SOUNDGARDEN: Picking Their Rock Hall Friends
Soundgarden are rehearsing for their performance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony next week, and drummer Matt Cameron has revealed who's going to be playing with them. Cameron posted photos of his fellow inductees Ben Shepherd, Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto on his Instagram story, and included pics of his former Pearl Jam bandmate Mike McCready, Alice in Chains singer-guitarist Jerry Cantrell and The Pretty Reckless singer Taylor Momsen.
McCready, Cantrell and Momsen were already announced by the Rock Hall to appear at the ceremony, so it's no surprise that they are joining Soundgarden. Brandi Carlile is also taking part in the ceremony, and she's expected to either sing or induct them -- or possibly do both.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is set for November 8th in Los Angeles. The Rock Hall's Class of 2025 is Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast,
Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Salt-N-Pepa, Warren Zevon, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye.
In other Soundgarden news, guitarist Kim Thayil has announced a memoir called A Screaming Life that will be published in May. Thayil says "it tells my story as an American son of immigrants growing up in Chicago. Then, along with another immigrant’s American son, Hiro Yamamoto, we travel to Seattle as idealistic youths, involve ourselves with underground and independent subcultures, and connect with Chris Cornell to form Soundgarden. It follows my experiences, journeys and growth with the band and the building of the Seattle music scene;
ultimately, to partner with Matt Cameron and later Ben Shepherd as we worked and played towards our worldwide successes."
Sting To Headline Pre-Super Bowl Concert
The NFL is lining up its pre-Super Bowl events. Two days before the big game, Sting will headline a Super Bowl-branded concert at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The show is one part of the Super Bowl LX Studio 60 event, described as "a weekend of unforgettable music entertainment at one of San Francisco's most iconic venues." Few details are available yet, but the weekend will include meet and greets with NFL players and legends. The Super Bowl kicks off at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on February 8.
Bon Jovi Adds Two Madison Square Garden Shows To 2026 Tour
Jon Bon Jovi is looking to give those recently healed vocal cords a workout. Bon Jovi has announced they're adding two more shows to their 2026 schedule due to overwhelming demand, and the shows are definitely high-profile. The new shows are headlining gigs at Madison Square Garden in New York, July 16 and 19, squarely in the middle of their previously announced dates. Tickets for the July 19th show go on pre-sale this morning at 10AM Eastern. See the band's website for additional details and ticket purchasing options.
PETER FRAMPTON To Record PBS Special For 50th Anniversary Of 'Frampton Comes Alive!'
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy Award-winning guitarist Peter Frampton will record a special for the 50th anniversary of "Frampton Comes Alive!" on November 8 in Nashville. The special, titled "Frampton Comes Alive 50th Hits And More," will be taped at Analog at Hutton Hotel in front of a live audience and will air on public television and YouTube. Despite announcing a farewell tour in 2019 due to a health diagnosis, Frampton has continued to perform and receive accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The special will feature performances of his classics and career-spanning hits, celebrating the legacy of one of rock's most celebrated artists and guitarists. "Frampton Comes Alive!" remains one of the top-selling live records of all time, with over 17 million copies sold worldwide. Tickets for the taping are reportedly already sold out.
U2: Sneak Peek of New Song?
U2 have a new song in the works. Last week, after Bono and Edge accepted the Woody Guthrie Prize on behalf of U2 and performed a six-song acoustic set, they sat with fellow musician and producer T Bone Burnett for a conversation on art and activism. Bono said,
“You can’t write a song to order,” before sharing new lyrics from a work in progress, written after the July 2025 murder of Awdah Hathaleen, the Palestinian activist and consultant on the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, directed by Israeli Yuval Abraham and Palestinian Basel Adra.
