Home Blog Page 723

BABYMETAL Signs with Capitol Records, Unveils Star-Studded Album ‘METAL FORTH’ Featuring Tom Morello, Poppy, Spiritbox, and More​

0

Acclaimed metal band Babymetal has signed to Capitol Records, the first Japanese artist to sign a frontline deal with the label. The group will release new album METAL FORTH, globally via Capitol Records on June 13.

Meaning “beyond metal,” METAL FORTH features collaborations with Poppy, Electric Callboy, Spiritbox, Tom Morello, Bloodywood, Polyphia and Slaughter to Prevail-artists that BABYMETAL has connected with over the years while touring the globe.

“BABYMETAL’s groundbreaking sound and compelling artistic vision have not only cultivated a worldwide following, but have also demonstrably shifted global music culture. We at Capitol Records are privileged to join them in this next chapter as we continue to amplify their international reach and influence with the upcoming release of Metal Forth.” – Tom March, Chairman & CEO, Capitol Records

“This year, BABYMETAL celebrates its 15th anniversary and embarks on an exciting new chapter. With Capitol Records as our global partner, the sound of BABYMETAL will resonate across the world as we take on bolder, more dynamic endeavors than ever before. Stay tuned for what’s to come.” – Key “KOBAMETAL” Kobayashi, Producer & Manager of BABYMETAL CEO, BABYMETAL WORLD, LLC

As BABYMETAL celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, the band has mapped out a world tour that will include numerous firsts. In May, they’ll embark on their first-ever headline arena tour in the UK and Europe, playing 12 shows across eight countries and concluding at The O2 Arena in London. BABYMETAL is the first Japanese group to headline a show at this iconic venue. The band will kick off its biggest North American tour yet on June 13. The 24-date run will include a June 24 show at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

idobi Radio Summer School Tour Returns for Sophomore Year with Taylor Acorn, Charlotte Sands, Huddy & More

0

Returning after a successful freshman year, the idobi Radio Summer School Tour has announced its sophomore class. Leading the second year, the tour will feature headline sets from Charlotte Sands, Taylor Acorn, and Rain City Drive. Additionally, the tour will also feature performances from Beauty School Dropout, If Not For Me, Arrows In Action, and special guest HUDDY.

Founded by Eric Tobin (Hopeless Records), Michael Kaminsky (KMGMT), and Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), and sponsored by idobi Radio and Hot Topic, the Summer School Tour aims to bring the next generation of rising stars to the masses across the country, a sentiment that all partners agree on. idobi Radio CEO, Eddie Barella, shares, “At idobi, our mission has always been to find and magnify the future of alternative music. The opportunity to align with the legendary founders of Summer School Tour once again is an incredible honor.”

The tour is slated to kick off on July 11 in Detroit, MI, make a stop at Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach, CA, and conclude on August 10 in Philadelphia, PA. Presale tickets are available for $35 here, and general on-sale will begin this Friday, April 4, at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT. Check out the full tour lineup below.

Tour Dates:
July 11—Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
July 12—Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
July 13—Cleveland, OH @ The Agora
July 15—Newport, KY @ MegaCorp Pavilion
July 16—Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory at The District
July 18—Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
July 19—Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
July 20—Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
July 22—Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
July 23—Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
July 25—Sacramento, CA @ Channel 24
July 26—Long Beach, CA @ Vans Warped Tour*
July 27—Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
July 29—Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
July 30—Houston, TX @ House of Blues
August 1—Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
August 2—Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade Heaven
August 3—St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
August 5—Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
August 6—Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
August 8—Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
August 9—Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
August 10—Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall

Aittala Unleashes New Single “Machines (Prologue)” Ahead of Nostalgic Yet Crushing 2025 Album

0

Eclectic doom metal powerhouse AITTALA has unleashed its second single and video, “Machines (Prologue),” giving fans a taste of their highly anticipated album “Machines,” due out on April 17, 2025, via Exitus Strategem Records.

The songs on “Machines” were originally written and demoed between 1990 and 1997 on an analog 4-track cassette recorder. Now, Aittala has revived these tracks, preserving their raw essence while enhancing them with modern production techniques. The album offers a nostalgic yet powerful experience, blending early progressive metal influences with storytelling-driven lyrics. While showcasing a distinct style from their recent works, “Machines” stays true to Aittala’s signature heavy, immersive sound.

