John Mellencamp to perform at 17th annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit

Courtesy of Stand Up For Heroes

John Mellencamp is one of several artists set to perform at the 17th annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit, put on by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival.

The event will take place November 6 at David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, with the lineup also featuring Josh GrobanThe War And Treaty and Rita Wilson as well as comedians Jon StewartRonny ChiengTracy MorganShane Gillis and others.

“I’m thrilled to announce the 17th annual Stand Up for Heroes, an amazing night of hope, healing, and laughter to honor our nation’s veterans and their families,” said Bob Woodruff, ABC correspondent and cofounder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “The evening will include a fantastic lineup of comedic and musical performances.”

In addition to the entertainment, Stand Up For Heroes spotlights the inspiring stories of our nation’s service men and women, raising awareness and funds for the Bob Woodruff Foundation, an organization whose goal is to insure the future of those who serve our nation and their families. 

Tickets are on sale now.

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Osbourne family talks Ozzy’s “heartbreaking” Power Trip cancellation

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for ABA

In announcing the return of The Osbournes podcast, Sharon Osbourne declared that no topic would be “off limits.” However, the heavy metal family is not too eager to discuss Ozzy having to cancel his Power Trip performance.

“We can’t talk about it in the house because it is just so heartbreaking to see that all he wants is just one more show,” Ozzy and Sharon’s daughter Kelly tells Rolling Stone.

“Ozzy wants to be on that show with all his friends,” adds Sharon. “It’s heartbreaking for him to see everybody going on, and he’s just left behind.”

Ozzy’s dealt with a number of health issues over the past few years, including undergoing various surgeries after suffering a fall in his home in 2019. In February, Ozzy announced that he was retiring from touring, but was later revealed to be part of the inaugural Power Trip lineup. It was set to mark his first full live performance since 2018. However, he pulled out of the festival in July, sharing, “My body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet.”

“He could do it right now if he sat in a chair,” Kelly says. “Because the voice is there; there’s nothing wrong with the voice.”

“He said that if he can’t give his fans what they paid to see, he won’t do it,” she adds.

Power Trip will take place October 6-8 in Indio, California. The bill also includes Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool, as well as Judas Priest in place of Ozzy.

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Devo marks 50 years with career-spanning box se

Rhino

Devo is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a new career-spanning box set, 50 Years of De-evolution (1973-2023), dropping October 20. 

The set will be released in a variety of formats, including a four-LP set pressed on clear vinyl, a 25-song, two-LP set on black vinyl and a two-LP blue and red vinyl, which will be sold exclusively at retail stores. There will also be a 50-song, two-CD set.

The four-LP deluxe edition will be limited to 3,000 copies and will come with a 28-page book, a Devo air freshener, a paper version of the band’s signature red energy domes and a lithograph of the album’s artwork.

“This box set represents a great cross section of early experiments and later creations,” Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh shares. “I was looking to create a new sound, a concept in art and music that represented a new way of thinking about life on planet earth. With Devo, I think we did just that. Farewell to the first 50, Let’s get the next 50 started!”

The band has also offered fans a preview of the set, with the release of the seven-inch version of “Disco Dancer,” which is making its streaming debut.

50 Years of De-evolution (1973-2023) is available for preorder now.

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Elton John’s first post-farewell tour performance is at…a waterpark?

Jim Dyson/Redferns

Once Elton John finished his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, he said he’d never go on the road again, but he didn’t rule out the occasional one-off performance. Well, he’s got one coming up in a very unexpected place.

On October 6, Elton is going to perform solo, without his band, at the El Dorado Waterpark in the Dominican Republic. He’ll be playing the property’s new Legends Arena, and it’ll be his first scheduled show since he concluded the tour in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8.

Elton’s performance is part of the grand opening celebration of the park, which bills itself as “the largest and most advanced waterpark in the Caribbean.”

Tickets are on sale now for the performance.

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Date announced for 2023 Bowl for Ronnie bowling tournament

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Bowl for Ronnie is returning in 2023.

The annual bowling tournament, held in honor of the late Ronnie James Dio, will take place this year on November 16 at PINZ Bowling center in Studio City, California.

The lineup of celebrity bowlers has yet to be announced, but past participants include Dave Grohl, Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello, Black Sabbath‘s Geezer Butler and ex-Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler.

Bowl for Ronnie benefits the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, which raises money for cancer prevention and research. Last year’s event raised $70,000.

Dio died of stomach cancer in 2010 at age 67.

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Three new Bob Dylan rerecordings available through private sale at Christie’s

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Three new Bob Dylan rerecordings are up for sale, and they likely won’t come cheap.

Back in 2022, a one-of-a-kind rerecording of Dylan’s classic “Blowin’ In The Wind,” which he recorded with producer T Bone Burnett, was auctioned off for $1.8 million. Well, now, Variety reports that three more tracks are up for sale. 

