Paul Rodgers overcomes health struggles to release “uplifting” new album ‘Midnight Rose’

September 28, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Paul Rodgers, frontman of such classic bands as Free and Bad Company, recently released the new album Midnight Rose. But what folks might not know is that he recorded it following a major health scare. Four years ago, Rodgers suffered several strokes, and while it was a long recovery, he says making the album helped get him through it.

“Well, it feels like being born again, actually, it’s absolutely great,” Rodgers tells ABC Audio. “I was sort of incapacitated, I guess. I hate to admit that, but it’s true. And I had to take it step by step. And everything I did was like a progress, was a step in the right direction.”

He says even the recording was part of the healing process, noting that when he started singing and playing guitar again he decided to return to the studio and see what would happen.

What happened was Rodgers was able to finish his first album of original solo material in 25 years. He shares that besides his health, it took this long because he had been busy with his solo tours, as well as touring with Bad Company and Queen.

“I kept all my ideas to myself,” he says of that time. “So when I got to when we were all in lockdown and I’d had this stroke, it was an opportunity to rest, recuperate, etcetera, and reevaluate the music that I had.”

And now that it’s out, Rodgers is hoping fans will find Midnight Rose uplifting.

“I learned from the blues that sometimes if you’re sad, it’s very good to get it out of your system by singing about it, by expressing it,” he says. “And I hope all of the above is the case with this album.”

Midnight Rose is available now.

Metallica marks anniversary of Cliff Burton’s death

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica is commemorating the anniversary of bassist Cliff Burton‘s death.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, September 27, the metal legends write, “We miss you, Cliff,” alongside a video of a recent performance of the song “Orion.”

The instrumental “Orion” appears on Metallica’s Master of Puppets album and was largely written by Burton. Following his death, “Orion” became a tribute song to Burton.

Burton played on Metallica’s first three albums: 1983’s Kill ‘Em All, 1984’s Ride the Lightning and 1986’s Master of Puppets. He died September 27, 1986, in a bus accident. He was 24.

Metallica then recruited Jason Newsted to play bass. After Newsted’s departure in 2001, Robert Trujillo joined in 2003 and has remained Metallica’s bassist ever since.

Ann Wilson, Gina Schock & more featured in new book about feminism & women in rock

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new book is set to explore feminism and rock ‘n’ roll from the point of view of several well-known female rockers.

She’s a Bad**: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism, from music journalist Katherine Yeske Taylor, features interviews with a host of famous female rockers, including Heart’s Ann Wilson, The Go-Go’s Gina Schock, The Runaways‘ Cherie Currie, Joan Osborne, X‘s Exene Cervenka, Breeders‘ Tanya Donelly, Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray and Joan Osborne.

In the book, the artists open up about the challenges they’ve faced being a woman in the music business, sharing how they overcame their struggles and what improvements they feel still need to be made. As the description notes, “Their stories prove that promoting feminism—either through activism or by living example—is undeniably bad***.”

She’s a Bad**: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism will be released January 16. It is available for preorder now.

Foo Fighters reflect on anniversary of Los Angeles Taylor Hawkins concert

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Foo Fighters have shared a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles tribute concert to late drummer Taylor Hawkins.

In a Facebook post published Wednesday, September 27, Dave Grohl and company write, “One year ago today, 63 musicians gathered at the Los Angeles Forum to celebrate the life and legacy of our brother and bandmate, Taylor Hawkins with an emotional evening of loud love and loud music.”

“We thank each and every one of you for honoring him with us, and continue to celebrate his memory every single day,” the post continues. “Miss you, Taylor.”

Hawkins died in March 2022 at age 50. The LA concert was one of two tribute shows held in honor of Hawkins, along with one in London.

Guests across the shows included members of Metallica, AC/DC, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink-182, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Queen and Black Sabbath, not to mention Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, Pink and Alanis Morissette. Both ended with Foo Fighters performing with guest drummers, including Hawkins’ son, Shane.

Among those guest drummers was also Josh Freese, who was announced as the new Foo Fighters drummer in May.

Foo Fighters released their first album following Hawkins’ death, But Here We Are, in June.

New clue found in the search for Paul McCartney’s missing Höfner bass

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Some new information has been uncovered in the search for Paul McCartney’s missing bass.

The Lost Bass Project launched its global search to find McCartney’s original Höfner bass guitar in early September, and it’s already made some progress. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer purchased the bass in Hamburg, Germany, in 1961, but eight years later it disappeared, reportedly after being put away following the filming of 1969’s Get Back.

According to The Telegraph, over 600 emails came in within 40 hours of the search news hitting the press. One of them provided some previously unknown insight into the last whereabouts of the instrument, which has been described as “the most important bass in history.”

Ian Horne, a sound engineer with McCartney’s band Wings, revealed in an email that the last time the bass was seen was not in 1969, but on October 10, 1972.

At the time, McCartney was rehearsing for a Wings tour and recording his album Red Rose Speedway. Horne says the bass was stolen from a truck that was shuttling instruments from recording studios and rehearsal spaces in London. At the time of the theft, the truck had been parked in the Ladbroke Grove area of Notting Hill, West London.

“I knew it was Paul’s original Höfner bass that had been stolen, and I knew what it meant to him,” Horne says, noting they went door to door in the neighborhood looking for any information, but with no luck.

