Rock
Page: 88
Ed Sheeran can’t get enough of The Darkness. The British glam rockers hosted a surprise pop-in from the “Eyes Closed” singer on Saturday (Dec. 9) during their set at London’s Roundhouse, where Sheeran played an unannounced six-song warm-up set, which, (according to setlist.fm) featuring Sheeran playing such hits as “Shivers,” “Thinking Out Loud,” “Bad Habits” […]
Last week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues, and promoters of 2023. That coverage included analysis of the new wave of genre diverse artists crashing stadium stages, and in turn, our charts. This week, we are breaking down the year’s biggest tours, genre by genre. Today, we continue with rock. […]
The lineup for the Hollywood portion of the 2024 Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest was revealed on Thursday night (Dec. 7), and it is jam-packed with pop, hip-hop, R&B and rock stars. The list includes Green Day, Janelle Monae, Ludacris and Reneé Rapp, as well as “Barbie” band Aqua, Bebe Rexha, […]
For years, Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan sketched out his funeral plans to his friend, Philip “Philly” Ryan of Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. “He kept it simple. He wanted it the same as his mother’s,” says Ryan, owner of the 152-year-old family business JJ Ryan Undertaker in Nenagh, where MacGowan’s late mother, Therese, grew up. “A private few prayers and a rosary. A public mass and a private cremation.”
The beloved singer-songwriter, who pioneered a punk approach to Irish music anddied last Thursday at 65, perhaps didn’t anticipate the crowds — Ryan predicts 5,000 to 10,000 mourners for MacGowan’s funeral mass Friday afternoon at St. Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, population 8,000, after a procession with a horse-drawn carriage near MacGowan’s home in the Dublin area. After the mass, a second funeral procession will travel through Nenagh. “The whole town will stop for a few hours while it’s happening,” says Michael O’Connor, the town and county’s director of roads, transportation, active travel, health and safety, adding that Nenagh will add 1,500 local parking spaces for the occasion. “We’ll have his more famous songs played on the public-address system. We’re delighted that he’s coming home.”
“It’s a big effort down here,” Ryan says by phone from Phil Ryan’s Pub, across the street from the undertaker, where he reminisced about his friend’s Nenagh presence and discussed how the town is preparing for the influx of mourners and fans.
What have the logistics been like for the funeral mass?
The local council, the police, they’re all working together on it. It should pack up nicely. We’re going to bring it up to the Barracks Street end of Nenagh, turning up Pearse Street and onto Church Road. It’s kind of the long way around, so less people to line the routes. Nenagh’s a big enough church for a huge crowd. We’re going to put some amplification outside for the overflow so they can all hear the mass. We’re all going to do our best.
What’s the most attendance you’ve had at a funeral in Nenagh?
Funerals down here are big. Two thousand, regularly. Anything of that size, no. It’s massive.
Have you had to hire more employees for the occasion?
Absolutely. We have security, extra staff on the hearse and my funeral home. I don’t foresee any problems, because, whatever we do, we do funerals very well. It’s a great tradition and we want to give him a good send-off.
Shane MacGowan, vocals, performs with the Pogues on December 4, 1990 at Vredenburg in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Frans Schellekens/Redferns
What was your friendship like with MacGowan?
Shane didn’t have that many friends, but I was lucky enough to be one of his close circle. I own the pub as well. The funeral parlor is across from the pub. That was his favorite pub in the country. He was a shy guy behind it all and he loved to come in and just while the time away with the locals. Some stories and laughing. He’d never get up and sing and take over the place. He would never do that.
When was the last time you saw him?
Two weeks ago tomorrow. He was released from the hospital on a Tuesday. A lot of fanfare to him was going home for Christmas. Myself and Brendan Fitzpatrick, his driver for 20 years, went to see him in his apartment. You know what, we knew he was in big trouble. The poor man. We spent a couple of hours with him and we left. I normally go up to him on a Wednesday — I just was a little busy last Wednesday and didn’t make it up. I probably would have gone up on Thursday, but he died on Thursday.
His behavior at Pogues concerts suggested he was a big, boisterous personality. Was that true in your friendship?
No. No. He was anything but boisterous. That was a persona onstage, with that roar of his. Shane was a very, very quiet and gentle person and very kind. Very conscientious. Look, I suppose we all have our moments when we’re on a bender, but I can tell you he was a gentleman.
Did he discuss what he wanted for his service with you before his passing?
Yeah, he did. Black Sabbath played in Dublin in 2017. That night, we went to a party in Dublin. He was in great form. Same night, he called me and told me what he wanted. We met Nick Cave another night. All night, he was telling Nick, “This is Philly. This is me undertaker!” He was saying, “Shane, I know. You said it already.” It was a running joke.
