Classic Rock 93.9 – Page 759 – Classic Rock 93.9

Robbie Robertson is doing a Twitter listening party for reissue of The Band’s ‘Cahoots’

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

The 50th anniversary edition of The Band‘s album Cahoots is out today, and next week, The Band’s Robbie Robertson will jump on Twitter to participate in a listening party for the release.

The new edition of Cahoots features the original album in newly remixed and remastered form, along with outtakes, instrumentals and other rarities, plus a partial recording of a frequently bootlegged concert from 1971.

Robertson, who oversaw the new mix, will share memories and stories about recording the original album during the “Tim’s Twitter Listening Party,” an ongoing online series which was started in March of 2020 by Tim Burgess of the U.K. band The Charlatans. It starts December 15 at 4 p.m. EST/1 p.m. PST. To participate, visit timstwitterlisteningparty.com.

Cahoots, The Band’s fourth studio album, features well-known tracks like “Life Is a Carnival,” their version of Bob Dylan‘s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” and the Van Morrison collaboration “4% Pantomime.”

Queen drummer says Sacha Baron Cohen would’ve made a terrible Freddie Mercury

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rami Malek won the Oscar for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, but when the project was first proposed back in 2010, it was Sacha Baron Cohen who was originally cast as Mercury in the film. Now, Queen drummer Roger Taylor says he thinks Cohen would have been terrible in the role.

Cohen exited the project in 2013 over creative differences, and Malek was eventually cast. Now, Taylor tells Classic Rock magazine that he thinks Cohen would’ve been “utter s**t” in the role of Freddie.

“Sacha is pushy, if nothing else. He’s also six inches too tall,” Taylor continues. “But I watched his last five films and came to the conclusion he’s not a very good actor…I thought he was an utterly brilliant subversive comedian, that’s what he’s great at. Anyway, I think Rami did a brilliant job in an almost impossible role.”

“We kind of got it right in the end,” Taylor adds of Bohemian Rhapsody. “We wanted to take people on a journey, make them feel up and then down, then joyous at the end.”

The Academy might disagree with Taylor about Cohen’s acting abilities: He was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the 2020 movie The Trial of the Chicago 7.

The Monkees’ Michael Nesmith dead at 78

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

Michael Nesmith, singer/guitarist and songwriter for The Monkees who went on to become a respected producer, and a pioneer in the nascent field of music video, has died at the age of 78.

The Monkees’ manager, Andrew Sandoval, confirmed the news on Facebook, writing, “It is with deep sadness that I mark the passing of Michael Nesmith. We shared many travels and projects together over the course of 30 years, which culminated in a Monkees farewell tour that wrapped up only a few weeks ago.”

“That tour was a true blessing for so many. And in the end I know that Michael was at peace with his legacy which included songwriting, producing, acting, direction and so many innovative ideas and concepts,” Sandoval continued. “I am positive the brilliance he captured will resonate and offer the love and light towards which he always moved.”

“Nez expressed the highest part of his being through his voice,” Sandoval wrote. “And you could get no closer to him then through knowing his work. May all those who loved him feel his comfort at this time – just listen and he will be there for you.”

He ended by posting a quote from Nesmith’s song “I’ll Remember You”: “Thank you for the times you gave me, thank you for the tears you saved me, please take this song as my thanks to you.”

Nesmith’s family told Rolling Stone in a statement, “With Infinite Love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time and we thank you for the love and light that all of you have shown him and us.”

His death leaves Micky Dolenz as the only living member of The Monkees. Fellow members Davy Jones and Peter Tork died in 2012 and 2019, respectively.

John Mellencamp releases new track from upcoming album, which has a cover courtesy of his son

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

Most fans know that John Mellencamp is a talented painter, but it seems like his son is following in his footsteps.

On Friday, the rocker revealed that the painting on the cover of his new album Strictly a One-Eyed Jack — which shows him wearing an eyepatch — was done by his 26-year-old son, Speck Mellencamp.

Also on Friday, Mellencamp released another new song from the album, “Chasing Rainbows,” along with a lyric video. It’s the second song we’ve heard from the project, following the September release of a duet with Bruce Springsteen titled “Wasted Days.”

John also debuted a new acoustic tune from the album titled “I Always Lie to Strangers” during his performance at the 2021 Farm Aid concert in September.

Strictly a One-Eyed Jack will be released January 21.

Eddie Van Halen Funko Pop! figure revealed

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

An Eddie Van Halen Funko Pop! is set to be released next year.

The late Van Halen icon is the latest rocker to be turned into one of the toy company’s ever-popular big-headed vinyl figures as part of its Pop! Rocks line. The Eddie Funko finds him jumping in the air while jamming on a mini recreation of his signature Frankenstrat guitar.

You can pre-order your own now ahead of its expected January release.

Other artists who’ve gotten the Funko Pop! treatment include Machine Gun Kelly, Metallica, Pearl Jam, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Green Day and Ozzy Osbourne.

Dress up your “Legs” with new boots from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

It’s the perfect holiday gift for the ZZ Top fan in your life: Billy F Gibbons’ boots.

The Texas guitar legend has teamed up with the Austin, Texas-based Alvies boot company for a signature “BFG” cowboy boot, described as combining “a classic style with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude.” The design of the cowhide boots, which cost $450, was inspired by “Billy’s personal infatuation with cars, guitars and making music.”

