Here is the latest Music News from Rolling Stone Magazine.
Coldplay Add Dates to ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ Tour
Coldplay have announced more dates for their ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ tour. The trek will now include 12 more cities, including Las Vegas, Phoenix, St. Louis, Denver and additional cities. The 22-date U.S. tour kicks off on July 16th in New York at MetLife Stadium for a two-night stand, and currently…
Keith Urban Enlists Carrie Underwood for ‘The Fighter’
Keith Urban’s upcoming album Ripcord is bound to turn some heads with its inclusion of a rap verse by Pitbull and guitar work by legendary producer Nile Rodgers, but his latest guest announcement for the album is much closer to home. Singer Carrie Underwood joins Urban on a song called “The Fighter,” which…
Watch Chance the Rapper Soar in Inspiring “Angels” Video
Chance the Rapper has dropped his new “Angels” video, which features fellow Chicago rapper Saba. In the clip, which is directed by Austin Vesely and features animation from Hebru Brand Studios, Chance descends from the sky above his Chicago hometown as he raps, “I got my city doing front flips.” Wearing his…
Gerard Way Talks New DC Comics Imprint: ‘I’m Here for the Long Haul’
Long before his band My Chemical Romance found international success, Gerard Way was hard at work on another passion: comic-book art. He first began publishing comics when he was 16 years old, with the short-lived series On Raven’s Wings; later, he attended NYC’s School of Visual Arts and worked as an intern at…
Dennis Davis, Longtime David Bowie Drummer, Dies
Longtime David Bowie drummer Dennis Davis has died after a battle with cancer. Bowie producer Tony Visconti confirmed the drummer’s death on Facebook. Davis first linked up with Bowie during the recording of 1975’s Young Americans and continued to work with the legendary musician on the road and in the studio. He played…
Dwight Yoakam on the Genius and Tragedy of Merle Haggard
Two of the most iconic voices of the Bakersfield sound, Dwight Yoakam and Merle Haggard had a musical kinship that ran deep. Their many collaborations included “Beer Can Hill” (also with Buck Owens), and a remake of “Swinging Doors,” with Yoakam also covering several of the Hag’s songs over the…
Watch 2 Chainz Break Down Super PACs on ‘Larry Wilmore’
Noted MC and political analyst 2 Chainz returned to The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore for another installment of “2 Chainz Explainz,” in which he tackled the inner workings of Super PACs. Allowed to emerge from the murky cesspool that is American campaign finance law after the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, Super PACs…
Paula Abdul on ‘American Idol’ Legacy
After 15 years, American Idol is coming to a close. The singing competition launched the careers of stars like Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson. It set a new precedent for the capabilities of a reality series, legitimizing a form of entertainment that had been looked down upon by…
Why ‘Okie From Muskogee’ Was Merle Haggard’s Contradictory Masterpiece
It would be churlish, especially in the wake of his passing, to suggest Merle Haggard helped to envision and enable the combative, disaffected constituency that Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign has so rudely exploited. But it wouldn’t be entirely untrue. However, Mr. Trump is no Merle Haggard and his message diverges…
See Garth Brooks Duet With Carrie Underwood’s Husband
When Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry nearly eight years ago, fellow Oklahoma native Garth Brooks was the one doing the honors. And though Underwood is a longtime fan, her husband Mike Fisher has ended up being the first of the pair to sing with the superstar…
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick first started plying their unique brand of hard-nosed, guitar-driven power pop in any Midwestern bar over 40 yearss ago. Over that time, the Rockford, Illinois, quartet have seen more than their fair share of ups and downs, and they’ve played more than 5,000 shows since forming. They will be inducted into the…
Hear Tegan and Sara Navigate Love Triangles on New Song ‘Boyfriend’
Tegan and Sara took to Beats 1 radio to premiere a new sugar-coated anthem, “Boyfriend,” the first offering from their upcoming album, Love You To Death. The track finds Tegan and Sara further exploring the bombastic pop stylings of their 2013 album, Heartthrob. The synths beam and blare over thundering percussion, while…
Watch Kacey Musgraves’ Breezy ‘High Time’ on ‘Corden’
