A founding member of the experimental rock band Mr. Bungle was found guilty Friday (Oct. 11) of first-degree murder in the killing of his girlfriend after prosecutors in California found an audio file the victim recorded on her phone as she fought for her life.

A jury in Santa Cruz deliberated for a day before finding Theobald “Theo” Lengyel guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of his girlfriend Alice “Alyx” Kamakaokalani Herrmann on the night of Dec. 4, 2023, inside her Capitola home, KSBW-TV reported. Lengyel faces life in prison and is set to be sentenced in November.

Lengyel, 55, was arrested in January after investigators found Herrmann’s remains in a wooded area of Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley. Herrmann was reported missing the previous month after she didn’t show up to a family gathering in Hawaii.

On Oct. 1, prosecutors played an audio recorded on Herrmann’s phone begging for her life as her boyfriend strangled her to death, KRON-TV reported.

It is unclear if Herrmann, 61, intentionally recorded the audio or if the app inadvertently recorded it.

District Attorney’s Office Inspector Steven Ryan testified that investigators did not discover the chilling audio file until Sept. 22, 2024, a month after Lengyel’s murder trial began.

The recording starts with Lengyel playing piano before growing angry at Herrmann because she doesn’t want to go out to play pool. Herrmann repeatedly says she does not want to go because she has to work in Berkeley the next day.

A few minutes into their argument, Lengyel can be heard threatening his girlfriend stating, “I could mash your f(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)ing brain.”

According to prosecutors, the verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation. Herrmann could then be heard pleading for her life, gasping for air.

Lengyel left Mr. Bungle in 1996 after playing saxophone, clarinet and keyboards on several recordings, including the band’s self-titled 1991 debut album and Disco Volante in 1995. He did not participate in any of the band’s recent reunion tours, which began in 2020.

Mr. Bungle was formed in Northern California’s Humboldt County in 1985 by high school friends including guitarist Trey Spruance, bassist Trevor Dunn and vocalist Mike Patton, who went on to perform with Faith No More. Mr. Bungle experimented with funk, heavy metal, electronic, jazz and other musical styles, gaining popularity during the alternative rock boom of the 1990s.

In a 2005 Q&A, Dunn said Lengyel left the band on bad terms, SF Gate reported.

A federal appeals court judge has ruled to keep Sean “Diddy” Combs locked up while he makes a third bid for bail in his sex trafficking case, which is slated to go to trial in May.

In a decision filed Friday (Oct. 11), Circuit Judge William J. Nardini denied the hip-hop mogul’s immediate release from jail while a three-judge panel weighs his bail request.

Combs’ lawyers appealed to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Sept. 30 after two judges rejected his release.

Combs, 54, has been held at a federal jail in Brooklyn since his Sept. 16 arrest on charges that he used his “power and prestige” as a music star to induce female victims into drugged-up, elaborately produced sexual performances with male sex workers in events dubbed “Freak Offs.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges alleging he coerced and abused women for years with help from a network of associates and employees while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.

At a bail hearing three weeks ago, a judge rejected the defense’s $50 million bail proposal that would’ve allowed the “I’ll Be Missing You” singer to be placed under house arrest at his Florida mansion with GPS monitoring and strict limits on visitors.

Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr., who has since recused himself from the case, said that prosecutors had presented “clear and convincing evidence” that Combs is a danger to the community. He said “no condition or set of conditions” could guard against the risk of Combs obstructing the investigation or threatening or harming witnesses.

In their appeal, Combs’ lawyers argued that the judge had “endorsed the government’s exaggerated rhetoric” and ordered Combs detained for “purely speculative reasons.”

“Indeed, hardly a risk of flight, he is a 54-year-old father of seven, a U.S. citizen, an extraordinarily successful artist, businessman, and philanthropist, and one of the most recognizable people on earth,” the lawyers wrote.

Combs’ lawyers have not asked the new trial judge, Arun Subramanian, to consider releasing him on bail. At a hearing Thursday, as Combs sat alongside his lawyers in a beige jail jumpsuit, Subramanian suggested he would at least be open to taking up the issue.

After setting a May 5 trial date, Subramanian briefly questioned Combs’ lawyers about his treatment at the Metropolitan Detention Center, which has been plagued by violence and dysfunction for years.

Combs lawyer Mark Agnifilo, who had previously sought to have him moved to a jail in New Jersey, told the judge: “We’re making a go of the MDC. The MDC has been very responsive for us.”

Another Combs lawyer, Anthony Ricco, told reporters outside the courthouse afterward: “He’s doing fine. It’s a difficult circumstance. He’s making the best of the situation.”

