Billy Idol has announced a new album, Dream Into It, and shared its lead single, “Still Dancing.”

The legendary punk rock artist’s first full-length album in more than a decade is set for release on April 25 via Dark Horse Records/BMG.

Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, and The Kills lead singer Alison Mosshart are featured on Dream Into It, which narrates Idol’s life story.

“‘Still Dancing’ is really a reflection of my whole journey. From the punk rock period through to now. And I’m still looking towards the future, still living the life I set out to live,” said Idol. “At the start of the song I’m recalling the early times in London, when I was living in squats or at friends’ apartments, all my belongings in a plastic bag. Everybody at home or work told you what you were doing was never going to happen. But punk rock gave me an opening.”

“I was surrounded by people who loved the music as deeply as I did and you were going to throw caution to the wind, believe in what you were doing and grab on for dear life,” he continued. “As the song says, there have been many moments along the way where I’ve been self destructive. But what’s seen me through is that unflinching belief in the music that started all those years ago. That’s been the greatest gift of all.”

Two important events in Idol’s life are anticipated at the end of April: The announcement of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 inductees and the launch of his It’s A Nice Day To… Tour Again.

Source: RTT Music News

Paul McCartney has announced a new book telling the history of the iconic band Wings, which he co-founded with his wife Linda McCartney and Denny Laine in 1971.

“Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run,” edited with an introduction by Ted Widmer, will be released on November 4.

The publishers call the book “A landmark account of Paul’s triumphant musical reinvention in the 1970s and the subsequent rise of one of the decade’s most iconic bands.”

“I’m so very happy to be transported back to the time that was Wings and relive some of our madcap adventures through this book,” said Paul McCartney. “Starting from scratch after The Beatles felt crazy at times. There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision. But as we got better I thought, ‘OK this is really good.’ We proved Wings could be a really good band. To play to huge audiences in the same way The Beatles had and have an impact in a different way. It was a huge buzz.”

Drawn from over 500,000 words, based on dozens of hours of interviews with Paul and numerous key players in the band’s orbit, “Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run” weaves together the improbable trajectory of Paul McCartney and his newly formed band, featuring co-founding members Linda McCartney and Denny Laine, across the technicolor 1970s until their dissolution in 1981.

With more than 100 black-and-white and color photographs, many never seen before, “Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run” is part of a larger reexamination and appreciation of the group and their catalog, including the 2024 theatrical release of the rare Wings live-in-studio performance film One Hand Clapping and its accompanying album; 50th anniversary editions of the Wings albums Band on the Run (released February 2024) and Venus and Mars (releasing March 2025); and a forthcoming documentary on Paul McCartney’s solo and Wings-related musical work of the 1970s from Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Morgan Neville.

“Wings was about love, family, friendship and artistic growth, often in the face of tremendous adversity. It was a joy to relive the madcap adventures of a special band, by listening to their stories, and compiling this oral history,” said Ted Widmer.

Pre-order a copy of the book here.

Source: RTT Music News

Iconic rock and roll bands Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band are teaming up for a special tour.

The co-headlining tour will feature special guests Jefferson Starship.

Accompanying BTO main man Randy Bachman in 2025 is his son, singer-songwriter Tal Bachman, and the ensemble will play classic Bachman-Turner Overdrive songs as well as hits from The Guess Who, which Randy formed alongside Burton Cummings decades ago.

Tickets for the new run of dates go on sale this Friday, February 28th.

BTO Tour Dates with The Marshall Tucker Band and Jefferson Starship:

July 18 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove
July 19 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Casino
July 20 – Fargo, ND – Scheels Arena
July 22 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium
July 24 – Appleton, WI – Neuroscience Group Field
July 25 – Terre Haute, IN – The Mill Terre Haute
July 26 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center
August 1 – El Reno, OK – Lucky Star Casino
August 3 – Amarillo, TX – Amarillo Civic Center Complex #
# Outlaws replacing Jefferson Starship as special guest

BTO only:

July 28 – Bloomington, IL – Bloomington Center For The Performing Art
July 29 – Elk Grove Village, IL – The Village Green at the Charles Zettek Municipal Complex
July 31 – Jefferson City, MO – MU Health Care Capital Region Amphitheater
August 15 – Wendover, NV – Peppermill Casino
August 16 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar PAC
August 18 – Boise, ID – Western Idaho Fair
August 21 – Pala, CA – Pala Casino
August 22 – Ft. McDowell, AZ – We-Ko-Pa Casino
August 23 – Albuquerque, NM – Legends Theater at Route 66 Casino

Source: RTT Music News

Kansas lead singer Ronnie Platt has revealed that he has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Platt, 64, revealed the bad news in a statement posted on Facebook.

“For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate, it has not spread. It’s contained to my thyroid,” he said. “I just have to have my thyroid removed. Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle.”

The legendary rock band was forced to postpone or cancel many of their scheduled shows due to Platt’s absence to undergo upcoming surgery.

The concerts in New Orleans on February 21 and Lake Charles on March 1 have been scrapped, while two Oklahoma shows have been delayed to November.

“Our goal is to be back on the road as soon as possible. Right now, we’re all focused on supporting Ronnie through this,” Kansas Assistant Band Manager J.R. Rees told Ultimate Classic Rock.

Platt has been Kansas’ frontman since 2014.

Source: RTT Music News

Paramount+ has announced Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party will premiere exclusively on the service on March 11 in the U.S. and Canada and on March 12 in the U.K., Australia, Latin America, France, Italy and Germany.

This marks the first time the fully restored version of the classic ’80s documentary from legendary and Academy Award-winning director Cameron Crowe will be widely available to a global audience.

Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party is a fun, candid, fast-paced and musically rich ride with America’s greatest rock & roll band, a time capsule of the dawn of the MTV era and a rare, shining glimpse into Tom Petty’s lasting creative genius.

Featuring nearly 20 minutes of never-before-seen bonus content, the documentary includes new commentary from Crowe, alongside in-depth interviews, electrifying live performances and unprecedented intimate access to Petty and the band.

Originally airing only once on MTV in February 1983, the tapes from Crowe’s directorial debut were finally found in 2024, nearly 40 years after it became folklore to fans, musicians and the entertainment industry at-large. The highly anticipated film, restored from its original 16mm source, is an era-defining look at rock & roll that captures Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers as they finish, promote and tour the groundbreaking Long After Dark album, the band’s third and final project with legendary producer Jimmy Iovine.

“Heartbreaker’s Beach Party occupies a special place in my heart,” said Crowe. ” Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers leaned into the making of the film with a kind of hilarious music-filled honesty that still feels fresh forty years later. It was also my first experience as a director. Thanks to Adria Petty and the Petty estate, along with our co-filmmakers Danny Bramson, Phil Savenick, Doug Dowdle and Greg Mariotti, we’re bringing it back in all its reckless glory.”

He added, “I’m especially happy to add a postscript with the never-seen outtake footage I always treasured. The fact that the original film was yanked from MTV after only one airing shows that it was, and still is, an outlandish feast for fans in the best ways. Turn it up!!”

Source: RTT Music News