Classic Rock 93.9

It was 30 years ago today that grunge officially made it to the big time.

On January 11, 1992, Nirvana‘s Nevermind hit number one on the Billboard 200, ushering in an age of distorted guitars, disaffected lyrics and flannel shirts.

Having been released a few months earlier in September 1991, Nevermind built to its chart-conquering glory thanks in large part to the lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and its accompanying high school pep rally-meets-anarchist punk mosh pit music video.

Nevermind‘s ascension to the top of the Billboard 200 even dethroned the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, whose album Dangerous had spent the previous four weeks at number one.

With Nevermind leading the way, more and more grunge albums started to pop up on the Billboard 200 throughout 1992. Pearl Jam‘s Ten, which was first released in August 1991, eventually peaked at number two nearly a year later in August 1992. Soundgarden‘s most recent release, 1991’s Badmotorfinger, gave the band what was then their highest-charting release when it reached number 39 on the Billboard 200 in February 1992.

The band Temple of the Dog — featuring Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, plus guest vocals by Eddie Vedder — released their self-titled debut album to little fanfare in 1991. By September 1992, it had peaked at number five on the Billboard 200.

To date, Nevermind has spent over 550 weeks on the Billboard 200. It’s been certified Diamond by the RIAA for over 10 million in sales. In 2004, the Library of Congress added Nevermind to its National Recording Registry.

Nevermind was reissued this past November in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

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The late Clarence Clemons, founding sax player for Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band, was born 80 years ago today.

Known as “The Big Man,” Clemons joined Springsteen’s group in 1972, and his saxophone became an integral part of The Boss’ music for most of Bruce’s career, while the onstage camaraderie between the two men was a key element to the E Street Band’s marathon live shows.

It is Clemons who appears with Springsteen on the cover of Bruce’s seminal 1975 album Born to Run — one of rock’s most iconic images. Clemons’ solo on that album’s closing track “Jungleland” is generally considered one of his finest recorded moments.

Other classic Springsteen tunes that showcase Clarence’s sax prowess include “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” “Born to Run,” “Thunder Road,” “Badlands,” “The Promised Land” and “I’m Goin’ Down.”

In all, Clemons contributed to more than a dozen of Bruce’s studio albums.

In addition to his work with Springsteen, Clarence released several albums as a solo artists and with the backing bands The Red Bank Rockers and Temple of Soul.

In 1985, Clemons scored a top-20 solo hit with the single “You’re a Friend of Mine,” which featured him duetting with Jackson Browne and included backing vocals by Browne’s then-girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah.

Clemons also played and recorded with many other well-known artists, including Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Ringo Starr and The Grateful Dead.

In one of his final collaborations, Clarence played on two tracks from Lady Gaga‘s chart-topping 2011 album Born This Way, including the top-10 hit “The Edge of Glory.”

Clemons died in June 2011 from complications of a stroke. He was 69.

The Big Man was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014.

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Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has revealed the track list for his upcoming solo album, Earthling.

The record features 13 songs, including the previously released tunes “Long Way” and “The Haves.” A third cut, titled “Brother the Cloud,” will premiere this Friday, January 14.

Earthling, Vedder’s first solo effort since 2011’s Ukulele Songs, will arrive February 11. It was produced by Ozzy Osbourne‘s Ordinary Man collaborator Andrew Watt.

Next month, Vedder launches a U.S. tour with his solo band The Earthlings, which includes Watt, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, ex-RHCP guitarist and Pearl Jam touring member Josh Klinghoffer, Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, and singer-songwriter Glen Hansard. The outing kicks off February 3 in New York City.

