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UFO’s Classic 1981 Album ‘The Wild, The Willing and The Innocent’ Gets an Expanded Reissue With a Previously Unreleased Live Set

Eric Alper
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UFO’s Classic 1981 Album ‘The Wild, The Willing and The Innocent’ Gets an Expanded Reissue With a Previously Unreleased Live Set

UFO’s ‘The Wild, The Willing and The Innocent’ is out now in a deluxe expanded edition via Chrysalis Records, newly remastered from the original tape transfers across a 3 LP tri-fold sleeve 180-gram vinyl and 2 CD digipak. The 1981 album captured the band at a genuine creative high point, blending soaring melodies and powerful performances with Phil Mogg’s unmistakable voice, and it marked the debut of keyboardist and guitarist Neil Carter, who replaced Paul Raymond and brought an additional energy the band immediately felt.

“Neil had a box of tricks,” Mogg recalls. “Getting the backing vocals was great, though I still don’t think he’s forgiven me for making him play saxophone. He was a great add to the band.” Drummer Andy Parker is equally direct. “Neil was just an incredible musician. He brought another energy into the band.”

The expanded set is loaded. A previously unreleased live recording from Hammersmith Odeon on January 29, 1981, newly mixed by Brian Kehew, runs 11 tracks deep and delivers an electrifying snapshot of the band in full flight just days after the album’s original release. Original 7-inch edits of singles “Couldn’t Get It Right” and “Lonely Heart” are included alongside a previously unreleased alternative mix of album standout “It’s Killing Me.” Newly written liner notes by Michael Hann, fresh interviews with Mogg and Parker, and previously unseen photographs from the era round out a collection built for both longtime fans and serious collectors.

CD 1: Original Album Remastered

  1. Chains Chains
  2. Long Gone
  3. The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent
  4. It’s Killing Me
  5. Makin’ Moves
  6. Lonely Heart
  7. Couldn’t Get It Right
  8. Profession Of Violence
  9. Couldn’t Get it Right (7” Edit)
  10. Lonely Heart (7” Edit)
  11. It’s Killing Me (Alt. Mix) [Previously Unreleased]

CD 2: Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, 29th January 1981 – Newly Mixed [Previously Unreleased]

  1. Long Gone
  2. Chains Chains
  3. Lonely Heart
  4. Cherry
  5. Mystery Train
  6. Only You Can Rock Me
  7. Too Hot To Handle
  8. Lights Out
  9. Rock Bottom
  10. Doctor Doctor
  11. Shoot Shoot

Van Halen Release “Summer Nights” Live From 1986 as ‘5150’ Turns 40 With a New Expanded Edition

Eric Alper
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Van Halen Release “Summer Nights” Live From 1986 as ‘5150’ Turns 40 With a New Expanded Edition

Van Halen have released “Summer Nights” live from New Haven, Connecticut, August 27, 1986, as a digital single with remastered HD video, and the ‘5150 (Expanded Edition)’ box set it comes from is out now via Rhino. The LP/3 CD/Blu-ray collection marks 40 years since the landmark album that launched the Sammy Hagar era of the band, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and went on to earn six-times platinum certification in the US on the strength of “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Dreams,” and “Best Of Both Worlds.”

The expanded set includes the album remastered directly from the original master tapes by longtime engineer Donn Landee, more than 90 minutes of previously unreleased live recordings from that same New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum concert, rare 7-inch single edits, extended 12-inch versions, and a Blu-ray featuring a new HD upgrade of the double-platinum concert video ‘Live Without A Net’, also recorded that night. An Amazon-exclusive green vinyl version is available now, alongside standalone 2 CD and 2 LP editions for those who want the remastered album and rarities without the full box set.

Soweto Gospel Choir Bring Transcendent Harmony and Spirit to a Full KEXP Studio Performance

Eric Alper
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Soweto Gospel Choir Bring Transcendent Harmony and Spirit to a Full KEXP Studio Performance

Soweto Gospel Choir stopped by the KEXP studio for a 4-song set that moves through “Modimo,” “Dichaba,” “Sechaba,” and a deeply moving rendition of “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior,” and the full performance, now available to all viewers, is exactly the kind of session that reminds you what live music in an intimate setting can do when the voices filling the room are this extraordinary.

