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27 Aug 2024

Hot 100 First-Timers: Gigi Perez Debuts With Queer Love Ballad ‘Sailor Song’

Gigi Perez is officially a Billboard Hot 100-charting artist, thanks to her breakthrough viral hit, “Sailor Song.”

The track, which Perez self-released on July 26, debuts at No. 98 on the Aug. 31-dated chart from its streaming sum: 5.6 million official U.S. clicks (up 20%) Aug. 16-22, according to Luminate. It also rises 10-9 on Hot Alternative Songs, 12-9 on Hot Rock Songs and 16-13 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.

Perez first began teasing the song on TikTok in April, helping generate hype leading up to its official release. The initial clip shared on her TikTok has since soundtracked over 40,000 clips on the platform, while the official audio has been used in over 75,000. Fans liken her sound to such alt-folk favorites as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Hozier.

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While many have raved about the song’s lyrics detailing queer love and longing, Perez has received backlash from some religious TikTokers due to its lyric, “I don’t believe in God / But I believe that you’re my savior.” In response to users asking her to remove the line, she shared a TikTok last week, writing via caption, “I never had to consider whether or not I was going to change my song cause it was never up for discussion … My songwriting is not a democracy and that applies to every artists [sic] work.”

The New Jersey-born, Florida-raised singer-songwriter first achieved a taste of stardom in 2021 with her song “Sometimes (Backwood),” which has since racked up 57.9 million official U.S. streams. She released her debut eight-track EP, How To Catch a Falling Knife, in 2023 (via Mogul Vision/Interscope Records) and two more songs this year: “Normalcy,” in March, and “Please Be Rude,” in May.

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27 Aug 2024

SPIN Magazine Returning to Print With Editor-in-Chief Bob Guccione Jr.

After more than a decade out of circulation, SPIN is returning to print as a quarterly magazine, the media brand announced Tuesday (Aug. 27) — the same day its first new issue featuring cover star Lainey Wilson hits newsstands.

The revived magazine will again be run by SPIN founder and editor-in-chief Bob Guccione Jr., who will oversee a full editorial staff.

“This is more than just a return to our roots; it’s a bold leap into the future,” said SPIN CEO Jimmy Hutcheson in a statement. “We’re bringing back the raw, unfiltered spirit of SPIN that resonated with so many readers, and we’re doing it with a modern twist that reflects the evolving landscape of music and culture. It’s exciting to see others like The Onion, Nylon and even LIFE going back into print. In today’s noisy digital ecosystem, print plays a fun and new role for all readers of all ages.”

In addition to the cover story with Wilson, the inaugural issue of the revived SPIN features an interview with Suki Waterhouse; an article by Jane’s Addiction bassist Eric Avery, in which he recounts “the band’s rise and fall — and rise again” along with his struggled with addiction; an interview with Bill Maher; and a story by Matt Thompson “on spending time with America’s Number One fugitive, Ammon Bundy,” according to a press release.

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In addition to at-home delivery for subscribers, SPIN will be available at stores including Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Indigo/Chapters (Canada), Hudson News, independent stores in New York City and independent record stores across the U.S.

Guccione founded SPIN in 1985 and established the magazine as a preeminent music publication before selling it to Miller Publishing in 1997 for $43.5 million. In late 2012, SPIN ceased publication of its print magazine after being acquired by Buzzmedia, which later became SpinMedia. In 2016, SpinMedia’s music brands (SPIN, VIBE and Stereogum) were acquired by the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, which sold SPIN and Stereogum to private equity firm Next Management Partners in 2020. Guccione rejoined the SPIN brand as a creative advisor shortly thereafter.

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Lainey Wilson

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27 Aug 2024

Hozier Postpones Two Shows Due to Vocal Issues: ‘It Breaks My Heart To Do This’

Hozier is taking a brief break from the road to rest and recuperate. The “Too Sweet” singer informed fans on Monday (August 26) that he’s been forced to postpone tonight’s (August 27) planned show in Billings, MT at the First Interstate Arena and Wednesday’s (August 28) gig at Casper, WY’s Ford Wyoming Center due to vocal issues.

