Rock News

After canceling their UK and European tour earlier this year due to scheduling conflicts, rumors began swirling that the Rolling Stones were back in the studio recording new material. Reports from The Sun confirm that the rock legends are working on a new album, and possibly gearing up for another tour. The article states that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Steve Jordan have been busy recording at Metropolis Studios in West London since April, and have 13 new songs completed. Those reports also claim that renowned producer Andrew Watt – who produced and co-wrote three songs on the Stones’ Grammy-winning 2023 album, Hackney Diamonds – is again working with the band on their upcoming project. The band and their label are apparently in discussions for the album's release, while also contemplating future tour dates. Though no official announcements have been made, Jagger and Richards have both previously revealed that the group has ample material for another album. (NME)

The new documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Tuesday (June 10). The film – directed by Grammy Award-winner Jonas Åkerlund – touches on Idol’s discovery of a long-lost son named Brant. The revelation stems from a 23andMe test taken by Idol’s daughter, Bonnie. “I get the results back on the app and open it and I’m like, who is this? This Brant,” Bonnie shares. “And it says his info’s like, New York, 1985, looking for my bio dad. I was like, ‘What?’” Bonnie and her half-brother Willem had no idea they potentially had another sibling, with Idol admitting in the documentary, “I actually had a son that I didn’t realize who I fathered on the Rebel Yell tour without knowing it.” Despite the surprising circumstances, Idol has embraced Brant and welcomed him into his life, inviting him to his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony back in 2023. (Consequence of Sound)

On Tuesday (June 10), Atlantic City police recovered a stolen custom-built guitar belonging to Heart’s Nancy Wilson, one of two irreplaceable instruments taken from the band two weeks earlier. The theft happened after Heart finished loading into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with surveillance footage showing the guitar being handed to a woman who later surrendered it to police, which led to the arrest of a 57-year-old man on charges of burglary and theft. Paul Moak’s vintage 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin, which was also stolen that night, remains unrecovered at this time. The theft occurred the night before the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers were set to kick off their An Evening With Heart summer tour on May 31. Before the recovery of her guitar, Wilson said, “These instruments are more than just tools of our trade — they’re extensions of our musical souls. We’re heartbroken, and we’re asking for their safe return — no questions asked. Their value to us is immeasurable.” (Billboard)

Ahead of the premiere of Jonas Åkerlund’s new documentary, Metallica Saved My Life, at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday (June 11), drummer Lars Ulrich spoke with Variety and shared his thoughts about his band’s passionate fanbase. Instead of focusing on the heavy metal legends themselves – like the 2004 rock doc, Some Kind of Monster – the new film shifts focus to Metallica’s devoted megafans and their deep connection to the band’s music. Ulrich and his bandmates certainly appreciate their enthusiastic fans who have stuck with them over the years. “When you talk to 10 people, 20 people, 50 people — and we do talk to a lot through meet and greets and interacting with fans — everyone’s got a different story,” Ulrich says. “Everybody’s got a different album that they latch on to. Everybody’s got a different song. Everybody’s got a different reason for getting into the band. I think it’s the beauty of it, especially when you’ve been around as long as we have.” (Variety)

Hozier has postponed some upcoming tour dates due to illness, after he labored through his performance at Governors Ball in New York City on Sunday (June 8). “Thank you to @GovBallNYC for having me last night and to the crowd in NYC for being so kind while I struggled through this virus,” the singer shared on social media following his show. Later that night, Hozier’s condition worsened, causing him to postpone his upcoming shows. “Due to illness my upcoming performances originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 10 at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ and Thursday, June 12 at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, MO are being rescheduled,” Hozier wrote, while adding, “I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.” The Camden show is moved to July 15, while the Ridgedale show is bumped to July 22. Hozier went on to share that his Bonnaroo performance on June 15 “will proceed as planned.” (NME)

Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and one of the greatest songwriters of all-time, has died at the age of 82. His family announced the news on Wednesday (June 11), writing on social media: “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.” Wilson had been battling dementia in recent years, and a conservatorship was set up in 2024 to secure his continued care following the death of Melinda Wilson, Brian’s second wife and longtime manager.

