Sammy Hagar plans to make music with his The Best of All Worlds tour band

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Sammy Hagar is currently out on his The Best of All Worlds Tour with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Jason Bonham and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte, and now he says the group has plans beyond the tour.

When asked by The Bogus Otis Show podcast whether he intends to make new music with the all-star lineup of musicians, he responded, “Yes. I guarantee it.”

But it doesn’t sound like fans should expect that music anytime soon.

“I mean, it’s, like, I don’t know when and why, because records don’t sell,” he says. “I’ve made a couple of my best records of my life, my last two solo records, and I’m lucky to sell (50,000) or 60,000 records.”

He adds, “You go and make a record nowadays just to lose a couple hundred thousand bucks. It’s all good. But I need a tax write-off, so it really helps. ‘I made too many this year. Let’s go make a record.'”

Next up, Hagar’s The Best of All Worlds Tour hits Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on Monday. A complete list of dates can be found at redrocker.com.

Dave Grohl dedicates songs to Krist Novoselic & Mark Lanegan at Foo Fighters Seattle show

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters‘ U.S. stadium tour concluded Sunday in grunge’s hometown of Seattle. Fittingly, Dave Grohl gave a shout-out to a pair of grunge figures during the show.

In introducing “Big Me,” a cut off the debut Foos album, Grohl dedicated the track to his former Nirvana bandmate, Krist Novoselic.

“This song me and Krist Novoselic recorded at the very last session Nirvana ever had,” Grohl told the crowd in fan-shot video. “I just thought it was a silly little song, but I’m still playing the motherf*****.”

Earlier, Grohl dedicated a performance of “Skin and Bones” to late Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan.

The show also featured a reunion of past and present Pearl Jam drummers. Both Matt Cameron and Ten drummer Dave Krusen attended the show, and took a photo together that was posted to Krusen’s Instagram.

Foo Fighters have one show left on their 2024 schedule: a headlining set at Connecticut’s Soundside Music Festival in September. The band has been touring in support of their 2023 album, But Here We Are.

David Bowie’s wife Iman shares previously unseen painting by the late rocker

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

A previously unseen painting by rocker David Bowie has been shared with the public for the first time.

The blue and yellow abstract painting was posted to Facebook by the late rocker’s wife, supermodel Iman, with a post on Bowie’s official Facebook account explaining that until now the painting “had only previously been seen partially in the background” of a Bowie portrait by photographer Jimmy King.

The post notes, “Iman’s photograph reveals a hitherto unseen vibrancy that shows the painting in all its glory.”

Iman didn’t offer any other information about artwork and simply captioned her post #BowieForever.

Bowie passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69.

Foothrax continued? Scott Ian says “you never know” about possible Dave Grohl

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Anthrax has been working on their next album at Dave Grohl‘s Studio 606, and the Foo Fighters visited the thrash metallers during a recording session in 2023. Does that mean Grohl will be guesting on the upcoming record?

Speaking with Metal Hammer, guitarist Scott Ian shares that Anthrax hasn’t asked Grohl about a possible collaboration, but adds, “You never know.”

“The dude has one of the best rock screams ever,” Ian says of the “Everlong” rocker. “I wouldn’t complain if that appeared somewhere.”

As for the progress of the album, which will mark Anthrax’s first since 2016’s For All Kings, drummer Charlie Benante says the group has “13 or 14 songs” written, though Ian clarifies, “None of the songs are actually finished-finished.”

“[Vocalist] Joey [Belladonna‘s] sang on nine of them,” Ian says. “I’ve got lyrics to write for four of them. I think all the songs will be good enough to come out in some way, shape or form.”

Bob Dylan & Gene Simmons contribute songs to ‘Reagan’ movie

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bob Dylan and KISS’ Gene Simmons have contributed songs to the upcoming movie Reagan, a biopic about former President Ronald Reagan, starring actor Dennis Quaid in the title role.

Spin reports that Dylan’s contribution is a cover of Cole Porter’s “Don’t Fence Me In,” which will play over the closing credits, while Simmons has recorded a take on the 1930s tune “Stormy Weather.”

“I was honored to have Bob join our film,” Quaid said, according to the mag. “We gave him the freedom to do any song he wanted to do, whether an original or a cover, and he chose ‘Don’t Fence Me In.’”

He adds, “Bob is a great lover of the American Songbook and we were delighted with the way he delivered the song. He’s a national treasure and was the perfect addition to the film.”

Reagan opens Aug. 30.

On This Day, Aug. 19, 1967: The Beatles hit #1 with “All You Need Is Love”

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, Aug. 19, 1967 …

The Beatles landed another #1 single with “All You Need Is Love,” a non-album track that represented Britain in the TV program Our World, the first live global, multi-satellite TV show.

When they signed on for Our World, The Beatles were asked to contribute a song with a positive and universal message.

