Classic Rock 93.9

A deluxe version of the 1993 Nirvana biography, Come As You Are, will be released on October 24.

Dubbed The Amplified Comes As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, the updated book includes “hundreds of extensive new essay-like annotations” by original author Michael Azerrad.

“Rereading Come As You Are for the annotated edition, I began to notice some patterns that I hadn’t noticed when I was in the thick of writing the original version,” Azerrad says. “Maybe I was too young to see them; maybe I was looking the other way because I was smitten by my subject; maybe I had to work too fast to notice such things.”

“The idea behind The Amplified Come As You Are is to comment on my 1993 book,” Azerrad continues. “To illuminate what’s there, and mine it for insights on Nirvana, its members, and the time in which the band existed.”

The original Come As You Are is often considered the definitive Nirvana biography and is the only book to feature original interviews with Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. It was published just months before Cobain died in 1994.

The Amplified Come As You Are will arrive just ahead of the upcoming 30th anniversary reissue of Nirvana 1993’s In Utero album, due out October 27.

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Procol Harum‘s late frontman Gary Brooker will be celebrated this December with a star-studded concert in the U.K.

Eric Clapton, Genesis’ Mike Rutherford and Queen’s Roger Taylor are among the artists confirmed for the concert, Remembering Gary Brooker, taking place Monday, December 4, at G Live in Guildford, Surrey, England.

The concert also features Squeeze’s Paul Carrack, Dire Straits’ bassist John Illsley, Andy Fairweather Low and Mike Sanchez, who will all be backed by a house band made up of session musicians, some of whom played with Procol Harum on tour.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit two charities important to Brooker: The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Cure Parkinson’s.

Tickets for the concert go on sale Thursday, September 28, at 10 a.m. local time.

Brooker, the founder and lead singer of Procol Harum, passed away February 19, 2022, after a battle with cancer. He was 76.

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t sounds like Mick Jagger is not completely against the idea of The Rolling Stones living on long after he and his bandmates are gone.

“You can have a posthumous business now, can’t you? You can have a posthumous tour,” he tells WSJ. Magazine in their October issue, suggesting he wouldn’t be opposed to an avatar-type tour. He notes, “The technology has really moved on since the ABBA thing,” referring to the group’s virtual Voyage show.

As for the future, Jagger says the band has no intention of selling their catalog like many artists have been doing lately, even though doing so could mean more money for his kids. He jokes, “the children don’t need $500 million to live well. Come on.” 

Jagger turned 80 this year, which may seem like a big milestone to some, but he doesn’t look at it as a big deal. Asked how it feels different than 70, he simply replied, “They’re both big numbers. One’s more than the other one.”

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Elvis Costello is heading back out on the road in 2024. The rocker just announced dates for his 7-0-7 tour, where he’ll be backed by his band The Imposters and Charlie Sexton.

The tour will kick off January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida, with dates in Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville and more. It will wrap February 2 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“We implore you, dear connoisseurs, to mark your calendars, ready your senses and spring forth with willing, curious hearts for the extravaganza that is the 7-0-7 Tour,” reads the announcement on Elvis’ website. “As the days grow shorter, anticipation swells. Remember that this is not just a concert—it is a communion of amorous spirits, an odyssey of pure, unadulterated elation.”

For those wanting tickets, an artist presale begins Wednesday, September 27, at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the general onsale Friday, September 29, at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at elviscostello.com.

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The Rolling Stones are ready to give fans another taste of their upcoming album Hackney Diamonds, due out October 20.

The band announced on Instagram that they’ll release their Lady Gaga collaboration, “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” at noon on Thursday, September 28. You can presave or preadd it now.

The song also features Stevie Wonder on keyboards. You can hear him playing — and Gaga vocalizing a bit — in a snippet of the song on Instagram.

On the Stones’ Instagram Story, they reveal that the song is pretty epic: It runs seven minutes and 22 seconds.

This will be the second track The Stones have released off Hackney Diamonds following the single “Angry.” The album’s title is a reference to the London neighborhood of Hackney, which has a reputation as a rough place. “Hackney Diamonds” is British slang for pieces of broken glass from car windshields and store windows following a robbery.

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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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