On This Day, Oct. 7, 2016: The inaugural Desert Trip festival kicked off in California

October 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, Oct. 7, 2016 …

The first-ever Desert Trip festival kicked off at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, the same location where the yearly Coachella Festival is held.

Dubbed “Oldchella” by the public, the six-day event was split over two weekends and included a lineup of superstar classic rock acts like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Who, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Pink Floyd‘s Roger Waters.

The Stones and Dylan headlined the first night of each weekend, with Young and McCartney playing the Saturdays, and The Who and Waters closing both weekends.

McCartney’s set during the second weekend featured two special guests: Rihanna, who joined him for their collaboration “FourFiveSeconds,” and Young, who joined McCartney for “A Day In The Life,” “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” and a cover of John Lennon‘s “Give Peace A Chance.”

Allman Brothers Band releasing their final concert from October 2014

October 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

In October 2014, the Allman Brothers Band played their final live show, and now fans will be able to experience it again.

The concert, which took place Oct. 28, 2014, at New York’s Beacon Theatre, has been remastered and will be released digitally on Oct. 25 and as a three-CD set, with a 16-page booklet, on Nov. 22.

The location of the concert was, of course, very special to the Allman Brothers Band. They’d played the venue annually since 1989, which helped them set a Broadway record of 237 consecutive sold-out shows.

The concert had the band — founders Gregg Allman, Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, along with Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Marc Quinones and Oteil Burbridge — playing a set that included such songs as “Mountain Jam,” “Midnight Rider,” “Whipping Post” and “Melissa.” The three-set show was one of the longest in the band’s history, lasting into the wee hours of the morning, which coincided with the 43rd anniversary of Duane Allman’s death.

Final Concert 10-28-14 is available for preorder now.

Watch Green Day perform on American Music Awards 50th anniversary special

October 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Green Day performed on the American Music Awards 50th anniversary special, which aired Sunday on CBS.

The punk rockers played their song “Dilemma,” a single off their latest album, Saviors. You can watch the rendition streaming now on YouTube.

Green Day supported Saviors on a U.S. stadium tour, which wrapped in September. Each night, they also played their albums Dookie and American Idiot in full to celebrate their respective 30th and 20th anniversaries.

A 20th anniversary edition of American Idiot will be released Oct. 25.

New short film explores Jimi Hendrix’s life in New York

October 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new short film about Jimi Hendrix’s life in New York has just been released, narrated by E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt.

The nine-minute film, Jimi Hendrix’s New York, features archival photos and video, with Stevie walking fans through Jimi’s time in the Big Apple.

It also features interviews with Jimi’s friend Colette Harron, who owned a clothing store and sold him the jacket he wore at Woodstock. She shares stories of going to local clubs with Hendrix and getting to see him perform, noting, “When you saw him, it was magic … his music was everything.”

Producer/engineer Eddie Kramer is also interviewed for the film, where he talks about working in the studio with the rocker, sharing, “There was this wonderful communication where we understood each other.”

The film is a companion to the recently released Hendrix box set, Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision. The set, dedicated to Hendrix’s legendary New York studio, Electric Lady, features a treasure trove of previously unreleased music from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

The set also includes the full-length documentary of the same name, which debuted in theaters in August.

Michael Stipe sings R.E.M. songs with Jason Isbell at Harris/Walz rally in Pittsburgh

October 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe performed with Jason Isbell Friday at a get out the vote rally in Pittsburgh for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.

Video posted to social media shows the duo being introduced by Harris’ husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who admitted he was “geeking out” about getting to introduce the pair.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve sung these songs, 16 years in fact,” Stipe told the crowd. “but I’m really happy to be here with Jason and with the soon-to-be-first-ever First Gentleman of the United States of America.”

Stipe and Isbell then teamed up for a four-song acoustic set that included the R.E.M. classics “The One I Love” and “Driver 8,” along with Isbell’s tunes “Traveling Alone” and “Hope the High Road,” with Isbell playing guitar throughout.

The performance was Stipe’s first time singing an R.E.M. song since the band’s surprise performance at their Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in June: At that event, the band played “Losing My Religion.”

Jethro Tull reissuing 2003 holiday album, with previously unreleased recordings

October 4, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Jethro Tull wants to help fans get into the holiday spirit this year.

