djfrosty

13 Nov 2024

Al Jarreau’s Vocal Magic Takes Center Stage Again on Rediscovered Live Album ‘WOW!’

A holiday gift is arriving early for Al Jarreau fans. A lost live album recorded by the Grammy-winning jazz/R&B/pop singer-songwriter at Washington, D.C.’s historic Childe Harold Club in 1976 is finally being released. 

Titled WOW!, the rediscovered project is being released by Resonance Records. Recorded two years before a then-emerging Jarreau began his platinum-selling ascent, the 10-track set presages the late artist’s string of jazz-, R&B- and pop-vibed hits, such as “We’re in This Love Together,” “Mornin’” and the theme from the popular ‘80s television series Moonlighting. In another WOW! bonus, the set also boasts five songs never included before on a live Jarreau recording, among them: James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” Count Basie’s “Shiny Stockings,” plus early renditions of “Take Five” and “You Don’t See Me.”

It was Grammy-nominated producer Zev Feldman who discovered the lost recording. In an announcement about the live album’s upcoming release, Feldman recalls, “When I met Al in the early 2000s, I happened to be living in D.C., and we struck up a conversation where he told me the very first show he ever played there was at a place called the Childe Harold. Well, six months ago, I was at the home of the former operations director for WHFS radio, and he had this tape of Al’s D.C. debut — professionally recorded, mixed and mastered. It’s a tour de force. He’s absolutely swingin’ for the fences and has the audience in the palms of his hands. I can’t believe that after Al told me about this particular show all those years ago, we found the actual recording — an amazing set of circumstances!”

Trending on Billboard

At that time in August 1976, as his vocal dexterity was gaining critical and fan acclaim, Jarreau had also released his sophomore album Glow for Reprise Records. And it was during that album’s release week that he performed in Washington, D.C., home to one of his budding fanbases thanks to local freeform FM station WHFS. For that live performance, Jarreau was backed by a trio led by his longtime collaborator, keyboardist Tom Canning. In an interview about WOW!, Canning notes, “Al was irresistibly funny, very upbeat all the time and a force of nature onstage. Above all, he was totally confident being Al Jarreau.”

Among the additional artists sharing their reflections on Jarreau’s vocal prowess and overall legacy are Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nile Rodgers, Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey and Dionne Warwick. “Al’s legacy is his music and his musical ability,” says Warwick. “I’ve never met or heard anyone like Al — a consummate instrument above everything else.”

Resonance will release WOW! as a limited-edition two-album set on Nov. 29 as part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday event. A deluxe CD and digital download will become available on Dec. 6. The deluxe edition features an overview written by acclaimed music writer A. Scott Galloway.

Six-time Grammy winner Jarreau, who died in 2017, is the only singer to win the statuette in the jazz, R&B and pop categories. WOW! also brings to seven the total number of live albums that he recorded. Those six prior live albums are:  Look to the Rainbow: Live in Europe (1977), In London (1985), Tenderness (1994), Live at The Half/Note 1965 with George Duke, Vol. 1 (2011), Al Jarreau and The Metropole Orkest Live (2012), and Live at Montreux 1993 (2016).

13 Nov 2024

Tanner Frick Unexpectedly Leaves ‘The Voice’ Before Launch of Knockout Rounds

When fans of The Voice tuned in to the show on Monday night (Nov. 11) to check out the start of the Knockout rounds, there was one singer who was conspicuously absent. According to EW, host Carson Daly noted at the top of the episode that country singer Tanner Frick had dropped out of the competition after notching a four-chair turn earlier in season 26.

At press time, Frick had not commented on his absence and the show did not provide any additional information about why he left the series. But on Tuesday (Nov. 12), the Manchester, TN native who used to work at the city’s water & sewer department posted another snippet of a new song on Instagram featuring seemingly prescient lyrics.

“These whiskey nights and neon lights they all fade away/ But this lonesome road keeps calling me to stay,” he sings in his gravely country drawl over acoustic guitar. “So I’m back here, I’m on my own/ I can’t seem to leave this life alone/ I guess I’m a lone wolf and a stray/ Ain’t nobody want me anyway.” Frick did not comment on the song or his departure in the post, with the caption to the clip re-iterating the song’s refrain.

Trending on Billboard

Commenters were confused and had a lot of questions, with one asking “What happened???,” while another added, “Ugh I hate that you left the Voice. I had you as my top #1 artist! So sad to see you go but I hope everything is okay! You have an amazing voice and you have such talent. Keep pushing forward and good luck with your future.” One of his fans lamented that Frick could have “won it all.”

