John Fogerty rerecords classic Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes for new album, ‘Legacy’

May 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

John Forgerty turned 80 on Wednesday but age isn’t slowing him down.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced he’ll release a new album, Legacy: the Creedence Clearwater Revival years, on Aug. 22, featuring a track list made up of newly recorded versions of his classic CCR tunes.

Forgerty announced the new album onstage during his 80th birthday celebration at New York’s Beacon Theatre Wednesday night. He returns to the venue for a second show on Thursday.

The album, produced by Fogerty and his son Shane, comes two years after Fogerty fully regained the rights to his CCR catalog. The rocker is backed on the album by both of his sons, Shane and Tyler.

Songs on the 20-track album include “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Born on the Bayou” and more. All are labeled (John’s Version), similar to what Taylor Swift has done when rerecording her early albums.

“For most of my life I did not own the songs I had written,” says John. “Getting them back changes everything. Legacy is my way of celebrating that—of playing these songs on my terms, with the people I love.”

As a preview of the record, Fogerty has released three tracks: “Up Around the Bend,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Porterville” – all of them now available via digital outlets.

Legacy: the Creedence Clearwater Revival years is available for preorder now.

Billy Joel won’t attend premiere of his documentary at NYC’s Tribeca Festival

May 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

A documentary about Billy Joel is set to open this year’s Tribeca Festival on June 4, but Billy won’t be in the house for the event.

Billy’s publicist confirms to ABC Audio a report in the New York Post that the Piano Man will not attend the film’s premiere, amid the revelation that he’s been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. The condition refers to a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid that causes issues with hearing, vision and balance.

The documentary is called Billy Joel: And So It Goes, named after a song on Billy’s 1989 album Storm Front. It’ll debut on HBO and HBO Max this summer after premiering at New York’s Beacon Theatre.

According to HBO, the movie, directed by Susan Lacy, will explore “the love, loss, and personal struggles” that fuel Billy’s songwriting and will feature “unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs,” plus “extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews.”

Tribeca Festival co-founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal said in a statement that their “hearts are with Billy Joel and his family.” They added, “As a New York icon and global music legend, he has profoundly shaped the cultural fabric of this city and touched audiences around the world. We send our love and full support and wish him strength and a healthy recovery.”

“We’re deeply honored that this year’s Opening Night celebrates his remarkable legacy and enduring influence on New York’s cultural landscape. This is the perfect moment to recognize a creative force whose work reflects the very soul of our city — and the heart of Tribeca,” they said.

Bono on U2 getting back into the studio: ‘We were a little broken’

May 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bono has been talking a lot lately about the new U2 album they’ve been working on, and it sounds like it took a lot for them to get back in the studio.

In a new interview with Esquire to promote his Apple TV+ documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, Bono discusses some of the issues U2 dealt with in recent years, including drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s back issues.

“We were a little broken,” he says. “There was a period of reflection where we had to figure out, do we have anything to offer?”

U2 has since gone back into the studio and is working with Brian Eno, the producer behind their albums The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and Zooropa. But it sounds like Bono isn’t necessarily a fan of the recording process.

“I’m the only one who doesn’t like recording,” he says. “I just like to play live.” He notes that putting out an album “provides us with a reason to leave home. You want to have some very good reasons to leave home.”

As for fan expectations, Bono shares, “I hope they’re going to still be there for us. We’ve pushed them to their elastic limit over the years. And now it’s a long time that we’ve been away. But I still think that we can create a soundtrack for people who want to take on the world.”

Bono: Stories of Surrender premieres Friday on Apple TV+.

Bono is also featured in Esquire’s For The Record YouTube series, where he reflects on highlights from U2’s career, including their first Grammy win, and talks about meeting Pope Francis. He even shares his thoughts on Adam Sandler’s impression of him, noting, “I’ve been out Bono’d by more than a few. He’s right up there.”

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

Rock for Ronnie concert raises $100K for Stand Up & Shout Cancer Fund

May 29, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Rock for Ronnie tribute concert honoring the late Ronnie James Dio raised $100,000 for the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.

The event took place on May 18 at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, and was headlined by Sebastian Bach. In between all the music, Dr. David Wong of the UCLA School of Dentistry was presented with a $25,000 check to be used towards the development of a saliva swab test for early cancer detection.

The Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund was founded in memory of Dio, who died of stomach cancer in 2010 at age 67. It aims to raise awareness and money for cancer prevention, education and research.

Along with Rock for Ronnie, the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund hosts the Bowl for Ronnie celebrity bowling tournament. The 2025 Bowl for Ronnie will be held Nov. 13.

Drummer Zak Starkey now says he was ‘fired’ from The Who

May 28, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Drummer Zak Starkey is clarifying his recent Instagram post in which he suggested he was “retired” from The Who, making it clear he was indeed fired by Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey.

“This is f**** total bollox,” he writes in a new Instagram post. “I was fired. Roger’s new word for it is ‘retired’ to complete my other musical projects.”

Starkey, son of Beatle Ringo Starr, says he told Roger he had completed his projects, explaining he had a single coming out but after that, “I was completely available for the foreseeable future,” adding Roger “was a little surprised but understood.”

“It’s true – I have no plan’s whatsoever for the fall as I thought I was touring with The Who,” he shares. “So this is simply a load of bollox … Am I fired , retired, deffo not tired as I’m 20 years younger than these guys as they keep saying.”