Formed in 1991 in Holland, Aittala quickly gained recognition in the Dutch metal scene, opening for bands like THE GATHERING and SADIST. After a hiatus, frontman Eric Aittala resurrected the band in 2008, leading to six full-length albums: Bed of Thorns (2009), Haunt Your Flesh (2011), Effigy (2014), American Nightmare (2016), False Pretenses (2019), and Live to Regret (2022).

Now, with “Machines,” AITTALA boldly steps into the past, bringing long-lost tracks to life with a modern, crushing edge.

This dynamic duo of Eric Aittala (Guitars/Vocals) and Gary ‘Zeus’ Smith (Drums) (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL) continues to write, record, and tour, bringing their distinct brand of heavy, immersive metal to fans worldwide.

CREED Adds New Dates to 2025 Summer of ’99 Tour with Daughtry, Mammoth WVH, Hinder and More

0

You asked for it. Actually, over a million of you did. That’s how many tickets CREED has sold to date—and that fan demand has sparked an epic expansion of The Summer of ’99 Tour into 2025 with five brand-new dates. Get ready, Mt. Pleasant, Cincinnati, Providence, Manchester, and Halifax—Scott Stapp and the boys are rolling into town!

These five additional dates now extend CREED’s massive North American run to 28 cities, with support from MAMMOTH WVH, HINDER, and DAUGHTRY, depending on the night. The tour kicks off July 9 in Lexington, KY and wraps August 30 in Halifax, NS. Tickets for the new dates go on Artist Presale April 2 at 10am local time (Halifax starts April 4). General onsale for most dates begins April 4, while Mt. Pleasant goes live April 11 and Halifax on April 7.

Fans can register now at https://creed.os.fan/presaleaccess and grab VIP packages including Meet & Greets, soundcheck access, exclusive merch and more via vipnation.com.

Produced by Live Nation, the Summer of ‘99 Tour isn’t just a comeback—it’s a resurrection. After selling out 60 shows across North America in 2024, CREED returns with a lineup that includes 3 DOORS DOWN, DAUGHTRY, MAMMOTH WVH, BIG WRECK, and HINDER. Check your city for the exact line-up—every night hits a little different.

Plus, they’re bringing back the blockbuster Summer of ’99 and Beyond Festival at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, now a two-day extravaganza with co-headliners NICKELBACK. July 18 features Nickelback, +LIVE+, Daughtry, Tonic, Our Lady Peace and Lit. July 19 is all CREED with 3 Doors Down, Sevendust, Mammoth WVH, Hinder, Vertical Horizon, and Fuel.

This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s 2000s rock history coming to life, again and again.

CREED: SUMMER OF ’99 TOUR 2025 DATES:

Jul 09 | Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena – 3DD/MWVH [Sold Out]
Jul 11 | Syracuse, NY | Empower FCU Amphitheater – 3DD/MWVH
Jul 12 | Camden, NJ | Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – 3DD
Jul 15 | Wantagh, NY | Jones Beach Theater – D/MWVH
Jul 16 | Scranton, PA | Montage Mountain – D/MWVH
Jul 18 | East Troy, WI | Summer of ’99 Festival (Nickelback et al)
Jul 19 | East Troy, WI | Summer of ’99 Festival (CREED et al)
Jul 20 | Columbus, OH | Schottenstein Center – 3DD/MWVH [Sold Out]
Jul 22 | Hartford, CT | Xfinity Theatre – 3DD/MWVH
Jul 24 | Charleston, SC | Credit One Stadium – 3DD/MWVH [Sold Out]
Jul 26 | New Orleans, LA | Smoothie King Center – 3DD/MWVH [Sold Out]
Jul 27 | Memphis, TN | FedExForum – 3DD/MWVH
Jul 29 | Wichita, KS | INTRUST Bank Arena – D/MWVH
Aug 01 | Lincoln, NE | Pinnacle Bank Arena – D/MWVH
Aug 02 | Ridgedale, MO | Thunder Ridge Arena – D/MWVH
Aug 04 | Albuquerque, NM | Isleta Amphitheater – D/MWVH
Aug 06 | Chula Vista, CA | North Island Amphitheatre – D/MWVH
Aug 07 | Palm Desert, CA | Acrisure Arena – 3DD/MWVH
Aug 09 | Mountain View, CA | Shoreline Amphitheatre – 3DD/MWVH
Aug 10 | Stateline, NV | Lake Tahoe Arena – 3DD/MWVH
Aug 13 | Ridgefield, WA | RV Inn Amphitheater – 3DD/MWVH
Aug 14 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre – 3DD/MWVH
Aug 16 | Vancouver, BC | Rogers Arena – BW/MWVH [Sold Out]
Aug 19 | Edmonton, AB | Rogers Place – BW/MWVH [Sold Out]
Aug 20 | Calgary, AB | Scotiabank Saddledome – BW/MWVH [Sold Out]
Aug 23 | Mount Pleasant, MI | Soaring Eagle Casino – MWVH/H (Public onsale Apr 11)
Aug 24 | Cincinnati, OH | Heritage Bank Center – D/MWVH
Aug 27 | Providence, RI | Amica Mutual Pavilion – D/MWVH
Aug 28 | Manchester, NH | SNHU Arena – D/MWVH
Aug 30 | Halifax, NS | Citadel Hill – D/MWVH (Public onsale Apr 7)

