Pulse Music

Elvis Costello maintains that his songs are not misogynistic. During a chat with The Los Angeles Times, Costello was reminded of a quote in the 2000 movie High Fidelity, where actor John Cusack is compiling a "Top Five Angry Songs About Women" and he explains, "You kind of have to start with Elvis Costello, but where?"

The line confused Costello, one of rock's greatest songwriters, who admitted, "I don't get that myself. I think it's in the eye of the beholder. (In the song) 'Alison' -- It's 'I know the world is killing you,' not 'I am killing you.' I'm not being pedantic here. It says, 'my aim is true.' I am responsible. It's not like I want to kill you, but this love that we're in isn't going to work out. There's a lot of songs that are like that. People want to hear them as angry."

He went on to say, "I've even seen the 'm-word' attached to my name lots of times. Misogynist. I think the songs are more about being a young man trying to work out what those feelings are supposed to be about. I'm not always writing the idyllic love song because maybe somebody does that better than me. Some of it's from real life. I've lived parts of those songs. But I don't think they're misogynistic. I wonder if the people who think that are the ones with the problem."

During his 2016 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Elvis Costello gave thanks to the two people -- other than himself -- who can be credited for establishing him as a songwriter of note: "Most of my songs have been written alone for me to sing. They have been my only companions in these uneasy hours. But, I should like to acknowledge Linda Ronstadt and Peter Asher (applause), for having introduced my song 'Alison' to the American public. I wasn't very gracious about it at the time, because I was too possessive of my songs, but that recording and the royalties that it generated, it kept. . . (laughter) it kept the gas in our tour bus, while I got to state my case, of which I'm certain."

UPDATED: Elvis Costello & The Imposters / Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets North American tour dates (subject to change):

May 6 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Elvis Costello only)
May 7 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom (Elvis Costello only)
August 4 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
August 5 - Evanston, IL - Canal Shores
August 6 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at The Heights (Nicole Atkins opening)
August 8 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
August 9 - Buffalo, NY - Artpark Amphitheater (Nicole Atkins opening)
August 11 - New York, NY - The Rooftop at Pier 17
August 12 - Bensalem, PA - Xcite Center at Parx Casino (Elvis Costello only)
August 13 - Ledyard, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino (Elvis Costello only)
August 15 - Boston, MA - Leader Bank Pavilion
August 16 - Northampton, MA - The Pines Theater
August 18 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap
August 19 - Selbyville, DE - Freeman Arts Pavilion
August 23 - Denver, CO - Levitt Pavilion
August 25 - Salt Lake City, UT - Sandy Amphitheater
August 27 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
August 28 - Thousand Oaks, CA - Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
August 30 - Anaheim, CA - City National Grove of Anaheim
August 31 - San Diego, CA - The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
September 2 - Paso Robles, CA - Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Ozzy Osbourne, who contracted Covid last week is on the mend, according to Loudwire. Osbourne's son, Jack Osbourne, spoke with Tom Newton Dunn's The News Desk back in England, and gave fans an update on Ozzy's health.

Jack said, "He's doing well. I spoke to him shortly before coming in. He just says hello. I'll save the colorful language, but he says it sucks."

As we previously reported, in recent years, Ozzy Osbourne, who's now 73, has dealt with a seemingly non-stop string of health issues -- including a nasty fall, the onset of Parkinson's disease, multiple staph infections, pneumonia, the flu, and a burst blood vessel in his eye.

Korn and The Backstreet Boys have been showing each other some love on social media.

The mutual admiration-fest kicked off on Friday (April 29th), when the nu-metal band sang the BSB hit "I Want It That Way" on TikTok. Nick Carter quickly dueted the video, dressed up as a member of Korn, asking how to correctly "do the hair and makeup."

It didn't stop there. Korn's Brian ‘Head' Welch also shared a photo himself and Korn bassist Reginald ‘Fieldy' Arvizu backstage at Backstreet Boys' DNA World Tour alongside Carter.

