Ringo Starr’s Grand Ole Opry debut to air on Saturday

Ringo Starr’s Grand Ole Opry debut to air on Saturday
Disney/Randy Holmes

Ringo Starr made his Grand Ole Opry debut back in February, and now folks at home are finally going to get to see his performance.

Ringo’s set at the Nashville institution will air Saturday at 8 p.m. CT on Opry Live, as well as the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels, and on Circle Country.

Ringo performed three songs at the Opry: “Time on My Hands,” from his 2025 country album, Look Up, and “Act Naturally,” both with Molly Tuttle. He also performed his iconic Beatles hit “With a Little Help From My Friends.”

The news comes as Ringo just launched another tour with his All-Star Band, made up of Toto’s Steve Lukather, Men at Work’s Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette and Buck Johnson. The tour hits New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Friday. A complete list of dates can be found at RingoStarr.com.

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Trailer drops for Roger Waters’ concert movie, ‘This Is Not A Drill’

Trailer drops for Roger Waters’ concert movie, ‘This Is Not A Drill’
Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music Vision

Roger Waters has released the official trailer for the upcoming theatrical release of his concert film, This Is Not A Drill – Live from Prague The Movie.

The clip previews performances of Pink Floyd songs like “Comfortably Numb” and “Another Brick in The Wall, Part 2,” as well as the Waters solo track “Is This the Life We Really Want?”

This Is Not A Drill – Live from Prague The Movie is coming to theaters on July 23 and July 27, with tickets on sale now at RogerWaters.film.

The concert was recorded during the Pink Floyd rocker’s May 25, 2023, show at O2 Arena in the Czech Republic. The show was part of Waters’ “first ever Farewell Tour.”

Music from the film will be released on Aug. 1 in a variety of formats: four-LP, two-CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and digital audio. It is available for preorder now.

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The Doobie Brothers perform classics, are feted by Garth Brooks, at Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

The Doobie Brothers perform classics, are feted by Garth Brooks, at Songwriters Hall of Fame induction
Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame)

The Doobie BrothersMichael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night at a gala in New York, where they treated the audience to several of their hits.

The trio performed Doobie Brothers classics “Black Water,” “Taking’ It to the Streets” and “Listen to the Music.” They were also feted by surprise guest Garth Brooks, who performed two songs: “Long Train Runnin'” and “China Grove.”

“Songwriting to me is a way to express what’s going on inside you and tell other people about it, but at the same time, if people like what you write, which is f-ing amazing, than you can bring ‘em up,” Johnston said in his speech. “Basically we all feel, I guess, a responsibility of lifting people up. I think that’s really important, especially right now.”

On the red carpet, Johnston told ABC Audio they weren’t expecting such an honor, noting, “It just showed up.”

“We’re really excited because we’ve been writing songs for a really long time,” he added. “A lot of these people that are being inducted tonight, as well as the people that came before them, and us, we listened to. We were influenced by coming up.”

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On This Day, June 13, 1969: Mick Taylor was introduced as The Rolling Stones’ new guitarist

On This Day, June 13, 1969: Mick Taylor was introduced as The Rolling Stones’ new guitarist

On This Day, June 13, 1969 …

During a press conference in London, The Rolling Stones introduced guitarist Mick Taylor as Brian Jones‘ replacement.

Taylor’s live debut with the band took place in July at a free concert at London’s Hyde Park in front of 250,000 fans. The concert was held just two days after Jones’ death.

Taylor left The Rolling Stones in 1974 and was replaced by Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood, who has remained with the band to this day.

Despite his departure, Taylor was still inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Stones in 1989.

Wood recently celebrated his 50 years with The Stones at the band’s official store on London’s Carnaby Street, where he debuted new artwork, titled 50 – The Portraits, featuring drawings of himself and his bandmates, Mick JaggerKeith Richards and the late Charlie Watts.

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Eddie Vedder performs at Tribeca premiere of new documentary ‘Matter of Time’

Eddie Vedder performs at Tribeca premiere of new documentary ‘Matter of Time’
Eddie Vedder at Tribeca Festiva/Photo credit: Mike Coppola

The new documentary Matter of Time, featuring Eddie Vedder, had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival Thursday, which included a special performance by the Pearl Jam frontman.

Although the film features portions of a 2023 Seattle solo concert by Vedder, its main focus is to highlight the organization EB Research Partnership, started by Eddie and wife Jill Vedder to find a cure for the rare skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa. It also introduces audiences to the scientists working to find a cure, and the patients and families whose lives are impacted by the disease.

Following a Q&A that included the film’s director Matt Finlin, young Rowan Holler, one of the first EB patients to receive the first FDA approved EB treatment, and others, Eddie came out to perform an acoustic set, kicking things off with a cover of Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart,” which he sang while photos of EB patients who’ve lost their lives were shown above him.

He followed that with Tom Waits’ “Picture in a Frame,” dedicated to Deanna, an EB patient featured in the film, who was an artist. She passed two weeks after the 2023 concert.

The set continued with a cover of Glen Hansard’s “Song of Good Hope,” in keeping with the themes of the film, followed by Pearl Jam’s “Porch” and “Last Kiss,” which he said was a favorite of Dr. Jean Tang, one of the researchers working to find a cure for EB. The set concluded with Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” with Eddie getting everyone up on their feet and singing along with him.

Asked on the red carpet what he hopes fans will take away from the film, Vedder told ABC Audio, “I think just the power of community, the power of sharing, the power of reaching out to those who may need your support and really understanding that when you give, you get so much in return.”

