Classic Rock News

Paul McCartney is ready to show us his comedy chops, with a planned appearance in the upcoming sequel to the legendary mockumentary This is Spinal Tap.

Rob Reiner, who directed and co-wrote the original film, revealed the news during an appearance on the RHLSTP with Richard Herring podcast, noting that McCartney’s not the only big name appearing in the flick. 

“We’re making a sequel. We’re going to start shooting at the end of February,” he shared. “Everybody is back, Paul McCartney is joining us and Elton John and a few other surprises, Garth Brooks.” 

Released in 1984, the mostly improvised This is Spinal Tap was a satire of traditional rock documentaries and followed a fictional heavy metal band, played by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. It was a hit with critics and movie fans, and in 2002 it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry.

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A new video has been released for the late Jimmy Buffett’s latest tune, “Like My Dog,” from his posthumous release, Equal Strain on All Parts.

The clip, created in collaboration with the ASPCA to encourage pet adoption, features never-before-seen footage of the rocker with his pooches. It also features adorable dog videos shared by his fans on social media using #likemydog.

“The dedication and humanity Jimmy Buffett put into his music crossed over into his love for animals, especially pets and wildlife,” Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president & CEO, shares. “This collaboration honors Jimmy’s legacy and animal advocacy and reflects our shared commitment to help vulnerable dogs find safe and loving homes.” 

Released on November 3, Equal Strain on All Parts was recorded while Buffett was battling Merkel cell skin cancer, which claimed his life on September 1 at the age of 76. The album features guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Emmylou Harris, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Angélique Kidjo.

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For a band that’s played a show in Antarctica, it’s hard to believe that there are still parts of the world where Metallica hasn’t performed. Saudi Arabia is one such place, but that will no longer be the case in just a few weeks.

The metal legends have joined the lineup for the 2023 Soundstorm Festival. Their set, scheduled for December 14, will mark Metallica’s first concert in Saudi Arabia and the first time a hard rock band has played Soundstorm.

“We’re not done with 2023 just yet,” Metallica says. “An amazing opportunity has just come our way to perform at a major festival that we have never played in a part of the world we rarely get to visit.”

For more info, visit Metallica.com.

In other Metallica news, the band has been honored by music tech organization SoundExchange with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award. The title recognizes the “Enter Sandman” outfit as one of the most streamed acts in SoundExchange’s 20-year history.

“Metallica is considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and for good reason,” says Michael Huppe, president and CEO of SoundExchange. “They have built and rebuilt themselves, continually honing their epic sound with each album and constantly expanding their appeal without abandoning their roots. Metallica is a once-in-a-lifetime success story. Recognizing Metallica with a SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award is an honor.”

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Peter Gabriel has unveiled the final track from his upcoming album, i/o, which drops Friday, December 1. The latest is the song “Live and Let Live,” which has Gabriel singing about “forgiveness, tolerance and optimism.”

“Now, I know if we look at what’s happening in the Middle East now or in Ukraine, all sorts of places around the world where there’s still violence and brutality, to walk around with a bunch of flowers, preaching forgiveness seems trite and pathetic, maybe,” Gabriel shares. “But in the long run, I think people have to find a way.”

He adds, “‘Peace only happens when you respect the rights of others’ is a quote from the Peace University in Costa Rica and I think that’s a really important message for me and for my life. You either belong to that hurt or you free yourself and forgiveness is clearly a super effective way of freeing yourself.”

As he’s done with all the other songs he’s released from i/o, Gabriel is sharing several different remixes of “Live and Let Live.” All three remixes — Tchad Blake‘s (Dark-Side Mix), Mark “Spike” Stent‘s (Bright-Side Mix) and Hans-Martin Buff’s Atmos mix (In-Side Mix) — will be released simultaneously.

You can listen to “Live and Let Live” now via streaming services.

i/o, Gabriel’s first album of new material since 2010’s Scratch My Back, is available for preorder now.

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After three postponed shows due to Paul Stanley’s bout with the flu, KISS returned to the stage in Indianapolis on Saturday, November 25, and Stanley sure was glad to be back. 

Footage of a Q&A with fans during soundcheck was posted to social media, showing Stanley joking, “It’s good to be standing up.”

“I’ve done shows with cracked ribs, I’ve done shows with a 102 fever,” he told the crowd, adding of his recent illness, “I was wondering if it was my time.” 

