See it for the first time: Foreigner musical sets opening run

February 13, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new musical using the music of Foreigner is set to open in April.

The previously announced production, Feels Like The First Time – The Foreigner Musical, will run April 17-26 at the Little Theatre on Long Island University’s Brookville campus.

The musical, featuring the band’s iconic hits like “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded” and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” is a collaboration between the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band, the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts and Long Island University’s Post Theatre Company.

Rent star Adam Pascal, who is the inaugural Artist-in-Residence at LIU, is directing the production. Stephen Garvey is writing the book, choreography will be done by Lorna Ventura, and David Abbinanti will handle orchestrator and arranger duties.

The musical, set in 1985, will center around a suburban family who wins an MTV sweepstakes with a grand prize of a weekend visit from a popular rock star, including a private backyard concert.

“This new show represents everything I love about making theater—great music, fun storytelling, and meaningful collaboration,” says Pascal. “Partnering with Foreigner, Tilles Center, and LIU Post Theatre Company to develop a brand-new musical in an academic setting creates a rare and powerful environment where artists and students are building something together from the ground up.”

Tickets for Feels Like The First Time – The Foreigner Musical go on sale Friday at 12 p.m. ET at TiliesCenter.org.

James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers contribute signed guitars to Gibson Gives charity auction

February 13, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Guitars autographed by James Taylor and The Doobie Brothers are up for grabs as part of Gibson Gives’ upcoming benefit auction, hosted by Julien’s Auctions.

Other artists who’ve donated signed guitars include Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Willie Nelson, Halestorm, Live, Collective Soul and Daughtry.

“We are proud to help support the musicians of tomorrow, with help from the musicians of today,” says Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions. “This auction of nearly two dozen guitars features some incredible instruments, all signed by renowned artists and bands.”

The online-only auction will go live March 5 at 10 a.m. PT, with proceeds benefiting Gibson Gives & FirstBank Amphitheater Music Education Program, supporting music education for students in Williamson County Schools in Tennessee.

More info can be found at JuliensAuctions.com.

RHCP’s Chad Smith to teach Legends of the ’70s drum instruction course

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Here’s your chance to learn drumming from Chad Smith.

The man behind the Red Hot Chili Peppers kit is teaching his own drumming course in partnership with the platform Drumeo.

The class is called Legends of the ’70s and focuses on four of Smith’s biggest influences from the 1970s: Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward, The Who’s Keith Moon and Deep Purple’s Ian Paice.

The course begins March 2 and will be available on the app Musora. If you sign up by March 1, you’ll get access to a livestream event with Smith.

For more info, visit Musora.com.

Debbie Harry pays tribute to early Blondie bassist Fred Smith

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Debbie Harry has paid tribute to late Television bassist Fred Smith, who played in an early incarnation of the band that went on to become Blondie.

Smith passed away Feb. 5 at the age of 77.

Sharing a black-and-white photo of the early band playing at New York’s CBGB in 1975, Harry wrote, “Rest in peace, Fred Smith. Thank you for your dedication to music — your contributions will not be forgotten.”

The post notes that the photo features Harry, Smith, and backup singers Tish Bellomo and Snooky Bellomo.

In 1974, current Blondie members Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, along with Smith and drummer Billy O’Connor, who were previously in the band Stillettoes together, formed a new band, originally named Angel and the Snake. The band name was eventually changed to Blondie and the Banzai Babies, and then became just Blondie.

Smith left the group in 1975 to replace Richard Hell in Television.

‘Baby Reindeer’ star Jessica Gunning to play Mama Cass Elliot in upcoming biopic

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Emmy Award-winning Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning has been cast to play The Mamas & The Papas singer Cass Elliot in the upcoming movie My Mama Cass.

The biopic will be based on the bestselling memoir My Mama, Cass, written by Elliot’s daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, with the book being adapted by novelist and screenwriter Emma Forrest.

A press release notes that the film is “not a traditional Mamas & the Papas biopic,” rather a “definitive Cass Elliot film, centered on her life, legacy, and the mother-daughter bond that shaped them both.”

In addition to focusing on Elliot’s life and career, the film will highlight Owen’s journey to uncover the truth about her mother’s death at age 32 in order to put to rest the urban legend that she died choking on a ham sandwich. Cass died of heart failure in 1974 when Owen was 7.

The film is currently in production.

As a member of The Mamas & The Papas, Cass scored six top-10 hits, including “Monday Monday,” “California Dreamin'” and “Dedicated to the One I Love.” The group sold over 40 million records and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Cass went on to a solo career, scoring hits like “Make Your Own Kind of Music” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”

Gene Simmons defends use of word ‘ghetto’ while arguing hip-hop shouldn’t be in Rock Hall

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Gene Simmons recently made headlines for sharing his opinion about hip-hop artists being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and caught some flack over using the word “ghetto.” He’s now defending himself against the backlash.

In the original interview with the Legends N Leaders podcast, the KISS rocker, who was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2015, said of hip-hop, “It’s not my music. I don’t come from the ghetto. It doesn’t speak my language.”

“And as I said in print many times, hip-hop does not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, nor does opera, symphony orchestras,” he added. “How come the New York Philharmonic doesn’t get into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Because it’s called the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

After folks online dubbed Simmons’ use of the word ghetto racist, he defended himself, telling People, “I stand by my words.”

