Music News

20 Mar 2023

Nandi Bushell Screams, Bashes Her Way Through White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ in Tribute to Meg White

Tween drumming sensation Nandi Bushell weighed in on the Meg White drumming non-troversy over the weekend in the only way she knows how: by bashing her heart out on her drum kit. “#MegWhite is my #Hero. The first day I got drums my dad showed me the video of #sevennationarmy,” wrote the 12-year-old alongside a video of her screaming her heart out and blasting away at a set emblazoned with hearts and the name “Meg” while playing the White Stripes‘ “Seven Nation Army,” one of the most-played sports pump-up songs on the planet.

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The tweet also included archival footage of a tiny Nandi assaulting her baby drum kit as her dad plucks out the song’s iconic riff in the family playroom and she and her younger brother freak out as Nandi kicks over the set. “The first time I played drums I jammed on ‘Seven Nation Army,’” read the on-screen caption. “Thank you for the greatest rock songs ever! We love you Meg!!!!”

The young drummer who has turned the heads of everyone from Dave Grohl to Tom Morello added some more praise in a pair of follow-up tweets, in which she wrote, “The more I learn about music, the more I realise that songs, and art, are created to wake emotions deep inside the soul. No matter how fast my fills get or number rudiments I learn. If I can’t write a song that moves people, then can’t call myself an artist.”

In addition to saying that Jack White and Meg wrote some of the best songs in rock history, Bushell noted that they moved her as a five-year-old “to want to play the drums and still move me today! My screams are for you Meg! you are and always will be my role model and hero!”

Bushell’s post came a week after political journalist Lachlan Markay opined in a since-deleted tweet that “the tragedy of the White Stripes is how great they would’ve been with a half decent drummer… I’m sorry Meg White was terrible and no band is better for having a sh—y drummer.”

That unprovoked broadside against the timekeeper — who has all but vanished from public view since the duo called it quits in 2011 — drew a torrent of support for Meg from, among others, Roots drummer Questlove, Against Me’s Laura Jane Grace, Jack White’s ex-wife singer-model Karen Elson and many others. Markay has since apologized for the comment he said was “petty, obnoxious, just plain wrong.”

Like Bushell, Jack White posted his own mic-drop response — albeit without mentioned Meg directly — in the form of a poem that opened with the lines:

To be born in another time,
any era but our own would’ve been fine.
100 years from now,
1000 years from now,
some other distant, different, time.
one without demons, cowards and vampires out for blood,
one with the positive inspiration to foster what is good.

Check out Bushell’s video below.

20 Mar 2023

Ed Sheeran Docuseries ‘The Sum of It All’ Coming Soon to Disney+

A docuseries chronicling Ed Sheeran‘s journey to stardom, his personal life and the inspiration behind his music, Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All, is set to premiere globally on Disney+ on May 3.

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In Disney’s announcement on Monday (March 20), the four-part docuseries is described as spotlighting “how an unlikely child with a stutter rose to fame to become one of the biggest global music superstars and how his chart-topping hits were born.”

The Disney+ original series will feature exclusive content from Sheeran’s personal archive, interviews with his loved ones and intimate performances. All four episodes of The Sum of It All, produced by Fulwell 73 Productions (Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, Adele: One Night Only), will be available on release day: “Love,” “Loss,” “Focus” and “Balance.”

“I’ve always been very guarded in my personal and private life; the only documentary I’ve ever made has been one that focused on my songwriting,” Sheeran says in a press release. “Disney approached me to make a four-part documentary, and it felt like the right time to open the door and let people in. I hope people enjoy it.”

“In this docuseries, we’re going to reveal a side of Ed Sheeran that fans have never seen before. Together with Fulwell 73, we’ve created something truly authentic and personal that will not only entertain audiences but also inspire them to dream big and pursue their passions,” Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis says.

Fulwell 73 Productions’ Ben Winston and Ben Turner are executive producers of the series, which is directed by David Soutar.