Surrounded by giant pink cacti, Kacey Musgraves and her band visited the Late Late Show with James Corden Wednesday night to perform a sweet, soothing version of “High Time.” As the opening track on Musgraves’ Pageant Material, “High Time” sets the tone for the singer’s sophomore LP, extolling the virtues…
Andrew W.K. on Getting His Party Party on the 2016 Ballot
Andrew W.K. knows his strengths. The “Party Hard” singer and proprietor of Santo’s Party House in New York City is the Michael Jordan of having a good time. In the past, he’s spread the party gospel both in his old Village Voice advice column, and on Twitter, where he deploys zen koans disguised as party tips on…
Hear Bob Dylan’s Smoky Frank Sinatra Cover ‘Melancholy Mood’
Bob Dylan has served up a somber, slinking cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Melancholy Mood” as the first offering from his upcoming album, Fallen Angels. The song opens with a delicate guitar solo, which faithfully recreates the sloshed trumpet paean that introduces the 1939 original Sinatra recorded with the Harry James Orchestra. But rather than a lonesome…
Ray Benson Recalls Fightin’ Side of Merle Haggard
In the fall of 1969, when Ray Benson began putting together his long-haired country band Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” was at the top of the charts. “Okie” was a call to arms against exactly the sort of counter-cultural revolution Benson had in mind with the…
How Pop Stars Killed ‘American Idol’
It’s tempting to say that American Idol, which closes out its final season tonight, went downhill after the 2010 departure of tart-tongued Brit Simon Cowell — the music-business lifer who transformed “cruise ship” from a benign vacation locale into a contempt-dripping insult, and who exhibited his tireless commitment to the…
Watch Fifth Harmony’s Sultry, Stripped-Down ‘Ex’s and Oh’s’ Cover
Fifth Harmony delivered a stunning, intricately layered cover of Elle King’s “Ex’s and Oh’s” during an appearance on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Thursday. The group’s full appearance is available to watch, with their cover of “Ex’s and Oh’s” starting at the 8:34 mark. The quintet traded vocal duties during the…
Hear Blake Shelton’s Uplifting ‘Friends’ from the ‘Angry Birds’ Movie
Blake Shelton’s latest single “Came Here to Forget” describes the act of seeking a physical connection as a way to mitigate the pain of heartbreak, with the narrator icily distant from the object of his advances. On the other hand, “Friends” — Shelton’s song for the forthcoming animated Angry Birds…
Flashback: The Grateful Dead and Neil Young Cover Bob Dylan
On October 25th, 1991, legendary San Francisco concert promoter Bill Graham was flying on a helicopter back from a Huey Lewis concert in Concord, California, when the chopper crashed into a high-voltage tower, killing him and everyone else on board immediately. He travelled to the Lewis concert to see if…
Inside Paul Simon’s Genre-Bending New Album ‘Stranger to Stranger’
Paul Simon spent the past five years painstakingly crafting his new album Stranger to Stranger (out June 3rd), knowing he’d have to create something extraordinary if he wanted it to stand up to the best work from his past. “There are a lot of preconceptions [about my new work] because I have…
15 Artists Eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Next
AC/DC once sang, “It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll,” and that’s especially true if you want to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aspiring artists must wait 25 years after the release of their first record — i.e., album, EP or…
Cam, Jana Kramer, Lauren Alaina on Country Girl Power: The Ram Report
Tomatogate is so 2015. At least, that’s the vibe we got on the ACM Awards red carpet. It’s been almost a year since a male radio consultant told Country Aircheck that female acts are the equivalent of tomatoes in the salad of the country format, sparking outrage, debate and scrutiny of country…
Karen O, Wayne Coyne, Duran Duran Set for David Lynch Tribute Album
Last year’s surreal, star-studded musical tribute to David Lynch will be released as a double album, The Music of David Lynch, featuring performances from Karen O, the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd, Duran Duran, Sky Ferreira, Moby and more, Pitchfork reports. The one-night only concert/fundraiser for the David Lynch Foundation featured a variety…
2 Chainz Talks Lil Wayne Collabo, Upcoming ‘Personal’ LP
Atlanta’s perennial prince of punchlines 2 Chainz is storming through 2016. His long-rumored, word-heavy collaboration LP with Lil Wayne, ColleGrove, debuted at Number Four last month; his brief and satisfying Felt Like Cappin mixtape continued a career rooted in independent hustle; and he even promises that there’s more music on the…
