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KISS Releases Limited-Edition Gold Playable Record of “Strutter” for 50th Anniversary

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees KISS, proudly present “Strutter” on a limited-edition, playable gold records in honor of 50 years of the single available now. KISS partners with Precious Sound to produce two versions-the ultra-rare Pure Gold Edition and the Gold-Plated Edition. Order, here.

As the ultimate KISS precious metal collectible, the world’s first-ever Pure Gold Edition playable disc will be limited to only 5 copies worldwide pressed from eight ounces of pure .999 24-karat gold. These 5-inch records are specifically remastered for gold playback on any manual turntable system. The A-side boasts the playable grooves, a rim engraving with each record’s unique edition number as well as the KISS logo adorned with Swarovski crystals and the B-side celebrates the original Casablanca single label etched into the gold with proof-quality finish.

The package features a luxurious coffee table display case bound in sustainable faux leather with gold foil accents and a Swarovski crystals KISS logo. The two-drawer case is hand-crafted to preserve this everlasting record for a lifetime. One drawer houses a protective sapphire crystal glass capsule and the other holds an exclusive book signed by Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley. Other accessories in the set range from the gold-accented pen utilized to sign the respective book, a laser-engraved and numbered metal certificate of authenticity, a custom-made cork record mat for optimal playback, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Each pressing is made-to-order.

Available to ship around the globe now, just 500 copies of the Gold-Plated Edition have been crafted for the world. The 5-inch copper-core record is coated using .999 24-karat gold and are playable on any manual turntable. It is presented in a custom display case with a crystal glass window, a booklet, a silicon record mat, a micro-fiber cleaning cloth, and its own hand-numbered certificate of authenticity. Orders will be limited to two copies per customer.

Precious Sound crafted each version in Bavaria, Germany, implementing an impressive, patented process. 11 artisans completed the 304 steps of this process in order to create the Pure Gold Edition and Gold-Plated Edition.

“Strutter” notably opens the band’s Gold-certified self-titled debut album KISS-originally released on February 18, 1974 via Casablanca and produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise. The song stands out as one of a few in the group’s catalog co-written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. This upbeat anthem effectively set the tone for KISS. In retrospect, Paste ranked it at #2 on “The 20 Best KISS Songs,” and American Songwriter summed it up succinctly as “classic.” As the story goes, Gene and Paul initially brought “Strutter” to life before even settling on the band name. A bit later on, it graced an early five-track demo cut at Electric Lady Studios with producer Eddie Kramer. Finally, it served as the third and final official single from their first LP. It has impressively amassed hundreds of millions of streams, appeared in classic video game franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and Guitar Hero, and would later be covered by everyone from Extreme to Vitamin String Quartet.

 

Supergrass Announces North American Tour for ‘I Should Coco’ 30th Anniversary

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Supergrass has announced North American tour dates celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s classic 1995 debut album, I Should Coco. Come September, Supergrass will play a select series of I Should Coco 30th anniversary dates, beginning September 2 in Mexico City and winding down September 12 in Boston-with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

Fans will get the chance to see I Should Coco performed in its entirety, plus a nightly encore featuring hits spanning the band’s three-decade career. Speaking further on the shows, Supergrass’ Mick Quinn said: “15th May 2025 marks 30 years since ‘I Should Coco’. Supergrass are thrilled to announce their return to perform the debut album live, in its entirety, for the first time. Dynamic pricing not included.”

Pre-sale is available Wednesday, February 19 at 10am local time, with general on-sale from Friday, February 21 at 10am local time.

In 1995 Supergrass’s Mercury-nominated debut album I Should Coco hit the UK charts at #3, rose to #1 in the week following that year’s Glastonbury festival, eventually shifting more than 500,000 copies in the UK and a million worldwide. The album’s multiple singles include perennial favorites “Alright” and “Caught by the Fuzz”, sustaining huge cultural influence 30 years on from release. It was “Alright”, the band’s fourth single, and pop masterpiece, that catapulted them to global success. I Should Coco now stands at over 1 million sales worldwide, and impressively, is the biggest-selling Parlophone Records debut album since The Beatles’ Please Please Me.

