performances by the 1975 and Alanis Morissette and will also feature Neil Young, Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart and Charli xcx throughout the weekend.

As for Lorde, she will embark on an extensive world tour in support of Virgin beginning Sept. 17 in Austin, Tx. The European segment of the jaunt will start Nov. 9 in Luxembourg and conclude Dec. 9 in Stockholm.

Among the opening acts are Blood Orange and Jim-E Stack, both of whom contributed to Virgin, as well as the Japanese House, Nilüfer Yana, Chanel Beads, Empress Of and Oklou.

Lorde performing What What That for the first time at Glastonbury
pic.twitter.com/w4tfcS8LbW
— Lorde Updates (@LordeUpdatesBR) June 27, 2025

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Taylor Swift Wows Nashville Club With Surprise Performance

2025-06-26T18:25:10.408Z

Taylor Swift gave her first public performance since the fall 2024 conclusion of her Eras Tour last night (June 24) at Nashville’s 1,200-capacity Brooklyn Bowl, as she hopped onstage during a Kane Brown-led benefit for an impromptu version of her hit “Shake It Off.” See fan-shot footage below.

Last night’s event, Tight Ends & Friends, was organized by a group of NFL players, including Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce. It also featured performances by Chase Rice, Jordan Davis and Sophia Scott. Swift emerged at the conclusion of Brown’s performance after he introduced her as a “really, really, really, really special guest,”

More from Spin:

Swift explained that she was happily enjoying the show from the balcony as a spectator but that her curiosity got the better of her. “We were thinking, like, how loud could this place get? Theoretically, how loud could the singing be in here?’ So, I was like, I don’t have a guitar, but then Chase Rice was like, you can use mine.’

With Brown aiding on percussion, Swift ran through “Shake It Off” amid shrieks from the crowd, and afterwards saluted the other musicians on stage. “Will you please give it up for this amazing band, who just figured out that we were going to play that three minutes ago?,” she said. Brown nodded to the enormity of the moment in a subsequent Instagram post, writing, “when you think you’re the special guest BUT you’re not.”

Swift has been off the road this year while working on new material and completing the acquisition of the rights to her entire music catalog, which were controversially sold to a third party in 2019.

📽️| Better version of Taylor Shaking It the fuck Off with the Tight Ends in Nashville! pic.twitter.com/LL5rn7uv72
— Taylor Swift Updates 🩶 (@swifferupdates) June 25, 2025

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

My Morning Jacket Set ‘Z’ 20th Anniversary Shows

2025-06-26T18:18:57.383Z

My Morning Jacket are expanding their summer and fall North American tour with five new shows featuring a complete performance of their 2005 album Z, in honor of the latter’s 20th anniversary. The dates will be tacked onto previously announced stands in Denver (Aug. 15), Los Angeles (Aug. 19), Brooklyn, N.Y. (Oct. 16), Chicago (Oct. 26) and Atlanta (Nov. 1).

“Oct. 4 is the 20th anniversary of our album Z. It’s pretty wild to think about that,” frontman Jim James says. “To celebrate two decades of it being out in the ether, we’re excited to be turning five of our shows into special Z anniversary shows, where we’ll play that album (and some other songs, don’t worry) front to back.”

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The Louisville, Ky.-reared band’s fourth full-length, Z marked the first studio contributions from guitarist Carl Broemel and keyboardist Bo Koster, who joined as touring members the prior year. After three albums of reverb-drenched Southern rock and folk, MMJ took a giant artistic long-jump forward with Z, 10 tracks of experimental psychedelia mostly devoid of their former alt-country sound and often referred to as America’s reply to Radiohead’s OK Computer.

Thanks to favorite such as the burbling opener “Wordless Chorus,” the soaring “Gideon” and the rockers “Anytime” and “Lay Low,” the album greatly expanded My Morning Jacket’s fanbase, reaching a career-best No. 67 on the Billboard 200.

“It’s fun to imagine that My Morning Jacket’s Jim James composes his songs by wailing into an abandoned railroad tunnel, his beard moist with sweat, his corduroy sport coat flapping rakishly in the updraft,” SPIN wrote in its contemporary review. “Z imagines a dance floor covered in sawdust and a musty smell wafting from under the boards. For every moment of ambient weirdness, there’s a blast of rock guitar that reminds you that the listener isn’t required to do all the work. Somewhere between their love of the blues and their affection for the dark disco of ‘Blue Monday,’ James and friends manage to make ambitious music seem like fun.”

Beginning Aug. 5 in Bend, Or., My Morning Jacket will hit the road in support of their latest LP, is, which was produced by Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden). One song from it, “Half a Lifetime,” dates all the way back to the Z era. “It’s a song we had completely forgotten about because we never made a rough mix of it at the time,” James told SPIN earlier this year. “I was digging through old hard drives and found it; Brendan ended up liking it and picking it.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tropical Fuck Storm Batten Down the Hatches

2025-06-23T20:33:32.882Z

Gareth Liddiard snarls wearily about a quarter of the way through the nearly 9-minute title track of Tropical Fuck Storm’s new album, the band’s fourth. It’s familiar territory for the Australian quartet, who’ve been celebrating catastrophe and embracing disaster since they formed in 2017. (The name of their 2024 live record: Tropical Fuck Storm’s Inflatable Graveyard). But Fairyland Codex, arriving on June 20, carries a new undertone: sadness.

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The cover of Tropical Fuck Storm’s new album, ‘Fairyland Codex’ (Credit: Joe Becker)

Sure, there’s still plenty of the twisty, degraded guitar squall that drenched the band’s 2018 debut, A Laughing Death in Meatspace, whose Maurice-Sendak-meets-Peter-Max cover art Fairyland Codex mirrors. And Liddiard still sounds like a cross between the Big Bad Wolf and Mad Max, his gleefully malevolent musk balanced out by tart harmonies from bassist Fiona Kitschin and guitarist/keyboardist Erica Dunn, as opener “Irukandji Syndrome” amply demonstrates. But starting with the second track, “Goon Show,” in which Liddiard channels Nick Cave over a stomping bass line and drum-machine ricochets, Tropical Fuck Storm move away from freaky glandular decadence and toward something harder and stranger. “Goon Show” may start off dark and streamlined, but it warps and melts midway through, before ending in an eerie shuffle, with Liddiard assessing the damage: “See everybody scream and shout / They don’t know what they’re missing.”

The brooding “Stepping on a Rake” approaches a full-on ballad, with Liddiard and the rhythm section turning in an eerily restrained, aching performance. This newfound tenderness carries its own ambivalence, however—“Don’t worry about stormy weather,” Liddiard sighs, a sly reference to the band’s provocative name. Joined by Kitschin and Dunn, Liddiard declares, “So far, nothing has changed,” in the first chorus, meaning it as both reassurance and complaint. Apocalypse hovers eternally on the horizon, but never quite arrives, and in the meantime, love only just holds despair at bay. “I’m still your island when you’re washed away,” Liddiard sings, delivering the affirmation in a melancholy murmur that acknowledges not just the creeping untenability of the situation, but its possible undesirability.

After the halfway point of the title track, the band leans harder into chaos, as if they’d lost the ability to hold the center or just abandoned the effort altogether. “Dunning Kruger’s Loser Cruiser” and “Bloodsport” swing wildly between nihilistic funk and disjointed no wave sing-alongs, while “Joe Meek Will Inherit the Earth,” whose title puts the pioneering, homicidal British producer in conversation with the Bible, rides a cool post-punk groove. The back half of the album might lack the impressively mournful desperation of the first few songs, but, if nothing else, it shows that it’s still possible to kick it after all the locks have been blown off, and death’s door stands wide open.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Young Thug Welcomes Travis Scott, T.I. At First Post-Jail Show

2025-06-23T15:53:42.794Z

Young Thug got a big lift from Travis Scott, Ken Carson and his Atlanta hip-hop predecessor T.I. tonight (June 22) during his first major live appearance since being released from prison in October 2024. His set capped the three-day Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash festival outside Chicago and, beyond the guest spots, also featured several live debuts, rarities and covers.

The set opened with two songs from the influential 2021 compilation Slime Language 2 (“Take It to Trial” and “Slatty”) and then moved into favorites such as “Killed Before,” “Jumped Out the Window,” “Sup Mate” and the live debut of “Jonesboro” from the 2023 album BUSINESS IS BUSINESS. Scott appeared 15 songs into the show, rattling off his verse from “Hot” and then lighting up the crowd with his trademark “FEIN.”

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Introduced by Thug as an “old head,” T.I. turned back the clock with “About the Money,” which was one of Thug’s first major guest appearances as a rising young artist back in 2014. In a nod to both the present and the future, he brought out Ken Carson for the live debut of their new song “R.I.P Scuti,” which is expected to appear on Thug’s long-awaited new album, UY Scuti, this summer.

The set wound down with a cover of Lil Baby’s “Dum, Dumb, and Dumber” and “Money on Money,” the Future-featuring first song released ahead of the upcoming album.

Prior to gaining his freedom, Young Thug was in jail since his May 2022 arrest for allegedly leading the street gang YSL. With his return to the stage complete, he’ll perform next month at festivals in Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland and Poland.

The final night of Summer Stage also played host to sets from Carson, hometown product Chance the Rapper, Quavo, Homixide Gang and Lil Yachty.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dua Lipa Dances With Charli xcx, Jamiroquai At Massive London Gigs

2025-06-23T15:47:35.013Z

“So, for this next song, I thought I’d bring a friend out. And let me tell you, she is the biggest brat,” Lipa said by way of introducing Charli. The pair shared vocals and showed off their dance moves while singing the smash hit on the smaller B-stage, harkening back to Lipa’s appearance on the BRAT remix album version of “Talk Talk.”

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Saturday night also boasted the first airing of “IDGAG” since 2020, following a similar bust-out the night before of “Hotter Than Hell” for the first time since 2019.

On Friday, Lipa hailed Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay as a “massive trailblazer for British music” before bringing him onstage. Decked out in purple pants, a frilly white shirt and a purple top hat, he beamed, “What a privilege and an honor to be onstage with you. Are we gonna do this?” Kay handled most of the first verse before Lipa joined him for the chorus, and she then sang the second verse as Kay added vocal ad-libs on top. Kay offered an extended vamp at the song’s conclusion before exiting with a “thanks, guys! See you later.”

One song earlier, Lipa introduced “Hotter Than Hell” to the 75,000-strong crowd as “the song that got me signed, and it’s the song that started everything. With weather like this, there’s only one song I could do.”

Throughout the Wembley concerts, the artist showed off several new looks, such as a silver custom Swarovski bodysuit, a white lace Valentino catsuit, a glittered Courreges bodysuit and matching gloves and a blue Balenciaga slip dress topped paired with a faux fur coat with a U.K. flag interior.

Lipa will begin a North American arena tour on Sept. 1 in Toronto. The dates come in support of her latest album, 2024’s Radical Optimism, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

See Bi-Ray’s New Video with Rebel Wilson

2025-06-23T15:39:08.107Z

That track, “Butterfly,” is the debut from J-pop four-octave girl group Bi-Ray — the latest stars-in-the-making from Japan, produced and formed by legendary composer, Yoshiki. The group formed after all four of them — Emi, Michelle, Cocomi and Hinata — performed individually on Kasho-Oh (“Singing King” in Japanese), a popular TV show on which Yoshiki participated as a judge for multiple years and are unquestionably some of the most talented teenagers on the planet.

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Check out the video for the brand new song from Bi-Ray along with exclusive interviews with Bi-Ray and Yoshiki below.

SPIN: How do you feel about the new song and video for “Butterfly”?

Emi: It’s a song about overcoming adversity and having everyone support you while overcoming adversity, and it gives you a lot of energy and power. With regard to the music video, it was a great experience because they were able to shoot the music video in Los Angeles with famous Hollywood actresses and a local production team. We were very honored to have been able to experience that. Everything is a new challenge for us, but I feel like we were able to come out with a great music video.

Michelle: We were all very surprised. It was our first music video shoot, so we didn’t think that such important people in Hollywood were going to be in the music video. That just made us want to perform better and sing better for both the people that are going to watch the music video as well as the actors, because it’s really something we didn’t think would happen.

Yoshiki: When I was working on this project, I luckily came across the film called Bride Hard, so I was like “What if I can combine both of those?” It’s going to be their debut single, so I wanted to add something special to it. Even though they are very young, they’ve been participating in TV shows for several years, so I wanted them to have a song about how they can finally fly, which is why I wrote “Butterfly.” It’s also a little bit more of a girl power thing, which fits the film’s theme.

Photo Courtesy of Yoshiki and Bi-Ray

Is there anything you want people to take away from listening to “Butterfly”?

Michelle: When they listen to “Butterfly,” we want them to really read the lyrics carefully and think about how it would connect to their past experiences. The lyrics are really something that will hit someone’s heart, and I know it hit my heart the first time I heard it. I would really like them to focus on the lyrics — because they’re something that’s very special about the song — and our singing as well.

Hinata: Our singing is so different, because we all have such different voices.

Yoshiki: I think the song shows that the girls are artists who are trying to break through their boundaries. They are super young, but at the same time, they’ve been going through years of practicing and overcoming obstacles. This song is their moment. Finally, they are ready.

What was the collaboration with Yoshiki like?

Cocomi: Overall, it’s an unbelievable experience to be able to work with Yoshiki. I’m very happy to be able to work with him. As we work with him, we see how he deals with everything around him and how he does his work, so it’s a great learning experience for us as well.

Yoshiki: I live in Los Angeles and they’re in Japan, so we did a lot of remote recording, which is very different. It was also interesting because they are so energetic. They don’t know their limits, which is amazing, but I have to be careful to not hurt their vocal cords. We have to watch how many takes they sing and things like that, but every time we record, I feel a lot of energy from them.

What are some of your goals for Bi-Ray?

Hinata: As a group, we would like to be able to become an artist that can go on stages around the world and eventually do a world tour. One of our specific goals is to be able to perform at Coachella. Also, Michelle already speaks English, but the rest of us are studying English and working really hard at it.

Yoshiki: I’ve seen so many singers over the past few decades, and they’re amazing singers. All four of them have a different tone of voice — and everybody is good enough to be a standalone solo singer — but if we put all four singers together in one group, there’s unlimited possibilities. I do a lot of rock and pop music, but also classical music where I work with an orchestra. This feels like I have the violin, the viola, the cello, and other woodwinds or something like that all in an amazing vocal group.

Photo Courtesy of Bi-Ray

What was your experience on TV like?

Emi: We were already friends before we came together as a group through the TV show, so when we found out that we were coming together as a group, it was very exciting. I really looked forward to what I could do with this group, because we all have come from different backgrounds and can each convey different messages to our audience. Then when we did our first TV appearance, it was a lot of pressure, but at the same time, it became a very important day for the group.

Yoshiki: The audition TV show I met them through is kind of like The Voice. There’s so much talent on that show, and I was a judge on it for three years straight. Some people would sign to labels from it, but some people would just get nothing. I started thinking “Why don’t we put all those amazing singers together?” So I decided to create this group.

How would you explain J-pop as a genre to those who aren’t aware of it?

Cocomi: I don’t think the world is very aware of J-pop as a genre, but it’s very different from K-pop. In K-pop, dancing is the main thing and is as important as the song. In J-pop, the song changes depending on the tempo and is all about expressing emotions through music.

Yoshiki: I love what’s going on in this music scene right now. A few decades ago, people from Asia had a very small presence on a global level. It was saturated by Western artists, which I really respect as well. But in the past decade or so, some paradigm shifts happened, which means that some Asian artists are becoming much more noticeable. Japan is an interesting place, because we’re influenced by culture from the West as well as the East. People may be pretty familiar with Japanese animation — which has taken off throughout the world — but in terms of music, there hasn’t been a straightforward huge artist from Japan. Japan has a very interesting culture, because it has such a long history, but it’s also so focused on crazy new movements. I think a lot of J-pop and J-rock groups have a chance to do big things, and I hope more Japanese artists come to the West to explore their possibilities, like K-pop’s been doing.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

See Jeremy Allen White As Bruce Springsteen In First Biopic Trailer

2025-06-18T21:18:50.204Z

The first trailer has emerged from Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, a feature film chronicle of Bruce Springsteen making his classic 1982 album Nebraska. The Boss is portrayed by The Bear star Jeremy Allen White in a movie directed by Crazy Heart‘s Scott Cooper and based on Warren Zanes’ book of the same name. It will be released Oct. 24 by 20th Century Studios.

Succession‘s Jeremy Strong plays longtime Springsteen manager Jon Landau, while Paul Walter Hauser portrays guitar tech Mike Batlan, Sir Stephen Graham stars as Springsteen’s father Dutch and Marc Maron appears as producer Chuck Plotkin.

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While plotting out the ambitious, full-band Born in the U.S.A., Springsteen holed up in Colts Neck, N.J., with a four-track to cut some demos and decided to leave 10 of them untouched to comprise a separate, stark acoustic album. “Robert De Niro said once that what he likes about acting is that he gets to step into other people’s shoes without the real-life consequences,” Springsteen told SPIN in 2007 by way of reflecting on his headspace at the time. “Art does allow you to do that, to go right up to the abyss and look in, hopefully without falling in.”

This mentality is on display throughout the trailer, as Springsteen wrestles with how to retain his artistic integrity and heal childhood-era psychological wounds amid the increasing glare of post-The River stardom. “I’m trying to find something real in all the noise,” he tells Landau in the trailer, which is set to a portion of Nebraska‘s title track. “You always do,” Landau replies.

“Making Springsteen was deeply moving, as it allowed me to step inside the soul of an artist I’ve long admired — and to witness, up close, the vulnerability and strength behind his music,” said Cooper. “The experience felt like a journey through memory, myth and truth. And more than anything, it was a privilege to translate that raw emotional honesty to the screen, and in doing so, it changed me. I cannot thank Bruce and Jon Landau enough for allowing me to tell their story.”

On June 27, Springsteen will release Tracks II: The Lost Albums, containing seven complete projects that have been sitting in his vault for decades. Click here to read SPIN’s review.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Brittany Davis Brings The ‘Thunder’ On New LP

2025-06-16T17:24:22.058Z

A sightless, millennial African-American who lived an itinerant childhood before finding her community in Seattle, Brittany Davis has long described herself as a vessel through which any number of musical spirits freely move.

In the rock-leaning Painted Shield with mentor Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, she’s a Swiss army knife of a vocal harmonist and a certified keyboard wiz. As both a solo artist and the leader of her own group, she’s subsumed hip-hop, R&B, soul, and, on a 2024 concept album cleverly titled Image Issues, everything from Outkast and Cardi B to Jimi Hendrix and Beyoncé.

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For the sessions that eventually birthed Black Thunder, Davis settled into Gossard’s Studio Litho for 48 hours with producer Josh Evans, drummer D’Vonne Lewis, and bassist Evan Flory-Barnes — and nothing else planned. The result, out now on Gossard’s Loosegroove Records imprint, is “one of the most productive two days I’ve ever seen,” he previously told SPIN. “This record is a fully realized, arranged, amazing story that was basically channeled through Brittany.”

And what a record it is, powered by the deep generational impact of slavery and oppression on the collective African-American identity and Davis’ desires to feel loved in her own skin. Interludes featuring the clanking of metal chains and the sound of 250-year-old spirituals amplify the arresting, completely improvised music therein, as Davis rattles off weighty rhetorical questions about the inability to choose your genetic lottery and whether some higher power could one day change all the things about herself with which she struggles daily.

The prevailing free jazz sound only ups the intensity, as Davis and company are in beautiful, mellow, Keith Jarrett territory one minute and confrontational, avant-garde beast mode the next. “My evolution has not become flat,” she sings triumphantly on “All You Get.” In a sea of musicians with nothing to say and nowhere to grow, Davis deserves our deepest appreciation.

Brittany Davis plays an album release show tomorrow (June 17) at the Rabbit Box in Seattle. Click here for details.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mary Halvorson Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts

2025-06-16T17:20:07.419Z

You hear Mary Halvorson play a guitar once—it sticks with you. Her tone, both liquid and spiky, burrows into your nervous system on contact. Using a delay pedal and digital effects, she flattens, smears, and discombobulates single notes, which creates an eerie, addictive effect. Her darting, slippery approach makes her songs simultaneously vaporous, brittle, and kinetic. Finding a signature style so early in your career (Halvorson first gained notice as a member of Mr. Bungle guitarist Trevor Dunn’s band in the mid-aughts) can be dangerous. Musicians, particularly jazz artists, who rely on a singular trick run the risk of stagnation. As a player and bandleader, Halvorson has always found a wealth of different ways to work her urgent and dislocated magic, and it would be very easy and enjoyable to listen to her fiercely dismantle and reassemble her fervently indeterminate melodic lines album after album. Instead of dominating with virtuosity, however, Halvorson prefers to insinuate, often submerging her balletic verve beneath contrasting textures and busy, interlocking rhythms.

For her last two albums, Halvorson has used strings to bolster her sound, working with avant-garde colossus Laurie Anderson on last year’s Cloudward and the Mivos Quartet on 2022’s Belladonna and Amaryllis (They were released on CD separately, but as a double LP set). For this one, released June 13 on Nonesuch, she added saxophonists Immanuel Wilkins on alto and Brian Settles on tenor. In addition to regular sextet members Adam O’Farrill on trumpet and Jacob Garchik on trombone, it’s a lot of brass, and About Ghosts can swing hard, as “Carved From,” which features tight unison playing behind Halvorson’s most prominent shredding (plus some dazed synth) amply demonstrates. But more often, the horns appear as misty fragments, as on opener “Full of Neon,” or summon an air of oblique romance, as they do on the title track. You’d expect Halvorson’s tactile fretwork to act as the motor of these more elliptical compositions, but the engine’s usually powered by bassist Nick Dunston and drummer Tomas Fujiwara. Halvorson also lets Patricia Brennan’s rippling vibraphone carry quite a few of the melodies—on the reeling “Amaranthine,” the reedy wobble of the guitar mainly serves as accelerant and counterpoint to the antic lead instruments, imparting some needed acidity to deliciously imbalanced trumpet and trombone solos.

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Halvorson’s fondness for nested intricacies can act as a kind of subterfuge—all the activity in these songs disguises the small but crucial components that hold them together. But when she really lets loose—take the reedy staccato riff in the title track that recalls the frenetic pastoral of Sonny Sharrock’s “Blind Willie”—it’s like the arrival of some new species of X-ray, suddenly illuminating not just these songs’ collective spine, but also illustrating the electric pulses that flow up and down it, the chemistry that keeps everything going and the synaptic bursts that run the show. About Ghosts may invoke the departed, but it’s very much alive.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Zoë Dominguez: Still the Queen of Noise

2025-06-16T17:10:34.832Z

When she was in college, Zoë Dominguez challenged herself to write a feminist rock song. She knew that assigning personal stakes to a big social issue would be difficult, but that was the whole point. “It’s hard to write any kind of feminist song,” she says from her home in Memphis, “because you run the risk of sounding like you’re just complaining. That’s something that’s levied against women and is absolutely not valid. But I think a lot of female songwriters have that in the back of their minds.”

Inspired—or, more accurately, outraged—by the Ozempic epidemic and the culture of selling skinniness, she devised a song called “5-10-100,” which opens with a low, grinding guitar riffs and leans into its scowling chorus: “Smile for the camera, I just smile like I’m selling something.” An anthem against complacency, the song has the bravado of Bikini Kill and the righteous urgency of early Sleater-Kinney, but even more crucially, it doesn’t stoop to complain. Instead, it wails. It rages. It conspires. It accuses.

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“5-10-100” anchors her new solo debut, Out the House, released just weeks after she graduated from Rhodes College. It’s an album steeped in the alternative rock of the 1990s, straddling the folksier songwriting of the Lilith Fair roster and the abrasive energy of Lollapalooza’s best years. Dominguez’s songs strike a fine balance between the personal and the political: She addresses big issues in her lyrics, but also maps out her own interior life—not just her anger, but her deepest regrets, her knottiest confusions, her darkest fears, and desires she can’t quite name. “With a lot of ’90s rock, there’s room for female musicians to be angry without sounding explicitly like punk rock. With Sheryl Crow and Liz Phair, there are these quieter acoustic moments throughout their records, but the things they’re saying are still really aggressive. There’s definitely a fire there.”

While she was born well after the 1990s were over, Dominquez has been listening to those artists all her life. Her parents were musicians themselves, her father a bassist who ran a rock camp for kids and her mother an Ani DiFranco superfan who attended Berklee.

(Credit: Sarah Dassinger)

When Dominquez was 13, she joined a band of teenage girls covering songs by L.A. glam-punk pioneers the Runaways. “I was Cherie Currie, and I wore a bright silver jumpsuit. It was so ridiculous!”

Dubbing themselves the Queens of Noise, they gradually added more originals to their setlists and started playing shows around their hometown of Nashville. “Back then I didn’t know how to be onstage,” Dominguez admits. I thought you just stood behind the microphone and sang. The summer before I went away to college, we played the Tomato Art Fest and our guitarist’s dad sat me down and made me watch all of Freddie Mercury’s performance at LiveAid. It made me realize that the campy, ridiculous performance aspect of being a rock star is one of the most fun parts, and it was such a great release of all of my hormones. Oh, this isn’t just a fun thing to do with my friends. It’s actually therapeutic.”

(Credit: Jackson Hendrix)

When she left Nashville for college in Memphis, Dominguez figured she’d give up music to concentrate on urban studies at college, but she soon realized she missed that connection with an audience. So she played acoustic sets at some clubs around Memphis and corralled a band of friends to add some heaviness and drama to her songs. Out the House was written and recorded while she was still at Rhodes, with most of the songs tracked in Nashville with co-producer/engineer Eric Fritsch (Sheryl Crow, Greta Gaines). Only one song was recorded back in Memphis: Dominguez tracked “5-10-100” at historic Easley McCain Studios, where Pavement, Sonic Youth, and Guided By Voices all made big ’90s albums. “It was one of the first times I felt like I was a serious musician in a real studio. And I got to record my vocals on the last microphone Jeff Buckley ever used before he died.”

With college behind her and her debut available for streaming, Dominguez is scheduling more dates beyond Memphis, and she’s still writing to challenge herself and her listeners. “If you can take something very big and make it incredibly personal to your life, it’s so much easier for the vast majority of people to relate to it. They can find something in it that relates to their own experiences rather than just another topic on the news. Learning that offers me a lot of freedom as a songwriter.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Devo, The B-52s Make Touring Team

2025-06-16T15:17:54.209Z

The idea to team up was hatched during the SNL 50 anniversary concert earlier this year, when the New Wave-era heroes performed alongside more modern acts such as Post Malone, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny. “Believe or not, we’ve never done more than a festival or two together in all this time,” says the B-52s’ Cindy Wilson..

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“It was either fate or luck or the SNL anniversary that brought us all together to create this amazing chance to go out on tour,” adds Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh. “The B-52s had one of the best sounds of any of the bands out there in the late ’70s early ’80s. ‘Rock Lobster’ is one of my favorite songs. Devo used to sing it to Booji Boy after Devo shows.”

Recalled B-52s singer Kate Pierson, “when we first came from Athens to New York City to perform, punk was in full force, and New Wave was right on its tail! We loved all the New Wave groups, including Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Blondie and the Ramones. We also really dug the far-out weirdness of Devo, which seemed very in tuned to our sensibilities. We remember one of our first shows — amazed that David Bowie, Brian Eno, Frank Zappa, Allen Ginsberg, Talking Heads and Blondie all came to see us! When we opened the Mudd Club, we partied with Devo and really hit it off on the dance floor. Later, Brian Eno went onto to produce Devo’s incredible first album, and now we will align again! So put on your wig hats and Devo bonnets and get ready to party! This is going to be wild.”

The B-52s said they were leaving touring behind in 2022, but have since hunkered down for a residency at Las Vegas’ Venetian Theatre. A book, as well as a long-in-the-works documentary directed by Craig Johnson and executive produced by Fred Armisen, will see the light of day at some point as well.

“In 2022, I swore I’d never get on a tour bus again, but we were careful to say to our fans that we would still perform in special situations that don’t require all of the awful tour travel,” says vocalist Fred Schneider. “Our Vegas residency is going great, and when we were offered the chance to do a small run of shows with Devo, we all said this is an extraordinary opportunity we couldn’t say no to.”

As for Devo, the Akron, Ohio-reared group have their own shows on tap through November, including an Aug. 29 opening slot for My Chemical Romance at Chicago’s Soldier Field. A Chris Smith-directed documentary on the group, DEVO, premiered Aug. 19 on Netflix.

Here are the Cosmic De-Evolution Tour dates:

9/24 – Toronto, ONT @ Budweiser Stage
9/25 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
10/2 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
10/4 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
10/5 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
10/16 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
10/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/24 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
10/25 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
11/1 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
11/2 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dunja World Shares an Intense Moment of Her Life in “The Last Bridge.”

2025-06-13T21:54:42.763Z

Singer-songwriter Dunja World returns with a stunning new release, “The Last Bridge,” a deeply personal and cinematic track produced by Grammy-winner Ben Wisch. This single stands as the first of six songs from her upcoming EP, “Intimate Time with World,” and marks a defining moment in Dunja’s evolving artistry—one that blends vulnerability, emotional complexity, and lyrical storytelling like no other.

Based on a true and life-altering experience, “The Last Bridge” paints the picture of a moment suspended in time—Dunja on a bus in the middle of a bridge that was being attacked. “No last goodbyes…” she sings, evoking the disorienting shock of life changing in an instant.

But beyond the literal, the track unfolds as a poetic metaphor: crossing into something unknown, letting go of the past, and stepping bravely into the future. The emotional layers are many, and the imagery is so vivid that the song feels like it belongs in a film. In fact, a few directors have already reached out to Dunja about the real-life story behind it. The track resonates as both personal and universal—one of those rare songs that quietly commands your full attention.

Photo Credit: Heather Nigro/Moxxii Photo

Ben Wisch, known for his work on Marc Cohn’s legendary “Walking in Memphis,” brings his expert production to a soundscape that is both delicate and emotionally resonant. Every element—from the gentle layers of guitar and percussion to the clarity of Dunja’s voice—is thoughtfully placed, never excessive. The production is polished, yet it preserves the raw authenticity that mirrors Dunja herself.

Dunja, who describes herself as “mostly quiet and introverted,” reflects on the irony of following this soul-stirring ballad with a series of upcoming pop tracks. “After this EP, Dunja will be releasing some pop songs—very different in style,” she says, noting her ongoing exploration of musical genres. “One style has nothing to do with the other,” she adds. “I’m sure I’ll get a call pretty soon from my branding director—and it won’t be a pleasant one!” It’s this blend of sincerity, curiosity, and humor that makes Dunja’s voice—both musically and personally—so refreshing.

In addition to Dunja’s vocals, she plays both the piano and electric piano, while Marc Shulman adds texture on acoustic and electric guitars, Jerry Marotta (of Peter Gabriel and Hall & Oates fame) anchors the beat with soulful drumming, and Zev Katz brings depth with his fluid bass lines. Each artist brings their own sonic personality, yet they all work in harmony to serve the story and support Dunja’s emotional delivery.

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“The Last Bridge” isn’t just a single—it’s a statement. It’s cinematic in vision, poetic in execution, and emotionally fearless. Whether you hear it as a theme for transformation, survival, or quiet courage, one thing is clear: Dunja World has created something truly special.

With a sound that’s both intimate and vast, and a story that lingers long after the last note, “The Last Bridge” carves out its own category. It’s not just music—it’s a moment. And it’s one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Listen to the song here: “The Last Bridge”

SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Eddie, Jill Vedder Reveal The Human Side Of EB In ‘Matter Of Time’ Doc

2025-06-13T20:49:14.095Z

Eddie Vedder capped the world premiere screening of the new documentary Matter of Time last night (June 12) at New York’s Spring Studios with a six-song acoustic performance, frequently pausing to salute the families struggling with the debilitating skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) who are profiled in the film.

Vedder and his wife Jill co-founded EB Research Partnership in 2010 and have since raised $75 million to identify treatments and cures for the condition, which impacts children from birth. In the Matt Finlin-directed Matter of Time, these families assemble in Seattle in late 2023 for the inaugural Venture Into Cures summit and two solo Vedder concerts at Benaroya Hall. Throughout, viewers also see EB patients receiving three promising new, FDA-approved medications for the first time and get a powerful look inside the spirit and camaraderie of the rare disease community.

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“You’ve given us a wave to ride the surfboard of hope,” said Vedder, who played Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart,” Tom Waits’ “Picture in a Frame,” Glen Hansard’s “Song of Good Hope” with his guitar tech Simon Good on acoustic, Pearl Jam’s “Porch” and their fan-favorite cover of the ’60s hit “Last Kiss” plus Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”

“With all the causes we’ve been involved in, whether it’s women’s rights or the climate or when my sister had brain cancer, we’ve never been able to ‘fix’ any of them,” Jill Vedder tells SPIN. “This actually feels like something we can fix. The researchers believe we can do this. I believe it, because, watch us! The science backs us up that it can be done, and that’s powerful. So, why would we stop now? We can’t. We love these families too much.”

“We live in a divided world, but I think this is a really great example of a community that is doing whatever they can to fix something,” adds Finlin. “And there’s proof in what they’re doing. It’s not just that we’re saying this and it’s not that we’re selling a feeling. It’s hopeful and it’s happening. There’s proof of that since we started the film. There’s three-FDA approved treatments, where two years ago there was zero for 25 years. There’s a young woman in the film named Deanna who is 29 years old, which is older for an EB patient with a severe form of dystrophic EB. When she was born, they could only use very simple, rudimentary care like bleach baths and bandages that protect the wounds so they don’t get infected, but that was it.”

Eddie Vedder performs during the ‘Matter of Time’ premiere (photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for EB Research Partnership).

Finlin devotes significant footage in Matter of Time to the day-to-day experiences of Deanna, who passed away shortly after the Seattle concerts, and the precocious Rowan, helping to highlight the speed at which EB research is moving. “You’ve got two different generations,” says Jill Vedder. “One had nothing and her parents had to make up how to wrap her and how to keep her healthy. And then you’ve got Rowan, who you see receiving the FDA-approved treatment that’s closing her wounds. That’s not a cure. It’s just quality of life for now, but that just didn’t exist for Deanna.”

“Instead of researchers spending half their time writing grants to try and get this science over the finish line, how do we get this from the lab to the bedside of a patient?,” asks Finlin. “What they’ve done in this whole community, whether they’re scientists or rock stars or leaders of an organization, is transform how they can speed up the trajectory of this disease. They’re marching with these people to elicit an endgame.”

What’s more, since EB involves a single-gene mutation, scientists are hopeful that breakthroughs in this realm could one day lead to curing other similar diseases. “You may be learning about EB for the first time in this movie, but everybody knows somebody with a rare disease,” EBRP CEO Michael Hund tells SPIN. “That’s 400 million people — one in 10 people on this planet. Yet 95% have no approved treatments. We’ve been able to do that three times in the last two years, thanks to the brilliance of people like [EB clinician] Dr. Jean Tang. But what we feel a duty and an obligation for in the film will be a massive launching battle. This model of data technology innovation collaborating with academics and a venture philanthropy investment model is innovative and different. We hope it can benefit some of those other 10,000 rare diseases as well.”

For the Vedders, becoming a part of the EB community as a family has further crystalized their commitment. “As a kid, I was friends with all these kids, and I grew up so invested in it,” Eddie and Jill’s 21-year-old daughter Olivia tells SPIN. “But also, I had to be extra careful [around them] and it always made me sad. I really care on another level, because this is our thing. These last two years I’ve gotten to really join the team a little more, and to see this progress is unbelievable.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Daniel Arison and Leah Kate Aim to Redefine Pop with “Selfish” Remix

2025-06-13T20:37:29.772Z

Pop is often defined by strong beats and catchy lyrics, but introspective songwriting and genre-bending sounds often push the music to new levels, leaving listeners not just wanting, but craving more.

This is no less true for artist Daniel Arison, whose Miami roots left him enmeshed in diverse cultures and music styles from a young age. With music that delves into themes of love, identity, and the personal growth that comes from age, Arison has often drawn from his own life experiences to create stories that are filled with soulful storytelling.

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For Arison, the soulful honesty in his storytelling carries his music from beginning to end, inviting listeners into intimate emotions that most are afraid of hiding. His song “Selfish” is no different.

In a track that takes listeners on a journey of self-reflection, Arison weaves between the eras of his past and the present to create a narrative that symbolizes the power in making amends with not just someone you care for, but oneself as well.

As much as the song has resonated with listeners in its current state, “Selfish” has recently undertaken a new life. A recent remix with pop artist Leah Kate has transformed the song into a new experience for both Arison’s and Kate’s listeners.

Kate, who was born in Los Angeles, California, is an American singer-songwriter known for crafting pop/rock anthems with hyper-specific details. Her honest and empowering lyrics, which are often drawn from personal experiences, have been displayed on several EPs, which include “Impulse” (2019), “What Just Happened?” (2021), and “Alive and Unwell” (2022). She released her debut album, “Super Over,” in 2023. She is known for writing songs that are both intimate and razor-sharp, and has embraced social media platforms to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and engagement.

In transforming “Selfish” into a duet, Daniel Arison envisioned a new take on the original.

“Leah brought that energy and gave it a whole new life—it’s a sonic tug-of-war,” Arison states.

Leah Kate also shared her thoughts on the collaboration.

“When I first heard ‘Selfish,’ I immediately connected to the emotion behind it,” she says. “It’s raw, it’s honest, and it gave me space to bring my own story to the track.”

The song, which was produced by Larzz Principato and Nick Ruth, blends iconic Y2K pop-rock nostalgia with modern textures seen in alternative pop, creating a fresh sound.

The song isn’t the only thing that is resonating with audiences. The poignant music video for “Selfish” soulfully captures flashbacks that depict not just wild nights out, but intrepid moments in one’s youth. It was shot in Los Angeles and delivers a cinematic portrayal of the friction that drives the song, both from Arison’s and Kate’s points of view.

The collaboration from the two artists showcases them both at not just their boldest, but also their most emotionally resonant. By pushing the boundaries of contemporary alternative pop and highlighting their unique talents, Daniel Arison and Leah Kate have created a song that resonates with their audiences, all while telling a story that is sure to leave you thinking long after you’ve listened to it.
You can listen to the “Selfish” remix now on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Good Charlotte’s Billy Martin on His Two Loves: PRS Guitars and the Oklahoma City Thunder

2025-06-12T16:20:16.904Z

For the last 20+ years, Billy Martin has played some of the biggest imaginable stages as the lead guitarist of Good Charlotte, and he brought his trusty PRS guitars with him every step of the way.

From the early days of “Little Things” and the band’s massive rise beginning with The Young and the Hopeless all the way through two different hiatuses — with Good Charlotte only returning from their pandemic break in October 2023 — Martin’s favorite guitar brand has never wavered. And with the pop-punk rockers back in full swing, fans are going to be hearing a lot more of the beloved guitarist’s wide-ranging collection in the near future.

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Photo Credit: Bryan Kirks

SPIN spoke with Billy Martin about his growth as both a guitarist and human being, the return of Good Charlotte, and his love for both PRS guitars and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

SPIN: You’re well-known for loving PRS guitars ever since the early days. How did you first get into them as a teenager?

Billy Martin: I grew up in Maryland, just down the street from the PRS factory, so I’d see them in music shops and some of the local bands would play them. It was definitely more of a Maryland thing back then. Sometime around 1995 or ‘96 was when I was really getting into rock music and playing guitar, and I just immediately loved the way they look. I still think they’re the most beautiful guitars out there. There’s just so much craftsmanship to the guitar. They feel good to play. The necks are nice and thin, and they’re not too heavy compared to a Les Paul. It was just one of those things where it’s the perfect package for a guitar. It looks good, it sounds good, and it feels good.

You’ve created a pretty wide range of music in the rock world, so what do you need from your guitar collection to make that happen?

My PRS guitars are definitely versatile for that, especially with the different models I have. I’ve used some of the hollowbody models to get a cool clean tone, and then the Custom 24 has always been my favorite for the dirty tones. It really is a versatile guitar, and they really think about all of the pickup selections. You have the pickup selector, and then you can pull the volume knob up for more variations, so there are like 12 different variations you can do to get all these different sounds. They know it’s a guitar player’s guitar. It’s not just like “Oh, I’ll just grab this guitar.” If you get a PRS, you love guitar and you want to get those types of options. They make guitars for people who want options and who really care about the sounds of their guitar.

It feels like Good Charlotte was huge for a while, cooled off for a little bit, and now you’re back. What has this second resurgence been like over the last couple of years?

I’m very thankful for it. I think most bands are on a roller coaster where you start low, you get to the top, and when things start not going well, the band jumps off at the bottom most of the time. But if you continue to stay focused and ride the storm, the roller coaster goes back up again. Most bands aren’t willing to do that second round of work to get back to where you were, and there was a time when we all got married and had kids, so no one wanted to do all of it. We didn’t want to leave our families and miss all that, so we deliberately made the decision to take a break and be with our families. It’s a gamble that you take, because as soon as you jump out of the spotlight, everybody keeps going and you get left behind. We knew that, but you only get one life, and your kids grow so fast. When we came back two years ago for the When We Were Young Festival, that was the first time we’d played since before COVID, and it felt really good. But we were still in the habit of being home, so we just didn’t want to fully do it. Something lately just kind of clicked with everybody, and we’re like, “If we’re doing this, it can’t just be a random thing, we’ve got to do it for real.” We have a lot of plans, and I think the fans feel that. They know we’re actually really back, and the shows have been nuts.

How different does it feel now as a dad, as opposed to when you started in the band as a teenager?

I was a senior in high school when we signed our first record deal and I’m 43 now, so it’s very different. I’m worried about my knees and my ankles every time I do a jump, but so far, so good. It’s cool because my family’s on the side of the stage watching, and I’ll go over between songs and ask the kids “Hey, you guys good? Is everyone having fun?” That’s a great moment that you can’t plan. Before, I wanted to make myself proud. Now, I want to make the family proud. When I get a big win, I get to go tell the kids and share it with my family. “Guess what? We’re playing this TV show!” or “We’re gonna go to Florida next week to play Rockville, and you guys are going!” It adds a new sense of accomplishment and appreciation for it.

Is there any advice or anything you’ve told the next generation that’s come up under you and might look up to you in some ways?

“It’s not easy.” I think some bands are looking for the easy way out, but you have to grind and make sacrifices. For instance, we didn’t want to give up being away from our families as parents, but we gave up the 20 years prior to that. We missed all of our friends’ birthday parties, weddings, life moments, all because you have to dedicate to the band if you really want to do it. Also, “Don’t get complacent.” If you think you’re a badass guitar player, there are 50 other guys who can play circles around you. You have to find a way to make it fun and keep improving. I wake up every day and I’m hungry to make music. I still pick up my guitar every day and want to learn a new chord voicing or a new way to play something. You have to stay excited and passionate about it. The second you stop working, everyone flies right past you.

Photo Credit: Bryan Kirks

What are some of your favorite guitars right now?

I mostly play my Custom 24. My favorite band growing up was Silverchair, and Daniel Johns had this green PRS he got from Page Hamilton from Helmet — another band I really love. That was one of the first times I saw someone outside of Maryland with a PRS, so when I was still in high school, I saved my money up, went to the store and bought a green PRS. It’s all beat up now, but it was my very first one, and it’s always right next to me at home. When I pick up a guitar to play, it’s my green PRS. I don’t take it on tour anymore because it’s thrashed, but the Custom 24 is still my go-to. PRS just sent me one of the Sandblasted ones, and I think that’s one of the coolest-looking guitars I’ve ever seen. I also had my signature model 10-12 years ago, and that was such an insane moment for me to have my own signature with my favorite guitar company. I still have a couple of those on tour, but they’re getting all beat up, too. It’s just too cool to not bring my signature guitar on tour, and I usually start the show with it. When we play “The Anthem,” I have a part where I do a tremolo effect. I took the tone knob on that guitar and made it a second volume knob, and with one volume all the way down and one volume all the way up, I can use the toggle switch to get that cool glitchy effect. All of my signatures are set up that way just so I can do that.

Speaking of your signature guitar, how did it feel to get your own artist model from PRS?

When they called me up to ask me if I was into it, it was probably the top moment of my career. My dad took me to the PRS factory to visit it when I was in high school, and I remember walking through the factory and just really wanting one. I think the next time I went to the factory after that was to pick out a couple of guitars I wanted to take, and the third time was to approve my signature model. I think about stuff like that, and it doesn’t feel like real life. I’m not a flashy guitar player. I’m not the type of guy who gets a signature model, and I’m sure there were so many people who were mad about it. But I think a lot of guitar playing is knowing your place and what needs to be played, and I think I know when I should show off and when I need to pull back. For PRS to give someone like me — who isn’t like a full-on shredder — a signature model and acknowledge “You’ve been a PRS guy your whole life, your band’s kicking ass and you’re from Maryland,” that meant the world to me. They were really open to what I wanted to do, but when I told them I wanted it matte black, they were like “The whole PRS thing is the pretty wood, and you want to cover it with matte black?” No one had done it before, so I thought it would be a big trip — plus, I love that spooky gothic stuff, so I wanted it matte black with a bat right in the middle of it.

Last question, since the NBA playoffs are currently going on, what do you think of your beloved Oklahoma City Thunder’s chances at winning a championship?

My wife actually moved from Oklahoma City to Maryland in high school, and we’ve been together ever since. We visit Oklahoma all the time, so that’s like my second home. I’m a big NBA guy — always have been — and as soon as they got a team, I was like “Cool. I’ll check this team out.” Then they drafted three generational players in [Kevin] Durant, [James] Harden and [Russell] Westbrook, and I was hooked. This year, I thought the [Denver] Nuggets were the hardest team, so I thought if we get past the Nuggets, we’re cruising all the way through. That was the only team I was worried about, and they did it. I get so mad at the games sometimes, it drives my family crazy. We were in Florida for Rockville during the end of Game 6 against the Nuggets, and we had to find a big sports bar to go to right after because I had to watch the game. Then I was flying home during Game 7, and our layover was through Denver. I was just thinking “When we get off this plane in Denver, I’ll either feel like a fool or like the man,” but then the flight got canceled and re-routed, which felt like a sign. This season’s been so much fun, I want them against the Knicks in the Finals.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Beach Boys Mastermind Brian Wilson Dies At 82

2025-06-12T16:17:26.687Z

Brian Wilson, who revolutionized popular music from humble origins in Hawthorne, Ca., and led the Beach Boys to global superstardom, has died at the age of 82, per a statement from his family. The music legend had been in poor health for many years and was unable to care for himself after the death of his wife Melinda in January 2024.

“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” they wrote. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”

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The Beach Boys’ story is one of contradictions: genius and triviality, harmony and disharmony, creativity and commodity, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine, Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Endorsed by Ronald Reagan, they also had dealings with Charles Manson. Their’ pioneering influence over pop and rock can still be heard today, having devised new ways of utilizing the studio as an instrument and developing their own sonic vocabulary, but they also fell foul of mental illness, substance abuse and infamous squabbles over creative direction. Their history is epic in scale, like a Steinbeck saga played out over decades that explores themes of brotherhood, greed, God and California. You might not believe it if it weren’t true.

By age 22, Wilson had produced seven Top 10 hits, making the Beach Boys the most successful group in the world. The ambivalent reception (from his band and the public) to Pet Sounds in 1966 sent Wilson further afield with SMiLE, which remained unreleased for decades. But the former caused four Liverpudlians to up their game; Pet Sounds is generally regarded as second only to Sgt. Pepper’s as the best album in history.

Wilson descended into a decade-plus haze of drug abuse and mental illness, and then suffered for years under the controversial, abusive conservatorship of Dr. Eugene Landy. With the help of Melinda and members of his family, he began recording and performing more regularly in the late 1990s, leading to huge boon in discovery from younger audiences and even greater recognition as one of the world’s greatest living songwriters.

“Back then, mental illness wasn’t treated in a straightforward way,” Wilson wrote in his 2016 memoir, I Am Brian Wilson. “People wouldn’t even admit that it existed. There was shame in saying what it was and strange ideas about how to deal with it.” Only then, at age 74, and in a time when talking about mental health in the arts is no longer taboo, Wilson could write about his experience freely.

Asked years later about the creative process that fueled some of the most indelible moments in modern music, Wilson said, “there’s always some mystery when I try to remember how I wrote back then. My God, how the fuck could I have written all those songs?” Sure, he may have written “Good Vibrations,” but he also struggled with anxiety. He felt bad about his weight. He wanted to be a good father; he wanted to be loved.

“Anyone who really knows me knows how heart broken I am about Brian Wilson passing,” wrote John Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon on X. “Not many people influenced me as much as he did. I feel very lucky that I was able to meet him and spend some time with him. He was always very kind and generous. He was our American Mozart. A one of a kind genius from another world.”

Wilson’s most recent tour was in 2022, The year prior, he released an album of solo piano instrumental versions of his Beach Boys hits, At My Piano.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jeff Goldblum’s Jazz Renaissance

2025-06-09T19:08:48.721Z

Jeff Goldblum is not your typical song and dance man. He’s still best known as an actor, playing roles both quirky and intelligent, as leading man or eccentric supporting player, in anything from serious dramas to popcorn epics like Jurassic Park and Independence Day.

But when he’s away from the cameras, he loves to sit at the piano and play some jazz.

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In last year’s Wicked, he had a rare part that brought together multiple sides of his creative life, from theatrical to musical. In the film, he is the Wizard of Oz, at various points charming and wise, malevolent and insecure. In November, that story continues in the sequel Wicked: For Good, with more songs, tap dances, witches, and flying monkeys.

The actor has also just released his fourth album as a recording artist, Still Blooming, credited to Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. It’s a collection of jazz tracks of various styles, with such guest singers as Scarlett Johansson (“The Best Is Yet to Come”) and his Wicked co-stars, singer-actresses Ariana Grande (“I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)”) and Cynthia Erivo (“We’ll Meet Again”).

(Credit: Aaron Curry)

While his recording career is relatively new, he’s been a serious musician most of his life, first as an excited teen playing live gigs in Pittsburgh, and then, after he was an established film actor, for many years playing weekly in a Hollywood nightclub when in town between film roles. He’s currently on a tour with his band of seasoned musicians in the U.S. and across the Atlantic.

“I’m getting more passionate about it. And yes, I do take it seriously. I practiced today and I start my day with about an hour of work, and it changes my day, and it enhances my life—thanks to Shirley Goldblum once again, and Harold Goldblum,” he says, with a nod to his parents, hours before his concert at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. “They really did a good job.”

He’s speaking from the Manhattan offices of Verve Records, a historically important label and home to essential jazz classics by the likes of Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, and Roland Kirk, and on up to such recently acclaimed artists as Jon Batiste. It also happens to be near Columbus Circle, where, as a young actor, he auditioned for a small part as “Freak #1” in the 1974 vigilante thriller Death Wish. It was his first audition and he got the part.

With his entirely believable turn as a “freak,” and the criminal act that sets the entire Charles Bronson revenge series in motion, his movie career had begun. Several years before his career-making role in The Fly (and several Wes Anderson films), Death Wish was just the first in a series of tiny parts in ‘70s classics like Nashville and California Split, and his memorable one-line appearance in Annie Hall as a party-goer with a problem, nervously telling someone on the phone, “I forgot my mantra.” Things only accelerated from there.

Did small parts like your first in Death Wish lead directly to where you are now, or were they just keeping you alive back then?

Oh, you’re philosophical. I can tell already. I think every strand of the tapestry has been necessary to bring me to this point. It was the first movie I ever auditioned for, and I got it. And other miraculous things happened early on. And it was good that they were small things. I was thrilled about doing anything, because [acting teacher] Sandy Meisner said it takes 20 years to even call yourself an actor after working continually, and then a potential upward progress forever until your last breath. So yes, that contributed, and then other miracles happened like that. And one thing led to another is the title of the story.

Verve Records has a pretty incredible history. It must be great for you as a musician to now be part of it.

It’s in the same file as what we were just talking about. It was acting that I always had my heart set on to have a career at. I don’t believe in astrology, but what cosmic mystery resulted in me—with my passion, but non-careerist adventure musically—that I should wind up in the most prestigious, beautiful place with the cream of the crop people? Color me grateful because that’s what I am.

While your focus was on acting, you obviously take music extremely seriously, and have been doing it for decades. What led you down this particular path?

It was a parallel passion, but not one that I had my career hopes around. My parents gave us four kids music lessons, like good parents. We went to museums and had dance lessons and this and that, and went to a camp that I liked a lot. I was an undisciplined student. But when [first piano teacher] Tommy Emmel gave me a jazz piece or two, I was like, “I love this.” There was something in me that just—the syncopation and the different kinds of chords—I really dug. And so I sat and practiced until I got a little better. And then I started to call cocktail lounges around Pittsburgh when I was 15. It tickled my parents. They drove me there. And that’s how that started.

My acting kind of kept developing. I snuck it into a couple of movies, like Earth Girls Are Easy and The Fly, where my character, at my suggestion, played a little piano. And then about 30 years ago, [actor] Peter Weller, with whom I had done Buckaroo Banzai, is a trumpeter. We would get together and we’d run through things. And he said, “Hey, somebody told me”—actually, it was Miles Davis, whom he knew—“you and Jeff should get together with other musicians and have a gig, even just once a week if you’re not acting. And you’ll get better and it’ll be fun.” We started to do that.

(Credit: Kuba Ryniewicz)

Who are your jazz heroes?

Well, this band keeps turning me on to the albums that I should really be listening to, some of which are still new to me. But, here in the middle of my journey, I sure like Thelonious Monk. I like Oscar Peterson. I like Keith Jarrett. I like Erroll Garner, uniquely joyous and brilliant. Bill Evans, Bud Powell, a lot of people.

You say your current band is much more sophisticated now than when you started playing shows regularly in Hollywood. What exactly are you aiming for with this band?

How can I describe it? Well, we play what could be described as classics from the American songbook and jazz history. We’ve got things that jazz aficionados and connoisseurs and sophisticates may thrill to. People show up at our shows, and maybe buy the records who are not jazz, jazz, jazz people. Maybe they’ve seen me in a movie or this or that. And maybe they’ve decided, “Oh, I don’t really like jazz. It’s a lot of notes and it’s self-indulgent. It goes on for too long.” All our songs I think are very enjoyable and accessible, let’s call it, but special.

We do Thelonious Monk, you know, we dare to do that. But I love what we do with that. And then, oh, yes, I sing Bud Powell’s “Bouncing With Bud” on this album, a quintessential bebop tune. And I think I’m getting better every day at all these things.

Ariana Grande sings on the new album’s opening song, “I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do).”

When we asked these singers, which happened just randomly on the set of Wicked when I got Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and we figured out what they wanted to do, that determined a little bit of our choices too. Scarlett Johansson, she wanted to do “The Best Is Yet to Come,” and she even had the idea of a bossa nova treatment.

Ariana has a lot of experience making hit records. She has a great little laugh at the end of her song.

Isn’t that charming? She’s really a genius. She’s so good in Wicked, as is Cynthia Erivo. They both are so impressive. Wonderful actors, spontaneous. They really have their instruments in their possession musically, theatrically. And they can then be free and authentic. And I think that laugh must have been part of how she felt.

Do you like recruiting people from your film life into your music world?

Well, I have no strategy. It just kind of happened that way. For instance, with Scarlett Johansson, I was at the premiere of Asteroid City. I’d done a couple of Wes Anderson movies with her. And we just got to talking at the table. I don’t go into any of these things saying, “How am I going to poach one part of my life and use it for another?” No, it just kind of happens. Although now we do have wish lists.

Let me see. Hey, oh, Lana Del Rey! I ran into Lana Del Rey at one of these events, and we had a nice chat. Yes, she expressed interest too. I can’t say what’s gonna happen, but that would be glorious. Charlie XCX, I had a nice exchange with, we talked about it a little bit. Jacob Collier, I love. That would be peachy. Let’s see—Lady Gaga. I was listening to her again with Tony Bennett and oh boy, I’m crazy about her. Anyway, those are some of our wish lists, but maybe there’s a whole world that may open up to us. I’m excited about it.

So you’re not going to get Sam Neill on your next record?

I wish. Maybe you’ve seen some of those where we set up a camera, when we were in the bubble in the studio where we shot the last Jurassic movie. He and I made a lot of ukulele/piano duets. I don’t know if any of them are presentable to the general public, but we like making that. But no, I don’t get my sticky fingers on the call sheet at any time. No, no, no. I stick to the job at hand. My plate is full.

What do you think about the long life that Jurassic Park has ended up having, with so many sequels since the first film you were part of?

Well, that’s the story of Hollywood and the marketplace, whereby something popular will find continuation for one reason or another. But that original material, I must say, Michael Crichton and the original by Steven Spielberg—the two movies that I did are substantially delicious. And it’s not curious that they’ve also inspired further exploration. I’ve had a good time on a couple others that I’ve done recently, and now they’ve got Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey from Wicked. I’ll be first in line for that. And dinosaurs, people seem to like dinosaurs.

You got to be in the Wicked movie as the Wizard of Oz, which blended different talents that you have. Do you identify with the showmanship of the Wizard?

I’ve always been interested in all the auxiliary aspects of theatrical training, which is movement and dance and voice and this and that. And then I saw the original production of Wicked. [Composer] Stephen Schwartz, he went to Carnegie Mellon University too. He had done Godspell and this and that. And then we crossed paths actually during Prince of Egypt, because I had a little part in that, and he had done that music, of course. And then 20 years ago, I just happened to go to the original cast of Wicked and saw Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, went backstage and was crying my eyes out at it.

It got me in the best way because The Wizard of Oz has always been in my bones and blood and nervous system and heart. It was a thrill to be involved when [producer] Marc Platt and [director] Jon M. Chu—who is the genius behind the quality of this movie—got me in a room and said, “Hey, you wanna do this?” That was a total thrill. And then it sort of rang the bell and was well received and popular and seemed to satisfy the fervent religious fans of that show. I hope the second one does the same.

What’s it like to be part of something that just explodes into the pop culture zeitgeist?

Really fun. I’ve done a lot of things and I was never particularly focused on that, as the business was less focused in that direction. Nobody knew about Rotten Tomatoes or the first weekend’s grosses or the competition to make the most money or anything like that. No, it was an artistic so-called adventure, and that was its own reward. But then, unlike some terrific actors who have big careers, I was in a couple of movies that really did very well.

This Jurassic Park movie and Independence Day did very well. And I was in that Thor: Ragnarok movie that did very well. And The Fly rang the bell of the year it came out, ’86. I’m glad to still do things like Kaos on Netflix and play that Zeus character and do things that feel chewy and nutritious and artful. But working on Wicked … That character is a fun part of that show. But just like the show, there are other aspects to it besides its crowd-pleasing ways that are worthy of exploration and serious thought. He’s a complicated fella and some dark difficult things in his character, of course. And people are very enthusiastic—I go around the street here and … it’s just fun to see the brightness in their eyes and their bushy tailed enthusiasm and say, “Oh, it’s the Wizard!”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Olivia Rodrigo Goes ‘House’ Shopping With David Byrne

2025-06-09T19:05:08.967Z

Olivia Rodrigo once again crossed the generational divide by welcoming Talking Heads frontman David Byrne onstage last night (June 7) during her Governors Ball headlining set in New York for a performance of his vintage band’s “Burning Down the House.” Talking Heads celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first show two days earlier.

For the second-to-last song before the encore, Rodrigo, 22, brought out a red overall-clad Byrne, 73, who strummed an acoustic guitar before removing it to better dance around the stage in tandem with her.

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Rodrigo has often performed with some of her older musical heroes, including Billy Joel at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 2022 and No Doubt at their 2024 Coachella reunion. She also selected ’90s alternative band the Breeders as one of the openers on her GUTS tour. “I’m very inspired by them and everything they stand for,” she told The New York Times of the latter. “They are absolutely iconic, and playing these shows with them has been a surreal honor.”

Rodrigo will spend the bulk of the summer headlining European festivals such as Glastonbury in the U.K. and Roskilde in Denmark. She’ll also anchor Lollapalooza in Chicago in early August.

As for Byrne, he is teasing what appears to be the release of his first album since 2018’s acclaimed American Utopia. Meanwhile, Talking Heads last week released the first official video for their early hit “Psycho Killer” starring Irish actress Saoirse Ronan.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Kevin Parker Spins New Tame Impala Song In Barcelona

2025-06-09T19:01:02.543Z

Tame Impala leader Kevin Parker gave fans quite the thrill last night (June 7) during a DJ set at Barcelona’s Nitsa Club, when he debuted a song from what’s expected to be the group’s first new album since early 2020. A major Tame Impala tour is also in the works, with details expected in the coming weeks.

The new track has no title at the moment, with Parker telling the crowd before he hit play, “you’re going to be the first ones to hear it, you realize? There’s no going back from this point on. All right, let’s do it. Get comfortable.” Sonically, the tune has much more in common with the danceable pop Parker helped create for Dua Lipa on her 2024 album Radical Optimism as opposed to the guitar-based psychedelic rock of Tame Impala albums such as Lonerism.

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Lyrically, Parker seems to be reflecting on the end of a relationship when he sings, “everybody knows how I feel about you / so you can act surprised if you need to / and I am still your friend if you think it’s worth it / it just means that I’ll see you when I see you.”

Tame Impala hasn’t performed since March 2023, and Parker has spent the time since focusing both on the launch of his Orchid chord generator instrument and songwriting and production work for artists such as Lipa and Justice.

The group’s most recent album, The Slow Rush, which came out at the very outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, debuted at a career-best No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

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To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Lil Wayne Livens Up For ‘Tha Carter VI’ Tour

2025-06-04T16:09:17.657Z

Days ahead of the release of his long-awaited new album, Tha Carter VI, Lil Wayne has announced plans for an extensive summer tour in support of it. The shows will start July 30 in Bristow, Va., and conclude Oct. 2 in West Palm Beach, Fl. Opening acts include Tyga, Belly Gang Kushington and NoCap.

Tha Carter VI will be released Friday (June 6) through Young Money/Republic, and Wayne previously announced his first headlining show ever at New York’s Madison Square Garden on the same day. The new album purportedly includes guest appearances by everyone from U2‘s Bono and Andrea Bocelli to Miley Cyrus and Machine Gun Kelly.

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Click here for tickets to the tour, which go on sale Friday to the general public and tomorrow via presale.

Here are Lil Wayne’s tour dates:

Fri Jun 06 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Wed Jul 30 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Fri Aug 01 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach#
Sat Aug 02 – Atlantic City, NJ – Boardwalk Hall
Sun Aug 03 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Tue Aug 05 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
Wed Aug 06 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Fri Aug 08 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sat Aug 09 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Mon Aug 11 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Thu Aug 14 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sat Aug 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Sun Aug 17 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Wed Aug 20 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Fri Aug 22 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
Sat Aug 23 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Sun Aug 24 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 26 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Fri Aug 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 01 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
Wed Sep 03 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Fri Sep 05 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 06 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Wed Sep 10 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Sun Sep 14 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Tue Sep 16 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Wed Sep 17 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Thu Sep 18 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman#
Mon Sep 22 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center^%
Wed Sep 24 – Huntsville, AL – The Orion Amphitheater
Thu Sep 25 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Mon Sep 29 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena#
Wed Oct 01 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center#
Thu Oct 02 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre#

# with NoCap
% Lil Wayne with Special Guests Hot Boys

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Sabrina Carpenter Calls Out A ‘Manchild’ On New Single

2025-06-04T15:59:53.465Z

Barely a year out from her inescapable “Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter has another new song ready to soundtrack the summer. The star’s latest track, “Manchild,” will be released Thursday (6/5) at 8 p.m. ET, with Carpenter writing on Instagram, “this one’s about you!!”

“Manchild” was produced by longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff and is available on a seven-inch vinyl single backed by something titled “Inside of your head when you’ve just won an argument with a man.”

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The timing points to Carpenter debuting “Manchild” in front of an audience on Friday when she headlines the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona. She pulled off a similar maneuver in 2024 by premiering “Espresso” during her Coachella set.

As of yet, there are no details on whether “Manchild” heralds the follow-up to 2024’s multiple Grammy-winning Short n’ Sweet. Carpenter released a deluxe edition of that album in February with several new songs, including a Dolly Parton-assisted version of “Please Please Please” and “Busy Woman,” which has nearly 199 million Spotify streams.

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To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Ivy’s First LP In 14 Years Has Adam Schlesinger On Every Song

2025-06-04T15:55:15.544Z

Beloved New York-reared indie trio Ivy were inactive for the better part of eight years before group member Adam Schlesinger died of COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic in 2020. Since then, surviving husband-and-wife duo Dominque Durand and Andy Chase have paid tribute to Schlesinger in a moving video retrospective and overseen several back catalog reissues, but there was no new Ivy album on the horizon — until now.

Durand, Chase and longtime multi-instrumentalist Bruce Driscoll have combed through their demo archives to surface the previously unreleased material on Traces of You, which will emerge Sept. 5 through Bar/None Records. Each of the 10 tracks offers contributions from Schlesinger, including lead single “Say You Will,” which was built from a 2009 demo where he played bass and keyboard. R.E.M./Atoms for Peace drummer Joey Waronker plays on the finished version.

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With occasional flashes of mainstream success but enduring fan appeal, Ivy are perhaps best known for their 1997 sophomore album Apartment Life, from which “This Is the Day” popped up in the classic ’90s comedy There’s Something About Mary and the vibrant, moody “The Best Thing” garnered modern rock airplay. The trio, who formed in 1994 but slowed down in the 2000s while Schlesinger devoted more time to Fountains of Wayne, last released an album in 2011 with After Hours.

“The songs here were all unused and abandoned ideas from the various albums and film scores we worked on,” the band members tell SPIN of the Traces of You material. “We’d never released any parts of them.” The resulting music is amongst the most diverse Ivy have ever released, from the bass- and keyboard-driven “Fragile People” and the wistful, undulating title track to “The Great Unknown,” which has an almost Garbage-y, electro feel and the tender, acoustic guitar-led “Hate That It’s True.”

Band members say album opener “The Midnight Hour” was the most complete of the fragments, as “the first verse and chorus were sung back when they were originally demoed. Adam’s bass was there and Andy had played all the guitar and keys. The second verse, the bridge and the ‘feel the rush’ vocal hook were all new additions when we got together with Bruce. What’s amazing is that Dominique’s vocals between verse one and two are seamless, as if no time had passed.” Schlesinger’s Fountains of Wayne cohorts Brian Young (drums) and Jody Porter (guitar) later added parts to the recording.

Ivy found themselves slipping back into some old work habits during the process, but thankfully, with ear-pleasing results. “Dominique disliked the existing idea for ‘Heartbreak,’ which was Andy on guitar and keys and Adam on bass with the main part of the song you hear at the introduction,” they say. “By the time we added the horn parts, the chorus chords and found depressing lyrics to offset the happy sound of the song, she came around.”

Asked what fans will enjoy most about hearing Schlesinger’s work on Traces of You, Ivy’s members answer, “on one song, you’ll hear Adam on bass, the next on acoustic, the next on keys, the next he supplied a part of the melody with mumbled lyrics (which we deciphered and completed). His contributions were always gems and we never had to make them work with what we were doing. They were always essential to the idea, or we wouldn’t work on the track.”

Here is the track list for Traces of You:

The Midnight Hour
Fragile People
Mystery Girl
Traces of You
The Great Unknown
Say You Will
Heartbreak
Lose It All
Wasting Time
Hate That It’s True

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Island Time: From Dance Floors to Yacht Rock, the Ting Tings Ride A New Wave

2025-06-04T15:50:57.853Z

“Meadow wanted to say hi,” says the Ting Tings’ Katie White, holding her daughter by the armpits. Meadow, a miniature version of Katie, giggles, chirps “Hi,” waves to me, then skips off to watch her television program. “She had a little puke this morning, so we kept her home from school,” Katie explains.

Parenting has been top of mind for Katie and her Ting Tings partner, Meadow’s father Jules De Martino, since their daughter arrived in the summer of 2020. After years of setting up homes in random corners of the world on a whim, they drove an RV from their native U.K. to Spain, landed in Ibiza, and never left.

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“Ibiza is a weird place, because there’s all different types of people here,” admits Katie. “Spain’s a relaxed place and Ibiza is an island off the coast of that so it’s super relaxed. It took us six months to relax into it. In London, Amazon Prime gave us same day delivery of loo roll if we ran out. Here, it would be six weeks later and your parcel’s lost and they can’t find it. But it has given us space.”

(Credit: Lela Radulovic)

The Ting Tings found mainstream success early with their 2008 debut, We Started Nothing. Their much-licensed hits “That’s Not My Name” and “Shut Up and Let Me Go” struck a global chord. Swept into a cycle of touring, promotion and awards—they were nominated for two Brits and a Grammy—the unassuming Manchester duo weren’t the most cooperative pop stars.

Each album since has marked a stylistic shift, with their latest, Home, settling into soft rock. The album channels Fleetwood Mac, Toto, Christopher Cross, The Eagles, and Steely Dan. It’s a breezy, lavender-scented trip to the heart of the ’70s.

Katie, in a straw hat, lace-front top, and floral vest, embodies the sound of Home. Jules, in a hoodie and baseball cap, reflects its studio soul. Even over Zoom, their synergy is clear. They finish each other’s thoughts while recounting the long road that brought them to Ibiza, dancing around their house with Meadow, to yacht rock.

Do you think being a couple makes navigating artist life easier?

Jules De Martino: Life is a performance, and on top of that, you’re an artist and you’re performing. You start to create your character within your success, every band does. Being in a couple, the minute I start getting boisterous, Kate’s like, “It’s not cool. Chill the fuck out.” Kate, same thing. She’s singing, and everyone’s going crazy. We go backstage, and I’d be like, “You’ve got no time for me.” We have these things that are totally real. You’re not a boy band where everyone’s doing their shit and separating and going home. You’re together 100% of the time and you can’t let anything take over.

Katie White: We have tried to kill each other a few times over 20 years.

JD: The thing that keeps everything real is you can’t fake it with each other. You’re dealing with your shit together as a couple all the time. You’re not in a band where you can rely on your bass player to help drink away your sorrows and not worry about family or friends. It’s not in our character to do that anyway, but it is helped by being a couple. That automatically gives you a massive amount of stability until, as you know, in many duos it goes wrong. If it goes wrong between us two, it’s done. We always made sure that we never got ourselves in the position where anything meant more than what we were in our relationship.

KW: We wouldn’t let anything come between us, not even our decision making. At the time of our first album, we toured nonstop for four years. We flew every day for two years straight, and that was amazing. We did that because we were a couple. Normally, if you were in a band, you’d have somebody building your home life up. If we had somebody at home, at some point, you’d put the brakes on. We didn’t build a home life. Even now, we’re a bit floaty. We don’t seem to settle that well. Now that we have a child, we try really hard to be more settled. But we still have this instinct, like three months ago, we were like, “Let’s move to Nashville.”

What is it about the nomadic lifestyle that appeals to you?

KW: We were quite impulsive, and we’re both as bad as each other. We would go, “I’m bored. I don’t know what to do in my life. Let’s move countries.” And we’d just move two weeks later. We built a life in a different country for every album. We didn’t realize it at the time, but it became part of the process. You can reinvent yourself, be somebody new, free yourself up for writing.

JD: It was in the DNA at the very start of the Ting Tings. We weren’t ever going to make the same record twice.

(Credit: Lela Radulovic)

What was it like adjusting to your rapid success?

JD: Suddenly, we were faced with promo, touring, and being looked after like we’re children. We’ve never felt comfortable in that area. We love playing live, but if I’m being honest, the commercial touring is fantastic. We’ve had an amazing time, but it’s not as organic as we thought it would be surrounded by people pulling you to be in the right place at the right time.

I’ve done music all my life, so has Kate. Music was always something you passionately, organically fell in love with. When you commercialize it, it gets hard. We’re very fortunate. We’re privileged to be in this position. We’ve had hit records. We’ve seen the whole world six times over. The concept of writing music and loving what you do and trying to get better at it goes fucking out the window the minute you have a hit record.

From that very beginning, we buckled. It wasn’t like we couldn’t cope, we just struggled with it.

How did you find balance again after everything shifted so fast?

JD: We were always trying to bend the rules to fit our needs, hence why we went to Berlin. What a great thing to dismantle everything, to get to a place where you have no idea who you are again, or where you are, or who your friends are. That set us off writing. That’s what makes you feel like a musician. That’s what makes you feel inventive.

Then finally, on our third album, we broke free and became independent. And it was amazing. We did an amazing tour with amazing musicians on buses all over Europe, just bliss. They were our family. For 15 years we’ve been working with that crew. This new record feels like an extension of that.

(Credit: Lela Radulovic)

How does Home feel like an extension of that?

JD: The idea was, we’ve got 1000 bucks, which is how we started out. How would we make a record and make it count for 1000 bucks? It’s easy to say that sitting in a position of hit records and a lot of syncs on our music. It funds us. We’re able to feed ourselves with our music. It sounds a cliche, four albums in and going, “We’ve only got 1000 bucks.” Why would you do that? But it’s stimuli. If you put yourself in that real honest position, maybe you can write some real honest songs.

KW: With this album, we’re very much completely on the same page. Other albums we might have been 80% on the same page—and you can feel that as well. Jules has been going on for years about making this type of record. We were watching Steely Dan in New York. I was in my mid-20s and I was so bored. Now I’m so angry at my 25-year-old self. Why did I have to get to this age to comprehend, or to have that music resonate with me? It feels like we’ve collided creatively again.

It’s so naive in a lovely way. You can’t be naïve a second time. With this record, we’ve let go of trying to chase anything. We thought, “Let’s write songs that we love. just for the love of songwriting.” It was the first time since that first album where we felt naive in a different way, or we felt free. Having a child, you don’t have time to overthink. We would write lyrics that we wouldn’t normally put in a song. We’d go, “Oh, that’s too literal.” But people connect with it so well. It’s not cheesy. It’s not too simplified. They’re just nice songs. That’s what we want, storytelling. We want to get old writing songs like this.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Alan Sparhawk Lets Go on ‘With Trampled By Turtles’

2025-06-02T15:47:54.761Z

Sparhawk returns less than a year later with his new album, With Trampled by Turtles (May 30), which feels like a truer expression of sorrow. Working with fellow Duluth musicians Trampled by Turtles, this album plays like a downbeat version of Neil Young’s 1978 album Comes a Time, leaning into and subverting the bluegrass sounds of his backing band to explore sadness and community.

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Recorded in just two days, With Trampled by Turtles is everything White Roses, My God was not. The songs here possess a lived-in warmth, and Sparhawk’s unadorned voice, missing Parker’s harmonies, is front and center. Yet, the haunting melodies that gut-punch you on a Low record can be found here, through different textures.

Sparhawk had already played much of the record live earlier this year when touring behind White Roses, My God. After clearing out the glitchy discomfort of those tracks to start the shows, he would strip away the vocal effects and sing unreleased songs such as “Stranger” and “Torn & in Ashes.”

Without the splatter of electronics and the obscured vocals, these songs feel like more direct paeans to sadness. It’s as if the guardedness of White Roses has sloughed off, and the weariness of the grieving process has set in. Sparhawk even resurrects White Roses tracks “Heaven,” this time in a folky incantation singing, “Heaven / It’s a lonely place if you’re alone / I wanna be there with the people that I love” and “Get Still,” which now feels like a hymnal; scrubbed of any electronics or distorted vocals.

The addition of Trampled by Turtles, best known for their frenetic sound, offers tasteful accompaniment that enhances Sparhawk’s songs rather than drowning them in bluegrass trappings. Take “Screaming Song,” perhaps the rawest incantation of loss here. Sparhawk begins the song by singing, “When you flew out of the window and into the sunset / I thought I would never stop screaming / I thought I would never stop screaming your name.” The song then builds as Ryan Young’s violin gets louder, becoming a scream to mirror Sparhawk’s sadness.

Meanwhile, “Don’t Take Your Light” features restrained banjo as Sparhawk sings, “Don’t take your light out of me” like a desperate mantra. But perhaps the most arresting moment on the record is the spare “Not Broken” where he duets with his daughter, Hollis, whose vocals bear an eerie resemblance to her mother’s. The communal feel of With Trampled by Turtles shows that Sparhawk isn’t alone in his sadness. Instead, this collaboration gives us one of the most stunning albums of the year, a deeply moving record that rewards repeat listens.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Alex Warren is Anything But ‘Ordinary’

2025-06-02T15:44:37.937Z

When Alex Warren was a kid, he loved wandering around his house, singing. His mother would berate him for it, telling him he had no talent. So at age 18 when Warren performed “One More I Love You” on a talent show, his lack of confidence got the best of him, and he was instantly voted off.

“I realized I had really bad stage fright,” he tells me, from a hotel somewhere in Ohio, though he’s not sure where. “I was just scared of failing.”

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Two years later, in 2021, he released “One More I Love You” as his debut single. A song he wrote at age 13 about his childhood trauma, it has since garnered more than 62 million streams on Spotify. Later that same year, he released two more singles: “Remember Me Happy” and “Screaming Underwater.”

Warren, who is currently on his sold-out headlining Cheaper Than Therapy global tour, has recently announced a 15-date extension for a second North American leg, totaling 62 dates—which explains why he’s unable to recall which city he’s in.

“I’m touring 10 months out of the year,” he says. “I’m never home.”

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Warren’s career is exploding.

The Carlsbad, California, singer-songwriter was named Billboard’s January Chartbreaker with a reimagined version of “Burning Down,” with Joe Jonas, a track originally from his debut album, 2024’s You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1). The single marked Warren’s first time breaking onto the Billboard Hot 100 and has now amassed more than 185 million streams, reaching No. 1 on the global charts in eight countries. And then there’s “Ordinary,” released in February, which has more than 193 million streams and, as of this writing, currently sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 for the third week in a row. The song is about his now-wife, Instagram model Kouvr Annon, whom he met while he was homeless after getting kicked out of the house at 18 by his mother.

“Like the alcoholic, abusive mom, she was always kicking me out of the house…” Warren says. “The day I turned 18, she stormed into my room and said, ‘Alright, time to go.’ So I left, and I never came back. I was sleeping in my friends’ cars, and whenever their parents would go to bed, they’d let me come into their house and sleep on the floor sometimes or share a bed with them. So I was kind of all over the place. And then I met my wife, and I was sleeping in cars still, and she decided to sleep in cars with me for, I think, two weeks or three weeks, we were together doing that.”

What he doesn’t mention is that Annon left her family in Hawaii and moved to California to do this.

While Warren may be on the verge of becoming one of the biggest stars on the planet, he still sometimes hears his mother’s voice inside his head tell him: “You can’t do this.”

Warren’s mother started drinking heavily after his father died from kidney cancer when he was 9. He says he was as close as a 9-year-old can be with his father.

“I think the struggle I have a lot is I find out more about him through people than I did through him, and the videos he left us, which is something really sweet,” Warren says. “I’m constantly thinking about who he was as a man, as I’m this age, where he was in his life. And it’s cool. I was in a mall the other day, the one he grew up going to, and I felt very at home.”

Before he died in 2009, Warren’s father would take him and his four siblings on weekly outings to show them a new talent, from surfing to skateboarding.

That desire for his kids to be well-rounded and active wasn’t limited to sports. When Warren was 6 years old, his father bought him his first guitar, a Fender. “We would have home talent shows, and it would be me on guitar, my little sister would sing, my older sister would play piano, and my brother would play drums. And I fell in love with it. And so as I got older and as time went on, I would do talent shows, and I was god-awful.”

Those old home videos of his father that Warren would watch inspired him to create his own videos and post them online when he was 11; mainly silly stuff like doing backflips on the trampoline and the Doritos commercial he and his siblings made.

Over the next few years, Warren continued to upload videos, mostly pranks and other humorous content. But when he began chronicling his budding relationship with his then-girlfriend Annon, starting from his homeless days sleeping in his car, he gained more than a million followers in six months.

Then he got his first check for $2,000.

(Credit: Jack Dytrych)

In 2019, Warren, along with Annon and fellow TikTok influencers Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, Chase Hudson, and others, moved into the Hype House, a mansion where they all lived together and created online content for the platform, garnering millions of fans.

During all of this, however, Warren still dreamt of being a musician, despite the insecurities his mother planted in his head. The Hype House gave him the confidence to try it again.

“If you go all the way down my social media, the first videos I ever posted were me singing,” says Warren. “I really wanted to be a singer. And it just never worked, never got views, never got discovered. I got made fun of, bullied in high school, so I kind of just gave up on it. And then I started doing the social media thing, and that took off right when I started.”

Warren took his social media success as a sign that perhaps being a musician wasn’t so unrealistic. So, while he was living at the Hype House, sitting on the toilet, he tells me, he posted a video of himself singing. The next morning, he woke up to discover his video had 10 million views.

“Everyone was like, ‘Oh my god, you should put out a song. You sound so good,’” he says. “And then I dropped ‘One More I Love You’ and started pursuing music.”

(Credit: Jack Dytrych)

In 2022, he signed with Atlantic Records and released his first album two years later. While he gained recognition for songs such as “Carry You Home” and “Burning Down,” it was “Ordinary” that got Warren to where he is now: on the verge of superstardom.

He and Annon, who have been together seven years, got married in June 2024. “She comes with me on tour everywhere, and we get to travel the world,” he says.

Though Warren’s mother died in 2021, he still can’t get the cruel things she said to him out of his head. I ask him if he feels like his mother’s abuse helped push him harder to obtain success in an effort to prove her wrong.

“I think I work a lot harder to prove that to someone who isn’t here to prove it to, if that makes sense,” he says. “I can’t be like, ‘See Mom, I told you I could do it.’ But there’s definitely someone in my ear, and it tends to be the depiction of my mom. Everything I do, I’m my biggest hater. A lot of people are always like, ‘Oh, you’ve done so well for yourself, how cool is it?’ and it’s crazy because I don’t think I celebrate the wins, which is something I have to work on. I credit a lot of my success to the fact that I do that, but at the same time, it’s so horrible for my mental health.”

On May 22, Warren released a new single, a collaboration with Jelly Roll called “Bloodline,” a song they performed together at the Stagecoach Festival in April.

Alex Warren and Jelly Roll collaborate on their new single “Bloodline”

The new single is an ode to his older brother, who, like many children of alcoholics, struggles with the mental health challenges that come from growing up in such a dysfunctional household, particularly when it comes to people-pleasing and seeking others’ approval.

“I only know how to write sad songs or love songs because that’s kind of my two things,” he says. “Funny enough, my brother joined the military for my mom, and my mom passed away. And then he realized that that was not the life that he wanted. And he struggled with mental health. And so it was something important for me…that’s where our relationship really bonded and got strong, over the fact that we both come from a weird bloodline and a weird, traumatic family.”

Warren says the life he has is a trade-off. But he’s fine with it. “I live a very cool life, and that’s something I’m very thankful for,” he says. “And at the same time, I have my own battles. I’m 24, I’ve got time to figure that out…to walk through life and experience it all.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Taylor Swift Buys Back Music Rights After Years-Long Dispute

2025-06-02T15:41:03.747Z

In a move that ends a years-long, high-profile feud, Taylor Swift has bought back the rights to her first six albums, which were sold by her label Big Machine to music mogul Scooter Braun in 2019 and later acquired by investment firm Shamrock Capital. In response, Swift began producing Taylor’s Versions re-records of her back catalog, four of which have emerged so far.

Financial details of the deal have not been made public, but Swift posted a long message on her web site filling in the backstory. It is reproduced below:

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Hi. I’m trying to gather my thoughts into something coherent, but right now my mind is just a slideshow. A flashback sequence of all the times I daydreamed about, wished for, and pined away for a chance to get to tell you this news. All the times I was this close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away. But that’s all in the past now. I’ve been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening. I really get to say those words.

All of the music I’ve ever made … now belongs … to me. And all my music videos. All the concert films. The album art and photography. The unreleased songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life’s work.

To say this say my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it. To my fans, you know how important this has been to me — so much so that I meticulously re-recorded and released four my albums, calling them Taylor’s Version. The passionate support you showed those albums and the success story you turned the Eras Tour into is why I was able to buy back my music. I can’t thank you enough for helping to reunite me with this art that I have dedicated my life to, but have never owned until now.

All I’ve ever wanted was the opportunity to work hard enough to be able to one day purchase my music outright with no strings attached, no partnership, with full autonomy. I will be forever grateful fo everyone at Shamrock Capital for being the first people to ever offer this to me. The way they’ve handled every interaction we’ve had has been honest, fai and respectful. This was a business deal to them, but I really felt like They saw it for what it was to me: my memories and my sweat and my handwriting and decades of dreams. I am endlessly thankful. My first tattoo might just be a huge shamrock in the middle of my forehead.

I know, I know. What about [Reputation (Taylor’s Version)]? Full transparency: I haven’t even re-recorded a quarter of it. The Reputation album was so specific to that time in my life, and I kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it. All that defiance, that longing to be understood while feeling purposely misunderstood, that desperate hope, that shame-born snarl and mischief. To be perfectly honest, it’s the one album in those first six that I thought couldn’t be improved upon by redoing it. Not the music, or photos, or videos. So I kept putting it off. There will be a time (if you’re into the idea) for the unreleased Vault tracks from that album to hatch. I’ve already completely re-recorded my entire debut album, and I really love how it sounds now. Those two albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about. But if it happens, it won’t be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I could have. It will just be a celebration now.

I’m extremely heartened by the conversations this saga has reignited within my industry among artists and fans. Every time a new artist tells me they negotiated to own their master recordings in their contract because of this fight, I’m reminded of how important it was for all of this to happen. Thank you for being curious about something that used to be thought of as too industry-centric for broad discussion. You’ll never know how much it means to me that you cared. Every single bit of it counted, and ended us up here.

Thanks to you and your goodwill, teamwork and encouragement, the best things that have ever been mine … finally actually are. Elated and amazed, Taylor.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour drives into L.A.

