Mick Ralphs, Bad Company And Mott The Hoople Guitarist, Passed Monday
Mick Ralphs, guitarist and founding member of both Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, has passed. Paul Rodgers, Ralphs' bandmate in Bad Company, posted on social media, "Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground. He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humor. Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh but it won't be our last. There are many memories of Mick that will create laughter. Condolences to everyone who loved him especially his one true love, Susie. I will see you in heaven." Simon Kirke added, “He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply. Bad Company were elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year and will be inducted November 8th in Los Angeles.
Ralphs was hospitalized with a stroke in 2016, officially retiring from performing at that point. According to a press release announcing his death, "Ralphs gave his final performance with Bad Company on Oct. 29, 2016, at London’s O2 Arena. Just days later, he suffered a debilitating stroke and remained bedridden until his passing." Ralphs was 81. Mick is survived by his wife, Susie, two children and three stepchildren.
ERIC CLAPTON: Another Crossroads Benefit
Eric Clapton will start off his brief U.S. tour with another benefit concert for his Crossroads Center in Antigua. The show is September 5th at the Mershon Auditorium, a 2500 seat theater on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets for the concert will go on sale Friday. Clapton has done a number of fund-raising concerts for the rehab center he launched in 1998, with seven Crossroads Guitar Festivals overall. The last was in 2023.
Clapton won't have to travel far for the gig, as he and his wife Melia and their three daughters live in Columbus.
AC/DC Announces Homecoming Shows
AC/DC are returning to their home country of Australia for five shows this winter. The tour kicks off on November 12th in Melbourne and will wrap up on December 14th in Brisbane. The upcoming dates will be the first time AC/DC have visited their home country since performing in Australia in 2015 on their Rock or Bust tour. The band will end their North American tour with a show on May 28th in Cleveland, Ohio.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Still Not Happy With U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen became a worldwide superstar because of Born in the U.S.A. But four decades later, he's still not satisfied with it. Springsteen tells Rolling Stone that he thought it didn’t “connect” like his other albums. He says, "It was a record I put out. It became the record I made, not necessarily the record that I was interested in making. "I was interested in taking Nebraska and making a full record that had somewhat that same feeling. If you hear 'My Hometown' and you hear 'Born in the U.S.A.,' they were sort of the bookends I intended. And the rest of the stuff was … just what I had at the time. Those were the songs I wrote. Those were the songs I recorded. "From conception to execution, it was not necessarily the record that in my mind I had planned on, but that’s the way creativity works. You go in the studio, you have an idea. It’s not necessarily what you come out with. So that was just the situation of that record for me personally."
Rolling Stone writer Andy Greene told Springsteen that as a listener, it felt like "dispatches from various people left behind by Reagan’s America" and was cohesive. Springsteen replied, "I guess, it was to a lot of other people too. I suppose maybe I was looking for something darker. But outside of that, the themes of Nebraska are in there -- in 'Downbound Train,' they’re in there, they’re disguised somewhat into pop music."
Steve Van Zandt to Miss E Street Band Concerts After Undergoing Appendicitis Surgery
Steven Van Zandt will miss upcoming shows with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band due to emergency surgery for appendicitis. The guitarist underwent a successful operation in San Sebastián, Spain, and hopes to return for at least one show in Milan. Springsteen recently criticized Donald Trump during his European tour, prompting a response from the president. Meanwhile, Springsteen released a new box set, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, featuring previously unreleased songs from 1983 to 2018.
REO SPEEDWAGON: Cronin to Mark 40 Years of Live Aid
Ex-REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin is looking to mark the 40th anniversary of Live Aid by helping those in need once again. Cronin says a recent interview about the July 13th, 1985 concert has him feeling nostalgic. "It was an incredible, monumental and unifying day -- a global effort from Philadelphia and London to fight famine in Africa through music. "To honor that powerful legacy, The Kevin Cronin Band is proud to say that we will be donating a portion of the proceeds from our show closest to the anniversary -- July 12th at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia -- to the Haymarket Food Pantry to aid in ongoing efforts to address food insecurity." Then Cronin put out a challenge to fellow artists that played the concert to do the same. "Wouldn’t it be amazing if many of the other Live Aid performers would join in and consider a similar gesture? Every little bit helps, as the need is still there." Cronin tagged a bunch of artists on the road this summer that played Live Aid, including Daryl Hall, John Oates, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Patti LaBelle, Duran Duran, Neil Young, Carlos Santana, Simple Minds, George Thorogood, The Beach Boys, Bryan Adams, Judas Priest and Rick Springfield.
Citizen Edge: U2’s English-born guitarist conferred with Irish citizenship in Kerry ceremony
Here's something that might surprise you about Ireland's most popular band, U2 -- The Edge wasn't an Irish citizen until yesterday (Monday). When he was just a one-year-old Dave Evans, he and his family moved from Wales to Ireland, but he never became a citizen. Monday in Killarney he was among thousands of people conferred with Irish citizenship. After the ceremony The Edge told reporters it was "a monumental day for all of us. I guess, you know, I’m a little tardy with the paperwork. I’ve been living in Ireland now since I was one year old. But the time is right. And I couldn’t be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing. "It’s showing real leadership right now in the world and it couldn’t come at a better moment for me, so I am just so happy to be at this point to be in even deeper connection with my homeland... "Honestly, there were many moments in the past when I could have done it with just the form to be filled out but I’m happy it’s now. It feels more significant.” He said it’s "more meaningful" now because of “what is going on in the world right now, what Ireland stands for -- it’s very powerful."
Bonnaroo Hints At Possible Different Weekend For 2026
The organizers of Bonnaroo are hinting at changing the weekend of the festival after its third cancellation in five years. Earlier this month, the festival was cancelled after one successful day due to severe weather. The festival was set for June 12th through the 15th in Manchester, Tennessee.Now, in a survey on social media, organizers have shared a survey with questions like "would you attend Bonnaroo if it was a few weeks later in the summer?" The festival was also cancelled in 2021 due to severe weather and in 2020 due to COVID-19.
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Announce North American "The Catacombs Tour"
Queens of the Stone Age have announced The Catacombs Tour for this fall, featuring one-night-only performances at historic theaters in North America. The tour was inspired by the band's Alive in the Catacombs cinematic concept and will showcase new arrangements of their songs. The band recently performed an acoustic set in Paris, including rare live versions of some of their tracks. The full list of North American tour dates has been released, with a Live Nation presale Wednesday at 10am and general ticket on sale Friday morning at 10am at ticketmaster.com. Dates for the UK and Europe will be announced later.
IN OTHER NEWS
Kansas were joined by two special guests for "Carry on Wayward Son" Saturday night in Atlanta -- drummer/manager Phil Ehart, who no longer tours with the band, and former bassist Dave Hope. Watch the performance on Instagram.
Billy Idol joined Yungblud at the singer's Bludfest in Milton Keyes, England on Saturday to duet on "White Wedding."
Liam Gallagher had a few choice words for people who’ve criticized the new Oasis and Adidas campaign. He wrote, “I’m hearing loads of chat about who this Adidas/Oasis collaboration is for. It’s for everyone, now get involved and stop crying your heart out… And if it’s not your cup of tea, DON’T buy it. But don’t MOAN about it as well."