According to Billboard.com 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 86,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the LP's first week of release 89% of that figure (77,000) consisted of traditional album sales with vinyl purchases accounting for over 44,000 copies "Skeletá" is the first hard rock album to reach the No 1 spot on the Billboard 200 since AC/DC's "Power Up" in 2020 The LP's first-week vinyl tally not only marks the biggest vinyl sales week for a hard rock album in the modern era (since tracking began in 1991),but it's the third largest sales week of vinyl in the modern era for any rock album trailing only BLINK-182's "One More Time…" (49,000 in 2023) and BOYGENIUS's "The Record" (45,000 in 2023) The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA) or 10 individual tracks sold from an album or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album "Skeletá" arrived on April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings In a recent interview with Brent Porche of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio station GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge stated about "Skeletá": "It is a record that is introspective to a further degree than especially the previous record [2022's 'Impera'] I do believe that most artists usually create a new record based on where they were on the previous one — not as a counter-reaction but usually there's something that you wish to achieve that you maybe didn't on the previous[ one] or you wanna change something or just fill your… At the end of the day what you're doing is basically you're filling your repertoire with hopefully songs that you didn't have before I usually have some sort of thematic guideline when I write first and foremost for myself in order to make sense of what the new record is so it's not too whimsically just about everything at the same time But where 'Impera' was very much not only extroverted but exteriorly reflecting on bigger society imperial structure and its ultimate demise it didn't feel very productive to continue down that and make an 'Impera 2' talking about the continual demise of… I was more attracted to the idea of this this record that was more shining a light in inside and making a record about healing aspects of being essentially a human being in whatever structural design most humans are surprisingly alike and display the same abilities to sentiments And these sentiments are usually quite basic And that idea was attractive to me — making a record that had a song about hope Forge told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about "Skeletá"'s first single It's a song about being in love and how that can potentially be mistaken as demonic possession but in reality this song has nothing to do with demonic possession." Asked why he picked "Satanized" to be the first single from "Skeletá" Tobias said: "It's funny because as I was making the record I didn't really put much like regard into trying to write… Of course you always try to write as good songs as possible I'm gonna write a hit song.' So I was more interested in sort of making a bunch of songs that I was gonna put cohesively into an understandable and entertaining album And wise with experience over the years where I've delivered records to the people that work with me So finally I've sort of given up a little bit on that 'You guys choose what you wanna do.' And then I'm sort of holding my thumb a little hoping that that maybe they they'll hear what I hear I have a really funny video idea for that one I never thought that you would go for that one,' simply because it's like…" That's a very simplified way of saying that but I'm a big fan of SCORPIONS from the '80s a certain age group might not be aware that that SCORPIONS was a band in the '70s Those records are a little bit different from the '80s records when they sort of became a '80s hit rock band And 'Satanized' definitely had more of a SCORPIONS '77 stomp that I really liked about the track I wasn't like putting that as a hit-single fan favorite I thought I was gonna work my magic to make that song a big song the same way that we did with 'Mary On A Cross' once upon a time when that was regarded as this 'B' track that was just for fun 'I think that that song is actually quite good We're gonna play it every show we're playing.' And it took years before it became what that became." Circling back to the fact that his record company seemingly had the same vision for "Satanized" as he did in terms of the song's potential Forge said: "I was overwhelmed and overjoyed with the synchronicity because I have done that mistake before where I have conceived a record and then the powers that be want another kickoff the reasoning as to why you go with another track might be perfectly understandable but all of a sudden my idea is just not worth the piece of paper it's written on because it simply doesn't work if it's not in a… Sometimes the crux of being conceptual sometimes your ideas are simply too conceptual and too based on presentation and stars aligning "Satanized" was described in a press release as "an avalanche of infectious hooks and harmonies is buoyed by a hypnotic shuffle as the narrator succumbs to dark forces within and without helplessly acknowledging their own blasphemy and heresy as it inexorably consumes them." By the time the song's opening lines "There is something inside me and they don't know if there is a cure" have moved from the inner monologue of the possessed to the ears of the hapless listener it will already be too late: You will have been "Satanized" The "Satanized" music video introduced the new character who is fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle: Papa V Perpetua Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle" at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV the character who fronted the act for its "Impera" (2022) album phase The European leg of GHOST's 2025 world tour kicked off on April 15 in Manchester United Kingdom and will conclude on May 24 in Oslo The North American leg of GHOST's 2025 tour will launch on July 9 in Baltimore Maryland and wrap up on August 16 in Houston had the shock of his life after his mum met the band at a service station Clare Cerasuolo said she chose not to book tickets for their Swansea show as the family feared they would not be back from a trip to London in time for the concert But after bumping into the band at Heston services to arrange for the family to come to the show had no idea about the special invite until his mum picked him up early from drama club The band then dedicated All About You to a delighted Joel in the crowd ShareSaveCCTV shows head attacking love rival teacher with wrenchAnthony Felton is jailed for attacking his friend and colleague in his office at school. Man recalls moment car turned into 'ball of flames'Tony Johnson pulled a driver from a burning car after a crash with two vehicles in Bodfari. Watch: Labour MP criticises gender ideology 'damage'Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi says Welsh government and others were "captured" by LGBT charities. Race Across the World 'much harder than we thought'Sioned Cray and Fin Gough thought they were prepared for the challenge of the reality TV show. Party time in Merthyr as Martyrs clinch promotionThe fan-owned club won the Southern Premier League South title with victory at Penydarren Park. Paddleboard tour victims' families pay tributeFour people died after paddleboarding in "extremely hazardous conditions" on the River Cleddau. Judge sentences river death paddleboard firm ownerWatch as a judge sentences Nerys Bethan Lloyd for the gross negligence manslaughter of four people. Footage shows firm owner at paddleboard death sceneWatch as Nerys Bethan Lloyd tells police what happened during a fatal paddleboarding incident. 