You like your music newsletters jam packed? Hot damn, it's your lucky day.
Zappagram 145: Matt Pinfield, get well soon! New Butch Bastard on the way! New Radiohead on the way? Gere Fennelly rocks! RIP David Johansen. Tour news from Aimee Mann, QOTSA, & Destroyer, and more...
If I were punny, I might describe this issue of Zappagram as “jam packed.”
There’s a ton of music news, but unfortunately, eleven of these stories are about people who’ve died in the last couple weeks. I’m considering adding an obituary section as a regular feature.
Don’t worry. There’s plenty of news about the living. As a matter of fact, there may be more news in this issue than in any previous issue of Zappagram. So, we’ve got that going for us.
I want to shoutout a few of my talented friends who deserve everyone’s love and attention. Were this world full of people like them, it’d be a swell place to chill for a lifetime.
Matt Pinfield—get well soon, brother! I’m so glad you’re the miracle man that you are and that you’re bouncing back stronger than ever. You’re gonna be back on the airwaves in no time which is good because everyone fucking misses you. Matt is a fighter, a survivor, and a constant inspiration.
Butch Bastard—my buddy is an artistic genius and has an incredible new album, Death Valley, coming out next week, March 28. The first four singles are out now wherever you stream music and I implore you, for the love of all that’s sacred and holy, and even more so for the good of your soul, go listen to Butch, paying close attention to his lyrics, melodies, and rhythms. This is masterclass-level singer-songwriter’ing.
Gere Fennelly—connecting with a friend on both a musical and political level is rare. Connecting with two friends (who happen to be married) on both of those levels is even more rare. That’s the kind of serendipity you don’t take for granted. Some connections just click, and when they do, they make the world feel less chaotic and more interesting. Check out Gere’s performance below under this week’s Z-Rex.
Alright, enough sentimentality—there’s a hell of a lot happening. Tours are rolling, albums are dropping, and some music docs might actually be worth your time. Some might not. It’s up to you to decide whether or not Jim Morrison really died or whether he’s living in Syracuse, working as a maintenance man named Frank.
Keep reading. It’ll all make sense unless it doesn’t.
Ground control to subscriber:
Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on.
This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself…
MUSIC NEWS
Walking music encyclopedia, radio host, writer, podcaster, former MTV VJ, and one of the nicest guys in the world of music, Matt Pinfield, has been through a tremendous amount of shit—from maintaining sobriety, to heart issues, to being hit by a fucking car(!), and, most recently, emerging from a two-month coma following a massive stroke in early January 2025. Initially unresponsive and battling pneumonia, doctors were uncertain about his recovery prospects. Now in a Los Angeles rehabilitation center, Matt is optimistic about returning to his radio shows once he’s back to full health, and I couldn’t be happier to know he’s on the road to recovery.
Radiohead has ignited fresh excitement among fans by forming a new limited liability partnership (LLP) called RHEUK25 LLP on March 10, 2025—a move that historically signals new activity, whether it’s an album, a tour, or both. (Fingers crossed for both!) This follows a pattern the band has used before launching major projects, making it the strongest hint yet that something big is in the works. If this means a new album, it would be their first in nearly a decade, as A Moon Shaped Pool was released nine years ago in 2016. It also means I’m about to freak out with excitement so I hope they don’t make us speculate for long before they announce their new project. Fans will appreciate knowing that in celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Bends, Radiohead have unearthed a rare, previously unseen acoustic performance by Thom Yorke from March 1995, where he played a five-song set at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern. The quality is shit but, damn, Thom sounds great here. Definitely worth a watch.
Aimee Mann has announced the 22 ½ Lost in Space Anniversary Tour for June 2025, celebrating her 2002 album Lost in Space. The 18-date tour begins on June 5 in Cranston, Rhode Island, and concludes on June 27 in Chicago, with support from frequent collaborator Jonathan Coulton. In conjunction with the tour, Mann will reissue Lost in Space on special edition splatter vinyl, featuring a gatefold jacket printed with glow-in-the-dark ink.
Matt Berninger, frontman of The National, has announced his second solo album, Get Sunk, set for release on May 30 via Book/Concord. The album features collaborations with Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) and Booker T. Jones, among others. The lead single, “Bonnet of Pins,” is out now, and Berninger will kick off a North American tour in May, ending with a release-day show at New York’s Webster Hall before heading to Europe and the UK in August. One of my favorite albums of the past 20 years is El Vy, his collaboration with Brent Knopf (Ramona Falls, Menomena). And, of course, I love everything The National puts out. My appreciation for his music is all about that unmistakable baritone—warm, weary, and weighted with just the right amount of depression and existential dread.
