America's Gerry Beckley Releases ‘Norwegian Wood’ Featuring Graham Nash

Gerry Beckley, co-founder of America, has released his interpretation of the Beatles' classic "Norwegian Wood," featuring a special guest appearance by longtime friend and musical hero Graham Nash. The track is the latest preview of Beckley's forthcoming solo album, Merciful, arriving August 28 via Blue Élan Records. Have a listen below.

Rather than reinvent the song, Beckley lets it breathe. Built around his DADGAD-tuned acoustic guitar, the arrangement strips the Lennon-McCartney classic back to its emotional core before Nash's unmistakable harmony slips effortlessly into the mix.

"I've always loved the song," says Beckley. "Playing it in DADGAD gave it a different character, and when I was listening back, it just seemed custom-made for Graham's voice."

The collaboration grew out of a chance reunion after one of Nash's performances at the Sydney Opera House. The two had remained friends over the years, and Nash casually offered to lend his voice to a future project.

"Graham's one of my true heroes going back to his days with the Hollies," Beckley says. "When this recording came together, I knew he would bring something special to it."

Produced by Beckley and longtime collaborator Jeff Larson, Merciful finds the singer reflecting on memory, time, and the passing of years through 13 deeply personal songs. Recorded primarily in Beckley's home studios in Sydney, Australia and Venice, California, the album blends newly written material with rediscovered songs from his archives, all delivered with the melodic craftsmanship that has defined his songwriting for more than five decades.

Pre-order Merciful

Best known as the voice behind America classics including "Sister Golden Hair," "I Need You," and "Daisy Jane," Beckley continues to push forward creatively. While earlier singles "When The Wells Run Dry" and "Get It Right" showcased the album's balance of reflection and optimism, "Norwegian Wood" pays tribute to one of the songs that helped shape him as a young musician attending high school in London during the height of the British Invasion.

Recorded largely by Beckley himself, Merciful also features contributions from Jason Scheff, Nate Strasser, Matt Combs, Steve Fekete, Nick Lane, James Valentine, Ryland Steen, Luke Davison, and Brian Young.

With Merciful, Beckley continues to prove that thoughtful songwriting only deepens with time. His version of "Norwegian Wood" is less a cover than a conversation—between old friends, lifelong influences, and an artist still finding new meaning in timeless songs.

For more info, visit gerrybeckley.com.

Rick Wakeman Makes 'Return To The Red Planet'

 

Following his acclaimed 2020 album The Red Planet, Rick Wakeman makes a triumphant and inevitable return to Mars with Return To The Red Planet, a sweeping new progressive work that fuses science, imagination and musical virtuosity into one of the most ambitious recordings of his career. Return To The Red Planet will be released on the Madfish label on October 16. Check out the trailer for the album below.

“Once I started looking at the new data and photographs, I realized there was an entirely new album waiting to be written," Wakeman said in a statement. "There was simply too much more to say about Mars - musically and spiritually - not to return.” 

At a time when space exploration has moved back to the forefront of human endeavor - with missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond once again capturing the world’s imagination - Return To The Red Planet feels both timely and visionary, rekindling the cosmic spirit that helped define progressive rock’s golden age.

Where its predecessor opened the story, this album explores the planet’s ancient lakes, vast canyon systems, shifting dust storms and geological epochs, drawing directly on the remarkable images and research that have transformed our understanding of Mars in recent years, Wakeman immersing himself in planetary research, data, and mission reports before a single note was written.

Return To The Red Planet will be available in the following configurations: 

- Crystal Clear Gatefold Vinyl LP

- Classic Black Gatefold Vinyl LP

- Digipack CD With 20-page booklet

- CD/Blu-ray edition - includes CD of the studio album + Blu-ray disc featuring Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound & Hi-Res Stereo Mixes and The Making Of The Return To The Red Planet Documentary + 20-page printed booklet

- Digital

Pre-order Return To The Red Planet

Recorded between August 2025 and January 2026, the project also marks a welcome return to full band recording, with all musicians working together at Decoy Studios - a creative approach Wakeman considers essential to capturing the spontaneity and energy of progressive rock at its best.

The album is performed by Wakeman’s English Rock Ensemble, featuring bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner and vocalist Mollie Marriott, daughter of legendary Steve Marriott. The album was mastered by renowned engineer Simon Heyworth.

Among the album’s centerpieces is Bowie’s Vision, a deeply personal homage to Wakeman’s friend David Bowie, whose fascination with Mars helped shape popular culture’s image of the planet. The connection is more than thematic: Wakeman performed the iconic piano on Bowie’s Life on Mars?, making this tribute both musical and autobiographical - a reflection on a shared history, a lasting friendship and one of rock’s most celebrated recordings.