Previously Announced: Apr 9–13 | Summer of ’99 Cruise (Sold Out)
Apr 26 | Indio, CA | Stagecoach Festival

Bryan Adams Announces North American Tour Dates As Part Of “Roll With The Punches” Tour 2025

0

Today, global rock icon Bryan Adams has announced that he is hitting the road this fall with his massive “Roll With The Punches” North America 2025 tour, his biggest tour in years.

The 40-date arena run kicks off in Canada on 11 September with shows in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle and more before wrapping on 26 November in Minneapolis, MN. Special guests Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will open for Adams on all U.S. dates and

The Sheepdogs will provide direct support in Canada (excluding Calgary and Kelowna). Amanda Marshall will join as support in Calgary and Kelowna.

Adams says: “I’m so thrilled to be announcing the North American leg of the Roll With The Punches Tour. We’ll be playing all the classics, some deep cuts, and sharing some brand-new tracks from the forthcoming album.”

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an AMEX presale for the Canadiana dates and a Citi presale for the U.S. dates beginning Tuesday, April 29 (details below). Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale for all dates beginning Friday, May 2 at 10am local at BryanAdams.com.

AMEX PRESALE – CANADA: Tickets will first be available through an AMEX presale beginning Tuesday, April 29 at 10am local time with additional presales running throughout the week. General onsale begins Friday, May 2 at 10am local time.

CITI PRESALE – U.S.: Citi is the official card of the “Roll With The Punches” tour in the U.S. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 29 at 10am local time until Friday, May 2 at 9am local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

The 2025 “Roll With The Punches” tour launched in New Zealand and Australia earlier this year and heads to the UK & Ireland this May for 12 shows, followed by 35 dates across Europe. Named after Adams’ upcoming 17th studio album, Roll With The Punches, the tour supports the record’s late summer release on his own label, Bad Records. The album has already produced two singles: the title track, released in February, and its follow-up, Make Up Your Mind, which has become a radio hit in the UK.

Adams has been touring the world for over four decades. His music has achieved #1 status in over 40 countries, and he is the recipient of numerous Awards including a Grammy, American Music Awards along with 3 Academy Award, and 5 Golden Globe nominations, 18 JUNO Awards and he is a Companion of the Order of Canada.

In 2018 he co-wrote the Broadway musical ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’ and released his 16th studio album, ‘So Happy It Hurts’ in 2022. He also followed Taylor Swift in re-recording some of his biggest songs with a double album of “Classics” in 2023.

In August 2024, Bryan launched Bad Records, (www.badrecords.com) his own independent label to house his album catalog, and kicked it off with a limited edition 7”, digital single and video of two songs “Rock And Roll Hell” and “War Machine, songs he wrote for Kiss at the beginning of his songwriting career.

These releases were followed with two box sets (Royal Albert Hall residencies), numerous singles and most recently a very special release for Record Store Day featuring previously unheard recordings of Tina Turner.

With a touring legacy spanning over four decades and global hits like “Summer of ’69” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” Bryan Adams is bringing his trademark energy and time-tested rock anthems to fans around the world once again.

Singer-songwriter Amanda Marshall has released three multi-platinum albums since 1995. Her eponymous debut is one of only 18 Canadian albums to ever achieve Diamond status in Canada, and to date it has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. The album spawned 7 Top 10 hit singles, including “Let It Rain”, “Beautiful Goodbye”, “Dark Horse”, “Fall From Grace”, “Sitting on Top of the World” and “Birmingham”.

