BILLY JOEL: Ladies in His Life Speak Out
Three of the women in Billy Joel's life -- his wife Alexis, ex-wife Christie Brinkley, and his daughter with Christie, Alex Ray -- have commented on his diagnosis of a brain disorder, which has forced him to cancel all tour dates through next year.
Alexis posted a note on Instagram saying, "Thank you for the outpouring of love and support. We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received. Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.”
Christie Brinkley, who he was married to for nine years, says, “Dear Billy, The whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery. I was looking for some cute photos of you and Alexa to send you, when I came across this clip from a recent concert. It made me laugh, but it also reminded me of all the joy you create, and all the sensational sing a longs you’ve lead. “You turn an arena of strangers into a living room full of friends as we all sway in unison. I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in that room when I say please take good care of yourself, we all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man.’ “We’re always in the mood for your melodies And we all hope you’re feeling alright! We Love You, the kids, me and a whole bunch of full arenas!”
Alexa Ray adds, "We love you and we got you, Pop! I just wanted to thank you all for the beautiful outpouring of love and support amid the recent news of My Father’s health diagnosis. My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known… and he’s entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength. The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him… it means a lot to me, too. ‘Someday We’ll All Be Gone / But Lullabies Go On And On / They Never Die / That’s How You And I Will Be.’ The music continues."
Billy, 76, has been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a condition where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates in the brain's ventricles, but the pressure inside the skull remains within the normal range. It is curable. Included among his 17 canceled shows were stadium dates with Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart and Sting.
METALLICA: Saving Lives, Setting Off Seismographs Metallica are credited with saving the life of a couple earlier this month. According to WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, Virgina David and Kristin McKee of Goodview, Virgina planned on driving their 14-year-old daughter Madeline to the Metallica show at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virgina on May 7th. The couple usually stay up late watching TV in their front room, but on the night of the 6th they decided to go to bed early to get a good night's sleep. That ended up being a good plan, as around 2 a.m. a pickup truck slammed through the front of their house and destroyed the area where they would have been sitting. The McKee's never made it to the show, but credit their's daughter's love of the band for saving their lives. That Metallica show is where the band and their audience set off local seismographs during "Enter Sandman." And now the band has released an official video of that performance you can catch on YouTube.
Monsters Of Rock Cruise 2026 Announced
2026 is going to be big for fans of 80s and 90s rock, especially if you like your classic rock on the high seas. The 14th annual Monsters Of Rock Cruise has announced its lineup for next year, and it's almost easier to list those not on the boat. The five-day/five-night music charter will sail April 12th through April 17th next year aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Joy and depart from the Port of Miami, Florida. The voyage will visit two ports of call (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas), and will feature shows from over 30 artists, including Black Label Society, Night Ranger, The Darkness, Queensrÿche, Stryper, Y&T, Slaughter, Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses, D-A-D, Great White, Lita Ford, Quiet Riot, Nelson, Vixen, Loudness, The Quireboys, Dangerous Toys, Killer Dwarfs, Steelheart, Heavens Edge, Black ‘N Blue, Vain, Tuff, Enuff Z’Nuff, TNT, Faster Pussycat and more, with additional acts to be announced. Cabins are on sale now starting at $2,699 per person plus fees. Check out the MOR Cruise website for more information and to buy tickets.
U2: Did it Their Way U2 posted portions of their acceptance speeches from their induction last week into the Ivors’ Fellowship Academy during the Ivor Novello Awards, which honor the best in British and Irish songwriting. While the snippet with bassist Adam Clayton was somewhat serious, with him saying, "We believed that songs could take us anywhere because we had already been so many places," the clips with Larry Mullen, The Edge and Bono were quite comical. Mullen
thanked his bandmates for letting him be in his band. The Edge spoofed Frank Sinatra's classic "My Way," singing that the band did it his way. And Bono reminded everyone that it was The Edge who tried to break up the band in 1982.
JOHN FOGERTY: Back Up Around the Bend John Fogerty has re-recorded his classic 1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Up Around the Bend" with country singer Eric Church for NASCAR. It debuted Sunday during the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina and will be the racing association's theme song for the year. Fogerty had done a new version of the song and when NASCAR showed interest in using it, it was suggested that Church be part of it. "Eric is one of my favorite artists, so eventually it was decided to use this special recording of mine, and also portions of that Eric had recorded, and I figured out a way to put them together so that it worked musically. By the way, my son Shane is playing the iconic 'Up Around the Bend' guitar lick on this version and it's music to my heart to hear my own son playing this." Fogerty turns 80 this Wednesday and will celebrate with a show that night and Thursday at New York's Beacon Theatre.
Vince Gill Admits Eagles' Sphere Visuals Are Pretty Distracting
Vince Gill is revealing the unique challenge of performing with the Eagles of the Sphere. During an appearance on the Shred With Shifty podcast, the rocker was asked how he handles the all-encompassing visuals in the Las Vegas venue. Gill admitted that he tries to ignore the visuals around him because they're distracting and they affect his performance. He said he sometimes finds himself watching the visuals around him and forgets to come back in and sing. The Eagles launched their residency at the Las Vegas Sphere in September 2024.
FREDDIE MERCURY: Mini Mercury Rising
Freddie Mercury allegedly fathered a daughter. At least that's the claim in a new book, Love, Freddie by Lesley-Ann Jones. According to the book, the child, identified as "B," was accidentally conceived during an affair he had with the wife of a close friend in 1976. But he was anything but an absentee father, having stayed involved in her life until his death in 1991.
