Roger Daltrey Among Those To Receive Knighthood

Over the weekend, Roger Daltrey was given a prestigious honor afforded very few rock n' roll stars: he was knighted. Joining the ranks of peers like Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Elton John and a select few others, you will now address him as Sir Roger Daltrey. The Who

frontman was honored for his services to charity. Alongside his legendary musical career, Daltrey has served as a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000, spearheading its annual concert series for more than two decades. Daltrey issued a statement that shifted the focus away from himself and onto the charity he's worked so hard for. "It's kind of weird, but I am deeply honored to get this, especially for the charity for the Teenage Cancer Trust, and I accept it on their behalf really, because this honor is really for all unsung heroes. It's a dream come true for me, but it's especially a dream because the charity means so much."

Def Leppard's Vivian Campbell Says He's In "Complete Remission" After 12-Year Cancer Battle

Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard announced some big news: after a twelve-year battle with cancer, the guitarist is in "complete remission." He was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013. Campbell told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" last week that he'd been "through the mill with all sorts of chemo and immunotherapy and combination therapies," even having a stem cell transplant with his own cells, which "didn't work." Eventually, "the doctors told me really my only chance for [a] cure was to do a donor [stem cell] transplant. And that's exactly what I did." And the last-ditch effort worked; Campbell said "I don't get to know who (the donor) is for a couple of years," adding, "I'm gonna buy him a beer - or two or three."

OZZY: This Is Your Life

Back in January, when Ozzy Osbourne and the other members of Black Sabbath were honored by their hometown of Birmingham, England with the Freedom of the City award, Ozzy's wife Sharon said he plans to donate his awards and platinum discs to an exhibit that is being planned for the city. Now we can report that the Ozzy exhibit will open at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery later this month. Titled Working Class Hero, it will showcase "Ozzy’s most prestigious international honors -- including Grammy Awards, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame accolades, MTV Awards, Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham Walk of Stars honors," plus a selection of his platinum and gold discs, alongside photography and video that charts "his journey from a working-class kid from Aston to becoming the world’s most recognizable global rock legend." The free exhibition will open on June 25th and will run through to September 28th.

But wait, there's more, including a free outdoor Black Sabbath photography exhibit in the city's Victoria Square alongside their album artwork. And, on Navigation Street you'll find a 131-foot street-long mural in tribute to Sabbath featuring their iconic logo and lifelike portraits throughout the last seven decades. Sharon says, "Ozzy is proof that no matter where you start in life, with passion, grit and a little bit of madness, you can achieve the extraordinary. This exhibition is a thank you to the fans and the city of Birmingham -- the place where it all began. We’re so proud to bring it home." Black Sabbath and Ozzy will play their final show on July 5th at Birmingham's Villa Park, and it will be streamed live around the world.

GREEN DAY: Billie's Come Around (to Workouts)

Green Day did close to three hour shows on their Saviors tour last year, and Billie Joe Armstrong said it's something he definitely couldn't have done a couple decades ago.

Armstrong told Kerrang, "I try to take really good care of myself -- which is a lot better than the days I didn’t take care of myself. I love going for long runs, which is good for my mental health. I like to work out, and I swim a lot. I think that puts me at ease, but I also think it contributes to my voice, which is the one thing I don’t ever want to lose. I try to take really good care of that at this stage of my life -- keeping my chops up." Armstrong adds that keeping his chops up is why fans see him do so much outside the band. “And that’s why I do so many side-projects, honestly! When it comes to doing The Coverups, it’s a chance for me to just jam with my friends and then go play a show -- it keeps me in vocal shape, you know? They’re really fun club shows, but they also serve a really good purpose.”

HEART: Trump's Not Their Magic Man

Heart is upset with the organizers of President Trump's military parade Saturday for playing an instrumental version of "Barracuda" without permission. Nancy Wilson says, "'Barracuda' written and performed by [my sister] Ann and I, is a powerful piece of music that was never intended for political use. As daughters of a U.S. Marine Corps major, we hold a deep and abiding respect for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. On a day meant to honor that service, it’s important that music used in such settings reflects not only the tone of the event but also the wishes of the artists who created it." Heart previously balked at Trump using their music during his campaign, and in 2008, Ann and Nancy objected when "Barracuda" was played for then-Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin at the Republican National Convention. And in 2018, Ann told The Hill that "Barracuda" could be used by any candidate except Trump during the 2020 campaign.