Consisting of Gaz Coombes, Mick Quinn, Danny Goffey and Rob Coombes; Supergrass are one of the most enduring and influential bands to emerge from the UK during the 1990s. Formed in Oxford in 1993, their accomplishments include several million record sales, 6 UK top 10 albums and 10 UK top 20 singles. With Brit and Ivor Novello awards to their name, huge praise has also been given from the likes of Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and NME, with the latter giving I Should Coco a near-perfect 9/10.

Supergrass North American Tour
September 2 – Mexico City, MX – Teatro Metropolitan
September 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
September 6 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
September 9 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
September 11 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17
September 12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Billy Idol Announces Exclusive UK Shows for 2025, Including OVO Wembley Arena

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Rock ‘n’ roll legend Billy Idol, recently nominated for the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, returns to the UK for a very special date at the OVO Wembley Arena on Tuesday 24th June 2025. This show comes two days after Billy’s appearance at the Forever Now Festival at The National Bowl, Milton Keynes. These are Billy’s only UK appearances in 2025.

Tickets for the OVO Wembley Arena gig are available from www.aegpresents.co.uk/billy-idol,on sale Friday 21st February 2025 from 10am. Billy Idol will be joined by special guests and post-punk legends New Model Army.

This will be Billy Idol’s first UK visit since his arena tour of 2022. The world’s favourite rebel brings with him his regular touring band featuring his long-time guitarist and collaborator Steve Stevens alongside Stephen McGrath (bass, backing vocals), Billy Morrison (guitar, backing vocals), Paul Trudeau (keyboards, backing vocals) and drummer Erik Eldenius.

Idol says: “Every time we play Wembley we have an absolute blast and this summer will be no exception!”

Paul McCartney to Offer Selected Photographs Taken During the Rise of Beatlemania at Gagosian Beverly Hills

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Gagosian is pleased to announce an exhibition of recently rediscovered photographs by Paul McCartney—including some previously unseen—at its gallery in Beverly Hills. Featuring thirty-six works composed of images taken between December 1963 and February 1964, it offers an indelible snapshot of Beatlemania as it was becoming a global phenomenon. McCartney has collaborated with Gagosian to produce the prints in small editions and has signed each one. Incorporating pictures shot in Liverpool; London; Paris; New York; Washington, DC; and Miami, the exhibition is on view from April 25 to June 21, 2025. A portion of sale proceeds will be donated to support ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in Southern California following the recent devastating wildfires.

Evoking a key interval in twentieth-century cultural history, the photographs embody a poignant intersection of time, place, and personality. Taken together, they form a significant contribution to the visual record of the era, not only due to their unique perspective, but also because they demonstrate McCartney’s natural talent as a photographer. The mix of black-and-white and color prints includes self-portraits, unguarded portraits of McCartney’s bandmates, and views of the pandemonium that greeted them at every turn. Some of the most compelling photographs portray dramatic scenes glimpsed through the windows of moving vehicles as McCartney and his fellow Beatles were whisked from one appearance to the next.

The exhibition in Beverly Hills is designed by Stefan Beckman, who previously worked with the gallery on exhibition designs for Avedon 100 at Gagosian New York (2023) and Jean-Michel Basquiat: Made on Market Street at Gagosian Beverly Hills (2024). It coincides with the touring exhibition Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, which debuted at the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2023 and will open at the de Young Museum in San Francisco on March 1, 2025.

Rascal Flatts Kick Off Sold-Out ‘Life Is a Highway’ Tour With Record-Breaking Success

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Country superstars Rascal Flatts kicked off their LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR this weekend with three sold-out crowds in Evansville, IN, Charleston, WV, and Grand Rapids, MI.

Joined by openers Lauren Alaina and Chris Lane, the trio rocked capacity arenas for the first time officially since 2019, “a testament to their musical legacy, deep connection with fans, and the undeniable magic they create together on stage,” (Country Now).

Etching another notch in country music history, Rascal Flatts’ newest single “I Dare You” with Jonas Brothers has broken streaming and radio records for the band, marking the largest streaming debut in their career with over 3.1 million global streams, and becoming their most added single delivering 138 single-day Mediabase adds.