2025-05-28T19:52:57.090Z

With this intro, followed by a roll call of local neighborhoods, Kendrick Lamar let everyone know just how happy he was to be back in L.A. And he should be. After weeks on the road, Lamar and friend/frequent collaborator SZA’s co-headlining Grand National Tour was rolling into the biggest venue their hometown has to offer, SoFi Stadium, for three nights of sold-out shows. After the wildly successful year they’ve both had—Billboard hits! Grammys! Movies! Decisive feud wins! The Super Bowl!—this homecoming show could’ve been nothing more than a victory lap. But it wasn’t. Instead, these two artists commanded the stage for nearly three hours as if they still had everything to prove.

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As holographic graffiti cut into a “concrete wall” on stage, Kendrick kicked off the night by rising up inside his recent album’s title object, a Buick Grand National. He opened with “wacced out murals” (from 2024’s GNX) and by the second verse, doused the stage in verbal and actual flames. He never lost this initial intensity at any point, delivering one blistering verse after another from almost every song on the album plus many hits off his earlier albums. Kendrick’s ferocious energy, fueled by dramatic lighting design, gave the night a furious start.

(Credit: Brandon Xay)

Initially, SZA came out to perform “30 for 30” with Lamar, but once he left, his wall on the video screen began cracking, then crumbling, to reveal gloriously warm and colorful scenes of nature. The stadium’s mood shifted as her video displays became more and more fantastical takes on a garden, as if shrinking the audience down to the size of an ant. And just to take that idea further, SZA later rode a mechanical ant, too. SZA’s chill grooves calmed the audience, but without ever lowering the energy. She always remained joyously light on her feet; metaphorically during a particularly infectious “What Do I Do” and literally when flying via butterfly wings and a harness for “Nobody Gets Me.”

This back and forth formed the shape of the concert: Lamar performed six or so songs, then tagged out with SZA for six or so songs. I’ve never seen a co-headlining show where the two superstars intertwined their sets like this, let alone where two major artists shared the spotlight without ego. It worked out great, creating a refueling flow for all. For an epically long show, you never felt it because this was one of the best sequenced setlists I’ve seen.

(Credit: Cassidy Meyers)

As the night went on, Lamar and SZA exchanged vibes, too. Following one of SZA’s mini-sets, Kendrick brought bright colors and a playful troupe of back-up dancers into “HUMBLE.” Likewise, SZA swapped her soft greens and browns for a deep red to accompany the powerful sensuality of “Consideration.” And Lamar and SZA used the night’s structure for clever set-ups and pay-offs too. SZA’s ongoing praying mantis imagery took on a darkly funny context during a soaring take on her hit “Kill Bill,” while Kendrick turned his “tv off” into pre and post “MUSTARD!” bookends for the entire concert. In case these two artists weren’t enough for you, SZA also brought out a special guest, her “best friend for energy and positivity,” Lizzo, to perform her song “Special” together.

Recounting it here, this all sounds massive. And it was. But it never became overwhelming or impersonal. Rather, Lamar and SZA came off as alive and in the moment, never too practiced (even though, realistically, they must’ve been). Even better, the two artists had genuine chemistry every time they shared the stage. Whether for their Oscar-nominated duet “All the Stars”—which used lights and rising platforms to create a vertical performance up through the giant space—or the soft and sweet “LOVE,” the duo created a sense of intimacy despite the venue’s size. You felt their friendship, particularly in the short videos between songs. One that played huge with the L.A. audience found the two of them playfully bickering over what gas station snacks to get, ending with SZA teasing Lamar for not knowing how to pronounce “chamoy” with, “Your fans are Mexican!”

(Credit: Cassidy Meyers)

Lamar and SZA ended the evening on this collaborative note, closing out with “luther” and “gloria.” Before that, though, Kendrick gave the crowd a blistering, stadium-shaking “Not Like Us.” It was almost 11 p.m., but everyone was up and shouting along to every knockout lyric with joy. Okay, this moment? This was a victory lap. But Kendrick Lamar has earned it, and both he and SZA showed that they will keep giving music their all no matter how much they win.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Grizzly Bear Awaken For First Shows Since 2019

2025-05-28T19:50:16.698Z

Indie rock veterans Grizzly Bear are coming out of hibernation for their first concerts since a 2019 appearance at the Just Like Heaven festival. As of now, seven dates are confirmed this fall, beginning Oct. 13 at Brooklyn Steel in New York. Click here for ticket onsale information.

The group last toured in 2018 and released their RCA debut the year before, following several prior albums for indie Warp Records. In recent years, frontman Ed Droste stepped away from music to become a therapist, while group members Daniel Rossen and Chris Bear have worked on several music projects together, including the score for the 2023 film Past Lives.

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In conjunction with the reunion, Grizzly Bear are reissuing their back catalog albums Veckatiment (magenta vinyl), Shields (translucent vinyl), Yellow House (cream white vinyl),and Painted Ruins (oxblood vinyl) on Oct. 17. Click here to pre-order.

Here are Grizzly Bear’s tour dates:

Oct. 13-14, 16: New York (Brooklyn Steel)
Nov. 8: Chicago (Salt Shed)
Nov. 12: Los Angeles (Shrine Auditorium)
Nov. 18: San Francisco (Warfield)
Nov. 19: Oakland, Ca. (Fox Theater)

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

CHVRCHES Frontwoman Lauren Mayberry Shares Her Touring Essentials

2025-05-19T15:24:12.235Z

Lauren Mayberry stirred a bit of concern among CHVRCHES fans last year when she began releasing music ahead of her debut solo album, Vicious Creature. But there’s no need to panic, CHVRCHES remain intact, with Mayberry still front and center. In the meantime, Vicious Creature captures the best of her many influences and marks her most personal, direct work yet, which is no small feat for an artist who’s never been afraid to speak her mind.

The Scottish-born, Los Angeles-based Mayberry has long been vocal about injustice, particularly misogyny in the music industry. In 2013, she wrote a widely shared op-ed for The Guardian titled “I Will Not Accept Online Misogyny.” More recently, she was the subject of the short documentary I Change Shapes, which tracks her evolution from CHVRCHES frontperson to solo artist, confronting online abuse, and carving out space as a woman in music. The documentary, part of the BBC series Change the Tune (aimed at raising awareness of the impact that online abuse has on the lives of artists), takes its name from one of Vicious Creature’s standout tracks, “Change Shapes.”

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The album sees Mayberry channeling a wide range of influences, from Sinead O’Connor, Fiona Apple, and PJ Harvey to Kathleen Hanna and British girl groups like All Saints and Sugababes. She also cites musicals like Chicago and Cabaret for their nuanced portrayals of complex women. A roster of in-demand producers and collaborators, including Greg Kurstin, Tobias Jesso Jr., Matthew Koma, Ethan Gruska and Dan McDougall, helped bring her vision to life.

Mayberry has often said that Vicious Creature explores themes she couldn’t fully express within CHVRCHES. It’s a creative rebirth of sorts. After more than a decade and four acclaimed albums with the band, Vicious Creature reveals sides of her we hadn’t seen. On one of the album’s most quoted lines: “I killed myself to be one of the boys/I lost my head to be one of the boys,” she revisits the lyrics with even more urgency in a new version of “Sorry, Etc, Etc,” featuring IDLES’ Joe Talbot.

Since 2023, Mayberry has toured throughout North America and Europe. In May, she returns for festival appearances and solo dates. An experienced road warrior, Mayberry shares her touring essentials with SPIN.

(Credit: Charlotte Patmore)

Trakke Backpack

I am quite devastated because I recently learned that this company has closed down. They were a cool Scottish company who made waxed canvas backpacks and messenger bags with a sort of vintage feel to them. I use my black Bannoch bag every time I travel.

Notebook(s)

I take at least two notebooks with me everywhere I go. One for journaling, and the other for lyrics/songwriting. I sometimes brainstorm lyrics in the Notes app on my phone, but I really like physically writing things out. I think it helps my brain figure out the puzzle of a lyric better than I can in my phone, and it’s sometimes nice to look back through old notebooks and see the journey you went on to get to the final lyrics.

Kong Fit Club Remote Training

My friend Meagan Kong is a dancer-choreographer and personal trainer and I’ve been using her exercise program while I’m on the road. She programs strength training workouts for you in an app and there are demonstration videos of her doing each move for you to follow along. It’s nice to feel like I’m going to the gym with my buddy, where(ver) I happen to be.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

I am terrible at losing Bluetooth AirPods so have reverted back to my wired ones. These ones are very comfortable and the isolation on them is really good, which is quite vital for trying to sleep on tour sometimes.

Eminence Calm Skin Arnica Masque

I have quite sensitive skin, especially when I’m on the road. This mask really helps with any irritation or redness I get from hotel sheets or just from putting on stage makeup every night. You mix it with a little bit of water which makes the pot last for quite a while too, which is nice because Eminence is a little spendy.

Lauren Mayberry performs in 2025 in London. (Credit: Gus Stewart/Redferns)

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment

A makeup artist used this on me on an outdoor photoshoot once and I’ve been obsessed ever since. It’s green, which is a bit alarming to put on your face at first, but it really tones down any redness in my skin before I apply my makeup, and it has SPF in it too which is an added bonus. I am a sun cream freak so always put a separate one on after my skincare anyway but on a non-show day, I will just pop this on at the end of my skincare and it makes my skin look fresh enough that I don’t put other makeup on.

Trudon Abd El Kader Candle

I stayed with some friends in New York for Hogmanay and their house smelled amazing because of this candle. I don’t like super floral scents but this one is really lovely. It smells like mint with a bit of smokiness to it.

9:30 Club Hoodie

I think every roadie in the universe has the same T-shirt and hoodie combination for this venue in DC. Last time we were there, I got an extra big hoodie and I’ve been living in it ever since.

Vocalzone Lozenges

A vocal coach turned me onto these years ago and they are great for when your voice is a bit tired on the road. They do good soothing teas as well. I know a lot of Americans swear by Throat Coat but I prefer this brand as it feels less harsh.

Dyson Cordless Hair Straighteners

Finding straighteners that don’t need to be plugged in has been a real game changer for me on tour. I feel like a lot of green rooms are designed by straight men who don’t need to think about things like good lighting for makeup or having an electrical socket and mirror close to each other, so these tongs being portable means I can do my hair anywhere which saves a lot of time and energy.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Foo Fighters Part Ways With Drummer Josh Freese

2025-05-19T15:20:51.014Z

“The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer.’ No reason was given,” Freese wrote. “Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry — just a bit shocked and disappointed. But as most of you know I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands, so I’m fine. Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 Possible Reasons Josh Got Booted From The Foo Fighters’ list.”

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Freese, 52, is one of the most respected session drummers in rock and is a longtime friend of Dave Grohl and the Foos camp. Before a formal announcement that he was coming on board, he joined the Foos on drums during star-studded Hawkins tribute concerts in 2022 at London’s Wembley Stadium and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.

Freese has played drums in the Vandals since 1989 and has performed for long stretches with everyone from Devo, Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails and the Replacements to Sting, Sublime With Rome, Weezer, A Perfect Circle, the Offspring, Danny Elfman and Paramore. He’s currently back on the road with A Perfect Circle for the first time in 13 years.

Meanwhile, the Foos earlier this week announced their first show of 2025 on Oct. 4 at the Singapore Grand Prix. The group canceled a number of concerts last year following the revelation that Grohl had fathered a child with a woman other than his wife.

This is a developing story.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Black Keys Detail New LP, ‘No Rain, No Flowers’

2025-05-19T15:16:48.416Z

Black Keys guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach previously told SPIN that he and bandmate Patrick Carney used to obsessively watch YouTube videos of Storch “playing all his parts from his productions on piano. He showed up and he was so excited to be in the studio because it’s filled with keyboards here. He said he’d never really recorded with real instruments before — like harpsichords, vibes, tack pianos and stuff. So, he was like a kid in a candy shop. We hit it off and we had a lot of fun.”

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The album’s first single, “The Night Before,” emerged as Carney, Auerbach and Tashian played drums, guitar and bass in a circle at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio. “It came together so quickly that we overlooked it,” said Auerbach. “When we were playing the songs we had for people, it was the very last one we played to the record label. As soon as we played it, everyone unanimously said that should be the first single.”

No Rain, No Flowers amounts to some positive fallout surrounding the release of 2024’s Ohio Players and the abrupt cancelation of its supporting tour, during which Auerbach and Carney traded barbs with former manager Irving Azoff. “We put a lot of time into [that] album, and then it came out and some bullshit happened and we had to pivot,” said Carney. “Som we pivoted to where we feel most comfortable, which is back in the studio — make more music and just do it again.”

The Black Keys will be on the road in North America beginning May 23 in Durant, Ok., and have dates on the books through Sept. 20 at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival. “The fact we didn’t get to tour last year, we hated it,” Carney admitted. “It sucks for us, sucks for the fans. Also, the circumstances were bullshit. But at the end of the day, we did get to make another album. And it’s something that we’re proud of, and that will be a document that will exist long after we’re gone.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Alarm’s Mike Peters Dies Of Cancer At 66

2025-04-29T15:54:25.355Z

The Alarm frontman Mike Peters has died after a three-decade battle with cancer, which prompted him to create the Love Hope Strength Foundation to sign up bone marrow donors at concerts. He was 66.

The Alarm are best-known for ’80s hits such as “The Stand,” “Sixty Eight Guns,” “Rain in the Summertime” and “Sold Me Down the River,” and four of their albums reached the top 25 in the U.K. The group was active from 1981-1991 and then from 1999 until the present.

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A Peters solo album, Transformation, is due for release on June 6. The Alarm today posted a new song, “Totally Free,” in tribute to the artist.

Peters was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995 and was public about his fight against the disease. He was separately diagnosed with lymphocytic leukemia in 2005 but was in remission as of 2015.

Peters was also an avid mountain climber and often performed for sick individuals at hospitals in northern Wales. “I would love to be back in Los Angeles on the beach and running up and down the boardwalk between Santa Monica and Venice Beach,” he told SPIN in 2021. “Having the chance to play a show while I was there would be a bonus!”

In that same interview, Peters recalled formative experiences listening to the Who’s Quadrophenia, the Clash’s self-titled debut and Slade’s Slade Alive! Click here to read.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Beyoncé Kicks Off ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour With 13 Live Debuts

2025-04-29T15:50:56.517Z

A whopping 13 of those Cowboy Carter songs were live debuts, including opener “American Requiem,” “Alligator Tears,” “Flamenco,” “Desert Eagle,” “Tyrant” and “Protector,” the latter of which marked the first on-stage appearance by Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s seven-year-old daughter Rumi.

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Throughout, Beyoncé flew across the audience on both a horseshoe and a car, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” a capella and wore an LED dress that changed colors during “Daughter.” Said the artist near the end of the show, “I have the best fans in the world. I love you so much. We worked so hard to make this as perfect as we could for y’all. I hope y’all had fun.”

The set list was also heavy on Beyoncé’s last album, Renaissance, while “Why Don’t You Love Me” reappeared for the first time since 2014 and “Daddy Lessons” emerged for the first time since 2016. Beyoncé also covered Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and “Before I Let Go” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

The Cowboy Carter tour runs through July 26 in Las Vegas. It includes a record-breaking six shows in June at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Beyoncé begins the ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour in Los Angeles on April 28, 2025 (photo: Parkwood Entertainment).

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Circle Jerks’ Keith Morris Says It’s Time They Put Out a ‘Fuckin’ Ripper

2025-04-29T15:46:44.188Z

The hardcore originators last released an album with 1995’s polished Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities, a record Morris is no fan of and in the past has actually said, “It should not exist.” He has higher expectations for how the band he formed with guitarist Greg Hetson in 1979 approaches the next one.

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Morris, drummer Joey Castillo, and guitarist Greg Hetson. (Credit: Steve Appleford)

“What I need to stress upon them is we’ve gotta come out like our lives fucking depend on this,” he says of his fellow band members. “We’ve got to come out like we’re the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and the Green Berets.”

The Circle Jerks are in the very early stages of a new album, with the outlines of three new songs begun at the Los Angeles studio of Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, who is guiding the sessions. It marks the band’s first attempt at an album since 2010, which collapsed amid anger and disagreements, sending the band into an open-ended hiatus as Morris spent the next decade with the critically acclaimed OFF!

He’s been back with Circle Jerks since 2021, a reunion delayed by the COVID pandemic, and they have never been more in demand than they are right now. Since those first shows, the band have widely toured the U.S. and, for the first time, Europe, with stops in Australia and South America. Shows in Japan and Southeast Asia are on the horizon.

Morris and Circle Jerks performing at Vex in the early-’80s. (Credit: Gary Leonard/Corbis via Getty Images)

During two weekends at Coachella this month, they were especially fired up, delivering some of their best performances since reuniting. Backstage after their first set, Morris was relaxing in the band’s trailer, still in the stars-and-stripes cowboy hat he wore onstage. He’d just picked it up at a hospital gift shop back in L.A., while getting a checkup on his bronchitis and a nasal infection, and notes that it would fit well with Coachella’s sister festival for country music at the same location, Stagecoach.

“This hat has Stagecoach written all over it: line dance, square dance, Coors, Coors Light, a hot dog,” he says. “It doesn’t get any more American than that.”

Other band members wander in and out, on their way to catch one of the festival’s other acts, or to slip out and back to Los Angeles. Early responses to their 40-minute Coachella set are enthusiastic, coming in via text, including from punk fans watching the livestream from home. Morris credits their current drummer Joey Castillo, formerly with Queens of the Stone Age and Danzig, as the reunited Circle Jerks’ secret weapon.

Guitarist Greg Hetson with the Circle Jerks during Weekend 1 of Coachellla 2025. (Credit: Steve Appleford)

“We are beyond fortunate to have an engine named Joey Castillo,” he says. “If we didn’t have him, we wouldn’t be here.”

The Circle Jerks, which also includes longtime bassist Zander Schloss, have essentially been performing the same set of songs since reuniting, expanding to 50 minutes when headlining. “One of our management people had suggested that we get back from Europe and rehearse for Coachella, and that was not fucking going to happen,” Morris says flatly. “No reason in the world to beat it into the ground. The joke that we had going earlier in the day was: ‘You guys remember the songs?’”

Morris will be keeping busy in the coming months, with and without the Circle Jerks. He returns to Punk Rock Bowling on May 26 to sing with FLAG, his band of former Black Flag members singer-guitarist Dez Cadena, bassist Chuck Dukowski, and drummer Bill Stevenson, with Descendents guitarist Stephen Egerton. “Oh, they’re a blast,” Morris says of FLAG shows. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed because our senior member has stated that he’s not going out on tour,” he adds, referring to Dukowski, not quite two years older than Morris. “But we’re hoping that when we play Punk Rock Bowling that he’ll have such a good time, he’ll go, ‘I might as well jump in there and play a few gigs’—because we’ve got offers.”

Bassist Zander Schloss with the Circle Jerks during weekend one of Coachellla 2025. (Credit: Steve Appleford)

In June, Morris is back in Vegas to spend a few days leading tours at the Punk Rock Museum. His appearance there makes sense for someone who has seen so much punk rock history first-hand, starting from his time as the singer of Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and OFF!

“I’m extremely fortunate because I’ve been in three important bands. I know this. And my ego should fill this entire space and lift this trailer off the ground with all the helium in my head,” he says with a laugh.

One favorite story happened one day back in 1984, when he got to watch Public Image Ltd audition bass players at Perkins Palace in Pasadena, hours before the band was to headline there. Founding bassist Jah Wobble was long gone, and a newspaper ad brought in many contenders.

The Starwood in the early-’80s. (Credit: Gary Leonard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Morris’ friend Flea was one of those to try out. “Flea was the last bass player,” Morris remembers of the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist. “They started playing, and when Flea started to hit his notes, all of their jaws dropped. Like they knew immediately this is the guy. And Flea was playing along, and he kept prodding them.”

Flea got offered the gig, but ultimately decided to stick with the Chili Peppers, much to leader John Lydon’s irritation. “I saw the whole thing. But it was fucking great. I got to see a Public Image Ltd performance, the only one with Flea.”

Other stories from punk history are darker, such his encounters with the influential but drug-addled guitarist Johnny Thunders. “It’s real easy to get into some negativity. How else can you talk about Johnny Thunders besides him being a very influential guitar player?” he says. “But he was a fucking junkie. Two or three of the times I saw him, he was just barely able to play. And one of the shows that I saw, he actually tripped and fell over the front of the stage at the Whisky a Go Go and couldn’t play that set. He was knocked out.”

After playing some European festivals with the Circle Jerks in August, they will return to the Hollywood Palladium for the singer’s “70th Birthday Bash” on September 19 with the Circle Jerks headlining a night with Ceremony, Rocket From the Crypt, and Negative Approach.

The band has also recorded a handful of cover songs recently, including a few by the Descendents that appeared on a split EP last year. The Circle Jerks also recorded a ripping cover of DOA’s “The Enemy” for a tribute album to the Vancouver punk band last year. They’ve also recorded a still-unreleased take on the Gun Club’s “Bad Indian” for a movie project still in the early stages. “It’s undeniably great,” Morris says. “I’m proud of it.”

(Credit: Steve Appleford)

Morris is happy with all those tracks, but he says the stakes are much higher on any new original Circle Jerks material that gets put out into the world. He’s characteristically blunt about what’s required from each member of the veteran punk band in 2025, and he says it’s crucial that any new album hits hard. Even with the three new originals already begun, he says they still have a ways to go.

Making a new Circle Jerks record “ain’t no Beatles recording session,” he says. “You’re gonna [record] standing up and you’re gonna be in a down-stroke and you’re gonna leave soaked in sweat. You’re gonna be sore.

“If we’re just gonna dilly-dally around and come off like a bunch of old guys playing fast music, that doesn’t work,” Morris insists. “We gotta go back like we’re fuckin’ teenagers because we’re competing with a bunch of young dudes and young gals. And we just have to rip people’s faces off.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

The Swell Season Move ‘Forward’ With New Album

2025-04-23T19:41:21.857Z

After releasing two one-off tracks as a precursor to their first Swell Season album in 16 years, Oscar-winning Once duo Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have confirmed details for the project, Forward, which is due June 13. Another single, “Stuck in Reverse,” is out now and is accompanied by a video filmed last month during a pop-up performance at tiny New York bar Scratcher.

The eight-song Forward was recorded at Irglová’s home studio, Masterkey, in Iceland, with contributions from her husband and producer Sturla Mio Thorisson, original Swell Season musicians Marja Gaynor and Bertrand Galen (strings) and Joseph Doyle (bass), plus nee drummer/percussionist Piero Perelli.

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“It felt right to title the record Forward because it’s a reunion of sorts, but we’re not going backwards,” says Irglová. “Both of us have grown and changed. We’re in different places and getting to know each other again as the new people we’ve become.”

“After our whirlwind that led up to the Oscars and after, we were so busy and with that came a pressure that neither of us particularly wanted, and ultimately we kind of drifted in the middle of all of that hard work and celebration,” Hansard admits. “We remained good friends, helping on each other’s records, keeping up with each other’s families. While touring my last record, I realized I just missed her. I remember calling Marketa and saying, ‘Do you feel like doing some gigs?’ She said, ‘Yeah, that sounds great,’ and the shows went really well. Once we were hanging out again, new songs started coming through, and we started trying new ideas and playing the songs onstage. From there the idea was to do a little recording and not put any pressure on it — just see what happens — and suddenly we found ourselves making a record. And we were both totally into it, and so here we are — a new chapter of our lives.”

The Swell Season returns to the road May 13 in Amsterdam and have dates set through Sept. 24 in Seattle.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Riot Fest Rocks With blink-182, Weezer, Green Day

2025-04-23T19:37:48.939Z

Chicago’s eclectic Riot Fest will commemorate its 20th anniversary this year with a lineup led by blink-182, Weezer and Green Day. The event will take place Sept. 19-21 at Douglass Park and includes big names from across the rock, punk, metal, hardcore and alternative universes, plus several left-field bookings.

The lineup will feature Jack White, IDLES, the Sex Pistols with vocalist Frank Carter, Alkaline Trio, Rilo Kiley, Jawbreaker, Bad Religion, Cobra Starship, the Hold Steady, Dropkick Murphys, the Damned, James and Sparks, plus the decidedly non-punk sounds of “Weird Al” Yankovic, Hanson and the Beach Boys.

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Among the indie favorites who will also be on hand are the freshly reunited Shudder to Think, Superchunk, Panchiko, Texas Is the Reason, Helmet, Agnostic Front, Ovlov, Smoking Popes, Buzzcocks, Camper Van Beethoven and Senses Fail.

“There’s a bunch of introverts out there, so I’m talking to the same audience as me,” Riot Fest co-founder Mike Petryshyn told SPIN in 2023. “Riot Fest is a festival that maybe I’d go to — maybe. I know our fans, because I’m one of them. I can tell when our stuff will get a positive response because we’re not manipulating them or pulling the wool over their eyes. We just do dumb shit and it relates to them because we think dumb shit is funny.”

“Bands know that they’re going to be playing to a welcoming audience, not a tough audience, so they bring their A-game,” he added. “I have heard some of the most brilliant sets here — Smashing Pumpkins being one of them. When the Replacements came back, there were grown men crying everywhere. How does that happen? Honestly, I just got lucky. I still feel like I don’t deserve it, but I know it’s authentic, and the bands know it’s authentic.”

Tickets for Riot Fest are available by clicking here.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Eddie Vedder To Premiere EB Research Doc At Tribeca Fest

2025-04-16T22:19:19.726Z

Efforts to cure the debilitating skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder‘s role therein, are at the forefront of the documentary Matter of Time, which will premiere June 12 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Vedder will also offer “an intimate acoustic performance” after the screening.

Vedder and his wife Jill co-founded EB Research Partnership in 2010 in hopes of identifying treatments and cures for the condition, which impacts children from birth. Vedder’s 2023 solo performances in Seattle raised funds for the mission and are prominently featured in the movie, while Broken Social Scene contributed an original score.

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Matter of Time, which is named after a Vedder solo track, is “told through the voices of families living with EB, pioneering scientists and the relentless mission of EB Research Partnership,” per Vedder’s Instagram. It’s “a story of radical hope, bold science and a community that refuses to give up.”

The documentary was directed by Matt Finlin and produced by Karen Barzilay for Door Knocker Media in tandem with Pearl Jam’s philanthropic Vitalogy Foundation.

Tribeca Film will also offer premieres of several other music-related projects centered around Billy Joel, Metallica, Miley Cyrus and Depeche Mode.

Meanwhile, Pearl Jam return to the road April 24 in Hollywood, Fl.

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To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus, Doechii Assemble For All Things Go

2025-04-16T21:38:56.304Z

Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus and Doechii will headline the Washington, D.C.-area edition of the All Things Go festival, with the latter topping a festival bill for the first in her quickly exploding career. Comprising its maiden three-day program, the event will be held Sept. 26-28 at its usual home of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md.

Humorously dubbed “All Things Gay” and “Gay-chella” for the makeup of its artists, All Things Go will also feature Clairo, Kesha, the Marías, MARINA, Djo, Julien Baker & Torres, Lola Young, Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory, Faye Webster, Lucius and the Last Dinner Party, among many others.

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Tickets will be available via presale on Thursday (April 17), with the general public onsale set for the next day.

All Things Go will also return to New York’s Forest Hills Tennis Stadium this year, with a lineup announcement said to be “right around the corner.” Chappell Roan was set to headline the 2024 festival installment at the venue but canceled at the last minute amid her sudden rise to fame.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Daughter of Swords Cuts Loose

2025-04-14T17:53:32.806Z

And yet, here we are. These last six years have changed all of us, but Daughter of Swords (side project of Mountain Man singer-songwriter Alex Sauser-Monnig) sounds like an entirely different artist on their sophomore album Alex. The gentle, contemplative musings have given way to an artist experimenting in new lanes, revealing multitudes as they run wild chasing their passions. These new songs capture the entwined liberation and frustration that comes with searching for what you really want, where you truly belong, particularly in a landscape that’s ever shifting-slash-falling apart.

The first three tracks set up this theme and vibe perfectly. Kicking off with a mix of Sauser-Monnig’s captivating vocals and a wave of fuzzy guitars, “Alone Together” explores the intimidating freedom of re-discovering yourself after a break-up. This leads right into the “come on bop” I alluded to earlier, “Talk to You,” which bounces with the pulsing, thirsty rush of new desire. Yet even this arousal is cut with a great line like, “Falling for a person, like a person’s gonna solve anything,” showing off Sauser-Monnig’s sharp, ever-present self-awareness. The meet-cute hook-up turns into the push and pull of lust and love on the flirty, synthy grooves of “Hard On,” and taken together, these opening tracks speak to how even if we know who we want, we still might be figuring out exactly what we want from them and ourselves.

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(Credit: Graham Tolbert)

The rest of the album continues on this exploratory path, both in terms of instrumentation—bringing in sultry horns, jittery guitars, and cascading pianos—and lyrically, as Sauser-Monnig expresses yearning for financial security (“Money Hits”), environmental safety (“West of West”), and a place to simply feel sane in this insane era (“Strange”). Throughout it all, there is a sincere ache to Sauser-Monnig’s voice. You feel their longing.

So much so, though, that eventually you start to long for a relief. Each song on the back half is a solid individual mood piece, but back to back, Alex’s early energy fades. I found myself hoping for a late album satisfaction, a moment where Sauser-Monnig gets the thing they’ve been reaching for all this time… or if not, then at least a bigger catharsis of emotion. But outside of the Aimee Mann-esque rocker “Strange” and driving guitars on “Vacation,” the album largely stays in a looping, mid-tempo zone, leaving me slightly wanting.

Of course, maybe relief and catharsis is too much to ask for in 2025. Or “still searching” might simply be where Sauser-Monnig finds themselves at this point in their career. Whatever the answer, Alex remains a refreshing album for our current moment, when we’re all seeking connections — with others, our world, and even ourselves — in an increasingly disconnected world. May all of our searches be as unexpected, fearless, and freeing as Daughter of Swords’.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Coachella: Lady Gaga Dazzles With ‘MAYHEM’ Debuts

2025-04-14T17:40:09.636Z

The 20-song, nearly two-hour performance was rife with elaborate choreography, costumes and set pieces, including an opera house, a giant chess board and a sandbox filled with nylon-clad zombies. Gaga herself was decked out in everything from feathers, a helmet and a black wig, and at times moved around the stage with either a cane or metallic crutches.

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“I wanted to make a romantic gesture to you,” she told the crowd at one point. “I decided to build you an opera house in the dessert.” Throughout, Gaga alternated live premieres of new tunes such as “The Beast,” “Zombieboy,” “How Bad Do U Want Me” and “Vanish Into You” with classics such as “Poker Face,” “Alejandro” “Paparazzi” and “Shallow,” her powerful vocals rising high above her band’s often thunderous rock’n’roll attack.

The set’s only guest was French DJ Gesaffelstein, who reprised his contribution to the studio version of the funk-tinged pop banger “Killah.” Three songs near the beginning were played for the first time in years, including opener “Bloody Mary,” which had been absent since 2018, and both “Judas” and “Scheiße,” which were last heard in 2019.

Gaga wound down the show by performing “Die With a Smile” (sans Bruno Mars) at a piano nestled inside a skull and the A Star Is Born anthem “Shallow.” “I always feel so blessed to be with the audience because you always teach me something profound,” she said. “The truth is, we’re all one. It’s just all one fucking thing.”

Other opening day Coachella highlights included Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong joining the Go-Go’s for “Head Over Heels,” Three 6 Mafia throwing a hip-hop party with guests Wiz Khalifa, Machine Gun Kelly, blink-182’s Travis Barker and Project Pat, Mustard welcoming Tyga, YG, Big Sean, Roddy Ricch and 2 Chainz and Benson Boone getting a lift from Queen guitarist Brian May on the latter’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and his own smash hit “Beautiful Things.”

Here is Lady Gaga’s Coachella set list:

Bloody Mary
Abracadabra
Judas
Scheiße
Garden of Eden
Poker Face
Perfect Celebrity
Disease
Paparazzi
Alejandro
The Beast
Killah (with Gesaffelstein)
Zombieboy
Die With a Smile
How Bad Do U Want Me
Shadow of a Man
Kill for Love
Born This Way
Shallow
Vanish Into You
Bad Romance

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Nell Smith’s Sadly Beautiful First and Last Solo Album

2025-04-09T23:03:32.554Z

Posthumous albums are always a delicate proposition, but especially for Nell Smith. Perhaps best known for her ongoing collaboration with The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne that began when she was only 12 years old, Smith was in the process of writing and recording her solo debut when she died in a car accident at 17. That album, Anxious, has now been released by Bella Union (run by the Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde) and, when preparing to listen to it, I was anxious. How do you hear the last work of a musician whose career was only beginning without being overwhelmed by sadness?

Well, turns out Nell Smith made it easy by crafting an album overflowing with optimism, beauty, and—most of all—possibility. Anxious is a collection of teenage hopes, fears, and emotions, but always expressed with a bright, “Why not?” energy of experimentation. Think Regina Spektor fronting The Flaming Lips and you’ll be close—but still not quite at Smith’s indie pop sound. Each song finds Smith playing with a variety of textures and sounds… and then saying “yes” to all of them. The result doesn’t feel overworked or messy, though. Smith’s sincere lyrics keep it all grounded in real, living-in-the-moment emotions, but even more than that: Anxious feels fun. Like, fun fun. Smith’s love of music is just that infectious.

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Take the album’s lead single and title track, which starts with a distant drum and twinkling synth before a driving guitar kicks in, followed by Smith’s exquisite voice, then horns and whispering background vocals, and then even more of all the above. A song could collapse under the weight of all this, but instead, it coalesces into a witty, poppy look at one’s future. Her refrain, “My mum says it’s just a phase / But I am older now,” reveals a songwriter who’s old enough to be clever yet also aware enough that cleverness won’t erase her panic.

Focusing on these kinds of beautiful, striking sonic contrasts—soft and hard, sparse and busy—continues throughout, and is Smith’s greatest strength. “The Worst Best Drug” captures the swooning joy and addictive pull of first love by mixing sparkling piano with moody synths for a HAIM indie-meets-R&B number. Innocence and heartbreak collide on “Daisy Fields,” as Smith layers looping guitars atop childlike chants. The bold proclamation of love on “Billions of People”—“7.92 billion people, I choose you”—could sound simple, but is balanced by the collage of environmental sounds and voices that jut in and out, as if reminding you that finding one person to love in our crowded world actually is impressive. On first glance, this could all seem almost too whimsical, except that it ultimately feels natural, like a teen simply exploring.

(Credit: Alex Hanson)

And in the rare moment when Smith does go sparse, on “Service Song,” it commands your attention and highlights her vocals’ ethereal beauty. So much so that one could argue that her voice is strong enough—both vocally and lyrically—that these songs would work without all the layers of accompaniment.

But then it wouldn’t be Nell Smith. Many artists, especially adult ones, can create an intimate, pretty album. Only a teenager in the throes of her first full dive into creating music would do so much on every single song. This passion keeps the album feeling like a debut and not a memorial. Sure, you can’t help feeling heartbroken by what could’ve been, but Smith’s music is so full of life and unafraid that she still feels alive in her songs.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Detail New Album

2025-04-09T23:00:20.401Z

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have confirmed some key details about their 27th album, Phantom Island. No release date has been announced yet for the 10-track companion to last year’s Flight b741, but a video for the song “Deadstick” will arrive April 15, the same day the band sits for a Reddit AMA conversation.

“A lot of love and time and energy and patience and growth went into this one,” group member Stu Mackenzie wrote on Instagram of Phantom Island, which features heavy orchestration and string arrangements and was written simultaneously with b741. “Can’t wait to grow wings and fly with all of you.”

More from Spin:

“We chose the more rowdy, rambunctious songs that felt like they needed to all be together,” group member Ambrose Kenny-Smith previously told SPIN of how the Flight b741 material was divided. “This way, it would sound like more of a party — more loose, more dad rock, more garage, more upbeat. The others seemed to be a bit more spacious, more strung out, maybe even a bit more singer/songwriter-y. They have more sparseness to them. They’re more laidback. We decided to split them up, and that’s what the 27th album is turning into.”

The title cut was previously released as a single last October. Meanwhile, closer “Grow Wings and Fly” was frequently teased in live performances last year.

Beginning in mid-May, Gizzard will play multi-show residencies in such off-the-beaten-path European venues as a former prison in Vilnius, Lithuania, and a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater in Plovdiv, and in late July, the band will be back in the U.S. for their first-ever shows backed by local symphonies. Perhaps best of all: Gizzard will debut their own festival, Field of Vision, from Aug. 15-17 in the beautiful outdoor setting of Buena Vista, Co., where they will play three distinct sets amid a lineup of friends such as Babe Rainbow, King Stingray and DJ Crenshaw.

Here is the track list for Phantom Island:

Phantom Island
Deadstick
Lonely Cosmos
Eternal Return
Panpsych
Spacesick
Aerodynamic
Sea of Doubt
Silent Spirit
Grow Wings and Fly

It’s the finale of the first leg of the tour, after which the band returned to Australia to finish a string arrangement-dominated companion album tracked simultaneously with b741 plus another distinct LP about which they will not yet say much. The former, which is likely to be released this spring, was heralded last October by the heavily orchestrated brain-melter “Phantom Island.”

“We chose the more rowdy, rambunctious songs that felt like they needed to all be together,” Kenny-Smith says of how the Flight b741 material was divided. “This way, it would sound like more of a party — more loose, more dad rock, more garage, more upbeat. The others seemed to be a bit more spacious, more strung out, maybe even a bit more singer/songwriter-y. They have more sparseness to them. They’re more laidback. We decided to split them up, and that’s what the 27th album is turning into.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

RIP Blondie’s Clem Burke, Gang Of Four’s Dave Allen

2025-04-07T16:00:40.157Z

The music world lost two influential players over the past several days, as Blondie drummer Clem Burke passed away today (April 7) at the age of 70 after battling cancer. and Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen died Saturday of dementia complications at the age of 69.

“Clem was not just a drummer — he was the heartbeat of Blondie,” the band wrote of Burke on social media. “His talent, energy and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable. Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

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New Jersey-native Burke, whose real name was Clement Bozewski, was drafted into Blondie in 1975 by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. He performed on each of the band’s studio releases between 1976 until 2017 and was inducted with his Blondie bandmates into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Burke also played drums for stints of varying lengths with Iggy Pop, the Ramones, the Go-Go’s, Joan Jett and Eurythmics. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Gloucestershire for his Clem Burke Drumming Project.

“It was all just the greatest time,” Burke told SPIN in 2022 of his tenure with Blondie. “Nowadays we keep it more civilized. With Iggy, it was always decadent rock ‘n roll — it feels different to me now. I haven’t done drugs for a long time, I am very health conscious. But the energy is still there, and we love being on stage. We are now avoiding the chaos as much as possible. These things don’t happen nowadays.”

With vocalist Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill and drummer Hugo Burnham, Allen powered Gang of Four to cult-classic status in the 1980s thanks to brainy, punk-tinged albums such as Entertainment! and Solid Gold. He left the band in 1981 but was present for the first four years of Gang of Four’s reunion period, beginning in 2004.

“Dave had endured the early onset of mixed dementia for some years, which has been a heartbreaking time for his wife Paddy, his children and close friends,” Burhnam wrote on social media. “Our love and thoughts are with them. Jon and I went to see him and spent a lovely afternoon with him and the family. We talked and laughed for hours, sharing rich and vivid memories of good times together — adventures, careers in music, raising families, our interwoven lives spanning half a century. We’ve been so very lucky to have had the Ace of Bass in our lives.”

Following his original period in Gang of Four, Allen formed Shriekback with ex-XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews, played in groups such as Low Pop Suicide and Elastic Purejoy and ran the World Dominations Recordings label. He also worked in consumer digital audio at Intel and in artist relations for Apple Music.

Referencing Gang of Four’s upcoming farewell tour, which finds Gail Greenwood filling in for Allen and Ted Leo playing Gill’s legendary guitar parts, Burnham wrote, “we know that Dave would have wanted nothing more than to step onstage with us again in Portland on our farewell U.S. tour, but it’s now a bridge too far. Goodbye, old friend.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Elton John Provides Fans With New Update on His Health

2025-04-07T15:56:46.172Z

Elton John is staying positive despite facing some significant health challenges.

The legendary musician recently opened up about his eyesight struggles, giving fans an honest update on his condition in an interview with The Sunday Times published on Friday, April 4.

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“I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up,” he said in the interview.

“It’s distressing. You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I’m lucky to have the life I have. I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of [my left eye]. So you say to yourself, ‘Just get on with it,’” John, 78, shared.

John has been with his husband David Furnish since 2014, with whom he shares two sons, Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with. The “Rocket Man” hitmaker has been dealing with significant vision loss since an eye infection in 2024. “I had an infection in the South of France,” John explained during an interview on Good Morning America in November 2024. “It’s been four months since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye’s not the greatest. I’m kind of stuck in the moment.”

Despite the obstacles, John is still moving forward. His latest album, Who Believes in Angels?, a collaboration with Brandi Carlile, released on Friday, April 4.

Read More:

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Val Kilmer’s Cause of Death Revealed by Family After Actor Dies at 65

How Cher Paid Tribute to Ex-Boyfriend Val Kilmer After His Death

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

How Mariah Carey Just Epically Embarrassed Her 13-Year-Old Son

2025-04-07T15:53:15.882Z

Mariah Carey just gave her son a lesson in embarrassment — on his Twitch livestream, nonetheless.

While her 13-year-old son, Moroccan “Rocky” Cannon, was streaming on the platform, enjoying a chat with his fans, he had some unexpected guests. His twin sister Monroe made an appearance in the background, whom he invited on camera, but it was the next person who really stole the show – his legendary mom, Mariah.

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“Y’all need to get out now, just everybody get out. Mom, they can see you,” he exclaimed to Mariah, 56, in a video obtained by TMZ, before saying, “They’re saying, ‘Hi Mariah, I love you,’” before the teen covered his face with embarrassment and mumbling, “Oh my God,” under his breath.

The moment was a fan’s dream, but Rocky’s nightmare, as the stream was flooded with comments from excited viewers begging the “Touch My Body” singer to stay, with a symphony of “Hey Ms. Carey”s heard in the background. However, Rocky was not having any of it and begged his sister and mom to leave again.

For those who may not know, Rocky and Monroe are the twins that Mariah shares with ex-husband Nick Cannon, part of Nick’s very large family. The pair’s romantic relationship began in 2008 after connecting on the set of her “Bye Bye” music video. They secretly married later and welcomed the twins in 2011. Cannon, 44, and Mariah divorced in 2014.

Read More:

How Hailie Jade Mathers Honored Dad Eminem With Her Newborn’s Name

Val Kilmer’s Cause of Death Revealed by Family After Actor Dies at 65

How Cher Paid Tribute to Ex-Boyfriend Val Kilmer After His Death

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Billy Corgan Celebrating Smashing Pumpkins Milestones With … Solo Tour

2025-03-31T18:19:20.559Z

Billy Corgan will celebrate multiple Smashing Pumpkins milestones with concerts and reissues this year, but, for no apparent reason, he’s doing it without his longtime bandmates. Instead, Corgan will launch the solo endeavor Billy Corgan and the Machines of God, which will be rounded out by drummer Jake Hayden, bassist Jenna Fournier (also known as Kid Tigrrr) and guitarist Kiki Wong, who joined the Pumpkins in April 2024.

The group’s Return to Zero tour will begin June 7 in Baltimore and will comprise sets drawn heavily from 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, 2000’s Machina/The Machines of God and its then online-only sequel Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, plus last year’s Aghori Mhori Mei.

More from Spin:

Tickets will be available for pre-sale tomorrow (April 1) and for the general public on Thursday.

Corgan will also toast Mellon Collie as part of a seven-show collaboration with Chicago’s Lyric Opera from Nov. 21-30. “You’ll hear Billy Corgan and special guest artists along with the epic sound of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus in a completely new sonic and visual experience,” reads a message on the event’s web site. “Whether you love the Pumpkins and are excited to hear their music in a sumptuous new dimension, or you simply crave the opportunity to hear a new work inspired by the unexpected, this promises to be one of the can’t-miss cultural collaborations of the season.”

Extending the Chicago theme, Corgan’s Madame Zuzu tea shop in Highland Park, Il., will be the exclusive retailer for an 80-song boxed set bundling both Machina albums for the first time. Beyond 48 Machina tracks, the project includes 32 additional demos, outtakes and live cuts. A 16-song reissue of the original Machina vinyl arrives Aug. 22.

“This isn’t the kind of double album you’ll mentally condense into one disc,” SPIN wrote of the chart-topping Mellon Collie in 1995. “That’s partly because Smashing Pumpkins make music that rejects standard song shapes in favor of a more ambient, uncontainable sonic narrative.”

As for Machina, Corgan told Radio.com in 2021 that volume 1 “was like one edit of the footage, and Machina II was some of the leftover footage — but there was even more stuff leftover. So, this [is] my attempt, 20 years later, to kind of finish the movie and in the process of trying to finish the movie, realizing the movie can never be finished. Some are unfinished, almost like a sketch. But in the aggregate of listening to it, you kinda get a sense of the movie I was after. It’s pretty wild. It’s almost impossible to put into words.”

Here are Billy Corgan’s tour dates:

June 7 – Baltimore, MD // Baltimore Soundstage
June 9 – Boston, MA // Paradise Rock Club
June 11 – Muskoka, ON // Kee to Bala
June 12 – Toronto, ON // HISTORY
June 13 – Montreal QC // Beanfield Theatre
June 15 – New York, NY // Irving Plaza
June 16 – Philadelphia, PA // Theatre of Living Arts
June 17 – Allentown, PA // Archer Music Hall
June 19 – Detroit, MI // St. Andrew’s Hall
June 20 – Joliet, IL // Taste of Joliet
June 21 – Grand Rapids, MI // Intersection
June 23 – Pittsburgh, PA // Roxian Theatre
June 25 – Cleveland, OH // House of Blues Cleveland
June 26 – Cincinnati, OH // Bogart’s
June 27 – Milwaukee, WI // Summerfest
June 29 – Minneapolis, MN // Varsity Theater

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mumford & Sons Announce Summer North American Tour

2025-03-31T18:11:42.987Z

Mumford & Sons will support their brand new album, RUSHMERE, with an extensive North American tour, beginning June 5 in Bend, Or., and concluding Oct. 26 in Omaha, Ne. Opening acts include Japanese Breakfast, Gregory Alan Isakov, Michael Kiwanuka, Sierra Ferrell, Gigi Perez, Margo Price, Lucius, Madison Cunningham, Good Neighbours and Divorce.

Tickets go on sale April. Visit the band’s web site for full details. One dollar from every ticket sold will benefit War Child’s efforts to aid young people impacted by war.

More from Spin:

RUSHMERE was produced by Dave Cobb and is the follow-up to 2018’s Delta, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Sources say the band is already hard at work on another new project, but no details have yet been revealed.

Prior to the summer tour, Mumford will play Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 in Liverpool, U.K. A European and U.K. tour is scheduled from Nov. 6 in Stockholm through Dec. 10-11 in London.

On Wednesday, the group wrapped a short run of underplay shows dubbed The Tour Before the Tour at New York’s Brooklyn Paramount. That set featured the first performance of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” in three years.

Here are Mumford & Sons’ tour dates:

May 25—Liverpool, U.K.—Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025
June 5—Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater
June 9—Berkeley, CA—The Greek Theatre
June 12—Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Bowl
June 14—West Valley City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 17—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center
June 18—Cuyahoga Falls, OH—Blossom Music Center
June 20—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center
June 21—Saratoga Springs, NY—Broadview Stage at SPAC
June 22—Columbia, MD—Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 24—Toronto, ON—Budweiser Stage
July 4—Dublin, Ireland—Malahide Castle
July 7—Verona, Italy—Arena di Verona
July 18—Quincy, WA—The Gorge Amphitheatre
July 19—Whitefish, MT—Under The Big Sky Festival
July 21—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 22—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 24—Bonner Springs, KS—Azura Amphitheater
July 26—Alpharetta, GA—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 27—Charleston, SC—Credit One Stadium
July 29—Raleigh, NC—Coastal Credit Union Music Park
July 31—Huntsville, AL—Orion Amphitheater
August 8—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium
October 8—Chicago, IL—United Center
October 9—St. Paul, MN—Xcel Energy Center
October 11—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum
October 12—Columbus, OH—Nationwide Arena
October 14—Philadelphia, PA—Wells Fargo Center
October 16—Buffalo, NY—KeyBank Center
October 17—Montréal, QC—Centre Bell
October 19—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena
October 20—Detroit, MI— Little Caesars Arena
October 22—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena
October 24—Austin, TX— Moody Center
October 25—Tulsa, OK—BOK Center
October 26—Omaha, NE—CHI Health Center Arena
November 6—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena
November 8—Copenhagen, Denmark—Royal Arena
November 10—Berlin, Germany—Uber Arena
November 12—Cologne, Germany—Lanxess Arena
November 13—Antwerp, Belgium—Sportpaleis
November 14—Paris, France—Adidas Arena
November 16— Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg—Rockhal
November 17—Amsterdam, Netherlands— Ziggo Dome
November 19—Bologna, Italy—Unipol Arena
November 20—Zurich, Switzerland—Hallenstadion
November 21—Milan, Italy—Unipol Forum
November 23—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi
November 25—Lisbon, Portugal—Sagres Campo Pequeno
November 29—Newcastle, U.K.—Utilita Arena
November 30—Leeds, U.K.—First Direct Arena
December 2—Glasgow, U.K.—OVO Hyrdo
December 3—Manchester, U.K.—Co-op Live
December 5—Sheffield, U.K.—Utilita Arena
December 7—Birmingham, U.K.— Utilita Arena
December 8—Cardiff, U.K.—Utilita Arena
December 10—London, U.K.—The O2
December 11—London, U.K.—The O2

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Dua Lipa Welcomes Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker In Sydney

2025-03-31T17:42:32.601Z

“I get to sing one of my favorite songs ever with one of my favorite artists,” Lipa told the crowd at Qudos Bank Arena. The artist previously drafted Parker to co-produce and co-write her 2024 album, Radical Optimism. Meanwhile, playing an Australian cover extended a theme established at earlier local shows on the run, which have featured INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart,” AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” and Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn.”

More from Spin:

Lipa will be on tour throughout the year in support of Radical Optimism, including an extensive North American leg this fall.

Tame Impala have been off the road since March 2023 but have been diligently working on the follow-up to 2020’s The Slow Rush. Parker has also been busy launching his own chord-generating instrument, Orchid, and landed his first Grammy earlier this year when the Justice team-up “Neverender” won Best Dance/Electronic Recording.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jennifer Lopez Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance With 17-Year-Old Emme

2025-03-24T22:02:42.856Z

The 55-year-old songstress attended the Broadway premiere of Othello — which stars Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal — accompanied by her 17-year-old child, Emme Muñiz.

More from Spin:

The pair posed for photos at the event, which was held at Barrymore Theater in New York City on Sunday, March 23. Lopez was photographed wearing a black faux fur jacket with a black sparkly embellished top and a matching floor-length skirt. Muñiz opted for a gray pinstripe suit and tie outfit paired with glasses and several earrings.

Lopez shared a Story on Instagram the day of the event, where she and Muñiz were seemingly headed to the premiere. “I have the most amazing date for the black-tie premiere of Othello here in New York tonight,” the pop star told her followers before she giggled and panned the camera over to show her teen. “Super excited. Here we go,” Emme said while waving at the camera.

The “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” singer shares twins Emme and Max (short for Maximilian) with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony — whose real name is Marco Antonio Muñiz. The two were married from 2004 to 2014.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Nick Jonas Reveals the ‘Best Part About Being a Dad’ to 2-Year-Old Daughter

2025-03-24T21:55:02.354Z

To the world, Nick Jonas is a Grammy-nominated pop star, Broadway actor, and one-third of the Jonas Brothers. But to Malti — the 2-year-old daughter he shares with wife, Priyanka Chopra Jonas — he’s better known as dad.

While chatting with People at JonasCon on Sunday, March 23, the 32-year-old Camp Rock alum opened up about the parenting moments that matter most.

More from Spin:

“You could feel like your coolest self on top of the world, and [Malti] just doesn’t care at all,” Nick joked. “She wants to play Moana and Maui with me, and that means more to me than anything else.”

The “Jealous” singer added, “Just the fact that I’m just dad when I’m home, it means a lot.”

The candid chat comes just days after Nick posted a selfie rocking what looked like an assortment of Malti’s hair accessories — including a light blue bow, a white flower clip, and a few pink additions. “Girl dad life,” he captioned the snap via Instagram.

| Nick Jonas via ig feed.

“Girl dad life.”

ilysm pic.twitter.com/9cJXjrevB5
— Hello Beautiful | Jonas Brothers (@hellojobros) March 18, 2025

Meanwhile, Priyanka has been showing her support as Nick takes the stage at the Hudson Theatre in New York City.

“I still cannot get over what I saw last night,” the 42-year-old award-winning Bollywood actress wrote on Instagram after watching Nick perform in The Last Five Years. “This show is so special in such incredible ways, and they’re both so talented🥹🥰🤯.”

The couple first met at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2017 after weeks of texting. By July 2018, they were engaged, and five months later, they said “I do” with back-to-back ceremonies in India.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

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Beautiful’ Day: New Miley Cyrus Album Coming May 30

2025-03-24T21:49:59.010Z

Miley Cyrus will unveil 13 new songs this spring on her next album, Something Beautiful, which will be released May 30 through Columbia Records. Per an Instagram post, the project was executive produced by Cyrus in tandem with previous collaborator Shawn Everett.

Something Beautiful is the follow-up to 2023’s Endless Summer Vacation, which hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It spawned the monster chart-topping single “Flowers,” which won Record of the Year and Best Solo Pop Performance at the 2024 Grammys.

More from Spin:

Something Beautiful‘s cover was shot by photographer Glen Luchford and is said to embody “a striking nod to the album’s bold aesthetic and visual storytelling.” The album can be pre-ordered here in a variety of formats, including two collectible-laden boxed sets.

Cyrus previously told Harper’s Bazaar that Something Beautiful would also serve as a visual album inspired by Pink Floyd’s The Wall. “It was important for me that every song has these healing sound properties,” she said. “The songs, whether they’re about destruction or heartbreak or death, they’re presented in a way that is beautiful, because the nastiest times of our life do have a point of beauty.”

Since Endless Summer Vacation, Cyrus has popped on a Talking Heads tribute album, been nominated for a Golden Globe for her contribution to the movie The Last Showgirl and covered Queen and Sinead O’Connor as part of the recent Saturday Night Live anniversary specials.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Snapped: Skyline Festival 2025

2025-03-17T18:16:52.010Z

Skyline again partnered with Grand Park, fueled by The Music Center (a 501(c)3 non-profit). Courtesy of Insomniac, a portion of ticket sales will be donated to to the Gloria Molina Grand Park, with a nod towards supporting LA’s eclectic community. Through Skyline, Insomniac aimed “to cultivate an ethos of harmony, generosity, and cultural vitality in the City of Angels.”

More from Spin:

All images courtesy of Jamal Eid, Kristina Bakrevski, Keiki-Lani Knudsen and Michela Pini for Insomniac Events.

“The Arts District Stage shows that the bigger companies have their eyes on what is next, and are willing to support it. It also shows that they are giving credit to those in the community who are leading the way forward and setting the stage for generations to come. What other way forward is there than to give a platform to those making a difference?” – Selective Response

Selective Response

“LA has an impressively strong and vibrant underground defined by its diversity, DIY culture, and a strong sense of community. Just like the city of LA is made up of many micro cities with their own distinct vibes, the underground is composed of different scenes that reflect the city’s eclecticness.” -Anna Morgan

Anna Morgan

“I think spaces like the Arts District Stage are really important for giving LA’s underground talent a bit of visibility and shine! The scene here doesn’t receive as much dance music media coverage as cities like New York or Berlin, and so a lot of the strong talent here flies relatively under the radar. I’m grateful for these opportunities that expose the gems in our scene to new and broader audiences.” -James Axon

James Axon

“The Arts District Stage is a conduit of Los Angeles’ underground spirit, providing a platform for those who have dedicated themselves to bringing life to the city through music and community.” -Capes

Capes

“The underground electronic scene in LA is defined by its raw energy and how it flourishes within its limitations. LA is one of those places where the underground truly thrives because proper spaces are hard to come by, which makes every event feel that much more special. It’s a community-driven effort where everything is built from the ground up.” -Annika Wolfe

Annika Wolfe

“We are happy organizations like Insomniac understand the importance of uplifting local artists and hosting festivals in East LA.” -Trax Unit

Trax Unit

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Jack White Welcomes Eddie Vedder In Tokyo

2025-03-17T18:12:13.388Z

The seemingly random team-up follows White’s performance of the song last month during the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary music special at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. White previously hosted a secret Pearl Jam show in 2016 at his Third Man Records facility in Nashville and joined the band onstage to play the unreleased fan favorite “Of the Earth.”

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White has one more show Monday in Tokyo before taking a short break from the road. He’ll be back in action for an extensive North American tour beginning April 3 in St. Louis.

As for Pearl Jam, the group will start a U.S. tour of their own April 24 in Hollywood, Fl.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Chappell Roan’s Wardrobe Malfunction at Paris Fashion Week Has Fans Losing It

2025-03-11T21:31:36.631Z

On Sunday, March 9, the 27-year-old pop sensation took to Instagram with a carousel of photos from her time at the event, which kicked off on Wednesday, March 5.

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While Roan, whose real name is Kayleigh Amstutz, shared plenty of standout shots, it was the fifth slide that had the internet talking.

In the photo, the “Pink Pony Club” singer is seen in the red leather gown she wore to the Ludovic de Saint Sernin show — only this time, the back had completely split open, exposing her sheer black underwear and bare skin.

Fans wasted no time reacting in the comments section.

“Leather couldn’t handle the cake!” one person wrote.

“Not the picture this early in the morningggg,” another quipped.

“best dressed 10000/10000 no notes im gagged im obsessed yeah,” chimed in a third.

“The cake was too powerful omg,” someone else said.

This isn’t the first time Roan has faced a wardrobe crisis. In November 2024, she nearly had a major mishap moments before performing on Saturday Night Live.

“It ripped all the way down the back right before I walked on stage,” the Grammy-winning musician revealed in an interview one month later, explaining that the in-house seamstress had to sew her back into the dress.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Gigi Hadid Reveals What It’s Like Co-Parenting With Ex Zayn Malik

2025-03-11T21:03:51.583Z

_{Hadid, 29, revealed a few details about what her current relationship with Malik, 32, looks like nearly four years after they decided to split up in an interview she had with Vogue that was published on Tuesday, March 11.}

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_{“Zayn and I do our custody schedules months in advance,” she told the outlet before she noted, “That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t change here and there, but we help each other out and have each other’s backs.”}

_{The two first started dating in 2015 and had an on-and-off relationship for six years. They reunited one last time in 2020 and welcomed their daughter, Khai, in September of that same year. The Victoria’s Secret Angel and One Direction singer finally ended things in 2021, with many reports indicating that Gigi’s mother, Yolanda, was involved in their breakup.}

_{The supermodel also acknowledged the fact that her relationship with the father of her child will likely be closely examined by fans during her chat with Vogue and told the outlet, “At the end of the day, we’re not interested in giving everyone our whole story.” She then went on to add, “What we are interested in is raising our daughter together, with so much respect for each other, and not just as co-parents, but what we’ve been through together.”}

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Enjoy Rare Date Night — And Fans Can’t Stop Talking About It

2025-03-11T21:00:03.188Z

On Monday, March 10, a video surfaced on social media of the pair out in Park City, Utah.

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The clip, originally shared by DeuxMoi on Instagram, shows Kelce and Swift, both 35, stepping out of a restaurant, with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end holding the car door open for his sweetheart before getting in himself. No flashing cameras, no screaming crowds — just a simple night out.

And fans loved every second of it.

“So refreshing to NOT have a thousand flashes in ur face for once ,” one person wrote in the comments section of the post.

“Love how people walk past them and leave them alone!” another said.

“I love this for them that there are not crowds of people waiting around and screaming at them,” chimed in a third.

“I’m so happy they can enjoy one another in privacy like ‘normal’ couples,” someone else noted.

“I love this. No paps and them living their lives,” added another.

The lovebirds have been dating since summer 2023 but kept things private at first. “We actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other,” the “Look What You Made Me Do” singer told TIME in December 2023. “By the time I went to that first [Chiefs] game, we were a couple.”

“I’m enjoying all aspects of life,” the NFL champ said during a January interview on The Stephen A. Smith Show. “I couldn’t be happier to have that confidence and that comfort off the field and all the support I could ever ask for in the stadium.”

Kelce went on to say, “I think personally, that’s the beauty of being in a very strong relationship — you get that support to be able to come in and focus on your craft [and] focus on being the best version of you.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Mastodon Play First Show After Split With Co-Founder Brent Hinds

2025-03-10T19:06:00.965Z

Mastodon sure didn’t make it easy on Eller, as the band dusted off several rarities last night that hadn’t been played live in years. Among them: the first “All the Heavy Lifting” since 2015, the first “Tread Lightly” since 2016 and the first performances of “Ember City” and “Ghost of Karelia” since 2019. The 17-song set also sported such favorites as “Blood and Thunder,” “Steambreather” and “Crystal Skull.”

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On March 7, Mastodon announced Hinds’ departure in a statement that read, “friends and fans, after 25 monumental years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways. We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors. We are still very inspired and excited to show up for fans in this next chapter of Mastodon. As we move forward, all 2025 touring plans will remain intact. We look forward to seeing you on the road.”

Hinds has yet to reply, although sources say the split was definitely not as amicable as hinted at in the statement.

Mastodon are expected to release the follow-up to 2021’s Hushed and Grim at some point this year, and have an extensive tour with Coheed and Cambria beginning May 10 in Salem, Va. The group will also be on hand for the final Black Sabbath concert on July 5 in Birmingham, England.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Lady Gaga Dazzles During ‘SNL’ Double Duty

2025-03-10T19:00:19.914Z

Gaga set a playful tone during her monologue, referencing the critical beating given to her latest movie, Joker: Folie à Deux. “I select films that would showcase my craft as a serious actor — films such as Joker 2. Apparently, people thought it was awesome,” she said. “Joaquin [Phoenix] and I even got nominated for a Razzie, which is an award for the worst films of the year. So, we won worst onscreen duo. But, joke’s on them. I love winning things. My Razzie brings me one step closer to an EGORT. It’s like an EGOT, but it’s hurtful.”

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In a nod to the wave of new, young artists dominating the charts, she joked, “The last time I hosted SNL, I was 27. I’m 38 now, which is scientifically the best age for a female pop star to be. I see that most pop stars are over 40. Chappell Roan is 58. Charli xcx, she’s 75. Tate McRae is my biological grandmother.”

Sketch highlights included a first date-themed bit with Bowen Yang featuring a parody of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” and another Gaga/Yang team-up on a song advocating for the abolition of the omnipresent, highly irritating slang term “slay.” Gaga also got the chance to don a 1920s-style flapper outfit and dance around in a sketch involving insensitive staff at a funeral home.

Separately, Gaga has announced four shows at Singapore’s National Stadium on May 18-19, 21 and 24. Tickets go on sale March 18.

See both of Gaga’s SNL performances below.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

FIFA World Cup Adds Halftime Show After Kendrick Lamar’s Record-Breaking Performance

2025-03-06T18:24:59.757Z

The 37-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning artist’s politically charged performance became the most-watched halftime show in history, pulling in 133 million viewers and sparking a new wave of Google searches for “men flared jeans.” Now, FIFA wants in on the action.

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On Wednesday, March 4, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Instagram that the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature a halftime show for the first time ever.

“This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world,” the 54-year-old football administrator wrote. The final will take place at MetLife Stadium — renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament — on July 19, 2026.

As soon as the news hit, the internet had plenty to say.

Shakira is the most deserving artist to headline the FIFA World Cup final halftime show next year. When people think of the World Cup song, they think of her. There's no other choice but Shakirapic.twitter.com/ZjAbTzVvu7
— Noah  (@NoahFentys) March 6, 2025

“Shakira is the most deserving artist to headline the FIFA World Cup final halftime show next year. When people think of the World Cup song, they think of her. There’s no other choice but Shakira,” one person wrote on X (formerly twitter).

“Beyonce 2026 fifa halftime show headliner lets go,” said another.

“Nobody wants a halftime for a FIFA world cup. Football fans aren’t like the NFL. Countries that actually have been champions will hate every second of it and anyone doing the show,” chimed in a third.

“Will Oasis play at the Fifa halftime show next year???” someone else wondered.

“Trying to ruin World Cup like they did the Super Bowl. Concentrating on everything but the game,” added another.

For those who missed Lamar’s Super Bowl performance on Sunday, February 9, it was a cultural moment. The “Swimming Pools” rapper used his set to highlight themes of Black identity and social injustice, delivering hits like “Humble” and “Not Like Us” — a diss track aimed at Drake.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Glastonbury 2025: Olivia Rodrigo, The 1975, Neil Young

2025-03-06T18:18:22.401Z

Led by the 1975, Friday’s haul includes Alanis Morissette, Busta Rhymes, Gracie Abrams, Four Tet, BADBADNOTGOOD, Denzel Curry, Floating Points and Faye Webster, while Young will share the Saturday bill with Charli xcx, RAYE, Doechii, Deftones, John Fogerty, Father John Misty, Japanese Breakfast and Yussef Dayes.

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The final day of the event will be toplined by Rodrigo and will also feature Rod Stewart, the Prodigy, Noah Kahan, Weezer, Shaboozey, Djo, St. Vincent and Jorja Smith.

See the complete lineup below.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Whoopi Goldberg Reveals Major ‘Sister Act 3’ Update

2025-03-03T21:30:18.243Z

The 69-year-old actress attended the 2025 Oscars on Sunday, March 2, and was interviewed by Variety on the red carpet.

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The interviewer asked Goldberg what her next acting role would be, to which she responded, “Who knows? Who knows? We’ll see,” she said before adding, “Hopefully, Sister Act 3.”

She also revealed that she is hoping the movie will “happen sometime this year” and that a final script had been submitted to Disney.

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” she told the outlet and added, “It only matters if Disney wants to do it.”

Users on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) took to the comments section of a post about the sequel update to share their reactions to the news.

“We could’ve used this like 10-15 years ago. Don’t try n sell it to us now cause you need the extra money or whatever the case may be,” wrote one Reddit user that seemingly doesn’t care to see Goldberg reprise her role in the film.

A different user on X disagreed and wrote, “The world needs more Sister Act! Whoopi Goldberg is waiting, and so are we. Disney, make it happen!”

Another user on X simply wrote, “Hollywood: Get. New. Ideas.”

Sister Act and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit premiered in 1992 and 1993, respectively. The original film was a box office success, grossing $231 million worldwide with a $31 million budget. Despite not being as commercially successful, the sequel was well received and helped launch the career of five-time Grammy Award winner Lauryn Hill.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Sabrina Carpenter Reacts to BRITs NSFW Drama With Just 6 Words

2025-03-03T21:26:20.423Z

On Saturday, March 1, the 25-year-old former Disney star opened the 2025 BRITs with a medley of “Espresso” and “Bed Chem.” Dressed in a red sparkly outfit, Carpenter danced on a giant pink bed and knelt in front of a male dancer — who winked at the camera as she disappeared from view.

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The risqué moment, which aired before the U.K.’s 9 p.m. watershed (the time when mature content can be broadcast), sparked mixed reactions.

Sabrina Carpenter’s complete performance at the 2025 #BRITs in London! pic.twitter.com/70dVYM21z1
— 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 ⚚ (@shinewid_SAM) March 3, 2025

“It’s like watching live pornography. It’s supposed to be a family show!” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“I find this hilarious. It’s Sabrina Carpenter. What did they think would happen? Her whole persona is built around sex. If you didn’t want your kids to watch, you shouldn’t have let them,” another user explained.

“You can be sexy like Dita Von Teese and Also ELEGANT. Sabrina disappointed me,” chimed in a third.

“It’s definitely not meant to be a family show. Don’t you remember the fights, drunken expletives, drugged up performances etc in the past. It’s toned down loads in the last few years. It’s hardly live pornography.. it’s very suggestive and sexy dancing,” someone else pointed out.

Carpenter, however, isn’t losing sleep over the backlash. The next day, she addressed the drama with a six-word Instagram caption: “I now know what watershed is!!!!”

The “Please, Please, Please” hitmaker has never shied away from embracing her own confidence. In 2024, she told TIME, “You’ll still get the occasional mother that has a strong opinion on how you should be dressing. And to that I just say, don’t come to the show and that’s OK.” She added, “The scariest thing in the world is getting up on a stage in front of that many people and having to perform as if it’s nothing. If the one thing that helps you do that is the way you feel comfortable dressing, then that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Catch Carpenter on her Short n’ Sweet tour this fall, with new North American dates added.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Conan O’Brien Comments On Kendrick Lamar And Drake Feud at the Oscars

2025-03-03T21:21:28.627Z

O’Brien, 61, hosted the 2025 Oscars awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2. The comedian made jokes throughout the show — and one stood out.

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“We’re halfway through the show,” he noted before joking, “which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile.”

O’Brien took a moment before he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up.”

The host was referring to Lamar’s recent halftime performance at the 2025 Super Bowl, where he rapped his Grammy Award-winning hit, “Not Like Us.” The song notoriously has a line in which the Los Angeles native calls out Drake’s album and raps, “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile.” The song also has a lyric that reads, “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.”

Lamar, 37, has been locked in a smoldering feud with the 38-year-old Toronto rapper since 2013, after he dissed Drake in a verse on Big Sean’s “Control.”

The dispute most recently erupted in 2024 when both rappers released multiple diss tracks about each other, including titles like “Push Ups” and “Family Matters” from Drake and “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us” from Lamar.

The “God’s Plan” rapper is reportedly in an ongoing lawsuit against Universal Music Group—his and Lamar’s record label—for allegedly making and distributing “Not Like Us,” a defamatory song.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Michelle Langone’s Operatic Voice and Genre-Crossing New Single ‘Home Reimagined’ Is Worth Listening to This Month

2025-03-03T21:16:45.090Z

A rising star in the music industry, Michelle Langone shows once again how captivating she is on her latest single, ‘Home Reimagined’.

The Florida artist’s latest single offers alook at what happens when a classically trained artist dabbles in dance music; ‘Home Reimagined’ seamlessly blends classical pop with EDM elements.

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At just 25 years old, Michelle Langone has already made a name for herself as a lauded singer-songwriter, with a background in operatic soprano. Hailing from Florida, Michelle’s musical journey began in high school and college, where she honed her craft and garnered accolades for her vocal prowess.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michelle turned to digital platforms to share her music and connect with audiences worldwide, eventually leading to the release of her debut EP, Coming Home, in 2022.

Since then, Michelle’s career has been on an upward trajectory, marked by the release of several successful singles and an ever-growing fan base. However, Michelle’s latest single might well be the one that helps her breakthrough into the mainstream. Collaborating with EDM artist Jake Neumar, Michelle has breathed new life into her 2022 track ‘Home’ texturing it with some brilliant electronica.

The message of ‘Home Reimagined’ remains as poignant as it did in the original. The song is about seeking out joy and finding faith in a world plagued by pain and division. Michelle’s soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics convey hope and resilience, reminding listeners that – for many people – music has a role to play in the search for spirituality, inspiration, and healing.

What might well set Michelle apart from other artists is her ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible and relatable way. While her songs touch on themes of spiritual exploration, they do so in a manner that is welcoming to listeners of all backgrounds and beliefs.

‘Home Reimagined’ was released on March 8, 2024, making it the first of several songs that Michelle shared throughout this year; The artist released a single every month, ahead of her first full-length album release on November 1, 2024. Since then, she has garnered more attention than ever.

SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content

Photo Courtesy of Michelle Langone

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

R.E.M.’s Original Members Take The Stage Again In Athens

2025-02-28T20:19:25.802Z

Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry all performed at various points in the evening, reprising an appearance with Shannon and Narducy at the same club almost exactly a year ago while the band was celebrating Murmur. That night, Stipe thanked the audience from the stage but did not sing live; last night, he was fully at the mic for a run through “Pretty Persuasion” (see fan-shot footage below). As he’s done at prior tour stops in Seattle and Portland, Or., Buck played guitar on six songs, while Mills joined for seven and Berry manned the drum kit for “Wendell Gee.” Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye was also on hand for two Velvet Underground covers (see the full setlist here).

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Asked if he, Shannon, Wilco bassist John Stirratt, Mountain Goats/Bob Mould drummer Jon Wurster, guitarist Dag Juhlin and keyboardist Vijay Tellis-Nayak had any advance warning that R.E.M. would be in the house, Narducy tells SPIN, “oh, absolutely none. I don’t think they knew. After ‘Pretty Persuasion,’ Peter leaned over to me and said, I did not think Michael would do that. So, they clearly had not discussed it. Michael’s not been doing R.E.M. songs except for when he was campaigning for Kamala Harris. so that was a big surprise.”

The reunion follows Stipe, Berry, Mills and Buck’s first full-band performance since 2007 last summer at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards. “The fact that it was not planned at all makes it even more special for me,” Narducy says of last night’s happenings. “Michael came backstage after the show, and I said, you guys keep what the fuck-ing us (laughs). Because every time we do something, they surprise us, and this is obviously the biggest moment of all of that. Peter did say something funny about how many millions of dollars they get offered to do this, and instead they just get up there and do it for free with us.”

For a lifelong R.E.M. fan such as Narducy, playing these songs with the musicians who created them has been otherworldly. “Peter does not play these songs anymore, but even last year when we did this, we’d throw songs out at him like, do you know ‘Letter Never Sent?,’ and he’d play it right away,” he says. “We added ‘Cuyahoga’ at the last minute for this tour, but Peter didn’t remember it. It was a tremendous thrill for me to stand there at soundcheck and re-teach him his song. I will never forget that. There’s no film of that. There’s no photos. It will be forever etched in my brain.”

Shannon, Narducy and friends will play again at the 40 Watt tonight, and Narducy still has no idea what to expect. “Michael Shannon and I have already been coming up with stuff this morning just in case,” he says. “It’s important to us to make these shows special, especially for the Athens community, because these shows sold out first before anything else. People are flying in from all around. It feels like we need to make these as special as we can. Last night we played a song for the very first time on the tour (‘Disturbance at the Heron House’) and we’ll do that again tonight.”

Asked why he thinks R.E.M. has been so up for participating in these shows, Narducy offers, “they’re all happy and living well and also comfortable with their legacy and their history. Somehow, they’re okay with us doing this. There was no strategy for us with these shows. It was just Michael Shannon and I doing this thing every 10 years where we play albums that we love, and this particular one just took off. I love how organically it happened. Who could have foreseen that the band and their manager would be so supportive and so kind to us? It’s really lovely.”

The tour runs through March 15 in Evanston, Il., and will visit the U.K. for a short run in late August.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Gene Hackman, 95, and Wife Found Dead

2025-02-27T20:39:30.971Z

Legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 64, and their dog were found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday, February 26.

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila confirmed that the trio was discovered deceased during a wellness check at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time.

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While the cause of death remains unclear, Hackman’s daughter, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, told TMZ on Thursday, February 27, that the family suspects toxic fumes may have contributed to their passing.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed to the outlet that deputies are still investigating the deaths.

Gene Hackman arrives at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, CA on January 19, 2003. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images.

The couple had been living in New Mexico since Gene Hackman retired from Hollywood.

They were last seen publicly on March 28, 2024, during a rare lunch outing at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hackman is best known for his iconic roles in The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Conversation, and Unforgiven, among other films.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Why Rihanna Brought Her and A$AP Rocky’s Kids to Court

2025-02-27T18:58:56.989Z

On Tuesday, February 18, the 36-year-old Barbadian artist’s boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, was found not guilty on two felony assault charges, ending a years-long legal battle over a 2021 altercation with former friend and A$AP Mob member A$AP Relli (Terell Ephron). Throughout the trial, Rihanna was by his side — and toward the end, she showed up with their sons, RZA, 2, and Riot, 1, in tow.

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It didn’t take long for the internet to speculate. Was she trying to sway the jury? Not at all, according to A$AP Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina.

“People were thinking it was a ploy, like some sort of maneuver to get the jury to feel sympathy,” the 58-year-old criminal defense attorney said during a Monday, February 24 interview on The Breakfast Club. “The jury’s not feeling sympathy — they know he has a wife and kids.” (For the record, Rihanna and the “F**kin’ Problems” hitmaker aren’t legally married.)

So why did she bring them? Tacopina explained it was a last-minute decision — and a personal one. “She brought them to court because that could’ve been the last time he’d seen his kids for a decade or more,” he said. “That’s why she brought them. The prosecutor made a big deal of it in his summation, which I think was a fatal mistake quite frankly.”

For those who missed it, District Attorney John Lewin didn’t hold back his thoughts on the courtroom cameo. “I want to make sure that no matter how famous his [partner] is, no matter how cute his kids are, no matter how much they giggle during closing arguments… he needs to be treated like any other person,” he said during closing arguments on Friday, February 14. “Because in the end, that’s what he’s entitled to.”

ASAP Rocky didn't want Rihanna showing up to his court date, so Rihanna went behind Rocky's back, called his lawyer, and said, "Wild horses aren't going to keep me away." pic.twitter.com/vW39qTCqxh
— ۟ (@headnavy) February 19, 2025

But if A$AP Rocky had his way, the “Umbrella” singer wouldn’t have been in the courtroom at all — and definitely not with their kids. “He didn’t want her there. He was very protective of her,” Tacopina told a reporter after the verdict. “I was sort of supporting his decision to keep her away. But this is not — the trial’s not about Rihanna.”

Rihanna, however, had other plans. According to Tacopina, she went straight to him behind A$AP Rocky’s back to make it clear she wasn’t sitting this one out. “She called me one day and she’s like, ‘Joe, wild horses aren’t going to keep me away, so you let him know that I’m coming and deal with him,’” he said.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Drake Pulls the Plug on Tour Weeks After Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Jab

2025-02-26T20:57:49.852Z

The Super Bowl may be over, but the aftershocks are still rolling in. While Kendrick Lamar used the halftime stage to take a swipe at his longtime rival, Drake, and now, just weeks later, the 38-year-old Canadian rapper has now called off the rest of his Australia and New Zealand tour.

On Tuesday, February 25, it was confirmed that Drake had canceled the final four dates of his sold-out Anita Max Win Tour due to a “scheduling conflict.” A rep for the rapper stated, “We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows.” They also assured ticket holders that refunds would be available for those who preferred not to wait for the new dates.

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The former Degrassi star already completed stops in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney, and the tour marked his first return to Australia and New Zealand since 2017.

Drake’s cancellation comes on the heels of Lamar’s viral Super Bowl performance, where he made a clear nod to their ongoing feud which began over ten years ago.

While performing “Not Like Us” — the diss track that dominated the Billboard charts last summer — he smirked at the camera and quipped, “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” a direct shot at Drake’s ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group.

The “God’s Plan” rapper didn’t fire back directly but did tweak a lyric at his Melbourne show one day later. In his song “Knife Talk,” he originally rapped, “Beef is live, spoiler alert — this n***a dies.” Instead, he switched it up, saying, “Beef is live, spoiler alert — I never die.”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Woody Harrelson Says He Couldn’t Go ‘Toke-for-Toke’ With This Reggae Legend

2025-02-26T20:52:22.003Z

On Monday, February 24, the 63-year-old Zombieland actor dropped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where he was asked — “living or dead” — who he’d most like to invite to his Los Angeles dispensary, Ganja Giggle Garden. His answer?

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“Bob Marley,” Harrelson replied without hesitation.

Colbert, 60, then took it a step further, asking if Harrelson thought he could go “toke-for-toke” with the late reggae legend. That’s where Harrelson tapped out.

“I don’t think so,” the Cheers alum admitted, adding that he used to hang out with Marley’s mother and still couldn’t keep up. “She was serious.”

Harrelson has long been open about his love for cannabis, even co-owning The Woods — a West Hollywood dispensary and consumption lounge. He’s also been active in marijuana legalization efforts and recently pushed for cannabis café legislation in California.

“The herb, it really is a unifying thing,” the Primetime Emmy Award winner said last week on The Joe Rogan Experience. “From the first time I tried it, I just felt such bonhomie, such compassion to everybody around me.” And while he once took a break from smoking for a few years, it was another famous toker, Willie Nelson, who ultimately got him back in the game. “I win a big hand [in poker], he hands it right to me, and I just grab it and take a big toke,” Harrelson recalled while chatting with CBS News in 2023. “And he goes, ‘Welcome home, son!’”

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Ozzy Osbourne Confronts Health Challenges In New Doc

2025-02-25T17:00:14.478Z

“This film is an honest account of what has happened to Ozzy during the last few years,” says the rock legend’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne. “It shows how hard things have been for him and the courage he has shown while dealing with a number of serious health issues, including Parkinson’s. It’s about the reality of his life now. We have worked with a production team we trust and have allowed them the freedom to tell the story openly. We hope that story will inspire people that are facing similar issues to Ozzy.”

More from Spin:

Alexander began work on the documentary in early 2022 while Osbourne was recording his Grammy-winning album Patient Number 9. She will also capture the lead-up to the July 5 concert, which will feature Metallica, Tool, Guns N’ Roses and many other hard rock luminaries. Osbourne, who has performed briefly only twice since 2018, is currently unable to walk.

“The last six years have been full of some of the worst times I’ve been through. There’s been times when I thought my number was up,” he said. “But making music and making two albums saved me. I’d have gone nuts without music. My fans have supported me for so many years, and I really want to thank them and say a proper goodbye to them. That is what the Villa Park show is about.”

No Escape From Now will include appearances by Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and longtime Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, among others.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Marlon Williams Enlists Lorde For New Maori Single

2025-02-25T16:54:16.664Z

New Zealand artist Marlon Williams has enlisted fellow native Lorde for “Kāhore He Manu E,” the latest single from his first album in the Māori language, Te Whare Tīwekaweka. The project will be released April 4 in tandem with a documentary about its creation dubbed Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds.

Williams spent five years working on the album, his first not in English. He describes the collaboration, whose real name is Ella Yelich-OʼConnor, as “one of those gentle labous. It played itself out to me, easily and near complete from the first. It was also obvious who should be singing it; Ellaʼs voice in a very real sense wrote the song. The distinct and striking characteristics in her voice cornering and demanding of the melody and phrasing what only her voice could. Singing with Ella is incredible; the amount of mind sheʼs able to pour into the vessel. We got to know each other through sharing the highs and lows of touring life, and in a real sense this song is an ode to the colourful but grim wormhole of road life [and] to the friends made and lost in the folds of time.”

More from Spin:

Adds Lorde of the collaboration, “over the course of several years I watched Marlon pull at the threads that became Te Whare Tīwekaweka. I saw that the further he got into the album, the deeper my friend came to know himself, his whānau and his world at large. Marlon is an undercover perfectionist, and he was never going to embark on this journey without turning over every stone, crafting complex waiata that speak to the past while also braiding in his characteristic humor and x-ray vision. Singing with Marlon is one of my favorite things to do on earth, whether we are tipsy backstage by a pool table or in a luscious studio, and I was honored he asked me to sing with him on this album. Iʼm so proud of my friend.”

Lorde and Williams have teamed up on several prior occasions, including to perform the former’s “Solar Power” in Māori in London in 2022. The pair also covered Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher Than the Rest” in Auckland in March 2021.

Williams will support Te Whare Tīwekaweka with a series of performances this spring and summer, beginning April 10 in New York. Lorde is hard at work on her first album since 2021’s Solar Power, although no release date has been announced.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Rental Vans, Corn Nuts, and the Open Road: Emo Darlings Macseal Headlining First Tour

2025-02-24T21:48:48.542Z

Touring coast to coast? A big step. As headliners? Huge deal. But what really makes this tour unique for the indie rockers in Macseal? “It’s the first one that we didn’t book ourselves,” laughs one of the band’s vocalists and guitarists, Cole Szilagyi.

That’s a solid milestone for a band that’s been at it since 2014. Emerging from Long Island’s legacy-laden emo community, Macseal has worked hard across albums, EPs, and live shows to build a reputation for melodic yet complex emo-meets-power pop. As such, they are VERY used to touring, however, Cole says these upcoming dates—kicking off on February 21 in Connecticut before going all the way to the West Coast and then back east to end in New York City on March 22—feel different because, “When you play for someone else’s crowd, you’re kind of like, I hope we win them over. And if not, that’s okay. They still get to see the band they paid for. But knowing that we’re playing to people who hopefully know more of our music is… I think it’s a good kind of pressure.”

More from Spin:

But how does Macseal prepare for that pressure? I interrupted that prep time to speak with all four members of the band—Cole, vocalist-guitarist Ryan Bartlett, bassist Justin Canavaciol, and drummer Frankie Impastato—over a video call about what a band at their buzzy level does to prepare for a month on the road in 2025.

What are some things you’re doing now, while still at home, to get ready for this tour?

Justin: Well… this is gonna be the most we’ve practiced for a tour, I think ever.

Frankie: Usually before we go on a tour, we’ll get together the day before and run everything a single time and be like, “All right, we’re good to go.” But this time, we have three dedicated days where we’re gonna be working on different stuff each day. We haven’t played it yet, so we don’t know if it’s gonna work, but right now we have an on-paper perfect set that should flow beautifully from one song to the next. That took a lot of brain power because songs are in different tunings and obviously different keys. You don’t want everyone to be just watching you tune on stage for 15 minutes.

Any tips you’ve picked up from the bands you’ve toured with?

Frankie: Honestly, I think for a minute we were like, “Oh, we don’t wanna play the old songs. We only wanna play the new songs.” Because they’re new, they’re exciting, of course we wanna play them. But from touring with Prince Daddy, we see that it’s like you gotta play the old stuff and give the people what they want.

(Credit: Brooke Marsh)

Ryan: Also, I feel like everyone we’ve toured with has been really accommodating, so going into this tour, we wanna make sure that the other bands on the package are taken care of and having a good time.

What is going to be your mode of transportation?

Justin: For this tour, I got a Ford Transit high top. I rented it from Enterprise right next to my house. Not sponsored. I don’t want to be sponsored. The last tour I did the same thing. I rented a van through Enterprise and by the time we finished the tour we had gone through four vans. Like, I had to drive from the venue in Orlando to the Orlando airport with Ryan holding the back door shut with a piece of rope.

