British rock super group Asia – made up of King Crimson’s John Wetton, YES’ Steve Howe and Geoff Downes, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Carl Palmer – went to #1 their self-titled debut album.
The album, which spent nine weeks atop the Billboard 200 Albums chart, featured the lead-off single “Heat of the Moment,” which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Another single, “Only Time Will Tell,” peaked at #17 on the Hot 100.
Asia would go on to be the #1 album in the U.S. for 1982, and was certified four-times Platinum by the RIAA.
‘Paul McCartney and Wings’ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit (Courtesy MPL and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)
The new exhibit Paul McCartney and Wingsopens at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Friday. It’s the first major museum exhibit to explore McCartney’s post-Beatles band, which featured him, his wife Linda McCartney and a rotating lineup. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame President Greg Harris tells ABC Audio the exhibit sheds light on this integral part of McCartney’s post-Beatles artistry.
“It’s a chance for people to reexamine their impact and their legacy,” Harris says of the band, which scored multiple hit singles and albums before breaking up in 1981.
“The songs are incredible, but we also talk about that approach that they took, that DIY approach, and Linda’s integral role with the band,” Harris says of the exhibit.
That “DIY approach” refers to the fact that when Wings first formed, they embarked on a low-key tour of U.K. universities, showing up unannounced in a van and offering to perform for next to nothing.
The exhibit includes “the largest assemblage of Paul McCartney materials ever,” says Harris, including instruments, clothing, artwork and lyrics. “It’s all gonna be an immersive experience with lots of video, lots of photos, lots of images and of course sound,” he adds.
While McCartney is a two-time Rock Hall nominee, as a solo artist and as a member of The Beatles, Wings has yet to appear on the ballot. Might this exhibit be a precursor to a future nomination? “They’re certainly eligible,” Harris says. “And their impact, of course, and influence as told in this exhibition is super powerful.”
As for whether Sir Paul intends to drop by, Harris says, “We’re optimistic that we’ll get him to visit it sometime this spring, and we can share it with him and celebrate it with him.”
David Furnish and Elton John attend the “Elton John: Never Too Late” Headline Gala during the 68th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, are among the celebrities recognized on the Time 100 Philanthropy list, which the magazine says highlights the “world’s most influential givers, leaders, advocates, and thinkers.”
The mag notes that those who made the list are “representing the most compelling stories in philanthropy today, in a field that moves more than $1 trillion globally each year.”
Elton and David are recognized for their Elton John AIDS Foundation, which was founded in 1992, and is dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030. Since its founding, the organization has raised more than $650 million to help AIDS-related causes.
“We’re honoured to be named on the 2026 #TIME100Philanthropy list, alongside the most influential people shaping the future of giving,” reads a post on the pair’s individual Instagram accounts. “Philanthropy, at its heart, is solidarity. It’s funding the boldest, bravest ideas before anyone else will. It’s standing with the people the world has tried to push aside and refusing to accept that any life is worth less than another.”
“And that’s exactly what we are committed to doing through @ejaf’s mission: to end the AIDS epidemic and ensure that no one is left behind,” they add. “So thank you, @time. And more than anything, thank you to every person who has stood with us along the way. The fight to end AIDS is far from over. Neither are we.”
Paul McCartney performs at The O2 Arena on December 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Redferns)
Paul McCartney was a guest on this week’s Goalhanger podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, where he talked about the importance of his iconic Beatles tune “Hey Jude” in bringing folks together.
“Particularly these days, too, you do something like ‘Hey Jude’ and you see this whole audience singing together,” McCartney says. “I mean, in Trump’s America, and the Republicans and Democrats all at each other’s throats — when we do that song, they’re not.”
“They’re all loving it, and it’s like, wow, this is pretty amazing,” he adds. “You know, suddenly this room has forgotten all of that, and is not, you know, going to argue with each other, they’re just going to sing together. So those kinds of things, I think, are valuable.” He notes, “I like that, and I also like it for them.”
In talking about pleasing his audience, McCartney brought up Bob Dylan, noting he has seen him live a couple times and “I couldn’t tell what song the song was he was doing.”
“I get it if he doesn’t want to do ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ you know, maybe he’s fed up with that, but I would like to hear it,” he says. “And I’ve paid.”
McCartney is set to appear on another Goalhanger podcast, The Rest is History, which debuts Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. During the appearance he discusses growing up in Liverpool, The Beatles’ creative process and more. He also debuts a clip of the new song “Salesman Saint” from his upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which will be released May 29.
The Rolling Stones ‘In The Stars’ artwork (Capitol Records)
The Rolling Stones are embracing their younger selves in the video for their latest single, “In the Stars.”
The official music video, directed by Francois Rousselet, is out now, with the clip centered around the band performing the song surrounded by other musicians, singers, and dancers from different eras and all walks of life. It also features Marty Supreme actress Odessa A’zion.
But it’s not The Stones of today that we see performing in the clip. The director uses deepfake technology, created by Deep Voodoo, to make it look like we’re watching ’70s-era Stones performing the track.
“Are you kidding me? It’s my dream,” A’zion says of appearing in the video. “The first record that I ever got that I listened to from start to finish was Tattoo You. I’m obsessed with The Rolling Stones. This is in my bucket list for sure.”
“In the Stars” is the first single off The Stones’ upcoming album, Foreign Tongues, which will be released July 10. The album is available for preorder now.
Billy Idol Lifetime Achievement Award AMA artwork (Courtesy of CBS/Dick Clark Productions)
It’s a nice day for another big Billy Idol honor.