He even chronicled his life for her in a series of diaries, 17 in all, which he delivered to her before he died from AIDS in 1991 at 45. “He entrusted his collection of private notebooks to me, his only child and his next of kin, the written record of his private thoughts, memories and feelings about everything he had experienced,” said “B” in an interview with The Daily Mail. “After more than three decades of lies, speculation and distortion, it is time to let Freddie speak,” she added. "B" shared the volumes with Jones, who says she is “absolutely sure she is not a fantasist... No one could have faked all this. Why would she have worked with me for three and a half years, never demanding anything?” “B” is 48 and works as a medical professional in Europe.
NEIL YOUNG: Drops New and Old
Neil Young shared something old and something new on Friday. The old came during a benefit for the Lakefield College School in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. Young played a song called "My Boy," which appeared on his 1985 album Old Ways, but he hadn't played live since 1983. Young wrote on his Archives site that "practicing for [the show], I was playing ‘My Boy,’ thinking about my own Dad, pictured here with my son and I. I know he must have heard this
song. My dad was a great guy and Zeke is my wonderful son. I think ‘My Boy’ is my favorite recording of all the ones I have done." Young also played the CSNY song "Name of Love" for the first time in over a decade. The new came from Young and his new band the Chrome Hearts as they shared the title track to their album Talkin to the Trees, which is due out June 13th. Check it out on YouTube. Young also paid tribute to his late father Scott on Monday, Memorial Day, writing, "[He] was in the Canadian Navy [during World War 2]. I am so glad and thankful that he came back alright, when so many others did not... Thanks Daddy for your service to freedom." The elder Young was a journalist and sportswriter, having written 45 books. He died in 2005 at 87.
Rod Stewart Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from His Children at 2025 AMAs: 'Absolutely Flabbergasted'
Rod Stewart was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 2025 American Music Awards, where he was surprised by his children who presented him with the award. In his acceptance speech, Stewart expressed his gratitude to his influences, and the musicians he played with throughout his career. He also thanked his family for their support and performed his classic song 'Forever Young'. Stewart is set to perform at Glastonbury 2025 and release a solo best-of album titled 'Ultimate Hits' featuring his iconic songs. Additionally, his band Faces, including Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones, have recorded new tracks for their first album in over 50 years, with a potential release in 2026.
Zak Starkey Says The Who’s Roger Daltrey Clarified That He'd Been 'Retired' Rather Than 'Fired'
Zak Starkey clarified that he was not "fired" from the Who but rather "retired" to work on his own projects after a phone call with Roger Daltrey. Pete Townshend announced the band's parting ways with Starkey ahead of their farewell tour, wishing him the best in his new endeavors. Starkey confirmed his exit and expressed his love for the Who and gratitude for the support he received during the tumultuous period. Scott Devours will replace Starkey for the upcoming tour, with Devours expressing gratitude for the overwhelming positivity he has received.
ELTON JOHN: Captain 50
Elton John commented on last Friday being the 50th anniversary of the release of his ninth album, 1975's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. He says, “An autobiographical album telling the story of how [my lyricist] Bernie [Taupin] and I met and strived for success in the late '60s. It made history as the first album ever to debut at number-one on the U.S.
Billboard 200 chart and stayed there for seven weeks, featuring ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’ and the iconic Alan Aldridge artwork - it’s one of the albums I’m proudest of." Taupin said “It was regarding an incident that happened to Elton where he was supposed to get engaged to this girl and everybody around him thought it was going to be disaster. Myself and a guy that Elton used to play for called Long John Baldry, who was
we all went out one night and totally dissuaded him — got him thoroughly drunk and he came crashing through the door saying, ‘It’s over! It’s off! It’s off!’ And then she pretended she was doing away with herself and then he pretended to do away with himself. It was all those bits and pieces thrown together.” The album was certified gold before its release, sold 1.4 million copies within four days of its release, and has been certified three-times platinum.
Doobie Brothers Michael McDonald Criticizes Donald Trump And U.S. Government
Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald is criticizing the current U.S. government. In a new interview with Classic Rock, the singer revealed that the band's title track of their album "Walk This Road" was inspired by his concerns about the future of the nation. He said he's afraid that "we are staring down a dark channel that could lead to totalitarianism." McDonald said he believes if President Trump's Administration gets their own way "they would shut down the press completely. He's not the first musician to criticize Trump as Bruce Springsteen took aim at the president during a show in England saying the U.S. is in "corrupt hands."
IN OTHER NEWS
Universal Music Enterprises has put together the first official music video for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird.” The song is off the band’s first album, 1973’s (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd).
John Mellencamp has posted a tribute to his friend and owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, who died last Wednesday at the age of 65. Posting a photo of them together, Mellecamp
writes, “Life is Short Even in its Longest Days. Rest in Peace, Jim 1959-2025.” And in other Mellencamp news, he's posted on Instagram another spoken-word piece, this one of himself reading the lyrics to the song “Eden” off his new album, Orphan Train, which will be released next year.
Bruce Springsteen has posted a lengthy tribute on Facebook to Carl Virgil “Tinker” West, who he says was “simply one of the most important people of my young life. In 1970, when I had nothing, nowhere to live, was broke with nowhere to go, he recognized my talent and took me in. We lived together in one tiny room of his Wanamassa, New Jersey Challenger Eastern Surfboard Factory. His mattress was on one side of the room and mine was six feet away on the other… The last time I saw him he was in the hospital, near the end, dying from throat cancer. He smiled when he saw me, and I kissed one of my errant father’s goodbyes. I hung out for a while, he pulled me close and his voice raspy and nearly gone whispered, ‘We sure had some adventures didn’t we?’ I answered, ‘We sure did.’ When I was about to leave, I saw something I never thought I’d see in this life or the next. He cried. I loved him.” Tinker was 89.
Original Alice Cooper band bassist Dennis Dunaway joined Cooper last Friday in Uncasville, Connecticut for a run through of "School's Out." The Cooper band will release their first album since 1973 when The Revenge of Alice Cooper comes out on July 25th.