More details revealed about Paul McCartney’s new book, ‘Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run’

April 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

More details have been revealed about Paul McCartney’s upcoming book, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run.

When it was first announced, the book was described as “a landmark account” of McCartney’s “triumphant musical reinvention in the 1970s and the subsequent rise of one of the decade’s most iconic bands.” The description notes it was culled from interviews with McCartney and other important players in the band.

Now those important players have been revealed.

In addition to Sir Paul, there are contributions from his late wife, Linda McCartney, and Wings members Denny Laine, Denny Seiwell, Henry McCullough, Jimmy McCulloch, Geoff Britton, Joe English, Steve Holley and Laurence Juber. The band’s story is also told by The Beatles‘ John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, producer George Martin, Sean Ono Lennon, Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, actor Dustin Hoffman, and McCartney’s daughters Stella McCartney and Mary McCartney.

According to a new press release, the book was written from over 42 hours of new interviews, with info also coming from historical interviews and newly discovered, previously unheard interviews from Paul’s personal archive. It also contains a foreword written by Paul.

Also in the book are over 150 photographs, including some never-before-seen shots, as well as memorabilia, like handwritten lyrics and pages from Paul’s diary.

In addition to the new info, the book’s cover has been revealed, which features the title in yellow against a blue background that features the Wings logo.

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, edited by historian Ted Widmer, will be released Nov. 4.

Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan & more join Barbra Streisand on new duets album

April 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Sting are among the artists set to appear on a new duets album from Barbra Streisand.

The record, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, will be released June 27 and also feature duets with James Taylor, Seal, Sam Smith, Hozier, Josh Groban, Tim McGraw and Laufey. There is also a tune that’s a collaboration between Babs, Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande.

“I’ve always loved singing duets with gifted artists. They inspire me in unique and different ways…and make our time in the studio a joy!” Streisand shares, noting the album, “gave me the chance to work and play with some of my old friends, label mates, and new artists too.”

She adds, “I admire all of them… and I hope that you’ll enjoy listening to our collaborations as much as I enjoyed recording with all of my wonderful partners.”

And Babs is giving fans a preview of the record with the release of the first single, a cover of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” featuring Hozier. The tune, written by Ewan MacColl, was made famous by Roberta Flack. It is available now via digital outlets.

The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, available for preorder now, is the followup to Streisand’s 2014 album Partners. Here is the track list for the album:

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” with Hozier
“My Valentine” with Paul McCartney
“To Lose You Again” with Sam Smith
“The Very Thought of You” with Bob Dylan
“Letter to My 13 Year Old Self” with Laufey
“One Heart, One Voice” with Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande
“I Love Us” with Tim McGraw
“Secret O’ Life” with James Taylor
“Fragile” with Sting
“Where Do I Go From You?” with Josh Groban
“Love Will Survive” with Seal

Watch the first trailer for ‘Bono: Stories of Surrender’ documentary

April 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

We are getting our first look at Bono‘s upcoming Apple TV+ documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, a “reimagining” of the U2 frontman’s one-man stage show, Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music and Some Mischief, which was recorded at New York’s Beacon Theatre during the book tour for his memoir.

The first trailer has just been released, with the black-and-white clip opening with Bono sharing, “These are tall tales of a short rock star.”

The trailer includes footage from the show, including snippets of Bono singing U2’s “City of Blinding Lights,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “Beautiful Day,” and him talking about his relationship with his father, the last time he saw his mother and more.

“Turns out the most extraordinary thing about my life is the people I’m in relationships with,” he says in the clip. “I met my wife Ali the same week I joined U2.”

It ends with a voiceover in which Bono shares, “I was born with my fists up. Surrender does not come easy to me,” adding, “This is my story. I’m stuck with it.”

Bono: Stories of Surrender, described in the trailer as “the story of a showman in his own words,” premieres May 30 on Apple TV+. For those with Apple Vision Pro, Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive) will also premiere on May 30, giving viewers an immersive experience of the film. It will be the first feature-length film available on Apple Vision Pro.

