Lorde and Turnstile vocalist Brendan Yates are featured on the upcoming album from indie musician Dev Hynes‘ project Blood Orange.
The record is called Essex Honey and is due out Aug. 29. The Lorde collaboration, “Mind Loaded,” is out now, and also features Caroline Polachek and Mustafa.
Blood Orange is also opening for both Lorde and Turnstile starting in September.
Both Lorde and Turnstile also just put out new albums in June, Virgin and NEVER ENOUGH, respectively.
Perry Farrell is now also suing his ex-Jane’s Addiction bandmates.
As previously reported, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins filed a complaint against Farrell, alleging assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract over his actions leading up to Sept. 13, 2024, when an onstage altercation during a show in Boston between Farrell and Navarro led to the cancelation of the band’s tour.
In his own complaint, Farrell alleges that he was the one who was assaulted by Navarro in the Boston incident, and that Navarro, Avery and Perkins have committed intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract/bylaws.
Farrell alleges that, during the tour, his bandmates “engaged in a campaign of harassment and bullying of Farrell to try to undermine him during his onstage performances” that included “starting songs when Farrell was not ready” and playing their instruments “at such a loud level that Farrell could not hear himself or sing in tune.”
These issues led to the events of Sept. 13, which Farrell says he reacted to by “body-checking” Navarro.
“Farrell did not throw any punches, but simply wanted to alert Navarro that he had to stop playing so loud,” the complaint maintains, adding that “what followed was an inappropriate violent escalation by Navarro and Avery that was disproportionate to Farrell’s minor body check of Navarro.”
The suit also alleges that Navarro, Avery and Perkins canceled the Jane’s tour without consulting Farrell, and that their social media statements regarding Farrell after the Sept. 13 incident were “libelous.”
The Jane’s suit alleges the Farrell assaulted Navarro on Sept. 13, and that Farrell’s actions have lost them money, and may leave them financially responsible for an advance given to them to record a new album, which they can no longer deliver.
“Ultimately, with the attack on Dave Navarro seen around the world, Perry Farrell abruptly and unilaterally ended all the plans for a Jane’s Addiction revival,” the band’s attorney, Christopher Frost, said in a statement to ABC Audio Wednesday. “He also left his bandmates holding the bag for an unfulfilled tour and record deal, as our lawsuit explains in detail. Dave, Eric, and Stephen never wanted it to come to this. But they have been wronged, want the accurate story told, and they deserve a resolution.”
In a statement regarding the Jane’s lawsuit Wednesday, lawyers for Farrell told ABC Audio, “This is yet another clear example of the group uniting to isolate and bully frontman Perry Farrell.”
“The timing of this baseless lawsuit is no coincidence—it was filed only after they caught wind of legal action coming from our side,” the statement continued. “It’s a transparent attempt to control the narrative and present themselves as the so-called ‘good guys’—a move that’s both typical and predictable. Just like when they released a defamatory and entirely unfounded statement about Perry’s mental health and unilaterally canceled the remaining tour dates without his input, they’re once again scrambling to get ahead of the truth in a desperate effort to save face.”
Brad Barket/Getty Images for Mount Sinai Health System
Steve Miller Band has canceled their upcoming tour due to the extreme weather conditions hitting the U.S.
“You make music with your instincts You live your life by your instincts Always trust your instincts…,” began a post on Miller’s social media accounts. “The Steve Miller Band has cancelled all of our upcoming tour dates.”
“The combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and massive forest fires make these risks for you our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable,” the post continued. “So… You can blame it on the weather…The tour is cancelled.”
As for the future, the post, signed by Steve, the Band and the crew, notes, “Don’t know where, don’t know when… We hope to see you all again,” adding, “Wishing you all Peace, Love and Happiness, Please take care of each other.”
Steve Miller Band was due to kick off their tour on Aug. 15 in Bethel, New York, with dates confirmed through Nov. 8 in Anaheim, California.
Singer Connie Francis, best known for her 1962 hit “Pretty Little Baby” and the 1961 song “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” has died at the age of 87, her manager confirmed.
