Thursday, April 09, 2026

Justin Hayward brings 'The Story In Your Eyes Tour' to Phoenix


Who:
Justin Hayward

Where: Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ

When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Information: justinhayward.com


Review and photos by Robert Kinsler


It's hard to imagine a more enthusiastic audience than the one that caught legendary singer-songwriter/guitarist Justin Hayward's "The Story In Your Eyes" Tour at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Wednesday night. Although 79, Hayward looked and sounded decades younger; his signature vocals soared and his artful lead guitar work impressed at every turn. And when it came to an extended portion of the night where he fielded questions from members of the audience, he was charming and witty — adding even more magic to the event.




Backed by a terrific four-member band, Hayward revisited many of his most beloved Moody Blues and solo hits in a fast-moving 90-minute set. The approach focused on blending classic rock, Americana and Baroque pop stylings together to masterfully showcase the emotional and melodic strength of each of the songs. 



Hayward opened the night with the Moody Blues' "Lovely To See You," bringing a warm Americana vibe to the track from that band's 1969 LP On the Threshold of a Dream. Other Moody Blues favorites also received reworkings early in the set including "Gypsy," "Tuesday Afternoon" (the latter featuring Karmen Gould's virtuoso flute playing), and "The Voice" with Gould and keyboardist Julie Ragins sharing lead vocals with Hayward.



The Question & Answer part of the night found Hayward tackling everything from how he takes care of his voice, when he began playing guitar, and the band's memorable concert at the Isle of Wight in 1970 before an estimated crowd of 600,000 concertgoers (one of his most bittersweet memories of that event was that it marked the last time Hayward saw Jimi Hendrix).


The momentum of the concert continued after the Q and A, with "The Land of Make-Believe," "You and Me," "Forever Autumn," "Your Wildest Dreams" and driving "Question" (the latter featuring Hayward on 12-string acoustic guitar) among the standouts. 


The night was capped off with stellar takes on "Nights in White Satin" with Hayward's dynamic vocals front and center, a rocking "The Story in Your Eyes" and wonderful "I Know You're Out There Somewhere." Then Hayward remained alone, walking to different areas at the front of the stage to greet and chat with fans awhile, including one young boy who was rewarded with Hayward's guitar pick.


If Hayward's "The Story In Your Eyes" tour is hitting your town this spring, don't miss it!

Justin Hayward connecting with fans at the end of his April 8, 2026 concert.


 

Wednesday, April 08, 2026

The Alarm releases "Live Today," the final video featuring the late Mike Peters

Make sure to check out the bittersweet video "Live Today,"  - the final music video filmed with the late Alarm frontman Mike Peters. A fantastic song and one that resonates powerfully...Robert Kinsler 



Releases “Live Today”
The Final Video Featuring Mike Peters
Who Passed Away April 2025
Premieres via Consequence


New Album TRANSFORMATION
To Be Released May 29, 2026

On Twenty First Century Recordings/Virgin Music Group
Click above to watch the newly released "Live Today" music video

APRIL 8, 2026 [New York, NY] – “Mike lived a life of beauty and never gave up right to the very end,” says Jules Peters, bandmate and wife of the late Mike Peters of THE ALARM who passed away on April 29, 2025. Following a fearlessly valiant 31-year battle with cancer, his monumental legacy continues with the release of TRANSFORMATION on May 29, 2026 on Twenty First Century Recordings/Virgin Music Group. Its latest single, “Live Today” premieres now via Consequence.

Filmed just days before Mike underwent the innovative CAR-T treatment with hopes of eradicating Richter’s Syndrome, an aggressive form of lymphoma, “Live Today” is Mike’s final video. “As the sun rose, watching Mike perform this song with so much optimism and hope will live with me forever,” said Jules as she looks back. “It was a bittersweet day for me as we filmed this incredible joyous film on the beach in the North of England. After filming concluded, we climbed onto the tour bus and drove straight to the Christie Hospital in Manchester, U.K.. We were full of determination that the pioneering CAR-T would save Mike’s life but, at the same time, I was personally terrified as I couldn’t shake off a feeling that cancer had finally caught up with us both.”
Mike Peters of The Alarm
Photo credit: Andrew Labrow
A poignant rallying cry, the video shows Mike performing without any hint of weakness, though his health was ailing at the time. “This video is such a difficult watch,” she says through tears. “It broke my heart… but it captures the eternal essence of Mike Peters that keeps us coming back to him and his incredible songs time after time.”

