The Black Crowes’ Chris Robison on the band’s 2015 breakup: ‘I was angry’

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson says anger prompted him to make moves in 2015 that wound up breaking up the band.

In an interview on Jay Mohr’s Mohr Stories podcast, Chris discussed the breakup, which his brother Rich Robinson said happened when Chris asked for a bigger stake in the band. Chris told Jay he asked for more money because he knew it would lead to the breakup.

“I had to remove myself because I was heartbroken about the whole thing,” he said. “I was angry.”

He said at the time their manager asked what it would take for him to continue with the band.

“And I knew this would be the nail in the head. I knew I could also set it down,” he explained. “I said, ‘I want more money then. If this is a cash cow, then I want my side of beef.’”

He added, “It’s not like I did it out of some random thing. I did it completely to put a nail in this thing, ’cause I knew.”

Chris said that during that period he felt the band was “out there just chasing money so everyone can live a certain lifestyle.”

“I felt, in all honesty, I was, like, I’m not here for that. And I’m not done. As an artist, as a person, I’m not done. This isn’t over,” he said.

“I’m also completely aware and prepared for that to sound selfish, self-indulgent,” he continued. “I did it to be cruel in a way, too, ’cause my heart was broken. And my spirit. I wasn’t gonna allow my spirit to be broken.”

The Black Crowes went on to reunite in 2019 and have since released two albums, 2019’s Happiness Bastards and 2026’s A Pound of Feathers. They are on tour now.

Mickey Hart in search of original poster from his first Grateful Dead show

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is hoping to get his hands on a very personal piece of Dead memorabilia.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer posted a photo on social media of a tour poster for the band’s Sept. 29 and 30, 1967, concerts at the Straight Theater in San Francisco. He captioned the post, “Looking for Straight Theater original poster to complete my collection. Will trade!”

Turns out the Straight Theater shows were Mickey’s first-ever performances with the Grateful Dead, an experience he wrote about on his website back in 2015.

In the website post, Hart wrote that he joined the band during their second set, noting, “It was amazing and my life was changed forever – as many of ours are, once we’ve tasted life on the bus.”

He added that after the two gigs he “moved into a closet” in Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann’s apartment “and became the sixth member of the Grateful Dead.”

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson announces ‘The Mandrake Project: Year Two’ graphic novel

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has announced the next volume in his graphic novel series, The Mandrake Project.

The latest book, titled The Mandrake Project: Year Two, is expected to ship in October and is available to preorder now via Z2 Comics.

“Oh, just hold on to your proverbial hats folks… This one gets REALLY weird!” Dickinson says of the story.

The Mandrake Project series first launched in 2025. Dickinson also released a solo album called The Mandrake Project in 2024.

Iron Maiden, meanwhile, will launch a North American tour in August. They’re also being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.

In addition to on the page and the stage, you can see Dickinson on the screen in the new Maiden documentary, Burning Ambition, in theaters now.

Watch Foo Fighters face the Wings of Death on ’Hot Ones Versus’

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters are featured in the latest episode of Hot Ones Versus.

The Hot Ones spinoff series forces contestants to answer personal questions about themselves, but if they don’t, they have to eat a spicy Wing of Death. The person who consumes the fewest wings is deemed the winner and goes home with the coveted chicken wing trophy.

Overall, all the Foos members mostly elected to tell the truth, either out of an effort to be candid or just to avoid the Wings of Death. For example, Dave Grohl had no issue choosing the “cringiest” Foo Fighters lyric: “It’s a shame we have to die, my dear/ No ones getting out of here alive” off “DOA.”

“I just thought that’s so f****** stupid,” Grohl said.

Keyboardist Rami Jaffee, however, did choose to eat a wing instead of picking to drop one of the following Foos songs from the set: “Everlong,” “Learn to Fly,” “Best of You” or “All My Life.”

The contest was eventually decided by a game of musical chairs, which was won by guitarist Chris Shiflett.

You may recall that Grohl previously appeared on Hot Ones proper back in 2022. He called being on the show a bucket-list moment, comparing the experience to when he first performed on Saturday Night Live and David Letterman’s show.

In other Foos news, the band is releasing the video for “Of All People,” a song off their new album, Your Favorite Toy, on Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET. Judging by a preview clip, the video will feature a bunch of people attempting to ski in places other than snowy mountains.

Foo Fighters will launch a North American stadium tour in support of Your Favorite Toy in August.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

‘Distasteful’: Rush’s Geddy Lee says drummers reached out about joining the band after Neil Peart’s passing

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rush is getting ready to hit the road for their first tour since drummer Neil Peart’s death, with Anika Nilles filling in behind the drum kit.

The band stopped touring in 2015 due to Peart’s health. In a new interview with Guitar World, frontman Geddy Lee says after Peart passed in 2020, there plenty of drummers interested in taking over his job — and some were a little too anxious.

“People who are close to us – good friends that are successful drummers – would never infer something like that because they have too much respect, not only for Neil and for the situation,” Lee tells the mag. “They were grieving as well, so they wouldn’t be so selfish as to say something inappropriate like that.”

But, he adds, “there were many other drummers who reached out to me in the aftermath of Neil’s passing that were pushing themselves, and that was most distasteful to me. It was completely inappropriate timing.”

Rush is set to launch their Fifty Something tour with a four-night run in Los Angeles starting June 7. The North American leg wraps Dec. 17 in Vancouver, followed by dates in South America, the U.K. and Europe. The complete touring schedule can be found at Rush.com.