Despite previously asking the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to withdraw her nomination for possible entry, Dolly Parton is now saying she will "accept gracefully," according to an interview she did on Friday (April 29th) on NPR's Morning Edition.

Dolly's change of heart comes after learning more about the requirements of being in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She said, "So I just felt like I would be taking away from someone that maybe deserved it, certainly more than me, because I never considered myself a rock artist, but obviously, there's more to it than that."

The class of 2022 inductees will be announced this month.

Ava Max dropped the summer anthem, "Maybe You're The Problem" on Thursday (April 28th), accompanied by an official music video directed by Joseph Kahn.

Max said of the track, "Everyone always says ‘it's not you it's me' but sometimes the problem really isn't me, it's you!! "Maybe You're The Problem" was so much fun to create - This new music I've been working on is the most personal music I have ever made. I can't wait to share it with you very soon."

"Maybe You're The Problem marks the first taste of singer's forthcoming sophomore album and her first solo release since last year's "EveryTime I Cry."

Ozzy Osbourne has been diagnosed with Covid, according to TMZ. His wife, Sharon Osbourne, revealed the news on her TV show, The Talk UK, and said, "Ozzy was only diagnosed -- it was middle of the night our time. But I spoke to him and he's okay. I am very worried about Ozzy right now. We've gone two years without him catching Covid and it's just Ozzy's luck he would get it now."

Sharon, who was diagnosed with Covid back in December 2020, spoke of how she'll greet Ozzy, who's battling Parkinson's disease, upon getting home: "(I will) hold him and kiss him with about three masks on, I think. My family is my life."

In recent years, Ozzy Osbourne, who's now 73, has dealt with a seemingly non-stop string of health issues -- including a nasty fall, the onset of Parkinson's disease, multiple staph infections, pneumonia, the flu, and a burst blood vessel in his eye.

Ozzy has told us before that he's often wondered how he's still alive: "I went to my doctor a while ago and he says to me, 'Y'know what? You're a testament to what the human body can take.' Y'know, Keith Richards, he smokes, he drinks vodka like there's no tomorrow, he used to do heroin, y'know? I don't know how that guy's sucking in air."

Sam Smith has released the single, "Love Me More," their first new original song since 2020.

The singer said in a press release Thursday (April 28th), "I wrote this song for anyone who feels different, anyone who has to stop themselves every day from saying unkind things to themselves, in their head, all the time.

"I felt like that for the longest time and slowly I'm learning how to just be nice to myself. I wanted to share that because I captured it in this song. Over the last two years, music has been my therapy more than ever. So I hope this song can be your friend."

The visual, also released Thursday (April 28th), was shot in London by Luke Monaghan and co-directed by Smith.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky hosted a rave-themed baby shower last week at a studio in Hollywood. According to HipHollywood, guests wore bright neon colors to the "over the top soiree" and they were not allowed to film or photograph.

Partygoers went home with gifts including T-shirts with photos of the couple as kids that read, "I Went 2 Rih & Rocky's Rave Shower and All I Got Was This Amazing Shirt."

The baby shower was reportedly postponed following Rocky's arrest on April 20th in connection to a 2021 shooting. He and Rihanna had arrived from Barbados when he was handcuffed at a private terminal at the airport.

The Beach Boys will kick off their 60th anniversary celebrations on June 17th with the deluxe and expanded release of its 2003 Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys collection. The set -- which originally peaked at Number 16 on the Billboard 200 and has sold nearly 4.4 million copies to date -- has now been expanded to include two additional discs boasting 50 additional tracks -- many of which have been completely remixed and/or featured in stereo mixes for the first time.

Additionally, all 30 songs on Disc One of Sounds Of Summer have been mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos.

