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Donald Trump showcased his signature dance moves during a high-energy pre-inauguration rally in Washington, D.C., on Sunday (Jan. 19).
The 78-year-old businessman-turned-politician, who was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president on Monday, celebrated his victory over Kamala Harris at D.C.’s Capital One Arena. The event featured performances by Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood and the Village People.
As the rally wrapped up, Trump danced and clapped along to the Village People’s 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.,” a song frequently played at his campaign rallies. Smiling, he stood behind the group, delivering his trademark moves while the crowd cheered.
In the days leading up to the event, the Village People announced on Facebook that they had “accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump’s campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump.” The group added, “We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.”
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Trump had previously featured the Village People’s “Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.” at his 2020 and 2024 rallies.
In December, Village People’s Victor Willis explained why he ultimately allowed Trump to continue playing “Y.M.C.A.” at rallies and events. Despite initially asking him to stop in 2020, Willis said he “didn’t have the heart” to block its use after realizing the politician “genuinely liked” the song and was “having a lot of fun” with it. Willis also noted that the track has seen a significant boost in chart positions and sales since Trump began using it during his campaign.
Sunday’s rally opened with a performance from Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter, before supporters like actor Jon Voight and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, among others, took the stage to offer congratulations.
“We won. We won,” Trump told the excited crowd. “I’m thrilled to be back with so many friends, supporters, and true American patriots on the eve of taking back our country. That’s what we’re going to do. Take back our country.”
He added, “Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride.”
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Another election, that didn’t go the way of progressives, means another Dave Chappelle appearance on Saturday Night Live. During the comedian’s latest appearance, he used his monologue to not only make jokes about Diddy and the California wildfires, but to send a message to Donald Trump before his inauguration, too.
With a lit cigarettes in his hand, Chappelle hit the stage to a round of applause and quickly got down to his business of cracking, sometimes painfully too soon, but still funny. That meant jokes about the wildfire (poor people don’t like rich people) and not being invited to Diddy parties due to his “snitch energy.”
Oh, and we have to mention that Glorilla was the musical guest.
Near the end of his set, Chappelle shared a story about President Jimmy Carter, who recently passed away, which inevitably led to some advice for the next president.
“Here’s the thing, on Monday, Donald Trump is coming back. He’ll be the 47th president. He’s done it again,” Chappelle said, before going into a story about being in the Middle East shortly after he infamously, abruptly quit Chappelle’s Show, while Carter visited Israel.
“While he [Carter] was in Israel, a book of his was released whose title was very controversial in Israel. The title of the book was, ‘Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,’” he said.
Chappelle detailed Carter visiting Palestine, despite protest that it wouldn’t be safe and with little security, and receiving immense praise from the Palestinian people. “It brought tears to my eyes,” recalled Chappelle. “I said, ‘I don’t know if that was a good president, but that right there is a great man.’ It made me feel very proud.”
He then added, “The presidency is no place for petty people. So, Donald Trump, I know you watch the show… Man, remember, people, whether they voted for you or not, they are all counting on you. Whether they like you or not, they are all counting on you. The whole world is counting on you.”
Good luck with that, sincerely.
Chappelle then added, “I mean this when I say this, good luck. Please, do better next time. Please, all of us, do better next time. Do not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they are in the Palisades or Palestine.”
It was Dave Chappelle’s fourth time hosting Saturday Night Live. Watch his full monologue below.
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Martin Luther King Jr. is, with little doubt, one of the more notable figures in the annals of Black history, and his sacrifice for the greater good of all maintains its resonance in modern times. In the wake of the transition of power within the White House on January 20, Hip-Hop Wired is electing to honor Martin Luther King Jr. instead and will share ways to uphold the great leader’s lasting legacy.
Hip-Hop Wired and the entire Urban One family for years have highlighted the incredible accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., and the sting of his light being snuffed out in 1968 nearly upended the Civil Rights Movement as over 100 cities rioted after his assassination in Memphis, Tenn. At just 39 years of age at the time, King was close to achieving the impossible feat of unifying the country and wisely highlighted the true divide in America of race and class. And in the decades since King’s passing, Black people in America achieved incredible feats in the face of insurmountable odds only to conquer those barricades admirably.
