Photos from a 1991 gig Nirvana played six days after the release of Nevermind are being turned into NFTs, with some of the proceeds from their auction going to charity.
Forbes reports that the pictures were taken at J.C. Dobbs in Philadelphia on October 1 by photographer Faith West, as the band played to about 150 people. To mark what would have been Kurt Cobain‘s 55th birthday, the NFTs are going up for auction on February 20 via Pop Legendz, a website West founded, and the NFT platform Rarible.
There are four unique NFTs created from 10 never-before-seen images, and bidding starts at 67 Ethereum, a digital currency, which is worth about $250,000. Each buyer will also get a fine-art print of one of the images, signed by the photographer. The 10 images are also being auctioned off individually as NFTs, in both black-and-white and color versions.
A second tier will allow 200 Nirvana fans to buy 14 artworks that have been created from three of the images, for $499. 100 copies each of 21 still images will be sold for $99 each. You can buy those with either Ethereum or a credit card.
According to the Pop Legendz site, half of the auction’s proceeds will benefit The Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicide among at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. Additionally, a portion of the other half of the proceeds will go to Grid Alternatives, which brings solar power to working poor families.
The music world is mourning the death of Bat Out of Hell singer Meat Loaf, who passed away Thursday at the age of 74. A cause of death is unknown at this time. The singer and actor, born Marvin Lee Aday, sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, appeared in more than 65 movies, and won a Grammy in 1994 for “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).”
Among the many stars saluting Meat Loaf on social media were Queen guitarist Brian May, Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive fame, and current Queen singer Adam Lambert, who played Eddie — the character Meat Loaf portrayed in The Rocky Horror Picture Show — in the 2016 TV revival of the musical film.
Other tributes came from Meat’s former duet partner Cher, Ted Nugent, Rob Thomas and Bonnie Tyler who, like Meat Loaf, also recorded hit songs by the late Jim Steinman.
Here’s what the music world is saying about the larger-than-life singer with the powerhouse voice:
Brian May: “Completely gutted that Meat Loaf has left us. Always full of madness, with the innocent sense of naughtiness of a 5-year old, Meat was forever young. I called him Mr Loaf, and he called me when he wanted some wacky guitar playing. We had so much fun so many times, and, just three months younger than me, he felt like a brother. Dear Meat, the world is mourning and will miss your fine and powerful presence for a very long time. RIP.”
Randy Bachman: “What a legend, what a career, what a legacy. Rest In Peace, Meatloaf. Thank you for the lifetime of music that will stay with us forever.”
Adam Lambert: “A gentle hearted powerhouse rockstar forever and ever. You were so kind. Your music will always be iconic. I’m sure you’re singing concerts in the great beyond. Rest In Peace sir.”
Cher: “Had So Much Fun With Meatloaf When We Did “Dead Ringer”. Am Very Sorry For His Family, Friends, & Fans. Am I imagining It, or Are Amazing Ppl In The Arts Dying every other Day⁉️”
Ted Nugent: Rest in peace my soulbrother soulmusic bloodbrother! A great man great American rocksolid in the asset column of the American dream! The wonderful Meatloaf force of nature will be with us forever.
Rob Thomas: “I was sitting in a hotel lobby one evening with friends when a nice woman came over and said ‘Loaf would like you to come up to his room’ I was taken aback but you gotta go where the loaf tells you to go. I went up to his room and he was sitting on his bed listening to a cassette of my local band, pre Matchbox, Tabitha’s Secret. It turned out he had been listening to that since the late 90s and was a big fan and just wanted to connect. It was a surreal and wonderful moment with a legend and I’m thankful for it. #rip Marvin and Long Live Loaf.”
Bonnie Tyler: “I am shocked & saddened by the sudden death of Meat Loaf. He was, as you might imagine, a larger than life character with a voice & stage presence to match & is one of those rare people who truly was a one off talent and personality. Rest In Peace.”
Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid: “A complete original. Meatloaf was the exact opposite of what ‘success’ in Rock & Roll was SUPPOSED to look like. The Anti-Plant. He WORKED being a Mystery Date ‘Dud’ into the ‘100 Million Sold’ that’s the ONLY reason he’s relevant to the Fancy Folk pretending to love him now.”
The Zombies were scheduled to return to the road next month for their first tour of their U.K. homeland since 2018, but the trek has now been postponed until 2023.
According to a note on the group’s Facebook page, the postponement is necessary because “one of the band members requires an urgent (but non-life-threatening) medical procedure, and a full 6 weeks of recovery time before he can perform.”
