Eric Clapton Working on New Album, Planning 2018 Shows
12/14/2017
Eric Clapton Working on New Album, Planning 2018 Shows –Russell Hall Good news for Eric Clapton fans: the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has a new studio album in the works. In a just-published interview with Rolling Stone, the veteran rocker said the LP will be a mix of original material and covers. “I’m… Read more »
Joe Perry to Release New Solo Album, Sweetzerland Manifesto
11/28/2017
Joe Perry to Release New Solo Album, Sweetzerland Manifesto –Russell Hall Joe Perry is set to kick off 2018 with his first full-length solo album in eight years. Titled Sweetzerland Manifesto, the 10-track LP features an array of high-profile guests, including singers David Johansen, Terry Reid, and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick. Johnny Depp, Perry’s… Read more »
Stone Temple Pilots Introduce New Singer, Unveil New Single
11/18/2017
Stone Temple Pilots Introduce New Singer, Unveil New Single –Russell Hall Stone Temple Pilots are back. On November 14, at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, the band introduced new singer Jeff Gutt to fans during a private concert. Gutt, a native of Detroit, had been brought to the attention of STP bassist Robert DeLeo more… Read more »
John Fogerty Announces Reissue Campaign, New Album Coming in 2018
11/11/2017
John Fogerty Announces Reissue Campaign, New Album Coming in 2018 –Joe Lund John Fogerty will soon kick off a reissue campaign for his solo catalog, beginning with a 20th anniversary edition of his acclaimed 1997 album, Blue Moon Swamp. The announcement comes in conjunction with Fogerty’s recent signing of a new recording deal with BMG…. Read more »
U2 Announce 2018 North American Tour, Reveal New Album Details
11/07/2017
U2 Announce 2018 North American Tour, Reveal New Album Details –Joe Lund U2 has confirmed that their new studio album, Songs of Experience, will arrive in stores on December 1. Concurrent with the announcement, the band also revealed that they will tour North America next year in support of the LP. Kicking off on May… Read more »
Chris Cornell Guitar Strap Re-Purposed to Benefit Addiction Recovery Efforts
10/23/2017
Chris Cornell Guitar Strap Re-Purposed to Benefit Addiction Recovery Efforts –Joe Lund A guitar strap donated by musician Chris Cornell prior to his death has been integrated into a wristwatch that will be auctioned to benefit individuals recovering from addiction. As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Cornell is one of several prominent musicians who donated… Read more »
Robert Plant Announces North American Tour Dates, Unveils New Song
10/14/2017
Robert Plant Announces North American Tour Dates, Unveils New Song –Joe Lund Robert Plant has announced an initial run of tour dates in support of his new album, Carry Fire. Kicking off on February 9 in Raleigh, North Carolina, the trek touches down in twelve North American cities before wrapping up on March 2 in… Read more »
Millennial Band to Watch: Greta Van Fleet
10/09/2017
Millennial Band to Watch: Greta Van Fleet -Lauren Bobyock Led Zeppelin has been reborn in the form of four young men from Frankenmuth, Michigan. Greta Van Fleet provides a head-banging and mesmerizing sound that will instantly take you to the year 1974. Composed of brothers Josh, Jake, and Sam Kiszka as well as… Read more »
“Celebrating David Bowie” 2018 North American Tour Announced
10/07/2017
“Celebrating David Bowie” 2018 North American Tour Announced –Joe Lund Earlier this year, members of David Bowie’s various backing bands joined together for a limited series of shows honoring the singer on what would have been his 70th birthday. Word now comes that the project – titled “Celebrating David Bowie” – will hit the road… Read more »
Sex Pistols: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Never Mind the Bollocks
10/04/2017
Sex Pistols: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Never Mind the Bollocks Coming Oct. 27 –Russell Hall Forty years have passed since the Sex Pistols released their 1977 studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. On October 27, the LP’s anniversary will be commemorated with a reissue of the super deluxe edition of… Read more »
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Looks Back, Ponders Future
09/29/2017
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Looks Back, Ponders Future –Russell Hall Black Sabbath is rightly regarded today as a pioneering pillar of heavy metal. People sometimes forget, however, that in the band’s early years many critics were less than enthusiastic about the group’s music. In a wide-ranging interview with Metal Hammer, presented by TeamRock, guitarist Tony… Read more »
Donald Fagen Set to Kick Off Steely Dan Tour
09/20/2017
Donald Fagen Set to Kick Off Steely Dan Tour –Russell Hall Donald Fagen is making good on his promise to keep Steely Dan’s music alive in the wake of Walter Becker’s recent passing. Earlier this week, the singer announced that a Steely Dan tour will kick off October 13 in Thackerville, Oklahoma, and will run… Read more »
Bob Dylan Announces Fall Tour
09/16/2017
Bob Dylan Announces Fall Tour –Russell Hall Bob Dylan is set to launch a 21-date U.S. tour this fall beginning October 13 in Valley Center, California, and wrapping up November 16 in Boston, Massachusetts. Mavis Staples will be the opening act for all but the first two shows. The tour comes just three months after… Read more »
The Struts Have New Album Ready For 2018
09/09/2017
The Struts Have New Album Ready For 2018 –Joe Lund Acclaimed British band The Struts are moving closer to releasing the follow-up to their 2014 debut LP, Everybody Wants. Speaking with Billboard, frontman Luke Spiller said the quartet – who’ve been hailed as glam-rock revivalists and as a throwback to the heyday of ‘70s riff-rock… Read more »
Ringo Starr Shares New Country Song, “So Wrong For So Long”
08/29/2017
Ringo Starr Shares New Country Song, “So Wrong For So Long” –Joe Lund Ringo Starr has provided, via Billboard, an exclusive “first listen” to a country-flavored song from his forthcoming album, Give More Love. Titled “So Wrong for So Long,” the track was the very first song written for the LP, at a time when… Read more »
Gregg Allman Tribute Events Being Planned for Final Album, Southern Blood
08/25/2017
Gregg Allman Tribute Events Being Planned for Final Album, Southern Blood –Joe Lund Friends, family, and musical associates of Gregg Allman plan to honor the late singer with a trio of live celebrations to be staged in three of Allman’s favorite U.S. cities. Timed to coincide roughly with the September 8 release of the Rock… Read more »
The Replacements to Release Live Album from Prime Years
08/21/2017
The Replacements to Release Live Album from Prime Years –Joe Lund The first-ever live album by The Replacements to officially appear on vinyl or CD is set for release in October. For Sale: Live at Maxwell’s 1986 captures the alternative-rock legends performing in their original incarnation of guitarist Bob Stinson, bassist Tommy Stinson, drummer… Read more »
Fleetwood Mac to Be Honored as MusiCares Person of the Year
08/10/2017
Fleetwood Mac to Be Honored as MusiCares Person of the Year –Joe Lund Fleetwood Mac are set to become the next MusiCares Person of the Year recipient. The band will accept the honor during a tribute slated for January 26, 2018 – two days prior to the 60th annual Grammy Awards. The honor comes “in… Read more »
Rob Halford to be Honored with “Lemmy” Lifetime Achievement Award
08/05/2017
Rob Halford to be Honored with “Lemmy” Lifetime Achievement Award –Joe Lund Rob Halford is set to become the first recipient of the “Lemmy” Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor named after late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. The trophy will be presented at the first-ever Loudwire Music Awards ceremony and concert, slated to take place on… Read more »
David Bowie 1977-1982 Box Set Coming in September
08/02/2017
David Bowie 1977-1982 Box Set Coming in September –Joe Lund The third installment in a series of box sets spanning David Bowie’s career has been announced for release on September 29. A New Career in a New Town (1977-1982) features five official albums from that period—including the acclaimed “Berlin trilogy” of Low, “Heroes,” and… Read more »
Keith Richards Confirms Rolling Stones Recording New Album “Very Shortly”
07/25/2017
Keith Richards Confirms Rolling Stones Recording New Album “Very Shortly” –Joe Lund The Rolling Stones will soon head back into the recording studio to work on material for a new album, says Keith Richards. The news comes in response to a question that arose during the latest installment of the web series, “Ask Keith Richards.”… Read more »
Nine Inch Nails Releases Stream of New Track, “This Isn’t the Place”
07/20/2017
Nine Inch Nails Releases Stream of New Track, “This Isn’t the Place” –Joe Lund Nine Inch Nails has issued yet another track from the band’s forthcoming EP, in the form of a stream of “This Isn’t the Place.” The eerie, soundscape-ish song follows the recent release of “Less Than,” a more uptempo, sonically dense track… Read more »
The Struts Release New Single, “One Night Only”
07/17/2017
The Struts Release New Single, “One Night Only” –Joe Lund Up-and-coming British band The Struts continue to make deep inroads into the American rock landscape. A new single, “One Night Only,” furthers the group’s reputation for framing ‘70s-style rock in a contemporary vibe. “This song is mainly about the relationship between a performer and his/her… Read more »
Cheap Trick to Release Christmas Album
07/14/2017
Cheap Trick to Release Christmas Album –Joe Lund No one can say Cheap Trick isn’t prolific. Fresh off the release of their latest album, We’re All Alright!, the veteran rockers are now preparing to issue a Christmas album. Bassist Tom Petersson broke the news during a recent chat with Orange Amps. “We’ve actually just finished… Read more »
The Killers Offer Inside Look at New Album, Wonderful Wonderful
07/12/2017
The Killers Offer Inside Look at New Album, Wonderful Wonderful –Joe Lund The Killers’ Brandon Flowers and Ronnie Vannucci recently offered a behind-the-scenes look at the band’s forthcoming album, Wonderful Wonderful, slated for release in September. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Flowers credited producer Jacknife Lee with bringing fresh ideas to the group’s arrangements. “We have… Read more »
Tool “90% there” with Songs for New Studio Album
07/07/2017
Tool “90% there” with Songs for New Studio Album –Joe Lund Eleven years have passed since Tool last released a studio album, but it appears the dry spell may end soon. Speaking recently on the podcast, “MetalSucks,” bassist Justin Chancellor provided an update. “It really is an evolving thing,” he said. “Being out the last… Read more »
Bill Ward Selling Historic Career-Spanning Gear
07/04/2017
Black Sabbath Drummer Bill Ward Selling Historic Career-Spanning Gear –Russell Hall Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward has launched an online store at Reverb.com where he’s selling more than 200 used gear items. Some of the equipment was used by Ward in the studio, and some was used in live performance. Historic memorabilia from Ward’s… Read more »
Radiohead Releases “Man of War” Video
07/03/2017
Radiohead Releases “Man of War” Video –Joe Lund Radiohead has shared a new video for a previously unreleased song that appears on OKNOTOK, the 20th anniversary reissue of the band’s landmark 1997 album, OK Computer. Titled “Man of War,” the song was recorded during the OK Computer sessions, but for reasons that remain a mystery,… Read more »
Queen + Adam Lambert Kick Off North American Tour in Grand Style
07/01/2017
Queen + Adam Lambert Kick Off North American Tour in Grand Style Photo by Neal Preston –Joe Lund Fans waiting for Queen + Adam Lambert’s North American tour to roll into their city have good reason to be excited. As reported by Ultimate Classic Rock, the band unveiled a spectacular show during their tour debut in… Read more »
