Dave Grohl covers “Live and Let Die” at Love Rocks NYC benefit concert

March 8, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The name’s Grohl. Dave Grohl.

The Foo Fighters frontman covered the James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” during the 2024 Love Rocks NYC benefit concert, which took place Thursday, March 7. The song was originally recorded by Paul McCartney and his band Wings in 1973, and was later covered by Guns N’ Roses.

According to setlist.fm, Grohl’s performance also included a rendition of the Foos classic “Everlong.”

As previously reported, Love Rocks NYC supports God’s Love We Deliver, which “prepare[s] and deliver[s] nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves.”

Other performers included The Black Keys, Tom Morello, Hozier, Nile Rodgers and ex-Eagles guitarist Don Felder.

Elvis Costello & Daryl Hall announce co-headlining tour

March 8, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Elvis Costello and Daryl Hall are teaming up for a new co-headlining tour.

The trek, which will feature Costello backed by his longtime band The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, will kick off June 2 in Troutdale, Oregon, and hit such cities as Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Boston and more before wrapping July 25 in Vienna, Virginia.

“It’s fantastic to be able to rekindle a musical relationship. Get ready for lots of great music,” Hall shares. Costello adds, “We are looking forward to kicking off the show in style in the certainty that Daryl will deliver a slam-bang finish.”

Artists presales kick off Monday, March 11, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m. A complete list of dates can be found at elviscostello.com and darylhall.com.

Costello is about to head out on a tour of Australia and Japan, which kicks off with an appearance at Bluesfest Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia, on March 28 and 29.

Hall most recently toured with Todd Rundgren, playing a handful of shows on the West Coast in October and November. In January, he launched a new season of his series Live from Daryl’s House, with all 90 episodes now streaming on YouTube.

Paul Rodgers, Billy F Gibbons & more to appear on Slash’s new blues album

March 8, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bad Company‘s Paul Rodgers, ZZ Top‘s Billy F Gibbons and Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler are just a few of the A-list artists making guest appearances on the upcoming blues-inspired album from Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.

The album, Orgy of the Damned, is due out May 17 and has the rocker joined by a variety of guest vocalists. In addition to Gibbons and Rodgers, The Black Crowes‘ Chris Robinson and AC/DC‘s Brian Johnson are featured on songs, as are Iggy Pop, Gary Clark Jr., pop star Demi Lovato and country artist Chris Stapleton.

Tyler, who is currently recovering after fracturing his vocal chords, doesn’t sing on the record, but he plays harmonica on the lead single, a rendition of Howlin’ Wolf‘s “Killing Floor,” which features vocals by Johnson.

You can listen to it now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying videos streaming now on YouTube.

Slash speaks further on Orgy of the Damned in an interview with Rolling Stone, which reports that a tour announcement is coming next week.

“I just think that [this album] is coming from a different place [than usual],” Slash says. “Looking back on it, there was definitely a laidback, spontaneous approach to what I was doing. There was definitely a difference-making this record compared to some of the other stuff that I’ve done.”

Here’s the Orgy of the Damned track list:

“The Pusher” feat. Chris Robinson
“Crossroads” feat. Gary Clark Jr.
“Hoochie Coochie Man” feat. Billy F Gibbons
“Oh Well” feat. Chris Stapleton
“Key to the Highway” feat. Dorothy
“Awful Dream” feat. Iggy Pop
“Born Under a Bad Sign” feat. Paul Rodgers
“Papa Was a Rolling Stone” feat. Demi Lovato
“Killing Floor” feat. Brian Johnson
“Living for the City” feat. Tash Neal
“Stormy Monday” feat. Beth Hart
“Metal Chestnut”

Actor cast to play AC/DC’s Bon Scott in upcoming movie

March 8, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

A film about the late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott is in the works, and now, we know who’ll be playing the iconic rocker.

Actor Lee Tiger Halley, who appeared in the Australian Netflix series Boy Swallows World, has been cast to play a young Scott in the film The Kid From Harvest Road, which producers warn is not a straight-up biopic.

Halo Films’ description of the movie calls it a “fictionalized narrative set in the 1960s” capturing “the essence” of Scott’s early life in Fremantle, Western Australia.

“By drawing inspiration from the stories and atmosphere of the time period, rather than attempting a biopic, the film can offer a more imaginative exploration of Scott’s character and experiences,” the description continues, noting the film will allow for “a deeper dive into the influences and events that shaped him as a person and ultimately as the iconic frontman of AC/DC.”

Fans may have a bit of a wait before they get to see the film, as production is expected to begin early next year.

Scott was AC/DC’s frontman from 1974 to his death in 1980, appearing on the band’s first seven albums. He was replaced by Brian Johnson, who remains their frontman to this day.

Judas Priest’s Ian Hill talks ‘Invincible Shield’: “We love it”

March 8, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Judas Priest just released Invincible Shield, their first new album since 2018’s Firepower, and bassist Ian Hill says they worked hard to change things up on the new record.

“It’s a step forward from Firepower. In fact, it’s two steps forward,” Hill, the only continuous member of Priest currently in the band, tells ABC Audio. “It’s something we do in each album. We try and make it different from the last one and take a step, hopefully in the right direction.”

