Rick Derringer, who had a hit with ‘Hang On Sloopy’ and produced ‘Weird Al,’ dies at 77
Guitarist and singer Rick Derringer, who shot to fame at 17 when his band The McCoys recorded “Hang On Sloopy,” had a hit with “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” and earned a Grammy Award for producing “Weird Al ” Yankovic’s debut album, has died. He was 77. Derringer died Monday...
Fundraising concert in Bell Acres will benefit Hair Peace Charities
Music is healing for Bonny Diver, and that’s what inspired an upcoming evening of performances by female singers to support other cancer survivors and raise money for Hair Peace Charities, which she founded. The organization helps women and girls in Western Pennsylvania with financial help to buy a wig needed...
‘Stairway to Heaven’ tops listener-voted WDVE Memorial Day 500
If you’re mad that Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” kept its title at No. 1 on WDVE’s Memorial Day 500 for the third year running, take it up with your fellow yinzers. Over the weekend, classic rock radio station WDVE counted down the top 500 rock songs of all time...
Joan Osborne celebrating ‘legendary’ works of Bob Dylan with Dylanology Live tourVideo
Singer-songwriter Joan Osborne first shot to fame in 1995 with her hit single “One of Us,” so she certainly met her share of famous people, citing Liza Minnelli, Eric Clapton and Luciana Pavarotti as examples. And then there was Bob Dylan, who was (and is) at a different level. “Someone...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Mia ZVideo
Although singer Mia Z is only 26 years old, she said she feels like a veteran of the music business, thanks to an appearance on NBC’s “The Voice” as a teenager. “I don’t even share with people often all that I have gone through in the music business because when...
Barry Manilow says a fond farewell to Pittsburgh
It takes a true showman like Barry Manilow to say goodbye in style. The soft-rock singer and songwriter has sent more than 50 songs into the Adult Alternative Top 40 since the mid-1970s — and amassed an impressive number of “Fanilows” in the process. Even if Manilow’s tunes aren’t your...
Billy Joel cancels Pittsburgh concert, entire tour, citing brain disorder
Piano man Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming tour dates, including a scheduled stop with Rod Stewart on July 5 at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium. The announcement came Friday from Joel, who revealed he has been diagnosed with a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus. The condition occurs when excess...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: May 23-26
Happy Memorial Day weekend! For many, this means an extra day to relax — but it’s also an extra day to fill with fun. Here are a few things going on this weekend around town, so make room in your three-day weekend schedule. Riverlife Chalk Fest For a lot of...
WDVE’s Memorial Day 500 has a new twist this year
In 1985, classic rock radio station 102.5 WDVE started a tradition of playing a countdown of the top 500 best rock songs over Memorial Day weekend. For the most part, their way of formulating that list has been a bit mysterious. This year, for the 40th anniversary of the Memorial...
Pittsburgh’s The Gotobeds return after 6 years with new album ‘Masterclass’Video
It’s been six years since Pittsburgh’s The Gotobeds released their last album, with plenty of upheaval in between 2019’s “Debt Begins at 30” and “Masterclass,” which just came out last Friday. In that time, there have been two member changes, a label switch, a year-long mixing delay and the covid-19...
Chris Brown freed on $6.7 million bail in assault case, allowing him to start world tour
LONDON — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown was released on 5 million-pound ($6.7 million) bail Wednesday while facing allegations he beat and seriously injured a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. The decision by a London judge to grant bail will allow Brown to launch a...
Sessanta V2.0 brings A Perfect Circle, Puscifer and Primus to PittsburghVideo
Much like the reds, whites and rosés bottled at his Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards in Arizona, Maynard James Keenan is aging like a fine wine. The enigmatic singer, who fronts progressive metal giants Tool as well as A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, launched Sessanta — which means 60 in...
