Eric Clapton’s ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ celebrating 50th anniversary

July 1, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Fifty years ago, in July 1974, Eric Clapton released his second solo album, 461 Ocean Boulevard, which became a huge hit for the future three-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.

The album, named after the address of the Golden Beach, Florida, home he lived in while recording the record, featured Clapton’s classic cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff,” which would become his only #1 single. The track was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

Clapton recorded 461 Ocean Boulevard following his battle with heroin addiction, and its success marked a personal and professional comeback for the musician. In a 2007 Amazon interview to promote his memoir, Clapton: The Autobiography, he opened up about how fortunate he felt that he was able to find success again after kicking the habit.

“There’s no doubt that music, the things that I love in my life today and I’ve always loved, were there before any of the habits, the bad habits, anyway, came into my life. And the terrible thing is, those bad habits merely curtailed it,” he said. “And we know that the blessing is I was allowed, for whatever reason, to come back and have another go.”

The album, which featured two new songs along with a variety of covers, went on to become one of Clapton’s most successful releases, hitting #1 in the U.S. and spending four weeks on top. It also topped the chart in Canada, landed in the top 10 in eight other countries and went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Pearl Jam cancels two more dates on European tour

June 30, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pearl Jam has canceled two more shows on their European tour due to health issues.

The affected dates were set to take place Tuesday and Wednesday in Berlin. In a Facebook post Sunday, the “Even Flow” rockers share, “Despite everyone’s best efforts, the band has yet to make a full recovery.”

“The impacts of this decision are not lost on us,” Pearl Jam writes. “We feel deeply that so many people spend their time, money, and emotional energy to get tickets and then to come see the band and it is heart wrenching to have to disappoint you. We also appreciate the many people whose hard work goes into making these shows happen.”

“Please trust we never take these decisions lightly and try to do everything possible to show up for you all,” the post continues. “We wish a reschedule had been possible for this tour leg and hope to come back to Berlin soon.”

Those who purchased tickets will receive a refund at their point of purchase.

Pearl Jam previously canceled their show Saturday in London due to illness; they have not publicly commented on the nature of the illness or which member, or members, it is affecting. However, reviews of Pearl Jam’s most recent show, held June 25 in Manchester, England, noted that frontman Eddie Vedder was feeling under the weather.

The next show on Pearl Jam’s schedule is set for July 6 in Barcelona. The band is set to launch a U.S. summer tour in August.

U2 releases “Sweetest Thing” installment of their ‘Deep Dives and B-Sides’ digital series

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

U2 has released the next installment in their digital series, U2 to Love and Only Love – Deep Dives and B-Sides. The latest is dubbed “Sweetest Thing,” after the fan favorite B-side that appeared on their compilation The Best of 1980–1990.

The latest is the seventh installment in the collection, and includes a 2024 remastered version of the single, as well as live performances of “Out of Control” and “Stories for Boys,” from Boston in 1981, and of “Twilight” and “An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart” from Red Rocks in 1983. They also shared a video of the “An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart” performance.

And to coincide with the playlist, U2 has released a limited-edition 2024 reissue of a “Sweetest Thing” T-shirt. It is available for preorder now.

U2 to Love and Only Love – Deep Dives and B-Sides will consist of 12 newly remastered collections, released throughout the year, which are made up of songs that until now were only available on vinyl, CD or cassette. They launched the series in April and so far released collections dedicated to “Discothèque,” “Staring at the Sun,” “Last Night on Earth,” “If God Will Send His Angels,” “Please” and “Mofo,” all from their ninth studio album Pop.

Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young” turned into sound waves art for a good cause

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rod Stewart’s classic song “Forever Young” has been turned into art that’s helping raise money for a good cause.

Rod has teamed up with artist Tim Wakefield and the Soundwaves Art Foundation for an art piece made from sound waves of the 1988 single, which contain the tune’s lyric, “be courageous and be brave.”

Rod has autographed four soundwave originals that are already sold out, as well as 100 prints, which sell for $470 each. There are also 100 unsigned prints, which sell for $75 each. They are on sale now at soundwavesartfoundation.com.

All money made from the sales will be donated to War Child UK, which supports children caught up in war zones around the world.

“Forever Young,” from Rod’s fifteenth studio album Out of Order, was a top 20 hit for the rocker, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Farewell means farewell: Elton John & husband say they “want to be present” during sons’ teen years

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John has traveled the world throughout his legendary career, but these days he’s looking forward to time at home.

When asked if he plans to hit the road again following the end of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour nearly a year ago, the “Rocket Man” singer recently told Entertainment Tonight a flat “no.”

“We’ve got our sons, you know, they’re getting into their teenage years now,” Elton’s husband, David Furnish, chimed in, referring to their sons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11. “We don’t want to miss anything. We want to be present for that. It’s sort of a key decade, I think, in a child’s life.”

David added, “He’s been doing it for 60 years, so it’s nice to have that time to spend at home with the family.”

Elton noted, “We went out on the biggest high, just the way I wanted to, and there’s no going back [after] that.”

But Elton’s still plenty busy: He’s got a new musical, Tammy Faye, hitting Broadway in previews on October 19, and another musical, The Devil Wears Prada, opening on London’s West End in October.

Plus, there’s always new music to make. Elton has a new album completed, according to Bernie Taupin, and David wants Elton to team up for a song with “Hot to Go” singer Chappell Roan, who they recently had dinner with.

