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Enter sand-meme: Lars Ulrich lifts the curtain on Metallica’s group chat

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

If you have a group chat where you and your friends send each other memes, then you and Lars Ulrich have something in common.

The Metallica drummer tells Variety that he, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo message each other in a band-only thread, which consists of them texting around ‘Tallica-themed memes that they come across.

“There was this Star Wars one going around a week or two ago which was really funny,” Ulrich says. “There are some conversations between Darth Vader and a whole thing that builds up, and then they’re talking about the dark side. Then all of a sudden it goes into ‘Darkness imprisoning me!’ — that whole thing from ‘One.'”

“It’s a lot to keep track of because this happens hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day,” he continues. “But there are some fun ones that get into our band-only text thread for the four of us to enjoy and appreciate.”

In between sharing memes, Metallica is currently on a U.S. tour, which continues Saturday in Houston. They also just premiered a new documentary dedicated to their fans, Metallica Saved My Life, at New York City’s Tribeca Festival.

Bruce Springsteen calls Brian Wilson ‘the most musically inventive voice in all of pop’

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Bruce Springsteen is the latest artist to pay tribute to the late Beach Boys singer/songwriter Brian Wilson, who died at the age of 82.

“Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony,” Springsteen wrote on social media. “He was also the visionary leader of America’s greatest band, The Beach Boys. If there’d been no Beach Boys, there would have been no ‘Racing In The Street,'” referring to the classic track from The Boss’ 1978 album, Darkness on the Edge of Town.

“Listen to ‘Summer’s Gone’ from The Beach Boys’ last album (That’s Why God Made The Radio) and weep,” Springsteen added. He concluded his post, “Farewell, Maestro. Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.”

Trailer drops for Nelly and Ashanti’s unscripted Peacock series, ‘We Belong Together’

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Nelly and Ashanti are bringing fans into their everyday lives since rekindling their flame, getting married and welcoming their first child together. Their new unscripted TV series, Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together, premieres this summer, and Peacock has shared a trailer of what to expect.

The clip finds the couple briefly summarizing their love story, which started with an on-and-off relationship that lasted 11 years before they broke up. “I hated him,” Ashanti says. “I didn’t think that we would get back together.” The trailer then shows Nelly and Ashanti discussing the differences in their parenting styles and where they’re going to live, with some clips showing them attempting to juggle newlywed lives with parenthood, fun and their busy, sometimes conflicting schedules.

“With our lives moving so fast, it’s not perfect, but we can work our way through it,” Nelly say. Ashanti adds, “Till death do us part.”

“We belong together,” Nelly said, to which Ashanti replied, “No matter how much you get on my nerves.”

Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together will premiere on June 26.

Elton John’s ‘Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper’ getting wide release in July

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Elton John’s April Record Store Day contribution was a vinyl edition of the live album Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper, and now the album is getting wider release.

The album features songs recorded during a May 1977 six-show residency at London’s iconic Rainbow Theatre with percussion legend Ray Cooper. During the residency and the tour that followed, Elton played alone at the piano for the first half of the show, then was joined by Cooper for the second half.

Elton is now set to release the album digitally, on CD and on vinyl on July 25. It will feature 12 tracks, with the CD and digital versions getting a bonus track, “Goodbye.”

“I’m delighted that Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper will be available for my fans to enjoy,” Elton shares. “It’s an album I’m incredibly proud of, and listening back to it, I’m astounded by how great it sounds. The freedom I felt playing with just the two of us is something I will always remember.”

Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper is available for preorder now. Here is the track list:
“The Greatest Discovery”
“Border Song”
“Cage The Songbird”
“Where To Now St. Peter?”
“Ticking”
“Better Off Dead” w/Ray Cooper
“Sweet Painted Lady”
“Tonight” w/Ray Cooper
“Idol” w/Ray Cooper
“I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)” w/Ray Cooper
“Roy Rogers”
“Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)”
“Goodbye” (CD and digital only)

The Black Crowes & Jimmy Page release ‘Live At The Greek’ behind-the-scenes short film

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

The Black Crowes and Jimmy Page have shared a short film about the making of their collaborative live album, Live At The Greek.

As part of the continued celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary, the artists have shared The Making of Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes Live At The Greek, an 11-minute behind-the-scenes look at the making of the live album, with new interviews and never-before-seen footage.

“Ultimately we’re proud of it and we want to give it its due respect,” The Crowes’ Chris Robinson says in the film. Page notes, “It was such fun to do at the time. It’s infectious.”

Rich Robinson adds, “It takes you on a journey.”

The Crowes and Page reissued Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live at the Greek back in March, featuring a new mix of the album. There were also 16 previously unreleased tracks, including “Jams,” a song Page and Rich Robinson wrote during a soundcheck, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and videos.