According to the press release:

The expanded edition of Sounds Of Summer will be available in a variety of formats, including digitally, a triple-CD softpack, and as a "Super Deluxe Edition" six-LP vinyl boxed set on 180-gram black vinyl in two options: a standard set or a numbered, limited edition version featuring a rainbow foil slipcase and four collectible lithographs.

Both versions will feature color printed sleeves that replicate the original "Capitol Catalog" sleeves that highlight the entire Beach Boys discography, and all formats will include a booklet with new liner notes and updated photos.

The original 30-track version will also be available in its newly remastered and upgraded form on single CD or double gatefold LP on standard weight vinyl or as a higher-end limited edition numbered version pressed on 180-gram vinyl with a tip-on jacket and a lithograph.

Among the legendary tunes included on Sounds Of Summer are: "Surfin' U.S.A," "In My Room," "Little Deuce Coupe," "Surfer Girl," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Don't Worry Baby," "Shut Down," "Forever," "I Can Hear Music," "Disney Girls" "I Get Around," "Help Me, Rhonda," "God Only Knows," "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)," "Cotton Fields," "California Girls," "Darlin,'" "Sloop John B.," "Surf's Up," "Long Promised Road," "All This Is That," "Barbara Ann," "It's O.K.," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Come Go With Me," "Kokomo," "Feel Flows," "The Warmth Of The Sun," "Good Vibrations," "Sail On Sailor," and many more.

The band also announced that later this year, a multi-disc retrospective will be released chronicling the sessions and live shows surrounding 1972's Carl And The Passions - 'So Tough' and its 1973 followup Holland.

Brian Wilson told us that between his two major works with the Beach Boys -- Pet Sounds and Smile -- he prefers Smile hands down: "Oh much more. (Laughs) I'm embarrassed to say that y'know, 'cause everybody loves Pet Sounds but, God, Smile was way much happier, more groovier memories than Pet Sounds."

Among the highlights on Sounds Of Summer is "The Warmth Of The Sun" -- arguably the greatest marriage between Mike Love's lyrics to his cousin Brian Wilson's music. Love explained to us how the song combined the despair of a broken heart with the first national tragedy of the 1960's: "'The Warmth Of The Sun,' which is one of the more beautiful songs I think we've ever done. . . Well, I wrote the lyrics to that, Brian did the music. And we wrote it one night in 1963 (after) we were awakened with the news that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. And so obviously, that song has a melancholy sadness. And we didn't change the lyrics at that point, I had written them down. But it was about losing someone you love, but at least you had had the feeling of having been in love."

During his 1981 appearance on NBC's Tomorrow Coast To Coast with Tom Snyder, the late-Carl Wilson spoke about how the Beach Boys were able to flourish in the wake of the British Invasion when so many American bands fell by the cultural wayside: "Just before the Beatles happened here, in this country, we were the biggest group at that time. And I think that we were well-enough established and, y'know, well-loved enough to withstand that. And our records were really very good -- we know how to do what we do."

Al Jardine told us that ultimately, both then and now, the Beach Boys' biggest hits serve a larger purpose than just entertaining fans: "Each song, or each track selection, is a special little messenger. And they convey a certain optimism, I think. And collectively, they're extremely powerful and it reminds of a better time -- a more positive time of growing up and experiencing things as a culture."

The late-Dennis Wilson's songwriting became a staple and high point on the band's albums towards the end of the 1960's. During his 1976 chat with legendary New York DJ Pete Fornatale, he couldn't help but gush when he recalled his brother Brian bringing in new music for the group to record: "Are you kidding? We would be in a studio and he would play us a song, we'd listen and we'd start crying it was so great. I mean, it was, like, 'How could this possibly be happening? How'd you write that?'. . . The group prefers. . . would prefer to have Brian do it all -- to write -- 'cause we love his music. Only because we love his music. Not because there's a lack of talent or weakness, it's just that we really love his music."

