Classic Rock 93.9

Cheap Trick will head to the Las Vegas strip in late winter for a four-show residency at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod.

The power-pop legends are scheduled to perform at the complex’s intimate STRAT Theater on February 25 and 26, and March 4 and 5.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Thursday, January 6, at 10 a.m. PT at Tickets.TheStrat.com. Members of Cheap Trick’s Trick International fan club can purchase pre-sale tickets now, while members of The STRAT’s free True Rewards program will be able to buy pre-sale tickets starting Tuesday, January 4, at 10 a.m. PT.

In addition, VIP packages are available that will offer a chance to watch Cheap Trick’s private pre-concert soundcheck, a group photo with the band, exclusive Cheap Trick merchandise, a commemorative laminate and early entry into the venue.

“Can’t wait to finally get back out on the road with Cheap Trick,” says founding bassist Tom Petersson. “I hope to see you during our Las Vegas residency at The STRAT. Happy New Year!” Petersson missed most of the band’s 2021 shows after undergoing open-heart surgery last year.

Cheap Trick become the second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act to schedule a residency at The Strat, following Sammy Hagar‘s “Sammy Hagar & Friends” shows this past October and November.

Prior to their Vegas residency, Cheap Trick will headline the RokIsland Fest 2022 in Key West, Florida, on January 15, and then will play a series of shows in the U.K. and mainland Europe in February.

The band’s ’22 itinerary also includes a Canadian tour opening for ZZ Top in April and May, and a support slot on Rod Stewart‘s lengthy U.S. summer trek. Visit CheapTrick.com for full details.

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Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne will be a guest tonight on Late Night with Seth Myers, which airs at 12:35 a.m. ET/11:35 p.m. CT on NBC.

Byrne will be interviewed during the show. In addition, Brazilian drummer/percussionist Gustavo Di Dalva, who is a member of David’s backing group for his David Byrne’s American Utopia Broadway show, will be sitting in with Late Night‘s house band, The 8G Band, this week through Thursday, January 6.

Di Dalva, who has recorded with many acclaimed Brazilian musicians over the years, also is featured in the award-winning Spike Lee-directed 2020 film presentation of David Byrne’s American Utopia.

American Utopia currently is scheduled to run through April 3 at New York City’s at the St. James Theatre. The next performance takes place this Wednesday, January 5. Tickets are available now at AmericanUtopiaBroadway.com.

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The 64th annual Grammy Awards may be moving to a new date following a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Trevor Noah, is scheduled to take place on January 31 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.

Billboard reports that the Recording Academy is seriously considering postponing the show, with a source with direct knowledge telling the outlet it is “looking likely” it will happen.

Should the Academy move the date, this will mark the second year in a row the Grammy Awards had to change its schedule.  Last year, the ceremony was moved from January 31 to March 14 because of 2021’s winter surge in coronavirus cases.

It’s unknown when or if this year’s ceremony will also move to the spring; as of Monday afternoon, the Academy has not returned an ABC News request for comment.  Should the Grammy Awards be postponed this year, the Academy’s MusiCares gala and the Pre-Grammy Gala, which are respectively set for January 29 and 30th, will likely also be rescheduled.

Currently, federal data reports more than 100,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. for COVID-19.  Johns Hopkins University reports that new, daily infections in the U.S. also reached an all-time high on Friday after 386,000 people tested positive for the virus.

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The first two shows of David Lee Roth‘s previously announced Las Vegas residency at the House of Blues — which were scheduled to take place on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — were canceled because of COVID-19-related issues, ABC’s Las Vegas affiliate KTNV reports.

A press release sent to the station explained that the concerts, which were both sold out, were canceled “[d]ue to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution for those working and attending the shows.”

Refunds were automatically sent to ticket holders.

The Van Halen frontman still has seven concerts scheduled as part of the engagement, which Roth announced in an October 2021 interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal would be his farewell performances. The upcoming shows are scheduled for January 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22.

“I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” Roth, who’s 67, said in the interview. “This is the first, and only, official announcement.”

David initially scheduled five Vegas concerts, but added the shows on January 14, 15, 21 and 22 because of “popular demand.”

Tickets for Roth’s upcoming gigs can be purchased by visiting HouseofBlues.com and Ticketmaster.com.

