Rock
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As he gears up to release his new album Austin Friday (July 28), Post Malone wants to set the record straight. In his Wednesday (July 26) interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, the 28-year-old singer-rapper opened up about his drug and alcohol usage, emphasizing that — while he may have gone a little wild in the earlier days of his career — it’s definitely not what it used to be.
“I mean, first off, I shouldn’t have to really justify anything to anyone, but I appreciate the concerns,” he began, sitting casually on a couch with Lowe. “But then the rumor starts that I’m doing hard drugs, which I’ve never done in my entire life.”
“Yeah, I take shrooms … I like shrooms,” explained the musician, confirming he made his last album, Twelve Carat Toothache, while taking the psychedelics. “I like shrooms. Not as much as I used to. It’s really affected my short-term memory. … Maybe it was just a stint of habitual overuse. Daily.”
“But now I take a little bar of chocolate with my buddies, a little square chocolate and just laugh and laugh and laugh,” he added. “It’s interesting because it’s improved. It has improved my view on things. Making the last record, I was so, so, so … Well, writing it, I was so, so sad. But now I’m so happy and it’s definitely improved my viewpoint on life.”
The “White Iverson” artist also gave an update on his current relationship to alcohol, which he noted is “very much” a weakness for him. “It’s very frustrating,” Post admitted. “I have a very hard time expressing myself via recording if I’m not a little f–ked up. It’s a good spot now because if I’m not recording or I’m not talking to people or if I’m not doing shows, I really do drink just to have fun. It’s having a beer with my dad or with my bud.”
Posty also acknowledged that family life with his fiancée, with whom he welcomed a daughter last year, has helped to keep him grounded. “I really love hanging out with my baby, hanging out with the lady, playing video games, and in my garage working on projects,” he told Lowe. “That’s what I love to do. And so it hasn’t been that hard, but there’s times to where you have … It’s that one drink that sets you over.”
The interview comes just a couple months after the “Circles” singer took to Instagram to deny he was using drugs, which fans speculated was the reason behind his recent weight loss. “I’m having a lot of fun performing, and have never felt healthier,” he said at the time. “i guess dad life kicked in and i decided to kick soda, and start eating better so i can be around for a long time for this little angel.”
“The difference is I don’t rage in social settings,” Post told Lowe. “It’s usually me and a buddy. And we just stay up super late until the sunrise and we’re just drinking and sitting out on the car and just hanging out listening to music. I used to go nuts, and this is significantly better. There used to be a time, especially at the beginning of our relationship, that I would just disappear and just go for a week. And I was like, oh man, that’s so sh–ty.”
Watch Post Malone’s interview with Zane Lowe above.
Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” soars in at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Alternative Songs chart dated July 29 following its first full week of streaming, sales and airplay. In the July 14-20 tracking week, “What Was I Made For?” earned 11.4 million official U.S. streams and 699,000 radio audience impressions and sold […]
A week after political punk band Anti-Flag disbanded with no explanation, the group’s singer, Justin Sane (born Justin Geever), posted a lengthy message to Instagram explaining the reasoning behind their split. Geever acknowledged in the note that he has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman, an allegation he vehemently denies.
“Recently, there have been claims of sexual assault made against me and I can tell you that these stories are categorically false,” he wrote of the anonymous allegations that Billboard has not independently verified. “I have never engaged in a sexual relationship that was not consensual, nor have I ever been approached by a woman after a sexual encounter and been told I had in any way acted without her consent or violated her in any way.”
After taking several days to “absorb the initial shock,” Geever said he decided to confront the claims; the other members of Anti-Flag posted their own statement on Geever’s Instagram as well, less than a week after the band deleted their official website and all their social media accounts with no explanation.
“Sexual assault is real and has a devasting impact on victims,” Geever continued. “I have devoted my entire adult life to standing up for these victims as well as those suffering oppression and inequality, who are victimized, demeaned, and abused. I have always been, and will always be, that person. The statements being told about me are the antithesis of what I believe and how I have conducted myself throughout my life.”
As for the band’s surprise split, Geever said they decided that under the circumstances “it would be impossible to continue,” thanking his friends, family and the fans, musicians and other bands who’ve reached out to him with support.
According to Pitchfork, some publications linked the band’s breakup last week to a podcast in which a woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by the singer of a political punk band; reportedly, neither Geever nor Anti-Flag were directly mentioned.
The second statement, attributed to members drummer Pat Thetic, guitarist Chris Head and bassist Chris “No. 2” Barker, noted that throughout the Pittsburgh-bred band’s 30-plus year career, “A core tenet of the band Anti-Flag is to listen to and believe all survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The recent allegations about Justin are in direct contradiction to that tenet. Therefore, we felt the only immediate option was to disband.”
The trio said that they have been “shocked, confused, saddened and absolutely heartbroken” from the moment the allegations emerged. “While we believe this is extremely serious, in the last 30 years we have never seen Justin be violent or aggressive toward women. This experience has shaken us to our core,” they wrote.
“We understand and apologize that this response may not have been quick enough for some people. This is new territory for all of us and it is taking time for us to process the situation,” they said. “It was a privilege for us to be in the band Anti-Flag, as we seek to find our path forward we wish healing to all survivors.”
