Pulse Music

Set for release on July 15th is Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp's first joint album, titled, 18. The pair, who are currently on the road in Europe, have mixed new originals with covers by the likes of John Lennon, the Beach Boys, Dennis Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Velvet Underground, Killing Joke, the Everly Brothers, and more.

According to the album's press release:

For the last 12 years Depp has recorded and toured with the Hollywood Vampires, a band he started with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry. The supergroup has released two studio albums that include guest appearances by some of rock's biggest names (including) Beck, who played guitar on 'Welcome To Bushwackers,' a song on Rise, the Vampires' second album, which came out in 2019.

Soon after, Depp asked Beck to play lead on a tune he'd written, the album's first single 'This Is A Song For Miss Hedy Lamarr,' an homage to the actress/inventor. Beck says it was the catalyst for the collaboration and is one of his favorite songs on the new album. 'I was blown away by it. That song is one of the reasons I asked him to make an album with me. . . I haven't had another creative partner like him for ages. He was a major force on this record. I just hope people will take him seriously as a musician because it's a hard thing for some people to accept that Johnny Depp can sing rock and roll."

Of Beck, Depp adds, "It's an extraordinary honor to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now privileged enough to call my brother."

A while back, Johnny Depp revealed to us that he's always fought hard to ensure his creative freedom: "Early on, there were a number of battles that I had to fight. When at the time, y'know, a lot of agents and people like that were saying, 'What are you fighting against? Why are you going against this?' And I was going against the grain because I knew if I continued on in the way that they wanted me to continue on it was death, it was just going to be over with. So, I instinctively felt that's what I had to do."

Jeff Beck has worked with numerous music legends throughout his career, but unlike the other Yardbirds guitarists -- Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page -- he never found the right combination of bandmates to spur him into wider popularity. He says that he doesn't mind being thought of as a music snob for having very specific tastes: "People will tend to think that really, really, trashy, awful music is music if they're not exposed to anything else and that's bad. I come from a whole different era long before all this stuff was about so I have to tread very carefully not to look as if we're a push button brigade, which we're not at all. My band are very highly skilled players and we wouldn't trade that for the world."

The tracklisting to Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp's '18' is:

"Midnight Walker" (Davy Spillane cover)
"Death And Resurrection Show" (Killing Joke cover)
"Time" (Dennis Wilson cover)
"Sad Motherf***in' Parade" (Johnny Depp original)
"Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)" (Beach Boys cover)
"This Is A Song For Miss Hedy Lamarr" (Johnny Depp original)
"Caroline, No" (Beach Boys cover)
"Ooo Baby Baby" (The Miracles cover)
"What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye cover)
"Venus In Furs" (The Velvet Underground cover)
"Let It Be Me" (The Everly Brothers cover)
"Stars" (Janis Ian cover)
"Isolation" (John Lennon cover) -- digital and CD version only

Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp next perform on June 19th in Helsinki, Finland.

Today (6-10) Machine Gun Kelly drops his new single and video for "More Than Life."

He posted a couple of photos online... In one of them, he's standing beside Glaive, who is featured on the song. And the other, is a shot of him sitting in a road as houses behind him are consumed by orange flames.

In a press release, the song was described as exhibiting "MGK's gift for relaying passionate pain as he weighs his fears of vulnerability with the acceptance of newfound love."

"More Than Life" is the bonus track on the vinyl edition of 'Mainstream Sellout.' The LP comes out June 24.

TL;DR:

• "More Than Life" is one of the new tracks on the vinyl edition of Mainstream Sellout.
• Single out today, vinyl will be out June 24.

Halsey's Maryland concert this week was canceled due to severe flash flooding. Water was so deep at the front of the stage that fans were in it up to their ankles and were tweeting to be let out of the pit. There were lots of complaints about how the venue handled it. At one point, a crew member kicked a squirrel off the stage into the rushing water, it was later rescued. Halsey apologized for things that were out of her control and posted that she would be rescheduling soon, but at another venue.

This week, Phoebe Bridgers' show in Toronto was paused five times while the paramedics tended to people in the audience. Fans that had spent the night in line to get into the venue had fainted throughout the show. They were treated for dehydration and exhaustion. Billboard reached out to Bridgers' publicist for comment but did not receive a response.

Justin Timberlake has been named as a headliner for Pharrell Williams' upcoming festival called Something in the Water. Other top billing acts include SZA, N.O.R.E. and Clipse. The event, which is taking place in Washington, DC over Juneteenth weekend (June 17-19), will also include sets from Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals. The festival will live stream on Amazon Music.

