After 50 decades of making music, Bad Company finally gets inducted this year into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But there’s one notable snub: Late Southwest Florida singer Brian Howe. And some of his friends and fans aren’t happy about the omission “We’re certainly very happy that Bad Company is recognized,” says Howe’s friend and manager “We’re disappointed that an entire section of the band’s history is currently being discounted.” Easton isn’t sure if it’s the band or the Rock Hall that’s keeping Howe out of the induction just weeks after moving to Lake Placid from his longtime home on Fort Myers Beach He was best known for his eight years with classic rockers Bad Company Howe and Bad Company co-wrote and recorded four hit studio albums between 1986 and 1992: "Fame and Fortune," "Dangerous Age," "Holy Water" and "Here Comes Trouble.” They also scored several hit songs including “Holy Water,” “If You Needed Somebody,” “How About That” and “Walk Through Fire.” “There are a lot of fans out there who relate more to the Brian Howe era then they do to the Paul Rodgers era,” Easton says It wasn’t easy replacing a band’s beloved original singer, Howe told The News-Press in 2019. and I really thought I could do it easily — I’ll show them,” he said His relationship with the band’s founding members was full of resentment jealousy and bickering by the time they got to their last studio album “They didn’t write many of the songs on that record and they hated the fact that the band had become successful again and they hadn’t had much input into it,” Howe said in 2019 “And the resentment became almost to the point of them accusing me of being big-headed or cocky or whatever you want to call it.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2025 inductees April 27 on “American Idol” and the Hall’s website But the announcement didn’t mention Howe or any other members of the band after it first reformed in 1986 Bad Company featured some of the most highly skilled musicians in 1970s rock & roll,” the website said they stripped the music down to its elemental soul and groove selling tens of millions of records and delivering FM rock & roll radio standards 'Bad Company,' 'Can’t Get Enough,' 'Ready for Love,' 'Feel Like Makin’ Love' and 'Shooting Star.'" they thrived (after Howe joined the band),” the petition says “His era included some of the band’s biggest hits … which brought them back to the charts and sold-out arenas They were not familiar with the band's earlier work and Brian's songs became the soundtrack for a generation To recognize only the original lineup is to erase a pivotal era of the band’s history.” One of Howe’s supporters was 38 Special singer Bobby Capps Capps wrote that “Paul (Rodgers) is probably my favorite male rock singer of all time,” but Howe was also a “dear friend.” “He kept the band’s legacy alive when Paul left," Capps wrote about Howe "And I just think he deserves to be inducted as well seven musical acts were announced as 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Only Bad Company’s original lineup are scheduled to be inducted: Singer Rodgers bassist Raymond “Boz” Burrell and drummer Simon Kirke That version of the band broke up in 1982 after the album “Rough Diamonds.” The Hall’s website doesn’t mention members from later lineups Simon Kirke kept the 'Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy' alive by reforming the band with a variety of new lineups,” it says “and delighting their devoted audiences with reunion tours as recent as 2023.” To be eligible for induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a musical act must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to their nomination Easton says there’s precedent for adding performers to the Rock Hall’s induction plans, after the fact. The same thing happened with late Naples resident Denny Laine of The Moody Blues who was added to the band's 2018 induction after public outcry Now Easton and Howe’s family have plans to launch their own campaign urging the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to include Howe and other members from the band's late '80s and early '90s era “We’re certainly not going to go quietly into the night We have a few months in which to make our case The Hall will honor its new inductees with a Nov 8 ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles The ceremony will stream live on Disney+ and the next day on Hulu A shorter version airs on ABC at a later date to be announced To learn more about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, visit rockhall.com. Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram and Threads (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells) 2025 at 5:08 PMWhile residents in Southern California took shelter during a 5.2-magnitude earthquake last month one stray pup in Los Angeles found himself abandoned on a quiet street Lying at the end of a cul-de-sac behind a school the shaggy stray dog survived the tremor alone — but when someone finally discovered him hours later “[There were] sticks in his fur, and [he was] shaking and scared,” Suzette Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy 29, wrote on Facebook “[The] poor baby was probably so scared when we had that earthquake.” Logan's Legacy 29Hall and her dedicated volunteer rushed to the school as soon as they heard about the poor dog and what she found next to the abandoned dog broke her heart “Food and water was left for him,” Hall wrote Logan's Legacy 29Nakiso was devastated to know that the person who left food and water for Royce didn’t try to save him Nakiso promised Royce they wouldn’t leave him behind “[The] sweet baby boy was just ready to be helped “I couldn’t leave that little baby [lying] there the experienced rescuer searched for items to block Royce from running away “He let me just put a slip lead around his neck,” Hall wrote He was just thankful that he was finally safe.” Logan's Legacy 29Hall carried Royce to her van and quickly shuttled him to Camino Pet Hospital where he received a complete checkup and a soothing bath and he soon embarked on his next great adventure: a makeover The loving veterinary staff shaved away Royce’s fur the mop-like dog was clear of sticks and knotted hair Logan's Legacy 29Royce was soon cleared for foster care and he quickly found a loving family to stay with He’s still on the hunt for his forever family “Royce is still smiling today,” Hall told The Dodo Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Johnny Van Zant has been a Bad Company fan for as long as he can remember, so he was happy to help lobby for the English rock legends to be inducted into the Rock Hall READ MORE: Bad Company React to Rock Hall Induction By that time, Van Zant was on a mission. "I actually was behind the stage. My buddy Sidney Drashin was a promoter [for the show] I went up in the balcony so I could see Simon Kirke playing the drums," he remembers that's what the heck I wanted to be was a drummer I love Simon's playing and I watched him break like three snare heads that night 'What a cool thing.' He's just pounding the crap out of the kit And when Paul went to sit down behind the keyboard So I've been a fan of them forever." "I was a fan of Free as well that just kind of evolved from the Free days and [Bad Company guitarist] Mick Ralphs was a really good friend of mine We did a whole European tour with those guys years ago," he continues "We rode on each other's buses and would stop at the truck stops at four in the morning and get some kind of chips while the buses were fueling up So there's a lot of history between Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd." Simon Kirke has his own humorous memories of Lynyrd Skynyrd that go even further back "They invaded our stage when we played Wembley Arena," he shared in a separate conversation "I didn't really know them very well managed to [sneak in] and they came on stage waving bottles of champagne as we were about to do our final number 'Who the fuck are these guys?' Paul knew them and they went up to the microphone 'These guys are the best.' That was the beginning of a love affair with those guys Lynyrd Skynyrd are set to release Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman June 27. The live release commemorates the band's final concert in 2022 with co-founder Gary Rossington, who passed away the following year after battling numerous health issues Gallery Credit: Ultimate Classic Rock Staff \"Paul Rodgers was my favorite singer of all time,\" the Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist tells UCR.\nRead More Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Johnny Van Zant has been a Bad Company fan for as long as he can remember, so he was happy to help lobby for the English rock legends to be inducted into the Rock Hall READ MORE: Bad Company React to Rock Hall Induction By that time, Van Zant was on a mission. "I actually was behind the stage. My buddy Sidney Drashin was a promoter [for the show] "I was a fan of Free as well Lynyrd Skynyrd are set to release Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman June 27. The live release commemorates the band's final concert in 2022 with co-founder Gary Rossington, who passed away the following year after battling numerous health issues Bad Co. drummer is proud of being in the class of so many great artists. a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” In the spring quite a few fans turn their thoughts to the baseball season But there is another thing that happens every spring I’m talking about the list of nominees for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; it's a discussion that inflames some and validates others the nominating committee has selected a group that has been overlooked for more than a quarter of a century Two of the qualifying factors are that it must be 25 years since the release of the nominee’s first album and they need to have had a major influence on popular music Bad Company have been eligible for induction into the Hall since 1998 not only have they not had this honor bestowed upon them but this is also their first time that they have been on the ballot One of the factors that the RRHOF claims are disregarded is album sales so let’s not forget the fact that Bad Company have sold over 40 million albums according to the RIAA A band that have sold that many albums had to have been extremely popular but it isn’t supposed to be a popularity contest In case you weren’t around in the 1970s it was almost a sure thing that someone would show up with a Bad Company album that was what you did when you went to a party: you either brought weed or vinyl with you So that leaves us with the influence the band had It is a pretty safe bet to state that The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were extremely influential so of course they inspired a lot of people (I actually think The Stones were far more influential because their music is easily played by a novice) it seemed like every week there was a new album being released Bad Company were an exciting but slightly familiar-sounding band; they grew from the ashes of Free It is the nature of the music that they made that influenced a generation no 20-minute drum solos that took up an entire side of an album Bad Company were a “meat and potatoes” kind of band; they were a “party” band It might be a mischaracterization to state that their music was “three-chord rock,” but read on Bad Company were put on the list of nominees and the other notable nominees for induction this year are Chubby Checker (only a mere 40 years since he became eligible) Outkast and “The Queen of Pop” Mariah Carey I’ll leave the reader to form their own opinion Bad Company are included in Billboard’s list of the top 100 classic rock bands by album sales but I’m going to go back to one of the most important RRHOF criteria: influence “Rock Steady” was the first song I tried to play and then “All Right Now,” a Free song Many people argue that Free and Bad Company were essentially the same group and the only member of Bad Company to have stayed with the band throughout their entire run and I think he’s also one of the most underrated drummers in classic rock But if Bad Company do finally get elected to the Hall he will have that recognition and a total of more than 40 million records in sales.  