Pulse Music

It was 57 years ago today (July 29th, 1965) that the Beatles' second film Help! had its world premiere at the London Pavilion in Piccadilly Circus. The movie, which poked fun at the burgeoning British spy film genre made famous by the James Bond films, featured the comedic plot of a group of far-eastern fundamentalists trying to retrieve a "sacrificial ring" that a member of their congregation had sent to Ringo Starr in a fan letter.

In the film, the Beatles are chased through London, the Austrian Alps, and the Bahamas by both the religious cult and a pair of bumbling scientists who are convinced that possessing the ring would enable them to rule the world. Help! not only heavily influenced the TV show The Monkees, which debuted the following year, but also helped pave the way for MTV with its clever use of separate song clips throughout the movie.

John Lennon told Rolling Stone in 1970 that it was Richard Lester, who had also directed the group's first movie A Hard Day's Night, who had complete control of the film. Lennon recalled, "The movie was out of our control. With A Hard Day's Night, we had a lot of input, and it was semi-realistic. I realize now that (Help!) was a precursor to Batman's 'Pow!' Wow!' But Dick Lester never explained that to us." Lennon said in that same interview that he and the rest of the group, "Felt like extras in our own film." He also admitted that the group's performance was less than spectacular, due in part to them "smoking marijuana for breakfast."

During the making of The Beatles' Anthology in 1992 Paul McCartney joked that, quote, "I'm not sure anyone knew the script. I think we used to learn it on the way to the set."

It was during the filming of Help! that George Harrison first was introduced to the Indian instrument the sitar, which featured extensively in the Beatles' music over the next three years.

Ultimately Help! -- which was originally titled Eight Arms To Hold You -- is remembered for the classic Beatles songs featured in the film, including "Help!," "The Night Before," "You're Going To Lose That Girl," "Ticket To Ride," "Another Girl," and "I Need You."

Beatlefan magazine's executive editor Al Sussman saw the film upon its release in the States and says that the excitement had waned slightly for the group's second film: "It wasn't quite the event. . . Seeing it the first time wasn't quite the event it had been '64 seeing A Hard Day's Night for the first time. The theater wasn't full, it wasn't quite as big as A Hard Day's Night had been, at least the opening."

Paul McCartney was asked why he thinks that nearly 60 years after the first the Beatles' recording sessions, their music continues to inspire the generations: "I'm not sure why -- it's really quite an amazing thing. When we started with the Beatles, we thought we might last two years. But then it was 10, and the music, it was 20, 30, 40 (years). And I think the only answer that I can come up with is that the music's well structured, it's well written. And so, when I play it now, I think, 'well this isn't bad, this is good -- y'know, whoever wrote this was clever.'"

A little over two weeks after the premiere on August 15th, the Beatles kicked off their 1965 U.S. summer tour in New York City's Shea Stadium, performing their biggest show yet for 55,500 screaming fans.

In 2013, Help! was released on Blu-ray. The package contains a single-disc pairing the digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack with an hour of extra features -- including a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, modern recollections from the original cast and crew, an in-depth look at the restoration process, a recently unearthed outtake scene, along with the film's original theatrical trailers and radio spots.

The disc also features an introduction by the film's director, Richard Lester, with an "appreciation" by Martin Scorsese included in the Blu-ray's booklet.

The Blu-ray Help! package pairs the digitally restored original film with these extra features:

"The Beatles in Help!" -- a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the Beatles on-set.

"A Missing Scene" -- a legendary Help! outtake, featuring Wendy Richard.

"The Restoration of Help!" -- an in-depth look at the restoration process.

"Memories of Help!" -- the cast and crew reminisce.

1965 Theatrical Trailers -- two original U.S. trailers and one original Spanish trailer.

1965 U.S. Radio Spots (hidden in disc menus).

It was 45 years ago Saturday (July 30th, 1977) that Andy Gibb's debut U.S. single, "I Just Want To Be Your Everything," topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of four straight weeks. The song, which was written and co-produced by his elder brother, Bee Gee Barry Gibb, can be seen as the musical link between the group's major 1976 Children Of The World singles -- the chart-topping "You Should Be Dancing" and it's Top Three followup "Love So Right," and 1977's blockbuster Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

Andy, who released his first album, Flowing Rivers, in September 1977, was only 19 at the time of the runaway success, which turned him into an instant teen idol and Top 40 force to be reckoned with. Shortly after the song's meteoric success, he recalled that he was unsure if he had the talent to carry the song to the top of the charts: "When I very first heard the song, when Barry played me the song, I thought, 'Oh, yeah, y'know, it's a monster song.' I thought that, y'know, maybe the song's great -- but maybe it won't be a hit because I'm doing it, or whatever. I didn't really think that I, myself, could actually have a hit record -- or a Number One record. And then it just kept climbing and it kept climbing, and when it got to the Top 50 -- that was enough for me, I screamed my head off."

Andy Gibb went on to score two more back-to-back Number One hits -- "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" and "Shadow Dancing" in 1978 -- both before his 21st birthday.

Andy, who was the younger brother of the Bee Gees -- Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb -- died on March 10th, 1988, just five days after his 30th birthday from an inflammatory heart virus exacerbated by years of substance abuse. He was survived by his daughter Peta, his brothers, his sister Leslie, and his parents Barbara and Hugh.

