Peter Gabriel Ltd/The Burning of Lifting the Curse, 2022, by Tim Shaw. Photography by Steve Tanner
Peter Gabriel has given fans another taste of his upcoming album, i/o, which is his first album of new songs in 20 years.
In connection with this weekend’s full moon, Gabriel released the track “The Court (Dark-Side remix),” which was recorded at Real World studios in Wiltshire and The Beehive in London. According to Gabriel, the song “was inspired by the work of NAMATI, whose mission is to provide people around the world access to justice they may not otherwise be able to afford.”
“I had this idea for ‘the court will rise’ chorus, so it became a free-form, impressionistic lyric that connected to justice, but there’s a sense of urgency there,” Gabriel shares. “A lot of life is a struggle between order and chaos and in some senses the justice or legal system is something that we impose to try and bring some element of order to the chaos.” He adds, “That’s often abused, it’s often unfair and discriminatory but at the same time it’s probably an essential part of a civilised society.”
i/o is expected to come out this year, but so far it doesn’t have a release date.
The Bruce Springsteen fanzine Backstreets, which has been covering all things The Boss since 1980, announced over the weekend that it was shutting down.
The announcement came with a quote from Springsteen’s song “Nebraska”: “For a little while, sir, we had us some fun.” Editor-in-chief Christopher Phillips explained that the decision to shut down stemmed from disillusionment regarding the ticket debacle surrounding Springsteen and the E Street Band’s current tour, which saw many fans priced out of tickets due to Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing.
“After 43 years of publishing in one form or another, by fans for fans of Bruce Springsteen, it’s with mixed emotions that we announce Backstreets has reached the end of the road,” Phillips wrote. Noting the ticket controversy, Phillips continued, “ … too many Springsteen fans got thrown to the wolves, pushed aside in a way that seems as unfathomable as it was avoidable.”
He added, “Whatever the eventual asking price at showtime and whether an individual buyer finds it fair, we simply realized that we would not be able to cover this tour with the drive and sense of purpose with which we’ve operated continuously since 1980. That determination came with a quickening sense that we’d reached the end of an era.”
In a statement to Variety, Bruce’s manager Jon Landau said they were “very sorry to hear the news” of the mag’s closing, adding they “want to thank Chris Phillips for his 30 years of dedication on behalf of Springsteen fans everywhere.”
Credit: (c) Paul McCartney/ Photographer: Linda McCartney
Paul McCartney will be the subject of a brand-new documentary, Man on the Run, which will be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville.
The film will focus on McCartney’s post-Beatles life, including how he dealt with the Beatles breakup. It’ll also address his personal with wife Linda McCartney, the eventual formation of his band Wings and his hugely successful solo career. The documentary will include archival footage that has never been seen before, along with new interviews.
The film is described as “the definitive document of Paul’s emergence from the dissolution of the world’s biggest band and his triumphant creation of a second decade of musical milestones — a brilliant and prolific stretch” that featured such songs as “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Band on the Run,” “My Love,” “Live and Let Die” and more.
“As a lifelong obsessive of all things McCartney, I’ve always felt that the 1970s were the great under-examined part of his story,” says Neville, whose directing credits include 20 Feet from Stardom and others. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to explore and reappraise this crucial moment in a great artist’s life and work.”
The Talking Heads performed their final concert ever, at the Sweetwaters South Festival in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The 12-song set featured such classic songs as “Psycho Killer,” “Making Flippy Floppy,” “Swamp,” “Burning Down the House,” and more.
The show didn’t go off without a hitch, though, with drummer Chris Frantz revealing that frontman David Byrne walked off the stage mid-set and had to be dragged back.
Although the Talking Heads never toured again, they did go on to record three more albums. And while this was their final concert ever, they did briefly reunite to perform together for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, delivering “Psycho Killer,” “Life During Wartime,” and “Burning Down the House,” along with an all-star jam of “Take Me to the River.”
Mick Fleetwood has some sad news for Fleetwood Mac fans. On the red carpet at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, Mick revealed that Fleetwood Mac is “done” following Christine McVie’s death
“I would say the band is done,” he told Access. “The thought of doing things without her right now seems to be very farfetched,” he went on, though he allowed “After a while of healing, who knows what may or may not happen but I would suspect that Fleetwood Mac is put to bed.”
Fleetwood was at the Grammys to take part in a tribute to McVie, with him, Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt performing McVie’s classic “Songbird.”
Asked how McVie would feel about the tribute, Mick told Access, “I think she would be, ‘they’re making that much fuss over me,’” noting, “she was a North Country girl from England and very not glitzy at all so I think she would say ‘oh my god, why are they doing that?’”
He added, “But we are, and you’re going to have to put up with it, Chris.”
Backstage and on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, artists were grateful for the recognition, though some had a hard time believing that they’d actually won.
Harry Styles’Harry’s House beat out albums by Adele and Beyonce to win the Album of the Year trophy. Backstage, the pop superstar told reporters, “It’s obviously incredibly nice to receive this. I don’t think is the reason that any of us in the room do it. I’m so, so grateful that they thought the album was worthy of it…and I think more than anything, it just kind of feels like validation that you’re on the right path.“
But nobody was more shocked than Bonnie Raitt, whose song “Just Like That” beat out number ones by Harry, Adele, Beyonce, Lizzo and more to win Song of the Year. Backstage, she said it reminded her of when she swept the Grammys in 1990. “I can’t believe this. I just can’t,” she squealed. “It’s like when I won for Nick of Time. I just could not believe that they called my name…get the hell outta of Dodge, yknow?”