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Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer rang in the New Year with a cover of The Golden Girls theme song, “Thank You for Being a Friend.”

“There has been a lot of loss lately, a lot of endings,” Klinghoffer wrote in an Instagram post alongside a video of the cover. “It’s happening all the time everywhere, but these past few weeks have seen the loss of a few important people in my life.”

While Klinghoffer’s post doesn’t specifically mention her by name, the cover is also undoubtedly a tribute to late Golden Girls star and TV icon Betty White, who passed away New Year’s Eve at 99 years old.

Klinghoffer’s 2022 plans include hitting the road with Eddie Vedder as part of the Pearl Jam frontman’s solo band, The Earthlings. He’s also a member of Pearl Jam’s touring lineup.

 

 

 

 

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In case you missed it, Journey has shared a video of their two-song performance on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest special on its social media pages.

The veteran rockers performed their classic hits “Any Way You Want It” and “Don’t Stop Believin'” live in New York City’s Times Square on Friday night at about 11:30 p.m. ET shortly before the ball dropped to ring in 2022.

Fans may have noticed that Journey drummer Deen Castronovo wasn’t performing with the band that night, and Castronovo revealed that was because he’d tested positive for COVID-19 before the event.

“Well yes it’s true! Tested positive for ‘The thing,'” Deen wrote on his Twitter feed. “I feel fine. Asymptomatic but the show must go on.” Castronovo also noted that Journey drum tech Steve Toomey was filling in for him at the Times Square gig.

Deen, whose substance-abuse issues were a factor in him being fired from Journey in 2015, subsequently worked on his sobriety and rejoined the band’s lineup in July of 2021.

He added in his message, “Hey at least I feel great and it wasn’t cuz I was high on drugs and alcohol right!! Love you all and stay safe out there!!”

Castrovono also posted a follow-up message on Twitter over the weekend that reads, “HAPPY NEW YEARS!! Sending you all peace, health & happiness! Thank you for all the well wishes and support! God bless you all! CYA out on the road with [Journey] in 2022!”

Journey’s Freedom Tour 2022, with opening act Billy Idol, kicks off on February 22 in Pittsburgh.

No one better to sing us into a NEW YEAR than @JourneyOfficial!
We’re still partying LIVE on ABC! 🎉 #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/swClUWKidW

— New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@RockinEve) January 1, 2022

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Twenty-seven years after Elton John received the honor, his long-term musical partner Bernie Taupin has been made a CBE — Commander of the Order of the British Empire — as part of Queen Elizabeth II‘s annual New Year’s honors list.

Taupin received the honor in recognition of his “exceptional services to music.” A CBE is one step below a knighthood. Elton was made a CBE in 1995, and was subsequently knighted in 1998, which is why he’s now called Sir Elton John.

“Congratulations to my lyricist extraordinaire on his C.B.E that was announced today!” Elton wrote on Instagram. “I love you and you so deserve this recognition.” In the comments, Bernie replied, “Thanks my darling friend. It’s all a bit ironic isn’t it.”

Other music legends who are CBEs include Queen‘s Brian May, Led Zeppelin‘s Robert Plant, Sting, and the Bee Gees.

Meanwhile, Melanie Brown, aka Mel B, aka Scary Spice of the Spice Girls, was made an MBE — a Member of the Order of the British Empire. However, she wasn’t honored for her music, but for her work with Women’s Aid, a charity that helps “vulnerable women,” specifically victims of domestic violence.

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Seems like the trend of legendary artists selling their catalogs for millions is continuing into 2022.

Warner Chappell Music and the estate of David Bowie announced Monday that WCM has purchased the music publishing rights to Bowie’s entire catalog.  That includes all of the songs from the 26 studio albums released during his lifetime, plus his posthumous release, Toy, due out on Friday.

The catalog includes such timeless classics as “Heroes,” Ziggy Stardust,” “Let’s Dance,” “Changes,” “A Space Oddity,” “Rebel Rebel” and more. Bowie’s two studio albums with the band Tin Machine are also included in the deal, as are songs he recorded for soundtracks and other projects, like his Queen collaboration “Under Pressure.”

Variety puts the price of the catalog at $250 million.

