Rock News

Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan's Outlaw Music Festival Tour faced a setback when a storm damaged gear during a stop in Missouri, leading to the cancellation of their Oklahoma show on Tuesday (July 1). The Sunday (June 29) concert at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale was cut short due to heavy rains and high winds, forcing evacuation of concertgoers and causing water damage to artist instruments and production equipment. “The potential damage has halted the festival production as they recover and replace what’s necessary for the tour to resume,” reads an official statement by festival organizers. The tour is planning to resume on July 4 in Austin, Texas, as part of Nelson’s annual 4th of July Picnic, with a lineup including Dylan, the Avett Brothers, the Mavericks, and Asleep at the Wheel. Full refunds for the cancelled show at the Lucky Star Amphitheater in El Reno, Oklahoma, will be issued at the original point of purchase. (Billboard)

On Sunday night (June 29), Deftones delivered a career-spanning performance at Crystal Palace Park in London, the day after being forced to withdraw from the Glastonbury 2025 lineup at the last minute due to illness in the band. Deftones teamed up with Weezer for the headline show, with the band showcasing a series of alt rock hits like “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” and “My Own Summer (Shove It).” But what really intrigued the fans was a post-concert projection that hinted at potential new music from the band that will possibly be unveiled soon. The side screens displayed the mysterious text, “Private Music,” which had “X.VII.MMXXV distributed by Deftones, all rights reserved,” written underneath. The Roman numerals translate to July 10, 2025, leading fans to speculate that highly-anticipated new music from Deftones could be announced or released on that day. Deftones last studio album was 2020’s Grammy-nominated Ohms. (NME)

Ozzy Osbourne has partnered with Birmingham-based brand Jolie Beauty to launch a new line of cosmetic and makeup products. The line combines Jolie Beauty's bold style with Ozzy's signature gothic flair, with the limited-edition collection available for purchase on Jolie's website starting on July 9. “It’s such an honor that Ozzy and his team chose to partner with us — especially as an independently run brand from his home city,” said Jolie Cashmore, CEO of Jolie Beauty. “This collaboration is a testament to Ozzy’s impact on the gothic and alternative communities, and a celebration of his legendary influence on music, fashion, and creativity.” This new venture is part of a flurry of merchandising efforts from Ozzy ahead of Black Sabbath's final gig on July 5th, including a recent collaboration with Liquid Death involving ten empty cans of iced tea that were consumed by the Prince of Darkness which were immediately sealed to contain the singer's DNA. (Consequence of Sound)

During Green Day’s performance in Luxembourg on Monday night (June 30), the punk legends invited a fan on stage to play their 5x-platinum 1997 hit, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." The young man surprised the band and everyone in the crowd by playing Oasis' "Wonderwall" instead. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, realizing the switch, promptly snatched his guitar back from the fan, who was quickly ushered off the stage. “Nice try, nice try,” Armstrong said, before he launched into “Good Riddance” on his own. This incident is one of a few minor hiccups during Green Day's summer European tour, following an earlier incident where Armstrong had to pause the set to admonish a fan who was repeatedly spraying the singer with a water gun. Green Day have a few more gigs left in Europe, followed by a series of scheduled shows in North and South America through September. (Rolling Stone)

The AI-generated band, The Velvet Sundown, has quickly gained over 500,000 monthly Spotify listeners after releasing two full-length albums within a mere two weeks, with a third album scheduled to drop in July. The group's rapid success has sparked speculation about its origins, as their social media images and press photos appear to be AI-generated, and little concrete information about the band members – singer and mellotron player Gabe Farrow, guitarist Lennie West, synth player Milo Rains, and percussionist Orion “Rio” Del Mar –  is available beyond their Spotify artist page. The band’s bio is equally evasive: “There’s something quietly spellbinding about The Velvet Sundown. You don’t just listen to them, you drift into them. Their music doesn’t shout for your attention, it seeps in slowly.” Despite the mystery surrounding their identity, the Velvet Sundown's music – described as “’70s psychedelic alt-rock and folk rock” – has received significant attention on multiple streaming platforms, with their most popular song, "Dust on the Wind," approaching 500,000 streams. (Consequence of Sound)

