As part of its policy to celebrate some of the United Kingdom’s most important artists – individuals and bands who have helped shape Britons’ love of music in 2020, The Royal Mint is releasing official coins commemorating Sir Elton John.

The coins range from a face value of £5 to £1,000 gold.

“No such collection would make sense without the inclusion of Elton John, the superstar who has been delighting fans for more than half a century,” the Royal Mint said in a statement.

The coin was designed by Bradley Morgan Johnson, depicting the performer wearing his famous music-note glasses and straw boater’s hat.

The legendary pop musician has made more than 4,000 performances in over 80 countries and sold in excess of 300 million records worldwide.

Source: RTT Music News

Ringo Starr announced a virtual charity concert marking his 80th Birthday featuring Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark, Jr., Sheila E and Ben Harper.

The show, consisting of a mix of at-home performances and unearthed concert footage from the artists, will be streamed on YouTube at 8 p.m. EST on July 7.

“This year is going to be a little different. There’s no big get-together, there’s no brunch for 100. But we’re putting this show together – an hour of music and chat. It’s quite a big birthday,” Ringo said in a Rolling Stone interview.

“As everyone knows I love gathering with fans for peace and love on my birthday,” the Beatles drummer said in a press release. “But this year, I want everyone to be safe at home – so I called up a few friends and we put this Big Birthday Show together so we could still celebrate my birthday with you all, with some great music for some great charities.”

Proceeds from “Ringo’s Big Birthday Show” will go to the Black Lives Matter Global Network, the David Lynch Foundation, MusiCares and WaterAid.

Source: RTT Music News

Elton John has announced the launch of a weekly archival concert footage series on his official YouTube channel at 12 pm ET on Friday.

“Elton John: Classic Concert Series” will be featuring some of his most monumental concerts from around the world.

The series will premiere with “Live at Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh” from 1976.

Recorded as part of the Edinburgh Festival of Popular Music on September 17, 1976, it gives fans an exhilarating view of Elton at the height of his ’70s popularity.

Following the inaugural episode, a two-hour concert set will be played on his YouTube channel every Saturday at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST for a total of six weeks.

The series will be streamed globally to raise funds towards the Elton John AIDS Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Fund.

The Fund helps frontline partners prepare for and respond to the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalized communities.

Elton said he is really happy to connect this YouTube concert series to benefit his Foundation’s urgent COVID response.

Source: RTT Music News

Blue Öyster Cult have announced that their new studio album, The Symbol Remains, will be released in October.

The rock band members – Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom, Danny Miranda, Richie Castellano and Jules Radino – have been working on the album remotely since February, but the COVID-19 pandemic prolonged the process.

Coming nearly two decades after the release of their last studio album Curse of the Hidden Mirror, Blue Öyster Cult describe the album as one of their most spirited, diverse, and inspired releases to date.

The 14-song album will be released via Frontiers Music Srl.

In addition to the new material, Blue Öyster Cult also announced a special release of 45th Anniversary — Live in London on August 7.

It captures the band’s performance at the O2 Indigo during the Stone Free Music Festival in London in 2017.

Source: RTT Music News