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Check out a portion NewsOne’s profile and recognition of Martin Luther King Jr,’s 96th birthday below:
In 1957, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was formed following the efforts and response to the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” in 1955. Rosa Parks jump-started the Civil Rights Movement that same year, after refusing to give up her seat to a White person. Dr. King and several other leaders joined the boycott, creating the SCLC.
With the help of the Quakers, Dr. King traveled to India in 1959 to visit with Gandhi. The trip was the necessary push needed to galvanize Dr. King’s desire to employ a similar approach with non-violent disobedience protests Stateside. SCLC activist Bayard Rustin, also a student of Gandhi’s teaching, served as King’s right hand in planning the 1963 “March On Washington” and was a trusted ally.
Releasing just a handful of books during his lifetime, Dr. King’s written work contained nearly the entire scope of his personal and academic pursuits. “Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story” was released in 1958. His last work, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community,” saw a 1967 release.
Please read the entire profile here.
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One of the most viable ways one can engage the world using the philosophies of King comes by way of The King Center, helmed by Dr. Bernice A. King, the leader’s youngest child. Dr. King has enacted the training and education module Nonviolence365™️, which aids in the practice of nonviolent social activism. We could not think of another way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. other than pointing directly to all of the amazing efforts and activations sparked by The King Center.
Learn more by visiting The King Center website and check out the variety of resources there.
Adding to this, MLK Day is largely seen as a day of service. In that regard, search your local community organizations and volunteer to be in service of your neighbors, including the disabled and elderly. This can also include working in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or your local houses of worship. A gripping cold has taken over much of the country and several groups could use all hands on deck to bring warmth and comfort to the less fortunate.
On X, Martin Luther King Jr. is trending and we’ve gathered some replies to share with our readers below.
An urgent need… #MLK #MLKDay #KingHoliday pic.twitter.com/aP41uBs5ol
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) January 19, 2025
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A British teen pleaded guilty Monday (Jan. 20) to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 other people in what a prosecutor said was a “meticulously planned” stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, entered the surprise plea as jury selection had been expected to begin at the start of his trial in Liverpool Crown Court.
The July 29 stabbings sent shock waves across the U.K. and led to a week of widespread rioting across parts of England and Northern Ireland after the suspect was falsely identified as an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain by boat. He was born in Wales.
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The attack occurred on the first day of summer vacation when the little girls at the Hart Space, a sanctuary hidden behind a row of houses, were in a class to learn yoga and dance to the songs of Taylor Swift. What was supposed to be a day of joy turned to terror and heartbreak when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, intruded and began stabbing the girls and their teacher in the seaside town of Southport in northwest England.
“This was an unspeakable attack — one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness,” Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle said. “A day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage.”
Prosecutors haven’t said what they believe led Rudakubana — who was days shy of his 18th birthday — to commit the atrocities, but Doyle said that it was clear he had a “a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence.”
Rudakubana had consistently refused to speak in court and did so once again when asked to identify himself at the start of the proceedings. But he broke his silence when he was read the 16-count indictment and asked to enter a plea, replying “guilty” to each charge.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and additional charges related to possessing the poison ricin and for having an al-Qaida manual.
Rudakubana faces life imprisonment when sentenced Thursday, Justice Julian Goose said.
Defense lawyer Stanley Reiz said that he would present information to the judge about Rudakubana’s mental health that may be relevant to his sentence.
The surviving victims and family members of those killed were absent in court, because they had expected to arrive Tuesday for opening statements.
Goose asked the prosecutor to apologize on his behalf that they weren’t present to hear Rudakubana plead guilty.
He pleaded guilty to murdering Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6.
Eight other girls, ranging in age from 7 to 13, were wounded, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, who worked in a business next door and intervened. Fifteen other girls, as young as 5, were at the class but uninjured. Under a court order, none of the surviving girls can be named.
Hayes, who was stabbed and seriously wounded, said he still had flashbacks to the attack and was “hugely upset at the time that I wasn’t able to do more.”
“But I did what I could in the circumstances,” he told Sky News. “I’m grateful to be here, and by all accounts I’ll make a full recovery, at least physically. … I’m going to be OK and others won’t be, and that’s really where I I think the focus of attention should be.”
