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Billy Cobham

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Upcoming concerts (7)

Blue Note Milano Jazz Club & Restaurant

Zurich JazzNoJazz Festival

Medio.Rhein.Erft

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

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Billy Cobham has perfected his drumming to a perfect standard that even I have to love.

From a mixture of American and Jazz, he can capture the raw emotion and feeling in any song and bring it to life right before your eyes.

I've seen Billy Cobham live a few times, and each time had amazing drum solos that were perfect and one hundred perfect on point. I never heard a sound out of beat and I would never expect anything else from him. He has been doing this over fifty years and has fully immersed himself into doing what he loves, and he truly shows that every single time he steps on stage.

I was happy to see that you could clearly see that he was happy in everything he did on that stage and he loves performing, even now fifty plus years later. I am glad that I went to see him, and I am even happier that Billy Cobham never gave up his dream of drumming and kept pushing forward through all the years throughout the years to obtain what he has now.

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I saw the Spectrum 40 tour in Evanston, IL on April 19th. The show was fantastic! I was concerned that the band might "phone it in". They did not. Everyone was sharp and energetic. Billy Cobham himself was impressive enough, but add to that the talented musicians he's enlisted to tour with him and you've got one of the best shows I've seen.

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Past concerts

Billy Cobham - Spectrum 50

Auditorium Mediterraneo Marina Di Modica

SpardaWelt Eventcenter

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Billy Cobham tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Billy Cobham in concert? Find information on all of Billy Cobham’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Billy Cobham is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 7 concerts across 4 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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• Milan, Italy
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Most played:

• London (32)
• SF Bay Area (12)
• New York (NYC) (11)
• Chicago (8)

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• Billy Cobham Band (17)
• Randy Brecker (13)
• Gary Husband (7)
• Billy Cobham's Spectrum 40 (7)
• Ron Carter (6)

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Billy Cobham

About billy cobham.

UAA has signed “Fusion’s Greatest Drummer” Billy Cobham exclusively for North American representation.

William C. Cobham was born on May 16, 1944, in Panama, where he grew fond of percussion from watching his cousin play. At age three he moved to New York City with his family, and at age eight Billy made his percussion performance debut with his father. Growing up, Billy played in the St. Catherine’s Queensmen at the High School of Music and Art. After graduating, Billy served as a percussionist in the U.S. Army National Band. He then played as a drummer in pianist Horace Silver’s band and toured the U.S. with him throughout the late 1960s. He left to partake in Miles Davis’ fusion ensemble, where he can be heard on Davis classics such as ‘Like-Evil’ and ‘A Tribute to Jack Johnson.’ Eventually Cobham parted ways from Davis’ group to work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, where he was able to further explore his technique and fusion style, which influenced many for years to come.

After deciding to part ways with the Orchestra, Cobham started his own band, Spectrum, and signed with Atlantic Records. Spectrum’s debut album featured a mix of jazz, funk and rock that allowed Cobham to further experiment with percussion. In 1975, Cobham released “A Funky Thide of Sings,” moving into commercial jazz exclusively. In 1977, Cobham left Atlantic and signed to the label CBS, which allowed him to reach the commercial success he had always wanted. Cobham focused on his opportunities as a session drummer and other side opportunities after leaving CBS, such as drumming for the Grateful Dead’s side project Bobby & the Midnites. In 1988, Cobham helped start a group called ‘Jazz is Dead’ that reprised Grateful Dead music with jazz iterations.

In 2001 Cobham was named one of the 25 Most Influential Drummers by Modern Drummer magazine. He paved the way for future drummers by changing the way percussion is set up, the way it is played and enjoyed. In 2001 Cobham released “Drum ‘n Voice 1,” which was his return to the 1970s jazz-funk sound, and in 2006 Cobham released “Drum ‘n Voice 2.” Eventually, Cobham released his follow-up record “Drum ‘n Voice 3” in 2009. In 2011 Cobham started teaching drums online at the Billy Cobham School of Drums, which is an ArtistWorks drum academy. In 2018 Cobham toured across the US with a performance series called “Crosswinds Project,” which was his way of revisiting his second album, Crosswinds. The tour re-comprised his original work from the 1970s, which continued into 2019 as a celebration of Cobham’s 75th birthday.

