genre rock
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Fans of Sadie Sink may know her best as Max Mayfield on Netflix’s Stranger Things or as the female lead in Taylor Swift’s All Too Well: The Short Film, but they will see a completely different side of her as the titular character in O’Dessa, a dystopian rock opera penned by PattiCake$ director Geremy Jasper.
The Searchlight Pictures film, which also stars Regina Hall, Murray Bartlett and Kelvin Harrison Jr., premiered at SXSW on March 8 and is available on Hulu starting Thursday (March 20).
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Jasper’s plot was ambitious in its breadth. “The original inspiration for the film was a sci-fi musical retelling of the Orpheus myth set in a world that combined the Dust Bowl of the ‘30s with a retro, futuristic, psychedelic sci-fi world,” he says.
In the featurette below, premiering exclusively on Billboard, Sink is a traveling troubadour in a wasteland communicating with her music, but runs afoul of a charismatic dictator, Plutonovich, played by Bartlett. Sink, Jasper and the other main actors also talk about the music in the film in the clip.
It was Sink’s performance in 2022’s The Whale that convinced Jasper to cast her. “Like the rest of the world I knew Sadie as Max, but when I saw her in The Whale, I was knocked out and convinced she could carry this film. Boy, did she,” he says.
Jasper, who has helmed such music videos as Selena Gomez & The Scene’s “Love You Like a Love Song” and Florence + the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” (2010 version) also directed the film and co-wrote the songs.
Coming from the world of music videos, Jasper says there was a learning curve when he segued into feature films. “The major skill I learned from making Patti was working with actors, which I had very little experience with,” he says. “It’s become my favorite part of the filmmaking process.”
The movie is billed as a rock opera, which Jasper defines as “the fuzzier, looser, dirtier cousin to the normal musical.” Previous rock operas through the decades left their mark on him. “My favorite is Diamond Dogs by David Bowie. He was trying to make that concept album a stage show and was obsessed with doing a film version. O’dessa is extremely influenced by it,” he says. “Also, The Wall by Pink Floyd and Jesus Christ Superstar are all-time classics.”
The cast album for O’Dessa is out now on Hollywood Records. “I couldn’t be more excited for people to hear Sadie sing these songs,” says Jasper.
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ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard will be absent from the group’s upcoming tour plans, citing a “health issue” as the reason for his newly-announced leave of absence.
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The Texas trio announced the news on Saturday (March 15), explaining that Beard would be absent from the group’s current Elevation tour due to the need to undergo an unspecified health procedure.
“Shelter Music Group, ZZ Top’s management, has announced the band’s drummer, Mr. Frank Beard, has temporarily stepped away from the current tour to attend a health issue requiring his focus in the near term,” a social media post from the band read.
“Beard, along with fellow ZZ Top members Billy F Gibbons and Elwood Francis, presently on the Elevation tour since March 5, have engaged fellow Texan and longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer, John Douglas, for the interim.”
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The post noted that Douglas has “maintained a close relationship with Beard and the bandmates,” and had even sat in for Beard during a Paris performance in October 2002 when he underwent an emergency appendectomy.
“He is looking forward to a speedy recovery,” the post concluded.
ZZ Top launched their Elevation tour in October 2024, and toured throughout the U.S. until November. The trek resumed on March 5, and will see the group performing across the country until April, when they visit Australia and New Zealand. Further North American dates will be held upon their return, though it’s currently unknown when Beard will resume his place behind the kit.
Beard has been the drummer of ZZ Top since 1969, when he took over from co-founder Dan Mitchell. Alongside vocalist and guitarist Billy Gibbons, Mitchell and bassist Lanier Greig had founded the band that same year.
Following Grieg’s replacement by Billy Ethridge, Dusty Hill assumed the role of bassist in 1970, with their lineup remaining unchanged for 51 years until Hill’s death at 72 in 2021. Elwood Francis has since served as the group’s bassist.
The group have not released a studio album since 2012’s La Futura, though Gibbons has claimed a new record featuring contributions from the late Hill is in the works.
Taking inspiration from The Cure’s Robert Smith, Neil Young has informed fans that he will no longer be offering ‘Platinum’ tickets to his upcoming shows.
Young’s change in ticketing attitudes follows on from an interview Smith conducted with The Times in October 2024. The interview occurred just weeks after Oasis had put the controversial topic of dynamic ticket pricing into the headlines, and Smith had attempted to keep tickets as low as possible – often as low as $20 – for their U.S. tour dates.
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“I was shocked by how much profit is made [by ticketing],” Smith said. “I thought, ‘We don’t need to make all this money.’ My fights with the label have all been about how we can price things lower. The only reason you’d charge more for a gig is if you were worried that it was the last time you would be able to sell a T-shirt.”
