Classic Hits

KISS is continuing the 50th anniversary celebration of their fourth album, Destroyer.

To mark the milestone, the band is set to release the new book, KISS Destroyer: The Definitive Visual History, on Oct. 27, described as “an official, authorized retrospective chronicling the band’s first platinum studio album and the legendary tour that followed.”

The book will feature interviews with more than 50 people, including new interviews with KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and producer Bob Ezrin. The book also contains previously unpublished photos, as well as deep dives into the album’s songs, tour info and more.

KISS is also releasing the Official KISS Tarot Deck and Guidebook on Sept. 29, featuring a one-of-a-kind deck of tarot cards with custom artwork. It comes with a 128-page guidebook offering the meanings and interpretations of each card.

Released March 15, 1976, Destroyer featured future KISS classics “Detroit Rock City,” “Shout It Out Loud,” “God of Thunder” and the ballad “Beth,” which became their first top-10 single. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard Albums chart, making it the third consecutive KISS record to make the top 40.

Within a year, Destroyer was certified Platinum by the RIAA, making it the band’s first Platinum record; it was eventually certified double Platinum.

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Taylor Swift has met Paul McCartney several times, and she attended his concert in LA in March. Now, she’s promoting his new album on her Instagram Story.

Sharing one of Paul’s posts about his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, Taylor wrote, “Never not inspired by this eternally exceptional artist.”

During an interview last month with BBC Radio 2, McCartney was asked how he perceives Taylor’s global fame and if he’d give her any advice on dealing with it.

“You do see the parallel, y’know, like the fame and the amount of fame and the worldwide fame that Taylor Swift has and that [The Beatles] had,” he replied. “But I don’t think she needs any advice, [to] tell you the truth!”

But in a way, Paul may have inspired Taylor’s Eras Tour. When the two sat down for Rolling Stone‘s Musicians on Musicians series in 2020, she told him that she’d gone to see him around 2010 or 2011.

“The thing I took away from the show most was that it was the most selfless set list I had ever seen. It was completely geared toward what it would thrill us to hear,” she told him. “It had new stuff, but it had every hit we wanted to hear … [a]nd I just remembered thinking, ‘I’ve got to remember that,’ that you do that set list for your fans.”

She continued, “I think that learning that lesson from you taught me at a really important stage in my career that if people want to hear ‘Love Story’ and ‘Shake It Off,’ and I’ve played them 300 million times, play them the 300-millionth-and-first time.”

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R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and producer Andrew Watt were the musical guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday night, where they performed “I Played the Fool,” the theme song to Steve Carell’s HBO series The Rooster.

The pair was joined by some A-list friends for the performance, with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith behind the drum kit, and former Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer on piano. Klinghoffer appeared on the original recording of the song, while blink-182’s Travis Barker played drums on it.

Stipe and Watt released “I Played the Fool” in March to coincide with The Rooster premiere.

Stipe revealed during an April appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that his long-in-the-works debut solo album is expected out later this year. There’s no word on whether “I Played the Fool” will be on it.

In other R.E.M. news, Peter Buck’s band Drink the Sea, which also features Screaming Trees/Mad Season drummer Barrett Martin, has announced a new set of U.S. dates that begin Aug. 30 in Vashon Island, Washington, and wrap Sept. 24 in Kirkland, Washington. The tour will be in support of their new album, which is due out Oct. 2.

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The New York Times released a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters back in April, based on feedback from more than 250 music insiders and six Times critics. The list drew criticism from music fans, so the paper has now decided to give them their say.

The Times has now released a readers’ choice list of the 100 greatest American songwriters, noting, “As soon as we decided to make a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, we could guess how readers would respond to the results: with a combination of enthusiasm and outrage, quickly letting us know which of their favorites we had unconscionably forgotten.”

“We didn’t want all that passion to go undocumented. So we invited readers to assemble their own list — with a formal poll,” they added.

The new list is the result of over 25,000 ballots cast, resulting in “nearly 12,000 distinct choices,” which were  narrowed down to 100 artists.

While the original list didn’t rank the songwriters, the reader’s choice list does. Bob Dylan lands at #1, followed by Paul Simon at #2, Bruce Springsteen at #3 and Carole King at #4. Billy Joel, who did not make the original list, ranks at #5.

Rounding out the top 10 are Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, James Taylor, who also didn’t make the original list, and Willie Nelson.

Other artists who didn’t make the original cut but landed on the readers’ choice list include: Jackson Browne, David Byrne, Stevie Nicks, Donald Fagen, Don Henley, John Fogerty, R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt, Jack White, Pearl Jam, Stephen Stills, Patti Smith, Beck, Lana Del Rey, Noah Kahan, John Mellencamp, Chrissie Hynde, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, The National and Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl.

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The 25th anniversary edition of New York’s Tribeca Festival gets underway on Wednesday with the debut of a documentary on Earth, Wind & Fire, followed by a performance by the legendary band. The festival closes with an Alicia Keys documentary, and in between, there are films focusing on everyone from Madonna, Sara Bareilles and Katy Perry to Peter Frampton, Travis Barker and Mumford & Sons, all of whom will make appearances.

“Musically related projects in movies or just doing concerts, it’s all great. Music is great, and the more we get, the better,” Tribeca Festival co-founder Robert De Niro told ABC Audio.

