Report: Judge rules in favor of insurer over postponed Metallica dates

Report: Judge rules in favor of insurer over postponed Metallica dates

A judge has ruled in favor of the insurer in Metallica‘s lawsuit over postponed tour dates, Billboard reports.

The metal legends previously sued Lloyd’s of London for losses sustained after their 2020 South American tour was postponed. The outing was scheduled to kick off in April, just a month after COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic in March 2020.

According to Billboard, Metallica’s policy with Lloyd’s of London did not cover shows affected by “communicable diseases.” Despite the ‘Tallica legal team’s efforts to argue otherwise, the judge found that COVID-19 was indeed “the efficient proximate cause of the concerts’ cancellations.”

“The travel restrictions which caused the concert cancellations were a direct response to the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic,” the ruling reportedly reads. “The evidence … demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic spurred the travel restrictions to South America and restrictions on public gatherings.”

The South American dates finally took place over April and May of this year. Greta Van Fleet was also on the bill.

Luckily for Metallica, the band has a lot going on right now to distract from the legal defeat. They just announced a new album, 72 Seasons, set to drop April 14, and lead single “Lux Æterna” is the #1 hit on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Metallica will also launch a giant world tour in support of 72 Seasons in 2023.

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Tom Petty’s Malibu beach home for sale

Tom Petty’s Malibu beach home for sale
Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Tom Petty’s Malibu beach home can be yours, if you have $10 million to spare. The home, which the late rocker owned until his death in 2017, is now on the market.

“When Tom first walked into the home, he just loved the essence and the spirit,” listing agent Chris Cortazzo of Compass tells People. “He loved its originality — it was unpretentious which was very much his spirit. What a luxury for a massive celebrity to walk on the beach and not be bothered.”

The 16,000-square-foot home, which reportedly inspired Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ 2010 song “Something Good Coming,” comes with two bedrooms and a guest house, with direct access to Escondido Beach, 66 feet of beach frontage and views of the Pacific Ocean from the terrace off the living room. 

The whole house has a rustic feel, as does the guest house, which is set up as a music studio.

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Watch Dave Grohl perform “My Hero” with Billie Eilish at LA concert

Watch Dave Grohl perform “My Hero” with Billie Eilish at LA concert
Dave Grohl & Billie Eilish at 2021 MTV VMAs; Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Dave Grohl made a surprise appearance during Billie Eilish‘s concert at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles Thursday and joined the “bad guy” star for an acoustic rendition of the Foo Fighters classic “My Hero.”

The onstage collaboration was a long time coming for Grohl and Eilish, who’ve shared their love for the other’s music over the years. Prior to the performance, Grohl told the crowd about watching Eilish perform on the Grammys while wearing a Taylor Hawkins shirt in honor of the late Foo Fighters drummer, who’d just passed away the week before.

“Earlier this year, all of the Foo Fighters and our families gathered together at my house to watch the Grammys,” Grohl shared. “When Billie came out for her performance in the Taylor Hawkins T-shirt, the room was filled with real tears of love and gratitude.”

You can watch footage of Grohl’s comments and his performance with Eilish now via the Forum’s Twitter.

Eilish’s concert also featured a guest appearance by Phoebe Bridgers. The two performed a collaborative version of Bridgers’ song “Motion Sickness.”

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Peter Frampton, Paul Rodgers & more set for Music Center’s rescheduled Jerry Moss tribute

Peter Frampton, Paul Rodgers & more set for Music Center’s rescheduled Jerry Moss tribute
Frank Hoensch/Redferns

The Music Center has rescheduled its tribute to record executive and A&M co-founder Jerry Moss, which was supposed to happen back in February but was postponed, with a new star-studded lineup now confirmed.

Peter Frampton, Amy Grant and Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers are confirmed for Live at The Music Center: Concert Celebrating Jerry Moss, Co-Founder of A&M Records, now happening January 14 at The Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Other artists on the bill include Dionne Warwick and Joe Sumner (Sting‘s son), with special appearances by Herb AlpertBurt Bacharach and Misty Copeland and prerecorded appearances by Sheryl Crow, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Sting.

Limited tickets are currently available. They can be purchased here.

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KISS’ Paul Stanley to unveil new artworks this weekend at in-person gallery appearance

KISS’ Paul Stanley to unveil new artworks this weekend at in-person gallery appearance
Wentworth Gallery

This Saturday, KISS Paul Stanley will be making an appearance at the Wentworth Gallery in Short Hills, New Jersey, to unveil his latest series of paintings and mixed-media works. Stanley, who’s been painting for a decade, wants fans to know that you don’t need a degree to appreciate art.

“I want people to not be intimidated by the arts,” he tells ABC Audio. He notes, “When somebody says, ‘Well, I like that painting, but I don’t know anything about art,’ it’s like, ‘What do you need to know? You like it or you don’t like it.'”

Some of Stanley’s paintings are part of his new “Black Series,” in which he starts out with, not a white canvas, but a black canvas. “[It’s] really interesting because everything comes out from it,” he says. “Whereas most of us are taught to paint on a white canvas, to do it on black means it comes from darkness. And I think that’s great.”

The KISS frontman says his art gives him something that being a rock star doesn’t: less structure.

“A song has to have a key. It has to have lyrics that rhyme,” he explains. “And in terms of art, my sense of color … is based purely upon … aesthetically what pleases me. I like the freedom.”

