John Frusciante’s signature Strat guitar recreated by Fender Custom Shop

October 31, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante‘s signature 1962 sunburst Stratocaster has been recreated by the Fender Custom Shop.

The Limited Edition Masterbuilt John Frusciante Stratocaster not only aims to replicate the guitar’s sound, but also is finished to look exactly like the original, with “every dent, ding and scrape meticulously accounted for,” a press release says.

“Frusciante’s Strat is right up there with the most iconic Fenders of all time; being able to work on his first-ever Signature model was a true privilege,” says Fender Custom Shop master builder Paul Waller.

“Recreating this instrument’s many beautiful imperfections was no easy feat, but behind every ding and dent is a story and it’s our job to make sure that this guitar’s narrative is told in full, stunning detail,” Waller continues. “For an instrument this heavily reliced, it still retains so much of its original beauty.”

The guitar can be yours for the cool price of $20,000. If you’ve got that kind of cash, head over to FenderCustomShop.com for more info.

Stevie Nicks shares regret for not voting until she was 70

October 31, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Stevie Nicks has been very vocal about our current political climate, releasing the new song “The Lighthouse,” which is a protest song she wrote in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned. But while she may be speaking out now, she admits she hasn’t always let her voice be heard, sharing that she has rarely voted.

In an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe Wednesday, the 76-year-old Stevie shared her regret for not voting until she was 70.

“I suppose you probably know that I never voted until I was 70, but now I regret that,” she told Mika Brzezinski. “And I told everybody that on the stage for the last two years, I regret that, and I don’t have very many regrets.”

As for why she didn’t vote earlier, she notes, “You know, there are so many reasons. You could say, well, I didn’t have time. I was, you know, this and that. And you’re like, you know, in the long run, oh, yeah, you didn’t have an hour — you didn’t have an hour of your time that you could have gone and voted.”

Nicks urged folks to “vote, no matter what,” adding that if someone was ever going to vote, “Let it be this one.”

Stevie also urged her fellow musicians to speak out just like she has.

“I would say to all of my musical poets that write songs, so write some songs about what’s happening like I did,” she said. “I mean, there was a point where I was going like, I’m pretty terrified to put this song out. And then I thought to myself, you know what? At 76 years old, really?”

Nicks added, “So, I’m putting this song out and I’m loving putting it out because I do think people are listening to it.”

On This Day, Oct. 31, 1970: Led Zeppelin hit #1 with ‘Led Zeppelin III’

October 31, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, Oct. 31, 1970 …

Led Zeppelin hit #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart with their third studio album, Led Zeppelin III. The album spent four weeks in the top spot.

Led Zeppelin III was recorded in three locations, including the country house Headley Grange, where they used The Rolling Stones‘ mobile studio, and Island Studios and Olympic Studios in London.

The album featured such future Led Zeppelin classics as “Immigrant Song” and “Celebration Day.”

Led Zeppelin III would go on to be certified six-times Platinum by the RIAAA.

The Rolling Stones set London world premiere for ‘Welcome To Shepherds Bush’

October 31, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Rolling Stones recently announced the upcoming release of Welcome To Shepherds Bush, a recording of a club show they headlined on June 8, 1999. Well, they just announced they’ll be celebrating the release with a world premiere in London.

The premiere is scheduled for Nov. 21 at Vue Leicester Square, giving those attending a chance to catch the concert in 4K with Dolby Atmos sound.

Welcome To Shepherds Bush captures a “secret gig” by The Stones that happened just a few days before they played two sold-out shows at Wembley Arena.

The concert was witnessed by a star-studded crowd, including such big names as The Who‘s Pete Townshend, Lenny Kravitz, Led Zeppelin‘s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and featured several rarely played tunes.

Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush will be released Dec. 6 on 4K Ultra High Definition with a Dolby Atmos audio option, the first time a Stones video has been released in that format. It will also be released as a Blu-ray + two-CD set; a limited-edition two-CD package; a two-LP black vinyl package; and a two-LP set in 180-gram white vinyl.

Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush is available for preorder now.

Foreigner shares behind-the-scenes photo from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame weekend

October 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

It’s been a couple of weeks since Foreigner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but they are still riding high from the experience.

The band just shared some behind-the-scenes photos of their Hall of Fame weekend in Cleveland, including shots of original band members Lou Gramm, Rick Wills and Al Greenwood, as well as rehearsal photos featuring the band with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, Sammy Hagar and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

They captioned the photos, “Still buzzing from the @rockhall ceremony!”

Hagar commented on the post, “Big fun had by all,” with Gramm adding, “Playing with the best in Rock.” Current Foreigner singer Kelly Hansen, who was onstage for the Foreigner Rock Hall performance, also chimed in, writing, “You were all so superb.”

