Classic Rock News

Rockers Gene Simmons and Neil Young have both announced they are leaving X, formerly known as Twitter. The move comes as several companies have pulled ads from the social media site after owner Elon Musk seemed to endorse a post that included comments that have been deemed antisemitic. 

Simmons, who is Jewish and was born in Israel, simply posted, “Friends, I’ve decided to end my X/Twitter posting.” He shared links to his Instagram, TikTok and Threads accounts.

Young announced his decision to leave on his Archives website, sharing a photo of Musk with the caption, “Teslas should fly flags of love – not hate.” 

“We are stopping all use of X that we can control,” the site reads. “For reasons that should be obvious to the richest man on Earth, we are taking action against his company.”

It continued with a message to both Palestinian and Jewish friends, noting, “We do need to start over in the present and release our terrible connections to the past. As bad as they are, they need to be forgotten so we can be free to move on in life together, all humanity, focused on saving our planet for future generations of all people.”

Musk has since come out and denied he is antisemitic, writing on X, “This past week, there were hundreds of bogus media stories claiming that I am antisemitic. Nothing could be further from the truth. I wish only the best for humanity and a prosperous and exciting future for all.”

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Blondie guitarist Chris Stein hasn’t played with the band in over a year, after telling fans in April 2022 that he had to sit out of shows due to an irregular heartbeat. He’s also living with prostate cancer, and all of that has led him to realize he isn’t likely to tour again.

“I miss it a little [playing live], but it’s a lot of work, and I did it for 50 years, I kind of got it out of my system,” he shares in a new interview with The Sunday Times. “It’s doubtful I’m gonna do more shows at this point.”

Stein says the rock star lifestyle has left him feeling “a little fatigued,” and he seems to regret some of the decisions he made over the years.

“All this stuff caught up with me in my old age,” he explains. “Don’t do drugs, kids, is all I can say. All that sh** I did over the years didn’t help.”

Fans will soon be able to read all about Stein’s rock star life. He recently announced that his memoir, Under A Rock, will be released June 11. It is available for preorder now.

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AC/DC fans have decided on what song they want to make #1 for Christmas.

Earlier this month, in honor of the band’s 50th anniversary, the Facebook fan group AC/DC We Salute You launched a campaign to get an AC/DC single on top of the U.K. chart for the holidays. After a vote, fans have decided to concentrate their efforts into the 1990 song “Thunderstruck.”

The campaign follows the one the band launched in 2013 for their 40th anniversary. They set out to get the classic AC/DC single “Highway To Hell” to the top of the U.K. chart but ultimately got it to #4. 

“It is fitting in a way. Last time out, we championed a Bon Scott song. This time, we’re championing a Brian Johnson song,” the group shares. They advise that fans download “Thunderstruck” between December 15 and December 21 to have the best chance at that coveted Christmas #1.

In other AC/DC news, drummer Phil Rudd tells New Zealand’s Stuff that he’s auctioning off some of his personal items to help raise money for a cancer charity in honor of his best friend Toni Wilson, who is dying from breast cancer. Items that will go up for auction include AC/DC gear, drum sticks played while performing, memorabilia and even a sports car. Proceeds will go to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

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Elton John has won several awards, including a Tony, for his stage musicals, but on November 19, he was given a special award for his contributions to the art form as a whole.

At the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London, handed out by the U.K. paper The Evening Standard, Elton received the Editors Award for “bringing his collaborative musical spirit to theatre.” Among Elton’s hit musicals are The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Aida and Tammy Faye, which was a hit this year in London’s West End and is moving to Broadway next year.

Elton was presented the award by his collaborator on Tammy Faye, Jake Shears of the group Scissor Sisters, and by Culture Club‘s Boy George, who will be returning to Broadway next year with a role in Moulin Rouge: The Musical.

On Instagram, Elton wrote, “Creating music for the stage has been some of the most gratifying projects for me, from the Lion King to Billy Elliot and now Tammy Faye, so thank you to the editors for this award as well as @jakeshears and @boygeorgeofficial for presenting it to me. With @tammyfayebway coming next year, I couldn’t be more proud of this recognition. Thank you.”

In other Elton news, earlier this month, he was presented with a plaque recognizing that his best-of compilation Diamonds has been RIAA certified multi-Platinum for sales of more than two million copies.

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Rush’s Geddy Lee recently revealed that the book may not be closed on him and bandmate Alex Lifeson touring again, although Lifeson’s health issues may prevent it from happening. Apparently, that’s not the only thing that may keep Lifeson off the road.

Geddy tells Rolling Stone that Lifeson may not be keen to tour because he wasn’t “super happy in the last few tours” and got bored quickly. “I think being away and touring is more difficult for him to be happy,” he explains.

If they ever tour again, it will be the first time since the 2020 death of their drummer Neil Peart, and Geddy isn’t so sure they should go out using the name Rush.

“I don’t know how comfortable we would be doing that, calling ourselves Rush, and it’s all speculation because … Honestly, it’s unlikely to happen,” he says. “That’s a conversation for probably another time, but we might not be super comfortable.” He then joked, “But we could always call ourselves some other stupid name, or Rash.”

When the suggestion “Lee and Lifeson” came up, he wasn’t happy with that either, noting, “‘Lee and Lifeson Play the Songs of Rush.’ That really sounds like an old-fart Eighties band.”

