Sir Paul McCartney has once again made The Sunday Times’Rich List — and passed a new milestone in the process.
McCartney is one of 350 individuals and families to make the list, and this year he became the first U.K. musician to be crowned a billionaire.
Paul and his wife, Nancy Shevell, rank at #165 on the Rich List with a wealth of 1 billion pounds, which equates to more than $1.27 million in the U.S. Their income comes from Paul’s touring, his back catalog and more, as well as Nancy’s family money.
McCartney isn’t the only artist on the Rich List, though. Elton John lands at #291, with a wealth of almost $600 million. So are members of The Rolling Stones, with frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards both at #316, with earnings of more than $527 million.
Soundgarden has shared a Facebook post marking the anniversary of frontman Chris Cornell‘s death.
“We remember and honor the life and legacy of Chris Cornell, a voice that defined a generation and a soul that has resonated with millions,” the “Black Hole Sun” rockers write. “He was more than just an iconic musician; he was a poet, a trailblazer, and an advocate for those who struggled in silence.”
“We celebrate Chris Cornell’s life, his art, and his undeniable impact on the world,” the post continues. “Chris, your voice and spirit continue to echo in our hearts. Thank you for the music, the memories, and the inspiration. Rest in peace.”
Cornell died the early morning of May 18, 2017, following a Soundgarden concert in Detroit on May 17. His death was ruled a suicide.
A posthumous covers album, No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1, was released in 2020 and was nominated for the Best Rock Album Grammy.
If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Victoria & Albert Museum
More than 300 images from Elton John and his husband David Furnish‘s extensive photography collection are currently on display at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Elton is one of the world’s foremost collectors of photography, but says there’s one kind he hates — photos of himself.
“It’s extraordinary that I collect photographs because I don’t like being photographed,” Elton told the BBC. “I find it really painful.” He adds, “I would never put myself up on the wall [at home], no thank you.”
Furnish laughs, “The paradox of someone who appreciates and has a sophisticated eye for photographs yet cannot stand to be photographed is not lost on me.” There are two photos of Elton in the exhibit, but they’re more irreverent and don’t show him performing.
The exhibit, called Fragile Beauty, includes images of everything from the Civil Rights Movement and AIDS activism to 9/11 and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Noting that the exhibit includes “a lot of pain and grief,” Elton explains, “Sometimes in tragic images, whether it’s paintings or photographs, there’s a lot of beauty. And that’s why the show’s called Fragile Beauty, because there’s beauty in everything.”
Elton says he was “absolutely blown away” to see his collection on display, because he hadn’t really gotten a good look at a lot of the photos he owns.
“You buy photographs and they go straight into storage,” he says. “And a lot of them I haven’t seen hung properly or hung at all. And so walking through, it’s been hung so beautifully and the different sections and wall colors. I couldn’t be happier.”
Fans of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band The Animals can now enjoy their music in Dolby Atmos.
Dolby Atmos mixes of five of the band’s albums — 1964’s The Animals, 1965’s The Animals on Tour, 1965’s Animal Tracks, 1966’s Animalization and the 2004 collection The Animals Retrospective — have now been released to Apple Music, TIDAL and Amazon Music.
The release coincides with the 60th anniversary of the release of the band’s #1 hit “House of the Rising Sun,” which happens Saturday, May 18.
“The idea of hearing our earlier work in Atmos spatial audio, it’s like stepping into a whole new dimension for me,” The Animals frontman Eric Burdon shares. “It’s like rediscovering the magic all over again.”
He adds, “I mean, we poured our hearts and souls into those recordings, and now to hear them brought to life in such an immersive way, it’s like a dream come true. The quality and depth of the playback experience, it’s everything.”
Back in March, Styx bassist Ricky Phillips announced hewould be taking a break from the band. Now, we know who will be taking his place.
Styx just announced that Terry Gowan, the brother of the band’s current keyboardist and vocalist Lawrence Gowan, has landed the job.
In a statement, Terry says getting to be Styx’s bassist is “within an honor and somewhere beyond a dream come true,” noting, “here’s to many years ahead on the Styx adventure!”
Terry has played with his brother in his previous band Gowan and has also recorded with the likes of TonyLevin, Yes‘ Jon Anderson and Rush‘s Alex Lifeson.
Styx founding member Tommy Shaw shares that they are looking forward to introducing Terry to their audience noting, “Are you ready to rock? We are too! See you soon!”
