Yusuf/Cat Stevens expands ‘Cat on the Road to Findout’ book tour

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Yusuf/Cat Stevens has added some more dates to his fall book tour promoting his upcoming memoir, Cat on the Road to Findout.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has added second shows at New York’s Beacon Theatre and Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Oct. 12 and Oct. 22, respectively.

Cat on the Road to Findout: An Evening Of Tales, Tunes, And Other Mysteries kicks off Oct. 2 in Philadelphia and will have Stevens speaking in-depth about his memoir and performing unplugged versions of his biggest hits. The events will also incorporate Stevens’ personal art, illustrations, photos and film.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now. A complete list of dates can be found at CatStevens.com.

Cat on the Road to Findout, due out Oct. 7, will recount Stevens’ rise to fame thanks to songs like “Wild World,” “Father and Son,” “Peace Train” and “Morning Is Broken,” as well as the release of albums like Mona Bone Jakon, Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. It will also cover his conversion to Islam, his humanitarian work and his later return to music.

In addition to his story, the book will include dozens of Stevens’ drawings and archival imagery.

Cat on the Road to Findout is available for preorder now.

John Mellencamp’s post about lack of ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ at NBA playoffs gets response from Pat McAfee

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

ESPN’s Pat McAfee has responded to John Mellencamp’s recent Instagram post, in which he seemed to call out McAfee’s attempt to hype up the Indianapolis crowd at Game 4 of the NBA playoffs Tuesday between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.

During the game, McAfee called out several famous New York Knicks fans in the crowd, including Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet, telling the crowd, “Let’s send these sons of b****** back to New York with their ears ringing.”

Mellencamp said in his post that he was “embarrassed” by McAfee’s speech, although he did not mention him by name. He also said the crowd reaction was “poor sportsmanship” and lacked “Hoosier Hospitality.”

Well, now McAfee’s fighting back.

“What a moment for John Coug yesterday,” he said during his show Friday, ripping apart the rocker’s actual post.

“I don’t know what he thought he was doing with that particular quote tweet,” he said. “John, can’t tell you how bad everything you did here was – the graphic, the quote, the timing. You’re two days late, John. You’re two days late, Bub. … John, shut the f*** up, OK.”

“You try and think you’re gonna bury me? I don’t think so, John. Hey Coug, suck it buddy,” he continued. “Hope I get a chance to see you real soon. I think we’re probably gonna be in the same place pretty soon. I don’t want any of your bullsh**. I don’t like you. I know your name, and I don’t like you.”

It is possible they may see each other at the next playoffs game. The Pacers currently lead the Knicks in the series 3-2, with the next game happening Saturday in Indiana.

The Electric Prunes lead singer James Lowe dies at 82

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

James Lowe, lead singer of the ’60s band The Electric Prunes, died May 22 at the age of 82, according to a statement posted by his family on the band’s social media pages.

The post says Lowe “passed away peacefully of natural causes,” sharing that he “leaves behind a legacy of sound, love, and boundless creativity.”

Formed in 1965, The Electric Prunes were a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles that had two popular songs: “I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night,” which peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and “Get Me To The World on Time,” which went to #27.

“I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night” was also prominently featured in the 1972 compilation album Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968, put together by future Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye.

The original band split up in 1970. Lowe went on to have a career behind the scenes as a producer, working with Todd Rundgren and others. The original members of The Electric Prunes reformed in the ’90s and released several albums, their first being 2001’s Artifact. They released their last album, WaS, in 2014.

Kaye took to Instagram to pay tribute to Lowe, sharing a picture of them together.

“Rest in Dreaming James Lowe,” he wrote. “So glad I got to see you sing the classic which opened Nuggets, complete with finger cymbals, at the Glendale Wild Honey golden jubilee show. May your Prunes always electrify.”

Carlos Santana teams with Mexican band Grupo Frontera for new single

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Carlos Santana has teamed with Mexican band Grupo Frontera for a new track, “Me Retiro,” described as a “heartbreak story” they expect to become the “ultimate multigenerational anthem of despair.”

“When I hear the music and lyrics of this song, it’s about healing people, sharing light, love, and joy with them,” the legendary guitarist shares. “To me, this music is meant to uplift our spirits and align our motives, purpose and intentions toward the highest good of life, people and the planet.”

“Me Retiro” is available now via digital outlets.

Talking about working with Grupo Frontera, Santana offers, “It feels beautiful to share with them; this is just the beginning because we’re going to do more things in the future. We’re achieving something multidimensional—we want a South American tour, a Latino Woodstock.”

Santana is getting ready to hit the road once again. The European leg of his Oneness tour kicks off June 9 in Lodz, Poland. He returns to the U.S. for the latest stint of his Las Vegas residency at the House of Blues on Sept. 17. A complete list of dates can be found at Santana.com.

Cease and desist over Matt Cameron’s teenage KISS cover band lifted

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Matt Cameron can now rock and roll all night and party every day without threat of legal action from KISS.

In a 2024 interview, the Pearl Jam and Soundgarden drummer shared that he was in a KISS cover band as a teenager and even had the opportunity to meet Paul Stanley backstage at a concert. Cameron added that he showed Stanley photos of him and his friends dressed as the KISS members, and several months later he received a cease and desist letter from the band’s Aucoin management company.

Several decades later, Cameron has now received a letter from Aucoin’s Roman Fernandez declaring that the cease and desist has been lifted.

