Classic Rock News

Original AC/DC frontman Bon Scott would have turned 80 this year, and the Bon Scott estate, along with its exclusive licensing/merchandising partner Perryscope Productions, has announced lots of plans to celebrate the milestone.

The official Scott YouTube channel will offer new video content as part of a deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, plus there will be video of new interviews from Scott’s friends and peers, including Sammy Hagar, Anthtrax’s Scott Ian and Rick Springfield.

There will also be a whole host of Bon Scott tribute events, including the 20th anniversary Bonfest: The International Bon Scott Rock Festival May 1-2 in Kirriemuir, Scotland, along with the third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash in New York on July 6. In addition, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is planning a one-night-only screening of the AC/DC concert film Let There Be Rock: The Movie.

Plus, the estate has plans for a whole host of merchandising this year. They include limited-edition collectibles like 1-ounce gold and 10-ounce silver bars from the Perth Mint with Scott’s name and likeness; posters, T-shirts and more featuring exclusive artwork by graphic artist Reg Mombassa; and Knucklebonz’s third Bon Scott edition collectible, based on AC/DC’s 1978 Powerage tour.

There will also be apparel options, with a variety of limited-edition T-shirts, including a Bon 80 shirt and a “heritage” Tartan shirt from Dixxon Flannel Co, based on the officially registered Bon Scott tartans.

More info can be found at BonScottOfficial.com.

Scott was born July 6, 1946. He died Feb. 19, 1980, at age 33.

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The Eagles’ compilation album Their Greatest Hits 1971-75 was awarded a quadruple Diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America in January, and the band is so proud of the accomplishment that they are showing it off.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers revealed on Instagram that the 40-times Platinum plaque they received, for sales of over 40 million units, will be on display at The Venetian Resort to coincide with their current residency at the Sphere.

The plaque will be on display at the pop-up store Eagles Third Encore, located at The Summit Showroom at The Venetian. It’s free and open to the public Thursday to Sunday, including late hours on Friday and Saturday show days.

Their Greatest Hits 1971-75 is the first-ever record to be certified 400-times Platinum, securing the album’s standing as the bestselling album of all time in the United States.

Eagles return to the Sphere Friday and Saturday, with shows booked through April 11. A complete list of dates can be found at Eagles.com.

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Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has released Dolby Atmos versions of his 1990 and 1996 solo albums, Tattooed Millionaire and Skunkworks, respectively.

In a statement, Dickinson says that the upgraded audio on Skunkworks “will blow your socks off.”

“It’s a record of which I’m immensely proud,” Dickinson says. “In fact, as the years go by I grow more and more proud of everything that happened on that record. In many ways, it was a bit advanced for its time because we were bringing in all kinds of influences that other people in metal were scared of. It’s very emotional and quite dark in places.”

Speaking on the Dolby Atmos version of Tattooed Millionaire, Dickinson adds, “[Producer] Chris Tsangarides did a great job on the production and now with modern technology we can beef it all up and make it BIG in Atmos world! The album sonically sounds really good.”

You can listen to both albums in Dolby Atoms now via digital outlets.

Dickinson’s most recent solo album is 2024’s The Mandrake Project, which marked his first solo record in nearly 20 years.

Maiden, meanwhile, is gearing up to launch the 2026 leg of the band’s Run for Your Lives tour celebrating their 50th anniversary. The trek comes to North America in August.

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Paul McCartney was in attendance Wednesday night at a special star-studded London screening of his upcoming documentary, Man on the Run, which looks at McCartney’s life following the breakup of The Beatles, including the formation of his band Wings.

Also in attendance was the film’s director, Morgan Neville, and actor Paul Mescal. Mescal is set to play McCartney in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles films, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, which are currently in production and expected to hit theaters in April 2028.

Others checking out the screening include Mescal’s girlfriend, singer Gracie Abrams; McCartney’s kids Stella McCartney and James McCartney; Mumford & Son’s Marcus Mumford; Oasis’ Noel Gallagher; Sharon Osbourne; Paul Weller; and Cruz Beckham.

Man on the Run is set to run in theaters for one day only Thursday and premiere globally on Prime Video on Feb. 27.

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William Shatner will boldly go where many metalheads have gone before, albeit probably not many pushing 100.

The 94-year-old Star Trek legend is set to release a metal album, featuring his take on songs by iconic bands including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

“Metal has always been a place where imagination gets loud,” Shatner says in a statement. “This album is a gathering of forces—each artist bringing their fire, their precision, their chaos. I chose them because they have something to say, and because metal demands honesty.”

“I’ve spent a lifetime exploring in both reality and fiction,” the Captain Kirk actor continues. “Now I am stepping out into the unknown once again with my new project in heavy metal. I am covering Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden as well as a number of new songs written by my team. The whole project is destined for this year. I hope you will join me in the exploration.”

The title and release date of the album has yet to be revealed. It will feature Black Label Society frontman and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, who personally gifted Shatner a guitar, alongside a full list of guests to be announced.

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The full lineup for the 2026 Milwaukee Summerfest has just been announced. The festival takes place over three weekends — June 18-20, June 25-27 and July 2-4 — across multiple venues.

