Classic Rock News

“Welcome to the Jungle” that is the movie production business, Slash.

The Guns N’ Roses guitarist has started a horror movie production company called BerserkerGang, reports Variety. In a statement issued to Variety, Slash says, “I’ve always been a huge horror fan, especially going back to the days when horror movies actually scared the hell out of you. I want to get into the heart of the producing business so I can try and make movies that I’d like to see.”

Prior to starting the company, Slash and his partners in the venture teamed up on a movie called The Breach, for which Slash was a composer and executive producer. That movie is scheduled to be released later this year.

According to Variety, details of BerskerGang’s first project may be announced in May at the Cannes Film Festival.

One of Slash’s partners, Rodrigo Gudiño, said in a statement, “The company slogan is ‘Films Forged in Fury,’ if that’s any indication of where we plan on venturing.”

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The Rolling Stones are being accused of ripping off another songwriter. The U.K.’s Classic Rock magazine reports that New Orleans songwriter Sergio Garcia Fernandez has filed a lawsuit in Louisiana claiming the Stones “misappropriated many of the recognizable and key protected elements” of two of his tracks for their 2020 single “Living In A Ghost Town.”

The songs in question are 2006’s “So Sorry” and 2007’s “Seed of God,” with Fernandez claiming he gave a demo CD with the songs to somebody in Mick Jagger’s family.

The suit also claims “Ghost Town,” which was the Stones’ first original song in eight years, copies the “vocal melodies, the chord progressions, the drum beat patterns, the harmonica parts, the electric bass line parts, the tempos, and other key signatures” from “So Sorry,” as well as the “harmonic and chord progression and melody” from “Seed of God.”

So far The Rolling Stones have not commented on the lawsuit.

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The 31st annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party raised a whopping $9 million for the ongoing global effort to end AIDS.

Sir Elton returned to host this year’s event in Los Angeles on Sunday night after missing out on last year’s festivities due to a scheduling conflict. The event was co-hosted by his husband, David Furnish, with special guests Eric McCormack and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and raised the milestone amount of money for the foundation.  

Singer Rina Sawayama serenaded the star-studded crowd with performances of her songs “Minor Feelings,” “Hold The Girl” and “This Hell.” Elton also joined her onstage for a resounding duet of “Chosen Family,” a song that was featured on his compilation album The Lockdown Sessions.

Elton said in a statement, “I’m delighted to have reunited with all of my friends tonight after such a long time apart and better yet, to have raised over $9 million for the fight against AIDS. … We mustn’t forget that HIV is still causing needless suffering around the world and we must protect those most vulnerable to this disease with testing and compassionate care.”

“We can see an end to AIDS in our lifetimes, but first we must break down stigma and discrimination and provide equal access to healthcare to finally end the epidemic for everyone, everywhere,” he continued.

Furnish explained in his own statement the money raised will “help us continue HIV and AIDS prevention and care programs across the world, save millions of lives and help countless people to have a brighter future.”

Among the attendees were Brooke Shields, Donatella Versace, Heidi Klum, Smokey Robinson, country superstar Maren Morris, Bridgerton alum Regé-Jean Page and Sharon Osbourne.

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s tour continues to be affected by illness. After postponing their show Thursday in Columbus, Ohio, The Boss was forced to postpone shows at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut this past Sunday and at the MVP Arena in Albany, New York on Tuesday.

“Illness” was to blame for both shows’ postponements, although just like the Columbus concert, there was no revelation as to who in the band is sick.

The concerts aren’t canceled though, with both announcements noting, “We are working on rescheduling the date so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled show.”

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s next scheduled concert is supposed to happen Thursday in Philadelphia, PA.

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Peter Gabriel is set to release i/o, his first new album in over 20 years, sometime in 2023. But until then, fans will be getting a new song with each new moon, which is far from a conventional approach to releasing an album. 

“I’m an awkward sod. I like doing things differently, if I can,” he tells Uncut magazine in a new interview. “I’m 72. At this point, it doesn’t matter what other people say. I listen, still, to people who I think are wise and smart and have good taste. Generally, though, I’ll end up doing what I think will be either fun or interesting.”

So far Gabriel has released three tracks from i/o: the lead single, “Panopticom,” along with “Playing for Time” and “The Court (Dark-Side remix).” It sounds like he has plenty more to share. 

