Pulse Music

It takes a strong conviction to go out on the road and omit your signature hit in protest of mass shootings -- but that's exactly what soon-to-be-inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Pat Benatar is doing. She and husband / guitarist Neil Giraldo have scrapped their 1980 Top 10 classic "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" in solidarity with the families who are mourning the loss of loved ones from the spate of mass shootings in the U.S.

Benatar told USA Today, "We're not doing 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' and fans are having a heart attack and I'm like, I'm sorry, in deference to the victims of the families of these mass shootings, I'm not singing it. I tell them, if you want to hear the song, go home and listen to it. (The title) is tongue in cheek, but you have to draw the line. I can't say those words out loud with a smile on my face, I just can't. I'm not going to go on stage and soap box -- I go to my legislators -- but that's my small contribution to protesting. I'm not going to sing it. Tough."

Benatar and Giraldo have been performing the Beatles' "Helter Skelter," which she originally covered on her 1981 Precious Time album, as well as most of her other classics, explaining, "We're doing a lot of songs we don't always play like 'In The Heat Of The Night' and 'I Need A Lover.' We have what we call the 'holy 14,' songs that if we don't play them, you'll give us (a hard time)."

Pat Benatar told us that she keeps her connection to both her fans and her music by staying on the road: "We play live all the time just to stay involved. Because, y'know, for people of our age group and genre and things like that, making records -- I mean, it's kind of ridiculous. I mean, it's just. . . y'know, you're not gonna get played on the radio. It's not gonna happen, but there's so many other ways to get music out there now, it's good. But, it's (playing for) people from our era is really the way to still stay in contact with the fans and everything, so that's why we do it all the time."

Here's an update, the man who dognapped Lady Gaga's dogs and assaulted her dog walker was accidently let out of jail in April and now there's a reward for his capture.

The Washington Post reports that James Howard Jackson, who was arrested last year was released due to a clerical error and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has requested the help of the U.S. Marshals Service to track him down.

They are offering a $5,000 reward for information related to his whereabouts.

When it first happened, her dog walker was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound, but survived and her dogs were returned to her two days later.

Lady Gaga has not commented on the reward situation.

TL;DR:

• The man who dognapped Lady Gaga's dogs and assaulted her dog walker was accidently let out of jail in April.
• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has requested the help of the U.S. Marshals Service to track him down.
• Lady Gaga has not commented on the reward situation.

Billy Joel fans couldn't help but notice the "Piano Man" returned from the lockdown looking extremely svelte -- and undoubtedly the leanest he'd been in the past two decades.

While promoting his upcoming shows Down Under, Billy appeared on Australia's 60 Minutes and revealed how he shaved off a whopping 50 lbs., joking: "Anyone who needs to go on a diet should have back surgery. I highly recommend it. I had to have hip replacement, too. My hips were shot and the pain makes you stoic. It also makes you lose your appetite -- but it's a good way to lose weight. Now, over this pandemic, a lot of people I know gained weight because they were doin' nothin' but sittin' around at home and packin' it in. And I. . . (laughs) So I say, 'Well, I see you've found what I've lost.'"

Late-Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is but one of rock's many drum legends showcased in the new documentary, Let There Be Drums! Deadline.com reported filmmaker Justin Kretutzmann, the son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and Pete Townshend's official documentarian for nearly two decades, has inked a deal with Greenwich Entertainment for the North American rights to the film, which will hit theaters on October 28th.

Drummers featured in the doc demonstrating their love and technique are Ringo Starr, Stewart Copeland of the Police; Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead; Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction; Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses -- and an appearance by Mandy Moon -- the only child of the late, great Keith Moon.

Justin Kreutzmann issued a statement in which he gave the backstory to the film:

The idea of doing the movie Let There Be Drums! really came to me as a gift. Literally. It started Christmas Day, 1977 when I was given a Super-8 film camera.

The first home movies I filmed were of my Dad on stage at Winterland in San Francisco. They were shot from my perspective, sitting right behind him on the drum riser so he could keep an eye on me during the Grateful Dead's performances.