Neil Young and his band, the Chrome Hearts, will kick off their ‘Love Earth’ European tour with a free concert in Ukraine, expressing solidarity with the nation amidst its conflict with Russia. Young, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasized music’s unifying power and the importance of democracy in his announcement.
Queens of the Stone Age announced the continuation of their The End Is Nero tour, with new U.S. dates in June 2025, following a hiatus due to frontman Josh Homme’s health issues. The tour will feature The Kills as the opening act, with performances scheduled in cities including Boston, Atlantic City, Cincinnati, Madison, and Chicago.
Two upcoming Ramones tribute albums, Ramones Redux and The Best of Ramones Redux, are set to feature contributions from artists like Thurston Moore, Napalm Death, Dave Lombardo, and GWAR’s Blöthar. Magnetic Eye Records is releasing the two albums—one covering their 1976 debut and another featuring highlights from their discography—as part of its Redux series. Both are set for release in June.
The Lemon Twigs have announced a spring and summer 2025 tour, with dates across the United States, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina.
Destroyer’s Dan Bejar has announced a North American tour starting September 23 in Eugene, Oregon, and ending October 26 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Along with the tour, he released a new single, Cataract Time, from his upcoming album Dan’s Boogie, out March 28 via Merge Records.
Counting Crows have announced “The Complete Sweets! Tour” for 2025, with The Gaslight Anthem joining as special guests on most North American dates. The tour supports their upcoming album, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets, and includes stops across North America and Europe, kicking off on June 10 in Nashville.
Tune-Yards announced their new album, Better Dreaming, set for release on May 16 via 4AD. They’ve also shared the lead single, “Limelight,” accompanied by a vibrant music video. To support the album, Tune-Yards will embark on a tour starting May 7 in Philadelphia, concluding May 15 in New York City.
Brent Hinds, co-founding guitarist of Mastodon, has left the band after 25 years. The band announced the departure as a mutual decision and assured fans that their 2025 tour plans remain unchanged.
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain but I’ve never seen James Taylor live, however, with 17 new dates added to his 2025 U.S. tour—featuring support from Tiny Habits—I just might get my chance.
I’m With Her—a folk trio comprising Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan—has announced their new album, Wild and Clear and Blue, set for release on May 9, 2025. They’ve also shared the lead single, “Ancient Light,” and will support the album with a tour starting June 5 in St. Louis, including dates in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.
Lady Gaga has released her eighth studio album, Mayhem, marking a return to her experimental dance-pop roots. The album blends genres like industrial dance, ‘80s funk, and grunge. Critics have praised Mayhem as her best work in 14 years.
Death Cab for Cutie have announced a brief U.S. tour for summer 2025, starting July 23rd in Sacramento, California, and including stops in Reno, Portland, and Spokane. This tour precedes their ‘Plans’ 20th anniversary shows, which commence with performances in Seattle on July 31st and August 2nd.
Ray LaMontagne is commemorating the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Trouble, with a remastered vinyl edition releasing on June 13, 2025. To further celebrate, he will embark on the “Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour,” performing the album in its entirety for the first time since its release. The tour kicks off on August 23 and includes stops at notable venues such as Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Toronto’s Massey Hall, and Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The year this album came out, I must’ve listened to it—especially “Jolene”—at least a thousand times. Ray puts on a great concert, too, so I receommend catching him on this tour if you can.
Beck has announced a nine-date orchestral tour for Summer 2025, performing in eight cities across the United States and Canada. This tour follows his 2024 orchestral performances, where he collaborated with regional ensembles to reimagine his music in a symphonic context.
The long-awaited sequel to This Is Spinal Tap is finally set to hit theaters on September 12, 2025, with original cast members Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer reprising their iconic roles, alongside director Rob Reiner. The film will feature an all-star lineup of guest appearances, including Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Questlove, Chad Smith, Lars Ulrich, Fran Drescher, Paul Shaffer, and more. After decades of waiting, it looks like we’re finally aboout to crank it back up to 11 after all.
Slayer will perform their first UK shows in six years, headlining Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields on July 3 and London’s Finsbury Park on July 6, 2025, with support from Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon, Hatebreed, and Neckbreaker. Additionally, they will join Black Sabbath’s final concert, “Back to the Beginning,” at Birmingham’s Villa Park on July 5, 2025.
