THE WHO: A Word From the New Guy

With Zak Starkey having been fired, rehired and fired again from The Who over the past few weeks, his replacement, Scott Devours, who plays in Roger Daltrey's band, has commented on his new gig.

He writes on Facebook, "[On Sunday], with a short, simple Instagram post, Pete Townshend and Roger, once again, changed my life forever. It’s hard to express the tsunami of emotions that I’m processing since that incredible news, but there are a couple of things I feel compelled to say... "I understand and accept the reality that there are many lifelong Who fans who are absolutely gutted by the news that Zak is no longer on the throne behind The Who. As a huge fan myself, there is a part of me that’s processing this loss with a heavy heart too. It really is a strange contradiction of emotions to have the greatest moment of my professional career also be one framed with some sadness and shadowed by someone else’s loss. It’s tough to put into words actually, but I know it’s there and it’s real.

"I guess the reality of it is this: I’m sure there are many fans who will not accept me or anyone on that throne except for Zak. I know that this will be the case for some and I acknowledge that. For others, perhaps the jury is still out. Maybe I’ll need to let the music do the talking? In my world, there are no bigger shoes to fill than those behind Pete and Roger. The weight of this responsibility is enormous and I am feeling every ounce of it. What I want to say to all of the fans is that I will do everything I can to honor the legacy of The Who, Zak, [previous drummers] Kenney Jones, Simon Phillips and the memory of the great Keith Moon. For my name to even be mentioned in a sentence like that literally sends shivers down my spine and I know I need to earn this honor. Since this is the last time Pete and Roger will be touring the U.S., playing the greatest songs ever written, I will be giving them every second of my time, every beat of my heart, and every drop of my sweat and blood. This is my ultimate goal."

"Thank you for reading this. Now I’m going to go throw up, lol." Devours filled in for Starkey on some Who shows in 2012 and 2013.

The Who start The Song Is Over - The North American Farewell Tour on August 16th in Sunrise, Florida. It runs through September 28th in Las Vegas.

STEVE MILLER: Honored With the "Godfather" Award

Steve Miller will be honored next month by the Les Paul Foundation with its annual Les Paul Spirit Award named after his godfather, the late guitarist and innovator of the instrument.

Michael Braunstein, executive director of the Les Paul Foundation, says, "I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be honored with the Les Paul Spirit Award than Steve Miller. Not only is he an extraordinary talent and a wonderful friend of the Les Paul Foundation, Steve holds the very distinct title of being Les's godson. They had a very unique relationship which Les cherished. If anyone understands the 'spirit' of Les Paul, it's Steve. If Les were still alive today, Steve and he would be jamming at his house regularly. I am personally thrilled to be able to present Steve with this award because I know he exemplifies everything Les was about and wanted to accomplish."

And, it was Les who Miller credits with his decision to become a musician. "Les came to Milwaukee -- he was putting his act together with Mary Ford -- and my dad introduced himself. They were working in a club and said he had a tape recorder, brought the tape recorder down and started recording them while they were putting their act together. They came out to the house to listen to the tapes, [and] they became very good friends. My dad was the best man at their wedding. Les taught me my first chords. So, I was a five-year-old kid, and I just picked it all up and started playing guitar. And I saw him when I was five. I saw him play probably 20 times when I was five years old, and I decided that's what I wanted to do." The award, which is made from actual hand-carved acoustic boards built by Les Paul that he used in his home studio, is given to an individual who exemplifies his spirit through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. It will be presented on June 9th, which would have been Les Paul's 110th birthday, at The Gibson Garage in Nashville. Previous recipients include Bob Weir, Nile Rodgers, The Edge and Peter Frampton.

VAN HALEN: Wolfgang Pays Tribute to Uncle Al's Drumming

Wolfgang Van Halen has done a video paying tribute to the drumming of his uncle Alex Van Halen. The 20-minute Drumeo video has Wolfgang playing the drum parts to eight Van Halen tracks, including "Jump," "Panama" and "Right Now," plus talking about what it was like playing in a rhythm section with Alex. Wolf also says that his uncle doesn't play drums that much anymore because he doesn't want to play without his brother Eddie. Watch it on

YouTube.

