music blog
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ Hits No. 1 In Australia for Fourth Successive Year
Mariah Carey gets the New Year away with some holiday spirit as “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia/Sony) rises to No. 1 on the Australian singles chart. It’s an unprecedented fourth successive No. 1 for Carey’s Christmas classic, originally released back in 1994. Unsurprisingly, the latest ARIA chart is swamped with festival songs, including Wham’s “Last Christmas” (up 9-2 via Sony), Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” (10-3 via Reprise/Warner), Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (12-5 via Universal), Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (17-8 via Universal), and Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” (16-10 via Universal/Warner). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news According to ARIA, a string of...
Ed Sheeran and Elton John Return to No. 1 on U.K. Chart With ‘Merry Christmas’
Ed Sheeran & Elton John complete 2021 with another U.K. No. 1 as “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic) returns to the summit for a third non-consecutive week. “Merry Christmas” replaces LadBaby’s record-breaking novelty hit “Sausage Rolls For Everyone” (down 1-29 via FRTYFVE) which also features the British pop singers. With = (equals via Asylum) ruling the Official U.K. Albums Chart this week, Sheeran completes another chart double. According to the OCC, = is his third album to log at least one week as part of a U.K. chart double. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Meanwhile, a host of Christmas tunes climb the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Dec. 31, including The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” featuring Kirsty MacColl (up 7-4 via Warner Bros...
EXODUS’s STEVE ‘ZETRO’ SOUZA On Social Media’s Impact On Music Industry: ‘The Mystique Is Gone’
In a recent interview with Chicago’s WXAV 88.3 FM radio station, EXODUS singer Steve “Zetro” Souza was asked how the introduction of social media has affected the music industry. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It made it more accessible for people to get to their favorite bands, definitely. There’s a plus and minus to it. But then again, it took the mystique away from it, I think. But that’s with everything. Before, you were at a concert and you saw, like — I don’t know — Angus [Young, AC/DC guitarist] walking off of a bus or one of the guys in AEROSMITH and he looked over and waved at you, you’d be so pleased because it’s such a rare thing. Now they’ll film themselves and put it on their own Instagram of them...
GENE SIMMONS’s New Year’s Resolutions: ‘I’d Like To Be A Better, Kinder, Better-Looking And Richer Guy’
KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was asked in a recent interview with the Toronto Sun about his New Year’s resolutions and hopes for 2022. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I’d like to be a better, kinder, better-looking and richer guy. Not all of that’s gonna happen, but I can certainly become a better person — be kinder, give more to philanthropy, reach out even to people who you disagree with completely. We all live on this planet, and you’re not gonna be able to change everybody’s mind. And that’s okay. Agree to disagree. ‘Hey, I don’t agree with you. Let’s go have some coffee.'” Last year, Simmons told Art & Object that he hoped KISS would play another 200 shows before finally calling it quits. “...
Tyler, the Creator Names His Favorite Songs of 2021
Tyler, the Creator took to Twitter to unveil his favorite songs of 2021. The 10-track list includes Snoh Aalegra’s “In Your Eyes,” Babyface Ray’s “If You Know You Know,” Kanye West’s “Life of the Party” from DONDA — which he praised in the past — his own CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST cut “SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,” Faye Webster’s “Dream With a Baseball Player,” DJ Harrison’s “Know Names,” Rhicochet’s “Make Love (Remix),” Air’s “Never Want To Be Without You,” Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s “family ties” and Sault’s “Bitter Streets.” The albums that Aalegra’s “In your Eyes,” West’s “Life of the Party,” Tyler’s “SWEET/I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,” and Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s “family ties” appeared on were all named one of HYPEBEAST’s 15 Best Music Projects of 2021. Take a l...
Gunna Announces ‘Drip Season 4’ Release Date
It appears that Gunna is making moves for the new year, ready to give fans an official taste of his forthcoming album, Drip Season 4. Just last week, the hip-hop artist teased a new Future and Young Thug collab for the project. The trio of rappers were only last seen appearing on a “Unicorn Purp” together in 2019. In a teaser video posted to his Instagram over the weekend, Gunna shared a similar clip showing himself and his friends getting together over drinks. The video shows a typical party scene in Gunna’s world and is accompanied by the caption, “DS4 1-7-22 #HNY !!” along with a series of emojis. Fans were evidently excited upon hearing that the mixtape is expected to drop very early on in the new year. It is unclear who will also be in Gunna’s new album however, if his 2020 WUNNA proj...