While utilizing the most up-to-date and groundbreaking studio technology, Sounds Of Summer co-producer and audio engineer Mark Linett was able to create what is without question the most complete and definitive stereo mix of the Beach Boys' signature track, "Good Vibrations": "It's taken me the better part of six years, off and on, to create this mix of 'Good Vibrations.' Beginning in 2015, 2016, I assembled all the original multi-tracks for the backing track into a stereo mix, which we have released a couple of times over the years -- but we don't have the discreet vocals from the final master. And as the digital extraction technology has gotten better, it has finally been possible to adequately separate the background and create this new -- we'll call it, 'best of' stereo 'Good Vibrations.'"

Co-producer and Beach Boys archivist Alan Boyd shed light on the music Sounds Of Summer covers: "What we're trying to do with this new compilation is just really highlight the variety and the diversity of the group's catalogue. We've got a song, like, 'Do You Like Worms,' which I'm sure a lot of people are going to be scratching their head wondering, 'Why is that on here?' But we spoke to Dennis Wolfe at Universal and he let us know that of all the songs on The Smile Sessions, that was the one that was getting the most hits, y'know, on the streaming platforms, which I found really interesting. But obviously, there's something experimental about that song that seems to be hitting a younger demographic."

Beach Boys creative consultant Howie Edelson explained that by expanding the multi-platinum 2003 greatest hits compilation, the band's team was aiming to spotlight their entire musical journey: "When we were putting together the tracklist, we were cognizant of telling the band's story beyond the 30 hits featured on the original release. This is a group that spans modern history. The Beach Boys are literally eight different bands in one -- eras flip quickly. I think the most important thing to take away from Sounds Of Summer is that the Beach Boys were not just a band of the 1960's; but of the '70s, and the '80s -- and beyond. When you span that many years with quality music, everybody holds a piece of it. What's timely becomes timeless."

Billie Eilish may have performed "Misery Business" with Hayley Williams at Coachella, but it's not her favorite Paramore song.

The "Bad Guy" singer revealed on her Instagram stories that the Brand New Eyes track, "All I Wanted," is actually her favorite from the band.

She also shared that the Blur song, "Beetlebum" is her most loved song from her other Coachella guest, Damon Albarn.

David Bowie fans are in for a new aural treat. On June 17th -- 50 years and one day after the original British release date, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars -- will be issued as a limited edition 50th anniversary half-speed mastered LP and a picture disc, featuring the same master and a replica promotional poster for the album.

According to the album's press release: "This new pressing was cut on a customized late Neumann VMS80 lathe with fully recapped electronics from 192kHz restored masters of the original Trident Studios master tapes, with no additional processing on transfer. The half-speed was cut by John Webber at AIR Studios."

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars June 16, 1972 and peaked at Number Five on the British album charts. The album stalled out at Number 75 in the U.S.

In 1983, David Bowie shed light on how and why the character of "Ziggy Stardust" came to exist: "I think I was quite happy to buy into the idea of reinvention, up until the beginning of the '80s, really. When I was a teenager, I had it in my mind that I would be a creator of musicals -- I sincerely wanted to write musicals for the West End and for Broadway, whatever. I didn't see much further than that -- as a writer. And I really had the idea in my head that people would do my songs. And I was not a natural performer; I didn't feel at ease onstage -- ever. And I had created this one character -- 'Ziggy Stardust' -- that it seemed that I would be the one who played him, because nobody else was doing my songs and the chance of my getting a musical mounted were very slim, and so, I became 'Ziggy Stardust' for that period." (40 OC: . . . for that period)

SAM ASGHARI DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW THE SEX OF HIS CHILD WITH BRITNEY SPEARS: If the decision is left up to Sam Asghari, he and Britney Spears will be waiting to find out the sex of their baby. When Mario Lopez asked the 28-year-old actor if he plans to find out if they're having a boy or a girl, he told the Access Hollywood host, "That's up to her, but I don't want to. He added, "It's something that I want to wait for."

