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The Sun UK, reports that Taylor Swift has reunited romantically with Matty Healy. The couple briefly dated nearly 10 years ago.

According to a source, the two are "madly in love," and started seeing each other earlier this year, after she and long-time boyfriend, Joe Alwyn broke up.

Swift and Healy spent time together a couple of years ago collaborating on her latest album. And she even wrote with Healy's band, The 1975.

The Sun also reports that the couple will go public with their relationship at her concert in Nashville this weekend.

Fans online have been pointing to clues of their romance, especially the fact that in January, she made a surprise appearance onstage in London with The 1975.

TL;DR:

• Taylor Swift has reunited romantically with Matty Healy.
• According to a source, the two are "madly in love."
• The Sun also reported that the couple will go public with their relationship at her concert in Nashville this weekend.

It was 50 years ago today -- May 5th, 1973 -- that Paul Simon released There Goes Rhymin' Simon, his second album after Simon & Garfunkel's 1970 split. The album, which came nearly a year-and-a-half after his 1972 self-titled collection, was a major success, peaking at Number Two on the Billboard 200 and spawning no less than four singles -- "Kodachrome" (#2), "Loves Me Like A Rock" (#2), "American Tune" (#35, #8 Easy Listening), and "Take Me To The Mardi Gras," which peaked at Number Seven in the UK. There Goes Rhymin' Simon also marked the beginning of Simon's longtime association with late-producer Phil Ramone.

Back in 2013, Simon told Rolling Stone that he still had a soft spot for There Goes Rhymin' Simon: "That may be my favorite album of the '70s. It's joyful. We made a lot of it down in Muscle Shoals, and I was able to do gospel on 'Loves Me Like A Rock.' Of all the hits I had, 'Kodachrome' is the most typical pop song; it's just very pop. We had to get permission from Kodak to use the name so we had to put a copyright sign on the album. That was pretty funny."

In 1974, There Goes Rhymin' Simon was nominated for two Grammy Awards -- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and the coveted Album Of The Year prize. Although, he lost in both categories, the album was by far one of the most eclectic collections of his career, embracing jazz, gospel, pop, folk, classical, and rock.

Over the decades, Paul Simon has always rated his creative autonomy as the most important by-product of being an active songwriter and musician: "I always pursued a course that seemed interesting to me and that I hoped would be interesting to someone else, y'know -- to a lot of people, I hoped. But if it didn't, or if it wasn't -- I never had any intention of changing. Actually, I don't think I could have been, or am, capable of changing."

Charlie Puth will soon have his own comedy series on Roku.

The six-episode, unscripted show will follow Charlie as he recalls stories from his real life. As Roku described it, they will "elevate" his story "into borderline-surreal scenarios."

Puth and his sister Mikaela, along with Ty Stiklorius, will serve as executive producers. No release date yet, but the working title is Charlie Makes A Record.

TL;DR:

• Charlie Puth will soon have his own comedy series on Roku.
• No release date yet, but the working title is Charlie Makes A Record.

Foo Fighters were set to perform on SNL for their season finale this month before the WGA strike. The appearance would have marked the band's first time performing on the NBC sketch comedy series since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kieran Culkin and Jennifer Coolidge were also scheduled to host SNL.

Post Malone's writing skills will be acknowledged during next month's Songwriters Hall of Fame gala. He'll receive the Hal David Starlight Award. It's given each year to gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs.

Other artists that can boast this achievement include Taylor Swift, John Legend, Rob Thomas, Ed Sheeran, and Alicia Keys.

The ceremony will be held June 15th in New York City.

TL;DR:

• Post Malone will receive the Hal David Starlight Award.
• The ceremony will be held June 15th in New York City.

Out today (May 5th) is Smashing Pumpkins' Atum: Act Three - the third and final installment of the band's ongoing song cycle, Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Parts. The conceptual project is directly linked thematically to group's 1995 double LP, Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.

Regarding the completion of the Atum trilogy, leader Billy Corgan recently told Rolling Stone that concept albums seem to find their audience in strange ways: "Most people don't know what the records are really about. They're focused on their favorite song or their favorite drum solo or whatever. It's totally fine. The last 20-something years of social media have taught me to respect the fact that everybody has their own level of engagement, and any engagement is good."

