Classic Rock News

E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt, Sam & Dave’s Sam Moore, Darlene Love and Steve Earle have been chosen as the honorees for the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music’s first-ever American Music Honors. 

The inaugural event will take place April 15 at the Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, the home of the Bruce Springsteen Archives. Jon Stewart has been tapped to host the evening.

“American Music Honors aims to celebrate those artists who have demonstrated artistic excellence, creative integrity, and a longstanding commitment to the value of music in our national consciousness,” Robert Santelli, founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, says. “All of our inaugural honorees are worthy of acknowledgment and appreciation.” 

Springsteen, his wife, Patti Scialfa, and E Street Band member Garry Tallent will serve as presenters, along with Southside Johnny Lyon of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. The night will also feature the Disciples of Soul as the house band.

“This event showcases the ‘American Music’ part of our name and mission,” Patrick Leahy, Monmouth University president and board chair of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, adds. “By honoring American music greats, such as those named today, and by creating dynamic education and public programs, along with major museum exhibitions, we make valuable contributions to the understanding and importance of American music in our lives.”

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Sir Rod Stewart is paying for a British fan to receive life-changing medical treatment in America.

Sunday Express reports Rod met a 20-year-old fan named Abi Evans, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and has lost the ability to walk, at a charity auction. Mayo Clinic describes the condition as a disorder that affects one’s connective tissue.

Evans told the outlet the legendary singer wanted to know about her condition. “I told him … I have a paralyzed stomach and nerve damage in my legs which means I can’t walk, but there was a possibility of treatment abroad that could make me better,” she recalled. 

Evans said Stewart offered to help her obtain the treatment. “He is sending me to get stem cell treatment in America,” she said, adding he said he “is going to help in a number of other ways.”

“I explained how a rare condition like mine hugely benefits from awareness, that leads to advances in research. He understood that and with his profile said he would help,” she explained. Evans said Stewart wants to “make life a bit better for other people with the condition as well.”

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Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle has paid tribute to his late bandmate Gary Rossington, who passed away Sunday at the age of 71. Pyle, who replaced original drummer Bob Burns in 1975, tells Rolling Stone that after hearing the news of Rossington’s death he went back and looked at the final texts they sent to each other.

“I’ve already gone back, looked at them, and read the entire thread between Gary and I,” he tells the mag. “And I will cherish these texts for the rest of my life.”

Talking about the band, Pyle shared, “When Bob, Gary and [singer] Ronnie [Van Zant] got together in Bob’s carport on the west side of Jacksonville, Florida, they put something together that went worldwide.” He added, “Everyone will remember Gary as a road dog, trouper, songwriter, and one of the greatest guitar players that ever lived. He just loved being onstage.”

And while Pyle went on to sue members of Lynyrd Skynyrd over a movie about the band’s 1977 plane crash that killed Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and others, he says he’s ready to put that in the past. Pyle notes, “I don’t want to ever talk about it again — the music business did not kill our love for the music, it never did. Gary’s place in music history is rock solid. Fly on, fly high, our free bird brother.”

Rossington was the final living member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd, and with his death Pyle is now the only living Lynyrd Skynyrd member inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band. “As it turns out, being the last living member of Lynyrd Skynyrd is not all it’s cracked up to be,” Pyle says. “It’s painful, and I’m trying to process it and deal with it.”

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On This Day, March 7, 1975…

David Bowie released his ninth studio album, Young Americans, which was considered a departure from his glam-rock style, focusing more on soul and R&B influences. 

The album, which featured backing vocals by a then-unknown singer named Luther Vandross, debuted in the Billboard 200 top 10 in the U.S. and remained on the chart for 51 weeks.

The album’s second single, “Fame,” became Bowie’s first number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album’s first single, the title track, peaked at 28 on the chart.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers are headlining the 2023 Sound On Sound festival, taking place September 30 and October 1 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The bill also includes Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Alanis Morissette, Hozier, Lord Huron, Dispatch, Mt. Joy and John Mayer, among others.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 9, at noon ET. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit SoundonSoundCT.com.

Before playing Sound On Sound, Red Hot Chili Peppers will launch a U.S. headlining tour in April in support of their two 2022 albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen.

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When Peter Gabriel recently announced his new album, i/o, he said he’d be dropping a new song with each full moon. For March’s full moon he’s shared the new track “Playing for Time,” which he wrote and produced.

“’Playing for Time’ is a song that I have been working on for a long time and have performed live, without lyrics, so some people may be familiar with it,” Gabriel shares. “It’s been an important song for me. It’s about time, mortality and memories and the idea that each of us has a planet full of memories which get stashed inside the brain.” 

This is the third track Gabriel has released from i/o, his first new album in 20 years. He’s already shared “The Court (Dark-Side remix)” and “Panopticom.”

So far the album does not have an exact release date but it is expected to come out this year.

And now fans in the U.S. and Canada are going to get to see Gabriel perform his new music this fall. He’s added 12 new North American dates to his i/o – The Tour, kicking off September 8 in Quebec City, Canada. The first U.S. date scheduled is September 14 in Boston, with the tour hitting Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco before wrapping October 13 in Los Angeles. More U.S. dates are expected to be announced.

