Music News

Danzig took to Instagram on Wednesday (December 11) to announce a series of rare live dates scheduled to take place in March of 2025. The New Jersey heavy metal legends will embark on a brief six-date US West Coast tour next year, with fellow metal and hardcore titans Down, Abbath, and Cro-Mags along for the ride as opening acts. These will be Danzig's only live performances next year, as the caption to the post states, “No other shows are planned for 2025.” Danzig also writes that they will be making stops in “Some of the cities DANZIG has not played in many years...Don't miss it!!" Glenn Danzig and crew will launch their 2025 tour on March 21st in Las Vegas, then roll through Lincoln, California; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Los Angeles, before finishing up the short run of shows on March 30th in Phoenix. These upcoming gigs will be the first Danzig concerts since September of 2023. (Consequence of Sound)

Thunderclap Newman was a short-lived band put together by the Who’s Pete Townshend. The unknown trio claimed a bit of rock history by reaching the top of the UK charts with their Townshend-penned anthem, “Something in the Air,” in July of 1969. Author Mark Ian Wilkerson just published a sprawling 400+ page history of the peculiar group, Hollywood Dream, the Thunderclap Newman Story, via Jack White’s Third Man Books. Townshend was the mastermind behind Thunderclap Newman, putting a far-flung band together consisting of his friend, singer-songwriter-drummer John “Speedy” Keen, 16-year-old wiz-kid guitarist Jimmy McCulloch, and jazz pianist Andy Newman, with Townshend joining in on bass while producing their only album, Hollywood Dream. “I think the fact that they were far-flung is what makes it so intriguing,” Townshend reflects. “That Thunderclap Newman album, which I made in my home studio, is so extraordinary. I still think it’s one of the best pieces of work that I’ve ever been involved in. I love it.” (Variety)

In a new interview with IndieWire, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross discussed shifting their creative focus from making industrial rock with Nine Inch Nails to scoring films and documentaries. “What we’re looking for [from film] is the collaborative experience with interesting people,” Reznor shared. “We haven’t gotten that from the music world necessarily.” Reznor said that he and Ross appreciate “working in service to something, where we’re not in control of the whole thing, and we’re working intimately with a director or small team to try and help realize a collective vision.”

The interviewer mentioned being disillusioned with the music world, which Reznor identified with. “The culture of the music world sucks,” Reznor admits, while bemoaning the impact of streaming on the music industry. “What technology has done to disrupt the music business in terms of not only how people listen to music but the value they place on it is defeating,” Reznor said. “Music [now] feels largely relegated to something that happens in the background or while you’re doing something else.” (Consequence of Sound)

In a new interview with Total Rock, Rage Against the Machine bassist Tim Commerford shared a health update two years after revealing he had prostate cancer. “I’m the strongest I’ve ever been in my life,” the 56-year-old Commerford proudly shared. “I’ve always been very proud of being fit as an older person, because most people that are my age are not; that’s the truth of it.” In December of 2022, Commerford disclosed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he underwent surgery two months before Rage Against the Machine’s reunion tour.

“I was broken when I found out I had cancer,” Commerford admitted. “It took me a couple of years before I could even discuss cancer without just getting emotional.” Commerford revealed in an earlier Rolling Stone interview that “the cancer will never be gone,” and he undergoes tests every three months. “It changed who I am, and in a lot of ways for the better,” Commerford shared. “It slowed me down. It made me just take my time a little bit more on just noticing the world.” (Rolling Stone)

During a recent appearance on the Everblack podcast, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan was asked if the band would ever play their 1995 song, “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” live. Corgan explained how similar his Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness track is to Metallica’s 1997 hit, “Fuel.” “ Well, let me caveat this by saying that I love James Hetfield as a person. I love Metallica,” Corgan admitted, calling the Metallica frontman “probably the greatest riff writer outside of maybe [Black Sabbath’s] Tony Iommi.” But Corgan went on to draw striking similarities between the bands' two songs. “If you listen to ‘Tales of a Scorched Earth’ and you listen to that Metallica song, ‘Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.’ … Now, which song came first?” Corgan said. “Now, I don’t think James would rip anything off from me, but the first time I heard [“Fuel”], I was, like, ‘That’s awfully close.' We all rip each other off, and if it works, great. I’ve got no problem with that. I mean, I’ve certainly ripped Metallica off plenty, so…” (Consequence of Sound) 

