Charlie Benante performs onstage at SoFi Stadium on August 25, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Anthrax will be without drummer Charlie Benante on the road for a bit.
Benante said in an Instagram post that he’s suffered an injury to his right hand and is on doctor’s orders to take a break from performing to “give it the proper time to heal.” He will be absent from the band through a July 4 date in Spain.
The affected dates will feature drummer Darby Todd in Benante’s place.
“I’m incredibly grateful that Darby Todd will be stepping in behind the kit for these dates and helping keep the shows rolling while I recover,” Benante says. “I’m already focused on getting healthy and look forward to being back on the road soon. Thank you all for the support and understanding.”
Benante is expected to return for a July 7 date in Portugal. Anthrax will then kick off a North American tour with Iron Maiden and Megadeth beginning in September.
Kenny Chesney Live at Sphere Las Vegas (Messina Touring)
Kenny Chesney set his second residency at Sphere Las Vegas in motion on Friday with a special appearance by Eric Church.
The Country Music Hall of Famer delivered a 29-song set for the sold-out crowd of nearly 17,000 people that included “Here and Now,” “Livin’ in Fast Forward,” “Young,” “Beer in Mexico,” “Keg in the Closet,” “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven,” “Guitars, Tiki Bars (& a Whole Lotta Love),” “Come Over,” “Noise,” “All the Pretty Girls,” “Carry On,” “Knowing You” and “Out Last Night.”
Kenny’s second summer run adds both fresh visuals and set changes.
“Sphere lets me take people back home with ‘I Go Back,’ to piers that don’t exist for ‘Til It’s Gone,’ flying through downtown Los Angeles for ‘Settin’ The World on Fire,’ inside a pinball machine with ‘Big Star’ and some of my favorite places in ‘When I See This Bar,’” Kenny explained after the show. “You can take them, give them even more of what the song is.”
Eric surprised the crowd during “When I See This Bar,” going on to do “Drink in My Hand” and “Springsteen.”
Kenny’s 2026 Sphere show wrapped with a three-song encore of “American Kids,” “Anything But Mine” and “Don’t Happen Twice.”
The run resumes Wednesday, with shows continuing through July 11.
Ozzy Osbourne at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction 2024 (Disney/Eric McCandless)
The Ozzy Osbourne exhibit in Birmingham, England, is getting a new piece of Ozzy memorabilia.
The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery just announced that Ozzy’s black Gothic-style throne will be part of the Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero exhibit starting July 1.
Ozzy debuted the throne in 2024 when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He last used it during his solo and Black Sabbath performances at the July 5, 2025, Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham’s Villa Park, which turned out to be Ozzy’s final concert. Ozzy died just weeks later on July 22, 2025.
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of Back to the Beginning, it feels fitting that Ozzy’s throne, which has now become synonymous with his final performance, would be placed in the museum, where it can be seen by the fans who loved him,” said Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-chief executives at Birmingham Museums Trust.
Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero opened June 25, 2025, to coincide with the Back to the Beginning concert. It was originally supposed to close in September 2025 but has been extended until Sept. 27, 2026.
In other Ozzy news … his daughter Kelly Osbourne shared her heartbreak of missing Ozzy in a Father’s Day post on Instagram.
“Dad, I still find myself looking for you in ordinary moments the advice I need, the joke I want to tell, the victory I wish you could see,” she wrote. “The ache of missing you is the price of loving you, and I would pay it forever rather than have never been your child at all! “
She added, “I will never stop missing you. It is an honor to spend the rest of my life loving you. Until we meet again!”
James Cameron and Billie Eilish on the set of ‘BILLIE EILISH: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR'(Henry Hwu)
Billie Eilish’s concert film is ready to hit digital hard — and soft.
BILLIE EILISH – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR, which she co-directed with James Cameron, will be available to buy or rent online starting June 23. It was originally released in theaters on May 8.