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Billy Idol holds nothing back in new documentary: ‘You really do have to own it’

Billy Idol holds nothing back in new documentary: ‘You really do have to own it’
Photo credit: Theo Wargo

Billy Idol is subject of the new documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Tuesday.

The film doesn’t hold anything back as it explores the rock star’s career and personal life, covering his struggles with addiction, including almost dying from a heroin overdose; his 1990 motorcycle accident, in which he almost lost his leg; and discovering he had a long-lost son.

Asked whether he has any regrets about being so open in the film, Idol told ABC Audio on the red carpet that sharing everything was something he felt he had to do.

“I mean, that’s a big part of making the documentary. It’s a big part of being alive, really, at this age. I’m 69,” he said. “You really do have to have to own it. Also I’ve written songs about my life, as well. I’ve sort of always faced up to it in lots of ways. So it wasn’t so difficult.”

While Idol said discussing with his relationship with his father in the film “wasn’t so easy,” he wasn’t about to leave it out.

“I think it was important it’s all in there. … It’s Billy Idol, warts and all,” he added.

And while many of the revelations could be considered shocking, he’s not embarrassed by anything in the film and said he’d be OK with his grandchildren watching it one day.

He shared, “I think they’ll be able to watch it and they’ll see what Granddad put himself through.” 

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The Kinks release two tracks off upcoming compilation, ‘The Journey – Part 3’

The Kinks release two tracks off upcoming compilation, ‘The Journey – Part 3’
BMG

The Kinks have shared another preview from their upcoming compilation The Journey – Part 3, which focuses on the band’s career with RCA/Arista from 1977 to 1984, a breakthrough for The Kinks in America.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have shared two tracks, including a live performance of “Sunny Afternoon” that was recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1993.

“As far as performances go, it was a high point achievement of The Kinks,” Dave Davies said of the show.

The other is a remastered version of “A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” which Dave called “a personal favorite.” He noted it was his brother Ray Davies‘ “sensitive portrait of a super fan based on his impressions of different people.”

The Journey – Part 3, dropping July 11, is a two-disc compilation featuring songs handpicked by Ray and Dave. It includes a disc of 11 remastered tracks and a disc featuring a never-before-released live concert from the band’s archives, a recording of their July 1993 show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It will be released as a two-CD or two-LP set, and both are available for preorder now.

The compilation is a continuation of the band’s 60th anniversary celebration. They previously released The Journey – Part 1 and The Journey – Part 2 in 2023.

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Enter sand-meme: Lars Ulrich lifts the curtain on Metallica’s group chat

Enter sand-meme: Lars Ulrich lifts the curtain on Metallica’s group chat
ABC/Randy Holmes

If you have a group chat where you and your friends send each other memes, then you and Lars Ulrich have something in common.

The Metallica drummer tells Variety that he, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo message each other in a band-only thread, which consists of them texting around ‘Tallica-themed memes that they come across.

“There was this Star Wars one going around a week or two ago which was really funny,” Ulrich says. “There are some conversations between Darth Vader and a whole thing that builds up, and then they’re talking about the dark side. Then all of a sudden it goes into ‘Darkness imprisoning me!’ — that whole thing from ‘One.'”

“It’s a lot to keep track of because this happens hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day,” he continues. “But there are some fun ones that get into our band-only text thread for the four of us to enjoy and appreciate.”

In between sharing memes, Metallica is currently on a U.S. tour, which continues Saturday in Houston. They also just premiered a new documentary dedicated to their fans, Metallica Saved My Life, at New York City’s Tribeca Festival.

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Bruce Springsteen calls Brian Wilson ‘the most musically inventive voice in all of pop’

Bruce Springsteen calls Brian Wilson ‘the most musically inventive voice in all of pop’
Donald Kravitz/Getty Images)

Bruce Springsteen is the latest artist to pay tribute to the late Beach Boys singer/songwriter Brian Wilson, who died at the age of 82.

“Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony,” Springsteen wrote on social media. “He was also the visionary leader of America’s greatest band, The Beach Boys. If there’d been no Beach Boys, there would have been no ‘Racing In The Street,'” referring to the classic track from The Boss’ 1978 album, Darkness on the Edge of Town.

“Listen to ‘Summer’s Gone’ from The Beach Boys’ last album (That’s Why God Made The Radio) and weep,” Springsteen added. He concluded his post, “Farewell, Maestro. Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.”

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Elton John’s ‘Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper’ getting wide release in July

Elton John’s ‘Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper’ getting wide release in July
UMe

Elton John’s April Record Store Day contribution was a vinyl edition of the live album Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper, and now the album is getting wider release.

The album features songs recorded during a May 1977 six-show residency at London’s iconic Rainbow Theatre  with percussion legend Ray Cooper. During the residency and the tour that followed, Elton played alone at the piano for the first half of the show, then was joined by Cooper for the second half.

Elton is now set to release the album digitally, on CD and on vinyl on July 25. It will feature 12 tracks, with the CD and digital versions getting a bonus track, “Goodbye.”

“I’m delighted that Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper will be available for my fans to enjoy,”  Elton shares. “It’s an album I’m incredibly proud of, and listening back to it, I’m astounded by how great it sounds. The freedom I felt playing with just the two of us is something I will always remember.”

Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper is available for preorder now. Here is the track list:
“The Greatest Discovery”
“Border Song”
“Cage The Songbird”
“Where To Now St. Peter?”
“Ticking”
“Better Off Dead” w/Ray Cooper
“Sweet Painted Lady”
“Tonight” w/Ray Cooper
“Idol” w/Ray Cooper
“I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)” w/Ray Cooper
“Roy Rogers”
“Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)”
“Goodbye” (CD and digital only)

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