Hired Gun Film Documentary Spotlights World of Backing Musicians
06/29/2017
“Hired Gun” Film Documentary Spotlights World of Backing Musicians –Russell Hall Three years have passed since “20 Feet from Stardom” – a film about the unsung world of backup singers – won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Now, a new documentary titled “Hired Gun” aims to bring similar attention to the world of… Read more »
Alice Cooper Reunites Original Band for U.K. Tour
06/22/2017
Alice Cooper Reunites Original Band for U.K. Tour –Joe Lund The surviving members of the original Alice Cooper band – Michael Bruce, Neal Smith, and Dennis Dunaway – are reuniting with the shock rocker for a series of U.K. shows in November. The announcement comes as Cooper prepares to release Paranormal, his first studio album… Read more »
Dave Grohl Talks Details About Foo Fighters’ “Run” Video
06/16/2017
Dave Grohl Talks Details About Foo Fighters’ “Run” Video –Russell Hall Social media has been buzzing lately about the Foo Fighters’ video for their new single, “Run.” Set in a senior-care facility, the video features frontman Dave Grohl and his bandmates in the guise of elderly men, performing for residents of the retirement home. Grohl… Read more »
Heart’s Ann Wilson Expresses Hope for Band’s Future
06/12/2017
Heart’s Ann Wilson Expresses Hope for Band’s Future –Joe Lund Veteran rockers Heart continue to endure a rough patch, as sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson have yet to mend a falling out that resulted from a regrettable family altercation that occurred last summer. Details of the incident have been thoroughly documented elsewhere; more importantly, it… Read more »
Bob Seger Announce 2017 Runaway Train Tour
06/06/2017
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Announce 2017 Runaway Train Tour –Russell Hall Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band have announced the initial dates for their 2017 North American tour. Dubbed the Runaway Train Tour, the trek kicks off on August 24 in Toledo, Ohio, and wraps up on October 28 in… Read more »
Gregg Allman: The “Lost” Interview
06/03/2017
Gregg Allman: The “Lost” Interview –Russell Hall Back in 2008 I had the great privilege to interview Gregg Allman. He was 61 at the time, and had recently endured several health problems – including 24 weeks of interferon treatment for hepatitis C, and a debilitating case of sciatica. But, he insisted, those issues were behind… Read more »
The Beatles’ “White Album” to Receive Expanded Reissue Treatment
05/30/2017
The Beatles’ “White Album” to Receive Expanded Reissue Treatment –Joe Lund Fresh off his work on the 50th anniversary Sgt. Pepper’s reissues, producer Giles Martin is looking ahead to the next Beatles-related project. As reported by Ultimate Classic Rock, the focus this time will be on the Fab Four’s 1968 self-titled opus, commonly known as… Read more »
Little Steven To Release New Studio Album, Soulfire
05/25/2017
Little Steven To Release New Studio Album, Soulfire –Joe Lund Nearly two decades have elapsed since Steven Van Zandt issued a solo album, but on May 19 that drought comes to an end. That’s the day the popular E Street Band member will release Soulfire–a collection of original songs penned over the past several years,… Read more »
Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s” Documentary Film to Air on PBS
05/20/2017
Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s” Documentary Film to Air on PBS –Joe Lund A new BBC documentary that focuses on the making of The Beatles’ landmark 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, is set to air on PBS stations on June 3. Titled Sgt. Pepper’s Musical Revolution, the film is said to feature “material never… Read more »
Metallica “Set List Tracker” to Chronicle Band’s “WorldWired Tour”
05/18/2017
Metallica “Set List Tracker” to Chronicle Band’s “WorldWired Tour” –Joe Lund Metallica fans now have a go-to spot to keep a running tab on how the band’s “WorldWired Tour” is progressing. To coincide with the tour’s May 10th launch, the popular site Ultimate Classic Rock has created a webpage designed to closely track the set… Read more »
Alice Cooper Reveals Details About New Album, “Paranormal”
05/15/2017
Alice Cooper Reveals Details About New Album, “Paranormal” –Joe Lund Alice Cooper has issued a spate of new information about his much-anticipated new studio album. Titled Paranormal, the release will be available as a 2-CD Digipak, a 2-LP set, a limited edition box, and in digital formats. Slated for release on July 28, the 12-song… Read more »
Rolling Stones 2017 “No Filter” European Tour
05/12/2017
Rolling Stones Announce 2017 “No Filter” European Tour –Joe Lund The “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band” is kicking into gear once again. On Tuesday (May 9), the Rolling Stones announced they will spend most of September and October touring Europe, performing 13 shows across the continent. Dubbing the trek the “No Filter Tour,” the… Read more »
Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts Releases Big Band Jazz Album
05/08/2017
Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts Releases Big Band Jazz Album –Joe Lund Even as the Rolling Stones’ latest album, Blue and Lonesome, continues to earn accolades—it was recently honored at the U.K. Jazz FM Awards—drummer Charlie Watts has forged ahead with yet another jazz-based side-project release. His most recent foray into the genre is the aptly… Read more »
Cheap Trick to Release New Studio Album, We’re All Alright!
05/02/2017
Cheap Trick to Release New Studio Album, We’re All Alright! –Joe Lund Forty years into their career, Cheap Trick are getting downright prolific. A new studio album from the band, titled We’re All Alright!, is set to hit record stores on June 16, just a little over a year after the group issued their 2016… Read more »
Tony Iommi Working on Black Sabbath Film Documentary
04/27/2017
Tony Iommi Working on Black Sabbath Film Documentary, Other Projects –Joe Lund Black Sabbath may have officially called it quits, but Tony Iommi remains as busy as ever. The veteran guitarist recently revealed that he’s been mixing material from the final shows staged by Sabbath in their hometown of Birmingham, England—with an eye toward releasing… Read more »
Mick Rock Film Documentary Coming to Theaters, Home Video
04/24/2017
Photographer Mick Rock Film Documentary Coming to Theaters, Home Video –Joe Lund Rock photographers rarely attain a status on par with the artists they shoot. One of the few who’s achieved that pinnacle, however, is Mick Rock. Best known for his glam-era work with Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and (especially) David Bowie, the British lensman… Read more »
Jagger and Richards Talk “Exhibitionism,” Chicago Blues
04/18/2017
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Talk “Exhibitionism,” Chicago Blues –Joe Lund First it appeared in London, and then it moved to New York. But there’s something particularly special about the recent Rolling Stones’ “Exhibitionism” debut in Chicago. From April 15 through July 30th, the ambitious exhibit will be stationed in the city that gave rise… Read more »
Bob Dylan Talks Rock and Roll, Frank Sinatra and Triplicate
04/15/2017
Bob Dylan Talks Rock and Roll, Frank Sinatra and His New Release, Triplicate –Joe Lund Bob Dylan recently sat for an unusually expansive interview, chatting with longtime journalist Bill Flanagan about a range of topics that included his approach to singing, his shift from guitar to piano, and what it’s like to interpret material made… Read more »
David Bowie Releases to Highlight Record Store Day
04/11/2017
David Bowie Limited-Edition Releases to Highlight Record Store Day –Russell Hall Two very special David Bowie releases are being issued next month to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Record Store Day. On April 22, a new triple-LP set titled Cracked Actor (Live in Los Angeles 1974) will be released by Parlophone, along with an EP… Read more »
Emperor of Sand, Mastodon
04/10/2017
Mastodon – Emperor of Sand -Brian Furman Mastodon is a juggernaut of a band, whose precision and technical prowess were honed to a find tipped point on their last record, the almost gleeful Once More Round the Sun. However, there were some fans that were left feeling the record was undercooked. The band’s first three… Read more »
The Music of Cream: No Ordinary Tribute Band
04/03/2017
The Music of Cream: No Ordinary Tribute Band –Joe Lund It’s a safe bet there’s no shortage of Cream tribute bands scattered across the rock landscape. None, however, can lay claim to that concept in quite the way that Malcolm Bruce, Kofi Baker and Will Johns can. As the sons, respectively, of Jack Bruce and… Read more »
Ringo Starr Announces Fall Tour Dates
04/01/2017
Ringo Starr Announces Fall Tour Dates –Russell Hall Ringo Starr has announced a series of concert dates this fall with his long-running All-Starr Band. The trek kicks off on October 13 with an eight-show stint at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, and wraps up on November 16 at the Performing Arts Center… Read more »
Chris Barron Puts His Spin On It
03/30/2017
Chris Barron Puts His Spin On It -Brian Furman Chris Barron is a prolific singer and songwriter that got his start with the band Spin Doctors. That band, 25 years and six records later, is one of the few bands that still have the same original four members. Chris recently began a Kickstarter for… Read more »
Chuck Berry’s Final Studio Album Coming This Summer
03/28/2017
Chuck Berry’s Final Studio Album Coming This Summer –Joe Lund Photos by Danny Clinch Details have been announced regarding the new Chuck Berry album slated for release this summer. Titled Chuck, the LP features 10 new studio recordings, including eight songs written by the late rock and roll legend. Guest artists include Gary Clark Jr.,… Read more »
Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, to Perform at “Classic” Festivals
03/25/2017
Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and Others to Perform at Inaugural “Classic” Festivals –Joe Lund The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac are among the six artists who’ve been announced to play the inaugural Classic East and Classic West festivals this summer. The lineup also includes Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Journey, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The Classic… Read more »
Lou Reed Archives Acquired by New York Public Library
03/21/2017
Lou Reed Archives Acquired by New York Public Library –Russell Hall Lou Reed’s vast personal collection of materials related to his life and work have found the perfect home. On March 2, on what would have been the musician’s 75th birthday, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts—along with Reed’s widow, Laurie Anderson—announced… Read more »
Pete Townshend Writes Two New Songs for Tommy Production
03/17/2017
Pete Townshend Writes Two New Songs for Tommy Production –Joe Lund Pete Townshend has written two new songs for a touring production of The Who’s classic Tommy album. As reported by Playbill, the new songs written by Townshend are “Amazing Journey,” which will open the show, and an unnamed torch song to be sung by… Read more »
Jack White Working on New Music at Mystery Location
03/11/2017
Jack White Working on New Music at Mystery Location –Joe Lund Good news for Jack White fans: the ever-busy musician-songwriter is working on new material at an undisclosed rented apartment in Nashville. In an in-depth profile featured in the New Yorker, White said he’s attempting “to write songs where I can’t be heard by the… Read more »
Deep Purple Confirm New Album Release Date, Track Listing
03/07/2017
Deep Purple Confirm New Album Release Date, Track Listing –Joe Lund Rock legends Deep Purple have announced that their new studio album, titled Infinite, will be released on April 7. The much-anticipated LP features classic-era members Ian Gillan (vocals), Ian Paice (drums) and Roger Glover (bass), as well as longtime members Steve Morse (guitar) and… Read more »
