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Darkest Hour is booked and busy. The metalcore veterans just announced that their latest studio album, Suffer Divine, is ready for an Oct. 30, 2026, release. They also dropped the title track today, Sept. 1, and shared that they’re preparing to go on the road with Fear Factory this November.

But first, the album.

Produced by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Cannibal Corpse), Suffer Divine marks the band’s 11th studio album. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, it features 11 tracks of rage, thrash, and raw aggression. Guitarist Mike Schleibaum noted that the record is heavily rooted in their foundational love for melodic death metal, balancing immense pain and anger with an underlying sense of catharsis and hope.

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“This album is so special to us,” he said, via Blabbermouth. “We’ve had the support of an amazing team at the label, the incredibly talented Mark Lewis, and each other as we have navigated the process that gave birth to Suffer Divine. The result is one blistering album. It’s full of rage, thrash, and aggression but also feels musically dense. Sonically, this is an album born out of love for things like melodic death metal.”

Giving fans a peek into the sound of Suffer Divine, the band released the title track. An explosive preview, it’s a fierce anthem that sets the musical and thematic tone for the entire record.

“Our first single and title track of the new album Suffer Divine is about justice and accountability,” Darkest Hour vocalist John Henry said. “This one goes out to anyone who chooses to push and peddle hatred and division, to anyone who would break down others to feed their sadistic, insatiable ego.”

‘Suffer Divine’ Tracklist

• 1. All Cruelty Springs From Weakness
• 2. Gods Of Decay
• 3. No Conquered Hearts
• 4. Salvation
• 5. Suffer Divine
• 6. Warrior
• 7. Vile Angel
• 8. The Unforgiving Hand
• 9. Tribalist
• 10. Everyday Horrors
• 11. A Story Of Redemption

Starting in November, Darkest Hour will hit the road as direct support for Fear Factory. The Cybernetic Domination Tour begins Nov. 12 in Springfield, Missouri, before wrapping up in Los Angeles on Nov. 29. It will feature Fear Factory’s updated lineup with vocalist Milo Silvestro and drummer Pete Webber, with Darkest Hour fresh off their album release.

“Conceptually, the album touches on the idea that you can derive self-worth (and some value) from your own suffering,” Schleibaum added. “In fact, the creation of this album was the personification of that actual act. There is so much rage, anger, and pain put into this record, yet at the same time it holds in itself so much hope. It’s equal parts hope, rage, and empathy.”

Formed in 1995, Darkest Hour helped pioneer the new wave of American metal. Their influence is felt through their speed, aggression, and dual-guitar harmonies of Scandinavian melodic death metal mixed with the raw grit of American hardcore punk.

Over the years, the band has landed several chart positions on the Billboard 200, with their highest-charting effort being 2017’s Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora, which peaked at No. 42. Their previous album, 2024’s Perpetual Terminal, marked their debut with MNRK Heavy. It arrived after a seven-year hiatus and marked the recorded debut of lead guitarist Nico Santora (formerly of Fallujah and Suicidal Tendencies).

The current Darkest Hour lineup includes John Henry (lead vocals), Mike Schleibaum (rhythm guitar), Nico Santora (lead guitar), Aaron Deal (bass), and Travis Orbin (drums). For tour information and more, head to darkesthourband.com.  

Related: 1973 Jukebox Hit, Produced by Todd Rundgren, Launched a Hard Rock Trio to Its First No. 1

Who doesn’t love a show about girlhood?

There are few television programs that can make audiences laugh no matter how many times they’ve watched them. Whether it’s Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) turning a simple conversation into a story about one of her many romances, Rose Nylund (Betty White) sharing another wildly innocent tale from St. Olaf, Dorothy Zbornak (Beatrice Arthur) delivering one of her perfectly timed comebacks or Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) preparing to tell yet another story that begins with “Picture it,” The Golden Girls never failed to entertain.

Premiering in 1985, The Golden Girls quickly became more than a beloved sitcom. Its sharp writing, unforgettable cast and willingness to tackle subjects rarely discussed on television at the time helped make it one of the most enduring shows in American TV history. More than three decades after the series finale, the comedy remains a favorite for longtime viewers and continues to find new fans.

Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, Betty White as Rose Nylund, Bea Arthur as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak, Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in Season 3, Episode 20 of The Golden Girls.

Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Created by Susan Harris, the legendary sitcom followed four single women – Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia – who all shared a house in Miami while they were navigating their “golden years.”

The show, which aired on NBC from 1985 to 1992, received critical and commercial acclaim during its run and earned multiple accolades, including Emmy Awards and Golden Globes. Each of the four actresses won an Emmy Award for their respective roles, making it one of the only four sitcoms in history in which all principal cast members received Emmy recognition.

Why was The Golden Girls so memorable?

Part of what made The Golden Girls so memorable is the chemistry between its four leads. Dorothy was sharp and sarcastic, while Rose was sweet and a little bit naive. Meanwhile, Blanche was confident and unapologetic, and Sophia was quick-witted and never afraid to say exactly what is on her mind. Their personalities could not be more different, but that contrast is what makes their friendship so entertaining. The series was also filled with clever writing and one-liners that have remained quotable decades after the show premiered.

Many also loved that they highlighted the stories of older women, which wasn’t really portrayed in a sitcom way in Hollywood. The Golden Girls was never afraid to tackle serious subjects over a slice of cheesecake. The series regularly explored issues surrounding aging, dating and sex later in life, divorce, loneliness, financial difficulties and grief. Rather than treating its characters’ ages as a limitation, the show made their experiences a central part of its stories, portraying older women as people with complicated relationships, ambitions and lives of their own.

It also addressed subjects that were particularly significant for television in the 1980s, including racism, sexism and LGBTQ+ issues. Some episodes dealt directly with discrimination and prejudice, while others approached difficult subjects through the show’s humor.

Bea Arthur as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak, Betty White as Rose Nylund, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in the first episode of The Golden Girls.

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank

During its peak, the show regularly drew millions of viewers each week. On top of its many awards, The Golden Girls placed on many magazine listicles, including Variety‘s “100 Greatest TV Shows of all Time.”

In an interview at the Paley Center in New York City in 2006, White admitted that she was fascinated that people all over the world watched The Golden Girls, explaining that she would get fan mail from Finland, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. She also took the time to credit the writers of the show, who came up with all the plotlines and personalities of the four women.

“It’s just so phenomenal, and you can’t do that without the writers,” White said. “We can act ourselves [and be] silly, but you can’t do it unless it’s on that page.”

Fans can stream all 180 episodes of The Golden Girls on Hulu or Disney+.

Related: ’80s Actor and United States Veteran Turns 88

In 1981, an album that record labels repeatedly rejected arrived with little indication that it would soon produce one of the biggest rock hits of the decade.

Forty-five years later, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ I Love Rock ‘n Roll is getting some new recognition.

