When Santana had a Top 5 single with Black Magic Woman in 1971, it was a great example of how music can often be the result of – to borrow a phrase from Sir Isaac Newton - “standing on the shoulders of giants.” In this case, guitar-wielding giants.The evolution of Black Magic Woman stretches back to 1957, with an obscure record by Chicago guitarist Jody Williams. Williams had cut his teeth in the early '50s, playing on the street with his mentor Bo Diddley, then gigging with such blues artists as Memphis Minnie and Elmore James. That's him playing the incendiary solo on Diddley's classic Who Do You Love? In his extended break, you can hear several licks that would inform the styles of both Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Williams made his own records too, and the B-side to his 1957 single You May was an instrumental called Lucky Lou. From the phrasing of the opening guitar riff to the slinky Afro-Cuban groove, it's obviously the blueprint for Black Magic Woman.A year later, fellow Chicago blues guitarist Otis Rush “borrowed” that riff and feel for his record All Your Love (I Miss Your Loving), adding a vocal melody. Produced by Willie Dixon and featuring Ike Turner on rhythm guitar, it became one of Rush's signature hits.Eight years later, in 1966, it was covered by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, on the landmark “Beano” LP featuring Eric Clapton. The bass player on that record was John McVie. And a year later, after Clapton left to form Cream, there was a brief three-month window when the Bluesbreakers line-up included McVie, drummer Mick Fleetwood and lead guitarist Peter Green, the nucleus of the soon-to-be-formed Fleetwood Mac. From there, we cut to Green writing a song for his svelte fashion model girlfriend, Sandra Elsdon, who he'd nicknamed “Magic Mama.” Green said in Peter Green: The Biography: “One of the things John Mayall said was that if you really like something, you should take the first lines, and make up another song from them. So that's what I did with Black Magic Woman.” The song, nodding to All Your Love and Lucky Lou, was released as a single by Fleetwood Mac in 1968 and hit #37 on the UK charts. And that's where Carlos Santana enters the picture. In the book Guitar Greats, he said, “I used to go see the original Fleetwood Mac, and they used to kill me, just knock me out. To me they were the best blues band.”So in 1970, when Santana keyboardist Gregg Rolie started to play Black Magic Woman during a soundcheck, it was a memorable moment. Santana told Rolling Stone, “I swear to you, and this is for real, whenever we play the song, I remember the first time we played it in a soundcheck in Fresno in a parking lot. Gregg brought the song from Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green. And I remember saying, 'Hmm, I can bring a little bit of Otis Rush here and a little bit of Wes Montgomery here.'” Santana's recorded version, featuring Rolie on lead vocals, was on the their best-selling second album, Abraxas. Adding yet another shoulder and another giant, the single switched gears into a double-time outro jam, based on Gypsy Queen, by Hungarian jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó. Discussing the song's long journey, Santana told Raised On Radio in 2016: “We all listened to everything, and we sculpture our own beauty and expression from the things that we love.”In 1998, when Santana was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the band was joined by Peter Green for a seven-minute version of Black Magic Woman.

