Classic Rock 93.9

CBS’ celebration of Billy Joel’s 100th Madison Square Garden residency show hit a sour note with music fans this weekend, with many taking to social media to complain. 

Billy Joel: The 100th – Live at Madison Square Garden special aired on the network on Sunday, April 14, but many fans were less than happy because it started late, due to the Masters tournament, and then got cut off for local news programming, right in the middle of Joel’s signature tune “Piano Man.” 

“#BillyJoel #MSG #100 concert not only starts a half hour late, but then you cut off the last 3-4 minutes for local news to start at 1130? Are you serious. Absolutely pathetic decision making, on an event that’s been advertised for MONTHS, and you f*** it up,” one person wrote, while another added, “Billy Joel fans might burn CBS and its affiliates to the ground after cutting Piano Man off during the last verse… to play the local news on time.”

And as another pointed out, “CBS had better re-air Billy Joel’s 100th-Live at Madison Square Garden after starting the show a half hour late and cutting it off while he was singing Piano Man! What were they thinking? Inexcusable!”

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The Black Crowes brought their Happiness Bastards tour to The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, April 12, and had a few surprises in store for their audience.

First, Chris and Rich Robinson brought out Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who joined them for a cover of “Stay With Me,” a classic track from Wood’s other band Faces. 

Then, later in the set, Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Chuck Leavell, who also serves as keyboardist for The Stones, joined The Crowes for their classic cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle.”

Next up for The Black Crowes, they bring their Happiness Bastards tour to Seattle, Washington, on Monday, April 15. A complete list of dates can be found at theblackcrowes.com. 

The Rolling Stones will also soon be on the road. They kick off their Hackney Diamonds tour in Houston, Texas, on April 28. A complete list of dates can be found at rollingstones.com.

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On This Day, April 15, 1974…

Lynyrd Skynyrd released Second Helping, their second album and the follow-up to their successful debut, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd).

The album featured the track “Sweet Home Alabama,” co-written by Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Ed King, which would go on to be one of the band’s signature tunes. It peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s only #10 hit and their highest-charting single.

“Sweet Home Alabama” was a response to Neil Young’s 1972 track “Southern Man”; it even name-checked Young’s tune in the lyrics.

Second Helping peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA within six months of its release. It went on to be certified double Platinum.

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Andrew Watt, producer for Pearl Jam‘s upcoming album Dark Matter, speaks about his approach to the record in a new interview with Rolling Stone.

“One of my goals was like, ‘Let’s make this sound like a Pearl Jam show, but in the studio,'” Watt, who’s also worked with Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and The Rolling Stones, explains. “Some of that s*** is wrong, man. Those songs go longer than they should, but it does not matter.”

“You don’t edit [guitarist] Mike McCready,” he adds. “You f*****’ let him play. His eyes are closed. When he opens his eyes, we end the song.”

Explaining how the Dark Matter title track came together, Watt shares that the group was “between takes” when drummer Matt Cameron “just started playing that beat.”

“And [guitarist] Stone [Gossard] was like, ‘No one move. Are you recording Matt Cameron?’ We’re like, ‘Yeah, recording.’ And he played that beat.”

“Stone was like, ‘[Bassist] Jeff [Ament], you take that home. I’m taking it home. Let’s both write different songs to it and come in tomorrow,'” he continues. “So they both wrote different riffs. Matt played the beat again, and then we kind of morphed it together.”

Dark Matter drops Friday, April 19. Pearl Jam will launch a U.S. tour in May.

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Foreigner is one of the many acts nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, and the band’s original lead singer, Lou Gramm, is certainly looking forward to the possibly of them getting in.

Gramm tells ABC Audio being inducted with his musical peers “would mean the world to me,” sharing, “To be in a very tight fraternity like that with people who you respect and admire is the epitome of what this career is all about.” 

Foreigner had been eligible to get into the hall since 2002, but this is their first nomination, something that’s been shocking to many fans and even fellow rock stars. In fact, Mark Ronson, the stepson of Foreigner’s Mick Jones, released a video in February featuring artists like Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and even Paul McCartney making a case for them to get in.

Gramm says he’s been surprised and shocked by all the support they’ve received. “The Paul McCartney one was particularly cool because he was shocked that we weren’t in already,” he says.

This year’s inductees will be announced in late April, and should Foreigner make the cut, Gramm says he and the band will likely play two songs at the ceremony. He thinks one will be  their #1 hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” although he says “the other one had better rock.” And that wouldn’t exactly be difficult with hits like “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded” and “Jukebox Hero” to choose from.

And if the performance happens, it would be Gramm’s first time onstage with Jones in many years, which should be a treat for fans. As Gramm notes, “If we’re able to get together onstage for this glorious event, it’ll be fantastic.”

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While it may not be another Beatles tune, music fans are now being treated to another McCartney/Lennon musical collaboration.

