Classic Rock News

Paul McCartney was a guest on this week’s Goalhanger podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, where he talked about the importance of his iconic Beatles tune “Hey Jude” in bringing folks together.

“Particularly these days, too, you do something like ‘Hey Jude’ and you see this whole audience singing together,” McCartney says. “I mean, in Trump’s America, and the Republicans and Democrats all at each other’s throats — when we do that song, they’re not.”

“They’re all loving it, and it’s like, wow, this is pretty amazing,” he adds. “You know, suddenly this room has forgotten all of that, and is not, you know, going to argue with each other, they’re just going to sing together. So those kinds of things, I think, are valuable.” He notes, “I like that, and I also like it for them.”

In talking about pleasing his audience, McCartney brought up Bob Dylan, noting he has seen him live a couple times and “I couldn’t tell what song the song was he was doing.” 

“I get it if he doesn’t want to do ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ you know, maybe he’s fed up with that, but I would like to hear it,” he says. “And I’ve paid.”

McCartney is set to appear on another Goalhanger podcast, The Rest is History, which debuts Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. During the appearance he discusses growing up in Liverpool, The Beatles’ creative process and more. He also debuts a clip of the new song “Salesman Saint” from his upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which will be released May 29.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ripley star Johnny Flynn has been cast to play Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Paul Simon in the new movie The Road Home, according to Deadline.

The film, directed by Bill Condon, is centered around trumpeter Hugh Masekela, played by South African actor Thabo Rametsi, who toured with Simon in support of his 1986 Grammy Award-winning album, Graceland.

The film will also star Cynthia Erivo as vocalist Miriam “Mama Africa” Makeba, who was married to Masekela in the ’60s and also toured with Simon, and Guy Pearce, who plays anti-apartheid advocate Archbishop Trevor Huddleston. Huddleston called for a boycott of Simon, claiming he violated the United Nations cultural boycott of the country by partially recording the album in Johannesburg.

“For me, there are very few stories that could come closer to home than this. I was born in Johannesburg and moved to London in 1985 – just before the album Graceland was released,” says Flynn, also known for his work in Emma and Lovesick. “The music of South Africa – and especially that of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba IS the sound of my childhood. And Graceland was the most played cassette in our car growing up.”

He adds, “It’s such an honour to be invited to tell this story with artists that I admire so much. It’s the story of hope and the power of music.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Pink Floyd’s career and legacy are being honored with an official U.K. commemorative coin by The Royal Mint.

The coin, created by Henry Gray, is designed around the iconic prism imagery from the band’s multi-Platinum album The Dark Side of the Moon. The coin comes in silver and gold, with a selection of them featuring a colored rainbow prism effect similar to the cover of the album.

“Pink Floyd are one of those truly rare bands whose music and imagery have transcended generations and the moment you see this coin, you know exactly who it celebrates,” Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin, The Royal Mint, says. “The iconic prism is instantly recognisable to fans around the world, and Henry Gray has done a remarkable job of bringing it to life with the craft and detail this band deserves.”

She adds, “Their influence on music, art and culture is immeasurable, and we’re incredibly proud that The Royal Mint can play its part in preserving that legacy forever.”

The Pink Floyd coins are part of The Royal Mint’s Music Legends series, with artists like Queen’s Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, John Lennon and Paul McCartney previously being honored with their own coin.

The Pink Floyd commemorative coins are available now.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Rolling Stones are embracing their younger selves in the video for their latest single, “In the Stars.”

The official music video, directed by Francois Rousselet, is out now, with the clip centered around the band performing the song surrounded by other musicians, singers, and dancers from different eras and all walks of life. It also features Marty Supreme actress Odessa A’zion.

But it’s not The Stones of today that we see performing in the clip. The director uses deepfake technology, created by Deep Voodoo, to make it look like we’re watching ’70s-era Stones performing the track.

“Are you kidding me? It’s my dream,” A’zion says of appearing in the video. “The first record that I ever got that I listened to from start to finish was Tattoo You. I’m obsessed with The Rolling Stones. This is in my bucket list for sure.”

“In the Stars” is the first single off The Stones’ upcoming album, Foreign Tongues, which will be released July 10. The album is available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

It’s a nice day for another big Billy Idol honor.

First the rocker was chosen for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, and now it’s been announced that he’ll be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd American Music Awards.

In addition to receiving the award, the “Rebel Yell” rocker is set to take the stage for his first-ever AMA performance.

“Billy Idol is a true rock legend whose influence has transcended generations and genres. From his groundbreaking music to his electrifying stage presence, Billy has left an indelible mark on popular culture and the music industry,” executive producers Barry Adelman and Alexi Mazareas aid in a statement. “We are thrilled to honor him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd American Music Awards and celebrate his legacy with what promises to be an unforgettable performance.”

Previous AMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Diana Ross and Rod Stewart.