Cobham continues to tour worldwide.

Per New York City’s guidance, Sony Hall is requiring all guests, staff & musicians ages 12+ to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter. Children ages 5 to 11 must have received at least one dose. Proof of vaccination may include your physical CDC card, photo of your CDC card, NYC Covid Safe App, or the NYS Excelsior Pass. In addition to the vaccination policy, New York City continues to encourage masks for all indoor gatherings, except while you are actively eating and drinking.

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• Thursday 18 May 2023, 7:30pm

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of Billy Cobham’s Spectrum.

In 1973, Cobham released his debut solo album, Spectrum, a breakthrough in jazz-fusion that is universally recognized as one of the genre’s most significant and influential creations. Spectrum was recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Cobham’s lineup for the album featured Tommy Bolin on guitar, Jan Hammer on electric piano, moog synthesizer & piano and Lee Sklar on bass.

Please note that there will be no support act tonight. The performance will begin at 7.30pm.

About Billy Cobham

Born in Panama on May 16, 1944, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Cobham got his first paid gig at the age of eight as a member of St. Catherine’s Queensmen , a drum and bugle corps in St. Albans, Queens. He attended New York’s renowned Fiorella H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, where he studied music theory and drum technique.   While in the military from 1965 to 1968, Cobham played with the U.S. Army Band as percussionist. After his service, he played in Horace Silver’s Band, performed with Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott, and recorded with George Benson.     In 1969, Billy Cobham co-founded the jazz-rock combo, Dreams, which included Randy Brecker , Michael Brecker , John Abercrombie, Don Grolnick , Barry Rodgers, and Will Lee. The following year, he joined Miles Davis’ new fusion ensemble, and contributed to Live-Evil, A Tribute to Jack Johnson and the Bitches Brew sessions, where he collaborated with guitarist John McLaughlin.     In 1971, Cobham became a founding member of the jazz-fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra, along with McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, and Rick Laird. This original group released three critically acclaimed albums: The Inner Mounting (1971), Birds of Fire (1973) and Between Nothingness and Eternity (live album released in 1973).  

During the 70’s and 80’s, Cobham recorded for Atlantic, CBS, Elektra, and GRP. He collaborated with George Duke, John Scofield, Tony Williams, Jack Bruce, and The Grateful Dead spinoff band Bobby & the Midnites .     By 2005, Cobham had recorded and released over 30 recordings under his name.

Promoted by The Stoller Hall and Manchester Jazz Festival, as part of mjf2023 .

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Past Events

Here are the most recent UK tour dates we had listed for Billy Cobham. Were you there?

• Fri 5 Jul → Sun 7 Jul Glynde Place Love Supreme Festival 2024 Chaka Khan, Mahalia, Jordan Rakei, Kool & The Gang, Meshell Ndegeocello…

October 2023

• Wed 25 Oct London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Tue 24 Oct London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Thu 18 May Manchester, The Stoller Hall Billy Cobham
• Sat 18 Jun London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham
• Fri 17 Jun London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham

October 2021

• Fri 1 Oct London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham

September 2021

• Thu 30 Sep London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Wed 29 Sep The Blues Kitchen Manchester Billy Cobham

November 2019

• Thu 28 Nov London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Wed 27 Nov London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham

December 2018

• Thu 6 Dec London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Wed 5 Dec London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham

October 2017

• Tue 31 Oct London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Mon 30 Oct London, The Jazz Cafe Billy Cobham
• Mon 12 Jun → Sat 17 Jun London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Guy Barker Big Band

September 2016

• Mon 5 Sep → Sat 10 Sep London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham
• Wed 30 Apr → Mon 5 May Cheltenham, Montpellier Gardens Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2014 Jamie Cullum, Jason Rebello, The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Judith Owen, Laura Mvula…