Sunday (June 12th, 1963) marks the 59th anniversary of the Beach Boys recording two of their most memorable early hits, "Surfer Girl" and "Little Deuce Coupe," at Hollywood's Western Recorders. "Surfer Girl" was written and sung by Brian Wilson, who also produced the track. Wilson has stated over the years that it was the first song he ever composed. Wilson, who usually was never far from a piano, actually wrote the song while driving and created the song's entire melody without the aid of an instrument. Wilson has gone on record saying that he wrote the tune after being inspired by "When You Wish Upon A Star," from the Disney film Pinocchio.

"Little Deuce Coupe," which featured lyrics by Wilson's collaborator Roger Christian, included the original band lineup of Mike Love on lead vocals, Brian Wilson on bass, Carl Wilson and David Marks on guitars, and Dennis Wilson on drums.

The song was a double A-sided hit, with "Surfer Girl" peaking at Number Seven and "Little Deuce Coupe" getting as high as Number 15. Both songs were featured on the group's Surfer Girl album, which peaked later that year at Number Seven. Over the years, both songs have become a permanent fixture in the Beach Boys' live concerts.

In the days before the British Invasion, the Beach Boys were undoubtedly the top band in the U.S. Guitarist David Marks, who grew up with the Wilson brothers, remembers thinking that as the Beach Boys were forming that they were incredibly unhip: "Well, yeah, I didn't think the band was cool at all. 'You're in a band and your name is Carl?' (laughs) or something. . . It was like, no. You can't be named Carl. Or Brian -- y'know, what kind of rock star's name is Brian??? But that was in the late '50s, early '60s when your name should've been Fabian, or Elvis, or Little Richard -- Chuck."

Decades after first laying down their voices on tape, Brian Wilson says he still values the Beach Boys for their contribution to his music throughout the years: "I think the magic is Mike Love's vocal performances on our songs, and Carl (Wilson) and Dennis (Wilson), and Bruce (Johnston) and Al (Jardine) and I should be congratulated for some really good background singing."

Today (June 10th) marks the 18th anniversary of the death of the great Ray Charles. Charles died of liver disease in his Beverly Hills home at the age of 73. His health had been in decline since the previous summer.

Charles, whose real name was Ray Charles Robinson, was born in Albany, Georgia, on September 23rd, 1930, and lost his sight to glaucoma at age seven. He is best remembered for bridging the gap between R&B and gospel, with jazz, country and pop. Some of Charles' biggest hits included "Hit The Road, Jack," "Here We Go Again," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "What I'd Say," "I Got A Woman," "America The Beautiful," and "Georgia On My Mind." Among his many other honors, Charles was one the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Just prior his death, Ray Charles said that he planned on making music until he died: "I'm a Duke Ellington, man. I'm a Count Basie. Y'see, because when music is your breathing or in your bloodstream, you don't retire from it. You go to your grave with it. I mean, that's just the way it is."

Stevie Wonder, whose second album, 1962's Tribute To Uncle Ray, featured covers of Charles's hits, says that he feels confident that Ray Charles's legacy will live on: "I do pain for knowing that, physically, Ray Charles has died. I joy in knowing that he has left such an incredibly great legacy behind that he will never, ever die. His music will never die, and I know that his legacy will outlive generations to come."

Billy Joel, who gave his daughter Alexa the middle name of Ray, in tribute to his idol, went on to duet with him on his 1986 classic "Baby Grand" from The Bridge. He said that "Brother Ray" was always a key vocal inspiration for him: "Sometimes I'm trying to sound like Ray Charles . . . the funny thing is, I found out Robert Plant sings the way he did because he was trying to sing like Ray Charles and that's as close as he could get."

Shortly before Charles' death, Quincy Jones reflected on his longtime friend and collaborator: "We used to sit and dream about the future: 'We want to work with a symphony, we want to do this, we want to do films, we wanted to do this.' And we did it all, together, and that is very rare, y'know? 'Cause we used to sit and dream about it, and then we got off our butts and went out and did it. Y'know, 'In The Heat Of The Night,' 'Let The Good Times Roll,' 'One Mint Julep,' 'Bags,' 'We Are The World'. . . I forget, it just never stops, man! We did it all. It's really, really a blessing, to start that far back and still be. . . We still get together and crack each other up, man." :

Shortly after Ray Charles' death, the posthumous album Genius Loves Company, featuring duets with Elton John, Michael McDonald and Willie Nelson, among others, went on to win eight Grammy Awards, including Best Album, and Best Record for his duet on that album's "Here We Go Again" with Norah Jones.