DEMI LOVATO HAS MAKE-A-WISH REUNION: Demi Lovato had an emotional reunion with a fan battling kidney disease in a video released Wednesday (April 27th) by the Make-A-Wish program. The 29-year-old singer first met Austen in 2009 when the then-10-year-old got to perform on stage with her idol. Lovato, who recently partnered with the organization to celebrate World Wish Day this Friday (Aug 29th), recently surprised the 23-year-old, telling her, "You're so grown now. Oh my gosh. I remember your pigtails."

Nearly 50 years after forming, Cheap Trick remains busier than ever with concerts running throughout 2022. The band's North American dates find them opening for ZZ Top and Rod Stewart, alternately, along with a five-city UK tour set for the fall.

Co-founding guitarist and primary songwriter Rick Nielsen chatted with Classic Rock magazine about the band's longevity and said, "The way I look at it, Cheap Trick got to do what we wanted to do, whether we had success or not. We got to make records, we got to tour. I can't really think of too many downs, because we're just lucky enough that we get to play. There's a million other bands that wish they could be in our position, good and bad."

He went on to say, "Let's face it, we're never going to be the next new big thing or whatever, plus we don't dance. But the fact is I'm proud to be part of that club of people who are still out there playing music. I know that's pretty basic, but it's the truth. What a dream come true."

Nielsen, a musician who has truly been everywhere and seen it all over the decades, can't help but be thrilled with the steady influx of new fans ever year: "We have all ages. And we always did, even when we were playing the clubs back in the late-'60s and early-'70s. We always had people who brought their kids along."

He summed up the band's career by explaining, "My line for Cheap Trick is we're too dumb to quit, so we'll always be coming back. We've made 20 albums, and I don't think we've run out of bad ideas yet. We've got a busy year on the road, but we're planning to get back into the studio as soon as we can. We're with Rod Stewart from June, we're also touring with ZZ Top, then we'll be in England. It's a riot, it's fun."

Rick Nielsen told us that over the course of the band's history, they've never been motivated by sales when writing and recording new material and are now back on a major label -- BMG: "It's not gonna change the world, but maybe it'll help somebody that doesn't know anything about us. Maybe we'll sell five billion of 'em -- who knows, y'know? We don't do that with anything like that in mind. It's just, we do stuff for fun, and we like to play, and we're good musicians, and it's cool that we get offered -- and it's cool that we took the offer and ran with it."

Cheap Trick performs tonight (April 29th) with ZZ Top live in Saskatoon, SK at SaskTel Centre.

It was 55 years ago Sunday (May 1st, 1967) that Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu at Las Vegas' Aladdin Hotel. The short eight-minute ceremony, which took place at 9:00 a.m., was officiated by State Supreme Court Justice David Zenoff.

Following the vows, a special banquet was held below the hotel's casino for around 100 guests who dined on "ham, eggs, Southern fried chicken, Oysters Rockefeller, roast suckling pig, poached and candied salmon, lobster, Eggs Minnette, and champagne." Following the banquet, the Presley's held a press conference before flying out of Las Vegas.

Elvis and Priscilla met in 1960 while he was stationed in the Army in Germany. Her father was an Air Force officer also stationed there. In 1963 Priscilla moved to Memphis to be with Elvis, first living with his father Vernon and stepmother Dee while she finished high school, before eventually moving into Graceland with Elvis.

The couple had one child together, Lisa Marie Presley, who was born nearly nine months to the day after their wedding.

Priscilla has said that although they had been living together for several years, they did not consummate the relationship until they were married.

Elvis and Priscilla's marriage happened towards the end of Elvis' "movie years" -- a period where the "King of Rock N' Roll" was pretty much sleepwalking his way through light musical comedies in which he lip-synced lousy material to extras, kids, and dogs. Fan Pete Townshend told us that he viewed Elvis' movie years in the 1960's as a wasted opportunity: "I was watching the TV yesterday, and Blue Hawaii was on. I just thought, 'What was Elvis doing?!' Y'know, the Beatles were about to appear, Ricky Nelson was putting out 'Hello, Mary Lou,' the Everly Brothers were doing 'Cathy's Clown' -- the most unbelievably brilliant music! Dion was doing great stuff. It was the most fantastic records being made! (Elvis was) dressing up in Hawaiian shirts, playing the ukulele and getting married on a raft."