Just published is the first-ever standalone biography of Andy Gibb. The unauthorized Arrow Through The Heart: The Biography Of Andy Gibb by author Matthew Hild features new and exclusive interview with friends and colleagues shedding new and important light on the doomed pop sensation.

It was 48 years ago today (July 29th, 1974) that "Mama" Cass Elliot of the Mamas & The Papas was found dead in a London apartment. Elliot, who had just performed two sold out performances at the London Palladium, died of what coroners ruled an apparent heart attack. Elliot, whose real name was Ellen Naomi Cohen, had been performing as solo act since the group began to splinter in 1968. That same year, according to legend, Crosby, Stills, & Nash performed for the first time together in her Laurel Canyon living room -- and dedicated their most recent live set CSN 2012 to her. She is portrayed briefly in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 movie, One Upon A Time. . . In Hollywood.

In the years following her death -- due to Elliot's obesity and a rumor that suggested a half-eaten ham sandwich was found on the nightstand next to her bed -- stories and jokes that she choked to death have cast a shadow on her legacy; despite the fact that it was noted in the coroner's report that no food was found in the singer's trachea. Another unfounded rumor was that Elliot died of a heroin overdose -- despite the fact that no narcotics were found in her blood stream.

Cass Elliot remains one of the most significant and brilliant voices of her generation, and was able to embody literally every type of music she sang. She will forever be remembered for the Mamas & The Papas' string of timeless hits, including "Go Where You Wanna Go," "California Dreamin'," "Monday, Monday," "I Saw Her Again," "Dedicated To The One I Love," "Creeque Alley," and her solo spotlight, "Dream A Little Dream Of Me," among countless others. There was quite possibly no other singer of the 1960's more highly revered than "Mama" Cass.

On May 7th, 1974 Cass Elliot made her final major U.S. TV appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and spoke about her heavy performance schedule: "I've been traveling, I just got home about three weeks ago. I've been on the road since November -- with the exception of Christmas, I was home. And, I'm just so glad to be home; I've got to leave again in July. I thought I was going to be off all summer."

During the Mamas & The Papas' 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, close friend and bandmate Michelle Phillips paid tribute to Cass: "(Applause) I'd just like to say one more thing -- that I know that Cass is sitting on top of that big full moon tonight, looking down on these proceedings, wearing a size six Thierry Mugler dress (laughter), and thanking you all very, very much (applause)."

Michelle Phillips told us she blames David Crosby for perpetrating lies and innuendo with the allegations he made in the biography Dream A Little Dream of Me: The Life Of Cass Elliot, stating Elliot's death was caused by drug abuse: "Ask David Crosby. . . David Crosby seems to know about everybody's drug addictions and in fact, he says that she died of a heroin overdose. I'm so glad that David Crosby is also a coroner and a doctor and is so willing to make these outrageous assumptions and turn them into his truth. I am so angry at David Crosby." :

Elliot is survived by her daughter Owen, who is now a mother herself, and her sister, singer Leah Kunkel, who raised Owen.

In 1978, the Who's drummer Keith Moon died in the same London apartment where Elliot died, which was owned by singer Harry Nilsson.

Beyonce's new album Renaissance leaked overseas -- two days before its official release. A French fan posted a pic of the album yesterday in CD format. In addition, some of the singles made their way onto social media.

The Beyhive took to social media to shut down anyone who leaked the album, with one fan saying, "don't share the leaks! Just report them on social media . . . and block."

Renaissance is officially due out tomorrow (July 29th).

Bruce Springsteen's longtime Jon Landau manager defended the rocker's recent ticket onsales via Ticketmaster, which due to the companies pricing structure made some of the events' choice seats completely unafforadable.

Fans were shut out of great seats due to the company's "Dynamic Pricing" -- also called "Platinum Seats" -- which forced the sales into super-competitive market-based pricing. Due to the surge in supply and demand, the prices of some of the seats easily soared past the $5,000 mark.

Jon Landau issued a statement to The New York Times finally shedding light on how Springsteen and his organization feel about the ticket situation:

In pricing tickets for this tour, we looked carefully at what our peers have been doing. We chose prices that are lower than some and on par with others.

Regardless of the commentary about a modest number of tickets costing $1,000 or more, our true average ticket price has been in the mid-$200 range. I believe that in today's environment, that is a fair price to see someone universally regarded as among the very greatest artists of his generation.

Ticketmaster has previously stated the choice seats, which admittedly ran into the thousands, represented only 11.2 percent of the overall tickets sold. The company posted the average price of all tickets sold had been only $262, with 56 percent being sold for under $200 face value. The company claimed that only 1.3 percent of total tickets so far have sold for over $1,000.

It's a testament to Bruce Springsteen's life, career, and work that he remains such an important force nearly 50 years after releasing his debut album. Springsteen told us that -- even during his earliest days as a musician -- he's always taken great efforts to not only entertain - but to inform his audience as well: "I guess you would say that we've devised a language by which we assist ourselves (laughs) and our audience in making sense of the world and their lives, and hopefully in finding both our and their place in the world. That's the job that my favorite movies, my favorite pieces of art, my favorite music always did for me, was that, in some fashion, the artist says, 'OK, take this, and go find your place out there.' It's a passing on of energy and of thought."