35 years after forming in Chicago and after the lofty creative heights the Pumpkins have enjoyed, Billy Corgan has never forgotten how it felt to be a new and struggling group: "When the band, in its infancy -- 1988 -- started, the idea of actually getting onstage and playing a song was like a momentous thought -- like an unreachable goal. I have a memory of going to see James (Iha) play because he was still in his other band, and he asked me to borrow one of my guitars. I remember standing in the audience saying, 'My guitar made it on stage before I did.' I know that sounds silly, but it was, like, it broke my heart that I couldn't stand on that stage yet. I hadn't yet earned the right."

Jung Kook is begging his fans to stop sending food to his house.

On Thursday (5-4) the BTS star who has been overwhelmed with restaurant deliveries, warned that he will start checking the receipt number and take action if they don't stop immediately.

He wrote: "I won't eat it even if you give it to me. I'm thankful, but I eat well. You can buy it yourself."

Following his post, The BTS ARMY took to Twitter to back Jung Kook's request and the phrase "respect his privacy" started trending.

TL;DR:

It was 42 years ago Sunday (May 7th, 1981) that George Harrison released his tribute to John Lennon, called "All Those Years Ago." The song is notable for being the first record since the Beatles' 1970 breakup to feature all three surviving group members, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr.

According to several sources, the song was originally taped the year before for inclusion on Ringo's 1981 Stop And Smell The Roses album. Harrison had written the song with different lyrics for him to sing, with the song's basic track featuring himself on guitar and Ringo on drums. The song was left off the album, and after Lennon's murder in 1980, Harrison revamped the song into a tribute to his late bandmate.

In early 1981, Harrison, Paul and Linda McCartney, and Wings co-founder Denny Laine recorded the song's distinctive backing vocals at Harrison's home studio Friar Park. The vocal sessions were supervised by legendary Beatles producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, who at the time were recording with McCartney for his Tug Of War album. During the session, Harrison was slated to lay down a lead guitar part for the McCartney track, "Wanderlust," but time ran out and Harrison never followed up on making good on the promise. The officially released version of "Wanderlust" features a brass ensemble playing where Harrison's guitar part would've been.

Denny Laine who had known the Beatles intimately since touring with them in the mid-'60s while still in the Moody Blues, says that there was no difference between watching Harrison and McCartney recording in the '80s and during their '60s heyday: "They were just the same as they always were. The same as the public sees them. Y'know, they just had a sort of natural way of doing things. They weren't any different in front of me and Linda than they would have been when they were in a Beatles session. They're just Paul and George as you know them."

Once "All Those Years Ago" hit the airwaves -- marking the first new solo Beatle release in the wake of Lennon's murder -- it surprised no one that George Harrison was able to take a more spiritual view of his friend's death than most: "I know John was, um, y'know, he knew who he was a soul that happened to be in this body for this period of time, and. . . Its just the method by which you die; y'know, I think its nicer if you can consciously leave your body at death, as opposed to some lunatic shooting you on the street, or having a plane crash -- something like that. I think it's unfortunate the way he went out, but it doesn't really matter -- he's okay, and life flows on within you and without you."

During a recent chat with CBS, Paul McCartney revealed that John Lennon worried about his legacy after he had gone, recalling: "I remember John was a bit insecure -- (feigns incredulousness) What???? John Lennon??? -- And I remember him once, particularly, strangely out of the blue, saying, 'I worry about how people are gonna remember me.' And I was, like, 'John, listen to me -- look at me: you're gonna be remembered as one of the greatest people (takes a deep breath) I'm getting choked up. And I say. . . ''Cause you are, y'know, you're fantastic.'"

"All Those Years Ago," which peaked at Number Two on the charts, was featured on Harrison's Somewhere In England album.

It was also on this date in 1973 that Harrison released his global ode to world peace, "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)." The song, which was the lead single from his album Living In The Material World, went on to become Harrison's second Number One hit.

Both "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" and "All Those Years Ago" were featured on the most recent Harrison compilation Let It Roll: The Songs Of George Harrison.

Happy Birthday to Bob Seger who turns 78 on Saturday (May 6th)!!! Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band performed their final show on November 1st, 2019 with little nostalgia or fanfare at Philly's Wells Fargo Center. As it stands now, there are no further Seger tour dates on the books in the future. The trek, which had started in support of Seger's latest album, 2017's I Knew You When, was cut short by complications from a ruptured disc.

Bob Seger and his family were unharmed after a small fire broke out at his house in Orchard Lake, Michigan on Halloween morning of October 31st, 2021. The Detroit News reported the fire in the eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom house, "Was contained to a chimney flue off Seger's family room. Firefighters broke through some walls and ceilings in order to put out the fire. The home sustained water damage in the family room and a downstairs room that contained a golf simulator, but no injuries were reported from the fire."

