Pulse Music

It was 50 years ago today (March 3rd, 1973) that Elton John's sixth album, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player, hit Number One on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album, which held down the top spot for two weeks, stayed in the Top 10 for nine straight weeks.

The success of the album was propelled by the strength of two massive hit singles -- "Crocodile Rock" -- a three week chart-topper that marked Elton's first U.S. and Canadian Number One hit, along with "Daniel," which peaked at Number Two on Billboard's Hot 100 and hit the top spot on the magazine's Easy Listening chart. Several songs became FM staples, including the rolicking "Elderberry Wine."

The tracklisting to Elton John's Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player is: "Daniel," "Teacher I Need You," "Elderberry Wine," "Blues For My Baby And Me" "Midnight Creeper" "Have Mercy On The Criminal," "I'm Gonna Be A Teenage Idol," "Texan Love Song," "Crocodile Rock," and "High Flying Bird."

Guitarist Davey Johnstone, who joined Elton John's band in 1971 and currently serves as his musical director, has been lucky enough to witness the Elton John - Bernie Taupin songwriting partnership up close for 50 years and has literally seen some of rock's most beloved songs being written in front of him: "Elton'd have a stack of lyrics and he'd just look through them. He wouldn't do any pre-work (on the songs) in those days, y'know, he wouldn't ever sneak ‘em at home with them, he'd wait till he get to the studio, and then literally sit down after breakfast and write a song. I mean, I've seen him write songs in the time that it's taken me to make a chicken sandwich, or something."

Elton John admitted that his over-the-top persona -- both on and off the stage -- was often a mask for his admitted low self-esteem: "When I was drinking and doing drugs, you become completely ridiculous. I mean, you become self-obsessed, your values go completely out the window. Y'know, you don't like the color of the wallpaper on the plane, or the way it's done, you don't like the color of the furniture in the hotel room -- it's all that absolute nonsense. Like all entertainers, they're very comfortable on the stage, off the stage, I didn't really. . . I was still the young boy from Pinner, who was just kinda insecure, a little overweight, and, y'know, had an inferiority complex. I just showed off on stage. All entertainers want to do is show off."

Extreme will release its first album in 14 years, titled, Six, on June 9th, according to Ultimate-Guitar.com. The band has just dropped the set's first single, titled "Rise."

Frontman Gary Cherone spoke about the new track explaining, "Musically, it's aggressive. Lyrically, it's a cautionary tale on the rise and fall of fame. You get seduced into it. Once you're on top, they'll rip you apart and tear you down. That's the nature of the beast."

Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt went on to say, "When Eddie Van Halen passed, it really hit me. I'm not going to be the one who will take the throne, but I felt some responsibility to keep guitar playing alive. So, you hear a lot of fire on the record."

Out today (March 3rd) is the sprawling, career-spanning Genesis BBC Broadcast collection. The set was curated by co-founder and keyboardist Tony Banks and long-time engineer Nick Davis and is available as a 53-track five-CD set and 24-track triple-LP.

Highlights on the collection include early BBC radio sessions from Night Ride and for famed DJ John Peel, along with the band's legendary Knebworth performances in 1978 and 1992, the band's 1980 concert at London's Lyceum -- as well as their triumphant sell-out run of shows at Wembley in 1987 in support of Invisible Touch.

The collection features unreleased live tracks from all three of Genesis' frontmen over the years -- Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Ray Wilson.

Co-founding guitarist and bassist Mike Rutherford explained how original frontman Peter Gabriel went from being a forgettable wallflower on stage to one of rock's most charismatic and unforgettable performers in rock: "Well, originally, no one could hear what he was singing, so he slightly acted out what was going on and kind of made sense. It was all quite fun and then the newspapers write about it because it's something to write about and it kinda gets more headlines (than the music). I was always fine about it -- it never really bothered me. I think it bothered Phil a bit more, because he was the drummer and I think he thought musicianship was more important than that sort of stage presentation. I've always enjoyed the presentation and the lighting side."

After dropping their new single, "Dummy," earlier this week, Portugal. The Man just announced that the band plans to tour. They've also released a few details about an upcoming album.

