Latest news with #Brothers
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The Black Keys were nearly buried by a brutal year. A new album seeks to ‘get things back on track'
For the Black Keys, 2025 is all about getting back to doing what they love — making records and touring — on their own terms. That's their way of putting behind them the disaster that was 2024: their worst-charting album since 2006, the cancellation of an arena tour after ticket sales lagged, and the firing and public castigation of legendary manager Irving Azoff as well as their PR team. Their new album's title, 'No Rain, No Flowers,' offers a positive spin on growing from the experience, which guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney echoed in our conversation ahead of their show at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday. 'This is an opportunity for us to get out of the pressure cooker of a way of touring that we realized was unsustainable and was not ideal for the fans or enjoyable for us,' says Carney. 'We like being an underdog,' Auerbach adds. The two grew up playing wiffle ball and touch football in Akron, Ohio, but were a grade apart and didn't form a band until after their brothers (who were close friends) urged them to jam together. They found power in their raw, stripped-down blues and rock and eventually formed the Black Keys. But they had to build a friendship as they were building a career. 'We'd never gone to a party together or socialized much and then we found ourselves in a van driving to shows so our friendship had a big learning curve,' Carney recalls. They started in 2001 as the quintessential indie act — their first two albums were recorded in Carney's basement — but by decade's end they were a rock band on a roll: 'Brothers,' reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts; 'El Camino' made it to No. 2 and 'Turn Blue' took them all the way to the top. Those three albums garnered 11 Grammy nominations and the band was selling out arenas and headlining Coachella. Naturally, some early fans grumbled as they moved beyond their lo-fi sound. 'I remember right before 'El Camino' thinking this might be too rock-and-roll for our base,' Carney says, 'but to me the change was a sign we weren't phoning it in.' But despite the success, the band eventually burned out. At their commercial zenith, they went on hiatus. 'We're not contrarian,' says Carney, the more voluble of the two. 'But we had accomplished all this stuff, and we felt it was time to get off of the roller coaster.' In their time apart, both men produced other artists while Auerbach also released an album with a new band, the Arcs, and a solo album, both earning critical acclaim but lower sales than the Black Keys' music. When they reunited in 2019, they say their priorities had changed. 'You can try to make another No. 1 album, but the goal became clear to us: We have this special relationship and if we want it to stay healthy the path needs to be interesting to us,' Carney says, adding that the demands of 200 on the road and the constant media obligations they'd had earlier was 'not sustainable for us at this point. It's a lot being away from your kids.' But rock's role in popular culture has continued shrinking and although the band returned to the Billboard top 10 with 'Let's Rock'; 'Delta Kream,' an album of country blues covers; and 'Dropout Boogie,' they didn't generate the same kind of attention and some fans now complained they missed the era of 'Brothers' and 'El Camino.' 'We've made it a little bit harder for ourselves,' Carney adds. 'If we had just made 'El Camino' over and over again or alternated between 'Brothers' and 'El Camino' we'd probably be playing baseball stadiums now.' But Auerbach says they always wanted to evolve similar to the bands they loved like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. 'We're music geeks who love records so that was something we aspired to,' he says. 'We didn't want to repeat ourselves so we wanted to do something different with each album.' He says that the two love seeking out obscure old singles and when they're in the studio together the goal remains the same. 'It's like when you find a song that you've never heard before that blows your mind,' he says. 