Music

Laura Kuenssberg: Healey risks breaking minimum wage promise for younger workers

• Healey leaves timing of minimum wage equalisation uncertain.
• 2026 rates are £11.27 for 18 to 20-year-olds and £13.21 for over-20s.
• He says the government will weigh wages against job prospects.

Chancellor John Healey has indicated that Labour may not equalise minimum wage rates for younger and older workers before the next election, despite its 2024 manifesto pledge to end age-based pay bands. He said the government would proceed “one step at a time” and would weigh the effects…

Remembering When a Rock Veteran Rebranded His Group and Scored His First No. 1 Hit in Over a Decade in 1976

• Manfred Mann’s Earth Band hit No. 1 in the US in 1976.
• “Blinded By The Light” was originally written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen.
• The cover’s misheard lyric did not derail its chart success.

In 1976, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band reached No. 1 in the United States with its cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Blinded By The Light”. The hit marked the first time in more than a decade that one of Mann’s groups had topped the American chart, showing how a change…

The one person John Waters believes “was punk before there was such a thing”

• John Waters sees Divine as punk before the music scene emerged.
• Divine’s performances challenged conventions around drag and gender.
• *Pink Flamingos* pushed boundaries in 1972.

John Waters argues that Divine was punk before punk became a recognised music subculture, because he challenged social conventions through an outrageous approach to drag. The claim highlights punk as an ethos of rebellion and boundary-breaking, rather than a style defined by clothing or music. Divine, born Harris…

Moore makes Breeders’ Cup history as Choose Love receives Traitors prize

Ryan Moore wins the Turf for a record sixth time; Choose Love is to receive half of Sebastian Croft and Romesh Ranganathan’s £83,000 Celebrity Traitors prize. Also: Andy Weir’s Audible thriller and Jack Reacher’s Tubi debut.

Born 69 Years Ago Today in Houston, the Four-Time Grammy Winner Who Broke Country Music’s Rules by Blending Jazz, Blues, and Western Swing

• Lyle Lovett turns 69 on 1 November.
• His debut album came out in 1986.
• He has won four Grammy Awards.

Lyle Lovett, born in Houston on 1 November 1957, built a distinctive career by bringing jazz, blues and Western swing influences into country music. Since his 1986 debut, he has released 12 studio albums and won four Grammy Awards, earning a broad following despite limited chart success. Lovett…

4 Unforgettable Hard Rock Hits From 1969 That Take Baby Boomers Back in Time

• Four hard rock songs capture 1969’s sound.
• “Whole Lotta Love” peaked at No. 4 in the US.
• Pink Floyd’s “The Nile Song” made little chart impact.

In 1969, hard rock had become a mainstream sound, and four songs from the era are presented as enduring favourites for baby boomers. The selections show the range of the music, from blues-influenced rock to psychedelic sounds and early heavy metal. Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” reached No.…

The five best songs produced by Jim Steinman

• Steinman brought theatrical scale to rock and pop production.
• He produced Meat Loaf’s 1993 Bat Out of Hell sequel.
• Boyzone’s “No Matter What” began as a musical song.

The article looks at five songs produced by Jim Steinman, whose theatrical approach helped turn rock and pop recordings into dramatic, story-led productions. It traces that style back to his 1969 college musical The Dream Engine, a futuristic reworking of Peter Pan, and explains how its themes and…

Deep Purple postpone shows after Ian Gillan hospitalised following “medical emergency”

• Ian Gillan was hospitalised after a medical emergency.
• Deep Purple postponed shows in Leipzig and Hamburg.
• Existing tickets will be valid for rescheduled dates.

Deep Purple have postponed two German concerts after 81-year-old singer Ian Gillan was hospitalised following a medical emergency. The short-notice cancellations affect the Leipzig show scheduled for 31 October and the Hamburg performance due on 1 November. The band said it was arranging replacement dates and that existing…

Here’s how your favourite musicians and actors dressed up for Halloween 2026

• Lizzo and Rita Ora paid tribute to Dolly Parton.
• Harry Styles revisited his X Factor audition at Madison Square Garden.
• Heidi Klum’s costume was a giant model of her own hand.

Musicians and actors marked Halloween 2026 with costumes ranging from celebrity tributes to elaborate original creations. Lizzo and Rita Ora both dressed as Dolly Parton, who the article says died in August aged 80; Lizzo also recalled Parton’s support during a difficult time in her career. Harry Styles…