Classic Rock News

The Rolling Stones are back at #1 in the U.K.

The band’s latest release, Foreign Tongues, tops the U.K. Official Albums Chart, making it the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ 15th #1 album in the U.K.

The new chart-topper means The Stones are now tied with The Beatles as the artists with the second-most #1 albums on the U.K. chart. Pop star Robbie Williams has the most, with 16.

The Stones last topped the U.K. albums chart in 2023 with their Grammy-winning record Hackney Diamonds. They earned their first #1 in 1964 with their self-titled debut.

According to a post on The Stones’ Instagram, Foreign Tongues is also #1 in Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria and Belgium. “Thank you to everyone for making this happen!” the band wrote.

Meanwhile, in Australia, The Stones fell just shy of the top spot. Foreign Tongues debuted at #2 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums chart, with Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, keeping them out of #1.

Foreign Tongues, produced by Andrew Watt, is The Rolling Stones’ 25th studio album. It features guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, The Cure’s Robert Smith and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

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Bruce Springsteen will be honored by the ACLU with the ACLU Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science, and Sports.

According to a press release, the award recognizes “profound contributions to American thought and culture.” The release notes that the honor “underscores the ACLU’s recognition that the defense of our rights takes many forms, disciplines, platforms, and generations.”

Springsteen is being honored alongside former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

“Bruce Springsteen and Colin Kaepernick epitomize talent with a purpose,” Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director, says. “Bruce Springsteen’s iconic songs like ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ date back decades, and so does his advocacy on behalf of civil rights and liberties.”

He adds, “We are proud of the partnerships the ACLU has formed with Bruce and Colin, and we’re honored to recognize their lifetime achievements with one of the ACLU’s highest honors.”

Springsteen’s most recent partnership with the ACLU happened back in March, when he allowed the organization to use “Born in the U.S.A.” for an ad campaign tied to the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship case.

Springsteen and Kaepernick will be honored at the ACLU’s biennial awards ceremony July 24 in Washington, D.C.

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On This Day, July 17, 1981…

Journey released their seventh studio album, Escape, which hit #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and went on to become a huge hit for the band.

The record was the band’s first with keyboardist Jonathan Cain, who replaced founding member Greg Rolie after his departure in 1980.

Escape featured the track “Don’t Stop Believin’,” written by frontman Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon and Cain, which peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went on to become a signature tune for the band. In 2022, the song was chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

The album also featured the hit power ballad “Open Arms,” which peaked at #2 on the singles chart, becoming Journey’s highest charting single ever, and “Who’s Crying Now,” which peaked at #4.

The album launched the band into superstardom. It has been certified Diamond by the RIAA and is the band’s most successful studio album.

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John Mellencamp was forced to cancel his show in Clarkston, Michigan, Thursday night due to the poor air quality caused by wildfires in Canada.

“Following guidance from public health authorities, unfortunately we will not be able to perform our July 16 show in Clarkston, MI at Pine Knob Music Theatre due to poor air quality,” read a post on Mellencamp’s social media. “We were looking forward to seeing you tonight!”

Fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will automatically be refunded their money.

Mellencamp launched his Dancing Words Tour – The Greatest Hits on July 10 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, treating the crowd to all of his biggest hits, including some songs he hasn’t played in decades.

His next show is scheduled for Saturday in Noblesville, Indiana, with dates running until Aug. 12 in Mountain View, California. A complete list of dates an be found at Mellencamp.com.

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After over 50 years in the music business, Lenny Kaye, best known for being the longest-serving member of the Patti Smith Group, is out with his debut solo album, Goin’ Local.

So, why did it take so long for the 79-year-old Kaye to make a solo album?

He tells ABC Audio he’s had many of these songs for years, noting, “I wrote them, many of them, just for my own personal artistic satisfaction.”

He says one of the reasons he wanted to release them now is because he needed “artistic closure,” adding “a lot of the songs are kind of personal.”

“I write them because I need to in a certain way,” he explains. “That to me is one of the ways in which you can understand yourself, a relationship, a sense of who you are.”

Kaye has already released several tracks from the album, including the title track, “The Things You Leave Behind” and “Solstice,” co-written by Smith.

Kaye says it “feels great” to finally share these personal songs with the public.

“I mean, it’s also kind of a culmination of the many personas I’ve had within making music over the many years,” he says. “I love being a new artist.”

And Kaye says he hopes fans who listen to the album get a feel for who he really is.

“I hope that they understand that I’m a person who feels deeply, who tries to be honest with himself,” he says. “And I just hope that they realize that it’s an honest representation of who I am at this moment in time.” 

Goin’ Local is out now. Kaye is currently on tour and is set to play in Sacramento on Friday.

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R.E.M. called it quits in 2011, and while some fans may be holding out hope for a full band reunion, guitarist Peter Buck tells Mojo they really shouldn’t.

