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Ringo Starr, Billy Joel, Paul Stanley and other stars pay tribute to late Procol Harum frontman Gary Brooker

February 23, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A variety of noteworthy musicians from the rock and pop world, including Ringo Starr, Billy Joel and KISS‘ Paul Stanley, have paid homage to Procol Harum lead singer and pianist Gary Brooker, who died Saturday at age 76 after a battle with cancer.

Brooker, who was most famous for singing and co-writing the classic Procol Harum song “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” led the group for its entire 50-plus-year history, and he also was a member of Ringo’s All Starr Band from 1997 to 1999. The former Beatles drummer posted a tribute note on his Twitter page that reads, “God bless Gary Brooker peace and love to the family,” along with a photo of him and Gary together.

Joel also took to Twitter, where he wrote, “Sorry to hear about the passing of Gary Brooker. Rest in Peace.”

Stanley meanwhile, saluted Brooker with a tweet that reads, “RIP Gary Brooker. You could identify that voice as soon as you heard him sing. Procol Harum…Who can forget ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’? The man sang with a captivating, grand authority and soul.”

Here are more tributes to Brooker from various other well-known music artists:

Queen‘s Brian May: “SAD NEWS: Procol Harem singer Gary Brooker dies at 76 – RIP.”

Faces and ex-Who drummer Kenney Jones: Very sad to hear the news that Gary Brooker has passed away. My thoughts are with Gary’s wife Franky at this sad time. He was a wonderful man who will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.”

Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens: “Safe travels to Gary Brooker of Procol Harum. A truly incredible talent that redefined what rock and roll could be. Big influence on me.”

Former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden: “So sorry to hear of the passing of Gary Brooker. One of the highlights of my career is playing ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ with him. I was very proud to know him. My condolences to his family and fans.”

E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt: “RIP Gary Brooker. I’m too p***ed off to speak right now.”

Bonnie Tyler: “So sad to hear about Gary Brooker. He was a lovely guy and made incredible music that will live on forever.”

The Alan Parsons Project: “RIP Gary Brooker, who sang lead vocal on the APP track ‘Limelight.'”

Beatles reissue producer (and son of George Martin) Giles Martin: “Rest in peace #GaryBrooker — incredible singer, writer and musician — more than that he was a lovely, lovely man. He and his wife…looked after me and my sis when my parents were away. They gave so much love and warmth to us as kids, I wish I’d thanked him before he passed.”

Elton John teams with hot fashion line Teddy Fresh for new collection inspired by his “lust for life”

February 23, 2022 by WDNY Radio

When it comes to fashion, Elton John knows no boundaries. He’s happy to work with Gucci — and does, regularly — but now, he’s also teaming up with a fashion line started by a YouTube star.

Thursday sees the launch of the “Teddy Fresh x Elton John” collection. The Teddy Fresh fashion line is the passion project of Hila Klein, who with her husband, Ethan, is famous for the H3 Podcast channel and h3h3Productions YouTube channel. The line has a devoted following and has already created collections in collaboration with Looney Tunes, Spongebob Squarepants and Care Bears.

The new collab was first announced on Ethan and Hila’s H3 After Dark podcast, during which Ethan said he loved working with Elton because the legendary star is “so gracious, super-nice, and enthusiastic.” Hila, meanwhile, revealed that Elton “personally loved the designs.”

According to the Teddy Fresh Instagram, the new collection is “inspired by the way John has revolutionized music and broken boundaries,” and by his “outlandish style and lust for life.” It features “sequins…intricate patchwork and vibrant fabrics” that convey Elton’s “luxurious and regal taste for fashion and life.”

Some of the designs feature imagery from Elton’s album covers, like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and The One. There’s also a sequined baseball jacket with Elton’s name across the front in a font reminiscent of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fans are already stoked for the new collection, with one writing, “I’ll never financially recover from this,” and another adding, “obsessed is an understatement.”

Swizz Beatz can’t listen to the song that launched his producing career, “Ruff Ryders Anthem” by the late DMX

February 23, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Swizz Beatz has recorded with a who’s who of hip hop and R&B stars, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, and his wife, Alicia Keys. He began his career working with his childhood friend, the late Earl “DMX” Simmons, and he says he has bittersweet memories of the first song he produced for DMX, the classic “Ruff Ryders Anthem” in 1998.

“It’s been really hard to play this record since DMX passed. It’s the song that started both of our lives musically,” the Grammy winner tells NME.com. “We had so many great moments with this song and so whenever I hear it now it makes me reflect a little too hard.”

He adds, “I thought I was ready to start listening to it again but I wasn’t. The times I have heard it I’ve been like: ‘Oooh, I can’t play this yet.’ But I can play all of the other songs for some reason, just not this one. If someone plays it out or I hear it on the radio it just gets me.”

