Classic Rock News

Chicago is set to revisit their 1970 album, Chicago II, with a new Dolby Atmos mix from famed producer Steven Wilson.
 

Chicago II (Steven Wilson Remix) will drop April 25 on Blu-ray through Rhino.com, with a two-LP black vinyl set dropping May 23.

The new release marks the first Dolby Atmos mix of Chicago II, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Albums chart and featured three top-10 hits: “25 or 6 to 4,” which went to #4, “Colour My World,” which hit #7, and “Make Me Smile,” which hit #9.

“When I first heard it as a teenager, I was captivated by the mixture of jazz, blues, pop, classical, progressive and heavy rock styles, including both improvisational elements and intricate arrangements, and by songs written and sung by several different members, all with their own unique personality,” Wilson says of the album. “How could that possibly hang together?! But it does, and brilliantly so.”

Chicago II (Steven Wilson Remix) is available for preorder now.

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On This Day, April 2, 2013…

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora left the group ahead of the band’s show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The New Jersey rockers were on their Because We Can Tour, in support of their 12th studio album, What About Now.

Sambora, who had been with Bon Jovi since 1983, never returned to group, and was eventually replaced by guitarist Phil X.

Although there were rumors that Sambora had been fired, both he and frontman Jon Bon Jovi denied that was true. Years later Sambora said he left the band to spend more time with his family.

Since his departure, Sambora has only played with Bon Jovi one other time, at their 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, where the band performed “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “It’s My Life,” “When We Were Us” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

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Bruce Springsteen has paid tribute to his childhood friend Joe DePugh, who inspired his hit Born in the U.S.A. track “Glory Days.” According to The New York Times, DePugh died of cancer at the age of 75.

“Just a moment to mark the passing of Freehold native and ballplayer Joe DePugh,” Springsteen wrote on social media. “He was a good friend when I needed one.”

Springsteen then added a quote from the song, “He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool,” adding, “Glory Days my friend.”

“Glory Days” was the fifth single Springsteen released off Born in the U.S.A., peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, the fifth of seven top 10 songs released from the album. Springsteen has said that the first verse of the song was inspired by a chance encounter with DePugh in a bar in 1973.

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There have been a lot of books written about The Beatles over the years, and now a new one will focus on the relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs, by author Ian Leslie, will be released April 8. It’s described as a “myth-shattering biography of a relationship that changed the cultural history of the world.”

According to the description, John & Paul follows the “twists and turns” of the rock stars’ relationship, revealing “how these shifts manifested themselves in the music.” It will offer readers “an intimate and insightful new look at two of the greatest icons in music history, and rich insights into the nature of creativity, collaboration, and human intimacy.”

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs is available for preorder now.

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Neil Young is worried he may not be able to tour America as planned due to his feelings about President Donald Trump.

The rocker writes on his Neil Young Archives website that he’s concerned he’ll be barred from reentering the U.S. if he chooses to speak out against the president during his upcoming European tour.

“If I talk about Donald J. Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminum blanket,” Young writes. “That is happening all the time now. … If I come back from Europe and am barred, can’t play my USA tour, all of the folks who bought tickets will not be able to come to a concert by me.”

Young, who is from Canada and became a U.S. citizen in 2020, questions what it means for freedom if he could be kept out of the country for freely sharing his feelings about the current administration.

“I love America and its people and its music and its culture,” he writes. “By these latest actions of the US government, it seems that those who speak freely with their own opinions are now vulnerable to non-existent Trump law.”

Finally, Young ends his post by paraphrasing the Pledge of Allegiance. “One country, indivisible, with Liberty and Freedom, for all,” he writes. “Remember that? I do.”

Young’s love earth tour with his band The Chrome Hearts kicks off June 18 in Rättvik, Sweden. It hits the U.S. Aug. 8 in Charlotte, North Carolina, wrapping with a show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Sept. 15.

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Foreigner’s Lou Gramm and Mick Jones have had a troubled relationship over the years, with Gramm leaving the group in 1990 over their differences. But Gramm now says the band’s 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction has helped heal the rift.

“Ever since (the induction) it felt like, personally, I had to find a way to let go of some of the things I’ve been holding onto for years — and, like the song says, let it be,” he tells Billboard.

