Brian Wilson, Architect of the California Sound, Passes Away at 82

The music icon helped define the "California sound" with the American rock 'n' roll boy band he formed with his family members and a friend.

Brian Wilson, the pop music genius and singer who co-founded the Beach Boys, has died. He was 82.

The musician's family announced his death on Wednesday, June 11 in an Instagram post featuring a recent photo of the star smiling on a bench. Wilson's Beach Boys bandmate Al Jardine confirmed to PEOPLE that he died in the early morning of June 11.

"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away," the statement read. "We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."

Described by PEOPLE in 1975 as the "formative genius of the group," Wilson served as the rock band's songwriter and co-lead vocalist and also played bass guitar and keyboard alongside brothers, Dennis and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, who all were part of the original lineup.

For the full story, please click the link below.

Source: https://people.com/brian-wilson-dead-82-beach-boys-singer-co-founder-8548234

The song that should have been a radio hit...

Great rhythm, catchy chorus, it had the hook! “Every Time I See Her” is one of those feel-good songs that makes you tap the steering wheel or turn the volume up just a bit higher when it comes on. It’s a pop-rock gem wrapped in shimmering guitar work and Dave Edmunds’ effortlessly cool vocal delivery. So, what was the problem back in 1990?

Well—timing, for one. By the time Closer to the Flame dropped, the musical landscape had shifted. The early '90s were a strange time for traditional rock and roll artists like Edmunds. Hair metal was fading, alternative and grunge were on the rise, and radio playlists were beginning to favor newer, moodier sounds. An upbeat, rootsy pop-rock track—no matter how infectious—suddenly felt out of sync with what was selling.

Then there’s promotion. Capitol Records released Closer to the Flame with minimal fanfare. Edmunds had taken a few years off from studio albums before this one, and there wasn’t a strong marketing push to reintroduce him to a U.S. audience. Even with its clean production and accessible tracks, the album didn’t make a splash on the charts.

And let’s not forget the genre pigeonhole. Edmunds was (and still is) beloved by fans of rockabilly and roots rock, but he never fully broke into the mainstream pop world. Songs like “Every Time I See Her” had commercial potential, but without a major radio hit or MTV visibility, it just didn’t get the momentum it deserved. In short, “Every Time I See Her” was a perfect example of the right song at the wrong time.

In 1990, “Every Time I See Her” was swimming against the current. Charts were dominated by glossy pop like Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract” and Madonna’s “Vogue,” while rock was turning heavier with Bad Company’s “Holy Water” or drifting into moodier territory with Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” and Midnight Oil’s “Blue Sky Mine.” Even classic rock veterans—Tom Petty with “Free Fallin’,” George Harrison’s “Cheer Down,” and the Traveling Wilburys—were finding success with a similar rootsy sound, but with more label muscle and high-profile collaborations behind them. Edmunds’ bright, feel-good rocker was radio-ready, but the industry’s spotlight was shifting fast, leaving songs like his in the shadows.

Apple TV+ announces “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” premiering July 18

Apple just announced the first new musical Peanuts special in more than three decades. The new instalment entitled ‘Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical’ will stream on Apple TV+ on July 18.



The special hails from Apple’s deal with WildBrain, where TV+ is the streaming home of all classic Peanuts specials as well as new originals. A feature-length animated Snoopy movie is also currently in development.

The new special coming in July celebrates the summer season, with Snoopy and the gang gathering around the campfire.

Charlie Brown loves camping, but his favorite camp is shutting down. With it being his last year, he is determined to make it special. Meanwhile, Snoopy and Woodstock find a treasure map and embark on a wild adventure in the woods. They find valuable treasure, which they use to buy what they need to host a concert and save the camp’s future.

The special features original music by Emmy award-winning composers Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds. Its release marks the first new Peanuts musical in 35 years.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Snoopy, and Apple TV+ has plenty of content to enjoy to commemorate the occasion.

To read the full story, please click the link below.

Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/20/apple-tv-peanuts-special-summer-musical/

Peanuts and Ben Folds--what could be better?! It's exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing it in July. <3

Jim Morrison’s Parisian Funerary Bust Recovered After Nearly 40 Years

A sculpture of the late American singer and poet Jim Morrison that went missing from his gravesite in Paris almost four decades ago has been found, according to French police.



“After 37 years of absence, the bust of Jim Morrison, stolen in 1988 from the Père Lachaise cemetery, has been found,” wrote the Paris Regional Judicial Police Directorate in an Instagram post on Friday.

It added that “this iconic symbol for the singer’s fans was recovered” during an investigation conducted by the Financial and Anti-Corruption Brigade, under the authority of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office.

“This was a chance discovery made during a search ordered by an examining magistrate at the Paris court,” the prosecutor’s office told CNN in a statement Tuesday.

Jeff Jampol, manager of the Jim Morrison Estate, told CNN in a statement Tuesday that they were “happy to hear” of the statue’s rediscovery, adding: “Obviously it’s a piece of history, and one Jim’s family wanted there on his grave, so it’s gratifying to see that it’s been recovered.”

To read the full story, please click the link below.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/style/jim-morrison-grave-bust-found-intl-scli

Broadcasting Freedom: R.E.M.’s New EP Honors 75 Years of Radio Liberty

Four decades after sparking college-radio airwaves and launching R.E.M.'s career, "Radio Free Europe" broadcasts a new message. R.E.M. proudly announces Radio Free Europe 2025, a five-track benefit EP led by Jacknife Lee's never-before-released 2025 remix. The release celebrates the 75th anniversary of the "OG" Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and arrives just ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

75 years ago, the United States established Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which broadcasts news and information in 27 languages to 23 countries where free press is either banned or threatened. RFE/RL has been a lifeline to the outside world for people living under extreme censorship throughout the Cold War and into the present day.