Michael McDonald remembers that even though Charles was ailing he gave their version of "Hey Girl" his fullest effort: "We sang together live in the studio, which was a thrill. He wasn't feeling very well when we did it. He was unfortunately getting kind of sick then. But he was, y'know, always a pro, and he was always great, y'know?"

E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren told us that Ray Charles' work and influence can never be overstated -- and admitted he was surprised that his death wasn't treated with a period of official National recognition: "To me, he's one of my heroes, and I listen to him probably more consistently than any other artist. I'm just, like, 'Jeez, how come we're not, like, having that kind of moment for Ray that we do for some of our presidents?', and stuff like that. I honor him, I love him, I'm grateful, and I wouldn't be who I am without Ray Charles, nor would any of my peers. And they all know that, and I know it."

In 2004 a film version of Charles' life story, titled Ray, became a box office success, earning actor Jamie Foxx a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal of Charles.

In 2009 the 21-song anthology Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection was released. The collection includes such classic tracks as "I Got A Woman," "Busted," "Georgia On My Mind," "Hit The Road Jack," "I Can't Stop Loving You," and "America The Beautiful."

2010 saw the release of Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters -- the latest posthumous collection from Charles. The set features previously unreleased tracks from "Brother Ray" recorded in the 1970's, '80s, and '90s -- including long-forgotten and unheard duet with the great Johnny Cash.

Among the highlights on the disc is the 1981 recording of Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me, Lord?" which was only recently unearthed in the Sony Music vaults and originally intended for an unreleased project for CBS Records.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari are reportedly planning to tie the knot on Thursday (June 9th). 

Sources close to the singer told TMZ that the couple plans to wed in front of a very exclusive guest list of about 100 people that will include Britney’s brother, Bryan, but not her mom, dad, or sister Jamie Lynn.  

The couple has been engaged since September 2021. 

Charlie Puth has confirmed the rumors that he and BTS are collaborating on a project. In a radio interview he revealed that yes, it's true, but he didn't give much detail.

He talked as if they had already recorded something, but admitted that he doesn't know when it will be released.

He seemed to be caught off guard when asked more questions about it and said… "We will leave that at that, sort of top-secret."

This wouldn't be their first time working together, BTS appeared onstage with Puth at the MGA Awards in Korea in 2018 and performed "See You Again," "We Don't Talk Anymore" and "Fake Love."

Puth is currently working on his 3^rd album and BTS will release their new album, Proof, tomorrow (6-10).

TL;DR:

• Charlie Puth has confirmed the rumors that he and BTS are collaborating on a project.
• He talked as if they had already recorded something, but admitted that he doesn't know when it will be released.
• Puth is currently working on his 3^rd album and BTS will release their new album, Proof, tomorrow (6-10).

Foo Fighters have announced two tribute concerts for the late-drummer Taylor Hawkins for September, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. The shows will take place on September 3rd at London's Wembley Arena and September 27th at L.A.'s Kia Forum. The other performers participating have yet to be announced.

Taylor Hawkins died on March 25th at age 50 after suffering an alleged drug overdose in Columbia.

The band announced the shows in a press release, which reads:

Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee will come together with the Hawkins family to celebrate the life, music and love of their husband, father, brother and bandmate with the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts.

Millions mourned his untimely passing on March 25, with passionate and sincere tributes coming from fans as well as musicians Taylor idolized. The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will unite several of those artists, the Hawkins family and of course his Foo Fighters brothers in celebration of Taylor's memory and his legacy as a global rock icon -- his bandmates and his inspirations playing the songs that he fell in love with, and the ones he brought to life.

Taylor Hawkins' widow Aliosn tweeted a message to fans on the drummer's official account, which read:

My deepest thanks and admiration go out to the global Foo Fighters community and Taylor's fans far and wide for the outpouring of love each and every one of you have shown our beloved Taylor. Your kindness has been an invaluable comfort my family and me during this time of unimaginable grief.

As Taylor's wife, and on behalf of our children, I want to share how much you meant to him and how dedicated he was to 'knocking your socks off' during every performance. Taylor was honored to be a part of the Foo Fighters and valued his dream role in the band every minute of his 25 years with them. We considered every band member and the extended Foo Fighters team our family.

Taylor's endearing spirit and deep love of music will live on forever through the collaborations he so enjoyed having with other musicians and the catalog of songs he contributed to and created.

