Copyright Agnès DHERBEYS/MYOPOn Friday, Elton John received France's highest award, the Legion of Honor, from French president Emmanuel Macron.

Elton was given the honor during a visit to the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, during the country's annual music festival. Before the ceremony, Elton and Macron spoke about the replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which puts resources toward helping to abolish those three diseases.

In remarks after the ceremony, Elton told the crowd, who also had gathered for the start of the music fest, "It is humbling indeed to receive such an honor...to receive it on this day is even more special."

John also discussed France's continued support for the Global Fund, which works with the Elton John AIDS Foundation toward eradicating the disease around the world.

"When I started my Foundation back in 1993, we would have been overjoyed to save just one life," Elton said. "The thought that by combining all our efforts we could actually halve AIDS deaths globally is the most wonderful prospect imaginable. This is why I feel strongly about replenishment of the Global Fund.  We will all do as much as we possibly can with what we have but we cannot work miracles."

Elton played two shows in France earler this week and will play two more this weekend, in Bordeaux on Saturday and Nimes on Sunday.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty ImagesElliot Roberts, who managed Neil Young for over 50 years and also oversaw the careers of many other top artists, died Friday morning at age 76, according to an official statement by his management company. No cause of death was given.

The statement notes that over the years, Roberts also guided the careers of Stephen Stills, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Roberts, born Elliot Rabinowitz in The Bronx, New York, was just 23 when he began managing Mitchell, and took on Young as his client shortly thereafter. He soon formed a management company with future music mogul David Geffen, and in 1971 they founded Asylum Records, which signed Mitchell, The Eagles, Dylan and Linda Ronstadt.

Roberts eventually split with Geffen, and focused on artist management.

Young wrote a lengthy tribute to Roberts on his official website, calling Elliot "the greatest manager of all time," and praising his generosity, sense of humor, business savvy and love for his children.

"Never one to think about himself, he put everyone else first," Neil writes. "That's what he did for me for over fifty years of friendship love and laughter, managing my life, protecting our art in the business of music."

Stills and Graham Nash also issued statements paying homage to Roberts.

Stills, "Elliot Roberts was the probably the kindest, gentlest, and far and away the funniest man I ever worked with in Show Business. He was also tough as a barbed wire fence, fiercely loyal and keenly observant…But his greatest gift was his soulful, open heart."

Nash called Elliot "the glue that kept CSNY together in our early years," adding, "I will certainly miss him with sadness in my heart."

Roberts is survived by his four sons and his partner Dana Fineman.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Credit: Martin Salt

Moody Blues singer/bassist John Lodge is taking part in the Yes-headlined Royal Affair Tour, which also features Asia and Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy.

Lodge, who's performing with his solo group The 10,000 Light Years Band on the recently launched trek, tells ABC Radio he's very excited to be touring with Yes.

"I've been doing their cruises for a couple of years, Cruise to the Edge, and we've had a great time, and I'm really enjoying this tour," he says. "I managed to get…several of my deep cut songs into the show, and [I'll be spending the] next seven or eight weeks on the road."

Lodge's set features mostly Moody Blues gems, including "Gemini Dream," "Isn't Life Strange," "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" and, as his final song, "Ride My See-Saw." At some shows, Yes singer Jon Davison has joined Lodge when he's played "Ride My See-Saw."

Meanwhile, The Moody Blues have been on hiatus since late last year, and Lodge has some disappointing news for fans.

"There's nothing planned for The Moody Blues at all at the moment," he tells ABC Radio. "[We'll] see where we go."

John says he's excited about the new solo record deal he's signed and, as recently reported, he'll be releasing a compilation called B Yond on August 23 that includes new versions of three older compositions and new remixes of some of his "deep cuts."

Lodge also reveals that The Moody Blues may be releasing expanded reissues of two albums that celebrate their 40th anniversary this year -- On the Threshold of a Dream and For Our Children's Children's Children.

"I'm really proud of those albums," Lodge says. "Really proud of being a Moody Blue."

Here are the remaining Royal Affair Tour dates:

6/24 -- Toronto, ON, Canada, Budweiser Stage
6/25 -- Lewiston, NY, Artpark Amphitheater
6/27 -- Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
6/29 -- Gilford, NH, Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
6/30 -- Providence, RI, Bold Point Park
7/3 -- Rochester Hills, MI, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
7/5 -- Columbus, OH, Express Live
7/6 -- Aurora, IL, Riveredge Park
7/8 -- Nashville, TN, Grand Ole Opry House
7/10 -- Cary, NC, Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
7/12 -- Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
7/13 -- Hollywood, FL, Hard Rock Live - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
7/15 -- New Orleans, LA, Saegner Theatre
7/16 -- Sugar Land, TX, Smart Financial Centre
7/18 -- St. Augustine, FL, The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
7/20 -- Irving, TX, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7/21 -- Rogers, AR, Walmart AMP
7/24 -- Phoenix, AZ, Comerica Theatre
7/26 -- Las Vegas, NV, The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
7/27 -- Irvine, CA, Five Point Amphitheater
7/28 -- Saratoga, CA, The Mountain Winery

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Credit: Dave HoganIn front of a sold-out crowd at Chicago's Soldier Field Friday night, The Rolling Stones kicked off the 2019 North American run of their much anticipated NO FILTER tour.  The trek was delayed for about two months because frontman Mick Jagger needed to undergo a heart-valve operation a few weeks before the original April 20 start date.

