Rush’s Geddy Lee ‘feeling so much better’ after laryngitis/bronchitis diagnoses

July 9, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rush’s Geddy Lee is giving fans a health update.

The band was recently forced to postpone two shows on their Fifty Something tour after doctors diagnosed Lee with laryngitis and bronchitis. Now he’s letting fans know that he’s ready to return to the stage.

“Thanks so much to everyone for all of your well wishes!” Lee wrote next to a photo of him and his dog posted on Instagram. “I’m feeling so much better and hard at work with Dottie in the studio hitting all the high notes and getting ready to return to Texas this Saturday July 11th and Monday July 13th! #MmmmTexasBBQtoo.”

Rush’s next show is Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. After wrapping their stint at the venue on Monday, the tour moves to Chicago for four nights starting July 16.

Rush launched the Fifty Something tour on June 7 in Los Angeles. It is their first tour in over 10 years and their first tour since the 2020 death of their drummer, Neil Peart.

A complete list of dates can be found at Rush.com.

On This Day, July 9, 1995: Grateful Dead played their last show with Jerry Garcia

July 9, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, July 9, 1995…

The Grateful Dead headlined a show at Soldier Field in Chicago, the band’s last concert with founding member Jerry Garcia.

He died one month later on Aug. 9 from a heart attack.

The surviving members of the Grateful Dead decided to disband, although in 1998, members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart formed a new band with other musicians. Dubbed The Other Ones, they performed mostly Grateful Dead tunes, went on tour and released a live album in 1999.

In 2000, Dead member Bill Kreutzmann joined The Other Ones for a tour excluding Lesh, who returned in 2002. That tour marked the first time all four surviving members of The Dead toured together since Garcia’s death.

John Mellencamp breaks out the hits, brings back some classics at tour rehearsal

July 9, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

John Mellencamp gave fans a sneak peek at what to expect from his upcoming Dancing Words Tour.

The rocker invited fans to an open rehearsal at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, on Wednesday. As promised when he announced the tour, he broke out some songs he hasn’t played in a very long time.

According to setlist.fm, some of those songs included “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock),” which he hadn’t played since 2015; “Love and Happiness,” his first performance of the song since 2012; the Van Morrison cover “Wild Night,” for the first time since 2005; and his 1978 debut single, “I Need A Lover,” which he hadn’t performed since 2009.

The tour is billed as a greatest hits tour, hence he performed several of those as well. Some of those hits included “Ain’t Even Done With The Night,” “Small Town,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” an acoustic “Jack & Diane,” “Rain on the Scarecrow,” “Authority Song,” “Crumblin’ Down,” “Pink Houses,” “Check It Out,” “Cherry Bomb” and “Hurt So Good.”

Fans were asked to bring nonperishable items to donate to the Evansville Rescue Mission to gain entry to the free rehearsal.

John Mellencamp’s Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits kicks off Friday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrapping Aug. 12 in Mountain View, California. A complete list of dates can be found at Mellencamp.com.

Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward shares health update: ‘I’m not in retirement or ill or giving up’

July 9, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward has shared an update on his health.

In a Facebook post published Thursday, the 78-year-old drummer writes, “I’m announcing today somewhat sadly but nonetheless truthfully, that I’ve reached a place where publicly more and more I need to use a wheelchair, mostly in airports, or public events.”

“I can still walk, let there be no doubt,” Ward continues. “But I can’t walk very far without needing to rest, meaning I need to sit down.”

Ward adds that he’s “still a drummer” and feels he “can still play pretty good for 78 years old.”

“My talents and ambitions, and my unyielding need to be artful, and to play drums, is still as strong as it was so many years ago now,” Ward writes. “I’m just saying if you see me in a wheelchair, I’m just catching a ride, I’m not in retirement or ill or giving up, or any of those thoughts that ignite when we see people in wheelchairs. I’m making myself public and transparent about my new transport, and letting you know I’m OK.”

He concludes, “Much love to you all and I’ll keep rocking until I’m dead.”

Ward reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler in 2025 for the massive Back to the Beginning concert, which marked the final live performance by the legendary metal outfit’s original lineup. Ozzy died just over two weeks later at age 76.

The Rolling Stones light up the London sky at star-studded ‘Foreign Tongues’ release party

July 9, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Rolling Stones celebrated the upcoming release of their new album, Foreign Tongues, Wednesday at a star-studded party in London.

The event, held at the St. Clement hotel, included a light show over the River Thames. The show was soundtracked to the Foreign Tongues single “In The Stars” and featured drones lighting up the sky with images of the band’s tongue logo, album artwork and more.

The Stones’ Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood attended the festivities and even performed the Foreign Tongues track “Ringing Hollow” for their A-list audience.

Attendees included Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Sam Fender, Sacha Baron Cohen, Simone Ashley, Christian Louboutin, John McEnroe and Glen Matlock.

“We put this album together in under a month at Metropolis Studios in our hometown of London – it was a lot of fun,” said The Stones. “The critics seem to like it, we hope everyone loves it!”

Foreign Tongues, The Rolling Stones’ 25th studio album, comes out Friday.

Dave Davies reveals issues with recent Kinks biography

July 9, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

A recent book about the Kinks is getting some backlash from one of the legendary band’s members.

All Day and All of the Night The Day-By-Day Story Pt 1: 1940-1971, written by Doug Hinman and Andrew Sandoval, came out in February. Now the Kinks’ Dave Davies is letting fans know he has some issues with it.

“I cannot endorse the new Kinks book by Doug Hinman and Andrew Sandoval because there’s misinformation in it about our early recording sessions,” Davies wrote on X. “I signed some copies for charity before I had read the errors.”