Adra had described the killing of a friend in South Hebron Hills by an Israeli settler as an attempt to erase his people off the face of the earth “one life at a time.” Bono said he called Edge, because Adra’s phrase "one life at a time" was haunting him. "The phrase can work both ways. You can break or make the world one life at a time.” Edge had some music that fit what
started to become this "haunting" song, with Bono adding, "We didn’t have much choice about this… That’s how songs work.” U2 have been working on a new album, their first studio effort of original material since 2017's Songs of Experience.
PINK FLOYD: Pure Poetry
Fifty years after its release, Pink Floyd's ninth album, 1975's Wish You Were Here, has inspired a poem by the U.K.’s poet laureate, Simon Armitage. Titled "Dear Pink Floyd," Armitage says, “I was thinking about the album and their noise, and what effect that has had on people right across the globe. I didn’t know whether I could put into words what that music sounded like. I only get involved with projects if I think I can’t do them, so this was a natural invitation.
“I wanted to write something that was album-shaped, that would fit onto the side of an LP and bleed right to the margins of a square. I was trying to mimic the noise of Wish You Were Here – there are no gaps in it. Like a wall of warm sound. I wanted the text to be a physical manifestation of that. “There aren’t many artistic experiences in the form of noise that send shivers up my spine and make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But when I put Wish You Were Here on as a record, and it begins, I get that feeling every single time.”
You can listen to "Dear Pink Floyd" on YouTube, and it will be included on the 50th anniversary deluxe edition of Wish You Were Here will be released on December 12th.
MAMMOTH: Wolfgang Talks Nepo Babies
Mammoth frontman Wolfgang Van Halen has certainly dealt with being called a "nepo baby," seeing as his father is the late Eddie Van Halen. And though he think's it not a great phrase, he admits it does apply to some people. He told Metal Hammer, “I’m one to talk, but I think the term ‘nepo baby’ is a bit unfair. I think it takes the individuality of the person away. People say Jack Quaid [son of actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid] is one of the ‘good ones’ and it’s like, who decides that?” “I’m not going to name names, but in some cases it does apply: the idea of people getting a leg up when they have no artistic merit or talent. All I’m trying to do is be myself and have my own artistic integrity and my own voice. I hope that people can see that.”
And though Wolfgang did get a head start playing bass in Van Halen when he was 15, people his own age didn't care. “When it comes to high school, I was almost a loser. I had a tutor when I took off for the first Van Halen tour in 11th grade, and when I came back for senior year, it was almost a dig. People would be like [mockingly], ‘Oh, look! It’s the bass player for Van Halen!’ It’s pretty funny how kids are.”
New Tony Banks biography to be published in February
A new biography titled "Tony Banks: Man Of Spells – The Magician Of Genesis" by Mario Giammetti is set to be published in February. The book delves into the career of Genesis founding member and keyboardist Tony Banks, exploring his time in Genesis and his solo
career. Giammetti draws from interviews with Banks and key personalities in his circle to provide an in-depth look at his life. The biography, published by Kingmaker Publishing, features over 100 images, including rare and unpublished photographs. Pre-orders are available in the UK and US.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: So, Why Didn't Deliver Deliver?
Despite all the publicity and hype, the Bruce Springsteen bio-pic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, was pretty much dead on arrival when it opened in theaters this past weekend with an unimpressive take of $9.1 million in the U.S. and $16.1 million worldwide. Here are potentially a few reasons why:
· Folks are turned off by his anti-Trump comments.
· Who really cares about the making of a folk album, in this case, Nebraska.
· When recently asked about the movie being made, he said, "I’m old and I don’t give a [crap] what I do now.” So maybe that's it. In his later years he's released numerous box sets, live albums and documentaries, so perhaps it's been enough.
· Folks have enough trouble dealing with their own mental illness, let alone having to watch a rich liberal musician from New Jersey talking about his own struggles for two hours on the big screen.
While the film has a 60 percent approval rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, here's what some have said.