Drums, and the drummers that play them, have been a major component of my entire life.

Drummer Mickey Hart says that it took him years of performing onstage before he learned to be unselfconscious behind the drum kit: "No, in the early -- in the old days, as soon as the microphones went up, it was like five, six, seven, eight, nine years of being conscious of -- it took quite a few years before the microphone became 'invisible.' Then after that, it was just the anticipation of playing good and the desire, and the angst and all of the stuff that comes with performance, that normally goes with it."

It was Ringo Starr's step-father, Harry Graves, who bought him a drum kit. Ringo told us that it was the only instrument he ever wanted to play: "I only ever wanted to play the drums. My grandparents used to play the banjo and mandolin, and they gave me one of each, and I had no interest. We had a piano at home, which I walked on. There was nothing else from when I was thirteen -- I just wanted to play the drums. This burning desire to be a musician and to be a drummer. Just the drums."

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith told us that he became an instant John Bonham acolyte the first time he heard him: "Bonham is the greatest rock drummer. He just is, hands down. Like as when people say Buddy Rich is the greatest drummer, technically, y'know, the greatest drummer ever? John Bonham, hands down, greatest rock drummer ever. Sound, he played those songs, everything he did was just, y'know, just felt good and it's just incredible. So for me, Led Zeppelin is my favorite band."

Ozzy Osbourne has posted a teaser on social media featuring a snippet of his new collaboration with Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi, called "Degradation Rules." The track, which drops today (July 22nd), is the second pulled from Ozzy's upcoming Patient Number 9 album set for release on September 9th.

In addition to Iommi, Patient Number 9 -- which marks Ozzy's 13th solo set -- features guest spots by such legendary players as Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Jeff Beck, Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan, Zakk Wylde, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme, and former Ozzy bassist and current Metallica member Robert Trujillo.

Tony Iommi told us not long ago that determination has always been the key to his success and longevity: "I've always been the same. I always have to try to get over that barrier, whatever it may be, and do it, you know. And that's continued in what I do with the music. Because I'm determined to do it, I'm determined to carry on. And it's been with everything like that."

Ricky Martin is declaring "justice" in his case against his nephew, who withdrew his previous bombshell claims of harassment and being involved in a sexual relationship with the singer. Martin's nephew had initially claimed the pair were in an illegal incest relationship.

Martin, 50, appeared on Zoom before a judge, to face the shocking allegations on Thursday (7-21) and in less than an hour the judge ruled in Martin's favor.

His lawyers told The Post that his nephew dismissed the case himself. And that he was a troubled individual making false allegations with nothing to substantiate them.

The judge also dismissed the temporary restraining order that was issued a week ago.

TL;DR:

• Ricky Martin nephew withdrew his claims of harassment and being involved in a sexual relationship with the singer.
• Martin, appeared on Zoom before a judge and in less than an hour a judge ruled in Martin's favor.
• The judge also dismissed the temporary restraining order that was issued a week ago.

Ozzy Osbourne has revealed that he once was "paranoid as f*ck" about Eric Clapton and believed that Clapton had a grudge against him. During a radio interview, he said, "Many, many years ago, me and Sharon were in New York and we had to go to an award show. Everybody was there. And I was still doing drugs and alcohol and I was all freaked out by it. So, we go to this award show and afterwards there's me, Grace Jones, that chick I did the award show with. Me, Grace Jones, and I wanted a picture of Eric Clapton, me and Grace Jones together."

Ozzy explained that Clapton just came out of rehab so he was "freaked out" when they took the picture. He explained, "And I'd convinced myself that he was gonna stop this photograph from being released."

Years later, he ran into Clapton at an AA meeting. He explained, "I went to an AA meeting in the San Fernando Valley many years later, it was like 10 years later. I turn around in this AA meeting and there at the back was Eric Clapton sitting there. And I'm, like, ‘F*cking hell.' … I'm thinking, ‘He still remembers.' Not thinking of what he's done in the last 10 years. I'm thinking, ‘All he's done, he's still thinking how much he hates me.'"