In a statement, WCM CEO and Co-Chair Guy Moot said, “These are not only extraordinary songs, but milestones that have changed the course of modern music forever…We are looking forward to tending his unparalleled body of songs with passion and care as we strive to build on the legacy of this most extraordinary human being.”

What would have been Bowie’s 75th birthday is this Saturday, amid a campaign that includes pop-up stores in New York City and London, the release of the Brilliant Adventure (1992-2001) box set, and a virtual charity tribute concert that will feature performances by Def Leppard, Duran Duran‘s Simon Le Bon and John Taylor, Living Colour, Rob Thomas, WALK THE MOON, and actors Gary Oldman and Evan Rachel Wood, among others.

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With 2021 now in the rear-view mirror, it’s a good time to look ahead at some of the artists planning to release new music in the new year.

January alone will see the arrival of new studio efforts by John Mellencamp, Jethro Tull and Elvis Costello and the Imposters.

Mellencamp’s new album, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, will be released on January 21, and will include three collaborations with Bruce Springsteen.

Jethro Tull’s first new studio album in 18 years, The Zealot Gene, will be issued a week later, on January 28, while Costello his longtime backing group’s latest, The Boy Named If, will hit stores on January 14.

Releases scheduled for February include Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators‘ 4 on February 4; Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder‘s Earthling on February 11; and Scorpions‘ Rock Believer and Guns N’ Roses‘ Hard Skool EP on February 25. The Hard Skool EP will include two recent GN’R singles — the title track and “Absurd” — as well as recent live versions of “Don’t Cry” and “You’re Crazy.”

The following month, Bryan Adams has a new album called So Happy It Hurts scheduled for a March 11 release.

Other artists who are expected to release albums this year include Journey, Todd Rundgren, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Walsh and, possibly, Springsteen, who revealed in May 2021 that he had “a record coming out soon that’s set largely in the West.”

Rundgren’s previously announced album, Space Force, features Todd collaborating with a variety of musicians. Osbourne’s as-yet-untitled album, which is expected out around springtime, will include contributions from his Black Sabbath band mate Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and other guest stars.

Here’s a list of notable confirmed and expected releases for 2022, by month:

1/7:
David Bowie, TOY (TOY:BOX) (box set focusing on unreleased 2000 album)

1/14:
Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Boy Named If

1/21:
John Mellencamp, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack

1/28:
Jethro Tull, The Zealot Gene
Steve Vai, Inviolate

2/4:
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, 4

2/11:
Eddie Vedder, Earthling

2/25:
Scorpions, Rock Believer
Guns N’ Roses, Hard Skool EP

3/11:
Bryan Adams, So Happy It Hurts

3/25:
Various Artists, Legacy: A Tribute to Leslie West (featuring Slash, Zakk Wylde, Dee Snider, Martin Barre, Joe Lynn Turner, Elliot Easton, Robby Krieger & others)

4/29:
Ted Nugent, Detroit Muscle

Unconfirmed or details not yet announced:

Megadeth, The Sick, the Dying and the Dead
Todd Rundgren, Space Force
Journey — TBA
Ozzy Osbourne — TBA
Bruce Springsteen — TBA
Joe Walsh — TBA

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of many New Year’s Eve concerts and events, but you’ll still be able to see some of your favorite artists performing Friday night on select TV specials.

Among the veteran stars who will be featured performing to help ring in 2022 are Journey, Duran Duran, and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong.

Journey is one of the artists set to perform on 50th annual installment of ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, which airs at 8 p.m. ET. The Rock & Roll Hall of of Famers are among several acts that will appear live in New York City’s Times Square, along with award-winning Colombian singer Karol G.

Other performers on the special include Avril Lavigne with Travis Barker, AJR with Daisy the Great, Måneskin, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Billy Porter, OneRepublic, French Montana and Daddy Yankee.

Armstrong is slated to to perform on Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, an NBC special hosted by pop star Miley Cyrus and Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson. The lineup also includes Brandi Carlile, Saweetie, 24kGoldn and others. Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party airs at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Duran Duran will perform on CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, which will be broadcast at 8 p.m. ET. Other artists who will perform or appear on the special include Katy Perry, Patti LaBelle and Earth, Wind & Fire.

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