Freddie Mercury’s private life, Oasis 2027 rumours and Måneskin’s return
Mary Austin has spoken publicly about her life with Freddie Mercury as the Queen singer would have turned 80 on Saturday 5 September.
In the lead-up to what would have been Mercury’s 80th birthday, Austin emerged from her long silence on the publication of Freddie Mercury: A Life in Lyrics. Mercury’s former partner and closest confidante draws in part on four trunks of handwritten lyrics and documents she kept for nearly 40 years.
She reflects on their relationship, their friendship after they split up, and the creation of several Queen classics. She also confirms that she kept secret the location of Mercury’s ashes in line with his wishes, and challenges some of the stories told since his death, including that of a supposed hidden daughter. The book offers a rare chance to discover Mercury’s songs through the memories of the person who accompanied him for much of his life.
In Journal du Rock, the programme also revisited the places closely associated with Freddie Mercury and the mystery surrounding his ashes.
Oasis rumours of a 2027 return gather pace
Over just a few days, Oasis has fuelled serious speculation about a possible return to the stage in 2027.
Speaking on 2 September on talkSPORT’s Drive, Noel Gallagher himself left the door open. Since there is no major football tournament next summer, he joked, “il faut bien qu’on fasse quelque chose”. The remark drew attention as rumours already point to a new British and European tour.
The following day, Oasis added to the speculation with a mysterious video posted on its social media accounts. Fans believe they have spotted several clues pointing to Celtic Park in Glasgow. Knebworth and a long series of concerts in Manchester have also been mentioned for several weeks. For the moment, however, one point remains crucial: Oasis has officially announced no concert for 2027.
Måneskin prepares to play together again in Sanremo
After allowing each of its members to pursue individual projects, Måneskin is heading towards a reunion in 2027.
The appointment is expected to take place at the Sanremo Festival, where Damiano David, Victoria De Angelis, Thomas Raggi and Ethan Torchio won the 2021 edition with “Zitti e buoni”, before going on to triumph at Eurovision a few months later.
This would be their first joint appearance since 2024. Since then, Damiano David has launched a solo career, Victoria De Angelis has turned to electronic music and Thomas Raggi has also developed his own project. The big question now is whether Sanremo will be simply a one-off reunion or the beginning of a genuine new chapter for Måneskin.
Billy Idol, Green Day, Blink-182 and Rancid mark the Ramones’ 50th anniversary
Fifty years after the release of the Ramones’ first album, several generations of punk came together at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Travis Barker of Blink-182 and C.J. Ramone formed the supergroup Cretin Family for the occasion.
The set featured 19 songs, from “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” to “Blitzkrieg Bop”, with Billy Idol, The Linda Lindas and Fred Armisen among the guests. The concert took place near Johnny Ramone’s grave, in a site that has long since become a gathering point for admirers of the band.
It was discussed in Journal du Rock.
The Who: Zak Starkey back after his sacking saga?
The Zak Starkey saga has taken another turn. After being removed from the Who in particularly confusing circumstances in 2025, the son of Ringo Starr has recently started rehearsing again with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.
Daltrey says the group still “likes” Starkey and believes he remains the drummer who came closest to Keith Moon’s energy. The Who had nevertheless announced its American farewell tour with Scott Devours. These new rehearsals have therefore revived speculation about possible renewed activity by the band, even though no return and no tour have yet been officially confirmed.