Gabriel says he has a “surplus” of material just waiting for release, explaining “there’s probably 20 or so new things.”

“So I’ll see where we get to with those,” he says. “If I have the stamina, I may just keep going.”

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David Byrne is known for innovative presentations of his music, and he didn’t disappoint Sunday night at the 95th annual Academy Awards.

Byrne performed his Best Original Song “This Is a Life,” from the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, accompanied by Son Lux — whose member Ryan Lott co-wrote the song with Byrne — and one of the movie’s stars, Stephanie Hsu, standing in for the song’s other writer, Mitski.

Hsu sang the song in a floor-length gown which appeared to be covered with feathers, while Byrne wore a white suit.  When he moved his arms, he revealed that he was wearing “hot dog fingers” on his hands, aping one of the most memorable scenes in the film.

As Byrne and Hsu sang the song, a group of dancers performed balletic fight choreography in front of them, and large video screens displayed a number of key images from the movie: An everything bagel, googly eyes and a raccoon, among other things.  

If “This Is a Life” wins the Oscar, it’ll be Byrne’s second: In 1988, he won Best Original Score for his work on The Last Emperor with composers Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su.

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Billy Joel predicted that he and Stevie Nicks would sing each other’s songs during their co-headlining stadium tour, and they did — but they sang them together.

Billboard reports that for the opening night of the tour, which took place Friday, March 10 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, they sang two duets.  The first was “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” Stevie’s hit duet with the late Tom Petty; Billy joined her onstage to sing Petty’s parts.  Then, during Billy’s set, Stevie joined him to sing the ballad “And So It Goes,” from his 1989 album Storm Front.

You can watch fan-shot videos of both performances on YouTube.

Billboard notes that when Stevie paid tribute to her late Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie while performing “Landslide” during her set, she told the crowd, “I have to imagine she’s still here. It’s all I can do.” She also sang the Fleetwood Mac song “Sara” for the first time since 2008.

The next date on the tour is April 8 in Arlington, TX and will continue on and off through November.

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James Taylor has a treat in store for his fans. The singer announced that on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET he’ll stream a “rarely seen” classic concert on YouTube.

James Taylor – In Concert will feature a 90-minute show filmed August 19, 1979, at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

And after Friday’s debut, fans who missed the initial airing will be able to watch it on demand on Taylor’s YouTube channel for seven days.

Fans will soon be able to see Taylor perform live, in person. He is scheduled to hit the road on a new tour this spring, with dates kicking off with a two-night stand in Woodinville, Washington, May 25 and 26. A complete list of dates can be found at jameestaylor.com.

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It sounds like The Who fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a new album. In a new interview with NME, frontman Roger Daltrey explains why the band has no plans to make new music together. 

“What’s the point?” Daltrey tells the mag. “What’s the point of records? We released an album four years ago, and it did nothing,” he says, referring to the 2019 release Who. He adds, “It’s a great album too, but there isn’t the interest out there for new music these days. People want to hear the old music. I don’t know why, but that’s the fact.”

He also lays the blame on record companies, noting that despite the fact their fan base ranges “from 80-years-old, all the way down to eight-years-old,” companies “just don’t do the same job as they used to.”

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David Bowie’s life and career are being explored in a new book of personal photos from his childhood friend Geoff MacCormack.

David Bowie: Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me, dropping March 20, features photos MacCormack took while on tour with the White Duke in 1973, while Bowie filmed The Man Who Fell to Earth, recorded Station to Station and more. 

“I was very lucky,” the photographer tells People of his friendship with the rock star, noting that while it was happening he had “absolutely” no idea the photos were capturing history.

MacCormack previously released a limited-edition Bowie photo book in 2007, which included a forward written by Bowie, who claimed MacCormack imagined all their adventures. That forward is included in the new book, but as the afterward.

“Obviously the book is sad at the end because he departs,” MacCormack shares, referring to Bowie’s 2016 death. “So I’ve used that and it kind of lifts you up at the end.” 

MacCormack shares some of the photos from the book with People, including one of what looks like Bowie moving a tree branch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where The Man Who Fell to Earth was shot.

“I’m totally mystified about this picture because I don’t remember taking it!” he says. “It looks like Santa Fe, if you look at the house, it’s got that kind of look about it.” He added, “Why would he be moving trees? It’s beyond crazy.”

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