Classic Rock
Van Morrison Sued by Northern Ireland Health Minister Over COVID-19 Criticism
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann is suing Northern Irish songwriter Van Morrison for defamation over his “bizarre and irresponsible” COVID-19 criticisms, the Associated Press reports. Morrison has been ruining his legacy chafing at pandemic restrictions ever since they began, referring to socially-distanced concerts as “pseudo-science” and even releasing an anti-lockdown song series. He publicly criticized Swann on at least three occasions, calling him “a fraud” and “very dangerous.” Swann first fought back in an op-ed in Rolling Stone, writing that Morrison’s “words will give great comfort to the conspiracy theorists – the tin foil hat brigade who crusade against masks and vaccines.” Advertisement Related Video Now, he’s bringing the bat...
Alice Cooper Announces Winter 2022 US Tour
Having just wrapped up his fall outing, Alice Cooper has announced brief 2022 US winter tour. He has also confirmed that his annual “Christmas Pudding” charity concert will return on December 4th of this year in Phoenix, Arizona. Cooper’s next tour leg will kick off on January 28th in Cincinnati, Ohio, and wrap up on February 8th in Orlando. The day after that, Cooper will hit the high seas as host of the Monsters of Rock Cruise. However, the shock rock legend does have one more party planned for 2021. After taking a year off due to the pandemic, his annual holiday bash “Christmas Pudding” is back for its 19th iteration. The event benefits the free music, dance, arts, and vocational programs for individuals 12 to 20 years old at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers. Advertisement Related...
The 22 Worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs
This article originally ran in 2013 and has been updated. As of 2021, Kraftwerk and Tina Turner have finally graduated from our list of worst snubs, while Daft Punk and others now qualify. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has revealed the inductees for its class of 2021. They include JAY-Z, Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Tina Turner, Todd Rundgren, Kraftwerk and LL Cool J. Sadly, nominees Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, Chaka Khan, DEVO, Iron Maiden, New York Dolls, Dionne Warwick, Fela Kuti and Mary J. Blige will have to wait another year for possible induction. Advertisement Those left out, however, aren’t exactly in poor company. Many great artists have been shut out from the warm confines of the Cleveland institution. Here’s a list of 22 artists who have...
Ozzy Osbourne Announces Diary of a Madman 40th Anniversary Expanded Digital Edition
Ozzy Osbourne is celebrating yet another album anniversary in 2021. The Prince of Darkness has announced a 40th anniversary expanded digital edition of his 1981 album, Diary of a Madman, out November 5th. The release includes the original eight-song tracklist and two live recordings previously unavailable digitally: “Believer” and “Flying High Again.” Diary of a Madman is considered a classic album in Ozzy’s canon. It was the last studio effort to feature the virtuosic guitarwork of Randy Rhoads, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1982. Advertisement Related Video Notable tracks from the album include the chugging opener “Over the Mountain,” the weed ballad and radio hit “Flying High Again,” and the epic closing title track. To coincide with the expanded digital edition, Ozzy has team...
Elvis Costello & The Imposters Announce New Album The Boy Named If, Share “Magnificent Hurt”: Stream
Elvis Costello & The Imposters have announced a new album titled The Boy Named If, out January 14th via EMI/Capitol Records. As the first preview, they’ve shared the first single, “Magnificent Hurt.” Co-produced by Costello with Sebastian Krys, the LP’s recording sessions started off with a rhythm section of the frontman’s guitar and Pete Thomas’ Gretsch drums, recorded down in Bonaparte Rooms West. Longtime collaborator Davey Faragher contributed bass and vocals from France, with Steve Nieve playing the organ. “I started The Boy Named If with just an electric guitar, some sharps and flats, high heels and lowdowns, with five songs in bright major keys and carried on to write a whole new record for The Imposters to play,” Costello said in a statement. He added that the 13 tracks “take u...
A Reclusive Genius Opens Up in Trailer for Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road: Watch
Brian Wilson doesn’t always enjoy being a public figure, but he opens up on the open road in the trailer for the new documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road. Fan screenings will be held November 17th, and the film will be available for download beginning November 19th. “The idea of doing an interview makes Brian nervous,” says interviewer Jason Fine, a Rolling Stone editor who’s described as a longtime friend. “So he’ll often ask if we can take a drive and listen to some music.” In the trailer, The Beach Boys genius stares pensively out the car window as he discusses his successes and struggles with mental health. Director Brent Wilson (no relation) has also lined up interviews with Sir Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Jim James, Don Was, Nick Jonas, Jakob ...
