Gibson debuts new Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom guitar

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Gibson has revealed another custom guitar, this time inspired by one of Eric Clapton‘s legendary guitars.

The Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom is a tribute to Clapton’s original Cream-era 1958 Les Paul Custom, which he performed on throughout the ’60s and ’70s, and then gifted to legendary guitarist Albert Lee in 1979, who still uses it to this day.

The new guitar features Murphy Lab aging to replicate the exact aging and wear patterns created by Clapton and Lee, and features a one-piece, all-mahogany body, with a mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. There’s also a second pickguard that’s signed by both Clapton and Lee.

The Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom is available now at Gibson.com, Guitar Center and the Gibson Garage Nashville and London, and will be available nationwide starting Tuesday.

Paul McCartney’s Eyes of the Storm photo exhibit coming to the Art Gallery of Ontario

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Paul McCartney’s photo exhibit is set to hit another city.

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm will debut at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Canada in February 2026.

Eyes of the Storm features more than 250 photographs taken by McCartney between 1963 and 1964, giving fans insight into his point of view during the height of Beatlemania.

The exhibit debuted in June 2023 at London’s National Portrait Gallery and has since been shown at Virginia’s Chrysler Museum, New York’s Brooklyn Museum, the Portland Art Museum and the Knowledge Capitol Event Lab in Osaka, Japan. It is next set to open at The de Young museum, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, on March 1.

In addition, select photos will be on display at the Gagosian Beverly Hills art gallery from April 25 to June 21, with McCartney and the gallery offering up small, signed editions of prints for sale. A portion of the proceeds from those sales are being donated to aid recovery and relief efforts in Southern California.

Dave Mason releases ‘A Shade of Blues’ track ‘Use It, Or Lose It,’ featuring Joe Bonamassa

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Traffic’s Dave Mason is set to release his 21st studio album, A Shade of Blues, on March 21, and he’s just shared a new single from the record.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has released “Use It, Or Lose It” featuring Joe Bonamassa on lead guitar, with the two artists sharing vocals on the song.

“I’ve been fortunate to play alongside some of the greatest guitarists—Jimi Hendrix among them,” Mason shares. “To now collaborate with a powerhouse like Joe Bonamassa, a torchbearer for the next generation, is a thrill. You can feel that energy in the music and I think it truly shines.”

“Use It, Or Lose It” is now available.

The 11-track A Shade of Blues, which Mason’s been working on for over a decade, also features guest appearances by The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald, keyboardist Mike Finnigan and more.

A Shade of Blues is available for preorder now.

The album is due out just as Mason will launch the new Let It Flow tour. The trek kicks off March 20 in Augusta, Georgia, and wraps April 5 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A complete list of dates can be found at davemasonmusic.com.

Simple Minds dropping new live album, ‘Live in the City of Diamonds’, in April

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Simple Minds are giving fans a taste of their live show with a new live album coming in April.

Live in the City of Diamonds is a recording of the band’s April 6, 2024, sold-out concert at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam and is the third in a trio of Live in the City albums, following 1987’s Live in the City of Lights and 2019’s Live in the City of Angels.

As a preview of the album, the band has dropped a live performance of their classic hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” which is available now.

“All we wanted was to be in ‘a great live band’ and to spend our lives taking our music with us around the world,” Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr shares. “Decades later we still relish that challenge every night on tour. Live in The City of Diamonds captures both the spirit and fever of Simple Minds live at this moment in time.”

Live in the City of Diamonds will be released April 25 in a variety of formats, including a two-CD set with 24 tracks and a 24-page book, a two-LP black vinyl set with 18 tracks and a two-LP clear glitter vinyl set, also with 18 tracks. All formats are available for preorder now.

Simple Minds are set to launch their Alive & Kicking tour, featuring special guests Soft Cell and Modern English, on May 16 in Ridgefield, Washington. A complete list of dates can be found at simpleminds.com.

Genesis releases remastered version of ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Genesis is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their sixth studio album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, with a new box set. Now they’re sharing a taste of what to expect, releasing the remastered version of the album’s opening song and title track, which is now available.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition was created with input from the band’s members — Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford. The set includes the remastered album, done at Abbey Road Studios; a Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos mixes, done under the supervision of Gabriel and Banks; and never-before-released demos.

There will also be a 60-page coffee table book, featuring unseen photos and interviews with all five band
members, said to be the only time they’ve all been interviewed about the album since its original release.

It also features the live album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Live at the Shrine Auditorium, recorded Jan. 24, 1975. While most of the concert was previously released as part of the Genesis Archive 1967-75 box set, this version includes two additional encore tracks, making it the first time the full concert and complete encore are being released.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition will be released on March 28 in a variety of formats. It is available for preorder now.

Released Nov. 22, 1974, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was a concept album based on an idea by Gabriel about a Puerto Rican youth named Rael who goes on a journey of self-discovery. During the tour for the album, Gabriel announced to the band he was leaving Genesis once the tour was over.

Carlos Santana releasing retrospective album, ‘Sentient’, in March

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Carlos Santana is set to release the new career-spanning album Sentient, featuring 11 tracks, including three previously unreleased songs.

The album, dropping March 28, features collaborations with Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Miles Davis, Italian pianist Paolo Rustichelli, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Cindy Blackman Santana.