But, Ricco said: “Nobody’s OK with staying in jail for now.”

Peso Pluma is calling off his upcoming concerts in Florida amid the devastation of Hurricane Milton.

On Friday (Oct. 11), the Mexican superstar announced that he is canceling shows at Tampa’s Amalie Arena (Oct. 16) and Miami’s Kaseya Center (Oct. 17). Fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster will automatically be refunded. Both dates were part of Peso’s Live Nation-produced Exodo Tour 2024, which launched in May.

“Due to the natural disasters affecting the communities of Florida, Peso Pluma has announced today that he will cancel his Tampa and Miami Exodo Tour shows to stand in solidarity with those affected by the recent hurricanes that impacted the state,” reads a statement from Peso Pluma’s representatives. “In addition, with his label Double P Records and management Prajin Parlay Inc., Peso has donated funds to local hurricane relief organizations.”

The press release did not specify which hurricane relief organizations the artist, along with his record label and management company, would be supporting with their donations. Hurricane Milton has ravaged parts of Florida, leaving at least 16 people dead and millions without power at press time on Friday, according to CBS News.

The North American leg of Pluma’s Exodo Tour arena trek included more than 35 shows, with stops in major U.S. cities like New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, San Diego and others.

The 25-year-old artist’s breakthrough year was marked with 32 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, most of which he entered in 2023 alone. Peso’s history-making album Génesis peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart — the highest ranking for a regional Mexican album. He also took home his first Grammy earlier this year for best música mexicana album (including tejano) for Génesis.

This article was created in partnership with Walmart.

The 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week is returning from Oct. 14 to 18 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami with a star-studded lineup of more than 70 artists. Over the past 35 years, Latin Music Week has become the one, steady foundation of Latin music in this country, becoming the single most important — and biggest — gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year, Walmart is joining the celebration of Hispanic heritage. 

Each year, fans of the many genres of Latin music look to Billboard for exclusive interviews and live experiences with their favorite artists, ranging from emerging acts to some of the biggest superstars in the world. Some of these acts will be going backstage with Billboard, engaging in conversations about their art, culture and more in the Backstage Video Lounge. This year, the lounge will be reimagined, featuring pieces from The Nuevolution Project. Get a sneak peek at the pieces that will be featured across Billboard with your favorite stars, created in collaboration with visionary creatives shaping culture.  

Wish Me Luck, a Hispanic-led fashion brand from LA, captures the spirit of Dreamers: those who pursue their aspirations while honoring their heritage. Their clothing combines classic casual styles with bold, eye-catching graphics to create pieces you can wear anywhere — and Billboard’s hosts will be wearing them as they sit down with the stars. Add their Workwear Style Jacket and Dreamer’s Win Graphic Tee Shirt to your everyday rotation to add meaningful flair to your wardrobe.

Puerto Rican-American artist, ceramicist, social activist, poet, and educator Roberto Lugo’s contributions to The Nuevolution Project range from home decor to clothing. Lugo’s lively, illustrated patterns are an extension of his art, acknowledging the realities faced by marginalized communities while also celebrating their beauty and creativity. His candles are inspired by the ones that are traditional to Hispanic culture – with his own special twist. Mix and match the pieces in your home to bring your culture to life.

Need a pick-me-up? Walmart has you covered. Robert Lugo’s designs bring Hispanic pride to your kitchen, elevating your morning coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Choose between three bold patterns to bring the comfort of culture to your cup.

Stay tuned for more from Billboard Latin Music Week and check out more pieces from The Nuevolution Project, available only at Walmart. 

This week in dance music: We trekked to the Arizona desert for the return of FORM Arcosanti, spoke with SOPHIE’s collaborators about assembling the late artist’s posthumous album, and talked to LP Giobbi for Billboard‘s just out producers issue. Meanwhile Odetari made his debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; Insomniac Music Group launched Insomniac Publishing; Pharrell spoke about working with Daft Punk during his Hot Ones episode; Rüfüs du Sol released their fourth studio album, Inhale/Exhale (more on that next week); and Charli XCX released the remixed version of Brat, called Brat & It’s Completely Different But Also Still Brat.

And of course, these are the best new dance tracks of the week.