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards took place on Thursday night (December 12), and just like the rest of the year in music, the evening belonged to Taylor Swift. The pop superstar took home 10 awards at the ceremony, including the night’s biggest award, Top Artist, as well as Top Billboard 200 Album for The Tortured Poets Department. With those new trophies, Swift becomes the winningest artist in the show’s 31-year history. Zach Bryan, who led all artists with 18 nominations, took home five awards on the night, including Top Rock Artist, Top Country Touring Artist, and Top Country Album for Zach Bryan. Morgan Wallen took home four trophies, including Top Male Artist, Top Country Artist, and Top Country Male Artist.

Chappell Roan won Top New Artist, Beyoncé was recognized as the Top Country Female Artist, and Charli XCX took home Top Dance/Electronic Artist while Brat won Top Dance/Electronic Album. Four artists won three trophies on the night: Shaboozey, who took home Top Song Sales Artist; Bad Bunny, who won Top Latin Artist; Elevation Worship; and Drake, who took home Top Rap Artist and Top Rap Male Artist over his hip-hop adversary Kendrick Lamar. Stray Kids won Top Global K-Pop Artist, Fuerza Regida won Top Duo/Group and Top Latin Duo/Group, Jack Antonoff was awarded Top Hot 100 Producer, and Linkin Park won Top Rock Duo/Group and Top Hard Rock Artist.

The awards ceremony also featured some spirited live performances from unique locations around the globe, as Coldplay, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, Tyla, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, Linkin Park, and Fuerza Regida all played during the two-hour televised event, which was hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau.

On January 24, the Bob Dylan Center will host an all-star concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s 1975 masterpiece, Blood on the Tracks. The event is dubbed Shelter From the Storm and is set to take place at Tulsa’s historic Cain’s Ballroom. The tribute concert will feature Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Diana Krall, Robyn Hitchcock, Adam Granduciel of the War on Drugs, Sharon Van Etten, U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo, and many other artists recreating the beloved songs from Dylan’s album, as well as other hits from throughout his legendary career.

Actor Luke Wilson is set to host the event, which will also feature contributions from three of the original musicians from the Minnesota sessions for Blood on the Tracks: keyboardist Greg Inhofer, guitarist Kevin Odegard, and bassist Billy Peterson.  “[Dylan] was just on fire,” Odegard recalls of the recording of “Idiot Wind” during those sessions. “A lot of that Highway 61 angry energy in the air.” (Rolling Stone)

Joan Jett took to Instagram on Tuesday (December 10) to announce that her and her trusty Blackhearts will be playing a Las Vegas residency beginning in June of 2025. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts five-night residency is set to take place at the House of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers scheduled to perform on June 13th, 14th, 18th, 20th and 21st. Jett’s last release with the Blackhearts was the 2023 EP, Mindsets, while the band spent the past summer supporting Alanis Morissette on “The Triple Moon Tour” along with Morgan Wade. This upcoming Vegas residency represents the only live dates that Joan Jett & the Blackhearts have scheduled for 2025. At the end of November, Jett celebrated the 43rd anniversary of the release of her debut album with the Blackhearts, I Love Rock ‘n Roll, calling it “the album that changed everything” in a celebratory Instagram post. (Consequence of Sound) 

In a new interview with the Lifeminute YouTube channel, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler discussed the potential reunion of the heavy metal legends. Butler revealed that Ozzy Osbourne wants a Sabbath reunion to be a part of his final concerts, which his wife Sharon said would take place in his hometown of Birmingham, England as a way to “say goodbye” to his fans. Butler and Ozzy previously agreed that metal titans would get together for one final Sabbath show, and those plans are still moving forward, just that the reunion would now be part of Ozzy’s farewell shows. “He’s dying to still get out there and play,” Butler said. “And he suggested, at his very final concert, for the four of us to get up on stage and maybe do three or four songs together. And that would be it, finished.” No word yet if the two other original members of Black Sabbath, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward, would take part in a possible reunion. (Consequence of Sound)

Linkin Park announced on Instagram on Wednesday (December 11) that they have been added to the roster of performers taking part in Thursday’s 2024 Billboard Music Awards. “From a sold-out stadium in Brazil 🇧🇷 to the Billboard Music Awards,” the band captioned their post. Linkin Park joins Coldplay as the only rock bands set to perform at this year’s BBMAs. The beloved band announced their reunion earlier this year, seven years after the death of vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017. In November, Linkin Park released their eighth studio album, From Zero, which features new vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who replaced co-founder Rob Bourdon.

