Music

Remembering When Led Zeppelin Chaotically Recorded a Masterpiece of a Sophomore Album in 1969

• Led Zeppelin recorded their second album while touring in 1969.
• Sessions spanned London, New York and Vancouver.
• *Led Zeppelin II* was released in October 1969.

Led Zeppelin made their second album, *Led Zeppelin II*, amid a demanding schedule of touring and recording in 1969. The band moved between the UK and North America, writing and recording in hotel rooms and studios along the way; despite the rushed process, the album became a hard-rock…

What is the most streamed classic rock song in 2026?

• ‘Every Breath You Take’ has nearly 3.83 billion Spotify streams.
• The Police song averages about two million plays daily.
• Its lyrics about surveillance have fresh resonance in the digital age.

The Police’s 1983 song ‘Every Breath You Take’ is described as Spotify’s most-streamed classic rock song, with nearly 3.83 billion plays. Its continuing popularity matters partly because the song’s theme of constant surveillance resonates in an era of growing concerns about digital privacy. The article says the track…

Every Baby Boomer Alive Remembers These 4 Incredible Hard Rock Hits From 1968

• Four 1968 hits helped hard rock reach a wider audience.
• “Born to Be Wild” peaked at No. 2 in the US.
• Deep Purple’s “Hush” was a cover of a Joe South song.

Four hard rock hits helped bring the emerging genre to a wider audience in 1968: the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”, Cream’s “White Room” and Deep Purple’s “Hush”. Their chart success reflected growing interest among rock fans, including baby boomers, and showed hard…

Jay-Z ends his 30th anniversary series with Los Angeles concerts

• Jay-Z closed his 30th anniversary series with two SoFi Stadium concerts.
• Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Too Short joined the finale.
• Jay-Z pushed back against online claims about attendance and ticket giveaways.

Jay-Z ended his yearlong “Jay-Z 30” series with the second of two concerts at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, using the 90-minute finale to revisit his catalogue and reinforce his legacy. He also challenged online claims that the stadium was not full or that tickets had been given away,…

Sam Fender cuts 2027 tour prices and scraps premium standing sections

• Sam Fender has removed premium front-standing tickets from his 2027 tour.
• Standing tickets will cost £85, with seats from £55 to £95.
• Each ticket includes a £1 contribution to the LIVE Trust.

Sam Fender has scrapped premium front-standing sections for his 2027 UK stadium tour and set revised ticket prices after fans criticised figures shared online. He said anyone buying a standing ticket would have an equal chance of being at the front, and that he had not known standing…

Patch PHP flaws now as Ospreys celebrate St Helen’s return

Website owners are urged to patch newly discovered PHP security flaws or take affected sites offline. Ospreys beat Dragons in Swansea, while boxing, gaming and music also feature.

“I cried, and cried, and cried”: Linda Cardellini on the audition that changed her career

• Cardellini dressed as Velma for her Scooby-Doo audition.
• She went home and cried, thinking she had made a fool of herself.
• Her commitment helped shape a performance that endured.

Linda Cardellini says she cried after an audition for the live-action Scooby-Doo films, where she arrived dressed as Velma while other hopefuls wore ordinary clothes. Though she felt foolish, her commitment helped demonstrate that she understood the character’s deliberately camp style and ultimately helped secure the role. Cardellini…

Jack Bruce’s Harmony Row; more prog than you might know

• Jack Bruce’s *Harmony Row* came out in 1971.
• The album explored more complex, experimental sounds.
• It may deserve recognition as a prog record.

The article says Jack Bruce’s 1971 solo album *Harmony Row* has a stronger connection to progressive rock than its reputation suggests. Following Cream’s break-up, Bruce made a more intricate, experimental record that drew on the changing musical landscape around him. It highlights the album’s adventurous arrangements and the…

In 1973, a 13-year-old Lars Ulrich watched a rock band perform. His life changed forever

• Ulrich saw Deep Purple aged 13 in 1973.
• He recalled Blackmore’s extravagant guitar antics.
• The show helped shape his sense of live spectacle.

At 13, Lars Ulrich saw Deep Purple perform in Copenhagen in 1973, an experience he later described as completely overwhelming. The article presents the show as a formative influence on his passion for performance and on Metallica’s ambition to make their concerts a striking spectacle. In a 2012…