New Beatles documentary coming to Disney+ in November

October 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new documentary about The Beatles is coming to Disney+ in November.

Beatles ’64, directed by David Tedeschi and produced by Martin Scorsese, follows the band’s first-ever visit to America and features never-before-seen footage of the legendary group and their fans during the height of Beatlemania.

The doc includes fully restored footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles, along with performances from The Beatles’ first American concert in Washington, D.C., and clips of their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who also co-produced the film alongside George Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, and John Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon, have given new interviews that are featured in the film, plus there will be interviews from Beatles fans.

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

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Supergroup featuring Peter Buck, Rich Robinson, Barrett Martin & Joseph Arthur release debut song

October 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson, Screaming Trees/Mad Season drummer Barrett Martin and singer Joseph Arthur have teamed up to form a new supergroup, Silverlites.

The band has just released the new track “Don’t Go Don’t Stay” to digital outlets. The track is the first single from their upcoming album, which is due out Nov. 15. Another single, “Dark and Magic Sky,” will be released Nov. 11.

Martin shared on Facebook that the album was recorded and produced during the pandemic, and it was started in a Nashville hotel room.

“We hope you like the songs, as we spent the pandemic years doing various recording and mixing sessions, and we used a classic songwriting form, which is often forgotten in this day and age,” he shares. “That is, acoustic guitars (with a little electric guitar in there), with superb lead vocals, catchy backing vocals, and a soulful backbeat in the rhythm section.”

He adds, “It’s old school songwriting, just like us.”

Albums from John Lennon, The Rolling Stones land on ‘Rolling Stone’s’ most disappointing albums of all time list

October 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

It’s natural to get excited when your favorite artist puts out a new album, but on occasion that excitement turns to disappointment when the album isn’t as great as you’d hoped it would be.

Rolling Stone is examining that very subject with its just-released list of the 50 most disappointing albums of all time.

The mag notes that albums on the list aren’t necessarily bad, but were considered disappointing when they came out. Also, some disappointing albums are only disappointing because of the artist who released them, with the mag noting they could be “seen as a masterpiece if almost anyone else” recorded them.

Topping the list is John Lennon’s 1972 release, Some Time in New York City, calling the protest songs on the album “half-a****, at best,” and noting they “seemed dated almost instantly.”

The mag adds, “Some Time in New York City is as disposable as the newspapers on the cover,” referring to the album’s artwork, which featured a fake newspaper front page.

Coming in at #2 is The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, followed by Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait at #3, David Bowie’s Tonight at #4 and Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy at #5.

Rounding out the top 10 are Bruce Springsteen’s Human Touch, The Beach Boys’ Smiley Smile, Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants, Yes’ Tales From Topographic Ocean and Michael Jackson’s Invincible.

The list also includes albums by Lou Reed, AC/DC, Blondie, Neil Young, Elton John and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Billy Joel welcomes Axl Rose, John Mayer to his show in LA

October 13, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Joel played the brand-new venue in the LA area — Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California — on Oct. 12, and welcomed two special guests to the stage.

When Billy closed out his residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden in July, Guns n’ Roses singer Axl Rose was his special guest, and Rose returned again on Saturday night, singing GN’R’s version of Wings‘ James Bond theme “Live and Let Die.” Unlike the MSG show, though, Axl — who briefly sang lead for AC/DC a few years ago — didn’t join Billy for a cover of “Highway to Hell.”

Billy’s second guest of the evening was John Mayer, who played guitar as Billy sang “This Is the Time,” a romantic ballad from his 1986 album The Bridge. John played the same song with Billy in 2008 during the Piano Man’s Last Play at Shea concerts in New York City.

Billy’s next show is Oct. 25 at the Alamodome in St. Antonio, Texas. On Nov. 9, he’ll play a double bill with Sting in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

Stevie Nicks says being on ‘SNL’ has thrown her “into an absolute nervous frenzy”

October 11, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Stevie Nicks is the musical guest on the Oct. 12 edition of Saturday Night Live, and it marks her return to the show for the first time since December 1983. And while Stevie regularly rocks stadiums full of fans with no problem, she says she’s a bit apprehensive going into Saturday’s performance.

In an email interview with People, Stevie says, “Performing on Saturday Night Live is now as it was then. It’s just about the biggest thing you can do, bigger than a stadium show because it’s going to go out all over the world.”

“So if you wanna talk about being nervous about something! It doesn’t matter how many shows you’ve done or how much you practice, you’re going to be nervous!” she adds. “You can never say that Saturday Night Live does not help you to gain lots of new followers, younger people, older people, etc. And so to be asked to do it again … has thrown me into an absolute nervous frenzy, but I’m really excited.”

Stevie is particularly excited to perform her new song, “The Lighthouse,” which she started writing in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. “When I realized the consequences of women’s rights that are vanishing, I watched a lot of news, and I was like a sponge,” she notes. “It just went into me.”