The message continues, “We truly appreciate the patience and understanding of our fans, many of whom have held on to their tickets, despite this tour already being postponed twice due to COVID.”
The U.K. shows, which were to have taken place in February and March of this year, are now scheduled for April and May of 2023. A few new British dates also have been added to The Zombies’ itinerary.
Tickets to the postponed shows will be honored for the rescheduled dates, but refunds also will be available at the point of purchase.
According to their website, the rest of The Zombies’ 2022 tour plans remain unchanged. The band is scheduled to take part on the Flower Power Cruise, which sets sail from Miami on March 28, and then are slated to launch a U.S. trek that’s mapped out from an April 1 show in Orlando, Florida, through a May 1 concert in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The band also has a few Canadian shows scheduled for July, as well as a July 15 concert in Everett, Washington, and a July 28-30 engagement in Park City, Utah. The group also has a tour of mainland Europe set to take place in September.
John Mellencamp‘s first studio album in five years, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, was released today.
As previously reported, Bruce Springsteen appears on three of the album’s 12 tracks — “Wasted Days,” “Did You Say Such a Thing” and “A Life Full of Rain.”
In a new interview with USA Today, Mellecamp discusses the inspiration for “Wasted Days,” which was released as an advance single back in September 2021.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who turned 70 last year, notes that the song finds him reflecting on his mortality.
“I figure I’ve got about 10 summers left…I’ve had 70 summers and it’s just a math problem,” he maintains. “When you’re a kid, summers go on forever. But on the sliding ruler, you start pushing it toward time and you realize that 70 summers have come and gone, you don’t want to waste them. I’ll never perform in the summer again because I want to enjoy the summer.”
Mellencamp tells the newspaper that the album’s title refers to a cynical character he devised as the narrator of the songs, noting, “The most dangerous card in the deck is the one-eyed Jack…he has a sword behind his back.”
The album kicks off with the song “I Always Lie to Strangers,” in which, as Mellencamp explains, the character tells the listener “don’t trust me, I’m gonna lie to you and I know you’re gonna lie to me.” John adds, “[T]he whole thing comes to a head in the last verse, ‘this world is run by men much more crooked than me.’ He’s telling you, ‘I know I’m a scoundrel, but the people you pay attention to are bigger liars than me.'”
Strictly a One-Eyed Jack is now available on CD, vinyl and digitally. Here’s the full track list:
“I Always Lie to Strangers”
“Driving in the Rain”
“I Am a Man That Worries”
“Streets of Galilee”
“Sweet Honey Brown”
“Did You Say Such a Thing” (with Bruce Springsteen)
“Gone So Soon”
“Wasted Days” (with Bruce Springsteen)
“Simply a One-Eyed Jack”
“Chasing Rainbows”
“Lie to Me”
“A Life Full of Rain” (with Bruce Springsteen)
The news was confirmed in a statement on the rocker and actor’s Facebook page.
“Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side,” the statement reads. “Daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends have been with him throughout the last 24 hours.”
The post notes Meat Loaf’s “amazing career,” which spanned six decades. Meat Loaf, birth name Marvin Lee Aday, sold 100 million album sales worldwide and starred in over 65 movies including Fight Club, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wayne’s World. His 1977 album Bat Out of Hell is one of the top selling albums of all time and he scored a number one hit with 1993’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).”
The statement continues, “We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man…From his heart to your souls…don’t ever stop rocking!
Patti Smith has announced plans for a special livestream event that will take place February 2 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, that will feature her performing songs, telling stories, and reciting some of her poetry and prose.
Patti will be joined by her longtime band mates Lenny Kaye and Tony Shanahan during the presentation, which will be available exclusively to paid subscribers to her Substack page.
Substack subscribers also can submit questions and requests that Smith may respond to or fulfill during the show. After the livestream, which begins at 8 p.m. ET, the presentation will be available on demand for 24 hours.
You can check out a video message from Patti sharing details about the livestream and her Substack page.
Substack is an online platform that’s geared toward writers interested in connecting directly with their audiences. Smith joined the platform last year, and has been using it to debut weekly installments of her first serialized long-form work, The Melting.
The Melting began as a series of writings from Patti’s private pandemic journal, and has expanded into covering other topics, incorporating elements of science fiction and including reflections on the climate crisis. The ongoing work, which so far is made up of almost 40 installments and is nearing completion, also features audio recordings and photos.