Paul McCartney Won’t Sign Any More Autographs
Write this one down: Should you ever be lucky enough to run into Sir Paul McCartney in the wild, don’t ask him for an autograph. In a recent interview with Reader’s Digest, the Beatles legend said he’s effectively imposed a ban on signing mementos and taking haphazard selfies with fans. “It always struck me as a bit strange — ‘here, can I write your name down on the back of this till receipt please?’ Why? We both know who I am,” Macca said, adding that he doesn’t understand the appeal of grainy selfies, either. But don’t mistake these brush-offs for arrogance; the 79-year-old songwriting icon just wants to take that precious time to get to know his fans on a more personal level, instead. “What you’ve usually got is a ropey photo with a poor backdrop and me looking a bit miserable,” he went...
R.I.P. Jay Black, Frontman of Jay and the Americans Dead at 82
Jay Black, frontman of ’60s rock band Jay and the Americans, has died at the age of 82. According to Rolling Stone, Black passed away Friday, October 22nd, from complications of pneumonia. Black also suffered from dementia. Jay Black was born David Blatt in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park. After a short stint fronting the doo-wop group The Empires, he took over as lead singer of Jay and the Americans in 1962, replacing original singer John “Jay” Traynor. In joining Jay and the Americans, Blatt agreed to assume the professional moniker of Jay Black. Jay and the Americans saw a majority of their success with Jay Black singing lead. “Come a Little Bit Closer,” released in 1963, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. A second top 5 single followed in 1964 with “Cara Mia.” The band’s t...
Elton John Unveils Star-Studded New Album The Lockdown Sessions: Stream
Sir Elton John has today released his collaborative album The Lockdown Sessions. Stream the star-studded project in full below. The stacked guest list is led by artists like Eddie Vedder, Lil Nas X, Gorillaz, and Stevie Nicks. They are joined on the tracklist by Rina Sawayama (“Chosen Family“), Miley Cyrus (“Nothing Else Matters“), Stevie Wonder (“Finish Line“), and Dua Lipa. The latter’s appearance on “Cold Heart” (PNAU Remix)“ helped The Rocket Man score his 58th Top 40 hit and claim a Billboard Hot 100 record for the longest span of Top 40 appearances (excluding holiday songs). In a statement, John explained how the album came together during quarantine, and why the process made him feel like a “session musician again.” He said, “The last thing I expected to do durin...
Andrew Bird and Lucius Share Live Performance of The Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs”: Watch
Andrew Bird and Lucius were among a slew of high-profile acts who contributed to the recently released track-by-track covers album I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico, and now they have shared an intimate live recording of their take on “Venus in Furs.” Of course, “Venus in Furs” wouldn’t be complete without John Cale’s iconic viola solo. It makes sense that Bird — who’s a bit of a violin legend in his own right — would put his own spin on the track, using loop pedals to fill out the live performance as he then plucks the four-stringed instrument like a banjo alongside Lucius’ flawless vocal harmonies. Though nobody could compete with Lou Reed and company, this is one cover that rivals its original. Check out their living room performance of “Venus In ...
Judas Priest’s Rob Halford on 50 Years of Metal, Handcuffing Andy Warhol, and Touring with Ozzy Osbourne
Fifty years of doing anything in the arts is impressive — even more so in popular music, and especially in heavy metal. It’s a rigorous and demanding genre, and certainly of a niche for faithful. But it’s proved resilient, welcoming to new directions and trends while continuing to revere its traditions and its long-haulers. Judas Priest have become the latest to join the golden anniversary club, and in its case a band that’s spent the past half-century rocking uninterrupted, weathering lineup changes and changing audience tastes. But anyone who’s seen the quintet as recently as this year’s “50 Heavy Metal Years Tour” — which came to an abrupt and unexpected stop on September 26th after guitarist Richie Faulkner suffered a ruptured aorta onstage and more than 10 hours of open heart surgery ...
The Beatles Officially Join TikTok
Here comes the sun, because The Beatles are officially on TikTok. The news coincides with the release of the previously-announced special edition reissue of Let It Be, The Beatles’ twelfth and final studio album as a group, which was released in May 1970. TikTok users will now be able to use 36 of the rock band’s most iconic hits to soundtrack their videos, including “Get Back,” “Across the Universe,” and, of course, the ever-popular title track. TikTok will also be home to exclusive content from the recording process of Let It Be, with fans able to watch archival, behind-the-scenes footage of the creation of individual songs from the album as well as interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Advertisement Related Video The band joins the social media platform just in time for #Rockt...