Barnes & Noble has selected I Love Rock ‘n Roll as one of its Albums of the Month for September 2026, part of the bookseller’s monthly spotlight on new releases and older favorites. The retailer describes the album as a “bold-unapologetic blast of guitar-driven rock” and is also offering an exclusive 45th anniversary edition on transparent red vinyl with an alternate cover.

The honor comes decades after Jett and her collaborators struggled to persuade anyone in the music business that they had a hit on their hands.

Joan Jett Couldn’t Get Record Labels to Say Yes to ‘I Love Rock ’n Roll’

Jett first encountered “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” years before recording the version that made her a star. According to music historian Fred Bronson’s “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits,” she saw the Arrows perform the song on television while touring England with the Runaways.

Jett was so taken with it that she contacted co-writer Jake Hooker about recording it. The Runaways, however, didn’t share her enthusiasm, and Jett couldn’t convince the group to cut the song.

After the Runaways broke up, Jett recorded an early version with former Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook, but it was released only as a B-side in Holland. She later recorded it again after forming the Blackhearts.

Getting that music released presented another problem.

In “The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made,” critic Dave Marsh wrote that Jett’s recording of “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” and the accompanying album were rejected by every major record label and the significant minor labels as well. Eventually, manager and producer Kenny Laguna put the record out himself.

How ‘I Love Rock ’n Roll’ Became a No. 1 Smash

Released in late 1981, I Love Rock ‘n Roll became Jett’s most commercially successful album. In addition to its title track, the record included her remake of Tommy James and the Shondells’ “Crimson and Clover,” which became another Top 10 hit.

“I Love Rock ‘n Roll” reached No. 1 in March 1982 and stayed there for seven weeks. Bronson recounts that Hooker knew almost immediately that Jett had finally found the right version, telling him, “I had no doubts. I knew it was going to be number one.”

Jett herself was still marveling at the song’s success years later.

“I’m really proud that ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’ went to number one,” she told BAM’s Julie Panebianco in 1984, according to Bronson.

Four and a half decades after an industry full of record labels passed on Jett’s music, Barnes & Noble’s latest recognition adds another chapter to one of rock’s great rejection-to-redemption stories.

Related: 1977 Rock Album Is Suddenly Back on the Charts 48 Years After Album of the Year Grammy

A new Shark Tank-esque reality competition is in the works. And this time, a major network isn’t behind the show. Instead, Donald Trump’s team is spearheading the event.  

Held by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Million Dollar Pitch will feature longtime Trump supporter Nicki Minaj, along with Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia and real estate mogul Grant Cardone, as the all-star judging panel. While Minaj certainly brings some serious notoriety to this trio, the term “all-star” might be overselling it. 

Nicki Minaj stands as she is recognized by US President Donald Trump as he delivers remarks on ‘Trump Accounts’ at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2026. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Minaj recently posted about her new judging gig on X, sharing, “This is a major, MAJOR KEY. Sooooooooooo looking forward to this!! Imagine being a part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to support small businesses. Let’s GO!” 

But as it turns out, the rapper isn’t the only celeb tied to the live event. TV’s Superman, Dean Cain, is set to host the competition. 

The Million Dollar Pitch pits five entrepreneurial finalists against each other for their share of $1 million in prize money (funded by Clover Network, Inc.). 

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said, “Great American entrepreneurs themselves, Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, Joe Gebbia, and Dean Cain will only add to the excitement of this historic celebration of free enterprise in the finale of our Million Dollar Pitch Competition.”

Dean Cain. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)

Loeffler continued, “From building globally recognized personal and business brands and multibillion-dollar portfolios to launching innovative wellness solutions and digital platforms, each brings a unique, real-world perspective on business growth and impact. Their presence will be invaluable in highlighting the unique and inspiring stories of the five finalists competing for $1 million in growth capital, and the importance of Main Street businesses in powering American strength.” 

Unlike reality TV shows, this competition doesn’t follow the contestants week to week. Entrepreneurs were invited to apply for the SBA’s “Patriot Pitch” program earlier this year, and were judged in four categories: Strengthening American competitiveness, small business “punching above its weight,” economic impact and quality jobs, and business fundamentals and execution readiness. Ten finalists were announced on July 4th during the Great American State Fair. Since then, the SBA has narrowed down the “Patriot Pitch” pool to five companies: Compotech, Inc., Winton Machine, Plas-Tech Tooling, Red River, and VetPowered LLC. 

As part of the SBA’s Freedom 250 initiative, this event commemorates America’s birthday, including 250 years of free enterprise. The prizes include $400,000 for first place, $250,00 for second place, $150,000 for third place, $125,000 for fourth place, and $75,000 for fifth place. 

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For book lovers, there’s no such thing as having too many books — until you run out of places to put them. And when your collection has grown beyond a few stacks on your nightstand, a basic bookcase may no longer offer the storage or display space you need.  Luckily, we found a one-of-a kind Walmart bookshelf that offers plenty of storage while doubling as stylish décor.

Right now, the Homrelexa 17-Tier Tree Bookshelf is $45 at Walmart, down from $56. The tall, tree-inspired bookcase has 17 tiers for holding books, magazines, and décor, giving a growing collection plenty of room while adding an eye-catching touch to your space. Shoppers said the bookcase was “unique” and a “great conversation starter,” making it a fun choice for anyone who wants to show off their favorite reads. 

Homrelexa 17-Tier Tree Book Shelf, $45 (was $56) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Measuring 50 inches tall and 15.75 inches wide, the bookshelf makes the most of vertical space without taking up much floor space. Its distinctive branching design is an appealing choice for book lovers who want their favorite reads to become part of the room’s décor.

The 17-tier bookcase provides plenty of room for a large collection, while its open shelves can also hold plants, framed photos and other decorative accents. Its 360-degree rotating design lets you spin the bookcase around, making it easy to reach books and décor from different sides. The bookshelf also comes with detachable wheels, so you can move it around your home when rearranging furniture or cleaning.

Shoppers also praised the bookcase’s appearance and quality. One reviewer called it the “cutest bookcase ever,” adding that it was “sturdy” and “taller than expected.” Another shopper was pleasantly surprised by how “very easy to assemble” it was, while a third loved having “a lot of space” for their books and said the wheels were “so convenient.” 

The bookcase comes in black, brown and white colors.  Prices vary by color, but you can snag any option for under $50. 

Shop More Deals

• Foukus 63-Inch Round Shade Floor Lamp With Shelves, $39 (was $70) at Walmart
• Walsunny Farmhouse Sideboard Cabinet, From $130 (was $170) at Walmart
• Martha Stewart Modern Kitchen Towel Set, From $23 at Walmart 

Related: Walmart Is Selling a ‘Beautiful’ Rustic 5-Tier Bookcase With a Built-In Farmhouse Cabinet for Nearly 30% Off

Whether you’re organizing a growing book collection, or refreshing a reading nook, the Homrelexa 17-Tier Tree Bookshelf  is an easy way for bibliophiles to add storage and style to your space. Head to Walmart to shop it while the deal lasts!

