Classic Rock
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 ...
Crowded House Reschedule North American Tour to 2023
Crowded House recently announced they would have to postpone their first North American tour in 12 years due to their drummer’s lower back injury, and now the band has revealed the trek is being pushed to 2023. The rescheduled “Dreamers Are Waiting” leg now kicks off May 2nd in Vancouver. It includes shows in New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Nashville, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping in Boston on May 30th. See the full itinerary below. Previously purchased tickets are valid for the rescheduled dates. Tickets are available now for the majority of the shows via Ticketmaster, with additional seats for dates in Los Angeles and Oakland opening up on Friday, September 23rd at 10:00 a.m. local time. Advertisement Related Video The upcoming tour is in support of Crowded House’s comeback...
Mark David Chapman, John Lennon’s Killer, Denied Parole for 12th Time
Mark David Chapman, the man who murdered John Lennon in 1980, has been denied parole for the 12th time, Rolling Stone reports. Chapman shot Lennon outside the artist’s New York City apartment on December 8th, 1980 and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 20 years to life at New York’s Green Haven Correctional Facility and became eligible for parole in 2000, though he’s been denied at the hearings he’s had every two years since. Chapman’s latest parole hearing took place in August. In a statement, the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said, “Following an interview with the Board of Parole on August 31, 2022, Mr. Chapman was denied release with a hold of 18 months. His next appearance date is scheduled for February 2024.” Advertisem...
“The Last Waltz 2022” Tour Returns with Warren Haynes, Don Was, and More
The Last Waltz is coming back for a victory lap. The tribute to The Band’s iconic final concert will make head back onto the road this November, with returning headliners Warren Haynes, Don Was, Kathleen Edwards, and more set to perform. Organized by original band member Robbie Robertson, his son Sebastian, and Keith Wortman of Blackbird Presents, “The Last Waltz 2022” pays homage to The Band’s historic 1976 farewell show. The tribute tour kicks off with two nights at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, on November 3rd, and continues throughout the month at historic venues along the East Coast. “The Last Waltz 2022” will also host performances from Jamey Johnson, Dave Malone, Anders Osborne, John Medeski, Cyril Neville, and Terence Higgins. Mark Mullins & The Levee...
Aerosmith Rock 50th Anniversary Show at Boston’s Fenway Park: Photos + Video
Aerosmith were finally able to celebrate their 50th anniversary in grand style on Thursday night (September 8th) with a hometown show at Boston’s Fenway Park. The concert was originally set to take place in 2020, but was twice postponed due to the pandemic. The landmark gig marked Aerosmith’s second show back after the pandemic and Steven Tyler’s recent rehab stint kept the band off the road for two-and-a-half years. They warmed up with a concert in Bangor, Maine, this past Sunday (September 4th). After an opening set by fellow Boston rockers Extreme, the Aerosmith boys kicked off their set with “Back in the Saddle.” Joining original members Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford and Tom Hamilton for the career-spanning 19-song set was drummer John Douglas, who is filling in for Joey Kramer as he...
Pearl Jam Cover The Beatles’ Oddity “Her Majesty” in Tribute (?) to Queen Elizabeth II: Watch
Queen Elizabeth II died on yesterday (September 8th) at 96 years old, and that evening Pearl Jam performed a cover of The Beatles’ oddity “Her Majesty” as a… tribute? Eulogy? Middle finger to the face of the 20th century imperialism? Most of the confusion comes from the song itself, a hidden track tucked some 14 seconds after “The End” on Abbey Road. “Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl/ But she doesn’t have a lot to say,” Paul McCartney sings. “I wanna tell her that I love her a lot/ But I gotta get a belly full of wine/ Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl/ Someday I’m gonna make her mine.” It’s a joke, though whether it’s a harmless bit of fun or deeply rude towards the monarchy depends on your perspective. Pearl Jam made no comment on their intentions when they...
Wolfgang Van Halen Shares Clip of Himself Shredding “Eruption” to Mark Anniversary of Van Halen Classic: Watch
Eddie Van Halen recorded his legendary shred guitar instrumental “Eruption” 45 years ago today this week. To mark the anniversary, the late rock icon’s son Wolfgang Van Halen posted a clip of himself ripping through part of the track in the studio in 2015. Wrote Wolfgang on Twitter: “In honor of Eruption being recorded 45 years ago today, here’s me playing part of it on the guitar it was recorded on in 2015 while tracking some guitars for the first @MammothWVH … Love you, Pop” Wolfgang lets loose and comes very close to replicating his dad’s virtuosic talents. “Eruption” stands as one of the greatest guitar instrumentals of all-time and could be considered the earliest example of the guitar shredder style, as it was released on Van Halen’s self-titled debut in 1978. Advertisement Related V...
NBC Airs Just 10 Seconds of Ozzy Osbourne’s Season Opening NFL Halftime Show
Ozzy Osbourne performed a two-song set at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Thursday night (September 8th) during halftime of the NFL’s season opening game between the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately, those watching the game on NBC only saw a few seconds of the performance. During the broadcast, NBC sportscaster Maria Taylor introduced the performance in the middle of Ozzy singing the title track to his new album, Patient Number 9, at midfield. After about 10 seconds or so, cameras cut back to Taylor and the halftime crew analyzing the first half of the game. From what we briefly saw on TV, the metal icon’s backing band for “Patient Number 9” included Tommy Clufetos on drums, Chris Chaney on bass, and producer Andrew Watt on guitar. Thanks to fan-filmed footage on...
