Classic Rock 93.9

Ringo Starr, Toto and guitarist Joe Bonamassa are just a few of the artists signed on to perform for a special show to help raise funds for The Ed Asner Family Center, which provides programs to support special needs children and their families.

The concert is happening September 9 at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, with a lineup that also includes Stone Temple Pilots, Men at Work’s Colin Hay and Hoobastank, all of whom will be backed by an all-star band for their three-song set.

Toto’s Steve Lukather says the organization is one that’s been very important to his family. “I am honored to be a part of this event as the cause is very close to my heart,” he says. “The Center has done unbelievable, incredible things for my son Bodhi. May it be a source of support for families forever.”

Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday, June 23, at 10 a.m. local time.

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Metallica has announced a 72 Seasons-themed edition of the band’s Blackened Whiskey.

The latest batch of the metal legends’ signature spirit comes in a bottle inspired by the cover artwork of the new 72 Seasons album. Additionally, songs from 72 Seasons were played during the “Black Noise” distilling process, which uses the sound waves of Metallica’s music to help “shape the flavor” of the whiskey.

The 72 Seasons edition of Blackened Whiskey is 90 proof — that’s 45% alcohol by volume — and comes in a 750 mL bottle. For more info, visit BlackenedWhiskey.com.

Metallica released 72 Seasons, their 11th album, in April. Their M72 world tour supporting the record just wrapped its first European leg and will kick off in the U.S. in August.

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A new box set will celebrate the music of Beck, Bogert & Appice, the power trio made up of legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, bassist/singer Tim Bogert and drummer/singer Carmine Appice.

Live In Japan 1973, Live In London 1974 is dedicated to Beck, who passed away in 2023, and Bogert, who passed away in 2021. It will capture the trio’s short partnership, highlighting two concerts recorded at Koseinenkin Hall in Osaka, Japan, in May 1973, and one of their final performances at London’s Rainbow Theatre in January 1974. The latter includes a live version of “Superstition,” which you can listen to now via streaming services. 

The set is due out September 15 in a variety of formats, including a five-CD or four-LP set, as well as a purple vinyl version. It will include a booklet with extended liner notes, memorabilia, archival photos and more.

Live In Japan 1973, Live In London 1974 is available for preorder now.

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Paul McCartney is setting the record straight about reports artificial intelligence was used to “extricate” John Lennon’s voice from an old demo, for what he says will be “the last Beatles record.”

McCartney first revealed the news of the new Beatles song in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Best of Today podcast. But in a post to social media, McCartney seems to suggest people have been interpreting his comments the wrong way.

McCartney starts off noting that it’s been “great to see such an exciting response to our forthcoming Beatles project.”

“No one is more excited than us to be sharing something with you later in the year,” he says. But he adds there’s been “some confusion and speculation” about the song. “Seems to be a lot of guess work out there.”

While he admits he “can’t say too much” about the tune right now, McCartney wants fans to know “nothing has been artificially or synthetically created.”  

“It’s all real and we all play on it. We cleaned up some existing recordings – a process which has gone on for years,” he clarifies. “We hope you love it as much as we do. More news in due course.”

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On this day, June 22, 1971…

Joni Mitchell released her quintessential confessional singer/songwriter LP Blue, now considered one of the greatest albums of all time.

The album included the track “River,” which went on to become a holiday standard, and “A Case of You,” as well as songs about Mitchell’s relationships with James Taylor and Graham Nash, and the daughter she gave up for adoption in 1966. 

Blue peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.

The album has earned a spot on many greatest albums lists, including Rolling Stone’s Greatest Albums of All Time list, where it landed at #3 in 2020.

Mitchell recently returned to the stage after a more than 20 year absence, performing at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022, and at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre in early June. A live album of her Newport concert, Joni Mitchell at Newport, will be released July 28.

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The mechanical bull from the 2022 Commonwealth Games has officially been named after Ozzy Osbourne, the BBC reports.

The 33-foot statue was first unveiled during the sporting event, which took place in the Black Sabbath frontman’s hometown of Birmingham, England. Ozzy also performed during the closing night of the festivities, joining Tony Iommi for renditions of the Sabbath classics “Iron Main” and “Paranoid.”

“I can’t believe it, I’m absolutely blown away,” Ozzy tells the BBC. “I don’t know what to say any more, I’m just thrilled to bits. God bless you all, and Birmingham forever!”