At the movie’s LA premiere, Billie told ABC News of the film, “I just feel really, really grateful that it’s gonna exist forever, and I’ll get to watch this show and this tour that I loved so much, and made so many memories with them, forever.”
“I think that’s really magical for them to have and for me to have,” she continued. “It’s just a moment in time captured forever.”
Missy Elliott at 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony (Disney/Frank Micelotta)
She helped celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with a headlining set in 2023, and now Missy Elliott will return to Essence Festival to pay tribute to a late friend and icon.
Missy will take the stage at the 2026 edition of the festival in celebration of the life and musical legacy of Aaliyah, who performed at the inaugural festival in 1995 and whose One in a Million album turns 30 this year.
“In 1995, my sister performed at the inaugural ESSENCE festival alongside an impressive line-up of legendary performers. It was so successful that it became a yearly celebration of our culture, and an illumination of the power of Black women’s voices within it,” Aaliyah’s brother Rashad Haughton said in a statement. “Thirty-one years later, I am overcome with gratitude to the founders, artists, and the inimitable Missy Elliott for honoring my sister with this tribute, celebrating her life, art, and ongoing legacy.”
Missy and Aaliyah were friends and frequent collaborators, teaming up on songs including “One in a Million” and “If Your Girl Only Knew.” In the wake of Aaliyah’s death, Missy appeared in the music video for Aaliyah’s song “Miss You,” and paid tribute to her on the songs “Take Away” featuring Ginuwine and Tweet, and “Can U Hear Me” featuring TLC.
The Essence Festival will take place July 3 to July 5 in New Orleans, with a star-studded lineup featuring Cardi B, Kehlani, Latto, Leon Thomas and Brandy & Monica, among others.
Ella Langley’s The Dandelion Tour (Courtesy Ella Langley/Sony)
Ella Langley’s Dandelion Tour will keep blooming into the fall.
The “you look like you love me” superstar is adding 21 new dates to her first headlining arena run, starting Aug. 20 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and going through Oct. 31 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Along the way, the Alabama native will play two nights at Auburn’s Neville Arena; her first headlining stop at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre; and two nights at LA’s Greek Theatre.
Fans can sign up online for presales, which start Thursday, before tickets become available to the public on Friday.
The extension comes on the heels of Ella winning seven Academy of Country Music awards and two American Music Awards on the strength of her four-times Platinum smash “Choosin’ Texas” and its Platinum follow-up, “Be Her.” Her second album, Dandelion, came out in April.
Clive Davis attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala & GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jon Platt at The Beverly Hilton on Feb. 3, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Clive Davis, the record executive known as “the man with the golden ears,” has died of age-related illness, according to his family. He was 94.
Davis either discovered, signed or guided the careers of artists including Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Janis Joplin, Alicia Keys, Patti Smith and Whitney Houston.
A statement from Davis’ family read, “To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives. He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.”
“To his family, Clive was Dad and Granddaddy, the steady presence at the center of our lives, the source of wisdom, strength, encouragement, and unconditional love. No matter how extraordinary his professional accomplishments, he never lost sight of what mattered most: the people he loved.”
A lawyer by trade, New York City-born Davisjoined Columbia Records as assistant counsel in 1960. He was made president of the label by 1967 and helped to bring it into the rock era, signing acts such as Joplin’s band Big Brother and the Holding Company; Santana; Blood, Sweat & Tears; and Pink Floyd.
After being fired from Columbia in 1973, he started his own labels, Arista Records and J Records, and worked for BMG and Sony Music Entertainment. Over that time, he helped revive the careers of Dionne Warwick, Santana, the Grateful Dead, Rod Stewart and Aretha Franklin; gave Barry Manilow his first #1 with “Mandy”; identified Whitney Houston as a future star and signed her at age 19; and released Alicia Keys’ 2001 Grammy-winning debut album, Songs in A Minor.
Other acts Davis worked with over the years included Barbra Streisand, Sarah McLachlan, Carly Simon, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny G, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Kinks, Annie Lennox, Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross, Maroon 5 and Usher.
