Cage the Elephant details new album Neon Pill + tour; Matt Shultz speaks on 2023 arrest

RCA Records; Neil Krug

Cage the Elephant has announced a new album called Neon Pill.

The “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” outfit’s sixth studio effort — and their first since 2019’s Social Cues — is due out May 17. It includes the previously released title track, as well as a newly premiered tune titled “Out Loud,” which is available now via digital outlets.

Cage has also announced a U.S. tour in support of Neon Pill, running from June 20 in West Valley City, Utah, to September 18 in Denver. Young the Giant will also be on the bill for select dates.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m. local time. Presales begin Tuesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit CagetheElephant.com.

Meanwhile, frontman Matt Shultz has spoken out about his 2023 arrest for the first time. As previously reported, Shultz was apprehended in New York City in January 2023 on gun charges, and ended up pleading guilty to two felony counts and one misdemeanor, which allowed him to avoid jail time. Following a year of no new arrests, Shultz can withdraw his plea to the felony charges.

In an Instagram post, Shultz says that the arrest “undoubtedly saved my life” and shares that he’d been “unknowingly fighting my way through an utter mental health crisis” over three years.

“I had slipped into psychosis due to an iatrogenic response to a medication I was prescribed,” Shultz writes. 

Shultz credits treatment, the support of his bandmates and the “unwavering love” of his wife, Eva, for helping him “regain my grip on reality and fully recover.”

“Along the way, I learned a lot of hard lessons, and I thank God I was able to come out on the other side,” he says.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cyndi Lauper sells majority share in her catalog to company behind ABBA avatar show ‘Voyage’

Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival

Will we one day be able to watch a virtual Cyndi Lauper in concert? It could happen, since the Grammy-winning singer has now entered into a deal with the company behind ABBA‘s 3D avatar show, Voyage.

Cyndi has sold the majority share of her master recording revenue and publishing to the Swedish entertainment company Pophouse, which was co-founded and partly owned by ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus. In addition to being a founding investor in Voyage, Pophouse is the company behind KISS‘ plans to launch an avatar-based show.

In a video conversation with Ulvaeus that’s posted on the Pophouse website, Cyndi says, “When I saw the ABBA Voyage, I started to think about what could be done.” He replies, “It’s just the beginning!”

According to the company, as part of the deal Pophouse will “create new content and experiences to enrich Cyndi Lauper’s catalog” — including hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time” and “True Colors” — for “fans old and new.”

In an additional statement, Cyndi said, “I can’t wait to participate in this new stage in my musical evolution and I could not be more pleased to know my music will now be in Pophouse’s safe hands as they build upon my legacy in the years to come.”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson explores “renewal” — not “bloody vikings” — on new solo album

BMG

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson wants to make one thing clear about his new solo album, The Mandrake Project: it’s not about “bloody vikings.”

You’d be forgiven for thinking that it might be, given that the record’s opening track and lead single is called “Afterglow of Ragnarok.” If you’re a fan of the Thor movies or God of War video games, you know that “Ragnarok” refers to a world-ending event in Norse mythology.

“When I wrote the song, I was like, ‘Oh my God, what have I done?'” Dickinson tells ABC Audio.

Instead of following in the footsteps of Led Zeppelin‘s “Immigrant Song,” Dickinson was more interested in the themes behind Ragnarok, which sets the scene for the rest of The Mandrake Project.

“Ragnarok’s not about the end of the world,” Dickinson says. “Ragnarok’s about renewal. The world has to end in order for it to be renewed.”

The Mandrake Project does have a non-viking-related narrative concerning a scientist named Dr. Necropolis, which is further explored in an accompanying comic book series. The actual music, meanwhile, bounces from the expected big metal riffs to more surprising sounds, influenced by everything from Westerns to The Beatles.

Overall, Dickinson wants The Mandrake Project to reflect the unlimited nature of a solo project, exploring themes and sounds he couldn’t necessarily do with Maiden.

“There’s some emotional things on the record,” he says. “You couldn’t do a track like [closing song] ‘Sonata,’ for example, with Maiden. You couldn’t do a track like ‘Resurrection Men’ with Maiden with Dick Dale surf guitars, bongos and stoner Hawkwind riffs and stuff like that.”

The Mandrake Project drops Friday, March 1.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Watch the trailer for the new Paul Simon documentary

MGM+/Photo Credit: Guido Harari

The new two-part Paul Simon documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon is set to premiere in March on MGM+, and music fans are now getting their first taste of what to expect.

The first trailer for the series has just been released, featuring archival footage of Simon over the years, including clips of him onstage and in the studio, as well as footage of him with his singing partner Art Garfunkel. There is also more recent footage of Simon in the studio recording his 2023 studio album Seven Psalms. 

“I’ve never wanted to be anything other than a singer and a songwriter,” Simon says in the clip. He later adds, “What I’ve learned is when you find a thing that produces a feeling of peace or joy, try and hold on to it. It’s like bliss. That’s music for me.”

In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, directed by Oscar winner Alex Gibney, airs March 17 and March 24 at 9 p.m. on MGM+.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Billie Eilish, Radiohead & more donate items in support of daughter of Portugal. The Man members

Disney/Randy Holmes

Billie Eilish and Radiohead are taking part in a charity auction in support of Frances Gourley, the 12-year-old daughter of Portugal. The Man members John Gourley and Zoe Manville.

Frances was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called DHDDS, which currently has no cure. Proceeds from the auction, which is being hosted by the platform Charitybuzz, will benefit the organization Frances Changed My Life, which funds research toward curing DHDDS.