Police said the stabbings weren’t classified as acts of terrorism because the motive wasn’t known.
Several months after his arrest at the scene of the crime, Rudakubana was charged with additional counts for production of a biological toxin, ricin and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism for having the manual in a document on his computer.
Police said they found the evidence during a search of his family’s home in a neighboring village.
The day after the killings — and shortly after a peaceful vigil for the victims — a violent group attacked a mosque near the crime scene and pelted police officers with bricks and bottles and set fire to police vehicles.
Rioting then spread to dozens of other towns over the next week when groups made up mostly of men mobilized by far-right activists on social media clashed with police during violent protests and attacked hotels housing migrants.
More than 1,200 people were arrested for the disorder and hundreds have been jailed for up to nine years in prison.
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Donald Trump has once more ascended to the office of the President of the United States, doing so as a convicted felon, which has all but emboldened not only his base but also the cronies he’s surrounded himself with. In the past few days and earlier times, we’ve seen stalwarts of the Hip-Hop community pledge allegiance to the incoming regime of Donald Trump, but what exactly does that mean for the Hip-Hop community at large?
Donald Trump has enjoyed an almost surreal connection with Hip-Hop dating back to his days as a flashy New York business magnate with stars of the culture rapping favorably about him in the decades before he became president in 2016. Despite cozying up to the mogul, Trump has demonstrated disdain for Black people as many saw in 1989. At the time, Trump took out a full-page ad in one of New York’s biggest news publications in an attack on the Exonerated Five (formerly the Central Park 5), five teenagers who were wrongly convicted of the sexual assault of jogger Trisha Meili.
It is a shameful display of cowardice and an odd worship of power that only seeks to serve Trump instead of rightly critiquing him for his faults.
As recently as last September, Donald Trump stuck to his guns regarding the Exonerated Five during the presidential debate in September against Vice President Kamala Harris. In the debate, Trump confusingly said, “They admitted, they said they pled guilty and I said, ‘well, if they pled guilty they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately. And they pled guilty, then they pled not guilty.”
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The Exonerated Five never pled guilty nor did anyone die in the case yet the mainstream media, illustrating the tepid coverage of Trump during his presidential campaign, barely covered how often Trump would speak gross mistruths and stumbling statements. While that moment should’ve been the time that the Hip-Hop community broke with Trump, he still managed to maintain support from Rap figures including Waka Flocka, Kodak Black, Azealia Banks, Fivio Foreign, Sheff G, Lil Pump, and others. Naturally, none of these individuals pointed to any actionable policies offered by the incoming Trump administration but praised his wealth and personality and the fact he pardoned several individuals.
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The pardons, as some have come to learn, were thought to come with the perk of unyielding fealty to Trump. Lil Wayne, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry O” Harris, and the aforementioned Kodak Black were all pardoned in Trump’s first term. The politically astute framed these moves for what they seemingly were, a deposit to get long-term support down the road for a second run at the White House.
Ice Cube, who has been mentioned among Black entertainers who have either softened their views of Trump or aligned themselves with him, was early in taking negative shots via his 1990 video for “Who’s The Mack” by superimposing the words “Broke Mack” over Trump’s face near the end of the video. However, Cube later spoke admirably of Trump, stating in 2016 that “he looks like a boss.”
The disappointment of Vice President Kamala Harris’ narrow loss to Trump still hangs over the heads of many and the insult to injury continued up until the eve of the inauguration. Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy reportedly all performed over the weekend at the first-ever “Crypto Ball,” a gathering to celebrate Donald Trump and the cryptocurrency industry.
Unsurprisingly, Trump upped the grift by launching a new crypto token which is a clear sign of the president’s embrace of the industry and signs that he’s playing by new rules. Snoop, who has previously been critical of Trump recently as last year, somewhat addressed his connection with the Crypto Ball via a cryptic social media jab and Soulja Boy flat-out admitted that he was only in it for the money. Nelly was also named as an upcoming performer, along with country star Carrie Underwood, beer specialist Kid Rock, and The Village People, among others.
Make no mistake, the culture has given Ross, Snoop, Soulja, and many of the aforementioned Hip-Hop entertainers more than enough grief but to interpolate the great words of Kendrick Lamar, it doesn’t feel like it’s enough. Yes, there has been visible disappointment in these figures but it hasn’t adequately stopped these occurrences from happening. There seems to be an easy answer to this.
