Black Sabbath final gig 'boosted economy by £28m'
Black Sabbath's final gig at Villa Park in July contributed nearly £30 million to the West Midlands' economy, with a total impact of £33.8 million on the UK economy. The concert, held for charity, sold out 42,000 tickets in minutes, with 20% purchased by international fans. The economic analysis, conducted by the University of Birmingham, highlighted the significant economic impact of the band and frontman Ozzy Osbourne on their hometown and region. The gig raised millions for charity and showcased the enduring legacy of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne in Birmingham.
Lars Ulrich Reveals "Best Hard Rock Live Album Ever"
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is letting the world know what he considers "in his humble opinion, hands down, the best hard rock live album ever." In a three-minute video, Ulrich pays tribute to Deep Purple's 1972 live album "Made In Japan." The video was posted on Deep Purple's YouTube account earlier this week, just days after a 50th anniversary edition was released. The new re-issue -- which comes ten years after a 40th-anniversary re-issue -- includes the original album and all three of their August 1972 concerts in their entirety, two in Osaka and one at Budokan in Tokyo.Ulrich says even though many of the same songs are repeated on the re-issue, "the versions of the songs are so crazy and cool, but so different from each other."
Linkin Park Add New Dates to 2026 Australia Tour
LINKIN PARK is set to return to Australia in 2026 for their From Zero World Tour, with 3 new shows added in response to high demand. The band will perform in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney in March. Tickets for the Australian dates go on sale tomorrow, August 22. Visit LinkinPark.com/Tour for more information.
Sammy Hagar Responds To David Lee Roth's "Dream"
Sammy Hagar is responding to David Lee Roth's story about being visited by Eddie Van Halen in a dream. And the "Red Rocker's" response is actually quite positive. Roth seemed to poke fun at Hagar during a show last week, telling a Hampton, New Hampshire audience the song Hagar said came to him in a dream was actually "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" backwards. On the Metal Addicts Official Instagram account, Hagar commented that he "can't believe social media is trying to make something out of this."He called Roth's story "the first compliment and real olive-branch moment Dave and I have had in 100 years," adding "this is not negative whatsoever." Hagar even said he believes "Dave had the dream as well," calling him "a good storyteller," but also saying "there's some truth in between the showmanship."
Oasis’ Noel Gallagher Is ‘Completely Blown Away’ by Reunion Tour So Far, Says ‘It’s Great Being Back in a Band’ With Brother Liam: ‘I’m Proud of Him’
Noel Gallagher of Oasis expressed his astonishment at the enthusiastic response to the band's reunion tour, their first in 16 years. Gallagher praised his brother Liam and the band's exhilarating performances, including a memorable show at Croke Park in Dublin. The tour will continue in North America and London's Wembley Stadium, with Gallagher admitting to the emotional and physical challenges of performing. Despite speculation about the band's future, Gallagher humorously deflected questions, emphasizing the joy of being back on stage with his brother. Oasis will perform in Toronto next, with Gallagher focusing on the present joy of performing together.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening Extends "Physical Grafitti" 50th Anniversary Tour
Just as the current leg of Jason Bonham's tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" album is about to end, he's announcing more than two dozen dates during the fall. The son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer said he originally "set out to honor the album's 50th anniversary with 50 unforgettable shows," but now "that vision looks more like 70 shows." Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening kicks off the third leg of their tour on October 22nd in Louisville, Kentucky and the 26-show tour wraps up with stops in Orlando, Tampa and Hollywood, Florida November 24th, 25th and 26th. The band plays in Anaheim tonight and finishes the second leg of their two on October 31st in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Cheap Trick Announces Added Dates
Cheap Trick is adding more dates to their 2025 tour, including four dates with Heart in November and December. The new shows are from October 12th to December 7th, and pre-sales are available until tonight at 10 p.m. Cheap Trick will join Heart on their "Royal Flush Tour" in Anaheim, Seattle, Omaha and Green Bay. In addition to the tour, frontman Robin Zander tells Tampa Bay Music News they're finishing up a studio album with the working title "All Washed Up." Zander says "It's got some good, bad and ugly on it, just like our other records."He added they don't plan on playing anything from the upcoming album during their current tour. Cheap Trick is in Syracuse, New York tonight.
For John Fogerty, rerecording his Creedence Clearwater Revival songs was a ‘spiritual statement’
John Fogerty, singer and guitarist of Creedence Clearwater Revival, has finally acquired the publishing rights to the band's catalogue after years of legal battles. He is set to release Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, featuring rerecordings of 20 CCR songs he wrote. Fogerty reflects on his long-standing dispute with Fantasy Records and his emotional connection to owning his songs. The rerecordings serve as a statement of ownership and a way to reclaim his creative legacy. Despite his iconic hits, Fogerty remains creatively active and looks forward to writing new music.
Teddi Mellencamp Talks Daily to Dad John Mellencamp Amid Cancer Fight
Teddi Mellencamp shared on her podcast that her bond with her father, John Mellencamp, remains strong despite her stage 4 cancer battle. She revealed that she talks to him daily and last saw him on the 4th of July. John has been supportive of Teddi during her health struggles, stepping in to help with medical treatments and care. Teddi recently took a break from immunotherapy to focus on regaining strength after experiencing side effects.
First ever tribute album To Bad Company to feature Slash,Def Leppard and Blackberry Smoke and more.
Blackberry Smoke has released a new single, "Run With The Pack," from the upcoming album Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute To Bad Company. The song features Mastodon's Brann Dailor and pays homage to the classic rock band Bad Company. Frontman Charlie Starr praises the raw and soulful nature of Bad Company's music, while Paul Rodgers commends Blackberry Smoke's performance on the track. The tribute album is set to be released on October 24 and includes covers by Slash, Halestorm, The Struts, and more.
Goo Goo Dolls share video for ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, debut new song ‘Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)’
The Goo Goo Dolls have released a video for their song "Nothing Lasts Forever," directed by Kat White and filmed in Los Angeles. The band's vocalist/guitarist John Rzeznik describes the song as a reflection on accepting change and letting go. The band will release their new EP, Summer Anthem, on August 22nd, and have shared the track "Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)" along with a lyric video. Rzeznik explains that the song explores the inevitability of mortality and the constant flux of life.
Kansas Names New Full-Time Guitarist
Kansas has announced the arrival of its newest band member. Guitarist Scott Bernard has been named the full-time guitarist for the legendary band. Bernard has already performed with the band at several shows over the past year, filling in for guitarist and original member Richard Williams as needed. Bernard's resume is solid, having worked with Michael McDonald, Richard Marx, Al Stewart, Joe Bonamassa, Alan Parsons and many more over the years. In a statement, Bernard said, "To say that I am excited to join the Kansas family is quite the understatement. As a lifelong Kansas fan, their music has been an integral part of my musical upbringing. My first concert that I attended as a young teen was Kansas and I have closely followed their career ever since. They were and remain my favorite band ever. I am deeply humbled to be chosen to help perpetuate their legacy, which is both a privilege and a surreal experience." Original guitarist Williams remains an active member of Kansas but will be scaling back touring.