Kevin Mazur/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images for MTV/ ViacomCBS
David Lee Roth is covering Van Halen again. The rocker just shared a new live version of the band’s hit “Everybody Wants Some,” taken from his 2022 Hollywood recording session with his solo band.
The session took place back in May, where Roth and his band recorded 14 songs. He’s already released several of them over the past year, including “You Really Got Me,” “Dance the Night Away,” Panama” and “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love.”
“Everybody Wants Some” was the second single off Van Halen’s 1980 album Women and Children First. The new version features Al Estrada on guitar, Ryan Wheeler on bass and Francis Valentino on drums.
Whitney Houston‘s mentor Clive Davis says before the singer’s shocking death in 2012, she was trying very hard to get clean.
The superstar singer was found unconscious in a bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel on February 11 and didn’t respond to CPR. She was 48. The coroner’s report ruled her death accidental, and attributed it to drowning as well as “effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.” Benadryl, Xanax and cannabis were also found in her system.
But Davis tells the New York Post, “I was with her 48 hours before her death…she was showing me what she had done in rehab. How she had given up smoking, how she had cleared her throat of nicotine. And she was wanting to start going into the studio.”
“I never would have thought, 48 hours before her death, that she would pass, that there would be that horrendous, premature end to her life,” Davis continues, adding, “She was making a valiant attempt during that period to give up drugs and rehabilitate herself.”
Davis is a producer on the new biopic Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, and is portrayed in the film by Stanley Tucci. He tells the Post that the film “answers all the questions that the public wants to know about Whitney, whether it’s her sexuality, whether it’s how she reacted to any innuendo that she was not singing Black enough, or whether it was the impact of drugs, or whether it was recording with me.”
Clive adds that fans should see the movie in a theater “with a good sound system because it really, meaningfully showcases all the great songs and, of course, that voice.”
Back in April, Pink Floyd released the brand-new song “Hey Hey Rise Up” to help the people of Ukraine, and apparently it was a huge success.
The band just announced that their tune has now raised more than £450,000 that’s $540,000 U.S. — “to help alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.” David Gilmour and Nick Mason added money to bring the amount to £500,000, or around $601,000 U.S.
“Hey Hey Rise Up” was recorded on March 30th, and featured Andriy Khlyvnyuk [AHN-dree KLIV-nik] of the Ukrainian band Boombox. The money raised will be split amongst five different charities: Hospitallers, The Kharkiv And Przemyśl Project, Vostok SOS, Kyiv Volunteer and Livyj Bereh.
In their announcement, Pink Floyd also encouraged their fans to do more, noting, “Let’s see what else we can do this winter… It would be great if you feel able to contribute to any of these charities directly.”
Are Cher and boyfriend Alexander “AE” Edwards taking the next step in their relationship? Well, it certainly looked that way, with the 76-year-old singer sparking speculation of an engagement after she posted a picture on Twitter of what looked like a huge diamond engagement ring.
Cher posted the photo with the caption “THERE R NO WORDS, ALEXANDER, A.E,” and later clarified that she shared it because she thought the 36-year-old A.E.’s “nails are so cool.”
Adding to the speculation, on Monday she tweeted about how she wishes her late mother, Georgia Holt, who died earlier this month, could be there to see the ring. “Woke up Min ago, & 1st thing …B4 I Opened my eyes, I Thought…I Need 2 Run To Moms & Show Her my ring…” she shared. ”Before I realized it..I Had Little Tear,” before adding it was actually, “a few tears.”
But it looks as though Cher won’t be walking down the aisle any time soon. “They are not engaged,” a source tells E! News, adding the ring is “just a beautiful gift.”
Cher and A.E. first went public with their relationship back in November, when they were spotted out together in West Hollywood. The singer was previously married to Sonny Bono from 1964 to 1975, and Gregg Allman from 1975 to 1979.
It always hurts when our favorite musicians pass away, and 2022 was no exception, with several beloved artists leaving us this year.
It was a year that started with a great loss: on January 20 Meat Loaf, born Marvin Lee Aday, died at the age of 74. Although no cause of death was ever announced, he had been plagued with health issues in recent years. He also reportedly had COVID before his death, although it was never confirmed he died from it.
After battling breast cancer for decades, Olivia Newton-John lost her fight and passed away August 8 at the age of 73. The singer-actress had been in remission for more than 20 years when her cancer returned in 2017.
