The Who Fires Drummer Zak Starkey Two Weeks After Assuring Fans He Still Had A Job
It's been a wild couple of weeks for Zak Starkey and the Who. Supposedly fired last month as the band's long-time drummer, then reinstated (or he was never fired, depending on which side was talking), Starkey is once again unemployed. In a statement, the band said, "The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20 years younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world. Scott Devours - Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows - will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him." Starkey's response: "I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endeavors this would be a lie. I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement." So, more "he said/Who said."
PETE TOWNSHEND: 80 Is Next
Pete Townshend famously wrote "I hope I die before I get old" in The Who's "My Generation."
Well, despite years of drug and alcohol abuse, he's made it to 80. Born May 19th in 1945, he reflects on what's taken place over the last 80 years. "When the war was over my dad wasn't present on my birth because he was over in Germany playing to our victorious troops. You know, I'm just continuing the family tradition. I just hope we remain victorious to be honest, because I think we have a great way of life and I think we're good people and I don't think we've done too much that's wrong. And if we're getting things wrong now, let's try and work out how to improve that."
SAMMY HAGAR: Nine Up, Nine Down
Sammy Hagar wrapped up The Best of All Worlds Tour Stays in Vegas residency at the Dolby Live at Park MGM Saturday night. Friday's show was live-streamed with his buddy Kenny Chesney -- in town rehearing for his 15 shows at the Sphere -- joining him on "Eagles Fly." (Hagar had to also do a full dress rehearsal Friday for camera angles, etc.)
On Saturday, instead of Hagar opening with his new song "Encore. Thank You. Goodnight." — a tribute to Eddie Van Halen — he closed with it and opened with "Eagles Fly." Hagar posted
a highlight video of the residency on Instagram with the caption, "Thank you for one of the best musical three weeks of my life!" He did 27 songs over nine shows, 11 of which were done every night. The breakdown is as follows:
Nine shows: "Why Can't This Be Love," "Top of the World," "There's Only One Way to Rock," "Satch Boogie" (Joe Satriani), "Right Now," "Panama," "I Can't Drive 55," "Humans Being," "Heavy Metal," "Encore, Thank You, Goodnight." and "5150."
Eight: "Love Walks In" and "Good Enough"
Seven: "Poundcake" and "Mas Tequila"
Six: "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" w/Michael Anthony on lead vocals
Five: "Summer Nights"
Four: "Runaround"
Three: "Big Foot" and "Best of Both Worlds"
Two: "Runnin With the Devil" w/Michael Anthony on lead vocals, "Eagles Fly," "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Amsterdam"
One: "When It's Love," "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" w/Michael Anthony on lead vocals, and "Rock Candy"
During his last weekend in Vegas, Hagar paid a backstage visit to The Go-Go's Thursday at their show at The Palms Casino Resort. He then headed over to The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where he jumped onstage with Radio Xx, featuring Ben Carey and Bryce Soderbergh of Lifehouse, to perform “Rock Candy” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.”
FOO FIGHTERS: Boot Drummer
In a shocking move Foo Fighters have booted drummer Josh Freese. He joined the band in May 2023 as a replacement for Taylor Hawkins who passed away in March 2022, and toured with them in 2023 and 2024. Freese, who's on the road with one of his pre-Foos bands, A Perfect Circle, posted the news Friday afternoon on Instagram. He wrote, "The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided 'to go in a different direction with their drummer.' No reason was given... Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. "In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I've never been let go from a band, so while I'm not angry -- just a bit shocked and disappointed. But as most of you know I've always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I'm fine. Stay tuned for my 'Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters' list."
Besides A Perfect Circle, over the past decade alone Freese has been the drummer for Sting, The Offspring, Sublime With Rome, Devo and The Vandals. Foo Fighters had just announced their first concert since Dave Grohl went public about fathering a child outside his marriage last year. It's October 4th at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Bruce Springsteen Biopic Has A Premiere Date
The biopic starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen now has a premiere date. "Deliver Me From Nowhere" takes the stage at theaters everywhere this fall. The film, which has the blessing and involvement of both the Boss and his manager, Jon Landau, also stars Jeremy Strong as Landau, Stephen Graham as Springsteen’s dad and Paul Walter Hauser as guitar tech Mike Batlan. Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, David Krumholtz, Marc Maron, Johnny Cannizzaro, Harrison Gilbertson, Chris Jaymes, and Matthew Anthony Pellicano also star. "Deliver Me From Nowhere" debuts October 24th.
Vince Neil Splits With Long Time GF Over Cheating Allegations
Just days after it was revealed that one Mötley Crüe member's relationship was on the rocks, it's joined by a second one. "TMZ" reports that Vince Neil has dumped longtime girlfriend Rain Hannah over suspicions she was cheating on him. The couple have been together for 14 years, but things went south when (according to sources) one of his assistants informed Neil that Rain had been having an affair. While there is no proof this is the case, reports are that the singer was convinced enough to end things.
BONO: Strips it Down
Bono has released a stripped-down version of U2's "The Showman" from their 2017 album, Songs of Experience. It's off a three-song EP of performances -- Stories of Surrender -- from his documentary of the same name, which will premiere on Apple TV+ on May 30th.