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“I want to thank each and every one of you for coming to a show during this run, and in particular those of you who have shown such kind support over the last number of nights while I’ve struggled vocally getting over a recent virus,” the singer wrote in a message on X.

“Although I’ve still really enjoyed getting to connect with you all from the stage, my voice just isn’t getting the chance it needs to recover properly,” he continued. “It breaks my heart to do this, but I’m going to have to postpone the next two shows…. to give my health and vocal chords every chance of recovery for the sake of the rest of the the tour.”

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While the 34-year-old singer did not provide additional details about his what is ailing him, he did tell ticketholders that information on the rescheduled shows will be announced soon; fans are encouraged to hold on to their tickets, which will be honored on the new dates, or to apply for a refund from the point of purchase if they are unable to attend the rescheduled gigs.

Hozier recently released the three-track Unaired EP, which features songs recorded during the sessions for his 2023 Unreal Unearth album. Assuming his vocal issues clear up, the singer’s next slated tour date is on Friday (August 30) at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, CO.

See Hozier’s post below.

27 Aug 2024

Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Ordered To Surrender His Copies Of Rare Wu-Tang Clan Album

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Jury Deliberations Continue In Martin Shkreli Securities Fraud Trial

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The drama behind Wu-Tang Clan’s one of one album continues. Martin Shkreli has been ordered to surrender his copies of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.

As spotted on The Verge the controversial businessman is now being mandated to give up any duplicates he may have made of the 2015 project. This week the new owners PleasrDAO, a organization that focuses on investing and collectibles, filed a claim alleging that the former Pharma Bro “improperly retained copies of data and files”. The filing cited several occasions where he played the album during livestreams post his release from federal prison and forfeiting the work as per his securities fraud conviction.

“On June 30, 2022, during another live stream, Shkreli again played a portion of the Album and again admitted to having retained the Album, stating: ‘of course I made MP3 copies, they’re like hidden in safes all around the world’” the document reads. PleasrDAO also point to several occasions where Martin openly admitted to violating the terms of the sale by sharing the music with his friends and associates even writing on X, formerly Twitter, “i can just upload the mp3s if you want? email addy?”

The presiding judge has given Martin Shkreli until Friday, August 30 to file an affidavit confirming he has turned over all the existing copies he has made of the album. Additionally, he also has document how many copies he made, who he has shared them with and if he has profited from doing so by Friday, September 30.

You can read the court paperwork here.

27 Aug 2024

You Weren’t the Only One: DNC Exec Producer Says Even His Staff Thought Beyoncé Was Going to Pop Out

It was the rumor that everyone wanted to believe but nobody could confirm: the final night of the Democratic National Convention was going to feature a very special appearance by Beyoncé. The fantasy was that the singer was going to shock the world and cap the coronation of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat party’s 2024 presidential nominee by performing her Harris campaign theme song, “Freedom” in Chicago’s United Center as the balloons and confetti rained down on Harris and her VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Only it wasn’t true and never was. It was, however, such a compelling manifestation that even some of the event’s staff were convinced it was happening.

“We never put out anything about Beyoncé. We denied it every time the media asked us — even though, by the way, people on my staff didn’t believe me,” DNC executive producer Ricky Kirshner told The Hollywood Reporter. “I kept getting texts from news organizations saying, ‘When is Beyoncé coming out?’ But come on, we have the biggest star, the Democratic nominee for president. Why would we overshadow that?”

It’s a fair point. Plus, Kirshner, an Emmy-winning veteran of 14 Super Bowl halftime shows and a raft of other live events, who worked with Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss (Tony Awards, Kennedy Center Honors) to design the four-night spectacle, said they already had a huge task ahead of them after Harris swapped in just four weeks before the event following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race. Coming off a muted 2020 convention that was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Weiss said they were looking for a “big-energy experience,” after throwing out the original script and pivoting to focus the event around Harris.