Meanwhile, the 75-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and her band are scheduled for their first concert of 2022 on February 22 in Brooklyn, New York. You can check out her full itinerary at PattiSmith.net.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for God’s Love we Deliver
The first all-female edition of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, which originally was scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from January 27 to January 30, has been postponed because of ongoing COVID-19 concerns, and now will be held over Mother’s Day weekend, May 6-9.
Topping the list of artists taking part in this installment of Rock Camp are Heart‘s Nancy Wilson, Melissa Etheridge and Go-Go’s bassist Kathy Valentine.
Other talented musicians who will serve as musical mentors to the campers include Australian guitar whiz Orianthi, ex-Hole and Mötley Crüe drummer Samantha Maloney, former Michael Jackson touring guitarist Jennifer Batten, Jeff Beck touring bassist Rhonda Smith and many more.
Besides the accomplished musicians taking part in the camp, the crew and staff for the event also will be solely comprised of women.
The four-day event will feature masterclasses, Q&A sessions and themed jams, and will culminate with the campers performing in front of a live audience at the famed Whisky a Go Go club in West Hollywood, California. The campers also will be treated to a pre-Grammy party on Saturday night.
Wilson says of the decision to reschedule the event, “The thrill of attending Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is the up close and personal attention each camper receives from our RockStar counselors. With the current restrictions, this completely changes the whole experience. Looking forward to rocking out safely Mother’s Day Weekend.”
Patti Smith, Iggy Pop and New Order‘s Bernard Sumner are among the music artists who will be taking part in the 2022 Tibet House US virtual benefit concert, scheduled for March 3.
Smith is part of the event’s performance lineup, which also includes Phish‘s Trey Anastasio, Nathaniel Rateliff, Laurie Anderson, Angélique Kidjo and country artists Jason Isbell and Margo Price, as well as actor Keanu Reeves, who you may remember played bass in the ’90s alt-rock band Dogstar.
As for Pop and Sumner, they will be providing “special greetings” during the event.
Influential composer Philip Glass is the event’s artistic director.
Now in its 35th year, the annual concert raises money for Tibet House US, a non-profit organization that works to preserve Tibetan culture. It’s usually held in-person at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, but is taking place online for the second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can watch the 2022 Tibet House US concert via the streaming platform Mandolin. For more info, visit Mandolin.com.
After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is scheduled to return this spring with a lineup that includes headlining performances by The Who, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Buffett,and The Black Crowes.
The festival is scheduled to take place over the course of two consecutive weeks, April 29-May 1 and May 5-May 8. Many of the major artists on the 2022 bill had been scheduled to perform at either the 2020 or the 2021 festival.
The first weekend will feature performances by The Who, Foo Fighters, Lionel Richie, Randy Newman and many, many more.
Weekend two’s lineup will include Nicks, Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band, The Black Crowes, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Melissa Etheridge, Boz Scaggs, blues great Buddy Guy, members of The Neville Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, The Radiators and Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, as well as a Bob Marley set from Ziggy Marley and a tribute to the late Dr. John.
For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit NOJazzFest.com.
Jimi Hendrix‘s estate has filed a lawsuit against the heirs of the two other original members of The Jimi Hendrix Experience — bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell — after those parties threatened to sue Jimi’s estate for millions of pounds in alleged unpaid royalties, Billboard reports.
The Hendrix estate, along with the Sony Music label, filed a suit in a New York City court on Tuesday asking that the court rule they owe no money to Redding’s and Mitchell’s estates.
In documents obtained by Billboard, the Hendrix estate and Sony explain they launched their action after the Redding and Mitchell estates sent them a cease-and-desist letter in December in which they threatened to file a lawsuit in a British court demanding millions of pounds in unpaid royalties dating back to 1973.
Hendrix’s estate and Sony maintain that Redding and Mitchell had signed away rights to Hendrix’s royalties in exchange for a monetary settlement during legal proceedings that followed the guitar legend’s death in 1970.
However, in the December letter, reps for the Redding and Mitchell estates claimed that the agreements Noel and Mitch signed weren’t enforceable.
“For almost half a century, there has never been any claim by defendants or their successors…concerning the copyright ownership, exploitation of these recordings by plaintiffs, or payments of royalties,” the Hendrix estate and Sony wrote in their suit.
The plaintiffs aren’t seeking any monetary damages in the lawsuit; rather, they want the court to declare that they haven’t done anything wrong.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience formed in 1966. Redding left the group in 1969, while Mitchell continued to play with the band until Jimi’s death in September 1970 at age 27. Noel passed away in 2003 at the age of 52, while Mitchell died in 2008 at age 62.
