Joe Walsh & Willie Nelson added to Stephen Stills’ autism benefit

April 4, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Joe Walsh and Willie Nelson have been added to Stephen Stills’ upcoming autism benefit, Autism Speaks Light Up The Blues 6. The event, hosted by Stills and his wife, Kristen, takes place April 22 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Sharon Van Etten also joins the lineup, which already includes Stills with his sons Chris and Oliver; Neil Young in his first concert appearance since September 2019; and Lukas Nelson + Promise of the Real. Comedian Jeff Garlin is on board as host, and Amanda Kloots and Camryn Manheim will be appearing as presenters.

Proceeds from the Light Up The Blues 6 benefit will support Autism Speaks, which is “dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.”

Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation announces donations for disaster relief

April 4, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica‘s All Within My Hands charity foundation has announced donations to several organizations providing disaster relief to a number of U.S. states.

A total of $150,000 will be split between Team Rubicon and Direct Relief in support of those affected by the tornadoes that hit Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia in March, and the Community Foundation for Monterey County to help recovery efforts from the winter storms and floods in Monterey County, California.

For more info, visit AllWithinMyHands.org.

In other Metallica news, the metal legends have shared unboxing videos for their upcoming album, 72 Seasons. The clip for the CD version reveals the length of each 72 Seasons song, only two of which are under the five-minute mark.

72 Seasons will be released April 14.

Earliest known recording of the Beatles live debuts on BBC

April 4, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

The BBC has debuted what is believed to be the earliest known full recording of a live Beatles concert, recorded 60 years ago by a 15-year-old named John Bloomfield.

The audio, which debuted on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, is from a concert at Stowe boarding school in Buckinghamshire, England. The band was playing the school’s theater for the birthday of a student named David Moore, who had reached out to the band’s manager, Brian Epstein. Epstein agreed to the concert, charging Moore $125 for the booking, which Moore paid for by selling tickets to his fellow students.

The now 70-year-old Bloomfield recorded the concert on a reel-to-reel tape; the show featured the band performing songs off their first album, Please Please Me, along with some covers. Bloomfield played it for Front Row, which was doing a special on the concert’s anniversary.

“The opportunity that this tape presents, which is completely out of the blue, is fantastic because we hear them just on the cusp of the breakthrough into complete world fame,” Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, one of only two people who’ve heard the full tape, shares. “I think it’s an incredibly important recording, and I hope something good and constructive and creative eventually happens to it.”

On This Day, April 4, 1964: The Beatles hold the Top Five spots on the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

April 4, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, April 4, 1964…

The Beatles made chart history by holding the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.

The songs in the top five included: “Please Please Me” at five, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at four, “She Loves You” at three, “Twist and Shout” at 2 and “Can’t Buy Me Love” at 1.

The Beatles went on to become one of the most successful acts in the history of the U.S. charts. Over the course of their career, they have had 20 number one hits, and 34 top 10 singles. Their last number one single was in 1970 with “The Long and Winding Road,” from the Let It Be album.

Foo Fighters playing opening show for new DC venue, The Atlantis

April 4, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters are playing the first show of The Atlantis, a new music venue opening in Washington, D.C.

Dave Grohl and company will take the stage on May 30. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster Request. Registration is open now through Friday, April 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

According to Variety, The Atlantis has a capacity of just 450 people. The Foos show is one of 44 concerts announced by the venue as part of its opening. Fittingly, each ticket will cost $44.

Other artists on the schedule include Franz Ferdinand, Pixies, The Head and the Heart, The Struts, Third Eye Blind, Portugal. The Man, Bush, Joan Jett, Gary Clark Jr., Death Cab for Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard, Spoon, Billy Idol, Bastille, Matt & Kim and Maggie Rogers.

For the full list of shows and all ticket info, visit TheAtlantis.com.

Foo Fighters will open The Atlantis as part of their live comeback this year following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022. The group’s first date back is May 24 in Gilford, New Hampshire. A new drummer has yet to be announced.

Clothes & accessories owned by Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix going up for auction

April 4, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

In addition to their music, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix were known for their unique styles. Now music fans have a chance to own a piece of their look, thanks to a new auction taking place this weekend.

A collection of personally owned or worn apparel and accessories from the two stars is going up for auction Saturday, April 8, through Kruse GWS Auctions in Los Angeles.

Joplin items up for grabs include her famous purple feather boa, which she wore at a San Francisco photo shoot with Bob Seidemann. There’s also Joplin’s copper and leather necklace and a knit shoulder bag, which the auction house says still has “a faint smell of patchouli.”

Also available will be a pair of tan suede bell-bottoms with leaf details, personally worn by Hendrix, along with a brown eyelet fringe belt, a worn custom-made decorated vest and more.

Live bidding on the items kicks off April 8 at 10 a.m. PT. The catalog of available items can be found under the “Artifacts of Hollywood, Music & Sports” auction at www.gwsauctions.com.

