Elton John says losing his eyesight has delayed his new album

November 25, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Back in September, Elton John revealed that he lost vision in one of his eyes, and he now tells Good Morning America his condition has interfered with his attempts to put out a new album.

Elton revealed he had a new album in the works at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, then said it would be out in 2024 during his year-end message to members of his fan community.

When asked by Robin Roberts for an album update, Elton said, “I don’t know. It’s been awhile since I’ve done anything and I just have to get off my backside,” explaining the issues with his eye delayed things.

“I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France,” he said. “And it’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see. And my left eye’s not the greatest.”

Elton said “there’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK,” but he really hasn’t been able to work on music. “I’m kinda stuck in the moment … going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric, for start.”

“We’re taking an initiative to try and make it better, but at the moment that’s what we’re really concentrating on,” he said. “And it kinda floored me, and I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything.”

But even with all the challenges he’s faced, Elton, whose new documentary Never Too Late debuts Dec. 13 on Disney+, still seems to have a positive attitude.

“I’m so lucky, I’m the luckiest man in the world,” he said. “I’m proud of my attitude towards myself and what’s going on. I’m just very lucky and very grateful.”

On This Day, Nov. 25, 1976: The Band played their final show at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom

November 25, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, Nov. 25, 1976 …

The Band — Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel — played their final show ever at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.

Billed as their “farewell concert appearance,” the show featured guest appearances by a whole host of musicians, including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Dr. John, Ronnie Wood, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison.

The concert was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and released in April 1978 as The Last Waltz, considered one of the greatest concert documentaries of all time.

The film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2019.

The Rolling Stones & Bruce Springsteen earn Billboard Music Award nominations

November 25, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band both earned nominations for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards.

Being that both artists are known for their live shows, it seems fitting they’re nominated in the Top Rock Touring Artist category, with their only other competition being Coldplay.

Both The Rolling Stones and Springsteen were on tour this year. The Stones launched their Hackney Diamonds tour in April in Houston, while Springsteen and The E Street Band returned to the road in March in Phoenix.

Also earning BBMA nominations this year are Pearl Jam, in the Best Hard Rock Album category for Dark Matter, and Dolly Parton, in the Best Rock Album category for Rockstar, which featured collaborations with such artists as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Stevie Nicks.

The 2024 BBMAs will air Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox, Fire TV channels and on-demand on Paramount+.

Pearl Jam plays ‘Hunger Strike’ for first time in over a decade at final ‘Dark Matter’ tour stop

November 25, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pearl Jam wrapped their Australia and New Zealand tour in Sydney Saturday night and broke out the Temple of the Dog song “Hunger Strike” for the first time in over 10 years.

The last time the band played the song in full was in October 2014, at Neil Young’s Bridge School benefit, where they were joined by Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, who appears on the original recording of the track.

For the Sydney performance, fan-shot footage posted to YouTube shows frontman Eddie Vedder taking on both his and Cornell’s parts of the song, with the audience helping out with Cornell’s high harmonies.

“Hunger Strike” was the first single off the album Temple of the Dog, which was released in April 1991. It was a tribute to the late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, who died March 19, 1970, and it featured members of both Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.

The performance of “Hunger Strike” was the first time Pearl Jam has played the song in full since Cornell’s 2017 death. In addition to performing it with Cornell, in the past they’ve performed the song with guest singers, including Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker and Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell.

But that wasn’t the only rarity played at the Sydney show. Vedder opened his solo encore with Bruce Springsteen’s “No Surrender,” and the band performed the Vs. track “Dissident” for the first time on this tour — and the first time since September 2022.

Paul McCartney, Olivia Harrison, Sean Ono Lennon attend ‘Beatles ’64’ premiere in New York

November 25, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The new Disney+ documentary Beatles ’64, which captures the Fab Four’s first trip to the U.S., had its premiere in New York City on Nov. 24, and in attendance was one of the film’s subjects: Sir Paul McCartney.

In addition to Sir Paul, John Lennon‘s son Sean Ono Lennon and George Harrison‘s widow, Olivia Harrison, were in the theater for the premiere, along with E Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt, Elvis Costello and the film’s producer, Martin Scorsese.

The movie is built around the footage captured by late filmmakers Albert and David Maysles, who were with The Beatles constantly during their 14-day trip to America. During that time, they traveled to New York, performing on The Ed Sullivan Show and at Carnegie Hall; Washington D.C., where they did their first U.S. concert; and Miami. Seventeen minutes of footage is previously unseen. New interviews with Paul and Ringo Starr are included, plus archival interviews with Harrison and Lennon.

The musical performances in the film have all been restored and remixed using the same technology that was used on the Get Back documentary and on The Beatles’ Grammy-nominated single “Now and Then.” At several points during the premiere screening, the audience spontaneously burst into applause at the end of some of the performances.

Following the film, Scorsese and director David Tedeschi did a Q&A with actor/director Ethan Hawke.

