Classic Rock 93.9

Red Hot Chili Peppers channeled their anarchist cheerleader energy over the weekend for a live cover of Nirvana‘s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

The “Californication” outfit rocked the grunge classic Saturday during a benefit concert supporting bassist Flea‘s music education organization, Silverlake Conservatory of Music.

As seen in YouTube footage posted by user RHCPtv1, the Peppers only played the first verse and chorus of the song, with frontman Anthony Kiedis handling vocals on the verse before guitarist John Frusciante came in to take on the chorus.

In a tweet following the performance, Flea shared, “Was so fun. Deep thanks to all who have supported The Silverlake Conservatory Of Music through the years.”

RHCP just got off the road after touring the U.S. in support of their two 2022 albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen. Next year, they’ll launch a tour of Australia and New Zealand with Post Malone.

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John Mellencamp has released a rare track called “Smart Guys” from the sessions for his classic 1985 album Scarecrow as an advance track from the upcoming deluxe reissue of the record.

“Smart Guys” is available now via digital formats, while a lyric video for the tune has been posted at Mellencamp’s official YouTube channel. The clip features the same tattoo-covered young woman who appears in the video for “Carolina Shag,” another bonus song from the Scarecrow sessions that was previously released as an advance track from the expanded reissue.

In the “Smart Guys” clip, the woman appears as a school teacher wearing horn-rimmed glasses, as she reads a book, grades papers, spins a globe, and writes the song’s lyrics in marker on a white board.

“Smart Guys” and “Carolina Shag” are two of 11 bonus tracks featured on the deluxe versions of the Scarecrow reissue, which is due out this Friday, November 4. As previously reported, the expanded reissue, which can be preordered now, will boast a remixed and remastered version of the original album, as well as demos, outtakes and rough mixes of tracks.

Scarecrow, Mellencamp’s eighth studio album, was released in August 1985, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. The album yielded features five top-40 hits — “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to ’60s Rock),” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” “Rain on the Scarecrow” and “Rumbleseat.”

Meanwhile, next year, Mellencamp will embark on a 76-date North American trek dubbed the Live and In Person 2023 tour. The outing is scheduled  to kick off with a February 5-6 engagement in Bloomington, Indiana, through a June 23-24 stand in South Bend, Indiana.

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Robin Sylvester, longtime bassist of Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Bob Weir‘s side group RatDog, died Saturday.

Sylvester’s passing was first announced by ex-RatDog guitarist Mark Karan on his Facebook page and later confirmed by Jambands.com and Relix.

“I can’t believe what I just heard. Our dear, sweet Robin Sylvester has passed & left us all with a big ol’ hole in our hearts,” Karan wrote. “I’m speechless & gutted.”

No cause of death has been announced, although Sylvester had experienced some serious health issues over the last decade or so, and in 2012, it was announced that he needed a kidney transplant.

The London-born Sylvester joined RatDog in 2003 after founding bassist Rob Wasserman exited the band, and continued to play with the group until they became inactive around 2014.

Weir and his current band Wolf Bros dedicated their concert in Las Vegas on Saturday to Sylvester.

Robin, who was a multi-instrumentalist, started his professional music career during the 1960s with the a cappella chorus the London Boy Singers. During the early 1970s, he played keyboards with the psychedelic band Byzantium.

Sylvester relocated to the U.S. in the mid-1970s, and for a time was a member of a folk-rock band called The Movies that Clive Davis signed to Arista Records.

He also worked with a variety of well-known artists as a session and/or touring musician, including founding Jefferson Airplane singer Marty Balin, Mary Wells, The Shirelles, The Drifters, Billy Preston, Christine McVie, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Freddy Fender and Del Shannon.

In the late 1990s, Sylvester was among the musicians who took part in ex-Grateful Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick‘s Missing Man Formation project.

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Let There Be Drums!, a new documentary starring various famous rock drummers, opened in theaters and was released digitally and on-demand on Friday.

The film was directed by Justin Kreutzmann, son founding Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, who’s featured in the movie and was one of its executive producers.

Justin tells ABC Audio that besides featuring various musicians sharing their stories about how they developed their passion for drumming, the doc examines the experiences of several children of well-known drummers, some of whom followed in their dad’s footsteps and others, like himself, who didn’t.

Justin says the idea to feature stories about drummers’ families came together while he was interviewing late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins for the film.

“[Taylor] said, ‘I don’t know if this is for this documentary, but, like, how stable was your home life growing up?'” Justin notes. “And we started a dialogue, and everybody did that with me.”