The upcoming Scorpions biopic, Wind of Change, has officially revealed its cast, with Dominic West, Alexander Dreymon, and Ludwig Trepte set to portray key band members along with manager Doc McGhee. The movie is currently filming in London, with the project directed by Alex Ranarivelo and produced by ESX Entertainment for FOX Entertainment Studios in association with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. A theatrical release for the film is planned by year-end. “This cast is an amazing ensemble of truly great talent,” says Ali Afshar, president of ESX Entertainment. “I can’t thank FOX Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment enough for their support and especially the band — Rudolf, Klaus and Matthias — for believing in us and trusting us to tell their life story.” Scorpions are marking their 60th anniversary by releasing a greatest-hits compilation, and staging a five-night Las Vegas residency in August at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. (Consequence of Sound)

In a recent Instagram Story post, Travis Barker revealed that he owns a rare Liquid Death can holding Ozzy Osbourne's DNA. Barker’s unique collectible is one of only 10 in existence, with each can once containing iced tea that Osbourne drank, which was then laboratory sealed to trap his DNA inside. The items were priced at $450 each and autographed by the Prince of Darkness himself, and they sold out immediately. Osbourne is getting ready to perform his final concert in Birmingham, England on July 5, where he will reunite with Black Sabbath and play a mini-solo set, with the Back to the Beginning concert also featuring Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Anthrax, Alice In Chains, and more. Barker is preparing for blink-182's upcoming North American Missionary Impossible 2025 Tour with opening act Alkaline Trio, which kicks off on August 28 in Hollywood, Florida. (Consequence of Sound)

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, Foo Fighters released a rousing cover of Minor Threat's "I Don't Wanna Hear It" on Monday (June 30). Dave Grohl has recently added his vocals over the original instrumentals he recorded way back in 1995. Grohl, who grew up in nearby Virginia, has a deep connection to the D.C. hardcore scene that featured Minor Threat. He memorably wrote a fan letter to the band’s vocalist, Ian MacKaye, when he was 14, and he later drummed for Scream, who were signed to MacKaye’s Dischord Records. “I Don’t Wanna Hear It” originally appeared on Minor Threat’s 1981 self-titled EP, and was included on their 1984 compilation, Minor Threat. The track is available for streaming to mark the Foo’s three-decade milestone, with the band also planning a series of international shows later this year, which includes a headlining slot at Corona Capital in Mexico City on November 14. (Consequence of Sound)

Black Sabbath's early demos, which they recorded under the name Earth in 1969, will be officially released on July 25 as, Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, via Big Bear Records. Overseen by Jim Simpson – Big Bear founder and Black Sabbath’s first manager – the collection features remastered recordings from Zella Studios in Birmingham, showcasing the band's musical prowess even before they changed their name to Black Sabbath and released their self-titled debut album in 1970. Despite bootleg releases of Earth-era recordings, these demos have never been officially released, while Black Sabbath's official involvement in The Legendary Lost Tapes remains unclear.

In additional Sabbath news, the band’s four original members were on hand to receive Birmingham's Freedom of the City honor on Saturday (June 28), a week before their historic final concert on July 5. The ceremony recognized their contribution to the city's cultural and musical identity as pioneers of heavy metal, with scrolls and medals presented to them by the Lord Mayor. “It’s a great thing to receive,” guitarist Tony Iommi said. “Birmingham is our home, and we love what Birmingham has done for us.” (Rolling Stone)

During her headlining, festival-closing set at Glastonbury on Sunday night (June 29), Olivia Rodrigo surprised fans by bringing out The Cure's legendary frontman, Robert Smith, during her set, where they performed his classic hits, "Friday I'm in Love" and "Just Like Heaven." “He’s perhaps the best songwriter to come out of England,” Rodrigo said enthusiastically while introducing Smith. “He is a Glastonbury legend and a personal hero of mine. Would you please welcome, Robert Smith!” This marked Rodrigo's first time headlining the Pyramid Stage, and she delivered a triumphant performance full of her current hits and early singles, with the Grammy-winning pop star blown away by the support from the massive crowd. “This is the most people I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” she said as she took the moment in. “This is a dream come true, I actually can’t believe this is my life right now.” Rodrigo concludes the U.K. leg of her Guts World Tour with a two-night stand in Manchester on June 30-July 1. (Variety)

