Music

04 May 2023

Ozzy Osbourne Retired From Road, But Determined to Rock On, Even if He Has to ‘Get Someone to Wheel Me Out There’

Ozzy Osbourne had to make the heartbreaking decision to retire from touring early this year due to a series of health issues, effectively ending a half century of road dog raging. But in a new interview in Metal Hammer magazine conducted by two of his biggest fans — Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D — Ozzy revealed that he’s determined to keep rocking, even if it’s on four wheels.

“I mean, doing a live show is what I live for. I’ve had to cancel my [2023] European tour but I’m determined,” Ozzy told the pair. “I’ve gotta do more gigs if I have to get someone to wheel me out there. I mean, you can’t retire from this game. It’s not a job, it’s a f–king passion. I don’t know how to do anything else. The thought of sitting in my house all day… I’m a road dog, you know? I’ve been doing it f–king 55 years. It’s the best thing to have ever happened to me.”

In February, Osbourne posted a note to fans on social media, saying, “This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans…” In it, he announced that his touring days have come to an end and that his rescheduled European/UK tour dates have been canceled. “Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really f—s me up, more than you will ever know. My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city or country to country.”

Ozzy previously revealed that though his voice is “fine,” after three major operations, stem cell surgeries and other procedures to deal with a spinal injury he suffered four years ago he can no longer deal with life on the road.

It didn’t take long for his team to figure out a way for the 74-year-old metal icon to get back at it, though. His name was at the top of the list in March when the lineup for the inaugural three-night Power Trip metal festival was announced. The Goldenvoice-promoted event will take place in the Coachella Valley in Indio, CA and feature three nights of killer double bills, including Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden, AC/DC sharing the stage with Ozzy on night two and Metallica and Tool closing things out on Oct. 8.

On Instagram, the D revealed that when the magazine asked them to pick their dream interview for a special edition they of course said it had to be Ozzy. “Ozzy was my introduction to heavy metal music,” singer/guitarist Jack Black said. “I bought Blizzard of Ozz back in the early 80’s and it changed my life… once I had the flavour, once I got the taste of Ozzy, it was like getting the taste of blood on your tongue. I couldn’t shake it. Then I went back to his roots and checked out Black Sabbath… Black Sabbath invented metal.”

Check out the Metal Hammer cover below.

04 May 2023

Bernie Taupin Is ‘Absolutely Thrilled’ About Long-Awaited Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

When Bernie Taupin accepts his Musical Excellence Award at the 38th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Nov. 3 in Brooklyn, it won’t be the first time he’s mounted that stage.

When Elton John was inducted back in 1994, he called his longtime lyricist to the stage, saying that, “I’m kind of cheating standing her because without Bernie there never would have been an Elton John at all… and I would like him to come up and I would like to give this to him. We’ve been together for a very long time. I love him dearly.” Now, with his own Rock Hall honor on the horizon, Taupin tells Billboard from his home in California that John’s magnanimous gesture had an unintended consequence. 

“That’s the big thorn in the paw because in a lot of people’s minds, that’s the reason I was not inducted before now, because certain elements of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame didn’t like the fact Elton brought me up on stage… and gave me his award,” says Taupin, who had the trophy “for years” before returning it to John. “So they just assumed that I already had the award so I didn’t need to be inducted myself, which is pretty puerile, if you think about it, and pretty childish and churlish at the same time.

“But, hey, that’s all in the past. What’s gone is gone and it’s all forgotten now and God’s in his heaven and all is good.”

Taupin is, in fact, fully stoked to be receiving the honor this year, joining fellow Musical Excellence Award winners Chaka Khan and Al Kooper. “Obviously it was nice nice news,” he says. “It’s always good to be appreciated. I certainly appreciate it. At my age I don’t get excited (by) that much, but this is certainly something I’m very appreciative of.” He adds that “those around me” have been pointing out his exclusion from the Rock Hall over the years. “They say things like, ‘You’re not in there already? I just figured you were in there’ or ‘You should have been in there long ago,’” he notes. 

“I don’t put a tremendous amount of thought into it. I don’t really reflect much on what I’ve contributed. Do I feel I belong in there? Yeah, probably. I think I’ve contributed enough that it gives me credence to be in there, certainly.”