See Frank Zappa Bowled Over by Navy Band in Unreleased Clip
The producers of Who the F*@% Is Frank Zappa, a documentary currently in production about the iconoclastic rock composer, have been putting out previously unseen clips from the Zappa Vault in an effort to bring attention to a Kickstarter campaign that would fund the film. Premiering here today is never-before-released…
Hear Ryan Beaver’s Turbulent ‘Rum and Roses’
Ryan Beaver’s new song “Rum and Roses” fades in with a rising wall of static and feedback, a buzz that gradually fills the space like a hangover. The same could be said of the relationship at the song’s core — intoxicating and beautiful at first glance but ultimately poisonous and…
The Dream Life of Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is ambling through the shadows and light near the Hot Dog on a Stick stand close by the Santa Monica Pier, hands shoved into black skinny-type jeans, dark hoody covering a dark T-shirt, baseball cap worn brim forward, slender, on the very shortish side, and, unless you are…
See Merle Haggard’s Final Grand Ole Opry Performance
The late Merle Haggard made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance on October 17, 2015. It was a surprise performance, with friend and frequent duet partner Connie Smith welcoming the 78-year-old legend to the stage. Calm and confident in a dark blazer and sunglasses, Haggard played four classics that night,…
Jane’s Addiction Plot ‘Ritual de lo Habitual’ Anniversary Tour
Jane’s Addiction will celebrate their 1990 LP Ritual de lo Habitual with a short tour leading up to a performance at Lollapalooza on July 30th. “The Sterling Spoon Anniversary Tour” — Ritual turned 25 last year — begins July 15th at the Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn. While Jane’s Addiction will perform songs from their entire…
Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner on L.A. Lifestyle, New Last Shadow Puppets LP
Alex Turner is finishing his second martini at a stuffy bar in Manhattan when he starts reminiscing about his earliest visits to New York, a decade ago. The English singer-guitarist was 20 when his band Arctic Monkeys performed on Saturday Night Live and played a very hyped show at the Bowery…
Readers’ Poll: The 10 Best ‘American Idol’ Performances
This week, American Idol is saying good-bye after 15 years on the air. The show was filled with memorable performances and saw its contestants blow pop music away, creating superstars out of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert and Jennifer Hudson. We asked our readers to vote for their favorite performances from…
Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick on End of ‘American Idol’
“Raise your hand if you were born after June 22, 2002,” shouts comedian Jay Flats as he warms up the American Idol audience. If you were, he notes, than American Idol is older than you. It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that the vocal competition has been a mainstay of popular culture for…
R&B Singer Leon Haywood Dead at 74
Leon Haywood, the soul-funk singer-songwriter and producer, died on Thursday, the Associated Press reports. He was 74. The artist’s 1975 single, “I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You,” was sampled by several artists, including its famous appearance on Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.” Haywood’s godson, Darnell “OG…
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Steve Miller
Steve Miller has played with 25 members over the past five decades under the moniker Steve Miller Band, which he launched in 1966, after moving from Chicago to San Francisco. But this year he’s being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as himself. “I think that’s probably the right choice,” he told…
Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Clint Eastwood Remember Merle Haggard
“He was my brother, my friend. I will miss him,” writes Willie Nelson in a tweet, accompanied by a photo of himself sharing a laugh with the late Merle Haggard and a link to view their iconic “Pancho and Lefty” video. Nelson and Haggard were indeed as close as family,…
Read A Tribe Called Quest’s Poignant Eulogies to Phife Dawg
Hundreds of fans, friends and family members of Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor gathered at New York’s Apollo Theater Tuesday night to pay tribute to the A Tribe Called Quest rapper who died at the age of 45 last month. Busta Rhymes, Andre 3000, Kanye West, Chuck D and Michael Rapaport all recalled the immense…
Azealia Banks: ‘American Racism’ to Blame for Sarah Palin, Donald Trump