Anti-Flag was set to kick off a now-canceled North American tour alongside The Bouncing Souls later this year; the band was in the midst of a European tour when the news of their disbandment broke.
Read Geever and the band’s statements below.
Stories about sexual assault allegations can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information.
07/26/2023
The finest songs with which to remember one of the most unique artists and careers in pop or rock history.
07/26/2023
Birthday wishes are in order for Mick Jagger! On Wednesday (July 26), The Rolling Stones frontman celebrated his 80th birthday, which came with an influx of celebratory messages from friends, family and band members. To celebrate the rock icon, Billboard is recapping all of the songs Jagger landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart — without his band. Explore […]
Jack White is putting some of his classic White Stripes and Raconteurs gear up for auction for a very good cause. White’s Third Man label has teamed up with Cincinnati-based re-seller Everything But the House for a “Third Man Garage Sale” auction of memorabilia from his personal and his label’s collection, with a portion of […]
Paramore postponed another trio of dates due to what the band has described as an “illness within the touring party.” The move came after the Hayley Williams-fronted band canceled a show in San Francisco on Saturday night at the Chase Center due to illness just hours before the show was slated to take place. That […]
The 1975 are canceling shows in Indonesia and Taiwan after the band’s set was cut at a Malaysia music festival following frontman Matty Healy‘s comments about the country’s anti-gay laws and kissing his bandmate on stage.
The British pop-rock group was scheduled to perform at Jakarta’s We the Fest on Sunday (July 23) and at the Taipei Music Center on Tuesday (July 25) as part of their 2023 Asia tour. The band announced in a statement on Sunday that both performances have been called off.
“The 1975 regret to announce that their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei will no longer be going ahead as planned,” the 1975 wrote in a statement posted on We the Fest’s Twitter page.
“The band never takes the decision to cancel a show lightly and had been eagerly looking forward to playing for fans in Jakarta and Taipei but unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows.”
The cancellations come after Healy slammed Malaysia’s LGBTQ laws as “f–king ridiculous” before sharing a prolonged kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald at the country’s Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (July 21). The following day, event organizer Future Sounds Asia announced that the remainder of the three-day fest had been canceled.
Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia, and those convicted face up to 20 years behind bars.
The 1975’s Good Vibes set was cut short after Healy, who has long been outspoken about LGBTQ rights, ranted about Malaysia’s restrictive laws banning homosexuality.
“Because you are young people, and I’m sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool,” he told the crowd in video circulating on social media, noting that he had pulled the show Thursday in protest before deciding not to let fans down. “But, I’ve done this before. I’ve gone to a country where it’s — I don’t know what it f–king is. Ridiculous. F–king ridiculous to tell people what they can do with that and that. If you want to invite me here to do a show, you can f–k off. I’ll take your money, you can ban me, but I’ve done this before and it doesn’t feel good, and I’m f–ked off.”
The set ended early shortly after Healy kissed MacDonald, with the frontman telling festival-goers, “All right, we just got banned from Kuala Lumpur. See you later.”
See the 1975’s Asian tour cancellation announcement below via We the Fest’s Twitter page.
The 1975 regret to announce that their forthcoming shows in Jakarta and Taipei will no longer be going ahead as planned.Please see the official statement from the band. pic.twitter.com/XpZskFnyeD— We The Fest (@WeTheFest) July 23, 2023
Just hours before Paramore would be taking the stage Saturday night (July 22), the band canceled a concert at San Francisco’s Chase Center due to illness. The show has already been rescheduled. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Due to sickness within the touring party, we will be […]
New music from Blur doesn’t just sprout from the ground, fall from the air, or materialize without sufficient fanfare.
The British pop-rock band was a standout of the ‘90s Britpop era, an act with charm, hits, a loveable line-up, and, as it turns out, longevity and a knack for reinvention.
While many of their contemporaries are frozen in time, Blur remains relevant.
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The original combination of Damon Albarn (vocals/keyboard), Graham Coxon (vocals/guitar), Alex James (bass) and Dave Rowntree (drums) returns for The Ballad Of Darren (via Parlophone), Blur’s ninth studio album and first in eight years.
Arriving at the stroke of midnight, The Ballad Of Darren was produced by James Ford, and recorded at Studio 13 in London and Devon, England in spring of this year.
Comprising 10 tracks, including the first release “The Narcissist,” which earned the lads their first Airplay Chart top 10 since 1997, plus followup “St. Charles Square,” The Ballad of Darren is the result of a fortuitous gathering of the bandmembers at Albarn’s West London studio just six months ago.
Since then, the foursome has shaken off the rust with several triumphant performances, including headline slots at Wembley Stadium on July 8 and 9. Both dates were sellouts.
More shows will follow.
Blur will embark on a run of Continental European festival dates, starting Saturday (July 22) at Italy’s Lucca Summer Festival, followed by spots at Japan’s Summer Sonic fest and additional dates in Central and South America. Fans everywhere can log into a “Live from London” presentation on July 25, for what is said to be the first ever performance of the new LP.
The Ballad of Darren follows the release of The Magic Whip in 2015, which hit No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, one of the band’s six leaders. Albarn and Co. have landed 13 U.K. top 10 singles, including No. 1s with “Country House” (1995) and “Beetlebum” (1997).
Stream The Ballad of Darren in full below.