IN OTHER SPRINGSTEEN NEWS

Last night (July 27th) Bruce Springsteen joined Bleachers onstage at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

"The Boss," playing an acoustic guitar, performed "Chinatown," as he had on the band's 2021 album, Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night.

Just released is the eagerly-awaited trailer for the Brett Morgen-directed David Bowie documentary, Moonage Daydream. The film, which spans Bowie's entire career, theaters hits theaters and in IMAX on September 16th.

Brett Morgen, who's best known for such films of The Kid Stays In The Picture, Cobain: Montage Of Heck, and Jane, was quoted by Rolling Stone as saying, "You know, there might be a few things in Moonage Daydream that the estate isn't happy to have in there. But they gave me final cut, and never told me I had to include this song or that, or make any changes. Right from the start, it was: This isn't David's film. He's not going to see it. This is David Bowie by Brett Morgen. Make it yours."

According to the film's official announcement:

Acclaimed filmmaker Brett Morgen has synthesized David Bowie's music and art into a sublime kaleidoscopic experiential cinematic odyssey that explores Bowie's creative, spiritual, and philosophical journey.

With never-before-seen footage, performances, and music, the film is guided exclusively by Bowie's narration. The motion picture features 48 musical tracks, mixed from their original stems. Bowie's long-time collaborator and friend Tony Visconti is the film's music producer.

David Bowie had always regarded performance as a way to enhance his music -- not detract from it: "The impact of the show has to be the astounding thing -- not the dressing of it, y'know? It's a sort, of perfunctory kind of thing. But, the content has to astound. I mean, you can dress a show with a trillion dollars, or a trillion pounds worth of goodies, but if the show is not substantial, there will be no impact."

Lizzo got flowers from Harry Styles this week when her song, "About Damn Time" topped the chart. The 34-year-old showed off the colorful bouquet in a TikTok video and thanked him for the gesture.

She posted a note that read: "Y'all, Harry got me flowers - congratulating me on 'About Damn Time' going #1."

Not only did it reach the top spot on Billboard Hot 100, but it also pushed Styles out of the position to do so. His song, "As It Was" dropped to #2. This marks Lizzo's 2^nd career chart topper.

TL;DR:

• Lizzo got flowers from Harry Styles this week when her song, "About Damn Time" topped the chart.
• Not only did it reach the top spot on Billboard Hot 100, but it also pushed Styles out of the position to do so.

Ed Sheeran celebrated 100 million followers on Spotify by having some fun on the road with his crew.

Wearing a t-shirt that touted the big news, he walked around pre-show, approaching crew members while they set up the stage and asked them what they thought of his big career milestone.

Obviously joking around, their response was very disinterested. Two of them had no comment, while one staffer simply said, "Whatever."

Sheeran cheekily captioned the post, "Needless to say, everyone around me is pretty excited about it."

The other big accounts on Spotify include Ariana Grande with 81 million followers. Billie Eilish has 66 and Drake has 65 million.

TL;DR:

• Ed Sheeran celebrated 100 million followers on Spotify by having some fun on the road with his crew.
• Obviously joking around, their response was very disinteresting.
• The other big accounts on Spotify include Ariana Grande with 81 million followers. Billie Eilish has 66 and Drake has 65 million.

Now available is the officially sanctioned psychedelic George Harrison replica Fender Stratocaster, dubbed. "Rocky." The guitar, which sells for $1,999, is based on the exact specs of the sonic blue Strat Harrison received -- along with John Lennon -- in time for the Beatles' fall 1965 Rubber Soul sessions. The guitar went on to be featured on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, the "White Album," and Let It Be.

Harrison was most famously seen playing the "Rocky" Strat during the "Fab Four's" legendary 1967 worldwide televised performance of "All You Need Is Love," the Magical Mystery Tour film, and was used extensively on stage during his sole North American solo tour in 1974.

During his solo career, Harrison re-rigged "Rocky" for exclusive use as a slide guitar.

The press release for the Harrison guitar states:

The George Harrison Rocky Stratocaster features an alder body lovingly hand-painted with a replica of Harrison's famous psychedelic brushstrokes. Every last detail is captured, from the artwork on the pickguard and plastic parts to a replica decal on the back of headstock from Grimwoods - the original music store where the guitar was purchased.

A trio of vintage-style ‘60s Stratocaster pickups sing with dynamic, crystalline tone that hearkens back to Fender's golden age. A Mid-'60s "C"- shape maple neck with a 7.25" radius slab rosewood fingerboard and 21 vintage-style frets offers a familiar neck profile with a comfortable feel. Finally, the Rocky Strat features a vintage-style synchronized tremolo and tuners which provide the look and feel of a classic Fender instrument.

The guitar features hand-painted artwork: From "Go Cat Go" to the bright Day-Glo hues, every last detail of George's psychedelic brushstrokes is captured.

Outside of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr, ELO's Jeff Lynne was probably George Harrison's most intimate creative partner. Lynne recalls pulling teeth in getting George to lay down some of his signature slide work on one of his own sessions: "George, for instance, was such a wonderful slide guitar player and he was quite funny about it, really, because he'd say: ‘You do it yourself!' I'd say, ‘No, I ca. . . You're the best one! You do it!' And he'd go, ‘Nah, you're just too lazy!'(Laughs) So, I'd go, I'd manage to talk him into it eventually, but it would talk a bit of persuasion -- but it was in a funny way, y'know? It was more, like, banter than real not wanting to do it."

