Classic Rock News

On This Day, December 15, 1967…

The Who released their third album, The Who Sell Out, a concept album created to sound like a broadcast from one of the pirate radio stations that were popular in the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s.  

In addition to songs, it featured jingles, PSAs and commercials for real products like Heinz Baked Beans, Medac acne cream and Odorono deodorant. 

The album included The Who’s highest-charting U.S. single, “I Can See for Miles,” which peaked at #9 in the U.S., as well as music that was later reused for their 1969 album, Tommy.

The album went to #13 in the U.K., and made it to the Top 50 in the U.S. It is often included on lists of the greatest albums of all time.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Queen is taking a deep dive into their ultimate encore, “We Will Rock You,” on the latest episode of their weekly YouTube series, Queen the Greatest Live.

As they continue their encore exploration, the band gives fans a glimpse into how frontman Freddie Mercury used the tune to better connect with their audience wherever they were playing.

The mashup opens with Queen at England’s Milton Keynes Bowl in 1982, which is followed by the frontman saluting the audience at a 1986 show in Hungary by walking out draped in the Union Jack, only to turn around and reveal Hungary’s white, red and green flag. He does a similar thing in the next clip, unveiling the Brazilian flag during Rock in Rio in 1985, and then in Japan at another 1985 show.

The episode ends with the full Milton Keynes performance of the song, with the audience clapping and singing along at full volume.

“’We Will Rock You’ brings people together,” Brian May, who penned the tune, shares. “That’s probably the best thing of all…”

Next week on Queen the Greatest Live: “21st Century Queen.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The documentary about the making of The Rolling Stones’ tribute album Stone Cold Country is now available for fans to enjoy.

The doc gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of the album, which was released in March to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. It featured covers of Stones’ classics recorded by country artists, like Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Steve Earle, Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, Zac Brown Band and Maren Morris.

In the documentary, artists share how The Stones influenced their careers. It also takes viewers inside the studio as the artists interpret the album’s 14 tracks, including “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” “Wild Horses” and “Paint It Black.”

Stone Cold Country is now available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play and more.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Dead & Company wrapped what they said would be their final tour over the summer, but that may not be it for the band. In fact, a new report claims the group, made up of Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and John Mayer, along with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti, may be headed to Las Vegas.

Sources tell the New York Post that the band and Mayer are currently in talks to play the Sphere, the high-tech venue that currently houses U2’s residency, U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

The insider insists nothing’s definite, noting that if Dead & Company do agree to it, the shows will probably be next summer.

In the meantime, U2’s Sphere residency is set to wrap March 2, with Phish taking over the venue April 18-21.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Rod Stewart is selling his Los Angeles mansion. The New York Times reports the rocker has put the nine-bedroom, 12-bath villa on the market for $80 million.

The 28,000-square-foot yellow home, which Stewart had custom built after buying the lot in 1991 for north of $12 million, is located in a Beverly Hills neighborhood bursting with celebs, including Adele, Justin Bieber and Denzel Washington.

“The children grew up there, and he’s got grandchildren already. He’s touring, and he lives in Europe a lot of the time,” Tomer Fridman, the Fridman Group real estate agent handling the sale, tells the paper. “He built a whole life there, and it’s just time.”

And while $80 mil is quite a price tag, a lot comes with it. The main house is three stories and features a dining room big enough for 20 guests. Other amenities include two full-size gyms, an indoor speakeasy, a formal living room and a movie theater. There’s also a 4,500-square-foot guest house, and the grounds include a pool with a hot tub and a full-size soccer field.

“Some of my favorite memories to this day are playing football on the pitch every Tuesday,” Rod’s eldest son, Sean Stewart, shares. “And watching movies in the theater with my dad.”

The $80 million is for the unfurnished home, although Rod is reportedly willing to part with the furniture, just not the art inside the home.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Elton John is giving props to Joni Mitchell in his Rocket Hour list of the best tracks of 2023. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer calls out the live version of Joni’s “Both Sides Now,” from her live album Joni Mitchell at Newport, as one of the best songs of the year.