Liam Gallagher To Play Osheaga Festival
03/04/2017
Liam Gallagher To Play Osheaga Festival -Brian Furman Liam Gallagher, the former Oasis and Beady Eye lead singer, will be perforning his first ever North American solo concert. Alas, the show is not until August 4th at Montreal’s Osheaga Festival, but it’s a step in the right direction. Along with the Montreal show the singer… Read more »
Dave Davies Announces New Album, U.S. Tour
03/02/2017
Dave Davies Announces New Album, U.S. Tour –Joe Lund Legendary Kinks guitarist Dave Davies has announced a month-long U.S. summer tour in support of his forthcoming new album, Open Road. Written and produced in collaboration with his son, Russ, the LP is slated for release on March 31. The 12-city tour kicks off on April… Read more »
Joe Walsh and Others to Stage NYC Benefit Concert
03/01/2017
Joe Walsh, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples and Others to Stage NYC Benefit Concert –Joe Lund Some of the music industry’s most beloved and talented artists are joining forces next Thursday (March 9) in support of a wonderful cause. That evening, New York City’s Beacon Theater will play host to “Love Rocks NYC,” a benefit concert… Read more »
Alice Cooper’s Dennis Dunaway Talks New Album, Reissues
02/28/2017
Alice Cooper’s Dennis Dunaway Talks New Album, Reissues –Joe Lund For months, reports have been surfacing that original Alice Cooper band members Dennis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith will be featured on Cooper’s forthcoming solo album. Now, fans of the original group have reason to hope the reunion might be more substantial than at… Read more »
Soundgarden Announce North American Tour
02/27/2017
Soundgarden Announce North American Tour -Brian Furman Grammy Award winning rock icons, Soundgarden, are headlining a North American tour beginning on May 3rd in Atlanta, GA. The Dillenger Escape Plan and The Pretty Reckless will support on selected dates. Tickets for the shows will go on sale to the general public on March 3rd,… Read more »
David Bowie Fans Aim to Fund Huge “Lightning Bolt” Memorial
02/25/2017
David Bowie Fans Aim to Fund Huge “Lightning Bolt” Memorial –Joe Lund A crowdfunding campaign is underway to erect a permanent memorial to David Bowie in his hometown of Brixton, in South London. As reported by the BBC, the proposed blue-and-red monument—nicknamed the “ZiggyZag”—is based on the lightning bolt featured on Bowie’s 1973 album, Aladdin… Read more »
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Reunite for Studio Session
02/21/2017
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Reunite for Studio Session –Russell Hall Former Beatles bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited this past weekend to work on a song for Starr’s forthcoming new album. The ex-Fab Four members were joined by Joe Walsh as well, as the musicians gathered in Starr’s home studio in Los Angeles…. Read more »
Bob Dylan Announces 3-Album Set of American Standards
02/18/2017
Bob Dylan Announces 3-Album Set of American Standards –Joe Lund Bob Dylan has revealed details regarding his first-ever triple album. Scheduled for release on March 31, the aptly titled Triplicate finds the Nobel laureate covering 30 standards from the Great American Songbook. Self-produced by Dylan, the material has been organized according to theme and collected… Read more »
Boston Announces Initial Dates of 2017 North American Tour
02/16/2017
Boston Announces Initial Dates of 2017 North American Tour –Russell Hall Boston has announced the first set of dates for a North American tour that will eventually touch down in more than four dozen cities. Dubbed the “Hyper Space Tour,” the initial two-week leg focuses on the south, kicking off in Hollywood, Florida on April… Read more »
Metallica WorldWired Tour 2017
02/15/2017
Metallica WorldWired Tour 2017 -Brian Furman Shortly after performing with Lady Gaga at the Grammy Awards on February 12th, the machine of Metallica announced that they are trekking out across North America on a 25 date tour that will see the band’s first proper US shows since 2009. The aptly dubbed Worldwired Tour will begin… Read more »
Joe Perry: Aerosmith Could Be in “Semi-Tour” Mode for Several Years
02/14/2017
Joe Perry: Aerosmith Could Be in “Semi-Tour” Mode for Several Years –Joe Lund Lately there’s been much talk that Aerosmith’s “Aero-Vederci Baby” tour might be the band’s last. Even if that proves true, Joe Perry is offering assurances that the “farewell” process will extend far into the future. “The feeling is, right now [we’re] gonna… Read more »
59th Grammy Awards Best Rock Song & Album Nominees
02/12/2017
59th Grammy Awards Best Rock Song & Album Nominees -Brian Furman The 59th Grammy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, February 12th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. This years ceremony will be hosted by James Corden of The Late Late Show. The ceremony already has a slew of performers including a… Read more »
Steve Miller and Peter Frampton Announce Summer Tour
02/11/2017
Steve Miller and Peter Frampton Announce North American Summer Tour –Joe Lund Peter Frampton and Steve Miller have joined the growing list of veteran rockers who’ve announced co-headlining tours of North America this summer. The classic-rock icons will team up for a 32-city trek that kicks off June 15 in Holmdel, New Jersey, and wraps… Read more »
Kings of Chaos Set to Rock Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
02/09/2017
Kings of Chaos Set to Rock Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach –Joe Lund Fans of car-racing will be treated to a very special “bonus” event at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 8. Appearing on-stage for the racing event’s popular Saturday night Rock-N-Roar Concert will be Kings of Chaos—a “super… Read more »
Eric Clapton Film Documentary in the Works
02/08/2017
Eric Clapton Film Documentary in the Works –Joe Lund Eric Clapton is the subject of a forthcoming documentary to be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Lili Fini Zanuck. As reported by Variety, “Eric Clapton: A Life in 12 Bars” will chronicle the artist’s personal life while also examining his monumental contributions to contemporary music. “Clapton’s music… Read more »
Frampton Comes Alive! Revisiting the 1976 Classic on its 41st Anniversary
02/07/2017
Frampton Comes Alive! Revisiting the 1976 Classic on its 41st Anniversary –Joe Lund For music fans of a certain age, the image of a golden-haired Peter Frampton grinning out from the gatefold cover of Frampton Comes Alive! will forever be an indelible image. “Live” double albums had garnered success before—the Allman Brothers Band’s At Fillmore… Read more »
Deftones and Rise Against to Co-Headline Tour
02/06/2017
Deftones and Rise Against -Brian Furman Atmospheric Metal Kings, Deftones, are going out on tour with fellow hard rock band Rise Against on a 21 city co-headlining tour beginning June 9th in Chicago and hitting Charlotte, Miami, and Seattle among other cities across the U.S.. Deftones released their eighth record titled Gore last April and… Read more »
Alice Cooper, Deep Purple and Edgar Winter Band to Stage Summer Tour
01/31/2017
Alice Cooper, Deep Purple and Edgar Winter Band to Stage Summer Tour –Joe Lund Fans of classic rock, take note: three of the genre’s biggest acts are joining forces for a mid-summer North American tour. Beginning August 12, Alice Cooper and Deep Purple will hit the road as co-headliners for an ambitious 19-city trek, with… Read more »
Tedeschi Trucks Band Announce 2017 “Wheels of Soul” Summer Tour
01/30/2017
Tedeschi Trucks Band Announce 2017 “Wheels of Soul” Summer Tour –Joe Lund The Tedeschi Trucks Band are set to hit the road this summer for their third annual “Wheels of Soul Tour.” Led by former Allman Brothers Band member Derek Trucks and his wife Susan Tedeschi, the 12-piece ensemble will be supported on all dates… Read more »
Iron Maiden Announced Plans For a 25 Date North American Tour
01/28/2017
Iron Maiden Announced Plans For a 25 Date North American Tour -Brain Furman Iron Maiden recently announced plans for a 25 date North American trek for their lengthy Book of Souls tour. The widely successful tour’s North American leg will begin on June 3rd in Bristow, Virginia with stops in Nashville, Dallas, and Toronto ending… Read more »
George Harrison Vinyl Box Set Coming in February
01/25/2017
George Harrison Vinyl Box Set Coming in February –Joe Lund A vinyl box set that collects George Harrison’s solo catalog is set for release on Feb. 24. In addition, prestigious publishing house Genesis Publications will issue an expanded version of Harrison’s 1980 book, I Me Mine, on the same day. Both items will hit stores… Read more »
Kinks Legend Ray Davies to Release New Solo Album
01/24/2017
Kinks Legend Ray Davies to Release New Solo Album –Joe Lund Ray Davies is set to release his first new solo album in nearly a decade. Titled Americana, and based around the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s recent memoir, the record is described as an “autobiographical work” that chronicles the impact America has had… Read more »
Roger Waters Offers Preview of New Album
01/21/2017
Roger Waters Offers Preview of New Album –Joe Lund Roger Waters recently provided fans with a glimpse of what to expect from his forthcoming solo album. The former Pink Floyd member posted a short video on Instagram of himself playing bass in the studio, with producer Nigel Godrich at his side. In addition, Waters shared… Read more »
Smashing Pumpkins Original Lineup Close to Reuniting
01/19/2017
Smashing Pumpkins Original Lineup Close to Reuniting –Joe Lund Billy Corgan has revealed that speculation regarding a Smashing Pumpkins reunion will likely soon become a reality. In an interview with the WLUP radio station in Chicago, Corgan said he and guitarist James Iha are good to go. There’s one caveat, however: fans should probably not… Read more »
Ann Wilson to Tour This Spring
01/18/2017
Ann Wilson to Tour This Spring -Brian Furman Ann Wilson, we be trekking across North America for a 20 date solo tour titled the “Ann Wilson of Heart” tour. The tour kicks off on March 8th in her hometown of Seattle, and hits multiple cities across the U.S. including Aspen, Annapolis, and Philadelphia. Ann will… Read more »
Bob Weir to Perform at NAMM with High-Profile Friends
01/16/2017
Bob Weir to Perform at NAMM with High-Profile Friends –Joe Lund Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir will front a “supergroup,” of sorts, for a private concert to be staged later this month at the NAMM trade show in Los Angeles. Joining Weir for the set will be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Matt… Read more »
Green Day Revolution Radio Tour
01/15/2017
Green Day Revolution Radio Tour -Brian Furman Green Day have added 24 dates to their Revolution Radio tour. The tour starts on March 1st in Phoenix, with the band hitting Houston, Brooklyn, and Pittsburgh with opening act Against Me! The additional 24 dates see the band play their first-ever concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field,… Read more »
Joe Walsh Open to James Gang Reunion Tour Possibility
01/14/2017
Joe Walsh Open to James Gang Reunion Tour Possibility –Russell Hall Joe Walsh is kicking off the New Year in a big way, staging a series of solo shows at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. Later, in April, the veteran rocker will hit the road with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, performing as… Read more »
Elliot Smith Either/Or 20th Anniversary Reissue
01/14/2017
Elliot Smith Either/Or 20th Anniversary Reissue -Brian Furman Beloved singer/songwriter Elliott Smith and his 1997 album Either/Or will be receiving the reissue treatment to accompany the 20th anniversary of its release. The reissue is slated for release on March 10th via Kill Rock Stars. The record will also offer the previously unreleased track “I… Read more »
King Crimson to Tour in 2017, Mainly in U.S.