The Weeknd is set to have his own attraction at Universal Studios theme parks.

It's part of a series of haunted houses featured as Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood.

The haunted house experience is described as a surreal living nightmare filled with grotesque characters. The theme was inspired by The Weeknd's After Hours Til Dawn tour.

It opens September 2 at Universal in Orlando, Florida, and on September 8 at the Hollywood location.

TL;DR:

• The Weeknd is set to have his own attraction at Universal Studios.
• It's a haunted house as part of the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood.
• Opens in September.

Weeks after postponing his tour, Shawn Mendes has officially cancelled all scheduled dates.

On Wednesday (7-27) he posted a statement explaining that he was making his health his "first priority."

He wrote, " I started this tour excited to finally get back to playing live after a long break due to the pandemic, but the reality is I was not at all ready for how difficult touring would be after this time away."

Mendes said that after additional conversations with his team and an "incredible" group of health professionals, he decided he needed a longer break from the road.

Mendes kicked off the tour in Portland, Oregon on June 27, and was slated to play more than 40 shows through October.

TL;DR:

• Shawn Mendes has officially cancelled all scheduled dates.
• On Wednesday (7-27) he posted a statement explaining that he was making his health his "first priority."
• Mendes said he needed a longer break from the road.
• Mendes was slated to play more than 40 shows through October.

Last night (7-27) Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and clothing designer, Chloe Mendel held an event to benefit the Highland Park Community Foundation. The Illinois town was where dozens of people were injured and seven were killed during this year's July 4^th parade.

Corgan told Billboard, "The only reason we weren't there was that Chloe was on a plane, and our business was closed."

The two long-time partners created the Together and Together Again benefit concert that livestreamed last night (7-27) and encouraged viewers worldwide to donate.

The event, which was held at their clothing store, included a variety of special guests that included Pumpkins drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin as well as Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, jazz saxophonist, Frank Catalano, and singer Billy Swan.

The performance is available to view on YouTube and donations are still being accepted.

Corgan has lived in Highland Park for about 20 years and is very involved with the community.

TL;DR:

Ozzy Osbourne made his SDCC debut last Friday (July 22nd), setting a record for the larest signing of the year on the convention room floor. In addition, Ozzy also released "Degradation Rules," the second single on his upcoming album Patient Number 9.

The song marks the first time that Black Sabbath co-founder and guitarist Tony Iommi appears on an Ozzy solo album. Revolver noted that the single--written by Ozzy with Andrew Watt, Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith--features "Iommi's signature heavy riffery and even some wailing harmonica by Ozzy hearkening back to classic Sabbath."

Patient Number 9 is due out on September 9th.

Jack Harlow and Lil Nas X lead this year's Video Music Award nominations with seven nods a piece.

MTV also announced Tuesday (July 26th) that Doja Cat and Harry Styles each picked up six nominations. Additionally, Madonna, who reigns at the most awarded artists in MTV history with 20 wins, has become the only artist to be nominated in each of the VMAs five decades (1980s-2020s), as she earns her 69th nomination for "MADAME X."

The 2022 VMAs will return to celebrate the biggest names in music on Sunday, August 28th at 8PM ET/PT.

COMPLETE LIST OF 2022 NOMINEES:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR, Presented by Burger King®
Doja Cat – "Woman" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – "Way 2 Sexy" – OVO/Republic
Ed Sheeran – "Shivers" – Atlantic Records
Harry Styles – "As It Was" – Columbia Records
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – "INDUSTRY BABY" – Columbia Records
Olivia Rodrigo – "brutal" – Geffen Records
Taylor Swift – "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) – Republic Records

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
Drake – OVO/Republic
Ed Sheeran – Atlantic Records
Harry Styles – Columbia Records
Jack Harlow – Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Lil Nas X – Columbia Records
Lizzo – Atlantic Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
Adele – "Easy On Me" – Columbia Records
Billie Eilish – "Happier Than Ever" – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat – "Woman" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Elton John & Dua Lipa – "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" – EMI / Interscope Records
Lizzo – "About Damn Time" – Atlantic Records
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – "STAY" – Columbia Records

BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by EXTRA® Gum
Baby Keem – Columbia Records
Dove Cameron – Disruptor Records / Columbia Records
GAYLE – Atlantic Records / Arthouse Records
Latto – Streamcut / RCA Records
Måneskin – Arista Records

SEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment/Geffen Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
September 2021: Griff – "One Night" – Warner Records
October 2021: Remi Wolf – "Sexy Villain" – Island Records
November 2021: Nessa Barrett – "i hope ur miserable until ur dead" – Warner Records
December 2021: SEVENTEEN – "Rock With You" – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records
January 2021: Mae Muller – "Better Days" – Capitol Records UK
February 2022: GAYLE – "abcdefu" – Atlantic Records / Arthouse Records
March 2022: Sheneesa – "R U That" – Rich Immigrants / Interscope Records
April 2022: Omar Apollo – "Tamagotchi" – Warner Records
May 2022: Wet Leg – "Chaise Longue" – Domino Recording Company
June 2022: Muni Long – "Baby Boo" – Supergiant Records LLC / Def Jam Recording
July 2022: Doechii – "Persuasive" – Top Dog Entertainment / Capitol Records

