Latest news with #TheGo-Gos
The Independent
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Benson Boone brings out Queen guitarist Brian May for epic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody' at Coachella
Benson Boone was joined by surprise guest Brian May of Queen at Coachella as he covered ' Bohemian Rhapsody ' in suitably epic fashion at Coachella. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Monroe, Washington was performing at the Californian festival for the first time. Towards the end of his 11-song set, Boone donned an ermine-fur cloak reminiscent of Queen singer Freddie Mercury's famous ensemble from his band's farewell tour in 1986. He then sat at the piano to begin performing the classic 1975 single. When the song reached the guitar solo, 77-year-old May rose up out of the stage on a platform to play it. The guitarist was lowered back into the stage and disappeared from view after the solo before reemerging to finish the song. At one point, Boone leapt over his head while he continued playing. May then remained on stage to perform on Boone's final song, his own 2024 breakthrough single 'Beautiful Things'. Earlier this week, May's wife Anita Dobson said her husband is 'very well, back to his old self' following his stroke last year. May revealed in an Instagram post last September that he had lost control of one arm after a 'minor stroke'. He said the health scare had been 'a little scary' in a video posted to Instagram on September 4, but in recent months had appeared to have recovered, posting updates on social media of him going on trips. Earlier in the day at Coachella, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made a surprise appearance with The Go-Gos, joining the reunited band for an exuberant performance of their 1984 single 'Head Over Heels'. Green Day will headline the Saturday night of the festival in Indio, California tomorrow. Attendees at this year's festival have complained about long queues and a lack of facilities, branding the experience of arriving at Coachella as 'worse than Fyre Festival.' In addition to Benson Boone and The Go-Go's, today will also see a headline set from Lady Gaga, who returns at the top of the bill after headlining the festival in 2017, and performances from Missy Elliott, The Marías, White Lotus star and BLACKPINK member LISA, The Prodigy, Parcels, Mustard, and Mau P. Those not attending the festival in person can livestream performances on Coachella's YouTube channel or via the new Coachella Livestream app, beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET each day.
The Independent
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong joins The Go-Go's at Coachella
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made a surprise appearance with The Go-Gos at Coachella today, joining the reunited band for an exuberant performance of their 1984 single 'Head Over Heels'. Green Day will headline the Saturday night of the festival in Indio, California tomorrow. The original five members of The Go-Go's - singer Belinda Carlisle, lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey, rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin, bassist Kathy Valentine and drummer Gina Schock - reformed this year for their first shows in more than seven years. Ahead of the festival they played The Roxy in Los Angeles, which Variety reports the band announced was a chance to 'practice our Coachella set.' The Go-Go's emerged from the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s to become one of the most influential new wave bands of the 1980s. Later in their Coachella set, the trailblazing all-female band interpolated the chorus of Chappell Roan's 'Hot to Go!' into their own 1981 hit 'We Got The Beat'. Attendees at this year's festival had earlier complained about long queues and a lack of facilities, branding the experience of arriving at Coachella as 'worse than Fyre Festival.' Fans began arriving to the festival's campsites yesterday in the hope they would beat the crowds, but instead found themselves stuck in 12 hour lines to get in. On X/Twitter, one user posted a photograph of a field full of cars lined up trying to access the festival along with the caption: 'Coachella descends into chaos, and it hasn't even started yet. These are cars lined up to get through security to enter the car camping area. Attendees are reporting a 12 hour wait, and no porta potties, with some saying it's 'worse than Fyre Festival'.' Other attendees also drew comparisons to the famously disastrous 2017 festival in the Bahamas. Festivalgoer Adam Roberts told Business Insider: 'I made a joke earlier that I didn't know Fyre Festival tickets were included in admission this year, but that's honestly how I feel. I feel duped.' In addition to The Go-Go's, today will also see a headline set from Lady Gaga, who returns at the top of the bill after headlining the festival in 2017, and performances from Missy Elliott, rising pop star Benson Boone, The Marías, White Lotus star and BLACKPINK member LISA, The Prodigy, Parcels, Mustard, and Mau P. Those not attending the festival in person can livestream performances on Coachella's YouTube channel or via the new Coachella Livestream app, beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET each day.
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
James Taylor songs will fuel an upcoming stage musical, 'Fire & Rain'
Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton and Neil Diamond — step aside. The next musical icon to turn their songs into a stage musical will be James Taylor. Taylor's songs will fuel 'Fire & Rain,' a musical announced Monday, in development with a story by playwright and actor Tracy Letts and direction by Tony Award winner David Cromer. 'Fire and Rain' is one of Taylor's most iconic songs, released in 1970 on his second album, 'Sweet Baby James.' It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other hits include 'You've Got a Friend' and 'How Sweet It Is.' No timeline was revealed on when 'Fire & Rain' will be first staged. Taylor has won six Grammys and is a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Halls of Fame. He is the first artist to have a Billboard Top 10 album in each of the past six decades. Letts won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for writing 'August: Osage County' and his other plays include 'Bug,' 'Killer Joe,' 'Superior Donuts' and 'The Minutes.' Cromer has directed two of Letts' works — 'Bug' and 'Man from Nebraska.' Taylor joins a growing list of musical artists who have turned to the stage. Parton is writing new songs to go along with some of her past hits and co-writing a stage story inspired by her life for a stage musical that she hopes to land on Broadway in 2026. Diamond, Keys, Michael Jackson, Carole King and Gloria and Emilio Estefan all got biographical musicals on Broadway. Taylor will join such pop and rock luminaries as Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, The Go-Gos, Sting,Alanis Morissette, Dave Stewart, Edie Brickell, Trey Anastasio, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and Bono and The Edge with Broadway scores.
