Snoop Dogg recalls the time he met Paul McCartney

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Snoop Dogg is opening up about the time he met Paul McCartney, revealing how he was shocked to find out The Beatles legend knew who he was.

“I did a little concert for somebody in Hollywood. Paul McCartney was there. So, I never met him before, but I’m a f****** fan of The Beatles,” he shared in an interview he and Dr. Dre did with Complex. “So, I’m in the back smoking and they’re like, ‘Sir Paul would like to meet you.’ I’m like, ‘Oh for real? Hold on.’”

Snoop said he quickly went to put his blunt out, but McCartney told him “don’t put that down.”

“He give me a hug and he meet me and I’m like, ‘F***, Paul McCartney know who the f*** Snoop Dogg is!’” he said. “This is Paul McCartney, he knows who I am. That’s the experience that I love is when the people you respect, respect you. And that’s only from doing quality s***.”

When asked if he’d ever be interested in working with McCartney, Snoop didn’t even have to think about it.

“F*** yes. In a heartbeat,” Snoop declared. “‘Ebony & Ivory,’ ‘The Girl Is Mine.’ What do you want to do?”

James Taylor to perform at the Democratic National Convention Monday

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The DNC has tapped Sweet Baby James to provide the entertainment for the first night of its convention in Chicago.

Convention officials confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that James Taylor will perform Monday at the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Joining him on the bill will be country star Mickey Guyton and Americana star Jason Isbell.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor will be the final performer of the night. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who also campaigned for Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, last performed at the DNC in 2012. That year he sang “You’ve Got a Friend,” “How Sweet It Is” and “Carolina In My Mind,” that last song because the event took place in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Other speakers scheduled for Monday night include Biden, first lady Jill Biden, former first lady Hillary Clinton, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling, Tony Goldwyn and Ana Navarro will take turns hosting the convention throughout the week. Vice President Kamala Harris will formally accept the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday.

Illinois venue to host tribute to Great White frontman Jack Russell

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The life and musical career of Great White frontman Jack Russell will be celebrated at a tribute concert being held Friday at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, just outside of Chicago.

According to the announcement on the Jack Russell’s Great White Facebook page, Russell’s Great White had originally been scheduled to play the venue with Vixen that night but the show was canceled after Russell announced his retirement in July.

Instead, the venue will host a tribute to the rocker, featuring Jack Russell’s Great White band, who’ll perform under the name Once Bitten, with former Great White vocalist Terry Ilios. Vixen will close the show.

K.L. Doty, co-author of the recent Russell autobiography The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative and the Jack Russell family spokesperson, will be there to talk about the book and Russell.

“Jack would have wanted the show to go on, what better way to honor his musical life than with a salute by his own bandmates?” said Arcada President and CEO Ron Onesti.

Tickets for the tribute are on sale now.

Russell’s death was announced Thursday, with a social media post sharing that he “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 was 63.

Foreigner teasing “very special announcement”

August 19, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foreigner has some big news to share.

The future Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are teasing something on social media, sharing a clip of an old-school jukebox filled with Foreigner hits like “Juke Box Hero,” “I Want To Know What Love Is” and more. A faceless person then chooses song #6, which is listed on the jukebox as “Turning Back Time,” and a short song clip plays.

The band doesn’t offer any other clues as to what they’re teasing but fans won’t have to wait too long to find out. According to the caption, the news will be revealed Tuesday.

Foreigner previously teased the news by telling fans a “very special announcement is coming.”

Foreigner is currently on their Renegades and Juke Box Heroes tour with Styx. The tour hits Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Tuesday. A complete list of dates can be found at foreigneronline.com.

They are set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Oct. 19 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The ceremony will stream live on Disney+, followed by a special airing on ABC at a later date.

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.

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