Classic Rock News

KISS’ Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are among the artists chosen for induction into the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The pair will be inducted into the 2026 class in the performers category, along with Kenny Loggins, Alanis Morissette and Taylor Swift.

Non-performing songwriters set for induction this year include Walter Afanasieff, who wrote Mariah Carey tunes like “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and “Hero;” Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, who penned Tina Turner’s ”What’s Love Got To Do With It” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero;” and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, songwriter on Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyoncé‘s “Single Ladies.”

“The music industry is built upon the incredible talent of songwriters who create unforgettable songs. Without their artistry, there would be no recorded music, concert experiences, or engaged fans. Everything originates from the song and its creator,” SHOF chairman Nile Rodgers said in a statement. “We take great pride in our ongoing commitment to recognizing some of the most culturally significant composers in history.”

He added, “This year’s lineup not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres. These songwriters have profoundly impacted the lives of billions of listeners worldwide, and it is our privilege to honor their contributions.”

Artists who were nominated, but not chosen this year, include Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, The Guess Who’s Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, The Go-Go’s Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane M. Wiedlin, America’s Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, Sarah McLachlan, Pink, LL Cool J, The Carpenters’ Richard Carpenter, Harry Wayne Casey aka KC of KC and the Sunshine Band, and Boz Scaggs.

The 2026 class will be celebrated at the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, taking place June 11 in New York City.

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Bonnie Raitt is set to join Brandi Carlie for one of her Echoes Through the Canyon concerts, which will take place May 29 and 30 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Gorge, Washington, outside of Seattle.

Raitt, who Carlile called her “red headed hero,” is booked to play May 30. It will feature a headlining set by Carlile, along with a performance by Sara Bareilles.  The May 29 lineup features the Indigo Girls and I’m With Her, plus both nights promise “very special guests.”

“I am so excited to be joining @brandicarlile and @sarabareilles, two of my favorite artists on what will surely be a legendary blast of a gathering,” Bonnie wrote on Instagram.  “I’ve loved playing The Gorge, one of the most spectacular venues anywhere. Can’t wait to celebrate what will surely be a highlight of our summer. Thanks so much to Brandi for inviting me and hope to see you all there!”

Various presales are happening Wednesday and Thursday, with tickets going on sale to the general public Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

The first Echoes Through the Canyon festival took place in 2023, with one of the shows headlined by Joni Mitchell and one of her all-star “Joni Jams.”

Raitt’s Echoes Through the Canyon appearance will take place just two days after she launches her 2026 tour. It kicks off May 28 in Spokane, Washington, and wraps in the U.S. on June 13 in Bellingham, Washington. The tour heads to Canada starting June 16 in Vancouver, wrapping June 27 in Winnipeg. Raitt’s also booked to play Las Vegas’ Big Blues Bender on Sept. 10.

A complete list of dates can be found at BonnieRaitt.com.

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Squeeze has released another preview of their upcoming album, Trixies.

The latest single, “You Get the Feeling,” is the third track they’ve released from the concept album, following “Trixies Pt. 1” and “Trixies Pt. 2.” It is available now via digital outlets, with an accompanying video on YouTube.

Trixies features some of the first songs Squeeze’s Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook ever wrote together. They were written by the duo back in 1974 when they were teens and recording was beyond their skill set. The songs are described as a “collection of stories set in a fictional night club, Trixies.”

Trixies, dropping March 6, is Squeeze’s first album since The Knowledge, which was released in 2017. It is available for preorder now.

Squeeze is set to kick off a European tour on March 20 in Hamburg, Germany, followed by a U.K. tour in November. A complete list of dates can be found at SqueezeOfficial.com.

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Bruce Hornsby is back with new music and a new tour.

The singer is set to release a new album, Indigo Park, on April 3. He’ll then hit the road in support of the release with his band The Noisemakers.

The tour launches April 19 in Cincinnati and hits such cities as Nashville, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles before wrapping July 25 in Patchogue, New York. It also includes an appearance at Jazz Fest in New Orleans on April 25.

A presale for tickets begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

More details on the album and special guests for the tour are expected at a later date.

This year is a big one for Hornsby. In addition to the album and tour, he’s celebrating the 40th anniversary of his iconic album The Way It Is and its title track, which hit #1. Released with his band The Range, the album also featured the song “Mandolin Rain,” which was a top-five hit for Hornsby.

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Looks like we’re about to get some new music from Def Leppard.

The band shared a video teasing what appears to be a new song on Instagram, with the clip showing posters popping up with the words “Def Leppard,” “Rejoice” and the tag line “You’re All Invited.” The clip is captioned “GET ON BOARD,” and you can hear snippets of a new song in the video.

A link provided on their Instagram account brings fans to a presave page for “Rejoice,” with the release date of Jan. 22.

