Music – Page 38 – 105.7 WDNY

Benson Boone will have ‘the time of his life’ this month

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Looks like Benson Boone will have some new music before he hits the road for his Wanted Man tour in July.

Benson has revealed on social media that he’ll be dropping a project called “The Time of My Life” on June 26. It’s not yet clear if it’s a new single, a new album or perhaps — as rumors have suggested — a movie soundtrack song.

In one video, Benson sits down in a chair and props his feet up, revealing the title and release date on the bottom of his shoes. A phone then begins, prompting him to get up and answer it.

In another video, Benson walks through a puddle of water to a neon sign reading, “The Time of My Life.” You can just hear him sing the first word of the song — “I” — before the video ends.

On his Instagram Story, he wrote, “Everything is a clue. Remember that.”

Benson hasn’t released new music since his 2025 album, American Heart. The video for one of the album’s single, “Mr. Electric Blue,” is among the music videos that will be screened June 9 at New York’s Tribeca Festival, as part of the festivals Shorts programs.

The Wanted Man tour launches July 7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s most-used guitar sells for over $500,000 at auction

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s most-used guitar sells for over 0,000 at auction

KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s most-used guitar sells for over $500,000 at auction — Ace Frehley’s Les Paul guitar (Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions)

Ace Frehley’s most-played guitar brought in big bucks at auction.

The late KISS guitarist’s 1975 Les Paul sold for $512,000 at Julien’s Auctions’ Music Icons auction, which took place May 29-30 at the Hard Rock Café Times Square.

The guitar was described in a press release as Frehley’s “constant companion” from the beginning of his career and was used “more than any other guitar in his arsenal.”

Other Frehley items that sold at auction include: a 1997 Gibson signature Les Paul, which he played at Super Bowl 33, for $57,600; a custom Gibson Les Paul Jr, which he played during the 1996 KISS reunion tour, for $57,600; a life-size stage-worn Destroyer mannequin, which sold for $51,200; and a stage-worn purple jumpsuit, which sold for $11,520.

Other big sellers at the auction include: Eddie Van Halen’s autographed Charvel art series guitar from his last performance with Sammy Hagar, which sold for $115,200 and a belt worn by The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger at their 1969 Hyde Park concert, which sold for $51,200.

Soul Asylum releases ‘What Will Become of Me’ from upcoming ‘MPLS Unplugged’ album

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Soul Asylum has released another track off their upcoming album, MPLS Unplugged, dropping Aug. 28.

The latest is a recording of the track “What Will Become of Me,” a fan favorite that was first performed live in 1995 and has been part of their sets for years, though it’s never officially released on an album.

“What Will Become of Me” is available now via digital outlets.

MPLS Unplugged captures Soul Asylum’s 2023 concert at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of their 1993 performance on MTV Unplugged.

Soul Asylum has also announced a new world tour that hits North America starting June 13 in Oroville, California, and runs through Aug, 27 in Winnipeg, Canada. They will join the Live on their South American tour, starting Sept. 13 in Santiago, Chile.

A complete list of dates can be found at SoulAsylum.com.

Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Beyoncé named in readers’ choice list of the 100 greatest American songwriters

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The New York Times released a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters in April, based on feedback from more than 250 music insiders and six Times critics. The list drew criticism from music fans, prompting the newspaper to give readers an opportunity to weigh in.

The Times has now released a readers’ choice list of the 100 greatest American songwriters, explaining, “As soon as we decided to make a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, we could guess how readers would respond to the results: with a combination of enthusiasm and outrage, quickly letting us know which of their favorites we had unconscionably forgotten.”

“We didn’t want all that passion to go undocumented. So we invited readers to assemble their own list — with a formal poll,” the publication added.

The new list is based on more than 25,000 ballots cast, which resulted in “nearly 12,000 distinct choices,” before being narrowed down to 100 songwriters.