“I’m always driven by passion, emotion and inner instinct,” says Santana. “When I first heard these tracks floating around in the house, I said, ‘Why don’t we put these all in one place?’”

The first single released from Sentient is a new take on “Please Don’t Take Your Love,” featuring Robinson. The original tune first appeared on Smokey’s 2009 album, Time Flies When You’re Having Fun.

“I went to the studio and did my own thing,” Santana says of recording the song. “I said, ‘Let’s just roll it.’ I did another take with Smokey sort of guiding me. Smokey loved them both, so he wound up combining the two. What’s on Sentient is the first version.”

“Please Don’t Take Your Love” is now available.

Other songs on the album include an instrumental cover of Jackson’s “Stranger in Moscow,” which will be released March 14, and “Get On,” from Rustichelli’s 1996 album, Mystic Man, featuring Santana and Miles Davis, which will be released March 17.

Sentient is available for preorder now.

Santana is set to hit the road on his Oneness tour starting April 16 in Highland, California. The tour includes a set at New Orleans Jazz Fest on May 1. A complete list of dates can be found at santana.com.

Elton John on his eyesight loss: ‘This is not going to beat me’

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John‘s ongoing eyesight problems, caused by a severe infection he got last year, initially delayed the release of his new album Who Believes in Angels? But while his vision hasn’t improved, he insists that he won’t let it bring him down.

Speaking the U.K. paper The Guardian, Elton says, “I’m an optimist permanently. I’ve got bad eyesight at the moment. There have been days where I’ve been miserable, but then I think about how lucky I am.”

“I’ve got a new respect for sight-impaired people and people who are totally blind, some of whom I’m in touch with,” he continues. “But to hell with it, I’ve got a great life, and hopefully my sight will improve … I’ve overcome a lot. This is not going to beat me. I’ve beaten addiction, I’ve beaten health issues, and I can pick myself up and dust myself off.”

While he can handle his physical problems, Elton reveals that he was negatively impacted emotionally while filming a cameo in the upcoming sequel Spinal Tap 2: In it, he gets killed while onstage. But filming the bit in a huge auditorium gave him a panic attack. “I did kind of hyperventilate,” Elton notes. “I said, ‘Jesus, I’m so glad I don’t have to do this any more.’”

But Elton’s excited about the new album, which he made with his longtime friend Brandi Carlile. “I could do an ‘Elton John’ record easily,” he says. “That’s what I didn’t want to do any more. I wanted a challenge.”

Brandi, who was often on the receiving end of Elton’s temper tantrums in the studio, tells the paper, “It was really volatile, but really cool.”

On This Day, Feb. 21, 1990: Bonnie Raitt wins four Grammys, including album of the year

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, Feb. 21, 1990 …

At the 32nd annual Grammy Awards, Bonnie Raitt took home four awards, including album of the year for Nick of Time.

She also won for best female pop vocal performance and best female rock vocal performance for the album’s title track, as well as best traditional blues recording for her John Lee Hooker collaboration “I’m in the Mood.”

Raitt won her most recent Grammys in 2023, taking home three trophies: the coveted song of the year award for “Just Like That,” which also won best American roots song, and for best Americana performance for “Made Up Mind.”

In total, Raitt has won 13 Grammy Awards from 30 nominations. She was also honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Lou Reed, Paul Simon, David Bowie & more make list of the most disappointing albums ever

February 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Not every album from your favorite artist will necessarily be a winner, and now Mojo is singling out some of those disappointments.

The magazine just released a list of what it’s calling “the 20 most disappointing albums ever,” although it tries to make the case for why they aren’t so bad.

“Every major artist has at least one album that critics and fans routinely dismiss,” it writes. “Yet sometimes they’re records we secretly cherish the most and, when judged strictly on their own merits, reveal themselves to have been badly wronged.”

Topping the list is Lou Reed’s 2003 album, The Raven, a rock opera inspired by Edgar Allen Poe that featured guest appearances by David Bowie, Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and others.

Paul Simon’s 1997 release, Songs from the Capeman, featuring tunes from his critically panned Broadway musical The Capeman, lands at #2, followed by Bowie’s 1977 album Earthling at #3. The Clash’s final album, 1985’s Cut The Crap, lands at #4 and Bob Dylan’s 1985 release, Empire Burlesque, is #5.

Other albums on the list include Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut (1983), Queen’s Hot Space (1982), Neil Young’s Trans (1982), Led Zeppelin’s In Through The Out Door (1979), The Rolling Stones’ Black and Blue (1976) and Van Morrison’s Hard Nose the Highway (1973).

Peter Gabriel working on follow-up to ‘i/o’

February 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Peter Gabriel has revealed that he’s already working on a new album, which will be the follow-up to 2023’s i/o.

In an interview with Mojo, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer discussed the new project, sharing, “It will be called o/i … that’s i/o backwards.”

Gabriel released i/o over the course of 2023, dropping a song a month, with the complete 12-track album officially dropping in December of that year. The record was Gabriel’s first album of new material since 2010’s Scratch My Back.

I/o won two trophies at the recent 67th annual Grammy Awards, best immersive audio album and best engineered album, non-classical.

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