Bruce Springsteen gets his own day in New Jersey; wraps first leg of U.S. tour

April 16, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bruce Springsteen is being honored by his native New Jersey.

Governor Phil Murphy has declared The Boss’ birthday, September 23, will officially be known as Bruce Springsteen Day in the Garden State.

In announcing the news, Murphy noted, “Bruce Springsteen is one of the most iconic and influential musicians – and New Jerseyans – of all time, period.”

The declaration came a day after Springsteen and The E Street Band wrapped the first leg of their North American tour at New Jersey’s Prudential Center, with a set that featured two special songs.

Bruce opened the night with the Lucky Town track “Local Hero,” appropriate for a man playing his home state. The performance marked the first time he played the song on this tour, and the first time it’s been played since 2013.

Springsteen also added a cover of the Tom Waits classic “Jersey Girl,” another tour debut. Previously, Bruce hadn’t played the track with the E Street Band since 2016.

While the Prudential show was the final concert of this leg, Bruce will be back in the States for another set of shows kicking off August 9 and 10 in Chicago, with dates confirmed through December. But up next, he and the band head over to Europe for a run beginning April 28 in Barcelona, Spain.

A full list of tour dates can be found at BruceSpringsteen.net.

Sex Pistols’ John Lydon wants Harry and Meghan to stop whining

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has had enough of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Lydon, who lives in California just 60 miles away from the former royal couple, says he understands why they would need to take a step back from the spotlight, but doesn’t understand why they really aren’t doing it.

“If you want to be normal and outside of [the family], then f*** off. Just f*** off and shut up,” the singer says. “I’ve had to make decisions like this in the past. I had to leave the Pistols. I had to break up PiL a couple of times because the situation was unsustainable.”

Lydon thinks they simply need to move on. “If that was their dilemma then please go away, all right? And we’ll love you for it. But they won’t,” he says.

Lydon believes the whole thing with the royal family is just “so messy,” and he’s particularly not OK with Prince Harry airing their dirty laundry in his memoir, Spare.

“I’ve never been one for kiss-and-tell books,” he says. “They’re very, very spiteful to families and friends.”

Stewart Copeland revisiting The Police classics with new album, ‘Police Deranged for Orchestra’

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Stewart Copeland is set to drop a new album of reworked classics from his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band The Police.

Police Deranged for Orchestra, due out June 23, features songs like “Roxanne,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” and more, all arranged for a full orchestra. The first single from the album, a new version of “Every Breath You Take,” is out now.

Copeland first reworked Police classics back in 2021 for a concert tour of the U.S. and Europe. He’s also got some more shows planned and is set to play London, England, on April 28. He has dates confirmed through July 27 in Sicily, Italy, with more expected to be added. A complete list of dates can be found at stuartcopeland.net.

Here is the track list for Police Deranged for Orchestra:

“Don’t Stand So Close To Me”
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
“King of Pain”
“Demolition Man”
“Murder by Numbers”
“Roxanne”
“Tea in the Sahara”
“Can’t Stand Losing You / Regatta de Blanc”
“Every Breath You Take”

Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott: New bands “aren’t getting the chance” to hit it big

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

While some people may think rock is dead, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott isn’t one of them, although he does think it’s much harder for bands these days.

“Nowadays kids just shove their headphones on, not talking to their parents or their mates. It’s a very insular world,” he tells Metro UK. “Which is why I think playing live has become very important because people have to rub shoulders.”

Elliott notes that the “industry has changed,” which is making it more difficult for new rock bands to get noticed.

“Some of these new bands write great songs and they’re going about it the right way, but they aren’t getting the chance,” he says. “I don’t think it’s their fault, and that’s the scary bit.” He adds, “Even scarier is that Def Leppard started in ’77 and we’re still talking about us in 2023. Are we still gonna be talking about these newer bands in 2065?”

Next up for Def Leppard, they’re getting ready to release their new album, Drastic Symphonies, on May 19. They’ll be at Royal Festival Hall in London on May 16 to talk about their new book, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard, which is hitting book stores May 9. They also have the U.K. and European leg of their stadium tour with Mötley Crüe, which kicks off May 22 in Sheffield, England. A complete list of dates can be found at defleppard.com.

Jackson Browne postpones Melbourne show due to illness

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Jackson Browne is under the weather. The singer was forced to postpone his Friday, April 14, concert at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, Australia, “due to illness.”

