If it seems like Elton John announced his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour years ago, it’s because he did: It was January 2018. But now, he’s reached the end of the road — in North America, anyway.
Elton’s just announced 11 North American stadium dates that will include the actual, very last, we promise, U.S. and Canadian shows of the tour. He’ll say goodbye to the continent on November 20 at LA’s Dodger Stadium — the site of one of his most iconic career concerts — and it’ll mark his landmark 2,000th U.S. concert in a 52-year career of touring. When the tour ends, Elton will have played in all 50 states.
Tickets for the 11 dates go on sale Wednesday, April 6 at 10 a.m. local time via EltonJohn.com. Members of his Rocket Fan Club have access to a pre-sale this Friday.
In a statement, Elton says, “Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I cherish these memories we’re making together. It has been nothing short of incredible and I look forward to seeing you very soon one last time, on my Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.”
The tour won’t actually finish until sometime in 2023, which is when Elton will perform in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
Here are the final North American dates:
July 24, 2022 East Rutherford, NJ MetLife Stadium
July 27, 2022 Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium
September 8, 2022 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre
September 13, 2022 Charleston, SC Credit One Stadium
October 8, 2022 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s® Stadium
October 16, 2022 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
October 17, 2022 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
October 22, 2022 Vancouver, BC BC Place
November 9, 2022 San Diego, CA Petco Park
November 11,2022 Phoenix, AZ Chase Field
November 17, 2022 Los Angeles, CA Dodger Stadium
A new tune co-written and recorded by Mick Jagger called “Strange Game” will serve as the theme song to the new Apple TV+ series Slow Horses and will be released this Friday, April 1, coinciding with the premiere of the show’s first two episodes.
The Rolling Stones frontman co-wrote the track with Academy Award-nominated film composer Daniel Pemberton, who produced the song and also is responsible for the score and soundtrack of Slow Horses.
The six-part series, which stars Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce and Olivia Cooke, focuses on a group of dysfunctional British intelligence agents who are relegated to Slough House, a department that serves as a dumping ground for spies who have made major career mistakes.
“Strange Game” is described as an “atmospheric and infectious” track that includes clever references to various aspects of the program’s storylines.
“Working with Mick Jagger has been one of the most exciting collaborations of my professional career,” says Pemberton, whose previous credits include the scores of Being the Ricardos, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Ocean’s 8 and Yesterday. “I think we have managed to create an incredibly unique and original titles theme and I cannot wait for the rest of the world to hear it.”
Adds Slow Horses director James Hawes, “We always wanted a song to set the tone for the show and there was only ever one name in my mind — Mick Jagger. Hearing the track for the first time was utterly thrilling. Mick’s lyrics and performance have totally nailed the mood of Slow Horses, with all the humour and swagger I dreamed of.”
The 11-date Canadian trek is scheduled to kick off on October 5 in Victoria, British Columbia, and is scheduled through an October 18 show in Winnipeg. The tour will include two-night stands in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, respectively on October 9-10 and October 12-13.
Tickets for the Canadian concerts go on sale to the general public this Friday, April 1, at 10 a.m. local time via LiveNation.com. Styx will offer VIP packages and exclusive pre-sale opportunities starting Tuesday, March 29, at 10 a.m. local time at StyxWorld.com.
In addition, American Express card members will be able to buy pre-sale tickets beginning Wednesday, March 30, at 10 a.m. local time; visit Ticketmaster.ca/americanexpress for more information.
Earlier this year, Nancy Wilson’s Heart served as Styx’s special guest at the band’s five-show show Las Vegas residency at The Venetian Theatre that ran from January 28 through February 5.
Before the Canadian trek, Styx has a series of spring U.S. headlining lined up, and then will team up with REO Speedwagon and Loverboy for lengthy Live & Unzoomed Tour, which kicks off May 31 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is mapped out all the way through a September a September 18 performance in Bangor, Maine.
On April 8, expect your favorite artists’ socials to be flooded with messages calling for support for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion and the associated humanitarian crisis.
Among the artists participating in the Stand Up for Ukraine social media movement are Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Madonna, U2, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morissette, Chris Isaak, Celine Dion and many more.
Organized by Global Citizen, Stand Up for Ukraine is designed to mobilize people across the globe to call on world leaders to commit billions of dollars to help refugees. It takes place ahead of a global humanitarian pledging summit on April 9.