Taken from the upcoming Transformation, “Live Today” is one of 12 prescient tracks that Mike gifts us through his passing. The recording sessions for Transformation began spontaneously on October 7, 2024, and after various life-interventions, it was finally completed on the evening of January 15, 2025 - the night before he began his CAR-T therapy.

From the opening call to arms “New Life,” The Alarm roars vibrantly to life. Originally intended as an optimistic song to herald the triumph over cancer to be released after he had beaten cancer successfully again, it instead carries a new sort of poignant breath as he sings “I’ll see you in the new life.”

First single “Chimera” was poised as an allegorical rebirth when it was released on January 23, 2025 - the exact day his CAR-T therapy began. Symbolically encapsulating the Greek mythos of a chimera which embodies the characteristics of different animals into one body, Mike envisioned that he himself would become like the fabled creature. “When I have CAR-T therapy I will literally become chimeric,” stated Mike at the time. “There will be two types of blood flowing inside of me. Two individual types of DNA.”
Watch the "Chimera" music video 

The classic ringing guitar progressions that made The Alarm household names in the ‘80s punctuates “Outlier” with Mike’s vocals showing no signs of wear. The anthemic and earnest “One In A Million” kicks off as a gorgeous hymn with the lyrics “one life, one heart, one soul” before counting down to a fiery chorus. It’s a fist-up outcry, the kind that the band built their initial acclaim with and made fans out of U2, Simple Minds, The Cult, among dozens of other renowned bands. The closing ballad “Love Makes Love” closes the album with a pensive note, the warmth of Mike’s voice acting as a final embrace.

Transformation is the finest Alarm album of all, written through adversity, with lashings of hope to stay strong, to believe, to keep moving forwards, to stay alive, to never be afraid and to welcome transformation,” says Jules.

Described by Bono of U2 as “the second greatest rock and roll band in the world,” Mike Peters has been the driving force behind The Alarm for over forty creative years of new music making and dedication to presenting the band’s classic songs in ways both imaginative and inventive. A voice of defiance and hope both on and off the stage, Peters first rose to prominence in the early 1980s with The Alarm, whose powerful anthems like "68 Guns" and "Strength" helped define a generation of alternative rock. Known for their empowering anthems and heartfelt lyrics, The Alarm garnered a devoted international following, with Peters' raw vocals and commanding stage presence at the heart of it all, garnering number one rock album chart hits in the USA / UK and 4 albums in the top 10 with EqualsSigmaOmega and Forwards. During a music career that spanned five decades, Peters performed with some of music’s greatest artists and bands including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and U2.

Diagnosed with lymphoma in 1995 and later with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Peters refused to let his illness silence him. Instead, he turned his fight into a mission to help others.

Alongside his wife Jules, he co-founded Love Hope Strength, a music-driven cancer charity that revolutionized awareness and action around stem cell donation that continues beyond his passing. Through its innovative “Get On The List” campaigns—often hosted at rock concerts and even atop mountains—the charity has added over 400,000 people to the global stem cell registry and helped secure thousands of potential life-saving matches for patients worldwide.
 
While this may seem like the final chapter for The Alarm, Transformation promises that the legacy of The Alarm will transform into something larger. While Mike has gone out in a blaze of glory, his love, hope and strength continues on. Echoing the title of the new single,
 
Jules concludes, “Mike and the spirit of The Alarm will ‘Live Today,’ forever more. I invite you all to blast Transformation out loud. Imagine Mike in the room with you. Transformation is his battle cry, his resilient love of life. Right to the very end, Mike believed that he was going to live, to be totally free. My last memory is driving him open top along the North Wales coast road, playing Transformation at maximum volume. He was so happy. So full of life. Playing his air drums, bass guitar, already imagining himself on his next world tour. So keep that positive spirit moving forwards. Imagine him as you all knew him best, striding out on to that stage, changing lives one concert at a time. This is an album of hope and a passionate celebration of a life well lived. Please do not be sad. Mike wouldn’t want that. He was so proud of this album and had the best time recording it during the last six months of his life. Blast it out loud like Mike did. Play along to the track list and most of all, be happy that we all had Mike in our lives and continue to do so. The music of Mike and The Alarm will always keep us strong”.
 