“Let’s cut to the chase. The word ‘ghetto,’ it originated with Jews,” he continued. “It was borrowed by African Americans in particular and respectfully, not in a bad way.”

As for the suggestion that it’s a racist term, Simmons argued, “Ghetto is a Jewish term[.] … How could you be, when rock is Black music? It’s just a different Black music than hip-hop, which is also Black music.”

He added, “Rock ‘n’ roll owes everything to Black music, statement of fact, period. All the major forms of American music owe their roots to Black music.”

Josh Freese reflects on Foo Fighters departure: ‘I did not see that coming’

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Former Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese reflects on his departure from Foo Fighters in an interview with Modern Drummer.

Freese, who joined the Foos in 2023 following the 2022 death of Taylor Hawkins, revealed in May 2025 that he’d been let go from the group, noting, “No reason was given.”

“I have a couple small theories, but I can’t really go into them right now,” Freese tells Modern Drummer, according to Consequence. “I did really enjoy the two years I spent with those guys however, and they were good to me… until they weren’t.

Freese adds that he loved playing in a band fronted by a renowned drummer in Dave Grohl.

“It really was cool being in a band where the leader is a phenomenal drummer that you respect,” Freese says.

“I enjoyed being around those guys, they were generous and good to me… and that’s what makes the whole thing even more of a mystery,” he continues. “I think I’m a pretty good read on people, and I did not see that coming. One day it was nothing but laughs, we’re on stage and Dave’s looking at me every night like, ‘You’re killing it dude!!!’ And then it was just… over.”

After parting ways with Freese, the Foos recruited Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails to be their new drummer. In a twist, Freese, who previously played with NIN between 2005 and 2008, rejoined NIN.

Freese has also been been playing shows with bands including A Perfect Circle and Weezer. All of which is to say that he’s definitely landed on his feet post-Foos.

“I feel like I’m back where I belong,” he says. “Trust me… no one should feel sorry for me.”

Case on Kurt Cobain’s death remains closed, Seattle authorities say

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Authorities in Seattle have confirmed that the case on the death of Kurt Cobain, which was ruled a suicide in 1994, remains closed.

“In the death examination for Kurt Cobain, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office worked with the local law enforcement agency, conducted a full autopsy, and followed all of its procedures in coming to the determination of the manner of death as a suicide,” the public health public information officer for Washington State’s King County says in a statement to ABC Audio. “We’re not able to provide specific details about what informed our conclusion, as the autopsy records are private under state law and can only be released by the next of kin.”

The statement comes after the U.K. tabloid The Daily Mail published a story on an independent, unofficial investigation claiming that the late Nirvana frontman was killed in a homicide.

“Our office is always open to revisiting its conclusions if new evidence comes to light, but we’ve seen nothing to date that would warrant re-opening of this case and our previous determination of death,” the statement reads.

A statement from the Seattle Police Department adds, “Kurt Cobain died by suicide in 1994. This case is closed.”

If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or by visiting 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

New York to co-name street after Jimi Hendrix

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

New York City is set to honor the legacy of rocker Jimi Hendrix. It was just announced that the city plans to co-name West 8th Street in Greenwich Village Jimi Hendrix Way.

The street is where Hendrix’s legendary Electric Lady Studios is located. Opened in August 1970, Electric Lady was the first commercial studio owned by an artist. Hendrix died just three weeks after its opening.

The naming is set to take place Feb. 24 at 11 a.m., and was the result of a campaign led by Experience Hendrix LLC President and CEO Janie Hendrix, NYC District 2 council member Harvey Epstein, and guitarist and writer Jeff Slate.

The naming ceremony will coincide with the launch of a new education partnership with E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock, which uses music and pop culture to expand learning in schools. The partnership will result in the addition of a Hendrix curriculum for middle and high school students.

“Jimi Hendrix didn’t just play guitar—he reimagined what art could be,” says Van Zandt. “I want TeachRock to transport students into that same sense of possibility and discovery I felt the first time I saw Jimi perform. His story, lyrics, and sound remind young people that creativity has no limits.”

Janie Hendrix, Van Zandt and Epstein will attend the street naming ceremony, along with group of local TeachRock teachers and students. It will take place on the corner of 8th Street and 6th Avenue.

This isn’t the first time the street has been named after Hendrix. In 2024, the same street in Greenwich Village was temporarily renamed after the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer in connection with the release of the documentary Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision.

Cast additions announced for Sam Mendes’ ‘The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event’

February 12, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The cast for Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles films just got bigger.

Sony has announced the latest additions to The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power actress Morfydd [MOR-vith] Clark as John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia Lennon, and Bohemian Rhapsody’s Lucy Boynton as Paul McCartney’s former girlfriend Jane Asher.

Also joining the cast is actor Farhan Akhtar, star of the Hindi-language film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, as musician Ravi Shankar, and Industry’s Harry Lawtey as the band’s original bass player, Stuart Sutcliffe.

The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, opening in April 2028, will consist of four films, each told from the perspective of one of band members. It stars Paul Mescal as McCartney, Harris Dickinson as Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

The cast also includes Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, Mia McKenna-Bruce as Ringo’s wife Maureen Starkey, Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono and Aimee Lou Wood as Harrison’s wife Pattie Boyd.

The Sony films will mark the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted a studio the rights to the life stories of band members and their legendary catalog of music.

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