The money, so it seems, is what some in Hip-Hop (and music overall) seem to respect far more than themselves. Forget the broken promises and shady alliances. What of Trump’s comments about Black men and women, or the lack of anything resembling solid policy as it relates to the communities these entertainers hail from? It is a shameful display of cowardice and an odd worship of power that only seeks to serve Trump instead of rightly critiquing him for his faults.
Despite the heaviness some are feeling, there are several ways the Hip-Hop community can weather the storm.
Civic Literacy Is Sorely Needed
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A study published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in February 2024 noted that from a survey of 2,000 registered voters, 70% of Americans would fail a basic civic literacy quiz. The dearth of knowledge around civic participation and how to lessen the gap has been the aim of organizations like the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and the National Civic League. Just this past election cycle, we were inundated with several examples of the common American voter not knowing how the electoral system works, what the three branches of government are, and what functions the chambers of Congress perform.
An educated electorate is an empowered one and it is something that should be urged beyond election cycles and promoted at the state and local level. The political machinations of certain states within the union are consistently at play with little in the way of blueprints to prevent being duped by hopeful politicians. Those of us of a certain age might remember taking civics in school, and those of us with more seasoning on our bones should also recall Schoolhouse Rock! which used music to educate young viewers of the processes of government. If we can return to explaining the nuances of politics with the right amount of flair that appeals to all ages, then we can assume many won’t feel as blindsided as they might now.
Find Your Tribe & Organize
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The Trump administration is most certainly riding a wave with the Republican Party in lockstep and owning all three branches of the federal government. Some might find the task of combating any ill-doings of the Trump White House daunting, which is why an effort to combat the incoming wave of inanity sure to come is necessary.
Groups such as Democracy Forward, headed by Skye Perryman, are part of a growing number of left-leaning organizations that last November launched a multi-organizational coalition titled Democracy 2025 in stark defiance of the Project 2025 that some believe is in play now that Trump is back in power. Other groups such as the Pro-Democracy Campaign work on a multi-state level to help individuals strategize and organize in their respective regions to help shape what they want to see happen on the national level.
No matter how one votes, the criticism of Trump and his administration should be consistently factual and unrelenting in its intensity.
The heaviest lift will be to engage those affected by the policies of the incoming administration regardless of political affiliation because those who pulled the lever for Trump are also woefully unprepared for what’s to come. That said, it is best to start small and gather with those who share your vision of an equitable future where all are treated fairly and equally. This might look like starting small at your local libraries or places of worship, or it might involve those grassroots organizations that could use volunteers to advance the messages you want to be heard.
Message In The Music
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Hip-Hop music and politics aren’t necessarily bedfellows but it would be false to say the two haven’t intersected in the past five decades. During the “Golden Era” of the 1980s, several groups platformed political positions and voiced the concerns of the downtrodden and oppressed. Hip-Hop music, at least on the mainstream level, has largely moved away from that much to the detriment of the eager ears of the youth.
If there was ever a time that Hip-Hop was considered the voice of the people, now would be the time to see that emerge. No, we can’t expect rappers and entertainers to be perfect in their execution of political messaging, nor can we expect a barrage of “FDT” tracks (RIP Nipsey Hussle). Several bold acts on the underground level probably won’t be adding their voices to the flurry of conversations to come but some do speak the will of the people. If those acts are supported and encouraged to continue that line of creativity, perhaps some can provide a measure of hope for the coming generations that democracy can thrive in the face of oligarchs and autocrats.
Sadly, it’s tough to give concrete examples as most underground rappers have only spoken about the conflict in the Gaza region and America’s hand in the matter. Others are addressing the flood of violence that plagues Black communities but in recent times, it is a rarity to hear Hip-Hop acts fully aim the power of the music at dismantling the rise of MAGA and shouting down the divisiveness that only seems to grow by the day.
Yet there were glimmers of hope with Eminem famously taking shots at Trump in his freestyles and songs along with appearing onstage alongside President Barack Obama at a Detroit Rally for Vice President Harris. Adding to the voices of disagreement for Trump were the likes of T.I., Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B. The culture will need many more acts to take a similarly bold stance and show up beyond election cycle celebrity appearances.
