Who-themed VW camper van inspired by “Magic Bus” to be auctioned next week

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

Here’s exciting news for Who fans with some disposable cash available: A 1965 Volkswagen camper van that was customized and restored in 2008 with a design inspired by the band’s 1968 hit “Magic Bus” is going up for bid at U.K.-based Silverstone Auctions on Saturday, August 27.

The vehicle, which was designed by the band’s longtime art director, Richard Evans, was originally raffled off in 2008 to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, for which Who singer Roger Daltrey has long been a patron. The Magic Bus currently is estimated to fetch between 60,000 and 80,000 pounds, or between about $72,000 and $95,000. A large donation from the money raised by the sale will go toward the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The van’s exterior paint job features The Who’s bull’s-eye logo on both sides, as well as images of the band’s four original members, while a large Union Jack flag appears on the roof. The inside boasts red, white and blue upholstery, with an embroidered Who logo appearing on the backrest of some seats. Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend have signed the cab’s two sun visors, while Evans autographed an interior wall of the van.

As an added bonus, the winning bidder will receive a limited-edition model of the Magic Bus, as well as some special merch.

Visit SilverstoneAuctions.com for more details about the sale.

INXS’ Andrew Farriss debuts video for country-influenced new solo single “You Are My Rock”

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

Founding INXS multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Andrew Farriss has just released a music video for the latest single from his 2021 self-titled debut solo album, the uplifting “You Are My Rock,” which premiered Thursday exclusively on the CMT Music channel and at CMT.com.

The video features Farriss and his backing musicians performing the tune in the outback of his native Australia. The tune combines the country influences showcased throughout most of the album with some rock and gospel flavors.

As Farriss explains in a YouTube video clip, “‘You Are My Rock’ is the last track, and I wanted to deliberately leave it ’til the end because I wanted to, basically, kick a** at the end of the record. The song is about thanking people in your life for opportunities that are given to you, for people that support you.”

He adds, “I’m simply saying thank you to everybody [for] listening to my album to get to the end of the song.”

Farriss has a few upcoming U.S. performances lined up to promote his album, including on August 22 in Lexington, Kentucky, and on September 15 at the AmericanaFest event in Nashville.

Farriss co-wrote most of INXS’ songs with the group’s late original frontman, Michael Hutchence, including such big hits as “What You Need,” “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” “New Sensation,” “Never Tear Us Apart” and “Suicide Blonde.”

Frances Bean Cobain reflects on 30th birthday: “20-year-old Frances wasn’t sure that was going to happen”

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

Happy birthday, Frances Bean Cobain! The daughter of the late Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love celebrates turning 30 Thursday.

In an Instagram post reflecting on the milestone occasion, Cobain shares, “20-year-old Frances wasn’t sure that was going to happen.”

“At the time, an intrinsic sense of deep self loathing dictated by insecurity, destructive coping mechanisms & more trauma than my body or brain knew how to handle, informed how I saw myself and the world,” Cobain writes. “Through a lens of resentment for being brought into a life that seemingly attracted so much chaos and the kind of pain tied to grief that felt inescapable.”

Cobain then mentions an unspecified “event on a plane” that she experienced, which she says, “brought me closer in proximity to death.” However, Cobain feels that what happened “catapulted me towards running at this lived experience with radical gratitude.”

“I’m glad to have proven myself wrong & to have found ways to transform pain into knowledge,” Cobain shares.

“Entering this new decade I hope to stay soft no matter how hardening the world can feel at times, bask in the present moment with reverence, shower the people I am lucky enough to love with more appreciation than words could ever do justice & hold space to keep learning, so the growth never stops,” she continues. “I’m happy to be here & I’m happy you’re here too.”

The Band marking ‘Rock of Ages’ 50th anniversary by debuting unseen photos, restored videos

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Band‘s classic 1972 double live album, Rock of Ages, was released 50 years ago this week. To commemorate its anniversary, a series of previously unseen photos taken at the series of 1971 New York City concerts that were recorded for the album have been made available for the first time.

The color images, which were shot by acclaimed photographer Ernst Haas, capture The Band performing at New York’s Academy of Music venue. The group’s longtime friend and mentor Bob Dylan made a surprise appearance at the final show of the run, on New Year’s Eve, and he’s also featured in a couple of the photos. The photos have been posted at UDiscoverMusic.com.

Some of the photos Haas took at the concerts were featured in the original Rock of Ages packaging, while additional shots were included in the 2013 box set Live at the Academy of Music 1971, which boasted remixed versions of Rock of Ages‘ tracks, as well as a full soundboard recording of the New Year’s Eve show.

Rock of Ages peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200, while a cover of the Marvin Gaye song “Baby Don’t Do It” — retitled “Don’t Do It” — reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Meanwhile, restored versions of performance videos for three songs shot at the concert have debuted on The Band’s official YouTube channel. The clips capture renditions of “Don’t Do It,” “King Harvest (Has Surely Come)” and “The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show,” while a newly created lyric video for the latter performance has also been posted.

The Band also is celebrating Rock of Ages‘ 50th anniversary by making available a new lined of themed merchandise at their official store.

Elton John relaxes in the South of France ahead of Britney collab release

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John‘s been traveling the world on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, but he’s finally enjoying some much-deserved time off with his family.

As the Daily Mail reports, Elton, dressed in head-to-toe Gucci, was spotted on a yacht in the South of France Wednesday with his husband, David Furnish, and their two sons, Zachary and Elijah. His tour won’t resume until September 7 in Toronto, so he’s got plenty of vacation time left. And he’ll need it: The tour isn’t scheduled to wrap up until the summer of 2023.