Cole: It worked out great, though. Turns out Ryan’s really strong.

Any new gear for this tour?

Justin: I’m upgrading on this tour with a new Darkglass bass head. Shout out to Darkglass, who I guess are sponsoring me, unlike Enterprise. And I’m really excited because now my setup is like a quarter of the weight it used to be, so carrying things in and out of venues is gonna be a lot nicer for all involved.

Cole: Ryland from Origami Angel splits his guitar a million different ways, so it sounds like there’s like a bass and an electric guitar, and an acoustic guitar playing at the same time. I picked his brain about it when we were on tour, and our newest record, Permanent Repeat has a lot of acoustic guitar, so I sort of rigged up a couple of these little pedals to make it sound like my electric is also an acoustic at the same time. Hopefully that works out.

Frankie: I just got the news that my new cymbal is backordered, so I’m devastated that I’m not getting that. Instead with that money, I bought a new Mets shirt.

Are you driving long distances every day or do you have some time off built in?

Frankie: We have like seven off days, which are all travel days with probably a minimum of nine to 10 hours of driving. But in terms of mileage, none of the drives are that egregious. Like typically on tours, the route will be Salt Lake City to Denver which, without an off day, is a rough 13-hour drive. When putting the tour together, we were like, “Hey, we’re not gonna do that.”

Cole: Especially during a winter tour. We hear a lot of horror stories.

What is the band’s go-to entertainment for the long drives?

Ryan: Justin’s the main day driver and he just sits in silence.

Justin: I am so much more comfortable sitting in silence than everyone else in the van because when you have to play a show and soundcheck, it’s like six or seven hours of music every day. So silence just kind of hits, you know?

Ryan: We play this game called “My Cow” (that Frankie learned from a tour manager, named Lisa Larson). Basically when you see a cow, you say, “My cow,” and you get one point. If you see a church, you say, “Holy cow,” and that doubles your cows. If you see a graveyard, you say “Dead cow,” and then everyone else’s cows but yours are gone. We get pretty competitive.

(Credit: Cam Westmoreland)

Any particular road snacks that fuel you?

Ryan: I feel like we’ve gotten better at not having crap every time. Like the amount of times I’ve gotten just a candy bar when we stop just ’cause I’m bored and want something fun to eat… it’s so tempting. But now I’m really into corn nuts.

What is the impact of touring on your personal lives?

Frankie: I have a little dog and he has to go to daycare when I’m on tour and he really hates it. They’ll upload a picture of him every day and it’s him literally in the corner of the room, sitting by himself. I wish dogs could be on tour. Uh, and of course I miss my wife also. I live above my grandma too, and it stinks not to hang out with her every day. Every time I leave and come back, she says she was just counting down the days. Classic grandma guilt <laugh>. But yeah, I think it takes a toll on our families more than we like to think about.

Cole: Totally. I was in a long-distance relationship for a couple years, but we just moved in together. I’m in Chicago now, so it’s funny to be like, “We get to spend every day together now” and then be like “In five weeks we get to do that.”

Ryan: Once we get into it, it’s just so much fun. But also, you kind of… I don’t wanna say you feel guilty, but it’s like “Oh, I’m having a great time” and yet, my wife is at home taking the trash out. It’s cool and sucks at the same time. It’s a weird dichotomy.

During all the time together on the road, how do you keep peace amongst the band?

Justin: That’s where the silence in the van helps because no one can annoy each other.

Frankie: And I don’t think we’re a bougie band, but we all prioritize our well-being. Like if we’re having a bad time, we won’t think twice about getting a nice hotel room so we can all have a place to sleep and take a shower. Or we’ll go to the Cheesecake Factory and get a nice dinner. After all, that’s ultimately what makes people fight: hunger. So we make sure we’re fed.

Cole: Yeah, it’s a lot harder to be pissed off at someone when you’ve had a cookie skillet.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Wu-Tang Clan Assembling Once More For Final Tour

2025-02-24T21:42:05.228Z

Rap legends the Wu-Tang Clan will embark on their last tour, dubbed The Final Chamber, beginning June 6 in Baltimore. Original members RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa, plus Cappadonna and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son Young Dirty Bastard, will all be on hand for the shows. Run the Jewels will support.

“Everybody has agreed to do this. Everybody’s agreed on the name. So we may come to your city, you’ll see all of us together and that may be the last time you see us all together in the physical,” RZA told the New York Times. “You might watch us on TV, but we’re not coming to your city again. We want you to come break bread with us.”

More from Spin:

Per promoter AEG Presents, the tour will offer material from classic albums such as Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Wu-Tang Forever, as well as songs that have never been played live. The Final Chamber follows a successful 2023 tour with Nas plus Wu-Tang own 2024 Las Vegas residency, which was the first for a hip-hop act.

“Wu-Tang Clan has shown the world many chambers throughout our career; this tour is called The Final Chamber,” RZA said in a separate statement. “This is a special moment for me and all my Wu brothers to run around the globe together one more time and spread the Wu swag, music and culture. Most importantly to touch our fans and those who have supported us throughout the years. On this tour we’re playing songs we’ve never played before to our audience and me and our production team have designed a Wu-Tang show unlike anything you’ve ever seen. And to top it off we’ve got the amazing Run the Jewels on our side.”

In anticipation of the shows, Wu-Tang have teamed with Amazon Music for the EP Live From Climate Pledge Arena, which was taped on the Nas tour at the Seattle venue. The project is available both for streaming on a 1,500-unit limited edition 12-inch vinyl LP.

Here are Wu-Tang Clan’s tour dates:

06/06 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
06/07 Raleigh, NC Lenovo Center
06/10 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
06/11 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
06/13 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena
06/14 Houston, TX Toyota Center
06/15 Austin, TX Moody Center
06/16 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
06/18 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
06/20 Ontario, CA Toyota Arena
06/21 San Diego, CA Pechanga Arena San Diego
06/22 Los Angeles, CA Crypto.com Arena
06/24 San Francisco, CA Chase Center
06/26 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
06/28 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
06/30 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
07/01 Portland, OR Moda Center
07/04 Greenwood Village, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
07/07 Chicago, IL United Center
07/08 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
07/09 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
07/11 Boston, MA TD Garden
07/13 Montreal, QC Place Bell
07/14 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
07/16 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
07/17 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
07/18 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Listen to Damiano David’s uplifting new single ‘Born With A Broken Heart’

2024-12-04T19:44:51.194Z

Damiano David has released his uplifting and spirited new single, ‘Born With A Broken Heart’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Måneskin’s Damiano David on ‘Silverlines’ and going solo: “I was basically making myself unhappy, and I was doing pretty good at it”

Today (October 25), the Måneskin frontman offers fans the second taste of his upcoming solo record, which has yet to receive a release date. ‘Born With A Broken Heart’ blends together feel-good rock and anthemic chord progressions with poignant and emotional lyrics drawn from a deeply personal and dark time in the singer’s life.

David sings on the song’s catchy chorus: “What if I said I’m trying / To save your love from dying / Baby I’m too far gone / Don’t want to see you crying / But I just know who I am / Maybe that’s the hardest part / Baby you can’t fix me / I was born with a broken heart”.

Listen to Damiano David’s ‘Born With A Broken Heart’ below.

David said of the new song in a press statement: “When I wrote this song I was getting out of a very dark place, I was feeling emotionless and I was afraid that I had lost my ability to feel things, either good or bad. This was happening while I was starting the most meaningful relationship of my life and the fear of not being capable or ready was big.”

“I think the song was a way to make myself make sense of what I was feeling and look at it from a less scary prospective,” he continued. “I’m happy to say that today I don’t feel like this but I think a lot of people can relate with the feeling of not being good enough.”

An accompanying music video for the newly released single is due for release later today (October 25), at 12pm BST.

Måneskin’s Damiano David. CREDIT: Press

‘Born With A Broken Heart’ follows the bold and theatrical piano-led ballad ‘Silverlines’, which Damiano released in late September as his solo debut.

Speaking to NME in September about his solo project, David shared of his upcoming debut album: “It’s going to be very excessive, very dramatic, very theatrical, I would say. It’s definitely more personal. It’s about the drama of being alive; especially under the circumstances.”

However, David was also sure to make it clear that just because the members of Måneskin are currently exploring solo careers, it doesn’t mean the band’s come to and end: “We’re in training to get back different, better and harder.”

The post Listen to Damiano David’s uplifting new single ‘Born With A Broken Heart’ appeared first on NME.

Idris Elba is moving to Africa to support its film industry

2024-12-04T19:41:32.202Z

Idris Elba has declared his intention to relocate to Africa within the next 10 years to help develop the continent’s film industry.

READ MORE: ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ review: Idris Elba’s rogue cop gets a big-screen adventure

The 52-year-old actor, who is best known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, was born in London to a mother from Ghana and a father from Sierra Leone.

Speaking to the BBC, he has now revealed his plans to honour his African heritage by building a film studio on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, and additional one in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

“I would certainly consider settling down here; not even consider, it’s going to happen,” Elba said.

“I think [I’ll move] in the next five, 10 years, God willing,” he added. “I’m here to bolster the film industry – that is a 10-year process – I won’t be able to do that from overseas. I need to be in-country, on the continent.”

Elba explained that he hopes to be based in three different countries on the continent: Zanzibar, Accra and Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. “I’m going to try and go where they’re telling stories – that’s really important,” he said.

Idris Elba. CREDIT: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

In a separate interview with CNN, Elba said that one of his aims to help Africans own their stories on the global stage. “A lot of media is centred around (negative depictions of Africa). But the median age in Africa is 19; these young people are optimistic and deserve the chance to tell their own stories,” he said.

In August, the BBC reported that Elba’s project had been approved, with Zanzibar’s investment minister likening the potential to “Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood”.

“I’m not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood,” joked Shariff Ali Shariff.

Back in April this year, Elba reiterated his intention to the return to the role of Luther, hinting a new project about the detective could be on the horizon.

The post Idris Elba is moving to Africa to support its film industry appeared first on NME.

Here’s every song in ‘Venom: The Last Dance’

2024-12-04T19:37:40.042Z

Venom: The Last Dance is in cinemas now, but what songs are included on the film’s soundtrack? Check out the full list below.

Kelly Marcel, who also wrote on Saving Mr. Banks and Fifty Shades of Grey, has helmed the third film in the Venom trilogy, which sees Tom Hardy return as Eddie Brock, and is out in cinemas on Friday (October 25).

It has been hailed as “the best of the trilogy”, which started with 2018’s Venom and also included 2021’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

The film co-stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Rex Strickland, a solider who is tracking Brock and trying to capture Venom, Juno Temple as Agony, as well as Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Stephen Graham and Andy Serkis.

Sony’s official synopsis for the The Last Dance reads: “Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.”

The films exist within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe alongside the likes of Morbius (2022) and Madame Web (2024), and Hardy also showed up as Venom in a post-credits scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home, where it was suggested that the character had returned to his original universe.

Here’s every song in Venom: The Last Dance

The film boasts an original score from the alternative experimental musician Dan Deacon, who has made a string of critically acclaimed studio albums of his own, including 2009’s ‘Bromst’ and 2015’s ‘Gliss Riffer’. He has worked on a string of independent films in recent years, and also contributed a score for the 2022 Adam Sandler sports film Hustle.

Beyond that, the film also includes a couple of high-profile tracks by classic rock artists. As heard in the film’s trailer, Cat Stevens’ 1970 song ‘Wild World’, from his album ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ is part of the film. The trailer also included a slightly remixed version of David Bowie’s 1969 single ‘Space Oddity’.

Check out the trailer above.

The post Here’s every song in ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ appeared first on NME.

Thom Yorke Surprise-Releases New Song ‘5.17’

2022-03-14T17:30:00.000Z

Thom Yorke has been focusing efforts on his Radiohead side project The Smile, which made it that much more surprising when he released a new solo track called “5.17” without warning this morning.

Though it’s unclear why the song came out today, it may not be a coincidence that its arrival coincides with the third episode of Peaky Blinders’ sixth season — Yorke and his bandmate Jonny Greenwood reportedly contributed music to the show.

“Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood contributed some original stuff,” Peaky Blinders director Anthony Byrne previously told NME. “I’m over the moon about all of that. The music has always been really important historically, and I was really keen to bring a dramatic score into it. We’re using that much more in this season. It’s a much heavier season so the score is taking things in a very different direction.”

Radiohead’s “You & Whose Army?” and “Pyramid Song” have also been featured in the show, and Yorke’s new piano ballad has a similar tone to those songs.

A second new Yorke song — “That’s How Horses Are” — is scheduled for release on April 3, which also happens to be the date of Peaky Blinders’ series finale.

Listen to “5.17” below.

The Smile is prepping a debut album and has shared two tracks: “You Will Never Work In Television” and “The Smoke.”

The post Thom Yorke Surprise-Releases New Song ‘5.17’ appeared first on SPIN.

Behind the Scenes of Mothica’s Newest Mental Health-Based Track, ‘Sensitive’

2022-03-14T17:28:00.000Z

On Friday, alt-pop singer-songwriter Mothica unveiled her latest single, “SENSITIVE.” The track (which takes an introspective look at her mental health and personality) released via Heavy Heart Records, the singer’s imprint with Rise Records/BMG. Check out the video below.

“I wanted to make the most upbeat and aggressive song about being an introvert,” Mothica exclusively tells SPIN of the new track. “Because that’s how it feels to me when I have trouble expressing my emotions, sometimes it comes out as anger and frustration of being misunderstood. So we combined a metal guitar with a driving dance bass to illustrate this emotion just in time for Pisces season.”

Additionally SPIN has obtained some exclusive behind the scenes photos from photographer Mallory Turner taken during the filming of the music video for “SENSITIVE.” Take a look below.

The Los Angeles-based artist is set to hit the road with Coheed and Cambria and Dance Gavin Dance, starting July 12 in Miami. She’s also slated for an appearance at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento this fall. Tickets to see Mothica this year are on sale now.

Mothica’s debut, Blue Hour, released in 2020.

Mothica Tour Dates

7/12 Miami, FL FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
7/13 Tampa, FL MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/15 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall
7/16 New Braunfels, TX Whitewater Amphitheater
7/17 Irving, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7/19 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy
7/23 Nashville, TN Nashville Municipal Auditorium
7/24 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/26 Washington, DC The Anthem
7/27 Philadelphia, PA The Liacouras Center
7/29 Boston, MA Agganis Arena
7/30 Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills Stadium
8/1 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE Outdoors
8/2 Pontiac, MI Crofoot Festival Grounds
8/3 Toronto, ON RBC Echo Beach
8/5 Minneapolis, MN The Armory
8/6 Bridgeview, IL SeatGeek Stadium
8/7 St Louis, MO Saint Louis Music Park
8/9 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
8/10 Salt Lake City, UT The Lot at The Complex
8/12 Los Angeles, CA The Shrine LA Outdoors
8/13 San Diego, CA Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater
8/14 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre
8/16 Seattle, WA Marymoor Park
8/17 Troutdale, OR Edgefield
10/8 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival

The post Behind the Scenes of Mothica’s Newest Mental Health-Based Track, ‘Sensitive’ appeared first on SPIN.

Dolly Parton ‘Respectfully Bows Out’ of Rock Hall Nomination

2022-03-14T16:57:00.000Z

Dolly Parton tweeted today that she is dropping herself out of consideration of this year’s Rock and Rock Hall of Fame nominees.

Parton explained that she is “extremely flattered and grateful” to be nominated for the massive music industry honoring, but that she doesn’t “feel that I have earned that right.”

“I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out,” Parton says.

pic.twitter.com/Z6LKfWtlxg

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 14, 2022

Parton accepts the compliment of the nomination, yet hopes the Hall of Fame will consider her again — “if I am ever worthy.” She explains that the nomination has possibly inspired the country legend to make a rock ‘n’ roll record, as her husband has always pushed her to.

SPIN has reached out to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for comment.

Even though we may not see Parton on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame stage this year, maybe next year, we’ll get a Dolly Parton rock and roll album AND a Hall of Fame nod.

The other artists who are finalists for the Rock Hall include Beck, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush, DEVO, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Fela Kuti, MC5, New York Dolls, Rage Against the Machine, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, A Tribe Called Quest and Dionne Warwick.

The post Dolly Parton ‘Respectfully Bows Out’ of Rock Hall Nomination appeared first on SPIN.

Fly Anakin Carves His Own Lane on Frank

2022-03-14T16:38:00.000Z

Emerging as one of 11 members of a hip-hop collective in his native Richmond, Virginia, collaboration has always been central to rapper-producer Fly Anakin’s work. Now, with the release of his solo debut album, he showcases the talents that brought the spotlight on him and his local scene.

Like Danny Brown’s Bruiser Brigade, Mutant Academy is a scrappy, underground outfit that takes its name from an X-Men video game. Both groups are also intensely local, and committed to nurturing a unique sound for their city. The collective battles for success in a state that, despite claiming legendary hitmakers like Timbaland, Pusha T, Missy Elliot, and Pharrell Williams, has remained generally overlooked as a bed of talent between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.

A producer-heavy unit, Mutant Academy has leaned into crisp, soulful loops to craft mellow, smoked-out grooves for its emcees. Surrounded by this pool of talent, Anakin’s ear sharpened, allowing him to shine on production highlights with earnest verses and memorable choruses on both his and his group mates’ discographies.

Anakin’s early releases were often shared with group mates Henny L.O., Koncept Jack$on, and Big Kahuna OG. Most recently, he paired up with the orphic Pink Siifu for collab album FlySiifu’s (2020), which they followed up with 10 more tracks on last year’s $mokebreak EP, also attached to the album’s deluxe edition. However, across these shared releases (at a prolific rate, with more than two dozen projects released since his 2015 debut) Anakin has emerged as the frontman of his group and a star in his own right, embarking on his first tour overseas last November.

In many ways, Frank maps Anakin’s path to success. In an interview with IMPCT Journal in February, he acknowledged that most of the album’s songs were finished years ago, with a few tracks and features added just recently. Even more so, nostalgia abounds throughout the album. “Kenneth Cole Collections” recalls childhood trips to Macy’s, while “Class Clown” contrasts his childish hijinks with his no-nonsense hustle as an adult. “Sean Price,” prod by Evidence, pays tribute to the Heltah Skeltah emcee who Anakin cites as an early influence.

The many collaborators of Anakin’s career are featured throughout the record; with contributions on rapping and production from Mutant Academy members and more. Fellow Richmond native and 106 & Park “Freestyle Friday” Hall of Famer (Class of 07) Nickelus F contributes a verse to the menacing lead single “Ghost;” Pink Siifu and vocalist Billz Egypt combine for the hypnotizing, Afrocentric “Black Be The Source.”

Guest producers give Frank its greatest highlights, including legendary producer Madlib, who called Anakin “one of the illest emcees” after hearing 2016 EP The Grand Scheme of Things. On “No Dough,” he drops a beautiful blend of jazzy chords and assorted samples that seem to roar over each other like neighbors arguing in the window over rush hour traffic. Anakin floats on the track, effortlessly throwing together an incredible hook with the last of the too-short instrumental: “I’m never doing shit again for no dough/ that’s a no-no”

Though much of the album is well within Anakin’s comfort zone, it also sees him trying more melodic approaches, notably the slurred ballad at the close of soulful “Love Song (Come Back),” one of the last tracks added to the project. With Anakin’s next album, Skinemaxx, already announced and in the works, it may well be a preview of what’s next from the rising star.

The post Fly Anakin Carves His Own Lane on Frank appeared first on SPIN.

Bikini Kill Detail 2022 Summer Tour

2022-03-14T16:32:00.000Z

Bikini Kill is kicking off their long-awaited international tour next month.

The run was initially set for 2020, but the rescheduled run has a handful of new shows throughout the U.S. and Europe. Fans can purchase tour tickets now.

Kathleen Hanna, Tobi Vail, Kathi Wilcox, and guitarist Erica DawnLyle are returning to where they first started as a band, Olympia, Washington. The two-night, sold-out stint will benefit Interfaith Works Nightly Shelter.

Bikini Kill Tour Dates

4/26: Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s w/ Bleached
4/29: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre w/ Bleached
5/2: Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre w/ Hunx and his Punx
5/4: Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater w/ Hunx and his Punx
5/5: El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace w/ Hunx and his Punx
5/7: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk w/ Hunx and his Punx
5/8: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk w/ Pleasure Venom
5/9: Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum w/ Hunx and his Punx
5/27: Miami, FL @ The Ground at Clubspace w/ Glass Body
5/28: Miami, FL @ The Ground at Clubspace w/ Las Nubes
5/29: Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
5/31: St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre
6/3: Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera
6/5: Bologna, Italy @ Arena Puccini w/ Big Joanie
6/6: Milan, Italy @ Magnolia w/ Big Joanie
6/8: Paris, France @ Trabendo w/ Big Joanie
6/9: Paris, France @ Trabendo w/ Big Joanie
6/10: Brussels, Belgium @ Le Botanique w/ Big Joanie
6/12: Glasgow, United Kingdom @ O2 Academy Glasgow w/ Problem Patterns
6/13: London, United Kingdom @ Roundhouse w/ Snoozers
6/23: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle w/ H.C. McEntire
6/24: Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater w/ H.C. McEntire
6/25: Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel w/ H.C. McEntire
6/27: Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine w/ Hurry Up
6/28: Louisville, KY @ Headliner’s Music Hall w/ Hurry Up
6/30: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works w/ Hurry Up
7/1: Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern w/ Hurry Up
7/3: Oakland, CA @ Mosswood Meltdown
7/8: New York, NY @ Rooftop at Pier 17 w/ Ribbon Stage
7/11: Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring w/ Brontez Purnell
7/12: Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
7/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall w/ Brontez Purnell
7/15: Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre w/ Brontez Purnell
7/16: South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Burlington w/ Brontez Purnell
7/18: Montreal, QC @ M Telus w/ CB Radio Gorgeous
7/19: Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall w/ CB Radio Gorgeous
7/20: Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall w/ CB Radio Gorgeous
7/22: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre w/ Donkey Bugs
7/23: Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre w/ XV + CB Radio Gorgeous
7/24: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater w/ Pineapple RNR
8/5: Katowice, Poland @ OFF Festival
8/7: Berlin, Germany @ Astra Kulturhaus w/ Snoozers
8/8: Hamburg, Germany @ Gruenspan w/ Snoozers
8/10: Oslo, Norway @ Øya Festival
8/11: Gothenburg, Sweden @ Way Out West
8/12-14: Helsinki, Finland @ Flow Festival
9/8: Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom w/ Table Sugar
9/9: Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom w/ Lithics
9/11: Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater w/ Table Sugar
9/12: Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater w/ Mecca Normal
9/15: Victoria, BC @ Distrikt Victoria w/ Mecca Normal
9/17: Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park w/ Table Sugar

The post Bikini Kill Detail 2022 Summer Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Tease First New Music in More Than Nine Years

2022-03-14T16:18:00.000Z

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are heading back to the UK for the first time in more than nine years this summer, and it looks like they’re taking some new music with them. In a statement about the shows, the band wrote:

“OK UK! We are coming to lend our light to dark ages and holy shit are we ready to play our hearts out for you!! Yeah it’s been 9 years since we’ve graced your club stages! Yeah we’ve got some tunes so fresh and so NEW to try out on you! Yeah the bill is so MAJOR with Dry Cleaning and Anika in London and English Teacher in Manchester. Dress up! Make a night of it! Support your fave band that you may have seen debut at Brixton back in ’02!! Yeah let’s not wait another decade to see each other again! CANNOT WAIT! They don’t love ya like we do!! Luv YYYs.”

Yeah Yeah Yeahs plan to play at Manchester’s O2 Apollo on June 5th, with special guest English Teacher, and June 7th at O2 Academy Brixton in London with Dry Cleaning and Anika as support. The new songs will be the band’s first new music since 2013’s Mosquito.

Tickets go on sale for both shows this Friday, March 18th, at 9 a.m. GMT. Get more info here.

The post Yeah Yeah Yeahs Tease First New Music in More Than Nine Years appeared first on SPIN.

The Rolling Stones Announce 60th Anniversary Tour

2022-03-14T16:18:00.000Z

Probably not even The Rolling Stones would’ve believed you if you said in 1962 that they would be embarking on their 60th-anniversary tour in 2022. Steve Jordan will fill in for the late, great Charlie Watts on drums.

The Stones are performing in 14 European cities this June and July. Kicking off in Madrid, the UK rockers are scheduled to return Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium for the first time in over 50 years. They’ll also stop in Munich, Amsterdam, Vienna, Paris, Stockholm, and more.

All ticket information can be found on the Stones’ website. The tour is produced by Concerts West/AEG Presents, and follows the band’s 2021 sold-out U.S. fall stadium No Filter tour.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones Tour Dates

JUNE

WED 1 – MADRID, SPAIN @ Wanda Metropolitano Stadium

SUN 5 – MUNICH, GERMANY @ Olympic Stadium

THU 9 – LIVERPOOL, UK @ Anfield Stadium

MON 13 – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS @ Johan Cruijff ArenA

FRI 17 – BERN, SWITZERLAND @ Wankdorf Stadium

TUE 21 – MILAN, ITALY @ San Siro Stadium

SAT 25 – LONDON, UK @ American Express presents BST Hyde Park

JULY

SUN 3 – LONDON, UK @ American Express presents BST Hyde Park

MON 11 -BRUSSELS, BELGIUM @ King Baudouin Stadium

FRI 15 – VIENNA, AUSTRIA @ Ernst Happel Stadium

TUE 19 – LYON, FRANCE @ Groupama Stadium

SAT 23 – PARIS, FRANCE @ Hippodrome ParisLongchamp

WED 27 – GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY @ Veltins-Arena

SUN 31 – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN @ Friends Arena

The post The Rolling Stones Announce 60th Anniversary Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Yungblud Shares ‘The Funeral’ Video With Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Cameo

2022-03-11T16:58:09.954Z

Yungblud has shared a new single and electrifying accompanying video for “The Funeral.” The video kicks off with Sharon Osbourne in the frame, laying in a coffin decked out in opulent jewelry, as Ozzy Osbourne stands at her side. Next, the video quickly cuts to a fast-paced montage of shots including high-energy live performances, rowdy crowds, and fast cars.

The video comes after the artist had posted on social media teasing the track’s release for the past few days. The new song follows a single released by Yungblud earlier this year called “Fleabag.” The singles are not currently attached to a larger project, but with the extravagant videos and promotion of the two singles—the possibility of a larger-scale project looks promising

The video release also follows Yungblud’s album Weird! which was released in late 2020. Since then, the artist participated in the online event “A Bowie Celebration: Just for One Day,” where he covered David Bowie’s song “Life on Mars.” The cover was later chosen to play as a soundtrack for NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars.

In late 2021, Yungblud announced be will release a film collaboration for a short film based on one of his songs with Mercury Studios and Interscope Films.

The post Yungblud Shares ‘The Funeral’ Video With Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne Cameo appeared first on SPIN.

Charli XCX shares full ‘Crash’ track listing

2022-03-11T16:55:11.562Z

Charli XCX has shared the full track listing for upcoming new album ‘Crash’, – check it out below.

READ MORE: Charli XCX live in London: isolation anthems finally get their special airing

Charli’s new album is due to land on March 18 and the musician shared full details earlier today (March 10) of the album’s 12 songs.

It includes all of her recent singles such as ‘Good Ones‘, ‘Baby‘, her collaboration with Rina Sawayama, ‘Beg For You’ and her song with Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek, ‘New Shapes’.

crash tracklist which song u claiming ???? pic.twitter.com/lTTbEItzWj

— Charli (@charli_xcx) March 10, 2022

You can see the full track listing here:

‘CRASH’ Track listing
‘Crash’
‘New Shapes’ (feat. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek)
‘Good Ones’
‘Constant Repeat’
‘Beg for You’ (feat. Rina Sawayama)
‘Move Me’
‘Baby’
‘Lightning’
‘Every Rule’
‘Yuck’
‘Used to Know Me’
‘Twice’

Earlier this month (March 5), Charli finally made her Saturday Night Live debut.

The singer was originally set to appear with Caroline Polachek and Christine And The Queens on the long-running show last December, but her appearance was cancelled at the last minute due to COVID restrictions leading to “limited crew,” leaving her “devastated and heartbroken”.

On the March 5 episode, which was hosted by Oscar Isaac, Charli performed versions of two songs from her new album.

Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN member Vernon recently spoke out about his love for Charli XCX and their recent collaboration.

Last month, the K-pop idol teamed up with Charli on a special remix of her recent single ‘Beg For You’, where he contributed a brand-new English-language verse. The remix came shortly after a string of online interactions between both Charli XCX and SEVENTEEN, after fans suggested that the duo work together.

In a new interview with Teen Vogue, the K-pop idol revealed that he is “still having a hard time grasping this reality” that they have worked together. “I just really want to say thank you to Charli for acknowledging my existence,” he said.

Vernon also touched on his love for Charli XCX’s music, which he describes as “really beautiful”. He added: “[Discovering her music] was a whole new world for me, really. I feel vulnerability, but at the same time, invincibility in her music. There’s something really beautiful about it.”

The post Charli XCX shares full ‘Crash’ track listing appeared first on NME.

Flea Joins Nick Cave and Warren for Performance of ‘We No Who U R’

2022-03-11T16:50:39.349Z

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea joined Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on stage at their show at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. During the duo’s second encore, the bassist joined the group for a performance of “We No Who U R.” This is the first time Cave had played the song since 2015. It was originally on Cave and the Bad Seeds’ 2012 album Push the Sky Away.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Warren Ellis (@thewarrenellis)

Despite the happy reunion, Cave and Red Hot Chili Peppers have not always gotten along. According to NME, Cave in 2004 reportedly said in response to a review of the band’s Stadium Arcadium, “I’m forever near a stereo saying, ‘What the fuck is this garbage?’ And the answer is always the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Also according to NME, Flea responded to Cave’s comment stating: “For a second that hurt my feelings because I love Nick Cave, I have all of his records. I don’t care if Nick Cave hates my band because his music means everything to me because he is one of my favorite songwriters and singers and musicians of all time.”

Cage and Ellis are performing again tonight in Los Angeles at the Orpheum Theater.

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George R.R. Martin gives update on ‘Game Of Thrones’ spin-offs

2022-03-11T16:39:16.980Z

George R.R. Martin has provided an update on the Game Of Thrones TV spin-offs and books currently in the works.

READ MORE: Can prequel ‘House Of The Dragon’ make us forget the final ‘Game Of Thrones’ season?

In a blog post on Wednesday (March 9), the Game Of Thrones creator shared his thoughts on the first TV spin-off, prequel series House Of The Dragon, which is expected to launch later this year.

“House Of The Dragon has wrapped in London and is now in post-production,” Martin wrote. “What I have seen, I have loved. I am eager to see more.”

Martin also revealed he’s helping to develop other live action shows for HBO and animated shows for HBO Max set in the Game Of Thrones universe.

On the live-action side, the projects included a series centred around character Corlys Celaryon, which has switched names from Nine Voyages to The Sea Snake. The show is being developed with Rome showrunner Bruno Heller.

Amanda Segel is the showrunner on Nymeria series Ten Thousand Ships and has delivered a “couple of drafts”. The third live-action show is the Dunk & Egg series, helmed by Steve Conrad, which will adapt the first novella, ‘The Hedge Knight’, in its first season. A title is unconfirmed, but Martin says they’re “leaning toward A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms for the series title, though The Hedge Knight has its partisans as well.”

The only animation project confirmed by Martin is a show set in Yi Ti, which currently has the working title The Golden Empire.

Martin stressed that he’s “heavily involved” in each of the shows, including many more that he’s not allowed to mention. “No, can’t tell you how many,” Martin wrote. “But it is my hope that a number of these shows will get on the air. Not all, no, it is never all, but more than one.”

The fantasy author also provided a minor update on the sixth book in the A Song Of Ice And Fire series, The Winds Of Winter.

“Yes, of course I am still working on The Winds Of Winter,” Martin wrote. “I have stated that a hundred times in a hundred venues, having to restate it endlessly is just wearisome. I made a lot of progress on Winds in 2020, and less in 2021… but ‘less’ is not ‘none’.”

He’s also currently writing the second volume of Fire & Blood, along with “more of the Dunk & Egg novellas”, an “illustrated, condensed version” of Fire & Blood, and another book described as a “Who’s Who in Westeros”.

House Of The Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game Of Thrones and follows the beginning of the end of House Targaryen. The show’s cast includes Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith and Rhys Ifans.

The prequel series is scheduled to be released in 2022 on HBO.

The post George R.R. Martin gives update on ‘Game Of Thrones’ spin-offs appeared first on NME.

Mike Cross, Founding Guitarist of Sponge, Dies at 57

2022-03-11T16:28:37.422Z

Mike Cross of the ’90s alt-rock band Sponge has died at 57 years old.

No cause of death has been confirmed, but Sponge and his label, Golden Robot Records, confirmed that he died on Sunday in a post written on Wednesday.

In 1992, Cross joined the Detriot-based band as a guitarist and backing vocalist. He contributed to their most popular songs like “Plowed,” “Molly (16 Candles Down the Drain),” and “Have You Seen Mary.” Sponge’s 1998 New Pop Sunday was the third and final record that Cross and his brother, bassist Tim Cross, made with the band before leaving in 2000.

Cross played in the band Loudhouse before his time with Sponge. Most recently, Cross formed the band MC Roads, who released their No Nostalgia EP last September via Golden Robot Records.

Golden Robot posted a tribute to Cross on Facebook: “We are devastated to hear of the passing of our rock n roll brother and GRR family member – Mike Cross. … What a gracious, wonderful human who had the voice of a husky angel and played guitar like the best of them, all of our global team wish music love to his brother Tim, band mates, friends and family. A sad day for rock n roll but a great day for that ever expanding rock band in heaven …. Who we are sure Mike is part of now.”

Sponge also posted for Cross on their Facebook account: “It is with heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Mike Cross. One of the musical architects and founding member of Sponge. His influence and talent will be missed.”

The post Mike Cross, Founding Guitarist of Sponge, Dies at 57 appeared first on SPIN.

Rammstein share powerful new ballad ‘Zeit’ and unveil new album

2022-03-11T16:25:10.991Z

Rammstein have shared a powerful new ballad today (March 10) called ‘Zeit’ – listen to it below.

READ MORE: Fire, fireworks and flaming babies: the five hottest moments in Rammstein’s stunning Milton Keynes show

It’s the title track of their upcoming new album, which is set for release on April 29. It’s the eighth studio album from the Berlin band, which is made up of Till Lindemann (vocals), Paul Landers (guitar), Richard Z. Kruspe (guitar), Flake (keyboards), Oliver Riedel (bass) and Christoph Schneider (drums).

The new album will be released on multiple formats on 29 April – including a standard CD in a digipack with a 20-page booklet, a special edition CD in a six-panel digipack with a 56-page booklet including slipcase, and as a double 180g vinyl LP with a 20-page large-format booklet, as well as in the usual digital formats.

A press release reveals that the band spent two years working on the eleven songs on the new album. They once again worked with Berlin producer Olsen Involtini and the album was recorded at La Fabrique Studios in St. Rémy de Provence, France.

You can listen to new single ‘Zeit’ here:

The band plan to release three versions of ‘Zeit’. A statement said: “For the B-sides, the band is releasing a meditative, atmospheric neoclassical arrangement by Grammy-nominated Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds, as well as a remix by electro producer Robot Koch.”

The cover of the new album features a picture of Rammstein on the steps of the Trudelturm in Berlin Adlershof and was taken by musician Brian Adams. You check that out along with another new image of the band taken by Adams here:

Rammstein – CREDIT: Brian Adams

There were previous reports that Rammstein’s new album had been delayed due to a reported paper shortage.

As Metal Sucks reported last month, German composer and musical director Sven Helbig – who has contributed orchestral parts to the new album – revealed in a recent interview with Sachsische that a “lack of paper” has affected Rammstein’s release plans.

“The band itself doesn’t know at the moment,” Helbig told the publication about when the album might be released (via RammWiki). “The trivial reason: lack of paper.

“They need to be able to send out a large number of CDs and records, i.e. lots of booklets and covers, worldwide at one go. And that’s probably not feasible right now.”

Rammstein will play in Coventry and Cardiff in June as part of their rescheduled European tour – you can find tickets to their live shows here.

The post Rammstein share powerful new ballad ‘Zeit’ and unveil new album appeared first on NME.

Black Keys Announce 11th Studio Album Dropout Boogie, Share ‘Wild Child’

2022-03-10T16:37:30.479Z

Titled Dropout Boogie, the collection is the band’s first album of originals since 2019’s Let’s Rock. Last year, the Keys released Delta Kream, an album of blues covers

The Keys released their first single and its accompanying video for “Wild Child,” which is directed by longtime collaborator Bryan Schlam.

The forthcoming album will feature collaborations with Billy F. Gibbons, Greg Cartwright, and Angelo Petraglia.

Dropout Boogie‘s release falls just one day before the 20th anniversary of The Big Come Up, the duo’s first studio album. The album strives to go back to the band’s roots of making stripped-down blues-rock music in basements in Ohio.

“That’s always been the beauty of the thing Pat and I do. It’s instant,” Auerbach said in a statement. “We’ve never really had to work at it. Whenever we’d get together, we’d just make music, you know? We didn’t know what we were going to do, but we’d just do it and it would sound cool. It’s the natural chemistry Pat and I have. Being in a band this long is a testament to that. It was a real gift that we were given. I mean, the odds of being plopped down a block-and-a-half from each other in Akron, Ohio–it just seems crazy.”

After the duo got together to set the groundwork for the album, Auerbach and Carney welcomed collaborators Billy F. Gibbons, Greg Cartwright, and Angelo Petraglia to Dropout Boogie sessions. Cartwright and Petraglia both appear on “Wild Child.”

The album will be released on May 13 via Nonesuch, followed by a 32-date tour to promote the album this summer.

The Black Keys’ Dropout Boogie tour dates and cities:

July 9: Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
July 11: Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
July 13: Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 15: St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis
July 16: Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
July 17: Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Tinley Park
July 20: Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
July 22: Jones Beach, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
July 23: Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
July 25: Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 27: Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
July 29: Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
July 30: Philadelphia, PA – Waterfront Music Pavilion (formerly BB&T Pavilion)
Aug. 24: West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Aug. 25: Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Aug. 27: Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 28: Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheatre
Aug. 30: Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
Sept. 1: Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sept. 3: Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Sept. 6: Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Sept. 7: Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sept. 9: Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Oct. 2: Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Oct. 3: Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Oct. 5: Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Oct. 8: Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
Oct. 10: Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
Oct. 13: Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Oct. 15: Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Oct. 17: Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
Oct. 18: Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

The post Black Keys Announce 11th Studio Album Dropout Boogie, Share ‘Wild Child’ appeared first on SPIN.

Florence + The Machine Announce Dance Fever, Release ‘My Love’

2022-03-10T16:34:23.064Z

For over a month, Florence + The Machine has slowly released songs with the anticipation that her first new album in years would be on the way. On Thursday, Welch finally revealed the details for Dance Fever, and shared another one of its tracks, “My Love.”

The fifth studio record by the rock vocalist is set to release May 13. Dance Fever was produced by Welch, Jack Antonoff, and Dave Bayley of Glass Animals, and is available for pre-order.

Dance Fever was recorded in London during the pandemic, and it conjures the freedoms that Welch missed most during lockdown and her hope for a return to normalcy. Its tracks nod to dance, folk, and ’70s Iggy Pop, while Welch describes it as “Nick Cave at the club.” Further drawing from her country-rock hero’s like Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris, Welch took lyrical inspiration from tragic heroines of pre-Raphaelite art, gothic fiction, and folk horror films.

“My Love,” like its predecessors “King” and “Heaven Is Here” was directed by Autumn De Wilde. The video places Welch amidst a motionless black-tie event until the formally dressed invitees begin dancing around her.

Dance Fever follows Welch’s 2018 High As Hope. Last year, Welch released a track for the Cruella film.

The post Florence + The Machine Announce Dance Fever, Release ‘My Love’ appeared first on SPIN.

How MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ Became an Unstoppable TikTok Meme

2022-03-10T16:31:19.781Z

Like many 40-year-olds who engage with social media only when necessary, MGMT co-founder Ben Goldwasser doesn’t have a TikTok account. So when the title track of the band’s 2018 album, Little Dark Age, suddenly began appearing in thousands of videos on the platform in the first pandemic summer of 2020, he had to rely on his wife and friends to clue him in on the out-of-nowhere phenomenon.

“It was surprising to me to even have our song be on TikTok at all, and then it was like, ‘Well, how big is this?'” Goldwasser tells SPIN by phone. “I don’t even know what a big TikTok song is or what that means.”

In this case, “big” doesn’t really do justice to what’s been going on with “Little Dark Age” on TikTok, where users have made more than 5.5 million videos that weave the song into anime, superhero movies, video game clips and post-George Floyd social justice-themed content. Others have used “Little Dark Age” in content where they transform themselves into figures from classical paintings, express solidarity with those who identify as trans and, most recently, to soundtrack footage of Russian missile bombardment of Kyiv.

The mid-tempo, synth-driven “Little Dark Age” doesn’t appear to actually be about any of those things, and Goldwasser would only say that the song (which was written during Donald Trump’s first year as president) is “very much a comment on things that were going on in the world at that time and which were still pretty present” when the TikTok trend took off. The lyrics are open-ended enough to invite myriad interpretations, though references to “forgiving who you are for what you stand to gain” and “love’s seeping” from the guns of the police have seemed particularly relevant during both the Trump administration and the COVID-19 pandemic, which was indeed a “dark age” for people around the world.

“It reminds me of a world steadily deteriorating as everyone’s mental health dissolves — like a dystopian novel,” wrote one YouTube commenter. “This song makes me feel like the bad days are yet to come and It’s making me excited for them,” said another. The song “brilliantly manages to connect so deeply with every single member of its audience, often in drastically different ways case by case,” offered a third. “No song has made me feel so strongly.”

Goldwasser describes MGMT’s own video for “Little Dark Age” as “very much a love letter to goth music videos from the ‘80s, where we just referenced a bunch of things that we like. It wasn’t necessarily related to any of the subject matter of the song or anything like that.” In that way, MGMT had already done what the TikTok community would later do: use the song as a jumping-off point to riff on topics both ephemeral and profound.

All this activity has turbo-charged MGMT’s streaming numbers on DSPs, particularly on Spotify, where “Little Dark Age” now has 266 million listens, and YouTube, where the official music video has ballooned to 68 million views. The song was garnering about 50,000 streams per day on Spotify before things heated up on TikTok, eventually rising to a single-day high of 658,000 on October 29, 2021. Daily streams have remained in the 450,000 range for weeks, making “Little Dark Age” the band’s fourth-biggest song there, behind only the 2000s-era indie-rock standard-bearers “Kids,” “Electric Feel” and “Time To Pretend,” all drawn from its 2004 debut, Oracular Spectacular.

(Credit: Jamie Dutcher)

“What I think is really cool about it personally is how much of it is out of our hands,” Goldwasser says. “It’s completely unintentional. It’s not like we have control over how people are interpreting this. People are just taking it and running with it. For me as a musician, that’s really exciting. That’s more creative than trying to figure out what an artist has to say, or trying to get at the deeper meaning behind something. A lot of times, there is no deeper meaning. The meaning is what’s out in the world.”

Massive, mainstream pop hits dominated TikTok in 2021, with Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat reigning as the top two most-viewed artists. But the platform’s ability to resurface seemingly left-field and catalog tracks from a range of genres is just as potent, a phenomenon chalked up to its fabled algorithm. “These indie rock sounds are really popular right now,” says one major-label A&R executive. “TikTok’s algorithm is exquisite at recognizing other songs with that same sonic feel and slowly but very intentionally amplifying them from level to level.”

Within the past few weeks, Hollywood celebrities like The Rock and Drew Barrymore have propelled the Ting Tings’ 2008 one-hit-wonder “That’s Not My Name” back into the spotlight by posting videos of their different roles in movies throughout the years. Philadelphia indie-folk act Dr. Dog enjoyed a runaway TikTok revival last year of its 2010 song “Where’d All the Time Go,” while Chicago group the Walters, who had broken up in 2017, got back together and signed a big deal with Warner Records once its 2014 song “I Love You So” became TikTok famous in late 2021.

Artists in this position essentially have three options: do nothing and see what happens, hire influencers to create more posts featuring the same music and hope the algorithm notices or shoot their own related content and post it from their own account. Sources say MGMT took the first approach, preferring to let the trend play out organically.

Goldwasser likens the “Little Dark Age” experience to how people have recently experienced The Beatles’ Get Back documentary, given the benefit of more than 50 years of context for the recording sessions captured therein. As such, the music becomes even more what the individual listener makes of it, which has clearly been a factor in driving the success of “Little Dark Age.”

“I don’t know how many people just knew the clip from TikTok and then used it themselves, or heard small parts of it without any context,” Goldwasser says. “It’s hard to say whether they were influenced by the song or whether they were influenced by the fact the song is already being used for some other purpose. Sometimes you hear something with a certain sound and it brings all these other feelings and images to mind.”

Even when TikTok success translates to a big boost in DSP streams, most of these songs, including “Little Dark Age,” have seen their second winds largely ignored by mainstream radio (for whatever it’s worth, “Kids” never got higher than No. 91 on The Billboard Hot 100 and no MGMT song has ever reached the top 15 of Billboard’s Hot Rock and Alternative songs chart). To some observers, this simultaneously proves TikTok’s power to break songs as well as how out of touch with culture radio has become.

“There are stations that won’t play these records because they’re too old, even though they’re getting five or 10 million streams a week,” the executive says. “Instead, it’s like, give me this other new song that has flatlined at 25,000 streams a week. That Walters song is on Today’s Top Hits, which is one of the biggest Spotify playlists in the world. People aren’t used to the idea of working with music that’s pushed and originates from an app like TikTok. But kids find this to be just as meaningful — this is their version of listening to the radio and hearing a song.”

Known for taking its time between projects, MGMT hasn’t played live since November 2019 and has no plans to release new music in the near future. But Goldwasser is already curious to see if new fans eventually turn up that were unfamiliar with the band before “Little Dark Age” exploded.

“It will be really interesting to see how the crowds will have changed whenever we get back to playing live, and whether that may carry over to some of the other tracks off the album too, which would be great,” he says. “People criticize the TikTok generation for having no sense of context or history, but if you spent 10 minutes there, it would completely prove that false. Kids are incredibly smart and literate and are pulling together all these references. It’s pretty amazing.”

The post How MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ Became an Unstoppable TikTok Meme appeared first on SPIN.

Pavement Unveil New Video for ‘Harness Your Hopes’

2022-03-10T16:27:54.164Z

Pavement released a new video for their 1999 B-side, and the improbable 2022 viral TikTok hit, “Harness Your Hopes.”

The Alex Ross Perry-directed video stars Sophie Thatcher. Perry takes Pavement fans through a mini-history of the band on film, placing Thatcher in some of Pavement’s classic music videos.

The track was initially released on the CD version of Spit on a Stranger EP back in 1999, which was also the year they disbanded. A reissue of the EP will release as a 12″ on April 8, the same day as the band’s massive Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal 45-track exclusive box set.

Pavement is finally hitting the road this fall throughout Europe and North America. Tickets are available on the band’s website.

Matador, 2022

Spit on a Stranger EP Track List

1) Spit on a Stranger
2) Harness Your Hopes
3) Roll With the Wind
4) The Porpoise and the Hand Grenade
5) Rooftop Gambler
6) Harness Your Hopes (Live Brixton Academy, 1999)

Pavement Tour Dates

6.02.22 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
6.10.22 – Porto, Portugal @ NOS Primavera Sound
9.07.22 – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre SOLD OUT
9.08.22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre SOLD OUT
9.09.22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre SOLD OUT
9.10.22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre SOLD OUT
9.12.22 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
9.13.22 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
9.14.22 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
9.16.22 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield Amphitheatre
9.17.22 – Seattle, WA @ The Paramount Theatre SOLD OUT
9.19.22 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre SOLD OUT
9.20.22 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
9.21.22 – St. Paul, MN @ The Palace Theatre
9.22.22 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre SOLD OUT
9.23.22 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
9.24.22 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre SOLD OUT
9.26.22 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall SOLD OUT
9.27.22 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
9.28.22 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre SOLD OUT
9.30.22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre SOLD OUT
10.01.22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre SOLD OUT
10.02.22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre SOLD OUT
10.03.22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
10.05.22 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met SOLD OUT
10.06.22 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre SOLD OUT
10.08.22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern SOLD OUT
10.09.22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern SOLD OUT
10.11.22 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at Moody Theater SOLD OUT
10.17.22 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy Leeds
10.18.22 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom SOLD OUT
10.19.22 – Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
10.20.22 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
10.22.22 – London, UK @ Roundhouse SOLD OUT
10.23.22 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
10.24.22 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
10.25.22 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
10.27.22 – Paris, FR @ Le Grand Rex
10.29.22 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
10.30.22 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene
10.31.22 – Stockholm, SE @ Cirkus
11.2.22 – Aarhus, DK @ VoxHall
11.4.22 – Bremen, DE @ Pier 2
11.5.22 – Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom
11.7.22 – Brussels, BE @ Cirque Royal
11.8.22 – Amsterdam, NL @ Royal Carré Theater
11.10.22 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street SOLD OUT
11.11.22 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street SOLD OUT

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Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot and KISS to Headline Louder Than Life Lineup

2022-03-09T17:59:32.202Z

Louder Than Life has brought in another lineup of hard rock giants for this year’s festival which takes place from September 22-25. The festival was larger than ever in 2021, with crowds composed of over 160,000 attendees. This year, the festival will continue its streak at its home at the Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center in Louisville, KY. Passes are available now, here.

This fall, nearly 100 acts will perform for the festival with headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, and KISS. Other notable performances include Alice In Chains, Alice Cooper, Bring Me The Horizon, Evanescence, Shinedown, Rob Zombie, Incubus, Lamb of God, Papa Roach and Tenacious D among others.

The festival bills itself as the World’s Largest Rock ’N’ Roll Whiskey Festival, taking place in a city known for its bourbon culture. In addition to four days of music, festivalgoers can look forward to award-winning whiskey, bourbons, spirits, craft beer, and Louisville’s best food.

“We look forward to returning to Louisville for Louder Than Life 2022 and this time to share the stage with KISS, Slipknot, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, and of course our Richmond, VA buddies in GWAR,” Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe said in a statement.

Tickets are on sale now here.

Louder Than Life lineup (subject to change):

Thursday, September 22: Nine Inch Nails, Bring Me The Horizon, Evanescence, Halestorm, Tenacious D, Yungblud, Highly Suspect, Ministry, Nothing More, Baroness, Spiritbox, Apocalyptica, Dorothy, Don Broco, New Years Day, Plush, Lilith Czar, Maggie Lindemann, Taipei Houston, The Dead Deads, Mothica, Superbloom, Eva Under Fire, Oxymorrons

Friday, September 23: Slipknot, Shinedown, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, In This Moment, Meshuggah, Clutch, Jinjer, GWAR, In Flames, Helmet, POORSTACY, Crown The Empire, DED, All Good Things, Amigo The Devil, Vended, Mike’s Dead, If I Die First, Orbit Culture, The Luka State, Ego Kill Talent, The Native Howl, Archetypes Collide

Saturday, September 24: KISS, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Chevelle, Ghostemane, Jerry Cantrell, Dance Gavin Dance, Theory of a Deadman, Body Count, Sevendust, Mammoth WVH, We Came As Romans, Airbourne, Cherry Bombs, Ill Niño, Tetrarch, Nita Strauss, Against The Current, Wargasm, Trash Boat, Shaman’s Harvest, Solence, Dropout Kings, Bloodywood

Sunday, September 25: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice In Chains, Incubus, Papa Roach, The Pretty Reckless, Architects, Bad Religion, Action Bronson, The Struts, Jelly Roll, Dirty Honey, Anti-Flag, The Joy Formidable, Bayside, The Warning, Royal & The Serpent, carolesdaughter, Radkey, The Mysterines, Crown Lands, AEIR, The Alive, As You Were

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Florence Pugh in talks to star in ‘Dune: Part Two’

2022-03-09T17:51:42.204Z

Florence Pugh is reportedly in line to star in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Midsommar star could be the first franchise newcomer to join the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem.

READ MORE: Dune review: desert-based blockbuster will scorch your senses

The actor is being considered to play Princess Irulan in the new film, who is the daughter of the Emperor. The Emperor Shaddam IV, who sends the Atreides family to Arrakis, is also yet to be cast.

Another role that has yet to be filled is that of Feyd-Rautha, the nephew of the baron who leads House Harkonnen.

Dune: Part Two is set to pick up where the first film left off, following Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides fighting to free Arrakis from House Harkonnen alongside the Fremen.

When news of the sequel was confirmed last year, Toby Emmerich, chairman at Warner Bros. Picture Group, said: “Denis Villeneuve has crafted a film that is both visually extraordinary and emotionally transporting, as evidenced by its global success both critically and at the box office.

“We are thrilled to continue on this journey with Denis and his cast and crew, and our partners at Legendary, and can’t wait to bring the next chapter of this epic tale to theatres in October 2023.”

In a four-star review of the first film, NME said that Dune was lacking in closure but “the sheer ambition on display here means you get plenty of bang for your buck”.

Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed consortium Spice DAO has claimed an animated version of Dune has gone into development.

The post Florence Pugh in talks to star in ‘Dune: Part Two’ appeared first on NME.

Deftones Part Ways With Bassist Sergio Vega

2022-03-09T17:28:17.763Z

The other day, Deftones updated their Spotify photo. Usually, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but the image did not include bassist Sergio Vega. In a lengthy video posted on Instagram last night, Vega explained why: He’s out of the band.

Vega joined the group in 2009 and made his first Deftones studio appearance on their 2010 album, Diamond Eyes. Vega replaced original bassist Chi Cheng, who tragically went into a coma in 2008 following a car accident (Cheng would die in 2013). Vega has served as Deftones’ bassist since then.

According to Vega, the cause for his departure was that his contract with the band expired and they couldn’t agree to new terms.

See Vega’s lengthy statement surrounding his departure below:

Hi, everybody. I hope this finds you well. I didn’t want to have to make a video about this, but after the recent band photo posted on Deftones’ Spotify, I feel the need to clear the air. I’m not very good at this, so I wrote out a statement, and I will read it to you now.

To give a brief history about me and my friendship with Deftones, we met in 1995. I filled in for Chi — rest in peace — in 1999 and was asked to work with the band after his tragedy in 2009. Because of the love they have for Quicksand, I was asked to bring the same approach as a songwriter and arranger to them as well. I was also told that, similarly to Frank [Delgado], I would be brought in over time to become an official member. I had worked with the band for 12 years, and at the start of every album cycle, I asked about becoming an official member, but the contract would be improved instead.

COVID was a breaking point for a lot of people, and I started to question my place in the band and the future that I wanted for my career. I really started to need something stable because at that point, my contract with them was canceled. One day, I got a call from the guys about an internal band situation, and they asked me if I was solid and that I would have to fly out to L.A. to help work it out right away. I said of course, I was all in, and we can handle my situation later. But I can’t go back to my old contract. Our respective management had a conversation to discuss a new contract, and they offered me the same deal.

At that point, it was clear there was no opportunity for growth for me, so I declined the offer. And then I called the guys immediately to see where the miscommunication was to resolve it, but there was no response. A couple of days later, I received an e-mail from their lawyer that their offer was withdrawn and that they wished me the best. So I left the band early last year, and since then I’ve been focused on my band Quicksand as well as working as a producer and writer for other artists and projects. And I’m mentioning this because there was some speculation about me selling my gear and quitting music altogether.

Out of respect for the people who have held tickets for this tour the past couple of years and everyone who supports the band, I felt it important to bring some clarity to the situation.

Lots of love and thanks to Deftones’ amazing fanbase for always being engaged and supportive of the band through good times and bad. I appreciate every single one of you. All my love to the fans that have become friends, the people that have supported my other projects. It brought me so much joy to see Deftones shirts at Quicksand shows, and I will cherish this forever.

Lastly, thanks so much to the ‘Tones. I wish I had the chance to tell you this in person. I want you to know that I appreciate all the years we spent together, writing, performing, being taken into your worlds. I learned a lot from each one of you. When you brought me in, you created a new sense of passion for music that I will always cherish and carry with me. You truly changed my life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sergio Vega (@smurffedout)

Vega’s last album with the band was 2020’s Ohms.

The post Deftones Part Ways With Bassist Sergio Vega appeared first on SPIN.

The National’s new album has a “classic” sound with “a lot of energy”

2022-03-09T17:03:16.980Z

The National‘s Bryce Dessner has said that the band’s upcoming new album harks back to their “classic” sound, as well as having a “lot of energy in it”.

READ MORE Aaron and Bryce Dessner on their Cyrano film soundtrack: “They’re National songs in a way, and have an interior, intimate feeling”

The guitarist and composer was speaking to The Up Coming about his and the band’s work on the music for the new Peter Dinklage-starring movie adaptation of Cyrano when he was asked when new material would arrive from The National.

Admitting that he “wasn’t sure when new music will come”, Dessner did insist that they were “working on it” and it should be “imminent at some point” ahead of the band’s packed summer of festivals and live dates – as well as revealing that it would take a much more stripped-back approach than the lush predecessor of 2019’s ‘I Am Easy To Find‘.

“It’s all very exciting: it kind of feels back to the classic National sound in a way, which was really just the five of us, and it has a lot of energy in it,” said Dessner. “Maybe it’s like bursting out of the closed doors of COVID or something? I don’t know. But we’re excited and I would think it would be imminent at some point.”

He continued: “We do have a concert scheduled for next summer. By then it will have been the longest period of time, I think, by times two, that we’ve ever not played a show. So even right now, we’re at two years, fully two years since the last National show, which is in 20 years the first time we’ve ever done that long.”

Dessner’s comments appear to echo those of frontman Matt Berninger, who told NME in 2019 that they had some “rockier” songs from their last record that they may “get out of the freezer”.

Drummer Bryan Devendorf then told NME in 2020 that he wants the band’s next album to be a “stripped-back rock record” in a similar vein to IDLES.

READ MORE The National’s Matt Berninger on 10 years of ‘High Violet’: “We wanted to reach everybody”

“I think it’s back to the drawing board,” said Devendorf. “We’re starting from the bottom of the mountain.

“Personally, I’ve always wanted to strip it back and do minimalist stuff like IDLES – they’re one of our new favorites. I love their production and their music.”

In the years since their last record, The National and its members have embarked on a wide range of projects. The band collaborated with Taylor Swift, with guitarist Aaron Dessner acting as producer on her albums ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’. Aaron also released another album with Bon Iver as Big Red Machine, while Devendorf released a surprise record as Royal Green and Berninger released his acclaimed debut solo album ‘Serpentine Prison‘.

The National’s busy live schedule for 2022 includes headline appearances at All Points East Festival in London and Primavera Sound in Barcelona. Visit here for dates, tickets and more information.

The post The National’s new album has a “classic” sound with “a lot of energy” appeared first on NME.

Bob Dylan Announces First New Book in 18 Years

2022-03-09T16:37:39.989Z

Bob Dylan unveiled plans to publish a new book via Simon & Schuester titled The Philosophy of Modern Song, coming November 8, 2022. According to a release, Dylan has been writing the book since 2010.

It offers an in-depth view of how Dylan views the songwriting process. From artists such as Nina Simone, Elvis Costello, Hank Williams, and Stephen Foster, Dylan breaks down the essentials of songwriting by analyzing the works of other artists in over 60 essays. The book covers a wide array of genres and promises to be laugh-out-loud funny.

This book marks Dylan’s first publication since the release of Dylan’s Chronicles Vol. 1, published in 2004. it also received a Nobel Prize for literature in 2016.

When asked about the book, Jonathan Karp (President of Simon & Schuester) says: “The publication of Bob Dylan’s kaleidoscopically brilliant work will be an international celebration of songs by one of the greatest artists of our time. The Philosophy of Modern Song could only have been written by Bob Dylan. His voice is unique, and his work conveys his deep appreciation and understanding of songs, the people who bring those songs to life, and what songs mean to all of us.”

In 2020, Dylan released his 39th studio album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. He’s currently on tour in support of that release.

The post Bob Dylan Announces First New Book in 18 Years appeared first on SPIN.

The Muppets series about Electric Mayhem Band in the works

2022-03-09T16:25:40.848Z

A Muppets TV series focusing on The Electric Mayhem Band is officially in the works at Disney+.

The Muppets Mayhem is set to follow the beloved show’s band as they try and record their first ever album, according to Variety.

READ MORE: Please enjoy these wholesome clips of your favorite musicians on ‘The Muppets’

The show will star Lilly Singh as Nora, a human junior A&R executive who must manage the band, featuring Dr. Teeth, Animals, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Zoot and Lips.

Adam F. Goldberg, creator of The Goldbergs, developed the series alongside Bill Barretta and Jeff Yorkes based on Jim Henson’s characters.

“The Muppets are renowned for quality, creativity and unrivaled, fun storytelling for the whole family,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television.

“We are thrilled to have Adam, Bill and Jeff at the helm to bring all of these iconic and great new characters to life in fresh and dynamic ways.”

Jonnie Davis, President of ABC Signature, added: “Adam F. Goldberg is our resident Muppet enthusiast at Signature and getting to play in the sandbox with Bill, a longtime Muppet performer, as well as these beloved characters was a dream come true for him, Bill and Jeff.

“Their take is fresh, fun, musical and of course, hilarious. We couldn’t be happier to be the studio that is helping them get the band back together.”

A Muppets Halloween special was released on Disney+ last year, while short-form series Muppets Now was released in July 2020.

Meanwhile, a couple of years ago eagle-eyed fans spotted that Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin had inserted references to the Muppets in his books.

Readers spotted references to a Kermit Tully, who is the Lord of Riverrun. Another passage refers to an Oscar Tully, who is described as “greener, and cursed with the sort of prickly pride so common in second sons”, which fans have connected to Sesame Street’s Oscar The Grouch.

The post The Muppets series about Electric Mayhem Band in the works appeared first on NME.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Tease First Double LP With 18-Minute Single

2022-03-09T16:16:42.862Z

Australian psychedelic rock titans King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have announced their first double album, Omnium Gatherum, in tandem with the release of its 18-minute first single, “The Dripping Tap.” Although the new LP will be available for pre-order on March 22, no release date has been revealed yet other than that it “is coming soon” via Gizzard’s own KGLW label.

“The Dripping Tap,” which made its live debut during a March 5 show in Melbourne, is a major-key ripper with several extensively jammed-out sections. Multi-instrumentalist Ambrose Kenny-Smith handles vocals at first, before frontman Stu Mackenzie takes over with a rapid-fire refrain as the song catches fire: “left the tap on / swamping out of the sink / left the tap on / agua flowin’ in.”

“This recording session felt significant,” Mackenzie says. “Significant because it was the first time all six Gizzards had gotten together after an extraordinarily long time in lockdown. Significant because it produced the longest studio recording we’ve ever released. Significant because [I think] it’s going to change the way we write and record music — at least for a while. A turning point. A touchstone. I think we’re entering into our ‘jammy period.’ It feels good.”

A full tracklist for Omnium Gatherum is pending, although Gizzard has played several other new songs aside from “The Dripping Tap” live in the past few days, including the thrash-y “Gaia,” the jolly, near yacht-rock of “The Garden Goblin” and the fantasy-themed, keyboard-flecked “Magenta Mountain,” which builds to a heavy finish.

Beginning March 19 at Lollapalooza Argentina in Buenos Aires, the band will embark on a 2022 world tour that will last through the end of October. Highlights of the itinerary include an appearance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival next month, five sold-out shows in six nights at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival in early June, an Oct. 10-11 run at Red Rocks outside Denver that sold out in 48 hours and Gizzard’s biggest New York-area show to date at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium on October 21.

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Alanis Morissette Details Jagged Little Pill 25th Anniversary Tour

2022-03-08T16:57:17.592Z

In the belated celebration of Jagged Little Pill‘s 25th birthday (alongside a Broadway musical, HBO documentary series, and remastering), Alanis Morissette announced North American dates for its anniversary tour. The album’s anniversary was actually in 2020, but…you know.

The dates follow her sold-out 2021 run, and this year’s tour will kick off on July 10 in Ottawa. Garbage is set to open for Morissette throughout North America, while Beth Orton will support on the European leg.

The public ticket sale begins at 10 am local time on Friday, March 11.

Along with detailing her tour, Morissette will release her latest track, “Olive Branch,” also this Friday. The song was co-written by Morissette and Michael Farrell, and produced by Michael Farrell and Henrik Jakobsson.

Alanis Morisette Tour Dates

North American Dates:

July 10 – Ottawa – “Ottawa Bluesfest”
*July 12 – Montreal – Bell Centre
July 13 – London, Ontario – “Rock the Park Fest”
*July 17 – Toronto – Budweiser Stage
*July 19 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
**July 21 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
*July 23 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
*July 24 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
*July 27 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
*July 28 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
*July 31 – Vancouver, BC- Rogers Arena
*Aug 2 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
*Aug 4 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
***Aug 6 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

*Garbage appearing

**Special guest to be announced June 25

*** Special guest to be announced June 3

European Dates:

*June 9 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
*June 12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
*June 14 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclaycard Arena
*June 16 – Paris, France – AccorHotels Arena
*June 19 – Glasgow, UK – OVO HYDRO
*June 21 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
*June 23 – Birmingham, UK – United Arena
*June 24 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
*June 25 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Arena
*June 28 – London, UK – The 02
*June 29 – London, UK – The 02

*Beth Orton appearing

The post Alanis Morissette Details Jagged Little Pill 25th Anniversary Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Blink-182’s Travis Barker is developing a new reality TV series, ‘Inked And Iced’

2022-03-08T16:49:13.229Z

Travis Barker is reportedly developing a new TV series based on tattoos and diamond dental implants.

According to Deadline, the unscripted reality series – titled Inked And Iced – will follow the Blink-182 drummer on his new business venture with the so-called “diamond dentist” Dr. Tom Connelly.

READ MORE: Blink-182 – ‘Nine’ review: the spiritual follow-up to the classic ‘Untitled’

It’ll see musicians and celebrities undergoing high-end diamond dental implant procedures as they simultaneously receive full-body tattoos – all while under anaesthesia.

Barker has teamed up with Bullish Content and This Is Just A Test Media to develop the upcoming series. An air date is not yet known.

“Inked And Iced is about self-expression, the human body as an art canvas, capitalism, eccentricity and entrepreneurship,” Aengus James of This Is Just A Test Media said in a statement.

Travis Barker. CREDIT: Kevin Mazur/AMA2020/Getty Images

“Travis is a genius. It’s the kind of out-of-the-box programming that Paul [Lima] is tremendous at developing.”

Bullish Content’s Paul Lima added: “We’re thrilled to be following Travis and this innovative business as it launches and grows.”

Barker previously appeared in the MTV reality series Meet The Barkers, which ran for two seasons between 2005 and 2006. He is also set to feature in the Kardashians’ upcoming Hulu series, having announced his engagement to Kourtney Kardashian last October.

In terms of music, Travis Barker has recently collaborated with the likes of Machine Gun Kelly, Avril Lavigne, Willow and Yungblud. A new Blink-182 album is also in the works, the drummer confirmed in 2021.

The post Blink-182’s Travis Barker is developing a new reality TV series, ‘Inked And Iced’ appeared first on NME.

John Doe to Release New Solo Album

2022-03-08T16:45:58.384Z

John Doe of punk rock pioneers X will release a new solo album and today, shared the video for its first single, “Never Coming Back,” today.

Fables in a Foreign Land is set to be released on May 20.

“This song starts the record for a reason, it embodies the spirit and events of what’s to come,” Doe says of “Never Coming Back.” It begins a journey that will be without comfort, where you are running from something dark, that is approaching fast. You can’t go back because there’s nothing to go back to. The entire record is set during the end of the 1890s. Thanks to Terry Allen for the extra words.”

Doe enlisted guest writers Garbage’s Shirley Manson, X bandmate Exene Cervenka, Terry Allen and Louie Pérez of Los Lobos, while Kevin Smith (Willie Nelson) played bass and Conrad Choucroun played drums as support on the record. Most of the 13 tracks were written over the last three years by Doe.

“All of these songs take place in the 1890s,” Doe says of the upcoming concept album. “There’s a lot of sleeping on the ground, a lot of being hungry, a lot of isolation. All of that fits into the kind of isolation and lack of modern stimuli that I think people started rediscovering during the pandemic lockdown: realizing that as parts of your life start getting taken away, what’s important and what you live for becomes paramount.

“These songs take place alone, wandering, searching and hungry accompanied by horses not machines. Ultimately, I hope to send the listener to an unknown place with unpredictable characters and let them all live in that foreign land.”

Fat Possum, 2022

Fables in a Foreign Land Track List

Never Coming Back
Down South
See The Almighty
Guilty Bystander
There’s A Black Horse
El Romance-0
Missouri
The Cowboy and the Hot Air Balloon
After The Fall
Destroying Angels
Travelin’ So Hard
Sweetheart
Where The Songbirds Live

The post John Doe to Release New Solo Album appeared first on SPIN.

Snoop Dogg joins esports outfit Faze Clan as a content creator

2022-03-08T16:40:22.785Z

Snoop Dogg has joined Faze Clan, an esports and entertainment organisation.

READ MORE: Snoop Dogg – ‘Algorithm’ review: Snoop’s shot at making old-school hip-hop great again

As part of Faze Clan, Snoop will join the company’s board of directors once it goes public later this year. On top of that, he will also “co-create content, participate in key business initiatives, and launch merchandise with the brand” under the alias Faze Snoop.

According to Snoop Dogg, his reason for joining Faze Clan is in part because of his kids. “The youth identifies with their brand and that’s something my son Cordell knew, which is why he brought us together,” Snoop said.

“As I’ve been watching what Faze Clan has been building in the gaming space, I knew there was a natural connection with what my dad has been doing,” said Cordell Broadus. “When I look at the two brands, I was inspired by the synergy they could create so I brought them together in this partnership. I can’t wait for the world to see what we are about to do.”

It's the one and only…

INTRODUCING FAZE SNOOP@SnoopDogg | #FaZeUp pic.twitter.com/ujlzglr4UN

— FaZe Clan (@FaZeClan) March 7, 2022

“The organic relationship between Faze and Snoop has been building for years now, so we are thrilled to officially welcome Faze Snoop to the family,” said Faze Clan’s chief strategy officer, Kai Henry.

“As the original internet kid and first generation gamer, Snoop has always understood the cultural connection between music, lifestyle and gaming. Today, Snoop is a prominent voice in the emerging Web3 community and we have exciting plans to create together in the metaverse, driving new engagement opportunities for both of our fanbases.”

This isn’t Snoop Dogg’s first foray into the world of video games. The performer semi-regularly streams on Twitch on his account Doggydogg20, and started his own esports league called the Gangsta Gaming League.

Recently, Snoop Dogg confirmed that he now owns the masters to Dr Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ – something that Dre himself has disputed.

The post Snoop Dogg joins esports outfit Faze Clan as a content creator appeared first on NME.

The Weeknd to Appear on Upcoming Episode of The Simpsons

2022-03-08T16:36:12.868Z

The Weeknd has seemingly confirmed rumors that he will make a guest appearance on ‘The Simpsons’ later this month. The pop star retweeted a fan account’s post detailing his appearance on the show as a character named “Orion Hughes,” confirming the cameo.

proud of this one https://t.co/8tdTSdd7Pl

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) March 6, 2022

The forthcoming episode, titled “Bart the Cool Kid” will air on March 20 as the 15th episode in the show’s 33rd season. Further details of the character and episode are yet to be shared. Michael Rapaport will also guest star on the episode as food truck owner Mike Wegman.

The cartoon classic has recruited many artists in the past for musical performances, dating back to the show’s inception in 1989. Guest appearances have included classics like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, and Paul McCartney. Recently, Bad Bunny and Weezer have made appearances. The Weeknd is sure to continue The Simpsons’ long tradition of incorporating current popular culture into the comedic quality of their episode.

The Weeknd released his latest album, Dawn FM, in January and recently detailed his upcoming tour ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ with Doja Cat, meaning the appearance comes at a moment of cultural relevancy for the pop act. Tickets for the tour are available on The Weeknd’s website here.

The post The Weeknd to Appear on Upcoming Episode of The Simpsons appeared first on SPIN.

Arcade Fire continue to tease new material with sheet music and postcards

2022-03-08T16:32:07.551Z

Arcade Fire are continuing their cryptic build-up to the possible release of new music by sending out more postcards containing sheet music to their fans.

Fresh speculation about the follow-up album to the band’s 2017 LP ‘Everything Now’ was sparked earlier this month after Arcade Fire fans began sharing images of mysterious postcards that they’d been sent in the mail.

READ MORE: Arcade Fire’s ‘Generation A’ is a rallying cry for a nation in turmoil

The postcards in question feature the words “we missed you” and a stave filled with musical notes, as well as a hand-drawn illustration of an eye which is currently serving as Arcade Fire’s profile picture on their social media channels and has also been spotted on posters in cities such as London and Toronto.

Further cryptic postcards have now been sent out to members of Arcade Fire’s fanbase, featuring different musical notes on a stave – you can see images of the cards in question below.

3/3/22 ARCADE FIRE.
Something from my favourite band is coming. Received this postcard today.
And god knows how much I love this kind of marketing. You guys are fucking ______ !!!
More info ? @residentmusic @lesinrocks @arcadefire @butlerwills #arcadefire #winbutler pic.twitter.com/i0p2w3mLTV

— ibra ozhan (@ibra_ozhan) March 3, 2022

Arcade Fire fans have been getting mysterious postcards thought the post… is this a tease for new music?

Any clever music-heads out there than can record their version of this music?@Mr_Jimbob x#XSEveningShow pic.twitter.com/Os0GhV0qIR

— XS Manchester – 106.1 FM, Digital Radio & App (@XSManchester) March 7, 2022

Received this unexpected card in the post today.#ArcadeFire pic.twitter.com/HBip07nd1b

— Colloquial Owl (@ColoquialStudio) March 6, 2022

Postcards in America! from arcadefire

One fan has performed the notes from the sheet music featured on each of the four postcards that have been sent out by Arcade Fire so far in a bid to decipher more about their new material – you can hear the tracks below.

Arcade Fire’s last official music release was the 45-minute song ‘Memories of the Age of Anxiety’, which was released in April 2021 for a meditation and sleep app.

Back in October 2020, Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler told Rick Rubin on his Broken Record podcast that he’d written “two or three” Arcade Fire albums during the COVID-19-enforced lockdown.

“We had been writing for a year and were doing our first session towards the record when COVID came down,” he said, adding: “I’ve just been writing, like I can’t remember a time where I’ve written more.”

The post Arcade Fire continue to tease new material with sheet music and postcards appeared first on NME.

Wage War on Their Rise and the Importance of Mental Health

2022-03-08T16:27:35.799Z

On the latest episode of SPIN Presents Lipps Service, host Scott Lipps sat down with Florida-based metal outfit Wage War. In their conversation, the band outlined their rise and growth as artists. They also discussed the importance of mental health and it guided their new album, Manic, which was released last fall. At the end of the episode, the band performed “Circle the Drain.”

Since it began in 2018, the acclaimed podcast has featured many of the biggest voices and personalities in music, including exclusive interviews with Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis, David Lee Roth, Shepard Fairey, Courtney Love, Dove Cameron, Mick Fleetwood, Nikki Sixx, Perry Farrell and many, many more.

In the previous episode, Lipps Zoomed with Joe Newman and Gus Unger-Hamilton of veteran British indie rock band alt-J. During their conversation, they traced the band’s origins from their 2007 formation and their mutual love of Larry David. Their new album, The Dream, was released on February 11. Alt-J is currently on tour in the U.S.

Every week, a new episode of SPIN Presents Lipps Service is available wherever you consume podcasts (Apple, etc.). Listen to the full episode with Wage War below.

The post Wage War on Their Rise and the Importance of Mental Health appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Vince Staples’ Surrealist Video for ‘Magic’

2022-03-07T21:56:44.833Z

Long Beach rapper Vince Staples debuted the video for the first single, “Magic,” off his forthcoming album, Ramona Park Broke My Heart.

The “Magic” video was filmed by Prettybird directing duo Kenten from a surrealist perspective. “I think it’ll put the listener in a good state of mind,” Staples says of the video. “The mood of it defines the project.”

“Magic” was produced by Mustard, and the message is how Staples was able to overcome his inner-city blues and his acknowledgment that some of his peers who don’t want to see him win.

Ramona Park Broke My Heart is set to release in April via Blacksmith Recordings / Motown Records. It will follow the rapper’s 2021 self-titled LP, which was produced by Kenny Beats. Staples most recently released his debut graphic novel, Limbo Beach, via Z2 comics.

Last month, Staples kicked off his supporting stint on Tyler, the Creator’s North American tour. Staples will be appearing year’s Coachella on April 17 and 24.

The post Watch Vince Staples’ Surrealist Video for ‘Magic’ appeared first on SPIN.

Sam Smith and Normani sued for “obvious” copyright infringement on collaboration

2022-03-07T21:55:55.239Z

A new lawsuit alleges that Sam Smith and Normani copied elements of a song on their hit collaboration, ‘Dancing With A Stranger.’

READ MORE: Sam Smith – ‘Love Goes’ review: pop balladeer leans even further into heartbreak than before

In a complaint filed in a Los Angeles federal court last week (March 4), songwriters Jordan Vincent, Christopher Miranda and Rosco Banlaoi allege that the pair’s song has the “same” title, chorus and composition as a song they wrote. The song in question was published on Vincent’s YouTube and Spotify channels back in 2017.

The complaint, which was obtained by Rolling Stone, read: “The hook/chorus in both songs — the most significant part and artistic aspect of these works — contains the lyrics ‘dancing with a stranger’ being sung over a nearly identical melody and musical composition.”

The lawsuit goes on to show a side-by-side comparison of the two songs and further alleges that the track’s accompanying videos are also similar.

It claims that “both videos consist of a girl performing interpretive dance alone in a minimalist studio, interspersed with shots of the male vocalist.”

It adds: “A girl dancing alone is not an obvious visual theme for a music video titled ‘Dancing With a Stranger,’ tending to dispel any notion that this similarity is a coincidence…When the extraordinary musical similarity between the songs is also factored in, it becomes even more apparent that it is impossible that the infringing composition and
sound recording were independently created.”

The filing goes on to allege that Smith, Normani and their respective teams had access to the song through record label ‘Thrive Records’ who they claim had been “extremely interested in using plaintiff’s song for another artist,” though “the deal never went through.”

It continues: “Another suspicious coincidence is that the call sheet for plaintiff’s music video specifically mentioned using the visual concept of mannequins coming to life.

“Although this concept was not ultimately utilised in plaintiff’s music video, Normani and the director of defendants’ music video gave an interview in 2019 discussing how defendants wanted to use porcelain statues coming to life for their music video…The odds that such a unique but highly similar idea would have come independently to defendants are astronomical, especially considering the other shared similarities.”

The song has been certified platinum in over 10 countries and has been streamed more than three billion times.

The lawsuit further alleges: “As a result of defendants’ exploitation of plaintiff’s song without permission, they obtained a massive international hit single which generated significant revenue and profits.”

“Defendants’ representatives were contacted in November 2020 about the similarities. Defendants were given every chance to come up with an innocent explanation, but, despite assurances that a response was coming including a musicological analysis and report, the defendants never issued a response. This suit is being filed as a last resort,” the lawsuit adds.

NME has reached out to representatives of Smith and Normani for comment.

Sam Smith released their latest album ‘Love Goes’ last October. Giving the album a three-star review, NME wrote: “Sam Smith is no stranger to crafting a soundtrack about the highest highs and lowest lows of love.

“After all, the singer was the one to give us 2014’s ‘Stay With Me’, a pitch-perfect wedding song schmaltzer, and ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’, a pile-up of frustration about being perpetually dumped. With their third album ‘Love Goes’, Smith leans further into the lowest lows of love: losing it.”

The post Sam Smith and Normani sued for “obvious” copyright infringement on collaboration appeared first on NME.

Lady Gaga Announces Chromatica Ball Summer Stadium Tour

2022-03-07T21:55:15.716Z

Having rescheduled the entire trek twice the last two years, Lady Gaga is finally set to embark on her worldwide stadium run this summer.

The Chromatica Ball 14-city stint is presented via Live Nation. Gaga will kick off the long-awaited tour on July 17 in Düsseldorf. After dates in Stockholm, Paris, Arnhem, London, and Toronto, she’ll hit some of the biggest stadiums in the U.S. including MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Wrigley Field in Chicago, Fenway Park in Boston, and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The tour is in support of her 2020 album Chromatica, which she was initially set to support in a stadium tour in 2020. In addition to the dates announced prior to the pandemic, this year’s run includes eight new cities. After another pushing back the dates again in 2021, Gaga is ready to perform fan-favorite hits and the first-ever, public live performances of Chromatica this summer.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga Tour Dates

7/17 Düsseldorf, DE Merkur Spiel- Arena
7/21 Stockholm, SW Friends Arena
7/24 Paris, FR Stade de France
7/26 Arnhem, NL GelreDome
7/29 London, UK Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
7/30 London, UK Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
8/06 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre
8/08 Washington, DC Nationals Park
8/11 East Rutherford, NJ Metlife Stadium
8/15 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
8/19 Boston, MA Fenway Park
8/23 Dallas, TX Globe Life Field
8/26 Atlanta, GA Truist Park
9/8 San Francisco, CA Oracle Park
9/10 Los Angeles, CA Dodger Stadium

The post Lady Gaga Announces Chromatica Ball Summer Stadium Tour appeared first on SPIN.

‘Peaky Blinders’ fans celebrate Tom Hardy’s return as Alfie Solomons

2022-03-07T21:54:02.310Z

After his return was confirmed in promotional trailers, Tom Hardy’s character Alfie Solomons has made his first appearance in Peaky Blinders season six.

READ MORE: The final series of ‘Peaky Blinders’: “This is the end of the beginning”

Despite having been shot in the face in season four by Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the season five finale confirmed Solomons was still alive and secretly living in Margate. He didn’t survive without injury though, having gone blind in one eye.

In the second episode of season six, Shelby visited Solomons and convinced him to go into business together to sell opium abroad to help “shift the balance of power” against Jack Nelson (James Frecheville).

It was Solomons’ preoccupation with opera, however, which provided the character’s standout line: “I always thought opera was just fat people fucking shouting.” You can check out some reactions below.

Tom Hardy’s first line in the new season. What an entrance. Alfie’s back #PeakyBlinders pic.twitter.com/AcCNwOaRmf

— Ali Bros ☻ (@alistairbrs) March 6, 2022

Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy together always gives emotions.#PeakyBlinders pic.twitter.com/MUt4lu0yzJ

— Vicki (@TheVickiJones) March 6, 2022

#PeakyBlinders
Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy…together.. On a Sunday night! pic.twitter.com/0l0j7ydfwp

— Dame Nic Jones (@tismenic70) September 22, 2019

Even by his exceptionally high standards, that's Tom Hardy's finest 5 minutes of Alfie Solomons yet #PeakyBlinders

— CMOnTheRocks (@CMontheRocks) March 6, 2022

just here to say that i sincerely missed alfie solomons and i’m so glad he is back and we have tommyalfie scenes back again happy days #PeakyBlinders pic.twitter.com/ltsxxTIMGm

— nat (@natsiobhan_) March 6, 2022

The episode also marked the return of Oswald Mosley, played by Sam Claflin, as he was preparing the lighting for his fascist rally.

Peaky Blinders comes to an end with season six, with spin-offs and a feature-length film already in the pipeline.

Speaking to NME about season six, show creator Steven Knight said: “I’m seeing this as the end of the beginning rather than the beginning of the end.”

In NME’s first look review of the final season, it reads: “Impressively, there’s nothing about the return of Peaky Blinders that feels forced, contrived – and that hasn’t always been the case in the five-preceding series. These are characters in which so much has been invested, and yet whose stories still have so much to play out.

“Best of all, we’ve got the return of Jewish mafioso Alfie Solomons still to come. We might just be an hour into the most keenly anticipated finale of 2022, but we’re to a start as impressive as any of Tommy’s prized mares.”

Peaky Blinders season six continues on BBC One on Sunday (March 13) at 9pm.

The post ‘Peaky Blinders’ fans celebrate Tom Hardy’s return as Alfie Solomons appeared first on NME.

Phoebe Bridgers Shares Haunting Cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘When The Party’s Over’

2022-03-07T21:52:50.560Z

Phoebe Bridgers shared a cover of Billie Eilish‘s “When The Party’s Over” on her inaugural episode of Saddest Factory Radio on SiriusXM Thursday night. She stayed true to the moody original, singing mournfully atop sparse piano.

“When The Party’s Over” originally came out in 2018 and was the second single off Eilish’s Grammy-winning debut album When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?

Listen to Bridgers’ cover below.

protect_the_tiny_gay · Phoebe Bridgers – When The Party’s Over (Billie Eilish cover)

Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Radio is named after the record label she founded in late 2020. When she revealed her latest endeavour, the singer-songwriter said “the vision of the label is simple: good songs, regardless of genre.” The first artist signed to the label was Claud, followed by MUNA and Charlie Hickey.

After announcing it earlier this week, Bridgers spoke with Rolling Stone about her goal for the radio show. “My favorite way to consume music is incidentally,” she divulged. “I hope I can offer something like that to people who tune in.”

“In my personal life, I have always had a radio show,” Bridgers added. “Punishing my friends on road trips with hours of dirges and ambient music, I can’t wait to do it professionally.”

Saddest Factory Radio airs the first Thursday of every month on SiriusXM.

The post Phoebe Bridgers Shares Haunting Cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘When The Party’s Over’ appeared first on SPIN.

Dua Lipa reacts to Oscar Isaac fan-fiction story about her on ‘Saturday Night Live’

2022-03-07T21:51:35.713Z

Dua Lipa has responded to an Oscar Isaac fan-fiction story about her being read out on Saturday Night Live last weekend (March 5).

On the latest episode of the long-running American sketch show, actor Oscar Isaac could be seen reading out a fan-fiction story about the pop star during a skit on the show.

After hearing the story read, Dua Lipa responded on Instagram.