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In closing, Hip-Hop and the community overall have an opportunity to change the course of conversations regarding politics, democracy, and the power of the vote. The lines are drawn but this isn’t a time to cower in fear or render ourselves inactive out of frustration. No matter how one votes, the criticism of Donald Trump and his administration should be consistently factual and unrelenting in its intensity. It is the only way we’ll be heard and digging deep into our reserve could inspire the next generation to stand up against any regime that seeks to quell their fire.
As the years roll on, Hip-Hop Wired, along with our Urban One family, will continue to add ideas and carefully present solutions because we know Donald Trump will almost certainly give us reasons to speak up. We’ll need each other more than ever.
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Donald Trump will officially become the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20, but there are far better ways to spend your time than watching the convicted felon’s second inauguration. Set to officially start at noon, we have some suggestions, for the sake of your anxiety and stress levels, that will make for a far more enjoyable day than watching the Grifter in Chief reassume power,
For example, it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday, which means plenty of people fortunate enough to be employed might have the day off. That means folk will be home, turning on their TV’s and perhaps noting that all the major networks will be broadcasting the inauguration. While there are those curious, and pro-MAGA, readily tuning in to see who continues to kiss the ring and hear newscasters ultimately sane wash convicted felon Trump, millions of folk ain’t trying to hear or see all that.
Here’s a list of activities to keep you busy while next wave of lies, gaslighting and corruption kicks off for another four years. Just saying.
1. Get more more familiar with the late, great Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. represents the best of what humanity has to offer, and the Civil Rights leader was instrumental in getting the the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But in 2025, many on the far right would dismiss him as “woke,” which is now often a replacement for the n-word on the lips of those who seek a thinly veiled alternative to the slur. Today would be a good time to study up on the full spectrum of Dr. King’s vision, and how close we or have not come to achieving it. Start at the King Center, and go down the rabbit hole.
2. Watch NBA on MLK Day Games
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Speaking of, the NBA on MLK Day schedule of games, with an emphasis on honoring Dr. King’s legacy, has become a proper event over the years. 2025’s lineup features eight games of NBA action including the Wolves vs. Grizzlies at 2:30 pm ET and the Celtics vs. Warriors at 5 pm ET, both on TNT. Kicking off at noon, same as the inauguration (hint, hint) are the Mavs vs. Hornets, if you have NBA TV.
3. Let’s Organize
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Spring cleaning does not have to wait until the Spring. It has been exhaustively reported that decluttering and organizing your home or office space all kinds of mental health benefits to aid any anxiety, stress and generally boost your mood. And you don’t even need to take any drugs to [loses signal.
4. Watch ‘The Twilight Zone’ on streamers
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Watching The Twilight Zone marathon is a staple of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It just hits different at the top of the year considering the series is readily available on Prime Video (Seasons 1 – 5), Pluto and other streaming services. And if the black and white OG version is a little too vanilla—Jordan Peele’s update, which was only a short-lived two seasons, it well worth a binge watch (also on Prime).
5. Log Off
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Contrary to popular believe, the world will not end if you don’t check in your various social media timelines (Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, Spill…you’re off Xitter, right, soon?). Of course, this does not mean, for example, to go AWOL from the job that pays, to fail to feed your children or other such examples of handling your business and responsibilities. But it’s safe bet the world will go on if you simply log off for a spell, trust.
6. Listen to Black women.
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Hey, if Michelle Obama can skip the inauguration, so can you.
Australia’s music industry is mourning the loss of Matthew Capper, the long-serving former managing director of Warner Chappell Australia, who died unexpectedly earlier this month following a surgical procedure.
Capper suffered a ruptured appendix in late December, and could not fight off the infection after the operation, reads a statement from his family.
A stalwart with more than 20 years’ service at Warner Chappell Australia, Capper led the business as managing director from 2010, until his departure in February 2024, part of a company-wide downsizing.
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Dan Rosen, president of Warner Music Australasia, remembers Capper as a top-notch executive, a good sport, and a great person. “He cared deeply about the songwriters he represented,” Rosen writes in a message to staff, The Music Network reports, “and his efforts to protect and celebrate their music made a lasting impact on Warner Chappell and the broader music community in Australia. He was above all else, in every interaction, a gentleman.”