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY TOUR Official Dates:
2/22 Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater SOLD OUT
2/27 Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center SOLD OUT
2/28 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center SOLD OUT
3/1 Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena SOLD OUT
3/6 Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena SOLD OUT
3/7 Toledo, OH – Huntington Center SOLD OUT
3/8 Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre SOLD OUT
3/13 Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena SOLD OUT
3/14 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena SOLD OUT
3/15 Allentown, PA – PPL Center SOLD OUT
3/20 Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center Propst Arena SOLD OUT
3/21 Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena LOW TICKET WARNING
3/22 Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena SOLD OUT
3/27 Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena SOLD OUT
3/28 Lafayette, LA – CAJUNDOME SOLD OUT
3/29 Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena LOW TICKET WARNING
4/3 Estero, FL – Hertz Arena SOLD OUT
4/4 Orlando, FL – Kia Center SOLD OUT
4/5 Jacksonville, FL – Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena SOLD OUT

Loretta Lynn’s Life and Music Brought to Broadway in Coal Miner’s Daughter Musical

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The music and life story of beloved country music icon and legend Loretta Lynn will be celebrated and depicted in a new stage musical Coal Miner’s Daughter starring Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster.

The production is in development under the direction of Tony Award-winner Sam Gold. Music Production is by Tony Award-winner Jeanine Tesori. Gold and Tesori last worked together on the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home.

Loretta Lynn’s manager, producer, and daughter, Patsy Lynn, and longtime adviser, Nancy Russell, will act as consulting producers. Inspired by the award-nominated 1980 film and autobiography by Loretta Lynn and George Vecsey, Coal Miner’s Daughter chronicles Loretta’s rise from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky to country music legend. The stage adaptation will include songs from Loretta’s career and share stories from Loretta’s life beyond the film’s ending.

Loretta Lynn, one of country music’s most iconic figures, left an indelible mark on the genre with a career spanning over six decades. Known for her powerful storytelling and unapologetically honest lyrics, she sold over 45 million records worldwide and earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, Country Music Association (CMA) awards, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her legacy includes timeless hits such as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” and “The Pill.” Lynn’s career, which began in the early 1960s, was marked by its longevity and influence. She passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 90, leaving behind a profound impact on music and culture.

“We are so grateful to see that our mother’s life story and music will continue to touch the hearts of audiences and remain an important statement of the American dream,” said the family of Loretta Lynn. “As one of the last creative projects our mom was so passionate about, we are thankful that she had the opportunity to experience the initial stages of Sutton’s sincere portrayal of Loretta. Mom absolutely fell in love with her and thought she was just the right person to play her onstage. The family is moved by this incredible team’s commitment to her legacy.”

The producing team committed to bringing the iconic story of Loretta Lynn’s life to the stage include Broadway veterans Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini, and ATG Entertainment.

Released on March 7, 1980, Coal Miner’s Daughter received seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Writing and Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Coal Miner’s Daughter was also awarded Best Motion Picture by the Golden Globes, National Board of Review, National Film Preservation Board and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Sleigh Bells Announce New Album ‘Bunky Becky Birthday Boy’ Out April 4

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Sleigh Bells – comprised of producer/guitarist Derek Miller and singer Alexis Krauss – announce their seventh album Bunky Becky Birthday Boy out April 4th via Mom+Pop Music. A celebration of the pair’s unbelievable friendship, the new record also greets a brand-new (and every bit as explosive) chapter of Sleigh Bells.

Today, the band is sharing the album opener “Bunky Pop,” following last month’s first tease of the new album, “Wanna Start A Band?.” The record immediately bounds to life on the effervescent opener, crashing in with gnawing guitar riffs and Krauss’ pulsing chants. “We wanted the track to sound like a dog having the best moment of her life without any of the burden of self consciousness,” Miller says. “‘Bunky Pop’ informed the entire record, and Bunky Becky kind of became a character woven into every song. We wanted to give her a friend, Roxette Ric, so we could play with a little bit of autobiography and fiction as well.”

Sleigh Bells are so many things: era-defining, a sonic boom of energy, your favorite hyperpop musician’s favorite reference. But what are Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller to each other? Take away everything else – the critical acclaim, the inexplicable clash of sweet and aggressive, birthed in the late 2000s on Treats and expanded across the next decade on five more albums – Alexis and Derek are simply best friends forever.