“Adds to list of things I never thought would happen in my life”, she wrote, followed by several laughing emojis.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DUA LIPA (@dualipa)

In the sketch, one of the characters Isaac’s played was Michael – a school janitor with an unexpected hobby of writing stories.

Michael interrupts a writing class and starts to share a story he’s been writing on, called ‘The Apogee Of Midnight.’

The story is about a janitor who is alone a school at midnight before he’s interrupted by a woman who is looking for him.

“My name is Dua Lipa,” the woman in the story says. “I’m a big pop star, and I’m looking for a janitor here named Mike.”

You can see a video of the sketch here:

Last week (March 6), it was revealed that Megan Thee Stallion has teamed up with Dua Lipa on a new single.

Posting on Twitter, the rapper shared an image that featured photos of her and the singer on the icing of four cakes. She confirmed in the caption that the track will be released this Friday (March 11).

Lipa, meanwhile, shared what appears to be a clip of the track on Instagram. In it, Megan can be heard rapping: “Me and Dua Lipa finna get the party lit.”

Megan will also join Lipa on the road in the US later this month, supporting her on three stops of her ‘Future Nostalgia’ tour in Denver, Tulsa and Phoenix.

Last month Dua Lipa launched a new “arts and culture newsletter” called Service95. “I find huge joy in telling people what I’ve learned about in any given city and love finding connection in our shared experiences,” she said of the project. “Service95 is going to take that idea and bring it to anyone who’s as curious as I am about life.

“The more we share with each other, the closer we become, the wider our circles grow.”

The post Dua Lipa reacts to Oscar Isaac fan-fiction story about her on ‘Saturday Night Live’ appeared first on NME.

A Portrait of the Artist as A Jung Man

2022-03-07T21:50:48.738Z

The world according to ex-pat artist Victor Spinelli is a Bacchanalian romp on the beach with mythological Gods and Goddesses and a never-ending supply of art making, hijinks and adventurous escapades.

Spinelli is a thoughtful, philosophical, multi-dimensional artist who has been living on the island of Ibiza since 2001, where he started as the photographer for Manumission, the theatrical, Fellini-esque clubbing party that took over the island. For years, he documented the wild and uninhibited characters of the night. “I was hired on the spot to document Manumission. 60,000 Spanish pesetas [about $400] each Monday night. It was an incredible ride of 5 summers of which my job was to basically follow the Manumission Girls around for 24 hours. A dream.”

Spinelli’s role and his Camera Verite series is legendary on the island. There is a Victor Spinelli room at the Paradiso Art Hotel, and Pikes Hotel, one of the most infamous on the island, permanently showcases 65 pieces of his art throughout.

Spinelli has been hooked on island life ever since and it fuels much of his art. As a self-professed member of the hippie jet set — which shows how far hippies have come — he has over 80 stamps in his passport, seen sunrises from Cambodian temples and desertscapes from the back of a motorcycle and even photographed Mother Teresa.

He also just barely missed landing his Hot Air Balloon inside the walls of a prison. With quick maneuvering, he was able to edge the balloon over the guarded walls, manned with snipers, and into the visitor’s parking lot. In Spinelli fashion, he soon had the warden and guards posing for pictures.

(Courtesy of Victor Spinelli)

In addition to his playful, and often very sexy, photographs, Spinelli takes on weightier themes — the Earth’s health, women’s rights, cultural imbalances, exploitation, mortality, and human consciousness— all laced with a touch of surrealism. For his Crucifixion sculpture series, which addresses the killing of animals for sport and commodity, he painstakingly reassembles animal skeletons, or skulls, setting them on steel and wood crosses.

For Burning Man 2019, Spinelli created Diver UP, an eight-foot-tall wooden sculpture of a feminine torso wearing an industrial divers’ helmet that was eventually burned on the “Man’s” ashes. The torso rises from the ground, a “Goddess” freeing herself from the shackles of society and history.

(Credit: Courtesy of Victor Spinelli)

The intention of the work is to start a conversation about equality and inclusion. Spinelli plans to bring her back to Burning Man this August. This time, he’s offering 50 shares of it; each share represents 2% ownership to finance the construction, transportation and installation of the statue. There is no guarantee that she will sell after the Burn, but if someone or some entity presents an interest, the investors will get their share back plus 70% pro rata of any profit generated.

There are also discussions to someday submerge an ecologically-safe Diver, made of Ph Neutral concrete, on Ibiza’s seabed, where her body will attract coral and other sea life, reinvigorating ocean marine life while raising awareness of the fragile ecosystem.

In addition to his work in film, commercials, music videos, paintings, ceramics, and large sculptural installations, he’s now debuting a 132-page graphic novel entitled, Tropic of Ouzo, based on his screenplay Cigarettes, Ouzo & Dynamite, co-written with Steven Briante.

(Credit: Courtesy of Victor Spinelli)

A dark, sexy comedy set in sensual Mykonos, with Greek Gods and Goddesses in human form mingling with the islanders, the script involves a bet between the Titan Cronus and the Olympian Mercury on whether the human race has integrity and virtue. We follow the hero, Tyrus, an East-end, London DJ backpacker and his fiancée Sophie on a wild journey of, basically, dancing, drugs and sexual escapades, discoveries and surprises, until Fate intervenes and Tyrus has a choice between immortality or death. Cliffhanger!

If all goes as planned and he can get it made as a movie, it’ll be a cult classic with a rocking, eclectic soundtrack. “Think Burning Man meets Pulp Fiction,” he says.

The post A Portrait of the Artist as A Jung Man appeared first on SPIN.

Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard on Reviving Loosegroove Label: ‘I’m Still A Kid in the Sandbox’

2022-03-04T16:47:56.392Z

Flush with the success of Pearl Jam’s 1991 debut Ten, the band’s co-founder and guitarist Stone Gossard could have easily spent his hard-earned cash on any number of creature comforts. Instead, he teamed with longtime Seattle rock scene cohort Regan Hagar and in 1994 started Loosegroove Records as an imprint through Sony. Gossard utilized his good fortune to amplify friends and fellow artists pushing past the grunge-era sounds of the Queen City, like the saxophone-driven avant-rock of Critters Buggin, the hip-hop and funk-inflected Weapon of Choice and the rough-and-tumble Devilhead.

“We knew so many people who were playing music, and I was meeting so many musicians that I was inspired by and excited by,” Gossard tells SPIN over Zoom. “Having had all this experience for 10 years in terms of getting a band going and functioning, it just seemed like a very natural thing for me to use some of that for my friends and for bands I was excited about. It was ambitious, and also about Regan and I wanting to build more community.”

Loosegroove assembled the first-of-its-kind Seattle hip-hop compilation 14 Fathoms Deep in 1997, signed Queens of the Stone Age to its first record deal in 1998 and later that year released the Josh Hamme-fronted band’s self-titled debut, an enduring stoner rock classic that led shortly thereafter to a long-term contract with Interscope. Also in ’98, the label issued the soundtrack to the film Chicago Cab, featuring the first authorized release of the holy grail Pearl Jam outtake “Hard To Imagine.”

Worn down by the day-to-day realities of running a label as well as Pearl Jam’s ever-busy touring and recording schedule, Gossard and Hagar retired Loosegroove in 2000. But in 2020, they revived the company once more, fueled by their decades-long passion for sharing under-the-radar music with adventurous listeners. Loosegroove is now distributed by The Orchard, whose Billie Jean Sarullo is also a partner in the new endeavor. “I get to call Regan up and giggle about whatever it is that we’re working on, get excited about a song or argue about a mix,” Gossard says. “It’s at the heart of what I’m doing, and it’s the heart of what I do in Pearl Jam too.

Gossard walked SPIN through some of the highlights from Loosegroove’s upcoming release schedule, including his new side band Painted Shield, whose latest single, “Life in Rewind,” arrived today in tandem with a live performance video filmed at Pearl Jam’s Seattle warehouse

Brittany Davis

(Credit: Bridie Florence)

A non-binary, blind-since-birth musician/producer originally from Kansas City, Davis will release their debut EP for Loosegroove, I Choose to Live, on March 18 and recently taped a performance for NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series. Davis is also a member of Painted Shield, for which they play keyboard and, on “Life in Rewind,” handle lead vocals for the first time. “Britt’s going to be central to Loosegroove, I hope — playing on other people’s records, playing in their own group and in Painted Shield,” says Gossard, who was introduced to Davis a few years ago by fellow Seattle musician/activist Om Johari. “They’re just a phenomenal musician and a charming and energizing human being. They’re an incredible engineer, write the most bad-ass beats and can jam like a complete crazy person. They can fit in on any song and find a spot and be so powerful.”

Painted Shield

(Credit: Jake Gravbot)

A supergroup of sorts featuring Gossard, one-time Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain and singer/songwriter Mason Jennings, Painted Shield will release its second album, Painted Shield 2, on April 22. Gossard says the group is already halfway through a third album and plans to play its first live shows later this year, including a stop at Eddie Vedder’s annual Ohana festival in September in Southern California. Gossard and Hagar also produced Jennings’ new Loosegroove solo album, Real Heart. “It’s funny — I wrote a bunch of songs on the first Painted Shield record, and then on this one, Britt’s writing, Matt Chamberlain started writing and Mason’s writing. I’m surrounded by really good musicians,” Gossard says of his bandmates. “I can just strum, strum, strum in the background and have fun listening to that. For the most part, I’m still a kid in the sandbox going, what else? What’s next? What can we do now?”

Tigercub

(Credit: Bridie Florence)

Gossard is hoping this young U.K. rock trio can do for Loosegroove circa 2022 what Queens Of The Stone Age did for the label back in the late ‘90s, and hopes to put out their new music by the end of this year or early 2023. “[Frontman] Jamie Hall is an insane riff-master and can sing beautiful melodies over them,” Gossard enthuses. “There are very few super good rock guitarists who can do both of those things at the same time. I legitimately think this band is for real, for real. They can play and they can write. We’re so lucky to have them.” Tigercub kicks off a North American tour March 14 in Nashville.

Brad

Although never originally signed to Loosegroove, Brad — a softer-rocking Pearl Jam detour for Gossard featuring Hagar on drums and beloved vocalist Shawn Smith up front — helped inspire Gossard and Hagar to start the label in the first place. The group released five albums for a variety of labels before Smith passed away suddenly on April 3, 2019, at age 53. Smith left behind vocals for several new Brad songs, and Gossard, Hagar and longtime bassist Keith Lowe have since put the finishing touches on those tracks and hope to release them on a new album by late 2022. “As we got closer to feeling like it was getting done, there was a lot of renewed enthusiasm about the fact that it has a rawness to it that has always been part of Brad, and really suits us,” Gossard says. “I think if anything, our records had become a little bit more polished and a little bit more calculated. This one has some beautiful, beautiful Shawn performances. I’m confident that if you’re a Brad fan, you’re going to like the record.

The Living

(Credit: Brian Fox)

In 2021, Loosegroove unearthed the previously unreleased album The Living: 1982 by Seattle punk band The Living, which featured a teenage Duff McKagan on guitar years before he hit the bigtime with Guns ’N Roses, as well as drummer Greg Gilmore, who went on to play with Gossard in Seattle’s influential, pre-Pearl Jam group Mother Love Bone. “When I heard it for the first time, I was like, wow. Duff wrote all these songs, and you can hear elements of songs like ‘It’s So Easy’ — the tougher and more punk side of Guns ’N Roses,” Gossard says. “You realize he had that in him the whole time, and he made this record that would have been everyone’s favorite if it had actually ever come out in Seattle in the ‘80s. To be able to put it out now acknowledges Duff and Greg’s impact on all of the Seattle scene and how it ended up being such a fruitful place. That’s the blueprint for everything that came after it. We were just trying to emulate them, or catch some of that magic that they were creating in The Living in all of our bands.”

“If Regan and I are just putting out our old buddies’ records, it’s still okay, but we’re really excited about the new Loosegroove stuff,” he continues, shouting out the newly signed Welsh rock group James And The Cold Gun. “With all of our connections to these things and why we’re intrigued by them, there’s no science involved. This is circumstance. Happenstance. We believe in a process in terms of what’s right in front of you, what excites you and what feels right in the moment, and we hope music fans feel the same.”

The post Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard on Reviving Loosegroove Label: ‘I’m Still A Kid in the Sandbox’ appeared first on SPIN.

‘The Batman’: Post-credits tease features a secret Riddler message

2022-03-04T16:42:41.087Z

The Batman features a Riddler-related teaser after its credits roll – although it’s not in the same mould as Marvel‘s brand of post-credits scenes.

If you decide to stay beyond the credits, you’ll be greeted with the words “Good Bye” and the Riddler’s (played by Paul Dano) famed green question mark logo.

READ MORE: Paul Dano: “Nirvana became a part of my Riddler”

The URL of the Rat Alada website, which was used to tease details in the run-up to the film’s release, also flashes up on screen.

If you visit the website you’ll be faced with three questions from the Riddler himself, which, if answered correctly, will lead to a secret video.

You can check out the answers below.

The Riddler asks you three questions which are answered with one word each (he even taunts you if you deviate from the page to look up the answers).

“It’s more than just a game. Fear he who hides behind one.” Answer: “mask”.
“I am first a fraud or a trick, or perhaps a blend of the two. That’s up to your misinterpretation.” Answer: “confusion”.
“What was new, is new again. Rebirth. Restoration. Reformation.” Answer: “renewal”.

Once you’ve correctly answered all three, you’ll be prompted to click a link for a reward. This leads to a video download which requires a password to open. Enter the password, “promise”.

You’ll now have access to a short video from Thomas Wayne’s mayoral campaign, which has been tampered with by the Riddler. It features the words “hush” and “the truth about Gotham” over the footage, and you can also hear the villain breathing towards the end.

In a four-star review of The Batman, NME wrote: “Director Matt Reeves has mixed up gritty mob drama with film-noir detective thriller – and thanks to Dano’s ultra-creepy villain, some psychological horror too.

“Most of the time it comes off brilliantly. Pattinson plays him with a dour fanaticism that only occasionally topples over into parody.”

The post ‘The Batman’: Post-credits tease features a secret Riddler message appeared first on NME.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Share Latest Single ‘Poster Child’

2022-03-04T16:38:58.475Z

Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ first album in six years (and first with guitarist John Frusciante in 16 years) is out in less than a month. Today, the veteran rockers shared “Poster Child,” the second single from Unlimited Love, which sounds exactly what you’d expect a traditional mid-tempo Chili Peppers song to sound like. The Chili Peppers released “Black Summer” last month.

A little over two years after the band reunited with on-again, off-again guitarist Frusciante, for his third stint in the Chili Peppers. Red Hot Chili Peppers parted ways with Josh Klinghoffer, who was their guitarist for a decade, upon Frusciante’s return. Klinghoffer has since released several solo albums and tours with Pearl Jam.

Unlimited Love also saw the band reunite with longtime producer Rick Rubin after their previous album, The Getaway, was produced by Danger Mouse.

The band will be hitting the road in North America and Europe for an extensive tour that will see them play stadiums in the U.S. It will be their biggest (venue-wise) tour in the U.S.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Unlimited Love will be released on April 1 on Warner Records. You can pre-order the album here.

The post Red Hot Chili Peppers Share Latest Single ‘Poster Child’ appeared first on SPIN.

James Gunn supports Pete Davidson after Kanye West’s controversial ‘Eazy’ video

2022-03-04T16:35:05.997Z

James Gunn has defended Pete Davidson after Kanye West shared the music video for ‘Eazy’, where a Claymation character bearing a likeness to the comedian is buried alive.

READ MORE: On the scene at Kanye West’s ‘Donda 2’ event in Miami: “It felt like a cult convention”

In a post on Twitter on Thursday (March 3), the Guardians Of The Galaxy director wrote: “For the record, Pete Davidson is one of the nicest, sweetest guys I know. A truly generous, tender, and funny spirit, he treats everyone around him with respect.”

Davidson worked with Gunn on The Suicide Squad, where he had a small role as mercenary Richard “Dick” Hertz.

The tweet was “liked” by West’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian – who is currently dating Davidson.

For the record, Pete Davidson is one of the nicest, sweetest guys I know. A truly generous, tender & funny spirit, he treats everyone around him with respect.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 3, 2022

In the track ‘Eazy’, featuring The Game, West makes a direct reference to Davidson (“God saved me from that crash / Just so I can beat Pete Davidson’s ass”).

The track’s video also shows a Claymation version of the comedian being buried in a bed of soil with his head exposed. After a rose bush grows from his head, West is seen trimming the roses with a pair of gardening shears.

A title card at the end of the video reads: “Everyone lived happily ever after, except Skete you know who – JK he’s fine.” The rapper has previously referred to Davidson as “Skete” on multiple occasions.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Kardashian has been granted single status by a judge as she looks to finalise her divorce from West. She’s now able to change her legal surname from Kardashian-West back to Kardashian.

Details concerning child custody and property are yet to be resolved, however, with the divorce case not expected to be finalised immediately. The next hearing in the case will be held on August 5.

Kardashian filed for divorce at the start of 2021 after almost seven years of marriage to West, with sources calling the split “amicable”.

The post James Gunn supports Pete Davidson after Kanye West’s controversial ‘Eazy’ video appeared first on NME.

Kevin Morby Announces New Album This Is A Photograph

2022-03-04T16:19:50.111Z

Kevin Morby announced his new album This Is A Photograph set to be released on May 13 via the label Dead Oceans.

To accompany the album announcement, Morby also shared the album’s title track and accompanying video. In the title track, Morby sings in a spoken word fashion over a rustic guitar riff that crescendos into a funky breakdown. The video features vintage pictures from Morby’s life and family, flashing before the audience in a montage. Inspiration for this concept came from Morby flipping through a box of family photos in the basement of his Kansas City childhood home while his father was sick in the hospital.

When discussing the track, Morby says: “It’s about the battle every family faces, that of chasing the clock, to live our lives and hold onto one another for as long as possible. That, and, the dreams that come with being a young family in America and where those dreams eventually end up.”

Shortly after the release of the new album, Morby plans on an international tour kicking off on May 20 in Madrid. The European leg of the tour extends throughout late September with the North American portion beginning in San Francisco on September 29. More information can be found below.

KEVIN MORBY TOUR DATES

Fri. May 20 – Madrid, ES @ Tomavistas
Sat. May 21 – Biarritz, FR @ L’Atabal
Sun. May 22 – Montpellier, FR @ Le Rockstore
Mon. May 23 – Bordeaux, FR @ Rock School Barbey
Tue. May 24 – Paris, FR @ Le Bataclan
Wed. May 25 – Köln, DE @ Kulturekirche
Thu. May 26 – Antwerpen, BE @ De Roma
Sat. May 28 – London, UK @ Wide Awake at Brockwell Park
Sun. May 29 – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg
Mon. May 30 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefährlich
Tue. May 31 – Berlin, DE @ Metropol
Wed. Jun. 1 – Schorndorf, DE @ Manufaktur
Fri. Jun. 3- Angers, FR @ Levitation
Sat. Jun. 4 – Clermont-Ferrand, FR @ La Cooperative de Mai
Mon. Jun. 5 – Lille, FR @ Aéronef
Sun. Jul. 3 – Bologna, IT @ Covo Summer
Mon. Jul. 4 – Terni, IT @ Anfifteatro Romano
Wed. Jul. 6 – Zagreb, HR @ Mochvara
Thu. Jul. 7 – Budapest, HU @ Akvárium Klub
Fri. Jul. 8 – Trencin, Slovakia @ Pohoda Festival
Sat. Jul. 9 – Zittau, DE @ Lonesome Lake Festival
Mon. Jul. 11 – Vienna, AT @ WUK
Tue. Jul. 12 – Munich, DE @ Ampere
Wed. Jul. 13 – Bern, CH @ Gurtenfestival
Fri. Jul. 15 – Lisbon, PT @ Super Bock Super Rock
Sun. Aug. 21 – Erlanger, DE @ Ewerk
Mon. Aug. 22 – Hannover, DE @ Café Glocksee
Wed. Aug. 24 – Copenhagen, DK @ Punpehuset
Sat. Aug. 27 – Prague, CZ @ Meetfactory
Mon. Aug. 28 – Darmstadt, DE @ Golden Leaves Festival
Wed. Aug. 31 – Brighton, UK @ Chalk
Sat. Sept. 3 – Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival
Sun. Sept. 4 – Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall
Mon. Sept. 5 – Glasgow, UK @ Classic Grand
Tue. Sept. 6 – Leeds, UK @ The Brudenell Social Club
Wed. Sept. 7 – Dublin, IE @ Academy
Wed. Sept. 28 – Sonoma, CA @ Historic Redwood Barn *
Thu. Sept. 29 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *
Sat. Oct. 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco *
Mon. Oct. 3 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole *
Wed. Oct. 5 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
Mon. Oct. 10 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall *
Tue. Oct. 11 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway Nightclub *
Wed. Oct. 12 – Bloomington, IN @ Buskirk-Chumley Theater *
Fri. Oct. 14 – Memphis, TN @ The Bluff *
Sat. Oct. 15 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East *
Sun. Oct. 16 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *
Tue. Oct. 18 – Jacksonville, FL @ Intuition Ale Works *
Thu. Oct. 20 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel *
Fri. Oct. 21 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall *
Sat. Oct. 22 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club %
Mon. Oct. 24 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair %
Tue. Oct. 25 – Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall %
Wed. Oct. 26 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall %
Fri. Oct. 28 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall %
Sat. Oct. 29 – Ferndale, MI @ The Magic Bag %
Mon. Oct. 31 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre %
Tue. Nov. 1 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom %
Wed. Nov. 2 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe %
Thu. Nov. 3 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads Saloon %
Sat. Nov. 5 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre %
Sun. Nov. 6 – Fort Collins, CO @ Washington’s %
Tue. Nov. 8 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The CommonWealth Room %
Thu. Nov. 10 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall %
Fri. Nov. 11 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox %
Sat. Nov. 12 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre %

* w/ Cassandra Jenkins
% w/ Coco

The post Kevin Morby Announces New Album This Is A Photograph appeared first on SPIN.

‘The Boys’ actor Antony Starr gets suspended prison sentence after assault in pub

2022-03-04T16:16:56.740Z

The Boys actor Antony Starr has reportedly been handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence after assaulting a chef in Spain.

The actor, who plays Homelander in the Amazon series, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning (March 2) after police were called to a disturbance outside a Costa Blanca pub in Alicante, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Chef Bathuel Araujo, 21, alleged that he had been punched twice before having a glass smashed in his face. It’s said he had to have four stitches to a wound above his eye.

Speaking to local press, Araujo claimed he lashed out after a friend he was with asked a friend of Starr’s to calm the actor down because he was being annoying.

After the feud moved outside the pub, the chef claimed Starr said to him: “You don’t know who you’ve messed with, you don’t know who I am and what you’ve done.”

In a statement (via The Daily Mail), a spokesperson for Spain’s National Police said: “I can confirm a 46-year-old man was arrested following an incident at a pub in Alicante around 2.30am on March 2.”

On Thursday (March 3), the actor was convicted of a crime of wounding in court in Alicante, and was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence and fined £4,141.

A court official said: “The detainee’s state of drunkenness was taken into account as an extenuating factor. The sentence was the result of an agreement between the state prosecution service and the man who was subsequently convicted.

“His prison sentence is being suspended on the condition that he doesn’t commit another crime in two years and pays the compensation in the next 72 hours.”

NME has reached out to Starr’s representatives for comment.

It’s believed the New Zealand actor is in Spain filming for a new Guy Ritchie movie.

Along with The Boys, Star is known for roles in Banshee and New Zealand comedy drama Outrageous Fortune.

The post ‘The Boys’ actor Antony Starr gets suspended prison sentence after assault in pub appeared first on NME.

Madonna, Sickick and Fireboy DML Remix Her 1998 Hit ‘Frozen’

2022-03-03T18:48:26.759Z

Madonna and Sickick teamed up with Fireboy DML in their latest remixing of the pop legend’s hit “Frozen.” She had been teasing the remix for days on her social media platforms.

Producer Sickick’s initial remixing of the song exploded on TikTok last year, and the duo invited Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, who recently released his own hit “Peru,” to bring in some soulful vocals. (“I thought you loved me / I thought you trusted me,” he croons. “I tried to take care of your heart / but it’s frozen.”) The pop queen teased the remix’s official video on her Instagram, which we all hope will arrive soon. The new remix is available now wherever you stream music via Artist Partner Group / Warner Records.

Madonna and Sickick’s initial “Frozen” remix amassed over 50 million streams globally and soundtracked more than 100,000 TikTok videos.

The original rendition of “Frozen” is the ninth track off Madonna’s 1998 Ray of Light.

The post Madonna, Sickick and Fireboy DML Remix Her 1998 Hit ‘Frozen’ appeared first on SPIN.

The Lemonheads Headline Official SPIN SXSW Showcase With 30th Anniversary Set of It’s a Shame About Ray

2022-03-03T18:45:30.074Z

Today, SPIN announces its official SXSW Showcase at the 2022 festival in Austin. The event will take place on Thursday, March 17 at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q.

The Lemonheads will headline the showcase with a set celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s career-defining record It’s a Shame About Ray. SPIN’s lineup will also feature rising acts spanning all genres, representing essential artists from indie rock, hip hop, punk, electronic, and soul.

The SXSW lineup features Bass Drum of Death, Pom Pom Squad, Dead Tooth, Robot Sunrise, Cassandra Jenkins, YUNGMORPHEUS, Laundry Day, BLACKSTARKIDS, Boulevards, Mattiel, and As You Were.

Doors open at 7 PM.

ABOUT SPIN
SPIN is one of the most recognizable names in music journalism and pop culture. In early 2020 SPIN launched a new generation for the legendary media group, putting the brand back where it belongs at the center of the cultural zeitgeist. Recent covers have featured some of today’s biggest stars, like Run the Jewels, Turnstile, Machine Gun Kelly, and Summer Walker, coupled with in-depth interviews, merchandise, and original video content. SPIN will also drop NFTs of select iconic SPIN covers. More details to follow.

The post The Lemonheads Headline Official SPIN SXSW Showcase With 30th Anniversary Set of It’s a Shame About Ray appeared first on SPIN.

The Weeknd Details 2022 North American Stadium Tour Dates

2022-03-03T18:33:02.376Z

The Weeknd‘s will be stopping at some of the most iconic stadiums in the U.S. this summer during the first leg of his massive world tour.

The Afters Hours Til Dawn stint kicks off in The Weeknd’s own hometown of Toronto on Friday, July 8. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. local on Thursday, March 10 via his website.

Last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performer will support both of his critically acclaimed records, After Hours and Dawn FM, and will soon announce additional dates in Mexico, South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and more.

The Weeknd

The Weeknd Tour Dates

FRI 8-Jul – Toronto, ON Rogers Centre
THU 14-Jul – Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field
SAT 16-Jul – New York, NY Metlife Stadium
THU 21-Jul – Boston, MA Gillette Stadium
SUN 24-Jul – Chicago, IL Soldier Field
WED 27-Jul – Detroit, MI Ford Field
SAT 30-Jul – Washington, DC FedexField
THU 4-Aug – Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium
SAT 6-Aug – Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium
THU 11-Aug – Atlanta, GA Mercedes-Benz Stadium
SUN 14-Aug – Arlington, TX AT&T Stadium
THU 18-Aug – Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High
SAT 20-Aug – Las Vegas, NV Allegiant Stadium
TUE 23-Aug – Vancouver, BC BC Place
THU 25-Aug – Seattle, WA Lumen Field
SAT 27-Aug – San Francisco, CA Levi’s Stadium
TUE 30-Aug – Phoenix, AZ State Farm Stadium
FRI 2-Sep – Los Angeles, CA SoFi Stadium

The post The Weeknd Details 2022 North American Stadium Tour Dates appeared first on SPIN.

L’Eclair Are Jamming Their Way to Instrumental Bliss

2022-03-03T18:24:12.821Z

Unlike the precision timepieces and artisan chocolates for which Switzerland is world-renowned, the music of Geneva-based instrumental sextet L’eclair morphs freely, never adhering too long to a singular genre or vibe. That blink-or-you’ll-miss-it compositional panache has helped make L’Eclair one of the most exciting European musical exports in recent memory, as evidenced by the group’s fourth and latest album for the Bongo Joe label, Confusions.

Recorded by L’eclair’s longtime engineer/manager Benoit Erard at “a crunchy chalet” in a remote sliver of the Swiss Alps, the 14-track collection evinces an impressive command of rhythm, dynamics and electro/acoustic alchemy, recalling no less than vocal-free titans such as Can, “TNT”-era Tortoise and The Heliocentrics.

To be sure, Confusions is a giant leap beyond the more stripped-down, feel-good flavors of the group’s 2018 debut, “Polymood” and the deep grooves of 2019’s “Sauropoda,” with songs such as “P+R,” “Timbacrack” and “Concorde” conjuring a synths- and beat-driven sound that is simultaneously retro and forward-looking. Elsewhere, L’Eclair veers into the kind of expansive, spacey, blissed-out territory that would dazzle American festival-goers, which is all the more amazing considering the group has never played live in the U.S. due to visa and other logistical challenges.

“Usually we’d record the live arrangement we would have been playing for months,” bassist Elie Ghersinu tells SPIN over Zoom from Zurich. “Most of these tracks we didn’t have a chance to play live due to the pandemic, so that changed the process a lot.” Instead, L’Eclair dove deeper into the granular sonic details. Theremin, acoustic guitar and warbling piano lines highlight “Pt. 2” of the dazzling “Cosmologies” suite, while running “P+R” on a lark at glacial speed through a vintage Italian tape machine resulted in an entirely separate track, “Etoile” (“We really hope someone is going to add a trap beat to it and really heavy rap lyrics,” Ghersinu says with a laugh).

“While we were maybe a bit more melodic-based on the previous albums, here we are more about layers and arrangements and being able to distribute notes to other instruments,” drummer Yavor Lilov says. “Rather than having a rhythmic part, a melodic part and harmony part, we really tried to add more stuff so that it doesn’t sound only like a band playing. For me personally, electronic drums helped me find other grooves.”

Ghersinu and Lilov both have the kinds of “just got out of bed” hairdos and stubble-y beards admired by follically challenged rockers the world over. They finish each other’s sentences in a way that underscores their years of grooving together in freezing Swiss winters, when their biggest indulgence is stopping for a quick game of ping-pong before getting right back to work.

(Credit: Mehdi Benkler)

“Before Confusions, we’d do a basic track and that would be 70 to 80% of the actual track,” Ghersinu adds. “Then we’d maybe overdub percussion or synths. By not doing that, we have way more of a blank canvas to build things on. That leads you to other directions and things you would not have done if you had to commit to a fully live basic track. It changes the way you see the composition. Now, we have to figure out the live arrangements afterward. Before this album, it was the opposite.”

Judging from a recent live session on Seattle public radio station KEXP, L’Eclair has masterfully transformed the new material for the stage. The group will begin a European tour on March 4 in Manchester, UK, and is already building ideas for its next album. “For once, we didn’t finish another album before releasing the one before,” Lilov says. “We have some ideas for the next one and where we generally want to go.” If “Confusions” is any indication, adventurous listeners will definitely want to come along for the ride.

The post L’Eclair Are Jamming Their Way to Instrumental Bliss appeared first on SPIN.

Jack White and Q-Tip Join Forces on New Single ‘Hi-De-Ho’

2022-03-03T18:20:42.957Z

Jack White and Q-Tip have teamed up to release new single “Hi-De-Ho.” The single will also appear on White’s forthcoming album Fear of The Dawn via Third Man Records on April 8, 2022. White also shared “Queen of the Bees” from Entering Heaven Alive as the B-side. A limited-edition “Hi-De-Ho” b/w “Queen of the Bees” tri-color seven-inch will be available only at Third Man Records’ Cass Corridor store in Detroit on April 9.

White announced another album release set for 2022, Entering Heaven Alive which will follow with its release this summer on July 22. The two albums are the first releases from the singer-songwriter since 2018’s Boarding House Ranch.

Last November, White released a video for ‘Taking Me Back” alongside the announcement of the two albums set for 2022. Since then, he has also released singles “Love Is Selfish” and ‘Fear of the Dawn.” After four years of near radio silence, fans are finally getting the releases they’ve anticipated for years.

White will embark on his first tour since 2019 beginning in Detroit on April 8.

Jack White The Supply Chain Issues Tour 2022

April 8 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre (SOLD OUT)
April 9 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre (SOLD OUT)
April 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
April 12 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Arena
April 13 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center
April 14 – Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events Center
April 16 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
April 17 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
April 19 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
April 21 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
April 23 – Portsmouth, VA – Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion
April 24 – North Charleston, SC – High Water Festival *
April 26 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 27 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 28 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 30 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
May 1 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
May 23 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
May 24 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
May 25 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
May 27 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum
May 28 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre
May 29 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
May 31 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
June 1 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
June 3 – Reno, NV – Reno Events Center
June 4 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 6 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
June 7 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
June 8 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
June 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
June 11 – Broomfield, CO – 1STBANK Center
June 27 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
June 28 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
June 30 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
July 01 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
July 02 – Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee
July 04 – Berlin, Germany – Verti Music Hall
July 07 – Lyon, France – Le Radiant
July 10 – Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival *
July 12 – Carcassonne, France – Festival de Carcassonne *
July 14 – Zurich, Switzerland – Samsung Hall
July 15 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
July 16 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
July 18 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
July 19 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
July 20 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
August 13 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
August 16 – Milwaukee, WI – UWM Panther Arena
August 17 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
August 19 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
August 21 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark
August 23 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
August 24 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion
August 25 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 27 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
August 28 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
August 29 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre

* Festival Performance

The post Jack White and Q-Tip Join Forces on New Single ‘Hi-De-Ho’ appeared first on SPIN.

Band of Horses Survived…Barely

2022-03-03T18:15:41.381Z

It’s taken nearly two decades, but Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell finally feels he has the capacity — and the Goddamn right — to follow his creative intuition.

“Hopefully during this maturity process, I’ve learned to exert my own right in the band to say, ‘This is what the fuck we’re doing,’” Bridwell says of the long journey through Band of Horses’ history, one dotted with shifting lineups, various producers and a slew of record label deals. He pauses. “And I’m not going to listen to someone else’s fucking opinion, honestly. I’m tired of that.”

It’s this no-nonsense path forward that guided Bridwell and Band of Horses to Things Are Great. Their sixth album, out on March 4, as Bridwell explains, is as much a lesson in relieving himself of the pressure he’d built around himself throughout his career as it was in creating instantly hummable songs. To him, Things Are Great was about giving himself the freedom to sketch what the band would look like in the future. The songs they’d make. The lineup they’d have. Bridwell was, in essence, giving himself carte blanche to run the show.

“I don’t want the pressures of the industry to bog me down that I’m willing to let “Good enough’ happen anymore,” Bridwell says of his motivation for scrapping an entire Band of Horses album a few years ago, including switching producers and shuffling band members (“It was not easy,” Bridwell says. “These are friends of mine. You feel like you’re being a dick”) to finally arrive at a batch of songs he’s proud of.

(Credit: Sully Sullivan)

“It just wasn’t good enough,” he adds of the first set of songs he scrapped. Bridwell explains that for a long time he felt he was playing a game of “metaphorical ballet” in his songs, or rather hiding behind cute wordplay for fear of hurting the feelings of those he was writing about in his music.

Scrapping that first incarnation of the album – which Bridwell jokingly refers to as “Things Aren’t Great” – led to Bridwell taking over production duties, albeit with the help of a close-knit team of collaborators that included Grandaddy’s Jason Lye, Flaming Lips’ producer Dave Fridmann, and local Charleston engineer Wolfgang “Wolfie” Zimmerman, whose work he had admired from afar. “I needed that injection of youthfulness,” he adds of his decision to work with Zimmerman. “But I also needed someone to let me be the boss, finally.” He laughs and adds: “I got to kick Wolfie’s ass around a bit.”

As he’s long done throughout Band of Horses’ career, Bridwell used the occasion of a new album to rid himself of his anxieties — or at least attempt to do so. “You don’t want help/You don’t need me/You don’t look well/And you don’t want anything,” he sings on the opening track, “Warning Signs,” a perhaps not-so-subtle reference to a divorce he casually mentions during our chat. Moments later, following the driving lead single “Crutch,” and over a slow-rolling guitar, Bridwell lays himself bare on “In The Hard Times”: “And it don’t make sense, but it’s the only choice left/Cause you deserted me in the hard times.”

“I gotta tell you, just to vent was important for me at that time when I was making this record,” Bridwell admits. He’d split from his now-ex-wife when writing the album, “and Lord knows, I needed an outlet to get some emotional darkness off of my shoulders,” he says. Bridwell was sick of hiding behind “all those cute metaphors” and “dancing around real talk. I’ve been through so much bad stuff, so for me, it’s very important just to get it all off my damn back.”

So much of what he’s relieving himself of, Bridwell offers, is the need to live up to some unrealistic standard. Around 2010, when the band was at its commercial peak after releasing that year’s Infinite Arms and being signed to Columbia Records, then headed up by superproducer Rick Rubin, Bridwell admits he felt an ungodly level of pressure.

“Looking back with some vantage, I would say I was absolutely caught in the whirlwind,” he admits. “Like, ‘OK, now you’re on a major label. There are expectations. And then all of a sudden you have a business manager, you have the lawyer. Everyone is taking a cut. It’s like ‘Shit, how the hell do we keep this thing going?’”

(Credit: Stevie and Sarah Gee)

Thankfully for him, he’s since arrived at a more relaxed place in his career. He now feels like he doesn’t have to kowtow around a difficult subject, in song and in real-life, or spend his life appeasing others, but rather can drive the metaphorical bus in his career. Sure, Bridwell is still the first to admit that releasing a new record is about supporting his livelihood — the singer estimates he personally spent nearly half a million dollars to arrive at Things Are Great and, well, “my kids need new clothes at Target” — but it’s also an exercise in forever convincing himself he deserves it. “I always put my family’s livelihood on the line when I’m making these records,” he boldly admits. “It costs so damn much, dude.”

“I still don’t know how the hell I fell into this damn thing?” he wonders as he laughs. “In my mind, when I think of myself, I don’t see myself as a musician. I don’t see myself as an artist. I see myself as a kid who likes to make mixtapes for people. I did not mean to be all this … much less a singer. God damn.”

Above all, he hopes that the evolution he’s gone through both in his own life and with Band of Horses will inspire others. Or at least give them a sense of solace and camaraderie.

“Yes, we got led a little bit by the nose by the industry for a little bit there and probably went down a crooked path at times but man, I can tell you, the heart remains true in this band,” Bridwell says of Band of Horses. “I just hope this music translates to other folks to find some relief or release in their own lives.”

The post Band of Horses Survived…Barely appeared first on SPIN.

Brad Pitt takes on Bad Bunny in trailer for action thriller ‘Bullet Train’

2022-03-03T18:15:26.924Z

The first trailer for Bullet Train, an action thriller starring Brad Pitt as a deadly assassin, has been released.

Directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde), Bullet Train stars Pitt as Lady Bug, an experienced assassin who boards a Japanese bullet train filled with other professional killers who have been sent to fulfil their own assignments.

Based on the novel Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka, the film also stars Joey King, Andrew Koji, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, Masi Oka, Michael Shannon, Logan Lerman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Karen Fukuhara, Benito A Martinez Ocasio aka Bad Bunny, and Sandra Bullock.

In the trailer shared by Sony Pictures, Pitt is shown encountering another assassin played by Bad Bunny, soundtracked by Bee Gees track ‘Stayin’ Alive’.

Lady Gaga was originally cast for Bullock’s role but she was forced to exit the project over scheduling conflicts with Ridley Scott film House Of Gucci.

Along with Bullet Train, Pitt is set to make an appearance in upcoming film The Lost City alongside Bullock and Channing Tatum. He’s also been cast in Babylon from director Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash), set to be released in December.

Beyond 2022, Pitt will also reunite with George Clooney for a new thriller from Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts. They have previously starred together in the Ocean’s trilogy and 2008’s Burn After Reading helmed by the Coen Brothers.

Bullet Train is set to be released in cinemas worldwide on July 15.

The post Brad Pitt takes on Bad Bunny in trailer for action thriller ‘Bullet Train’ appeared first on NME.

Belle and Sebastian to Release First Album in 7 Years, Listen to ‘Unnecessary Drama’

2022-03-03T18:15:14.768Z

After seven years away, Belle and Sebastian are back. The seven-piece indie rock group has announced their 10th album A Bit Of Previous, to be released on May 6 on Matador.

The first single, “Unnecessary Drama,” is out now alongside an accompanying music video. The video portrays the paradoxical feeling of the mind running at high speed amid the solitude of stay-at-home pandemic life. The bright colors, vintage-appearing clothing, and intricate sets bring an heir of familiarity to the video that will leave fans wanting more.

“The song is about a young person experimenting in being a human again after a forced hiatus,” frontman Stuart Murdoch said in a statement. “The person is weighing up whether or not it’s worth the mess! Still, you dip your toe in and it becomes delicious, and you get too much of it. Between trouble and nothing, we still choose the trouble.”

The album was recorded after the band’s plans to fly to Los Angeles in the spring of 2020 were thwarted by the pandemic. The album was produced and recorded by the band alongside contributions from Brian McNeill, Matt Wiggins, Kevin Burleigh and Shawn Everett.

“We did it together, us and the city,” Murdoch continued. “This record was the first ‘full’ LP recording for B&S in Glasgow since Fold Your Hands Child, 1999. We clocked in every morning, we played our songs, we wrote together, we tried new things, we took the proverbial lump of clay, and we threw it every day.”

In the last few years, Belle and Sebastian have had no shortage of projects on their plate. Their projects have included The Boaty Weekender– the band’s four-day Mediterranean cruise liner music festival; a soundtrack for the directorial debut of Simon Bird; a trilogy of EPs; a live album of current renditions of Belle and Sebastian classics, and their lockdown project “Protecting The Hive.”

Belle and Sebastian have announced a spring-summer US tour in support of the new album, alongside rescheduled UK and European tour dates for 2022 and 2023.

A Bit Of Previous Track List

1. Young And Stupid
2. If They’re Shooting At You
3. Talk To Me Talk To Me
4. Reclaim The Night
5. Do It For Your Country
6. Prophets On Hold
7. Unnecessary Drama
8. Come On Home
9. A World Without You
10. Deathbed Of My Dreams
11. Sea Of Sorrow
12. Working Boy In New York City

2022 Tour Dates:

May-24: Rabbit Rabbit, Asheville *

May-25: TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park, Indianapolis *

May-26: The Riviera Theatre, Chicago *

May-27: Palace Theatre, Minneapolis *

May-28: The Admiral, Omaha *

May-31: Paramount Theatre, Seattle +

Jun-1: Roseland Theater, Portland +

Jun-3: Greek Theatre, Berkeley %

Jun-4: Greek Theatre, LA %

Jun-5: Pappy and Harriet’s, Pioneertown +

Jun-7: The Van Buren, Phoenix +

Jun-8: The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing Company +

Jun-10: The Criterion, Oklahoma City +

Jun-11: Stubb’s Waller Creek, Austin #

Jun-13: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville #

Jun-14: Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh ^

Jun-15: Wolf Trap, Vienna ^

Jun-16: SummerStage, Central Park, NY #

Jun-17: Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia #

Jun-18: Roadrunner, Boston #

Jul-15 Bristol, UK Lloyds Amphitheatre, Bristol Harbourside

Jul-16 Stirling, UK Cardross Estate, Doune The Rabbit Hole

Nov-13 Cardiff, UK Great Hall – Student’s Union

Nov-14 London, UK The Roundhouse

Nov-15 London, UK The Roundhouse

Nov -17 Sheffield, UK O2 Academy Sheffield

Nov-18 Liverpool, UK Olympia

Nov -19 Hull, UK Asylum, Hull University Union

Nov-21 Aberdeen, UK Beach Ballroom

Nov-23 Edinburgh, UK Usher Hall

Nov-24 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK O2 City Hall, Newcastle

Nov-25 Manchester, UK Manchester Academy

Nov-27 Cambridge, UK Corn Exchange

Nov-28 Birmingham, UK O2 Academy Birmingham

Nov-29 Southampton, UK O2 Guildhall Southampton

Nov-30 Brighton, UK Brighton Dome

* with Divino Niño

+ with Thee Sacred Souls

% with Tennis and Thee Sacred Souls

# with Los Bitchos

+ with Japanese Breakfast and Los Bitchos

2023 Tour Dates:

Jan-10 France, Paris, Casino de Paris

Jan-11 Holland, Utrecht, Tivoli Grote Zaal

Jan-14 Germany, Hamburg, Laeiszhalle

Jan-16 Sweden, Gothenburg Tradgarn

Jan-17 Sweden, Stockholm Filadelfia

Jan-18 Norway, Oslo Sentrum Scene

Jan-19 Denmark, Copenhagen Vega

Jan-21 Germany, Berlin Tempodrom

Jan-22 Germany, Munich Muffathalle

Jan-23 Switzerland, Zurich X-tra Limmathaus

Jan-25 France, Clermont-Ferrand, Co-op de Mai

Jan-26 Italy, Milan Fabrique

The post Belle and Sebastian to Release First Album in 7 Years, Listen to ‘Unnecessary Drama’ appeared first on SPIN.

John DiMaggio to return as Bender in ‘Futurama’ revival: “I’m back, baby!”

2022-03-03T18:15:00.264Z

John DiMaggio, the voice of Bender in Futurama, has confirmed he’s signed on to Hulu’s revival of the animated comedy series.

READ MORE: The 10 best episodes of ‘Futurama’

Last month, fans rallied around DiMaggio using the hashtag “#Bendergate” after the voice actor was missing from the revival’s cast. After thanking fans for their support, he explained that he refused because he believed himself and the rest of the cast deserved to be paid more than what was offered.

In a statement confirming his return, DiMaggio said: “I’M BACK, BABY! So damn grateful for the love and support of fans and colleagues alike during this whole time (especially my wife, Kate), and I cannot wait to get back to work with my Futurama family.

“#Bendergate is officially over, so put it on the back of a shelf behind Xmas decorations, or maybe in that kitchen drawer with all of the other crap you put in there like old unusable crazy glue, or maybe even put it in a jar you save farts in. Whatever floats your boat, I don’t care, you get the picture. I’M BACK, BABY! BITE MY SHINY METAL ASS!”

I’M BACK, BABY!

— John DiMaggio (@TheJohnDiMaggio) March 1, 2022

It’s unclear whether his return comes with a pay increase, although Deadline reports any bump was “minimal at best”.

Hulu has ordered 20 episodes of Futurama’s new incarnation, from original creators David X. Cohen and Matt Groening.

“From the moment John DiMaggio auditioned last century, we knew we had our Bender,” Groening said. “So congrats to everyone at Futurama. We’re all back, baby!”

Cohen said: “John DiMaggio may be a great robot, but he’s also a great human being. Not many people or machines can say that. For the fourth time, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thrill to be back with our entire original cast and the phenomenal animators of Rough Draft Studios!”

DiMaggio joins already confirmed original cast members Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman.

Futurama’s revival series is expected to release in 2023.

The post John DiMaggio to return as Bender in ‘Futurama’ revival: “I’m back, baby!” appeared first on NME.

The Offspring Detail U.S. Spring Tour

2022-03-03T18:14:43.814Z

The Offspring’s Let the Bad Times Roll Tour is kicking off next month to support the band’s tenth studio record.

The 18-city trek kicks off April 26 in San Diego, California, and wraps up on May 22 in Milwaukee. Special guests Radkey and Blame My Youth are set to open for the band throughout the U.S. stint. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. local on Friday, Mar. 4 via Live Nation.

Let the Bad Times Roll is the third Offspring album produced by the iconic Bob Rock.

“This album is probably the most cathartic thing we’ve done,” lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan Holland said. “The messages might be dark, but at the end what’s left is that communication is important, working through feelings is important and most of all, hope is important.”

The Offspring

The Offspring Tour Dates

Tue Apr 26 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre^
Wed Apr 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre^
Fri Apr 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center^
Sat Apr 30 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium^
Tue May 03 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom^
Wed May 04 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center^
Fri May 6 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino^
Sat May 07 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place^
Sun May 08 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle^
Tue May 10 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater^
Wed May 11 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion^
Wed May 12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage^
Sun May 15 – Boston, MA – House of Blues^
Tue May 17 – New York, NY – Pier 17^
Tue May 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE*
Fri May 20 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit+
Sat May 21 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom+
Sat May 22 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club – Eagles Ballroom*
* Not a Live Nation Date
^With support from Radkey
+With support from Blame My Youth

The post The Offspring Detail U.S. Spring Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Charli XCX tells critics of new single: “I’m living my best life – and that’s the tea”

2022-03-03T18:14:32.517Z

Charli XCX has responded to critics of her new single ‘Baby‘, saying that she’s unaffected by negative comments and is “living my best life”.

READ MORE: Mark, My Words: Charli XCX’s ‘How I’m Feeling Now’ is just stage one of pandemic albums

The pop singer, who yesterday (March 1) released the latest cut from her forthcoming album ‘CRASH’, sent a series of tweets in which she addressed some poor reception to it.

One fan called her “mother”, to which she said: “If u wanna throw around midlife crisis fucking throw it at me. I’m getting older, I’m getting hotter, my tits are stunning, I’m in great shape, I’m dancing, I’m progressing and I’m living my best life – and that the tea.”

The fan in question had written: “These charli singles so far…. not doing it for me whatsoever, but she’s still in my mother list.” Later, the fan clarified that she meant “mother” as an endearing term: “when i called u mother i meant ur like a SUPREME, not old i promise.”

OH and finally if u wanna throw around midlife crisis fucking throw it at me – I’m getting older, I’m getting hotter, my tits are stunning, I’m in great shape, I’m dancing, I’m progressing and I’m living my best life – and that the tea

— Charli (@charli_xcx) March 1, 2022

Charli also wrote: “Again – not bothered that some people will always have their preferred eras etc (that’s why it’s fun being an angel – there’s so much variety) – but if you don’t think baby is a bop then… idk that’s just v suspicious to me…”

also – again – not bothered that some people will always have their preferred eras etc (that’s why it’s fun being an angel – there’s so much variety) – but if you don’t think baby is a bop then… idk that’s just v suspicious to me…

— Charli (@charli_xcx) March 1, 2022

In addition, Charli responded to stan “theories” that she was being “forced to dance” in the ‘Baby’ music video. “Also – to answer other interesting theories below – no i’m not being forced to dance – totally my choice and one of the most liberating and fun decisions I’ve ever made,” Charli wrote.

And in a since-deleted tweet, Charli wrote: “Bitch BYE. I will NEVER understand what possesses people to be such C*NTS online.”

imagine doing a two truths and a lie icebreaker and using "one of my fav artists, Charli XCX, called me a cunt once" pic.twitter.com/12eiZEZTHt

— matt (@thecomputergay) March 1, 2022

The news follows Charli announcing last month that she was temporarily stepping back from social media to focus on improving her mental health.

She said that she was taking a break due to the “negativity” surrounding her current campaign, which is promoting her fifth album that’s dropping on March 18.

Meanwhile, ‘Baby’, which follows Charli’s recent collaboration ‘Beg For You’ with Rina Sawayama, is “about great sex”, the singer said in a new interview.

The post Charli XCX tells critics of new single: “I’m living my best life – and that’s the tea” appeared first on NME.

PUP Release ‘Matilda’ Off Upcoming Album

2022-03-03T18:14:07.573Z

“Matilda,”of their forthcoming record, The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND.

“Matilda is the name of my favorite guitar,” guitarist Stefan Babcock said. “She was a gift from my friend Ryan, after watching me accidentally break the only guitar I owned in the middle of a long tour. I had no money to buy a replacement, and Ryan’s act of kindness is up there on my list of ‘nicest things anyone’s ever done for me.’ I played Matilda nonstop for 7 years at every PUP show, even when my bandmates started complaining that she sounded like shit.”

PUP had previously released “Waiting” and “Robot Writes A Love Song,” off The Unraveling. The band’s fourth studio record is set for release on April 1, and is self-deemed by the band as “the most PUP record.”

The band is set to embark on tour this month, kicking off on March 26 in Ottawa. They added some brand new dates in June throughout the U.S. and in October and November throughout Europe. And you can catch PUP at the second weekend of Coachella this year.

PUP Tour Dates

3/26/22 – Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre Music Theatre !
3/27/22 – Hamilton, ON @ Bridgeworks ! [SOLD OUT]
3/28/22 – Kingston, ON @ The Ale House !
3/29/22 – Peterborough, ON @ The Venue !
4/1/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre *^
4/2/22 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *^
4/3/22 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre *^
4/5/22 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore *^
4/8/22 – Victoria, BC @ Capital Ballroom ^
4/9/22 – Victoria, BC @ Capital Ballroom ^ [SOLD OUT]
4/10/22 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo ^
4/11/22 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom +^
4/13/22 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades +^
4/15/22 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music and Arts Festival
4/16/22 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren +^
4/17/22 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah + [SOLD OUT]
4/18/22 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah ^ [SOLD OUT]
4/20/22 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield+^
4/21/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda #^
4/22/22 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music and Arts Festival
4/24/22 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre +^
4/25/22 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater +^
4/27/22 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater +^
4/28/22 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues +^
4/29/22 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater +^
5/1/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Music Festival
5/3/22 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel +^
5/4/22 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz +^
5/5/22 – Richmond, VA @ The National +^
5/6/22 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall +^
5/7/22 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore Silver Spring +^
5/9/22 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom +^
5/10/22 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues +^
5/11/22 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 +^
5/13/22 – Montreal, QC @ MTelus +^
5/14/22 – Toronto, ON @ History +^ [SOLD OUT]
5/15/22 – Toronto, ON @ History +^
6/3/22 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues $
6/4/22 – Royal Oak, MI @ The Royal Oak $
6/5/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s $
6/6/22 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom $
6/8/22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi Annex $
6/9/22 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada $
6/10/22 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant $
6/11/22 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl $
6/13/22 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall $
6/14/22 – Columbia, SC @ The Senate $
6/15/22 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa $
6/17/22 – Holyoke, MA @ Race Street Block Party $
6/18/22 – Buffalo, NY @ Asbury Hall $
7/8/22 – Cheltenham, UK @ 2000trees Festival
7/23/22 – Byron Bay, Australia @ Splendour in the Grass
8/24/22 – 8/27/22 – Málaga, Spain @ Canela Party Festival
10/12/22 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds Beckett Students Union
10/13/22 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz
10/14/22 – London, UK @ The Roundhouse
10/16/22 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 Galvanizers
10/17/22 – Dublin, IE @ Academy 2
10/19/22 – Brighton, UK @ Chalk
10/20/22 – Bristol, UK @ SWX
10/21/22 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute
10/23/22 – Paris, FR @ Backstage
10/24/22 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
10/25/22 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
10/26/22 – Köln, DE @ Bürgerhaus Stollwerck
10/28/22 – Berlin, DE @ So36
10/29/22 – Warsaw, PL @ Hybrydy
10/30/22 – Prague, CZ @ Rock Cafe
11/01/22 – Milan, IT @ Bloom
11/02/22 – Munich, DE @ Strom
11/03/22 – Hamburg, DE @ Gruenspan
11/05/22 – Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset

(New in bold)
! with support from Casper Skulls
# with support from Skegss
^ with support from Pinkshift
$ with support from Oceanator
* with support from Cloud Nothings
+ with support from Sheer Mag

The post PUP Release ‘Matilda’ Off Upcoming Album appeared first on SPIN.

King Hannah Isn’t Sorry

2022-03-01T16:23:28.983Z

Naming your debut album I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me is a statement. It’s an embrace of unwavering selfhood in the face of detractors. Vocalist Hannah Merrick and guitarist Craig Whittle — better known as Liverpool indie-rock duo King Hannah — understand that it’s a lengthy title. But (as one might’ve guessed) they aren’t sorry about it.

“We’re really happy with the title,” Merrick tells SPIN over Zoom. “It took a long time for us to choose, didn’t it? We really love long sentences. We knew from the start it was going to be a long title. It was just choosing the sentence that we thought had romance to it but also was a statement. ‘This is what we sound like. This is us. This is who we are, and we’re not sorry for that.’”

In terms of the title’s origins, Whittle says that he and his bandmate listened back through I’m Not Sorry after they finished it. They wrote down any phrases that stood out to them from Merrick’s lyrics, which is the same technique they used to name their 2020 EP, Tell Me Your Mind and I’ll Tell You Mine. It felt like the right move.

“There are these moments in the album where everything drops, and it’s just Hannah and I singing together,” Whittle says, referring to the chorus on the title track. “It just felt like a natural title.”

That space is one of the most essential components on I’m Not Sorry. On their EP, the duo would frequently rely on a bevy of instruments to conceal elements they weren’t happy with. Despite the fact that Merrick and Whittle would layer “tracks on tracks on tracks,” these endless additions ended up diminishing the band’s music. With their debut LP, they decided to steer away from clustering their record with superfluous details, leaving nothing save for the necessary ingredients.

On opening track “A Well-Made Woman,” the percussion resonates clear as day. On the Whittle-sung “Ants Crawling on an Apple Stork,” there are scarcely any instruments aside from an arpeggiated guitar and vocals. On the deceptively titled “Go-Kart Kid (HELL NO!),” Merrick rarely raises her voice above a murmur. It’s a stark change from the noisy EP, and it infuses I’m Not Sorry with a foreboding, bluesy aura. Creating more openness in their songs has allowed them to truly shine, and their general creative process evinces that feeling.

Merrick will begin writing a song at her desk, only showing it to Whittle if she feels confident enough in it. Ultimately, the deciding factor in when it’s time to show her bandmate a new song is that sense of space they explore on I’m Not Sorry.

“If it feels good from your little desk in your room, that’s it — it’ll be fine,” she explains. “If it doesn’t sound good on your own, you’re never gonna fix it by adding more things. It’s gotta feel good when it’s at its absolute barest. You can always build on that.”

Although this transparency may sound minimalistic, King Hannah seldom sounds that way. The album’s centerpiece, “The Moods That I Get In,” gradually builds from a muted 6/8 template of faint drums as it introduces new instruments along the way — a droning guitar noise there, piano chords here, a subtle shift into conventional 4/4 time there, a quasi-guitar solo here. Perhaps that’s why it’s one of Merrick’s favorite songs from the album.

Aside from their clear ability when it comes to musical composition, it’s the relationship between the band’s two members that make things work. King Hannah is a joint effort, one built on an egalitarian approach to creativity and an enduring friendship. It isn’t one-sided, and that comes through on I’m Not Sorry. The title track captures this duality as Merrick and Whittle trade lines in the verses. When the chorus arrives, the instruments dissipate as both members draw out each word together, carving space between each syllable: “I’m not sorry, I was just being me.”

The post King Hannah Isn’t Sorry appeared first on SPIN.

‘The Batman’: Zoë Kravitz “interpreted” Catwoman as bisexual

2022-03-01T16:20:34.943Z

The Batman star Zoë Kravitz has said she “interpreted” her version of Catwoman as bisexual.

The actor, who stars opposite Robert Pattinson’s Batman in Matt Reeves’ new film, recently discussed a scene in which her character Catwoman/Selina Kyle calls her friend Anika her “baby”.

READ MORE: The Batman review: down in the dumps with Robert Pattinson’s dark knight

Pedestrian asked Kravitz whether this scene pointed to Selina’s bisexuality, to which Kravitz replied: “That’s definitely the way I interpreted that, that they had some kind of romantic relationship.”

The journalist interviewing Kravitz then expressed happiness that a film was finally portraying Catwoman as bisexual, and Kravitz said she agreed.

“[The film is] very true to the character of Selina Kyle,” Reeves told the same publication. “She’s not yet Catwoman, but all the elements of how she’s going to become Catwoman are there.

“And in terms of her relationship with Anika, I spoke to Zoë very early on and one of the things she said which I loved was that: ‘She’s drawn to strays because she was a stray and so she really wants to care for these strays because she doesn’t want to be that way anymore, and Anika is like a stray and she loves her. She actually represents this connection that she has to her mother who she lost, who was a stray anymore’.”

He added: “So I don’t think we meant to go directly in that way, but you can interpret it that way for sure. She has an intimacy with that character and it’s a tremendous and deep caring for that character, more so than a sexual thing, but there was meant to be quite an intimate relationship between them.”

“Most of the time it comes off brilliantly. Pattinson plays him with a dour fanaticism that only occasionally topples over into parody.”

The post ‘The Batman’: Zoë Kravitz “interpreted” Catwoman as bisexual appeared first on NME.

Bartees Strange Pays Homage to Loved Ones With A ‘Heavy Heart’

2022-03-01T16:18:05.610Z

Bartees Strange released his label debut, “Heavy Heart,” and its music video, today.

Strange pays tribute to his grandfather and father in his first new music in over two years. He sings about the years of guilt that have piled up on him – as Strange has been succeeding as a touring musician, his grandfather recently passed away, his partner stays at home without him, and the guilt even stems back to his father’s sacrifices to build a better future for Strange.

The Missy Dabice-directed video follows Strange bearing his grandfather and father’s clothes. Strange had previously released Say Goodbye To Pretty Boy in 2020, and his proper debut Live Forever the same year.

Alongside unveiling “Heavy Heart,” Strange detailed his debut UK and European headline tour. He is set to perform throughout July, and tickets for the European leg go on sale at 10 a.m. local on Friday, Mar. 4. For U.S. fans, Strange is scheduled to open for Car Seat Headrest’s tour beginning later this month, which runs until mid-May.

Bartees Strange Tour Dates

Mar 16 – SAINT PAUL, MN, Palace Theatre *
Mar 17 – MILWAUKEE, WI, Pabst Theater *
Mar 18 – CHICAGO, IL, The Vic Theatre *
Mar 19 – CHICAGO, IL, The Vic Theatre *
Mar 20 – DETROIT, MI, Majestic Theatre *
Mar 22 – TORONTO, ON, The Danforth Music Hall *
Mar 23 – TORONTO, ON, The Danforth Music Hall *
Mar 25 – NORTH ADAMS, MA, Mass MOCA *
Mar 26 – BOSTON, MA, House Of Blues Boston *
Mar 27 – PORTLAND, ME, State Theatre *
Mar 29 – BROOKLYN, NY, Brooklyn Steel *
Mar 30 – BROOKLYN, NY, Brooklyn Steel *
Mar 31 – BROOKLYN, NY, Brooklyn Steel *
April 1 – PHILADELPHIA, PA, Franklin Music Hall *
April 2 – WASHINGTON, DC, The Anthem *
April 4 – CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, Jefferson Theater *
April 5 – ASHEVILLE, NC, The Orange Peel *
April 7 – RALEIGH, NC, The Ritz *
April 8 – COLUMBIA, DC, The Senate *
April 9 – ATLANTA, GA, Tabernacle *
April 10 – NASHVILLE, TN, Brooklyn Bowl Nashville *
April 22 – SEATTLE, WA, Paramount Theatre *
April 23 – PORTLAND, OR, Roseland Theater *
April 24 – EUGENE, CA, Mcdonald Theater *
April 26 – SACRAMENTO, CA, Ace of Spades *
April 27 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA, The Warfield *
April 29 – SAN DIEGO, CA, House of Blues San Diego *
April 30 – LOS ANGELES, CA, The Wiltern *
May 1 – PHOENIX, AZ, The Van Buren *
May 4 – AUSTIN, TX, Stubbs BBQ *
May 5 – HOUSTON, TX, White Oak Music Hall *
May 6 – DALLAS, TX, Granada Theater *
May 7 – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, Tower Theatre *
May 8 – KANSAS CITY, MO, Grinders KC *
May 10 – DENVER, CO, Ogden Theatre *
May 11 – BOULDER, CO, Fox Theatre *
May 13 – SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Kilby Block Party
July 3 – WERCHTER, BE, Rock Werchter 2022
July 4 – COLOGNE, DE, Helios37
July 5 – HAMBURG, DE, Molotow
July 7 – BERLIN, DE, Badehaus
July 9 – MADRID, ES, Mad Cool Festival 2022
July 11 – MUNICH, DE, Milla
July 12 – FRIBOURG, CH, Festival Les Georges
July 13 – REES-HALDERN, NL, Haldern Pop Bar
July 14 – AMSTERDAM, NL, Upstairs @ Paradiso
July 16 – LEEDS, GB, Community Room @ Brudenell Social Club
July 17 – MANCHESTER, GB, Night & Day Café
July 19 – CARDIFF, GB, Clwb Ifor Bach
July 20 – BRIGHTON, GB, Patterns
July 21 – LONDON, GB, Powerhaus
July 22 – SUFFOLK, GB, Latitude Festival
* w/ Car Seat Headrest

The post Bartees Strange Pays Homage to Loved Ones With A ‘Heavy Heart’ appeared first on SPIN.

‘South Park’ prepares for nuclear war in new promo clip

2022-03-01T16:15:07.266Z

South Park has released a trailer for their new episode titled ‘Back to the Cold War’, seemingly preparing for nuclear war.

While the clip does not explicitly mention the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the teaser seems to respond to current events as it sees Mr. Mackey arguing the case for a seventh nuclear emergency drill in two days, as he says: “We are going to be prepared.”

READ MORE: The 20 best South Park songs

The guidance counsellor is also questioned by PC Principal for requesting budget space for “a bomb shelter and 20 VHS copies of Red Dawn“.

“VHS is still really the best format when you think about it,” Mackey responds.

Watch the clip here:

However, the logline for the episode reads: “A lot is riding on Butter’s ability to crush the competition in the all-important dressage championship.”

‘Back to the Cold War’ will air on Comedy Central this Wednesday (March 2) at 8pm.

Meanwhile, South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are teaming up with Kendrick Lamar on a forthcoming live-action comedy.

The untitled film – which begins production this spring – will see the past and present coming to a head when a young Black man who is interning as a slave re-enactor at a living history museum discovers that his white girlfriend’s ancestors once owned his.

“On behalf of Paramount Pictures and the wider ViacomCBS family, we look forward to ushering in the first theatrical collaboration from these creative visionaries, and galvanising audiences worldwide around a powerful storytelling experience,” Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures, said in a statement.

The post ‘South Park’ prepares for nuclear war in new promo clip appeared first on NME.

Sharon Van Etten Shares New Single ‘Used to It’ and Accompanying Video

2022-03-01T16:12:48.555Z

Sharon Van Etten is back with her second release of the year, “Used to It.” The singer-songwriter originally wrote the track after being asked to help create a score for Baby God, an HBO documentary about a fertility specialist who impregnates women with his own sperm.

“Ultimately, the film team changed their musical direction, but I found myself welcomely challenged to the idea of writing a song about the concept of family, connection through blood, nature vs nurture, while attempting to incorporate ideas of love and the complexities of science and technology,” she explained in a statement. “I am grateful for this song to be able to have a new life, relating more to the times we have all been living through and redefining the meaning of this song by focusing on the positives of seeking connection and understanding what family means to the individual.”

Van Etten also shared an accompanying video, which was created by her musical director and bandmate Charley Damski and features the dancer and choreographer Hayden J Frederick. “Together, they helped me convey the feelings of internal struggles, while also finding space for oneself and embracing that pain in order to move on,” she said about the visuals.

“Used to It” follows “Porta,” which was Van Etten’s first solo single since 2020. Watch the video below.

Van Etten plans to spend the spring and summer on the road, including European dates on her Darkness Fades tour and a co-headlining trek with Angel Olsen and Julien Baker billed as the Wild Hearts Tour. Get ticket information via her official website and check out a full list of tour dates below.

Sharon Van Etten Tour Dates:

Wed. Mar. 2 – Sat. Mar. 5 – Cancún, MX @ One Big Holiday !
Thu. Apr. 21 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theatre ~
Fri. Apr. 22 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom ~
Sat. Apr. 23 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse ~
Sun. Apr. 24 – Charleston, SC @ High Water Music Festival
Tue. May 31 – Lisbon, PT @ Aula Magna ^#
Thu. Jun. 2 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
Sun. Jun. 5 – München, DE @ Muffathalle ^%
Mon. Jun. 6 – Antwerp, BE @ Openluchttheater Rivierenhof ^% Tue. Jun. 7 – Hamburg, DE @ Markthalle ^%
Thu. Jun. 9 – Oslo, NE @ Loaded &
Fri. Jun. 10 – Stockholm, SE @ Rosendal, Djurgarden &
Sat. Jun. 11 – Copenhagen, DK @ Syd For Solen &
Mon. Jun. 13 – Berlin, DE @ Metropol ^%
Tue. Jun. 14 – Utrecht, NE @ TivoliVredenberg Grote Zaal ^% Wed. Jun. 15 – Paris, FR @ La Cigale ^%
Fri. Jun. 17 – London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy ^%
Sat. Jun. 18 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute ^%
Sun. Jun. 19 – Leeds, UK @ 02 Academy Leeds ^%
Tue. Jun. 21 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland ^%
Wed. Jun. 22 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street ^%
Thu. Jul. 21 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap Center For the Performing Arts *
Fri. Jul. 22 – Asheville, NC @ Rabbit Rabbit *
Sat. Jul. 23 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium *
Mon. Jul. 25 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater *
Thu. Jul. 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre *
Fri. Jul. 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre *
Sat. Jul 30 – Berkeley, Ca @ Greek Theatre *
Tu. Aug. 2 – Troutdale, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater *
Wed. Aug. 3 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Amphitheater *
Fri. Aug. 5 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Botanical Garden *
Sat. Aug. 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA *
Sun. Aug. 7 – Denver, CO @ Sculpture Park *
Tue. Aug. 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ Surly Brewing Festival Field *
Wed. Aug 10 – Chicago, IL @ TBA *
Thu. Aug. 11 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *
Fri. Aug. 12 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall *
Sat. Aug. 13 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall *
Mon. Aug. 15 – Shelburne, VT @ The Green at Shelburne Museum *
Tue. Aug. 16 – LaFayette, NY @ Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards *
Thu. Aug. 18 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion *
Fri. Aug. 19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Skyline Stage at The Mann *
Sun. Aug. 21 – New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage *

! = with My Morning Jacket
~ = with Mia Joy
& = with The National
^ = Darkness Fades Tour
# = with The Weather Station
% = with L’Rain
* = The Wild Hearts Tour with Angel Olsen, Julien Baker, & Spencer.

The post Sharon Van Etten Shares New Single ‘Used to It’ and Accompanying Video appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Avril Lavigne perform with Travis Barker and Blackbear on ‘Kimmel’

2022-03-01T16:09:39.730Z

Avril Lavigne performed her recent single ‘Love It When You Hate Me’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (February 28) – watch below.

The Blackbear-featuring track appears on Lavigne’s seventh studio album, ‘Love Sux’, which was released last Friday (February 25) via Travis Barker‘s label DTA Records. Barker also co-produced the song, among other cuts on the LP.

READ MORE: Avril Lavigne – ‘Love Sux’ review: a modern update on early ’00s pop-punk

Appearing as the musical guest on yesterday’s episode of Kimmel, Lavigne was joined by the aforementioned artists as she delivered an energetic performance of the pop-punk-infused single.

The Canadian singer-songwriter and her band played among large black inflatable props in front of a red screen that displayed the ‘Love Sux’ logo. At the end of the song, confetti was fired onto the studio stage.

You can watch Avril Lavigne’s live performance of ‘Love It When You Hate Me’ here:

‘Love Sux’ also features contributions from Machine Gun Kelly (on ‘Bois Lie’) and Barker’s Blink-182 bandmate Mark Hoppus (‘All I Wanted’). Lavigne said it was a “huge honour” to work with the latter musician, who she called “one of my favourite artists”.

In a review of the singer’s latest album, NME wrote: “‘Love Sux’ is a progressive pop-punk album that eschews the old rules – but not at the expense of maximalist, joyful guitar anthems.”

Earlier this month, Avril Lavigne postponed her 2022 UK and European tour “due to the ongoing issues surrounding the pandemic”. She is now scheduled to return to the UK in May 2023.

In other news, Lavigne has announced a 20th anniversary edition of her debut album ‘Let Go’.

The post Watch Avril Lavigne perform with Travis Barker and Blackbear on ‘Kimmel’ appeared first on NME.

Hear Wet Leg’s Upbeat New Song ‘Angelica’

2022-03-01T16:06:54.175Z

Wet Leg is riding a wave of Tiktok virality. The indie-rock duo (Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers) rose to prominence after their single “Chaise Lounge” blew up on the social media app. Now, with their debut album Wet Leg set to release on April 8 (available for preorder here) the group has shared new single Angelica alongside an accompanying ’70s-inspired video taking place on a scenic island landscape.

The video was self-directed by the band, a release describes as “an unbridled record of Rhian and Hester’s friendship complete with high-kicks, fisticuffs, kiss-and-make ups, vast amounts of hair and even more dancing.”

The track is named after Rhian’s oldest friend, “Angelica” and was recorded in bedroom-pop-esque fashion in Hester’s living room. The synth-infused track named after leads listeners through the absurd, sardonic, and socially anxious journeys through early adulthood’s highs and lows.

“It’s laced with disenchantment,” Rhian says. “Even though the chorus is ‘good times, all the time.’ That’s just impossible, isn’t it?”

The duo will take their newfound fame onto the stage with an extensive array of upcoming show dates set for this spring and summer.

Upcoming live dates

March 2nd – The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI

March 3rd – First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN – sold out

March 4th – Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL – sold out

March 5th – A&R Music Bar, Columbus, OH – sold out

March 7th – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

March 10th – Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY – sold out

March 11th – DC9, Washington, DC – sold out

March 12th – Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA – sold out

March 14th – The Basement East, Nashville, TN – sold out

March 16th – Domino showcase @ Half-Step, SXSW, Austin, TX

March 17th – The British Music Embassy / BBC @ Cedar Street Courtyard, SXSW, Austin, TX

March 20th – Secret Group, Houston, TX – sold out

March 22nd – 191 Toole, Tucson, AZ

March 24th – Music Box, San Diego, CA

March 25th – Music Box, San Diego, CA – sold out

March 26th – Crocodile, Seattle, WA – sold out

March 27th – Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR – sold out

March 29th – Bimbo’s 365 Club, San Francisco, CA – sold out

March 30th – The Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA – sold out

April 7th – Banquet @ PRYZM, Kingston (matinee & evening)

April 8th – Rough Trade East, London (matinee & evening) – sold out

April 9th – Resident, Brighton – sold out

April 10th – Rough Trade, Bristol – sold out

April 11th – Rough Trade, Nottingham – sold out

April 12th – HMV, Birmingham – sold out

April 16th – Newcastle University, Newcastle – sold out

April 17th – The Mash House, Edinburgh – sold out

April 19th – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds – sold out

April 20th – Gorilla, Manchester – sold out

April 21st – Trinity Centre, Bristol – sold out

April 23rd – o2 Institute, Birmingham – sold out

April 24th – Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich – sold out

April 26th – Electric Ballroom, London – sold out

April 27th – The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth – sold out

May 14th – Point Ephemere, Paris – sold out

May 15th – Le Nuits Botanique @ Botanique Rotonde, Brussels

May 16th – Jaki, Cologne

May 19th – Doornroosje, Nijmegen

May 20th – Rotown, Rotterdam – sold out

May 21st – London Calling @ Paradiso, Amsterdam

May 23rd – Milla, Munich

May 24th – Milla, Munich – sold out

May 25th – Berghain/Kantine, Berlin – sold out

May 28th – Neighbourhood Weekender @ Victoria Park, Warrington

June 16th – Isle of Wight Festival, Newport

July 9th – TRNSMT @ Glasgow Green, Glasgow

August 25th – Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver – sold out

The post Hear Wet Leg’s Upbeat New Song ‘Angelica’ appeared first on SPIN.

Roosevelt Gets Bodies Moving and Hearts Racing on Polydans

2022-02-28T16:59:23.252Z

If you’re longing for the kind of in-person connection that can only be found dancing with abandon in a room full of friends and strangers alike, Roosevelt’s got your soundtrack. Roosevelt is the moniker of 31-year-old German artist Marius Laube, who just released the deluxe edition of his third album, Polydans, which is a note-perfect antidote to pandemic-era gloom and doom, nodding to everything from the Bee Gees, yacht rock, French house and sleek ‘80s pop over the course of 10 feel-good tracks. The ramped up version has eight additional alternate takes and the club bangers “About U” and “On My Mind.”

“The theme of the record, and why I called it ‘Polydans,’ is showing these different perspectives on dance music,” Lauber tells SPIN over Zoom from the East Williamsburg apartment he’s been renting for a few months. “This time, I was a bit more aware of my influences and tried to write a few homages to these heroes of mine,” he says, citing Daft Punk, Air and ‘80s Scottish band Fiction Factory, whose hit “(Feels Like) Heaven” he covers on the deluxe edition.

Lauber played nearly every note of the music on Polydans himself in his Cologne-based studio, Tambourine Dreams, which he opened in 2019. There, he set up his gaggle of synths and instruments in a semi-circle and patched everything into his digital audio workstation, “so if I had an idea, it would take 10 seconds to record it.” The resulting album is tailor-made for festival settings, particularly on widescreen songs such as “Echoes” (wait for the killer transition at the 3:38 mark), “Sign” and “See You Again.” But it doesn’t skimp on more vibe-y detours such as the icy “Forget” and opener “Easy Way Out,” which boasts an organic, live-band feel.

“I’m proud of having evolved a sonic world that people associate with me, that isn’t even defined by a certain track,” says Lauber, whose frequently smiling babyface and blue Etudes cap make him look even younger than he already is. “I’ve established a sound where I could do a 90 BPM track but also a 140 BPM track with completely different instrumentation.” Adapting those studio-centric album tracks into live versions that can be played by four humans with only two hands each was a challenge, but Lauber likens it to “being the best cover band of yourself. I think now I’m way better at being the musical director of the band, so to speak. I see it as a fun thing to do. My focus is on producing the records, and now I have the confidence to figure it out for live performance.”

Fans continue coming aboard for the ride, especially in the U.S., where Roosevelt played to his largest audiences on a late 2021 tour (including selling out L.A.’s 1,200-capacity Fonda Theatre). A spring European run gets underway on March 2 in Germany and will be followed by more U.S. dates later this summer. A new single is due out in late spring as well — “a Roosevelt track with someone on it, who is a big hero of mine,” Lauber says, politely declining to reveal specifics. “I don’t usually have other people on my tracks. I think I like the albums to just be a personal statement without any features.”

“I know there’s a core of my fanbase that will keep being interested in what I’m doing,” he continues. “They’re not expecting me to write a certain song again. With a lot of acts, it is that way. People have expectations because they have one or two big songs. What I really enjoy is that I feel like I’ve got fans that are genuinely interested in my creative output, without expecting me to repeat myself.”

The post Roosevelt Gets Bodies Moving and Hearts Racing on Polydans appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Maynard James Keenan try to play Jenga during a Tool show

2022-02-28T16:55:41.704Z

Maynard James Keenan has shared a humorous new clip of himself trying to play Jenga behind Tool drummer Danny Carey during one of the band’s recent shows.

The band are currently on the North American leg of their world tour, which kicked off last month and is set to visit the UK and Ireland in May.

READ MORE: Tool – ‘Fear Inoculum’ review

In a clip that was shared over the weekend on Keenan’s personal Instagram page, the frontman is seen crouching down behind Carey’s drum kit during one show in an effort to play a game of Jenga.

However, Keenan’s Jenga game is ruined after Carey smashes his giant gong at the back of his drum set, causing the frontman to jokingly yell: “What the fuck! What’s wrong with you?!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MJ Keenan (@iamthebriefcase)

You can watch a clip of the moment, which Keenan captioned “Danny, you son of a bitch! Tryn ta [sic] Jenga back here, ffs”, in the above post.

Tool’s tour continues in Pittsburgh tomorrow (March 1). You can see the dates of their UK and European tour below, and find any remaining tickets here.

April
23 – Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
25 – Spektrum, Oslo, Norway
26 – Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
28 – Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg, Germany
29 – Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany

May
2 – AO Arena, Manchester
4 – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
6 – 3Arena, Dublin
9 – The O2, London
10 – The O2, London
12 – AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France
13 – Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
15 – Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin, Germany
17 – Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany
19 – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, Netherlands
21 – Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland
23 – O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
24 – SportAréna, Budapest, Hungary

Tool announced yesterday (February 27) that the vinyl version of their 2019 album ‘Fear Inoculum’ will be released in April. A signed limited edition version of the physical release drew criticism from fans recently after it was initially priced at $810 (£603).

The post Watch Maynard James Keenan try to play Jenga during a Tool show appeared first on NME.

Bridget Everett Is Trying Her Best

2022-02-28T16:52:59.200Z

“We’re all doing the best we can,” says Bridget Everett. A mantra of many, especially throughout the past two years, but particularly relevant for the cabaret singer/comedian/actress’ HBO comedy Somebody Somewhere. The series follows Kansan Sam (Everett, who was born in Manhattan, Kansas), who returns to her hometown and struggles to fit in while grappling with loss and acceptance.

She has a saving grace, though: Singing. By harnessing her passion — and meeting a like-minded group of outsiders —Sam embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Is she making all the right choices? No. But she’s trying — doing the best she can. Says Everett, “there’s going to be some hiccups along the way, for sure.”

Everett, 49, a longtime New York City cabaret staple, has found herself in the mainstream spotlight for the first time in her career. Her bawdy, musical act has gotten her attention before — opening for Amy Schumer, starring in Sundance darling indie movie Patti Cake$, recording a Comedy Central hour-long special — but with the critically-lauded HBO hit Somebody Somewhere, she’s getting the accolades she has long deserved. Below, Everett takes SPIN through the journey that led her to this career renaissance.

Courtesy Elizabeth Sisson/HBO

SPIN: You’ve had an unorthodox career path. How did it lead you to this point?
Bridget Everett: Honestly, I just stumbled my way here. In the beginning, all I was doing was singing in karaoke bars. That was really all that was happening for me. And then I met some of these performers from the downtown performance scene with cabaret artists and drag queens and stuff. When I moved to New York, I was like, “Oh, holy shit, this is it. This is my dream!” And I started getting involved in cabaret and that show just slowly — and I mean very slowly — built an audience.

As it progressed, you get a couple people from Hollywood or a couple Broadway so-and-so’s in the audience. I felt like I was a lot of people’s best-kept secret for a long time, but nobody really knew what to do with me. They just liked coming to see the show and I’d be like, “Oh so-and-so hot shit director’s out in the audience, maybe that’ll mean something,” but it just never really translated.

After Amy Schumer put me in her show, closing the season with a song, Geremy Jasper said he was doing this movie called Patti Cake$, and so I went to the Sundance lounge with him. He had to talk me into it. I did not want to do it. I’m like, “I’m not a dramatic actor.” And he’s like, “Trust me on this.” And the same thing with Amy when she wanted me to go on tour with her. I was like, “I don’t really think that I’ll work in a comedy club or I’ll make sense in a comedy club.” She’s like, “Trust me on this.” And then my friend Jason Eagan from Ars Nova, which is a theater [in New York], saw me at a karaoke bar. He was like, “I think you should do a show.” And I was like, “I don’t know.” He’s like, “Trust me on this.”

So I feel like people held me by the hand and tried and got me to where I am. And HBO saw me doing a show out at Largo in L.A. and they offered me a holding deal and we just figured it out. So I don’t know. I guess it’s dumb luck and hard work.

Well, it’s the hard work part that sounds like the key. Maybe there’s a tiny element of luck in there.
Oh yeah. For years and years, I was either waiting tables or I was doing a show every single night, and sometimes going to do a show after I got off of work. I was just doing it because those were my chances to get up and sing, and I just loved singing so much. I was thrilled for the opportunity and it was helping keep the lights on literally and figuratively to have that outlet.

One of the things about Somebody Somewhere is that you can tell Sam has a really interesting past. You can see that past in the show, even though that’s not what she’s doing right now.

I think you should feel what her life is. When you meet certain people, you can sort of see the table of contents on their face. You know what I mean? And Sam is a very emotional person who’s basically tucked everything away for a very long time. And slowly the air’s coming out of the balloon, but because all the feelings are so big inside of her, it’s very easy to pick up on where she might be trying to go.

Courtesy Elizabeth Sisson/HBO

And you use music as this catalyst to bring that out of her.
Her relationship to singing, as mine is, it’s everything. For me and for Sam, music is the love of our life. We didn’t want to make it a thing where it was like, “Oh, here comes the musical number.” It’s just a part of the fabric of her life because it’s part of her.

There’s a beautiful musical moment in the finale, but it’s not some featured number, it’s just part of the episode.
First of all, we didn’t want it to be, “the show ends on a song.” The show needed to end on a specific moment, which is how it ends. But it needed to feel like a very personal moment because she is finally communicating how she feels inside and the best way she can do that is through singing. I wrote that song sitting in the corner of my apartment. It’s one of the first times a song has really spilled out of me, other than a song called “Put Your Dick Away,” which came out pretty quickly too. I took the idea to Matt Ray who helped me finish the song, and we wrote a lot of songs together, but it just felt like it would feel too much like a musical to have the song be the end of the show. It just needs to be part of the ride.

There are a lot of fun, silly songs in the episode too, which juxtaposed against this heartfelt, earnest moment.
In my live shows I have a formula. It’s slam, slam, slam, tender. It’s like banger, banger, banger, ballad. Banger, banger, banger, ballad. And I think that is also how my life is. I’m laughing, laughing, laughing, crying. Laughing, laughing, laughing, crying. It’s also a good pace for our show. It’s a slow and steady tempo, but with both tender moments and tits.

Congratulations on getting a second season. Have you already started thinking about that?
Oh yeah. We’ve come up with a loose structure for season two and I really like it, and more music, more emotions, more laughs, and more struggling to find yourself within relationships that you sort of have to figure out.

Courtesy Elizabeth Sisson/HBO

Sam’s best friend, Joel (Jeff Hiller), is religious, but it’s not treated as a joke and it’s also not treated as a weird thing. It’s just part of his life. I can’t remember seeing anything like that on TV before.
Sam’s not a church person. She’s not religious at all. It just seemed like a good idea to have Joel, somebody that she basically falls in love with as a friend, have religion be an integral part of his life, and just how different they are, but they still come together. In my hometown, a lot of my friends are very religious and we somehow have found common ground, even though they know that I am — I don’t know what the right word is. Agnostic? Atheist? Somewhere in there, who knows. I believe in cats and dogs. Does that work? They save my soul, but just being able to love each other when you don’t have the exact same values.

