Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, July 14, 1978…

Talking Heads released their sophomore studio album, More Songs About Buildings and Food. The album’s cover was made up of over 500 Polaroid photos that put together became a picture of the band.

The record was a top-40 hit for Talking Heads, peaking at #29 in the U.S. It contained the band’s first hit single, a cover of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River,” which also peaked at #29.

More Songs About Buildings and Food is being revisited with a three-CD/Blu-ray deluxe edition, dropping July 25. It will include the remastered album, as well as 11 rarities, four of which are previously unreleased versions of album tracks. There’s also a live album, featuring a recording of the band’s August 1978 show at New York’s Entermedia Theatre.

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Matt Cameron may no longer be playing in Pearl Jam, but that doesn’t mean he’s done playing music for good.

A week after announcing that he was leaving the “Even Flow” outfit after a 27-year tenure, Cameron has shared an Instagram Story thanking fans for their “kind words of support” while adding, “For the record, I’m still an active musician.”

As for what bands or projects he might be an active musician with, that has yet to be revealed. Notably, he’ll be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the second time in November as a member of Soundgarden. He was inducted for the first time with Pearl Jam in 2017.

In other Soundgarden-related news, the band has put out a statement regarding their absence from the big Back to the Beginning concert, which marked the final live performances from the original Black Sabbath lineup and Ozzy Osbourne. Sharon Osbourne had said that members of the “Black Hole Sun” band would be playing the show, but they were missing from the event when it took place on July 5.

“We are super bummed and regret that we were unable to coordinate the schedules of our individual and collective projects to attend and contribute to the festival,” Soundgarden says in an Instagram post. “The warmth, love and support from the Black Sabbath team has been a continuing source of encouragement and strength throughout our career.”

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The Who will launch The Song Is Over North American Farewell Tour in August, and while so far they haven’t announced additional dates anywhere outside North America, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are out of the question.

A new Pollstar article features an interview with the band’s manager, Bill Curbishley, and Live Nation tour promoter Steve Herman about the tour, and both think more shows are a possibility.

“I’ve been asking, believe me,” Herman says. “I don’t expect them to do too many more shows, but I think there’s a possibility outside of North America that there would be a few stops, if they decide that they like it and it makes sense.”

He adds, “I think we take this bite and then we see how we’re doing, if they’re enjoying themselves, that’s the main thing. I think they’re doing this because that’s what they do. I don’t think they’re doing this for any other reason.”

Curbishley also says he’s “not totally discounting” more shows in the future.

“If any really important shows came up that appealed to them, I’m sure they would pick up their gear and they’d want to do it,” he says.

He also tells the mag he hopes The Who get a chance to say goodbye to the rest of the world, although right now there are no plans to do so.

He says, “I really would like them to say farewell to the planet, then get Elon Musk to put them in a rocket and send them somewhere.”

The Who’s The Song Is Over North American Tour kicks off Aug. 16 in Sunrise, Florida, and wraps Sept. 28 in Las Vegas. A complete list of dates can be found at TheWho.com.

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Jeff Lynne’s ELO was supposed to play their final show ever Sunday, headlining London’s BST Hyde Park, but the concert is no longer going on as planned.

After canceling their show Thursday in Manchester due to illness, Lynne has now axed the London show as well, also for health reasons.

“Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show,” read a message on social media. “Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.”

“The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today – and while he is sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time,” the post continued, advising fans to go to the BST Hyde Park website for info on refunds.

The ELO U.K. tour, which kicked off July 5 in Lynne’s hometown of Birmingham, had problems right from the start. Lynne was unable to play guitar during the shows. According to setlist.fm, he explained to fans that he had an accident and had broken his hand.

Lynne announced back in March 2024 that ELO would be heading out on their final tour, dubbed The Over and Out Tour. In October of that year he announced that the BST Hyde Park show would be their last ever concert. At the time he said that London seemed “like the perfect place to do our final show.”

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The 50th anniversary of Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 self-titled album is being celebrated with two new upgraded audio releases. Rhino is set to release the album on Blu-ray Audio and High Fidelity vinyl on Aug. 8.

The Blu-ray will feature the album in Dolby ATMOS, along with a 5.1 surround sound mix. The Rhino High Fidelity vinyl was cut directly from the original analog master tapes and will be limited to only 5,000 individually numbered copies.

There will also be another vinyl, limited to only 2,000 copies, which will include two replica 7-inch singles, one featuring “Over My Head” and “Rhiannon,” and another with “Say You Love Me” and “Blue Letter.”

