Categoría: Billboard

Are you a Grammy voter? Are you trying to watch your spending? You need to act fast to take advantage of “standard pricing” during the online entry period for the 68th annual Grammy Awards. After Friday (Aug. 22) at 11:59 p.m. PT, the per-entry charge for members (after they use up their five courtesy entries) jumps from $75 per to $125. The media company registration period also ends on Friday Aug. 22. Media companies must apply for registration with the Recording Academy to submit recordings. Related All voting members and non-voting “professional” members of the Recording Academy receive five courtesy entries each year. If they want to make more than five entries, they have to pay. The “early entry pricing” ship has sailed. From July 16 to Aug. 1, members paid just $40 per entry (after using up their five courtesy entries). Media companies paid $65. We are now nearing the end of the “standard pricing” time frame. From Aug. 2 to Friday (Aug. 22), members pay $75 (after using up their final courtesy entries), while media companies pay $95. After Friday, we enter the “final deadline pricing” time frame. From Aug. 23-Aug. 29, members pay $125 per entry (after using up their five courtesy entries). In this final time frame, media companies pay the same rate. Until recent years, the Recording Academy allowed members to make unlimited entries without a fee. They cast their decision to charge for each entry beyond five courtesy entries as a move to try to get members to be more thoughtful and selective in the process. “The per-entry fee structure encourages entrants to consider the value of each entry and make mindful decisions to put forward work that they truly believe is Grammy worthy,” the academy says in the 68th Grammy Awards Rules & Guidelines handbook. But, as in years past, they add: “Any member who would be burdened by the entry fees can request the fees be waived by contacting the awards department.” The 68th Grammy Awards covers recordings released between Aug. 31, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2025. First-round voting runs from Oct. 3 to Oct. 15. This round of voting determines the Grammy nominees, which will be announced on Nov. 7. Final round voting runs from Dec. 12, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026. This round of voting determines the winners, which will be announced when the 68th Grammy Awards are presented on Feb. 1, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. This will be the final Grammy telecast broadcast on CBS, the Grammys’ home since 1973. In October 2024, the Recording Academy announced a new, 10-year global deal for the Grammys to be exclusively simulcast on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ beginning in 2027. Source link

Cam’ron doesn’t change for anyone, no matter how large a check is being waved in his face. The Harlem native has been able to parlay his rap fame into a lucrative media career, building up his Talk With Flee and It Is What It Is (reuniting him with Mase) shows from scratch. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Back in June, Killa Cam announced a multi-million dollar partnership to bring his Talk With Flee show to Revolt and linear television. But before signing on the dotted line, one thing had to be crystal clear: nothing changes as far as how Cam conducts his show. “I wouldn’t have done it if they wasn’t gonna let me be me 100 percent,” the Dipset rapper tells Billboard while enjoying his vacation. “That was part of the reason I actually didn’t mind working with them… It was one thing to do the show on YouTube and I make a decent amount of money on YouTube. They came with the right deal. To be honest with you, it was more of a linear television move.” While the show will be built on Cam giving his unfiltered opinion on an array of topics — even the taboo subjects most talking heads wouldn’t go near — in the mold of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith’s The Stephen A. Smith Show, there will be guests like Beanie Sigel joining Talk With Flee next week. Cam’ron’s also planning to go into jails and prisons across the U.S. to interview rappers and hip-hop-adjacent figures to get their perspective from behind bars. It Is What It Is will be returning in early September, which will bring back familiar faces like Dallas Cowboys icon Michael Irvin and Ohio State legend Maurice Clarett as contributors for the NFL season. Following the passing of former contributor O.J. Simpson, Cam’ron is recruiting former NFL star Adam “Pacman” Jones to join the show, but nothing is 100 percent locked in on that front. Elsewhere in our interview, Cam opens up about his feud with Omar Gooding, his forthcoming memoir, notching a cameo in Happy Gilmore 2 and if he’ll