February 2014

• Sat 8 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Dean Brown, Gary Husband, Ric Fierabracci, Ronnie Scott's All Stars
• Fri 7 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Dean Brown, Gary Husband, Ric Fierabracci, Ronnie Scott's All Stars
• Thu 6 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Dean Brown, Gary Husband, Ric Fierabracci, Ronnie Scott's All Stars
• Wed 5 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Dean Brown, Gary Husband, Ric Fierabracci, Ronnie Scott's All Stars
• Tue 4 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Dean Brown, Gary Husband, Ric Fierabracci, Ronnie Scott's All Stars
• Mon 3 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Dean Brown, Gary Husband, Ric Fierabracci, Ronnie Scott's All Stars
• Fri 10 Jul → Sat 11 Jul Reading, Thames Promenade Drummers Of Burundi, Roots Manuva, Sharon Shannon, The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain, The Wonder Stuff, Bassekou Kouyate, Ngoni Ba, Toto La Momposina, Colores De Colombia, Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar, Eliza Carthy, Chase and Status, The Bays, Billy Cobham, The Fence Collective, Ku-Da-Mix Orchestra, Glass Half Full, Patrick Duff, The Oyster Ceilidh Band, Spiro …

February 2009

• Sat 21 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham
• Fri 20 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham
• Thu 19 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham

October 2008

• Thu 23 Oct Durham, Gala Theatre and Cinema Billy Cobham, Asere
• Fri 17 Oct → Sun 19 Oct Bridlington Spa Levellers, Toumani Diabete, Rolf Harris, Ska Cubano, Ivo Papasov, Billy Cobham, Asere, Warsaw Village Band, Etran Finitawa, More. …
• Fri 17 Oct York, Theatre Royal Billy Cobham, Asere
• Wed 15 Oct Brighton, Komedia Billy Cobham, Asere
• Sun 12 Oct Swansea, Taliesin Arts Centre Billy Cobham, Asere
• Sat 11 Oct Exeter Phoenix Billy Cobham, Asere
• Fri 10 Oct Richmond-Upon-Thames, Landmark Arts Centre Billy Cobham, Asere
• Thu 9 Oct Manchester, RNCM Billy Cobham, Asere
• Sat 4 Oct Cardiff, St David's Hall Billy Cobham, Asere
• Sat 12 Jul Hitchin Priory Billy Cobham, Asere, My Passion, Dave House, Gideon Conn, Jose Vanders, Rod Thomas, Rosalita, Mor Karbasi, No.1 Station …
• Mon 26 May → Tue 27 May London, Ronnie Scott's Johnny Griffin, Billy Cobham, Roy Hargrove

February 2008

• Sat 23 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Empirical (2)
• Fri 22 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Empirical (2)
• Thu 21 Feb London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham, Empirical (2)
• Sun 29 Jul Malmesbury, Charlton Park Baaba Maal, Steel Pulse, Billy Cobham, The Dhol Foundation, Mariza, Gnawa Diffusion, Tinariwen, Mr Scruff, Le Trio Joubran, Plus More …
• Sat 9 Jun London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham
• Fri 8 Jun London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham
• Thu 7 Jun London, Ronnie Scott's Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham image © Anton Antonov

Live on Tour in Europe

Billy cobham / george duke.

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• Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 4.97 x 0.54 inches; 2.83 ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Wounded Bird Records
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 12, 2007
• Label ‏ : ‎ Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00004W5CQ
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #4,675 in Jazz Fusion (CDs & Vinyl)
• #7,388 in Modern Postbebop (CDs & Vinyl)
• #10,699 in Bebop (CDs & Vinyl)

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• Cobham, Billy
• August 3, 2024 Setlist

Billy Cobham Setlist at Ystads Teater, Ystad, Sweden

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• Crosswinds Play Video
• Desiccated Coconuts Play Video
• Paseo del Mar Play Video
• Fragolino Play Video
• Spectrum Play Video
• Percussion and drum Play Video
• Drum solo Play Video
• Quadrant 4 Play Video

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4 activities (last edit by Rudy , 7 Aug 2024, 08:49 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Paseo del Mar
• Percussion and drum
• Desiccated Coconuts

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Billy Cobham Gig Timeline

• Jul 05 2024 Kongsberg Jazz 2024 Kongsberg, Norway Add time Add time
• Jul 18 2024 Jazzopen 2024 Stuttgart, Germany Start time: 7:50 PM 7:50 PM
• Aug 03 2024 Ystads Teater This Setlist Ystad, Sweden Add time Add time
• Sep 16 2024 Peristil Split, Croatia Add time Add time
• Nov 01 2024 New Morning Paris, France Scheduled: 7:30 PM 7:30 PM

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Billy Cobham “SPECTRUM 50” A Celebration of Fifty Years of One Recording Friday, November 10th Gazarte – Main Stage 

The jazz maestro, the unsurpassed Billy Cobham, returns on Friday, November 1oth to Athens for a unique concert at Gazarte!