Of course, Hill says the album still sounds like Judas Priest, noting, “There’s a lot of hints there from older material, but it’s done in a very, very modern way,” which he says helps them stay “credible” and “relevant” to both their older and younger fans.

And while there are certainly typical metal tracks on the album, like “Panic Attack,” there are also more melodic songs like “Crown of Horns,” with Hill saying variety is “a hallmark of heavy metal.”

“It’s important, variety,” he says. “It’s important for us as Judas Priest to put that versatility down on the record as much as we can.”

And with the band getting ready to hit the road in support of the album, Hill says the band is excited to get to play these new tunes live.

“We love it,” he says of the album. “You know, we, we can’t wait to get out and start playing some of the songs.”

Judas Priest’s new tour kicks off March 11 in Glasgow, Scotland. They will hit the U.S. starting April 18 in Wallingford, Connecticut. A complete list of dates can be found at judaspriest.com.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra to perform the music of Pink Floyd next month

March 8, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Pink Floyd fans in the Detroit area will be able to experience their music in a whole new way next month.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will be holding a special event, The Music of Pink Floyd, at Orchestra Hall. It’s being held on April 20 aka 4/20, which just happens to be a holiday celebrated by weed smokers across the U.S., which seems a bit appropriate for Pink Floyd fans.

The event will have the orchestra, backed by the rock band Windborne, performing Floyd tunes like “Money,” “Learning to Fly” and “Comfortably Numb,” along with selections from their classic 1979 album The Wall.

Tickets for the special show are on sale now.

Next up for Pink Floyd fans, on April 16 the band will release The Dark Side of the Moon Collector’s Edition, featuring the 2023 remastered version of the iconic album on crystal clear vinyl. It’s part of their continuing celebration of the album’s 50th anniversary. It is available for preorder now.

Chicago sets record with 50th Las Vegas residency show at The Venetian

March 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Chicago has hit a new career milestone.

The band headlined the 50th show of their Las Vegas residency at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on Tuesday, March 6, earning them the honor of being the longest-running residency artist in the venue’s history.

Chicago has been playing The Venetian for the past seven years and has sold more than 80,000 tickets. The new milestone was marked with a plaque that was presented to them onstage, along with a custom cake by Cake Boss‘s Buddy Valastro‘s Carlo’s Bake Shop.

Chicago is getting ready to wrap their Vegas residency for 2024. They’ll play shows on March 8 and 9. They then hit the road starting May 15 in La Vista, Nebraska, and have dates booked with Earth, Wind & Fire starting July 19 in Maryland Heights, Missouri. A complete list of dates can be found at chicagotheband.com.

Wolfgang Van Halen announces Adopt a School campaign with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation

March 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Wolfgang Van Halen has teamed up with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation music education charity to announce a new campaign called Adopt a School.

The initiative aims to connect donors with schools across the U.S. in need of musical instruments, supplies and education programs. To launch the program, Wolf and the Van Halen family are donating $1,000 to 100 schools.

Wolf’s father, the late Eddie Van Halen, was a longtime supporter of Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and left a donation to the organization in his will. The younger Van Halen continued the partnership and donated the proceeds from his debut Mammoth WVH single, “Distance,” to the foundation.

For more info, visit MHOpus.org.

Peter Gabriel to appear in documentary ‘Resynator’ premiering at SXSW

March 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

Peter Gabriel is set to appear in a new documentary, Resynator, which is set to premiere at SXSW.

The film has director Alison Tavel trying to learn about her late father, Don Tavel, through the synthesizer prototype he created, the Resynator.

Tavel tells Variety that she reached out to several musicians, including Jon Anderson and Fred Armisen, to talk about the synthesizer, telling Variety, “I’m so grateful that so many musicians were interested and down to experiment. Everyone’s experiences were unique and helped me gain insight into the Resynator’s capabilities.”

But she felt it was particularly important to get Gabriel in the flick.

“After discovering a decades-old letter from his team ordering three Resynators for his synth distribution company, I knew I had to try to make contact, and it worked,” she says. “He remembered the Resynator from the ’80s and was gracious enough to meet with me about it all.”

A trailer for the film shows Gabriel telling Alison that he remembers playing the instrument. It also features Armisen, Gotye, Foo Fighters keyboardist Rami Jaffee and others.

Resynator is set to premiere at South by Southwest on March 10.

The Black Crowes celebrating ‘Happiness Bastards’ with Amazon Music City Sessions performance

March 7, 2024 by Classic Rock 93.9

The Black Crowes will be celebrating the release of their new album, Happiness Bastards, with an intimate live performance.

The band will headline a special show for Amazon Music’s City Sessions on release day, Friday, March 15, playing tunes from the new album as well as some classic hits.

The show will take place at the 650-capacity Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, and fans will be able to enjoy the concert from home via Amazon Music’s twitch channel, starting at 9 p.m. ET. Tickets to the show are on sale now.

Happiness Bastards is The Black Crowes’ first album of new music in 15 years. It is available for preorder now.

The band will also be heading out on the Happiness Bastards tour this spring, hitting 35 cities starting April 2 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. A complete list of dates can be found at theblackcrowes.com.

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