Kettering Psych-Rock Favorites Temples Dive Into Dance Music Territory on New Single “Jet Stream Heart” and Upcoming Album ‘Bliss’

Eric Alper
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Kettering Psych-Rock Favorites Temples Dive Into Dance Music Territory on New Single “Jet Stream Heart” and Upcoming Album ‘Bliss’

Temples are back with a genuine shift in direction. The Kettering four-piece have announced their new studio album ‘Bliss’, out June 26 on V2 Records, and the lead single “Jet Stream Heart” makes the new territory immediately clear. Built to mirror the physical sensation of standing in front of club speakers as hypnotic beats pull you in, the track fuses psych-tinged riffs with a club-ready pulse, blurring the line between synth and guitar using homemade fuzz pedals and unconventional studio gear. It’s a bold opening statement. Listen here.

‘Bliss’ sees James Bagshaw, Thomas Walmsley, Adam Smith, and Rens Ottink reimagining their psych-rock roots through the prism of late ’90s and early 2000s dance music, drawing on the euphoric melancholy of the Ibiza scene and European electronica. Influences include Faithless, Underworld, Massive Attack, and Portishead, and the album taps into what Temples describe as “melancholic euphoria,” simple structures giving rise to complex feeling.

Where their 2023 album ‘Exotico’ brought in guest producer Sean Ono Lennon, ‘Bliss’ was produced entirely by the band themselves, embracing improvisation and a hands-on, instinctive approach. Working together in the same room, they used samplers to manipulate and reassemble their own material rather than reworking outside sources, creating an album that moves like a collage, with motifs and textures flowing across all 10 tracks.

“‘Jet Stream Heart’ explores the feeling of being seduced by music, being pulled into a sonic jet stream and having to give in to the magnetic feeling of certain music,” the band say. “This song blurs genres and the line between what’s a synth and what’s a guitar/bass. We’re always striving to make a bold sonic statement.” On this evidence, they’ve done exactly that.

‘Bliss’ Tracklisting:

  1. Jet Stream Heart
  2. Revelations
  3. Megalith
  4. Glimmer
  5. Blue Flame
  6. Vendetta
  7. Jaguar
  8. Horizon
  9. Waiting On The Echoes
  10. Fantasy Realm

Video: Burton Cummings Appeared as Bachelor #3 on The Dating Game in 1970 and the Guess Who Opened the Show

Eric Alper
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Video: Burton Cummings Appeared as Bachelor #3 on The Dating Game in 1970 and the Guess Who Opened the Show

Before Burton Cummings fielded questions from a bachelorette as Bachelor #3 on a 1970 episode of The Dating Game, he and The Guess Who kicked off the whole episode with a lip-synced performance of their hit “Undun,” making it one of the more surreal and genuinely entertaining pieces of vintage television the band left behind. It’s a perfect time capsule of the era, and watching one of Canada’s greatest rock voices sit on a dating show panel immediately after is pretty great stuff.

Mayte Garcia and April & Ashley Launch “The Most Beautiful” Rose Inspired by Prince’s Iconic Song

Eric Alper
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Mayte Garcia and April & Ashley Launch “The Most Beautiful” Rose Inspired by Prince’s Iconic Song

 Inspired by Prince’s hit song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” written in honor of his wife Mayte Garcia and women everywhere, The Most Beautiful rose has officially launched. Bred by global rose innovator Roses Forever in partnership with Mayte Garcia, the rose bush is grown and offered exclusively in the U.S. and Canada by luxury rose producer April & Ashley.

The official debut of the The Most Beautiful rose was celebrated on Valentine’s Day during a Rose Baptism event in Las Vegas, where Garcia joined leadership from Roses Forever and April & Ashley. The event brought together friends and family to honor the story and icon behind its creation.