Beatles ’64 will stream exclusively on Disney+ starting Nov. 29.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

New exhibit will focus on George Harrison the gardener

November 25, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Beatles‘ George Harrison’s love of gardening will be explored in a new exhibit in Sarasota, Florida.

George Harrison: A Gardener’s Life will run from Feb. 9 to June 29 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, part of a series that “examines the work of major artists through the lens of their connection to nature.”

According to a press release, the exhibit will look at Harrison’s connection to gardening, which is described as his “greatest passion.” In fact, during a 1979 Rolling Stone interview, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer actually described himself as “just a gardener.”

In addition to the horticultural aspects of the exhibit, it will include a selection of Harrison’s music and lyrics, along with excerpts from wife Olivia Harrison‘s poetry book, Came the Lightening. The exhibit promises to “highlight George’s connection to nature and celebrate his life and legacy through the power of plants.”

“Selby Gardens is thrilled to explore George Harrison’s love of gardening and the inspiration he drew from it,” Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, shares. “We are honored to present this exhibition to our visitors, demonstrating the many ways Harrison connected with nature.”

The exhibition will include a special program featuring legendary artist Patti Smith, Selby Gardens’ Artist in Residence. An Evening with Patti Smith Dedicated to George Harrison will take place Feb. 12 at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus.

Leather jacket hand-painted by The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood being auctioned off for charity

November 22, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Rolling Stones are giving fans a chance to win a unique gift bag, with proceeds going to a good cause.

The new sweepstakes, part of Universal Music Group’s Music 4 Good Holiday Giveback, will have one lucky fan taking home a customized gift package that includes a leather jacket hand-painted by The Stones’ Ronnie Wood, plus a $500 gift card to the official Rolling Stones merch store.

Folks can purchase entries to the sweepstakes through Charity Stars, with most of the proceeds going to chef José Andrés‘ World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that’s first to the frontlines to provide fresh meals in response to crises.

A winner will be announced Jan. 13.

The Stones’ sweepstakes is one of several to raise money for World Central Kitchen. There are also options from KISS, Imagine Dragons, The Killers and more.

Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Canada Day’ guitar sells for over $100K at auction

November 22, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Eddie Van Halen’s long-lost 1993 Ernie Ball Music Signature “Canada Day” guitar sold for $104,000 as part of day two of Julien’s Auctions’ Played, Worn & Torn II auction in Nashville.

The guitar, unseen for 31 years, was played by Eddie at a July 1, 1993, Canada Day concert at Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario. It features the red Canada maple leaf, with signatures of all the band members. Proceeds from the sale will go to City of Hope.

Other items sold during day two of the auction include Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes’ signed “Soulshine” Gibson Les Paul standard ’60s electric guitar, for $29,250, which was 20 times its initial estimate; late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s handwritten concert set list, signed by bandmate Dave Grohl, for $26,000, which was 13 times over its initial estimate; and a 1981 “New York” tank worn by Queen’s Freddie Mercury, for $22,750.

Also at the auction, Prince’s Sadowsky Telecaster style guitar sold for $381,000. One of only six that were made, Prince used it during his 1986 Parade tour.

Aerosmith to be replaced by The Muppets on Disney’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster ride

November 22, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Aerosmith will no longer be part of a popular attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World in Orlando.

It was announced on the Disney Park blog that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith is being taken over by The Muppets, marking the first time The Muppets will be the focus of a Disney ride.

The change in the ride comes as Disney replaces Muppet Vision 3D with Monsters Inc. land.

“To make way for the monsters, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard!” read the announcement. “But there’s more to the story: The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!”

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith is an indoor ride that launched at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then named Disney-MGM Studios) in July 1999. The ride features video of the band members, including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, as well as music from the band, including songs like “Walk This Way,” “Love in an Elevator” and “Sweet Emotion.”

Exactly when The Muppets will take over for Aerosmith has not been announced.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Piano once owned by Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks up for auction

November 22, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

A piano once owned by Stevie Nicks is on the auction block.

Gotta Have Rock and Roll is handling the sale of the Hamilton grand piano, which was used to write such Fleetwood Mac tunes as “Sara” and “Songbird.”

Described as “debatably the most important piano ever offered for public auction,” the piano was one of two Stevie had in her home in the ’70s. In 1979 it went on tour with the band and was played onstage by Christine McVie until around 1982 or 1983; Christine also wrote “Songbird” on it.

The piano was eventually returned to Stevie’s home. Musician Robbie Patton, a friend of Stevie’s who worked with her during that time, was eventually gifted the piano by Stevie as payment for a song they wrote together.

He went on to use it in the studio with several other big-name musicians, including Elton John and Queen, with Patton noting both Elton and Freddie Mercury actually played it.

“The people who have touched this piano are crazy!” he says.

Bidding on the piano is open until Dec. 16, and it is expected to sell for between $100,000 and $200,000. The piano also comes with letters of authenticity by Nicks and McVie.

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