Born in Lincolnshire, England, Taupin graduated from the University of Cambridge and met John (then Reginald Dwight) in 1967 after both auditioned for Liberty Records and John, who did not write lyrics, was given some of Taupin’s poems to consider. Famously writing separately, the pair has worked together on more than 30 albums and enduring hits ranging from “Your Song” in 1970 and all of John’s greatest hits to tracks on John’s Wonderful Crazy Night album in 2016. 

“It’s funny because I don’t refer to myself as a songwriter,” Taupin says. “I’m just basically a guy who writes stories. In our early days I was featured on the album covers, and there weren’t many people that really wrote songs the way Elton and I did, where I wrote first and the melody came after. There are a couple people of that ilk, like Keith Reid (with Procol Harum) and Robert Hunter (for the Grateful Dead), but I think if I did anything I took it to another level and become more of a part of the band — not to say I was a rock star at all. That’s laughable. But I became in the eyes of a lot of people, say, an artist in my own right for what I contributed to the Elton John canon.

“So, yeah, I think if anything I’m unique in that sense. I’m not saying unique in the sense that I’m great, or good. That’s for other people to assess. What I’m saying is I think my whole career has been different to what the perceived concept of a songwriter is. I’m a contributor, basically.”

In addition to John, Taupin has also written songs with and for Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Melissa Manchester, Heart, Starship, Peter Cetera, Richie Sambora, Marianne Faithfull and others. He’s tried his hand as a performer as well, with three solo albums and, during the 90s, two with a band he formed called Farm Dogs. “When I was original told I’d been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I thought, ‘Oh, is that in the non-performer (Ahmet Ertegun Award) category?’” Taupin says. “I’ve made five albums and performed on stage, so (a Performer induction) wouldn’t have been wholly correct in their assumption of what I am.”

Taupin says he’s heard from John several times during the week (“He’s ecstatic.”) and credits his longtime partner as well as John’s husband David Furnish and Universal Music Publish Group Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson for “putting some leverage into the voting committee” as it determined this year’s recipients. “I had a lot of people pushing for me and having my back,” Taupin acknowledges. “I’m grateful to all of them.”

Taupin’s induction will come after the September publication of his memoir Scattershot. He spent two years working on it — including editing it from an 800-page draft to “just under” 400 pages — and he’s received the initial galleys for it this week. “I think people will be surprised by it,” Taupin says. “It’s not a conventional rock slog biography It’s not an A-to-Z life story. It’s non-linear. It’s more vignettes of my life… I’m not comparing it to Dylan’s Chronicles, but it has the same sort of free-form feel to it. I couldn’t be tethered to any restrictive autobiographical code. I just had to write it as I felt it. 

“It’s pretty exciting, I have to say. I never pat myself on the back about things. I’m my own worst critic. But I’m absolutely thrilled with it. It’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. It’s incredibly satisfying, and… I’m looking forward to having it out.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Nov. 3. Ticket information will be announced in the future.

04 May 2023

Live Nation Announces Return of $25 All-In Tickets For 2023 Gigs by Janet Jackson, Fall Out Boy, Shania Twain & More

Live Nation announced the return of Concert Week on Thursday morning (May 4), the $25 all-in ticket deal that will cover more than 3,800 shows across North America this year. The week-long annual program will offer limited-time low-dough tickets specials for shows by more than 300 acts, including gigs by Janet Jackson, Fall Out Boy, Don Toliver, Maroon 5, Shania Twain, Snoop Dogg and more.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Between May 10-16, fans can click here to see the full list of available shows, filtered by the events, venues or artists; on the site fans can also search for the closest city with a participating gig. Tickets will be available beginning with Verizon and Rakuten presales, with the both kicking off on May 9 at 10 a.m. ET through 11:59 p.m. local time.

Among the lengthy list of other acts participating in Concert Week are: 5 Seconds of Summer, The Offspring, Garbage and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, the Outlaw Music Festival, Pantera, Hayley Kiyoko, Ghost, P!nk, Pepe Aguilar, Pentatonix, Avenged Sevenfold, Bebe Rexha, Beck & Phoenix, Hunter Hayes, Incubus, Jason Aldean, Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Boy George & Culture Club, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, Santana, Sam Hunt, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Brooks & Dunn, Charlie Puth, Def Leppard & Motley Crue, LL Cool J, Luke Bryan, Weezer, The Smashing Pumpkins, Maneskin, Louis Tomlinson, Miranda Lambert, Wizkid, Wu-Tang Clan and Nas and more.

Concert Week ticket will be available on a limited-time, while supplies last basis, with tickets including all fees upfront in the $25 cost; any taxes will be added at checkout as applicable in each city, state or venue. Click here to see the full list of participating events.

04 May 2023

Offset Follows Takeoff Tribute Tattoo With Ink of Five Kids

Even when he’s on the road or in the studio, Offset will never be too far away from his family. The Migos rapper revealed in an Instagram story earlier this week that he has gotten the faces of his five children tattooed on his leg.

HipHopDX posted an image of the new ink on the back of the MC’s leg, including shots of the two children he shares with wife Cardi B, Kulture (4) and Wave (1), as well as his three older ones from other relationships, Jordan (13), Kody (8) and Kalea (8).

The tribute to his kids came on the heels of another permanent memorial Offset got last month honoring his late cousin and Migos bandmate, Takeoff. The full-back tat is an artistic representation of a photograph of Take, who died on Nov. 1 after being shot at a Houston bowling alley.

“Love you 4L & after,” Offset captioned the post. After 28-year-old Takeoff’s death, Offset wrote on Instagram, “The pain you have left me with is unbearable. My heart is shattered and I have so many things to say, but I can’t find the words. I’ve been going to sleep and waking up hoping that all of this is a dream, but it’s reality and reality feels like a nightmare.”

Last month, Offset previewed a new song featuring a posthumous Takeoff verse on his Story. The 56-second snippet featured Icewear Vezzo and Takeoff exchanging bars before Offset busts through with his own verse.

Offset isn’t the only one honoring Takeoff. He thanked Calvin Harris after the first weekend of Coachella when the DJ incorporated a feature verse by Takeoff from the Harris’ 2017 Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 collab “Holiday” and mixed it into another track from that album, “Slide.”

See the pics below.

04 May 2023

Linda Lewis, British Singer Who Landed a Global Hit With ‘It’s In His Kiss,’ Dies at 72

Linda Lewis, the British vocalist who enjoyed hits in the 1970s with “It’s In His Kiss” and others, and was the envy of fellow singers due to her five-octave range, died Wednesday (May 3) at 72.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The tragic news was confirmed by her sister, Dee Lewis Clay. “It is with the greatest sadness and regret we share the news that our beloved beautiful sister Linda Lewis passed away today peacefully at her home,” she writes on social media. “The family asks that you respect our privacy and allow us to grieve at this heartbreaking time.”

Born Linda Ann Fredericks in West Ham, London, Lewis attended stage school, and landed film roles, including a part as a screaming fan in Beatles film, A Hard Day’s Night.

Later, fans would scream for Lewis, as she reeled off U.K. hits through the 1970s with “Rock-A-Doodle-Doo,” “It’s In His Kiss,” “Baby I’m Yours” and “I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You.”

Written and composed by Rudy Clark, “It’s In His Kiss” would give Lewis a U.K. top 10 appearance, peaking at No. 6 in 1975, and a spot on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 96.

Lewis’ extraordinary range, and her gifts across folk, soul, pop and reggae, would catch the attention of rock music’s superstars, including David Bowie and Rod Stewart, both of whom recruited her for backing vocals. She would also work with the likes Joan Armatrading, Basement Jaxx, Turin Brakes and Jamiroquai.

Covers and samples of her work has been artists including Joss Stone and Common.

Across her career, Lewis cut ten studio album, including Say No More, her 1971 debut, which was inspired by living with fellow artists in a commune in Hampstead, north London, a place where Cat Stevens (later Yusuf Islam), Marc Bolan and Elton John would drop by.

In 2002, Warner Music released a collection of her ‘70s music, Reach for the Truth. The following year, BMG issued a career retrospective The Best of Linda Lewis, and later, the 3-CD boxed set Legends, including hits and rarities. In 2017, to celebrate her 50th anniversary in the music business, Lewis released Funky Bubbles, a 5-CD box set including rarities and live versions.

The music community is paying tribute to the late singer. “Really sad to hear this,” writes Ultravox frontman Midge Ure in a social post. “I had a massive crush on Linda Lewis. ‘Not a little girl anymore’ was a great song and beautifully sung by her.”

Mike Scott, frontman of British band The Waterboys, tweets: “Very sorry to hear about the death of British singer Linda Lewis. She was fabulous.”

