Month: May 2025

Legendary rock band The Who have announced the lineup of guest artists who will join them on their final North American tour, dubbed ‘The Song Is Over Tour.’

The farewell trek will feature appearances from artists including: Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters, Billy Idol, Booker T. Jones, Candlebox, Feist, Joe Bonamassa, and The Joe Perry Project—featuring rock veterans Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Buck Johnson, Chris Robinson, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz. Also slated to appear are Tom Cochrane and ZZ Ward, with different artists joining at select tour stops.

Additionally, due to overwhelming demand a second concert in Chicago has been added, set for Tuesday, September 9th at the United Center. Guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa is confirmed to support both those dates. Presale tickets for the newly announced Chicago date will be available starting Tuesday, May 20th.

In other news, the band made headlines over the weekend with the announcement they were parting ways with longtime drummer Zak Starkey—marking the second time he’s been dismissed in just a month. Replacing him is Scott Devours, best known for his work with Daltrey’s solo project.  A statement from the band read: “The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20 years younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success . We both wish him all the luck in the world. Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. — Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey”

Starkey, however, shared a different version of his departure in an Instagram post: “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie. I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting the who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox.”

Editorial credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

Barbra Streisand has announced the new album titled ‘The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two’, which will include collaborations with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Hozier, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey and more.

‘The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two’ features 11 duets with additional artists including James Taylor, Sting, Sam Smith, Seal, Josh Groban, Tim McGraw, and Laufey. The album comes as the long-awaited sequel to the chart-topping 2014 album ‘Partners’, and is set for release on June 27. Pre-order HERE.

Among the 11 songs will be McCartney on ‘My Valentine’, while Bob Dylan sings on ‘The Very Thought Of You’, and Josh Groban sings on ‘Where Do I Go From You?’, and ‘One Heart, One Voice’ will see Streisand collaborate with both Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande.

Streisand said in a statement: “I’ve always loved singing duets with gifted artists. They inspire me in unique and different ways … and make our time in the studio a joy. My new album ‘The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two’, gave me the chance to work and play with some of my old friends, label mates, and new artists too. I admire all of them … and I hope that you’ll enjoy listening to our collaborations as much as I enjoyed recording with all of my wonderful partners.”

The album’s first single “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” features Streisand’s collaboration with Hozier.  Hozier said, “To be asked to join her on a duet was a huge honour and came as a wonderful and welcome surprise. Barbra Streisand is one of the most enduring and iconic vocalists of our time, and somebody who defined an era with the sheer force of her voice, her talent, charisma and vision. Ewan MacColl’s ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,’ made famous by the stunning Roberta Flack recording, has always mystified me. It is, to me, one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. Along with the honour I have to sing on this record with Barbra, I hope this duet offers something of a gesture to Roberta Flack’s incredible legacy.”  See the lyric video: HERE.

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The late Tom Petty is featured in the new video for Snoop Dogg’s song “Last Dance with Mary Jane,” which reimagines Petty’s classic track “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”

The rapper, 53, released the music video for “Last Dance with Mary Jane” which also features song collaborator Jelly Roll. The clip, directed by Dave Myers, features an animated Petty playing guitar and harmonica, and singing along to the hook of the song.

Snoop’s “Last Dance with Mary Jane” appears on his most recent album Missionary, his first collaborative album with Dr. Dre since 1993.

Released in 1993, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” was recorded during the sessions for Petty’s album Wildflowers, but was released as part of his ;Greatest Hits’ album, hitting #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 – giving Petty his first top-20 single.

See the video for ‘Last Dance with Mary Jane’  – HERE.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

The Foo Fighters and drummer Josh Freese have parted ways. The news comes two years after he was tapped to replace Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins following his death.

Freese shared the news via an Instagram statement on Friday, May 16th that the had been let go from the band: “The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer.’ No reason was given. Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry–just a bit shocked and disappointed. But as most of you know I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I’m fine … Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reason Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”

Freese was hired in March 2023 to replace Taylor Hawkins, following his unexpected passing in March 2022 while the band was on tour in South America. Aside from his work with Foo Fighters, Freese has also been the drummer for Devo since 1996 and has played with bands like Guns n’ Roses and Nine Inch Nails.

The band has been inactive since its last show in August 2024, after frontman and founder Dave Grohl revealed that he had fathered a child outside of his marriage to Jordyn Blum, his wife of more than 20 years. Per The Hollywood Reporter, a representative for the Foo Fighters didn’t immediately respond to request for comment on Freese’s firing, and it’s unclear who the band’s next drummer will be. The band’s next scheduled performance is this fall after F1 Qualifying during the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, October 4th. Elton John, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Crowded House are among the rock headliners of the three day event, set for October 3-5, at the Marina Bay Grandstand.

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