Classic Rock News

Former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman kicks off a new U.S. solo trek, hilariously dubbed the “Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour,” on October 13 in Natick, Massachusetts.

The outing, which was postponed multiple times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a follow-up to Wakeman’s 2019 “Grumpy Old Rock Star Tour.”

Wakeman tells ABC Audio that the tour got its updated moniker because of his frustration over the postponements.

“[E]very time it got moved, I got grumpier,” the 72-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer notes. “So it made more sense to be the ‘Even Grumpier Rock Star’ show.”

He adds, jokingly, “I think if [there had been]…any more cancellations or postponements, it would have been the ‘Unbelievably, Really Stupidly Long, Even Grumpier Rock Star’ show.”

Regarding his new concerts, Rick says, “[I]t’s basically me with a grand piano, a couple of keyboards this time as well, which will enable me to do some slightly different pieces, plus anecdotes. Got a load of new ones.”

Wakeman reveals that he plans to play select Yes tunes; pieces from solo projects like his 1973 album The Six Wives of Henry VIII; and versions of classic songs by David Bowie and Cat Stevens on which Rick played.

Wakeman tells ABC Audio that almost every show will be different because, although he often prepares a set list for each gig, he rarely sticks to it.

Meanwhile, Rick says he’s thrilled to be returning to the road.

“[I]t’s just gonna be great to be playing in front of people again,” he declares. “I can’t tell you how much I have missed talking to people on stage, and meeting with people after the shows and before the shows.”

Wakeman’s U.S. tour runs through a November 19 concert in Clearwater, Florida.

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With Grandude’s Green Submarine, the sequel to Paul McCartney‘s bestselling 2019 illustrated children’s book Hey Grandude!, set to be published soon, the former Beatles legend has taken part in a fan Q&A about the project that’s been posted on his official website.

As previously reported, the new book tells the further adventures of Grandude, a magical grandfather who takes his four grandchildren — who he calls his “chillers” — on a journey in his new invention, a green submarine, to find the kids’ music-loving grandmother, Nandude.

Asked how he likes being a grandparent, Sir Paul says he loves it, noting, “Each [grandkid] has a different personality, and they keep me entertained and constantly surprised.”

Another fan asked why the submarine in the book isn’t yellow, like the one in the famous 1966 Beatles song and the 1968 animated movie inspired by the tune.

“I have been there and done that with the Yellow Submarine,” McCartney explains. “[T]his green one is related, but has completely different powers than the Yellow Submarine had.”

As for what he enjoyed most about writing the book, the 79-year-old rock legend says, “I just like the process of allowing my imagination to run wild. After I’ve got all my crazy ideas written down, it’s up to the publishers and illustrator Kathryn Durst to bring it all to life.”

Asked why he decided to pen a sequel to Hey Grandude!, McCartney explains, “Writing Grandude’s adventures is something I love, so it made sense to keep going and write more of his story.”

Grandude’s Green Submarine gets released on October 5 in the U.S. and this Thursday, September 30, in the U.K. You can pre-order the book now.

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George Frayne IV, the veteran country-rock musician better known by his stage name Commander Cody, died Sunday at the age of 77 after battling cancer for several years, Variety reports.

During the late 1960s and ’70s, Frayne led the group Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, which formed in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and relocated to San Francisco in 1969. In 1972, the band scored a top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with a cover of the 1955 spoken-sung rockabilly-flavored country tune “Hot Rod Lincoln.”

Frayne’s wife, Sue, announced his passing in a message on his Facebook page that reads, “Early this morning, as I lay my head upon his shoulder, George’s soul took to flight. I am heartbroken and weary, and I know your hearts break, too. Thank you so much for all the love you gave and the stories you shared.”

Sue also revealed that two “big gatherings” were being planned — one on Long Island, New York, and one in the Bay Area — to celebrate Commander Cody’s life and also “benefit musicians in need.”

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen’s music combined elements of country, rockabilly, Western swing, jump blues, jazz and boogie-woogie. The band broke up in 1976, after which, Frayne continued to tour and record under the Commander Cody moniker.

