Classic Rock 93.9

Pete Townshend is giving fans of The Who hope that another tour may be possible.

Although he and bandmate Roger Daltrey have made differing comments on whether the band will ever tour again, Pete reveals in a new interview with The Daily Beast that he’s open to the idea of it.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen with The Who. I’m hoping Roger and I can find some common ground and find some way to work again, possibly without an orchestra, because I think we’ve done that,” Pete says. “But also, there’s this sense that we’re in the last tour period of our career.”

He adds, “Are we just hoping to do what Bob Dylan does and just keep going? I’m encouraged by seeing what Roger’s doing in his solo tour. It seems to me that if we put a small band together and just decided to throw s*** at the wall, it might be great.” 

Unfortunately, Pete says right now he and Roger “don’t talk,” noting that “it might be difficult to land on something that we both share an interest in. But it’s there for the taking, I think.”

But Pete has no plans to convince Roger to hit the road.

“I’m not gonna try to bully Roger to do anything,” he says. “I don’t want to have the job that I used to have around the time of Quadrophenia, which is bullying everybody in The Who to do exactly what I want to do.”

“Anyway, I’m hopeful. I’m certainly not saying that we won’t do anything, but Roger and I do have a bit of a river to cross,” he concludes. “And once we cross that river, we’ll see what happens.”

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Rod Stewart‘s signature whiskey, Wolfie’s, has officially been around for one year, and the “Maggie May” singer celebrated the milestone Aug. 4 in Las Vegas.

According to spirits writer Fred Minnick, Rod, his wife, Penny, and three of his kids — Sean, Liam and Renee — celebrated at a speakeasy called The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Rod sang “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” a cappella and led the crowd in a singalong of The Faces‘ classic song “Ooh La La.”

Rod also handed out shots of Wolfie’s, and guests enjoyed cocktails mixed with the whiskey, like the Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, which combined Wolfie’s, agave syrup, lime juice, mint and jalapeño. Rod was also presented with a cake in the shape of a bottle of Wolfie’s. You can see footage of the festivities over at Rod’s Instagram page.

The party also doubled as a celebration of the end of Rod’s 13-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It will wrap up with the 200th show of the residency on Aug. 7.

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Chicago is spending more time on the road this fall.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just announced dates for a new North American tour, kicking off Oct. 24 in Nashville, Indiana. The tour features two-night stands in Port Chester, New York, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, with dates also booked in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and more, before wrapping Nov. 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 9 a.m. 

The tour news comes as the band is getting ready to release the new live album, Chicago At The John. F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Washington D.C. (9/16/1971), on Sept. 27. 

In the meantime, Chicago is spending their summer on the Heart & Soul Tour with Earth, Wind & Fire. The trek hits Raleigh, North Carolina, on Aug. 12. A complete list of shows can be found at chicagotheband.com.

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James Hetfield turned 61 on Saturday and celebrated by imagining a world where Mickey Mouse fronted Metallica.

In a video posted to the ‘Tallica Instagram, Hetfield inhales helium from a balloon and exclaims, “Happy birthday to me! Hi everybody, I’m 61!” While his voice was still high-pitched, Hetfield started singing the “off to never never land” part of “Enter Sandman.”

Hetfield’s voice was back to normal during Metallica’s show Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as part of their M72 world tour, which returned to North American on Aug. 2. The outing will resume Friday in Chicago.

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Queen’s Brian May has paid tribute to Aerosmith following the news they’ve decided to retire from touring following Steven Tyler’s vocal problems.

“This has brought a tear to my eye. Aerosmith have been a huge part of my life, as they have been for millions of other rock fans,” May shared on Instagram alongside the band’s retirement announcement. “Steve Tyler stands as one the greatest vocalists and front men of all time – and it’s heartbreaking that his extraordinary voice has been so damaged. We all send our love and prayers for your recovery, Steve.”

He adds, “It’s also typical of the pure class of the band that they have made and broadcast this bold decision in such style. The career of Aerosmith is truly something to celebrate forever. All things must pass – but the inspiring work of Aerosmith will live on – along with the memories of truly one of the most awesome bands to ever hit a stage.”

Aerosmith announced Friday they were canceling their Peace Out tour, which was due to relaunch in September. The tour initially kicked off in September 2023, but was postponed after a handful of shows when Tyler fractured his larynx.

The Black Crowes, who were due to open for Aerosmith on the tour, also paid tribute to the band on Friday, noting, “We are shocked and saddened by this news from earlier today … nothing but love and respect to our friends in @Aerosmith. Heartfelt thanks for all of the incredible memories.”

And they’re not the only ones. Slash also posted a tribute, while fan-shot footage shows Sammy Hagar calling Tyler “one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time” during his concert in Michigan, saying it was sad but honorable he quit because he can’t sing anymore.

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Foo Fighters did not play the greatest song in the world during their show in Denver on Saturday, but they did offer a “Tribute.”