Elvis and Priscilla separated in 1972 and divorced in 1973.

The Presley's have four grandchildren through daughter Lisa Marie; Danielle Riley Keough and fraternal twin girls -- Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood.

Tragically, on July 13th, 2020 Elvis and Priscilla's only grandson, Lisa Marie's child, Benjamin Keough, shot himself with a shotgun at his home in Calabasas, California. He was 27-years-old.

It was 54 years ago today (April 29th, 1968) that the counter-culture musical Hair opened at Broadway's Biltmore Theatre. Hair, which had run off-Broadway the previous year, was unlike any other mainstream show, featuring a story line using humor, music and sexuality to celebrate and raise understanding of the problems facing the 1960s baby-boomer generation.

The show, which was created by actors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, centered around a tribe of Central Park hippies, led by a character named Claude -- played by Rado -- who is eventually is shipped off to Vietnam.

The show was directed by Tom O'Horgan with music by Galt MacDermot. Several of the songs from the play's soundtrack became hits for other artists, including Oliver's "Good Morning Starshine," which peaked at Number Three in 1969, and the Fifth Dimension's medley of "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In," which topped the charts for six weeks in the Spring of 1969.

Among the actors who got their start during Hair's Broadway run were Diane Keaton, Melba Moore, Nell Carter, and Keith Carradine.

Hair eventually closed on July 1st, 1972, after 1,742 performances. It was nominated for two Tony Awards in 1969, for Best Musical Play and Best Director Of A Musical Play, but lost in both categories.

There was an unsuccessful revival of the show in October 1977, which closed after 43 performances.

A movie version of Hair was released in 1979. It continues to run in independent theaters around the world.

Hair's 2009 Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival Of A Musical

Ed Sheeran will lead the U.K. in a musical tribute to Queen Elizabeth. His home country will be celebrating the monarch's record-breaking 70 years on the throne with a special four-day weekend event.

Through a press release, Sheeran said, "I'm proud to be part of the celebration and it's going to be a great opportunity to bring everyone together."

He'll perform outside Buckingham Palace on June 5, in what's being called The People's Pageant.

Although it's expected to be televised, there has been no official announcement yet.

TL;DR:

• Ed Sheeran will lead the U.K. in a musical tribute to Queen Elizabeth to celebrate 70 years on the throne.
• He'll perform outside Buckingham Palace on June 5.

Lady Gaga has announced that "Hold My Hand" will be her next single. It's from the upcoming movie, Top Gun: Maverick.

In a tweet, she described the song as a love letter to the world during and after a very hard time. She posted: "When I wrote this song for Top Gun: Maverick, I didn't even realize the multiple layers it spanned across the film's heart, my own psyche, and the nature of the world we've been living in. I've been working on it for years, perfecting it, trying to make it ours."

"Hold My Hand" marks her return to writing and producing original music for film. Her success of 2018's A Star is Born soundtrack earned Gaga an Academy Award, four Grammys, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Critics' Choice Award.

She composed and recorded it specifically for the movie. The song will be released on May 2 and the movie will be in theatres on May 27^th.

TL;DR:

• Lady Gaga has announced that "Hold My Hand" will be her new single.
• It's from the upcoming movie, Top Gun: Maverick.
• The song will be released on May 2 and the movie will be in theatres on May 27^th.

Paul McCartney kicks off his 2022 "Got Back" tour dates tonight (April 28th) at Spokane, Washington's Spokane Arena. The 17-date trek marks the former-Beatle's first since he wrapped his "Freshen Up" tour on July 13th, 2019 with Ringo Starr sitting in with the band for "Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)" and "Helter Skelter."

