Sir Paul McCartney performs at The O2 Arena during his ‘Got Back’ world tour on December 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
Paul McCartney has landed on top the Billboard Boxscore for November thanks to his Got Back tour.
The Beatles legend tops the chart after bringing in $51.7 million from sales of 150,000 tickets for 11 shows. The latest leg of the tour kicked off Sept. 29 in Palm Desert, California, and wrapped Nov. 25 in Chicago.
This is the second time McCartney’s Got Back tour earned him the #1 spot on the list. The tour previously topped the Billboard Boxscore in May of 2022.
McCartney’s Got Back tour, which initially launched in April of 2022 and has included shows in 2023, 2024 and 2025, has brought $410.7 million overall, with 2.4 million tickets sold.
In other news … The Beatles are helping fans get in the Christmas spirit with the YouTube release of The Beatles Holiday Yule Log (Merry Crimble) featuring classic Beatles tracks. The video features an image of roaring fire, with Christmas stockings hung on the mantel for McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr. There’s also a turntable with pictures of the band members and presents wrapped in Beatles wrapping paper.
According to the description, “this video is made to be left on all holiday long, whether you are relaxing, seeing friends and family, or simply letting it play in the background while you do nothing at all.”
For what seemed like the first time in his career, Dave Grohl‘s “nicest guy in rock” status took a major hit when he revealed in 2024 he’d fathered a child outside his marriage. After retreating from the public eye and canceling shows, Dave Grohl eventually returned in 2025 to rev up the Foo Fighters machine again, with a few surprises along the way.
One such surprise was the reunion of Dave Grohl and his Nirvana bandmates, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, for a performance at the FireAid benefit concert in support of those affected by the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires in January. They were joined by guest vocalists St. Vincent, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett in place of the late Kurt Cobain, as well as Dave Grohl’s daughter Violet Grohl.
The reconstituted Nirvana then played a second show in February during Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary Homecoming Concert special, this time with Post Malone on vocals for a rendition of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Dave Grohl continued to pop up at shows here and there, including a surprise Coachella appearance, before Foo Fighters officially announced their first concert post-scandal: a performance in Singapore set for October. Days after that news broke came another big surprise: the firing of drummer Josh Freese.
Freese, who joined the Foos in 2023 following the 2022 death of Taylor Hawkins, shared in a May 16 Instagram post that he was informed the band “decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer'” and that “no reason was given.”
While the Foos camp mostly stayed quiet amid the Freese dismissal, the band continued to hint at a full-on comeback, announcing more shows in Asia and teasing a return to the studio. In late June they released a cover of the Minor Threat song “I Don’t Wanna Hear It,” followed by the premiere of an original single called “Today’s Song” in early July.
Later in July, it was reported that the Foos had recruited Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails to be their new drummer. In a twist, Freese announced that he was rejoining NIN after previously playing with Trent Reznor and company between 2005 and 2008.
Foo Fighters made Rubin’s joining official when they played a last-minute surprise concert in September in San Luis Obispo, California. They followed that show with a few more pop-up underplay performances across the U.S., which were recorded for a new live EP.
In October, the Foos put out another new single, “Asking for a Friend,” and announced a U.S. stadium tour with Queens of the Stone Age for 2026.
While it may have been a bumpy road back, Dave Grohl has officially returned to fighting Foo.
Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson during Willie Nelson and Friends: “Outlaws & Angels” – Show and Backstage at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage for NBC Universal Photo Department)
Legendary musician Willie Nelson is the subject of a New Yorker profile, but what has everyone talking is BobDylan‘scontribution to the piece, where he had quite a few things to say about the 92-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.
Dylan has spent the last two summers on Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival, and when asked by the New Yorker journalist to describe Nelson, Dylan replied with, “It’s hard to talk about Willie without saying something stupid or irrelevant, he is so much of everything.”
But apparently he somehow found the words.
“How can you make sense of him? How would you define the indefinable or the unfathomable?” Dylan shared. “What is there to say? Ancient Viking Soul? Master Builder of the Impossible? Patron poet of people who never quite fit in and don’t much care to? Moonshine Philosopher? Tumbleweed singer with a PhD? Red Bandana troubadour, braids like twin ropes lassoing eternity?”
He added, “What do you say about a guy who plays an old, battered guitar that he treats like it’s the last loyal dog in the universe? Cowboy apparition, writes songs with holes that you can crawl through to escape from something. Voice like a warm porch light left on for wanderers who kissed goodbye too soon or stayed too long,” noting, “I guess you can say all that. But it really doesn’t tell you a lot or explain anything about Willie.”