More than 12 million people need assistance due to the war in Ukraine, and more than 6.5 million have been displaced internally; in addition, more than 3.5 million have left the country for neighboring countries. Nearly two million are women and children. Since the conflict began, one child from Ukraine becomes a refugee every second.
Visit GlobalCitizen.org to learn how to participate yourself.
Mariah Carey has teamed up with Atlanta rapper Latto and DJ Khaled on a remix of Latto’s hit single “Big Energy.”
The hot new track, which opens with Mariah hitting her legendary high note, was released on Monday — just three days after the arrival of Latto’s second studio album, 777.
“Ima be ya fantasy, you ain’t gone believe this/ hol’ up, got Mimi on the remix,” Latto raps on the track.
The rapper also took to Twitter to respond to fans’ questions about the collaboration.
“I originally thought Mariah for the remix back in like November when it first started going up but didn’t think I could get her realistically… fast fwd I said f*** it and reached out. She was down,” Latto said.
Once Mariah was locked in for the feature, Latto admitted that she was “sooooo nervous” to work alongside her.
“I was like what do I say y’all lol but the conversation just floweddd she was so genuine and I definitely was overthinking,” she explained.
Latto also sent out a tweet to Mariah on Sunday wishing Carey a Happy Birthday and thanking her for her “LEGENDARY VOCALS & ALL THE ADVICE YOU GAVE ME.”
Mariah responded by tweeting, “So excited for this moment dahhhhllling!!!!! So happy and proud of you and all you’re accomplishing!!! But I don’t have BIRTHDAYS! ‘It’s my anniversary!!!’ Congratulations Beautiful.”
Latto also wrote that the best part of working with the “Fantasy” singer was “HEARING HER HIT THAT HIGH NOTE IN PERSON!!!!”
C Flanigan/WireImage for Kaaboo Del Mar via imageSPACE
Aerosmith just announced that it will return to the stage this year for the first time since the start of the pandemic for a new series of Las Vegas residency shows, but now comes word that founding drummer Joey Kramer won’t be joining the band.
According to a statement that Aerosmith shared with USA Today, Kramer has “regrettably made the decision to sit out the band’s concerts in 2022 so he can focus his full attention on his family during these uncertain times.”
The 71-year-old musician’s hiatus is described as “a temporary leave of absence,” and the statement notes that “he and the band look forward to his future performances with Aerosmith.” Filling in for Kramer will be the group’s drum technician, John Douglas, who previously took over for Joey at select shows in 2019 when Kramer was injured.
In early 2020, Kramer sued his band mates when they decided to not allow him to perform with the group when they played the Grammy Awards ceremony because they felt he hadn’t sufficiently recovered from then-recent injuries he’d suffered.
He was subsequently invited to rejoin Aerosmith when they began their February 2020 Las Vegas residency.
As previously reported, Aerosmith’s 2022 residency features 24 dates, broken up into three eight-show engagements taking place at the Dolby Live at Park MGM theater from June 17 to July 8, from September 14 to October 5, and from November 19 to December 11. Tickets for the residency dates go on sale to the general public this Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.com.
The band also has a previously announced September 8 concert at Boston’s Fenway Park with Extreme scheduled.
Roxy Music will reunite this fall for its first tour in 11 years, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the influential art-rock band’s self-titled debut album.
The trek will feature 10 North American dates, kicking off September 7 in Toronto and mapped out through a September 28 show at the famed Los Angeles-area venue The Forum. The trek also will visit Washington, D.C.; New York City; Philadelphia; Boston; Chicago; Austin and Dallas, Texas; and San Francisco.
The band will feature four members of Roxy Music’s classic lineup — singer Bryan Ferry, sax player Andy Mackay, guitarist Phil Manzanera and drummer Paul Thompson.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, April 4, at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.com. Pre-sales will be available starting on Tuesday, March 29, at 10 a.m. local time, and a number of VIP packages also will be offered. Visit BryanFerry.com, LiveNation.com and VIPNation.com for more information.
Alt-rocker St. Vincent will open all of the North American shows except for the Boston concert. Roxy Music also has announced three U.K. dates in October — in Glasgow, Manchester and London.