The band just announced they’ll be reissuing their 2003 holiday album, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh Snow at Christmas, on Dec. 6, featuring a new remix of the album, along with 40 minutes of previously unreleased recordings.

It is being released as a limited-edition four-CD + Blu-ray set, which includes the new mix, as well as the original mix, along with live recordings from two charity concerts at London’s St. Bride’s church to benefit the homeless: Christmas Live at St. Bride’s 2008 and a previously unreleased recording, The Ian Anderson Band Live At St. Brides 2006.

The Blu-ray will feature Dolby Atmos 5.1 mixes of the album, as well as high resolution audio mixes of the two live albums.

The remixed version of the album will also be released as a two-LP vinyl set, the very first time it’s been available on vinyl.

All formats are available for preorder now.

Metallica announces $100K donation toward Hurricane Helene relief

October 4, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica has announced a donation of $100,000 in support of those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Through their All Within My Hands charity foundation, the metal legends are sending $50,000 to World Central Kitchen, which is providing hot meals to those in need, and $50,000 to Team Rubicon, which is helping to clear debris.

“Hurricane Helene made landfall on Thursday, September 26, and has since hit several communities across a 500-mile stretch, leaving in its wake a path of destruction throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee,” Metallica says. “It is now the third-deadliest storm to hit the US this century, with over 215 lives lost and hundreds of people still unaccounted for. It is an unmitigated tragedy. Historic water levels and widespread flooding across the Appalachians have left hundreds of roads inaccessible, hindering rescue efforts.”

For more info, visit AllWithinMyHands.org.

David Gilmour “tried persuading” Kate Bush to perform again

October 4, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Kate Bush and David Gilmour go way back — the Pink Floyd guitarist helped launch the “Running Up That Hill” artist’s career by financing her early demos and getting EMI Records to sign her. However, not even he can get the reclusive Bush back to playing concerts again.

“Kate Bush is the only person who can get Kate Bush back on stage,” Gilmour says in an interview with The Guardian.

However, that’s not for lacking of trying on Gilmour’s part.

“I’ve tried persuading her recently, actually,” Gilmour says. “Gently.”

Bush last performed live in 2014. It seemed possible she could return to the live stage when she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, but she announced she would not be in attendance hours before the ceremony.

However, the press-shy Bush has put out more public statements in recent years amid the resurgence of “Running Up That Hill” following its placement in Stranger Things, and she even gave a rare interview in 2022.

Hear Bonnie Raitt’s contribution to ‘Better Than Jail’ album supporting criminal justice reform

October 4, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

he new charity album Better Than Jail is out now, featuring covers of iconic prison songs from Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price and more.

Bonnie contributed a cover of “Prison Bound Blues,” written by Leroy Carr, which is now available via digital outlets, and she says she’s proud to be a part of it.

“I’m so proud to have joined in with so many illustrious artists in creating this very special album in support of rural prison reform,” Bonnie shares on Instagram. “Overlooked for far too long, this issue cuts across all cultural and political divides and deserves all our focused attention to finally bring about some swift and meaningful action.”

She adds, “Better Than Jail is one of the most inspired and heartfelt albums I’ve been blessed to be a part of and I hope it sets a fire in hearts far and wide to join in our efforts.”

Better Than Jail is aimed at raising awareness and support for improving our criminal justice system, with proceeds benefiting two organizations, Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts.

Paul Simon “optimistic” about playing full-length concerts again

October 4, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Paul Simon is looking to get back out on the stage.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer previously said that his hearing loss had prevented him from performing. But in March he shared that his hearing has improved, enabling him to play some short acoustic shows, including a charity concert in New York in September.

And now he’s giving fans some hope of even bigger shows in the future.

“I’m hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert,” he told The Guardian. “I’m optimistic. Six months ago I was pessimistic.”

Simon went on what he said would be his last tour back in 2018, but apparently he never meant for it to be the end of his live performing.

“I never said I was going to retire,” he shared. “I said I was going to stop, which I did.”

“I thought that with that band and the repertoire we were doing we’d developed it as far as we could. It was enjoyable, but I wanted to find out what happens when you stop,” he added. “Then I had a dream, and everything changed back to a new version of reality.”

That dream led to his most recent album, Seven Psalms, released in 2023. Simon says he’s already working on new music, including two new songs that have already been written. One of them is a duet he wrote with wife Edie Brickell, which he says “is different from anything I’ve written.”

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