The Brothers preview Allman Brothers Band tribute with performance video

March 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Supergroup The Brothers will return to Madison Square Garden in April for another tribute to the Allman Brothers Band, and music fans are getting a little taste of what to expect.

The Brothers staged their first Allman Brothers tribute at MSG in 2020, and a performance video from that show was released Thursday. The clip shows the band performing “Trouble No More,” a song originated by Muddy Waters and later recorded by the Allman Brothers Band. The clip features last surviving Allman Bothers founding member Jaimoe, along with later members Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks and others.

All three are set to return for the two new Brothers shows on April 15 and April 16. Also joining the lineup are ABB members Oteil Burbridge, Marc Quiñones and Chuck Leavell, as well as guests Joe Russo on drums, Reese Wynans on keyboards and Isaac Eady on drums.

The Brothers’ first show took place March 10, 2020, and lasted over four hours. The show was one of the last concerts at MSG before the concert industry was temporarily shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lynyrd Skynyrd signs with new label, will release 50th anniversary Ryman concert

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Lynyrd Skynyrd has a new record label: the band has just signed a deal with Frontiers SRL. Their first release will be Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman, a special live album and DVD of the band’s historic 50th anniversary concert, which took place in November 2022.

“50 years for Lynyrd Skynyrd… Wow! We are so grateful to the devoted fans for their support throughout the years of transitions and losses,” frontman Johnny Van Zant shares. He notes the concert was filmed before the 2023 loss of Gary Rossington, the last founding member of Skynyrd.

“It was a very special night with incredibly talented guests as we honored the iconic musicality of Skynyrd,” he adds. “We are so grateful to the Ryman and to all of those who have worked so hard to make this project become a reality! This will forever be a keepsake in our hearts, and we are so happy to be able to share it with our Skynyrd Nation.”

So far a release date for Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman has not been announced.

Stray Cats’ Brian Setzer offers health update after revealing autoimmune disease

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Back in February, Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer revealed that he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that left him unable to play guitar. Now he’s sharing a health update with fans.

“I just want to let you all know that I’m getting better day by day. The progress I’m making is excellent!” he shared on Instagram. “My dream is to visit Japan, the States, and Europe with Stray Cats, and of course, one of my biggest thrills would be bringing back the BSO Christmas show tradition,” referring to his other band, the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

“Thank you all for your love and support—it truly means the world to me,” he added. “I was deeply touched. I love you guys, and only we can truly understand what this sound means to us!”

In his initial announcement, Setzer said he discovered he had an autoimmune disease after suffering cramping at the end of the last Stray Cats tour in 2024. He said he was being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, telling fans, “I know I will beat this, it will just take some time.”

Rush’s Geddy Lee teams with Moog Music for new Minimoog Model D synthesizer

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Moog Music has announced a new collaboration with Rush rocker Geddy Lee.

The company is debuting a new synthesizer, the Moog Music Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D. It takes inspiration from the original Minimoog Model D, which helped shape Rush’s progressive rock sound on songs like “Tom Sawyer” and “Subdivisions.”

“It’s a thrill to see the Minimoog Model D in that stunning red, so representative of one of the most fertile periods in Rush’s creative history,” Geddy shares. “I’ve always been mad for custom color instruments, many inspired by automotive hues, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out—it’s just so beautiful.”

He adds, “The Minimoog Model D was the first synth that made dreaming big accessible to a schlub like me. Its intuitive design lets you learn waveforms, blend sounds, and experiment with the modulation wheel. That’s its legacy: a fat, sophisticated sound in a package that’s not daunting to get your hands on.” 

The Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D features a custom red satin finish with metallic flecks, which matches Lee’s Grace Under Pressure-era keyboard. It also includes a custom Rush “starman” logo” and other enhanced features, with each Minimoog coming with a 10-inch translucent vinyl copy of Rush tracks “Xandadu” and “Jacob’s Ladder.”

The Moog Music Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D is available now via Reverb.

Guns N’ Roses announce AWOLNATION’s Isaac Carpenter as new drummer

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Guns N’ Roses have announced a new drummer following the departure of longtime member Frank Ferrer.

Isaac Carpenter, who’s played in AWOLNATION for the last decade, will man the kit for the “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers during their 2025 world tour dates, which begin in Asia in May.

Carpenter also has a connection to GN’R bassist Duff McKagan, having played in his band Loaded.

GN’R announced on Wednesday that they and Ferrer had amicably parted ways. Ferrer, who joined in 2006, leaves the group as the longest tenured drummer in GN’R history.

“The band thanks Frank for his friendship, creativity, and sturdy presence over the past 19 years, and they wish him success in the next chapter of his musical journey,” a press release read.

Elton John wins $100K Glenn Gould Prize for ‘enriching the human condition’

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Not like he needs the money, but Elton John has just won a $100,000 prize for his artistic accomplishments.

