Classic Rock 93.9

Neil Young hasn’t played in front of a crowd since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but that all changed this weekend.

Rolling Stone reports the rocker made a surprise appearance at Saturday’s United For Old Growth march and rally in Victoria, British Columbia, treating the assembled crowd to a performance of “Comes a Time” and “Heart of Gold.”

“I’m only here for those trees up there,” Young said at the rally, which aimed to protect old trees. “It’s a precious, sacred thing, these old trees. They show us the power of nature when we are being threatened. They show us the past. They show us our future. That’s something that I hope our Canadian government and business section will recognize.” 

He noted, “This has to do with Canada. It has to do with the ages, if we’re lucky enough to have ages. These trees have lasted so long. They deserve Canada’s respect.” 

The performance was Young’s first since Farm Aid in September 2019, but he appears to be ready to get back out there again. His next scheduled performance is at Stephen Stills’ Light Up the Blues charity show, taking place April 22 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

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Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott didn’t let a little altitude sickness get in the way of him rocking out in Bogota, Colombia, this weekend.

Blabbermouth.net reports that local news outlets in Bogota reported Elliott was taken to a local hospital Saturday ahead of their show with Mötley Crüe, which prompted the rocker to take to social media to set the record straight about his health.

“[It’s now] 5:20 p.m. We’re on at 8. So I am alive and well,” Elliott shared in the video posted to Instagram. “Little woozy, I’ll be honest. Moderate-to-severe altitude sickness. I would hate to know what ‘severe’ altitude sickness [is]; I wouldn’t wanna wish it on my worst enemy.” 

He added, “But here I am … Apparently the internet lit up, so I’m here to put everybody that cares about it minds at rest. I’m here, and we’re going on at 8 p.m.”

Elliott and his band did go on as planned, rocking through a 16-song set that included such Def Leppard classics as “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Rock of Ages,” “Armageddon It” and “Photograph.”

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On this Day, February 27, 1954…

Future Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Neal Schon was born at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

At just age 17, Schon joined the band Santana performing on albums Santana III and Caravanserai. In 1973, he and Gregg Rolie, who was also in Santana, formed Golden Gate Rhythm Section, which eventually became Journey, a band Schon has now been in for 50 years. 

Journey’s biggest success came between 1978 and 1987, when Steve Perry was their lead vocalist. They released hit albums like Escape and Frontiers, featuring such classic tunes as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Faithfully,” “Open Arms” and more. 

Schon and Journey were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

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U2’s Bono and The Edge showed their solidarity with Ukranians Sunday night by appearing onstage with the Ukrainian band Antytila. 

Just days after the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the rockers made a guest appearance at the band’s show at London’s Electric Brixton, where they performed The Joshua Tree track “Mothers of the Disappeared.”

“The people of Ukraine, don’t want to be at war. They want peace, but not without freedom,” U2 writes on Instagram. “Never pick a fight with someone who’s ready to lose everything. This war is much more than territory. More than sovereignty. It’s about dignity and decency confronting domination and darkness.”

Finally, they note, “This song is for the mothers of Ukraine, and so many, who have lost so much. Don’t give up, don’t give up.”

And Antytila took to social media to thank the rockers for their appearance. “Great honor to stand on the stage with you again, guys. More pleasure – not in the underground :),” they share. “Bono and the Edge took part in our gig in London. Thank you for all!”

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Megadeth reunited with former guitarist Marty Friedman during their show at Tokyo’s famed Budokan venue Monday.

The concert, which streamed live online, marked the first time Friedman has played with Dave Mustaine and company since leaving Megadeth in 2000. According to Setlist.fm, Friedman took the stage for a trio of ’90s Megadeth classics: “Symphony of Destruction,” the Countdown to Extinction title track and the Rust in Peace cut “Tornado of Souls.”

For those who missed the livestream, which began very early in the morning for the Western Hemisphere, you can watch replays of the concert Monday at 2 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.

Friedman joined Megadeth in 1990, and played on albums including Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction. Following his departure from the group, he moved to Japan, where he’s lived since 2003.

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The Doobie Brothers are extending their anniversary celebration. The band, including Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee, just announced more dates for their 50th anniversary tour.

The additions include 35 new shows, kicking off June 9 in Sparks, Nevada, and wrapping October 8 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“We are thrilled to be back on the road in 2023 playing some cities we haven’t gotten to yet on this tour,” said Johnston.

Tickets for most of the new dates go on sale March 3 at 10 a.m. local time, with the remaining shows going on sale March 10 at 10 a.m. local time.

Next up The Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary tour hits Australia, Japan and Singapore in April, before returning to the U.S. May 2 in Kahului, Hawaii. A complete list of tour dates and ticket information can be found at thedoobiebrothers.com.

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In 2014, KISS’ Gene Simmons first told Esquire magazine that rock was dead. But it seems his bandmate Paul Stanley doesn’t share his sentiment.

“It’s a great soundbite, but that’s about all it is,” Stanley tells the United Kingdom publication Louder in a new interview. “My son Evan is playing all around Los Angeles with a rock band that kicks a** and is getting great crowds, with beautiful models coming, and that’s proof to me that rock’s not dead.”

Stanley notes music tastes are always changing: “it ebbs and flows.”

“There’s a lot of rock music being made right now, and some of it may be too derivative to really stake a claim and take it to the next level, but it will happen, it will happen,” he shares. “But the next big rock band won’t be huge because it sounds like a band from the past, it will have its own voice.”

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Queen has just landed a new Spotify milestone: The band’s classic track “We Will Rock You” has surpassed one billion streams on the streaming service.

“We Will Rock You,” written by guitarist Brian May, was featured on the band’s 1977 album, News of the World, and was released as a single on October 7 of that year. It went on to be certified six-times Platinum by the RIAA, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009.

The song isn’t the only Queen track to reach such a milestone on the streaming service: Back in December, “Bohemian Rhapsody” surpassed two billion steams on Spotify.

(A previous version of this story published on February 23 erroneously stated a million streams. The text above has been updated to correct the error.)

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Richie Sambora says he’s proud that the Bon Jovi song “It’s My Life” became an inspiration for Ukrainians as they were dealing with the initial days of the Russian invasion.

“I am proud to be a part of the writing,” Sambora tells People of the song he co-wrote with former bandmate Jon Bon Jovi. “Those songs were about the way we grew up, and it just transpired to be songs that inspired people to be themselves and to take strength.”

Video surfaced last March showing Odessa citizens on a beach filling sandbags while singing along to the Bon Jovi track backed by a drummer. 

“What I found in Ukraine is that these people have heart,” Sambora added. “They’re defending their families, their sovereignty as a country, their elders, their mothers and fathers, and the children that are the future. And that’s a lot of heart.” 

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Robert Trujillo has officially spent two decades in Metallica.

The bassist first joined the metal legends on February 24, 2003. In an Instagram post marking the milestone, Trujillo writes, “Crazy to think it’s been 20 incredible years since James [Hetfield] picked me up from Oakland Airport with Lars [Ulrich] and Kirk [Hammett] as passengers in his big white truck.”

“That night changed my life forever,” Trujillo continues. “Much Love to Lars, James, and Kirk and to the best frikin fans on the planet for the respect, love and support you’ve given me, I can’t wait to take the stage again with my brothers very soon!”

Trujillo is Metallica’s fourth official bass player, following original bassist Ron McGovney, the late Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted. His process of joining the band was memorably featured in the 2004 ‘Tallica documentary, Some Kind of Monster.

Metallica has released two albums with Trujillo — 2008’s Death Magnetic and 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct. A third, 72 Seasons, arrives on April 14.

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