Classic Hits

John Mellencamp was forced to cancel his show in Clarkston, Michigan, Thursday night due to the poor air quality caused by wildfires in Canada.

“Following guidance from public health authorities, unfortunately we will not be able to perform our July 16 show in Clarkston, MI at Pine Knob Music Theatre due to poor air quality,” read a post on Mellencamp’s social media. “We were looking forward to seeing you tonight!”

Fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will automatically be refunded their money.

Mellencamp launched his Dancing Words Tour – The Greatest Hits on July 10 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, treating the crowd to all of his biggest hits, including some songs he hasn’t played in decades.

His next show is scheduled for Saturday in Noblesville, Indiana, with dates running until Aug. 12 in Mountain View, California. A complete list of dates an be found at Mellencamp.com.

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After over 50 years in the music business, Lenny Kaye, best known for being the longest-serving member of the Patti Smith Group, is out with his debut solo album, Goin’ Local.

So, why did it take so long for the 79-year-old Kaye to make a solo album?

He tells ABC Audio he’s had many of these songs for years, noting, “I wrote them, many of them, just for my own personal artistic satisfaction.”

He says one of the reasons he wanted to release them now is because he needed “artistic closure,” adding “a lot of the songs are kind of personal.”

“I write them because I need to in a certain way,” he explains. “That to me is one of the ways in which you can understand yourself, a relationship, a sense of who you are.”

Kaye has already released several tracks from the album, including the title track, “The Things You Leave Behind” and “Solstice,” co-written by Smith.

Kaye says it “feels great” to finally share these personal songs with the public.

“I mean, it’s also kind of a culmination of the many personas I’ve had within making music over the many years,” he says. “I love being a new artist.”

And Kaye says he hopes fans who listen to the album get a feel for who he really is.

“I hope that they understand that I’m a person who feels deeply, who tries to be honest with himself,” he says. “And I just hope that they realize that it’s an honest representation of who I am at this moment in time.” 

Goin’ Local is out now. Kaye is currently on tour and is set to play in Sacramento on Friday.

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Elton John wants fans to know that his upcoming shows in Mexico won’t just be him walking down the same old Yellow Brick Road. 

As previously reported, Elton will perform two shows in Mexico City in October after being unable to tour there during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. And even if you previously saw Elton on the farewell tour, he says this one is going to be totally different.

Tickets for the shows went on sale Thursday. Elton wrote on Instagram, “Mexico, I can’t wait to see you again! Marking my first shows in Mexico City in 14 years, these two performances will not be a continuation of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, but a special, one-of-a-kind set list I’ve curated exclusively for my Mexico fans.”

“These very special shows stand alone as a celebration crafted just for you!” he continued. “I can’t wait to celebrate with you.”

Since the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour wrapped up in 2023, Elton has continued to do shows here and there, including private events and charity performances. He also did a special concert with Brandi Carlile in London last March, sang at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in November and continues to perform at his annual Oscar party.

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KISS’ Gene Simmons was supposed to headline a new fan expo in Las Vegas in September, but the event has now been moved to next year.

The Gene Simmons’ Legends of Rock Expo was supposed to take place Sept. 25-27 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, but a post on the event’s Instagram account reveals that it’s been moved to May 14-16, 2027.

“Due to a major scheduling conflict, we have made the difficult decision to reschedule the Gene Simmons Legends of Rock Expo,” reads the post. “While we know this change may be disappointing, the additional time will allow us to make the Rock Experience even bigger and better, while fine-tuning an incredible celebrity lineup.”

In addition to Simmons performing with his Gene Simmons Band, the lineup for the Legends of Rock Expo includes Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler, The Police’s Stewart Copeland and The Kinks’ Dave Davies.

Tickets that were already purchased will be valid for the new dates. More info can be found at legendsofrockexpo.com.

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Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant is set to receive the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes the artist’s “extraordinary contributions to Americana and American Roots music.”

“Robert Plant’s relationship with Americana music extends far beyond influence—it is one of genuine passion, stewardship and artistic curiosity,” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association. “His willingness to immerse himself in the traditions of blues, folk, country and gospel, while continuing to push their boundaries, has expanded the audience for Americana around the world.”

“Few artists have done more to honor the music’s past while helping shape its future,” Hilly adds. “We are thrilled to recognize his extraordinary contributions with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Following his years with Led Zeppelin, Plant has embraced roots and Americana music, most notably with his collaborations with singer Alison Krauss and producer T Bone Burnett. Their 2007 album, Raising Sand, won the Grammy for album of the year, while its follow-up, 2021’s Raise the Roof, won best Americana album at the Grammys. Plant’s more recent exploration of the genre resulted in the 2025 self-titled debut album from his band Saving Grace, with Suzi Dian.

