Chrissie Hynde has announced a star-studded Duets Special album, featuring musical collaborators including Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry, Brandon Flowers, k.d. lang, Dave Gahan and the late Mark Lanegan.

The 13-track album, credited to Chrissie Hynde & Pals, will be released on October 17 via Parlophone and available on vinyl, CD and streaming platforms.

Hynde also shared the album’s lead single, a cover of “Always On My Mind” with Wainwright.

Explaining the origin of Duets Special, the Pretenders lead singer said the idea came up during a phone call with Wainwright’s husband, Jörn Weisbrodt, two years ago.

“I think we were recommending novels to each other and for some reason I said, ‘Hey, maybe Rufus and I should do something,'” Hynde said. “I quickly scribbled out 10 songs off the top of my head… it started as a spontaneous and fun thing.”

“There will not be a Pretenders album coming out this year, but there will be a duets album. Me singing with some old pals. I know that doesn’t sound very exciting, until you consider who some of my old pals are,” she added.

Duets Special Tracklist:

1. “Me and Mrs. Jones” with k.d. lang
2. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with Mark Lanegan
3. “Sway” with Lucinda Williams
4. “Dolphins: with Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode
5. “First of the Gang to Die” with Cat Power
6. “Always on My Mind” with Rufus Wainwright
7. “Every Little Bit Hurts” with Carleen Anderson
8. “I’m Not in Love” with Brandon Flowers
9. “It’s Only Love” with Julian Lennon
10. “Try to Sleep” with Debbie Harry
11. “County Line” with Alan Sparhawk
12. “Love Letters” with Shirley Manson
13. “(You’re My) Soul & Inspiration” with Dan Auerbach

Source: RTT Music News

Daryl Hall and John Oates have resolved their dispute over Oates’ plan to sell his half of their joint venture to Primary Wave Music.

The duo has privately resolved the issue in arbitration without any additional information on their deal.

“The claims have been adjudicated in arbitration,” Hall’s attorneys wrote in a status report, filed in Nashville court, as per Rolling Stone. “Given the entry of final judgment in arbitration, plaintiffs will be contemporaneously filing a notice of voluntary dismissal with the court.”

The pair started litigation in 2023 when Hall launched arbitration seeking to block Oates from selling his stake in Whole Oats Enterprises, which includes the Hall & Oates name and likeness rights as well as royalties, to Primary Wave.

Since the bitter dispute, both Hall and Oates have confirmed that a reunion between the two will never happen. Hall said in March this year, “That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean.”

Source: RTT Music News

An iconic guitar played by Eddie Van Halen is headed to auction.

The rock star’s 1982 Kramer electric guitar will be auctioned by Sotheby’s New York during the auction house’s inaugural Grails Week in October 21-28.

Sotheby’s estimates that the iconic music instrument will fetch between $2 million and $3 million at the auction.

This guitar was played on tour by Eddie Van Halen in 1982 and 1983 at concerts in the United States and South America.

The guitar is featured in a famous Kramer advertisement. Rudy Leiren eventually sold the guitar to Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars, who played it extensively while recording the band’s album Dr. Feelgood and other recordings.

Based on Van Halen’s original 1975 “Frankenstrat” design, this guitar represented his goal of combining some of the best elements of Fender and Gibson electric guitars into a single new musical instrument that was not commercially available at the time.

The lot also includes the factory Kramer case and a letter of authenticity from Mars where he states: “Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Also it’s a great piece of history.”

Source: RTT Music News

A new documentary on the late Ozzy Osbourne is set to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on August 18 at 9 pm.

The Black Sabbath founder died at his home on July 22, just 17 days after performing his final show at the Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England.

“Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home is the moving and inspirational account of the last chapter of Ozzy’s life, told through unique and intimate access to the whole Osbourne family, including Sharon, Jack and Kelly,” reads a BBC synopsis of the documentary. “Filmed over three years, it captures the extraordinary roller-coaster of their lives as Sharon and Ozzy attempt to complete their long-held dream of moving back to the UK, Ozzy heroically battles to get fit enough to perform, and the family deal with the dramatic consequences of his ill-health”.

Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, says, “We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy’s fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.”

The one-hour docu-film is produced by Expectation in association with JOKS Productions Limited for BBC One and iPlayer.

The project was originally conceived as a series, “Home to Roost,” announced in 2022, according to the BBC.

Source: RTT Music News