Classic Rock News

On This Day, June 25, 1966 …

The Beatles topped the Billboard singles chart with “Paperback Writer,” which spent two nonconsecutive weeks at #1. The song also topped the chart in the U.K., Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. 

McCartney wrote most of the song’s lyrics. He said he was inspired to write it after his aunt complained that he wrote too many love songs and asked why he didn’t write about a “horse or the summit conference or something interesting.”

“Paperback Writer” was released as a single with “Rain” as its B-side, and later appeared on the 1970 compilation album Hey Jude in the U.S. and Canada. 

The tune is known for its boosted bass guitar sound, which Lennon reportedly wanted after wondering why Wilson Pickett’s record had more bass than any Beatles album. 

The track was the only new song The Beatles performed during their final 1966 tour.

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The solo work of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson is the subject of a new box set coming in August.

The limited-edition 10-LP box set, 8314 Boxed, will include the first-time vinyl releases of 1995’s Divinities: Twelve Dances with God, 2000’s The Secret Language of Birds and 2003’s Rupi’s Dance. It will also include half speed masters of 1983’s Walk Into Light and 2014’s Homo Erraticus, with the Divinities: Twelve Dances with God LP also a half speed master.

There’s also 2012’s Thick as a Brick 2, which was a sequel to Jethro Tull’s 1972 album, Thick as a Brick, and Roaming in the Gloaming, an LP of previously unreleased live recordings from 1995 to 2007, plus a 96-page book with a foreword by Anderson. 

“Since 1983, I have made a few solo albums, not as dissatisfaction with fellow musicians or the group identity but usually just to try something a bit different, whether sonically, stylistically or in terms of instrumental line-up,” Anderson shares. “These records all stand out for me as being quite different from each other and in some ways demonstrate a broader depth of my songwriting. The flute instrumental Divinities record is one of my favorites to this day.”

8314 Boxed will be released Aug. 23 and is available for preorder now.

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Gibson is celebrating Jeff Beck on what would have been the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s 80th birthday.

The guitar company just debuted the new Jeff Beck “Yardburst” 1959 Les Paul Standard in a dark cherry red sunburst finish, aged to match the guitar Jeff played during his time with the Yardbirds. Described as a “faithful recreation” of Jeff’s guitar, only 130 are being hand made by the experts at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville in honor of Gibson’s 130th anniversary. 

“Jeff was enormously proud to have owned the original of this guitar,” says Beck’s wife, Sandra Beck. “He was aware and fully supportive of the amazing job and love that Gibson Custom provided to create this instrument and would have hoped that this guitar will give hours of pleasure to those who play it.”

“Jeff was a trailblazer, the guitar hero of our guitar heroes and admired by his contemporaries,” Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson, adds. “Jeff played an instrumental role in the cultural significance of the Gibson Les Paul early in his career during the Yardbursts’ era. Just like Jeff was influenced by Les Paul, he influenced many iconic musicians to create their art with a Gibson Les Paul. We are proud to pay tribute to Jeff.”

The Jeff Beck “Yardburst” 1959 Les Paul Standard sells for almost $10,000. More info can be found at gibson.com.

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Green Day is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The “American Idiot” trio is part of the Walk of Fame’s 2025 class, along with fellow musicians Depeche Mode, The B-52s, WAR, Fantasia, The Isley Brothers, Busta Rhymes, George Strait, Keith Urban, Los Bukis and the late Prince.

“Each honoree truly embodies the essence of excellence in their respective fields,” says Peter Roth, chairman of the Walk of Fame Selection Committee. “The committee and I cannot wait to see our honorees becoming part of this world-famous walkway!”

Star recipients have two years to schedule their unveiling ceremonies from the date of selection.

For more info, visit WalkofFame.com.

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Dead & Company is currently in the midst of their Dead Forever residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and while they’re only committed to shows through Aug. 10, it sounds like there may be more in the future. 

During an interview with Variety, Dead & Company’s Bob Weir sounded like he’s already looking forward to what they’ll be able to do with the Sphere’s screens once the technology improves.

