If you have any knowledge of the music of the last half of the 20^th century you certainly know who Judy Collins is.  She is best known for her rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns,” and the fact that, when Bill Clinton heard her version of Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning,” he remarked to Hillary that, “if we ever have a daughter her name should be Chelsea.’

With multiple Grammy award nominations, and an Academy Award nomination for her 1975 documentary feature “Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman” among her many achievements, she also hosts the popular podcast “Since You’ve Asked.”  Ms. Collins is currently on tour, with a scheduled appearance this weekend (March 14^th) in Kansas City.

Ms. Collins took some time out from her busy schedule to speak with Media Mikes: 

MIKE SMITH:  You’ve been performing for six decades.  How has the music business changed, good or bad, in that time?

Judy Collins:  I don’t pay a lot of attention to the music business.  I pay attention to what I have to do, and how many concerts I have to do each year.  About a hundred.  And all of the things that I have to do to prepare.  I have to keep my eye on learning and performing the things that I love.  They say we get paid for the travel, which is what we do and so with a hundred shows a year I spend a lot of time on the planes, a lot of times with the press doing interviews and a lot of time sleeping.  (laughs)  To me, THAT’S the music business.  Personally, I do what I want.  I sing what I want.  I engage in my own creativity.  That’s a big job.  The album I last produced, called “Spellbound,” has all of my own songs on it, which is a big deal for me.  And I’m also coming out with a book of poetry on the 25^th of this month (March).  It’s all poetry that I’ve written and it’s called “Sometimes It’s Heaven.” 

MS:  You’ve amassed an amazing number of fans of all ages.  What is the feeling when you look out into the audience and you see the younger generation?  I’m 64.  My granddaughter is 10 and loves your music…

JC:  Oh good.  Give her a hug for me.

It’s an amazing revelation to have people of all ages come see me perform.  I was at a big festival in Australia recently and a young girl walked up to me – she could have been 11 or 12 or 13 – and she said, “oh hi, you’re Judy Collins.”  I said “how do you know that,” and she said, “I saw you on The Muppets.”  So there’s always television in your favor.  And that’s part of the music business too.  PBS has kept me on my feet and on the stage for decades because they’ve done a wonderful job by me. 

MS:  Do you have a favorite song of yours that you like to perform?  I mean, everyone certainly wants to hear “Send in the Clowns,” but do you have a personal favorite?

JC:  Right now there are two.  One is a song that I wrote called “Girl from Colorado.”  I’d encourage you to play it for your granddaughter.  The other is a song called “John Riley.”  “John Riley” is a very old song.  And the more I sing it, the more it means something to me and my audiences.  I’m always surprised because it gets a wonderful response. 

MS:  Has Stephen Stills ever said “thank you” for inspiring “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes?”

JC:  (laughs)  He always says it.  I saw him the other day when he came to New York, where he appeared on a big show of mine at Town Hall and he and I sang “Helplessly Hoping” together and then we sang the chorus of “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” with the rest of the gathered ensemble, which was fabulous.  We’ve been friends for all these years which means there was something going on.

MS:  Bob Dylan finally got a movie last year.  When there is a Judy Collins film who would you like to play you?

JC:  I’ll play me! (laughs) It would be a documentary first, which means I’ll have the last word.   (laughs)

MS:  Thank you sol much for your time.

JC:  Thank you.  And don’t forget to give your granddaughter a hug from me, o.k.?

For everything Judy Collins, including information on upoming shows, click HERE.

Photo Credit: Philip Macías / UMG Nashville

Media Mikes had a chance to participate (via Zoom) in a Q&A with the legendary Ringo Starr and T Bone Burnett to discuss their new country album “Look Up”, which was released on January 10, 2025. This interview took place at the Ryman Auditorium on January 15, 2025 in Nashville, TN.

METALLICA
M72 WORLD TOUR
2025 NORTH AMERICAN DATES ANNOUNCED

Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies and Ice Nine Kills to Support

Photo Credit: Ross Halfin

General On Sale September 27 at 10am Local Time
Pre-Sales, Enhanced Experiences, Travel Packages, Further Information HERE

Metallica has confirmed that its record-breaking M72 World Tour will be extended into a third year, with the announcement of 21 North American shows spanning April, May and June 2025.

Two-night tickets for the newly announced No Repeat Weekends and tickets for the single-night engagements will be on sale September 27 at 10am local time. Fan club pre-sales begin September 23 at 10am local time. For further information, enhanced experiences, travel packages and more, go to https://metallica.lnk.to/M72WorldTour2025

Since opening April 2023 in Amsterdam, M72 has seen Metallica play to some three million fans. Variously hailed as “an altogether life-affirming experience” (Billboard), “impossible to leave unsatisfied” (Austin Chronicle), “a stone-cold stunner of a show” (Detroit News), “the mother of all summer concerts” (Worcester Telegram Gazette) and “as tight and furious as Metallica has sounded in ages” (Los Angeles Times), M72 continues to amaze fans and critics alike. The tour will conclude its triumphant 2024 run with four nights at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros, where Metallica will play to more than 250,000 fans over the course of two No Repeat Weekends.