Relations between Gramm and Foreigner have improved so much that it was recently announced he’d be joining the band for their South American tour; Gramm and Luis Maldonado will fill in for current frontman Kelly Hansen, who’s missing the tour due to “some issues.”

“It’s a hackneyed sentiment, but it’s true — life’s too short,” Gramm says of his decision to return. “And a lot of the things that are blown up and made big deals about are easy enough to get over and humble yourself and reach out a little bit, ’cause what you’ve been mad about for the past 20 years is not a monumental thing.”

And Gramm’s new attitude apparently extends to Hansen, as well. “We didn’t have a very good relationship before, either, but it’s good now,” Gramm says.

Foreigner’s South American tour kicks off April 28 in Mexico City and runs through May 10 in São Paulo, Brazil. A complete list of Foreigner dates can be found at foreigneronline.com.

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Although Bruce Springsteen has denied reports that he’s a billionaire, that didn’t stop Forbes from adding him to its 2025 World’s Billionaires list.

The Boss is one of this year’s newcomers to the list, with earnings of $1.2 billion, according to the magazine, which notes his reported payday of $500 million when he sold his catalog to Sony in 2021.

Other billionaire newbies on the list include Jerry Seinfeld and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Forbes first reported Springsteen’s billionaire status back in July, but the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer later denied the report.

“I’m not a billionaire,” he told The Telegraph in October. “I wish I was, but they got that real wrong. I’ve spent too much money on superfluous things.”

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The Who continues to look back at their 60-year career, and this time they are highlighting their iconic 1967 appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

The band just debuted a new poster and T-shirt inspired by the appearance, which had them performing “My Generation” and then completely destroying all their equipment.

While neither the poster nor T-shirt, designed by Tom Walker, actually mention the Smothers Brothers show, both pay homage to the destruction with images of broken guitars, drums and more set against a huge explosion.

Both the poster and T-shirt are now available at thewho.com.

The Who recently headlined two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust. They are also scheduled to play two shows in Italy: July 20 in Padua and July 21 in Milan. Frontman Roger Daltrey also has several solo U.K. shows on the schedule, with a tour kicking off April 20 in Brighton, England.

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Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones has revealed that he once stole equipment from David Bowie.

In a new interview with The Guardian, Jones confirmed a rumor that in 1973, at Bowie’s last Ziggy Stardust show at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, he made off with some of Bowie’s equipment.

“They played two nights, and after the first night they left all the gear up, because they were playing there the next night,” he explained. “I knew the Hammersmith Odeon like the back of my hand, I used to bunk in there all the time. I was like the Phantom of Hammersmith Odeon.”

He said he stole a minivan and got into the venue at about 2 a.m., when the place was empty except for one guy who was asleep and snoring.

“I tiptoed across the stage, and I nicked some cymbals, the bass player’s [amplifier] head – a Sunn amp it was – and some microphones,” he said. “I got Bowie’s microphone with his lipstick on it!”

Jones said he eventually called Bowie to admit he nicked the equipment, noting, “He knew I’d done it; he thought it was funny.” Jones clarified that he doesn’t think he took anything that actually belonged to Bowie, just his band.

In the same interview, Jones admitted to a somewhat gross “party trick,” sharing, “I like to fart in front of people.”

“You can tell if someone’s cool or not from their reaction,” he said. “I farted in front of Lisa Marie Presley once. She was sitting outside Starbucks and I was going in, and I just let one rip. She had this look on her face of disgust. I just carried on walking into Starbucks. Is that bad?”

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Looks like Bruce Springsteen is trying to tell us something.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer shared a cryptic post on social media that suggests he’s set to reveal some news on Thursday.

The post featured a recording session log from Springsteen’s Thrill Hill Recording company, with the date April 3 written on the top. Written on the document is the statement, “What was lost has now been found.” The name “Springsteen” is stamped at the bottom.

Whatever he’s teasing, fans seem excited. Many are speculating in the comments that he’ll be announcing Tracks 2, a sequel to his 1998 box set of never-before-released demos, alternative tracks and more. However, some seem hopeful for an electric version of his 1982 acoustic album, Nebraska.

Others are just excited for whatever it is, with one person commenting, “Oh my God, I’m having a heart attack now.”

The tease comes as Springsteen is getting ready to hit the road again. He and the E Street Band will kick off a U.K. and European tour on May 14 in Manchester, England. A complete list of dates can be found at BruceSpringsteen.net.

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