Classic Rock News

On This Day, Aug. 16, 1974 … 

Punk rock band the Ramones launched their career with their first-ever live performance at CBGB in New York. They went on to become fixtures at the famed Manhattan rock club and later rose to stardom with hits like “I Wanna Be Sedated,” “Rockaway Beach” and “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker.”

They are considered by many to be one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time.

The Ramones were formed in 1974 in Forest Hills, New York, featuring lead singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee Ramone, guitarist Johnny Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone. None of them were actually related and they all simply took on pseudonyms with the last name Ramone. 

Although they went through several lineup changes over the years,  they continued to perform until 1996. By 2014 all four original members had passed away.

The Ramones were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 in their first year of eligibility, and they received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

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The Black Crowes’ Chris and Rich Robinson will launch a new leg of their Happiness Bastards tour this fall, but before that, fans in New York will have a chance to see them on a much smaller scale.

The brothers are set to take part in a special Grammy Museum event, dubbed An Evening With Chris and Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, taking place Sept. 11 at National Sawdust in Brooklyn. 

The evening will include a conversation with Chris and Rich about their careers, as well as the making of their recent album, Happiness Bastards, followed by a special performance. It is part of the Grammy Museum’s New York City program series.

Tickets are on sale now.

The Black Crowes will launch the next leg of their Happiness Bastards tour on Sept. 28 in Cincinnati, Ohio, with dates confirmed through Feb. 28 in Uncasville, Connecticut. A complete list of dates can be found at theblackcrowes.com.

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Jack Russell, frontman for the band Great White, has died. He was 63.

Jack Russell’s Great White, the name Russell toured under after Great White broke up in 2001, announced the news in a statement posted to Instagram Thursday. The statement says that “Jack passed peacefully,” surrounded by his wife, son, cousin and two friends. 

The statement continues, “Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive.” Details of a public memorial will be announced later, the statement notes, adding that his family asks for privacy.

A representative confirms to ABC Audio that the cause of death was Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy. In July, Russell had announced his retirement from touring due to those conditions.

On the official Great White Instagram page, Russell’s former bandmates posted a statement offering condolences to his family. “We hope they take comfort in knowing Jack’s incredible voice will live on forever,” they wrote, noting that it was a “privilege and a joy” to work with Russell. It concludes, “Rest In Peace, to one of rock’s biggest champions.”

Great White is best known for their late ’80s and early ’90s hits, including “The Angel Song,” “Rock Me” and  their signature song, “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” which reached #5 in 1989. After the band split in 2001, Russell continued as Jack Russell’s Great White.

During an infamous gig at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island in 2003, the band’s pyro display caused a fire that killed 100 people and injured 230. Their tour manager pleaded guilty in 2006 and served two years in prison; one of the nightclub’s owners went to prison, as well.

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Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed that he intends to attend the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Prince of Darkness shares in a press statement, “It’s still hard to believe I’m about to be a two-time inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

“I’m really looking forward to attending the induction ceremony in Cleveland this October,” Ozzy adds. “More importantly, I am so blessed to have had such an incredible career with amazing fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin over the years.”

Ozzy was previously inducted into the Rock Hall in 2006 as a member of Black Sabbath. He’s now being enshrined as a solo artist.

As for whether Ozzy will perform at the ceremony, that has yet to be announced. He hasn’t played a full show since 2018 due to various health issues, though he has performed songs here and there for various events in recent years, including for the start of the 2022 NFL season. He’d been announced to perform at the 2023 Power Trip festival, but ultimately canceled his appearance.

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place Oct. 19 and will stream live on Disney+. 

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Dead & Company wrapped their Dead Forever residency at the Sphere Las Vegas Aug. 10, but it sounds like that may not be the last time we see them at the state-of-the-art venue.

Dead & Company drummer Mickey Hart recently appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast and suggested that more dates could happen. 

“There’s no reason why there wouldn’t be,” Mickey said when asked if there would be more shows. “Let’s leave it at that.” 

He also had great things to say about playing the venue.

“Once you see the Sphere, then you understand what the future is of music and visuals,” he said. “When they come together it’s very powerful.”