“When we decided it was the end, I felt fine with it. That was the story – it had a beginning and an end,” he says. “I was happy with the whole arc, and we were all young enough to go off and do other things, and we all have been.”

“And unlike every other band in the world other than The Smiths, we’re not going to be doing the famous album reunion tour or any of that crap,” he adds. “It’s just not going to happen.”

Buck says he has no desire to “do a tour so we can make more money or be famous.”

“I just don’t want to be the legacy act at Glastonbury playing our 40-year-old hits,” he says. “It’s great that we did all that stuff when we did it, and I’m really proud of the performances. I don’t want to cheapen it by going out there just for ego and money. I don’t need the money, and my ego? Well, I’ve had enough applause to last 10 lifetimes.”

R.E.M. announced their split in September 2011. All four members — Buck, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Bill Berry — reunited to perform at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024. They also reunited in February 2025 for a performance of “Pretty Persuasion” at Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s show in Athens, Georgia.

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Elton John wants fans to know that his upcoming shows in Mexico won’t just be him walking down the same old Yellow Brick Road. 

As previously reported, Elton will perform two shows in Mexico City in October after being unable to tour there during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. And even if you previously saw Elton on the farewell tour, he says this one is going to be totally different.

Tickets for the shows went on sale Thursday. Elton wrote on Instagram, “Mexico, I can’t wait to see you again! Marking my first shows in Mexico City in 14 years, these two performances will not be a continuation of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, but a special, one-of-a-kind set list I’ve curated exclusively for my Mexico fans.”

“These very special shows stand alone as a celebration crafted just for you!” he continued. “I can’t wait to celebrate with you.”

Since the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour wrapped up in 2023, Elton has continued to do shows here and there, including private events and charity performances. He also did a special concert with Brandi Carlile in London last March, sang at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in November and continues to perform at his annual Oscar party.

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The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are sharing their thoughts on AI, touring and more in the latest Billboard cover story.

AI technology was used to de-age the band in the video for “In the Stars,” the first single off their new album Foreign Tongues. But when it comes to using it to make music, they aren’t exactly on board.

“I’d rather hear something original. Music could do a lot better than just trying to copy itself,” Richards says. “We want new input. We don’t want more and more copying and synthesizing.”

“I don’t want people just putting stuff out there that can sound exactly like The Rolling Stones — I think that’s obviously wrong,” Jagger adds. “If someone wants to make music by AI, go ahead. But it has to be original — you have to have your own input and your own thoughts.”

He notes, “There are people who use AI to just make a song from scratch, in the style of The Rolling Stones. If you were any kind of creative person, you wouldn’t do that.”

As they have in previous interviews, the band once again touches upon whether they plan to tour behind Foreign Tongues; Jagger tells Billboard he would like to, even if it meant doing a residency.

“But the thing about a residency — the only downside for people is that it’s much more expensive for the further-out people that want to come and see the show,” he says.

Richards seems a bit more confident that shows will happen.

“I see no reason why next year, good Lord willing, we shouldn’t be able to, as you say, maybe a residency, something,” he says. “Maybe you find a different way of taking the thing on the road. Bring the road to us. That’s my suggestion.”

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Ozzy Osbourne’s hometown of Birmingham, England, will celebrate the memory of the late metal legend with the first Ozzy Day.

The festivities will take place across the city on July 22, the one-year anniversary of Ozzy’s death, and will include art installations and live music. Birmingham’s giant bull statue, which is named Ozzy, will be specially dressed for the occasion.

“Ozzy Day is a fantastic example of Birmingham working together to celebrate the legendary Ozzy Osbourne,” says Sam Watson, chair of Central BID Birmingham. “By bringing together businesses, cultural organisations and public spaces, we’re creating a city centre wide experience that encourages people to celebrate the legacy of a truly global, Birmingham-born icon.”

Ozzy died on July 22, 2025, just over two weeks after he performed for the last time alongside his original Black Sabbath bandmates at the massive Back to the Beginning concert. He was 76.

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KISS’ Gene Simmons was supposed to headline a new fan expo in Las Vegas in September, but the event has now been moved to next year.

The Gene Simmons’ Legends of Rock Expo was supposed to take place Sept. 25-27 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, but a post on the event’s Instagram account reveals that it’s been moved to May 14-16, 2027.

“Due to a major scheduling conflict, we have made the difficult decision to reschedule the Gene Simmons Legends of Rock Expo,” reads the post. “While we know this change may be disappointing, the additional time will allow us to make the Rock Experience even bigger and better, while fine-tuning an incredible celebrity lineup.”

In addition to Simmons performing with his Gene Simmons Band, the lineup for the Legends of Rock Expo includes Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler, The Police’s Stewart Copeland and The Kinks’ Dave Davies.

Tickets that were already purchased will be valid for the new dates. More info can be found at legendsofrockexpo.com.

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