“From the gardens of Denmark to the heart of Las Vegas, the The Most Beautiful rose is more than a flower — it’s a symbol of love, legacy and purpose. Every petal tells a story, and every purchase supports a cause close to my heart, Live 4 Love Charities,” said Mayte Garcia.

Developed in collaboration with Roses Forever, The Most Beautiful rose bush features rich, soft-pink coloration, full form and strong growing performance, making it ideal for home gardens, commemorative plantings and gifting occasions.

“Our goal was to create a rose that delivers beauty without complication,” said Rosa Eskelund, Breeding Director at Roses Forever. “This variety continues to flower into autumn, performs reliably in the garden and is sturdy enough for indoor bouquets.”

Known for cultivating celebrity namesake roses with precision and care on their family farms, April & Ashley carefully selects each plant for its beauty and performance. The Most Beautiful rose is nurtured through every stage of growth and harvested on demand, arriving healthy and ready to bloom.

“We are honored to offer The Most Beautiful rose to customers who admire Prince, Mayte and truly exceptional roses,” said Tyler Francis, co-founder and lead farmer at April & Ashley. “As the exclusive grower and retailer in the U.S. and Canada, we take great pride in caring for this rose and delivering it with the quality and attention it deserves.”

The Most Beautiful rose is available for purchase now at AprilandAshley.com, with proceeds from each plant sold supporting Live 4 Love Charities‘ efforts to expand access to music and arts education, strengthen communities and empower creativity.

For more information, visit aprilandashley.com/products/most-beautiful.

J.I.D Reimagines an Iconic Jingle Into a Full Hip-Hop Anthem With Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes’ “HEY TONY!”

Eric Alper
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J.I.D Reimagines an Iconic Jingle Into a Full Hip-Hop Anthem With Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes’ “HEY TONY!”

J.I.D and Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes have teamed up on something that makes more sense than it might first appear. The critically acclaimed Atlanta rapper grew up on Frosted Flakes, and the collaboration taps directly into that personal history, with J.I.D reimagining the brand’s iconic ’90s “Hey Tony” jingle into a full-length hip-hop anthem titled “HEY TONY!,” out now on all streaming platforms. Blending his signature rhythmic flow with original verses built around confidence, optimism, and showing up for yourself, the track lands as a genuine piece of music rather than a throwaway brand exercise.

“Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and Tony the Tiger were a real staple in our house growing up,” J.I.D says. “Reimagining the iconic ‘Hey Tony’ jingle felt like a no-brainer. I still remember catching the commercials as a kid, and that nostalgia is real, but this is also a chance to bring that energy forward and help hype up the next generation.” The affirmational energy in his catalog has always aligned naturally with that kind of messaging, and “HEY TONY!” reflects it.

The release also comes with a limited-edition “Day Ones” merchandise collection, including a jersey and t-shirt, and a special Frosted Flakes cereal box featuring a custom illustration of J.I.D and Tony the Tiger, a QR code linking to the track on Spotify, and a crossword puzzle celebrating J.I.D’s love of wordplay. All available exclusively on J.I.D’s official store.

GRAMMY Winner ROSALÍA Fronts Calvin Klein’s New Euphoria Elixirs Campaign With Music From Her Album ‘LUX’

Eric Alper
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GRAMMY Winner ROSALÍA Fronts Calvin Klein’s New Euphoria Elixirs Campaign With Music From Her Album ‘LUX’

GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter ROSALÍA has been named the face of Calvin Klein’s euphoria elixirs, a new collection of 3 parfum intense fragrances, and the pairing is anything but a standard celebrity endorsement. Known for her genre-defying sound, commanding visual artistry, and the kind of cultural presence that makes everything she touches feel considered, ROSALÍA brings genuine weight to a campaign that puts her across 3 distinct sensorial universes, each built around a different expression of vanilla.

The collection breaks into magnetic elixir, bold elixir, and solar elixir. Magnetic layers vanilla with musk for an intimately warm, seductive quality. Bold contrasts vanilla with oakwood and jasmine for something deeper and more intense. Solar pairs vanilla with mango for a bright, joyful energy. All 3 are parfum intense at 28% or higher ultra-concentration, the highest fragrance concentration Calvin Klein Fragrances has produced.