In celebration of his life, it is now up to all of us who loved him most to honor Taylor's legacy and the music he gave us.

Thank you all again for your love and sympathy. Taylor loved all of you & we love you too.

With gratitude,
Alison Hawkins

Foo Fighters have always been known for regularly playing three-hour concerts. A while back Taylor Hawkins admitted that although they can be a challenge -- it's always life affirming: "It's a lot. I don't know how long we can keep that up. We'll see. I don't know how long Dave's gonna be able to sing for three hours every night when we get onstage. It's awesome and it's fun and it's the macho trip a little bit, and people get their money's worth, that's for damn sure."

It was 50 years ago today (June 9th, 1972) that Bruce Springsteen was signed to Columbia Records by record producer John Hammond.

Over the course of his career, both as a talent scout and producer, Hammond played an integral role in discovering and shepherding the careers of such icons as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, Pete Seeger, George Benson, Mike Bloomfield, Leonard Cohen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among many others.

Springsteen had only recently scaled his act down to being a solo acoustic performer, having made his bones in and around New Jersey's shore circuit leading such bands as Child, Steel Mill, the Bruce Springsteen Band, and Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom.

In 1998 Springsteen recalled to BBC TV how original manager Mike Appel secured an audition on May 2nd, 1972, purely through the gift of gab: "He just talked his way into an audition with John Hammond. I remember I came up on the bus with my acoustic guitar with no case. I was embarrassed carrying it around New (laughs) York City, like, y'know, at my side. . . And we had the audition, and I played a couple of songs and he said, 'You gotta be on Columbia Records.'"

In March 1999, during his acceptance speech at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, "The Boss" took time out to thank the past and current staff at Columbia Records for their faith and support over the decades: "They created a conduit for a lifetime of thoughts and ideas. A place where I was a. . . I felt safe and supported and encouraged to do my best and my truest work. I've heard enough record company horror stories, right from this stage, to realize -- to appreciate the fact that I don't have one."

Bruce Springsteen, who has only ever recorded for Columbia Records, released his debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., on January 5th, 1973.

FAST FORWARD

In December 2021, Bruce Springsteen sold his publishing and recorded works to Sony for a reported $550 million. Rolling Stone reported, "A rep for Sony declined to comment on the deal. Springsteen has remained with Sony's Columbia Records since he launched his career, and was given ownership of his earlier albums. According the RIAA, his album catalog has sold 65.5 million in the U.S., which includes his 15-times platinum Born In The U.S.A. and five-times platinum The River.

In Sony's official announcement regarding the deal, Springsteen was quoted as saying: "I am one artist who can truly say that when I signed with Columbia Records in 1972, I came to the right place. During the last 50 years, the men and women of Sony Music have treated me with the greatest respect as an artist and as a person. I'm thrilled that my legacy will continue to be cared for by the company and people I know and trust."

Justin Bieber has postponed 3 tour dates this week due to illness.

He posted online that his sickness was getting worse and he needed to take some time off.

He wrote on Instagram: "Can't believe I'm saying this. I've done everything to get better but my sickness is getting worse. My heart breaks that I will have to postpone these next few shows (doctor's orders)."

The schedule change included 2 shows in Toronto, as well as tonight's (6-9) show in Washington D.C.

According to People.com, Bieber's health issues are non-covid related.

TL;DR:

• Justin Bieber has postponed 3 tour dates this week due to illness.
• The schedule change included 2 shows in Toronto, as well as tonight's (6-9) show in Washington D.C.
• According to People.com, Bieber's health issues are non-covid related.

It looks as though Kiss' long-rumored use of backing tracks in concert has finally been fully revealed. During the band's June 6th concert in Antwerp, Belgium, a missed cue from drummer Eric Singer seemingly threw off the synced track for "Detroit Rock City," exposing Paul Stanley for not hitting a vocal line -- despite his voice blaring from the PA.

Blabbermouth posted: "At the end of the track, Singer, who has played with Kiss on and off since 1991, apparently 'forgets to rest for a measure,' according to YouTube commenter Austin Ogonoski, 'instead continuing to play the standard beat for two additional measures. . . Eric realizes he messes up (and) begins the drumroll/breakdown a measure late (which) means Paul's vocal track is out of sync with what the band is actually playing. . . Paul's track plays 'Everybody's gonna leave their SEAT,' completely out of sync with the song and when nobody is at a mic."

There's a certain bitter irony in the fact that Kiss has been caught cheating -- especially in light of the fact that Gene Simmons has made a concerted effort to trash acts that use pre-recorded music or augment their sound digitally.

Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx took to Twitter to seemingly take umbrage with Kiss' obvious double standard: "Certain band out on the road right now putting other bands DOWN and saying that they are a REAL rock band, no background singers, and other old people cranky comments except his lead vocals are on tape. People in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks. #GetOffMyLawn #WizardOfOz"

Not too long ago Gene Simmons told us that he would be far happier if the live acts that take their show on the road were upfront about what it is they're exactly selling: "Ladies and gentlemen, the ticket price you're paying $100 for, you're going to be seeing live people onstage with video screens -- but only about 30 percent of the music is live. 70 percent -- or fill in your own percentage -- is a tape. In other words, everything you see and hear is not real. But they don't tell you that. I hate that. I publicly denounce it and call it for what it is. And that doesn't mean that Rhianna, Madonna and all the rest of the girls that end their names with "a" aren't talented, and can't sing and aren't sexy -- they're all great. I despise the dishonesty."

Kiss performs on Friday (June 10th) in Donington, England at the
Download Festival.

Their next U.S. show is set for September 21st at West Palm Beach's IThink Financial Amphitheatre.

Backstreet Boys surprised their fans this week by bringing their kids onstage with them. Nick Carter walked out with two of his three children - son Odin, 6, and 2-year-old daughter Saorise.

The other band members also brought out their "Backstreet Babies."

AJ McLean was joined by daughters - Ava, 9, and Lyric, 5. Howie Dorough's sons - James, 13, and Holden age 9. Kevin Richardson's two sons were also there - Mason, 14 and Maxwell, 8.

The big night happened on Tuesday evening (6-7) during their DNA World Tour at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Ed Sheeran surprised a 13-year-old boy by joining his Facebook art project. Noah, who has epilepsy and cerebral palsy, is a painter and raises money for a hospital in England. He had sent Sheeran painting supplies and asked if he could help.

So, Sheeran popped online and posted a video directly to Noah and committed to start painting as soon as he could.

Noah's dad said he was excited to see the post, that he left work early, to go home and share the news. He said, "It's not every day you get a video message from a global superstar. We are big fans of Ed, and we know he's a really busy guy, so it is great to know he's even heard about our project, let along willing to participate."

Artists across the world have helped finish the art pieces, which are auctioned to help the hospital that cares for young Noah. Sheeran is one of 250 artists whose work will be auctioned later this year.

TL;DR:

• Ed Sheeran surprised a 13-year-old boy by joining his Facebook art project and committing to raise money for a hospital in England.

• Sheeran is one of 250 artists whose work will be auctioned later this year.

Federal prosecutors in New York want R. Kelly to face a minimum of 25 years in prison for his 2021 sex tracking and racketeering convictions.

Billboard reports that prosecutors in New York told a judge Wednesday (June 8th) that the 55-year-old singer "avoided punishment for almost 30 years and must now be held to account."

In a brief filed Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn also made it clear that they believed Kelly deserved to spend the rest of his life in jail because he would be likely to commit further crimes if set free.

Prosecutors wrote, "Put simply, the defendant's crimes were calculated, methodical, and part a long-standing pattern of using his platform as a larger-than-life musical persona and his deep network to gain access to teenagers, many of whom were particularly vulnerable, and then to exploit them for his personal gain and sexual gratification.

They continued, "The government has little doubt that if afforded an opportunity to offend again, the defendant would do so. He poses a serious danger to the public. His actions were brazen, manipulative, controlling and coercive. He has shown no remorse or respect for the law."

His sentencing will take place on June 29th.

• Premiering on Reelz this Sunday (June 12th) at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PST is Guns N' Roses: Story Of Their Songs. The show "will explore the six classic hits that define Guns N' Roses' career as the one of the most popular -- and notorious -- bands in rock history." The songs examined in the episode are "Welcome To The Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Paradise City," "Patience," "Don't Cry" and "November Rain." (Bravewords)
  
  
• Foul play is not suspected in the recent death of former-Bon Jovi bassist Alec John Such. Such, who left the band in 1994, died on June 5th at age 70. TMZ reported: "It was around 2:15 AM Saturday when Alec woke up at his South Carolina home to use the bathroom. On his way back to bed, Alec called out to a friend who was staying with him, the friend helped Alec get back into bed and then left the room, when the friend came back later to check on John, he was dead. . . according to Tamara Willard, Chief Deputy Coroner for Horry County."
  • EMS was called and performed live saving measures prior to Such dying of what is believed to be natural causes. (TMZ)
    
