Big Rig ROCK Report 1.15

Ozzy Osbourne biopic locks in ‘phenomenal’ actor, Jack Osbourne confirms

Jack Osbourne has provided an update on the upcoming Ozzy Osbourne biopic, revealing that the film has secured an actor to portray his father. The project, which has been in development with Sony for six years, is now moving forward with a chosen actor and director. Despite keeping the actor's identity under wraps, Jack emphasized that they have found a "phenomenal" talent for the role. The film is expected to offer a raw and unfiltered look at Ozzy's life, with filming potentially starting in March and a release targeted for summer 2027. Ozzy himself was reportedly indifferent to the Hollywood details, simply expressing interest in seeing the finished product.

Gojira, Limp Bizkit, and The Offspring Lead 2026 Rock Fest Lineup

Rock Fest 2026 is set to return to Cadott, Wisconsin, with a lineup featuring headliners Gojira, Limp Bizkit, and The Offspring. The three-day festival will run from July 16 to July 18, with an early-entry Bonus Bash on July 15. Tickets are available for purchase on the festival's website, with resale options on platforms like Vivid Seats and StubHub. Discount codes are available for first-time Vivid Seats customers, and various ticket options, including general admission passes and artist pit passes, are offered. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of rock and metal acts across the three days, with camping options available on-site.

Metallica Is ‘90 Percent’ Close to Setting Up Las Vegas Sphere Residency for 2027, According to Report

Metallica is reportedly close to securing a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2027, following the conclusion of their M72 world tour in July 2026. The band members have met with venue executives and technical teams to plan a show "in principle," generating excitement on the Vegas Strip. While no contracts have been signed yet, a deal is said to be getting closer, with Sphere bosses enthusiastic about the prospect of Metallica bringing a unique experience to the venue. Drummer Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo have expressed their interest in the potential residency, highlighting the opportunity for the band to create a visually stimulating and historic show unlike any other in the heavy rock genre.

Is Mötley Crüe Done After 2026? Nikki Sixx Reveals Their Contracts End After 33 Shows

Nikki Sixx recently addressed Mötley Crüe's future touring plans, revealing that their current contractual commitments will conclude after their 33 scheduled summer performances. The band's upcoming tour, "The Return of the Carnival of Sins," celebrates their 20th and 45th anniversaries and features special guests Tesla and Extreme. This tour, spanning major venues across the US and Canada, may potentially

be Mötley Crüe's final contracted touring commitment, leaving their long-term future uncertain. Fans can expect high-energy performances as the band delivers what they are known for, with tickets already available for purchase.

Flea Announces New Album Honora

Flea is set to release his debut solo album, "Honora." As a preview, the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist has shared the latest sing;e "Traffic Lights." "Honora" is named after one of the musician's family members and features six original songs, plus interpretations of songs by George Clinton and Eddie Hazel, Frank Ocean, and more. "Honora" will be out on March 27th. A tour in support of the record will kick off on May 7th in Chicago.

New SHINEDOWN Album Title And Release Date To Be Announced This Month

SHINEDOWN drummer Barry Kerch provided an update on the band's upcoming album, revealing that the announcement and release date will be revealed this month. The new album will not be a concept record like their previous efforts and will feature a diverse range of songs. The band recently released singles that showcase their eclectic style, with each song having its own unique sound. SHINEDOWN's recent successes include chart-topping hits, sold-out shows, and philanthropic efforts, culminating in their upcoming curated festival event and headlining performance at the Sonic Temple festival.

Five Finger Death Punch Sets 2026 North American Tour to Mark 20 Years as a Band

Five Finger Death Punch is set to embark on a North American tour in 2026 to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The tour will run from July to October, with dates across the United States and Canada. Joining the lineup are Cody Jinks and Eva Under Fire, offering a diverse musical experience. Tickets will go on sale in mid-January, with venues including large arenas and amphitheaters. The tour aims to bring together longtime fans and new listeners for a celebration of the band's heavy rock legacy.

Puscifer launch new comic series ‘Tales From the Pusciverse’

Puscifer has released their first comic series, Tales From the Pusciverse, with the debut issue focusing on the character Bellendia Black. The group shared visual details during the visualizer for their latest single, "ImpetuoUs," from their upcoming album, Normal Isn't. Written by Maynard James Keenan, the comic features artwork by Marlin Shoop and Andy Belanger, with future issues set to explore other characters like Fanny Grey and The Synth Whisperer. Issue #1 is available exclusively at a specified location.

