Classic Rock News

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band just finished wowing stadiums all over Europe and will soon be doing the same in the U.S. But even though they play to thousands of fans when they hit the stage, guitarist Stevie Van Zandt says their approach to playing live is much smaller.

“We come from the bars and clubs. We were a dance band, and I think that’s a critical factor,” he tells The Telegraph. “The idea was to get people hot and bothered and wanting to drink more. And that requires a bit of extra energy, all right? To pull people out of their chairs and make them dance is different than playing a concert where everybody’s sitting down.”

He adds, “We just ignore the size of the venue and treat it like a club.”

Springsteen and the band have dates confirmed through 2025. But with Bruce turning 75 in September, people are always wondering if this will be the last tour. And it seems Van Zandt doesn’t really know the answer. 

“You never know,” says Van Zandt. “I mean, we treat every show like it could be the last show, and we’ve been doing that for 50 years.” 

“But the audience is still there, and we can see them getting younger every year. I don’t see the end anywhere in sight, to be honest,” he adds. “I love that The Stones are still out there. Because as long as they’re out there, man, we’re still the new kids on the block, right? So I’m good with that.”

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band launch the next U.S. leg of their tour on Aug. 15. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

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Mickey Hart is giving fans a chance to own a piece of his artwork. 

The Grateful Dead drummer has launched a new online auction with Terrapin Station Entertainment, which includes artwork that’s part of Mickey Hart’s Art at the Edge of Magic exhibit currently on display at the Venetian in Las Vegas in connection with Dead & Company’s Dead Forever residency at the Sphere. 

The auction, which launched July 29 and runs through Aug. 3, features four acrylic paintings: “Da Bolt,” “Da Blues,” “Smokin’ Rhythm” and “Token Rhythm.” Starting bids for the pieces run from $10,000 to $12,500. 

More information on the auction can be found at edgeofmagicauction.com. The Art at the Edge of Magic exhibit is scheduled to close Aug 11.

Dead & Company has six more shows in their Dead Forever residency. Their next show is Aug. 1, with the last happening Aug. 10. A complete list of dates can be found a deadandcompany.com.

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Ozzy Osbourne is sorry for what he said about Britney Spears.

For those unaware, the Prince of Darkness drew the ire of the pop star when he commented on her dancing posts on social media. Speaking on an episode of The Osbournes Podcast, which he hosts alongside his wife, Sharon, and their children Kelly and Jack, Ozzy said he was “fed up with seeing poor old Britney Spears [dancing].”

Kelly added that she “feel[s] so sorry” for Spears, while Sharon called her a “poor little thing.” Britney then responded by calling the Osbournes “the most boring family known to mankind” and said that they should “kindly f*** off.”

Now, Ozzy is offering an apology to Britney. In an Instagram post featuring a clip from The Osbournes Podcast, the “Crazy Train” rocker says, “Britney, I really owe you an apology. I’m so sorry for making that comment.”

“However,” he continues. “It would be better if you didn’t do the same f****** dance every day. Change a few movements!”

Kelly made a more unconditional apology, declaring, “Britney, never stop dancing, I love your dancing, it makes you happy and I’m so sorry if any of us offended you.”

“I love Britney Spears!” Ozzy adds. “But it’s the same dance every day.”

Kelly then corrects him, saying, “No, sometimes she has knives.”

“I really do apologize,” Ozzy concludes. “I love you and I think you’re beautiful.”

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Jon Anderson is sharing another track from his upcoming album True, which he recorded with The Band Geeks.

The former Yes frontman just dropped the video for “True Messenger,” the second single he’s released from the album, following “Shine On.”

According to a post on Facebook, Anderson has been playing both songs in concert during his current summer tour, along with another track from the album, “Thank God.”

True, dropping Aug. 23, is Anderson’s first new album since 2019’s 1000 Hands: Chapter One and his first with The Band Geeks, who he’s been touring with since 2023. It is available for preorder now. 

Anderson and The Band Geeks are currently on tour; their next show is Tuesday in Camdenton, Missouri. A complete list of dates can be found at jonanderson.com.

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While some musicians seem fearful of AI, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason doesn’t appear to be one of them.

In a new interview with The Mirror, the drummer says considering his former bandmates David Gilmour and Roger Waters have been at odds for years, he’d be interested to see if AI could be used to bring them back together to make more Pink Floyd music.

“It would be fascinating to see what AI could do with new music. If you tried to run it as a sort of ‘Where did Pink Floyd go after?’” he shares. “The thing to do would be to have an AI situation where David and Roger become friends again. We could be like ABBA by the time we’ve finished with it.”

