Classic Rock 93.9

The final song from The Beatles is almost here.

The band is set to release “Now and Then,” billed as “the last Beatles song,” on November 2 at 10 a.m. ET, with a video to follow on November 3. The track will be released as a double-A side single, paired with “Love Me Do,” the band’s 1962 debut single, putting their last and first singles together. 

The track features vocals John Lennon recorded on a demo in the late ’70s. In 1994, his wife Yoko Ono gave the demo to surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, who used it to create “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” which appeared on The Beatles Anthology project in the mid ’90s.

Then, in 2021 Peter Jackson, director of The Beatles: Get Back docuseries, used new technology to isolate Lennon’s “Now and Then” instruments and vocals with Paul and Ringo completing the song in 2022, using guitar parts Harrison recorded in 1995.

And fans will gain more insight into the making of the song with the 12-minute documentary, Now and Then – The Last Beatles Song, premiering November 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET on The Beatles YouTube channel.

“It’s quite emotional,” Paul says. “In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.” 

Ringo adds, “It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room, so it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know.” 

The Beatles are also releasing 2023 Edition packages of two compilations, 1962-1966 (The Red Album) and 1967-1970 (The Blue Album), on November 10. Both versions are now mixed in stereo and Dolby Atmos and will be released as four-CD and six-LP collections. They are available for preorder now.

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On October 26, 1973, The Who released what would become one of their most iconic albums: Quadrophenia.

The only Who album to be written entirely by guitarist Pete Townshend, it was the band’s second full-length rock opera, following 1969’s Tommy.

The story, set in Brighton, England, in 1965, follows a young working-class mod named Jimmy on a journey of self-discovery. The album’s title was inspired by Jimmy’s four-way “split personality,” with each member of the band representing a different facet of that personality.

Featuring the future Who classics “The Real Me,” “Love Reign O’er Me” and “5:15,” Quadrophenia was a critical and commercial success, peaking at #2 in both the U.S. and the U.K., and going on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA. In 2011, Townshend said he considers it to be the last truly great album The Who made.

Like Tommy, Quadrophenia inspired a film, but unlike Tommy, it was a drama, not a musical. Released in 1979 to critical acclaim and commercial success, it starred Phil Daniels as Jimmy, with The Police’s Sting as Ace Face.

In 1996, The Who performed Quadrophenia at a benefit show at London’s Hyde Park. Daniels served as the narrator, and guest stars included David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Gary Glitter and Stephen Fry. It marked Ringo Starr‘s son Zak Starkey‘s debut as the band’s drummer. A U.S. version of the tour featuring Billy Idol included a six-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

In 2010 The Who performed Quadrophenia at London’s Royal Albert Hall to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust, with guests including Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. In 2012, the band toured Quadrophenia again, this time without guest stars; in 2017, Townshend toured with an orchestral version called Classic Quadrophenia.

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The asset management company HarbourView Equity Partners has made deals with the estate of the late Christine McVie, and Pat Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo for the rights to their music.

Benatar and Giraldo made a deal that sees HarbourView acquiring a share of their recorded music and publishing for songs like “We Belong,” “Love is a Battlefield,” “Promises In The Dark,” “Heartbreaker” and more.

“We are overjoyed to welcome into our repertoire the iconic catalog of Pat and Neil. The works are cross generational, inspirational and a perfect complement to our portfolio,” HarbourView shares in a statement. “We are grateful to be stewards of this canon of work and look forward to partnering with Pat and Neil.”

The McVie deal includes the late singer/songwriter’s share of Fleetwood Mac record royalties. She wrote such popular Fleetwood Mac tunes as “Don’t Stop,” “Little Lies,” “Say You Love Me,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Don’t Stop” and “Songbird.”

“Christine’s remarkable talents played an integral role in shaping Fleetwood Mac’s sound,” HarbourView’s Sheresse Clarke Soares says. “Christine is a decorated and iconic legend in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. She is a global treasure. We hold her works with pride.”

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Grateful Dead fans are getting a chance to look back at the year that was with the just-released 2023 Grateful Dead Almanac. 

Started 31 years ago as a paper mailing to fans, the Almanac is now online, recounting all that went on in the Dead world in 2023, including the final tour of Dead & Company and what band members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh were up to. It also looks back at this year’s Jerry Garcia archival releases, the Here Comes Sunshine and Wake the Flood box sets, and more.

It also gives fans a preview of what is to come, including info on the upcoming Dave’s Picks Volume 49 and a tease about Volume 50. There’s also info on new merch and a whole lot more.