Weiss said the Beyoncé rumor — which kicked into high gear by the anonymous @Angry_Staffer X account writing, “If you thought the Oprah surprise was big, just wait” — was a perfect example of an internet whisper taking on a life of its own. “And people taking something as fact — literally to the point that people in my booth are saying, ‘Is she coming? You can tell me.’ And I would say, ‘I have no knowledge she’s coming.’ And they would say, ‘No knowledge? So there’s something to know?,’” he said. “It was pretty crazy. But she wasn’t coming. In the end even TMZ [which first reported it] had to issue an apology.”

The rumors spun up so quickly and fervently that a spokesperson for the singer stressed to THR on the day of Harris’ convention-ending acceptance speech on August 22 that “Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there… The report of a performance is untrue.”

While Queen Bey was not in the house, her presence was definitely felt, including on night one when a moving a cappella video cued to her Lemonade track “Freedom,” with narration from Oscar-nominee Jeffrey Wright, was played to help kick-off the proceedings. After Harris unexpectedly jumped into the race last month, the campaign rolled out “Freedom” during the veep’s walk-out at her inaugural visit to campaign headquarters. A full-band album version of the song was also featured in an early campaign video.

Unlike Trump, who has been sued, issued cease & desist orders and strongly-worded requests from artists who don’t agree with his divisive, name-calling rhetoric and who want him to stop using their music during his campaign stops, Beyoncé gave the Harris campaign full approval to use “Freedom.”

In another nod to how important music was to the DNC, Kirshner said that the instantly viral Georgia roll call moment with Lil Jon performing “Turn Down For What!” in the room even took producers by surprise. “It took on a life of its own,” Kirshner said of the high point of the innovative, music-heavy recitation of the delegate count, which had a much more traditional, staid roll-out at the RNC weeks before. “We were just trying to energize the room and we woke up the next morning and it was like, ‘holy crap!’ We actually asked a couple of people from other states if they might want to do something and they didn’t get into it. But Lil Jon just really leaned in.”

27 Aug 2024

Benson Boone, RAYE Join Lineup For 2024 Global Citizen Festival

Benson Boone and RAYE have been added to the already star-studded line-up for the 2024 Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park. The pair join a previously announced roster of acts that includes Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro.

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“Ending extreme poverty is a responsibility we all share,” said Boone in a statement. “I’m grateful to be involved in Global Citizen’s mission by helping those who are living in extreme poverty. I hope we can all come together to take action and make a real difference in the world.” 

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The festival hosted by Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman will also feature special appearances by primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. As part of its portfolio of environmental sustainability efforts, this year’s even will also become one of the first major U.S. festivals to be powered entirely by hybrid energy.

According to a release, the Central Park stage will be powered by the same kind of SmartGrid battery system used to power Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres world tour, including all audio, lighting, video and stage production. Working with Showpower Global B.V. and CES Power, Global Citizen Fest will become one of the first major U.S. festivals to move away from using diesel generators in order to reduce the event’s carbon emissions.

Among the confirmed presenters scheduled to take the stage on Central Parks’ Great Lawn on Sept. 28 are: Antoni Porowski, Bill Nye, Bridget Moynahan, Charlamagne Tha God, Danai Gurira, Eric Adjepong, Gavin DeGraw, Jordan Fisher, Kal Penn, Liza Koshy, Doctor Mike Varshavski, Nomzamo Mbatha, Osi Umenyiora, Rachel Brosnahan, Rhett & Link, Sophia Bush and Vladimir Duthiers.

The group leading the international push to end extreme poverty is once again offering fans free tickets, which can be earned by taking action on the Global Citizen app or on the organization’s site here in an effort to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity. 

“Global Citizen Festival has always been about using the power of music and activism to drive real, tangible change. This year, we’re taking bold steps to protect our planet, from powering our stage with clean energy to advocating for Indigenous-led projects that preserve the Amazon and calling for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty,” added Global Citizen co-founder Michael Sheldrick in a statement. “These efforts are about ensuring that the transition to a sustainable future leaves no one behind – whether it’s communities in the Global South or right here in New York. We’re calling on world leaders, businesses, and citizens alike to join us in mobilizing action towards a just transition to clean energy and a safer planet for all.”