“Live Today” is released, April 8, 2026TRANSFORMATION will be released on May 29, 2026 via Twenty First Century Recordings/Virgin Music Group and is available for presale at the band's official webstore.
album art
TRANSFORMATION
  1. New Life
  2. Chimera
  3. Outlier
  4. Saviour
  5. Metaverse
  6. Wired
  7. One In A Million
  8. Live Today
  9. Soul Town
  10. In Unity
  11. To Be Alive
  12. Love Makes Love

Monday, April 06, 2026

New music: The Droptines soar with 'Drought Flower'

Thanks to a wonderful friend whose taste in discovering new music may well outdistance even my own, I was introduced to the The Droptines a few months ago and can proclaim they are one of my favorite bands to emerge this decade. The Austin, Texas-based Americana quintet led by frontman Conner Arthur blend alternative country, Southern rock, blues, gritty roots and top-tier songcraft into an authentic style rooted in real world emotion. I am not the first to say this and will definitely not be the last; I truly believe The Droptines are destined for bona fide greatness. 

The Concan, Texas-spawned band's new album Drought Flower (released via Miranda Lambert's Big Loud Texas label on April 3) is a joyful lesson in how to fall in love with new music anew and to feel its power sweep over you. The majority of the 11 songs on the disc play out in under three minutes, but nevertheless pack an emotional wallop for anyone who has fallen in love, lost someone they cared about, woke up with a hangover or longed to escape the cage where they are now.

The songs are not delivered via empty slogans or labored poetry, but rather feel as genuine as the events, persons and places that inspired their creation. Recorded at Arlyn Studios in Austin, there isn't anything even close to a throwaway on the LP.

Among the great cuts on the album are the rollicking opener "A Town Near You," anthemic "Tombstone" celebrating love's magic touch with a burgeoning sonic ascent, the rollicking title track, deeply affecting mandolin-adorned "Mamaw" that details an elderly loved one's descent into dementia, confessional "What Ate My Friend" and biting rocker "Whatever It Is."

The Droptines deliver two essential covers on the LP, a haunting take on the Mike McClure Band's "Calling All Cars" and evocative reading of The Magnetic Fields' "Grand Canyon," the latter as poignant as any romance-minded cry for help in memory. 

In addition to Connor Arthur, The Droptines feature bassist Dillon Sampson, drummer Johnny Sheets, guitarist Donny Parkinson and steel guitar player Tony Rincon.

Information:  thedroptines.com.


Robert Kinsler

 

2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Preview

This is an expanded version of an article written by George A. Paul and Robert Kinsler that was originally posted in the Desert Star Weekly. For information on Coachella, including a livestream of both weekends, visit the festival's official website HERE.


Coachella at night is magical. Here is a view captured in April 2025.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler



A Potent Musical Mix Headed to Indio


By Robert Kinsler and George A. Paul


The Desert Star Weekly’s contributing music writers provide their top picks for acts set to appear at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 10-12 and April 17-19. This year’s headliners are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G

Italian techno DJ Anyma - who performed at Sphere Las Vegas and the Giza pyramids - will also premiere his science fiction-meets-ancient mythology live production AEden. Nearly 150 established and emerging artists are scheduled to perform over the two consecutive weekends. 


