Billy Joel posts new archival performance; band members join Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

If watching the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes has you fired up about Billy’s music, now’s your chance to jam with the members of his band, past and present.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is hosting a Rock ‘N’ Soul Camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in December. While there, you’ll be able to play some of Billy’s biggest hits with Billy’s former drummer Liberty DeVitto; his current keyboardist and musical director David Rosenthal; and Crystal Taliefero, the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who’s been working with Billy since 1989.

In other Billy Joel news, he continues to roll out new archival performances on his YouTube channel. The latest is an a cappella performance of his 1984 hit “The Longest Time,” recorded by Billy and his then-bandmates in the locker room showers at the Capital Centre, a sports arena in Landover, Maryland. DeVitto is seen providing percussion by thumping on a book.

A snippet of the performance can be seen in the documentary, but this is the entire song. More archival performances will be posted to Billy’s YouTube channel in the coming weeks. You can also find the audio versions of these performances on the 155-track digital companion to the doc, which is now available on streaming services.

Sammy Hagar, REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin to play benefit for first responders

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Sammy Hagar and REO Speedwagon‘s Kevin Cronin are among the performers who’ll be headlining One805Live! 2025, an annual benefit that supports the first responders of Santa Barbara County, California.

Also on the bill are former Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, the bands The Fray and Good Charlotte, and country star Trisha Yearwood.

The event is set for Sept. 20 at Kevin Costner‘s oceanside estate in the Santa Barbara area, and tickets are on sale now.

Funds raised will go to essential equipment and mental wellness programs for Santa Barbara County’s first responders. Past events have been headlined by artists like John Fogerty and The Alan Parsons Project, as well as Pink and Maroon 5.

Iron Maiden mourns death of original singer: ‘We are deeply saddened’

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Iron Maiden has shared a statement mourning the death of the band’s original singer, Paul Mario Day.

“We are deeply saddened that Paul Mario Day, Iron Maiden’s first ever vocalist back in 1975, has passed away,” the metal icons write in a Facebook post. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Paul’s family and friends.”

“Paul was a lovely person and good mate,” the post continues. “Rest in peace Paul.”

Day was in Maiden for a year before being replaced by Dennis Wilcock, who was then replaced by Paul Di’Anno. Current Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson joined in 1981.

Day’s death was announced Tuesday by the band Sweet, with whom he played for a stint in the ’80s.

Toast the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary with limited-edition wines

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

When Dead & Company perform their three headline shows in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Grateful Dead, fans on-site will get the first chance to sample two new anniversary-edition wines from the band’s collaboration with Gnarly Head wines.

The Old Vine Zinfadel and Cabernet Sauvignon wines will be available nationwide in August in commemorative bottles featuring a special label design incorporating the Dead’s 60th anniversary logo in holographic foil.

Grateful Dead archivist and legacy manager David Lemieux says in a statement, “For 60 years, the Grateful Dead has brought people together through music, community, and shared experiences—and that spirit lives on in this special collaboration with Gnarly Head wines.”

“These Anniversary-Edition wines capture the energy, creativity, and individuality that have defined the Dead for six decades, and fans now have a new way to celebrate the music and memories made along the way.”

The wines cost around $12 per bottle. Visit gnarlyhead.com for more information.

Ozzy Osbourne’s family, fans say goodbye to rock legend

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Family and fans of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne gathered in his hometown of Birmingham, England, on Wednesday to say a final farewell.

The hearse carrying Ozzy, who died July 22 at the age of 76, traveled through the main streets of Birmingham with a view of the Black Sabbath frontman’s coffin covered in purple flowers.

The funeral procession made a stop at the city’s Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where a memorial for Ozzy grew in the week after his death.

Ozzy’s family members — led by his wife, Sharon Osbourne — got out at the bridge to view the memorial.

Sharon and her children Jack Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne and Aimee Osbourne were seen waving and giving peace signs to the thousands of fans gathered to pay tribute.

In addition to his three children with Sharon, Ozzy was also the father of three children from his first marriage: Louis Osbourne, Jessica Osbourne and Elliot Kingsley.

He was a grandfather of 10 at the time of his death.

Ozzy’s death came just over two weeks after he performed his final show in Birmingham alongside his original Black Sabbath bandmates at the Back to the Beginning benefit concert.

Elton John celebrates 35th ‘sobriety birthday’

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John‘s birthday is in March, but on Tuesday he marked a milestone birthday of another sort.

“Grateful for all the love on my sobriety birthday,” the Rocket Man wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of cards, drawings and flowers. July 29 marked his 35th year of sobriety. One card in the photo reads, “Happy 35th Birthday! We are so proud of you!” It’s signed by Elton’s husband, David Furnish, and their sons.

