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Music News

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Cazzu has a lot to celebrate this week with the arrival of her debut studio album, Latinaje, on the Billboard charts. The album comes in at Nos. 4 and 48 on the Top Latin Pop Albums and Top Latin Albums rankings, respectively (charts dated May 10).

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“I’m a bit ignorant about managing badges or when one earns medals, it’s a strange feeling,” Cazzu tells Billboard. “But being on the charts makes me very happy because I think that basically determines that people are liking the album, so it fills me with great satisfaction.”

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Latinaje was released April 24 on Dale Play/Rimas and marks her first entry on any album chart after multiple visits across other songs charts. The 14-track set launches with 3,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 1, according to Luminate. Most of the LPs opening sum stems from streaming activity, which translates to 4.5 million official on-demand streams of the set’s songs.

“The album is full of moments like with [the album’s first single] ‘La Cueva’ which I didn’t want to release,” says Cazzu. “It took a lot of work from my friends and my team to convince me it was a beautiful song. It was decided at the last minute. We shot a video, I didn’t like it, we shot another one in three days, we made a super-quick announcement, and the next day it came out. And well, I was amazed at how well the song did.”

In addition to giving her a No. 27 high on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, which blends streams, radio airplay and digital sales into its formula, “La Cueva” debuted and peaked at No. 2 on Latin Digital Song Sales in January.

“The recording process was so long,” Cazzu remembers. “It was supposed to be an album of collabs, but we changed our minds. It told one story, but it ended up telling another. ‘Con Otra,’ for example, was supposed to be a merengue, and we ended up making a cumbia.”

“Con Otra” is the latest hit on the songs charts for Cazzu, as the tune rallies 45-29 on the overall Latin Airplay chart, after launching at No. 36 on the April 6-dated ranking. The song marks Cazzu’s second visit there, following “Tú y Tú,” with Los Ángeles Azules and Santa Fe Klan, which landed at No. 5, her first top 10. That collaboration was a major achievement for Cazzu, earnin a No. 1 hit on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart, where it ruled for one week in 2023.

Elsewhere, Latinaje opens at No. 48 on the all-genre Top Latin Abums, for the Argentinian’s first appearance there.

About the song she relates with the most: “I love ‘Odiarme,’ it has a lot of Cazzu, of that romantic darkness that I love, but ‘Engreído’ has strong trap lyrics, and the music is a bolero, it is a very beautiful collaboration.” The song is her first pair-up with Venezuelan Elena Rose.

Rosalía knows she’s good at music, but acting? She’s working on it. During a red carpet interview at Monday night’s 2025 Met Gala, the “Bizcochito” singer said she’s doing her best on the set of Euphoria. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rosalía said she’s excited about her upcoming acting debut in the HBO series about teen […]

The voice cast for the upcoming 3D animated film based on Sir Paul McCartney‘s 2005 children’s book High in the Clouds will be lead by Celine Dion, Himesh Patel (Yesterday) and Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso). According to Variety, the film adaptation will also feature the voices of Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, McCartney’s former Beatles bandmate […]

Chappell Roan is no piker when it comes to belting out a tune. But on the latest episode of Heart singer Ann Wilson‘s After Dinner Thinks podcast, the “Pink Pony Club” singer made a bold statement about the number one voice in rock. “You’re rockin’ mama! I’m rockin’ because you rockin’, really, truly,” Roan told the singer of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band.

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“I think you have the best voice in rock,” Roan said to Wilson, noting that “nothing” has ever made her feel as powerful as when she sang Heart’s iconic hit “Barracuda” onstage at the Austin City Limits festival in 2024, introducing it as her “favorite song.”

“I was like, ‘actually, this is the coolest song ever. And I feel like a rock star!,” Roan said. Fellow guest Lucy Dacus recalled the pair talking about the cover, with Roan telling her at the time, “I remember when you were like, ‘I’m gonna cover this because I want to feel what it feels like in my body to be a rocker like that.’”

