Weekly Music News 3.7.22
A roundup of music news for the week beginning July 3, 2022.
The buzz around "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush refuses to die down. Revived by its appearance in the excellent "Stranger Things", the song has entered the Guinness record book with three new records: the longest time for a single to reach number one, almost 37 years after release; the oldest female artist to top the UK singles chart; and the longest gap between number-one singles, following her 1978 debut "Wuthering Heights". And there is more. The song has also topped worldwide streaming rankings and, according to Luminate estimates, generated around $2.3 million in streaming royalties since late May.
"Whitesnake" have cancelled their European tour because of ongoing health problems affecting the band. Late last month they cancelled three shows after David Coverdale developed a sinus and tracheal infection. Guitarist Reb Beach also missed several shows last month. On June 25, the band cancelled their Rock Imperium festival appearance in Spain because drummer Tommy Aldridge was unwell and had to miss a show for the first time in his career.
Supergroup "Crosby, Stills & Nash" are returning their music to Spotify after roughly six months away. Crosby, Stills and Nash asked for their music to be removed over Joe Rogan's statements about COVID-19, in solidarity with their friend Neil Young, who acted before them. Interestingly, Neil Young is still maintaining his Spotify boycott.
Guitarist Carlos Santana collapsed during a show in Michigan, USA. He was taken offstage behind a screen protecting his privacy and rushed to hospital. He is doing well, but his upcoming shows have been cancelled.
Also, Axl Rose singer of "Guns N' Roses", was unwell during the band's show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He stayed there overnight because he did not feel well enough to get to his hotel. But do not worry: Axl returned to the same stage the following night after feeling better, and even told the audience he had slept at the stadium. See here.
*** SPOILER ALERT *** For those watching the excellent "Stranger Things", which has already generated plenty of Kate Bush headlines, one of the finale's great scenes features "Master Of Puppets" by "Metallica". Eddie Munson, one of the season's most beloved characters, has shown his love of metal throughout the season, from a Ronnie James Dio jacket and a W.A.S.P. badge to an Iron Maiden cassette. Now he plays parts of the song on his guitar in a climactic moment that demonstrates the power of music. Metallica responded on their Facebook page:
"The way The Duffer Brothers have incorporated music into Stranger Things has always been next level, so we were beyond psyched for them to not only include “Master of Puppets” in the show but to have such a pivotal scene built around it. We were all stoked to see the final result and when we did we were totally blown away..."
And that is not the end of the story. The buzz around the eight-minute song has increased its streaming numbers by 400% and even brought it into the charts, 36 years after its original release.
Remember how we said that Nick Cave's last show in Israel felt like a prayer? (If not, here is an example) Well, he seems to have heard us. He has released seven "psalms", reciting prayer-like passages over mesmerizing music by Warren Ellis. You can listen here: Spotify
Attention, attention! "This Is Not A Drill". We repeat: "This Is Not A Drill". Roger Waters has begun his tour of that name, which will probably also include a generous helping of attacks on Israel. Right at the start, the screens displayed this statement of intent:
If you're one of those "I love Pink Floyd, but I can't stand Roger's politics" people, you might do well to fuck off to the bar right now.
Guitarist Manny Charlton, a member of "Nazareth" from their formation until 1990, playing on albums including "Razamanaz", "Loud 'n' Proud" and "Hair of the Dog", has died at 80. Charlton was Axl Rose's first choice to produce "Appetite for Destruction". He produced early demos of some songs, and those versions appear on the album's expanded 2018 edition.
How long we have waited for this... "Journey" return with "Freedom", their first album in eleven years. The pandemic brought renewed attention when "Don't Stop Believin" passed a billion Spotify streams. Then came another boost when a remix of "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" appeared in "Stranger Things". Now we get the band's fifteenth album, sounding fresh, exciting, familiar and confident.
להאזנה: Spotify
Another major band returns with a new single from a new album, their first in six years. We are talking about "The Cult" and "Under the Midnight Sun", their eleventh album, due on October 7. As a first taste, the band release "Give Me Mercy" today, complete with a new video.
Also, Eric Clapton has surprised us with a new single, "Pompous Fool". Any guesses who it is about? Clapton has criticized British Prime Minister Boris Johnson before, particularly over his COVID-19 policies. When Johnson announced around a year ago that proof of vaccination would be required at UK concerts, Clapton was furious and went on to write "This Has Gotta Stop". Now comes another critical song that fans suspect is aimed at Johnson. Can someone tell Clapton that Johnson has already got the message and resigned?
An "Iron Maiden" show scheduled for last night in Bologna, Italy, July 7, was cancelled "due to extreme weather conditions, including lightning storms and strong winds". Earlier this week Italy declared a state of emergency in five regions amid drought and rising temperatures. The heat has also been linked to the glacier collapse and avalanche in the Italian Alps.
Eviatar Banai is releasing a live album. In winter 2021, he gave a surprise show at Teder in Tel Aviv. He said he had worried that nobody would come, given the surprise announcement, winter and the pandemic. Slowly the venue filled up, and he could breathe again. Now that performance is coming out as a live album. Listen: Spotify
Swedish death-metal powerhouse "Amon Amarth" are releasing "The Great Heathen Army", the title track from their new album due on August 5. The song describes battles between Saxons and Vikings, while its video also draws on "Stranger Things", which has simply taken over this week's news. You can see it in everything from the red opening font to the flashing lights in an eighties basement.
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