what I wanted to start with was to congratulate you on your nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but I stress to people that this is the nomination And the inside track is that we will get in but I don't want to jinx it by saying we're a slam dunk." But I'm really happy that we've been nominated at last I've seen a lot of chatter on the internet I've seen posts from Paul Rodgers thinking that the fans had a lot to do with this I've seen a lot of groups that have wanted to push this nomination through for quite a long time and I think Free should have been inducted a long and even though we were only around I think four or five years I'm gonna get to the question of Free and the differences between Free and Bad Company Why do you think it took them so long to get to such a popular band this might be a factor: we had a couple of different lineups Paul Rodgers had left the band and we got in another singer; the other three guys were still the same I think part of it was the shifting sands of the lineups When you look at people like Foreigner and Lynyrd Skynyrd they don't have any of the original members so that kind of makes me straddle the line a bit insiders have told me that there's a lot of politics If several of the voting members don't particularly like a band for various reasons either it was the pressure of the fans or a lot of people in the industry There are a lot of people who were in our corner and I think they harangued the powers that be You know?” So that's my long-winded answer We could actually go on for hours talking about the Rock Hall and their process and I'm sure you're aware that you can't ever please everybody Every year when the Rock Hall nominations are announced everybody responds on social media with all of the bands that should have been inducted SK: Yeah. Jethro Tull he's in our group of not-voted-in-yet GM: It is baffling to me when their main criteria is that it's got nothing to do with record sales It's all about influences and how much of an influence that particular band had on the musical culture I believe that Free and Bad Company had a huge effect on music The same way they say that The Beatles influenced a ton of people and made a lot of people want to pick up the guitar I really think that applies to other bands like the Dave Clark Five or The Rolling Stones GM: I think Bad Company is in exactly that same kind of position a little bit of bass or drums or what have you I think a lot of people listened to Bad Company and thought It was a sort of a kickback against the glam rock of the early ’70s It was just all a little bit too airy-fairy for us almost blue-collar blues rock and that became our own sound that he should be in the RRHOF on his own merit loved and admired singers of several generations He was voted 55th out of the 100 greatest vocalists in Rolling Stone magazine but it just goes to show that you have one of the best singers ever one of the most influential of any rock singer today I'm with you. It's a mystery as to why this has taken so long and maybe after they've inducted Bad Company maybe they will induct Paul Rodgers as a solo artist because he has done a lot of things outside the framework of Bad Company He was with The Firm — the first project that Jimmy Page did after Led Zeppelin broke up — and he was with Queen for a while If you had to name a band that were similar in that time to Bad Company is our dear old soul brothers  in rock obviously a lot more American than Bad Company ever was a lot of people did think that we were American in the early years until they saw our names that's the first band that springs to mind I believe they were formed roughly around the same time as Bad Company I’m not sure. I remember dear Gary Rossington saying that they came to see us at Pirates World which was this sort of fairground gig in Florida which was around from ‘68-‘73 and then after about seven or eight months Bad Company was formed at the end of ‘73 because I've had this argument many times: what differentiates Free from Bad Company Other than that there's a little bit of a lineup difference And it's kind of ironic that the first few years of Bad Company were the best I ever had in terms of morale because Free — we were only around less than five years And the first three years were a real slog opening for Blind Faith and various other bands And we broke up because I always think and I will maintain this until my dying day the management did not handle us well by saying they wanted us to work Especially after the success of “All Right Now.” And we were basically kids I was the oldest and I was 19 when Free was born after the success of “All Right Now,” we couldn't follow it up with a hit How do you follow up “All Right Now?" It's impossible And we got back together about a year later for him but not the greatest reason to get to reform a band who was always a really good guitar player — I mean And so we almost had a two-guitar band again Paul playing rhythm and Ralphs playing lead But the big difference for me is the liberation that we all had from our three bands —our three previous bands Ralphs was unhappy in Mott [the Hoople] and Boz Burrell had been sacked from King Crimson and me and Paul Rodgers left the tatters of Free And the first three [Bad Company] albums were … Wow So it was a liberated sound and it still sounds good to this day it's a staple of what they call classic rock And speaking of people getting out guitars And I actually have a photo of you playing acoustic guitar I've been playing guitar for as long as I've been playing drums And I have this song that I released on a solo album How would you like to do it onstage?” And I quickly became this blubbering mass of jelly and said all right.” And it really helped me That baptism of fire with a Bad Company audience and the drummer steps out from behind the kit with a kind of surprising to a lot of people because there aren't a lot of drummers who I can think of that actually sang and played the guitar Phil was a great drummer and a great singer Roger Taylor has got an incredible voice with Queen It was a benefit concert with members of Queen and I walked in and it's Roger Taylor One was a sort of hobby that I recorded in the basement of my house in New York and the other three were actually on labels It was kind of a cathartic exercise to get them out of me because that makes room to write new songs you'll see I've had four solo albums and I'm gonna do another one this year I've got a whole bunch of songs I wanna get rid of Was there ever any concern that the best thing was that you should have gone to Bad Company and not solo my sales would not effect Bad Company at all very few artists have stepped outside of the realm of their own band and had a hugely successful solo album Peter Frampton and Phil Collins obviously had several smash hits but I can't really think of other than those two guys even dear old [Mick] Jagger and Keith [Richards] but not compared with the sales of their band that's all I can really comment on that Paul Rodgers had come out last year and said —I knew this for years — he had some serious health issues in terms of heart attacks and strokes But I think the rigors of traveling and touring are really too much for him Ralphs is permanently sidelined with the stroke So I think it's safe to say that Bad Company's pretty much done I'm just speaking of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony (laughs) they have quite a [bunch of] hefty bands and artists I'm sure he would be able to sing… maybe “Feel Like Makin' Love” or “Bad Company.” You know I really hope so because I think everyone would love that because he hasn't sung on a Bad Company stage for over five years And I think it would bring a few tears to some eyes to see him up there GM: So one last question regarding the Rock Hall There's obviously a lot of love and support out there for Bad Company Have you had any particularly humbling interaction with anybody over this I'm friends with a couple of members who have been inducted with Bruce's band — and I had dinner with him a couple of years ago We all get around the table or on a Zoom call and we put names forward and I'm always up for you and Free I know a couple of guys on the voting section Visit the Goldmine store — it is a music collector's one-stop shop of vinyl, CDs, box sets, collectibles, collecting supplies, audio equipment, music history books and Goldmine-only exclusives. Click HERE! Ivor Levene has a passion for music, whether its interviewing musicians, reading about music, writing about music, or playing live on stage. Ivor has worked with a number of notable artists, from The Rolling Stones to Alice Cooper, and many others.  there are two Collector’s Edition bundles: one for Soul Asylum and one that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Judas Priest’s 'Rocka Rolla' album BAD COMPANY and SOUNDGARDEN are among the 2025 inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Other inductees in the Performer category are Chubby Checker Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon will be presented with the Musical Influence Award; Philly soul songwriter/producer Thom Bell and Wrecking Crew bassist Carol Kaye will receive the Musical Excellence Awards; and former Warner Bros Records president Lenny Waronker will get the Ahmet Ertegun Award "Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of rock and roll forever," said John Sykes chairman of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame "Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps." The induction ceremony will be held on November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and an edited version will air on ABC at a later date The 2025 inductees were announced live earlier tonight on ABC by host Ryan Seacrest during the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame episode of "American Idol" In a recent interview with U.K. radio veteran Paul Stephenson of VRP Rocks BAD COMPANY drummer Simon Kirke spoke about the British supergroup's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination which was announced in February 2025 after decades of eligibility Asked how it feels to finally be nominated and a very good friend of mine is Nicko McBrain from IRON MAIDEN MAIDEN have been nominated 11 fucking times and we haven't been inducted ever So our management wrote to the Hall Of Fame and said I would say it's about time because we've been around for so long," Simon continued A lot of people have a lot of affection for FREE and it's the first four [in the fan vote] that get inducted," Kirke added We are behind PHISH who have a huge social media presence quite honestly — they're like the younger version of the GRATEFUL DEAD but they've got just under 200,000 [fan] votes I'm told by an insider that we are gonna get in we will actually know on Monday or Tuesday BAD COMPANY singer] about what song we're gonna play I'm happy — I'll be happy for Mick [Ralphs 'cause Mick had a stroke several years ago and he is in not good shape And as long as he holds out when we get on that stage in November Because he wrote the damn song — he wrote 'Movin' On' and he wrote a lot of the hits and he deserves it." Asked what Paul's reaction was to BAD COMPANY's Rock Hall nomination Simon said: "I met him a few weeks ago on the West Coast I was playing in a charity golf tournament in Palm Springs 'About fucking time.' We are pleased and we are honored but there was always this nagging — every year that passed And we weren't even nominated for all those years 'Can't Get Enough',' because Mick won't be there; he can't travel Asked if he ever got a reason why BAD COMPANY hadn't been nominated earlier I think because BAD COMPANY had three lineups If you can imagine a band like CREAM and they change Ginger Baker or they change Jack [Bruce] or Eric [Clapton] it would kind of dilute and muddy the waters of the committee they wanted to do a FREE-BAD COMPANY doubleheader like [when] THE FACES and THE SMALL FACES were inducted There was also a political thing that I can't really go into without getting kind of into hot water I think the main thing was the triple lineup… It just wasn't a clear-cut 'Let's induct BAD COMPANY.' There were factors that now have dissipated In a statement to Billboard about BAD COMPANY's nomination, Rodgers said: "BAD COMPANY fans and friends have been lobbying for this nomination persistently for years and they never gave up, so big thanks to them. According to them, BAD COMPANY fits all of the criteria and then some to be inducted." Kirke, for his part, told the publication: "I think it's been a long time coming. It has rankled me a bit. We've been around a long time and we've influenced a lot of bands, and I think it's a place that we deserve. I'm just pleased that we're at least on the ballot. I'm happy and I'm