On the 50th anniversary of the legendary Spectrum album, Billy Cobham is back on tour to remind us why this album became a jazz benchmark, with the legendary Stratus track writing its own story and being harnessed by Massive Attack as a sample for ‘Safe from harm’.

Flanked by distinguished musicians such as Gary Husband (keyboards) who has been next to great figures in music such as John McLaughlin, Rocco Zifarelli (guitar) for 23 years guitarist of the great composer Ennio Morricone and Michael Mondesir (bass) who has collaborate with artists such as Jeff Beck and Whitney Houston.

The “god” of drums and leader of the jazz fusion scene, Billy Cobham, is ready to take us on a musical journey that we will never forget, giving the ideal, festive epilogue to the 22nd edition of Athens Jazz.

Billy Cobham, with his explosive energy and unparalleled technique, has indelibly influenced jazz and music in general. With significant collaborations with musicians such as Miles Davis, John McLaughlin and Stanley Clarke, Cobham has cemented his place as one of the leading musicians of his time

“In music you can’t lie. People will understand and they will say what you are. The more you are yourself, the more people will be thrilled. Because in music and especially in jazz, a free soul is looking for its mate…”

Get ready because Billy Cobham is coming to Gazarte on November 10th to rock the crowds and celebrate 50 years since the release of the legendary Spectrum!

*The consumption of food and beverages from the bar is optional. Tickets do not include any consumption.

#GazarteRoofStage #NewSeason #MusicAlwaysOn

Doors Open: 21:00 Start time: 22:00

Doors open: 20:30

Show start: 21:30

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The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan on '90s Feuds and Fandom — and How He  Really  Feels About Green Day (Exclusive)

The longtime rocker has gained lots of wisdom in his 30-plus years of music-making

Don Arnold/WireImage; William Patrick Corgan/Instagram

• The Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan is busier than ever before and moving intentionally through family milestones and work life
• Not only is he in the middle of touring, but he's also growing his other businesses like the National Wrestling Alliance and Madame ZuZu's Emporium
• Corgan is also an involved husband and father, sharing kids Philomena and Augustus, as well as a baby on the way, with wife Chloé Mendel Corgan

After 36 years as a professional creative, Billy Corgan is still amazed at where his life has taken him.

A man of many talents, the 57-year-old is continuing to evolve alongside his bandmates in The Smashing Pumpkins, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, Katie Cole, Jack Bates and Kiki Wong. Corgan is also amidst a time of transformation himself as an entrepreneur and most importantly, as a soon-to-be father of three.

Catching up with PEOPLE, Corgan says that touring lately — with Green Day on the Saviors Tour — has been a bit of a full-circle moment.

"What's wild is that we first played with Green Day in 1994 in Lollapalooza. They weren't just starting out, but they were just starting to be known, and they were a little younger than us," he shares. "Here we are, some 30 years later. They've obviously have had incredible success and sharing that success with us and sharing their stage with us, has been great and a lot of fun."

The Smashing Pumpkins are mixing fan favorites and their own picks on the setlist. With the recent release of Aghori Mhori Mei , the band moves forward while tipping their hat to their classic sound.

"The last record we made, which we started during the pandemic, was this 33-song massive affair. It was very well received but, in making it, I started feeling like, ‘OK. The next album probably should be something a little simpler,' " Corgan shares.

"It came upon this idea of going back to our original sound as a way of seeing if there was anything fresh there, and that's kind of where the album comes from. It's not so much of trying to go backwards."