“It is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that i inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night,” said her copyrights and royalties manager, Ron Roberts, in a post on social media. “I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news.”
“Pretty Little Baby” most recently became a viral song on TikTok, which Francis joined shortly after, and the 1962 song has been used in more than 17 million videos totaling more than 27 billion views globally on the app.
“I’m flabbergasted and excited about the huge buzz my 1962 recording of ‘Pretty Little Baby’ is making all over the world,” Francis said. “To think that a song I recorded 63 years ago is captivating new generations of audiences is truly overwhelming for me.”
“Pretty Little Baby” was released on Francis’ 1962 album, Connie Francis Sings “Second Hand Love” & Other Hits, which peaked at No. 111 on what was then known as the Billboard Top LPs chart.
In May of this year, “Pretty Little Baby” broke into Spotify’s Global and U.S. charts for the first time.
Francis was born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, on Dec. 12, 1937, and is estimated to have sold more than 200 million records worldwide in her lifetime.
ABC News’ Angeline Jane Bernabe contributed to this report.
It may be called the Broken Branches Tour after Dierks Bentley‘s new album, but according to the boss, everything is working together perfectly on the road.
From his band members, many of whom he’s known “for over 20 years,” to his crew members, who have “been with us forever,” Dierks maintains “there’s just nothing like being on tour.”
His fondness certainly extends to this trek’s newcomers, Zach Top and The Band Loula.
“I’ve been able to catch their show most of this tour and they’re just incredible singers and a great band, great energy,” he says of the duo.
“Zach Top is just steering country music back towards that more traditional sound in a lot of ways, and also has a great bluegrass component to everything he does,” Dierks continues.
Dierks regularly sneaks out to watch the openers, and to get a look at the fans.
“I just can’t believe it,” he says. “The number of people we’re playing for every night, it’s incredible. So as long as it’s still like that, we’ll keep doing it.”
Dierks and company will be in Cincinnati on Friday, before venturing to Noblesville, Indiana, and Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, on Saturday and Sunday.
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Palms Resort & Casino
The recent documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin focused on the band’s career up until the release of their second album, 1969’s Led Zeppelin II, and it sounds like fans shouldn’t hold out hope for a second part focused on the rest of their career.
In an interview with Rolling Stone about his upcoming new album, Saving Grace, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant revealed that he doesn’t think a second part is necessary.
“I think the fact that it ended before we needed to take a shave in the morning was probably the most appropriate,” he told the magazine. “I think that kind of shook up the joyous instance of everything, and then we had to go out and buy a razor, and that was it.”
And Plant doesn’t have any plans to delve into his personal life either, telling the mag there’s “not a chance” he’ll write a memoir.
“I’m going down with the ship, and so is my memory,” he said.
While artists like Queen and Elton John have had successful biopics made about their life and career, Plant isn’t interested in having one made about Led Zeppelin.
“No chance,” he said when asked if he’d ever agree to it. “I’m back on the ship, and I’m going down with it.”
Saving Grace, Plant’s first album with the acoustic band of the same name, featuring vocalist Suzi Dian, is due out Sept. 26.
After his onstage altercation with Dave Navarro during what turned out to be Jane’s Addiction‘s final concert, Perry Farrell now faces a lawsuit from his former bandmates.
Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Eric Avery have filed a complaint alleging that Farrell committed assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract with his actions on Jane’s Addiction’s 2024 tour, which ended abruptly when Farrell threw a punch at Navarro during a Sept. 13 show in Boston.
The band alleges that, even before the Boston incident, Farrell “had an egregious habit of overruling decisions” during the tour, despite a majority-rules policy implemented ahead of time. They also claim that Farrell “regularly appeared onstage in an advanced state of intoxication.”
Once the altercation happened, Navarro, who was still continuing to recover from the effects of long COVID-19, searched for a replacement guitarist to play in his stead and keep the tour going, but ultimately he, Perkins and Avery decided it would be best to cancel the run altogether.
“Plaintiffs were rightfully afraid and uncomfortable to perform with him again,” the suit says. “It was also abundantly clear that Perry was in no condition to continue the Tour on which he had struggled to perform.”
