SMASHING PUMPKINS: Corgan Shares Thoughts on Sabbath Finale

Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins posted a lengthy essay about his experience at Black Sabbath's Back to the Begining concert Saturday in Birmingham, England. Corgan wrote, "I owe a debt of gratitude to Sharon [Osbourne] for asking me to take part. It was truly an honor on more levels that I could count. And to witness the passionate performances of so many in rehearsal: those I admire from afar, those I know, too, and see the translation into the near 10-hour affair of music and fellowship was something to behold. Music is of course the soundtrack to our lives, but [Saturday] in my estimation was something truly special. As a 3-dimensional soundtrack was being crafted in real time. All to celebrate this coming home for the band once known as Earth." "Every great journey has trials and tribulations, tragedies and surprise. Therein lies the magic, therein lie the tears. I both whooped yesterday in sheer exultation to be in the right spot at the right moment, and I wept silently as my heroes fell on their wizardly, mythic sword to bid us farewell. We have the music, and we have them in our hearts. You don’t have to be a musician to understand. But it does help, at least if you’re trying to decode that which is elusive in the cosmos." "Now the band is both here and not here; with us, and yet gone. As it should be."

Corgan's essay touched one member of Sabbath. Tony Iommi commented on the Instagram post with a black heart emoji and a devil horn's emoji. Corgan sang on covers of Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law" and Sabbath's "Snowblind" as part of the all-star band at the event.

GREEN DAY: Billie Joe Raves About Sabbath Finale

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day has spoken about his love of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath over the years, and now he's posted a new essay on Instagram about watching the Back to the Beginning livestream. Green Day had Saturday off from their European tour so Armstrong was able to watch the entire concert. He wrote, "It brought back so many vital moments in my music life. First song Mike [Dirnt] and I played together was 'Crazy Train.' Ozzy solo records hit me first before Black Sabbath." "I think the first time I heard Sabbath was Ozzy’s live record Speak of the Devil. Brad Gillis on guitar. Randy Rhodes passed away right when I started playing guitar. One of the most influential rock guitarists in history. A beautiful soul..." "I bought the first Black Sabbath record when I was a freshman in high school. The song that stood out to me was 'The Wizard.' I went out a bought a harmonica to learn the harp solo. Tony Iommi's guitar playing is on the Mount Everest of guitar gods. If you analyze his riff they are actually singalongs. 'Iron Man,' 'NIB,' 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.' I can’t think of many other bands you can sing along to a guitar riff. Genius." "Bill Ward was such a highlight to see playing in the original lineup. That groove. Those fills. Hard rock jazz that plays inbetween the bass lines and the riffs. Accentuates the lead vocal. Brilliant drumming! Like every concert goer I had a tear in my eye when Ozzy sang 'Mama I’m Coming Home.'

"Oh and JAKE E LEE! I was so happy to see him on stage. 'Bark at the Moon' riffs are so amazing. Also one of my favorite solos is on 'Shot in the Dark.' Playing from slide guitar to melodic shredding. Zakk Wylde splitting duties between Pantera and Ozzy. Those pinch harmonics are undeniable. He also has one of my favorite Instagrams."

Heart Extends "Royal Flush" Tour

Heart is going to go on beating a while longer. The band announced an extension to their current "Royal Flush" tour. The 15 new dates will begin in Las Vegas on November 12th, with three "An Evening with Heart" shows (Heart, playing two sets with no opening act). The band will then be joined by Cheap Trick for four of the newly announced dates. Visit the band's website for tour and ticket information. See the new dates below.

·11/12, 14, 15 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas

·11/18 – Anaheim, CA – HONDA Center #

·11/21 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live

·11/23 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena #

·12/02 – Omaha, NE – Baxter Arena #

·12/04 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center #

·12/06 – Gary, IN – Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana

·12/08 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center

·12/10 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena

·12/12 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre

·12/17 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater

·12/19 – Danville, VA – Caesars Virginia

·12/21 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle

# - with Cheap Trick

Kiss Unveil Second Live Show Following Retirement Announcement

Back in March, Kiss revealed they were performing at a special Kiss Army event in Las Vegas in November. Now, that event's been completely revamped into "Kiss Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas," which references the band's annual cruise, and the itinerary got an upgrade too. Kiss's Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer are now playing two performances - one electric and one acoustic - and they've recruited bands like Ratt and Quiet Riot to perform as well. There will also be Q&A panels and other activities during the three-day event. Kiss Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas is set to go down November 14-16 at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

MARK KNOPFLER: Sultan of Modesty

Mark Knopfler is a unique guitar player with a very distinct sound. But, he told Guitar World that he doesn't like being labeled a guitar hero because he says that's "just awkward.

“The world is bursting with fabulous players. Whether I’ve written a good song or not, that’s what counts to me. I gave up trying to be a great guitar player. “I have enough to get by in the studio – that’s how I see myself as a guitar player. Not much more than that. But I can get away with it. If you’re the one who wrote the songs, you’re kind of allowed to be crap." But, upon reflection he said, "Well, not to be crap, but you’re given some leeway because you wrote the thing. “The other guys are there, really standing by their instruments: ‘I play piano,’ ‘I play bass.’ Like, ‘I’m good at this and that’s why I’m here’ – and boy, they are. “I got away with murder. “The guys that really know their business – the session guys, making a living with their instruments – that’s a whole other kettle of fish. “I remember, in the solo band one day, I said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry about the [mistake] in so and so.’ And [my guitarist] Richard [Bennett] said, ‘Well, the singer is always right!’” Despite his modesty, Knopfler, known for finger picking style, can usually be found on lists of the top guitarists.

