Roadhouse Rock

Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain says the band's farewell tour has been demanding and that he looks forward to pursuing other musical projects once the tour ends."It's a grind. This is a 'one off, two on, one off, two on,' so there's a lot of that," Cain said on the Rock & Roll High School podcast. "You're getting consumed getting to the gig, and then playing the gig. And then when we have four shows in a week, it's pretty grueling. We're doing 'evening with,' so it's two hours and 15 minutes every night. There's no support act, so it makes it doubly hard for Arnel [Pineda]."Cain announced he plans to leave Journey after the Final Frontier tour, which is set to end Nov. 28 in San Francisco. His departure will mark the end of a 45-year run that began with the band's 1981 album "Escape."Cain said he is ready to focus on his solo Christian music career but remains grateful for the group's fans."I think the only reason I'm still out here is the fans," Cain said. "It's time for me to close the chapter. It's a beautiful time to say goodbye. We are at 45 [years] this year. I'm honored to celebrate 45. After playing the stadium tour with Def Leppard last year, I just felt like we've done it. And we're just repeating ourselves."Cain said Journey's recent albums "don't seem to move the needle," which is why he turned to Christian music. "I can still sing a melody there and praise the Lord, and it still gets received. I'm leaving something behind, and I get to express my melodic and spiritual self there. So it's a good place for me to be right now."Meanwhile, guitarist Neal Schon said he is "nowhere near done" playing Journey's music. Schon has applied for a trademark for the name Journey Beyond, which would cover sound recordings, video releases, live performances and merchandise

LONDON (AP) - Paul McCartney says he hopes to create a posthumous collaboration with Prince.Speaking on BBC Radio 2's "Tracks of My Years," McCartney praised Prince, citing "Kiss" as one of his favorite songs by the late musician."He took a lot from Hendrix, but he was a great player," McCartney said of Prince's guitar work. "It's just so simple. You can do a simple thing and it can sound simple but not great, but his sounds simply great. He's a wizard."McCartney recalled a conversation from a few years ago, after Prince's death. "I was with some guy... and he said, 'Have you heard Prince do 'Long and Winding Road'? I said, 'Well, no, that's one of my songs, I don't think he ever did it.'"According to setlist.fm, Prince performed "The Long and Winding Road" live 12 times, mostly during his 2007 residency at Club 3121 in Las Vegas.McCartney said he was surprised to hear a recording of Prince's version. He noted that Prince made the song "kind of rocky" and added "some really good guitar on it." Hearing Prince's take inspired McCartney to consider a duet. "It's really great, so I'm going to ask them [for permission to use it]. Because I could make it into something really good."If approved, a McCartney-Prince duet could be released. Prince's version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has been widely praised, and fans may have another collaboration to look forward to

Night Ranger, the 1980s rock group known for hits like "Sister Christian," has added new dates to its 2026 U.S. tour. The band has made the announcements on Instagram, drawing enthusiasm from longtime fans.The tour was first announced in April and originally included more than 25 cities across the United States. Night Ranger has since added more shows, with performances now scheduled from early June through mid-November.The tour starts June 5 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and ends March 3, 2027, at the 80s Cruise Festival, which departs from New Orleans. Supporting acts on select dates include Damn Yankees, Warrant and Firehouse. Other artists will join as co-headliners during festival appearances.Night Ranger's lineup features vocalist Jack Blades, drummer Kelly Keagy, guitarists Brad Gillis and Keri Kelli, and keyboardist Eric Levy. The band recently announced plans to release a greatest hits album, "Best of Night Ranger," on Aug. 28 during the tour.Newly announced 2026 tour dates are:June 6 - Austin, Texas, ACL Live at the Moody Theater
June 17 - Del Mar, California, San Diego County Fair
July 25 - Bay City, Michigan, Veterans Memorial Park
Aug. 21 - Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston Music Hall
Aug. 29 - Fukuoka, Japan, Mizuho PayPay Dome
Sept. 10 - Chandler, Arizona, Gila River Casino - Wild Horse Pass
Sept. 12 - Alpine, California, Viejas Casino & Resort
Sept. 17 - Davenport, Iowa, Capitol Theatre
Sept. 18 - Waukee, Iowa, Vibrant Music Hall
Nov. 13-15 - Las Vegas, Nevada, Kiss Kruise Landlocked in Vegas 2026Tickets for the new dates are available at the band's official website