Chris Black Changed My Life, which is due out June 23rd is dedicated to the band's late friend and honorary band member, Chris Black, who died in 2019.

So far, they've announced only five tour dates, but they're big ones… Bonnaroo, Red Rocks, New York City, Los Angeles, and Portland. Tickets are on sale now.

Seven guests are featured within the 11 new tracks, but their identities are being kept a secret for now.

TL;DR:

• Portugal. The Man will play Bonnaroo, Red Rocks, New York City, Los Angeles, and Portland.
• Chris Black Changed My Life, which is due out June 23rd is dedicated to the band's late friend Chris Black.
• Seven guests are featured, but their identities are being kept a secret for now.

It was 60 years ago this Sunday (March 5th, 1963) that the Beatles recorded "From Me To You." The track was done in a single session at London's Abbey Road Studios, which included 13 takes of the song, 13 takes of the song's B-side "Thank You Girl," and five takes of "The One After 909," which would remain unissued until the 1995 archival release The Beatles Anthology 1. The Beatles would revisit "The One After 909," one of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's earliest collaborations, for the group's 1969 Let It Be project, and performed the tune during their final live performance on the Apple headquarters rooftop.

On the afternoon of March 5th, 1963 the "Fab Four" posed for their Please Please Me album cover at their record company headquarters staircase at EMI House in Manchester Square. An alternate shot from that session was used for the group's 1973 compilation album, The Beatles 1962-1966.

The session tapes recorded on March 5th, 1963 are among the rare cases in which an entire Beatles session has been widely bootlegged with pristine sound.

In April 1963 "From Me To You" was released and topped the British charts for five weeks. The following month, in the U.S., the then-still unknown Beatles released the song where it became their American chart debut, "peaking" at Number 116. In early 1964, the song charted again at Number 41 when it was re-released as the B-side to the group's "Please Please Me" single.

In late 1963 Burt Bacharach first met the Beatles, who had recorded a cover of his song "Baby, It's You" on their Please Please Me album. Not long before his recent death, Bacharach admitted he was immediately struck at how different they looked: "Yeah, I had heard them. The first time I met them casually was at a Royal Command performance in England. And the Beatles are on the same bill. And I said, 'Who are these funny looking guys with these haircuts?' They hadn't broken here at all yet, y'know?"

Singer Billy J. Kramer was also managed by Brian Epstein and spent a lot of time with the band in 1963. He went on to record several original Lennon - McCartney songs with his band the Dakotas, including 1964's Top Ten hit "Bad To Me." He explained that the duo's public images hardly sum up the pair's true personalities: "Paul always came across as being more cutesy, and John was more of a tough guy -- but he wasn't really. It's funny the way people see people and have these visions of them and they're not like that at all, y'know?"

In 2007 while promoting the Las Vegas extravaganza The Beatles LOVE, Paul McCartney told Larry King that the Beatles always knew they were good: "We were also very sure of ourselves. I wouldn't call it conceited but we just knew we were good. And we knew we were gonna do very well, we didn't know how it was gonna happen, but we knew. . . people would say to me at the time, 'Do you think your stuff is gonna be standards, you know like Sinatra's stuff? And I would go 'yeah.' (Laughter) And they'd say 'uh.' I'd say 'no, it's true.' You just felt it."

Phoebe Bridgers has been named one of Time's Women of the Year.

Among her many accomplishments, she's the owner of Saddest Factory Records and she's one-third of the group Boygenius, whose debut album arrives later this month.

The list of 12 honorees was announced on Thursday morning (March 2), and included Cate Blanchett, Quinta Brunson, and Angela Bassett.

TL;DR:

Metallica's James Hetfield is set to star in the upcoming dark western thriller The Thicket, which is based on Joe R. Lansdale's novel of the same name. According to Deadline, the film is produced by Game of Thrones album Peter Dinkage, who also stars in the film as Shorty.

Shorty is a bounty hunter enlisted to find a woman who has been kidnapped by a violent killer. The movie, which is set at the turn of the 20th century, follows Shorty and his fellow trackers as they travel into a violent and chaotic place known as the Big Thicket.

