Classic Rock News

Pink Floyd continues to celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, and has just shared a new video looking back at the groundbreaking tour in support of the album.

The clip looks at the first-ever use of their large circular screen at the back of the stage, and their surround sound system. It features commentary from Roger Waters, as well as Aubrey Powell of album cover design company Hipgnosis, and Ian Emes, who did the animation for the “Time” sequence for the Dark Side tour. 

There’s also an interview with Jill Furmanovsky, who shot the majority of the photos on the tour. Those photos are included in the new book Pink Floyd — The Dark Side of the Moon: 50th Anniversary, which is included in the 50th anniversary box set, available now.

“Floyd were unique at the time, they were breaking all these boundaries technically. It was a totally immersive experience,” she shares. “It was a really good time for the band. Everyone was in their prime. They seemed to be enjoying all of it.”

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Tesla is extending their time in Sin City. The band just announced a new set of dates for their Las Vegas residency. 

The band has added five new shows, taking place September 29 and 30, and October 4, 6 and 7 at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Presale tickets go on sale Tuesday, with the general sale set for Friday at 10 p.m. PT. 

Tesla is already set to return to Las Vegas this week, with shows happening Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The band also has several dates booked throughout the spring and summer. Their complete tour schedule can be found at teslaband.com.

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Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx is hitting back at an accusation the band performs with backing tapes on their tour.

As previously reported, the accusation was made by former Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice, who claimed that guitarist Mick Mars, who retired from touring with Crüe, was “unhappy” touring with the band because “basically, everything was on tape.”

A fan on Twitter asked Sixx about the accusations, and he didn’t hold back his feelings. “A washed up drummer speaking for our band without any of the facts is as ridiculous as bottom feeder media running with stories without fact checking,” he tweeted. “When you hear the truth it will be from us.” 

But Appice didn’t let Sixx have the last word. He was quick to respond, “At least this washed up drummer can play his instrument well who has pioneered heavy rock drumming and can educate others around the world on his instrument !!!”

Mötley Crüe is currently on a short break from their world tour with Def Leppard. Their next show is scheduled for May 22 in Sheffield, England. A complete list of dates can be found at motleycrue.com.

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KISS’ Gene Simmons recently announced a chance for U.K. fans to record a song with him at Abbey Road Studios — for a price, of course. Well, now he’s offering U.S. fans a similar experience.

To coincide with KISS’ final shows ever at New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 1 and 2, Simmons is giving lucky fans a chance to join him at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios December 4, 5 and 6.

For a little less than $6,000, a fan and a guest will get to spend the day in the studio with Simmons and record a song with him, which they’ll be able to take home. They’ll also get to hear Gene share stories about his career, snag some items from his personal KISS collection and take a photo with him. Plus Simmons will sign two of the purchaser’s personal items. 

Simmons notes that no musical experience is necessary to take part in this special package, but “if you play an instrument, we may use that in the recording.”

More info can be found at genesimmonselectricladystudios.com.

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Metallica‘s “Enter Sandman” still rung out during Virginia Tech’s opening game during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, despite a rule preventing it from being played.

As The Roanoke Times explains, even though Virginia Tech was hosting the game at its home Cassell Coliseum, the NCAA defines tournament matches as “neutral,” meaning the arena isn’t allowed its “team-preferred music.” That includes “Enter Sandman,” which Virginia Tech usually plays during home games right before tip-off.

However, that didn’t stop the fans in the stands from singing the metal classic. In footage shared by The Roanoke Times, you can hear the crowd belt out the opening verse of “Enter Sandman” as the game begins.

By the way, Virginia Tech won their first two tournament games and advanced to the Sweet 16.

“Enter Sandman” will also be sung in stadiums across the globe when Metallica launches their M72 world tour, which begins in Europe in April before kicking off in the U.S. in August. They’ll be supporting their new album, 72 Seasons, dropping April 14.

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Sir Rod Stewart was forced to press pause on the Australian leg of his tour due to an unexpected illness.

He took to Instagram Saturday to share a statement that his scheduled performance at Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong would not proceed as planned. The show was part of the venue’s A Day on the Green festival, where the singer was set to perform alongside Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens.

They, along with Stewart, shared the joint announcement from Live Nation, saying the show “will not go ahead, due to illness.”