    
• Set for release on August 26th is Blondie: Against The Odds 1974-1982. The deluxe eight-CD set is available on multiple formats and features all six of the band's studio sets -- Blondie (1976), Plastic Letters (1977), Parallel Lines (1978), Eat To The Beat (1979), Autoamerican (1980), and The Hunter (1982).
  • The set features 36 previously unissued tracks, two volumes of liner notes, track-by-track commentary from Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison, Frank Infante, and Gary Valentine, an illustrated discography, and dozens of previously unpublished photos. (Press release)

In an interview with Billboard, Lizzo spoke about her growing friendship with Harry Styles, He brought her out as a surprise guest in April, during his headlining slot at Coachella. About the possibility of working with him again, she said, "I don't know, I didn't even know I was doing Coachella! He's so good at what he does, and he's just the kindest person. Anything's possible. If I fit into his plan, honey, I'm there." Lizzo's next album, Special, will be out July 15.

As part of her show this week, Kelly Clarkson delivered a cover of The Weeknd and Ariana Grande's "Save Your Tears" Originally the song peaked at #4 in 2020 and then when Grande's voice was added to the remix it topped the charts. Today (6-9) Clarkson releases her EP of covers called Kellyoke.

It was 50 years ago today (June 9th, 1972) that "The King of Rock N' Roll" Elvis Presley performed his first-ever concert in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Although Elvis has played live in Manhattan back in the 1950's when appearing on such legendary variety shows hosted by the Dorsey Brothers, Steve Allen, and Ed Sullivan -- Elvis had never performed a concert for the general public in the "Big Apple."

Over the course of three days -- June 9th, 10th, and 11th -- Elvis played four shows to an estimated 80,000 fans. The first live album issued from the run -- Elvis: As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, was rush-released to hit stores a week after the first show on June 18th, 1972 and went on to peak at an impressive Number 11 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. 1997 saw the release of An Afternoon In The Garden, with Elvis Presley: Prince From Another Planet being issued in 2012.

On June 9th, 1972, only hours before launching his sold-out, four-concert run at Madison Square Garden, marking his first New York City shows, Elvis spoke to the press, and shed light on why he returned to live performance: "I just missed it. I missed the closeness of an audience -- of a live audience. . . So just as soon as I got out of the movie contracts, I started to do live performances again. There's so many places that I haven't been yet. Like, I've never played New York here. I've never been to Britain either. I'd like to go to Europe. I'd like to go to Japan and all those places. I've never been out of this country except in the service, y'know?"

Not too long ago, Elvis' late, great drummer Ronnie Tutt explained that for the most part, taking the stage with Elvis was a blast: "We had a lot of fun. Elvis loved to laugh and make fun of himself and everybody (laughs) else around him. He had his serious side, of course, but we never knew what he was gonna do next, so it made it fun, (laughs) y'know?"

Elvis Presley's setlist for the afternoon show on June 9th, 1972 at Madison Square Garden:

Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001: A Space Odyssey)
"That's All Right (Mama)"
"Proud Mary"
"Never Been To Spain"
"Until It's Time For You To Go"
"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me"
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
"Polk Salad Annie"
"Love Me"
"All Shook Up"
"Heartbreak Hotel"
"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"
"Don't Be Cruel"
"Love Me Tender"
"Blue Suede Shoes"
"Hound Dog"
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
"Suspicious Minds"
"For the Good Times"
"An American Trilogy"
"Funny How Time Slips Away"
"Can't Help Falling In Love"

It was 44 years ago today (June 9th) that the Rolling Stones released their 1978 blockbuster, Some Girls. The album, which was competing on the charts and turntables around the globe with breakthrough punk and disco records, was able to absorb the musical influence of what was going down in the clubs and the streets of New York City and become the first album in years to drastically redefine the Stones' sound. It also featured the band's first chart-topper since 1973's "Angie" -- the disco-based monster summer hit and instant classic, "Miss You, which remains the Stones' last Number One single to date.

Back in 2011, Keith Richards told Spinner.com that after the excesses of some of the band's then-recent albums -- which saw the Stones dabbling in reggae and R&B -- for Some Girls, they simply went for broke writing and performing a straight ahead rock based album: "Yeah, it was a deliberate idea of Mick (Jagger) and I to strip the band back down to basics. And also, it was the first full album that I was doing with Ronnie (Wood), so we were all feeling our way in that respect. We were just getting into each other's way of playing on this stuff. To me, I remember it as a load of fun, but I'm sure some other people might have other ideas."