honored, and fingers crossed that we make it." Later in the chat, Kirke offered one possible explanation for why BAD COMPANY had been overlooked by the Rock Hall. "I think because of BAD COMPANY's changing lineups over the 50 years that we'd been together, it kind of devalued our currency a little bit," he said. "You had the Brian Howe era, you had the Paul Rodgers era, one and two, when Paul rejoined the band, we had Robert Hart. So I honestly don't know why we have not been nominated — not even inducted; you have to be nominated first, as you know." SOUNDGARDEN was first nominated for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's class of 2020. and their relationship with the AMC drama (1:49) they talk about how the show would’ve been remembered had this episode been its series finale and its lasting legacy on how dramatic television is structured (12:11) Email us! tiptopinthepink@gmail.com ArchiveWe’ve been around since Brady was a QB "I don't think rock 'n' roll belongs in a museum." He also alleged he was approached to be inducted "a couple of times."Including Bad Company other 2025 Rock Hall nominees include The Black Crowes and The White Stripes.Joining Bad Company as first-time Rock Hall nominees are The Black Crowes As previously reported the 2025 inductees will be announced in late April This year’s induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles The exact date of the ceremony is currently unknown Paul Cullen of Millsboro is the local star who briefly played with the English rock band in the early 1990s He didn't waste any time praising the original members of Bad Company after he learned about the group's first-ever Hall of Fame nod on Wednesday morning Cheers to Bad Company," Cullen wrote in a Facebook post Bad Company was formed in 1973 and has dropped favorites like "Shooting Star," "Bad Company" and "If You Needed Somebody." Cullen was a touring member of Bad Company Since Cullen isn't an original member of Bad Company Delaware Online/The News Journal called the bassist Wednesday to ask if he would be enshrined into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame if the band gets in "I doubt if they'd ask me [to join them]," Cullen told The News Journal adding he was one of many musicians who rotated into Bad Company's lineup Famous Eagles fan celebrities: They each bleed kelly green Cullen played bass with Bad Company in the early '90s he’s built a reputation as a singer-songwriter Clients book Cullen to cook at their home where he also performs a private concert The nonprofit supports young performing and culinary students More about Paul Kares: Paul Kares combines music, food and fun to benefit aspiring performers and musicians Paul Kares has awarded grants to school bands The organization provides funds for equipment The Former Bad Company bassist said he's especially happy about one of the guys from the band having a chance to get inducted into the Hall of Fame “I'm really happy' for Simon because I got to know Simon really well,” Cullen said but he wasn't in the band when I played in the band Cullen also said he was blindsided by the band's Hall of Fame nod and didn't know it happened until The News Journal called him about it which led him to immediately giving the guys a shout-out USA TODAY named Restaurants of the Year: This Delaware favorite made the list Among the 14 hopefuls to gain entry into the storied institution are eight first-timers most of them with rock as their musical anchor the artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years before the year of nomination Inductees will be announced in late April after an international panel of over 1,200 artists historians and music industry professionals cast their votes The selection criteria include an artist’s impact on other musicians The artists honored in three special nominee categories – musical influence musical excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award – will also be announced in April Where will the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony be held This year’s ceremony will take place in the fall in Los Angeles with ticket and location details to be announced USA TODAY reporter Melissa Ruggieri contributed to this report If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters The trans flag has been raised in front of Santa Clara County's Government Center where it will remain indefinitely; the innocent passenger killed in a high-speed-chase crash in Pittsburg has been identified; and a Trump-appointed judge on the Ninth Circuit made a questionable gun video The March Madness college basketball “Sweet 16” games come back to the Chase Center Thursday but ticket prices for the games here are slumping thanks to low-interest match-ups of schools that are located 2,000 or so miles away Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox Barmann is a fiction writer and web editor who's lived in San Francisco for 20+ years Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke says the band is undecided about performing at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony The group’s classic lineup – made up of Kirke, singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs and bassist Boz Burrell – will be enshrined as part of the 2025 class Burrell died in 2006 and Ralphs remains debilitated due to a stroke suffered in 2016 suffered multiple strokes of his own in recent years though he's still given occasional performances Kirke suggested that a final decision regarding Bad Company's Hall of Fame performance hadn’t been made yet READ MORE: Top 10 Bad Company Songs “[The Hall has] asked us if we'd like to play That's yet to be decided,” Kirke reported we will need to let them know probably a couple of weeks in advance will need to learn what we're going to play.” Kirke went on to joke that Bad Company’s songs require “only three chords maybe four.” We were never very complicated as a band Kirke admitted the magnitude of the event may get the best of him especially when talking about his bandmates READ MORE: Rock Hall Class of 2025 Roundtable: Snubs, Surprises and More “I hope I don't get too emotional when I mention Mick Ralphs because we're going to give him the big shout,” the drummer noted “I just spoke with him briefly because he can't talk very well because he had a stroke I just hope I can hold it together without sort of breaking down.” As they celebrate their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame selection Bad Company will also be celebrated with a new tribute album – the first in the band’s impressive history Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company arrives this fall featuring an assortment of artists reimagining the group’s classic material While full details of the album have not yet been revealed Rodgers and Kirke are both confirmed to appear on the LP and the drummer revealed another notable collaborator “Joe Elliot from Def Leppard wants to do ‘Seagull,’” Kirke revealed "'Seagull' will feature Paul playing bass and me playing drums and Joe Elliott singing." Drummer Simon Kirke says the band is unsure about playing at the event.\nRead More Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke says the band is undecided about performing at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony The group’s classic lineup – made up of Kirke, singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs and bassist Boz Burrell – will be enshrined as part of the 2025 class READ MORE: Top 10 Bad Company Songs READ MORE: Rock Hall Class of 2025 Roundtable: Snubs, Surprises and More “Joe Elliot from Def Leppard wants to do ‘Seagull,’” Kirke revealed Who will be added to the Rock Hall this year The nominations have been announced for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and there are plenty of massive names in the running for the Class of 2025 Among those vying for induction are Billy Idol, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Chubby Checker It's a second-time nod for Cyndi Lauper and Joy Division/New Order Joe Cocker and Bad Company are enjoying a first-time chance The other acts nominated this year are The Black Crowes Artists inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 included Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, and Kool & The Gang Kool & The Gang Spotlight | 2024 Induction Ceremony Nearly 400 artists have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame across its many categories Some artists have been inducted more than once usually for their work with a band and as a solo artist Eric Clapton is a three-time inductee picking up the award as a member of The Yardbirds Paul McCartney Hall Of Fame Rod Stewart Song Lists The Beatles THE BLACK CROWES and SOUNDGARDEN are among the nominees for this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame BAD COMPANY and THE BLACK CROWES have made the list for the first time while SOUNDGARDEN returned to the ballot after first appearing in 2023 BAD COMPANYTHE BLACK CROWESMARIAH CAREYCHUBBY CHECKERJOE COCKERBILLY IDOLJOY DIVISION/NEW ORDERCYNDI LAUPERMANÁOASISOUTKASTPHISHSOUNDGARDENTHE WHITE STRIPES "This remarkable list of nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame honors and celebrates," said John Sykes chairman of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation "Continuing in the true spirit of rock and roll these artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps." Nominees are voted on by an international panel of more than 1,200 artists The selection criteria include an artist's impact on other musicians THE BLACK CROWES frontman Chris Robinson told Billboard about his band's nomination: "We're just very excited I don't think we ever really would have thought about it and that we've managed to still be here this many years later and still be making records and in a lot of ways having a level of recognition and success that we haven't felt before Just to be mentioned (alongside) some of the names of the greatest artists The Class Of 2025 will be revealed in late April additional nominees will be announced that have not gone to the broader votership but were directly installed by the select committee Musical Excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non-Performer Award areas The 2025 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall And the 2025 Nominees are... Congratulations to the #RockHall2025 Nominees sponsored by Alliant Credit Union: vote.rockhall.com🎉¡Felicitaciones a los nominados al #RockHall2025 patrocinado por Alliant Credit Union: vote.rockhall.com Posted by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Wednesday The surviving members of Bad Company say they are "elated" to have finally been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two of them saying they intend to perform at the November ceremony "It is pretty amazing and very cool to be part of an iconic American institution that celebrates music, musicians and sometimes unsung heroes behind the scenes," singer Paul Rodgers told Billboard friends and some media have wanted this for a long time "It's been a long time coming," drummer Simon Kirke added "I'm not taking anything away from the [Rock Hall] committee; they had their reasons but it's a welcome addition if you will." who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2016 noted via e-mail: "I am elated and think Bad Company's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is fantastic." The article goes on to note that Ralphs' health will keep him from attending the Nov but that Rodgers and Kirke plan to perform although full details have yet to be revealed Bad Company had long been considered one of the Hall’s most egregious omissions along with classic hits like “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Shooting Star” and “Bad Company,” the group’s resume was certainly stacked In 2023, Kirke described it as "such a travesty" that Bad Company hadn't been inducted noting that the group had "been responsible for influencing a lot of bands who are already in the Hall." READ MORE: Fellow Rockers Rallying Behind Bad Company's Rock Hall Case Bad Company’s final tour took place in 2019 and concluded with a performance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Rodgers has battled health problems including multiple strokes and heart problems in recent years though the singer did release a solo album in 2023 and has made several guest appearances on television In a 2023 interview Kirke admitted Bad Company’s performing days were “pretty much over,” with Rodgers’ health problems among the main reasons “We had a good run and I think we're going to lay the old Bad Company to rest pretty soon,” Kirke remarked Two of the band's three surviving members plan to perform at the ceremony.