“Such a brilliant, authentic pop voice and a great lady who is so much fun. I would love to see her and Elton collaborate,” he gushed. And Elton seems to be here for it.

“Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams — all the girls are cracking!” Elton told ET. “They’re killing it and it’s so fantastic to see. It’s all the girls and it’s about time and they’re all doing great stuff.”

U2 welcomes Taylor Swift back to their hometown: “Leave some of it standing!!!”

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Taylor Swift has officially arrived in Dublin, Ireland, for her Eras Tour shows this weekend, and she got a warm welcome from a few of the city’s favorite sons: U2.

On her Instagram Story, Taylor posted a photo of a beautiful bouquet of flowers, along with a note. It reads, “Dear Taylor, Welcome back to our hometown … leave some of it standing?!!!!”

It’s signed “Your Irish fan club, Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry.”

She captioned the pic, “Already feeling that Irish hospitality!! @U2, thanks for always being the classiest and the coolest.”

Turns out this is a bit of a tradition: Back in 2018 when she toured Ireland, U2 sent her roses, signed, “from your Irish fan club.” And in 2022, Bono proclaimed himself a Swiftie when he and Taylor both appeared on The Graham Norton Show.

Patti Smith is covering Lana Del Rey in concert

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Patti Smith is on tour in Europe and she’s added a surprising cover to her set list.

Fan shot footage posted to social media shows Smith performing a cover of Lana Del Rey’s hit “Summertime Sadness.” According to one post, Smith told fans Lana’s tune made her think about times she shared with her husband Fred “Sonic” Smith, who passed away in November 1994.

Smith’s tour continues Friday with her second show in Dublin, Ireland, and she has dates in Europe booked throughout July and then again in September. She also has three U.S. shows happening in October. A complete list of dates can be found at pattismith.net.

Foo Fighters jam Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” alongside Geezer Butler during England show

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters welcomed a hometown hero to the stage during their concert in Birmingham, England, on Thursday.

The show featured a surprise appearance by Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, who joined Dave Grohl onstage for a performance of the Sabbath classic “Paranoid.”

Black Sabbath, of course, formed in Birmingham.

You can watch fan-shot footage of the Foozer Butler collaboration streaming now on YouTube.

Butler, by the way, was among the many guests that played the 2022 Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts. During the Los Angeles show, he joined the Foos alongside Sebastian Bach and Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich to perform “Paranoid” and fellow Sabbath tune “Supernaut.”

Foo Fighters are currently touring Europe in support of their latest album, 2023’s But Here We Are. They’ll launch a U.S. stadium tour in July.

As Elton John’s ‘Caribou’ turns 50, Bernie Taupin says it didn’t “measure up”

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elton John‘s album Caribou turns 50 years old Friday: It was released in the U.K. on June 28, 1974. It topped the chart and produced two big hit singles, but looking back, the guy who co-wrote it — Bernie Taupin — doesn’t think it’s his and Elton’s best work. In fact, he thinks people have the wrong idea about a lot of the albums he and Elton released in the ’70s.

By 1974 Elton was a huge superstar, and he was also incredibly prolific. In ’74, he released Caribou and a Greatest Hits album, which both hit #1, and in ’75 he released Rock of the Westies and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, both of which also hit #1. But with that kind of output — plus nonstop touring — something had to give, and according to Taupin, it was the quality of the music.

“I don’t think Caribou or Rock of the Westies are great albums,” Taupin tells ABC Audio. “They’ve got good tracks on them.” Indeed, Caribou had “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “The Bitch Is Back,” while Rock of the Westies had “Island Girl” and “Grow Some Funk of Your Own.”

But, Taupin notes, “People seem to lump that whole ’70s collective together and they always say, ‘Oh,’ y’know, the ’70s records were the classic albums.’ Well, there were some classic albums, but there were a couple that I don’t think measured up to the others and in total weren’t great records.”

He allows, “Yes, they had some classic tracks on them, but they also had a lot of filler.”

If you want an example, look no further than “Solar Prestige a Gammon,” a song on Caribou that’s entirely made up of nonsense words.

Pearl Jam cancels upcoming London show: “There was simply no other option based on our current health”

June 28, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pearl Jam has canceled their upcoming concert scheduled for Saturday at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, citing “illness in the band.”

“This decision was the last thing we wanted to have to make, especially as we know so many of you made travel plans based on the tour schedule,” the band writes in a Facebook post. “There was simply no other option based on our current health and also having to avoid further damage.”

The post doesn’t specify the nature of the illness or which band member, or members, it’s affecting, but reviews of Pearl Jam’s last show, held Tuesday in Manchester, England, noted that frontman Eddie Vedder was feeling under the weather.

“We couldn’t be more disappointed to not play one of our favorite cities this tour,” PJ’s post continues. “Despite best efforts, rescheduling was not possible at this time due to existing schedule commitments. We are deeply grateful for your support and sincerely apologize to the incredible Pearl Jam community for the inconvenience and disappointment.”

Those who purchased tickets will receive refunds at their point of purchase.

The London show was just the third date on Pearl Jam’s European tour in support of their new album, Dark Matter. The outing is expected to resume July 2 in Germany.

Pearl Jam is set launch a summer U.S. leg of the tour in August.

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