Stanley’s flu forced KISS to cancel shows in Canada, as well as Knoxville, Tennessee. Their next show is happening Monday, November 27, in Rosemont, Illinois, with the tour set to wrap with two nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 1 and 2. A complete list of dates can be found at kissonline.com.

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Dolly Parton’s first rock album, Rockstar, had a great debut on the charts.

The album, which features guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Sting, Steve Perry, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and more, debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 Album chart.

Rockstar is now Dolly’s highest-charting album and her third career top 10, following 2014’s Blue Smoke and 1987’s Trio with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris; both albums debuted at #6.

Not only that, Rockstar also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, selling 118,500 copies. Her previous bestselling album was 1993’s Slow Dancing with the Moon, which sold 50,500 copies in its second week in release.

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Queen discusses their approach to encores in the latest episode of their weekly YouTube series, Queen the Greatest Live.

“I think audiences these days are aware the encore isn’t really the old-fashioned kind, which was, ‘Oh, that was so wonderful, we actually want more,’” Roger Taylor shares. “It’s built into the show. You’re expecting to play it. They’re expecting to hear it.”

But even though fans expect it, Brian May says the encore is necessary for the band to continue to give fans what they expect.

“You have to go off and refresh at that point because you’ve given everything and you’re like a wet rag at the end of what we’ve done after 2 1/2 hours,” he says. “You know, you need to go off, change your clothes and take a deep breath for that final push.” 

Taylor notes that there’s no question the encore will always be a fan favorite. “It would feel quite weird if they’d come to a show and we hadn’t played them. So it’s not a secret,” he says.

Early in their career, encores included “Jailhouse Rock” and “In the Lap of the Gods…Revisited,” but since 1977, the go-to songs have been “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” 

“It’s a big question, which we do ask ourselves. You know, what do you want to have in people’s heads as they go out?” May says. “And I think it’s fulfillment. It’s like good sex. You know, you want to come out of it thinking, ‘Yeah, that was everything it should have been.’”

Next week on Queen the Greatest Live: “Jailhouse Rock.”

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If you’ve ever heard Dave Grohl talk, you may have noticed that he uses the f-word like others might use “um.” That presented a problem when Foo Fighters performed on Sunday, November 26, in Abu Dhabi, which has strict laws prohibiting profanity.

To remind himself of said laws, Grohl taped a sign to his microphone stand reading “no cursing” twice. Photos of the sign were shared by the @FooFightersLive fan account.

Foo Fighters played Abu Dhabi as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. They were originally set to perform at the event in 2021, but ended up canceling their set.

Next up on the Foos’ schedule is a trip to Australia to close out the year. They’ll launch a U.S. stadium tour in July 2024.

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Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band are headed out on tour again next year.

Starr has announced a set of spring 2024 dates, where he’ll be joined by Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart and Gregg Bissonette.

“I’ve always said I’m my happiest when I’m playing with great musicians – and this band is one of the very best,” Ringo shares. “But even so, sometime during and just after every tour I think ok that’s it – I’m going to stop touring. My family don’t believe me anymore and so it comes as no surprise to them that once again, I’m taking the All Starr Band back on the road!” 

The 12-date trek will kick off May 22, with a six-night stand at The Venetian in Las Vegas, followed by two shows in Mexico City, Mexico, June 5 and 6. Four additional shows will be announced at a later date. A complete list of dates can be found at ringostarr.com.

In other Ringo news … new book Beats and Threads chronicles the rocker’s career through his legendary drum kits and his fashion. It features 300 photos, many of which have never been seen before. The book is being published through Julien’s Auctions and is available for preorder now, with proceeds going to The Lotus Foundation.

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As previously reported, The Smashing Pumpkins are performing on two ABC holiday specials, the first of which, The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration, premiered over Thanksgiving weekend. While that kind of show may not be an expected venue to see the “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” rockers, Billy Corgan is actually a big Disney fan.

Actually, “big” might be underselling it. Speaking with ABC’s On the Red Carpet, Corgan shares, “I collect old Disneyland items, I have stuff from as far back as the opening day in 1955.”

“When they called me to come play Disney, I was like, ‘Whatever you need. Do I need to play in the middle of the moat on a float singing upside down?'” Corgan laughs. “I’m very happy to be here, we come here all the time with our family, so it’s a real honor and pleasure to be here.”

On The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration, the Pumpkins covered the holiday classic “Silver Bells.” They’ll play an original holiday tune, “Evergreen,” on Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, airing December 25.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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