The members of Pink Floyd last played together in 2005 and things between the band members haven’t been good for a while. Regardless of their current relationship, Mason still looks back at their career with fond memories. 

“In a 55-year career, most of it was great fun,” he says. “We were ­enormously privileged to be in a successful band and tour the world and hang out with really interesting people. It’s a gold card to meet all sorts of your favorite sportsmen and actors.”

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Talk about a rock ‘n’ roll marriage. Tyrone Wood, son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, recently married Faye Harris, daughter of Iron Maiden guitarist Steve Harris.

The couple confirmed the news on social media, sharing photos from their big day with the caption, “MARRIED!! Mr & Mrs Wood!”

The post includes several photos of the happy couple, including one of them leaving The Old Marylebone Town Hall surrounded by guests throwing confetti.

Harris wore a short off-the-shoulder white dress from Self Portrait, while Harris wore a three-piece suit with a green jacket from Ozwald Boateng. 

The wedding comes a little more than seven months after the couple announced their engagement on social media, with Harris showing off her ring and sharing, “Happiest girl in the world @tywoody.”

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Slash has shared a tribute to his late stepdaughter, Lucy-Bleu Knight.

The Guns N’ Roses guitarist writes in an Instagram post, “My heart is [permanently] fractured. I will never ever stop missing you & remembering what a beacon of happiness, laughter, creativity & beauty you have always been. & still are.”

“The brightest light in the lives of so many that loved you so much,” Slash continues. “I find solace in the hope that you are at peace now. I will love you eternally.”

Slash announced July 21 that Lucy-Bleu had passed. She was 25.

Ahead of sharing the news, Slash had canceled a number of dates on his ongoing solo tour. The outing resumed Sunday in Toronto.

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Rod Stewart isn’t afraid of dying, but he thinks it’ll be a bit before he actually has to face the grim reaper.

Speaking to the U.S. Sun, Rod, who’ll turn 80 in January, says, “I’m aware my days are numbered but I’ve got no fear. We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket. I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can.”

He then corrects himself: “I say few — probably another 15. I can do that easy, mate, easy.”

The reason why, Rod says, is because he pays attention to his health. He says he’s not on any prescription drugs, he works out “three or four times a week” and is building a running track at his house so he can “try to beat the world record for a 79-year-old” in the 100-meter sprint.

“I think [it’s] about 17 seconds,” he says. “I’m f****** mad, ain’t I?”

On top of that, the “Maggie May” singer, who’s had both thyroid and prostate cancer, says, “When I come back to the U.K., I am going to have my blood cleaned … I’ve been told it is a real boost to the system.” 

Rod’s currently in the U.S. finishing up the final shows of his residency at the Colosseum in Las Vegas, which ends Aug. 7. He tells The Sun, “I don’t want to wear my welcome out in Vegas … I’ve not really made   my mind up in terms of what’s next.”

Rod also says his wife, Penny Lancaster, is planning a big birthday celebration for him with all his kids and grandkids, but, “I don’t even know what [the plans] are. They know and I don’t.”

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Billy Joel has wrapped his Madison Square Garden residency, and to celebrate the momentous occasion the venue gave the rocker a very special gift.

The New York Post reports that MSG gifted Joel a ’78 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, decorated with piano keys, Joel’s signature and the MSG logo. To compliment it, Joel, a motorcycle fan, also got a helmet decorated with the list of all the dates he played at the venue.

Joel wrapped his residency on July 25 after 104 residency shows and 150 total shows at the venue. During the concert he brought out Guns N’ Roses‘ frontman Axl Rose for two songs, Paul McCartney‘s James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” and AC/DC‘s “Highway to Hell.”

Comedian Jimmy Fallon was also on hand to help raise a banner in Joel’s honor, and Joel’s two youngest daughters, Della, who’ll be 9 in August, and Remy, 6, also made an appearance.

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On This Day, July 29, 1967 …

The Doors had their first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with “Light My Fire,” from their self-titled debut album. The song, written by guitarist Robby Krieger, spent three weeks on the top of the chart.

The album version of the song was over seven minutes in length, but an edited version, cut to about three minutes, was released to radio, taking away most of the tune’s long instrumental break.

The song caused a bit of controversy for The Doors after a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The band had been asked to change the line of “girl, we couldn’t get much higher” to take out the reference to drugs. While they originally agreed to do it, frontman Jim Morrison wound up singing the original lyrics live on the air.

“Light My Fire” was one of two #1 singles for the band, the other being “Hello, I Love You,” which went to #1 in August 1968.

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