Classic Rock 93.9

Paul McCartney released the solo album McCartney III, the third installment in a trio of solo albums on which he played most of the instruments himself.

The Beatle recorded the album at his Sussex studio while in lockdown due to COVID-19. 

McCartney III would go on to debut at #1 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S. and earn Grammy nominations for best rock album and best rock song for “Find My Way.”

In 2021, McCartney released McCartney III Imagined, a remixed version of the album featuring reinterpretations, remixes and covers of songs from the original record. Collaborators included Beck, Dominic Fike, St. Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers, Damon Albarn and Josh Homme, among others.

McCartney, the Beatle’s debut solo record, was released in 1970. It was recorded during a period of estrangement with The Beatles following John Lennon‘s private departure from the group. McCartney II arrived in 1980.

In August 2022, McCartney released a box set titled McCartney I II III comprising all three albums from the series.

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The first-ever video for George Harrison’s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” was just released, directed by Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard. And it turns out he may not have gotten the gig if it wasn’t for some of his Hollywood friends.

Wolfhard explains how he got the job in a new interview with Vulture, revealing he was first introduced to George Harrison’s son, Dhani Harrison, through his Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire co-star Paul Rudd. He was then invited to visit George Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, at her home, Friar Park. A year later he was talking music with Fred Armisen at a Hollywood party, which led Armisen to think of him for the job.

“I got a random text from Fred after a few days and he was like, ‘Hey, the George Harrison estate is trying to figure out a director for “Give Me Love,” but they haven’t found anyone yet. I threw your name in the hat.’ I was shocked,” Wolfhard says. “It was flattering enough that he even mentioned me. Then it was a coincidence that I already knew Dhani.”

Wolfhard says he’s been a George Harrison fan since he was introduced to his music by his mom when he was 6, noting he “wouldn’t have pursued performing at a young age in the same way” if it wasn’t for the rock legend. Wolfhard says the fact that The Beatles dabbled in more than just music “was a huge inspiration to me.”

“You don’t have to just be one thing,” he says. “George is a perfect example of that, who accomplished so much as a solo artist and as a person after the Beatles.”

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With Christmas just days away, Paul McCartney is giving fans some insight into his holiday classic “Wonderful Christmastime.”

The Beatles legend has released a Vevo Footnotes version of the song’s video, revealing the stories behind the track.

“I’m thinking about Liverpool Christmas parties, that’s really all I’m doing with that song,” McCartney shares in one of the notes in the video. “‘The mood is right, let’s raise a glass, the spirits up’ – you know, all the stuff you do at Christmas.”

After the clip notes there’s a theory the song is about people practicing witchcraft getting caught and trying to cover it up, McCartney jokingly confesses the “truth.”

“Thank goodness they found me out,” he says. “This is completely true and actual fact, I am the head wizard of a Liverpool coven.” He adds, “Either that … or it’s complete nonsense. And you know it’s the latter.”

“Wonderful Christmastime” was released as a single in November 1979 and appeared on his 1980 album, McCartney II. It was McCartney’s first solo single in more than eight years.

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A new video has just been released of John Lennon and Yoko Ono performing at a benefit concert for the families of those killed in New York’s Attica prison in 1971.

The concert took place 24 years ago, on Dec. 17, 1971, at the Apollo Theater in New York. Video shows John & Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band performing what was then a new song, “Attica State.”

The clip opens with an explanation of what happened on Sept. 13, 1971, at Attica Correctional Facility, noting that 39 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

The emcee of the evening explains to the crowd while introducing John and Yoko that the pair “saw fit to put down in music and lyrics, so that it will never be forgotten in our country by anyone, the tragedy of Attica State.”

The performance is one of 92 bonus tracks that appear on the John and Yoko box set Power to the People (Super Deluxe Edition), which came out in October. The set focused on John and Yoko’s political activism and life in New York City.

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Cheap Trick is responding to criticism for performing at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, which took place in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7.

The band appeared at the ceremony, which was hosted by President Donald Trump, to honor KISS. They performed the band’s classic “Rock & Roll All Nite.”

“We were asked to perform at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony to pay tribute to our lifelong brothers in KISS, and to support artists and the arts,” the band wrote on Instagram. “We agreed to do it for those reasons, and no others.”

But even that post didn’t satisfy all their fans, with one commenter writing, “Bad call. I just lost a lot of respect.” Another added, “Should have politely declined.”

They did receive plenty of messages of support, as well, with one commenter noting, “Why are you apologizing for supporting your friends? No need to.”

The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will air Dec. 23 on CBS.

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The life and career of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh will once again be celebrated with a series of concerts at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.

Phil’s son Grahame Lesh has announced dates for Unbroken Chain: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Phil Lesh. The shows will take place March 12-15, on what would have been Phil’s 86th birthday weekend.

