Classic Rock 93.9

The Rolling Stones have a new #1. The band’s latest release, Hackney Diamonds, debuted on top of the U.K. Official Album chart, making it their 14th U.K. number one.

The Stones moved 72,000 units of Hackney Diamonds, their first album of new material in 18 years,  putting them behind Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran for the third-biggest sales week of the year.

With their 14 chart-toppers, The Stones tie Robbie Williams for the second-most #1 albums in the U.K., just behind The Beatles, who have 16. When you take out greatest hits compilations and collections, The Stones tie The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Williams for the most #1 studio albums, with 11.

And The Stones aren’t just topping the charts in the U.K.: Hackney Diamonds is also #1 on Australia’s ARIA chart, making it their eighth #1 down under.

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Peter Frampton is set to perform at an upcoming concert put on by the Artist For Action To Prevent Gun Violence coalition.

The benefit concert, taking place December 7 at NYU Skirball in Manhattan, celebrates the launch of the documentary A Father’s Promise, which is about how musician Mark Barden co-founded Sandy Hook Promise after losing his son Daniel in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and how he rediscovered his passion for music.

Described as a “one-of-a-kind docu-concert,” the event, which is being filmed, will raise money for Sandy Hook Promise.

Other artists on the bill include Sheryl Crow, who produced A Father’s Promise, former New York Yankee Bernie Williams, Barden and Jimmy Vivino of The Promise Band, Rozzi, The Dumes, The Alternate Routes, Jen Chapin and Aztec Two-Step 2.0.

Tickets are on sale now.

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An animated film based on Paul McCartney’s children’s novel is moving forward. According to Variety, a director and creative crew have been hired for the book’s feature adaptation.

High in the Clouds, which McCartney wrote in 2005, follows a teenage squirrel named Wirral’s quest to overthrow an owl named Gretsch who banned music in their city of Gretschville in an attempt to be the town’s only singer. Wirral then teams up with some underground musicians hiding out in Harmonia, a secret place high in the clouds.

Toby Genkel, who directed the 2022 film The Amazing Maurice, is on board to helm the project, with Michael Giacchino, who did the music for Coco, writing the score and Paddington 2’s Jon Croker writing the script.

McCartney will also contribute to the flick, voicing a character in the film; two other music stars are in talks to join him on the project.

Production on High in the Clouds is expected to begin in early 2024; the release is planned for early 2026.

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Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford has teamed up with German metal icon Doro for a joint cover of the Bonnie Tyler song “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

The collaboration is an appropriately dramatic rendition of the ’80s classic, with Halford and Doro trading “turn arounds” and “need you tonights.” The pair also stars together in an accompanying video, streaming now on YouTube.

The cover is included on Doro’s new album Conqueress — Forever Strong and Proud, which is out now. The record also features Doro’s take on Priest’s “Living After Midnight,” with guest vocals by Halford.

Priest, meanwhile, is readying a new album called Invincible Shield, due out March 8.

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Queen is sharing another classic performance in this week’s episode of their weekly YouTube series, Queen The Greatest Live.

The latest episode focuses on a July 1986 performance of “A Kind of Magic,” which Roger Taylor wrote for the film Highlander. The performance took place at London’s Wembley Stadium and shows how frontman Freddie Mercury brought the song to life onstage.

“Originally, ‘A Kind Of Magic’ was used at the end of the movie, over the closing credits,” Roger once shared. “It was a grander concept with a much more broken-up tempo. Freddie really believed in this song and we reworked it as a single.”

“A Kind of Magic” was the third single off Queen’s 1986 album of the same name. It peaked at #3 on the U.K. charts and at #42 in the U.S.

“It became very popular onstage,” Roger says of the song, “and when we did it on the 1986 Magic Tour, which was our last ever tour, it used to go down incredibly well.” 

Next week on Queen The Greatest Live: “Stone Cold Crazy.”

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Iron Maiden is bringing their The Future Past tour to the U.S. in 2024.

The newly announced stateside leg launches October 4 in San Diego and wraps up November 17 in San Antonio, Texas. Along the way, Maiden will headline the 2024 Aftershock Festival, taking place October 10-13 in Sacramento, California.