Unperturbed by threats of legal action, Azealia Banks continued to take aim at Sarah Palin – as well as the issue of “American racism” at large – in a Tumblr post Wednesday. “Despite their best efforts to conceal the contempt and envy that the cracker has for Blacks and other people of color ……
Watch Demi Lovato Stun With ‘Stone Cold’ at GLAAD Awards
Demi Lovato belted out her ballad “Stone Cold” at the GLAAD Media Awards over the weekend. The next night, Lovato performed the track at the iHeartRadio Music Awards with help from Brad Paisley on guitar. Accompanied by a piano, Lovato passionately delivered a bluesy rendition of the soaring track for the…
Kesha’s ‘Hate Crime’ Charge Against Dr. Luke Thrown Out
A New York judge dismissed all but one claim Kesha has filed against producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald and Sony Music on Wednesday. She will not be allowed to amend her filing. The rulings all relate to the singer’s countersuit against Dr. Luke, who’d sued her for defamation and breach…
Sara Bareilles, Rebel Wilson to Star in ‘Little Mermaid’ Live
Sara Bareilles will transform into Ariel for a live concert featuring songs from the Disney classic The Little Mermaid. The star-studded show will take place at the Hollywood Bowl on June 4th. Rebel Wilson will join Bareilles as the evil Ursula while Glee’s Darren Criss will play Prince Eric. Unbreakable Kimmy…
Selena Gomez to Produce ‘Latina Empire’-Styled TV Series
Selena Gomez will be executive producing an as-yet-untitled series for Freeform, the network formerly known as ABC Family. As Billboard reports, she will co-produce the series with Aaron Kaplan, though the singer-actress will not star on the show. Gomez’s mother, Mandy Teefey, will also be involved in the project. The drama is touted as…
Merle Haggard: 30 Essential Songs
One of his many nicknames was the “Okie From Muskogee,” taken from his song of that title that became a conservative anthem during the Vietnam War. But “conservative” was never the way to describe the country music phenomenon that was Merle Haggard. A pioneer of both the Bakersfield sound and…
Kacey Musgraves to 4/20 Concertgoers: ‘Come Get Weird’
Whoever claimed that pot smokers were lazy may need to take a long look at fans of Kacey Musgraves. The singer-songwriter, who has made reference to marijuana in more than one of her songs, recently sold out an April 20th show in Denver shortly after it was announced on April…
Gene Simmons on Kiss Makeup Controversy: ‘Why Wouldn’t We Use It?’
For over a decade, Kiss’ Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer have both worn makeup associated with the band’s founding guitarist and drummer, respectively. Although the move has sparked some controversy among Kiss fans, singer-bassist Gene Simmons tells Rolling Stone it doesn’t bother him. “Why wouldn’t we use the classic makeup?” he…
5 Fascinating Things N.W.A Told Rolling Stone
When N.W.A burst straight outta Compton three decades ago, they seemed like the toughest, most street-smart crew ever to pick up mics. Years later, they’d declare themselves the “world’s most dangerous group” and would become global superstars, as chronicled in the 2015 movie Straight Outta Compton. The rappers – Dr….
‘From Justin to Kelly’: Revisiting That WTF ‘American Idol’ Movie
The juggernaut known as American Idol is coming to an end after nearly 14 years on the air, and the conversation around its final season has focused on its musical legacy, gifting the world a constellation of bright stars like Jennifer Hudson (she won an Oscar!) and Katherine McPhee (she…
See Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert’s Surprise Vegas Duet
Carrie Underwood arrived in Las Vegas early last weekend, kicking off the three-day ACM Party for a Cause — a festival surrounding the Academy of Country Music’s annual awards show — with a performance that shone a light not only the Female Vocalist of the Year nominee, but on many of…
Watch David Bowie’s ‘Black Tie White Noise,’ Inspired by L.A. Riots
Originally titled “the wedding album,” Black Tie White Noise, Bowie’s first solo record since Never Let Me Down, was inspired by his 1992 marriage to supermodel Iman Abdulmajid. “I think this album comes from a very different emotional place,” Bowie told Rolling Stone. “That’s the passing of time, which has…
ASAP Ferg Enlists Missy Elliott, Skrillex, Ty Dolla $ign for New Album
A$AP Ferg has recruited an all-star cast of collaborators for his second LP, Always Strive and Prosper. Skrillex, Missy Elliott, Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ross, Chuck D, Chris Brown and Ferg’s mother (“Mama Ferg”) will appear on the Trap Lord follow-up, out April 22nd via Polo Grounds/RCA Records. As Pitchfork reports,…
Luke Bryan Leads 2016 American Country Countdown Awards Finalists
