Classic Rock 93.9

Kansas and Mötley Crüe are booked to play Canada’s 2024 Festival d’été de Québec aka FEQ. 

The 11-day event takes place July 4-14, with Kansas confirmed to perform on July 12 and Mötley Crüe closing the festival on July 14. 

The bill also features Nickelback, The Offspring, Jonas Brothers, Post Malone and more.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit FEQ.ca. 

Mötley Crüe is also set to play another Canadian festival, the Ottawa Bluesfest, in July. Their next shows are happening May 3 and 4 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A complete list of dates can be found at motley.com.

Meanwhile, Kansas recently announced a third and final leg to their Another Fork in The Road 50th anniversary tour, kicking off September 24 in Thousand Oaks, California. The current leg hits Salina, Kansas, for a two-night stand on March 22 and 23. A complete list of tour dates can be found at kansasband.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Judas Priest had a treat in store for their fans at their Tuesday, March 19, concert at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England. 

According to setlist.fm, guitarist Glen Tipton joined the band for the last two songs of their set, “Metal Gods” and “Living After Midnight.”

Tipton, who has been a member of Judas Priest since 1974, announced in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2008 and that he’d be stepping back from touring with the band. He last performed with them at October’s Power Trip festival, joining them for the night’s final three songs, “Metal Gods,” “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight.”

Judas Priest is currently on tour in support of their latest release, Invincible Shield, which Tipton does appear on. Their next show is happening Thursday, March 21, in London. The tour hits the U.S. starting April 18 in Wallingford, Connecticut. A complete list of dates can be found at judaspriest.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The music of Chicago will be hitting the big screen next month. 

The film Chicago & Friends in Concert will debut in select theaters on April 18, giving fans a chance to enjoy the band’s two guest-filled concerts that were recorded at Ovation Hall at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last November.

The show featured guest appearances by such artists as Steve Vai, Chris Daughtry, Robin Thicke, Robert Randolph and more. The performances were a celebration of the 55th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, and had them playing songs from the album, as well as other greatest hits and unplugged versions of classic tunes.

“This concert film is a unique approach to any of our previous live performances,” Chicago founding member Lee Loughnane shares. “It was very interesting to work with each guest and experience their interpretations of our music.”

Tickets and showtimes can be found at chicagoandfriendsintheatres.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Last May Def Leppard played a special club show in their hometown of Sheffield, England, and now that performance is being immortalized for very special vinyl release.

The band will release Def Leppard One Night Only Live at The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 as a double LP vinyl set on Record Store Day, April 20.

The performance, which was livestreamed for fans, took place the same day the band released their latest album, Drastic Symphonies, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the first time in over 35 years that Def Leppard played such a small venue in the U.K. 

The night featured a unique set that included hits like “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” as well as deep cuts like “Wasted,” “Too Late For Love” and “Mirror Mirror.”

Information on stores taking part in Record Store Day can be found at recordstoreday.com.

 (Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Lemmy Kilmister‘s beloved Rainbow Bar & Grill in Los Angeles is set to enshrine the ashes of the late Motörhead frontman.

The famed Sunset Strip watering hole will hold a ceremony on April 19, during which a new Motörhead-branded whiskey will also be unveiled.

For more info, visit the Rainbow’s Facebook page.

Lemmy was known for being a frequent patron of the Rainbow Bar & Grill. Following his death in 2015, the Rainbow hosted Lemmy’s memorial service and later put up a statue of him in 2016.

In addition to the Rainbow, Lemmy’s ashes have been enshrined in a giant statue built at the site of France’s Hellfest and on the grounds of Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival. Additionally, his friends received bullet casings containing his ashes.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After a six-month break to recover from peptic ulcer disease, Bruce Springsteen returned to the stage with The E Street Band on Tuesday, March 19, in Phoenix, wowing the crowd with a set that featured classics, new songs and even one surprise request. 

According to setlist.fm, The Boss kicked things off with The Rising track “Lonesome Day,” with his set featuring hits like “Born To Run,” “Thunder Road,” “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” along with fan favorites like “No Surrender,” “Two Hearts,” “Prove it All Night,” “Backstreets,” “Because the Night” and “Mary’s Place.”

The set also featured songs from his 2020 album, Letter To You, including the title track, “Last Man Standing” and the show closer “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” as well as songs from his covers album Only The Strong Survive, like “Night Shift” and “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).”

He even obliged a fan who held up a sign with a song request, playing the classic “Twist and Shout” right before the final song. 

