Rolling Stone magazine is out with their picks for the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, anointing Aretha Franklin with the top spot.
The mag calls Aretha, who died in August 2018, “A force of nature. A work of genius. A gift from the heavens,” adding, “Aretha Franklin’s voice is all that and more, which is why she remains the unchallenged Queen, years after her final bow.”
Coming in just behind Aretha at #2 is Whitney Houston, whom Rolling Stone calls the “standard-bearer for R&B vocals,” followed by Sam Cooke at three, Billie Holiday at four and Mariah Carey at five.
Rounding out the top 10 are Ray Charles at six, Stevie Wonder at seven, Beyoncé at eight, Otis Redding at nine and Al Green at 10.
The list is a combination of classic and contemporary artists, with both John Lennon and Paul McCartney landing on it — Lennon at #12, and McCartney at #26. Other artists placing fairly high include Freddie Mercury at 14, Bob Dylan at 15, Prince at 16, Frank Sinatra at 19 and Marvin Gaye at 20.
The list has caused some controversy, with omissions including Annie Lennox and Celine Dion, forcing some to question how it was actually compiled. The mag says it was based on “originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy,” adding, “this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List.”
Brian May is starting a new year with a new title.
The Queen guitarist was knighted as part of the 2023 New Year’s Honours List, the first from King Charles. Considered one of the highest-ranking awards in the British honors system, May is being recognized for his services to music and his charity work.
“I’m happy and grateful to receive this honor,” 75-year-old May shared in response. “I will regard the knighthood not so much as a reward, but more as a charge — a commission — for me to continue to fight for justice — to be a voice for those who have no voice.” He added, “I will endeavor to be worthy — to be that Knight in Shining Armor.”
Having earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007, and being made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005, Brian’s full title is now Sir Brian Harold May CBE.
The Moody Blues’ John Lodge will hit the road in February on his Days of Future Passed tour, where he’ll play the band’s 1967 sophomore album in its entirety.
More and more artists are playing full albums at shows these days, and there are certainly some albums people would like to see played live. So, which album would Lodge love to see played live?
“The one that comes to mind, all the while, is Imagine, John Lennon,” he shares. “Because there’s some beautiful songs on that album. And just to have heard Lennon play those songs would have been great.”
Lodge acknowledges, “That’s not to be,” saying he’ll play the album instead.
Lodge kicks off the tour February 18 in Lexington, Massachusetts, with dates confirmed through March 15 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tour will feature a special appearance by Jon Davison of Yes and will include a special recording by the late Graeme Edge.
Foo Fighters have shared a statement reflecting on the past year, and hinting at the band’s future following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.
In the statement, which was posted to the Foo Fighters Twitter, Dave Grohl and company deem 2022 “the most difficult and tragic year that our band has ever known.”
“We are reminded of how thankful we are for the people that we love and cherish most, and for the loved ones who are no longer with us,” the statement reads.
“Foo Fighters were formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life,” the post continues, referencing Grohl’s launch of the project following the death of his Nirvana bandmate, Kurt Cobain. “For the past 27 years our fans have built a worldwide community, a devoted support system that has helped us all through the darkest of times together. A place to share our joy and our pain, our hopes and fears, and to join in a chorus of life together through music.”
The statement then seems to confirm that Foo Fighters plan to continue on without Hawkins.
“Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were,” the Foos write. “Without Taylor, we know that we’re going to be a different band going forward.”
The post concludes, “We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you. And we know that when we see you again — and we will soon — he’ll be there in spirit with us every night.”
Foo Fighters celebrated Hawkins with a pair of tribute concerts held in Los Angeles and London in September. The star-studded shows both ended with the Foos performing with a variety of guest drummers.
Getting 1 billion views on YouTube is quite a feat, but plenty of artists reached that milestone in 2022 — including classic tunes from Cyndi Lauper, The Police, R.E.M. and Europe.
Cyndi’s 1983 hit “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” received 1.13 billion views this year, 13 years after it was first uploaded to the streaming channel.