Sheeran’s new single “Eyes Closed” is expected this Friday (March 24), and his new album – (pronounced Subtract) will be here on May 5 through Atlantic in the U.S., Atlantic/Asylum Records in the U.K. and Atlantic/Warner Music in the rest of world.

See the episode summaries for Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All, courtesy of Disney, below. Tune in on Disney+ on May 3.

“Love”

Ed Sheeran explains the unwavering work ethic that has driven his global success. With exclusive footage of his teenage years, Ed describes how he planned his unlikely success. When he was ignored by the music industry he started to play in unexpected settings until this determination brought him into contact with media entrepreneur Jamal Edwards in 2010. Together, they used the burgeoning internet to find their audience. “The A Team” breaks America but for Ed something was still missing. Ed shares the story behind his iconic love song, “Perfect” about his old school friend and now wife Cherry which tells of their romantic love story. Ed seems to have everything, until Cherry gets life altering news and Ed quickly realizes that plans can change in an instant and he will have to adapt.

“Loss”

Ed, his parents, and wife Cherry look at old photos of Ed and explain why he decided to return to live in his English hometown. With unseen footage of Ed’s Divide Tour, Ed introduces his tight fortress of trusted friends that keep him anchored. Then, the unthinkable happens. Ed’s best friend, Jamal Edwards suddenly dies. Ed struggles through a memorial for Jamal as he considers Jamal’s legacy. Ed meditates on the meaning of friendship and, using music as therapy, dives deep into work. During Ed’s 5-night run at London’s Wembley Stadium, British artist, Stormzy, joins Ed on stage in an epic performance before a smaller, surprise gig in his hometown. In a rousing homecoming singalong, Ed sings the iconic “Thinking Out Loud” to shocked locals looking on.

“Focus”

Ed shows his songwriting talents in exclusive archival footage showing the inception of one of his biggest hits, “Bad Habits.” Ed explains the origin story of writing “Eyes Closed” in 2018, through to its latest heartfelt version. After a turbulent year, Ed’s able to channel his emotions, and pours himself into completing his 5-album masterplan with Subtract, which has eluded him for over a decade. Mourning the loss of Jamal, Ed continues at pace, filming 14 music videos for his new album and has his childhood dream come true when he performs with Eminem at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, but Cherry worries he may be using work as a distraction. In an intimate performance, Ed publicly shares songs from Subtract for the first time but is overwhelmed when his emotions get the better of him.

“Balance”

In the final episode, Ed jets off to America to promote his tour. Both Ed and Cherry reflect on how they manage the challenges of balancing family life and work when they are regularly miles apart. Reunited at their home, Cherry explains how much of a shift she has seen in Ed over the last year. Ed meets up with friend and fellow British artist, Stormzy, to share his apprehensions of releasing his most personal thoughts into the world with Subtract. In a tribute to Jamal, Ed writes a beat for his “F64” rap about their friendship for an intimate performance at Chelsea FC’s home ground, Stamford Bridge. After some good news about Cherry’s health, she and Ed reflect on all the hardships and triumphs over the last year and look towards the future having a more cherished outlook on life.

20 Mar 2023

Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen’s Statement on Florida Attack: ‘Together With Love, We Can All Get Through These Difficult Times’

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has spoken out about an incident last week in which he was allegedly assaulted by a man outside a Fort Lauderdale, Florida hotel. In a statement first issued to ABC News on Sunday (March 19), Allen, 59, thanked fans for their “overwhelming support” in the wake of the attack in which Ohio native Max Edward Hartley, 19, allegedly rushed the drummer at full speed and knocked him to the ground last weekend.

“Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident,” Allen said. “We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space. We are focusing on healing for everyone involved. We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy. We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people.”

Police arrested Hartley after the teen allegedly attacked Allen outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale on March 13, a day after the veteran British band played a show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel with Mötley Crüe.

A police report noted that Hartley hid behind a pillar outside the hotel entrance while Allen smoked and then allegedly rushed at the drummer at full speed and knocked him to the ground. The report said that Allen “hit his head on the ground causing injury” and that when a woman ran out to help Allen Hartley allegedly attacked her as well.

