“Welcome to the ‘Youngs'”: Brett Young announces arrival of second daughter

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Brett Young is a proud father, as he and wife Taylor announce the arrival of their second child.

Over the weekend, Brett took to Instagram to reveal that his second daughter, Rowan Marie Young, was born on July 21. She joins the couple’s one-year-old daughter, Presley.The “Mercy” singer shared the news alongside a photo of the sleeping newborn wrapped in a big pink bow.

“I thought my heart was maxed out. I usually don’t like to be wrong…… I was wrong. And I can’t wait to thank you properly for the opportunity to be your daddy. I already love you so much and I can’t wait to watch you and your sister become best friends,” Brett writes in the caption.

The singer also praises his wife and eldest daughter, encouraging the new baby to follow their example as she grows up.

“The women in your life are super heroes and you’re the luckiest lady alive. Presley has been begging for you. Be prepared for me to mess everything up and your mom and sister to always be there to fix it,” he continues. “I love you. Welcome to the ‘Youngs’ -Daddy.”

Brett and Taylor welcomed Presley in October 2019. His most recent #1 hit, “Lady,” is inspired by them. Brett’s set to release a children’s book, Love You, Little Lady on August 24.

New Led Zeppelin documentary, made with band’s participation, is ready to go

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

First announced in 2019, a new Led Zeppelin documentary — the first in 50 years to feature the band’s participation — has been completed, and now has a title: Becoming Led Zeppelin.

As Variety reports, the director, Bernard McMahon, had what’s described as “unprecedented” access to the band for the project. “Becoming Led Zeppelin is a film that no one thought could be made,” Variety quotes MacMahon as saying. “The band’s meteoric rise to stardom was swift and virtually undocumented. Through an intense search across the globe and years of restoration of the visual and audio archive found, this story is finally able to be told.”

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones all sat for new interviews for the doc, and archival interviews with late drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980, are also included. Never-before-seen pictures and film, plus state-of-the-art audio transfers of Zeppelin’s music, round out the project.

McMahon also directed American Epic, a documentary series focusing on American roots music and its impact on the world. According to Variety, when Becoming Led Zeppelin was first announced, Page said that he knew McMahon would be “qualified’ to tell their story based on his “remarkable achievement” with American Epic.

So far, the documentary does not have a release date.

Lorde to perform on ‘Good Morning America’ in Central Park

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lorde will be performing live in New York City’s Central Park later this month for Good Morning America’s 2021 Summer Concert Series.

The New Zealand singer-songwriter will be hitting the stage on August 20 — the same day her new album, Solar Power, is released. She debuted the title track off the album back in June.

Tickets are required to attend the free concert and strict COVID-19 protocols will be enforced. GMA requires all attendees to be fully vaccinated on the day of attendance.

Can’t be in New York City? You can get a front row seat for the performance at home by watching GMA live on August 20 and tweeting @GMA on social with the hashtag #LordeonGMA.

Mark Hoppus’ cancer is “disappearing,” says Tom DeLonge

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Tom DeLonge, the former guitarist/vocalist of the band Blink-182, provided a positive update about his ex-bandmate Mark Hoppus‘ cancer battle.

Hoppus, who previously confirmed he was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is currently undergoing chemotherapy to treat the illness. Now, DeLonge has great news about his fellow Blink-182 co-founder: the treatment is working.

Taking to Instagram recently, DeLonge shared a throwback photo of the two and declared in the caption, “Mark is doing well! Cancer is disappearing!”

“But, he still has more chemo to do. As tough as it is, IT IS working,” DeLonge continued. “Mark is a real life superhero.”

According to the rocker, the photo was snapped when the band was recording their debut studio album, Cheshire Cat, which was released February 1995.

Last week, Hoppus proved his condition was improving by hopping on the live-streaming site Twitch to play the bass, which he said he hadn’t been able to do since he was diagnosed.

DeLonge co-founded Blink-182 alongside Hoppus and drummer Scott Raynor, who was replaced by Travis Barker in 1998. DeLonge left the band in 2015 and was replaced by Alkaline Trio‘s Matt Skiba.

