Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan announces new solo album, ‘Lighthouse’

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is set to release his third solo album, Lighthouse, on October 20 and has just shared the title track from the album.

The record, his first solo release since 2019’s Tenderness, has the rocker “fusing acoustic elements with hard-edged rock ‘n’ roll to land at the sweet spot between soul-searching reflection and pure energy.”

Lighthouse features 11 tracks, with guest appearances by McKagan’s GNR bandmate Slash on a song called “Hope,” Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell on “I Just Don’t Know” and Iggy Pop on a reprise of the title track.

Lighthouse is available for preorder now. Here is the track list for the album:

“Lighthouse”
“Longfeather”
“Holy Water”
“I Saw God on 10th Street”
“Fallen”
“Forgiveness”
“Just Another Shakedown”
“Fallen Ones”
“Hope” (Feat. Slash)
“I Just Don’t Know” (Feat. Jerry Cantrell)
“Lighthouse” (reprise) (Feat. Iggy Pop)

The Rolling Stones team up with Skechers for new sneaker collection

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Fans of The Rolling Stones will now be able to show their love of the iconic rockers on their feet.

Skechers just announced a new collaboration with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band. The Skechers x The Rolling Stones collection will feature eight collectible styles all “emblazoned with unmistakable attributes from both Skechers and The Rolling Stones.”

Skechers and The Stones have been previewing the collection online, which features the iconic Rolling Stones tongue and lip logo on high-tops, slip-on sneakers, white sneakers and more.

The shoes will be available for men, women and kids starting Thursday, June 15, although details on price are not yet available.

And Stones fans already seem excited by the collaboration. “at last ! Something fashionable for the over 50’s,” one person commented, while another added, “When you need to go to the gym but can’t stop being a rock chick.”

The Skechers news comes not long after the band announced a new collaboration with Keurig, the limited edition “Start Me Up” iced coffee kit. It went on sale June 6 and is already sold out.

Def Leppard launches giveaway to promote updates to Let’s Rock It! game

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Def Leppard is giving fans even more ways to have fun with their Def Leppard – Let’s Rock It! match 3 game app. The band just announced they’ve added new levels to the game so fans can “rock out harder than ever before.”

And to promote the new updates, Def Leppard has launched a new giveaway with plenty of prizes, including the big prize of an exclusive Jackson guitar, as well as band merch and gift cards.

Def Leppard – Let’s Rock It! is currently available on the app store or Google Play.

As for Def Leppard, they are currently in Europe on their tour with Mötley Crüe. The tour hits Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday, June 14. A complete list of dates can be found at DefLeppard.com.

The Alarm shares new ‘Forwards’ track “Another Way”

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Alarm’s new album, Forwards, drops Friday, June 16, and frontman Mike Peters has just dropped another track from the record, the song “Another Way.”

Peters worked on Forwards as he was dealing with a relapse of his leukemia, and the video for the song features a performance clip cut with footage of him curled up in a hospital bed.

Peters previously shared how his cancer helped influence the record, noting, “I’ve been to places only deep suffering can take the human spirit and, in the darkness, I clung onto every piece of light I could find to work my way back to life.” He added, “This was the energy that drove me to write and record Forwards.”

“Another Way” is the fourth single released from Forwards, following “Whatever,” “Next” and the title track.

Forwards is available for preorder now.

Watch Foo Fighters’ Bonnaroo performance on festival livestream

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters‘ headlining Bonnaroo set will air via the festival’s Hulu livestream.

Other artists on the livestream schedule include Paramore, Sheryl Crow, Portugal. The Man, Matt Maeson, ODESZA, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Bob Moses, My Morning Jacket, Marcus Mumford, girl in red, Franz Ferdinand, The Revivalists and Pixies.

Bonnaroo 2023 takes place June 15-18 in Manchester, Tennessee. For more info on the livestream, visit Hulu.com/bonnaroo.

Hulu is partnered with Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Elton John is runner-up on ‘Billboard’s’ midyear touring chart

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road continues to be a huge success, although there’s one artist currently doing a little better than him on the road.

Elton’s tour lands at number two on Billboard Boxscore’s 2023 midyear charts, just behind Harry Styles’ Love On Tour. According to Billboard, Elton’s tour has brought in $138.2 million from 32 shows between November 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, just .3% less than Harry’s $138.6 million from 38 shows.