Guns N' Roses Experiencing Some Growing Pains With New Drummer

At a recent Guns N’ Roses concert in Mumbai, Axl Rose got upset when the band’s new drummer, Isaac Carpenter , played the wrong song during the show. Axl stopped the performance, walked off stage, and refused to continue until the setlist was fixed. Fans were confused as the band took a short break, but then Issac, who recently replaced longtime drummer Frank Ferrer, apologized to the crowd, saying he misread the setlist. After a quick huddle, Axl returned, and the band finished the concert with their classic hits.

Ringo Starr Adds Tour Dates

A Las Vegas residency highlights a series of fall dates added to the Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band 2025 Tour. The former Beatles drummer and his band have six dates in September scheduled for The Venetian hotel and casino. The band begins their fall leg in Chicago on September 10th, followed by dates in Milwaukee and Louisville before heading to Vegas.Summer dates had already been announced as the tour gets underway in Bridgeport, Connecticut on June12th.

SIMPLE MINDS: Who Wants a Film About Us?

Simple Minds are the latest act to get a feature length documentary, but the band wasn't initially alive and kicking to do one. Frontman Jim Kerr tells the Hollywood Reporter that when they were approached about Simple Minds: Everything is Possible "we were reluctant to do that...We just thought, how do you do make it in any way unique? But there is a great humility about it that I don’t often see in rock documentaries." Kerr credits director Joss Cowley -- who he calls a "young kid" -- for capturing the "monochrome Glasgow in the ’70s and ’80s, where we came out of, dreaming big. And he captured all of that...It gives the story of the bands, the ups, the downs, the sideways and stuff. And by the end, we had to put our hands up and say, 'Really good job.' Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible will be in theaters on June 13th.

Simple Minds' "Alive And Kicking" Tour Underway

Simple Minds' "Alive and Kicking" tour is up and running.The band kicked off their tour last Friday at the Cascades Amphitheater in Ridgefield, Washington, near the Pacific Coast and just north of the Oregon border. Simple Minds had their breakthrough year in 1985 when "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from "The Breakfast Club" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and their album "Once Upon a Time" hit top ten.Simple Minds are joined on the tour by a pair of iconic 80s bands -- Modern English and Soft Cell. The tour has four dates in California this week and runs through June 22nd.

KISS’ Gene Simmons says upcoming Las Vegas event is ‘not a KISS show’

KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will be performing at the KISS Army Storms Las Vegas event in November, along with other KISS members and former members. The event is a celebration for the fans and will be more intimate and conversational, not a traditional KISS show. Simmons emphasizes this performance is not part of a KISS tour, as the band decided to stop touring after their final shows in New York City in 2023. The event will take place at the Virgin Hotels and marks the first time Simmons and Stanley will perform together since the band's final concerts.

SMASHING PUMPKINS: Who Needs a Teleprompter?

Billy Corgan said his main concern on his tour where he'll be dipping into deep cuts from The Smashing Pumpkins albums Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Machina and Aghori Mhori Mei is remembering the lyrics. Corgan told Rolling Stone, "There’s a lot of lyrics. I picked a lot of songs and there’s a ton of lyrics. Last night, my son wanted to watch Doctor Who. I was like, 'I gotta learn these lyrics.' When asked if he would ever use a teleprompter, Corgan said, "Oh no. I try to memorize everything...Listen, it helps to cheat. It’s a lot less stress. But I feel like I’m not as connected to the songs because I haven’t committed to understanding what I’m saying and why I’m saying what I’m saying." He added, "When you’re singing a song that’s 30 years old, I think it’s important to get back into the mindset of, 'What was I trying to say?' or 'Why was this important for me to say this way?' Sometimes I’ll write funny words and I’ll go, 'Why the [heck] is that word in there?' So it helps me as a singer to think, 'Okay, I was upset about this thing and I sang this thing.' Corgan and his solo band, The Machines of God, start their tour June 7th in Baltimore.

Eddie Vedder trashes Donald Trump amid president's Bruce Springsteen feud

During a concert in Pittsburgh, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder expressed his support for Bruce Springsteen, covering his song 'My City of Ruins' and urging fans to back 'The Boss' amid Trump's threats. Vedder criticized Trump's personal attacks on Springsteen, stating they did not address the issues raised by the musician. The feud began when Springsteen criticized Trump's administration, prompting a response from Trump on Truth Social. Springsteen stood firm in his beliefs, emphasizing the importance of addressing threats to democracy. Trump has escalated the feud by announcing a "major investigation" into Springsteen's involvement in Democratic Party rallies.