Starkey’s original firing happened in April after issues arose during The Who’s March shows in London. Daltrey seemed to be upset with Starkey’s performance, but in his new post, Starkey argues the issue was “not a firing offence,” noting of The Who, “if it was perfect it would be so f****** boring.”

After his April firing, Starkey was rehired by the band, only for The Who to announce on May 18 he was once again let go. The Who then revealed Scott Devours, drummer of Daltrey’s solo band, would be taking over behind the drum kit for their upcoming The Song Is Over North American Farewell Tour, which kicks off Aug. 16 in Sunrise, Florida. A complete list of dates can be found at TheWho.com.

KISS’ Gene Simmons to be honored by Operation Smile

May 28, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

KISS rocker Gene Simmons is set to be celebrated at Operation Smile’s annual Smile Fiesta gala.

Simmons will be honored with the Universal Smile Award.

Also being honored at the gala is actor Harrison Ford, who’ll receive the Dr. Randy Sherman Visionary Award, named after the late founder of Operation Smile’s Southern California chapter.

Operation Smile, founded in 1982, is a nonprofit that provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide. Since 2022, the organization’s services have been available at 38 smile centers around the world.

The gala is set to take place June 3 at Candela La Brea in Los Angeles. Proceeds will benefit Operation Smile Los Angeles.

Jason Bonham expands tour celebrating 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Physical Graffiti’

May 28, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Drummer Jason Bonham has extended his latest tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s classic album Physical Graffiti.

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening will launch the second leg of the tour, dubbed An Evening with JBLZE Celebrating 50 Years of Physical Graffiti, on Aug. 1 in Omaha, Nebraska. Dates run through Aug. 31 in Vancouver, Canada.

“This is my favorite Led Zeppelin album of all time. Being able to celebrate it the way we are planning on this tour is something I am extremely excited about,” Jason Bonham, son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, said when he first announced the tour. “I can’t wait for people to come out and see these shows and celebrate this extraordinary record with us.”

The tour has Jason Bonham and the band playing the entire Physical Graffiti album, as well as other Zeppelin favorites like “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Good Times Bad Times.”

Tickets for the new shows go on sale Friday.

In the meantime, the first leg of the Physical Graffiti tour is set to hit San Diego on Wednesday. A complete list of dates can be found at JasonBonham.net.

Off to double-Diamond land: Metallica’s ‘Black Album’ certified 20-times Platinum

May 28, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica‘s 1991 self-titled record aka The Black Album has been certified 20-times Platinum by the RIAA.

The milestone signifies 20 million units certified, which also means The Black Album has now gone double-Diamond. It first achieved Diamond status, which signifies 10 million units certified, in 1997.

A landmark record, The Black Album brought metal to the mainstream with singles including “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “The Unforgiven,” “Sad but True” and “Wherever I May Roam.” Metallica celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021 with a deluxe reissue and The Metallica Blacklist, a compilation collecting covers of every song off the original album recorded by over 50 different artists.

Along with the new Black Album certification, Metallica’s 1986 album Master of Puppets has now been certified eight-times Platinum.

Styx announces 18th studio album, ‘Circling From Above’

May 28, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Styx has revealed that their 18th studio album, Circling From Above, will be released July 18. They’ve also dropped the first single from the record, “Build and Destroy.“

Circling From Above, Styx’s first album of new material since 2021’s Crash The Crown, will feature 13 tracks that a press release describes as navigating the “complexities of the human experience through the intersecting lenses of technology and nature.”

“When you start writing an album, there’s generally something that piques your imagination, and all of a sudden, you’re a storyteller starting with the seed of a story,” says guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw. “A good song is like a straight road — it’ll get you to the next place.”

While Circling From Above won’t be available for streaming or download until July 18, vinyl and CD copies of the album are now available at StyxWorld.com. Fans will also be able to purchase them at stops on the band’s Brotherhood of Rock tour with REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin and Don Felder, which kicks off Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina.

Here is the track list for Circling From Above:
“Circling From Above”
“Build and Destroy”
“Michigan”
“King of Love”
“It’s Clear”
“Forgive”
“Everyone Raise A Glass”
“Blue Eyed Raven”
“She Knows”
“Ease Your Mind”
“The Things That You Said”
“We Lost the Wheel Again”
“Only You Can Decide”

Queen honored as Laureate of the 2025 Polar Music Prize

May 28, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Queen was honored as Laureate of the 2025 Polar Music Prize in Sweden Tuesday, with Brian May and Roger Taylor on hand to accept the honor.

“When we started our band … we had ambitions, but never dreamed of the journey that was to follow,” Taylor said at the ceremony. “We were fortunate in the fact that our four wildly different personalities came together to achieve a wonderful chemistry.”

Taylor noted that the honor “is exceptional in the fact that unlike other awards it recognizes the entirety of an artist’s career.” He added, “What an honor to be included in the glittering cavalcade of previous laureates. … We are so proud to be the recipients of this incredibly prestigious award.”

Meanwhile, May reflected on the longevity of his career: “In this special moment, I contemplate how that younger Brian May in 1974 would have felt if he knew that we would be living this kind of dream 50 years in the future.”

The night also featured performances celebrating the band. Adam Lambert, who’s toured with May and Taylor in recent years, performed “Who Wants To Live Forever” and “Another One Bites The Dust.” Ghost’s Tobias Forge, Opeth guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir performed the classic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Swedish singers Erik Grönwall and Miriam Bryant performed “Stone Cold Crazy” and “The Show Must Go On,” respectively.

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