BILLY JOEL: Postpones Tour for Four Months
Billy Joel has postponed and rescheduled eight shows over four months in order for him to "recover from recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors. He is expected to make a full recovery.” Looking noticeably thinner at his show last month in Connecticut, Joel issued a statement saying, "While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.”
North American dates in Detroit, Toronto, Syracuse, Salt Lake City, Charlotte and Milwaukee have been affected by the postponement, as have dates in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Liverpool, England. With the exception of the Detroit show with Stevie Nicks, which has been moved to November 15, rescheduled shows will now take place in 2026. Current tickets will be good for the new dates. Joel, who is 75, is expected to resume touring on July 15th at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. In January, Joel moved his show at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida to November 1st "because of a medical procedure."
Sting announces new "Sting 3.0" 2025 US tour dates
Sting has announced new U.S. tour dates for his ongoing Sting 3.0 Tour, with shows starting in May at Red Rocks Amphitheater and continuing through November. The former Police frontman will be joined by guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas for the tour. Tickets for most shows are now on sale, with key stops including Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Queens. Sting will also be playing co-headlining shows with Billy Joel and will be in Europe and the U.K. between March and October. A full list of tour dates is up now at sting.com along with links to get tickets.
Everclear Announces 30th Anniversary "Sparkle And Fade" Tour With Local H, Sponge
Everclear has announced the “Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour.” The tour will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their platinum-selling debut album “Sparkle and Fade,” and it will include special guests Local H and Sponge. There are 40 dates planned right now, with the band kicking things off September 4th in Los Angeles. The tour will hit cities including San Francisco, Denver, Boston, and more before wrapping November 2nd in Chicago. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday at 10AM local time. Check out the first ten tour dates below, and more info at Everclear’s tour website – everclearmusic.com/tour.
·September 4 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
·September 6 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall
·September 7 – Rocklin, CA – Quarry Park Amphitheater
·September 9 – Medford, OR – Craterian Theater
·September 11 – Bend, OR – Silver Moon Brewing
·September 12 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
·September 13 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
·September 14 – Tacoma, WA – Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel
·September 16 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
·September 17 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge
Boston Lead Singer: No Tour Without Scholz
The lead singer of Boston says he probably would not be interested in touring if co-founder Tom Scholz isn't involved. Tommy DeCarlo joined Boston in 2007 after the suicide of original lead singer Brad Delp. Boston's last tour was in 2017 and Scholz has not given any indication of wanting to tour again. Speaking on the "Jeremy White Show" podcast, DeCarlo said "it wouldn't be the same" without Scholz. DeCarlo added "Boston is Tom."
HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES: Tour Pushed to 2026
With Aerosmith canceling their Peace Out farewell tour this year due to Steven Tyler fracturing his larynx, Joe Perry had a backup plan -- a tour with the Hollywood Vampires, the super group with Alice Cooper, Duff McKagan and Johnny Depp. But Cooper says that fell through. "We were gonna do this summer, but Johnny got two movies that he was obligated to do. So, that tour got postponed." Cooper adds that they're hoping to tour next year. In the meantime, he'll be on the road starting with a one-off show on March 22nd in Chandler, Arizona, followed by his tour, which gets underway on May 2nd in Huntsville, Alabama. Duff McKagan is also on tour this summer in Europe with Guns N' Roses.
MOTLEY CRUE, KISS: John 5 Opens Up His KISStory
Motley Crue guitarist John 5 is a huge collector of KISS memorabilia, and in May he's going to open it up to the public. His Knights In Satan Service Museum will be open during all the weekdays in May from May 5th through the 30th (but will be closed on Memorial Day). He'll be giving guided tours through the museum each day. Tickets are on sale now at
John5Store.com -- but they cost a lot -- $500. John 5 says, "With KISS not touring anymore, the only real place to see this collection and go down memory lane is to come to the museum in Los Angeles. Hang out with me, I'll answer questions, we'll talk, and I'll tell stories."
Apple announces new immersive concert experience for Apple Vision Pro
Apple is set to release a new immersive concert experience featuring Metallica for the Apple Vision Pro starting this Friday March 14. The concert was recorded during the band's M72 World Tour in Mexico City and includes performances of popular songs like "Whiplash" and "Enter Sandman." Apple Immersive Video technology was used to capture the event, providing a high-resolution 180-degree video and Spatial Audio experience. In addition to the Metallica content, Apple is expanding its Immersive Video offerings with new episodes of adventure and sports films. You can book a demo at Apple Store locations to experience the Metallica concert preview.
Def Leppard launches bracket challenge to determine the band’s greatest anthem of all time
Def Leppard has launched the On Through The Music Bracket Challenge to determine their fans' favorite song. The challenge will feature 64 of the band's tracks going head-to-head based on fan votes. The winning song will be crowned the "greatest Def Leppard anthem of all time." Fans can submit their bracket choices for a chance to win prizes. The voting will begin on March 18, and fans are encouraged to participate and defend their favorites at defleppard.com.
SMASHING PUMPKINS: A Mellon Collie Opera
Billy Corgan will mark the 30th anniversary of The Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness with a five-night run at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. It's billed as A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness and it will feature Corgan and a group of guest artists backed by the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus performing orchestral and operatic versions of the 28 songs from the double album. The shows are slated for November 22nd, 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th. Corgan says, "Opera and rock both tell stories of heightened emotions, and I am excited for both fans of my music and traditional opera fans to hear some truly inspired work; for the balance here is to honor both traditions in a magisterial way.”