In 1999, Marshall released Tuesday’s Child, produced by Don Was (B-52’s, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Michael McDonald, Iggy Pop, Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones), and featuring collaborations with song writing heavyweights Carole King and Eric Bazilian. This 6x platinum album saw Marshall tour the globe in support of Whitney Houston, who, upon hearing it, personally selected Marshall as her support act and invited her to share the stage.

2001’s Everybody’s Got A Story marked a change in style and sound for Marshall, with a more noticeable R&B direction. Produced by the legendary Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King), the album produced 3 Top 10 hit singles including “Everybody’s Got a Story” and “Sunday Morning After” and was certified quadruple platinum within 10 weeks of its’ release.

In a pop culture world defined by its perpetual changes, the partnership of singer songwriter Pat Benatar and producer-musician Neil Giraldo has been a potent, steadfast union that has soared to the top of the charts and into fans’ hearts on their own terms. Her staggering vocals and take-no-prisoners attitude, along with his trailblazing artistry as a guitarist, producer, and songwriter, forged the undeniable chemistry and unique sound that created eternal rock hits including “We Belong,” “Invincible,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “Promises In The Dark,” “We Live For Love,” “Heartbreaker” and “Hell Is For Children.”

Their stunning achievements are a testament to their vision. Together, Benatar and Giraldo have created two multi-platinum, five platinum and three gold albums, as well as 19 Top 40 hits. They have sold over 36 million records worldwide and have won an unprecedented four consecutive GRAMMY® awards. They have also been feted with three American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award, a 2008 induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, and in 2022 became Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

Built on the solid, classic rock foundation of three-part harmonies and dual guitar leads, Canada’s Juno Award-winning Sheepdogs blend Southern rock, groove-based psychedelia, and bluesy barroom swagger into a modern rock & roll revival. Emerging in 2004, the band found mainstream success in 2010 with the release of their platinum-selling third LP, Learn & Burn, and continued to top the Canadian charts with efforts like The Sheepdogs (2012), Future Nostalgia (2015), Changing Colours (2018), and Outta Sight (2022).

Hailing from the Saskatchewan city of Saskatoon, the band features the talents of Ewan Currie (vocals, guitar), Ryan Gullen (bass), Sam Corbett (drums), Shamus Currie (keyboard/trombone) and Rick Paquette (guitar). From Canadian roadhouses to global music festivals, their on-stage and on-road hours are countless, underscoring their endurance in the music scene. The release of Future Nostalgia and Changing Colours further enriched their discography, leading up to the 2022 release of the jubilant hook-filled Outta Sight, solidifying their impact in the rock domain.

Most recently, their singles from Outta Sight spent a cumulative 90 weeks with at least 1 song in the top 20 at Canadian Rock radio. Prior, their hit singles “I Don’t Know” and “Feeling Good” both reached Platinum certification, with “The Way It Is” achieving Gold sales. Additionally, the albums Learn & Burn and The Sheepdogs both achieved Platinum status, and to date the band has been nominated for 11 JUNO awards, winning four.

“ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES” NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES:
Thu Sep 11 – Kamloops, BC – Sandman Centre*
Fri Sep 12 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
Sat Sep 13 – Victoria, BC – Save On Foods Memorial Centre*
Tue Sep 23 – Prince George, BC – CN Centre*
Wed Sep 24 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place+
Fri Sep 26 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome+
Sat Sep 27 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place*
Sun Sep 28 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre*
Mon Sep 29 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre*
Thu Oct 2 – St. Catharines, ON – Meridian Centre*
Fri Oct 3 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*
Sat Oct 4 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre*
Sun Oct 5 – Windsor, ON – Caesars*
Tue Oct 7 – Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Memorial Centre*
Wed Oct 8 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre*
Thu Oct 9 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre*
Sat Oct 11 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre*
Sun Oct 12 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre*
Wed Oct 15 – St. John’s, NL – Mary Brown’s Centre*
Sat Oct 25 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena^
Sun Oct 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden^
Wed Oct 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center^
Thu Oct 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden^
Sat Nov 1 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Arena^
Sun Nov 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena^
Mon Nov 3 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena^
Wed Nov 5 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center^
Thu Nov 6 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena^
Fri Nov 7 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena^
Sun Nov 9 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live^
Mon Nov 10 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena^
Thu Nov 13 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center^
Sat Nov 15 – Phoenix, AZ – PHX Arena^
Sun Nov 16 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena^
Tue Nov 18 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum^
Wed Nov 19 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center^
Fri Nov 21 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena^
Sat Nov 22 – Portland, OR – Moda Center^
Mon Nov 24 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena^
Wed Nov 26 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center^
*With The Sheepdogs
^With Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
+With Amanda Marshall