\nRead More The surviving members of Bad Company say they are "elated" to have finally been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "It is pretty amazing and very cool to be part of an iconic American institution that celebrates music, musicians and sometimes unsung heroes behind the scenes," singer Paul Rodgers told Billboard In 2023, Kirke described it as "such a travesty" that Bad Company hadn't been inducted READ MORE: Fellow Rockers Rallying Behind Bad Company's Rock Hall Case Rodgers has battled health problems In a 2023 interview, Kirke admitted Bad Company’s performing days were “pretty much over,” with Rodgers’ health problems among the main reasons. “We had a good run and I think we're going to lay the old Bad Company to rest pretty soon,” Kirke remarked. The Cure frontman was the subject of a viral exchange with an enthusiastic reporter on the red carpet at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Robert Smith has admitted he felt guilty about his viral reaction to an enthusiastic reporter while attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in 2019 The Cure frontman appeared on the red carpet with his bandmates as they were inducted into the 2019 class alongside Stevie Nicks interviewer Carrie Keagan excitedly said: “Congratulations The Cure The rock singer then replied “I’m sure we’ll get there eventually,” Smith responded Smith’s response went viral on social media with many fans suggesting it was “on brand” for the band behind hits such as “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Friday I’m in Love” in a new interview on Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw’s podcast Sidetracked the 65-year-old said he hadn’t realised he was being filmed and suggested he regretted his manner “We had just come from quite a serious conversation in our dressing room about what we were doing there And this wave of enthusiasm was just like….” In the same interview, Smith discussed The Cure’s recent, critically acclaimed album Songs of a Lost World suggesting that his unhappiness with the band’s 2008 album 4:13 Dream might explain why they waited 16 years before releasing another full-length project “I was trying to make an album in 2008 which was a double album and it was really odd instrumental stuff – and I was pressured into reducing it all down into a single album that was too long and it didn’t work,” he said Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music If you sign up to this service we will earn commission This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent I’m determined… There are 13 songs from those sessions that never got released “It was a double album and the whole idea of 4:13 Dream was that it was like a fever dream and as it turned out It was nowhere near what I wanted it to be and maybe that’s why we didn’t make another album for such a long time I was so sickened by the process of… we were commodified “Age – and much procrastination – did not wither or date Songs of a Lost World Robert Smith’s atmospheric pallor instead takes on a profound depth and contemporary crackle on album opener ‘Alone’ floating amid much shoegaze clatter and antique strings and later the gossamer piano lilt of ‘And Nothing Is Forever’ “There is still doom-mongering at play, not least on the battle-muddied ‘Warsong’ or austere 10-minute closer ‘Endsong’, but as a habitual, long-term peruser of the abyss Smith is uniquely placed to create a wistful Its desolate final declaration – that Smith was ‘left alone with nothing at the end of every song’ – is arguably the most short-selling lyric of all time.” You can find the full list here. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies frontman of the Nashville-based band Johnny Sam Hall And His Big Bad Wolves With deep-rooted influences from bands like Social Distortion Johnny’s music is a blend of raw energy and soulful storytelling that harkens back to rock’s golden era honest rock and roll rather than following the trends Johnny’s sound can be best described as unapologetic, with a style that refuses to adhere to any one genre. “We only play what we like, genre be damned,” he says, reflecting the band’s dedication to authenticity. Their latest album, “Dialogue Between Death and The Sinner,” embodies this spirit Johnny describes the record as “hearing a rock and roll record in the middle of a fever dream.” It’s a chaotic yet carefully crafted journey through themes of mortality The album isn’t just music—it’s an experience where the lines between reality and imagination blur “I write what comes naturally,” he explains His inspiration is often sparked by old movie samples or classic literature adding depth and layers to his already complex sound and that’s the message he hopes listeners take away—authenticity in every note Johnny stays connected with fans through his social media where he frequently posts ads for the band’s music and creative rock-and-roll twists on popular songs It’s his way of staying engaged with a diverse fan base that spans generations from young rockers to seasoned veterans of the music scene fans of all ages approach Johnny and the band further proving that their music resonates on a universal level For Johnny Sam Hall And His Big Bad Wolves the future holds one clear goal: living and dying by the music They’re not in it for the fame but for the love of the craft With out-of-state gigs and growing recognition rock and roll isn’t just a genre; it’s a way of life “Dialogue Between Death and The Sinner” Follow them on Instagram: @johnnyandhiswolves Labore doloremque voluptatum blanditiis eligendi placeat min.. Provident et sed voluptate modi quaerat aut repudiandae Iust.. For Andre Rison it was like a knife in the side his annual rejection from the Pro Football Hall of Fame convinced there had to be some reason why he wasn’t getting in “There’s nothing Jerry Rice could do that I couldn’t,” Rison has said more than once over the years But Rice has the records, the gold jacket resting on his shoulders, the GOAT chain dangling from his neck. Rison has the notoriety that lingers after a chaotic career, then fades. Maybe this was payback, he figured. Maybe it was punishment. He played loud. He lived loud. Andre “Bad Moon” Rison was the NFL’s most outspoken receiver before the NFL was awash in outspoken receivers he kept telling himself as the years passed and the call from Canton never came It wasn’t football — it couldn’t just be football Not for brawling with Deion Sanders at the 20-yard line of the Georgia Dome Not for the touchdown dances that earned him racist letters from fans Not for dating the pop star who burned down his mansion Not for any of the baggage that trailed him for most of his seven-city This man was never going to fit neatly into a box then you could only be great at one thing: football He was one of the first pro athletes to fuse sports and hip-hop — “I changed the culture,” Rison boasts The millions he burned through — Rison once bought a Ferrari Testarossa without knowing the sticker price and admits to owning 34 different Mercedes-Benzes over the years A night out in his younger days set him back $15,000 He courted the spotlight even when it was the last thing he needed When a reporter once asked if he was the Dennis Rodman of the NFL Before Keyshawn Johnson was screaming “Give me the damn ball!” and Terrell Owens was doing crunches in his driveway for the TV cameras and Chad Johnson was slipping on a homemade Hall of Fame jacket on the sideline Rison was blowing up the tired old narrative that said receivers need only run their routes the 57-year-old is asked if the tumult that often trailed him ever got in the way of football This is a man who once bought a T-shirt that read “You remember when Michael Jordan went gambling the night before a playoff game and everyone killed him for it and the next night he lit their ass up?” Rison asks It was ESPN’s Chris Berman who tapped him with the nickname, inspired by the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit. In 1989, at the tail end of Rison’s rookie year with the Colts he was pulled over for driving 128 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone “The nickname changed my life forever,” Rison wrote in his book getting “Bad Moon Rison” tattooed on his bicep Rison played with a fire first lit on the hardscrabble streets of Flint a local mobster — Rison calls him Mafia Sal — would slip him wads of cash from time to time urging him to pick a particular college and sign with a particular agent made All-Big Ten in track and field and was an All-American wide receiver “Could’ve made $3 million a year in NIL deals today,” Rison says he finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to Barry Sanders and Rison was one of the biggest reasons why shipped to Atlanta in a trade that gave the Colts the chance to draft quarterback Jeff George first overall “Heartbroken,” says former Colts linebacker Jeff Herrod In Atlanta, Rison grew into one of the best wideouts in the game, earning four straight trips to the Pro Bowl. At 6-feet, 188 pounds, he was undersized but unafraid, lethal between the numbers, quick as a cat. “Nobody could separate like he could,” says his coach with the Falcons “He had the best change-of-direction I’ve ever seen.” There wasn’t a cornerback in football who scared him Rison welcomed the contact that came his way He was once walloped so hard in a game that Glanville wondered for a solid minute if he’d ever get up “I thought he could be dead,” the coach remembers “I’d like to think I was one of the greatest to go over the middle,” he says a style that fit the Falcons and a city coming into its own his teammate and the league’s best defensive back — were two of the biggest catalysts The pair became the faces of the hungry upstart “We football players were told we couldn’t get no endorsements those were for the basketball and baseball players,” Rison says They popped up in MC Hammer’s music videos Is the Deion Sanders way working at Colorado Rison had more catches in his first five seasons than any receiver in history Glanville’s rule was simple: Whenever the Falcons advanced inside the red zone ‘I don’t care if he busts a route and you don’t know where the hell he’s going “He’d run over the entire defense to get in the end zone.” The numbers piled up. The wins didn’t. Sanders bolted for San Francisco before the 1994 season and put on a show a few months later in his return to the Georgia Dome throwing punches at Rison — punches Rison returned — before taking an interception back 93 yards and high-stepping into the end zone Rison was gone a year later, signing a five-year $17 million deal with the Browns at the time the richest ever for a wide receiver He showed up to training camp out of shape grew frustrated with the scheme and clashed with coach Bill Belichick Late that year, while rumors of the Browns’ move to Baltimore swirled, Rison lashed out at the fans after a loss to Green Bay in which he was repeatedly booed. “Baltimore here we come,” were his infamous words in front of the TV cameras Rison flamed out in Jacksonville after failing to mesh with quarterback Mark Brunell whom Rison took shots at in the media after his exit he was helping the Packers win Super Bowl XXXI snagging a 54-yard touchdown from Brett Favre on the team’s second offensive snap It was so loud in the New Orleans Superdome that night that Rison couldn’t even hear Favre’s audible at the line of scrimmage He snuck behind the defense and went untouched for the score “why didn’t you play like this for me?” Rison’s response: “Because you didn’t have an offensive coordinator.” Both laughed In Kansas City, Rison earned a fifth Pro Bowl nod and a new nickname, “Spiderman,” for his acrobatic catches in the end zone. But his time in the league was winding down, and after spending the 2000 season with the Raiders One last triumph came in 2004 when he helped the Toronto Argonauts to a CFL Grey Cup Nothing in Rison’s life was about to get any easier After his girlfriend burned down his house sped out of his subdivision and considered killing himself and I was headed straight into the median,” he wrote in “Wide Open.” “It would all be over in an instant.” Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes — one-third of the Grammy-winning group TLC — had returned to Rison’s Atlanta home one night in June 1994 and found him with another woman She collected dozens of pairs of his shoes The scene Rison has never been able to push from his mind: seeing Lopes climb into a car and drive off with Tupac Shakur a close friend of his at the time — Shakur actually filmed his music video with MC Breed Rison was holding Lopes’ hand during her court hearing They planned to marry until she was killed in a car accident in Honduras in 2002 His estimated $19 million in career earnings “Some guys had a gambling problem,” Rison said in the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary several Ferraris and too many trucks to count He claims to have spent over $1 million on jewelry He once lent a friend $30,000 to open a frozen drink café He remembers lying in bed after a night out with $10,000 in cash sprawled out on the floor $5,000 tucked in his pocket and $7,500 more stashed in his coat that all Dre ever did away from the game was give He says he picked it up from his grandmother back in Flint who’d welcome strangers into her house on Christmas just so she could cook them a warm meal A coach left him with a warning early in his career words Rison never forgot: “You keep messing up and one day I’m gonna pull up in my shiny white Cadillac and ask His legal issues piled up — over the years he’s been arrested for felony theft and disorderly conduct and in 2022 he was charged with failing to pay child support (Rison has four sons.) He avoided jail time by pleading down He opened a business training young athletes Then he met the woman who would offer him the type of stability he’d always needed they’re raising four daughters in his home state of Michigan He feels the remnants of all those trips over the middle every morning when he wakes up Rison says he has Arthritis in 18 different places all 10 of his fingers broken at one point or another “You have to learn how to deal with depression,” Rison says He’s been nominated several times but never a finalist He’d watch cornerbacks he used to embarrass make it in He’d tell a reporter he was “the best receiver to ever play the game” and vow to start his own Hall of Fame claiming they were merely a product of him playing with Joe Montana and Steve Young What would he have done, Rison asked, if he’d played with one of those QBs instead of Chris Miller and Bobby Hebert Rison’s old teammate, Herrod, has wondered the same thing. “Put Andre Rison on the Cowboys or 49ers back in the day and it would’ve been a whole different story,” he says When he grabbed a photo with Randy Moss a few years back this was the caption he wrote: “THE TWO GREATEST OF ALL TIME IN MY EYES.” When he was inducted into Michigan State’s Hall of Fame in 2022 Rison began his speech with this: “I never dreamed of being in the MSU Hall of Fame but I always dreamed of being in the damn NFL Hall of Fame.” not after the offensive eruption of the 2000s when 1,200-yard receiving seasons became routine Rison currently sits 22nd all-time in touchdowns (84) tied for 48th in career catches (743) and 52nd in yards (10,205) And if the way he did it — the hip-hop connections and the partying the rapper girlfriend and the off-the-field headlines — cost him in the voters’ eyes that athletes have been following ever since “Everybody wasn’t willing to indulge in entertainment and hip-hop back then He wrote “Wide Open” and produced a movie about his life by the same name He was recently promoted to interim head coach at University Liggett He shuttles his daughters to school and practices He popped up on “Celebrity Family Feud” and announced the Falcons’ second-round pick at the draft in April “I’m living an even better life off the field than when I played,” Rison says And I damn sure wouldn’t change anything about where I’m at right now.” his close friend and the coach at Colorado — that both “are just as relevant as we were when we played.” Sanders perhaps the most controversial figure in college football Bad Moon Rison sees himself in the same vein (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic During an episode of his popular “Club Shay Shay” podcast Sharpe revealed to guest Mark Cuban that he passed on an opportunity to invest in Google — an error that still haunts him Sharpe explained how, back in the early 2000s, he had the chance to buy $300,000 worth of Google stock. Talking to Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Sharpe said: “I remember saying to my financial guys $300,000 worth [of Google’s shares].’ Well I would’ve been a billionaire with you… but I let somebody talk me out of it — Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) October 1, 2024 Cuban informed the former NFL star that the internet giant Google is worth $3 trillion Sharpe had nothing in response and just shook his head Sharpe also admitted he missed out on investing in Netflix stock the memory of what could have been stings — a costly lesson in trusting your instincts the 56-year-old has built a successful post-football career in media with his podcast Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Sharpe is a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and one of the best tight ends to grace the NFL landscape Sharpe’s net worth stands at an estimated $14 million as per Celebrity Net Worth His wealth comes from both his time in the NFL and his post-football media career Playing for the Broncos and Ravens, Sharpe won three Super Bowl titles and was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection making him one of the most successful players of his generation Sharpe transitioned into broadcasting and became a beloved sports analyst He worked with CBS Sports and Fox Sports 1 co-hosting “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed,” before joining ESPN’s “First Take” in 2023 Sharpe’s on-screen presence earned him an annual salary of approximately $3 million. He has also signed a long-term deal with ESPN earlier this year Besides the media roles for big sports and production houses, Sharpe hosts his podcast, “Club Shay Shay.” He has been endorsing brands like Reebok contributing significantly to his overall net worth Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis return with added candlelight; Bad Sisters cranks up the chaos; and a valiant look at UK immigration is marred by Farage I ’m a huge fan of Hilary Mantel’s double Booker prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy and was frustrated and unimpressed by BBC Two’s 2015 dramatisation of the first two novels Starring Mark Rylance as Henry VIII’s lowborn fixer director Peter Kosminsky’s Bafta-winning adaptation felt as sluggish and laboured as Mantel’s writing was vivid and exciting as Anne Boleyn (played with raw magnificence by Claire Foy) succumbed to trumped-up charges of treason Almost a decade later we’re plunged back into those terrible final moments in the opening episode of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light based on Mantel’s concluding novel and again directed by Kosminsky and written by Peter Straughan Anne’s execution is intercut with Henry preparing for marriage to Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips) – the all-time king of toxic masculinity shrugging on weighty regalia and getting his beard trimmed in his latest bid for a legitimate male heir such delicacy,” he purrs of his wedding night to a guilt-ridden but carefully impassive Cromwell who is rewarded by being made Lord Privy Seal Cromwell is frequently visited by the ghost of his former master and true significant other who will soon remind him of Henry’s lethal caprice: “When fortune turns against you I suppose spoilers don’t count here; history contains all of those driving forward the busy plot points: succession Cromwell now seems much more akin to the self-possessed but uncompromising attack dog of the books It also helps enormously to be able to see what’s happening; at times the first series looked as if it had been filmed inside a candlelit Tudor duvet cover such as Timothy Spall replacing the late Bernard Hill as the Duke of Norfolk while Lilit Lesser is dynamite as Catherine of Aragon’s daughter The ‘uncompromising attack dog’ of the books… Thomas Cromwell as played by Mark Rylance. Photograph: Nick Briggs/BBC/Playground EntertainmentThen there’s Damian Lewis The role of Henry is tricky: easy to collapse into cosplay caricature anyway) that the actor doesn’t look as if he reeks of Henry’s regal gout; it matters that he’s impulsive whether being applauded at masked balls by lickspittles or silkily glaring at Cromwell as the blacksmith’s son blunders into a huge mistake I was concerned about the second series of the jet-black comedy Bad Sisters (Apple TV+) Could it be as compelling without Claes Bang as swaggering smoothie baddie John Paul after many demented attempts by the bickering Garvey sisters trying to protect their sibling (his wife) Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) While the original Bad Sisters – adapted by Sharon Horgan Dave Finkel and Brett Bauer from the Flemish series Clan – was meant as a standalone story Horgan creates a new mystery and also writes some episodes from long-term abuse to marry new love Ian (Owen McDonnell) soon give way to the discovery of a corpse terrible tragedy and more for her sisters – played by Horgan (bossy Eva Eva Birthistle (perma-stressed medic Ursula) and Sarah Greene (foxy ‘Pitch-perfect’: (l-r) Sarah Greene All Rights ReservedThe plot becomes a little mangled and while there are funny lines (“I love incense: it’s how I imagine Jesus smelled”) the ensemble playing remains pitch-perfect and sweetly desperate neighbour Roger (Michael Smiley) is given a malevolent nosy churchwoman sister played with witchy naughtiness by Fiona Shaw but over the course of eight episodes there’s still much to savour New two-part BBC Two docuseries Immigration: How British Politics Failed is to be commended for tackling such a difficult subject but it also proves the impossibility of having a coherent Tony Blair talks about the migrant argument for economic growth There’s an in-depth breakdown of major decisions and mistakes There’s also a broad range of interviewees whose Migration Watch thinktank produced data and analysis that David Cameron says proved “helpful” to the Conservatives Early on he blares: “At least Tony Blair was honest He said: We’re going to open the doors to the whole world.” (Yawn Blair didn’t say that.) In next week’s episode Farage says with ill-disguised relish: “Just you watch this issue is going to get bigger and bigger.” Is his rather predictable input needed in all such documentaries Couldn’t there just be a blank screen saying: “Please insert your own Nigel Farage bit here” I’m not suggesting banning him (perish the thought!) – just giving him a wee rest on the topic of immigration On Sky Atlantic, Lauren LeFranc’s The Penguin an eight-part TV-spin-off from 2022 film The Batman concluded with the visceral virtuosity that despite occasional slides into cheesy franchisedom has made this the year’s most unexpected triumph I won’t disclose the jaw-dropping and devastating late twist I can reveal (lesser spoiler alert) that in the closing seconds a bat logo appears in the sky above Gotham ‘Visceral virtuosity’: Colin Farrell in The Penguin Photograph: HBO/2024 Warner BrosOne of The Penguin’s secrets has been its committed story arc: it didn’t act like it had umpteen series to make a point Nor was Oswald “Penguin” Cobb (Colin Farrell) played as a joke who wears his ugliness on the inside yet still has some to spare on the outside Farrell’s achievement is that you forget he’s larded in a veritable acreage of prosthetics This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media "It was my intention to be back on the road again by now, for sure," added Hall, who joined REO just before 1978's breakthrough You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish "I'm feeling better every day and have been cleared by my doctor to perform READ MORE: Top 10 REO Speedwagon Songs Cronin assured fans last November that Hall would return to the lineup as soon as possible "Bruce is our brother – and times like these test us all," Cronin said "We have faith that Bruce's surgery will be successful and that he will be back to being the hard-rocking bassist/singer that we all know." Now Hall's daughter is asking why it hasn't happened yet: "My dad has poured his entire life into his craft and this band," Sara Siders says in a social media post "just to be told he can't play or be on stage anymore because of how tall he can stand I have no intention of retiring or walking away from the band I have loved for almost 50 years," Hall said in his June social media post He was replaced on tour after undergoing back surgery in November.