Classic Rock News

Living Colour is calling out Jann Wenner for his recent comments in The New York Times, in which he suggested Black and female artists weren’t “articulate enough” to be included in his new book, The Masters.

“The very idea of a book called The Masters‘ which blatantly omits the essential contributions of Black, people of color and women to Rock & Pop Culture speaks to a much larger and more systemic problem,” the “Cult of Personality” rockers wrote on social media. “His New York Times interview statement that African American and female artists are not ‘articulate’ enough to express themselves about their own work is absurd on its face.”

They contend the comments from Wenner, who co-founded Rolling Stone in 1967, are “an insult to those of us who sit at the feet of these overlooked geniuses.”

“To hear that he believes Stevie Wonder isn’t articulate enough to express his thoughts on any given subject is quite frankly, insulting,” they add. “To hear that Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Tina Turner, or any of the many Woman artists that he chooses not to mention, are not worthy of the status of ‘Master’, smacks of sexist gatekeeping, and exclusionary behavior.”

The band then disregards Wenner’s attempt at an apology, noting, “That his book is a reflection of his worldview suggests that it is narrow & small indeed.”

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On This Day, September 19, 1979…

A series of five star-studded concerts opposing nuclear energy kicked off at New York’s Madison Square Garden. 

Organized by Musicians United for Safe Energy, an activist group made up of Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and John Hall, the concerts featured performances by Browne, Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Tom Petty and more. 

Two of the nights were recorded, with a triple album released in November 1979, followed by a documentary film, released in July of 1980.

Springsteen and The E Street Band also released a live album of their performance, The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts, in November 2021.

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n 2022, Bryan Adams performed at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall for three nights, performing one of his classic albums in its entirety on each night. Now the entire experience is being made available as a live album, scheduled for a December 8 release.

Live At The Royal Albert Hall collects Bryan’s live performances of his albums Cuts Like a Knife, Into the Fire and Waking Up the Neighbours — a total of 35 songs. The package also comes with a Blu-ray of the performances, as well as a 32-page photo book.

The box set is available on four vinyl LPs, or on three CDs.  

A couple of preview videos are now available. They show Bryan and his band performing the title track of Into the Fire, as well as the song “Rebel” from that album, during what appears to be an onstage soundcheck at the Albert Hall.

Among the tracks in the box set are live performances of hits like “Cuts Like a Knife,” “Straight from the Heart,” “Everything I Do (I Do It For You),” “Heat of the Night” and “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started.”

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Desmond Child has helped artists like Bon Jovi, KISS, Cher and Aerosmith tell their stories through countless hit songs. Now he’s ready to tell his story with the release of his new memoir, Livin’ On A Prayer: Big Songs Big Life, dropping Tuesday, September 19. 

“It was part of this whole plan that I decided to do, which was to really focus on my legacy,” he tells ABC Audio about his decision to write his memoir. “And, you know, it was just that time.”

In addition to countless stories about songwriting, the book delves into Desmond’s “hardscrabble life,” as he describes it, being the son of a Cuban immigrant and single mother who, unlike her famous son, was a struggling songwriter. In fact, her struggles were part of what motivated Desmond.

“I swore that I’d succeed and take care of her. So that was my impetus,” he says. “I really wanted to be an artist because she was an artist. It wasn’t just about success.”

Desmond found that success writing for a variety of artists, in all different musical genres, though he says he doesn’t really have a favorite. “What I do concentrate on is the story, and I see a human being that wants to tell their story, and I concentrate on that,” he shares.

Desmond says there are a lot of artists he’d still love to work with, including Dua Lipa and Sam Smith, but he’d also be happy to reteam with musicians he’s worked with before, like Steven Tyler or Alice Cooper. 

“I have a great relationship with the artists I’ve worked with, and I never tire of seeing them anew,” he says. “How do we keep telling their story and transforming it into something fresh and new?” 

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Joe Walsh’s annual VetsAid concert is happening in November, and he’s giving fans a chance to come see it for free and to meet him, as well. 

The Eagles guitarist just launched a new contest where one lucky winner and a guest will get a VIP trip to San Diego for the show, including airfare and hotel. The prize also includes a meet-and-greet with Walsh, plus a signed merch package.

This year’s VetsAid is happening November 12 at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in San Diego, with a lineup that includes Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Walsh and special guest Stephen Stills, along with The War On Drugs, The Flaming Lips and Lucius.

