Classic Rock 93.9

Ringo Starr got quite a gift for his 86th birthday Tuesday. The rocker just received an honorary doctorate from the University of Liverpool.

Wendy Beetlestone, University of Liverpool chancellor and United States district judge, presented Ringo with his honor at his annual Peace & Love celebration in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

“It is a great privilege to recognise Ringo, whose influential musical work, particularly in The Beatles, has helped shape the identity and global reputation of Liverpool,” Beetlestone said in a statement. “His contribution has played a key role in making the city a place that inspires people to visit and to study.”

“I want to thank the University of Liverpool for this Honorary Degree and for coming all the way to LA to bestow it,” Ringo, who was born and raised in Liverpool, said. “I’m really honoured.”

“I’ve been thinking back on my life a lot lately – and when I chose to become a drummer full time – my family discouraged me. And they could have been right! But they weren’t – it all worked out,” he continued. “So to all the graduates back in Liverpool – I send Peace & Love and want to say don’t be afraid to follow your dreams – or take that right turn and see where it goes …. it could lead to an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Liverpool.”

Starr’s annual Peace & Love celebration included performances from artists like Molly Tuttle, Sarah Jarosz, Daniel Tashian and Ketch Secor. There were also appearances by Ringo’s All-Starr Band members Gregg Bissonette and Steve Lukather, former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum and children from his nonprofit Adopt The Arts. The event ended with the band and crowd singing “Happy Birthday” to Ringo.

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After four years off the road, Bon Jovi returned to the stage Tuesday night for the opening night of their Forever Tour at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

According to setlist.fm, the band opened with a cover of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends,” before treating fans to a 21-song set filled with a good mix of newer tunes and classic hits.

Newer tracks included “Legendary” and “Living Proof,” off their 2024 album Forever, plus “Beautiful Drug” from the album 2020 and “This House of Not for Sale,” the title track to their 2016 album.

There were also plenty of iconic Bon Jovi hits including “You Give Love A Bad Name,” “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “Keep The Faith,” “Have a Nice Day,” “Born to Be My Baby” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.” 

The band wrapped the show with the New Jersey classic “Bad Medicine.”

The Forever Tour is Bon Jovi’s first tour since 2022 and their first since frontman Jon Bon Jovi underwent surgery on his vocal cords.

“A lot of hard work and talented people helped get us here,” Bon Jovi wrote on Instagram before the show. “Thank you to everyone who had a hand in building the Forever Tour Now it’s our turn to do what we do best Let’s do it boys!!”

Bon Jovi has another eight nights at Madison Square Garden, with their next show happening Thursday.
After New York, they head to the U.K. for shows in Ireland and Scotland, before wrapping with three nights at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sept. 4-9. A complete list of dates can be found at BonJovi.com.

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A remastered version of Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ eighth studio album, Buddha and the Chocolate Box, will be released in September.

The follow-up to 1973’s Foreigner, Buddha and the Chocolate Box was originally released on March 21, 1974. The album had Stevens returning to the sounds fans were familiar with on albums like Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat.

The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and included the top-10 hit “Oh Very Young.” It would go on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.

“Buddha and the Chocolate Box reopened the doors of my familiar melodious soft delivery and sentiments. Although still experimental in compositional terms, it was what most of my fans desperately wanted to hear next,” Stevens wrote in his 2025 memoir, Cat on a Road to Findout. “Following on from Foreigner, the Buddha album proved – especially to those who had no faith – that the missing Cat had simply wandered away from home for a while.”

He noted, “As far as the critics were concerned, album-wise, it marked my heralded return to ‘Cat Stevens’ form.”

The remastered Buddha and the Chocolate Box will be released digitally, on CD and on vinyl on Sept. 4. It is available for preorder now.

This is just the latest in a series of reissues from Yusuf/Cat Stevens that began in 2020. He previously reissued 1973’s Foreigner, 1970’s Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman, and 1971’s Teaser and the Firecat.

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Todd Rundgren has extended his Dammed if I Do Tour.

The “Bang the Drum All Day” rocker has announced a new set of fall U.S. dates kicking off Oct. 21 in San Francisco. The trek will hit several other cities in California, and make stops in Arizona, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. It will wrap Nov. 21 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tickets go on sale Friday.

Rundgren is currently on a summer leg of the Dammed if I Do Tour. It hits Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, with U.S. dates wrapping Aug. 29 in St Louis, Missouri.

A complete list of dates can be found at Todd-Rundgren.com.