The day after his appearance, Sunday, is the start of Hanukkah; Stanley, who’s Jewish, says he and his wife, who’s not, celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. He considers it very necessary, especially since he “grew up around people with [concentration camp] tattoos on their arms.”

“My duty and obligation as a Jew is the obligation I have to 6 million who were exterminated. So whether my children choose to practice Judaism in their own lives, knowing their heritage and knowing what my background is, is very, very important.” 

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Jane’s Addiction teases new music for 2023, possibly with guest guitarists

Jane’s Addiction teases new music for 2023, possibly with guest guitarists
Scott Legato/Getty Images

When Jane’s Addiction toured with The Smashing Pumpkins over the fall, guitarist Dave Navarro stayed home as he continued to feel the effects of long COVID. Queens of the Stone Age‘s Troy Van Leeuwen filled in for Navarro throughout the trek, while ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and Daniel Ash of Bauhaus also helped out.

Since wrapping the tour in November, Jane’s has been working on new music to release in 2023. As frontman Perry Farrell tells Alternative Press, the collaboration with the guest guitarists may continue on from the live stage to the studio.

“I don’t know who will end up recording the guitar tracks,” Farrell says. “But I’d love to see Dave, Troy, Josh and Daniel contribute — all the guys on the tour that really stuck it out.”

Should Jane’s require his services again, Van Leeuwen is certainly up for it.

“There’s a connection there, and it’s a no-brainer,” Van Leeuwen says. “I’d like to see what they do with Dave, but if they have a plan, I’m going to show up when I can to be a part of it.”

While Navarro was absent from the tour, it did feature the return of founding bassist Eric Avery, who reunited with the band after leaving 12 years ago.

“That shared experience onstage is what makes me so excited about the future magic of this band,” says drummer Stephen Perkins. “When we get onstage, I feel like we’re 20 again. The only reason to do it again is to create new music, and now with Eric involved, we are all inspired again.”

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Mike Mills & Peter Buck turn up at R.E.M. Chronic Town 40th anniversary tribute concert

Mike Mills & Peter Buck turn up at R.E.M. Chronic Town 40th anniversary tribute concert
Tim Roney/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Fans who attended Wednesday night’s concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s debut EP, Chronic Town, got quite the surprise. Consequence reports R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and Peter Buck made an appearance at the gig. 

The show took place in R.E.M.’s hometown of Athens, Georgia, and while Mills and Buck were not initially on the bill, they wound up playing with the house band, which featured Black Crowes Rich Robinson and Sven Pipien, and Screaming Trees Barrett Martin. Songs played include “So. Central Rain” and “Fall on Me.”

The concert was hosted by comedian David Cross and also had several artists, including Darius Rucker, Fred Armisen, Indigo Girls, Patti Smith Group’s Lenny Kaye and Drivin N Cryin’s Kevin Kinney, paying tribute to the band with their own performances of R.E.M. songs.

Another Chronic Town tribute concert happens Thursday in Atlanta. Proceeds from the concerts will be donated to Planned Parenthood.

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David Crosby hints at going back out on tour

David Crosby hints at going back out on tour
Scott Dudelson / Contributor

Earlier this year, David Crosby tweeted that he thought he was “too old to tour,” but that might be changing. 

When he was recently asked about any future touring plans, Crosby told ABC Audio, “I want to, but I don’t think I can.” He explained his guitar playing is suffering because of tendonitis in his hands, “which takes them out of the caliber level I’d be willing to do onstage,” noting, “I’m not good enough anymore.” 

Well, now it appears things are looking up, with Crosby tweeting, “So I played with some friends the day before yesterday and spent today sing (sic) with two really good friends.” He suggested he might be starting a new band he’d play with live. 

Crosby did tell ABC Audio that he “could do shows with somebody else playing guitar,” so it’s possible that’s what the tweet is referring to, but we’ll have to wait and see.

If he does tour, it would be Crosby’s first since 2019.

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Bruce Springsteen offering audio recordings of every show on 2023 tour

Bruce Springsteen offering audio recordings of every show on 2023 tour
Amy Sussman/WireImage

Getting tickets to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s upcoming U.S. tour wasn’t easy. If you didn’t snag any, you’ll at least be able to listen to what you missed. 

The Boss just announced he’ll be releasing official multiple-track audio recordings from every stop on the tour right after each show. They will all be professionally mixed by Chiller Sound’s Jon Altschiller, and fans can save money if they preorder a package of all 31 shows by January 1. 

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s tour kicks off February 1 in Tampa, Florida, and wraps in the U.S. on April 14 in Newark, New Jersey. Fans can preorder shows here.

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Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, KISS & Slipknot headlining France’s 2023 Hellfest

Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, KISS & Slipknot headlining France’s 2023 Hellfest
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, KISS and Slipknot will raise some hell next year when they headline the 2023 edition of France’s Hellfest rock and metal festival.

The bill also includes the reformed Pantera, Def Leppard, Hollywood Vampires, Parkway Drive, Machine Gun Kelly, Tenacious D, Incubus, Architects, Alter Bridge and Papa Roach, among many others.

Hellfest 2023 takes place June 15-18. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit Hellfest.fr.

Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard will play Hellfest as part of their 2023 world tour, which follows their 2022 joint U.S. Stadium Tour. The Crüe lineup will feature Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 in place of Mick Mars, who announced his retirement from touring in October.

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