He says McCartney “told us not to worry, and we kept our jobs.” He added, “I worked for him for six years after the bass went missing. But I’ve carried the guilt all my life.”

National Independent Venue Association criticizes Live Nation’s “calculated” On the Road Again campaign

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

The National Independent Venue Association has responded to the launch of Live Nation’s On the Road Again program, issuing a statement criticizing the ticketing giant’s campaign as an “initiative to squeeze out independent venues.”

On the Road Again declared that certain Live Nation venues of a certain size, including New York City’s Irving Plaza and The Wiltern in Los Angeles, would not charge merch fees and would provide artists with a $1,500 gas and travel stipend for each show played.

The campaign, per Live Nation’s press release, is expected to last “through the end of the year.”

In its statement, NIVA calls On the Road Again a “temporary measure” that “may appear to help artists in the short run but actually can squeeze out independent venues which provide the lifeblood of many artists on thin margins.”

“It appears to be a calculated attempt to use a publicly-traded conglomerate’s immeasurable resources to divert artists from independent venues and further consolidate control over the live entertainment sector,” NIVA’s statement reads. “Such tactics threaten the vitality of small and medium-sized venues under 3,000 capacity, many of which still struggle to keep their doors open.”

NIVA adds that independent venues “continually facing rising costs, increased deceptive ticketing practices in the resale market, and ongoing challenges following the global pandemic.”

“Our stages are critical to the live entertainment ecosystem and local economies, and they must survive,” NIVA concludes. “The economics of touring must drastically improve for artists and independent venues. There has to be a better way. NIVA will continue to support artists and empower independent venues as we collectively find it.”

Animated ‘Peter & The Wolf’, featuring illustrations by Bono, to debut October 19 on Max

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new animated short film based on the classic tale of Peter & The Wolf is set to debut October 19 on Max.

The film features illustrations by U2’s Bono as well as music and narration by composer Gavin Friday. It is based on a 2003 project by the pair, which they did for the Irish Hospice Foundation.

The film turns Sergei Prokofiev’s classic symphony into a contemporary tale that follows 12-year-old Peter, who is grieving the loss of a parent. Word of a wolf on the loose sends him on a quest, where he’s aided by creatures of the forest and contends with hunters trying to capture the wolf for a prize.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band postpone remainder of 2023 tour

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Bruce Springsteen needs a little more time to recover from his peptic ulcers. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer just announced that he’s postponing the remainder of his 2023 tour with the E Street Band until 2024.

“Bruce Springsteen has continued to recover steadily from peptic ulcer disease over the past few weeks and will continue treatment through the rest of the year on doctor’s advice,” read a post on social media. “With this in mind, and out of an abundance of caution, all remaining 2023 tour dates for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be postponed until 2024.”

Fans can expect an announcement regarding all rescheduled dates next week, with the post noting the shows will all be at the same venues as originally planned.

Tickets purchased for the original shows will be valid for the rescheduled dates. Anyone unable to attend the new shows will have 30 days to request refunds once the new dates are announced.

“Thanks to all my friends and fans for your good wishes, encouragement, and support,” The Boss shared. “I’m on the mend and can’t wait to see you all next year.”

After postponing shows in September, Springsteen was supposed to resume touring November 2 in Vancouver, Canada; the trek wraps with a two-night stand in San Francisco, December 10 and 12.

The Kinks’ 60-year celebration continues with ‘The Journey – Part 2’

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Back in February, The Kinks announced the beginning of their 60-year celebration with the March release of the compilation album The Journey – Part 1. Well, now that journey continues.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are set to release The Journey – Part 2 on November 17, featuring songs handpicked by Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory. Those songs include “Lola,” “Sunny Afternoon” and “20th Century Man” as well as some B-sides and album tracks.

There will also be six new Ray Davies mixes, which include three previously unreleased live performances from a 1975 concert at the New Victoria Theatre in London. One of those performances, “Everybody’s A Star (Starmaker) (Live 1975, 2023 Mix),” is out now via digital outlets and YouTube.

“I thought I knew everything about my songs until I was given the opportunity to put this record together,” Ray shares. “The new sequencing has enabled us to show the ‘big picture’ and give a more insightful back story about how our music evolved. I learned a lot about myself in putting this together.”

Dave adds, “Another chance to listen to some of my favorite Kinks releases over the years. A perfect example of our diverse and creative musical legacy.”

The Journey – Part 2 is being released as a two-CD or two-LP set, which come with a booklet of band photos and track-by-track notes from the Davies brothers and Avory. There will also be digital and HD digital versions of the compilation.

The Journey – Part 2 is available for preorder now.

On This Day, September 27, 2016: Bruce Springsteen releases his autobiography, ‘Born to Run’

September 27, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, September 27, 2016…

Bruce Springsteen published his autobiography, Born to Run, named after his iconic 1975 album. He began writing it the day after he headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2009.

The book recounted The Boss’ childhood in Freehold, New Jersey, his early days as a musician in Asbury Park, the rise of the E Street Band and more.

Born to Run was released to critical acclaim. The audio book, which Springsteen narrates, received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album, and also earned him the 2018 Audie Award for Autobiography/Memoir.

The Boss later took the stories recounted in the book and turned them into a Broadway show, Springsteen on Broadway, which opened in October, 2018. The show’s initial run wrapped in December of that year, with another second limited run launching in June, 2021 following the pandemic. Springsteen on Broadway earned the rocker a special Tony Award.

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