To read all about Grateful Dead’s year, check out the Almanac at dead.net.

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Nirvana‘s Krist Novoselic and Metallica‘s Robert Trujillo are featured in an upcoming docuseries called Are Bass Players Human Too?, hosted by Rush‘s Geddy Lee.

The show will find Lee visiting the homes of and jamming with fellow bassists as he “dive[s] deep into their lives and their inspirations.”

Primus‘ Les Claypool and Hole‘s Melissa Auf der Maur are taking part, as well.

Are Bass Players Human Too? premieres December 5 on Paramount+. You can watch its trailer streaming now on YouTube.

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KISS is getting closer to saying goodbye to the road, and if you haven’t already snagged tickets to one of their End of the Road tour shows, now’s your chance. 

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have just launched a new charity sweepstakes in which the winner and a guest will win a VIP experience to KISS’ Indianapolis concert on Saturday, November 25. The prize comes with access to the crew pit, where they’ll watch the show; a preshow soundcheck; and a Q&A. After the show, the winner will get to hang with the band as they fly on their legendary KISS private jet to their next show.

The winner will also be the personal guest of the band’s manager, Doc McGhee, and get a photo with the band before they take the stage. They’ll also be able to take photos with the rockers’ instruments, get a signed KISS 2023 tour poster and have the opportunity to hang at the KISS Army Captain’s Lounge. 

To enter the contest, fans need to make a donation at fandiem.com; proceeds from the sweepstakes benefit Children of the Rainforest. More info can be found at fandiem.com.

KISS’ End of the Road tour hits St. Louis, Missouri, on Wednesday, October 25. They say goodbye to the road for good with shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden, December 1 and 2. A complete list of dates can be found at kissonline.com.

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Over the weekend, Robert Plant performed the Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway to Heaven” for the first time in 16 years. You may be wondering why he finally decided to resurrect the tune. Well, it turns out that one song raised a lot of money for charity.

Plant performed “Stairway” at a charity concert put on by former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor for The Cancer Awareness Trust, where Taylor is receiving lifesaving targeted treatment for stage 4 prostate cancer. According to Kenwyn House, who played guitar that evening, Plant agreed to perform the song after a request came in from a big donor.

“Someone bid a huge amount of money for him to sing this song,” House told the fan site Led Zeppelin News. “There is a good circle of karma around it. That raised a six-figure sum for the charity, that one song.”

The last time Plant performed “Stairway” was December 10, 2007, at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London, which was also the last time Zeppelin members Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones performed together. They were backed on drums by Jason Bonham, son of their late drummer John Bonham.

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Looks like The Beatles are teasing fans with some news.

The legendary band’s website and social media accounts shared a new post Wednesday, October 25, featuring an orange and white cassette tape that appears to be playing, with “Type I (Normal) Position” written at the bottom and other details blurred out. 

Speculation is The Beatles are teasing their long-awaited final song, which Paul McCartney first revealed during an interview back in June.  

At the time, he said artificial intelligence was used to “extricate” John Lennon’s voice from an old demo for “the last Beatles record.” He later clarified his comments, insisting, “nothing has been artificially or synthetically created.”

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The Eagles continue to expand their farewell to the road.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just added six new shows to their The Long Goodbye tour, with Steely Dan booked as the special guest for all of them. 

The new shows launch January 19 in Phoenix, include stops in Austin, Houston, Hollywood, Florida and Chicago, and wraps March 13 in Toronto.

A ticket presale begins Wednesday, November 1, at 10 a.m. local time, with the general onsale happening Friday, November 3, at 10 a.m. local time.

Next up, Eagles hit Atlanta for a two-night stand at State Farm Arena on November 2 and 4. A complete list of dates can be found at eagles.com.

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Mick Jagger continued the promotion of The Rolling Stones’ new Hackney Diamonds album with a surprise appearance on the Tuesday, October 24, episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Jagger popped in during a sketch, “Freezer Secrets,” in which he and Fallon shared some truths while thinking they were locked in a soundproof freezer forever.

Among Jagger’s biggest confessions: Unlike The Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” suggests, he has indeed gotten satisfaction. He said it happened “way back in 1992” from popping bubble wrap.

“It’s just so satisfying,” Mick shared.

Jagger also revealed his real name is actually Rick, joking, “One time a barista got it wrong and I was too polite to correct her. It just got stuck.”

He also quipped about being the artist Banksy and said he always wanted to be a comedian. When Fallon asked “like me?” Jagger replied, “yes, like you … but funny.”

Hackney Diamonds, The Rolling Stones’ first album in 18 years, is out now.

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