During her acceptance speech while receiving the Hall of Fame award at the Pollstar Awards, Stevie Nicks unexpectedly disclosed that she is working on a new album, a project she is calling, The Ghost Record. Reflecting on the recent California fires, Nicks shared how the isolation during her stay in a hotel while her home was being renovated inspired her to write a series of new songs. “They are not airy, fairy songs that you are wondering who they are about but you don’t really get it,” she said. “They’re real stories of memories of mine of fantastic men,” which includes a song inspired by Prince that brought the project to life. “I thought, ‘You need to go back to work.’ And I did,” Nicks revealed. “And I have seven songs, and they are autobiographical real stories where I’m not pulling any punches for the first time in my life.” This new project will follow Nicks’ last solo album in 2014, 24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault.

After The Who publicly announced that they had parted ways with their longtime drummer Zak Starkey last week, Pete Townshend reversed course in an Instagram post on Saturday (April 19), confirming that Starkey is still the drummer in the band. “News Flash! Who back Zak!,” Townshend wrote. “Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.” Following a rocky performance at Royal Albert Hall, Townshend stated that Starkey is not being asked to step down but rather work on his drumming style to better fit the band's current sound. “Roger [Daltrey] and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed,” wrote the guitar legend. Starkey, the son of the Beatles icon Ringo Star, took to Instagram to share a photo of Townshend embracing him, with the caption, “V grateful to be a part of the who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx.”

Little River Band co-founder and original bassist Roger McLachlan has passed away at the age of 71 after battling pancreatic cancer. McLachlan, born in 1954 in New Zealand, was known for his musical talent and significant early contributions to the band. He initially joined the group after an agent mentioned they were looking for a bass player, and he went on to play a crucial role in their success, including their Top 30 hit song, "It's a Long Way There,” from 1975's Little River Band. "I arrived for auditions and they start playing and singing and I am pinching myself, because I can't believe how good these guys are,” McLachlan told Riveting Riffs magazine about his try-out. “The rest is history. It just kind of clicked straightaway." McLachlan originally left the group following 1976's After Hours, but he rejoined the band in the late ‘90s. McLachlan had a notable career outside of Little River Band, performing and collaborating with a variety of groups while remaining active in music until his passing. He was also part of 2009's induction class at New Zealand's Southland Musicians Club Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. 

On Wednesday (April 16), the Who announced that they have decided to part ways with drummer Zak Starkey after nearly three decades in the band. The decision comes just three weeks after the drummer performed with the Who during two shows at London's Royal Albert Hall. Starkey – son of the Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr – joined the Who in 1996, and appeared on albums like 2006’s Endless Wire and 2019’s Who, while performing live with the group for nearly 30 years. “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” said a representative for the band. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.” Starkey was clearly shocked by the news, releasing a statement saying he was “surprised and saddened” by the announcement, adding, “I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.“

On Monday (April 14), Stevie Nicks unveiled the dates and details of her upcoming solo headlining tour, which will intersect with her guest appearances on Billy Joel’s upcoming tour. The 76-year-old rock legend’s tour includes arena dates at nine cities across North America stretching from August to October, with the run beginning in Boston on August 12 and ending in Oklahoma City on October 15. “More solo shows are on the way in 2025 — I can’t wait to share these nights with you ✨,” Nicks wrote in the caption of her Instagram tour announcement. Artist presale begins on Thursday (April 17), with a general on-sale starting on Friday (April 18). “What I wanted to do my whole life was affect people. I love telling my stories on stage,” Nicks said in a 2024 Rolling Stone interview. “That is what makes me happy, and that’s why I’ll never stop touring. Because if I stop touring, then I’ll stop dancing.”

Photographed by Joelle Grace Taylor

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and longtime partner Melanie Hamrick are engaged. The news was confirmed by Hamrick during a recent interview with Paris Match, who disclosed that they have actually been engaged for "two or three years." Despite their happiness in their current life, Hamrick is uncertain about a formal marriage. “Maybe one day we’ll marry, maybe not,” said the 37-year-old former ballerina and choreographer at American Ballet Theatre. “We are so happy in our current life that I would be too afraid to change anything.” The couple, who have been together since 2014, share an eight-year-old son named Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger, frequently featured on Hamrick's Instagram. The 81-year-old Jagger has seven other children from previous relationships with Marsha Hunt, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, and Luciana Morad Gimenez. 

Pete Best, the original drummer of The Beatles who performed with the band in the early 1960s, has announced his retirement from appearances and performances due to what his daughter calls “personal circumstances." News of Best’s retirement was revealed on X on Saturday (April 5) by the drummer's brother, Roag Best, who shared a photo of the musicians together. "Well what an absolutely wonderful ride we’ve had. However, everything comes to pass,” he wrote. Pete shared Roag’s post, and wrote, “I had a blast. Thank you.” Best, who is often referred to as the "fifth Beatle," made his debut with the band in Hamburg, Germany and was later replaced by Ringo Starr. Despite the harsh circumstances of his departure, Best reflects on his time with the band with no regrets. "I think I’m a lucky guy,” he told The Irish Times in 2020. “I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved as a person, of the examples I’ve set to people to get on with your life, to pick yourself up." 

Clem Burke, the renowned drummer for Blondie and influential figure in the New Wave movement, has passed away at the age of 70 after a private battle with cancer. Burke joined Blondie in 1975 and contributed to their iconic early albums such as their self-titled debut, Parallel Lines, and Eat to the Beat. Recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest drummers of all time, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s impeccable backbeat and dynamic style set Blondie apart, infusing disco grooves, reggae, and hip-hop into their hits.