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“Beach Baby” sounded like it had been created beneath the California sun, but the 1974 hit actually came together thousands of miles away in London.

Songwriter and producer John Carter wrote the nostalgic soft rock favorite with his wife, Gillian Shakespeare, at their home in East Sheen. Recorded under the name the First Class, “Beach Baby” became an international success and the act’s only major American hit, turning a studio project from England into an unlikely one-hit wonder.

Carter was hardly a newcomer to pop music.

He had previously been a member of the Ivy League and had established himself as a songwriter and producer, working on records including the Flower Pot Men’s “Let’s Go to San Francisco.” By the early 1970s, he was increasingly focused on studio work rather than life as a touring performer.

“Beach Baby” emerged from that world.

Carter and Shakespeare built the song around an idealized vision of teenage life in 1950s and ’60s America, complete with cars, beaches, high school, and youthful romance. Musically, its stacked harmonies and elaborate production drew obvious comparisons to the Beach Boys, giving the recording a distinctly West Coast atmosphere despite its British origins.

There wasn’t even a conventional band behind it at first.

Carter assembled studio musicians to record the song, with Tony Burrows handling the lead vocal. Burrows was already one of pop music’s most prolific studio singers, having provided vocals for several otherwise unrelated groups, including Edison Lighthouse, White Plains and Brotherhood of Man.

“I’d known [Carter] for years,” Burrows told Pop Entertainment. “He called me and said, ‘I’ve got this song I’d like to record. You fancy singing?’ So, he played me the demo and I said, let’s go do it. It’s as simple as that, really.”

Released in 1974, “Beach Baby” quickly traveled far beyond its London origins.

The single climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and peaked at No. 13 in the U.K. Its success led to a First Class album and additional singles, but none came close to matching the song’s American popularity.

Carter continued recording under the First Class name for several years, yet “Beach Baby” remained the project’s defining moment.

“I heard that when Brian Wilson first heard ‘Beach Baby’ he said, ‘I don’t know who it is, but it’s definitely West Coast America,'” Burrows told Rebeat Magazine. “Which I took as a great, great tribute — I really did. I grew up with American pop music. We had recorded it as basically a tribute to the Beach Boys. I’ve since met him two or three times, and the other guys as well, and I’ve heard that when people are going into the theater for one of his shows, he often plays ‘Beach Baby,’ which is really nice.”

More than 50 years later, its sun-soaked harmonies can still evoke an imagined California summer. That illusion is part of what makes the record so remarkable: one of the ’70s’ most memorable celebrations of American beach culture was dreamed up not along the Pacific Coast, but inside a London home.

Related: 1965 Rock Song, Sung by 19-Year-Old Son of Jerry Lewis, Became a Major Hit Despite Never Reaching No. 1

There are some songs that young, up-and-coming artists take a chance on with the hope that it gets noticed by someone, only for it to blow up in popularity and kickstart their career. In the case of Elton John, the track also became one of his most-praised songs even decades after its release.

The song in question is “Your Song,” a romantic ballad featuring emotional piano playing and John’s rich vocals. John wrote the music with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1969. Initially, John gave it to a band called Three Dog Night to record and release, but the band wanted him to do it instead.

At the time, John was a rising artist still finding his footing. Although he might not’ve known it before, the song would help kick off an unbelievable career after its release.

John recorded and released “Your Song” in 1970. It was initially released on his second studio album, Elton John, early in the year before it came out as a B-side to “Take Me to the Pilot” in October. But the song became so popular that it eventually took over as the A-side and official single.

“Your Song” was a hit in multiple countries. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., while it peaked at No. 7 in the U.K. The track also broke into the Top 20 in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, and Canada.

Related: 1973 Rock Song, Written by Pete Townshend, Among “Greatest Rock Lyrics of All Time”

Over time, “Your Song” has continued to be regarded as one of John’s best songs in his whole discography. Billboard even ranked the song at No. 6 on the staff-created list of the “Best Rock Love Songs” of all time.

The publication highlighted the song’s unique perspective as a “love song about the sheer difficulty of writing a good love song.” It also praised the “timelessly sweet melody and the combination of John’s majestic piano playing and appropriately guileless vocal.”

John’s song is quite close to the top on the ranking, with the few listed above him including The Cure’s 1987 song “Just Like Heaven” and David Bowie‘s “Heroes,” among others.

Related: 1984 Folk-Rock Song, Written by Leonard Cohen, Among ‘Greatest Rock Lyrics of All Time’

Tom Hardy’s 2015 action movie Mad Max: Fury Road has been ranked No. 1 on Collider’s list of the eight most exciting action movies in film history.

The list places Mad Max: Fury Road above other action classics, with Collider pointing to its nonstop car chases, major stunt work and high-speed action as key reasons for its position.

Released in 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road stars Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky and Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa. The movie follows the pair as they join forces while trying to escape Immortan Joe, a powerful ruler who controls the Citadel and its limited supply of water.

Director George Miller, actors Tom Hardy and Mel Gibson arrive at the ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Los Angeles Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on May 7, 2015 in Hollywood, California.

Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Collider described the film as the peak of excitement in the Mad Max franchise. The ranking says the movie takes the climactic chase idea from Mad Max 2 and expands it into a full-length action story that keeps moving across the desert.

The story begins with Max being captured by Immortan Joe’s War Boys and taken to the Citadel. He is used as a blood donor for Nux, one of Joe’s soldiers.

At the same time, Furiosa takes the War Rig and secretly helps Joe’s five wives escape. Joe soon discovers what happened and sends his army after them.

This starts the movie’s main chase.

Max becomes part of Furiosa’s escape after he breaks away from the War Boys. Although Max first wants to survive on his own, he eventually works with Furiosa and the women as they try to stay ahead of Joe’s forces.

Their journey takes them through a desert wasteland filled with armed vehicles, dangerous enemies, storms and large-scale battles.

The movie was designed around movement and visual storytelling. George Miller had worked on the idea for many years, with the project facing several delays before filming finally began.

More than 150 stunt performers worked on the movie, with some coming from Cirque du Soleil. The production also created a large collection of working vehicles for the action scenes.

About 150 vehicles were constructed, while only 88 survived through the end of filming.

Hardy took over the role of Max after Mel Gibson played the character in the first three Mad Max films. Hardy was announced as the new Max in 2010, while Theron was cast as Furiosa.

The film also features Nicholas Hoult as Nux and Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe. Other cast members include Josh Helman, Nathan Jones, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee and Courtney Eaton.

Mad Max: Fury Road premiered in Los Angeles on May 7, 2015, before its Australian release on May 14. The movie went on to earn about $380.4 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing film in the Mad Max franchise.

