Lou Koller, the founding frontman of New York hardcore institution Sick of It All, has died following a battle with esophageal cancer. He was 59.
The band confirmed his death in a statement posted to Instagram on Friday (July 24). “It’s with unbelievable sadness that we announce to our worldwide hardcore family the passing of our brother Lou Koller,” the group wrote, noting that 2026 would have marked the band’s 40th anniversary.
“We have lost a beloved friend and an iconic frontman. Lou had the power to raise everyone’s spirits at our shows with a smile and a sarcastic comment, and he won people over wherever we played, from every culture and every corner of the world.” The band also thanked those who had contributed to Koller’s medical fund, writing that his “battle is over now and he can finally rest.”
Koller first revealed his diagnosis in the summer of 2024, telling fans that doctors had found a tumor in his esophagus that extended into his stomach. Sick of It All cancelled a European tour so he could undergo treatment, and the hardcore community rallied with benefit concerts and donations.
By May 2025, he had announced he was cancer-free following a final round of chemotherapy, but the disease returned months later.
Sick of It All formed in Queens, New York in 1986, built around Koller and his brother Pete, the band’s guitarist. The group emerged from the same late-’80s New York hardcore scene as Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags and Madball, playing clubs like CBGB and building a devoted following through relentless touring. Their 1989 debut Blood, Sweat and No Tears became a genre landmark, and by 2020 the band had sold at least half a million records worldwide across a career that stretched nearly four decades.
Their commercial high point came in the mid-’90s major-label era. Scratch the Surface (1994), released on East West, drew critical acclaim and produced the singles “Scratch the Surface” and “Step Down,” the latter earning MTV rotation; it remains the band’s best-selling album. Its follow-up Built to Last (1997), reached No. 32 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. The band later signed to Fat Wreck Chords and continued releasing music into the 2010s, with their most recent album, Wake the Sleeping Dragon!, arriving in 2018.
Across their run, Sick of It All became one of the most respected and enduring acts in hardcore, admired as much for Koller’s charisma and generosity as for the music itself. He is survived by his bandmates, his brother Pete among them, and a global community of fans built across 40 years on the road.
Karol G has kicked off her highly-awaited Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour at Soldier Field in Chicago on Friday (July 24).
If her historic Coachella headlining set was any indication, the Colombian superstar delivered a conceptual show that perfectly encompasses her Tropicoqueta universe: showgirls, feathers, pineapples, flowers, parrots, and lots of orange.
In celebration of the global trek, Karol teased a new song called “Matadora” powered by a hard-hitting perreo sound and unapologetic lyrics about owning her sensuality. In the short social media snippet—shared on the eve of the tour’s kick-off show—she’s seen dancing to the sultry and provocative reggaetón.
Promoted by Live Nation, Karol will be joined by Becky G, Greeicy, and Elena Rose on select dates of her extensive tour.
“It was super organic. Karol invited us, and for me it was something super beautiful,” Rose previously told Billboard. “We already have several years of a valuable friendship where obviously we both have very hectic lives, but we always find a moment to hug each other, to ask each other how we are doing.”
Following the opening night in Chicago, Karol will then jump from stadium to stadium including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, MetLife Stadium in New York, and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, before heading to Latin America and then Europe — where she will make pit stops in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, England, and Italy, to name a few — throughout the rest of 2026 and the beginning of 2027.
The world tour is in support of Karol’s latest album, Tropicoqueta, which debuted at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums Chart and No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Additionally, all 20 songs from the set debuted on the Hot Latin Songs chart, becoming a first for the singer.
50 Cent revealed that he’s recruited Eminem and the late 2Pac for a collaboration that will land on the Street Fighter soundtrack. The G-Unit boss made the revelation during an appearance on Today With Jenna and Sheinelle on Friday (July 24).
“I got some music that I’m working on. I did something currently me, Eminem and 2Pac,” he said, which sent the hosts into a state of shock and confusion.
Related
50 Cent Promises to Recruit Eminem for ‘Street Fighter’ Soundtrack: ‘New Music on the Way’
Everything You Need to Know About Shakira’s Residency in Madrid: Dates, Tickets & More
With Cosigns From Fat Joe and DJ Khaled, Boxer Edgar Berlanga Jr. Is Ready to Step Into the Music Ring
50 clarified that he got the approval from 2Pac’s estate and that the late rapper’s vocals aren’t AI. “They delivered it. It’s for the theme of Street Fighter, the movie. We worked on it and got it right,” he added.
The Queens rap legend teased that the anticipated collab is arriving “soon” and further clarified that the loaded track will be “coming out shortly.”
Street Fighter is set to hit U.S. theaters Oct. 16, and 50 will star in the live-action remake as Balrog. Back in December, 50 hinted at notching a collaboration with Eminem for Street Fighter, but didn’t mention 2Pac.
“I’m gonna get @eminem on deck to make some music for this movie Street Fighter,” 50 wrote on IG. “New Music on the way!”
50 Cent joins a star-studded cast in the reboot, which boasts Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, country singer Orville Peck and WWE superstar Roman Reigns (Joe Anoa’i).
50 Cent and Eminem’s most recent collaboration came on Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Missionary collab album for “Gunz N Smoke” in December 2024.
The close friends and frequent collaborators teamed up on plenty of occasions throughout the 2000s, colliding on tracks like “Don’t Push Me,” “Patiently Waiting,” “Gatman & Robin” and “You Don’t Know.”
Watch the clip of 50 talking about the track with Eminem and 2Pac below.