Seger and his wife, Juanita, were both home when the fire alarm went off at 6 a.m.

In June 2021, as part of Record Store Day, Bob Seger reissued his classic 1976 live double album, Live Bullet. The set was available as a standard 150-gram black vinyl with a lithograph, and a translucent orange and red swirl vinyl.

During a November 2017 chat with Rolling Stone, Bob Seger was asked if he ever thought he'd still be making music at this point in his life. Seger answered: "God, no. I thought I'd be done by 30. My original plan was to do it for five years between the age of 25 and 30 and then buy a motorcycle and drive across Europe, and then get a real job. It didn't work out that way. The more you do it, I guess, the more you love it."

That same month, Seger released his 19th studio set, I Knew You When. The album followed 2014's Top Three hit, Ride Out. I Knew You When came in a standard edition and deluxe version featuring three bonus tracks, which include Seger's tribute to his dear friend, late-Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey on "Glenn's Song," along with a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Democracy." Although most of the new songs are Seger originals, he chose a cover of Lou Reed's "Busload Of Faith" to serve as the album's lead single.

We asked Bob Seger if while creating the running order for a new album, songs get tossed aside because they're not commercial enough: "Not at my age. What it is is just a good song. Bottom line. As good a song as I can write, and if anything's on the bubble of being an average song: it's gone. Sometimes I'll write a song that I can't really sing, and it'll get eliminated in that regard, ‘cause my range is not as wide as it used to be. Or, it may not make it through the studio process. Y'know, it might be that it's a really good song, but I don't like the way the studio band did it, or something. It's all different things -- but it's mostly gut."

In 2015, Seger wrapped an exhaustive North American tour in support of his long-awaited studio set, Ride Out. The album, which was released on October 14th, 2014, earned him his first Top Three album in 28 years. Ride Out entered the Billboard 200 album charts at Number Three, marking his best chart showing since his 1986 album, Like A Rock, which also hit Number Three. Seger's previous studio album, 2006's Face The Promise topped out at Number Four upon its release.

In addition to Bob Seger's own compositions, Ride Out featured several covers -- including the album's lead single "Detroit Made" written by John Hiatt, "California Stars" featuring lyrics by Woody Guthrie and music by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett, Steve Earle's "The Devil's Right Hand," and "Adam And Eve," which was written by acclaimed Australian singer/songwriters Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson.

Bob Seger released his first single, "The Lonely One," in 1961, with the help of Max Crook, who was a member of Del Shannon's backing band. Seger spent much of the '60s writing songs for other people, and playing with a number of different bands, including the Bob Seger & The Last Heard and the Bob Seger System. But he will always be best remembered for his '70s and '80s Silver Bullet Band classics "Against The Wind," "Night Moves," "Mainstreet," "Turn The Page," "Katmandu," "Old Time Rock & Roll," "Rock And Roll Never Forgets," "We've Got Tonight," "Still The Same," and "Shakedown," among others.

Seger admitted that he's amazed at the lifespan of not just his career -- but of all of rock n' roll: "The career arc for most people in entertainment was three good years, five tops, and you were gone. I mean, who'd ever thought that we'd be seeing (Paul) McCartney at 60 onstage, (Mick) Jagger -- nobody, y'know? It's just interesting -- you think how old I thought I was (35) when (laughs) I was writing 'Rock 'N' Roll Never Forgets.'"

He feels that staying near Detroit to live and raise his family proved to be among the best decisions of his life: "I don't think it was ever really a choice -- it was, like, where I lived and where I felt comfortable. By being in Detroit, I was able to keep it in perspective, and just work as much as I could, but also kind of have a life outside of it where I was grounded, and where people put me in my place."

Longtime Eagles collaborator J.D. Souther co-wrote "Heartache Tonight" with Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Souther gave us the inside scoop on Bob Seger's key involvement with the Eagles' last chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100 to date: "Glenn and I were walking around my living room, just clapping our hands -- no instruments -- and we were trying to write a Sam Cooke song. And if you think about the melody without instruments, it's very, very, Sam Cooke-ish, y'know? We got a verse-and-a-half, or, two into it and just couldn't think of a chorus and so, (laughs) Glenn called Seger on the phone and sang it to him, and Seger just came right in with, (sings) 'It's gonna be a Heartache Tonight!' So, Glenn called me back and said, 'We got a chorus.'"