In addition to Coldplay and Linkin Park, the other previously announced performers at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards include country stars Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, and Shaboozey, K-pop stars SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids, soul singer Teddy Swims, South African singer Tyla, and Mexican band Fuerza Regida. The BBMAs will air on Thursday (December 12) at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. (Billboard)

Amir “Questlove” Thompson’s long-awaited documentary on the legendary musician Sly Stone, will be premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival taking place in January. Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) will be the follow-up to the celebrated Roots drummer’s Oscar-winning directorial debut, Summer of Soul. Questlove announced the forthcoming premiere of his documentary on Instagram on Wednesday (December 11), sharing an image of the film’s promotional poster along with this celebratory caption: “It’s time good people. It’s official! SLY LIVES! (AKA The Burden of Black Genius) will premiere at the 2025 #Sundance Film Festival. The film explores the life, music, and cultural impact of Sly Stone, shedding light on the challenges faced by Black artists navigating success.” Sundance will take place in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah beginning on January 23, with additional music documentaries premiering at the film festival including It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, Selena y Los Dinos, and One to One: John & Yoko. (Rolling Stone)

Crossover country hitmaker Shaboozey and rising Mexican band Fuerza Regida are the newest artists added to the list of live performers at the upcoming 2024 Billboard Music Awards, airing on Thursday, December 12, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Shaboozey and Fuerza Regida join previously announced performers SEVENTEEN, Teddy Swims, Tyla, Coldplay, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, and Stray Kids, who will all be performing live during the broadcast. In addition to performing during the awards ceremony, Shaboozey is also a finalist for six BBMA awards that night: Top New Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, and a total of four awards for his record-tying 19-week No. 1 hit, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Top Hot 100 song, Top Streaming Song, Top Selling Song, and Top Country Song. Shaboozey will be featured in a special performance from W Hollywood that will air during the broadcast, which will be hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau. (Billboard)

During an appearance on Absolute Radio on Monday (December 9), Robert Smith disclosed to host Danielle Perry that the Cure have two new albums nearly finished. The beloved British goth legends just released Songs of a Lost World on November 1, their first new studio album in 16 years. And now, according to Smith, Cure fans won’t have to wait nearly as long to hear more new music from the band. “There is another album which is pretty much ready to go,” Smith revealed. “It’s sort of its companion piece. And then there’s a third one which is completely different. It’s really kind of random stuff, like late-night studio stuff. But some of it is really good actually, it’s just very, very different.” Smith still needs to add lyrics to the third record, sharing that the Lost World companion is “not quite as dark, but it explores other subjects a little bit more.” (Uproxx)

In a new interview with Classic Rock, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman shared his thoughts about his old band continuing on after the death of their longtime drummer, Charlie Watts. Wyman left the Stones back in 1993, but he paid tribute to his former bandmate when Watts died in 2021 at the age of 80. “Charlie, you were like a brother to me. In the band and in life. Rest in peace,” Wyman wrote at the time. The 88-year-old musician was surprised that the Stones continued on without their celebrated drummer, but understands why they carry on. “When Charlie left, I thought they would close. I really did,” Wyman admits. “They could replace the bass, but I didn’t think they could replace Charlie, and his charisma, and what a great guy he was. But they went on, which surprised me. I think it would’ve been a good time for them to (end). But I don’t think they’ve got anything else to do – otherwise they’d do it, wouldn’t they?” (NME)

Creed’s reunion tour just keeps rolling right along. Following the overwhelming success of their sold-out shows this past summer, the rock veterans will reprise their Summer of ‘99 reunion  with another run of shows throughout North America in the summer of 2025. Creed announced the details of their new tour in an Instagram video posted on Monday (December 10), also revealing that their opening acts on select dates of the tour will be 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Big Wreck, and Mammoth WVH. Creed’s 2025 tour gets underway on July 9th in Lexington, Kentucky, and finishes up on August 20 in Calgary, Alberta, while hitting arenas and amphitheaters throughout the US and Canada along the way. “Thirty years in, it’s been a blessing to pick up right where we left off with longtime fans and to meet the next generation for the first time,” said frontman Scott Stapp. “It’s been an incredible ride, and we aren’t done, so here’s to a ‘Summer’ that never ends. We’ll see you on the road.” (Consequence of Sound)