Besides such famous musicians as Justin’s father, Ringo Starr, Hawkins, The Police‘s Stewart Copeland, The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, the movie features John Bonham‘s son Jason, Keith Moon‘s daughter Mandy, Ginger Baker‘s son Kofi and Phil Collins‘ son Nic.

In talking to the various drummers’ children, Justin notes, “I was really interested in people’s … home life and growing up on the road or not growing up on the road or what happens when you have issues maybe from childhood because you feel like your dad’s fan base gets more of his time than you do.”

Justin adds that he hopes that the documentary “works on both levels,” for music fans interested in famous drummers’ stories and for people who will appreciate the emotional family aspect.

Let There Be Drums! also will be released on DVD this Tuesday.

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Following the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis on Friday at age 87, a variety of well-known musicians and other celebrities have taken to social media to post message paying homage to the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer.

Among the famous artists who have paid tribute to Lewis are Elton John, The Rolling Stones‘ Mick Jagger and former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty.

“Without Jerry Lee Lewis, I wouldn’t have become who I am today,” Elton writes. “He was groundbreaking and exciting, and he pulverized the piano. A brilliant singer too. Thank you for your trailblazing inspiration and all the rock ‘n’ roll memories.”

Jagger’s tribute reads, “God bless you Jerry Lee … Your songs lit up my life!”

As for Fogerty, he posted a message that reads, “Sad to hear of the passing of Jerry Lee Lewis. I love his music and I was hugely influenced by his records and live performances which were always full of fire and inspiration! No one could touch him! God Bless you, Jerry Lee.”

John accompanied the note with a video clip of him performing with Lewis, as well as audio of a duet the two did on the CCR classic “Bad Moon Rising.”

Here are some more celebrity tributes to Lewis:

Ringo Starr: “God bless Jerry lee Lewis peace and love to all his family.”

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood: “R.I.P. JLL the KILLER -What a man.”

KISS‘ Gene Simmons: “Sadly, One of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll has passed. A rebel to the end. RIP, Jerry Lee Lewis.”

George Thorogood and the Destroyers: “We are saddened to hear about the passing of the great Jerry Lee Lewis, your music and influence will shine on forever.”

Slash: “RIP #JerryLeeLewis”

Dennis Quaid, who portrayed Lewis in the 1989 biopic Great Balls of Fire: “Jerry Lee was a Christian, an American icon and the greatest piano player in the world. People will be listening to ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and ‘Whole Lot of Shakin” 500 years from now. I will miss him. God bless you Jerry Lee.”

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Bryan Adams is the guest on the latest episode of Chic guitarist and famed producer Nile Rogers‘ Apple Music 1 podcast Deep Hidden Meaning Radio, which premieres Saturday, October 29, at 11 a.m. ET.

During the interview, Adams reveals that he’d considered contacting Rodgers about producing what became his chart-topping 1984 album, Reckless, and says Nile’s music inspired one of the album’s big hits.

Bryan explains that Bob Clearmountain was lined up to produce Reckless, but then got very busy and it looked like he wouldn’t be available.

“There was a moment there where I was like, ‘Wow, who do I want to work with?’ And I thought of you,” he tells Rodgers. “And so I put together a song which I thought you would dig and it’s called ‘Somebody.’ You could have produced the album. So I had this riff … And I thought, ‘That’s Nile, that’s my interpretation of Nile.'”

As it turned out Clearmountain was available to work on the album. “Somebody” went on to reach #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Adams also tells Rodgers the story of how he was struggling to get the right sound while working on his hit “Summer of ’69.” He wound up using a young, unknown drummer named Pat Seward, who he saw playing in a bar and realized could deliver the energy that the track had been lacking.

“Pat came in, we cut the track and it was just, like, bang,” Bryan recalls.

Meanwhile, the two-CD deluxe version of Adams’ latest studio album, So Happy It Hurts, was released on Friday. The expanded collection includes a 12-track bonus disc featuring tracks that appeared on Adams’ 2022 Classic and Classic Pt. 2 digital albums, which boasted newly recorded versions of many of Bryan’s best-known tunes.

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The Beach Boys have released the rare 1972 song “Carry Me Home” as an advance track from their upcoming archival box set, Sail On Sailor – 1972, which focuses on two of the band’s albums — 1972’s Carl and the Passions – “So Tough” and 1973’s Holland.

“Carry Me Home,” which was written and produced by late Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, was recorded during the Holland sessions. The haunting ballad, which features vocals by Dennis and Blondie Chaplin, is about a soldier dying in the Vietnam War. The track, which was frequently bootlegged over the years, will get its first official release as part of the box set.