Kim Petras became the first transgender woman to win in the Best Pop Vocal Duo/Group Performance category for her duet with Sam Smith, “Unholy.” Backstage, she said, “I never, ever thought I would get this kind of recognition for my music. So it’s really special. And I’ve got to get really, really drunk to process it!” She then joked, “I want to find out if you can do a shot out of a Grammy, so wish me luck!”
Ozzy Osbourne, who recently announced his retirement from touring, won two Grammys for his album Patient Number 9.Andrew Watt, who co-wrote and produced the album and accepted it on Ozzy’s behalf, said on the red carpet that the metal legend is “so overjoyed to be recognized,” adding, “He’s such a humble, amazing guy. And the smile on his face…was just amazing.”
Country solo stars Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce became the first women ever to win the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their hit “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.” Backstage, Ashley said if she could talk to her 16-year-old self, she’d tell her, “‘I want to tell you what happens, but it’s so cool…You’re going to get a text from Reba [McEntire], but I’m not going to tell you why.’ Which is what happened to me today!
Singer/songwriter Muni Long, who won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance for her song “Hrs & Hrs,” told reporters backstage that she hoped her win means that, finally, she won’t be ignored any longer. “Hopefully this means that people will just listen to me the first time when I say something and I don’t have to continue to fight to get my vision across,” she said. “For me, it means that maybe I might know a little bit!”
A highlight of the Grammy telecast was a special 50th anniversary salute to hip-hop featured dozens of notable rap performers, including the man who started it all back in 1973: Grandmaster Flash. On the red carpet, he said he’s most proud of the fact that “people who don’t speak the English language, gravitated to this thing…this thing is not just an American art form. This is a global art form!”
Bonnie Raitt proved once again she’s a Grammy favorite. The 73-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer picked up three trophies Sunday, including the coveted Song of the Year award for “Just Like That,” beating out such big hits as Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” and others.
Earlier in the evening, Bonnie won two other trophies — Best Americana Performance for “Made Up Mind” and Best American Roots Song for “Just Like That” — bringing her career total wins to 13. The two wins for “Just Like That” also mark her first Grammy wins as a songwriter.
While Sunday’s Grammys were filled were great performances, some of the most touching moments came during the In Memoriam segment, which paid tribute to the artists we lost last year.
One of the more emotional moments came during the touching tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, who passed away in November. The performance of her classic “Songbird” featured Christine’s bandmate Mick Fleetwood on drums and Sheryl Crow on piano and vocals, with help by Raitt on vocals as well.
Jeff Beck, who passed away in January, was also remembered during the segment with a clip of him playing guitar, while a tribute to David Crosby, who also passed away January, featured a clip of his classic Crosby, Stills & Nash tune ‘Guinevere.”
The segment also featured images projected on the screen of others we lost, including Jerry Lee Lewis, The Crickets’ Jerry Allison, The Rascals’ Dino Danelli, Tom Verlaine, Foreigner’s Ian McDonald, The Clash’s Keith Levene, and others.
As per usual, many of this year’s Grammy winners were announced before the actual main show took place Sunday night. Here’s who took home the Grammy gold:
Ozzy Osbourne won two of the four Grammys for which he was nominated: Best Rock Album for Patient Number 9, and Best Metal Performance for the song “Degradation Blues,” featuring Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.
Bonnie Raitt also added to her Grammy haul, taking home two wins, this time for Best Americana Performance for “Made Up Mind” and Best American Roots Song for “Just Like That.”
Among the other early winners: an orchestral version of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Songbird” for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals, Edgar Winter’s TaylorHawkins-featuring Brother Johnny for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and The Grateful Dead’sIn and Out of The Garden: Madison Square Garden ’81 ’82 ’83 for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.
Meanwhile, at the pre-Grammy Special Merit Awards Saturday, Nirvana received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Surviving members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear attended the ceremony to accept the honor. Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson were also honored with Lifetime Achievement Award, with Billboard noting that only Nancy was on hand to accept the honor.
There was a Beatles reunion in Los Angeles this week. Ringo Starr shared video of him dancing with his bandmate Paul McCartney at a party thrown by McCartney’s daughter Stella McCartney.
“Man, this beautiful day is getting better and better we were at the Stella McCartney rollerskating party,” Ringo wrote on Twitter next to a clip of him and McCartney dancing to the ’70s disco hit “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton. “What a time we had go get them, Paul, peace, and love.”
According to TheNewsMarket, the bash, which took place at Henson Recording Studios, celebrated Stella’s 18-year partnership with Adidas. The party also showed off the Spring Summer 23 Adidas by Stella McCartney collection.
REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neal Doughty retired last month after 55 years with the band, and now the group is introducing fans to his replacement, Derek Hillard.
“Hi friends, those of you who have caught any of our 2023 shows may have noticed a new face behind the keyboards,” frontman Kevin Croninwrites on Instagram, introducing Hillard. “Coincidentally Neal and Derek met several years ago when Derek was playing in Iron Butterfly. After that show, Neal approached the young keyboardist and complimented his playing; Derek has never forgotten that encounter.”
Cronin shares that Hillard has previously toured with Whitesnake, Foreigner and most recently Rick Springfield, who he worked with for 15 years. Cronin noted that Rick gave him a glowing recommendation.
“Derek is a bit younger than the rest of us, (who isn’t :), grew up listening to REO Speedwagon, and is a long-time fan of Neal’s keyboard work,” Cronin shares. “He is a perfect fit, and fits right in with our band vibe.”
Finally he writes, “While Neal is certainly irreplaceable, Derek is an extremely gifted keyboardist and a fine singer, who brings renewed enthusiasm to our band. We will carry on, continue to raise the bar musically, and have fun in the process.”
REO Speedwagon is currently on tour and hit Cherokee, North Carolina, on Friday.
