James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers contribute signed guitars to Gibson Gives charity auction

James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers contribute signed guitars to Gibson Gives charity auction
James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers contribute signed guitars to Gibson Gives charity auction
Admat for Gibson Gives’ guitar benefit auction (Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions)

Guitars autographed by James Taylor and The Doobie Brothers are up for grabs as part of Gibson Gives’ upcoming benefit auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions.

Other artists who’ve donated signed guitars include Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Willie Nelson, Halestorm, Live, Collective Soul and Daughtry.

“We are proud to help support the musicians of tomorrow, with help from the musicians of today,” says Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions. “This auction of nearly two dozen guitars features some incredible instruments, all signed by renowned artists and bands.”

The online-only auction will go live March 5 at 10 a.m. PT, with proceeds benefiting Gibson Gives & FirstBank Amphitheater Music Education Program, supporting music education for students in Williamson County Schools in Tennessee.

More info can be found at JuliensAuctions.com.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Edgehill channels the sound & attitude of the ’90s with breakout single, ‘Doubletake’

Edgehill channels the sound & attitude of the ’90s with breakout single, ‘Doubletake’
Edgehill channels the sound & attitude of the ’90s with breakout single, ‘Doubletake’
‘Ode to the Greyhouse’ album artwork. (Severance Records/Big Loud Roc)

If you’ve heard the song “Doubletake” by Edgehill, you may have had to double-check what decade you’re living in.

The track, which currently sits in the top 15 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, definitely has a distinct ’90s alternative rock feel.

“We’d been listening to a lot of Weezer, obviously,” frontman Chris Kelly tells ABC Audio. “We’d been listening to Pavement a good amount. Just really cool ’90s bands that have dry vocals, distorted guitar.”

“Doubletake” appears on Edgehill’s new album, Ode to the Greyhouse, which is out now. To paraphrase a movie from the ’90s, Kelly and his bandmates felt that “Doubletake” really tied the record together.

“After we wrote that, we were like, ‘OK, this feels like the album’s cohesive now,'” Kelly says. “It felt like just that song existing kind of tied a couple things together.”

Overall, Kelly feels that “Doubletake” is a good representation of what else you’ll hear in Ode to the Greyhouse.

“I kind of feel like you can find parts of every song on the record in ‘Doubletake,'” Kelly says.

In addition to sounding like the ’90s, lyrics on Ode to the Greyhouse reflect that feeling of ironic detachment often associated with the decade.

“A lot of it’s about cognitive dissonance and the ways that we all think improperly, you could say,” Kelly says. “The things that we do that don’t line up with what we actually believe.”

Edgehill will play an album release show in New York City on Feb. 18. They’ll launch a U.S. tour in March.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Halestorm, Judas Priest, Volbeat & more contribute signed guitars to charity auction

Halestorm, Judas Priest, Volbeat & more contribute signed guitars to charity auction
Halestorm, Judas Priest, Volbeat & more contribute signed guitars to charity auction
Admat for Gibson Gives’ guitar benefit auction (Courtesy of Julien’s Auctions)

Bands including Halestorm, Judas Priest and Volbeat have contributed signed guitars to a charity auction in support of Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of the Gibson guitar company.

The auction, which will be hosted by Julien’s Auctions on March 5, will also include signed guitars by Alice Cooper, Daughtry, Rise Against, Live, Papa Roach, Collective Soul and Underoath.

Funds raised will specifically benefit the Gibson Gives & FirstBank Amphitheater Music Education Program.

“We are proud to help support the musicians of tomorrow, with help from the musicians of today,” says Martin Nolan, co‑founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions. “This auction of nearly two dozen guitars features some incredible instruments, all signed by renowned artists and bands.”

For more info, visit JuliensAuctions.com.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

RHCP’s Chad Smith to teach Legends of the ’70s drum instruction course

RHCP’s Chad Smith to teach Legends of the ’70s drum instruction course
RHCP’s Chad Smith to teach Legends of the ’70s drum instruction course
Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers performs on stage during the NAMM Grand Rally For Music Education on Day 3 of 2026 NAMM Show at Anaheim Convention Center on January 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Here’s your chance to learn drumming from Chad Smith.

The man behind the Red Hot Chili Peppers kit is teaching his own drumming course in partnership with the platform Drumeo.

The class is called Legends of the ’70s and focuses on four of Smith’s biggest influences from the 1970s: Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, The Who’s Keith Moon and Deep Purple’s Ian Paice.

The course begins March 2 and will be available on the app Musora. If you sign up by March 1, you’ll get access to a livestream event with Smith.

For more info, visit Musora.com.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Debbie Harry pays tribute to early Blondie bassist Fred Smith

Debbie Harry pays tribute to early Blondie bassist Fred Smith
Debbie Harry pays tribute to early Blondie bassist Fred Smith
Fred Smith of Television performs at Georgia Theatre on September 10, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images)

Debbie Harry has paid tribute to late Television bassist Fred Smith, who played in an early incarnation of the band that went on to become Blondie.

Smith passed away Feb. 5 at the age of 77.

Sharing a black-and-white photo of the early band playing at New York’s CBGB in 1975, Harry wrote, “Rest in peace, Fred Smith. Thank you for your dedication to music — your contributions will not be forgotten.”

The post notes that the photo features Harry, Smith, and backup singers Tish Bellomo and Snooky Bellomo.

In 1974, current Blondie members Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, along with Smith and drummer Billy O’Connor, who were previously in the band Stillettoes together, formed a new band, originally named Angel and the Snake. The band name was eventually changed to Blondie and the Banzai Babies, and then became just Blondie.