Among the items available to bid on is a signed bottle of Eilish’s perfume, and a Radiohead-autographed copy of the Kid A Mnesia compilation. Additionally, artists including Coldplay, Brittany Howard, Olivia Rodrigo, Grouplove and Tenacious D are offering various ticket packages, while Phoebe Bridgers is auctioning off handwritten lyrics to a song of your choice.

Portugal. The Man is also contributing various signed items and concert tickets.

For more info, visit Charitybuzz.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Michael Bublé recalls the moment when being the “King of Christmas” stopped bothering him

143/Reprise

Thanks to his bestselling holiday album, Christmas, Michael Bublé is now linked forever with the holiday. But at first, Michael admits, he was really ticked off about it — until a family tragedy gave him a new perspective.

Appearing on the podcast Our Way with Paul Anka and Skip Bronson, Michael says he experienced “complete clarity” after his son Noah, now 10, was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. “My life changed and I knew what mattered,” he says.

“At the time the Christmas record … just kept on going,” he recalls. “And people didn’t shut up about the Christmas record: ‘Christmas guy! Hey Christmas guy! The King of Christmas!’ And it really bothered me.” Michael recalls complaining to his wife, “I don’t like it that they call me that, you know, I got other things. … I’m killing it in 50 countries.” 

But Michael says after his son’s diagnosis, “I thought, ‘Wow. I’m so worried — my ego, my fault self is so worried that they’re, you know, talking to me about Christmas. What are you thinking about, Mike? What are you doing?'”

“You are connected to the most beautiful time … of the year where people are kinder and more empathetic and they’ve got joy in their hearts,” he says he remembers telling himself. “And they’re inviting you into their homes to celebrate this time with their families, these core memories … and you got a problem with this, a******?”

Noah, who’s doing well now, is one of the four children Michael shares with his wife, Luisana Lopilato. The others are Elias, 7, Vida, 5, and Cielo, 18 months.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Old Dominion started recording ‘Memory Lane’ on an island

Courtesy of Sony Music Nashville

The recording of Old Dominion‘s Memory Lane didn’t begin in a typical location like a recording studio or somewhere on Nashville’s Music Row. Instead, it all started on the sunny island of Key West, Florida.

“That’s where it started. That’s where we recorded the first four songs. You know, every time you make a new album, you don’t really know what you’re wading into,” the group’s Trevor Rosen tells ABC Audio.

“That was our first toe in the water when we went down there, and that’s where we recorded the [songs] ‘Memory Lane,’ ‘Ain’t Got a Worry,’ ‘Easier Said with Rum’ and ‘Hot Again’ — and that got the process going,” he recalls. “That’s the first snapshot in my mind.” 

Old Dominion is currently #24 on the country charts with their Megan Moroney-assisted single, “Can’t Break Up Now.” It follows Memory Lane‘s title track, which hit #1 in July.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe & Judas Priest set for 2024 Aftershock festival

Danny Wimmer Presents

Iron MaidenMötley Crüe and Judas Priest are among the hard rockers confirmed for 2024 Aftershock festival.

Maiden is set to headline the four-day event, held October 10-13 in Sacramento, California, marking their only U.S. festival set of 2024. Mötley Crüe is also set to headline, with Slipknot and a reunited Slayer rounding out the headlining slots. 

Aftershock will feature over 130 bands, the festival’s biggest lineup yet, with Priest performing the same night as Maiden. Other artists on the bill include Pantera, Five Finger Death Punch, EvanescenceBreaking Benjamin, Seether, Tom Morello, Marky Ramone, Halestrom and more. 

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit AftershockFestival.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

What’s Weezer’s “Blue Voyage”?

Andrew Chin/Getty Images

Weezer is teasing something called “Blue Voyage.”

In a Facebook post, Rivers Cuomo and company have shared a link to the site BlueVoyage2024.com alongside the caption, “Are you prepared for the voyage?” If you click through to the site, you’ll be greeted with a declaration that “The voyage takes flight on March 11, 2024,” as well as an option to sign up for an email list.

Notably, Weezer’s 1994 self-titled debut aka the Blue Album is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Cuomo previously shared that Weezer was planning to mark the milestone with “a really amazing deluxe package with a bunch of additional material.”

“And of course, we’ve gotta do some kind of epic tour,” he added.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

UB40 details new album, ‘UB45’

SRG-ILS

UB40 has shared some new details about their upcoming album, UB45, which is set for release on April 19.

The album is described as a “celebration of the past, present, and future of the band” as they celebrate their 45th anniversary. It features both a mix of new songs and reimagined versions of their classic tracks.

And the band is giving fans their first preview of the record with the release of the new single “Gimme Some Kind of Sign,” a cover of the ’60s track originally recorded by Brenton Woods.

UB45 is available for preorder now. 

UB40 is getting ready to spend their summer in the U.S., kicking off their Red Red Wine tour July 2 in New York City, with dates confirmed through August 11 in Melbourne, Florida. The outing will feature The English BeatMaxi PriestInner CircleThird World and Fastest Land Animal as special guests on select dates. UB40’s complete schedule can be found at ub40.global.

Here is the track list for UB45: 

“Home”
“Food for Thought”
“King”
“Champion”
“Tyler”
“Trouble”
“Red Red Wine”
“Fool Me Once”
“Cherry Oh Baby”
“Say Nothing”
“Sing Our Own Song”
“Gimme Some Kinda Sign”
“Kingston Town”
“Hope She’ll Be Happier”

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.