I really love the show. It’s just a really nice show to watch.
Thank you. I appreciate that. Can that be the article?

Yes.
Just say, like, “I really like this show. It’s a nice show to watch.” With a smiley face emoji. And some tits and then we’re out.

The post Bridget Everett Is Trying Her Best appeared first on SPIN.

Ryan Reynolds opens up about struggling with anxiety

2022-02-28T16:49:03.185Z

Ryan Reynolds has opened up about his struggles with anxiety, admitting he feels like he has “two parts” of his personality.

The Deadpool actor, who is well known for his comic and charismatic persona, has spoken about his mental health struggles in the past, and explained in a new interview that he has had anxiety throughout his life.

“I’ve had anxiety my whole life really,” he told CBS’ Sunday Morning. “And you know, I feel like I have two parts of my personality, that one takes over when that happens.”

Giving one past example, Reynolds explained: “When I would go out on, like, Letterman, back in the day, I was nervous.

“But I remember I’d be standing backstage before the curtain would open, and I would think to myself, ‘I’m gonna die. I’m literally gonna die here. The curtain’s gonna open and I’m just gonna be, I’m just gonna be a symphony of vomit,’ just, like, something horrible’s gonna happen!

“But as soon as that curtain opens – and this happens in my work a lot too – it’s like this little guy takes over,” he added. “And he’s like, ‘I got this. You’re cool.’

“I feel, like, my heart rate drop, and my breathing calm, and I just sort of go out and I’m this different person. And I leave that interview going, ‘God, I’d love to be that guy!'”

Speaking back in 2018, Reynolds spoke about his struggles with anxiety and depression, saying: ”I tend to get pretty depressed and I have some issues with anxiety and things like that. [I exercise every day] otherwise, I start to get a little bummed. For me, it is more psychological. Exercise is a means of expelling those demons.”

The star went on to partly blame his anxiety issues on his relationship with his late father, saying: “My dad was a tough guy. He was good in many ways as well, but he was tough on us.

”This is not meant to be some sob story – everyone carries their own bag of rocks around and I am no different in that regard – but growing up in my house, it was never relaxing or easy and I know that, throughout my life, I’ve dealt with anxiety in different ways.”

He added: ”I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but anxiety is also a great fuel. I mean, my God, it’s the anti-complacency pill, but it’s also something that you need to manage.”

In other news, Reynolds and wife Blake Lively have agreed to match up to $1million (£745,711) in donations to the United Nations Refugee Agency to help support Ukrainian refugees affected by the ongoing conflict in the country.

The post Ryan Reynolds opens up about struggling with anxiety appeared first on NME.

Courtney Love Addresses Complicated Relationship With Mark Lanegan on Instagram, Deletes Post

2022-02-28T16:45:00.287Z

Courtney Love and Mark Lanegan had a long, complicated relationship, some of which was documented in the late musician’s recent memoir Sing Backwards and Weep. A few days after news broke of his passing, Love took to Instagram to address his death, and gripe about how he portrayed her in his book.

“Rip mark. You were a good friend to me & Kurt,” she wrote on Instagram (via Stereogum). “even if in your book you wrote our close friendship out , I’m still baffled & so sad about that. But sigh. ‘market forces of sexism’ #. It is what it is.”

She then went on to slam her inclusion in Anthony Kiedis’ memoir too. “In #anthonykiedis’ book #scartissue despite us being roommates and hanging out ALOT & also in BED, for years previous to me begging Kurt not to kick @chilipeppers off the cow palace NYE 92 show due to @flea333 – whose never sold me out – generosity being the reason hole could even rehearse – in ‘ #scar tissue’ I first appear on Kurt’s arm? ‘whining’ ?” she continued. “Ok! Go sexist ‘market forces’!? You fucking dudes and your stupid fucking books. I’m finishing mine now so it’ll be riddled with lightning flashes of brutal truths & remembrances of all your little Weiners. So put your panties on cuz you’ll need them. I’m over taking your bs books where im a ‘whiny’ adjacent of mr cobain period, personally.”

Love has since deleted the post and replaced it with a much simpler tribute to the Screaming Trees singer. “safe travels lanegan” she wrote alongside a photo of herself and him. See that post below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Courtney Love Cobain (@courtneylove)

Tributes have been pouring out since Lanegan’s death on Feb. 22. Eddie Vedder gave an emotional speech honoring his impact on the grunge scene while playing in Seattle. Read our full review of that show here.

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‘Euphoria’ sparks rise in young people seeking help for addiction

2022-02-28T16:37:26.168Z

Euphoria has led to a rise in young people seeking help for addiction problems, according to the UK Addiction Treatment Group (UKAT).

The HBO series wrapped up its second season last night (February 27), and throughout its run one of the main themes has been drug addiction, particularly shown through the perspective of Rue Bennett (Zendaya).

READ MORE: ‘Euphoria’ season two episode eight: death, destruction and heartfelt reunions

According to UKAT’s head consultant, since the show was released there has been a small rise in young people seeking help for addiction.

“What shows like Euphoria do is to raise the awareness of young people and children experiencing and in some cases, struggling with mature life situations like drug misuse,” Nuno Albuquerque told Metro.co.uk.

“Thankfully there has been a very small rise in the number of young people getting in touch with our support services asking for help and guidance.”

He added: “It’s naive of society to believe that our younger generation don’t use and abuse substances, or to think that we can always protect them. If shows like Euphoria manage to encourage even one young person to reach out and ask for help, then that’s wonderful.”

Despite the increase, the US Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) previously criticised Euphoria‘s portrayal of teen drug use, claiming it chose to “misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict” such aspects.

Zendaya subsequently defended the series, telling Entertainment Weekly: “Our show is in no way a moral tale to teach people how to live their life or what they should be doing.

“If anything, the feeling behind Euphoria, or whatever we have always been trying to do with it, is to hopefully help people feel a little bit less alone in their experience and their pain. And maybe feel like they’re not the only one going through or dealing with what they’re dealing with.”

The star also revealed: “I’ve had a lot of people reach out and find so many parallels from all ages, all walks of life. So many parallels with Rue and her story and Rue means a lot to them in a way that I can understand, but also maybe in a way that I could never understand, and that means the most to all of us.”

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LCD Soundsystem Go Deep Into Their Catalog in Second Saturday Night Live Performance

2022-02-28T16:32:43.912Z

LCD Soundsystem hit the Saturday Night Live stage for the second time last night, following their 2017 debut. James Murphy and company went deep into their catalog to perform “Thrills” and “Yr City’s A Sucker” from 2005’s self-titled album.

This was SNL’s first episode in nearly a month. Katy Perry was the last musical guest and made her performance one to remember. Måneskin made an electric debut in January and Bleachers ensuring their first time on the show was a memorable one by bringing out some special guests, including Jack Antonoff’s dad during “How Dare You Want More.”

LCD Soundsystem’s performance follows a New York residency that was cut short in December due to Omicron’s surge. The band plans to hit the road next month for two more East Coast residencies — March 28-31 at Philadelphia’s Franklin Music Hall and April 3-6 at Boston’s Road Runner — before headlining the This Ain’t No Picnic festival in August.

Last year also saw the band collaborate with funnyman Eric Wareheim on a holiday special aptly titled All My Friends. We spoke with the comedian about how the show came together and what it was like to play Murphy. Read the full interview here.

The post LCD Soundsystem Go Deep Into Their Catalog in Second Saturday Night Live Performance appeared first on SPIN.

‘Peaky Blinders’ cast hit Birmingham for season six premiere

2022-02-25T17:20:09.375Z

The cast of Peaky Blinders attended the premiere for the show’s sixth and final season on Thursday (February 24) at Cineworld in Birmingham.

READ MORE: The final series of ‘Peaky Blinders’: “This is the end of the beginning”

Sophie Rundle (Ada Shelby), Kate Phillips (Linda Shelby) and Natasha O’Keeffe (Lizzie Stark) were among those at the event, alongside Finn Cole (Michael Gray), Ned Dennehy (Charlie Strong) and Harry Kirton (Finn Shelby).

Amber Anderson and Charlene McKenna were also in attendance, along with James Frecheville who is a newcomer for the final season.

Natasha O’Keeffe, Sophia Rundle, Caryn Mandabach, Kate Phillips, Amber Anderson and Charlene Mckenna at the premiere for ‘Peaky Blinders’ in Birmingham CREDIT: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

Finn Cole at the premiere for ‘Peaky Blinders’ CREDIT: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

Cillian Murphy, who plays Tommy Shelby, was unable to make the premiere due to filming commitments on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film Oppenheimer.

The actor will play the lead role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biopic, an American physicist whose involvement in the Manhattan Project led him to be dubbed the “father of the atomic bomb”.

Speaking about the role recently, Murphy said: “I’m interested in the man and what [inventing the atomic bomb] does to the individual. The mechanics of it, that’s not really for me – I don’t have the intellectual capability to understand them, but these contradictory characters are fascinating.”

He added: “Tommy Shelby’s a complete contradiction, too. People identify with that, because we all walk around with these contradictory ideas coexisting in our heads.”

James Frecheville plays an unknown role in the final season CREDIT: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

The final season of Peaky Blinders will also honour late actor Helen McCrory, who died aged 52 from cancer in April last year – when filming on the sixth season had been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking about the new season to Variety, Murphy said: “I think the whole series is really in tribute to her and to honour her. Her presence and her character’s presence are very much still felt in the series, and it is very much part of Tommy’s journey in the season.

Harry Kirton at the ‘Peaky Blinders’ premiere CREDIT: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

“It’ll be different without her, you know. It simply won’t be the same. I’ve spoken about how phenomenal she was as an actress and as a person and it is just an enormous loss to the whole acting community and not just for our show.”

Peaky Blinders season six is scheduled to air on February 27 at 9pm on BBC One.

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Bonnie Raitt Announces First Album in 6 Years, Share New Song ‘Made Up Mind’

2022-02-25T17:16:57.877Z

Singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt is back with her first batch of material since 2016. With the 50th anniversary of her debut looming last year, Raitt went into a Northern California studio with a team of musicians to record the new album, Just Like That…

Raitt, who produced the record, worked with two frequent collaborators, bassist James “Hutch” Hutchinson and drummer Ricky Fataar, along with keyboardist/backing vocalist Glenn Patscha and guitarist Kenny Greenberg. Raitt’s longtime guitarist/songwriting partner George Marinelli also appears on Just Like That…

Today, Raitt unveiled the collection’s first single, “Made Up Mind,” which showcases her signature roots rock style with elements of country, Americana and blues.

“On this record, I wanted to stretch,” Raitt said in a statement. “I always want to find songs that excite me, and what’s different this time is that I’ve tried some styles and topics I haven’t touched on before.”

Just Like That…, Raitt’s 18th studio album, is out April 22 via Sub Pop (in the U.S.) and distributor ADA (globally).

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Megan Thee Stallion shares texts after Tory Lanez shooting

2022-02-25T17:06:46.294Z

Megan Thee Stallion has responded to Tony Lanez after he implied that she had lied about the July 2020 incident where Lanez allegedly shot Stallion in the foot.

READ MORE: New doc Queens Of Rap reinforces the importance of ‘WAP’, more than a year on

The Houston rapper – real name Megan Pete – was shot in the foot after a party at Kylie Jenner’s house in July 2020. She subsequently claimed that Lanez was the person who had fired at her.

In a since deleted Instagram post, Stallion shared a message from Lanez where he appeared to apologise “from the bottom of my heart”, adding “I was just too drunk. None the less shit should have never happened and I can’t change what did. I just feel horrible.”

Stallion posted the texts seemingly in response to Lanez, writing” “u can’t buy and tweet your way out of this one…not today.”

Posting the texts, Stallion wrote: “Lie yo way out of this…If you ain’t do s*** what you was apologizing for?”

Lanez later replied, without mentioning Stallion by name: “Good D*ick had me fucking 2 best friends….and I got caught…that’s what I apologized 4 . … it’s sick how u Spun it tho …”

This resulted in another reply from Stallion via Instagram Stories: “Fucking two best friends… n—- you SHOT ME YOU KNOW [THAT’S] WHAT YOU WERE APOLOGIZING FOR. YOU KEEP PUTTING A NARRATIVE OUT THAT ME AND MY FRIEND FELL OUT ABT YOU AND THATS NOT TRUE! WHY ARE YOU SKIPPING OVER THE SHOOTING JUST ADMIT YOU SHOT ME! BC SHE DEFINITELY AINT DO IT AND I AINT SHOOT MY DAMN SELF.”

Lanez was due to appear in court this week for a hearing in regards to the case, but this was adjourned until April.

Earlier this week, Stallion launched a new Snapchat series called Off Thee Leash.

The project sees the rapper interview her friends and their pets at her Hot Girl Ranch. Familiar faces include Nicole Richie, Normani, Rickey Thompson, Kway, Kelly Rowland, Bebe Rexha, Taraji P. Henson and Bretman Rock.

The post Megan Thee Stallion shares texts after Tory Lanez shooting appeared first on NME.

Tears for Fears The Tipping Point

2022-02-25T17:02:20.358Z

Artist: Tears For Fears

Album: The Tipping Point

Number of tracks: 10 (Additional 3 tracks on the Deluxe CD Edition)

Label: Concord Records

Release Date: February 25, 2022

In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, Tears For Fears is here for us.From the beginning, they’ve dedicated their careers to teaching us vital lessons about life and the confluence of humanity: “Everybody wants to rule the world,” “shout (let it all out),” “high time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man,” “keeps a woman in chains…so free her.”

And, importantly:

When people run in circles it’s a very, very
Mad world, mad world.

After 17 long years since their last album, Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal have shared their latest musical tome, The Tipping Point, one of the most anticipated — and astounding — surprises of 2022. A follow-up to 2004’s Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, the album was initiated seven years ago, and, as with all beautiful gems, developed from extremes, incarnations and intensity. The result is something strong and precious, musically diverse and inspired. Refreshingly new, The Tipping Point offers a deliberate and dignified nod to lifelong fans. “I think we’ve managed to be quite clever,” Roland says. “For instance, the title track, ‘The Tipping Point.’ We belatedly have taken the drum rhythm and drum fills from ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ but that’s where the similarity ends. You have this really haunting song, and the subject matter is extremely personal. You have things like ‘Rivers of Mercy,’ which all of a sudden morphs into a reminder of ‘Woman In Chains’. You’ve got ‘Break the Man’, which is like shades of ‘Pale Shelter,’ and ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’— Curt singing an up-tempo song like it was back in the ‘80s. There are lots of clever nods and winks, which fans will get.”

2017 was a year of extremes. The band released Rule the World, a best-of compilation that shot them back up the UK charts. They set out on a co-headlining tour with Hall & Oates, halted that summer when Roland’s wife of nearly four decades, Caroline, passed away, a story he shares in his own words in our interview below. The title track—written by Roland and guitarist, writer and producer Charlton Pettus and co-produced by the band, Sacha Skarbek, and Florian Reutter—is about the gut-wrenching experience of love and tragic loss: Life is cruel/Life is tough….Will you ever know when it’s the tipping point…

When I spoke with Curt Smith last October for his 5 Albums I Can’t Live Without feature, we remarked on how 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of “Mad World.”

“It was a video made from next to nothing with all family and friends in the mix,” Curt recalls. “In the birthday party there’s a woman blowing a streamer-thing with the birthday cake, that’s my mom. It was before we had any money, so we literally just found a house to record it in and invited friends and family to be all the extras at the birthday party. I think the house was on the grounds of Knebworth, if I remember correctly, which we ended up playing in front of 100,000 people to in 1990.”

Since forming in 1981, Tears For Fears has sold over 30 million albums. The Tipping Point is their seventh studio album. “I do actually love this one more than any album we’ve made,” Curt said. “I still listen to it, because the norm for me would be I’m done and I don’t want to hear that again for a long time, because I’ve spent the last X amount of years listening to it, but I actually still listen to this one, which is incredibly reassuring…”

When looking back at his incredible career, Curt offered some heartfelt advice for young artists on creating a career of inspired and meaningful work: “If you can remain idealistic, it’s the perfect thing, I think that’s why we have huge gaps between records. I think we have to rediscover that kind of spark which the industry tends to kick out of you a bit. I think I love watching and listening to young artists that really haven’t had to experience that yet, which is great, or those that really don’t care and you could admire them for not caring.

“It’s been a long time in the works, and had some false starts and we did things, industry things,” Curt said. “We went back to doing things our way and made an album that I feel is representative of us and sounds like us, and doesn’t sound like us trying to be something else.”

“We wouldn’t want you guys to be anything else,” I told him.

“Nor would I,” Curt said.

SPIN: What is the magic, do you think, between you and Curt?
Roland Orzabal: God, I could spend a day talking about what it is. I think, first of all, there’s a push-me-pull-you kind of thing. There’s a brake and accelerator. If I’m accelerating, Curt is the brake and if Curt is accelerating, I’m the break. We have that, we also have detail versus big picture and we swap in that regard because quite often, Curt has got the big picture, especially when it comes to the business side of things, but other times he gets a bit down and I give him the big picture and I become the cheerleader. We have that, a lot of balance and mutual support at all the occasions with us swapping roles like mom and dad.

I think what it is, I can do a lot of things, I’m pretty– What’s the word? Spontaneous. I call it musical Tourette. Do you know what I mean? Put me in a situation with a bunch of songwriters and I’ll be the one that’s coming up with the tunes and the things very quickly, which is why I enjoyed that process. It’s in the exercising of taste that we start to separate ourselves from the pack, as I said. In the exercising of taste, now that’s where the discussion comes and that’s the refining part of what we do. Partly creativity, then partly the exercising of taste.

We’ve waited a really long time for The Tipping Point. When I spoke with Curt several months ago and he said that you guys just aren’t interested in just churning out albums. It’s not your thing.
No, there are a number of reasons for that. There’s the market, there’s the demand, and if the demand’s not there, then that makes it a little more difficult. We were out of contract with the record company for many, many years, and we flirted with some. We signed to Warner Brothers for a little while, we did some recording, then we got out of that contract. We actually bought back the recordings off them. Then we flirted with Universal, and then that fell through. There’s never been anyone banging on our door saying, “We have to have an album.”

It’s really a lot of us pontificating, experimenting. Something about the cycle we’re caught up in, cosmic cycle if you like, that we’re caught up in, Tears For Fears, made it feel very important that we finish the album when we did, you see what I’m saying?

When did you start the album then?
We started it about seven years ago.

Yes. It took a long time to get anywhere, we were so ushered into this modern way of making a record, which is not to trust the artist to write all the songs, but to trust…these young, hip songwriters, who that’s all they do for a living is churn out pop hits. It was almost like a throwback to the days of Tin Pan Alley, and our own trademark sound was regurgitated by these people and then shown back to us. It was a very interesting exercise.

We came up with some good songs, but we were left with a whole batch of stuff that was lacking any narrative, lacking any real heart and soul. The biggest crime of all, I think, was us not really plumbing the depths of our souls, and plumbing the depths of our suffering, not writing about the human condition which was our strength in the beginning. I think that’s what separated us from the pack. That took a long time, a long, long time.

What was the first song you guys wrote all those years ago?
The first song on the album, the oldest song on the album, shall we say, is “End of Night”. It ranges in age right up to the newest songs, “Rivers of Mercy”, “Master Plan”, “No Small Thing” in 2020.

“No Small Thing” really introduces us to this whole Tipping Pointworld, and yet, there’s no doubt about it, it’s a folk song. It’s a folk/country song, I would say. How did the song come about?
It’s a very important song inasmuch as Curt and I had been working for many years with these other songwriters. It was an idea that the management had to drag us, kicking and screaming into the modern music world. I think we did okay because we know how to write pop songs, but as I said to you earlier, we were missing the heart and soul. Also, we were at loggerheads because the whole process of working in a team of songwriters has left Curt behind a little bit, because he tends to keep his opinions to himself until he’s asked, in that situation.

Secretly and privately he was hating the whole thing, and it took a while for him to actually admit it, but he did. It was my task, in a sense, to reconnect with him. Do you know what I mean?

Yes.
We’ve been on two tough tours in 2019, and as usual, tend to fall out and go our separate ways after the tour that’s quite stressful, and like many stresses in life, you tend to blame your partner. I just said, “Look–” while we were discussing what we felt good about, and we were happy to proceed with regarding the songs, I said, “Let’s get together and see what happens.” I felt pretty confident about it because, at that point in time, I knew that it was absolutely vital that we become one mind and there’s only one way of doing that and that’s being alone.

The first day I went round to Curt’s house was with acoustic guitar and we sat there, and this is the first time we’ve done that probably since the early ’80s, and he started strumming this little figure. Then it started from there. We mucked about with that for a while and took it back to England and then the “freedom is no small thing” came and it was pretty obvious. Obviously, the narrator in this song, he’s really talking about freedom of expression, which is what we hadn’t really allowed ourselves to enjoy. We hadn’t indulged ourselves in any way.

This was at the point where our previous manager, who had coerced us into writing with all these people, he was now suddenly out of the picture. There was only me and Curt left. It was only the two of us, so no interference. We put our heads together and then the magic happened. I think it was that track where Curt’s enthusiasm was suddenly back to 100% because we were getting somewhere, he felt we were making more of a statement. We were just becoming artistic again and not just commercial. Do you see what I’m saying? “Freedom is no small thing.” Of course, the idea came just before lockdown number one in Britain, and then all of a sudden, freedoms are restricted heavily in so many ways. It interfaces beautifully with that social problem.

How important are “hit songs” at this stage of your career?
It’s lovely to have hit songs, but there’s certain things that are going to determine that. If you’re young and you are totally in tune with the trend, it’s going to be easier for you to have hits. As you get older– I remember distinctly after we ruled the world so to speak in the mid-’80s, I remember not listening to the radio anymore. It didn’t intrigue me. It’s almost like I had climbed that mountain. What I then did was I went back through the history of rock and pop music and competed with the past, which that ended up with “The Seeds of Love”, but once I’d done that, from then on it was about expression, personal expression.

Hits per searen’t important, but when you’ve sweated blood over something, it’s not so much the hit that you’re looking for, it’s the acknowledgment. Not just from fans, but acknowledgment from musicians. This is what I would like from this album, I would– other musicians to be inspired by it to even interpolate it. Ultimately, it’s about intellectual property, which then has a life of its own. Where I don’t particularly worry about things and worry about success and such, but I love watching your little babies grow up, have a life of their own, and come back to haunt you, come back in a different form. I absolutely am always amazed by all that stuff.

Why The Tipping Point? What does that term mean to you guys?
For me, it was a personal song. As you probably read, for a long period of making the album, my wife, my late wife now, had descended into mental illness and alcoholism, to put it simply. She was a previous beautiful, sexy, fiery woman. She hit menopause and the wheels came off. She became anxious. She went from being a gourmet cook to someone who didn’t eat, wouldn’t eat, but she never stopped drinking. She was treated by psychiatrists for depression, which I personally think made it worse and she never stopped drinking through that.

I saw her become a ghost of a former self and so on and so forth, but you never really believe, you never truly believe they’re going to die. You just think it’s going to carry on like this forever. The question is, will you ever know when it’s the tipping point, will you ever know when that person is on the threshold of death? Would you ever know when they actually leave this planet? Because it’s all very well, but I would say Caroline was dead before she physically died…but she’s still alive in many ways through memory. Very much. That’s the gray area of letting someone go…. Gray area of…when do you start mourning? Can you start mourning? Do you actually let them go before they are gone? Maybe that would’ve been a healthier and easier thing to do as Curt says in the song “Stay”, “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” That’s what the tipping point for me is. It’s that sudden drop, it’s where things can no longer stay in the form they’re in because it’s too uncomfortable because the dynamics and the energy is going mad, the dynamics and the energy is going crazy so then something has to change. A transformation has to occur.

Obviously, the tipping point was a book. It’s a commonly used expression nowadays. For me, it was a personal thing, which again, just seemed to coincide with– I became a zeitgeistian, if you know what I mean? Because of the COVID pandemic where death is on our screens, certainly was in England in the early days, every day. It became horribly relevant.

Why was it important to you to write about humanity?
If you use the word calling, what does that really mean? Because it sounds like it’s some kind of who are you doing it for? We do a lot of things that are our calling if you know what I’m saying.

Because Tears for Fears started with an album called The Hurting.Look at those words. It’s not “Have a nice day,” it’s “The hurting” with the song “Mad World”. You’re already talking about finding life difficult. You were talking about vulnerability. You were talking about anxiety, isolation. We were lucky that culturally that stuff was allowed to go on and we were also very fortunate to wrap those feelings and lyrics up in cutting-edge electronic arrangements. Therefore, you’re hitting people on two levels.

You’re hitting them on a level on the body where they don’t really care what the lyric is, and then you’re hitting them spiritually as well to where they actually do know what you’re talking about. Why is it important? I don’t know why. It’s just that when I do that, my life makes more sense and so in a sense, yes, it’s my calling, definitely. That’s my strength, to take suffering, harmonize it, make sense of it, and re-package it into an acceptable form, which is music, which allows people to connect peacefully. Connect to the original feeling so that they can allow that to rattle around their cage. To swim around their body and realize they’re not alone.

The post Tears for Fears The Tipping Point appeared first on SPIN.

Bloc Party share soaring new single ‘Sex Magik’

2022-02-25T16:35:02.700Z

Bloc Party have released a new single called ‘Sex Magik’ – you can listen to it below.

READ MORE: Bloc Party – all the albums ranked, worst to best

Following on from last month’s ‘The Girls Are Fighting’ and 2021’s ‘Traps’, the latest song from Kele Okereke and co. combines hypnotic verses with a euphoric, soaring chorus. It’ll appear on the band’s sixth album ‘Alpha Games’, which is out on April 29.

“Find your root/ Find your core/ Then go clear like the air in our lungs/ Ask the earth for resolve/ Ossify/ Like the marrow/ In our bones,” Okereke sings ahead of repeated chants of “earth earth air air fire fire water water“.

Check out the official lyric video for ‘Sex Magik’ here:

It comes after the group shared a brief snippet of the single on social media earlier this week (February 23). “New music very soon,” the captioned the clip.

Bloc Party will showcase ‘Alpha Games’ – the follow-up to 2016’s ‘Hymns’ – on a UK and European headline tour in May/June. You can see the full schedule below and find ticket details here.

Meanwhile, it’s been announced that the band will perform at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2022 alongside the likes of IDLES, Little Simz and Father John Misty. This year’s event will take place in Cardiff between April 1-3.

Bloc Party’s 2022 UK tour dates are as follows:

APRIL
02 – BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, Cardiff

MAY
26 – O2 Academy 1, Birmingham
27 – Rock City, Nottingham
28 – Alexandra Palace, London
30 – O2 Academy, Bristol
31 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

JUNE
02 – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
03 – The Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
04 – O2 Academy, Leeds

The post Bloc Party share soaring new single ‘Sex Magik’ appeared first on NME.

On Blossoms’ New Album, Tom Ogden Needed to Lean into the Past to Move Forward

2022-02-25T16:31:40.423Z

When Tom Ogden began writing what would become Blossoms‘ fourth studio album, he was communicating through a character — one he dubbed “the writer.” The lead singer and guitarist was driven by a narrative that wasn’t necessarily centered around him — or so he thought.

But it wasn’t long until Ogden had a realization: the character — the one at the center of the narrative, was in fact himself.

For the past nine years, Ogden had been wrapped up in the whirlwind of being a busy musician: the tours, the planning, two No. 1 albums in the UK with their self-titled debut and Foolish Loving Spaces. In developing the character of “the writer” he realized that he hadn’t had time to actually reflect on the effects of that constant grind.

“I felt like I blinked and got where I was in my career and felt like I should be enjoying it more,” the 27-year-old musician recalls over the phone from London. Blossoms’ latest album, Ribbon Around the Bomb, allowed him to really soak up the whirlwind of experiences that he had.

Near the end of 2019 was when the record began to take shape. At the time, Ogden had been with his now-wife Katie and Blossoms in Mexico City where they had played the Corona Capital Festival. During a visit to Frida Kahlo’s house, he read a description of one of her paintings that stuck with him: “a ribbon around a bomb.”

“That’s where the album starts,” Ogden explains of the experience. The imagery stuck with him — particularly the underlying darkness it evoked — and it ultimately became the title of the band’s new LP. “The bomb is ready to explode with a ribbon on the outside,” he continues. “That’s what I’m thinking when I imagine it.”

After the title was solidified, Ogden sought the guidance of producer James Skelly who helped him develop what would become the tangible character of the record. While Ribbon Around the Bomb was more of a “thematic album” rather than a conceptual one, “the writer” ultimately helped Ogden look inwards while making the record. “In the movie, Stand By Me, the main character at the end when he’s older, he’s called ‘the writer,’ and I just thought, that’s so simple and sums up what I am.” That character not only fueled the crux of the record but the eponymous song as an amalgamation of all of a musician’s biggest fears: writer’s block, imposter syndrome, a deficit of inspiration. “It’s easier to sit around feeling sorry for yourself, not taking action or finishing things, and I think a lot of people can probably relate to that in lockdown,” he says.

It makes sense that 2020 became a period of reflection for him. Ogden, like the rest of the music community, was faced with the pandemic and the financial consequences of not having live music. The band just released their third studio album Foolish Loving Spaces in January 2020 and didn’t get a chance to tour it. It hit him hard, and Ogden was stuck in his thoughts. “To not have anything in the diary going forward, and knowing there’s no live music, it made you feel a bit empty and unmotivated,” he recalls. “It was a shock to the system, really.”

During the pandemic, he penned “Born Wild,” a downtempo Smiths-like track where he tackled the longstanding stereotype that men aren’t supposed to be vulnerable. “I feel so wrong, but boys must be strong,” he laments. He also found himself clinging to escapism. On “Ode to NYC,” which could be a ‘70s-tinged cousin to Taylor Swift’s “London Boy,” he dreamt of his favorite American city and penned a love letter to a place that seemed lightyears away. “Me and my partner Katie, it became like our place and we went every year before the lockdown,” he says of the city.

Despite his ruminations and longing, there were a few moments of joy that seeped into the quintet’s latest album – like getting married. On “Care For” and “Everything About You,” the Blossoms bandleader reminisces about their relationship. Still, Ogden finds himself revisiting history. “Visions,” the penultimate track on the record, shows Ogden contemplating his life at 23 — when he met the love of his life.

With Ribbon Around the Bomb, the indie-pop outfit wanted to add another dimension to the record.

“We’ve looked at bands like Arctic Monkeys who’ve grown and evolved, and you look up to them to emulate what they’ve done in terms of changing the style,” Ogden says. 2018’s Cool Like You, was Talking Heads-inspired and full of synths and their last record featured gospel signers. On Ribbon Around The Bomb, it was the string accompaniments that tied the record together. “We’re always looking for something on each album to take it to a different realm,” he notes.

While Ogden and the group (who will be hitting the road for a pair of dates in the U.S. this summer) are always thinking of ways to gradually grow, they ultimately want longevity — not to necessarily reinvent themselves during each album cycle: “We still feel like we’re scratching the surface.”

The post On Blossoms’ New Album, Tom Ogden Needed to Lean into the Past to Move Forward appeared first on SPIN.

With Love Sux, Avril Lavigne Cements Pop-Punk Legacy

2022-02-24T18:31:44.882Z

For 20 years now, Avril Lavigne has swung a pendulum between her two rock personas: playful, vaguely punkish pop (see: “Sk8er Boi,” “Girlfriend” and “Here’s to Never Growing Up”) and self-serious alternative (“My Happy Ending,” “Nobody’s Home” and that unfortunate collaboration with Chad Kroeger in 2013).

Yet despite regular attempts to shift her sound — 2019’s Head Above Water was a collection of glossy pop ballads fit for Demi Lovato or Kelly Clarkson — Lavigne’s legacy appears forever tethered to the pop-punk moment of the early ‘00s. To casual listeners, she’ll always be the teenager in the necktie, tank top and heavy eyeliner skateboarding to the mall.

Yet the Canadian singer has never released a true-blue pop-punk album.

Her colossal debut, 2002’s Let Go, was more Michelle Branch than MxPx and the follow-up, ‘04’s Under My Skin skewed toward brooding Evanescence-core.

After that, pop punk faded from mainstream relevance for more than a decade. But flash forward to now and hey, all those blink-182 riffs are en vogue once again. Blink drummer Travis Barker, architect of the genre’s resurgence, is making a killing off the recycled sound — his résumé now overflows with collaborations and production credits associated with rappers-turned-rockers Machine Gun Kelly, Trippie Redd and Blackbear plus newer pop-punkers Willow, Jxdn and Mod Sun (Lavigne’s boyfriend).

So, at 37, Lavigne has finally made her first front-to-back pop-punk record, Love Sux, out February 25 on Barker’s DTA Records label.

Call it what you want: A nostalgic cash-in, vapid fan service or pop-punk paint-by-numbers. But it’s also pure fun, deeply infectious and some of the most thrilling music Lavigne has made in a decade — a fiery big sister to the cheer-punk moments of 2007’s The Best Damn Thing.

Produced and largely co-written by Goldfinger’s John Feldmann — another pop-punk omnipresence (Blink-182, State Champs, The Used), and Mod Sun — Lavigne’s seventh LP surely scratches the itch for nostalgic Warped Tour kids, with monster hooks built for that When We Were Young megafest later this year.

The addicting second single “Love It When You Hate Me” is the best of the bunch, boosted by a punchy verse from Blackbear and magnetism from Lavigne, who is unsurprisingly confident in this style.

She seethes in all her hot-pink-meets-jet-black glory on the opener “Cannonball,” where a Bad Religion power riff gives way to hurtling digital production — a few tweaks and it’s a hyperpop song. And she’s plenty pissed on “Bois Lie,” a speedy duet featuring MGK (of course it does), which builds to a he-said-she-said climax; a sonic sequel to MGK’s “Forget Me Too” with Halsey in 2020.

The lead single “Bite Me” revels in predictable petulance, with Barker pounding away on drums — as he does for most of the album — as Lavigne snaps: “You shoulda known better better to fuck with someone like me.”

While the album is mostly centered on ugly breakups and vague heartache, the singer turns tender for “All I Wanted,” a sweet “we’re in this together” cut with Blink’s Mark Hoppus, who adds a steady albeit familiar vocal.

Much of the rest is hollow pop-punk; nothing New Found Glory or Simple Plan hasn’t already repurposed many times over. Without its F-bombs, the sugary title track could be a JoJo Siwa song.

But as we collectively emerge (again) from the pandemic, with hope to reclaim some semblance of easy fun, Love Sux is a fine soundtrack. The production is slick, Lavigne’s vocal is unwavering and loaded with just enough attitude.

Add it to your “pop-punk is fucking back” playlist and don’t give it another thought, lest you lock onto telling lyrics like this one, from “Deja Vu”: “It’s the same thing over and over again.”

The post With Love Sux, Avril Lavigne Cements Pop-Punk Legacy appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Dave Grohl drink multiple shots and discuss his love of UFOs on ‘Hot Ones’

2022-02-24T18:14:35.729Z

Dave Grohl has made his debut appearance on the hugely popular YouTube interview series Hot Ones.

READ MORE: Foo Fighters: “Our connection is beyond music”

The Foo Fighters frontman made the appearance on the First We Feast show, which sees celebrity guests answering questions while eating increasingly hot chicken wings, to promote the band’s new movie Studio 666, which is set to be released tomorrow (February 25).

During the interview, which you can watch in full below, Grohl was told that he was one of the “most-requested Hot Ones guests of all-time” and responded by regularly taking shots with host Sean Evans throughout the wide-ranging interview.

The former Nirvana drummer spoke highly of Lorde, Thundercat and Billie Eilish‘s respective appearances on Hot Ones, while he also recalled how he was once electrocuted on stage after jumping into a pool mid-performance.

Grohl reserved particular praise for Alabama Shakes during his Hot Ones interview, despite recalling how they beat Foo Fighters to the Grammy for Best Rock Performance in 2016.

Grohl also spoke about his ambition to one day play live with AC/DC (“the only thing I have left to do in my life is jam with AC/DC”) and was asked about his long-standing fascination with UFOs.

“From an early age, I was super-into UFOs,” he explained. “I read this book, Above Top Secret, and in that I saw the term ‘Foo Fighters’. And here we are.”

Earlier this week Grohl paid tribute to the late Mark Lanegan, saying that “there was nobody like” Lanegan.

“If you know anything about his story, or have read any of his books, you’ll understand why he sang what he did and why he sang it the way that he did,” Grohl added about the late Screaming Trees musician.

The post Watch Dave Grohl drink multiple shots and discuss his love of UFOs on ‘Hot Ones’ appeared first on NME.

O.N.E. The Duo Carve Their Own Path From Wu-Tang Roots to Country Music

2022-02-24T18:10:47.420Z

O.N.E. The Duo could’ve taken the easy way into the music biz. The mother-daughter duo of Tekitha Washington and Prana Supreme Diggs was already hip-hop royalty — as in Prana’s father is RZA, while Washington (known professionally by only her first name) can be heard on a number of Wu-Tang Clan group and solo tracks across her 25-year career — and likely would’ve coasted into a secure space within the rap or R&B worlds pretty easily.

Instead, O.N.E. (which stands for “Observant, Noetic, and Effervescent”) decided to delve into arguably the most difficult corner of the music realm they could enter: country.

As the only Black mother-daughter combination in country — a genre which has often been challenging for women and minorities alike — the Nashville-based duo is carving their own way forward. But that wasn’t a distinction they sought out. For that matter, they weren’t even sure it was going to be a country project when the idea first popped up.

“O.N.E. The Duo is not something that I created or even thought of. It’s her brainchild,” Washington says, referring to her daughter. “She brought me into the conversation of what a great project it could be, and I was like, ‘Wait… You know, if you want to be in music, your dad could help you out.’ She had to sit me down like, ‘No, mom. That’s not what I said. What I want is to do a project with you.’ The music that we started making together came so organically and so natural that we didn’t even know what it was called. Is it country? Is it Americana? What is it? But it brought this new vibrancy to my love and appreciation for creating art.”

Genre aside, bringing the parent-child relationship into the music world presented its own challenges. Washington knows several aspects of the industry inside and out, while Diggs has effectively grown up in the midst of it. At the same time, neither of them necessarily knew how to balance their lives as both a musical act and a family going into it.

“We’re friends at this point and have been forever, but now it’s about learning how to create while not helicoptering as a mom,” Washington says. “I’m managing a lot of different aspects of bringing the music to the forefront, and I’m just enjoying the process so much more than I ever have before.”

“I usually feel like my mom and I are on the same page creatively about 80-99% of the time,” Diggs adds. “Just the other day, our label was sending us stuff to book a room for filming, and I had chosen a place. Then my mom finally looked at the email and was like, ‘I don’t like this place.’ It’s funny, because that’s only happened a handful of times. Even when we disagree, I feel like we’re just so good at communicating with each other. She’s willing to listen and willing to hear a different point of view, and so am I.”

Musically, O.N.E. The Duo blends a little bit of everything into their country/Americana sound. Hints of both Washington’s R&B history and Diggs’ pop sensibilities flow through their breakthrough single, “Guilty,” and the pair’s appreciation for rock music carries through all of their tunes. They’ve got the makings and sound of a group that’s far more experienced than one that technically just hit the scene last year. Of course, that’s not surprising considering both Washington’s extensive career and all of the musical lessons Diggs picked up at an early age.

“Everything that I learned from my parents has really shaped this moment and how I approach it,” Diggs says. “I definitely think it’s given me an advantage, because I really got to learn so much in my short 21 years of being on this planet.”

The post O.N.E. The Duo Carve Their Own Path From Wu-Tang Roots to Country Music appeared first on SPIN.

‘The Fairly OddParents’ live-action reboot trailer draws criticism: “Like a bad ‘SNL’ parody”

2022-02-24T17:51:15.793Z

Paramount+ has released a trailer for a live-action Fairly OddParents series set to be released next month.

READ MORE: NME Recommends: the best adult animations

Titled The FairlyOdd Parents: Fairly Odder, the series sees Caleb Pierce play a grown-up Timmy Turner alongside Audrey Grace Marshall as his cousin Viv and Tyler Wladis as her new step-brother Roy Raskin.

Susanne Blakeslee and Daran Norris also return as animated characters Wanda and Cosmo from the original series.

After the trailer was released, many viewers criticised the show – comparing it negatively to a Saturday Night Live skit.

“The new live action fairly oddparents show is genuinely one of the worst things I have ever seen,” one Twitter user wrote.

“This is either an elaborate SNL skit or I’m being pranked,” another wrote.

My reaction to the Fairly OddParents reboot trailer: pic.twitter.com/dYAsQm2l5u

— JW Cartoonist (Commissions open! 2 slots!) (@JWCartoonist) February 23, 2022

I REFUSE to believe these are REAL IMAGES for the Paramount+ Fairly OddParents sequel series. This is either an elaborate SNL skit or im being pranked. pic.twitter.com/XTVB0arXzT

— Patrick Nestor III (@PattyNest) February 23, 2022

The new live action fairly oddparents show is genuinely one of the worst things I have ever seen

— Shoug (@SCS_Shoug) February 24, 2022

Wtf is this shit? This looks like a bad SNL parody of The Fairly Oddparents.

The fact that this show manages to find new lows of shit to sink down to while just not dying is astonishing. https://t.co/z8leXKvvVQ

— ChikoCheez (@ChikoritaCheez) February 23, 2022

Remember when I've always said that The Fairly OddParents died a slow and painful death?

Well now it's come back with a vengeance and became a fucking zombie. https://t.co/fHUGbU2pFi

— Sir Simon A.  (@BabyLamb5) February 23, 2022

Created by Butch Harman, The Fairly OddParents originally spanned five seasons from 2001 to 2006 on Nickelodeon, before it was revived in 2007 for another five seasons and a television film. The original show concluded in 2017.

In 2011, a live-action television film was released titled A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner! Set 13 years after the original series, it starred Drake Bell (Drake & Josh) as a 23-year-old version of Timmy, alongside Daniella Monet as Tootie.

The success of the film led to two sequels: A Fairly Odd Christmas and A Fairly Odd Summer in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder will be released on Paramount+ on March 31 in the US.

The post ‘The Fairly OddParents’ live-action reboot trailer draws criticism: “Like a bad ‘SNL’ parody” appeared first on NME.

Florence + The Machine Unveil Womanhood Anthem ‘King’

2022-02-24T17:47:21.894Z

Florence Welch has finally returned! In her first proper release since 2018 (she last released a song for the Cruella film in 2021 and an outtake in 2020), Florence + the Machine unveiled “King” on Wednesday.

The “King” video was directed by Autumn de Wilde. The song reflects on Florence Welch’s femininity and her recent subverting of expectations as a woman in music. She triggers instant chills by powerfully declaring: “I am no mother / I am no bride / I am king.”

“As an artist, I never actually thought about my gender that much,” Welch said. “I just got on with it. I was as good as the men and I just went out there and matched them every time. But now, thinking about being a woman in my 30s and the future, I suddenly feel this tearing of my identity and my desires. That to be a performer, but also to want a family might not be as simple for me as it is for my male counterparts. I had modelled myself almost exclusively on male performers, and for the first time I felt a wall come down between me and my idols as I have to make decisions they did not.”

Welch released her fourth studio album, High As Hope, in June 2018.

The post Florence + The Machine Unveil Womanhood Anthem ‘King’ appeared first on SPIN.

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‘What Lies In The Multiverse’ gets new M-rated trailer ahead of upcoming release

2022-02-24T17:37:34.554Z

Untold Tales has released a new What Lies In The Multiverse trailer, which shows why the cutesy pixel game has a mature rating.

READ MORE: ‘Far: Changing Tides’ review: a gorgeous journey that’s a little too quiet

What Lies in the Multiverse is a 2D puzzle platformer about worlds turned inside out. Players can shift dimensions at the push of a button, solve riddles, and race through the multiverse in a “bleakly hilarious” story.

The “Pixel Red Band Trailer” shows precisely why the pixel game is rated mature by demonstrating the use of its language, violence, and dark themes. Despite its lovely aesthetic, several cutscenes play out to show that it’s not exactly what it appears to be. At one point, the trailer shows a character pointing a shotgun at the playable character while another kicks him to the ground.

You can check out the What Lies in the Multiverse – Pixel Red Band Trailer below:

On what potential players can expect from the game, the synopsis reads:

“When a gifted boy (known only as The Kid) is zapped into a totally new universe, he encounters Everett – a sarcastic, eccentric, and mysterious scientist with the power to shift dimensions. Bonded with a dangerous mutual curiosity for parallel worlds, they embark on an investigation into the unknown.”

What Lies In The Multiverse is set to launch on March 4 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Fans can now wishlist the game on Steam and test the platformer out with a new demo that is still available.

Untold Tales is an indie game publisher best-known for publishing games such as Arise: A Simple Story, Aspire: Ina’s Tale, The Hong Kong Massacre, Beautiful Desolation, and Golf Club: Wasteland.

In other news, Smilegate has confirmed it will add more classes to its MMO Lost Ark over time, although players should expect a roadmap first.

The post ‘What Lies In The Multiverse’ gets new M-rated trailer ahead of upcoming release appeared first on NME.

Coldplay Cover Kid Cudi and Share New Version of ‘Let Somebody Go’ for Spotify Singles

2022-02-24T17:33:35.080Z

For their inaugural Spotify Singles recording, Coldplay covered one of rap’s and one of pop’s biggest stars. On Side A, the band fronted by Chris Martin tackled an acoustic rendition of “Let Somebody Go,” which is their current single with Selena Gomez.

“I have always loved Selena’s voice and when ‘Let Somebody Go’ arrived it felt like she was the only person to sing it with,” Martin said.

The original track was released on September 14, 2021

On Side B, Coldplay provided a synthy cover of Kid Cudi‘s 2008 track “Day ‘N’ Nite.” The session was recorded at Henson Recording Studio in Los Angeles.

“‘Day ‘N’ Nite’ I loved when it came out, and I still love love love it,” Martin said. “This is the first time I think that we’ve really taken proper time to record a cover, because in my head I could hear a version of it quite different from the original, that hopefully just reinforces what a brilliant song it is. One way or another I hope that anyone listening will just think, ‘Wow, Kid Cudi is amazing.'”

Coldplay recently released their ninth studio record, Music Of The Spheres, on October 15, 2021. You can read our review of the album here.

The post Coldplay Cover Kid Cudi and Share New Version of ‘Let Somebody Go’ for Spotify Singles appeared first on SPIN.

Tianna Esperanza Unveils Debut Single ‘Lewis’

2022-02-23T17:16:43.013Z

Rising artist Tianna Esperanza has shared her debut track “Lewis.”

The song slinks and struts through its powerful message propped against a relaxed-jazzy beat. Esperanza’s lyrics fall off the tongue as she savors every word on the track, emphasizing lyrics with a spoken-word-like cadence. Her sultry tone evokes a long-lost era of jazz helmed by acts such as Nina Simone. Her grandmother is punk rock icon Paloma McLardy who founded the 1970s band The Slits and later played with The Raincoats.

The track serves as an homage to Lewis H. Michaux, the owner of Harlem’s historic African National Memorial Bookstore. Esperanza, a 21-year old London-based bi-racial artist, finds herself inspired by Michaux’s work.

“Lewis woke me up to the reality of classism, racism, and religious oppression, and where they connect American people of all races,” she said in a statement. “I began to think about how that struggle was interwoven in the fabric of my multiracial identity and I felt empowered by Lewis to own my voice.”

Esperanza was inspired by a spoken-word recitation by Michaux featured in the 2011 documentary The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975. Her unique voice shines through on this debut single as her influences empower her subject matter. Esperanza’s music burns with a slow and fiery passion.

The post Tianna Esperanza Unveils Debut Single ‘Lewis’ appeared first on SPIN.

Johnny Knoxville reveals stunts ‘Jackass’ cast refuse to do

2022-02-23T17:13:20.620Z

Johnny Knoxville has opened up about the stunts he and the other Jackass cast members are reluctant to do.

The actor and stunt performer, co-creator of the Jackass franchise, recently told NME about where he and the rest of the crew draw the line – you can watch the video interview above.

READ MORE: ‘Jackass Forever’ review: pure, prank-filled fun (plus a lot of testicles)

“I’m not super fearful of it but I don’t like cold weather or cold water,” Knoxville said.

“I’ve done stuff in cold weather and cold water but it’s just a hassle.” When asked whether he would film in Scotland, Knoxville said he would love to and added: “I’d just wear a heavy jacket.”

On his fellow cast member Steve-O, Knoxville continued: “The guys do have irrational fears. Steve-O who will let you put a hook in his mouth, swim up the ocean and then cast him out to sea to catch a shark with his body, you can do that to him, but we tried to get him to bungee jump and he was like, ‘Fuck you dude I’m not doing it’.

“And I’ve seen him jump out of an aeroplane 80 feet in the air into the water, and he jumps off bridges and does flips off bridges.”

Knoxville also revealed he’s planning on retiring from “big stunts” after suffering a brain haemorrhage while filming the latest film.

“We backload my most dangerous stunts to the end of the film,” Knoxville said. “So I had two or three more stunts left to do, big ones, but after that I couldn’t.

“The doctor’s like, ‘no way, you can’t, you’ve had 16 concussions, you’ve just had a terrible concussion, your brain is scrambled right now.’ And I was like, alright, so those got kicked to the side.”

In a four-star review of Jackass Forever, NME wrote: “There’s a kindness and companionship – and freedom – to Jackass Forever that makes for 90 minutes of pure joy. Remember joy?”

The post Johnny Knoxville reveals stunts ‘Jackass’ cast refuse to do appeared first on NME.

Difficult Fun: February 2022’s Best Punk

2022-02-23T17:09:17.674Z

Welcome to the latest edition of Difficult Fun! Each month, SPIN will spotlight the best punk on the planet and discuss it here, with the ambition of challenging preconceived notions of what the four-letter word actually means and, ideally, entertaining readers in the process. Purists, piss off! Everyone else, enjoy.

In the months after November 2016, when election results reverberated across the country and in our heads like a chainsaw to the brain, critical opinions – specifically about music, but certainly across a broad swath of topics – got stupid. Of the idiocy, the most immediately disappointing was that punk would be “good” under a Trump presidency because nothing lights a flame under the ass of anarchic dissidents than total fucking fear of the eradication of human rights. You know, anti-fascism and all its many riffs. Punk is always good, that fear always persists, and I’ve never found an optimistic argument more intellectually lazy then or since.

Now, on the eve of war in Europe, I wonder if those opinions endure. (Not sure I see a Sex Pistols song about Germany’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels rallying a generation, but by all means, prove me wrong. Whatever helps you cope.) Music is good for that shit, anyway.

FATAMORGANA, Ahora Aquí, Todavía No

MUS243 FATAMORGANA – Ahora Aquí, Todavía No LP by Fatamorgana

Barcelona duo FATAMORGANA are ecclectists through and through – Ahora Aquí, Todavía is generous with ‘80s drum programming – cold new wave synths sounds that play out like vintage images of the future. Except, of course, these recordings are expansive and minimalist, begging the question: maybe space travel will be democratized and totally retro 50 years from now? But then again, we may all be dead. At least we’re here, now, still (get it?). It’s good enough to dance to.

INYECCIÓN, Porqueria

DE #98 INYECCIÓN “porqueria” LP by Discos Enfermos

Tough-as-nails street punk from Chile/Argentina, the INYECCIÓN record (out on Discos Enfermos and Educación Cínica) is a collection of new tracks and demos – skull-rattling dual-gender vocals and what I clock as a sense of humor. At least, the title track is funny. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But I’m right about this: the LP rips.

Toe Ring, Footage

Footage by Toe Ring

Toe Ring is a great band from Philadelphia with a disgusting name. Their latest tape, Footage, was recorded during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic (you know, the one we’re still in?) and despite that fact, is a truly refreshing take on garage-y, kraut-y post-punk. I believe in lo-fi again.

X-Acto / Paranoise, X-Acto / Paranoise

X-Acto / Paranoise by X-Acto, Paranoise

If there is a theme to this month’s Difficult Fun, I hope it is, well, fun. This X-Acto / Paranoise split courtesy Teramo, Italy’s Goodbye Boozy Digital is absolutely demented – opening with my favorite lyrical stanza of the year so far: “What’s that smell? / I think it’s me / What’s that smell? / I smell like beef.” This one is for every listener of every punk offshoot just wishing the egg punks, synth punks, chain punks, crust punks et al could get along. They can, and it’s insanity.

Liquid Face, II

II by Liquid Face

My original review of this Liquid Face seven-inch was “so good I want to puke,” but I figured that might undersell the deliciousness of their hard as hell, noisy punk assault. It’s all angular synth sounds, garage-y guitars, and buried guttural roars. Intense. Why aren’t all bands Liquid Face?

Powerplant, Stump Soup

Stump Soup by Powerplant

Two years ago, London-via-Ukraine’s POWERPLANT set the world ablaze with their math-y, rollicking weird hardcore post-punk (try not to fall for their A Spine / Evidence seven-inch, I dare you.) Now, in 2022, they are a completely different musical outfit. Don’t you just love when bands say, “screw it,” and venture into new, uncharted territory? Stump Soup is strange – it’s literally a dungeon synth album, like something that would absolutely soundtrack a video game, and I think I’m mostly including it here because it’s bizarre. Genuinely shocking. That’s called art, honey.

LAFF BOX, LAFF BOX

LAFFF BOX – s/t by LAFFF BOX

Smiley powerpunk from Germany, LAFF BOX features members of Lassie, Ex-white, Liiek and Poky. It also features gratuitous guitar solos that miraculously don’t make me want to dig a screwdriver deep into my ear canal, which is to say it shows some restraint. But, like, the good kind. They never lose the hook. Never lose the hook!

Empath, Visitor

Visitor by empath

Labeling it noise-pop rock feels too short-sighted. Empath’s second album, Visitor, is as pleasurable as the first – pulling from Jamiroquai presets and sampling Minecraft will cause such enjoyment. If I had a note, it’s that I wish they’d pump up the bird sounds from the first record. And maybe the haze.

As an addendum: for those too scared to see some of the other bands in this column live, you will never have a better time watching a drummer than you will watching Empath’s Garrett Koloski. Trust me on that one.

The post Difficult Fun: February 2022’s Best Punk appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Green Day drive around in a convertible in new “1972” music teaser

2022-02-23T16:57:20.675Z

Green Day have shared a snippet of new music in another “1972” teaser clip.

The short video, which you can view below, is the latest in a series of teasers from the band that have been released on social media in recent months.

READ MORE: 10 albums that wouldn’t exist without Green Day’s ‘Dookie’

This new 10-second clip features the logo of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong‘s defunct Adeline Records, as well as footage of graffiti being sprayed, a studio and the band driving around in a convertible car – all of which is soundtracked by a snippet of frenetic new music.

At one point in the clip, the numbers “1972” flash up on screen yet again.

This latest teaser follows last month’s short video, which saw the trio discussing a melody and rehearsing a track that sounds reminiscent of ‘The Static Age’ from 2009’s ‘21st Century Breakdown‘.

https://t.co/BOkRTjAO0D pic.twitter.com/fdodp1ZB87

— Green Day (@GreenDay) February 22, 2022

Green Day previously shared a short clip of themselves recording music at London’s RAK Studios, set to what appeared to be a new song, as well as another short video with a mysterious split-screen teaser which saw Armstrong strumming an acoustic riff.

All the clips have featured the number “1972”, leading many fans to speculate that a new album with that title is on the way.

They’ve also tried to work out the meaning of “1972”, with one fan pointing out that all three members of the band – Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool – were born in 1972, while another fan added: “1972? 50th birthday special?”

Green Day’s last album – 2020’s ‘Father Of All Motherfuckers’ – received a four-star review from NME and was described as being a “good old knees-up”, free from the group’s usual politics.”

Green Day recently kicked off their 2022 tour with a set at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest.

They will hit the UK and Europe later this summer, with dates including the ‘Hella Mega Tour’ which also features Fall Out Boy and Weezer.

Green Day will play:

June
1 – Berlin, Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide
3 – Nürburg, Rock am Ring
7 – Copenhagen, Forum
9 – Ålesund, Color Line Stadion
11 – Johanneshov, Tele2 Arena
15 – Milan, Milano Summer Festival
16 – Florence, Firenze Rocks Festival
18 – Hradec Králové, Rock For People
19 – Vienna, Ernst-Happel Stadion
21 – Antwerp, Sportpaleis
22 – Groningen, Stadspark
24 – London, London Stadium
25 – Huddersfield, John Smith’s Stadium
27 – Dublin, Venue TBA
29 – Glasgow, Bellahouston Park

July
2 – Paris, La Defense Arena

The post Watch Green Day drive around in a convertible in new “1972” music teaser appeared first on NME.

Mark Lanegan Remembered: Iggy Pop, Peter Hook, Garbage, Greg Dulli and More Pay Tribute

2022-02-23T16:53:35.054Z

On Tuesday, the music world was rocked by Mark Lanegan‘s death on Tuesday at his home in Ireland.

At this time, no cause of death is stated and the public is being urged to respect the family’s privacy at this time. Musicians and fans alike took to Twitter today to grieve and send their condolences to those who are mourning the death of Lanegan.

See musicians sending their condolences via Twitter below.

MESSAGE FROM IGGY:
Mark Lanegan, RIP, deepest respect for you. Your fan,
Iggy Pop

— Iggy Pop (@IggyPop) February 22, 2022

Mark Lanegan was a lovely man. He led a wild life that some of us could only dream of. He leaves us with fantastic words and music! Thank god that through all of that he will live forever. RIP Mark. Sleep well. Love Hooky. X pic.twitter.com/Xnx76y68YC

— Peter Hook (@peterhook) February 22, 2022

I love you Mark Lanegan. A colossal, spectacular body of work. These are all him? How? https://t.co/o9d0ArLIjH

— rob delaney (@robdelaney) February 22, 2022

Rest In Peace, old friend. Truly. More and more the best are no longer with us. @marklanegan pic.twitter.com/KPyPC17xad

— moby XⓋX (@thelittleidiot) February 22, 2022

this song helps me a lot sometimes. rest in peace Mark Lanegan https://t.co/w0J3B1zBmD

— ghetto fragile. (@Mike_Eagle) February 22, 2022

Oh no. Terrible news that Mark Lanegan has left us. Safe travels man – you’ll be missed

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) February 22, 2022

May you truly Rest in Peace Big Brother @marklanegan pic.twitter.com/XwgO10bRkL

— mark pickerel (@mtpickerel) February 22, 2022

Mark Lanegan rest easy mate. A real singer.

— Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) February 22, 2022

Hearing about Mark Lanegan passing away has properly stopped me in my tracks. I’m absolutely gutted. Met him on a couple of occasions and I was nervous because I loved him so much. He was a perfect gentleman, really kind. One of THE great singers of the last 30 years. So sad

— Badly Drawn Boy (@badly_drawn_boy) February 22, 2022

We lost a brother today. Mark Lanegan was an incredible voice, spirit and talented soul. This was taken at his studio right when I went to say goodbye to him and his wife Shelley before they moved to Europe. We will miss you my friend. pic.twitter.com/YDX05hw8Hl

— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) February 22, 2022

I love you. Rest In Peace Mark Lanegan, my brother. No words. Heartbroken. pic.twitter.com/nQblLQNjnA

— COLD CAVE (@ColdCave23) February 22, 2022

I hate this so much. Mark Lanegan was the best singer of our generation. He was my friend and the first person who’s music I liked to tell me they liked mine. This hurts so goddamn much. I love you @marklanegan

— NATKINS (@NicoleAtkins) February 22, 2022

https://t.co/9iR0yuiMWD ❤️ you brother

— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) February 22, 2022

Terribly saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mark Lanegan. A very gifted artist blessed with honey dipped tones, gone far too soon.

— Garbage (@garbage) February 22, 2022

Love you Mark. Love to all your loved ones.

— Warren Ellis (@warrenellis13) February 22, 2022

oh man RIP Mark Lanegan – you touched so many of us 💔https://t.co/7EQk68BMtI

— Blitzen Trapper (@BlitzenTrapper) February 22, 2022

❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/LJuLz4zuYD

— Perfume Genius (@perfumegenius) February 22, 2022

Legend https://t.co/SB0zqH7NL4

— Ryley walker (@ryleywalker) February 22, 2022

The post Mark Lanegan Remembered: Iggy Pop, Peter Hook, Garbage, Greg Dulli and More Pay Tribute appeared first on SPIN.

LCD Soundsystem announce Philadelphia and Boston residencies

2022-02-23T16:49:46.206Z

LCD Soundsystem have announced a series of concert residencies in Philadelphia and Boston this spring.

READ MORE: From The NME Archive – Celebrate 15 years of LCD Soundsystem’s debut with this classic interview: “Most live bands today are horrible”

The band will perform four shows at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia from March 28-31, followed by four shows at new Boston venue Roadrunner from April 3-5. The two sets of shows will mark the band’s first live dates of 2022.

Tickets for all eight shows are due to go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 25 at 10am, but there are also fan pre-sales available from 10am on Thursday, February 24. Find tickets here.

In November 2021, LCD Soundsystem began their Brooklyn Steel residency, where the band were scheduled to play a run of 20 gigs in New York City.

The news arrived just a few months after frontman James Murphy said that the band were “on a full hiatus”.

https://t.co/ww5X3PzHVR pic.twitter.com/nvuueD2Q4t

— lcdsoundsystem (@lcdsoundsystem) February 22, 2022

Their first gig since 2018 took place November 23 and saw the band cover Joy Division’s ‘No Love Lost’ alongside tracks from across their back catalog. However, the band were forced to cancel the last few dates of the residency due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

LCD Soundsystem had previously told fans they wouldn’t cancel the remaining shows on their residency after much debate between the band and their team. But they had conceded: “If enough people want to cancel, we’ll cancel the shows and refund everyone, putting you next in line as well.”

Before the gigs were canceled, fans who didn’t feel safe attending still could get a refund for their tickets. Any possible rescheduled dates are yet to be confirmed.

In other news, LCD Soundsystem were announced as musical guests on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live. The group will perform on February 26 alongside host John Mulaney – a former head writer on the show.

Elsewhere, DFA Records announced details of a party in New York City to celebrate their 20th anniversary next month.

James Murphy, 2ManyDJs, Black Dice, The Juan MacLean, Nancy Whang, Museum of Love and Tyler Pope are among the names on the line-up, and you can find out more information and tickets to the anniversary event here.

The post LCD Soundsystem announce Philadelphia and Boston residencies appeared first on NME.

Sigur Rós Announce First Dates in Extensive World Tour, Kjartan Sveinsson Rejoins

2022-02-23T16:40:16.001Z

Sigur Rós have announced the first stretch of dates for an extensive world tour taking place in Mexico, Canada and the United States this Spring and Summer. This tour will be the band’s first in five years, an exciting announcement for fans of the group’s acclaimed 25-year discography.

Tickets for U.S. and Canada dates will go on sale at 10 A.M. on February 25th here. Tickets for the Mexico tour will go on sale at 11 A.M. on February 26th. More dates will follow soon.

Sigur Rós are currently writing and recording their first studio album since Kveikur, which was released in 2013. The band plans on testing out new songs at shows, along with playing fan favorites from their extensive discography.

If that’s not enough news, Kjartan Sveinsson is rejoining Jónsi and Georg Holm in the band after close to a decade of focusing on other projects.

Sigur Rós – World Tour 2022

Sat. 4/30 – Festival Vaivén, Mexico
Tue. 5/3 – Citibanamex Auditorium, Monterrey
Thu. 5/5 – Auditorio Telmex GuadalajaraMon. 5/9 Orpheum Theatre – Vancouver, BC
Wed. 5/11 Theater of the Clouds – Portland, OR
Fri. 5/13 Paramount Theatre – Seattle, WA
Tue. 5/17 Frost Amphitheater – Stanford, CA
Thu. 5/19 Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA
Mon. 5/23 ACL Live at the Moody Theater – Austin TX
Tue. 5/24 ACL Live at the Moody Theater – Austin TX
Wed. 5/25 Winspear Opera House – Dallas, TX
Fri. 5/27 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre – Atlanta, GA
Sat. 5/28 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Tue. 5/31 State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Wed. 6/1 Riverside Theater – Milwaukee, WI
Fri. 6/3 Masonic Temple Theatre – Detroit, MI
Sat. 6/4 Auditorium Theatre – Chicago, IL
Mon. 6/6 The Anthem – Washington, D.C.
Tue. 6/7 The Met Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA
Wed. 6/8 Wang Theatre – Boston, MA
Fri. 6/10 Place des Arts – Montreal, QC
Sat. 6/11 Meridian Hall – Toronto, ON
Tue. 6/14 Kings Theatre – Brooklyn, NY
Fri. 6/17 Beacon Theatre – New York, NY
Sat. 6/18 Beacon Theatre – New York, NY

The post Sigur Rós Announce First Dates in Extensive World Tour, Kjartan Sveinsson Rejoins appeared first on SPIN.

The Smashing Pumpkins Announce 11-Date U.S. Tour

2022-02-22T17:39:19.883Z

Forewarning, The Smashing Pumpkins are set to take over the U.S. The band just announced the latest edition of their Rock Invasion Tour.

The 11-date stint kicks off on May 2 in San Antonio, Texas, and closes May 28 in Columbus, Ohio. The tour’s supporting act is Bones, yet a special guest for their San Antonio performance has yet to be announced. All tour information can be found on the band’s website.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 25.

Billy Corgan and company are also scheduled for a few festival dates this year, including appearances at Beale Street, Beachlife, Welcome to Rockville, and Summercamp festivals.

The band’s most recent release, the 20-track CYR, was released on November 27, 2020.

Last September, the group performed their hit “Quiet” for the first time live since 1994. The Pumpkins also announced the releases of two live albums, Live at the Viper Room 1998 and Live in Japan 1992, on vinyl last year.

Smashing Pumpkins

Smashing Pumpkins Tour Dates

May 2, San Antonio, Texas

May 13, Santa Barbara, California

May 15, Tucson, Arizona

May 17, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

May 18, Camdenton, Missouri

May 20, New Orleans, Louisiana

May 21, Birmingham, Alabama

May 24, Portsmouth, Virginia

May 25, Greensboro, North Carolina

May 27, Newport, Kentucky

May 28, Columbus, Ohio

The post The Smashing Pumpkins Announce 11-Date U.S. Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Florence + The Machine announce their return: “Something’s coming”

2022-02-22T17:35:27.181Z

Florence + The Machine have updated their website and confirmed their forthcoming return.

READ MORE: Florence + The Machine’s new song ‘Light Of Love’ is a powerful warning against the easy way out

The Florence Welch-led band first teased their comeback yesterday, sending letters and cards to fans marked ‘Chapter 1’.

Now, their website has been updated to show fifteen cards, one of which is the ‘King’ card sent out to fans. The remaining fourteen are currently face-down. When clicking on the ‘King’ card, a message encourages fans to sign up to the band’s mailing list, and confirms that “something’s coming”.

Chapter 1
King

Coming soon…

(Via Lillie Eiger) pic.twitter.com/UDJkQgLvz5

— The Florence + the Machine Fan Club (@FATMFanClub) February 20, 2022

A new album from the band would be their first since 2018’s ‘High As Hope’. In 2020, a new song called ‘Light Of Love’ was shared, and then last year, they unveiled new track ‘Call Me Cruella’, taken from 2021 Disney movie Cruella.

They are also set to make their live comeback this summer, playing a host of European headline festival sets. Welch and her band will headline Norway’s Øya, Finland’s Flow and Madrid’s Mad Cool. No UK dates have been announced yet.

Elsewhere, it was recently confirmed that Welch will score a new Broadway adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

“This book has haunted me for a large part of my life. It contains some of my favourite lines in literature,” Welch said of the new project in a statement.

“Musicals were my first love, and I feel a deep connection to Fitzgerald’s broken romanticism. It is an honour to have been offered the chance to recreate this book in song.”

The post Florence + The Machine announce their return: “Something’s coming” appeared first on NME.

Dua Lipa, My Chemical Romance, Green Day and Halsey to Headline Firefly Festival

2022-02-22T17:21:13.352Z

Firefly Festival is returning to Delaware’s Woodlands this September.

Halsey, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, and Dua Lipa are slated to headline the weekend of September 22-25, and festgoers can sign up now for presale access on Firefly’s website. Presale begins at 10 a.m. ET Friday, February 25, where fans can purchase general admission, VIP, and Super VIP tickets.

In conjunction with AEG Presents, Firefly will also include treehouse DJ sets, spirited drag brunches, and a joyful pride parade. The fest is located in Dover, Delaware, and is within driving distance from major metropolitan cities including, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C, and New York City.

Firefly is enforcing all applicable COVID-19 mandates.

Firefly Festival 2022 Lineup

100 gecs
Alexander 23
All Time Low
Anna of the North
AmyElle
Ashnikko
Avril Lavigne
Bakar
Bankrol Hayden
Benny The Butcher
Big Sean
Bleachers
Casmalia
Chai
Charli XCX
Chloe Moriondo
Cloonee
Cochise
Cold War Kids
Conan Gray
Cordae
Daisy the Great
Dayglow
Dorian Electra
Dua Lipa
Elderbrook
Emmy Meli
Ezra Furman
flor
ford.
GAYLE
Girl Talk
Green Day
Gryffin
Gunna
Gus Dapperton
Halsey
Indigo De Souza
Jamie xx
John Summit
Jordana
Jungle
Little Simz
Loud Luxury
Lucii
Mallrat
Manchester Orchestra
Mannequin Pussy
Matt Maeson
Mod Sun
My Chemical Romance
Neil Frances
Phantoms
Porter Robinson
Princess Nokia
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Renforshort
Sadie Jean
SAINt JHN
San Holo
SEB
Ship Wrek
spill tab
Sueco
The Backseat Lovers
The Brook & The Bluff
The Head And The Heart
The Kid LAROI
The Regrettes
Tsu Nami
VNSSA
Wax Motif
Weezer
Wenzday
Weston Estate
Whipped Cream
Willow
Wolf Alice
Yung Bae
YUNGBLUD
Zedd

The post Dua Lipa, My Chemical Romance, Green Day and Halsey to Headline Firefly Festival appeared first on SPIN.

Idris Elba is planning on “leaning away” from acting to focus more on music

2022-02-22T17:14:25.133Z

Idris Elba has said that he is planning on “leaning away from the acting work” to focus more on his music in the coming years.

The Luther and The Wire actor founded the record label 7Wallace in 2015, while he regularly performs DJ sets (including a slot at Coachella in 2019) and has released a host of solo and collaborative records in recent years.

READ MORE: Friends Like These: Rising rapper Che Lingo talks life and music with his label boss Idris Elba

Speaking in a new interview with Vanity Fair, Elba said that he hopes people will embrace his music as much as his acting work.

“Some may think, ‘Well, it will be the death of your acting if your music’s shit’,” he said. “I’ve dealt with the internal struggle of that over the years. So now I’m at peace and I’ve chosen: This is what I’m doing, and I’m going to do it. Some will love it and some will hate it.”

Elba, who has long been rumoured as a candidate for the role of James Bond, added that he is now planning on “leaning away from the acting work” over the coming years to focus more on music.

“The thing about making music is it’s a very consuming process,” he added. “It’s very difficult to shoot a movie and then go off into the studio or make a song. It’s like trying to build a soufflé while making a brick wall.”

Speaking with Che Lingo – who is signed to Elba’s 7Wallace – for NME‘s Friends Like These series in 2020, Elba said that he was “really coming to terms with being called a musician, if I’m honest”.

“What motivates me is the pure and unadulterated love for music,” he continued. “I love my relationship with sonics because I really listen and feel music. I listen to every component of every song. It’s a gift that keeps giving.”

Elba continued: “I’m an actor so I typically say other peoples’ words, live the imagination of someone else and turn them into a character.

“When I’m making music or I’m part of a project, that comes from me – it’s not someone else’s thing that’s applied to me. I love words and I love storytelling. That’s the bond of peace between everyone.”

The post Idris Elba is planning on “leaning away” from acting to focus more on music appeared first on NME.

Britney Spears Signs $15 Million Book Deal for Memoir

2022-02-22T17:03:30.579Z

Britney Spears will be publishing a memoir with Simon & Schuster in a book deal estimated to be worth as much as $15 million according to the New York Post‘s Page Six and Variety. According to the reports, publishers bid for Spears’ book, before ending up with Simon & Schuster in what will be one of the biggest book deals of all time. In 2017, the Obamas signed what is regarded as the biggest book deal in history.

The forthcoming memoir has been described as a “tell-all memoir” which comes just a few months after Spears’ conservatorship, overseen by her father Jamie Spears, has been terminated. The conservatorship started in 2008 with efforts to end it beginning in at least 2014. It was finally ended by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny just over four months ago.

The #freebritney movement came to light in the public eye in 2019 advocating for the singer’s personal autonomy. The movement blew up even further on social media following the release of the 2o21 documentary Framing Britney Spears which laid out the details of her conservatorship.

Spears’ book deal is unrelated to the publication of Things I Should Have Said, which her sister Jamie Lynn Spears published last month. After the release of the memoir, Spears lashed out on Instagram claiming that the book exploited her experiences for Jamie Lynn’s monetary gain.

The post Britney Spears Signs $15 Million Book Deal for Memoir (Report) appeared first on SPIN.

‘Euphoria’: fans think Tom Holland has a secret cameo in new episode

2022-02-22T16:50:07.621Z

Euphoria fans have taken to social media as they believe Tom Holland secretly featured in the new episode.

The actor has recently been “petitioning to secure a role in the show”, opposite his Spider-Man co-star and romantic partner Zendaya.

READ MORE: ‘Euphoria’ season two episode seven recap: the show must go on

In the most recent episode, Maude Apatow’s character Lexi Howard put on her play at school, which most of the show’s other characters attended.

Some fans on social media claimed one person in the audience looked eerily similar to Tom Holland, sat a few rows behind Cassie and Nate.

Take a look at the post here, which has been liked over 225,000 times at the time of writing.

DAMN LEXI EVEN GOT TOM HOLLAND AT HER PLAY?? pic.twitter.com/ztnsKYSG9v

— nevaeh (@fernlangdon) February 21, 2022

Asked if he’d want to appear in Euphoria in a video from IMDB while doing a joint interview with Zendaya, Holland said: “Listen, I have been petitioning for this for a long time, and it has not happened yet and I’m very disappointed.”

Turning to Zendaya, Holland added: “I must have come to visit Euphoria at least 30 times this season.”

Euphoria was recently renewed for a third season at HBO, with the final episode of season two set to air this Sunday (February 27).

Francesca Orsi, EVP of HBO programming, said: “Sam, Zendaya, and the entire cast and crew of Euphoria have taken season two to extraordinary heights, challenging narrative convention and form, while maintaining its heart. We couldn’t be more honoured to work with this gifted, wildly talented team or more excited to continue our journey with them into season three.”

The post ‘Euphoria’: fans think Tom Holland has a secret cameo in new episode appeared first on NME.

The Weeknd Unveils Fully Immersive Music Special, The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience

2022-02-22T16:45:29.305Z

Now that listeners have had more than a month to absorb Dawn FM, The Weeknd has unveiled a new way for fans to connect with the album: a fully immersive music special called The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience. The theatrical performance event is set to premiere on February 26 via Prime Video.

“I’m ecstatic to partner with Amazon to premiere the most elaborate live TV special I’ve ever done. Welcome to the next phase of Dawn FM—a purgatory otherworld where live performance, theater, and performance art collide for a night out at the club,” The Weeknd said in a statement.

A sneak peek of the special sees The Weeknd resume the elderly persona he’s donned during his Dawn FM era. See The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience teaser trailer below.

In addition to the visuals, music from The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience will be available to stream as an eight-track live EP on Amazon Music. A merch capsule celebrating the event is also set to launch at 12 pm PST/3 pm EST on Feb. 25 through the Amazon Music Artist Merch Shop.

Dawn FM dropped on January 3 and is the Grammy-award winning singer’s fifth studio album. In SPIN‘s review, Bobby Olivier said “Dawn FM is his finest work since Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), thematically hinging on regret and shedding grudges.”

The post The Weeknd Unveils Fully Immersive Music Special, The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience appeared first on SPIN.

49 Winchester Detail Fourth Album, Share Video for ‘Annabel’

2022-02-18T17:13:46.299Z

Country rockers 49 Winchester are set to release their fourth album, Fortune Favors the Bold. The group will put it out through New West. With the announcement of the album, the band shared the video for the record’s lead track, “Annabel.”

Hailing from Castlewood, Virginia, 49 Winchester is slated to release Fortune Favors the Bold on May 13. It will be the band’s fourth studio record since their forming as teenagers on Winchester Street in the town of only 2,045 people. The 10-track album was co-produced by the band and Stewart Myers (O.A.R., The Infamous Stringdusters) with additional recording and production by Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham).

“Annabel” is a wholesome, evil-doer’s plea for love: “You wanted a man to marry / And I could never get past my sin.” Frontman Issac Gibson’s husky drawl sears of the pain of living in one’s own head, in which the band’s intertwining of piano, harmonies, and strings beautifully carries that agony through their country-kissed workmanship.

“I wrote ‘Annabel’ not long after the band first started,” Gibson said. “We played it some, retired it, and forgot about it. It was a good tune we had never recorded and hadn’t played live in a while so we revisited it, breathed some new life into its lungs and it turned out to be one of my favorite tracks on the record.

“We decided on it as the initial release from this album because it perfectly sums up what we set out to do, which was to push our sonic boundaries. We used some different instrumentation than usual — Bus plays the baritone guitar, there is an acoustic track there. It’s just lush and rich. Stewart Myers, who recorded the album, did a really killer job of capturing that big, full sound we wanted, alongside the post-production by Kenny Miles. ‘Annabel’ is definitely one of the shining examples of that.”

Fortune Favors the Bold follows 49 Winchester’s 2020 self-released III.

“Signing with New West Records is something we’re really proud of,” Gibson said. “They’re an artist-centered label who gave us total creative freedom to make a record that is authentically us, and I speak for all the guys in the band when I say we are super excited about this being a New West release. I don’t think any other label could fit us so perfectly. We are looking forward to getting this record out and playing it on the road this summer!”

The band is set to perform at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion and SXSW Music Festival next month, and you can catch them at Floydfest, Merlefest, Red Wing Roots Music Fest, and/or the Bristol Rhythm and Roots reunion. Fortune Favors the Bold is available for pre-order now.

New West Records, 2022

Fortune Favors The Bold Track List

1. Annabel
2. Man’s Best Friend
3. Russell County Line
4. All I Need
5. Hillbilly Daydream
6. Damn Darlin’
7. Fortune Favors The Bold
8. Second Chance
9. Neon
10. Last Call

The band will also be hitting the road for a string of dates beginning in March, including a run with Whiskey Myers, which you can see below.

49 Winchester On Tour:

March 9 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge
March 10 – Tulsa, OK – Mercury Lounge
March 11 – Dallas, TX – Sundown at Granada
March 17 – Spicewood, TX – Luck Reunion
March 18 – Austin, TX – Antone’s (New West Records Official Showcase)
March 19 – The Woodlands, TX – Dosey Doe
March 26 – Pineville, KY – Bell Theatre
April 21 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
April 22 – Oxford, MS – Double Decker Art Fest
April 23 – Biloxi, MS – Crawfish Music Festival
April 29 – Brevard, NC – 185 King Street
April 30 – Scaly Mountain, NC – Bear Shadow Music Fest
May 1 – North Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest
May 5 – Athens, GA – Southern Brewing Company
May 6 – Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar
May 10 – New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
May 14 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
May 19 – Greenville, SC – The Radio Room
May 20 – Elon, NC – Power and Sound Revival
May 21 – Beaufort, NC – Beaufort Music Festival
June 3 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
June 4 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
June 8 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre *
June 9 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park *
June 10 – Camdenton, MO – Lake Ozarks Amphtheater *
June 11 – Council Bluffs, IA – Westfair Amphitheatre *
June 15 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center *
June 16 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit *
June 18 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater *
June 25 – Mount Solon, VA – Red Wing Roots Music Festival
July 7 – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery – Lawn *
July 8 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre *
July 9 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater *
July 10 – Portsmouth, VA – Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion *
July 12 – Manteo, NC – Roanoke Island Festival Park *
July 14 – Dothan, AL – National Peanut Festival *
July 15 – Cocoa, FL – Cocoa Riverfront Park *
July 16 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheatre *
July 17 – St. Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre *
July 27-30 – Floyd, VA – FloydFest
August 4 – Missoula, MT – Big Sky Amphitheatre *
August 5 – Billings, MT – Magic City Blues Festival *
August 7 – Boise, ID – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden *
August 11 – Grand Junction, CO – Las Colonias Park Amphitheater *
August 12 – Sandy, UT – Sandy City Amphitheater *
August 13 – Cheyenne, WY – Terry Bison Ranch Resort – Gathering Hall *
September 10 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion

* Whiskey Myers with Shane Smith & The Saints, and 49 Winchester

The post 49 Winchester Detail Fourth Album, Share Video for ‘Annabel’ appeared first on SPIN.

John Williams to compose theme for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ series

2022-02-18T17:10:20.335Z

Star Wars composer John Williams has returned to write a theme for upcoming Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

According to Variety, Williams has written the musical signature for the series and recorded it last week with a Los Angeles orchestra under tight security.

READ MORE: What does ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ mean for the future of Star Wars?

This is the first time Williams has composed a theme for the franchise since Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker in 2019. He’s composed the score for every mainline film in the franchise, but this marks a rare occasion where he’s writing music for television.

It’s unclear if Williams has contributed any additional music beyond the theme for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, a limited Original series, starts streaming May 25 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/XCV1xQZhDR

— Star Wars (@starwars) February 9, 2022

Recent Star Wars TV shows The Mandalorian and The Book Of Boba Fett didn’t feature music by Williams, and were scored by Ludwig Göransson and Joseph Shirley respectively.

Williams won an Oscar in 1977 for his original Star Wars score. He’s also the composer behind many other classic themes for Hollywood films, like Jaws, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter.

Ewan McGregor will reprise his role for Obi-Wan Kenobi for the first time since 2005’s Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith. Hayden Christensen will also return as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, alongside Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse from the prequel trilogy.

The series will take place 10 years after events in Revenge Of The Sith, as Obi-Wan Kenobi lives out life in exile on the planet of Tatooine.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is scheduled to premiere on May 25, 2022 on Disney+.

The post John Williams to compose theme for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ series appeared first on NME.

5 Albums I Can’t Live Without: Avril Lavigne

2022-02-18T16:59:42.909Z

Name Avril Lavigne

Best known for Being in love with a Sk8er Boi.

Current city Los Angeles, CA

Really want to be in Italy, in a villa on Lake Como. Drinking wine and cooking Italian cuisine.

Excited about Very excited about my upcoming album Love Sux coming out February 25th. I’m happy to be back and be making this music right now. I think this is really what my fans want from me and I’m so stoked to go out on tour.

My current music collection has a lot of Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, and Jazz.

And a little bit of ‘70s Rock.

You wouldn’t expect me to listen to The Beach Boys.

Preferred format I prefer streaming music because it gives me easy access to my favorites and lets me hear what other artists are doing, too! I miss CDs the most. I loved them for the packaging. Holding it. Looking at the lyrics. Looking at the images. It enhanced the entire experience. I collect mostly jazz records and a few other on vinyl. I love lighting candles and listening to vinyl in a dark vibey bedroom.

5 Albums I Can’t Live Without

1
Dizzy Up the Girl, Goo Goo Dolls

The Goo Goo Dolls always had a huge influence on me growing up. Listening to this album brings me back to my youth but also reminds me of the time when I was able to perform on stage with them early in my career.

2
Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette

She is Canadian music royalty whose music continues to connect with people across generations. It is an album I can revisit over and over, belt every song, and never get sick of.

3
Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson

When originally working on this song I really wasn’t feeling it, but then Kelly came in and took it to the next level. Then to use it as the lead song on the album means so much to me. This is a song that might have never been released, so to see it have its own life is awesome. Kelly made it a worldwide smash. I wrote it about leaving a small town and moving to the big city to take a chance on my music.

4
Third Eye Blind, Third Eye Blind

This album is just easy to listen to so it is on constant rotation in my collection. Not only are the songs on this album iconic but they are major influences in my music career.

5
Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, Blink-182

My admiration for Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus is not a secret to anyone, but even before working with them, I had their music on repeat.

The post 5 Albums I Can’t Live Without: Avril Lavigne appeared first on SPIN.

‘The Simpsons’: Smithers appears on magazine cover with boyfriend

2022-02-18T16:54:44.012Z

Waylon Smithers and boyfriend Michael De Graaf from The Simpsons have made the cover of Attitude magazine.

Smithers, who previously came out on the show in 2016 episode ‘Tom Collins’, had a gay romance storyline last year in episode ‘Portrait Of A Lackey On Fire’.

READ MORE: Every time The Simpsons predicted the future – ranked in order of weirdness

In the episode, Smithers falls in love with Graaf, a famous fashion designer character voiced by Victor Garber (Argo, Legally Blonde).

The fictional couple have since been celebrated in the March/April issue of Attitude, with a cover inspired by Disney classic Lady And The Tramp.

.@TheSimpsons' Waylon Smithers makes history on the cover of Attitude as Springfield's most famous gay resident introduces the world to boyfriend Michael De Graaf.

Get the new-look Attitude March/April issue now https://t.co/Du4RBe4TgQ pic.twitter.com/FVL3pbmtXU

— Attitude Magazine (@AttitudeMag) February 17, 2022

The issue also features a “world-first interview” with Smithers about “life as a gay man in a small town”.

Asked when he first realised he was gay, Smithers said: “Well, I remember watching A StreetCar Named Desire and being unbelievably attracted to the hunk on screen who had such a powerful, raw sexual energy – Karl Malden, who plays Stanley’s friend. I’ve had a poster of him in my bedroom ever since.”

Speaking about the episode last year, co-writer Johnny LaZebnik, who was the inspiration for Smithers’ original coming-out episode, said: “So often, gay romances are a subplot or alluded to or shown in some kind of montage or as a punchline.