As Toronto’s The Globe and Mail reports, Elton is the 15th recipient of the Glenn Gould Prize, which has been handed out by the Toronto-based Glenn Gould Foundation since 1987. It’s given to a living artist whose “unique lifetime achievement contribution has enriched the human condition.”

The award is named after the renowned classical pianist Glenn Gould, who died in 1982 and whose life was depicted in the 1993 movie Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould. Elton said in a statement, “After spending decades admiring the virtuosity of Glenn Gould’s work, I am awestruck and honored to receive this award.”

Elton is the fourth pianist — but the only chart-topping pop star — to win the award, which is generally given to classical composers, musicians and artists. Leonard Cohen is the only other Rock & Roll Hall of Famer to received the honor.

No word on what Elton plans to do with the money.

U2 become first Irish songwriters to be honored with fellowship from The Ivors Academy

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

U2 have been chosen as the next Academy Fellow of The Ivors Academy, the U.K. organization that presents The Ivor Novello Awards to celebrate excellence in British and Irish songwriting.

The band — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. — are the first-ever Irish songwriters to earn a fellowship, the highest honor handed out by the Ivors.

“We were a band before we could play, let alone write songs. … In fact it was our inability to play other people’s songs that kicked off our own songwriting,” Bono shared. “Early musical heroes like the Ramones, Patti Smith, The Clash were our inspiration. There’s alchemy at play, turning base metals into gold … your s**** into gold would be another way of putting it.”

“To be recognized in this way by The Ivors Academy feels very special indeed,” Clayton added. “The appreciation of one’s peers is a humbling honor and we are immensely grateful.”

Mullen also shared he was “very grateful” to the Ivors for recognizing them, while The Edge noted, “Songs are kind of magic. The best ones feel like gifts from some other dimension, but to catch them you have to make yourself available. I’m not sure songs can change the world but they sure have changed mine.”

Last year Bruce Springsteen received the honor, becoming the first international songwriter to be chosen as a Fellow. Other recipients include Sting, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Elton John and Peter Gabriel.

U2 will be presented with their honor at The Ivors on May 22 in London. Nominees for the Ivor Novello Awards will be announced on April 23.

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett unveils ’The Collection’ book showcasing personal guitars

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett has released a new photo book exploring his personal guitar collection in depth.

The aptly titled The Collection: Kirk Hammett contains 400 pages of photos shot by renowned rock photographer Ross Halfin on location in Los Angeles and Hawaii. It showcases instruments including Hammett’s signature 1979 Gibson Flying V and his prized 1959 Les Paul Standard aka “Greeny.”

The Collection is available in three editions, two of which are signed by Hammett. You can order your copy now via the Metallica web store or Gibson.com.

You can see Hammett play his signature guitars live and in person on Metallica’s upcoming U.S. tour, which begins in April.

Green Day filming scene for New Years Rev movie during LA concert

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Green Day is turning an upcoming show into a scene for their New Years Rev film.

The concert takes place March 25 at the Palladium venue and will be filmed for the part in the movie when Green Day plays a New Year’s Eve gig.

“We’ll be playing a few songs—a LOT of times (and maybe a few others),” Green Day says. “Movies take time, so plan to stay for 10-11 hours. But don’t worry, we’ve got sandwiches and drinks covered.”

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, unfortunately the show is already sold out.

As previously reported, New Years Rev follows a trio of friends who mistakenly believe that their band is opening for Green Day during the aforementioned New Year’s Eve show. It’s inspired by the “American Idiot” outfit’s early van-touring days.

Along with the Green Day members themselves, the cast includes Mckenna Grace, Fred Armisen, Bobby Lee, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey.

Bobby Weir unsure whether Grateful Dead will celebrate 60th anniversary with a reunion

March 20, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead. While the surviving band members – Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann – had said there was talk of a reunion to celebrate the milestone, the October death of bassist Phil Lesh seemed to put an end to that.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone Weir discuses the possibility of that reunion, but he doesn’t sound too optimistic about it.

“I think when Phil checked out, so did that notion, because we don’t have a bass player who’s been playing with us for 60 years now,” he says. “I suppose I could go back out. I wouldn’t put anybody in his place, so it would be a trio at this point. It’d be me and two drummers. I’d have to think about that. … I guess we’ll just see what the three of us can pull together.”

Talking about the decision-making in the band, Weir shares, “We speak a language that nobody else speaks. We communicate, we kick stuff back and forth, and then make our little statement in a more universal language.”

“For us, it’s a look or a motion with one shoulder, or the way you reflect a phrase or something that tips off the other guys where you’re going with this,” he adds. “And then they work on being where you’re headed, getting there with a little surprise for you.”

“That’s a formula that’s worked real well for us over the years, and there just aren’t enough of us left now to do that anymore,” he says.

While Grateful Dead hasn’t made any decisions about reuniting, the offshoot Dead & Company is set to launch new residency dates at the Sphere Las Vegas on Thursday. The shows are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the band.

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