Bob Seger told us that the mixture of writing, recording, and performing makes him feel as though he's back operating at the top of his creative game: "It feels good to write again and get back into it. I feel like I'm back workin' again, and it's a good feelin.' I'm looking forward to doing some more, y'know?"

Although his life on the road is done, Seger swears he'll never stop creating new music: "I would remain writing songs, I don't know about recording, y'know? I think I'd write for other people. The recording takes a lot more time than the writing, y'know? And I think I could better use my time writing and turning them over to someone else."

Coming on June 2nd is the massive, career-spanning 44-CD, single LP box set, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Working Our Way Back To You: The Ultimate Collection.

Working Our Way Back To You features 195 singles and 31 studio albums. The package includes "an extraordinary assemblage of unreleased treats -- demos/alternate takes, rare treasures including vintage live recordings, and long-unavailable mixes, including much sought after tracks the group cut for Motown."

The box set also includes a 144-page hardback book, a separate singles book showing a multitude of picture sleeves from around the world, and a book of collector's notes, written by Four Seasons Appreciation Society's Ken Charmer.

The hardback book, authored by Paul Sexton follows the group's story from humble New Jersey beginnings to the opening of the award-winning Jersey Boys musical on Broadway. Also included are over 50,000 words of interviews by New York Times best-selling author Ken Sharp with Four Seasons members Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, Joe Long, Lee Shapiro and John Paiva, producer/collaborator Bob Crewe, arranger Charles Calello, along with key songwriters and session players.

Key quotes from some of the legends who were interviewed for the box set's liner notes:

Brian Wilson: "I thought they were fantastic. The voice blend was fantastic. The competition helped me to get cracking. It inspired me."

Barry Gibb: "I've always loved Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Everything they did made an intense impression on me from 'Rag Doll' to ‘'Big Girls Don't Cry' to 'Walk Like A Man' to 'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You.' At the time of the Beatles, Frankie Valli's voice reigned as the voice you would hear when you fell in love."

Maurice Gibb: "Frankie Valli is a fantastic singer. He was doing falsetto long before any of us were doing it. It was just another way of using another instrument for your songs."

Billy Joel: "To me in a way they were the Beatles before there was a Beatles. They wrote their own stuff. They sang their own stuff and they played their own instruments. This was an incredibly huge band of my youth. There were a lot of life lessons in their music."

Steven Van Zandt: "They made some of the greatest records ever. They were the biggest productions right there with Phil Spector and Motown."

In 1972, the Four Seasons recorded one album and released several unsuccessful singles on Motown. Frontman Frankie Valli told us that the original plan of Motown founder Berry Gordy shepherding the group's career never came to pass: "I called Berry Gordy and we talked a bit and he got very excited. And he promised that he was gonna get involved -- and it started out that way. Then right in the middle off putting this thing together, he took over being more involved in (the movie) Lady Sings The Blues. Then we got to see that Berry Gordy was not going to be involved. To some degree, we were kind of a secret at the label. Y'know, I'd run into guys, whether it'd be the (Four) Tops or the Temps (and they would say) 'Hey, what are you doing here?' And I'd say, 'We're with the label' -- 'No kidding! When did you come?' and it was already a year and a half."

The Four Seasons' writer-producer-arranger Denny Randell, who co-wrote such Seasons classics as "Workin' My Way Back To You," "Opus 17," and "Let's Hang On (To What We've Got)," told us he's still amazed at how the group's music captivates younger fans via the Jersey Boys musical: "I saw that some of the older generations that had, y'know, perhaps known about the Four Seasons from the beginning, were not the only ones that were enchanted that way. We saw, like, kids, like almost like, 'Wow, this is like music!' And I think there was a certain spell that was weaved by. . . where the songs, the arrangements, (and) just where the vibe was coming from."

Legendary rock journalist Ken Sharp, who interviewed the band for the new box set, shed light on the Four Seasons' 1975 comeback collection, Who Loves You, which returned the group to the top of the hit singles charts: "Bob Gaudio had stopped touring with the band -- but he was still a key part of the creative enterprise, writing most of the songs and producing. So, he produced that record and that record features two of the biggest, in fact the biggest Four Seasons songs ever -- 'December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)' and 'Who Loves You.' What's interesting about 'December, 1963' is that song was sung by the drummer, Gerry Polci."

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons perform tonight (May 5th) at Milwaukee's Riverside Theater.

