Toto co-founder bemused by yacht rock revival, enduring power of ‘Africa’
ATLANTA — Toto had a handful of hits in the 1970s and 1980s but was never considered among the top echelon of arena rock acts of that era along the lines of Journey, Styx and Foreigner. Yet two factors have brought the band into the 2020s with greater prominence and...
Ozzy Osbourne, who led Black Sabbath and became the godfather of heavy metal, dies at 76Video
Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice — and drug-and-alcohol ravaged id — of heavy metal, died Tuesday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that...
Q&A: Dance music artist Kiesza opening her Dancing and Crying tour in PittsburghVideo
As dance music artist Kiesza prepares to release “Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2” on Friday, the Canadian electropop singer reflected on which of the two acts she’d been doing more of in 2025. “I’ll be doing more dancing the second half of this year, and I did more crying the...
Billy Joel shares encouraging update after brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel reassured fans about his health on Monday. The 76-year-old musician had previously canceled all of his scheduled concerts after announcing in May that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s ventricles, with patients experiencing cognitive decline, difficulty...
Charli XCX and The 1975 drummer George Daniel are married
LONDON — Charli XCX and The 1975 drummer George Daniel have tied the knot. A representative for Daniel confirmed to The Associated Press that the pair married over the weekend. The couple were seen posing in front of London’s Hackney Town Hall on Saturday. Daniel wore a suit, and Charli...
Country music star, ex-Steelers QB address ‘wild rumors’ about marriage
Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges made headlines back in February when they got engaged. There was a whole buildup to Duck popping the question on February 12 on George Jones’ estate, and the entire country music world seemed invested in it. And seems like folks are still pretty interested...
Breaking Benjamin and Flyleaf singers rock out acoustically at Roxian Theatre
How much fun it must be to front a platinum-selling rock band, make longtime friends with other rock vocalists and then go out on tour to play music and laugh together. Such are the current lives of Benjamin Burnley, the founding member and lead singer of Breaking Benjamin, and Lacey...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Rachel Whitcomb
Rachel Whitcomb described her new album “Wildest Dreams” as a love letter to 1990s country music. Whitcomb, an associate dean at Duquesne University, worked with Nashville musicians like Brent Mason (guitar) and Scotty Sanders (steel guitar), as well as Ryan Joseph (fiddle), a Duquesne graduate who has toured with Alan...
Wiz Khalifa brings good vibes only to hometown show at Star Lake
When it comes to rap, Pittsburgh may not be Los Angeles, New York or Atlanta, but we do pretty well for ourselves. That was evident on Saturday night, when hometown rapper Wiz Khalifa came through to play the Pavilion at Star Lake on his Good Vibes Only Tour. Along for...
Review: Guitarist Ace Frehley dives into Kiss history in Pittsburgh area showVideo
Ace Frehley didn’t rock and roll all night on Friday, with the former Kiss guitarist’s show at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale ending shortly before 11 p.m. But “The Spaceman” showed why countless guitar players derived inspiration from his Kiss heyday, as he and his band took a dive into...
Coldplay concert ‘kiss cam’ moment goes viral
NEW YORK — Chris Martin caused a stir at the Boston Coldplay concert with a quip about a couple caught in a cozy moment on the jumbotron, video shows. The clip seemingly features Astronomer CEO Andy Byron with his arms wrapped around a woman who resembles his company’s chief people...
Piano playing a passion for Aspinwall musician Lucas Bowman
The Bowman family of Aspinwall have built-in musical entertainment for their growing family with freelance musician, dad and husband Lucas Bowman. Bowman and his wife, Jenna, are raising twin 14-month-old boys, Charlie and Leo, in a home complete with keyboards and a guitar. “The biggest perk to being married to...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 18-20
No plans for a summer vacation on the horizon? No worries. Take a staycation right here in Pittsburgh this weekend with a whole bunch of fun, active and relaxing events. Vintage Grand Prix A local tradition returns to Schenley Park this weekend. Gawk at — and cheer on — your...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: The Pump Fakes
Earlier this year, The Pump Fakes released their first new album in 14 years, with several reasons for the big gap. “The easy answer is the pandemic,” singer/guitarist Patrick Maloney said, “but it was really that and the changes within the band lineup and trying to narrow it down to...
Legendary singer Connie Francis dead at 87
Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include “Pretty Little Baby” and who would later serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy, has died at age 87. Her death was announced Thursday by her friend and publicist,...
Review: Pantera opens Heaviest Tour of the Summer in PittsburghVideo
Touted as the Heaviest Tour of the Summer, Tuesday night’s Pantera/Amon Amarth/SNAFU show at the Pavilion at Star Lake more than lived up to the billing. Pantera opened their tour at Star Lake, getting in several days of rehearsals at the venue after earlier opening shows for Metallica, festival appearances...
Unreleased Beyoncé music stolen during ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour
Unreleased music by Beyoncé along with footage, show plans and concert set lists were stolen from a car in Atlanta rented by the singer’s choreographer and one of her dancers, according to a police incident report. The theft of the materials, stored on five thumb drives, happened on July 8,...
The Head and the Heart guitarist Matty Gervais on band’s ‘new beginning’ ahead of Aperture tour stop in PittsburghVideo
Just as The Head and the Heart guitarist Matty Gervais started talking about the influence having a new child had on the band’s latest album, who should crawl on to his left shoulder but his older daughter, 4-year-old Franny? The indie folk rock band’s sixth album, “Aperture,” came together as...
Northside Music Festival returns to rock this weekend
The Northside Music Festival has become a mainstay of local music lovers’ summer calendars after just two years. Now in its third year, the festival boasts around 100 musical acts over three days, in the Deutschtown neighborhood of the North Side. Festival organizer Ben Soltesz also helped to organize the...
Pittsburgh local music spotlight: The Long HuntVideo
The Long Hunt, a heavy instrumental band based in Pittsburgh, are releasing their next album “Natural Order” on July 18 — “a labor of love and an artifact of where we are musically at the present moment,” according to guitarist Trevor Richards. “To me, it’s very evocative,” said bassist Allison...
Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler rock it old school at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
On Sunday night, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in Creighton got a lineup that would’ve completely packed Star Lake in 1995. You can just imagine a sea of tie-dye-clad hacky-sackers rocking out to three of the moment’s hottest bands. Considering it’s 30 years later, the bill of Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and...
London music festival cancels its final night after ELO’s Jeff Lynne pulls out
LONDON — A two-week-long music festival in central London has canceled its final night after Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra pulled out of the headline slot on Sunday. Lynne, 77, who was billed to play alongside his band Sunday at the The BST Hyde Park festival, withdrew on Saturday on...
Review: Pop-soul singer Teddy Swims’ career keeps getting bigger, just like his Pittsburgh crowdsVideo
The career of pop-soul singer Teddy Swims has come a long way in five years, going from posting YouTube covers in 2019 and 2020 to a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist this year. At Pittsburgh’s Stage AE, those achievements can be measured in feet. Swims played the Club at...
Justin Bieber releases ‘Swag,’ his long-awaited 7th album
NEW YORK — Never say never! Justin Bieber surprised fans Friday by releasing “Swag,” his seventh studio album, hours after he teased it on billboards and social media posts. It is his first album since 2021’s “Justice” and his first since becoming a father last year. “Inspired by his devotion...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: July 11-13
If you’re intimidated by the cucumber-hungry crowds of Picklesburgh and you’re looking for something else to do this weekend, don’t worry! There’s still plenty going on around Pittsburgh (outside of Downtown). At least five things, in fact! Swissvale Edible Garden Tour Right at the height of the growing season, Swissvale...
