Classic Rock News

New book gives insight into San Francisco concerts by The Who

Schiffer Publishing

A new book focusing on two classic performances by The Who will be released early next year.

Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland, 1968 and 1976 takes a look at how things changed for the band in the almost 10 years that passed between the two concerts at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom.

A description of the book notes, “These two years represent a screen grab of the band taken in its purest form: live, and harder than ever, right before and right after the huge success The Who struggled to live with in the years between.”

The two shows were worlds apart for the band, with the February 1968 concert attended by only a few hundred fans, while less than 10 years later, in March 1976, the 5,000-capacity theater was sold out.

The book offers fans a glimpse inside both shows with the use of firsthand accounts, previously unpublished photos taken by fans at the show and more.

Teenage Wasteland: The Who at Winterland by Edoardo Genzolini, with a foreword by Joel Selvin, will be released February 28 and is available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Documentaries on John Lennon, Carlos Santana & more eligible for Oscar nominations

Briarcliff Entertainment

Documentaries about John LennonCarlos Santana and Blood, Sweat and Tears all have a chance for an Oscar nomination this year. 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced the films eligible for a nomination in the Documentary Feature Film category, and several music docs made the cut. 

Films that could possibly land a nomination include The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, about Lennon’s relationship with May Pang; Carlos, about guitarist Carlos Santana; and What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears?, about the band’s 1970 State Department-sponsored tour of Iron Curtain countries Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland.

Also in the running for a possible nomination is Joan Baez: I Am Noise, about folk singer Joan Baez, and Little Richard: I Am Everything, about the legendary musician Little Richard.

Nominations for the 96th Academy Awards will be announced Tuesday, January 23. The Oscars will air on ABC, Sunday, March 10.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Peter Gabriel has “another album’s worth of stuff” waiting to be finished

Scott Legato/Getty Images

Peter Gabriel recently released i/o, his first album of new material in 13 years, but it sounds like fans may not have to wait too long for his next one.

In an interview with U.K. paper The Times, Gabriel says now that he’s done touring he’s "having a sabbatical." But after that, “There is another album’s worth of stuff in the can that needs to be finished.”

He’s also working on what he calls a “brain project,” which is about a device that reads minds.

“Some of these current songs will fit into the brain project, as I want to have some familiar songs in it when it is finally assembled,” he says. 

Later in the interview, Peter talks about why he decided to check out his former band Genesis’ final concert at London’s Wembley Arena in 2022.

“I had put so much of my life into getting Genesis going in the early years, it felt wrong not to be there when the guys decided to close the book,” he says. “It was a strange night for them and for me, full of memories, sadness and warmth.”

But fans shouldn’t expect Gabriel to now add Genesis tunes into his live shows. 

“I know that the music that means the most to you as a teenager tends to retain its hold on you throughout your life. I do occasionally have thoughts about doing a version of a couple of those songs that have a lot of me in them,” he says. “But then my attention gets caught by something new and exciting.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Rick Wakeman reliving 2023 London Palladium shows with new box set

Fragile Records/Esoteric Recordings

Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman is releasing a new live box set capturing his sold-out two-night stand at the London Palladium earlier this year. 

Live at the London Palladium 2023 features recordings of Wakeman’s February 22 and 23 concerts in their entirety. For the shows, Wakeman performed new arrangements of his classic tunes, backed by both the English Rock Ensemble and the English Chamber Choir. It includes performances of Wakeman's solo work, as well as classic Yes tracks and the premiere of three-part "The Yes Suite," a medley of themes taken from Yes music.

The set is broken down into four CDs centered around Wakeman's solo albums: The Six Wives of Henry VIIIThe Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Classic Yes.

Live at the London Palladium 2023 will be released February 16 and is available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Foo Fighters join Spotify's Billions Club with "Everlong"

ABC/Randy Holmes

Foo Fighters finally have a song on Spotify's Billions Club playlist.

Dave Grohl and company's track "Everlong" has officially hit 1 billion streams, making it the first Foos tune to achieve that feat.

"Everlong" first appears on Foo Fighters' sophomore album, The Colour and the Shape, which was released in 1997. It's the band's most-played song live, according to Setlist.fm, and its video has over 280 million views on YouTube.

Foo Fighters released their latest album, But Here We Are, in June. They'll launch a U.S. stadium tour in July.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Elton John debuts new “Step into Christmas” holiday cards

Craig Sjodin/ABC

Elton John is really leaning into the holiday spirit this year. Not only has he released his 1973 Christmas song “Step into Christmas” digitally for the first time, he’s now teamed up with an artist for a new line of holiday cards inspired by his music. 