James McCartney, son of Paul McCartney, just released a new song, “Primrose Hill,” which he co-wrote with his “good friend” Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

“With the release of this song it feels like we’re really getting the ball rolling and I am so excited to continue to share music with you,” James shared on Instagram.

James is holding a contest in connection with the song, asking couples to share videos capturing “the essence of love and romance” in their favorite romantic location. The videos, which are due by April 19, must use the song in the background. Winners will have the opportunity to be featured in the video for the track.

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If, after 10 years, you still have never gotten the chance to see Billy Joel play his Madison Square Garden concert residency, you can do so for free on Sunday, April 14, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Billy Joel: The 100th – Live at Madison Square Garden was filmed March 28 as Billy did his 100th consecutive residency performance since he launched it back in January 2014. In addition to playing iconic hits like “You May Be Right,” “New York State of Mind,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Uptown Girl” and “My Life,” Billy welcomed his pal Sting to the stage. Together, they sang The Police hit “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and Billy’s “Big Man on Mulberry Street.” Also on the set list was Billy’s new hit, “Turn the Lights Back On.”

Billy and Sting will play several concerts together this year, including on Saturday, April 13, in San Diego.

In addition to Sting, you’ll see another special guest — Billy’s fellow Long Island celebrity Jerry Seinfeld — take the stage to help raise a banner to the rafters of MSG commemorating Billy’s achievement.

Surprisingly, this is the first concert in Billy’s 50-year career to air on a broadcast network. You’ll also be able to stream it live and watch it on demand on Paramount+.

Billy has sold out more shows at the Garden than any other artist. In fact, every show he’s done at the legendary venue has sold out, dating all the way back to his first one in December 1978. On May 9, he’ll celebrate his 75th birthday onstage there, and he’ll wrap up his residency in July with what will be his 150th career show at the venue.

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Dead & Company will kick off their Dead Forever Las Vegas residency at the Sphere in May, and now they are giving fans a chance to win tickets to the show. 

The band just launched a new sweepstakes through Prizeo where a winner and a guest will get a VIP getaway, including tickets to three Dead Forever shows, July 11, 12 and 13. The package also includes flights and a four-night stay at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas, as well as priority entry into the Sphere, commemorative keepsakes, access to The Sphere Experience and more.

Entries start at $10, with proceeds going to the voter registration nonprofit HeadCount and the environmental charity REVERB. The sweepstakes end June 23. More info can be found at prizeo.com. 

Dead & Company – Dead Forever – Live at Sphere kicks off May 16 and runs through July 13, with the band playing Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each weekend. A complete list of dates can be found at deadandcompany.com.

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The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson is one of the many artists featured on the upcoming reimagining of the late Glen Campbell’s farewell album, Ghosts on the Canvas, and his contribution to the record has just been released.

Wilson is featured on the song “Strong,” written by Campbell and the album’s producer, Julian Raymond. The original track has Campbell singing about facing his life with Alzheimer’s disease, which he had been diagnosed with in 2011.

“Glen was a great singer and a great guy,” Brian shares. “Our intention in doing ‘Strong’ was to echo back to ‘Guess I’m Dumb’ and the times that Glen and I worked together. It’s kinda got that vibe to it and I dig the sound of it.”

“Guess I’m Dumb” is song written by Wilson and Russ Titelman, which Campbell released as a single in 1965.

Co-writer Raymond adds, “Hearing Brian and his team record one of Glen’s wife Kim’s favorite songs was very emotional for sure. Everything that Brian has been through himself shows up in this performance of ‘Strong.’”

You can listen to “Strong” via digital outlets and on YouTube.

Glen Campbell Duets – Ghost on the Canvas Sessions recreates all the songs on Campbell’s 2011 farewell album as duets, using Campbell’s original vocals. Guest artists on the record include Elton John, Eric Clapton, Sting, Carole King and Dolly Parton.   

Glen Campbell Duets – Ghost on the Canvas Sessions will be released April 19 and is available for preorder now.

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An early Fleetwood Mac tune has been reimagined by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash for his upcoming blues album, Orgy of the Damned.

The rocker has covered the Peter Green-penned track “Oh Well,” featuring vocals by country star Chris Stapleton.

“[Stapleton’s] singing cadence and that drawl that he has for this particular song, in my mind’s eye, it sounded perfect,” Slash tells Rolling Stone. “I had to get his number and cold call him. And he was really gracious about it and really bent over backwards to help me get it done.”

You can listen to the Slash-leton version of “Oh Well” via digital outlets.

Orgy of the Damned is due out May 17 and includes guest spots from AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson, Iggy Pop, ZZ Top‘s Billy F Gibbons, The Black Crowes‘ Chris Robinson and pop star Demi Lovato. 

“Oh Well,” originally released in September 1969, appeared on the Fleetwood Mac album Then Play On. The tune peaked at #55 in the U.S., making it the first Fleetwood Mac single to hit the Hot 100. It did better in the U.K., where it spent two weeks at #2.

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