To enter, fans need to donate $10 in support of VetsAid, which raises money for charities helping veterans. This year’s concert will specifically help organizations based in, or with operations on the ground in, Southern California.

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Singer Janis Ian has responded to the comments made by Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner in The New York Times, in which he suggested female artists weren’t “articulate enough” to be included in his new book, The Masters.

“Gee, guess I was never articulate enough for Jann,” she wrote on Facebook. “Guess (Joan) Baez wasn’t. Certainly Liz Phair, Dolly Parton have no way with words…” 

She writes about living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan when the magazine first started, noting it was “like reading the old NY Post.” 

“I enjoyed a lot of it when it began, but some years later a friend who worked there told us ‘All Jann cares about now is landing the Volkswagen account. Forget it,'” she shares. “Money and being allowed to hang with ‘the boys’ were the important things, I suppose.”

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone magazine is distancing itself from its co-founder, making sure people know he “has not been directly involved in our operations since 2019.”

“Our purpose, especially since his departure, has been to tell stories that reflect the diversity of voices and experiences that shape our world,” they write on social media. “At Rolling Stone‘s core is the understanding that music above all can bring us together, not divide us.”

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Pretenders are bringing their club tour overseas.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just announced a trio of intimate shows in the U.K. They kick off at the Electric Ballroom in London on October 19, followed by an October 23 show at O2 Ritz Manchester and one at the Barrowlands in Glasgow, Scotland, October 25.

Fans who purchase the band’s just-released album, Relentless, will have early access to tickets starting Wednesday, September 20. They go on sale to the general public Friday, September 22.

In addition to an appearance at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California, on October 1, Pretenders still have a few more club shows left in the U.S.; they’re hitting LA October 2; Pioneertown, California, October 4 and San Francisco October 6. A complete list of tour dates can be found at ThePretenders.com.

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Phil Collins‘ classic track “In The Air Tonight” is helping to kick off Monday Night Football, thanks to a new cover of the tune, featuring Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana.

Stapleton sings Collins’ tune, with Snoop adding football-themed verses and Blackman Santana adding her take on the iconic “In The Air Tonight” drum break. 

“We just wanted to make sure we heard everybody’s voices – whether it was the fans’ voices, whether it was the artists’ voices, whether it was staying true to the ‘Monday Night Football’ brand over the years,” video producer Rico Labbe tells USA TODAY Sports. “We just wanted to make sure we meshed all that together. It could be a challenge. But we think we hit the sweet spot.”

Stapleton shared a preview of the opening on social media. The full clip will include NFL stars, game highlights and more.

The new theme will make its debut Monday, September 18, as part of Monday Night Football‘s “Two Games One Night” special airing on ESPN and ABC.

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The Rolling Stones will release their new album, Hackney Diamonds, on October 20, and while the songs won’t be a huge departure from what fans are used to, frontman Mick Jagger says they will sound different. 

During an interview with Q with Tom Power, Jagger explains it was important to them that the album didn’t have a retro sound.

“I said ‘Andy (producer Andrew Watt), I want it to be true to the school, you know,” he says. “I want it to be like a Rolling Stones record, but it’s got to sound like it was recorded this year.’ We don’t want it to sound like 40 years ago, and of course it doesn’t.”

He adds, “It sounds like now — the clarity of it, you know, and fidelity of it. And if you listen to it — compare it to an old Rolling Stones record — it’s very, very different.”

Jagger also discussed the loss of his friend and bandmate Charlie Watts, who passed away in 2021.

“As you get older, you lose a lot of friends,” he shares. “I don’t want to just hang out with younger people, but I mean, a lot of the people in my generation are no longer here to hang out with, so what am I going to do?”

The 80-year-old says seeing friends die makes you “think about your own mortality,” but notes, “people think about that from much earlier ages than mine.” He adds, “People I loved really dearly, you know, died early, and it’s very sad. But there you are. It’s a part of life. Can’t make this all about death.”

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Yes rocker Rick Wakeman’s career is being celebrated with a new box set, out now.

The Prog Years 1973-1977 is a 32-disc, CD/DVD box set featuring Wakeman’s solo albums, including The Six Wives Of Henry VIII, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur and The Knights Of The Round Table, Lisztomania, No Earthly Connection and White Rock.

There’s also alternative recordings, live performances and more, along with a 60-page hardcover scrapbook, postcards, promotional photos and posters.

Only 1,500 copies are being made available, and the first 500 copies sold will be numbered and signed by Wakeman. The box set is available for purchase now.

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