Also joining the Billion Views Club this year was The Police’s 1983 hit “Every Breath You Take,” which hit YouTube in 2010, and Europe’s 1986 track “The Final Countdown,” which was added to YouTube in 2009. R.E.M.’s 1991 hit “Losing My Religion” also made it to 1 billion this year, 11 years after it was added to YouTube.
Albums from Black Sabbath‘s I.R.S. Records era are set to be reissued in 2023.
Guitarist Tony Iommi teased the upcoming rereleases in a tweet this week marking the birthday of late drummer Cozy Powell, who played on three of Sabbath’s I.R.S. albums.
“Cozy Powell would have been 75 today,” Iommi writes. “Looking forward to the release of the IRS albums in 2023, a tribute to his great playing.”
Sabbath released five records on I.R.S. — 1989’s Headless Cross, 1990’s Tyr, 1992’s Dehumanizer, 1994’s Cross Purposes and 1995’s Forbidden — three of which featured Iommi as the only original member. The era’s lineup also included Tony Martin on lead vocals for each album but Dehumanizer, which featured the return of Ronnie James Dio.
Meanwhile, Iommi reunited with the original Black Sabbath frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, this year to play on the Prince of Darkness’s new solo album, Patient Number 9. Their collaboration “Degradation Rules” is nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2023 Grammys.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for LG SIGNATURE
British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, who made punk and new wave fashion mainstream, died Thursday at age 81, and her loss is being felt throughout the music community. Several artists took to social media to pay tribute to Westwood, including Paul McCartney and Boy George.
“Goodbye Vivienne Westwood,” McCartney shared. “A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right.”
“R.I.P to the great and inspiring Vivienne Westwood who lead us through punk and beyond. Laughed at by the fashion industry but without question she is the undisputed Queen of British fashion,” Boy George tweeted. “I love you!”
John Taylor of Duran Duranshared a touching tribute to the designer, calling her “the most original and influential” of designers and noting, “Without her no Punk, no Pistols and no Future.” He added, “There will not be another like her. There is rarely a day that Vivienne doesn’t influence some clothing choice that I make. Who shall we look to now?”
And Billy Idoladded, “difficult 2 process this today… she was such a big part of our lives those who loved her fashion and cultural influences …her fight against climate change …oh god…it’s too much.”
Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament also marked Westwood’s passing, writing, “RIP @viviennewestwood who with Malcom and Jamie Reid created the best/most shocking/thought provoking pieces from the great art of the punk rock era.”
When Joni Mitchell suffered a brain aneurysm in 2015, few people thought she’d ever return to the public eye, let alone perform again. But that all changed in 2022.
–The singer’s good year started in April, when she was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year, with artists like Brandi Carlile, Jon Batiste, John Legend, Herbie Hancock and Stephen Stills celebrating her at a gala in Las Vegas.
–In July, Joni shocked everyone when she turned up at Rhode Island’s Newport Folk Festival to join Carlile for a “Joni Jam,” featuring special guests like Marcus Mumford, Lucius, Taylor Goldsmith and Wynonna. With help, Joni, who hadn’t performed live since 2000, treated the crowd to such songs as “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now.”
–In August, she received an honorary doctorate from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music during an event held at a private residence in Santa Monica, California. Mitchell was bestowed with the honor by Berklee’s Office of the President and Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.
–Joni isn’t done performing. In fact, in October, Carlile announced a new three-day festival, Echoes in the Canyon, at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington, with one of the nights featuring another “Joni Jam.” The festival goes down June 9 to June 11, with Joni’s night, June 10, already sold out.
Steven Tyler is facing a lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she had a relationship with him in the ’70s when she was a minor. Rolling Stonereports that in a suit filed in Los Angeles, the plaintiff, Julia Holcomb, is accusing the Aerosmith frontman of sexual assault, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Although Tyler isn’t named in the suit, the defendants are listed as Doe 1 and Does 2 through 50. The mag claims it’s obvious it’s Tyler since Holcomb has talked about her relationship with him in the past, and Tyler also wrote about it in his memoir. The suit also uses quotes about the relationship from Tyler’s book.