The current tour marks McCartney's 20th year playing with his current band -- the longest lineup of musicians he's ever performed with. The group was initially assembled to tour in 2002 in support of his 2001 Driving Rain album.

We recently checked in with Macca's guitarist Brian Ray, who painted a picture of what it's like to gear up for a tour backing the rock legend: "The first (laughs) day of any rehearsal for any new project with us, is about 40 minutes of us just jamming. Y'know, Paul will just start in, playing, like 'Twenty Flight Rock' or he'll play 'Matchbox,' y'know, and we'll jam out on that and he'll play some guitar solos. And then we'll do another song -- it's just a jam. He'll just start a riff and it'll be mostly instrumental. He might start singing, like he does in some soundchecks -- he'll start singing about the town we're in. And then we'll go on to a couple of other casual songs, and then, we'll go into work."

Paul McCartney was asked if carrying the legacy of the Beatles as a performing artist today is too heavy a load: "No, it's, it's a great thing, 'cause I was in 'em, and there were only four people in 'em. You're growing up, you're a kid, you're going to school and all this stuff and you're aiming to get, y'know, a great job and do well and everything. You finally get there, it's kind of, y'know, it's amazing, 'cause you're still that kid aiming to get there, but now you're there. And, y'know in some ways I'm still the same kid I was when I was five looking at it, so that is -- I'm amazed! It's like, 'What? You got in the Beatles??? Alright man! Yeah!'"

Harry Styles has a new movie coming out and the first photo released, shows him in bed with co-star Florence Pugh.

The photo was taken from the movie trailer that was shown this week, as it debuted at Cinema Con. Olivia Wilde, who directed the thriller, posted the image on Wednesday (4-27).

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the storyline centers on a 1950s housewife living in a utopian experimental community, who begins to worry that her husband's glamorous company may be hiding disturbing secrets.

Wilde described the movie as a love letter to films like The Matrix and Inception.

Don't Worry Darling will open in theatres on September 23.

TL;DR:

The documentary George Michael had been working on prior to his 2016 death will hit the big screen on June 22nd in a special theatrical release. George Michael: Freedom Uncut credits the singer as a co-director along with David Austin, with Michael also serving as the film's narrator. Back in 2017, an edited version of the film premiered on Showtime.

Rolling Stone reported, "Freedom Uncut chronicles the tumultuous -- yet creatively fruitful -- period of Michael's life and career following the release of his 1987 solo debut, Faith, then through the creation and release of his 1990 follow-up Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1. Along with documenting his creative efforts during this period, the doc will also explore his relationship with Anselmo Feleppa -- who died from AIDS-related complications -- as well as the death of Michael's mother."

George Michael: Freedom Uncut includes testimony by such friends as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Liam Gallagher, Nile Rodgers, Ricky Gervais, Tony Bennett, Mark Ronson, Mary J. Blige, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, and Linda Evangelista, among others.

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

While rumors have been swirling about a possible romance between Olivia Rodrigo and Zack Bia, the couple was spotted this week at Zero Bond, a private New York social club.

19-year-old Rodrigo was wearing a black sheer dress with small pink and blue embroidered flowers with pink knit fingerless gloves.

Bia, a 25-year-old DJ wore camouflaged pants, paired with bright orange shoes. He hid his face behind a zipped up, black-hooded jacket.

The night out followed Rodrigo's first of two sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday night (4-26).

TL;DR:

• Olivia Rodrigo and Zack Bia were spotted was this week at a private New York social club.
• The night out followed Rodrigo's first of two sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Queen's Brian May remains grateful for the four years in which the legendary Paul Rodgers sang with the band. Paul Rodgers -- a hero of May and Roger Taylor's since his days singing for Free and Bad Company -- fronted the Queen + Paul Rodgers lineup to great success bridging the gap between the late, great Freddie Mercury and today's sold out tours with Adam Lambert.