U.S. Vinyl Sales Up For 19th-Straight Year

The U.S. continues to see a vinyl revival. Entertainment data tracker Luminate reports vinyl album sales jumped for the 19th consecutive year in 2025. Vinyl sales grew by eight-point-six-percent while digital album sales fell by nearly 16-percent. Taylor Swift led the way with "The Life of a Showgirl" selling one-point-six-million copies on vinyl. Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" and Kendrick Lamar's "GNX" were the second and third biggest sellers of 2025.

JOHN MELLENCAMP: Taps Sean Penn to Promote Hits Tour

John Mellencamp tapped an old friend to make the announcement of his summer tour a little more interesting. Mellencamp and Oscar winner Sean Penn star in the video set in a roadside diner whose jukebox contains only Mellencamp hits. Watch it on YouTube.

Dancing Words Tour: The Greatest Hits kicks off July 10th in Grand Rapids, Michigan and wraps up August 12th in Mountain View, California. Pre-sale tickets are available January 21st, with general on-sales on the 23rd. See the full rundown of tour dates at JohnMellencamp.com. Here are the first ten dates.

Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits

July 10 — Grand Rapids, Mich. — Acrisure Amphitheater
July 11 — Tinley Park, Ill. — Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
July 13 — Kansas City, Mo. — Morton Amphitheater
July 14 — Shakopee, Minn. — Mystic Lake Amphitheater
July 16 — Clarkston, Mich. — Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 18 — Noblesville, Ind. — Ruoff Music Center
July 19 — Cincinnati, Ohio — Riverbend Music Center
July 21 — Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio — Blossom Music Center
July 24 — Mansfield, Mass. — Xfinity Center
July 25 — Holmdel, N.J. — PNC Bank Arts Center

BOB WEIR: Kreutzmann Comments on Passing

Grateful Dead and Dead & Company drummer Bill Kreutzmann has commented on the passing of Bob Weir. Kreutzmann is the last of Weir's bandmates to post something in the wake of the singer-guitarist's death on Saturday at age 78. He wrote on his social media, "Together, we embarked on a journey without a destination. We didn’t set out to change the world, or to become big stars, or to have our own counterculture — we didn’t know any of those things were actually possible and we wouldn’t have been very interested in them even if we did. Well, not too much, anyway. Just enough to dream... "Nothing was more important than having fun and nothing was more fun than playing music. Especially once audiences started coming and we could look out and see a sea of people dancing. Once that happened, it was all we wanted to do. We didn’t want to stop. That was our first real goal — to just keep going.

"And so for 60 years, the music never stopped. This was true for all of us, together and apart, but when Bob was off the road, all he wanted to do was get back on it. And in the meantime, he would stop by any bar or club where there was someone playing that would let him sit in. He seemed to always be on some stage, somewhere. "Offstage, we were everything you’d expect from lifelong friends and bandmates. We fought together (both on the same side and opposing), we celebrated together (both personal and professional milestones), and we watched each other, both near and far, as we went from teenagers to old men and all the stops in between.

"I once heard Bobby refer to himself as 'the greatest rhythm guitar player in the world' and it made me chuckle lightheartedly at my brother’s boastfulness. The thing is…he was probably right..."In the end, what more was there for him to do? He played it all…and never the same way, twice. I think he had finally said everything he had to say and now he’s on to the next thing. I just hope he was able to bring his guitar with him or otherwise he’ll go crazy."

PAUL MCCARTNEY, DAVE GROHL, CHER, SLASH: Donate Items for Musicares Auction

Dave Grohl, Cher, Jelly Roll, The Cure's Robert Smith, Slash, Paul McCartney and Mariah Carey are among the artists that have donated items for the annual MusiCares Charity Relief Auction. The benefit auction launched online yesterday at Juliensauctions.com and will conclude with an event in Santa Monica, California just before the Grammys on February 1st. Here's a list of highlights going up for bids:

