OZZY: Family Requested Doc Be Postponed
The BBC has now explained why they postponed Monday night's broadcast of the one-hour documentary, Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, which followed the final months of his life.
They released a statement saying, "Our sympathies are with the Osbourne family at this difficult time. We are respecting the family's wishes to wait a bit longer before airing this very special film. The new [transmission] date will be confirmed shortly." Filmed over three years, it's described as "an intimate glimpse into [the Osbourne family's] journey as they prepare to return to the U.K. It features family moments, humor, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy's fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life." Meanwhile, production continues on a bio-pic on Ozzy and his wife Sharon.
PETE TOWNSHEND: You Can't Explain Him
The Who are only two shows into The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour and Pete Townshend's already complaining about being on the road in an interview with AARP.
In fairness, he did the interview before the tour started Saturday in Florida, but nonetheless, he doesn't sound happy about it, saying, "It can be lonely. I’ve thought, ‘Well, this is my job, I’m happy to have the work, but I prefer to be doing something else.' Then, I think, ‘Well, I’m 80 years old. Why shouldn’t I revel in it? Why shouldn’t I celebrate?'”And, as for this truly being their second and final farewell tour, he says, "We reserve the right to pop up again, but I think one thing is very clear: that at our age, we will not...“Roger [Daltrey] and I certainly [will] work together for charity and possibly for special projects. Together we represent all aspects of The Who legacy. We’ll continue to work together, even if we rarely socialize.”
As for Townshend's negative comments about touring, Daltrey tells us he can't understand it. "It's kind of like this passive-aggressive thing that he does. I mean, it's almost like he's shooting himself and the band in the foot all the time. But it does get a bit wearing because I just wonder what people reading it, who don't know what he's like, you know, they might just go, 'Well, I don't really wanna go see a show where someone doesn't want to be there.' And yet you see him out there and he's having the time of his life. So I just think, 'Oh, he's having a hissy fit.' So I treat it as nonsense." The second of 17 shows was last night (Tuesday) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia is next on Thursday, followed by Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday.
THE BEATLES: Here Comes Anthology 4
The Beatles are releasing Anthology 4, 30 years after Anthology 1, 2 and 3. They're teasing the release with a post on social media that's captioned, "Let's Gooooo!!!!!" In November 1995, and March and October 1996, they released the the three-volume set, a collection of
unreleased performances and outtakes presented in roughly chronological order. It was supported by an three-part ABC-TV special in November of '95 as well as a massive coffee-table book. The highlight of Anthology 1 and 2 were the two John Lennon demos that Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr completed -- "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love".
QUEEN: Now for II
Queen are following up last year's deluxe reissue of their self-titled debut album, which was renamed Queen I, with a retooling of Queen II, set for release next year. Guitarist Brian May has been tinkering with it in the studio and writes on Instagram, "Just having fun here, switching things in and out so we hear things we never really noticed before. This new stereo mix is quite adventurous --- and, rendering the impossible complexity of these tracks, the new clarity is astounding... Thanks to the meticulous and inspired work of our Queen sound team -- this ancient work, from when we were still just learning how to reach for the stars, will open up a new world to many who care about these arcane dreams as much as we do." In the post he shows them working on the song "Funny How Love Is," which he says they "consciously channeled the magical 'Phil Spector Wall of Sound' -- with banks of acoustic guitars, castanets, and big roomy drums -- even to the point of speeding up Freddie's vocal slightly to make him sound younger -- or maybe it was so he would sound like Ronnie Spector! ... Can't wait to share the new mixes with you when we are done ... and ... when we get to the Dolby Atmos surround mixes I will be in heaven because we'll finally be able to do justice to all the multiple layers in these tracks."
Queen II, released in March of 1974, is, according to May, "surely the best Queen album ever. In addition to "Funny How Love Is," there are 10 other songs including "Seven Seas of Rhye."
Cheap Trick Extends Fall Tour
Cheap Trick is giving fans more opportunities to see them this fall. They've tacked on 11 more dates to their current tour, beginning October 12th in Oxford, Alabama, and including Atlantic City, Monterey and Reno. General on-sale for the newly announced dates is Friday at 10AM local time. Check out cheaptrick.com for more information and see the eleven new dates below.