A clearly fully mended Mick, who turns 76 in July, didn't miss a beat, as he and the Stones delivered a two-hour show that kicked off with "Street Fighting Man" and "Let's Spend the Night Together," as well as other hits from the band's decades together, ending with a two song encore of "Gimmie Shelter" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Here's the NO FILTER set list from Friday night:

 1. "Street Fighting Man"
 2. "Let's Spend The Night Together"
 3. "Tumbling Dice"
 4. "Sad Sad Sad"
 5. "You Got Me Rocking"
 6. "Can't Always Get What You Want"
 7. "Angie"
 8. "Dead Flowers"
 9. "Sympathy For the Devil"
10. "Honky Tonk Woman"
11. "You Got The Silver"
12. "Before They Make Me Run"
13. "Miss You"
14. "Paint It Black"
15. "Midnight Rambler"
16. "Start Me Up"
17. "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
18. "Brown Sugar"
19. "Gimme Shelter"
20. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"

Here are the remaining NO FILTER North American tour dates:  

6/25 -- Chicago, IL, Soldier Field
6/29 -- Ontario, Canada, Burl’s Creek
7/ 3 -- Washington, DC, FedEx Field
7/ 7 -- Foxboro, MA, Gillette Stadium
7/ 14 -- New Orleans, LA, Mercedes-Benz Superdome
7/ 19 -- Jacksonville, FL, TIAA Bank Field
7/ 23 -- Philadelphia, PA, Lincoln Financial Field
7/ 27 -- Houston, TX, NRG Stadium
8/1 -- East Rutherford, NJ, MetLife Stadium
8/5 -- East Rutherford, NJ, MetLife Stadium
8/10 -- Denver, CO, Broncos Stadium at Mile High
8/14 -- Seattle, WA, CenturyLink Field
8/18 -- Santa Clara, CA, Levi's Stadium
8/22 -- Pasadena, CA, The Rose Bowl
8/26 -- Glendale, AZ, State Farm Stadium
8/31 -- Miami, FL, Hard Rock Stadium

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Interscope RecordsThirty-four years after she scored her very first Billboard 200 #1 album and 11 years after her last one, Madonna's just notched her ninth number-one debut with her latest, Madame X.

Released June 14, Madame X moved 95,000 equivalent album units, with an impressive 90,000 of those being actual album sales, according to Billboard.  The album includes the hit singles "Medellin" and "Crave," collaborations with Maluma and Swae Lee, respectively.

The feat makes Madonna, who turns 61 in August, second only to Barbra Streisand among women who have the most Billboard 200 number-one albums.  Streisand has eleven number-ones, while The Beatles lead all artists, with 19.

The feat's also impressive when you consider six of Madonna's nine #1 albums were released in the 2000s, following an eleven-year drought that began with 1989's Like a Prayer.  Madonna's previous #1 albums include MDNA and Hard Candy, both from 2008; 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor; 2003's American Life; Music, from 2000; 1989's Like a Prayer; 1986's True Blue; and Like a Virgin, from 1985.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 

Erika Goldring/WireImageTwo weeks after Universal Music Group revealed a devastating storage facility fire in 2008 had destroyed thousands of irreplaceable master tapes from hundreds of musicians, we've got our first lawsuit.

The late Tom Petty's ex-wife, Jane Petty, along with Soundgarden, Hole, Americana singer/songwriter Steve Earle and the estate of the late Tupac Shakur are all plaintiffs in the suit, filed Friday in federal court in Los Angeles. 

The suit makes several accusations against UMG, not the least of which is failing to disclose to the affected artists until two weeks ago that the 2008 fire had destroyed their master recordings.  It also declares UMG received an insurance settlement of $150 million, which they failed to disclose or share with the affected artists, and accuses the music giant of failing to take necessary steps to prevent the fire in the first place.

The plaintiffs are asking for monetary damages of more than $100 million.

Master recordings are the original recordings from which copies are made to sell and distribute.  Over half a century's worth of masters were lost in the UMG fire from artists including Ray Charles, Nirvana, The Eagles, Elton John, The Police, Guns N' Roses, Ella Fitzgerald, Nine Inch Nails, Miles Davis and many others.

Friday's lawsuit is the first of many lawsuits expected to be filed in the wake of UMG's admission.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 

Courtesy of AXS TV

New details have been revealed about an upcoming half-hour AXS TV interview series hosted by Paul Shaffer that will feature David Letterman's longtime band leader and sidekick chatting candidly with a variety of big-name music artists. Paul Shaffer Plus One will premiere on Sunday, September 15, with an episode featuring longtime Eagles guitarist and solo star Joe Walsh.

The show's inaugural series will run for eight weeks and also will feature conversations with Graham Nash, Sammy Hagar, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Steely Dan frontman Donald Fagen, blues great Buddy Guy, and Motown legend Smokey Robinson. In addition, comic actor Harry Shearer will appear on the program as his This Is Spinal Tap character, Derek Smalls.

The show features Shaffer conducting interviews while seated at his piano, so in addition to chatting with the artists, Paul and his guests will play impromptu renditions of some of their memorable songs.

"Many people know Paul from his run with David Letterman, but he's also an acclaimed and award-winning musician with extensive knowledge and invaluable insight into the music industry," says AXS TV exec Eric Haiman. "Paul Shaffer Plus One gives viewers a rare glimpse into the man behind the piano, as he sits down with an impressive slate of fellow legends -- getting them to open up about their extraordinary lives and careers as only he can."

Here's the schedule for the inaugural season of Paul Shaffer Plus One:

9/15 -- Joe Walsh
9/22 -- Graham Nash
9/29 -- Sammy Hagar
10/6 -- ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons
10/13 -- Steely Dan's Donald Fagen
10/20 -- Buddy Guy
10/27 -- Harry Shearer as Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls
11/3 -- Smokey Robinson

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Walt Disney Records So far, this has been a great year for Elton John soundtrack songs.

Following the release of "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again," his duet with Taron Egerton that plays over the end credits of the movie Rocketman, it's now been announced that Elton has also written and recorded a new song for Disney's new CGI Lion King film.

The song is called "Never Too Late," and Elton co-wrote it with Tim Rice, with whom he wrote all the songs for the original movie, including "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."  The song, performed by Elton, will appear in the movie's end credits, and also on the soundtrack, which is coming out July 11 as a digital release and July 19 as a physical release. You can pre-order it now.