Unlike the original list, the readers’ choice list ranks its selections. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Kendrick Lamar placed in the top 20, landing at #6, #13 and #17, respectively. All three were included on the original list, as were Lionel Richie, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Outkast and Babyface, whom fans voted onto the new ranking.

Among the artists excluded from the original list but included in the readers’ choice ranking are Eminem, Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, Ye, Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys.

Alex Warren taps Kevin James to help him announce new album ‘Wildchild’

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

When Alex Warren announced his current tour, he enlisted Jennifer Aniston and Max Greenfield to join him in a comical video sharing the news. Now, he’s enlisted Kevin James for another comical video announcing his new album.

In the video, Alex arrives on set, ready to film his big announcement. Kevin, playing the director, tries to get him hooked up to a harness that’s going to lift him in the air. “Is this gonna be safe?” Alex asked, before a crew member smashes into him, spilling blue paint all over him.

“It’s okay, we’re gonna fix it in post,” says Kevin.

Alex is then hoisted into the air. “My name’s Alex Warren, and my new album…” he says, before confetti explodes everywhere, cutting him off. “No! No! No no no!” screams Kevin. “Not yet!”

“You know, it might be a better choice to do it on the ground,” suggests Alex, but Kevin won’t hear of it. The confetti goes off again, Kevin starts screaming again, the set catches on fire and then the confetti goes off again.

“Alex, just say the line,” says Kevin, at the end of his rope.

“My name’s Alex Warren, and my new album…” Alex says, before the harness gives way and he falls from the ceiling.

The new album is called Wildchild and it’ll be out Aug. 28. It’s the follow-up to his album You’ll Be Alright Kid, which featured his smash hit “Ordinary.”

The confetti in the film is likely a reference to Alex’s current tour: Each night, he has someone from the audience come onstage and hit a button, which rains confetti everywhere.

Alice Cooper guitarist Nita Strauss and husband welcome baby boy

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Nita Strauss is a new mom.

The Alice Cooper guitarist and husband Josh Villalta welcomed their first child, son Maxwell James Villalta, on May 28, People reveals in a new interview with the couple. The couple also shared photos of Maxwell on Instagram.

“We’re in the full on newborn trenches: exhausted, running on fumes and figuring new parenthood out as we go, and it’s still been the most fulfilling and incredible time of our lives,” Nita tells the mag. “Even after only a few days of motherhood, it’s already the best thing I’ve ever done.”

As for the origin of their son’s name, Josh explains, “Whatever he does in his life, we hope he does it to the max!” adding, “His middle name is James, after Nita’s dad, musician James Strauss.”

Nita describes giving birth as the “hardest thing I’ve ever done” but it was well worth it.

“I’ve always heard people say ‘You don’t know true love until they put your baby on your chest for the first time,’ but I never fully understood it until it happened to me!” she says. “It was as if the rest of the world melted away and we were in a vortex bringing a new life into this world.”

“I’m excited for every phase of this new chapter, from right now as we’re learning to care for a newborn to bringing our son along for the ride on tour when the time comes!” Strauss says of motherhood. “It’s going to be amazing, chaotic, and exciting and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Strauss and Villalta, who married in 2024, revealed they were expecting in January. Cooper announced in April that 22-year-old guitarist Anna Cara would be filling in for Strauss on tour while she’s on maternity leave.

Catch a free Dan + Shay show ahead of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The fight for the Stanley Cup comes to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday, with a little something extra for country music fans: Dan + Shay will play a free outdoor concert before the Caroline Hurricanes take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

The show will start at 5:30 p.m ET outside Lenovo Center, and you don’t need a ticket of any sort to attend.

Doors open at 6:30 for those who do have tickets for Game 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. If you don’t have a ticket, you’re invited to stay for an on-site watch party on the South Plaza for the 8 p.m. game.

If you’re stuck at home, you can still catch part of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney’s performance as part of the game on ABC, ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.

The duo’s new album, Young, drops Aug. 21, featuring their top-30 hit, “Say So.”