In 2005, Capper became the youngest person ever appointed to the AMCOS board at the age of just 28. Two years later, in 2007, he became the youngest to join the APRA board, at 30. He remained a director on both boards until late February 2024, as well as serving as deputy chair of the AMCOS board from 2020-2024.
Friends, former colleagues and business rivals are paying their respects. “I’m completely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of dear friend and colleague, Matthew Capper. I remember Matthew as an incredibly sincere, principled professional who was passionate about music publishing. He was self-deprecating, always loved a joke and enjoyed spending time with colleagues,” comments Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS.
“He had great regard for the work of APRA AMCOS and was very proud of his long connection to the organization and staff. He will be sorely missed by us all, and our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this very difficult time.”
Jenny Morris, chair of APRA, says Capper’s death is a tough one for the industry. “We have had many losses from the music industry family in the last few years, all of which have been sources of great sadness, but Matt’s death has been a huge shock,” she remarks. “Matt was one of the most decent, wise and funny people and I feel very privileged not only to have known him, but to have had his friendship.”Capper, she continues, “worked with genuine care and a great amount of industry awareness on the APRA board, and on more than a few occasions sent supportive messages at just the right time. He was an empath as well.”
Through his career, Capper was a tireless advocate for the music publishers community. He was voted into the position as chair of the Australasian Music Publishers’ Association (AMPAL) in 2013, almost a decade after joining the trade body’s board, in 2004. Capper also represented AMPAL on the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) board, both as non-executive director and more recently as Treasurer, a position he was especially proud of. His involvement with ICMP extended to chairing its Australasia and Asia Regional Group.
“I was lucky to spend a lot of time with Matthew on the AMPAL, AMCOS and APRA boards, often travelling to Sydney together from Melbourne for meetings,” remembers Jaime Gough, chair of AMCOS. “Matthew was a true professional, a great mentor and sounding board. He was passionate about the songwriter and publisher members we represent, and a vocal advocate for their rights.”
Gough, managing director of Concord Music Publishing ANZ (formerly Native Tongue), continues, “I am still in a state of shock at Matthew’s passing. He had so much more to give to the music industry, many more meals to cook, and will be sorely missed. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.”
The late executive will not have a funeral, per his wishes.
Capper “reached some dizzying heights, and he met a lot of people that he greatly respected, even after meeting them,” reads the family statement. “We think he was quietly proud of his achievements. We certainly were. We’re also certain he thought he had a lot more work to do. Hopefully others have been inspired by him and can continue that.”
Just weeks after Scorpions drummer Mikkey Dee detailed his near-death experience following a sepsis diagnosis, the band has made the decision to postpone their upcoming Las Vegas residency.
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The residency was originally slated to launch on Feb. 28 and run until March 11 as part of the German band’s 60th anniversary celebration. Performing at PH Live at Planet Hollywood and supported by Buckcherry, the group took to social media late last week to announce their new dates.
“We regret to inform you that due to Mikkey Dee’s ongoing recovery from his recent hospitalization, we have made the decision to postpone our Coming Home to Las Vegas Residency to August 2025,” they wrote. “The health and well-being of our brother is of the utmost importance. We wish Mikkey a full and speedy recovery and look forward to rocking with you all again soon!”
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The new dates will see the Scorpions performing in Las Vegas from Aug. 14 – 23, with all previous tickets honored for the new dates. The group are still scheduled to return to the stage in March, with a Mexico City show set for March 15.
Dee first detailed his health issues in early January, revealing he had been hospitalized following a “very serious” blood infection. He later expanded upon the health scare in an interview with Swedish publication Aftonbladet, explaining that what began as a simple sprain quickly evolved into something far worse on the weekend before Christmas.
“The ankle swelled up like hell, then it took on a weird shape and appearance and looked like an overcooked ham,” Dee said. “I became very ill so I had to go by ambulance to Sahlgrenska and there they found that I had sky-high values, so I became priority one there.
“It was surgery right away, the first of three. They cut away what was dead and infected and badly infested. It was not a good journey I was on… Another day and I’d be playing drums with Lemmy in heaven. I can say that.”