Fridays, April 10 and 17


Devo — Although it has been almost 20 years since I first caught Devo in concert when the band headlined an event in Anaheim, CA in October 2006, the groundbreaking outfit's sound remains both influential and timeless. The Akron, Ohio-spawned band is sure to please concertgoers when they perform on April 10 and 17 in Indio. Although the band is best known for its 1980 hit "Whip It" and an original take on The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," the new wave group will thrill no matter what song is being unleashed. Not bad for a band formed at the dawn of the 1970s. (RK)




Moby / Photo: Lindsay Hicks

Moby — Richard Melville Hall (better known as Moby) is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter/producer who has successfully brought dance and electronica music to the mainstream around the globe. Between 1992 and 1997, he scored eight top 10 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. His albums Play (1999), 18 (2002) and Always Centered at Night (2024) are essential listens; hopefully, his Coachella appearances will offer material from across a rich and groundbreaking discography. (RK)


The xx performing at Coachella in April 2017.
Photo: Erik Voake 
courtesy of Goldenvoice

The xx — A favorite discovery of mine at Coachella 2017, the British trio’s sublime turn included an opening segment with guitarist Romy Madley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim sharing exquisite vocals amid the lush “Say Something Loving” and otherworldly “Angels.” The xx are currently working on a fourth studio album — the first since 2017's UK chart-topper I See You — so Coachellagoers may hear new music during their highly-anticipated sets. (RK)


Saturdays, April 11 and 18


David Byrne / Photo: Shervin Lainez

David Byrne – As leader for NYC’s Talking Heads, David Byrne and company crafted seminal Brian Eno-produced alt-rock albums like More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, and Remain in Light during the late 1970s and ‘80s. They were later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The singer’s solo career has been equally adventurous. Last year’s festive Who is the Sky? often recalled 1992’s Uh-Oh. It saw him collaborate with St. Vincent, Hayley Williams, and Ghost Train Orchestra with idiosyncratic results. Recent sets have included such Talking Heads classics as “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime,” and “Life During Wartime.” (GAP)


Interpol — Back in 2015, Manhattan’s Interpol knocked me out with their nighttime appearance on the Coachella Stage. Blending indie, alternative, and post-punk into a signature dream-swept sound, singer-rhythm guitarist Paul Banks, lead guitarist Daniel Kessler, and drummer Sam Fogarino are sure to feature winning originals from across their 25-year career, including groundbreaking 2002 debut Turn on the Bright Lights and 2022 album The Other Side of Make-Believe. (RK)


Sombr / Photo: Bryce Glenn

Sombr – New Yorker Shane Boose, who records under the name Sombr, put out one of the best albums of ’25 with the reverb-drenched, alternative pop and dance-leaning I Barely Know Her. Among the strongest debuts in recent memory, it spawned international hits “Undressed,” “12 to 12,” and “Back to Friends” (the latter resides in the Spotify “Billions Club”). Latest single “Homewrecker” is equally alluring. Sombr’s TV appearances have projected plenty of swagger, so it’ll be interesting to see how that translates outdoors here. (GAP)  

  



Sundays, April 12 and 19 


Foster the People / Photo: Jimmy Fontaine



Foster the People — Los Angeles-spawned Foster the People rose to fame in 2010 with the viral success of frontman Mark Foster's dance-minded crossover hit “Pumped Up Kicks.” The group's infectious synth rock-meets-dance pop approach has also yielded winning singles such as “Helena Beat,” “Houdini,” “Coming of Age” and “Sit Next to Me.” (RK)


Iggy Pop – Widely considered the “Godfather of Punk, thanks to his pioneering and confrontational late 1960s-early ‘70s work with The Stooges, Pop jump-started a riveting solo career with David Bowie at his side. Their results included classics “Lust for Life” (frequently included in films, TV shows, and commercials), “China Girl,” “The Passenger,” and “Funtime.” Pop’s biggest mainstream hit, “Candy,” a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52’s, arrived in 1990. More recently, 2023’s spiky Every Loser, produced by Andrew Watt, featured a star-studded guest list of alternative rockers. (GAP)

Thursday, March 26, 2026

"Billy Idol Should Be Dead" Debuts on Hulu Today

Big news for fans of Billy Idol and rock music documentary films...Robert Kinsler


BILLY IDOL SHOULD BE DEAD
DEBUTS ON HULU
WATCH/SHARE THE FILM’S TRAILER HERE
IDOL NOMINATED FOR ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2026
“It’s looking like 2026 is bound to be the year of Billy Idol.”
“one of the original U.K. punks”