He continues, "You know how people say you can't go home again? I thought the exercise of trying to go home again, with where the band started, was an interesting one. You would see where you've changed and where you're still the same, or something like that. People seem to really like it, and so, I guess that was a good idea."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Jason Renaud

At some shows on the Savior Tour, fans get a peek at Corgan's kids — Philomena , 5½, and  Augustus , 8½ — who regularly come onto the stage and dance along to the band's hits.

"Between Washington, D.C. and New York, they were with me on the road with no nanny, no help. So you can imagine trying to be a rock star at night and a dad during the day, with no help," he shares, noting that the stretches are intentional and meaningful for him.

"What's interesting about it and the reason I do it is because it gives us the chance to really bond. They get a real sense of what I do, and they're part of the rhythm of the day — going to the show and waiting backstage and then, of course, they come out on stage with us and dance. That's sort of our family creed. If you're at the show, you have to be part of the show."

The long days are "grounding" for the rock star, who notes, "I want my children to be proud of me, but I want them just to be as proud of me for being a good dad as they are of me being on stage in front of tens of thousands of people. I think the fact that they get to see that so intensely on the road really helps our relationship when we get off the road."

Corgan's children are also seeing the camaraderie of tour life as the rock stars' extended families mix and mingle. After years in which bands on the '90s alternative scene were "super competitive because you are all trying to get on MTV and on radio," there's been a "beautiful" shift, he says.

"You look around you. They've survived and you've survived and you have this kind of mutual respect and you understand what they've been through without necessarily knowing every specific. And they certainly know what you've been through to make it this far," he shares. "In our case, breaking up multiple times and all that type of stuff — to Green Day's credit, they've stuck together, and I think that's at the root of their success. We certainly wish we had stayed together during sort of the difficult times. So, I think when you connect with people from your generation, it's very much kind of a, 'Wow, we made it through this crazy journey and here we still are.' "

Corgan continues, "The other day, Billie Joe's wife [Adrienne Armstrong] and my wife were connecting a little bit. That's really what it's about, right?"

"It becomes more about family and I think when you have that respect for other bands and you understand what their families go through and what they go through, there's a shift," he continues. "It sort of left being about being competitive with one another on the musical landscape and more about admiring that they've held it together. It's hard to explain, but I do think it floats both ways."

Fatherhood has also helped propel Corgan in some of his creative pursuits, and it's encouraged him to keep his family close amid his different endeavors.

"I didn't have children until my late 40s. This thing occurred to me that I never expected, which is, I wanted to make sure that when they were old enough to understand what I did. I wanted them to be proud of me, not for what I'd done before they were born, but what I was doing currently," he explains.

"So it really motivated me to work hard so that I could feel strongly that when they saw what I was doing, they would feel pride and ownership of what I was doing. When you're on stage and there's 45,000 people and your children get up there with you, they're looking out into that same sea of faces," he shares.

"I think that gives them a real sense that my journey, as complicated as it's been, has yielded something that's positive for them because when they're kids, that's with how they think. As they grow older, I want them to then relate back to these experiences and understand that my journey is very unique, and I want them to feel inspired by that because I want them to live their dream, whatever dream that they want to dream."

Corgan's kids get to see him living his dreams, not only on stage but in his many other pursuits. The family is known to spend time together as Madame ZuZu's Emporium , the Highland Park, Ill. tea house that the rocker owns.

"We just announced that David Arquette, who owns the Bozo the Clown brand, is going to teach a painting class as Bozo. He said he's an authenticated Bob Ross painting teacher," he shares.

"It sold out immediately. We're planning a bigger set of Bozo events so that's the kind of stuff we get into there — really fun, collaborative projects."

Corgan is also proud owner of the National Wrestling Alliance, the oldest wrestling organization in existence.

"Seventy-six years and counting," he says with a smile. "Our 76th-anniversary show was August 31, and I actually went in between Green Day tour dates. Start from Nashville, got on the bus, drove all night, work in Philly all day, then back on the bus to drive to Pittsburgh that night."

Glimpses of everything unfolding in Corgan's world can be seen in his recently released reality show, Billy Corgan: Adventures in Carnyland. The show is all about Corgan juggling his many projects with family life.

"People really seem to like that because it's an inside look at why I bother with this crazy life with the professional wrestling. I try to balance it against a very successful, musical life, and my family. Plus, there's always other stuff going on," he shares.