Artists performing at this year’s Summerfest, some of whom were previously announced, include David Lee Roth, James Taylor, Styx, Gene Simmons Band, Megadeth, Christopher Cross, Little Feat, Don Felder, Third Eye Blind, Modern English, Lisa Loeb, Soul Asylum and Spin Doctors.

“As an independent music festival, we are thrilled to deliver this one-of-a-kind lineup that features an incredible mix of genres and artists,” said Sarah Pancheri, president and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. “We’re excited to welcome fans from around the globe to celebrate and create memories that only live music can provide.”

A nine-day pass for Summerfest is available now through Feb. 25 at midnight for $58. Single-day general admission, three-day passes and VIP seating are also available now. More info on tickets and the full lineup can be found at Summerfest.com.

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After months of teases from guitarist Brian May, Queen has finally revealed details of the upcoming reissue of their sophomore album, Queen II.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band is set to celebrate the record with the release of a remixed, remastered and expanded five-CD + two-LP collector’s edition box set, dropping March 27.

The set includes a 2026 mix of the album, as well as a whole host of bonus material, including previously unheard outtakes and demos, live tracks, radio sessions and what’s described as “intimate fly-on-the-wall audio of Queen in the recording studio.” The set also features a 112-page book with previously unseen photos, handwritten lyrics, the band’s memories of writing and recording the album and more.

“Queen II was the single biggest leap we ever made,” says May of the record, which was originally released in March 1974. “That’s when we really started making music the way we wanted to, rather than the way we were being pushed into recording it.”

“With Queen II, I couldn’t believe how much work we put into it,” drummer Roger Taylor adds. “I think we felt we were evolving our own sound. We were pioneering this sort of multitracking thing. It gave you a tremendous pallet, massive choral effects with just three of us singing.”

In addition to Queen II Collector’s Edition, the reissue will be released as a two-CD deluxe edition and on one-LP vinyl. All formats are available for preorder now.

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On The Feb. 19, 1985…

The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger released his debut solo album, She’s The Boss.

The album was produced by Jagger, Nile Rodgers and others, and featured contributions from The Who’s Pete Townshend, guitarist Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock and Sly and Robbie.

It later caused some friction between Jagger and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who felt Jagger’s priority should be the band.

She’s The Boss peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s lead single “Just Another Night,” which featured Beck on guitar, went on to peak at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock charts. The follow-up single, “Lucky in Love,” was a top-40 hit.

Jagger went on to release three more solo albums, his last being 2001’s Goddess in the Doorway.

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After several weeks of hints and teasers, Foo Fighters have finally announced their new album.

The 12th studio effort from Dave Grohl and company is called Your Favorite Toy, and is due out April 24. You can listen to the title track now.

“‘Your Favorite Toy’ really was the key that unlocked the tone and energetic direction of the new album,” Grohl says. “We stumbled upon it after experimenting with different sounds and dynamics for over a year, and the day it took shape I knew that we had to follow its lead. It was the fuse to the powder keg of songs we wound up recording for this record. It feels new.”

Your Favorite Toy, which also includes the 2025 single “Asking for a Friend,” is the follow-up to 2023’s But Here We Are. It marks the first Foo Fighters album since new drummer Ilan Rubin, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, joined the band. Rubin replaced Josh Freese, who’d joined the Foos in 2023 following the 2022 death of Taylor Hawkins.

Foo Fighters will play a couple of U.S. festivals in May before launching a full North American stadium tour in August.

Here’s the Your Favorite Toy track list:

“Caught in the Echo”
“Of All People”
“Window”
“Your Favorite Toy”
“If You Only Knew”
“Spit Shine”
“Unconditional”
“Child Actor”
“Amen, Caveman”
“Asking for a Friend”

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The Doors’ John Densmore and Robby Krieger recently teamed with Playing for Change, the multimedia project connecting the world through music, for a new version of The Doors’ classic “Riders on the Storm.” It features artists from eight countries, including Don Was, Lukas Nelson and Foo Fighters’ Rami Jaffee, and also incorporates the original vocals of late Doors frontman Jim Morrison — something one of the project’s creators feels was “clearly meant to be.”

“We filmed Robby and John, and they just played it like they’ve played it all their lives,” Playing for Change partner and producer Sebastian Robertson tells ABC Audio of the video.

“And as we were going and adding more people and traveling around the world, it started to get so exciting that The Doors management said, ‘Why don’t we give you Jim’s original vocal and see what happens?’ And, like the mystical ways of The Doors, it was the exact right tempo and it just fit in.”

“It was an honor. And it was breathtaking to hear [Jim’s vocals] isolated,” he says. “It just worked. It was clearly meant to be. And I think Jim and Robby and John are still in sync, and I think Jim approves.”

The video’s since racked up over 2 million views and raised thousands of dollars for the Playing for Change Foundation’s music program for indigenous artists in South Dakota. It was chosen due to John’s support of indigenous arts and rights, and Sebastian’s own Mohawk heritage via his late father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Robbie Robertson.

Sebastian says of the video’s success, “This is a very important song for a lot of people. And I think we treated it that way in the video.”

The next Playing for Change video, Sebastian teases, will “take place ‘on a dark desert highway.'” 

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