The 52nd American Music Awards, hosted by Queen Latifah, will be held May 25 in Las Vegas, and will air on CBS and Paramount+.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Recordings by The Byrds, Weezer and The Go-Go’s have been chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

In total 25 recordings have been chosen this year “based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”

This year’s picks include The Byrds’ classic 1965 track “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”; Weezer’s self-titled 1994 album, also known as The Blue Album; The Go-Go’s 1981 hit Beauty and the Beat; and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble’s 1983 album Texas Flood.

Also chosen were Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” Chaka Khan’s “I Feel For You” and Gladys Knight and The Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia,” as well as Taylor Swift’s 1989 and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

There were also recordings by The Charlie Daniels Band, José Feliciano, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill and more.

“The sweep and diversity of the National Recording Registry class of 2026 beautifully captures the scope of the American experience as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Robbin Ahrold, chair of the National Recording Preservation Board, adding that this year’s picks are “a thrilling reflection of America at its best.”

The public can nominate recordings to be considered. This year, the Library of Congress received over 3.000 nominations, with Weezer among the top nominated selections. With the new additions, the National Recording Registry titles are now at 700, part of a recorded sound collection of close to 4 million items.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Grammy Museum has teamed with the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a new exhibit highlighting both inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recordings that have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

According to the description, Tower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings, opening May 28, “explores the art and craft of songwriting and recording to deepen visitors’ knowledge and appreciation for the songwriters, artists and albums that have shaped the sound of popular music over the past 50 years.”

Highlights of the exhibit include: The Who drummer Keith Moon’s gold drum kit that he played with the band and in the movie Tommy; a personal notebook belonging to The Doors’ Jim Morrison, along with a microphone used during live shows; and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s Mosrite Gospel electric guitar, used to write songs for 1991’s Nevermind, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.

There are also SHOF inductee Neil Diamond’s handwritten lyrics to “Song Sung Blue” and the gold-rimmed glasses SHOF inductee Prince wore in Purple Rain, along with a lace shirt and blue cuff links worn on the Purple Rain tour.

“The Grammy Museum is where people can engage more deeply with the music of yesterday and today, discovering influences, uncovering context, and connecting with artists and songs in a meaningful way,” said Jasen Emmons, chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs. “By exploring songwriters and recordings that have shaped music history, the Tower of Song exhibit invites music fans to hear and think about iconic songwriters and recordings in new ways.”

More information on the exhibit and tickets can be found at grammymuseum.org.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Aerosmith has paid tribute to producer Jack Douglas, who produced four of their multi-Platinum albums.

Douglas died Monday at the age of 80. The band took to Instagram Wednesday to remember the producer, noting he “changed our lives.”

“We are mourning the loss of Jack Douglas, the legendary producer whose talent and passion shaped our sound and changed our lives,” the band wrote. “Jack was a brilliant artist and collaborator who inspired us in profound ways and left an indelible mark on the entire music industry.”

“We celebrate his life and epic career and feel so privileged to have known him and to benefit from his remarkable skill and friendship,” they added. “We are heartbroken for his family, but find comfort in knowing how much he loved his life and work. We are so proud and grateful to be part of his legacy.”

Douglas worked as producer and engineer on four Aerosmith albums in the 1970s: 1974’s Get Your Wings, 1975’s Toys in the Attic, 1976’s Rocks and 1977’s Draw the Line. He also produced 1982’s Rock in a Hard Place and 2012’s Music From Another Dimension!, which was the band’s final album. Douglas also helped write songs with the band and produced several of guitarist Joe Perry’s solo albums. 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mötley Crüe has announced a new box set collecting the band’s first five albums.

The package, dubbed Crücial Crüe, includes 1981’s Too Fast for Love, 1983’s Shout at the Devil, 1985’s Theatre of Pain, 1987’s Girls, Girls, Girls and 1989’s Dr. Feelgood spread across five vinyl LPs or five CDs. It’s due out July 10.

A collection of hand-numbered copies, limited to just 250 pieces, is available exclusively via Mötley Crüe’s Crüeseum site.

You can catch Mötley Crüe live on The Return of the Carnival of Sins tour, kicking off in July.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Neil Young’s 1995 album, Mirror Ball, a collaboration with Pearl Jam, is set to be reissued for the first time in over 30 years.

Although the album was part of Young’s Official Release Series Volume 6 that came out in October, the album’s now being reissued as a standalone, on CD and vinyl, and is available for preorder now via Pearl Jam’s website. Shipping will begin May 22.

Released June 27, 1995, Mirror Ball is credited to only Young on the album’s sleeve because of legal issues with Young and Pearl Jam’s respective labels. The members of Pearl Jam are credited in the album’s liner notes. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and went on to be certified Gold by the RIAA.

In December 1995, Pearl Jam released the EP Merkin Ball, featuring two songs that were recorded during the Mirror Ball sessions, “I Got Id” and “Long Road.”

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.