Classic Rock News

Ozzy Osbourne may be the Prince of Darkness, but he’s hoping to one day be King of the Charts.

Speaking with Spin, the 75-year-old rock legend shares what, if anything, he still wants to accomplish in the music industry.

“I still want to see an Ozzy Osbourne number one album,” Ozzy says.

While he’s accomplished the feat with Black Sabbath, Ozzy’s never hit #1 on the Billboard 200, nor on his home country’s Official Albums Chart, with a solo album. He’s peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 with 2007’s Black Rain, 2020’s Ordinary Man and 2022’s Patient Number 9, and at #2 in the U.K. with Patient Number 9.

While charting a #1 album as a solo artist still eludes him, Ozzy’s extensive list of artistic achievements includes being considered a pioneer of metal. However, he shares that he’s “never felt comfortable” with being deemed a metal artist.

“Ozzy Osbourne plays heavy, but the bands that are [considered metal] are really heavy, and we’re all put in the same category,” he says. “When you get pigeonholed with a certain [genre], it can be very difficult to do something a bit lighter or an acoustic track or whatever you want to do. Back in the day, it was always just rock music. It’s still just rock music.”

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Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison is teaming up with the band’s touring guitarist Adrian Belew for a new tour this summer.

The 2024 Remain in Light summer tour, as the name of the tour suggests, will have the artists playing songs from the 1980s era of Talking Heads, when they released their fourth studio album, Remain in Light, which featured the hit song “Once in a Lifetime.”

The tour, featuring special guest Cool Cool Cool, will kick off July 26 in Cincinnati, Ohio, wrapping August 4 in Tarrytown, New York.

An artist presale kicks off Wednesday, December 13, at 10 a.m., with the general sale set for Friday, December 15, at 10 a.m. More info can be found at remaininlight.net.

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After beating Dave Grohl in a drum-off, Nandi Bushell has added another accomplishment to her young career.

In a new video for YouTube channel Drumeo‘s ongoing series, the musical prodigy plays drums along with Twisted Sister‘s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” despite never hearing the song before, just like Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith recently did with Thirty Seconds to Mars‘ “The Kill.”

For her rendition, Bushell delivers a typically exuberant performance previously seen in covers of Foo Fighters, Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine that have gone viral over the past few years. She also adds a healthy dose of cowbell to the track, which, as Christopher Walken will tell you, is always welcome.

Bushell made headlines in 2020 thanks to the aforementioned drum battle with Grohl, which ultimately led to the “Everlong” rocker admitting defeat after several back-and-forths. That led to Bushell performing with Foo Fighters during a 2021 concert. She also played with them during the 2022 Taylor Hawkins London tribute concert.

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Bret Michaels, Queensrÿche and Night Ranger are among the acts confirmed for the 15th annual M3 Rock Festival, taking place May 4 and 5 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

The Saturday bill features a headlining performance by Queensrÿche, along with Stephen Pearcy of Ratt, Quiet Riot, and more. Michaels, with special guest Dee Snider, will headline Sunday night, with the bill also including Night Ranger and Stryper.

The two nights will end with what’s being described as a “once-in-a-lifetime M3 exclusive encore jam session featuring anyone and everyone from this year’s lineup.”

“I’m truly excited to be back at M3,” Michaels shares. “It’s a great rock festival, and I promise you I’m bringing all killer hits, no filler, and a big show! I want the fans to unleash their inner Rockstar.”

Tickets for the festival go on sale Friday, December 15, at 10 a.m. ET. More information, including the complete lineup, can be found at m3rockfest.com.

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The Allman Brothers Band is revisiting a classic live performance for a new release coming early next year.

Manley Field House, Syracuse University, April 7, 1972, dropping January 12, captures a concert during the group’s brief Five-Man-Band period, following the October 1971 death of Duane Allman, which saw them playing over 40 shows with a lineup of only five original members: Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe. 

Although the concert has previously been available as a fan bootleg, this is the first time it will be released digitally and on CD. It includes performances of such classic tunes as “Midnight Rider,” “Whipping Post” and “Statesboro Blues,” as well as the one-time-only “Syracuse Jam,” a performance that doesn’t appear on any other known recording from the band.