Bob Dylan Center to launch new ‘Going Electric’ exhibit in July

April 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new exhibit about Bob Dylan’s controversial ‘electric’ performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 is set to open this summer at the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Going Electric: Bob Dylan ’65 will follow Dylan during the pivotal moment in his career when he shocked music fans by changing his musical style, with a press release noting the exhibit “places visitors at the heart of Dylan’s evolution from acoustic folk hero to trailblazing rock ’n’ roll icon.”

Among the items on display are original manuscripts of albums Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited; drafts of the classic tune “Mr. Tambourine Man,” featuring handwritten edits; photos and memorabilia from Dylan’s last all-acoustic concerts; and a 1963 Telecaster played by Mike Bloomfield at the Newport Folk Festival.

The exhibit will also include a multimedia experience centered on Dylan’s July 1965 Newport performance, with never-before-seen interviews from folks who were there, including Joan Baez and Al Kooper.

“Dylan’s Newport moment is widely regarded as one of the most pivotal moments in the history of 20th-century popular music,” said Mark Davidson, curator of the exhibit and senior director of archives and exhibitions at American Song Archives. He adds that the exhibit “cuts through the myths to present a dynamic, kaleidoscopic portrait of an artist in a way that only the Bob Dylan Center can.”

Going Electric: Bob Dylan ’65 is set to open July 24, and will run until the spring of 2026.

More info can be found at BobDylanCenter.com.

Dylan’s electric performance at Newport was depicted in the biopic A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet. The Oscar-nominated film is now streaming on Hulu.

Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel & more appear in trailer for documentary, ‘Ron Delsener Presents’

April 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among the A-list rock stars featured in the trailer for the upcoming documentary Ron Delsener Presents, about legendary New York concert promoter Ron Delsener.

Also in the clip are Patti Smith, Paul Simon, Little Steven Van Zandt and Bette Midler, with archival footage featuring clips of Simon & Garfunkel, Cher, Tina Turner, KISS and more.

The film, directed by Sting’s son Jake Sumner, gives music fans a behind-the-scenes look at Delsener’s 60-year career in live music. He is the man behind such infamous concerts as The Beatles at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Simon & Garfunkel’s reunion in Central Park and more.

The movie will open with a weeklong engagement at Quad Cinema in New York City starting May 30, with the 86-year-old Delsener and some special guests taking part in Q&As during the run. It will then hit theaters in select cities nationwide.

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

Bruce Springsteen continues to praise Jeremy Allen White: ‘He is tremendous’

April 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bruce Springsteen is once again praising actor Jeremy Allen White, who’ll play him in the upcoming movie Deliver Me From Nowhere, due out later this year.

Springsteen attended a screening of his Hulu documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Saban Media Center in Los Angeles Monday, where he talked about the upcoming big screen flick, and had only good things to say about White.

“Jeremy had his own process and really knew what he was doing and worked very hard to inhabit the character that he was playing,” Springsteen said, according to Gold Derby. “He is tremendous.”

At the same event, Springsteen also discussed the love he still has for performing.

“The funny thing about playing is that it’s the only thing I know that after you’ve played thousands of nights, each night feels like the first time,” he said. “Imagine if you could have your first kiss over and over and over again. That’s what playing every night is.”

He added, “That’s how it feels when you walk off stage, that something new and transcendent has occurred in your 75-year-old life. There is a sense of wonder and a real magic trick that occurs to pull something out of the air, something that you created on that night only with that audience. It remains an incredible, incredible experience for us.”

Springsteen will get a chance to have that experience yet again, when he launches a new U.K. and European tour with a two-night stand, May 14 and 17, in Manchester. A complete list of dates can be found at BruceSpringsteen.net.

John Densmore to take part in Tribeca Festival screening of The Doors documentary

April 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Doors‘ drummer John Densmore is taking part in the Tribeca Festival this year.

As part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the band, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will be on hand for a screening of the 2009 documentary When You’re Strange: A Film About The Doors, which is narrated by Johnny Depp.