Holcomb claims she and Tyler were together for three years starting 1973, when she was 16 and he was in his 20s. They were allowed to be together because the rocker got her mother to grant him guardianship over her, which allowed her to live and travel with him.
Holcomb claims she “was powerless to resist” the rock star’s “power, fame and substantial financial ability,” and that he “coerced and persuaded” her into believing their relationship was a “romantic love affair.” She also says at 17 she got pregnant with Tyler’s son, but he pushed her to have an abortion, alleging smoke inhalation from when their apartment caught fire hurt the baby. Holcomb claims he threatened to stop supporting her if she didn’t. She says after she had the abortion she left him.
Tyler does mention a relationship with a 16-year-old in his memoir, Does the Noise in my Head Bother You? Although he doesn’t name Holcomb in it, he does include a Julia Halcomb in the acknowledgements.
It was quite a year for Bruce Springsteen fans, who saw The Boss announce a new tour, but then anger them with ticket prices. He also released a new album, made several surprise concert appearances and more.
Here are some of the Bruce Springsteen happenings in 2022:
–Bruce and the E Street Band announced that their first tour in six years would hit Europe and the U.S., first revealing European dates that kick off in April in Barcelona.
–During Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour stop at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Bruce hopped onstage to join them for performances of his “Working on a Dream” and “Dancing in the Dark.”
–Also at MetLife Stadium, Bruce helped Paul McCartney wrap up his Got Back Tour in the U.S., joining Sir Paul to perform his “Glory Days” and the early Beatles track “I Wanna Be Your Man.”
–Less than two weeks later, Bruce showed up for McCartney once again, joining him for his historic headlining set at the Glastonbury Music Festival in England. The pair played the same two songs they performed in Jersey.
–Bruce and the E Street Band finally announced North American dates for their 2023 tour, which will kick off February 1 in Tampa, Florida. While fans were excited, that changed when tickets actually went on sale. Many were unable to get them, and those who got through to Ticketmaster found ticket prices as high as $5,000 thanks to the site’s dynamic pricing, which raises prices based on demand.
–Bruce responded to the backlash later in the year, telling Rolling Stone that while in the past he has always priced his tickets “under market value,” this time, at 73, he told his team, “I want to do what everybody else is doing, my peers.” He did insist most of his tickets were “affordable.” He also noted that artists “have to own the decisions you made,” adding, “I think if folks come to the show, they’re going to have a good time.”
–Bruce and wife Patti Scialfa became grandparents for their first time when their youngest son, Sam, welcomed daughter Lily Harper Springsteen.
–The Boss turned up at Bleachers’ Radio City Music Hall show in New York, joining Jack Antonoff to perform their collaborative tune “Chinatown.”
–September 30 marked the 40th anniversary of Bruce’s acclaimed solo album “Nebraska.”
–Bruce made a surprise appearance at The Killers’ show at Madison Square Garden, where he joined Brandon Flowers to perform his “Badlands” and “Born to Run,” as well as The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and “A Dustland Fairytale.”
–He made his annual appearance at the Stand Up For Heroes benefit in New York, where he played a four-song set and told his traditional dirty jokes.
–Bruce dropped the new album Only The Strong Survive, made up of covers of classic soul songs like “Don’t Play That Song” and “Night Shift.” The album debuted at eight on the Billboard 200 album chart, his 22nd top 10 record, landing him at eight for the most top 10 albums and at six for the most among solo artists.
–During a week of appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Bruce confirmed that the often-debated line in “Thunder Road” is “Mary’s dress sways,” although he read what was written on the Born to Run jacket. Despite saying he was “insane about every little detail” about the album, it does, in fact, read “Mary’s dress waves.” Bruce insisted “this is wrong.”