You can’t just have soulmate status; it has to be earned. Over the course of nearly two decades, ever since July 2008 when Derek asked Alexis if she’d consider starting a band with him, Sleigh Bells has been a bedrock and a creative guiding force for both artists. Whatever else may change – cities, jobs, partners, parenthood – Alexis and Derek have seen each other through everything. Now, the duo prepare to launch their seventh album this year, Bunky Becky Birthday Boy.

Following 2021’s Texis, Bunky Becky Birthday Boy blasts into the room with razor-sharp guitars, ultra-sticky pop choruses, floor-shaking rhythms, and indelible chants, which kick off on the album’s instant-classic opening track. The pair are in constant communication with each other; even when they’re not actively recording music, they’re sending tracks back and forth. And that’s how Bunky Becky Birthday Boy came to be.

The playfully alliterative title is a symbolic quilt, weaving together endings and beginnings while loosely looping in the band’s own history. “‘Bunky Becky’ was a nickname for Alexis’ dog Riz, who passed away in December 2023. When she passed away, Alexis and I had been talking about writing an anthem for her,” Derek says. “And then Alexis’ son Wilder was born, and he’s the birthday boy. Even though the title sounds a little ridiculous – and it’s totally okay to laugh at it – with a little bit of context, it’s actually life and death. We lost somebody that we love, and we gained somebody that we love.”

The story of Bunky Becky and Roxette Ric evolves in the swaggering “Wanna Start A Band?,” an irresistible collision of glam metal, stabbing synths, vocal whoops, and in-your-face beats. Just as Derek asked Alexis to start a band 17 years ago, “Wanna Start A Band?” finds the duo’s alter egos – Becky and Roxette – forming their creative partnership. On the rager-ready “Badly,” Sleigh Bells roll out a quintessential barn burner anthem in the vein of Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” and like minded ’80s jams. Sleigh Bells seal off the record with “Pulse Drips Quiet,” which experiments with rhythm and tone and reflects the duo’s unshakable bond.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Launch Wildfire Relief Effort Ahead of Historic Arena Tour

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Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats have announced an initiative to help raise wildfire recovery funds for the Los Angeles area in advance of their first-ever show at the Kia Forum on Friday, February 21. The show, part of the band’s milestone first arena run, will feature support sets from Waxahatchee and Iron And Wine. All proceeds from the fundraising efforts will go to the Musicares Fire Relief Fund.

Three winners will receive two VIP seats, passes to the Forum Club and will each be invited backstage with a friend to meet Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Waxahatchee and Iron And Wine. All three winners will also receive a signed Gibson guitar from the bands. Enter to win here and donate to the Musicares Fire Relief Fund here. No purchase is necessary to win.

In addition, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, in partnership with Greater Good Music and Dream Center LA, have purchased a mobile food pantry for those who lost their homes to the Los Angeles fires—truckloads of food, water and pet supplies will be available on the streets of the city, with those living in hotels and shelters able to drive or walk up to receive meals.

Greater Good Music partners with music artists to give mobile food pantries to people in disaster zones—recent partnerships include Ringo Star and Def Leppard for those affected by the Los Angeles fires and Green Day, who donated emergency food to those affected by the Maui fires. Greater Good is currently feeding 1,200 people in Los Angeles weekly.

The second leg of the band’s first arena tour will see stops at San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, a slew of performances in Canada, including at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, and a landmark show at Madison Square Garden. The first leg of the arena tour saw electric performances at Red Rocks, Chicago’s United Center, and St. Paul’s Excel Center. Pioneer Press praised Rateliff’s “twangy voice exploding out of guitars and keyboards and horns into roaring, soaring choruses”.

The tour caps off another highlight year for the band, which saw two #1s: “Heartless” and “Call Me (Whatever You Like)” from their critically acclaimed fourth full-length studio album, South of Here, both topped the Adult Alternative Chart, marking their 7th and 8th #1s to date. The album is out now via Stax—listen here. See the band perform “Heartless” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert here and an excerpt from their special on the Howard Stern Show here.

