Billy Dukes is a Senior Editor and Executive Producer at Taste of Country, where he has over 11,000 articles to his name. His media background includes jobs as music director at WQDR 94.7 in Raleigh, N.C.; writer for Recoil Magazine, a monthly out of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and writer for the Kalamazoo Gazette in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Western Michigan University graduate followed a girl to Raleigh in 2006 and wisely married her one year later. In 2014, they moved to Nashville, where they now live with their three sons. In his free time, Billy enjoys playing and watching baseball, cycling and home renovation.
Billy Dukes
ZZ Top Perform As Quintet for First Time
Earlier this month, ZZ Top performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and wanted to do something for the festival's founder, Claude Nobs. Nobs -- a good friend of Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill -- died in January at the age of 76.
Ted Nugent Slams Stevie Wonder’s Florida Boycott
Rocker Ted Nugent was asked recently what he thought of musicians like Stevie Wonder boycotting the state of Florida until they repeal the "Stand Your Ground" law that became the centerpiece of the George Zimmerman / Trayvon Martin case this summer. "How brain-dead do you have to be," Nugent asked, before taking Wonder to task for his decision.
Ian Anderson Says His Next Album Will Be Folk-Prog-Metal Hybrid
Ian Anderson promises new music in 2014. And while he knows what direction the project will take (it's a concept album), details -- like whether or not it will be a solo record or a Jethro Tull LP -- are still up in the air. Either way, Anderson says it will be a folk-prog-metal hybrid.
Surgery Forces Elton John to Postpone Summer Tour
Elton John has postponed all summer tour dates after an illness that came on during his recent European tour turned out to be much more serious. The singer is undergoing treatment and surgery for appendicitis, but says he'll be back on the road in September.
Jimmy Page’s Acoustic Guitar Sells for $39,000
An acoustic guitar played by Jimmy Page sold for more than $39,000 at an auction recently. The instrument was among a handful of pieces of rock memorabilia sold at Bonhams last week.
Rolling Stones Lyric Banned From Man’s Tombstone
The Church of England will not allow the tombstone of a recently deceased man to have the modified lyric of a Rolling Stones song etched into it. The family of Charles Clapham hoped to use the line "It was only rock 'n' roll" as an epitaph, but the church dismissed the idea as flippant.
News Reporter Breaks Into Rush Classic on ‘Air Guitar’
Slow news day? Roger Clark, a reporter for NY1 in New York City recently wrapped up a report on the 2013 US Air Guitar Championships by jamming out to 'Tom Sawyer' by Rush. The video comes from Monday (July 1), Canada Day. Clark indicates he was paying tribute to Canadians everywhere with his unabashed version of the hit song.
‘Sammy Hagar and Friends’ Album to Include Kid Rock, Nancy Wilson, Neal Schon + More
Sammy Hagar has invited nearly a dozen friends, current and former bandmates to join him on 'Sammy Hagar and Friends,' his new studio album due in stores Sept. 24. Kid Rock, Journey's Neal Schon, Chickenfoot's Chad Smith and Joe Satriani and members of Montrose are amongst the stars announced this morning.
Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Blu-Ray to Include Previously Unavailable Performances
In 1992 the surviving members of Queen invited friends and fellow musicians to pay tribute to the late Freddie Mercury. The concert included performances from over a dozen top rock and pop artists of the day, from David Bowie to Guns N' Roses to Metallica and Def Leppard. Later this summer 34 different performances from that night will be available on 'The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert: The Defi
Lindsey Buckingham to Guest on Nine Inch Nails Album
More details about Nine Inch Nails' new album have been released, including the track-listing, release date and list of collaborators.
Nikki Sixx Thanks Fans for Support After Mother’s Death
Nikki Sixx thanked fans for their words of support following the June 8 death of his mother Deana Richards. Sixx shared the news via Twitter early Sunday morning. Details of her passing have not been made available.
Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell Reveals Cancer Diagnosis
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell revealed his cancer diagnosis this afternoon. Campbell says he has Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is two months in to the six months of prescribed chemotherapy. He'll tour with the band on the European and North American tours this June and July.