Sex Pistols bass player Glen Matlock added that Linda was “lovely.”

Armatrading writes, “I’m so sad to hear of the death of Linda Lewis. She had a beautiful voice and was a really lovely person.”

French indie pop band Tahiti 80 remembers Lewis as a talent “like no one else.” A post from the band reads, “Very sad to hear of Linda Lewis’s passing. We were lucky enough to collaborate with Linda on Your Love Shines on Fosbury. She sang like no one else. I discovered her music in Japan and was instantly hooked. Collaborating with her was such a high.”

03 May 2023

Thalia Talks Importance of Uplifting Fellow Latin Women in Music: ‘Together, We Are Better’

Thalia is a Mexican pop tour de force. Because of her indelible contributions in the Latin pop field for more than three decades, the singer, actress and entrepreneur will be honored with the Global Powerhouse award at Billboard‘s premiere Latin Women in Music event this weekend.

The gala takes place May 6 in Miami and it will air in Telemundo the following day. Billboard’s Leila Cobo, chief content officer of Latin/Español, sat down with the international star for a lively chat.

In the conversation, she expressed her gratitude for being awarded the Global Powerhouse award. “I feel proud. I feel honored. I feel like I belong to a group of very talented, powerful women, full of vigor, full of that strength that is contagious,” she says.

It was also discussed that Thalia is a strong advocate for the advancement of Latinas in the industry, especially emerging talent.

“It has always felt right for me to do it, like a necessity,” Thalia mentions. “In my perspective, together, we are better. If you look good, I look better. If you’re doing well, I’m doing well. And especially for young artists, they go against many prejudices, and against the male-dominated industry. It is important that there is another woman backing them up, that they don’t feel alone.”

The vivacious artist, originally from Mexico City, also discussed her new three-episode docuseries on Paramount+, Thalia’s Mixtape: El Soundtrack de Mi Vida, which premiered this week. Part music video, part rock en Español history lesson, and part mixtape nostalgia piece, the Latin pop star explains why this audio visual was near and dear for her to make.

Last week, she also released an accompanying covers album, Thalia’s Mixtape, in which she offers a buoyant take on rebellious rock en Español classics from the ’80s and ’90s. She sings 11 covers, including “Devuélveme a mi Chica” by Hombres G, “Persiana Americana” by Soda Stereo, “Florecita Rockera” by Aterciopelados and “La Muralla Verde” by Los Enanitos Verdes.

“It was a search to reconfigure those songs through this audiovisual project of these three episodes, with me being this bridge of connection between these titans of music to the new generation,” she says.

Don’t miss Thalia and other honorees, including our Latin Woman of the Year Shakira, plus Goyo and Ana Gabriel, at the first-ever Billboard Latin Women in Music gala at the Watsco Center in Miami. The two-hour show will air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday, May 7, at 9 p.m. ET.

A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin women artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry

Tickets to Billboard’s Latin Women In Music can be purchased here.

03 May 2023

Rihanna Gets New Madame Tussauds Wax Figure in Amsterdam

Fans can now snap a picture with Rihanna in Amsterdam — well, with her new wax figure, that is.

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam took to Instagram on Tuesday (May 2) to reveal its new figure of RiRi, dressed in a purple bodysuit, thigh-high boots and a stunning floral cape that was inspired by the mogul’s 2020 Savage X Fenty Fashion Show. “Madame Tussauds proudly welcomes Rihanna’s wax figure to our attraction,” the caption reads. “Her beautiful outfit is based on her floral look for the Savage X Fenty show in 2020! Visit now and meet the stylish queen of pop in Amsterdam.”

See the post and the new figure here.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Rihanna has had an exciting week, as she dropped jaws with her gorgeous look at the Met Gala on Monday night (May 1). The pregnant superstar donned a gorgeous all-white Valentino wedding gown with a train, adorned with white roses — and revealing her baby bump.

“It’s so different from the first one,” she told ET of being pregnant with her second baby with A$AP Rocky. “No cravings. Tons of nausea. Everything’s different, but I’m enjoying it.”

One night prior, Rih teased her own Met Gala appearance by posting a series of photos wearing a furry, black and white Chanel look out in New York City. Both looks fit snugly over her baby bump, a hallmark of the singer’s trend-setting maternity style.

