Music World to Celebrate Newest Rock Hall Members Including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Sade

Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)
Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)
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Music World to Celebrate Newest Rock Hall Members Including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Sade

Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)
Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)

Music's A-listers will celebrate the newest group of luminaries entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday -- though several of the inductees including Sade and Oasis have opted not to attend.

They join British rocker Billy Idol, rhapsodic hip-hop transformers Wu-Tang Clan, versatile rock star Phil Collins, English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, post-punk and electronic dance music renegades Joy Division/New Order and the velvet-voiced late Luther Vandross in the performer class of 2026.

The Cleveland-based Hall of Fame -- which surveyed more than 1,000 musicians, historians and industry members to choose the entrants -- will honor the acts in a star-studded gala concert on Saturday at Los Angeles's Peacock Theater.

But who will show up and who will perform remains iffy.

Often inductees perform themselves -- the evening can serve as a way to reunite the long estranged -- or fellow musicians take the stage to showcase an act's legacy.

Several of the 2026 artists have already said they'll skip.

Sade -- the group whose sensual, captivating rhythms have endured as fan favorites for decades with hits including "Smooth Operator" and "No Ordinary Love" -- said they were bowing out in a statement on their website.

"Sorry we can't be there in person to celebrate with the other artists. Please know that our absence takes nothing away from how much this recognition means to us," said the group, fronted by the singer Sade Adu.

Britpop's one-time feuding brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis -- who recently announced a 2027 world tour -- also declined to make the trip.

Noel Gallagher is scheduled to perform solo in London. Liam Gallagher had previously voiced disdain for the institution, and earlier this week said in an X reply to a fan: "It's too far to be going for the night."

Iron Maiden said they will miss the ceremony as they're on tour in Australia.

- 'Tremendous honor' -

The two British rock bands Joy Division and New Order will get a rare joint induction. New Order formed from the ashes of Joy Division after the original group's lead singer, Ian Curtis, died in 1980.

New Order went on to pioneer the future of alternative dance, with signature tracks including "Blue Monday,True Faith" and "Bizarre Love Triangle."

But it's unclear which members will attend, or if New Order will perform.

Collins -- one of rock's great drummers, whose signature hits include "In the Air Tonight" and "Sussudio" -- has said health problems will keep him from taking the stage.

Staten Island's own Wu-Tang Clan -- the ragtag group of New Yorkers who paired raw production with streetwise rhymes and martial arts influences to create cinematic hip-hop that changed the game -- recently wrapped a tour they billed as their last.

The Clan -- known for songs like "C.R.E.A.M" and "Protect Ya Neck" -- doesn't always appear at events or even on tour as a full unit, but receiving an honor from the Rock Hall could be an apt moment for a reunion.

Ahead of Idol's induction, Los Angeles named Friday, November 13 as "Billy Idol Day," making it seemingly likely the rocker who came up in London's punk scene and put out radio hits including "Dancing With Myself" will attend Saturday's ceremony.

When his induction was announced, Idol called it "a tremendous honor."

Eligible nominees into the Rock Hall must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to being nominated.

The Rock Hall also inducts new members with awards doled out by committees.

Five artists will receive an "early influence" honor: Queen Latifah, Celia Cruz, MC Lyte, Fela Kuti and Gram Parsons.



Music World to Celebrate Newest Rock Hall Members Including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Sade

Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)
Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)
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Music World to Celebrate Newest Rock Hall Members Including Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Sade

Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)
Liam Gallagher, right, and Noel Gallagher pose for photographers upon arrival at the “Oasis: Don't Look Back In Anger” UK premiere in London, England, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP)

Music's A-listers will celebrate the newest group of luminaries entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday -- though several of the inductees including Sade and Oasis have opted not to attend.

They join British rocker Billy Idol, rhapsodic hip-hop transformers Wu-Tang Clan, versatile rock star Phil Collins, English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, post-punk and electronic dance music renegades Joy Division/New Order and the velvet-voiced late Luther Vandross in the performer class of 2026.

The Cleveland-based Hall of Fame -- which surveyed more than 1,000 musicians, historians and industry members to choose the entrants -- will honor the acts in a star-studded gala concert on Saturday at Los Angeles's Peacock Theater.

But who will show up and who will perform remains iffy.

Often inductees perform themselves -- the evening can serve as a way to reunite the long estranged -- or fellow musicians take the stage to showcase an act's legacy.

Several of the 2026 artists have already said they'll skip.

Sade -- the group whose sensual, captivating rhythms have endured as fan favorites for decades with hits including "Smooth Operator" and "No Ordinary Love" -- said they were bowing out in a statement on their website.

"Sorry we can't be there in person to celebrate with the other artists. Please know that our absence takes nothing away from how much this recognition means to us," said the group, fronted by the singer Sade Adu.

Britpop's one-time feuding brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis -- who recently announced a 2027 world tour -- also declined to make the trip.

Noel Gallagher is scheduled to perform solo in London. Liam Gallagher had previously voiced disdain for the institution, and earlier this week said in an X reply to a fan: "It's too far to be going for the night."

Iron Maiden said they will miss the ceremony as they're on tour in Australia.

- 'Tremendous honor' -

The two British rock bands Joy Division and New Order will get a rare joint induction. New Order formed from the ashes of Joy Division after the original group's lead singer, Ian Curtis, died in 1980.

New Order went on to pioneer the future of alternative dance, with signature tracks including "Blue Monday,True Faith" and "Bizarre Love Triangle."