Production of the film is underway in Calgary, Canada.

Ed Sheeran has announced that he will release the last album of his mathematical era, Subtract (-) on May 5th.

He said in a press release that the acoustic album was written shortly after he discovered his pregnant wife had a tumor and his best friend died suddenly.

The singer explained, "As an artist I didn't feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn't accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. It's opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I'm not trying to craft an album people will like, I'm merely putting something out that's honest and true to where I am in my adult life."

Subtract (-) is currently available for pre-order.

Justin Bieber has canceled the remainder of his Justice World Tour dates.

According to CNN, fans in London received an email from the events company AXS on Tuesday (February 28th) stating, "We regret to inform you that the Justin Bieber shows planned to take place at The O2 arena have been cancelled."

Additionally, tour stops have been removed from Ticketmaster and the singer's website.

The outlet reports that neither Bieber nor his reps have commented on the cancellations.

In June 2022, the "Peaches" singer postponed all remaining U.S. tour dates for the Justice World Tour as he battled with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Kiss has announced its final string of shows, which will culminate over two nights -- December 1st and 2nd -- at New York's Madison Square Garden. Kiss will kick off its final North American tour on October 29th at Austin's Moody Center.

There has been no word as to whether co-founders Ace Frehley and Peter Criss will appear at the final New York shows.

The band posted a testament on its official Kissonline.com website, which reads:

The absolute final shows of our final tour, 'The End Of The Road Tour,' will kick off this October and culminate in a massive show in the city where it all began. New York City has been a part of our ethos and storyline for more than four decades, so we felt it fitting to culminate our career on stage at Madison Square Garden.

Kiss was born in New York City. On 23rd Street. Half a century ago. It will be a privilege and honor to finish touring at Madison Square Garden, 10 blocks and 50 years from where we first started!

During a new chat with Classic Rock, Paul Stanley was pressed about the persistent rumor that he's actually visibly lip-syncing substantial parts of the band's shows, to which he said, "Ha. Well, that's just nonsense, of course. And the idea that we need to explain or clarify what we do is nonsense. I sing every song. Any band that's out there with a big show knows that you have to be coordinated and there has to be syncing with the technology, the lights and the pyro and everything, so the idea that you'd go out there without a click (track) to lock you in is just ridiculous."

He went on to say, "And does it really matter? I've seen bands that are considered the greatest in the world and I'm saying to my wife, 'Who's playing that beat on the drums?' As long as what's going on is honest, why gives a f***? Things evolve over time, and it's a different world now than it was 30 or 40 years ago. Do we really need to put everything under a microscope when people are having the best night of their lives? I won't do it."

Paul Stanley told that as excited as he is to perform with Kiss, wrapping up the band's life on the road is far from being a heartbreaking event for him: "There's nothing bittersweet about this tour -- it's all sweet. What I've been given and what we've accomplished, and how we've been rewarded is indescribable. And look, I'm not Yoda -- I'm gonna say the end of something is the beginning of something else. I'm not going to change who I am and I'm not going to change my trajectory, and everything will go on."

Gene Simmons explained that even 50 years on -- no one puts more into their performance than Kiss does: "I wear seven, eight-inch platform boots. Our outfits -- mine, I don't know, weighs at least about 40 pounds. I gotta spit fire and fly through the air and do all that kind of stuff; so if you put (Mick) Jagger and Bono -- who are both great -- in you stick 'em in my outfit, they'd pass out in a half-hour. We are the hardest working band in show business period."

JUST ANNOUNCED: Kiss North American tour dates (subject to change):

October 29 - Austin, TX - Moody Center
November 1 - Palm Springs, CA - Acrisure Arena
November 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
November 6 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Bowl
November 8 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
November10 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
November 12 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
November 13 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Centre
November 15 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre
November 18 - Montreal, QC - Centre Bell
November 21 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre
November 22 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Centre
November 24 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena
November 25 - Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse
November 27 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
November 29 - Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena
December 1, 2 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden

Queen's Brian May revealed the band is considering a sequel to the 2018 blockbuster biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. The film, which had a $55 million dollar budget has grossed over $910 million globally, marking the film the most successful musical biopic in history.

