🎵 Hey music makers. Welcome back to Fans With Benefits—your weekly backstage pass to the best (and most chaotic) corners of the music world. From onstage faux pas to history-making goodbyes, the scene didn’t slow down this week—and neither should you.
Ozzy and Black Sabbath bowed out with a final show that raised a jaw-dropping $190 million for charity. And Maren Morris, Lana Del Rey, and Miranda Lambert are stepping up big in the wake of Texas’s devastating floods.
Oh, and your calendar? It’s about to be packed. From the newest to most popular tours including—Coldplay’s technicolor empire, Oasis’s sibling truce (for now), My Chemical Romance keeping the emo flame alive, and Spiritbox’s genre-defying heavy metal catharsis.
So grab your headphones—this is your weekly soundcheck for what’s next.
Artists Speak Out After Deadly Texas Floods
$190 Million Raised As Black Sabbath Ends An Era
10+ Events
When We Were Young Fest
Coldplay
My Chemical Romance
Dua Lipa
Oasis
Stay sharp, stay loud—this is what’s next. 🎧
🤘 Fan Focus
Maren Morris, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, Shakira, Hilary Duff & Miranda Lambert Speak Out After Deadly Texas Floods
The Texas Hill Country floods have left at least 94 dead since July 4, and musicians are using their platforms to bring aid and awareness.
Texas native Maren Morris posted photos from her home state with a heartfelt message: “The floods are devastating and people are still missing. I’m donating to the Texas Hill Country Community Foundation to support local efforts.”
Lana Del Rey, whose song “Paris, Texas” nods to the region, wrote: “All of my prayers are with you every moment of the day this week… I can’t even imagine it. All my love.”
Others joined in:
Billie Eilish reshared videos of the devastation, calling it “so sad.”
Shakira pledged part of her San Antonio show proceeds to Catholic Charities of San Antonio for disaster relief.
Hilary Duff, deeply emotional in her post, wrote: “Heartbroken doesn’t begin to cover it… Beautiful Texas, I love you.”
Miranda Lambert and her MuttNation Foundation are working with Kerrville Pets Alive to aid displaced animals and pet owners.
Fans worldwide are now donating, housing displaced families, and amplifying resources shared by the artists. As Morris said, “Texas needs us all right now.”
🫶 Artists Doing Good
$190 Million Raised As Black Sabbath Ends An Era In Birmingham
Black Sabbath’s final show was more than a goodbye — it was a record-breaking act of generosity. On July 5 at Birmingham’s Villa Park, the “Back to the Beginning” concert raised an astounding $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Ozzy Osbourne, seated on a throne but still commanding, powered through solo hits like “Crazy Train” before reuniting with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for a four-song Sabbath finale: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid.”
Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, the show’s musical director, called it “the greatest day in heavy metal history.” With Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and Anthrax paying tribute, the night felt like a heavy metal Hall of Fame — and the end of an era.
Sharon Osbourne reflected on the emotional weight of the night, saying, “It was my idea because [Ozzy’s] one regret was he didn’t get the chance to say thank you to his fans before he finished his world tour.” She also announced her retirement from the music industry, closing her own chapter as Ozzy bid farewell to his.
For fans, it was bittersweet. For metal, it was historic.
📢 Sound Off
Which band reunion would BREAK the internet?
🗳️ Cast your vote, and yes—we know you’ve got opinions. Let’s hear ’em.
Backstage Merch 🎸
For the fans who wear their playlists on their sleeves.
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Stock up now and save 25% with code STAGE25. Shop the scene here. 🛒🎶
🎶 Event Radar
When We Were Young Fest – Las Vegas 2025
What happens in Vegas? Apparently, every single emo and pop-punk anthem of your youth, back-to-back in one epic weekend. When We Were Young Fest returns with a jaw-dropping lineup featuring My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Green Day, Blink-182, and a who’s-who of early 2000s icons. With multiple stages and a desert backdrop, expect a high-energy mix of nostalgia, eyeliner, and full-throttle singalongs. The 2025 edition promises more surprises, more bands, and more reasons to scream every lyric like it’s the first time.