ever record another album. Congrats on the new deal with Revolt. They’re letting you rock with full creative control for Talk With Flee? Before we even got a Revolt, I shot about 10 or 11 episodes of that before we even did anything with Revolt. So it was nothing really that we hadn’t been doing prior to doing the deal. What made Revolt the right partner? Why did you want to scale the show? My man [Chief Content Officer] Deion [Graham] up there at Revolt, he’s been trying to work with us for a couple years now. When I say us, I mean me and Mase. Mase has a price. Mase is like, “When me and you together, it’s a special moment. We didn’t talk for 20 years.” Anything Mase do has a price tag that Revolt couldn’t meet initially. They made me a great offer. It Is What It Is, I don’t think we did a deal until we did 35 or 40 episodes. A lot of people don’t know if you want to stay in the realm of being talked about, you have to stay consistent.  Did you feel any uncertainty partnering with Revolt in a post-Diddy era? Did you have to see what the leadership of the company was looking like? They came to me really. They was telling me that they don’t work with Puffy anymore. That didn’t really matter to me. Everyone’s on this, “Puff’s not there anymore.” Even when Puff was there, he was trying to get the It Is What It Is deal done. He met with me two or three times. It wasn’t about Puff not being there, it was more about, “Are y’all gonna let me do my thing? Is there gonna be any filter?” Sometimes when the network is based on ads, you’re not gonna have a Pampers or Fisher-Price commercial with the content I have. That was some of the discussion as well — what kind of partners for ads we could get as far as the content is concerned. My content is a little edgy, so people may want to stay away from it.  How did the feud with Omar Gooding start? Before we did the deal with Revolt, I had an episode with 50 Cent, and we were just talking about how it’s hard for the B-list Black actor to get a role. And I may have worded it to where he got offended, but I didn’t mean it in any way. I was like, “They sit around and wait for people to call them, and then they may get the part or may not, and then still gotta wait.” I did a movie around 2011 called Percentage, and I booked Omar Gooding.  And I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way, —I was like, “Damn. I didn’t know it was this cheap to get them — and then, what if people don’t call them? They gotta wait.” On top of that, I called him by accident, Omar Gooding Jr., and so he got on Instagram or whatever app the next day and was like, Yo, you calling me out my name, and I ain’t sitting around waiting for anybody. I went back on YouTube and was like, “I sincerely apologize, I don’t want a problem.” He puts out these diss records, and I’m actually in the comments saying, “My bad, bro, I don’t want any smoke.” He wouldn’t stop. If he wants to play, I don’t think he knows how I play. Mase was like, “We don’t got time for that. We gotta finish the It Is What It Is season.” Now that I’m on vacation, I got some time to f—k around. Basically, I didn’t forget about it. I took a shot at him the other day, and he bit on it. I had this footage from three weeks ago. For

UPDATE (Aug. 21): The all-star 100th birthday celebration concert for Alan Bergman that was announced on July 10 – just one week before the lyricist died at age 99 – will go forward on Sept. 11 as a celebration of his life. The event will be held at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif. and will benefit the Jazz Bakery, of which Bergman was a founding board member. Kenny Loggins has been added to the stacked lineup for the event. Loggins co-wrote “I Believe in Love” with Bergman and his late wife, Marilyn. Barbra Streisand sang the song in the 1976 movie A Star Is Born and on the soundtrack album, which topped the Billboard 200 for six nonconsecutive weeks in 1977. The song was shortlisted for an Oscar for best original song. Later in 1977, Loggins released his version of the song as his first solo single (which made the Billboard Hot 100) and on his first solo album, Celebrate Me Home. Loggins will perform with Hunter Hawkins, a young artist he is currently producing. PREVIOUSLY (July 10): Lyricist Alan Bergman turns 100 on Sept. 11, and he’ll be celebrating in style. Many of his friends and admirers will perform at a concert in his honor that night at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California. The roster includes Patti Austin, Shelly Berg, Aloe Blacc, Jackson Browne, Peter Erskine, Michael Feinstein, David Finck, Mitch Forman, Jason Gould, Dave Grusin, Tamir Hendelman, Trey Henry, Roger Kellaway, Seth MacFarlane, Serge Merlaud, Greg Phillinganes, Paul Reiser, Lee