“Brian gave so much to the world through his music, his spirit and his strength. He was a sweet, gentle soul,” family representative Jean Sievers said in a statement. “There will never ever be anyone like him again. His message of love will live on through his music forever.” Throughout his groundbreaking music career, Wilson achieved immense commercial success with the Beach Boys – which he formed with his brothers Dennis and Carl, along with their cousin Mike Love and neighborhood friend Al Jardine – writing their three Billboard No. 1 hit singles, "I Get Around," "Help Me, Rhonda," and "Good Vibrations," and a majority of the band’s 36 career Top 40 hits.

Wilson also produced, arranged, and composed the group’s 1966 creative masterpiece, Pet Sounds, which Rolling Stone placed at Number Two on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. That landmark album includes the standout track, “God Only Knows,” which Paul McCartney says is “the greatest song ever written.” Wilson earned two Grammy Awards, as well as an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, along with receiving the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007. The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. “Early on, I learned that when I tuned the world out, I was able to tune in a mysterious, God-given music,” Wilson said. “It was my gift, and it allowed me to interpret and understand emotions I couldn’t articulate.” (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday morning (June 10), the Americana Music Association announced the nominees for the 2025 Americana Honors & Awards, with MJ Lenderman leading all of this year’s nominees with three nominations, followed by Charley Crockett, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings with two nods each. The nominations were announced with a video posted on social media, featuring past winners like Brandi Carlile and Kacey Musgraves revealing the nominees. Lenderman is up for Album, Song, and Emerging Artist Of The Year, marking a critical breakthrough for the singer-songwriter with his recent album, Manning Fireworks. Notable returning nominees include Sierra Ferrell, who is up for Artist of the Year, and Crockett, who received an Album of the Year nod for Lonesome Drifter, as well as Artist of the Year, while acts like Jason Isbell, Billy Strings, and Larkin Poe also received nods. The awards ceremony will take place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on September 10, during the annual AmericanaFest conference. (Variety)

On Tuesday (June 10), Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson announced the details of his upcoming project, More Balls to Picasso, which is a reimagined version of his 1994 solo album, Balls to Picasso, that will be released on July 25. The 12-track collection features updated performances, production treatments, and mixings of the original LP tracklist, including a new take on "Gods of War" that has just been released. In a press release, Dickinson said he had the idea to “revisit and reinvent” his old solo record while mixing his back catalog for Dolby Atmos. Dickinson said reworking Balls to Picasso was “a labour of love,” which included adding enhancements like additional guitars, orchestral arrangements, indigenous Amazonian instruments, and a horn section. With a North American solo tour kicking off in August, fans can expect to hear revamped versions of these classic tracks during Dickinson’s live sets. Pre-orders for More Balls to Picasso are available on vinyl and CD through Dickinson's online store. (Consequence of Sound)

On Tuesday (June 10), Turnstile revealed the dates and details of their fall 2025 U.S. headlining tour in support of their just-released new album, NEVER ENOUGH, which dropped on Friday (June 6). The 23-date jaunt will include rotating support from Amyl & The Sniffers, Blood Orange, and Mannequin Pu**y, along with SPEED and Jane Remover on all dates. The run of shows, dubbed THE NEVER ENOUGH TOUR, will begin on September 15th in Nashville and conclude on October 19th in Orlando, and will feature stops in major music markes like Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with the band also set to make previously announced festival appearances at Sacramento’s Aftershock and Miami’s III Points. An artist presale is set to start on Wednesday (June 11), followed by a general on-sale on June 13. Turnstile just launched a UK/European tour, and are also scheduled to play the Ottawa Blues Fest on July 12. (Consequence of Sound)

Veteran musician Steve Hansgen, known for his bass work with Minor Threat and co-production on Tool’s Opiate EP, is battling stage 4 kidney disease. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the Washington D.C. musician, who also played with Government Issue and Poisonous H. Despite recent health improvements, including the reversal of Type 2 diabetes, Hansgen's kidney function has significantly declined, and he awaits a potential donor. “Bummer to have to post this but as some of you may already know, @steviehansgen needs a kidney transplant,” writes Hansgen’s girlfriend and Poisonous H bandmate, Holly. “He recently spent several weeks in the hospital and unfortunately is on dialysis 3 times a week now until a kidney donor can be found.” Hansgen notably played bass on Minor Threat’s groundbreaking 1983 EP, Out of Step, before exiting the group a year later. In the 1990s he worked as a producer and engineer, famously co-producing and co-engineering Tool’s 1992 Opiate EP with Sylvia Massy. (Consequence of Sound)