Roger Waters has announced a new tour celebrating Pink Floyd's music. Roger Waters Presents Legacy – A Pink Floyd Show will tour North America in 2027, but Waters won't join the show. Instead, the band will be directed by Harry Waters, son of the former Pink Floyd man.The band's lengthy touring schedule will begin on February 15 at the River Center for the Performing Arts in Columbus, GA, and end at Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, MO, on September 25. Tickets will go on sale on October 2 at rogerwaterslegacy.com."These songs have meant so much to so many people for so many years, and I’m excited for audiences to come together and experience them live again," says Roger. "Harry has assembled a terrific band, and I can’t wait for fans around the world to see the special show we’ve created together.""I fell in love with the music immediately," says Harry. "It really had an impact on me, irrespective of any bias, because it was Dad’s music. I still love it deeply to this day. Collaborating with Dad on this new production is such an honour, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to bring this music to fans old and new, around the world."Waters Jr.'s connections to the music of Pink Floyd run deep. As a two-year-old, his voice was used on Pink Floyd’s Goodbye Blue Sky, and he played in his father's solo band for 14 years before being fired prior to the Us + Them tour in 2016. He subsequently played several shows with the UK Pink Floyd tribute act Brit Floyd, and with the Israeli tribute band Echoes. More recently, he performed with Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade as they toured Floyd's Animals across the US. Confusingly, Brit Floyd have also announced a run of US dates for 2027, which runs from February until April. The tour, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's Animals album, is in addition to the band's current The Moon, The Wall And Beyond schedule. Full dates for both projects follow. Roger Waters presents Legacy – A Pink Floyd Show 2027 tour datesFeb 15: Columbus River Center for the Performing Arts, GAFeb 17: Clearwater The BayCare Sound, FLFeb 19: Fort Myers Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, FLFeb 20: St. Augustine The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, FLFeb 21: Fort Lauderdale Broward Center for the Performing Arts, FLFeb 23: Orlando Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, FLFeb 25: Atlanta Fox Theatre, GAFeb 26: Montgomery Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, ALFeb 27: Nashville The Truth, TNFeb 28: Huntsville Von Braun Center, ALMar 02: Green Bay The Weidner, WIMar 03: Minneapolis Orpheum Theatre, MNMar 04: Peoria Prairie Home Alliance Theater, ILMar 06: Chicago The Chicago Theatre, ILMar 07: Indianapolis Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, INMar 9: Louisville The Louisville Palace Theatre, KYMar 10: Knoxville Knoxville Civic Auditorium, TNMar 12: Midland Midland Center for the Arts, MIMar 13: Windsor The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, ONMar 14: Columbus Mershon Auditorium, OHMar 18: Grand Prairie Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, TXMar 19: Midland Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, TXMar 20: San Antonio The Tobin Center, TXMar 21: Houston The Hobby Center for Performing Arts, TXApr 06: Pittsburgh Benedum Center, PAApr 07: Scranton Scranton Cultural Center, PAApr 09: Portland Merrill Auditorium, MEApr 10: Mashantucket Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, CT: Apr 11: Medford Chevalier Theatre, MAApr 13: Buffalo UB Center for the Arts, NYApr 14: Albany Palace Theatre, NYApr 16: Newark New Jersey Performing Arts Center, NJApr 17: Atlantic City Ocean Casino Resort, NJApr 18: Lancaster American Music Theatre, PAApr 20: Charlotte Ovens Auditorium, NCApr 21: Tysons Capital One Hall, VAApr 23: Orillia Casino Rama Resort, ONApr 24: Ottawa Hard Rock Live Ottawa, ONApr 26: Baltimore The Paramount Baltimore, MDApr 27: Rochester Kodak Center, NYApr 29: Utica The Stanley Theatre, NYApr 30: Richmond Altria Theater, VAMay 01: Virginia Beach The Dome by Rutter Mills, VAMay 02: Wilmington CFCC’s Wilson Center, NCAug 31: Vancouver Queen Elizabeth Theatre, BCSep 02: Wenatchee Town Toyota Center, WASep 04: Portland McMenamins Edgefield, ORSep 07: San Francisco Golden Gate Theatre, CASep 11: Los Angeles Greek Theatre, CASep 12: San Diego The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, CASep 15: Salt Lake City Eccles Theater, UTSep 16: Las Vegas Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort, NV Sep 19: Denver Buell Theatre, COSep 21: Cleveland Jacobs Pavilion, OHSep 24: Sylvania Centennial Terrace, OHSep 25: St. Louis The Fabulous Fox, MOBrit Floyd: The Moon, The Wall And Beyond 2026 tour datesOct 01: Tulsa Tulsa Theater, OKOct 02: Park City Heartland Credit Union Arena, KS Oct 06: Tucson The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, AZOct 07: Prescott Findlay Toyota Center , AZOct 09: Rancho Mirage Agua Caliente, CAOct 10: Las Vegas Orleans Arena @ Orleans