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Wilson agreed that it’s a whole different thing to rock out on stage, with Roan saying that pop is fine, but rock, well, it’s a different beast. “A song like that… you can’t hold it in like that. It has to be an independence of the soul where you just let it go and you go, ‘what the f–k? This is a physical event,” Wilson said.

After watching a Heart show before the pod recording, Dacus opined on how most self-described rockers are wannabes who are just pretending, or trying to be a “rock character or avatar. Y’all are just ‘bees,’ you’re not wannabes… they’re trying to be you.”

That comment got Roan going, with the “Hot To Go” singer slamming “b–ches who will never come out on stage. They’re just like, ‘oh! I can’t. My arm hurts!’ Like you are… that is punk!”

Elsewhere in the chat, the three women talked about how style plays into their identity, Dacus asked Wilson is she’d ever considered retiring from music and Roan wondered how the singer handled the huge success and pressure to follow-up Heart’s smash 1975 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, when the group went in to record the follow-up. Dacus also talked about attending a Heart show with her birth mother, with Wilson sharing her moving journey adopting two children.

Definitely stick around until the end, because Wilson opened up about her record label once sending Paula Abdul to teach Heart some choreography, a move that did not go well.

Chappell Roan, Lucy Dacus and Ann Wilson

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Oasis’ reunion tour kicks off in just under two months, but there’s still plenty of questions around the shows, including: what will be played and who will be joining Noel and Liam Gallagher on stage when it all kicks off in Cardiff, Wales on July 4?
While a number of U.K. tabloids have been doing their best to get the scoop on the brothers’ reconciliation, frontman Liam has been using his X (formerly Twitter) profile to plant nuggets of information and strike down any inaccurate reports.

Over the weekend The Sun shared a pair of reports about the upcoming tour. One claimed that Noel and Liam were planning to have separate dressing rooms, and that friends of both brothers were restricted in where they could spend the after parties. It reported that “if you’re on Noel’s list but fancy going across to say hello to Liam, it’s going to be a case of trying to blag entry. It seems like they are totally separate events.” The report claimed: “It’s gutting for people who want to hang out with both of them but it seems they’re keeping it all at a distance.”

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Liam responded to the story and said that “After party’s are for w–––s,” throwing cold water on the idea that they were being kept separated. “I’m getting straight of after the gigs get my beauty sleep this level of sexiness doesn’t happen by staying up talking bollox to bellends.”

After party’s are for wankers I’m getting straight of after the gigs get my beauty sleep this level of sexiness doesn’t happen by staying up talking bollox to bellends— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) May 3, 2025

A second article in the The Sun on Sunday said that Oasis were set to drop the song “Hello” from its setlist due to its connection to convicted pedophile Gary Glitter. The 1995 song, which opened their sophomore album (Whats The Story) Morning Glory?, features the lines “Hello, hello, it’s good to be back, it’s good to be back.” The lyrics and melody mirror Glitter’s 1973 song “Hello, Hello, I’m Back Again,” and Glitter was credited as a writer on the Oasis song alongside writing partner Mike Leadner.

The story added, “The lyrics of the song would obviously have been a good fit for the reunion tour but the band have decided to leave it in the past. It would be inappropriate to play it given its ­connotations to Glitter and his convictions.” Glam rock star Glitter was convicted of child sexual abuse in 2006 and has faced a number of court cases since; he is currently being held in a U.K. prison for breaching his release conditions.

The Sun’s reporting was once again slapped down by Liam on his X account on Monday (May 5), confirming that the song will appear on the setlist. “We’ll be playing HELLO trust me,” he responded to one fan. He also debunked a rumoured leaked setlist and confirmed that none of his solo songs would appear in the shows.

“Hello” featured prominently in the band’s setlist following its release and appeared at their 1996 appearances at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire. The song fell out of rotation around 2002, but was played a number of times during Liam’s solo tours from 2020 onwards.

