From left, Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett, Country Winston and Ted Dwane, of musical group Mumford & Sons, arrive at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Feb. 10, 2013.
Mumford & Sons Bassist has Brain Surgery; Billboard Lists Top 30 Summer Songs
Music News:
Bassist Ted Dwane of the Grammy-winning British folk-pop band Mumford & Sons has been released from the hospital after undergoing emergency brain surgery. The group was on tour when Dwane fell ill. Doctors discovered a blood clot on the 28-year-old’s brain. Mumford & Sons posted a letter to fans on its website announcing the cancellation of the remaining dates on its Summer Stampede Tour. The band was scheduled to headline two popular festivals, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 15 and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 20. Jack Johnson filled in for Mumford & Sons at Bonnaroo.
Queens of the Stone Age scores its first Number One album on the Billboard 200 chart this week. According to Nielsen SoundScan, first week sales of the California-based rock band’s new album, “Like Clockwork,” reached 91-thousand copies. Elton John, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears are guests on the album. Other Top 10 debuts on this week’s Billboard 200 chart include “Feel” by Sleeping With Sirens (Number 3), “Super Collider” by Megadeth (Number 6) and “Grinning Streak” by Barenaked Ladies (Number 10).
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke jumps five spaces to Number One on this week’s Hot 100 chart. This is the 36-year-old R&B singer’s first chart-topper on that list. The single, featuring rapper T.I. and singer/producer Pharrell, reached Number One in 28 countries. Thicke’s upcoming sixth album, also titled “Blurred Lines,” will be released on July 30.
Billboard magazine has issued its Top 30 Summer Songs list. The tunes were ranked by their performance on the Hot 100 chart from August 4, 1958 through May 25, 2013. The Top 10 summer hits, in ascending order, are “Summer Nights” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, “Hot Fun In The Summertime” by Sly & the Family Stone, “Surfin’ U.S.A.” by The Beach Boys, “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, “Endless Summer Nights” by Richard Marx, “Surf City” by Jan & Dean, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini” by Bryan Hyland, “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris, “Summer In The City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful and “California Gurls” by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg.
Alicia Keys has become the first artist in the history of the Billboard Adult R&B chart to tally 10 Number One songs. She achieved the new record with her latest hit “Fire We Make,” a duet with Maxwell. Keys has held the Number One spot on the Adult R&B chart for a total of 80 weeks, more than any other artist. Other hits from her latest album “Girl On Fire” include the title track, “Brand New Me” and “New Day.” Since the release of her 2001 debut album “Songs In A Minor,” Keys has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.
New Album Releases:
New albums that were scheduled for release on June 18 include: “Anthem” by Hanson, “Born Sinner” by J. Cole, “Yeezus” by Kanye West, “Watching Movies with the Sound Off” by Mac Miller, “Still Fighting The War” by Slaid Cleaves, “More Light” by Primal Scream and “Blunderstone Rookery” by Stephen Kellogg.
Music Events/Festivals/Benefits:
Ted Dwane arrives at the BRIT Awards 2013 at the o2 Arena in London, Feb. 20, 2013.
The 40th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival takes place June 20-23 in Telluride, Colorado. More than 30 acts will perform at the sold-out event. They include Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Del McCoury, the Jerry Douglas Band, Jackson Browne and Richard Thompson. Mumford & Sons were expected to headline the festival, but had to cancel all of their summer appearances due to bassist Ted Dwane’s recent emergency brain surgery.
Tour Dates and Inforrmation:
On June 17, Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies kicked off a U.S. tour in Dallas, Texas. The group is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the brand new album “Grinning Streak.” The album debuted at Number 10 on this week’s Billboard 200 chart to become the band’s first Top 10 entry since 2003. Joining Barenaked Ladies on the “Last Summer On Earth Tour” are Ben Folds Five and Guster.
Bruno Mars begins his “Moonshine Jungle” world tour on June 22 in Washington, D.C. The 45-date outing supports his “Unorthodox Jukebox” album, which has produced two Number One hits, “Locked Out of Heaven” and “When I Was Your Man.” Ellie Goulding and Fitz & the Tantrums will share the opening slot. North American shows wrap up on September 1. The European leg runs from October 2 through November 25. Mars will take a three-month break before continuing the tour in Australia and New Zealand in February 2014.
On June 22, Maroon 5 will launch a U.K. tour in Birmingham, England. The band’s 2012 album, “Overexposed,” features such international hits as “Payphone,” “One More Night” and “Daylight.” From August 1 to October 6, Maroon 5 will headline the Honda Civic Tour with special guest Kelly Clarkson. Opening acts include Tony Lucca, PJ Morton and Rozzi Crane.