The show has now been moved to Monday, August 16. His concerts in Sydney on April 15, as well as his remaining dates in New Zealand, are expected to go on as planned.

Those unable to attend the new date are eligible for refunds.

Browne’s tour Down Under is set to run until April 21. He returns to the U.S. for a tour starting June 3 in Columbus, Ohio. A full list of dates can be found at jacksonbrowne.com.

David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’ turns 40

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

April 14 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of David Bowie’s hit album Let’s Dance, which was his first album after leaving RCA Records. Co-produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic, the album was recorded at the Power Station in New York City and featured a then-unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar.

“David opened a door for me that never closed, and for that I am grateful,” Rodgers told Variety in 2018 about working with the rock star.

The album went on to be a huge commercial success for Bowie, spending three weeks on top the U.K. album chart and peaking at four on the U.S. chart. Its success was aided by three hit singles: the album’s title track, which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100; “China Girl,” which peaked at 10; and “Modern Love,” which landed at 14. All were accompanied by stylish music videos that got continuous play on MTV.

Bowie supported the album with the Serious Moonlight tour, which was his first trek in five years. Lasting from May to December, the tour became the biggest tour of 1983.

Let’s Dance went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide to become Bowie’s bestselling album. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA and was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year, but lost to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Green Day shares never-before-seen 1990 live video

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Green Day has unearthed a never-before-seen live video from 1990.

The performance was recorded weeks before the punk trio released their debut album, 39/Smooth, which celebrated its 33rd anniversary this week.

You can watch the video now via Green Day’s Instagram.

In other archival Green Day happenings, Billie Joe Armstrong and company put out a 25th anniversary reissue of their 1997 album, Nimrod, earlier this year. The expanded set includes a variety of bonus live tracks and demo recordings, as well as a cover of Elvis Costello‘s “Alison.”

Meanwhile, Green Day confirmed last year that they’ve been working on a new album to follow their latest effort, 2020’s Father of All…

Ted Nugent saying “adios” to the road with one final tour

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Ted Nugent is hitting the road one last time. The singer announced on social media that he’s heading out on what he calls the Adios Mofo ’23 Tour, which he says will be his last trek ever.

“This is ‘Adios Mofo.’ This is my last tour,” he says in a new video. “Now, I’ll always play music. I’ve got new records I’m gonna make. I can’t wait to unleash some of these new songs.”

He thanked all his fans for their support and insists his “musical dream will continue,” but says he will no longer tour because “a hotel room is a jail for me.” He also says his dogs won’t let him be away for even a day, noting, “the logistics are just too complicated when you have dogs and grandkids and kids and so many other things.”

Nugent adds, “This will be the greatest, most intense, tightest, most dynamic, outrageously fun tour of my life. But ‘Adios Mofo.'”

The tour is set to kick off July 20 in Shipshewana, Indiana, and wrap August 11 in Detroit, Michigan. A complete list of dates can be found at tednugent.com.

Ex-Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley undergoes quadruple bypass surgery

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Former Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley has undergone quadruple bypass heart surgery.

In a statement posted to Bayley’s Instagram, the musician’s management writes, “Blaze is out of surgery & we understand the operation has gone well.”

“More news as & when,” the post continues. “THANK YOU EVERYONE!”

As previously reported, Bayley, 59, was hospitalized in late March after suffering a heart attack. At the time, Bayley’s management shared that he was in “stable condition,” though, understandably, his upcoming tour dates would be postponed.

Upon the news, the Iron Maiden Twitter account posted, “Everyone at Iron Maiden wishes Blaze a quick and full recovery!”

Bayley joined Iron Maiden in 1994, and contributed to the albums The X Factor and Virtual XI. He parted ways with the group in 1999, after which longtime vocalist Bruce Dickinson rejoined the band. Dickinson has remained Maiden’s singer ever since.

Metallica premieres video for ’72 Seasons’ song “Sleepwalk My Life Away”

April 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica Day continues with the premiere of the video for “Sleepwalk My Life Away,” a track off the band’s just-released new album, 72 Seasons.

The clip finds the “Enter Sandman” metallers rocking out in a dark, mountainous landscape as the sun sets behind them. You can watch it now streaming on YouTube.

72 Seasons, the 11th Metallica album and the long-awaited follow-up to 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct, is out now. It also includes the lead single “Lux Æterna.”

Metallica will hit the road on a world tour in support of 72 Seasons starting later this month in Europe. The trek will come to the U.S. in August.

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