Classic Rock 93.9

Lars Ulrich has shared a statement reflecting on Metallica‘s tribute to late Megaforce Records co-founders Jon and Marsha Zazula at their concert in Florida over the weekend.

In an Instagram post, Ulrich calls the show “an absolutely epic, unique, and unforgettable night.”

“Thank you to everyone who came from near and far away to partake,” the drummer writes. “Incredible to see so many familiar faces in the front row, out in the house and backstage.”

The Zazulas launched Megaforce in 1982 and signed a then-unknown Metallica to their first record deal. Marsha passed away in January 2021, followed by Jon in February 2022.

To celebrate the legacy of the Zazulas, Metallica’s tribute set focused entirely on the band’s early days, with performances of songs from the 1983-84 era.

“Special shout out to the three Zazula daughters, Danielle, Rikki & Blaire, our comrades from the Old Bridge Militia and our old school touring partners in Raven for making the trek and joining in the shenanigans,” Ulrich writes. “Mad love to all.”

Metallica’s next scheduled concert is their Helping Hands charity concert, taking place December 16 in Los Angeles. Greta Van Fleet is also on the bill.

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A new book on Jimi Hendrix is in stores now, while one on Genesis will arrive early next year.

Jimi is written by Hendrix’s stepsister Janie Hendrix and John McDermott of Experience Hendrix L.L.C. It features rare and previously unpublished pictures of the late guitar legend as well as lyrics and personal memorabilia. Quotes from Jimi’s famous fans, from Paul McCartney, Lenny Kravitz and Ron Wood to Jeff Beck and Dave Grohl, are also included.

If this Hendrix book inspires you to write your long-delayed novel, Montblanc has a Jimi Hendrix collection of ballpoint and fountain pens. Each one celebrates a standout year in Hendrix’s career, from 1967 to 1969. But with prices that range from $940 to — no joke — $37,000, you might be better off buying a guitar.

Meanwhile, a unique book on Genesis is due March 17, 2023. Called Play Me My Song – The Music Of Genesis, the 558-page tome is described as “the biggest book ever published on” the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. But rather than simply being a band biography, it’s made up of extensive essays about every song and album in the band’s entire catalogue. 

According to the publisher, Play Me My Song — named after a line in the Genesis song “The Musical Box” —  “blends song histories, musical analysis, critical reviews, autobiographical tales, the fun of countdowns, and a dash of pure silliness.” You can pre-order it now.

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Joe Walsh has assembled some of Ohio’s finest rock talent for this year’s edition of his VetsAid charity concert, but the lineup also includes one Ohio-born musician that Walsh says he didn’t even invite: Dave Grohl.

Walsh tells Billboard that in the six years since he started VetsAid — which raises awareness and money for veterans and their families — he’s found it “very uncomfortable” to ask bands to participate.  But when it came to Grohl, Walsh says, the Foo Fighters front man simply announced, “I’m gonna come.” When Walsh asked him, “What are you gonna do?” he replied, I don’t know, but I’m coming.”

It’s no surprise that Grohl would want to perform at the show, whose bill this year also includes Nine Inch Nails, The Breeders, The Black Keys, Drew Carey and Walsh’s own James Gang. After all, he and the James Gang performed at the Taylor Hawkins tribute shows in September, and Grohl joined them onstage at both concerts.

Grohl “can do anything he wants,” Walsh said of the drummer’s participation in the show, scheduled for this Sunday at Columbus, Ohio’s Nationwide Arena. He adds. “I’m sure he’ll play ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ with me, probably help sing it.”

Despite the James Gang’s appearance being billed as “one last ride,” Walsh says they may decide to continue. “Glenn Frey used to say never say never, so I’m not,” he tells Billboard, noting that he really enjoyed playing “loud on 11” at the Hawkins concerts. He adds, “I didn’t realize how much I missed it…I can’t wait to play again.”

Since its inception, VetsAid has distributed more than two million dollars in grants from the concerts and other fundraisers. Sunday’s show will be livestreamed via veeps.com: You can buy tickets at vetsaid.veeps.com

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Blackmore’s Night, the group featuring ex-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and his wife, Candice Night, has been making their brand of traditional medieval and folk rock music for 25 years — and they’re going to mark that milestone with a special release.

On March 10, 2023, a 25th Anniversary Edition of Shadow of the Moon, the debut album by Blackmore’s Night, will arrive. You can listen to the 25th Anniversary mix of the album’s title track now. The package includes two previously unreleased acoustic versions of “Spirit of the Sea” and “Shadow of the Moon,” recorded by Blackmore and Night in 2022. 

The physical copies of the album feature a bonus DVD with a making-of documentary and videos for “Shadow of the Moon,” “No Second Chance” and “Renaissance Faire.”

If you buy the album as a two-LP vinyl set, you may discover a Golden Ticket inside. Only two albums will have this ticket, but if you’re one of those two lucky fans, you’ll win a Fender Ritchie Blackmore Signature Stratocaster guitar.

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Back in the ’80s, Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen pulled off one of the more impressive second acts in music: After losing his left arm in a car accident, he taught himself how to drum with one arm and his feet — and Def Leppard went on to release the best-selling album of their career, Hysteria. But looking back now, Allen admits he was at a very low point following the accident. 

“I really didn’t want to be here and I felt very defeated,” Allen tells Page Six, adding that he felt “very awkward” and “self-conscious.” Allen, who was just 21 when he nearly died in the accident, said the people around him helped him realize he still had something to live for.

Allen said he received “a lot of encouragement” from “my peers, a lot of fans, my family,” adding, “They all tried to help lift me up and then finally I got it. I got to a point where I realized I can do this.” He adds, “It wasn’t until after the fact that I discovered the power of the human spirit and that’s what really propelled me to where I am now.”