'He was a great listener to everyone'Bishop of Wrexham Peter Brignall and Mark O'Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, pay their respects. Watch as stranded dog rescued from cliff edgeEmber became stuck after chasing after a ball while out walking along a coastal path with her owner. Dangerous driver involved in 'shocking' crashSwansea Crown Court heard that Peter Gilmore had 44 previous convictions for 104 offences. Watch: Life raising a toddler with 'butterfly skin'Protecting Albi's skin is a daily battle for parents as it can blister or tear from any friction. Watch: 'Disgusting' vandalism of owl sanctuaryOwl sanctuary toilets targeted by vandals. Watch the moment thieves take charity truckOasis Cardiff, which supports refugees and asylum seekers, says the truck was crucial to its work. Watch: Can you spot a fake football shirt?Vintage football shirt expert, Daniel Rees, explains how to keep your money safe from fakes. How a Welsh uni helps F1 star reach top speedFormula One season favourite Lando Norris is put through his paces at Swansea University. 'Blaring' wildfire burns close to homes Crews have been battling wildfires across Wales, with firefighters described as "on their knees". Watch: E-bike riders caught using police drone Police in Newport use a surveillance drone to spot a group of e-bikers on city streets. Rugby fans react to Cardiff administration newsThe Welsh Rugby Union is in line to take over the regional side. Watch: Massive wildfire filmed from aboveFirefighters are striving to get a huge blaze under control after it started four days ago. The Aussie rocker added choral touches and a little humor to sweeten his long and heavy set with the Bad Seeds at the Armory There were the usual tunes about midnight-dark souls and violence and unholiness The songs that really hit hardest at Sunday night’s unrelenting Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds concert at the Armory in Minneapolis They didn’t bother recruiting an opening act and performed for nearly three hours. In just one of those hours, they covered more emotional and musical ground than most full concerts, veering between boisterous, soaring, crescendoing epics enhanced by a four-piece choir to more hushed, tender moments that would turn the three-quarters-full Armory close to pin-drop quiet. As is always the case when he’s out with the Bad Seeds, Cave himself covered a lot of ground in the literal sense, too. The lanky, 67-year-old singer would frequently jump up from his grand piano to run onto a walkway that jutted out from the stage, where he would frequently get right in fans’ faces or hold their hands. At one point early in the set during the intensely orchestrated “Conversion,” Cave marched back and forth onstage and vehemently pointed at fans over and over, loudly proclaiming the refrain to each of them: “Stop! You’re beautiful! Stop! You’re beautiful!” He sang it as if he were furious at them for thinking otherwise, too. “Conversion” was one of eight songs in the 23-song set list from the elegantly arranged, emotionally wracked new Bad Seeds album, “Wild God.” The record found Cave coming out the other end of a dark tunnel in which he mourned the deaths of two sons, one just 15. He truly seemed to want to bring light to the rest of the world as he ran in and out of the spotlight Sunday. Having a gospel-tinged quartet of backup singers was just one of many ways levity and a joyful spirit balanced out the sad undercurrent in tunes like the eerily electrified show opener “Frogs” and one of the show’s quieter highlights, “Bright Horses.” Two of the “Wild God” tracks, “Cinnamon Horses” and “Joy,” grew from languid-at-first ballads into triumphal, hands-in-the-air musical climaxes with help from the extra singers and the Bad Seeds’ multi-instrumental approach. This is one rock band that can blend in violin, vibraphones and even timpani the way most bands simply change up guitar pedals. Some of the older tunes that dotted the set list were given new treatment, starting with 2004’s “O Children,” about which Cave said he picked for the tour because “here we are living in a world today that can’t take care of its children.” That was followed by an ultra-manic “Jubilee Street” and muddied, tribal-sounding “Tupelo.” Between the heaviness of both the old and new songs, Cave managed to work in bits of lighthearted humor, too — starting with pretending he thought he was in Milwaukee, and including some biting banter with audience members.  The biggest laugh came in the encore when he picked out the murder ballad “Henry Lee” for the first time this tour and had to ask new bassist Colin Greenwood for the song’s musical key. “Colin knows because he’s in Radiohead, and they know stuff like that,” Cave quipped. After “Henry Lee,” all the Bad Seeds walked offstage and left Cave to finish the show by himself with a solo piano version of “Into My Arms,” a song that casts doubt on everything except the power of love. It was the lightest and simplest-sounding song in a long and very hard-hitting performance, and yet it felt like the most powerful one, too. Here’s the set list from Sunday’s Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds concert at the Armory in Minneapolis: Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas. Music She was as alluringly confessional as Joni Mitchell but not as musically intriguing Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera plays at the Ordway Music Theater in St Benson Boone’s American Heart Tour will open at Xcel Energy Center on Aug just two years after he played in town at the Fine Line Apple introduces the 2025 Pride Collection Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band and iPhone and iPad wallpaper to celebrate the strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities around the world The Pride Edition Sport Band is available to order today dynamic watch face and wallpaper will be available in an upcoming software update Featuring a tapestry of rainbow stripes that vary in shape and size each Pride Edition Sport Band is assembled by hand from individual stripes of vibrant color that are compression-molded together reflecting the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community The new Pride Harmony watch face and iPhone and iPad wallpaper offer a complementary design which dynamically shift in sequence across the face of the display to form large hour numerals as users raise their wrist to check the time The iPhone and iPad wallpaper features colors that change position as users move The Pride Harmony watch face and iPhone and iPad wallpaper will be available in an upcoming software update with watchOS 11.5 Apple is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities cvarellas@apple.com nrothberg@apple.com media.help@apple.com The latest news and updates, direct from Apple. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world 2025 at 10:22 PM EDTBookmarkSaveThe Hong Kong dollar tested the strong end of its allowable trading band for a second session Monday as regional currencies rally amid broad weakness in the greenback The local currency appreciated to its limit of 7.75 to the US dollar before erasing gains to be little changed at 7.7507 The central bank pegs the currency in a trading band between 7.75 and 7.85 In Concert: The University of Scranton Jazz Band with guest soloist Joel Ross presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton Ross will also offer a free vibraphone masterclass for area percussionists on Friday at 4:30 p.m.The University of Scranton Jazz Band will take the stage Friday with renowned vibraphone player and percussionist joining them as the evening’s guest soloist Presented by Performance Music at The University of Scranton Admission is free and the concert is open to the public Ross will also offer a free vibraphone masterclass for percussionists ranging from students (ages 16 and older) to professionals on Friday at 4:30 p.m Percussionists wishing to attend should email music@scranton.edu or call (570) 941-7624 for more information (Younger students may attend accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.) the University’s student jazz ensemble will perform a variety of works that prominently feature Ross on vibraphone/percussion Performance Music Conductor and Co-Director Janelle Decker said “I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Joel this past fall semester when he was a guest performer with Scranton Brass Orchestra Joel is someone who has a really down-to-earth and cool ‘vibe,’ pun intended and we are delighted to feature him on our program this spring.” has earned widespread renown as the most exciting new voice on his instrument he is a bracingly thoughtful composer and a bandleader Ross auditioned for and won a spot in the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet where he studied under former SFJAZZ Collective vibraphonist A graduate of Stockton’s University of the Pacific Ross went on to study jazz at The New School where he formed his band Good Vibes Ross has toured with the Marquis Hill Blacktet in which his vibraphone was the primary comping instrument Ross made his recording debut as a leader on his album “KingMaker” in December 2016 and it was released on Blue Note Records in 2019 Ross recorded his second album as a leader The University of Scranton Jazz Band is a 21-member ensemble of big band style instrumentation made up of University student musicians from majors spanning the curriculum and the majority of their performances are open to the public and often feature a nationally or internationally renowned guest soloist The primary focus of Performance Music at The University of Scranton is its student choral and instrumental performing ensembles Because there is no music major at Scranton all enrolled students (undergraduate and graduate) are eligible for membership in the University bands with neither an audition nor enrollment fee required for membership Hundreds of students participate in the ensembles each year email music@scranton.edu or visit scranton.edu/music The Board of Commissioners presented the third annual String Band Parade on Saturday a daylong event to highlight the county as a destination and deliver a boost to the local economy through the music and strutting of the Mummers.  games and music from 14 participating string bands that performed in a parade down Haddon Avenue After the parade ends string bands continued to play outside sponsored establishments throughout Haddon Township so we are thrilled to bring it back again,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr “It is always a great chance for the community to come together support local businesses and have a good time.” Sponsors for the parade included Brewers Towne Tavern Tom Fischer’s Tavern and the Tap Room featuring Santucci’s For more photos, click here. two to three BYU-Idaho performing arts groups travel outside of Idaho showcasing the university’s talented students 46 student performers traveled to the Pacific Northwest as part of the BYU-Idaho Symphony Band to play for audiences across Washington state and British Columbia entitled “Symphonic Soundscapes,” featured works from world-renowned composers like George Gershwin popular sounds from “The Wizard of Oz,” and familiar hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed her appreciation for the performance saying “I really loved hearing ‘Let Us All Press On.’ That this was an arrangement made especially for your band It meant a lot that you came to our country with the beautiful music.” just outside the sprawling metropolitan area of Vancouver A special Sunday evening devotional was also held at the Bellingham shared her excitement to have the BYU-Idaho visit close to home “It touched my heart that they would want to come to the Pacific Northwest because I love it here.” students were able to learn about Canadian history while visiting the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria and experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest inside the world-famous Butchart Gardens but student say the highlight of the tour was connecting with the audiences “Seeing the light and smiles on these people's faces as we perform and after we perform has been the highlight of the tour.” “I think my favorite part was getting to know everyone else that was also on tour and then definitely playing for everybody and seeing them find so much joy in the music that we are playing I think we made a difference,” Ryanne Abbott (Colorado Springs Students shared how performing the same repetoire night after night on tour helped them to improve as musicians “Doing this multiple times has gotten me really good at being consistent I love routine and it's been really nice to have a set schedule and really learn the music,” Abbott mentioned “It’s been fun to try and get consistently better with each performance and try and stay on my A game,” Megan Olsen (Idaho Falls especially after being exhausted while traveling I think it will really help me moving forward But students didn’t just grow as musicians but in their discipleship as well “I think all of us have grown closer together and discovered each other's testimonies and discovered how much we rely on our testimonies of Jesus Christ,” Will Griffis (Garden Prairie “Through music and sharing it with others I have felt the Lord’s love for me as we play and I think also just being surrounded by other people who love music as much as me and also love the Lord I have learned a lot from my colleagues and teachers on this tour,” Olsen added The testimonies of the students could be seen and felt by the audience “It's an incredible experience to see their talent and just how they radiate such happiness and joy for what they are doing,” Marriott said Mingling with the audience after each performance was a joyous occasion for both the musicians and audience members “It’s incredible to see their faces light up as we are playing,” Somoza shared “It's an honor that I get to be part of their whole ensemble I would say it's the people that I get to minister to are the best part of tour.” In addition to playing for the public in beautiful performance halls across the Pacific Northwest the band also visited Lake Stevens High School in Washington to play a few numbers and share with the students what it’s like to continue developing as a musician while working on their university studies who has already accepted her offer to BYU-Idaho for the coming fall was thrilled to have the band visit her high school I met a couple of flute players today and they are just so warm and welcoming But Samantha says she didn’t just benefit from the band visit as a future BYU-Idaho student “I think my classmates seeing college students also continue to have that in their life maybe that will prompt them to continue in the future,” Schurig said Connecting with high school students was a highlight