All formats are available for preorder now.

Often referred to as The White Album, the record was the band’s 10th studio album, and their first with Lindsey Buckingham on guitar and Stevie Nicks on vocals. It went to #1 and was certified seven-times Platinum by the RIAA.

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Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn has opened up about getting to play rock legend George Harrison in director Sam Mendes’ upcoming films about The Beatles.

According to The Standard, Quinn spoke to the PA news agency on the red carpet for the U.K. premiere of his film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He said being in the Beatles film is something he never could have dreamed of. 

“It feels exciting, it feels a little daunting,” Quinn shared. “I’m definitely inspired by the three men that I’m working with, and Sam, who’s directing it.”

Quinn’s co-stars include Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

“We’ve been doing a few weeks of rehearsals that I’ve really been enjoying,” he added. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams. I can’t believe I’m able to participate in a film and a project like this.”

Mendes’ Beatles films, titled The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, will be released in April 2028. Each film will be told from a different band member’s point of view.

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

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Mick Jagger’s contribution to Burna Boy’s new album is out now.

The Rolling Stones frontman offers his vocals to the track “Empty Chairs,” featured on Burna Boy’s just-released album No Sign of Weakness. Mick wrote on Instagram that he “loved teaming up” with the Nigerian singer/songwriter.

In the song, Mick can be heard singing, “Am I the only one that’s sitting in this hot seat/ Am I the only one that’s listening to this heart’s beat/ Your friends all lie and your enemies cheat/ Watching the world drive by.”

Jagger is one of several guests on Burna Boy’s album. Others include Travis Scott, Shaboozey and Belgian artist Stromae.

As for Jagger and The Stones, they haven’t released any new music since their 2023 album, Hackney Diamonds. They did recently appear on a tribute album celebrating the late King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. The band covered the track “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés” on A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, which is out now.

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You can now relive the glory of Pearl Jam‘s Dark Matter tour in one convenient place.

The grunge rockers have announced a new box set collecting recordings of every one of the 48 shows from the tour on CD. All of the concerts span two CDs, with the exception of the outing’s closing night in Pittsburgh, which takes up three.

The package will cost you $575 and comes in a box decorated with “designs from the event-specific stickers.” You can order yours now via the Pearl Jam web store.

By the way, if you just want the box without any of the music, you can pick that up for the much lower price of $39.99.

The Dark Matter tour, which supported the new PJ album of the same name, launched in May 2024 in Vancouver and wrapped up a year later in May 2025 with the aforementioned Pittsburgh show.

Notably, the Dark Matter tour marks Pearl Jam’s last with drummer Matt Cameron, who announced on Monday that he’s leaving the band after 27 years.

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Sting is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his debut solo record.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just released a digital-only expanded edition of 1985’s The Dream of the Blue Turtles, featuring 13 tracks that were previously unavailable on digital services.

Among the new additions are remixes of songs “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” and “Love is the Seventh Wave,” as well as the B-side “Another Day.” There are also alternative mixes, including “Moon Over Bourbon Street (Cornelius Mix)” and “Fortress Around Your Heart (Hugh Padgham Remix).”

The Dream of the Blue Turtles (Expanded Edition) is available now via digital outlets.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles, released June 17, 1985, was named after a dream Sting had, and saw the rocker embracing a jazzier sound and working with jazz musicians like Branford Marsalis, Omar Hakim and Kenny Kirkland.

The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Sting released four singles in the U.S., starting with “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free,” which landed at #3 on the Hot 100.

Other singles from the album include “Fortress Around Your Heart,” which was a top-10 hit, and “Russians” and “Love Is the Seventh Wave,” both of which reached the top 20.

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A new trailer has just been released for the upcoming two-part Billy Joel documentary, Billy Joel: And So It Goes.

“Sometimes it’s alien to me, this guy Billy Joel. I don’t know who that is or what that is,” the rocker says in a voice-over at the opening of the trailer. “I’m reminded of it when I go walk on the street. Oh right, I’m that guy.”

The clip features archival footage of Joel, as well as snippets of interviews with his first wife, Elizabeth Weber, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Pink and others. Billy also talks about dating supermodel Christie Brinkley, who went on to become his second wife, and about the hardships in his life.

“I think music saved my life. It gave me a reason to live,” he says at the end of the clip. “Everything I’ve done and everything I’ve lived through has somehow found its way into my music.”

Part one of Billy Joel: And So It Goes will debut July 18 on HBO, with part two debuting July 25. Both will be available to stream at the same time on HBO Max.

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