Global Citizen will also mark the start of Climate Week with a beach clean-up on Sept. 21 in partnership with the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy. Fans can also earn free tickets the the festival by removing trash and marine debris from the shores of Jamaica Bay and documenting the year’s “Dirty Dozen” most commonly found trash items; click here to register and for more information.

Official Global Citizen 2024 merch is available now, with responsibly sourced items made in collaboration with Doja Cat, Alejandro, Aviator Nation and more; click here to see the items.

Among the calls to action for this year’s event is one asking the G7 nations — Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the U.K. and the U.S. — to increase support for anti-poverty programs worldwide, as well as one calling for businesses, governments and philanthropic organizations to protect and restore the Amazon rainforest by investing $1 billion to help support indigenous communities and pledge to set timelines for phasing out coal, oil and gas to ensure a transition to green energy. The third action point is Global Citizen’s plea for world governments to commit at least $5 billion to equitable access to nutritious food, stronger health systems and quality education around the world.

27 Aug 2024

Artists Including Tokimonsta & Louie Vega Will Give You Free Music in Exchange for Checking Your Voter Registration Status

With the U.S. Presidential election now just 69 days away, the electronic music community is more forcefully entering the conversation with a new initiative from Rave The Vote and Headcount.

As part of a new initiative, a lineup’s worth of dance artists will help provide a free bundle of music to people who check their voter registration status via the non-partisan voter registration organization Head Count.

Participants will receive the downloadable bundle by checking their voter registration status via this link and opting in to text reminders about voting. Participants will receive the treasure trove of dance music in late September. 

The batch of tracks and mixes includes work by artists including Tokimonsta, Carl Craig, Seth Troxler, Ardalan, Walker & Royce, Rochelle Jordan, Mary Droppinz, Life On Planets, Baby Weight, DJ E-Clyps and Hercules & Love Affair.

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“Dance music in America is bigger than ever, it’s crucial that our community gets out and votes, and ensures its voice is heard,” Rave the Vote organizers say in a statement. “There is a lot at stake in this election, and we need dance music fans to show up and vote for values that are synonymous with our culture; peace, love, unity and respect.”

“Partnering with Rave the Vote is a fantastic opportunity to connect the vibrant energy of dance music with the power of voting,” adds Lucille Wenegieme, Executive Director of HeadCount. “We’re thrilled to join forces in this effort to engage fans and inspire them to make their voices heard at the polls. Music and democracy go hand in hand, and with the support of these incredible artists, we’re confident that we’ll see a strong turnout and a real impact in this year’s elections.”

Launched in 2020, Rave the Vote is a collaborative project headed by Infamous PR. Since 2004, HeadCount has registered over 1.2 million voters through work with artists including Harry Styles, Lizzo, Dead & Company, Billie Eilish and more.

27 Aug 2024

Oasis Is Reuniting For 2025 Tour

Hell has frozen over, pigs have flown. And the brothers Gallagher are reuniting Oasis.

In a development that, for a decade or more that bordered on fantasy, the “Live Forever” band has confirmed a tour in 2025.

“The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised,” reads a statement on the Manchester indie rock juggernauts’ social media channels.

Announced early Tuesday, Aug. 27, Oasis will hit the road in 2025 for multiple dates across the British Isles, including Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, for what will be their “only shows in Europe next year”.

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There’s more to come. “Plans are underway for OASIS LIVE ’25 to go to other continents outside of Europe later next year,” reads an official statement.

Oasis is one of Britain’s most popular rock bands of them all, a border-crossing beast which somehow flew under the radar in the United States.

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Discovered and signed by Alan McGee to the Scottish entrepreneur’s iconic Creation label in the early ’90s, Oasis was the heavyweight of the Britpop scene, the natural born enemy to Blur.

With the release of their 1994 debut Definitely Maybe, the band embarked on a glorious run, during which all seven of their studio albums went to No. 1 on the Official Chart (the 2010 hits collection Time Flies also flew to No. 1). The third of those, 1997’s Be Hear Now, sold more than 663,000 in just three days, a record that stands today.

