Classic Rock News

The music of Lou Reed will be the subject of a new book coming this spring. 

Sweet, Wild and Vicious: Listening to Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground is author Jim Higgins’ look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s catalog of music. In it, he shares “descriptions, details, analysis and appraisals” of the music Reed made from the ‘60s until his death in 2013. 

“Jim Higgins takes the reader on a long walk through one of the most complicated, controversial and influential of rock oeuvres in terms that are, in turn, scholarly, hip, informative and personal,” says Trouser Press’ Ira Robbins. “The unstated goal of books like this is to make you go back and listen anew to records you thought you knew front to back; Sweet, Wild and Vicious achieves that and more.”

Sweet, Wild and Vicious: Listening to Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground will be released in paperback and eBook on April 19; it’s available for preorder now. 

Lou Reed’s music is also being celebrated with an upcoming tribute album, The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed, which will be released on vinyl for Record Store Day on April 20, with CD and digital release happening the same day. It features covers of Reed tunes by the likes of Keith Richards, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Rufus Wainwright, Rickie Lee Jones and others.

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Paul McCartney has revealed that if it wasn’t for John Lennon, he may have changed a key lyric in the classic Beatles tune “Hey Jude.”

During the latest episode of the McCartney A Life in Lyrics podcast, the rocker shared that the line, “The movement you need is on your shoulder” wasn’t initially supposed to be in the song. 

McCartney explains that he originally put the line in as a placeholder but was convinced to keep it in after he performed the song for Lennon and Yoko Ono.

“I turn around to John, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll change that,'” he shared. “And he looked at me and said, ‘You won’t, you know? It’s the best line, innit?'”

“Hey Jude” was inspired by McCartney’s relationship with Lennon’s son Julian Lennon and was written after John left his wife and Julian’s mom, Cynthia, for Yoko Ono.

The song went on to be a Beatles classic, spending nine weeks at #1, which at that time tied a record for the most weeks in the top spot.

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The Who’s Pete Townshend is set to make an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, March 26.

The rocker will be on the show to promote Tommy the Musical, which is set to open at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on March 28. The episode will also feature a performance from the musical.

This version of Tommy, directed by the musical’s original director, Des McAnuff, debuted at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre in June and features a brand new staging with a cast of 28 and a nine-piece band.

Based on The Who’s 1969 album and 1975 film, the original production of Tommy opened at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, on July 1, 1992. It opened on Broadway on April 22, 1993, and closed on June 17, 1995. Tommy won five Tony Awards, including Best Direction for McAnuff and Best Original Score for Townshend.

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Kansas and Mötley Crüe are booked to play Canada’s 2024 Festival d’été de Québec aka FEQ. 

The 11-day event takes place July 4-14, with Kansas confirmed to perform on July 12 and Mötley Crüe closing the festival on July 14. 

The bill also features Nickelback, The Offspring, Jonas Brothers, Post Malone and more.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit FEQ.ca. 

Mötley Crüe is also set to play another Canadian festival, the Ottawa Bluesfest, in July. Their next shows are happening May 3 and 4 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A complete list of dates can be found at motley.com.

Meanwhile, Kansas recently announced a third and final leg to their Another Fork in The Road 50th anniversary tour, kicking off September 24 in Thousand Oaks, California. The current leg hits Salina, Kansas, for a two-night stand on March 22 and 23. A complete list of tour dates can be found at kansasband.com.

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Judas Priest had a treat in store for their fans at their Tuesday, March 19, concert at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, England. 

According to setlist.fm, guitarist Glen Tipton joined the band for the last two songs of their set, “Metal Gods” and “Living After Midnight.”

Tipton, who has been a member of Judas Priest since 1974, announced in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2008 and that he’d be stepping back from touring with the band. He last performed with them at October’s Power Trip festival, joining them for the night’s final three songs, “Metal Gods,” “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight.”

Judas Priest is currently on tour in support of their latest release, Invincible Shield, which Tipton does appear on. Their next show is happening Thursday, March 21, in London. The tour hits the U.S. starting April 18 in Wallingford, Connecticut. A complete list of dates can be found at judaspriest.com.