But it's unclear which members will attend, or if New Order will perform.

Collins -- one of rock's great drummers, whose signature hits include "In the Air Tonight" and "Sussudio" -- has said health problems will keep him from taking the stage.

Staten Island's own Wu-Tang Clan -- the ragtag group of New Yorkers who paired raw production with streetwise rhymes and martial arts influences to create cinematic hip-hop that changed the game -- recently wrapped a tour they billed as their last.

The Clan -- known for songs like "C.R.E.A.M" and "Protect Ya Neck" -- doesn't always appear at events or even on tour as a full unit, but receiving an honor from the Rock Hall could be an apt moment for a reunion.

Ahead of Idol's induction, Los Angeles named Friday, November 13 as "Billy Idol Day," making it seemingly likely the rocker who came up in London's punk scene and put out radio hits including "Dancing With Myself" will attend Saturday's ceremony.

When his induction was announced, Idol called it "a tremendous honor."

Eligible nominees into the Rock Hall must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to being nominated.

The Rock Hall also inducts new members with awards doled out by committees.

Five artists will receive an "early influence" honor: Queen Latifah, Celia Cruz, MC Lyte, Fela Kuti and Gram Parsons.


New Awards Show Celebrates AI Music and Its Creators

The words "AI Artificial Intelligence" and a keyboard in this illustration taken October 19, 2026. (Reuters)
The words "AI Artificial Intelligence" and a keyboard in this illustration taken October 19, 2026. (Reuters)
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New Awards Show Celebrates AI Music and Its Creators

The words "AI Artificial Intelligence" and a keyboard in this illustration taken October 19, 2026. (Reuters)
The words "AI Artificial Intelligence" and a keyboard in this illustration taken October 19, 2026. (Reuters)

And the award goes to ... AI music.

The first AI Music Awards ceremony in the US on Friday celebrated the people who created songs at least partly with AI, a field that has sparked criticism and lawsuits while also gaining millions of streams and landing on music charts.

At Friday’s event in downtown Los Angeles, human presenters and winners argued that artificial intelligence-created music should be viewed as part of a new genre that requires real-life artistry as well as hours of prompting to get the right sound.

"In a world ‌where everybody ‌calls AI fake, the human behind it is real," said ‌music ⁠producer Drake Murphy ⁠as he presented the award for best AI hip-hop song.

The night's top awards of AI artist, song and album of the year went to Xania Monet, an AI-generated avatar known for "How Was I Supposed to Know?" Billboard said the R&B song was the first by an AI-based act to earn a spot on one of its radio charts.

Monet was created by Telisha "Nikki" Jones, who said she wrote all of the lyrics and then ⁠set them to music with the help of AI.

"I just ‌feel like AI music is a new ‌thing that people just have to get used to," Jones said on the red carpet before ‌the ceremony. "I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon."

AI artists who are members ‌of the Sonic Intelligence Academy, a company that created AI music charts and tools to identify songs made with AI, chose the winners.

ARTISTS TOUT AI AS A CREATIVE TOOL DESPITE BACKLASH

While the presence of AI in music-making can be traced back to the 1950s, groundbreaking ‌advances in generative AI, with robots now making music as digital pop stars, have divided opinions in the industry.

Record labels have ⁠sued AI companies ⁠including Anthropic and OpenAI, arguing that they are illegally using copyrighted works to train their models. The Elvis Presley estate also filed a lawsuit.

The companies have said they are protected by the "fair use" doctrine in US copyright law that allows unlicensed use in some cases.

Musicians worry that AI-generated music blocks human artists from gaining traction and takes work from producers, singers, engineers and songwriters.

Many of Friday’s nominees said they had stories to tell but did not have all of the skills needed to put them to music. They said AI was a tool that helped bring the music to life and they hoped the awards would show people there are humans behind AI music.

“A lot of things we do behind the scenes is hard work, contrary to popular belief," said nominee J. Frequency. “Art is art, and I think this is just another expression of that.”


Darth Vader’s Light Saber Used in ‘I Am Your Father’ Duel Sells for Nearly $5 Million

 This image released by Heritage Auctions shows a lightsaber used by the character Darth Vader in the film "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
This image released by Heritage Auctions shows a lightsaber used by the character Darth Vader in the film "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
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Darth Vader’s Light Saber Used in ‘I Am Your Father’ Duel Sells for Nearly $5 Million

 This image released by Heritage Auctions shows a lightsaber used by the character Darth Vader in the film "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)
This image released by Heritage Auctions shows a lightsaber used by the character Darth Vader in the film "The Empire Strikes Back." (Heritage Auctions via AP)

A light saber used by Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” movies “The Empire Strikes Back” and ”Return of the Jedi" sold Thursday for nearly $5 million in an auction.

The light saber, which was used in the climactic duel in Cloud City where Vader tells Luke Skywalker “I am your father,” sold for $4.875 million at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction held by Heritage Auctions.

The sale marks a world auction record for any “Star Wars” collectible, according to Heritage Auctions.

The sale also established a new auction record for a screen-used “Star Wars” prop, according to the auction organizer, shooting past their $3.75 million July auction sale of Skywalker’s light saber and severed hand-effects rig from “The Empire Strikes Back."

Heritage's Thursday auction also featured material from “Star Wars” Episodes I through IX and additional films and TV shows.

In addition to Vader's light saber, 27 other “Star Wars” light sabers were assembled for public auction, according to Heritage Auctions.