Brian May of Queen performs at Chase Center on November 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images)
Queen’s Brian May is teaming with The Struts on a new version of the U.K. band’s breakout hit “Could Have Been Me,” which is due out Sept. 3. You can presave it now and check out a teaser video streaming on YouTube.
The Struts frontman Luke Spiller says he’s “absolutely ecstatic” about collaborating with May, who he calls his “hero.”
“This song is all about seizing your dreams and living life to the fullest, no matter the obstacles,” Spiller says. “It’s a powerful anthem that reminds us to chase what sets our souls on fire. Collaborating with Brian on this track is a dream realized, and I can’t wait for you all to feel the energy and inspiration behind it.”
“Working with Luke and The Struts has been a joyous journey for me,” May adds. “I became obsessed with this great song ever since I was inspired by the original version and felt an uncontrollable urge to mess with it! It carries a great positive message for rebellious kids of all ages. And, together, WE ROCK!!”
“Could Have Been Me” was released in 2013 in the U.K. before it became a hit in the U.S. in 2015 and appears on the band’s debut album, Everybody Wants. It was later featured in the 2021 animated movie Sing 2.
Brent Hinds performs at Riot Fest 2024 at Douglass Park on September 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images
Former Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has died at age 51.
“We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief,” the metal outfit writes in an Instagram post Thursday. “Last night Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident.”
The Atlanta Police Department reported that a man driving a motorcycle Wednesday night was killed in a crash with a BMW SUV that failed to yield.
“We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many,” Mastodon’s post continues. “Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Hinds cofounded Mastodon in 2000 alongside drummer Brann Dailor, guitarist Bill Kelliher and bassist Troy Sanders. Aside from a brief time with vocalist Eric Saner, the four-man lineup of Hinds, Dailor, Kelliher and Sanders remained consistent and played on every album together until March 2025, when Mastodon announced that they’d “mutually decided to part ways” with Hinds.
“We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors,” Mastodon wrote at the time.
Hinds, meanwhile, hinted that his departure was not so friendly, criticizing his former bandmates in subsequent social media posts.
Outside of Mastodon, Hinds played in bands including Fiend Without a Face, Legend of the Seagullmen and Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, which also features Alice in Chains‘ William DuVall.
Selena Gomez is leaning into her Mexican heritage with the latest drop from her Rare Beauty line.
She’s got a new collection inspired by Tajín, a Mexican spice mix that includes lime, chili peppers and salt, and is reddish in color. The color inspired the new Rare Beauty X Tajín Cheek and Lip set, which is packaged in a green, white and red box, matching the color of the spice blend’s bottle.
“Growing up, my dad, my family would put Tajín on everything,” Selena says in an Instagram video. “It just brings me back to that time when I was younger, and, you know, how you can use it in different ways: in drinks and fruit and all those things.”
She adds in another post, “[I] still use it on everything, so one could say this collab has been years in the making.”
The new shades of Chamoy — deep red brown — and Clásico, which is terracotta with copper and gold shimmer, are available for a limited time at Sephora, Sephora Mexico and RareBeauty.com.
Selena also looked toward childhood Mexican flavors for her recent collab with Oreo: She created a cookie inspired by the Mexican cinnamon drink horchata.
Def Leppard performs on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ Aug. 20, 2025. Photo credit: Trae Patton/NBC
Def Leppard made an appearance on NBC’s America’s Got Talent Wednesday night, treating the audience to a performance of their classic tune “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
The band later shared some behind-the-scenes footage from their appearance on Instagram.
“We’re in Pasadena, California, the home of America’s Got Talent, because we are performing,” frontman Joe Elliott says in the clip. “We’re doing one song so that should be easy enough to do, we hope.”
Guitarist Vivian Campbell then jokes, “America’s Got Talent, which is good because we don’t, so we’ll have to borrow some.” Bassist Rick Savage quips, “Maybe even Simon Cowell might be impressed,” before mouthing “doubt it.”