Davis also worked closely with American Idol in the show’s early years, heading the label that released the music of winners and finalists such as Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, Ruben Studdard and Jordin Sparks.
Davis’ annual star-studded pre-Grammy parties became legendary and often served as a launching pad for the artist he was focusing on at the time. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 as a non-performer.
His 2013 autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life, was a New York Times bestseller. The 2017 documentary Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives, is currently available on Netflix.
Davis, who at age 80 revealed that he was bisexual, is survived by three sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as his partner. His two marriages ended in divorce.
Rod Stewart performs onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at Intuit Dome on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for FIREAID)
After canceling several shows earlier in June due to laryngitis, Rod Stewart returned to the stage on Friday night, but didn’t appear 100% healthy.
TMZ obtained video of Rod struggling through his concert in Salt Lake City, Utah. The video shows Stewart performing “Young Turks” while leaning on musical instruments and the side of the stage in order to stay upright. At the end of the song he motions toward someone behind stage, who brings out an oxygen tank for him to breathe into.
“The show must go on,” Stewart says as he returns to the stage, noting he “nearly f****** fainted.” He then asks the audience if they’d mind if he sat down for the next song.
Stewart recently postponed shows in San Diego and Morrison, Colorado, after coming down with laryngitis. After the Colorado postponement a statement revealed doctors had diagnosed him with “inflammation and strain of the vocal folds.”
Stewart’s next show is June 27 in Lisbon, Portugal. A complete list of tour dates can be found at RodStewart.com.
Oliver Tree performs during the Exit Festival 2024 at Petrovaradin Fortress on July 11, 2024 in Novi Sad, Serbia. (Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
An official statement on the death of Oliver Tree has been posted to the “Life Goes On” artist’s social media.
As previously reported, Tree died June 14 in a helicopter crash in Brazil. He was 32.
“Your legacy will live on forever,” the post reads. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out, shown love, support and has done incredible tributes for Oliver. The constant love, support and positivity is helping the family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times.”
The post notes that Tree is now “back in California where he can finally rest” and that a foundation called Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant for Baby Geniuses will be established in his memory.
“This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing, written in his will,” the post reads. “We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish.”
Indeed, Tree spoke about his idea for the foundation in an interview on the Zach Sang Show, which was published in April. In the interview, which was widely shared following Tree’s death, Tree noted that the purpose of the foundation wasn’t to fund music education, but rather the “actual physical making of art.”
“You’re allowed to physically hire people to help produce stuff,” Tree explained. “You’re allowed to rent gear and equipment to make things. You’re allowed to use the budget to physically produce stuff.”
The social media statement concludes, “Love you all so much, Oliver would be so proud of every one of his supporters, friends and family. Peace be with Oliver.”
Alex Warren’s smash hit has just set a new record: It’s spent a combined total of 107 weeks at #1 on Billboard‘s various charts. The previous record of 106 weeks was set by “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus.
This means that “Ordinary” has been #1 for multiple weeks on multiple charts. For example, it’s racked 34 weeks and counting at #1 on Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary chart, and was on top for 30 weeks on Adult Pop Airplay. On Pop Airplay, it was #1 for 16 weeks. And on the Radio Songs chart, which includes all radio formats, it was #1 for 27 weeks.
“Ordinary” and “Flowers” are the only two songs ever to spend triple-digit weeks at #1. The next-longest reign is 87 weeks, held by The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” “Despacito” is next with 74 weeks, followed by “Blurred Lines” with 72 weeks.
In other Alex Warren news, he spent Father’s Day mourning his late dad, who died of kidney cancer when Alex was nine. He posted a photo of the two of them together and wrote, “Dad, you taught me everything I know today except how to live without you. You may be gone from this world but you’re still everywhere in mine.”
“In everything I do you’re there. Whenever I cry you’re in my tears, whenever I laugh it’s your voice I hear. At every show I still look for you in the crowd. I love you.”
Both of Alex’s parents are deceased, a fact he frequently references in his music and while onstage.