Although Wood had only popped up on two tracks on 1976's Black And Blue, he had been touring with the band since 1975. And while Wood's guitar work was all over the 1977 concert set, Love You Live, Some Girls featured the first full album of the signature "Keith & Ronnie" guitar sound. Richards counted that as one of the album's high points, recalling, "That was one of the joys of it. Every session we'd go to, every day -- and we were there a long time -- Ronnie and I realized we were finding a way to play together. As Ronnie calls it, 'the ancient form of weaving.' You don't know which guitar is doing what. And that's the joy of playing with two guitars or three, the interaction. I remember it as a fun album to make."

The album's followup single to "Miss You" -- "Beast Of Burden" -- peaked at Number Eight, with the third and final single, "Shattered," stalling at Number 31. Mick Jagger explained that "Shattered" -- like most of Some Girls -- picked up on the key musical movements happening in London and New York City: "It's kind of, like, a punk beat with this guitar riff that Keith does, and me -- sort of what I do is a semi-rap thing. It's sort of half talking in it. So, I was obviously very influenced by that. But I think this record is a good synthesis of all those kind of things that were going on at the time."

Keith Richards recalled the emergence of the punk bands forcing the Stones into bringing their A-game to the sessions for 1978's chart-topping Some Girls album: "There was another great session -- that was in Paris puttin' a whole lot -- but, y'know, the band was really hittin' the groove there. And I guess, in a way, the punks kinda kicked us up the ass a little, y'know? And we felt obliged to come out with something that really kicked -- and it did the trick, respectably."

Although Some Girls had some obvious punk influences on songs like "Respectable" and "Lies," Jagger feels that it had a much broader pallet than just the sound of the gutter: "Inevitably, you live in the time you're in. And you couldn't possibly avoided the whole thing, of the feeling of that. . . of those years. I mean the years before that. I think it's more in the playing than the writing -- I mean, I think a bit of both. But having said that, of course you can say that and then you can turn around say (laughs) 'Yeah, but you did this country song that was really. . . you did this straight country song, and then this dance song ' -- which is 'Miss You,' which had nothing to do with punk. Couldn't be more different."

Highlights on the album include "Miss You," "Beast Of Burden," "Far Away Eyes," "Respectable," "Before They Make Me Run," and their cover of the Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," among others.

Some Girls was recorded between October 1977 and March 1978 at Paris' EMI's Pathe Marconi Studios.

The album hit Number One on July 15th, 1978 and topped the Billboard 200 album chart for two weeks. It has sold over six million copies to date.

Some Girls' lead single, "Miss You," topped the charts for one week starting on August 5th, 1978.

In 2011 the Stones released a deluxe reissue of Some Girls featuring a dozen vault tracks -- some of which were recently completed by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and producer Don Was, along with a DVD -- Some Girls, Live In Texas '78. The concert was filmed on July 18th, 1978 in Forth Worth, Texas at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Upon the official release of the Stones' Ft. Worth show, Mick Jagger looked back at the band's 1978 tour in support of Some Girls: "It was quite a short tour. There were a mixture of gigs. This one is an arena, and then there were theaters -- there was the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, which we've played since then, and then there were some stadium shows. There was, like, three, four stadium. . . Soldiers Field in Chicago and the stadium (at) Anaheim -- and then some regular arenas. Mostly arenas."

Missy Elliot took to Instagram Wednesday (June 8th) to pay tribute to her friend of more than 24-years, Janet Jackson.

The rapper explained that she recently told Jackson that after two years of dealing with Covid restrictions, she wanted to make sure they saw each other this year.

The "All For You" singer made plans to fly out for a visit and Elliot wrote, "I began to tear up because she flew all the way from LONDON & spent two days with me & we cut up & laughed for 2 days straight! I sure needed that just to laugh & feel at peace. Jj I Love you til Earth is No More! You don't have to sell another album you will always be THE ICONIC THE LEGENDARY THE FASHIONISTA MOTHA to me. Thank you for being a Freeeeeen."

In addition to being friends, they've recorded numerous hits together including 2001's "Son of a Gun" and 2015's "BURNITUP!".

Chicago has announced the release of its 38th studio album, Born For This Moment, on July 15th. The band is now on the road with special guest Brian Wilson, who along with fellow Beach Boys Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin, will be opening for the band for most of the summer.

The band's three co-founders -- keyboardist Robert Lamm, trombonist James Pankow, and trumpeter Lee Loughnane -- spoke about the new album in the official announcement:

Robert Lamm: "I hope that, 55 years from now, listeners will actually feel something about our music and our lyrics. I mean, we're all human. We all go through some variation of the same pain and joy at some point in our lives, and there's a commonality to that. I hope listeners in the future will actually get all those feelings while listening to our music."