The soundtrack includes new recordings for the songs written for the original Lion King, including "Circle of Life," "Hakuna Matata," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Be Prepared" and, of course, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." 

Five songs on the soundtrack were produced by Pharrell Williams, including Beyonce and Donald Glover's new rendition of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."  The score was composed by famed film composer Hans Zimmer.

The Lion King is in theaters July 19.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Here's The Lion King soundtrack's track listing:

“Circle of Life”/“Nants’ Ingonyama” – Performed by Lindiwe Mkhize; African vocals performed by Lebo M; written and composed by Elton John and Tim Rice; “Nants’ Ingonyama” written by Lebohang Morake and Hans Zimmer; produced by Hans Zimmer; vocals produced by Stephen Lipson

“Life’s Not Fair” – Hans Zimmer

“Rafiki’s Fireflies” – Hans Zimmer

“I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” – Performed by JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph and John Oliver; written by Elton John and Tim Rice; produced by Pharrell Williams; co-produced by Stephen Lipson

“Elephant Graveyard” – Hans Zimmer

“Be Prepared” (2019 Version) – Performed by Chiwetel Ejiofor; written by Elton John and Tim Rice; produced by Hans Zimmer and David Fleming

“Stampede” – Hans Zimmer

“Scar Takes the Throne” – Hans Zimmer

“Hakuna Matata” – Performed by Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, JD McCrary and Donald Glover; written by Elton John and Tim Rice; produced by Pharrell Williams; co-produced by Stephen Lipson

“Simba is Alive!” – Hans Zimmer

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – Performed by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen; written by Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss and Solomon Linda; produced by Pharrell Williams

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight” - Performed by Beyoncé, Donald Glover, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen; written by Elton John and Tim Rice; produced by Pharrell Williams; co-produced by Stephen Lipson

“Reflections of Mufasa” – Hans Zimmer

“Battle for Pride Rock” – Hans Zimmer

“Remember” – Hans Zimmer

“Never Too Late” – Performed by Elton John; African vocal and choir arrangements created and produced by Lebo M; written by Elton John and Tim Rice; produced by Greg Kurstin; additional production by Elton John and Matt Still

“He Lives in You” - Performed by Lebo M; written by Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin and Lebohang Morake; produced by Lebo M and Mark Mancina

“Mbube” - Performed by Lebo M; African vocal and choir arrangements created and produced by Lebo M; written by Solomon Linda; produced by Pharrell Williams
 

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Erika Goldring/Getty ImagesDave Bartholomew, a New Orleans composer, musician and rock 'n' roll pioneer best known for his long collaboration with Fats Domino, died Sunday, June 23, at the age of 100, his son Ron confirmed to The Times-Picayune.

Bartholomew established himself as a songwriter, band leader, talent scout and producer working with various New Orleans musicians before beginning a 14-year partnership with Domino. Starting with "The Fat Man," which reached #2 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1950, the two co-wrote a series of hits that included "Ain't That a Shame," "I'm Walkin'," "Whole Lotta Loving" and "Walking to New Orleans."

Bartholomew also wrote several classic Domino songs by himself, including "Blue Monday" and "I Hear You Knockin'."

Other hit songs Bartholomew wrote or co-wrote include "My Ding-a-ling," a 1952 tune that Chuck Berry had a #1 hit with in 1972, and "One Night" and "Witchcraft," which were both hit singles for Elvis Presley.

Bartholomew was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Domino in 1998. Fats passed away at age 89 in 2017.

In a 2010 interview with The Times-Picayune, Bartholomew talked about his partnership with Domino.

"Actually, we never sat down to write anything. He and I just played," Dave said. "If we started a song and we got lost…I remember one time on 'I'm in Love Again,' we went outside and somebody said, 'Don't let the dog bite you.' So we come back and put that in the song."

A statement issued by the Recording Academy credited Bartholomew's "innovative approach to his craft" with helping "define the New Orleans sound and establish[ing] the metropolis as one of our nation's great music cities."

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Credit: Terry WyattBob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band wrapped up a six-show engagement at the DTE Energy Music Theatre outside of their hometown of Detroit on Friday, and during the concert Seger played one of his rarities for a special guest in the audience: former International Space Station commander Andrew Feustel.

According to Billboard.com, the Michigan rocker dedicated his 1975 tune "Fine Memory" -- which he'd performed live for the first time ever just six days earlier at the theater -- to Feustel, who was attending the show with his wife.

Seger explained that every time Feustel prepared to blast off on a new mission, he played "Fine Memory," which reminds him of his wife.

Bob first spoke with the astronaut, who also is from the Detroit area, via a FaceTime chat when Feustel was on a space mission during the summer of 2018, and then the two met in person at one of Seger's concerts earlier this year in Houston.

The concert on Friday closed out the current leg of Seger's Roll Me Away farewell tour and, according to MLive.com, it was the final planned show in the Detroit area.

The concert was Seger's 33rd at the venue, which is located in Clarkston, Michigan, and was formerly known as the Pine Knob Music Theatre. Earlier this month, the theater changed its address to 33 Bob Seger Dr. in honor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and the many times he's performed there.

Seger and the Silver Bullet Band will launch a new 14-date tour leg on September 12 in Rapid City, South Dakota, which is due to wrap up October 19 in Chicago. Visit BobSeger.com to check out their full itinerary.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

© Jeri Jones PhotographyRoberta Flack recently established her own charitable organization, the Roberta Flack Foundation, to aid various causes important to her, as well as to help creative people in need of financial support.  Now, she's announced the recipients of the foundation's first two grants.

The first grant will go to SheLectricity, which, according to its website, is a project geared toward girls of color that "brings together technology, culture and community to create safe and nurturing online and in-person environments," which ideally will help young people "learn, grow, innovate and lead."

The organization is planning to launch programs in its first three hub cities -- Oakland and Los Angeles, California, and Memphis, Tennessee -- this fall.