James Taylor adds five new shows to upcoming tour

April 3, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

James Taylor has added some more dates to his upcoming summer tour. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer announced five new shows, with stops in Connecticut, Boston, New York and New Jersey.

The new dates kick off August 29 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, followed by a two-night stand in Boston, August 31 and September 1. He then heads to Wantagh, New York, on September 3, followed by Holmdel, New Jersey, September 4.

Presale tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 4, at 10 a.m. ET, with the general sale set for Friday, April 7, at 10 a.m. ET.

Taylor is set to kick off his upcoming tour on May 25 in Woodinville, Washington. The trek wraps up with a two-night stand September 8 and 10 in Vienna, Virginia. A complete list of dates can be found at jamestaylor.com.

Bruce Springsteen, Heart & more featured on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ soundtrack

April 3, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

The new Guardians of the Galaxy movie is set to hit theaters on May 5 and of course it comes with another great soundtrack.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 includes such classic tunes as Bruce Springsteen’s “Badlands” and Heart’s “Crazy On You,” along with Rainbow’s “Since You Been Gone” and Alice Cooper’s “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.”

The 17-song soundtrack will drop digitally and on CD May 3, with a two-LP, 12-inch vinyl set coming May 5 and a cassette version dropping July 7.

Here’s the track list for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3:

“Creep” (Acoustic Version) – Radiohead
“Crazy On You” – Heart
“Since You Been Gone” – Rainbow
“In the Meantime” – Spacehog
“Reasons” – Earth, Wind and Fire
“Do You Realize??” – The Flaming Lips
“We Care a Lot” – Faith No More
“Koinu no Carnival” (From “Minute Waltz”) – EHAMIC
“I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” – Alice Cooper
“San Francisco” – The Mowgli’s
“Poor Girl” – X
“This Is the Day” – The The
“No Sleep Till Brooklyn” – Beastie Boys
“Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
“Badlands” – Bruce Springsteen
“I Will Dare” – The Replacements
“Come and Get Your Love” – Redbone

Jon Anderson on Steve Howe’s version of Yes: “They’re OK”

April 3, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Yes’ Jon Anderson was replaced in the band in 2004 as he was dealing with a medical condition, but he doesn’t seem to be holding a grudge about it.

“In a way, it was a breakthrough for me,” he tells Rolling Stone about Yes going on tour without him. “I was emotionally still able to enjoy performing the songs that I wrote for the band. You have to let go of things and just get on with life.”

Yes has continued over the years in various forms. Steve Howe recently announced his version of the band will release the new album Mirror To The Sky on May 19, but it doesn’t sound like Anderson is too excited for it.

“It’s Steve’s idea of Yes, I suppose,” he says. “It’s hard to pinpoint. I’ve listened to a couple of songs, of course, and they’re OK. But I’m still into the voyage of musical Yes. I’m totally into the original idea of it.”

As for how Anderson feels about Howe using a singer who sounds just like him, he shares, “There’s a phrase for that: Imitation is the most sincere most form of flattery.”

And for fans holding out hope they will one day come together again, it doesn’t sound likely. “Well, it’s not going to happen as far as I know,” Anderson says. “I’ve mentioned a couple of times over the years that I’m very open to giving it a whirl. In these days, though, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Meanwhile, Jon Anderson is getting ready to perform Yes classics on the road. His new tour, with the cover group The Band Geeks, kicks off April 14 in Westbury, New York. A complete list of dates can be found at JonAndersonYesEpicsandClassics.com.

Lynyrd Skynyrd to go on following Gary Rossington’s death

April 3, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Lynyrd Skynyrd has announced they plan to continue on following the March death of guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington.

In a statement, Johnny Van Zant, who has been the band’s lead singer for 36 years, calls Rossington “my brother, bandmate and friend,” adding, “We would do anything for each other.”

“Gary, along with my brother Ronnie (Van Zant) and Allen (Collins) started this band and left us all a legacy of music that has stood the test of time, and crossed three generations of fans,” he shares. “The music they created, and the music we created, together since 1987, was always meant to be experienced LIVE … the music should continue for everyone to love and enjoy. So we will continue to perform for the Skynyrd Nation.”

Rossington’s widow, Dale, adds that Gary “made it known at every chance to express how timeless the music was, and it was always his goal to keep the music alive for his brothers because that was always their dream.” She notes “his dream will continue thanks to Johnny, Rickey (Medlocke) and the rest of our band mates to continue to carry his legacy and music on for future generations.”

And Rossington’s legacy will be celebrated in June when Encore airs a November 2022 Lynyrd Skynyrd concert filmed at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, which was Rossington’s final public performance with the band. The concert film will air in movie theaters before airing on PBS in August.

Meanwhile, Lynyrd Skynyrd will go on with the upcoming The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with ZZ Top, which kicks off July 21 in West Palm Beach, Florida. A complete list of dates can be found at LynyrdSkynyrd.com.

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