The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame revealed its 2026 inductees, with eight performers earning spots through voter selection. Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan will join the prestigious institution. Collins was previously inducted as a Genesis member, but this marked his first solo nomination. Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan also succeeded on their debut nominations, while Oasis, Iron Maiden, and Joy Division/New Order won on their third attempt. The ceremony occurs November 14th in Los Angeles at the Peacock Theater. ABC and Disney+ will broadcast the event in December. Ten additional honorees received recognition in other categories, bringing total inductees to eighteen. Nine nominees — including Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, and Pink — missed selection this year despite strong fan support. Story URL
Michelle Dick, charged with stalking former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, was arrested Saturday in Allen County, Indiana, and awaits extradition to Los Angeles. The 55-year-old faces seven criminal counts after allegedly throwing an unidentified substance at Buckingham in Santa Monica on March 25th, violating a restraining order. Prosecutors say Dick stalked Buckingham from late 2021 through March, including felony charges for criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon involving her vehicle on March 19, and vandalizing his Mercedes-Benz. Dick allegedly made a false 911 call in November claiming Buckingham’s son was suicidal and shots were fired at his home, prompting police response. “When I answered the door, I was handcuffed,” Buckingham wrote in court filings. A judge granted a five-year restraining order in December requiring Dick stay away from Buckingham. (Story URL)
Bruce Springsteen’s merchandising partner, Live Nation’s Merch Traffic, filed a legal request in New Jersey courts to combat bootleg merchandise sales. The filing asks local law enforcement and U.S. Marshals to “seize and impound any and all infringing merchandise” at Springsteen’s upcoming shows, specifically targeting his April 20th performance at Newark’s Prudential Center. The injunction covers t-shirts, jerseys, caps and other items bearing Springsteen and E Street Band logos. Officials claim bootleg items appear similar to official merchandise but are “generally of inferior quality.” The legal action follows similar moves by artists including Dua Lipa, Benson Boone, and Tate McRae against unauthorized merchandise. Concert merchandise spending has increased, with average per-attendee purchases rising from $8.79 in 2023 to $10.24 in 2025. (Story URL)
Alice Cooper performed Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” during his annual Coopstock festival. The performance featured Cooper’s new touring guitarist Anna Cara, who replaced Nita Strauss during her maternity leave. Now in its 28th year, Coopstock raises funds for Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, which provide free art, music, and dance programs for youth. (Story URL)
The Strokes have announced their “Reality Awaits the World Tour” following their Coachella performance, supporting their upcoming album of the same name. The summer trek begins June 12th at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and includes North American amphitheaters and arenas through September 20th at Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Notable stops include two nights at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and performances at Outside Lands, Shaky Knees, and other major festivals. Opening acts include Thundercat, Cage the Elephant, Hamilton Leithauser, Fat White Family, Alex Cameron, and ÖLÜ at select dates. Reality Awaits arrives June 26th, marking the band’s first album since 2020’s The New Abnormal. The group recently shared lead single “Going Shopping,” which appeared in their Coachella setlist. (Story URL)
A Los Angeles County judge rejected Smokey Robinson’s attempt Monday to dismiss sexual harassment and labor claims from two accusers in a $50 million lawsuit. The 86-year-old Motown legend argued that Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 5’s claims were too old, as they stopped working for Robinson in 2020 and 2011 respectively. Judge Kevin Brazile ruled that California’s extended lookback window for previously time-barred sexual assault claims could apply to the women’s allegations. The judge cited “a pervasive pattern of coercive sexual abuse” and noted the “unique power dynamic” between parties. Five women total have accused Robinson of sexual assault and rape while working at his San Fernando Valley and Las Vegas homes, with incidents allegedly dating to 2007. Robinson and his wife have denied all allegations and counter-sued for defamation and elder abuse. (Story URL)
Chicago music collector Aadam Jacobs has uploaded over 2,000 digitized live recordings to the Internet Archive, representing decades of concerts by major artists including Nirvana, R.E.M., The Cure, Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Björk. Since the early 1980s, Jacobs amassed approximately 10,000 recordings from local Chicago shows. “I don’t have enough life left in me to digitize everything I have,” Jacobs told Chicago Reader in January, explaining his urgency to preserve deteriorating tapes. Volunteers across the United States and Europe help restore, catalog, and upload recordings. Brian Emerick visits Jacobs monthly to collect tape boxes, estimating completion will take several more years. Jacobs never monetized his collection but shared recordings with artists like The Replacements, who used his material for their 2024 live album. The Internet Archive provides free access. (Story URL)