Music

SCOTT HOLIDAY On How RIVAL SONS Treat Royalty Income: ‘We Don’t Split Everything Equally, But We Split Things Very Amicably’

• Rival Sons do not split all royalties equally.
• Scott Holiday says the band’s arrangements are amicable and flexible.
• The group is working on an album expected next year.

Rival Sons guitarist Scott Holiday says the band does not divide all royalty income equally, but its members handle the arrangements amicably. He argues that equal splits may not reflect each person’s contribution, while appropriate credit and a workable agreement matter to how bands share income. Holiday said…

Sprout Pi project aims to add streaming and USB-C to older iPods

• Sprout Pi would add modern features to selected older iPods.
• A version is planned to support Apple Music and Spotify.
• Compatibility, price and release timing remain uncertain.

A London studio’s Sprout Pi project aims to give selected older iPods modern features by replacing their logic boards. It could let owners keep the familiar screen and click wheel while adding Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and music streaming, offering a new way to use devices that Apple discontinued. The…

QUEEN’s BRIAN MAY On Being Vegan: ‘Why Do We Think We’re More Important Than All The Other Animals? There’s No Basis For That’

• Brian May began eating vegan in January 2020.
• He says every animal matters and deserves protection.
• His work includes wildlife rescue, education and lobbying.

Queen guitarist Brian May said his commitment to veganism grew from a belief that every animal matters and that humans have no special claim to exploit other species. In an interview, he linked veganism to reducing animal suffering and living in greater harmony with the planet and its…

Pelicot trial play heads to London as Godzilla Minus Zero wins Hollywood acclaim

A documentary play about Gisèle Pelicot’s trial will be staged at County Hall, with a full livestream. Godzilla Minus Zero drew sustained applause at its premiere, while Ray Gunn explores corporate control of art and AI pressures.

3 Classic Rock Songs That Remind 60s Teens of Being Young

• Three hits evoke different sides of 1960s teenage culture.
• The Beach Boys reached No. 1 in the US with “I Get Around”.
• The Outsiders scored a transatlantic hit in 1966.

Three 1960s rock hits captured different sides of teenage life: The Who’s rebellious “My Generation”, The Beach Boys’ sunny “I Get Around” and The Outsiders’ garage-rock “Time Won’t Let Me”. Their chart success shows how the decade’s young listeners helped make emerging rock styles part of popular culture.…

Who played the mellotron on David Bowie’s 1973 masterpiece ‘Life on Mars?’

• Rick Wakeman played mellotron on “Life on Mars?”
• He had first worked with Bowie on “Space Oddity”.
• The single peaked at number three in the UK.

Rick Wakeman played the mellotron on David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?”, helping create the song’s distinctive, otherworldly sound. The account highlights their long-running musical connection and Wakeman’s role in shaping a track that became one of Bowie’s best-known works. Wakeman first worked with Bowie on “Space Oddity” in…

5 Spotify settings you’ll wish you changed sooner

• Spotify’s settings can improve listening and privacy.
• Volume normalisation evens out track volume but may reduce quality.
• Most of the featured options require Premium.

Spotify’s default settings can affect sound quality, recommendations and privacy, but users may miss them because the app directs attention towards suggested music and podcasts. The article highlights five settings that can help listeners adjust their experience, though most require a Premium subscription. One setting discussed is volume…

Luke Bryan Sent Him Packing on ‘American Idol’—Years Later, He Delivered the News Every Country Singer Dreams Of

• Bryan eliminated King from “American Idol” in 2020.
• King kept gigging and later toured with Bryan.
• Bryan announced King’s invitation to debut at the Grand Ole Opry.

Luke Bryan sent Zach John King home from “American Idol” during Hollywood Week in 2020, but encouraged him to keep gigging. Years later, the two are touring together, and Bryan announced that the Grand Ole Opry had invited King to make his debut there. King said on “The…

In 1981, Phil Collins wanted his favourite singer on his first record. The phone never rang

• David Crosby did not contribute to Phil Collins’s 1981 debut.
• Collins wanted Crosby to add unusual harmonies.
• They later worked together on *But Seriously*.

Phil Collins wanted David Crosby, one of his favourite singers, to contribute harmonies to his 1981 debut solo album, *Face Value*. Collins later recalled that Crosby was often out on his boat and felt he was not in a good place at the time, so the hoped-for collaboration…

Born 86 Years Ago Today in New Mexico, the Green Beret Who Scored a No. 1 Hit With a Patriotic Anthem That Outsold the Beatles

• Barry Sadler’s anthem spent five weeks at number one.
• “The Ballad of the Green Berets” sold over nine million copies.
• Sadler later left music for acting and pulp-fiction writing.

Barry Sadler, born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on 1 November 1940, became famous after writing and recording “The Ballad of the Green Berets”. The song offered a positive portrayal of US Special Forces during the Vietnam War, reached number one in the US and became one of the…