Nicolas Cage Doesn’t Like Being Called an Actor
Don’t call him an actor, thank you very much. In a new interview, Nicolas Cage made it clear he prefers to be labeled as something much more serious when it comes to his profession. “I really don’t like the word actor because for me it always implies, ‘Oh, he’s a great actor, therefore he’s a great liar, and (great at) lying,’” he said during an appearance on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast. “So with the risk of sounding like a pretentious a–hole, I like the word thespian because thespian means you’re going into your heart. Or you’re going into your imagination, or your memories or your dreams, and you’re bringing something back to communicate with the audience.” The National Treasure star continued: “I think it’s more like recruiting imagination. Dare I say it, it’s more like a s...
Adele is Buying Sylvester Stallone’s L.A. Mansion
Cue the Rocky theme because Adele is on the move. According to a new report, the superstar siger has purchased the L.A. estate previously owned by Sylvester Stallone. Per TMZ, Adele is currently in escrow on the Rocky star’s mansion in Beverly Park — the ultra-exclusive gated community in Los Angeles with a 90210 zip code. Stallone originally bought the house in the 1990s. With six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a gym, sauna, steam room, infinity pool, art studio, two-story guest house, private screening room, and more on 3.6 acres of land, it remains one of the largest properties in the elite, sought-after neighborhood. Advertisement Related Video The actor first listed the estate for a mind-blowing $110 million back in February according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times, but slashed the ...
TONY MARTIN Confirms He Sang On Demos For BLACK SABBATH’s ‘Dehumanizer’ Album
Tony Martin, who fronted BLACK SABBATH from 1987 to 1991 and then again from 1993 to 1997, confirmed to Almost Human in a new interview that he recorded some demos for the band’s “Dehumanizer” album during a period when Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were having a hard time getting along with a returning Ronnie James Dio. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “They fired me [prior to the start of the ‘Dehumanizer’ sessions], which, by the way, was a complete surprise. I didn’t see that coming at all. In fact, I was walking out of the door to go to rehearsals for the next album, and the phone rang just as I was leaving the door. And my manager [was on the other end of the line], and he said, ‘You’d better sit down, kid.’ I [w...
Original KISS Drummer PETER CRISS Rings In 2022 By Sharing Video Of New Drum Solos
Peter Criss has shared two new videos to celebrate the arrival of 2022. The original KISS drummer, who turned 76 on December 20, has posted clips of him playing a “rock drum solo” and a “Spanish drum solo” at what appears to be a room in his house. Check out the footage below. Criss first left KISS in 1980. Since then he’s worked with other bands and released solo albums. He teamed up with KISS again for a reunion tour in the 1990s and most recently in 2004. He was replaced by Eric Singer. In addition to playing drums in KISS, Peter also provided lead vocals for a number the band’s most popular and memorable songs, including “Beth”, “Black Diamond” and “Hard Luck Woman”. Criss, who was known as “Catman,” re...
CHEAP TRICK Announces February/March 2022 Las Vegas Residency
Legendary rockers CHEAP TRICK have announced a residency at the 900-seat The Strat Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, set to take place February 25-26 and March 4-5. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, tickets — which start at $75 and run as high as $300 for VIP packages — will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, January 3 at tickets.thestrat.com/CheapTrick. All attendees will be required to receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72-hours prior to event entry, or have vaccination cards showing they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The VIP Soundcheck Experience includes: * A unique opportunity to attend the band’s private pre-show soundcheck * Exclusive CHEAP TRICK merchandise * Commemorative VIP laminate * Dedicated entrance and check-in with a member of CHEAP TRICK‘s team *...
Watch DREAM THEATER’s JAMES LABRIE Sing A Cappella Version Of ‘The Spirit Carries On’
Video of DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie belting out an a cappella version of the band’s song “The Spirit Carries On” can be seen below. LaBrie sang a couple of lines from the track while filming a new video message on Cameo, which lets users hire celebrities to record brief, personalized video messages about virtually any topic. Cameo reportedly features more than 20,000 celebrities — from musicians and actors to drag queens and from YouTubers to Olympic gold medallists — who, for fees from $1 to $2,500, will offer video messages that mention another person by name. Happy birthday messages are common, as are baby announcements, but some celebrities have also recorded messages for Cameo users looking to quit their jobs or ask a potential date to a prom. The price for a ...