\nRead More "It was my intention to be back on the road again by now, for sure," added Hall, who joined REO just before 1978's breakthrough You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish READ MORE: Top 10 REO Speedwagon Songs Cronin assured fans last November that Hall would return to the lineup as soon as possible Now Hall's daughter is asking why it hasn't happened yet: "My dad has poured his entire life into his craft and this band," Sara Siders says in a social media post The Cure‘s Robert Smith has spoken out about his viral Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame interview revealing that he “felt bad” about it while making their way through the red carpet ahead of being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at the New York Ceremony Smith and co went on to do some press about receiving the accolade For one of their first chats on the carpet The Cure were met by an enthusiastic interviewer “Congratulations The Cure – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees 2019 Offering a typically-deadpan and blunt reply, Smith said: “By the sounds of it, no.” The clip of the interaction has since gone viral with fans of the ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ hitmakers calling it the moment “priceless” Now, while appearing as a guest on Annie MacManus and Nick Grimshaw’s podcast Sidetracked with Annie and Nick on BBC Sounds, the frontman opened up about the moment. “I felt bad about that, actually…If I’m honest, I didn’t realise that I was being filmed. So, that’s probably why…we had just come from quite a serious conversation in our dressing room about what we were doing there. And this wave of enthusiasm was just like… [laughter].” A post shared by BBC Sounds (@bbcsounds) Elsewhere, the frontman recently credited his late brother for encouraging him to pursue The Cure full-time Smith penned the track ‘I Can Never Say Goodbye’ about his brother’s death and previously said that doing so had “helped [him] enormously” Speaking to Radio X‘s John Kennedy about the song the musician and vocalist – who formed The Cure in 1976 – explained: “My brother gave me the idea that I could do whatever I wanted The Cure’s latest release was their 14th studio LP, ‘Songs Of A Lost World’– their first since 2008’s ‘4:13 Dream‘. In a glowing five-star review of the album but there’s always enough heart in the darkness and opulence in the sound to hold you and place these songs alongside The Cure’s finest.” It continued: “The frontman suggested that another two records may be arriving at some point but ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ feels sufficient enough for the wait we’ve endured just for being arguably the most personal album of Smith’s career but there’s colour in the black and flowers on the grave.” In other news, Smith recently shared details of two more Cure albums – one of which is set to be a “companion piece” to ‘…Lost World’, while the third takes a different approach Smith then teased in his Radio X interview that he was “already finishing” the band’s next full-length record “although it actually has probably the saddest song of all of them on it.” ‘Songs Of A Lost World’ has landed at Number Six on NME‘s 50 best albums of 2024 list. Lead single ‘Alone’ also reached Number 19 on our 50 best songs of the year run-down. The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952. During Last night’s second show at Festival Hall, frontman Noah Sebastian acknowledged the incident and called for a moment’s silence to pay respects to the victims. He also explained he didn’t see the incident happen as he was performing and in the zone. His speech was the first time one of the parties had addressed the actual accident and sympathised with the Bad Omens fans who injured, some of which were in attendance again. UPDATE: At 4:34pm AEDT, in a statement shared with Wall of Sound, a Festival Hall spokesperson says: “Thank you to our onsite first aid team who responded quickly. We have conducted an immediate review of the special effects vendor and additional safety checks before tonight’s show.” Additional clarification has been requested from the spokesperson about the incident. The venue denies claims anyone lost consciousness, referring to a St Johns Ambulance report, despite conflicting accounts from fans in the crowd on night two who confirmed their friend did. The Festival Hall spokesperson has yet to comment on the injuries sustained by the fan who the ceiling tile fell directly on (with force) as seen in the below video submitted to and published by Wall Of Sound. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wall Of Sound (@wallofsoundau) In a weird case of taking a band’s name literally last night’s first stop on Bad Omens‘ Australian Tour resulted in several concert-goers sustaining injuries when plaster ceiling tiles fell onto the crowd The incident happening during the closing track ‘Just Pretend‘ when confetti was fired into the air at force (not unusual activity) – but it appears the pressure dislodged pieces of Festival Hall’s plaster ceiling tiles which fell on top of the crowd below Comments from those known to the victims state at least one fan suffered soft tissue damage to her hand Videos of the incident within the Melbourne venue have been shared across social media, including TikTok where the alternative rock outfit gained popularity following the release of their 2022 album THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND and recent releases The band (unaware of the situation) continued on with the show as it happened during the final moments of their set While no statement has been released from any party – especially from the Hillsong Church owned venue – many fans took to social media and to Wall Of Sound directly to share their recounts of what happened many readers have come forward with their own recounts of what happened during the show We’ll continue adding more as they come through Photos have since emerged where several sections of the roof were spotted missing following the incident during the encore Concert-goer (and Wall Of Sound reader) Skye Ryan – who was standing two people in front of a seriously injured victim – shared the following photos with a recount of her up-close experience: “[I] got a small scratch up my arm but the girl behind me [suffered a] huge head injury.” Skye adds: “[I] was watching the show to the left of the stage when the confetti cannons went off I felt something hard hit but thought it may have been the cap from the cannon shrugged it off until people a row or two back started yelling for help and security We all made room for them to jump over the barrier as this was maybe 3 rows from barricade When I turned around to see what was happening there was a girl on the ground clearly dazed They had trouble getting her up as I’m not sure if she was passing out Medics jumped in and escorted her out of the pit The band had walked off stage at this point Security checked if people were ok & another young girl with blood on her chin was taken out of the pit Show resumed a few minutes later so I’m not sure if the band knew what was happening Large pieces of the roof were left on the floor just behind me & there was a clear void where it had fallen.“ one of the victims who suffered soft tissue damage has personally reached out to share her experience: “I was recording on Snapchat when it happened and my video cut as I got hit and my phone flung a meter away from me as I dropped to the ground I was covered in blood from the girl next to me and she was very out of it seems as if she was looking at the confetti and it’s [the debris] bounced off my hand and got her straight in the face Hospital gave me a medical certificate to cover a few days off and see how it heals up venue people seemed to care very little but the paramedics on scene were amazing [The venue staff] were very quick to get rid of the evidence.“ The concert is set to roll back into Festival Hall again tonight for a SOLD OUT round two No word on if last night’s incident will interrupt proceedings We approached Festival Hall for a statement Twice.Bad Omens‘ team have declined to comment We will continue monitoring the story throughout the day friend Australian Tourwith Poppy and House Of Protection Tickets Here "Wasn't a smart penalty," head coach Mike Macdonald said in his post-game press conference. "Just that's not how we train our guys to attack quarterbacks, so wasn't a smart move." Following Hall's penalty, Seahawks defensive veteran Jarran Reed and Hall could be seen going back and forth, on the field, in what seemed like a heated moment. This moment carried over to the sideline where the two had to be separated. Moments later, the two were seen again on the sideline having a conversation -- this time more calm and personal. "Well, there is some frustration there," Macdonald said on Reed and Hall's moment. "Look, our guys are connected, and they have each other's backs. They are emotional. There are going to be flare-ups and stuff. Seems like it calmed down." Hall said Reed was being a leader in that moment and said, "We told each other we love each other… There's no bad blood." Reed's message to Hall in that moment was simple. Hall said, "[Jarran Reed] just wants me to go out play smart, play fast, play physical." Hall acknowledged that the moment could have been handled differently. "He loves the game," Hall said on Reed. "I love the game. In that moment things got heated. He's a leader and he's the leader of our group. When stuff hits the fan, you have to lean on all the guys and maybe we both could have done some things a bit better." Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) and Seahawks free safety Jerrick Reed II (32) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) and Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks players at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Get a look inside the Seahawks draft room as they select 11 players during the 2025 NFL Draft. Head coach Mike Macdonald was satisfied with the progress the rookies made after two days of rookie minicamp.  Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe spoke with the media after the first day of rookie minicamp. Seahawks rookies suited up for the first time for rookie minicamp and spoke with the media. All the Seahawks news you might have missed from this week. The Seahawks signed 17 undrafted rookie free agents prior to the start of rookie minicamp. Seahawks first-round pick Grey Zabel met with the media Thursday ahead of this weekend's rookie minicamp. Ahead of rookie minicamp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, the newest Seahawks have their jersey numbers. The Seahawks waived four players on Tuesday, which opens more roster spots ahead of signing undrafted free agents later this week. The experts have weighed in on the newest Seahawks draft class. Seahawks president and general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald discuss Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Seahawks wrapped up the final day of the NFL Draft having added seven new players to the Seahawks roster, here's what they all had to say: Bad Omens will return to Festival Hall tonight for a sold-out show. Bad Omens performing at Festival Hall (Source: X/@Felix786) More Bad Omens At least three panels fell from the ceiling after confetti canons went off at Bad Omens’ gig at Festival Hall in Melbourne last night (22 January) The show was the second Melbourne date added to meet the demand for the American alt-metal band’s goodbye, friend Australian tour The incident occurred as Bad Omens performed their penultimate song of the night from their 2022 album THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND and at least three ceiling panels fell (from my view at the concert and the videos below) landing on people standing in the general admission area As the incident occurred with confetti in the band’s eyesight and they immediately went off stage to darkness before returning for one more song “Thank you to our onsite first aid team who responded quickly We have conducted an immediate review of the special effects vendor and additional safety checks before tonight’s show.” the spokesperson for the venue confirmed that there were no hospitalisations from the incident They also clarified that tonight’s sold-out show with special guests Poppy and House Of Protection hasn’t been impacted and will proceed as planned Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter Bad Omens will head