Classic Rock 93.9

The new documentary Matter of Time, featuring Eddie Vedder, had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival Thursday, which included a special performance by the Pearl Jam frontman.

Although the film features portions of a 2023 Seattle solo concert by Vedder, its main focus is to highlight the organization EB Research Partnership, started by Eddie and wife Jill Vedder to find a cure for the rare skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa. It also introduces audiences to the scientists working to find a cure, and the patients and families whose lives are impacted by the disease.

Following a Q&A that included the film’s director Matt Finlin, young Rowan Holler, one of the first EB patients to receive the first FDA approved EB treatment, and others, Eddie came out to perform an acoustic set, kicking things off with a cover of Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me in Your Heart,” which he sang while photos of EB patients who’ve lost their lives were shown above him.

He followed that with Tom Waits’ “Picture in a Frame,” dedicated to Deanna, an EB patient featured in the film, who was an artist. She passed two weeks after the 2023 concert.

The set continued with a cover of Glen Hansard’s “Song of Good Hope,” in keeping with the themes of the film, followed by Pearl Jam’s “Porch” and “Last Kiss,” which he said was a favorite of Dr. Jean Tang, one of the researchers working to find a cure for EB. The set concluded with Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” with Eddie getting everyone up on their feet and singing along with him.

Asked on the red carpet what he hopes fans will take away from the film, Vedder told ABC Audio, “I think just the power of community, the power of sharing, the power of reaching out to those who may need your support and really understanding that when you give, you get so much in return.”

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Billy Idol is subject of the new documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on Tuesday.

The film doesn’t hold anything back as it explores the rock star’s career and personal life, covering his struggles with addiction, including almost dying from a heroin overdose; his 1990 motorcycle accident, in which he almost lost his leg; and discovering he had a long-lost son.

Asked whether he has any regrets about being so open in the film, Idol told ABC Audio on the red carpet that sharing everything was something he felt he had to do.

“I mean, that’s a big part of making the documentary. It’s a big part of being alive, really, at this age. I’m 69,” he said. “You really do have to have to own it. Also I’ve written songs about my life, as well. I’ve sort of always faced up to it in lots of ways. So it wasn’t so difficult.”

While Idol said discussing with his relationship with his father in the film “wasn’t so easy,” he wasn’t about to leave it out.

“I think it was important it’s all in there. … It’s Billy Idol, warts and all,” he added.

And while many of the revelations could be considered shocking, he’s not embarrassed by anything in the film and said he’d be OK with his grandchildren watching it one day.

He shared, “I think they’ll be able to watch it and they’ll see what Granddad put himself through.” 

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The Kinks have shared another preview from their upcoming compilation The Journey – Part 3, which focuses on the band’s career with RCA/Arista from 1977 to 1984, a breakthrough for The Kinks in America.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have shared two tracks, including a live performance of “Sunny Afternoon” that was recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1993.

“As far as performances go, it was a high point achievement of The Kinks,” Dave Davies said of the show.

The other is a remastered version of “A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” which Dave called “a personal favorite.” He noted it was his brother Ray Davies‘ “sensitive portrait of a super fan based on his impressions of different people.”

The Journey – Part 3, dropping July 11, is a two-disc compilation featuring songs handpicked by Ray and Dave. It includes a disc of 11 remastered tracks and a disc featuring a never-before-released live concert from the band’s archives, a recording of their July 1993 show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It will be released as a two-CD or two-LP set, and both are available for preorder now.

The compilation is a continuation of the band’s 60th anniversary celebration. They previously released The Journey – Part 1 and The Journey – Part 2 in 2023.

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If you have a group chat where you and your friends send each other memes, then you and Lars Ulrich have something in common.

The Metallica drummer tells Variety that he, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo message each other in a band-only thread, which consists of them texting around ‘Tallica-themed memes that they come across.

“There was this Star Wars one going around a week or two ago which was really funny,” Ulrich says. “There are some conversations between Darth Vader and a whole thing that builds up, and then they’re talking about the dark side. Then all of a sudden it goes into ‘Darkness imprisoning me!’ — that whole thing from ‘One.'”

“It’s a lot to keep track of because this happens hundreds, if not thousands, of times a day,” he continues. “But there are some fun ones that get into our band-only text thread for the four of us to enjoy and appreciate.”

In between sharing memes, Metallica is currently on a U.S. tour, which continues Saturday in Houston. They also just premiered a new documentary dedicated to their fans, Metallica Saved My Life, at New York City’s Tribeca Festival.

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Bruce Springsteen is the latest artist to pay tribute to the late Beach Boys singer/songwriter Brian Wilson, who died at the age of 82.

“Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony,” Springsteen wrote on social media. “He was also the visionary leader of America’s greatest band, The Beach Boys. If there’d been no Beach Boys, there would have been no ‘Racing In The Street,'” referring to the classic track from The Boss’ 1978 album, Darkness on the Edge of Town.

“Listen to ‘Summer’s Gone’ from The Beach Boys’ last album (That’s Why God Made The Radio) and weep,” Springsteen added. He concluded his post, “Farewell, Maestro. Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.”

