Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, September 26, 1979… 

U2 made their recording debut with the release of a three-song EP, aptly titled Three. 

The release featured the songs “Out of Control” and “Stories for Boys,” which were both later re-recorded for their debut album Boy. The other song on the release was the B-side “Boy/Girl.” 

U2, of course, went on to huge success, releasing 15 studio albums and selling over 150 million records worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

Three was later reissued in November, 2019 as part of Record Store Day Black Friday, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its original release.

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Van Morrison is giving fans another preview of his upcoming album, Accentuate The Positive.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just dropped the track “Problems,” his take on a song made famous by The Everly Brothers in 1958. It’s the second song, following “Shakin’ All Over,” that Morrison has released from the record.

Just like Morrison’s last album, Moving On Skiffle, in which he reinterpreted Skiffle music, popularized in the U.K. in the 1950s, Accentuate The Positive has Morrison reimagining some of his personal rock ‘n’ roll favorites.

Accentuate The Positive, dropping November 3, is available for preorder now.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd recently launched their own Hell House whiskey as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of their debut album, Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd’. Now they’re giving fans a chance to get an autographed bottle of the booze. 

Skynyrd, who formed in Jacksonville, Florida, is set to play two homecoming shows in nearby St. Augustine on October 5 and 6. Ahead of the concerts they’re hosting a preparty at Whitey’s Fish Camp in Fleming. The bash will include lots of great experiences for fans, including a meet and greet and a chance to have their whiskey bottles signed by Skynyrd members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke.

“Returning to [Florida] to celebrate 50 years of music and memories is incredibly special to us,” Johnny shares. “We can’t wait to connect with our fans, old and new, during this unforgettable homecoming and introduce them to Hell House Whiskey.”

The bash is happening October 4 and is only open to fans 21 years of age or older. All those attending must purchase a bottle of Hell House whiskey on site.

Hell House whiskey is named after the Hell House Cabin, where Skynyrd founding members Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Allen Collins created Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd’. Fans who can’t make it to the preparty can still purchase the whiskey at hellhousewhiskey.com.

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Lenny Kravitz is the latest rocker to join TikTok, and he did so in a pretty hilarious way.

The rocker shared his first video on Saturday, September 23, and it had him walking through the park wearing his oversized brown blanket scarf.

“Grab your big scarf, it’s the first day of fall,” he says to the camera.

According to Vogue, Kravitz first went viral with his enormous scarf back in 2012, when photographers caught him wearing it while on a stroll in New York City.

And it appears this video may now make the rocker synonymous with the chilly season. As one fan commented, “Lenny Kravitz is our Mariah Carey for fall,” a reference to Mariah being synonymous with Christmas, thanks to her hit tune “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

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Eric Clapton wrapped his two-night Crossroads Guitar Festival at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday with a surprise appearance by Stevie Wonder.

Wonder joined Clapton on keyboards for a performance of “Crossroads.” Clapton’s set also featured a guest appearance by Stephen Stills, who joined Clapton for the Crosby, Stills & Nash tune “Love the One You’re With.”

Clapton opened his set by paying tribute to the late Robbie Robertson, who was originally supposed to be on the bill for the festival. According to setlist.fm, Clapton opened his Sunday set with two The Band tracks, “The Shape I’m In” and “It Makes No Difference,” both of which were penned by Robertson.

These were just a couple of the many highlights of the weekend festival, which also featured sets by Santana, ZZ Top, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer Trio, Robert Randolph, Joe Bonamassa and more.

Proceeds from the shows, as well as an online auction, benefitted Crossroads Centre Antigua, a rehab facility founded by Clapton.

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An unreleased Sinéad O’Connor track debuted during the final episode of the six-part BBC drama The Woman in the Wall on Sunday. 

The track, “The Magdalene Song,” was inspired by the Magdalene laundries where unmarried Irish women were often sent and subjected to abuse by the nuns who ran them.

Producer David Holmes, who worked with Sinéad, says she gave the OK for the song to be used in the series, which centers on a woman dealing with the trauma from her experience at the laundries.