The clip shows the band doing some run-throughs and sound check, and watching as crew test out the pyro that will be going off around them.
“If I was next to that for too much longer I wouldn’t need to shave anymore,” drummer Rick Allen says of the shooting flames. “It’s really hot.”
Def Leppard’s appearance on AGT comes as the band is in the middle of a summer tour. Their next show is Tuesday at the Minnesota State Fair. A complete list of dates can be found at DefLeppard.com.
Sean “Diddy” Combs attends Day 1 of 2023 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center on August 26, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Sean “Diddy” Combs doesn’t deserve a new trial because “there was more than a sufficient basis” to support his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, federal prosecutors argued in a new court filing overnight, submitted in response to a July 31 defense motion requesting acquittal or a new trial.
Attorneys for Combs, who was found not guilty on July 2 of more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, asked the judge four weeks later to acquit him of the prostitution-related counts or grant him a new trial, arguing in part that the Mann Act – the law under which Combs was convicted – was too broadly interpreted to apply to him, that the evidence used to support his conviction was lacking and that “spillover prejudice” from evidence introduced to support the charges on which Combs was acquitted – evidence the defense argued “would have been inadmissible” if Combs had been tried only under the Mann Act – was “inflammatory.”
The Mann Act is a federal law that makes it a criminal offense to “knowingly [transport] any individual, male or female, in interstate or foreign commerce or in any territory or possession of the United States for the purpose of prostitution or sexual activity which is a criminal offense under the federal or state statute or local ordinance.”
Combs doesn’t dispute hiring male escorts but his attorneys argued in their July motion that the Mann Act doesn’t prohibit Combs’ conduct “because he lacked a commercial motive and did not intend for paid escorts to have sex with him,” but rather to watch and video record them them having sex with girlfriends in sexual encounters referred to in trial testimony as so-called “freak-offs,” which his attorneys contended is “protected First Amendment activity.”
Prosecutors argued in their 58-page response that the law doesn’t distinguish between voyeurism and profit.
“He transported escorts across state lines to engage in Freak Offs for pay. He directed the sexual activity of escorts and victims throughout Freak Offs for his own sexual gratification. And he personally engaged in sexual activity during Freak Offs,” prosecutors said of Combs in their filing. “There was more than a sufficient basis, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, to support the counts of conviction.”
The “freak-offs,” as former Combs girlfriend Cassie Ventura testified they were called and which another former Combs girlfriend testifying under the pseudonym “Jane” referred to as “hotel nights,” took place at different residences or in hotels in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Ibiza, and Turks and Caicos, according to trial testimony.
“Escorts traveled to these Freak Offs with Ventura and hotel nights with Jane. The defendant discussed the escorts’ travel with Ventura and Jane,” prosecutors said in their filing, further noting that “the travel arrangements were generally made at the defendant’s direction” including by using a travel agent, having an escort service coordinate it, or by having Ventura and “Jane” handle arrangements.
The Struts on ‘Good Morning America.’ ABC/Paula Lobo
The Struts are releasing a new version of their breakout hit “Could Have Been Me” featuring Queen guitarist Brian May.
The updated track is due out Sept. 3. You can presave it now and check out a teaser video streaming on YouTube.
If you’ve heard the original “Could Have Been Me,” or any other Struts song, then you already know that The Struts are deeply influenced by Queen. So it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that frontman Luke Spiller is “absolutely ecstatic” about collaborating with May, who he calls his “hero.”
“This song is all about seizing your dreams and living life to the fullest, no matter the obstacles,” Spiller says. “It’s a powerful anthem that reminds us to chase what sets our souls on fire. Collaborating with Brian on this track is a dream realized, and I can’t wait for you all to feel the energy and inspiration behind it.”
“Working with Luke and The Struts has been a joyous journey for me,” May adds. “I became obsessed with this great song ever since I was inspired by the original version and felt an uncontrollable urge to mess with it! It carries a great positive message for rebellious kids of all ages. And, together, WE ROCK!!”