The remastered version of Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party, a 1983 documentary directed by Cameron Crowe, is now streaming exclusively on Paramount+. This film offers a candid look at the band during their 1982-1983 “Long After Dark” tour, featuring interviews, live performances, and behind-the-scenes footage.
Daryl Hall has stated he will never perform with John Oates again, citing an “ultimate partnership betrayal” in a lawsuit filed last year. He emphasized that their musical collaboration has ended, saying, “That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean.”
The Offspring have announced their 2025 North American “SUPERCHARGED Tour,” featuring support from Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.
The new documentary series Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison explores the wild claim that The Doors’ frontman, Jim Morrison—who reportedly died in 1971—is actually alive and living in Syracuse, New York, under the alias “Frank.” Now streaming on Apple TV+, the series presents interviews and so-called evidence to support the theory. I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I’ll be watching soon—if only to see just how much “Frank” resembles Jim, 57 years after his supposed death.
David Johansen, the legendary frontman of the New York Dolls, has died at 75 after battling stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor. As a key figure in the 1970s punk and glam rock movements, Johansen helped shape the sound and attitude that influenced bands like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. Beyond the Dolls, he found mainstream success in the late 1980s with his lounge-singer alter ego, Buster Poindexter, best known for the hit Hot Hot Hot. His career spanned decades, blending punk, blues, and cabaret, leaving an indelible mark on rock history.
Jesse Colin Young, lead singer of the Youngbloods and voice behind the 1960s anthem Get Together, has died at 83 in Aiken, South Carolina. Born Perry Miller in Queens, New York, he left a lasting impact on folk-rock with his soulful vocals and timeless message of unity.
Danny Peart, brother of late Rush drummer Neil Peart, passed away on March 13, 2025, after an 18-month battle with glioblastoma—the same aggressive brain cancer that took Neil’s life in 2020. While glioblastoma isn’t typically hereditary, the fact that both brothers succumbed to the disease raises questions about potential genetic or environmental factors. Danny, an accomplished writer and poet, is survived by his wife and their two sons.
Roy Ayers, the pioneering jazz-funk vibraphonist and composer, has died at 84. Best known for hits like Everybody Loves the Sunshine, his genre-blending sound influenced generations of artists, with his work extensively sampled in hip-hop and R&B.
Brian James, founding guitarist and songwriter for The Damned, has died at 70. A key figure in UK punk, he co-wrote their early hits, helped launch British punk with New Rose (1976), and later played with Iggy Pop and The Lords of the New Church.
Angie Stone, the influential R&B and neo-soul singer, has died at 63 following a car accident in Alabama. She first gained recognition as part of the pioneering hip-hop trio The Sequence before establishing a successful solo career that blended soul, gospel, and hip-hop influences.
Aaron Rossi, former drummer for industrial metal band Ministry and heavy metal band Prong, died on January 27, 2025, at the age of 44 due to a heart attack though his death wasn’t announced until this week. Rossi’s career included stints with Prong from 2005 to 2009 and Ministry from 2007 to 2016, during which he contributed to several albums and tours.
D’Wayne Wiggins, the 64-year-old co-founder, singer, and guitarist of the influential R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, has succumbed to bladder cancer.
Carl Dean, the reclusive husband of country music icon Dolly Parton, died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82 in Nashville, Tennessee. Married for nearly 60 years, Dean inspired Parton’s hit song “Jolene” but consistently avoided the public spotlight throughout their enduring relationship.
Joey Molland, guitarist and last surviving member of the classic lineup of Badfinger, died on March 1, 2025, at age 77, following health complications including pneumonia and diabetes.
George Lowe, the voice actor renowned for portraying Space Ghost on Adult Swim’s Space Ghost Coast to Coast, died at 67 after a prolonged illness. Lowe also contributed to other Adult Swim series, including Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Robot Chicken, and was also an accomplished visual artist with works displayed in notable museums.
