Classic Rock News

Jon Bon Jovi is giving fans insight into the music he loves and listens to in an “honest playlist” interview with The Guardian.

Asked to name the song that changed his life, Jon gave props to his friend and fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, citing his “Born to Run.” “I grew up in New Jersey, so the E Street Band was how you were indoctrinated to rock ’n’ roll – they were the local heroes,” he says.

Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” is the song Jon wishes he’d written, sharing the lyrics and melody resonated with him. “I ran into Don last week, put my arm around him after he had just sung that song, and said: ‘I really wish I’d written that,’” he shares.

Of course, Jon had some things to say about some Bon Jovi tunes, including “Livin’ On A Prayer,” which he calls the best song to play at a party. He adds, “How do I feel when I hear it on the radio or a party? Amazed and amused!”

As for the song of his he can’t listen to anymore, it’s “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas” from Christmas in the Stars, the 1980 Star Wars-themed album.

“I was a gopher in a recording studio, running errands, and the producer needed a young voice,” he says. “People have only just recently rediscovered I was the singer. Now it gets played to me all the time.”

Jon also reveals that PSY’s “Gangnam Style” is the song he secretly likes, although he tells people he hates it, and picks “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham! as the song he wants played at his funeral.

Bon Jovi’s new album, FOREVER, comes out June 7.

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The Rolling Stones are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album Voodoo Lounge with a new reissue.

The album will reissued on red- and yellow-colored vinyl on July 12. There will also be a limited-edition Rolling Stones store exclusive 10-inch single, containing B-sides “I’m Gonna Drive,” “So Young,” “Jump On Top Of Me” and “The Storm.”

The celebration also includes a new collection of Voodoo Lounge merchandise, including hoodies and T-shirts.

Voodoo Lounge 30th anniversary reissue is available for preorder now.

Released July 11, 1994, Voodoo Lounge was The Stones’ first album without longtime bassist Bill Wyman, and their first for Virgin Records. The album peaked at #2 on the U.S. charts, with “Love is Strong” and “You Got Me Rocking” among the rock hits released from the album. It went on to win the Grammy for Best Rock Album.

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Eddie Vedder has weighed in on Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker‘s controversial commencement speech. Suffice it to say, he does not agree with Butker’s idea of how to be a “Better Man.”

Speaking to the crowd during Pearl Jam‘s concert in Las Vegas on Saturday, Vedder took issue with the way Butker described masculinity in his speech, in which he said, “Be unapologetic in your masculinity, fighting against the cultural emasculation of men.”

“The irony was that, when he was saying that, he looked like such a p****,” Vedder quipped in a video posted to social media.

In his remarks, which were delivered to the Catholic liberal arts school Benedictine College, Butker also addressed the women graduating by saying, “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

“There’s nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman,” Vedder retorted.

Pearl Jam is currently on a U.S. tour supporting their new album, Dark Matter, which was released in April. The outing continues Tuesday in Los Angeles.

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On This Day, May 20, 2013 …

Ray Manzarek, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors, passed away at the age of 74. Earlier in the year, the rocker had been diagnosed with a rare form of bile duct cancer.

Manzarek co-founded The Doors with Jim Morrison in July 1965. Drummer John Densmore joined in August of that year, followed by guitarist Robby Krieger.

The band released their self-titled debut in January 1967, containing future classics “Light My Fire” and “Break On Through (To The Other Side).” “Light My Fire” has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, with the album chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry in 2015.

The Doors went on to sell over 34 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Manzarek released his memoir, Light My Fire: My Life with the Doors, in 1998.

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Lenny Kravitz is headed to Vegas. The rocker just announced an exclusive engagement at the Park MGM in October.

Kravitz’s Blue Electric Light Las Vegas will consist of five shows, October 18, 19, 23, 25 and 26, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. 

A Citi ticket presale kicks off Tuesday at 10 a.m. local time, followed by a fan presale Wednesday at 10 a.m. Tickets will then go on sale to the general public starting Friday at 10 a.m.

The residency news comes as Kravitz is getting ready to release his 12th studio album, Blue Electric Light, on Friday. It is available for preorder now.

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Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are currently on tour overseas, so it only seems fitting that the latest installment in The Boss’ live series would be a playlist of international performances. 

