Former Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne bassist Jason Newsted performed an acoustic set for animals at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, Florida as part of a music enrichment program. The event aimed to stimulate curiosity and reduce stress among the rescued animals. During his performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” a gray fox named Grayson jumped onto Newsted’s lap and licked his hand while he played guitar. The sanctuary, South Florida’s largest wildlife rehabilitation center, admits over 5,000 animals annually for treatment. Officials noted that “every animal responds differently” and praised the “incredible” individual reactions to the music. Nicole Newsted, Jason’s wife, mentioned that Grayson the fox had also battled and beaten throat cancer, referencing Jason’s recent successful fight against the disease. Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band are touring this summer. (Story URL)
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy designed a rock-themed crossword puzzle for the New York Times after being passed over for their “30 Greatest Living American Songwriters” list. The self-described crossword “addict” was invited to create a full-sized puzzle titled “My Life Was Saved By Rock ‘N’ Roll” for the publication’s monthly bonus game section. His puzzle features clues referencing musical influences including David Bowie, Sex Pistols, The Velvet Underground, Keith Richards and Johnny Cash. Tweedy told games editor Christina Iverson that songwriting skills helped with puzzle creation, explaining “putting a song together and finding the right word to express what you want to say succinctly can feel like putting a puzzle together sometimes.” He described crosswords as a “pretty benign outlet for an addictive tendency” in a Substack post. (Story URL)
DragonForce announced Alissa White-Gluz as their new co-lead vocalist alongside Marc Hudson, marking a significant lineup change for the power metal band. The former Arch Enemy frontwoman will debut with DragonForce on May 9 at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida, during their 20th anniversary celebration of Inhuman Rampage. Co-founder Herman Li stated, “Having Alissa in the room changes everything. She doesn’t just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better.” White-Gluz expressed excitement about “showcasing all the colors of my voice” in the band’s technically challenging songs. The collaboration isn’t entirely new—White-Gluz previously worked with DragonForce on “Burning Heart” from their Warp Speed Warriors special edition. She left Arch Enemy earlier this year and is also working on solo material and a new band called Blue Medusa. (Story URL)