Music

Patti Smith Reflects On Meeting Pope Leo XIV: ‘A Moment That Will Forever Produce a Smile’

• Patti Smith met Pope Leo XIV privately at the Vatican on 31 July.
• The 40-minute meeting echoed her 1979 song about a former pope.
• Smith has a long-standing Vatican connection, having also met Pope Francis.

Singer Patti Smith met Pope Leo XIV in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace on 31 July, an encounter she later described on Instagram as "a moment that shall forever produce a smile." The meeting underscores Smith's increasingly close relationship with the Vatican, built through her friendship…

3 Catchy Songs From 1969 Everyone Knew but Nobody Talks About Anymore

An American Songwriter feature revisits three catchy 1969 hits the writer feels have unfairly faded from radio play and public memory, despite each being a chart success in its day. The piece is a nostalgic, opinion-led list rather than hard news, aiming to remind readers of overlooked bubblegum…

3 Songs From the 1970s That Will Instantly Turn You Into a Fan of Disco

• American Songwriter picks three classic 1970s disco tracks.
• Featured artists: Donna Summer, Bee Gees and Chic.
• Songs span 1976 to 1979, disco's peak years.

American Songwriter has published a short feature naming three disco-era tracks that it argues capture the genre's infectious energy and lasting appeal. The piece is a lighthearted celebration of 1970s disco rather than hard news, focusing on why each song remains a dancefloor staple decades after its release.…

67-Year-Old Country Music Great Shares “Disappointing News” After Being Hospitalized

• Radney Foster postpones shows until end of September amid sepsis recovery
• The 67-year-old admits he returned to touring too soon
• He cites low energy and balance issues affecting safe performing

Country music veteran Radney Foster has postponed his upcoming tour dates until the end of September as he continues to recover from sepsis, a serious infection that first led to his hospitalisation in intensive care in early June. The 67-year-old, best known for his work with duo Foster…

Watch Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry perform ‘Hive Mind’ at Brooklyn skatepark

• Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry debuted "Hive Mind" live in Brooklyn
• Surprise free show came ahead of their joint North American tour
• 24-date tour runs 26 September to 8 November, ending in Mexico City

Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry gave the first live performance of their collaborative single "Hive Mind" at a surprise pop-up show in Brooklyn, ahead of their upcoming co-headline North American tour. The Kentucky hardcore band and Florida rapper released the track in February, blending Knocked Loose's metalcore sound…

Lil Uzi Vert’s Lollapalooza Set Canceled Amid “Weather Issues,” Joins Major Lazer

• Lil Uzi Vert's Lollapalooza set cancelled Friday due to heavy rain
• He later joined Major Lazer for a surprise performance instead
• Rain also delayed Saturday's doors and disrupted Zara Larsson's set

Lil Uzi Vert's scheduled Friday performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago was cancelled due to heavy rain, ahead of headliner Charli XCX's set at the long-running festival. Weather disruption also forced the rescheduling of Zara Larsson's set, as organisers cited "weather issues" in an announcement made both on stage…

“Joe stayed up for three days drinking bottle after bottle of brandy, berating everyone around him for their weaknesses, and just really losing it”: Bust-ups, busking and the last days of The Clash

• The Clash fractured after bitter internal divisions.
• Mick Jones was dismissed in 1983.
• The band ended after a troubled final three years.

The article recounts the collapse of The Clash in the mid-1980s, following years of internal conflict and the departure of key members Mick Jones and Topper Headon. It matters because the band, widely regarded as one of Britain’s defining punk groups, ended not with a triumphant finale but…

The exact moment that made Stevie Nicks love Joe Walsh: “He is my soul”

• Stevie Nicks calls Joe Walsh “my soul”.
• Their bond began in the early 1980s.
• Friendship endured beyond their brief romance.

Stevie Nicks has reflected on her long-standing affection for Joe Walsh, describing the Eagles guitarist as “my soul” and recalling the early moment that cemented their bond. The article presents their connection as a deeply personal friendship shaped by mutual musical admiration, rather than focusing solely on any…

BRING ME THE HORIZON’s OLI SYKES: ‘The Only Rule With Our Music Is We Never Write The Same Album Twice’

• Sykes says Bring Me The Horizon never repeats an album.
• ‘Suicide Season’ proved creative risks could pay off.
• He prioritises making music the band genuinely loves.

Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oli Sykes says the band’s guiding principle is never to make the same album twice, describing its shift from deathcore towards alternative rock, pop and electronic-influenced music as a natural creative progression. He argues that following the band’s own excitement rather than attempting…