Meanwhile, it hasn’t been confirmed, but Elton’s much-anticipated collaboration with Britney Spears, “Hold Me Closer,” is rumored to be coming out on Friday. Not much is known about it, other than it appears to be an interpolation, reworking or remix of Elton’s classic “Tiny Dancer.”

Theatrical release announced for ‘Dio: Dreamers Never Die’ doc

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Ronnie James Dio documentary Dio: Dreamers Never Die is coming to theaters this fall.

The film will screen in cinemas worldwide for two days only: September 28 and October 2. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday, August 24.

Dio: Dreamers Never Die is described as the “first-ever, career-spanning documentary” on the metal legend, who passed away from stomach cancer in 2010. The film will follow Ronnie’s life from his days with the bands Elf and Rainbow, to joining Black Sabbath in place of the fired Ozzy Osbourne, and forming his own namesake band, Dio.

Wendy Dio, Ronnie’s longtime manager and widow, is an executive producer on the doc.

In addition to never-before-scene footage and photos of Ronnie, Dreamers Never Die will feature appearances by Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, ex-Deep Purple bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, Dio drummer Vinny Appice, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach and Jack Black.

For all ticket and theater info, visit DioDreamersNeverDie.com.

Billy Idol releasing new EP next month; debuts lead single, “Cage”

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Idol will release a new four-song EP titled The Cage EP on September 23. He’s given fans a taste of the record by making its lead track, the rocking and melodic “Cage,” available as a digital single.

The Cage EP follows another four-track collection from Idol, 2021’s The Roadside EP. Like last year’s EP, Idol’s main collaborator on the new project is his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens.

The veteran pop-punk rocker also debuted a music video for “Cage” on his official YouTube channel. The black-and-white clip features footage of Billy singing while alternately trying to free himself from a straitjacket and trapped in a small cage. Stevens also makes an appearance in the video, rocking out on lead guitar.

The Cage EP can be preordered now and will be available on CD, digitally, and as a standard black-vinyl disc and a limited-edition red-vinyl disc. A limited number signed copies of the EP are available at Idol’s official store.

Meanwhile, Variety reports that a new documentary about Idol is in the works from Grammy-winning filmmaker and videographer Jonas Akerlund, whose many credits include Madonna‘s “Ray of Light” video and Paul McCartney‘s Live Kisses concert film.

According to Variety, Akerlund was inspired to make a film about Idol after listening to Billy’s audiobook for his 2015 memoir Dancing with Myself.

“I told Billy, ‘This is a film … We need to tell this story,'” notes Akerlund. “He was there when punk-rock happened in London, then moved to New York just as MTV was exploding, and now he’s in Los Angeles. I personally love his story, the incredible events in his life. And the music has touched so many people.”

Here The Cage EP‘s full track list:

“Cage”
“Running from the Ghost”
“Rebel Like You”
“Miss Nobody”

Iggy Pop headlining inaugural Destination Chaos destination punk festival

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

Iggy Pop is set to headline the inaugural Destination Chaos, a punk-themed destination festival taking place in the Dominican Republic from January 28 to February 4, 2023.

The bill also includes Descendents, Gogol Bordello, Amyl and the Sniffers, The Chats and ex-Joy Division bassist Peter Hook, who will be performing the band’s iconic 1979 debut album Unknown Pleasures in full.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit DestinationChaos.com.

You can also catch Iggy perform at the 2022 Desert Daze festival, taking place in October in Lake Perris, California. That lineup also features Tame Impala performing their 2012 album Lonerism in its entirety.

Ozzy Osbourne wanted Jimmy Page for ’Patient Number 9′ album: “Maybe he’d lost his phone”

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

If you’re feeling bad about that text message you sent that got left on read, it might be comforting to know that even Ozzy Osbourne doesn’t always get an answer back.

In an interview with Metal Hammer, the Prince of Darkness shares that he reached out to Jimmy Page to appear on his upcoming new solo album, Patient Number 9, only to get crickets from the Led Zeppelin legend.

“I don’t even know if he plays anymore, but I thought getting Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page meant having the greatest guitarists on the planet,” Ozzy shares. “But I never heard from him. Maybe he’d lost his phone or something!”

Osbourne’s comments follow an interview Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who plays on Patient Number 9, gave to the Talk Is Jericho podcast earlier this year, during which he said that there was an attempt to recruit Page for the album.

While the potential Page collaboration didn’t come to be, Patient Number 9 features a ton of other guests, including Clapton, Beck, Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi, Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready, Black Label Society‘s Zakk Wylde, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Metallica‘s Robert Trujillo and late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Patient Number 9 will be released September 9.

Collection of late Who bassist John Entwistle’s rare recordings to be released soon

August 18, 2022 by Classic Rock 93.9

The first of two new compilations featuring rare and unreleased recordings by late Who bassist John Entwistle will be issued soon by the Deko Entertainment label.

Titled Rarities Oxhumed – Volume One, the album will feature previously unheard studio tracks, demos, remastered live performances and other unreleased gems. Among the live recordings is a performance of the 1978 Who tune “Trick of the Light,” penned and sung by Entwistle.

The albums have been put together by the Deko label in collaboration with longtime Entwistle solo band member Steve Lungo and John’s son, Chris Entwistle.

Deko Entertainment has launched a webpage promoting the new project, which features a countdown clock that’s scheduled to hit zero on Friday, September 9, at about 4 p.m. ET. There’s also a link to a YouTube video featuring an archival interview clip with Entwistle, who says, “I guess I’d like to be remembered as someone who helped change the face of bass guitar, and being probably the only bass guitarist that hasn’t been copyable.”

Entwistle died in June 2002 of a heart attack one day before The Who was scheduled to launch a U.S. tour. He was 57.

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