Pink Floyd releases another archival performance video from historic 1989 Venice concert

July 31, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pink Floyd is once again sharing some live footage from their archives.

The band just released video of a performance of The Dark Side of the Moon track “The Great Gig in the Sky,” recorded at their iconic 1989 concert in Venice, Italy.

“Filmed in 1989, this unforgettable concert took place on a floating stage in the heart of Venice,” reads a post on Instagram. “The performance remains renowned not only for the music, but also for its extraordinary setting and ambitious production.”

This isn’t the first archival performance Pink Floyd has shared from the Live in Venice concert, which was a stop on their A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour. Over the past several weeks they’ve posted videos for such tracks as “Time,” “The Dogs of War,” “On the Turning Away” and “Learning to Fly.”

The original concert was filmed for Italian TV and broadcast worldwide.

Chrissie Hynde shares her thoughts on hugs: ‘When did everyone get so touchy-feely?’

July 31, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of the hug. In a recent post on social media, she seemed to question why “hugs” suddenly became a go-to salutation in emails.

“Question: When did everyone get so touchy-feely?” she wrote. “It seems like a new thing where people sign their emails: ‘Hugs.’ Hate to be a spoil sport, but I’m wondering if there’s anyone else out there who isn’t huggy. Surely, it’s not just me.”

“Has this come from the therapy culture? The Grammy culture? Over-sharing?” she questioned.

“I guess we’re like dogs. Some are Lone wolves (me) and others are lap dogs who like a lot of pampering (hugs),” she noted. “( btw …I’m not confusing touchy-feely-huggy people with out-and- out sexy beasts. Two totally different things).”

Hynde also questioned email sign-offs that read “Stay safe,” simply asking “Seriously?” before signing off with, “OK well that’s my thought for the day.”

Hynde later clarified her comments in a second post.

“Suddenly, I seem to be getting a lot of messages signed: ‘Hugs.’ Maybe I was wrong. Maybe everyone really does need a hug,” she wrote. “That was probably mean spirited of me and so I would like to now say, ‘Have a nice day… Hugs.’”

She added, “I’ll write another riveting blog next time I have something unimportant to say In the meantime, Hugs.”

Rick Wakeman releases ‘The Jezro Crater’ off upcoming album, ‘Return to the Red Planet’

July 31, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman is giving fans a preview of his upcoming album, Return to the Red Planet, with the release of the new song “The Jezero Crater.”

Return to the Red Planet, dropping Oct. 16, is the second time Wakeman has released an album inspired by Mars. The first, The Red Planet, was released in 2020.

The new album is described as “a sweeping new progressive work that fuses science, imagination, and musical virtuosity.” The description adds that it’s inspired by “the remarkable images and research that have transformed our understanding of Mars in recent years.”

“Once I started looking at the new data and photographs, I realised there was an entirely new album waiting to be written,” Wakeman explained when the album was announced. “There was simply too much more to say about Mars – musically and spiritually – not to return.”

On the album, Wakeman is backed by The English Rock Ensemble, made up of bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner and vocalist Mollie Marriott, daughter of English musician Steve Marriott.

Return to the Red Planet is available for preorder now.

Patti Smith meets with Pope Leo at the Vatican

July 31, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Musician, poet and author Patti Smith met with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Friday.

Video posted by Vatican News shows the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer almost speechless as she shakes the Pope’s hand. Later in the clip she sits down with him at his desk, and he asks her first if she speaks English and then if she speaks Italian.

“No, I’m sorry,” she says about speaking Italian. “I’m pure American.”

“The agenda of #PapaLeãoXIV begins to pick up the pace again after the rest period,” read the caption of the post. “On the morning of this Friday, July 31, the Pontiff received, in the Vatican, the American singer, songwriter, and writer #PattiSmith.”

Father Antonio Spadaro, who accompanied Smith, also posted video of the meeting on X.

“There are unforgettable moments in life. Today I lived one of these. With #PattiSmith, with whom for years I have shared a simple and deep friendship, and #PapaLeone, the Holy Father, today an indispensable reference for anyone who still wants to hope in this world,” he wrote. “Together. Today. For 40 minutes. When every single word had its own weight and its own lightness.”

Smith wrapped a European tour on Wednesday in Milan, Italy. She’ll next play the CBGB Festival in Brooklyn on Sept. 26.

Rod Stewart helps raise $1.7 million for Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock non-profit

July 31, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rod Stewart headlined a special charity event Thursday night in Southhampton, New York.

The rocker performed for more 200 guests at the home of philanthropists Bob and Lauren Day Roberts, with the night raising more than $1.7 million for E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt’s national education non-profit TeachRock.

The performance included a collaboration between Stewart and Van Zandt on “We’re Having a Party” and “Stay With Me.”

“When I started TeachRock, I hoped we’d build a community of artists who believe music belongs in every classroom,” Van Zandt says. “To see someone I’ve admired for so long lend his talent to this mission and to watch people come together to support teachers, students, and the next generation through music is incredibly moving.”