First the rocker was chosen for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, and now it’s been announced that he’ll be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd American Music Awards.
In addition to receiving the award, the “Rebel Yell” rocker is set to take the stage for his first-ever AMA performance.
“Billy Idol is a true rock legend whose influence has transcended generations and genres. From his groundbreaking music to his electrifying stage presence, Billy has left an indelible mark on popular culture and the music industry,” executive producers Barry Adelman and Alexi Mazareas aid in a statement. “We are thrilled to honor him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd American Music Awards and celebrate his legacy with what promises to be an unforgettable performance.”
Previous AMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Diana Ross and Rod Stewart.
The 52nd American Music Awards, hosted by Queen Latifah, will be held May 25 in Las Vegas, and will air on CBS and Paramount+.
The Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” (Sony Music)
Recordings by The Byrds, Weezer and The Go-Go’s have been chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.
In total 25 recordings have been chosen this year “based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”
This year’s picks include The Byrds’ classic 1965 track “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”; Weezer’s self-titled 1994 album, also known as The Blue Album; The Go-Go’s 1981 hit Beauty and the Beat; and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble’s 1983 album Texas Flood.
Also chosen were Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” Chaka Khan’s “I Feel For You” and Gladys Knight and The Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia,” as well as Taylor Swift’s 1989 and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”
There were also recordings by The Charlie Daniels Band, José Feliciano, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill and more.
“The sweep and diversity of the National Recording Registry class of 2026 beautifully captures the scope of the American experience as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Robbin Ahrold, chair of the National Recording Preservation Board, adding that this year’s picks are “a thrilling reflection of America at its best.”
The public can nominate recordings to be considered. This year, the Library of Congress received over 3,000 nominations, with Weezer among the top nominated selections. With the new additions, the National Recording Registry titles are now at 700, part of a recorded sound collection of close to 4 million items.
: Drummer Keith Moon performs with The Who at the Omni Coliseum on November 24, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tom Hill/Getty Images)
The Grammy Museum has teamed with the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a new exhibit highlighting both inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recordings that have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
According to the description, Tower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings, opening May 28, “explores the art and craft of songwriting and recording to deepen visitors’ knowledge and appreciation for the songwriters, artists and albums that have shaped the sound of popular music over the past 50 years.”
Highlights of the exhibit include: The Who drummer Keith Moon’s gold drum kit that he played with the band and in the movie Tommy; a personal notebook belonging to The Doors’ Jim Morrison, along with a microphone used during live shows; and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s Mosrite Gospel electric guitar, used to write songs for 1991’s Nevermind, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.
There are also SHOF inductee Neil Diamond’s handwritten lyrics to “Song Sung Blue” and the gold-rimmed glasses SHOF inductee Prince wore in Purple Rain, along with a lace shirt and blue cuff links worn on the Purple Rain tour.
“The Grammy Museum is where people can engage more deeply with the music of yesterday and today, discovering influences, uncovering context, and connecting with artists and songs in a meaningful way,” said Jasen Emmons, chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs. “By exploring songwriters and recordings that have shaped music history, the Tower of Song exhibit invites music fans to hear and think about iconic songwriters and recordings in new ways.”
More information on the exhibit and tickets can be found at grammymuseum.org.
Jay Messina, Jack Douglas and Steven Tyler listen to playback of tracks for Aerosmith’s “Draw The Line” Lp, while recording at The Cenacle in Armonk NY, May 15, 1977.(Ron Pownall/Getty Images)
Aerosmith has paid tribute to producer Jack Douglas, who produced four of their multi-Platinum albums.
Douglas died Monday at the age of 80. The band took to Instagram Wednesday to remember the producer, noting he “changed our lives.”
“We are mourning the loss of Jack Douglas, the legendary producer whose talent and passion shaped our sound and changed our lives,” the band wrote. “Jack was a brilliant artist and collaborator who inspired us in profound ways and left an indelible mark on the entire music industry.”
“We celebrate his life and epic career and feel so privileged to have known him and to benefit from his remarkable skill and friendship,” they added. “We are heartbroken for his family, but find comfort in knowing how much he loved his life and work. We are so proud and grateful to be part of his legacy.”
Douglas worked as producer and engineer on four Aerosmith albums in the 1970s: 1974’s Get Your Wings, 1975’s Toys in the Attic, 1976’s Rocks and 1977’s Draw the Line. He also produced 1982’s Rock in a Hard Place and 2012’s Music From Another Dimension!, which was the band’s final album. Douglas also helped write songs with the band and produced several of guitarist Joe Perry’s solo albums.
Neil Young and Pearl Jam collaboration ‘Mirror Ball’ (Reprise Records)
Neil Young’s 1995 album, Mirror Ball, a collaboration with Pearl Jam, is set to be reissued for the first time in over 30 years.
Although the album was part of Young’s Official Release Series Volume 6 that came out in October, the album’s now being reissued as a standalone, on CD and vinyl, and is available for preorder now via Pearl Jam’s website. Shipping will begin May 22.
Released June 27, 1995, Mirror Ball is credited to only Young on the album’s sleeve because of legal issues with Young and Pearl Jam’s respective labels. The members of Pearl Jam are credited in the album’s liner notes. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA.
In December 1995, Pearl Jam released the EP Merkin Ball, featuring two songs that were recorded during the Mirror Ball sessions, “I Got Id” and “Long Road.”