As he did with the event’s inaugural staging, Luke Bryan leads the list of finalists for the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards. The superstar appears in seven total categories, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Strip It Down”) and Album of the Year (Kill the Lights). Sam…
Hear ‘American Idol’ Alum Kree Harrison’s ‘This Old Thing’
In 2013, Kree Harrison finished in the runner-up position during Season 12 of American Idol. As the series winds down with a two-part finale tonight and tomorrow, Harrison looks back and forward, appearing on the show’s final episode Thursday and also releasing “This Old Thing,” the title cut from her…
Jenny Lewis Forms New Trio NAF, Plots Nascent Tour
Jenny Lewis has formed a new band called NAF – an acronym for Nice as Fuck – with Au Revoir Simone’s Erika Forster and the Like’s Tennessee Thomas. The trio made their live debut Monday at New York’s Bern NY Bern Bernie Sanders benefit concert and will next appear onstage later this…
Chris Daughtry on Playing Judas, ‘American Idol’ and Greatest Hits
In case you somehow forgot, Chris Daughtry got his start back in 2006 on a little show called American Idol. He stood out from the beginning, when he confidently walked into the audition room to face the judges for the first time and spoke of needing to support his family. Fast-forward…
Dance Rock Update: When Guitar Guys Mess With Beats and Bleeps
Can you teach an old dog new beats? Maybe, especially if the ideas behind them really are tried-and-true. The EDM explorers on Star Wars Headspace – a Rick Rubin-curated compilation – let 16 producers play with R2-D2 bleeps and other bits of the sound library of the world’s best-known space opera….
Merle Haggard, Country Legend, Dead at 79
Merle Haggard, who over six decades composed and performed one of the greatest repertoires in country music, capturing the American condition with his stories of the poor, the lost, the working class, heartbroken and hard-living, died at his home in California. He died today, his 79th birthday. In American and country music,…
See David Bowie’s Mesmerizing ‘I Can’t Give Everything Away’ Lyric Video
The mesmerizing, “positive” lyric video for David Bowie’s “I Can’t Give Everything Away” has been unveiled. The video was created by artist Jonathan Barnbrook, whose unique iconography and typeface are seen throughout the artwork of Bowie’s ★ (pronounced Blackstar). Relying heavily on those symbols and Bowie’s own words, Barnbrook – who first…
Watch the Grateful Dead Take ‘Tennessee Jed’ Back to Massachusetts
The Grateful Dead carry a Massachusetts crowd of over 60,000 through a rousing rendition of “Tennessee Jed” in a special clip from a previously unreleased concert set to screen during the band’s sixth annual Meet-Up at the Movies event. This year’s offering features the Dead’s July 2nd, 1989 concert at Sullivan Stadium in…
Watch Corden Stage Bieber Lyric Soap Opera With Salma Hayek
Justin Bieber has written enough lovesick lyrics to fuel a soap opera. And on Tuesday night, The Late Late Show tested that theory, with host James Corden, Salma Hayek Pinault, Ray Romano and Gary Oldman co-starring in “The Bold and the Lyrical,” a Bold and the Beautiful parody with dialogue ripped entirely…
Aerosmith Contemplating Farewell Tour in 2017
Aerosmith are on a brief hiatus now as Steven Tyler gears up to promote his upcoming country album, but when they reappear next year, it might be to say goodbye. “I’m doing 30 [solo] shows from May until August,” Tyler tells Rolling Stone. “And then in 2017 we go out with…
Jim Breuer Preps Debut Heavy Metal Album ‘Songs From the Garage’
Comedian and heavy metal diehard Jim Breuer has released “Be a Dick 2Nite,” the first offering from his upcoming debut album, Songs From the Garage, out May 27th via Metal Blade Records. The shredding story-song finds Breuer recounting the drunk antics of a deadbeat metalhead friend, who fires off roman candles at…
Janet Jackson ‘Planning Our Family,’ Postpones Unbreakable Tour
Janet Jackson has once again postponed her Unbreakable tour, but for good reason: The singer revealed that she and her husband Wissam Al Mana are “planning our family.” “I’m gonna have to delay the tour,” Jackson said of the “sudden change” in her tour schedule in a video Wednesday morning. “Please…
Jason Aldean on Old Sound of New Album: The Ram Report
The newly-crowned ACM Entertainer of the Year is looking forward by looking back. Jason Aldean says his next album will sound more like his 2009 and 2010 collections. “This album really does go back to what I do best,” the singer told Rolling Stone Country and other media outlets just before the…
40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time