At the 88th Academy Awards, Mad Max: Fury Road received 10 nominations and won six awards, including Film Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

It received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects as well. The film was also named one of the top 10 films of 2015 by the American Film Institute.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists Mad Max: Fury Road with a 97% Tomatometer score from 440 reviews and an 86% Popcornmeter score based on more than 100,000 audience ratings.

The movie later expanded its story with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which was released in 2024. For Hardy, however, Fury Road remains his defining entry in the Mad Max world.

Related: 1974 Hit, With Gene Wilder, Ranked Second-Best Comedy Movie of All Time

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1974 hit “Sweet Home Alabama” has earned another place among rock music’s most celebrated songs,  ranking No. 14 on Amazon Music’s list of the 100 Greatest Classic Rock Songs.

Released on the band’s second album, Second Helping, the song became Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first major hit single and remains one of the best-known songs in Southern rock. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974, making it the band’s highest-charting single.

More than five decades after its release, “Sweet Home Alabama” continues to stand out in classic rock. The song is known for its strong guitar riff, catchy chorus and lyrics about Alabama and the American South. It also became part of a famous musical exchange between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young.

Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle, Ed King, Leon Wilkeson of Lynyrd Skynyrd posed, group shot

Photo by Jim McCrary/Redferns

The song was written by Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Ed King, and the story behind “Sweet Home Alabama” goes beyond a simple song about a place.

Lynyrd Skynyrd came from Jacksonville, Florida, but the members had spent time traveling through Alabama. Gary Rossington came up with the idea for the song after developing a guitar riff. Rossington played the riff repeatedly while waiting for the others to arrive at rehearsal.

Ronnie Van Zant then wrote the lyrics, while Rossington and Ed King worked on the music. King also created the famous opening guitar riff that became one of the song’s defining sounds.

The song was recorded for Second Helping, which followed the band’s 1973 debut album. It was saved for the second album because the band wanted a strong song to open the record.

When it was released in 1974, “Sweet Home Alabama” quickly became a major success. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 93 before climbing the chart. It eventually reached No. 8 in the United States.

Its success helped establish Lynyrd Skynyrd as one of the leading Southern rock bands of the 1970s. But the song’s history also includes a famous reference to another major rock star.

According to Songfacts, “Sweet Home Alabama” was written partly as an answer to Neil Young’s songs “Southern Man” and “Alabama.” Young’s songs addressed racism, slavery and the troubled history of the American South.

Van Zant directly mentioned Young in the lyrics. The song included the lines: “Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her/Well, I heard ol’ Neil put her down.”

The reference helped make the song more controversial, but the relationship between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Young was more complicated than a simple rock feud.

In his songs “Southern Man” and “Alabama,” Young criticized racism and the history of the South. Lynyrd Skynyrd responded from a different point of view, using “Sweet Home Alabama” to show pride in the region and its people.

However, Rossington explained that the lyrics about Young were not meant to start a serious fight.

“We loved Neil Young and we’d listened to Southern Man and all these songs,” Rossington said in 2012, per Music Radar.

He explained that the band had been touring through Alabama, seeing the countryside and meeting people, which helped inspire the song. The line about Young was intended as a joke rather than a personal attack.

Young himself later acknowledged the song and its criticism of his earlier work. In his book Waging Heavy Peace, he admitted that his own song “Alabama” had been too accusatory and could easily be misunderstood.

The connection between the two artists was also shown by Van Zant himself. He was photographed wearing a Neil Young T-shirt on the cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1977 album Street Survivors.

“Ronnie wore that Neil Young shirt because he loved him so much.”

The two acts even hoped to perform together. According to Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd was once excited about the possibility of Young joining them onstage to perform “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Sadly, that performance never happened.

Other artists have recorded versions of “Sweet Home Alabama,” including country group Alabama, which included a cover on the 1994 tribute album Skynyrd Frynds. Jewel also recorded the song for the 2002 movie Sweet Home Alabama.

The song also received major recognition from the music industry. CMT ranked it No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Southern Rock Songs in 2006, while it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009.

More than 50 years after Lynyrd Skynyrd first released it, the track remains instantly recognizable. Its opening guitar riff, references to Alabama and Neil Young and unforgettable chorus have helped keep it alive across generations.

Related: 1980 Hit by Willie Nelson, Written in 10 Minutes, Became One of the ‘Best Country Songs’ of All Time

The Pet Shop Boys’ “West End Girls” is one of the most enduring anthems of the 1980s, but the iconic synthesizer-heavy tune wasn’t actually an instant hit. Recorded twice, “West End Girls” became the band’s last chance at securing a record deal, a gamble that paid off spectacularly.

By 1985, Pet Shop Boys had already spent years developing their signature sound, but their arrival at a major record label didn’t immediately translate to success. After signing with Parlophone, their first single, “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money),” reached only No. 116 on the U.K. singles chart. Pet Shop Boys arrived on the music scene with more of a whimper than a burst.

Pet Shop Boys Got One More Chance With “West End Girls”

The record company then gave Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe the unique opportunity to re-record “West End Girls” with producer Stephen Hague, giving the pair a chance to prove that the song—and the band themselves—had star power.

“West End Girls” was released in late 1985 and slowly climbed the charts. The song reached No. 1 in the U.K. and eventually topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, but the song wasn’t technically new.

Pet Shop Boys had originally recorded “West End Girls” with producer Bobby Orlando, releasing that version in 1984. Despite becoming a massive club hit, it didn’t become a worldwide success until the re-recorded version became a pop phenomenon.

The second version of “West End Girls” was such a success that it changed everything for Pet Shop Boys.

“West End Girls” Was Recorded With Almost No Real Instruments

Recorded during the synthesizer-heavy era of popular music, “West End Girls” features almost no actual instruments except a cymbal. Even the song’s famous trumpet sounds are electronic.

“West End Girls” also features the sound of London traffic. Rather than manufacture the sound in a fancy recording studio, Hague recorded it outside Advision Studios on a Sony Professional Walkman, using the portable cassette recorder to capture the sounds of Gosfield Street.

The result is one of those wonderfully random pieces of ’80s music trivia that makes an already iconic song even more memorable.

Related: ’80s DJ Richard Blade Names This 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood Hit the Best Bassline of the Decade

“West End Girls” Captured a Perfect ’80s Moment

The song also captures ’80s nostalgia, serving as a time capsule of the era.

Across the street from where “West End Girls” was being recorded was Wham!’s office. A group of young fans happened to be outside. Thinking Hague was actually Police frontman Sting, some of the girls started shouting, “Sting!”

One female fan was also singing “Careless Whisper,” which can be heard on the recording of “West End Girls.”

It is such a perfectly ’80s moment that it almost sounds made up: a Pet Shop Boys song, a Sony Walkman, London traffic, Wham! fans and a mistaken celebrity sighting all accidentally becoming part of a No. 1 hit.