ELO Begins Final Tour -- Jeff Lynne Performs With Broken Hand

People are still talking about that "other" concert in Birmingham, England over the weekend. While Ozzy Osbourne's "Back to the Beginning" farewell show grabbed most of the music world's attention, ELO opened the final leg of their "Over and Out" farewell tour in Jeff Lynne's hometown.Lynne opened Saturday's show by telling the audience "I've had a guitar in my hand all my life, but not tonight" after suffering a broken left hand. ELO played two shows in Birmingham over the weekend and will play shows in Manchester tonight and Thursday. ELO's final concert is set for Sunday at Hyde Park in London.

GEDDY LEE: Truly an Honor

Geddy Lee has once again narrated a short film as part of the See the Good movement, an anti-hate campaign starring global celebrities who promote tolerance among young Canadians. This one, which you can watch on Geddy's Instagram page, focuses on Israeli inventor Haim Shtalyrd, who created a monitor that helps prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In May, Geddy narrated a one-minute clip on the accomplishments of Dr. Nikolai Amosov, who invented the artificial heart valve. Geddy explained how it could have saved his father, Morris Weinrib, who died from a faulty heart valve in 1965. You can watch it on YouTube. Gene Simmons also narrated a See the Good film in February.

OASIS, BLUR: Damon Knew a Reunion Would Happen

While Oasis fans are still amazed that their band's reunion tour did start this past weekend, Blur frontman Damon Albarn never had a doubt. Back in 2023 when Blur were on their own reunion tour Albarn said he thought the “road is clear” for Oasis to get back together, and that he’d “put money” on them reuniting. Albarn now told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, "Two years ago I was prophetic when I said that they would do it and that the road was level. Well, you can’t think that two brothers can’t reconcile, sooner or later. It’s a good thing, the way I see it.” When asked if he’d be catching a show, Albarn said, “No: I’m literally too busy.” Albarn isn't lying about being busy -- Gorillaz will be doing a series of full album shows August 29th to September 3th in London. Albarn has also being working on a new Gorillaz album and has finished a new album from Africa Express, another one of his projects.

Queensrÿche Announces Fall Tour

They're calling it "The Volume and Vengeance" tour, and with Accept opening, Queensrÿche

promises to live up to that name. Just announced yesterday, the two bands will mount a fall trek that will cover 28 dates, starting November 7th in Denver Colorado, hitting Chicago, Houston, San Diego and more before their final show December 20th in Temecula, California. Ticket pre-sales begin today ahead of the general on-sale this Friday. Check out the tour's first ten dates below, and visit the band's website for more tour and ticket info.

·Nov 7 – Denver, CO – Summit

·Nov 8 – Wichita, KS – TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite Center

·Nov 9 - Evansville, IN – Victory Theatre

·Nov 11 – Peoria, IL – TempleLive at Peoria Scottish Rite Theater

·Nov 13 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues

·Nov 14 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center

·Nov 15 – Cleveland, OH – TempleLive Cleveland Masonic

·Nov 16 – Columbus, OH – TempleLive at the Columbus Athenaeum

·Nov 18 – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theater

·Nov 19 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Kirby Center

IN OTHER NEWS

A stainless-steel sculpture of Ringo Starr’s right hand making the peace sign has been unveiled outside The Beatles Story museum in his hometown of Liverpool. A duplicate one in bronze is on display in his backyard in Beverly Hills, California, with another stainless-steel one in Beverly Garden Park in Beverly Hills, where on Monday — Ringo’s 85th birthday — he gathered with family and friends to declare “Peace & Love” at noon local time.

Paul McCartney has paid tribute to his friend and stained glass artist Brian Clarke, who died last week at 71. He posted a photo of the two of them on his socials, writing, “Brian was a dear friend of our family whom we had known for years… He made some stained glass windows for us and did a great collaboration with Linda using her photographs to make stained glass pictures out of… Ever since I met him in the ’70s with Robert Fraser the art dealer, we always had the best times together. We will all miss him but have fond memories of him to cherish and his incredible artwork to remind us of Brian himself.”

Bruce Springsteen’s new archival collection, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, has debuted on numerous Billboard charts thanks to 10,000 in album sales and 14,000 equivalent album units (sales, downloads and streaming). It’s number-seven on the Top Album Sales and

Americana/Folk Albums charts, and number-68 on the Billboard 200, which marks his 44th career entry. His first came in July 1975 with his first two albums, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle, each released in 1973. And the best of Tracks II, Lost and Found: Selections From the Lost Albums, debuts at number-22 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart.

Sting canceled his show this past Sunday in Bassano del Grappa, a city in north-east Italy, due to “dangerous” weather conditions. He says, “The mayor of Bassano del Grappa wisely said it would have been too dangerous for the performance to take place with the possibility of lightning and extremely high winds last night. The safety of my audience, band and crew is paramount. I promise we will return as soon as we can.” His next show is tomorrow (Wednesday) in Udine, Italy.

Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Los Lobos and Norah Jones have donated autographed guitars to a new Sweet Relief auction to raise money for Music's Mental Health Fund. Check out the auction at CharityBuzz.com through July 22nd.

Bryan Adams will do five club shows in England in celebration of the August 29th release of his 17th studio album, Roll With the Punches. They start on August 30th in Leeds, followed by August 31st in Newcastle, September 1st in Liverpool, September 2nd in Norwich, and the finale on September 3rd in Kingston. He’ll then head across the Atlantic for his North American tour starting on September 11th in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. The U.S. leg begins on October 25th in Uncasville, Connecticut and runs through November 26th in Minneapolis.

England's Royal Mint has unveiled a commemorative coin celebrating Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary. They join Queen, Elton John and David Bowie as being part of the Royal Mint's Music Legends series.

Mel Taylor