Classic Hits

The members of R.E.M. — Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck — along with Bonnie Raitt, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran‘s Simon LeBon and others, have signed their names to a new campaign targeting artificial intelligence.

The Stealing Isn’t Innovation campaign, backed by the Human Artistry Campaign, blasts big-tech companies that use copyrighted works for AI without authorization.

“Artists, writers, and creators of all kinds are banding together with a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple,” reads the statement on the campaign’s website. “A better way exists – through licensing deals and partnerships, some AI companies have taken the responsible, ethical route to obtaining the content and materials they wish to use.”

It adds, “It is possible to have it all. We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected.”

Other musicians supporting the Stealing Isn’t Innovation campaign include Chaka Khan,  Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan, OK Go, MGMT, CAKE, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, and The Zombies.

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Joe Walsh has revealed that the 2025 edition of his annual VetsAid benefit concert, which took place in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, resulted in $600,000 in grants being disbursed to national and community veterans organizations.

“I always say each year that VetsAid is the greatest night of my life but Wichita in ‘25 was above and beyond… because it’s where I was born, where my parents are resting in peace and where my entire family hails from,” the Eagles guitarist wrote on Instagram. “It was a celebration of the America we strive to be and a celebration of the veterans and their families who bring us ever closer to that American dream.”

According to the post, all the money distributed will be “spent on the ground in Kansas.”

“Thanks to our team, crew and wonderful supporting artists – you’re part of my family now whether you like it or not!” he added.

The post included video from the 2025 show and events surrounding it, with Walsh adding, “stay tuned as we get to work on VetsAid ‘26. It’s gonna be a big one!”

The 2025 edition of VetsAid featured performances by Vince Gill; Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen; and a “super-set” from Walsh, joined by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nathaniel Rateliff and others.

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Bret Michaels has made his first comments since his Poison bandmate Rikki Rockett revealed in a New York Post interview that a 40th anniversary Poison tour was derailed when Michaels asked for too much money.

Rockett said the band, which also includes C.C. DeVille and Bobby Dall, got a “great offer” for a tour, but Michaels wanted six-times what everyone else was getting, which nixed the deal.

Michaels touched on the subject in a post on Facebook, although first he congratulated Green Day and Bad Bunny for their upcoming Super Bowl appearances, writing, “I cannot wait to watch it and I cannot wait to announce a Bucket List NFL dream come true (stay tuned…).”

He then addressed Rockett, who on Wednesday was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame, telling him to have fun at the ceremony. He offered, “As always, I consider Poison to be Bobby, C.C., Rikki and myself. I also make no bones about loving the BMB (Bret Michaels Band) and will always have both in my life.”

He added, “Bottom line – I love music, I love the fans and I’m always forever grateful. Onward & upward and let’s all focus on the positive in 2026, and the potential of a future reunion.”

As for how he feels about a possible reunion, Rockett told People, “I’d love for that to happen.”

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The Eagles are celebrating a new musical milestone.

The band revealed on Instagram that their compilation album Their Greatest Hits 1971-75 has just been awarded a quadruple Diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over 40 million units.

The album is the first-ever record to land such a feat, securing its standing as the bestselling album of all time in the United States.

Their Greatest Hits 1971-75, featuring such classic Eagles tunes as “Take It Easy,” “Desperado” and “Take it To the Limit,” was released Feb. 17, 1976. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Eagles are set to reissue the album on crystal clear 180-gram vinyl on Feb. 13. It will be available exclusively at Eagles.com and is available for preorder now.

But that’s not the Eagles’ only news. Their iconic album Hotel California, which is also turning 50 this year, has just been re-certified 28-times Platinum by the RIAA, making it the third bestselling album of all time.

Eagles are set to return to the Sphere Las Vegas for their residency on Friday. They have dates confirmed at the venue until March 28. They will also headline New Orleans Jazz Fest on May 2. A complete list of dates can be found at Eagles.com.

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On This Day, Jan. 22, 1977 …

Paul McCartney and Wings hit #1 in the U.S. with the triple live album Wings Over America.

The album was recorded during the U.S. leg of the Wings Over the World Tour, which ran from 1975 to 1976.

The album included live performances of Wings tracks like “Band on the Run,” “Live and Let Die,” “Let ‘em In” and “Silly Love Songs,” as well as five Beatles songs, “Yesterday,” “Lady Madonna,” “I’ve just Seen a Face,” “Blackbird” and “The Long and Winding Road.”

The album was one of four number ones for McCartney and his post-Beatles band Wings. The others were 1973’s Band on the Run and Red Rose Speedway, and 1976’s At the Speed of Sound.

McCartney’s post-Beatles career, including his time with Wings, is the subject of the new documentary Man on the Run, which will debut Feb. 27 on Prime Video.

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Diane Warren is in the running for an Oscar yet again.