He adds, “Rod didn’t just give us an unforgettable performance this evening, he gave our mission a tremendous boost. Every dollar raised helps us put free arts education into more classrooms, and that’s something worth celebrating.”

“Playing alongside the legend that is Stevie Van Zandt for TeachRock — what a night,” adds Stewart. “Music changed my life, and TeachRock is making sure it can change theirs too.”

The TeachRock curriculum aims to bring arts-integrated education into classrooms across the country.
More than 80,000 educators across all 50 states have used TeachRock to help bring core subjects to life with the help of music and popular culture.

Stewart is set to kick off a new set of North American tour dates on Friday in Wantagh, New York. A complete list of dates can be found atRodStewart.com.

Rebel Sell: Billy Idol has fun highlighting cities on upcoming tour

July 30, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Idol will launch a new leg of the It’s A Nice Day To…Tour Again! tour in August. He’s getting fans excited for the trek with a funny new promo video, titled “Everybody’s About To Get Their S*** Rocked.”

“Rock icon Billy announces the next leg of his tour with the signature wit, swagger, and attitude that have defined his career for more than four decades,” reads the video’s description. “Along the way, he dishes out a mix of real history, rock ‘n’ roll wisdom, and a few tongue-in-cheek ‘facts’ as he spotlights the cities on his upcoming tour—proving that no one announces tour dates quite like Billy Idol.”

After sharing some not-so-well-known facts about the cities he’ll hit on the tour, Idol notes, “While all these cities are so different and unique in their own way, there’s one thing that unifies them together. They’re all about to get their s*** rocked when I come through.”

Billy Idol launched the It’s A Nice Day To…Tour Again! tour in 2025. The latest leg, featuring special guests Devo and Susanna Hoffs, kicks off Aug. 7 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and runs through Sept. 27 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A complete list of dates can be found at BillyIdol.net.

‘Ride the Lightning’ with Metallica’s ‘Gears of War: E-Day’ collaboration

July 30, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Take a look to the sky just before you start Gears of War: E-Day, it’s the last time you will.

The upcoming video game, the latest installment in the long-running Gears of War franchise, will include a weapon skin inspired by Metallica’s 1984 album, Ride the Lightning.

The Ride the Lightning song “For Whom the Bell Tolls” also soundtracks a new Gears of War: E-Day trailer previewing its multiplayer modes, which you can watch on YouTube.

Gears of War: E-Day will be released Oct. 6 for Xbox Series X/S and Windows. You can preorder the game for early access to its open beta starting Aug. 6.

Metallica, meanwhile, will go from Sera to Sin City when they launch their much-anticipated residency at the Las Vegas Sphere in October.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Alice in Chains reissuing ‘Unplugged’ album on vinyl

July 30, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Alice in Chains is reissuing the band’s 1996 Unplugged live album on vinyl in honor of its 30th anniversary.

The LP is available to preorder now via Alice’s webstore. It marks the first time the album has been available on vinyl in the U.S.

Alice in Chains recorded Unplugged as part of the MTV Unplugged series. The set includes stripped-down performances of songs including “Rooster,” “Down in a Hole,” “Would?” and “Angry Chair.”

Alice went on hiatus for months following the Unplugged performance, and vocalist Layne Staley died in 2002. The band reformed in 2006 with new singer William DuVall.

Graham Nash cancels Virginia concert in solidarity with striking workers

July 30, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Graham Nash has always stood up for causes he believes in, and in the latest case it has forced him to cancel an upcoming concert.

“We are disappointed to let you know that the July 31st Graham Nash show at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico, VA has been canceled in solidarity with the workers on strike at the Botanical Garden,” reads a post on Nash’s Instagram account. “We truly appreciate the loyalty of our audience and will work on a Richmond-area return to the stage in 2027.”

Ticket holders will receive refunds for purchased tickets.

According to the Henrico Citizen, unionized workers at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge back in April as they attempted to negotiate higher wages. They put on a one-day “unfair labor practice” strike on Wednesday, the workers’ eighth this year.

Nash is currently on a summer tour that includes some co-headlining dates with Emmylou Harris. His next scheduled show is Saturday in Wilmington, North Carolina. A complete list of dates can be found at GrahamNash.com.

The Police, The Beatles, Neil Young make Obama’s summer playlist

July 30, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

President Barack Obama is letting folks know what music he’s been into this summer.

Obama just released his 2026 summer playlist, which features such classic tracks as The Police’s “Message in a Bottle,” David Bowie’s “Modern Love,” The Beatles’ “Revolution” and Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.”

He also included “Song of Good Hope,” by Irish singer Glen Hansard, who died Wednesday in a motorcycle accident in Dublin.

“Here are some of the songs I’ve been listening to this summer,” Obama writes on social media. “It starts with a song Michelle and I love by Glen Hansard, a great musician who passed tragically this week. Our hearts go out to his family.”

Other songs on the list include: “Can’t Hide Love” by Earth, Wind & Fire; “Anyone Who Had a Heart” by Luther Vandross; “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan; “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye; “Hold On I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave; “The Book” by Sheryl Crow; and “(I Know) I’m Losing You” by The Temptations.

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