Ozzy continued, "A couple weeks later, I go to the AA meeting again. There he is again. So, I'm just about to cross the road and get in my car and drive off. He goes, ‘Ozzy.' I go, ‘Here we go.' And he goes, ‘Good to see you in the room.' We had a chat and I thought, ‘Wow, what a nice guy.'"

Osbourne's new album, Patient Number 9 will be released in September.

BTS were appointed as ambassadors for the World Expo 2030 Busan, Korea in a ceremony at HYBE headquarters Tuesday (July 19th).

To fulfill their responsibilities, the group will hold the Global Busan Concert in October to bring the World Expo 2030 to Busan.

RM said, "We are honored to be appointed as ambassadors for World Expo 2030 Busan. BTS will do our best to support in bringing the World Expo 2030 to Busan. Starting with the Global Busan Concert in October, we will carry out various ambassador activities. We will also make extra efforts to not only support the nation's bid, but also promote the beautiful nature and culture of the Republic of Korea worldwide."

Justin Bieber is heading back out on tour.

On Tuesday (July 19th), the singer announced that he will hit the road later this month after postponing multiple shows due to his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis.

According to the Justice World Tour's official social media channels, the singer will resume touring on July 31st at Lucca Festival, Italy. Details on Bieber's postponed U.S. shows will be announced soon.

The singer cancelled several U.S. tour dates last month after revealing that half of his face was paralyzed.

Ariana Grande announced Tuesday (July 19th) that she'll be launching the next phase of r.e.m. beauty later this month.

The singer tweeted that "chapter 4: out of body," will be available exclusively at rembeauty.com on July 28th.

The collection includes a new skincare infused sweetener concealer, available in 60 shades.

Journey's new album, Freedom has debuted at #1 on the Current Rock Chart. Band members celebrated by posting the big news online and they also kicked off a Vegas residency featuring a special symphony orchestra at Resorts World Casino.

It was announced earlier this week, that the album charted at #2 on both - the Current Digital Album and Digital Albums chart. It's also 3^rd in Current Album sales.

Players on the album include founder, guitarist, writer and producer Neal Schon - along with longtime keyboard player and primary lyricist Jonathan Cain, as well as vocalist Arnel Pineda. And bassist Randy Jackson, who had played on Journey's 1986 album Raised on Radio.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members can boast of 25 gold and platinum records, with total sales of over 100 million albums worldwide. They've earned three Diamond Awards and have surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

Freedom, is Journey's first album of new material to be released in eleven years.

TL;DR:

• Journey's new album, Freedom has debuted at #1 on the Current Rock Chart.
  Freedom, is the band's first album of new material in eleven years.
• They have surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

Texas State University is set to teach the world's first university course on the work of Harry Styles.

Harry Styles and The Cult of Celebrity will be be taught in 2023. According to a tweet from the school's associate professor of digital history Louie Dean Valencia, the class will focus on Styles and popular European culture to "understand the cultural and political development of the modern celebrity as related to questions of gender and sexuality, race, class, nation and globalism, media, fashion, fan culture, internet culture and consumerism."

In an interview with KXAN, Valencia explained that the course will be similar to a history class and will address gender, sexuality, race, and globalism.

Queen just surpassed the seven-million milestone with the 1981 Greatest Hits album. That makes history as the best-selling album of all time in the U.K. The record includes classics such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You."

In an online video with bandmate, Brian May… Roger Taylor said: "The British public and their infinitely-great taste have made this the biggest-selling album in history. Thank you very much; we're humbled and honored. We salute you!"

The record-breaking achievement was a combination of physical sales, downloads, and streams.

TL;DR:

• Queen just surpassed the seven-million milestone with the 1981 Greatest Hits album.
• It's now the best-selling album of all time in the U.K.
• The record-breaking achievement was a combination of physical sales, downloads, and streams.