On Nov. 3 Frick seemed to preview his leave-taking in a TikTok video featuring the same song — which he said was titled “Lonesome Road” — while reminding fans to tune in to the show to see him perform.

Frick made a name for himself during the blind auditions round in early October with a cover of Morgan Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know,” which earned him chair turns from all four coaches, with both Snoop Dogg and Reba McEntire bonding instantly with the singer over their shared family roots in Mississippi. “While ya’ll still had your backs turned I was into this!” Snoop reminded fellow judges Michael Bublé and Gwen Stefani about his early adopter status on the country crooner.

Stefani said all the judges were won over when Frick sang with his “full voice,” which allowed his uniqueness to shine through, correctly predicting that the singer would go with country icon McEntire as his coach. Last week, Frick impressed again in a Battle Round duel with Tate Renner on Jelly Roll’s “I Need a Favor.” After he failed to advance in that round, Bublé snagged him for his team, calling the pick-up a “huge win for me” and dubbing the country singer a “piece of the puzzle” that he didn’t have.

EW reported that on Monday’s show Daly told fans at home that Frick, 26, had “left the competition after rehearsals,” with no additional information available at press time on the reason for his departure.

The Voice airs on NBC on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET before streaming on Peacock the next day.

13 Nov 2024

Caitlin Clark Got So Many Friendship Bracelets at Eras Tour Shows Her Arm Went Numb

Caitlin Clark had a blast at the Eras Tour. The breakout Indiana Fever WNBA star was recently spotted taking in Taylor Swift‘s global outing, which just wrapped its U.S. dates with a trio of gigs in Indianapolis. The baller, who just finished her rookie season with the Fever, attended the first night of the Indy run with her coach boyfriend Connor McCaffrey, and was spotted trading the outing’s signature friendship bracelets with Swifties from her suite.

While of course everyone was there to see Taylor, given that the shows were in Clark’s WNBA hometown, local fans and WNBA heads were also freaking out about seeing the vaunted point guard and NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer at the gig. In fact, they were so psyched that Clark said they almost caused her to suffer a non-playing injury.

Trending on Billboard

“Taylor Swift, I just went two nights in a row in Indianapolis. I’ve been three times,” Clark said during an interview this week at the Women’s Leadership Summit “I had a ton [of bracelets], all the way up the arms. I had to take them off, my circulation was getting cut off! Everyone was just chucking their bracelets at me. I’ve seen her three times, and every time the show has just gotten better.” Check out a snap of Clark’s arm loaded up with bracelets here.

It wasn’t just Swifties who fell for Clark during the Indy Eras run. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, revealed on a recent “New Heights” podcast episode that while he attended one of the gigs he met Clark and is now Team Caitlin.

“Saw Caitlin Clark there, got to meet Caitlin. She’s awesome, she loves being out there in Indianapolis, says it’s a fun city, and we’re both just true Midwesterners to the heart,” said Kelce, who grew up in Cleveland Heights, OH and went to college at the University of Cincinnati. “Played high school ball, college ball, pro ball all out here in the Midwest, and it was cool catching up with her.”

13 Nov 2024

Lady Gaga Releasing ‘Disease (The Antidote Live)’ Single

Lady Gaga is readying the antidote to her “Disease.” In an Instagram post early Wednesday morning (Nov. 13), the singer revealed that she is releasing a live version of her recent single dubbed “Disease (The Antidote Live).” The track, and an accompanying video, are slated to drop at noon ET on Wednesday.

At press time there was no additional information on where the video was recorded aside from a note on the YouTube placeholder that read “music video by Lady Gaga performing ‘Disease (The Antidote Live).’”

Gaga released the Halloween-appropriate official music video for “Disease” on Oct. 29, describing the first single from her upcoming untitled seventh studio album as being about “facing that fear, facing myself and my inner darkness, and realizing that sometimes I can’t win or escape the parts of myself that scare me. That I can try and run from them but they are still part of me and I can run and run but eventually I’ll meet that part of myself again, even if only for a moment.”

Trending on Billboard

At the same time, she released a live version of her Grammy-nominated collab with Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile,” celebrating the track that spent eight weeks at the top of both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.

In the lead-up to her next album, Gaga released the surprise Joker: Folie à Deux companion LP Harlequin, a collection of jazz and pop standards and a handful of originals that debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and marked her third No. 1 on the Billboard jazz charts. The singer has said that her upcoming studio album is due out in February.

Gaga was recently named the No. 5 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century in Billboard’s ongoing countdown to No. 1.