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“It was easy to set ticket prices, but you need to be pig-headed,” he added. “We didn’t allow dynamic pricing because it’s a scam that would disappear if every artist said, ‘I don’t want that!’ But most artists hide behind management. ‘Oh, we didn’t know,’ they say. They all know. If they say they do not, they’re either f–king stupid or lying. It’s just driven by greed.”
Now, Young has taken to his own Neil Young Archives website to point to Smith’s 2024 comments, explaining how the conversation inspired him to make his own changes in terms of ticketing to his shows.
“It’s the story of the bad thing that has happened to concerts world-wide. It’s this story that really helped me to realize that I have a choice to make and can make a difference for my music loving friends,” Young explained. “My management and agent have always tried to cover my back on the road, getting me the best deals they could.
“They have tried to protect me and my fans from the scalpers who buy the best tickets and resell them at huge increases for their own profits. Ticketmaster’s High priced Platinum tickets were introduced to the areas where scalpers were buying the most tickets for resale. The money went to me. That did not feel right.”
As Young concluded, he alerted his fans to the fact that ‘Platinum’ tickets will no longer be available for his upcoming performances in the near future.
“I have decided to let the people work this out,” Young added. “Buy aggressively when the tickets come out or tickets will cost a lot more in a secondary market.”
Young’s upcoming tour will see him accompanied on all shows by the Chrome Hearts band, featuring his longtime collaborator keyboardist/organist Spooner Oldham, as well as Promise of the Real members Micah Nelson (guitar/vocals), Corey McCormick (bass) and Anthony LoGerfo (drums). The group released the grungy anthem “Big Change” in January. Young debuted the Chrome Hearts band last year and has said an album from the group is tentatively slated for release in April.
Papa Roach extends its career-best streak of No. 1s on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, lifting a place to No. 1 on the March 22-dated survey with “Even If It Kills Me.”
The track is the band’s fourth No. 1 in a row and 11th overall. The group’s streak dates to the one-week reign of “No Apologies” in 2022, followed by triumphs for “Cut the Line” in 2023 and “Leave a Light On” in 2024.
The Jacoby Shaddix-led band takes over sole possession of the 10th-most No. 1s in the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart’s 44-year history. The act first reached the chart with the No. 4-peaking “Last Resort” in 2000 and first led with “Lifeline” in 2009.
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Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:20, Shinedown18, Three Days Grace15, Five Finger Death Punch14, Foo Fighters14, Metallica13, Godsmack13, Van Halen12, Disturbed12, Linkin Park11, Papa Roach
Concurrently, “Even If It Kills Me” holds at its No. 4 high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 3.6 million audience impressions, up 7%, in the week ending March 13, according to Luminate. It’s tied for the band’s best placement on the ranking (which began in 2009), alongside “Kill the Noise” (2021) and “No Apologies.” The song is also bubbling under Alternative Airplay, where the band boasts 20 career entries, including the No. 1 “Last Resort.”
On the most recently published, multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated March 8, reflecting data Feb. 28-March 6), “Even If It Kills Me” ranked at No. 7, after hitting No. 4 in February. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 634,000 official U.S. streams in that span.
“Even If It Kills Me” is currently a standalone single. The band’s most recent album, Ego Trip, debuted at its No. 6 peak on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in April 2022 and has earned 180,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated March 22 will update on Tuesday, March 18, on Billboard.com.
Journey experienced some technical difficulties during a recent Texas concert.
The legendary rock band had performed just five songs when, during their 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’,” they were forced to leave the stage at NRG Stadium during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Friday (March 14).
Fan-captured video from the event, shared on X, shows lead singer Arnel Pineda reaching the second verse of the song before the sound cut out and the projector screens went dark. As the audience continued singing along, unaware of the issue, members of Journey’s crew were reportedly seen rushing to the stage with fire extinguishers. Shortly after, the crowd was informed that the concert would not continue and that everyone needed to evacuate, according to KHOU. No injuries were reported.
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Journey had not addressed the situation on social media at press time, but the Houston Rodeo later issued an official statement about the cancellation on its Facebook page.
“Due to an unforeseen electrical incident under the stage area, we regretfully announce the cancellation of tonight’s Journey concert. We sincerely apologize to all fans for this disappointment,” the organization wrote. “Our team is working diligently to assess the situation, and we will provide updates regarding rescheduling options and refunds as soon as possible.”
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Other local news outlets, including KPRC and ABC 13 Houston, reported that the incident was an electrical fire.
Following the abrupt cancellation, many fans were left frustrated and in disbelief. “I am here right now,” one person commented on the Houston Rodeo’s Facebook post. “People are upset, but unforeseeable things happen in every day lives. I am so glad everybody is safe and everything was under control.”