The legendary songwriter has earned a best original song nomination for “Dear Me” from her documentary Diane Warren: Relentless.

She’s up against songs from KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners, Viva Verdi! and Train Dreams.

This is the ninth straight year Warren has earned a best original song nomination, which marks her 17th nod in the category.

If she loses, she will have the most Oscar nominations without a win. She’s currently tied with sound mixer Greg P. Russell for that record.

Though she’s never won, Warren does have an Oscar on her trophy shelf. She was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2022.

The 2026 Oscars will air on Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Phil Collins has given fans an update about his health in a new interview for the BBC.

Collins has been dealing with nerve damage from a spinal injury in 2007. His condition was so bad he had to perform shows seated during Genesis’ 2022 The Last Domino farewell tour, and he’s said it has left him unable to play drums. 

In recent years, Collin has been dealing with even more health problems. During the interview with Zoe Ball, Collins described his health issues as “an ongoing thing,” noting, “You know, I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do.”

“I’ve had challenges with my knee, I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me,” he continued. “I got COVID in hospital – my kidneys started to back up, you know, everything that started that could, all seemed to converge at the same time.”

When it comes to his knee, he said he’s had five surgeries before getting one “that works,” revealing “I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever.”

As for his kidney issues, he said, “I’d probably been drinking too much,” although he said he was 
“never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times.” He added, “It is just one of those things that happened and it all caught up with me and I spent months in hospital.”

Collins’ interview will debut as part of the fifth and final installment of the Eras: Phil Collins podcast, which debuts Jan. 26. Parts one to four are available now. The interview will also be broadcast on TV on BBC Two and iPlayer as a special, Phil Collins Eras: In Conversation, debuting Jan. 31.

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The Doors drummer John Densmore has teamed with Public Enemy rapper Chuck D for a new album that will be released for Record Store Day on April 18.

The album, no country for old men, is being released under the moniker doPE, a combination of the two bands’ names. It is described in a press release as a blend of “spoken word, rhythm and raw social commentary” that “brings together generations of rebellion and reflection.” It features the track “every tick tick tick,” which has been chosen as RSD’s 2026 Song of the Year.

“It’s been an honor working with Chuck D on this project,” Densmore says. “He’s got the rhymes and I’ve got the beats … and we made doPE!”

“John Densmore’s beat isn’t just rhythm, it’s history talking,” adds Chuck D. “He’s been scoring moments of our culture for decades, and that wisdom hits different when it meets the now. This collaboration is about locking generations together and pushing sound forward.”

Interestingly, Densmore and Chuck D first met at a Record Store Day event at Amoeba Music Hollywood in 2014. That led to Chuck D reaching out to Densmore via email a year later.

DoPE’s no country for old men will be available at independent record stores on Record Store Day. Participating stores can be found at recordstoreday.com. A full list of Record Store Day releases has yet to be announced.

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We are getting our first look at the upcoming documentary about legendary musician Billy Preston.

A trailer for Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It has just been released, featuring archival footage of Preston performing, including clips of him with The Beatles. 

Ringo Starr says of Preston in the trailer, “He was so great, he never put his hands in the wrong place.”

The film is directed by Emmy winner Paris Barclay. It will give fans insight into the six-decade career of the legendary singer and keyboardist, as well as the struggles he faced in his life. 

Preston was known for such hits as “Nothing From Nothing,” “Will It Go Round in Circles” and “Space Race.” He also co-wrote and recorded the classic “You Are So Beautiful,” which became a hit for Joe Cocker. Preston appeared on The Beatles’ Let It Be and Abbey Road albums, and he joined them for their legendary Rooftop concert, which was The Beatles’ last live performance.

Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It is set to open Feb. 20 at the Film Forum in New York City, with plans to release it in select theaters in North America sometime in 2026.

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The music of Neil Young will be celebrated at a concert in Los Angeles ahead of the Grammy Awards.

The Americanafest Pre-Grammy Salute to the Songs of Neil Young, put on by the Americana Music Association and the Americana Music Foundation, will be held Jan. 31 at the Troubadour and will feature a lineup of artists performing songs from Young’s catalog. Artists participating this year include Margo Price, Rhiannon Giddens, Molly Tuttle, Maggie Rose, Sierra Hull, I’m With Here, Jesse Welles and Young the Giant.

“We are proud to continue our longstanding pre-Grammy salute tradition, and I can’t wait to see our extraordinary performers honor Neil and his incredible songs,” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association. “Our organization prides itself on community. We hope this evening helps bring everyone together, as we pay it forward with a donation to MusiCares and their charitable efforts.”

Last year, the Americanafest Pre-Grammy Salute concert celebrated the music of John Haitt. Previous concerts honored the works of Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Loretta Lynn and others.

The concert raises money for the Americana Music Association and Americana Music Foundation, plus a portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit the Recording Academy’s charitable initiative, MusiCares.

Tickets for the concert are now available on the Troubadour’s website.

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