Devon Allman and Duane Betts on honoring the Allman Brothers Band legacy

July 22, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Devon Allman and Duane Betts, sons of Allman Brothers Band’s Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, respectively, have been touring as the Allman Betts Band since 2018. While their shows celebrate their fathers’ musical legacy, they are not trying to copy the Allman Brothers.

The pair has released two albums since their formation. Noting they’ve been inspired by their fathers’ music, Duane tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast that it’s important their music “has its own character, its own texture, its own chemistry.”

Still, they don’t shy away from Allman Brothers music on tour.

“It’s such an honor to be part of the legacy,” Devon says. “It’s some of my favorite music in the world.”

The Allman Betts Band’s live show includes a mix of their original music along with Allman Brothers hits like “Midnight Rider,” “Blue Sky” and deeper cuts, and for Duane it’s important to get that mix right.

“I could never go out and do six-month tour of all Allman Brothers songs. I’d feel gross,” he says. “But at the same time, if the lights go down in a theater and there’s 1,500 people to see us perform, and we didn’t play one of our fathers’ songs, I would feel gross then, too.”

He adds, “It’s important to play those songs, but we have to move forward. You have to be your own creative person.

Metallica details next edition of Metallica Scholars Initiative + donates stage parts to Tomorrowland festival

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica has announced the next edition of their Metallica Scholars Initiative.

The campaign, now in its seventh year, supports workforce education for community college students. Fifteen new schools have joined the initiative for fall 2025, each of which will receive $75,000 to “enhance the student experience within career and technical education programs.”

Metallica Scholars now supports 75 schools across the U.S., including in all 50 states and in the territory of Guam.

“I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars,” says bassist Robert Trujillo. “We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our [All Within My Hands] Foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades.”

“Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment,” Trujillo continues. “It is truly inspiring. To think we started with a few schools and a couple hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible.”

In addition to assisting college students, Metallica is lending a hand to Belgium’s Tomorrowland EDM festival after its main stage was destroyed in a fire. According to the Belgian publication HLN, parts from Metallica’s stage stored from their European tour were donated to Tomorrowland to help rebuild the stage.

Performer Martin Garrix wrote in an Instagram post, “Massive love and a big shoutout to the incredible @tomorrowland team for pulling off miracles — and to @Metallica for coming through with the new stage parts.”

Chris Stein shares update on upcoming Blondie record

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Blondie’s Chris Stein has given fans an update about the band’s upcoming new album.

Stein first announced that the band had a new record in the works back in November, sharing a black-and-white photo of Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry in the studio along with the caption, “New Blondie album next year.”

In December he followed that up with another photo of Harry in the studio, this time with producer John Congleton, suggesting he’s producing the album.

Stein has now let fans know when they should expect the release: He posted another photo of Harry and Congleton in the studio with the caption, “Next Blondie album should be around last quarter this year,” suggesting it’s coming out in October, November or December.

The album will be the first Blondie record since the April death of drummer Clem Burke. When a fan asked if Burke would be on the album, Stein replied, “Clem played the whole thing.”

As for whether there are plans to hit the road to promote the record, Stein said he didn’t know.

The new album will be the first from Blondie since 2017’s Pollinator, which Congleton also produced. It featured songs written by the members of Blondie and outside collaborators like The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, Sia and Charli XCX.

Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler rocks his body at Backstreet Boys Vegas concert

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

All you people can’t you see, can’t you see, how your love’s affecting our Master of Reality?

Fresh off Black Sabbath‘s farewell concert, bassist Geezer Butler took a trip to Las Vegas to check out the Backstreet Boys‘ Sphere residency. Butler also met the members of the now-grown boy band backstage, and shared a photo of the moment on Instagram.

“Thanks for letting me audition, but after much consideration, I decided to stick with bass guitar,” Butler writes in the caption.

In case it needed to be said, Butler clarifies that he’s kidding about the audition part, but adds, “Great show last night, though.”

The Boys themselves also replied in the comments, “Thanks for coming man!”

Sabbath’s farewell concert, dubbed Back to the Beginning, took place on July 5 and featured the final live performance by the band’s original lineup — Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward — as well as Ozzy’s last live show.

Back to the Beginning is set to screen in movie theaters in 2026.

Billy Joel gives fans an update on his health: ‘I feel fine’

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Joel opened up about his health during an appearance on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast.

Billy canceled all his scheduled shows in May, revealing that he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a disorder where fluid builds up in the brain. He told Maher his condition is “not fixed, it’s still being worked on,” but assures fans, “I feel fine.”

“My balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat,” he said, explaining his condition “used to be called water on the brain. Now it’s called hydrocephalus — normal pressure hydrocephalus.” He added that “nobody knows” what causes it.

“I feel good,” Joel added. “They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling.”

Joel reiterated his positive outlook about his condition in a statement to People.

“I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I’m okay,” he says. “What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it. I’m doing my best to work with it and to recover from it.”