In related Roxy Music news, the band also will celebrate its 50th anniversary by reissuing special vinyl editions of its eight studio albums. The LPs will be half-speed mastered, and will feature revised artwork. The albums will be released two at a time in installments, with the first pair — 1972’s Roxy Music and 1973’s For Your Pleasure — due out this Friday, April 1.
Roxy Music was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. They are best-known in the U.S. for the 1975 dance hit “Love Is the Drug” and the acclaimed 1982 album Avalon, which included “More Than This” and the title track.
While Elton himself couldn’t make it in person, the 30th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, held Sunday night in Los Angeles, was a huge success.
The party, hosted by Elton’s husband David Furnish, and their friends Lady Gaga, Billy Porter and Eric McCormack, raised $8.6 million for the Foundation. Elton joined via satellite from his concert in Lincoln, Nebraska to thank the attendees, and shared a performance of “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” During that performance, guests received limited-edition Elton John Eyewear “Gold Dust” frames to wear along with Elton.
Elton’s friend, singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile, performed at the party and duetted with singer/songwriter Jake Wesley Rogers on “Rocket Man.”
“I’m so grateful to my friends Lady Gaga, Billy Porter and Eric McCormack for joining David in hosting such an incredible evening, and of course Brandi Carlile for bringing down the house with an electrifying performance,” Elton said in a statement. “Most of all, I’m thankful to all who attended and participated to ensure that we can continue our lifesaving work to end AIDS. I could feel the love and support all the way from Lincoln, Nebraska!”
David Furnish added in a statement, “It was an especially unforgettable and emotional evening with our sons in attendance for the first time. They made their fathers extremely proud representing our family at the Foundation’s most important night of the year!”
Guests at the bash included Demi Lovato, Kevin Costner, Donatella Versace, Chris Pine, Zooey Deschanel, Fran Drescher, Patricia Arquette, Heidi Klum, Chrissy Metz and many more.
Genesis brought its The Last Domino? farewell tour to a close on Saturday night with a concert at London’s O2 Arena, during which singer Phil Collins announced it would be the band’s last ever.
According to Rolling Stone, Collins addressed the audience early on in the concert and said, “Tonight is a very special night…It’s the last stop of our tour. And it’s the last show for Genesis.” He added, jokingly, “After tonight we’ve all got to get real jobs.”
Collins also revealed that original Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel, who left the group in 1975, was in attendance.
“I think Peter’s here tonight,” Phil declared at one point during the show, BestClassicBands.com reports. “Peter Gabriel, ladies and gentlemen…Let’s hear it. I don’t know where he is. Maybe he’s the one shouting for [the 1972 Genesis song] ‘Supper’s Ready.'”
Rolling Stone reports that the event featured the same 23-song set that Genesis had played at nearly every show on the tour, which kicked off with a fall 2021 U.K. leg and also visited North America and mainland Europe.
The World of Genesis fan site tweeted a photo of Gabriel and Collins backstage at the show.
The concert’s final song was a rendition of the 1974 tune “The Carpet Crawlers.” You can check out fan-shot video of the performance on YouTube.
As previously reported, Genesis’ The Last Domino? tour featured the band’s classic trio lineup of Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks and guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford reuniting to perform for the first time since 2007. Collins, who was unable to play drums on the trek due to recent health issues, was replaced behind the kit by his 20-year-old son Nic. Longtime touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer also took part in the outing.
Here’s the concert’s full set list:
“Behind the Lines”/”Duke’s End”
“Turn It On Again”
“Mama”
“Land of Confusion”
“Home by the Sea”
“Second Home by the Sea”
“Fading Lights”
“The Cinema Show”
“Afterglow”
“That’s All”
“The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
“Follow You Follow Me”
“Duchess”
“No Son of Mine”
“Firth of Fifth”
“I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”
“Domino”
“Throwing It All Away”
“Tonight, Tonight, Tonight”
“Invisible Touch”
Encore:
“I Can’t Dance”
“Dancing with the Moonlit Knight”
“The Carpet Crawlers”
Taylor Hawkins and Stevie Nicks in 2013; Gary Miller/FilmMagic
The music world is reacting to the shocking and unexpected death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who passed away Friday at age 50 in Bogota, Colombia, where his band had been scheduled to perform that night at a festival.