Late singer Oliver Tree will get a predictably quirky send-off on Saturday (July 25) when the “Life Goes On” star is memorialized at a celebration of life at UC Santa Cruz’s Quarry Amphitheater. According to an announcement on Tree’s Instagram, the life of Oliver Tree Nickell will be honored during the program and livestream that will begin at 7:30 p.m. PST and include live music, tribute videos from Oliver’s life and speeches from friends and family; tickets are limited but fans who can’t attend in person can check out the live stream.
The announcement for the three-hour stream promises the screening of unreleased video content from the artist known for filming quirky music videos and viral clips, as well as a roster of guest speakers including DJ/producer Diplo, YouTuber Ethan Klein, Mexican influencer Ethan Mercury and influencer/boxer Logan Paul.
One of Tree’s good friends, Chicago DJ/producer Whethan, announced last week that he will postpone his planned Las Vegas shows at Shambhala this weekend to attend the memorial event.
In keeping with Tree’s playful nature, the event poster also promises caskets for each of the singer’s quirky characters, as well as live music and more.
Tree, 32, died in a tragic helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 14 in an accident that took five other lives. At the time, Tree was traveling through South America as part of his World First World tour, with his label, Atlantic Records, sharing a statement about the singer’s death. “We are shocked and saddened by Oliver’s untimely passing. He was a remarkable talent — a gifted artist and songwriter who forged a thoroughly unique and captivating style,” it read. “Oliver was endlessly inventive and a true original. He was a cherished friend to many and a beloved member of our music family. He profoundly loved music and his fans, and his absence will be deeply felt. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Oliver’s family, friends, and team, as well as the families and loved ones of all those affected by this tragic event.”
All proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit the foundation/endowment founded by the singer before his death, the Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant for Baby Geniuses.
Announced Friday, July 24, Lewis Capaldi and RAYE are booked to headline the 2026 edition, which will visit Canberra, Gold Coast, Geelong and Perth this December, the start of the southern summer.
The British superstars lead a lineup that includes KETTAMA, Baby Keem, Maisie Peters, DMA’S and more.
A week earlier, organizers confirmed that Spilt Milk would return in 2026, though the dates, locations and lineup were kept under lock and key.
Presented and curated by Kicks Entertainment, Spilt Milk is said to be Australia’s biggest single-day music festival. General admission tickets are priced at A$244.95 ($171) including fees, through Moshtix. Festival goers can sign up to presale for early access to tickets on July 30 at spilt-milk.com.au.
Beginning life in the national capital, Canberra, in 2016, Spilt Milk expanded in 2019 to the Gold Coast and Ballarat, the latter venue marking Juice WRLD’s final live performance. The pandemic wiped out the 2020 and 2021 editions of Spilt Milk, and promoters canceled the multi-city show in 2024, joining a slew of festival cancelations as rising costs and changing ticket buying behavior spooked the industry.
Last year’s run was headlined by Kendrick Lamar and featured Doechii, Dominic Fike, Sara Landry, ScHoolboy Q, sombr, Nessa Barrett, Don West and more. Organizers later expanded the bill with Genesis Owusu, Larissa Lambert and Lotte Gallagher ahead of showtime. Tickets sold out.
Geelong/Djilang, a satellite city of Melbourne, is the festival’s new Victorian home for at least five years, through support from Visit Victoria and City of Greater Geelong, which ensures the brand will stay in the region until 2030, organizers say.
Gracie Abrams is crowned on the latest ARIA Albums Chart with Daughter From Hell (via Interscope/Universal), which opens its account at No. 1.
The week’s best-seller on vinyl, Daughter From Hell is the second leader for the U.S. singer and songwriter after The Secret Of Us, which logged three weeks at the summit in 2024-25. Her debut studio album, Good Riddance, managed an Australian chart best of No. 30 in 2023.
Daughter From Hell ousts Olivia Rodrigo’s you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love (Geffen/Universal), down 1-2, while Olivia Dean completes an all-female top three with The Art of Loving (Universal), up 4-3.
Meanwhile, U.S. metalcore act Motionless in White opens at No. 5 on the ARIA Chart with Decades (Roadrunner/Warner), their seventh studio album. That’s Motionless in White’s career high and first appearance in the top 10, besting the No. 14 peak for 2022’s Scoring The End Of The World.
Also new to the chart is viral U.S. singer, songwriter and producer Steve Lacy with Oh Yeah (RCA/Sony), new at No. 19. Close behind is Holly Hebe’s Mood Ring (GYRO Music), new at No. 23 for the top-ranked Australian album on the latest frame, published Friday, July 24. Mood Ring is the Melbourne singer’s third EP and first stint on an ARIA Chart.
Swapmeet, an indie band hailing from Adelaide, Australia, enjoys a top 30 start with their debut album release, Mount Zero (Winspear), new at No. 26, while Liverpool, England metalcore merchants Loathe start at No. 28 with A Stranger To You (Nuclear Blast/ADA).
Over on the ARIA Singles Chart, Ella Langley’s four-times platinum hit “Choosin’ Texas” (Sony Music) enters a seventh non-consecutive week at the top. Langley also impacts the chart with “Weren’t For The Wind” (down 32-36) and “Be Her” (down 40-41).
Female artists lock-up the singles chart podium, too. Olivia Dean’s five-times platinum “Man I Need” (Universal) holds at No. 2 while Dean’s collaboration with fellow Brit Sam Fender, “Rein Me In” (Dew Process/Universal), is unchanged at No. 3.