According to Billboard, Bruce didn’t talk about his health issues until just before the night’s final song, apologizing to his fans for having to postpone shows and sharing, “I had a mother****** of a bellyache.”

Springsteen returns to the stage Saturday, March 23, at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, his first show in Sin City in more than 20 years. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Guns N’ Roses‘ debut album, Appetite for Destruction, is one of 10 recordings chosen for induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Inductees must be at least 25 years old and are chosen because they “exhibit qualitative or historical significance.” The induction marks Guns N’ Roses first-ever Grammy award. They’ve been nominated three times with no wins. 

Appetite for Destruction, released in July 1987, hit #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, thanks to such hits as “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.” It went on to be certified 18-times Platinum by the RIAA.

Other recordings being inducted this year include Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising and Buena Vista Social Club, along with The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes,” Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” Wanda Jackson’s “Let’s Have a Party” and Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”

“We’re proud to unveil the diverse mix of recordings entering the Grammy Hall Of Fame in its 50th year,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement. “The music showcased here has played a pivotal role in shaping our cultural landscape, and it’s a true honor to recognize these albums and recordings, along with the profound influence each has had on music and beyond.”

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees will be celebrated at an inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Gala and concert taking place May 21 in Los Angeles.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Billy Joel‘s “Turn the Lights Back On” is his first hit in many years. While Billy co-wrote the song, he didn’t write the lyrics — they were written by one of his co-writers, Freddy Wexler, the same guy who co-produced the song and co-directed the video. But even though Billy has generally written all his songs himself, Wexler says he was fine with singing words he didn’t write.

“I think because Billy has had an astounding career, writing 100% of an entire catalog, he doesn’t have anything to prove,” Wexler tells ABC Audio. “He certainly was not out there looking for outside songs or outside ideas. But he also didn’t have the ego to block the opportunity from happening.”

Wexler initially wrote the words to the song after being inspired by a rough patch in his parents’ marriage, but he tried to write it in the way that Billy, his hero, would have written it, which is why, Wexler says, he was so comfortable singing it.

“What was interesting here is that on many records Billy plays a character. On this record, he plays the character who happens to be him,” Wexler explains. “So in the weirdest way, it’s one of the most natural vocals I’ve ever heard of him.”

“He said that to me himself,” Wexler adds. “He said, ‘On this record, I wasn’t trying to be Ray Charles or McCartney. I just sang naturally.’ And that was probably the greatest thing that could have ever happened, that he had that experience with it.”

Wexler hopes to work with Billy on more music in the future. In the meantime, Billy has added “Turn the Lights Back On” to his set list.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Beach Boys’ Mike Love is ready to introduce a new line of premium rum through his company Club Kokomo Spirits, which until now has been known for its canned cocktails.

The new collection comes in three varieties: Artisanal White Rum, featuring an aroma of honey and pineapple, with notes of melon and mango; Barrel Finished Rum, a blend of 8-year-old and 10-year-old Jamaican, Barbadian and Dominican rums finished in bourbon barrels; and Tahitian Vanilla Rum, which uses whole Tahitian vanilla beans, resulting in notes of vanilla and spice.

“The spirit of Kokomo is the serenity and good vibrations you feel when hanging out with your closest friends or family, preferably on a sandy beach,” Love shares. “We took it, distilled it and bottled it for everyone who takes a sip to enjoy, anywhere. Much like a Beach Boys song.”

All three rums are distilled locally in San Diego, and are blended and bottled by hand. They will be available to order online and to purchase at select retailers. More info can be found at clubkokomospirits.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

How would you like to spend an evening with Joe Elliott? Now’s your chance, although you’ll have to be a member of the Hilton Honors program in order to qualify.

The Def Leppard frontman has teamed up with the hotel chain to offer fans a chance to meet him at a cocktails and Q&A event on April 26 at the Conrad London St. James hotel.

The opportunity is open to 25 rewards members plus their guests, although they’ll have to redeem 100,000 points for the experience, which includes access to the moderated evening, with the chance to submit questions for Elliott to answer. They’ll also attend a meet and greet, where they’ll be able to take a photo with the rocker.

What’s not included is travel and hotel accommodations, so guests will be responsible for that. More info can be found at Experiences.HiltonHonors.com.

Def Leppard is getting ready to hit the road on a new stadium tour this summer with Journey. The trek, featuring special guests Steve Miller Band, Cheap Trick and Heart, kicks off July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri. A complete list of dates can be found at defleppard.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.