'That's what we're looking for when we're working in the studio together, to re-create that feeling you get in your gut.' Auerbach adds that after starting out just the two of them in isolation — in a basement in Akron — they found they loved collaborating, working with the producer Danger Mouse on their biggest albums and, more recently, musicians like Beck, Noel Gallagher, ZZ Tops' Billy Gibbons and rapper Juicy J. That said, Carney argues that even when they've worked with collaborators, 'at the end of the day it'll sound like us. It doesn't matter who else we work with, our aesthetic is always gonna shine through.' But with the combination of the shifting music landscape and their exploring new sounds, their popularity seemed on the wane. Last year, 'Ohio Players' peaked at just 26. Then came the touring fiasco, for which they have largely blamed Azoff — who has been investigated by the Department of Justice for colluding with Live Nation (which he used to run) — saying he put the band in the wrong rooms among other things. Carney tweeted, angrily and profanely, about how the band got screwed but deleted them to avoid being sued. When they finally spoke publicly, to Rolling Stone, they confessed to being naive about how the music industry consolidation was harming bands. They called the European tour ' the most poorly orchestrated tour we had been on' and Carney said, 'we fired their a—' of Azoff's company but were more circumspect in their quotes, not saying the words 'Live Nation.' Their new publicist had called me in advance saying not to bring up these issues but to let the band do it. When that didn't happen and my time was almost up I raised the issues. After a question or two the publicist tried to shut things down, but Carney said, 'It's the L.A. Times. Let's do the interview. Come on. We're here' and talked generally about the industry being problematic. 'We're just trying to make music and tour in a f—ed up industry.' Carney says the band is now more involved in planning and is 'very methodical' about how long it'll tour and about choosing the venues, adding that the smaller venues offer a better fan experience and a less expensive one since they don't need video screens for the back of an arena. Auerbach says they're also tinkering with their setlists, though he says their catalog is now so deep they can't please everyone. 'But we definitely have our fans in mind when it comes to making selections.' As they reposition themselves and 'get things back on track,' Carney says, the duo are now in a good place despite last year. 'Our friendship is stronger than it ever has been,' he says. 'We've been through every possible thing that you can go through so we can kinda get through anything now. And there's still a lot of joy in making music together.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rocker Says Tribute to Late Guitar Legend Came ‘Straight from the Heart'
took to Instagram on Monday, May 27 to share a video of himself discussing his recent tribute song to his former band mate . Hagar has previously said that he wrote the song 'Encore, Thank You, Goodnight' with the late guitarist in a dream. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 In the new video clip, which Hagar explained in the caption of his post was shot on the last day of his band's rehearsals for their recently completed Las Vegas residency, he spoke about the inspiration for the song. 'I just thought, I want to say this from the bottom of my heart, that I wanted to do something about Eddie,' he explained. 'From the second I heard he passed, I was waiting for the family and everybody to get together and do the tribute. I mean, hey, I'm alive. I can sing the songs. We got bands. We can all play. And it never happened.' Hagar, however, noted that other members of Van Halen did do their own tributes of sorts, including Eddie's son with , , who played bass in the latter incarnation of the band before he eventually formed his own band, Mammoth WVH. 'I just love what Wolfie did, how he held his record and then came with the 'Distance,' which is the most soulful thing. I mean, it breaks my heart still today when I hear it. It's wonderful. So beautiful,' Hagar added. He also praised the band's former drummer, , although he still holds a grudge against Hagar.'Even Al, even though he left me out of the book, I'm OK with that,' Hagar added. 'Go read my book if you want to know what happened in my era, but you know, [Alex's book Brothers] was a tribute to his brother… It was like a love letter to Eddie.' Hagar then explained how he came up with his new song. 'It's been a long time coming for me. I've been thinking I have to do something someday. So this came, you know, from the dream a couple years ago.' He added that his current guitarist on his Best of All Worlds tour, Joe Satriani, helped him finish the song. 'I just love the way the fans are really understanding it. It's a love letter, too. It's a thank you. It's a tribute. It's a praise. It's everything. It's straight from the heart and it's to kind of close that chapter a little bit,' he explained. Hagar added that he'll 'go out and play the songs for the rest of my life,' but wanted to say it again, 'Eddie, thank you. Thank you for everything. Love you, miss you.' Rocker Says Tribute to Late Guitar Legend Came 'Straight from the Heart' first appeared on Parade on May 27, 2025