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The music of Chicago will be hitting the big screen next month. 

The film Chicago & Friends in Concert will debut in select theaters on April 18, giving fans a chance to enjoy the band’s two guest-filled concerts that were recorded at Ovation Hall at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last November.

The show featured guest appearances by such artists as Steve Vai, Chris Daughtry, Robin Thicke, Robert Randolph and more. The performances were a celebration of the 55th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, and had them playing songs from the album, as well as other greatest hits and unplugged versions of classic tunes.

“This concert film is a unique approach to any of our previous live performances,” Chicago founding member Lee Loughnane shares. “It was very interesting to work with each guest and experience their interpretations of our music.”

Tickets and showtimes can be found at chicagoandfriendsintheatres.com.

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Last May Def Leppard played a special club show in their hometown of Sheffield, England, and now that performance is being immortalized for very special vinyl release.

The band will release Def Leppard One Night Only Live at The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 as a double LP vinyl set on Record Store Day, April 20.

The performance, which was livestreamed for fans, took place the same day the band released their latest album, Drastic Symphonies, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the first time in over 35 years that Def Leppard played such a small venue in the U.K. 

The night featured a unique set that included hits like “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” as well as deep cuts like “Wasted,” “Too Late For Love” and “Mirror Mirror.”

Information on stores taking part in Record Store Day can be found at recordstoreday.com.

 (Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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Lemmy Kilmister‘s beloved Rainbow Bar & Grill in Los Angeles is set to enshrine the ashes of the late Motörhead frontman.

The famed Sunset Strip watering hole will hold a ceremony on April 19, during which a new Motörhead-branded whiskey will also be unveiled.

For more info, visit the Rainbow’s Facebook page.

Lemmy was known for being a frequent patron of the Rainbow Bar & Grill. Following his death in 2015, the Rainbow hosted Lemmy’s memorial service and later put up a statue of him in 2016.

In addition to the Rainbow, Lemmy’s ashes have been enshrined in a giant statue built at the site of France’s Hellfest and on the grounds of Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival. Additionally, his friends received bullet casings containing his ashes.

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After a six-month break to recover from peptic ulcer disease, Bruce Springsteen returned to the stage with The E Street Band on Tuesday, March 19, in Phoenix, wowing the crowd with a set that featured classics, new songs and even one surprise request. 

According to setlist.fm, The Boss kicked things off with The Rising track “Lonesome Day,” with his set featuring hits like “Born To Run,” “Thunder Road,” “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” along with fan favorites like “No Surrender,” “Two Hearts,” “Prove it All Night,” “Backstreets,” “Because the Night” and “Mary’s Place.”

The set also featured songs from his 2020 album, Letter To You, including the title track, “Last Man Standing” and the show closer “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” as well as songs from his covers album Only The Strong Survive, like “Night Shift” and “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).”

He even obliged a fan who held up a sign with a song request, playing the classic “Twist and Shout” right before the final song. 

According to Billboard, Bruce didn’t talk about his health issues until just before the night’s final song, apologizing to his fans for having to postpone shows and sharing, “I had a mother****** of a bellyache.”

Springsteen returns to the stage Saturday, March 23, at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, his first show in Sin City in more than 20 years. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

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Guns N’ Roses‘ debut album, Appetite for Destruction, is one of 10 recordings chosen for induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Inductees must be at least 25 years old and are chosen because they “exhibit qualitative or historical significance.” The induction marks Guns N’ Roses first-ever Grammy award. They’ve been nominated three times with no wins. 

Appetite for Destruction, released in July 1987, hit #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, thanks to such hits as “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.” It went on to be certified 18-times Platinum by the RIAA.

Other recordings being inducted this year include Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising and Buena Vista Social Club, along with The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes,” Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love,” Wanda Jackson’s “Let’s Have a Party” and Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”

“We’re proud to unveil the diverse mix of recordings entering the Grammy Hall Of Fame in its 50th year,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement. “The music showcased here has played a pivotal role in shaping our cultural landscape, and it’s a true honor to recognize these albums and recordings, along with the profound influence each has had on music and beyond.”

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees will be celebrated at an inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Gala and concert taking place May 21 in Los Angeles.

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