The "Step into Christmas" holiday cards were hand drawn by illustrator Reggie O’Connell and feature caricatures of Elton in a Santa hat, with sayings like “Step into Christmas,” “Hold Me Closer Tiny Prancer” and “My Gift Is Yule Song.” 

"Creating this batch of Elton-themed holidays cards was an incredible undertaking that began with a few puns and an abundance of ideas,” O’Connell shares. “Tapping into Elton’s unique, fabulous energy while staying true to my own cartoony style presented a fun challenge that ultimately came together in the end.” 

He adds, “It was truly a joy illustrating these cards and I hope that you will all consider this an official invitation to step into Christmas!"

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Blur’s Damon Albarn blasts The Rolling Stones’ 'Hackney Diamonds' comeback

Geffen Records

Lots of folks were happy to see The Rolling Stones return this year with their new album, Hackney Diamonds, but Blur's Damon Albarn was not one of them.

Speaking to France's Les Inrockuptibles magazine, Albarn seemed particularly upset about the band’s use of London’s Hackney district in promoting the project. 

“That really irritated me. Because my family lives in Hackney and the way they showed up in the Hackney Empire theater freaked me out,” he says. “They never did anything at Hackney, they didn't play there, they didn't contribute anything. They just showed up.”

He also took issue with the album’s first single, “Angry,” because the video "objectified" actress Sydney Sweeney. He then noted her clips, combined with footage of The Stones throughout their career, felt "totally disconnected.”

"I love the idea of ​​dedicating your life to one thing, in search of the sublime. But the truth is that they have become worse. Worse to persist in remaining themselves," he says. "This is something I don't understand. Making the exact same music, just not as good. There must be no joy in doing such a thing."

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Judas Priest unveils track list for 'Invincible Shield'

Epic Records

Judas Priest has unveiled the full track list for their upcoming album, Invincible Shield.

Along with the previously released singles "Panic Attack" and "Trial By Fire," the set boasts tunes with appropriately metal names, like "The Serpent and the King," "Devil in Disguise" and "Sons of Thunder."

Invincible Shield, the first Judas Priest album since 2018's Firepower, arrives March 8. Priest will launch a U.S. tour in support of the record in April.

Here's the Invincible Shield track list:

"Panic Attack"
"The Serpent and the King"
"Invincible Shield"
"Devil in Disguise"
"Gates of Hell"
"Crown of Horns"
"As God Is My Witness"
"Trial By Fire"
"Escape from Reality"
"Sons of Thunder"
"Giants in the Sky"

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


AC/DC fans postpone campaign to get “Thunderstruck” to #1 for Christmas

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip

AC/DC fans are no longer trying to get their 1990 track “Thunderstruck” to #1 for Christmas.

In November, in honor of the band's 50th anniversary, the Facebook fan group AC/DC We Salute You launched a campaign to get “Thunderstruck” to top of the U.K. charts for the holidays. The group attempted a similar campaign in 2013, in honor of the band’s 40th anniversary, and got “Highway To Hell” to #4.

Now, the U.K. Official Charts report fans have decided to postpone the campaign to the week of January 4 so it won’t compete with Christmas tunes and has a better shot at the top spot. Organizers say they polled three different fan groups, and 83% agreed to the postponement.

“By choosing to delay by two weeks, we'll also avoid being caught up in the Christmas songs that will no doubt be prominent the week after Christmas as well,” the page’s administrators told the Official Charts. 

They explain that the #1 is more about celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary than AC/DC actually earning the #1 at Christmas. Plus, they say they’d like to see the Pogues classic “Fairytale in New York” get the #1 spot, in honor of the recent passing of the band's frontman, Shane MacGowan.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Tony Hawk congratulates son Riley on marriage to Frances Bean Cobain: "We had a blast at the wedding"

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

We now have photographic proof of Frances Bean Cobain's marriage to Riley Hawk.

Riley's father, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, shared a picture from the ceremony in an Instagram post on Wednesday, December 6, wishing his son a happy birthday.

"Happy 31st to this wonderful, talented young man," the proud dad writes in the caption. "I am thankful he found the love of his life and a healthy, disciplined approach to adulthood. And that he is inspiring his younger siblings by example."

Tony adds, "We had a blast at the wedding and we love you Riley! (Frances please show this to him since he's no longer in the Insta bubble)."

Cobain, the daughter of late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, first shared that she was in a relationship with Riley in New Year's Day 2022 Instagram post. Reports of their marriage first surfaced in October.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Def Leppard and Journey team for co-headlining summer tour

Photo by Ross Halfin

Def Leppard and Journey are teaming up for a huge co-headlining tour next summer.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bands, who previously toured together in 2018, will be playing stadiums across the country alongside fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Steve Miller BandHeart and Cheap Trick on select dates. 

“We are thrilled to be back on the road in 2024 with so many good friends as part of this tour,” Journey shares. “No matter which city you come to this will be an amazing night of music!”

Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott notes the combination of these bands “makes for an amazing night of music." 

“We shall hit the boards running with a brand-new stage show and set of songs that will celebrate specific parts of our history. We may even have a surprise or two up our sleeves," he shares.

The tour is set to kick off July 6 in St. Louis. It will feature stops at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, New York’s Citifield, Boston’s Fenway Park, San Francisco’s Oracle Park and more, before wrapping September 8 in Denver, Colorado.

A Citi presale for tickets kicks off Wednesday, December 13, at 10 a.m. ET, with the general onsale happening Friday, December 15, at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at journeymusic.com and defleppard.com.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Green Day shares new 'Saviors' song, "Dilemma"

ABC/Randy Holmes

Green Day has shared a new song called "Dilemma, a track off the band's upcoming album, Saviors.

"'Dilemma' was one of those songs that was kind of easy to write because it was so personal to me," says frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. "We've seen so many of our peers struggle with addiction and mental illness. This song is all about the pain that comes from those experiences."

On the song's chorus, Armstrong sings, "I was sober now I'm drunk again/I'm in trouble and in love again/I don't want to be a dead man walking."

You can listen to "Dilemma" now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.

Saviors, the follow-up to 2020's Father of All..., drops January 19. It includes the previously released songs "The American Dream Is Killing Me" and "Look Ma, No Brains!"

Green Day will launch a world tour in support of Saviors in 2024. The U.S. leg launches in July and will feature The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and The Linda Lindas on the bill.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach drops new single after being unmasked as Tiki on 'The Masked Singer'

CR: Michael Becker / FOX. ©2023 FOX Media LLC.

Original Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach got his reality TV boot on Wednesday, December 6. The rocker was voted off the Fox hit show The Masked Singer and was revealed to be the celebrity inside the Tiki costume. 

“Your show has been on 10 seasons, which is a long time. And this show is about singing, which I love,” he replied, when asked why he decided to do the program. 

He later mentioned that he had previously met judges Jenny McCarthy and Nicole Scherzinger. Though he’d never met Robin Thicke, he told the singer, “I partied with your dad,” referring to actor Alan Thicke. He said he partied with Alan and John Stamos at a Beach Boys concert.

“Your dad was hilarious, he was so funny and cool,” Sebastian said, “and I’m Canadian too so we’re all a little bit crazy.”

"When I first agreed to be on the show, I thought it was mostly about comedy and costumes, which it definitely is!” Sebastian later shared in a statement. “But when I actually did the show, I realized that ‘The Masked Singer' is about SINGING! Which I love to do! I had an incredible time doing the show."

Bach's unmasking coincides with the release of his brand new single, "What Do I Got To Lose?," which was co-written by Myles Kennedy.

“To me, What Do I Got To Lose?’ is the perfect sentiment for me right now,” he says. “It’s an anthem for coming back and crushing it. It’s time to lay down the law and put the hammer down old school-style.”

"What Do I Got To Lose?" is available now via streaming services, and you can watch the video on YouTube.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


On This Day, December 7, 1991: U2 hits #1 with 'Achtung Baby'

On This Day, December 7, 1991…

U2 hit #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart with their seventh studio album, Achtung Baby, produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Unlike their previous records, the band incorporated new sounds into the project, including alternative rock, industrial music and electronic dance music.

U2 released five singles from the record, including “One” and “Mysterious Ways,” which both hit the top 10, as well as “The Fly,” “Even Better Than the Real Thing” and “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses.”

The band promoted the album with the multimedia-intensive Zoo TV Tour, and is currently celebrating the record with their critically acclaimed Las Vegas residency, U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Aerosmith’s “Dream On” reaches one billion Spotify streams

ABC/ CRAIG SJODIN

Aerosmith’s “Dream On” may have been released 50 years ago, but fans still love listening to it. 

The classic tune just reached over one billion streams on Spotify, so the band took to social media to thank their fans, the Blue Army, for the milestone.

Released in June 1973, “Dream On” was featured on Aerosmith's self-titled debut album and became the band’s first big hit. When it was initially released, it peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100, but a 1975 reissue of the longer album version wound up peaking at #6. 

The track has gone on to be one of the band’s signature tunes; it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.

Meanwhile, fans are anxiously awaiting dates for Aerosmith's rescheduled Peace Out tour. It was postponed back in September after frontman Steven Tyler fractured his larynx.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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