On a positive note, Geddy, whose memoir, My Effin’ Life, is out now, suggested the possibility of new music from him and Lifeson isn’t out of the question, although they currently don’t have anything planned.

“Would I like to write some more music? Now, yes, I would. I am ready for that,” he says. “Does Alex want to write some more music with me? Yes, he does. He’s made that very clear. And that’s something I will try to do with him over the coming year.”

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Bruce Springsteen has opened up about just how much he relies on his longtime friend and E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt.

The Boss turned up during a 60 Minutes profile on Little Steven, calling him “the consigliere of the E Street Band,” a reference to a crime underboss similar to Van Zandt’s role of Silvio Dante in The Sopranos. 

“If I have questions pertaining a direction for the band, or issues with the band, or something like the set list, I’m not sure what we’re gonna play that night, or what we should start with, or if he has second doubts about something, he always comes to me,” Springsteen explained. “He’s been essential to me since he walked into the studio during the Born to Run sessions and fixed the horns and my guitar parts.”

Springsteen, who has known Van Zandt since the guitarist was 16, added, “We’ve been doing it together for a long time. And that’s a wonderful thing. How many people have their best friend at their side 50 some years later?”

Van Zandt feels the same way about his boss and friend. “People always say, ‘Aren’t you worried about, being replaced?’” he said. “I’m like, ‘No. I can’t be replaced. How many best friends do you have for 50 years?'”

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Ever since The Rolling Stones announced their new album, Hackney Diamonds, fans have been speculating that they’ll be going back out on the road. Well, now it seems the band is teasing just that. 

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers shared a post on social media, set to the tune “Street Fighting Man.” It featured a variety of images, including a drum with their lips logo on it, a maple leaf and an American flag, which may be hinting at a North American tour.

“Want to be the first to know? Enter your details here,” the caption notes. The post also includes a link that takes you to a sign up page that reads, “The news you have all been waiting for…”

Fans were quick to pick up on the possible tour tease, with one writing, “Can’t wait for the #HackeyDiamondsTour 2024!” Another added, “Sounds like the tour announcement is coming soon!”

The Stones’ post wasn’t the only reason fans think tour news is imminent. Cleveland.com reports that over the weekend, the rockers teased a stop in the city. Their tongue and lips logo flashed on the screen at Terminal Tower and Cleveland Browns Stadium, and was seen on billboards around the city, along with the words “Miss You.” The logo also appeared outside Empower Field at Mile High stadium in Denver and Soldier Field in Chicago.

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On This Day, November 20, 1995…

The Beatles released the 60-track compilation album Anthology 1, featuring rarities, outtakes and live performances recorded from 1958–1964.

It also included the first new Beatles song in 25 years, “Free as a Bird,” which featured audio from a John Lennon demo he recorded in 1977. It was given to Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr by his widow Yoko Ono and the trio then recorded new music that was incorporated into the song.

Anthology 1 reached #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and went on to be certified eight-times Platinum. “Free as a Bird” peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Anthology 1 was the first in a trio of compilations. Anthology 2, which featured the new song “Real Love,” was released in March 1996 and Anthology 3 was released in October 1996.

That same Lennon demo used for the new songs on the Anthology series was used to create the just released song “Now and Then,” which debuted at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Kurt Cobain‘s Skystang I Fender Mustang, the guitar he played during his final Nirvana show in 1994, has been auctioned off for over $1.5 million.

The winning bid of $1,587,500 came from Japan-based businessman Mitsuru Sato, who plans for the guitar to be a part of an upcoming museum.

“I want to pass on rock to the next generation in a real way,” Sato says. “We would like to use this guitar to support the next generation aiming to pursue music.”

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Kicking the Stigma mental health initiative.

The Skystang was sold during an event held by Julien’s Auctions, which also included other Cobain memorabilia. Among them were an unopened pack of American Spirit cigarettes belonging to the late rocker, which went for $5,200, as well as a sheet of handwritten “Smells Like Teen Spirit” lyrics, which brought in $91,000.

Additionally, a pair of Levi’s jeans that Cobain wore in the “Heart-Shaped Box” video sold for $412,750, which set a new record for the most expensive Levi’s sold at auction.

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Rare Fleetwood Mac memorabilia is set to go up for auction later this week in England. The items were previously owned by the band’s former manager and agent, Clifford Adams, also known as Clifford Davis, and many document the early rise of the band.

There will be hundreds of items up for auction, including a personal letter Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green wrote to Adams, which he has had for 50 years. In it Green explains why he walked away from the band and decided to give away his possessions, writing, “I am convinced I will be much happier knowing I have helped relieve suffering in the world and steering clear of big money.”

There’s also a postcard bassist John McVie sent to Adams back in 1974, as well as Green’s driver’s license, which was given to Adams in 1981. Plus there’s Gold and Platinum discs, tour and radio contracts, and more.

“My archive is unique. There has never been anything like this available to buy in the band’s history,” Adams tells The London Evening Standard. “It’s the ultimate archive to own if you’re a Fleetwood Mac fan or considering writing a book about them.”

The auction is set to take place at Hansons Auctioneers in Kent, England, on Tuesday, November 21.

“This is an incredible, unique historical archive of one of the greatest bands of all time,” says Robin Fletcher, manager of Hansons. “Its comprehensive nature will stun and delight fans around the world. It’s priceless in terms of the wealth of information it offers.” 

More info on the items up for auction can be found at the-saleroom.com.

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