All told, eight Oasis singles hit the summit in the U.K.

The Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, split the band in 2010, and became estranged. At one point, the relationship had turned legal, as their mother openly pleaded for the lads to heal that rift. Both artists would form successful musical careers away from the band that made them household names.

The rumor mill would regularly grind away, but fans were left wanting, waiting for a reunion that seemed either unlikely or impossible. Following reports in the British press, another teaser, this time with an outcome; a clip which dropped over the weekend on the Gallagher brothers’ social pages and the official Oasis page, styled like the band’s logo and hinting that something would happen today at 8am.

Liam fanned the flames on social media of a possible reunion with his brother Noel, who he last performed with onstage in August 2009.

Noel had previously stated he was willing return to the band for £100 million ($135 million), to which Liam responded that he would reunite the band for free.

2025 Oasis Tour Dates

July 4 — Cardiff, Principality Stadium

July 5 — Cardiff, Principality Stadium

July 11 — Manchester, Heaton Park

July 12 — Manchester, Heaton Park

July 19 — Manchester, Heaton Park

July 20 — Manchester, Heaton Park

July 25 — London, Wembley Stadium

July 26 — London, Wembley Stadium

Aug. 2 — London, Wembley Stadium

Aug. 3 — London, Wembley Stadium

Aug. 8 — Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

Aug. 9 — Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

Aug. 16 — Dublin, Croke Park

Aug. 17 — Dublin, Croke Park

27 Aug 2024

Ex-Megadeth Guitarist Says KISS Rejected Him for His Height: ‘I Was So Bummed’

Marty Friedman, the former lead guitarist of Megadeth, recently shared a surprising story about how he missed out on a chance to join KISS because he was “too short”.

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In an interview with Sam Ash Music, Friedman, best known for his decade-long tenure with Megadeth from 1990 to 2000, was asked if there was any KISS song he would have liked to play guitar on.

His response revealed a fascinating piece of rock history: “I would’ve wanted to be on any KISS song. I’ll give you a quick story about that – when they were changing guitar players a long time ago, I got a call from KISS’ people.”

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The conversation quickly took an unexpected turn when KISS’s management started asking Friedman a series of questions, seemingly unrelated to his guitar skills.

“They say like, ‘Do you think you’d be interested in auditioning for KISS?’ I’m like, ‘Tell me when and where.’ They came back and were like, ‘We’ve got a couple of questions for you. You don’t have any facial hair, do you?’ No. ‘You got long hair right?’ Right. ‘You’re skinny right?’ Right. ‘And you’re over 6 feet tall?’ and I’m like, ‘What? I’m 5’7 but I’ll have an operation, I’ll do something.’”

Unfortunately for Friedman, his height proved to be a deal-breaker. “They were like, ‘I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out.’ I was so bummed.”

Despite the disappointment, Friedman acknowledged the importance of image for a group like KISS. “I get why they did it. KISS is meticulous about their image, and having a height difference wouldn’t fit the band’s aesthetic.”

This attention to their image was crucial for KISS, one of rock’s most theatrical and elaborate bands. Formed in 1973 in New York City, KISS quickly became known for their blood-spurting, fire-spitting, face-painted performances. The group have delivered numerous hits to the Billboard Hot 100, including classics like “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975).

This year, the band made headlines again when Pophouse, a Swedish company known for its work with ABBA’s Voyage show, acquired KISS’s publishing, recording royalties, and trademarks. This includes the band’s iconic logo and makeup design.

“We have a lot of plans for KISS,” Pophouse CEO Per Sundin told Billboard in April. Although Sundin says the company bought out the rights owned by frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, they will work with the company to develop the show, which is expected to open in 2027 in a U.S. city that Sundin declined to name.

“We want to keep to the legacy,” Sundin says. “We want to extend it and amplify it for new generations.”

27 Aug 2024

Fans Speculate: Could Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley Be Linkin Park’s New Frontman?

The rock community is alive with speculation that Deryck Whibley, the lead singer of Sum 41, might be stepping into one of modern rock’s most iconic roles as Linkin Park’s new lead vocalist.

