HEART: Why She's Wheelchair Annie
Ann Wilson has explained in her podcast, After Dinner Thinks With Ann Wilson, why she's been performing while sitting in a wheelchair during the first four dates of Heart's Royal Flush Tour. "Well I think some people thought that I was in a wheelchair because of cancer, which I just kicked its ass [and] I'm nice and clear now. It's not about cancer. It's about me being a klutz and missing a step and falling into a parking lot and busting my elbow in three places and then having to have it pinned back together, you know, with screws and all that kind of stuff."
The fall occurred five days before the start of the tour, but other than that, Ann says she's "perfectly fine." "I don't have the use of my left arm right now. So, it's hard to navigate, you know, when you just have one hand and your other whole arm is in a sling. You don't have the same balance, you know. And singing on stage, I really think that the pain level is still way too high for me to take it out of the sling. So, I chose to sit because then I can just concentrate on singing and not on keeping my balance and having somebody out there catching me when I reel to the side."
But some of her fans aren't too keen on the wheelchair, with some suggesting she should sit on a throne similar to what Dave Grohl and Ozzy Osbourne have done. "I think it's looked on as some kind of an admission of vulnerability, And, we have to look at the person and go, 'Oh, that's too bad' and bring negativity into it. It doesn't have to be that way. No, it's a great tool. And I'll be up and out of it after a while." Another change that occurred on this tour is Ann got rid of the black wig she wore in Las Vegas and did her shows in Los Angeles in Sacramento this week sporting her short gray hair, no doubt a side effect of the chemo from her cancer treatments. The tour now moves to Phoenix tonight (Thursday).
Watch the trailer for the newly restored concert film 'Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII'
The official trailer for Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII has been released ahead of the film's theatrical release on April 24. The film, directed by Adrian Maben in 1972, has been digitally remastered in 4K with enhanced audio by Steven Wilson. The trailer showcases the iconic performance of 'Echoes' and promises a definitive version of the groundbreaking film. Fans can look forward to the film screening in cinemas and IMAX® worldwide from April 24, with tickets already on sale. The release also includes details of the Vinyl and Blu-ray options for home viewing. Pink Floyd fans are excited to experience this classic performance in the highest quality ever available.
VAN HALEN: Motherload
Van Halen fans are erupting over the leak of over five hours of unreleased footage of the band both on stage and off. They're posted on a YouTube page belonging to someone named James Vega, who says, "My private collection of Van Halen footage from the canceled Van Halen Chronicles documentary. Enjoy!" The videos include footage from 1979 at New York's Madison Square Garden, 1984 at the Monsters of Rock festival, hanging out with Black Sabbath (who they opened for in 1978), outtakes from their "Hot for Teacher" video, a 1982 concert from Largo, Maryland and much more. The performance footage is from their soundcheck at the Garden where they're doing "On Fire," "Runnin’ With the Devil" and "Feel Your Love Tonight."
The backstage footage is from 1978 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York during the Sabbath tour. And there's also footage from 1978 in Japan and their visit to McDonald's.
GREEN DAY: Billie Joe Buys Into Baseball
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day has joined the ownership group for the Oakland Ballers, the Pioneer League team that is the only baseball team in the area since the A's left at the end of last year. Armstrong told The Hollywood Reporter that "This is all about bringing families to a ball game. After the A’s left, the town was heartbroken. The Ballers are going to bring good vibes back to Oakland and the broader East Bay." This isn't Armstrong's first time investing in sports in his hometown -- in September 2023 he joined the ownership group for the Oakland Roots SC soccer team.
ELTON: Another One From Him and Brandi
Elton John and Brandi Carlile have released a second song off their forthcoming album, Who Believes in Angels? It's titled "Swing for the Fences," and Elton says, “When we recorded [it], it was the moment that crystalized where the album was going. It was hard to get to that point, but we knew we had to rise to the occasion and we all just felt this massive sense of joy and euphoria. After our initial difficulties, all the uncertainties started to dissipate when this song came together. It just sounded great.” And Brandi adds, “'Swing for the Fences' was a little gem I took into the studio with me: I’m a gay woman, Elton’s a gay man, and we both have families, and our dreams have come true. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to write an anthem for young gay kids out there that calls them into a bigger, more elegant, more fabulous life. Just like ‘go, go! don’t let anything hold you back!’. “Who Believes in Angels?”, their first album together, will be released on April 4th.
STEPHEN STILLS: Sober and Still Working ... At His Pace
Stephen Stills hasn't been on the road since his 2018 tour with former long ago girlfriend Judy Collins, and, at 80, he's okay with that, telling Rolling Stone he doesn't want to live on a tour bus. “That’s the big obstacle,” he says. “I can’t imagine those trips again, especially without [longtime CSN keyboardist] Mike Finnegan [who died in 2021] around to entertain me with stories. But I guess it wouldn’t be too different than my life today since I pretty much spend my time reading books and puttering around the computer. And I do still love to play.”
But, performing with Graham Nash at FireAid in January made him think about it. “FireAid
helped me check and see if my thrusting and coagulating still worked. I’m getting a little more active now, so there’s a possibility. It depends on the kind of venues I can attract.”
But not being off the road has enabled him to become completely sober, and to work on his memoir. “I’m really comfortable in sobriety. It gets me back to the kid I was before this madness started, pretty affable and friendly. Things were so special at the beginning of my career before I sold a single record. But when you add poison into that mix… I’m just glad I have my original personality back.” And as for the memoir, he says, “I’m going one word at a time.” And, to help jog his memory, he's been reading old issues of The New York Times,
Washington Post, and L.A. Times. “I’ve looked at the issues from my birthdays throughout the years. That’s been very helpful since it puts you in that time frame and suddenly your memories opens up. Brain cells holding hands at this age is a challenge. Things pop in sometimes and you find out you’re a decade off. It’s been a great tool. But I’m puttering with the book. I’ve found that the more things change, the more things stay the same. And I must say, it’s a lot easier doing this now that I’m sober.”
