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Watch: JUDAS PRIEST Kicks Off 2026 ‘Faithkeepers’ European Tour At Germany’s BOBFEST
British heavy metal band Judas Priest launched their 2026 “Faithkeepers” world tour on 25 July at Germany’s BOBfest, held at Mönchengladbach’s SparkassenPark. The 17-song show marked the European leg of the band’s continuing world tour cycle, following a 22-city North American co-headlining run with Alice Cooper the previous autumn, and comes as the group promotes…
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4 Country Hits From 1975 That Time Forgot, but We Sure Didn’t
This is a list-style feature from American Songwriter highlighting four country songs from 1975 that the writer believes were commercially successful in their time but have since faded from public memory and radio play. The piece argues these tracks deserve renewed appreciation despite being largely forgotten by modern listeners. The four songs featured are: “It’s…
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The “douchey” 2011 moment Matt Damon wants everyone to forget: “Stupid and unprofessional”
Matt Damon has said he regrets a 2011 appearance on *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno*, where he and comedian Sarah Silverman staged a hostile exchange. Speaking on the *Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend* podcast, Damon called the performance “stupid and unprofessional”, saying it reflected poorly on him and was driven partly by jealousy over…
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On This Day in 1980, Merle Haggard “Dragged” a Hollywood Icon to the Top of the Country Chart With a Song That Almost Went to George Jones
On 26 July 1980, Merle Haggard and Clint Eastwood topped the US country chart with “Bar Room Buddies”, a duet from the soundtrack of Eastwood’s film Bronco Billy, which held the No. 1 spot for a week. The pairing is notable because the song was originally intended for a duet between Eastwood and George Jones,…
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Oona Doherty: Leather Jacket review – dancers delight in their hard sweaty work
The Guardian’s review covers “Leather Jacket”, a new dance work by choreographer Oona Doherty, which premiered at Bold Tendencies, the converted multi-storey car park venue in Peckham, London. Doherty made her name with acclaimed early pieces such as “Hope Hunt” and “Hard to be Soft” and followed a more conceptual work, “Specky Clark”, with this…
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DIIV unveil ZIRP, produced by A. G. Cook, out October
Shoegaze band Diiv have announced a new album, ZIRP!, produced by A. G. Cook and set for release on 30 October 2026 via Fantasy Records. The follow-up to their previous record, Frog In Boiling Water, marks a notable pairing: Cook has spent 2026 becoming one of pop’s most in-demand producers, working with Charli XCX among…
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The guitarist Keith Richards always wanted in The Rolling Stones: “No doubt”
Keith Richards said Ronnie Wood was the guitarist he had long wanted in the Rolling Stones, describing his arrival as an obvious fit after Mick Taylor’s departure. The account highlights how Wood’s musical instincts and understanding of the band’s blues foundations mattered as much as technical ability. Richards had initially wanted Wood while he was…
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4 of David Gilmour’s Most Impactful Musical Contributions Outside of Pink Floyd
David Gilmour is best known as the guitarist and singer who helped drive Pink Floyd to global success, but throughout his career he has also lent his talents to a number of notable projects beyond the band. American Songwriter highlights four such contributions, spanning from the late 1960s to the 1980s, that show his influence…
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GRETA VAN FLEET To Release New Single ‘Saw You Stand’
Greta Van Fleet will release a new single, “Saw You Stand”, on 31 July 2026, alongside a rare intimate show that same night at Chicago’s Metro venue. It follows the band’s recent single “Play Your Games” and a sold-out underplay gig at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, marking the Detroit-born, Nashville-based rockers’ return after a live…
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The greatest entertainer of all time, according to Eddie Murphy: “That was my idol”
Eddie Murphy has named Elvis Presley as the greatest entertainer of all time, describing the singer as his childhood idol. The article argues that Presley’s charisma and cultural reach made him an enduring model for Murphy, whose own rapid rise across stand-up, television, film and music similarly made him a major star. Murphy made the…