The EP, which also includes his performances of U2's “Desire” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” will be available digitally on May 30th with a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl disc to follow on June 13th. An updated and abridged paperback version of his 2022 memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, will be published on May 27th.
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND: Booted Betts 25 Years Ago
The Allman Brothers Band reduced their number of original members from four to three 25 years ago today (Monday), May 19th, 2000, when they announced they parted ways with founding guitarist Dickey Betts. They sent him a fax telling him he was suspended. Betts recalled "We've been together 31 years, we love you, and a lot of those kind of things, but we're very disappointed in your playing, the fans are disappointed in your playing, and unfortunately you're not gonna be playing the rest of the summer. And I had no indication of what came before that. What caused that. Because the band had no differences." The fax also read, in part, "We hope that you will seek treatment and return to us happy and healthy in the fall." Betts denied he had a problem at that time with drugs and alcohol, saying, "That’s why this [fax] is so confusing. I really don’t understand what’s gone wrong.” He filed suit against the remaining members of the band and reformed Dickey Betts & Great Southern, having never played with the Brothers again, despite reconciling with Gregg Allman and there being talk of a reunion. Betts died of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on April 18th, 2024, He was 80.
Jane's Addiction Dave Navarro: "No Chance To Ever Play Together Again"
Dave Navarro says there's no chance Jane's Addiction will ever play together again after Perry Farrell assaulted him onstage at a show in Boston in 2024. The musician's comment came during a conversation with Guitar Player magazine, in which he was asked to name the worst gig of his career. Navarro gave a short recap of what happened saying there was an altercation on stage and all the hard work, dedication, hours of writing in the studio, crisscrossing the country and Europe came to a "screeching halt." He noted that the 2024 tour included "some of his favorite Jane's Addiction gigs of all time" but said it ended the band's touring life.
Jethro Tull Announce New Album "Live From Baloise Session"
Jethro Tull has a new live album on the way. "Live From Baloise Session" was recorded during the band's performance at the Basel Festival in 2008. This will be the first time the live album is released in an audio format, as it was previously available as a DVD."Aqualung," the first live track from the upcoming album, was released on Wednesday. "Live From Baloise Session" will be available on August 15th.
The Kinks Announce Final Installment In "The Journey" Anthology Series
The Kinks are announcing the third and final installment of "The Journey " anthology series. "The Journey - Part Three" covers the band's RCA/Arista period between 1977 and 1984. The release comes with two discs, one with eleven classic tracks and the other with never-before-heard recordings. The package will be available on two-CD, two-LP, digital, and HD digital formats."The Journey - Part Three" is due on July 11th.
BOB DYLAN: Name Checks Himself
Bob Dylan has made news for the second time this week. First it was on Tuesday in Phoenix at the opening of Willie Nelson's Outlaw Music Festival for his selection of covers and songs of his own that he had never done or played in a while. And on Thursday in Chula Vista, California he covered Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party," which contains his name in the lyrics. “And over in the corner/ Much to my surprise/ Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes/ Wearing his disguise.” Mr. Hughes was George Harrison's alias when checking into hotels.
Dylan famously mentioned his name in one of his own songs, "Gotta Serve Somebody," when he sang, "You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy." Zimmy is short for his real last name, Zimmerman.
SHEERAN, GROHL, MAYER: An F1 Supergroup
Here's quite the suprgroup -- Ed Sheeran, Dave Grohl and John Mayer. That trio recorded a new Sheeran song called "Drive" for the soundtrack to the Brad Pitt racing film F1. Sheeran shared a snippet of the track on his Instagram and wrote, "A lot of fun making this, coming out next month with the movie." F1 and the soundtrack album are both out June 27th.
IN OTHER NEWS
The New York Yankees will be handing out Billy Joel bobbleheads to the first 18,000 guests at their July 11th game against the Chicago Cubs. Billy and Rod Stewart will perform at the stadium seven days later, on July 18th.
Nancy Wilson of Heart singing Triumph’s “Fight the Good Fight” is now streaming. It’s off the Triumph tribute album, Magic Power, which will be out on June 6th. In addition to Nancy, the album contains contributions from Slash, Dee Snider, fellow Canadian Sebastian Bach and others.
Foreigner have released “Quiero Saber Si Es Amor,” a Spanish-language version of "I Want to Know What Love Is." It’s a duet between the band’s guitarist and singer Luis Madonado and Mexican singer-songwriter Joy Huerta from the Grammy award-winning duo Jesse & Joy. It’s available in two versions — one entirely in Spanish, and the other in Spanish and English. Earlier this month Foreigner, with Maldonado on vocals, released a Spanish-language version of 1981’s “Urgent.” Foreigner will perform on the season finale of NBC's The Voice on Tuesday.
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell played his first show with the band in eight months
when they performed last Thursday in San Juan, Puerto Rico followed by Saturday in Ocean City, Maryland. He’d been sidelined after undergoing a bone-marrow transplant as part of his ongoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Def Leppard will return to the road June 19th in Milwaukee.
Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Johnny Van Zant and their guitarist Rickey Medlocke joined Shinedown
last Thursday at the Welcome to Rockville festival at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida for a version of Skynyrd’s “Simple Man." And before that guest appearance, Shinedown did a verse and chorus of 3 Doors Down’s “Kryptonite” as a tribute to Brad Arnold, who announced he has stage-four kidney cancer.