“2023 has been a fantastic year for new artists and great songs,” Elton shares. “Thank you to all of you for the music and I can’t wait to hear more in 2024.”

Joni Mitchell at Newport, produced by Joni and Brandi Carlile, is a recording of Joni’s appearance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, which was her first live performance in 20 years.

In addition to Carlile, Joni was joined by a host of guests, including Carlile’s bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth, Wynonna Judd, Celisse, Lucius‘ Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, and Dawes‘ Taylor Goldsmith.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Patti Smith is giving fans an update about her health, following her brief hospitalization in Bologna, Italy, earlier this week.

The rocker shared a smiling photo on Instagram in which she posed with her doctors and nurses, thanking them for their “help and guidance.”

“I am so sorry that we had to cancel concerts in Bologna and Venice. I will return to fulfill my happy obligations,” she wrote. “This is also to thank all the medical teams globally, who attend to the people’s needs, especially those altruistically serving under fire, all healers, physicians, nurses, attendants.”

She went on to thank those who reached out with messages of concern, adding, “I am resting, as the doctor ordered, grateful to have had such care, though being painfully aware that many are not so fortunate.”

Patti was in the midst of an eight-day tour of Italy when she became ill Tuesday, December 12, and was taken to the hospital in Bologna. She was forced to cancel concerts in Bologna and Venice, as well as a book signing in Milan. 

Patti has three U.S. dates coming up: December 26 in Chicago, and December 29 and 30 in Brooklyn, New York. So far there’s no word on whether they will go on as planned.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mötley Crüe is on their way to putting out new tunes.

In a social media post, bassist Nikki Sixx confirms, “Yes @MotleyCrue will be releasing new music is 2024.” He also shares that he’s working on a “new music related animation project” alongside Rob Minkoff, co-director of The Lion King. 

As previously reported, the “Home Sweet Home” outfit returned to the studio in 2023 with new guitarist John 5, who replaced Mick Mars after he retired from touring in 2022. In an update in April, Sixx shared that the Crüe was once again working with Dr. Feelgood producer Bob Rock.

The last time Mötley put out fresh material was for the soundtrack to their 2019 biopic, The Dirt, including the Machine Gun Kelly collaboration “The Dirt (Est. 1981)” and a cover of Madonna‘s “Like a Virgin.”

Before we hear new Mötley music in 2024, they’ll close out 2023 with a New Year’s Eve show in Palm Springs, California.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grateful Dead’s Dave’s Picks bootleg series is hitting volume 50 next year and they’ve picked a special concert for the momentous occasion.

Dave’s Picks Vol. 50 will feature a special show from the band’s 1977 spring tour. The concert, recorded May 3, 1977, at the Palladium in New York City,was the second-to-last show in a five-night stand.

The recording features performances of “Not Fade Away,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “Eyes of the World” and more. There’s also a bonus disc for subscribers featuring performances from the second set of the May 4 show, including “Playing in The Band,” “Terrapin Station” and what’s described as “one of the best versions of ‘Comes A Time’ the Dead ever played.”

Deadheads have until early January to sign up for a 2024 subscription, which includes four Dave’s Picks through the year.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

As fans of The Rolling Stones continue to enjoy their latest release, Hackney Diamonds, they’ll soon be able to enjoy some of The Stones’ classic tracks in a whole new way.

A new limited-edition collection, The Rolling Stones Singles 1966-1971, will be released February 2, featuring reproductions of 18 7-inch vinyl singles and EPs.

Among the songs featured in the set are “Paint It Black,” “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” “She’s a Rainbow,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Honkey Tonk Women” and “Brown Sugar.” It also includes the 7-inch EP of “Sympathy for the Devil,” which comes with remixes of the song by Fatboy Slim and Neptune.

Each single includes period-correct picture sleeve art. The set also includes a 23-page book with rare photos and liner notes by Stones expert Nigel Williamson, as well as photo cards and a poster. All songs were remastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Bob Ludwig.

This is the second volume of replica singles released by The Stones. The Rolling Stones Singles 1963-1966 was released in 2022. 

The Rolling Stones Singles 1966-1971 is available for preorder now.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.