MusiCares has named U2 — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. — as the 2027 MusiCares Persons of the Year.

One of the most acclaimed bands in modern music, U2 will be honored for their groundbreaking body of work and decades of using their reach, resources and music to support people and the fight for justice around the world.

The 36th annual Persons of the Year benefit gala will be held at a new location, Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, on February 5, 2027, two nights before the 2027 Grammys at Crypto.com Arena.

“We are honored to celebrate and recognize U2 as this year’s MusiCares Persons of the Year,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. “Their impact goes far beyond the stage. Not only has their music defined generations, but they’ve been equally exemplary in their dedication to humanitarian work and using their platform for good. We are so excited to come together to honor their collective artistry and commitment to giving back on this special night.”

Celebrating 50 years together as a band after meeting in their Dublin high school in 1976, U2 has won 22 Grammy awards and sold more than 170 million albums worldwide, building a career that has spanned generations of recorded music and live performances. Alongside their music, the four members have established and supported a wide range of philanthropic and humanitarian campaigns.

From their earliest days as a young band, the members of U2 have been activists for peace, justice and human rights.

In addition to these joint efforts, Bono co-founded sister organizations ONE and (RED) to pressure governments and businesses to do more in the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty, and he played a key role in persuading President Bush to create PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief).

MusiCares previously honored Bono as the 2003 MusiCares Person of the Year for his impact through both music and activism.

“We are huge fans of MusiCares and the lifelines they provide across the incredible pool of talent that is the music industry. We’ve been recording and touring for 50 years because of that pool, from producers and engineers to carpenters and riggers,” said U2.

They added, “‘Persons of the Year’ couldn’t be a better title as it’s the people we’ve been so fortunate to work with, and of course our indomitable audience, that have given us the opportunity to keep making music and keep rocking the boat on things we really care about. It’s such an honour, and we’re very excited to be in the front row of our first ever U2 gig…we know we’re gonna be outplayed.”

Source: RTT Music News

Music icon Billy Joel has revealed that loud concerts were causing damage to his brain.

Joel revealed the news while providing an update on his health after undergoing brain surgery.

He was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder that affects balance and memory, in May 2025.

“The doctors told me because of my job, which is playing rock and roll music very loud, that it was giving me something like a concussion every time I did a show,” he said in an interview on Sirius XM’s The Billy Joel Channel.

“It was causing damage to my brain nerves and I could be losing more brain cells the more shows I did and I realized that means I shouldn’t be doing this right now. I got to improve. They don’t want me to stress too much.”

He added that although he was initially hesitant to receive the treatment, doctors implanted a shunt in his brain and it “improved things.”

“You know, I don’t want to lose my marbles. It’s hard to tell what’s age and what’s a condition, so I agreed to do the shunt and I had a surgery, and they implanted a shunt in my brain and it actually improved things. My memory got better, my balance got a little better, my ability to function was better.”

The 77-year-old musician said that he is now recuperating and doing physical therapy and listening to his doctors.

“They don’t want me to stress too much. I’m doing whatever it is they tell me to do, because I don’t want to lose it, you know? So I’m always testing myself.”

After undergoing surgery last year, Joel returned to the stage for a live performance in January, joining a Billy Joel cover band for two songs.

Source: RTT Music News

German hard rockers Scorpions, who canceled a four-date run in India earlier this year, have postponed their remaining 2026 live dates, including three shows in Mexico and an eight-date Las Vegas residency, citing “unforeseen circumstances.”

The shows will now be held from late August through September 2027, after the European leg of their ongoing “Coming Home – 60 Years of Scorpions” tour.

Concert promoter Ocesa announced the postponements for the Mexico shows, while Live Nation posted a statement on Instagram regarding the Vegas residency.

“Scorpions regret to announce that, due to unforeseen circumstances, their upcoming September shows in Las Vegas will need to be postponed. The band is extremely disappointed but looks forward to returning to Las Vegas in September 2027,” reads the statement from Live Nation.

In April, the rockers canceled a four-date tour of India due to “unforeseen medical circumstances affecting the band members.”

The band has been fronted by Klaus Meine since 1969. Other members of the band include founder Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar), Pawel Maciwoda (bass) and Mikkey Dee (drums).

Rescheduled dates for 2027 Mexico and Las Vegas shows:

08/27 – Guadalajara, Mexico @ Auditorio Telex
08/30 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Palacio de los Deportes
09/02 – Monterrey, Mexico @ Auditorio Banamex
09/09 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/11 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/14 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/16 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/18 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/21 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/23 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood
09/25 – Las Vegas, Nevada @ Planet Hollywood

Source: RTT Music News

Elvis Costello has shared a previously unreleased song, “I Turn Around,” from his upcoming album, My Aim Is True (49th Anniversary Edition).

The first track off the set’s second disc, called The Blue Print, “I Turn Around” is an example of how several of Costello’s early compositions, recorded around the time of My Aim Is True, would evolve into other songs released over his career.

Recorded solo at Hope & Anchor Studio in early 1976 with Dave Robinson, the future co-founder of Stiff Records, “I Turn Around” was never released in its original form. But the chorus would appear, years later, as a B-side on the more experimental and opulent Imperial Bedroom.

