Backstage Pass

Queen is joining forces with Adam Lambert for a North American tour that includes a July 17 stop at Madison Square Garden.

“This is a combination we believe works very well,” Queen guitarist Brian May said at a press conference this morning in the lobby of the Garden. “It’ll be great to do this one more time.”

Adam Lambert, “American Idol” runner-up and currently in the cast of “Glee,”...

“Home Week” gave the “American Idol” producers the chance to shape the debate around its favorite contestants.

Dexter Roberts’ dog just had puppies! Emily Piriz is dating a Marine! MK has four moms and step-moms! Sam Woolf lives with his grandparents!

However, the debate between the judges quickly became about how they should talk about the contestants, especially when they weren’t doing...

First Daylight Savings Time. Then springtime. And soon the summer concert season. Though there are many more shows to be announced, plenty have already been set for Nikon at Jones Beach Theater this year.

Here's who’s been confirmed so far:

May 23: Barry Gibb

May 30: Rascal Flatts

June 7: Jack Johnson

June 16: Journey & Steve Miller Band

June 21: Fall Out...

Jennifer Hudson, Pentatonix and A Great Big World will join artists of Filipino descent — including Black Eyed Peas’ apl.de.ap, “American Idol” runner-up Jessica Sanchez and Oscar-winning “Frozen” songwriter Robert Lopez — for a benefit for Filipino victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

The concert will be Tuesday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden and also will feature appearances by Dr. Mehmet...

Paul Simon and Sting’s “On Stage Together” tour has been a head-scratcher since it was announced.

Wasn’t Simon’s music part of what the punks and new wavers led by Sting and The Police rebelling against in the late ‘70s? Well, after seeing them together for two hours and 40 minutes Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, it all becomes a little clearer.

Simon and Sting like each other...

Jared Leto isn’t taking it easy after his Oscar win Sunday night.

The reigning best supporting actor for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club” has already set up a summer tour with his band 30 Seconds to Mars and rockers Linkin Park.

“The Carnivores Tour,” which will also feature openers AFI, kicks off Aug. 8 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and includes a stop at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on...

Ashanti celebrates her new album “Braveheart” at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill on Monday.

Intro brings you the week’s hottest videos and shows every Monday. To catch up on all the Intros and watch classic Long Island music scene videos, check out Newsday Music’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/newsdaymusic.

THE LIST

ASHANTI, “I Got It.” At BB King’s Monday.

SCHOOLBOY...

“This Is Me” week on “American Idol” proved to be a little more difficult than expected, as some of the Top 13 struggled to express themselves clearly.

Luckily, judges Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban are getting better at their own self-expression. Their criticisms and suggestions – even when contradictory – make sense for the most part, and seem aimed to help the finalists...

Previously unreleased material from Billy Joel’s historic Russian concert tour in 1987 will be collected in a new set, “A Matter of Trust – The Bridge to Russia,” due out May 20.

The deluxe edition of the set will feature a remastered version of the Joel concert captured on his “Live in Leningrad, 1987” film, with additional performances, including previously unseen versions of “An Innocent...

        Kanye West is always full of surprises.

        However, for the final North American show of his “Yeezus” tour, he was practically a different person from earlier in the tour and from his outrageous controversial public persona.

        Could it be that ‘Ye, a new father...