“And what I think I was really excited about, with this episode, we get to see – without spoiling too much – the beginning, middle and who knows how it ends of a gay relationship, of really getting into the nitty-gritty of how gay people date, how they meet, what it’s like.”

A fan of The Simpsons recently created a point-and-click adventure game based on the Steamed Hams scene, inspired by classic LucasArts adventure games like Monkey Island.

The post ‘The Simpsons’: Smithers appears on magazine cover with boyfriend appeared first on NME.

Paul McCartney Details 2022 Got Back North American Tour

2022-02-18T16:40:21.583Z

Riding high on all of these Beatles hoopla of the past few months (perhaps not that he needed to anyway), Paul McCartney will be returning to the road. Macca announced a string of North American tour dates beginning on April 28 in Spokane, Washington at the city’s Spokane Arena.

“I said at the end of the last tour that I’d see you next time. I said I was going to get back to you. Well, I got back!” McCartney said in an announcement.

These are McCartney’s first tour dates since 2019, which he ended with a memorable performance at Dodger Stadium where brought out former bandmate Ringo Starr for some Beatles songs. No guarantees on that this time around but it should be fun regardless.

Tickets for the shows go on sale to the public beginning Friday, February 25 at 10 am local time. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, February 22 at 10 am local time through Thursday, February 24 at 10 pm local time.

Paul McCartney Got Back Tour 2022

Thursday, April 28 – Spokane, WA- Spokane Arena
Monday, May 2- Seattle, WA- Climate Pledge Arena
Tuesday, May 3- Seattle, WA- Climate Pledge Arena
Friday, May 6- Oakland, CA- Oakland Arena
Friday, May 13- Los Angeles, CA- SoFi Stadium
Tuesday, May 17- Fort Worth, TX- Dickies Arena
Saturday, May 21- Winston Salem, NC- Truist Field
Wednesday, May 25- Hollywood, FL- Hard Rock Live
Saturday, May 28- Orlando, FL- Camping World Stadium
Tuesday, May 31- Knoxville, TN- Thompson-Boling Arena
Saturday, June 4- Syracuse, NY- Carrier Dome
Tuesday, June 7- Boston, MA- Fenway Park
Sunday, June 12- Baltimore, MD- Oriole Park
Thursday, June 16- East Rutherford, NJ- MetLife Stadium

The post Paul McCartney Details 2022 Got Back North American Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Olympic ice skater Alexandra Trusova skate to The Stooges’ ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’

2022-02-18T16:22:19.495Z

Russian figure skater Alexandra Trusova performed a routine to a cover of The Stooges’ ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ while competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics this week.

The 17-year-old athlete selected the rendition of the 1969 song (which was the Iggy Pop-led band’s debut single) that was recorded by John McCrea for the soundtrack to last year’s Cruella film.

READ MORE: The Big Read – Iggy Pop: “Punk has to have a sense of hopelessness about it”

Trusova skated to the sounds of ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ during her free skate program at the Winter Olympics yesterday (February 17).

Despite finishing top of the free skate standings, Trusova missed out on the overall gold medal after finishing fourth in Tuesday’s short program (February 15). She ended up picking up the silver medal, with Anna Shcherbakova winning the gold.

Russian skater Trusova performing to Iggy & the Stooges “I Wanna Be Your Dog” pic.twitter.com/kNC3yPWaVz

— Steve Kiviat (@SteveKiviat) February 18, 2022

After she missed out on gold by 4.22 points, Trusova was heard to say (via Reuters): “Everyone has a gold medal, everyone, but not me. I hate skating. I hate it. I hate this sport. I will never skate again. Never. It’s impossible. That’s now how it should be.”

In a subsequent press conference, Trusova said that after her routine she “wanted to cry, so I cried. I’ve been three weeks alone without my mom, my dogs. So I cry.”

This year’s Winter Olympics has also seen the US figure skating team perform to a Daft Punk medley, while Elton John congratulated Nathan Chen after his gold medal-winning routine was soundtracked to a selection of John’s songs.

The post Watch Olympic ice skater Alexandra Trusova skate to The Stooges’ ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ appeared first on NME.

Willie Nelson Announces 10th Annual Luck Reunion

2022-02-17T17:45:44.032Z

Now you know everything is back. Willie Nelson‘s Luck Reunion is returning to the rolling hill country just outside of Austin on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17 if you don’t know)for its 10th edition.

The Luck Presents event will gather more than 40 musical acts and will take place on Thursday, Mar. 17. The star-studded eclectic lineup includes Willie Nelson and Family, Japanese Breakfast, Allison Russell, Weyes Blood, 49 Winchester, Ida Mae, Charley Crockett, Neal Francis, and many more.

Presented by Southwest Airlines, it also will include various culinary experiences, and “unique” experiences throughout Luck, TX, or Nelson’s backyard. The lineup for this year’s Luck Potluck was recently announced, which is a culinary event on the eve of the Reunion, on March 16.

Also stomping down the Luck Ranch this year, for the first time, Luck Presents unveiled its Spring Concert Series, which will kick off with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Danielle Ponder on March 18. Shakey Graves & Friends will perform on March 19, and Modest Mouse on April 29. Buckle up!

“Although we’ve faced the challenges of two years without live music, Team Luck knows how to rally,” said festival organizers. “We can’t wait to celebrate ten years of Luck and to see our ‘Luck Family’ return to the stage.”

Information for all things Luck can be found on the Luck Presents website.

Luck Presents

Luck Presents Lineup

49 Winchester
Abby Hamilton
Abraham Alexander
Adia Victoria
Allison Russell
Bendigo Fletcher
Black Lips
BMI Songwriters Circle feat. Jackie Venson, Suzanne Santo & Aaron Raitiere
Charley Crockett
Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express
Danielle Ponder
David Beck’s Tejano Weekend
Delta Spirit
Ida Mae
Japanese Breakfast
Jim Francis
Jim Keller
Jonathan Terrell
Leslie Mendelson
Lily Meola
Lost Gonzo Band with Michael Martin Murphey
Lucero
Neal Francis
Night Moves
Particle Kid
Ryan Quiet
Seratones
S.G. Goodman
Steve Gunn (full band)
Sunflower Bean
SUSTO
Tami Neilson
Trè Burt (solo)
Weyes Blood (solo)
Willie Nelson and Family

The post Willie Nelson Announces 10th Annual Luck Reunion appeared first on SPIN.

Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Announce Rescheduled Stadium Tour

2022-02-17T17:37:17.283Z

The monsters of ’80s rock are back. After two years of cancelations, Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are finally ready to rock down stadiums across the U.S. and Canada.

The iconic co-headliners are kicking off the massive run in June, and emerging rock band Classless Act is scheduled to support.

“I remember when we went out with Ozzy in 1984 and how it was an insane game changer!!” Mötley Crüe’s drummer (and subject of Pam and Tommy Hulu series), Tommy Lee, who was an early follower of Classless Act said. “We literally blew up after having that opportunity to play live in front of 20,000 people every f***ing night! Since then, we’ve always felt it was important to help new bands; whether it was Guns N Roses, Skid Row or so many others. This summer we’re gonna help out Classless Act.”

They recently added five more shows, and tickets for the new dates will go on-sale beginning at 10 a.m. local on Friday, Feb. 25.

“On behalf of the band, we’re beyond thrilled that the stadium tour is finally happening this summer,” Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott said. “It’s been a while coming and we can’t wait to get back on stage again & we can’t wait to see you in one of the many stadiums soon!”

The Stadium Tour

Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Tour Dates

Thursday, June 16 Atlanta, GA Truist Park
Saturday, June 18 Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium
Sunday, June 19 Orlando, FL Camping World Stadium
Wednesday, June 22 Washington, DC Nationals Park
Friday, June 24 Queens, NY Citi Field
Saturday, June 25 Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Park
Tuesday, June 28 Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium
Thursday, June 30 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium
Saturday, July 2 Jacksonville, FL TIAA Bank Field
Tuesday, July 5 St. Louis, MO Busch Stadium
Friday, July 8 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
Sunday, July 10 Detroit, MI Comerica Park
Tuesday July 12 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
Thursday, July 14 Cleveland, OH FirstEnergy Stadium, Home of the Cleveland Browns
Friday, July 15 Cincinnati, OH Great American Ball Park
Sunday, July 17 Milwaukee, WI American Family Field
Tuesday, July 19 Kansas City, MO Kauffman Stadium
Thursday, July 21 Denver, CO Coors Field
Friday, August 5 Boston, MA Fenway Park
Saturday, August 6 Boston, MA Fenway Park
Monday, August 8 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre*
Wednesday, August 10 Orchard Park, NY Highmark Stadium
Friday, August 12 Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park
Sunday, August 14 Minneapolis, MN U.S. Bank Stadium
Tuesday, August 16 Indianapolis, IN Lucas Oil Stadium*
Friday, August 19 Houston, TX Minute Maid Park
Sunday, August 21 San Antonio, TX Alamodome
Monday, August 22 Arlington, TX Globe Life Field
Thursday, August 25 Glendale, AZ State Farm Stadium
Saturday, August 27 Inglewood, CA SoFi Stadium
Sunday, August 28 San Diego, CA Petco Park
Wednesday, August 31 Seattle, WA T-Mobile Park
Friday, September 2 Vancouver, BC BC Place*
Sunday, September 4 Edmonton, AB Commonwealth Stadium /Stade du Commonwealth*
Wednesday, September 7 San Francisco, CA Oracle Park
Friday, September 9 Las Vegas, NV Allegiant Stadium*

*New shows

The post Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Announce Rescheduled Stadium Tour appeared first on SPIN.

Twin Cities Heroes Hippo Campus Learn to Zen Out

2022-02-17T17:33:38.059Z

In the months leading up to the pandemic, the typically carefree dudes in Twin Cities-based indie-rock outfit Hippo Campus hit their breaking point. They’d been touring for more than six years straight, with no more than two-month breaks between shows at any given time. “We were straight-up burnt out,” guitarist Nathan Stocker admits, noting how in addition to the stress of the road, the band was also undergoing managerial changes and “navigating individual and personal relationships issues just trying to maintain just our health and get back to the essence of the band.”

As it turned out, “someone was clearly watching out for us,” lead singer Jake Luppen says, and while the pandemic was hardly anyone’s idea of an ideal situation, both Luppen and Stocker believe it was something of a blessing in disguise for Hippo Campus. Taking time away from the road for nearly all of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic gave the band — which includes bassist Zach Sutton, drummer Whistler Allen and trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson — a fresh perspective on their craft. Now, “we’re doing three-week-long stints at most just to maintain that healthy brain,” Stocker notes of the band’s more relaxed upcoming tour schedule behind their wild new album, the aptly titled LP3.

Hitting refresh on their craft goes a long way in explaining why these days there’s an almost Zen-like attitude among the members of Hippo Campus. Yes, the five-piece band who meld sprightly synths with jangly guitar and Luppen’s falsetto, might make exuberant, funky rock music, and are unabashedly raucous in the live setting. But to hear Luppen tell it, having been a group for the better part of a decade, they’ve settled into, well, some semblance of adulthood.

“We’re holding on the loosest that we ever have,” he says calling in via Zoom from his Minneapolis home studio, laid back and mellow but always forthright throughout the conversation. “It seems like the less we care the better things turn out.”

They’re only in their early-20s, but Stocker notes how all five band members are “getting to an age where a couple of us have bought houses and we’re in serious relationships. Our priority now is to keep doing Hippo Campus as long as it’s fun and when it’s not fun we can take breaks and walk away.”

Walk away? Don’t tell that to their hordes of fans, particularly those in the Twin Cities, many of whom hold Hippo Campus up as something resembling hometown heroes thanks to the band’s relentless gigging and notoriously energetic live shows.

(Credit: Tonje Thilesen)

Because sure, Hippo Campus (who kick off a nearly sold-out North American tour today) may have released a trio of official studio albums to date, but listening to their whimsical aesthetic, it feels like the group is just now hitting its musical stride.

According to Stocker, with them learning to let go — putting less pressure on themselves to deliver the goods and care less about outsider perception — they’ve never been more creatively fulfilled as a band.

“We know ourselves more now than ever,” the shaggy-haired Stocker says via Zoom while sitting in his own Minneapolis home studio, backed by an arsenal of guitars draped on the wall behind him. “We’re no longer hitting refresh on the numbers page [for our music] or checking the comments. Because we’re not as obsessive about a public response as we used to be. That is just reflective of the amount of growth we’ve gone through and the work we’ve put in.”

The band started off as a quintet of St. Paul high schoolers back in 2013 and have since built a rabid grassroots fanbase leading to multiple world tours. But they view themselves as of a decidedly older generation – at least in terms of their music career.

(Credit: Tonje Thilesen)

“We came up at a very particular time,” Luppen explains. One that, he believes, no longer exists.

“We didn’t have to make TikToks or do all of the things my friends who are just starting their careers have to do now,” the singer recalls of the band’s salad days. “Our managers were telling us to tour our faces off. And I’m thankful we went about it that way because we built a live touring business which is rare. “

Looking to the future, Hippo Campus have never felt more at ease with where things stand. LP3, the two band members note, was the first time where they felt like the songwriting and recording process “was something we controlled ourselves and we weren’t behind hounded by the machine or the industry in any weird way,” says Stocker. “It was kind of like “Let’s just have fun and see what happens.”

Not a bad recipe for another decade in the game.

The post Twin Cities Heroes Hippo Campus Learn to Zen Out appeared first on SPIN.

Artist x Artist: Ben Gibbard and Japanese Breakfast Discuss Their Appreciation of Yoko Ono

2022-02-17T17:16:43.926Z

a Yoko Ono tribute album. Paying respect to one of the most misunderstood artists of the past half-century, Gibbard enlisted high-profile artists like David Byrne, Yo La Tengo, his bandmates in Death Cab for Cutie and Japanese Breakfast to record Ono covers. Japanese Breakfast’s tender piano-driven take on Ono’s “Nobody Sees Me Like You Do” showcases a depth of knowledge for her catalog.

Ahead of that album’s release, Gibbard and Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast sat down to chat about all things Yoko Ono. The duo discussed the project’s formation, their mutual respect for Ono and digging in to her vast catalog. They spoke about their takeaways of Ono as an artist and what they appreciate about her music. Gibbard shared how he first discovered her music at a record store while looking in the “O” section and was impressed by the album art. He continued to say how he appreciated how vast her sound is.

After studying her sound, Gibbard said it became a “pet project to turn people on to these [Ono’s] records” and the challenges of creating a proper tribute with an eclectic group of artists. They also ruminated about how difficult it would be to put on a live, one-night-only show with all of the album’s participants on the bill [but never say never].

Check out their full conversation below.

On our previous Artist x Artist episode, Yola and Natalie Hemby discussed working together on the former’s acclaimed album Stand for Myself. Watch previous Artist x Artist episodes, including Jonah Ray chatting with “Weird Al” Yankovic, Sting with Shirazee and Paris Jackson with Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra, here.

The post Artist x Artist: Ben Gibbard and Japanese Breakfast Discuss Their Appreciation of Yoko Ono appeared first on SPIN.

U2, Pixies, Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift Highlight Record Store Day 2022 Releases

2022-02-17T17:09:04.849Z

Record Store Day has just released the list of exclusive pressings that will be available on April 23. In case supply chain issues get in the way of the planned date in April, a safety net’ date of June 18th was established as a backup.

This year returns to the normal Record Store Day format since there will be a single date instead of the two “Drop” dates that took place in 2020 and 2021.

Even with a single date, the list of exclusive releases is no less exciting. U2, Pixies, David Bowie Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, David Bowie, St. Vincent, Prince, Stevie Nicks, and Lou Reed, among many more, will release limited edition vinyl.

Taylor Swift, the Record Store Day 2022 global ambassador, will release a seven-inch pressing of her bonus track “the lakes” from 2020’s folklore. U2 will celebrate the 4oth anniversary of A Celebration with an exclusive anniversary pressing.

With a full 10-page list of releases, listeners are sure to find something to draw them in line on April 23. The full list of releases is available on the record store day website here.

Record stores across the nation will participate in this staple music-collecting event. A full list of participating stores is available on the Record Store Day website.

The post U2, Pixies, Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift Highlight Record Store Day 2022 Releases appeared first on SPIN.

Ed Sheeran given green light to build crypt under chapel on his Suffolk estate

2022-02-17T17:01:30.525Z

Ed Sheeran has reportedly been given the green light to build a crypt under the floor of a chapel on his estate in Suffolk.

The singer submitted a planning application to East Suffolk Council in December in regards to his estate, which is located near the town of Framlingham and close to where Sheeran grew up.

READ MORE: Ed Sheeran – ‘=’ review: the millennial Lionel Richie indulges his saccharine streak

As The Guardian reports, Sheeran is seeking permission to construct a crypt in the nave of the chapel, which itself has been described as a “private place of retreat for contemplation and prayer”.

The chapel, which is still under construction after it was finally approved in 2019 following setbacks, is set to be flint-lined and feature a lead roof, stained-glass windows and a spiral-stair tower.

The chapel’s crypt, which is the subject of this latest planning application, would be a 1.8-by-2.7 metre “burial zone beneath (penetration through slab)” the chapel’s ground floor.

The Sun reports that Sheeran has now been given the all-clear by East Suffolk Council’s environmental and conservation officials, despite a staunch objection from one local resident.

Local councillors will now have the final say on whether Sheeran’s plans for the crypt will be officially approved.

Elsewhere, Sheeran’s unlikely collaboration with Cradle Of Filth is still a possibility, according to the band’s frontman Dani Filth.

“Ed’s expressed a desire to be part of a song, and we’re currently looking at some options, and that’s about as far as it’s got,” Filth told Heavy Consequence this week.

The post Ed Sheeran given green light to build crypt under chapel on his Suffolk estate appeared first on NME.

Yves Tumor Unveils Boundary-Pushing Video For ‘Secrecy Is Incredibly Important To The Both of Them’

2022-02-17T16:35:39.311Z

from his 2021 EP The Asymptotical World. The video, directed by frequent visual collaborator and art director Jordan Hemingway, furthers Tumor’s artistic vision of pushing genre boundaries with vibrant songs with visuals to match.

The video utilizes striking, vibrant movements and costumes to show an inner journey. Tumor is portrayed as the protagonist of the video, but this convention is also challenged–indicating an inner contradiction or turmoil.

Later this month the experimental superstar will take the stage in an epic 60 stop international tour, spanning across North American, the U.K. and Europe. Doss, October and The Eyes, and TIMKOH will play supporting the act across various dates. Tickets are available for purchase here.

YVES TUMOR 2022 TOUR DATES

* w/ TIMKOH

^ w/October and The Eyes

# w/DOSS

EU/UK Winter 2022

Feb 25 2022 Fri –– Nitsa –– Barcelona ES

Feb 26 2022 Sat –– Praga Centrum –– Warsaw PL *

Feb 27 2022 Sun –– Meet Factory –– Prague CZ *

Feb 28 2022 Mon –– Vega Main Hall –– Copenhagen DK *

Mar 2 2022 Wed –– La Laiterie –– Strasbourg FR *

Mar 3 2022 Thu –– Trabendo –– Paris FR *

Mar 5 2022 Sat –– Strange Brew (Matinée Show) –– Bristol UK ^

Mar 5 2022 Sat –– Strange Brew (Evening Show) –– Bristol UK ^

Mar 6 2022 Sun –– Drygate –– Glasgow UK ^

Mar 7 2022 Mon –– Whelans –– Dublin IE

Mar 8 2022 Tue –– Troxy –– London UK *^

Mar 9 2022 Wed –– Chalk –– Brighton UK ^

Mar 10 2022 Thu –– Yes (Matinée Show) –– Manchester UK ^

Mar 10 2022 Thu –– Yes (Evening Show) –– Manchester UK ^

Mar 11 2022 Fri –– Belgrave Music Hall –– Leeds UK ^

US/Canada Spring 2022

Mar 16 2022 Wed –– Santa Ana CA –– The Observatory & Constellation Room #

Mar 17 2022 Thu –– Sacramento CA –– Ace of Spades #

Mar 18 2022 Fri –– San Francisco CA –– 1015 Folsom #

Mar 19 2022 Sat –– Felton CA –– Felton Music Hall #

Mar 20 2022 Sun –– Salt Lake City UT –– Soundwell #

Mar 22 2022 Tue –– Boulder CO –– Boulder Theater #

Mar 23 2022 Wed –– Omaha NE –– Slowdown #

Mar 24 2022 Thu –– Lawrence KS –– The Bottleneck #

Mar 25 2022 Fri –– St. Louis MO –– Old House Rock #

Mar 26 2022 Sat –– Louisville KY –– Headliners Music Hall #

Mar 27 2022 Sun –– Knoxville TN –– The Mill & Mine (Big Ears Festival)

Mar 29 2022 Tue –– Detroit MI –– El Club #

Mar 30 2022 Wed –– Chicago IL –– Metro #

Mar 31 2022 Thu –– Toronto ON –– Opera House #

Apr 1 2022 Fri –– Montreal QC –– Club Soda #

Apr 3 2022 Sun –– Boston MA –– Royale #

Summer 2022

Jun 8 2022 –– MENT –– Ljubljana SI

Jun 9 2022 Thu –– Stadtgarten – Cologne DE

Jun 10 2022 Fri –– Melt Festival –– Ferropolis DE

Jun 11 2022 Sat –– Trauma Bar und Kino –– Berlin DE

Jun 12 2022 Sun –– Gretchen –– Berlin DE *

Jun 13 2022 Mon –– Plissken Festival –– Athens GR

Jun 16 2022 Thu –– Sideways Festival –– Helsinki FL

Jun 17 2022 Fri –– 8 Festival –– Vilnius LT

Jun 23 2022 Thu –– Electric Forest Festival –– Rothbury MI

July 6 2022 Wed –– Mad Cool Festival –– Madrid ES

July 8 2022 Fri –– Pohoda Festival –– Trencin SK

July 9 2022 Sat –– ARTIVIVE Festival –– Modena IT

July 10 2022 Sun –– Anfiteatro Delle Cascine –– Florence IT

July 13 2022 Wed –– Slottsfjell Festival –– Tønsberg NO

July 15 2022 Fri –– Positivus Festival –– Salacgriva Beach LV

July 16 2022 Sat –– DOUR Festival –– Dour BE

Aug 4 2022 Thu –– Tradgarden –– Stockholm SE

Aug 6 2022 Sat –– OFF Festival –– Katowice PL

Aug 10 2022 Wed –– Sziget Festival –– Budapest HU

Aug 12 2022 Fri –– Paradiso Main Hall –– Amsterdam NL *

Aug 13 2022 Sat –– Hangar 34 –– Liverpool UK

Aug 15 2022 Mon –– Boiler Shop –– Newcastle UK

Aug 16 2022 Tue –– Castle & Falcon –– Birmingham UK

Aug 18 2022 Thu –– Green Man Festival –– Brecon Beacons, Wales, UK

Aug 19 2022 Fri –– All Points East Festival –– London UK

Aug 20 2022 Sat –– Parades de Coura Festival –– Parades de Coura PT

Aug 27 2022 Sat –– This Aint No Picnic –– Pasadena CA

Aug 30 2022 Tue –– Wonder Ballroom –– Portland OR

Aug 31 2022 Wed –– Commodore Ballroom –– Vancouver BC

More dates to be announced…

The post Yves Tumor Unveils Boundary-Pushing Video For ‘Secrecy Is Incredibly Important To The Both of Them’ appeared first on SPIN.

Future Islands Perform New Song ‘King of Sweden’ on ‘Colbert’

2022-02-16T16:38:21.843Z

The synth-pop group Future Islands debuted their newest single, “King of Sweden” last night on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

“I’m always flyin’ / So I’m always cryin’ / Losing my emotions / On a desert island,” frontman Samuel Herring dreamily sings atop the band’s synthy beats. “King of Sweden” is available now.

The Baltimore-based band is gearing up for an extensive tour. Future Islands is set to perform nine shows in the UK (four are already sold-out), and Dan Deacon is slated to support.

Their Canada and U.S. legs will follow, and their rescheduled European dates are for several shows in August. Tickets for their “Calling Out in Space” tour are available on Future Island’s website.

Future Islands Tour Dates

UK Live Dates:

March 23 – MANCHESTER, GB, Academy 1 SOLD OUT *

March 24 – MANCHESTER, GB, Academy 1 *

March 25 – LONDON, GB, Alexandra Palace *

March 27 – BELFAST, GB, Ulster Hall *

March 28 – DUBLIN, IE, Vicar Street SOLD OUT *

March 29 – DUBLIN, IE, Vicar Street SOLD OUT *

March 31 – NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, GB, Northumbria SU Institute SOLD OUT *

April 1 – EDINBURGH, GB, Usher Hall

April 2 – GLASGOW, GB, O2 Academy Glasgow

* w/ Dan Deacon

Canada & US Live Dates:

May 12 – VANCOUVER, BC, Commodore Ballroom

May 13 – VANCOUVER, BC, Commodore Ballroom

May 15 – CALGARY, AB, MacEwan Hall

May 17 – RED DEER, AB, Bo’s Bar & Grill

May 19 – EDMONTON, AB, Midway Music • Arcade • Kitchen

May 20 – SASKATOON, SK, Coors Event Centre

May 21 – WINNIPEG, MB, The Park Theatre

May 24 – LONDON, ON, London Music Hall

May 25 – TORONTO, ON, HISTORY

May 26 – MONTREAL, QC, MTELUS,

May 27 – OTTAWA, ON, The Bronson Centre

May 29 – QUÉBEC CITY, ON, Impérial Bell

May 30 – SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT, Higher Ground

May 31 – PROVIDENCE, RI, Columbus Theatre

June 2 – BROOKLYN, NY, Brooklyn Steel

June 3 – BROOKLYN, NY, Brooklyn Steel SOLD OUT

Rescheduled European Live Dates:

August 16 – COLOGNE, DE, E-Werk

August 17 – MUNICH, DE, TonHalle

August 18 – BERLIN, DE, Columbiahalle

August 22 – OSLO, NO, Sentrum Scene

August 24 – COPENHAGEN, DK, Vega (tickets valid from 26 February)

August 25 – COPENHAGEN, DK, Vega (tickets valid from 27 February)

August 29 – HELSINKI, FI, The House of Culture

October 26 – UTRECHT, NL, TivoliVredenburg (Ronda) (tickets valid from 15 March)

November 4 – MILAN, IT, Fabrique

November 7 – PARIS, FR, L’Olympia

The post Future Islands Perform New Song ‘King of Sweden’ on ‘Colbert’ appeared first on SPIN.

Oscars 2022 introduces “fan favourite” film category voted by Twitter users

2022-02-16T16:35:12.588Z

A new category has been introduced for the Oscars 2022 which is decided by a public vote.

The Academy announced on Monday (February 14) that people can vote on Twitter for their favourite film of 2021 using the #OscarsFanFavorite hashtag or by casting a ballot on the Oscars Fan Favorite website. Voting closes on March 3.

READ MORE: Oscars 2022 nominations – full list

The winner from the public vote will be announced during the ceremony at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles on March 27. Those who vote will also be in for a chance to win a trip to the Oscars 2023 to present an award.

Along with the fan favourite vote, the Academy has also asked viewers to vote on Twitter for your “most cheer-worthy movie moment ever” via #OscarsCheerMoment. Those who participate will have a chance to win a year of free movies at a theater of their choice and streaming subscriptions.

Vote for your to favorite movie of 2021 for a chance to win a trip to the 95th #Oscars in 2023.

Vote up to 20 times per day until 3/3 by tweeting your movie pick with #OscarsFanFavorite & #Sweepstakes or by visiting https://t.co/HjaTjZfexf. pic.twitter.com/rsu45WkxXh

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 14, 2022

Meryl Johnson, digital marketing VP at the Academy, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Twitter to help build an engaged and excited digital audience leading up to this year’s ceremony.

“The Oscars are an opportunity to bring people around the world together through their shared movie love, and through these activations social media users around the world now have more opportunities to engage with the show in real-time, find a community and be a part of the experience in ways they’ve never been able to before.”

A list of films eligible for the fan favourite award is available on the Oscars website.

Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes were recently announced as hosts of this year’s event, who will have an hour slot each during the broadcast.

Nominations for the Oscars 2022 were revealed last week, with Jane Campion’s The Power Of The Dog leading with 12 nominations. Dune is close behind with 10 nods, while Belfast and West Side Story have seven each.

Along with the above contenders, the race for Best Picture includes Licorice Pizza, CODA, Don’t Look Up, Drive My Car, King Richard and Nightmare Alley.

The post Oscars 2022 introduces “fan favourite” film category voted by Twitter users appeared first on NME.

Dave Grohl: Rock God, Workaholic, Movie Demon

2022-02-16T16:32:13.160Z

“Let me just play this for you — I recorded it the other day,” says an enthusiastic Dave Grohl. It’s late January, and he’s sitting in his home studio, gearing up for the release of yet another project — one that’s different than anything he’s done before. Over Zoom, he fiddles around with knobs on his speakers. Seconds later, some demonic, bone-crunching riffs are blasting (or as loud as they can through my measly MacBook Air speaker), and the sounds of doom and gloom emanate.

“I’m recording the lost album that they were making before the singer kills them,” Grohl says of the fictional Dream Widow, a band whose spirit looms large in his first feature film, Studio 666. He adds that he came up with the idea days before and now has a few weeks to finish the “album” before the movie hits theaters. Just as a point of reference, the music is more Probot, Grohl’s 2004 metal side project than anything the Foo Fighters have done.

I ask him if he would ever take Dream Widow on tour, with his disco alter-ego band The Dee Gees opening for the full Foo Fighters/not-Foo Fighters experience.

“Dude, fucking Coachella 2022!” he quips excitedly in response.

Grohl has had a busy past few years. Even before the pandemic, he announced plans to celebrate Foo Fighters’ 25th anniversary in style: with a new album, a tour that replicated their maiden run in 1995, and a documentary about van life. There’s no sense in rehashing what happened since, but all of the band’s best-laid plans went to waste.

One of those included unveiling Studio 666. Not that Grohl was onboard with it at first.

Sitting in his office wearing all black, the spectacled musician and “entertainment mogul” (Soundgarden’s words, not mine) displays the mile-a-minute energy that’s defined pretty much his whole career. But tackling his first non-documentary feature was one of the rare projects that wasn’t his or the band’s brainchild.

“A friend who had just come out of a meeting with a movie studio texted me and said that they wanted to make a horror film with the Foo Fighters,” he says. “I texted back and said, ‘That’s the stupidest fucking idea I’ve ever heard in my entire life.'”

But as he started working on the music that would become Medicine at Midnight, the idea didn’t seem that stupid anymore. At that time, Grohl wanted to build out a studio at a house. Call it kismet, but his landlord from a decade ago called and asked if he wanted to buy a house since he was subdividing that property. He declined, but he did find a place to work.

“I brought my demo studio into the house to start recording,” he says. “While I was doing that, I thought ‘Holy shit, this is the perfect place to make that horror film I never wanted to make,’ and just started coming up with this ridiculous idea.”

The Foos have long been fans of artists on the big screen (“Whether it’s Help! or KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park or the Spice Girls movie — Pat Smear, big fan”), so this was their chance to take something and run with it. Little did they realize that by running with a self-financed film, it would take two and a half years through a pandemic (not to mention plenty of anguish) to complete.

As the idea ballooned, Grohl kept asking himself one question: “The whole time we were just cracking up thinking, ‘Oh my God, what if blank happens?'” he says. “‘What if we blank? Could you imagine if we blank?’ Which is the story of our entire career.”

The Encino estate seemed perfect for any type of recording session (although Grohl says his Hanukkah Sessions were done in Hawaii and Greg Kurstin’s studio in Los Angeles, adding, “I would never do Hanukkah Sessions in that haunted house! No fucking way.”). Alas, it was the ideal backdrop to a horror film.

(L to R) Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, and Rami Jaffee star as themselves in director BJ McDonnell’s STUDIO 666, an Open Road Films release. (Credit: Courtesy of Open Road Films)

Grohl and his Foos bandmates managed to keep the project completely under wraps — an impressive feat in the age of social media and curious passersby, even in the secluded area. But there was a method to this secret madness.

“Part of the plan was that we were going to make the record, and then do a whole round of press where we told everyone that we had just made an album in a haunted house,” Grohl says with a sly grin. “You can look back at some of the interviews we did, where we totally fucking lied and told people that. The plan was to convince everyone that we had recorded in a haunted house, and then BOOM! We’d drop this movie out of nowhere. But then, we had to actually stop shooting at the tail end of the schedule, because the pandemic hit.”

But, as has been very well-documented, Grohl can’t and won’t sit still. We chatted about how the film finally came together and how it stressed out his unnamed bandmates. He also looked back on a strange two years, albeit some with some major highlights, including reopening several arenas, personal happiness and everything in between.

(WARNING: Major spoilers ahead)

SPIN: Man, that movie took some sharp turns as you get into it… as a horror movie does, eh?
Dave Grohl: Hollywood, right? The true magic of Hollywood. I turned into a major fucking demon and murdered my band to go solo. I don’t think that anyone in the band could be considered a horror aficionado, though everyone in the band has seen at least one rock ‘n’ roll movie. When the idea started to evolve, it went from being something more along the lines of an extended Foo Fighters video to then ballooning into this full-length feature film that involves me eating Chris [Shiflett] and decapitating Taylor [Hawkins] and chainsawing Rami [Jaffe] in half while he’s fucking Whitney Cummings. [Laughs.] With this, we had the availability and the right people to facilitate all of these ridiculous ideas. When Pat Smear first watched the movie, he texted me and said, “Oh, my God, we made a movie, an actual movie.” I’m like, “What the fuck do you think we’ve been doing the last six months?” So yeah, it definitely blossomed into something we never imagined.

How did you manage to squeeze making a full-length feature into your busy schedule?
This idea started about three years ago, even before I started writing the Medicine at Midnight music. Usually, before we make an album, I’ll demo a bunch of instrumentals by myself. I play the drums, bass, guitar, and I’ll either do it here in my home studio or down the street at our big studio. But I wanted to find a house where I could be completely alone to record and engineer all this stuff by myself. At the same time, I was looking in this area in Encino for a little house to build a temporary studio. Once that all came together, we started talking to screenwriters, talking to directors and building the product, to the point where it was it became an actual film. That was very simple and practically cliche in that “rock band moves into a haunted house, someone becomes possessed, kills everybody, and there’s a demon in the house.” It’s kind of Amityville Horror, kind of Evil Dead, kind of The Shining. As all of these ideas are being formed, we’re just laughing the entire time. I mean, nobody’s renting tuxes for the fucking Oscars. We’re just trying to have fun with this.

How did you get everyone to go along with their fictional personas? Or were these “fictional” personas?
Rebecca [Hughes] and Jeff [Buhler], the screenwriters, came to hang out and just witness the actual dynamic between the band. As they were writing, they were not just elaborating, but also embellishing it to the point where it would actually be funny or interesting. If you’ve ever been in a room with all of us, it’s like being hazed by comics. All we do is just fuck with each other all day long. So the first indication that we were going to have to act was the table read, which none of us, of course, have ever done. We were flipping through the pages, beginning to realize the characters that the screenwriters had painted us to be. I’m like, “Oh, my God, wait, is Rami Pauly Shore?” We definitely knew what we were there to do within each scene. And most of that was just to be ourselves, no matter how ridiculous the situation or circumstance was. So it was fucking fun.

(Credit: Courtesy of Andrew Stuart / Open Road Films)

Is that house really haunted?
Well, it’s funny. When I lived there 10 years ago, I didn’t think so. My kids thought so. We had a babysitter who thought so. But I never felt weird about it. It wasn’t until I was there by myself for days on end that I convinced myself it might be and got creeped out.

How did you come up with that other band that Taylor ended up saying were supposed to be the next Jane’s Addiction and the whole vibe of that 44-minute song? It definitely didn’t sound like Jane’s Addiction…
In the script, the singer is possessed and he’s writing this song that if the band completes the song, it will open the portal to hell and this demon will be unleashed. So when asked, they’re like, “Dave, could you record some crazy song with no ending that just goes on and on?” I have so many riffs here in my studio that I’ve never used, and a lot of them are old-school heavy metal. So I crunched a bunch of them together into a 13-minute song. I think that’s what we used, and I think it’s called “Lacrimas” or something Latin. I can’t remember what it was. It was funny to make music in that way. It’s so much fun to record from this fictitious perspective — from a place where I have no obligation to be myself or the Foo Fighters.

(L to R) Nate Mendel, Rami Jaffee, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett, and Dave Grohl star as themselves in director BJ McDonnell’s STUDIO 666, an Open Road Films release. (Credit: Courtesy of Open Road Films)

Outside of this, your schedule seems to remain non-stop. Is there anything else you’ve got in the can in addition to touring and everything else?
There’s always something. No grass growing out of these feet! Last year was a joy. We didn’t do as much touring as we usually would. But the energy of those shows made up for it. At this point, you just cross your fingers and hope that the gigs actually happen. Because that’s the best part. Making horror films is fun, but I kinda like rock shows the best.

I mean the MSG reopening and the Forum show with Nandi Bushell were pretty memorable as far as that’s concerned.
The MSG one — we were asked to do that on maybe two and a half or three weeks’ notice. My manager, John [Silva], texted and said, “Hey, do you want to reopen Madison Square Garden?” I said, “Yeah, but when?” And he said in two weeks, and we hadn’t played a show in a fucking year and a half. We just bombed into the rehearsal studio and got ready. But yes, it was worth it.

As for Nandi, long before I was ever involved, she was perhaps the most inspiring person on the Internet. To see someone so filled with love and joy and hope and music. Then that, coupled with this incredible musical ability at such a young age, just blew my mind. I’m sure most everyone felt the same. But to be involved in something that surely brought people three or four minutes of joy in an otherwise really dark time, I was honored. The funniest part about her coming out to Los Angeles is we had never met. We met at soundcheck that day. I knew she was small. I didn’t realize she was that small. I mean, she’s fucking tiny! [Laughs.] I never questioned her abilities. I mean, she plays fucking Tool and Slipknot songs, so how hard could “Everlong” be? Nothing is going to eclipse that moment. When she came out, that same feeling or energy that radiates in every one of her Instagram drumming posts was amplified times 20,000. People were just fucking ecstatic. They were crying. It was fucking amazing.

Being at the show and watching Taylor watch her was something else. Just smiling at watching her work.
She’s got a lot of life ahead of her. And I don’t think anyone’s gonna be able to keep up, that’s for sure.

Speaking of that, the pace you manage to maintain — even in the pandemic — seems impossible. Between the book, the doc, touring, making movies and albums, how do you do it all?
2020 was different in that you were reduced to — or restricted to — this new sense of adaptation. So the things that you wanted to do, you could still do, but you had to find another way to do them. That sort of challenge was really exciting to me, to do things differently and be productive. None of this applies to school because I was a terrible student, but in the afternoons as a teenager, I could never take naps because I would hear someone mowing their lawn next door. Or I could hear my mother raking the leaves in the backyard. I’d have this overwhelming sense of guilt that I was relaxing instead of being active or productive. So now, 40 years later, having the opportunity or the availability to pretty much do anything I put my mind to facilitate these ridiculous fucking ideas — I just have the opportunity to do so much shit. Why the fuck would I sit on my ass?

But that being said, oh, my God, I’ve worked shitty jobs that seem like work. None of this seems like work. I hate telling people that my job is work. Every now and then it might seem like work, but it’s not.

Are you going to do any of the celebratory events you set up for the Foos’ 25th anniversary or has that been relegated to the backburner? Like the van tour of hitting the cities from that initial run from 1995.
We’re not doing it this year. I know. Maybe we’ll wait ’til 30 if that fucking van survives. You could imagine the complications of touring today. And then stick all of us in that fucked up old van? There’s no six-feet rule in that.

The other thing is that, to be honest, a lot of the promotional merchandise we had for our 25th anniversary expired in the pandemic. Coors Light made these beer cans that were for our 25th anniversary. I have a fucking case of them downstairs in my fucking refrigerator, and it doesn’t really mean that much anymore.

Wasn’t Chris holding a Coors can in the movie and was that it? Perhaps a little Wayne’s World-esque?
It’s one of those funny things that you don’t consider or realize until you’re making the movie. “OK, Dave, let’s do one more take, but make sure that you hold the logo towards the camera.” I was like, “I get it.”

What do you mean?
Well, this is what happened because we didn’t have any sort of studio funding behind the movie. We funded the whole thing ourselves in order to keep it a secret because we thought, like, “Oh, well also, because who the fuck else is gonna give us money to do something so stupid?” I mean that was the real job. When we saw the budget for the film, a couple people got a little nervous. But I’m like, “Dude, whatever. We’re gonna go do this world tour! We’re gonna play stadiums. All of this is a drop in the fucking bucket, and we’re gonna be on tour for the next two years!” And then the world shuts down…

Fans will be excited for this regardless. Look at the response to the Dee Gees.
I was amazed. And again, Dee Gees is another good example. I got a silly idea. “Let’s make a fucking Bee Gees tribute record and call it Dee Gees.” That was Taylor’s idea.

Well, that’s the other thing. Someone in another interview was asking me, “Are you concerned with what the critics will say about this movie?” I’m like, “Movie critics? No! Why?” I mean, I hope our audience likes it. I hope that people that go out and have a good time with it.

The post Dave Grohl: Rock God, Workaholic, Movie Demon appeared first on SPIN.

Modest Mouse announce North American tour with The Cribs

2022-02-16T16:29:07.019Z

Modest Mouse have announced a new North American tour with The Cribs, due to take place this spring.

The two bands have long had a link, with the Wakefield trio recruiting the Portland band’s Joe Plummer to add some percussion to some tracks in 2007. Later, in 2008, Johnny Marr completed his touring duties with Modest Mouse and left the line-up to join The Cribs, with whom he played for three years.

READ MORE: Modest Mouse on their most hopeful album yet: “I found optimism – because I needed it”

Now the groups are hitting the road together for a number of gigs across North America, which will begin in Baltimore in April. The run of shows will conclude at New York’s Summerstage in Central Park venue on June 8. Modest Mouse will headline on all dates, with The Cribs in support.

Tickets for the gigs will go on sale at 10am local time on Friday (February 18) and will be available to purchase here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Cribs (@thecribs)

Modest Mouse and The Cribs will play:

April 2022

18 – Baltimore, MD, Rams Head Live
19 – Charlottesville, VA, Ting Pavilion
20 – Charlotte, NC, Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
21 – Knoxville, TN, Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum
23 – North Charleston, SC, Highwater Festival 2022
24 – Birmingham, AL, Avondale Brewing Company
25 – Atlanta, GA, Tabernacle
26 – Louisville, KY, Iroquois Amphitheater
28 – Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Theater
29 – Spicewood, TX, Luck, Texas

May 2022

19 – Eugene, OR, The Cuthbert Amphitheater
20 – Reno, NV, Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort
23 – Denver, CO, Mission Ballroom
24 – Kansas City, MO, Grinders KC
25 – Maryland Heights, MO, Saint Louis Music Park
27 – Lewiston, NY, Artpark
28 – Asbury Park, NJ, Stone Pony Summer Stage
30 – Portland, ME, State Theatre

June 2022

1 – Montreal, QC, Mtelus (without The Cribs)
2 – Toronto, ON, History (without The Cribs)
3 – Grand Rapids, MI, GLC Live at 20 Monroe
4 – Chicago, IL, Aragon Ballroom
5 – Cleveland, OH, Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
7 – Lafayette, NY, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
8 – New York, NY, Summerstage In Central Park

Marr responded to the tour announcement on Twitter, calling the news “killer”.

Killer. https://t.co/eeq3OtTG68

— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) February 15, 2022

The Cribs were scheduled to hold their own headline North American tour now, but cancelled the dates due to difficulties and concerns over COVID-19. They updated fans on their plans to hold their own shows in the continent on Twitter earlier today (February 15), writing: “For those asking – yeah, we still intend on rescheduling our US/Canada headline shows for sometime later this year.”

For those asking – yeah, we still intend on rescheduling our US/Canada headline shows for sometime later this year

— The Cribs (@thecribs) February 15, 2022

Meanwhile, in December, Modest Mouse performed their second album ‘The Lonesome Crowd West’ almost in its entirety at a benefit show in Seattle.

The throwback set included songs the band hadn’t played live in more than a decade, including ‘Polar Opposites’ and ‘Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine’. Only one track from the record was omitted from the set – ‘Lounge (Closing Time)’.

The post Modest Mouse announce North American tour with The Cribs appeared first on NME.

My Morning Jacket Reveal 2022 Tour Dates

2022-02-16T16:26:09.736Z

My Morning Jacket will be hitting the road in 2022, headlining a U.S. tour that kicks off on April 19. The list of openers is impressive with Madison Cunningham, Joy Oladokun and Indigo de Souza heading out on the road with the Kentucky rockers.

One of the tour’s highlights includes a stop in Louisville, their first hometown show in six years.

Artist presales and VIP packages will be available for purchase on February 16 and continue through February 17. The remaining tickets will be available to the general public on February 18 except for their Dillon, CO and Santa Barbara, CA performances.

Preceding the tour, My Morning Jacket is once again putting on an all-inclusive concert vacation from March 2-5 at the Moon Palace Cancún resort in Riviera Cancún, Mexico. My Morning Jacket will be performing all three nights at a beachfront venue. Lord Huron, Brittany Howard, Black Pumas, Sharon Van Etten, Trampled By Turtles, Fruit Bats will perform.

My Morning Jacket 2022 Tour Dates

MARCH
2 – Moon Palace, Cancún, MX – My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday
3 – Moon Palace, Cancún, MX – My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday
4 – Moon Palace, Cancún, MX – My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday
5 – Moon Palace, Cancún, MX – My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday

APRIL
19 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre *
20 – Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Auditorium *
22 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater *
23 – N. Charleston, SC – High Water Music Festival ‡
24 – Miramar Beach, FL – Moon Crush Festival ‡
27 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Lawn *
28 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum *
29 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater *

MAY
1 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Music Festival ‡

JUNE
21 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion ^
22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE ^
24 – Louisville, KY – Iroquois Amphitheater **
25 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Waterfront ***
28 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre ^
29 – Columbus, OH – Kemba Live! ^

JULY
1 – Madison, WI – Breese Stevens Field ^
2 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^

AUGUST
11 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park †
12 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater †
14 – Palo Alto, CA – Frost Amphitheater †
16 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl †
17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Forever Cemetery †
19 – Taos, NM – Kit Carson Park †
23 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater †
24 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater †
26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †
27 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †

SEPTEMBER
16 – New Haven, CT – Westville Music Bowl †
19 – Charlottesville, VA – Ting Pavilion †
20 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion †
22 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit †
23 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater †
24 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater †

* w/Special Guest Madison Cunningham
^ w/Special Guest Indigo de Souza
† w/Special Guest Joy Oladokun
** w/Special Guests River City Drum Corps and Kiana & the Sun Kings
*** w/Special Guests Louisville Leopard Percussionists
and Producing a Kind Generation
‡ Festival Performance

The post My Morning Jacket Reveal 2022 Tour Dates appeared first on SPIN.

Swedish House Mafia’s new album ‘Paradise Again’ is “done”

2022-02-16T16:23:09.482Z

Swedish House Mafia have shared an update on their forthcoming new album, ‘Paradise Again’, revealing the long-awaited comeback LP is “done”.

READ MORE: Swedish House Mafia: “Dance music is freedom – that’s our language”

After disbanding almost a decade ago, the EDM supergroup – comprised of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso – announced in 2018 they would be reuniting for a homecoming show in Stockholm, Sweden.

They followed this up last year with ‘It Gets Better’, their first new music since the release of their last album, September 2012’s ‘Until Now’. They have since put out a further two tracks, ‘Lifetime’ featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 070 Shake, and ‘Moth To A Flame’ with The Weeknd.

These three tracks are set to appear on Swedish House Mafia’s upcoming album, ‘Paradise Again’, which the group have now revealed is completed.

“ALBUM IS DONE,” the trio tweeted last week.

ALBUM IS DONE

— Swedish House Mafia (@swedishousemfia) February 10, 2022

In a follow-up tweet, SHM teased the album’s tracklisting, sharing what looks like a text containing the line-up – but covered up by a gigantic ‘SOS’ emoji.

pic.twitter.com/XagosOdhm9

— Swedish House Mafia (@swedishousemfia) February 11, 2022

Speaking to NME for a recent Big Read cover interview, the group discussed what fans could expect from ‘Paradise Again’, which is packed with “Scandinavian melodies, dark production and hard sounds”.

“In the past, we put out single after single, and it was almost like we were chasing something,” Ingrosso explained.

“When Steve [Angello] first said, ‘We need to make an album’, I wanted to jump out the window. Swedish House Mafia have never made an album before, and historically it takes us a long time to even make a song. We’re really happy with what it’s become, though – we can’t wait to give it to the world.”

He continued: “We’re always searching for that little bass note that makes your knees go weak. In the studio, some songs made us want to cry, dance and hug, because it felt like the best four minutes of the whole year, while others, as Steve says, make you want to drive your car straight into a wall.”

Elsewhere, Angello described the album – named after the feeling of being on stage together again – as “a love story between us” and “an invitation into our world”. Swedish House Mafia also teased guest spots from acts “that maybe you wouldn’t think we’d have worked with”.

As for collaborating with The Weeknd, the trio said the team-up was one of their “proudest moments”. “His voice and his way of writing music is incredible,” explained Ingrosso, “and sonically we knew when our dark, melodic side met his, something interesting would happen.”

Angello told NME that we could see the group “gravitate towards something” after ‘Paradise Again’, adding: “This is just the beginning.”

Last month, Swedish House Mafia were among the names announced to play this year’s Coachella. It came a week after the trio shared an orchestra version of their single ‘One’.

The post Swedish House Mafia’s new album ‘Paradise Again’ is “done” appeared first on NME.

Beach House’s Descent Into Madness

2022-02-16T16:20:02.988Z

“I hope I can actually sing and tears aren’t just streaming down my face,” Beach House‘s Victoria Legrand says with a giggle.

Over Zoom from their headquarters in Baltimore, Legrand and bandmate Alex Scally appear relaxed and eager for things to return to normal. They haven’t played in front of a live audience in nearly three years. Now, with Beach House’s eighth album, Once Twice Melody, on the way, the duo has a double album’s worth of new material to perform. Legrand says the two of them are “the most prepared we’ve been for a long time to go out and play live.”

“[Three years] is a long time in the music industry, which changes and accelerates so quickly. So these shows are gonna feel like, I wanna call it a time party.”

“I just hope I don’t have a nervous breakdown from some combination of fear and joy,” Scally adds.

Since their breakout 2010 album Teen Dream, Beach House has proven to be not only one of the most successful bands of their generation but also one of the most consistent. In making blissfully psychedelic dream pop they have been able to grow as a band without needing to reinvent or even really modify their template. In an age where new music is recycled at an alarming rate, their music has endured and maintained its relevance.

“We’ve always had faith in time,” Legrand says. “Whenever we’ve made a record we’ve never expected anything to come out of it. So we have this gratitude for time because records like Depression Cherry or earlier ones like Devotion found lives years after they came out. A major label might have this urgency for a new artist to strike now, but time was always our friend. We’ve been lucky with how time has treated us. I’d like to think it’s a long-term relationship [between us and time].”

Over the past few years, Beach House used its time wisely.

After the cycle for their last album, 7, ended in 2019, they went straight back into the studio to work on new material. They came out with so much, in fact, that Legrand refers to Once Twice Melody as “the beast”: an 18-track opus the duo made without an outside producer.

Self-producing was a first for Beach House. It made sense from a logistical standpoint, but they had already decided to hunker down and go it alone before the pandemic hit.

“The process was not that different, it was just harder because we didn’t have that voice of reason or even a distraction when we needed it,” Scally explains. “At times it was like Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the mountain. Somehow the boulder got bigger and the mountain got taller each day. But it did allow us to go deeper into cool ideas that the presence of another person would have prevented from happening.”

Once the two had realized the scope of the project, they saw it as an opportunity to change how they released their music. Instead of the usual album rollout, Scally says they decided to “build a crescendo leading to the release.” On the day of its announcement, Beach House released the first four songs from the album as “Chapter 1,” followed by three more chapters that would compile a full-length in February.

“We were really excited to release music as soon as we finished the record,” Scally says. “As lovers of the album format, we started thinking about the sides of the vinyl – A, B, C and D – and sculpting the flow of the record based on the sides. That led to these chapters, for which we tried to make clear beginnings and endings. As we experimented with different sequences we decided to make each side its own chapter. And then we realized that we could release them in chapters, to emphasize that each one is its own story.”

The four chapters – “Pink Funeral,” “New Romance,” “Masquerade” and “Modern Love Stories,” all named after song titles – were designed as separate windows into Legrand’s lyrical themes of self-destruction, getting lost and romance. She describes the album as having “multiple little universes inside of it.” And although they tried trimming it down, Legrand and Scally found that some songs didn’t want to be removed from the sequence. So they included them all.

“We discovered that there was something more that the record wanted than just a 10-song existence,” Legrand says.

Whether you lose yourself in the narrative or just need mood music, Once Twice Melody delivers on the pristine music we’ve come to expect, and even yearn for from Beach House. Their brand of meticulously crafted songwriting, candy-flossed melodies and textured, widescreen ambiance remain as compelling and mesmerizing as ever. There is a reason why they never felt the need to reinvent themselves.

“I think it’s about listening to what we want to do and just that,” says Legrand. “There are so many things that are fundamentally us. I think that’s the most consistent thing about our band. Ultimately we’re just listening to desire. The records are these time capsules of desire, longing, excitement, fury and all of the things that go into making a record. I thought Bloom was madness, but I think this one is way more madness, more insanity overall.”

The post Beach House’s Descent Into Madness appeared first on SPIN.

Kurt Vile Announces watch my moves With New Single ‘Like Exploding Stones’

2022-02-15T16:27:45.218Z

Kurt Vile will release a new album watch my moves on April 15 via Verve Records. In support of the new album, Vile has released the first single “Like Exploding Stones” along with an accompanying video featuring Sun Ra Arkestra’s James Stewart.

The track is serene in mood, with lo-fi folk elements that transcend the typical conventions of the genre to incorporate elements of psychedelia. The video shows the juxtaposition between calm, soothing Philadelphia daytime and darker nightlife with colorful explosions.

Watch my moves was produced by Vile and longtime collaborator Rob Schnapf. Vile recorded the single along with most of the forthcoming album in his newly created home studio, OKV Central, in Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia.

“When Waylon Jennings became an outlaw country artist, he liked to record at Hillbilly Central, which was Tompall Glaser’s studio,” Vile shares. “OKV Central is my version of that in Mount Airy. I’ve come into my own here, and at the same time I’m getting back to my home-recording roots.”

Watch my moves is Vile’s ninth solo album and first album since Bottle It In which he released in 2018, receiving critical acclaim. The forthcoming album is available for preorder here. The album is set to have laid laid-back feel without compromising the striking vibrancy seen already on “Like Exploding Stones.”

“It’s about songwriting. It’s about lyrics. It’s about being the master of all domains in the music,” Vile said in a release. “I’m always thinking about catchy music, even though it’s fried, or sizzled, out. It’s my own version of a classic thing—it’s moving forward and backward at the same time.”

‘watch my moves’ cover

Kurt Vile (watch my moves) Track List:

1. Goin on a Plane Today
2. Flyin (like a fast train)
3. Palace of OKV in Reverse
4. Like Exploding Stones
5. Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone)
6. Hey Like a Child
7. Jesus on a Wire
8. Fo Sho
9. Cool Water
10. Chazzy Don’t Mind
11. (shiny things)
12. Say the Word
13. Wages of Sin
14. kurt runner
15. Stuffed Leopard

Vile and The Violators will set out on a lengthy U.S. tour this spring followed by a summer European tour in support of the new album. The dates in bold below go on sale at 10 am local time on February 18.

KURT VILE CONFIRMED U.S. TOUR DATES

April 26—Norfolk, VA—The NorVa*

April 27—Saxaphaw, NC—Haw River Ballroom*

April 28—Asheville, NC—The Orange Peel*

April 30—Atlanta, GA—Shaky Knees Music Festival

May 1—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium*

May 3—Oklahoma City, OK—Jones Assembly*

May 4—Houston, TX—White Oak Music Hall*

May 5—Dallas, TX—Granada Theater*

May 6—Austin, TX—ACL Live at the Moody Theater*

May 7—San Antonio, TX—Aztec Theater*

May 9—Phoenix, AZ—Van Buren*

May 10—San Diego, CA—The Observatory North Park*

May 12—Los Angeles, CA—The Theatre at The Ace Hotel*

May 13—San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore*

May 14—San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore*

May 15—Sonoma, CA—Gundlach Bundschu Winery*

May 17—Portland, OR—Crystal Ballroom*

May 18—Tacoma, WA—Spanish Ballroom*

May 19—Spokane, WA—Knitting Factory*

May 20—Seattle, WA—The Moore*

May 21—Boise, ID—Knitting Factory

May 23—Denver, CO—Ogden Theater

May 25—Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue+

May 26—Milwaukee, WI—Turner Ballroom+

May 27—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall+

May 28—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall+

June 1—New York, NY—Webster Hall+

June 2—New York, NY—Webster Hall~

June 3—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer+

June 4—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer~

*with Chastity Belt

+with Natural Information Society

~with Sun Ra Arkestra

Kurt Vile European Tour Dates

August 26—London, U.K.—All Points East Festival

August 27—Bath, U.K.—Forum

August 28—Leeds, U.K.—Stylus

August 29—Glasgow, U.K.—QMU

August 30—Belfast, U.K.—Limelight

August 31—Dublin, Ireland—Vicar Street

September 2—Birmingham, U.K.—Moseley Folk & Arts Festival

September 3—Manchester, U.K.—Manchester Psych Fest

September 4—Dorset, U.K.—End of the Road Festival

September 5—Antwerpen, Belgium—OLT

September 12—Köln, Germany—Gloria Theater

September 13—Amsterdam, the Netherlands—Paradiso

September 14—Nijmegen, the Netherlands—Openluchttheater Goffert

September 15—Berlin, Germany—Huxleys

September 16—Copenhagen, DK—The Grey Hall

September 17 — Malmö, Sweden —Plan B

September 19—Kortrijk, Belgium—Depart

September 20—Paris, France—Le Trianon

The post Kurt Vile Announces watch my moves With New Single ‘Like Exploding Stones’ appeared first on SPIN.

Zoë Kravitz is making “vulnerable” new music with Jack Antonoff

2022-02-15T16:24:06.862Z

Zoë Kravitz has given an update on the “vulnerable” new solo music she’s making with Jack Antonoff.

The actress and musician previously told AnOther magazine back in October that she’d been recording with Antonoff “for a couple of years, on and off”.

READ MORE: Bleachers: “This album is about wanting to hold joy, and not understanding why you can’t”

Speaking in a new interview with Elle, Kravitz has now spoken further about working with the Bleachers musician at Electric Lady Studios in New York.

“It feels vulnerable, and it’s a little scary, but making music makes me happy,” Kravitz said about the project. Elle notes that the forthcoming music “explores love and loss, among other themes she’s still discovering”.

Kravitz told AnOther last year that Antonoff is “a fantastic producer – he’s so good at really tapping into who he’s working with and not making it about him”.

“Some producers want to make it about … like, ‘I’m going to put my sound on you’. It’s what I experienced with my band,” she explained. “But for him to want to help me realise what I’m hearing in my head has been a really wonderful experience and very therapeutic.

“I wrote it over a long stretch of time, subconsciously just capturing this range of emotions, which has been interesting to look back on and see what I was writing about them, then and now and in between. It’s personal. It’s about love and loss. I got married. I got divorced. Separations, break-ups are sad but are beautiful things too. It’s about the bittersweetness, that beginning and that end.”

Kravitz added: “It’s so complex, that space, when you’re in between heartbroken and mourning the loss of something and excited for what’s ahead of you.”

Kravitz will star as Selina Kyle / Catwoman in The Batman, which is set for release on March 4.

The post Zoë Kravitz is making “vulnerable” new music with Jack Antonoff appeared first on NME.

Mitski’s ‘Laurel Hell’ Becomes Top-Selling Album in America

2022-02-15T16:19:36.539Z

After months of fan anticipation, Mitski’s recent album Laurel Hell debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 and earned the #1 spot for album sales.

The indie darling has seen a steady rise in fame over the past few years following her beloved two most recent albums. Laurel Hell has brought the singer a new level of chart success, propelling her further into the mainstream than ever before.

‘Laurel Hell’ album cover

The album has earned the #1 spot on several categories including Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Vinyl Albums, and Tastemaker Albums. According to Billboard, the Indie superstar had “the largest vinyl sales week for any album released in 2022, and largest vinyl debut for an album by a female artist since Adele’s 30” was released.” She also debuted at #6 in the UK, #7 in Australia, among appearances on album charts across the globe. Mitski landed on top 40 charts in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and more.

Earlier this month, Mitski released a whimsical music video for her song ‘Stay Soft.’ Mitski will embark on a tour starting later this week in support of Laurel Hell with dates across North America and Europe.

The post Mitski’s ‘Laurel Hell’ Becomes Top-Selling Album in America appeared first on SPIN.

‘Peaky Blinders’ new season will “honour” Helen McCrory, says Cillian Murphy

2022-02-15T16:15:36.629Z

Cillian Murphy has opened up about the new season of Peaky Blinders saying that it will “honour” late actor Helen McCrory.

READ MORE: ‘Peaky Blinders’ season 6 – everything we know so far

McCrory, who played Polly Gray in the BBC series, died aged 52 from cancer in April last year – when filming on the sixth season had been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Opening up about the new season, Murphy said he thinks it will be a “tribute” to her.

He told Variety: “I think the whole series is really in tribute to her and to honour her. Her presence and her character’s presence are very much still felt in the series, and it is very much part of Tommy’s journey in the season.

“It’ll be different without her, you know. It simply won’t be the same. I’ve spoken about how phenomenal she was as an actress and as a person and it is an enormous loss to the whole acting community and not just for our show.

“My thoughts are always with Damian [Lewis, her husband] and her kids. I just hope that the show will live up to her memory and our memory of her.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Murphy said he thinks fans will be “pleased” with the new season, which he described as “special”.

When asked what fans can expect, he said: “I think this is the culmination of the series that hopefully improves upon the last season and makes the most recent one the richest and deepest one that we possibly can, partially because of all of the pandemic shit happening in the world and, of course, the really sad loss of McCrory.

“I think we are determined to make this a special series and we have been extra committed to working hard. I think the fans will be pleased.”

Earlier today (February 15), the premiere date of the new season was unveiled in Birmingham via a giant mural.

The 12.71 metre high mural featured a picture of Murphy as Tommy Shelby and confirmed that the new season will air on February 27th at 9pm on BBC One.

The image appeared over the Old Crown in Digbeth and was painted over seven days by street artist Akse.

The post ‘Peaky Blinders’ new season will “honour” Helen McCrory, says Cillian Murphy appeared first on NME.

Soul Coughing’s Mike Doughty and Sebastian Steinberg Perform Together for the First Time in 22 Years

2022-02-15T16:09:31.207Z

Soul Coughing‘s Mike Doughty performed with Sebastian Steinberg for the first time in 22 years. Yes, you read correctly. A reunion never seemed possible due to a number of issues and fissions between the bandmembers over the years. Yet, it seems like fans of the alt-rock cult favorites have something to hang their hats on.

Steinberg unexpectedly brought out Doughty during his performance at Largo in Los Angeles for Watkins Family Hour. The duo performed Soul Coughing songs “Super Bon Bon” and “True Dreams of Wichita” together.

Doughty and Steinberg aside, none of Soul Coughing’s members have performed together since they split in 2000.

Doughty is currently on a residency in L.A. which will continue through the end of the month. He will perform at Harvard and Stone and admission will be free, first come first serve. More information is available on Doughty’s website here.

The post Soul Coughing’s Mike Doughty and Sebastian Steinberg Perform Together for the First Time in 22 Years appeared first on SPIN.

Owen Wilson confirms return for ‘Loki’ season two

2022-02-15T16:05:12.298Z

Owen Wilson has confirmed that he will return for season two of Loki.

READ MORE: Loki finale recap: a major new villain is unmasked

Wilson confirmed that he will be reprising his role as TVA agent Mobius in the Disney+ Marvel series during WIRED’s “Auto-Complete Interview (which you can watch below). In the interview, Wilson answered the most Googled questions about himself.

When asked “is Owen Wilson coming back to Loki?” the actor was initially hesitant to respond before confirming he would in fact be returning.

“Yes, he is coming back to Loki,” Wilson replied to the question.

“And I think we’re gonna start filming that pretty soon. I had a great time working on Loki. I really enjoyed Tom Hiddleston and all the people on that.”

Loki season two was confirmed during the final episode of season one, with one scene showing a stamp on Loki’s case file that read: “Loki will return in season 2.”

Actor Tom Hiddleston responded to news of the show’s renewal last year. “I am so grateful that we got to do season one, I still am not quite able to process that we get to have another go at this,” he told Marvel.com. “I am so excited by the possibilities.

“We are already in discussions. Deep, deep, deep discussions. I can’t wait to get started.”

Production on season two is due to begin in 2022. A release date has yet to be announced for the new episodes.

The post Owen Wilson confirms return for ‘Loki’ season two appeared first on NME.

Destroyer Details New Album, Unveils ‘Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread’

2022-02-15T16:02:01.025Z

Gearing up for their forthcoming album, Destroyer released the new single “Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread.”

The track follows the previously released “Tintoretto, It’s For You.” Both songs are off Labyrinthitis, which is slated for release on March 25. Frequent Destroyer collaborator John Collins lent a hand with the tracks on the album, which was mainly written in 2020 and recorded the following spring. Some of the record’s initial song ideas were influenced by disco, Art of Noise, and New Order.

Labyrinthitis is available for pre-order on CD, LP, and vinyl. In further support of the record, Destroyer is scheduled to tour beginning this spring. They’ll kick off mid-April in Vancouver and close mid-May in Portland, Ohio.

Destroyer, 2022

Labyrinthitis Track List

1. It’s in Your Heart Now
2. Suffer
3. June
4. All My Pretty Dresses
5. Tintoretto, It’s for You
6. Labyrinthitis
7. Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread
8. It Takes a Thief
9. The States
10. The Last Song

Destroyer Tour Dates

Apr 22 Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Apr 23 Seattle, WA – The Neptune Theatre
Apr 24 Boise, ID – The Olympic
Apr 26 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Apr 27 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
Apr 28 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Apr 29 St. Louis, MO – Blueberry Hill Duck Room
Apr 30 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
May 02 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
May 04 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
May 05 Washington, DC – Black Cat
May 06 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
May 07 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
May 08 Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
May 09 Montreal, QC – Theatre Fairmount
May 10 Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
May 11 Detroit, MI – El Club
May 12 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
May 13 St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
May 14 Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
May 15 Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
May 16 Fort Worth, TX – Tulips
May 17 Austin, TX – The Mohawk
May 19 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
May 20 Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
May 21 Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
May 22 Portland, OR – Revolution Hall

The post Destroyer Details New Album, Unveils ‘Eat the Wine, Drink the Bread’ appeared first on SPIN.

Snail Mail Unveils Early Demo of ‘Valentine’ Song ‘Adore You’

2022-02-14T18:27:39.069Z

In further support of her newly released sophomore album, Snail Mail unveiled the early demo version of the record’s lead single, “Adore You.”

The track by the artist regularly known as Lindsey Jordan features early lyrics and a different structure, providing the true, vulnerable lo-fi aura the song was originally rooted in. It is off her latest, Valentine, which was released on November 5 last year.

Shortly after releasing her acclaimed album Valentine, Jordan underwent throat surgery after polyps were found on her vocal cords. As a result, Jordan had to postpone her long-awaited tour. She details her challenging recovery in the new episode of ‘Sheroes Mixtape Memoir’ for Sonos Radio, which you can listen to here or on the Sonos app.

Jordan also shared her Valentine mixtape memoir via Spotify (on Valentine’s Day), which features Coldplay, Paramore, and this smooth little gem by Mos Def and the Isley Brothers.

Snail Mail is still set to embark across North America, the UK, and Europe this year. She’ll kick off April 5 in Philadelphia, and tickets are available now.

Valentine was written and produced by the 22-year-old Jordan, and co-produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Waxahatchee).

Snail Mail, 2022

Snail Mail Tour Dates

Tue Apr 5 2022 – Philadelphia PA @ Union Transfer#
Wed Apr 6 2022 – Philadelphia PA @ Union Transfer#
Thu Apr 7 2022 – Brooklyn NY @ Kings Theatre#
Fri Apr 8 2022 – Boston MA @ Royale#
Sat April 9 2022 – Montreal QC @ Club Soda#
Mon Apr 11 2022 – Toronto ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre#
Tue Apr 12 2022 – Cleveland OH @ Agora Theatre#
Thu Apr 14 2022 – Chicago IL @ Riviera Theatre#
Fri Apr 15 2022 – Minneapolis MN @ First Avenue#
Sat Apr 16 2022 – Lawrence KS @ Liberty Hall#
Sun Apr 17 2022 – Denver CO @ Ogden Theater#
Tue Apr 19 Olympia WA @ Capitol Theater w/ Goon Sax
Wed Apr 20 2022 – Seattle WA @ Moore Theatre^
Thu Apr 21 2022 – Vancouver BC @ Vogue Theatre^
Fri Apr 22 2022 – Portland OR @ Wonder Ballroom^
Sat Apr 23 2022 – Portland OR @ Wonder Ballroom^
Sun Apr 24 2022 – Oakland CA @ Fox Theater^
Wed Apr 27 2022 – Los Angeles CA @ Hollywood Palladium^
Thu Apr 28 2022 – San Diego CA @ The Observatory North Park^
Fri Apr 29 2022 – Mesa AZ @ The Nile^
Sat Apr 30 2022 – Santa Fe NM @ Meow Wolf^
Mon May 2 2022 – Austin TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater^
Tue May 3 2022 – Dallas TX @The Factory Studio^
Thu May 5 2022 – Atlanta GA @ The Masquerade – Heaven Stage^
Fri May 6 2022 – Asheville NC @ The Orange Peel^
Sat May 7 2022 – Carrboro NC @ Cat’s Cradle^
Sun May 8 2022 – Nashville TN @ Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville^
Mon Jun 6 Cologne @ Gebäude 9
Tue Jun 7 Hamburg @ Knust
Thu Jun 9 Gothenburg @ Oceanen
Sat Jun 11 Stockholm @ Slaktkyrkan
Mon Jun 13 Berlin @ Columbia Theater
Tue Jun 14 Dresden @ Groovestation
Wed Jun 15 Munich @ Ampere
Thu Jun 16 Milan @ Santeria Toscana 31
Sat Jun 18 Zürich @ Bogen F
Sun Jun 19 Paris @ Le Trabendo
Tue Jun 21 Amsterdam @ Paradiso Noord
Thu Jun 23 Manchester @ The Ritz
Fri Jun 24 Glasgow @ QMU
Tue Jun 28 Bristol @ Marble Factory
Wed Jun 29 London @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
Thu Jun 30 Brighton @ Chalk
Tue Jul 5 Lyon @ Epicerie Moderne
Fri-Aug-12 – Providence, RI – Fete Music Hall+
Tue-Aug-16 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place+
Wed-Aug-17 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony+
Fri-Aug-19 – Richmond, VA – The National+
Sat-Aug-20 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa+
Sun-Aug-21 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre+
Tue-Aug-23 – Orlando ,FL – The Beacham Theater+
Wed-Aug-24 – Tampa FL – The Ritz Ybor+
Fri-Aug-26 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn+
Sat-Aug-27 – Knoxville,TN – The Mill & Mine+
Sun-Aug-28 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall+
Tue-Aug-30 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre+
Wed-Aug-31 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre+
Fri-Sep-02 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall+
Sat-Sep-03 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant+
Sun-Sep-04 – Columbus, OH – The Athenaeum Theatre+
Tue-Sep-06 – Detroit ,MI – Majestic Theatre+
Wed-Sep-07 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre+
Fri-Sep-09 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore+

+w/ Momma and Hotline TNT
#w/ Joy Again
^w/ The Goon Sax

The post Snail Mail Unveils Early Demo of ‘Valentine’ Song ‘Adore You’ appeared first on SPIN.

Green Day air classics and rarities at first live show of 2022

2022-02-14T18:24:04.007Z

Green Day kicked off their 2022 tour with a set at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest on Saturday night (February 12).

READ MORE: 10 albums that wouldn’t exist without Green Day’s ‘Dookie’

The band were co-headlining the third and final night of the festival at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, alongside Miley Cyrus. Over the course of their set, they played 28 songs from across their career, plus several covers.

Opening with ‘American Idiot’, the first half of their set included ‘ Holiday’, ‘Know Your Enemy’ and a cover of The Crickets’ ‘I Fought The Law’, which the band haven’t played live since 2010. They also played Tommy James & the Shondells’ ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ for the first time, along with KISS‘ ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’ and Operation Ivy‘s ‘Knowledge’.

In amidst classics like ‘When I Come Around’ and ‘Basket Case’, the band also played some older gems for the first time in many years including ‘Disappearing Boy’, ‘Stuck With Me’ and ‘At The Library’. They finished their encore with 1990’s ‘Going To Pasalacqua’.

Check out the full setlist below (via setlist.fm), along with videos from the show.

Rockin' @SBMusicFest… TONIGHT #SuperBowlMusicFest #SBLVI pic.twitter.com/xfOIivmFZV

— Green Day (@GreenDay) February 13, 2022

GREEN. DAY.

Let’s rock LA! @GreenDay | @SBMusicFest pic.twitter.com/lo7ODpX6YP

— Crypto.com Arena (@cryptocomarena) February 13, 2022

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mandy Sharp (@mandyrose4u)

I WANNA ROCK N' ROLL!

•Måneskin curtindo o show do Green Day, no Super Bowl Music Fest. pic.twitter.com/uVn59SG3de

— Portal Måneskin Brasil (@PortalManeskin) February 13, 2022

Green day is bringing an audience member on stage to play guitar (she got to keep the guitar) #SuperBowlMusicFest #SuperBowlWeekend pic.twitter.com/mKhRewx3Je

— Aarti (aarti.eth) (@AartiCouture) February 13, 2022

Green Day Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest setlist:

Intro: Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones song)
1. American Idiot
2. Holiday
3. Know Your Enemy
4. Pollyanna
5. I Fought the Law (The Crickets cover) (First time live since 2010)
6. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
7. Longview
8. Welcome To Paradise
9. Hitchin’ A Ride
10. Disappearing Boy (First time live since 2016)
11. I Think We’re Alone Now (Tommy James & the Shondells cover) (Live debut)
12. Rock And Roll All Nite (KISS cover)
13. Brain Stew
14. St. Jimmy
15. When I Come Around
16. 21 Guns
17. Minority
18. Knowledge (Operation Ivy cover)
19. Basket Case
20. She
21. Wake Me Up When September Ends
22. Jesus Of Suburbia
23. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

Encore:

24. 2000 Light Years Away
25. Burnout
26. Stuck With Me (First time live since 2017)
27. At The Library (First time live since 2015)
28. Going To Pasalacqua

Last month, Green Day previewed a snippet of new music in their latest “1972” teaser clip, with fans speculating that new music is coming soon. They’ll be headed out on tour in the UK and Europe later this summer, with dates including the Hella Mega Tour.

The tour, which also features Fall Out Boy and Weezer, was first announced back in September 2019, but was postponed multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic. See their full UK and European dates below:

JUNE 2022
1 – Berlin, Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide
3 – Nürburg, Rock am Ring
7 – Copenhagen, Forum
9 – Ålesund, Color Line Stadion
11 – Johanneshov, Tele2 Arena
15 – Milan, Milano Summer Festival
16 – Florence, Firenze Rocks Festival
18 – Hradec Králové, Rock For People
19 – Vienna, Ernst-Happel Stadion
21 – Antwerp, Sportpaleis
22 – Groningen, Stadspark
24 – London, London Stadium
25 – Huddersfield, John Smith’s Stadium
27 – Dublin, Venue TBA
29 – Glasgow, Bellahouston Park

JULY 2022
2 – Paris, La Defense Arena

The post Green Day air classics and rarities at first live show of 2022 appeared first on NME.

The 40 Best Emo Love Songs

2022-02-14T18:10:19.910Z

While emo music might be most associated with sadness and heartbreak, those lovelorn artists couldn’t have written such songs without experiencing some serious romantic highs.

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, we wanted to focus on the good parts of love more than the bad — although there’s still some unhappiness and resentment mixed in. (I mean, it is still emo after all.) SPIN’s writers spanned decades, waves and numerous albums looking for the top emo love songs, and now we’ve gathered them all here to save you the work.

And yes, we know “emo” is just as broad a term as “love song” — you may also describe some of these acts as pop-punk or post-hardcore or even heart-on-sleeve indie-rock. But all of these bangers branch off the same family tree. From trailblazers like The Get Up Kids and Sunny Day Real Estate to torch-carriers like Say Anything and Paramore, we look back on some of the best emo love songs to celebrate your relationship — or lack thereof — this time of year.

40. Modern Baseball – “Apartment”

MoBo had plenty of love songs — most dealt with unrequited love, pining after someone and the pains of being rejected or longing from a distance. But “Apartment” feels like the most relatable one: walking narrow sidewalks with your friends to an apartment where you meet someone new over party games, and at the end of the night you don’t even want to fall asleep because you’d rather be awake thinking of that person. And unlike the agonizing drama or even anger of numerous love songs in this genre, “Apartment” is almost quaint in its affection, leaving the listener smiling at the meet-cute. It’s a sweet story couples tell their kids about how they met — still arguing over whether the other person cheated at the game — and it ends with Jake Ewald’s protagonist finally mustering up the courage to ask, over an unresolved note, if they want to hang out tonight and make dinner or something. – Brendan Menapace

39. Alkaline Trio – “Enjoy Your Day”

Alright, so this one is admittedly more of a heartbreak song than a romantic one, but it’s also pretty much the quintessential emo Valentine’s Day song that isn’t The Get Up Kids’ “Valentine.” While Matt Skiba sings most of Alkaline Trio’s biggest hits, Dan Andriano takes the lead on this acoustic Goddamnit track, which stands out as one of their most lovestruck. In roughly 12 lines (although the last four are repeated), “Enjoy Your Day” captures the tragedy and glimmer of positivity that exists in every heartbreak. A lot of Alkaline Trio’s songs sound “authentic,” but this one drags the listener right into Andriano’s misery with him — but in a good way. – Josh Chesler

38. The Menzingers – “After the Party”

The Menzingers’ brand of boozy punk makes for a special kind of romance, and “After The Party” is their lightning-in-a-bottle encapsulation of it. Frontman Greg Barnett challenged himself to write a song comprised more of images than simple words, and the result feels just as euphoric as being in love. Mornings drinking coffee and listening to music, or examining the knick-knacks in your lover’s bedroom, are just as vital as the drunken rooftop nights. It’s all tied together with this perfect, straightforward chorus couplet: “Everybody wants to get famous / But you just wanna dance in a basement.” – Mia Hughes

37. Panic! At the Disco – “Northern Downpour”

This cult classic is rooted in some elusive emo mythology. Fans passionately ‘shipped vocalist Brendon Urie with Panic!’s then-guitarist Ryan Ross, and their beautiful harmonies here had them further convinced. The lyrics read like poetry in a love letter and ended up taking form in many tattoos: “I know the world’s a broken bone / But melt your headaches, call it home.” Despite being more of a deep-cut, it’s the second biggest track off the folky Pretty. Odd., and with good reason. It grows more hypnotic as the two voices meld together, repeating a simple, bittersweet incantation: “Sugarcane in the easy mornin’ / Weathervanes my one and lonely.” – Danielle Chelosky

36. Braid – “Collect From Clark Kent”

Even Superman needs a little love sometimes. Midwest ‘90s heroes Braid put on the cape for “Collect From Clark Kent,” a song just as fun as it is touching. Their trademark frenetic, mathy energy is the backdrop for vocalist Bob Nanna’s plea to his own Lois Lane. “I’m on the corner of cough and cold, and I’m a lovestruck lost soul,” he confesses, utilizing wordplay that made him one of the era’s most distinctive lyricists. The song barrels towards its payoff, the breakdown where Nanna promises: “Once in your arms, we’ll rise above the ground […] I’m never coming down.” – M.H.

35. Relient K – “Be My Escape”

The “you” lines in “Be My Escape” are just vague enough that kids in conservative households could realistically tell their parents that it’s about God (which it might actually be), while others could pair an in-the-flesh counterpart to vocalist Matt Thiessen’s titular plea. “Be My Escape” relies on that classic Springsteenian theme of leaving this town and this unfilling life, grabbing hold of your partner (or, maybe, your faith), and finally hitting the metaphorical gas pedal. Musically, it relies on the jangly riffs, tempo changes, and layered guitars written into the emo playbook by the genre’s Founding Fathers, with just enough piano to fit in among the band’s contemporaries on the Christian circuit. – B.M.

34. Don Martin Three – “Transistor”

Love in emo music is most often felt in the delivery — “I love you” is a more memorable lyric when you’re screaming it at the top of your lungs as the band sounds like they jumped off a mountain. Don Martin Three’s “Transistor” feels like a nosedive off that mountain. The short-lived ‘90s trio warm up with typical, jittery emo drum hits and melodic guitar until singer Colin McCann jumps headfirst into the void and drags the band with him in his admission that yes, it’s true, he’s in love. The cryptic lyrics of “Transistor,” like love itself, aren’t clearly defined. But you absolutely feel it. – Brady Gerber

33. The Ataris – “Takeoffs and Landings”

The Ataris’ 2003 album, So Long, Astoria, zeroed in on teenage nostalgia long before the record itself became a critical part of teenage emo nostalgia. Snuggled up amongst songs of longing for their own rapidly vanishing youth is “Takeoffs and Landings,” a pop-punk classic jam-packed with more air travel similes than teens with badly dyed hair at, well, an Ataris show. The lyrics tell the tale of kissing your long-distance love goodbye before those pesky miles get in the way again and you’re back to sad lyrics in your AIM away messages. Years later, that feeling of homesickness still hits. – Laura Marie Braun

32. Turnover – “Dizzy on The Comedown”

It might actually be illegal to discuss emo love songs without mentioning Peripheral Vision, Turnover’s second album. Though more preoccupied with heartbreak, “Dizzy On The Comedown,” the record’s biggest track, follows the beginning of a romance: “I want to know about you / I’m spinning all around you.” Immersed in a fuzzy, rose-tinted atmosphere, it describes the delirium of lust — and how the feeling of falling in love is not too different from the feeling of intoxication. The song itself is just as addicting. – D.C.

31. Bright Eyes – “Pull My Hair”

Look, this entire list probably could’ve been composed of Bright Eyes (or Dashboard Confessional) songs. Conor Oberst figured out a seemingly impossible number of ways to write and sing about love, lust, heartbreak, and everything in between. On “Pull My Hair,” the 18-year-old songwriter already sounds wise beyond his age, singing about the possibility of reigniting the bedroom spark with his seemingly long-term lover. There’s no shortage of songs about sex (hell, one could argue that most songs are in one way or another), but significantly fewer are self-aware enough to compare sex to a song and not come off as cringeworthy or self-aggrandizing. – J.C.

30. Head Automatica – “Beating Heart Baby”

Fronted by Glassjaw’s Daryl Palumbo, Head Automatica perfectly toed the line of that 2000s indie-sleaze-meets-Britpop sound — and it paid off. Besides being a staple of every dance party of the era, 2004’s “Beating Heart Baby” was an instant crossover classic for scenesters and emo kids alike. The simple lyrics meant everyone could sing along, and the pressing question of “Baby, is this love for real?” opened the door for dance floor makeout sessions everywhere. Between Palumbo’s era-defining vocals and a drum track that actually does get hearts racing, the song remains no less infectious. – L.M.B.

29. The Get Up Kids – “Valentine”

I drove an ‘88 Datsun Maxima in high school — a light blue, rear-wheel-drive, four-door sedan with an inline-six. I made endless mixtapes for that car, cassettes that would last the entirety of the drive from my parents’ house to my girlfriend’s place outside the city. The songs were sequenced just right, placed in order of emotional resonance, taking me on a journey from the outer regions of my teen angst to the center of my desire for love. “Valentine” by The Get Up Kids was the core of that feeling. A perfect snapshot of the way any distance, emotional or physical, feels oceanic in scope — feeling the longing of a lover lost over a vast separation and the contortions we will put ourselves through in a desperate bid to hold on for just one more second. The constants aren’t so constant anymore. – Niko Stratis

28. Bring Me the Horizon – “Deathbeds”

By 2011, Bring Me The Horizon decided to throw metalcore out on the treelawn to follow pursuits more nuanced and textured. On 2013’s Sempiternal, BMTH nudged toward atmospheric, electronic vistas, with “Deathbeds” being the sonic/psychic summit. The majestic fatalism sounds like a chrome-plated 4AD band; the lyrics (“I watch you like a hawk / I watch you like I’m going to tear you from limb to limb”; “The waves will pull us under / Tides will bring me back to you”) feel as if Sylvia Plath couldn’t decide between poetry or stalking. Sykes’ then-muse Hannah Snowdon supplies the backing vocals: Their marriage lasted only a year, thereby establishing this track as peak emo melancholy. – Jason Pettigrew

27. Cartel – “Honestly”

Cartel’s debut single, “Honestly,” hones in on a classic emo vibe: being jealous when your past fling decides to date someone else and resolving to win them back: “You’re part of the reason I’m so set on the rest of my life / Being a part of you,” Will Pugh sings over a choppy riff, building to a scream-along lyrics. The song, which appeared in the 2006 romantic comedy John Tucker Must Die, was paired with a music video that now serves an ode to the early aughts of online dating, featuring Myspace-esque backdrops and selfies galore. – Nina Braca

26. New Found Glory – “Hit or Miss”

We’ve all been there. You’re seeing someone, but you’re not entirely sure how it’s going to play out in the long run. Maybe you’re not ready to commit, or maybe you’re thinking about moving on from someone. But within all of that uncertainty, you’re left with the concern that you might’ve just blown a really good thing. Have you waited too long to see (or text) them? It’s the age-old question — and the chorus of the first song that many of us ever heard from New Found Glory. – J.C.