Michael Stipe performs at Harris/Walz rally in R.E.M.’s hometown of Athens, Georgia

October 11, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe appeared at another rally for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, this time joining second gentleman Doug Emhoff Thursday in Athens, Georgia, the birthplace of R.E.M.

Stipe performed four songs with musicians Andy LeMaster and David Barbe, including the R.E.M. tunes “Wendell Gee,” which Stipe said was written in Athens and only performed four times, and “Driver 8.” They also performed “Your Capricious Soul,” from Stipe’s upcoming solo album, which he said had never been played live before, and “No Time For Love Like Now,” a tune he recorded with Big Red Machine aka The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver‘s Justin Vernonof.

Stipe also told the crowd a story of being in a restaurant in Manhattan for a friend’s birthday dinner about six years ago when he noticed a couple sharing a burger and some wine, noting they looked totally in love. Later that woman came over, tapped him on the shoulder and said, “My husband loves music, he’s a big fan. My name is Kamala Harris. This is Doug Emhoff.”

“I just want to say here tonight that these people are real, genuine, crazy in love people,” he said, noting it was a joy to see them in that moment and “now to see and celebrate that type of dedication and that type of love on a national and global stage.”

This is the second Harris/Walz rally that Stipe has performed at. He previously performed with Jason Isbell at a rally in Pittsburgh.

The Beatles named Ultimate British Group in new U.K. listener poll

October 11, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Beatles have been named the Ultimate British Group by listeners of BBC Radio 2.

The poll, conducted in conjunction National Album Day on Oct. 19, let listeners chime in with their top five favorite British bands, with hundreds of thousands of folks submitting their votes.

While the Fab Four nabbed the top spot, several other classic rock acts dominated the top 10, with Queen at #2, followed by The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin.

Rounding out the top 10 are Take That, Coldplay, Oasis and ELO.

Other bands making the list include The Who at #11, Genesis at #16, Duran Duran at #19, The Kinks at #23, Bee Gees at #24, Wham! at #25 and The Police at #29.

For the purposes of the list, a British group was defined as any band with two or more members, with the lineup featuring all or a majority of members who were born in, live in or hold British citizenship.

Gene Simmons stands by his controversial ‘Dancing with the Stars’ appearance

October 11, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Gene Simmons isn’t bothered by the critics of his Dancing with the Stars appearance.

The KISS rocker was a guest judge on Tuesday’s hair metal episode, and received backlash from the public over what some argued were “creepy” comments that focused on the dancers’ appearance and looks rather than their performance.

A cameraman caught Simmons out in Los Angeles, with the Daily Mail sharing video of him brushing off the critiques.

“All media is clickbait. I stand by every word I said,” he said. “I had a great time. The contestants were great. The show was great.”

He added, “It was a lot of fun. But media? Everybody’s got something to say. Watch the show. It was a lot of fun. Everybody had a great time.”

Journey’s Steve Perry releasing updated version of holiday album

October 11, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Former Journey frontman Steve Perry is getting into the holiday spirit once again.

The singer just announced that a new version of his holiday record, now titled The Season 3, will be released Nov. 8, featuring six previously unreleased tracks.

One of those new tracks is a cover of the classic “What A Wonderful World,” which is out now.

Perry originally released The Season in 2021, then followed it up with a deluxe edition a year later. The new release features a total of 16 holiday tunes, including the new additions of “Call Me Irresponsible,” featuring Ray Perry, “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Let It Snow.”

The Season 3 will be released on CD, vinyl and digitally, with a Dolby Atmos mix. It is available for preorder now.

Here is the track list for The Season 3:
“What A Wonderful World”
“The Christmas Song”
“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
“This Christmas”
“Jingle Bell Rock”
“Call Me Irresponsible” (feat. Ray Perry)
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”
“Auld Lang Syne”
“Silver Bells”
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
“Let It Snow”
“Maybe This Year”
“Winter Wonderland”
“Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
“’Twas The Night Before Christmas”

Jon Bon Jovi the latest artist to endorse Kamala Harris & Tim Walz

October 11, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Jon Bon Jovi is the latest musician to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election.

Sharing a clip of “The People’s House,” his collaboration with The War And Treaty, Jon writes on Instagram, “The People’s House is a song that celebrates this beautiful place that we call home, from sea to shining sea.”

He adds, “The truth matters. And the truth is on election day I’ll be voting for @KamalaHarris and @TimWalz because I believe in the power of we, not of me. I’ve written a song reminding us that out of many, we are still one.”

Jon follows fellow New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen in endorsing the Harris/Walz ticket. Springsteen announced his support in early October, sharing that the Democratic candidates stand for “the vision of America I’ve been consistently writing about for 55 years.”

Joan Jett also just endorsed Harris/Walz with a new music video for the 2023 track “If You’re Blue.”

“More than ever, we need politicians who can implement massive positive change for our nation. We have come to that point where we’re not just voting for our party or a candidate, but on whether our democracy survives,” she shared. “And make no mistake! Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will guide us to a more positive future. A future we MUST look to for ourselves, our children, our country and our planet.”

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