Z-REX
My friend
is a phenomenal pianist whose talent and versatility have made her a standout artist in the music world. From her days in the legendary band Redd Kross (Phaseshifter rules!) to her stunning solo performances, she brings an electrifying energy and passion to everything she plays. Her interpretation of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” is nothing short of jaw-dropping and I rewatch this from time to time, amazed at what talented friends I’m so lucky to have.NEW RELEASES
Bambara: Birthmarks
Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers): The Melancholy Season
Bob Mould: Here We Go Crazy
Darkside: Nothing
David Bowie: Young Americans (Vinyl Reissue)
De La Soul: Clear Lake Auditorium EP (Reissue)
Doves: Constellations For The Lonely
Elea Calvet: Bad Joke
Gary Numan: Berserker (Extended 2025 Remaster)
Gary Numan: Machine + Soul (Extended 2025 Remaster)
Gary Numan: Strange Charm (Extended 2025 Remaster)
Gary Numan: The Fury (Extended 2025 Remaster)
Hamilton Leithauser: This Side of the Island
Jacob Slade: Wake Up
Jason Isbell: Foxes in the Snow
Lady Gaga: Mayhem
Miya Folick: Erotica Veronica
Moreish Idols: All In The Game
Motörhead: Ace of Spades (Vinyl Reissue)
Neil Young: Oceanside Countryside
Nels Cline: Consentrik Quartet
Noah Kahan: Live From Fenway Park (Vinyl Release)
Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (20th Anniversary Edition)
Ozzy Osbourne: See You on the Other Side V2.0 (Box set)
Oasis: Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants (Vinyl Reissue)
Spiritbox: Tsunami Sea
Throwing Muses: Moonlight Concessions
Valley James: Star
World Party: Best in Show (Vinyl Reissue)
RELEASE RADAR
:: MAR 21
De La Soul: The Grind Date (20th Anniversary Edition) • The Horrors: Night Life • Japanese Breakfast: For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) • My Morning Jacket: Is • RUSH: RUSH 50
:: MAR 28
Alison Krauss & Union Station: Arcadia • Bryan Ferry: Loose Talk • Butch Bastard: Death Valley • Deafheaven: Lonely People With Power • Destroyer: Dan’s Boogie • Lucy Dacus: Forever Is a Feeling • Ministry: The Squirrely Years Revisited • Perfume Genius: Glory
:: APR 4
Black Country, New Road: Forever Howlong • Craig Finn: Always Been • Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs: Death Hilarious • Sleigh Bells: Bunky Becky Birthday Boy • Smoking Popes: Lovely Stuff • Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman (Vinyl Reissue) • The Waterboys: Life, Death and Dennis Hopper
:: APR 11
Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE • Bootsy Collins: Album of the Year #1 Funkateer • Mamalarky: Hex Key • OK Go: And the Adjacent Possible • Röyksopp: True Electric • Spin Doctors: Face Full of Cake
ON THIS DATE
:: MAR 19
Birthdays: Ricky Wilson of The B-52s (1953) • Bruce Willis (1955) • Terry Hall of The Specials (1959) • Randy Rhoads, guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, was killed in a plane crash. (1982)
:: MAR 20
Birthdays: Lee 'Scratch' Perry (1936) • Jimmie Vaughan (1951) • Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats (1961) • Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand (1972) • Chester Bennington of Linkin Park (1976) • John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar. (1969) • Kenny Rogers died, aged 81. (2020)
:: MAR 21
Birthdays: Solomon Burke (1940) • Eddie Money (1949) • Roger Hodgson of Supertramp (1950) • Leo Fender, the inventor of The Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars died from Parkinson's disease. (1991)
:: MAR 22
Birthdays: George Benson (1943) • Andrew Lloyd Webber (1948) • Susanne Sulley, singer, The Human League (1963) • Bob Dylan released his fifth studio album Bringing It All Back Home. (1965) • Pink Floyd's “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)” started a four-week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart. (1980)
:: MAR 23
Birthdays: Ric Ocasek of The Cars (1944) • Chaka Khan (1953) • Damon Albarn of Blur & Gorillaz (1968) • Producer, Ariel Rechtshaid (1979) • Billy Joel married model Christie Brinkley on a boat moored alongside the Statue Of Liberty. (1985)
:: MAR 24
Birthdays: Carol Kaye (1935) • Nick Lowe (1949) • Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers (1964) • Pasemaster Mace of De La Soul (1970) • Ethel Cain (1998) • During a Lou Reed show in Buffalo, New York, a fan jumped on stage and bit Lou on the ass. (1973)
:: MAR 25
Birthdays: Aretha Franklin (1942) • Elton John (1947) • Buzz Osborne of The Melvins (1964) • Jeff Healey & Drummer Frank Ferrer (1966) • Buck Owens died, aged 76. (2006) • Taylor Hawkins died, aged 50. (2022)
CODA
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Until next time, friends…
Still circling the drain,
Chris Zappa
🤘🏻