Plant will be honored during the 25th annual Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 16 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now.

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Bob Dylan doesn’t appear to be taking a break from the road anytime soon.

The 85-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced a set of fall tour dates that will take him to Europe and the U.K.

The European leg of the tour begins Oct. 17 in Oslo, Norway, and includes stops in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy before wrapping Nov. 22 in Frankfurt, Germany.

The tour then hits the U.K. starting Nov. 25 in Bournemouth, England, and wraps with five nights at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Dec. 1-8.

Tickets for all shows go on sale July 22.

Dylan’s last tour of Europe and the U.K. took place in fall 2025.

Dylan is currently on a North American tour that hits Boston on Thursday. The tour wraps Aug. 1 in Nashville.
A complete list of dates can be found at BobDylan.com.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Bob Dylan doesn’t appear to be taking a break from the road anytime soon.

The 85-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced a set of fall tour dates that will take him to Europe and the U.K.

The European leg of the tour begins Oct. 17 in Oslo, Norway, and includes stops in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy before wrapping Nov. 22 in Frankfurt, Germany.

The tour then hits the U.K. starting Nov. 25 in Bournemouth, England, and wraps with five nights at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Dec. 1-8.

Tickets for all shows go on sale July 22.

Dylan’s last tour of Europe and the U.K. took place in fall 2025.

Dylan is currently on a North American tour that hits Boston on Thursday. The tour wraps Aug. 1 in Nashville.
A complete list of dates can be found at BobDylan.com.

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The Rolling Stones have shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the artwork for their latest album, Foreign Tongues.

The album cover features a mashup of caricatures of the faces of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. In the behind-the-scenes clip, the artist, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, paints the image while looking at a variety of different photos and drawings of the rockers.

“The Rolling Stones, they’re such an iconic band, even people who may not be avid fans of The Rolling Stones, they imagine those guys on the stage singing and performing,” Quinn says in the clip. “This is an image for an album cover, you know, it’s not like a work of art for a gallery or museum. It has to be an image that would be collectively embraced and digested by a wider public.”

He adds, “They don’t have to be art connoisseurs to like it.”

Foreign Tongues, The Rolling Stones’ 25th studio album, is out now.

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Barry Manilow will be using his upcoming arena tour to celebrate music educators across the country.

The “Mandy” singer will be handing out the Manilow Music Teacher Award at each stop on his upcoming tour. The award “recognizes educators whose passion and dedication bring music to life for their students.”

Winners, chosen by the public, will receive a $10,000 grant; half will go directly to the teacher, and the other half will go toward new instruments and equipment for their school. The winning teacher will also meet Manilow before their local show, and they’ll be recognized onstage during the show.

The award is handed out as part of the singer’s Manilow Music Project, which has already donated more than $10 million in instruments and scholarships to students, teachers and music programs.

Manilow is currently in Las Vegas for his residency at the Westgate Las Vegas, with his next show on Thursday. The next leg of his arena tour launches July 30 in Charleston, South Carolina. A complete list of tour dates can be found at BarryManilow.com.

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KISS has announced more details about the second edition of their KISS fan convention, KISS Kruise: Land-locked in Vegas. They’ve also revealed details of the planned tribute to their late bandmate Ace Frehley, who died in October 2025 at 74.

The tribute is set to feature the current members of KISS — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer — joined by special guests artists. Performers will be supported by the Ace Frehley Band, and the plan is for each of the current members to personally select and perform a song to honor Ace’s legacy. The tribute promises to feature music covering all eras of Ace’s career.

The weekend will also feature two unmasked KISS performances — one acoustic, one electric — as well as performances by Night Ranger, Bruce Kulick, Slaughter, Faster Pussycat, Keel, Enuff Z’Nuff and more.

There will also be band meet-and-greets, artists panels, Q&As and activities. Simmons will give fans a look at rare pieces of his personal memorabilia collection during Gene Simmons’ Private KISS Collection Show & Tell; Stanley will host a KISS Cook Off, where participants will be challenged to recreate one of his signature dishes.

“Another year of the KISS Kruise experience and the best one yet is on the way,” Stanley says. “Everything we’ve learned at sea and on land over the past years is going into making this the ultimate weekend with us. No ship?!? No problem!”

KISS Kruise: Land-locked in Vegas will be held Nov. 13-15 at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. A complete schedule rundown can be found at kisskruisevegas.com.

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