Classic Rock News

John Lennon fans are being encouraged to check out some classic memorabilia through a new John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt that was just launched by Hard Rock International and the John Lennon Estate. 

The hunt coincides with the recent release of Lennon’s Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection, as well as the launch of the new John & Yoko social website citizenofnutopia.com, where fans can access meditation affirmations, leave messages of gratitude for John and Yoko and more.

“We’ve been working on the box sets of Mind Games for years now. Initially I thought, ‘Mind Games’.. game… What if we ‘gamified’ Mind Games?” John and Yoko Ono’s son, Sean Lennon, shares. “So that’s all I’ll say for now, but there are many levels to this release, including the box sets and far beyond – that will slowly unravel – and I hope will potentially entertain and engage everyone for many years to come.” 

Fans are encouraged to check out Lennon memorabilia at Hard Rock locations across the globe, then scan QR codes that will reveal more stories about what they are seeing.

Items featured in the hunt include a black suit worn by Lennon during The Beatles’ 1965 U.S. tour, at the Hard Rock Café Bucharest; Lennon’s 1966 Guild Starfire 12-sting guitar, at the Hard Rock Honolulu; Lennon’s tan trademark collarless suit, at the Hard Rock Atlantic City; and handwritten “Help!” lyrics at the Hard Rock Cafe New York.

Aa part of the treasure hunt, Hard Rock is offering discounts to any members of John and Yoko’s Citizens of Nutopia site, and participants can earn points and rewards through the Hard Rock Unity loyalty program.

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Bruce Springsteen is back on the charts, thanks to country star Zach Bryan.

Billboard reports that the pair’s collaboration, “Sandpaper,” debuts at #26 on the Hot Country Songs chart, marking The Boss’ first appearance on the country chart. The tune also debuts at #71 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, which is Springsteen’s first time on the singles chart since February 2009, when “Working on a Dream” debuted at #95.

Springsteen first hit the Hot 100 in 1975 with “Born To Run,” which peaked at #23. He’s gone on to have 12 top-10 singles, including his highest-charting tune, “Dancing in the Dark,” which went to #2 in 1984.

“Sandpaper,” from Bryan’s new album The Great American Bar Scene, has similarities to Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. classic “I’m On Fire,” a #6 hit for The Boss. The pair first performed the tune together in concert back in March when Springsteen flew from San Diego to join Bryan onstage at his concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

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Classic concerts from Black Sabbath and Eric Clapton are coming out this fall on 4K Ultra High Definition.

Black Sabbath The End is a recording of the band’s February 4, 2017, farewell show in their hometown of Birmingham, England. The concert, originally released November 17, 2017, on DVD and Blu-ray, features the final show with Sabbath’s founding members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler together, performing such Sabbath classics as “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” “Paranoid” and more.

The release also includes the bonus of The Angelic Sessions, an intimate in-studio live session with the band playing hits that were not part of the tour’s set. It was recorded in the days after the final live public performance.

As for Clapton, his release, Slowhand at 70-Live At The Royal Albert Hall, originally came out in November 2015 on DVD, Blu-ray and more. It was recorded on May 21, 2015, during Clapton’s 70th birthday celebration tour. It was part of a seven-night stand at the iconic London venue, which included Clapton’s 200th show there.

The concert features performances of such Clapton classics as “Layla,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “I Shot the Sheriff” and more, as well as a bonus performance of “Little Queen of Spades.”

Both 4K UHD releases are due to drop on Sept. 13.

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On This Day, July 16, 1952 …

Stewart Copeland, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for The Police, was born in in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Police were formed in London in 1977 and released their first album, Outlandos d’Amour, in 1976. They released five studio albums in total, including their fifth, final and most successful release, 1983’s Synchronicity.

Synchronicity spent 17 weeks at #1, with the single “Every Breath You Take,” their only #1 song, spending eight weeks on top.

After a tour to support the album, The Police went on hiatus in 1984 and eventually disbanded in 1986.

In 2003 they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and reunited to perform three songs together. It was their last live performance together until they reunited in 2007 for a tour that lasted until 2008. They broke up again after that.

Outside of The Police, Copeland has composed music for several films, including Wall Street and Men at Work, and has released several solo albums, including his most recent release, 2023’s Police Deranged for Orchestra.

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Grateful Dead fans will soon have a new opportunity to get their hands on some one-of-a-kind band memorabilia.

Relix Marketplace and ANALOGr.com have teamed up to offer some rare and unique music collectables, starting with the sale of 19 Grateful Dead items from the band’s career post 1960. 