David Fear of Rolling Stone: “There is also, of course, the 100-million-dollar question: What will Springsteen fans think of this? Some will find it dour to a fault. We don’t blame them. Others will wish it had more sequences like the one in the Power Station [recording studio], where Bruce and the band tear into 'Born in the U.S.A.' and heed [his manager Jon] Landau’s corny demand to 'turn it down.' We don’t blame them either, though despite the movie’s flaws, what Cooper has given audiences here is way more compelling than a live-action greatest-hits compilation.”
Manohla Dargis of The New York Times: “Jeremy Allen White, who’s best known from the FX series The Bear, doesn’t look like Springsteen and smartly, he and [director Scott] Cooper don’t try to fake a resemblance. Much like the man he plays, though, White has tremendous charisma and the kind of endlessly interesting face whose rough beauty and asymmetry draws you to him. His Bruce spends a fair amount of time by himself, and doesn’t speak the language of the therapeutically schooled. That means White needs to express the seemingly inexpressible, even as the character is finding the songs that will voice what he can’t, which the actor does with delicacy. In a movie filled with music that says so much to so many, some of the most memorable moments are the quieter ones, the lonely silences that at times separate Bruce from the world but also eventually help him return to it.”
Kyle Smith of The Wall Street Journal: “The film does a disservice to the windswept austerity of the record with clunky writing and cheesy directorial flourishes, such as having the Boss keep encountering himself as a boy recoiling from an abusive father. Mr. White’s tortured-soulful act is becoming tiresome, and Jeremy Strong turns in an equally overwrought performance as Springsteen’s manager, Jon Landau, who is meant to be a confidant, but comes across as merely a sycophant. The film devolves into a puddle of tears in its final act.”
Chris Richards of The Washington Post: “Springsteen was reportedly a frequent visitor on the set of Deliver Me From Nowhere — undoubtedly pumping up the extras, and presumably stressing out the actors. Was he there to be flattered? Is that what this whole thing is for? Over the past decade, Springsteen has written a generous memoir, then transposed it into a Broadway performance residency, then filmed it for a Netflix special, and now he’s back on tour, speaking righteous truth to power between songs. He must feel known, loved, understood. Why bother funneling all of that through Hollywood’s pomp and corniness into a movie that’s only half good? Nebraska was a triumph because it refused to fulfill anyone’s expectations. Deliver Me From Nowhere valorizes that decision while missing its chance to do the same.”
STRAY CATS: Tour Canceled Due to Setzer's "Serious Illness"
The Stray Cats have canceled their entire fall tour that was set to launch last night (Wednesday) in Louisville, Kentucky. The move comes after they canceled the first two shows in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and Rockford, Illinois over the weekend. Brian Setzer said in a statement, “I’m heartbroken to share, due to serious illness, I am unable to perform and very regrettably have to cancel our Stray Cats tour. I know this affects so many people and I am devastated to have to deliver this news. I’ve been trying everything I can to go on and do these shows, but it is just not possible. I’ve been looking forward so much to being on stage with my band mates again and playing for all of our amazing fans, and I’m gutted.” Back in February, Setzer revealed that he has an auto-immune disease that left him unable to play guitar. He said, "It feels like I am wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play." He said he was making progress a few weeks later and the band announced this tour back in July.
The Cult Announce Touring Hiatus To "Recharge Out Spiritual Batteries"
The Cult are announcing a touring hiatus. In a statement, founding member Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy said "mother nature has a cycle of change and evolution that is inevitable," adding "change is necessary for the creation and rebirth." The British rock band said they decided to step away from touring after they wrap up their "The Cult/Death Cult 8525 Tour." They said they've toured extensively over the last few years and they're going to shift their focus to writing, recording new music, and exploring other projects. The Cults final show of their tour is taking place in Los Angeles this Thursday.
Iron Maiden Announces 2026 North American Tour
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden will return to North America next summer. The band's Run For Your Lives Tour will start in Canada before heading to Harrison, New Jersey on September 5th. They'll also hit cities like Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles before wrapping up on September 29th in San Antonio. Iron Maiden will be joined by Megadeth on all dates as well as Anthrax at select shows. Ticket presales start today with shows going on general sale this Friday.