Hagar was the one to welcome Foreigner into the Rock Hall, with their celebration featuring all-star performances of three of their hits — “Feels Like The First Time,” “Hot Blooded” and “I Want To Know What Love is,” the latter of which featured Gramm performing with Kelly Clarkson.

Billy Corgan’s mother-in-law injured by car crashing into Madame Zuzu’s tea shop

October 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Billy Corgan‘s mother-in-law was injured when a car crashed into the Smashing Pumpkins frontman’s Madame Zuzu’s tea shop, located in Highland Park, Illinois.

In a statement posted to Instagram Wednesday, Corgan’s wife, Chloe Mendel, writes, “This afternoon at Madame Zuzu’s, a car (in circumstances which remain under investigation) drove over the curb and into Madame Zuzu’s, crashing through the window and sadly injuring one person – my mother, Jenny.”

Mendel notes that her mother was in the shop spending the day with her and Corgan’s son, Augustus.

“Thankfully, he was able to leap out of the way and was not injured,” Mendel writes.

“Our family is grateful for the swift assistance of the Highland Park and Deerfield first responders,” she continues, adding that Madame Zuzu’s will be closed “until further notice.”

After 50 years, The Grammys are moving to ABC

October 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

For the past 50 years, The Grammys have aired on CBS. But starting in 2027, they’ll have a new home.

The award show, known as Music’s Biggest Night, is moving to ABC, Hulu and Disney+, where it will remain through 2036. The Recording Academy will produce multiple Grammy-branded music specials as part of the deal.

The announcement comes ahead of the Grammy nominations, which will be announced Nov. 10 via a livestream event that starts at 11 a.m. ET.

In the first year of the agreement, in 2027, ABC will not only air The Grammys, but also the Super Bowl and the Oscars. The network is also home to the CMA Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Squeeze, Cheap Trick among the special guests on Heart’s Royal Flush tour

October 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Heart has revealed the special guests who will be joining them on their Royal Flush tour in 2025.

The band has booked Squeeze, Cheap Trick and Lucinda Williams to open for them on select dates.

Heart’s Royal Flush tour is set to kick off with a two-night stand in Las Vegas, Feb. 28 and March 1, with dates confirmed through April 16 in New York City.

The tour was supposed to happen in 2024, but was postponed following singer Ann Wilson’s revelation that she was battling cancer. In September she shared a health update, letting fans know she was doing fine and “the worst is over.”

A complete list of dates can be found at heart-music.com.

Jason Kelce on recording with Stevie Nicks: ‘Absolutely unreal’

October 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Retired NFL star Jason Kelce recently teased a collaboration with Stevie Nicks for his annual Philadelphia-themed holiday album, A Philly Special Christmas Party, and now he’s opening up about the experience.

On the recent episode of his New Heights podcast with brother Travis Kelce, Travis asked Jason about the experience, and Jason called it “absolutely unreal.”

“Yeah baby. The legendary Stevie Nicks came on and did a duet with me,” he said. “Which in itself, like, pretty crazy to actually be on a track with Stevie Nicks. I mean, absolutely unreal.”

He added, “[She’s] probably the most legendary female singer, especially of her generation … the fact that I’m singing with her, this legend, is pretty unreal.”

Travis, boyfriend of Taylor Swift, who is a good friend of Stevie’s, asked, “And isn’t she just the best in person too?” with Jason replying that she’s “one of the nicest people I’ve ever talked to.”

“You could tell she loves people, she loves music, she loves the art of making music,” Jason said, noting she “brought a breath of fresh air into the recording studio.”

Stevie was actually in the studio with Jason when she recorded her part, and Jason shared, “I’ll be able to cherish that memory for the rest of my lifetime.”

The third edition of A Philly Special Christmas Party will be available for preorder starting Nov. 1.

R.E.M. drops new video for ‘I Believe’ as part of their We Are Hope Despite the Times campaign

October 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

R.E.M. is hoping to bring a little optimism to the final days of the presidential election.

The band just released a lyric video for their Lifes Rich Pageant track “I Believe,” in conjunction with their ongoing We Are Hope Despite the Times campaign. The band released a compilation album of the same name back in September to urge folks to get involved in the political process.

The video features the song’s lyrics written on a man’s T-shirt, and the images are inspired by frontman Michael Stipe‘s handmade designs from the Fables of the Reconstruction tour. They’re also modeled after the politically themed T-shirts Stipe wore during the band’s acceptance speech when “Losing My Religion” won Video of the Year at the 1991 MTV VMAs. Back then the shirts called out causes that were important to him.

“I believe the choices in this election could not be more stark or more important,” Stipe shares. “Please vote and encourage everyone you know to do the same—that is how we win in 2024 and I believe we can do it!!!”

Stipe has been very vocal about his support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s run for the White House, performing at Harris/Walz rallies in Pittsburgh and Athens, Georgia.

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