Dave Grohl's Nixon "Sentry" Stainless Steel Leather and Flannel wristwatch made from Grohl's flannel shirt.
Foreigner signed Epiphone Les Paul Special electric guitar.
Paul McCartney's The Lyrics: 1965 to Present book signed and personalized.
Slash's signed Gibson guitar.
Billie Eilish's acoustic guitar she used on her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour.
Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode's stage-worn and signed west from their Memento Mori tour.
Boy George's signed leather jacket.
Cher's Noir Kei Ninomiya designed jacket worn in promos for her SNL appearance.
Coldplay's Chris Martin signed Gibson AJ Maple Custom acoustic guitar.
Jelly Roll's Harley Davidson Leather Jacket word for a 2024 Interview magazine photo shoot.
Mariah Carey's Pink 1961 Ford Thunderbird spare trunk and hood from he Las Vegas residency.
Robert Smith of The Cure's stage played acoustic guitar, signed by both Smith and Olivia Rodrigo after their Glastonbury 2025 performance.

PAUL MCCARTNEY: Man on The Run Trailer Out

Amazon Prime has released a trailer for the Paul McCartney documentary Man on the Run, which will premiere on February 27th. The film, which covers McCartney's life after The Beatles split and the formation of Wings, is from Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville. The trailer promises the film has "rare and unreleased music and footage." Watch it on YouTube

now.

PETER GABRIEL: Good Year to Be a Fan

Peter Gabriel not only has a new studio album due out at the end of the year, he's got two live releases coming this spring. In The Big Room will be released as two record set of two CD package on March 13th. It's a recording of concert for members of Peter Gabriel’s Full Moon Club and took place at Gabriel's Real World Studios in Bath, England in November 2003.

On May 8th it'll be followed by Live At WOMAD 1982, which will be out as a three-side vinyl release and single CD. It's Gabriel's set from his first WOMAD Festival at Shepton Mallet Playground in Shepton Mallet, England in June 1982. Both sets were released to streaming services last year.

Gabriel's new studio album, o/i, will be out in December. The "Bright-Side Mix" of the first track "Been Undone" will be out on Sunday, which is the new moon. The "Dark-Side Mix" of the song was released on January 3rd, which was the full moon. Gabriel plans to release a new song each full moon of the month until the album comes out at the end of the year.

Sting Pays Police Bandmates For Huge Underpayment

Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, two thirds of The Police, just got a big payout courtesy of the band's lead singer, Sting. In a filing at London's High Court, Sting's lawyers said Summers and Copeland received a payment of "over $800-thousand" after they launched legal proceedings last year. Lawyers for Summers and Copeland insist they are still owed money from all downloads and streaming income (not covered in the $800-thousand), under the terms of their prior agreements made in 1997 and 2016. They maintain the language of those agreements should be reinterpreted in light of changes to the music industry, where streaming income has largely replaced the sale of vinyl, CDs and cassettes. Sting's legal team argues that he shouldn't have to give his former bandmates royalties when The Police's music is played on streaming services because that counts as "public performance" rather than a sale. They also say Summers and Copeland are not eligible for royalties from streaming and digital sales because their 2016 agreement only allows for royalty payments derived "from the manufacture of records."

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, RADIOHEAD: Thom Sings on Flea's Single

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has shared another track from his solo album Honora, and it reunites him with an old friend. It's called "Traffic Lights" and it features vocals from and was co-written with Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Check it out on YouTube. Flea and Yorke previously collaborated together in the band Atoms for Peace. Honora will be out March 27th and it features guest appearances by Atoms For Peace percussionist Mauro Refosco and Bright Eyes' Nate Walcott. The album includes covers Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain," Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" and Frank Ocean's "Thinkin Bout You." Flea and his solo band will start a tour May 7th in Chicago and wrap it up May 16th in Los Angeles.

KISS: Criss Responds to Simmons' "Beth" Comments

Peter Criss has responded to Gene Simmons' claims that he didn't write KISS's biggest charting hit "Beth." Last week Simmons claimed that when Criss hummed him a melody for the song he suggested changing the name to "Beth" and to showing it to KISS producer Bob Ezrin. He also claimed that Stan Penridge, who was in a group called Chelsea with Criss, actually wrote the song with Ezrin's help and that Criss's name was on the credits just because of "politics." Criss responded to Simmons's comments, telling Billboard that "Gene wouldn't know how the song was originally written because Gene wasn't there from the conception of the song in the late '60s and he wasn't there for the completion of the song with Bob Ezrin. Gene's statements are ridiculous and very uncalled for; he talks about things that he doesn't know about.