March 26, 2026—The new feature-length documentary film Billy Idol Should Be Dead, d
irected by three-time Grammy-winner Jonas Ã…kerlund and produced by Live Nation Studios, is now available to stream on Hulu following a successful theatrical run.
In anticipation of the film’s Hulu debut, Idol recently shared a pair of clips discussing the genesis of his signature sound which came together after his introduction to producers Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey (watch/share HERE) and the development of his stage persona (watch/share HERE). The film’s trailer, featuring Idol along with Billie Joe ArmstrongMiley CyrusPete Townshend and more, is HERE.
In addition to the new documentary, Idol is also a nominee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 which will be announced shortly.
The documentary— hailed by critic Jeffrey Lyons as “informative and engaging,” while Forbes calls it “poignant” and “moving”—traces the life and career of punk pioneer turned rock ‘n’ roll icon Billy Idol. Through never-before-seen archival and personal interviews with Idol, his family, peers and collaborators, the documentary digs deep into his emergence as a prototypical punk rocker, his meteoric rise as a global superstar in the MTV era and the myriad of challenges Idol had to overcome to not just survive, but to remain one of the most beloved figures in rock n roll, fifty years into his career. 
The film made its festival debut at the Tribeca Film Festival last summer, followed by an award qualifying run. Theatrical distribution in North America is handled by Evan Saxon Productions (ESP), while distribution outside the U.S. is handled by Fremantle.
The film features Idol’s original song with Academy Award-nominated songwriter J. Ralph, “Dying To Live,” which was recently shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards. The film’s coda sequence is built around “Dying To Live,” featuring imagery—both animated and archival—from throughout Idol’s life and storied career and was written by Idol and Ralph alongside longtime Idol collaborators Steve StevensTommy English and Joe Janiak. Listen to the song and watch/share the video of the coda sequence HEREThe song was recently nominated for Best Song-Documentary Film at the Hollywood Music In Media (HMMA) Awards, which also nominated Billy Idol Should Be Dead for Best Music Documentary-Special Program.
Idol’s first full-length album of new music in over a decade, Dream Into It, is out now on Dark Horse Records. The album reached #7 on the U.S. Top Albums Chart and #4 on the U.S. Current Rock Album Chart#9 on the U.K. Official Album Sales Chart and #2 on the German Top 100 Album ChartDream Into It continues to see extensive critical acclaim from The New YorkerNew York MagazineAARP The MagazineConsequenceBillboardUSA Today and many more. See what the press has said and watch Idol’s appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (performing his new single “77” feat. Avril Lavigne as well as discussing the new record with Kimmel) and “The Drew Barrymore Show” in the interactive one-sheet HERE.
The album includes performance and co-writing contributions throughout from Idol’s longtime guitarist/collaborator Steve Stevensplus appearances by Lavigne, Joan Jett and Alison Mosshart of The Kills, and is produced by Tommy English (Kacey Musgraves, blink 182, BØRNS, K. Flay). Stream/purchase the record HERE.
Idol’s greatest hits compilation Idolize Yourself: The Very Best Of Billy Idol is also available now via UMe, stream/purchase the record HERE.
Additionally, Idol recently returned to the road for It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again! The tour saw Idol sell out venues across the U.S., Europe and Latin America while touring with support from Joan Jett & the BlackheartsNew Model Army and more. The tour announcement video featuring Idol, Jett and comedian Matt Rife was awarded a Bronze CLIO Award in the medium of live music marketing and category of live music promotion.
ABOUT BILLY IDOL
For almost 50 years, Billy Idol has been one of the definitive faces and voices of rock’n’roll. Between 1977 and 1981, Idol released three albums with Generation X as their camera-ready frontman. In 1982, with guitarist Steve Stevens at his side, he embarked on a transatlantic/trans-genre solo career that integrated the bold and simple lines of punk and rock’n’roll decadence on songs like “Dancing With Myself,” “White Wedding,” Rebel Yell,” “Eyes Without A Face,” “Cradle of Love” and more. Touring consistently around the world and showing no signs of slowing down, Idol released Dream Into It on Dark Horse Records in 2025, earning praise from fans and critics alike. In 2026, Idol will release Billy Idol Should Be Dead, the definitive documentary about his life and career.
ABOUT LIVE NATION STUDIOS
Live Nation Entertainment leads the industry bringing artists and their live shows to stages worldwide. Live Nation Studios (LNS) was created to help those same artists tell their stories. The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy-nominated division is home to artist-driven films and TV series dedicated to sharing those groundbreaking, musically-inspired stories for audiences across the globe. LNS is riding an incredible wave of success including Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience recently being the #1 movie world wide; Anderson .Paak’s K-Pops! hit theaters as an AMC Exclusive; Rolling Loud, starring Owen Wilson and Matt Rife, will premiere in cinemas this Summer; and the upcoming Noah Kahan: Out of Body doc was picked up as a Netflix Original and debuted at SXSW. Recent documentary premieres include Miley Cyrus’ Something BeautifulBilly Idol Should Be Dead, Ty Dolla $ign’s Still Free TC, Dustin Lance Black’s Rock Out, Becky G’s Rebbeca and The French Montana Story: For Khadija. The latest scripted projects are StagesNew Years Rev—a Green Day story, as well as The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow. LNS’ previous projects include Gaga: Five Foot TwoMoonage Daydream with David Bowie and the critically acclaimed A Star is Born.