Why “West End Girls” Still Sounds So Good

“West End Girls” may be a quintessentially ’80s tune, but it has proved to be one of the most timeless songs of the decade. That’s because it never sounded like a typical pop song.

The song was synth-pop, but it also drew heavily from hip-hop, in particular Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message.”

Neil Tennant originally wrote the song as a rap, with commentary on wealth, class, geography and the contrasting worlds of London’s West End and East End.

The result was something that sounded completely different from the bright, polished pop songs dominating the charts. It was dark, atmospheric and cool, with Tennant’s distinctive vocals and the pulsing electronic production giving it a sound all its own.

One of the defining songs of the 1980s doesn’t feel classically ’80s, making it an enduring classic four decades later.

“West End Girls” offered Pet Shop Boys another shot at mainstream success, but it turned out to be much more than that. It became one of the most memorable and timeless songs of the 1980s.

Related: Missing Persons Frontwoman, 71, Still Sounds as Good as She Did in the ’80s at Recent Show

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Martin Scorsese is the godfather of the gangster film. With Casino, Mean Streets, Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Irishman, and Goodfellas, he’s cornered the market on organized screen crime.

But according to Rotten Tomatoes, Scorsese’s highest-rated picture has nothing to do with wiseguys, and everything to do with Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson, the music men behind the influential roots-rock group The Band.

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Released in 1978, The Last Waltz is a landmark concert documentary directed by Scorsese and conceived by Robertson, the one-time lead guitarist for Bob Dylan‘s backing band and the guitarist and primary songwriter for The Band. A snapshot that captures the final performance of a band calling it quits, it’s “among one of, if not the best rock movie ever made,” Rotten Tomatoes shared.

The film was the result of 17 years of touring. Lore has it that Robertson had had enough and proposed that The Band take a final bow with a lavish, once-in-a-lifetime concert event. With his mates on board, they decided on the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976, for the performance.

But the film is so much more than just a concert.

Alternating between kinetic live performances of The Band’s greatest hits, including “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight,” and “The Shape I’m In,” and intimate studio interviews with every member, The Last Waltz reflects on The Band’s history, influences, and touring life, preserving the legendary era in a neatly sealed time capsule.

Speaking about his filmmaking approach for The Last Waltz, per IndieWire, Scorsese said, “Somehow the 35mm brought out expressions of the band, the people on the stage, and I decided not to shoot the people in the audience either. We’ve seen so much concert footage, and all you see is the audience. But we do see the audience, but from their point of view.”

And because it’s not a party until Dylan shows up in dark shades, the night welcomed a who’s who of rock and roll, including, of course, Dylan, the group’s creative partner and catalyst for The Band, as well as Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, and so many more.

According to American Songwriter, Scorsese became involved in the project through Jonathan Taplin, The Band’s former tour manager who also produced Scorsese’s 1973 film, Mean Streets. Robertson was impressed by the director’s use of music in the crime drama, whose opening sequence famously features The Ronettes’ iconic “Be My Baby.”

“I thought, ‘This guy has got the inside scoop on something going on with film and music,’” Robertson said after seeing a screening of Mean Streets. “It just touched me.” After that, he knew he’d found the right filmmaker for the job.

The movie hit theaters in April 1978, and despite a modest theatrical run, the film earned critical acclaim and immense cultural praise. Reviewers raved immediately and continue to share their approval today, cementing the film’s status as a gold standard and one of the greatest concert films of all time.

Since its original release, the film has found renewed life through anniversary theatrical re-screenings and special repertory runs at specialty theaters like the IFC Center in New York City. But what really solidifies its place in the Scorsese canon is where it landed on Rotten Tomatoes: at the top.

Related: 1979 Movie, Starring Robert Redford, Launched a Music Legend’s Acting Career—and Gave Him His Fifth No. 1

Cher is battling her daughter-in-law, Marieangela King-Allman, in court over who will be appointed as a guardian for her son, Elijah Blue Allman.

The 80-year-old singer filed a supplemental brief in a Los Angeles court on Aug. 28, stating that King-Allman should not be appointed. Cher claimed she is using the situation for financial gain.

According to the court documents obtained by People, “The New Hampshire State Hospital, and the rest of the family remain adamantly opposed to Mrs. King-Allman serving given her estrangement from Elijah as evidenced by the previously pending divorce, her refusal and failure to assist Elijah and Kayti Pease while he was struggling before he was arrested in New Hampshire, and/or because the family believes that she is inserting herself back into the picture on a quest for money and/or a bit of fame.”

Allman is being held in custody at a psychiatric hospital in New Hampshire. He is awaiting multiple criminal charges in two cases.

Allman and King-Allman married in 2013. King-Allman filed for divorce in 2021, but it was dismissed in 2024. She tried again in 2025, but it was dismissed in 2026.

The New Hampshire State Hospital initiated a guardianship for Allman on July 7, according to the pop star’s filing. She wanted her half-brothers Chaz Bono and Devon Allman to fill the position.

The filing stated there was a “dispute” about who should be appointed. It stated that there would be a hearing on September 1 to decide if King-Allman “can or should” serve. She did not show up for the hearing, so the judge moved the date to Dec. 1.

“Whether Mr. Allman ultimately chooses to be in a relationship with Mrs. King-Allman is a choice he will hopefully be able to make independently, but given her behavior and indifference to his health and living situation over the prior year, she, in no way, should ever be considered as a viable candidate to serve as a court-appointed fiduciary,” the filing claimed.

In King-Allman’s August filing, she claimed that Allman was estranged from his family, and they “repeatedly” attempted to create a conservatorship.

“I strongly believe that Elijah needs a robust, long-term treatment plan to deal with these issues, and appointment of conservator, selected by his mother, from whom he has been estranged for years, wherein her removing his autonomy against his wishes, would demoralize him, thereby jeopardizing his recovery,” she wrote.

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If you have been quietly lusting after those sculptural woven bags that keep popping up on quiet luxury mood boards and the arms of impossibly chic city dwellers, Walmart just dropped a surprise you will want to snag before it sells out. 

Meet the Scenario Mini Clam Tote, a bag that looks straight out of an Italian luxury boutique but rings up at just $33. It’s a standout from Walmart’s new Scenario fashion line that blends budget-friendly prices with trendy styles, and it comes in three sophisticated shades: brown, black, and olive.

Scenario Mini Clam Tote, From $33 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The fashion world’s obsession with artful basket-weave textures isn’t going anywhere, and this tote leans all the way into that vibe. The exterior’s lush, intricate weave gives it that unmistakable air of summer on the Amalfi Coast (even if you are just headed to the corner store). 

It is hard not to see the resemblance to those ultra-popular designer dumpling bags or the iconic woven leather styles that have been dominating runways and TikTok feeds. But here, the price tag is delightfully approachable. There’s no need to choose between groceries and looking glam.