“And there are amazing stories about artists and their longevity and what they’ve gone through to be able … to sing their songs,” festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal adds. “And you just learn about different musicians and who they are as people and how they all work together.”

During one of the festival’s closing events, U2’s Bono will present the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award to Bruce Springsteen for using his platform to “advance equality, dignity, and human rights.” Patti Smith will perform.

“What he’s doing is great,” De Niro says of Springsteen. “And he has a voice that’s very big … and he’s enraged the way … many of us [are]. So God bless him.”

The festival’s head of music programming, Vincent Cassous, says tapping stars like Madonna to do Q&As after their screenings, and acts like Earth, Wind & Fire to perform after theirs, is part of the festival’s plan to “make it something that you can’t miss.”

Cassou says the Frampton documentary will be a highlight, since the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will make an appearance despite living with a degenerative muscle disease.

“I think it’s going to be one of the most emotional moments at the festival, for sure.” 

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Legendary singer and songwriter Peabo Bryson has died. He was 75.

The Grammy Award winner, known for his hit songs and duets, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World” and several R&B classics, died on Tuesday, according to a statement from his family.

“He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. ET on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him,” according to the statement.

The statement continued, “In this deeply difficult moment, the family asks for privacy as they mourn the loss of a beloved husband, father, family member, friend and artist whose impact extended far beyond the stage.”

The statement went on to say: “We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”

The news of Bryson’s death comes days after a representative for the singer confirmed to ABC News that he had suffered a stroke and was receiving medical care.

Bryson was known for two hit Disney duets: “Beauty and the Beast” with Céline Dion, from the film of the same name, and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle, from Aladdin. “Beauty and the Beast” hit the top 10 in 1992; “A Whole New World” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993, becoming the first Disney movie theme to do so. Both songs earned Bryson and his duet partners Grammys for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals. 

He is also known for songs including his first top 10 pop hit “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” as well as “Can You Stop the Rain,” “Feel the Fire,” “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” and “You’re Looking Like Love to Me.” Among his many collaborations were duets with Roberta Flack, including “Born to Love” in 1983, and “For You and I” with Angela Bofill.

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The Who has shared another performance from their recently released album, Live at Eden Project. 

The latest is a video of the band performing their iconic track “Won’t Get Fooled Again” from their fifth studio album, Who’s Next.

Live at Eden Rock is a recording of the band’s July 2023 concert at Cornwall’s Eden Project, the home of a sustainable network of biomes in the English countryside. The concert was part of The Who Hits Back! tour, which saw Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend backed by the Heart of England Philharmonic Orchestra.

While The Who has no current plans to tour, Daltrey is set to kick off a summer solo tour Aug. 23 in Mesa, Arizona. He recently added a new date to the tour, Oct. 2 in Brookville, New York. A complete list of dates can be found at TheWho.com.

In other Who news … Townshend will sit down for a conversation at London’s Opera Holland Park theater on July 2. The event will benefit the U.K. HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust.

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Music fans are getting their first look at the new Peter Frampton documentary, Frampton.

The first trailer for the film has just been released. It features a whole lot of archival photos and video, as well as interview clips from Sheryl Crow, Ringo Starr, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, director Cameron Crowe, Alice Cooper, Styx’s Tommy Shaw, Heart’s Nancy Wilson, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and more.

There are also clips of Frampton being interviewed, where he comments about the aftermath of the huge success of his 1976 album, Frampton Comes Alive!

“You don’t realize what the onslaught is like until you’re #1 in the world and that’s when the s*** hit the fan,” says Frampton, noting he began drinking too much and doing too many drugs. He was also in a car accident, with Frampton saying, “(I) broke just about every bone in my body.”

Frampton, directed by Rob Arthur, is described as “an intimate portrait of a rock icon who soared, stumbled, and rose again.” It will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Thursday in New York City. Tickets are on sale now.

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

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Happy Pride Month! In honor of the occasion, Billboard has put together a list of the 100 Greatest LGBTQ Anthems of All Time, which features songs from Elton John, Cher, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper and more.

While Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” tops the list, the top 10 includes Ross’ 1980 hit “I’m Coming Out,” which was specifically written by Chic’s Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for Ross’ gay fans. Madonna’s “Vogue” and Lauper’s “True Colors” are in the top 10, as well.

Other songs making the list include: Elton’s “I’m Still Standing,” Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” Donna Summers’ “I Feel Love,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90,” Melissa Etheridge’s “Come to My Window,” Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” David Bowie’s “Boys Keep Swinging,” Queen’s “I Want To Break Free” and The Kinks’ “Lola.”

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Jimi Hendrix is finally getting a street named after him in New York.

West 8th Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, where Hendrix’s legendary Electric Lady Studios is located, was due to be co-named Jimi Hendrix Way back in February, but an extensive snow storm forced the postponement of the event. The naming has now been rescheduled.

The street will get its new name on June 10 at 11 a.m. ET, with the ceremony taking place a block from the studio.

Among those attending the street naming will be E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt. The event will coincide with the launch of a new education partnership with the rocker’s education initiative TeachRock, which uses music and pop culture to expand learning in schools. The partnership will result in the addition of a Hendrix curriculum for middle and high school students.

Experience Hendrix LLC President and CEO Janie Hendrix will also be on hand for the ceremony, along with Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, singer Valerie Simpson, Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer, NYC District 2 council member Harvey Epstein, and a group of local TeachRock teachers and students.

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