Classic Rock News

The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown continues to rake in the accolades.

The film just earned four nominations for the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, including outstanding performance by a cast in a movie, the SAG’s equivalent of best picture. Timothée Chalamet earned a nomination for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for playing Dylan.

Ed Norton also earned a nod for outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role for playing Pete Seeger, while Monica Barbaro was recognized in the outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role category for playing Joan Baez.

The 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will stream live on Netflix Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. ET from Los Angeles.

A Complete Unknown, which is in theaters now, follows a 19-year-old Dylan as he arrives in New York from Minnesota and tracks his rise as a folk singer during the ’60s to the top of the charts, ending with his electric rock ‘n’ roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.

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Ringo Starr’s country album, Look Up, drops Friday, and independent record stores across the country will be celebrating.

The folks who put on Record Store Day will be holding Look Up listening parties in 35 states, including California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. A complete list of listening party locations can be found at recordstoreday.com.

Look Up, co-written and produced by T Bone Burnett, is made up of 11 songs, with special guest appearances by Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucius, Larkin Poe and Alison Krauss, the latter appearing on the album’s closing song, “Thankful,” which was co-written by Ringo.

Ringo will celebrate the release of Look Up with shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, billed as Ringo Starr & Friends, on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15. He’ll also hit the road with his All-Starr Band, starting June 12 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A complete list of dates can be found at ringostarr.com.

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The life of the late Allman Brothers Band guitarist and co-founder Dickey Betts will be celebrated in February with an all-star concert taking place in Macon, Georgia — the birthplace of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group.

In Memory of Dickey Betts will take place Feb. 28 at the Macon City Auditorium, with a lineup that includes many musicians who’ve been associated with the Allman Brothers over the years, including ABB’s Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Chuck Leavell, Susan Tedeschi, and Oteil Burbriddge, as well as Dickey’s son Duane Betts, Gregg Allman’s son Devon Allman and more.

“For so many of us, Dad’s gift to the world was music,” Duane shares. “I’m so happy to come together with some very special friends to honor the depth and beauty of his life and, of course, to share that sweet, melodic sound he is so well known for.”

In addition to his guitar work for the Allmans, Betts wrote and sang two of their best-known songs: “Ramblin’ Man” and “Blue Sky.”  He also wrote their popular instrumental track, “Jessica.”

Tickets for the concert go on sale Monday at 10 a.m., with a portion of the proceeds going to furthering education in honor of Dickey.

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On This Day, Jan. 8, 2016 …

David Bowie released his 25th album, Blackstar, to coincide with his 69th birthday.

The record, produced by longtime producer Tony Visconti, wound up being Bowie’s final release, as it came out just two days before his death from liver cancer. The album had been recorded in secret while he was battling the disease, and Visconti described the record as Bowie’s “parting gift” to fans.

Blackstar debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, making it Bowie’s only #1 album. It also went to #1 in several other countries, including the U.K., Canada, France and Australia.

A critical and commercial success, Blackstar won three Grammy Awards, including best alternative music album, and was named British album of the year at the 2017 Brit Awards.

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The Grateful Dead has once again teamed with Stündenglass, makers of the world’s first gravity powered infusers, for a new collection that will give their fans a new way to enjoy their smoking experience. 

The newly launched Grateful Dead x Stundenglass – Legacy Patchwork collection features the company’s popular infuser, as well as a special Modül Dok Deluxe travel set, adorned with over 30 pieces of Dead imagery, including the band’s iconic logo and lightning bolt. Each piece is hand dipped so no two are exactly alike.

“As a lifelong fan of the Grateful Dead and a champion of the arts, it was an honor to comb the Dead’s legendary archives for this collection,” Chris Folkerts, CEO of Stündenglass, shares. “In a tribute to the artists that created iconic works for Grateful Dead over the decades, these collaborative designs speak to all generations of Dead Heads, and represent Stündenglass’ continuing dedication to innovation in all its forms.”

This is the second infuser collaboration between the Grateful Dead and Stündenglass. The previous one featured infusers with The Dead’s blue and red logo. 