Sail On Sailor – 1972 will be released on November 18 and can be preordered now. It will be available as a five-CD set, as a vinyl package featuring seven LPs and one EP, and via digital formats.

The 105-track collection features newly remastered versions of the two albums, as well as 80 previously unreleased recordings.

Among the latter are unreleased outtakes, radio promos, alternate versions and mixes, isolated backing tracks and more from the recordings sessions, as well as live performances from the era.

The collection includes the Mount Vernon and Fairway (A Fairytale) EP, which was originally included as a bonus disc with Holland, and a full previously unreleased concert The Beach Boys played at Carnegie Hall in November 1972.

Carl and the Passions and Holland peaked at #50 and #36, respectively, on the Billboard 200. The highest-charting single released from the albums was Holland‘s “Sailor On Sailor,” which reached #49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a popular radio track.

The Sail On Sailor – 1972 collection also be released in abbreviated versions, including a two-CD set and a two-LP/one-EP package.

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Following English tabloid The Sun reporting last week that an unidentified source revealed The Rolling Stones were planning to release a new album next summer, band member Ronnie Wood has confirmed some new details about the project.

In an exclusive chat with The Sun, the 75-year-old guitarist says, “We are recording the new album now and we are going to LA in a few weeks to carry it on and finish it off.”

Wood also reveals that late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died last year at age 80, is on “some of the tracks,” while Charlie’s replacement, Steve Jordan, is on others.

In addition, Ronnie says The Rolling Stones will eventually be announcing new U.S. tour dates.

The Sun previously reported that, according to a so-called “insider, Stones members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Wood, along with Jordan and the group’s longtime touring bassist, Darryl Jones, had recently taken part in recording sessions at New York City’s famed Electric Lady Studios.”

In March, Richards revealed in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that he, Jagger and Jordan had been writing new songs together for their next album. The Rolling Stones’ last album of original tunes was 2005’s A Bigger Bang.

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Former Journey singer Steve Perry has been teasing plans to release a new original holiday tune called “Maybe This Year,” and now the song has arrived as part of an expanded digital version of his 2021 yuletide album, The Season.

Perry co-wrote the song with keyboardist Dallas Kruse, who played on Steve’s 2018 solo album, Traces.

The Season Deluxe Edition, which is available now, features the album’s original eight songs, plus “Maybe This Year” and a cover of the classic Donny Hathaway holiday song “This Christmas.”

“I wanted to write an original Christmas song of my own, so Dallas Kruse and I began writing what became ‘Maybe This Year,'” Perry explains. “I wrote the lyrical sentiment about how the holidays can bring such joy and sadness and how for me, both these emotions give me connection to feelings of gratitude for so many years gone by, and a desire to hold on to these holiday feelings we share throughout the coming year.”

Steve also notes that “This Christmas” is one of his favorite Hathaway songs, adding, “I dedicate both these tracks to my friend Lamont Dozier.” Legendary Motown songwriter Dozier died in August at the age of 81.

Visualizer videos for “Maybe This Year” and “This Christmas” have been posted on Perry’s official YouTube channel.

The Season features Perry’s understated take on a variety of well-known Christmas tunes.

Here’s the full track list of The Season Deluxe Edition:

“Maybe This Year”*
“This Christmas”*
“The Christmas Song”
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
“Auld Lang Syne”
“Winter Wonderland”
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
“Silver Bells”
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

* = previously unreleased.

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Dolly Parton may be adding “reunited Robert Plant and Jimmy Page” to her long list of career accomplishments.

Speaking with Pollstar, the country legend — and soon-to-be Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee — shares that she wants the Led Zeppelin duo to contribute to her cover of “Stairway to Heaven,” which she plans to record for her upcoming rock album.

“I’m trying to see if Robert Plant might sing on it,” Parton says. “Maybe Jimmy Page might do the pick-up part on it.”

A collaboration with Parton probably wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for Plant, given his collaborations with country-bluegrass artist Alison Krauss. Getting Page, however, might be trickier, as he’s not released much music in recent years. He apparently even left a call from Ozzy Osbourne unanswered after the Prince of Darkness tried to recruit Page for his new solo album.

Led Zeppelin, of course, has been inactive since their one-off reunion show in 2007.

Parton’s rock album, meanwhile, was inspired by her nomination for induction into the Rock Hall, which she initially declined before ultimately deciding to accept.

“I’m looking forward to dragging in some of the great classic people, girls and boys, to sing on some of the songs,” Parton tells Pollstar. “I’m not far enough along to discuss who and what, but I am going to do an album.”

When it comes time for Parton to pick a producer, Steve Albini is available.

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