Punk rock started in 1976 on New York’s Bowery, when four cretins from Queens came up with a mutant strain of blitzkrieg bubblegum. The revolution they inspired split the history of rock & roll in half. But even if punk rock began as a kind of negation — a call to…
Watch Ice Cube Play ‘Rap Song or Wrong Song?’ on ‘Ellen’
With his track record as an acclaimed solo rapper and member of N.W.A, you’d think Ice Cube’s hip-hop instincts would surpass those of daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. But the competition was stiff Wednesday on Ellen as the pair squared off in “Rap Song or Wrong Song?”, attempting to…
Read Kanye West’s Emphatic Tribute to Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg
Hundreds of fans, friends and family members of Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor gathered at New York’s Apollo Theater Tuesday night to pay tribute to the A Tribe Called Quest rapper who died at the age of 45 last month. Busta Rhymes, Andre 3000, Chuck D and Michael Rapaport all recalled the immense legacy of…
Read Andre 3000’s Moving Tribute to Tribe Called Quest, Phife Dawg
Hundreds of fans, friends and family members of Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor gathered at New York’s Apollo Theater Tuesday night to pay tribute to the A Tribe Called Quest rapper who died at the age of 45 last month. Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, Chuck D and Michael Rapaport all recalled the immense legacy of…
Hear Phife Dawg’s Posthumous ‘Nutshell’
Less than a month after his death, the family of A Tribe Called Quest co-founder Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor, has released a new video featuring the full version of “Nutshell,” a track the rapper teased with a snippet last year. Produced by J. Dilla, “Nutshell” finds Phife delivering a quintessential clinic in wordplay, constructing…
Beyonce Sues ‘Feyonce’ Merch Company Over Copyright Infringement
Beyoncé has sued the Texas company, Feyoncé Inc, for “brazenly” selling merchandise that infringes on her copyrighted name, Reuters reports. The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court, names the company and three defendants from San Antonio and seeks unspecified damages. The suit claims that Feyoncé has ignored the singer’s requests to stop selling…
Sarah Palin Threatens to Sue Azealia Banks Over Twitter Tirade
Sarah Palin threatened to sue Azealia Banks over a series of graphic, since-deleted tweets the rapper sent out in response to what turned out to be a fake news story, People reports. The strange saga began with a post on the satirical news site, Newslo, which included fake Palin quotes such as “negroes loved…
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Deep Purple
Hard-rock legends Deep Purple will join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2016 class this Friday, April 8th at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center, although two current band members – guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey – will not be among the inductees honored at the ceremony. But there’s been a lot of…
Randy Jackson on ‘American Idol’: ‘I Still Think It’s the Best Show’
American Idol paved the way for what a reality competition could be: a stellar, rotating cast of heartwarming contestants tethered by a charismatic crew of judges and a host. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell were an all-star team; Cowell was the cynic, Abdul the optimist and Jackson kept it…
Elton John to Appear on ABC’s ‘Nashville’
Season four of Nashville is winding down with a dramatic finish slated for next month and another special guest star in the mix as iconic entertainer Elton John will play himself in the ABC series’ penultimate episode of the season. According to the Hollywood Reporter, John’s Nashville appearance — airing May…
10 Insanely Great Cheap Trick Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know
It’s been more than 40 years since Cheap Trick first started plying their unique brand of hard-nosed, guitar-driven power pop in any Midwestern bar that would have them, and in the ensuing decades, the Rockford, Illinois, quartet have seen more than their fair share of ups and downs. There have been…
Everlast Blasts Donald Trump for Using ‘Jump Around’ at Rallies
Rapper Everlast has threatened to hit Donald Trump with a cease and desist order for using “Jump Around,” his 1992 hit with House of Pain, at campaign rallies. In an interview with Billboard, the rapper — real name Erik Schrody — said someone on Twitter sent him a CNN clip featuring footage from a Trump…
See Highlights from the 2016 ACM Party for a Cause Festival