Harry Styles has released a new video for his song "Satellite." It follows the perspective of a Wall-E-esque robot, who works as an automatic vacuum cleaner backstage at one of his concerts. And although he accidently gets thrown out of the show by a security guard, the visual ends with him and Styles watching the stars together.

"Satellite" is the fourth single from his album, Harry's House.

TL;DR:

• Harry Styles has released a new video for his song "Satellite."
• It follows the perspective of a Wall-E-esque robot.

The 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, the Spinners, Rage Against The Machine, Kate Bush, and Missy Elliott.

This year's Musical Excellence Award will go to Bernie Taupin, Al Kooper, and Chaka Khan.

Musical Influence Awards will go to Link Wray and DJ Kool Herc, with Ahmet Ertegun Awards going to Soul Train pioneer Don Cornelius.

This year's Rock Hall induction ceremony will be held on Friday, November 3rd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The 2023 Rock Hall nominees that did not make the final cut are Soundgarden, Iron Maiden, Cyndi Lauper, Warren Zevon, Joy Division/New Order, A Tribe Called Quest, and the White Stripes.

Although over the past 25 years, Sheryl Crow's name, face, and music is among the most recognizable in entertainment -- she doesn't let fame and public opinion get in the way of her approach to music: "I have a different kind of relationship to fame and to the world outside. It's much more from a rebellious teenager kind of energy. But musically, I'm sure it makes its way in, but it doesn't really influence the way I approach music."

Bernie Taupin said that Elton John becoming a singer/songwriter was never some desperate need for adulation -- but simply a way to promote their songs: "When we first got together, obviously, there was no intention, or plan for Elton to make records. I mean, it really came about, simply because we couldn't get anybody else to record our songs."

While Down Under back in 1986, Elton John sang the praises of his friend George Michael to legendary journalist Molly Meldrum: "I mean, I first really got hooked into Wham! was 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go," which for me, was the best, like, Motown record -- everyone tries to make a Motown sound. . . The bass playing on that, that's what hooked me. And George's song idea -- he's only 21, he's been writing songs for two years and he writes 'Careless Whisper.' Bernie (Taupin) and I, our songs after two years were absolutely 'horrible!")

Back in 2007, George Michael appeared on Britain's Parkinson show and explained that his free and rebellious nature was a callback to a previous era: "I think I'm of my generation, only most of my generation have got no balls anymore (laughter) -- basically. Y'know, I think my generation were taught that it was okay -- especially as a musician -- to speak your mind, and we're living in a time when it's not okay and we're trying in an effort to return to 'family values' to pretend that some of the things that happened between 1960 and 1985 didn't happen."

Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello told us a while back that Rage's message has been in plain sight all along: "I would say that the message is not very well-hidden. In the lyrics of every song and on every T-shirt it's pretty clear what we're about. I think that it's insulting to, y'know, members of the audience to say that, ‘Oh they don't get it,' or, ‘They don't pay attention.' Because I know when I was in the Clash's audience, I got it. When I was in Public Enemy's audience, I got it. When I'm in Fugazi's audience, I get it."

The great Chaka Khan told us she likes being her own boss in the studio and never fails to find her artistic process completely liberating: "I just thought creativity while I was recording, while I was in the studio -- totally creative -- and now the other aspects have come into play. And yes, I have to think about all the things I never had to think of before and didn't want to! (Laughs) It's not like I wasn't aware of what was going on. I was aware but I never had any power. I was never empowered in those areas, and now I am."

Jack Harlow announced on Wednesday (5-3) that's he's launching a foundation to serve his hometown of Louisville, Ky.

Though a press release he stated: "With all I have done and will do in my career, my home is where my heart is, my refuge, and the place that shaped me. Giving back to Louisville represents the dream I have of making a difference."

The Jack Harlow Foundation's primary goal is to reinvest, uplift and support organizations aiming to make the city that raised him a better place.

Last week, Harlow celebrated the release of his third studio album, Jackman, by visiting multiple schools in Louisville, including his alma mater, Atherton High School.

The album cover for Jackman, features Harlow standing in front of an alley in his old neighborhood.

TL;DR:

• Jack Harlow is launching a foundation to serve his hometown of Louisville, Ky.
• The Jack Harlow Foundation's primary goal is to reinvest, uplift and support organizations aiming to make the city that raised him a better place.

Paul McCartney and Conan O'Brien will be live and in conversation on June 15th in Manhattan at Tribeca's OKX Theater at BMCC TPAC. The pair will discuss "Macca's" new book, 1964: Eyes Of The Storm, which will be published on June 13th. Due to venue capacity and an anticipated high-level of interest, pass holder access for this event will be limited and on a first come, first served basis.