25. Basement – “Oversized”

The DNA of British quintet Basement feels more post-grunge and nascent shoegaze than most of the stuff found on the hard drives of former Brand New fans. However, they were able to connect with some denizens of “the Scene” on their Stateside tours. This track from 2016’s Promise Everything is about how difficult it can be to reveal your true self to someone you adore. Frontman Andrew Fisher captures that essence with a lyric relatable to every heart (“I’m with you when I’m by myself / At least I feel like it’s true / With a little help / And can you tell / My heart beats faster when you speak”), with some references to the pain of long-distance love. Because acknowledging you have a problem is the first step to reconciling, well, just about anything… – J.P.

24. Cursive – “The Recluse”

“The Recluse,” from Cursive’s 2003 concept album, The Ugly Organ, is equal parts drama and self-indulgence. The song’s main character is fictional, but the lyrics feel disarmingly personal, as singer Tim Kasher zeroes on the high and lows of infatuation. Our protagonist spells out his intense feelings for a lover he is enthralled with: “And I can hardly get myself out of her bed / For fear of never lying in this bed again.” The self-awareness is startling, though — in the same breath, he admits the love affair is over before it even began. – Candace McDuffie

23. Sunny Day Real Estate – “48”

Lyrics have never been crucial to the Sunny Day Real Estate experience — hell, the band’s hastily recorded second album didn’t even have finished words! (“In a lot of cases, we never sat down to write them, because we just wanted to get it out of the way as fast as possible,” singer-guitarist Jeremy Enigk noted in 2008. “So I just sang a lot of gibberish, which makes it really quirky.”) Naturally, their lyrics tend to be impressionistic — and “48,” a devastating slow-burn from their beloved 1994 debut, Diary, is no exception, with Enigk murmuring stuff like, “The suffering moved and breathed our hands sillhouettes against the sky.” But his tortured delivery — along with the quartet’s quiet-loud/clean-distorted dynamic — renders any painful line romantic, particularly the opening admission: “I lost myself when I looked in your eyes.” How’s that for concrete? – Ryan Reed

22. Say Anything – “I Want to Know Your Plans”

Alongside satirical anthems that explode with sarcasm and bombast is “I Want To Know Your Plans,” an intimate ballad that still flexes his unorthodox lyricism: “If you could forgive me for being so brash, well, you / You could hit me or whip me; I’d savor each lash.” Max Bemis’ weirdness surprisingly works in this more serious serenade, only making his declarations of devotion sound more sincere. It’s a brief moment of refuge on a chaotic album, emblematic of the way this love has become an oasis for Bemis himself: “You’re what keeps me believing the world’s not gone dead / Strength in my bones put the words in my head.” – D.C.

21. Mineral – “Gloria”

Moreso than their second-wave peers in The Promise Ring, Sunny Day Real Estate, and American Football, Mineral managed to streamline the explosive catharsis that fueled the genre’s early hardcore-adjacent precursors. The Austin-via-Houston quartet’s raw 1997 debut, The Power of Failing, found a devastating meeting ground between bristling power chords and frontman Chris Simpson’s aching vocals. On “Gloria,” a gut-wrenching ode to unrequited love, his chorus wavers with a passion bordering on obsession: “‘Cause I just want to be / Something more than the mud in your eyes / I want to be the clay in your hands.” – Owen Morawitz

20. Taking Back Sunday – “MakeDamnSure”

Taking Back Sunday’s 2006 major label debut, Louder Now, maintained the pop-punk kings’ signature sound, but their usual snot-nosed and ready-to-fist-fight lyrics had notably matured. “There wasn’t any kind of conscious decision on my part or anybody else, like, ‘Okay, we need to stop being so melodramatic with our lyrics,’” vocalist Adam Lazzara told AV Club in 2021. While the band isn’t exactly known for romantic love songs, “MakeDamnSure” is about as close as they get. Bordering on the darker side, “We lay together, just not too close” is a grown-up and forbiddenly sexy lyric about staying chaste — whether by choice, or not — with the one you want most. – L.M.B.

19. The Get Up Kids – “I’ll Catch You”

Mostly quiet with one loud part, this slice from the dawn of Midwest emo relies on tumbling piano chords to set the mood, closing out the emotional Chernobyl of 1999’s Something to Write Home About with a declaration of unshakeable love. It’s a resolution in a few different senses of the word, but one that seems hard and maybe just barely won. It wouldn’t be much more than a slender lullaby without the exultant bridge/breakdown toward the end. That’s the loud part, where Matt Pryor bellows, “I can see everything, everything” over crashing power chords. It adds a single, triumphant fist pump to a track that would otherwise be too tender. Who says love isn’t a victory march? – Beverly Bryan

18. Fall Out Boy – “Homesick at Space Camp”

Before they were selling out stadiums and popping up in teen rom-com cameos, Chicago pop-punkers Fall Out Boy were a bunch of hardcore nerds who wanted to jam out to Saves The Day covers. And this subcultural cross-pollination proved to be a secret weapon on their monster 2003 debut, Take This To Your Grave. “Homesick at Space Camp” — a Side-A sleeper hit on a record practically overflowing with now-iconic tracks — is Fall Out Boy at their most earnest. The track’s infectious instrumental props up frontman Patrick Stump’s super-sticky chorus, acting as both a universal affirmation of friendship and the personal sting of longing: “Tonight the headphones will deliver you the words that I can’t say / Tonight I’m writing you a million miles away.” – O.M.

17. Planes Mistaken For Stars – “Say Not a Word”

This Denver-via-Peoria outfit might be an unexpected choice for this list. But one listen to 2004’s “Say Not A Word” makes their inclusion a no-brainer. As frontman Gared O’Donnell, who tragically passed away last year after a protracted battle with esophageal cancer, explained to Dan Ozzi in 2020, it’s “a song about fucking.” Following a tense build-up and one of the most evocative opening lines in the post-hardcore canon (“I stared you down so hard I burnt your shadow to the wall”), Planes Mistaken For Stars launch into their volatile attack, while O’Donnell howls out his sexual frustrations through twilight allusions and a carnal call to action: “Say not a word, sister / Split down on me.” – O.M.

16. Balance and Composure – “Tiny Raindrop”

Of course, this post-hardcore-leaning Philly group’s song about love is also a song about destruction. “The line ‘I’ll be your tiny raindrop’ is me giving a warning that while everything is great at first, I will be the first to ruin things,” then-vocalist Jon Simmons told Alternative Press upon the song’s 2013 release. Despite this tendency toward self-sabotage, “Tiny Raindrop” bursts with longing, determined to override the doubts: “So come with me, I’ll buy you a raincoat / Stay with me, I’m sick of this shameful.” The sonic landscape reverberates with urgency, the guitars caustic and intense. Though it’s dark, hope is in the periphery. – D.C.

15. The Starting Line – “Island (Float Away)”

The Starting Line has been unabashedly down for a good, hard crush since day one, making their songs a romantic mix CD staple in the early to mid-aughts. In 2007, the band released their final LP, Direction, featuring “Island (Float Away),” which paints an image of a beautiful escape-turned-shipwreck and two lovers weathering the storm of poor timing. Frontman Kenny Vasoli begs his love to hold on just a little longer, promising a better life if they can just make it through this last hurdle. An allegory for love in the time of tour burnout? Possibly. A perfect swan song for a big-hearted band? Definitely. – L.M.B.

14. Alkaline Trio – “Clavicle”

The legend goes that Alkaline Trio singer-guitarist Matt Skiba penned this song about his then-girlfriend, back when he was still a bike messenger. (Actually, hardcore AT obsessives say she inspired all of his songs on the Goddamnit album.) While “Clavicle” is brisk in its pop-punk fun, the lyrical lust/longing (“It’s been a hellish plight to not think about you all the time / Sitting around waiting for your call”) is a universal construct that awkward folks waiting for reciprocal affection will relate to — regardless if they carry fake IDs or social security cards. – J.P.

13. Weezer – “Falling for You”

Pinkerton might just be the granddaddy of all emo albums. Weezer’s 1996 LP covers all the bases: longing, heartbreak, sexual frustration — and, of course, love. On “Falling for You,” Rivers Cuomo laments his sweet surrender to a beau who “says ‘like’ too much” and perfectly summarizes the self-conscious emo dilemma with the question, “What could you possibly see in little ol’ three-chord me?” Though Cuomo spent years disavowing the album for its overtly personal lyrics, fan support eventually made him come around. Sure, Pinkerton can get a little into LiveJournal territory, but it sure does tickle the heart strings. – L.M.B.

12. Paramore – “The Only Exception”

An out-of-character not-so-power ballad, “The Only Exception” finds Hayley Williams in a downbeat mood, gazing at romantic love through gray-tinted glasses and calling it realism. “I’m content with loneliness / Because none of it was ever worth the risk,” the singer mopes in time with a foot-dragging waltz strummed on acoustic guitar. The song ticks lots of emo boxes: precocious world-weariness, pre-emptive self-protection; then Hayley tips her hand. “But darling, you are the only exception,” she sings. This guy is worth the risk. The song closes on a fragile note: “I’m on my way to believing.” Wistful, if not yet hopeful, perfection. – B.B.

11. blink-182 – “I Miss You”

From the Nightmare Before Christmas references (“We can live like Jack and Sally if we want”) to the dark and brooding video to the way Tom DeLonge enunciates the word “head” as “yed,” this emo/pop-punk megahit from blink-182’s self-titled LP is pretty much the peak of 2000s Hot Topic love songs. While Tom, Mark, and Travis would never abandon their punk roots to get quite as heartfelt as, say, Chris Carrabba, “I Miss You” is, was, and always will be a strong ballad by any metric. – J.C.

10. The Used – “I Caught Fire”

From the cataclysmic opening guitar chords to the lyrical pining of frontman Bert McCracken, “I Caught Fire” is one of The Used’s most sentient songs. The third single from their second album, 2004’s In Love and Death, is uncharacteristically romantic in imagery and impressively mellifluous in execution. Though a tad mushy, the song’s chorus (“And I’m melting / In your eyes / Like my first time / That I caught fire / Just stay with me, lay with me now”) is also disarmingly sweet. “I Caught Fire” is the band’s first true love song — the Utah natives finally revealed a crack in their armor, with mesmerizing results. – C.M.

9. Dashboard Confessional – “Stolen”

Dashboard Confessional’s 2006 breakout ballad, “Stolen,” will whisk you down the rabbit hole of nostalgia back into a wistful moment of youth, when “cloudy-eyed” celebrations often took place on bathroom floors. Frontman Chris Carrabba’s glacial high notes and sickeningly sweet whispers are a highlight of the group’s fourth LP, Dusk And Summer, conjuring the vulnerability of unrequited love. “Stolen” expanded the blueprint of classic emo to reveal a softer, more melodic perspective, solidifying Dashboard Confessional as a mainstay of the genre. And where romance is concerned, what chorus hits harder than “You have stolen my heart”? – Paige Owens

8. Say Anything – “Alive With the Glory of Love”

Both earnest and uncouth, Say Anything’s most famous song is also one of their most deceptively weird — envisioning how even the bleakest situations can’t wither true romance. “My grandparents were Holocaust survivors, which struck a chord with me,” Max Bemis told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of this 2006 epic. “I thought about what it would be like to be in love and be separated from the person you love, because these times are just as dire in a way.” Knowing that context is crucial: A line like “When I watch you, want to do you, right where you’re standing” almost sounds kinda profound. But even without the backstory, it’s hard not to swoon over that group-shouted chorus of “I won’t let them take you.” – R.R.

7. Joyce Manor – “Falling in Love Again”

“Falling in Love Again” might be the best emo song about liking someone’s friends. One-time constant headache Barry Johnson now feels OK in the company of the people who matter to someone he likes. They share birthday drugs. And now he has money; maybe this could work. This Smiths-like attention to detail makes Joyce Manor, legitimate stars of emo’s Tumblr era, stand out in all their songs, and “Falling in Love Again” captures that fleeting yet vital moment when someone with a history of love and heartbreak realizes that they might be in the right place at the right time for something new. – B.G.

6. Bright Eyes – “First Day Of My Life”

Between modestly plucked acoustics and Conor Oberst’s poetic lyrics, Bright Eyes’ “ First Day Of My Life” offers a sense of transformation and new beginnings — both for the listener and the narrator, whose new love interest proclaims, “I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you.” Despite the sweetness, Bright Eyes still evoke the melancholy of their earliest work. But Oberst’s lyrical weight shifts here, demonstrating the naive hopefulness that new love offers. “First Day Of My Life” puts you back in that feeling, helping you believe that hope springs eternal. – P.O.

5. Paramore – “Still Into You”

It’s a shame, but there aren’t too many songs that make long-term relationships sound awesome. One exception: Paramore’s “Still Into You,” which shows just how convincing and electric an ode to a steady date can be. On this ferociously romantic and hooky pop-punk heater, latter-day emo’s leading lady Hayley Williams testifies with mild consternation (this is emo; you can’t just be happy) that, with the right person, the infatuation stage never really has to end — even through tough times. The relationship that inspired the song may not have lasted, but this jam is forever. – B.B.

4. Dashboard Confessional – “Hands Down”

Dashboard Confessional’s teen romance anthem is one of their most popular singles, defining a generation of older millennials screaming the lyrics in their car with the windows rolled down. (One such fan: Taylor Swift, who enthusiastically belted the song live with Hayley Williams and Chris Carraba himself.) With Carraba pining over heart-pumping palm mutes, the fast-paced track remains a perfect first date soundtrack, capturing the butterflies of a blooming romance. There’s no lyric quite as emo as “My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me / So won’t you kill me so I die happy.” – N.B.

3. Death Cab for Cutie – “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”

It’s so simple: One day, you will die, and I’ll be right there with you. Without the usual trappings of emo – loud and whiny guitars, dudes being afraid of their feelings – Ben Gibbard uses one acoustic guitar to say exactly what he means. He doesn’t need to wait to be left by someone to share what he would do for this person. Love as an act, not a feeling – ironically, this could be the most Catholic definition of love for the band (and perhaps song) that introduced the O.C. Generation to emo. – B.G.

2. Jets to Brazil – “Sweet Avenue”

“Sweet Avenue” enters at the end of a perfect date, that first moment alone to process the feeling that your whole world just changed. “This day could someday be an anniversary,” singer Blake Schwarzenbach proclaims, full of wonder and hope. The former Jawbreaker frontman made his name writing brutally poetic lyrics amid the harsh, noisy punk rock of that band, but Jets to Brazil was a different beast, and “Sweet Avenue” sets his altogether sweeter lyricism to acoustic guitar and meandering bass lines. It’s the stuff of wedding dances as he sings, “Thank you for making me see there’s a life in me / It was dying to get out.” – M.H.

1. Jimmy Eat World – “For Me This Is Heaven”

“The first star I see may not be a star / We can’t do a thing but wait, so let’s wait for one more” — for Jimmy Eat World diehards, those lines are enough to stir up butterflies. “For Me This Is Heaven” comes from the band’s 1999 classic Clarity, and much like the rest of that album, it’s a rich, musically gorgeous experience. As for the lyrics — well, this is an emo band, so it’s not a straightforward love song. It’s a love song that’s about endings, and believing that love is worth it, despite their inevitability. It’s sad, romantic, and truly beautiful. – M.H.

The post The 40 Best Emo Love Songs appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Seth Rogen marry a zombie in crisps advert featuring Paul Rudd

2022-02-14T17:52:21.255Z

Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd have teamed up for a new crisps advert.

READ MORE: Riding high: Seth Rogen’s 10 best films

The clip, which you can watch below and featured in last night’s (February 13) Super Bowl, sees the pair reminiscing about events in years gone by involving Lay’s crisps.

It ends in Rogen bizarrely marrying a zombie.

“Lay’s came to me and Paul and pitched the general idea,” Rogen told Forbes about the ad.

“Then, me and Paul kind of conceived of maybe it then goes in a very strange direction (laughs). Then Evan [Goldberg] came on to direct and write it, as well. Mostly, it was just something we thought was funny and entertaining and weird and would maybe potentially standout in a very crowded marketplace, but also kind of capture the kind of energy people like from me and Paul.”

Other ads which aired at the Super Bowl included Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Zeus, Larry David mocking cryptocurrency and Scrubs stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison reuniting for a West Side Story cover.

Meanwhile, Rogen recently opened up about a prank in which Rudd pretended to be his masseuse in Las Vegas.

“Once I was in the spa in a hotel in Vegas getting a massage,” Rogen began.

“When I finished I turned over and to my shock Paul Rudd was massaging me. He saw me go in and convinced the masseuse to let him take over, thinking I’d notice immediately. I didn’t, and Paul did the entire rest of it.”

The post Watch Seth Rogen marry a zombie in crisps advert featuring Paul Rudd appeared first on NME.

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar Tear the House Down During Super Bowl Halftime Show

2022-02-14T17:43:34.849Z

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar took the Super Bowl LVI stage during halftime and unsurprisingly tore the house down. They stampeded through a slew of their greatest hits, with Dre and Snoop serving as the de facto emcees. The Super Bowl Halftime Show was befitting for the Big Game, which took place at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.

Opening with Dre and Snoop’s “The Next Episode,” the stage was a replica studio, house and buildings that served as a tribute to Los Angeles. They went into “California Love” before 50 Cent popped up to perform a verse from “In Da Club.” Following Fiddy’s cameo, Blige hit the stage for “Family Affair” and “No More Drama.” Then Kendrick Lamar hopped on stage for “m.a.a.d. city” and “Alright.” Eminem (who would take a knee in support of Colin Kaepernick) then performed “Lose Yourself” to a sea of cameras. Dre and Snoop closed th set with 1999’s “Still D.R.E” from 2001.

The all-star performance also featured Anderson .Paak on drums throughout.

Dre Day. @KendrickLamar @DrDre #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/W9tFZfSRsf

— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022

Wow. @50cent #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/8UlJW57gEX

— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022

MARY. J. BLIGE. #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/jRKg9F1ELV

— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022

Dre Day. @KendrickLamar @DrDre #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/W9tFZfSRsf

— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022

Blige divulged in a recent interview that she didn’t get paid for her part in the halftime show, but took the gig anyway.

“Listen, you’re gonna be paid for the rest of your life off of this,” she told The Cruz Show. “People are gonna be knocking at your doors. They don’t have to pay me, but if they was paying it would be a lot of money.”

As for Snoop, he’s found himself making headlines for reasons unrelated to the highly anticipated performance. His latest album B.O.D.R. came out on Friday, and earlier this week it was announced that he was the new owner of Death Row Records. However, it wasn’t all positive news. The legendary rapper was accused of sexual assault from an incident that allegedly occurred in 2013. Snoop denied the accusations, calling the defendant a “gold digger.”

Prior to the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the last time Dre and Snoop formally performed together was at Coachella in 2012.

The post Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar Tear the House Down During Super Bowl Halftime Show appeared first on SPIN.

The 1975 hint at new music by deleting social media accounts

2022-02-14T17:38:38.665Z

The 1975 have deleted their social media accounts and turned their website blank, hinting at the imminent arrival of new music.

As of today (February 14), the band’s official Instagram and Twitter accounts have both been deactivated, while their official website purely features a blank white page.

In the past, when teasing new material, the band deleted all traces of themselves from social media. Now, as they did before announcing 2018 album ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’, 2019’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’ and with their second album ‘I Love It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’, the band have now erased their entire social media presence.

// Here we go again // #The1975 pic.twitter.com/DssGMmuOT4

— The 1975 Updates (@The1975_Tour) February 14, 2022

Last month, it appeared that the band were back in the studio working on new music, with frontman Matty Healy sharing black-and-white footage shows Healy strumming an acoustic guitar as instruments and recording equipment are set up around him. The post was captioned ‘Part 5, day 1’, hinting at a fifth studio album for the band.

The four-piece’s follow-up to May 2020’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’ has been the subject of fan speculation for some time, with frontman Matty Healy poking fun at the prospect of “making another ‘classic record’” back in August 2021.

In another signifier of new music, the band’s manager Jamie Oborne tweeted over the weekend: “I wish I could play you guys the new record. It’s so beautiful.”

I wish I could play you guys the new record. It’s so beautiful. : ) x

— Jamie Oborne (@jamieoborne) February 13, 2022

While being relatively quiet over the last year, Healy did guest as the surprise support act during Phoebe Bridgers’ show in Los Angeles last October. The singer performed a special acoustic set during the show which featured two new songs, including one that was titled ‘New York’.

The 1975 also teamed up with the climate change organisation Music Declares Emergency to release a t-shirt during October.

The post The 1975 hint at new music by deleting social media accounts appeared first on NME.

Kodak Black Among Three People Shot Outside Justin Bieber After Party in L.A.<

2022-02-14T17:27:10.471Z

Kodak Black and two other people were shot following an altercation outside a Justin Bieber after party at The Nice Guy club in Los Angeles. As TMZ reports, the rapper was standing outside with fellow hip-hop artists Gunna and DaBaby, as well as other friends, when a fight broke out on the street that involved Kodak’s crew.

The 24-year-old jumped in to help one of his guys and took a swing at the assailant. That’s when a gunman open fired. Local authorities say 10 shots were fired total. Kodak was hit in the leg by a bullet, and two other people, ages 19 and 60, were also shot. A fourth victim was injured in another way. All four were taken to the hospital where they’re in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

It is unclear if the shooter was the same person who Kodak fended off his friend. The suspect(s) are still at large.

The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, around 2:45 a.m., following Bieber’s performance at West Hollywood’s Pacific Design Center. Kodak was in town for Super Bowl weekend and decided to hit up the star-studded after party that’s guest list included Drake, Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian.

The post Kodak Black Among Three People Shot Outside Justin Bieber After Party in L.A. appeared first on SPIN.

‘Austin Powers’ villains reunite for Super Bowl advert

2022-02-11T17:14:44.488Z

Mike Myers has reunited with his Austin Powers co-stars for a Super Bowl advert.

In the advert for General Motors, Myers reprises his role as Dr. Evil alongside Seth Green as son Scott and Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina.

Rob Lowe also returns as the younger version of Number 2 from the 1999 sequel Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. The older Number 2 in the original film, Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, was played by Robert Wagner, who doesn’t make an appearance in the commercial.

The advert sees Dr. Evil and his henchman take control of General Motors, where they get into a dispute over tackling climate change – AKA “the number one threat to the world now”.

Scott reveals he’s also had a child named Kyle, who Dr. Evil tries to dub ‘Baby Me’.

The last film released in the franchise was Austin Powers In Goldmember in 2002, which starred Beyoncé as Foxxy Cleopatra.

Myers previously returned as Dr Evil for a comedy sketch on The Tonight Show back in 2018, where he was portrayed as an ousted Trump cabinet member.

Rumours of a fourth film in the franchise have circulated for years, although trilogy director Jay Roach previously cast doubt on the possibility of another entry following the death of Verne Troyer, who played Dr. Evil’s sidekick Mini-Me.

“We’ve been trying to think up an idea that could earn a fourth film for a long time, but it’s always up to Mike. He and I always thought there was more to do with Dr. Evil,” Roach said in 2019.

He added: “To be honest, I don’t know how we’d do it without Verne. We always had ideas of revealing a whole life that he had that would have taken his character much further. If Mike cracks it and figures it out, we would definitely do some kind of tribute to him. I’m there if he ever wants to do it.”

The post ‘Austin Powers’ villains reunite for Super Bowl advert appeared first on NME.

Jack White Shares ‘Fear of The Dawn’ Video

2022-02-11T17:10:53.515Z

Jack White knows we can’t get enough. The blue-haired rocker just unveiled yet another single, the title track of his forthcoming record Fear of the Dawn. It’s the B-Side to the previously released “Love Is Selfish”

The track was released via White’s Third Man Records. A music video for the single was also directed by White himself as he has directed his own music videos in the past. White has been teasing the single for days on his social media, posting cryptic stills from the music video to garner attention.

Last month, White released “Love Is Selfish,” following the unveiling of his first track in three years, “Taking Me Back,” last October. “Love Is Selfish” features White on the acoustic guitar serving sweet country melodies.

The legend is only gearing us up for two—yes, two—record releases this year, Fear of the Dawn on April 8 and Entering Heaven Alive on July 22. To support the new albums, he also recently detailed his ‘Supply Chain Issues Tour,’ which makes a stop at the High Water Festival where White is headlining.

Additionally, this tour marks White’s first live shows since 2019. His last appearance was headlining Riot Fest alongside Taking Back Sunday and The Raconteurs. As White gears up for his tour, audiences quake with anticipation for the long-awaited record release.

Jack White The Supply Chain Issues Tour 2022

April 08 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre (SOLD OUT)
April 09 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre (SOLD OUT)
April 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
April 12 – Chicago, IL – Credit Union 1 Arena
April 13 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center
April 14 – Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events Center
April 16 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
April 17 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
April 19 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
April 21 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
April 23 – Portsmouth, VA – Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion
April 24 – North Charleston, SC – High Water Festival *
April 26 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 27 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 28 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
April 30 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
May 01 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
May 23 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
May 24 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
May 25 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
May 27 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum
May 28 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre
May 29 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan
May 31 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
June 01 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
June 03 – Reno, NV – Reno Events Center
June 04 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 06 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
June 07 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
June 08 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
June 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
June 11 – Broomfield, CO – 1STBANK Center
June 27 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
June 28 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
June 30 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
July 01 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
July 02 – Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee
July 04 – Berlin, Germany – Verti Music Hall
July 07 – Lyon, France – Le Radiant
July 10 – Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival *
July 12 – Carcassonne, France – Festival de Carcassonne *
July 14 – Zurich, Switzerland – Samsung Hall
July 15 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
July 16 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
July 18 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
July 19 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
July 20 – Paris, France – L’Olympia
August 13 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
August 16 – Milwaukee, WI – UWM Panther Arena
August 17 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
August 19 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
August 21 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark
August 23 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
August 24 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion
August 25 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 27 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
August 28 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
August 29 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre

* Festival Performance

The post Jack White Shares ‘Fear of The Dawn’ Video appeared first on SPIN.

Diplo announces new self-titled album and shares Miguel-featuring ‘Don’t Forget My Love’

2022-02-11T16:54:52.048Z

Diplo has announced his new self-titled album and shared its first single, the Miguel-featuring ‘Don’t Forget My Love’ – you can hear the track below.

The forthcoming LP is said to be “the first proper Diplo album since [2004’s] ‘Florida'”, and is therefore set to be his first full-length release of electronic music in 18 years.

READ MORE: Diplo – ‘Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil’ review: super-producer falls off the saddle

‘Diplo’ is set for release on March 4 via the Higher Ground imprint of the producer’s own Mad Decent label.

Jasper Goggins, Mad Decent label head and Diplo’s collaborator for more than 20 years, said in a statement that the upcoming album is “a fantastic and cohesive self-titled work that will stand as a career-defining moment”.

“The features and collaborations may look like contemporary industry algorithmic engineering, but this album is actually purpose built for Diplo’s favourite places to play in the world; a testament to his almost absurd and undying love of DJing live in front of people,” he added.

‘Diplo’ has been previewed today (February 11) with the track ‘Don’t Forget My Love’, which features Miguel. You can hear the song in the above lyric video.

You can see the tracklist for ‘Diplo’, which also features the likes of Jungle, Busta Rhymes and Lil Yachty, below.

1. ‘Don’t Forget My Love’ (with Miguel)
2. ‘High Rise’ (feat. Amtrac and Leon Bridges)
3. ‘Your Eyes’ (with RY X)
4. ‘One By One (Extended)’ (feat. Andhim and Elderbook)
5. ‘Promises’ (with Paul Woolford and Kareen Lomax)
6. ‘Right 2 Left’ (with Mele, feat. Busta Rhymes)
7. ‘Humble’ (with Lil Yachty)
8. ‘On My Mind’ (with Sidepiece)
9. ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ (with Damian Lazarus, feat. Jungle)
10. ‘Let You Go’ (with TSHA, feat. Kareen Lomax)
11. ‘Forget About Me’ (Nite Version) (with Aluna and Durante)
12. ‘Make You Happy’ (with WhoMadeWho)
13. ‘Waiting For You’ (with Seth Troxler, feat. Desire)
14. ‘Looking For Me’ (with Paul Woolford and Kareen Lomax)

Diplo will perform at Fabric in London next month – you can see his upcoming tour dates below and find tickets here.

March
4 – Nitsa @ Sala Apollo, Barcelona, Spain
5 – T7, Paris, France
8 – Fabric, London
9 – Arch Club, Copenhagen, Denmark

The post Diplo announces new self-titled album and shares Miguel-featuring ‘Don’t Forget My Love’ appeared first on NME.

The Head and the Heart Release New Single ‘Virginia (Wind In the Night)’

2022-02-11T16:48:15.473Z

The Head and the Heart released their latest single “Virginia (Wind In The Night),” the second single off of their upcoming album, Every Shade of Blue. This bittersweet track showcases the band playing to their strengths: a sturdy piano sound garnished with strings and perfectly paired with Jonathan Russell’s evocative lyrics.

Russell drew inspiration for this single from the concept of place and how we interpret the meaning of physical locations.

”Being from Virginia, for me this song represents a long and winding relationship to place – a place that is grounding. I’m often drawing on my life through symbolism as a way into someone else’s psyche,” Russell said in a statement. “It’s part of my search for a deeper connection without having to compare our experiences directly. There is a reason this song has two titles. One is literal and one is symbolic. Not everyone is from Virginia, I know that. But I bet you have walked home and heard the wind in the night.”

To accompany the release of their upcoming April album, The Head and the Heart are hitting the road in late May with Shakey Graves, Dawes, and Jade Bird joining as special guests.

“It’s wild to think that by the time we get back on the road this year, it will have been over 2 and a half years since we last toured,” says the band. “We’re so excited to bring new songs to life on stage every night, traveling alongside artists who inspire us. We can’t wait to get out there, doing what we do with an even greater sense of gratitude.”

The Head and the Heart’s Every Shade of Blue is out on April 29 on Warner Records.

The Head and the Heart Every Shade of Blue Tour 2022

Fri 5/20/2022 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live *

Sun 5/22/2022 Gulf Shores, AL Hangout Music Festival

Tue 5/24/2022 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater *

Wed 5/25/2022 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater *

Fri 5/27/2022 Pittsburgh, PA STAGE AE *

Sat 5/28/2022 Lewiston, NY Artpark Amphitheater *

Sun 5/29/2022 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre *

Tue 5/31/2022 LaFayette, NY Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards *

Wed 6/1/2022 Northampton, MA The Pines Theater at Look Park *

Fri 6/3/2022 Shelburne, VT Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum * – SOLD OUT

Sat6/4/2022Portland, METhompson’s Point *

Mon 6/6/2022New York, NYPier 17 – The Rooftop * – SOLD OUT

Tues 6/7/2022 New York, NY Pier 17 – The Rooftop * – Just added!

Thu 6/9/2022 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap *

Fri 6/10/2022 Boston, MALeader Bank Pavilion *

Mon 8/1/2022 Austin, TX ACL Live at The Moody Theater ^ – Just added!

Tues8/2/2022 Austin, TX ACL Live at The Moody Theater ^ – SOLD OUT

Thu 8/4/2022 Houston, TX Lawn at White Oak ^

Fri 8/5/2022 Dallas, TX The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory ^

Sat 8/6/2022 Oklahoma City, OK The Criterion ^

Mon 8/8/2022 Salt Lake City, UT Venue to be announced at a later date ^

Tue 8/9/2022 Boise, ID Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden ^

Thu 8/11/2022 Missoula, MT KettleHouse Amphitheater ^

Fri 8/12/2022 Seattle, WA Marymoor Park ^ – SOLD OUT

Fri 8/13/2022 Seattle, WA Marymoor Park ^ – just added!

Tue 8/16/2022 Portland, OR McMenamins Edgefield ^

Thu 8/18/2022 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl ^

Fri 8/19/2022 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre ^

Sat 8/20/2022 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre ^

Mon 8/22/2022 San Diego, CAHumphreys Concerts By The Bay ^ – SOLD OUT

Tues 8/23/2022 San Diego, CAHumphreys Concerts By The Bay ^ – Just added!

Wed 9/14/2022 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom

Thu 9/15/2022 Morrison, CORed Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT

Sat 9/17/2022 Richmond, VA Altria Theater #

Tue 9/20/2022 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre #

Wed 9/21/2022 Wilmington, NC Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park #

Fri 9/23/2022 Columbus, OH KEMBA Live! #

Tue 9/27/2022 Toronto, ON RBC Echo Beach

Thu 9/29/2022 Detroit, MI Oakland University – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre #

Fri 9/30/2022 Indianapolis, IN TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park #

Sat 10/1/2022 Chicago, IL Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island #

Mon 10/3/2022 Madison, WI The Sylvee #

Tue 10/4/2022 Madison, WI The Sylvee #

Fri 10/7/2022 Minneapolis, MN Armory #

Sat 10/8/2022 St. Louis, MO Saint Louis Music Park #

Mon 10/10/2022Birmingham, ALAvondale Brewing Company #

Thu 10/13/2022 St Augustine, FL The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre #

Fri 10/14/2022 Atlanta, GA Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park #

Sat 10/15/2022 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater #

* Jade Bird

^ Dawes

# Shakey Graves

The post The Head and the Heart Release New Single ‘Virginia (Wind In the Night)’ appeared first on SPIN.

Listen to Kate Nash’s new “tween pop anthem” ‘Imperfect’

2022-02-11T16:43:56.113Z

Kate Nash has shared a new single called ‘Imperfect’ – you can listen to it below.

The track is the latest preview of the singer-songwriter’s fifth studio album, which is due to arrive at some point this year. Following on from 2018’s ‘Yesterday Was Forever’, the record will also feature the 2021 songs ‘Horsie’ and ‘Misery’.

READ MORE: Kate Nash interview – how mental health shaped her new music and the future of GLOW

“My co-star Kimmy Gatewood and some of our brilliant writers Rachel Shukert and Sascha Rothchild from GLOW asked me if I could write a tween pop anthem for an episode of The Babysitters Club (Netflix) that they were all working on,” Nash explained of how ‘Imperfect’ came about.

“I’ve been writing for TV, film and musical theatre recently and it’s been so liberating as I get to explore different sides of being a songwriter. With ‘Imperfect’ I was able to sink quickly back into the mind of my 13-year-old self and sing through my hairbrush once again.”

Nash went on to say that the single was inspired by “the pop women of my teenage years, women like Stacie Orrico, Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton and Ashlee Simpson”.

“While I put finishing touches on my album I thought I should just release this song as it’s so uplifting and fun and why the hell not,” she continued. “Please play it loud whilst applying lip gloss, white eyeliner and ironing the collar on your school shirt.”

In the track, Nash sings of the pressures to “be smart, be cute, be nice, be better” and tells the listener that she’s “just trying to be me“.

“My skin is tough, but I am soft underneath/ Imperfect, but perfectly me,” its euphoric chorus goes.

Kate Nash is set to embark on a UK and European headline tour in May, with shows scheduled in London, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and other cities throughout the month and into early June.

A press release adds that the singer is currently “hatching plans” in terms of celebrating the 15th anniversary of her 2007 debut album, ‘Made Of Bricks’.

The post Listen to Kate Nash’s new “tween pop anthem” ‘Imperfect’ appeared first on NME.

Kanye West Threatens to Cancel Coachella Set If Billie Eilish Won’t Apologize to Travis Scott

2022-02-11T16:31:46.721Z

After Billie Eilish threw shade at Travis Scott at her concert on Saturday in Atlanta by saying “I wait for people to be OK before I keep going” after pausing the show to get a struggling fan an inhaler, Kanye West took to Instagram on Thursday to take issue with pop star.

West and Eilish are of course both set to headline Coachella this year, but apparently that might not happen if Eilish doesn’t apologize to Scott. The all-caps no-punctuation rant on the rapper’s IG reads as follows:

“COME ON BILLIE WE LOVE YOU PLEASE APOLOGIZE TO TRAV AND TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES NO ONE INTENDED THIS TO HAPPEN TRAV DIDN’T HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN HE WAS ON STAGE AND WAS VERY HURT BY WHAT HAPPENED AND YES TRAV WILL BE WITH ME AT COACHELLA BUT NOW I NEED BILLIE TO APOLOGIZE BEFORE I PERFORM”

Would Ye really pull out of Coachella over a throwaway line from Eilish about a situation that pretty much everyone on Earth agrees was absolutely awful from all parties involved? Well, it’s 2022. And it’s Kanye. So we really can’t rule out anything.

The message is accompanied by a screenshot of another Instagram post showing Eilish’s quote directed at Scott. You can see the whole thing below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ye (@kanyewest)

UPDATE 3 pm PST: Billie Eilish has responded, which you can see below:

period. now kanye needs to apologize to billie for jumping to conclusions. pic.twitter.com/Can7eyI1kf

— t (@badthings2u_) February 10, 2022

The post Kanye West Threatens to Cancel Coachella Set If Billie Eilish Won’t Apologize to Travis Scott appeared first on SPIN.

Doja Cat Covers Hole’s ‘Celebrity Skin’ for Taco Bell Super Bowl Commercial

2022-02-10T17:43:58.431Z

Raise your hand if you this coming. OK, put it down. Doja Cat has teamed up with Taco Bell and performed a cover of Hole’s “Celebrity Skin” for the fast-food joint’s Super Bowl commercial this year.

The commercial deemed “The Grande Escape,” features the 1998 song that includes newly reworked lyrics in partnership with Courtney Love herself. The single arrives on streaming services on February 11, via RCA Records. Prior to the big game, Doja and Taco gave us a sneak peek today by releasing the commercial’s behind-the-scenes video.

“It’s no secret I’m a major Taco Bell fan which has made my role with this campaign all the more fun,” Doja Cat said in a statement. “I’ve enjoyed every moment of this campaign, especially the ones where we get to break all the rules, and look forward to continuing collaborating with the brand.”

“The Grande Escape” is scheduled to air during the fourth quarter on Sunday’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.

“Doja Cat is a one-of-a-kind artist and it’s incredibly exciting to see her conquering yet another music genre with her cover of ‘Celebrity Skin’—her artistry never fails to impress,” COO of RCA Records, John Fleckenstein, said.

In other Doja Cat news, the pop princess is set to perform both weekends at this year’s Coachella on Sunday, April 17 and 24.

The post Doja Cat Covers Hole’s ‘Celebrity Skin’ for Taco Bell Super Bowl Commercial appeared first on SPIN.

‘Jurassic World Dominion’: the dinosaurs take over in epic first trailer

2022-02-10T17:40:13.710Z

The first trailer for Jurassic World Dominion has landed, and shows how humans have come to live in fear alongside dinosaurs all over the world.

READ MORE: Elon Musk’s tech could create Jurassic Park? He should build these fictional worlds instead

Dominion, which is the third installment in the Jurassic World trilogy and the finale to the entire Jurassic Park saga to date, arrives in UK and US cinemas on June 10.

In the first official trailer, we see events unfolding four years after the conclusion to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018). Since the establishment of a neo-Jurassic age at the end of that film – a world in which humans and dinosaurs co-exist – it’s clear that the plan has backfired and humans become dinosaurs’ prey and playthings.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard star as dino-whisperer Owen Grady and ex Jurassic Park operations manager Claire Dearing respectively. They are joined by the original Jurassic Park (1993) trio of Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Sam Neill as Dr Ian Malcolm, Dr Ellie Sattler and Dr Alan Grant, respectively.

In the trailer there are ample nods to the original movies as Dern recreates Neill’s sunglasses off moment from the first movie. The clip ends with an updated “don’t move” franchise sequence.

Jurassic World: Dominion also sees Justice Smith reprise his role as Franklin Webb, Daniella Pineda as Dr Zia Rodriguez and Omar Sy as Barry Sembenè. Newcomers include DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Dichen Lachman and Scott Haze.

BD Wong returns as Dr Henry Wu and Dr Lewis Dodgson will also be seen for the first time since the original movie, although this time he’s played by Campbell Scott and not Cameron Thor.

Last year, director Colin Trevorrow confirmed that the Jurassic World film series will conclude after Dominion.

Reflecting on the future and eventual end of the film series, Trevorrow told Entertainment Weekly: “To me, [Dominion] is a culmination of one story that’s been told.

“When you got to the end of the Jurassic Park trilogy, it may not have been as clear in what the complete story of those three movies was because they were a bit more episodic in the way that they were approached. But this trilogy is not that way.”

Jurassic World Dominion is the sixth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise overall following Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Jurassic Park III (2001), Jurassic World (2015) and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018).

The post ‘Jurassic World Dominion’: the dinosaurs take over in epic first trailer appeared first on NME.

Snoop Dogg Is Now the Owner of Death Row Records

2022-02-10T17:37:46.027Z

Over the past few years, Death Row Records has had some curious owners (to put it mildly). Now, the label is coming home (sort of). Snoop Dogg has agreed to a deal with MNRK Music Group, which is owned by private equity fund Blackstone, to become the new owner of the label where he got his start.

The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but a person familiar with the situation tells SPIN that it is expected to include the label’s catalog. The only thing that’s been officially confirmed so far is that Snoop is the owner of the Death Row Records brand.

The timing couldn’t be better for Snoop. His new album, B.O.D.R. is out this Friday, and he’s performing at the Super Bowl this Sunday with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and more.

“I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value,” Snoop said in a release. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me. I would like to personally thank the teams at Blackstone, MNRK and especially David Kestnbaum, who worked collaboratively with me over several months to make this exciting homecoming a reality. I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.”

Famously, Snoop first appeared on Dr. Dre’s The Chronic in 1992. He’d go on to release 1993’s Doggystyle and Tha Doggfather in 1996 on Death Row. He’d leave in 1998 to join Master P’s No Limit label. However, Snoop remains one of the most recognizable faces from the label’s peak era.

The post Snoop Dogg Is Now the Owner of Death Row Records appeared first on SPIN.

Ed Sheeran to write a song with Bring Me The Horizon

2022-02-10T17:04:31.573Z

Ed Sheeran has revealed that he’s set to enter the studio with Bring Me The Horizon.

On Tuesday night (February 8), Sheeran teamed up with the metal group for a reworked version of his 2021 track ‘Bad Habits’ to open the BRIT Awards 2022.

READ MORE: Ed Sheeran’s ‘Bad Habits’ is an on-trend bop from one of the savviest men in pop

Speaking to The Daily Star (via The List), Sheeran said that getting to perform with Bring Me The Horizon was “a dream” and they’re now “going to write a song together”.

“I got in touch with [Oli Sykes] and we were going to write together but then the pandemic happened, so we were in touch – I’ve been a fan for a long time,” he said. “Oddly enough, that’s the kind of music I grew up listening to.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Sheeran said: “’Bad Habits’ would be a bit of a wet fart if I was just going up there [at the BRITs] and playing it normally. The song is EDM, and [Bring Me The Horizon have] took it and made it a whole new thing. I was just like, ‘You know what, these guitars are going to be great’.”

“It was a week’s turnaround – we emailed each other two weeks ago, recorded it a week ago and rehearsed it three days ago,” continued the pop star, seemingly confirming that a studio recording of the track exists.

It’s not the first time that Sheeran has spoken about a heavy metal collaboration either. Cradle Of Filth’s Dani Filth hinted at a future collaboration with the singer after Sheeran revealed that he was “really into death metal as a kid”.

“I think the Ed Sheeran collaboration would be great fun,” said Filth. “I think it’d be great if we did it for charity because at least it would bring a bit of credibility to it. Because obviously to his public, it’d be like ‘Oh my god, he’s got this weird comical guy’, and to my public, it’d be like ‘Oh my god, this is a bit weird, isn’t it?’ But I think that sort of thing, nowadays, works.”

Bring Me The Horizon will perform the closing set at the BandLab NME Awards 2022.

The wildest night in music will return to London’s O2 Academy Brixton on Wednesday, March 2 to celebrate the best in music and entertainment from around the globe. Tickets to the event are on sale now and available here.

“To be honest we’re surprised we’ve even been asked back at all!” said Sykes. “What a huge honour it is to be asked to close the prestigious NME Awards show, we’re literally buzzing.”

The post Ed Sheeran to write a song with Bring Me The Horizon appeared first on NME.

Caroline Polachek Returns With New Single ‘Billions’

2022-02-10T16:54:23.411Z

Caroline Polachek is back with her first single since 2020 with “Billions.” The track emplores elements of psychedelia with an angelic feature of London’s celebrated Trinity Choir. Polacheck recorded and released the song after months of fan anticipation from her frequent live performances of the song last year.

“Billions” was produced by Polacheck in collaboration with Danny L Harle. Along with the single, the singer released an ethereal accompanying video, directed by Polacheck and frequent visual collaborator Matt Copson.

“The overabundance of this world overwhelms me,” Polacheck said in a statement the themes of “Billions.” “Sometimes it seems like ultimate tragedy, the earth being pillaged and destroyed for it. Sometimes it seems pre-human, beyond morality, sublime. I don’t pick sides, I just live here, with you. How does it feel, being so rich?”

The release follows Polachek’s single “Bunny is a Rider” which rose to fan-favorite status and critical acclaim after its release last year, following her breakthrough album, 2019’s PANG! “Billions” gives fans a glimpse of what is to come for Polachek this year, showing that the pop superstar’s momentum hasn’t died down.

Polacheck will kick off performances for Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia tour tonight alongside Megan Thee Stallion and Lolo Zouaï. Her appearances on the tour include 28-dates, including a performance at the Coachella music festival in April. In addition to performances on the Future Nostalgia tour, Polachek will have headlining shows in Chattanooga, New Haven, Cleveland, St. Louis, Flagstaff, Santa Cruz, and Tacoma. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Caroline Polachek 2022 Tour Dates:

2/9 – Miami, FL @ FTX Arena*

2/11 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center*

2/12 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena*

2/14 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena*

2/15 – Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal

2/16 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center*

2/18 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden*

2/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center*

2/20 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall

2/21 – Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena*

2/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum*

2/24 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Cleveland

2/25 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena*

2/26 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center*

3/1 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden*

3/2 – Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena*

3/4 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center*

3/5 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center*

3/7 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom

3/8 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center*

3/9 – Chicago, IL @ United Center*

3/10 – Saint Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall

3/12 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center*

3/13 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center*

3/15 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena*

3/17 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center*

3/19 – Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater

3/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center*

3/22 – Inglewood, CA @ The Forum*

3/23 – Inglewood, CA @ The Forum*

3/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena*

3/26 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst

3/27 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose*

3/29 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center*

3/30 – Tacoma, WA @ Fawcett Hall at Alma Mater

3/31 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena*

4/1 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena*

4/16 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music and Arts Festival

4/23 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music and Arts Festival

7/25 – Montreal, QC @ Centre Bell*

7/27 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena*

8/28 – Pasadena, CA @ This Ain’t No Picnic Festival

*with Dua Lipa

The post Caroline Polachek Returns With New Single ‘Billions’ appeared first on SPIN.

Super Bowl: Zendaya sells seashells by the sea shore in André 3000-narrated ad

2022-02-10T16:46:45.519Z

Zendaya stars in a new André 3000-narrated advert for Squarespace that will air in full at this year’s Super Bowl.

READ MORE: Euphoria season two review – still the best teen drama on TV

The Euphoria star and musician poses as seashell-seller Sally who is struggling to make her business heard until she creates a new webstore that helps market her products. André 3000 uses parts of the famous seashell tongue-twister to detail her growth.

A preview of the commercial shared yesterday (February 9) concludes with Sally’s seashells becoming so successful that “she sailed into the setting sun as a seashell celebrity”. “Shucks”, Zendaya says at the end of the clip.

Emmy award-winning actress Zendaya said in a statement: “As a creator myself, and a Squarespace customer since 2018, I understand the importance of having an online presence that truly represents you and your business.

“I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work and create with Edgar Wright on a story narrated by André ‘3000’ Benjamin.”

Elsewhere, Megan Thee Stallion is reportedly set to star in an advert for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos alongside Charlie Puth during Super Bowl LVI [via Billboard].

Stallion said about her partnership with the company: “I am the Hot Girl Coach. I am Miss Flamin’ Hottie. I mean, I am all things hot. So I feel like it was very necessary for the Hot Cheeto and the Hot Girl to get together.”

She recently shared new song ‘Flamin’ Hottie’, featuring an interpolation of Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Push It’, to promote Frito-Lay products Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Flamin’ Hot Doritos.

Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are set to perform at this Sunday’s (February 13) Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The post Super Bowl: Zendaya sells seashells by the sea shore in André 3000-narrated ad appeared first on NME.

Betty Davis, Funk Icon, Dies at 77

2022-02-10T16:40:35.153Z

has died at the age of 77. A statement on Davis’ website confirmed the news of her death. She died of natural causes

“At 4:40 a.m. EST on February 9, 2022, visionary singer, songwriter, producer, and fashion icon Betty Mabry Davis began her eternal rest,” the statement began.

“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star, singer, songwriter, and fashion icon. Most of all, Betty was a friend, aunt, niece, and beloved member of her community of Homestead, Pennsylvania, and of the worldwide community of friends and fans,” Connie Portis, Davis’ friend of 65 years, said.

Rolling Stone was first to report Davis’ death.

Born on July 26, 1944, Davis was born Betty Mabry. Her debut single, “Get Ready for Betty,” was released in 1964 and after a short marriage to composer Hugh Masekela, she began a relationship with Miles Davis. Betty is credited with introducing Miles to rock (she was friends with Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone) and thus, began his jazz fusion phase. Following her divorce, Davis went on to pursue fashion modeling (which is what brought her to New York City as a 16-year-old before turning to music) before returning to music and creating her own songs.

With the release of Betty Davis, They Say I’m Different and Nasty Gal from 1973-1975, Davis cemented herself as an ahead-of-her-time force to be reckoned with. Two singles from that stretch of albums, “If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up” and “Shut Off the Lights,” landed on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart. Other iconic Davis songs include the aforementioned “Get Ready for Betty” and “It’s My Life.”

Though her career would stall in the late 1970s mainly because the times weren’t ready for her (something she acknowledged), Davis’ influence stretches far and wide. Her albums would go on to be appreciated long after their original release dates.

“One can hardly imagine Prince, Erykah Badu, or Outkast without the influence of Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music,” the statement on her site said.

A documentary about her life was released in 2017.

The post Betty Davis, Funk Icon, Dies at 77 appeared first on SPIN.

Fleet Foxes Reveal 2022 Tour Dates

2022-02-09T16:49:16.076Z

If you think it’s been a while since Fleet Foxes last hit the road, you’re right. It’s been five years to be exact, but that’s about to change.

Robin Pecknold and company announced a lengthy list of international dates that kick off in June in Salt Lake City. After concluding with a show in New York’s Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in August, Fleet Foxes will be heading to the UK and Europe for another three weeks or so.

The band shared a teaser trailer for the tour as well.

Artist Presale begins Feb. 15 at 10 am local time through the Fleet Foxes website, followed by local promoter presale starting Feb. 17 at 10 am local. All presales end Feb. 17 at 10 pm local time. General on sale begins on Feb. 18 at 10 am local time.

Fleet Foxes’ fourth studio album, Shore, was released in late 2020 on Anti-. The album received a nomination at this year’s Grammys for Best Alternative Music Album.

Check out the full tour dates below.

Fleet Foxes 2022 Tour Dates:

6/27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Sandy Amphitheater
6/28 Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
7/01 Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum
7/02 Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
7/03 Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater
7/05 Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre
7/06 San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater
7/08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
7/09 Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
7/10 Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre
7/12 Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
7/15 Seattle, WA @ King County’s Marymoor Park
7/29 Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
7/30 Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
7/31 Pelham, TN @ The Caverns
8/02 Minneapolis, MN @ Surly Brewing Festival Field
8/03 Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
8/05 Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre
8/06 Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
8/09 Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
8/10 Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion
8/12 Philadelphia, PA @ The Mann Center
8/13 New York, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
8/26 London, UK @ All Points East
8/28 Dublin, IE @ National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks
8/30 Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
8/31 Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy Glasgow
9/02 Wiltshire, UK @ End of the Road Festival
9/03 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo Manchester
9/05 Paris, FR @ Salle Pleyel
9/06 Antwerp, BE @ De Roma
9/07 Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
9/09 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
9/10 Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg (Ronda)
9/11 Berlin, BE @ Columbiahalle

The post Fleet Foxes Reveal 2022 Tour Dates appeared first on SPIN.

Lady Gaga congratulates Oscar nominees after ‘House Of Gucci’ snub

2022-02-09T16:46:28.258Z

Lady Gaga has congratulated the 2022 Oscar nominees after House Of Gucci received only one nomination.

READ MORE: Oscars 2022 nominations – full list

The singer and actor, who played Patrizia Reggiani in House Of Gucci, was left out of the Best Actress race at the Oscars despite earning nominations at other major award shows, like the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards.

In a post on Instagram, Gaga praised House Of Gucci’s makeup artist Frederic Aspiras – who earned the film’s only Oscar nomination in the Best Hair & Makeup category.

“I could not be happier for a man I call my brother, who I’ve worked with for the last 15 years, @fredericaspiras, for his nomination in Makeup & Hairstyling for House Of Gucci,” Gaga wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)

“Frederic was magical, precise, and dedicated months leading up to shoot and during filming. He prepared dozens of wigs for months and months, and did at least a year of preparation. He’s a living genius and Freddie, we are all so grateful to just even be near your talent, creativity and generosity of spirit.”

Gaga also extended her congratulations to the rest of the nominees, adding: “To all the nominees this year, congratulations on all your hard work, dedication, your nomination and YOUR magic – you all deserve major recognition for what was a truly beautiful landscape of performances and accomplishments this past year.

“Your dedication during Covid, your huge hearts, and your ability to tell amazing stories is a gift to the whole world during what is for many a very hard time. Congratulations my friends. Bravo!”

This year’s Best Actress nominees include Jessica Chastain (The Eyes Of Tammy Faye), Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter), Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers), Nicole Kidman (Being The Ricardos) and Kristen Stewart (Spencer).

Jared Leto also missed out on a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for House Of Gucci, after earning nods at the Critics Choice Awards and SAG Awards earlier this year.

The post Lady Gaga congratulates Oscar nominees after ‘House Of Gucci’ snub appeared first on NME.

Wilco Announce New York City and Chicago Shows to Celebrate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Turning 20

2022-02-09T16:41:02.522Z

This September, Wilco is celebrating 20 years since the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. To start the celebration several months early, because why not, the band just announced two limited runs in honor of the record this April at New York City’s United Palace and Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre.

Tickets for the rare performances go on sale at 10 a.m. local this Friday, Feb. 11.

They’ll perform four nights (April 15, 16, 17, and 19) in New York and two (April 22 and 23) in Chicago. Wilco will rock out to the entirety of the original album, and play a mix of concert favorites and rarities. Not only will the shows celebrate the legendary 2001 record, but they will also prepare Wilco fans for the archival Yankee Hotel Foxtrot re-releases that are set to arrive later this year.

The Yankee Hotel Foxtrot shows precede the band’s own annual Solid Sound Festival, which will take place over the weekend of May 27-29 in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is Wilco’s fourth studio record, which released via Nonesuch Records on September 18, 2001.

Nonesuch Records, 2022

Wilco Tour Dates

Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Anniversary Shows

Fri. Apr. 15 – New York NY @ United Palace
Sat. Apr. 16 – New York, NY @ United Palace
Sun. Apr. 17 – New York, NY @ United Palace
Tue. Apr. 19 – New York, NY @ United Palace
Fri. Apr. 22 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
Sat. Apr. 23 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre

Additional 2022 Wilco Tour Dates (Now on Sale)
Fri. May 27 – Sun. May 29 – North Adams, MA @ Solid Sound Festival
Sat. Jun. 11 – Oslo, NE @ Loaded Festival
Mon. Jun. 13 – Copenhagen, DK @ Amager Bio
Fri. Jun. 17 – Zeebrugge, BE @ Zeebrugge Beach Festival
Sat. Jun. 18 – Kent, UK @ Black Deer Festival
Wed. Jun. 22 – Barcelona, ES @ Poble Espanyol
Sat. Jun. 25 – Murcia, ES @ Plaza De Toros Murcia
Mon. Jun. 27 – Madrid, ES @ Noches Del Botanico
Mon. Aug. 28 – Marthaʼs Vineyard, MA @ Beach Road Weekend

The post Wilco Announce New York City and Chicago Shows to Celebrate Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Turning 20 appeared first on SPIN.

Watch Adele’s ‘I Drink Wine’ performance at the BRITs 2022

2022-02-09T16:38:35.403Z

Adele delivered a performance of the fan favourite ‘I Drink Wine’ at the BRIT Awards last night (February 8). You can see it in full below.

READ MORE: Adele – ‘30’ album review: dependable pop titan finally mixes things up

As well as the live performance, her first at the BRITs since 2016’s rendition of ‘When We Were Young’, the singer was among the big winners at last night’s ceremony.

Adele took home three trophies on the night: Album Of The Year for ’30’, Song Of The Year for ‘Easy On Me’ and Artist Of The Year.

Collecting the Album Of The Year trophy at the end of the night, Adele reflected on the nature of the record, which detailed her experiences of divorce. “I’d like to dedicate this award to my son and to Simon, to his dad – this album was all of our journey, not just mine,” she began.

“I’m very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and putting out an album that was about something so personal to me, cos not many people do stuff like that anymore. My son has been so gracious – so gracious and kind and patient with me over the last couple of years and it’s for him.”

She also singled out producer Inflo, who won Producer Of The Year, saying he “really changed my life”.

“Not just with my music, but he really helped me in so many ways,” she said. “‘Flo, I love you – this is for you as well.”

Also among the BRITs performers was Liam Gallagher, who played his new single ‘Everything’s Electric’ for the first time, and a remarkable surprise collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Bring Me The Horizon.

The post Watch Adele’s ‘I Drink Wine’ performance at the BRITs 2022 appeared first on NME.

Sharon Van Etten Shares New Single and Video for ‘Porta’

2022-02-09T16:36:00.604Z

Sharon Van Etten is back with her first solo song since 2020 with “Porta.” The anthemic, but calm, song details feelings of loss of selfhood and security. Van Etten sings, “Want to hold head up, donʼt want to stay down/I want to live my life/But you wonʼt allow.”

“Porta” was written in 2020 “at one of my lowest lows,” Van Etten said in a statement. “For most of my adult life I have struggled with bouts of depression and anxiety and coping mechanisms, and I sometimes let those dark moments get the best of me. During this time I felt very dissociated. Not connected to my body and I felt out of control.”

The accompanying video shows her in a state of cathartic healing, practicing pilates. The video was inspired by Van Etten’s weekly meetings with her friend Stella Cook, who runs Base Pilates in North Carolina. She says Cook helped her during a rough patch in her mental health during 2020 through their meetings.

“Even when it’s hard. Even when it hurts. Reach out. Reach out to that friend who helps you reach out towards yourself,” Van Etten said.

The single follows Van Etten’s 2021 collaboration album which featured artists like Big Red Machine, IDLES, and Fiona Apple.

This spring, Sharon Van Etten will hit the stage at her Darkness Fades Tour in Europe, followed by the Wild Hearts with Angel Olsen, Julien Baker, and Spencer this summer. Tickets for the Darkness Fades Tour go on sale Friday, February 11 at 10am local time, available for purchase here.

Sharon Van Etten Tour Dates:

The post Sharon Van Etten Shares New Single and Video for ‘Porta’ appeared first on SPIN.

‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ finale recap: an explosive end to Star Wars spin-off series

2022-02-09T16:32:35.715Z

So which does he pick? The shirt or the sword?! The big question plaguing Baby Yoda fans gets answered early on as Grogu turns up on Tatooine for the big showdown – an extra-long episode that runs as one explosive set piece paying off everything built up across The Book Of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian so far.

Boba (Temuera Morrison), Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Fennec (Ming-Na Wen) start drawing up their battle plans in the bombed-out shell of The Sanctuary nightclub. They have Drash (Sophie Thatcher), Skad (Jordan Bolger) and Chris the Wookiee on their side, but that’s about it – since Cad Bane gunned down Marshall Cobb in last week’s episode and stopped him sending any reinforcements.

Bane swaggers up to Boba and tries to draw him out – hoping that a confrontation with his mentor will be enough to settle the war with an old fashioned western shootout. They trade words instead of shots (“If that’s not the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy…”), and Boba finds out that the Pykes killed his adopted Tusken tribe and blamed it on the bikers. Just as his blood gets hot, the whole city explodes. Turning the crime families against Boba, the Pykes have an unstoppable army of mercenaries and Mafiosos at their disposal – forcing the good guys into a tough corner.

Chris gets overwhelmed, the pig men get thrown off a cliff and Boba and Mando prepare for a Butch and Sundance style suicide pact. Thankfully, backup arrives. The Marshall might have been gunned down but his death inspired the townsfolk to gather up their weapons and join the fight – turning up in an old tank just in time to stop Boba and Mando being riddled with bullets. At the same time, Baby Yoda arrives with Peli (Amy Sedaris) in a rickshaw (“Grogu? That’s a terrible name. No way am I calling you that!”), now wearing his little shiny shirt and obviously having already made the decision to leave Luke’s Jedi school behind to spend more time with his dad.

Just as the scales start balancing out, a pair of giant Scorpenek droids turn up. Protected by force fields and packing huge cannons and razor legs, each robot is clearly capable of winning the war on its own. Finally, then, Boba brings out his own trump card – riding his pet rancor into the fight like Godzilla.

As Boba Fett wrangles his rancor, Mando chops away with his darksaber, and Baby Yoda uses his force powers to fight a giant robot scorpion, it’s hard to think of a scene in any Star Wars film or show that feels so ridiculously satisfying for long-time fans. Briefly turning the series into a kaiju movie, the giant lizard monster swipes and eats his way through a whole city before King Kong-ing the two Scorpeneks in an impressive double-headed smackdown.

Scared off by Bane’s flamethrower, the rancor runs off to go berserk somewhere else and Boba is left to face his old boss alone. Bane wins the quickdraw but Boba fights back with his Gaderffii stick, killing the desperado just as he was getting interesting. Across the other side of town, Mando tries to wrangle the rogue rancor but ends up getting punched through a building. Baby Yoda manages to force-calm the monster down instead, and everyone starts celebrating.

A quick cut to whatever Fennec has been doing during all this shows her ruthlessly assassinating the heads of all the mafia gangs in the Pyke HQ, putting an end to the violence on Tatooine once and for all. Walking through town after the fight like a local hero, Boba now has the respect, and the power, he always wanted – closing the first chapter in The Book Of Boba Fett as the episode leaves Mando and Baby Yoda joy-riding off to the next season of their own series. Now rumoured to land sometime around Christmas, it feels like far too long a wait already.

Under the helmet

Stick around for an end credit sting to see Marshall Cobb alive and well in Boba’s bacta tank. What’s more, he’s about to be turned into a cyborg by Thundercat…
The Scorpenek Annihilator droid entered the Star Wars canon after turning up in the concept art for Attack Of The Clones. Never seen on screen before, their first appearance is a big deal for droid-heads.
What’s happened to Luke, and his gift of Yoda’s lightsaber? We know Grogu turned up in Luke’s X-Wing so it seems like he condoned the visit. Will the next season of The Mandalorian see Baby Yoda finally end up back at school?

‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ is streaming now on Disney+

The post ‘The Book Of Boba Fett’ finale recap: an explosive end to Star Wars spin-off series appeared first on NME.

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Details Solo Debut EP Portals

2022-02-09T16:29:37.955Z

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett announced that he’ll be releasing his solo debut, Portals, in April on the band’s Blackened Recordings.

“This music was created with what I describe as an Audio-Cinematic approach,” Hammett said in a statement. “They’re soundtracks to the movies in your mind.”

The four-song instrumental EP was recorded in various locales, from Los Angeles to Paris to Oahu. It was produced by Hammett and is comprised of the tracks “Maiden and the Monster,” “The Jinn,” “High Plains Drifter,” and “The Incantation,” which were both co-written by Edwin Outwater. Outwater also contributed keyboards and lead the orchestral players from the L.A. Philharmonic on Portals, and previously collaborated with Hammett on Metallica’s S&M2 concerts and releases.

Other notable contributors on the EP include Jon Theodore, Abraham Laboriel, Greg Fidelman on bass, Emmy-winning arranger Blake Neely, and Metallica producer Bob Rock.

In other Metallica news, the band is gearing up for their headlining performances at Boston Calling and BottleRock festivals. Their sharing a headlining bill with the Foo Fighters and The Strokes in Boston, and their alongside P!nk, Twenty One Pilots, and Luke Combs in Napa Valley over Memorial Day weekend.

Blackened Recordings, 2022

Kirk Hammett Portals Track List

1. Maiden and the Monster
2. The Jinn
3. High Plains Drifter
4. The Incantation

The post Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Details Solo Debut EP Portals appeared first on SPIN.

Slash Discusses His New Solo Album, Fear Covers Album and That South Park Episode

2022-02-08T17:11:41.260Z

Two years into Zoom becoming a mainstream method of communication, it’s clear that the assortment of books, artwork and knickknacks that decorate the shelves in the background of a video call say a lot about the person appearing in front of them. Sure, some folks opt for a shelf-free background, but unless you’re in a particularly enthralling room or have some very special art or posters as your backdrop, all that tells people is that you’re boring. Of course, there’s always the digital option of replacing your actual setting with something more interesting… if you’re a coward.

As one might expect, Slash has a wide variety of tchotchkes on the shelves behind him in his preferred Zoom setup. The groupings of gifts, purchases, and other small acquisitions no doubt tell different parts of his long and illustrious life’s story. Frankly, I have no idea what any of them were, since I was focused on the rock ‘n roll royalty sitting in front of them in a bandana (instead of his iconic top hat) and his signature sunglasses.

But after about 20 minutes of answering my questions, Slash leaned in toward his camera, clearly looking at something on the screen in front of him.

“Is that a dinosaur menorah behind you?”

Of all the things for Slash to notice on the wobbly IKEA bookshelf behind me (which also holds his autobiography, among others), he’d picked out the little golden T. rex with a slightly broken tail on the second shelf from the top.

“Oh, yeah, my wife got it for me a couple years back,” I explained after the initial shock wore off.

“I’ve got the same one! I got it as a Christmas gift.”

In addition to having the same Menorahsaurus (what it’s actually called, according to the internet) as SPIN’s Deputy Editor, Slash also has a brand new album coming out this Friday (February 11). As the first release on Gibson Records, 4 picks up where the guitar icon left off — bringing his signature sound to a variety of rocking tracks with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.

Check out the non-dinosaur menorah portion of SPIN’s interview with Slash below.

SPIN: What went into putting this album together for the first release on Gibson’s new record label?

Slash: For the record itself, we recorded it with Dave Cobb in Nashville at RCA Studio A, which was a great experience. We had a blast over there. We recorded the album live in the studio, which means all of the gear in one room, just like we would in a venue. That was a first for me, and it really gave the record a certain kind of excitement that you just don’t get with the way that records are recorded nowadays. It was fun, and I think it’s a great rock and roll record.

Working with Gibson has been amazing. I mean, I’ve had a relationship with Gibson for almost 30 years, but when I got the call that they wanted to release this record as their first release on their new label, it was all a big surprise. I had no idea they even had a label, but this was almost too perfect to be true. It just seemed like such an obvious thing.

You’ve now been playing with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators for longer than you have any other incarnation of any other band without taking a significant break. How has that relationship developed over the years?

When it first started, it was initially just to support the solo record that I did back in 2010. I worked with Myles on that record, and I asked him if he wanted to do this tour that I was doing to sort of cover my whole catalog. He has great range and a variety of styles that he’s capable of, so he signed on to do it. Then I met Brent Fitz, and I got him to play drums. He introduced me to Todd Kerns, and we just had this really natural instantaneous chemistry. That’s really kept us going this whole time on a personal level, and on a professional level, it’s just very, very easy. We get along great, and all we want to do as individuals and as a collective is just go out and play. There’s absolutely nothing else to it. Everybody is fine with doing however much work it takes to be able to to facilitate that.

What’s the creative process like for you these days when you’re working on “solo” material like this with the band?

There’s no real set thing. This is gonna sound corny, but I really enjoy what it is that I do. I’ve always got a guitar with me. I’m always dicking around trying to come up with new ideas just based on playing, and whenever I do come up with something, I record it that minute into my phone. That technology has been a real convenience, because back in the day, it was too much of a pain in the ass to set up to record every time you had an idea. With the phone, I’m always just compiling new stuff. I write a lot on the road, which is something that’s a little different than in the old days. In the old days, I couldn’t remember anything that I wrote if I wrote on the road at all. Usually what happens is I’ll come up with a riff, and then the next day, I’ll bring it to soundcheck while we’re touring and just start working up an idea at soundcheck. A lot of the ideas on this record are rooted in that process. During the pandemic, I did a lot of writing and recorded demos for this record from the old stuff, but I also wrote some new stuff for this record as well.

Outside of your own music, you’ve gotten to perform both live and in the studio with an insane number of legendary artists. Is there anyone else on your bucket list for who else you’d want to play with?

There’s a ton of people that I would appreciate being able to work with, but the way that it happens is that I just sort of run into people in passing. We end up having a conversation, and the conversation gets around to jamming on something or writing or whatever. All of them are really born out of these spontaneous little social things that come out of nowhere. There’s never a lot of pre-planning. Sometimes I get called to do stuff, but for the most part, it’s just casual and by chance. In the future, I don’t know what I might end up doing. I actually just recorded something with Fear. That was really exciting for me, because in LA back in the late ‘70s, Fear was like my all-time favorite LA punk band. They’re doing a covers record, so they called me, knowing that I’m a big Fear fan. Duff [McKagan] is on it as well. I don’t know if I’m letting the cat out of the bag too soon, because it’s probably supposed to be a surprise, but I don’t know. They didn’t tell me.

In addition to putting out your new album, it feels like you’ve had more signature Les Pauls with Gibson than pretty much anyone else. What’s it like to now have basically an entire line of guitars with your name on it?

It’s an honor for me, because when I first picked up the guitar, my go-to first electric guitar was a Les Paul copy. I’ve learned a lot about gear and all that kind of stuff over the years — and I did trial and error with a lot of different guitars — but the guitar that I’ve always been most comfortable with is a Les Paul. When I first came out, I was just a Les Paul guy, and I never thought too much about it. Then at some point around 1990, I went to a NAMM show in Chicago and they had this line of Les Pauls with a faded sunburst with no pickup covers and no pickguard — exactly how I set my guitars up. So I talked to the guy, and he goes, “Oh, well, you know, this is sort of a new look we’re trying with these guitars.” It was like they finally got me. So then they finally made me a personal Slash model based on my specs with my name on it, but there were only like three of those and they weren’t commercially available. Years go by, and when Velvet Revolver [started] is when we first actually did a commercially available Slash model Custom Shop guitar. It’s just sort of snowballed since then with different variations of Les Pauls with different specs that I would pick and choose, and different finishes and whatnot. I just came out with my first Gibson USA Les Paul line, because Gibson got weird for some years, so I was only working with the Custom Shop. Now that they have new management and the company’s been reborn basically, I’ve finally got a USA model out. I’m working on new ideas for some other guitars with them, too. It’s great, because I’m always thinking about it. I can call them up and go “Hey, what about this? What about that?” I probably drive them crazy.

You’ve always maintained a level of consistency within your work, while generally staying out of the headlines for the wrong reasons…

I’ve had my moments. [Laughs.] But for the most part, I’ve always been focused around music and playing, touring, recording and all of the other shit. I just don’t like to draw attention to myself outside of playing. I’m not really that publicly outgoing, and I don’t want that attention, I don’t want to be recognized for doing anything other than playing guitar in a band. We’re in a culture where everybody is looking for attention. Everybody wants to be on TV. Everybody wants to be big on social networks, influencing influencers and being as out there and in everybody’s faces as possible. I’m sort of the opposite. I just want to be able to get some cool music out and then go out and play. If you want to show up there, it’s great. But I don’t want to be trying to get people to notice me while I’m dicking around doing something else.

Completely unrelated to everything else, but it’s been a little over 10 years since South Park revealed to the world that you don’t actually exist. I know you’re a South Park fan, so what was that like to make an appearance there?

Well, I’ve never actually seen the episode, because I don’t like watching anything that I’m in, so I never sought it out. I’m aware of it, of course. I’m a huge animation fan. I love cartoons and animation in general, and I love South Park. So when I heard about that, it was a huge honor — especially because they didn’t lay waste to me like they have to so many other people. I’ve been watching the show for years, so it’s nice to be immortalized in a sort of tongue-in-cheek animated thing for me. It’s really cool.

Anything else on your radar for the near future that you want people to know about?

I’m just excited that the record coming out ,finally, because we actually recorded it in April of last year. We had to wait until now because we had all of these scheduling conflicts and whatnot. We’re doing a US tour to support it, and then I’ve got Guns N’ Roses going on the road for all kinds of make-up tours for 2020 in Europe, Australia, Asia and South America. Then the Conspirators are back in the beginning of 2023 for a tour, so it’s going to be a really busy next couple of years.

The post Slash Discusses His New Solo Album, Fear Covers Album and That South Park Episode appeared first on SPIN.

Oscars 2022: Beyonce Lands First Nomination, Billie Eilish and Van Morrison Lead Best Song Nominees

2022-02-08T17:07:11.480Z

Musicians are taking over this year’s Oscars. The nominees were announced this morning, and singers, producers, and composers are up for the film industry’s biggest award.

Five generational icons, Van Morrison, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Diane Warren, are up for the Best Original Song category. Morrison grabbed a nom for “Down To Joy,” from Belfast, where Queen B is up for co-writing “Be Alive,” from King Richard with producer DIXSON.

This marks Beyoncé’s first-ever Oscar nomination. Eilish and her brother Finneas co-wrote the newest Bond theme, “No Time To Die,” and Miranda wrote the track “Dos Oruguitas” for Disney’s Encanto. If he wins, his Oscar will secure Miranda with EGOT status. This is Warren’s 13th Oscar nomination, making her the most-nominated woman who’s never won an Oscar. She was nominated this year for “Somehow You Do” from Four Good Days.

Miranda, Warren, and Morrison wrote their nominated tracks without any collaborators, marking the first time in 20 years that three or more songwriters were nominated for songs they wrote themselves.

In some not-so-good news, neither Lady Gaga in House of Gucci nor Alaina Haim in Licorice Pizza received nominations, but both films received some of their own.

The Best Original Score category is also stacked, with Jonny Greenwood scoring his second-ever nod for Jane Campion’s The Power Of The Dog. He previously was up for Phantom Thread in 2018. This year, Nicholas Brittell is up for Don’t Look Up, Germain Franco for Encanto, Alberto Iglesias for Parallel Mothers, and Hans Zimmer for Dune.

Everyone’s favorite late-night band leader and Roots member, ?uestlove, is up for Best Documentary for directing the vibrant Summer of Soul.

The post Oscars 2022: Beyonce Lands First Nomination, Billie Eilish and Van Morrison Lead Best Song Nominees appeared first on SPIN.

Black Country, New Road Don’t Care If You Hate Their Ambitious New LP

2022-02-08T16:56:47.267Z

“We knew that people weren’t going to like it,” says Black Country, New Road’s Lewis Evans. “And [now] I know that people won’t like it.”

It doesn’t read like a ringing endorsement of Ants From Up There, the recently issued second album from British sextet Black Country, New Road. But the saxophonist correctly insists it’s the “best thing [they’ve] ever done” — a more mature song cycle that broadens the emotional range of 2021’s For the First Time.

Where that acclaimed debut relied heavily on deadpan speak-sing snark and brooding post-punk riffs, Ants is often bright and opened-armed, landing somewhere between ornate art-rock and Arcade Fire-sized chamber-pop. They’ve always had style to spare — now they have heart.

“One of the main aims of the second album was to explore, first of all, more emotions,” bassist Tyler Hyde tells SPIN over Zoom, clutching a handful of oranges and a turmeric shot. (“Getting my Vitamin C up,” she adds.) “The first album, I think, goes down a very narrow route. And the way it created these emotions was just through shock, the immediate tools that you would use in music to make people go “wow!” or “boo!” [Laughs.] But with this album, we were like, ‘How can we create tension without just like thrashing our guitars are whacking on a distortion pedal?’”

To answer that question, the band holed up in January 2021 — one month before First Time came out — to whittle away at new material, even drawing on some ambitious ideas (including the 12-minute epic “Basketball Shoes”) that dated back at least two years. That summer, they traveled to the Isle Of Wight and recorded at Chale Abbey Studios, home to what drummer Charlie Wayne calls “15 medieval monk ghosts.” (“There was a lot of chanting,” he says.)

The critical buzz for First Time was still swirling, but they felt no pressure to top it — after all, it’s easy to avoid a sophomore slump when the follow-up sounds like a different band altogether.

“We definitely thought about, ‘Why was this good?’” adds Evans. “But we really didn’t go into recording or writing this album thinking, ‘How can we make it have the merits of the last album?’ We were all so sure of this one, that this was the best thing we’ve ever done. We didn’t really care. I know that there’s gonna be people who really liked the first album who aren’t gonna like this at all. And that’s fine because it’s a completely different thing.”

SPIN spoke with Evans, Hyde and Wayne about their musical growth and side-stepping those expectations. (A week later, Evans, Lewis and guitarist Luke Mark hopped on a follow-up Zoom to address the elephant in the room: the departure of the band’s lead vocalist Isaac Wood, days before the album’s release. The following is a condensed version of those two conversations.)

SPIN: Had you sensed for a while that Isaac wanted to leave the band?
Wayne: When we had the first chat with you, we did know that Isaac was no longer going to be part of the group. We were waiting for him to prepare what he wanted to say. I think it was only fair that it came from his words, rather than from an interview or something that he didn’t have any control over. Although we’ve known for a little while — and it’s obviously been quite an intense week, especially with the run-up to the album — we’ve had some time to come to terms with it and feel a huge amount of support in each other. We’ve been spending quite a lot of time with each other, which, although it’s been sad, has been quite nice at the same time.

In the statement you released, you mentioned you’ve already been working on new material. What can you tell me about that?
Mark: I don’t think it’ll be that revelatory or interesting to discuss the material, but it’s stuff we intended to work on anyway with Isaac. It just made sense to start doing it now amongst the six of us. It’s totally new material. We’ve been doing some of Tyler’s songs that she does solo — adapting them and seeing how they work in the band setup, figuring out the dynamic of the six of us, seeing if it’s the same as it was before. We’re trying to get a bunch of music together. It felt important for us to keep playing together as soon as we could, even in private — also because we want to play shows at some point. It feels like something to look forward to, to be working on something. It’s still early days.

Obviously when you lose a singer, that’s a radical change to the presentation of the music. Are you still trying to figure out who will sing live? And what about the writing process? This is a very collaborative band anyway, which is a good thing.
Hyde: It’s still super fresh, so the details of this stuff still haven’t been discussed. And to be honest, when it comes to making anything as an artist, any idea or sense of the end goal just totally debilitates you from being able to produce whatever that is. It’s really important for us to not have these discussions and just [focus on music]. One thing we’ve learned from what happened to Isaac is that it’s really important to share the load. We should be reminded that, when we go play a gig, the person singing has a totally different experience from the rest of the band. You can’t just have fun — there’s this pressure that no one else shares with you.

We don’t know what that sounds like yet. Right now we’re just working on my songs because I have these songs and I wanted — and we all wanted — to hear what Black Country could do with that. That’s the exciting thing about Black Country: Someone brings a song or a skeleton, and all of us together take it to a world that none of us could have conceived in the first place. We can’t answer that question because that’s the nature of Black Country — who knows what’s going to happen? All I know is that you’re going to hear lots of different voices, and it’s going to be even more collaborative. I don’t know, maybe we’ll be the next Fleetwood Mac. [Laughs.] It’s kind of the ethos that we always had in the first place. We’re opening up more clearly and collaborating even more and sharing the load. It’s a direction we were always going to go in.

It seems like every music critic loved the first album — it was on all these top 10 lists. Have you been keeping up with all the hype, or do you try to block it out?
Wayne: I think we all like to try and pay some sort of attention to it. We kind of stay abreast of what’s going on — there was no other tangible way of finding out if people liked it or not because we couldn’t play any shows. But generally, you just try and keep some sort of distance from it because otherwise, it’ll just ruin whatever you’re trying to do next.

I think that’s also part of the reason why we kind of wanted to get this second album out ASAP: We didn’t want to have the feeling of the first album hanging over us for a super long time. Also, we weren’t necessarily in the same place musically. We’d written all the tracks for the first album quite a long time ago, and we recorded it, and it had been delayed. And then when it came out, we’d already done those rehearsal sessions for the second album, so we were kind of not even there anymore.

Because so many people love that first album, did you have that in your head at all when you were writing new stuff — like, “What is it that people love so much about that one? How did we make lightning strike the first time?”
Evans: I’m not expecting [fans] to suddenly like a different type of music or suddenly change their opinions because of a first album that they liked. We were just so sure that it was really good. There are also going to be critics who aren’t going to like it because it’s not like the first album — it’s not taking that to a new level. It’s going in a different direction. And I think that’s fine. Really, without trying to sound too nihilistic about it, the whole thing is kind of silly — this expectation that you then have to go and push the thing that you were doing before, that you have to think, “Okay, well, how did we do it really well, in this previous one? Let’s react to that.”

That’s not what we’re in it for, to get that first critically acclaimed album. It’s just some random person saying that they really liked something you did. That’s not as fulfilling as making sick music. And we’ve made a sick album. The whole time, we knew it was different. We went into it being like, “We really like this. This is sick. Even if people don’t like it, people will like it in three years’ time when they’ve forgotten about the first album. People who haven’t heard our first album will like it.” It’s as if we were a new band doing this album.

It seems like there’s a new crop of bands exploring the idea of progressive rock — taking some of these influences and putting their own spin on them. Is the Canterbury scene an influence for you?
Evans: Yeah, definitely — in a way. I couldn’t really name any [of those] artists that we’ve been directly inspired by. But the approach to the music the Canterbury scene has is similar. It’s this almost a bit twee, a bit fun, not taking yourself too seriously, but it’s also quite detailed music — and the way that lots of different instruments interweave is quite a proggy thing as well. Despite not being in a prog or a Canterbury scene sound world, theoretically, it’s there. There’s a tune we have that we’ve got like seven kazoos — silly little ideas that people had in the late ‘60s and ‘70s, stuff you would hear and be like, “Why have they done that?” [Everyone laughs.]

Lewis, I know “Mark’s Theme” was written for your uncle who passed away from COVID-19. Could you talk about putting that song together? I’m sure that was a powerful moment for you.
Evans: That was written on the day that my uncle passed away. It was actually the day before the first album came out — on the fourth of February 2021. I had just gotten a tenor saxophone about a week before. It had just come out of the workshop on that day, and I was walking home. My dad called me to say that he passed away. I just went home and played on that sax for the first time, and it was really nice — I just wrote that straight away. That’s the only song really where nobody had a say — I wasn’t insistent on it, but everyone gave me my space to have that tune as I wanted it because it’s obviously quite personal. But the recording process, in the end, was really interesting for that one. We experimented quite a lot with what we could do because there’s so much space in it. There’s this silence where you can hear the room sound — you hear me pressing down on the pedal on the piano to start playing. You hear the creaking of the seats. It’s quite an atmospheric thing. We recorded it, and we were so happy with it.

But between having finished the album and going in to mix it properly, part of me was thinking, “Would he have really liked this song?” Because he was a very, very boisterous, annoying Scottish man who like to have a good time: get pissed and dance. He liked the Prodigy and stuff like that. “Is, like, Gary Numan’s biggest fan gonna like this song?” I was like, ‘We’ve got to make this gotta have something a bit funny about it.” He used to send me these voice notes when he got drunk that were just him making weird sounds. So I stuck one of them in at the end — I thought he would like it if it wasn’t too mournful and sad. That whole side of that family is really, really proud to have that on there. I’m really happy to have that out in the world to remember him because he was a massive fan of the band, a huge supporter of me and everything that I did musically.

The post Black Country, New Road Don’t Care If You Hate Their Ambitious New LP appeared first on SPIN.

Iggy Pop to receive this year’s Polar Music Prize: “I’m honored”

2022-02-08T16:51:27.399Z

Iggy Pop has been announced as the recipient of this year’s Polar Music Prize.

The former Stooges frontman and solo icon will pick up the award at a ceremony in Stockholm in Sweden on May 24.

READ MORE: The NME Big Read – Iggy Pop: “Punk has to have a sense of hopelessness about it”

In an official video announcing the winner, the Polar Music Prize hailed Pop as a “one-of-a-kind” artist. “And with his poetic lyrics and provocative stage presence, he is considered the godfather of punk music,” a voiceover added.

Pop said: “I was aware of the very fine range of people that have gotten the Polar Music Prize. Patti Smith… also Metallica, a really great band. And Steve Reich […] and so many others.

“So yeah, it’s a nice step for me. I respect it and I’m honoured by it. I’m looking forward to coming to Stockholm in May to receive the Polar Music Prize.”

Pop was also praised by the Polar Music Prize organisers for paving the way for significant punk and post-punk acts such as Sex Pistols, Ramones, Blondie, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Joy Division and Nick Cave.

You can watch the announcement video in full above.

Launched in 1992, the annual Polar Music Prize honours two Laureates each year. The classical music honouree for 2022 is Ensemble Intercontemporain, a French contemporary ensemble.

“We are delighted to return in 2022, after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, with two incredibly worthy Laureates,” Marie Ledin, managing director of the Polar Music Prize, said. “Iggy Pop is unique, there is no one else quite like him.”

Other previous recipients include the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin and Björk.

Iggy Pop’s latest studio album, ‘Free’, came out back in 2019. In a four-star review, NME described it as “a liberating collection that unshackles the star from his past and his insecurities, and slowly cracks open a door to a version of the future that will inevitably arrive when he’s ready”.

The review added: “Wherever that journey takes him in this phase of his career, it’ll be an honour to witness.”

The post Iggy Pop to receive this year’s Polar Music Prize: “I’m honoured” appeared first on NME.

Pusha T Releases New Single ‘Diet Coke’

2022-02-08T16:47:33.871Z

Pusha T‘s latest single, “Diet Coke” produced by Kanye West and 88 Keys is out now.

