Classic Rock 93.9

Grateful Dead are not only known for their great music, but also for their live shows — and in the early ’70s, those included their infamous Wall of Sound. Now a new book is exploring that sound system.

Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, from writer Brian Anderson, will be released June 17. It delves into the story and evolution of The Dead’s iconic speaker system, culled from interviews Anderson did with hundreds of people — including roadies, managers and fans — who were involved with the band and the Wall of Sound’s construction.

The original Wall of Sound was designed in 1973 specifically for the Grateful Dead by their sound engineer Owsley “Bear” Stanley. It reportedly consisted of over 600 speakers, and was three stories high and 100 feet wide.

It was used during the band’s 1974 concert tour, but it’s huge size became an issue and was last used during a show in October 1974.

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The Black Crowes are set to headline opening night of the 31st annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival, taking place Sept. 12-14 in Telluride, Colorado.

This is the first time The Crowes have played the Telluride festival since 2013. Festival director and founder Steve Gumble notes, “They have to be one of our favorite acts over the years and will surely bring a fierce mix of Southern Rock, blues and soul.”

A full lineup and ticket information can be found at TellurideBlues.com.

Telluride is one of several festivals The Black Crowes are playing this year. They’re set to headline Boston Calling on May 24 and are also booked for Summer Jam Wisconsin in Eau Claire, Wisconsin; FloydFest 25 – Aurora in Floyd County, Virginia; Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Ocean’s Calling in Ocean City, Maryland.

A complete list of tour dates can be found at TheBlackCrowes.com.

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Bad Company received their first-ever nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant wants to see them get in.

Plant shared a photo of the Paul Rodgers-led band on Instagram, writing, “Congratulations, what an epic journey the music of bad company has been on. As effective now as it was all those years ago.”

He added, “A cool groove from the Swan Song boys,” a reference to Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song record label, which released several Bad Company albums, including their hit self-titled debut.

Plant also shared a link to the official voting page for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The fan vote for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is open until April 21. Among this year’s nominees are The Black Crowes, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper and Soundgarden.

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction is set to take place in Los Angeles this fall, although an exact date has yet to be announced.

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The Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary celebration continues with an upcoming exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, highlighting the iconic music moments from the show.

SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music will open May 23, featuring video installations and a first-ever virtual experience focused on the show’s history of iconic musical performances. A teaser for the exhibit highlights performances from artists like U2, Nirvana, Sinead O’Connor, Queen, Garbage, David Bowie, Madonna, Tina Turner, Simon & Garfunkel, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and St. Vincent.

The exhibit will also include a recreation of SNL‘s Studio 8H, costumes from musical sketches, photos, stage props and more. Plus, the Hall of Fame’s Foster Theater will air a 20-minute edit of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson‘s documentary Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of SNL Music, with never-before-seen musical performance footage.

“Saturday Night Live has brought amazing live music into our living rooms for 50 years, including ground-breaking appearances by over 100 of our Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees,” Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, shares. “Along with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, we are thrilled to be joining with our friends at SNL to share this exciting story with the millions of fans who walk through our doors in Cleveland or online at RockHall.com every year.”

Tickets for the exhibit are on sale now.

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Elton John and Brandi Carlile are getting together March 26 at London’s Palladium Theater to perform songs from their new joint album, Who Believes in Angels? But if you can’t make it, you’ll be able to watch it on TV.

On April 6 CBS will air An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile, which will feature performances of the new songs, the duo’s respective greatest hits and an unreleased song from Brandi. The two will also have a conversation about their 20-year friendship and share footage of the making of the album. Plus, there’ll be tributes to both artists from those closest to them.

An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and stream live on Paramount+ for those with a Paramount+ with Showtime package.

Who Believes in Angels? will be released April 4. b

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Steve Winwood is headed out on a solo tour this fall.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has announced nine new East Coast dates that kick off Sept. 15 in Beverly, Massachusetts. The tour will also hit New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania before wrapping Sept. 28 in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Venue presales begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday.

The tour coincides with Winwood’s appearance as special guest on two Tedeschi Trucks Band shows, Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

He’ll also be a special guest for the Jeff Lynne’s ELO BST Hyde Park show on July 13, which will be ELO’s final concert. The Doobie Brothers and Dhani Harrison are also on the bill.

A complete list of dates can be found at SteveWinwood.com.

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Steve Miller Band is hitting the road again this summer.

The “Take the Money and Run” rockers just announced dates for a new headlining tour, revealing six new shows that kick off Aug. 15 in Bethel, New York, and wrap Aug. 30 in Salamanca, New York. The tour will also hit Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and New Jersey. There is also the possibility of more dates, as Steve Miller Band’s Instagram notes they are the “first set of shows” to be announced.

A complete list of dates and ticket information can be found at SteveMillerBand.com.

Steve Miller Band also spent last summer on the road. In addition to headlining dates, they spent the summer as special guest on the Def Leppard/Journey stadium tour.

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Rod Stewart‘s ever-expanding family is definitely keeping him “Forever Young.”

As documented on Instagram, Rod and his wife Penny Lancaster got to meet their brand-new grandbaby Elsie, daughter of Rod’s son Liam, who was born March 2.  “So proud to meet little Elsie, what an angel,” Penny captioned a photo of herself, Rod and the baby. Rod reposted the pic on his Instagram Story and wrote, “Another Stewart joins the clan.”

But the clan is about to get even bigger: Rod’s daughter Kimberly has announced that she’s expecting a baby boy “soon.” Kimberly was the first to make Rod a grandfather, when she welcomed daughter Delilah with her then-boyfriend Benicio Del Toro in 2011.

When Kimberly’s son arrives, Rod will have five grandchildren: Elsie and her big brother Louie, Delilah and the new baby, and his daughter Ruby‘s son Otis.

Rod is the father of eight children: four sons and four daughters, ranging in age from 61 to 14.

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The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown is coming to streaming. The film starring Timothée Chalamet will debut on Hulu March 27.

A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold, opened in theaters Christmas Day and has since brought in over $130 million at the box office worldwide.

The film follows a 19-year-old Dylan as he arrives in New York from Minnesota. It tracks his rise as a folk singer during the ’60s to the top of the charts, ending with his electric rock ‘n’ roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. Chalamet does all his own singing and guitar playing in the film.

A Complete Unknown earned eight Oscar nominations this year, including best picture; best actor for Chalamet; best supporting actor for Ed Norton for his portrayal of Pete Seeger; best supporting actress for Monica Barbaro, who played Joan Baez; and best director for Mangold. 

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Queen has been named Laureate for the 2025 Polar Music Prize. The band will be honored, along with jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan, at a ceremony held May 27 in Stockholm, with the Swedish royal family in attendance.

“It is our immense privilege to honor and award these three Laureates at the 2025 Polar Music Prize,” Marie Ledin, managing director of the Polar Music Prize, shares. “Queen, a band synonymous with the very fabric of pop culture, have made an impact on music that spans decades, generations and genres. They are a most deserving recipient, beloved the world over.”

“We are highly and deeply honored to be given the Polar Music Prize this year,” Queen said in a statement. “It’s incredible, thank you so much.”

The Polar Music Prize was founded in 1989 by ABBA’s late manager, Stig ”Stikkan” Anderson. Each Laureate receives a prize equivalent to about $94,000.

Previous Polar Music Prize winners include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin,  Bob Dylan, Metallica, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Chic’s Nile Rodgers, Iggy Pop and more.

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