to Brisbane for a sold-out show at the Riverstage (Saturday 25 January) and two nights at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion (Tuesday Bad Omens have racked up 1.9 billion streams worldwide and gathered international acclaim Look at my old ass learning how to rotate videos. Roof falling down (and injuring people) during bad omens in Melbourne. https://t.co/oFJNtUUIe3 pic.twitter.com/WCLNA8wPfM Bad Omens literally blowing the roof off of festival hall pic.twitter.com/rl1t7HDaKD Bad Omens Concert Festival Hall Melbourne 22nd January 2025…. When the beat drops, so does the ceiling #melbourne#festivalhall#badomens if it hit me i would sue fr #badomens #melbourne drummer Simon Kirke and guitarist Mick Ralphs have commented on the news that their band is among the 2025 inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Other inductees in the Performer category are SOUNDGARDEN "It is pretty amazing and very cool to be part of an iconic American institution that celebrates music, musicians and sometimes unsung heroes behind the scenes," Rodgers told Billboard I am looking forward to seeing some old friends reconnecting with (fellow inductee) Chubby Checker — maybe do the twist?" Kirke said that he is "very happy" that BAD COMPANY is finally being inducted into the Rock Hall "It's been a long time coming… I'm not taking anything away from the [Rock Hall] committee; they had their reasons who will be unable to attend the November 8 ceremony in Los Angeles after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2016 stated via e-mail that "I am elated and think that BAD COMPANY's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is fantastic!" BAD COMPANY has been eligible for induction since 1999 and received its first nomination this year The induction ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+ Kirke spoke about the British supergroup's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination I would say it's about time because we've been around for so long I've already spoken with Paul about what song we're gonna play I think the main thing was the triple lineup… It just wasn't a clear-cut 'Let's induct BAD COMPANY.' There were factors that now have dissipated." Kirke was asked by "The Bob Lefsetz Podcast" how he felt about BAD COMPANY not having been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame He responded: "I think it's such a travesty but FREE — FREE certainly should be [in the Hall] and the two bands have been responsible for influencing a lot of bands who are already in the Hall And I think Paul Rodgers should be in on his own merits as one of the great rock vocalists of all time If Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck can be inducted as solo artists then certainly Paul Rodgers should be in there Kirke offered one possible explanation for why BAD COMPANY had been overlooked by the Rock Hall "I think because of BAD COMPANY's changing lineups over the 50 years that we'd been together it kind of devalued our currency a little bit," he said So I honestly don't know why we have not been nominated — not even inducted; you have to be nominated first Rodgers told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he wasn't bothered by his absence from the Rock Hall It doesn't affect what I do in any way at all," he said who was the head of Atlantic Records [and a co-founder of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame] Do you guys wanna be part of it?' And I said it's called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.' I said I don't think rock and roll belongs in a museum.' So it's my bad Georgia Hall is looking forward to returning to the venue where she won the Smyth Salver in 2013 Georgia Hall propelled herself onto the global stage when she won the Smyth Salver at the 2013 Women’s Open alongside fellow amateur Lydia Ko. Five years later, she was a Major champion after winning the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018 A final round 67 helped Hall to leapfrog Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum and claim victory by two strokes where she talked about her love for the Old Course how special it would be to win a second Women’s Open I love the atmosphere at the Home of Golf and having the support of the home crowd it’s the most important event of the year and always for me It’s the one everyone wants to win a little bit more The atmosphere around the town; it’s all golf and I love coming here whether there’s an event on or not I’ve never seen ‘normal’ people just standing there watching golfers come in I played my first Women’s British Open here in 2013 when I was an amateur and that’s the last time I played a professional tournament here I obviously played the Champions with Tiger and I’ve played here in a couple of media days it’ll be 11 years since my last professional event here Got the Silver Medal at the end of the week I was on my way to the airport when someone called to say we looked at the history and it’s not done on count back; you won as well!” Stacy Lewis won here in 2013 and I thought it would be such a good experience to go up there just like Atthaya Thitikul did when she won the Smyth Salver the year I won I played really solid that week and I remember I putted really well and I putt best on links greens in general so I’m actually really looking forward to putting on these types of greens that don’t have a lot of slope You have to hit it firmer to the hole, and you definitely have to imagine more shots, especially when the wind gets up. I hope we don’t really have good weather because it’s not really showing the golf course at its best. Like any kind of British Open I think the weather should be slightly British That’s the only thing that would beat my win from Royal Lytham. If I’d won the US Women’s Open this year I don’t know if I’ll ever get a chance to play in another one at St Andrews after this I don’t know when it would come around again But I’m not going to put pressure on myself I’ll just prepare as well as I can and enjoy being here I hope that I can help other British players and help encourage the youngsters coming through because I know sometimes we don’t have a huge number of us There’s only five or six of us on the LPGA Tour now that are doing well I want to see as many British golfers as possible coming through I think we are meant to be a little bit tougher than players from the majority of countries That’s why you see some of us come through a little bit more when the conditions are like that James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University. He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters and apparel. James took up golf as a teenager and thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club. You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight By James Hogg During an appearance on "The Bob Lefsetz Podcast" BAD COMPANY and FREE drummer Simon Kirke was asked how he feels about BAD COMPANY not having been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it's such a travesty And I think [BAD COMPANY and FREE singer] Paul Rodgers should be in on his own merits Kirke offered one possible explanation for why BAD COMPANY has been overlooked by the Rock Hall Rodgers told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he isn't bothered by his absence from the Rock Hall THE BEATLES perked a teenage Simon's interest in rock music and he picked up the drums — leading to a gig with a local band called THE MANIACS on which Simon supplied drums and lead vocals (something quite uncommon at the time) Simon worked out a deal with his parents after graduating high school that if he couldn't "make it" as a drummer in a band within a two-year period Simon landed a gig with a group called the BLACK CAT BONES The drummer befriended the group's talented guitarist who in turn convinced Simon to leave the group with him and begin a new outfit with singer Paul Rodgers Soon ex-JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS bassist Andy Fraser signed on and FREE was officially formed in 1968 the group would prove to be quite influential especially on the strength of their classic 1970 release it didn't take Simon long to find another gig which was quite similar stylistically to FREE Joined by ex-KING CRIMSON bassist Boz Burrell and ex-MOTT THE HOOPLE guitarist Mick Ralphs BAD COMPANY was the first group signed to LED ZEPPELIN's record label would go on to become one of hard rock's all-time classics as it birthed such long-standing rock radio standards as "Can't Get Enough" The group hails as one of the all-time top rock outfits Kirke is the only member of BAD COMPANY who's been in every lineup of the band This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Editor’s Note: Welcome to On Sale @, a weekly series from Vanyaland alerting concertgoers to the best shows coming to The Paradise Rock Club and Brighton Music Hall Check in each week for a highlighted look at each show and how to access the best tickets as soon as they go on sale The record is led by a stirring new single in “Strange World” that feels like one of the early year’s finest new entries “It’s been a strange and difficult few years I have found myself rushing to move forward in time to leave the present and escape to whatever is next,” says Cleveland “The best advice a friend gave me during a time when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed and battling consecutive panic attacks was to go outside This seemed to slow the universe down in a way that made it feel easier to handle So this chorus is something of a mantra to myself ‘we’ll be fine just take your time.’” Tickets go on sale Friday (March 8) at 10 a.m Performing live at Brighton Music Hall Tickets go on sale Friday (March 8) at 10 a.m Performing live at Paradise Rock Club Truth didn’t stand a chance as the former president talked too fast to be factchecked and too shamelessly to be interrupted We had been flung back in time to the political hellscape of 2016 Donald Trump, the former US president appearing on CNN for the first time since that fateful election year, lied and lied and lied an ocean liner of mendacity that left little boats of truth spinning and overturning in its wake Trump called a Black police officer a “thug”. He made racist comments about Chinatown in Washington. He described host Kaitlan Collins as a “nasty person”. He made fun of a woman he sexually abused as a “whack job”. He refused to say whether he wants Russia or Ukraine to win the war. Given the 45th president’s inability to change, it was the definition of shocking but not surprising. What may have come as a rude awakening to the pundit class is that many in the audience in Manchester, New Hampshire, were lapping it up and cheering him on. Some gave Trump a standing ovation as he walked in. Some clapped and hollered at his responses. Some laughed or put their hands to their mouths, visibly thrilled by his “Can he really say that?” taboo-busting. Read moreAnyone taken aback by these reactions has not been paying attention to Trump rallies where being outlandish and outrageous and cruel is the point Although CNN’s decision to devote more than an hour of prime time to Trump backfired horribly it did perform the service of forcing the American public to look at itself in the mirror The vocal support for Trump made this feel like a home fixture The CNN political commentator Van Jones likened Collins to a white-suited matador against Trump’s bull in familiar blue suit was like a child with crumbs around his mouth repeatedly telling a parent (Collins The pair began perched on white chairs on a shiny stage floor that had a big CNN logo against a backdrop of blue and red Two CNN mugs were perched on small tables beside them Trump dived straight into his “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen You and your supporters lost more than 60 court cases on the election Can you publicly acknowledge that you did lose the 2020 election?” Fact-checking Donald Trump's CNN town hall – video reportTrump barged on with bogus conspiracy theories talking too fast to be fact-checked and too shamelessly to be interrupted He gave a long-winded and false defence of his actions on 6 January 2021 earning laughter from the audience with a reference to “Crazy” Nancy Pelosi Asked why it took him three hours to respond to the riot Trump pulled out pages of notes to more cheering and clapping Collins: “Over 140 officers were injured that day.” Trump: “And a person named Ashli Babbitt was killed there was no reason to shoot her at blank range … And he went on television