Another fan shared, “We truly thought that it was a part of the show. 70,000 people singing ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ perfectly in unison, unprompted was beautiful! I’m glad everyone in the band and crew are ok. I’m thankful all of us at the show are ok. Count your blessings folks, things just happen sometimes.”
The Chicago Bulls‘ six NBA championship banners have been removed from the United Center after sustaining damage from pyrotechnics during a Disturbed concert. In a statement released on Friday (March 14), the United Center confirmed that the banners — earned during Michael Jordan’s reign in the 1990s — sustained “minor damage” during a March 8 […]
Universal Pictures Content Group announced on Friday (March 14) that it has begun production on a documentary chronicling heavy metal icons Iron Maiden‘s 50-year career. The currently untitled film is slated for release internationally in the fall, with U.S. theatrical distribution details to be confirmed later.
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According to a release, the long-awaited doc is an “emotive journey through Iron Maiden’s 50 Year history told from the perspective of both the band and some of their most devoted followers – from longstanding superfans to established names from the worlds of film and music such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Gene Simmons.”
In addition, the doc is slated to feature exclusive interviews with key band members and the final interview with original vocalist, Paul Di’Anno, who died in October 2024 at 66 from a tear in the sac around his heart. In addition to rare archival footage of the group, the doc will also include all-new animated sequences with Maiden’s fan-favorite ghoulish grin zombie mascot Eddie, who has appeared on all their album covers.
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“We’re proud Universal Pictures Content Group has chosen to share the unique story of Iron Maiden with the world,” said Maiden manager Rod Smallwood in a statement about the film that will be directed by Malcolm Venville (Churchill At War). “We have given them unrestricted access to the band, our fans and musical peers. We trust that they will excite not only music fans but also anyone who loves a story of an underdog beating the odds to become and remain one of Britain’s biggest musical exports since our first record released 45 years ago.”
The movie description continues, “The film offers a unique visual experience that highlights Iron Maiden’s widespread impact and the strong connection between the band and their truly global army of fans. The film also explores the cultural movement Iron Maiden has helped shape and their enduring legacy in both music and fan culture, challenging common perceptions of the wider significance of rock music and heavy metal.”
Iron Maiden formed in East London in 1975 and helped spearhead a resurgent wave of British metal on their way to selling more than 100 million records worldwide thanks to such hard-charging hit singles as “Run to the Hills,” “The Number of the Beast,” “Aces High,” “Flight of Icarus,” “The Trooper” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name.”
“We’re thrilled Iron Maiden have entrusted us to bring their legacy to cinemas around the world,” said Universal Pictures Content group executive vice president Helen Parker. “Working closely with the band and their passionate fans has been an unrivalled experience allowing us to tell their story in a unique way and celebrate their incomparable fearless creativity in their 50th anniversary year.” The film will be produced by Dominic Freeman (Spirits in the Forest – a Depeche Mode Film), with Parker serving as executive producer.
Iron Maiden will launch their 50th anniversary Run For Your Lives tour in Budapest on May 27, with 32 other dates currently scheduled throughout Europe through August 2.
Gene Simmons can rock n’ roll all night and deliver the weather forecast the next day. On Thursday (March 13), the KISS frontman hilariously took over Los Angeles meteorologist Adam Krueger’s weekend report on Fox 11 — and it was truly chaotic from start to finish.
Wearing a denim shirt, sunglasses and a black cap, Simmons began by asserting he knows “quite a lot” about weather. He also landed a backhanded compliment toward Krueger — “You look much better in real life than you do on TV” — before pointing out regions on a map of Southern California and nonchalantly reading off the weather patterns crossing through.
At one point, Simmons pushed Krueger away so as not to block the graphics behind them before reading out the warm temperatures local viewers would experience over the next few days. Krueger then went in for a play on KISS’ Billboard Hot 100 hit “Rock and Roll All Nite,” saying, “This weekend, I’m thinking, it’s looking pretty good. If people want to rock and roll all night …?”
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“They should party every day,” Simmons finished.
Another hilarious moment came when Krueger tried to signify the end of the segment by giving the rock star a fist bump, prompting Simmons to ask, “Are you kicking me out?”
“You don’t have the thing in my ear where they’re saying wrap, so I gotta wrap,” Krueger responded, leading Simmons to start freestyling some bars.
“Rap? ‘You go to 7-Eleven/ Go to heaven …,” Simmons spit, doing a little dance.
After the broadcast, Krueger shared some behind the scenes photos with the rock legend on Instagram and wrote, “Do weather with @genesimmons” along with a checkmark emoji.
Krueger is known for creating viral weather moments by incorporating popular music into his presentations. Last year, he turned heads by using lyrics from Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” while delivering a Houston forecast, telling viewers, “If you wanna pass on this heat like John Stockton, you can go into the Northwest where there’s 60s and 70s for highs today.”
