The past year has been a good one for touring artists, especially for some heritage acts, who made big bucks on the road this year.
While Bad Bunny tops Billboard’s year-end Top Tours chart for 2022, bringing in $373.5 million and selling 1.8 million tickets across 65 shows, acts like Elton John, The Rolling Stones,Mötley Crue and Def Leppard all make the top 10.
Elton lands just under Bad Bunny at two, with over $334 million from 63 shows; The Rolling Stones comes in at six, with over $179 million from 20 shows.
Others making the list include the Red Hot Chili Peppers at seven ($176.9 M), Def Leppard and Motley Crue at eight ($173.4 M), Paul McCartney at 15, Eagles at 16 ($105 M), Guns N’ Roses at 17 ($93.3 M) and Genesis at 25 ($81.9 M).
The “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers will headline the English capital’s historic Hyde Park on June 30. A full lineup of supporting artists will be announced at a later date.
Tickets go on sale next Wednesday, December 7. Members of GN’R’s Nightrain fan club will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, December 5. For all ticket info, visit GunsNRoses.com.
GN’R just played London last summer and was joined by country star Carrie Underwood for performances of “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Paradise City.”
The Hyde Park date marks the first announced Guns N’ Roses show of 2023. The group will close out 2022 with a show in New Zealand on December 10.
Grateful Dead fans can now show off their love for the band while improving their health, thanks to a new line of Grateful Dead yoga mats, cork yoga blocks and cotton yoga straps that’s being released by JadeYoga. The natural rubber Grateful Dead Harmony mats will feature the band’s signature dancing bears, with the bears in Tree, Downward Dog, Warrior, Crow and Dancer yoga poses.
“When I first saw the Grateful Dead inGlens Falls, NY over 40 years ago, I never would have thought I would someday have a chance to work with the band or just how fitting it would be,” JadeYoga founder Dean Jerrehian shares. “With the Grateful Dead’s history of environmental activism and support, the Dead is a perfect match for Jade’s mission of creating the best quality, most eco-friendly yoga products and giving back to the earth with each product sold.”
The mats will also help the environment because with every mat sold, Jade will plant a tree; over two million trees have been planted so far.
Fleetwood Mac‘s Christine McVie continues to be remembered on social media, with former President Bill Clinton among the famous names paying tribute to the star.
“I’m saddened by the passing of Christine McVie,” he writes. ““Don’t Stop” was my ’92 campaign theme song – it perfectly captured the mood of a nation eager for better days.” He adds, “I’m grateful to Christine & Fleetwood Mac for entrusting us with such a meaningful song. I will miss her.”
Also remembering McVie, who passed away Wednesday at age 79, are the Eagles, who shared, “We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Christine McVie. Hers was a vibrant, soulful spirit, and her music was, and will remain, a gift to the world.” The statement adds, “We had the utmost admiration and respect for Christine.”
HAIM, whose song “Hallelujah” was quoted in Stevie Nicks’ tribute to McVie, shared on Instagram, “the sisterhood Stevie and Christine had was so vital to us growing up. seeing two strong women support each other in our favorite band has had such a huge impact on us throughout our lives.”
The sister group added that McVie “has been a constant inspiration.” Alana Haim, who wrote the “Hallelujah” verse that Stevie quoted, added that it was written “to help me heal” after the death of her friend Sammi Kane.
She noted, “Seeing Stevie and Christine together changed my life forever and made me want to play music. I’m speechless. I love you so much Stevie, rip beautiful songbird.” “Songbird” was McVie’s signature song.
Other tributes include:
The Go-Go’sBelinda Carlisle – “Oh no. The voice of an angel. RIP #christinemcvie Forever loved.” The Kinks‘ Dave Davies– “I’m really upset about #ChristineMcVie a very underrated and talented woman. A great talent.” Marc Maron – “Christine McVie died. One of the greatest rock voices ever. Both as a singer and songwriter. RIP.” Drive-by Truckers– Christine McVie had the most hits of anyone in Fleetwood Mac, yet was somehow the most underrated member. Never flashy, alway great. She was the glue that held all those crazy wonderful elements together. Her songs had a soulfulness unhampered by pretense. RIP.” Bryan Adams – “RIP Christine McVie. Thanks for the music.”
Not long ago, Joni Mitchell told Elton John in an interview for his Apple Music show Rocket Hour that she felt her classic albums — like Blue, Ladies of the Canyon and Court and Spark— hadn’t gotten the recognition they deserved because they were “too intimate.” She said, “I think it upset the male singer-songwriters…I think it made people nervous.” But it sounds like that wasn’t an issue for one of those male singer-songwriters: David Crosby.
When asked if Mitchell’s work did indeed make people “nervous,” Crosby tells ABC Audio, “It might have, but for me, it was glorious.” He adds, “To me, it was absolutely shiny, wonderful, incredible work. I think it might have made people who were used to writing silly shallow pop, you know, very uncomfortable.”