“Sinéad sanctioned the track for use before they had even started shooting, and when the producers heard it they were amazed to have something so strong. We all felt the only place this can go is at the end,” he told The Guardian. “The first half of the track is completely heartbreaking, and the second half is pure defiance.” 

So far there’s no word on when, or if, “The Magdalene Song” will be released.

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Monday Night Football fans are going to be hearing a lot of Dolly Parton in the coming weeks. ESPN announced it will be highlighting several songs from Dolly’s new album, Rockstar, during upcoming games.

The collaboration will launch Monday, September 25, with Dolly’s cover of Bob Seger’s “Night Moves,” featuring Chris Stapleton. That will be followed on October 16 by Dolly’s cover of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker,” which features Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo. Each song will be featured as the games go in and out of commercial breaks, and they’ll also be aired during Monday Night Countdown.

Two more songs, a cover of Heart’s “Magic Man,” featuring Heart’s Ann Wilson, and the title track, with former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, will air following the album’s November 17 release.

“I am excited for ESPN to spotlight songs from my new Rockstar album,” Dolly shares. “When I decided to do a full-blown rock album after they put me in the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame, I thought it would be fun to call the album Rockstar. The athletes who give their all everyday are most definitely rock stars, and I love that these songs will be a small part of celebrating their achievements.” 

Rockstar will be released as a four-LP or two-CD set. It is available for preorder now.

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Ringo Starr has earned many honors throughout his career, and now, he has one more. The Beatles drummer was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame over the weekend.

According to The Tennessean, in addition to the induction, Starr was honored with the Joe Chambers Musicians Legacy Award, named in honor of the Hall of Fame’s co-founder, songwriter Joe Chambers, who passed away in 2022.  

“I am honored to be here and accept the first Joe Chambers Musicians Legacy Award. I’ve always loved Nashville and country music, though I know this place honors all musicians regardless of genre or instrument,” Ringo shared. “I’ve had a long, happy relationship with this town and it’s lovely to be here and receive this award.”

Ringo’s celebration included speeches by Peter Frampton and Brenda Lee as well as a performance of three of his songs by a group of musicians the Hall of Fame put together. They were joined by such artists as Rodney Crowell, Toto’s Steve Lukather and others.

The ceremony came ahead of Ringo and his All-Starr Band‘s headlining performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Sunday, September 24. They play Clearwater, Florida, on Tuesday, September 26. A complete list of dates can be found at ringostarr.com.

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Stevie Nicks is extending her time on the road into next year. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced a new set of shows for 2024.

The latest additions kick off February 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with shows in Long Island, New York; Hollywood, Florida; New Orleans and more, before wrapping March 9 with a co-headlining show with Billy Joel in Arlington, Texas. The final date is actually a rescheduled show from April 2023. 

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 29, at 10 a.m. local time.

Stevie still has several dates on the book for 2023. Next up, she’ll play Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, September 27. A complete list of dates can be found at stevienicksofficial.com.

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The heaviest ballet of all time got even heavier, thanks to Tony Iommi.

As previously reported, England’s Birmingham Royal Ballet announced a production based on Black Sabbath back in February. The show finally made its debut on Saturday, September 23, at the Birmingham Hippodrome and featured a surprise appearance by the “Iron Man” shredder himself.

“Thanks to everyone who supported us at the Ballet, we had a great premiere last night,” Iommi wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 24. “I’m honored to be involved with these talented dancers.”

Iommi also noted that he won’t be able to perform with the ballet for every performance, suggesting his appearance at the premiere was more of a special occasion.

Black Sabbath — The Ballet features re-orchestrated versions of songs including “Iron Man,” “Paranoid” and “War Pigs” as well as original new compositions inspired by the metal legends.

Upon its initial announcement, Iommi remarked, “Black Sabbath have always been innovators and never been predictable, and it doesn’t come any more unpredictable than this! I’d never imagined pairing Black Sabbath with ballet but it’s got a nice ring to it!”

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