Talking about what can be improved on when it comes to the visuals and the music, he notes, “The technology doesn’t quite yet exist for them to put the visuals completely in time with the music (in a mammoth space).”

“They’re generally a little late and all that kind of stuff. But there’s audio technology that keeps right up with the music,” he says. “And I think what we’re gonna want to do is try to adapt some of that audio technology to the visual technology.”

Weir also says that all the visuals now need to be loaded ahead of the show, which he’d love to change.

“I’d love to see the arrangement get much looser and much more interactive — and I think it will, if we take another swing at it,” he notes.

Asked if all this talk suggests they’d be up for returning to the Sphere, possibly as early as next year, he replied, “Potentially. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get invited back, and I would certainly make room for that.” 

Dead & Company’s next Sphere show is happening July 4. A complete list of dates can be found at deadandcompany.com.

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Paul McCartney is ready to return to Brazil. 

The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer brought his Got Back tour to Brazil in 2023, and now he’s announced two new shows there this fall.

The two new dates are set for Oct. 15 in São Paulo and Oct. 19 in Florianópolis. Presale tickets go on sale Tuesday, with tickets going on sale to the general public Wednesday. 

“Finishing 2023 in Brazil was an incredible experience. The warmth and love you showed us on our last visit was incredible,” McCartney shares. “We just knew we had to get back and see you again. You guys know how to party and rock out and we are beyond excited to get back this year.”

The Brazil dates are just the latest additions to McCartney’s Got Back tour. He also recently announced shows in South America, Europe and Mexico. A complete list of dates can be found at PaulMcCartney.com.

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Talking Heads frontman David Byrne met with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday, according to a post on Cruz’s social media accounts.

“Once in a lifetime opportunity meeting David Byrne of the Talking Heads,” Cruz wrote, referencing the band’s classic song. “We had a great conversation about royalties for musicians.” 

In the photo, the pair is posing in front of a mural of former President Ronald Reagan.

Byrne has not commented on the meeting.

The music of Talking Heads was recently celebrated with a tribute album, Everyone’s Getting Involved, featuring artists like Miley Cyrus, Paramore, Lorde and more covering Talking Heads tracks. The album came out in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the band’s classic concert film, Stop Making Sense.

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On This Day, June 24, 1944 …

Geoffrey Arnold Beck, better known as legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, was born in Surrey, England.

Beck came to prominence as a member of the Yardbirds, with future guitar legends Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. He later went on to have a successful solo career, fronting his own Jeff Beck Group.

Beck was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds and again in 2009 for his solo work.

Beck won six Grammys for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, plus additional wins for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Pop Collaboration with vocals. He was honored with the British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in 2014. Rolling Stone ranked him in its top five of the 100 Greatest Guitarists.

Beck passed away Jan. 10, 2023, from bacterial meningitis. He was 78.

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Krist Novoselic revisited Nirvana‘s song “Love Buzz” during a concert in Kurt Cobain‘s hometown of Aberdeen, Washington, on Friday.

The bassist played the track alongside his current project, the Bona Fide Band, which also includes original Screaming Trees drummer Mark Pickerel, as well as guitarist Kathy Moore and vocalists Jillian Raye and Jennifer Johnson. Raye and Johnson also played with Novoselic in the bands Giants in the Trees and 3rd Secret.

Nirvana posted footage of the performance on social media.

“Love Buzz” was originally recorded by the Dutch band Shocking Blue. Nirvana released their version in 1988 as their debut single and included the cover on their 1989 debut album, Bleach.

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Eddie Vedder took a moment during Pearl Jam‘s show in Dublin on Saturday to honor two of Ireland’s late music legends, Shane MacGowan and Sinéad O’Connor.

In introducing a cover of the Warren Zevon song “Keep Me in Your Heart,” Vedder told the crowd, “I was thinking about Shane and I was thinking about Sinéad, and I just wanted to play this one.” Fan-shot footage of the performance is streaming now on YouTube.

O’Connor died in July 2023; MacGown passed away a few months later in November.

The Dublin show marked the first date on Pearl Jam’s European tour in support of their new album, Dark Matter. They launched a U.S. tour in May; a second stateside leg will kick off in August.

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