The music was initially composed as keyboard “templates” at Nursery Studios, before being expanded collaboratively by the band at Decoy Studios and engineered by Toby Wood. Final overdubs and mixing with producer/engineer Erik Jordan bring the vision into sharp focus - from sweeping symphonic passages to intricate rhythmic sequences and haunting choral textures.

For more information. visit rickwakemansmusicemporium.com.

Todd Rundgren Announces Fall 2026 Tour Dates

 

Todd Rundgren is expanding his 2026 Damned If I Do Tour with a major slate of newly added dates. This final leg of the tour includes new locations in the western and southwestern United States. This tour promises to include plenty of fan favorite songs. 

"It’s always a challenge for me because my audience is so diverse, I never know what they’re in the mood for," Rundgren says. "I want to make sure we have all the musical ammunition we need to satisfy the spectrum."

This new leg commences October 21st at the Castro Theater in San Francisco, CA and ends November 21st at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City, UT! The fan presale for the new dates begins at 10 AM ET on July 8th [PW: VICTORY26]. Local presales begin at 10 AM local time on July 9th, and tickets go on sale for the public at 10 AM local time on July 11th. For more info and tickets, visit todd-rundgren.com/tr-tour.html.

Todd’s band for the Damned If I Do tour will feature Gil Assayas (keys), Bruce McDaniel (guitar), Prairie Prince (drums), Bobby Strickland (horns), and Kasim Sulton (bass).

TODD RUNDGREN “DAMNED IF I DO” TOUR

June 11 – Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL

June 12 – Des Plaines Theatre – Des Plaines, IL

June 14 – Vibrant Music Hall – Waukee, IA

June 16 – Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX

June 17 – House of Blues – Houston, TX

June 19 – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts – San Antonio, TX

June 20 – Golden Nugget – Lake Charles, LA

June 22 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA

June 23 – The Parker – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

June 25 – Capitol Theatre – Clearwater, FL

June 26 – Capitol Theatre – Clearwater, FL

June 28 – Circle Square Cultural Center – Ocala, FL

June 30 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC

July 01 – Carolina Theatre of Durham – Durham, NC

July 03 – The Caverns – Pelham, TN

July 05 – KEMBA Live! – Columbus, OH

July 06 – Riviera Theatre – North Tonawanda, NY

July 08 – Community Arts Center – Williamsport, PA

July 09 – Warner Theatre – Washington, DC

July 11 – Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA

July 12 – Keswick Theatre - Glenside, PA

July 15 – Patchogue Theatre – Patchogue, NY

July 16 – Tarrytown Music Hall – Tarrytown, NY

July 18 – Bally’s Twin River Casino – Lincoln, RI

July 19 – Cabot Theater – Beverly, MA

August 8 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC

August 9 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse

August 11 – Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier

August 12 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater

August 14 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

August 15 – Newport, KY – MCL Pavilion

August 17 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bells Beer Garden

August 18 – Saginaw, MI – Temple Theatre

August 20 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Theatre

August 21 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater

August 23 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Clyde Theater

August 25 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theatre

August 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre

August 28 – Louisville, KY – Brown Theater

August 29 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant

September 6 – Lorica, IT – Campo Sportivo

September 9 – London, UK – Cadogan Hall

September 10 – Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon

September 12 – Manchester, UK – Opera House Manchester

September 13 – Glasgow, SCT – Theatre Royal Glasgow

September 18 – Aalburg, DK – Skraaen

September 19 – Helsingor, DK – Kulturvaerftet - The Culture Yard

September 21 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso Main Hall

October 21 – San Francisco, CA – Castro Theater

October 22 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theater

October 24 – Sacramento, CA – Quarry Park Amphitheater

October 25 – Oxnard, CA – Oxnard PAC

October 27 – San Diego, CA – The Sound

October 29 – Temecula, CA – Rhythm On The Vine

October 30 – Newport Beach, CA – Back Bay Amphitheatre at the Hyatt Regency

November 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

November 4 – Tucson, AZ – La Rosa

November 6 – Albuquerque, NM – Kimo

November 7 – El Paso, TX – Plaza Theatre

November 9 – Colorado Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Center

November 10 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre

November 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre

November 13 – Las Vegas, NV – ZOUK

November 15 – Boise, ID – Egyptian Theatre

November 16 – Spokane, WA – Bing Crosby Theater

November 18 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre

November 19 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater

November 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre