Billy Gibbons has revealed that ZZ Top were offered millions by shaving giant Gillette to shave off their beards, but they turned it down.

In a recent interview on comedian Jay Mohr’s “Mohr Stories” podcast, Gibbons claimed Gillette once offered him and Dusty Hill, who died in 2021, $1 million each to shave their iconic beards for a commercial.

“It’s true,” said the vocalist and guitarist, alleging that Gillette denies the claim. “It was a million dollars per man.”

“But we called Mr. Merlis [music executive Bob Merlis]. I said, ‘Bob, we got this offer.’ ‘What?’ I said, ‘We’ve been offered a million dollars each to shave on TV,'” continued Gibbons, a founder of ZZ Top alongside Hill and Frank Beard, who is the only beardless member of the band.

“‘Well,’ he said, ‘The money’s good.’ He said, ‘You might as well consider doing it, but I’m not so sure you guys – any of you guys – know what’s under there,'” Gibbons recalled. “So we passed. We passed, and our fans loved it. Word got out.”

ZZ Top is currently set to embark on an extensive North American tour of headlining dates, festivals, and joint shows with Dwight Yoakam. The tour kicks off March 21 in Abilene, Texas, and continues through May 23 in Huntington, West Virginia.

Legacy Recordings and RCA Records have announced the release of the original motion picture soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.

The soundtrack will be released on digital and CD formats on February 20th, in conjunction with the film’s IMAX premiere. The soundtrack’s 2-LP vinyl release will follow on April 24th.

Executive produced by Luhrmann, the soundtrack features 27 tracks from the upcoming film EPiC: ]Elvis Presley]in Concert, combining newly restored live performances with fresh remixes and medleys created from Elvis’ original recordings.

The vinyl edition includes a Graceland-exclusive Red Marble variant, available only through Shop Graceland. The soundtrack is available to pre-order here.

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Tracklist:

1. Can’t Help Falling In Love (EPiC Intro)
2. Also Sprach Zarathustra / An American Trilogy (EPiC Version)
3. That’s All Right (EPiC Version)
4. Tiger Man (EPiC Version)
5. Wearin’ That Night Life Look
6. Hound Dog (EPiC Version)
7. Polk Salad Annie (EPiC Version)
8. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling (EPiC Version)
9. Little Sister / Get Back (EPiC Version)
10. Burning Love (EPiC Version)
11. Never Been To Spain (EPiC Version)
12. Love Me (Jamieson Shaw Remix)
13. I Can’t Stop Loving You (EPiC Version)
14. Are You Lonesome Tonight (EPiC Version)
15. Always On My Mind (EPiC Version)
16. How Great Thou Art (EPiC Version)
17. Oh Happy Day (EPiC Version)
18. Big Hunk O’ Love (EPiC Version)
19. Bridge Over Troubled Water (EPiC Version)
20. In The Ghetto (Jamieson Shaw Remix)
21. Walk A Mile In My Shoes (EPiC Version)
22. Suspicious Minds (EPiC Version)
23. Bring The Curtain Down (EPiC Outro)
24. Can’t Help Falling In Love (EPiC Version)
25. American David (EPiC Version)
26. A Change Of Reality (Do You Miss Me?)
27. Don’t Fly Away (PNAU Remix)

Rock legends Queen have announced the official Freddie Mercury Birthday Party 2026.

“The Great Pretender’s Gala” will take place in aid of The Mercury Phoenix Trust on Saturday, September 5, at the Casino Barrière in Montreux, Switzerland.

“We will be celebrating Freddie Mercury’s 80th Birthday, and the dress code for party guests will be ‘Fancy and Formal’ – we are leaning into Freddie’s smarter, sharper dress sense, so think tuxedos, dresses, waistcoats, cravats, scarves and maybe even a monocle or face mask. Dress for a Rock n’ Roll Ball!,” Queen said in the announcement.

Tickets, T-shirts and posters will be available to purchase later this month. Further information on the party will also be announced at that time.

The British singer and songwriter who achieved global fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen, died on November 24, 1991, at the age of 45.

Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, he is known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range.

Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir has died at the age of 78.

Weir, who was diagnosed with cancer in July, died of “underlying lung issues,” Weir’s team said in a tribute posted on his official Instagram page.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir,” the post said. “He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues”.

The statement adds, “For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music. His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language, and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them. Every chord he played, every word he sang was an integral part of the stories he wove. There was an invitation: to feel, to question, to wander, and to belong.”

The team said that Weir began treatment only weeks before returning to his hometown stage for a three-night celebration of 60 years of music at Golden Gate Park. They described those performances, “emotional, soulful, and full of light,” as “not farewells, but gifts.”

After the group disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead.

Weir also founded and played in several other bands during and after his career with the Grateful Dead. During his career with the Grateful Dead, Weir played mostly rhythm guitar and sang many of the band’s rock & roll and country and western songs. In 1994, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead. In 2024, he was awarded Kennedy Center Honors.

Weir was also honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Les Paul Spirit Award and the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.