of the tour for students like Ryanne Abbott and Will Griffis “Seeing those students and the joy they have in music and how much they have learned and have yet to learn makes me happy I feel like I made a difference for them in that they feel inspired to pursue music throughout their life,” Griffis said “I’m going to be a teacher and that is the environment I am going to be in after graduation I remember when I was in high school having college bands come around and being like they are so good,’ and I remember hoping I could be that good one day And I don’t know if I am as good as the people that came to see me I loved that experience and that is what kept me going as a musician and as a person my teaching philosophy will be to make sure that everyone that comes into my classroom loves music and I got to do that today,” Abbott shared Eliran Avni works with a student during a Piano Camp Two new camps – Composition and Songwriting and Modern Band – have been added to the Summer Musical Festival at SUNY Fredonia “We are excited to offer two new camps this summer in addition to the five camps we traditionally hold These new camps will give even more students an opportunity to focus on their chosen field within the world of music,” said Adjunct Lecturer Tiffany Nicely who directs the festival geared to middle and high school students and held in Mason Hall School of Music faculty and experienced guest faculty members will mentor campers as they live like music majors on campus for the week honing their skills and exploring new musical avenues for students in grades 8 through 12 and including seniors who recently graduated will explore the art of creating music through instruction group lessons and individual review sessions Students will learn how to build a new piece of music working with faculty composers and performers Musical examples from both living and historical composers from different styles and genres will be presented Small group lessons and daily master classes on specific aspects of music composing are also on the schedule A public reading of each student’s music will conclude the camp for students in grade 8 through 12 and including seniors who recently graduated among others) created in small groups or bands drums or sing are welcome to join in the process The bands will play a mix of existing music and new tunes created during the camp held Sunday Instruction will also be given in the history of popular music and students will work on their own musical and listening skills The five other music camps and their respective dates include: Piano For more information and to register, visit the website here.  Contact Us | 716-673-3111 © 2025 State University of New York at Fredonia - 280 Central Avenue - Fredonia Help keep local news alive—donate to support our community reporting!Donate STN Staff arts and entertainment, Dexter Community Band, free concert The Dexter Community Band will host its summer-themed concert on May 18 at the Dexter High School’s Center for Performing Arts The performance will feature “Casey at the Bat” and Principal Trumpet Richard Savitski performing an original version of George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” a long-time Dexter resident who has been in the band since 2001 the opportunity to play an extended solo on an American classic is a tribute to someone who had a profound impact on his life and that of many other local musicians — Dr Savitski was once a member of Lawrence’s award-winning Washtenaw Community College Jazz Orchestra “Morris had a policy that everyone in the band needed to play an improvised solo It was a great way to help you understand and connect with the music on a different level,” he said The free concert also marks the return of Stephen West professor of music and Chair of the Department of Voice & Opera at the University of Michigan School of Music a bass-baritone who has performed in operas around the world will narrate Ernest Thayer’s famous 1888 poem “Casey at the Bat.” The poem was put to music by Randol Alan Bass and first performed in 2001 at Dexter High School’s Center for Performing Arts This is the band’s final concert in its 2024-25 season Mike Williamson The Sun Times News is the hub of the most useful information in Chelsea Subscribe to our free daily newsletter to stay on top of all the local news The band, which has been a staple on Austin stages since 2019, will perform live at the event on June 4 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater The annual battle gives professionals a chance to unleash their inner rock star on an iconic stage all while supporting the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) which provides affordable healthcare to low-income working musicians with a focus on prevention and wellness Fans can keep up with Noella Grey and the Imaginary Band by visiting their website and following them on social media The spotlight on local music is made possible by FVF Law, Austin-based injury attorneys and devoted members of the Central Texas community. FVF Law supports HAAM with year-round contributions believing in the power of live music as one of Austin's most valuable resources — A Canadian pop-rock band that in 25 years together has been nominated for seven Juno Awards and had five triple-plating hits in that country will play Archer Music Hall which was chosen the Junos' Group of the Year in 2013 as part of its just-announced The Force of Nature Tour Opening the show will be pop-punk band The Summer Set which has had three albums hit Billboard's Top 100 and is best known for its 2009 hit "Chelsea." Tickets, the prices of which have not been released, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, at the Archer website or its box office at 939 Hamilton St. Marianas Trench started in 1999 and released its first album 2009's "Masterpiece Theatre," sold triple-platinum in Canada and produced the triple-platinum hits "All to Myself" and "Cross My Heart," and the double-platinum hits "Beside You," "Celebrity Status" and "Good to You." 2011's "Ever After," also sold triple-platinum and produced four triple-platinum hits: "Haven't Had Enough," "Fallout," "Desperate Measures" and "Stutter." 2015's "Astoria," sold platinum and had the double-platinum hit "Who Do You Love." with the latest being "Haven" last August." Marianas Trench performed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2015 Pan Am Games Frontman Josh Ramsay received a Grammy Award nomination for co-writing and producing Carly Rae Jepsen’s Diamond-selling hit “Call Me Maybe.” Michigan City High School band and choral students participated in their respective Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) concert festivals and their gold ratings marked important honors within the history of both departments.  the MCHS Band Department competed at Elkhart High School where both the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band earned Gold Ratings from all three judges The Wind Ensemble also received a Gold Rating in Sight-Reading As a result of their consistent high-quality performances the Band Department was awarded the ISSMA All-Music Award recognizing Gold-level scores in every ISSMA event entered this school year a first in Michigan City High School history This outstanding achievement was made possible through the talents of the following students: the MCHS Choral Department competed at Northridge High School and Treble Chorale participated and brought home Gold Ratings and City Singers earned Gold Ratings in Sight-Reading.  This recognition was earned through the hard work of these talented students: and hard work of Michigan City Area School’s student musicians and their directors Share Good News Contact Us Meet Our Team The Steve Miller Band returns to Southwest Florida this October for more "Jungle Love,” “Abracadabra" and other pop-rock hits Presales start May 6 for qualifying buyers The Steve Miller Band is known for its string of hits in the '70s and '80s including “The Joker,” "Jungle Love,” “Abracadabra,” “Rock’n Me,” “Fly Like An Eagle" and “Take The Money and Run.” They last performed in Southwest Florida in December 2023 The Steve Miller Band will perform at 7:30 p.m For tickets to the Hertz Arena show and more information, visit hertzarena.com Read our review of the band's 2019 show: Steve Miller Band chills out at Fort Myers' Suncoast Credit Union Arena More about Steve Miller: 10 things you (probably) don't know about the rock star Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7) Apple is getting ahead of 2025 Pride Month celebrations with an early reveal of a wild new watch band and some vibrant wallpapers which happens every June and celebrates LGBTQ+ communities is always a month that embraces an array of colors but this month's Apple Pride Month Collection adds a twist and nod to the "individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community," says Apple in a release Apple explained that the rainbow colors within each Sport Edition band start as individual color stripes The bands are assembled by hand and compressed into their final shapes Those colors can also be found on the Pride Month Dynamic Apple Watch face and with special wallpapers for the iPhone and iPad Colors and bands will move on the screen as the users and wearers move The band goes on sale next week, and the wallpapers and watch face will arrive soon with platform updates in iOS 18.5 This latest Pride Band and face arrive as Apple is celebrating 10 years of the Apple Watch a wearable that has become more than just a timepiece but also an important platform for supporting health and fitness (along with personal style and maybe some social consciousness) Apple has not done so and seems to be signaling that it will continue its support of diversity The release includes a line noting that "Apple is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities." Lance has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a former Lifewire Editor-in-Chief Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis weekly tech column for Medium called The Upgrade Lance Ulanoff makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Live with Kelly and Mark, the Today Show you will then be prompted to enter your display name The Pella City Band is set to return this summer for performances during Thursdays in Pella They are seeking those planning to join them on stage as those interested in playing in the band should check out the Pella City Band Facebook page and click on the sign up form on the pinned post The band is open to all community members and alumni For the first time in four years, Ghost has reached the top of the Billboard 200 with their latest album, Skeletá. The last hard rock band to have this title was AC/DC in 2020 with their lockdown full-length POWER UP As of current, Ghost are working their way through their Skeletour. With European dates throughout May and US dates commencing in July. You can find the full list of dates below and get your tickets right now rumors and updates from Metal Sucks and The Orchard Metal Newsletter All content created & copyright © 2025 Metal Sucks You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The Seneca Valley Marching Band received high marks for a recent performance in Virginia The band was named the Grand Champions of the Parade of Nations The group scored the highest overall score of any ensemble at the festival “We are so proud of our students and their hard work,” Varden Armstrong Seneca Valley Band Director and Performing Arts Coordinator “They have continued the rich tradition of excellence and have left their mark in the legacy of the SV Band program This is a significant accomplishment and is the direct result of the students’ time The Parade of Nation is a part of the Norfolk NATO Festival which celebrated its 72nd year—making it the longest continuous parade in the region "(Required)" indicates required fields Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tedeschi Trucks Band hosted its curated Sun Sand and Soul weekend in Florida where the band collaborated with Bonnie Raitt After TTB welcomed the singer-songwriter during its headlining set on Thursday Raitt returned the favor the following night by bringing out Susan Tedeschi Sand and Soul at the Seascape Golf Course in Miramar Beach bringing out Raitt near the end of the single-set performance The 13-time Grammy winner embraced her blues roots as she joined TTB on Sleepy John Estes‘ “Leaving Trunk” Singer Mike Mattison set the stage with his smoky vocals before Raitt and Derek Trucks locked into a swampy guitar dialogue “Leaving Trunk” led into the familiar stomping rhythm of Rahsaan Roland Kirk‘s “Volunteered Slavery” While it was surely difficult to find sonic space for more guitar between Tedeschi and Trucks Raitt was an equal participant as she added stringed harmonies and supporting slide playing while the song snowballed into a feverish jam closing out the daily lineup that also included Cory Wong and Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge Raitt brought out Tedeschi to harmonize on her trademark cover of John Prine‘s “Angel From Montgomery” The track is also a staple of Tedeschi Trucks Band’s shows—often paired with the Grateful Dead‘s “Sugaree”—and the two singers’ familiarity with the cover shone through on this beautiful version Copyright © 2025 L4LM | Website by Computer Courage The Steve Miller Band has announced a series of tour dates for the summer and fall of 2025 The Live Nation-produced tour will begin on August 15th in Bethel and conclude on on November 8th in Anaheim May 7th ahead of the general sale on Friday Select shows will feature The Rascals as a special guest The current Steve Miller Band lineup includes lead vocalist and guitarist Steve Miller 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the release of the chart-topping RIAA platinum-certified album and six-times platinum-certified single “The Joker.” To celebrate this important moment in his career Steve Miller released a groundbreaking new box set chronicling the extraordinary artistic journey that led to its creation: J50: The Evolution of The Joker Copyright © 2013-2025 The Music Universe. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable law. TMU participates in various affiliate and advertising programs, including, but not limited to, Amazon, Ticketmaster, and others, and earns from qualifying purchases. Cookie ConsentWe use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Cookie Preferences×Manage your cookie preferences below: Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us understand how visitors use our website Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION The Spokane City Council has unanimously passed a one-year ban on new alcohol retailers within 500 feet of schools and libraries BY GEE SCOTT AND URSULA REUTIN SHOW City officials say the measure aims to reduce public drinking and safeguard vulnerable neighborhoods, especially as alcohol-related crime is on the rise, according to the Spokesman-Review.  