Squeeze reunites with original member Jools Holland for first time in almost four decades

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

There was a Squeeze reunion on the latest episode of the BBC music show Later… With Jools Holland.

Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook reunited with their former bandmate Holland on the Sunday night episode, with the trio performing Squeeze’s debut single, “Take Me I’m Yours,” which was released in 1978.

The performance kicked off the 68th season of Later… With Jools Holland and marked the trio’s first performance together in 36 years.

Holland was a founding member of Squeeze and played keyboards in the band until 1980. He appeared on the band’s first three albums — their 1978 self-titled debut, 1979’s Cool for Cats and 1980’s Argybargy — before leaving to launch a solo career.

In addition to the “Take Me I’m Yours” performance, Squeeze performed “Why Don’t You” and “The Place We Call Mars” from their most recent album, Trixies.

Squeeze is set to hit the road on a North American tour this summer with Adam Ant, Haircut 100 and Glenn’s son, Leon Tilbrook. The tour kicks off Aug. 16 in Nashville and wraps Sept. 27 in Detroit.

A complete list of tour dates can be found at SqueezeOfficial.com.

The Black Crowes to play 2026 Corona Capital festival

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Black Crowes have added another show to their 2026 schedule.

The rockers are set to play the 2026 Corona Capital festival, taking place Nov. 20-22 in Mexico City. They are set to play the closing night, which features headliners The Strokes.

The lineup also features fellow headliners Gorillaz and Twenty One Pilots, as well as Mumford & Sons, Violet Grohl, Johnny Marr and others.

Presales begin May 26, and tickets go on sale to the general public on May 27.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit CoronaCapital.com.mx.

The Black Crowes launched their Southern Hospitality tour with Whiskey Myers on Sunday in Austin, Texas. The tour hits Rogers, Arkansas, on Tuesday, with the first leg wrapping June 20 in Newark, New Jersey. After a set of European and U.K. dates, the tour resumes July 17 in Indianapolis and wraps Aug. 20 in Mountain View, California.

A complete list of dates can be found at TheBlackCrowes.com.

Rod Stewart hints at retirement, says 2027 shows will ‘probably be it’

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

While Rod Stewart has famously declared that he doesn’t want to retire, he now seems to be hinting at it — at least when it comes to touring.

While calling in to the British sports network talkSPORT on Monday to discuss his favorite soccer team, Rod, 81, was asked what his upcoming touring plans were. He told the hosts that after performing at a private event in Monaco, he was headed to Las Vegas for his latest run of shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which start on May 27.

“I’ve got 40 odd shows this year, and that’s that’s not really…enough,” he added. “And I’m touring the U.K. next year, doing the O2 [arena] and that’ll probably be it, I think. I’ll have to do something new. Come on your show more often, maybe.”

Asked if he still gets a “massive buzz” from being onstage, Rod agreed, noting, “There’s nothing like it. There’s no drink, alcohol or drug will give you that buzz … to see all those smiling faces out there and … send them all home happy is just God’s gift. It’s wonderful.”

The 2027 shows Rod referred to haven’t actually been announced yet. The rest of this year will see him playing a mix of headlining shows, a few dates with Richard Marx, some festivals and yet another run of Vegas shows in August.

In late 2024, when Rod announced his ongoing One Last Time tour, he said it would be the end of “large-scale world tours” for him. He then added, “I have no desire to retire. I love what I do, and I do what I love.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, May 19, CBS will air Forever Young: A GRAMMY Salute to Rod Stewart LIVE.

50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ celebrated with spatial audio listening events

May 19, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pink Floyd’s classic album Wish You Were Here turned 50 last year, but the milestone continues to be celebrated.

The latest event marking the album’s anniversary is taking place in London, where the album will be played from start to finish in 360-degree spatial audio at the intimate listening room Polygon Portal in Soho.

The announcement on Instagram describes the experience as, “Every guitar line, every breath, every shimmering synth pad moving all around you. This is Wish You Were Here as you’ve never heard it before.”

The playbacks will be hosted May 30 and 31, and then again in June. Tickets are on sale now.

Released Sept. 12, 1975, Wish You Were Here was a huge hit for Pink Floyd, reaching #1 in both the U.S. and U.K. It became Pink Floyd’s fastest-selling album ever and went on to sell 20 million copies.

The album featured the nine-part “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” which was a tribute to founding member Syd Barrett, who’d been fired seven years earlier due to his drug use and mental health issues. The album’s title track became a classic rock staple and has often made lists of the greatest songs of all time.

KISS announces October fan event in Germany

May 18, 2026 by Classic Rock 93.9

KISS has announced another 2026 fan event, this time in Germany.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of their first-ever show in Germany on May 18, 1975, the band revealed on social media that they will soon be announcing details of a new fan event happening in Germany in October.

The post notes, “this is one you won’t want to miss!”

Fans are encouraged to sign up for the KISS Army for updates on the event.

The news comes about a month after KISS announced details of the second edition of KISS Kruise: Landlocked in Vegas.

This year’s event is taking place Nov. 13-15 at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas and will once again feature two KISS unmasked shows with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer. It will also include Q&As and activities with the band.

The weekend will also feature an all-star tribute to KISS founding member Ace Frehley, who passed away in 2025, plus performances by Night Ranger, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, Slaughter and Faster Pussycat. There will also be a preparty on Nov. 12 featuring the Ace Frehley Band, Enuff Z’Nuff and others.

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