Getting personal, Dylan explained, “I’ve always known him to be kind, generous, tolerant and understanding of human feebleness, a benefactor, a father and a friend,” adding, “He’s like the invisible air. He’s high and low. He’s in harmony with nature. And that’s what makes him Willie.”
Sean Ono Lennon accepts the Best Rock Performance award on behalf of The Beatles for “Now and Then” onstage during the 67th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony at Peacock Theater on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Sean Ono Lennon is clarifying comments he made during a CBS Sunday Morning interview in which he suggested he was worried that younger generations would forget about The Beatles and his parents, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
In the interview, Sean talked about being the keeper of his dad’s legacy, noting, “I’m just doing my best to help make sure that the younger generation doesn’t forget about The Beatles and John and Yoko. That’s how I look at it.”
Asked whether he really thought it was “even possible” to forget them, he responded, “I do, actually, and I never did before.”
In a post on X, however, Sean is suggesting outlets that picked up the story “tried to twist my words.”
“I am not immediately worried about anyone forgetting the Beatles,” he says. “I was speaking more broadly about culture in general, and how we do forget about things when we don’t actively work to preserve them.”
“For example everyone used to know Don Giovani but now Opera Houses having been closing all over the world en masse,” he adds. “Everyone used to be able to quote Shakespeare and now not so much.”
Finally, he notes, “The Beatles music is timeless and immortal in my view. But nothing is guaranteed and we have to choose what aspects of our culture to keep thriving for future generations.”
In a separate post, he wrote, “Too many people think they are deducing when they are inferring.”
The Beatles may have broken up in 1970, but the band continues to live on and 2025 was no exception.
-Fans of the band got a new look at their 1990s Anthology project with reissues of the documentary series, music and book.
-Disney+ debuted a restored and remastered version of the Anthology documentary series, which aired on ABC in 1995, with the eight-part series expanded to nine episodes. In addition, the music was reissued as The Anthology Collection, a box set featuring the first three Anthology albums, along with a new fourth edition, featuring 13 previously unreleased recordings. Anthology 4 was also released as a standalone.
-A 25th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology book, featuring more than 1,300 photos, documents, artwork and memorabilia, was also released.
-This year also brought casting news for Sam Mendes‘ four Beatles films, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, due out in April 2028. The project, in which each film will be told from the point of view of a different band member, will star Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
Among this year’s other Beatles highlights:
-Ringo released a new country album, Look Up, and as part of the promotion for his Grand Ole Opry debut. He also headlined two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, joined by some famous friends, with the shows turned into a special that aired on CBS.
-The Beatles won another Grammy, taking home best rock performance for “Now and Then.” In addition, Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon won the Grammy for best boxed or special limited edition package for his work on the reissue of his late father’s Mind Games album.
-McCartney surprised fans in New York City by headlining three shows at the 575-person-capacity Bowery Ballroom. The shows were a lead-up to his performance on the SNL 50 anniversary special.
-A new documentary about Lennon and wife Yoko Ono, One to One: John & Yoko, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, opened in theaters in April.
-Original Beatles drummer Pete Best announced his retirement from music.
-The Lennon documentary Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade, from director Alan G. Parker, debuted in London in May. The film eventually opened in the U.S. in December.
-McCartney returned to the stage in the band’s hometown of Liverpool, joining Bruce Springsteen for The Boss’ show at Anfield Stadium. They played two songs together, The Beatles’ classic “Can’t Buy Me Love” and a cover of the Leiber & Stoller tune “Kansas City,” which The Beatles recorded in 1964.
-McCartney brought his Got Back tour back to North America in September, starting with a warm-up show in Santa Barbara, California, before officially kicking things off in Palm Desert, California.
-A new box set celebrating John and Yoko’s activism, Power to the People (Super Deluxe Edition), produced by Sean Ono Lennon, was released to coincide with what would have been John’s 85th birthday. It featured 123 tracks, 90 of which had either never been heard before or were previously unreleased.
-McCartney released a new book, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, dedicated to his post-Beatles career in Wings. A new documentary focusing on that time period, Man on the Run, was acquired by Amazon MGM and will debut on Prime Video Feb. 25, 2026. It is also expected to be released in select theaters.
-The BBC announced it had picked up a new drama series, Hamburg Days, which will focus on The Beatles’ early days as a band. The six-part series is based on the autobiography by German artist, musician and longtime Beatles pal Klaus Voormann.
‘Lighthouse: Live From London’ album artwork. (Luke Shadrick/earMUSIC)
Along with decking the halls, you can also Duff the halls this Christmas Eve.
Duff McKagan has announced a stream of his Lighthouse: Live from London concert film, premiering on his YouTube channel at noon ET on Dec. 24.
Lighthouse: Live from London captures the Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist’s 2024 show in the English capital while touring behind his 2023 solo album, Lighthouse. It was released as a live album in October.