New music: The Green Circles, He's Dead Jim, Peter Frampton

In this column, I review the latest studio albums from The Green Circles and He's Dead Jim as well as details about Peter Frampton's highly-anticipated forthcoming album.




Artist: 
The Green Circles
Title: The Green Circles (Kool Kat Musik)
You might like if you enjoy: The Kinks, The Hives, The Knack
Tell me more: Released on March 6, The Green Circles' eponymous album is a fantastic listen. Standouts on the Australia-based garage rock outfit's fifth album release include the exuberant album opener "Said It Would," the rollicking Kinks-flavored "Days Of Blue And Grey And Green," introspective look at the realities of going to work courtesy of the driving New Wave-tinged rocker "Too Bright For A Monday," beautiful psychedelic-mining folk rocker "She Walked Along Here," horn section-adorned "I Watch The Line," galloping power pop cut "Ladder In Her Stocking" and luxurious Beatlesque closer "Yesterday's Glass." The Green Circles also unleash a flat-out rollicking take on the Masters Apprentices' "Undecided." Information: koolkatmusik.com.


Artist: 
He's Dead Jim
Title: These Men, These Monsters (Kool Kat Musik)
You might like if you enjoy: Stiff Little Fingers, New York Dolls, The Kinks
Tell me more: 
Masterfully blending glam rock, power pop, post-punk and hard rock, He's Dead Jim is back with the band's sophomore album These Men, These Monsters. Along with their forceful rock sound, the Scottish band's intelligent lyrics and unique sonic approach make for an intoxicating journey. Highlights on These Men, These Monsters include the propulsive "Dragonsfield," tuneful "Anything Can Happen Day," jaunty "Everybody's Little Sister," infectious '80s rocker "Living In Harmony," baroque pop meets melodic proto-prog original "The Process," raucous "Under A Rock" and edgy "Negative Vibes." He's Dead Jim also reworks a 10cc's 1975 hit "Art For Art's Sake" into something that is delightfully the band's own. Trivia note: He's Dead Jim got their name from a famous line delivered by the character of Dr. McCoy in an episode of the original "Star Trek" series. Information: koolkatmusik.com.

Peter Frampton is back!

Last week Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Peter Frampton has announced the release of Carry The Light, his first new full-length album of original material in 16 years. Slated for release on May 15, the full-length studio album features guest appearances from Sheryl Crow, Bill Evans, H.E.R., Tom Morello, Graham Nash and Benmont Tench. "Buried Treasure" is the first advance track released from the 10-track album and it's an enticing rocker showcasing Frampton's signature vocals and his fiery lead guitar work; the song is a tribute to the late Tom Petty and features keyboardist Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers fame. Information: Frampton.com

Robert Kinsler


Friday, March 20, 2026

The Black Keys release new song 'Where There's Smoke, There's Fire'

