Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of August 8, 2021

August 15, 2021 by Amy Gold

During the week of August 8, 2021, it was announced that Bruce Springsteen's daughter Jessica, a world-class show jumping rider, took home the silver medal for the U.S. Equestrian jumping team at the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics games held this year in Tokyo.

Also that week, a number of recordings by ZZ Top had a resurgence in popularity in the wake of the recent passing of Dusty Hill, the band's bassist. ZZ Top's 1974 hit, "La Grange," topped Billboard's Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, making it their first-ever song to reach #1 on that tally. Three other songs also made that chart's Top 10: "Sharp Dressed Man" (1983) at #2, "Tush" (1975) at #5, and "Gimme All Your Lovin'" (1983) at #6. "La Grange" also reached #6 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, with the three remaining songs in the Top 20. In addition, ZZ Top's 2019 greatest hits compilation album, "Goin' 50," reached #5 and #20 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, respectively.

Several current and former members of KISS and Iron Maiden are among this year's inductees into the Metal Hall of Fame. The virtual awards ceremonies will be livestreamed on September 12 from Volume.com/MetalHallofFame. Those members of KISS to be honored are guitarist Bruce Kulick, late drummer Eric Carr, current manager Doc McGhee, and late former manager Bill Aucoin. Two former lead singers of Iron Maiden, Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley, will also be inducted along with Derek Riggs, the artist who created the band's "Eddie" mascot.

Tony Bennett announced his retirement from touring and cancelled all remaining shows for 2021 on doctor's orders. The 95-year-old pop legend, who has been battling Alzheimer's disease for the past four years, has not retired completely from the music business. He has an upcoming duets album with Lady Gaga due out on October 1 titled "Love For Sale," their second and final collaboration.

Also that week, Milwaukee's Summerfest 2021 became among a growing number of events and venues to require attendees to show proof of either COVID-19 vaccination or a current negative COVID-19 test due to the recent surge in new cases nationwide. This new protocol followed soon after Live Nation's announcement that it will allow its touring artists to require the same from concert goers. Summerfest 2021 is scheduled to take place September 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18, with a lineup that includes such veteran acts as REO Speedwagon, Styx, and ZZ Top.

Finally, August 14, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the original release of The Who's fifth album, "Who's Next." This critically acclaimed recording, which topped the U.K. album charts and reached #4 on the Billboard 200, includes such classics as "Baba O'Riley," "Behind Blue Eyes," and "Won't Get Fooled Again."

In Memoriam:

Canceled & Postponed Events:
(Band/Artist - Event(s) - Location - Original Dates - Rescheduled Dates)

New & Upcoming Recordings:
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(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)