Swizz also produced more more hits for DMX, including “Party Up (Up in Here)” in 2000. Swizz recalls that he attended his first concert with DMX, a Snoop Dogg show in 1994.

“I think it might have been Snoop’s first ever show in New York. I was there with DMX who was performing too,” the 43-year-old artist/writer/producer remembers. “Me and Snoop joke about that show a lot because I snuck in his dressing room and stole some weed out of his pocket. I don’t even smoke weed but I was like, ‘Yo! I got Snoop’s weed,’ and I bagged it. It was in an envelope for years. I have no idea where it is now.”

Howard Jones releasing new studio album, ‘Dialogue,’ this year; announces US summer tour with Midge Ure

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Veteran U.K. synthpop star Howard Jones is preparing a new studio album titled Dialogue, the third in a trilogy of electronic releases following the 2015 multimedia project Engage and the 2019 album Transform.

More information will be unveiled about Dialogue soon. Jones will support the album with a tour later this year running from a June 17 show in Tulalip, Washington, through a July 27 concert in Dallas. He’ll be accompanied by a four-piece band that includes bassist and Chapman stick player Nick Beggs, formerly of Kajagoogoo.

Howard will be joined on the trek by special guest Midge Ure, former frontman of Ultravox and co-writer of the classic 1980s Live Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas.”

“I am beyond excited to be touring the U.S. this summer with my great friend Midge Ure,” Jones says in a statement. “As we take safe steps to put the pandemic behind us, the tour will be a celebration of being together, enjoying the power of live music again. Expect plenty of hit songs as well as cuts from my new album Dialogue.”

Ure adds, “What a joy to be touring North America with my friend Howard Jones again. With the emphasis on technology, quality and performance I am looking forward to dusting off the synthesizers, cranking up the guitar and playing with the brilliant musicians who will be sharing the stage with me.”

Meanwhile, Jones is wrapping up a U.S. winter trek tonight in Richmond, Virginia, with his acoustic trio, which also features Beggs. Visit HowardJones.com for his full tour schedule.

Howard is best known for his string of synth-driven 1980s hits, which included “New Song,” “What Is Love?,” “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life in One Day,” “No One Is to Blame” and “Everlasting Love.”

Aldo Nova releases new song “Burn Like the Sun” from forthcoming EP, along with companion music video

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Aldo Nova has released a new single called “Burn Like the Sun” that will appear on his recently announced forthcoming EP, The Life and Times of Eddie Gage, which is due out April 1.

The veteran Canadian rocker also has debuted a performance video for the song, which you can check out at his official YouTube channel.

As previously reported, the 10-track EP will serve as the first chapter of a planned 25-song rock opera, also titled The Life and Times of Eddie Gage, which tells the fictional story of a talented young rocker who is tempted and exploited by various characters as he tries to break into the music business. He initially succumbs to drugs, alcohol and other excesses before finding redemption when he delves into spirituality.

“The song describes Eddie’s life’s ups and downs and rebirth,” Nova explains of the new tune. “In the opera, ‘Burn Like the Sun’ is the last song that Eddie sings and it sums up his life perfectly with everything coming full circle because it was the only song he had ever written that wasn’t owned by any publishing company or record company, so it’s fitting that the beginning becomes the same song that makes him reborn.”

“Burn Like the Sun” is the second advance track released from The Life and Times of Eddie Gage, following “Free Your Mind.”

After the EP arrives, Nova will release a three-disc set titled Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded on April 19 that features updated versions of nine tunes from Nova’s back catalog on the first disc, and those same tracks mixed without vocals and without guitar, respectively, on the second and third discs.

Megan Thee Stallion sues her label 1501 Certified Entertainment

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Megan Thee Stallion‘s ongoing legal battle against 1501 Certified Entertainment is heating up again, as she just sued the label over a stipulation in her contract.

The three-time Grammy winner released her latest project, the 21-track Something for Thee Hotties, in October 2021. Her legal team filed a petition requesting Something for Thee Hotties be considered an album under their recording agreement, according to Complex.com.

In court documents, Megan’s attorneys claimed that 1501 didn’t classify Something for Thee Hotties as an “album,” and that the label is maintaining that she has not satisfied her “minimum recording commitment.”

“Contrary to 1501’s position, Something for Thee Hotties clearly meets the definition of ‘Album’ under the recording agreement because it is not less than forty-five (45) minutes in length,” the suit claims. “There are no other parameters or requirements under the contract for what can be deemed an ‘Album’ other than total run time of the album. As such, Something for Thee Hotties satisfies her ‘Minimum Recording Commitment’ for the second option period of the agreement. To protect herself, her music, and her artistic choices, [Megan] has been forced to bring this action to seek a declaratory judgment to that effect.”