Casino, NV Oct 11: Fresno Saroyan Theatre, CAOct 13: Bakersfield Dignity Health Theater, CAOct 14: Oakland Fox Theater, CAOct 15: Paso Robles Vina Robles Amphitheatre, CAOct 16: Wheatland Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Sacramento, CAOct 18: Ridgefield Illani Casino, WAOct 20: Kennewick Toyota Center, WAOct 22: Abbotsford Rogers Forum, BCOct 23: Penticton South Okanagan Events Centre, BCOct 24: Calgary Grey Eagle Event Center, ABBrit Floyd: Animals 50 2027 tour datesFeb 23: Hamilton FirstOntario Concert Hall, ONFeb 24: Pickering Casino, ONFeb 25: London Canada Life Place, ON Feb 27: Rochester Auditorium Theatre, NYFeb 28: Burlington Flynn Center, VY Mar 02: SpringfieldSymphony Hall, MAMar 03: Stamford Palace Theatre, CTMar 04: Boston MGM Music Hall, MAMar 06: Wallingford Toyota Oakdale Theater, CTMar 07: Schenectady Proctors Theatre, NYMar 09: Huntington Paramount Theatre, NYMar 10: Huntington Paramount Theatre, NYMar 12: Bethlehem Windcreek Event Center, PAMar 13: Bethlehem Windcreek Event Center, PAMar 14: Providence Veterans Memorial Auditorium, VAMar 16: Syracuse Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, NY Mar 18: Washington Warner Theatre, DCMar 19: Baltimore Lyric Opera House, MDMar 20: Atlantic City Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena, NJMar 21: Johnstown 1st Summit Arena, PAMar 23: Erie Warner Theatre, PAMar 25: New Brunswick State Theatre, NJMar 26: Durham Performing Arts Center, NCMar 27: Jacksonville Florida Theatre, FLMar 30: Daytona Beach Peabody Auditorium, FL Apr 01: Miami The Fillmore Miami Beach, FLApr 02: Clearwater Ruth Eckerd Hall, FLApr 03: Estero Hertz Arena, FL Apr 04: Melbourne King Center, FLApr 06: Atlanta Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, GA Apr 08: Columbus Palace Theatre, OHApr 09: Grand Rapids DeVos Performance Hall, MI Apr 10: Chicago The Riviera, ILApr 11: Akron Civic Theatre, OHApr 13: Toledo Huntington Center, OH Apr 14: Buffalo Sheas, NY Apr 15: Hershey Hershey Theatre, PA Apr 16: Hershey Hershey Theatre, PA Apr 17: Pittsburgh Peterson Event Center, PAFind Brit Floyd tickets.

A Perfect Circle have shared a new single, To Whom It May Concern, and announced an extensive North American tour for 2027.The band's second new release of 2026, To Whom It May Concern follows on from Starless, which was released in May. And guitarist Billy Howerdel promises that there's "more to come" from the alt.metal supergroup, who also feature Tool/Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan, Smashing Pumpkins James Iha, bassist Matt McJunkins, and Nine Inch Nails/Vandals drummer Josh Freese."It's exciting to finally get some new music out into the world," says Billy Howerdel, "and seeing Starless reach No. 1 at rock radio this week has made it even sweeter! The outpouring of support is so very much appreciated. To Whom It May Concern is next up! More to come."The band's North American tour will see them supported by Puscifer (April 13 to April 23, and April 25), and The Cult (April 27 to June 13)."Very much looking forward to pulling double duty through Canada with A Perfect Circle and Puscifer," says Maynard James Keenan. "Been way, way too long. New tunes, new dance moves, new hair hats. Figure it out. #figureitout"A Perfect Circle North American tour dates 2027Apr 13: Vancouver Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, CanadaApr 15: Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome, CanadaApr 17: Edmonton Rogers Place, CanadaApr 19: Winnipeg Canada Life Centre, CanadaApr 22: Niagara Falls OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, CanadaApr 23: Niagara Falls OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, CanadaApr 25: Detroit Fox Theatre, MIApr 27: Boston MGM Music Hall at Fenway, MAApr 28: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena, CTApr 30: Camden Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, NJMay 01: Newark Prudential Center, NJMay 04: Charlotte Truliant Amphitheater, NCMay 05: Duluth Gas South Arena, GAMay 07: Houston The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TXMay 08: Grand Prairie Texas Trust CU Theatre, TXMay 15: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TNMay 17: St. Louis Chaifetz Arena,MOMay 19: Elizabethtown, KY [venue to be announced]May 20: Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center, OHMay 22: Chicago Wintrust Arena, ILMay 23: Shakopee Mystic Lake Amphitheater, MNMay 27: Denver Red Rocks Amphitheatre, COMay 28: Salt Lake City Maverik Center, UTMay 30: Seattle Climate Pledge Arena, WAJun 01: Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum,ORJun 03: Reno Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort, NVJun 04: Daly City Cow Palace Arena, CAJun 06: Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, CAJun 08: Chula Vista North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, CAJun 10: Las Vegas Fontainebleau Las Vegas, NVJun 11: Las Vegas Fontainebleau Las Vegas, NVJun 13: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, AZTickets go on sale Friday, October 2 at 10 am local time.