“By the power vested in me (which is none), I hereby declare the matter regarding the cease and desist solved, and the pursuant order issued by Aucoin Management, Inc. null and void,” the letter, which Cameron posted to Instagram, reads.

It adds, “Although you may want to check with Doc first,” presumably referring to KISS’ most current manager, Doc McGhee.

The letter also came with a set of Aucoin-related memorabilia.

“CASE CLOSED,” Cameron writes in the post’s caption. “Thank you so much Roman Fernandez for this incredibly thoughtful gift.”

Stevie Nicks’ ‘Bella Donna’ gets high fidelity vinyl reissue

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Stevie Nicks’ iconic solo album Bella Donna is the latest album to get the Rhino High Fidelity treatment.

The album, Nicks’ solo debut, has just been released on limited-edition, high-end vinyl, with only 5,000 individually numbered copies available.

Released in 1981, Bella Donna was a #1 hit for Nicks and featured three iconic singles: “Edge of Seventeen,” “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” with Tom Petty, and “Leather and Lace” with Don Henley.

“What I wanted my whole life was to do this album,” Nicks says in the album’s liner notes. “Making Bella Donna really saved my life.”

The Rhino High Fidelity reissue of Bella Donna is available now for $39.98.

The Beach Boys’ Al Jardine drops new EP, ‘Islands In The Sun’

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Beach Boys’ Al Jardine is back with new music.

The 82-year-old musician just surprised fans by dropping a four-song EP, Islands In The Sun, which he recorded at his home studio in California.

The lead single is the title track, described as a “friendly nod” to The Beach Boys’ #1 hit “Kokomo.” It features vocals from Jardine, as well as his son Matt Jardine, Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston joining for guest vocals and a children’s choir made up of kids from three local elementary schools.

The EP also includes a guest appearance by Neil Young on the track “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow (Au Revior),” a song that was recorded during sessions for Jardine’s 2010 solo debut, A Postcard From California. The song also features the military bugle call “Taps,” performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.

Other songs on the EP include “Highway 101 (Rosarita Beach Café),” a song inspired by the Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller classic, “Smokey Joe’s Café” and an updated version of “Crumple Car,” which originally appeared in the 1978 surf movie Big Wednesday.

Islands In The Sun is now available.

Next up for Jardine, he’ll hit the road with Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s longtime touring band, dubbed The Pet Sounds Band. The tour kicks off July 4 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. A complete list of dates can be found at AlJardine.com.

On This Day, May 30, 1964: The Beatles hit #1 with ‘Love Me Do’

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, May 30, 1964…

The Beatles hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their debut single, “Love Me Do.”

The track, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, had the pair duetting on vocals. The song was recorded three different times, with different drummers. Original drummer Pete Best initially recorded it, and then it was rerecorded with his replacement, Ringo Starr. A third version featured session drummer Andy White, which was featured on The Beatles’ Please Please Me album.

In addition to the U.S., “Love Me Do” topped the chart in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.

Following “Love Me Do,” The Beatles went on to have 20 #1 hits, the last being 1970’s “The Long and Winding Road,” from their album Let It Be.

Bono releases ‘Stories of Surrender EP’ to coincide with documentary debut

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bono’s Apple TV+ documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, is out now, and to coincide with the release, the U2 frontman has dropped a three song live EP featuring tracks taken from his one-man stage show.

Songs on the EP include “Desire,” “The Showman” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” with Bono backed by Gemma Doherty on harp, keyboard and vocals, and Kate Ellis on cello, keyboard and vocals, as well as his musical director Jacknife Lee.

Stories of Surrender EP is available now via digital outlets, with a 7-inch vinyl out now in Ireland, the U.K. and Germany, and available everywhere else on June 13.

Bono: Stories of Surrender is described as a “reimagining” of the U2 frontman’s one-man stage show, Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music and Some Mischief. That coincided with the release of his memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, released in November 2022.

The doc features footage from one of his shows at New York’s Beacon Theatre, which had him sharing stories about his life, family, friends and more, along with performances of some U2 songs “that have shaped his life and legacy.”

Director Jake Sumner presents New York concert promoter Ron Delsener in new documentary

May 30, 2025 by Classic Rock 93.9

The new documentary Ron Delsener Presents looks at the 60-year career of legendary New York concert promoter Ron Delsener, and director Jake Sumner tells ABC Audio there’s good reason why he’s a great subject for a film.

“To me, Ron is a great character and a way to look at the kind of larger picture of live music and to be a vehicle to kind of take you on a journey,” he says. “He’s great because he is kind of larger than life. … They kind of broke the mold with Ron.”

Sumner, son of The Police frontman Sting, knew of Delsener prior to making the film because he’d met him during his childhood out on the road with his father.

“He’s just a character and he … had just kind of great stories about everyone,” he adds.

The film features interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Van Zandt, Jon Bon Jovi, Paul Simon and Billy Joel, and Sumner says he didn’t have a hard time getting them to talk.

“There were people that called me up asking to be in the film … big artists,” he says. “(Delsener) had an impact on them and their careers that they felt they wanted to be part of it.”

And while Delsener may be the focus of the film, Sumner says the doc is about more than just the famed promoter.

“To me, the film tells the bigger story of live music and the kind of history of it,” he says. “And it was Ron and a handful of others that really kind of created an industry where there wasn’t one.”

Ron Delsener Presents opens at Quad Cinema in New York on Friday and will then hit theaters in select cities nationwide.

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

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