Ritenour, Sheléa, Tierney Sutton and Lillias White. In addition, there will be video appearances by Bill Charlap, Natalie Dessay, Pat Metheny, Neima Naouri and Barbra Streisand, who paid tribute to Bergman and his late wife Marilyn on her Grammy-nominated 2011 album What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman. The event will serve as a benefit for the Jazz Bakery, of which Bergman is a founding board member. The nonprofit listening room is one of the most respected jazz spaces in Los Angeles. Marilyn Bergman died in 2022 at age 93. In the years since, Alan Bergman has continued to write, record and perform. His most recent collaboration is with guitarist and composer Pat Metheny, who is set to record an album of nine Bergman/Metheny songs later this year. The Bergmans are probably best-known for writing exquisite ballads such as “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life,” “Pieces of Dreams” and “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?,” but they couldn’t be typecast. They also wrote witty and zesty theme songs for such TV series as Maude, Good Times and Alice. The Bergmans won three Academy Awards, including best original song for “The Windmills of Your Mind” from The Thomas Crown Affair and “The Way We Were” from the movie of the same name, and three Grammy Awards, including song of the year for “The Way We Were.” The Bergmans received 15 Oscar nominations for best original song, a total equaled or bettered by only four songwriters in history – Sammy Cahn (26), Johnny Mercer (18), Diane Warren (16) and Paul Francis Webster (16). The Bergmans collaborated on their Oscar-nominated songs with seven different composers – Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, Maurice Jarre, Marvin Hamlisch, David Shire, John Williams and Dave Grusin. In 1983 they became the first (and remain the only) songwriters to be nominated for three Oscars for best original song in one year for “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” from Best Friends, “It Might Be You” from Tootsie and “If We Were in Love” from Yes, Giorgio. They also won four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. The Bergmans were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980 and received that organization’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 1997. They received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 2013. The Bergmans also received lifetime achievement awards from the National Academy of Songwriters and the National Music Publishers Association. They received honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts. Alan Bergman’s alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, recognized him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. Two of the artists who are on the bill for the upcoming birthday event shared comments in a statement. Five-time Grammy nominee and Great American Songbook ambassador Michael Feinstein said, “The songs Alan and Marilyn have written are part of a pantheon of enduring music that will live long beyond Alan’s Centenary, for they are timeless expressions of the human condition, and will never grow old. The love that they fundamentally lived, expressed and demonstrated in life, imbues their work with a special eloquence and truth. It is an honor to celebrate Alan on his 100th!” Actor, comedian and writer Paul Reiser, who has received 11 Primetime Emmy nominations, commented, “My goal in life is to try to be even a small fraction of the man – and artist – that my dear friend Alan Bergman is. (I may need more than 100 years to get there, but… working on it.)” In addition, Ruth Price, founder of the Jazz Bakery, said “100 years on this planet is no small achievement, but to have graced those years with such love, beauty and art speaks to a life extraordinarily well-lived. Alan is incomparable, and I love him for all kinds of reasons.” Julie Bergman, Alan’s daughter, said, “I can think of no better way to celebrate my father than with an evening of music performed by some of his closest collaborators and friends. He is an extraordinary man and to honor him this way is the best gift I could think of.” Tickets, priced at $100, $200 and $300, are available here. Source link