The band are set to open their tour on July 4 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, before a further run of shows in the U.K. and Ireland, before heading to North America, Latin America, Asia and Australasia. 

We’ll be playing HELLO trust me— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) May 5, 2025

American Idol has narrowed its field to seven finalists following Monday night’s (May 5) episode, which featured a surprise save and another emotional elimination.

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The remaining contestants include Jamal Roberts, Mattie Pruitt, and five others vying for the season 22 crown.

Mattie Pruitt, who landed in the bottom two alongside Josh King, was saved by the judges, a decision that meant King was eliminated from the competition. Pruitt performed “Always Been You” during the episode, which featured each contestant selecting one of three songs secretly chosen by judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie or Luke Bryan.

The remaining contestants advancing to the top seven are Breanna Nix (“Independence Day”), John Foster (“I Cross My Heart”), Gabby Samone (“Hero”), Jamal Roberts (“I Believe”), Thunderstorm Artis (“Faithfully”) and Slater Nalley (“Atlantic City”).

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“This gave me a wonderful experience performing in front of massive live audiences again,” contestant Josh King said after his elimination. “I got to feel crowds again. It’s such a wonderful feeling.”

The competition is intensifying for the seven finalists, with Roberts saying, “It’s basically how bad do you want it at this point,” he said. “I want it real bad, so I gotta keep pushing and keep doing what I’m doing now.”

Host Ryan Seacrest praised the season’s talent, noting that the judges, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, have been particularly moved by this year’s performances. “I think they have been emotionally moved more so by these performers than maybe ever in the past,” Seacrest observed.

Underwood added, “I want them to shine. I feel like that’s where we’re all coming from. We want these hopefuls to do a great job.”

Looking ahead, American Idol will stage two nights of Disney-themed performances beginning next week. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer-winning creator of Hamilton and Moana, will serve as the contestants’ mentor.

The Disney episodes will also feature double eliminations. On Sunday, the top seven will be whittled down to five contestants. By Monday, only three will advance to the grand finale.

The American Idol season 22 finale is scheduled to air later this month on ABC.

The Playoffs on The Voice wrapped up Monday night (May 5) with a standout moment that had viewers on their feet. Bryson Battle from Team John Legend delivered an out-of-this-world rendition of Ariana Grande’s “pov,” which debuted at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually climbed to a peak position of No. 27, […]

Australian indie-rock duo Royel Otis have announced another run of U.S. tour dates, with the group detailing their latest round of shows while in the country.
Announced on Monday (May 5), news of the group’s Meet Me in the Car tour coincides with the first of two sold-out shows at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on Monday and Tuesday. The 12-date run of shows launches in Philadelphia at the Franklin Music Hall on Sept. 12 before wrapping up in New York City at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Oct. 11. 

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Following their current Los Angeles shows, the Sydney duo will perform at both New York City’s Governors Ball Music Festival and Tennessee’s Bonnaroo festival ahead of a run of festival dates throughout Europe, the U.K., and North America before launching their own headline shows in September.

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Royel Otis first formed in 2019, releasing a series of EPs between 2021 and 2023 before issuing their debut album, Pratts & Pain in 2024. Though their “Sofa King” track reached No. 12 on the Alternative Airplay chart in 2023, the band found widespread fame last year following their cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor” for Australian radio station triple j’s Like a Version series. 

The cover topped the Alternative Airplay charts and also peaked at No. 41 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The group’s penchant for covers was again felt when their SiriusXM session rendition of The Cranberries‘ “Linger” was released, giving them their first appearance on the Hot 100 when it reached No. 94.

In late 2024, Royel Otis won four ARIA Awards from eight nominations, including best group and best rock album, while producer Chris Collins won best produced release and best engineered release for Pratts & Pain.