Just two days after TMZ erroneously reported his death, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis passed away October 28 at his home in Mississippi. He was 87.
And on November 30 music fans were left shocked when Fleetwood Mac co-lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Christine McVie died at the age of 79. Her family shared that she died “peacefully at [the] hospital” after “a short illness.” While paying tribute to her bandmate and friend, Stevie Nicks revealed that she hadn’t known McVie was ill until a few days before her death.
Here’s a list of the many music figures who died in 2022, in chronological order:
Rosa Lee Hawkins, an original member of the New Orleans R&B vocal trio The Dixie Cups, best known for their song “Chapel of Love,” died January 11. She was 76.
Ronnie Spector, former lead singer of the Ronnettes, passed away January 12 at the age of 78 after a short battle with cancer.
Blood, Sweat & Tears co-founder Dick Halligan died January 18 from natural causes in Rome, Italy. He was 78.
Don Wilson, the last surviving member of the instrumental surf rock quartet The Ventures, died January 22 of natural causes at the age of 88.
Sly Johnson, best known for his 1967 classic “Different Strokes,” died February 6 at the age of 85.
Procol Harum’s founder and lead singer, Gary Booker, died February 19 after a battle with cancer. He was 76.
Guitarist Joe Messina, an original member of the Motown session musicians known as The Funk Brothers, died April 4 in Northville, Michigan, at age 93.
1960s teen idol Bobby Rydell, best known for hits like “We Got Love” and “Wild One,” passed away April 5 from complications from pneumonia. He was 79.
Re Styles, former vocalist for The Tubes, died April 17 at the age of 72.
Earth, Wind & Fire saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk died April 24 after a long illness. He was 71.
Oscar-winning composer Vangelis, best known for his Chariots of Fire score, died May 17 at the age of 79. He passed away at a French hospital, where he was being treated for an undisclosed illness.
Yes drummer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Alan White passed away May 26 after a short illness. He was 72.
Alec John Such, the original bassist for the rock band Bon Jovi, died June 4 of natural causes at the age of 70.
Seals and Crofts’ Jim Seals passed away June 6 after suffering a “chronic ongoing illness.” He was 80.
William “Poogie” Hart, the lead singer of legendary Philadelphia soul group The Delfonics, died July 14 at age 77.
Sam Gooden, an original member of the soul group The Impressions, died of a heart attack on August 4 at the age of 87.
Olivia Newton-John lost her decadeslong battle with breast cancer on August 8. She passed away at her home in California at the age of 73.
Motown great Lamont Dozier, one-third of the songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, passed away August 8 at the age of 81.
Jerry Allison, best known for being the drummer with Buddy Holly‘s band The Crickets, died from cancer on August 22, nine days before his 83rd birthday.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis, aka The Killer, passed away October 28 at his home in Mississippi. He was 87.
Singer and actress Irene Cara, who starred in and sung the title song of the movie Fame, and topped the charts with the Flashdance tune “Flashdance… What a Feeling,” died November 25 at the age of 63.
Fleetwood Mac’s co-lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Christine McVie died November 30 after a short illness. She was 79.
The Rascals drummer Dino Danelli passed away December 15 at the age of 78.
Rick Anderson, bassist and co-founding member of the band The Tubes, passed away December 16 at the age of 75.
Just 16 months after Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts passed away, his wife, Shirley Watts, died December 16 at the age of 84.
Terry Hall, lead singer of the influential British band The Specials, died December 18 at the age of 63. In addition to his work with that band, he also co-wrote The Go-Go’s debut single, “Our Lips Are Sealed,” with his then-girlfriend, Jane Wiedlin.
Thom Bell, one of the members of “The Mighty Three” architects of the Philadelphia soul sound, which also included Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, passed away December 22 at the age of 79.
Def Leppard has shared a special holiday message to fans, posting a video to social media with each member sharing holiday wishes to their followers.
“Wanted to say one thing before the year comes to an end,” Joe Elliott shares. “Thank you for your support throughout the year, waiting for us through COVID. We had a fantastic tour this summer.” He adds, “Thank you for your support over the last 45 years. So to everybody, happy holidays and we’ll see you in 2023.”
Vivian Campbell added, “Thank you all for supporting the band in 2022, coming to the shows. We had an absolutely wonderful summer. So happy holidays, however you celebrate it. Have a great time.”
And the band is promising more to come next year, with Rick Savage noting, “As we approach the end of 2022 just want to say thank you to everybody that came out who saw us on the last tour, there’s many more to come.”
