Music

• Depeche Mode is spreading the touring love even further by adding new dates.
• After their European leg, the band will return to North America through the end of the year.
• New stops include Atlanta, New Orleans and Las Vegas.
• Source: Consequence

• Gene Simmons has given his daughter away.
• Sophie Simmons married her boyfriend of nine years in a ceremony that took place at an LA courthouse and their Malibu home.
• Gene and wife/actor Shannon Tweed-Simmons said they believe the couple “will last long” in a statement.
• Source: People

• Rolling Stone has released its brutally honest “50 Genuinely Horrible Albums By Brilliant Artists” list.
• Names to gain the distinction span across multiple genres, including Madonna, Willie Nelson and David Bowie.
• Three of the four Beatles made the list, and The Who’s Pete Townshend landed there twice.
• Source: Rolling Stone

• Stephen Stills has shared his very blunt thoughts on touring at age 78.
• The CSNY rocker says the thought of going on the road “appalls” him and that “it’s no longer fun.”
• But he hasn’t stopped, saying he still regularly jams with Neil Young and writes new music.
• Source: Ultimate Classic Rock

• Depeche Mode is ramping up their comeback following the death of Andy Fletcher.
• The British band has dropped a new single and is a month out from a new album.
• And now the group has announced 29 new US dates added onto their 2023 tour.
• Source: Loudwire

• Genesis shot to the top of the Forbes list as the highest-paid performers or 2022, earning $230 million. 
• Sting took the silver medal with $210 million, mostly from his catalog sale to Universal Music Group.
• Taylor Swift in at #9 on the list with $92 million and only female to crack the top 10.
• Bad Bunny took 10^th place with $88 million.
• There were plenty of non-music artists in the mix as well. 
• Source: Forbes

• Billy Joel has led the charge to nominate a fellow rocker to the Hall Of Fame.
• And now that effort seems to be paying off, as Zevon currently holds a spot in the Top Five.
• Currently, Zevon is #3- sandwiched between George Michael and Soundgarden.
• Source: Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

• German band Scorpions is the newest member of an exclusive online club.
• The band’s hit song “Wind Of Change” is the newest to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube.
• The politically-charged ballad was inspired by an experience Scorpions had while performing in Russia.
• Source: RTT News

• CSNY rocker Neil Young is returning to public performing, and he’s reuniting with some old friends.
• Young will jam with former bandmate Stephen Stills and the son of the late David Crosby.
• The performance is part of a charity event in Los Angeles that benefits the Autism Speaks organization.
• Source: Ultimate Classic Rock

• Pat Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo are continuing their big run of recent success.
• Following their Hall of Fame induction, the duo also have a play about their life out and will tour with P!nk this summer.
• Before they join the pop star, however, Benatar and Giraldo will take a quick spring tour of the US.
• Source: Ultimate Classic Rock

• John Oates has released new music- this time a song he “rediscovered” during covid lockdown.
• “Disconnected” is a song Oates feels everyone can relate to with a message for the hard times.
• In addition to dropping the single, the rocker also produced a video he says was inspired by Taylor Swift.
• Source: RTT News

• In recent days the rift between Roger Waters and the remaining members of Pink Floyd has only gotten worse
• With the band accusing their former bassist of antisemitism and being a "Putin apologist", the Floyd members seem farther apart than ever
• Add to the mix: Roger Waters just announced he has re-recorded their classic "Dark Side Of The Moon" - without the rest of the band
• Source: Deadline

• Duran Duran has had some big accomplishments over the last year, including joining the Rock Hall Of Fame.
• They even performed at the Queen’s Jubilee,
• Now the British band has announced a new tour.
• The Duran Duran will travel to the US and Canada this summer, including at the Bottlerock Festival, Detroit, and Boston. 
• Source: Ultimate Classic Rock

• Dolly Parton and Dionne Warwick are collaborating on a gospel song called "Peace Like a River"
• The song was written by Parton and produced by Warwick's son, Damon Elliott.
• The music video for the song was filmed in Nashville and is set to be released on February 24th on Kind Music Group
• The song is described as a "song of inspiration" and Warwick found the song "timely" and a song America "needs" right now.
• Parton says Warwick is "one of her idols" and calls the duet "one of the highlights of her career."
• Source: CMT

Donna Summer Documentary To Premiere on HBO In May: The “Queen Of Disco” is getting her own documentary.

• In the midst of controversy surrounding a planned biopic, Michael Jackson’s family is looking to make a sale.
• The late singer’s estate is said to be nearing a deal with Sony and an anonymous buyer.
• The deal is rumored to be $800-$900 million for half of MJ’s catalog, which would be the biggest deal ever.
• Source: Variety

mokey Robinson Not Retiring Anytime Soon: “There are some sad things known to man,” but thankfully one of them isn’t the retirement of Smokey Robinson.

• At the GRAMMYs last weekend, Mick Fleetwood shared some tough news for fans.
• The Fleetwood Mac rocker admitted he doesn’t think the band will reunite following Christine McVie’s death.
• Lindsey Buckingham left the group and Stevie Nicks has gone solo; even Fleetwood himself is looking for others to rock with.
• Source: MSN

• Carlos Santana has added summer and fall dates onto the 11^th year of his Las Vegas residency.
• Originally set only for May, Santana has added shows throughout both September and November.
• A portion of ticket sales from the show benefit Santana’s charity, Milagro Foundation.
• Source: Ultimate Classic Rock

• Music mogul Clive Davis is back to throwing his star-studded pre-Grammy gala after a three-year break.
• Jennifer Hudson performed a tribute to Whitney Houston by singing her hit, "Greatest Love of All” after Kevin Costner kicked off the evening.
• Sheryl Crow performed a tribute to late Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie by covering “Songbird” and “Say You Love Me.”
• Lizzo and Elvis Costello also took to the stage to sing, as did Frankie Valli who performed “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You."
• The evening also celebrated 50 years of hip-hop music and featured acts like Lil Baby, Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz.
• Source: Billboard