The announcement, which was captioned with a broken heart emoji, also promised that fans would hear “a further announcement regarding the concert arrangements … early next week.”

Stewart explained why he had to pull out of the festival in a follow-up post. “I am absolutely downhearted that I’m disappointing my fans,” the statement began. It continued, “Late this morning I was advised that I have a viral infection and my throat is too irritated to sing.”

“I’m only human and sometimes get sick just like you do. My greatest joy is performing for you, so I’m doing everything I can to get on the mend and back on stage,” the statement closed.

So far no announcement has been made regarding his scheduled Tuesday show at AEC Arena in Adelaide.

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U2 announced earlier this year they would be headlining a new Las Vegas residency this fall, but their drummer, Larry Mullen Jr., would be missing it in order to continue to recover from surgery. Fans were not happy about the news, and it turns out bassist Adam Clayton has some reservations, as well.

“I don’t know what it’s going to be like,” Clayton tells Billboard. “I haven’t played with anyone else before. I know playing with Larry Mullen, he always made me sound good, and that was half the job done.” 

But Clayton notes having Bram van den Berg fill in for Mullen “might just keep us on our toes. I’m sure we’ll find our groove.” 

And to assure fans things will be OK, Clayton offers, “I think Bram is a great player. He’s got a great reputation. He’s a lovely man. If the musician’s heart is in the right place, the music follows without too much difficulty.”

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On This Day March 20, 1969…

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who met in 1966 and became romantically involved in 1968, got married in Gibraltar.

They honeymooned in Paris, Amsterdam and Montreal, staging a Bed-In-For-Peace in the latter two cities. Lennon documented the whole honeymoon experience in the Top 10 single “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” recorded with help from Paul McCartney.

The couple welcomed their only son, Sean Taro Ono Lennon, in October of 1975, and remained married until Lennon’s murder on December 8, 1980. They did separate for 18 months between 1973 and 1975, in which Lennon dated May Pang. That time was referred to as Lennon’s “Lost Weekend.”

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Foreigner is heading to Las Vegas for their residency at The Venetian next week, and for frontman Kelly Hansen, these shows are a totally different experience than the ones they play when they are out on tour. 

“The Vegas residency is a casino, and in that sense it’s different because people are coming from all of the country, and in some circumstances all of the world, to one venue to come see you,” he says. “Which is an unusual and unique occurrence for us, which means we’re having a much broader audience at those shows.”

He adds, “I mean, these people make arrangements and spend a lot of time and money and effort to come see us play, so it’s really important that we’re there and not sick, and we’re taking care of ourselves and doing a good show.” 

And there are certainly some things he loves about playing Vegas. “For us it’s really great because we can just walk in from the hotel, and we’re very rested, we’re ready for an energetic show,” Hansen shares. “Sometimes, I have to admit, here and there, you know, after five or six shows in a week, that last one you’re going, ‘Oh how am I going to do this show tonight?’” 

Foreigner’s Las Vegas residency kicks off Friday, March 24. A complete list of Foreigner dates can be found at foreigneronline.com.

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Rick Allen, the drummer of Def Leppard, issued a statement exclusively to ABC News on Sunday in response to being violently assaulted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last week.

“Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space,” the statement said, adding they are focused on “healing for everyone involved.”

“We ask you to join us in our effort to move from confusion and shock to compassion and empathy,” the statement continued. “We understand this act of violence can be triggering for so many people. To all of the fans, veterans and first responders in our global community, we are thinking of you all. Together with love, we can all get through these difficult times.

Police arrested Ohio teenager Max Hartley, 19, after he allegedly attacked the 59-year-old drummer outside of the Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale on March 13, a day after the band played at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, according to authorities.

Allen, who lost his arm in an accident in 1984 and has played the drums with one arm ever since, hit his head after Hartley allegedly came up from behind and threw him to the ground, according to a police report reviewed by ABC News.

A woman who reportedly tried to interfere in the incident was also allegedly attacked by Hartley, who began hitting her and dragging her by her hair, according to police.

Hartley was caught shortly after the incident and has since been charged with four counts of criminal mischief, a felony; one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of aggravated battery, according to a Fort Lauderdale police incident report.

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