13 Nov 2024

Coldplay Announce Their Biggest-Ever Show With Concert in India

Earlier this year, Coldplay’s ongoing Music Of The Spheres tour was named as the largest-ever rock tour by Billboard Boxscore as it surpassed $1 billion in grosses. Now it’s about to expand even further as Coldplay have announced a show in Ahmedabad, India with that the band are calling their “biggest-ever” concert.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The show will take place on Jan. 25, 2025 at the city’s Narendra Modi Stadium, which can host up to 132,000 attendees, and will feature a “mystery guest” to be announced soon. Tickets for the show will go on sale at 12 p.m. IST (India Standard Time) on Saturday (Nov. 16) here. The band previously announced three shows to take place at Mumbai’s D Y Patil Stadium in the same week.

Modi Stadium, which opened in 2020, typically hosts sporting events including cricket, as well as political events; it is named after the country’s Prime Minister, who has held the position since 2014.

Trending on Billboard

It will mark the latest show in Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres tour which first began in 2022 and is set to run through 2025. The British group recently released their 10th studio album Moon Music, which simultaneously charted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and the U.K’s Official Albums Chart, becoming the first British group to do so since 2016.

In recent weeks the band have been touring through Australia, and their 2024 dates will conclude on Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand. The dates will resume in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 9.

During a show at the Accor Stadium in Sydney over the weekend, the band briefly covered Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps” in their set, which frontman Chris Martin called “his favorite” song by the “Sicko Mode” rapper. Scott responded to the shout-out and cover saying that the band “totally got it”.

Elsewhere, Martin had a mishap in an earlier tour stop in Melbourne when he fell through a hole in the stage, though laughed off the matter.

Next year’s run of shows will include a string of summer dates in North America, and is currently set to conclude with a 10-night stand at London’s Wembley Stadium in August 2025.

13 Nov 2024

Band Aid Announces 40th Anniversary Ultimate Mix of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ Featuring Bono, Harry Styles & More

A new version of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” has been announced to celebrate the song’s 40th anniversary.

The charity single, first released in 1984, has become a festive staple over the years and the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised over £140 million ($178 million) for causes such as poverty in Africa. The song was first written and organized by Bob Geldof and Ultravox’s Midge Ure following a BBC report into famine in Ethiopia, and became one of the best-selling singles of all-time in the U.K. and beyond.

Now the “Do They Know It’s Christmas? 2024 Ultimate Mix,” due out on Nov. 25, will combine voices from the four existing versions of the track. The song was re-recorded in 1989, 2004 and 2014 with new contemporary singers. A new music video directed by Oliver Murray — who worked on the visuals for The Beatles’ AI-assisted song “Now and Then” — will be released on the same date; watch the trailer below.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The confirmed vocal takes will include: Sting, Boy George and George Michael from the 1984 version; Bananarama from 1989’s edition; Sugababes, Chris Martin and Robbie Williams from 2004’s re-record; Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith from 2014’s version, among others. U2’s Bono – who has appeared on multiple versions of the single – will appear as a vocalist three times in the new version. 

Trending on Billboard

The Band Aid house band fuses instrumental takes over the years from Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Thom Yorke, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn and more. The song has been produced by Trevor Horn, whose credits include The Buggles’ “Video Killed The Radio Star” and work by Spandau Ballet and the Pet Shop Boys.

Upon release, the single became the fastest-selling U.K. Single of all time, until it was toppled by Elton John’s “Candle In the Wind” in 1997. Every version of the song has hit No.1 on the Official Singles Chart in the U.K., while the song peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The success of the song spawned several events including Live Aid in 1985 which first took place at London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium. The song and music video’s depiction of Africa, however, has drawn criticism over the years with Moky Makura, executive director of non-profit organization Africa No Filter writing in The Guardian that “[Live Aid’s] portrayal of Africa triggered the birth of a patronizing industry whose mission it was to ‘save Africa.’”  

13 Nov 2024

Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon Honored with MBE from Prince William

Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon was honored with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to music and charity at a ceremony held at Windsor Castle on Nov. 12.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The award, presented by William, Prince of Wales, recognizes Le Bon’s lasting influence on music as well as his dedication to charitable causes.

Le Bon shared his excitement and gratitude for the award, calling it “incredible and totally unexpected.” Reflecting on the honor back in June, he stated, “It is fitting that the honour has been awarded not just for my role in music, but also for the work I’ve been fortunate to be involved with outside the band for some of the causes I believe in.”

Trending on Billboard

After receiving the prestigious accolade, Le Bon told the Press Association: “It’s the most immediate and essential aspect of our job, getting up and singing a song or making some music in front of a crowd.”

“I used to be a very nervous performer. I was terrified, and slowly I’ve been able to overcome that fear and I don’t get it anymore. I just walk out there and it feels natural to me.”