Sonic Temple Festival 2026 Lineup Revealed
The full lineup for the 2026 Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival is being revealed. My Chemical Romance, Tool, Shinedown, and Bring Me the Horizon are headlining the four-day festival. The event is set for May 14th through the 17th and will be held at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The festival has been expanded to five stages for 2026, with over 140 acts performing. Piecer, The Veil, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, and Godsmack are also on the lineup. Passes for the 2026 Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival are available now.
IN OTHER NEWS
Geddy Lee, in Los Angeles this week on business, went to game three of the World Series Monday night, where his Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Dodgers 6-5 in 18 innings. He went with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and stayed to the bitter end. Peppers’ bassist Flea was at Game Four Tuesday night, which the Jays won 6-2, evening the best of seven series at two games apiece. Game Five is Wednesday night in L.A.
KISS have officially announced the release of the 50th anniversary edition of their third album, 1975's Dressed To Kill. And in doing so they once again paid tribute to Ace Frehley, saying, “Just over a week ago, we lost one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time, Ace Frehley, leaving behind a legacy that has reshaped rock forever. As we honor his memory, we’re sharing something fans have long anticipated since it was first teased. The Dressed To
Kill 50th Anniversary Box Set is now here, celebrating an album that has become a cornerstone of KISStory. It’s available is now through their online store in multiple physical configurations – Super Deluxe 5CD + Blu-ray Audio, Super Deluxe 8LP + Blu-ray Audio, Premium Color Vinyl, Super Deluxe Digital, and a Deluxe Picture Disc Vinyl, which will follow on November 21st.
Sammy Hagar and his Best of All Worlds Band have announced four arena shows in England next summer – July 4th in Manchester, the 5th in Birmingham, the 7th in Leeds, and the 9th in London. Joan Jett will open the shows, his first in the UK since Van Halen toured there in 1995. The only U.S. dates are his residencies in Las Vegas in March and September. This Wednesday night, Hagar and Rival Sons’ singer Jay Buchanan will perform at the inaugural fundraising gala for the newly established Stage Red Fontana Youth Music Foundation at Stage Red Fontana, named after Hagar, in his hometown of Fontana, California.
Eddie Vedder will interview Cameron Crowe about his memoir, The Uncool, on November 17th at Seattle's Benaroya Hall.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has teamed with Gibson for a new signature acoustic guitar. Check out a video of the Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett Raven on YouTube.
Bon Jovi have added two more shows to their tour next year, both at New York’s Madison Square Garden on July 16th and 19th. That brings the total number of Garden shows to six. Their other shows are in Edinburgh [pr: ED-in-bo-ro], Scotland on August 28th, in Dublin, Ireland on the 30th, and at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 4th.
Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott has commented about singing “Walls of Jericho” with Jon Bon Jovi on Bon Jovi’s new album, Forever (Legacy Edition), a duets version of their 2024 album, Forever. Elliott says, “Such a blast to do this song with Bon Jovi. We’ve known each other for almost 40 years and had never sung on record together…until now!! It is my honor to do this with such a great bunch of guys!" Jon Bon Jovi was one of the speakers when Def Leppard were honored a few weeks ago with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
John Mellencamp presented Universal Music Enterprises’ President and CEO Bruce Resnikoff with the Saban Ambassador of Peace award last week at the Creative Community for Peace’s
Ambassadors of Peace gala in Los Angeles. The event recognizes individuals in the entertainment industry who speak out against hate and bring about positive change. Mellencamp, who also did acoustic renditions of “Pink Houses” and “Jack & Diane,” told those
gathered, including Gene Simmons, that he doesn’t “like to call it antisemitism. It’s too polite a word for what it really is. Hatred is what it really is. And I may just be a guy with a guitar and sing some songs, but I promise this to the Jewish people: I will remain a staunch ally to you guys as long as I’m on this earth. And to the Jewish haters, I say ‘[Screw] you.’”