The boots come in three different ZZ Top-related colors — Sharp-Dressed, El Hombre and 33 Coupe — and the pull strap of each pair comes with a pocket containing several custom BFG guitar picks.

There are only 3,000 pairs of the limited-edition boots available and a percentage of each sale goes to the National Independent Venue Foundation, which offers financial support to music venues around the country that have been impacted by COVID-19.

If you can’t afford the boots, t-shirts and 10-packs of guitar picks are also available on the Alvies website.

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Nils Lofgren says making of new Neil Young and Crazy Horse album ‘Barn’ came together as “a beautiful surprise”

December 10, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

Neil Young and Crazy Horse‘s latest studio album, Barn, got its release today.

As previously reported, the album was recorded this past June in a restored 19th century barn Young owns in the Colorado Rockies. The album is the second Neil has made with Crazy Horse since multi-instrumentalist Nils Lofgren rejoined the band in 2018.

Lofgren, who first played with Crazy Horse during the early 1970s, tells ABC Audio that he hadn’t expected to record a full album when Neil invited the band to Colorado for the sessions.

“[I]n the middle of the pandemic, it was a beautiful surprise,” Nils says, “’cause originally Neil said, ‘Look, I got four songs. Why don’t we at least get together for a week or so and play and be mates, and maybe we can do that two or three times in different locations and get an album.’ So this was extraordinary, ’cause once we got there, he kept writing.”

Lofgren says after “about a week,” Young had penned nine songs.

As Nils recalls, “[T]hen Neil said, ‘Look, I think we’re almost done with an album…so let me write a song tonight…Tomorrow we’re gonna record the 10th song. We’re gonna have an album.'”

Playing with Young on and off for over 50 years, Lofgren says he’s gotten accustomed to how fast Neil records.

“As usual…a lot of the takes were while we were learning the song,” he notes. “And usually, when he gets a great vocal that captures the lyric, that’s it.“

Barn is available on CD, vinyl, cassette and digital formats, and as a deluxe box set featuring a CD, a vinyl LP, and a Blu-ray disc that includes a film capturing the making of the album directed by Neil’s wife, actress Daryl Hannah.

Bryan Adams releases “Kick A**” new song featuring spoken-word intro by Monty Python’s John Cleese

December 9, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bryan Adams has just released a new track from his forthcoming studio album, So Happy It Hurts, and the tune really, um, kicks a**!

The catchy, melodic-rock song is titled “Kick A**,” and it begins with a spoken-word interlude delivered in the form of a Biblical-style sermon by legendary Monty Python member John Cleese about the creation of rock ‘n’ roll music.

The track, which Adams co-wrote with famed producer “Mutt” Lange, is available now as a digital download and via steaming services, and you can check out a companion lyric video at Bryan’s official YouTube channel.

“Kick A**” is the third advance track released from So Happy It Hurts, following the title track and “On the Road.” The album is due out March 11 and can be pre-ordered now.

“On the Road” also was co-written by Adams and Lange and was penned specifically to promote the 2022 edition of the Pirelli Calendar, for which Bryan shot the photos.

As previously reported, the calendar is titled On the Road, and it was photographed in Los Angeles, the Italian isle of Capri and Canada last summer. Among the artists who Bryan shot for the calendar: Cher, Iggy Pop, Jennifer Hudson, rapper Saweetie, pop stars Normani and Rita Ora, alt-pop artist Grimes and alt-rocker St. Vincent.

The Smashing Pumpkins, Bush, Jane’s Addiction & more join lineup for 2022 Welcome to Rockville festival

December 9, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Smashing Pumpkins, Bush, Jane’s Addiction, Megadeth and Alice in Chains‘ Jerry Cantrell are among the new additions to the 2022 Welcome to Rockville lineup.

They join the previously announced headliners: Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, KISS and Korn.

Other artists now on the bill include Black Label Society, Ministry, Shinedown, Mammoth WVH, Sevendust, Fuel, Rise Against, Five Finger Death Punch, Halestorm, Papa Roach, The Pretty Reckless, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, The Struts, Down, Skillet and more.

Welcome to Rockville 2022 takes place May 19-22 in Daytona Beach, Florida. For the full lineup and ticket info, visit WelcometoRockville.com.

John Mellencamp unveils ‘Strictly a One-Eyed Jack’ album cover, releasing new song on Friday

December 9, 2021 by Classic Rock 93.9

John Mellencamp has unveiled the cover art for his forthcoming album, Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, and has announced that a new song from the record called “Chasing Rainbows” will be released this Friday, December 10.

The cover, which was posted on Mellencamp’s Facebook and Instagram pages along with the message “COMING SOON,” is a painting that appears to be a self portrait of the singer/songwriter in which he’s depicted wearing an eyepatch over his right eye and holding up his left hand near his face.

A separate post on John’s social media sites includes an instrumental snippet of “Chasing Rainbows,” along with a note revealing that the song will be “out Friday.”

In September, Mellencamp released a duet with Bruce Springsteen titled “Wasted Days” which was announced as the first single from Strictly a One-Eyed Jack, which is due out in 2022. John also debuted a new acoustic tune from the album titled “I Always Lie to Strangers” during his performance at the 2021 Farm Aid concert in September.

New Song #ChasingRainbows out Friday pic.twitter.com/LOerKev691

— John Mellencamp (@johnmellencamp) December 8, 2021

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