Frayne also was an accomplished painter who published a book of his visual art titled Art Music & Life in 2009. He also taught art at the college level. In addition, an experimental video he made called “Two Triple Cheese Side Order of Fries” is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

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The recent Brian Wilson documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, which got its world premiere in June at New York City’s Tribeca Film Festival, will get its theatrical release and will debut on video-on-demand in November.

Long Promised Road features the legendary Beach Boys member discussing his life and music with Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine as the two drive around Los Angeles visiting sites of significance to Wilson and his famous band.

The film also includes interviews with various other music artists who have worked with or were inspired by Brian, including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, founding Beach Boys singer/guitarist Al Jardine, producer/musician Don Was, pop star Nick Jonas, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, Jakob Dylan and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

In addition, the documentary features concert and in-studio footage, and includes a new song titled “Right Where I Belong” that Brian co-wrote and recorded with Jim James specifically for the movie.

“As a lifelong fan, I knew this film would have to take some risks to give us insight into Brian’s complex world,” says Long Promised Road director Brent Wilson — no relation to Brian.

According to Deadline, the Screen Media company, which acquired the distribution rights for Long Promised Road, is planning an Oscar campaign that it hopes will include securing a best original song nomination for “Right Where I Belong.”

Meanwhile, Wilson recently announced plans to release a new instrumental album titled At My Piano that features solo piano versions of many classic Beach Boys songs. The album is due out on November 19, and can be pre-ordered now.

A solo rendition of “God Only Knows” from the record has been released as an advance digital track.

Here’s the full track list of At My Piano:

“God Only Knows”
“In My Room”
“Don’t Worry Baby”
“California Girls”
“The Warmth of the Sun”
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
“You Still Believe in Me”
“I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times”
“Sketches of Smile”
“Surf’s Up”
“Friends”
“Till I Die”
“Love and Mercy”
“Mt. Vernon Farewell”
“Good Vibrations”

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As has become tradition, Bruce Springsteen will perform at the 2021 edition of the annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit event, which will take place on November 8 in New York City at Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The show supports the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s efforts to help wounded service members, veterans and their families.

This year’s event, the 15th annual installment of the fundraiser, will once again be held in front of a live audience after the 2020 show was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Stand Up for Heroes benefit offers an evening of music and comedy, held in conjunction with the annual New York Comedy Festival. In addition to Springsteen, the event’s confirmed lineup includes Jon Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, Nikki Glaser and Nate Bargatze, among others.

The Boss usually plays a short acoustic set at the benefit.

“Our military community sacrifices so much for their fellow citizens. They have earned our enduring respect, and more importantly, our support, says ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff, co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “For 15 years, that has been the inspiration behind Stand Up for Heroes — an evening to honor, celebrate, and take action in support of our veterans and their families.”

Tickets for the Stand Up for Heroes show are on sale now via BobWoodruffFoundation.org and the Lincoln Center box office. Discount tickets are available for military members, veterans, first responders and healthcare professionals.

Attendees most provide proof of full vaccination and must wear a mask or face covering.

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Dave Grohl will guest on the upcoming second season of The FADER Uncovered podcast, hosted by famed DJ and producer Mark Ronson.

On The FADER Uncovered, Ronson interviews musicians about their “lives, careers, and creative breakthroughs.” Along with the Foo Fighters frontman, other season two guests include My Morning Jacket, J Balvin, RZA, Charli XCX and Vince Staples.

New episodes premiere starting October 4.

The first season of The FADER Uncovered featured Tame Impala, HAIM, Damon Albarn, David Byrne and Questlove, among others.

Grohl, by the way, previously guested on Ronson’s Watch the Sound Apple TV+ documentary series.

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Ringo Starr has debuted a music video for his uplifting new song “Let’s Change the World,” the lead track from the former Beatles drummer’s recently released Change the Word EP.

The clip features scenes that Starr shot with a variety of children, teens and young adults at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hills Park at the site of Ringo’s Peace Sculpture, and on a soundstage.

The video was created in collaboration with Kids in the Spotlight (KITS), a nonprofit organization that offers young people in the foster care system the chance to make films that tell their stories, giving them the opportunity for healing and growth while preparing them for potential future job opportunities.