Here’s the Earthling track list:

“Invincible”
“Long Way”
“Power of Right”
“Brother the Cloud”
“Fallout Today”
“The Dark”
“The Haves”
“Good and Evil”
“Rose of Jericho”
“Try”
“Picture”
“Mrs. Mills”
“On My Way”

Announcing the official tracklist for Eddie Vedder’s upcoming album, Earthling. The next single, “Brother the Cloud,” will be released on Friday, January 14th along with a digital pre-order for the album. Earthling will be released on Friday, February 11th. pic.twitter.com/EF6oQS6dEj

— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) January 10, 2022

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In his native U.K., Elton John scored three number-one hits in 2021. He wasn’t as lucky in the U.S., but he’s kicking off 2022 with his first stateside top 10 in 24 years.

After its release in August of 2021, Elton’s duet with Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix),” has jumped from number 20 to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. The last time Elton was in the top 10 on this chart was back in 1998, with “Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997.”

“Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” features snippets of four Elton songs — “Sacrifice,” “Rocket Man,” “Kiss the Bride” and “Where’s the Shoorah?” — all mixed together by the Australian dance music act Pnau. It appears on his album The Lockdown Sessions.

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The Scorpions will release the the title track of their upcoming studio album, Rock Believer, as an advance single this Thursday, January 13, at 10 a.m. ET.

The veteran German hard rockers have debuted a snippet of the song at their TikTok and Facebook pages. In addition, if you pre-save the single, you can unlock a clip from the upcoming “Rock Believer” music video, which will premiere Tuesday, January 18, on YouTube.

The Scorpions also will be hosting a special after-party and Q&A event following the video’s premiere that will accessible to subscribers to the YouTube Premium service. You can submit questions for the band members now in the comments section of this Facebook post.

The “Rock Believer” single’s cover art was designed by longtime Beatles associate Klaus Voormann, who famously created the cover of the Fab Four’s classic 1966 album, Revolver, as well as playing bass on solo recordings by John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

You can get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Rock Believer album by watching a multiple part docuseries that’s being posted at the band’s YouTube channel.

Rock Believer will be released on February 25, and can be pre-ordered now.

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Steve Miller Band, Stone Temple Pilots and The Smashing Pumpkins are part of the lineup for the 2022 BeachLife Festival, taking place May 13-15 in Redondo Beach, California.

Miller and his group will headline the event’s third and final day, while The Smashing Pumpkins will top the bill on day two, May 14. STP also will be performing on May 14, as will Matisyahu, Sugar Ray, Everclear frontman Art Alexakis and Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Weezer and 311 will headline the festival’s first day, which also will boast performances by Black Pumas, Cold War Kids and more.

The May 15 bill also includes Sheryl Crow, UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell, The Allman Betts Band, Ozomatli and others.

Tickets are on sale now. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit BeachLifeFestival.com.

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Your week is about to get spookier, courtesy of Foo Fighters.

Dave Grohl and company are set to premiere the first official trailer for their upcoming horror-comedy film Studio 666 this Tuesday — or, should we say, Foos-day — January 11. The clip will follow the previously released 43-second “sneak peek” teaser, which dropped last month.

Studio 666, which was first announced this past November, follows the Foos as they enter a creepy mansion to record a new album, and are soon beset by evil and supernatural forces. While the movie is, of course, fictional, it was filmed at the same house where Foo Fighters recorded their 2021 album, Medicine at Midnight, which Grohl repeatedly said was haunted.

Along with the six Foo members, the Studio 666 cast also includes Whitney Cummings, Leslie Grossman, Will Forte and Jenna Ortega. The film premieres in theaters February 25.

Check out some killer photos from @Studio666Movie. 🔪 Don’t miss the official trailer TOMORROW! 🤘 #Studio666Movie pic.twitter.com/yje35sw2uD

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) January 10, 2022

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After launching a six-show Las Vegas residency at The STRAT Theater this past fall, Sammy Hagar has announced six new dates at the venue, scheduled for February 9, 11 and 12, and March 23, 25 and 26.

The “Sammy Hagar and Friends” shows will feature the Red Rocker performing a rotating set of classic songs from throughout his long career, plus select covers, with his current band The Circle — founding Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, acclaimed rock drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson of Sammy’s longtime backing group, The Wabos.