Singer-rapper Lil Nas X was hospitalized on Thursday morning (Aug. 21) for a potential drug overdose in Los Angeles after charging at police officers in an early morning encounter. A statement given to Billboard by the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to reports of a naked man roaming Ventura Boulevard around 5:50 a.m. PT. Police, who did not name the rapper, said “the suspect charged at officers and was taken into custody” upon their arrival on the scene. He was then handcuffed and taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for a “possible overdose,” while also being placed under arrest for battery on a police officer. Billboard has reached out to representatives for Lil Nas X. While police did not offer a name for the suspect taken into custody, TMZ published a video showing Lil Nas X roaming the streets of Los Angeles, dressed in a pair of white underwear and white cowboy boots and telling the person filming, “Don’t be late to the party tonight,” while mimicking a series of dance moves. The incident comes just one day after Lil Nas X cleared his Instagram page, updated his name on the app to “Queen Madeline” and began repopulating it with a series of odd posts, showing himself posing in a series of costumes. The singer also shared teasers for songs, featuring collaborators such as Young Kio and Lil Jon. In April, Lil Nas revealed that he had been hospitalized due to partial paralysis on the right side of his face. The “Old Town Road” star never shared a diagnosis for his condition, but he did update fans a few days after his initial post, revealing that he was recovering and could now move most of his face. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up Source link

Tobe Nwigwe is no stranger to making statements. Whether it’s through his music, his visuals or his unmistakable mint-green aesthetic, the Houston-based artist has built a movement rooted in authenticity, culture, and empowerment. Now, he’s carrying that same energy into his second collaboration with Reebok, the Reebok x Chukwu ABUO collection. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Following the success of their debut Preseason OTU drop earlier this year, which celebrated roots and legacy, this sophomore release shifts the focus to family and growth. At the center of the collection is the Chukwu ABUO (pronounced: ah-BOO-aw), a reimagined take on the classic Reebok BB 4000 II. Executed in Nwigwe’s signature mint and chalk, the sneaker combines hairy suede, nubuck leather and textile. Every detail tells a story of duality, heritage and modernity, function and fashion, discipline and creativity. This collection goes beyond sneakers. The Chukwu apparel capsule introduces tailored-yet-versatile pieces inspired by both sport and culture, from a cropped nylon coaches jacket to heavyweight French terry sweats. Designed with the same care and intentionality as the footwear, the lineup is unified by mint tones and subtle detailing that make each piece feel timeless, elevated and wearable across generations. Reebok x Chukwu Courtesy Photos For me, this one’s a Flex. The design, the storytelling and the cultural weight behind the project make it much more than just another collab — it’s a wearable extension of Tobe’s artistry. The Mint pair is an instant standout, but honestly, I need just about everything in this collection. Beyond the look, the materials feel premium for the price point, and the sizing on the BB 4000 II runs true to size, offering comfort without losing that retro basketball shape. At the end of the day, this isn’t just a sneaker you throw on — it’s a piece of heritage and perspective you carry with you. With that in mind, Billboard caught up with Tobe to dive deeper into the meaning behind Chukwu ABUO, the evolution from his first Reebok collab, and why family and storytelling are at the heart of everything he creates. This is your second collab with Reebok — how did you want Chukwu Abuo to evolve from “Preseason Otu” in terms of story and style? With “Preseason Otu,” we were introducing a world — my heritage, the way I’ve procured the creative lens I’m giving to everyone, the blend of sport and style I’ve chosen. “Chukwu Abuo” is about building on that foundation. “Abuo” is “two” in Igbo, which speaks to duality — heritage and modernity, function and fashion, discipline and creativity. The Chukwu Abuo is built from the BB 4000 II silhouette. What drew you to that model, and how did you put your own stamp on it? The BB 4000 II already has this timeless energy — clean lines, solid proportions and a shape that works. It’s a silhouette that carries nostalgia but can still live in the now. My stamp came through in the details —color-blocking that nods to my signature palette, textures that invite you to look closer and elements that connect directly to my family and culture. It’s not just a sneaker; it’s a chapter in a greater narrative. The materials — hairy suede, nubuck leather, and textile — feel really intentional. What textures or design details were most important for you to get right? Every texture tells a part of the story. Hairy suede gives it that raw, tactile feel — like something crafted, not mass-produced. Nubuck leather brings in smoothness and structure, a balance to the ruggedness. And the