Lee Loughnane: "One of the big reasons this album works so well is that when you put it on and play it, you hear something you're not quite expecting to hear and it immediately pulls you in musically and emotionally."

James Pankow: "The very nature of these new tracks makes them very performable, and I'm looking forward to playing some fresh material onstage."

With Chicago now only featuring three original members -- we asked Robert Lamm if the band could possibly carry on without any founding members: "Starting with the death with Terry Kath, we're no strangers to updating the lineup. A lot of lip service was given to the concept of 'the music is more important than who's playing it in our band.' As it's turned out, it's apparently true -- but also the guys who are maybe a generation younger who have come in to fill in are better players than we were when we started. I think that there is -- among the guys who would be left, who are in the band -- I think there is kind of a feeling that instead of just being Chicago, we're sort of, the 'Chicago little symphony,' if you will. Y'know, (laughs) so, players come in and players go out. I think that's a possibility."

Chicago & Brian Wilson perform on Thursday (June 9th) in Los Angeles at The Forum.

Demi Lovato will be heading out on tour this summer in support of their forthcoming record Holy Fvck.

Lovato will hit the road with support from Dead Sara and Royal & The Serpent on August 13th, just six days before the album drops on August 19th.

The singer will kick things off at the Illinois State fair before winding their way though South America for a handful of dates.

Harry Styles is too iconic in his own right to play The King of Rock and Roll.

Baz Luhrman recently told Australian radio hosts Fitzy and Wippa that the One Direction alum auditioned for Elvis alongside Austin Butler and Miles Teller.

The filmmaker said, "Harry is a really talented actor. I would work on something with him. The real issue with Harry is, he's Harry Styles. He's already an icon."

The role ultimately went to Butler "because he was almost born to play it."

Singer/songwriter Jim Seals, one half of the hit making '70s duo Seals & Crofts, died on June 6th at age 80. Deadline reported his death was announced online by his cousin Brady Seals of the country band Little Texas, but no cause of death was given. Jim Seals is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ruby Jean; and children Joshua, Juliette, and Sutherland.

Upon moving to L.A., Seals, along with Glen Campbell and fellow Texan Dash Crofts performed in a latter-day lineup of the Champs -- best known for their 1958 classics "Tequila." Seals also toured with the legendary Eddie Cochran. Seals & Crofts formed in 1969 and between 1972 and 1978, the folk-based duo scored eight Top 40 hits -- including 1972's "Summer Breeze" (#6), 1973's "Diamond Girl" (#6) and "We May Never Pass This Way (Again)" (#18), along with 1978's "Get Closer" (#6). The duo featured Seals on guitar, sax, and violin with Crofts handling guitar and mandolin.

After being dropped by Warner Brothers in 1980, Seals & Crofts took the next decade off, reunited briefly in 1991 and released their last album together with 2004's Traces.

The duo's legacy continues on with Seals & Crofts 2 -- featuring Jim's cousin Brady Seals and Dash Crofts' daughter Lua performing Seals & Croft classics along with new originals.

Seals' younger brother, the late-"England" Dan Seals, was part of the '70s duo "England" Dan & John Ford Coley, best known for their hits, "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" and "Nights Are Forever Without You."

Both Seals & Crofts were strict followers of the Bahá'í Faith, which was developed during the 19th century in Iran and parts of the Middle East. Jim Seals recalled that the duo's religious beliefs figured heavily in all their music: "We actually started performing as Seals & Crofts because of the material that had evolved out of the ideas from the Bahá'í Faith. So, our first, I guess, two or three albums were concepts taken directly from the Bahá'í writings. Of course, your viewpoint and your value system and everything changes and so, your insight into human affairs begin to change."

J-hope of BTS will be heading to Chicago, IL to perform at this year's Lollapalooza.

Organizers anounced Tuesday (June 7th), that J-hope will headline Lollapalooza 2022 with a festival-closing performance on the main stage Sunday, July 31th. His performance will make history, cementing him as the first South Korean artist to ever headline a main stage at a major U.S. music festival.

Other artistsplaying at the event, which spans from Thursday, July 28th to Sunday, July 31st include Metallica, Dua Lipa, Machine Gun Kelly, Don Toliver, Big Sean, Kygo, J.Cole, Green Day, Jane's Addiction, The Kid Laroi and Charli XCX.