Allen is currently touring with his wife, Lauren Monroe; Wednesday night they’ll perform in New York City. He’s also organized an online event for Friday, which is Veterans Day, called 12 Drummers Drumming: Finding the Rhythm to Heal. It’s a benefit for their Raven Drum Foundation, which helps veterans with trauma recovery via alternative medical programs, including drummer circles. You can watch at 12drummersdrumming.org.

Among the drummers participating are Stewart Copeland of The Police, Rage Against the Machine‘s Brad Wilk, Mötley Crüe‘s Tommy Lee, Original KISS drummer Peter Criss, Matt Sorum and Fred Armisen of Saturday Night Live.

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Fresh from inducting Lionel Richie into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Lenny Kravitz took the stage Monday night in New York City to accept his own honor. Bradley Cooper presented Kravitz with the Fashion Icon Award at the CDFA Fashion Awards, organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

According to USA Today, Kravitz said at the event, “What I’ve learned along the way is being yourself is the most important thing you can do. And that you’re going to make mistakes. I certainly have had my fair share of fashion fails, but that’s part of evolving.”

As this year’s Fashion Icon, Kravitz of course made a bold statement with his outfit for the event: He wore a custom look by LaQuan Smith consisting of leather pants, a suit jacket with cutouts and a black ostrich feather boa.

Lenny told Vogue, “I reached out to LaQuan after admiring his work for some time and we met in person just a couple of days ago to vibe out. We had instant chemistry and creativity hit it off right away. I love his vision … the fact that I’m the first to wear creations he has made for men is an honor.” 

Smith, meanwhile, said, “Lenny is an icon and has always been a major inspiration to me in both my work and my personal style … I wanted to push the boundaries of menswear with this look and I feel as though this is the start of something greater. This feels like a very iconic moment.”

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 Dan McCafferty, the original lead singer for the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, has died. He was 76.

The news was announced on the band’s Facebook page by bass player Pete Agnew, the only remaining founding member in the current Nazareth lineup. “Dan died at 12:40 today,” Agnew wrote. “This is the saddest announcement I ever had to make … I have lost my best friend and the world has lost one of the greatest singers who ever lived. Too upset to say anything more at this time.” 

No cause of death was given, but McCafferty had retired from the band in 2013 due to health issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a burst stomach ulcer.

McCafferty founded Nazareth in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1968 with Agnew, drummer Darrell Sweet and guitarist Manny Charlton. They took their name from a line in The Band‘s song “The Weight:” “I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ ’bout half past dead.”

In the U.S., they’re best known for their top-10 cover of The Everly Brothers‘ “Love Hurts,” which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1976. It was their only top-10 hit, though the title track of their 1975 album, Hair of the Dog — sometimes erroneously referred to as “Son of a B***h” because of its hook — became a rock radio staple.

Their only other U.S. charted song was 1980’s “Holiday,” with its video getting airplay in the early days of MTV. In 1993, Guns ‘N’ Roses covered “Hair of the Dog” on their album The Spaghetti Incident?.

McCafferty was replaced first by Linton Osborne and then by Carl Sentance, who is their current singer. Their most recent album, Surviving the Law, was released earlier this year.

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Fans of Elton John know he loves to shop, so it’s no surprise that he’s collaborating with one of the most famous department stores in the world for a good cause.

Elton has teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue for a curated holiday collection, proceeds from which will go to The Elton John AIDS Foundation. The collection is available to shop now and includes items from Balmain, Versace, Louboutin, Dior, Burberry, Chopard, Gucci, Baccarat, Manolo Blahnik and Caroline Herrera.

In a statement, Elton says, “There are so many ways I enjoy expressing creativity—through my music, my fashion…and my gift-giving! I’m inspired by all the creativity we saw in the designers we partnered with for this collection. Better yet, they’re helping fuel the other great passion in my life, Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Rocket Fund, which helps provide care to those who need it most.”

As part of the deal, Saks will donate $1 million to Elton’s AIDS Foundation — including $500,000 worth of proceeds from the collection — regardless of how well it sells.

On December 6 at 12 p.m. ET, you can go to Saks Live and watch Elton sitting down with Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele for an intimate conversation.

Speaking to Saks for its website, Elton talked about how he celebrates the holidays.

“Christmas is a massive deal in our family as our eldest son Zachary was born on Christmas day,” he reveals. “We have a tradition of celebrating his birthday on Christmas Eve followed by a big Christmas celebration on the 25th…We love watching our favorite classic holiday movies and listening to great Christmas records.”

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Peter Gabriel recently told ABC Audio that his new album — on which he’s been working since 2002 — was “nearing completion.” Well, it now has an official title and will be supported by the artist’s first major tour in years.

Gabriel’s album was always rumored to be called i/o, but now it’s official. There’s no release date yet, but i/o The Tour will start May 18 in Krakow, Poland and run through June 25 in Dublin, Ireland. These will be Gabriel’s first dates outside North America in 14 years. 

Speaking of North America, he plans to tour there in the late summer or early fall of 2023. Tickets for the European dates go on sale Friday, November 11 via LiveNation, while ticket info for North America will be released at a later date. This will be his first North American tour since 2016.

“It’s been a while and I am now surrounded by a whole lot of new songs and am excited to be taking them out on the road for a spin,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer said in a statement. “Look forward to seeing you out there.”

For the tour, Gabriel will play material from the new album as well as hits, fan favorites and as his website puts it, “the unexpected.” He’ll be joined by his regular musical collaborators: Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katché. 

When i/o finally arrives, it’ll be Gabriel’s first studio album of all-original material since 2002’s Up.

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