Rick Allen passed along a similar sentiment, sharing that “there’s loads more” shows to come, “so we’re looking forward to seeing people out there.”
The Beatles have lost one of their United Kingdom chart records. Up until now the legendary rockers held the record for the most U.K. Christmas number ones on the Official Singles chart with four, but that has now been surpassed by British duo LadBaby.
LadBaby, the husband and wife parody act of Mark and Roxanne Hoyle, earned their fifth Christmas number one this week with “Food Aid,” a reimagining of the 1985 Band Aid Christmas classic, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The Band Aid tune was also a Christmas number one.
In hearing the news of their new number one, LadBaby offered up “a massive apology to The Beatles, and to all The Beatles’ fans.”
LadBaby previously landed Christmas number ones with 2018’s “We Built This City,” 2019’s “I Love Sausage Rolls,” 2020’s “Don’t Stop Me Eatin’” and 2021’s “Sausage Rolls For Everyone,” a collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Elton John. Proceeds from their latest number one will go to two food banks, The Trussell Trust and the Band Aid Trust.
The Beatles had their four Christmas number ones with 1963’s “I Want Hold Your Hand,” 1964’s “I Feel Fine,” 1965’s “Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out” and 1967’s “Hello, Goodbye.”
Duran Duran‘s John Taylor and Simon LeBon are wishing their fans a happy holiday with special messages posted to their Instagram page.
“It’s Christmas time, it’s the holiday season,” Taylor shares in an audio message posted with a picture of him in a snow globe. “I want to wish everybody who’s listening to this just the best of times this year. Whatever it is you want, you get, and I hope we all have a great year together next year.”
Frontman LeBon added his own snow globe message, sharing, “Yeah it’s that time of the year when we’re all very fluffy, we’re a bunch of snowflakes really aren’t we? Yes because, you know, it’s the end of the year, it’s that festive season, it’s all those different festivals, which I call Christmas, because I’m white, middle-aged and male.”
He offers, “I’m just wishing everybody out there a lovely, happy holidays. Merry Christmas.”
The guy who co-wrote Mariah Carey‘s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” apparently has some issues with the way that she’s described the song’s origins and is sharing his version in a podcast.
Speaking with the podcastHot Takes & Deep Dives with Jess Rothschild,Walter Afanasieff — sometimes called Walter A — discusses his creative collaboration with Mariah, which resulted in hits like “Hero” and “One Sweet Day.” The two also worked together on her 1994 Christmas album, and Walter claims that at some point in the past 10 years, Mariah has changed her story.
He particularly takes issue with how Carey described the song to Billboard in 2017: “This song that I wrote basically as a kid on my little Casio keyboard.” Walter is calling B.S. on that.
“She doesn’t play anything, she doesn’t play keyboard or piano,” argues Walter. “She doesn’t understand music, she doesn’t know chord changes and music theory … So to claim that she wrote a very complicated chord-structured song with her finger on a Casio keyboard when she was a little girl, it’s kind of a tall tale.”
In a recent Amazon documentary, Mariah claims she wrote the melody and all the lyrics on a keyboard in her house, then brought it to Walter in the studio to get the right sound.
Walter disputes this by describing — in minute detail — how he played the music and the chord changes, while Mariah echoed the melody and came up with lyrics, going back and forth “like ping-pong,” he says. And after that, he claims, she would call him at all hours of the night, asking for his opinion on the lyrics.
And while Walter allows that Mariah is a talented and wonderful artist, he says her story just doesn’t add up.
(Walter’s version of how they wrote the song starts at 12:19 into the podcast)
L- Jon Bon Jovi; R- Jesse Bongiovi; Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Hampton Water
Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi will face off against each other live on Instagram the day after Christmas to determine which one of them is this year’s “Pink Pong” champion.
Yes, it’s just regular ping-pong, but it’s dubbed “Pink Pong” after the duo’s acclaimed Hampton Water brand of rosé wine. On social media, Hampton Water posted a video of Jesse presenting his father with a wrapped gift that contains the “championship cup,” on which the winner’s initials have been engraved for 2020 and 2021. It appears as though Jon has beaten his son for the last two years.
“Here ya go b*****s! Defending champ!” Jon brags, showing off the trophy.
When Jesse announces that the 2022 match will take place on December 26, Jon whispers, “You don’t scare me.” But Jesse writes in the comments, “It’s so on! Old man’s going down!”