While talking to Britain's Daily Star, the guitarist said, "We've been talking about it. I felt proud of it and the people who played us were just phenomenal. It's so tempting to do the sequel -- it would be worth it just to work with those boys again." Actor Rami Malek scored a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the late, great Freddie Mercury -- with the film also scoring statues for Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.

Regarding the ground the sequel would cover, May explained, "Bohemian Rhapsody climaxed in Live Aid and I suppose implicitly Freddie starting to deal with his AIDS, but an awful lot happened between the end of the film to the end of the glory days of Queen."

He went on to say, "I loved the fact we were able to do it for Freddie. That really means a lot and I felt we did it in the right way, and in the right spirit. Of course we were represented in the movie because we were a group, but it was really all about Freddie, and I think we did him good."

Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor shed light on the dedication they found from the top down from the cast and crew of Bohemian Rhapsody: "(Brian May): All the way down the cast and the whole production team, you feel this passion. They all felt it was something exceptional and we felt like that (Roger Taylor): Yeah. (Brian May): . . . visiting the set. It was an amazing feeling of loyalty and passion to this whole teamwork. (Roger Taylor): They got very close to us, I mean, visually, which made it particularly uncanny to watch. . . (Brian May): Mmm. (Roger Taylor): . . . for us, and after a couple of viewings, I mean, you start to (laughs) completely believe, 'Ah, that was us!' No, it's not, no. (Brian May): You do. (Roger Taylor): . . . it's other people. But (laughs) phenomenal (laughs)."

Coldplay will release a special worldwide cinema presentation of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour concert, filmed during their sold out, ten night run at Buenos Aires' River Plate stadium at the end of last year.

The film includes a host of footage which wasn't shown during the live broadcast, including an exclusive behind-the-scenes short film featuring new interviews with the band.

The concert film will be shown in thousands of theaters across the globe on April 19th & 23rd.

Set for release on April 28th is Stephen Stills Live At Berkeley 1971. The archival release was taped over two nights -- August 20th and 21st, 1971 -- at Berkeley, California's Berkeley Community Theater, while supporting his second solo set, Stephen Stills 2.

The Berkeley show, was part of Stills' historic debut trek, dubbed, "The Memphis Horns Tour," was one of the tour's more intimate stops, with the 3,500-seat venue being dwarfed by more high-profile gigs that summer, including New York's Madison Square Garden and The Forum in L.A.

In addition the the Memphis Horns, Stills is backed by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young sidemen drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels -- along with keyboardist Paul Harris, guitarist David Fromholz, and percussionist Joe Lala. Guesting on the night of this recording was David Crosby, singing on both Stills' Crosby, Stills, & Nash favorite "You Don't Have To Cry" and his own nautical classic, "The Lee Shore."

Back in the day, Stephen Stills shed light on his songwriting process: "I've lived everything I've written -- or observed it, observed somebody else goin' through those changes. It's in everybody -- those feelings, and those thoughts, and those reflections, and the ability to sing, or paint. But the mass(es) can't do (it) by themselves. That's why people love music. That's why people love art. That's the reason that there is art."

The tracklisting to Stephen Stills Live At Berkeley 1971 is:

"Love The One You're With"
"Do For The Others"
"Jesus Gave Love Away For Free"
"You Don't Have To Cry" (with David Crosby)
"The Lee Shore" (with David Crosby)
"Word Games"
"Sugar Babe"
"49 Bye-Byes/For What It's Worth"
"Black Queen"
"Know You've Got To Run"
"Bluebird Revisited"
"Lean On Me"
"Cherokee"
Band Introduction
"Ecology Song"

Van Halen's first live album -- 1993's Live: Right Here, Right Now -- will make its vinyl debut on Record Store Day (April 22nd) as a limited edition four-LP set. The double-platinum collection will be limited to 7,500 copies on 180-gram translucent red vinyl and available exclusively at select independent music retailers for $99.98.

Live: Right Here, Right Now kicks off a series of upcoming vinyl releases spotlighting Van Halen's time with Sammy Hagar, which will be overseen by the band's long-time engineer Donn Landee. Additional information about those releases will be announced in the near future.