BEST COLLABORATION
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – "Way 2 Sexy" – OVO/Republic
Elton John & Dua Lipa – "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" – EMI / Interscope Records
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – "INDUSTRY BABY" – Columbia Records
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – "Sweetest Pie" – 300 Entertainment
Post Malone & The Weeknd – "One Right Now" – Mercury Records / Republic Records
ROSALÍA ft. The Weeknd – "LA FAMA" – Columbia Records
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – "STAY" – Columbia Records

BEST POP
Billie Eilish – "Happier Than Ever" – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat – "Woman" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Ed Sheeran – "Shivers" – Atlantic Records
Harry Styles – "As It Was" – Columbia Records
Lizzo – "About Damn Time" – Atlantic Records
Olivia Rodrigo – "traitor" – Geffen Records

BEST HIP-HOP
Eminem & Snoop Dogg – "From The D 2 The LBC" – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Future ft. Drake, Tems – "WAIT FOR U" – Freebandz / Epic Records
Kendrick Lamar – "N95" – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Latto – "Big Energy" – Streamcut / RCA Records
Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby – "Do We Have A Problem?" – Young Money / Cash Money / Republic Records
Pusha T – "Diet Coke" – G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam

BEST ROCK
Foo Fighters – "Love Dies Young" – RCA Records
Jack White – "Taking Me Back" – Third Man Records
Muse – "Won't Stand Down" – Warner Records
Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Black Summer" – Warner Records
Shinedown – "Planet Zero" – Elektra Music Group
Three Days Grace – "So Called Life" – RCA Records

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Avril Lavigne ft. blackbear - "Love It When You Hate Me" - Elektra Music Group / DTA Records
Imagine Dragons x JID – "Enemy" – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records
Machine Gun Kelly ft. WILLOW – "emo girl" – Bad Boy / Interscope Records
Måneskin – "I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE" – Arista Records

Panic! At The Disco – "Viva Las Vengeance" – Fueled By Ramen / Elektra Music Group
Twenty One Pilots – "Saturday" – Fueled By Ramen / Elektra Music Group
WILLOW, Avril Lavigne ft. Travis Barker – "G R O W" – MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation Records

BEST LATIN
Anitta – "Envolver" – Warner Records
Bad Bunny – "Tití Me Preguntó" – Rimas Entertainment

Becky G X KAROL G – "MAMIII" – Kemosabe Records / Sony Music Latin / RCA Records

Daddy Yankee – "REMIX" – Republic Records
Farruko – "Pepas" – Sony Music US Latin
J Balvin & Skrillex – "In Da Getto" – Sueños Globales, LLC /Universal Music Latino / Asylum Records UK

BEST R&B
Alicia Keys – "City of Gods (Part II)" – AKW
Chlöe – "Have Mercy" – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

H.E.R. – "For Anyone" – RCA Records
Normani ft. Cardi B – "Wild Side" – Keep Cool/RCA Records
Summer Walker, SZA & Cardi B – "No Love (Extended Version)" – LVRN / Interscope Records
The Weeknd – "Out Of Time" – XO / Republic Records

BEST K-POP
BTS – "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)" – BIGHIT Music / Geffen Records
ITZY – "LOCO" – JYP Entertainment
LISA – "LALISA" – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
SEVENTEEN – "HOT" – PLEDIS Entertainment/Geffen Records
Stray Kids – "MANIAC" – JYP Entertainment
TWICE – "The Feels" – JYP Entertainment

VIDEO FOR GOOD
Kendrick Lamar – "The Heart Part 5" – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Latto – "P*ssy" – Streamcut / RCA Records
Lizzo – "About Damn Time" – Atlantic Records
Rina Sawayama – "This Hell" – Dirty Hit
Stromae – "Fils de joie" – Mosaert Label / The Darkroom / Interscope Records

BEST METAVERSE PERFORMANCE
BLACKPINK The Virtual | PUBG – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records
BTS | Minecraft – BIGHIT Music / Geffen Records
Charli XCX | Roblox – Atlantic Records
Justin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience | Wave – Def Jam
Rift Tour ft. Ariana Grande | Fortnite – Republic Records
Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience | Roblox – Fueled By Ramen / Elektra Music Group

BEST LONGFORM VIDEO
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Foo Fighters – Studio 666 – RCA Records
Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed – Interscope Records / MCA Nashville
Madonna – Madame X - Interscope Records
Olivia Rodrigo – driving home 2 u – Geffen Records
Taylor Swift – "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) – Republic Records

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – "family ties" – Columbia Records
Camila Cabello ft. Ed Sheeran – "Bam Bam" – Epic Records
Harry Styles – "As It Was" – Columbia Records
Kendrick Lamar – "N95" – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Normani ft. Cardi B – "Wild Side" – Keep Cool / RCA Records
Taylor Swift – "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) – Republic Records

BEST DIRECTION
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – "family ties" – Columbia Records
Billie Eilish – "Happier Than Ever" – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Ed Sheeran – "Shivers" – Atlantic Records
Harry Styles – "As It Was" – Columbia Records
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – "INDUSTRY BABY" – Columbia Records
Taylor Swift – "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) – Republic Records