Currently, Royal Otis are ostensibly preparing the launch of their latest era, having recently overhauled their socials with a largely minimalist approach. Alongside noting that “there will be singing. and dancing. and new music” alongside their latest tour announcement, the group have been teasing a song which “may or may not be called ‘Moody’” for a May 9 release.

Royal Otis – 2025 Meet Me in the Car Tour Dates

Sept. 12 – Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PASept. 14 – The Anthem, Washington, DCSept. 16 – The Ritz, Raleigh, NCSept. 19 – The Bomb Factory, Dallas, TXSept. 20 – Stubb’s, Austin, TXSept. 28 – Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZSept. 30 – Mission Ballroom, Denver, COOct. 2 – Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MNOct. 3 – Grinders KC, Kansas City, MOOct. 4 – The Factory, Chesterfield, MOOct. 10 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Boston, MAOct. 11 – The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York, NY

James Baker, the prolific Australian drummer best known for his work as a member of The Scientists, the Hoodoo Gurus, and the Beasts of Bourbon has passed away at the age of 71.

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Baker’s passing was confirmed by a statement issued to the press on Tuesday (May 6), noting that the rocker had passed away at his home the night prior. “It is with heavy heart that we say that James Baker, the King of the Perth Big Beat, the godfather of Perth Punk and Australia’s Garage Guru passed away around 7:30 last night at home in Perth,” it read.

“It was no secret that James had been suffering from terminal cancer for some time, but he did his best to hold it at bay which enabled a final go round from the Victims – the band he formed with fellow Hoodoo Guru Dave Faulkner in ’77 – and a couple of last tours as well as a new album from the Beasts, the band he co-founded in ’83.

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“He also joined the Gurus on stage in Perth in December,” it continued. “He released his first solo 12” record Born to Rock – his first solo release since 1985’s legendary “Born to Be Punched”/”I Can’t Control Myself” single – in May last year, and a newly recorded single with Dom Mariani as recently as January of this year.”

Baker was born in the Western Australian city of Perth in 1954, purchasing his first drum kit at the age of 16 following a love of The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr. The following year, Baker would launch his own musical career behind the kit of a Beatles cover band before performing with groups such as the hard rock outfit Black Sun and the glam-rock Slick City Boys.

In the mid-’70s, Baker would spend time in the U.S. and U.K., even going so far as to consider auditioning for The Clash after a chance meeting with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones following a show from the Damned. “I had a Ramones T-shirt on and they came up to me and talked to me about that,” he recalled in 2003. “They said they needed a drummer. But I hadn’t played for a year.”

It was in 1977 that Baker first let his presence be felt fully as the co-founder The Victims with bassist Rudolph V (aka Dave Cardwell). The band had its roots in an earlier group called The Geeks, which took influence from the Ramones and their blend of burgeoning punk music. Following the addition of Dave Flick (aka Dave Faulkner), the group would rename and issue their debut single, “Television Addict.” The track remains a pioneering cut from the Australian punk scene, with copies of the ferocious tune selling for small fortunes amidst collectors.

While still a member of The Victims, Baker would join The Scientists in 1978, replacing drummer John Rowlings. Emerging from the punk scene, The Scientists would later become one of the most notable independent groups to emerge from Australia, with their influence on grunge being felt by later groups in the genre such as Mudhoney and Nirvana. 

Following the release of their 1981 self-titled album, the band would briefly split, and Baker would embark on new ventures. This included the formation of the Hoodoo Gurus with former Victims bandmate Faulkner, former Scientists bandmate Roddy Radalj, and Kimble Rendall, who would pass away in April 2025.

Baker would depart the band in 1984 following the release of their debut album, Stoneage Romeos, which would be the first of four consecutive records to top the US College Radio charts.

While still a member of the Hoodoo Gurus, Baker would also co-found the Beasts of Bourbon, a rock supergroup of sorts fronted by former vocalist of the Dum-Dums, Tex Perkins. The initial lineup would be complemented by Baker, guitarist Spencer P. Jones of The Johnnys, and former members of The Scientists Kim Salmon and Boris Sujdovic.