The campaign, shot by Carlijn Jacobs, places ROSALÍA in a surreal, sensorial world that amplifies the spirit of euphoria across all 3 elixir attitudes. It follows her Calvin Klein underwear debut in September 2025 and deepens a creative relationship that clearly suits both parties.

“The euphoria elixirs are full of energy, possibility of expression and versatility,” ROSALÍA says. “Each of the three scents represents its own mood, but the vanilla notes run through all of them, giving a warm and familiar feeling on the skin. This reunion with Calvin Klein has been a dream.”

The campaign’s soundtrack is ROSALÍA’s own, with “Dios Es Un Stalker” from her album ‘LUX’ providing the music throughout. For anyone coming to the campaign as a fragrance consumer, it’s also an introduction to where she is as an artist right now.

Calvin Klein euphoria elixirs are available now at Macy’s, Ulta, and Amazon.

Sports Programming on Streaming Platforms Jumped 52% Last Year and Paramount+ Is Now Leading the Pack

Eric Alper
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Sports Programming on Streaming Platforms Jumped 52% Last Year and Paramount+ Is Now Leading the Pack

The streaming landscape shifted significantly over the past year, and new data from Gracenote, the content intelligence business unit of Nielsen, puts hard numbers on exactly how much. Sports programming across the top 5 subscription video-on-demand services jumped 52% year-over-year, with Paramount+ emerging as the clear leader after its acquisition of UFC broadcast rights from ESPN starting January 2026 pushed its sports catalog up 219% year-over-year, more than double any other SVOD platform. Disney+ moved in the opposite direction, contracting 23% over the same period.

The growth extends well beyond subscription services. Gracenote’s analysis of 2,060 FAST channels available worldwide found sports content on free ad-supported streaming up 30% year-over-year, while news programming on those same platforms surged 58%, driven by more than 200 dedicated news channels now available globally. Movies and TV shows on FAST rose 26% and 24% respectively, reflecting a broad expansion of no-cost, no-commitment streaming content across every major category.

GRAMMY-Nominated Global Pop Group KATSEYE Named Brand Ambassadors for Matrix Haircare

Eric Alper
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GRAMMY-Nominated Global Pop Group KATSEYE Named Brand Ambassadors for Matrix Haircare

KATSEYE and Matrix are a natural fit, and the numbers back it up. The GRAMMY-nominated global girl group, formed through HYBE and Geffen Records’ Dream Academy and Netflix’s Pop Star Academy, earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Gabriela,” saw their EP ‘BEAUTIFUL CHAOS’ debut in the top five of the Billboard 200, and wrapped a sold-out first North American tour. Matrix, a professional haircare brand with a 40-year legacy built around the mission of “All Hair Types. All Humans,” has named the group its new Global Brand Ambassadors.

The partnership launches with Matrix Moves, a 2026 global campaign built around the concept of “Hairography,” the idea that hair is an extension of movement and self-expression. Directed by Cody Critcheloe, the campaign gives each of the group’s 6 members their own signature product and movement, from Manon’s curl-defining “Bounce Drop” to Sophia’s shine-forward “Glow Throw.” The diversity of hair textures across the group makes the campaign’s inclusive messaging concrete rather than aspirational.

“Matrix represents our shared values of inclusivity, self-expression, and joy,” KATSEYE said. “As a global group with diverse hair textures and styles, it is rare to find a brand that truly works for all of us.” With members hailing from across the US, Europe, and Asia, that statement carries genuine weight.

The campaign arrives as KATSEYE continues building serious momentum. Their single “Internet Girl,” a sharp, self-aware pop track exploring digital identity and online visibility, follows a breakout year that included being crowned TikTok’s Global Artist of the Year. The global hit “Gnarly” from ‘BEAUTIFUL CHAOS’ ranked among 2025’s most acclaimed songs, with praise coming from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Complex.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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