Of course, number two is nothing to cry about, and Elton’s tour has been hugely successful. In fact, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour topped the midyear charts in 2019 and 2020. It’s also held the top spot on the monthly chart seven times, the most of any other touring act.

When it comes to Top Ticket Sales, Elton lands at five, selling 798,152 tickets, with Styles once again at number one.

The Police’s Andy Summers adds more dates to solo tour

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Andy Summers is extending his time on the road. The former Police guitarist is due to head out on his The Cracked Lens + A Missing String tour in July, and he’s just expanded the trek.

The tour, which combines Summer’s music and photography, will now consist of over 30 dates, kicking off July 21 in Beverly, Massachusetts, and wrapping November 12 in Calgary, Canada.

Summers originally hit the road with this tour in 2019, but COVID-19 got in the way of expanding the trek. He shares, “I’m thrilled to be going out with his show again. Let the light shine … after all we went through.”

Tickets for the tour go on sale Friday, June 16. A complete list of dates can be found at andysummers.com.

Rockers team up for new take on Pink Floyd’s “San Tropez”

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new album celebrating Pink Floyd‘s sixth studio release, Meddle, is on the way and we are now getting the first taste of it.

Yes’ Rick Wakeman, Blue Öyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard, ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo have teamed up with Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet for a new take on the track “San Tropez,” which is expected to appear on an album featuring revamped and reimagined takes on the 1971 Floyd album.

The album, Meddle Reimagined, will be similar to 2022’s Animals Reimagined and 2021’s Still Wish You Were Here, which featured such artists as Todd Rundgren, Joe Satriani, The Zombies’ Rod Argent and more sharing their takes on Floyd’s 1977 release, Animals, and 1975’s Wish You Were Here.

“When first invited to participate on Pink Floyd’s ‘San Tropez,’ I was flattered, yet a little nervous. I had sung on ‘Dogs’ (from Animals Reimagined) a year earlier and was initially concerned whether I could do justice to such an iconic song and thankfully, it turned out better than expected,” Bonnet shares. “‘San Tropez’ would prove to be trickier for me but ultimately I was happy that I was able to honor yet another gem from the cherished and enigmatic Pink Floyd.”

So far there’s no word on when Meddle Reimagined will be released.

You can listen to “San Tropez” now via digital outlets.

Aerosmith’s Joe Perry sets the record straight about his relationship with Steven Tyler

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have had a tumultuous relationship throughout their more than 50-year career together, but Perry insists rumors they don’t get along are untrue.

“This is no bulls***, man, he’s probably my best friend through all of it,” Perry tells Classic Rock. “We just know we’re different people. Even through the 70s, we were the ones that would go off on a scuba diving trip together.”

Perry admits there was some friction when Tyler decided to judge American Idol in 2008, noting he thought, “Holy s***, we’re gonna have to plan the band’s career around that,” but that thought quickly changed. Perry shares, “But god bless him, not everybody gets the chance to do that, so it was, ‘Go for it, man.’”

Around that time, their bickering boiled over in public, and at one point Perry announced the band was “looking for a new singer.” Looking back, Perry seems to regret things happened that way.

“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” Perry says. “They say all press is good press, I’m not sure I agree with that. Maybe it felt like we had to something to our fans. F***, I couldn’t tell you. We were so spread apart, I don’t know. Maybe we were trying to set the record straight and be a little bit more honest and let people know what was going on. I don’t know.”

Aerosmith is set to kick off what they say is their final tour September 2 in Philadelphia. A complete list of dates can be found at aerosmith.com.

On This Day, June 13, 1969: Mick Taylor is introduced as The Rolling Stones’ new guitarist

June 13, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, June 13, 1969 …

During a press conference in London, The Rolling Stones introduced guitarist Mick Taylor as Brian Jones‘ replacement.

Taylor’s live debut with the band took place in July at a free concert at London’s Hyde Park in front of 250,000 fans. The concert took place just two days after Jones’ death.

Taylor left The Rolling Stones in 1974 and was replaced by Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood, who has remained with the band to this day.

Despite his departure, Taylor was still inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Stones in 1989.

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