co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio arguing it will only address symptoms without solving the root cause “I think that even if liquor isn’t sold right there it’s still just a band-aid solution,” Ursula said “People will find alcohol elsewhere and still end up in parks or near schools Spokane clearly has a problem it’s trying to address but I believe the focus should be more on helping people struggling with addiction rather than shutting down stores that sell liquor.” co-host of “Gee and Ursula,” supported the measure mentioning his experience with liquor stores in Chicago and Seattle “I’m good with the ban because growing up in Chicago—and I’m sure it was the same here in Seattle—there was liquor being sold on every corner,” Gee said “It felt like there were more liquor stores than anything else Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.  and a matching wallpaper for the iPhone and iPad Apple says its Pride Collection celebrates the strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities around the world The new Pride Edition Sport Band is now available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting next week Apple says the band features rainbow stripes that vary in shape and size A matching Pride Harmony watch face features rainbow stripes that dynamically shift to form large hour numerals as users raise their wrist to check the time A matching iPhone and iPad wallpaper features colorful stripes that change position as users move The watch face and wallpaper will be available in upcoming watchOS 11.5 The watch face will be available through the Apple Watch and Apple Store apps Apple said it is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox Apple Intelligence is what Apple is calling its artificial intelligence feature set If you're experiencing issues with iPhone Mirroring follow these steps to get it working again Apple's annual developer conference where it will unveil iOS 19 New M4-generation chips and additional upgrades Apple's next-generation iPhone models with a new "Air" or "Slim" model replacing the current Plus model MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone Mason County Central School District is hiring a full time High School/Middle School Band and Choir Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year See details and apply online at: www.mccschools.org Black Flag have unveiled a revamped lineup marking a new chapter in the band’s storied history Founding guitarist Greg Ginn remains at the helm joined by vocalist Max Zanelly The band hinted at upcoming live shows and new recordings the band have seen numerous lineup changes Fans can anticipate new material and tour dates in the near future Stay up-to-date with announcements on the band’s Instagram Photo by Raymond Ahner on Instagram Issue 73 featuring Pinhead Gunpowder is available now This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website  Learn more 2025One of the Scorpions best-known songs is “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” yet at the moment the veteran rock band can’t rock at all as their frontman is “unable to sing” due to an illness On May 3 the band had to cancel a performance in Quito It was the third concert the band has canceled on their current South American tour 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 “It is with further regret that Scorpions will be unable to perform in Quito tonight Klaus has still not recovered from the virus that forced the recent Buenos Aires and Bogota cancellations for Scorpions and was diagnosed with a bacterial bronchitis which caused his unfortunately inability to sing The band send their deepest apologies to all their loyal fans in Ecuador and are again extremely disappointed not to be able to play in one of their favourite countries,” the statement said “They’ll make every effort to return to Ecuador and South America in the future,” the statement concluded Fans had a mixed reaction to the news in the comments but at the same time if you know beforehand that you can't play the tour it'd be better to cancel the tour and not give the "news" the same day if you already know you can't play the next dates don't wait that long to let the fans know,” one wrote If you were actual real fans you'd be wishing him a speedy recovery the reason why it's a late cancellation is he is trying to make some shows and testing his pipes it's not that easy to gauge if your going to be well enough to perform or not get well soon Klaus," another one added The band’s next scheduled dates are on Tuesday The Scorpions are set to return to the U.S in August with a residency celebrating their 60th anniversary at PH Live at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with all things When The Horn Blows related We use cookies and similar technologies to run this website and help us understand how you use it This week's Band of the Week is Brighton quartet Slung - who have just released their debut album 'In Ways' via Fat Dracula grunge and an all-round plethora of alternative influences ‘In Ways’ has been breathed into life by Slung through the supreme ability of its members and their vision The band’s line-up is completed by the accomplished Ali Johnson on guitar and powerhouse rhythm-master Ravi Martin on drums) Katie’s storytelling and the compelling way she brings together personal comes to the fore via a collaborative combustion of its members’ experiences circumstances and accomplished musicianship Slung’s sonic universe is a veritable musical supernova with the band’s members referencing influences as far-reaching as Deftones and Baroness Queens of the Stone Age and even Chappell Roan and Fleetwood Mac They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together So your album is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?.Vlad - 11/10Ali - Unreal Can’t wait for people to hear it and really get a sense of what we’re about Team Slung have been working endlessly on this release for a long time and we’re stoked that it’s finally time to put this record out into the world.Katie - Honestly surreal It’s crazy to listen to it now and hear what a moment in time that represented for us it feels like I was still learning to sing when we recorded it and it sounds so timid and polite but there’s something so honest and special about it’s shyness It is called ‘In Ways’ – what is the meaning behind that?Ali - Only one man can answer that He will give you an in depth detailed narrative that will explain the true nature of why our album is called In Ways Won't you Vlad?Vlad - in ways?Ali - In essence that was it For any questions we asked Vlad regarding anything Slung when he wasn't quite committed to an answer his answer would be - “In Ways”.The phrase came to mean a lot to us and became a daily staple in Slung chat Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?Vlad - It was recorded at Shaken Oak a wonderful studio on a farm in Oxfordshire.Ali - I remember it was cold outside There were some big puzzles and heaps of snacks some fuzz pedals and a bloody great big Bengal tiger Actually it was kinda small and possibly stuffed like a teddy bear.For real though we had a great time hanging out on a farm in Oxfordshire Our host Arthur was gracious and welcoming and the farm cat Clauss became Ravi's new best friend.The tracks went down smoothly and I took great pleasure watching my band mates knock out their takes in no time Although this may have been as I wanted their help with the puzzle.Katie - So many jigsaw puzzles went into the making of this album - My favourite was an Agatha Christie Murder Mystery one A fun fact about the recording process is that on the very last day which was the 21st December winter solstice there was a big storm that knocked down a bunch of trees and took out the power lines around the farm We were plunged into a blackout and it felt like Mother Nature was trying to stop us from finishing this record (of course it wasn’t really that dramatic and we were back up and running in a couple of hours) That farmhouse is the one represented on the album cover.  