Like Hagar’s 2021 residency, this year’s concerts also may see some surprise guests joining Sammy and the band on stage. Artists who made special appearances last year included The Grateful Dead‘s Bob Weir, Rick Springfield and Ratt‘s Stephen Pearcy.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to The STRAT for my Las Vegas residency,” says Hagar in a statement. “We have created the ultimate concert party in a theater that captures the beach vibes of my annual birthday parties in Cabo San Lucas with a new show every night. It’s a blast and I can’t wait to continue with my bandmates, special guests and Redheads in 2022.”

Tickets for the 2022 shows go on sale to the general public this Wednesday, January 12, at 10 a.m. PT.

Members of Hagar’s fan club can purchase pre-sale tickets starting today at 10 a.m. PT, while members of The STRAT resort’s True Rewards program can buy tickets beginning Tuesday, January 11, at 10 a.m. PT.

Limited VIP packages also will be available that include early entry to the theater to watch Hagar’s soundcheck, a signed laminate, a bottle of Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, “Sammy Hagar and Friends” merch and more.

Visit TheSTRAT.com and RedRocker.com for more info.

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Starting in 2013, Rod Stewart has been on a songwriting roll that has seen him release multiple albums full of original songs, including his latest one, 2021’s The Tears of Hercules. But Rod says he’s now ready to put his own pen down for a bit and go back to covering classic tunes.

Asked if he spent lockdown writing more songs for a follow-up to The Tears of Hercules, Rod — who turns 77 today — tells ABC Audio, “No, no, no, I think I’m gonna give it a rest now, ’cause I made, I didn’t realize, four albums in eight years! You know…that’s a lot of songs. I don’t wanna, you know, flood the market with my songs.”

Instead, Rod says he’s working on not one but two albums that will see him singing other people’s songs.

“I’m making a big band album at the moment of all the great songs from the ’40s to follow on from The Great American Songbook,” he says, referring to his successful string of standards albums. “And I’m also going to put a country album together and make it duets with all female duettees.”

Asked if he could reveal which women might be joining him for those duets, Rod laughs and says, “Not yet, it’s much too early — but they’re all lined up!”

The Tears of Hercules features the single “One More Time.”  Rod is scheduled to kick off an Australian tour in March, proceeded by two shows in Florida next month. He’ll return to Las Vegas in May for his ongoing residency at Caesars Palace.  His 2022 schedule also includes a late-summer North American tour with Cheap Trick and a fall U.K. trek. Of course, all these plans might be upended by COVID, so stay tuned.

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After being postponed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elton John‘s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour finally gets going again with a 2022 U.S. leg that kicks off January 19 in New Orleans.

Elton’s longtime guitarist and music director Davey Johnstone tells ABC Audio that he’ll be heading to New Orleans this Friday to start rehearsing with the rest of the band, albeit without Elton himself.

“I rehearse the band before Elton comes anywhere near, ’cause he hates to rehearse,” Johnstone reveals. “He is very impatient. There’s no way he can do rehearsal.”

Davey says that for the first few days of rehearsal, he employs a good friend, singer/pianist Adam Chester, to serve as a “surrogate Elton.”

“[Adam] plays great piano, and he loves to come in and sing Elton songs and play piano,” Johnstone explains. “[T]hen Elton will come in for a few hours. And then on the 19th, we do our first show, and off we go.”

Since Elton’s tour was put on hold in 2020, the pop-rock legend has released a new studio album, The Lockdown Sessions, which features collaborations with an eclectic variety of music stars.

Asked if any of these guest artists might show up to perform at select tour dates, Johnstone offers, cryptically, “I can’t really tell you right now, but there might be something that will happen that is a bit different, that you wouldn’t expect. It’s not quite a guest, but almost.”

As for whether he has any say about which songs are included in the set, Davey notes, “[Elton and I] very much collaborate on what the set’s gonna be. But obviously, as the singer and the star of the show, final cut is his call.”

Check out Elton’s full itinerary at EltonJohn.com.

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