BEST ART DIRECTION
Adele – "Oh My God" – Columbia Records
Doja Cat – "Get Into It (Yuh)" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – "Way 2 Sexy" – OVO / Republic Records
Kacey Musgraves – "simple times" – Interscope Records / MCA Nashville
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – "INDUSTRY BABY" – Columbia Records
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Dua Lipa – "Sweetest Pie" – 300 Entertainment

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Billie Eilish – "Happier Than Ever" – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Coldplay X BTS – "My Universe" – Atlantic Records
Kendrick Lamar – "The Heart Part 5" – pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope Records
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – "INDUSTRY BABY" – Columbia Records
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – "Sweetest Pie" – 300 Entertainment
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – "STAY" – Columbia Records

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
BTS – "Permission to Dance" – BIGHIT Music/Geffen Records
Doja Cat – "Woman" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
FKA twigs ft. The Weeknd – "Tears In The Club" – Atlantic Records
Harry Styles – "As It Was" – Columbia Records
Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – "INDUSTRY BABY" – Columbia Records
Normani ft. Cardi B – "Wild Side" – Keep Cool / RCA Records

BEST EDITING
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – "family ties" – Columbia Records
Doja Cat – "Get Into It (Yuh)" – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Olivia Rodrigo – "brutal" – Geffen Records
ROSALÍA – "SAOKO" – Columbia Records
Taylor Swift – "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) – Republic Records
The Weeknd – "Take My Breath" – XO / Republic Records

Farm Aid 2022 will return without Neil Young once again this year, hitting Raleigh, North Carolina's Coastal Credit Union Mark Park at Walnut Creek on September 24th. For the second year running, Young has cited his fears of Covid as the reason for staying away.

Rolling Stone reported that this year's lineup for the annual fundraising concert features co-founders Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, Dave Mathews with Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.

Tickets for the show go on sale on Saturday, July 30th. For more information, log on to: https://www.farmaid.org/festival/tickets/

Neil Young addressed his absence from the show while chatting with fans on his official Neil Young Archives page, writing, "I will not be at Farm Aid this year. I am not ready for that yet. I don't think it is safe in the pandemic. I miss it very much. . . Not ready to tour. Covid is real danger. Long covid? No thanks. Expose my son to big crowds. No."

John Mellencamp has been involved in the issues facing the American farmer for well over 35 years -- both with his time and his music. It was his 1985 album Scarecrow that first got the attention of Farm Aid co-founder Willie Nelson: "We had some mutual friends that were hanging around with him, and they told him I had just made a record called Scarecrow that dealt with the family farm crisis. And he, at that time, had been thinking about putting together Farm Aid, and he just called me up out of the clear blue one day and said, ‘Hey I'm in Bloomington and I've been thinking about doing this. . . ' and ‘Would you help organizing?' And I said, ‘Yeah.' And that's my involvement."

Britney Spears' attorney has double down on his assertion that the pop star will not sit for any depositions.

TMZ reports that Mathew Rosengart filed legal documents saying that he has no reason to call Britney as a witness during the ongoing legal battle against her father, Jamie Spears.

Jamie has previously asked the judge to order Britney to sit for a deposition, arguing she has made numerous claims against him in court and on social media and some of these allegations go to his performance as a conservator.

"RACING IN THE STREET" TOPS GREATEST SONGS LIST

The editors of Mojo magazine have compiled the list of the "50 Greatest Bruce Springsteen Songs." Coming in at Number One is the Side Two closer from 1978's Darkness On The Edge Of Town -- the mournful "Racing In The Streets."

Coming in at Number Two is the ultimate rock anthem, 1975's "Born To Run," with 1980's "The River" taking the Number Three spot. 1973's "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" came in at Number Four with the Top Five rounded out by the 1978 outtake, "The Promise."

The Darkness On The Edge Of Town album -- and especially songs like "Racing In The Street" -- featured a more pared back and dramatic style of lyric writing, dispensing of the bombastic "word salad" featured in Springsteen's earlier work: "What I kept stripping away was cliche, cliche. I just kept stripping it down until it started to feel emotionally real."

The Top 25 "Greatest Bruce Springsteen Songs" - via Mojo:

1. "Racing In The Street" - 1978
2. "Born To Run" - 1975
3. "The River" - 1980
4. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"
5. "The Promise" - 1978
6. "Thunder Road" - 1975
7. "Nebraska" - 1982
8. "The Rising" - 2002
9. "Badlands" - 1978
10. "Born In The U.S.A." - 1984
11. "Jungleland" - 1975
12. "The Ghost Of Tom Joad"
13. "The Promised Land" - 1978
14. "Dancing In The Dark" - 1984
15. "Candy's Room" - 1978
16. "Atlantic City" - 1982
17. "Because The Night" - 1978
18. "American Skin (41 Shots)" - 2001
19. "Backstreets" - 1975
20. "Brilliant Disguise" - 1987
21. "Blinded By The Light" - 1973
22. "Streets Of Philadelphia" - 1993
23. "Meeting Across The River" - 1975
24. "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" - 2007
25. "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" - 1978

SPRINGSTEEN TICKET SITUATION: NOT AS BAD AS WE FIRST THOUGHT???