Def Leppard has released the sixth in a series of behind-the-scenes episodes from The Stadium Tour, which kicked off on June 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The new online episode takes you onstage in Detroit, Michigan and Hershey, Pennsylvania and includes some great guitar stories. Plus, you'll see Joe Elliott and special guest Billy Joel singing "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

In the short clip, bassist Rick Savage reflected on the Motor City gig, and said: "From the get-go, right from the start, it was, like, bang! It's one of those nights where it reminds you what a great job I've got."

The Stadium Tour includes Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

TL;DR:

• Def Leppard has released the sixth in a series of behind-the-scenes episodes from The Stadium Tour, which kicked off on June 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The new online episode takes you onstage at Detroit and Hershey
• It includes "Pour Some Sugar On Me" a performance by Joe Elliott and Billy Joel.

It was 57 years ago today (July 20th, 1965) that Bob Dylan released "Like A Rolling Stone." The song not only revolutionized the way pop lyrics were written and sung, but ultimately pushed the boundaries as to how long a hit single could actually be. "Like A Rolling Stone," which clocked in at 6:06, had the time listed as 5:59 on the label of the vinyl 45, in an effort to fool Top 40 disc jockeys into playing it. In August 1965 "Like A Rolling Stone" -- which was the lead track on his Highway 61 Revisited album -- peaked at Number Two in the charts, Dylan's highest charting single to date.

In 1988, when Bruce Springsteen inducted Dylan into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he spoke about the impact "Like A Rolling Stone" had on him and his generation: "The first time I heard Bob Dylan, I was in the car with my mother listening to WMCA, and on came that snare shot that sounded like somebody'd kicked open the door to your mind. . . When I was 15 and I heard 'Like A Rolling Stone,' I heard a guy who had the guts to take on the whole world and who made me feel like I had to too. Maybe some people misunderstood that voice as saying that somehow Bob was going to do the job for them, but as we grow older, we learn that there isn't anybody out there who can do that job for anybody else."

Bob Dylan's work has been analyzed for over half-a-century. He's been labeled many things by fans and the press -- a poet, a prophet, and a musical genius -- one thing he adamantly says he's not, is a "storyteller": "I wouldn't really call them stories. Stories are things, which have a beginning middle and an end. My things are more like short attention span things that happen to a group or crowd of people that goes down very quickly, so, no -- I wouldn't even notice it."

George Harrison -- a friend, collaborator, and devoted Dylan acolyte -- always believed that the primarily acoustic-based Dylan finally going electric was no more than a natural musical progression: "It was controversial. For me, it was just like, it just seemed interesting it was. . . Y'know, it seemed kinda natural, really, y'know, because there's a limit to, y'know, what you can do with acoustics. Or, y'know, I mean, there's. . . it didn't seem that Bob should particularly be limited to just doing that."

In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine voted "Like A Rolling Stone" Number One in its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs."

Throughout the years, the song has been covered by the Rolling Stones, John Mellencamp, the Rascals, the Turtles, David Bowie, and Judy Collins, among others.

Dylan himself has performed the song at most of his shows since 1965, often saving it for one of his encores.

The song, which originally appeared as the lead-off track on his 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited, has appeared in various live versions on albums such as 1970's Self Portrait, 1974's Before The Flood, and 1978's Bob Dylan At Budokan.

FAST FORWARD

In May 2019, a handwritten lyric sheet for Bob Dylan's 1965 song "Like A Rolling Stone" from 2010 was sold at auction for $70,400. According to the press release announcing the sale via Julien's Auctions, the lyrics appear on "A stationery sheet from The Dorchester, London, with handwritten lyrics in black pen by Bob Dylan. Dylan has titled the song and signed at the bottom 'Bob Dylan 2010.'

The four verses of the song are handwritten together with the four choruses. (The lyric sheet is) accompanied by a typed, signed letter from Jeff Rosen, president of Bob Dylan Music Company, certifying that the manuscript was one of the four handwritten and signed by Dylan."

In 2014, an early draft of "Like A Rolling Stone," featuring unused lyrics, sold at auction for a whopping $2.045 million.