Smith left the group in 1975 to replace Richard Hell in Television.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

BTS concerts to hit theaters worldwide in April

BTS concerts to hit theaters worldwide in April
BTS concerts to hit theaters worldwide in April
‘BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG” LIVE VIEWING’ (Trafalgar Releasing/HYBE/BIGHIT MUSIC)

As part of the promotion for their new album ARIRANG, BTS is coming to a theater near you this spring.

BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ LIVE VIEWING will allow fans to watch the BTS tour kickoff in Goyang, South Korea, on April 11 and their show in Tokyo on April 18, live. Starting Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. ET, you can purchase tickets at btsliveviewing.com. To accommodate the time difference between Asia and other parts of the world, each concert will be screened twice.

The tour, which will visit 34 cities worldwide, will feature a 360-degree, in-the-round stage design. More live screenings are planned for later in the year.

As previously reported, Netflix will screen a live performance by the group from Seoul, South Korea, on March 21, as well as a documentary about their comeback on March 27.

ARIRANG arrives March 20.

In other BTS, news, Jung Kook has been named the new global brand ambassador for the luxury watch brand Hublot. In a statement, he says of Hublot, “I’ve always admired the brand’s confidence, its craftsmanship, its way of creating its own path.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Sara Bareilles, John Legend get good news about new musicals

Sara Bareilles, John Legend get good news about new musicals
Sara Bareilles, John Legend get good news about new musicals
Sara Bareilles attends The 78th Annual Tony Awards Red Carpet at Radio City Music Hall on June 8, 2025 in New York City. (Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Piano-playing pop stars Sara Bareilles and John Legend both have good news about musicals they’re involved in composing.

John has written the music and lyrics for Imitation of Life, a new musical based on the 1933 novel of the same name and its two film adaptations, which came out in 1934 and 1959. It tells the story of two single mothers, one Black and one white, and their daughters, who build a life together while facing divisions of class and race. It was announced on Thursday that the musical will begin performances this fall at the New York City performance space The Shed.

Meanwhile, Sara’s next musical, The Interestings, will premiere next year on the West Coast, Playbill reports. Sara, who wrote the music for the long-running musical Waitress, has penned the score for the show, which is based on Meg Wolitzer’s 2013 bestselling novel. It starts previews Jan. 31, 2027, at Berkley Rep in Berkley, California, with an opening night set for Feb. 17, 2027.

If you think Emmy, Oscar and Grammy winner John might be trying for an EGOT by writing a musical, think again: he already is an EGOT winner. He got his Tony Award as a co-producer for the revival of Jitney in 2017.

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Gorillaz to make ’SNL’ debut in March

Gorillaz to make ’SNL’ debut in March
Gorillaz to make ’SNL’ debut in March
‘Saturday Night Live’ logo. (NBCUniversal)

Gorillaz is set to perform on Saturday Night Live for the first time.

The Damon Albarn-led animated band — which consists of cartoon members Murdoc, Noodle, Russel and 2D — will make their SNL debut on March 6. The episode will be hosted by actor Ryan Gosling, who’s starring in the upcoming movie Project Hail Mary.

Gorillaz will release a new album, The Mountain, on Feb. 27. They’re performing the record in full during two shows in Los Angeles on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.

The Gorillaz exhibit House of Kong will also be open in LA from Feb. 26 to March 19.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

‘Not proud of my behavior’: Ja Rule apologizes for recent airplane incident

‘Not proud of my behavior’: Ja Rule apologizes for recent airplane incident
‘Not proud of my behavior’: Ja Rule apologizes for recent airplane incident
Ja Rule attends the 2023 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala at Pacific Design Center on October 18, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Ja Rule is feeling a bit remorseful about his involvement in a recent public shouting match.

In a statement to ABC News, the rapper apologized for his “out of character” behavior in which, on a Delta Airlines flight, he got into a heated argument with members of the rap group G-Unit.

“I’m not proud of my behavior. It’s goofy to me,” Ja Rule said. “I don’t like people taking me out of my character so for that I apologize to my wife, family, fans, business and investment partners.”

Video of the altercation began circulating on the internet earlier this week, showing Ja Rule visibly upset and turning around to the seats behind him to address rappers Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda. In tweets following the viral footage, Ja Rule admitted to throwing a pillow at Yayo’s head “cuz you soft,” he wrote. 

The tense exchange likely doesn’t come as a surprise to fans who have followed the decadeslong feud between Ja Rule and G-Unit founding member 50 Cent.   

“I’m a grown man about to be a grandfather and I wish that video of me wasn’t out there either,” Ja Rule said in his statement. “I want people to know at the end of the day, I’m still a man and I’m going to stand my ground.”  

 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Nashville notes: Ray Steven’s ‘Savannah’ + Craig Campbell’s ‘Drink for That’

Nashville notes: Ray Steven’s ‘Savannah’ + Craig Campbell’s ‘Drink for That’
Nashville notes: Ray Steven’s ‘Savannah’ + Craig Campbell’s ‘Drink for That’

Craig Campbell’s new track, “Drink for That,” is set to arrive Feb. 20 as the first in a series of new songs. 

Clint Black, Wynonna Judd, Joe Nichols, The Bellamy Brothers and Neal McCoy will headline the 2027 Country Music Cruise, set to take place Feb. 7-14. Tickets are on sale now. 

“Savannah” is the latest taste of Georgia native Ray Steven’s upcoming album, Favorites Old and New, which arrives April 10.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.