Somewhat coincidentally, his near-death experience took place almost nine years to the day since his Motörhead bandmate Lemmy Kilmister passed away, on Dec. 28, 2015.
Dee has performed with Scorpions since early 2016, joining the band in the wake of Motörhead’s untimely dissolution in late 2016. To date, Dee has only played on one of the band’s albums, providing percussion for their 19th album, 2022’s Rock Believer.
Matty Healy and Taylor Swift‘s musical story still has pages to come, according to a report by U.K. tabloid The Sun. The 1975‘s next album, possibly titled God Has Entered My Body and maybe with a track of the same name, has lyrics that an unnamed “insider” believes to be about the pair’s public romance in 2023.
Just one alleged line was published in the report Saturday night (Jan. 18): “Keep your head up, princess, your tiara is falling.”
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The Sun quotes its source as saying “everyone at the studio,” presumably during a 1975 recording session, thought “God Has Entered My Body” addresses Healy and Swift’s relationship and how it fared amid fame. The purported insider tells the publication, “Matty will never publicly comment on his relationships, but he lets his deepest feelings out in his songs and gets everything off his chest.”
Healy is not doing press at this time and is not currently active on social media, but he does have a verified account on Reddit from which he occasionally interacts with fans of The 1975.
In a discussion on The 1975 subreddit on Sunday showing an article that cites The Sun‘s initial report, Healy chimed in among the murmurs about his supposedly Swift-inspired song.
“Huge if true,” wrote Healy.
As fans point out, The 1975 frontman captioned an unarchived Instagram post from 2021 with “Keep your head up, princess, your tiara is falling.” It’s one of only four posts presently on his Instagram grid. Another studio snapshot from 2024 has the caption “GHEMB,” an acronym for “God Has Entered My Body” that Healy’s used before.
In November, Healy shared what looked to be a working track list in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter). While he made a joke there (“This is my ‘names for our children’ folder”), in a Reddit thread he commented, “Nah it’s real tracklist.” Among the song titles listed were “Alone Together,” “Give Us Back Our Present,” “Commercials in a Hotel Room,” “EVERYTHINGAMAZINGNOBODYHAPPY,” “Pepsi-Cola Addict” and “Naked When You Found Her.” “God Has Entered My Body” was not on that particular list.
The 1975’s next full-length release will be their sixth studio album, and the follow-up to 2022’s Being Funny in a Foreign Language, which was co-produced by Jack Antonoff with Healy and bandmate George Daniel. Being Funny debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 albums chart, at No. 7, and reached No. 2 on three others: Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums and Independent Albums.
In 2024, Healy was featured on his friend (and George Daniel’s fiancée) Charli XCX‘s Brat companion album, Brat and It’s Completely Different But Also Still Brat, on the moving song “I Might Say Something Stupid.”
Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department album, for which Healy was an assumed muse, was released in 2024 and finished the year as the most popular album in the U.S., based on music data tracking from Luminate. It earned 6.955 million equivalent album units in 2024 in the U.S. and spent 17 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
A longtime friend to Healy, Swift surprised fans at The 1975’s concert at the O2 Arena in London in January 2023 when she covered the band’s “The City” and debuted her Midnights single “Anti-Hero” live. They’d known each other since at least 2014, when Swift attended The 1975’s concerts in Los Angeles and New York.
Speculation that they were dating in 2023 came in early May that year. Healy was seen smiling and singing along to her hits from the VIP tent at several shows on The Eras Tour — and even unexpectedly took the Eras stage in a skeleton suit to play guitar with friend/opener Phoebe Bridgers.
Healy and Swift were spotted holding hands at a dinner and leaving the studio together in New York that month, which was as close to a “confirmation” of a relationship as they gave. In the middle of a rainstorm at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on May 20, Swift shared with the crowd, “I’ve just never been this happy in my life, in all aspects of my life, ever, and I just want to thank you for being a part of that. It’s not just the tour. I just sort of feel like my life finally feels like it makes sense.” She then said, “So I thought I’d play this song which brings me a lot of happy memories,” and played Midnights track “Question…?” for the first time.
They reportedly split in June 2023.
Healy, who recently said he isn’t interested in making an album about “stuff that was said about me or my casual romantic liaisons,” is now engaged to model Gabbriette Bechtel. Swift is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.