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, in Pittsburgh, joins Springsteen to denounce TrumpVideo
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder doubled-down in support of freedom of speech and joined fellow music legend Bruce Springsteen’s denouncement of President Donald Trump’s policies. And he did it during Sunday’s show at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh before the band launched into its version of Neil Young’s First Amendment...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Mellowscape
Brothers Robby and Nathaniel King have wanted to make music since they were kids, and they’re doing it now as Mellowscape. The indie rock band released its third album, “Sunsick,” in April. “‘Sunsick’ is Mellowscape at full throttle. If you need a rock album to dive in to, ‘Sunsick’ is...
Folk legend Bruce Cockburn gives uplifting performance at City Winery
Canada has produced some truly great folk singers, from Joni Mitchell to Neil Young to Gordon Lightfoot. But there’s a name that belongs on that list that isn’t as commonly known: Bruce Cockburn. While he did have a couple of hits in the U.S. — namely “Wondering Where The Lions...
Pearl Jam shows off impressive versatility in sold-out Pittsburgh concertVideo
Is there any rock band, playing at the arena level, that is more versatile than Pearl Jam? The veteran Seattle rockers – who have moved far beyond their grunge days – continued to make their case in a sold-out show Friday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Visiting the...
1st week of testimony in Diddy trial concludes with graphic accusations
The first week of testimony in the Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial is concluding — and with it Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s testimony. Ventura, the R&B singer who was Combs’ girlfriend for around a decade, had filed a lawsuit alleging he sexually and physically abused her. It was settled in late 2023,...
Baroness frontman John Baizley on revisiting ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ albums for tour coming to PittsburghVideo
Baroness frontman John Baizley had always felt a little resistant to the idea of playing older albums in full live. But he gradually warmed up to the concept, with the progressive metal band playing their first two releases, “Red Album” and “Blue Record,” at a pre-holiday show in December. The...
Springsteen, Trump, Kid Rock trade political barbs
Bruce Springsteen’s songs have chronicled the working American’s hopes and dreams for 50 years. In that time, The Boss’ political bent has never been buried. Sure, some Reaganites may have misunderstood “Born in the U.S.A” as a patriotic anthem, but “American Skin (41 Shots)” clearly details the fears some have...
Pirates to give away Mac Miller bobbleheads
The Pittsburgh Pirates will pay tribute to the late Pittsburgh-born rapper Mac Miller by giving away commemorative bobbleheads during a game in July. On Thursday, the team shared a teaser video on social media featuring a montage and the message, “This is for you, Malcolm.” Miller, whose real name was...
Chris Brown arrested in UK for alleged attack at London club in 2023
LONDON — Singer Chris Brown was arrested Thursday in England for allegedly hitting someone with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. The Metropolitan Police did not name Brown but said it took a 36-year-old into custody at a Manchester hotel on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Under...
Pearl Jam has nearly 35-year concert history in Pittsburgh region
Pearl Jam may be best known for their album “Ten,” but it’s been more than 11½ years since they came to Pittsburgh. Seeing as it’s been so long since we’ve heard “Black” or “Yellow Ledbetter” here in the home of the Black and Gold, it’s fitting that the seminal grunge-rock...
Pierce the Veil singer Vic Fuentes on band’s biggest tour, new album, Pittsburgh memoriesVideo
In the early days of Pierce the Veil, the post-hardcore band would throw in fun, unexpected covers — from R&B to hip hop to pop — as a surprise in their sets. It just so worked out that they were doing a Wiz Khalifa song when they hit Pittsburgh’s Stage...
Need tickets? Stage AE, Star Lake offering deals with sales promotions
Pittsburgh area music fans could get a little relief for their bank accounts in a pair of ticket promotions. Stage AE in Pittsburgh is running a deal for $25 all-in tickets for select shows by using the code SUMMER25. The sale, while supplies last, runs through 11:59 p.m. Friday at...
Eddie Vedder has special connection to Pittsburgh’s Clemente Museum. Here’s why.
Iconic Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has described Pittsburgh’s Clemente Museum as one of his “top five places on the whole planet Earth.” Vedder — who returns to Pittsburgh this weekend for a pair of sold-out shows at PPG Paints Arena — isn’t just an admirer of the late baseball...
