Classic Rock News

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett is heading out on the road this fall to celebrate Genesis’ classic album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced dates for the Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights and Solo North American tour, which kicks off Oct. 4 in Ithaca, New York, and wraps Nov. 22 in Portland, Oregon.

Like the name suggests, the tour will have Hackett performing songs from 1974’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, as well as other classic Genesis tunes and music from his solo career.

Ticket presales are happening Wednesday and Thursday, with tickets going on sale to the general public starting Friday.

A complete list of dates can be found at hackettsongs.com.

Released Nov. 22, 1974, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was a concept album based on Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel‘s idea about a Puerto Rican youth named Rael who goes on a journey of self-discovery.

On March 28, Genesis will celebrate the album’s anniversary with the release of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition, which includes a remastered album, a Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos mixes done under the supervision of Gabriel and Tony Banks, and never-before-released demos.

It is available for preorder now.

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Ringo Starr’s Ringo & Friends at the Ryman premieres Monday on CBS, and fans are getting another sneak peek at the special.

The network just released a clip of Ringo joined by rocker Jack White for a performance of the Carl Perkins track “Matchbox.” Starr previously recorded his take on the song for The Beatles‘ 1964 EP Long Tall Sally.

Ringo & Friends at the Ryman premieres at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+. It was recorded during Ringo’s two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in January, following the release of his new country album, Look Up.

Other “friends” joining Ringo include Sheryl Crow, Mickey Guyton, Brenda Lee, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Rodney Crowell and The War and Treaty.

Both Ryman shows ended with an all-star performance of The Beatles song “With a Little Help from My Friends,” with proceeds from the song benefiting California wildfire relief efforts.

Ringo is getting ready to hit the stage once again this summer. He’ll kick off a new tour with his All-Starr Band on June 12 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. A complete list of dates can be found at RingoStarr.com.

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A new book will delve into the legacy of heavy metal rockers Iron Maiden.

Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams – The Official Visual History will cover the first 50 years of the band, featuring never-before-seen photos and more, taking fans through the band’s history chronologically and covering their albums and tours, along with the evolution of their mascot Eddie and more.

The book will feature album and single artwork, stage props, handwritten lyrics, artifacts from band members personal collections and more. It also includes a foreword from Maiden founder Steve Harris and an afterword by frontman Bruce Dickinson.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at some of the stuff that I’ve managed to unearth for this book,” Harris shares. “I knew I had kept a lot of things from the early days but they have lasted really well and the photography has brought them back to life. I hope the fans are going to love looking at all the stuff presented.”

Iron Maiden: Infinite Dreams – The Official Visual History will be released by Thames & Hudson this fall. So far, an exact release date has not been announced.

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James Taylor has extended his summer tour, adding 14 new shows to the trek.

The new dates will take place in August and September, starting with a two-night stand in Boston, Aug 26 and 27, and wrapping Sept. 17 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tickets for all new shows go on sale Friday at 9 a.m.

The tour, which has Taylor backed by his All-Star Band, kicks off May 5 in Phoenix, and includes several multiple night stands including two-night stands in San Diego and Santa Barbara, California; Woodinville, Washington; and Morrison, Colorado.

It also includes his annual shows at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts, happening July 3 and 4, and a performance at Milwaukee Summerfest on June 21.

All shows feature vocal harmony trio Tiny Habits as special guests.

A complete list of dates can be found at jamestaylor.com.

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Counting Crows have announced a U.S. tour alongside The Gaslight Anthem.

The summer outing, dubbed The Complete Sweets! tour, launches June 10 in Nashville, and will wrap up Aug. 23 in Englewood, Colorado. Presales begin Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time, and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. local time. 

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit CountingCrows.com.

The Complete Sweets! tour takes its name from the upcoming Counting Crows album Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!, due out May 9.

The most recent Gaslight album is their 2023 reunion record, History Books.

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Indiana rocker John Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.