According to the announcement, "The vinyl collection has all 24 songs from the original CD release, plus three additional live recordings. This marks the first time that audio for two of the tracks -- 'The Dream Is Over' and 'Eagles Fly' -- will be released, as they were previously available only on the DVD version of Live Right Here, Right Now. The third track, 'Mine All Mine,' was recorded in the summer of 1993 during the second leg of the tour and was previously released as part of a European CD maxi-single for a live version of 'Jump.' All tracks from the original live album were newly remastered from the 5150 studio master tapes by Bernie Grundman, who also cut the lacquers."

The late-Eddie Van Halen admitted that Van Halen-type music was all he and his brother Alex knew how to play: "We have never conformed to any trend, and I think that most bands that last are bands that are true to themselves. Y'know, look at the (Rolling) Stones -- they don't all of a sudden start doing rap. The great bands, they stick to what they like, and what moves them. And Van Halen is the type of band -- I'm not putting ourselves in any category, saying we're great -- but we are true to ourselves. We don't change, just because that's the flavor of the month."

Halsey made their runway debut during Paris Fashion Week.

The "Without Me" singer hit the catwalk for the Pressiat fall/winter 2023 show in an animal print gown Tuesday (February 28th).

They took to Instagram after to call the experience both "terrifying and amazing."

Miley Cyrus has announced that the demo version of "Flowers" will be released on Friday (March 3rd).

She wrote on Instagram Wednesday (March 1st) that she'll be dropping the previously unheard track in celebration of the single's sixth week atop the Billboard Hot 100.

It was 54 years ago today (March 2nd, 1969) that John Lennon and Yoko Ono made their first live public concert performance. Although the couple had first played together the previous December for the Rolling Stones' Rock And Roll Circus TV special, Lennon's appearance at Ono's concert at Cambridge University's Lady Mitchell Hall marked the first time the couple performed to the open public.

Lennon and Ono, along with saxophonist John Tchicai and percussionist John Stevens, performed the cacophonous experimental piece "Cambridge 1969," which featured a bearded, denim-clad Lennon creating a wall of feedback guitar under Ono's avant-garde singing. The song was eventually released later that year, and made up the entire second side of the couple's second album, Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions.

Yoko Ono told us that she has mixed emotions about her and Lennon's performance that day: "It was an iconic moment, because when I did that in Cambridge with John, I was, like, thinking, 'This is it!' I really sent a message to the world, saying 'This is the thing!' But then, when that was on lacquer, people attacked it so much. And John was the only one who was in love with it. John would say -- in the car when we were going somewhere, cross country or something -- he would say, "Okay, let's play 'Cambridge 1969' I said, 'Please don't do that John (laughs),' because by then it was attacked so much that I was like, 'Ugh, I don't want to hear it.'"

Yoko Ono believes -- both then and now -- trying to pin down what John Lennon meant to the world is impossible: "John was an artist and musician -- and a poet, as well. And also, he was a songwriter, singer, rocker. So, he was a very complex character."

A remixed and revamped version of Lennon and Ono's "Cambridge 1969" was featured on Ono's album, titled Yes, I'm A Witch. The critically acclaimed set features modern rockers the Flaming Lips' updated take on the track, which is re-titled "Cambridge 1969/2007.

It was 56 years ago today (March 2nd, 1967) that the Supremes recorded their hits "The Happening" and "Reflections." "The Happening" was the theme song to the 1967 movie of the same name, which starred Anthony Quinn, George Maharis from TV's Route 66, and Faye Dunaway. The song was the final Number One by the original lineup of the Supremes, and also featured one of co-founder Florence Ballard's last performances with the group. The song hit Number One on May 13th, 1967, topping the charts for just one week.

"The Happening" was the tenth and final Number One song written for the group by Motown staff writers Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland -- who in this instance were joined by The Happening's musical director Frank De Vol, best known for composing the theme song for the TV shows My Three Sons and The Brady Bunch.

Although Ballard sings on both tracks, she left the group after the release of "The Happening." She was replaced by Cindy Birdsong, and Motown head Berry Gordy Jr. renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes.