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The Weeknd scrubs his social media, shares extended preview of new single

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The Weeknd is leaving his After Hours era in the rear-view mirror and gearing up for the release of his fifth studio album.

Wiping his Instagram clean on Sunday, the 31-year-old artist shared two cryptic updates that hinted his new music is on the horizon.

The first image, which he shared late Sunday night with his 32 million followers, is mysterious in nature — depicting him in profile, bathed in white-blue light while wearing an oversized black leather jacket as he looks down through amber-tinted sunglasses.

The second update is a nearly two-minute preview of his upcoming new single. The visual continues his theme of daylight, taking viewers on a first-person ride over a dark landscape and toward the setting sun until the entire screen is blanketed in white light.

Minimally captioned as “.” , the preview is reminiscent of the music made by his Starboy collaborators Daft Punk. The undulating, retro-sounding techno beat pulsates over a loud snare and a chorus of “oohs.”

Prior to wiping his Instagram clean, The Weeknd teased his next chapter in music over on Twitter by writing, “F*** it … IT STARTS TONIGHT.”

The Grammy winner first alluded to his upcoming album in April and, during a May interview with Variety, he stated, “If the last record is the after hours of the night, then the dawn is coming.”

A release date and title for The Weeknd’s upcoming work are currently unknown.

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Members of Heart, Mr. Mister, Asia among stars featured on new Beatles tribute album

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A new Beatles tribute album featuring an eclectic variety of well-known artists, including Heart‘s Ann Wilson, Mr. Mister‘s Richard Page and late Asia frontman John Wetton performing classic songs by the Fab Four will be released this Friday, August 6.

Legends Play The Beatles is a 12-track collection that’s available on CD and as a limited-edition LP pressed on either blue or yellow vinyl.

The album, which can be pre-ordered now, features Wilson’s rendition of “Across the Universe,” Page teaming up with longtime Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse for a cover of “Here Comes the Sun,” and Wetton performing “Penny Lane.”

Other artists contributing tunes to the record include Air Supply, ’80s synth-pop artist Howard Jones, folk legend Judy Collins, late Cream bassist Jack Bruce, late pop singer/songwriter Andrew Gold, Southern rockers Molly Hatchet and ex-Deep Purple bassist/singer Glenn Hughes.

Here’s the full track list of Legends Play The Beatles:

“Here Comes the Sun” — Richard Page & Steve Morse
“Across the Universe” — Ann Wilson
“Penny Lane” — John Wetton
“Back in the USSR” — Molly Hatchet
“Norwegian Wood” — Andrew Gold
“The Long and Winding Road” — Air Supply
“Tomorrow Never Knows” — Electric Moon
“Rain” — Sugar Candy Mountain
“Eleanor Rigby” — Jack Bruce
“And I Love Her” — Howard Jones
“Yesterday” — Judy Collins
“Let It Be” — Glenn Hughes

Ann Wilson, Jack Bruce, Molly Hatchet among stars featured on new Beatles tribute album

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A new Beatles tribute album featuring an eclectic variety of well-known artists, including Heart‘s Ann Wilson, late Cream bassist Jack Bruce and Southern rockers Molly Hatchet, performing classic songs by the Fab Four will be released this Friday, August 6.

Legends Play The Beatles is a 12-track collection that’s available on CD and as a limited-edition LP pressed on either blue or yellow vinyl.

The album, which can be pre-ordered now, features Wilson’s rendition of “Across the Universe,” Bruce’s version “Eleanor Rigby” and Molly Hatchet performing “Back in the USSR.”

Other artists contributing tunes to the record include late Asia frontman John Wetton, ex-Deep Purple bassist/singer Glenn Hughes, folk legend Judy Collins, ’80s synth-pop artist Howard Jones and longtime Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, the latter of whom teams up with Mr. Mister‘s Richard Page for a cover of “Here Comes the Sun.”