The M72 World Tour’s 2025 itinerary will continue the hallowed No Repeat Weekend tradition, with each night of the two-show stands featuring entirely different setlists and support lineups. These will include the band’s first Nashville shows in five years on May 1 and 3 at Nissan Stadium, as well as Metallica’s return to Tampa after 15 years on June 6 and 8 at Raymond James Stadium. M72 has also confirmed its much anticipated Bay Area hometown play, to take place June 20 and 22 with the band’s debut performances at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

In a new twist, M72 2025 will feature several single shows bringing the tour’s full production, with its massive in-the-round stage, to venues including two college football stadiums: JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York on April 19, and Metallica’s first ever visit to Blacksburg, Virginia, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. The May 7 show at Lane Stadium will mark the culmination of 20+ years of “Enter Sandman” playing as the Hokies take the field.

In addition to playing football stadiums across the nation, the M72 World Tour’s 2025 itinerary will also include two festival headlines—the first being the opening night of the run April 12 at Sick New World at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. May 9 and 11 will then mark a festival/No Repeat Weekend combo as Metallica plays two headline sets at Sonic Temple at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Support on M72’s 2025 North American run will come from Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies and Ice Nine Kills. See below for specifics.

Additionally, M72 2025 will see Metallica’s long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand. Stay tuned to https://www.metallica.com/ for further announcements.

M72’s 2025 North American leg is produced by Live Nation and presented by new sponsor inKind. inKind rewards diners with special offers and credit back when they use the app to pay at 2,000+ top-rated restaurants nationwide. The company provides innovative financing to participating restaurants in a way that enables new levels of sustainability and success. Metallica fans can learn more at inkind.com.

Citi is the official card of the M72 tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, September 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 26 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for the M72 tour in the U.S through Verizon Access, just for being a customer. Verizon Access Presale tickets for select shows will begin Tuesday, September 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 26 at 10pm local time. For more details visit Verizon.com/Access.

* Citi and Verizon presales will not be available for Sick New World, Sonic Temple or the Toronto dates. Verizon presale will not be available for the Nashville, Blacksburg or Landover shows.

As always, a portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to local charities via the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Established in 2017 as a way to give back to communities that have supported Metallica over the years, All Within My Hands has raised over $15 million – providing $8.2 million in grants to career and technical education programs including the ground-breaking Metallica Scholars Initiative, now in its sixth year, over $3.6 million to combat food insecurity, more than $3.5 million to disaster relief efforts.

METALLICA
M72 WORLD TOUR
North America 2025

April 12 Las Vegas, NV Sick New World @ Las Vegas Festival Grounds
April 19 Syracuse, NY JMA Wireless Dome *
April 24 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre *
April 26 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre +
May 1 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium *
May 3 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium +
May 7 Blacksburg, VA Lane Stadium *
May 9 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
May 11 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
May 23 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field +
May 25 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field *
May 28 Landover, MD Northwest Stadium *
May 31 Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium *
June 3 Atlanta, GA Mercedes-Benz Stadium *
June 6 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium +
June 8 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium *
June 14 Houston, TX NRG Stadium *
June 20 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium +
June 22 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium *
June 27 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High +
June 29 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High *

* Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies support
+ Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills support

The Singularity is an epic rock concept album, graphic novel, and concert experience from the mind of Grammy-nominated, and Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning composer Bear McCreary. The Singularity arrives on CD, vinyl, and digital formats via Shadows & Sparks Records and Mutant on Friday, May 10.

Two-time GRAMMY Award-nominated, Emmy, and BAFTA Award-winning composer Bear McCreary began his career working with legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein, before bursting onto the scene scoring the influential and revered series Battlestar Galactica in 2004. Since then, McCreary has been a four-time Emmy Award nominee and Emmy winner for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme for Da Vinci’s Demons.

Thursday, September 20, 1973 found me in 8^th grade at Chardon Middle School in Chardon, Ohio.  Walking home my group of friends would often sing the songs we heard on the radio at the top of our voices.  A favorite was “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.”  The next day the word was all over school.  The night before the man who wrote and sung the song, Jim Croce, had been killed in a plane crash.  18-months after he had burst onto the scene, he was gone.  But in that time he gave the world some of the most memorable songs of all time.  Jim Croce is gone, but thankfully another talented songwriter is keeping his work alive.  His son, A.J.