textile keeps it wearable and breathable. For me, it was about creating layers you can actually feel, so the shoe isn’t just seen — it’s experienced. Mint has become a signature color for you, but this drop also includes a chalk colorway. How do the two shades tell different sides of your story? Mint has always been my visual signature — it’s bold, fresh, and impossible to ignore. It represents energy, newness and the creative spark. Chalk, on the other hand, is about the art of being the canvas—it’s the quiet space that invites possibility. It’s not empty; it’s alive with potential. Together, they’re the balance in my work: Mint makes the statement, and Chalk makes the statement possible. You’ve said this collection is rooted in growth — both personal and generational. Can you talk about a specific moment with your kids that inspired the designs? There was this moMINT when my kids looked at me and asked, “Daddy, you design all this cool stuff, but when do we get to wear it?” They saw their mom and me rocking my designs and felt a bit left out. That was a big inspiration for me. I realized I wanted this project to be something my kids could step into —literally. Including children’s sizes wasn’t just a detail; it was about making sure the next generation of our family — and families like ours — felt included in the story. “Abuo” means “two” in Igbo. Beyond being the second chapter in your Reebok journey, what other layers of meaning does “two” carry for you? “Two” signifies second chances for me. Originally, I wanted to play in the NFL. I had that dream all through my life, but an injury closed that door. It could have been the end of the story, but instead another door was opened for me — through music, through fashion, through everything I’m doing now. It’s also about connection — two generations, two cultures meeting in one design. For me, “two” is the bridge. Including children’s sizing feels like a personal touch. Why was it important to make this collab something the whole family could wear? Representation matters to me. It was important to include children’s sizes because I want my kids to know that they’re part of this story, too. I represent them, they represent me, and we all represent each other. It’s about showing that, even though we’re individuals, we’re also a collective

Morgan Wallen has support from one of his main collaborators and leading Nashville songwriters in his decision to not submit his current chart-topping album, I’m the Problem, for Grammy contention. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Ashley Gorley, who has co-written such Wallen hits as “Sand in my Boots,” “Last Night” and “You Proof,” told Billboard Wednesday (Aug. 20) night at the ACM Honors that he was more than fine with Wallen’s decision to not enter the album, any of the 37 songs on the voluminous set, or Wallen himself for consideration for the 68th Grammy Awards. “That’s fine with me. We’re in the ‘Never won a Grammy club’ together,” said Gorley, who was at the event to honor Jelly Roll. “I was at [Wallen’s] show on Saturday night and that’s what matters most to us — the fans’ reactions, the way those songs are coming off is so amazing. What a great set.” Gorley added that awards talk doesn’t enter the writing room. “We’re not thinking about Grammys when we’re writing those songs. So, all good,” he continued. “I’ll take one if someone wants to give me one, but at the same time, we’re all good with that. We’re all sort of writing from a different place. [Wallen’s] saying what he wants to say at this point as he should. He’s had an amazing career, he’s crushing it, so totally respect his opinion on that, for sure.” Gorley, who co-wrote four songs on I’m The Problem, and the other songwriters can submit their own works should they choose in the Grammy song categories, according to sources. Gorley has been nominated for eight Grammys, compared with Wallen’s two nods. The only Grammy nominations that the country superstar has received in his nearly 10-year career were for his work on Post Malone’s F1 Trillion album.  Post Malone and Wallen’s chart-topping duet, “I Had Some Help,” which Gorley co-write, received nods for best country duo/group performance and best country song for the awards presented this past February. Wallen has never received any nominations for any works from his solo albums.   I’m the Problem has already spawned four No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and three chart-toppers on the Hot Country Songs chart, including the Gorley co-penned “Love Somebody.” Source link