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The music of Van Halen will be the subject of an upcoming edition of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and it will feature one of the band’s original members.

Van Halen Rock Camp – Volume II is happening Nov. 12-15 in Hollywood, California, with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony part of the lineup. Other musicians confirmed for the Van Halen camp include drummer Kenny Arnoff, who is currently playing in former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar’s band; former Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini; and Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp gives everyday musicians the chance to not only learn and interact with well-known musicians, but perform alongside the rock legends as well. There will also be Q&A sessions, autograph opportunities and more, with the weekend wrapping with two live shows at Hollywood’s Whisky A Go Go and Viper Room.

In addition to Van Halen hits like “Panama” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love,” campers will get to play hits from Ratt and Night Ranger.

More information can be found at RockCamp.com.

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Elton John is ready to say farewell again.

While Elton wrapped his final tour, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, back in 2023, he never brought it to Mexico. He’s now set to say goodbye to his Mexican fans with two new concerts.

The shows, which are being billed as Elton’s farewell to Mexico, are happening Oct. 2 and 3 at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City. They will be Elton’s first concerts in Mexico in 14 years.

“Mexico City has always held a special place in my heart,” Elton said in a statement. “I was truly disappointed that the pandemic kept me from touring Latin America during my Farewell tour which makes this return especially meaningful.”

“I’m thrilled to finally share this very special moment with my fans after all these years,” he added.

Elton’s first-ever concerts in Mexico City took place 34 years ago at the Azteca Stadium. His last concert in the city was in 2012 at Auditorio Nacional.

Tickets go on sale to the general public July 16.

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A Ramones tribute concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic punk band’s 1976 self-titled debut album will take place Aug. 30 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

The event will feature the inaugural performance by the Cretin Family, a supergroup made up of Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, former Ramones bassist CJ Ramone and Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong. 

“The Ramones are the blueprint,” Barker says in a statement. “Punk rock wouldn’t be what it is today without them. I’m honored to celebrate 50 years of one of the greatest bands ever!!!”

The night will be hosted by actor John Travolta, and will also feature a double feature screening of the iconic 1976 horror film Carrie and Travolta’s directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach. Additionally, artist Shepard Fairey will perform a DJ set.

Tickets are on sale now.

The Ramones album was released on April 23, 1976, and spawned the seminal punk anthem “Blitzkrieg Bop.” A 50th anniversary picture disc vinyl pressing of the album will be released July 17.

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Rush’s catalog is getting an audio upgrade.

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MoFi) has announced plans for a multiyear reissue series of the Canadian rockers’ catalog.

The series will mark the first-ever audiophile upgrade of Rush’s albums, with all of the albums getting reissued on the Super Audio CD format. The albums will also be reissued on vinyl, either as an UltraDisc One-Step set or on 45rpm vinyl.

The series will launch this summer with audiophile upgrades of 1975’s Fly By Night and 1977’s A Farewell to Kings. It will be followed this fall by Rush’s 1974 self-titled debut. All three are available for preorder now.

Another eight albums, including 1981’s Moving Pictures and 1976’s 2112, will be released between 2027 and 2028.

Rush is currently on their Fifty Something tour, which is their first tour in over 10 years and their first since the death of drummer Neil Peart. Their next show is Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. A complete list of dates can be found at Rush.com.

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Foo Fighters have announced a concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Mohegan Sun casino and entertainment complex, which is located in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The show will take place Oct. 4 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. ET.

For all ticket info, visit FooFighters.com.

The Mohegan Sun show will be a relatively more intimate performance compared to the stadiums Foo Fighters will be playing on their North American Take Cover tour, which kicks off in August. The trek supports the new Foos album, Your Favorite Toy.

In other Foos news, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced Foo Fighters Fan Day, which will take place Aug. 10 at the Cleveland museum. The celebration will include film screenings and Foo Fighters trivia contests.

Foo Fighters were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

For more info, visit RockHall.com.

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On This Day, July 7, 1977 …

Styx released the album The Grand Illusion. As it was their seventh studio album, its release date was significant: 7-7-77.

The album was a huge hit for the band, peaking at #6 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and getting certified triple Platinum in the U.S.

The album contained two songs that went on to become Styx classics: “Come Sail Away,” which was a top-10 hit, and “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” which hit the top 40.

In 2024, Styx headlined a special residency at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, where they played The Grand Illusion in its entirety for the first time in their career.

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