Phil celebrated several birthdays onstage at the Capitol Theatre, including his 84th birthday in March 2024. He passed away that October. Grahame held the first Unbroken Chain shows in March 2025.

“We had a beautiful, emotional celebration at the Cap last March, which established such a beautiful new tradition at a place that has become like a 2nd home for my dad and my family in the past 13 years or so,” Grahame wrote on Instagram. “I’m so grateful to all of these beautiful musicians on these lineups – my dad’s friends (& Friends!), bandmates, collaborators, and this year some wonderful musicians who never got to play with my dad but are an integral part of keeping this music moving forward.”

This year’s lineup includes Dead & Company’s Oteil Burbridge, North Mississippi Allstars‘ Luther Dickinson, guitarist Daniel Donato and Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

Proceeds from the shows will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Last year’s concerts raised over $250,000 for charity.

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Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox is the latest artist to record the theme song for the opening sequence of the Starz series Outlander.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer performs “The Skye Boat Song” for the show’s eighth and final season. It’s a 19th century Scottish song, with the show’s version using the text of the Robert Louis Stevenson poem “Sing Me a Song of a Lad That Is Gone,” although the lyrics have been changed to “sing me a song of a lass that is gone.”

“I’ve loved and sung ‘The Skye Boat Song’ since I was a young girl growing up in Aberdeen,” says Lennox, referring to her Scottish hometown. “It represents such an iconic part of Scottish culture and history and it’s a real honor to have been asked to record it for Outlander’s final season.”

Outlander has used “The Skye Boat Song” in the show’s opening since its debut in 2014, although it has featured a new performer and arrangement each season. The song was recorded by Sinéad O’Connor for season 7.

The eighth and final season of Outlander premieres March 6 on Starz.

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If you’ll be traveling to Tasmania to see Foo Fighters‘ sold-out stadium concert on the Australian island state, you won’t have to “Learn to Fly” yourself.

The airline Virgin Australia has announced extra flights around the Jan. 24 show, which adds about 700 extra seats. The newly added trips include two additional return services between Melbourne and the Tasmania city of Launceston on Jan. 23-25, and two additional return services between Sydney and Launceston on Jan. 24-25.

The Foos concert also coincides with the 2026 Australia Day weekend celebration.

“We have the broadest jet network between Launceston and the mainland, with direct services from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, making it easier for fans to fly directly to the concert,” says Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley in statement. “It’s shaping up to be one of the busiest travel weekends of 2026 for northern Tasmania, and we’ll keep monitoring bookings to determine if more seats are needed.”

As previously reported, the Foo Fighters Tasmania show sold out in “record time,” according to promoter Frontier Touring.

“We have a very special relationship with Tasmania – as we do with all of Australia,” frontman Dave Grohl said.

Foo Fighters’ other live plans include a Jan. 14 benefit concert in Los Angeles, which celebrates Grohl’s birthday, and a full U.S. stadium tour launching in August.

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Stevie Nicks has announced her first non-festival show of 2026.

The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is set to headline Lucas Oil Live in Thackerville, Oklahoma, on April 18.

“I couldn’t stay away for long,” Stevie wrote on Instagram. “See you there!”

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

In addition to the Oklahoma show, Stevie is set to play New Orleans Jazz Fest on April 25. The festival, taking place April 23-26 and April 30-May 3, also features headliners Rod Stewart and the Eagles.

For more info on Stevie’s schedule, go to StevieNicksOfficial.com.

Nicks wrapped her 2025 tour on Dec. 10 in Hollywood, Florida. The tour did not go off without a hitch, though, as Stevie was forced to postpone shows in August and September in order to recover from a fractured shoulder.

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On This Day, Dec. 17, 1949…

Singer Paul Rodgers was born in Middlesbrough, England.

Rodgers would go on to form the rock band Free in 1968 with drummer Simon Kirke, guitarist Paul Kossoff and bassist Andy Fraser. The band landed a #1 hit with ”All Right Now,” which Rodgers co-wrote with Fraser.

After their breakup, Rodgers and Kirke formed the supergroup Bad Company with Mott The Hoople’s Mick Ralphs and the King Crimson’s Boz Burrell.

Bad Company’s self-titled debut album was released in 1974 and hit #1 thanks to such classic songs as “Can’t Get Enough” and the title track. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.

After leaving Bad Company in 1982, Rodgers launched a successful solo career and fronted the band The Law, featuring former Faces drummer Kenney Jones. He also toured and recorded an album with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor under the name Queen + Paul Rodgers.

In 2023, Rodgers released Midnight Rose, his first solo album in almost 25 years, and revealed to the world he had suffered a series of strokes starting in 2016 that nearly took away his ability to sing. 

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