While he didn’t go into specifics about what information in the book is incorrect, it seems Davies hasn’t given up on the book completely.

“I’m optimistic that a correction or two will be issued in due course,” he later tweeted.

Asked whether he was given the opportunity to proofread the book before it came out, Davies replied, “No.”

Davies has often used X to set the record straight with fans. Back in 2024, he took to the social media site to shoot down the long-held rumor that Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page played guitar on the band’s hit “You Really Got Me.”

He reiterated that fact in a July 6 post, where he corrected a Wikipedia entry. He noted, “No @JimmyPage did not provide distortion on any Kinks songs period.” He also added, “I’m sick and tired of this misinformation. Jimmy Page did not play on any Kinks hits.”

The Rolling Stones talk longevity, the future and more

July 8, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Rolling Stones are opening up about the secret to their longevity in a new Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe.

Ronnie Wood says one reason they get along so well is they have their own lives outside the band.

“When we do get back together, it’s like no time has gone by,” he says. “We love to interact.”

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been making music together for over 60 years, and Richards acknowledges that their relationship is “a marriage of a kind.”

“Who’s wifey and who’s husband is another thing,” he says. “But maybe that’s what keeps it going.”

“But when you meet the guy that has the same taste in music and the same feel for it as you do it’s more than double the pleasure,” he continues. “You can’t put your finger on it but at the same time it is a mystery and I think maybe long may it be a mystery.” He noted that trying to figure it out is “pointless.”

The Stones will release their 25th studio album, Foreign Tongues, on Friday, and it sounds like the band isn’t ready to stop recording.

“I think you always think that this could be the last record,” Jagger says. “I’m not saying it is, but I mean I thought Hackney Diamonds was probably our last record and then we weren’t scheduled to make this record.”

Richards is also up for making more records.

“Anytime the whistle blows, I’m there, I’m up for it,” he says.

As for whether they’ll tour again, Jagger says he’d love to get back out on the road, while Wood jokes, “I’ll be out there as soon as I get my call-up papers.”

Richards adds, “Next year’s wide open, so I mean it is, it’s up for grabs really.”

Warren Haynes reveals details of new album, ‘Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Journey’

July 8, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

After teasing fans by releasing songs from his upcoming symphonic album, Warren Haynes is finally sharing details about the record.

The Gov’t Mule frontman has announced that the album, Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Journey, will be released Sept. 18.

The 16-track record was recorded in 2019 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville, North Carolina, Haynes’ hometown. It has him backed by the 64-piece Asheville Symphony Orchestra, as well as musicians Oteil Burbridge, John Medeski, Jeff Sipe and Greg Osby. Edwin McCain and Jasmine Muhammad join on background vocals.

Haynes has already released two tracks from the record, the Gov’t Mule song “Banks of the Deep End” and a performance of the Grateful Dead classic “Shakedown Street.” Now he’s sharing a third, a full orchestration of Gov’t Mule’s “Raven Black Night,” which originally appeared on their 1998 album Dose.

“Raven Black Night” is now available via digital outlets.

“I love the arrangement for the piece and really enjoyed singing ‘Raven Black Night’ in that light, because the original recording had no drums and was very stripped-down. It had a little percussion thing in the middle and no bass,” Haynes says. “Whereas this arrangement is just full-bodied, full orchestration – the opposite of the original – and it really takes it to a place that completes it and turns it into another thing.”

Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Journey is available for preorder now.

Since the initial 2019 orchestra concerts, Haynes has put on several other symphonic shows and has two more planned for 2027. The Warren Haynes Dreams & Songs Symphonic Experience will come to Nashville for two nights, March 11 and 12. Tickets are on sale now.

Hear Rob Halford sing on new version of Accept’s ‘Balls to the Wall’

July 8, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford is featured on new version of the song “Balls to the Wall,” originally by the German heavy metal band Accept.

The updated track is included on Teutonic Titans 1976-2026, an upcoming compilation of rerecorded Accept songs featuring guest artists in celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary.

“Rob is the Metal God. I don’t need to say any more about him,” says Accept guitarist and co-founder Wolf Hoffmann in a statement. “Once we knew that he would do it, it was an obvious choice to give him ‘Balls to the Wall’ because it’s the best fit imaginable!”

Alongside Halford, the rerecorded “Balls to the Wall” features Scorpions guitarist Matthias Jabs, Pantera bassist Rex Brown and Bullet for My Valentine drummer Jason Bowld.

Teutonic Titans 1976-2026 will be released Sept. 4. It also features contributions from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and Ghost’s Tobias Forge.

U2’s new single ‘Street of Dreams’ featured in short film featuring David Beckham

July 8, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

U2’s just-released single, “Street of Dreams,” soundtracks a new short film of the same name featuring soccer star David Beckham.

The film was released by Bank of America in conjunction with the World Cup. According to a press release, it “tells the story of a young girl whose life has been upended through homelessness but refuses to give up on her dream of playing soccer.”

It’s described as an “uplifting story about resilience, hope and the transformative power of sport.”

The film centers around a young girl named Calle, played by Nevaeh Derricks, with Beckham appearing as the “personification of her inner voice.” According to the press release, he represents “a powerful symbol of belief and opportunity, standing with her and showing up when it matters.”

“We’re honoured that ‘Street of Dreams’ could play a small part in telling a much bigger story,” U2 said in a statement.

The film showcases Bank of America’s “Soccer With Us” platform, which supports young people aged 6-18 by combining sport with life skills.

A 30-second TV commercial version of the film will be part of World Cup coverage on Monday.

“Street of Dreams” is the first single off U2’s yet-to-be announced studio album. The album will be the band’s first since 2017’s Songs of Experience.

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