As for what’s next, he’ll join “sweet Judy blue eyes” Collins for her 85th birthday concert on Saturday at Town Hall in New York. Also on the bill are Rickie Lee Jones, Paula Cole, Richard Thompson and others. Then it’s his annual Autism Speaks Light Up the Blues 7 concert on April 26th at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with Neil Young, Billy Idol, Cat Power, Linda Perry,
Christina Applegate and two of Stills’s sons – Chris and Oliver Stills. Proceeds benefit Autism Speaks. Stephen and Kristen’s son Henry was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome and is profiled in the 2007 documentary Autism: The Musical.
And as for turning 80 on January 3rd, he jokes that he’s “collecting money from people who bet the under” on the fact of whether or not he would reach that age.
OASIS: Liam’s Puppet Lineup
Liam Gallagher has been teasing Oasis fans about who will be joining him and his brother Noel in the band when they tour this summer, and his latest tweet storm took it to a new level.
On Wednesday morning Gallagher wrote, “Here we have it Peppa Pig on drums, Bert n Ernie on lead guitar [and] bass, Finger Bobs [a BBC puppet series] on keyboard [and obviously me and Noel]. Hope that clears everything up can’t wait to see you all. Who says RnR is dead.”
When a fan asked what Miss Piggy would be doing Liam replied “tour manager.” And when asked what role SpongeBob would have, Gallagher wrote “He’s back on the drugs – unreliable.” Another fan suggested that it made more sense to have Animal from The Muppets on drums and Gallagher wrote, “Only 1 animal in this band and it’s [Noel] he’s a TIGER.”
Don Felder Announces Fourth Solo Album “The Vault – 50 Years of Music”
Don Felder has announced that his fourth solo album, “The Vault – 50 Years of Music” is coming out in May. Ahead of that, he’s released the first single, “Free at Last.” The album will see the former Eagles guitarist looking back at his long history in music. “I have, I’d say, hundreds of ideas....going back into the ‘70s. For every Eagles song, I would write and record 15 to 17 song ideas,” Felder shares. “I went back and started listening to some of these older demos of mine and found what I think are some magical gems that I’ve re-recorded and reproduced. I also wrote some new songs to go with it as well…I’m really excited about it.” The new album is set to come out on May 23rd.
Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward to Tour North America
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues will tour North America in April and May as part of his Blue World Tour. The tour will kick off April 15th in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and will include stops in cities like Atlanta, Minneapolis, and San Francisco before wrapping up on May 20. Hayward will also perform in the United Kingdom in October. Justin expressed interest in recording more solo music but noted that touring has been his main focus recently.
Def Leppard donates autographed drumhead to charity auction for St. Jude
Def Leppard has donated an autographed drumhead for a charity auction benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The drumhead features signatures of all band members and is described as capturing the essence of the iconic rock band. Bidding is open on charitybuzz.com until March 17, with other signed drumheads from various artists also available. The auction includes items signed by Billy Idol, Chic’s Nile Rodgers, Stone Temple Pilots, Seal, Tom Morello, Hozier, The Killers, and more. Additionally, a package offering tickets and a VIP experience to Metallica’s concert in Toronto is up for auction.
Sex Pistols and Guns N’ Roses in huge concert announcement
Rock for People fest in the Czech Republic is set to feature iconic rock bands including Guns N’ Roses, Sex Pistols, and Slipknot in 2025. The five-day festival will also include performances from Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, and other rock, indie, and alternative acts. With a capacity of 50,000, the event celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and has already sold out four-day tickets. Fans are eagerly anticipating the festival, which kicks off on June 11th and offers various ticket options ranging from €108 for single-day passes to €321 for all five days.
IN OTHER NEWS
Kansas singer Ronnie Platt underwent surgery Tuesday after being diagnosed last month with thyroid cancer. He's back home and has posted an update.
Bryan Adams will release a new song today (Thursday). “Make Up Your Mind” is on his new album, Roll With the Punches, which will be out later this year.
Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison have rescheduled their Above Ground 4 benefit concert, where they'll cover the debut albums from The Cars and the New York Dolls, to October 26th at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood.
Original KISS drummer Peter Criss has paid tribute to David Johansen, writing, “I was a big fan of the New York Dolls. My closest childhood friend, Jerry Nolan, was in the band. There was nothing like them. They were the hottest band in New York at one time and influenced many – including us. Rest in peace, David. You'll surely be missed but never forgotten. My love and prayers go out to all of David's family, friends and fans.” Johansen was 75 when he died last Friday from cancer. Nolan died in 1992. He was 45.
Lynyrd Skynyrd posted a tribute on Facebook to their guitarist Gary Rossington, who died two years ago Wednesday – March 5th, 2023. Showing a photo of him in his younger days next to one from a few years ago, it’s captioned with, “Gary, play it pretty. We are thinking of you today, as we do everyday!” Rossington was the last surviving member of the original lineup.
Brian May of Queen has shared a video on Instagram of his bathroom, which features an automatic toilet. He says, “Now when was it that I first dreamed of ‘Hello Toilet’ becoming a regular part of my life? Well now I am blessed!!! And, in a world which right now seems to be dominated by evil, and we have to admit that for now we are powerless to fight it, a moment of enjoyment of trivia somehow seems appropriate.”
Since Green Day had to cancel their last Australian show due to a cyclone, Tre Cool spent Wednesday night sitting in with a jazz trio at Restaurant Hubert in Sydney and Billie Joe Armstrong posted a clip of him behind the kit on Instagram.