The first season concludes with Corgan's wedding to wife Chloé Mendel Corgan , 31, who is currently expecting the couple's third baby . Philomena and Augustus appear in the show, running around both swept up in and amused by the circus around them. It's just what the hands-on dad hoped for.

"I think that's what I'm trying to do is inspire them — not to make them like me, but to make them like themselves, because I didn't have that; I didn't have that support from my family," he says. "My family would be against me playing music, and so it was painful for me and even when I had success, it kind of became complicated."

Corgan has built that family feeling into everything he does, including his interactions with fans.

"Most fans are based in a sense of idolatry. At the base of it, they don't want you to get off whatever pedestal they think you're on and be a real person. Along the way, I was uncomfortable with that, so I took myself off the pedestal," he says. "There were periods that were very difficult because fans sort of rejected me for being me or being honest. But what's happened, I think is, and I think you see it with the way social media has changed, authenticity and honesty are actually very valuable these days. And most of the fans that have stuck with me, the reason they've stuck with me, is they feel like they know me — not whatever character I play on television."

The rocker finds it "rewarding" to continue to navigate fan relationships and find new ways to connect with people across all his industries.

"I've always endeavored through our music and through our videos, to say, 'Hey, look, what we do here is fun and fantastical. But at the end of the day, these are real people making real music.' And if you can connect with that, there's an even richer experience there."

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Fyre Festival II going ahead with tickets costing $8,000, but details still unclear

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The infamous Fyre Festival is making a comeback according to co-founder Billy McFarland , five years after the disastrous event left attendees stranded in a far-from-luxurious setting.

Despite the catastrophic failure of the original festival, McFarland, who served nearly four years in prison for his role in the debacle, is determined to make Fyre Festival II a success .

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal , McFarland emphasised the high stakes, stating: “Fyre II has to work.”

The 2017 festival had promised ticketholders a lavish experience on a Caribbean island, with tickets costing as much as £9,200 per person.

The event was advertised as an ultra-luxury getaway, featuring gourmet food, top-tier music performances, and accommodations fit for a VIP. Supermodels like Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski appeared in promotional campaigns, although they later distanced themselves from the event.

However, when festival-goers arrived, they were met with a nightmarish scene of rain-soaked disaster relief tents instead of the promised luxury villas, and the gourmet meals turned out to be little more than cheese sandwiches in styrofoam containers.

The event's spectacular failure became the subject of the 2019 Netflix documentary, FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, which chronicled the chaos and deception behind the scenes.

Now, with Fyre Festival II on the horizon, McFarland is under immense pressure to deliver on his promises this time around.

Guests famously described the original Fyre Festival as a "post-apocalyptic nightmare," with images of a sad, lackluster cheese sandwich for dinner going viral and becoming a symbol of the event's catastrophic failure.

Despite the $26 million (£20 million) in losses incurred after the festival was canceled due to inadequate accommodations, food, and water, McFarland is pushing forward with a sequel.

McFarland, who was released from prison in 2022 after serving time for his role in the debacle, told the outlet that Fyre Festival II is happening, and he understands the immense pressure to succeed this time. He admitted that if this attempt fails, it could be his last chance to rebuild his career.

"It's going to be very hard to get other opportunities, whether that's a marketing job, a podcast appearance, a TV show, or even a relationship,” he said. “People are going to be hard-pressed to trust me if I put it all on the line and fail at it twice.”

While Blink-182 and Migos were tipped as headline acts for the original festival, artists and events for Fyre II are still being considered.

“Karate combat on the beach, I think that would be amazing,” McFarland said. “Having some extreme sports, having some comedy and some fashion.” McFarland first teased his plans for the festival’s comeback in a YouTube video last August, where he appeared in a white spa robe.

Although he offered few details on how the event would be organised, he did reveal that after considering locations in the Middle East and South America, he ultimately decided to bring Fyre Festival back to the Caribbean.

However, a year later, McFarland still hasn't locked down the essential details.

According to the Wall Street Journal, he's yet to confirm "where, when, and how" the festival will actually take place. Despite this, McFarland remains adamant that Fyre Festival II will happen, promising a new and improved version of the ill-fated original.

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