Classic Rock 93.9

Bob Weir is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his debut solo album, Ace, with a new deluxe edition and he’s giving fans a little taste of what to expect with the release.

The Grateful Dead guitarist just released a live version of the tune “Greatest Story Ever Told,” featuring Tyler Childers, which will appear on Ace: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, dropping January 13. The live version of the track was recorded at a 2020 show with his band Wolf Bros at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, where they performed the entire album live and were joined by special guests. 

Ace: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition will be released as a double CD and on streaming services. It will feature a remastered new mix of Ace, along with a full Radio City performance. A black vinyl version will also be released on February 3.

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Bono is spending a little more time in New York this spring. As previously reported, the U2 frontman recently announced a New York residency of his Stories of Surrender book tour, and now he’s added even more dates. 

Described as “an evening of words, music and some mischief,” the residency kicks off April 16 at the Beacon Theater. He initially announced eight shows, but now Bono’s added three more: May 4, 7 and 8. 

The shows have Bono recounting stories from his recently released memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, and also performing stripped down versions of U2 songs. He’ll be backed by Gemma Doherty on harp, keyboard and vocals, and Kate Ellis on cello, keyboard and vocals, with Jacknife Lee serving as musical director. 

Tickets for the new dates go on sale January 9 at 10 a.m. ET.

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Nirvana, Nile Rodgers, The Supremes and Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson are among the artists to be honored by the Recording Academy with 2023 Lifetime Achievement Awards, along with Bobby McFerrin, Ma Rainey, and Slick Rick “The Ruler.”

The artists will be celebrated at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony, taking place February 4th at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, the first time the ceremony is being held since 2020.

“The Academy is proud to celebrate this diverse slate of influential music people spanning numerous genres and crafts as our 2023 Special Merit Awards honorees,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, shares in a statement. “Each creator on this list has made an impact on our industry — from technical to creative achievements — representing the breadth of music’s diverse community.”

“We’re excited to celebrate this group of legends next month that continues to inspire and shape the music world,” Mason adds.

Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to artists who “have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.” Previous honorees include Ray Charles, Davide Bowie, Neil Diamond, Queen, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross and more.

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Thursday marks a huge day in Bruce Springsteen history: the 50th anniversary of the release of his debut studio album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

Named one of the greatest debut albums of all time by Rolling Stone, the album’s two best-known tracks, “Blinded By The Light” and “Spirit in the Night,” were written after The Boss’ record label complained about a lack of singles. The album also features such Springsteen classics as “Growin’ Up,” “It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City” and “For You.”

Although the album only peaked at 60 on the charts and didn’t produce any hits, it’s considered a classic by Springsteen fans and went on to be certified double Platinum. Bruce played the album in its entirety for the first time in 2009 at a Working on a Dream concert in Buffalo, New York.

And to mark the momentous occasion, a daylong symposium on the album will be held by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University in New Jersey. The event takes place Saturday and features E Street Band bass player Garry Tallent, original E Street keyboardist David Sancious and original E Street drummer Vini Lopez, who all played on the album, as well as Bruce’s former manager Mike Appel.

The event, which is open to the public, will feature panel discussions, interviews, a book signing, a mini documentary on the making of the album with an exclusive interview from Bruce, and performances of the songs by local New Jersey musicians.

In addition, other New Jersey musicians will play the album in its entirety on Thursday at the Langosta Lounge on the boardwalk in Asbury Park.

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Dee Snider has angered some folks on Twitter with his opinions on what makes a great frontman.

The debate started after the Twisted Sister frontman shared his admiration for drummer Cozy Powell, who was bandmates with Ronnie James Dio in Rainbow and also played on Robert Plant’s debut solo album, Pictures at Eleven. Snider’s post prompted a fan to praise Dio as the “2nd best frontman in the history of rock, just barely behind Freddie (Mercury),” an opinion Snider did not agree with.

“You are confusing singing with performing. There is a huge difference between a great frontman & a great singer,” Snider replied. “Ronnie was one of the greatest singers of all time, but as a frontman, he pretty much just stood on stage & sang. Freddie was an amazing singer AND frontman.”

When another chimed in that Plant was the “quintessential rock frontman,” Snider also had thoughts, noting, “I’m a HUGE Plant fan vocally…but he showed me nothing as a performer. Looked amazing, great hair…stood on stage with one hand raised and sang his a** off. Not a frontman in my opinion.”

As for who Snider thinks are great frontmen, he wrote, “My frontmen are all over the stage and interact with the crowd. Showmen. Think David Lee Roth, Paul Stanley, Mick Jagger, Freddy Mercury, Axl Rose…the list goes on.”