I imagine the pub will do well this weekend.
Oh, jeez, it’s humming all week. We’re going to convert the lounge into the Shane MacGowan Lounge. We’re going to do something memorable for him.
On Dec. 9, 2003, Hoobastank followed up their breakthrough self-titled debut with what would end up becoming the biggest album of their careers. The Reason peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, and when its title track was chosen as its second single, the yearning alt-rock sing-along became a smash hit, reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100 and scoring Hoobastank a pair of Grammy noms.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Next week, the veteran band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Reason by performing the album in its entirely during an intimate show at The Echo in Los Angeles on Monday (Dec. 11). The album is also receiving a special edition vinyl reason, with new album artwork and a previously unreleased cover of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” included.
[embedded content]
Prior to the band celebrating the milestone, Hoobastank guitarist Dan Estrin answered 20 questions about his upbringing, The Reason turning 20, and the band’s plans for next year.
What’s the first piece of music that you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?
Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction. On vinyl. With the original album artwork. Yes I still have it!
What was the first concert you saw?
Lollapalooza, 1992. Irvine Meadows. Irvine CA.
What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid?
My dad had his own business supplying/selling clothing to stores, and my mom worked at a film company.
Who made you realize you could be an artist full-time?
I don’t remember it being someone specific. I just blindly went for it. And I think I came to the realization on my own. My parents were always extremely supportive though.
What’s at the top of your professional bucket list?
We have played so many amazing venues in our career. But we’ve never played Madison Square Garden. One of these days! We’ve also never won a Grammy. Nominated for three. But lost.
How did your hometown/city shape who you are?
These are the things that were always around us. The stuff that we grew up doing, things we were exposed to, which had to have shaped who we are. Skateboarding, riding BMX, snowboarding, motocross, going to the beach, swimming, hiking, baseball, basketball, listening to and playing music. Going to local shows. Hanging with family.
What’s the last song you listened to?
Fleetwood Mac, “The Chain.”
If you could see any artist in concert, dead or alive, who would it be?
The Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Pink Floyd.
9. What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen happen in the crowd of one of your sets?
Recently, we were outside onstage looking out at a sea of people. And way out in the distance was the most amazing lightning storm I have ever seen. That… Or a dude, crowd-swimming in his wheelchair. That was pretty awesome!
How has your creative process changed over the years?
It honestly hasn’t changed too much. I still pick up my guitar or bass and randomly put my fingers somewhere. Sometimes I play something that inspires me, and other times I don’t. If I play something I like or I find interesting I quickly record it on my phone leaving myself a note. Then I’ll go work on it at some point later in my studio. What has drastically changed is the technology. I just have so much more access to so many tools that allow me to be creative.
11. The Reason is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. How do you look back on that moment for that band today?
That was by far the most exciting, fulfilling time of my life. I look back and have the fondest and best memories. Creating music with my friends for a living has been an absolute dream come true.
Hoobastank’s self-titled album achieved plenty of success two years before The Reason. What did the band set out to accomplish with its follow-up?
I think we were just riding high at the moment. Everybody in the band felt great after the success of our debut self-titled album. I personally felt extremely confident at that time. Very focused, driven and obsessed with creating and writing songs. We never got together as a band to discuss what we wanted to accomplish with its follow-up. We didn’t really have to. It was somewhat unspoken and obvious where our heads were at.
[embedded content]
“Out of Control,” not “The Reason,” was the album’s lead single. Why was that the right decision for you guys?
As long as we have been a band, we have always written and played different styles of songs, whether the song was heavy rock or a slower ballad. But the majority of our songs leaned towards being rock or heavy rock. So we always wanted to lead with a song that we felt represented us best. “Out of Control” was that song for us. We knew we were going to get to “The Reason” at some point, but we were very adamant about leading with a rock song.
“The Reason” reached No. 2 on the Hot 100. How surprised were you that the song became one of your defining hits?
I think we were surprised at how massive it became, and still is. But we also knew the record company loved the song and was going to do everything they could to get it out there.
“The Reason” is a perennial karaoke and cover-song favorite. Do you have a favorite version of the song that’s not your own?
Every single day, we get tagged in videos of people covering it. It’s pretty amazing. All different styles, from funk versions to Steve Aoki doing a remix at Tomorrowland. We’ve seen a country version, a group of dads that sing and harmonize together, punk rock versions, heavy metal versions, people playing it on drums, guitar, bass and piano. Different vocal performances and Latin versions. And so on. It’s insane! My favorite karaoke videos are when it gets to the bridge where the lyrics belt out “and the reason is youuuu.“ Watching and hearing the entire bar sing It together is always awesome!
