Steve Perry denies rumors he’ll join Journey on farewell tour

February 20, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Former Journey frontman Steve Perry is putting to rest rumors that he was thinking about joining Journey on their upcoming Final Frontier tour, which has already been announced as their farewell tour.

“I’ve been hearing these recent rumors, and I wanted to speak to you all directly,” Perry writes on social media. “While I’m always grateful for the love people still have for Journey, the rumors about me rejoining the band are simply not true, and I want to gently put them to rest.”

“I completely understand why people would hope for that,” he adds. “The music we created together means a great deal to me too. But I’m continuing to explore new creative work and really enjoy working on new music that reflects where I am today.”

Finally, he offers, “Thank you for your continued support throughout the years. Your loyalty has never gone unnoticed, and I am forever humbly grateful.”

Perry joined Journey in 1977 and left the group in 1987. While he reunited with his former bandmates for their 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, he did not perform with them. Instead they performed with current frontman Arnel Pineda.

Journey is set to launch the Final Frontier on Feb. 28 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. A complete list of dates can be found at Journeymusic.com.

Zak Starkey talks relationship with The Who as he readies one-man show

February 20, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Drummer Zak Starkey is set to take the stage at New York’s Gramercy Theatre Friday for a one-man show, Zak Starkey … Who?: An Evening of Drums and Conversation. He’ll take fans through his life and career, which will likely include his almost 30 years playing drums for The Who.

Starkey tells ABC Audio that even though his dad is Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, it was seeing The Who that made him want to learn to play the drums. And it turns out his dad wasn’t much help with that.

“I asked my dad for a drum lesson, and he gave me one lesson,” Starkey says. “Then the next day he said, ‘Now try this.’ I said, ‘I can do that.’ He said, ‘Well, you’re on your own.’ And that was it.”

Starkey began playing with The Who in 1996, and he says it felt “amazing” when he got the gig after being such a fan.

And while he and The Who parted ways in 2025 following an onstage disagreement between Starkey and Roger Daltrey, Starkey says he still has a good relationship with both Daltrey and Pete Townshend. In fact, he recently talked to Daltrey, who wished him luck with the show and gave him some advice.

“He told me to be myself, everything would be fine,” says Starkey. He notes of the issues that led to his split with the band, “It’s just some crazy s*** got out of hand … but we were still friends all the time through it.”

The Who wound up going on a farewell tour of North America in 2025 without Starkey behind the drum kit. As for whether he thinks it really was The Who’s final tour, Starkey wouldn’t speculate.

“If you think you know what those two guys are going to do, they’ll do something different.”

Joni Mitchell’s Juno Lifetime Achievement Award tribute to feature Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Joni Mitchell is getting the Lifetime Achievement Award at Canada’s 2026 Juno Awards, and the artists who will help celebrate her have just been announced.

Fellow Canadian singers Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell will pay tribute to Mitchell with a performance at the award show, taking place March 29 at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The 82-year-old Mitchell is being celebrated for her “outstanding artistic contributions and enduring impact on global music culture,” according to a press release.

Mitchell is already a four-time Juno Award winner. The Junos, handed out by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, are the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys.

The Lifetime Achievement Award adds to the many honors Mitchell has already received over the course of her career. In her native Canada, she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1981 and received Canada’s highest honor, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement, in 1991. She was also named Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2002 and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

In the U.S., Mitchell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. She also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2021 and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2023.

Late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott’s 80th birthday to be marked by events, new merch and more

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Original AC/DC frontman Bon Scott would have turned 80 this year, and the Bon Scott estate, along with its exclusive licensing/merchandising partner Perryscope Productions, has announced lots of plans to celebrate the milestone.

The official Scott YouTube channel will offer new video content as part of a deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, plus there will be video of new interviews from Scott’s friends and peers, including Sammy Hagar, Anthtrax’s Scott Ian and Rick Springfield.

There will also be a whole host of Bon Scott tribute events, including the 20th anniversary Bonfest: The International Bon Scott Rock Festival May 1-2 in Kirriemuir, Scotland, along with the third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash in New York on July 6. In addition, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is planning a one-night-only screening of the AC/DC concert film Let There Be Rock: The Movie.

Plus, the estate has plans for a whole host of merchandising this year. They include limited-edition collectibles like 1-ounce gold and 10-ounce silver bars from the Perth Mint with Scott’s name and likeness; posters, T-shirts and more featuring exclusive artwork by graphic artist Reg Mombassa; and Knucklebonz’s third Bon Scott edition collectible, based on AC/DC’s 1978 Powerage tour.

There will also be apparel options, with a variety of limited-edition T-shirts, including a Bon 80 shirt and a “heritage” Tartan shirt from Dixxon Flannel Co, based on the officially registered Bon Scott tartans.

More info can be found at BonScottOfficial.com.

Scott was born July 6, 1946. He died Feb. 19, 1980, at age 33.

Eagles to show off ‘Their Greatest Hits 1971-75’ quadruple Diamond certification in Las Vegas

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Eagles’ compilation album Their Greatest Hits 1971-75 was awarded a quadruple Diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America in January, and the band is so proud of the accomplishment that they are showing it off.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers revealed on Instagram that the 40-times Platinum plaque they received, for sales of over 40 million units, will be on display at The Venetian Resort to coincide with their current residency at the Sphere.