The Live Series: Songs from Around the World, Volume 2 features Springsteen performances from international tour stops over the course of his career. The 15-song playlist includes performances of “Growin’ Up,” performed in London, November 24, 1975; “Tunnel of Love,” performed in Stockholm, July 3, 1988; “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” performed in Dublin, May 7, 2023; and “Human Touch,” performed in Barcelona, April 8, 2023.

There are also deeper cuts, including “Brothers Under The Bridge,” performed in Nice, France, May 18, 1997; “From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come),” performed at The Hague, June 14, 2016; and “None But The Brave,” performed in Zürich, July 3, 2016. 

Up next, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band bring their tour to Sunderland, England, on May 22. They launch the next U.S. leg of the tour on August 15 in Pittsburgh. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

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U2 continues their recently launched digital series, U2 To Love and Only Love – Deep Dives and B-Sides, with the fourth installment dedicated to the track “Please,” from their ninth studio album, Pop.

The series consists of 12 newly remastered collections, released throughout the year, which are made up of songs that until now were only available on vinyl, CD or cassette.

The latest collection includes a 2024 remastered version of the track, along with a live cut from a 1997 Popmart show in Rotterdam, Netherlands. They’ve also released a video of a “Please” performance from another 1997 Popmart show in Mexico City, which previously appeared on the Popmart Live from Mexico City DVD, released in 1998. 

Previous U2 To Love and Only Love – Deep Dives and B-Sides collections were dedicated to Pop songs “Discothèque,” “Staring at the Sun” and “Last Night on Earth.”

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Sir Paul McCartney has once again made The Sunday Times’ Rich List — and passed a new milestone in the process. 

McCartney is one of 350 individuals and families to make the list, and this year he became the first U.K. musician to be crowned a billionaire. 

Paul and his wife, Nancy Shevell, rank at #165 on the Rich List with a wealth of 1 billion pounds, which equates to more than $1.27 million in the U.S. Their income comes from Paul’s touring, his back catalog and more, as well as Nancy’s family money.

McCartney isn’t the only artist on the Rich List, though. Elton John lands at #291, with a wealth of almost $600 million. So are members of The Rolling Stones, with frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards both at #316, with earnings of more than $527 million.

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Soundgarden has shared a Facebook post marking the anniversary of frontman Chris Cornell‘s death.

“We remember and honor the life and legacy of Chris Cornell, a voice that defined a generation and a soul that has resonated with millions,” the “Black Hole Sun” rockers write. “He was more than just an iconic musician; he was a poet, a trailblazer, and an advocate for those who struggled in silence.”

“We celebrate Chris Cornell’s life, his art, and his undeniable impact on the world,” the post continues. “Chris, your voice and spirit continue to echo in our hearts. Thank you for the music, the memories, and the inspiration. Rest in peace.”

Cornell died the early morning of May 18, 2017, following a Soundgarden concert in Detroit on May 17. His death was ruled a suicide.

A posthumous covers album, No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1, was released in 2020 and was nominated for the Best Rock Album Grammy.

If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

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More than 300 images from Elton John and his husband David Furnish‘s extensive photography collection are currently on display at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Elton is one of the world’s foremost collectors of photography, but says there’s one kind he hates — photos of himself.

“It’s extraordinary that I collect photographs because I don’t like being photographed,” Elton told the BBC. “I find it really painful.” He adds, “I would never put myself up on the wall [at home], no thank you.”

Furnish laughs, “The paradox of someone who appreciates and has a sophisticated eye for photographs yet cannot stand to be photographed is not lost on me.” There are two photos of Elton in the exhibit, but they’re more irreverent and don’t show him performing.

The exhibit, called Fragile Beauty, includes images of everything from the Civil Rights Movement and AIDS activism to 9/11 and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

Noting that the exhibit includes “a lot of pain and grief,” Elton explains, “Sometimes in tragic images, whether it’s paintings or photographs, there’s a lot of beauty. And that’s why the show’s called Fragile Beauty, because there’s beauty in everything.”

Elton says he was “absolutely blown away” to see his collection on display, because he hadn’t really gotten a good look at a lot of the photos he owns.

“You buy photographs and they go straight into storage,” he says. “And a lot of them I haven’t seen hung properly or hung at all. And so walking through, it’s been hung so beautifully and the different sections and wall colors. I couldn’t be happier.”

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