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was released on October 24th, 1995, and has sold over five-million copies.
Guns N’ Roses Set to Rock Mumbai After 12-Year Absence
Guns N’ Roses are set to return to India after 12 years, with a performance in Mumbai on May 17, 2025, as part of their Asia tour. Tickets will be available to Kotak Mahindra Credit Card customers March 17 and to the general public on March 19. Fans are eagerly anticipating the show, with excitement building on social media. This will be Guns N’ Roses’ second concert in India, and they are expected to perform their iconic hits for the enthusiastic audience.
How Jason Bonham Helped Rescue ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin'
Members of Led Zeppelin, including guitarist Jimmy Page, ensured that the documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin" accurately portrayed their early days. Jason Bonham, son of late drummer John Bonham, helped correct a pitch issue with his father's voice in the film. Bonham shared a touching anecdote about Page, revealing how he used to visit the band's rehearsals as a child. The drummer will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" by performing the album on tour with his band.
Sammy Hagar Just Posted That The Fan That Nick-Named Him “The Red Rocker” Has Passed
Sammy Hagar paid tribute to the fan who gave him his famous nickname, the Red Rocker. Hagar recalls meeting John Pruner in 1976, who asked for an autograph on a newspaper review and dubbed him the Red Rocker. Over the years, Hagar embraced the nickname, even branding merchandise with it. Despite Pruner's failing health, he continued to attend shows, and Hagar always made room for him. Hagar recently announced Pruner's passing, but the show will go on in his memory.
MICHAEL ANTHONY: His "Alter Ego" Resurfaces
Sammy Hagar often told Michael Anthony that he resembles the late wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage. So, one night during a Van Halen show, Anthony came on stage dressed like the Macho Man. And, thanks to his brother Dennis, Anthony has posted a video from that show on Instagram, saying, "My brother Dennis sent me this clip... I had totally forgotten about [it]... "When Randy heard about [the resemblance], he had Hulk Hogan bring one of his outfits to give me at a show we played in Irvine, California. Hulk was supposed to come on stage with me where we were going to wrestle around a bit, only problem was the Hulkster had to leave the show early and I ended up coming out on stage myself!! I think I still have that outfit, I’ll have to drag it out for next Halloween!!!" Instead of Hulk being there to wrestle Anthony, Hagar tried to flip him over. The "Macho Man" died in 2011 at age 58.
Ted Nugent to play 6 Michigan concerts on his 50th Anniversary tour
Rock legend Ted Nugent has expanded his Stranglehold 50th Anniversary Tour with additional Michigan concerts. Fans can catch him at the Lexington Village Theatre, Temple Theatre in Saginaw, and Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights in late August. Tickets for these shows go on sale soon. Nugent will also perform at STIX in Ludington, Warner Vineyards in Paw Paw and Michigan Lottery Amphitheater on August 31st during the tour – tickets for that show go on sale this Friday at 10am. In a 2012 poll, Nugent was voted the best guitar player from the Detroit area by MLive readers.
Dave Navarro, BIlly Morrison's Above Ground Benefit Concert Rescheduled
Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison's Above Ground benefit concert is being rescheduled. The 2025 "Above Ground Four" concert was originally supposed to take place this past January but it has been pushed back to October 26. It was postponed due to the wildfires that burned parts of Los Angeles earlier this year. The 4th iteration of the event is taking place at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, and it'll raise funds for mental health and suicide prevention.
The Long-Awaited Vinnie Paul Cookbook Is Finally Here!
The late Vinnie Paul's long-awaited cookbook, "Drumming Up An Appetite," has been released, featuring his favorite recipes and passion for cooking. The three-chapter book includes main courses, side dishes, and desserts, each dedicated to a different part of a meal. The project, in the works for over a decade, is now available for fans to purchase. Vinnie's best friend and personal assistant, Brian ‘Bridog’ Jones, highlights the legendary drummer's unique BBQ style and recipes. The cookbook offers a variety of barbecue options, spicy dishes, and intriguing recipes like Black Sabbath shrimp.
IN OTHER NEWS
Allman Brothers Band guitarist Warren Haynes has teamed up with Gibson for a new signature guitar. The Gibson Warren Haynes Les Paul Standard costs $2800.
Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs are teaming with Blackberry Smoke for a co-headlining tour that starts July 25th in Nashville and wraps up August 10th in Asheville, North Carolina. Tickets go on sale Friday.
With Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Heartbreakers Beach Party now available to stream on Paramount+, the Petty estate put together a streaming-only soundtrack to accompany the film. Check out the 35-track release, which mixes album cuts, rarities and live tracks, on YouTube.
The late Jerry Garcia is the inspiration for a new Chicago restaurant and performance space. Peter Shapiro, owner of the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York and the Brooklyn Bowl chain, will open Garcia’s Chicago in the West Loop section of the Windy City on March 21st. Shapiro consulted with Garcia’s family on the venue, which is described as having been “thoughtfully designed to tell a story, embracing the spirit of Jerry and the worlds he inhabited.” Grahame Lesh, the son of the late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, will do the first three shows, followed by The Blind Boys of Alabama, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
keyboardist Benmont Tench, Grace Potter, and The Grateful String Band.
11-year-old guitarist Olly Pearson recently impressed judges on Britain's Got Talent by playing licks by Angus Young (“Highway to Hell”), Brian May (“Don’t Stop Me Now”) and Eddie Van Halen (“Jump”). He says Angus is his favorite guitarist. You can watch his performance on YouTube.