Slash, Tom Morello & more guest on new MC5 album, ﻿’Heavy Lifting’

Slash, Tom Morello & more guest on new MC5 album, ’Heavy Lifting’

June 6, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Before his death in February, MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer had been working on the proto-punk’s first new, original album in over 50 years. Now, the details of that record have been announced.

Heavy Lifting is due out Oct. 18. It includes guest spots from Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello, Slash, Rise Against‘s Tim McIlrath, Alice in Chains‘ William DuVall and Living Colour‘s Vernon Reid.

Additionally, drummer Dennis Thompson, who was part of MC5’s classic Kick Out the Jams lineup, also plays on Heavy Lifting. Thompson passed away in May, just three months after Kramer’s death.

You can listen to the first Heavy Lifting, “Boys Who Play with Matches,” now via digital outlets.

After several nominations, MC5 is among the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. They’ll be enshrined with the Musical Excellence Award.

Paul Stanley on the upcoming KISS avatars: “They will be mind-bogglingly realistic”

June 6, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

When KISS played their final show in New York back in December, they introduced the public to their KISS avatars, which got mixed reactions from the public. Well, KISS’ Paul Stanley wants fans to know that the final product will look much different.

In an interview on The Allison Hagendorf Show, Stanley was asked what fans can expect when the show finally debuts in 2027. He replied, “Not what you saw.”

“It was a double-edged sword because we were showing people the avatars in their infancy,” he says about debuting an early prototype at the concert. “And they look, and will look, nothing like that. They will be mind-bogglingly realistic.”

As for the avatar show itself, Stanley says fans shouldn’t expect it to be a replica of a KISS concert.

“We wanna create something that’s a go-to and a must-see for everybody. KISS fans will love it, but other people who could care less about KISS will wanna see it,” he says. “It’s going to be mind-boggling. It’s KISS and Cirque du Soleil and everything you can imagine on steroids. But it will really cross that bridge of what’s real and what’s not, and combine the two. … It will be incredible.”

He adds, “The idea that we’re gonna simulate a live show, leave that to somebody else. We have no desire to do that. We wanna create KISS, which is something that breaks the rules, not lives within ’em.”

So far KISS has not announced any exact dates for the show.

Green Day announces collaboration with Dickies

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Green Day has announced a collaboration with apparel brand Dickies.

The line includes a T-shirt, hoodie, work jacket and coveralls, and celebrates the 30th anniversary of Billie Joe Armstrong and company’s 1994 album, Dookie.

“We’ve all rocked Dickies as long as we can remember, so teaming up with them to honor 30 years of Dookie is pretty rad!” Green Day says.

For more info, visit Dickies.com/green-day.

You can rock your Green Day Dickies on their upcoming U.S. tour, which launches in July. They’ll be supporting their new album, Saviors, as well as playing Dookie and 2004’s American Idiot in full.

Jon Bon Jovi not opposed to a Bon Jovi avatar show

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Disney/Christopher Willard

Jon Bon Jovi has said he’s not sure when, or if, Bon Jovi will ever tour again, as he’s waiting to fully recover from vocal surgery, but it sounds like he isn’t opposed to fans experiencing Bon Jovi’s music in a whole different way.

In a new interview with NME, Jon was asked how he felt about the band doing an ABBA-esque avatar show, and he seems open to the idea.

“I’m not opposed to it because to me, it’s a jukebox,” Jon said. “It’s no different than people listening to your music on the radio.”

In the meantime, Jon says he’s “striving every day to get better” so the band can tour again, but if he never gets back to 100% and it doesn’t happen, he’ll learn to live with it.

“One thing I do know is that when I lay my head on the pillow after the decision has been made, one way or the other, there will be 100 percent confidence in the decision,” he says. “Being in a rock band is never going to feel safe. It’s not a life sentence, it’s a moment in time.”

Bon Jovi’s new album, FOREVER, drops Friday.

AC/DC crew sends Taylor Momsen a bat rubber duck

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Taylor Momsen has a new friend to help her get through those two weeks of rabies shots, courtesy of AC/DC.

As previously reported, the Pretty Reckless frontwoman was bitten by a bat during her band’s opening set for the “Back in Black” legends in Spain on May 29. In an update posted to Instagram, Momsen shares that the AC/DC crew sent her a gift after the incident: a bat rubber duck.

“@acdc crew continuing to be the greatest…thanks for the gift I LOVE IT!!!” Momsen writes. “Thanks for all your great work every night.”

The Pretty Reckless has been opening AC/DC’s European tour, which stretches into August.

Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell promises new songs on upcoming summer stadium tour with Journey

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Def Leppard is due to kick off their summer stadium tour with Journey in July, and it sounds like fans will be in for quite a treat.