Noah Cyrus is setting the record straight on her family, which has been the subject of relentless feud rumors for months. In an interview with People published Thursday (Aug. 21), the singer-songwriter revealed that she keeps herself “quite separated” from any “‘drama’ with the family.” In the aftermath of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus’ breakup after 28 years of marriage in 2022, the gossip mill has been rife with speculation that Noah and her siblings — including pop superstar Miley — had taken sides in the split. Older brother Trace has also made many of his issues with the “Achy Breaky Heart” country singer public by calling out his dad in heated open letters on social media — but Noah says that all of it is blown out of proportion. “Yeah, it emotionally is draining,” she told the publication. “But it doesn’t hurt us or touch us. It’s something that you really learn to keep separate and far away from yourself.” And, giving a more direct answer as to where her family members stand with one another, the Grammy nominee said, “Everybody’s great and loves each other.” “I think when you grow up with that being normal — things being public — that it doesn’t quite reach you,” she added. “At the end of the day, this is a family, and that’s really it: just going through normal family stuff.” The interview comes more than a month after the arrival of I Want My Loved Ones to Go With Me, Noah’s sophomore album, on July 11. To celebrate its release, the star played a special show in London and was joined for a couple of numbers by Billy Ray, whose girlfriend, actress Elizabeth Hurley, supported from the audience. At the time, the performance quelled some concerns that Billy Ray was on the outs with his daughters — something Miley also cleared up in a May statement. “My dad and I have had our challenges over the years,” she wrote at the time. “I’m at peace knowing bridges have been built and time has done a lot of healing.” Speaking of Miley, Noah also opened up to People about having her big sister as a role model — not just in life, but in the music industry as well. “I really saw [her early career] from the perspective of a sister and as a kid,” she shared. “There’s situations that you experience, and you’re like, ‘Okay, I will keep that in mind for the future and for if that happens to me, how do I handle it?’” Source link

Tyler, the Creator is gearing up for another year of his Camp Flog Gnaw festival, and he teased the star-studded lineup with a word search puzzle to get fans’ brains working. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Tyler posted the lineup word search for the festival on Thursday (Aug. 21), which is slated to take over Dodger Stadium on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16. Fans began to identify various artists’ names in the puzzle, including Tyler, A$AP Rocky, The Alchemist, Childish Gambino, Larry June, 2 Chainz, Samara Cyn, Tems, Sombr, Foushee, Don Toliver, Malcolm Todd, Thundercat, Bbtrickz, Clairo, Deb Never, Clipse and Teezo Touchdown. Fans were having fun with cracking the code. “Hold on let me get my glasses. This is so clever,” one person wrote. 2024’s Camp Flog Gnaw served as the 10th anniversary of the festival, which saw performances from Sexyy Red, Playboi Carti, The Weeknd, SZA and Doechii. Tickets for the 2025 festival were already sold out prior to the line-up’s reveal. It’s been a busy year for Tyler, who released his Don’t Tap the Glass album in July, which topped the Billboard 200. The Grammy-winning rapper brought the Chromakopia World Tour to Australia/New Zealand for a handful of shows, making stops in Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Even while Don’t Tap the Glass is his more recent album, Tyler’s still showing love to the Chromakopia era. Earlier this week, he released the “Darling, I” video featuring appearances from Nia Long, Ayo Edebiri, Willow Smith and Lauren London. Check out the crossword puzzle for yourself below. Source link

Even Britney Spears likes to listen to a little bit of Justin Timberlake here and there. In a video posted to the pop star’s Instagram on Wednesday, Spears enjoys a day on the water, wearing a green bikini while filming herself dancing on a boat. In the background, JT and Timbaland’s “Carry Out” plays. Elsewhere in the clip, the Princess of Pop speaks in an unidentifiable accent while talking to the boat’s captain. “Me and this man are out here in this water!” she says excitedly, showing off her remote location for the camera. “Look at us! Sorry, I’m a nerd.” Spears’ use of Timberlake’s 2009 hit — which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 — is sure to turn heads, considering the two stars’ history. The pair dated from 1999 to 2002, and in her 2023 memoir, the “Toxic” singer shared a few unflattering revelations about her famous ex-boyfriend, including how he allegedly cheated on her during their relationship. Even so, Spears has supported her ex’s