03 May 2023

Colombian Hitmaker Keityn Is Named Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 ASCAP Latin Music Awards

Colombian chart-topper Keityn, who co-wrote Karol G‘s “Provenza” and Shakira and Rauw Alejandro‘s “Te Felicito,” was named songwriter of the year at the 2023 ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

“Me Porto Bonito” — performed by Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone and co-written by ASCAP songwriter Master Joe — won song of the year, while Universal Music Publishing Music Group took the publisher of the year honor.

Winners at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ annual awards — which recognize the songwriters, producers and publishers behind Latin music’s biggest hits — where announced Wednesday night (May 3) at an invitation-only event in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

A first-time ASCAP winner, Keityn (real name: Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno) has also been behind chart-topping hits such as “Tusa” by Karol G and Nicki Minaj, Maluma‘s “Hawái” and J Balvin and Tainy‘s “Agua,” to name a few. In October 2021, he signed an exclusive deal with Warner Music Latina, and since then, he has released songs as a performer like “El Egoísmo” with Mike Bahía and Dekko, “Anoche” and “Nueva Versión.”

Song of the year honoree “Me Porto Bonito” — a reggaetón track infused with Latin pop and sandungueo, in which two men promise to behave nicely if the woman they’re after asked them to — spent 20 weeks at the top of Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart. It also reached No. 1 on Latin Airplay, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, and hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Universal Music Publishing Music Group was recognized as publisher of the year for hits including “Después de la Playa,” “Efecto,” “La Corriente,” “Me Porto Bonito,” “Moscow Mule,” “Neverita,” “Ojitos Lindos,” “Party,” “Tarot,” “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Un Ratito” — all part of Bad Bunny’s uber-successful Un Verano Sin Ti, the second album in Spanish to ever top the Billboard 200.

Other 2023 ASCAP Latin Music Award-winning songwriters include Daddy Yankee (“Remix”), Jhayco (“Sensual Bebé”), Marc Anthony (“Mala”), Marco Antonio Solís (“Si Te Pudiera Mentir”), GALE (her first ASCAP Latin Award for “Ley Seca”) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Dos Oruguitas”).

03 May 2023

Famous Musicians Who Root for the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have made it into the NBA Playoffs again this year after missing the postseason in 2022, and their slew of famous fans are enjoying every minute of it.

The Lakers have been in 62 playoffs over the course of their iconic run, most recently winning the championship in 2020 thanks in part to their superstar player, LeBron James.

One of the team’s most fervent fans is Snoop Dogg, who got a tattoo in honor of the Lakers in 2020. In a clip shared to Instagram, he showed the detailed tattoo designed and executed by artist Mister Cartoon. “As you see, tat is done,” Snoop explains. “KB on the bottom, Kobe Bryant, Larry O’Brien championship trophy with the Lakers going through the ball, gates of heaven up top and it don’t stop. Laker nation!”

The ink came less than a year after Bryant tragically died along with his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

In honor of the Lakers and to celebrate their place in the playoffs this year, we’ve compiled a gallery of famous musicians who are also fans of the LA basketball team. See the photos below.

03 May 2023

Lizzo Got to Play Flute With Her Idol & ‘King of Flutes’ James Galway

Pop’s Queen of Flute has met her King of Flute!

Lizzo took to Instagram on Wednesday (May 3) to share a video playing alongside Irish virtuoso flute player and her longtime idol James Galway, whom she got to duet with for guests at the Met Gala earlier this week.

“Where do I begin…? When I was 11 years old and learning the flute I needed a challenge from my 5th grade level studies. So I found The Man with the Golden Flute by James Galway and it changed the trajectory of my life,” she captioned the post. “I learned most of the songs by ear because the sheet music was too difficult to read at the time but eventually I fell in love with virtuosic flute music and memorized The Carnival of Venice (James Version) when I was 14. My father heard that and took my flute very seriously, he bought me lessons from university level teachers and my parents eventually got me Sasha Flute to keep up.”

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The “Special” singer added that she performed “Amazing Grace” into Galway’s rendition of “The Carnival of Venice” at her father’s funeral. “Now, years later I had the honor to play beside Sir James Galway, and receive lessons from him and even play his alto flute. I can confidently say I wouldn’t be the musician I am today without his influence. Thank you for everything this week @sirjamesgalway ! You are truly the King of Flutes and I can’t wait to play with you again.”

See her full post below.