A rap tribute for the ages, Beyoncé triumph at the GrammysVideo
As he accepted an innovator’s award named for him, Dr. Dre mused about what he had in common with many of the people he saw from the Grammy Awards stage. “Where would a lot of people in here be without hip-hop?” the renowned rapper, producer and entrepreneur said. The 2023...
Beyoncé breaks Grammys record, is now most-decorated artistVideo
LOS ANGELES — Beyoncé stands alone on her Grammy throne: With her fourth win Sunday night, she has become the most decorated artist in the show’s history surpassing the 26-year-old record once held by the late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti. “I’m trying not to be too emotional,” the superstar said...
Grammys could make history with Beyoncé, Bad Bunny wins
LOS ANGELES — Will Beyoncé emerge from the Grammy Awards as its most decorated artist ever? That’s one of the main storylines heading into Sunday’s ceremony, where the superstar is the leading nominee and needs four wins to make history. Several of music’s biggest names, including Beyoncé, are in the...
Q&A: Shania Twain talks rebuilding confidence with new album
LOS ANGELES — Shania Twain felt the need on her new album to empower herself the same way she has uplifted listeners with hits like “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” and “She’s Not Just a Pretty Face.” So she set aside all feelings of self consciousness — appearing braless...
Why is R&B music more explicit than ever? It’s complicated.
NEW YORK — Tank was nervous after sending his manager a preview of “When We” — he’d never released a song that explicit. “He’s like, ‘You’re crazy, but it’s jammin’!’” the R&B singer recalled. “It ended up being my biggest record ever.” Released in 2017, the seductive chorus of “when...
Exuberant Springsteen, E Street Band launch 1st tour in 6 years
TAMPA, Fla. — It’s been six years since Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band embarked on a major tour. Judging by the first show Wednesday night in Tampa, Florida, you’d never know it. The Boss and his band served notice they are back. At just under three hours, it...
Handicapping the 14 new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees
Oh, to be in the room where it happens. The nominating room for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Those debates must be fiery. Should we recognize hard rockers Iron Maiden and Rage Against the Machine again and again? Is Willie Nelson really rock ‘n’ roll? We need more...
Southern Fried Rock Show set to hit the stage in Freeport
There aren’t that many music events in the area dedicated to promoting local bands that play original music. But thanks to the Southern Fried Rock Show, four area country rock bands playing mostly their own songs will be showcased Saturday night at the Freeport Event Center. This year marks the...
Beyoncé announces Renaissance world tour
Beyhive, this is not a drill. Beyoncé on Wednesday announced her forthcoming Renaissance world tour and posted the concert dates on her website. The singer will travel across Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, with the tour kicking off May 10 in Stockholm and concluding Sept. 27...
Pine-Richland graduate Jack Semke hopes to inspire through his music
Hearing a great song can change your life. For singer-songwriter Jack Semke, 18, that song was “Sailboat” by Ben Rector. “That was the first song I remember that made me want to learn how to play guitar,” he said. “It came on the radio after a day of walking in...
Missy, Willie Nelson and George Michael among Rock Hall nominees
NEW YORK — Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Kate Bush, Iron Maiden, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Sheryl Crow and the late George Michael are the 2023 nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, reflecting a mix of country, soul, hip-hop, metal, pop, rap-rock and grunge. The Cleveland-based institution...
Beyonce bringing Renaissance World Tour to Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium
Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour is coming to Pittsburgh this summer. The pop superstar announced the anticipated tour with an Instagram post Wednesday morning, with a date set for Aug. 3 at Acrisure Stadium. Her most recent album, “Renaissance,” came out last summer and features singles “Break My Soul” and “Cuff...
Ozzy Osbourne cancels 2023 European tour dates, cites injury
Hard rock legend Ozzy Osbourne announced the cancellation of his 2023 tour dates in the U.K. and continental Europe. Osbourne issued a statement early Wednesday saying damage to his spine suffered in an accident four years ago will prevent him from touring. “I am honestly humbled by the way you’ve...