The second grant will be presented to Carol Swainson, an educator from San Francisco who is making a documentary for schools designed to help families feel comfortable discussing racial biases, with the hope of "changing the negative racial narrative."

Swainson is making her film with support from the National Association of Independent Schools and the White Privilege Conference.

Flack will present the grants at a New York City press conference scheduled for July 1.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Credit: James O'MaraElvis Costello and his longtime backing band The Imposters have unveiled plans to mount a fall U.S. headlining tour that will follow their joint stateside trek with Blondie this July and August.

The 24-date "Just Trust" Tour kicks off October 23 in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is mapped out through a November 26 show in Milwaukee.

Costello released an album called Trust in 1981, but according to an official statement, the trek has nothing to do with that record.

He explains, "The tour is entitled, 'Just Trust' in answer to the musical questions: 'Will they play my [favorite] song?,' or, 'Are they going to frighten the horses with a lot of excellent songs that are rarely performed?,' not to mention, 'Can I expect the hits of yesteryear and those of tomorrow?'"

Tickets to most shows on the trek go on sale to the general public this Friday, June 28, at 10 a.m. local time.

Costello and The Imposters' tour with Blondie, meanwhile, includes 13 dates, and runs from a July 20 concert in Bethel, New York, through an August 10 show in Seattle.

Here are all of Costello and his band's upcoming U.S. concerts:

7/17 -- Gettysburg, PA, The Majestic Theatre#
7/20 -- Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
7/21 -- Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
7/23 -- Boston, MA, Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion
7/24 -- Forest Hills, NY, Forest Hills Stadium
7/26 -- Washington D.C., The Anthem
7/27 -- Camden, NJ, BB&T Pavilion
8/1 -- Las Vegas, NV, The Pearl Theater at The Palms
8/2 -- Temecula, CA, Pechanga Summit
8/4 -- Irvine, CA, FivePoint Amphitheatre
8/5 -- Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theatre
8/7 -- Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Bowl
8/8 -- San Francisco, CA, Concord Pavilion
8/10 -- Seattle, WA, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
10/23 -- Charlottesville, VA, Sprint Pavilion
10/24 -- Hershey, PA, The Hershey Theatre
10/26 -- Ithaca, NY, State Theatre
10/27 -- Burlington, VT, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
10/29 -- Port Chester, NY, Capitol Theatre*
10/30 -- Port Chester, NY, Capitol Theatre*
11/1 -- Norfolk, VA, The NorVa
11/2 -- Greensboro, NC, Piedmont Hall
11/4 -- Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium
11/5 -- Atlanta, GA, Coca-Cola Roxy
11/7 -- Fort Lauderdale, FL, Broward Center for Performing Arts
11/8 -- St. Augustine, FL, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
11/10 -- St. Petersburg, FL, Mahaffey Theater
11/11 -- Orlando, FL, Hard Rock Live
11/13 -- New Orleans, LA, Saenger Theatre
11/15 -- Memphis, TN, Graceland Soundstage
11/16 -- Carmel, IN, Center for Performing Arts***
11/17 -- Louisville, KY, The Palace Theatre
11/19 -- Cincinnati, OH, Taft Theatre
11/20 -- Ann Arbor, MI, Michigan Theatre
11/22 -- Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre**
11/23 -- Minneapolis, MN, State Theatre**
11/24 -- Madison, WI, The Orpheum Theater
11/26 -- Milwaukee, WI, Miller High Life Theatre

# = sold out headlining show
= with Blondie
* = tickets go on sale June 28 at 12 p.m. local time
** = tickets go on sale July 12 at 10 a.m. local time
*** = tickets go on sale August 9 at 10 a.m. local time.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Harmony Gerber/Getty Images

Doors guitarist Robby Krieger has formed a new band called The New Experience that will play its debut show this Thursday, June 27, at the Viva Rancho Cantina in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank, California.

The group also features keyboardist Ed Roth, who's collaborated with Ronnie Montrose and Annie Lennox; bassist Kevin Brandon, who played with Aretha Franklin for more than 20 years and also worked with dozens of other well-known musicians; and drummer Dale Alexander, whose resume includes working with Prince and George Benson. The band is being billed as "a new experience in jazz, rhythm and blues."

Tickets for the intimate concert are available at BrownPaperTickets.com and cost just $12, not including fees.

Krieger only has a few other confirmed shows on his 2019 schedule. They include a pair of joint East Coast concerts this fall with Mountain frontman Leslie West September 14 in Englewood, New Jersey, and September 20 in Westbury, New York. Robby also will play a gig September 28 at The Doors' old stomping grounds, the famous Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

In other news, Krieger released a new instrumental song titled "Slide Home" back in December from a long-in-the-works solo album that's reportedly is due out this year, although Robby hasn't announced any more details about the project yet.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Kevin Mazur/WireImageToday marks the 10-year anniversary of the death of pop icon Michael Jackson.

Jackson died from cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50. His untimely death was later ruled a homicide caused from an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol that was administered by his doctor, cardiologist Conrad Murray. Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison in November 2011. 

Ten years after Jackson's death, celebrities and music stars are reflecting on the music legend's impact on pop culture.

"There's no one like Michael Jackson. I don't think that ever will be, honestly," Pop superstar Ciara tells ABC Radio. "You know, what he did for music. He definitely was one of the pioneers of music that kind of helped with shaping the culture of music and why we all love it as fans."

As for his passing, Ciara says it doesn't feel like it's already been 10 years, because to her, MJ's impact is still standing strong.

"He made songs that will live on forever," she says. "And that's what it's about...the cool thing is that his legacy is so powerful that it still lives on. And it will continue to live on and continue to inspire people."

As far as his impact, Ciara says MJ openly shared his journey with others through music, which in turn, "help[ed] someone else's life."

Not surprisingly, Jackson's ability to authentically share his journey and capture his audiences' attention was something that Kim Sledge, of legendary vocal group Sister Sledge, says was unmatched.

"He was one of the best entertainers I've ever seen perform, I have to say he really was," Sledge says.