Check out the fiery track "Where There's Smoke, There's Fire" from The Black Keys...Robert Kinsler


THE BLACK KEYS RELEASE NEW SONG “WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE”

LISTEN HERE


OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW

WATCH HERE


PEACHES ‘N KREAM WORLD TOUR KICKS OFF APRIL 24, 2026

TICKETS HERE


NEW ALBUM PEACHES! OUT MAY 1, 2026

PRE-ORDER/SAVE HERE


(Akron, Ohio — March 20, 2026) – Today, GRAMMY award-winning rock duo The Black Keys return with their new song, “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” — listen here. The new track serves as the latest preview for their upcoming album Peaches! set for release May 1 via Easy Eye Sound/Warner Records  pre-order/save Peaches! here


Alongside the song comes a captivating official music video, transporting viewers to the band’s recent intimate surprise show at Lucinda’s in New York City, where fans lined the streets for a special, up-close performance – watch here. “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire” follows the band’s release of their single “You Got To Lose” — listen to/watch here.


The Black Keys will soon begin their PEACHES ‘N KREAM WORLD TOUR ‘26, kicking off on April 24th with stops in major cities including New York, Chicago, Nashville, London, Paris, Milan and more. All supporting acts for the tour come from the stable of Dan Auerbach’s own Easy Eye Sound record label, with artists varying per city. Tickets available here.


Peaches!, the band’s fourteenth studio album, is a visceral and raw 10-song collection described by singer Dan Auerbach as the band’s “most natural record” since their 2002 debut, The Big Come Up. The project was born in the wake of Auerbach’s late father’s diagnosis of esophageal cancer, as he was staying in Dan’s Nashville home, in rapid decline. Patrick Carney, Dan’s Black Keys bandmate and oldest, closest friend, knew without asking “that it would be good for Dan to have something to do.” That something, of course, was to head into the studio and crank up the amps.


The songs on Peaches! reflect Dan and Patrick’s obsessive record-collecting habit, which in recent years has escalated into an ongoing series of Record Hang DJ-set dance parties. These hangs fueled a deeper period of musical archaeology for both of them. “I’d look for 45s specifically to play at the record hangs,” Dan says, “but sometimes I’d find a song and think, ‘This might be fun for Pat and me to play live.’”


Peaches! cover art is illustrated with an image by the iconic Memphis-born photographer William Eggleston, a hero of the band’s who also provided the cover shot for their 2021 album, Delta Kream. This album also sees Patrick’s brother, Michael Carney, designing and art-directing the package as he did similarly with early Black Keys albums, notably winning a GRAMMY award for the Brothers cover. Peaches! will be available on vinyl, CD, cassette and digitally — pre-order/save here.


Peaches! Tracklist:

01. Where There's Smoke, There's Fire

02. Stop Arguing Over Me

03. Who's Been Foolin' You

04. It's a Dream

05. Tomorrow Night

06. You Got To Lose

07. Tell Me You Love Me

08. She Does It Right

09. Fireman Ring the Bell

10. Nobody But You Baby


PEACHES ‘N KREAM WORLD TOUR Routing:

▲ indicates support from MILES KANE

⬥ indicates support from EDDIE 9V

⏺ indicates support from FAI LACI

⏹ indicates support from ROBERT FINLEY

◀ indicates support from JEREMIE ALBINO


4/24/26 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL▲

4/26/26 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle▲

4/27/26 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle▲

5/1/26 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz Fest

5/3/26 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theater▲

5/4/26 – Columbus, OH – The Ohio State University - Wexner Center for the Arts - Mershon Auditorium▲

5/5/26 – Columbus, OH – The Ohio State University - Wexner Center for the Arts - Mershon Auditorium▲

5/7/26 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre▲

5/8/26 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort - Grand Ballroom▲

5/9/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall▲

5/11/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount▲

5/12/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount⬥

5/27/26 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield Amphitheater⏺

5/29/26 – Carnation, WA – Remlinger Farms⏺

5/30/26 – Carnation, WA – Remlinger Farms⏺

5/31/26 – Vancouver, BC – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena◀

