Classic Rock News

Two Ian Hunter solo albums are set to be reissued this fall.

The records, 1979’s You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic and 1980’s Short Back n’ Sides, will both be remastered and reissued on Oct. 25, featuring bonus material.

You’re Never Alone With A Schizophrenic, produced by Mick Ronson, features two Hunter classics, “Just Another Night” and “Cleveland Rocks.” The expanded edition will include seven archival rarities, made up of early demos and outtakes. It will be released on CD and on green vinyl, marking the record’s first-ever vinyl release. 

Short Back n’ Sides, which features such guest musicians as The Clash’s Mick Jones and Topper Headon, as well as Todd Rundgren, will have an expanded edition with 12 archival rarities, and will be released on CD and double vinyl, with an eight-page lyric booklet.

You’re Never Alone With A Schizophrenic and Short Back n’ Sides are available for preorder now.

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With summer almost over, former President Barack Obama is letting us know what he’s listening to this season.

Obama just released his 2024 summer playlist and it features a diverse group of songs, including The Rolling Stones‘ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” Sting’s “If You Love Someone Set Them Free” and Bob Dylan’s “Silvio.” 

“With summer winding down, I wanted to share some songs that I’ve been listening to lately – and it wouldn’t be my playlist if it didn’t include an eclectic mix,” Obama writes. “I hope you find something new to listen to!”

Other songs on the list include The Miracles‘ “You Really Got A Hold On Me,” Billie Elish’s “Chihiro,” WILLOW’s “Symptom of Life,” The Supremes‘ “Where Did Our Love Go,” and Bob Marley and The Wailers‘ “Them Belly Full (But We Hungry),” along with songs by Beyoncé, Norah Jones, Etta James and Charli XCX.

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Heart’s Nancy Wilson has posted a tribute to author Charles R. Cross, a prominent figure of the Seattle grunge scene who also co-authored the 2012 biography Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock & Roll with Nancy and her sister and bandmate Ann Wilson.

“Whadda one of a kind guy. His passion and purpose was to make it his life’s work to celebrate and chronicle the beautiful global renaissance that started with our local Seattle music scene,” Nancy wrote on Instagram. “Charley was the coolest rock litterati bookworm to ever be lucky enough to know. And all us cool rock people got to feel even cooler to know him and call him a friend.”

Calling Cross “the cutest bespeckled nerd at the dance,” Nancy shared that he was “our trusty biographer and implicitly trusted friend. Never selatious never invasive always impeccably appropriate and always brought that sharp worldly humor with him.” 

Finally, she shared, “I truly loved Charley Cross. One of a kind class act. Rest in wit and wisdom dear fine feathered friend.”

Cross’ family shared news of his death in a statement, saying he “died peacefully of natural causes in his sleep on August 9th, 2024.” He was 67.

In addition to the Heart biography, Cross chronicled the rise of grunge in Seattle and wrote a biography of the late Kurt Cobain, Heavier than Heaven, in 2001. He also founded the Bruce Springsteen fanzine Backstreets, which shut down in 2023.

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Billy Joel has added a new show to his schedule.

The rocker, who in July wrapped his 10-year residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden, will be headlining Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, on Nov. 23. 

A Citi presale kicks off Wednesday at 10 a.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public Friday at 10 a.m.

Joel has only a handful of shows booked for the rest of 2024. His next concert is a co-headlining gig with Rod Stewart, happening Sept. 13 in Cleveland. A complete list of dates can be found at billyjoel.com.

In other Billy news, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer took to Instagram Monday to wish his daughter Della Rae a happy 9th birthday. He shared a carousel of photos of Della, along with the caption, “Watching you grow and shine, keeps us all in awe. We love you.” 

Della is the eldest child of Billy and wife Alexis Roderick. Their younger daughter, Remy Anne, turns 7 in October.

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Billy Corgan wants to make sure you know there’s a new Smashing Pumpkins album out, and he’s using AI to do it.

In a series of videos, Corgan encourages you to listen to the record, titled Aghori Mhori Mei, in eight different languages — first in English and then translated via AI to Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, Greek and Japanese.

“Don’t worry, before AI destroys everything, including all culture, please know The Smashing Pumpkins have a new album out,” Corgan says.

Corgan goes on to describe Aghori Mhori Mei as a “return to our old-school roots.”

“We had a lot of fun making this record and we really want to share it with you,” he says.

The Smashing Pumpkins are currently touring the U.S. playing headlining shows in between dates opening for Green Day.