Scenario Mini Clam Tote, From $33 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The Mini Clam Tote has day-to-night practicality built in. Measuring about 15 inches wide and 5.5 inches high, it is roomy enough for your phone, wallet, keys, and a few extras. The lined interior includes tidy pockets to keep your essentials organized (no more digging for your lip balm), and the zip closure keeps everything safely tucked away. 

Carry it by the dual woven handles for a polished, classic look or attach the adjustable crossbody strap when you are on the go and need both hands for coffee and conquering your to-do list.

Related: Walmart’s ‘Elegant’ New $10 Gold-Tone Horsebit Earrings Channel Italian Luxury Styles for Way Less

Gold-tone hardware adds a subtle hint of glam, heeding those spendy designer details, while the vegan-friendly material means you can feel good about your new accessory. Care is easy; just wipe clean, and you’ll be ready for whatever the day brings. Reviewers are already raving, and it has a perfect five-star rating.

Shop More Deals

• Scenario Saddle Bag in Brown Fringe, $27 at Walmart 
• Scenario Goldtone Horsebit Drop Earrings, $10 at Walmart
• Scenario Chunky Twist Necklace, $10 at Walmart

Whether you are channeling a downtown fashion editor or just want to spice up your coffee-run look, this woven clam-shaped tote is ready for its close-up. And at $33, you might want to grab more than one. Luxury vibes like these at an everyday price are rare.

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At long last, it is finally almost cozy season, and if you are a baker, you know what that means: all the desserts. Pies are especially relevant to this time of year, and having the right bakeware is key to making the best ones possible. Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot on a high-quality, beautiful pie plate. Take this Pyrex option at Kohl’s, for example. It’s perfect for baking and serving, and it retails for just $12.

Pyrex’s Advantage Glass Pie Plate is a staple in any baker’s kitchen, especially in autumn, when baking pies is essential. Measuring 9.5 inches in diameter, it is slightly larger than a standard pie plate, allowing you to make bigger pies. The pie dish has a sleek glass construction that is perfect for both baking and serving, and the crimped edges are a beautiful and functional detail as well. These wavy, easy-grab edges make for seamless handling from oven to table. Plus, they help make the crust pretty!

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Pyrex Advantage Glass Pie Plate, $11.99 at Kohl’s

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This is also an incredibly practical kitchen item. It is dishwasher-, microwave-, freezer- and oven-safe. This makes for seamless baking, saving leftover pie, cleanup and reheating.

Related: Aldi’s Portable Charcuterie Board Is a Game Changer for Fall Tailgates

Shoppers love this Pyrex pie plate, giving it an average rating of 4.7 stars on Kohls.com, with 96 percent of reviewers saying they would recommend it to others. Fans appreciate the pie dish for its high quality, crimped edges and larger size.

“Of course Pyrex is top quality! Love the crimped edge for the crust. It’s a bit larger than standard and that works for me! Turkey pot pie coming up!!!” raved one fan in a five-star review on Kohls.com.

“Perfect pie plate,” said another shopper in a five-star review on Kohl’s website. “My daughter was so happy to receive this pie plate. Pretty, practical, versatile and well made.”

Whether you love pumpkin pie, apple pie, blueberry pie or any pie at all, you will love this baking essential. You can find it on Kohls.com or in select Kohl’s stores. It retails for $12.99.

Related: T.J. Maxx Is Selling a Travel-Size Mahjong Set and It’s Too Cute to Pass Up

Metal fans woke up to some exciting news on Tuesday.

The European metal legends Amorphis revealed via Instagram on Tuesday morning that they will embark on a co-headlining North American tour this November and December alongside Insomnium. The lineup of concerts will kick off on Nov. 17 in Boston, and close at Irving Plaza in New York City on Dec. 19. Their supporting act will be Hinayana, a melodic death band based in Texas.

“The tour promises an unforgettable celebration of atmospheric melodies and Nordic darkness, with both bands presenting songs from the latest albums Borderland and Netherworlds as well as some ever-greens,” Amorphis wrote in their caption.

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This tour will continue the celebrations of Amorphis’ most recent album, Borderland, which was released via Reigning Phoenix Music last September. Amorphis was formed by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari and Esa Holopainen in 1990 in Helsinki, Finland. Known as a progressive metal band, Amorphis has released 15 studio albums since their debut 36 years ago and has influenced the metal scene in Europe, North America and around the world. Two weeks ago, Amorphis announced a Finland tour that will kick off in February 2027, and will embark on a Latin America tour this October.

In a recent interview with The Gallery, Holopainen and Koivusaari explained how they were able to keep their lineup almost the same for over 30 years.

“We were friends when we started the band, so it was not just like a workplace or anything. I think every one of us are pretty much grounded, so we never had any trying to be like a rock star, so we don’t have fights or anything like that,” Koivusaari said.

All of the three original members are still in the band, in addition to Olli-Pekka Laine, Santeri Kallio and Tomi Joutsen as their bassist, keyboard player and lead vocalist, respectively.

Tomi Koivusaari and Olli-Pekka Laine of Amorphis perform onstage during the Tuska Festival at Suvilahti on June 28, 2026 in Helsinki, Finland.

Venla Shalin/Redferns

Tickets and VIP upgrades for the upcoming co-headlining tour between Amorphis and Insomnium will go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m local time. Tour stops include Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Salt Lake City, Portland, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Baltimore, Dallas and more.

Related: ’90s Heavy Metal Band Announces 2026 Tour With Special Guests

The last time I sat down face-to-face with BBMAK was back in 2000 at a press dinner for teen magazine editors at the long-shuttered Ruby Foo’s in Times Square. I was just 23 years old and working as the Entertainment Editor for CosmoGIRL!.

Mark Barry, Christian Burns, and Stephen (Ste) McNally were charming British imports taking the American music scene by storm with their acoustic guitars, soaring three-part harmonies, and a fast-climbing single called “Back Here”. Catching up over Zoom more than two decades later, Ste not only remembered that very dinner but vividly recalled it as the first time he ever tried edamame!

In the early aughts, before DMs, TikTok, and virtual meetings, moments like that were the heartbeat of teen magazine journalism. We sat across dinner tables with up-and-coming artists, building genuine rapport and watching their careers explode in real time. Those priceless connections are why I’m so passionate about keeping that golden era alive in my Substack newsletter, The Teen Mag Time Machine.

Reconnecting with the guys for Parade and The Teen Mag Time Machine felt like stepping right back into 2000 without missing a beat. Lately, they’ve been reveling in the wave of Y2K nostalgia on the Pop 2000 Tour alongside fellow TRL favorites like LFO, O-Town, and *NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick. Packing the venues is a mix of original fans (some of whom the guys recognized from back in the day) and the next generation—their fans’ kids!

When I asked BBMAK fans for questions ahead of our chat, the response was overwhelming. Decades later, the love is as fierce as ever, and several questions in our conversation came directly from the fans who have championed the group from day one.