According to reports, the ticket snafu regarding the recent Ticketmaster onsales for Bruce Springsteen's 2023 U.S. dates looked worse than it actually was. Fans were shut out of great seats due to the company's "Dynamic Pricing" -- also called "Platinum Seats" -- which forced the sales into super-competitive market-based pricing.

Due to the surge in supply and demand, the prices of some of the seats easily soared past the $5,000 mark.

Ticketmaster claimed the choice seats, which admittedly ran into the thousands, represented only 11.2 percent of the overall tickets sold.

Variety reported, "By the ticketing service's calculations, that left the other 88.2 percent of tickets sold at fixed prices that ranged from $59.50 to $399 before added service fees. Ticketmaster further says that the average price of all tickets sold so far is $262, with 56 percent being sold for under $200 face value."

The report went on to state: "Although the service does not dispute reports of tickets being priced through the platinum program for high as $4-5K, Ticketmaster is claiming that only 1.3 percent of total tickets so far have gone for more than $1,000."

John Mayer announced Tuesday (July 26th) that he will be holding a trio of benefit concerts to raise fun for his fellow Montanans impacted by the historic flooding of the Yellowstone River last month.

The Rise For the River shows will feature him teaming up with his Dead and Company bandmate guitarist/singer Bob Weir on Aug. 8th, followed by a gig with comedian Dave Chappelle, on Aug. 14th. Mayer will finish the run out with a solo show on Aug. 21st.

All three shows will take place at Pine Creek Lodge in Livingston, Montana with proceeds to benefit the SW MT Flood Relief Fund.

Perry Farrell is firing on all cylinders beyond Jane's Addiction's upcoming arena tour with Smashing Pumpkins. Spin.com reported today (July 27th), Farrell will appear at a benefit concert spearheaded by Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan to raise money for the victims of the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, which has been the musician's home for the past two decades. The show will be live-streamed from Madame Zuzu's, the tea shop Corgan and partner Chloe Mendel own in downtown Highland Park.

Ahead of this week's Lollapalooza festival at Chicago's Grant Park, Farrell will appear with Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot today, and shed light on why he's been so involved with the Highland Park attack: "It's something that I've been thinking about for a long, long time: gun violence. What is the cause of it, how do you alleviate it."

The Together And Together Again - A Benefit For The Highland Park Community Foundation begins tonight (July 27th) at 9 ET, live on Smashing Pumpkins' YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3vjiJMC

Perry Farrell went on to talk about this fall's 32-city joint arena tour between Jane's Addiction and Smashing Pumpkins: "What I found interesting about Billy's offer is that we're going to share production. So I have the ability to make a show that is as grand as his. And I like that a lot. Because there's something unique about Billy -- not only in his music, but in the fact that he puts his time into producing a show that is not just musical, but also visceral. You're being lit up by lights and video and costuming and all these things. It's a proper show. I think a lot of people today, they get up there on the stage and they're just greedy -- they don't want to put out for any of those other things that, I would say, you expect when you're coming to a concert. Don't you want see the band up there all sexy, and check out what they're wearing, and have the lights creating drama? And then, of course, there's the sound, and the sound's going to be fantastic at these shows."

Farrell offered up an update about his ongoing studio work: "As soon as we finish this (Porno For Pyros) Lolla performance, we're going back home and I'm going to be recording through August. And that will be for Porno For Pyros, for Kind Heaven Orchestra, and for Jane's Addiction."

A while back, Perry Farrell told us he's always felt particularly safe when onstage: "Musicians and music festivals. . . I would be more afraid if I was a politician or an army. I think that the last people --although I would say that nobody is above getting their ass kicked and retaliated on -- but musicians, I think, we're peace makers."

On Saturday (July 30th) Perry Farrell will perform with Porno For Pyros at Chicago's Grant Park as part of Lollapalooza.

Lawyers for Sam Smith and Normani are calling a copyright lawsuit claiming the stars ripped off an earlier song with their 2019 hit "Dancing With a Stranger," "rambling" and nonsensical."

According to Billboard, this is their first response to a lawsuit filed in March claiming the duo copied the hit from a 2015 song of the same name.

The attorneys, hailing from the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, have asked that the case be dismissed, claiming that any similarities between the two tracks are common musical tropes.

Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir has just rolled out the fall dates for his side band Bobby Weir & The Wolf Bros. The trek begins on September 30th in Waterbury, Connecticut's Palace Theater and wraps over two nights -- November 4th and 5th -- at Denver, Colorado's Mission Ballroom. Along the way, the band will play multi-night stops in Washington, D.C.; San Francisco -- performing on Weir's 75th birthday on October 16th; Eugene, Oregon; and Las Vegas.

In addition to Weir, the Wolf Bros' touring ensemble features bassist and longtime Rolling Stones producer Don Was, Dead & Company keyboardist Jeff Chimenti with special guests the Wolfpack with Barry Sless on pedal steel.

When we last caught up with Bob Weir, we asked him about the back-story to one of his classic Dead tunes, the 1977 Terrapin Station standout, "Estimated Prophet": "It's basically an acid casualty. A guy who took too much acid and has this notion of California and has this notion of this message that he has to give, and stuff like that. And being in the Grateful Dead, we met a number of these kind of folks. They'd introduce themselves, they'd be fascinated by us and what we're up to and, generally speaking, we would figure somewhere in their little cosmology."