5 Surprising Facts About Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’

0

There’s something about Wish You Were Here that lingers long after the last note fades. Released in 1975, Pink Floyd’s ninth studio album is a melancholic meditation on absence, industry cynicism, and the aching shadow of Syd Barrett. Beneath its sweeping synths and haunting guitar lines lies a story far deeper than most listeners ever realize. Coated in sorrow, searing honesty, and spectral nods to the past, Wish You Were Here was both a tribute and a turning point.

1. The Album’s Heartbeat? A Riff Played by Accident.
The emotional centerpiece of Wish You Were Here, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” began with four simple notes that David Gilmour stumbled into while warming up. Roger Waters heard them and instantly knew: this was the ghost of Syd Barrett speaking. Gilmour had no idea he was composing the most poignant tribute in the Floyd catalogue. That haunting B♭–F–G–E motif, forever linked to Barrett’s memory, started as a casual jam. Floyd fans: let that sink in—Pink Floyd’s most sacred melody was an accident.

2. Roy Harper’s Vocals Came With a Side of Regret
“Have a Cigar” famously features Roy Harper on lead vocals—not Waters or Gilmour. Why? Both tried and couldn’t land the sneering, cynical tone the track demanded. Harper, recording nearby, stepped in—and nailed it. But while Gilmour loved his swagger, Waters later admitted he regretted giving the line away. He wanted something more “vulnerable” than theatrical. Still, Harper’s take gave us one of the only Pink Floyd songs ever sung by an outsider. And it smokes.

3. The Hidden Ghost of “See Emily Play”
As “Shine On” fades out at the end of the album, there’s a subtle musical whisper—a quick callback to “See Emily Play,” one of Syd Barrett’s earliest Pink Floyd triumphs. Listen closely around 12:07 in Part IX, and you’ll hear Richard Wright delicately quote the melody on keyboard. It’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, but that tiny tribute feels like a ghost waving goodbye. It’s also the last solo writing credit Wright would receive until The Division Bell—his quiet farewell to Syd and maybe to his own era in Floyd.

4. Stéphane Grappelli Is On It… Barely
World-famous jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli is on “Wish You Were Here”—but you almost can’t hear him. Recording down the hall at Abbey Road, he laid down a stunning country-tinged fiddle track. But when it came time to mix, Pink Floyd decided it clashed with the song’s stripped emotion. Instead of cutting it completely, they buried it so deep in the mix that even they figured it was too faint to credit. (Spoiler: it’s at 5:21.) He still got paid £300 for his ghost note.

5. The Day Syd Barrett Returned—and Disappeared Again
On June 5, 1975, while the band mixed “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” Syd Barrett walked into Abbey Road. Bald, overweight, and almost unrecognizable, he silently sat while the band worked on a song about him. Waters cried. Gilmour thought he was a lost technician. When they played the song for him, Barrett called it “a bit old.” After attending Gilmour’s wedding canteen reception, he quietly vanished. None of them ever saw him again. His visit wasn’t just eerie—it was prophetic. The ghost of Barrett was both inspiration and apparition, gone again just as the album bearing his shadow came to life.

Wish You Were Here will always remain a requiem for lost friends, a critique of empty fame, and a reminder that music can carry both memory and mourning. Syd may have drifted away, but through every synth swell and quiet guitar phrase, Pink Floyd made sure we’d never forget who the crazy diamond truly was.

5 Surprising Facts About Phil Collins’ ‘Face Value’

Phil Collins’ Face Value cracked open the chest (and heart) of one of rock’s greatest drummers and poured his heart into 12 genre-bending, soul-searching tracks. Everyone knows In the Air Tonight, but here are five lesser-known facts about Face Value that even the biggest Genesis nerds might’ve missed.

1. “Behind the Lines” Started as Prog—Then Got Funkified
You might recognize “Behind the Lines” from Genesis’ Duke, but Collins saw something else buried in its DNA. While listening to the tape at double speed, he had an epiphany—it sounded like Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson. That was enough for Phil to flip the prog-rock epic into a horn-laden funk jam. The result? A horn-powered reinvention featuring Earth, Wind & Fire’s legendary Phenix Horns, turning prog grandeur into soul swagger. It’s not just a cover—it’s a reawakening.