Hartley was arrested a short time later after police found him at another hotel allegedly breaking car windows and then charged him with two counts of battery, four counts of criminal mischief and abusing an elderly or disabled adult; Allen lost his left arm after a 1984 car accident.

“To all of the fans, veterans, and first responders in our global community we are thinking of you all,” Allen said in his first official statement on the attack. “Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.”

The Florida show came just before a break in the band’s touring schedule, with the next date scheduled for May 22 in Sheffield, England.

Read Allen’s statement below.

20 Mar 2023

Twenty One Pilots Paid Tribute to Absent Blink-182 at Lollapalooza Argentina With a Classic Cover

Blink-182 couldn’t make it to Lollapalooza Argentina over the weekend, so Twenty One Pilots brought a bit of Blink energy during their set filling-in for the SoCal pop punk legends. With drummer Travis Barker sidelined after surgery on his dinged finger, Blink had to postpone their planned Latin America tour, including Saturday night’s Lolla headlining slot at the Hipodromo de San Isidro.

In fan video of the performance, touring guitarist Dan Geraghty chopped out the indelible chunky opening riffs to Blink’s smash 1999 hit “All the Small Things” as the crowd shouted the first verse while singer Tyler Joseph knelt on his knees on stage. Coming in on the “na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na” refrain, Joseph traded lines with the massive audience as drummer Josh Dun pounded out Barker’s big beats.

In another video of the moment, Joseph first offered a thank you in Spanish to the crowd and said, “I know we weren’t supposed to play this show, but we are honored to be here playing this show with you,” right before the band busted into the Blink song.

Earlier this month, Barker thanked fans for their patience after he underwent surgery to fix a torn ligament in his finger. Blink’s wildly anticipated world tour — marking the first time Barker, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge have played live together since 2014 — was postponed due to the drummer’s injury, which happened during rehearsals early last month before he hurt it again two weeks later.

“This has been something we’ve been aiming to do for so long and we work so hard and we just kind of had one of those freak accidents that nobody saw coming,” DeLonge said while making the announcement postponement announcement. “This is just so sad. These were the biggest shows we ever played. These are some of the most important places in the world for for a band this is like the pinnacle of our career was coming down and playing for you guys. So I really want you all to know, we are devastated and we plan to come back.”

The global trek was originally schedule to start in Latin America next week with shows booked in Tijuana, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Bogotà, Lima and elsewhere, but will now be pushed back until Barker has fully recuperated.

20 Mar 2023

Watch Emma Stone Freaking Out at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Kick-Off Just Like the Rest of You

Taylor Swift kicked off her Eras Tour over the weekend with a three-hour, 44-song extravaganza that folded in songs from all 10 of her studio albums at a stadium blow-out that was everything Swifties could have hoped for.

But also, she made her pal actress Emma Stone absolutely lose it. The Cruella star went viral after Friday night’s show in Glendale, Arizona when video surfaced of the star dancing like 60,000 people weren’t watching as she belted out the lyrics to “You Belong With Me.” In a TikTok entitled “Emma Stone losing her gd mind over YBWM,” Stone can be seen shouting the chorus and pumping her first from the VIP section.

Another video caught Stone going just as hard during “Fearless,” singing along and busting out some serious arm choreography. Stone and Swift have been friends for more than 15 years and there was good reason for Emma to be so hyped, as by all accounts Taylor brought some serious thunder to the kick-off of her first tour in five years.

“I can’t even go into how much I’ve missed you… I don’t know how to process all of this and how it’s making me feel right now… let me start by saying you’re making me feel fantastic,” Swift told the crowd at the sold-out show. The eagerly anticipated kick-off to Swift’s stadium tour left such a pop blast radius that country singer Kelsea Ballerini stopped in the middle of her show on Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey to do a quick check-in.