The latest rerecordings include “Simple Twist of Fate,” “Masters of War” and “Gotta Serve Somebody,” which are all now available via a private sale at Christie’s. The trio was recorded during a session Dylan had with Burnett in 2021 and come on an aluminum disc developed by Burnett that’s like vinyl but more durable. All three songs will be autographed and come in a display case.

As for why they aren’t getting auctioned off this time, Burnett tells the mag, “I realized when we had an auction that we had no idea who was going to buy it. It could have been somebody just to hoard it or something.” 

And it sounds like there will be more to come. Variety notes there are still two more rerecordings that have not been put up for sale yet: “Not Dark Yet” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

More info on the sale can be found at christies.com.

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The Smashing Pumpkins announce 30th anniversary ‘Siamese Dream’ celebration with Tower Records

Virgin Records

The Smashing Pumpkins are going back in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Siamese Dream.

Billy Corgan and company have teamed up with Tower Records to recreate the Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream album release show at the franchise’s Chicago store in 1993. The pop-up will be open September 14-17 at Corgan’s Madame Zuzu’s tea shop in Highland Park, Illinois, and will feature limited edition merch.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Wait, Tower Records is still around?” The former music retail giant did indeed go out of business in 2006 but relaunched as an online store in 2020. They’ve also opened a new physical space in Brooklyn, New York.

“The Smashing Pumpkins played an unforgettable in store performance at Tower Records, Chicago. We’re excited to celebrate Siamese Dream once again, 30 years after hosting the original album release party,” says Tower Records president Danny Zeijdel. “In the future, we intend to provide the same platform for young, emerging artists. We will continue with this at Tower in Brooklyn and new online experiences forthcoming.”

Additionally, the Pumpkins will perform a pair of Siamese Dream-themed acoustic shows at Madame Zuzu’s on September 17. The second set will stream live online via the platform Veeps. For more info, visit Veeps.com.

Siamese Dream, the second Smashing Pumpkins album, was released July 27, 1993. It’s been certified four-times Platinum by the RIAA and spawned singles including “Cherub Rock” and “Today.”

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New box set to celebrate Greg Lake’s solo career

Manticore Records Through Spirit of Unicorn Music

The late Greg Lake may be best known for his work with Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but he also had an extensive solo career. Now, that career is being celebrated with a brand new box set.

Greg Lake Magical, dropping November 10, is a limited edition, seven-CD box set featuring Lake’s two studio albums, Greg Lake and Manoeuvres, and two live albums. It includes collaborations with Clarence ClemonsTotoSteve HoweGeoff DownesKeith EmersonCarl PalmerGary Moore and others.

In addition to the music, the set includes a 64-page coffee table book with previously unseen archival photos and sleeve notes by Prog magazine editor Jerry Ewing, who talked to many of Lake’s collaborators.

Greg Lake Magical is available for preorder now.

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On This Day, September 6, 1968: George Harrison asks Eric Clapton to contribute to “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

On This Day, September 6, 1968…

George Harrison asked Eric Clapton to contribute a guitar solo to his new Beatles song, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Clapton initially declined Harrison’s request saying, “nobody ever plays on Beatles records,” but Harrison eventually convinced him to participate, and Clapton recorded the solo that night.

The song appeared on the band’s album The Beatles, also known as The White Album, which was released in November of 1968. The track was one of Harrison’s songs on the album. It went on to be an iconic track for him and has often made it on lists of the greatest guitar songs of all time.

Harrison eventually paid Clapton back for his contribution by cowriting and playing guitar on Cream’s “Badge.”

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The Rolling Stones to drop ‘Hackney Diamonds’ on October 20

Geffen Records

The Rolling Stones have officially launched a new era. During a press conference in London Wednesday, September 6, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers announced they’ll release their new studio album Hackney Diamonds on October 20.

Mick JaggerKeith Richards and Ronnie Wood sat down with Jimmy Fallon to talk about the record and revealed that their late drummer, Charlie Watts, appears on two songs, which were recorded in 2019. They also confirmed that original Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman appears on the record, as does special guest Lady Gaga

“I don’t want to be big headed, but we wouldn’t have put this album out if we didn’t really like it,” Jagger shared. “I mean we didn’t want to make just any record and put it out,” adding, “before we went in, we said we’ll go and make a record that we really love ourselves.”

The first single from the record, “Angry,” is out now, with a video featuring Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney.

The album, produced by Andrew Watt, who also produced albums by Eddie VedderIggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne, is available for preorder now.

Hackney Diamonds will be The Rolling Stones’ first album of original songs since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. The last album they released was 2016’s Blue and Lonesome, which was an album of blues covers.

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