With ten albums of his own to his credit, A.J. Croce (Adrian James for the curious) didn’t need to sing his father’s songs to establish his long career.  Feeling the time is right, he has recently embarked on a tour called, simply, “Croce Sings Croce.”  In preparation for his upcoming appearance at the Kauffman Center in Kansas City on Saturday, April 13^th, Mr. Croce took the time so speak with me about the tour, his career and the continued legacy of his fater.

MIKE SMITH:  I’m going to get weird here for a second and I apologize.  I’m aa63 years old.  I had two musical heroes growing up…people whose music not only inspired me but their passion for others.  One was Harry Chapin.  The other was your dad.  I interviewed Harry’s son, Jason, a couple of years ago and it is a true honor and privilege to speak with you.   

A.J. CROCE:  Wow.  Thank you.

MS:  You were reluctant to perform your father’s music early in your career.  Why are you highlighting it now?

AJC:  There were a lot of reasons.  One was that I had had success in my own right.  I had done well as a songwriter and sideman and musician.  I felt a sense of accomplishment.  The other part was that I didn’t feel there was any integrity in just jumping in and performing my father’s music.  I was a piano player, so I was playing the guitar parts on piano long before I picked up a guitar twenty years ago.  It was a challenge.  I played jazz and old blues and rock and roll New Orleans music so I was trying to find and conquer the most challenging music out there.  That’s what I was looking for.  That being said, I love my father’s music.  There was never a time when I didn’t respect what he had done.  I loved his song writing nd guitar playing.  I have always been working behind the scenes to try and preserve and promote his legacy of music.  I felt that the integrity of my music needed to be intact.  I felt it was a little cheap and a little cheesy just to make a few bucks off of playing my dad’s music when I was young.  As I got older and picked up the guitar, I found there were times and places in my show where I could throw in a song of his as a surprise.  As soon as no one expected me to perform my father’s music it became a lot easier and more fun to throw something in.  Having worked with Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and James Brown…all those iconic R&B artists…I wanted to make a name for myself.  It was really important that there be integrity in it.

MS:  When you first started out, was the last name “Croce” a blessing or a hinderance?

AJC:  Both.  It was both.  The blessing was, in some ways, smaller then the hinderance at times.  It’s hard to have your own identity when you have a name that’s recognizable.  You don’t really have the privilege of being heard for yourself.  You are heard as the relative of someone who is well-known, maybe for something completely different from what you do.  Having the identity of someone else is a challenge.  Most people get to succeed and fail on their own merits.  I was only able to succeed from the outside perspective on the merits of my father and I was only able to fail on my own merit.  I was not concerned with fame and celebrity.  I was determined to be the best piano player and songwriter and entertainer that I could possibly be.  That was my goal.  I probably shot myself in the foot more than a few times because I was more interested in the music than I was in the fame that music brought.  I probably turned down many opportunities early in my career that would have been really helpful.  I think early on, in the first twenty, twenty-five years of my touring and recording career…of course I wanted people to hear my music.  I think I was a little uncompromising.  I was a little afraid of what fame might do.  I saw what it did to my father.  I saw the remnants of it because of his success.  There’s a certain part of life you no longer get to experience once you’re no longer anonymous.

MS:  Talking about fame, a lot of people can tell you that Jim Croce died in a plane crash but they don’t know why he was on that plane.  He was keeping a promise that he really didn’t have to.  He didn’t have to go and do that show, but he did.  And that is one of the things I’ve always admired about him.

AJC:  Yes.  I mean, every artist has that happen.  When you sign a deal to do a concert and miss it, you do your best to make it up.  I got snowed out of a concert in Connecticut in February and will go back and play at the end of April.  That’s the nature of this business.  There are circumstances sometimes that keep you from being where you want to be.  Or play where you want to play.

MS:  Certainly.  My comparison is that between the time he missed the concert and when he went down to do it he became JIM CROCE.

(QUICK NOTE:  Before he became a household name, Jim Croce had to cancel a concert he had scheduled at Northwestern State University in Louisiana due to illness.  He promised the promoters that he would make up the show as soon as possible.  A year later, now a big star, he had an open date on his current tour, called the school and said he’d be there.  Even with two successful albums and a fistful of hit songs, Croce did the show for his originally agreed on fee, $750.  Remember when I talked about having passion for others?  Jim Croce is a true example. )

AJC:  Absolutely.  Absolutely.  His career was so brief.  His career was eighteen months.  I mean he had played semi-professionally for a period of time but his professional career was eighteen months.  All of the songs you know were written, finished and recorded and toured in that eighteen-month period of time.  It’s kind of an astounding thing that so much was accomplished in such a short amount of time. 

A.J. Croce (Photo credit: Jim Shea)

MS:  You’ve endured a lot of tragedy in your life. (NOTE:  Jim Croce died when A.J. was two.  When he was four, his mother’s boyfriend beat him so badly he lost sight in both eyes.  He regained the sight in his left eye at age 10).  Have you ever drawn on that, even subconsciously, for your own music? 