“Can I just level with you for a minute?” Ballerini asked her audience. “Is anyone stalking The Eras Tour? Has it started?… I’m gonna stalk it after this, but I have one question. Is ‘Cruel Summer’ on the setlist?” For the record, yes, the Lover favorite that had never been publicly performed live by Swift finally got its time to shine at State Farm Stadium during the two-night opening run.

Check out the videos below.

19 Mar 2023

Fans Choose Jimin’s ‘Set Me Free, Pt. 2’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Jimin‘s new solo song “Set Me Free, Pt. 2” has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (March 17) on Billboard, choosing the BTS member’s defiant hip-hop influenced track as their favorite new music release of the past week.

“Set Me Free, Pt. 2” brought in 89% of the vote, beating out new music from Melanie Martinez (“DEATH”); Taylor Swift (“If This Was a Movie,” “Safe and Sound” and “Eyes Open” (Taylor’s Version), “All of the Girls You Loved Before”); Kx5 (Kx5); Hozier (Eat Your Young EP); and others.

Jimin is the latest BTS member to go solo, and South Korean singer gave fans a taste of his forthcoming album, FACE, with the release of the set’s lead single “Set Me Free, Pt. 2.” Loaded with snapping hip-hop beats and Auto-Tuned vocals, the track is accompanied with an appropriately flashy music video.

FACE is scheduled for release on March 24. On the same day, Jimin will also share the music video for second single “Like Crazy,” which was co-written by his BTS bandmate RM.

Earlier this year, Jimin scored his first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100 by joining Taeyang for the BIGBANG member’s new single “Vibe.” Jimin has also released solo songs “Lie” and “Serendipity,” as well as “With You,” from the soundtrack to the TV drama Our Blues.

Trailing behind Jimin on the fan-voted poll was Martinez’s new song “DEATH,” with 4% of the vote. On the track, the singer says a farewell to her Crybaby persona, embracing a rebirth — and electronic, synth-driven sound — for her Portals album cycle, which promises to be one of her most ambitious yet.

See the final results of this week’s new music release poll below.

19 Mar 2023

Selena Gomez Wants to ‘Hug All 400 Million’ of Her Instagram Followers After Becoming Platform’s Most-Followed Woman

Selena Gomez is expressing her gratitude after becoming the first woman on Instagram to surpass 400 million followers.

The Only Murders in the Building star, who is now the most-followed woman in Instagram, took to the social media platform on Sunday (March 19) to show her appreciation to her millions of supporters around the world.

“Wishing I could hug all 400 million of you,” Gomez captioned a photo gallery on Instagram of herself excitedly posing with fans.

As of Sunday morning, the 30-year-old actress and singer had 401 million Instagram followers. Less than a month ago, when Gomez reached 381 million followers, she surpassed Kylie Jenner as the most-followed women on the social media platform.

While Gomez is the most-followed woman on Instagram, soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the most-followed person in general with 563 million followers. Another soccer star, recent World Cup winner Lionel Messi, follows with 443 million.

Prior to her celebratory post on Sunday, Gomez shared a stunning makeup-free selfie on March 13 with the simple caption, “Violet Chemistry,” which is a song from Miley Cyrus’ new album, Endless Summer Vacation.

The “Lose You to Love Me” singer returned to personally posting on her Instagram page in January, more than four years after she deleted the app from her phone and gave posting rights to a a member of her team due to her unhealthy relationship with the platform.

“At one point Instagram became my whole world, and it was really dangerous. In my early 20s, I felt like I wasn’t pretty enough. There was a whole period in my life when I thought I needed makeup and never wanted to be seen without it,” she previously told InStyle.

See Gomez’s post celebrating her 400 million Instagram followers below.

19 Mar 2023

Andrew Lloyd Webber to Miss ‘Bad Cinderella’ Broadway Opening Due to Son’s Critical Illness

Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced that he will be absent from the opening night of his new Broadway musical Bad Cinderella because his eldest son is “critically ill” with gastric cancer.

