When Rod Stewart released Atlantic Crossing in August 1975, it marked one of the most dramatic pivots in his career. Not only was it his sixth studio album, but it was also his first recorded entirely in the United States, following his move from London to Los Angeles. The title itself is a cheeky nod to that relocation, signalling that Stewart was ready to embrace a more polished, Americanised sound — and perhaps, a broader commercial reach.

Ice Cube’s 2025 film War of the Worlds: Revival, a screenlife-style reboot streamed on Amazon Prime Video, has emerged as one of the most spectacular flops in recent memory: critically derided, stylistically misguided, and thematically bankrupt.

Here are the key events in music history of 14 August.

On 2 October 2000, John Bishop stood nervously in front of a small audience at the Frog and Bucket comedy club in Manchester. By day, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry; by night, on this occasion, he took a chance that would transform his life. As he grasped the microphone for the very first time, he didn’t know it then—but the moment marked the beginning of a 25-year journey that would see him become one of the UK’s most loved comedians.

When Garbage released their self-titled debut album in August 1995, the alternative rock landscape was already shifting. Grunge was waning, Britpop was peaking in the UK, and electronic music was beginning to infiltrate rock’s DNA. Into this transitional moment stepped Garbage, a genre-blurring project that fused rock guitars, trip-hop beats, industrial noise, and pop hooks into something sleek yet menacing.

On August 11, 2025, on the birthday of her son Rocco, Madonna posted an emotional appeal on social media directed at Pope Leo XIV. She implored the pontiff to "please go to Gaza and bring your light to the children before it's too late", emphasizing the urgency of opening humanitarian gates and addressing the suffering of innocent children caught in the conflict zone.

In a move that stunned the metal world, Brent Hinds, co-founder, lead guitarist, and one of the defining voices of Mastodon, has officially parted ways with the band.

APRA AMCOS is calling on all songwriter and composer members at pivotal stages of their careers to apply for the 2026 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs).

Eddie Izzard is set to return to Australia in 2025 with The Remix Tour Live, a unique and exhilarating new show that revisits, reimagines, and reinvents some of her most beloved comedic moments from a career spanning over three decades.

On August 11, 2025, Lil Wayne (real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) was scheduled to perform at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage as part of his Tha Carter VI Tour, celebrating over 20 years of “Carter” series music. Doors opened at 6 p.m., with support from DJ T-Lewis, Belly Gang Kushington, and Tyga before Wayne was slated to take the stage at 9:15 p.m..

Here are the key events in music history for 13 August.

Good Things is back for 2025 with Tool, Weezer and Garbage leading the 2025 line-up.

Jason Bradley DeFord, known to fans as Jelly Roll, has made headlines with his remarkable weight loss of nearly 90 kilograms (200 pounds), a life-changing journey he began in late 2022.

Taylor Swift has announced a new album is on the way. ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ will be the 12th Taylor Swift album.

Graham Fenton, the frontman of the British rockabilly band Matchbox, passed away on 10 August 2025 at the age of 76.

Neil Young’s Old Ways, released on 12 August 1985, was Neil’s seventeenth studio album, not country Crosby Still Nash & Young). It was a return to straight-up country-country rock offering that marks a bold detour from the mainstream rock and folk he’d become known for.

The Beatles ‘Help!’ album is 60 years old. ‘Help!’, the UK edition also released in Australia, came out on 6 August 1965.

The AFL has confirmed that hip-hop legend and cultural icon Snoop Dogg will headline the Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment at the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final at the MCG, marking his first-ever live performance at the iconic venue.

Ethel Cain has added Australia and New Zealand to her world tour dates for 2026. Ethel first played Australia in 2023 for Dark Mofo and Rising.

It has almost been 12 month since Linkin Park announced their new singer. Emily Armstrong was revealed to be the new sing er in September 2024.

Richmond, Virginia’s Bad Omens have released ‘Specter’, their first new music since ‘The Death of Peace and Mind’ album from 2022.

Louis and Oliver Leimbach of Lime Cordiale have released an affection statement announcing that their father, filmmaker Bill Leimbach has passed away.

Belinda Carlisle is the latest artist to record Harry Nilsson’s classic song ‘One’ but while the song has been a US hit for Three Dog Night, an Australian hit for John Farnham and in pop culture covered for ‘The X-Files’ and ‘Magnolia’, the original Harry Nilsson version failed to make the Top 100.

Bernard’s Fanning first solo album ‘Tea & Sympathy’ will turn 20 on October 31, 2025. The day won’t go unnoticed. Bernard will perform a one-off show in his hometown Brisbane on the night to mark the occasion.

The Lumineers have been performing the Billy Joel classic ‘New York State of Mind’ as part of their Automatic World Tour.

Few live rock albums have the mythic status of Deep Purple’s Made in Japan. Recorded across three blistering nights in August 1972 and originally released in late 1972/early 1973, it’s the record that crystallised the ferocious power of Deep Purple’s Mk II lineup (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice) and set a blueprint for stadium-scale hard rock and heavy metal live performance.

Bobby Whitlock (March 18, 1948 – August 10, 2025)—American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a soulful architect of rock music, Bobby Whitlock has passed away at 77 after a brief battle with cancer at his Texas home, surrounded by family.

On 8 August 2025, the world of jazz bid farewell to one of its most beloved and enduring figures, Judith Mary “Judy” Bailey (born 3 October 1935, Auckland, New Zealand).

Byron Bay based British born singer Rhydian Lewis has signed a worldwide management agreement with Dorsey Production who have offices on the Gold Coast and Los Angeles.

Former Magic Dirt, now Bleak Squad member and most often out solo Aussie artist Adalita has been named Musician of the Month by Australian Musician for August 2025.