"Reflections," which was released later that summer, was actually the bigger hit, despite the fact that it never got higher than Number Two. The song was a change of pace for the group and featured a more modern sound, which strayed from the orchestral rhythm tracks of their previous singles.

In the '80s the song went on to be featured as the theme to ABC's Vietnam drama China Beach, and served as the opening number for Diana Ross' ill-fated Supremes reunion tour in 2000 with two latter day, non-original Supremes.

Late-Supremes co-founder Mary Wilson talked bout how important the legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland -- who wrote most of the Supremes biggest hits, including, "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "You Can't Hurry Love," and "I Hear A Symphony" -- was for the group: "These three guys have actually made my life. I mean, it's been over 40 years and I've got to say, before I met them, before Diana met them, before Florence met them, we were called 'the no-hit Supremes.' These guys are artisans, because they have created a musical mass of music that has not been passed by anyone. I mean, their catalog is just tremendous."

Just prior to his death last year, songwriter/producer Lamont Dozier recalled how he and the Holland brothers worked while at Motown: "There was a time clock. Nine o'clock in the morning we punched a clock and at six we punched out. During that day we would have lunch. It was like school, in a sense. We had an in-house band, so if we came up with anything we would either cut the song that day or the track. And after on, we would dub it in, say, a couple of days later, after we had finished the lyric. But that was, y'know, the general work schedule that we had."

Brian Holland recalled that once their songs clicked with the Supremes, it was onward and upward for the Motown team: "When we first started getting hit records on them, we were writing songs, and we were asking, 'Well, who can sing this?' But once we locked in and it was a hit, then we knew where you were. Because, before you've gotten a hit record you really haven't established (an) identity, so to speak. Once you get those hit records, a hit record, or whatever -- depending on how big it is -- you really kind of establish a direction at least for a while."

It was 50 years ago today (March 1st, 1973) that Pink Floyd released its most celebrated and beloved album, The Dark Side Of The Moon. The collection, which was the band's eight long player, is by far the band's biggest-selling and best known record -- with a colossal 45 million copies sold.

Between 1973 and 1988 the album spent and astounding 741 weeks on the Billboard 200 album charts -- longer than any other album in history.

Coming on March 24th is Floyd's new 50th anniversary deluxe box set edition of the album. The package includes the CD and gatefold vinyl of the newly remastered studio album and Blu-Ray + DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. Also featured is the new Blu-ray disc of Atmos mix plus CD and LP of The Dark Side Of The Moon -- Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974.

Also issued separately that day on CD and first ever vinyl release of The Dark Side Of The Moon - Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974. The concert was taped in November 1974 as part of the band's winter tour and now features artwork of an original 1973 line-drawn cover by George Hardie.

The new book Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon: 50th Anniversary, part of the deluxe box offering, will also be published separately by Thames & Hudson and "showcases rare and previously unseen photographs taken during The Dark Side Of The Moon tours of 1972-1975 and was created with the involvement of the band members."

David Gilmour recalled The Dark Side Of The Moon as being a highlight of his collaborative work with Roger Waters: "We thought that we were on to something that was going to do a bit better than anything we had previously done. Everyone thinks that the best of our moments are the moments where -- I do, anyway -- think that the best of our moments are when the best of Roger and his lyrics and ideas and driving force came together with some of my more melodic and emotional moments that, sort of, fall out of my guitar."

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason told us he and his bandmates have never been able to fully grasp why The Dark Side Of The Moon has been so successful: "I don't think we ever really understood. There are elements that you would never have perceived at the time. It was partly about timing, and partly about the songs being relevant to people at the time, and that sort of gave it the lift that then brought it to the attention of another bunch of people, and so on."

Sam Smith shared images from their photoshoot for Perfect, and not everyone in the comments section gets it.

The photos show the "Unholy" singer in a variety of corsets.

Although the post received tons of positive comments from celebs like Demi Lovato who is "obsessed" and Tess Holiday who wrote, "This is taking your power back," there were also several detractors.

Many commentors called for them to "Bring back the old Sam Smith," and questioned Smith's mental health.

