Traffic, studio group portrait, 1968, L-R Chris Wood, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Steve Winwood has paid tribute to his Traffic bandmate Dave Mason, who passed away on April 19 at the age of 79.
“We were deeply saddened to hear of Dave Mason’s passing,” Winwood writes on Instagram. “Dave was part of Traffic during its earliest chapter, and played an important role in shaping the band’s sound and identity during that time. His songwriting, musicianship and distinctive spirit helped create music that has lasted far beyond its era, and continues to mean so much to listeners around the world.”
“Those years remain a special part of the band’s story, and Dave’s contribution to them is not forgotten,” Winwood continues. “His place in that history will always be remembered, and through the music, his presence endures.”
Finally, he notes, “At this sad time, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and all those who loved him and his music.”
Mason and Winwood formed Traffic in 1967 with Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
With Mason’s death, Winwood is the only surviving member of the band; Capaldi passed away in 2005 at 60, and Wood passed away in 1983 at 39.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Peter Frampton was born in Beckenham, Kent, England.
Frampton rose to fame as a member of The Herd, before forming Humble Pie in 1969 with Small Faces band member Steve Marriott.
After releasing four studio albums, Frampton left Humble Pie in 1971 to launch a solo career, releasing his debut solo album, Wind of Change, in 1972.
Frampton’s solo career really took off following the release of Frampton Comes Alive! in 1976. The double LP became one of the bestselling live albums of all time and was Frampton’s only #1 record, spending 10 nonconsecutive weeks in the top spot. It featured live performances of now-iconic Frampton tunes like “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way” and “Do You Feel Like We Do,” which all became top-15 hits.
After being eligible for over 25 years, Frampton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Despite being diagnosed with the muscle disease inclusion body myositis in 2019, Frampton has continued to make music and tour. He’s set to release the new album, Carry the Light, on May 15 and has a new documentary, Frampton, debuting at the Tribeca Festival on June 4.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Mason, founding member of the classic rock band Traffic, performs onstage at Saban Theatre on May 07, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Dave Mason has died at the age of 79.
According to a statement provided on behalf of his family, Mason “passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada” on April 19. The statement noted he “lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved.”
Mason is best known as one of the founding members of the band Traffic, which he formed in April 1967 with Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood and Chris Wood. They released their debut album, Mr. Fantasy, that year, which was a hit with critics and contained one of their signature tunes, “Dear Mr. Fantasy.”
The self-titled follow-up, released in 1968, featured the huge hit “Feelin’ Alright?,” which Mason wrote. The song has gone on to be covered by a variety of artists, most notably Joe Cocker, who left off the question mark in the title and made it a hit.
Mason had a rocky tenure with Traffic, leaving the group following the release of Mr. Fantasy due to artistic differences, only to rejoin during the recording of their self-titled sophomore album. He then left again after that album’s release. He briefly returned for a third time, touring with them in 1971 — but he only performed six shows, including the show featured on the live album, Welcome to the Canteen.
While promoting his 2024 memoir, Only You Know and I Know, Mason told ABC Audio that all the drama in the band led to them making great music.
“What made the band great? Unfortunately, you know, differences combine to form beauty and so the differences are what made things great, but the differences unfortunately drove it apart,” he said.
Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 2004, although Winwood and Capaldi performed “Dear Mr. Fantasy” without him. He did join in for the all-star jam on “Feelin’ Alright?,” which also featured Keith Richards, Tom Petty and others.
Outside of Traffic, Mason had a successful career as a session musician and appeared on such well-known albums as Jim Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland, George Harrison’s All Things Must Past, Paul McCartney and Wings’ Venus and Mars, and The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet. He also did a brief stint as guitarist in Fleetwood Mac in the ’90s after both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks left the group.
Mason had a somewhat successful solo career, releasing 15 albums. His last album was 2025’s A Shade of Blues. His biggest solo hit was 1977’s “We Just Disagree,” which he wrote. The tune, which appeared on his album Let it Flow, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also wrote and recorded the tune “Only You Know and I Know,” which was a Hot 100 hit for him, and went on to be a top-20 hit for Delaney & Bonnie.
In September of 2025, after 60 years in the music business, Mason announced that he was retiring from touring due to “on going health challenges.” The prior year, in September 2024, he canceled a tour due to an urgent heart condition.
Lenny Kravitz on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’/(ABC/Randy Holmes)
Lenny Kravitz paid tribute to the late R&B superstar Prince on Tuesday, the 10th anniversary of the singer’s death.
Kravitz shared video on Instagram of him and Prince walking through a crowd to the stage and then performing Kravitz’s cover of Guess Who’s “American Woman” together.
“This man was a great inspiration and big brother,” Kravitz captioned the clip. “We had love and respect for each others work and I was blessed to know him. He encouraged and elevated me as you see here.”
He added, “How you are missed in the flesh but the music and spirit lives on.”
Prince died April 21, 2016, from an accidental overdose. He was 57.