2. “Over the Rainbow” Is a Hidden Farewell to Lennon
After covering The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows,” the album ends with something… different. Unlisted on most versions of Face Value, you’ll hear Phil softly singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Why? As a quiet, heartfelt tribute to John Lennon, who had been murdered just weeks before the album’s release. It’s barely audible, but it hits like a whisper across time. A subtle farewell from one Liverpudlian to another. And it’s the only hidden track Collins ever included.

3. The Album Was Rejected—By Genesis
“In the Air Tonight” and “If Leaving Me Is Easy” were both written during the Duke sessions. Collins brought them to Genesis… but the band passed. He later admitted the songs were “too simple” for the group’s complex, multi-part arrangements. That rejection was the blessing in disguise that gave Face Value its emotional core. Genesis’ “no” became Phil’s “Take a look at me now.” And thank goodness for it.

4. It Was Almost Called Interiors
Before Face Value became the name etched into pop history, Collins considered more abstract titles—Interiors and Exposure. Both nod to the deeply personal and often painful self-exploration behind the album. Ultimately, he chose Face Value, paired with that unforgettable close-up photo, so listeners could “get into his head.” Literally and metaphorically. And yes, he handwrote all the liner notes. Every last word—even the legal ones.

5. “Hand in Hand” Features a Children’s Choir—and Jazz Improv
Don’t skip over “Hand in Hand.” What starts as a smooth instrumental actually packs some serious ambition. It opens with a jazz-tinged instrumental and features a children’s choir from Los Angeles softly humming along—uncredited, but essential. The song flows into sections of improvisation, African-inspired percussion, and one of Collins’ most adventurous arrangements. It’s a masterclass in genre-blending: jazz, soul, R&B, and prog, hand in hand.

Face Value was his reinvention, a confessional, and a rhythm-soaked rebirth. With heartbreak as his muse and a Roland drum machine by his side, Phil Collins did what few drummers ever dared: he stepped out front, ripped his chest open, and changed pop music forever.

Mick Jones of Foreigner to Release First Solo Single in Decades, “Shelter from The Storm,” Supporting Parkinson’s Research

0

Today it was announced that Foreigner’s Mick Jones will release a brand new single, “Shelter from The Storm,” a stunning anthem serving as an emotional support for uncertain times.

With the music and words by Jones, as well as lead vocals, bass, electric guitar and backing vocals, this is Jones’s first single release in decades. The song, penned decades ago and picked back up now as part of Jones’s flight against Parkinson’s, will be available on all streaming platforms and for digital download on May 23, 2025.

Fans are invited to pre-save the single here in support of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, which is celebrated each April. Jones has been quietly living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) over the past several years, announcing his diagnosis for the first time publicly at the top of last year. On April 26, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) will unveil the song at their annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk, an interactive day of programming that includes thousands of people and families impacted by PD, in New York City’s Central Park. Jones is slated to take part in this event, and fans can support his goal by donating to MJFF through his team by visiting https://give.michaeljfox.org/ShelterFromTheStorm.

100 percent of proceeds from the walk will go toward supporting The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s mission to speed critical research toward a cure and public policy priorities that people and families living with PD urgently need.

Says Jones , “I am honored that my friend Michael J Fox has chosen to unveil “Shelter from The Storm” at the Unity Walk this year. Michael has done so much to raise awareness of the terrible debilitating disease that we share. His efforts to bring focus to the need for funds to research and a cure are legendary, and I hope to support him in any way that I can.”

Also appearing on “Shelter from The Storm” in addition to Jones are Felix van Dijk on acoustic guitar and backing vocals, Dave Eggar on keyboard, Robert Holmes on lead guitar, Steve Kirkman on electric guitar and backing vocals, Chuck Palmer on drum programming, and Mickie Steier on backing vocals.

Andy Bell Unveils New Single “Heart’s A Liar” Featuring Debbie Harry Ahead of ‘Ten Crowns’ Album Release

0

Andy Bell has unveiled his striking new single and video, “Heart’s A Liar (featuring Debbie Harry),” the latest to be taken from his forthcoming solo album, Ten Crowns – set for release on May 2nd on vinyl (white, oxblood and picture disc available), CD (standard and 2CD versions), gold cassette and digitally via Crown Recordings. The album coincides with a UK tour, followed by a run of European dates, with North American dates announced today.