The band alleges that Farrell’s actions lost them money, and may leave them financially responsible for an advance given to them to record a new album, which they can no longer deliver.
The suit seeks at least $10 million in damages to be proven at trial.
In a statement obtained to ABC Audio, Jane’s attorney Christopher Frost says, “Persuaded by Perry Farrell to revive the legendary configuration of the band, Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins had high hopes that they could capture the pure spirit of the band’s early days and build on it.”
“Initially they did, in the studio and onstage,” Frost says. “But, as our lawsuit explains, they did so with a fourth bandmate who was by turns unwilling or unable to perform to a reasonable standard and who repeatedly threatened to derail the tour.”
“Ultimately, with the attack on Dave Navarro seen around the world, Perry Farrell abruptly and unilaterally ended all the plans for a Jane’s Addiction revival,” the statement continues. “He also left his bandmates holding the bag for an unfulfilled tour and record deal, as our lawsuit explains in detail. Dave, Eric, and Stephen never wanted it to come to this. But they have been wronged, want the accurate story told, and they deserve a resolution.”
Meanwhile, lawyers for Farrell say, “This is yet another clear example of the group uniting to isolate and bully frontman Perry Farrell.”
“The timing of this baseless lawsuit is no coincidence—it was filed only after they caught wind of legal action coming from our side,” Farrell’s lawyers continue. “It’s a transparent attempt to control the narrative and present themselves as the so-called ‘good guys’—a move that’s both typical and predictable. Just like when they released a defamatory and entirely unfounded statement about Perry’s mental health and unilaterally canceled the remaining tour dates without his input, they’re once again scrambling to get ahead of the truth in a desperate effort to save face.”
Descendents have announced a reissue of their highly influential 1982 album, Milo Goes to College.
The title is due out Sept. 19 on vinyl, CD and cassette. It marks the beginning of an extended Descendents reissue campaign, which will see them revisit their “foundational albums from their early years.”
Milo Goes to College is credited for helping to pioneer the coming pop-punk scene populated by bands including blink-182 and Green Day. Beyond its musical influence, anyone who’s attended a music festival has probably seen a T-shirt featuring the Milo Goes to Collegecover artwork, which is a cartoon caricature of frontman Milo Aukerman.
Leon Thomas may be a dog, may be a mutt, but he’s also the headliner of Billboard‘s Hip-Hop/R&B LIVE concert. He’ll take the stage at New York City’s Webster Hall on Sept. 5 for a free show sponsored by State Farm and featuring performances by Gelo, Ravyn Lenae and Odeal. There will also be activations like a photo booth and a printing station for T-shirts.
“Billboard has always been at the forefront of recognizing and promoting emerging talent,” said Billboard CEO Mike Van in a statement. “This concert is a testament to the vibrant future of hip-hop and R&B and our commitment to celebrating artists who are shaping the music landscape.”
News of Leon’s headlining gig arrives days after he received his flowers from Ty Dolla $ign, who deemed him the king of R&B at the Wireless Festival 2025.
“He’s the easiest artist I’ve worked with —ever in life,” he told Billboard. “He’s the new example of what an artist should be, in my eyes.”
A new book about Taylor Swift and her evolution as a songwriter is coming this fall. Taylor Swift: Album by Album by Kase Wickman, Joanna Weiss and Moira McAvoy will be released on Oct. 7.
Noah Kahan is bringing his Out of the Blue Festival back to Riviera Cancún, Mexico, next year. The festival will take place Jan. 8-11, 2026, which tickets going on sale July 23. “Honored to be hosting Out of the Blue Festival this year, we’re gonna have so many amazing artists and friends playing on the beach,” Noah says in a statement. Role Model and Gigi Perez are among the artists on the bill.
Is Justin Bieber hinting at a tour? In a video posted to Instagram Wednesday, Justin can be heard singing the Swag track “Daises” a cappella as the camera shows his slippered feet and his view from a balcony. “can’t wait for this liveskiiiiiiiiiiiii so fun to sinnggggggggg,” he captioned it, prompting fans to wonder in the comments if a tour announcement was coming soon.
