Bono shares how his parents shaped his career

Bono shares how his parents shaped his career
Bono shares how his parents shaped his career
ABC/Paula Lobo

While out promoting his new memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs One StoryBono has been talking a lot about his dad and says it’s actually changed his feelings about his father.

“I always loved my father,” the U2 frontman shared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky. “But now, I’m starting to like him even more because his put-downs were funny and he was a funny man, and there was mischief in him.”

He adds, “I had a very, not that unusual relationship with my father. I think a lot of males have difficulty sometimes with their father. I try to be a good father to my kids, but it’s harder if you don’t have that relationship yourself, so I’m working on it.”

Bono’s mom passed away when he was just 14. Since his father didn’t talk about her much after she died, he says he and his brother didn’t have “many memories of our mother.” But, thanks to the book, he says he has “found her again.”

“I have some beautiful memories that I discovered. She was wonderful, and I’ve made peace with all that,” he says. “Through that ache, I filled that hole with music, so I wouldn’t be in U2 and I wouldn’t have the life I have without all the stuff that got me here, so I’m very grateful going into Christmas for everything, from both my father and my mother.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ciara reveals the things on her Christmas wish list

Ciara reveals the things on her Christmas wish list
Ciara reveals the things on her Christmas wish list

The countdown to Christmas is underway. With just five days remaining until the gift-giving holiday, Ciara has shared some of the things on her wish list this year.

“I feel so blessed. You know, just I think love is really the ultimate thing on my list,” she tells ABC Audio. “I actually made a fun version of … my song ‘Better Thangs,’ a Christmas version, so people can look out for that, as well. … there’s a couple of things I list in the song that I’m, like, I would like to have, but honestly, just love and time with my family. My heart is full. I’m content. That’s all I need.”

Ciara’s family consists of her three children and football player husband Russell Wilson. Since it’s the holiday season, she plans to continue an annual tradition that helps teach her kids the importance of giving back.

“Well, every year what we’ve done … is we ask them [what] toys they want to give away because our kids are so blessed, they have way more than we had growing up,” she says. “And so they actually get excited about taking out old toys to give to someone that needs toys and to make space for new toys.”

The tradition, she adds, “is a part of keeping them humble, you know, because you have to remind them there’s so many kids that don’t have what they have and that are in great need.”

“And so there’s things like that that we do … it’s really sweet and really, I think, really necessary to keep them grounded, keep them levelheaded, and remind them they are so blessed,” she continues.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough is adding the group’s music to his favorite holiday tradition this year

Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough is adding the group’s music to his favorite holiday tradition this year
Backstreet Boys’ Howie Dorough is adding the group’s music to his favorite holiday tradition this year
BMG

2022 brought us the first Backstreet Boys Christmas album, and member Howie Dorough is thrilled that he can finally incorporate his own group’s music into one of his family’s holiday traditions.

“One of the cool traditions I started with my wife was getting up in the morning, all wearing the same Christmas pajamas pretty much, going downstairs and I get out this record player, an old record player, and I put on … one of my favorite classics … A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Howie told ABC Audio. 

He continued, “So now I’m going to break the tradition by still bringing out the record player, but I’m gonna put on A Very Backstreet Christmas, and hopefully start a new tradition going forward.”

Next year, 2023, will mark the group’s 30th anniversary. When it comes to Backstreet holiday memories, Howie said he’s got a couple: one from decades ago and one from 2012.

“In the early, early years, we were in Germany one year for Christmas. We were having success in Germany — we hadn’t even broken in America yet,” Howie recalled. So they went over to the home of a friend of their manager’s and enjoyed the whole German Christmas vibe.

“They have these little villages … they have, like, the Christmas decorations and … the mulled wine … they really get into the Christmas spirit,” he recalled.

Howie’s other favorite memory is from 2012, when Backstreet sang their original song “It’s Christmas Time Again” in the Disney Christmas Parade: “It was cool just to see Disney all, y’know, Christmased out!”

But after 30 years, do the Boys still exchange Christmas gifts?

“It’s funny, me and A.J. joke that we’re the only ones that in the early days gave gifts to everybody,” he laughed. “But it’s OK. Our gift to each other is normally Christmases off.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

‘Rolling Stone’ releases ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ list as new book

‘Rolling Stone’ releases ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ list as new book
‘Rolling Stone’ releases ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time’ list as new book
Abrams Books/Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone‘s ranking of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is now available in book form.

A hardcover tome features the most recent edition of the list, which was unveiled in 2020. You can order your copy now via Abrams Books publishing.

The #1 album on Rolling Stone’s ranking is Marvin Gaye‘s What’s Going On, followed by The Beach BoysPet Sounds at #2, Joni Mitchell‘s Blue at #3, Stevie Wonder‘s Songs in the Key of Life at #4, The BeatlesAbbey Road at #5, Nirvana‘s Nevermind at #6, Fleetwood Mac‘s Rumours at #7, Prince and the Revolution‘s Purple Rain at #8, Bob Dylan‘s Blood on the Tracks at #9 and Lauryn Hill‘s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at #10.

The list was voted on by a number of different journalists, producers and industry executives, as well as artists including U2‘s The Edge and Adam Clayton, Stevie Nicks, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Alice Cooper, Nile Rodgers, Questlove, FINNEAS and KISSGene Simmons.

Rolling Stone will celebrate the release of the book with an event taking place at New York City’s Rizzoli Bookstore on January 31.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Brian May dubs Yungblud a “star performer” after seeing “We Are the Champions” cover

Brian May dubs Yungblud a “star performer” after seeing “We Are the Champions” cover
Brian May dubs Yungblud a “star performer” after seeing “We Are the Champions” cover
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Add Brian May to the list of Yungblud fans.