What’s one thing your most devoted fans don’t know about Hoobastank?
I honestly have no idea what our fans don’t know. If they are hardcore devoted fans, then they probably know everything. We are pretty transparent. So if they don’t know something, chances are it’s intentional and this is the last place I would say it!
What’s your karaoke go-to?
I don’t karaoke. I actually never have. I go up onstage and play music with my best friends! No disrespect to all you karaoker’s. I’ve seen some pretty badass performances. I just need my guitar as my security blanket.
What movie, or song, always makes you cry?
“Dust In The Wind” by Kansas. There is so much emotion in the melodies, music and lyrics. the middle section violin solo gets me every time. The George Michael cover of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with Elton John is another one.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
Chill the f*ck out! Sometimes I wonder what’s the one piece of advice my younger self could give/remind my current older self.
What can Hoobastank fans look forward to in 2024 and beyond?
Hopefully some new music. We have been sending ideas back and forth to each other. Getting together to try working new song ideas out. We will also be out on the road off and on all year, celebrating The Reason 20-year anniversary.
Iron Maiden‘s first show scheduled in Bogota, Colombia, in 13 years drove fans to snatch up 42,000 tickets in 21 minutes to sell out El Campín Stadium 11 months before the Nov. 24, 2024, date. It is the first show in Colombia to sell out so far in advance, according to promoter Move Concerts.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“We all expected strong sales given the long wait since they last performed here, which was on March 20, 2011, but never in our wildest dreams did we think it would blow out in 21 minutes and smash sales records,” Alfredo Villaveces, Managing Director of Move Concerts Colombia, said in a press release. “And if we factor in the fact we went up so far ahead of the show date – something no other artist had done here – it is truly amazing.”
According to the press release, the time span clocked for tickets sold broke the sales velocity records of all previous international acts who have performed in the past in Colombia, including The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Madonna, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd.
But compared to all performing artists, including Latin American, Iron Maiden’s sellout pace was exceeded by Colombian superstar Karol G, who recently performed two sellout stadium shows in her hometown of Medellín as part of her Mañana Será Bonito Tour.
Formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975, the English heavy metal band is known for classics such as “The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “The Number of the Beast.” On the Billboard charts, the band has had four top 10 albums on the Billboard 200.
Iron Maiden’s 2024 Future Past World Tour will also include two shows in Chile, at the 60,000-seat Estadio Nacional in Santiago, on Nov. 27 and 28, 2024. Tickets for those dates are on sale now and, according to Move Concerts, more than 95,000 have been sold so far.
Find more info on the tour below:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers got a lump of coal in their stocking this week. The band announced on Tuesday (Dec. 5) that they’ve been forced to drop off the lineup for the 2023 KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas show due to a medical issue. “It is with deep regret that we will not be able […]
Following the news of rock legend Denny Laine’s death, his former bandmate Paul McCartney took to Instagram to mourn the loss. “I have many fond memories of my time with Denny: from the early days when The Beatles toured with the Moody Blues,” he wrote alongside a throwback picture of Laine. “Our two bands had […]
Limp Bizkit is hitting the road!
The band announced their 2024 Loserville tour on Tuesday (Dec. 5), and the 24-date run will feature a slew of special guests including Bones with Eddy Baker & Zavier Wulf, N8NOFACE and Corey Feldman. Additionally, Riff Raff will host and MC each night of the tour. “Come lose with us,” the nu metal band captioned an Instagram post announcing the tour.
The tour will kick off on July 16 in Somerset, Wis., before making stops in cities including Toronto, Tampa, Houston, Phoenix and Salt Lake City before wrapping up in San Bernardino, Calif., on Aug. 24.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Tickets for the presale will be available to purchase here at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday (Dec. 7), before general sale begins on Friday (Dec. 8) at 10 a.m. local time.
See the full list of Limp Bizkit’s 2024 Loserville tour dates below.