Shane Hawkins, the 18-year-old son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, is slated to join his father's covers band, Chevy Metal, for a 2025 summer tour of the U.S. The 11-date run will stretch from July 12 to September 5, and will include stops in Menlo Park, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. Shane has previously performed with Chevy Metal during a few of their gigs in 2023, and also joined them on tour in 2024. Hawkins will now join the band’s current lineup for the upcoming tour, which includes bassist Wiley Hodgden (who co-founded the band with Taylor), and guitarist Brent Woods (who has played alongside Vince Neil and Sebastian Bach, and studied guitar from the legendary Randy Rhoads). (Consequence of Sound)

Marilyn Manson's U.K. tour opening show in Brighton, England on October 29 was canceled following protests from government officials and the No Stage for Abusers campaign. The cancellation came after a series of allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault surfaced against Manson, with over a dozen women, including Evan Rachel Wood and Esmé Bianco, accusing him of abuse. Despite Manson's denial and the Los Angeles prosecutors dropping the case, the online campaign and the efforts of Green Party MP Siân Berry led the cause to have the shock rocker’s Brighton Centre show called off. Additionally, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council leader Millie Earl is also calling for a possible cancellation of Manson's show at Bournemouth International Centre on October 31. “I don’t feel Marilyn Manson reflects the values we have in BCP,” she wrote. “So I have asked that BH Live reconsider hosting Marilyn Manson later this year.” (Rolling Stone)

During his legend’s slot at Glastonbury 2025 on Sunday (June 29), Rod Stewart was joined on the Pyramid Stage by his former Faces bandmate – and current Rolling Stones guitarist – Ronnie Wood. The two rock icons reunited to perform their 1971 Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 hit, “Stay With Me,” marking the first time they have played together in public since the 2020 BRIT Awards. Sir Rod was also joined by other special guests during his set, including Lulu, who joined with him for a duet on “Hot Legs,” and Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall who took part in a stirring singalong on “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.” The set featured an extended string section and bagpipe intro that played the singer on stage, before Stewart opened his set with, “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me),” proclaiming to the large crowd, “Enjoy yourselves ladies and gentlemen, please. Music brings us together – we need music!” (NME)

Evanescence has achieved its first-ever No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with their new single "Afterlife," which is featured in the Netflix series Devil May Cry. This rise to the top of Mainstream Rock Airplay ends a 22-year wait for a chart-topping hit for the Little Rock, Arkansas-based band. This marks the longest wait for a No. 1 hit by a group in the chart's history, after Evanescence first reached the list with “Bring Me to Life” (featuring Paul McCoy), which peaked at No. 11 in May 2003. This No. 1 hit surpasses their previous best on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart when "Call Me When You’re Sober" reached No. 5 in 2006. "Afterlife" also climbed to No. 3 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, reaching an audience of 4.2 million impressions, and rose to No. 23 on the Alternative Airplay chart. The track also reached No. 10 on the multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, while earning 892,000 official U.S. streams. (Billboard)

Paul Simon has been forced to cancel two Philadelphia concerts due to "unmanageable" back pain, and the 83-year-old music legend will undergo a "minor medical procedure" to address the issue, according to an Instagram statement released on (Saturday) June 28. The concerts, part of his A Quiet Celebration Tour, were scheduled for June 28 and June 29 at the Academy of Music. “Paul has been struggling with chronic and intense back pain. Today it became unmanageable and demands immediate attention. Unfortunately we have to cancel these shows at this time, as we don’t have the ability to reschedule them,” reads the statement. “We are hopeful after this minor surgical procedure which has been scheduled in the next few days, Paul will be able to complete the tour as well as look into returning to make up these dates.” Despite suffering from severe hearing loss, Simon resumed touring in 2025, with upcoming dates still scheduled in Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Seattle. (Billboard)