The Phantom of the Opera composer shared a statement with The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday (March 18), revealing that his 43-year-old son, Grammy-nominated composer and record producer Nicholas Lloyd Webber, has been fighting cancer for the last 18 months and is currently hospitalized.

“We are all praying that Nick will turn the corner,” Andrew Lloyd Webber said in the statement. “He is bravely fighting with his indomitable humour, but at the moment my place is with him and the family.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber was scheduled to attend the opening night of Bad Cinderella, which he composed, on Thursday (March 23) at New York City’s Imperial Theatre. The new musical is a reimagining of Cinderella, which ran in London from 2021 to 2022.

“I will not be able to cheer on its wonderful cast, crew and orchestra on Opening Night,” the Oscar-winning composer said.

Andrew Lloyd Webber also noted that he has “not been able to attend the recent previews” of Bad Cinderella because of his son’s illness.

Nicholas Lloyd Webber is known scoring the 2017 BBC One drama Love, Lies and Records, along with the 2021 movie The Last Bus. He was also the co-producer of the original cast album for his father’s Cinderella in 2021, which earned him a Grammy nomination for best musical theater album.

18 Mar 2023

Kelsea Ballerini Stops Her Own Show to Ask About Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Opening Night

“Kelsea Ballerini is all of us,” fans commented on TikTok this weekend, when the country singer stopped her show to ask if anyone was keeping tabs on Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour on Saturday night (March 17) — while Ballerini was in the middle of her own performance.

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“Can I just level with you for a minute?” Ballerini asked an Atlantic City, New Jersey, crowd. “Is anyone stalking The Eras Tour? Has it started?”

“I’m gonna stalk it after this,” she promised, “but I have one question. Is ‘Cruel Summer’ on the setlist?”

Fans of both artists — who must’ve had one eye on Ballerini’s stage and one eye on their phones, watching for live updates from Swift’s tour kickoff — delivered the good news: “Cruel Summer” is finally getting its time to shine on The Eras Tour. The Lover favorite had never before been publicly performed live by Swift, who last toured before the album was released. Swift debuted the song live at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

“Wow,” Ballerini said in celebration. “That’s my Super Bowl, I gotta be honest.”

Billboard‘s review of the show notes that “Cruel Summer” got “the full, stadium-show treatment, complete with a raised platform, backup dancers and Swift unveiling a diamond-encrusted one-piece with matching tall boots. For both the fans in attendance and Swift herself, the song seemed to represent an exhalation — this tour was finally happening, and this immaculate song, three-and-a-half years old at this point, was finally being performed.”

Watch Ballerini’s “Cruel Summer” check-in via TikTok.

18 Mar 2023

All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far)

Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour set list features a surprise song, so far performed during a mini acoustic set, on each date of the the superstar’s 2023 trek.

Guitar in hand and making her way to the end of the stage’s catwalk at March 17’s Eras kickoff in Glendale, Arizona, Swift revealed her intentions for the acoustic portion of her long-awaited live show. She’ll perform a surprise song that will not be played again on this tour — probably.

“The plan, the goal, would be to play different songs every single night and never repeat one. Right? So that when you heard one on this tour, you would know it’s the only time that I was going to play it in the acoustic set, unless — caveat — unless I mess it up so badly,” she said with a small laugh, “that I have to do it over again in some other city. Send your best wishes towards me that I don’t do that.”

The Eras Tour is her first real tour in five years, and the first time the prolific songwriter is getting to perform selections from Lover, Folklore, Evermore and Midnights to sold-out stadium crowds.

Eras Tour night one introduced a career-spanning, whopping 44-song setlist with a runtime of more than three hours, with Swift playing anywhere from one to eight tracks from all 10 of her full-length studio albums. The show’s nightly secret song is sure to keep her fans on their tallest tiptoes, waiting to hear what gem will be unveiled at their concert.

Below, check out the list of all the surprise songs she’s brought to The Eras Tour, courtesy of social media live streams and post-concert clips uploaded by Swifties in attendance. Bookmark this page, as the list will updated regularly as the tour goes on.