They performed the track on the show with a prerecorded backing track, and were joined by The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, The Who’s Keith Moon and others, who sat on the floor and sang along to the chorus.

“All You Need Is Love” also went to #1 in several other countries, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Austria, New Zealand and Sweden.

Bruce Springsteen pays tribute to ‘Backstreets’ founder Charles Cross

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bruce Springsteen has paid tribute to journalist Charles Cross, founder of the Bruce fanzine Backstreets, who passed away Aug. 9 at the age of 67.

“Here on E Street, we’re saddened over the passing of Charles Cross,” The Boss wrote on Instagram. “As the founder of Backstreets, Charles created a wonderful magazine and positive community that gave our fans the chance to connect through their stories, ideas and shared experiences.”

He added, “We’re grateful to him for bringing conversations and insights around our music to so many. He was an exceptional journalist, publisher, thinker and facilitator, and he will be missed.”

Bruce also paid tribute to Cross during his concert Sunday in Pittsburgh. Fan-shot footage posted to YouTube shows the rocker dedicating the track “Backstreets” to Cross, noting, “His great writing and his influence and his help in communicating between our band and our fans will be sorely missed.”

Deep Purple’s Roger Glover on the challenges of mixing old and new songs on tour

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Deep Purple recently launched their =1 More Time tour, and after releasing the brand new album =1 in July, longtime bassist Roger Glover says there’s a challenge to creating a set list with old and new songs that will please everyone.

“It’s a huge problem,” he tells ABC Audio, noting they usually need to play several songs from their 1971 album, Machine Head, which doesn’t leave much room for new songs.

“Machine Head was such an iconic moment and produced a lot of the, the songs that, you know, we play to this day,” he says of the album, which features their biggest hit, “Smoke on the Water.” He adds that because they focus a lot on those songs in concert, they’re constantly hearing from fans who say, “Oh, you don’t play stuff of the new, you don’t play this, you don’t play that.”

Glover says this tour will likely feature several songs from =1, but notes that it’s not as simple as just plugging the tracks into the set list.

“The way we’ve designed the show, it has a pattern to it, has a shape,” he says. “And so songs have to sort of fit into that shape.”

He adds, “You don’t want to sort of leave the audience with a downer and, you know, you want some kind of climax, because that’s what it’s all about, climaxing.”

Deep Purple’s =1 More Time tour, with special guest Yes, hits Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday. A complete list of dates can be found at deeppurple.com.

Bassist Tony Levin to release new solo album in September

August 16, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Legendary musician Tony Levin, best known for working with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, is set to release the new studio album Bringing It Down to the Bass on Sept. 13.

The album, Levin’s seventh solo effort and his first since 2007, is described as being semi-autobiographical, having themes taken from his musical life. It features guest appearances by King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy and more.

Levin is previewing the record with the title track, which is out now.

Levin says the album “could have been done a long time ago,” but he ran into a problem of being too busy, noting that’s “a very good problem to have.”

“I have a lot of touring and that’s what I love to do, playing live,” he adds. “It just didn’t give me much time at home to work on finishing the album that I’ve been working on for five or six years.”

Bringing It Down to the Bass will be released digitally and on CD, double vinyl and Blu-Ray, which features a variety of mixes, including Dolby Atmos and hi-res stereo audio. It is available for preorder now.

And speaking of playing live, Levin is set to hit the road with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey on the BEAT tour, celebrating King Crimson’s ’80s-era music. The tour kicks off Sept. 12 in San Jose, California.

Rockers pay tribute to late Great White frontman Jack Russell

August 16, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Twisted Sister‘s Dee Snider and Poison‘s Bret Michaels are among the rockers remembering Great White frontman Jack Russell, whose death at age 63 was announced on Thursday.

Snider took to social media to pay tribute to Russell and noted how he was unfairly blamed for the 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island during the band’s show, which killed 100 people and injured 230.

“This man was vilified for a situation out of his control and tortured by the memories,” Snider wrote. “He was not evil. And man could he sing!”

Michaels also shared a tribute to Russell, writing, “To my friend Jack Russell, such an amazing voice. May you rest in peace.”

Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy shared a memory of playing with Russell in the early days, writing, “R.I.P brother Jack. We started a long time ago when we use to play at Gazzarris on the Strip circa 1980-81. Mickey Ratt and Dante Fox, crazy shows, we’d talk crazy dreams.”

And Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called Russell “A unique and amazing singer,” adding, “I had the privilege of producing Great White’s ‘Cant Get There From Here’ album. Jack lived at my ranch for a couple of months during those sessions. A true rock spirit. Free of pain now and soaring in the Heavens.”

A statement shared on social media Thursday revealed that Russell “passed peacefully” surrounded by his wife, son, cousin and two friends. His cause of death was revealed as Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy. He had announced his retirement from touring due in July.

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