Yesterday morning, fans were given a snippet of the video featuring West on Steven Victor’s Instagram. Following his production of Pusha T’s last album Daytona way back in 2018, West will be producing the forthcoming album.

The single is one of many he has released since Daytona including “No Problem,” “Sociopath,” “Coming Home,” and “Puppets (Succession Remix).” He has also collaborated with artists including Sean Cane, Vince Staples, and others.

Steven Victor, Pusha T’s manager, said fans can expect the new album soon. He hinted that the release date will closely follow the release of Kanye West’s forthcoming album Donda 2, which is in the works now.

In conjunction with the new song, Pusha T announced his initiative to release people serving life sentences in prison due to “3 Strikes” drug laws through his Third Strike Home Campaign. He kicked off the campaign with a $25,000 personal donation. The campaign is in collaboration with lawyers MiAngel Cody and Brittany K. Barnett. Donations to the campaign can be made here.

The post Pusha T Releases New Single ‘Diet Coke’ appeared first on SPIN.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have a “loose plan” to release another new album after ‘Unlimited Love’

2022-02-08T16:40:53.335Z

Red Hot Chili Peppers have said that they have a “loose plan” to release another new album after their forthcoming LP ‘Unlimited Love’.

The returning four-piece announced their twelfth studio album last week, which is set to arrive on April 1 via Warner Bros. It’ll be their first full-length record since 2016’s ‘The Getaway’.

READ MORE: Red Hot Chili Peppers: “We feel fresh, like a new band”

Speaking to NME in last week’s Big Read, RHCP frontman Anthony Kiedis and returning guitarist John Frusciante said that, going forward, their fans could expect new material from the band on a more frequent basis.

“We’re gonna put out music by the handful – literally,” Kiedis told NME. “Don’t be surprised if another wheelbarrow of songs comes your way in the near future.

“We have a lot of shit to turn people onto.”

Frusciante added that there is a “loose plan” for a follow-up album to ‘Unlimited Love’, and that the band “recorded almost 50 pieces of music” during sessions with producer Rick Rubin.

“We definitely have enough material that we love,” the guitarist said, adding that RHCP’s next project after ‘Unlimited Love’ already “has a relaxed energy that’s distinct from the intensity of the record that we’ve made here”.

Of ‘Unlimited Love’, Kiedis told NME that the band “pushed each other in a positive way” while making the record.

“I really didn’t want to tell the same old story that we’ve been hearing for the last 50 years in rock music,” the frontman said about the forthcoming album.

“I liked reaching out in 10,000 directions and seeing what was out there. We weren’t limiting ourselves but trying to tap into something that is honest and emotional. Hopefully we’ve said something that hasn’t been said before, or at least said it in a way that hasn’t.”

Red Hot Chili Peppers also told NME about how “the biggest event” surrounding ‘Unlimited Love’ was Frusciante’s return, while they also reflected on the legacy of their late guitarist Hillel Slovak.

The post Red Hot Chili Peppers have a “loose plan” to release another new album after ‘Unlimited Love’ appeared first on NME.

Nine Inch Nails Detail First Concerts Since 2018

2022-02-08T16:18:51.234Z

Nine Inch Nails‘ last proper headlining, non-festival performance was all the way back in 2018. With COVID and a few canceled festivals, the band hasn’t performed live in a while, but they just announced that is (thankfully) going to change.

The band is scheduled for a hometown performance on September 24 at Blossom Music Center in Cleveland, Ohio, which will feature Ministry and Nitzer Ebb. General public tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 11 via Live Nation. The Nine Inch Nails Artist and Official Platinum presales begin at 10 am EST tomorrow, February 8.

The band was supposed to play several intimate shows in Cleveland last year before Reznor pulled the plug on account of the pandemic.

Additionally, Trent Reznor and company also hit France’s Hellfest, and will headline Atlanta’s Shaky Knees and the debut of Primavera Sound Festival in Los Angeles. Tickets for all festivals can be found on NIN’s website.

Last year, they were set to perform two big Cleveland shows with the Pixies, and headline Riot Fest, Louder Than Life, and Welcome to Rockville, but all were canceled due to the pandemic. Their most recent show was in December 2018 at the Hollywood Palladium, so it’s beyond due time for another live set from NIN.

The band is one of many artists featured at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Interscope Exhibition, Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined, which currently displays new artworks inspired by Interscope’s recording musicians. The exhibit ends next week on February 13.

Nine Inch Nails 2022 Tour Dates:

4/28 Raleigh, NC Red Hat Amphitheater
4/30 Atlanta, GA Shaky Knees Festival
5/1 Franklin, TN First Bank Amphitheater
9/2 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/3 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
9/7 Troutdale, OR Edgefield
9/9 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
9/11 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley
9/15 Las Vegas, NV Zappos Theater
9/16-18 Los Angeles, CA Primavera Sound
9/24 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center

with special guests Ministry & Nitzer Ebb

The post Nine Inch Nails Detail First Concerts Since 2018 appeared first on SPIN.

The Who Detail 2022 North American Tour

2022-02-07T17:26:35.115Z

The song isn’t over, and The Who are set to trek across North America on tour for the first time in three years.

“Pete and I said we’d be back, but we didn’t think we’d have to wait for two years for the privilege,” Roger Daltrey said in a statement. “This is making the chance to perform feel even more special this time around. So many livelihoods have been impacted due to Covid, so we are thrilled to get everyone back together—the band, the crew and the fans. We’re gearing up for a great show that hits back in the only way The Who know how. By giving it everything we got.”

The band’s remaining original members, Pete Townshend and Daltrey, will kick off their spring run on April 22 in Hollywood, Florida. The duo is scheduled to perform at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on April 30, preceding their fall leg which begins October 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. ‘The Who Hits Back!’ tour closes with two shows on November 4 and 5 in Las Vegas.

The iconic classic rockers will carry on their over 50-year-old traditions with their full live band, including Simon Townshend, Loren Gold, Emily Marshall, Jon Button, Zak Starkey, Billy Nicholls, Keith Levenson, Katie Jacoby, and Audrey Synder. Their set will of course feature everyone’s favorite Who songs, as well as tracks off their most recent release, WHO.

All mods and rockers can purchase tickets beginning at 10 a.m. local on Friday, Feb. 11. The band’s fan club presale begins at 10 a.m. local on Wednesday, Feb. 9 and runs through 10 p.m. local on Thursday, Feb. 10.

The Who

The Who Tour Dates

Spring
April 22 / Hard Rock Live / Hollywood, FL*
April 24 / VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena / Jacksonville, FL
April 27 / Amalie Arena / Tampa, FL
April 30 / New Orleans Jazz Festival*
May 3 / Moody Center / Austin, TX
May 5 / American Airlines Center / Dallas, TX
May 8 / the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion / The Woodlands, TX
May 10 / Paycom Center / Oklahoma City, OK
May 13 / FedExForum / Memphis, TN
May 15 / TQL Stadium / Cincinnati, OH
May 18 / TD Garden / Boston, MA
May 20 / Wells Fargo Center / Philadelphia, PA
May 23 / Capital One Arena / Washington, D.C.
May 26 / Madison Square Garden / New York City, NY
May 28 / Bethel Woods Center of the Arts / Bethel, NY

Fall
Oct 2 / Scotiabank Arena / Toronto, ON
Oct 4 / Little Caesars Arena / Detroit, MI
Oct 7 / UBS Arena / Belmont Park, NY
Oct 9 / Schottenstein Center / Columbus, OH
Oct 12 / United Center / Chicago, IL
Oct 14 / Enterprise Center / St. Louis, MO
Oct 17 / Ball Arena / Denver, CO
Oct 20 / Moda Center / Portland, OR
Oct 22 / Climate Pledge Arena / Seattle, WA
Oct 26 / Golden 1 Center / Sacramento, CA
Oct 28 / Honda Center / Anaheim, CA
Nov 1 / Hollywood Bowl / Los Angeles, CA
Nov 4 + 5 / Dolby Live at Park MGM / Las Vegas, NV
* Not a Live Nation Date

The post The Who Detail 2022 North American Tour appeared first on SPIN.

The Chemical Brothers announce huge Yorkshire show for summer 2022

2022-02-07T17:21:23.805Z

The Chemical Brothers have announced a huge show in Yorkshire for this summer – get all the details below.

READ MORE: The Chemical Brothers: “Dance music has always been the sound of Glastonbury”

Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons will play in the grounds of Castle Howard just outside York on June 26 this year, and will also headline London’s All Points East later in the summer alongside Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The National, Tame Impala, Kraftwerk, Disclosure and Gorillaz.

Tickets for the new Yorkshire date will go on sale this Friday (February 11) at 10am GMT here, while fans can also sign up here for presale tickets, which go on sale on Wednesday (February 9), also at 10am.

The Chemical Brothers have just announced a live performance at @CastleHowardEst on 26th June 2022! Pre-Sale tickets go on sale on Wednesday 9th Feb at 10AM – sign up now to get access: https://t.co/7F3zsZm4Wm #castlehoward #chemicalbrotherslive pic.twitter.com/gLJyVOJqBs

— The Chemical Brothers (@ChemBros) February 7, 2022

The Chemical Brothers released their last album, ‘No Geography’, in 2019, returning in 2021 with the single ‘The Darkness That You Fear’.

They returned to the stage last summer after the pandemic to headline Latitude 2021 alongside Bastille, Bombay Bicycle Club and Wolf Alice.

Last year, the band also shared a new mix which explores their love of dub music. The hour-long mix was the first in a planned series of themed mixes by the production veterans as they launched a new station, ‘Radio Chemical’, for Sonos Radio.

The Chemical Brothers said of the project: “We’re excited to bring you a selection of some of our favourite music – a deep dig into our record collections. Hopefully there will be something there for you whatever time of day you’re tuning in. Keep listening for exclusive DJ mixes that will explore some of our musical passions.”

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Andy Biersack Can’t Believe the Bengals Are in the Super Bowl

2022-02-07T17:17:36.285Z

Editor’s note: For the past three years, I’ve asked artists to predict the NFL season for their favorite team. Every year, Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides has been a participant. If we want to roll back the clock even more, the whole “predict the season for your team” idea came from a conversation I had with Andy in 2017. At the time, both of our respective teams were teetering. We were both cautiously optimistic things would turn around. Only one of our teams (his) has gone to the Super Bowl since. Thus, since Andy has been there since day one, I figured we’d open the floor to him about one of the best stories in recent NFL memory: the Cincinnati Bengals.

(Courtesy of Andy Biersack)

I still feel like it’s a dream. Like I was two weeks old, a little less than two weeks old, the last time they won a playoff game.

The first season I was really consciously cheering for them (rather than just like, “Oh, this is the team we cheer for”) was that Ki-Jana Carter season [1995]. I was a very little kid, but I remember that we would always go to my grandpa’s house to watch the preseason games, and all the hype around him and all the excitement about something good might happen. At that point, I guess I didn’t necessarily realize what I was in for in terms of the other [not so good] moments that would come along.

Being a Bengals fan meant hanging on to single players who were good. Carl Pickens was good, Takeo Spikes was too. You can’t imagine the excitement of over-drafting a linebacker that was felt in the city just because it seemed like he might be a good player. That’s really, for the longest time, what my fandom was as a kid. It was like “We’re gonna lose all the games, but at least we’ve got these fun guys that I can cheer for.” Whether it’s Corey Dillon, Spikes, Pickens, and then when Boomer Esiason came back for his last dance swan song season and they won a few games.

(Courtesy of Andy Biersack)

My whole life as a fan was always these moments of, “Oh, we’re bad, we’re bad, we’re bad. Oh, something good might happen,” and then it doesn’t.

By the time you get to 2005, it looks like for the first time, we have a legitimate team. I remember visiting my dad’s cousins, who were all big Packers fans, and they were asking us if we could get them Ocho Cinco (or Chad Johnson) jerseys and how cool he was. I was so proud that people who liked the Packers — which was like this glorious legacy franchise — would be interested in wearing Bengals jerseys, and how exciting it was that we had a cool team.

I think that if you asked most Bengals fans, they would say that the 2005 season — even though it didn’t turn into anything — was one of the most beloved teams. It brought such a sense of like, “Wow, this is really gonna happen.” And then the Carson Palmer injury and the subsequent collapse in that game. I believe that broke the fan base up until this year.

After that game, it was just living in absolute frustration. There’s nowhere for my mind to go, and it just makes me laugh thinking of how that same scenario played out in hotels in Brazil on tour, and about to walk out on stage. They lose in so many scenarios throughout the course of my life where I had all this hope, and then it gets thwarted.

(Courtesy of Andy Biersack)

This was a season where I had to watch almost all of the games on tour. I’m watching on an iPad in a hotel with shoddy service. In the instance of the Thursday night game (against Jacksonville), we were literally on stage during the second half, and I had my phone tilted behind my front monitor wedge, so I could watch it while we were playing. Of course, the season that I’m on tour almost the whole time is the one where the Bengals are great. Normally, I’m home during the fall and I can watch all of the misery from beginning to end.

I didn’t even really realize that my only “running errands” clothes are Bengals shirts and hats. For the first time ever, I’m doing my normal errands — like going to the post office — and everybody’s congratulating me. That has never happened before. Or they think I’m a Browns fan, because they can’t tell the difference.

I can’t help but find it so funny that now there are 14-year-old casual fans of the NFL whose favorite team is the Bengals because of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. To me, it’s outrageous. It’s fun. It’s exciting. I’m not even mad about bandwagon fans. I never honestly thought we would have bandwagon fans. It’s crazy.

There’s part of this team and part of being a fan of this team that is emblematic of — I think in many ways — the type of person that you are. I was talking to a Bengals fan recently about how so much of cheering for this team builds part of your character. It’s not even like Browns fans have the misery of “Oh, we’re the Browns and everybody knows we’re bad.” They get to have that, and Jets fans too. They have a sense of pride in knowing that they’re all in it together. The Bengals aren’t even the most covered or important team within Ohio in the NFL. So we’ve always had this complete lack of identity and complete dismissal. I think as a fan base, there’s something extremely galvanizing about being so dedicated to a team that 9 times out of 10, people forget are even in the NFL.

(Courtesy of Andy Biersack)

I always thought if a Super Bowl was going to happen, and the Bengals are going to be in it, I would go anywhere it was. Then here comes a situation where the Super Bowl is happening in the city that I live in, and all I really want to do is go home to be with my family [in Cincinnati] and watch the game there. After the AFC Championship, I FaceTimed my parents, my aunts and uncles and everybody who was watching it together in the living room that I grew up in, and it just hit me. “If this is ever gonna happen, it would be such a shame to not share it with the people that I watched every miserable game of this team with since I was a little kid.” And that’s why I’ll be home watching with them instead of at SoFi.

[As for a prediction], I don’t think there’s a way that this could end badly. The ’88 and ’82 [Super Bowl runners-up] teams are celebrated as victories of our city. I grew up knowing every player on those teams. And those are two teams that lost the Super Bowl! I get to be in my parents’ house with my whole family, decorated with all the Bengals stuff and watch the team play in the Super Bowl.

(Courtesy of Andy Biersack)

So for us, I believe this is one of the most beloved teams the city has ever had. To be in a situation where everyone in the fucking world is watching them, If you want to watch football next week, you have to watch my irrelevant team playing in the fucking Super Bowl against the L.A. all-stars that were handpicked and paid more than anybody in the world. It is so wonderful and poetic in so many ways that I love it.

I don’t know what the score is. It seems like it’s gonna be close because [Cincinnati Bengals kicker] Evan McPherson has to kick like four more field goals to get a record, so we got to get that happening. I also love that every week, everybody says, “Well, you know, McPherson will never be able to win the game. The Bengals keep having him kicked four field goals a game, and that’ll never happen.” And then every week he kicks 100 field goals, and we win. So I have no idea what the score is. But I like to think that the good guys win this one, and the prophecy is fulfilled.

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Uma Thurman didn’t want to wear iconic ‘Kill Bill’ tracksuit

2022-02-07T17:13:36.366Z

Uma Thurman has revealed that she wasn’t keen on wearing the famous yellow tracksuit as The Bride in Kill Bill.

The actress, who starred in the 2003 film and its 2004 sequel as the central character, explained in a new interview that the outfit proved difficult given she had just given birth to son Levon at the time.

READ MORE: Ranking Quentin Tarantino’s movies, from worst to best

“I really didn’t want to wear the yellow tracksuit,” she said on The Graham Norton Show. “I had just had my son and anyone that has just had a baby is not going to want to wear a skin-tight onesie, they would have a lot of anxiety.

“So, there was a lot of training, a lot of work, and a lot of brilliant costume work [to] recreate the look of Bruce Lee while covering my belly.”

The Kill Bill series followed Thurman’s character as she hunts down a team of assassins on a revenge mission, and also starred Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah and David Carradine.

Last year, director Quentin Tarantino suggested he may make a third film in the series, and teased that it could include the daughter of The Bride, this time played by Thurman’s real-life daughter Maya Hawke.

“I think it’s just revisiting the characters twenty years later and just imagining the Bride and her daughter, BB, having 20 years of peace, and then that peace is shattered,” Tarantino said on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

“And now the Bride and BB are on the run and just the idea of being able to cast Uma [Thurman] and cast her daughter Maya [Hawke] in the thing would be fucking exciting.”

He elaborated on a potential threequel: “I mean, Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) is still out there, Sophie Fatale (Julie Dreyfus) got her arms cut off, she’s still out there. They all got Bill’s money. Gogo (Chiaki Kuriyama) had a twin sister, her twin sister could show up.”

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Watch Jesse Michaels Join Tim Armstrong Onstage for Mini Operation Ivy Reunion

2022-02-07T16:43:22.764Z

Operation Ivy fans have been waiting a long time for a reunion. The influential ska band hasn’t played together since breaking up in 1989, and its members have frequently shot down any hope for a revival; however, that all changed last night.

Tim Armstrong (under the name Tim Timebomb) and his band the Interrupters backed the Specials during a set for the 10th annual Musack Rock And Roll Carnival charity event in Los Angeles, and to the surprise of literally everyone brought out former Op Ivy singer Jesse Michaels to perform “Sound System.”

It may have only been one song, but that’s a helluva lot better than nothing. Perhaps more importantly, it also shows that the band (or at least Armstrong and Michaels) are open to playing together again. And that’s exciting.

Watch footage of the mini reunion below.

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A post shared by Alex Rodriguez (@recordsafari)

Last month, Michaels said he didn’t “object to the idea” of getting Operation Ivy back together, but admitted that a reunion consists of many factors.

“Well, for a long time we weren’t really talking – it wasn’t because there was bad blood. We had issues when we broke up, but we’re all grown up now. We were just sort of in different worlds,” he explained to The Hard Times Podcast. “For a long time, we just weren’t talking that much. Now, we do. I see Tim pretty frequently. We get along, he is a friend.”

Michaels went on to say that “because [a reunion] involves different people and different factors, I can’t talk too much about that,” before adding, “I will say, I don’t object to the idea. I don’t know if it could happen for various practical reasons, but I wouldn’t rule it out.”

“We have gotten offers, other people have tried to make it happen… who knows. I just can’t talk about it more than that. It involves other people who have other careers, it involves legal matters…” he said. “I do truly appreciate the interest.”

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‘Euphoria’ season two episode five recap: Rue on the run

2022-02-07T16:36:27.606Z

The wheels have well and truly fallen off in East Highland this week. After Elliot (Dominic Fike) revealed to Jules (Hunter Schafer) last week that Rue (Zendaya) is using again, the troubled addict’s girlfriend has gone straight to her mum to fill her in on her daughter’s relapse. We join the chaos with Rue unaware that her mum has found out from Jules, instead convinced that her sister Gia (Storm Reid) has ratted her out for smoking weed. But once Leslie (Nika King) spills who really outed her, things get really intense.

Rue’s immediate reaction is to look for the suitcase she got from dealer Laurie with $10,000 worth of drugs in that she’s been steadily taking herself, instead of coming good on her proposal to sell it to her fellow students. When the case is missing, she spirals into new lows of frantic despair, tearing her mum’s room apart to look for it and saying some truly nasty things about Leslie’s parenting and the death of her dad. It’s brutal to watch – particularly when she uses the power of her rage to break down Gia’s door by kicking and slamming it a few times.

In a pause in the middle of the whirlwind, Rue apologises and asks her mum calmly where the case is, growing steadily angrier again when she receives no answer. Then, a voice from the living room – Jules’ voice – pipes up to reveal they’ve been flushed down the toilet. Rue stops dead in her tracks for a minute before racing through the house to confront her girlfriend and Elliot. For now, Rules look to be well and truly over, with Rue telling Jules: “I have a lot of regrets in my life, but I gotta tell you, Jules, meeting you has got to be at the top of my fucking list.”

After Jules and Elliot sombrely leave the house, Rue calms down and agrees to go to the hospital with her mum and Gia. Once they’re in the car, though, she flips out at her mum’s use of the word “rehab”, bemoaning the low chances she has of ever getting clean for good. When the car stops at a traffic light, she takes the chance to jump out, nearly getting run over in the process and runs off down an alley.

Darkness falls and Rue is still on the lam – but now, she’s suffering from withdrawal. She goes to Fezco’s (Angus Cloud) house but gets no answers so limps over to Lexi’s (Maude Apatow) instead, where Cassie, Maddy and Kat are hanging out. After an excruciating conversation with Lexi and Cassie’s mum, she uses the bathroom and steals some pills and jewellery while she’s in there. When she emerges ready to leave, she finds Suze Howard has called her mum and everyone is gathered, waiting for her, at the bottom of the stairs.

When she cries that she can’t stay clean forever, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) offers her some trite advice, unaware that she’s putting herself in the crossfire: “You’ve just got to take it day by day.” Rue gives her a withering look, before dropping a bombshell about her secret relationship with Nate on the room that will ultimately get her out again. Maddy (Alexa Demie) explodes at Cassie, unperturbed by Suze’s calls to halt that conversation until the intervention is over. Instead, Maddy chases Cassie upstairs, causing so much commotion Rue sneaks out.

She returns to Fez’s, who is now home, but no longer keeps drugs at his house after the raid in season one. Rue settles for using the bathroom, but sneaks into his grandma’s room when he’s not looking and starts going through her pills. Fez catches her and kicks her out, saying she can’t even take three because of “the principle” of the situation. On her wanders to find something else to take the edge off, Rue spots a couple leaving their big, fancy house and manages to sneak under the electric garage door before it closes. Inside, she starts filling her pockets with cash and valuables, but the couple return home quicker than she expects and find her hiding under the bed.

Now truly on the run, Rue comes across a police car at the worst possible time – right when she has a desperate need to be sick. When she can’t answer the cops’ queries into her wellbeing because she’s fighting the urge to vomit, they get out of the car and send her dashing down yet another street and into the middle of another busy road. What follows is an intense few minutes of a police chase that Rue eventually evades by hiding in a wheelie bin.

There’s just one port of call left for her now – Laurie’s house. Inside, she empties her pockets and explains her situation but promises to get the money soon. However, the dealer is rightfully doubtful that Rue is going to turn up thousands of dollars any time soon and suggests she could sell her body instead. Rue needs to be sick again and while she’s in the bathroom, Laurie prepares a fix of intravenous morphine for her, which she gives to her in the bath.

Later, Rue wakes up in bed and tries to get out of the house, but finds all the windows and doors are locked. She just about manages to sneak into the bathroom attached to Laurie’s room and out of that unlocked window without getting caught, dropping down from the second story just as a car is driving out of the compound. Once she’s out of the gates, Rue heads home, opening the door to find her mum sitting at the kitchen table waiting for her.

On the soundtrack

As Rue frantically rummages through the rich couple’s house, Sharon Cash’s recording of ‘Fever’ plays over the top.
Rue’s big police chase is soundtracked by the urgent, ominous new Labrinth song ‘Yeh I F****n’ Did It’.
Albert Hammond’s ‘It Never Rains In Southern California’ plays over the end credits, its lyric “Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?” taking on new poignancy.

‘Euphoria’ airs every Monday on Sky Atlantic at 2am in the UK – it is repeated at 9pm. Stream it via NOW

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Nandi Bushell Finds ‘New Found Love For Rush’ With ‘Tom Sawyer’ Cover

2022-02-07T16:30:13.884Z

Nandi Bushell is back! We last heard from the 11-year-old prodigy at the end of December, when she dipped her toe into dance music with an improvisation over Fatboy Slim’s “Right Here, Right Now.” Now, she’s getting back into the world of rock with a cover of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer.”

“This one is for you Professor Peart,” Nandi wrote in the YouTube description. “I wanted to try a @rush song that would really challenge me. I watched an interview were the Professor said Tom Sawyer ‘remains so difficult to play’. So I thought I would give it a try. It’s actually really fun to play. I really hope I have done the song justice, Professor Pearts’ playing is incredible. I hope I got the strength and smoothness balance right. I have a new found love for RUSH now too!”

Unsurprisingly, she totally nails it.

Watch Nandi Bushell cover Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” below.

Though 2021 was a rough year for many people, Nandi seemed to thrive. Aside from continuing to wow the masses with her covers, the young rockstar also performed with Foo Fighters onstage, jammed with Arctic Monkeys’ Matt Helders and Queen’s Roger Taylor, and released an original song with Tom Morello and his son Roman called “The Children Will Rise Up” to help raise awareness of the climate crisis. She’s a bona fide badass and we can’t want to see what else awaits her in 2022.

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Machine Gun Kelly’s ‘Emo Girl’ Is A Valentine for Sharpie-Colored Hearts

2022-02-04T16:49:02.018Z

It’s a new year and the newly-engaged Machine Gun Kelly seems to have a fresh outlook on life: Hello, world? You don’t fucking suck! MGK’s new song “emo girl” is the low-caps song for all of his high-caps feelings for his girl who still looks cute when she looks “half-dead.” WILLOW brings the pop-punk street cred and the one excellent line: “Holy fuck, I’m bleeding on your Blink tee.”

“emo girl” appears on MGK’s sixth album, mainstream sellout, which arrives March 25 (pre-order it here.) The album was executive produced by Blink-182 drummer and MGK collaborator, Travis Barker, who also played on WILLOW’s previously-released song “Transparent Soul,” from her fourth album, lately I feel EVERYTHING.

MGK is performing at this year’s NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas, and also has a show with Halsey ahead of the Super Bowl next week at the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center).

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Sarah Jessica Parker says she “wouldn’t be OK” with Kim Cattrall joining ‘And Just Like That’

2022-02-04T16:44:44.803Z

Sarah Jessica Parker has admitted that she “wouldn’t be OK” with Kim Cattrall joining And Just Like That.

READ MORE: And Just Like That review: Sex And The City sequel clumsily catches up with modern life

Cattrall played Samantha Jones, a publicist and close friend of Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, in the original Sex And The City series which ran from 1998 to 2004, as well as reprising the character for the two spin-off films.

Her character was noticeably absent from the recent series reboot, however, following a public statement that she didn’t want to return.

In a new interview with Variety, Parker was asked whether she would be OK with Cattrall returning. “I don’t think I would, because I think there’s just too much public history of feelings on her part that she’s shared,” she replied. “I haven’t participated in or read articles, although people are inclined to let me know.”

Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker on location in ‘Sex And The City’

It comes after Cattrall criticised her former co-star in 2018 for reaching out following the death of her brother, Chris Cattrall.

“My Mom asked me today: ‘When will that @sarahjessicaparker, that hypocrite, leave you alone?’,” she wrote at the time. “Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now. Let me make this very clear (if I haven’t already). You are not my family. You are not my friend. So I’m writing to tell you one last time to stop exploiting our tragedy in order to restore your ‘nice girl’ persona.”

Parker has now said that Cattrall was never approached ahead of And Just Like That.

“We didn’t go to Kim for this, you know,” she explained. “After we didn’t do the movie and the studio couldn’t meet what she wanted to do, we have to hear her and listen to her and what was important to her. It didn’t fit into what was important or needed for us.”

Though Cattrall didn’t appear on-screen throughout the series, the character of Samantha stayed present through occasional text messages sent to Carrie.

“There’s a very distinct line between Samantha and Kim,” Parker continued. “Samantha’s not gone. Samantha’s present, and I think was handled with such respect and elegance. She wasn’t villainised. She was a human being who had feelings about a relationship, so I think we found a way to address it which was necessary and important for people that loved her.”

In a three-star review of And Just Like That, NME wrote: “The shockwaves allow episode two to settle into a more subdued groove where each of the central trio can finally behave like the characters fans know and love.”

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Red Hot Chili Peppers Release New Single ‘Black Summer’ From New Album Unlimited Love

2022-02-04T16:39:35.861Z

Red Hot Chili Peppers are back.

A little over two years after announcing they reunited with on-again, off-again guitarist John Frusciante, the alt-rock veterans unveiled their first new song since 2016 and there’s an album to boot. Titled Unlimited Love, the record is out on April 1 and sees the band reunite with producer Rick Rubin.

Their new single “Black Summer” after teasing the track on social media a few times in the past week. Last week, the band posted a cryptic video across their platforms with bassist Flea writing: “Been nurturing the feral animal for quite a while, it’s about time to set her free.”

Prior to “Black Summer,” Frusciante has not recorded an album with the band since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium. Recent rehearsal footage shows Flea and Frusciante jamming out in rehearsal. Josh Klinghoffer replaced Frusciante from 2009 to 2019.

“Our only goal is to get lost in the music. We spent thousands of hours, collectively and individually, honing our craft and showing up for one another, to make the best album we could,” the band said in a statement. “Our antennae attuned to the divine cosmos, we were just so damn grateful for the opportunity to be in a room together, and, once again, try to get better. Days, weeks and months spent listening to each other, composing, jamming freely, and arranging the fruit of those jams with great care and purpose. The sounds, rhythms, vibrations, words and melodies had us enrapt.

“We yearn to shine a light in the world, to uplift, connect, and bring people together. Each of the songs on our new album Unlimited Love, is a facet of us, reflecting our view of the universe. This is our life’s mission. We work, focus, and prepare, so that when the biggest wave comes, we are ready to ride it. The ocean has gifted us a mighty wave and this record is the ride that is the sum of our lives. Thank you for listening, we hope you enjoy it. Rock out motherfuckers!”

In a statement of his own, Frusciante explained the recording process.

“When we got together to start writing material, we began by playing old songs by people like Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, The Kinks, The New York Dolls, Richard Barrett and others. Ever so gradually, we started bringing in new ideas, and turning jams into songs, and after a couple of months the new stuff was all we were playing. The feeling of effortless fun we had when we were playing songs by other people, stayed with us the whole time we were writing. For me, this record represents our love for, and faith in each other.”

The alt-rock band is currently on a massive global tour with plans to tour Europe and to hit stadiums in the U.S. this summer in support of their new album.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Unlimited Love Track List:

Black Summer
Here Ever After
Aquatic Mouth Dance
Not the One
Poster Child
The Great Apes
It’s Only Natural
She’s A Lover
These Are The Ways
Whatchu Thinkin’
Bastards of Light
White Braids & Pillow Chair
One Way Traffic
Veronica
Let ‘Em Cry
The Heavy Wing
Tangelo

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Animal Collective – ‘Time Skiffs’ review: indie-pop adventurers get back on the right track

2022-02-04T16:33:50.452Z

The last few Animal Collective records were so haywire that things regrettably got lost in the chaos. 2012’s ‘Centipede Hz’ was overloaded by digital cluster and red-raw shouting that it sounded like aliens had formed a garage band. Many songs on the weirder ‘Painting With’ (2016) sounded like those ETs had discovered ‘shrooms.

The Baltimore group have a habit of leaning so heavily into their oddball proclivities that experimentalism comes at the expense of tunes. Their second audio-visual album, 2018’s ‘Tangerine Reef’ – which NME branded “unlistenable” – is one example of this. Besides moments of promise (such as ‘Centipede Hz’’s hypnotic raga, ‘Wide Eyed’), there haven’t been many extensions of the mellifluous, twisted psych-pop crusades that helped the band break through in 2009 with ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’.

Animal Collective have always worked best when they walk the tightrope between left-field experiments and hooky accessibility. That’s why it’s a relief to hear Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin and Geologist retread more of the palatable sounds associated with their peak popularity in the mid-late ‘00s. On their 11th album, the group hark to the more-ish melodies of ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ and the hymnal-like meditations of 2005’s ‘Feels’ for a blissful collection.

‘Dragon Slayer’ introduces the album’s mellower makeup, with cymbal taps, cascading pan pipe-FX synths and twittering harmonies that herald a fresh dawn. As zither-style plucks, vibraphone clangs and brawnier beats take hold beneath chamber-pop singing, it sounds like Animal Collective have mixed their DNA with mid-career Grizzly Bear.

These pastoral, impressionistic sounds pepper the album, including on slumbering closer ‘Royal And Desire’. The propellant ‘Cherokee’, which brims with jazz beats and muted, proggy space-rock riffs, finds North Carolina resident Avey Tare sound enriched by his adopted landscape, singing: “Driving back from Cherokee / Dreaming things”. It’s enough to inspire your own road trip.

That lyric notwithstanding, there’s little to go on, thematically, with ‘Time Skiffs’, other than the feeling that the music evokes: there is an overarching sense of transcendence throughout. ‘Prester John’ lifts you, with its ornate organs and its priestly Beach Boys-style harmonies, before morphing into abstract noises of brass and electronic detritus. If its typically elliptical lyrics are about a belief system breaking down (the title references a Christian legend), then the song works well as the sound of dismantlement.

‘Time Skiffs’ is a gorgeous, exploratory album, containing some of the greatest creations this curious lot have turned in for years.

Details

Release date: February 4

Record label: Domino Recording Company

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Wallows Announce Sophomore Album, Release ‘Especially You’

2022-02-04T16:29:28.720Z

Wallows have a new album on the way. Dylan Minnette and company have shared the details for their forthcoming second studio record, Tell Me That It’s Over. The band also shared the latest song from the album, “Especially You,” and its video.

“It’s about when you’re in the early stages of a relationship and you get so worried that the other person’s mind will change at the flip of a switch,” Minnette said in a statement about the meaning behind the song. “It’s about stressing over the smallest things for no reason, but it’s definitely self-aware about the fact that I’m doing this all to myself.”

Following their 2019 Nothing Happens, the new album is out on March 25 and is available for pre-order now. The 10-track record was produced by the multi-Grammy-Award-winning Ariel Rechtshaid (Vampire Weekend, HAIM, Adele). Tell Me That It’s Over‘s second song, “I Don’t Want To Talk,” released this past September.

Also in September, the rock band announced their 2022 tour, and today, they added on UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand dates. Special guests joining them on the road include Spill Tab, Jordana, May-A, and Hatchie.

Tell Me That It’s Over Track List

Hard to Believe
I Don’t Want to Talk
Especially You
At the End of the Day
Marvelous
Permanent Price
Missing Out
Hurts Me
That’s What I Get
Guitar Romantic Search Adventure

Wallows Tour Dates

2022
April 01 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
April 02 – Vancouver, BC – The Orpheum * (SOLD OUT)
April 03 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom * (SOLD OUT)
April 04 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom * (SOLD OUT)
April 06 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield * (SOLD OUT)
April 07 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield * (SOLD OUT)
April 08 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades * (SOLD OUT)
April 10 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren * (SOLD OUT)
April 11 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater * (SOLD OUT)
April 12 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
April 16 – Indio, CA – Coachella
April 23 – Indio, CA – Coachella
May 15 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater +
May 16 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater + (SOLD OUT)
May 17 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum + (MORE TICKETS ADDED)
May 18 – Houston, TX – Lawn at White Oak Music Hall +
May 20 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy +
May 21 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle +
May 23 – Orlando, FL – The Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fairgrounds +
May 24 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore +
May 26 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live +
May 27 – St. Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre +
May 28 – Columbia, SC – The Senate + (SOLD OUT)
May 29 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore + (SOLD OUT)
May 31 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa * (SOLD OUT)
June 01 – Richmond, VA – The National * (SOLD OUT)
June 03 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! * (MORE TICKETS ADDED)
June 04 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
June 06 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre * (SOLD OUT)
June 07 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater *
June 09 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland *
June 10 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory at The District * (MORE TICKETS ADDED)
June 11 – Newport, KY – PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION *
June 12 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE *
June 14 – New York, NY – Terminal 5 * (SOLD OUT)
June 15 – New York, NY – Terminal 5 * (SOLD OUT)
June 16 – New York, NY – Terminal 5 *
June 17 – New York, NY – Terminal 5 * (SOLD OUT)
June 19 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music Festival
June 21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
June 22 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner * (SOLD OUT)
June 23 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met *
June 25 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY * (SOLD OUT)
June 26 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY * (SOLD OUT)
June 27 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre *
June 29 – Saint Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *
July 01 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre * (SOLD OUT)
July 02 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom *
August 26 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
August 27 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
August 28 – Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy
November 5 – Auckland, NZ – Auckland Town Hall
November 8 – Melbourne, AU – The Forum #
November 10 – Sydney, AU – Enmore Theatre #
November 11 – Brisbane, AU – The Fortitude Music Hall #

2023
January 9 – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre ^
January 10 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy ^
January 11 – Manchester, UK – Academy ^
January 13 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Academy ^
January 14 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy ^
January 15 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy ^
January 17 – Bournemouth, UK – O2 Academy ^
January 18 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton ^
January 21 – Utrecht, NL – Tivolivredenburg ^
January 22 – Brussels, BE – Ancienne Belgique ^
January 23 – Paris, FR – La Cigale ^
January 25 – Milan, IT – Magazzini Generali ^
January 26 – Zurich, CH – X-Tra ^
January 27 – Munich, DE – Muffathalle ^
January 29 – Berlin, DE – Astra ^
January 30 – Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall ^
January 31 – Hamburg, DE – Fabrik ^
February 2 – Copenhagen, DK – Vega ^
February 3 – Stockholm, SE – Klubben Fryshuset ^
February 5 – Oslo, NO – Vulkan Arena ^

New dates in BOLD
* w/ Spill Tab
+ w/ Jordana
# w/ Hatchie
^ w/ May-A

The post Wallows Announce Sophomore Album, Release ‘Especially You’ appeared first on SPIN.

Watch the Trailer for Upcoming Nick Cave and Warren Ellis Documentary

2022-02-04T16:25:06.495Z

Ahead of its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival later this month, the trailer for the upcoming Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ documentary has been revealed. Titled This Much I Know To Be True, it explores the inner workings behind their most-recent albums, Ghosteen and Carnage.

“I would have defined myself as a musician or a writer,” Cave says at the beginning of the new clip, “and I’m trying to wean myself off those definitions of myself that are about my occupation, and see myself as a person. … As a husband, and father, and friend, and citizen that makes music and writes stuff. Rather than the other way around.”

Directed by Andrew Dominik, This Much I Know To Be True, has yet to receive an official release date. It will premiere sometime between February 10-20 at the festival. Carnage was Cave and Ellis’ first record together, which was released last February. In 2019, Cave & The Bad Seeds released their most recent album, Ghosteen.

The long-time collaborative duo has been busy since the release of Carnage. Cave announced a memoir, the two detailed a spring tour that kicks off in March, and they teamed up for the soundtrack of another upcoming documentary about French nature.

The post Watch the Trailer for Upcoming Nick Cave and Warren Ellis Documentary appeared first on SPIN.

Listen to Sasami’s Rockin’ Serenade ‘Call Me Home’

2022-02-03T16:38:50.242Z

Sasami has a new album on the way titled Squeeze. Today, she revealed its latest track, “Call Me Home.”

“‘Call Me Home’ is dedicated to anyone who has blown up their life just to remember what it’s like to feel something,” Sasami said in a statement. “It’s about the darkness of feeling nothing and the creeping ache of apathy that can swallow you whole if you let it. It’s about skipping town, driving all night and knowing you’ll always have a home to come back to.”

In addition to the release of “Call Me Home,” Sasami also detailed her spring headlining tour which includes supporting dates for Haim in the U.S. and Mitski in the EU. Sasami’s own tour kicks off in early March at The Stone Church in Brattleboro, Vermont, and concludes in mid-April at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles.

Squeeze is set to release February 25 via Domino. The entirety was produced by Sasami herself, while Ty Segall lent a hand c0-producing a handful of tracks. Other notable contributors on Squeeze include Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy, King Tuff’s Kyle Thomas, Christian Lee Hutson, Barishi, Moaning’s Pascal Stevenson, Jay Bellerose and No Home.

Sasami already released “Say It,” “The Greatest,” “Skin A Rat,” and “Sorry Entertainer” off Squeeze. The upcoming record follows her self-titled debut which was released on March 8, 2019.

Squeeze Track List

1. Skin A Rat
2. The Greatest
3. Say It
4. Call Me Home
5. Need It To Work
6. Tried To Understand
7. Make It Right
8. Sorry Entertainer
9. Squeeze (feat. No Home)
10. Feminine Water Turmoil
11. Not A Love Song

Sasami Tour Dates

3/4 – Brattleboro, VT @ The Stone Church
3/5 – Woodstock, NY @ The Colony
3/6 – Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar
3/8 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
3/10 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
3/11 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover
3/21 – Nashville, TN @ The End
3/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Purgatory Stage
3/24 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
3/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
3/26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
3/27 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
3/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
3/31 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
4/1 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
4/2 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
4/3 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
4/5 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
4/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
4/8 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder
4/9 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
4/10 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
4/12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
4/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
4/21 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory * – SOLD OUT
4/22 – Leeds, UK @ University Union Refectory *
4/23 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom *
4/25 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street * -SOLD OUT
4/26 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy *
4/28 – London, UK @ The Roundhouse * – SOLD OUT
4/29 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton *
4/30 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botanique Festival *
5/2 – Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix * – SOLD OUT
5/3 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia *
5/4 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso * – SOLD OUT
5/6 – Zurich, CH @ Kaufleuten *
5/7 – Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks *
5/9 – Berlin, DE @ Metropol * – SOLD OUT
5/10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega * – SOLD OUT
5/11 – Stockholm, SE @ Fallan
5/12 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene * – SOLD OUT
5/14 – Hamburg, DE @ Fabrik * – SOLD OUT
5/15 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria * – SOLD OUT
5/17 – Vienna, AT @ WUK * – SOLD OUT
5/18 – Prague, CZ @ Archa Theatre *
5/19 – Munich, DE @ Strom * – SOLD OUT
5/22 – Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavillion ^
5/24 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Echo Beach ^
5/25 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Ampitheatre ^
5/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at the Mann ^
5/31 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Pavilion ^
6/1 – Indianapolis, IN @ TCU Amphitheatre at White River State Park ^
6/3 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^
6/4 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre ^
6/6 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory ^
6/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre ^
6/11 – Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds ^
6/13 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater ^
6/14 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheatre ^

* w/ Mitski
^ w/ Haim

The post Listen to Sasami’s Rockin’ Serenade ‘Call Me Home’ appeared first on SPIN.

Blu DeTiger Wants the Funk

2022-02-03T16:32:43.221Z

Listen to Blu DeTiger for 30 seconds and you’ll know exactly what defines the young artist’s music.

It’s the bass.

Not those thumping samples found on any modern pop track, but slinking lines plucked and slapped from a real bass guitar — sounds of a bygone, much funkier era.

For 22-year-old DeTiger (her real name), the bass has been an obsession since she was 7 years old.

“I remember thinking ‘So many girls play guitar and sing,’” DeTiger tells SPIN, taking a break from working on new music to call in from Los Angeles. “I was like, ‘I want to be different. I want to do something unique.’ And I’ve never looked back.”

DeTiger’s commitment to the bass as the centerpiece in her songwriting has launched the Manhattan native as one of the most exciting — and genuinely singular — new artists to ascend during the pandemic. Her debut EP, last March’s How Did We Get Here? has notched more than 80 million well-deserved streams. The pop-funk project oozed a cool, sexy confidence, providing a disco-rific soundtrack for getting lost in the city (or as lost as you can get in 18 minutes, anyway).

Last month, DeTiger hit “some bucket list stuff” when she performed on Saturday Night Live. She was just filling in on bass for Bleachers, but she’s already manifesting her next appearance on the show for her own project.

But before the network TV exposure, DeTiger amassed more than 1 million followers on TikTok with her blend of original music and live bass covers. It’s the platform that first gave her a boost thanks to her fresh, virtuosic bass lines over everything from Baby Keem and Lil Nas X to Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake.

“[TikTok] gave me a lot more confidence in owning the bass, because I would post these videos and they would just randomly go super viral,” she says. “I was like, ‘Oh, people actually do like this. I’m going to lean into it.’”

(Credit: Abby Orons)

The covers started around spring 2020, just as DeTiger’s European tour opening and playing bass for alt-pop star Fletcher was axed due to COVID. That tour was supposed to be the follow-up to DeTiger’s busy 2019, which consisted of pulling double duty (as an opener and then bassist) for The Knocks, Fletcher and Caroline Polachek. That success forced the busy teenager — who’d also taken on session work in between DJing in New York’s underground club scene — to drop out of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

“One leave of absence turned into another leave of absence,” she says. “I was ready to go for it.”

All of the success earned DeTiger a deal with Capitol Records in November, and she dropped her major-label debut single that same month. The addictive “Blondes” delivered big hooks and her signature bass all tied around a darker underside. “They say that blondes, they have more fun, get what they want / Why am I so different, I’m just sitting at home, feeling dumb and alone?” DeTiger sings in the chorus.

“[It’s] piggybacking off of the pandemic and just wanting to feel alive again — getting out of those routines and mundaneness,” she says of the song, which was written with veteran songwriter Teddy Geiger (Shawn Mendes, Niall Horan). “It’s kind of just about doing something, or anything, to make you feel sort of extreme.”

More music is on the way, with a new track coming “in a few weeks” as she works toward her eventual debut LP. She’s hoping to get that out later this year, but until then, she’s booked for a list of shows and festivals, including Governor’s Ball and Bonnaroo, as well as her first headlining gigs in Europe. Of course, the European gigs will also be a bit of a throwback to when she was playing tight rooms before her more mainstream popularity kicked in.

“You only really do that once, when you’re coming up,” she says. “With everyone jumping in small, sweaty, 200 cap rooms in Berlin. I’m just really excited to do that sort of thing.”

But DeTiger assures that if she can do it, anyone can. And as she’s seen during her ascent, plenty are trying. The artist’s rise has led a crop of young fans to pick up the perennially less-loved instrument.

“A lot of people hit me up saying they bought a bass in the pandemic because they’ve seen some of my videos,” she says. “That means a lot to me because ultimately what I want to do is inspire other people.”

The post Blu DeTiger Wants the Funk appeared first on SPIN.

Crosby, Stills and Nash Put Differences Aside to Support Neil Young in Spotify Spat

2022-02-03T16:17:26.861Z

In solidarity with bandmate Neil Young in his battle with Spotify, David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Stephen Stills (you know, CSN) are removing their discographies from Spotify.

Although CSN has a lengthy history of disagreements, they have chosen to put them aside in support of on-again, off-again bandmate Young’s protest of Spotify’s practices. Young removed his music last week after Spotify refused to stop platforming The Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast that has spread COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation.

Nash has already begun removing his solo music from the platform, with Crosby’s and Stills’ solo projects soon to follow. Recordings from CSNY and CSN will also be removed shortly. Several other artists have pulled their music from the streaming platform amid the controversy including Joni Mitchell, India.Arie, Failure and Nils Lofgren.

The controversy started about COVID-19 misinformation but has become an opportunity for artists to protest Spotify as a whole. Artists have called Spotify’s business model exploitative to artists, as they earn only a fraction of a cent per stream.

“We support Neil and we agree with him that there is dangerous disinformation being aired on Spotify’s Joe Rogan podcast,” the band members said in a joint statement. “While we always value alternate points of view, knowingly spreading disinformation during this global pandemic has deadly consequences. Until real action is taken to show that a concern for humanity must be balanced with commerce, we don’t want our music – or the music we made together – to be on the same platform.”

The post Crosby, Stills and Nash Put Differences Aside to Support Neil Young in Spotify Spat appeared first on SPIN.

Duran Duran ‘Thrilled’ Over First Rock Hall Nomination

2022-02-03T16:10:51.510Z

Earlier this morning, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced Duran Duran is on the ballot for its Class of 2022. The British New Wave band is nominated alongside a class of a variety of iconic names in the industry including Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Kate Bush, A Tribe Called Quest, and others.

“What a surprise and an honor! To be nominated by such a highly esteemed organization is truly special in this, our fortieth, year,” John Taylor, the bass guitarist said. “For decades now Duran Duran have been inspired by the incredible support of our beautiful and diverse fanbase around the world. To be considered by the Hall of Famers is truly next level. Let’s hope we make the cut!”

Simon Le Bon added, “Just to make it onto the nominations list is an honor that I never expected to experience… But for sure, this distinction is due in large part to the fact that we have an army of fans around the world who have unwaveringly supported us for the past four decades. We are all extremely grateful to all of you for making this happen.”

In 2019, Taylor and Le Bon inducted Roxy Music into the Hall of Fame, with a heartfelt speech about the influence of Roxy Music had on their personal and professional lives.

Fans can vote on their pick for the Hall of Fame on the website here or by visiting an interactive kiosk at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland.

The post Duran Duran ‘Thrilled’ Over First Rock Hall Nomination appeared first on SPIN.

Lucy Dacus Calls Back to Childhood With ‘Kissing Lessons’ Video

2022-02-03T16:06:52.811Z

Lucy Dacus released a new single “Kissing Lessons” along with an accompanying video calling back to her childhood. The new single explores Dacus’ experiences with a childhood friend as they disguise their innocent childhood romance as practice for the day weʼd start breaking hearts and taking names.” The upbeat nature of the song and narrative lyrical style conveys the sweet and innocent, yet infatuated, nature of the friendship.

“Rachel was a year older when I was in the second grade, I thought she might know everything. I took her word like a golden ring,” Dacus sings.

“Kissing Lessons” was recorded and mixed alongside Dacus’ acclaimed 2021 album Home Video. The shakey home video-esque filming style of the accompanying video brings out the song’s continuation of childhood themes that Dacus began sharing on Home Video.

The video, directed by Mara Palena acts like a video scrapbook, incorporating shots of polaroids, hand-drawn graphics and craft projects. The beloved 2021 album cemented Dacus’ status as a staple in indie rock and won over new fans with an exceptional, stripped-down collection of songs that detailed her coming of age from early childhood into her late teenage years.

The single was first announced through a series of flyers that appeared in several U.S. cities with tear-off tabs for a “Kissing Lessons” hotline, which lead to a recording of Dacus’ new song. Now, the single is available everywhere to the public.

Next week, Dacus will begin her US tour for Home Video, she has added a few dates to the tour including a New York City performance at SummerStage in Central Park. Tickets are available this Friday, February 4th.

Lucy Dacus Home Video 2022 Tour:

(new dates in bold)
Wed. Feb. 09 – Pitts, PA @ Stage AE *
Thu. Feb. 10 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic *
Fri. Feb. 11 – Newport, KY @ Ovation *
Sat. Feb. 12 – Indy, IN @ Egyptian Room *
Mon. Feb. 14 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Ballroom Valentine’s Day *
Tue. Feb. 15 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall (Rescheduled Date) * – SOLD OUT
Thu. Feb. 17 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave (Rescheduled Date) * – SOLD OUT
Fri. Feb. 18 – Iowa City, IA @ Englert Theatre (Rescheduled Date) * – SOLD OUT
Sat. Feb. 19 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty *
Sun. Feb. 20 – OK City, OK @ Tower Theatre *
Wed. Feb. 23 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre *
Thu. Feb. 24 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
Fri. Feb. 25 – C-Ville, VA @ Jefferson * – SOLD OUT
Sat. Feb. 26 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony * – SOLD OUT
Mon. Feb. 28 – Ithaca, NY @ Hangar Theatre
Tue. Mar. 01 – Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts
Thu. Mar. 03 – Providence, RI @ The Strand
Sat. Mar. 05 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head
Fri. Mar. 18, 2022 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ^ – SOLD OUT
Sat. Mar. 19, 2022 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ^ – SOLD OUT
Sun. Mar. 20, 2022 – Glasgow, UK @ St. Lukes ^ – SOLD OUT
Mon. Mar. 21, 2022 – Dublin, IE @ Olympia Theatre ^
Wed. Mar. 23, 2022 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla – SOLD OUT
Thu. Mar. 24, 2022 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory ^
Fri. Mar. 25, 2022 – London, UK @ Kentish Town Forum
Sat. Mar. 26 – London, UK @ Rough Trade – In-Store Performance
Sun. Mar. 27 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 ^
Tue. Mar. 29, 2022 – Brussels, BL @ Rotonde ^ – SOLD OUT
Wed. Mar. 30, 2022 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord ^
Thu. Mar. 31, 2022 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater ^
Sat. Apr. 02, 2022 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow ^
Sun. Apr. 03, 2022 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen ^ – SOLD OUT
Mon. April 04, 2022 – Aarhus, DK @ Atlas ^
Wed. Apr. 06, 2022 – Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret ^
Thu. Apr. 07, 2022 – Stockholm, SE @ Nalen Klubb ^
Sat. Apr. 09, 2022 – Berlin, DE @ Lido ^
Sun. Apr. 10, 2022 – Jena, DE @ Trafo ^
Tue. Apr. 12, 2022 – Vienna, AT @ Chelsea ^
Wed. Apr. 13, 2022 – Munich, DE @ Milla ^
Thu. Apr. 14, 2022 – Zürich, SU @ Bogen F ^
Fri. Apr. 15 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie ^
Thu. Jul. 21 – New York, NY @ SummerStage in Central Park # Sun. Aug. 7 – St. Charles, IA @ Hinterland Festival
Fri. Aug. 26 – London, UK @ All Points East Festival
Thu. Sep. 1 – Sun. Sep. 4 – Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road Festival

* = with Indigo De Souza ^ = with Fenne Lily
# = with Hop Along

The post Lucy Dacus Calls Back to Childhood With ‘Kissing Lessons’ Video appeared first on SPIN.

Jenevieve’s Sparkly R&B Is Hiding in Plain Sight

2022-02-02T18:01:31.823Z

Hidden gems can often find listeners at the strangest times. That includes when they’re out walking their dog, like Jenevieve was in a Los Angeles-area park back in July, before the 24-year-old vocalist stumbled on an abandoned box full of albums.

“There’s some CDs. I wasn’t gonna touch it because it was on the ground,” she says. “And then I just looked through, and I saw an Aaliyah CD. And I kind of got chills. I was like, ‘Why would anybody do this?’”

It’s a fair question.

There’s no logical conclusion to make as to why any somewhat-reasonable person would leave a copy of Aaliyah’s One in a Million–a CD that was out-of-production at that point for over two decades–in a box in the park. But nevertheless, Jenevieve found something precious when she was least expecting it, which is exactly what it feels like to come across her music for most who’ve been keeping up with her.

(Credit: Genevieve Andrews)

Her debut album, Division, dropped in September on the same day a certain music heavyweight decided to put out his own long-awaited LP, Certified Lover Boy. While Drake dominated charts for a couple months as he does, and while most artists would fear being outshined by such a big release, Division has still continued to be that box-in-the-park for listeners who’ve recognized Jenevieve’s breezy neo-soul and dangerously addictive pop last year. Now, the LP has given Jenevieve enough material and buzz to take on her first two proper headlining gigs ever at The Echo in Los Angeles and Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco this month.

When we catch up on the phone in late January, Jenevieve has wrapped up practicing her set with her live band, making sure everything runs accordingly–from perfecting the ‘80s punch of title track “Division” to very likely ensuring her voice dazzles on dreamy R&B kicker “Baby Powder,” her breakthrough single responsible for nearly 40 million streams on Spotify.

While the Interscope-backed blossomer is still waiting to properly hear her music on the radio–which has been a long-term goal for her–she’s already recognized it in public, and has seen it soundtracking some pretty high-profile hangouts. Hell, even Kanye West, Antonio Brown, Floyd Mayweather, Julia Fox, and Madonna were all bumping it in an Instagram clip just a few weeks ago. “Shoutout to whoever was DJing at the SoHo House,” she shares.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenevieve (@msjenevieve)

“I’ve heard my songs enough in stores, just shopping. There was somebody driving and then they were playing it,” she recalls. “But you know, just the fact that people are listening, that’s great. But radio’s like, you know, that’s like a whole other thing.”

Radio may very well become the next home for Jenevieve’s vast musical IQ, which is thanks in part due to her childhood roots and early love for dance, in no time. As she’s shared, she began dancing the moment she could walk and credits much of her music taste–which began with a draw to acts like Sade–to those formative years surrounded by everything from flamenco to hip-hop.

“There was a lot of Cuban music around me growing up,” Jenevieve says. “So it was like the live music and feeling of music with dance as well. It was just a mixture of like, you know, hip-hop, Britney Spears, or like Michael Jackson. And then like, I’ll go to salsa class, or just hear the instrumental flamenco music.”

As for the Jacksons, the comparisons have certainly been tossed around over the last couple of years. Some of the poppier cuts off Division have seen nods to Michael or Janet, and Jenevieve’s music video for “No Sympathy” has a similar pop-arty animated flair as Jackson’s 1987 track “Leave Me Alone.” She credits Al Jarreau for inspiring that visual in particular, too, and says plenty of what you see on the screen is also a reflection of her admiration of cinema.

“A movie definitely has inspired me to get emotional to write a song. Or, like, sometimes a song will remind me of a movie,” she says. “And I’m trapped in the feeling that maybe that movie reminded me of something in my life or like. If I’m watching a movie, and I’m feeling a certain way, maybe I’d want to put that feeling that I felt in a song.”

Visuals aside, Jenevieve’s future is looking bright in the months ahead. Not just in terms of her upcoming headlining gigs, but for her own artistic growth following the release of her debut. Division may have established her as a hidden gem of sorts for some fans this past year, but for her, it’s time for more listeners to discover that box in the park.

“I still feel like I have more to show,” she says. “So it is a good introduction. But I still feel like I
have more to introduce”

The post Jenevieve’s Sparkly R&B Is Hiding in Plain Sight appeared first on SPIN.

With UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection, PlayStation’s Iconic Series Comes to PS5 and PC

2022-02-02T17:55:21.426Z

When it was released in 2016, UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End pretty much redefined adventure video games. The end of Nathan Drake’s journey won dozens of awards, was nominated for dozens more and set a standard that wouldn’t soon be surpassed.

As of last week, UNCHARTED 4 has been remastered and re-released for PS5 (and soon for PC) alongside its spinoff, UNCHARTED: The Lost Legacy, meaning that a whole new audience will get to experience the spectacular titles in higher resolution, better framerates, improved audio, and a whole bunch of other upgrades. While some may believe the original titles hold up just fine in 2022, the Legacy of Thieves Collection really does show off the power of the PS5, much like how the first releases displayed what was possible on PS4.

To learn about some of the ins and outs of the new collection, SPIN spoke with Shaun Escayg, Naughty Dog’s creative director, about both the latest release and the impact of the UNCHARTED series as a whole.

SPIN: What were the primary goals for the Legacy of Thieves Collection?
Shaun Escayg: One of the biggest goals for UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection was to enhance how players experience the world of UNCHARTED, these stories, our complex characters and their struggles. On the PS5, the amazing environmental storytelling of UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End and UNCHARTED: The Lost Legacy is taken to a whole new level with increases in overall polygon count, object density, and massive upgrades to lighting and full-resolution textures. Even our characters — both playable and in cinematics — are utilizing our highest quality assets. We’re hoping when fans discover (or re-discover) these environments, they’ll be overwhelmed by how much we can do with this new technology.

In terms of sound, we took full advantage of the new audio architecture available with the PS5 to include 3D audio, which brings a whole new broadened sound experience to players that brings them into a living, breathing world. Haptic support has also been introduced for combat, traversal, cinematics, and vehicles, and adaptive triggers give all combat weapons a unique feel and “weight.” Whether you’re driving in a 4×4, scaling a mountain, or engaging in combat, the addition of haptic support and adaptive triggers make these experiences feel even more tactile and gratifying.

On the visual side, there is “Fidelity Mode,” which brings the experience into 4K. There’s also “Performance” and “Performance+ Modes,” which target 60 and 120 [frames per second] respectively. We seek to make our games as cinematic as possible, so we’re thrilled to have implemented ultra hi-res in-game character models and leveraged the PS5’s ultra-high-speed SSD to implement instant load times for a seamless, movie-like experience.

Given the legacy — no pun intended — of the series, what was it like to bring some new life into the two most recent titles, particularly for the audience that never got to play them on PS4?
At the core of every game we work on, we aim to make character-driven, cinematic stories, and it’s humbling to hear from fans how deeply the UNCHARTED series’ humor, unique cast, and adventure have resonated with them.

For those who haven’t experienced UNCHARTED, we hope that these remasters will give new players a chance to enjoy these games on the latest console generation. While we’ve gotten to know the characters of UNCHARTED intimately, we’re excited that even more people now have the chance to meet this complex and charismatic cast we’ve grown so fond of over the years. UNCHARTED holds an incredibly special place in our heart, and sharing our love of this world and its characters with a new audience is an awesome privilege.

Seeing as UNCHARTED has been a PlayStation staple for so long, how does it feel to bring these games to PC as well?
It’s been fantastic to partner with the incredible developers at Iron Galaxy to bring UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection to PC. It’s a thrilling opportunity to share the characters and stories with the passionate PC audience and further expand the access to these games that we’re truly proud of. It also feels awesome since players have been asking for UNCHARTED on PC for a while now.

All of these years, games and now a movie later, what’s it like to look back on the overall impact that UNCHARTED has maintained since the beginning?
It’s fascinating to look at the entire UNCHARTED series and see how much Nathan Drake and, later, Chloe Frazer, have grown. Both are incredibly intrepid and charismatic protagonists who are immensely capable in a firefight and while navigating perilous situations. However, despite their age and experience, they struggle with their pasts and their emotions, just like the rest of us. In UNCHARTED 4, Nathan fundamentally grapples with his values in life. In Lost Legacy, Chloe is still unpacking unresolved grief and loss. For many players who experienced UNCHARTED when they were younger, it’s been remarkably refreshing to revisit Nathan and Chloe’s stories in adulthood and empathize with their struggles and triumphs.

It can’t be understated how humbling it’s been for the entirety of Naughty Dog that Nathan Drake has become such an identifiable character, even to people who never played an UNCHARTED game. UNCHARTED has forged a look and feel that’s so unique and lighthearted, and it’s always fun for us to see people revisit, replay and share their love of UNCHARTED year after year. It truly puts into perspective how significant UNCHARTED was and continues to be — both as a game and as a story.

Is there anything else you would want to add about Legacy of Thieves Collection?
We’re proud of the games we’ve made and staying true to our vision, and UNCHARTED 4 and UNCHARTED: The Lost Legacy are so special to our history as a game studio. UNCHARTED 4 kicked off so many new horizons for game development, such as facial tracking for mocap. It still holds up, and this collection was an opportunity to see how we could leap forward into the future and continue innovating. Lost Legacy bloomed from a DLC into a full-length game, and we had the opportunity to deeply explore a really complex and charismatic character from the series, fan-favorite Chloe Frazer, giving her the standalone adventure she deserved. Making UNCHARTED was a special adventure, and we’re so happy we had the chance to have another adventure with UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection.

The post With UNCHARTED: Legacy of Thieves Collection, PlayStation’s Iconic Series Comes to PS5 and PC appeared first on SPIN.

A Day in the Life of…Eric Krasno

2022-02-02T17:51:12.691Z

says singer, guitarist, producer and two-time Grammy Award winner Eric Krasno. “I remember seeing my brother’s band practice in my basement and thinking…‘I wanna do THAT!’” He played along with Led Zeppelin tracks to hone his craft.

“I used to sit and play along with Jimmy Page for hours on end. Jimi Hendrix too, I had a mini shrine in my bedroom growing up.”

He hasn’t stopped since. In addition to co-founding the bands Soulive and Lettuce, his expansive career includes three solo albums, four with Lettuce, 12 with Soulive, having produced and/or written songs for Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Pretty Lights, Talib Kweli, 50 Cent, Aaron Neville, and Allen Stone. As a performer, he’s shared stages with a few bands you may have heard of: The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and The Roots. At the end of the day, he’s a masterful musician and soulful guitarist who creates a style he describes as: “rock ‘n roll, blues, soul and hip-hop all mixed in there somewhere.”

His new solo album Always releases on February 4, and he reflects: “I often come up with a riﬀ or chord progression and the let the melodies, words form to that. I also record voice memos all the time on the road and write words in my phone. I’ll revisit these ideas when I’m home or in the studio and ﬂesh them out into songs.”

Always reflects his journey as a husband and new father during the pandemic, and the surprising beauty through those changes. “I wrote a lot of the songs on Always during lockdown and while my wife was pregnant. I’d say the album is about silver linings in a dark time and appreciating what I have.”

Here’s a day in the life of Eric Krasno.

Date November 18, 2021

Time I woke up 7:00 a.m. (I have a baby! Lol)

Every day starts with Making coﬀee, making breakfast for Lewis (when I’m home).

Breakfast consists of Eggs or cereal.

To get going I always Drink coﬀee and hopefully get a workout in.

I don’t feel dressed without A hat:)

Before I start working I must Coﬀee (again).

Currently working on Finishing an album project called King Canyon and writing new songs for my next LP.

But I’d really love to be Hiking in Yosemite.

Book I’m reading The new Stephen King book If It Bleeds.

I don’t know how anyone ever Works at a cubicle every day.

If I had to play one album on repeat, it would be Jimi Hendrix–Axis: Bold as Love.

The perfect midday consists of I love being outside in nature, I am big into walking my dog and taking the family to the park. We love going to Huntington Gardens in Pasadena.

To help get through the day I need Music. I listen to music all the time, I become obsessed with certain artists’ albums. I also listen to mixes and demos of things I’m working on.

No ta day goes by without speaking to I talk to my dad almost every day. He’s always incredibly supportive with my music and my career. When I’m on the road I FaceTime my son and wife all the time. FaceTime has been a game-changer for the touring parents.

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Rock Hall of Fame 2022: Carly Simon, Eminem, Dolly Parton, Beck Lead Nominees

2022-02-02T17:46:32.628Z

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled its contenders for the Class of 2022. The ballot features seven first-time nominees including Carly Simon, Eminem, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Beck, Lionel Richie, and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as Kate Bush, Devo, Judas Priest, MC5, New York Dolls, Rage Against The Machine, Pat Benatar, Fela Kuti, Eurythmics, and Dionne Warwick.

Artists eligible for this year’s ballot had to have released their first single or album in 1996 or earlier. Eminem is the only artist on this year’s ballot nominated in his first year eligible (his debut album, Infinite, was released in 1996.)

“This year’s ballot recognizes a diverse group of incredible artists, each who has had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Their music not only moved generations but also influenced the sound of countless artists that followed.”

The Rock Hall’s voting pool consists of roughly 1,000 musicians, academics, journalists, and music industry professionals. Fans also have a say in which artists get inducted. Starting today through the end of April, fans can make their selections for the class of 2022 by going to rockhall.com or by visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Fan votes are counted together as one large ballot, which will be factored in with the other votes.

The artists with the highest votes will be announced in May with an induction ceremony in the fall. The induction ceremony for last year’s class of 2021 took place in Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where inductees included the Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, and Carole King. The location of the 2022 ceremony has not been announced.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 Nominees:

Carly Simon
Beck
Pat Benatar
Kate Bush
DEVO
Duran Duran
Eminem
Eurythmics
Judas Priest
Fela Kuti
MC5
New York Dolls
Dolly Parton
Rage Against The Machine
Lionel Richie
A Tribe Called Quest
Dionne Warwick

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Failure Removes Music From Spotify: ‘A Scam for Artists’

2022-02-02T17:31:27.645Z

Following a recent string of artists announcing their departure from Spotify, Failure is the latest group to remove their music from the popular streaming platform. Similar to Neil Young and Joni Mitchell’s departure, Failure cited COVID-19 misinformation as their primary reason for removing their music from the platform.

Additionally, the band also cited Spotify’s lack of payment of artists as a cause for their music’s removal. This has been a long been an issue for artists since the streaming giant’s inception and has become an even bigger talking point in the past week.

“Until now, our ambivalence about Spotify has been based on their draconian royalty calculation which essentially gives artists a microscopic fraction of the money being generated by their music on the platform,” the band wrote. “We’ve all seen the stories of just how little Spotify pays artists whose product powers their entire business model. It’s been a scam for artists since the beginning, following in the tradition of the major label model which preceded it.”

Multiple artists are following suit as Graham Nash and India.Arie also pulled their music from Spotify.

Failure’s entire catalog can be found on Bandcamp. Their latest album, Wild Type Droid, was released last year and is also featured. They were recently a guest on SPIN Presents Lipps Service, which you can listen to here.

See the full statement below:

“Failure have wrestled with the question of Spotify and whether to have our newest music, which we control, on the platform. Until now, our ambivalence about Spotify has been based on their draconian royalty calculation which essentially gives artists a microscopic fraction of the money being generated by their music on the platform. We’ve all seen the stories of just how little Spotify pays artists whose product powers their entire business model. It’s been a scam for artists since the beginning, following in the tradition of the major label model which preceded it.

But artists who want to have their music heard by the most ears possible have had an tough decision to make. Do we give our music to a company that devalues our product to the point where royalty checks from Spotify have become the butt of humorous memes, or do we withhold our music from the platform and supposedly miss out on an “entire generation of music listeners?”

That is exactly where Failure have been since 2015 when we released our first album since reuniting. Acquiescing to the desire for more ear holes. But now, with Spotify’s recent policy shift that allows COVID vaccine misinformation to thrive on their platform, Failure have decided that enough is enough.

Beyond the moral issues raised by Spotify’s COVID decision, the issue of vaccine misinformation and how it directly affects the current situation in the live music space is simply untenable. Right now, Failure have a 31-date US tour booked for June. The last tour we had booked in 2019 was canceled because of COVID, which was a massive financial blow to the band. The vast majority of venues on our upcoming tour are requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test to see our show. We simply cannot square Spotify’s insistence on spreading misinformation about something that directly endangers our band’s supply chain, namely, human beings in a room with big speakers. There are multiple layers, and reasons for our decision, but looking at the capitalistic, free market angle, this band, like any other small business, is cutting ties with a partner that continues to cut into our bottom line. On that level, this problem is really that simple.

Of course, no system or business is perfect, but we have alternatives to Spotify that allow the band to be compensated in a more sustainable way, and without the need to associate ourselves with dangerous lies about public health policy.

If you want to buy lossless digital versions of our entire catalogue, we encourage you to purchase our music on Bandcamp: failureband.bandcamp.com

If you want to stream our music, we continue to offer our music through Apple and other streaming services.
We encourage other artists who want to be paid better for their music, and who don’t want to be in business with a company who is comfortable jeopardizing the industry to which they owe their entire business model, to join us.

Sincerely,
Failure”

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Lady A The Band and Lady A The Singer Settle Lawsuit Over Their Name

2022-02-02T17:09:20.439Z

Back in 2020, Lady Antebellum changed its name to Lady A due to its racial overtones. In doing so, the band didn’t realize there was already a blues musician named Lady A (Anita White) performing with that name. A back-and-forth ensued before the case eventually ended up in court.

Now, that case is settled.

In paperwork viewed by SPIN, Lady A the and Lady A the singer filed a joint request in U.S. District Court in Tennessee for the case to be dismissed. The terms of the settlement between the band and singer were not disclosed.

In July 2020, Lady A the band sued White after claiming that she asked for $10 million to give up her performing name. White countersued the band in September of that year for trademark infringement.

At the time of the band’s suit, the Seattle-based singer told Vulture that “You don’t get to just come and take because you have that privilege,” she said. “We don’t have that luxury or that privilege, so we need somebody to help us and lift us up.”

In the same interview, she said that “The first contract they sent [on June 30] had no substance,” she said. “It said that we would coexist and that they would use their best efforts to assist me on social-media platforms, Amazon, iTunes, all that. But what does that mean? I had suggested on the Zoom call that they go by the Band Lady A, or Lady A the Band, and I could be Lady A the Artist, but they didn’t want to do that.”

Prior to the suit, White said that she couldn’t put her new music on streaming services due to the name discrepancy.

SPIN has reached out to the band’s rep for comment.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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The Linda Lindas Announce Debut Album Growing Up, Share Title Track

2022-02-02T16:59:25.743Z

The Linda Lindas won over our hearts last year with their viral performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy,” and now they’re gifting us with a full collection of coming of age, punk rock classics. The quartet’s debut album is aptly titled Growing Up, and its cover art appropriately pays homage to the girls’ love for cats — featuring illustrated versions of each member rocking out as a feline-human hybrid.

Speaking of cats, the band also shared a video for the album’s title track that stars their animal companions. The clip was directed by Humberto Leon, co-founder of fashion brand Opening Ceremony and owner of Los Angeles restaurant CHIFA, and was shot on an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

“Directing my first video for The Linda Lindas was a dream come true because I love the message and voice the girls have, and I am a true fan,” Leon said in a statement. “I was really inspired by the girl’s love of cats and wanted to take that to the next level and so the video is a conversation about turning points in their lives all being viewed through the gaze of their cats. It creates a narrative of whether the cats want to trade places with the girls or vice-a-versa. This video was extra special because I worked with the girls on designing the outfits with Batsheva, styling the looks with Rodarte and Warby Parker. The entire video was a collaboration between me and the girls. By shooting the video on iPhone 13 Pro Max, it created an intimacy with the video that felt like we were listening in on a day in the life of The Linda Lindas.”

Growing Up is slated for an April 8 digital release, with a physical release to follow on June 3 via Epitaph Records. Pre-order the album here and check out the album art below.

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Tori Amos Unveils North American Tour Dates

2022-02-01T17:24:34.041Z

In support of her record that was released last year, Tori Amos will embark throughout North America on tour.

Amos is slated to kick off the tour on April 27 in Dallas and will run through June. General tickets go on sale at 10 am local time this Friday, February 4, on Amos’ website.

Ocean to Ocean, Amos’ 16th studio record, was released last October.

SPIN‘s Liza Lentini went on the record with Amos: “Ocean to Ocean feels like something stylistically new—big, sweeping, mythic—with a nod to her Little Earthquakes-esque earlier work.”

Lucky for Amos’ fans abroad—these are just the U.S. dates she announced today. Amos also plans to go from Ocean to Ocean and will tour in the UK and Ireland later this year.

Tori Amos Tour Dates

4/27: Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre
4/29: San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre
4/30: Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre
5/1: Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater
5/4: Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall at The Woodruff Arts Center
5/5: Greenville, SC @ Peace Center Concert Hall
5/6: Raleigh, NC @ Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
5/8: Oxon Hill, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
5/9: Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
5/11: Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
5/12: Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
5/14: Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
5/15: Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium
5/16: Providence, RI @ The Vets
5/18: Rochester, NY @ Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater
5/19: Toronto, ON @ Meridian Hall
5/21: Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
5/22: Cleveland, OH @ KeyBank State Theatre
5/24: Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
5/25: Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
5/26: Ann Arbor, MI @ Michigan Theater
5/28: Madison, WI @ The Orpheum Theater
5/29: Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Symphony Center
5/31: Kansas City, MO @ Kansas City Music Hall
6/2: Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
6/5: Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
6/7: Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
6/8: Vancouver, BC @ The Centre For Performing Arts
6/10: Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
6/11: San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre
6/12: Phoenix, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre
6/15: Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
6/16: Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre

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Graham Nash and India. Arie Pull Music From Spotify

2022-02-01T17:20:14.280Z

Graham Nash and India Arie are the latest artists to pull their music from Spotify due to Joe Rogan. However, their reasoning for doing so is very different.

Nash said in a statement that he “completely agrees” with his Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young bandmate Neil Young after “having heard the COVID disinformation spread by Joe Rogan on Spotify. I am requesting that my solo recordings be removed from the service.”

Young was the first of various artists to remove their music from the streaming giant, because of Rogan’s alleged spreading of COVID misinformation, but also in protest against the unfair ways Spotify pays musicians. Joni Mitchell and Nils Lofgren followed Young not longer after.

Arie shared a statement on Instagram that she is removing her work off Spotify because Young “opened a door that I must walk through,” and that she finds Rogan problematic because of his “language about race.”

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“What I am talking about is respect,” Arie continued, “who get it and who doesn’t. Paying musicians a fraction of a penny? And him $100 [million]? This shows the type of company they are and the company that they keep. I’m tired.”

Rogan faced controversy last month after saying it’s “very strange” that anyone would call themselves Black unless they’re from the “darkest place” of Africa in his interview with podcast guest Jordan Peterson. Their debate was about what it means to be Black, and Rogan continued with: “There’s such a spectrum of shades of people. Unless you’re talking to someone who is, like, 100% African, from the darkest place, where they are not wearing any clothes all day and they’ve developed all that melanin to protect themselves from the sun. You know, even the term Black is weird. When you use it for people who are literally my color, it becomes very strange.”

Yesterday, following Young and Mitchell’s exit from Spotify, Rogan took to his own Instagram an 11-minute video explaining that he isn’t upset with the Godfather of Grunge, and that he wants to interview various medical experts from all sides on his show.

On Sunday, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek issued a statement surrounding the backlash of COVID misinformation being shared on the streaming giant, which explained Spotify will now add a “content advisory” label to podcasts that discuss the virus.

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Bright Eyes Share Three Unreleased Songs, Announce 2022 Tour and Reissues

2022-02-01T17:15:20.832Z

A massive Bright Eyes project has been underway, and is finally coming to the surface throughout this year. Today, the band detailed the extensive reissuing of all nine of their studio records as a Companion series, which will see the release of 54 new recordings.

The re-recording project will release via Dead Oceans, and it will include additional recordings created by Bright Eyes at their own ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska. Each reissue will be accompanied by a Companion EP of five new Bright Eyes recordings of tracks from the original release and one cover that felt of “the era” to the band while recording the original. Receiving the reissue treatment first are the band’s first three records—A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997 (1998), Letting Off The Happiness (1998), and Fevers and Mirrors (2000). All three reissued records (available for pre-order now) are out on May 27, and you can watch the band’s announcement trailer for the series now.

“It’s a meaningful way to connect with the past that doesn’t feel totally nostalgic and self-indulgent,” Conor Oberst said of the Companion series. “We are taking these songs and making them interesting to us all over again. I like that. I like a challenge. I like to be forced to do something that’s slightly hard, just to see if we can.”

Lucky enough for eager Bright Eyes fans—today, the band released three of the Companion series recordings: “Falling Out of Love At This Volume,” “Contrast And Compare” (featuring Waxahatchee), “Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh” (featuring Phoebe Bridgers).

In addition to that, Bright Eyes is embarking on an extensive tour throughout the U.S., UK, and Europe. Alex G is scheduled to open for the band, and they’ll kick off on March 23 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bright Eyes Companion EPs Track Lists

A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997: A Companion

1) “Driving Fast Through A Big City At Night”
2) “Solid Jackson”
3) “A Celebration Upon Completion”
4) “Falling Out of Love At This Volume”
5) “Exaltation On A Cool Kitchen Floor”
6) “Double Joe” (Simon Joyner cover)

Letting Off The Happiness: A Companion

1) “The Difference In The Shades”
2) “The City Has Sex (feat. Waxahatchee)”
3) “Contrast And Compare (feat. Waxahatchee)”
4) “Kathy With A K’s Song (feat. M Ward)”
5) “St. Ides Heaven (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)” (Elliott Smith cover)
6) “June On The West Coast (feat. Becky Stark)”

Fevers and Mirrors: A Companion

1) “Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)”
2) “A Scale, A Mirror, And Those Indifferent Clocks (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)”
3) “Arienette”
4) “Hypnotist (Song for Daniel H)” (Lullaby For The Working Class cover)
5) “When The Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)”
6) “A Spindle, A Darkness, A Fever, And A Necklace (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)”

Bright Eyes Tour Dates

03-23 St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre
03-24 Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater
03-25 Madison, WI – The Sylvee
03-26 Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
03-27 Detroit, MI – The Cathedral Theatre at the Masonic
03-29 Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
03-30 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
03-31 Louisville, KY – Paristown Hall
04-01 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
04-02 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
04-03 Columbus, OH – Express Live!
04-05 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
04-06 Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
04-07 Boston, MA – Roadrunner
04-08 Philadelphia, PA – The Met
04-09 Washington, D.C. – The Anthem
04-10 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
05-19 Oklahoma City, OK – The Jones Assembly
05-20 Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
05-21 Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
05-22 Houston, TX – The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
05-23 New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
05-25 Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
05-26 Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
05-27 Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
05-28 St Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
05-29 Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
05-31 Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
06-01 Cincinatti, OH – Brady Music Center *
06-02 Richmond, VA – Brown’s Island *
06-03 Ashbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summerstage *
06-04 New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall *
06-05 Lafayette, NY – Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards *
06-15 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
06-16 Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
06-17 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
06-18 Troutdale, OR – McMenamin’s Edgefield Amphitheatre
06-20 San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
06-23 Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
06-24 San Diego, CA – Soma
06-25 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
06-28 Salt Lake City, UT – The Union
06-30 Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
07-01 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
07-02 Omaha, NE – The Admiral
07-03 Omaha, NE – The Admiral
08-12 Oslo, Norway – Øyafestivalen 2022
08-14 Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
08-16 Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik
08-17 Prague, Czech Republic – Lucerna Music Bar
08-19 Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
08-20 Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp
08-22 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
08-23 Cologne, Germany – Carlswerk Victoria
08-25 Vienna, Austria – Arena Open Air
08-26 Munich, Germany – Muffathalle
08-27 Zurich, Switzerland – X-Tra
08-30 London, England – Eventim Apollo
08-31 Manchester, England – O2 Apollo
09-01 Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
09-05 Birmingham, England – O2 Institute Birmingham
09-06 Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowland

* Alex G supporting

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Dan Charnas’s Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm

2022-02-01T16:59:44.727Z

Dilla, the highly influential rap producer, died in 2006. “In the 15 years since his death, journalists and academics have written about him, and musicians have extolled his work,” Charnas says. “But no one had put it all together in a definitive statement: That this beatmaker who worked out of a basement in Detroit literally pioneered a new rhythmic time-feel, one that traditional musicians and electronic producers around the world now use. So, I felt a sense of urgency to recount that story, that innovation, and make that argument so he can have his rightful place in history.”

Charnas began his work on Dilla Time in 2017 with a course he taught at the Clive Davis Institute at NYU. “The reporting and research started for me during the creation of that class, and continued until I submitted the manuscript in 2021,” he tells us. He conducted more than 200 interviews.

Charnas chronicles Dilla’s journey from gifted, Detroit-born James DeWitt Yancey to Grammy-nominated hip-hop producer, his work with acts like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu and how he influenced superstars like Michael Jackson and his sister Janet. When Dilla died of a rare blood disease at 32, he had never had a pop hit.

Dilla Time is a portrait of a complex genius taken too young, as well as a glorious study of the music and culture he created.

Author Dan Charnas. Credit: Noah Stephens

SPIN: What would the world of hip-hop have been like without him? How did he revolutionize the genre?
Dan Charnas: Before J Dilla, musicians perceived time in two ways: straight time, where every beat is felt evenly; and swing time, where the beats are uneven. J Dilla on his drum machine collided these two feels, straight and swung, putting them in conflict with each other, which people often called “drunken” or “limping” or “sloppy.” Dilla used that new feel in the music his group Slum Village [did], and with MCs like Common in the late 1990s. But it was quickly adopted and amplified in the 2000s by artists like D’Angelo, in the artists coming out of Philadelphia like Musiq Soulchild and Floetry, and soon made its way onto songs by Brandy, Michael Jackson, and many more. Now that “Dilla feel” is ubiquitous in genres from hip-hop to jazz to pop, from Anderson .Paak to The 1975.

Did you know him personally?
I worked with him only once, back in 1999, when I went to Detroit with an artist I signed to Warner Bros. Records named Chino XL. We spent the weekend in the D and recorded two songs. I wasn’t even conceiving of that trip as something I needed to document, so I didn’t, much to my regret! We never connected in person after that, but the experience stayed with me as, of course, a huge fan of his music. It wasn’t until about a decade later, when I became an author and professor—and also married into a family from Detroit—that the pieces of my Dilla study started coming together.

What would you like everyone to take away from the book?
A lot of folks reduce his method to being simply “loose” and his technique to “not quantizing” on his drum machine (which means to turn off the mechanism that corrects little timing errors made by the fingers when programming the machine). Both of these are huge oversimplifications and really miss what made him a genius. He had severalkey techniques to achieve rhythmic conflict, and that conflict isn’t just about being “loose” and making mistakes, but about intention.

Which of the legends are actually myths?
Other than the quantization thing, there are other fables. I think there was a part of me that actually wanted to find some confirmation that Jay Dee had really produced “Got ‘Till It’s Gone” by Janet Jackson, or that Dewitt Yancey, his father, had ghostwritten “It’s a Shame” for The Spinners on Motown, which is a thing we’ve seen promulgated on websites. In four years, I could find no confirmation of either, and instead found evidence and testimony to the contrary.

What were your big discoveries when writing the book?
For me, it was the little discoveries that fascinated me: His Citizen Kane “rosebud” moment for his time-feel and obsession with error while watching the movie A Piece of the Action as a kid; or the story of how his budding solo career and deal with MCA came together and fell apart.

Speculatively, what do you think J Dilla’s life would have been like if he hadn’t passed away in 2006?
It’s so hard to say. For years before he got sick in 2003 with TTP, a rare blood disease, Dilla was dedicated to remaking himself, to relentless revision. So, it is very likely that he would have kept reinventing his sound. There’s a likelihood that his influence on jazz players would have pulled him closer to that world. Mostly when I think about James living, it is about how he would have gotten to know his two daughters, who are both talented and lovely people, and had the pleasure of being a father.

What do you believe is the heart of J Dilla’s life story?
One of James’ central themes was his struggle for credit—to be known and acclaimed for his work, and also the frustration at seeing his sonic signatures adopted by others with more commercial success. In some way, I hope this book can redeem that oversight. But more profoundly James Yancey’s story is one about how to be in the world, no matter what you might be facing. Dilla’s disposition was one of singular dedication to creating beauty, throughout a difficult illness, until the day he died. That’s what made him, in a real way, immortal.

The post Dan Charnas’s Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm appeared first on SPIN.