In other Heart news, Nancy has commented further on having her stolen Fender Telecaster guitar returned to her after it was stolen last month before their Atlantic City show. She says,

"I’m incredibly grateful to the Atlantic City Police Department for recovering my guitar — it means so much to have it back in my hands. Their dedication and quick action are deeply appreciated. However, we’re still hoping for the safe return of Paul Moak’s vintage mandolin, which remains missing. This instrument holds tremendous sentimental and musical value. A reward is still being offered — no questions asked — for its return. We just want to see it come home where it belongs. Thank you." Heart's tour moves to Cedar Park, Texas tonight (Sunday) followed by Sugar Land, Texas on Tuesday.

REO SPEEDWAGON: Rode the Storm Out

Six of REO Speedwagon's 20 former members since forming in 1967 came together Saturday night for a "retrospective" concert in their hometown of Champaign, Illinois. Back Where It All Began - Honoring the Legacy of REO Speedwagon, held at the State Farm Arena on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, featured band founder and keyboardist Neal Doughty, drummer Alan Gratzer, bassist Bruce Hall, guitarist Steve Scorfina, and singers Terry Luttrell and Mike Murphy, with an in memoriam segment for guitarist Gary Richrath and bassist Gregg Philbin.

With longtime frontman Kevin Cronin noticeably absent due to being at odds with Hall as well as being on tour with Styx and Don Felder, the ex-members played lots of deep cuts to go along with their hits with vocal help from Levon, a trio who have toured in the past with REO, as well as Hall's kids -- Sara and Timmy -- and Gary Richrath's son Eric who played guitar on "Ridin' the Storm Out." Band co-founder Alan Gratzer addressed the audience, saying, "I've been very happily retired. Neal and I started this band in 1967, which many of you already know, over in Townsend Hall [on the] second floor. After our freshman year, we went home over the summer and I said, 'Let's come back in the fall when we go to school and form a band.'" And bassist Bruce Hall added, "As hard as it's all been for everybody, including me, don't forget that love will cure you. I'm counting on that. It should hopefully make a difference in somebody close that you know, because I miss you too. I think these songs belong to all of us and it's fun playing them... In all reality, this is REO's last show."

The decision to retire the REO name last year came about after Cronin wanted to continue without Hall, who was sidelined with a back injury that required surgery. Doughty and Hall voted against Cronin's continuing under that name unless Hall was part of the lineup. In photos Hall posted on Facebook, he was hunched over and looked frail.

DOOBIE BROTHERS: Get Their Doo

Five years after The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame came their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The honor was bestowed upon the three principal songwriters -- Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald -- Thursday night at the Marriott Marquis in New York. In accepting the award, Johnston said, "Songwriting to me is a way to express what’s going on inside you and tell other people about it, but at the same time, if people like what you write, which is amazing, than you can bring ‘em up. Basically, we all feel, I guess, a responsibility of lifting people up. I think that’s really important, especially right now.” The three also performed, doing “Black Water,” “Taking’ It to the Streets” and “Listen to the Music,” while surprise guest Garth Brooks did “Long Train Runnin'” and “China Grove.”

BRIAN WILSON: His Spirit Was Felt

It was with heavy heart that Mike Love accepted his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night in New York, the day after his cousin and Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson passed away in his sleep at age 82. Talking to the media on the red carpet prior to the ceremony, Love said, "Brian's with us tonight." "I can feel his presence. You know, we co-created these great songs together, and so we're inseparable, really, in life and afterlife too. So, I do really feel his presence. I've known him all of his life. I'm one year older." And, in accepting the award from honorary Beach Boy and actor John Stamos, Love said, “I especially must thank my cousin Brian Wilson. My first cousin by blood, but brother in music, together we set the stage for some of the most successful music collaborations of all time.” It was Stamos who informed Love of Wilson's death, saying that Love remained quiet for over two hours. After the speeches, Love and Stamos did a medley of “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo” and “Good Vibrations.” Love's induction comes 25 years after Wilson's, and Wilson's death came a little over a month after that of his cousin Stan Love, Love's younger brother who was a former NBA player and onetime Wilson caretaker.