McKagan will be back rocking with GN’R on their upcoming world tour, which launches in the U.S. in May. The “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers also just put out a pair of new songs, “Nothin'” and “Atlas,” earlier in December, marking their first fresh material in two years.
Cover of Peter Criss’ self-titled album (Flatiron Recordings)
Former KISS drummer Peter Criss is responding to reports that it will cost fans $1,000 to download a digital copy of his recently released self-titled solo album.
The reports surfaced after Criss’ Bandcamp page listed not only the physical copies of the album, but a digital link at a cost of $1,000 with the note, “Digital purchases are discouraged, That’s why the high price.”
But now in a post on Instagram, Criss is saying the issue lies with Bandcamp and he is not charging such a big pricetag for the download.
“Bandcamp had become an issue and I had requested Flatiron Recordings to disable the account associated with my records before the release day of my New record on December 19, 2025,” he wrote. “I am not in control of the Bandcamp account. Flatiron Recordings is. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and for the misinformation and implication that I am charging $1,000 for a download of my New record – I am Not.”
He then suggested fans “find another outlet to purchase” the album, sharing a linktree on his website for locations to purchase it.
Peter Criss is the first solo album from the rocker since 2007’s One For All.
James Taylor performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on December 5, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for James Taylor)
James Taylor is sharing his 2026 tour plans with fans.
In a video posted on Instagram from a snowy New England, Taylor reveals that he will be hitting the road next year, giving fans an overview of where he’ll be playing.
“It’s a wintery scene here in New England, and a beautiful day, but a cold one,” he says in the video. “We’re thinking about the spring. We’re thinking about going on the road,” noting that they’ll be out west in California and Nevada in April.
“Then we’re gonna work our way back east and in June we’ll play a bunch of east coast gigs ending here in Western Massachusetts, at Tanglewood,” he adds, referring to his already announced shows July 3 and 4 at the Lenox, Massachusetts, venue.
But Taylor’s not just bringing his show to the U.S.
“Then we’re gonna hop across the pond and play in Europe again, which I’m really anxious to, eager to do,” he says, noting that he’ll be playing in Ireland, Scotland, England and Amsterdam.
“It’s gonna be a great spring and summer of touring for us and I’m really looking forward to getting back together,” he concludes the post. “Come out and see us.”
The post notes that exact tour dates will be announced in January.
Sean Ono Lennon, the only son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, is concerned that younger generations may one day not know about his father or The Beatles.
During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, Sean talked about taking over from his mother as the keeper of his father’s legacy, and explained why he feels it’s important.
Sean noted that it’s not only him but “the world” who are also the keepers of his dad’s legacy, adding, “I’m just doing my best to help make sure that the younger generation doesn’t forget about The Beatles and John and Yoko. That’s how I look at it.”
Asked whether he really thought it would be “even possible” to forget them, he responded, “I do, actually, and I never did before.”
“My parents gave me so much that I think it’s the least I can do to try and support their legacy in my lifetime,” he explained, noting, “I feel like I just owe it to them. It’s a personal thing.”
“I think The Beatles’ music, and John and Yoko’s legacy, is something important for the world to kind of cherish and be reminded of,” he added. “So, that’s how I see my job.”
Paul McCartney performs on ‘SNL50’ on February 16, 2025 (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
Paul McCartney had a busy 2025, so it wasn’t easy for him to nail down a highlight of the year.
In the final website Q&A for 2025, McCartney was asked to name his “professional highlight” of the year, and he couldn’t pick just one.
“The great thing is there’s so much suddenly happening,” he said. “It’s like a log jam, loads of things have just come in.”
He then mentioned things like his Wings book, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, and that High in the Clouds, an animated film based on his 2005 children’s book, “is finally getting made.”
McCartney also called his Got Back tour “spectacular,” noting, “the audiences were so warm and receptive.” He specifically mentioned shows like his Bowery Ballroom club gigs, and dates in Santa Barbara and Nashville, where phones were not allowed.
He said those “were really cool, because it’s a completely different type of show. People aren’t just holding up phones, so you really see the whites of their eyes. It’s lovely!”
“This idea of everything coming home to roost, all these projects I’ve done over the years, it’s very exciting,” he added. “But yeah, if I had to pick one I think the tour was probably the highlight of the year for me – it was so successful and enjoyable for everyone involved.”
McCartney also dropped some exciting news for fans when asked what he’s most looking forward to in 2026.
“My new album!” he said, adding, “We’re just starting to think about how to put that together.”
As for his New Year’s resolution, McCartney first joked, “To be a good boy!,” before adding, “I normally don’t have one, but what comes to mind is things like ‘to eat sensibly.’ That’s always a good one.”