The nonbinary artist is on the cover of the "Autonomy" issues of Perfect Magazine. The outlet describes the issue as,"Autonomy: the power of self, of personal choice, of independence. It is the ability to make one's own decisions, to live as we see fit. In this issue, we have gathered a stellar cast of incredible human beings, each of whom has carved their own path and soldiered forward to leave a profound mark on this world."

Ed Sheeran's touring mate, Ben Kweller, announced Monday (February 28th) that his son was killed in a car accident.

Kweller wrote on Instagram, "There's no way that I can be typing this but I am…. Our son, Dorian Zev Kweller, was killed last night. He was only 16 and he was a true legend. Kindest, gentle soul, a friend to all. If you knew him, you know. We'll never get over him as long as we're here on earth. Please keep his spirit alive with your memories and the music he made."

The teen kicked off his own music career in 2022 and his most recent release, "Hickeys," dropped on February 24th.

Dorian is survived by his parents, Ben and Lizzy Kweller, and his younger brother Judah.

Foo Fighters are slowly expanding their upcoming 2023 tour, with five new North American stops now on the books. Between May and September, the Foos have just announced shows in Gilford, New Hampshire; Rogers, Arkansas; Pelham, Alabama; Ottawa, Ontario; and Aspen, Colorado. Ticket info is available at FooFighters.com

The Foos have yet to announce who'll sit behind the drumkit following the death of Taylor Hawkins.

Although Dave Grohl is equally at home gigging in a club or an 80,000-seat sports stadium, he told us a while back why he has a soft spot for massive outdoor festivals: "These kind of shows are so much fun, when you open up with a song like 'All My Life' and they hear the (makes guitar sound), the place just kind of goes off. And it's the best feeling in the world to stand there on stage and watch it happen."

UPDATED: Foo Fighters North American tour dates (subject to change):

May 24 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
May 26 - Boston, MA - Boston Calling Music Festival
May 28 - Columbus, OH - Sonic Temple Arts & Music Festival
June 14 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
June 16 - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
June 18 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
July 12 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Bluesfest
July 15 - Milwaukee, WI - Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival
September 3 - Aspen, CO - Jazz Aspen Snowmass
September 17 - Asbury Park, NJ - Sea.Hear.Now Festival

Nick Jonas took his baby daughter Malti a tour backstage at the Dolby Live at the MGM Grand in advance of the Jonas Brothers most recent Las Vegas residency.

A video shared by Priyanka Chopra shows the baby checking out the venue during President's Day weekend as the band's new single "Wings" pays over the clip.

Mom can be heard saying, "backstage" to the 1-year-old as Dad holds her on his hip prior to a show.

Carlos Santana has announced he will hit the road with his band across North America this summer for the "1001 Rainbows Tour." Throughout, "Santana will perform high-energy, passion-filled songs from their 50-year career, including fan favorites from Woodstock to Supernatural and beyond."

Santana will wrap up the "Blessings And Miracles Tour" at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 4th followed by dates in Dallas and Houston, Texas before kicking off the "1001 Rainbows Tour" at Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center on June 21st. The 14-date "Rainbows" trek will wrap on August 6th at Springfield, Massachusetts' MassMutual Center.

We asked Carlos Santana if there was any advice he would offer up to aspiring musicians today: "Don't pay attention to the business. Pay attention to life. People need water. People need air. People need music. And if you're a good musician, if you play piano at Nordstrom's and they fire you because nobody buys anything when you're playing, because they're all looking at you? (laughter) -- that's a badge of honor (laughter)."

UPDATED: Carlos Santana tour dates (subject to change):

May 4 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest
May 6 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion
May 7 - Houston, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
June 21 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
June 22 - Canandaigua, NY - CMAC
June 24 - Niagara Falls, ON - OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
June 25 - Northfield, OH - MGM Northfield Park: Center Stage
June 27 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights
June 29 - Detroit, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
Jule 26 - Oxon Hill, MD - The Theater at MGM National Harbor
July 28, 29 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
July 31 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
August 2 - Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheater
August 4, 5 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway
August 6 - Springfield, MA - MassMutual Center