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Elton John’s April Record Store Day contribution was a vinyl edition of the live album Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper, and now the album is getting wider release.

The album features songs recorded during a May 1977 six-show residency at London’s iconic Rainbow Theatre  with percussion legend Ray Cooper. During the residency and the tour that followed, Elton played alone at the piano for the first half of the show, then was joined by Cooper for the second half.

Elton is now set to release the album digitally, on CD and on vinyl on July 25. It will feature 12 tracks, with the CD and digital versions getting a bonus track, “Goodbye.”

“I’m delighted that Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper will be available for my fans to enjoy,”  Elton shares. “It’s an album I’m incredibly proud of, and listening back to it, I’m astounded by how great it sounds. The freedom I felt playing with just the two of us is something I will always remember.”

Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper is available for preorder now. Here is the track list:
“The Greatest Discovery”
“Border Song”
“Cage The Songbird”
“Where To Now St. Peter?”
“Ticking”
“Better Off Dead” w/Ray Cooper
“Sweet Painted Lady”
“Tonight” w/Ray Cooper
“Idol” w/Ray Cooper
“I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)” w/Ray Cooper
“Roy Rogers”
“Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)”
“Goodbye” (CD and digital only)

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The Black Crowes and Jimmy Page have shared a short film about the making of their collaborative live album, Live At The Greek.

As part of the continued celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary, the artists have shared The Making of Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes Live At The Greek, an 11-minute behind-the-scenes look at the making of the live album, with new interviews and never-before-seen footage.

“Ultimately we’re proud of it and we want to give it its due respect,” The Crowes’ Chris Robinson says in the film. Page notes, “It was such fun to do at the time. It’s infectious.”

Rich Robinson adds, “It takes you on a journey.”

The Crowes and Page reissued Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live at the Greek back in March, featuring a new mix of the album. There were also 16 previously unreleased tracks, including “Jams,” a song Page and Rich Robinson wrote during a soundcheck, as well as behind-the-scenes photos and videos.

The 36-track album features performances of both Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin tunes, recorded in October 1999 at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre and in August 1999 at New York’s Jones Beach Theater.

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The Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson has died at age 82. Despite their legendary career, The Beach Boys only topped the album charts twice: in 1964 with their live album Beach Boys Concert and in 1974 with the greatest hits compilation Endless Summer. But in addition to topping the charts, that album became the gateway for a whole new generation of fans to discover the group’s music.

The Beach Boys were a successful touring act in the early 1970s, though they hadn’t had a top-10 hit since 1966. But in 1973, something happened to change that: the movie American Graffiti. The soundtrack of the George Lucas film, set in 1962, was stuffed with oldies like the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ Safari.” It was a hit, so The Beach Boys’ former label decided to cash in.

“Capitol realized that they were sitting on gold, especially after the success the year before of the Beatles’ Red and Blue album collection,” Beach Boys archivist and creative consultant Howie Edelson tells ABC Audio. “Massive hits, massive earnings for the label – with very little effort.”

So Endless Summer – named by The Beach Boys’ Mike Love – rode a wave of nostalgia to the top of the charts.

“It’s the exact same reason why Happy Days was a hit. People were looking back to a simpler time – the Eisenhower–Kennedy era, when everything was on an upswing,” Edelson says. “Teenagers want to be happy. They want to be free. And what better music than Endless Summer?”

But there was another reason why Endless Summer was a hit: There were plenty of music fans who had not experienced The Beach Boys the first time around.

“The Beach Boys never made the jump to FM. That music had been lost to radio,” notes Edelson. “And by being invisible on the airwaves for those years, once this album came out, it was all new to a whole new generation that had been starved of it.”

Endless Summer spent 155 weeks on the Billboard album chart and sold 3 million copies. It’s now considered to be the best introduction to the music of The Beach Boys – and the brilliance of Brian Wilson.

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Lenny Kravitz will help the nation celebrate July 4 in New York.

The rocker is set to perform during the 49th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and will simulcast live on Peacock.

Oscar winner Ariana DeBose will host the special, which will also feature performances by Jonas Brothers, Keke Palmer, Ava Max, and country stars Eric Church and Trisha Yearwood.

The evening will also include fireworks set against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a musical score produced by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and James Poyser, and a performance from DeBose.

Kravitz is set to launch a new set of Las Vegas residency dates at the Dolby Live on Aug. 1. A complete list of dates can be found at LennyKravitz.com.

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Sting has shared a musical tribute to The Beach Boys‘ Brian Wilson, who died at the age of 82.

The Police frontman shared a clip on Instagram of him performing the Beach Boys classic “God Only Knows” during his concert in Rostock, Germany, on Wednesday.

“So today one of my heroes died, Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys. He’s gone to heaven,” Sting says in the clip. “So I wanna sing a song that I love.” He captioned the clip, “Rest In Peace, Brian Wilson.”

Sting’s performance is one of many tributes to Wilson that continue to pour in.

Paul McCartney shared his thoughts on Instagram, writing, “Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special. The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time.”

“I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while. How we will continue without Brian Wilson, ‘God Only Knows,'” he added.

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