During The Who's recent two-night stand at London’s Royal Albert Hall, frontman Roger Daltrey gave the audience an update about his current health status. “The joys of getting old mean you go deaf. I also now have got the joy of going blind,” the 81-year-old singer said. “Fortunately I still have my voice, because then I’ll have a full Tommy.” The Who’s performances were part of the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concert series, and the rock legends showcased their new stripped-down band, delivering the live debut of “The Song Is Over” and the revival of “Love Ain’t For Keeping” after 21 years of going unplayed. Even with his vision and hearing issues, Daltry is set to kick off his next solo tour in Brighton, England, on April 20, wrapping up the run on August 8 in Margate, England. The Who, meanwhile, have two shows scheduled in Italy on July 20 and 22. 

Kevin Cronin will be absent from the REO Speedwagon “retrospective” reunion concert in the band’s hometown of Champaign, Illinois on June 14th, citing a scheduling conflict with his current solo tour with Styx. The charity concert will feature founding member Neal Doughty, bassist Bruce Hall, early REO drummer Alan Gratzer, guitarist Steve Scorfina, rhythm guitarist Mike Murphy, and original frontman Terry Luttrell, with proceeds benefiting cancer research. In a Facebook comment, Cronin – who replaced Luttrell as REO’s frontman in 1972 – said: “I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I can’t possibly be there in-person. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this. After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded.” This absence comes after reported rifts caused the band to stop touring, with Cronin forced to be billed as a “former lead singer/songwriter” on his upcoming tour with Styx.

Shimon Karmel

Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham have reunited in the studio for the first time since Buckingham’s departure from Fleetwood Mac in 2018. Swedish producer Carl Falk recently shared photos of the duo working on Fleetwood’s upcoming solo album. Falk captioned his post: “Slightly unreal moment to sit with Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood to play Lindsey the album we have been working on. And to see his genuine happiness for Mick to finally do his own album and offering to play guitar and to sing on it.” Falk also shared photos of Fleetwood in the studio with Philadelphia indie rock band the War on Drugs, with no official word on when these projects will be released. Despite Mick and Lindsey rekindling their friendship, a Fleetwood Mac reunion is unlikely, following Christine McVie’s death in 2022, and the strained relationship between Stevie Nicks and Buckingham. Fleetwood's most recent album was 2024’s Blues Experience, a collaboration with Jake Shimabukuro, while his last solo album was 2004’s Something Big.

A new documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes, will premiere on HBO this summer before eventually streaming on Max. The two-part film is directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, with Tom Hanks serving as executive producer. The rock doc promises to take an in-depth look at the iconic songwriter's life, music, and personal struggles, through “unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews.” “For those who think they know Joel’s story, as well as those who are not as familiar, I believe this two-part film is both a revelation and a surprise,” says Lacy. “We are gratified that Bill trusted us with his story, which we have told as honestly as possible.” Meanwhile, due to a recent surgery and subsequent recovery, the 75-year-old Joel has been forced to reschedule his 2025 tour – featuring special guests Stevie Nicks, Sting, and Rod Stewart – which will now begin in July. 

Donna Summer, dubbed the “Queen of Disco”, Summer’s powerful voice, electrifying stage presence, and genre-defining hits made her one of the most successful artists of the 1970s and beyond. With five Grammy Awards, four No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and a career that spanned four decades, Summer was far more than a disco icon—she was a true music pioneer.

In a new interview with MOJO, Queen's Brian May expressed the possibility of the celebrated rock band releasing their first new single in 30 years. “I think it could happen,” May said. “Both Roger [Taylor] and I are constantly writing and coming up with ideas and doing things in our studios. I could have the beginnings of a Queen song right there in front of me now. It’s just whether the idea reaches maturity or not.” Speaking with Uncut in 2024, Taylor said, “Brian and myself were talking the other day, and we both said that if we feel we have some good material, why not? We can still play. We can still sing. So I don’t see why not.” Queen’s last album, Made in Heaven, was released in 1995 after the passing of frontman Freddie Mercury. In 2022, the band shared a rediscovered track called “Face It Alone” that featured Mercury’s vocals. In 2011, Queen began performing live again with Adam Lambert as their lead vocalist. (

Jesse Colin Young, frontman and co-founder of the influential Sixties group the Youngbloods, has died at the age of 83. The musician’s death was confirmed by his wife and manager, Connie Young, who disclosed that he passed away at his home in Aiken, South Carolina, though she did not reveal a cause of death. Young is best known as the vocalist for 1969 counterculture anthem, “Get Together,” which peaked at Number Five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s unforgettable hook, “Come on, people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together/Try to love one another right now,” was even quoted on Nirvana's “Territorial Pissings,” a track on their legendary 1991 album, Nevermind. Young's artistic versatility extended to folk, blues, jazz, country, and rock & roll across a series of solo albums following the Youngbloods’ dissolution in 1972. He released his last album, Dreamers, in 2019, following a Lyme’s disease diagnosis in 2012. (Rolling Stone)

On Tuesday (March 18), the Eagles took to Instagram to announce four additional 2025 dates for their ongoing Las Vegas Sphere residency. The newly added shows are scheduled to take place over the course of two weekends this fall: on Friday and Saturday, September 5-6; and Friday and Saturday, September 12-13. The Eagles began their initial Sphere residency back in September 2024, and these new dates now push their total overall Sphere shows to 36, which have been spread out over 18 weekends during the course of one full year. Ticket prices start at $175, with a presale for these newly announced shows beginning on March 25 at 10 a.m. PT. The Eagles' lengthy Sphere residency follows Dead & Company, Phish, Anyma, and U2's historic runs at the state-of-the-art, 18,000 seat venue, with upcoming residencies scheduled for Kenny Chesney and Backstreet Boys. (Billboard)