01/12/2017
King Crimson to Tour in 2017, Mainly in U.S. –Joe Lund Prog rock pioneers King Crimson are planning to tour in 2017, according to band leader Robert Fripp. Fripp broke the news in a recent blog post on his website. “King Crimson’s 2017 touring will be mostly in the U.S.,” wrote Fripp, “beginning in Seattle… Read more »
The Shins Announce New Album ‘Heartworms’
01/11/2017
The Shins Announce New Album ‘Hearyworms’ -Brian Furman The Shins have set a date for their highly anticipated fifth record entitled Heartworms due out on March 10th via Aural Apothecary / Columbia Records. The record comes nearly 5 years after their critically acclaimed 2012 Port of Morrow. Heartworms also has the band’s heart and soul,… Read more »
Foreigner 40th Anniversary Tour to Include Cheap Trick, Bonham
01/10/2017
Foreigner 40th Anniversary Tour to Include Cheap Trick, Jason Bonham –Joe Lund Classic rock favorites Foreigner have announced an ambitious summer tour set to kick off July 11th in Syracuse, New York. Joining the band for their “40th Anniversary” trek will be recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick, along with special… Read more »
A Perfect Circle Announce North American Tour
01/09/2017
A Perfect Circle Announce North American Tour -Brian Furman A Perfect Circle, the band formed by Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel, has come out of hiding in the past couple of months, and has now announced a full fledge North American tour. The outing will begin April 7th in Las Vegas and will hit… Read more »
Black Sabbath Was Huge Influence on Kurt Cobain, Says Dave Grohl
01/07/2017
Black Sabbath Was Huge Influence on Kurt Cobain, Says Dave Grohl –Joe Lund It’s no secret that Black Sabbath was one of Kurt Cobain’s biggest influences. Recently, however, one of Cobain’s former bandmates made that point in an especially emphatic way. “Kurt really liked Ozzy [Osbourne],” said Dave Grohl, speaking with Mojo magazine. “Growing up… Read more »
U2 to Commemorate “The Joshua Tree” 30th with Special Shows
01/04/2017
U2 to Commemorate “The Joshua Tree” 30th Anniversary with Special Shows –Joe Lund The year 2017 is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy time for U2. In a recent video message posted on the band’s Facebook page, frontman Bono confirmed that Songs of Experience, the much-anticipated companion LP to 2014’s Songs of Innocence, will… Read more »
Fleet Foxes Tease New Album Details
01/02/2017
Fleet Foxes Tease New Album Details –Joe Lund Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold has issued tantalizing details about material that’s in the pipeline. Just prior to Christmas day, Pecknold posted a screenshot of the Seattle group’s back catalog from his iTunes library. Included in the screenshot was the title and artwork for an album called… Read more »
Brian Eno releases new record Reflection
01/01/2017
Brian Eno Releases New Record Reflection -Brian Furman Brian Eno has released a new record entitled Reflection on January 1st via Warp Records. Reflection extends Eno’s ambient and experimental catalog and consists of a single 54 minute track. Eno draws similarities between Reflection and his 1985 work Thursday Afternoon which, much like Reflection, is one continuous… Read more »
The Doors ‘London Fog 1966’, Members Recall Early Days
12/31/2016
The Doors Release ‘London Fog 1966’, Surviving Members Recall Early Days –Joe Lund Every few years, just when you think there couldn’t possibly be any more Doors material in the vaults, a new batch of material emerges. The latest Doors release, a limited-edition box set titled London Fog 1966, features some of the Doors’ earliest… Read more »
Cream Set to Release 50th Anniversary Fresh Cream Box Set
12/30/2016
Cream Set to Release 50th Anniversary Fresh Cream Box Set –Joe Lund The 50th anniversary of Cream’s debut album will be celebrated on January 27 with the release of a four-disc Super Deluxe Edition of the landmark LP. Included in the Fresh Cream reissue are three CDs featuring mono and stereo mixes of the original album… Read more »
The Killers Reissue Debut Record Hot Fuss
12/29/2016
The Killers Reissue Debut Record Hot Fuss -Brian Furman The Killers recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their 2006 hit album Sam’s Town earlier in 2016 with a full vinyl reissue of the record.. The band will be following up that release with a vinyl reissue of their 2004 debut smash Hot Fuss slated for… Read more »
Nine Inch Nails Releases New EP Featuring Dave Grohl, Other Guests
12/27/2016
Nine Inch Nails Releases New EP Featuring Dave Grohl, Other Guests –Joe Lund On Thursday (Dec. 22), Nine Inch Nails released an EP titled Not the Actual Events, just one week after announcing the disc had been recorded. The five-song set is mostly a two-man effort, featuring Trent Reznor (of course) and Reznor’s musical partner… Read more »
Journey, ELO and YES Among 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
12/24/2016
Journey, ELO and YES Among 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees –Joe Lund The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its inductees for 2017. First time nominees Pearl Jam, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Joan Baez and Tupac Shakur will be enshrined, along with three-time nominee Yes. Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers –… Read more »
The Ramones Classic Debut: Butch Vig Offers a Personal Remembrance
12/20/2016
The Ramones Classic Debut: Producer Butch Vig Offers a Personal Remembrance –Joe Lund With the 41st anniversary of the Ramones self-titled debut album fast approaching – the LP was recorded in February 1976 – we decided to scour the web for some choice bits about the landmark LP. One article that jumped out at us… Read more »
Pop Offers Thoughts on Bowie, Making His First #1 Record
12/17/2016
Iggy Pop Offers Thoughts on David Bowie, Making His First #1 Record –Joe Lund Iggy Pop is rarely at a loss for words. Still, when David Bowie passed away earlier this year, Pop kept his feelings about his longtime friend and collaborator fairly close to the vest. In a new interview with Billboard, however, the… Read more »
Pete Townshend: The Who Set to Perform a “Quieter” Tommy
12/14/2016
Pete Townshend: The Who Set to Perform a “Quieter” Tommy –Joe Lund Pete Townshend’s enthusiasm for live performances has waned over the years, but these days the 71-year-old guitarist is feeling invigorated. Speaking with Rolling Stone, the Who mastermind says he’s looking forward to staging the rock opera Tommy—in its entirety—for the first time in… Read more »
Rhoads,Dio,Lemmy Among 2017 Heavy Metal Hall Inductees
12/11/2016
Randy Rhoads, Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy Kilmister Among 2017 Heavy Metal Hall Inductees –Joe Lund As every fan of hard rock knows, the “heavy metal” genre gets little respect from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A new non-profit organization—the Hall of Heavy Metal History—is aiming to remedy that. For 2017, nine artists will… Read more »
Bob Dylan Song to be Performed by Patti Smith at Nobel Prize Event
12/11/2016
Bob Dylan Song to be Performed by Patti Smith at Nobel Prize Event –Joe Lund Bob Dylan might not be present in Stockholm to accept his Nobel Prize in Literature, but that doesn’t mean his music won’t be performed. Nobel organizers have announced that Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Patti Smith will cover the… Read more »
Alice Cooper Says Next Album May Feature Original Bandmates
12/10/2016
Alice Cooper Says Next Album May Feature Original Surviving Bandmates –Joe Lund For some Alice Cooper fans, nothing the shock rocker has done as a solo artist will ever match the heady days of the early ‘70s, when the original Alice Cooper band ruled the airwaves. Those fans may soon have reason to celebrate. Speaking… Read more »
Tom Petty to Play MusiCares 2017 Gala
12/07/2016
–Brian Furman A host of performers are scheduled to pay tribute to Tom Petty at the MusiCares Gala on February 10th, 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall, as part of GRAMMY week. The evening will begin with a reception and silent auction followed by a gala dinner, and performances by Foo Fighters,… Read more »
Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason Talks Syd Barrett, Floyd’s Early Years
12/03/2016
Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason Talks Syd Barrett, Floyd’s Early Years –Joe Lund Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason recently sat down with Rolling Stone for a wide-ranging conversation about the years leading up to Floyd’s 1972 masterpiece, Dark Side of the Moon. The period is lavishly chronicled in a new box set, The Early Years: 1965… Read more »
Eric Clapton Announces Tour Dates
12/02/2016
Eric Clapton Announces Tour Dates –Brian Furman Blues legend Eric Clapton has announced a small handful of tour dates in 2017. Clapton will be perftrming at NYC’s Madison Square Garden March 19th and 20th, then heading to the west coast for two dates at the Forum in Los Angeles on March 25th and 26th. The… Read more »
CRX – Artist Spotlight
11/28/2016
CRX – Artist Spotlight -Brian Furman CRX is the brainchild of Nick Valensi, the wonderfully talented guitarist of the multiplatinum band, The Strokes. CRX recently released their first full length album New Skin earlier in 2016, and have found a following behind their first single “Ways to Fake It”. The band became something of a passion… Read more »
Glenn Hughes Announces 2017 U.K., European Tour
11/25/2016
Glenn Hughes Announces 2017 U.K., European Tour –Joe Lund Glenn Hughes has announced a headlining tour of the U.K. and Europe, beginning in early 2017. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will kick off the 24-city trek on Jan. 20 in Newcastle, and will play a total of 10 U.K. dates prior to continuing… Read more »
Rolling Stones’ ‘Exhibitionism’ Opens in New York City
11/22/2016
Rolling Stones’ ‘Exhibitionism’ Opens in New York City –Joe Lund The Rolling Stones’ much-anticipated career-spanning museum exhibit opened in New York City just one week ago, and already it’s garnering rave reviews. Titled “Exhibitionism,” the ambitious project showcases more than 500 items of memorabilia, and traces the band’s journey from struggling musicians in the early… Read more »
Aerosmith Announce Initial “Farewell” Tour Dates
11/18/2016
Aerosmith Announce Initial “Farewell” Tour Dates –Joe Lund Aerosmith is hitting the European concert circuit next spring as part of what’s being billed as the band’s farewell tour. The 17-city “Aero-Vederci Baby!” tour gets underway on May 17 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and wraps up July 5 in Zurich, Switzerland. No American dates have been… Read more »
