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“One of the things that Bruce Dickinson and Paul Di’Anno didn’t have was, they’d not seen Iron Maiden as a fan.” Blaze Bayley on heart attacks, being banned by the church and his legacy with ‘metal’s greatest band’
Blaze Bayley reflects on his career as Iron Maiden’s singer during a difficult period for the band, and on continuing as an independent artist after Bruce Dickinson returned in 1999. He argues that, unlike Dickinson and Paul Di’Anno, he had experienced Iron Maiden first as a fan, a perspective he sees as part of his…
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Remember When Alan Parsons Finally Let His Longtime Collaborator Do Some Singing… And It Paid off in a Major Way in 1980?
Eric Woolfson, Alan Parsons’s longstanding collaborator in the Alan Parsons Project, was finally allowed to sing lead vocals on the group’s 1980 album The Turn of a Friendly Card. His performance on the ballad “Time” became a major hit, helping establish Woolfson as a key vocalist during the project’s most commercially successful period. Parsons and…
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Born 97 Years Ago Today in South Carolina, Nashville’s “Dancing Fiddle Man” Who Lit up the Stage With Porter Wagoner
Mack Magaha, the South Carolina-born bluegrass fiddler known as the “Dancing Fiddleman”, is remembered on what would have been his 97th birthday. He became a prominent country-music performer through The Porter Wagoner Show, where his energetic, dance-like playing helped make fiddle music more visible to a national television audience. Born on 1 August 1929 in…
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Watch Sombr bring out 5 Seconds of Summer at Lollapalooza set
Sombr invited 5 Seconds of Summer onstage during his Lollapalooza set in Chicago, where they performed together in a surprise collaboration. The appearance brought the Australian band’s breakout hit to a major festival audience and reflects Sombr’s growing profile following a series of recent releases and high-profile live guests. The US pop artist introduced Luke…
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“Some bands you see and you just know. The Beatles were one. The Stones were one. AC/DC were one”: This is what Lemmy really thought of AC/DC and their legendary singer Bon Scott
Lemmy recalled recognising AC/DC’s potential immediately when he first saw them at a London pub, before they had achieved major commercial success. His assessment matters because it came from an experienced musician who had watched many bands emerge and fade, and because it highlights the early impact of the group’s live performance under singer Bon…
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White House slammed for using Bad Bunny song in new ICE deportation video
The White House has faced criticism after using Bad Bunny’s song ‘La Mudanza’ in a TikTok video promoting Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations. Critics objected because the Puerto Rican artist has publicly criticised the Trump administration’s immigration policies and ICE, making the use appear at odds with his views. The video, posted on 30 July,…
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Massive Attack members barred from Singapore over Palestinian flag display
Two members of Massive Attack have been barred from re-entering Singapore after displaying a Palestinian flag during a concert. The case highlights Singapore’s tight restrictions on political expression at public performances and is likely to prevent the group from appearing there again. Police reportedly issued stern warnings over the flag display, while the media regulator…
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Smashing Pumpkins welcome three guests at Lollapalooza homecoming
The Smashing Pumpkins marked their first Lollapalooza appearance in 32 years with a hometown headline set featuring surprise guests Olivia Rodrigo, Yungblud and former touring bassist Melissa Auf der Maur. The collaborations underlined the Chicago band’s enduring influence across generations, while reconnecting them with an important part of their own history. The band played 17…
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Jim Root urges caution over reports Sid Wilson left Slipknot
Slipknot guitarist Jim Root has urged fans to treat reports that DJ and keyboardist Sid Wilson left the band with caution. TMZ reported that Wilson had been permanently removed, but Slipknot did not confirm this and Root’s response suggested the claim should not be accepted without further information. Root posted on Instagram: “Don’t believe everything…
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Lil Uzi Vert Drops Surprise Birthday EP After Lollapalooza Cancellation
Lil Uzi Vert released the surprise eight-track EP Maverick “Almost Forever” on 31 July, their 31st birthday, after weather forced the cancellation of their scheduled Lollapalooza performance in Chicago. The release gave fans new music in place of the festival appearance and marked the Philadelphia rapper’s first project in two years. The EP’s cover shows…