On Tuesday (June 10), Yes announced that they will embark on a fall tour where they will perform their multi-platinum 1971 record, Fragile, in its entirety, as part of their ongoing Album Series. The 31-date trek will launch on October 1 in Wallingford, Connecticut, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees also stopping in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Memphis, Denver, and various other cities, before finishing on November 16 in Reno, Nevada. Fragile was a commercial success for the prog rock legends, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard album chart due to hits like "Roundabout," which reached No. 13 on the Hot 100. “It’s fairly ‘odd-ball,’ but we were at the height of our creativity, determined for success,” guitarist Steve Howe says of Fragile in a press release. “It gave us confidence, further than our own in-stock belief, we’d crafted this unusual but noticeable musical twist to rock and what later became prog.” Tickets for The Fragile Tour 2025 go on sale on Friday (June 13). (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday (June 10), David Byrne announced the details of his upcoming album, Who Is the Sky?, which is set to be released on September 5 via Matador Records. The former Talking Heads frontman worked with Grammy-winner producer Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) on the 13-track album, which features arrangements by New York-based ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra, and special guest appearances by St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, and The Smile’s Tom Skinner. Byrne also shared the project’s lead single, "Everybody Laughs," alongside a music video directed by Gabriel Barcia-Colombo. Reflecting on the album's themes, Byrne highlighted the balance of joy and melancholy in music, while emphasizing the power of holding opposing emotions simultaneously. Byrne has also planned a world tour with a 13-member band, including his American Utopia collaborators, with the North American leg beginning in September, followed by Australia & New Zealand shows in January 2026, and European & UK dates the following month. Tickets for the tour go on sale on Friday (June 13). (Variety)

Machine Gun Kelly has enlisted music legend Bob Dylan to help promote his new album. The 84-year-old icon narrates a trailer for MGK’s forthcoming record, Lost Americana, which is due out on August 8. This mark’s MGK’s first new album in three years, following 2022’s Mainstream Sellout, and is set to feature his recent single, “Cliché.” “Lost Americana is a personal excavation of the American dream – a journey to find what’s been lost,” Dylan says in the clip, describing the album as “a sonic map of forgotten places, a tribute to the spirit of reinvention, and a quest to reclaim the essence of American freedom.” The album trailer includes a brief snippet of new music, while featuring footage of MGK riding a motorcycle while wearing a Lost Americana biker jacket. “This is music that celebrates the beauty found in the in-between spaces,” Dylan concludes. “Where the past is reimagined and the future is forged on your own terms.” Earlier this year, Dylan inexplicably shared an old clip of MGK rapping on his social media, causing the 35-year old musician to respond, “That was so cool. I’m so grateful.”  (Rolling Stone)

Dan + Shay, John Stamos, Aaron Dessner, Alan Menken, Nile Rogers, and Living Colour are among the performers and presenters announced for the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner. The gala will be held on Thursday (June 12) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Dan + Shay have ties to major country hits from one of the night’s honorees, Ashley Gorley, while Stamos has performed with another honoree, Mike Love of The Beach Boys. Dessner is a frequent collaborator and producer for Gracie Abrams, who is set to receive Hal David Starlight Award during the ceremony,  while Menken has often collaborated with Stephen Schwartz, who is set to receive the Johnny Mercer Award. Additionally, the involvement of children of honorees, like Ashley’s daughter Sadie Gorley, and Rodney Jerkins’ kids Heavenly, Hannah Joy and Rodney Jerkins Jr., will add a personal touch to the star-studded evening. (Billboard)

The Doobie Brothers, known for their genre-blending, commercially successful career since the 1970s, just released their 16th studio album, Walk This Road, on Friday (June 6). This new record marks the first time that all three of the band’s principal songwriters - Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Pat Simmons - have contributed significantly to a project. Walk This Road was produced by pop-rock veteran John Shanks, and represents McDonald's first appearance on a Doobies album in two decades. The band’s long history of chart success includes nine Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, and 10 Top 20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with hits spanning the rock, adult contemporary, R&B, and country charts. The new album's release precedes the band's induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 12, alongside fellow music legends George Clinton, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Ashley Gorley, Mike Love, and Tony Macaulay. The reunion for the new record went so smoothly that McDonald teases that they “might even do another” album. (Billboard)