As previously reported, Ozzy was one of four potential names for the bull, which was chosen by a public vote. The other possibilities were Boulton, referring to 1700s industrialist and Birmingham native Matthew Boulton, as well as Brummie and Bostin, slang for a Birmingham resident and the word “great,” respectively.

Ozzy’s Commonwealth set marked his first live performance in three years. Earlier this year, Ozzy announced his retirement from touring due to health issues, though he later said he wanted to continue to perform live. He’s scheduled to play the upcoming Power Trip festival in October alongside AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool.

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Dead & Company is currently on what they’re calling The Final Tour, but drummer Mickey Hart doesn’t seem so sure how “final” it is.

“Who knows what the next page is, we’re just turning the page,” he tells ABC Audio. “It’s not final anything. We never said we’ll never play again, but we’ll never tour again.” Not that he sees the end of this iteration of the Grateful Dead ending as bad: “Some things, good things, they come to an end and it’s really good to put a period on it and then move on.”

After almost 60 years of touring, Mickey says one of his favorite things about being a member of the Dead has been “raising [the] consciousness of millions of people, and helping them enjoy life and themselves and their families.” When it comes to his job, he says he’s “the luckiest guy in the world.”

As for why Dead music has had such a lasting appeal over generations of music fans, Mickey says it’s because “it’s a kind music. It’s a happy music,” adding it has “deep meaning for many people but it’s packaged in a rock ‘n’ roll band.” But, he shares, “This thing transcends rock ‘n’ roll. It stands for something wholly other than a rock ‘n’ roll band.”  

Dead & Company will play the second of two nights at New York’s Citi Field on June 22 before moving to Boston’s Fenway Park on June 24 and 25. The tour wraps with a two-night stand in San Francisco, July 15 and 16. A complete list of dates can be found at deadandcompany.com.

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Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, Melanie Hamrick, is opening up about their relationship and is clarifying the meaning behind the diamond ring she wears, which was a gift from The Rolling Stones frontman. 

“I mean, I have to giggle because did Mick give me the ring? Yes. Is it for that finger? Yes,” she tells People. “But are we like, horny teenagers where we’re giving each other … In my mind, it’s a promise ring. We’ll be immature and call it a promise ring.”

As for whether that means they’ll walk down the aisle at any point, she shares, “I don’t know. I’m kind of like, a live-in-the-moment type of person, so who knows.” 

Jagger and Hamrick have been dating since 2014 and have a 7-year-old son together, Deveraux. While she has shared video of their son on social media, she says she prefers to not share too much.

“If we didn’t have social media, then no one would know anything about your life. So I guess it’s, why don’t we keep it as it would be if there wasn’t social media and share the things that you want to share,” she says. “I like that approach. I think what goes on in someone’s home is private.”

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Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 50th anniversary concert, which was also their final show with guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington, is coming to the big screen.

The 50th Anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd: An Exclusive Concert Film Experience will have a weeklong run in movie theaters, drive-ins and outdoor venues from July 8 to 14.

The concert took place in November 2022 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. It featured a host of special guests, including Jelly Roll, Brothers Osborne‘s John Osborne, Marcus King, Shinedown‘s Brent Smith and 38 Special‘s Donnie Van Zant, brother of current Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant and their late frontman, Ronnie Van Zant.

Rossington had stopped regularly touring with the band in 2020 but showed up for the Ryman show, where he played most of the set. He passed away March 5, 2023. 

Tickets for the concert film are on sale now.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is set to hit the road this summer with ZZ Top on The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour. It kicks off Friday, July 21, in West Palm Beach, Florida. A complete list of dates can be found at lynyrdskynyrd.com.

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Another iconic piece of Van Halen memorabilia is up for sale.  

A mini replica of Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat guitar, used in the video for the hit “Hot For Teacher,” is currently up for grabs on eBay. The non-playing red guitar with black and white stripes is the one that “young” Eddie plays in the clip, and it is signed by the rocker. 

“You are looking at quite possibly the oldest piece of legitimate Van Halen memorabilia to ever go up for sale,” reads the description of the guitar. “This is maybe the most amazing piece of memorabilia I have ever owned with rock solid provenance.”

The guitar comes with a leather carrying case, as well as the outfit the young Eddie, played by Bryan Hitchcock, wore in the clip. Photos from the shoot, as well as photos from the 1985 American Video Awards, are also included. 

All of this will cost you a pretty penny. The guitar’s current asking price is over $219,000. But that is cheap compared to the original “Hot For Teacher” Frankenstrat, which was sold in April for almost $4 million.

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