Anti Up, What Is Life

Brit producers Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo have been collaborating as Anti Up since 2018, and talks of a debut album have seemingly gone on for nearly as long. After a few false starts and a major headlining slot at this year’s Coachella, it’s finally here. What Is Life is as in-your-face as its title is existential, loaded with whomping basslines, heaving tech house and old-school flourishes made for dark rooms — a nod to the Chrises’ U.K.-dance roots. Some of the tracks here are singles Anti Up have dropped over the years, such as the revved-up “Shake” and groovy “Chromatic,” but there’s plenty of new material, too. Check out “Shambles,” a cut of cavernous techno with swelling synths, wailing sirens, and raw vocals channeling Underworld’s Karl Hyde. Altogether, it’s high-energy electronics and massive punk energy that’ll make you eager to f–k up a dance floor. — KRYSTAL RODRIGUEZ

Flying Lotus, “Ingo Swann”

Steven Ellison has been working on a couple of outside projects in recent years, scoring the Netflix anime series Yasuke and writing/directing V/H/S/99 and Ash. But it seems the producer is circling back to his own work as Flying Lotus. After popping up in August with “Garmonbozia,” his first new material in two years, Ellison is back again with “Ingo Swann,” named after the late American psychic. “Ingo Swann” is full-on four-on-the-floor, a gleaming cut bristling with brisk percussion and bubbling lofi synths. It seems like there’s still more yet to come: In a recent interview with Hypebeast, he shared he’s working on a new album that’s “98% done.” — K.R.

Dom Dolla & Tove Lo, “Cave”

Aussie hotshot Dom Dolla goes drum ‘n’ bass on his latest single and collaboration with Swedish alt-pop artist Tove Lo, “Cave.” The genre is new to their pair’s catalog, but it looks good on them. “Cave” is sultry, self-aware, and a little dangerous, as Lo narrates a tale where the lustful grip of temptation triumphs over self-preservation: “I know all your tricks and you lick your lips, because you know I’m gonna cave.” It’s a killer hook that can shake up the club and the radio.

“I used to play a lot of shows in New Zealand in the early days of my career,” Dom Dolla says. “Drum and Bass has always had a timeless place in the scene there and it rubbed off on me as a youngster. I took the influence with me everywhere. After playing an evening of house/techno at clubs in the U.S., I used to love closing the night out with a DnB record or two. Even if it was simply as an energetic escalation and the audience I was playing it to didn’t understand it at the time. Fast forward to 2024, the genre has exploded, and it’s understood by all. I love that there are no rules anymore.”

“He played me a barebones version of the track, pretty much just the main synth in the verses and some of the chorus drums,” adds Lo. “We started riffing on melodies and quickly had it down. I took the track home with me and worked on the lyrics. I felt like the chords and the beat had this haunted but sexy energy about it. It was giving the hot toxic ex you’re not over. So, I decided to tell that story.” — K.R.

Maddy O’Neal, Vital Signs

Bass producer Maddy O’Neal is out with her third album, Vital Signs, with its 10 dually hard-hitting and etheric tracks emphasizing why she’s becoming an increasingly well known name in the genre. But of course success rarely, if ever, comes overnight, with the Colorado-based producer having hustled for over a decade to get here. Vital Signs thus aptly started coming together at the beginning of the year, when O’Neal had some time off to consider her original influences and how to fuse them with the skills she’s developed while making music for the last 12 years. “I brought it back to the heavy hip hop/soulful sampling influences I leaned into at the start,” she writes, “while really ramping it up with big sound design and taking it up a notch in terms of production. Those effective decisions are heard throughout the album, which fans can also hear live as O’Neal tours through the U.S. through the end of the year. — KATIE BAIN

Camelphat, “Deep Inside”

Coming in the wake of their 2023 album Spiritual Milk, British duo Camelphat release the simply titled B-Sides EP, six tracks that capture the soaring, prismatic big room house and melodic techno sounds the pair have become beloved for since their emergence. “Deep Inside” captures this sound most effectively, with waves of synth and a long build giving way to a dexterous, hard-hitting release. The project is out on the pair’s own When Stars Align imprint. — K.B.

Amelie Lens, “Falling for You”

If you’ve been Shazaming Amelie Lens’ set-closing tracks lately to no avail, you’re in luck. On the heels of two major open-to-close shows in New York City and Los Angeles, the Belgian producer has released her latest and much-anticipated single, “Falling for You.” The track falls somewhere between hard techno and trance, elevating heart rates with its driving beat and sharp percussion. Lens balances that sharpness with softness, overlaying it with soaring synths and a sugar-coated vocal expressing even more saccharine sentiment: “And I, never felt so loved, I am falling for you/ And I, and my body awakes, I am returning to you.” With a closer like that, it’s hard to not go home happy. — K.R.