ROGER DALTREY: To Sir, With Pride
Six months after it was announced that Roger Daltrey would be made a Knight Bachelor for services to charity and music by King Charles on his Birthday Honours list, came the investiture ceremony yesterday (Wednesday) at Windsor Castle. Knighted by the Prince of Wales (Prince William) Daltrey said, "It is a wonderful honor for me and especially for Teenage Cancer Trust." "That has been my passion outside of The Who for the last 35 years now. And, to have it recognized, it's absolutely wonderful. And I accept this not only for myself, but on behalf of all those unsung people that have worked to make the charity the success it's become." This is the second time Daltrey has been honored by the monarchy. In February 2005, he was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth for his services to music and charitable causes. And, he says the honor is meaningful. "It will help the charity. The CBE, that did a lot of good. There's something about having those letters after your name. It carries weight when you're trying to raise funds and get your foot in the door to sell an idea."
Also recognized on the King's Birthday Honours list were Steve Winwood and 10cc's Graham Gouldman with MBEs -- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and Brian May's wife, British actress Anita Dobson with an OBE -- Officer of the Order of the British Empire -- for her philanthropic work. Winwood and Anita's investiture took place last month.
Daltrey joins a list of musicians with knighthoods that includes:
- Ray Davies
- Mick Jagger
- Elton John
- Brian May
- Paul McCartney
- George Martin
- Van Morrison
- Ringo Starr
- Bono
- Bob Geldof
- Rod Stewart
OZZY: His Final Words
Sharon Osbourne recently did an interview with her friend, British journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan for his Uncensored show, in which she talked about the morning
Ozzy died. She says on that morning, July 22nd, he had trouble sleeping. "He was up and down to the bathroom all night, and it was like 4:30 and he said, 'Wake up.' I said, 'I'm already bloody awake. You've woken me up.' And he said, 'Kiss me.' And then he said, 'Hug me tight.'...
"I can't help wondering if I should have, could I have? If only I'd have told him I loved him more. If only I'd have held him tighter. And he went downstairs, worked out for 20 minutes and passed away. "He had a heart attack. "I ran downstairs, and there he was, and they were trying to resuscitate him, and I'm, like, 'Don't — just leave him. Leave him. You can't. He's gone.' I knew instantly he'd gone. And they tried and tried, and then they took him by helicopter to the hospital and they tried, and it's, like, 'He's gone. Just leave him.'" Ozzy was 76.
GENE SIMMONS: Bites His Tongue ... Again
Over the weekend, Gene Simmons, in an interview with the New York Post, once again took a cheap shot at Ace Frehley, less than two months after his October 16th death following a fall in his New Jersey home. And once again, he's apologizing. In the interview he said Ace "refused [advice] from people that cared about him — including yours truly — to try to change his lifestyle. In and out of bad decisions. Falling down the stairs — I'm not a doctor — doesn't kill you. There may have been other issues, and it breaks my heart. The saddest thing — you reap what you shall sow, unfortunately. It breaks my heart." Simmons was right, he's not a doctor, but unfortunately, he realized too late. In a post on X he writes, "On reflection, I was wrong for using the words I used. I humbly apologize. My hand to God i didn’t intended to hurt Ace or his legacy but upon rereading my words, I see how it hurt everyone. Again, I apologize. I’ve always loved Ace. Always." Ace Frehley was 74.
Aerosmith, Yungblud Team Up With Lainey Wilson On New Version Of Wild Card
Aerosmith and Yungblud are sharing a new version of "Wild Woman" featuring Lainey Wilson. In a statement, Yungblud said he was excited to have the country star hop on the record with them. He added "with this record, we really needed a female vocalist who could carry it with the level of authenticity that Lainey embodies." The song originally appeared on Aerosmith and Yungblud's EP "One More Time." "Wild Woman" featuring Lainey Wilson is available to stream now.
TRIUMPH: Aligning the Forces
Although Triumph's greatest success came as a three-piece, they want to make clear up some rumors about the six-piece lineup they'll be hitting the road with next year for their first tour in over 30 years. They released a statement saying, "We want to clear up something that popped up during Tuesday’s tour announcement: This is NOT a tribute band tour. This is a Triumph tour. "We’re putting in the work to bring our show and our songs back to you, the fans. And to help us deliver a truly world-class show, we’ll be joined on-stage by a few friends -- bassist Todd Kerns and drummer Brent Fitz from Slash’s band, and [our former guitarist] Phil X on loan from the mighty Bon Jovi. "Big things ahead. We can’t wait to share it with you. See you on the road!" They didn't go into great detail about having a second bassist, but it could be because Mike Levine may not be at every show due to health issues, which kept him out of the band's last performance in June prior to a National Hockey League playoff game in Edmonton. Triumph start their tour with 10 shows in their native Canada from April 22nd in Sault Ste. Marie through May 8th in Calgary, followed by 14 U.S. dates from May 13th in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois through June 6th in Boston. Fellow Canadians April Wine
are the opening act.
Pre-Fame 1980 Twisted Sister Live Concert On The Way
A glimpse at a pre-fame Twisted Sister is about to see a multi-format release. It was in 1982 the world got their first look at the glam band with their EP "Ruff Cuts," but they had been grinding it out on the club circuit for a full decade before they started to break. Their stomping grounds were New York, mostly in clubs on Long Island, and it's one of these early shows that's getting a wide release. "Twisted Sister - Hammerheads 1980" was recorded at a club in West Islip, New York, a full two years before the band's star began to rise. The show had appeared in the band's 2016 box set, "Rock ‘N’ Roll Saviors – The Early Years," but will now be available on its own. The set will be released on CD, 2 LP, and digitally on December 26th.
FLEETWOOD MAC: Rumours are True
It was all about music that has stood the test this year as albums by Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Queen and others have all charted in the Top 30 of numerous Billboard charts.
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours charted the highest, landing at number-three on the Rock & Alternative Albums chart; 11 on the Rock & Alternative Artists chart; and 25 on the Billboard 200.
The other albums are all hits collections on the Rock & Alternative Albums chart:
- 5) Diamonds - Elton John
- 11) Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- 14) Greatest Hits - Queen
- 15) Greatest Hits - Journey
And on the Rock & Alternative Artists chart:
- 15) Diamonds - Elton John
- 20) Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- 23) Greatest Hits - Queen
- 26) Greatest Hits - Journey
IN OTHER NEWS
Bruce Springsteen's "Growin' Up" has been covered by Tori Amos as one of two bonus tracks on the reissue of her 2001 covers album Strange Little Girls, which will be out on February 20th. You can hear her version on YouTube.
Steve Perry has released a visualizer video for “This Christmas” off his 2024 Christmas album, Season 3. You’ll find it on YouTube.
The late Ronnie Montrose will be honored with a tribute concert on January 24th at the Grand Theater Anaheim Event Center during NAMM 2026 – the National Association of Music Merchants’ annual convention. Among the performers are Doug Aldrich from Whitesnake,
Brad Gillis from Night Ranger, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, and Mr. Big
bassist Billy Sheehan. Montrose died by suicide on March 3rd, 2012.
Documentaries on Marianne Faithfull, Broken English, and Courtney Love, Antiheroine, will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, January 22nd through February 1st in Park City, Utah.