“So again, we got temperatures in the 90s, but it’s going to feel hotter for several days … Wop, wop, wop, wop!” he continued at the time. “This is not a major cold front. In fact, the general rule this time of year if it’s June and we’re talking about a cold front, it’s probably a minor.”
Krueger’s has also recently paid homage to Doechii, Tyler, the Creator and Travis Scott.
Simmons has also previously tried his hand at meteorology. In September, he joined KTLA 5 Morning News and hilariously pushed resident weatherman Henry DiCarlo aside to take over that week’s weather report.
Watch Simmons make his weather report above.
The Mars Volta appear to be sick of the standard album release plan, with the group finally confirming their new album after weeks of speculation.
Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala confirmed the existence of the new album via his Instagram Stories this week, sharing a pre-order link to a record titled Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío. No other announcement from the band – be it a larger social media post or a press release – has mentioned the record, though it is currently available for pre-order via online retailers such as Amazon. These retailers list an official release date of April 11.
“The Mars Volta’s ninth studio album represents a significant milestone for the band, which has been continually reinventing itself for more than 20 years,” an online description for the record reads. “With Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio, they deliver an album that celebrates their roots, allowing them to reconnect with their origins. Fans are invited to embark on a musical journey.”
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The album’s rollout plan has been a strange one, perhaps in response to the fact that both news of the album and its content had leaked prematurely in late January. While The Mars Volta had not acknowledged the leak publicly, they launched a U.S. tour in support of Deftones on Feb. 25, where they have since been performing Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío in its near-entirety.
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On March 2, a Reddit user took to The Mars Volta subreddit to share an unverified story in which they claimed to have delivered food to Bixler-Zavala while the band were in Oregon, only to be handed the singer’s personal copy of the album. The user shared a handful of photos to support their claim, adding further speculation amongst fans as to when the album would be officially released.
The Mars Volta was formed by Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López following the breakup of their previous band At the Drive-In. Debut album De-Loused in the Comatorium was released in 2003, while 2005’s Frances the Mute would see the band reach No. 4 on the Billboard 200. They would release a total of six albums across their initial run, with 2012’s Noctourniquet preceding their split the following year.
While Bixler-Zavala and Rodríguez-López would later perform again in Antemasque and a reunited At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta would not be considered active again until 2019. They returned to releasing music in 2022 with a self-titled record, and an acoustic re-recording of the album the following year titled Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón.
A new release from Radiohead could be on the way, if a historical trend of new legal entities is to be believed.
According to the British Government’s Companies House agency, the five members of Radiohead established a new limited liability partnership under the name RHEUK25 LLP on Monday (March 10). An LLP is a legal business entity which allows the band to exist and conduct their own dealings outside of the typical framework of a record label.
While the establishment of an LLP may mean nothing on face value, historical activities have indicated that a new release or tour usually follows after Radiohead or its members establish a new LLP.
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In 2007, the group prefaced the release of In Rainbows with the creation of Xurbia Xendless Ltd., which was followed by Ticker Tape Ltd. ahead of The King Of Limbs’ arrival in 2011, while 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool was rumored after the discovery of the Dawn Chorus LLP.
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It’s not just restricted to Radiohead’s movements as a whole, with frontman Thom Yorke having been a part of Unsustainabubble Ltd. in 2010 before Atoms for Peace released their solo album in 2013, with the partnership also being used for his later solo releases. In 2021, Self Help Tapes LLP was incorporated before the release of The Smile’s debut album, and has since been used for their subsequent releases.
The most recent partnership to be created with all five members of Radiohead was Spin With a Grin Ltd., which arrived ahead of their 2021 reissue of Kid A and Amnesiac, dubbed Kid A Mnesia. It should be noted though, the nascent establishment of RHEUK25 LLP also coincides with the anniversary of Radiohead’s second album, The Bends, which was released 30 years ago on Thursday (March 13). Currently, it’s unknown whether the new LLP could be related to new music or a potential reissue.
Radiohead haven’t released a new studio album since 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 at the time. Band members have remained active since, with Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood teaming with Tom Skinner to craft The Smile. On Tuesday (March 11), Yorke also announced a collaborative album with Mark Pritchard, with Tall Tales slated to arrive on May 9.
Speaking to Australian radio station Double J ahead of his Australian tour last year, Yorke noted his ignorance of online speculation regarding the band’s future. “I am not aware of it and don’t really give a flying f–k,” Yorke said.
“No offence to anyone and err, thanks for caring. But I think we’ve earned the right to do what makes sense to us without having to explain ourselves or be answerable to anyone else’s historical idea of what we should be doing.”