Brian May admitted to Classic Rock magazine that Queen thought the death of Freddie Mercury meant the end of the band: "We thought it was over. Roger and I were convinced it would be impossible to carry on. As soon as we lost Freddie, the spirit was gone. We didn't even have the desire, to be honest. (The posthumous) Made In Heaven (album) was supposed to be the final chapter, then we both plugged into our solo work. And then completely by accident we met Paul Rodgers, and we thought: 'Maybe let's work with this guy who was a hero to us and see what happens.'"

Although the trio toured the globe to sold out audiences -- they only recorded one studio set together -- 2008's The Cosmos Rocks. Despite hitting the Top Five in the UK, the collection stalled at a disappointing Number 47 on the Billboard 200 album list.

Brian May is still a vehement defender of The Cosmos Rocks, saying, "I am proud of that album. I think it has some really good stuff and it is underestimated. We had fun and Paul had fun. It was great. Not just him flexing his muscles on the Queen material, but also, us playing 'All Right Now' and his songs. I loved going around the world playing that stuff, boys with a new kind of toy. It was great for a while, then eventually it ran its course, and it was obvious that Paul needed to get back to his own career. But we parted on very good terms and keep in touch."

Today, Queen remains bigger than ever, with Adam Lambert bringing some of the drama, pomp and circumstance back to Queen's live act. Brian May explained, "I can't see that it would have worked with anybody else. He's a voice in a billion and a presence in a billion; the showmanship, the personality, the range, his ability to reinterpret stuff . Plus he's nice person to have around. He's a gift from God."

As of 2022, Queen + Paul Rodgers' The Cosmos Rocks stands as the band's final studio statement. We asked Roger Taylor if he thinks that had the album been a worldwide hit, Paul Rodgers would've extended his tenure with Queen: "I'm not sure. I think it -- I mean, I would've been happy — definitely, a lot happier if it had. I don't know. I think there was some in-built resistance to that record, which I think has some very good points to it. But, what would've happened, I haven't got a clue. But, I really don't think it would've, um. . . I don't think it would've continued."

Queen + Adam Lambert kick off their European dates over two nights -- May 27th and 28th -- in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the SSE Arena.

Kiss fans eager for a final reunion of the original members are feeling that much more hopeful after reading Gene Simmons' Twitter feed. Simmons, who along with Paul Stanley, has been alternately demeaning towards -- and nostalgic about -- co-founding guitarist Ace Frehley over the years, but now seems to want him on board for the band's final victory lap.

On Wednesday (April 27th), Gene Simmons tweeted well wishes to Frehley for his 71st birthday and posted an open-ended offer to the guitar legend: "Happy Birthday Ace. And many more… The invitations still stand. Jump up on stage with us for encores. The fans would love it. - Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) April 27, 2022

Not too long ago, we asked Gene Simmons what it feels like to turn around and see the spitting image of his former bandmates -- yet it's replacement musicians Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer: "Y'know, we still have a tug of the heart. It's like your drunken dysfunctional father who was a bum and you finally had to get rid of him -- but you still remember the beginning when he was a good dad. Ace and Peter are beloved, as they should be, for the beginning. For helping launch the band -- if you don't mind me saying so -- that changed the face of rock 'n roll, literally and figuratively speaking. But equally as important part of the beginning of Kiss, it's also important to know that with them in the band today, Kiss wouldn't be around."

Kiss kicks off its North American farewell dates on May 11th at Milwaukee's American Family Insurance Amphitheater.

Travis Scott is set to perform for the first time since the tragic Astroworld festival. According to TMZ, Scott is set to perform at Miami's E11EVEN on Saturday, May 7th. The show coincides with the festivities surrounding Race Week and the 2022 Miami Grand Prix, which will be held the next day at the Miami International Autodrome.

The performance will also feature an after-hours set from Chase B.