BRIAN WILSON: Passed in His Sleep

Former Beach Boy Al Jardine says Brian Wilson, his childhood friend and bandmate, "went peacefully, in his sleep" Wednesday at the age of 82. Jardine tells Rolling Stone they last saw each other in May at Wilson's Los Angeles-area home. “He looks at me and he says, ‘You started the group.' It was his first statement to me. I didn’t even have a chance to say hi.

“I’m going, ‘Yeah, you helped. You were part of it too!' But he is not wrong, because we bumped into each other on campus and I said, ‘We’ve gotta start a band. We gotta start a group, Brian.’ And he remembered that. I go, wow. ‘Okay. Yeah, I did have something to do with it.' So that’s quite an honor.” Wilson was diagnosed last year with dementia, but Jardine didn't think his visit in May would be the last time they would see each other. “I thought he was gonna get better. He had blood-oxygen-level problems, but his oxygen was coming back.”

Jardine, who will tour this summer with Wilson's band, says his friend was "beyond” a genius. “He invented The Beach Boys, and he invented a style of music. A style of putting eight notes together in a different way. He could do anything, and each time it was a joy to hear his arrangement of something as simple as ‘Surfer Girl.’ Writer, arranger, producer, singer -- all five of those things. And he left us with the best repertoire for the rest of our lives to re-record, re-sing, replay.”

Lineup Of Musical Artists Revealed For "Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks"

The line up for the 49th edition of the "May's 4th of July Fireworks" is being released. The show will have performances by Lenny Kravitz, Eric Church, Jonas Brothers, Ava Max, Keke Palmer and Trisha Yearwood. Ariana DeBose is set to host the show in addition to performing live. The event will air live on Friday, July 4th on NBC and simulcast live Peacock.

IN OTHER NEWS

Ringo Starr kicked off his summer tour last Thursday in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He played the title track to his recent country album, Look Up, for the first time with his All-Starr Band, as well as 1974’s “No No Song” for the first time since 2003, “Honey Don’t” for the first time since 2015, and “Act Naturally” for the first time since 2023. Ringo’s in Philadelphia tonight (Sunday) and Vienna, Virginia on Tuesday. Ringo’s Grand Ole Opry debut in February premiered Friday on Opry Live. You can also catch it on the Opry Facebook and YouTube

channels, and on Circle Country.

John Fogerty has been posting videos on Instagram in which he talks about some of the 20 Creedence Clearwater Revival songs he’s re-recorded for Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, which will be released on August 22nd. The latest is for “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” which he says is “a melodic American classic that probably could be in the Great American Songbook.” Fogerty will be talking about and spinning songs from the album this Wednesday night in London at the EartH Theatre in the Hackney section of town. He’ll also play some acoustic tunes with his sons Shane and Tyler, who are in his band. Fogerty also

posted a Father's Day memory of his dad, Galen Robert Fogerty, writing, "My father was a dreamer. The world needs dreamers. I loved the memories of my mom and dad singing and harmonizing in the car. They loved music. He was also a writer. I think it’s definitely in the genes... I sure love being a dad. I’m traveling to Europe to celebrate with you all, kids in tow. Keep on living the dream!"

Black Sabbath’s 13th and first album with singer Tony Martin, 1987’s The Eternal Idol, will be re-released on CD and vinyl on July 25th following its release on limited-edition translucent red vinyl this past Record Store Day. It will include two bonus tracks, "Some Kind of Woman" and "Black Moon," and will come with a new booklet for the CD and a lyric sheet for the LP.

Elton John is the subject of a new play, Monstering the Rocketman, which will run from July 30th to August 24th at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. It tells the story of how he won Britain’s biggest-ever libel settlement against The Sun in 1987. The paper ran a story about him having a sexual relationship with a male prostitute. He settled for a million pounds.

Gregg Allman’s son with his third wife, Cher, 48-year-old Elijah Blue Allman, was rushed to the hospital Saturday morning after overdosing in Joshua Tree, California. He has been battling addiction.

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