music in the past. In 2024, she gushed that she was “so in love with Justin Timberlake’s new song ‘Selfish,’” and this past March, she shared a video of herself dancing by a fireplace to the former *NSYNC member’s “Señorita.” The performer’s post comes a few weeks after Timberlake made headlines for revealing his Lyme disease diagnosis in a message to fans shared just after the close of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. “If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” he wrote at the time. “When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure. But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.” Spears, on the other hand, has been having fun sharing bits of her life with followers on social media in recent months, including her hangouts with son Jayden. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up Source link

The Who may have named what they are claiming is their final North American tour “The Song Is Over,” but according to co-founder and guitarist Pete Townshend, the road will go on for him once the final strains of “Baba O’Riley” ring out at the band’s final gig on Sept. 28 in Las Vegas. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Speaking to AARP magazine, Townshend, 80, said he plans to embark on what he referred to as “one-man” solo outings after he and singer Roger Daltrey finish their current run of shows. “We reserve the right to pop up again,” Townshend said of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band that announced its first final tour in 1982. “But I think one thing is very clear: that at our age, we will not.” Townshend is not retiring, though, saying that he’s planning to finish his long-gestating solo album The Age of Anxiety, which he’s been working on since 2007, and possibly taking that show on the road. “I’ve got songs in all kinds of development, 140 tracks ready to go,” he said. “On The Age of Anxiety, [based on his 2019 first novel], I’ve got 26 songs. It’s not not autobiographical, but the scope of my own mental journey through addiction and recovery has led me to a place where I feel that I can write a character, a genuine, realistic character — youngish, who, rather than be depressed, has an acuity, a kind of instant, psychic feeling, and he decides that he wants to really dig in to make his audience as happy as they possibly can be.” He described the main character as a good-looking harmonica player who plays small clubs with his “very, very popular” band, but is beginning to sense an anxiety from some of the “young mums” in the crowd who are “escaping something.” Townshend hopes the album can start a conversation about depression and the struggle for artists to manage their sometimes selfish, self-obsessed inclinations. Despite suffering from tinnitus, Townshend said his brain is “sharp as a razor,” he’s feeling “very, very creative” and generally healthy, speculating that he’s got maybe “another five years” in show business left in him. The guitarist plans to experiment touring his solo material by going out on the road for some one-man shows, while keeping open the possibility that he and Who singer Roger Daltrey might work together again some day. “Roger and I certainly [will] work together for charity and possibly for special projects,” he predicted of the vocalist with whom he admitted he doesn’t communicate with “very well.” Regardless, he added, “together we represent all aspects of The Who legacy. You know, I’m the songwriter and creator, but Roger’s been the driving force, meaning keeping The Who band and his brand on track. Even with his solo work, we’ll continue to work together, even if we rarely socialize.” Townshend also addressed the viral freakout over the Who’s firing (and re-hiring, then re-firing) of longtime drummer Zak Starkey earlier this year, explaining that Daltrey was peeved that Starkey “jumped straight into Instagram and started to mouth off and defend his position in a cheeky, chatty manner, which belies the seriousness of what actually happened.” To hear the guitarist tell it, Daltrey had asked the band to rehearse the tour’s title track, the 1971 Who’s Next ballad “The Song Is Over” in a shortened version for the outing and halfway through a performance of it at the Royal Albert Hall in London in March the singer “got completely lost. He stopped, he complained, spoke to his own sound engineer, and started to rage. It looked like he was raging at Zak, but that’s not the case. It became a story among fans, and it looked like Roger made a mistake, but something technical went wrong. [Zak’s] handling of it, was, I suppose, light-hearted, but you know Roger.” The next stop on the Who tour is Thursday night (Aug. 21) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Source link