He adds, “It was scary, but I’m okay. I just wanted to let people know, don’t worry about me being deathly ill or anything.”

Joel is the subject of a new HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes, which debuted Friday. Part two premieres July 25. Both parts will stream on HBO Max.

Dead & Company’s final San Francisco show to be screened live

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Dead & Company is getting ready to celebrate the 60-year legacy of the Grateful Dead with three shows at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park the first weekend in August. And if you can’t make it out west, you’ll still have a chance to experience the celebration.

Dead & Company just announced that the final show on Aug. 3 will be broadcast live at 30 IMAX theaters nationwide, with screenings starting at 6 p.m. PT. The concert is estimated to run for 3 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission.

Tickets for the screening are on sale now, and each ticket comes with a collectible mini poster and lanyard.

San Francisco and the Grateful Dead have been synonymous with each other since the beginning. The jam band was founded in the City By the Bay in 1965 by Jerry Garcia, Bobby Weir, Phil Lesh, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Bill Kreutzmann, with drummer Mickey Hart and lyricist Robert Hunter joining the group in 1967.

Dead & Company — Weir, Hart, John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane — also have a tie to the city. They wrapped their Final Tour with three nights at San Francisco’s Oracle Park in 2023. They returned to live performing with their Dead Forever residencies at the Sphere Las Vegas in 2024 and 2025.

Bruce Springsteen makes surprise appearance at Zach Bryan’s New Jersey stadium show

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bruce Springsteen popped up onstage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday as a special guest of the night’s headliner, Zach Bryan.

The Boss made a surprise appearance on the final night of Bryan’s three-night MetLife stand, joining the country star and Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill, whose band opened the show, for a performance of Springsteen’s classic “Atlantic City.”

Fan-shot footage posted to social media shows Zach introducing Springsteen as “one of the greatest men to ever exist.” The trio then traded off verses of the song, which appeared on Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska.

This isn’t the first time Bryan and Springsteen have teamed up to perform “Atlantic City.” In August 2024, The Boss was a special guest at Bryan’s show at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

According to setlist.fm, Springsteen returned to the stage at the end of the show to perform Bryan’s track “Revival,” a song the pair performed together during Bryan’s concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in March 2024.

On This Day, July 21, 1991: Roger Waters hosted star-studded concert at the Berlin Wall

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, July 21, 1991 …

Eight months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters hosted a star-studded concert version of the band’s classic album The Wall at the site of its former location.

The concert featured a host of A-list musicians, including Bryan Adams, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Scorpions, Sinead O’Connor and Cyndi Lauper. It did not include Waters’ former Pink Floyd bandmates David Gilmour, Nick Mason or Rick Wright, prompting controversy over whether they were ever asked to join.

A month after the concert, Waters released the live album and video The Wall — Live in Berlin.

Def Leppard announces dates for new Las Vegas residency

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Def Leppard is headed to Las Vegas for a brand new residency starting in 2026.

Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency consists of 12 shows, happening Feb. 3 to 28 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The shows will mark the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ third Vegas residency, after headlining sold out residencies in 2019 and 2013.

“Las Vegas has always been such a main attraction for Def Leppard. There’s no place on earth where you can have the likes of Adele, U2 and the Eagles all playing sold out shows on the same night!, Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott shares. “We’re really looking forward to coming back for our third Vegas residency and to do a run at the iconic Colosseum at Caesars Palace is such an honor given the giants that have blessed that stage!”

A Def Leppard fan club presale, as well as a Citi presale, kicks off Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT, with tickets going on sale to the general public starting Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

Def Leppard is currently on a summer tour, which hits Saratoga Springs, New York, on Tuesday. A complete list of dates can be found at DefLeppard.com.

Billy Joel guests on Bill Maher’s ‘Club Random’ podcast

July 21, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Joel sits down for a chat with Bill Maher on the latest episode of the comedian’s Club Random podcast, premiering Monday.

The interview took place in Florida, with Maher chatting with the rock star about his career in what’s being described as an “unfiltered conversation.”

“So excited about our first-ever Club Random on the road,” Maher wrote on Instagram, next to a preview of the episode. “[W]ent to Boca to talk to someone I’d literally have gone anywhere in the world for, Florida Man Billy Joel!!”

The appearance coincides with the recent release of part one of the HBO documentary Billy Joel: And So it Goes.

“This documentary made me realize that so many songs of yours that I’ve been listening to for so long and appreciate the lyrics on one level, because they are universal, and then this put color to this black-and-white drawing of your life that I had had,” Maher tells Billy in the clip. “Because so many songs are very literal as to what was going on in your life.”

Joel sits at the piano for the conversation and occasionally plays for Maher, with the clip showing them chatting about songs like “Only the Good Die Young,” “My Life” and “She’s Always a Woman.”

Part one of Billy Joel: And So It Goes premiered Friday on HBO; part two is set to debut on July 25. Both parts will be available on HBO Max.

Maher’s Club Random podcast can be found on YouTube, Apple, Spotify and other podcast providers.

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