"All of them, we loved all of their performances," Sledge says, referring to the Jackson 5, with whom she and her sisters toured during the 1970s. "When I saw him when he was singly performing, there was something about the energy that was just enchanting. If was fascinating. I've never seen energy like that. I can say the only other person I could think of that I saw that type of energy is when I was really, really little watching maybe Sammy Davis Jr."

Even as celebs recall their fondest memories of Jackson as a performer, it's difficult to ignore some of the recent controversies surrounding the pop legend.

After years of being plagued by sexual abuse allegations and a 2005 child molestation trial, which ended with Jackson's acquittal, the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, released in January, once again brought up Jackson's past sexual abuse allegations.

The doc followed the accusations of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who both accused Jackson of sexually abusing them as children, although they denied Jackson abused them while the singer was still alive. Both have said having their own children forced them to come clean.

The Jackson family and estate continues to vigorously deny all charges in the documentary and subsequently filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO, claiming the documentary breached a "non-disparagement" clause in a contract HBO signed in 1992, when it agreed to air a Jackson concert film.

Despite the documentary and resulting, Jackson's music and legacy appeared to have weathered the storm, at least so far.  In fact, one of his producers, Dallas Austin, says MJ "will always have cultural impact."

"It's all about the music. It's all about the songs, it's not about the drama," Austin says. "It's just about songs and music. And he's given us so many great songs and music for all of his life, for all of our lives. I think that is still just as important."

Hip-hop superstar Method Man agrees, and says Jackson will never lose his influence on American culture.

"He will forever be an icon," Method Man says. "He's the reason why a lot of these kids nowadays have the shot that they have in music. Michael Jackson paved the way."

Meth adds that it's important that people also "speak up" for their legends when they pass.

"And to watch him grow up over the years and for his legacy to continue on we have to be caretakers of it," he says. "This is why when certain things come out against these OGs after they're gone, they need people there to speak up for them, because they can't speak up for themselves."

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Rick Kern/WireImageZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons says he's working on a project with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age that may be a new album by Homme's band.

"Just one month ago, I was making a record with Queens of the Stone Age," Gibbons tells the U.K.'s eonmusic. "Dave Grohl was also taking part and he decided to have a big barbecue. So there was this interesting gathering."

The Texas rocker continues, "We had gone to the desert to work on just a couple of tracks, and I was outside, and Josh came out of the studio, and he had this box, and it was making some strange noise. And I said, 'Hey, what is that?' and he goes, 'I don't know, I just found it.' I said, 'Don't touch a thing; we're going to use it for the song!' So that's how it started."

It certainly seems that Gibbons is referring to a new entry in Homme's long-running collaborative Desert Sessions side-project series, the return of which Josh teased last month. However, Gibbons says they were working on a full Queens of the Stone Age album.

Gibbons previously contributed guitar and vocals to a few songs on Queens of the Stone Age's 2005 album, Lullabies to Paralyze, while Grohl has played drums and percussion on two other records by Homme's band: 2002's Songs for the Deaf and 2013's ...Like Clockwork.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Randy HolmesFollowing Monday's news that Elton John has written and recorded a new song called "Never Too Late" for the upcoming soundtrack of The Lion King, he immediately becomes the front runner in the race for Best Original Song Oscar. That is, of course, unless he gets beaten by...himself.

As Variety notes, Elton was already being talked about as an Oscar contender for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again," the song he and Bernie Taupin wrote for the end credits for Rocketman, which he sings with the movie's star, Taron Egerton.

Now that "Never Too Late" -- which Elton wrote with lyricist Tim Rice -- has been thrown into the mix, there's a real chance that Elton will end up competing against himself in the category. That won't be the first time it's happened, either.

In 1995, Elton and Rice were nominated three times in the Best Original Song category for their tunes from the original Lion King: "Circle of Life," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Hakuna Matata." They ended up winning for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Noam Galai/Getty ImagesSince R.E.M. broke up in 2011, Michael Stipe has stayed pretty quiet when it comes to making new music, but that's apparently about to change.

R.E.M.'s website has shared an interview that Stipe did with the Italian publication La Repubblica, in which he says he's working on new solo material. In fact, he says he has "18 songs...already ready."

"For five years, I'd had a clean break from music," Stipe says. "Now I'm writing, composing and recording all by myself and for the first time."

In March 2018, Stipe shared a 40-second clip of a potential new solo song called "Future, If Future." Last month, he played some solo material at a surprise New York City set opening for Patti Smith.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Inside RecordingsJackson Browne teamed up with singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson to write and record a new song titled "Human Touch" for the recently released documentary 5B -- about the first hospital ward in the U.S. created to treat AIDS and HIV patients.

The heartfelt acoustic ballad, which was co-written with Steve McEwan and features Browne and Mendelson singing alternating verses and duetting on the chorus, is available now as a digital single and via streaming services. You also can listen to the song on YouTube.

5B tells the story of how, starting in 1983, the nurses, doctors and caregivers of the 5B ward at San Francisco General Hospital helped comfort and care for their seriously ill and dying patients via practices based in humanity and holistic well-being.

The ward was created at a time when many people in the healthcare profession were afraid to touch or be near AIDS patients because of worries over contracting the disease.

Browne currently is in the middle of a four-show engagement at the Beacon Theatre in New York City that will wrap up with concerts this Wednesday and Friday.

Jackson's 2019 tour itinerary is mapped out through a recently announced September 5 benefit performance in San Luis Obispo, California. The show will raise money to support the Cayucos Land Conservancy, which is committed to preserving the scenic coastal bluffs and hillsides located in the town of Cayucos, California.