Thee Stallion, whose birth name is Megan Pete, has released one studio album, 2020’s Good News, which was certified platinum. She also has released three EPs for 1501: Make It Hot in 2017, Tina Snow in 2018, and Suga in 2020.

Music notes: Olivia Rodrigo, Adam Levine, Joe Jonas, Glass Animals, Halsey and more

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Olivia Rodrigo shouted out Lorde when celebrating her 19th birthday on Sunday. She cited Lorde’s single “Perfect Places” by writing the lyric “I’m 19 and I’m on fire” on her birthday cake. If you forgot, Lorde inspired Olivia’s career. — the Grammy nominee previously told Interview, “I first remember wanting to be a songwriter” after listening to Lorde’s Pure Heroine album.

Adam Levine let fans know how happy he was to celebrate February 22, 2022. He explained why he tattooed “222” on his left arm, saying he “felt a strange pull” toward the number since he was 15. “This number has popped up in my life at the most important moments,” he added, noting he named his production company, record label and clothing line after the number. Fans also hail February 22 as Maroon 5 Day.

Joe Jonas and his full head of curly hair teased a snippet of DNCE‘s new single, “Dancing Feet,” on Instagram. The single, the band’s first in four years, features DJ Kygo and drops this Friday.

Glass Animals is bringing the heat to Mo Pop Festival. The “Heat Waves” singers will headline the fest between July 30 and 31 alongside Big Sean. Others heading to Detroit’s Hart Plaza for the two-day music bash are Tai Verdes and Jhené Aiko. Tickets are available on the official Mo Pop website.

Halsey is headlining Hangout Fest on Saturday, May 21, alongside co-headliner Doja Cat. Post Malone, Zedd, Maren Morris and Fall Out Boy will headline on Friday, May 20 while Jack Harlow takes over on Sunday, May 22. The three-day fest takes place on the beaches of Alabama’s Gulf Shores. Tickets are for sale on Hangout’s official website.

Halsey explains to fans why they’re “glad I stayed alive”

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Halsey is glad they are alive, and explained why in an uplifting new TikTok video.

The “Without Me” singer recorded themselves eating snacks while playing Phoebe Bridgers‘ “Motion Sickness” in the background. Halsey then reflects on major milestones in their life and how their past selves would have reacted.

“8 year old me would be so surprised my brothers and I are best friends,” one caption reads, while another declared, “14 year old me would be confused why we didn’t marry Harry Styles.”

Looking past at their 17-year-old self, Halsey stated they “would have loved my fans,” while their 19-year-old self “wouldn’t believe we are Grammy Nominated.”

“21 year old me would love the beautiful son that arrived after the losses,” Halsey continued of their one-year-old, Ender, whom they share with partner Alev Aydin. The singer also noted that “24 year old me would thank god we got out,” but did not elaborate.

Arriving at present day, the singer said of their current state that they are “glad I stayed alive.” Halsey previously revealed to Billboard that they attempted suicide at age 17 because of bullying, and was subsequently sent to a psychiatric hospital.

Halsey captioned the sweet video, “Love this cutie trend.”

If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. You can reach Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 (U.S.) or 877-330-6366 (Canada) and The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.

Tickets to ‘The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise’ go on sale next month

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

We now have an on-sale date for tickets for the new musical based on Neil Diamond’s life.

Tickets for The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise will go on sale to the general public March 4 at 10 a.m. ET; a presale is available starting March 1 at 10 a.m. ET. To sign up to buy those presale tickets, visit ABeautifulNoisetheMusical.com.

As previously reported, A Beautiful Noise, featuring hits from Diamond’s legendary song catalog, will have its pre-Broadway premiere at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre. The six-week limited engagement starts June 21 and runs through July 31.

In his 50-plus years of performing, Diamond has played Boston and the surrounding area nearly 40 times; his signature song “Sweet Caroline” is famously played during the eighth inning of all Red Sox games at Fenway Park.

There’s no word on when A Beautiful Noise –– titled after Diamond’s 1976 album of the same name, which was produced by The Band‘s Robbie Robertson — will arrive on Broadway.

Lzzy Hale takes you to church in Halestorm’s new video for “The Steeple”

February 22, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Halestorm has premiered the video for “The Steeple,” a track off the band’s upcoming album, Back from the Dead.

The clip finds frontwoman Lzzy Hale dressed in all white and surrounded by interpretive dancers as she preaches rock n’ roll salvation. You can watch it now streaming on YouTube.

“The Steeple,” which premiered earlier this month, is the second track to be released from Back from the Dead, following the lead single and title track. The record is set to arrive in full on May 6.

Halestorm is about to launch a tour of the U.K. this weekend. They’ll be back in the U.S. in May to play the Welcome to Rockville festival.

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