Dead & Company launched their Dead Forever residency back in May, playing 30 shows at the venue.

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Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramones‘ first-ever show at the legendary New York rock club CBGBs and the city is celebrating.

On Friday and Saturday, the New York City Ferry will be running specially curated Ramones-themed commutes to Rockaway Beach, the area of Queens made famous in the band’s song of the same name.

The rides will take off from Wall Street/Pier 11, with stops in Sunset Park and Rockaway. The Ramones will be taking over the ferry’s on-board digital screens and “Rockaway Beach” will play as the ferry departs Wall Street/Pier 11. Riders will receive 50 Years of Ramones stickers (while supplies last), along with free samples of Rockaway Soda. There will also be a raffle, courtesy of Rhino Records.

In addition, Rockaway Beach Bakery has created some Ramones-themed treats for the occasion, including limited-edition Ra-scones and Now I Wanna Sip Some (Cold) Brew.

More info can be found at ferry-nyc.com.

Formed in Forest Hills, New York, in 1974, the Ramones are considered by many to be one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time. The band — co-founded by Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone — was known for such hits as “I Wanna Be Sedated,” “Rockaway Beach,” “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” and more. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

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The Who‘s Pete Townshend has dropped another live video from his 1985 concert at the Brixton Academy in London.

The latest is a performance of “The Sea Refuses No River,” a track from Pete’s 1982 solo album, All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes.

This is the second video Townshend has released from the concert, following a performance of “After the Fire.” Both feature Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour on guitar.

The Brixton Academy concert, Deep End Live at Brixton Academy in London, is part of Townshend’s recent release Pete Townshend Live > In Concert 1985-2001, a 14-CD box set, which included newly remastered versions of his live solo recordings, seven of which have long been out of print.

In addition to the Brixton show, it features concerts recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1993, San Francisco’s The Filmore in 1996, London’s Shepherds Bush Empire in 1998 and the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California, in 2001. There’s also a recording of two nights at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, the only time Pete ever attempted a full Life House show.

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Rocker Greg Kihn, best known for hits like “Jeopardy” and “The Breakup Song,” passed away Aug. 13 at the age of 75.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Greg Kihn, an iconic figure in the realm of rock music,” reads a post on his official website. “Greg lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease on 8/13/24 at the age of 75.” 

“Known for his magnetic stage presence and unique storytelling that captivated audiences around the globe. He was not merely a musician but a cultural phenomenon whose influence will resonate for generations to come,” it continues.

Born July 10, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, Kihn released his self-titled debut album in 1976, later releasing records under the name The Greg Kihn Band.

They had their first hit with 1981’s “The Breakup Song,” which appeared on their sixth studio album, RockKihnRoll, and peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their biggest hit was the 1983 release “Jeopardy,” from the band’s album Kihnspiracy. The tune went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic in “I Lost on Jeopardy,” with Kihn making a cameo appearance in the video.

Kihn was also an author, publishing six novels, including 1996’s Horror Show, and sequels Rock Beat and Mojo Hand.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Kihn’s name to The Alzheimer’s Association.

“Rest in peace, dear Greg,” the statement concludes. “Your music, your voice, your stories, your spirit and your passion will forever echo in our hearts and inspire countless souls.”
 

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Paul McCartney’s photography exhibit is headed to California.

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm is set to debut at the de Young museum, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, on March 1 and will run until July 6. 

“In Eyes of the Storm, recently unearthed photographs by Paul McCartney provide a rare time capsule of The Beatles‘ world at the moment of their extraordinary rise to fame,” Thomas P. Campbell, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, shares. “We’re honored to present this exhibition here in San Francisco, where The Beatles left an indelible mark on our city’s musical and cultural history.”

Eyes of the Storm features more than 250 photographs taken by McCartney between November 1963 and February 1964, giving fans insight into his point of view during the height of Beatlemania.

The exhibit debuted in June 2023 at London’s National Portrait Gallery, and has since been shown at Virginia’s Chrysler Museum and New York’s Brooklyn Museum. Next up it will move to the Portland Art Museum from Sept. 14 to Jan. 19 and to the Knowledge Capitol Event Lab in Osaka, Japan, from Oct. 12 to Jan. 5.

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