From their memorable acting gigs (including Even Stevens and All My Children) to TRL pandemonium and three decades of friendship with Chris Kirkpatrick, my walk down memory lane with BBMAK is one for the Y2K history books. Here are the four things they will always remember.

Related: Jessica Simpson’s Lost 2003 Interview Reveals What She Really Thought About Nick Lachey and ‘Newlyweds’

1. Guest Starring on Disney Channel’s Even Stevens and All My Children

Because Disney owned both Hollywood Records and ABC, BBMAK was frequently tapped for high-profile network crossovers. From filming an entire Even Stevens episode where they famously delivered the deadpan line “free cheese,” to performing at the SOS Cafe on All My Children, the guys embraced their unexpected stint as television actors.

2. Touring with Britney Spears, *NSYNC, and Backstage Encounters with Destiny’s Child

Stepping into massive amphitheaters on Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again tour gave BBMAK their first taste of stateside mega-tours, quickly followed by three sold-out nights with *NSYNC at Giants Stadium. The trio also shared tour bills with Destiny’s Child, remembering just how warm and welcoming Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle were whenever their tour buses rolled into the venue.

3. Times Square Pandemonium at MTV’s TRL (and Why It Needs a Comeback)

Overlooking Times Square, MTV’s Total Request Live was the undisputed epicenter of early-2000s pop culture. Between beefed-up security to manage the crowds surging at the studio side doors and hanging out on set with Carson Daly, the band experienced pure Beatlemania-level energy. They also have a pitch to bring the iconic show back!

4. The 15-Year Hiatus and the Accidental Viral Kitchen Jam

After stepping away in 2003 to recharge after years of non-stop touring, it’s important to note that BBMAK never had a falling out. They stayed tight-knit through their weddings, christenings, and family milestones. Years later, during a casual meetup at Christian’s sister’s house, they picked up an acoustic guitar just to see if they remembered the harmonies to “Back Here”. The impromptu video caught fire online, garnering millions of views and launching their second act.

For more exclusive video clips and deep-dive Y2K nostalgia from Lauren’s interview, head over to The Teen Mag Time Machine on Substack. Follow back here each week on Parade.com!

Next, Lance Bass and Joey Fatone Reveal the Surprising Thing NSYNC Did After Every Show (Exclusive)

Hilary Duff wears many hats these days. Why not toss in one more?

Reebok just welcomed the multi-platinum recording artist and actress, 38, as its newest brand ambassador.

Duff’s debut “Unfiltered & Unstoppable” campaign aims to celebrate confidence, individuality and everyday movement through Reebok’s active and lifestyle apparel and accessories.

The household brand took to social media this week to unveil its new pop-culture partnership.

“Unfiltered & Unstoppable. Artist. Actress. Entrepreneur. Icon. Welcome @hilaryduff to the Reebok family,” reads the Instagram post’s caption from Monday, August 31. See the carousel below.

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Fans have since flooded the post’s comments section to throw their support behind Duff and the partnership. “Nike should take notes, this is a true athletic woman in athletic wear!” wrote one Instagram user, while another person commented, “Love this partnership. Confidence, comfort, and making movement fit into a full life is the kind of fitness messaging more women need.”

“I’m excited to partner with Reebok, a brand that has always embraced originality and individuality,” Duff said in a statement, per Monday’s news release.. “To me, style has always been about wearing what makes me feel my best and gives me confidence, whether I’m on the go, spending time with family or fitting movement into my day. Reebok shares that mindset, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead for this partnership.”

Duff has joined an evidently growing community of Reebok ambassadors and creative partners like Karol G and Julian Edelman, helping shape the brand’s intended next chapter across sport, fashion and culture.

Remember Those T-Swift ‘Opalite’ Shoes?

Reebok made headlines earlier this summer when the kicks Taylor Swift wore in her famed “Opalite” music video were confirmed available on Amazon — and for 53% off. With over 1,700 five-star reviews, the Reebok Club C 85 Vintage Tennis Sneakers are evidently a shopper favorite.

September 1984 marked a turning point for Survivor. Not only had the band come up short with 1983‘s Caught in the Game, but frontman Dave Bickler, the voice of “Eye of the Tiger,” was forced to leave the band after serious vocal problems. Survivor needed a new lead singer, a new direction, and ideally a new hit. They got all three with Jimi Jamison and “I Can’t Hold Back.”

“I’m stronger on ballads,” Jamison once told the Los Angeles Times. “I like to sing them more than anything else, but I didn’t get much of a chance before. I wanted to sing more ballads. Being in this group is just right for me.”

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Released in September 1984 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Vital Signs, “I Can’t Hold Back” was the first major hit of Survivor’s new era, and the song that introduced Jamison, formerly of hard-rock outfit Cobra, to a mass audience. And though he was brought on to fill Bickler’s shoes, the hire was way more than just a personnel change.

Survivor was shifting into a more polished soft- and pop-rock sound, and they needed the ideal voice to deliver the new material that the band’s longtime songwriting duo, keyboardist and guitarist Jim Peterik and guitarist Frankie Sullivan, were working on. Strained in their friendship at the time, the two put aside their differences and churned out a killer album blending Sullivan’s powerful guitar riffs with Peterik’s gift for melodies and lyrics.

Enter: Ron Nevison. Renowned for his work with Heart, Chicago, and Night Ranger, the legendary rock producer reunited with Jamison and the band after working on “The Moment of Truth” for The Karate Kid soundtrack. As the producer on “I Can’t Hold Back” and Vital Signs, he devised the song’s unique arrangement, helping transform it into something bigger and more radio ready.

In a chat with Rock and Roll Globe, Peterik also credited Nevison for saving the song from potential obscurity by recognizing a half-formed riff at exactly the moment Survivor thought the album was done. He insisted they turn it into a song and cut it the following day. Good thing they did.​ Radio stations loved it.

“I remember … Jimi and I walked outside of the hotel just to get some air, and a Harley was rumbling by and from the speakers was blasting ‘I Can’t Hold Back,’” Peterik explained about the first time he and the band learned the song was being played on the radio. “It sounded like magic.”

He added, “We hugged each other and went, ‘You know, I think we’ve got it.’”

To elevate the song during the MTV era, they also released a polished music video directed by Bob Radler and filmed in Chicago. Leaning into the song’s cinematic romanticism, it nods to Risky Business and stars Jamison as the Tom Cruise-inspired main character and the rest of Survivor in exaggerated roles. Lee Ann Marie, from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, plays Jamison’s love interest.

“It’s just a terrific vehicle, no pun intended, for ‘I Can’t Hold Back,’” Peterik said. “You can’t help seeing the video when you hear that song.”

The video received massive airtime on MTV, transforming Jamison from the new guy in Survivor to the face man of its next chapter, while also helping launch the five-piece back to No. 1.