Coldplay – Music of the Spheres World Tour Continues
Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour has become one of the most visually stunning stadium spectacles of the decade—and it’s not slowing down. With newly added 2025 dates, Chris Martin and company bring their technicolor world to even more cities, complete with LED wristbands lighting up entire arenas, confetti storms, and massive visual displays that blur the line between concert and immersive art installation. The setlist spans their full career—from early ballads like “Yellow” to global anthems like “Viva La Vida” and “My Universe.” This is arena pop at its most cinematic and emotional.
My Chemical Romance – Reunion Tour 2025
If you thought MCR’s return was just a moment, think again. Gerard Way and the band are pushing their reunion into 2025 with new dates across North America, Europe, and Asia. The tour feels less like a comeback and more like a full-scale revival of the emo movement, with audiences screaming every word of “Helena” and “Welcome to the Black Parade” at arena-shaking volumes. Expect moody stagecraft, nostalgic visuals, and emotional catharsis that makes it feel like 2006 all over again. For a generation of fans, this isn’t a phase—it’s history in the making.
Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism Tour
Pop’s reigning queen is going big for her Radical Optimism era, with a world tour that blends disco, house, and futuristic visuals into one seamless spectacle. Dua Lipa has perfected the modern pop show: high-energy choreography, neon-soaked set design, and a setlist stacked with hits like “Levitating,” “Houdini,” and “Don’t Start Now.” With stops at major arenas and festival appearances worldwide, the tour promises a dance floor atmosphere that stretches from front row to nosebleeds.
Oasis – Reunion Tour 2025
Against all odds—and probably more than a few brotherly arguments—Liam and Noel Gallagher are reuniting for one of the most anticipated tours of the decade. The Oasis Reunion Tour promises to deliver the Britpop anthems that defined a generation, from “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova” to “Live Forever” and “Supersonic.” Fans can expect massive singalongs, a wave of ’90s nostalgia, and perhaps even a touch of onstage tension. For longtime devotees and curious newcomers alike, this is a chance to see history—and maybe a little drama—unfold live.
New Announcements
Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea North American Tour: Part 2 – Spiritbox returns for another North American run this fall, bringing genre-defying heaviness and new material alongside favorites from Eternal Blue. Get tickets here
Royel Otis – 2025 Australian Tour – Indie-pop duo Royel Otis take their sun-soaked, feel-good sound on a national tour of Australia, with stops in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Get tickets here
Blood Orange – Fall 2025 Tour – Dev Hynes brings Blood Orange’s dreamy, genre-blurring sound to intimate North American venues this fall, performing fan favorites and teasing new material. Get tickets here
Heart – Royal Flush Tour Extended – The Wilson sisters extend their Royal Flush Tour with more U.S. and Europe dates, delivering classic rock anthems and fresh arrangements that showcase five decades of power. Get tickets here
Katseye – The Beautiful Chaos Tour (First-Ever Tour) – K-pop’s breakout group Katseye launches their first global tour with stadium-ready visuals, debut-era hits, and viral fan moments. Stops include Seoul, Tokyo, LA, and London. Get tickets here
🎤 Mic Drop
Johnny Cash once played a concert inside Folsom Prison (1968)
On January 13, 1968, Johnny Cash walked into California’s Folsom Prison and delivered one of the most legendary performances in music history. Backed by June Carter, Carl Perkins, and the Tennessee Three, Cash performed for an audience of inmates, opening with the now-iconic “Folsom Prison Blues” and tearing through raw, electrifying renditions of “Cocaine Blues,” “Jackson,” and “The Long Black Veil.” The resulting live album, At Folsom Prison, wasn’t just a career revival for Cash—it became a cultural milestone that blurred the line between outlaw and artist, giving a voice to society’s forgotten and cementing Cash’s legacy as the Man in Black. Read more here.
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That’s a wrap for this week! Until next time, catch you in the pit—or next week’s email. 🎵🔥
Signing off,
The Fandiem Team