Moody Blues, Wings co-founder Denny Laine to bring solo show to Club CafeVideo
The English rock band the Moody Blues was just getting their act together in the early 1960s in a suburb of Birmingham when a suitcase full of American rhythm and blues records was brought to them by a British disc jockey who had just returned from the United States. The...
Trevor Noah returns as Grammy host with comfort, nervousness
LOS ANGELES — Trevor Noah feels more comfortable hosting the Grammy Awards for a third-straight year, but the former “The Daily Show” host still has some nervousness about leading the ceremony with big-time acts like Beyoncé, Adele and Harry Styles looking on. “The nerves come in because you’re standing in...
Michael Jackson’s nephew to star in King of Pop biopicVideo
NEW YORK — Michael Jackson’s 26-year-old nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will play the King of Pop in the planned biopic “Michael” to be directed by Antoine Fuqua. Lionsgate announced Jackson’s casting Monday for the film being produced by Oscar-winning “Bohemian Rhapsody” producer Graham King. Jackson is the second-youngest son of Jermaine...
Guitarist Tom Verlaine, co-founder of Television, dies at 73
NEW YORK — Tom Verlaine, guitarist and co-founder of the seminal proto-punk band Television who influenced many bands while playing at ultra-cool downtown New York music venue CBGB alongside the Ramones, Patti Smith and Talking Heads, has died. He was 73. He died Saturday in New York City, surrounded by...
Bob Dylan almost died in 1997. Months later, ‘Time Out of Mind’ revived his career
A quarter of a century ago, Bob Dylan found vital new life in an album about death’s inexorable approach. “I’m walking through streets that are dead,” the rock ‘n’ roll legend sang — wheezed, really — right at the top of “Time Out of Mind,” which came out in the...
Smokey Robinson, ‘King of Motown,’ to release new solo album
NEW YORK — It’s been nearly a decade since Smokey Robinson’s last album, but new music from the King of Motown is on the horizon. Robinson will release the nine-track album “Gasms” on April 28, the music legend behind hits like “My Girl” and “The Way You Do the Things...
Elle King settles in Nashville as a mom and country singer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Singer Elle King has never fit neatly into any one box. Her early years were split between Ohio, New York City and Los Angeles and her rock music was always banjo-based, with elements of bluegrass, rockabilly and country pulling at the seams. Now raising her young son...
John Mayer’s solo acoustic tour to stop in Pittsburgh
John Mayer is headed back to Pittsburgh — all by himself. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s “Solo” tour will play PPG Paints Arena on March 18. “Just like the early days,” Mayer wrote on social media Thursday, announcing the tour. “I’ll be playing old songs. Newer songs. Songs you haven’t heard yet...
Panic! at the Disco ends; Brendon Urie to focus on family
NEW YORK — First there were four, then they became three and finally just one. Now it’s time to say a final farewell to art pop-rock Panic! at the Disco. Brendon Urie, the only musician left from the original group, announced on the band’s Instagram page Tuesday that Panic! at...
Dave Matthews Band coming to Star Lake this summer
What would you say? The Dave Matthews Band is returning to The Pavilion at Star Lake for a show this summer. The band, which started in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been around for more than 30 years. They have a new album, “Walk Around The Moon,” set to release in May....
The top 16 country concerts coming to Pittsburgh in 2023
With tours from legends to up-and-comers, Pittsburgh country music fans will have plenty of opportunities to bust out their cowboy boots and hats this year. In June, the city will have four straight nights of concerts, two from Morgan Wallen at PNC Park followed by two nights of Taylor Swift...
Senators grill Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift fiascoVideo
Senators grilled Ticketmaster Tuesday, questioning whether the company’s dominance in the ticketing industry led to its spectacular breakdown last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets. Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee also debated possible action, including making tickets non-transferable to cut down on scalping and...