“Anyone who has heard that peppy toe-tapper will be surprised to find that the entire title refrain had first served as the chorus of an entirely different story, written 19 years earlier,” Costello says in the box set liner notes.

Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True (49th Anniversary Edition) Box Set is set to be released on October 2 via UMe.

The expanded 5-CD set tells the story of how “Declan MacManus” became “D.P. Costello,” who briefly vanished before reappearing as “Elvis Costello.”

The collection features 104 tracks, 52 of them previously unreleased songs, demos, outtakes and live performances. The 2026 remaster of original album is from Pathway Studios Master Reels.

Costello provides a new 72-page essay with contributions by Nick Lowe, John McFee, Gregg Geller, Bill Flanagan, Warren Zanes, Rosanne Cash, Peter Wolf and Jim James as well as recollections from Steve Nieve and Pete Thomas.

Source: RTT Music News

Van Halen’s final studio album, A Different Kind Of Truth, is set to be back in print on CD and as a 2LP set pressed on 180-gram vinyl via Rhino on October 23rd.

A limited crystal-clear vinyl version will be available exclusively at retail stores and from Rhino.com. The lacquers were cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Pre-orders are available here.

A Different Kind Of Truth, featuring Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang Van Halen, was the first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since the band’s classic multi-platinum album 1984. The album, which arrived on February 7, 2012, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

A Different Kind Of Truth LP Tracklist:

LP One

Side One

“Tattoo”
“She’s The Woman”
“You And Your Blues”
“China Town”
Side Two

“Blood And Fire”
“Bullethead”
“As Is”

LP Two

Side One

“Honeybabysweetiedoll”
“The Trouble With Never”
“Outta Space”
Side Two

“Stay Frosty”
“Big River”
“Beats Workin'”

Source: RTT Music News

CBC recently unveiled a trailer for an original feature documentary on Neil Peart.

The trailer offers a first look at the film’s intimate exploration of the legendary Rush drummer and lyricist, featuring rare archival footage, personal reflections, and extraordinary live performances from some of the world’s most acclaimed drummers.

Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16.

The film’s broadcast and streaming premiere is set for September 23 at 8 PM on CBC and CBC Gem in Canada.

Directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn and produced by Banger Films and Elevation Pictures, Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple explores the artistry and enduring influence of Rush’s enigmatic drummer and lyricist.

An all-star lineup of drummers, including Danny Carey of Tool, Stewart Copeland of The Police, Gavin Harrison of King Crimson and Porcupine Tree, and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, joins Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to tackle Peart’s notoriously demanding drum parts, revealing the musicianship behind one of rock’s most original artists. Republic Pictures has acquired the film outside of Canada.

Source: RTT Music News

Legendary rock band The Who have announced a super deluxe edition of their 1975 album, The Who By Numbers.

50 years on, The Who By Numbers is to be reissued on October 30 as a 5CD/1Blu-Ray Super Deluxe Edition boxset featuring a 100-page hard back book with photos, memorabilia and exclusive notes from Pete Townshend and Who expert Andy Neill, 92 unreleased tracks and mixes, brand new Atmos, 5.1 and Stereo mixes by Pete Townshend, 11 of Pete’s original demos for the album, tracking sessions from Ramport and Shepperton Studios, early mixes, guide vocals, the full version of Live At the Vetch Field, and on the Blu-Ray audio and video from a previously unreleased Who concert shot on 2″ videotape from Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan.

The Who By Numbers, released in early October 1975, is the seventh studio album by The Who and marked a watershed moment for the band.

This new super deluxe edition sheds light on the making of the album and the state of mind of its composer, Pete Townshend. As he puts it in the 100-page making-of-the-album book that accompanies the box set, “I could feel a new wave or reaction and rebellion coming in the music business, the big bands were becoming careless and self-indulgent. I wanted my songs to continue to have a cathartic function for our audience. When punk hit a few years later, I was not surprised.”

“In some ways, The Who By Numbers is my favourite [Who] album. For me, songs like ‘Imagine A Man’, ‘How Many Friends’ and ‘However Much I Booze’ expose our vulnerabilities, and the album is wonderful for that,” says Roger Daltrey.

The super deluxe edition of The Who By Numbers is available to pre-order here.

Source: RTT Music News

The Who appear to have reunited with longtime drummer Zak Starkey, more than a year after his turbulent departure from the legendary rock band.

Frontman Roger Daltrey revealed during a solo show in Las Vegas last week that The Who had recently rehearsed with Starkey, saying it “sounded great.”

Starkey subsequently confirmed the reunion, saying he was looking forward to performing with the band again.

“I’m so happy to be back playing the music I love with people I love,” Starkey said, describing the rehearsal as “absolutely on fire.”

Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, had played with The Who since 1996. His departure in 2025 followed an onstage dispute during a performance of “The Song Is Over.” He was initially fired, briefly reinstated and then removed again before the band’s North American farewell tour.

The Who completed their U.S. farewell tour in October 2025 but have indicated that their story may not be over, with potential European shows still possible. No new tour dates have been announced yet.

Source: RTT Music News