In a post on Instagram, guitarist Vivian Campbell gave fans an update on how rehearsals are going, and revealed that they will be adding some new songs to the set list this year.

“Just wanna say we’re here in Los Angeles, we’re rehearsing for our big old stadium summer tour 2024,” he shares. “Super excited, got some new songs, actually … couple a songs we’ve never, ever, ever, ever played live before, as well as a bunch of old chestnuts that we haven’t played for a long, long time.”

He adds, “So, that’s why we need to practice. Just to make sure we don’t suck too bad.”

“Come catch a show,” he concludes his post. “Look forward to seeing your smiling faces out there.”

The Def Leppard/Journey summer stadium tour, featuring special guests Cheap Trick, Steve Miller Band and Heart, kicks off July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri. A complete list of dates can be found at defleppard.com.

Deep Purple releases “Pictures of You” from upcoming album ‘=1’

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Deep Purple has given fans another preview of their upcoming album, =1.

The band just dropped the new single “Pictures of You,” along with an accompanying video. The track is the second song released from the record, following “Portable Door.”

“Pictures of You” is available now via digital outlets, and is also available as a four-track bundle featuring previously unreleased live recordings of “When A Blind Man Cries” and “Uncommon Man,” from a 2022 concert in Milan, Italy. The single will also be released on limited-edition CD and 12-inch vinyl starting June 28. Each format will be limited to just 5,000 hand-numbered copies.

=1, Deep Purple’s first album of new material since 2020’s Whoosh!, will be released July 19. It is available for preorder now.

Deep Purple will support the album with the upcoming =1 More Time tour, which kicks off Aug. 14 in Hollywood, Florida. A complete list of dates can be found at deeppurple.com.

David Lee Roth covers Tommy Tutone classic

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

David Lee Roth is sharing his take on an ’80s classic.

The former Van Halen frontman has just released a cover of the Tommy Tutone track “867-5309/Jenny,” although Roth labels his version “Jenny Jenny (That telephone song)...” The release includes a video featuring various Styrofoam heads passing across the screen.

This is just one of a series of songs Roth has released in recent years. In May, he shared his take on the LL Cool J track “Going Back to Cali.” He’s also released new takes on several Van Halen songs, including “Unchained,” “You Really Got Me,” “Dance The Night Away,” “Panama,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Everybody Wants Some!!” “Jump” and “Atomic Punk.”

Released in November 1981, “867-5309/Jenny” was a top five hit for Tutone, with the track hitting #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello & others contribute to Jesse Malin tribute album

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello are among the artists contributing to a tribute album in honor of longtime New York City punk fixture Jesse Malin.

The record is titled Silver Patron Saints and will be released Sept. 20. Proceeds will benefit Malin, who suffered a spinal stroke in 2023 that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

“My whole process—since I was 13—is to progress, evolve and challenge myself on each record,” Malin says. “I really hope people in all parts of the world can relate to these songs, just the spectrum of emotions, overcoming by celebrating life through music and art.”

Others taking part include Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong, Rage Against the Machine‘s Tom Morello, Bleachers, late MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, Spoon, The Wallflowers, Rancid, The Kills‘ Alison Mosshart, The Bangles‘ Susanna Hoffs, Counting Crows, Dinosaur Jr. and The Replacements‘ Tommy Stinson.

Silver Patron Saints is available for preorder now.

Here comes the water: Duff McKagan reflects on playing Velvet Revolver’s “Slither” with GN’R

June 5, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Velvet Revolver‘s debut album, Contraband, was released June 8, 2004 — 20 years ago Saturday.

The supergroup was made up of then-former Guns N’ Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan, as well as Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, which had broken up the previous year. The lineup also included former GN’R drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Dave Kushner.

Contraband debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and is certified double-Platinum by the RIAA. It spawned the single “Slither,” which won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. Contraband as a whole was nominated for Best Rock Album.

Velvet Revolver followed Contraband with a second album, 2007’s Libertad, before Weiland left in 2008 to reunite with STP. The remaining members attempted to continue on with a new singer, but never landed on a replacement.

In 2012, Velvet Revolver reunited for a one-off benefit concert, which ended up being the band’s final show. Weiland died in 2015, and Slash and McKagan reunited with Axl Rose in Guns N’ Roses in 2016.

While Velvet Revolver is over, Slash and McKagan have kept the band’s music alive by playing “Slither” during GN’R shows. Speaking with ABC Audio, McKagan says performing “Slither” is “heavy in a lot of ways.”

“Scott’s no longer with us,” McKagan says. “But Axl’s the one who asked us … ‘Would you guys be into doing that song? ‘Cause I really like the song.’ And I know he’s just being a bro.”

Not only does “Slither” live on in GN’R’s set, it has been a near-constant part of their show since that 2016 reunion.

“People like it, people love to see Guns do that song,” McKagan says. “So, why not?”

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