Beyond his musical achievements, Le Bon has been an active advocate for several organizations, including the Blue Marine Foundation, which focuses on ocean conservation, and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, providing seafaring opportunities to disadvantaged youth across the U.K. Le Bon’s love of sailing also led him to support the Air Ambulance Service.

Known for Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” and “Girls on Film,” Duran Duran’s journey spans the glam and grit of the 1980s New Romantic scene to present-day stardom.

Their career has seen them earn numerous accolades, including a Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement, two Ivor Novello Awards, two Grammys, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2022, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame finally inducted Duran Duran.

In 2023, the band’s Halloween-themed album Danse Macabre became a top 10 hit on the Top Album Sales chart and peaked at No. 4 on the U.K. charts, marking another high point for the band. This Halloween, they followed up with a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York and released an extended edition of Danse Macabre, accompanied by the concert film Secret Oktober.

From the early ’80s through today, Duran Duran has amassed a legion of fans with hits like “The Reflex,” “A View to a Kill,” and ’90s staples “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone.”

Their presence in pop culture remains undeniable—William’s late mother, Princess Diana, famously adored the band and was able to meet them at Prince’s Trust concert in 1983 and again at the 1985 premiere of the James Bond movie A View to a Kill. 

“She and I used to go to the same fitness club — Chelsea Harbour in London,” Simon Le Bon once told The Times of the late princess.

“One day I was on the running machine. I jumped off because one of my shoelaces had come undone, and she wolf-whistled at me across the room, and yelled, like a brickie, ‘Nice legs! I’d recognize that bum anywhere!’ I was quite taken aback, actually, and quietly got back on the machine with a red face.”

On the 10th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2007, Prince William and Prince Harry staged a memorial concert for her at Wembley Stadium, booking artists like Elton John, Kanye West, Lily Allen, Tom Jones, Bryan Ferry, Rod Stewart, Pharrell, and Duran Duran.

13 Nov 2024

Chad Ginsberg Says Punching Alien Ant Farm’s Dryden Mitchell Was ‘Self-Defense’

CKY’s Chad I Ginsberg is speaking out about the recent drama with Alien Ant Farm’s Dryden Mitchell that got the West Chester rockers booted off their joint U.K. tour.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Just hours before the tour kicked off at Margate’s Dreamland on Nov. 9, the Alien Ant Farm frontman announced CKY’s removal following an alleged altercation, accusing Ginsberg of “treating multiple crew members and opening band members like trash” and claiming that things culminated in Ginsberg allegedly punching him in the face.

Taking to social media on Nov. 9, Mitchell wrote, “Chad from CKY hasn’t figured out how to cohabitate with others after all these years.”

Trending on Billboard

“They will no longer be on the Alien Ant Farm Tour through the rest of the UK shows after Chad punched me in the face earlier today,” Mitchell added. “I’ve watched him treat multiple crew members and opening band members like trash through the Europe shows and cause general drama around our camp.”

Later in the statement, he explained, “Today we still had business things to square away and I told his manager what a problem Chad was being, verbally, as well as f–kin up the bus with all of his messes every day for other people to clean up… Well he punched me in the face and pretty much ran away like I imagine he’ll do for all of his future problems.”

“I would love these shows to continue and apologize to all the CKY fans for Chad’s behavior. We have zero hard feelings for Jess and Elvis in CKY and are gutted to see them go, but I will never knowingly put myself in volatile situations so this had to end.”

Mitchell concluded the lengthy post by claiming that if Ginsberg seeks therapy, “maybe in 25 years… we can shake hands.” CKY’s appearance on the U.K. tour has since been replaced by bands such as INME, Rat’s Nest, The Fear and The Nocturnal Affair.

Ginsberg initially responded to the allegations with a scathing message, urging fans to get their money back: “U.K. CKY fans get your money back!!! I had NO choice and GOOD reason for what happened. I will always defend myself. You know me much better than that!”

He added, “More info to come. Apologies to the fans.”

Now, Ginsberg has again taken to social media to elaborate on his side of the story, describing the incident as “self-defense.” In a series of Instagram stories, Ginsberg told fans, “Nothing wrong with defending yourself from a bad guy. If you are attacked or feel truly threatened, have no fear and stop the threat however you can.”

He continued: “I had to protect myself. It was a split second reaction to a very angry guy muttering then yelling #*%! at me from 10ft away charging at ME, into my personal space! Coming at me. He was attacking me! I felt a physical threat and had I not tried to avoid the attack, I would have been assaulted. For f—- sake.”