India.com
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
National Brothers Day: Bollywood's Most Iconic On-Screen Brothers Who Touched Our Hearts
On National Brother's Day, we turn to the silver screen to celebrate the enduring, sometimes heart-wrenching, always powerful bond between brothers — one that's been at the core of some of Bollywood's most iconic stories. Whether it was rising from the ashes like Karan Arjun or sacrificing dreams for family like in Raksha Bandhan, these on-screen siblings have left an indelible mark on our hearts. Karan Arjun The legendary duo of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan set the benchmark for undying sibling love. Karan Arjun was more than a revenge drama — it was about loyalty that transcended lifetimes. Rakhee's unforgettable line, 'Mere Karan Arjun aayenge,' became a cultural milestone, sealing this as the ultimate brotherhood film. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham In Karan Johar's emotional family saga, Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan play brothers separated by misunderstandings but bound by unshakable love. Hrithik's quest to reunite the family proved that no matter the years or distances, brotherhood holds firm. Raksha Bandhan Akshay Kumar delivered a heartfelt performance as the selfless big brother in Raksha Bandhan. This small-town story beautifully captured the everyday sacrifices and deep emotional investment siblings share, particularly in an Indian household. Agneepath Hrithik Roshan's role as Vijay Deenanath Chauhan was defined not only by vengeance but by his fierce protection of his younger sister. This gritty remake showcased how deeply rooted familial duty can drive a character's journey. Brothers This intense sports drama saw Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra as estranged siblings brought together by shared pain and a common ring. With MMA as the backdrop, Brothers explored themes of redemption, rage, and reconciliation. From classic to contemporary, Bollywood continues to remind us that a brother's love — even if unspoken — is one of the most powerful forces there is. This National Brother's Day, we celebrate not just blood ties, but the cinematic stories that make us believe in the strength of siblinghood.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Joe Jonas found dating again scary
Joe Jonas found dating after his divorce "scary and intimidating". The 'Heart by Heart' hitmaker split from Sophie Turner - with whom he has daughters Willa, four, and two-year-old Delphine - in 2023 after four years of marriage and briefly dated model Stormi Bree last year, but he admitted it took him some time to adjust to the idea of finding a new romantic connection. Discussing the making of new song 'Only Love', Joe, 35, said in a TalkShopLive stream: 'I was seeing somebody at the time and I was kind of having this idea of dating again. It was really scary and intimidating. 'Love takes different shapes and forms and I was re-discovering what that was." Joe told how the unnamed person he was seeing "comically" brushed aside his concerns by replying: "Well, it's only love". He added: 'I was like, 'Well, when you put it that way…' So we wrote a song about it. 'Like, it was not a big deal, but it was a big deal to me, and a big deal to them, too. But it's okay to take a leap of faith and just try again and put yourself out there.' Joe had originally written the song for the Jonas Brothers but once he played it back, he realised he wanted to keep it for himself and his "generous" siblings and bandmates understood why. He said: 'I sat Kevin and Nick down. I said, 'Hey, look, I would like the opportunity to see what this is like for me. I know it could be Brothers, but I also keep seeing my own life when I hear it, and I'm seeing that person that I was seeing, and I just don't know if I want to change any of the lyrics to match it with what you're going through.' 'Sure enough, I got their blessing. Nick actually went, 'Well damn, I really like this song, so I guess you can have it.'... They're very generous, and thank God they said yes.'
Boston Globe
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Football plays at Gillette. Hockey at TD Garden. So why might the boys' lacrosse finals be held at a high school?