The chat will be recorded for a future episode of O'Brien's podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend.

1964: Eyes Of The Storm, features 275-shots of long unseen "Macca" photographs spotlighting the Beatles in six city portfolios -- Liverpool, London, Paris, New York, Washington, D.C. and Miami -- along with his own personal recollections of the photos. An exhibit of the photos will be shown in England's National Portrait Gallery this summer.

Paul McCartney said the Beatles had some idea that they'd be successful here before they flew to New York: "We were in Paris one time, playing the Olympia in Paris, when back at the hotel, a telegram came through from Capitol Records of America to Brian. He came running in the room, he said, 'You're Number One in America!' Well. . . just, I mean, I can't describe the feeling. We just, (screams) 'Hey HEY!'"

Proving that no place is safe from a camera, Billie Eilish posted a bathroom selfie with Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, and Halle Bailey.

The group of stars ran into each other during The Met Gala fashion event in New York City this week.

Eilish was wearing a gothic black lace gown and her friends were in frilly white dresses. Earlier in the night, Eilish posted her red-carpet look, which included a high neck, embellished tulle skirt and crystal harness with dramatic lace sleeves, above-the-knee stockings and towering platform heels.

TL;DR:

• Billie Eilish posted a fashion event bathroom selfie with Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, and Halle Bailey.
• Happened during The Met Gala fashion event in New York City this week.

It's rare for any rock band to live through the 1980's and not be -- at the very least -- somewhat embarrassed by some of their videos. Classic Rock reported that Jon Bon Jovi definitely falls into that category, telling SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live: "When I think back that 'Runaway'. . . when we made a video, (I thought) 'Wait a minute, I just learned to play the guitar and write a song. You want me to be a filmmaker? What the hell do I know?' I fell for it hook, line and sinker."

He went on to say, "And the stupid record company with the stupid video director who says Fahrenheit 451 (when the album was 7800 Fahrenheit) or whatever with his niece starring in the video, it's like Jesus God. You want to embarrass me? Tie me to a chair and make me watch videos from my first two albums."

Bon Jovi explained that by the time of 1986's Slippery When Wet, the band had learned how to play to their strengths for their promo clips: "We were smart enough by the third album, it took three albums to figure out just promote the live show with a video, so by 'You Give Love A Bad Name,' 'Livin' On A Prayer,' 'Wanted Dead Or Alive,' those are really just performance videos and that's when we realized this is all that matters."

Jon Bon Jovi told us he and the band have come a long way since scoring their first Number One album with 1986's Slippery When Wet: "Y'know when I was 25 and we wrote ' . . .Bad Name,' you were the kid with long hair in the mall -- sex, drugs, rock n' roll. All that kind of stuff. You were a cowboy. You were gonna ride into town. You were dead or alive. That's who I was at that time. I'm not that guy anymore. I've grown up in the public eye. We've been at this a long time."

• Steven Tyler's lawyers are requesting the judge presiding over the trial for allegedly abusing a minor back in the 1970's "strike out the plaintiff's claim of 'intentional infliction of emotional distress.'" According to the filing, Tyler's remarks about his relationship with plaintiff Julia Misley were described in his memoir Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? and the official Aerosmith biography Walk This Way are protected by Tyler's first amendment rights.
• Tyler's attorneys are claiming that the plaintiff should not be allowed to use his own writing against him, citing, "The conduct complained of arises out of statements made in Tyler's published memoirs. Such conduct implicates Tyler's right to free speech." According to the brief, the content in the memoirs falls under the protection of "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and is barred by the First Amendment."
  • Julia Misley's lawsuit accuses the Tyler of "sexual assault, coercion of an abortion and involuntary infamy in the 1970s when (the plaintiff) was a minor and he was in his mid-20's." Misley, formerly known as Julia Holcomb, filed the suit on December 27th under the California Child Victims Act, "which allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil cases." The three-year "lookback" window for the cases ended this past December 31st. (Classic Rock)
    
