Billy Corgan’s NWA wrestling company takes center stage with new reality show

May 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Corgan is many things: frontman for The Smashing Pumpkins, a father, a cat enthusiast. He’s also the owner of his own wrestling company, which has given Corgan a brand new title in his life: reality TV star.

Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland follows the “1979” rocker in his role as the president of the National Wrestling Alliance, or NWA, which he purchased in 2017. In the show, the fighting inside the ring extends behind the scenes as Corgan and NWA’s employees hope to rebuild the historic company back to its former glory.

“We’re fighting not against each other, we’re fighting to try to make the company work again,” Corgan tells ABC Audio. “In wrestling, I’m really reliant on everybody else to run the show with me.”

Among those people is Corgan’s wife, Chloe Mendel, who was a wrestling skeptic before Billy purchased NWA. However, she’s since become a believer thanks to the athleticism and personalities of the wrestlers, which she calls “the most interesting part of the show.”

“It’s like, ‘Why do you do that for a living?'” Mendel says. “Like, ‘Why do you wanna be a superhero?’ That’s really why they’re doing it, they feel like a superhero for those five minutes.”

Adventures in Carnyland also crosses over into the music world. Its theme song is the Pumpkins tune “Beguiled,” which has a connection to Carnyland figures and wrestlers Natalia Markova and Bryan Idol, who appeared in the track’s video.

“When we play the song live, Bryan and Markova will come out onstage and have a mock fight in front of the crowd,” Corgan shares. “It just kinda took on a life of its own in sort of somehow representing something about the NWA, too.”

Adventures in Carnyland premieres Tuesday, May 14, on The CW app and CWTV.com.

It’s a hard habit to break: ‘Chicago 17’ turns 40

May 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Forty years ago — May 14, 1984 — the band Chicago released what would become the bestselling album of their career, Chicago 17. With help from both MTV and producer David Foster, it produced a string of memorable hits and won three Grammy Awards.

“Hard Habit to Break,” “Stay the Night,” “You’re the Inspiration” and “Along Comes a Woman” were all top-20 smashes, and MTV’s constant rotation of the videos for “Habit,” “Inspiration” and “Stay the Night” propelled the album to sales of more than 6 million copies.

Foster was first credited with reviving Chicago’s career in 1982, when he produced Chicago 16. He brought in outside songwriters and musicians — a new idea for the veteran group — and leaned into the more soft-rock end of their sound. That approach worked: Chicago 16 became their first top-10 release since 1977 and spun off two major hits, the #1 smash “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” and “Love Me Tomorrow,” both of which Foster co-wrote.

So when it came time for Chicago 17, Foster returned and repeated the formula: Chicago 17 reached #4. While Chicago would subsequently switch producers, Foster remains proud of what he did for the band’s career.

“I was a fan of Chicago’s before I produced them,” he told ABC Audio in 2023. “The first six albums … I went crazy when I heard this band. And then, like every group, singer, artist in the world, they had those down periods and they had really, really lost lost their way.”

“And what I brought to them was, I reminded them of their greatness,” he added. “That’s the gift that I think I gave them.”

Foo Fighters headlining 2024 Soundside Music Festival

May 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters are headlining the 2024 Soundside Music Festival, the new name for Bridgeport, Connecticut’s Sound on Sound.

The two-day event takes place September 28-29, and the bill also includes Queens of the Stone Age, Noah Kahan, Goo Goo Dolls, Grace Potter, Norah Jones and The Kills.

A presale begins Thursday, May 16, at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets go on sale to the general public two hours later at noon ET.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit SoundsideMusicFestival.com.

On This Day, May 14, 1988: Surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited for Atlantic’s 40th anniversary concert

May 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, May 14, 1988…

The surviving members of Led Zeppelin — Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones — reunited to perform at the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. They were backed on drums by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham.

The set included Zeppelin hits “Kashmir,” “Heartbreaker,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Misty Mountain Hop” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

Other artists who performed at the concert included Genesis, Wilson Pickett, Paul Rodgers, Yes, Bee Gees, Foreigner and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Zeppelin reunited for the final time in December 2007 at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 Arena in London, again with Jason Bonham on drums.

The music of Crosby, Stills and Nash celebrated in New York City

May 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Crosby, Stills and Nash‘s vast catalog of music was celebrated Monday, May 13, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The Music of Crosby, Stills and Nash, the 19th annual tribute series hosted by Michael Dorf Presents, featured a special appearance by Graham Nash along with performances by Todd Rundgren, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, Rickie Lee Jones, Grace Potter and more, all sharing their take on CSN classics.

According to setlist.fm, Rundgren covered “Almost Cut My Hair”; Earle performed “4+20″; Colvin performed “I Won’t Stay For Long,” and Jones played “Carry On.” Yola performed “Wooden Ships,” while Potter played two tunes: “Helplessly Hoping” and “Woodstock” with Leslie Mendelson, a tune that was written by Joni Mitchell but recorded for CSN’s second studio album, Déjà Vu.

The night also featured a special performance of the classic “Teach Your Children” by students from Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock).

Fan-shot footage posted to YouTube shows Nash coming out at the end of the show to thank all the artists who participated. “My only sadness is that I wish Crosby was here to listen to this wonderful night,” he shared, referring to the late David Crosby, who passed away in January 2023.