What are the key influences behind the album?Ali - Breaking expectations I'm going to avoid answering with musical influences as I hope my fellows may cover those so I'm going to offer some alternatives such as where we live Brighton is so important to us and really is the place we came together I met Vlad some years back in a campsite in Australia but it was Brighton we have called our home for the last decade We were lucky enough to meet Katie and Ravi in Brighton and nothing has really been the same since!Also The Simpsons. Vlad - This album draws from absolutely everything I think we gave it all we had on every front of inspiration of creativity musical and otherwise.Katie - A lot of therapy If the album could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?Ali - This took some thinking so you got all the heavy stuff for shark related scenes (Laughter etc.) and the not so heavy stuff for the nice Brody family stuff Limassol for the tense “what do we do about the shark” scenes Matador for the climax and sunset ending to Falling Down. What do you think I think I'm onto something.Vlad - There is nothing one can add to that your imagination is a wild place Ali :) Katie - The record opens with Laughter - the fury and pain of feeling rejected by those who are supposed to love you unconditionally And it closes with Falling Down - succumbing to the softness and vulnerability of returning to your childhood home after a whole lifetime trying  to escape it I think it could be the soundtrack to a really beautiful coming of age film Do you have a favourite lyric on the album it makes me nervous”I feel that one.Vlad - From Heavy Duty ‘You’re dragging me down For me that hits deep and different Katie - ‘Take that power Father gave to son what’s Ali’s favourite chord?)Ali - Oh yeah nice one erm that would probably be the minor 9 chord in Collider Not the first time it's played but the third Now the album is out there – what next for you?Ali - Another cuppa tea and just hanging out with my dog Lulu rock shows and hopefully more pedals and puzzles.Vlad - Play this album live and record the massive amount of riffs and songs that are stockpiling and start creating more music.Katie - I feel this record was an exodus the final closing of a chapter of holding your hurt close and central and having vulnerability be the core of your identity What comes next is everything that can happen once you finally drop the cloak of victimhood In ways (lol) it’s a final farewell to childhood by finally becoming the adult and offering an outstretched hand to carry your inner child onward into the rest of your life An epic reprise from the indie rock collectives’ first in five years with the scholars - an ambitious nine-track rock opera magnum opus Sextile blend synth and punk together on their latest record in a way that has never looked – or sounded more fun creating music that’s impossible not to dance to Blondshell’s second record If You Asked For A Picture is a triumph Toronto's very own soul star delight Tanika Charles shares the video for new track 'Talk To Me Nice' - the third single to taken from her upcoming album 'Reasons To Stay' Cardiff rock band HIMALAYAS have just released the new album 'Bad Stars' - an impressive explosion of sound The post-punk psychedelic powerhouse group that is Squid spun the heads off of the crowd lucky enough to see them perform at Camden’s Roundhouse Dreampop outfit Portland make their return with soaring alternative pop release ‘Lay Me Down’ which hits just about as hard as our first introduction to the band; single ‘Lucky Clover’ A love letter to the city they now call home ‘Glasgow Love Story’ is the stunning new album from Scotland’s Tide Lines.  Incubus took it back to the 00s on Saturday night in London with a stellar show full of nostalgic rock turntable scratching and several unexpected covers American rockers Halestorm release new cinematic rock anthem ‘Darkness Always Wins’ This week's Band of the Week is American punk-rock band Heart Attack Man - who have just released their new album 'Joy Ride The Pale Horse' Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsAndrew Wilson The program was cut short due to inclement weather >> 🎊 Parades, food and more: Your guide to celebrating Fiesta 2025 in San Antonio You can watch a preview from the featured bands in the player above Below are for photos from the event. If you want to share your photos with us, use KSAT Connect Copyright 2025 by KSAT - All rights reserved Andrew Wilson is a digital journalist and social media producer at KSAT Email Newsletters KSAT RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us KSAT Internships Careers at KSAT Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Bob Mould bids farewell to the fans at the end of the show at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City on Saturday Be sure to check out Alan Brostoff’s interview with Bob Mould in the Spring 2025 issue of Goldmine Get the collector’s bundle below w/print hand-signed by Mould John Curley is a Contributing Editor at Goldmine, writing album, book and DVD reviews, the occasional feature and contributing to 10 Albums That Changed My Life for the print magazine as well as writing live reviews, features and posts for the UK music blog Sounds From Across The Pond for Goldmine’s Web site. 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 Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight CHAMPAIGN — There will be more than one traditional powerhouse on campus for Homecoming weekend this fall The night before Illinois football hosts nine-time national champion USC on Sept the Steve Miller Band will play State Farm Center presented by State Farm Center and Central Illinois Multimedia Group will bring 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Steve Miller and his crew back to the UI for the third time — and first since 1997 Tickets for the Sept. 26 gig go on sale at noon Friday online at statefarmcenter.com by phone at 866-ILLINI-1 or at the State Farm Center ticket office UI students receive a $5 discount with their University I Card Premium seating options — including suites club access and floor seating —  will be available Sunday's concert at State Farm Center benefitting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and United Way The Feudin’ Hillbillys won’t have to travel far when it notches a first on May 4 That’s when it performs at State Farm Center in Champaign as the opening act for Lonestar "This an exciting new time for State Farm Center The News-Gazette and the citizens of our community The collaboration will bring diverse shows and entertainment for all to enjoy." In the final installment of our REO reunion-inspired miniseries Nathaniel Banks and other concert-goers: What’s the most unforgettable show you ever took in at the building formerly known as the Assembly Hall In the second installment of our three-part we asked local concert-goers: What’s the most unforgettable show you ever took in at the building formerly known as the Assembly Hall With this week’s news about an REO Speedwagon reunion coming in June to State Farm Center The Gary Richrath Memorial Bench sits on the banks of the Illinois River as a tribute to the REO