Another card says, “Congratulations on 35 years! We are immensely proud of you and wish you a lovely birthday today.” It’s signed “Your Rocket Family.” Rocket Entertainment is the name of Elton’s company.

Elton has been open about his substance abuse and other addictions in multiple interviews, as well as in his autobiography, Me. He sought help, joining Alcoholics Anonymous and going to rehab, finally getting clean in 1990. In his book, he estimated he’d attended some 1,400 support group meetings. He’s gone on to help other celebrities get sober, including Eminem and Donatella Versace.

For charity auction, Queen’s John Deacon signs first memorabilia since 1997

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Queen bass player John Deacon dropped out of the spotlight after he retired in 1997, but he’s now reemerged to take part in a charity auction coming up in September.

The Official Freddie Mercury Birthday Party, an annual charity event organized by the Mercury Phoenix Trust, is taking place Sept. 6 in Montreux, Switzerland. A silent auction will be held for a copy of the band’s classic album A Night at the Opera, signed by Deacon, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. The money raised will go toward HIV/AIDS awareness.

According to the Mercury Phoenix Trust website, you don’t have to attend the party to enter a bid, but you do have to physically submit it at the Montreux Casino, where Queen’s Mountain Studios were formerly located and where the party is being held.

As per NME, this is the first time that Deacon has signed memorabilia since 1997.

In 2023, May told The Guardian that despite his retirement, Deacon was “still very much a part of Queen.”

“If we have any major decision, business wise, it’s always run past John,” May said.

Metallica expands blood drive initiative with Give Where You Live campaign

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

During Metallica‘s 2025 M72 tour, the band teamed up with the American Red Cross to set up blood drives around cities on the itinerary. Now, the metal legends are expanding the initiative nationwide with the Give Where You Live campaign.

If you sign up to participate in any Red Cross blood drive in the U.S. now through Feb. 28, 2026, you’ll receive a limited-edition Red Cross-themed Metallica T-shirt, while supplies last. You’ll also be automatically entered to win an ESP Snakebyte guitar featuring exclusive artwork and autographs by each Metallica band member.

For more info, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Metallica.

“Throughout the U.S. run of M72 shows, fans donated more than 2,000 units of blood and platelets!” Metallica says. “Each blood donation can help save more than one life; the Metallica Family is giving back and saving lives!”

On This Day, July 30, 1988: Steve Winwood hit #1 with ‘Roll With It’

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, July 30, 1988 …

Former Traffic star Steve Winwood topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Roll With It,” the title track from his fifth studio album.

The track spent four weeks in the top spot and was one of two #1 hits Winwood would have during his solo career. The other was “Higher Love,” which topped the chart in August 1986.

While Winwood wrote “Roll With It” with Will Jennings, the performing rights organization BMI later gave the Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland – Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Eddie Holland – credit, due to the song’s similarity to “(I’m a) Roadrunner,” which they wrote for Junior Walker.

“Roll With It” went on to earn Grammy nominations for record of the year and best male pop vocal performance. The album was also nominated for album of the year.

Grahame Lesh talks celebrating the Grateful Dead & more with The Heart of Town shows

July 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Grahame Lesh is hosting a three-night concert series, The Heart of Town, to help celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead.

Lesh’s shows, taking place July 31-Aug. 2 at San Francisco’s Pier 48, coincide with Dead & Company’s three-night stand at Golden Gate Park Aug. 1-3. Lesh tells ABC Audio the weekend is about celebrating more than just the band’s music.

“The Grateful Dead is so all-encompassing,” Lesh, son of the late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, says. “I think every aspect of the weekend is going to celebrate some aspect of the band.”

He adds, “It’s just become this whole Bay Area wide celebration of the band, of the music, of the community and, you know, of the area honestly, of the city itself.”

Artists on board to celebrate The Dead’s legacy include Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes, John Medeski and Duane Betts, with Lesh noting it wasn’t hard to find artists who’ve been influenced by The Dead.

“That sort of like just opens up this whole world of people who love to play this music or love to play adjacent music or any sort of thing like that,” he says.

Lesh says his main goal with The Heart of Town is to put on a great show, but he hopes fans leave grasping the “breadth and the depth” of the Grateful Dead’s music and its community.

And when it comes to the set, fans may be in for some surprises.

“I’m planning to play some Dead songs that I’m sure Dead & Co. is not going to do,” Lesh says. “There’s so much … they couldn’t get it all in to three nights either.”

The Heart of the Town is presented by San Francisco Giants and Relix, and produced by Terrapin Station Entertainment and Dayglo Presents. More info can be found at mlb.com.

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