The anniversary of Prince’s death was marked with the release of the previously unreleased track “With This Tear.” The song was previously covered by Céline Dion for her self-titled 1992 release.
Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones performs onstage at SoFi Stadium on July 13, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood is playing some solo shows in Europe this summer, and now he’s added two new dates to itinerary.
Ronnie and his band are now booked to play the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on Aug. 21, and E-Werk in Cologne, Germany, on Sept. 3.
Both shows feature special guest Imelda May. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
Wood revealed plans to headline some rare solo shows back in March, with the first announced dates being two now-sold-out shows at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Sept. 7 and 8.
The shows will be Ronnie’s first full live solo sets in over 16 years.
He is also playing Burg Clam castle in Sperken, Austria, with Van Morrison on July 16, and the Lucca Summer Festival in Tuscany, Italy, on July 17. He’ll also be a special guest for Eric Clapton’s Aug. 23 concert at the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England.
A complete list of dates can be found at RonnieWood.com.
Beach Boys fans are getting another taste of the upcoming release The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the band’s iconic album.
The latest preview is a three-track EP focused on the top-10 hit “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” It features a trio of mixes, including a vocals-only version of the song. The EP is now available via digital outlets.
This is the second Pet Sounds-related EP that’s been released. A three-track EP focused on the song “Sloop John B” was released in March.
The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights, dropping May 15, features material from the 1997 four-CD box set The Pet Sounds Sessions. It contains 25 alternate takes, a cappella versions and tracking sessions, all of which are making their vinyl debut.
It will be released as a two-CD set or two-LP set. The LP versions will be released on standard black vinyl and limited-edition splatter/color variants. Also on May 15, the original 90-track The Pet Sounds Sessions will be released to digital services.
Released May 16, 1966, Pet Sounds is often considered one of the best albums of all time. Recorded a year after Brian Wilson quit touring and suffered a breakdown in 1964, the album peaked at #10 on the Billboard Album chart; in 2004 it was chosen by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
ZZ Top The Big One! tour admat/(courtesy of ZZ Top)
ZZ Top will be spending some more time on the road this year. The Texas rockers have extended their The Big One! tour with seven more weeks of shows.
The latest additions begin Aug. 4 in Chula Vista, California, and include stops in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Maine and Connecticut. The schedule also includes two shows, Aug. 21 and 22, in the band’s home state of Texas, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin.
The new dates wrap Sept. 18 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Special guests include Cheap Trick and George Thorogood & The Destroyers on select dates.
A complete schedule and ticket information can be found at ZZTop.com.
ZZ Top launched the first leg of The Big One! tour in March. Their next show is Tuesday in Wheeling, West Virginia. In addition to their U.S. dates, they are heading to Europe in June and July, and Mexico and South America in November.
Bob Dylan performs during the British Summer Time festival at Hyde Park in London. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)
Bob Dylan continues to extend his 2026 North American tour.
The 84-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has added six new shows to the tour, including a July 21 stop at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York.
He’s also added stops in Richmond, Virginia; Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina; and Atlanta, with an Aug. 1 show in Nashville currently the last scheduled stop on the trek.
Special guests on the new dates include Lucinda Williams and Jimmie Vaughan.
Tickets for all new shows go on sale to the general public Friday at 10 a.m. local time.
Dylan’s 2026 tour consists of dates throughout the spring and summer. His next show is Thursday in Macon, Georgia.
A complete list of dates can be found at BobDylan.com.
Patti Smith performs the album ‘Horses’ live on stage during the 50th Anniversary Tour at Paramount Theatre on November 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jim Bennett/Getty Images)
Patti Smith is one of the many artists booked to play the 2026 CBGB Festival, taking place Sept. 26 in Brooklyn, New York.
The lineup also includes Morrissey, Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter, Buzzcocks, Bikini Kill and Violet Grohl.
Presales begin Thursday at 10 a.m. ET, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit CBGBFest.com.
The CBGB Festival, now in its second year, is named after the iconic New York City punk club, which helped launch the careers of such artists as Smith, the Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads. Smith performed at CBGB’s closing night concert on Oct. 15, 2006.
The inaugural 2025 edition featured Jack White and Iggy Pop.
Singer David Byrne (C), founding member of The Talking Heads, performs on the Outdoor Stage during weekend 2, day 2 of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 18, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
David Byrne has added some more North American dates to his Who Is The Sky? tour.
The latest additions include an Aug. 27 show in San Diego, followed by two nights, Aug. 28 and 29, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. He’s also added a Sept. 17 show in Saratoga, New York, and a Sept. 19 concert at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York.
Byrne’s also announced a string of August dates in Asia, with the tour stopping in Singapore, Thailand, Japan and South Korea.
He next brings the show to Phoenix on Tuesday. He’s also headed over to Europe and the U.K. starting June 7 in Dublin, Ireland.
A complete list of dates and ticket information can be found at DavidByrne.com.
Byrne launched the tour in September 2025 in support of his new solo album, Who Is The Sky?, which was released the same month. It is his first solo release since 2018’s American Utopia.