Tom Petty To Release The Complete Studio Albums Box Sets
11/17/2016
Tom Petty The Complete Studio Albums Box Sets -Brian Furman Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are gearing up for the 40th anniversary of their monstrous 1976 self-titled debut with two vinyl boxed sets spanning their entire catalog. The two collections, entitled the Complete Studio Albums Volume 1 and Volume 2, are scheduled for release on… Read more »
Johnny Thunders Bio-Pic Slated to Hit Theaters in 2017
11/15/2016
Johnny Thunders Bio-Pic Slated to Hit Theaters in 2017 –Joe Lund Punk legend Johnny Thunders is the subject of a forthcoming bio-pic slated to hit theaters sometime in 2017. As reported by Billboard, the film will be adapted from the acclaimed biography, “Johnny Thunders: In Cold Blood,” which was written by Nina Antonia. Antonia will… Read more »
Photo by Jeff Yeager Metallica Spearheads Massively Successful Food Drive –Joe Lund Thrash metal often gets a bad rap when it comes to issues of social responsibility and positive influence. But as Metallica recently demonstrated, that less-than-favorable reputation is undeserved. At a recent show staged in Bogota, Colombia, the veteran rockers asked more than 25,000… Read more »
Iggy Pop Tells the Stooges’ Story in New Book, “Total Chaos”
11/10/2016
Iggy Pop Tells the Stooges’ Story in New Book, “Total Chaos” –Joe Lund Iggy Pop and Jack White have joined forces, in a sense, to tell the story behind one of rock and roll’s most seminal bands. “Total Chaos: The Story of the Stooges / As Told by Iggy Pop” will be published on December… Read more »
Dave Davies Shoots Down Kinks Reunion Talk
11/07/2016
Dave Davies Shoots Down Kinks Reunion Talk –Joe Lund Kinks co-founder Dave Davies has dismissed recent talk of a forthcoming Kinks reunion. Over the weekend, Davies’ brother, Ray, was widely quoted as saying the band “could play” the U.K.’s 2017 Glastonbury music festival. The reports originated with the London’s The Sun tabloid, which asserted that… Read more »
“David Bowie: The Last Five Years” Film Documentary to Air in January
11/07/2016
“David Bowie: The Last Five Years” Film Documentary to Air in January –Russell Hall A follow-up to the acclaimed 2013 film documentary, “David Bowie: Five Years,” is set to be broadcast in January 2017. Produced and directed by Francis Whately, who helmed the first “Five Years” film, “David Bowie: The Last Five Years” will premiere… Read more »
Badflower Puts New Vigor Into Riff-Driven Guitar Rock
11/04/2016
Artist Spotlight: Badflower Puts New Vigor Into Riff-Driven Guitar Rock –Joe Lund For serious music fans, the near-absence of guitar-based rock music on contemporary radio has long been a source of frustration. Up-and-coming band Badflower probably can’t change that, but for anyone searching for a young group cast in a classic rock-radio mold, the L.A.-based… Read more »
Darryl Jones Like a Rolling Stone
11/01/2016
Darryl Jones Subject of New Film Documentary –Joe Lund Rolling Stones fans, take note: it appears one of the band’s least-known members will soon get his day in the sun. Darryl Jones, the bassist who stepped in for Bill Wyman after the latter retired in 1993, is the subject of a new documentary being financed… Read more »
Joe Perry to Receive Prestigious Les Paul Award
10/31/2016
Joe Perry to Receive Prestigious Les Paul Award –Joe Lund Aerosmith’s Joe Perry will be the next recipient of the Les Paul Award, an honor given annually for creative excellence in the field of audio recording. The veteran guitarist will be presented with the prize at the 32nd NAMM TEC Awards event, which takes place… Read more »
Roger Waters 2017 North American Tour
10/29/2016
–Brian Furman Roger Waters, fresh off his very successful Desert Trip performances, has announced a 2017 North American tour beginning on May 26th in Kansas City, MO running through October Dubbed the “Roger Waters – US & Them” Tour, material will be what Waters calls on his website, “a mixture of stuff from my long… Read more »
Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger to get 25th anniversary re-release
10/27/2016
-Brian Furman Soundgarden will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of their smash album Badmotorfinger with a limited edition seven disc reissue to be released on November 18th via UMe/A&M Records. The Super Deluxe Edition will include 79 previously unreleased tracks, live performances, and videos. Highlights of the package include a version of their… Read more »
ZZ Top Announce 2017 “Tonnage” Tour
10/26/2016
ZZ Top Announce 2017 “Tonnage” Tour –Joe Lund ZZ Top are preparing to kick off their 2017 “Tonnage” tour. As announced earlier this week, the trek begins on Feb. 19 in Greenville, S.C., and runs through several cities in the South, Northeast and Midwest. The Tonnage tour comes in the wake of the release of… Read more »
MATT SORUM TALKS KINGS OF CHAOS, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES AND MORE
10/25/2016
MATT SORUM TALKS KINGS OF CHAOS, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES AND MORE Feature image by Zach Whitford It’s not for nothing that Kings of Chaos is billed as “Rock’s Ultimate Supergroup.” Boasting a revolving lineup that’s included the likes of Billy Gibbons, Billy Duffy, Corey Taylor, Chester Bennington, Steve Stevens, Robert Deleo, and our own Matt Sorum… Read more »
Kings of Leon, Have Scored Their First Billboard #1 Record
10/24/2016
Kings of Leon – WALLS 1st #1 record. -Brian Furman Nashville’s own Kings of Leon, have scored their first Billboard #1 record with the October 14th release of WALLS. The band’s 7th album pushed a total of 77,000 units in its first week of release buoyed by singles, “Waste a Moment” “WALLS” and “Around the… Read more »
The Who: Check Out this Unreleased Gem from the Forthcoming Box Set
10/21/2016
The Who: Check Out this Previously Unreleased Gem from the Forthcoming Box Set, My Generation: Super Deluxe –Joe Lund Who fans, take note: A previously unreleased demo, recorded by Pete Townshend in 1965, is now available for streaming. What’s more, the track is absolutely first-rate–a stunning example of the vintage Who style. Along with two… Read more »
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced for 2017
10/19/2016
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced for 2017 –Joe Lund Steppenwolf, the Zombies, Yes, the Cars, and the J. Geils Band are among the artists nominated for 2017 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rounding out the list of nominees are Journey, Electric Light Orchestra, Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode, Tupac… Read more »
Chuck Berry, at 90, to Release His First New Album in 38 Years
10/18/2016
Chuck Berry, at 90, to Release His First New Album in 38 Years –Joe Lund Impressed that Keith Richards is still rockin’ as hard as ever, at nearly 73? How about this: today (Oct. 18), to mark his 90th birthday, rock and roll legend Chuck Berry has just announced his first new album in nearly… Read more »
David Bowie’s Heroes: A Chat with Bowie Producer Tony Visconti
10/14/2016
David Bowie’s Heroes: A Chat with Bowie Producer Tony Visconti, on the Album’s 39th Anniversary –Russell Hall Today (Oct. 14) marks the 39th anniversary of one of David Bowie’s most acclaimed and beloved albums—the 1977 LP, Heroes. Back in 2008, I had the pleasure of speaking with producer Tony Visconti about his—and Bowie’s—work on… Read more »
Bob Dylan Awarded 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature
10/13/2016
Bob Dylan Awarded 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature –Russell Hall Bob Dylan has been the rock era’s unofficial poet laureate for more than a half-century. Today (Oc. 13), the Swedish Nobel Prize Academy made that assessment official. Praising the 75-year-old songwriter for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,” the Academy… Read more »
Green Day – 2017 World Tour
10/12/2016
Green Day – 2017 World Tour -Brian Furman San Francisco punk rock behemoths, Green Day, announced a 2017 World Tour in support of their latest record, Revolution Radio. The tour begins January 10th in Turin, Italy and includes stops in Germany, Sweden, and America concluding May 13th in Auckland, New Zealand. Fellow punks Against Me… Read more »
Power Pop Legends Big Star Subject of Ambitious New Photo Book
10/11/2016
Power Pop Legends Big Star Subject of Ambitious New Photo Book –Joe Lund Power pop legends Big Star are the subject of an ambitious new photo book featuring a trove of images of the beloved Memphis-based group. Titled BIG STAR – Isolated in the Light, the book is the result of a collaborative effort between… Read more »
New Stooges Documentary to hit theaters this month
10/10/2016
-Brian Furman There would be no punk rock without The Stooges. The seminal proto-punk band fronted by the iconic Iggy Pop has been given the documentary treatment. It would be just another rock-doc, but this rock-doc is directed by Coffee and Cigarettes art-house director, Jim Jarmusch. The film chronicles The Stooges career from Mid-West Michigan… Read more »
The Rolling Stones Announce Blue & Lonesome, New Album
10/06/2016
The Rolling Stones Announce Blue & Lonesome, New Studio Album Coming Dec. 2 –Joe Lund It’s official: The Rolling Stones have announced that their first new studio album in more than a decade will hit stores on December 2. Titled Blue & Lonesome, the album features 12 cover versions of songs originally associated with classic… Read more »
Rolling Stones: Don Was Talks about the Band’s Chemistry
10/04/2016
Rolling Stones: Producer Don Was Talks about the Band’s Magical Chemistry –Joe Lund Rumors have swirled for months that the Rolling Stones were recording a new studio album—with much of the talk centered on speculation that the album would be an emphatic return to the Stones’ blues roots. Now, it appears certain that the talk… Read more »
Tom Petty- 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year
10/03/2016
Tom Petty- 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year Three-time Grammy winner, Tom Petty, has been announced as the 2017 MusiCares Person of Year. The award will be given at the 27th annual benefit gala two nights prior to the 59th annual Grammy awards in Los Angeles. Petty has long been a pillar in the… Read more »
Marc Bolan: A Tribute to the Late T. Rex Legend on His 69th Birthday
09/30/2016
Marc Bolan: A Tribute to the Late T. Rex Legend on His 69th Birthday –Joe Lund The image of Marc Bolan—cheeks dotted with glitter, Les Paul slung low—is one of the most enduring of the early ‘70s glam-rock era. At his best–on songs such as “Get It On (Bang a Gong),” “20th Century Boy,” and… Read more »