Tickets go on sale Friday, November 3, at 10 a.m. local time.

The Future Past World Tour first launched in Europe in May. Its set list is mostly focused on Maiden’s latest album, 2021’s Senjutsu, and their 1986 effort, Somewhere in Time.

“We’re really excited to be continuing The Future Past tour next year,” says bassist Steve Harris. “We know from the reaction of our fans at Power Trip and the shows we played in Canada recently that they really enjoyed hearing new songs from both Senjutsu and Somewhere in Time, and we’ve really enjoyed playing them.”

“It’s going to be a great experience for us to visit many other cities and bring this new show to those fans who’ve waited patiently to see it,” he continues. “See you all in 2024!”

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit IronMaiden.com.

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On This Day, October 27, 2013…

Rocker Lou Reed passed away from liver disease at the age of 71.

Reed was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for The Velvet Underground, which released five albums. Although they never achieved huge commercial success, their influence has been felt throughout underground, alternative, punk rock and new wave music. 

Reed went on to have a successful solo career, releasing 20 solo records, including 1972’s Transformer, which included his most successful single, “Walk on the Wild Side.”

Reed is a two-time member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1996 as a member of Velvet Underground and again in 2014 as a solo artist.

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Foo Fighters star in a new promo for Saturday Night Live ahead of their performance on the show on October 28.

In the clip, streaming now on YouTube, cast member Marcello Hernandez suggests that the “Everlong” rockers should change their name to Boo Fighters in honor of Halloween. After suggesting that he’s angry with the notion, Dave Grohl then says, “You know what man? That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard!”

The upcoming episode will be hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze. It’ll mark the ninth time Foo Fighters will be the show’s musical guest — 10th if you count their special guest performance alongside Mick Jagger in 2012.

SNL airs at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

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In honor of the 50th anniversary of their rock opera Quadrophenia, The Who has released the iconic album on streaming services in Dolby Atmos, and they note it sounds “truly amazing.”  

In addition, the band will release a half-speed vinyl masters cut of Quadrophenia on 180-gram black vinyl on February 2. The double LP will come in its original gatefold sleeve with a 44-page booklet and a certificate of authenticity.

Released in 1973, Quadrophenia was The Who’s second full rock opera following 1969’s Tommy. It featured such classic songs as “The Real Me,” “Love Reign O’er Me” and “5:15.”

Also on February 2, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will release a half-speed masters cut vinyl of 1975’s The Who By Numbers. It, too, will come in its original gatefold sleeve with a certificate of authenticity. 

The Who by Numbers was the band’s seventh studio album and featured the song “Squeeze Box,” which was a top 20 hit in both the U.S. and the U.K. 

Both Quadrophenia and The Who By Numbers are available for preorder now.

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A 60-year-old interview with The Beatles is featured in new podcast hosted by Sherlock star Martin Freeman.

Eras: The Beatles tells the story of the legendary band through archival interviews and includes a recently rediscovered interview the band gave on February 5, 1964, as they landed at London Airport, now Heathrow, following a gig in France. 

The interview was given to the former BBC program Radio Newsreel and was recently discovered by BBC archivist Elliot Gibson while he was digitizing physical reels of audio.

“Initially, I assumed it was a copy of an interview that was widely known, so when I checked and discovered it was unique and hadn’t been heard since its broadcast – almost 60 years ago – I was amazed,” he shares, according to The London Evening Standard. “It’s extremely rare to unearth material this valuable in the archive.”

He notes, “What makes it truly great is that it shows The Beatles on top form – playful and quick-witted – and captures them just before their first visit to America, which would turn out to be a pivotal moment in their career.”

The first five episodes of Eras: The Beatles are available now on BBC Sounds, with the final episode set to premiere November 2, the same day The Beatles’ final song, “Now and Then,” will be released.

The episode will feature a new interview with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr talking about the making of the song, along with audio from John Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon, George Harrison’s widow Olivia Harrison and Get Back director Peter Jackson, who used technology to isolate Lennon’s vocals from a 1970s demo for the song.

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