“Could Have Been Me” was released in 2013 in The Struts’ native U.K. before it became a hit in the U.S. in 2015 and appears on the band’s debut album, Everybody Wants. It was later featured in the 2021 animated movie Sing 2.
The Struts are currently touring the U.S. celebrating the 10th anniversary of Everybody Wants.
Jermaine Dupri performs during 2025 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
The Fine Wine Festival is celebrating its 10th year as an experience that brings together fine wine tasting and culture while amplifying Black-owned and women-owned wine brands. In honor of the decade anniversary, the event, in partnership with Live Nation, is breaking new ground with a live DJ set headlined by Jermaine Dupri, according to a release. He makes history as the the first musical guest to perform at the annual event.
There will also be the usual offerings: unlimited tastings from Black- and women-owned winemakers and global houses, food, music and a crowd of over 5,000 guests who are dressed to the nines.
“Over the past decade, the Fine Wine Festival has become one of the country’s largest cultural wine experiences, and we’re just getting started,” says cofounder Dozie Osondu in a statement. “Our vision for the next decade is to continue breaking barriers and expanding opportunities, creating a global platform where Black- and women-owned brands can not only enter the space, but lead it.”
Official concert poster for’ Live at Circus Maximus, Rome’/ courtesy of Sony Music Vision and Trafalgar Releasing
Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is giving fans another preview of his upcoming concert film, Live at the Circus Maximus, Rome.
The rocker has just released a performance of “Luck and Strange,” the title track of his 2024 album, which was his first album of new material in nine years. This is the second performance he’s shared from the film. He previously released a performance of the Pink Floyd track “Sorrow.”
Live at Circus Maximus, Rome, hitting theaters and IMAX on Sept. 17, captures one of Gilmour’s Luck and Strange concerts at the famed Italian venue set against the backdrop of the ancient ruins of Rome. It features live performances of songs from the album, as well as classic Pink Floyd tracks like “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb.”
In addition to the film, on Oct. 17 Gilmour will release The Luck and Strange Concerts, a four-LP or two-CD set featuring 23 tracks recorded during the tour. There will also be a super-deluxe edition that includes a 120-page book, David Gilmour Luck and Strange Live, featuring tour photos taken by Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson. All formats are available for preorder now.
‘The Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100’ (Courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum/Grand Ole Opry)
Carly Pearce and Vince Gill will kick off the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s new Opry exhibit with an opening day panel discussion on Sept. 18.
The Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100 will run through March 2027 and feature many artifacts from the radio show’s early days, including Minnie Pearl‘s iconic straw hat from her 1940 debut.
The custom-made boots Reba McEntire wore during her first time on the historic stage in September 1977 will be there as well. They were modeled after a pair worn by the legendary Patsy Cline. The suit Ella Langley wore for her Opry debut in February 2023 will be on display too.
The Opry exhibit is included with museum admission, as is the panel discussion in the Ford Theater, but you’ll need a ticket. You can reserve a seat on the Hall’s website starting Aug. 22.
María Zardoya of The Marias performs during Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 03, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Josh Brasted/FilmMagic
The Marías lead singer María Zardoya is launching a new solo project called Not for Radio.
In announcing the new endeavor, Zardoya assures Marías fans, “Don’t worry, the band will be here forever.”
“I love making music as the marías, and nothing will ever change that,” Zardoya writes in an Instagram post. “But i wanted to challenge myself to make a project that resonated with me in a different way.”
“There are layers to who we all are as individuals, and this is another layer of me, another flower in the garden,” she continues. “Welcome to my alternate reality.”
The most recent Marías album is 2024’s Submarine, which includes the singles “Run Your Mouth” and “No One Noticed.” Since then, they’ve put out the single “Back to Me,” and collaborated with Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco on the song “Ojos Tristes.”