On September 22, Nene Royal was crowned the winner of season 21 of America's Got Talent. The 16-year-old from Phuket, Thailand (real name Rattikarn Amloy) triumphed in the season finale of the popular talent show after performing a full-on metal version of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, then teaming up with Linkin Park to collaborate on The Emptiness Machine, the lead single from the Los Angeles band's 2024 album From Zero. America's Got Talent judge Howie Mandel praised vocalist/guitarist Royal as "the biggest, most talented, most viral talent to be on that stage." The 16-year-old Thai star, who started playing guitar at the age of seven, had displayed her love of rock and metal throughout the competition, wowing the judges and TV audiences in previous rounds with energetic performances of Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun, Muse's Hysteria, and The Cranberries' Zombie.Winning the competition also secured the teenager one million dollars in prize money. She is the first Thai winner of the long-running talent show."What makes this win special is that Nene carried her Thai identity with confidence onto one of the world's biggest stages," the Thai government's PR department said in a statement. "She showed that talent, hard work, and determination can come from anywhere, including a young girl from Phuket with a guitar and a big dream."We caught up with Nene after her win to learn more about her story. How do you feel? Has the win sunk in yet?“I didn’t expect to win this competition, because it was very tough this year. But I’m very proud of myself.”You started going viral long before you won. Did it feel like you had an advantage?“It’s made me feel so proud, and also… I don’t know what to say. Life has changed, actually. I just want to make plans to make some songs and to do some stuff on tour. I want to collab with legendary artists.”Who are your dream collaborators?“A lot! Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Metallica, System Of A Down, The Warning, Limp Bizkit, and even more! What I just did with Linkin Park, I’m so happy.”Who was the first rock artist who truly got you into that style of music?“When I started playing rock, that comes from my dad. He was always playing the radio in the car. In his day, he really loved rock and metal – like, 90s, I guess. I was sitting in the back and he was like, [headbanging]. It was a vibe, and I got feelings about it. I talked to my dad [and said] ‘I want to play rock music. Then my dad was like, ‘That’s impossible!’ I said, I just wanna do it, because I know that guys play rock, whereas women are in these sweet bands. But girls can also play rock!”Who was the first artist you discovered without your dad, that you found for yourself?“I remember the first song that my dad played on the radio, I think it was Deep Purple. Highway Star, I guess. It made me wanna try to play some rock songs: ‘I’m gonna play Star’s beginning, the solo to Hotel California, My Sharona, and then Highway Star.’ From this, Back In Black, Nightmare.”What are your favourite rock albums of all time? Is that a hard question?“Yes! The band is Avenged Sevenfold, but I can’t say which one is my favourite.”You just love all of it.“Yeah, I just love all of it.”What about albums by artists other than Avenged Sevenfold?“System of a Down, Linkin Park, Metallica. I don’t know!”You performed with Linkin Park. How did you link up with them?“I didn’t expect that I was going to perform with them, because at my rehearsal of their song The Emptiness Machine, I was practising on my own. I thought I was going to play alone. But, when I practised, a cameraman just came in, and then, Linkin Park just came in. I was like, ‘What is going on?!’ I don’t know if Linkin Park are just gonna come and take a video, some shot, that’s all. But actually, Linkin Park say, ‘We’re gonna join together onstage,’ and I was like, ‘There’s no way!’ My dream’s come true.”When Mike and Emily took the mic and said they wanted you to win, what did that mean to you?“It means a lot to me, because I’ve got the advice and a comment from the artist, like, ‘Good luck. We’re gonna vote for you. Incredible!’ I’m very happy.”Are there any other female rock and metal singers that you think are blazing trails?“The Warning. They’re like a new generation.”You’re supporting Avenged Sevenfold in Singapore next month. Are you excited or scared or both?“Both! [laughing] It’s my first time playing support to Avenged Sevenfold, so I was like, [big sigh] ‘I’m scared!’ And I’m going to play in front of how many? 40,000!”Is it going to be covers or originals? A mix of the two?“We’ll see.”How did it happen? Did the guys reach out to you personally?“The managers in Singapore text me: ‘Oh, I hear you wanna play with Avenged Sevenfold?’ I was like, ‘Yeah!’ They said, ‘Well, Avenged Sevenfold want you to support them.’ They asked for me, ‘Do you wanna do it?’, and I was like, ‘Yeah!’”At 16, supporting one of your favourite bands…“Dreams come true. Incredible.”Your dreams have come true at 16 years old, so what’s next?“Planning to create my own songs, and also doing some tours. I really wanna collaborate with those legendary bands.”

Pain Of Salvation and Kayak alumnus Kristoffer Gildenlöw has returned to his prog metal roots with new solo album [Humanised]. The Swedish musician reconnects with former bandmates, explores what it means to be human, and tells Prog why he's still hopeful of the future.It’s been 20 years since Kristoffer Gildenlöw was somewhat acrimoniously forced out of Pain Of Salvation, the well-respected Swedish prog metal band led by his brother Daniel. In the space of those two decades, the younger sibling has reinvented himself as a successful session musician and solo artist. He’s played and toured with Neal Morse, Lana Lane and Damian Wilson. His solo albums have hit a string of rich and varied notes, ranging from smoky singer-songwriter vibes to stirring moments of full-on symphonic prog.What he hasn’t done much of – a few session slots aside – is the sort of progressive metal with which he originally made his name. His 2024 album Empty made some tentative steps toward the rockier side of the prog spectrum; but on his latest release, [Humanised], he’s finally returned to his roots.“I’ve never seen myself as a singer and I think that’s the biggest obstacle I’ve had,” he offers by way of explanation. “With the earlier music, I could lean more towards the story-telling and the lower voice. I’ve really picked up the electric guitar and got better with that, so I felt more secure in doing more guitar work on my own, and also singing and raising the bar. That’s when I decided, ‘Okay, I’m ready to take that step into a heavier sound – a more technical kind of music than before.’”[Humanised] is, indeed, a technically accomplished album; but one that also retains the emotional weight of his previous releases. There’s a tension running through most of the songs and a deliberate sonic heaviness, but it’s far from one-dimensional. It’s meticulously constructed: even a track like The Almosts, built around just two chords, stacks multiple layers of texture and melodies to impressive effect.Elsewhere, there’s a full complement of virtuosic bass runs, drilling modern prog metal riffs, unconventional vocal phrasings and giddily veering time signatures. It’s a fantastic album that more than stands on its own merits. Beyond some superficial similarities in dynamics and vocals, it doesn’t particularly sound like Pain Of Salvation, but that shadow was always going to loom large when Gildenlöw turned back to the heavier side – especially as it also features current POS drummer Leo Margarit and a guest appearance from their former guitarist Daniel Magdič.“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Gildenlöw says of his history. “I’m extremely proud of everything we did and I learned so much from it. But yeah, I think you’ll always be ‘the ex.’ In my case, I’ll always be Daniel’s younger brother and I’ll never be able to get out of that shadow. He’s so much better than I am: more talented, better music, better singer. Everything I can do, he can do 10 times better.”That seems a harsh conclusion, given the quality of the younger Gildenlöw’s own body of work; but his feeling of being overshadowed isn’t a new sensation. “It was a weird, but also kind of magical time,” he says of his stint in POS. “I’m five years younger than my brother. It doesn’t matter now, but when you’re 17 and your brother is 22, that’s a huge difference. So I was always watching over my shoulders, like, ‘Okay, when’s the real bass player showing up? When will I be kicked out of the band?’ In the beginning it was like, ‘I love doing this, but am I good enough? Am I worthy enough? Am I just here temporarily till they find someone better?’”As it turned out, he’d hold down that bassist role for 12 years, touring the world and playing on POS’s first five studio albums, including 2002 breakthrough Remedy Lane and sprawling theological follow-up BE. He was only asked to leave after his relocation to the Netherlands produced apparent logistical issues for the band.“There was for years some bad blood between us as to how and when it happened,” he says today. “I moved in 2003. We played our last tour in 2005 and I had said, ‘Guys, if it’s not working, I’ll make this my last tour.’ They said, ‘No – no problem. We’ll make it work and we’ll start on the next album.’ I went to Sweden for Christmas and they played me a couple of the new songs and I was like, ‘Will you send them to me?’ But they didn’t send anything. They had a chat and gave me a call: ‘You’re out of the band.’ It was, ‘Damn it, guys! I could have left with a little bit more dignity than this.’”(Image credit: DCH Photography)Two decades down the road, Gildenlöw acknowledges the decision was probably best for both parties and says that his relationship with Daniel is in a much better place. “When I left the band, it definitely felt like I got my brother back as a brother,” he adds.When it came to looking for assistance putting [Humanised] together, Margarit was one of a shortlist of two for the drum seat (Gildenlöw diplomatically declines to name the other). The pair had never overlapped in Pain Of Salvation, but had worked together previously on Within Temptation guitarist Ruud Jolie’s prog side-project, For All We Know. “I know a lot of great drummers,” Gildenlöw says, “but there has to be a little bit extra. There’s more jazz and fusion in there than hard rock and metal. It’s not going to be just a technical thing. It has to groove.One side of humanity evolves and the other side doesn’t. I can get pessimistic, but there’s also a spark of hopeThe multi-instrumentalist handled everything else himself apart from those guest solos from Magdič and Dutch newcomer Thijmen van der Meer. “The great Paul Coenradie, who’s in my live band, had done most of the solos until now. For Empty it was a no-brainer for him to do all those David Gilmour-ish kind of solos. But for this album I needed something with a little bit more history in metal to get the right tones and the right chops.”The music for [Humanised] didn’t appear in a rush – some of the songs had been hanging around for years in a rudimentary form. Gildenlöw says he writes all the time, curating pieces that seem to fit together. It’s only then he starts thinking about lyrics and themes.“I know where the song wants to take me musically, but lyrics are always the last thing I do. This album was the biggest journey for me because I tried so many themes to get it to work. Then I came up with the idea: ‘What is it like to be human, or become human?’ Binary is about a robot or some kind of AI acquiring human feelings – in this case, falling in love with a human girl on the other side of the computer. What is it like to be human but not accepted in this society; the people on the edge who don’t belong?”These themes are channelled into songs that sputter with anxiety. But when it comes to the future of humanity itself, Gildenlöw remains cautiously optimistic. “On one side I’m extremely excited about what we have done. We just went past the Moon – how crazy is that? But then there’s war again, which we’ve been doing for thousands of years. One side of humanity evolves and the other side doesn’t. I can get pessimistic, but there’s also a spark of hope. I love being alive and being here with amazing people. And there’s always music to enjoy.”[Humanised] is on sale now.