In an Instagram post, the Queen guitarist shares his reaction to the young English rocker’s recent cover of “We Are the Champions.”

“Every now and then, while idly scrolling in the park, you come upon something that makes you go ‘WOW,'” May writes.

While May enjoyed Yungblud’s spin on the Queen classic, he noticed that some commenters weren’t as impressed.

“I’m smiling quietly at all the ‘noooo’ comments,” May writes. “I remember so clearly the same kind of derision being poured on Freddie [Mercury] when we started out as Queen.”

May adds, “As soon as I see someone who can inspire such strong reactions – positive and negative – I’m sure this person is a star performer.”

Other rock legends who’ve shared their love for Yungblud’s music include The Rolling StonesMick Jagger and The Who‘s Roger Daltrey.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Rolling Stones share video for GRRR Live! version of “It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)

The Rolling Stones share video for GRRR Live! version of “It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)
The Rolling Stones share video for GRRR Live! version of “It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)
Mercury Studios

The Rolling Stones are getting ready to release their new live album and DVD, GRRR Live!, next year, and they’ve just shared a video of their live performance of the classic “It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It).” 

The video is taken from their December 15, 2012, concert at Newark’s Prudential Center, which was part of their 50 & Counting tour, celebrating their 50th anniversary as a band. The original show aired as a pay-per-view event.

GRRR Live!, which is a full recording of the concert, is set to drop February 10. It features guest appearances by such big names as Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr., Mick Taylor and The Black Keys.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Nashville notes: Walker Hayes’ “restless” new song + Parker McCollum’s album preview

Nashville notes: Walker Hayes’ “restless” new song + Parker McCollum’s album preview
Nashville notes: Walker Hayes’ “restless” new song + Parker McCollum’s album preview

Walker Hayes sat down with an acoustic guitar to play a new song for fans on social media this week. He didn’t specify the title, but captioned his post, “For restless people like me,” which is also one of its lyrics.

Parker McCollum shared a “sneak peek” of his upcoming new album on social media.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ava Max releases “Dancing’s Done” ahead of ‘Diamonds & Dancefloors’ release

Ava Max releases “Dancing’s Done” ahead of ‘Diamonds & Dancefloors’ release
Ava Max releases “Dancing’s Done” ahead of ‘Diamonds & Dancefloors’ release
Courtesy Atlantic Records

Ava Max unleashed “Dancing’s Done,” the latest single off of her soon-to-be-released sophomore effort, Diamonds & Dancefloors.

Ava collaborated with some of the music industry’s biggest movers and shakers for her latest anthem. She tapped songwriter Henry Walter and producer Matthew James Burns, who’ve respectively worked with Maroon 5 and Lady Gaga, to perfect her new single.

“Dancing’s Done” captures ’80s disco and dance vibes to deliver an addictive, head-bopping beat as Ava sings about pursuing the object of her affection.

“I wanna give in to your dark temptation/ I wanna touch you like nobody does, oh/ People like you and me were born to run/ So where we goin’ when the dancing’s done?” she asks in the song’s rhythmic chorus.

“Dancing’s Done” follows the previously released songs “Million Dollar Baby,” “Weapons” and “Maybe You’re the Problem” from Ava’s forthcoming album.

Diamonds & Dancefloors arrives January 27. 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Musicians to honor Joe Strummer on 20th anniversary of his death

Musicians to honor Joe Strummer on 20th anniversary of his death
Musicians to honor Joe Strummer on 20th anniversary of his death
Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the death of The Clash‘s Joe Strummer, and the occasion will be marked with a special tribute in New York. 

Consequence reports that D Generation’s Jesse MalinGogol Bordello‘s Eugene Hutz and more will celebrate Strummer by busking at the annual Gates of the West holiday benefit, which kicks off at 6 p.m. outside Malin’s Lower East Side bar Niagara, where there’s a mural of the late Clash frontman. 

Following the tribute, which will move inside Niagara if it snows, there will be an after-party at Malin’s 96 Tears. Proceeds from the event benefit the nonprofit Music & Memory, which “helps individuals with a wide range of cognitive and physical conditions to engage with the world, ease pain, and reclaim their humanity through the use of personalized music.”

Strummer passed away December 22, 2002, at the age of 50, just a few months before the Clash were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His official cause of death was an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album includes some of her husband’s favorite songs: “He’ll love it”

Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album includes some of her husband’s favorite songs: “He’ll love it”
Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album includes some of her husband’s favorite songs: “He’ll love it”
Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Dolly Parton’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame may have inspired her to make a whole album full of rock music, but it was an idea she’d been considering for quite a while beforehand, too, because her husband Carl Dean is a big fan of rock music.

Now that the project is officially underway, Dolly says she knows that Carl is going to be excited to hear the finished product.

“He loves all the songs,” Dolly explains in a new interview with ET Canada, adding that the track list will feature some yet-to-be-determined duet partners.

“I haven’t told [Carl] yet who I’m going to have on. I don’t even know myself, who all is gonna be on it,” she reveals. “But he’ll love it.”

Though Dolly’s released dozens of country albums, she’s got a feeling that this rock project will be a special one to her husband. “I’m doing so many of his favorite songs on the album,” she adds, “so I’ll play it to him when it’s all done.”

Dolly’s interview was a part of the TV special ET Canada Presents: Icons Dolly Parton, which aired on STACKTV and the Global TV App on Monday night.

 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.