Advertisement Football plays at Gillette, hockey at TD Garden, and baseball at Worcester's Polar Park, but the Division 1 boys' lacrosse final may be ticketed for Burlington High, albeit with its relatively new field turf, for a third straight year. It doesn't sit right with many veteran coaches. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It seems like lacrosse is getting the short end of the stick,' said Scituate coach Mark Puzzangara . 'It's disappointing, especially for the teams that are in contention every year. All we're asking is the opportunity for our kids to play on a bigger stage.' Burlington High has hosted boys' and girls' lacrosse finals in recent years, but this year the girls' finals are set for Babson College. Jim Davis for The Boston Globe With boys' and girls' lacrosse tournament director Dan Brothers at the point, the MIAA has been in negotiations with college and professional venues for months. A deal with Harvard fell through in April due to budgetary constraints, but Brothers said two colleges have replied at the 11th hour and he is 'a lot more confident today than I was on Monday that this is something we can pull off.' Advertisement As of Wednesday, the plan is to hold state semifinals at Burlington and other regional high schools, then find one or two state final sites at local colleges. The girls' finals are scheduled for Babson College, June 14-15. A former coach at Arlington Catholic, Brothers is sympathetic to all perspectives. He understands there will always be discontented parties when it comes to the size, location, or price of the venue, but financial negotiations fall outside his purview. Worcester State hosted the 2022 lacrosse finals. Greg M. Cooper/Globe There were complaints when Eastern Mass. teams matched up in the state finals at Worcester State in 2022, so applying to venues outside the I-495 corridor can be unpopular. Yet for schools like Nauset, which just won the Division 3 boys' hockey title in March, most venues are likely to involve long travel, and the chance to organize fan buses for a road trip in June is something to relish. 'Wherever we're playing, the fans are there,' said Nauset coach Jesse Peno . 'We have a great community that takes care of us and would be willing to travel.' Related : Of course, student-athletes are happy to play for a state title anywhere, but for Robinson, losing at Westwood last June before winning the D4 Super Bowl at Gillette less than six months later represented quite the contrast. 'It's a whole different feeling when you're playing under the lights at a big place like that,' said Robinson. 'Anybody can get up for a state championship game, but the venue can make it that much more special.' Related : Advertisement St. John's Prep coach John Pynchon , who has led his program to 'If it was an all-day event, that's the dream for the sport of lacrosse,' said Pynchon. 'Somewhere in the city that can host all the games is great. I remember going to Harvard three years in a row. If Harvard [Stadium] is empty on June 14 and we're playing at a regional high school, that's a real travesty.' St. John's Prep's Jack Weissenburger celebrated the Eagles' Division 1 state title at Burlington High last June. Winslow Townson for The Boston Globe Brothers ran into road blocks while trying to secure Boston University, Quincy Veterans Stadium, Bentley, and other potential sites, but that might not be the case every spring. If an agreement can be reached with any of those venues —something old, such as Harvard, or something new, such as Merrimack — the goal could be to lock down mid-June dates well ahead of time, starting in 2026. Quick sticks ▪ Nauset is flush with championship experience, since 10 of its players were on 'They were in the unique position of being the No. 1 from wire-to-wire. They were the hunted team,' Peno said. 'They understand what it takes if we're looking at the Medfields or Scituates or Falmouths of the world. We know we have to be ready to give them our best shot.' Advertisement Logan Poulin , who starred on the ice, has scored 30 goals this spring, and goalie Zach Coelho and midfielder Oscar Escher (29 goals) have also filled key roles after playing hockey in the winter. Related : ▪ Belmont Hill captured its second consecutive Independent School League championship with a thrilling 8-7 overtime win over Tabor Academy on Sunday. Virginia-bound senior Lindan Verville netted the winner. 'We never talk about winning championships; we really don't,' said Belmont Hill coach Tim Sullivan . 'We talk about having great practices, great lifts, improving every day, and then just stacking those every day.' Related : ▪ Sandwich coach Mike McNeill posted his 250th career win in Benny Midura made his 400th career save in Ben Tondorf set a school record with Owen Hofford tallied his 200th career point. Games to watch Thursday, Manchester Essex at Wakefield, 4:30 p.m. — After narrow losses to tough Weston and Friday, No. 12 Andover at No. 13 Winchester, 5 p.m. — This regular-season finale should be an entertaining playoff tune-up between two Division 1 hopefuls. Advertisement Friday, Longmeadow at No. 5 Lincoln-Sudbury, 6 p.m. — After back-to-back Friday, No. 7 Hingham at No. 1 St. John's Prep, 6 p.m. — This clash of nonleague powers highlights a big Friday slate. Monday, Norwell at No. 17 Newburyport, 10 a.m. — In a battle of the Clippers, Norwell's stingy defense will look to slow down Newburyport's relentless offense. Correspondent Mitch Fink contributed to this story. Nate Weitzer can be reached at