According to Billboard, the song hit several charts, including the Cash Box Top 100, where it peaked at No. 14, and the all-genre Hot 100, where it reached No. 13. But the song’s best showing was on Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks, where it climbed all the way to No. 1 and stayed for three weeks, handing the guys their second No. 1 after 1982’s “Eye of the Tiger.”

The band rode the momentum with further hits including “High on You,” “The Search Is Over,” and “Burning Heart,” with “I Can’t Hold Back” becoming one of the defining Survivor songs of the Jamison era and their entire 1980s catalog. Bickler’s departure could have meant the end; instead, Survivor turned it into a stellar second act.

Related: 1973 Jukebox Hit, Produced by Todd Rundgren, Launched a Hard Rock Trio to Its First No. 1

The NFL has announced Mexican rock band The Warning as the halftime show headliner for its 2026 Mexico City game, giving the Monterrey-born sister trio a major home-country stage on Nov. 22.

The Warning, made up of sisters Daniela “Dany,” Paulina “Pau” and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal, will perform at Estadio Banorte during the Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers game. The game is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET, or 7:20 p.m. local time in Mexico City.

The NFL made the announcement on Instagram, quickly drawing excited reactions from fans who welcomed the choice of the Mexican rock group.

Daniela Villarreal, Paulina Villarreal and Alejandra Villarreal from Mexican rock band The Warning attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sep. 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

Photo by Catherine Powell/Getty Images for MTV

“Iconssss omggggg,” one fan reacted.

Another called it the “BEST DECISION NFL OR ANY SPORT EVER MADE.”

One commenter praised the trio as “The best rock band in the history of Mexico 🔥.”

The announcement also brought excitement over the group’s representation on an important Mexican stage, with one fan writing, “🗣️🗣️The first redhead chick to play at an NFL show at the Aztec 🔥🔥.”

Another supporter praised the league’s decision, saying, “Well done, NFL! Choosing The Warning to the halftime show was a great choice. 🤘😎”

One fan said the announcement was enough to make them tune in despite not being an NFL fan: “Ahhhhhhh 🔥 ❤️ well deserved, I don’t even like the NFL but we’ll be there watching them and enjoying the show 😍”

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According to the NFL website, the performance will be one of seven halftime shows presented by American Express during the NFL’s 2026 International Games. The shows will take place across seven countries and four continents as the league stages its biggest international schedule yet.

The Warning said they were excited to perform in their home country and at what they called an iconic stadium.

“We are beyond thrilled to be part of this NFL event in our home country and at such an iconic stadium,” said The Warning. “We love the NFL, and every time we work together, we cannot wait to do it again. Playing the halftime show during an international Sunday night game is an incredible privilege, and we cannot wait to show fans what Mexico and its people have to offer. It will be a night to remember — we’ll do what we do best and amp up the excitement of the game. You have been warned!”

The NFL announcement comes only days after The Warning reached a major milestone on the Billboard charts.

Their single “Kerosene” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The achievement made The Warning the first Mexican band and the first all-women band to reach the top of the chart in its 45-year history.

“Kerosene” is featured on the band’s latest album, Everything’s Falling, which arrived on Aug. 28. The song also moved into the top 10 on Billboard‘s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, while earning 255,000 chart-eligible streams in the United States during the tracking period cited in the provided chart information, according to Billboard.

The group has also built a large international audience. Its career streams have surpassed 785 million, while The Warning earned a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Song in 2024.

Formed in Monterrey in 2013, the band consists of the three Villarreal sisters. Daniela handles guitar and vocals, Paulina plays drums and also contributes vocals, while Alejandra plays bass and provides backing vocals.

The sisters began making music together when they were young and gained wider attention after a video of them performing Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” went viral among rock fans. Their early rise eventually led to tours and performances across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.

The Mexico City show is part of a wider 2026 NFL International Games entertainment lineup. The Jonas Brothers are scheduled to headline the Melbourne game on Sept. 10, while Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin will perform at the Rio game on Sept. 27. Ayra Starr is set to headline the London game on Oct. 11.

The NFL has played 62 regular-season games outside the United States, with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto among the cities that have hosted games.

For The Warning, the Nov. 22 performance will bring the band back to a major stage in Mexico City while it continues its international rise. The group also has upcoming performances in the United States before returning to Mexico for another scheduled Mexico City show in February 2027, per Chaoszine.

Related: NFL Makes Halftime Show Announcement for Brazil Game

Erma Franklin was one of soul’s standout singers of the ’60s when she released “Piece of My Heart,” and never suspected it would become one of rock and roll’s defining hits thanks to Janis Joplin.

The romantic soul song was originally written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, and recorded by Aretha Franklin‘s older sister in 1967 and released that same year. Before Franklin, Berns had originally asked Van Morrison to record the track, but he declined, preferring his own music.

Franklin’s version was met with success as it landed at No. 10 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That wasn’t all; the popularity behind the soul track led Franklin to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. At the awards ceremony, Franklin actually lost to her sister with her track “Chain of Fools.”

While “Piece of My Heart” was a hit for Franklin, chaos struck as she was ready to record her next album.

“Right after ‘Piece of My Heart’ broke and we were ready to record my next album, Bert Berns, the writer and co-owner of Shout Records, died suddenly of a heart attack,” Franklin recalled, according to Medium. “It was utter chaos after that within the recording company so I got a job with a computer programming firm.”

The soul track would gain new life a year later in 1968 when Janis Joplin led the vocals for her cover with Big Brother and the Holding Company. Their cover was released before Joplin embarked on a solo career, but undoubtedly helped make her mark in the industry. It was released on the band’s Cheap Thrills album and landed at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with critics calling it an “explosive performance” by Joplin with “power-packed” vocals.

“We were on our first East Coast tour in March of 1968,” said Big Brother drummer Dave Getz. “Jack came to rehearsal and said, ‘I wanna play this song for you. I think you guys could do it.’ We loved it! Janis loved it.”

Joplin’s vocals and the band’s cover would cement themselves as a rock anthem and be included among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was even one of Rolling Stone‘s “Greatest Songs of All Time.”

With Joplin’s version outshining Franklin’s, the soul singer once revealed she never thought much of it. She also didn’t recognize it was her track due to the drastic changes in vocal arrangement.

“Her version is so different from mine that I really don’t resent it too much,” said Franklin in 1973, according to SongFacts.

The hit track would also be covered by a few artists decades later, like country singer Faith Hill. Her version was a No. 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1994. Surprisingly, Hill had no idea Franklin and Joplin recorded the track and was advised by her record label to not listen to the rock icon’s version until she was done with her recording. After listening to Joplin’s, Hill thought, “Dadgum, how in the world did I ever cover that song?”

Related: 1979 Soft Rock Song, Nearly Shelved by Steve Forbert, Is Still a Breakthrough Hit 47 Years Later