star who died in 2015 Champaign-born band founded 58 years ago will reunite for one special gig — in the city where it all started Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The Brothers Doobie are set to perform at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on May 9 Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and his solo band kicked off their 2025 tour Friday night (May 2) at Frederick Brown Jr The band — consisting of Gene on bass and vocals Brian Tichy on drums and vocals and Brent Woods on guitar — reportedly played only six songs before the rest of the gig was scrapped due to bad weather A second show followed Saturday night (May 3) at Beaver Dam Amphitheater in Beaver Dam Fan-filmed video of both concerts can be seen below Simmons recently postponed nearly 20 dates on his solo tour with the GENE SIMMONS BAND to 2026 Gene currently has dates scheduled through August 3 in Sturgis In a recent interview with 95.9 The Rat's Carl Craft Gene discussed the "Personal Assistant And Band Roadie For The Day" experience he is offering to his fans during his tour with the GENE SIMMONS BAND called "The Ultimate Gene Simmons Experience" offers fans the opportunity to not only meet Simmons and his band but to assist him with load-in at the venue and setting up the stage attend soundcheck and spend time backstage The roadie will also join Simmons for a meal and the 75-year-old rock legend will introduce the fan during the gig The experience costs $12,495 — plus the original ticket price and comes with a bass guitar Gene previously used — and is only available to one fan per venue Asked how he came up with the price tag of $12,495 for the experience Simmons said: "Here's the deal: when I was a kid and I went to see [Jimi] Hendrix or somebody of course I enjoyed the show and really got off on it — we talked about it forever and stuff — but I didn't know what it was like What's it like to sit and have breakfast or lunch with my favorite rock stars do soundcheck and then be on stage with your video You can't take a poop without a camera coming in under the stall And then you get pulled up on stage to sing along with them And I'll tell you why — because nowadays everything is so litigious That means everybody sues everybody for no reason And that's just the way life is here in America — much more in California because the insurance costs for that are astronomical Gene went on to say that the $12,495 price tag doesn't "just" include "the classic stuff financial and legal exposure," he explained "Somebody has a bad experience and they sue you and it costs you hundreds of thousands of dollars you buy anything — a tool — they give you insurance Simmons is offering another package called the "Gene Simmons Bass Experience" which gives one fan and three guests the chance to meet the KISS icon backstage the fan will be able to take home one of Simmons's bass guitars which can be signed and personalized for $6,500 for a "non-stage-played" instrument and $12,500 for one that Simmons previously played at a show in addition to the ticket cost Simmons's $12,495 "Personal Assistant And Band Roadie For The Day" experience is limited to one per show and includes the following perks: etc.)* And… you get a Gene Simmons (KISS-rehearsal-used) bass signed by Gene Simmons For more information, visit GeneSimmonsAxe.com During an appearance on a December 2024 episode of Billboard's "Behind The Setlist" podcast Gene spoke about how he now tours and performs with his solo band He responded: "I thought I could stay away from the stage [after the completion of KISS's 'End Of The Road' farewell tour] It bears noting that there's a magic that happens up there that words don't really sort of describe It's probably closer to… There used to be a guy named Dr [Arthur] Janov and he had a kind of a strange hippie point of view about people having their stuff pent up You go in there and you just let loose and reportedly — I was never part of that but reportedly — people would come out drenched in sweat and relieved and tired and you expel all this stuff black — you can't do any of that stuff because we're very sort of… There are subtle rules that we all have to be aware of and it's this celebration of life with the fans and you So the GENE SIMMONS BAND is a chance for me with some friends who are monsters on their instruments to go out there and just have a great time why don't you do 'Almost Human' from 1804?' You betcha 'Do you guys know 'Whole Lotta Love'?' 'Yeah And at every show we bring fans up on stage When asked how the idea for touring without managers and a road crew came about it was done by black musicians when they played the Chitlin' Circuit I don't do that — I take my band with me — but Berry would show up And you can be as tight as THE [ROLLING] STONES I don't know if you've ever seen THE STONES live And you never quite know where the end of the song is — it never quite ends — because there is no end; you just kind of feel it Regarding what the difference is to him financially when he plays shows with his solo band compared to how it was with KISS Gene said: "I make more [with my solo band] And the pyro alone for every [KISS] show was 10 grand enormous costs for doing that — but proud to have done that with [fellow KISS founder] Paul [Stanley] and the rest of the guys in the band It's almost as if you decided to rent some amps in a garage and plug in and then everybody from the neighborhood comes in and you have a much different relationship There's none of that sort of prepared thing It's very informal and an awful lot of fun." the GENE SIMMONS BAND members include guitarists Brent Woods (WILDSIDE VINCE NEIL) and Zach Throne (COREY TAYLOR) alongside drummer Brian Tichy (LYNCH MOB the GENE SIMMONS BAND played a number of shows with a lineup that consisted of Simmons alongside guitarist/bassist Jeremy Asbrock guitarist Phil Shouse and drummer Brent Fitz Simmons stated about his solo shows: "Doing these smaller concert halls which hold a thousand to three thousand people means they get filled up by real diehard fans It's a hoot for me because I've never really had a chance to do this stuff live It's been a lot of fun." Gene told the Chicago Sun-Times: "By the end I get the chance to bring as many people from the audience as we can fit on the stage to sing with me." Regarding how the idea for a solo tour came about Simmons told Australia's Advertiser in a 2018 interview: "The GENE SIMMONS BAND was not a plan or anything a corporate event asked me to be keynote speaker … then they said 'Won't you get up and sing a few tunes?' I explained that you can't just do that you've got to have a band and rehearse and all that 'I like you!' "So I put together a band from Nashville — these guys back up Kid Rock and lots of other people — and without a single rehearsal I just told them which songs I wanted to do and they learned them It just sounded natural — there is such a thing called chemistry they do teach 'chemistry' but not the kind I'm talking about It felt right and as soon as the videos went on YouTube and such This little GENE SIMMONS BAND never tried to be KISS… It was just a little bit of fun and stuff we're headlining festivals in the Czech Republic Posted by Jim Burson on Friday Posted by Andre Turner on Saturday TONIGHT (FRIDAY 5-2): We are excited to host Gene Simmons Band at the Fred tonight Posted by Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater on Friday, May 2, 2025 🚨SEASON OPENER🚨 - https://mailchi.mp/rumseyrecords/buythedamtickets-13360266 Posted by Beaver Dam Amphitheater on Saturday, May 3, 2025