Members of R.E.M. say this mission of promoting free expression has always resonated with the band:

“Whether it’s music or a free press – censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe,” says Michael Stipe, lead singer and founding member of R.E.M.

“Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies. Happy World Press Freedom Day to the ‘OG’ Radio Free Europe,” says Mike Mills, bassist and founding member of R.E.M.

A limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing — available for pre-order now exclusively via the official R.E.M. store (https://ffm.link/remrfe-official) and independent record stores (https://ffm.link/remrfe-indies) — lands September 12. Proceeds from all vinyl sales will go to RFE/RL.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_rshoUeixk

Link to full YouTube playlist for Radio Free Europe 2025:

Collector's 30,000 vinyl records up for auction

A collector's 30,000-record vinyl collection is set to go up for auction in Surrey with an expected combined price of more than £80,000.

The sale, run by auctioneers Ewbank's in Send, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

The unnamed deceased collector had been buying records for more than 60 years and vinyl specialist John Silke said the collection was "jaw-dropping."

"This has been the biggest single cataloguing job of my career – an extraordinary experience," he added.



To read the full story, please click the link below.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74z0wwp8eyo

Owning 30,000 records makes me wonder who the collector is. Did he/she have any connection to music? Did they work in radio, a record store, or produce music? Certainly not a casual listener, but a music lover nonetheless! I would have a hard time remembering which album went where and where the albums I wanted to listen to were. Their collection may have been alphabetized. Cool story anyhow. Imagine exploring that massive vinyl collection. 🤔

Record Store Day Haul 2025

Honestly, I didn't think I'd end up with so many albums this year. I was convinced I'd strike gold with just two or three at most. But one album just flowed into the next. Those who shop in-store get first dibs, while online shoppers like me have to wait until the day after the kickoff. I was up bright and early on Sunday, eagerly anticipating the online event's launch. One of my absolute favorite independent record shops is Yellowdogdiscs.com. I had my sights set on this year’s live Talking Heads album, titled Talking Heads - Live On Tour '78. I was poised right at 8:00 AM, ready to pounce, but couldn't resist clicking a few minutes early. To my dismay, it sold out in a flash! I hurried over to other websites, but luck was not on my side.

When all else fails, turn to Discogs. And there it was, gleaming--the record I had been searching for! It was just three bucks more than the price on Yellowdogdiscs, while other sites had sold out and private sellers were asking for outrageous prices. So, I decided to make the purchase. I passed on this year’s RSD Blur album, The Magic Whip. I also searched for the 2024 Record Store Day Blur Parklife vinyl, but it was still marked up beyond reason. My next quest led me to Adam and the Ants's 2025 RSD gold edition of Prince Charming.

It was sold out everywhere. However, I stumbled upon a few UK websites claiming they would restock more copies on April 14th, so I held off until Monday. Once I woke up Monday, I began my search again, but disappointment struck as everything was still sold out. Given the immense popularity of the album and the high demand for its stunning gold vinyl, I knew it would vanish in the blink of an eye. So, I turned to an alternative site called oldies.com. This site is fantastic, offering amazing deals and substantial discounts on vinyl records and various music merchandise. Although their ongoing vinyl sale didn’t cover the releases from Record Store Day 2025, I still managed to find some goodies.

I snagged another copy of Nick Lowe's Pink and Prouder Than Previous album for a mere $10.00! Pretty happy about that since my copy is scratched. The Boomtown Rats Citizens of Boomtown record I actually spotted at Target over a year ago. I had wanted it after I listened to it in it's entirety just never bought it. Much to my surprise it was only $10.00 as well! So, I grabbed it along with a DVD and some more vinyl.

Other albums I purchased:

Saxophone Colossus (DVD) - Sonny Rollins

Jukebox Jump: Greatest Hits 1942-49 - Louis Jordan

Night Watch - Bob Holz

Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar In Marrying the Gunner's Daughter (2-LPs) - Adam Ant

Cavestomp Presents: Are You For Real? (Psychedelic Splatter Purple Vinyl) - ? and The Mysterians



The ? and The Mysterians album is a gift for someone who loves the band. The purple splatter vinyl looked really cool as well. The purple splatter edition of this album was actually a 2022 RSD release, just not this year.

Fully satisfied, I checked out. Shipping is free if you spend $75.00 or more. This site also offers free shipping, and you only need to spend $50.00: rock-ola.com -- rock-ola.com has some good deals. Elton John's Breaking Hearts vinyl was only $14.00. I didn't buy anything there though. My heart was still set on Adam and the Ants's gold Prince Charming RSD 2025 release.

About eight o'clock that night, I saw someone posting in an Adam Ant music group on Facebook. They stated imusic.co had the album, so I, like everyone else, rushed over to the site and bought it. I was a little timid, as this seemed like something that was too good to be true given the fact that the album had sold out everywhere else online and had been out of stock all day. Nevertheless, I took a chance. I figured since I bought it through PayPal if it was a total scam I could dispute it and get my money back.

I was more concerned about possible import duties and customs processing fees. But through further research, I found paying duties and customs processing fees was relatively low. Since the vinyl record I purchased from the UK was valued under $800.00, I probably wouldn't owe duties or taxes. The U.S. has a de minimis threshold of $800.00, meaning imports below this value typically enter duty-free. You might be charged $5.00-$15.00 in customs clearance or handling fees only if USPS flags it (which is rare for vinyl records under $100.00).



Fingers crossed that everyone receives their albums. At eight o'clock at night, I didn't think I had a chance! I cannot wait to receive it, along with the other albums I purchased. This concludes the annual Record Store Day post. What a fun event!