On Tuesday (December 10), Jack White took to Instagram to wish his old White Stripes bandmate  – and ex-wife or sister, depending on who you believe – Meg White a happy 50th birthday. “HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY to my big sister, the great Meg White,” Jack affectionately wrote. “There’s only one of you Meggo, they broke the mold. You’re still inspiring people, including me. Love you so much. -Jack III.” The post featured a classic polaroid of the former White Stripes’ drummer, who dropped out of the public eye since the band called it quits back in 2011. The celebrated indie rock duo parted ways amicably at the time, ending the group in order to “preserve what is beautiful and special about the band.” The creative branch of Jack’s record label, Third Man Records, echoed his sentiments in their comment on his post, “Happy birthday, Meg! Such a quiet force and inspiration for women, always. ❤️🤍🖤,” while indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch shared a series of emoji flowers for Meg’s special day, “💐🌹💐.” (Consequence of Sound)

Toto took to Instagram on Tuesday (December 10) to announce their upcoming joint US summer 2025 tour with fellow 80s legends Christopher Cross and Men at Work. The 28-date trek starts on July 18 in West Palm Beach, Florida, and finishes up on August 30 in Ridgefield, Washington, while hitting up major music markets in Boston, Atlantic City, St. Louis, Nashville, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Inglewood, California along the way. “Christopher and Colin [Hay] have been close friends of mine for a long time,” Toto founding member Steve Lukather said in a statement. “This is a tour that musically works, and brings a fresh new summer tour package to the circuit. I could not be more thrilled an idea that germinated months ago was able to take flight and become a reality.” Toto also has a UK and European tour planned with Cross in February of 2025. (Consequence of Sound)

ABC and Dick Clark Productions announced on Tuesday (December 10) that they have added more artists to the performance lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Alanis Morissette, Reneé Rapp, Blake Shelton, Luis Fonsi, and TLC will all take part in the holiday broadcast. Shelton will perform from Las Vegas, along with previously announced special guest  Lenny Kravitz. Fonsi will perform from his home country of Puerto Rico, while TLC will perform in New York. Morrissette and Rapp will take part in the West Coast celebration, joining Ja Rule, Ernest, Hardy, Kesha, Laufey, Natasha Bedingfield, and T-Pain. Carrie Underwood will headline the celebration in TImes Square, where she will be joined by Megan Moroney and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Tinashe, Teddy Swims, Thomas Rhett, and Cody Johnson will also be performing during the broadcast. Ryan Seacrest will host this year’s New Year’s Eve festivities for the 20th year alongside co-host Rita Ora, while Dayanara Torres co-hosts from Puerto Rico. (Rolling Stone)

James Taylor announced details of his 2025 North American tour on Instagram on Monday (December 9). The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer revealed that he will be heading out on a 24-date summer tour where he will be performing with his “incredible All-Star Band,” while opening act Tiny Habits will support the entire tour. Taylor’s jaunt kicks off on May 5 in Phoenix, and hits up amphitheaters and arenas throughout the US and Canada, including two-night stands in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Seattle, and at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado.  Taylor is also set to make a high-profile appearance at Summerfest in Milwaukee on June 21, before the tour concludes with a July 1st show at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire. Taylor recently played the Concert for Carolina on October 26, a benefit show for his home state of North Carolina, with proceeds supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in the area. (Consequence of Sound)

Ringo Starr and his All Star Band are hitting the road in 2025 on a US summer tour. The full-band tour follows two previously announced special Ringo Starr & Friends shows at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on January 14-15. Ringo’s 10-date summer trek gets underway on June 12 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and winds down on June 25 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with high-profile shows scheduled at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 13 and at TD Pavilion at The Mann in Philadelphia on June 15, along with three Florida dates along the way. The 2025 All Starr Band remains unchanged from previous tours, with Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, and Buck Johnson playing alongside the Beatles legend. “I am happy to announce these new All Starr shows in June,” Ringo said. “I absolutely love playing live and I love this band. It’s been so great playing with these guys, I just want to keep this lineup going and that’s why I haven’t changed the All Starrs in a while.” (Consequence of Sound)