Crosby has nothing but glowing things to say about Joni, noting she “was unquestionably the best of us, the best singer-songwriter alive.”
“I don’t think anybody touches her to this day. I don’t think there’s anybody as good as she was,” Crosby adds. “I think she was the most talented one.”
In fact, Crosby’s upcoming live release David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band Live at the Capitol Theatre features a version of Mitchell’s classic composition “Woodstock,” which, of course, his former group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young scored a hit with in 1970. The album arrives December 9.
Christine McVie’s death Wednesday at 79 certainly surprised many, and upon hearing the news, plenty of artists took to social media to pay tribute to the Fleetwood Mac star.
“I am so sad to hear of Christine McVie going on to heaven. The world feels weird without her here. What a legend and an icon and an amazing human being. RIP,” Sheryl Crowsaid, while Heart’s Ann Wilsonwrote on Instagram, “Christine was a gem. Soulful, classy and a beautiful songwriter. ’Over my head’ was always my sultry, angelic favorite. Bon Voyage sweet soul!”
Bette Midler also shared, “#ChristineMcVie has left us. What memories, what joy, and what a legacy…,” while the rock band Garbagewrote, “Gutted to learn about the passing of Christine McVie. Just gutted. Songbird forever.”
Duran Duran’s John Taylor also remembered the star, writing, “So so sad to hear about Christine McVie, an artist I held dear and close to my heart. One of the greatest all time songwriters, singers, and band members, she radiated both purity and sass in equal measure, bringing light to the music of the 70s. RIP,” and Carole King simply wrote, “With love and respect. R.I.P. Christine McVie.”
The death of Fleetwood Mac‘s Christine McVie Wednesday at age 79 shocked most people, including her bandmate and close friend Stevie Nicks, who opened up about her grief in a handwritten note on social media.
“A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away,” she writes. “I didn’t even know she was ill … until late Saturday night.” She shares she wanted to travel to London to be with her, but was told to wait.
Stevie writes that since hearing Christine was ill, “one song has been swirling around in my head, over and over and over,” noting, “I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now,” adding, “I always knew I would need these words one day … It’s all I can do now.”
Stevie then wrote out the lyrics to the third verse of the Haim song “Hallelujah,” which starts with, “I had a best friend but she has come to pass. One I wish I could see now.”
Stevie signed the note, “See you on the other side my love, don’t forget me, Always Stevie,” and added a picture of her and McVie together.
Mick Fleetwood posted his own tribute to McVie, writing, “This is a day where my dear sweet Friend Christine McVie has taken flight.. and left us earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that songbird … reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us.” He adds, “part of my heart has flown away today.. I will miss everything about you Christine McVie.”
Alice Cooper is the subject of a new coffee table book from veteran rock journalist Garry Graff, Consequence reports. Alice Cooper at 75, dropping January 31, ahead of the rocker’s 75th birthday on February 4, will look back on the rocker’s career, highlighting “75 career accomplishments, events, and partnerships.”
The 208-page book will explore Cooper’s childhood, and take a deep look at his albums and songs. It will also look at Cooper’s life outside the music world, including his love of classic cars and golf, his charity work and his relationship with his wife, Sheryl.
The book, which sells for $75, will feature lots of photos, including concert pictures, offstage candids, gig posters, record covers and ticket stubs. It will also include two pullout posters and an 8-by-10 photo.
The rock world has lost another legend. Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie died Wednesday at the age of 79.
“On behalf of Christine McVie’s family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death,” read a statement from her family, noting she died “peacefully at hospital” after “a short illness.” The family asked for privacy and shared, “ … we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally.”
Fleetwood Mac also released a statement, saying, “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure.” They also called her the “best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.” They note, “We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”
Christine got her start as a member of the British band Chicken Shack. After marrying Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie, she appeared on their 1968 album Mr. Wonderful and became a permanent member in 1971, lasting through the many lineup changes of the group. She wrote and sang some of the band’s biggest hits, including 1975’s “Over My Head” and “Say You Love Me,” as well as the Rumours tracks “Don’t Stop” and “You Make Loving Fun,” and such later tracks as “Hold Me” from Mirage and “Little Lies” from Tango in the Night. She also released three solo albums and one collaborative album with Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham.
As a member of Fleetwood Mac she won two Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Elton John has scored a new Billboardchart record. Thanks to his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Elton is number one on the Top Tours chart this month, making it his record-setting fifth month on top.
During the month of October, Elton brought in $49.6 million from only eight shows to top the monthly Boxscore report. That translates to $6.2 million per show.
Elton was the first artist to land at number one on the Top Tour list when it launched in 2019 and held that spot three more times before touring was halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. He held the record for the most months at number one until last month, when Bad Bunny tied him — but Elton has surpassed him to hold the record once again.
As of now, Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which launched in 2018, has grossed more than $700 million; he is on track to surpass Ed Sheeran’s The Divide Tour as the top-grossing tour of all time. It brought in $776.4 million.