The 36-track album features performances of both Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin tunes, recorded in October 1999 at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre and in August 1999 at New York’s Jones Beach Theater.

Drake joining Kai Cenat to announce winners of ‘Somebody Loves Me’ music video challenge

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Drake and Kai Cenat will be hosting a $300,000 giveaway Thursday night. While live on Twitch, they’ll review the submissions for Drake’s “Somebody Loves Me” video.

“First of all Thank you to everyone who share[d] their video submission for Somebody loves Me,” Kai wrote on his Instagram Story, referring to videos fans were asked to submit as part of the music video challenge. “We were blown away by the creativity and thought poured into each submission.”

Kai postponed the initial June 11 livestream date because, he explains, he and Drake “needed a little extra time to review” the clips. He shared that Drizzy would join him on the stream to review the submissions live and choose the 20 lucky fans who’ll win $15,000 to bring their music video concepts to fruition.

The idea for the challenge came after Kai expressed his dissatisfaction over Drake’s’ “Nokia” video, prompting Drizzy to reach out to fans for their input.

“CALLING ALL VI$$$IONARIES,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. The Twitch livestream will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Grammys add new country category

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

When the 68th annual Grammy Awards air next year on CBS and Paramount+, there will be one more chance for your favorite country star to take home a trophy.

The Recording Academy is changing the name of the best country album category to best contemporary country album and adding a new one: best traditional country album.

In the all-genre categories, there will now be a trophy for best album cover, as well.

The 2026 Grammys will take place Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The nominations will be revealed Nov. 7.

The story of ‘Endless Summer’, the only Beach Boys studio album to hit #1

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

The Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson has died at age 82. Despite their legendary career, The Beach Boys only topped the album charts twice: in 1964 with their live album Beach Boys Concert and in 1974 with the greatest hits compilation Endless Summer. But in addition to topping the charts, that album became the gateway for a whole new generation of fans to discover the group’s music.

The Beach Boys were a successful touring act in the early 1970s, though they hadn’t had a top-10 hit since 1966. But in 1973, something happened to change that: the movie American Graffiti. The soundtrack of the George Lucas film, set in 1962, was stuffed with oldies like the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ Safari.” It was a hit, so The Beach Boys’ former label decided to cash in.

“Capitol realized that they were sitting on gold, especially after the success the year before of the Beatles’ Red and Blue album collection,” Beach Boys archivist and creative consultant Howie Edelson tells ABC Audio. “Massive hits, massive earnings for the label – with very little effort.”

So Endless Summer – named by The Beach Boys’ Mike Love – rode a wave of nostalgia to the top of the charts.

“It’s the exact same reason why Happy Days was a hit. People were looking back to a simpler time – the Eisenhower–Kennedy era, when everything was on an upswing,” Edelson says. “Teenagers want to be happy. They want to be free. And what better music than Endless Summer?”

But there was another reason why Endless Summer was a hit: There were plenty of music fans who had not experienced The Beach Boys the first time around.

“The Beach Boys never made the jump to FM. That music had been lost to radio,” notes Edelson. “And by being invisible on the airwaves for those years, once this album came out, it was all new to a whole new generation that had been starved of it.”

Endless Summer spent 155 weeks on the Billboard album chart and sold 3 million copies. It’s now considered to be the best introduction to the music of The Beach Boys – and the brilliance of Brian Wilson.

Silento sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with shooting death of his cousin

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Silento, best known for his song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” and its accompanying dance, has pleaded guilty in connection to the 2021 shooting death of his cousin, according to the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney. He pleaded guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and concealing the death of another. He has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Silento, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, was taken into custody on Feb. 1, 2021, in connection with the death of his cousin Frederick Rooks. DeKalb County police had responded to calls of a shooting in Panthersville, Georgia, on Jan. 21, 2021, and arrived to find a wounded Rooks, who was pronounced dead.

A family member said he had last been seen with Silento, who had picked him up in a white BMW SUV; the car was later captured on security camera footage fleeing the area.

Silento was arrested on Feb. 1, 2021, and found with a gun that ballistics testing matched with the bullet casings from the scene, according to the DeKalb County district attorney. GPS data from his SUV also showed he was there the night of the shooting.

Eric Church and Trisha Yearwood to celebrate 4th of July in NYC

June 12, 2025 by WDNY Radio

Eric Church and Trisha Yearwood are set to play the 49th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on Independence Day.

The two-hour show starts at 8 p.m. ET and will air live from New York City on NBC and Peacock.

Hosted by Ariana DeBose, the celebration will also feature Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Ava Max and Keke Palmer.

The fireworks launched from the Brooklyn Bridge and East River will include 80,000 shells and 30 colors and will be set to a 25-minute score co-produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.

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