What would Outkast's "Hey Ya" sound like played solo and acoustic by Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo? What about Nirvana's "Drain You" or Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" as stripped-down, emotional ballads?Over the weekend, Cuomo uploaded more than a dozen covers to YouTube under the playlist title "randum cuverz." The uploads, marked as private, appear to have been recorded in 2018 and 2019. The collection opens with a cover of Radiohead's 1992 single "Creep," with Cuomo delivering a vulnerable, unadorned version.Cuomo then moves to a quick, acoustic version of Andr 3000's "Hey Ya" from Outkast's 2003 album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below." He adds his own style through layered vocals and a playful take on the "lend me some sugar" line.Other songs include nearly a minute of Green Day's "When I Come Around," a few minutes of Nirvana's "Drain You" and a rough take on "Lithium." Cuomo also covers Dolly Parton's "Jolene," adding a sense of longing to the vocals in one of the more fully arranged tracks.Unexpected covers in the playlist include a straightforward take on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," complete with a falsetto and signature yelp, and a somber version of Harry Nilsson's "Without You." Cuomo also records a light, indie pop cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," a brief rendition of Post Malone and Quavo's "Congratulations," and Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road."Some covers, such as the Eagles' "Hotel California," Metallica's "Enter Sandman," and Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine," seem more expected for Cuomo. He also performs Morgan Evans' "Country Outta My Girl" and ends the list with a 2021 piano sonata by Schumann.As of Monday, Cuomo had not commented on the uploads, and a spokesperson for Weezer did not respond to a request for comment.It is not clear if these covers will receive an official release. Cuomo has previously shared home demos, including "Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo" in 2007 and two follow-up collections in 2008 and 2010.Weezer is set to begin "The Gathering" tour this fall with the Shins and Silversun Pickups, starting Sept. 8 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento

Kansas announces 2026 fall tour dates; summer shows with 38 Special and Deep PurpleKansas will launch a headline tour in fall 2026, beginning Sept. 29 in York, Pennsylvania, and ending Nov. 14 in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. The band added 12 new concerts to the schedule. Kansas will also headline June 24 in Albany, New York.Fan presale tickets will be available starting at 10 a.m. local time Wednesday, May 20, using the code KANSASBAND. General ticket sales open Friday, May 22. Visit the band's official website for details.Kansas has a full summer tour planned, with shows alongside 38 Special starting June 5. The two bands performed together in 2025 and will reunite for several dates this year, joined by Brother Cane on select shows.In August, Kansas will join Deep Purple for more than 20 concerts across the United States and Canada. Jefferson Starship will appear at some of these dates.Kansas will also play shows in Texas, New Mexico, Iowa, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states. The band began touring in early January and will finish May with three headline shows before the run with 38 Special.Phil Ehart, Kansas cofounder and drummer, recently released his memoir, "I Am Phil." He is not touring with the group.Kansas 2026 Tour DatesKansas and 38 Special (select dates include Brother Cane)
June 5 - Little Rock, Ark., Simmons Bank Arena
June 6 - Lampe, Mo., Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater +
June 12 - Macon, Ga., Atrium Health Amphitheater
June 13 - Tuscaloosa, Ala., Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater +
June 19 - Park City, Kan., Heartland Credit Union Arena
June 20 - Lincoln, Neb., Pinewood Bowl +
June 24 - Albany, N.Y., Empire State Plaza Concert Series
July 4 - O'Fallon, Mo., O'Fallon Heritage and Freedom Fest
July 10 - Fort Wayne, Ind., Foellinger Theatre
July 11 - Warren, Ohio, Robins Theatre
July 17 - Beaver Dam, Ky., Beaver Dam Amphitheater
July 18 - Richmond, Ky., EKU Center for the Arts
July 20 - Lincoln, Neb., Pinewood Bowl Theatre
July 24 - Caldwell, Idaho, Canyon County Fair
July 26 - Great Falls, Mont., Montana Expo ParkKansas closing
+ 38 Special closingKansas with Deep Purple, Jefferson Starship (select dates)
Aug. 4 - Raleigh, N.C., Red Hat Amphitheater
Aug. 6 - Memphis, Tenn., Memphis Botanical Gardens
Aug. 8 - Clearwater, Fla., The Daycare Sound
Aug. 9 - Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Casino
Aug. 12 - Wantagh, N.Y., Jones Beach Theater
Aug. 13 - Mansfield, Mass., Xfinity Center
Aug. 15 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Scotiabank Centre
Aug. 17 - Laval, Quebec, Bell Place
Aug. 18 - Toronto, Ontario, RBC Amphitheatre
Aug. 19 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Tire Centre
Aug. 21 - Detroit, Pine Knob
Aug. 22 - Salamanca, N.Y., Seneca Allegany Casino
Aug. 24 - Indianapolis, Everwise Amphitheatre
Aug. 25 - Highland Park, Ill., Ravinia
Aug. 27 - Prior Lake, Minn., Mystic Lake Casino
Aug. 29 - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Life Centre
Aug. 31 - Calgary, Alberta, Scotiabank Saddledome
Sept. 2 - Abbotsford, British Columbia, Abbotsford Centre
Sept. 4 - Lincoln, Calif., Thunder Valley
Sept. 5 - Mountain View, Calif., Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sept. 6 - Highland, Calif., Yaamava Theatre
Sept. 8 - Chula Vista, Calif., North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 10 - Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood
Sept. 11 - Long Beach, Calif., Long Beach Amphitheater
Sept. 12 - Sparks, Nev., Nugget Event CenterKansas fall headline dates
Sept. 29 - York, Pa., Appell Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 30 - Bloomsburg, Pa., Bloomsburg Fair
Oct. 2 - Bristol, Va., Hard Rock Live Bristol
Oct. 9 - El Paso, Texas, Abraham Chavez Theatre
Oct. 10 - Santa Fe, N.M., Buffalo Thunder Casino
Oct. 23 - Davenport, Iowa, Rhythm City Casino
Oct. 24 - Waukee, Iowa, Vibrant Music Hall
Oct. 30 - Marietta, Ohio, People's Bank Theatre
Nov. 12 - Waterbury, Conn., Palace Theater
Nov. 13 - Collingswood, N.J., Scottish Rite Auditorium
Nov. 14 - Lansdowne, Pa., Lansdowne TheaterFor the full tour schedule and ticket information, visit kansasband.com