Among the famous artists who have posted tributes to Hawkins on their social media pages are Stevie Nicks, Mick Jagger, Ringo Starr, Aerosmith and many more.
Here are some of the many homages, a number of which have been edited for length:
Stevie Nicks: “He always came to my shows. He and his best friend Dave even let me be a Foo Fighter for a little while. We recorded a kick a** version of Gold Dust Woman (live) and at the end of the song I yelled out ‘Best Gold Dust Woman ever.’ And I meant it… Taylor was very handsome and he was very cute…He had a huge heart and a glorious smile. When he walked into the room, everyone looked up. When he left the room, everyone was sad…Don’t forget us, ‘ T.’ We’ll be right here.”
Mick Jagger: “So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. My thoughts are with his family and the band at this time.”
Ringo Starr: “God bless Taylor peace and love to all his family and the band peace and love.”
Aerosmith: “Such a devastating loss. REST IN PEACE Taylor! Our hearts to out to his friends and family.”
Queen‘s Brian May: “No. It cannot be. Heartbroken. Taylor, you were family to us. Our friend, our brother, our beloved child. Bless you. We will miss you so bad.”
Jimmy Page: “After the Led Zeppelin show at the O2, I was invited to play at Wembley Stadium with the Foo Fighters on 7th June 2008. We played Rock and Roll with Taylor on turbocharged vocals and Dave on drums and then for Ramble On they swapped, with Taylor on drums and Dave Grohl on vocals. We put in some serious versions of these two songs. It was so good to play with him. I really admired him and he was a brilliant musician: his technique, his energy and spirited enthusiasm. On this sad day, I would like to send my condolences to his family, his band members in the Foos and his fans.”
Brian Wilson: “I’m heartbroken to hear about Taylor Hawkins. He was such a nice young man. Love & Mercy to Taylor’s family and friends.”
The Doors‘ John Densmore: “A great, great, drummer and friend has passed. Taylor had written on his bass drum, ‘RIP Charlie (Watts)’. Now, RIP Taylor. It is a very sad day.”
Heart‘s Ann Wilson: “Bon Voyage Taylor. Travel well!”
Axl Rose: “Shocked n’ saddened to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. He was a really great guy, drummer n’ family man. Was always great to see him! Was looking forward to seeing him n’ everyone in Daytona. Truly saddened. My deepest condolences to his family, the Foo Fighters n’ their fans.”
Slash: “Devastated by the loss of our friend #TaylorHawkins I’ve no words to express all the feelings I have about his passing. But my heart goes out to his family. & his band & friends. RIP Taylor.”
KISS‘ Gene Simmons: “Hearts broken all over the world. Taylor Hawkins was a kind soul & a monster musician. Drummer for the Foos, Alanis Morissette & Sass Jordon (who I managed for a time). Taylor and his band were to play our Kiss Kruize in Oct…Prayers and condolences to the Hawkins family.”
KISS‘ Paul Stanley: “Speechless and Gutted. Taylor was a great guy, a dad and a husband. My heart goes out to them, Dave and the band. What awful news.”
Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong: “Shocked and devastated . To Taylor Hawkins family and the Foo Fighters family. Our hearts are with you. Always.”
The Pretenders‘ Chrissie Hynde: “Rock expert and virtuoso drummer Taylor Hawkins has left the building. He made me proud to be in a band. I’ll miss you bro’. XXX”
Joan Jett: “We are gutted to hear about the passing of our dear friend Taylor Hawkins. He was an incredible musician and the kindest, warmest person who always had the biggest smile in the room. We send our love to his wife, children, Dave, Pat, Chris, Rami, Nate and the entire Foos’ family. We love you guys and we will miss Taylor immensely.”
Ozzy Osbourne: “@taylorhawkinsoffical was truly a great person and an amazing musician. My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans. See you on the other side.”
Wolfgang Van Halen: “I’ll never forget meeting Taylor on tour in San Diego in 2012. He was such a ridiculously kind man. The dude just emanated cool. Him, my pops and I talked for as long as we could until we had to leave. An incredible drummer and singer, he was a constant inspiration to me throughout my entire life. This is like a kick in the gut…My most heartfelt condolences go out to his family…You’ll be so sorely missed, Taylor…Rest In Peace.”