On Monday (June 9), Queens of the Stone Age announced that they will be releasing the audio from their filmed performance at the Catacombs of Paris in July 2024, which marked the first live concert ever held in that location. The album, titled Alive In The Catacombs, will be available for streaming on June 13, with a limited-edition vinyl from Matador Records – containing behind-the-scenes photos by Andreas Neumann and special foil print gatefold jacket – set for release on August 22. During the unique Catacombs performance – which didn’t include an audience – the band was accompanied by a three-piece string section, and utilized unconventional percussion instruments like chains and chopsticks over the course of the five-song set. Queens of the Stone Age just launched their headlining tour of the U.S. with the Kills, and are scheduled to appear at a variety of European music festivals throughout the summer. (NME) 

In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Sharon Osbourne revealed that she removed an unnamed band from the lineup of the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne concert, following a dispute with the group’s manager. “I had a huge, huge to-do with a manager over this celebration for Ozzy and Sabbath,” Sharon disclosed. “And it was probably the worst way I’ve felt in years. And I don’t care what this person says about me, thinks about it, because he doesn’t know me. And he’s now going around making up bulls**t lies because I threw his band off the bill.” Sharon squashed the rumor that the band was Iron Maiden, due to her feud with singer Bruce Dickinson dating back to the 2005 Ozzfest. “Oh god, no,” Sharon clarified. “Ozzy only has respect for the guys in Maiden." There was speculation that Tool was the mystery band, due to the group not being listed in the promotion for Back to the Beginning’s paid livestream, but that turned out to be a design oversight that has since been corrected. (Consequence of Sound)

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and his wife Jill’s involvement with the Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) community is highlighted in the new documentary, Matter of Time, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday (June 12). Vedder's efforts to raise awareness and funds for the rare genetic skin disease are featured alongside personal stories of patients and families impacted by EB. "The closer you get to this community and the more you understand it, you cannot escape how difficult the challenges are for these families," Vedder says in an exclusive clip from the film, which is directed by Matt Finlin and features an original score by Broken Social Scene, alongside Vedder’s own music. The documentary shares its title with Vedder’s 2020 song of the same name, a track he wrote in tribute to “everyone worldwide afflicted with EB.” The film portrays the EB community's unity and determination in seeking treatments for the disease, and ultimately a cure. The opening screening of the documentary in New York will also feature an acoustic performance by Vedder. (Rolling Stone)

On Monday (June 9), FIFA announced that Doja Cat, Tems, and J Balvin will headline the halftime show of the Club World Cup final in New York City on July 13. The performance was curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and its mission to raise $100 million to improve access to education worldwide. “We’re going to bring the world together for a beautiful moment — to celebrate football, feel the unity that music brings, and improve the lives of millions of children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” Tems said in a press release. “I can’t wait.” The tournament, featuring 32 clubs from across the world, will take place across 12 venues in 11 U.S. cities throughout the summer. Additionally, it was announced that Martin will also curate the halftime show for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, which is scheduled to take place on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium. (Rolling Stone)

Sly Stone, the groundbreaking musician who fused funk, rock, and soul with Sly & the Family Stone, died on Monday (June 9) at the age of 82. According to his family, the cause of death was due to a “prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues.” Stone’s family shared that “Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family. While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.” The family also revealed that Stone “recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course.”

As the creative mastermind behind Sly & the Family Stone, he created hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Stand!,” “Everyday People,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” which unified diverse music fans and uplifted audiences around the world. Personal demons and years of drug abuse took a toll on Stone, who mostly disappeared from the public spotlight after multiple attempts to relaunch his music career failed to achieve his previous levels of success. Stone’s life and music reached a new generation of fans due to Sly & the Family Stone’s 1993 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a 2006 tribute to them at the Grammy Awards.

Questlove’s 2025 documentary, Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius), reexamined Stone’s musical and cultural legacy, and featured musicians like George Clinton, Chaka Khan, D’Angelo, and Q-Tip crediting Sly with pushing the boundaries of contemporary music while having a profound  influence on their own sound. (Rolling Stone)