Dua Lipa continued the U.K. leg of her Radical Optimism Tour by covering a pair of legendary local artists during her recent shows in England and Ireland. Lipa performed the Beatles' classic, “Hey Jude,” during her stadium show at Anfield in Liverpool on June 25, and covered the Zutons’ “Valerie” – which was popularized by the late Amy Winehouse – with the Liverpudlian rock group’s singer Dave McCabe the night before. Lipa then paid a touching tribute to the late Sinéad O'Connor by performing her Billboard No. 1 hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday night (June 27). “Tonight, I am honored to perform a song by a late Irish legend,” Lipa said before her emotional rendition of the Prince-penned classic. This continues Lipa’s trend of covering hometown artists during stops on her tour – performing hits from AC/DC, Lorde, and Kylie Minogue on the Australian/New Zealand leg – while also collaborating with local stars Charli XCX and Jamiroquai's Jay Kay during her recent London shows at Wembley Stadium. (Rolling Stone)

During an interview with the radio station WRIF in Detroit, Wolfgang Van Halen revealed that he has had to withdraw from the lineup for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's final concert on July 5, due to his band Mammoth's commitment as a support act for Creed's summer tour. “I, unfortunately, had to back out because the Creed tour starts the day after, and I wouldn’t be able to pull it off,” Van Halen said, while adding, “I’m very excited to watch it, but I unfortunately had to back out.” Mammoth will support Creed on their North American summer tour, which kicks off July 9 in Lexington, Kentucky, a few days after the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England, which also features Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Pantera, Slayer, and more. In addition to supporting Creed this summer, Mammoth will also set off on a headlining U.S. tour of their own this fall. (Consequence of Sound) 

In celebration of their 60th anniversary, the Grateful Dead’s legendary 1977 concert film, The Grateful Dead Movie, has been newly-remastered and will be shown in theaters and IMAX later this summer. The film, directed by Jerry Garcia, showcases the band's five-night run at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom in 1974, and captures the essence of the growing Deadhead community. The immersive concert film will make its IMAX debut on August 13 in 60 North American theaters, followed by a wide release on August 14. Alongside exclusive bonus footage, the re-release will feature added performances of “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider” at the end of the film. Tickets for the screening are on-sale now. Also marking the band’s 60th anniversary, Dead & Company will perform three special shows at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, their first performances since concluding a Sphere Las Vegas residency in May. (Consequence of Sound)

During his performance in Franklin, Tennessee on Wednesday night (June 25), Bob Dylan surprised fans by performing his anthem, “The Times They Are a-Changin',” for the first time in 15 years, as part of the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson. The 84-year-old folk rock icon delivered a new rendition of his 1964 classic from behind the piano alongside his band, showcasing a different arrangement while still maintaining the song's timeless poignancy. The last time Dylan performed the track was during a 2010 White House event celebrating the music from the Civil Rights Movement. Dylan has been dusting off rarities during this tour, treating fans to a performance of “Mr. Tambourine Man” (also for the first time in 15 years) and a collaborative cover of “All Along the Watchtower” with tourmate Billy Strings. The ongoing summer tour features a variety of special guests joining Nelson and Dylan, including Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Turnpike Troubadours, Waxahatchee, and others. (Consequence of Sound)

On Thursday (June 26), My Morning Jacket announced a series of special 20th anniversary shows in celebration of their fourth studio album, Z. The band will perform the record in full at five previously announced tour stops, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Hollywood Palladium, Brooklyn Paramount, Chicago’s Salt Shed, and Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. “October 4 is the 20th anniversary of our album Z,” frontman Jim James said in a statement. “It’s pretty wild to think about that. To celebrate 2 decades of it being out in the ether, we’re turning 5 of our shows into special Z anniversary shows, where we’ll play that album (and some other songs, don’t worry) front to back.” These shows are part of the second leg of MMJ’s upcoming My Morning Jacket ‘is’ On Tour, which is set to kick off on August 5 in Bend, Oregon, in support of their latest album, is, which was released on March 21. (Consequence of Sound)