Mellencamp was inducted by Billy Joel, who told him, “Don’t let this club membership change you, John.  We need you to be pissed off and restless because no matter what they tell us—we know this country is going to hell in a handcart.”

He added, “People need a voice like yours to echo the discontent that’s out there in the heartland … They need to know that somebody out there feels the way they do.”

Mellencamp then treated the crowd to performances of the Uh-Huh tracks “Pink Houses” and “Authority Song.”

Also inducted on that day were Madonna, Leonard Cohen, and The Ventures.

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

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The Zombies’ Colin Blunstone made a surprise appearance in Los Angeles, joining Finneas on stage to perform The Zombies’ classic tune “Time of the Season.”

The band just shared video on Instagram of the performance, which took place Wednesday at the Hollywood Palladium, writing, “An unforgettable moment. Colin joined the incredibly talented @finneas on stage at the Hollywood Palladium for a special performance of Time of the Season—a song that’s resonated for over 55 years.”

“Huge thanks to Finneas for bringing this classic to life in a whole new way!” the post adds.

Back in February, Finneas covered “Time of the Season” for Australian radio station triple J and The Zombies were fans from the start. They previously shared video of Finneas’ cover, writing, “Love this modern take on Time of the Season by @finneas.”

Released in 1968, “Time of the Season,” one of The Zombies’ most well known songs, was a top 5 hit for the band, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe was back on stage with Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy Saturday, when the duo brought their tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s Fables of the Reconstruction to Brooklyn Steel in New York.

Stipe joined the pair to perform the Reckoning track “Pretty Persuasion.”

Stipe previously performed the song with Shannon and Narducy and his R.E.M. bandmates Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Bill Berry, when the Fables tour hit R.E.M.’s hometown of Athens, Georgia, on Feb. 27 and 28.

The Athens shows were only the second time all four members of R.E.M. had performed together since their 2011 breakup. The previous time was at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction in 2024, where they performed “Losing My Religion.”

Shannon and Narducy continue their Fables of the Reconstruction tour Wednesday in Minneapolis, with the tour wrapping with a sold out show March 15 in Evanston, Illinois.

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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell has announced a special event tied in to the upcoming release of his new memoir, Heartbreaker.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will sit down for a conversation with Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark on March 19, one day after the book’s March 18 release.

And it won’t be all talk. The evening will include an acoustic set featuring Campbell and his The Dirty Knobs bandmate Chris Holt, performing songs from throughout Campbell’s career.

Tickets are on sale now.

Meanwhile, Campbell’s Heartbreakers bandmate Benmont Tench just released a new solo album, The Melancholy Season, and Campbell is urging fans to check it out.

“So proud of my Heartbreaker brother A wizard; a true star!!” Campbell shared on Instagram. “Go listen and make sure you catch him on the road!”

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Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be bossed around by Gene Simmons? Well, if you’ve got the dough, now’s your chance.

The KISS rocker is offering up what he calls the “ultimate Gene Simmons experience” – a chance to be his personal assistant and band roadie for the day.

The package is only available to one person per show, but that person will become a member of the Gene Simmons Band crew for the entire day. They’ll help load in and set up for the show, and get a GSB crew member shirt, hat and laminate.

They’ll start the day meeting Gene and members of his band to go over the day’s schedule, and they’ll also get to hang out backstage, attend sound check and have a meal with Simmons, who’ll bring them onstage during the show.

The package is good for the purchaser and a guest, and includes a signed set list. They can also bring up to four items for Simmons to sign, plus they’ll receive a signed bass guitar Simmons used for rehersals.

Of course, this package doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it costs $12,495 — and that doesn’t include tickets to the show.

More info can be found at genesimmonsaxe.com.

Gene Simmons Band is set to head out on the road starting April 4 in Anaheim, California, with shows booked through Aug. 3 in Sturges, South Dakota. A complete list of dates can be found at genesimmons.com.

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