AJC:  Oh, of course.  If I don’t draw on life experience, I’m not doing my job.  If I’m not using it in my music then I’m not paying attention or growing.  It can’t be a superficial exploration when it comes to writing.  There needs to be depth and you need to draw from those things and hopefully gain wisdom and a sense of humor.  If you can’t gain a sense of humor from the tragedies of life then you’re missing out on half of what a tragedy can give you. 

MS:   Do you have a favorite song of your fathers?

AJC:  No.  I love a lot of his songs.   Just like all music I have no favorite artist…no favorite song.  Music is dso much about mood and emotion.  One morning you wake up and you want to hear Edith Piaf.  The next morning you wake up and you want to hear Zepplin.  Or you want to hear Ray Charles or Fats Waller or Little Richard.  Music is about emotion and mood and that’s such a beautiful thing. 

MS:  That’s a great answer.

AJC: (laughing) Thanks! 

A.J. Croce is currently on tour.  For more information, please visit his WEBSITE.

Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Harry Waters, son of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and vocalist Eva Avila during their 2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour at the Hershey Theatre, Hershey, PA discussing all things Pink Floyd.

In a monumental celebration of musical history, Brit Floyd will embark on the “2024 P-U-L-S-E Word Tour,” commemorating the 30th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, “The Division Bell.” Known for their unwavering dedication to recreating the magic of Pink Floyd’s music, Brit Floyd is the perfect ensemble to honor “The Division Bell.” Audiences can expect a breathtaking audiovisual experience that pays homage to the original band’s unique blend of music and visual effects.

Singer, Actor, Producers & Performer Bo Bice was 2005 runner-up season of America Idol. He has performed around the World as a solo artist and spent 5 years fronting Blood, Sweat & Tears since his then. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bo again to discuss his new song “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man”, his upcoming writing plans and new album details!

Austrian crossover legends KONTRUST are one of the most extravagant and exciting acts on the scene. On their first album in nine years, KONTRUST present new vocalist Julia Ivanova and new drummer Joey Sebald, who already won over live audiences in the summer of 2022 at huge festivals such as Graspop Metal Meeting, Hellfest Open Air, Barcelona Rockfest and Resurrection Fest.

Throughout their two decade-spanning career, the Austrian based outfit has gained millions and millions of YouTube views with their exciting music videos, with over 15 million views on the electrifying hits “Hey DJ!” and “Bomba” alone. With their new album, madworld, KONTRUST prove their standing as an unpredictable force in the scene – ready to exceed everything they have achieved so far!

Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Kontrust members Manuel Haglmüller & Julia Ivanova about the new album and what fans can expect next from the band.

Alumni of American Idol, Bo Bice is hitting the road with his next upcoming stop being at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Florida. “Bo Bice: In Concert” hits the stage on October 13-14, 2023!! Bo takes out sometime to chat with Media Mikes to discuss the plans and what to expect for the concerts.

Click here to get tickets: https://gardentheatre.org/event/bo-bice/

Fabio Frizzi is an Italian musician and composer. He is best known for his film scores like “Zombie” and “The Beyond” and was a frequent collaborator with horror director Lucio Fulci. Recently Fabio has been re-recording the scores to his films like “The Beyond” and most recently “Zombie” and taking them on the road to tour with his band. Media Mikes had a chance to chat about the new changes in the Composer Cut of “Zombie” and plans for his upcoming tour!

Damian Darlington is the founder of Brit Floyd, as well as the musical director of the band. Prior to Brit Floyd, Damian was also the musical director and lead of The Australian Pink Floyd for 17 years. This year Brit Floyd is touring celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Damian about all things Pink Floyd and discuss their upcoming tour plans!

Guitarist Gina Gleason joined the heavy metal band Baroness in 2017 and since that time has performed all over the world with the group which hails originally from Savannah, GA. The band is set to release their 6th studio album in September and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Gina recently about the albums creation, it’s title and the bands upcoming fall tour.

Founded by Ollie Rosenblatt in 2011, Senbla is a London-based concert promoting and production company that operates both nationally and internationally. Ollie has worked on projects like the ‘films in concert’ shows, like Harry Potter and Star Wars film with live orchestra franchises as well as Beauty and The Beast, La La Land, Love Actually, A Muppet Christmas Carol, The Godfather. MediaMikes had a chance to chat with Ollie about the film in concert of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live and it’s upcoming world tour!

Metalocalypse creator Brendon Small (despite some technical connection issues) chats with us about the new Dethalbum IV, the new movie Army of the Doomstar and Dethklok’s upcoming tour!

Jason Michael Paul is a concert producer, promoter, and entrepreneur. His production company, JMP Entertainment, produced Dear Friends – Music from FINAL FANTASY, PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, and Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses. His latest video game music concert is called “Heroes: A Video Game Symphony” and it kicks off this August!