The film follows The Doors — Densmore, Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger — on their rise to fame in the ’60s, and features archival footage of the band.

The screening is happening June 14 at 2 p.m., with Densmore taking part in an exclusive talk following the screening.

Tickets for the Tribeca Festival are on sale now.

Eddie Vedder, Green Day & Hozier headlining 2025 Ohana Festival

April 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Eddie Vedder has revealed the lineup for the 2025 edition of his Ohana Festival, taking place Sept. 26-28 in Dana Point, California.

The Pearl Jam frontman and his Earthlings solo band will headline, as will Green Day and Hozier.

Other artists on the bill include Kings of Leon, Cage the Elephant, Wet Leg, Garbage, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Kim Deal, Royel Otis and James.

Members of the Pearl Jam Ten Club will have access to a presale beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT. A general presale will follow on Thursday at 10 a.m. PT. Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public Thursday at noon PT.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit OhanaFest.com.

Sammy Hagar speculates on why Alex Van Halen won’t talk to him

April 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Sammy Hagar has said his new song “Encore, Thank You, Good Night,” was inspired by a dream he had about Eddie Van Halen, but it turns out Eddie’s not the only Van Halen he’s been dreaming about.

“I hate to say it, but I dreamt about Alex the other night, man,” Sammy tells Rolling Stone. “It was crazy. And it was so friggin’ real. I was saying, ‘What are you pissed off at me about, man? What the f***? Now just tell me what your problem is. What did I do? Just tell me.'”

Hagar says Alex laughed and asked “You really don’t know, do you?”

Alex and Sammy haven’t spoken in 21 years, and in the interview Sammy suggests the animosity could be over several things, including the success of his Cabo Wabo franchise, which Van Halen bailed on when it was losing money, only for Sammy to turn it around. Another is Sammy’s memoir, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, in which he was honest about a bad period of Eddie’s life.

But Sammy says he really thinks Alex is mad “because I’m out doing it … and he can’t,” noting that Alex is not a singer, doesn’t play guitar and doesn’t really play drums anymore.

“I would feel bad. If I put myself in his shoes, I would feel terrible if I couldn’t do it anymore,” he adds, “But I’m the happiest guy out of all of them. That pisses people off in itself. Being too happy, people don’t like that.”

“And I’m okay with it,” Sammy says. “Al, you’re fine. Just leave me alone. I’ll leave you alone. Everything’s good. I’m making you money, by the way, Al … I’m out there selling Van Halen records and keeping the name alive, keeping the music alive.”

Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ hits a billion streams; ex-wife recounts Billy story she ‘hesitated’ to put in new memoir

April 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Joel‘s signature song is the newest member of the Spotify Billions Club.

“Piano Man,” the title track from Billy’s 1973 breakthrough album, has hit 1 billion streams on the music streaming platform. While far from his biggest hit — it only reached #25 on the Hot 100 — it became Billy’s nickname, his signature song and a permanent fixture in his concert set list.

The only other Billy song to hit 1 billion streams on Spotify is “Uptown Girl,” which is also the title of the new memoir by Christie Brinkley, his wife from 1985 to 1994. The book explains that Christie filed for divorce due to Billy’s drinking problem, which she was afraid to reveal due to the negative publicity she felt it would attract.

“I loved him and I wanted to make it work,” she tells the Los Angeles Times. “I was 100% dedicated to Billy, but I never told anyone about our issues, not even my friends. It was very difficult in that way, but we had a child together and I was trying to protect the family.”

The Times article then notes that Billy’s issues “began to shade into psychosis.” At one point, Christie writes in the book how a drunken Billy ate spaghetti directly from a pan on the stove and then accused everyone in the house of eating his spaghetti and kicked them out of the house.

She tells the Los Angeles Times, “I hesitated to put that scene in the book. But at the same time, it demonstrates what I was up against.”

While it’s been reported that Billy also cheated on Christie, according to People, she writes in the book, “To this day, Billy continues to deny ever having had affairs, and I’ve always believed him.”

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