When former Billy Joel drummer Liberty DeVitto started work on his new memoir Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness about 15 years ago, he was still angry. Joel had just fired him from his band after 30 years together, and DeVitto saw the book as a chance to …
Read More »RS Latin Music Picks: Week of July 6th
Could your weekend playlist use a little more seasoning? Rolling Stone Latinselects some of the best new music releases from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.Keep track of the latest in Latin via our playlist on Spotify. Myke Towers, “Michael X” As the summer of racial reckoning continues around the world, …
Read More »Ringo Starr Celebrates His 80th Birthday with Peace, Love, and Black Lives Matter
How did Ringo Starr decide to celebrate 80 years of 8-day weeks? By hosting his own Big Birthday Special livestream to benefit Black Lives Matter? By giving a shout out to the late Little Richard as “my hero”? By jamming on “Helter Skelter” with Paul McCartney? All of the above. …
Read More »Lil Jon on Taking PPP Loan: 'I'm Doin' What I Can to Support My Team'
Following Rolling Stone’s report on how artists received federally funded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, Lil Jon explained why he — like so many artists who were forced to stop touring due to COVID-19 — needed financial assistance from the government’s recently enacted $2 trillion CARES act. “Touring is a …
Read More »Song You Need to Know: Natanael Cano, 'Que Bendición'
In 2019, as Lil Nas X’s country-trap megahit “Old Town Road” spread like wildfire across the United States, Sonora-born singer-songwriter Natanael Cano was polishing off its regional Mexican analogue. By pairing traditional acoustic guitar with some cutting, hip-hop-inspired wordplay, Cano became one of several young artists championing a more streetwise …
Read More »Kendell Marvel Drops Cover of Lee Hazlewood's 'Houston'
Kendell Marvel has dropped a new cover version of “Houston,” originally penned by “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” singer-songwriter Lee Hazlewood and later cut by Dean Martin. It’s the first new music that country singer Marvel has released since his album Solid Gold Sounds arrived in 2019. Cut at …
Read More »Grateful Dead Roll Out Surprise 'Workingman's Dead' Studio Outtakes
On that late-winter-1970 day at Pacific High recording studio in San Francisco, Jerry Garcia wasn’t happy with what he was hearing. The Grateful Dead were trying to finish “New Speedway Boogie,” a song they’d played live only three times, and they were having trouble finding a groove. “Keep it nice …
Read More »Faith Hill, Mississippi Native, Calls for State to Change Its Flag
Faith Hill, a native of Star, Mississippi, which she sang about in her 2005 hit, “Mississippi Girl,” is calling for her home state to change its flag. Consisting of three stripes with the Confederate flag in the corner, the banner is the last of the state flags to use the …
Read More »Dixie Chicks Change Name to 'The Chicks,' Drop Protest Song
The Dixie Chicks have officially dropped the “Dixie” from their name. The iconic country-pop trio of Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire are now simply called “The Chicks,” changing their website URL and their Instagram handle to the new name on Thursday. On their website, the trio only offered …
Read More »Live Nation Launches First Drive-In Concert Series in U.S. With Brad Paisley, Nelly and More
Since COVID-19 hit in March, musicians have been looking for ways to continue to perform for fans. First came the livestreams — so many livestreams — now, it’s all about drive-in concerts. Monday, Live Nation announced a whole string of such shows for July featuring the likes of Brad Paisley, …
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