Here is the track list for Manley Field House, Syracuse University, April 7, 1972”

“Introduction”
“Statesboro Blues”
“Done Somebody Wrong”
“Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More”
“One Way Out”
“Stormy Monday”
“You Don’t Love Me”
“In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed”
“Midnight Rider”
“Whipping Post”
“Syracuse Jam”
“Hot ‘Lanta”

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Rod Stewart is going to help folks ring in the new year. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is set to perform on CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on December 31. 

Stewart is just one of many acts performing on the CNN special. Others include Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers, Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert and Flo Rida, with Patti Labelle among the stars set to be interviewed live on the show, along with Jeremy Renner, Neil Patrick Harris and others. Magician David Blaine is also set to make a special appearance.

“There’s no one I’d rather spend New Year’s Eve with and nowhere I’d rather be at midnight than New York’s Times Square!” said Cooper, while Cohen added, “Spending new years with my dear friend Anderson is my idea of a great time, and a happy tradition that I look forward to all year long.”

So far, there’s no word on whether Rod’s performance will be live or taped. The rocker recently announced he’ll be releasing a new album, Swing Fever, on February 23. The project is a collaboration between Rod and big band leader, TV host and former Squeeze keyboardist Jools Holland.

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The 50-year career of George Thorogood & The Destroyers is being celebrated by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with a Legends of Rock exhibit.

Launching Tuesday, December 12, the exhibit will feature wardrobe, instruments, gear and more from the band’s half a century career.

Some of the items featured in the exhibit include: Thorogood’s Gibson ES-125TDC electric guitar and his custom faux snakeskin jacket, the late Hank Carter’s Selmer Super Action Series II alto saxophone, the Checker Marathon roof sign from the taxi the band drove during their 50 States/50 Dates tour, and a speaker that was part of the band’s original P.A. system.

“For the past fifty years, we’ve spent nearly every night making music,” Thorogood shares. “According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, we were also making history. Our heart and soul have been in this since day one; rock fans recognize that. The band and I are enormously humbled by this honor.”

The new exhibit follows a series of other 50th anniversary celebrations, including a sold-out November event at the Grammy Museum that featured a conversation with the band and a live performance.

George Thorogood & The Destroyers launched their live career with a show at The University of Delaware’s Lane Hall on December 1, 1973.

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On This Day, December 12, 2012… 

12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, which struck portions of the Northeastern United States, the Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic in late October 2012. 

The concert featured performances by Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, Roger Waters with Eddie Vedder, Coldplay with R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and more.

Paul McCartney closed the show, where he was joined by the surviving members of Nirvana, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and touring guitarist Pat Smear, for their first performance together in 18 years.

The concert was broadcast live in the U.S. on a variety of networks, including HBO, AMC, and a documentary, DVD and CD of the concert was also released.

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A new book about the late Derek and the Dominos drummer Jim Gordon is due out in February, and it already has some superstar fans. 

Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon by Joel Selvin was made with the cooperation of Gordon’s family. It focuses not only on his music career, but also his mental illness, which led to him being incarcerated for the murder of his mother.

Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart describes Gordon as “one of the rare players who danced on the edge and knew the secrets,” noting that after reading the book he “stared slack-jawed out at space trying to come to grips with this amazing, tragic story.”

“Joel’s book is a fascinating, well-written period piece describing the L.A. session scene in the ‘70s,” Pete Thomas, drummer for Elvis Costello & the Attractions, shares. “Most drummers have gone a bit off the rails at some point in their careers but sadly things went very wrong for Jim. Joel describes this aspect of Jim’s life in a very thoughtful and sympathetic way.”

Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon will be released February 27. It is available for preorder now. 

And for fans who want to get a taste of Gordon’s drumming, a new Spotify playlist is available featuring highlights of his work, including Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” John Lennon’s “Power to the People,” Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown.”

Gordon passed away behind bars on March 13 at the age of 77.

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The estate of the late Ramones frontman Joey Ramone has teamed with the Sweet Relief Music Fund for an auction of clothing and memorabilia to help raise money for D Generation frontman Jesse Malin’s medical care.

Malin suffered a spinal stroke in May and is currently unable to walk. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, he reveals that he’s undergoing treatment in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which includes physical therapy and stem-cell treatment.

The auction features several items of clothing worn by Joey, including band T-shirts of The Who, Soundgarden and Murphy’s Law and a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, plus a Joey Ramone poster and vinyl pack.

The auction is now live, with bidding open until December 21.

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