Tue Jul 16 – Somerset, WI – Somerset AmphitheaterThu Jul 18 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STLSat Jul 20 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 AmphitheatreSun Jul 21 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music CenterTue Jul 23 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music TheatreWed Jul 24 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser StageFri Jul 26 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the ArtsSun Jul 28 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube LiveTue Jul 30 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts CenterWed Jul 31 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity CenterFri Aug 02 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music PavilionSun Aug 04 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank AmphitheatreTue Aug 06 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial AmphitheatreWed Aug 07 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union AmphitheatreFri Aug 09 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain AmphitheatreSun Aug 11 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by HuntsmanTue Aug 13 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis PavilionThu Aug 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta AmphitheaterFri Aug 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort AmphitheatreSun Aug 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA AmphitheatreTue Aug 20 – Auburn, WA – White River AmphitheatreWed Aug 21 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts AmphitheaterFri Aug 23 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at ConcordThu Aug 24 – San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater
Less than three months after Denny Laine’s wife, Elizabeth Hines, started a GoFundMe to help with his “critical” health issues following a serious bout of COVID-19 followed by a bacterial infection, Hines has shared that the rock legend – who co-founded The Moody Blues and Wings alongside Paul and Linda McCartney — died on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
“My darling husband passed away peacefully early this morning,” Hines wrote on Laine’s Facebook page on Dec. 5. “I was at his bedside, holding his hand as I played his favorite Christmas songs for him. He’s been singing Christmas songs the past few weeks and I continued to play Christmas songs while he’s been in ICU on a ventilator this past week. He and I both believed he would overcome his health setbacks and return to the rehabilitation center and eventually home. Unfortunately, his lung disease, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), is unpredictable and aggressive; each infection weakened and damaged his lungs. He fought everyday. He was so strong and brave, never complained. All he wanted was to be home with me and his pet kitty, Charley, playing his gypsy guitar. Denny was so very thankful to all of you who sent him so much love, support and the many kind words during these past few months of his health crisis-it brought him to tears. I thank you all for sending both of us love and support.”
The English musician, born Oct. 29, 1944, took up guitar in his youth, inspired by jazz guitar great Django Reinhardt. After a stint in a band called The Diplomats, he became a co-founder of the legendary British rock outfit The Moody Blues in 1964 alongside singer Mike Pinder. Laine lent a lilting lead vocal performance to the group’s first hit, a smash cover of “Go Now,” which topped the U.K. singles chart and reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Laine’s tenure with the group was brief – following 1965’s The Magnificent Moodies, he left the band, which would go on to help pioneer prog-rock with its second album, Days of Future Passed. (His membership in the Moody Blues ensured his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.)
Following the Moody Blues, Laine formed the Electric String Band, released a couple solo singles and played alongside Cream skinsman Ginger Baker in Ginger Baker’s Air Force. But an unexpected phone call from an old friend returned Laine to the top in 1971. Paul McCartney, whom Laine had known since the early ‘60s, rang him up and invited Laine to join a new band the former Beatle was forming alongside his wife, Linda McCartney. For the next decade, Laine and the McCartneys were the sole constants of the band’s ever-shifting lineup – in fact, it was solely the core trio that crafted what became the band’s most celebrated album, 1973’s Band on the Run.
“In order to move forward, you have to try new things,” Laine told Billboard earlier this year about the tumultuous sessions in Lagos, Nigeria, that birthed the classic LP. “It’s like being a gambler. You gamble with things because it’s more exciting. It’s more appealing. It’s not the normal, everyday 9-to-5 job, it’s more of a ‘Let’s try something new.’”
The title track became one of Wings’ six Hot 100-topping singles, while the album became one of the band’s five Billboard 200-topping albums. The LP also featured his first McCartney co-write on a Wings album with “No Words.” On follow-up album Venus and Mars, and every Wings album thereafter, Laine would contribute lead vocals and writing credits to at least one song.
Wings officially wrapped by the 1980s, but Laine and McCartney stayed in touch, with Laine playing on Macca’s Tug of War (1982) and Pipes of Peace (1983), in addition to co-writing the “Ebony and Ivory” b-side, “Rainclouds.”
McCartney contributed to Laine’s solo efforts released during the tenure of Wings, including the delightfully lo-fi Buddy Holly covers album Holly Days in 1977 and Japanese Tears in 1980. Laine’s final solo effort, The Blue Musician, came out in 2008, though he continued to perform live. Laine had announced tour dates for 2023, but his health issues forced him to cancel them.
Laine is survived by five children, two of whom he shared with late ex-wife Jo Jo Laine, and his widow, Elizabeth Hines.
“It was my absolute honor and privilege to not only be his wife, but to care for him during his illness and vulnerability,” Hines wrote in the Facebook post announcing his death. “Thank you to Dennys surgeons, doctors, specialists, physical therapists and nurses at Naples Hospital for working so hard to help him. Thank you for your compassion and support for me during these past several emotional months. My world will never be the same. Denny was an amazingly wonderful person, so loving and sweet to me. He made my days colorful, fun and full of life-just like him. Thank you sweetie for loving me, for all the laughter, friendship, fun and for asking me to be your wife. I will love you forever Please give Denny’s friends and family the time and privacy needed as we grieve our loss. Much love, Elizabeth Hines.”