Additionally, Rateliff has been appointed as Newport Folk Steward, the first artist to hold such a role at the legendary festival since Pete Seeger. The position holds a three-year term, which will see Rateliff serving as Steward actively for two years and advising the next recipient during a third transition year. Rateliff has chosen to devote his term to artist advocacy, fellowship and mentorship both at the Fort and beyond.

SOUTH OF HERE TOUR—NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS
February 13—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena*
February 15—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena*
February 16—Portland, OR—Moda Center*
February 18—Reno, NV—Grand Sierra Resort ±
February 21—Los Angeles, CA—Kia Forum ± #
February 22—San Francisco, CA—Bill Graham Civic Auditorium ±
March 11—Edmonton, AB—Rogers Place~
March 13—Calgary, AB—Scotiabank Saddledome~
March 15—Winnipeg, MB—Canada Life Centre~
March 18—Fishers, IN—Fishers Event Center~
March 19—Pittsburgh, PA—Petersen Events Center~
March 21—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena~
March 22—Ottawa, ON—Canadian Tire Centre~
March 23—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun~
March 27—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden+
March 28—Boston, MA—MGM Music Hall at Fenway
March 29—Boston, MA—MGM Music Hall at Fenway
+with support from Gregory Alan Isakov
*with support from Charley Crockett
±with support from Iron & Wine
#with support from Waxahatchee
~with support from The Teskey Brothers

Joe Walsh Shares His Secret to Sobriety in a Rock and Roll World

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In a candid conversation with Sammy Hagar, legendary guitarist Joe Walsh opened up about his struggles with addiction and the importance of asking for help. Despite decades in an industry full of temptations, Walsh credits his sobriety to the simple act of picking up the phone. “The hardest thing to do—the phone can weigh 30 pounds. Pick up the phone and ask for help because there’s life after addiction and it’s good.”

Whiskey Jam Heads North: Nashville’s Legendary Live Music Series Debuts in Toronto

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For the first time ever, in partnership with Universal Music Canada, Nashville’s iconic live music event series brings its traditional Whiskey Jam format to Canada. Whiskey Jam Toronto presented by Bud Light debuts on February 26 at Horseshoe Tavern, hosted by Whiskey Jam’s founder Ward Guenther, featuring a stacked line-up of seven country music artists on track for a breakout year including: Brandon Wisham, Christian Hayes, Dalton Davis, James Barker Band, Kalsey Kulyk, Kashus Culpepper, and Ryan Hurd. Just like the original Whiskey Jam events held at Whiskey Row on Broadway Street in Nashville, tickets to Whiskey Jam Toronto are free and will be available in person at the venue on a first come, first served basis.

“Whiskey Jam has welcomed Canadian guests, both on stage and in the crowd, for years,” says Guenther. “Canadians have always been some of the most passionate and enthusiastic fans, so we figured it was time to take the show north. We’ve toured Canada with Luke Combs and Old Dominion, but we’ve never brought Whiskey Jam to a bar setting like we do in Nashville. Hosting it at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern, alongside Universal Music Canada and some of our favorite artists, feels like the perfect way to kick things off. This has all the makings of something special—and a whole lot of fun.”

Originating in 2011 as a small gathering for songwriters and musicians to showcase their talent in an intimate setting, Whiskey Jam has now become a staple of Nashville’s music scene, hosting both emerging artists and major names. The event takes place at Whiskey Row on Broadway and is free to attend, making it a favourite spot for industry insiders, songwriters, and music fans alike. Big names like Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, and Morgan Wallen have all played the event early in their careers.

Whiskey Jam is a live music series based in Nashville, TN with a simple mission: connecting great new music with great audiences and having a great time doing it. Since 2011, they have put on over 1000 shows, hosting thousands of amazing artists – names like Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Cody Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney and many, many more. Located in a lively downtown bar, the uninhibited energy and up-close nature of the show create an unparalleled environment to enjoy original music in Music City.

Over the previous 14 years, Whiskey Jam alumni have been responsible for writing or recording over 459 number one songs. They have received 129 ACM awards, 92 CMA awards & 39 Grammys. Nine members of the Whiskey Jam Fam have gone on to be inducted in the Grand Ole Opry.