Billy Joel has criticized plans to make a movie about his life, saying he has not authorized the project and will not allow the use of his music.Variety reports that casting is underway for "Billy & Me," directed by John Ottman. The film will focus on Joel's early career, told from the perspective of his former manager, Irwin Mazur.Producers have secured the rights to Mazur's life story and those of Jon Small. Small played drums with Joel in the late 1960s band the Hassles before the two formed the group Attila. Attila disbanded after Joel began an affair with Small's wife. She later divorced Small and married Joel. In the documentary "And So It Goes," Joel described how the incident led him to attempt suicide, which left him in a coma for several days."I felt very, very guilty about it. They had a child. I felt like a homewrecker," Joel said in the film. "I was just in love with a woman and I got punched in the nose which I deserved. Jon was very upset. I was very upset."It is not clear if "Billy & Me" will cover this period in detail, but Joel has made his position clear."Since 2021, the parties involved have been officially notified that they do not possess Billy Joel's life rights and will not be able to secure the music rights required for this project," a representative for Joel said in a statement to Variety."Billy Joel has not authorized or supported this project in any capacity, and any attempt to move forward without it would be both legally and professionally misguided," the statement said

Sibling relationships can be complicated, and fame can make them more challenging, Heart singer Ann Wilson said during a recent interview."She and I have a delicate relationship," Wilson said of her sister and bandmate Nancy Wilson during an appearance on the "Lovett or Leave It" podcast. "When she does something that makes me mad or I do something that makes her angry, there's a way that we know how to deal with it now where we can actually talk it out like grown-ups."Wilson said she and Nancy always shared a close musical bond."Nancy and I grew up as small children learning how to play music together and that was a bonding thing that we took on as children," Wilson said. "Where most kids were outside playing with dolls or playing horses in the grass, we were upstairs playing guitars."Wilson said she and her sister haven't always communicated well in the past, but that's changed. Now, they talk through their disagreements instead of ignoring them."[Sweeping things] under the rug never works," Wilson said. "[Tension] just builds. Gets more and more and more ugly."Heart finished their Royal Flush tour in March. The band recently played a three-song set at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, where their debut album "Dreamboat Annie" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Ann Wilson is also making appearances at screenings of her new documentary, "In My Voice," in locations across the country

Dennis Locorriere, the lead singer and guitarist for Dr. Hook, died Saturday. He was 76.The band announced Locorriere's death in a statement posted on its website."It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dennis Locorriere, who, after a long and courageous battle with kidney disease, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on May 16, 2026," the statement said. "Dennis faced his illness with strength, dignity and resilience throughout, and remained deeply cherished by all who knew him. He will be remembered for his warmth, love, and the lasting impact he had on those around him."Locorriere was born June 13, 1949, in New Jersey. In 1968, George Cummings, Ray Sawyer and Billy Francis recruited him to form a new group. The band became known as Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, later shortened to Dr. Hook.The group landed its first record contract in 1970 after appearing in the Dustin Hoffman film "Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?"Dr. Hook became known for its country pop-rock sound and found success throughout the 1970s. Hits included "Sylvia's Mother," "The Cover of Rolling Stone," "Only Sixteen," "Sharing the Night Together," and "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman." The band's final Top 10 hit, "Sexy Eyes," came out in 1980."We started, we were a bar band. We were playing whatever it took to keep us from being killed," Locorriere said in a 2015 interview with 100% Rock Magazine. "Country music, anything. People would come up and say, 'Do you know how to play... [such and such]?' and we'd say, 'Yes, we do.' That's what you did. Then we went out on the road, had some success, supported a lot of different bands like Alice Cooper, Kiss, Sly & the Family Stone, Blues Festivals, Frank Zappa, and the Eagles. We had to fit everywhere and we did. We were that kind of band."Dr. Hook held a farewell tour in 1985. Locorriere later launched a solo career and kept rights to the Dr. Hook name, touring under it regularly. He released 14 studio albums-11 with Dr. Hook and three solo.Songs written or co-written by Locorriere were also recorded by artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis and Olivia Newton-John