Springsteen Plays Dylan's "Chimes" First Time Since 1988

Lost in the war of words between Bruce Springsteen and President Trump is that "The Boss" performed a song at his Manchester show he hadn't played live in nearly four decades. According to setlist.fm [[ set-list-dot-f-m ]], Springsteen covered Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" for his next-to-last song in his five-song encore.It was the first time Springsteen played the song live since 1988. At last Wednesday's show in Manchester, England, Springsteen called the Trump administration "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous."

NEIL YOUNG: Has a Message For Trump

Neil Young has lashed out at President Trump for his tirades against fellow singers Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, as well as his "major investigation” into what he believes was Vice President Kamala Harris paying Springsteen to perform at her campaign rallies. Young made his thoughts known on his website, writing, “What are you worryin’ about man? Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin’ kids in Gaza. That’s your problem. “I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us. You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That’s your problem Trump. “STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS ARE SAYING. Think about saving America from the mess you made. Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel. You are more worried about yourself than AMERICA. Wake up Trump!! Remember what the White House is? “You are forgetting your real job. You work for us. Wake up Republicans! This guy is out of control. We need a real president!” He signed the post, “neil young and many others.”

And, Young also wrote about being back in his native Canada this week. "It really feels good to be back here again. I love the U.S.A. It used to be just like Canada, just a little faster, but free and easy. When I came down in 1966, that's the way it was. What a beautiful country it was and still is, except for the vibe. That's not the way it is now. Everyone is on edge, waiting for whatever comes next from the out of control government. It's not just the leader, it's the follower." Young became a U.S. citizen in 2020.

Vince Neil May Have Already Moved On From Ex-GF

Apparently Vince Neil isn't one to be down for long. Just days after it was reported that the Motley Crue vocalist had split with long-time girlfriend Rain Hannah over cheating allegations (she was alleged to be cheating on him), Vince may be back in the saddle. "TMZ" posted photos showing Neil in Nashville, holding hands with two women. The trio was spotted walking near the Barstool Bar in downtown Music City Monday afternoon. Girls, girls, girls indeed.

U2's Bono Announces "Stories Of Surrender" Live EP

U2 frontman Bono is announcing the release of a live EP, "Stories of Surrender," to accompany the premier of his Apple Original Film of the same name. It features live recording from his one-man-show inspired by the singer's autobiography "Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story." The limited edition three-track live EP will be available digitally and on a seven inch limited edition black vinyl. "Stories of Surrender," the live EP, will be out on May 30th.

Nancy Wilson Covers "Fight The Good Fight" On Triumph Tribute Album

Call it a "triumphant" cover for Nancy Wilson.The Heart guitarist and singer performs "Fight the Good Fight" on the forthcoming album "Magic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph." Sometimes overshadowed by another Canadian rock trio, Triumph's original lineup was comprised of lead singer Rik Emmett, bassist and keyboardist Mike Levine, and drummer Gil Moore. Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, who performed lead vocals at a Triumph show in 1993, contributes two songs on the tribute album. Also included on the tribute album are Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, Starship's Mickey Thomas, and singer Jason Scheff, who spent more than three decades with Chicago after Peter Cetera left. "Magic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph" is set for a June 6th release.

FOREIGNER: Feels Like the Fifth Time

Foreigner performed last night (Tuesday) on the season finale of NBC's The Voice, doing a medley of “Feels Like the First Time,” “Juke Box Hero” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

But it was what happened between the first two songs that's the story as Kelly Hansen, their singer since 2005, announced he's stepping down after their summer tour. Their guitarist, Luis Maldonado, who then sang "Juke Box Hero" and filled in for Hansen on their just completed Central and South American tour, will take over. They ended the medley by sharing vocals on "I Want To Know What Love Is."