Beck Reissues Coming This Fall
09/28/2016
Beck Reissues Coming This Fall -Brian Furman For 20+ years, Beck has released records that have scoured any idea of what a genre is. From the indecipherable pop-hook and slacker chorus of “Loser” from 1994’s Mellow Gold to the award-winning beauty of 2014’s Morning Phase, Beck continues to bring his indelible style of mashed up… Read more »
Hometown Life, Sully Erna
09/26/2016
Sully Erna – Hometown Life -Brian Furman For almost 20 years Sully Erna has been the enigmatic, bullish, demon of a frontman presence for powerhouse rock behemoth Godsmack. By night, he moonlights as a singer / songwriter with a vulnerability seldom heard by a metal frontman. Metal purists may scoff at the lead singer taking… Read more »
Joe Perry Talks Riffs, Guitars, and Hollywood Vampires
09/23/2016
Feature Interview: Joe Perry Talks Riffs, Guitars, and the Future of Hollywood Vampires Hard to believe, but nearly a half-century has passed since Joe Perry partnered with Steven Tyler to form the songwriting core of Aerosmith. The Boston-based rockers have been on a sabbatical of late, but during the downtime, Perry has involved himself in… Read more »
Happy Birthday, Joan Jett! Check Out Her 10 Essential Albums
09/22/2016
Happy Birthday, Joan Jett! Check Out Her 10 Essential Albums Several years ago, our writer Joe Lund asked Joan Jett to name 10 albums that, for her, are essential. Her list might read slightly differently today, but we’re betting she still counts these classics among her favorites. 1) The Rolling Stones: Let It… Read more »
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers – 2017 North American Tour Dates
09/19/2016
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers – 2017 North America Tour Dates -Brian Furman The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced a run of North American tour dates in support of their newest LP The Getaway. The band has spent the bulk of the summer headlining festivals in Europe, but plans to bring their iconic sound… Read more »
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill Gets a Vinyl Reissue
09/19/2016
Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill reissue -Brian Furman The iconic Beastie Boys record, Licensed to Ill, is getting a 30th anniversary vinyl reissue, released to the masses on October 14th. The reissue is cut directly from the original masters and will be released via the Def Jam label. Licensed to Ill showcase the punk-leaning… Read more »
Black Sabbath Announce “Super Deluxe Edition” of Paranoid
09/16/2016
Black Sabbath Announce “Super Deluxe Edition” of Paranoid –Joe Lund Fans of classic heavy metal, take note: Black Sabbath’s landmark 1970 album, Paranoid, is being reissued this fall in an ambitiously expanded four-disc package. Titled Paranoid: Super Deluxe Edition, the set includes the original album, a rare quadrophonic mix of the LP, and recordings of… Read more »
Stevie Nicks Preparing for Fall Tour with Pretenders
09/13/2016
Stevie Nicks Preparing for Fall Tour with Pretenders –Joe Lund Stevie Nicks is set to hit the road in late October for a two-month tour in support of her most recent solo album, with the Pretenders on-board as opening act. Christened the “24 Karat Gold Tour,” the trek is being staged in support of Nicks’… Read more »
Duane Allman Retrospective Box Set to Make its Vinyl Debut
09/10/2016
Duane Allman Retrospective Box Set to Make its Vinyl Debut –Joe Lund Duane Allman fans take note: next month, a special limited-edition vinyl edition of Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective will be released by Rounder Records. Originally issued in 2013 as a CD box set, the vinyl collection consists of 129 tracks spread across fourteen… Read more »
Keith Richards to Become Pirate TV Host for a Full Weekend
09/08/2016
Keith Richards to Become Pirate TV Host for a Full Weekend –Joe Lund TV viewers will soon get an up-close-and-personal look at Keith Richards, who’s set to curate an entire weekend of programming for the British television channel, BBC Four. As reported in an official statement, Keith Richards’ Lost Weekend “will take viewers on a… Read more »
Jack White Unveils “Carolina Drama,” From Forthcoming Acoustic Set
09/07/2016
Jack White Unveils “Carolina Drama,” Offers Preview of Forthcoming Acoustic Set –Joe Lund Jack White has shared a second track from his much-anticipated new collection of acoustic recordings. Titled, appropriately, Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016, the upcoming set features acoustic songs drawn from the artist’s work with the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and as a… Read more »
Pink Floyd’s History Detailed in Ambitious Museum Exhibit
09/02/2016
Pink Floyd’s History Detailed in Ambitious Museum Exhibit –Joe Lund The rich history of Pink Floyd will be documented in a major exhibit set to run at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Titled “The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains,” the ambitious retrospective will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the release of the band’s… Read more »
Amos Lee – Artist Spotlight
09/01/2016
Amos Lee – Artist Spotlight -Brian Furman Amos Lee is a singer / songwriter hailing from Philadelphia, PA. Lee is known for his striking and passionate voice and beautifully intricate, yet simple, songwriting with folk, soul, and blues influences. Lee has released a total of 6 studio albums with his 2011 release, Mission Bell, reaching… Read more »
“Walk This Way”: The Story Behind Aerosmith’s Landmark Classic, On Its 41st Anniversary
08/28/2016
“Walk This Way”: The Story Behind Aerosmith’s Landmark Classic, On Its 41st Anniversary –Joe Lund Hard to believe, but today (Aug. 28) marks the 41st anniversary of one of classic rock’s landmark moments: the release of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” Written by Joe Perry and Steven Tyler in the winter of 1974 and ‘75, the… Read more »
Statue of Motorhead’s Lemmy Unveiled to Great Fanfare
08/26/2016
Statue of Motorhead’s Lemmy Unveiled to Great Fanfare –Joe Lund A magnificent statue of Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister was unveiled this week at the late musician’s favorite haunt — the famous Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood. Legions of fans gathered for the event, which included such honored guests as Motorhead manager Todd Singerman,… Read more »
Led Zeppelin’s The Complete BBC Sessions Coming Next Month
08/24/2016
Led Zeppelin’s The Complete BBC Sessions Coming Next Month –Joe Lund Anticipation is building for the expanded, remastered reissue of Led Zeppelin’s BBC Sessions album. Titled Led Zeppelin – The Complete BBC Sessions, the set is slated for release on Sept. 16. Fleshed out with a trove of unreleased tracks – including a three-song “lost”… Read more »
New Metallica Record Coming This Fall
08/21/2016
New Metallica Record Coming This Fall -Brian Furman Metallica is back after an 8 year absence with a blistering new song from their upcoming new record, their first since 2008’s Death Magnetic. Hardwire…To Self Destruct, is slated for release this fall in a variety of formats including a huge boxed set complete with lithographs, pins, and other Metallica swag…. Read more »
Eric Clapton to Release New Album, Live in San Diego
08/17/2016
Eric Clapton to Release New Album, Live in San Diego –Joe Lund Back in 2007, Eric Clapton and his good friend and mentor JJ Cale teamed up casually to support their 2006 collaborative album, Road to Escondido. Now, on September 30, Clapton will release a live album that documents their special partnership. Recorded on March… Read more »
Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood Talks New Album, A Moon Shaped Pool
08/12/2016
Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood Talks New Album, A Moon Shaped Pool –Joe Lund Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood recently sat down with NPR for a wide-ranging chat about the band’s latest album, A Moon Shaped Pool. In essence, the conversation became a mini-clinic on Radiohead’s approach to making records. “I guess it feels like every record we… Read more »
Ringo Starr: Check Out What He Has to Say in Our Exclusive Video Chat
08/10/2016
Ringo Starr: Check Out What He Has to Say in Our Exclusive Video Chat If there’s a more amiable rock star than Ringo Starr, we’ve yet to meet him. Lucky us, we caught up with Ringo during a rare moment when he’s not either on the road or immersed in his latest project. True to form,… Read more »
Blues Pills – Artist Spotlight
08/06/2016
Blues Pills – Artist Spotlight -Brian Furman Blues Pills is a bluesy, hard rockin’ outfit hailing from Sweden, France, and America with a thick, swampy attitude, receiving immediate street cred when they signed to the iconic metal label Nuclear Blast Records. The band tears, shreds, and gnaws their way through a sound shrouded in the… Read more »
Rolling Stones’ Havana Moon to Play in Theaters Next Month
08/05/2016
Rolling Stones’ Havana Moon to Play in Theaters Next Month –Joe Lund Rolling Stones fans, mark your calendars. On September 23, for one night only, theater cinemas around the globe will present a film of the landmark concert the group staged in Havana, Cuba, this past spring. Titled Havana Moon, the film documents the Stones’… Read more »
Creem Magazine’s Colorful History to be Chronicled in Documentary
08/01/2016
–Joe Lund Great news for rock fans: a crowdfunding effort to produce a behind-the-scenes film documentary about one of rock and roll’s most seminal publications has proved successful. “Boy Howdy! The Story of CREEM Magazine” will chronicle the history of the legendary rock periodical from its inception in Detroit in 1969 to the death of… Read more »
Lollapalooza is celebrating its 25th anniversary
07/29/2016
Lollapalooza is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend, and doing it at, what some would call, the height of its popularity. Moving from a traveling, controlled chaos, party to a 2-day Chicago-bound festival was not an easy transition, and there were many bumps along the 25 year ride, but the foremost “Alternative” music festival in… Read more »
David Bowie – Who Can I Be Now ? (Box Set)
07/27/2016
David Bowie – Who Can I Be Now? -Brian Furman David Bowie fans rejoice, the follow up to the critically acclaimed set, David Bowie “Five Years (1969 – 1973), and 2nd in a series of David Bowie boxed sets will arrive this September. “Who Can I Be Now?” (1974 – 1976) follows one of the… Read more »