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The Doobie Brothers have added some new dates to their 2024 tour.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have announced four additional East Coast shows: two nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, as well as a show at the Borgata Event Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Tickets for all four shows go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. ET.

The Doobie Brothers — consisting of Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee — kicked off their 2024 tour in June. The trek hits Boston on Monday. A complete list of dates can be found at thedoobiebrothers.com.

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Charles R. Cross, author and prominent figure of the Seattle grunge scene, has died at age 67.

In a statement, Cross’ family shares that he “died peacefully of natural causes in his sleep on August 9th, 2024.”

“We are all grief-stricken and trying to get through this difficult process of dealing with the next steps,” the statement continues.

Cross edited the Seattle-based magazine The Rocket starting in the mid-’80s, which chronicled the rise of grunge. He was particularly known for his coverage of Nirvana and released a biography of the late Kurt Cobain, Heavier than Heaven, in 2001.

ABC Audio spoke with Cross in 2019 in remembrance of Cobain and the 25th anniversary of his death.

“Nirvana’s music was about the internal dialogue of Kurt Cobain: depression, angst, alienation,” Cross said. “Those suddenly became themes that rock songs could be about. And that has stretched over to rap and to other things. Music has never really been the same since Nirvana broke.”

Cross also founded the Bruce Springsteen fanzine Backstreets.

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Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh has announced the lineup for the 2024 edition of his benefit concert VetsAid, which is happening Nov. 11 at UBS Arena in Queens, New York, the first time it’s being held on the East Coast since it launched in Northern Virginia in 2017.

In addition to Walsh, the show will feature performances from Toto, country star Eric Church and Kool and The Gang.

The location is particularly close to Walsh, as his wife, VetsAid co-founder Marjorie Walsh, is from Rosedale, Queens. 

“VetsAid 2024 is all about family, friends and faith,” Walsh shares. “I honor my wife’s family and their legacy of service in her home borough of Queens. I honor our collective faith in the power of music to bring fans of diverse backgrounds together in celebration and our faith in the power of love to unite us all as Americans to support a population of veterans that has sacrificed so much and asked for so little in return.”

Finally, Walsh notes, “We’ve got something for everyone at VetsAid this year – country, pop, rock, funk and gospel – so all aboard!”

Tickets for VetsAid go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. ET. Proceeds from this year’s concert will benefit veterans services charities in the New York and New Jersey area.

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Journey’s Neal Schon appears to be responding to his bandmate Jonathan Cain’s recent lawsuit, in which he accused Schon of overspending.

In a post on social media, Schon shared a response to a fan who commented, “theres a lot of rumours about the band living its final days cus you and your wife can’t stop expending the bands money. Is this truth?” Schon called it “absolute rubbish.”

“I don’t know why people believe Media if anything [what] she’s done is make us a lot of money by attaining the Trade Mark,” which he said “cost quite a lot of money.”

He added that “both Jon Cain and Arnel Pineda are benefiting from that equally. It’s split in thirds.”

He then responded to claims he’s overspending by chartering private jets, saying they’re “approved in our budget.” Responding to claims he and his wife spend huge amounts on hotels, he insisted they pay for any upgrades they take.

“This is the second time JONATHAN CAIN has sued me for the same thing we’ve already been through in court – that case was dropped by both of us,” he said. “We both agreed to drop and move forward with prejudice. That means that you never open it again. Well here we are again.” 

He ends his post, “Don’t believe all you read in media it’s all manipulated and contrived as they wish it to be. I’m taking a higher road.” 

Cain filed his lawsuit against Schon on July 24, detailing what he claimed was Schon’s overspending, although in a statement he insisted the aim of the suit was to get the court to appoint a third, independent director to serve on the band’s Freedom 2020 board in order to deal with “growing issues” between him and Schon.

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On This Day, Aug. 12, 2012 … 

Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor, The Who and The Kinks’ Ray Davies were among the artists who performed at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, held at Olympic Stadium.

Queen’s May and Taylor were joined by Jessie J to perform “We Will Rock You” and Davies performed “Waterloo Sunset.” The Who closed the evening with a medley of three hits: “Baba O’Riley,” “See Me, Feel Me” and “My Generation.”

Dubbed A Symphony of British Music, the evening also featured Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and Genesis’ Mike Rutherford, who performed Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” with Ed Sheeran. There were also  performances by Madness, One Direction, Spice Girls, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, Annie Lennox and Muse.

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