    
• Extreme guitarist, Nuno Bettencourt, said that Eddie Van Halen was eying a Van Halen tour with Michael Anthony just prior to his death. Bettencourt told SiriusXM's Hair Nation that while he was recording the solo to the song "Rise" from Extreme's latest album, Six, frontman Gary Cherone and Van Halen popped over to his house.
• Bettencourt recalled Van Halen telling him: "'Hey, just between us, I wanna let you know, Van Halen's coming back and we gonna go out the way we came with Michael. We're planning a run, and we're gonna go out the way we came in like a farewell tour, but like, do it old school.'" And I'm like, "'Amazing. Overdue, way overdue.'" He was even saying, like, 'Y'know Wolf (Van Halen), he's the one who's like, he's reaching out to Michael.'" (MetalWani)
  
  
• Today (May 4th) the University of Florida School of Music in the late-Tom Petty's hometown of Gainesville will be recognizing Petty with an Honorary Doctorate, a distinction that he dreamed of receiving in his lifetime. Brother Bruce Petty said in a statement: "I don't think anyone in our family, including him, thought that he would be linked with the University of Florida this way. It's such a powerful thing, it was his life-long dream, and I know he would just be over-the-top, crazy happy about it." (Press release)
  
  
• During a chat with Metallica's fanzine So What!, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke about the harsh realities he and his bandmates faced coming up over the years: "Because of the industry, because of the music, because of popularity, status, sex, drugs, and rock and roll, not all of us made it to this point. Some people got f***ing devoured and spat out. Some people just got devoured and never came back."
  • He went on to say, "I got extremely affected by it. Other people in the band got extremely affected by it. I feel like I'm a f***ing survivor, and I think that every one of us in this band is a survivor because, man, it's a screwed-up industry." (Metallica.com)
    
    
• Coming on July 21st in Nils Lofgren's latest solo set, titled, Mountains. Among the high-profile guest players on the album are the late-David Crosby, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Cindy Mizelle, Ron Carter, and Howard Gospel Choir.
  • According to the announcement: "Starting on July 21st Nils will launch his Rockality video series with each episode available to purchase from nilslofgren.com. These 30-40 minute videos (feature) non-rehearsed, folksy deliveries of fascinating, colorful and entertaining stories that conclude with Nils singing a song or stretching out on his guitar." (Press Release)

In a recent interview with Kelly Clarkson, Bebe Rexha talked about the process of getting Dolly Parton to record with her. Dolly was particular about the song choice and kindly declined one referencing "Heaven and Hell."

Rexha said she was so nice and sent her a handwritten note explaining that she "didn't want to go into that energy." So, the next song she sent to Dolly was "Seasons" and she loved it. Rexha said, a week later, Dolly had her part recorded and sent back to her.

Rexha admitted that she was so touched by it all, that she cried when she first heard Dolly's voice on the song. "Seasons" is on her new album called Bebe.

TL;DR:

• Bebe Rexha says Dolly was particular about the song choice and kindly declined one referencing "Heaven and Hell."
• So, the next song she sent to Dolly was "Seasons" and she loved it.
• "Seasons" is on her new album called Bebe.

Christina Aguilera is set to headline New York City's Pride Island event next month.
Posting online she said she's excited to "celebrate the strength and resilience of all the individual members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies."
Pride Island will take place on June 25 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park. Tickets are on-sale now.
TL;DR:

• Christina Aguilera is set to headline New York City's Pride Island on June 25 at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park.
• Tickets are on-sale now.

It was 46 years ago today (May 4th, 1977) that The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl was released. The live album, which featured songs from all three of the group's shows at the venue, August 23rd, 1964 and August 29th and 30th, 1965, was remixed and produced by George Martin for release. The collection, which to date is the Beatles' only official live album, and their first previously unreleased archival collection, went on to peak at Number Two on the Billboard 200 album charts.

The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl featured the constant shriek of 17,000 fans and proved that the group, who had long been said to be a slipshod and barely-adequate live act, was actually a tight ensemble that was able to faithfully reproduce their classic hits and album favorites on stage.

As was the case with the 1970's Beatles compilations, John Lennon took an active interest in the project and went so far as to suggest the album's title. Interestingly, despite the involvement of Lennon, Martin, and the Beatles' longtime engineer Geoff Emerick, the word since the album's release is that the group was adamantly against the project being issued, which led to a 14-year moratorium on vault releases.

The tracklisting to The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl is: "Twist And Shout," "She's A Woman," "Dizzy Miss Lizzie," "Ticket To Ride," "Can't Buy Me Love," "Things We Said Today," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Boys," "A Hard Day's Night," "Help!," "All My Loving," "She Loves You," and "Long Tall Sally."

When the Beatles' catalogue was released on CD beginning in 1987, The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl was not reissued, although the group has used the Hollywood Bowl material several times over the years.