The Grateful Dead x Stundenglass – Legacy Patchwork collection is available now at Stündenglass.com/GratefulDead, with the infuser selling for $499.95 and the travel set priced at $599.95.

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KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have settled a lawsuit filed by their longtime hairstylist who sued the duo for wrongful termination.

David Matthews, not to be confused with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dave Matthews, had worked with Simmons and Stanley since 1992; his primary job was styling and applying the rockers’ wigs.

In February 2023, Matthews sued the KISS members and their manager Doc McGhee, claiming he was fired in 2022 after complaining about “unsafe” COVID-19 protocols on their End of the Road tour. The complaints came after KISS’ longtime guitar tech Fran Stueber died after contracting COVID-19 on the tour.

The two sides were due in court on Jan. 22, but on Monday they informed the judge handling the dispute that they’ve “resolved the case.” Terms of the settlement have not been released. 

Simmons and Stanley still face a lawsuit filed in 2023 by Stueber’s family. He passed away in October 2021, and his family is suing for negligence and wrongful death.

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Lenny Kravitz, Pretenders and Jackson Browne are among the artists set to play the 2025 edition of the BeachLife Festival May 2-4 in Redondo Beach, California.

Kravitz will headline opening night, with Sublime and Alanis Morissette the festival’s other two headliners. The Pretenders are set to play May 3, along with The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs, while Browne is part of the May 4 lineup, which also features The Beach Boys. 

Other artists confirmed for BeachLife include Sugar Ray, CAKE, Train, O.A.R., Aloe Blacc, The Struts, Marcus King and Big Head Tod and the Monsters.

Tickets for BeachLife, now in its sixth year, are on sale now. A complete lineup can be found at beachlifefestival.com.

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A new docuseries celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live debuts in January and will feature an episode about the infamous “More Cowbell” sketch, which aired in 2000 and centered around the recording of Blue Öyster Cult’s classic tune “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.”

According to a press release, the docuseries’ third episode, aptly titled More Cowbell, will feature Blue Öyster Cult’s Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma and Albert Bouchard, the latter of whom actually plays the cowbell in the song. Music producer Bruce Dickinson, who is portrayed by Christopher Walken in the sketch, is also set to appear.

Also featured in the episode is Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan and Chris Parnell, who were all in the cowbell sketch, as well as Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme. 

If you’re surprised that there’s a whole episode about that one sketch, you’re not the only one. In the trailer for the documentary, Fallon is heard saying, “This is beyond my wildest dreams that you’re making a documentary about the cowbell sketch.”

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night debuts Jan. 16 exclusively on Peacock.

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Elton John has been a supporter of Chappell Roan since 2023, before she became a Grammy-nominated megastar.  Over the past year, the two have become good pals, so it’s no wonder that Elton has tapped the “Hot to Go!” singer to perform at his 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party.

This year, the event will take place in West Hollywood, California, on March 2 and will be hosted by Elton and his husband David Furnish, along with co-hosts Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka, plus Jean Smart and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Over the years, Elton’s annual bash has raised nearly $115 million for the fight to end HIV/AIDS. In a statement, he says, “David and I are thrilled to gather with friends and supporters once again, and we’re honored to welcome the bold and authentic Chappell Roan as this year’s performer, whose artistry embodies the power of music to inspire change.”

Among the stars who will serve on Benefit Committee for the event: Mick Jagger, Hozier, Sharon Stone, Megan Thee Stallion, Sean Penn and Jeffrey Wright.

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Lenny Kravitz is returning to Las Vegas.

The rocker just announced a new set of dates for his Blue Electric Light Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Lenny is set to return for five more shows: Aug. 1, Aug. 2, Aug. 6, Aug. 8 and Aug. 9. 

A Citi presale kicks off Wednesday at 10 a.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public starting Saturday at 10 a.m. 

Lenny launched his Blue Electric Light Las Vegas residency in October, and the new shows are the only U.S. dates on his calendar. He does have several European dates booked for 2025 and will next play Lyon, France, on Feb. 22. A complete list of dates can be found at lennykravitz.com.

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