6/3/26 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place◀

6/5/26 – Calgary, AB – Spruce Meadows - ATCO Field◀ *SOLD OUT*

6/6/26 – Calgary, AB – Spruce Meadows - ATCO Field◀ *SOLD OUT*

6/8/26 – Jackson, WY – Snow King Resort⏺ *SOLD OUT*

6/9/26 – Ogden, UT – Ogden Amphitheater⏺

6/11/26 – Stateline, NV – Harveys Lake Tahoe⏺

6/12/26 – Las Vegas, NV – Virgin Hotels Las Vegas - The Theater⏺

6/13/26 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl⏺

7/16/26 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed - Fairgrounds⬥

7/17/26 – Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota Yacht Club Fest

7/19/26 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory⬥

7/20/26 – La Vista, NE – The Astro – Outdoor Amphitheater⬥

7/21/26 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Zoo Amphitheatre⬥

7/23/26 – Dallas, TX – Bomb Factory⬥

7/24/26 – Houston, TX – Lawn at White Oak Music Hall⬥

7/25/26 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheatre⬥

7/28/26 – Clearwater, FL – Coachman Park - The BayCare Sound⬥

7/29/26 – St Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre⬥

7/30/26 – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery - Lawn⬥

8/1/26 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront⬥

8/2/26 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE⬥

8/4/26 – Newport, KY – MegaCorp Pavilion⬥

8/6/26 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle⬥

8/7/26 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle⬥

8/28/26 – Paris, FR – Rock En Seine

8/29/26 – Portsmouth, UK – Victorious Festival

8/31/26 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo⏹

9/1/26 – London, UK – Brixton Academy⏹

9/4/26 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS⏹ *SOLD OUT*

9/5/26 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS⏹ *SOLD OUT*

9/6/26 – Cologne, DE – Palladium⏹

9/7/26 – Bern, CH – Festhalle⏹

9/9/26 – Munich, DE – Zenith⏹

9/10/26 – Milan, IT – Alcatraz⏹

9/13/26 – Madrid, ES – Movistar Aena⏹

9/15/26 – Istanbul, TR – KüçükÇiftlik Park⏹

10/10/26 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort & Casino◀

10/11/26 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena◀

10/13/26 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre◀

10/14/26 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre◀

10/16/26 – Laval, QC – Place Bell◀

10/17/26 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre◀

10/18/26 – Windsor, ON – Caesars Windsor◀




Photo Credit: Romeo Okwara



###


About The Black Keys: 

Around the turn of the century in Akron, OH, two childhood friends regularly huddled around a rudimentary tape recorder and wrote songs. After more than two decades, five GRAMMY® awards, worldwide sales of 10 million-plus, streams in the billions, and countless sold-out shows, The Black Keys—Dan Auerbach [vocals, guitar] and Patrick Carney [drums]—still operate the same way. To this day, the duo write, record, and produce music together, jamming like no one’s watching, disregarding the rules, and following their own creative impulses without compromise. Since their inception, they have consistently captivated audiences with seismic live performances and a fluid and fiery body of work. Following influential favorites such as Thickfreakness [2003] and Magic Potion [2006], they made waves with 2008’s gold-certified Attack & Release. In its wake, Brothers [2010] reached double-platinum status, received a GRAMMY® for “Best Alternative Music Album,” and spawned the staple “Tighten Up”—which notched a GRAMMY® for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. 2011 saw the guys unveil El Camino. It went double-platinum and scored three GRAMMYs®, including “Best Rock Album” as well as “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Rock Song” for “Lonely Boy.” In 2014, the gold-selling Turn Blue bowed at #1 on the Billboard 200. Maintaining this momentum, 2022’s Dropout Boogie marked their sixth Top 10 debut on the Billboard 200. Plus, they sold out iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden and shined as an outlier who could collaborate with either Noel Gallagher, Billy F. Gibbons, and Beck or Juicy J. In 2025, the duo’s bond as bandmates and friends underscored their thirteenth full-length LP, No Rain, No Flowers [Easy Eye Sound/Warner Records], which earned Dan his fifth “Producer of Year” GRAMMY nomination.



theblackkeys.com | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube