Classic Rock
Stevie Nicks and Eddie Vedder Sing “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” at Ohana Festival: Watch
Eddie Vedder joined Stevie Nicks on stage during her headlining set at Vedder’s 2022 Ohana Festival for a performance of “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” from Nicks’ first solo album Bella Donna, was famously recorded as a duet between the Fleetwood Mac singer and Tom Petty. Here, Vedder filled in for the late Petty, and Nicks implied before the performance that she and Vedder had even recorded an official version of their rendition. Nicks was the first headliner at Vedder’s annual Dana Point, California festival, which continues through October 2nd. Vedder and Jack White co-headline tonight, October 1st, while P!nk closes the event on the 2nd. Other artists still slated to perform include Manchester Orchestra, St. Vincent, Grouplove, Broken Social Sce...
Prince Estate Denied Sinéad O’Connor Documentary Use of “Nothing Compares 2 U”
The Prince estate denied Nothing Compares, a new documentary about Sinéad O’Connor, the rights to her cover of Prince’s song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” In a statement to Billboard, Prince’s half-sister and co-heir wrote, “I didn’t feel she deserved to use the song.” Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” for his side project, The Family, and the song appeared on their self-titled 1985 debut. O’Connor’s 1990 cover transformed her career, taking her from a buzzy singer-songwriter with a few minor hits in Europe to an international sensation with three Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year. There’s a reason that documentary director Kathryn Ferguson chose that name for her documentary. “Initially we had intended to use the song, but we received a refusal (which as the rights h...
Beyond the Boys’ Club: Ann Wilson of Heart
Beyond the Boys’ Club is a monthly column from journalist and radio host Anne Erickson, focusing on women in the heavy music genres, as they offer their perspectives on the music industry and discuss their personal experiences. Erickson is also a music artist herself and has a new EP and single, “Last Love,” with Upon Wings. The latest edition of Beyond the Boys’ Club features an interview with the legendary Ann Wilson of Heart. As one of the founding members of female-led rock mainstays Heart, Ann Wilson knows just how difficult it was for women to break into rock music decades ago. She also knows what it takes to have staying power as a musical artist, as Wilson is still releasing imaginative new music and playing jam-packed shows. Wilson released her latest solo album, Fierce Bliss, ear...
Neil Young and Crazy Horse Announce New Album World Record, Share “Love Earth”: Stream
Neil Young has announced World Record, a new album from Crazy Horse, that’s out November 18th. What’s more, first single “Love Earth” is available to stream now. Young and Crazy Horse recorded World Record live at Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu, with Rubin mixing the project to analog tape to ensure it reached audiophile Young’s standards. In keeping with the artist’s love for quality, physical media, the album will be sold on a three-sided double vinyl with an etching on side four, as well as Young’s first-ever clear vinyl. World Record will additionally be available on cassette, double CD, and premium streaming services like XStream and Atmos/Spatial (but still no Spotify). Pre-orders are ongoing. With a wholesome, infectious melody, lead single an...
RUSH’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Perform with Dave Grohl, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey at Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show: Watch
The second of two tribute concerts in honor of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins took place Tuesday night (September 27th) in Los Angeles. Among the gargantuan 53-song setlist were three RUSH songs performed by original members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson and a cast of all-star drummers. Lee and Lifeson were first joined by Dave Grohl for “2112 Part I: Overture,” the first movement of the 1976 prog-rock epic. The trio nailed the difficult stop-and-start rhythms, with Grohl pounding away at the floor tom and eying Geddy for cues. Grohl then handed over the sticks to Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who has become somewhat of a journeyman, playing on Ozzy Osbourne’s recent albums in addition to his full-time work with a very active RHCP. Here, he settled into the pocket for “W...
David Bowie’s Hunky Dory Era Chronicled in Upcoming Box Set Divine Symmetry
For the most fervent of David Bowie fans, the 12 months leading up to the legend’s 1971 masterpiece Hunky Dory will soon be documented with the expansive box set Divine Symmetry, out November 25th via Parlophone. As a preview, you can hear an unearthed BBC Radio recording of “Kooks” today. Divine Symmetry comprises four CDs and one Blu-Ray that contain countless home demos, radio sessions, and live and studio recordings — including 48 that have just been unveiled for the first time. Additionally, Parlophone will also release an LP companion to Divine Symmetry that features alternate mixes of many of the album’s most notable songs. Pre-orders are ongoing. Aside from the hours of music, Divine Symmetry also includes a 100-page hardback book featuring exclusive memora...
Beck Covers Neil Young’s “Old Man” in Tribute to Tom Brady: Stream
Tom Brady is currently the oldest NFL quarterback to start a game at 45 years old, and NBC’s Sunday Night Football chose to celebrate him by using Beck’s cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man” in a commercial for next week’s matchup between Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs. The song choice is a bit on the nose, but it works. “Old man, look at my life/ 24, and there’s so much more,” Beck sings, as highlights of Brady’s legendary career are juxtaposed with the 27-year-old’s Mahomes’ accomplishments. Both quarterbacks won Super Bowls at the age of 24. Toward the end of the commercial, Mahomes walks up to Brady after the Buccaneers’ 31-9 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, which brought Brady’s record to 3-2 in their head-to-head match-ups. “Hey, you’re a ...
Roger Waters Pens Open Letter to Putin As His Concerts in Poland Are Canceled
Aspirational expert in foreign affairs Roger Waters has written an open letter to Vladimir Putin in light of Russia’s war on Ukraine. But rather than asking the Russian president to withdraw, the former Pink Floyd member has instead asked Putin to promise that he won’t “overrun the whole of Europe.” “Firstly, would you like to see an end to this war?,” Waters wrote to Putin on Facebook. “If you were to reply and say, ‘Yes please.’ That would immediately make things a lot easier. If you were to come out and say, ‘Also the Russian Federation has no further territorial interest beyond the security of the Russian speaking populations of The Crimea, Donetsk and Lubansk.’ That would help too. I say this because, I know some people who think you want to overrun the whole of Europe, starting with ...
President Biden Surprises Elton John with National Humanities Medal at White House Concert
President Biden surprised Elton John by bestowing him with the National Humanities Medal during a concert at the White House on Friday. The South Lawn performance was part of A&E Networks and The History Channel’s “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” an event celebrating “everyday heroes” like nurses, teachers, and activists. John performed hits like “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man” at the event, but the artist, who created the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1991, seemed genuinely shocked when President Biden honored his activism instead of just enjoying his music. “Tonight is my great honor, and I mean this sincerely, to present the National Humanities Medal to Sir Elton John,” Biden said, as John, mouth agape and wiping tears from his eyes, clutched his piano. A White House officer ex...
Stevie Nicks Shares Cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”: Stream
Stevie Nicks has been performing a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s 1960s protest song “For What It’s Worth” on tour (get tickets here), and now you can hear the studio version on streaming services. Take a listen below. The cover was recorded earlier this year with hitmaking producer Greg Kurstin and two longtime members of her touring band: backing vocalist Sharon Celani and guitarist Waddy Wachtel. Nicks’ take doesn’t stray far from the original, but her perspective as a woman gives extra meaning to the lyrics, which are just as relevant today: “There’s a man with a gun over there/ Telling me I got to beware.” “I’m so excited to release my new song this Friday,” Nicks wrote on social media earlier this week. “It’s called ‘For What It’s Worth’ and it was written by Stephen Stills in 1...
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ New Live Album Captures Fabled 1997 Residency at San Francisco’s Fillmore
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ fabled 20-show run at San Francisco’s Fillmore in 1997 is the subject of a new deluxe box set coming on November 25th. Live at the Fillmore (1997) is being put out by Warner Records in collaboration with Petty’s estate and Mike Campbell. It marks the first Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers live album to be released in 13 years. Various configurations of Live at the Fillmore (1997) will be available, including a 3xLP version simulating one of the concerts and a comprehensive box set comprised of 58 songs and 14 humorous spoken word tracks. The material featured on the release was curated by Campbell and Ryan Ulyate alongside executive producers Benmont Tench, Adria Petty, Annakim Petty, and Dana Petty. Advertisement Related Video Much of the material found on ...
Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard Stadium Tour Grosses $173.5 Million
Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe’s co-headlining stadium tour brought in a whopping $173.5 million, making it the highest grossing tour of either band’s career. The highly anticipated outing finally took place in 2022 after being postponed twice due to the pandemic. The bill was utterly stacked, with the aforementioned headliners receiving support from fellow rock icons Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Average ticket sales for each night were 37,520 — more than three times the draw that Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe had previously reached on their own — with an average nightly earning of $4.96 million. Advertisement Related Video Boston was the largest market, with the bands playing a two-night stand at Fenway Park on August 5th and 6th. A total of 64,000 tickets sold for $9.3 million ...