Items up for grabs include a variety of posters, like a “New on Warner Bros” promo poster for their 1971 Skull and Roses album, owned by Grateful Dead roadie Ram Rod, which is priced at $500, and a rare first print “Quick & The Dead” glow poster, priced at $22,500. 

One of the larger items is a half-scale working model of The Dead’s Wall of Sound PA speaker system, which is being offered for $300,000.

There’s also a signed contract from the Grateful Dead’s 1985 Twilight Zone TV appearance, priced at $15,000; a 1995 “Northbound Train” Summer tour T-shirt for $200; a contact sheet with photos of The Dead and Bob Dylan for $2,500; and a Grateful Dead logo pressing by Bob Thomas and Owsley Stanley for $27,500. 

The Relix Marketplace/ANALOGr.com Grateful Dead sale will happen online starting Thursday at 1 p.m. More info can be found at relix.com.

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Could Dave Grohl be the latest artist to go country? Maybe, if HARDY has his way.

Speaking with Billboard, the country star names the Foo Fighters frontman as a dream collaborator.

“I don’t even know if he even knows I exist, but he would be cool,” HARDY says. “Dave Grohl is definitely No. 1.”

Grohl has crossed over into the country world on a few occasions, including performing live with Shania Twain at the 2023 Austin City Limits festival and collaborating with Zac Brown on Foo Fighters’ 2014 Sonic Highways album.

HARDY, meanwhile, just released what he calls his debut rock album, Quit!! It includes collaborations with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Limp Bizkit‘s Fred Durst, and references Nickelback with the single “ROCKSTAR.”

“To meet people that like who truly influenced the s*** out of me growing up and then to become friends with them, it’s a very cool thing,” HARDY says.

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The Zombies’ Rod Argent is expressing his gratitude to fans for all the support he’s received since his announcement Thursday that he’s currently recovering from a stroke and, because of his health, has decided to retire from touring. 

“I am absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that has happened in response to the news of my having suffered a stroke three weeks ago,” he shared on Instagram. “I have read every post, and have to thank you so much.”

He adds, “I do feel so lucky that physically l’ve escaped the worst possible effects, and while I’m still frustrated by not finding all my words easily, I feel really hopeful that eventually I will make a full recovery.” 

With his decision to retire, The Zombies have now canceled all shows planned for 2024, although their second annual Begin Here Festival in St Albans, England, set for November, will still happen.

Argent notes, “It is with a heavy heart that I can’t carry on with the live playing that I love so much,” adding that he does plan to “carry on in the studio with writing and recording” with his Zombie bandmates.

The Zombies played their last U.S. shows in March and April. Their 2023 North American tour was cut short after Argent became ill with migraines, fatigue and exhaustion.

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Blue Öyster Cult is giving fans another preview of their upcoming live album, 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night.

The band just released a live performance video of “Hot Rails to Hell (Live),” the second track they’ve released from the album following “7 Screaming Diz-Busters.”

50th Anniversary Live – Second Night, dropping Aug. 9, features a concert recorded during the band’s 2022 three-night stand at Sony Hall in New York. It has the band performing their sophomore album, Tyranny and Mutation, in its entirety, along with such classic tracks as “Burnin’ For You” and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.”

The residency had the band playing their first three albums in their entirety, one each night; Frontiers Music is releasing each night separately. The first release, 50th Anniversary Live – First Night, featuring the band performing their self-titled debut album, was released in October.

50th Anniversary Live – Second Night is available for preorder now.

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Metallica has entered a new pantheon of Billboard history.

The metal legends’ 1991 self-titled record aka the Black Album has notched its 750th week on the Billboard 200, according to a tweet from the @BillboardCharts account.

Only three other albums in history have spent at least 750 weeks on the Billboard 200. Pink Floyd‘s The Dark Side of the Moon has the most weeks on the chart, with 990, followed by Bob Marley & The Wailers‘ Legend and Journey‘s Greatest Hits, with 843 and 813, respectively.

Metallica celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Black Album in 2021 with The Metallica Blacklist, a massive tribute compilation featuring 53 covers of the original record’s songs.

Metallica is currently prepping for the upcoming U.S. leg of their M72 world tour, which kicks off in August.

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Bob Dylan is not finished with his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced a new European and U.K. leg of the trek, kicking off with a three-night stand in Prague, Oct. 4-6.

The tour will hit cities in Germany, France, Belgium, the U.K. and more before wrapping with a three-night stand at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall Nov. 12-14.

Tickets for all shows go on sale July 19.

Dylan launched his Rough & Rowdy Ways tour in November 2021. He’s currently on Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival, which hits Chula Vista, California, on July 29. A complete list of dates can be found at bobdylan.com.

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