Baker would remain most active in the Beasts of Bourbon, performing with most versions of the band until 2024. Additionally, he was a prolific songwriter and performer, going on to serve as a member of myriad bands, including the James Baker Experience and The Dubrovniks.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the West Australian Music Industry Awards, while The Scientists would follow in 2019. The Hoodoo Gurus, meanwhile, were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 2014, Baker was diagnosed with liver cancer, which he battled for the remainder of his life. Fundraising campaigns were launched to aid his medical journey, and Baker continued to perform live in spite of his health issues, even releasing his debut solo EP, Born to Rock, in 2024.

“James is survived by his wife Cathy, daughters Lorna and Faye and sister Barbara, and his unborn grandson who will be arriving on the scene in the next week or so,” the statement issued to media concluded.

The death of Baker is another loss experienced by the extended Hoodoo Gurus family over the past year. In April 2024, longtime manager Michael McMartin passed away, just one month after handing the reins over to Mick Mazzone. In April 2025, Mazzone himself would pass away, with founding member Kimble Rendall following just days later.

More than five years since his last show, David Lee Roth has not only made a triumphant return, but reversed his decision to retire from the touring circuit.
Roth announced his 2025 tour plans on Monday (May 6), with a series of 21 live appearances set to take place over the summer.

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Launching at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on July 22, Roth will traverse the country until wrapping up his series of shows on Sept. 14 back in California at Napa’s Blue Note Summer Sessions.

Roth’s tour announcement comes just days after he made his first appearance on the live stage in five years on Saturday (May 3) at the M3 Rock Festival at Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion. The 16-song set featured Roth leaning entirely on his tenure as frontman for Van Halen, save for a cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me,” which was issued as Van Halen’s debut single in 1978.

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The show was his first since March 2020 when he appeared as the opening act for KISS in Lubbock, Texas as part of their End of the Road Tour.

In early 2021, Roth announced that he would be officially retiring following a residency at Las Vegas’ House of Blues at Mandalay Bay in 2022. “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” Roth said. “This is the first, and only, official announcement. You’ve got the news. Share it with the world.”

“I’m not going to explain the statement,” he added. “The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows.” Ultimately, Roth’s Las Vegas residency would be cancelled, ostensibly leaving him with unfinished business until his return to the stage this month.

Roth first rose to fame as the vocalist for Van Halen from 1974 until 1985, appearing on their first six records before embarking on a solo career. Roth would be replaced by Sammy Hagar, though would return for a one-off appearance in 1996 before Gary Cherone took over vocal duties. 

Following another brief stint from Hagar up the front from 2003 until 2005, Roth resumed his role in the band from 2007 until the band’s dissolution in 2020 following the death of Eddie Van Halen.

David Lee Roth – 2025 Tour Dates

July 22 – California Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles, CAJuly 31 – Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FLAug. 3 – Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center, Tampa, FLAug. 6 – Hard Rock Live Bristol, Bristol, VAAug. 8 – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, Atlantic City, NJAug. 10 – The Paramount, Huntington, NYAug. 13 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NHAug. 15 – Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NYAug. 17 – The Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem, PAAug. 19 – Hard Rock Live Northern India, Gary, INAug. 21 – Hard Rock Outdoor Arena, Cincinnati, OHAug. 23 – Doquoin State Fairgrounds, Doquoin, ILAug. 25 – The Factory, Chesterfield, MOAug. 27 – Grinders KC, Kansas City, MOAug. 29 – Lucas Oil Live at Winstar, Thackerville, OKAug. 31 – Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa, Catoosa, OKSept. 4 – Gila River Resorts & Casinos, Chandler, AZSept. 8 – Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, San Diego, CASept. 10 – Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, CASept. 12 – Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CASept. 14 – Blue Note Summer Sessions, Napa, CA