to brag about the fact that he killed her.” Collins: “That officer was not bragging about the fact that he killed her.” tweeted: “Democracies end when autocrats master the use of the freedoms of democracy to kill democracy.” Collins turned to Tuesday’s verdict, by which a New York jury found that Trump sexually abused magazine writer E Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her by branding her a liar. They awarded her about $5m in compensatory and punitive damages. Even seasoned Trump watchers were disgusted by what came next. Trump said of Carroll: “I have no idea who she is. I had a picture taken years ago with her and her husband, nice guy John Johnson. He was a newscaster, very nice man. She called him an ape, happens to be African American. Called him an ape – the judge wouldn’t allow us to put that in. Her dog or her cat was named Vagina, the judge wouldn’t allow to put that in.” Collins held her own at some moments but was overwhelmed by the geyser of deceit and missed follow-ups at othersAsked if the case will deter women from voting for him, Trump gave a sneering and meandering version of Carroll’s account of being assaulted by him in the 1990s. “What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and within minutes, you’re playing hanky-panky in a dressing room, OK? I don’t know if she was married then or not. John Johnson, I feel sorry for you, John Johnson.” It was toe-curling, not-knowing-where-to-look bad television reminiscent of Trump appearing with women who accused Bill Clinton of rape and unwanted sexual advances before he debated Hillary. As the torture continued, Collins could have been forgiven for thinking her bosses have got it in for her: first a morning show with Don Lemon, now a dark night of the soul with Caligula. She held her own at some moments but was overwhelmed by the geyser of deceit and missed follow-ups at others. At one point she objected: “The election was not rigged, Mr President. You can’t keep saying that all night long.” He might have replied: just watch me. Read moreOne of the side-effects of all the shock and horror around Trump is that sometimes he gets off the hook on policy he refused to say whether he would sign a federal abortion ban if re-elected merely arguing that leaders of the anti-abortion movement are “in a very good negotiating position right now” because of the supreme court overturning Roe v Wade When Collins asked if he wants Ukraine to win its war against Russia he replied: “I don’t think in terms of winning and losing I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people.” When asked if the Russian president he demurred and insisted: “That’s something to be discussed at a later date.” a former New Jersey governor who ran for president in 2016 tweeted: “Donald Trump says he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours tonight on CNN I suspect he would try to do it by turning Ukraine over to Putin and Russia It was a warning to potential 2024 Republican primary candidates who may have to face him on the debate stage: how do you take on a motormouth entirely unencumbered by factual reality the ghosts of 2016 were everywhere and the grim expressions in the CNN studio said it all Host Jake Tapper admitted: “We don’t have enough time to fact-check every lie he told.” Inside the Miller Park media room Thursday, Bill Hall glanced at the television and watched his first career home run. It came against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sept so when he watched the bat flip that followed “I didn’t know I pimped that first hit that bad,” Hall said Hall signed a one-day contract Thursday to officially retire with the Brewers when he hit 35 home runs and drove in 85 runs in 148 games marking the second of four consecutive years with at least 13 homers he drove in at least 55 runs and established himself as one of baseball’s most versatile defenders capable of playing anywhere across the infield or outfield Hall finished his 11-year career with 125 home runs while hitting .248/.308/.406 with 440 RBIs in 1,053 games and was elected into the Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014 Hall is raising his three daughters (Sydni Maya and Bella) and giving private hitting lessons in his hometown of Nettleton now seven years after finishing his career spoke with The Athletic Wisconsin about his career Why did you decide to retire as a Brewer now This is where I spent the majority of my career I was a baby when I was drafted from Mississippi and there’s no better place for it to end than right here You were here during the transition from bad teams into a contender I want to say thanks to them for believing in me to be the first one to be called up to start the transition of the great young talent that had been accumulating throughout the years My first year here was during the 105-loss season There wasn’t a lot of energy around our games They trusted me to infuse some fun and win some games JJ Hardys and we started to build around them and get some quality veterans We ended up breaking that streak of missing the playoffs but I still stay in contact with all those guys all the time I liked to think of it as “I was very good at a lot of stuff but a master of none.” I wasn’t going to hurt you defensively anywhere you put me on the field I let my athletic ability take over and not try to out-think things because I knew I was going to be moving around I didn’t put too much pressure on myself to be the greatest or win a Gold Glove because I knew I was going to be moving around so much You dealt with a lot of injuries in your career It was in 2007 when I hurt my knee and ankle it was our first year trying to make the playoffs so I came back a little quicker than I should have It was all my decision — I wanted to play and help the team — but that might have hurt me and my career a little bit I changed my swing to compensate for the things that were going on in my body you start using other body parts and then hammys start to get pulled Was that the biggest regret of your career I was getting injured and things weren’t going the way that I wanted them I wasn’t having the success that I was used to having I wish I could have played here my whole career to play my whole career without going anywhere but that was a time I definitely wanted to erase Take me back to Mother’s Day in 2006 when you hit the walk-off homer against the Mets and I had her name engraved on my bat instead of mine My motto was “Do one thing to help the team win.” I had a sacrifice bunt in the eighth I had done my job for the day to help the team and something popped into my head: My mom saying to me Never give up.” I grabbed the pink bat and against one of the toughest sidearmers in the league I started thinking about my mom and I looked up and took a glance at her It was definitely the best moment of my career I became a small household name at that point That was about to be my new home and I was obviously super excited because I thought I was going to be playing a lot I ended up staying there only three months and was traded in the offseason to Boston I was on the move then and on the move the rest of my career and I had a four-year deal with a fifth-year option So I got traded to Seattle and they traded me to Boston of my last year I have three little girls that I’m raising My oldest is on a pretty competitive cheer team My two youngest are growing into it as well teaching kids hitting lessons from time to time and I’ll be doing a lot of hitting lessons out of there Staying close to the game — not too close — but looking forward to getting back and being around the guys again but I definitely enjoy working with kids and teaching the kids that might not get the coaching that they need to get them to the next level It’s very exciting to be able to teach guys that have a chance to become big leaguers and show them the way and to get them over the hump You’re working with Fox Sports Wisconsin on the broadcast for this four-game Cubs series Is that something that’s always been on your radar Yeah. I think it really started to sink in when I was on “First Take” before it was “First Take.” It was called “Cold Pizza,” and Skip Bayless was on it. Then doing “The Young and the Restless” with me, JJ Hardy, Jeff Suppan and Chris Capuano making a guest appearance on “Days of Our Lives.” I just got rave reviews about how calm and intact I was and I was like let’s give this a run later on in life.” And here we are today Simon Kirke believes his bands Free and Bad Company both deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame The drummer lamented the groups’ exclusions during an appearance on the Bob Lefsetz Podcast “Free certainly should be [in the Hall] because Free has been around since 1968 and we've have been responsible for influencing a lot of bands who are already in the Hall Kirke argued that his former frontman should be inducted as a solo act “I think Paul Rodgers should be in on his own merits,” Kirke asserted. “I mean, as one of the great rock vocalists of all time. You know, if Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck can be inducted as solo artists certainly Paul Rodgers should be in there.” This isn’t the first time Free and Bad Company’s Hall merits have been dissected Both bands – who have each sold millions of albums worldwide – regularly appear on Hall of Fame snubs lists Earlier this year, Rodgers revealed that he’d been approached regarding induction READ MORE: 25 Rock Stars Who Have Criticized the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ahmet Ertegun who was the head of Atlantic Records [and a co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame] said to me we’re making this museum of rock 'n' roll Do you guys want to be part of it?’” Rodgers recalled to radio host Eddie Trunk ‘The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.’” “I don’t think rock 'n' roll belongs in a museum,” Rodgers responded Neither Free nor Bad Company has ever received an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination He also argues that Paul Rodgers deserves his own induction.\nRead More Simon Kirke believes his bands Free and Bad Company both deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame The drummer lamented the groups’ exclusions during an appearance on the Bob Lefsetz Podcast “I think Paul Rodgers should be in on his own merits,” Kirke asserted. “I mean, as one of the great rock vocalists of all time. You know, if Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck can be inducted as solo artists Earlier this year, Rodgers revealed that he’d been approached regarding induction READ MORE: 25 Rock Stars Who Have Criticized the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame It might be hard to believe, but the reason the No. 00 Boston Celtics jersey is hanging in the rafters is because of how bad Hall of Fame Celtics big man Robert Parish was If you are confused by that sentence, we understand. After all, it was Parish's rock-steady excellence that helped propel Boston to three titles in the 1980s he would never have elected to wear 00 had he not been such a poor prospect in junior high school "My junior high school team gave out jersey numbers to the players (given) the scale of talent," said Parish on an episode of the "In the Post with Elvin Hayes" podcast "The best players got their jerseys first," explained Chief the players that wasn’t as good as the starting five "Being that I was the worst player on the team at the time noting the number followed him the rest of his career Until, that is, it was hung in Boston Celtics Valhalla never to be worn again by any player -- and rightfully so Listen to the "Celtics Lab" podcast on: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ Several Boston Celtics Easter eggs in NBA's Christmas Day promo video Why is Boston's Jaylen Brown still struggling as a primary playmaker? Is it safe to say Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the best duo in the NBA right now? To Grant Williams, yes Celtics Lab 161: Previewing Bucks-Cs on Christmas, the state of the East, NBA expansion and more with Jeff Zillgitt Former Boston Celtic Kelly Olynyk once ate an entire burrito in three bites Celtics Lab 160: An NBA Festivus for the Rest of Us with Jam Packard PHOTOS - Timberwolves at Celtics: Boston expands shot diet to win 121-109 despite yips continuing Are the Boston Celtics at their weakest when Jayson Tatum is riding pine? HoopsHype's most overpaid player list includes nine former Boston Celtics From DeFremery Park to the Garden: The Oakland roots of Boston Celtics greatness