The plaque will be on display at the pop-up store Eagles Third Encore, located at The Summit Showroom at The Venetian. It’s free and open to the public Thursday to Sunday, including late hours on Friday and Saturday show days.

Their Greatest Hits 1971-75 is the first-ever record to be certified 400-times Platinum, securing the album’s standing as the bestselling album of all time in the United States.

Eagles return to the Sphere Friday and Saturday, with shows booked through April 11. A complete list of dates can be found at Eagles.com.

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson releases upgraded audio versions of ‘Tattooed Millionaire’ & ‘Skunkworks’ albums

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has released Dolby Atmos versions of his 1990 and 1996 solo albums, Tattooed Millionaire and Skunkworks, respectively.

In a statement, Dickinson says that the upgraded audio on Skunkworks “will blow your socks off.”

“It’s a record of which I’m immensely proud,” Dickinson says. “In fact, as the years go by I grow more and more proud of everything that happened on that record. In many ways, it was a bit advanced for its time because we were bringing in all kinds of influences that other people in metal were scared of. It’s very emotional and quite dark in places.”

Speaking on the Dolby Atmos version of Tattooed Millionaire, Dickinson adds, “[Producer] Chris Tsangarides did a great job on the production and now with modern technology we can beef it all up and make it BIG in Atmos world! The album sonically sounds really good.”

You can listen to both albums in Dolby Atoms now via digital outlets.

Dickinson’s most recent solo album is 2024’s The Mandrake Project, which marked his first solo record in nearly 20 years.

Maiden, meanwhile, is gearing up to launch the 2026 leg of the band’s Run for Your Lives tour celebrating their 50th anniversary. The trek comes to North America in August.

Paul McCartney, Paul Mescal attend London screening of ‘Man on the Run’

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Paul McCartney was in attendance Wednesday night at a special star-studded London screening of his upcoming documentary, Man on the Run, which looks at McCartney’s life following the breakup of The Beatles, including the formation of his band Wings.

Also in attendance was the film’s director, Morgan Neville, and actor Paul Mescal. Mescal is set to play McCartney in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles films, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, which are currently in production and expected to hit theaters in April 2028.

Others checking out the screening include Mescal’s girlfriend, singer Gracie Abrams; McCartney’s kids Stella McCartney and James McCartney; Mumford & Son’s Marcus Mumford; Oasis’ Noel Gallagher; Sharon Osbourne; Paul Weller; and Cruz Beckham.

Man on the Run is set to run in theaters for one day only Thursday and premiere globally on Prime Video on Feb. 27.

Live long and headbang: William Shatner releasing metal album

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

William Shatner will boldly go where many metalheads have gone before, albeit probably not many pushing 100.

The 94-year-old Star Trek legend is set to release a metal album, featuring his take on songs by iconic bands including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner says in a statement. “This album is a gathering of forces—each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”

“I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction,” the Captain Kirk actor continues. “Now I am stepping out into the unknown once again with my new project in heavy metal. I am covering Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden as well as a number of new songs written by my team. The whole project is destined for this year. I hope you will join me in the exploration.”

The title and release date of the album has yet to be revealed. It will feature Black Label Society frontman and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, who personally gifted Shatner a guitar, alongside a full list of guests to be announced.

Full Milwaukee Summerfest lineup announced

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The full lineup for the 2026 Milwaukee Summerfest has just been announced. The festival takes place over three weekends — June 18-20, June 25-27 and July 2-4 — across multiple venues.

Artists performing at this year’s Summerfest, some of whom were previously announced, include David Lee Roth, James Taylor, Styx, Gene Simmons Band, Megadeth, Christopher Cross, Little Feat, Don Felder, Third Eye Blind, Modern English, Lisa Loeb, Soul Asylum and Spin Doctors.

“As an independent music festival, we are thrilled to deliver this one-of-a-kind lineup that features an incredible mix of genres and artists,” said Sarah Pancheri, president and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “We’re excited to welcome fans from around the globe to celebrate and create memories that only live music can provide.”

A nine-day pass for Summerfest is available now through Feb. 25 at midnight for $58. Single-day general admission, three-day passes and VIP seating are also available now. More info on tickets and the full lineup can be found at Summerfest.com.

Queen announces expanded reissue of sophomore album, ‘Queen II’

February 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

After months of teases from guitarist Brian May, Queen has finally revealed details of the upcoming reissue of their sophomore album, Queen II.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band is set to celebrate the record with the release of a remixed, remastered and expanded five-CD + two-LP collector’s edition box set, dropping March 27.

The set includes a 2026 mix of the album, as well as a whole host of bonus material, including previously unheard outtakes and demos, live tracks, radio sessions and what’s described as “intimate fly-on-the-wall audio of Queen in the recording studio.” The set also features a 112-page book with previously unseen photos, handwritten lyrics, the band’s memories of writing and recording the album and more.

“Queen II was the single biggest leap we ever made,” says May of the record, which was originally released in March 1974. “That’s when we really started making music the way we wanted to, rather than the way we were being pushed into recording it.”

“With Queen II, I couldn’t believe how much work we put into it,” drummer Roger Taylor adds. “I think we felt we were evolving our own sound. We were pioneering this sort of multitracking thing. It gave you a tremendous pallet, massive choral effects with just three of us singing.”

In addition to Queen II Collector’s Edition, the reissue will be released as a two-CD deluxe edition and on one-LP vinyl. All formats are available for preorder now.

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