Eddie Van Halen ‘ruined rock guitar,’ according to The Jesus and Mary Chain

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

You can say a lot of things about the late Eddie Van Halen, but you can’t deny that he was an incredible guitar player, right? Or maybe you can, if you’re The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Speaking to Stereogum, Jim Reid of the Scottish alt-rock duo talked about how, when it comes to playing guitar, sometimes simpler is better. “I can play guitar, but only just. It’s kinda deliberate. I play guitar to the level that I need to play guitar,” he said. “And sometimes knowing too much about making music gets in the way, and it ends up back to Eddie Van Halen again, do you know what I mean?”

Jim’s older brother and bandmate William Reid then chimed in.

“I think guitar players should never learn scales. I think the worst guitar players in the world, like Eddie Van Halen — I can’t stand Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing,” said William. “I think he ruined rock guitar all through the ’80s and ’90s ’cause so many people copied him.”

“And I just couldn’t get any of that playing as fast as you f****** can and cramming as many notes in one second as you could,” William went on.

So whose playing does he admire?

“I listen to Peter Hook’s bass riffs, and I think that’s a thousand times better than anything Eddie Van Halen could ever conjure up,” said William. He was referring to the New Order and Joy Division bass player, who’ll be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year.

Chrissie Hynde baffled by people who film and take pictures during concerts

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Chrissie Hynde has shared her thoughts on concertgoers who record and take pictures on their phones during concerts, and let’s just say she’s not a fan.

“Question: What is it with people and their phones?” the Pretenders frontwoman writes on social media. “But my real question is: why do people have to film or take pictures at concerts or museums? Why???”

She then mentions discussing the topic with singer Emmylou Harris before Harris’ recent concert in London.

“This is a subject that comes up every time I meet any artist. It’s become like an unpleasant fug hanging over the head of all artists,” Hynde writes. “You can plaster a venue with signs requesting ‘NO CAMERAS’ but people don’t respect it. It’s as if people feel entitled, even though the artist clearly has asked them not to do it.”

She notes that Bob Dylan goes so far as to have fans lock up their phones before his shows, writing, “You would think an artist of his stature could make a simple request and the audience would respect it… no chance.”

Hynde says recording and filming at concerts is “like a weird compulsion that people can’t control,” noting, “no one seems to be able to understand why artists don’t like it.” She then compares it to “a mosquito buzzing around your head when you’re trying to go to sleep.”

Hynde shares that at Harris’ London show she encountered a man who was recording the whole concert and when someone told him it was rude and distracting, he told them to “mind their own business.”

“My conclusion is: if Jesus Christ were to walk into a room, the first thing everyone would do would be to pull out their phone,” she writes. “Can someone please explain?”

KISS announces new ‘Destroyer’ book and tarot card set

June 3, 2026 by WDNY Radio

KISS is continuing the 50th anniversary celebration of their fourth album, Destroyer.

To mark the milestone, the band is set to release the new book, KISS Destroyer: The Definitive Visual History, on Oct. 27, described as “an official, authorized retrospective chronicling the band’s first platinum studio album and the legendary tour that followed.”

The book will feature interviews with more than 50 people, including new interviews with KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and producer Bob Ezrin. The book also contains previously unpublished photos, as well as deep dives into the album’s songs, tour info and more.

KISS is also releasing the Official KISS Tarot Deck and Guidebook on Sept. 29, featuring a one-of-a-kind deck of tarot cards with custom artwork. It comes with a 128-page guidebook offering the meanings and interpretations of each card.

Released March 15, 1976, Destroyer featured future KISS classics “Detroit Rock City,” “Shout It Out Loud,” “God of Thunder” and the ballad “Beth,” which became their first top-10 single. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard Albums chart, making it the third consecutive KISS record to make the top 40.

Within a year, Destroyer was certified Platinum by the RIAA, making it the band’s first Platinum record; it was eventually certified double Platinum.

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