Here are all of Browne's upcoming concerts:

6/26 -- New York, NY, Beacon Theatre*
6/28 -- New York, NY, Beacon Theatre*
6/29 -- Wallingford, CT, Toyota Oakdale Theater
7/2 -- Boston, MA, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
7/3 -- Vienna, VA, Wolf Trap
7/5 -- Saratoga Springs, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center*
7/6 -- Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts*
8/2 -- Missoula, MT, Big Sky
8/3 -- Sandpoint, ID, Festival at Sandpoint
8/5 -- Ketchum, ID, River Run Lodge
8/8 -- Redding, CA, Redding Civic Auditorium
8/10 -- Stateline, NV, Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
8/11 -- Bakersfield, CA, Rabobank Theater
8/13 -- Saratoga, CA, The Mountain Winery
8/14 -- Saratoga, CA, The Mountain Winery
8/16 -- Costa Mesa, CA, OC Fair - Pacific Amphitheater
8/18 -- Fresno, CA, Warnors Theater
8/19 -- Carmel, CA, Sunset Center
8/23 -- Las Vegas, NV, The Venetian
8/24 -- Las Vegas, NV, The Venetian
9/5 -- San Luis Obispo, CA, Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo

* = Lucius opens.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Credit: Chris PhelpsBoz Scaggs has postponed a run of U.S. tour dates he had lined up for the early summer because of "health reasons."

According to a message posted on Scaggs' official Facebook page, "Boz has been advised by his doctors that he cannot tour at this time. With some rest, he is expected to make a full and swift recovery."

The Facebook note also includes a statement from 75-year-old singer/songwriter that reads, "I am so sorry to have to miss these shows. Playing for you all is my greatest joy. I hate to disappoint you. I am going to follow doctor's orders so I can get back out on the road as soon as possible. Looking forward to seeing you all then."

The postponed dates span from a June 21 show in Easton, Pennsylvania, through a July 9 concert in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Six of these shows have been rescheduled for November, and Scaggs is hoping to find new dates for as many of the nixed concerts as possible. However, fans who want refunds for their tickets can get them at the original point of purchase.

Besides the rescheduled shows, Boz still has more than 25 other confirmed concerts lined up in August and September. Scaggs continues to support his 2018 studio album, Out of the Blues.

Here are all of his upcoming shows, according to BozScaggs.com:

8/11 -- Arlington, WA, Festival of the River
8/13 -- Portland, OR, Revolution Hall
8/16 -- Newport Beach, CA, West Summer Concert Series
8/18 -- Napa, CA, Uptown Theatre Napa
8/19 -- Saratoga, CA, The Mountain Winery
8/21 -- Livermore, CA, Wente Vineyards
8/23 -- Indio, CA, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino - Special Events Center
8/24 -- Henderson, NV, Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa Casino - Grand Events Center
8/25 -- San Diego, CA, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
8/27 -- Santa Fe, NM, The Santa Fe Opera
8/28 -- El Paso, TX, Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center
8/31 -- Beaumont, TX, Julie Rogers Theatre
9/1 -- Bedford, TX, Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
9/4 -- Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium
9/5 -- Knoxville, TN, Tennessee Theatre
9/7 -- Biloxi, MS, IP Casino Resort and Spa
9/8 -- Montgomery, AL, Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
9/10 -- Lawrence, KS, Lied Center of Kansas
9/14 -- Telluride, CO, Telluride Town Park
9/15 -- Salt Lake City, UT, Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series
9/16 -- Boulder, CO, Chautauqua Auditorium
9/18 -- Steamboat Springs, CO, Strings Music Pavilion
9/19 -- Cheyenne, WY, Cheyenne Civic Center
9/20 -- Boise, ID, Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
9/21 -- Stateline, NV, MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa - MontBleu Showroom
9/22 -- Napa, CA, Uptown Theatre Napa
11/1 -- Hanover, MD, Live! Event Center (rescheduled from 6/28)
11/9 -- Hampton Beach, NH, Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (rescheduled from 6/282
11/16 -- Ocean City, NJ, Ocean City Music Pier (rescheduled from 7/1)
11/18 -- Red Bank, NJ, Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center (rescheduled from 6/25)
11/19 -- Easton, PA, State Theatre Center for the Arts (rescheduled from 6/21)
11/24 -- Des Moines, IA, Hoyt Sherman Place (rescheduled from 7/8)

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Randy HolmesElton John fans can now watch two videos offering high-quality footage of the pop-rock legend performing the same song in Cannes, France...but were filmed 36 years apart.

First, the video for Elton's classic 1983 hit "I'm Still Standing" has been digitally restored and is now available in 4K ultra HD, with the footage re-scanned from the original negative.  Directed by Russell Mulcahy, the video features Elton driving, performing and dancing on and near Carlton Beach in Cannes, along with a troupe of dancers covered in brightly colored body paint. 

Fun fact: One of the dancers is Bruno Tonioli, future Dancing with the Stars judge.  His body isn't painted, though -- he's variously seen wearing a bellboy uniform, a black outfit with a policeman's cap and a one-shoulder black top and red pants.

"The energy you see in the video is the energy on the set…It's just a fantastic song," Mulcahy says in a statement. "It surfaced just at the right time in his career…It sends such a clear message that everyone can have a fall but you can get back up, and that's the anthem."

The 16-millimeter footage of the original video shoot was used at the end of Rocketman, with star Taron Egerton as Elton inserted into the footage.

"I'm very personally proud that the video is in Rocketman, which is his most extraordinary piece of work," adds Mulcahy. "And I'm very happy for Elton and everyone involved."

In addition, footage of Elton singing "I'm Still Standing" earlier this year during the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Rocketman also has been released. The performance took place at the afterparty on, yes, Carlton Beach.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Credit: Warren JacksonNew Order has announced the first U.S. residency in the band's nearly 40-year history.

The four-show stand will take place at the Fillmore in Miami Beach, Florida, on January 14, 15, 17 and 18, 2020. You'll be able to buy tickets to shows individually, or you can purchase a four-day pass.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 28, at 10 a.m. local time. Visit NewOrder.com for more info.