Jack White Partners with Ex-NASA Member to Play First Record in Space
07/26/2016
Jack White Partners with Ex-NASA Member to Play First Record in Space –Joe Lund Leave it to Jack White to commemorate a milestone in grand style. This Saturday (July 30), to celebrate the 7th anniversary of White’s Third Man Records, the Nashville-based label will write a new chapter in vinyl history by attempting to play… Read more »
Remembering Jimi Hendrix’s First-Ever Public Performance
07/25/2016
Remembering Jimi Hendrix’s First-Ever Public Performance –Joe Lund Often it seems that gifted musicians emerge magically, fully formed, hitting the public stage with a virtuosity that was always present. Truth is, that’s almost never the case. The example of the great Jimi Hendrix is a perfect case in point. As the folks at TeamRock point… Read more »
Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown – Artist Spotlight
07/22/2016
Tyler Bryant – Artist Spotlight -Brian Furman Tyler Bryant received his first guitar at age 6, at age 16 he received the prestigious Robert Johnson Foundation’s New Generation Award, and at age 17 he was invited by Eric Clapton to play the Crossroads Guitar Festival. He has toured with heavyweight international superstars including: Joe Bonamassa,… Read more »
Temple of the Dog to Reunite for First-Ever Tour
07/21/2016
Temple of the Dog to Reunite for Fall Tour –Joe Lund Twenty-five years have passed since Seattle-based supergroup Temple of the Dog released their sole, self-titled studio album. To mark the anniversary, band members Mick McCready, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, and Matt Cameron are joining frontman Chris Cornell for a five-city reunion tour in November…. Read more »
Whitford/St. Holmes Set to Resume Summer Tour, New Album is Titled Reunion
07/19/2016
Whitford/St. Holmes Set to Resume Summer Tour, New Album is Titled Reunion –Joe Lund Dynamic duo Brad Whitford and Derek St. Holmes are prepping for the second leg of their summer tour, which kicks off July 26 in St. Louis. The two recently used downtime from their respective bands—Whitford plays guitar in Aerosmith; St. Holmes… Read more »
Statue of Motorhead’s Lemmy To Be Unveiled Next Month
07/18/2016
Statue of Motorhead’s Lemmy To Be Unveiled Next Month –Joe Lund A much-anticipated statue of Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister is set to be unveiled next month at West Hollywood’s Rainbow Bar & Grill, a favorite haunt of the late musician. The ceremony will take place on August 24 at 7:00 p.m., and is open to… Read more »
Keith Richards: “If I had to choose just one guitar, it would be …”
07/15/2016
Keith Richards: “If I had to choose just one guitar, it would be …” –Joe Lund A fundamental question was recently put to Keith Richards: “If you could only one guitar, which would it be, and why?” To the surprise of no one, the Rolling Stones legend’s instant response was, “… my Telecaster.” Richards offered… Read more »
At Fillmore East: The Story Behind the Allman Brothers Band’s 1971 Masterpiece
07/13/2016
–Joe Lund The Allman Brothers Band’s At Fillmore East was, of course, neither rock and roll’s first live album nor the genre’s first two-disc set, but it gave both formats a cachet neither had enjoyed prior to its release in 1971. A tour-de-force of southern-based blues rock, much of it improvisational, the album also forged… Read more »
The Getaway, Red Hot Chili Peppers
07/11/2016
The Getaway, Red Hot Chili Peppers –Brian Furman There is always a level of trepidation when a well-respected band writes a new album. Fans walk a razor-sharp line of cynicism and love when the band takes a leap of faith trying to keep its core sound and audience while branching out into something new… Read more »
Glenn Hughes to Release New Album
07/08/2016
–Joe Lund Great news from the Glenn Hughes camp: the classic-rock icon has just finished recording his new solo album. Recording took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he’s currently mixing the material and making supporting videos. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (inducted this year as a member of Deep Purple) anticipates a fall… Read more »
Foals – Artist Spotlight
07/05/2016
Foals – Artist Spotlight -Brian Furman Every now and then a really good band flies under the radar for an extended period of time. They win awards, push singles, and still never get put front and center praised for their art. Foals are currently that band. The four piece hails from Oxford, England and with… Read more »
Jeff Beck Releasing New Album This Month
07/02/2016
Jeff Beck’s first studio album in six years, Loud Hailer, is set for release this month. Combining Beck’s unmistakable tone with topical lyrics, his newest record makes a powerful statement about everything from the love of power to the power of love. Loud Hailer, another name for a megaphone, is a suitable moniker for an… Read more »
Scotty Moore Rock n Roll Pioneer Dies at 84
07/01/2016
In a year that’s already seen the untimely passing of too many musical icons, the world lost another this week.On June 28, Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley’s longtime guitar player and rock n’ roll pioneer, died in Nashville at the age of 84. And while Elvis may have been king, Moore’s influence shaped both the sound… Read more »
Izzy Stradlin and Matt Sorum Reunite for New Track
06/30/2016
While Guns N’ Roses have garnered their share of headlines of late, former members Izzy Stradlin and Matt Sorum are set to make some of their own. Set for release later this month, Stradlin’s latest track, entitled F.P. Money, finds the veteran drummer guesting on the track and Stradlin on both guitar and vocals. “Matt… Read more »
Live In Santa Monica ’72, David Bowie
06/30/2016
David Bowie Live In Santa Monica ’72 -Joe Lund Often bootlegged through the years, this legendary 1972 performance by David Bowie and his Ziggy-era band, the Spiders from Mars, brims with all the excitement Bowie must have felt as he watched stardom hurtling his way. Drawing mostly from his (then) four rock albums (RCA had… Read more »
Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” Session
06/27/2016
For garage-band toilers, bedroom noodlers or the occasional weekend cover-band warrior, the correlations between themselves and some of rock’s most-iconic stars are almost non-existent. But every now and then, tape surfaces that serves as a reminder that no matter whether you’re rocking out in a basement or on stage in front of a stadium-sized audience,… Read more »
Instant Classics: Great Debut Albums
06/25/2016
Instant Classics: Great Debut Albums –Joe Lund In most instances a band reaches its full potential only after recording at least an album or two. Occasionally, however, a group unleashes a masterpiece right out of the chute. Below are ten instances where a band’s debut album became a classic. Are You Experienced? (1967) – The… Read more »
Izzy Stradlin “Walk ‘N Song”
06/24/2016
Izzy Stradlin“Walk ‘N Song” -Brian Furman Izzy Stradlin is back in a big way with the release of a new song titled “Walk ‘N Song”,This first since the 2012 single “Upside”. Out on June 22nd, the electric single features fellow Ju Ju Hound, guitarist Rick Richards, drummer Patrick Taz Bentley, and bassist J.T. Longoria with… Read more »
From Joe Walsh to Peter Frampton: The Story of the Talk Box
06/22/2016
From Joe Walsh to Peter Frampton: The Story of the Talk Box –Joe Lund When it comes to guitar effects, there’s something about the “talk box” that listeners especially love. A collective roar still rolls through the crowd whenever Peter Frampton breaks out the unit during live shows. The sound never fails to intrigue when… Read more »
Band On The Run: The Story Behind Paul McCartney and Wings’ 1974 Classic
06/18/2016
Band On The Run: The Story Behind Paul McCartney and Wings’ 1974 Classic –Joe Lund With the release of Pure McCartney, the stunning compilation of Sir Paul’s post-Beatles work, it seems an opportune time to take a look back at the making of McCartney’s most beloved LP. Recorded with Wings, 1974’s Band on the Run… Read more »
The Story of Mudcrutch
06/17/2016
At this point in Tom Petty’s career, there is nothing left for him to prove. He has multiple hits to his name, writes the catchiest rock songs around, and rides a vibe that a lot of us are just jealous of. His closest fans aside, not many of us knew of Mudcrutch; the band… Read more »
Billy Duffy
06/14/2016
Billy Duffy Exclusive Photo’s By Mick Peek – www.billyduffy.com What were your favorite artists / musicians growing up in England? “Initially rock and glam so Bowie, Thin Lizzy, Queen, AC/DC etc then into punk rock circa 76/77 Pistols, Buzzcoks, Generation X…” What is your favorite guitar that you like to play on stage? “That… Read more »
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
06/13/2016
The Sweet Relief Fund is a charity that provides assistance to career musicians in times of need. There are career musicians in the world that may not be able to make ends meet when facing illness, disability, or natural age-related issues, and with many having no retirement to dip into, look to Sweet Relief for… Read more »
10 Classic Glam Rock Albums
06/11/2016
10 Classic Glam Rock Albums By Joe Lund John Lennon once famously described glam rock as simply rock and roll with lipstick on. As usual, the former Beatle was right on target. Although in its early ‘70s heyday, glam was sometimes maligned for its emphasis on “image,” there’s no denying the genre yielded… Read more »
The ZZ Top Eliminator Car
06/09/2016
The ZZ Top Eliminator Car – The Story Behind Billy Gibbon’s Legendary Hot Rod By Joe Lund There’s hardly a more iconic symbol of the early years of MTV than the ZZ Top Eliminator car. Prominently featured in several videos — including those for “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs” —… Read more »
Summer Rock Festivals 2016
06/08/2016
The Musician’s Ear 2016 Summer Festival Calendar… The summer is upon us, and so too are the onslaught of rock festivals that dot the June through September calendar. Fans of rock music rejoice as the heavy sound and fire of live music add heat to an already humid evening. Get ready for a sea of sweaty… Read more »
Today would have been Prince’s 58th birthday
06/07/2016
Today would have been Prince’s 58th birthday. His music had the ability to transcend the lines that divide us- age, race, gender, politics, etc. The pulse of all Prince songs throughout his prolific career is the true emotion in their performance and composition. He played Little Red Corvette hundreds of times, but each time sounded… Read more »
The Top 10 Anthems By The Clash
06/04/2016
The Clash’s influence on modern music is well documented and well deserved. The band broke through with the legendary British punk rock movement of the late 70’s with the likes of The Sex Pistols and The Damned. The quartet pooled together a mixed bag of musical styles fusing rockabilly, ska, and reggae with a political… Read more »
Ramones First Record Turns 40
06/03/2016
While the United States was awash in bicentennial revelry, somewhere in the dark alleys and backstreets of New York City, a new revolution was brewing. Brash, energetic and unapologetic, the Ramones burst upon the international music scene with their eponymous debut album, influencing the early punk scene on both sides of the Atlantic and in… Read more »
Prophets of Rage
06/02/2016
Photo By Danny Clinch Story By Brian Furman It’s safe to say that Tom Morello is one of the most inventive and political-minded guitarists of all time. So when a clock began ticking down days on the Rage Against the Machine Twitter account, people assumed that the band was reuniting- and rightfully so given… Read more »
Tom Petersson Rock Your Speech
05/31/2016
Tom Petersson is a bona fide rock star, and is a founding member and bass player for the 2016 Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Cheap Trick. What most don’t know is that he is also the founder of Rock Your Speech a music project organized with his wife Allison, and inspired by their… Read more »
The Strokes Return With New EP
05/27/2016
The Strokes released new music today from their upcoming three song EP entitled Future Present Past due out June 3rd on vocalist Julian Casablanca’s’ Cult Records. The EP marks the bands first recording since 2013 Comedown Machine and the first Strokes record released on the label. Lead single “Oblivius” begins in classic Strokes fashion with… Read more »
Rolling Stones Announce Totally Stripped
05/25/2016
Even after 50-plus years, the Rolling Stones still have some tricks up their well-worn, blues-drenched sleeves. One of the most anticipated releases in recent years, Totally Stripped picks up where 1995’s Stripped left off, featuring the iconic band revisiting many of their favorite tracks and emerging with more-intimate and reimagined takes on classic songs from… Read more »
The Highwaymen
05/24/2016
The Highwaymen were THE country supergroup. Affectionately known as “the Mount Rushmore of Country Music” For 10 years from 1985 to 1995, four of the most iconic names in music history; Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, came together for 3 unforgettable albums. “Desperadoes Waiting for a Train”, the late Guy Clark… Read more »
ZZ Top & Gov’t Mule Announce Joint Tour
05/19/2016
ZZ Top will be hitting the road with Gov’t Mule this September for an eight-show run from the east coast to the midwest. The tour will kick off in Wantagh, NY on September 9 and will conclude in Kansas City, Mo. on September 20. The announcement comes just one month after ZZ Top was forced… Read more »
Ozzfest Meets Knotfest
05/18/2016
Black Sabbath are marking their last trip to Southern California by once again headlining the Ozzfest stage on their farewell tour. Ozzfest is marking its 20th anniversary by joining forces with fellow metal kings Slipknot for a weekend of diverse and influential heavy metal. The combined festival is set for September 24th and 25th at… Read more »
Iggy Pop: Live in Basel 2015
05/18/2016
Next month, fans of Iggy Pop can experience his electrifying performance at last fall’s Baloise Session festival on the big screen when cinemas across the country hold limited showings of Iggy Pop: Live in Basel 2015 on June 16 and 18. Pop played the Switzerland festival last October and was also presented with a Lifetime… Read more »
Alice Cooper Plans to Resurrect Original Backing Band
05/13/2016
He’s spent the better part of the last year raising the dead with Hollywood Vampires, but now Alice Cooper has his sights set on a different kind of resurrection—the 68-year-old godfather of shock rock spilled the beans to The Weekender that he’s planning to reunite the surviving members of his original backing band for his… Read more »
New Music From The Red Hot Chili Peppers
05/11/2016
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have finally unveiled details regarding their eleventh studio album, titled The Getaway and slated for release on June 17 via Warner Bros. The Getaway is the Peppers’ second album to feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and their first to be made without the assistance of producer Rick Rubin since 1989’s Mother’s… Read more »
Pink Floyd Announces Complete Catalog Resissue
05/06/2016
Pink Floyd has announced plans to repress their entire back catalogue on vinyl for the first time in more 20 years, and the first set of releases are less than a month away. Starting June 3, the band will be launching the reissue campaign via its own Pink Floyd Records imprint (in association with Columbia)… Read more »
Desert Trip
05/05/2016
Desert Trip Festival Confirmed for October After nearly a month of rumors and social media teases, Goldenvoice—the promoters behind Coachella—have formally announced that six of rock’s most enduring luminaries will come together for a once-in-a-lifetime three-day festival this fall. The festival, officially called Desert Trip, will be held Oct. 7-9 at the Empire Polo Club… Read more »
Adopt the Arts foundation
05/03/2016
Matt Sorum is gearing up to present another concert to raise money for his Adopt the Arts foundation, which will be held on Thursday, May 12 at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. Sorum and LA native Abby Berman founded the non-profit in 2012 in response to budget cuts forcing a drastic reduction in music… Read more »
Inside Prince’s Vault
05/02/2016
Prince’s already extensive recording catalogue is about to get a lot bigger—if legal proceedings pan out, the singer’s legendary cache of unreleased music could finally see the light of day. The contents of Prince’s infamous vault—a literal bank vault nestled in the basement of the recently departed superstar’s Paisley Park recording complex—were unearthed last week… Read more »
MTV announces “Unplugged” revival, new live music programming
04/28/2016
In a likely effort to salvage dismal ratings, MTV is attempting to catch the nostalgia wave starting with the resurrection of its iconic Unplugged franchise later this year. Though the network has very noticeably lost its musical focus over the years—even dropping the “Music Television” subheading from its logo in 2010—an upfront presentation last week… Read more »
Highlights from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
04/27/2016
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicked off just three days ago, but this year’s impressive roster has already graced attendees with a handful of thrilling performances in the form of career-spanning setlists, heart-wrenching tributes and one-off supergroups. The news of Prince’s recent death loomed large over Friday’s lineup, with Janelle Monae dedicating her… Read more »
‘Hard Lovin’ Woman’ Juliette Lewis Documentary
04/22/2016
Actors who launch music careers out of nowhere tend to be met with their fair share of contempt, but for Juliette Lewis, rock n’ roll has always come first and as the subject of the new documentary short, Hard Lovin’ Woman, she outlines exactly why she deserves to be taken seriously. Lewis, best known for… Read more »
Prince 1958 – 2016
04/21/2016
I had the pleasure of witnessing the genius of Prince for the first time during the 1999 tour in Los Angeles at The Universal Amphitheater in 1983. The scene in LA was ever-changing with New Wave music being the predominate force. Prince meshed new wave and funk to come up with the amazing album “Controversy” which… Read more »
Sammy Hagar rocked out in style
04/19/2016
Sammy Hagar rocked out in style for the John Varvatos 13th Annual Stuart House Benefit this past weekend in West Hollywood, CA. Benefit attendees joined the likes of rock royalty Gene Simmons, Cheap Trick, and Matt Sorum to support Stuart House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of sexually abused children and supporting… Read more »
Paul McCartney kicks off tour with “A Hard Day’s Night”
04/15/2016
Paul McCartney kicked off his 2016 One On One Tour in Fresno, CA this past Wednesday night with guns blazing. Opening with his first-ever live solo performance of “A Hard Day’s Night”, he treated the 16,000 capacity crowd to an epic, career-spanning set. Over the course of three hours, Sir Paul ran through 38 songs,… Read more »
Hollywood Vampires announce summer tour.
04/13/2016
Hollywood Vampires, the rock ‘n’ roll supergroup that features Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, and Matt Sorum along with Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots), Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper), and Bruce Witkin (The Kids) have announced they are hitting the road for a full summer tour across North America and Europe. Joe Perry expressed his… Read more »
Keith Richards: New Stones album “In the can”
04/12/2016
At the red carpet launch of The Rolling Stones Retrospective Exhibitionism in London, guitarist Keith Richards told The Sun that, after a few studio sessions this past December, their 23rd album is already “in the can”, adding that “it might be a surprise to people, and I can’t say any more than that right now”…. Read more »
Ahead of Rock Hall 2016, Cheap Trick, Deep Purple & Guns N’ Roses Veterans Swap Stories & Talk Pre-Show Jitters
04/09/2016
“All of me is nervous,” Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander tells Billboard two days ahead of his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tonight (April 8). “I’m afraid to walk and trip; I’m afraid to talk and slip; I’m afraid to do all those things. But I think it will all… Read more »
John Varvatos Hosts Intimate Conversation With Matt Sorum, Glenn Hughes and Robin Zander
04/08/2016
NEW YORK — It was a conversation among friends Wednesday night at John Varvatos’ Bowery Street flagship, which used to be home to the iconic club CBGB’s. Varvatos, who frequently waves his rock-loving flag, hosted a panel with Klipsch Audio that included Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Matt Sorum… Read more »
2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
04/01/2016
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will host an exclusive live broadcast of the 31st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, on Friday, April 8. Outside the Barclays Center, the official simulcast at the Rock Hall will be the only place to watch the Induction Ceremony on… Read more »
