Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, May 10, 1960…

Paul David Hewson, better known as U2 frontman Bono, was born in Dublin, Ireland.

U2 was formed in 1976 after Bono and friend David Evans, aka the Edge, responded to an advertisement posted on a bulletin board by Larry Mullen Jr., who was seeking musicians interested in forming a rock band.

U2 released their first album, Boy, in 1980. The follow-up, 1983’s War, propelled them to stardom thanks to hit singles “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Pride (In The Name of Love).”

The band has gone on to release 15 studio albums and win 22 Grammys, including Album of the Year for 1987’s The Joshua Tree. They’ve sold between 150 million and 170 million records and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 in their first year of eligibility.

In addition to U2, Bono is known for his activism and philanthropy, and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the plight of the people of Africa. In 2004, he launched the One Campaign with a goal of eliminating extreme poverty and disease in Africa.

In November 2022, Bono released his memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. 

And in September 2023, U2 became the first band to headline the state-of-the-art Sphere in Las Vegas, playing 40 shows of their residency, U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

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Dave Grohl dedicated a performance of “My Hero” to late engineer and punk rocker Steve Albini during a Foo Fighters concert in Charlotte on Thursday, May 9.

Albini worked with Grohl when he engineered — a term he preferred to “produced” — Nirvana‘s final album, 1993’s In Utero.

“Tonight I’d like to dedicate this song to a friend that we lost the other day, who I’ve known a long, long time,” Grohl told the crowd in fan-shot footage posted to YouTube. “He left us much too soon, and he’s touched all of your lives, I’m sure. I’m talking about Steve Albini.”

“Those of you who know, you know,” Grohl continued. “Those of you who don’t know, just remember that name, Steve Albini. So let’s sing this one for him.”

Albini, who also engineered albums for artists including Pixies, The Breeders, PJ Harvey and Bush, died the night of May 7 at age 61. Following news of his passing, the Nirvana Facebook page posted the letter Albini sent the band ahead of recording In Utero, in which he explained his famed opposition to taking royalties.

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To coincide with The Beatles documentary Let It Be streaming on Disney+, a new music video for the title track has just been released.

The video features the recording of the song from camera angles not shown in the documentary, which, according to the clip, “have rarely been seen before.”

Footage shows Paul McCartney at the piano singing right to the camera, with George Harrison joining him on backing vocals, before Ringo Starr and John Lennon join in. Billy Preston is also in the clip, playing the organ.

Let It Be recently premiered on Disney+, marking the first time the documentary has been seen publicly in more than 50 years. The original film was released in April 1970, one month after the band officially broke up.

Footage from the film was used in Peter Jackson‘s 2021 Emmy-winning docuseries, The Beatles: Get Back, which also aired on Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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The Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson was placed in a court ordered conservatorship on Thursday, May 9, the Associated Press reports. His publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, were named his conservators.

The request for the conservatorship was made back in February by Wilson’s family after the January death of his wife Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who up until then had been dealing with his affairs.

The court documents revealed that a doctor had diagnosed the 81-year-old Wilson with a “major neurocognitive disorder,” noting he was “unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter.” The doctor also reported that Wilson was taking meds to treat dementia.

“I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gus T. May, who approved the request, said during a hearing, noting that the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer appeared to have consented to the arrangement. 

The judge also agreed to a request by two of Wilson’s children, Wilson Phillips singers Carnie and Wendy Wilson, to be added to a group text chain related to their dad. The judge also ruled they be consulted on any medical decisions being made about him.

Wilson, along with his two brothers Dennis and Carl, Mike Love and Al Jardine, founded the band that would become The Beach Boys in 1961. They went on to sell over 100 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

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Billy Joel turned 75 on May 9, and he celebrated in one of his favorite places: onstage at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Unlike his 65th birthday show at the Garden, and the recent 100th show of his residency at the storied venue, there weren’t any special guests, Newsday reports. The publication, the Piano Man’s hometown paper, speculated that he’s saving the star power for his final residency show on July 25.

The audience booed when Billy mentioned that final show; however, they cheered when he added, “But there’s no reason we couldn’t come back here.”

“I just want to say how grateful I am for all you guys coming out to hear us,” he told the crowd, after the audience serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” and his band members gave him a cake. “I didn’t think I’d be doing this at 75.”

Newsday reports that Billy could be seen wiping one of his eyes throughout the show, but insisted that he wasn’t becoming emotional. “I’m not crying,” he declared. “A lot of weird s*** happens when you’re 75.”

As for the set list, it was full of hits — from “Only the Good Die Young” and “The River of Dreams” to “Piano Man,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “You May Be Right” — as well as his current single, “Turn the Lights Back On.” 

There were also a few deep cuts, such as Glass Houses’ “Sometimes a Fantasy” and “All for Leyna,” An Innocent Man’s “Keeping the Faith” and The Nylon Curtain’s “A Room of Our Own.”

