Classic Rock News

Billy Idol will continue the 40th anniversary celebration of his sophomore album, Rebel Yell, with a performance at one of New York’s most iconic landmarks.

Idol and his longtime guitarist and collaborator Steve Stevens will be on hand as New York’s Empire State Building helps celebrate the anniversary with a special lighting ceremony on Tuesday, April 30. The pair is also going to perform a live acoustic set for a select group of fans. 

The Rebel Yell 40th anniversary deluxe edition is out now, featuring an album of previously unreleased songs and demos. One of those previously unreleased songs, “Best Way Out of Here,” from the album’s original recording sessions, is now available on digital outlets.

Released November 1983, Rebel Yell went to #6 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, thanks to hit songs “Eyes Without A Face,” which peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 chart, the title track and “Flesh For Fantasy.” Videos for all three tracks got regular play on MTV.

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Music fans are getting their first taste of the upcoming Paul McCartney & Wings release, One Hand Clapping, with the just-released performance of the 1974 single “Junior’s Farm.”

You can listen to “Junior’s Farm” now via digital outlets.

One Hand Clapping was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in August 1974 as a video documentary and possible live album, but it never officially came out. Over the years, parts of it have come out on bootlegs, while some of the material has turned up on official McCartney releases.

Now, One Hand Clapping is getting its first official release on June 14, featuring additional songs that were recorded off-camera.

The album includes live in-studio recordings of such Wings hits as “Live and Let Die,” “Band on the Run,” “Jet” and “My Love,” as well as Paul’s solo song “Maybe I’m Amazed” and reworked versions of Beatles classics like “Let It Be,” “Lady Madonna” and “The Long and Winding Road.”

One Hand Clapping will be released digitally and as a two-LP and two-CD set. There will also be an online exclusive two-LP + 7-inch package that comes with a vinyl single of previously unreleased solo performances recorded in the backyard of Abbey Road Studios.

All formats are available for preorder now.

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Mötley Crüe has unleashed the “Dogs of War” with their first new song in five years.

The track, which is available now via digital outlets, also marks the “Kickstart My Heart” outfit’s first release since new guitarist John 5 joined the band following the retirement of Mick Mars.

“It’s always great getting back in the studio with the guys in the band,” bassist Nikki Sixx says. “We know you’re gonna like this one.”

You can watch the accompanying “Dogs of War” video, which features animated, anthropomorphic doberman dogs and pigs in suits, streaming now on YouTube.

The last time Mötley Crüe put out new music was for the soundtrack to their 2019 biopic, The Dirt, which included the Machine Gun Kelly collaboration, “The Dirt (Est. 1981).”

Mars, meanwhile, announced his retirement from touring in 2022, which led to an ongoing legal action regarding his financial stake in Mötley Crüe. He put out his debut solo album, The Other Side of Mars, in February.

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On This Day, April 26, 1978 …

The concert documentary The Last Waltz, about The Band’s farewell concert, opened in theaters.

The movie, directed by Martin Scorsese, focused on The Band’s Thanksgiving Day show on November 25, 1976, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco; it was billed as their “farewell concert appearance.”

The show featured guest appearances by a whole host of musicians, including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Ronnie Wood, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison and Neil Young.

Considered one of the greatest concert documentaries of all time, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2019.

The 45th anniversary of the movie was celebrated in 2023 with the release of a three-LP audiophile pressing of the soundtrack and a one-night screening of the film in movie theaters.

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The Smashing Pumpkins have welcomed new guitarist Kiki Wong to the band.

Billy Corgan and company chose Wong after going through a reported 10,000 submissions for the position, which they’d opened up in January to anyone interested in applying.

“Reviewing the work of these incredible musicians was a herculean, albeit worthy effort,” Corgan says. “First off, I really want to thank everyone who submitted materials for consideration. It wasn’t an easy decision with how much great guitar playing we were lucky enough to hear and see over the past few months.”

“I was a fan of Kiki’s before she submitted her name to be considered — and it’s great that someone of her acumen will be part of our touring family,” he continues. “I can’t wait to hit the road with Kiki as part of our mad circus.”

Wong, who’s played with artists including Taylor Swift, Usher and Bret Michaels, adds, “It’s been an absolute wild ride, but I am beyond honored and humbled to be chosen to perform alongside some of rock’s greatest and most influential musicians of all time.”

“I never thought little ole 15-year-old me playing metal guitar in my bedroom would amount to this moment,” she says. “It goes to show hard work and perseverance truly pays off if you’re willing to push through the tough stuff, so never lose hope out there. I am so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to share the stage with The legendary Smashing Pumpkins!”