Along with the televised ACM Awards last Sunday, ACM week in Las Vegas offered an immersive fan experience with music, food and more at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival. The multi-stage festival, which ran April 1st – 3rd at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, featured performances by Carrie…
Drake Debuts Two New Songs Featuring Kanye West, Jay Z
Drake has teased the eclectic sounds of his upcoming album Views From the 6 with two new songs, “Pop Style” and “One Dance.” The Toronto rapper’s highly anticipated album will be released this month, which he confirmed on his OVO Sound Radio Show upon the release of “Summer Sixteen.” On the…
Steven Tyler Plots Intimate New York Show
Steven Tyler has yet to announce a full-scale solo tour, but the Aerosmith frontman is still gearing up for a handful of one-off performances this spring and summer. First up is a benefit show at New York City’s Lincoln Center, where Tyler will perform with his Nashville-based band of country…
Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, Lionel Richie Top Outside Lands Lineup
Radiohead will headline San Francisco’s Outside Lands Festival alongside the recently reunited LCD Soundsystem and Lionel Richie. Other big names set for the festival include J. Cole, Lana Del Rey, Duran Duran, Sufjan Stevens, Ryan Adams, Air, Zedd, Grimes, Miguel, Halsey, Beach House, Jason Isbell, Chance the Rapper, the Last Shadow Puppets, Kehlani, Miike…
Jennifer Nettles and Jennifer Lopez Record Secretive Duet
Playing With Fire, Jennifer Nettles’ second post-Sugarland solo album, will be out May 13th, with some big Nashville names on its credits. Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally are among the powerhouse singer’s co-writers on the project, with the legendary Dann Huff behind the board. But could there also be one…
Hear David Byrne’s Remix to Support Ailing P-Funk Great Bernie Worrell
David Byrne has remixed “How Does the Brain Wave,” his 2007 collaboration with Baby Elephant — the project of DJ Prince Paul and Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell — to help raise funds for Worrell. Worrell is struggling to pay his medical bills after being diagnosed with prostate cancer and stage-four liver and…
Flashback: Alice in Chains Play Final Show With Layne Staley
After struggling through a couple of very dark years when lead singer Layne Staley’s heroin addiction made any band activity virtually impossible, Alice In Chains briefly seemed to be in a good place when 1996 rolled around. After failing to tour in support of their 1995 self-titled album, they cut a…
Sarah Jarosz Plots Extensive 2016 Tour
Renowned singer-songwriter-musician Sarah Jarosz will launch an extensive 2016 tour in support of her new album Undercurrent, which is due out June 17th. The collection is Jarosz’s fourth full-length and was recorded with her longtime collaborator Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss). The tour gets underway in Jarosz’s native Texas with a show…
Watch Schoolboy Q Go Noir With Gritty ‘Groovy Tony’ Video
Schoolboy Q has returned with a gritty, noirish new video and single, establishing the character “Groovy Tony” and setting the tone for his as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2014’s Oxymoron. With both the single and the video, Q references his West Coast, gangsta-rap roots while establishing a menacing, Sin City-esque universe where “Groovy…
Flashback: Tim McGraw Duets With Scotty McCreery on ‘Idol’
After 15 seasons of star-making performances, cringe-worthy auditions and more than a few singers who were, to quote original judge Randy Jackson, “a little pitchy, dawg,” American Idol signs off for good on Thursday, April 7th, following a three-part finale. For eight of the show’s 15 seasons, Idol was at…
Radiohead Catalog Transferred to XL Recordings, B-Sides Pulled From Streaming
B-sides, live tracks and other non-LP songs featured on Radiohead’s reissued albums, spanning from 1993’s Pablo Honey to 2003’s Hail to the Thief, have been withdrawn from the major streaming services as part of a transfer of the rights of the band’s pre-In Rainbows catalog. Eagle-eyed fans on Reddit were the first to…
Watch Parliament-Funkadelic Shine ‘Flash Light’ on ‘Late Show’
George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic, along with former key members Bootsy Collins and keyboardist Bernie Worrell, dropped by the Late Show With Stephen Colbert Monday to perform the funk group’s 1978 hit “Flash Light” ahead of an all-star New York “funkraiser” for Worrell that night. Jon Batiste and the Late Show also…
How Iggy Pop Recaptured Berlin Glory Days
It comes halfway through Iggy Pop’s show at SXSW in Austin — during “Funtime,” his invitation to ecstasy on the 1977 album The Idiot. Stripped to the waist, showing off a chestnut-tan chest, the singer leaps headfirst from the stage of the Moody Theater, flipping onto his back in a…