Ex-Judas Priest vocalist Tim Ripper Owens says that he never got a call from his former bandmates about them finally getting inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

He told Rolling Stone: "It's a shame that the hall can't bring in members that were in the band almost 10 years and had a Grammy nomination, two studio records, two live records, and a DVD.

He went on to say "What gets me more than anything is that I haven't even gotten a call from Judas Priest on it. There's never been a call saying, 'You were a big part of this. Here's the reasons you're not being inducted, but you were a big part of us and you're a big part of the family.' There wasn't even a phone call."

Owens joined the band in 1996 to replace Rob Halford, who has since rejoined.

According to the Hall of Fame, the members that will get inducted include current members Halford, Ian Hill (bass),Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar),Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

The ceremony will be held on November 5, in Los Angeles and will air on HBO.

TL;DR:

• Ex-Judas Priest vocalist Tim Ripper Owens says that he never got a call from his former bandmates about them finally getting inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
• Owens joined the band in 1996 to replace Rob Halford, who has since rejoined.
• The ceremony will be held on November 5, in Los Angeles and will air on HBO.

Lady Gaga kicked off her Chromatica Ball tour in Germany Sunday (July 17th) night, revealing the set list for the highly anticipated tour.

According to Vulture, she includes classic hits like "Bad Romance," Shallow," "Monster" and "Rain on Me" but omits tracks from her 2013 album Artpop and her 2016 album Joanne.

The tour was originally planned for June 2020 but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She wrote on Twitter Friday (July 15th), "There was a time I thought I'd never be on stage again. I was so sad I couldn't even dream anything but a painful nightmare. I've overcome my nightmare with love, support, trust, truth, bravery, talent and dedication. I am so grateful. I'll see you in BABYLON."

The first trailer for In The Soop: Friendcation dropped Monday (July 18th).

The clip shows BTS' V having a family-style dinner with rapper Peakboy, Parasite star Choi Woo-shik, and actors Park Hyung-sik, and Park Seo-joon.

The docuseries, which follows the group as they connect and spend time together in the woods, will have a total of four episodes.

In The Soop: Friendcation will first air on Korean TV networks on July 22nd, and will later arrive on Disney+ in select areas.

Billie Eilish wants her fans to vote in the midterm elections.

The star told Rolling Stone that she is partnering with the non-profit voter registration organization HeadCount.

She said in a statement to the outlet, "I'm working with HeadCount to encourage everyone to show up at the polls and use their voice during these midterm elections. With what is going on in our country, we need to get out to the polls and vote for what we believe in. Not showing up is not an option."

Fans who check their voter registration status through HeadCount can also win a chance to travel to New Zealand and Australia to see Eilish perform.

Halsey's makeup brand ‘af94' will launch next week.

The singer announced on Instagram Monday (July 18th) that the "cute bratty younger sibling" of their about-face beauty brand will be available at Walmart and Walmart.com starting July 25th.

According to Halsey, the line is full of "fun, easy and accessible products." They added, "I promise, you're going to want them all."

Each item in the clean, vegan and cruelty-free collection is under $10.

Journey will be back on the road early next year to promote its new, critically acclaimed studio set, Freedom. The band is currently on tour in support of the new album, which marks their first new music in 11 years.

Journey's Freedom has made quite a showing on the assorted Billboard charts: #2 Current Digital Albums; #3 Current Album Sales; #3 Internet Albums; and #88 Billboard 200.

Keyboardist and songwriter Jonathan Cain shed light on what next year will bring for the band: "We'll be out early next year. We'll be out in February. We're gonna tour the secondary markets, y'know, the Savannah, Georgia's and stuff -- and that'll be interesting , 'cause there have been places we haven't been in a long time. And playin' the arenas has been fun. I think we're a pretty good arena band."

Pink takes on The Supreme Court in the new video for her single "Irrelevant".

In the visual, released on Monday (July 18th), the singer blends self-filmed clips of her recording sessions along with images of protests from the Civil Rights Movement and videos of marches in support of #MeToo, LGBTQIA+ rights, Black Lives Matter, and calls for an end to gun violence.