Andy welcomes his ultimate pop heroine – one he sang about on a track back in 2010 – Debbie Harry for the yearningly wistful ‘Heart’s A Liar.’ “To have Debbie Harry singing with me – you know, I still can’t quite believe it.”

The song is Andy’s rewrite of a track by English-Italian singer-songwriter and regular Dave Audé collaborator, Luciana, which Andy imagines being about two lovers being no good for each other. “Debbie gives it this gravitas and this coquettishness, but she’s still very in command. And she recorded her vocals in the studio on Gay Pride, which I thought when I heard it, oh, trust her!”

The video casts Andy in a dimly lit, ornate bedroom – grappling with loss, surrounded by the faded grandeur of a once-vibrant love. As he moves through the hallowed halls of a lavish estate, his voice cuts through with piercing clarity: “You said I’d always be in your heart / Your heart’s a liar liar liar…” Draped in faux fur, clutching old photographs, Bell delivers a vivid portrait of love’s remains – elegant, fractured, and unforgettable.

The album coincides with a tour – full details below – beginning on 1 May in York, continuing through to Cambridge on 19 May, with a London show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 16 May. Support for the UK dates has just been announced: in York, Birmingham and Manchester, Dave Aude (who produced and co-wrote the album) will open with a DJ set and for the rest of the dates, Hifi Sean & David McAlmont support.

The new track follows the BBC Radio 2 playlisted single, ‘Don’t Cha Know’, Dance For Mercy, and ‘Breaking Thru The Interstellar’, spectacular introductions to Ten Crowns – 10 tracks of dazzling, joyous pop, produced and polished in Nashville, inspired by the dancefloor and gospel – marking a majestic moment in his career.

No stranger to collaboration – his four decades of writing and recording with Vince Clarke as Erasure are still going strong and the duo recently began work on a new album together – Bell threw himself into writing with close friend Dave Aude, the Grammy award-winning producer, remixer and DJ. Their work together is euphoric, and to top the celebrations, they invited Andy’s ultimate pop heroine, Debbie Harry, to join Andy on vocals for ‘Hearts A Liar’.

Andy and Dave had previously collaborated on two US dance chart number ones together: 2014’s ‘Aftermath (Here We Go)’ and 2016’s ‘True Original’, and after those dance tracks, the pair “just kind of carried on writing as an exercise”, Andy explains, “and after that, Dave moved his family to Nashville because LA was so expensive, and so our writing took this kind of gospel-tinged Nashville twist.”

He describes how in Nashville there’s a church on every corner (“it reminded me of singing in choirs and cathedral school as a child, where the spirit of the church is imbued in the music”). Not that Ten Crowns is a sombre, spiritual set. It’s propulsive, electronic, passionate, driven by the need to encounter new emotions and experiences as life races on. “I mean, I’ve got everything I could possibly wish for, you know, I really have, but that’s not to say I’m always fulfilled,” Andy adds. “This album’s about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, embracing life – and about taking that feeling on even when you’re fighting demons in the world, like homophobia, and fighting demons in yourself. It’s about being celebratory and uplifting.”

Ten Crowns marks a magisterial moment in Andy Bell’s forty-year career. His joy about what that holds, and where it can go, clearly excites him. “It’s my third (sort of) solo record [following 2005’s Electric Blue and 2010’s Non-Stop] and in Erasure, our third album was our most successful out of all that we’ve done, so I’m taking that spirit with me!”

Travelling into new dimensions and possibilities with gospel in the heart and dancing in the soul clearly suits him. Ten Crowns is Andy Bell imperial, gleaming, ready for his coronation.

Die Krupps Join Ministry for 2025 North American Tour, Release Haunting New Single “Cinnamon Girl”

0

Post-industrial provocateurs Die Krupps are set to ignite stages across North America this summer as direct support for the legendary Ministry on their highly anticipated 2025 tour.

The bill also includes performances from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Nitzer Ebb, and Die Kruups founder Jurgen Engler describes it as “The tour we have been awaiting for a long time.

“It’s the perfect package, a great line-up of bands, which for sure is exciting for the U.S. and Canadian fanbase, and for us! We have all met before in the past, so it will be like a one big happy family going out together.