The set included a partial acoustic cover of Tenacious D‘s signature song. Dave Grohl played the role of Jack Black while singing and strumming a guitar, and subbed in keyboardist Rami Jaffee for mentions of Kyle Gass.

Grohl only got about a third of the way through “Tribute” before shouting, “I don’t actually know that song! I only play the drums on that song.”

Indeed, Grohl plays drums on all of the D’s albums.

Seeing the Foos cover part of “Tribute” might be the closest we get to Tenacious D performing for a while, as the band is currently on pause after Gass made a joke about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Black said he was “blindsided” when Gass said during a D concert that his birthday wish was, “Don’t miss Trump next time.” Black added, “After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold.”

Gass later posted an apology, though the post has since been deleted.

Foo Fighters, meanwhile, are currently touring U.S. stadiums in continued support of their latest album, But Here We Are.

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On This Day, Aug. 5, 1984 …

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played the first of 10 nights at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Several performances from that 10-night stand were included in the rocker’s 1986 box set Live/1975-85.

The shows were part of Bruce’s Born in the U.S.A. tour, in support of his #1 album of the same name, which produced seven top-10 singles: the title track, “Dancing in the Dark,” “Cover Me,” “Glory Days,” “I’m On Fire,” “I’m Goin’ Down” and “My Hometown.” 

The tour ran from June 29, 1984, to Oct. 2, 1985, and included summer stadium dates in North America in 1985, marking The Boss’ first stadium tour.

The trek was a hugely successful tour for Springsteen, grossing between $80 million and $90 million.

Springsteen played Brendan Byrne Arena, later renamed Continental Airlines Arena, several times throughout his career. In fact, in 1999 he played 15 shows at the venue.

Springsteen recently wrapped a European tour with the E Street Band and will kick off a U.S. leg of the tour Aug. 15 in Pittsburgh. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

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Journey’s Jonathan Cain is explaining the reason he filed a lawsuit in Delaware against his bandmate Neal Schon over Schon’s allegedly excessive spending.

A statement from Cain’s Delaware attorney, Sid Liebesman, says the suit was filed to request the court “appoint a third, independent director to serve on the board of Freedom 2020, Inc., the corporate entity through which Journey primarily conducts the band’s business.”

The statement adds that there have been “growing issues” between Neal and Jon due to them being the sole directors of the company.

“No claims against Neal were asserted in the petition and the only form of relief sought is the appointment of a third director,” the statement adds. 

Cain’s suit, which was filed July 24, claims Schon has made several financial decisions costing the band money, including maxing out a $1 million limit on the company’s American Express credit card, going over the band’s $1,500-a-night max hotel fee, charting private jets and more. It also claims Schon has stopped attempts to pay off the band’s debts. 

The court docs describe the issues as “very much [a] public battle between petitioner and respondent and is impacting the band’s reputation throughout the music industry. The band’s actual onstage performance is, at the moment, one of the only aspects of the business that has not suffered.”

Liebesman’s statement notes the hope is that a third party “will provide resolution to the issues between Jon and Neal.” It adds, “None of the parties are seeking any form of damages. It is Jon’s intent for Journey to continue providing great live music throughout the current tour.” 

This isn’t the first time Cain has sued Schon over money. Back in 2022 he filed a lawsuit over a credit card Cain said Schon opened through their company.

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David Byrne is set to host a live variety show in New York this fall to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of his solutions-based nonprofit magazine Reasons to be Cheerful, a project of the Talking Heads frontman’s nonprofit, Arbutus.

The one-night-only event, dubbed Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things, will take place Oct. 8 at Town Hall in New York, with Byrne handling the emcee duties.

“Variety shows were a big deal when I was young. It’s a format you don’t see as much of these days. So we thought, why not bring it back?” Byrne shares. “We looked for acts that could capture that sense of zany, anything-could-happen artistry. Reasons to be Cheerful inspires people by unearthing unexpected gems, and this show will embody that same spirit of gleeful surprise.”

Artists confirmed for Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things include comedian Fred Armisen, the band Brass Queens, comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti, raunchy puppetry group Epidermis Circus and singer-songwriter Thao, with additional acts to be added in the coming weeks.

Tickets are on sale now. Proceeds from the show will benefit Reasons to be Cheerful.

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Looks like Aerosmith is saying peace out earlier than planned.

The band just announced they’ve canceled their Peace Out tour, and they’ll be retiring from touring. It seems Steven Tyler’s vocal issues, which forced the postponement of the tour last year, have not gotten any better.

“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours,” they write on Instagram. “In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.” 

“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other,” they continue. “He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side.”

They note, “Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”

Refunds will be automatically processed for ticket purchases made through Ticketmaster.

“We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time,” they write. “A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”

Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour, which they said would be their last, originally launched in September 2023 but was postponed after a handful of shows when Tyler fractured his larynx. It was scheduled to relaunch Sept. 20 in Pittsburgh.

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