The Library of Congress has selected 25 recordings for inclusion in its National Recording Registry for 2026. This year's selections feature Weezer's self-titled debut album, often called "The Blue Album," and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble's "Texas Flood."Each year, the National Recording Registry honors recordings that have cultural, historical or aesthetic importance to the nation's recorded sound heritage. Other 2026 entries include Taylor Swift's "1989," Beyonc 's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and the Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."The registry now holds more than 600 recordings, ranging from historic speeches to popular music releases.Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Texas Flood"
With the release of "Texas Flood" in 1983, Vaughan became known as a leading guitar player of the decade. The album pushed him beyond the Austin, Texas, blues scene and brought national attention. The Library of Congress statement describes the album's slower songs, including "Texas Flood" and "Lenny," as highlighting Vaughan's unique guitar tone, shaped by heavy strings and specific amplifier settings. The statement also notes tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy and Howlin' Wolf on the album. "Rude Mood," the album's fastest song, stands out for its energy and precision.Weezer's "Blue Album"
Weezer's debut arrived in 1994 during the rise of alternative rock. Produced by Ric Ocasek of the Cars, the album's sound stood out for its power-pop hooks and sense of humor, offering a different style from grunge bands of the time. The Library of Congress describes it as "a new nerdy geek-rock charm" and calls it an "essential classic" of alternative rock. The album features hits including "Buddy Holly," "Say It Ain't So" and "Undone - The Sweater Song."Other 2026 Additions
This year's additions also include:- Spike Jones and His City Slickers, "Cocktails for Two" (1944)
- P rez Prado and His Orchestra, "Mambo No. 5" (1950)
- Ruth Brown, "Teardrops From My Eyes" (1950)
- Kaye Ballard, "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" (1954)
- Paul Anka, "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" (1959)
- Oliver Nelson, "The Blues and the Abstract Truth" (1961)
- Ray Charles, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" (1962)
- The Byrds, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)" (1965)
- The Winstons, "Amen, Brother" (1969)
- Jos Feliciano, "Feliz Navidad" (1970)
- "The Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier" (March 8, 1971)
- Gladys Knight and the Pips, "Midnight Train to Georgia" (1973)
- Chicago Original Cast Album (1975)
- The Charlie Daniels Band, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (1979)
- The Go-Go's, "Beauty and the Beat" (1981)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, "Texas Flood" (1983)
- Chaka Khan, "I Feel for You" (1984)
- Jamie Principle, "Your Love" (1986) / Jamie Principle and Frankie Knuckles (1987)
- Reba McEntire, "Rumor Has It" (1990)
- Rosanne Cash, "The Wheel" (1993)
- Bobby Prince, "Doom Soundtrack" (1993)
- Vince Gill, "Go Rest High on That Mountain" (1994)
- Weezer, "Weezer (The Blue Album)" (1994)
- Beyonc , "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2008)
- Taylor Swift, "1989" (2014)Since its start in 2002, the registry has included early sound recordings, classic albums and notable singles spanning more than a century. Past honorees include Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Amy Winehouse, Steve Miller Band, Elton John and Green Day.You can view the entire National Recording Registry on the Library of Congress website. Which recording do you think deserves a spot next year

Blue Oyster Cult singer Eric Bloom will miss several upcoming shows after undergoing surgery, the band announced.Bloom, 81, shared the news in a message to fans. "During B C's time off I scheduled a non-life threatening surgical procedure," Bloom wrote. "I am on the mend, but the recovery is taking a little longer than expected. Kasim Sulton will be standing in for me for a few shows."Bloom did not say how many shows he will miss. Blue Oyster Cult last performed Feb. 26 on the Rock Legends Cruise. The band is scheduled to resume touring May 16 in Oroville, California, with dates planned through the summer and fall.Sulton, who will fill in for Bloom, played bass and sang backing vocals with Blue Oyster Cult from 2012 to 2017. He is also known for his work with Utopia, where he sang and played on the 1979 hit "Set Me Free." Sulton has also performed with Joan Jett, Meat Loaf and the New Cars. He released his solo album "Kasim 2021" in 2021.Sulton is also set to tour with Todd Rundgren on the Damned If I Do tour, which begins June 11 in St. Charles, Illinois. There has been no word on whether his Blue Oyster Cult performances will affect his commitment to Rundgren's tour