“Also, Die Krupps haven’t done a full blown U.S/Canada tour in almost three decades. Now is the time for us to reconnect with our fans and show them that this band is far from retired! Hope to see you all soon, to the hilt!!!”

Just ahead of hitting the road, the band has unleashed their hypnotic new single, “Cinnamon Girl” – a dark, dirge-like homage to the sonic spirits of Neil Young (whose own “Cinnamon Girl” sounds nothing like this!) and Type O Negative.

Dripping in noir atmosphere and analog melancholy, the track also introduces the enigmatic Cinnamon Babe, a fast-rising star in the dark-pop underground whose voice floats through the song like smoke in a dim-lit motel room.

“‘Cinnamon Girl’is about memory, obsession, and the soft tragedy of stardom,” Engler continues. “We wanted it to feel like a furious version of that famous Blue Velvet backroom scene where Dennis Hopper is listening to ‘The Candy-Colored Clown Called The Sandman’.”

For more than four decades, Die Krupps have carved out a distinctive space in the modern underground. Originating from the same hometown as fellow robots Kraftwerk, blending brooding synths, jagged guitars, and dystopian visual aesthetics, their signature sound fuses electronic attacks with the visceral punch of Industrial Metal – a style critics have described as “what would happen if Bowie scored a horror film produced by Trent Reznor, if he was from Dusseldorf!

And, as “Cinnamon Girl” hits streaming platforms and Die Krupps take the stage with Ministry, fans can expect a thunderous live set soaked in high tension, lots of sweat, the notorious steelophone and electrified doom. Don’t miss it!

MINISTRY + DIE KRUPPS – 2025 TOUR DATES:
Apr 29 Tue
The Van Buren @ 7:00 Pm
Phoenix, AZ, United States

Apr 30 Wed
Revel @ 7:00 Pm
Albuquerque, NM, United States

May 2 Fri
Emo’s Austin @ 7:00 Pm
Austin, TX, United States

May 3 Sat
House Of Blues Houston @ 7:00 Pm
Houston, TX, United States

May 4 Sun
The Factory In Deep Ellum @ 7:00 Pm
Dallas, TX, United States

May 6 Tue
The Eastern @ 7:00 Pm
Atlanta, Ga, United States

May 8 Thu
Sonic Temple Festival @ 12:00 Pm
Columbus, OH, United States

May 9 Fri
Riviera Theatre @ 7:00 Pm
Chicago, IL, United States

May 10 Sat
Masonic Temple Theatre @ 7:00 Pm
Detroit, MI, United States

May 12 Mon
Soundstage Presents @ 7:00 Pm
Baltimore, MD, United States

May 13 Tue
Franklin Music Hall @ 7:00 Pm
Philadelphia, PA, United States

May 14 Wed
Roadrunner @ 7:00 Pm
Boston, MA, United States

May 16 Fri
Brooklyn Paramount @ 7:00 Pm
Brooklyn, NY, United States

May 17 Sat
Mtelus @ 7:00 Pm
Montreal, QC, Canada

May 18 Sun
History @ 7:00 Pm
Toronto, ON, Canada

May 20 Tue
Palace Theatre @ 7:00 Pm
Saint Paul, MN, United States

May 21 Wed
Burton Cummings Theatre @ 7:00 Pm
Winnipeg, MB, Canada

May 23 Fri
Midway @ 7:00 Pm
Edmonton, AB, Canada

May 24 Sat
The Palace Theatre @ 7:00 Pm
Calgary, AB, Canada

May 26 Mon
Commodore Ballroom @ 7:00 Pm
Vancouver, BC, Canada

May 27 Tue
Commodore Ballroom @ 7:00 Pm
Vancouver, BC, Canada

May 28 Wed
Showbox Sodo @ 7:00 Pm
Seattle, WA, United States

May 29 Thu
Spokane Live @ 7:00 Pm
Airway Heights, WA, United States

May 31 Sat
Mission Ballroom @ 7:00 Pm
Denver, CO, United States

Jun 1 Sun
The Union Event Center @ 7:00 Pm
Salt Lake City, UT, United States

Jun 3 Tue
The Warfield @ 7:00 Pm
San Francisco, CA, United States

Jun 4 Wed
Hollywood Palladium @ 7:00 Pm
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Jun 5 Thu
House Of Blues Las Vegas @ 7:00 Pm
Las Vegas, NV, United States