Styx is set to launch a Canadian tour in Moncton on Friday, May 17, and will then return to the States for their Renegades & Juke Box Heroes tour with Foreigner and John Waite, kicking off June 11 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A complete list of dates can be found at styxworld.com.
James Hetfield puts a different spin on Metallica‘s “One” in a new version of the song recorded with Apocalyptica.
The track finds Hetfield delivering the anti-war song’s lyrics in spoken word rather than singing them, bringing a haunting atmosphere to Apocalyptica’s cello-led rendition. It also features ‘Tallica bassist Robert Trujillo.
“For us, it is absolutely incredible that James and also Rob joined forces with us,” Apocalyptica says. “We used everything at our disposal to make it as bombastic as possible with James Hetfield narrating the story with those poetic lyrics! We wanted it to be powerful, touching and breathtaking.”
You can listen to Apocalyptica’s “One” featuring Hetfield now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube. It’ll also appear on Apocalyptica’s upcoming album, Plays Metallica Vol. 2, due out June 7.
Plays Metallica Vol. 2 is the sequel to Apocalyptica’s 1996 debut album, Plays Metallica by FourCellos, which introduced their unique brand of cello metal.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse are reaching way back in their musical history for a new compilation album.
Young and his band are set to release Early Daze on June 28, featuring some of their earliest recordings from when Crazy Horse was made up of Danny Whitten, Ralph Molina, Billy Talbot and Jack Nitzsche.
“All the songs on Early Daze sound and feel like a new beginning for where rock & roll was going at the end of the 1960s,” reads the press release for the album. “Neil Young with Crazy Horse were leading the charge in this completely expressive style of new music. It opened doors for a wide variety of new styles, and allowed a whole generation of musicians to find a new way forward. In many ways, that achievement is still growing.”
Several of the recordings featured on the album are among the earliest versions of the songs and have never been released before. They include takes of “Winterlong,” “Wonderin’,” “Helpless” and a version of “Down by the River” with alternate vocals.
The compilation will be released on black vinyl, CD and digitally, with a limited edition clear vinyl and exclusive poster sold through Young’s Greedy Hand Store and independent record stores.
Dead & Company launched their much anticipated Dead Forever residency at the Sphere Las Vegas Thursday, May 16, treating their fans to a set of favorites, accompanied by spectacular images that engulfed the venue.
The band made good use of the Sphere’s wraparound LED screens, which as the show opened, featured images of scaffolding that slowly opened to scenes of the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco where Grateful Dead originated. Throughout the show, the images onscreen changed to include such things as their infamous Wall of Sound audio system, concert posters from over the years, The Dead skeleton and dancing bears.
As for the music, according to setlist.fm, the band kicked things off with The Dead track “Feel Like A Stranger.” The 19-song set also included plenty of other Dead tunes, like “Uncle John’s Band,” “Jack Straw” and “St. Stephen,” plus covers of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and The Crickets’ “Not Fade Away.”
Dead & Company have two more Sphere shows this weekend, Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, with the residency scheduled to run through Saturday, July 13. A complete list of dates can be found at deadandcompany.com.
After breaking up in 1982, The Doobie Brothers reunited to release their 10th studio album, Cycles.
The album featured most of the 1972-1974 lineup, with Tom Johnston, John Hartman and Michael Hossack rejoining the band for the first time since 1977, 1979 and 1974, respectively.
The first single from the record, “The Doctor,” was a top 10 hit for The Doobie Brothers, landing at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #1 on the Mainstream Rock charts. The album peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200.
The Doobie Brothers — now made up of Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee — are currently on tour, with U.S. dates kicking off June 23 in Los Angeles. A complete list of dates can be found at thedoobiebrothers.com.
After teasing it on social media, Bon Jovi has released another track from their upcoming album, FOREVER.
The song, “Living Proof,” which also comes with a lyric video, is an upbeat rocker. As promised, it uses the “talk box” guitar effect that the band first used on “Living on a Prayer.”
“I’m tired of talking about someday/ All that we been given are the dog days/ Nothing is forgiven, it’s the hard way/ Right or wrong,” Jon Bon Jovi sings. “I’m tired of talking about somehow / Wake up, and it’s welcome to your breakdown/ This family tree’s got nothing left to prove now/ Me and you, we’re the living proof.”
“Living Proof” follows the album’s first single, “Legendary.” FOREVER will be out June 7.
On May 19, Jon Bon Jovi will serve as guest mentor on the season finale of American Idol; he’ll also perform “Legendary.” You can watch it on ABC starting at 8 p.m. ET.