Hansen says, "Being the voice of Foreigner has been one of the greatest honors of my life. But it’s time to pass the mic. Luis has the voice, the energy, and the soul to carry these songs into the future. I couldn’t be prouder to hand this off to him.” Foreigner founder and former guitarist Mick Jones, who is sidelined by Parkinson's disease, adds, “In 1976, my goal was to assemble the finest group of musicians I could find. Results have shown that it worked! About 30 years later, [drummer] Jason Bonham encouraged me to do it all over again and create a brand-new Foreigner, and the magic was still there. I was especially fortunate in the choice of lead singer. Kelly Hansen is one of the best front men in our business and over the last 20 years he has breathed new life into our songs. His boundless energy and flawless talent has helped us climb the mountain and set up the opportunity for Foreigner vocalist and guitarist Luis Maldonado to bring us home.

"I wish Kelly great happiness in his next endeavors after our summer tour, and I look forward to welcoming Luis to his new position. Luis was my choice as a guitarist, and he has already shown us what he can do by fronting the band in South America to incredible reviews. He will soon lead the charge that will carry us forward to new heights”. Luis, who joined Foreigner after five years in Train, 2016 to 2021, says, "This music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m ready to honor Foreigner's legacy and bring my heart to every performance.” Foreigner start their summer tour on June 11th in Highland, California.

STEVE PERRY: Will He Remain Faithful to Releasing New Music?

With Steve Perry recently releasing a re-recording of Journey's "Faithfully" with Willie Nelson, does this mean he will be releasing new music? He tells Consequence.net, "Well, I have so much music. I enjoy continuing writing music, mixing music, recording music. I’m in my studio right now and as I just look at these speakers, I can tell you that behind those speakers, there’s a lot of unfinished music that I’m really, really enjoying committing to."

As for how his duet with Nelson came about, he says, "I would say back in the early ’80s when Journey was touring, we used to go to Texas all the time, and a couple of the shows or a couple of the tours, he came backstage and we got to meet him. And I never forgot what it was like hearing his voice on the radio growing up and meeting him. "It was very iconic for me. I mean, he has become and always was going to become the [Frank] Sinatra of country music. He’s got the most unique vocal phrasing. Everyone’s talked about how beautiful his voice is, so I always thought that 'Faithfully,' even though we had a hit with it, would be great to hear him do it or someday get a chance to do a duet with him. So, here we are years later. It’s actually come true during the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid."

Proceeds will benefit Farm Aid, which Nelson helped organize. It's a charity close to Perry's heart as he was raised on his grandfather's dairy farm in San Joaquin Valley. "I know how important farmers really are. He was certainly the most important person to keep our family alive, trying to keep the farm alive. "So, I think that Farm Aid is a wonderful, wonderful foundation and to be able to contribute to such a foundation kind of takes me back to the importance of getting milk out of that vat in the dairy barn after they had milked the cows to make ice cream at home. These are moments that take me right back to the importance of being raised, and farmers..." This year's Farm Aid concert will be held on September 20th at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

IN OTHER NEWS

AC/DC postponed their show last night (Tuesday) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville to Wednesday due to inclement weather in the area.

Tom Petty’s estate is following up the 2020 deluxe reissue of 1994’s Wildflowers album,

Wildflowers & All the Rest, and the 2021 documentary, Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free – The Making of Wildflowers, with a limited-edition book, Tom Petty: Wildflowers. It contains rare photos, handwritten lyrics and personal stories from Petty, The Heartbreakers, and his collaborators. You can pre-order it at genesis-publications.com.

Rod Stewart will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Music Awards on May 26th at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. He will also perform on the show. It will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood and Billy Idol were among those who posted 80th birthday greetings to Pete Townshend on Monday. Referencing The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” Dylan wrote, “Happy birthday, Pete. Who’s the new boss? Is he like the old boss? Have you met him yet? Say hello to Roger [Daltrey].” Woody and Idol simply wrote “Happy Birthday,” while Clapton posted a video of himself and Townshend doing an acoustic performance of Muddy Waters’ “Standin’ Around Cryin’” in October 1989 on the BBC talk show Saturday Matters.

Foo Fighters haven't announced a replacement for drummer Josh Freese, but they've added more shows to their schedule -- October 2nd in Jakarta, Indonesia, plus dates in Japan October 7th and 10th.

Shane Hawkins, the son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, will drum for his dad's cover band Chevy Metal on a summer tour that starts July 19th in Denver and wraps up August 31st in Agoura Hills, California.

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