“Rejoice” will be the first new material from Def Leppard since they released the single “Just Like 73,” featuring Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, in 2024. They released their last studio album, Diamond Star Halos, in 2022.

The new music tease comes as Def Leppard is getting ready to launch a new Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace on Feb. 3. The residency runs until Feb. 28. A complete list of Def Leppard dates can be found at DefLeppard.com.

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Stevie Nicks has added another show to her 2026 schedule.

The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is set to play The Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on April 22.

The last time Stevie played The Moody Center was in August 2023. In announcing the show she wrote on Instagram, “3 years is far too long, Austin! Can’t wait to see you all again soon.”

A Master Card presale for tickets begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. CT, followed by a Ticketmaster presale on Thursday at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday at 10 a.m. CT.

The Austin show is one of only three concerts Stevie has on her schedule so far. She’s also set to play Thackerville, Oklahoma, on April 18, and she’ll headline Jazz Fest in New Orleans on April 25.

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The legendary Dolly Parton turned 80 on Monday, and she received a special birthday surprise from U2 frontman Bono.

Dolly shared an Instagram video of bagpiper Pat Darcy playing “Happy Birthday” in a conference room, as a cake reading “Love Bono” was brought in. She then blew out all the candles, joking, “I did it!”

“Now that’s what you call a surprise!” Dolly wrote in the caption. “This old bag sure feels the love! Thank you, Bono and @u2 for making my birthday extra special.”

In the video, Dolly tells Darcy, “Well, thank you. I saw that cake said, ‘From Bono,’ so he must have sent you as a present to me. Well, thank you guys. I appreciate all of you.”

Darcy replies, “It’s an absolute delight to be here on behalf of the whole band.”

Darcy also posted about the experience on his Instagram, writing, “This morning I had the pleasure of playing a few tunes, on behalf of Bono and the boys, for Dolly Parton for her 80th birthday.” He added, “I also presented her with a pint of Guinness. There was even time for a nice chat.”

“She was exactly who you’d hope she’d be,” he concluded. “Happy 80th Birthday Dolly!”

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On This Day, Jan. 20, 1983…

Def Leppard released Pyromania, their third studio album and the first to feature Phil Collen, who replaced the band’s original guitarist Pete Willis.

The album, produced by Mutt Lange, featured future Def Leppard classics “Photograph,” “Foolin’” and “Rock of Ages.” It spent a total of 124 weeks on the Billboard 200, although it only peaked at #2.

Pyromania went on to become Def Leppard’s most successful record, selling over 10 million copies and earning a Diamond certification by the RIAA.

In 2024, in celebration of the album’s 40th anniversary, Def Leppard released a deluxe edition of Pyromania, featuring unheard demos from the band’s archives.

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All I want for Christmas is … Foo?

Foo Fighters will be performing at the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which is honoring Mariah Carey in recognition of her career achievements and philanthropic work.

The lineup also features Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless, Maggie Rogers, Billy Porter, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Laufey, Adam Lambert, Charlie Puth, Kesha and Teddy Swims.

“I’m deeply honored to have these extraordinary artists come together for this evening,” Carey says in a statement. “Their generosity, their presence, and their commitment to this moment mean more to me than I can express. Being part of this celebration in benefit of MusiCares and the support they provide to those in the music community makes this night even more special. I’ve always believed that music heals, and it’s meant to be shared!”

The 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala takes place Jan. 30 in Los Angeles, days before the 2026 Grammys are held Feb. 1.

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Rush is set to revisit their 10th studio album, 1984’s Grace Under Pressure.

The band will release Grace Under Pressure: Super Deluxe Edition on March 13 in five different formats, including a limited-edition four-CD + Blu-ray set with a 52-page hardcover book.

The set features a newly remastered version of the original album and a new stereo mix taken from the original analog recordings. It also includes a two-CD recording of the band’s complete Sept. 21, 1984, concert at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Portions of that show previously appeared on the band’s 1986 Grace Under Pressure Tour home video and CD; the new version, titled Grace Under Pressure Tour: Live in Toronto 1984, adds 37 minutes of previously unreleased footage.

The Blu-ray includes the Toronto concert on video with upgraded audio, along with new mixes of the album, including a Dolby Atmos mix. It also features remastered videos for songs like “Distant Early Warning,” “Afterimage,” “The Enemy Within” and “The Body Electric.”

Additional highlights include new liner notes from Rush’s Geddy Lee, reimagined cover art and bonus collectibles, like a replica tour book, concert ticket, backstage pass, a poster from the show and more.

Grace Under Pressure: Super Deluxe Edition will also be available digitally and as a five-LP + Blu-ray set. The original eight-track album will be released digitally on Dolby Atmos, and a remastered Grace Under Pressure Tour: Live in Toronto 1984 video will be released to digital outlets.

All formats are available for preorder now.

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