You can also catch New Order live touring Europe throughout the summer.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

William Snyder/Trinifold

The Who has partnered with the Omaze fundraising website to launch a contest offering one winner and a guest a trip to Boston, where they'll enjoy premium seats at the band's September 13 concert at Fenway Park and a meet-and-greet and photo op with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey.

The show, which is part of The Who's Moving On! Tour, will feature the band performing with an orchestra.

As part of the experience, the winner and guest will also get to watch the group's soundcheck prior to the concert, have access to a VIP lounge offering free food and drinks, and score limited-edition merchandise. The package also includes free airfare to Boston and a stay at a four-star hotel.

The campaign will raise money for Teen Cancer America, the charity co-founded by Daltrey and Townshend that funds the creation of recreation programs and facilities geared toward cancer patients between the ages of 13 and 24.

In order to enter the contest, you have to donate $10 or more at Omaze.com/TheWho. Entries will be accepted until August 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The winner, who must be at least 16 years old, will be notified on or around August 28.

You can check out a video of Townshend sharing details about the contest at Omaze's official YouTube channel.

The upcoming North American leg of The Who's Moving On! Tour runs from a September 1 concert in New York City through an October 24 show in Los Angeles. The band also has a one-off U.K. performance lined up on July 6 at London's Wembley Stadium.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

David McNew/Getty ImagesThe New York Times Magazine is reporting that even more artists than have previously thought have lost their master recordings in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.

According to the latest report, affected artists include Weezer, The Who, Blink-182, Neil Young, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, Primus, Limp Bizkit, Meat Loaf, Styx, Boston, Sublime, Rob Zombie, White Zombie and Jimmy Eat World, among hundreds more.

These names follow the initial NYT report about the fire's damage, which stated that masters recorded by artists including Nirvana, Guns N' Roses, Tom Petty, Soundgarden, The Eagles and R.E.M. were among those destroyed.

A lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which includes Petty's ex-wife, Jane Petty, Soundgarden and Hole as plaintiffs, was filed last Friday.

Following the initial article, Universal Music Group said in a statement obtained by Variety that report includes "numerous inaccuracies, misleading statements, contradictions and fundamental misunderstandings of the scope of the incident and affected assets."

"Music preservation is of the highest priority for us and we are proud of our track record," the statement reads.

"While there are constraints preventing us from publicly addressing some of the details of the fire that occurred at NBCUniversal Studios facility more than a decade ago, the incident -- while deeply unfortunate -- never affected the availability of the commercially released music nor impacted artists’ compensation."

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Mailboat Records

Recent Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Jack Tempchin, who's probably best known for having a hand in penning the classic Eagles hits "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Already Gone," will release his 12th solo album, One More Time with Feeling, on August 23.

The 10-track album is part of a new deal he signed with Jimmy Buffett's label, Mailboat Records.

One More Time with Feeling's title track is a previously unreleased song that Tempchin co-wrote with his friend and frequent collaborator, lthe ate Eagles singer/guitarist Glenn Frey. The album also features Jack's own rendition of "Peaceful Easy Feeling," which was a #22 hit for the Eagles in 1973. In addition, Tempchin pays tribute to Frey, who died in 2016, with a new original tune called "Never Had the Chance to Say Goodbye."

Buffett says of signing Tempchin to his label, "Jack was a true inspiration back when I opened for the Eagles on the Hotel California tour, and it is an honor to have a class act like Jack on Mailboat."

One More Time with Feeling is available for pre-order now.

On the red carpet at the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this month, Tempchin told ABC Radio that he was thrilled at getting the honor.

"[I] never expected it to happen," he said, "and it's kind of making me look back and go, 'Well, all that crazy stuff you did must have been OK, 'cause they're saying you're in the Hall of Fame now.' So, very delightful."

Tempchin also chose "Peaceful Easy Feeling" as his quintessential song.

"That's the one everybody loves," he noted. "And I like the song, but the way the Eagles did it was so amazing that it's just gonna live on."

Here's the One More Time with Feeling track list:

"One of the Good Old Days"
"Peaceful Easy Feeling"
"True Love"
"One More Time with Feeling"
"Never Had the Chance to Say Goodbye"
"Back to the Old Me"
"Love's First Lesson"
"Out in the Desert"
"Always Magic When the Sun Goes Down"
"Big Lincoln"

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Walter McBride/WireImageDespite the fact that it just won two Tony Awards a few weeks ago, Broadway's The Cher Show will close in August.

Broadway World reports that the musical based on Cher's life and career will play its final performance on August 18, following 296 regular performances. A national tour will launch in October of 2020 in Rochester, New York.

The Cher Show opened on Broadway December 3, with the full cooperation and approval of Cher herself and got off to a strong start at the box office. But Billboard points out that the show is closing because its numbers have been down lately.

In a statement, the producer said, "Telling Cher's life story on Broadway has been a joy. Watching audiences relive her empowering story through six decades worth of iconic songs, movies, costumes and relationships has been incredible."

In the show, Cher is portrayed at three different phases of her life by three different actresses.  One of them, Stephanie J. Block, won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, and Cher's longtime costume designer Bob Mackie won for Best Costume Design of a Musical.

Meanwhile, Cher's still got plenty of projects in the works, including a memoir, another leg of her Here We Go Again Tour and a new perfume. 

She tweeted last Friday, "Had 4 Hr Meeting With Perfume Company Last Night OMG. I Have Prototype Of Bottle. It’s Remarkable. Comes Out In NOV.?? PRESS STARTS IN OCT. BOTTLE IS BEAUTIFUL & UNIQUE."

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

RhinoChicago's debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, arrived 50 years ago this past April, and in honor of its milestone anniversary, the band will be releasing a remixed version of the record on August 30.

The reissue will be available on CD, digitally and as a two-LP vinyl set. A limited-edition version of the double-disc collection pressed on gold vinyl will be sold exclusively at Rhino.com.