"What Gene's getting wrong is that as the singing songwriter, I wrote the melody and creating the phrasing for the song that's on the original demo 'Beck' with Stan Penridge. Out of Stan's little black book what remained on the reworked version of 'Beth' is Stan's original verse and chorus, and my core melody remains on the reworked composition. The core melody was expanded with Bob's orchestration symphony and musical genius."

Criss also cleared up who changed the title. "Bob Ezrin changed the title from 'Beck' to 'Beth'— not Gene or anybody else. It was Bob Ezrin; He asked me, 'Peter, do you mind if we change the title?' I said, 'Absolutely not. 'Beth' is much better.' Bob took the song home and fixed the rest of the lyrics and the structure of the song. He added piano, some time-changes and the incredible orchestra composition which elevated the song beyond my wildest my dreams. It was mind-blowing."

FLEETWOOD MAC, PRINCE: The Stranger Things Effect

Placement in the ‘Stranger Things’ series finale has propelled Prince and the Revolution and

Fleetwood Mac back onto the Billboard Hot 100. "Purple Rain" re-enters the chart at number-27, more than 41 years after it peaked at number-two on the in the fall of 1984. Meanwhile the original studio version of "Landslide" bows at number-41 on the chart. It's the first time the track from the band's 1975 self-titled album has charted. A live version from the reunion album The Dance peaked at number-51 in August 1998. The highest "Landslide" has made it on the pop charts is when The Chicks cover of it peaked at number-seven in March 2003. And the Stranger Things effect also boosted a song featured in the series over three years ago -- Kate Bush's "Running Up that Hill (A Deal With God)" re-enters the chart at number-46.

U.S. Vinyl Sales Up For 19th-Straight Year

Music Streaming Hits All-Time High

Music streaming reached an all-time high in 2025, with listeners logging over 5.1-trillion streams, 1.4-trillion in the US alone. Interestingly, however, most streamers are listening to older music; less than half of all U.S. on-demand audio streams (43-percent) were from tracks released in the last five years (2021 - 2025). In the States, the formats seeing the most streaming growth were Christian/gospel music (up over 18-percent), rock (up over 6-percent) and Latin (an increase of over 5-percent).

In the US, the most-streamed format remains r&b/hip hop, which accounted for 349.9-billion on-demand audio streams, up from 341.63-billion last year. Rock is second with 260.5-billion (up from 234.22-billion last year) and pop with 167.2-billion (up from 165.49-billion). Country comes in fourth (122.5-billion streams, up from 117.58-billion the year before), followed by Latin with 120.9-billion (up from 113.02-billion in 2024).

Bob Dylan Center Announces Concert Celebrating 60th Anniversary Of "Blonde On Blonde"

The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the singer's album "Blonde on Blonde." In honor of the album, the center will put on a concert dubbed "Sooner or Later" at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa on February 20th.The one-night-only event will feature performances from Natalie Merchant, Craig Finn, Willie Nile, The McCray Sisters and more. Tickets for Bob Dyan Center members are available now. Any remaining tickets will be available this Friday.

Bryan Adams Contributing Three Songs To Animated Film "Charlie The Wonderdog"

Bryan Adams has new music on the way. The musician announced that he's contributing three songs to the soundtrack of the animated film "Charlie the Wonderdog." The songs will be released as an EP this Friday to coincide with the movie hitting theaters. The EP is available to preorder no

IN OTHER NEWS

Our condolences go out to former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, whose mother Joan died January 11th at the age of 89, just four days before her 90th birthday.

A report in the U.K. Sun says that Metallica are "90% there" in signing a deal for their long-rumored residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas later this year.

After his guest appearance with the tribute band Turnstiles on January 2nd, Billy Joel's booking agent is optimistic that the 76-year-old piano man will return to the stage. Dennis Arfa, who has known Joel since they were both 19 years old, tells HITS Magazine “He’s doing well. He’s doing his therapy, which has been very helpful. Hopefully he’ll make it back [to touring]... His DNA is music and performing."

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has said that Ethan Browne, the son of Jackson

Browne, died on November 25th from the “effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine and lidocaine.” Ethan Browne was 52 years old.

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