Beyonce: Businesswoman Role ‘Burden and Blessing’
Beyoncé gave a rare interview to Elle Magazine to support the launch of her new activewear collection Ivy Park, discussing her role as a businesswoman and the myriad pressures of her life. The singer announced the line last week. Beyoncé’s businesswoman role has become a defining factor of her career as a…
See Brett Eldredge, Levi Hummon Play Ram Country in Sin City
Brett Eldredge’s energy is infectious as he walks in to Stoney’s Rockin’ Country in Las Vegas to headline the Ram Country Concert. He’s about an hour away from hitting the stage and is itching to get up there. “I have a major addiction to playing live shows,” he tells Rolling Stone…
Brothers Osborne on Subtlety and Diversity in Country: The Ram Report
Chris Stapleton tied a single night record with his six ACM Awards wins on Sunday, an indicator that doors are opening up for left-of-center country artists. Brothers Osborne, who scored a Grammy nomination for their single “Stay a Little Longer,” feel like that ultimately benefits everyone in country. “That does so…
‘American Idol’: 20 Best, Worst and WTF Moments
Whether you were an avid fan with an itchy voting finger, a casual viewer or just someone who got stuck listening to post-show chatter around the water cooler, American Idol has been a huge piece of our pop-culture puzzle for the past 15 years. From Kelly Clarkson being crowned the inaugural…
Watch Charles Bradley’s Joyous ‘Ain’t It a Sin’ Video
Charles Bradley has debuted the funky, joyous video for “Ain’t It a Sin.” The soul singer released his album Changes on April 1st via Daptone Records. In the clip, Bradley enters a warehouse where he unleashes his signature dance moves by himself. The scenes of the singer grooving alone are intercut…
Watch Explosions in the Sky’s Thunderous ‘Colbert’ Performance
Explosions in the Sky delivered a powerful performance of their devastating new song, “Disintegration Anxiety” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Monday. The track finds the Texas instrumental rock outfit at their sprawling, cinematic best. The song begins with a simple vamp centered around high-wire guitar picking and proceeds to rise and…
Lars Ulrich Talks Deep Purple’s ‘Long Overdue’ Rock Hall Induction
Lars Ulrich has long bemoaned Deep Purple’s absence in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When Rolling Stone asked him in 2014 who should be inducted, he said Deep Purple’s name four times with comical emphasis. Now that the pioneering hard-rock and heavy-metal band are finally making it in…
Why LGBT Performers Never Won ‘American Idol’
Gay, lesbian and transgender performers have won Grammys, Oscars and topped the charts, but they will never win American Idol. The singing competition show first broadcast just a year before Massachusetts became the first state with marriage equality, and it finishes its run in the first full year of marriage…
Ronnie Wood Confirms Rolling Stones Working on New Album
The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood has confirmed that the rock legends, who just completed their historic trip to Cuba, are now focusing on the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s A Bigger Bang. In a new interview with The Associated Press, Wood revealed that the band recently spent a few days in…
Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ at 25: Krist Novoselic Ponders LP’s Significance
This September will mark 25 years since Nirvana put out their breakthrough album Nevermind. It’s a milestone that recently caught bassist Krist Novoselic off-guard in an interview with Rolling Stone. “I always think it was ’92, because that’s when everything changed,” he says. “That blows my mind.” Nevertheless, he took a…
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2016: 6 Moments You Don’t Want to Miss
Jason Derulo hosted this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards, which took place April 3rd at the Forum in Inglewood, California, but the night seemed tailor-made for one Taylor in particular. Taylor Swift dominated in actual awards, winning three, including “Album of the Year” for her hit record 1989 and “Female Artist of the Year.”…
See Chris Stapleton ‘Fire Away’ on ACM Awards
Much has been made of Chris Stapleton’s breakout performance at the 2015 CMA Awards, where the big-voiced songwriter — already a hero to some, but still unknown to many — stole the show with Justin Timberlake. It was a super-sized performance, engineered to shock and awe country fans into finally…
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