“I could say so much more. But situation sucks for all! I’d like to stop. Rather not get all into all. It’s no one’s biz. This is not news. as unfortunate as the situation is all together.”

Alien Ant Farm continues with the rest of the tour, while CKY fans hold out hope for future shows. Both bands are lined up to play at Download 2025, though it’s not yet known if they’ll perform on the same day.

Despite the alleged incident, the band’s Australian tour, which is currently scheduled to take place in February, is reportedly still set to go ahead, according to promoters.

“We are aware of the altercation between a member of Alien Ant Farm and a member of their support act, CKY,” promoters The Phoenix wrote in a statement on Nov. 10. “We have spoken at length with the representative of both artists this morning. “At this point it is best to let tempers cool and believe a solution/compromise can be found in the next few days that enables the shows (all of which are selling out rapidly) to proceed as planned.”

The Phoenix also responded to claims that the incident between Ginsberg and Mitchell would affect the Australian tour, noting, “We are working with both bands to calm things down and keep the tour intact. In the words of The Offspring, we may have to keep them separated…”

12 Nov 2024

John Lydon’s Handwritten Sex Pistols Lyrics Are Going Up for Auction

Just in time for the 47th anniversary of their sole album, handwritten lyrics for songs on the Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols are up for auction.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Penned by frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), the lyrics are for the songs “Holidays in the Sun”, which opened the band’s 1977 debut, and “Submission”, which appeared as a standalone single with the record, and was included in later editions.

Though influential, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols was not a chart success in the U.S, ultimately peaking at No. 106 on the Billboard 200 after 12 weeks on the chart.

Trending on Billboard

The lyrics are penned in green and black ballpoint pen on both sides of the 8 x 13 sheet, which feature the full lyrics to “Holidays in the Sun” (written as “Holiday in the Sun”) on one side, along with the opening line, “A cheap holiday in other peoples misery”, added in pencil. The other side features green ballpoint lyrics for “Submission”, though Lydon had not yet added the title at the time of writing.

The sheet is presented in “fine condition, with three folds and general light handling wear”, and features a signed letter of authenticity, and one from music journalist Jon Savage, from whose personal collection the lyrics are derived from.

The letter notes that the lyrics were “collected during the research of England’s Dreaming, now regarded as the classic book on Punk Rock and that period (1975-79) in British social and political life”, and that “it was most likely written when the Sex Pistols signed a publishing deal with Warner Brothers in autumn 1977 and is an original from the collection of Jamie Reid that came into my possession during 1980”.

The lyrics themselves have been on loan to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland since 1996, where it has been “prominently displayed in the Museum’s Punk exhibit”, and has also been show at London’s Hospital Exhibition in 2004, and at the ‘PUNK: Sex, Seditionaries & the Sex Pistols’ exhibition at Manchester’s Urbis building in 2005.

The auction is scheduled to close on Nov. 21, and though 14 bids at the time of writing have seen the price reach $30,800, it is estimated to exceed $80,000 by the time the hammer falls.

12 Nov 2024

Roy Haynes, Pioneering Jazz Drummer, Dies Aged 99

Roy Haynes, a pioneering jazz drummer who went on to become one of the most recorded percussionists in music history, has died at the age of 99.

As per the New York Times, Haynes’ daughter – Leslie Haynes-Gilmore – confirmed that the drummer passed away on Tuesday (Nov. 12) in Nassau County, N.Y. following a brief illness.

Born on Mar. 13, 1925, Haynes grew up in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, beginning his musical career in the early 1940s and becoming a full-time professional drummer in 1945. Throughout the decade, he worked with the likes of saxophonist Lester Young and performed as part of Charlie Parker’s quintet from 1949 to 1952.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Haynes was also offered a role in Duke Ellington’s band in 1952, ultimately turning it down due to a desire of being in smaller bands which allowed more room for musical expression.

Haynes’ recorded output is an impressive one, boasting appearances as a sideman for names as revered and acclaimed as Miles Davis, Sarah Vaughan, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Ray Charles, Stan Getz, and countless others before the advent of the 1960s. Alongside this work as a sideman, his output as a bandleader was equally prolific, with his first record – Busman’s Holiday – arriving in 1954.

Trending on Billboard

Haynes received his first Grammy Award nomination in 1988 in the Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group for his work with Chick Corea. Over the next 19 years, he would take home two awards from his eight nominations. In 2012, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys, with another Lifetime Achievement Award coming from the Jazz Foundation of America in 2019.

Haynes’ other awards included the the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government in 1996, and honorary doctorares from both the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. In 2004, DownBeat magazine inducted him into their Hall of Fame, having being named in their readers and critics polls on 14 occasions.