Here’s the full track list of Legends Play The Beatles:

ZZ Top returns to the stage for the first time following Dusty Hill’s passing

August 2, 2021 by WDNY Radio

ZZ Top in 2015; Randy Holmes/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Following the unexpected death of bassist Dusty Hill earlier last week, ZZ Top returned to the stage on Friday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Billboard reports that the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers honored their late band mate before getting into the thick of their performance.

Frontman Billy Gibbons introduced Elwood Francis — who has served as the band’s guitar tech for the past two decades — as Hill’s temporary replacement. Francis had previously filled in for the late bassist prior to his death.

“We’re gonna have a good time in here tonight,” promised Gibbons. “Got a new guy up here, as you know. Dusty gave me the directive. My friend, your pal, Elwood Francis is gonna hold it down behind me.”

Mid-performance, Gibbons addressed the crowd again on behalf of Hill, shouting at the revelers, “How about that Elwood? Tearing up that bottom there for Dusty.”

Gibbons previously confirmed that Hill wanted the band to continue without him, according to tweets shared by rock radio personality Eddie Trunk.

“As Dusty said upon his departure, ‘Let the show go on!’ and…with respect, we’ll do well to get beyond this and honor his wishes,” a reported text from Gibbons said.

The 71-year-old singer/guitarist added, “Dusty emphatically grabbed my arm and said, ‘Give Elwood the bottom end and take it to the Top.’ He meant it, amigo. He really did.”

Last Wednesday, ZZ Top announced that Hill “passed away in his sleep at home in Houston” at age 72. No cause of death has yet been publicly revealed.

Journey’s new lineup debuts at Chicago show; Neal Schon invites Post Malone to play with the band at Lollapalooza

July 30, 2021 by WDNY Radio

On Thursday night at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom, Journey played their first concert since late 2019, and the first since longtime bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith were fired early last year.

The performance was part of a series of Lollapalooza “aftershow” events that select artists also performing at the Chicago festival this weekend are playing at various venues in the Windy City. The Aragon show was a warmup for Journey’s Lollaplooza headlining set Saturday.

In addition to guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain and singer Arnel Pineda, Journey’s lineup includes drummers Narada Michael Walden and Deen Castronovo, keyboardist/backing vocalist Jason Derlatka and bassist Randy Jackson, although Marco Mendoza is filling in for Jackson at the Chicago shows while Randy recovers from back surgery.

According RollingStone.com, the Aragon Ballroom show was an extra-long, two-set extravaganza that included classic hits like “Open Arms,” “Faithfully” and “Separate Ways,” along with deep cuts like “Suzanne,” “Just the Same Way” and “Feeling That Way.” You can check out fan-recorded video of the band performing the 1978 gem “Wheel in the Sky” on YouTube.

Walden, Jackson and Derlatka joined the band last year, while it was announced earlier this week that Castronovo, who previously played who Journey from 1998 to 2015, was once again a member of the group.

Meanwhile, Schon tells ABC Audio that he’s excited that popular rapper-singer Post Malone will be headlining Lollaplooza alongside Journey on Saturday.

“I think he’s a very good guitar player…and I heard he’s a fan of mine as well,” says Neal. “And he plays many different styles.”

Schon adds, “Maybe he’ll get done before we do, ’cause I think we’re playing a longer show, and I’d like to invite him to our show to come…and sit in.”

Listen to new PVRIS track “Monster” ahead of summer tour kickoff

July 30, 2021 by WDNY Radio

PVRIS have officially started their new era, releasing their first new music since last year’s album Use Me.

The new song, “Monster,” arrives ahead of their new headlining tour, which is set to kick off August 6 with openers Royal & the Serpent.

“‘Monster’ is a song about reckoning with outside opinions and expectations put upon oneself,” says frontwoman Lynn Gunn. “It can be easy to take on the weight of negative situations/opinions, this is about the struggle of releasing those inhibitions and internalizations and returning back to yourself.”

Earlier this month, PVRIS, which now consists of Gunn and Brian MacDonald, announced that they’d be “debuting three new songs on tour to give you an advanced preview of what’s to come,” adding, “It’s about to get crazy.” Presumably, “Monster” is one of those songs.

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