Many of the young people in the KITS program contributed their ideas for the  video and also participated or assisted in the clip’s directing, lighting, choreography and photography.

The video shows the young people dancing, singing, flashing peace signs and playing instruments, and the clip also features images and footage that illustrate the song’s message of helping make the planet a better place in the face of pollution, global warming and social unrest.

“I wanted to make this video with kids because they are our future and this is for them,” Ringo says in a statement. “They deserve clean water and fresh air. I believe we should leave this planet in better shape than we found it for our kids, and right now we are not doing that…We have got to change, and I believe we can. Peace and love.”

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, who co-wrote “Let’s Change the World” with his band mate Joseph Williams, also appears in the clip.

The Change the World EP is available now on CD, cassette and digital formats. A 10-inch vinyl version will be released on November 19.

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On October 12, The Doors‘ Robby Krieger will release his first-ever book, Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar with The Doors, and to celebrate the memoir’s arrival, the guitar great will take part in a virtual Q&A event the following day.

The interactive ticketed event, which costs $36, will be streamed via Dice.fm, and will feature Krieger chatting with respected writer and broadcaster Laura Barton via Zoom. Robby also will be answering questions submitted by virtual audience members.

Those purchasing tickets also will receive a copy of Set the Night on Fire with a bookplate signed by Robby. The event will only be viewable in the U.S.

As previously reported, the book features the 75-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer opening up about his journey to becoming a member for one of the most influential U.S. bands to emerge during the 1960s and beyond.

Set the Night on Fire offers a series of vignettes in which Krieger discusses such highlights as buying his first guitar, getting arrested for drugs as a teenager, writing songs with singer Jim Morrison in his parents’ living room, playing his first gigs with The Doors at empty bars and backyard parties, recording his bands classic albums, and eventually performing in front of massive adoring crowds.

The book also feature anecdotes about Robby’s experiences and encounters with other famous musicians, unhinged fans and more as well as his recollections about the difficulties he endured during his life, including his struggle with drug addiction, battling cancer, and his twin brother’s mental health issues.

Krieger co-wrote Set the Night on Fire with Jeff Alulis, an author and documentary filmmaker who also was lead singer of veteran punk band The Dead Kennedys from 2003 to 2008.

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Founding Dire Straits member David Knopfler and former Pretenders guitarist Robbie McIntosh are among the many respected musicians who are contributing to a new instrumental project called Held by Trees.

The collective, led by composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist David Joseph, will release a new single called “Mysterium” on November 12, and is planning to issue its self-titled debut album in the spring of 2022.

Joseph describes Held by Trees’ music as somewhere between David Gilmour-era Pink Floyd and the later, prog-rock-influenced work of British new wave band Talk Talk.

The latter is no surprise, considering the fact that several musicians who worked with Talk Talk — and on the solo recordings by that group’s late frontman Mark Hollis — are featured on “Mysterium.”  They include McIntosh, drummer/percussionist Martin Ditcham and keyboardist Laurence Pendrous.

The track also includes the talents of veteran blues singer/songwriter Eric Bibb.

You can pre-order “Mysterium” and the Held by Trees album now.

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Judas Priest is postponing the remainder of the North American leg of the band’s 50 Heavy Metal Years tour because guitarist Richie Faulkner has been hospitalized with a “major medical heart condition.”

“It is with deep regret that we have to postpone the rest of our [U.S.] tour,” Priest says in a statement. “Richie Faulkner has major medical heart condition issues which have landed him in the hospital where he is being treated. In the meantime, we are all sending love to our Falcon to wish him a speedy recovery.”

The tour was expected to continue Wednesday in Denver, and was scheduled run through a November 5 show in Hamilton, Canada.

“As soon as we have any updates from [Faulkner’s] doctors on when we can reschedule the dates, we will of course announce them,” Priest adds.

Judas Priest had just performed at the Louder than Life festival Sunday in Louisville, Kentucky. The set included a special version of their Fleetwood Mac cover “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” featuring a guest appearance by Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett.

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