JUST ANNOUNCED: Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. tour dates (subject to change):

September 30 - Waterbury, CT - Palace Theater
October 1- New Haven, CT - Westville Music Bowl
October 5, 6, 8, 9 - Washington, D.C. - Kennedy Center Concert Hall
October 14, 15, 16 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
October 19 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort
October 21, 22 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center for the Performing Arts
October 23 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
October 25 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
October 26 - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts By The Bay
October 28, 29 - Las Vegas, NV - The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
October 30 - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theatre
November 1 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Hall at The Eccles
November 4, 5 - Denver, CO - The Mission Ballroom

Drake has responded to criticism that he took a 14 minute plane ride via a private jet -- which resulted in a huge amount of CO2 emissions being created.

According to Twitter account CelebJets, the Canadian rapper flew his private Boeing 767, dubbed "Air Drake," from Toronto Pearson Airport to Hamilton International Airport on July 18th. The 38-mile flight lasted approximately 14 minutes and cost roughly $2,729 worth of fuel.

He wrote via Instagram, "This is just them moving planes to whatever airport they are being stored at, for anyone who was interested in the logistics." He added, "Nobody takes that flight."

Earlier this month, Kylie Jenner was also dragged after taking a flight that lasted just 17 minutes. One person on social media called her out for her "absolute disregard for the planet" and for being a "full time climate criminal." However, it also appears that her plane was being parked.

Other celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Floyd Mayweather, and Tom Cruise have also been criticized for taking brief flights.

It was 46 years ago today (July 27th, 1976) that John Lennon was issued his Green Card, winning his four-year battle with the U.S. Government to stay in America. Lennon's fight for residency began almost immediately upon landing in the States in the fall of 1971 with wife Yoko Ono. Due to the couple's outspokenness about the Nixon administration's escalation of the Vietnam war, Lennon and Ono were targeted by the FBI, which had them followed and bugged their phone, in an effort to track their political activities.

By March 1972, Lennon and Ono had befriended counter-culture icons and Chicago Seven defendants Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, who soon told Rolling Stone that Lennon would take part in a demonstration outside that summer's Republican National Convention in San Diego. Although Lennon went on record stating that he had no intention of doing so, it was then that the U.S. Government began stepping up their deportation hearings against him, using his 1968 conviction for marijuana possession as the basis for his deportation. For the next four years, Lennon was in and out of court fighting to remain in the U.S. and was unable to leave the country for fear of not being readmitted.

During his last TV interview in April 1975, Lennon told Tomorrow Show host Tom Snyder that his life in New York City was a world away from the existence he led during the height of the Beatles' fame: "Y'see having gone through the 'Beatlemania' thing; nowadays it's nothing like that. I mean, I can walk down the street and somebody will say, 'Oh, hi John!' and they don't hassle me. I might sign one autograph, two autographs, y'know? And I don't get hassled. I went through that period when I actually couldn't go anywhere. And so now it's like, I can go and eat, we can go and eat, we go to the movies, we go wherever we want."

Although the deportation case hit hard on Lennon -- both mentally and financially -- during the process, he was always able to look on brighter side, at least for the public: "Occasionally I get into a little spot of trouble, but nothing that's going to bring the country to pieces. I think there's certainly room for an odd Lennon, or two, here."

Among the celebrities who testified on Lennon's behalf were screen legend Gloria Swanson, author Norman Mailer, and TV personalities Dick Cavett and Geraldo Rivera. Friends including actor Peter Boyle and avant garde composer John Cage were present at the hearing for moral support.

Outside the courthouse Lennon said, "It's great to be legal again. I'll tell my baby. . . If I had lived 2,000 years ago I would have wanted to live in Rome. New York is the Rome of today. Now I'm going to crack open a tea-bag and start looking at some travel catalogues."

When Lennon was asked whether he bore a grudge toward those who fought so vehemently to have him deported, Lennon said no, and joked, "Time wounds all heels."

David Leaf, who co-directed the 2006 documentary The U.S. vs. John Lennon which chronicles Lennon's harassment by the Nixon administration, says that the footage of Lennon finally receiving his Green Card was discovered during the production's eleventh hour: "Y'know, we had interviewed people who were there and they had told us what John said outside the building, but to find John saying that, it's so impactful. Y'know, he thanks his fans, he makes the classic comment, 'Time wounds all heels.' We found that three weeks before we finished the movie. It was in a mismarked reel."

Legendary photographer Bob Gruen was one of the few people from the early-'70s to retain a strong friendship with Lennon through-out his late-'70s "househusband" period. Gruen recalled that at the time, Lennon showed zero interest in the music world: "I remember after Sean was born, he wasn't interested in going out at all. He really kind of gave it up. He told me he canceled his subscription to Billboard, if he ever had the radio on it was on the easy listening station. I was hanging out with the (New York) Dolls, and Blondie, and punk and everything was going on and I would tell him about it and he's. . . it was kind of like, 'That's nice' -- and it was sort of like, he had done that."

Between 1976 and his death in 1980, Lennon traveled the world extensively, visiting Egypt, South Africa, Germany, Japan, Bermuda, and other islands and countries.

One country he never made it back to was his native England, which he was hoping to return to in the spring of 1981 during a planned world tour. Lennon would have been eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship that year as well.