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
Eric Clapton Cites Hassles of Travel as Reason He’ll Stop Touring at 70
There's just 25 months left to see Eric Clapton on tour. The legendary guitarist says that he's going to quit the road life when he turns 70 years old because getting from show to show is too much of a pain. "The bit on stage, that's easy," he says before insisting he'll stay active playing around his hometown.
David Lee Roth on Difference Between Him and the Van Halens: ‘I’m Truly a Wanderer’
David Lee Roth doesn't mince words when it comes to what's kept Van Halen from playing Australia in recent years. The group announced they'll play the Stone Festival in Sydney this April. Roth suggests they'd tour the world regularly if it were up to him.
Motley Crue Reveal 2013 Canadian Tour Dates
After finishing up their 2013 Australian tour, Motley Crue will take a short break and head north to Canada for the band's most extensive tour of the country ever. Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee announced 18 dates in six provinces on Monday.
Ted Nugent Explains ‘Black Power 2013′ Tour Name
Rocker Ted Nugent, who by his own proclamation has less than two months to live (at least as a free man), has named his upcoming summer tour Black Power 2013 to honor the African-American musical heroes that inspired him. In a column at World Net Daily, Nugent explains how he is standing up for blacks, and how Democrats and President Obama are "a clear and present engineer of the destruction
Deep Purple Release Video Preview of Upcoming Album
Once again, Deep Purple fans are left with more questions than answers following the release of a preview clip for the band's upcoming album, which is due this April.
Def Leppard’s Phil Collen Making the Most of the Death of the LP
The LP is becoming such an antiquated term that it seems unlikely most music lovers born after 1990 will know what the letters stand for soon. Def Leppard's Phil Collen says most people don't want to buy a full "long playing" album any longer, and he's enjoying what that means.
Allman Brothers Announce Lineup for 2013 Peach Music Festival
The lineup for the second annual Peach Music Festival at Montage Mountain has been revealed. In addition to two performances from the Allman Brothers Band, fans can count on the Black Crowes, Bob Weir and RatDog and more at the Aug 15-18 outdoor festival.
Queen’s Brian May, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Working on ‘Riffs’ Album
Few bands would turn down having Tony Iommi backing them up, and soon more bands will get the chance. The Black Sabbath guitarist has a treasure trove of riffs laying around, unused, in his studio. Queen's Brian May has inspired Iommi to put them to good use.
Whitesnake Announce ‘Made in Japan’ Live Album
Whitesnake has packaged hits and outtakes, along with rare acoustic versions of popular songs on 'Made in Japan,' a live CD/DVD to be made available on April 23. The band announced that the Oct. 11, 2011 show from the Loud Park festival at the Saitama Super Arena will be packaged in its entirety. Previously fans could only see and hear highlights on Japanese television.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to Headline Hangout Music Festival
While Tom Petty's official 2013 touring calendar is still empty, it's been confirmed he'll headline the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Ala. this spring. The full lineup for the festival was announced this week, with Kings of Leon named as a second headliner for the three-day festival.
Eric Clapton, ‘Gotta Get Over’ – Song Review
Middle school-grade album art and a terrible album title luckily seem to say nothing about the music on 'Old Sock,' Eric Clapton's upcoming studio release.
Ted Nugent to Attend President Obama’s State of the Union Address
Rocker Ted Nugent will be in the House chamber tonight when President Obama delivers his State of the Union address. The Motor City Madman will be a guest of Rep. Steve Stockman, a Republican congressman from Texas who like Nugent, is no fan of Barack Obama's.