Tickets for the North American leg go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. You can find a complete list of dates at petergabriel.com.

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U2 is releasing their new album, Songs of Surrender, on March 17, featuring reworked and rerecorded classics. But fans are anxious for new material from the band, and in an interview with Rolling Stone, guitarist The Edge says they’ve “been busy” working on that.

“Even leading up to the lockdown, we had a lot of interesting stuff, some of which is almost finished,” he says. “We’re kind of spoiled for choice. There’s an embarrassment of riches of new material.”

Bono previously described what they were working on as a “guitar album.” Edge says he thinks it’s time for “a resurgence of interest in guitar,” noting it’s “been in the wilderness for a little while” with regard to streaming music charts. 

“I think it would be wonderful and very welcome for us to make some music that is more driven by guitar. That is the intention,” he says. “That isn’t to say we are turning into AC/DC, but we will find a way to use the instrument in a fresh way as much as possible. It’s still my first love for me as an instrument.”

As for when fans can expect it, Edge says he would love to get it out “as soon as possible,” adding, “we’ve been busy and very inspired creating new stuff.”

Meanwhile, U2 has certainly had quite a career and there are likely plenty of stories to tell, and it sounds like Edge is open to telling them on the big screen.

“I definitely could see that coming at some point. Why not?” he says, when asked if they’d do a biopic. “There’s been some great ones recently. It will have to be the right moment, the right team. But I wouldn’t rule it out.”

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Netflix is getting ready to delve into the story of disgraced rock ‘n’ roller Gary Glitter. Variety reports the streaming service is working on a new documentary about Glitter, who was convicted of child sexual abuse and other sexual offenses. 

Tentatively titled Hunting Gary Glitter, the documentary will talk to journalists who covered the case and helped bring Glitter to justice, as well as some of his victims. It will include never-before-seen photos and archival footage, dating back to his early life up until his conviction.

Glitter, born Paul Gadd, was convicted of possessing child porn in 1999, then convicted again in 2006 of child sexual abuse. In 2015 he was convicted on charges of attempted rape, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but was released from jail in February 2023 after serving half his sentence.

And the Netflix doc may not be the only one we get about Glitter. Amazon Prime Video and the U.K.’s ITV are also reportedly working on docs about him.

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John Mellencamp is bringing his legacy to Indiana University. In case you missed it, it was announced during the recent Mellencamp Symposium on the Bloomington campus that the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer would donate his archives to the school. 

The collection will feature photographs, instruments, significant memorabilia and more, covering not only his music and artistry, but his social activism and philanthropy.

“John’s impact on music and American culture is immense,” IU President Pamela Whitten shares. “On behalf of Hoosiers everywhere, I am exceptionally proud of John’s lifelong association with IU and deeply grateful to him for selecting the university as the permanent home for his archives.” She adds, “His collection will be an incredible resource for arts scholars and a clear source of inspiration to our students. We are thrilled to honor him and celebrate his many contributions to music, art and IU.” 

Mellencamp will be commemorated on the Bloomington campus with a sculpture that’s recently been commissioned to “symbolize the strong connection Mellencamp has to his southern Indiana roots.” There will be an exhibition of the rocker’s art at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, debuting in the 2023-24 academic year.

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Gary Rossington, guitarist and last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away Sunday at the age of 71. The news prompted several artists to take to social media to pay tribute to the legendary guitarist.

“Gary Rossington’s loss is especially profound to us as we’ve spent countless hours in his company on tour and elsewise,” ZZ Top‘s Billy F. Gibbons shares. “We facilitated getting Lynyrd Skynyrd on the bill with ZZ Top at a South Carolina date way back at the start of the band’s rise in ’73 and that was the start of an enduring friendship.”

He adds, “Gary’s extraordinary ability as a guitarist was nothing less than inspirational. It’s an old cliché about somebody who has paid their dues to call them a survivor and in this case it is literally true. He was the last of the breed and will be missed.”

Peter Frampton adds, “This cannot be! My heart breaks for Dale Rossington and the entire Skynryd family today. We have been friends since first touring together in the 70s. We will miss you my friend.”

Other tributes include:

Metallica’s James Hetfield – “RIP Brother Gary. Thank you for bringing me so much joy with your guitar playing and songwriting in one of my all time favorite bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine – “Saddened to hear about the passing of the great Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The last surviving original member of the legendary band. Rest in Peace, Gary.”

Paul Rodgers – “Yesterday we lost our musical brother Gary Rossington, a man we all loved. Our thoughts are with his love Dale, their family and his many friends and fans. I am numb…this cuts deep.”

Bret Michaels – “I send this with all of my heart, prayers & condolences to the family, friends & fans of Gary Rossington. On behalf of my family, he brought a lot of great music & many great memories to so many people. May he rest in peace.”

John 5 – “Ever since I was a kid I have loved #LynyrdSkynyrd & Gary’s guitar playing. I was fortunate to make a lotta great music with Gary & the boys. We stayed friends for many years. I will miss you. Rest in peace brother. #GaryRossington #RIP.”

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