Finally he explained, “I knew this would upset people. I am NOT saying that Dio, Plant etc, don’t have stage presence. They have it in SPADES! But they are not performers.”

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Kelly Osbourne has shared a statement after news of her baby with Slipknot‘s Sid Wilson was revealed by her mother, Sharon Osbourne.

During the U.K. show The Talk this week, Sharon shared that Kelly had given birth while also announcing the child’s name, Sidney. Sharon added that mother and baby are doing “so, so great” and noted that Kelly “won’t let a picture go out of him.”

In her Instagram Story Wednesday, Kelly writes, “I am not ready to share him with the world.”

“It is no one’s place but mine to share any information on my baby,” she adds.

Kelly announced that she was pregnant last May, a few months after she confirmed her relationship with Wilson.

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Forty years ago — January 4, 1983 — Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), the second album by Eurythmics, was released. It turned the duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart into global stars, thanks to its hit title track and its unforgettable video. Annie took to Instagram Wednesday to celebrate the milestone.

“It’s almost impossible to believe that ‘Sweet Dreams are Made of This’ was released forty years ago!” the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wrote. Then, quoting a lyric from the title track, Annie added, “It has continued to travel the world and the seven seas ever since, which is a wonderful and miraculous story all to itself!”

She noted, “Songs are like ships…They have their own particular voyages and destinations … Once they’ve been launched, there’s no turning back. You just have to follow the journey.” 

Annie paired her reflections with a slowed-down, backward version of the track and a series of stills from the video, in which she — sporting an orange crewcut and a suit — takes charge of a boardroom while Dave taps on a computer. The two also stand around in a field of cows … because, um … it was the ’80s?

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1983. The album, which also featured the hit “Love Is a Stranger,” peaked at number 15.

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R.E.O. Speedwagon has a full schedule of touring ahead of them in 2023, but they will be without keyboardist and founding member Neal Doughty. The 76-year-old Doughty just announced his decision to retire from the road.

“I want everyone to know that it was all that traveling that finally got to me,” he shares. “I always enjoyed playing the shows and looking out to see all the loyal fans who allowed me to do this for so long.” 

While Doughty may join the band on select dates, singer Kevin Cronin notes, “It will be a big change to look around and not see Neal behind the keyboards.” He says they “will miss his quick wit and interesting conversation on those long bus rides. But this is what Neal needs, and we support him.” 

R.E.O. Speedwagon’s next show is set for January 11 in Thousand Oaks, California, with dates confirmed through August. Check out their tour schedule here.

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Steven Tyler has pulled out of yet another event. The Aerosmith frontman was set to appear and be honored at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas next month, but his manager tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal he will no longer take part due to ongoing health issues.

“Steven’s doctors have instructed him to take care of himself, but he will be back this year,” manager Larry Rudolph tells the paper, which says he won’t be making any public appearances until at least the spring. 

Last month, Tyler’s undisclosed health issues forced Aerosmith to cancel the final five shows of their Las Vegas residency. The announcement of his Power of Love Gala departure comes just a week after a woman named Julia Holcomb came forward with a decades-old sexual assault claim. Holcomb, who Tyler allegedly had a relationship with in the ’70s when she was 16, sued him for sexual assault, assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. 

The Power of Love Gala, taking place February 18 at the MGM Grand, raises money for Alzheimer’s research. So far there’s no word on who’ll replace Tyler.

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Despite the recent public fighting between Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, they are supposed to come together next month for Journey’s 50th anniversary tour. Now Schon says fans can expect one of the band’s former members to turn up, too.

On Wednesday Schon posted a graphic for the upcoming tour on Facebook. When a fan mentioned Journey co-founder Gregg Rollie in the comments, Schon shared that Rollie will be making an appearance on the trek.

“I am SO looking forward to this. Please tell me Gregg Rollie is coming along for the ride!” the fan commented. “He’s the better keyboard player and a co-founder it only seems right. Timing couldn’t be better either!!!!” Schon replied, “you’ll be seeing him.”

Rollie was Journey’s original lead singer and keyboardist when it formed in San Francisco in 1973 and appeared on their first six albums. In 1977 he was replaced as lead singer by Steve Perry; he left the group in 1980. 

As previously reported, Schon and Cain have been in the news a lot lately because of their legal battles. The most recent incident had Schon sending a cease-and-desist letter to Cain over a performance of “Don’t Stop Believin’” at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. 

Journey’s 50th anniversary tour, with openers Toto, kicks off February 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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