Nash then performed his CSN classic “Our House,” with the audience helping out during the chorus, and then led the night’s artists in a performance of the Stephen Stills-penned track “Love the One Your With.”

Dorf’s annual tribute shows have raised about $100,000 annually and $2 million in total for nonprofit organizations dedicated to music education. Proceeds from the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert will benefit music education for underserved youth through such organizations as Grammys in the Schools, Theatre Within and VH1 Save the Music.

Rare Bob Dylan painting among items for sale in Marvels of Modern Music auction

May 14, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

A rare abstract painting created by Bob Dylan is one of the many items up for sale at RR Auction’s Marvels of Modern Music auction, featuring over 300 rare pieces of rock memorabilia.

The Dylan painting was done during his Woodstock years, around 1968. It features an abstract bull head at the center, along with other shapes and patterns both inside and out of the head, including a red man in a brimmed hat, music notes and bow ties. It also has Dylan’s faint signature on the back, with musical notes just below it.

Bidding for the painting is currently at more than $80,000; it is expected to sell for over $100,000.

Other items in the Marvels of Modern Music Auction include a typed and signed letter written by The Doors frontman Jim Morrison to musician Tony Glover; a rare signed photograph of Janis Joplin; a Beatles signed “Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You” 45 RPM single; a rare recording of an unknown Jimi Hendrix backing Little Richard in 1965; and Prince‘s stage-used Yamaha C5 grand piano from the Piano & a Microphone Tour.

The Marvels of Music auction is set to run through May 23. More info and a complete list of auction items can be found at rrauction.com.

RHCP’s Flea thinks Denny’s is a Grand Slam

May 13, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was red hot about his love for Denny’s during John Mulaney‘s Everybody’s in LA live comedy series.

During the six-part show’s final episode on Friday, May 10, Flea proclaimed that the home of the Grand Slam is a “microcosm” of Los Angeles.

“Denny’s is a magical place and is a sanctuary in this town,” Flea said. “It transcends all cultural and ethnic and economic boundaries. It’s a beautiful place.”

In a social media post alongside a clip of his Denny’s speech, Flea wrote, “I very much enjoyed being on John Mulaney’s show this evening. He is a nice man.” The Denny’s account then replied, “Can’t tell you how many times we’ve [listened] to this since the show ended.”

Ringo Starr on why he won’t play new songs during his All Starr Band tours

May 13, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band are getting ready to kick off the latest leg of their tour, and even though Ringo just released a new EP, Crooked Boy, fans won’t be hearing those songs at the shows.

Ringo tells Variety there’s a very good reason he and his bandmates — Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart and Gregg Bissonette — don’t play any new songs during the tour.

“I promise you, any band out there, say ‘I’d like to do something from my new LP, EP, CD,’ and you can feel the vibe of people going to the toilet, or going to find some T-shirts,” Ringo shares. “This, with the All Starrs, is so great because (playing the hits) is why we’re there.”

He adds, “We’re the best 1-800 band in the land right now.”

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band return to the road on May 22 in Las Vegas, with dates confirmed through September 25 in New York. A complete list of dates can be found at ringostarr.com.

Warren Haynes announces special Red Rocks date with the Colorado Symphony

May 13, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes has added a new show to his Now Is The Time Tour, which features The Warren Haynes Band and The Dreams and Songs Symphonic Experience.

The new show will take place at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Tuesday, September 10. Haynes will be backed by The Warren Haynes Band, made up of John Medeski, Kevin Scott, Terrence Higgins and Greg Osby, along with the Colorado Symphony, led by conductor Christopher Dragon.

“It’s almost cliche to say Red Rocks is a magical venue, but the truth is … it is,” Haynes shares. “Having played there dozens of times, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad show there. So, when picking places to bring my retrospective Symphonic Experience show, the one place I knew we had to play was Red Rocks.”

A ticket presale for the show begins Thursday, May 16, at 10 a.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public starting Friday, May 17, at 10 a.m.

The tour will have Haynes playing a full symphonic set, plus a regular set with WHB. It will have him exploring music from his entire career, including his time in Gov’t Mule, his solo work and his associations with the Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia.

Haynes has a full summer of tour dates ahead of him, including shows in Europe and dates with Guns N’ Roses‘ Slash on his S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival. A complete list of Warren Haynes dates can be found at warrenhaynes.net.

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider urges Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to induct artists before they’re dead

May 13, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider wants the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to hurry up and induct deserving artists before they are no longer here to accept the honor.

The rocker made his feelings known on social media, and the comment seems to have been prompted by the May 9 death of drummer Dennis Thompson, the last surviving member of MC5, which is getting inducted into the hall this year.

“DEAR @rockhall RNR HALL OF FAME…There are bands who YOU KNOW are going to eventually be inducted because of their huge influence. How about NOT waiting until the entire band is DEAD?” Snider wrote. “The MC5 are being inducted next month. The last living member died yesterday. RIP MC5. #thatsucks.”

Snider later responded to a comment about MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, who passed away in February, sharing, “I had the honor to finally hang with Wayne a few years ago. It’s a damn sin that the @rockhall waited so long to induct MC5. RIP ENTIRE MC5 BAND!”

MC5 is set to be inducted this year in the Musical Excellence category. Jimmy Buffett, who died in September, is also getting in for Musical Excellence.

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place October 19 in Cleveland and will stream live on Disney+. It’ll air during an ABC special at a later date and will be available to watch the next day on Hulu.

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