Billy’s next Garden show is June 8. Before that, he’ll play T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington on May 24.

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Carlos Santana made a splash when he performed at the original Woodstock in 1969, and it appears as though he’s missing the experience.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal ahead of the return of his House of Blues residency, Santana reveals that he would love to put together another Woodstock-type concert.

“I want to make it a global caravan of harmony and oneness, on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and bring the best bands and the best musicians,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer shared. “I have talked to Eric Clapton and certain musicians like Earth Wind & Fire, and they want to be a part of it.”

He adds, “When I talk to promoters about this, they salivate. Everyone I talk to about it wants to be a part of this celebration.” 

The last time promoters tried to bring back Woodstock was in 2019 for the festival’s 50th anniversary, but the show was eventually canceled.

As for when Santana thinks his Woodstock could happen, the 76-year-old notes, “This is not outside the realm of possibilities, from 2025-2027.” 

Santana’s Vegas residency, An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live, returns to the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Friday, May 10. A complete list of dates can be found at santana.com.

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It was 40 years ago when Twisted Sister introduced fans to what would become their hit album Stay Hungry.

Released, May 10, 1984, the record was the third studio album from the Dee Snider fronted glam metal outfit, becoming the most successful release of their career. The album’s success was propelled by two anthems of rock rebellion: “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.”

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” was considered controversial at the time and was included in the Parents Music Resource Center’s “Filthy Fifteen,” a list of songs with alleged violent lyrical content. Despite the controversy, the track peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Twisted Sister’s first and only top 40 single.

In 2016, Snider told ABC Audio that while the song was originally considered to be “dangerous,” that changed as time went on.

“When it first came out, it was a threat, it worried parents, it worried teachers, it was a voice of teenage and youth rebellion,” Snider shared, explaining that over the years it became “very popular and watered down” and was even “used on a woman’s premenopausal medication commercial.”

“The song has become almost a folk song, but the message has gotten lost,” he added. 

Stay Hungry peaked at #15 on the Billboard Album charts and went on be certified three-times Platinum by the RIAA. In 2004, Twisted Sister revisited the album with the release of Still Hungry, on which they rerecorded the songs and added seven bonus tracks.

Following the 2015 death of drummer A.J Pero, Twisted Sister embarked on a farewell tour in 2016, calling it quits when it was over. The surviving members reunited in January 2023 to perform at their induction into the Metal Hall of Fame.

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Slash has teamed up with Gibson for a new signature guitar.

The 1963 ES-335 Collector’s Edition recreates the Guns N’ Roses‘ shredder’s own ’63 ES-335. The instrument costs a grand total of $14,999, and only 50 pieces will be available.

“I used a beautiful and killer sounding 1963 ES-335 Gibson for more than a few songs on Orgy of the Damned,” Slash says, referring to his upcoming blues covers album. “Gibson has now built a fantastic replica of this extraordinary guitar. Same dot neck, Bigsby tremolo, and finish. You have to check it out.”

For those that are actually financially able to check it out, you can call the Gibson Garage in Nashville for more info. If you do actually buy one, you’ll also get two tickets to an upcoming Slash performance and interview session taking place at Gibson Garage Nashville on June 30.

Orgy of the Damned will be released May 17. It includes guest spots from AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson, Iggy Pop, ZZ Top‘s Billy F Gibbons and Demi Lovato.

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Blue Öyster Cult has just shared a cover of The Beatles track “If I Fell.”

In the video posted to YouTube, the band explains that the performance was recorded in April 2016 at Red Studios Hollywood while they were working on a video for the 40th anniversary release of their fourth studio album, Agents of Fortune.

“The decision was made not to use it at the time, but we were provided a ‘rough cut’ copy from which this is derived,” reads the description. 

BOC says their video was processed to black and white to pay tribute to The Beatles movie A Hard Days Night, in which “If I Fell” was featured.

Blue Öyster Cult recently dropped the new album, Ghost Stories, which their label called “a fitting finale” to their recording legacy, suggesting it may be BOC’s final album.

The band is getting ready to hit the road this summer, with their tour kicking off June 5 in Lynn, Massachusetts. A complete list of dates can be found at  blueoystercult.com.

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MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson has died at age 75.

A post published Thursday, May 9, on the MC5 Instagram reads, “Drummer Dennis ‘Machine Gun’ Thompson, engine room of the MC5, died of heart failure this morning in Michigan. Rest in beats.”

Formed outside Detroit in 1963, MC5 was massively influential on the burgeoning punk rock scene. They were known particularly for their 1969 album Kick Out the Jams and its title track.

News of Thompson’s passing comes just three months after MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer died in February. Thompson and Kramer were the last two surviving members of the classic Kick Out the Jams lineup.
 

MC5 is among the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees with the Musical Excellence award.

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