Wong, who joins the Pumpkins following the 2023 departure of longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder, will make her live debut with the band on their European tour, which launches in June. They’ll launch a U.S. tour in July, including dates with Green Day.

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Richie Sambora is out with new music. The former Bon Jovi guitarist just released the brand new single, “I Pray,” and that’s just a taste of what’s to come.

Sambora is planning to release three more tracks to digital platforms throughout the month of May. “I Pray” will be followed by “Livin’ Alone,” coming May 3, “Songs That Wrote My Life,” out May 10, and “Believe (In Miracles),” coming May 17.

You can listen to “I Pray” now via digital services and on YouTube.

“I’m at that point in my life where I am truly happy and a big part of that joy comes from writing songs and making music,” Sambora shares. “There’s a tremendous freedom with these songs because I don’t have to think about charting #1 or what’s happening on the radio, but I still put the same craftsmanship, care and love into it as I did with Slippery When Wet or New Jersey and I hope they bring a similar happiness to those that choose to listen and push play on streaming services.”

The song release comes as Richie is featured in the brand new docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which is streaming now on Hulu. The four-part series follows the 40-year career of his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Bon Jovi.

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Pearl Jam is raffling off tickets to one of their upcoming sold-out shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

The grand prize winner will receive two tickets to PJ’s September 3 concert at the famed arena. Round-trip travel and a two-night hotel stay will be provided, as well.

You’ll also go home with a signed poster and vinyl copy of the new Pearl Jam album, Dark Matter.

The raffle is being run through the platform Fandiem and is open through June 26. A portion of the proceeds raised will benefit Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation charity organization.

For more info, visit Fandiem.com.

Dark Matter, the 12th Pearl Jam album and the follow-up to 2020’s Gigaton, dropped April 19. Pearl Jam will launch a North American tour in support of the record May 4 in Vancouver.

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Bon Jovi is looking back at their 40-year career with the new four-part docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, and front man Jon Bon Jovi tells ABC Audio he’s very proud of the final product.

“Overall, it’s a very emotional piece, to see your life flash before your eyes,” he says. “You’re showing everything. You’re putting all your cards on the table.”

As for why he felt now was the right time for such an in-depth look at the band, Jon says, “I just felt that it was an opportunity for us to mark the first 40 years and to look back while I’m looking ahead.”

There’s no doubt Bon Jovi’s devoted fan base will tune in to watch — and while some may think they know all there is to know about the group, Jon thinks there’s still a lot fans can learn about how the band got to where they are today.

“I think that folks think that these songs fall out of the sky, and then we just do things,” he says. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into making it look easy.”

But will this documentary bring a new set of fans to Bon Jovi? Jon’s not so sure.

“That’s what’s interesting about putting a documentary out,” he says. “Even if you have a perception of something, how it’s then viewed and perceived by others is completely out of your control.” 

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story premieres Friday, April 26, on Hulu.

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The Lollapalooza docuseries now has a premiere date.

The three-part Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza will debut May 21 on Paramount+. It’ll follow Lollapalooza’s history from its formation in 1991 as a touring festival to becoming the Chicago destination event it is today, all while exploring the “exciting and strangely symbiotic 30+ year relationship” between Lolla and its founder, Jane’s Addiction front man Perry Farrell.

“Finally, someone cares about the generation that no one cared about,” Farrell says in a press release.

Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza was first announced in 2023 and debuted during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January.

Meanwhile, Lollapalooza 2024 takes place August 1-4 and features headliners including blink-182, The Killers and Hozier.

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The members of Talking Heads will once again reunite to talk about their groundbreaking documentary, Stop Making Sense.

All four members of the group — David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison — will come together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the concert documentary at two Q&A sessions following screenings of the film. They took part in a similar Q&A at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

Brooklyn, New York’s Kings Theatre announced the band members will be on hand for a June 13 screening of the film, with the Q&A moderated by Questlove. The event will also feature The Linda Lindas covering “Found a Job” from the upcoming Stop Making Sense tribute album, Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, which comes out May 17.

A ticket presale is open now, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Friday, April 26. 

Brooklyn Vegan reports that the band will also be on hand for a June 4 screening of the film at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, which is where the original Stop Making Sense concerts took place. That night’s Q&A will be moderated by Fred Armisen and will feature Blondshell performing “Thank You For Sending Me an Angel,” also from the tribute album. 

Considered by many to be the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme, was recorded over three shows at Pantages Theatre in December 1983; the documentary came out the following October. 

A Stop Making Sense Collectors Edition Blu-ray, featuring two extended cuts of the film, a 25-minute documentary and more, will be released May 8. It is available for preorder now.

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