The Beatles first used the audio from their 1965 performance of "Twist And Shout" in their TV film The Beatles At Shea Stadium in place of the substandard original version. Most recently, the band used footage from the 1964 concert as part of The Beatles Anthology project -- and included a 1965 Hollywood Bowl version of "Baby's In Black" for the band's 1996 "Real Love" reunion CD single.

Fans have been clamoring for the three unedited Hollywood Bowl tapes to be issued since the 1977 album was released.

Paul McCartney admits, that for him, the ascent to fame was actually the most fun time to be a Beatle: "The earliest days of the Beatles were very exciting. On the one hand, you're just in the little town you'd grown up in -- with your friends and your relatives that you know. And you're doing work in that town, like we were -- we were playing lunchtime sessions at the Cavern. And then suddenly for us it was like, you're starting to play theaters and ballrooms and they're abroad, and you're branching out a lot, you're doing a lot of traveling. I mean, those were very tiring days -- crazy days, really, but there was a lot of fun in those days."

Ringo Starr said that the non-stop pressure on the Beatles' during their touring years was doable because everything was so new and exciting for the group: "We loved it, and it was busy. We made a record, we played a live gig, we did a photo shoot -- and then we had lunch. (Laughter) And then we started the afternoon. I mean, it was busy -- but it was great, we were doin' something!"

FAST FOWARD

In 2016, the Beatles scored their 32nd Top 10 album with the new release, The Beatles Live At The Hollywood Bowl charting at Number Seven on the Billboard 200. The album is a remixed and expanded version of 1977's The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl, which peaked at Number Two in the spring of 1977. The new collection is tied to the Ron Howard-directed documentary, The Beatles: Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years, now available on DVD.

The Beatles are in rare company as only three other acts have scored over 30 Top 10 albums -- the record holders, the Rolling Stones with 36; Barbra Streisand with 34; and Frank Sinatra tied for third with the "Fab Four" -- also with 32.

The tracklisting to The Beatles: Live At The Hollywood Bowl is: "Twist And Shout," "She's A Woman," "Dizzy Miss Lizzy," "Ticket To Ride," "Can't Buy Me Love," "Things We Said Today," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Boys," "A Hard Day's Night," "Help!," "All My Loving," "She Loves You," "Long Tall Sally" -- along with the debut of "You Can't Do That," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby," along with the previously released "Baby's In Black."

Despite his health issues, Ozzy Osbourne is determined to play more shows. During an interview with Metal Hammer, he said, "I mean, doing a live show is what I live for. I've had to cancel my European tour but I'm determined. I've gotta do more gigs even if I have to get someone to wheel me out there. I mean, you can't retire from this game. It's not a job, it's a f*cking passion."

She continued, "I don't know how to do anything else. The thought of sitting in my house all day… I'm a road dog, you know? I've been doing it f*cking 55 years. It's the best thing to have ever happened to me."

Jonas Brothers have announced The Tour.

The trio will kick things off on August 12th at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY and hit cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Atlanta before wrapping things up in Miami on October 14th.

Joe Jonas said in the announcement video, "Every city, we're going to be playing all of our albums - every single night - for you."

Although fans are happy the guys are hitting the road, some are irritated that the first date of their tour was originally billed as a "One Night Only" event.

The top comment on their Instagram announcement reads, "But can we talk about how you advertised it as one night only just for NY, so some of us purchased tickets, a flight, a hotel and now you're coming to our town again? Like don't advertise it as one night only and then make it the whole tour. Super disappointing from a 15+ year fan."

Niall Horan has a tour in the works.

He recently told Pride, "There's a tour in the pipeline. I'm working on it right now and I'll be letting people know hopefully soon. It'll be just good to get back on the road doing what I love."

The tour is intended to promote the launch of his forthcoming album, The Show. It will serve as his third solo record and first album in three years.

The "Heaven" singer told the outlet, "I would like a number one album if anyone's listening! I would like a sold-out tour. I just like the whole shock factor when things go good. I would like to be in a conversation for a Grammy maybe one day. That's something that's on my bucket list. That would get me through a lot!"

The Show drops June 1st.

Taylor Swift has made history once again this week.

The vinyl release of Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, nabbing the "The highest chart debut for a Record Store Day Vinyl ever."

The Record Store Day exclusive joins Midnights and Folklore in the top 10 of the chart.

According to Billboard, Swift is the first artist to have three albums in the top 10 since Prince, following his death in 2016