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The rumor has gained major traction this week following cryptic social media posts from both bands, setting fans on high alert.

Sum 41 lit the fuse on Aug. 25, teasing a “Deryck Whibley announcement” scheduled for Wednesday morning (Aug. 28) PST.

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Intriguingly, Linkin Park had launched a 100-hour countdown on their website just a day earlier, set to conclude simultaneously with Sum 41’s reveal. The highly coincidental timing has, of course, fueled intense speculation about a possible connection.

Linkin Park is one of the most successful rock groups from the 2000s, having sold more than 29.4 million albums in the United States, according to Luminate. The band has charted 24 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including three top 10 hits: “In the End” in 2003, “What I’ve Done” in 2007 and “New Divide” in 2009.

However, since Chester Bennington’s tragic death in 2017, the band has been without a full-time lead vocalist.

Earlier this year, Billboard reported that the band was eyeing a 2025 reunion tour, with sources hinting at the possibility of a female vocalist taking the helm.

Orgy’s Jay Gordon fueled the whispers earlier this year when he mentioned hearing that the band might be bringing on a female singer. However, Gordon later clarified that his comments had been taken out of context, saying, “With regards to this Linkin Park singer thing. I know nothing about any of that.”

Whibley’s connection to Linkin Park runs deep. He performed at Bennington’s tribute concert in October 2017 and later, Mike Shinoda joined Sum 41 on stage at the 2018 Reading Festival for  a cover of Linkin Park’s “Faint.”

However, when asked in 2022 about potentially filling Bennington’s shoes, Whibley was hesitant.

On The Jasta Show, he remarked, “I think that’s an impossible task… I think those are impossible shoes to fill. I don’t know if [Linkin Park is] ever gonna do anything. I have no idea what that’s gonna look like, or who that could be.”

Asked if he would join the band if the opportunity arose, he added, “That is such a non-possibility that it’s too weird to even, like, sort of joke-think about it.”

“I don’t know how someone could fill those shoes,” he added “I think it would be tough.”

Fan reactions to the possibility of Whibley joining Linkin Park have been mixed. On Reddit, one fan expressed concern: “I just worry he’ll be too similar to Chester that he’ll fall short.” Another offered a more optimistic view: “He couldn’t do the super screaming songs but could handle most of the setlist.”

However, there’s also optimism among fans, with one user noting, “Deryck honestly sounds pretty good on [Faint]… interesting.”

Whibley’s life and career are at a pivotal moment, not just due to the speculation about Linkin Park but also because of his recently announced memoir, Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell, set to be released on Oct. 8 via Gallery Books.

The memoir chronicles the rocker’s journey through the highs and lows of his life, both personally and with Sum 41.

“Ten years ago, I found myself on the brink of death in a hospital bed,” Whibley said in a statement about the book’s release.

“Surviving that moment, I made a promise to myself: I would fight harder than ever for this band and strive to become the best version of myself. Today, I’m proud to say that Sum 41 is experiencing the greatest success in our career, with our biggest hits on the radio and performing at the largest shows of our lives.”

He continued, “This book is the story of that journey—through the good, the bad, and the really fucking ugly. It’s about how I fought my way back, the battles I faced along the way, and how I turned those struggles into the fuel that powers everything I do now.”

To promote the memoir, Whibley will embark on a U.S. book tour in October, making stops in cities like Jersey City, Boston, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

In addition to his memoir, Whibley and Sum 41 are currently on their final tour, Tour of the Setting Sum, which kicked off earlier this year. The band will perform their largest show to date in Paris this November, followed by their final hometown shows in Toronto in January 2025.

Their latest and final double album, Heaven :x: Hell, has been a commercial success, featuring singles like “Landmines,” which topped Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, marking the band’s first No. 1 single since “Fat Lip” in 2001.

As the clock ticks down to the anticipated announcements, the rock community is on edge. Whether Whibley is about to join Linkin Park or something entirely different is in the works, fans are ready for the reveal.

See Linkin Park’s countdown post on YouTube here.