·Oct 12 – Oxford, AL – Oxford Performing Arts Center
·Oct 21 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
·Oct 22 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Bethlehem – Wind Creek Event Center
·Oct 24 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live
·Oct 25 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium
·Nov 9 – Chandler, AZ – Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino – The Showroom
·Nov 11 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre
·Nov 14 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
·Nov 16 – Turlock, CA – Turlock Community Theatre
·Dec 5 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
·Dec 7 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
David Byrne Says Talking Heads Reunion Would Be A "Fool's Errand"
For fans of Talking Heads holding out for a reunion of the iconic band, don't hold your breath. In an interview with "The Times," former lead singer David Byrne shot down any thoughts of the band reforming. "We were on TV together and people went, 'Well, they all seem to be getting along,'" Byrne said. "But no, I don’t think so. On a practical level, trying to recreate the feeling that people had when they were in their early 20s? The time that they first heard that music? That’s a fool’s errand. And besides, I’m really enjoying what I’m doing." Appearances of the full band in one place are rare; Talking Heads has performed just once since their breakup, at the group’s 2002 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. In 2023, they made a few joint appearances together to promote the re-release of their 1984 concert film "Stop Making Sense." Byrne says while the band's breakup was acrimonious, they are cordial now, though "I didn’t feel like, 'Oh yeah, let’s go out on tour again.' Or, 'Let’s make another record.'"
Noel Gallagher Gives Fist Interview About Oasis Reunion
Noel Gallagher is giving his first public comments about the Oasis reunion. During an appearance on talkSPORT, a U.K. radio program, the singer answered a few questions about the band's ongoing tour. He revealed that he's feeling "on top of the world" and has been "blown away" by the reception to the gigs Oasis has played so far.Reflecting on the concerts, he also said he "grossly underestimated" what he was getting into.Noel also praised his brother Liam saying he's "smashing it" and he's proud of him. The singer said when all the Oasis shows are over, he and Liam will sit and reflect on it. Oasis' next reunion tour stop is in Toronto on August 24th.
Weird Al Credits Nirvana For Comeback
Smells like a comeback. In an interview with Vulture, "Weird Al" Yankovic says his career was "in the wilderness" when his parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" got him back on MTV's "heavy rotation" and back on tour. "Smells Like Nirvana" mocks Kurt Cobain's hard-to-understand lyrics, and the video shows kids rioting even more violently than in Nirvana's video.Yankovic said that somebody from Nirvana's label told him the band's album "Nevermind" sold another million copies after his video. And former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl reportedly said the band knew they had made it when their song got the Weird Al treatment.
BRIAN WILSON: Cousin Doesn't Know When to Shut Up
While Mike Love had some heartfelt things to say about his cousin Brian Wilson after his death in June, he reared his ugly head when he spoke at the repasse at the Beverly Hills Hotel earlier this month. Former Beach Boy Al Jardine, who also spoke, tells Rolling Stone, “Mike wanted everybody to know that he wrote every single word of 'Good Vibrations.' I didn’t feel the compassion; let’s put it that way. Mike’s got some serious megalomania problems.” When Jardine took the microphone, he said, “Mike, I’ve written some songs with Brian myself. We wrote one called ‘Surfin’ Down the Swanee River.’ It just wasn’t as big as ‘Good Vibrations,’ which had the audience erupt with laughter. He adds, “I was focusing on Brian, and Mike was more focused on Mike. I think that is what it boiled down to." Wilson died at his Los Angeles-area home on June 11th from respiratory arrest. The L.A. coroner's report also said that the 82-year-old had Sepsis and cystitis -- both infection issues. Plans are underway for a public concert/memorial. This is not the first time Love delivered a controversial speech.
When The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, Love ripped the night's fellow inductees Paul McCartney and The Beatles, and Diana Ross for not attending, as well as taking shots at Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. When Bob Dylan spoke that night following his induction, he said, "I want to thank Mike Love for not mentioning me."
IN OTHER NEWS
Bruce Springsteen is marking the 50th anniversary of his third album, Born to Run – released on August 25th, 1975 – by selling a limited-edition poster showing a photo of him from the album cover shoot. Priced at $75, each one is numbered and the net proceeds will benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Details at BruceSpringsteen.Store.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening has added a third leg to its tour celebrating Physical Graffiti's 50th anniversary. It starts October 22nd in Louisville, Kentucky and wraps up November 26th in Hollywood, Florida. Tickets go on sale Friday. The tour is in California this week with stops in Monterey tonight (Tuesday), Anaheim on Thursday, Alpine on Friday, and Bakersfield on Saturday.
Sting will once again play the leading role in his 2011 musical, The Last Ship, for 29 performances at the Glasshouse Theatre in South Brisbane, Australia from April 9th to May 3rd, 2026.
Carlos Santana will join his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, and her band at SFJAZZ in San Francisco on September 13th and 14th. Cindy is also a member of the Santana band.
Keith Richards has paid tribute to actor Terence Stamp, who died Sunday at 87. He says, “Farewell, my friend.” Stamp is best known to many as arch villain General Zod in 1978’s Superman and 1980’s Superman II.
Bryan Adams has posted a video on Instagram of him and his band backstage rehearsing “A Little More Understanding” off his new album, Roll With the Punches, which will be out on August 29th.