Chicago Transit Authority actually was a self-titled album, as that was the band's original moniker before it was shortened to Chicago later in '69. The record peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200 and yielded three top-40 singles: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," "Beginnings" and "Questions 67 and 68." It also features a fiery cover of The Spencer Davis Group's "I'm a Man."

The album eventually was certified double-platinum for sales of two million units in the U.S.

The group's current lineup is on tour now in the U.S., and has dozens of shows lined up through an October 19 concert in Clearwater, Florida.

Here's the Chicago Transit Authority two-LP track list:

Side One
"Introduction"
"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?"
"Beginnings"

Side Two
"Questions 67 and 68"
"Listen"
"Poem 58"

Side Three
"Free Form Guitar"
"South California Purples"
"I'm a Man"

Side Four
"Prologue, August 29, 1968"
"Someday (August 29, 1968)"
"Liberation"

And here are Chicago's upcoming tour dates:

6/26 -- Baltimore, MD, MECU Pavilion
6/28 -- Youngstown, OH, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater
6/29 -- Milwaukee, WI, BMO Harris Pavilion - Summerfest
6/30 -- St. Louis, MO, Fox Theatre
7/3 -- Sugar Land, TX, Smart Financial Centre
7/5 -- Lake Charles, LA, The Golden Nugget - Grand Event Center
7/6 -- Austin, TX, Moody Theater
7/17 -- Jacksonville, OR, Britt Pavilion
7/19 -- Woodinville, WA, Chateau Ste. Michelle
7/20 -- Woodinville, WA, Chateau Ste. Michelle
7/21 -- Portland, OR, Oregon Zoo
7/23 -- San Jose, CA, San Jose Civic
7/24 -- Paso Robles, CA, Vina Robles Amphitheatre
7/26 -- Costa Mesa, CA, OC Fair
7/27 -- Los Angeles, CA, The Greek Theatre
7/28 -- Tucson, AZ, Tucson Music Hall
7/30 -- San Antonio, TX, Majestic Theatre
8/1 -- Tulsa, OK, Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort
8/2 -- Thackerville, OK, WinStar Casino & Resort
8/3 -- Bossier City, LA, Horseshoe Bossier City, Riverdome
8/6 -- Asheville, NC, Biltmore Estate - South Terrace
8/10 -- Highland Park, IL, Ravinia
8/11 -- Highland Park, IL, Ravinia
9/1 -- Lewisville, TX, Texas International Pop Festival
9/20 -- Valley Center, CA, Harrah's Resort SoCal - The Events Center
9/21 -- Laughlin, NV, Harrah's Laughlin
9/24 -- Colorado Springs, CO, Pikes Peak Center
9/26 -- Loveland, CO, Budweiser Events Center
9/28 -- Minot, ND, Norsk Hostfest
9/29 -- Sioux Falls, SD, Washington Pavilion
10/1 -- Mankato, MN, Mankato Civic Center
10/2 -- Davenport, IA, Adler Theater
10/12 -- Atlanta, GA, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
10/13 -- Brandon, MS, Brandon Amphitheater
10/17 -- North Charleston, SC, North Charleston Performing Arts Center
10/18 -- Jacksonville, FL, Daily's Place
10/19 -- Clearwater, FL, Coachman Park

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Samir Hussein/WireImagePaul McCartney has lent his support to a campaign launched by PETA, calling for Texas A&M University to end a scientific program that breeds seriously ill golden retrievers so they can be experimented on in an attempt to find a cure.

The dogs in the program are bred to have a severe form of muscular dystrophy, and according to PETA, they struggle to walk, swallow and even breathe. PETA also maintains that the program, which has been in operation for 40 years, has yet to come up with any effective way to reverse the symptoms.

The organization also has released footage that purports to show the inhumane conditions in which the dogs are forced to live.

In a letter he wrote Wednesday to Texas A&M University president Michael K. Young, McCartney reveals that he learned about the canine experiments earlier this month while on tour in Texas, and appealed to Young to "stop allowing this cruelty and to release the animals for adoption into loving homes."

He continues, "The video footage of golden retrievers in your university's dog laboratory is heartbreaking. I have had dogs since I was a boy and loved them all dearly, including Martha, who was my companion for about 15 years and about whom I wrote the [Beatles] song 'Martha My Dear.'"

McCartney ends his letter by imploring Young to "[p]lease do the right thing by ending the suffering of dogs in TAMU's muscular dystrophy laboratory and switching to modern research methods instead."

The rock legend continues the current U.S. leg of his Freshen Up Tour with a show tonight on Phoenix, Arizona.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

Hachette BooksThe Who's Pete Townshend has unveiled the cover of his upcoming novel, The Age of Anxiety, which will be published on November 5.

In an Instagram post, Townshend explains that the cover features a painting by Spanish artist Luis Toledo, noting that Toledo "gave me three choices, all of which were stunning." The artwork is a colorful collage of images, including cherubs, angels, flowers, ornate geometric shapes and a mountainous landscape.

Pete also shares some new details about the book, explaining that it "was written to provide the base for a solid libretto for an opera-art-installation I regard as perhaps my last major solo work."

He says he started the multifaceted project, which originally was called Floss, in 2008, and reveals that it "grew out of other abandoned projects like The Boy Who Heard Music."

Townshend explains that he decided to change the title, a reference to the main female character, "because the gravity of the subject seemed ill-served by a title…that for Americans in particular evoked dental floss."

The 74-year-old rocker also reveals about the multimedia project, "The libretto is complete. The music is composed. The video artists and installation artists are in position. I'm hoping 2021 and 2022 will see me get to realize this project at last."

Regarding the book, Townshend maintains that although his publisher describes The Age of Anxiety as a "rock novel," and some characters are in bands, it's also "a mystery story, and a story about drug abuse, being a parent, creativity, anxiety, being blocked as an artist, and the psychic miracles worked by certain women in the story."

He adds that the novel isn't autobiographical, although "the story is set very much in my world."

You can pre-order The Age of Anxiety book now.

Copyright © 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.