Classic Rock News

Fifty years ago this month, WAR’s classic album The World Is a Ghetto was released, hitting number one on the Billboard chart and going on to become the bestselling album of 1973. Now there’s a whole new way to listen to it.

Avenue/Rhino has released a new Dolby Atmos mix of the album, which features the top-10 title track and the number-two hit “Cisco Kid.” The World Is a Ghetto was WAR’s fifth album. The band was first formed in the late ’60s by ex-Animals frontman Eric Burdon and producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein.

Meanwhile, on November 25, a four-LP multicolor vinyl box set called Eric Burdon & WAR: The Complete Vinyl Collection is being released as a limited edition for this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday event. 

The set, limited to 5,500, includes both albums Burdon and the band made together: Eric Burdon Declares War and the two-LP set The Black-Man’s Burdon, plus Love Is All Around, a 1976 collection of songs Burdon recorded with WAR but didn’t put on their albums. This marks the first time the albums are being released on vinyl since the ’70s. “Spill the Wine” and “They Can’t Take Away Our Music” are the best-known tracks on those albums.

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This week Paul McCartney announced the release of The 7″ Singles Box, which collects 80 7-inch vinyl singles — packaged in a wooden crate. It also comes with a forward Paul wrote about his love of singles. Rolling Stone has an exclusive excerpt, in which he discusses the “adventure” of discovering reggae music in Jamaica.

“Some of my happiest memories of buying 7-inch singles come from the Jamaican record shop that we used to go to when we were on holiday in Montego Bay … There were records [that] you didn’t know what they were, they weren’t established artists,” he calls. “So it was kind of a great adventure, just asking the guy behind the counter, ‘What’s this like? Is it any good?'”

He recalls one in particular called “Poison Pressure” by Byron Lee and The Dragonaires, which was credited to Lennon & McCartney. He writes, “I had to buy that one. Had they just recorded one of our songs? No. It was something completely different and we all presumed it might be a couple of guys called Tony Lennon and Bill McCartney. Either that, or it was a total scam.”

Or not. It turns out the song is based on the melody of Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance,” which explains the credit. Paul also writes about how much The Beatles loved to put weird and wacky stuff on their B-sides, and he continued that tradition in his solo career.

“I still respect the B side – where else can you find songs like ‘You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)‘ or ‘Ode to a Koala Bear‘?” he writes. “So, when my team suggested we put out this box of 45s, one of my hopes was that both sides of the record will be of interest to you.”

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Before Lemmy founded Motörhead, he was famously a member of the “space rock” band Hawkwind — in fact, he named his new band after the last song he wrote for Hawkwind before they fired him in 1975. 

The official Motörhead Twitter shared the news Friday that a member of Hawkwind whose time overlapped with Lemmy’s has died. 

“We lost Lemmy’s old bandmate Nik Turner today,” the account tweeted. “Play some Hawkwind nice and loud! Brainstorm here we go!”

Multi-instrumentalist Turner died at home Thursday night, according to a post on his Facebook page. He was 82. Turner played saxophone and flute in Hawkwind, and wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s famous songs, including “Brainstorm” and “Master of the Universe.”

Turner had two stints in the band: from 1969 to 1976 and from 1982 to 1985. In between and afterward, he released many solo albums and collaborative projects, the most recent being 2019’s Final Frontier.

Referring to Turner as “The [Mighty] Thunder Rider,” the Facebook post noted, “He has moved onto the next phase of his Cosmic Journey, guided by the love of his family, friends and fans. Watch this space for his arrangements.”

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The Beach Boys have released another advance track from their upcoming box set Sail On Sailor – 1972, available on December 2.

This time, it’s a previously unheard a cappella version of “All This Is That,” which features just the vocals of Al Jardine, Carl Wilson and Mike Love — who also co-wrote the track.

“All This Is That,” inspired by the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken” and by the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, originally appeared on the 1972 album Carl and the Passions – “So Tough.”

As previously reported, Sail On Sailor – 1972 examines the transformative period in The Beach Boys’ history during which they released that year’s Carl and the Passions and 1973’s Holland. It’s available in several configurations, including a six-CD Super Deluxe Edition that includes an entire unreleased live concert recorded at Carnegie Hall on Thanksgiving 1972.

Out of the 105 tracks in the package, 80 are previously unreleased and include rarities like unreleased outtakes, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions.

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While Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan used to delight in trolling the press with controversial quotes, these days, as the band prepares to mark their 35th anniversary, he prefers to focus on his band’s legacy — especially since he’s now the father of two young children.

“I don’t really see a value in it anymore, honestly,” Corgan tells English paper The Guardian of playing the villain — a role he says made him suicidal.

“In fact, I think it’s the opposite: I think people need to feel inspired,” he adds. “And so if you want to talk about a narrative, the story for the band overall is just one of coming together and survival.”

And survive they have, seemingly against all odds. “One of my biggest disappointments … when we play a concert is you don’t get the sense that the audience understands how rare it is that we’re actually standing there,” he tells the paper. “It’s 34 f**king years later, you got three-quarters of the OG band in front of you, we’re ready to play and we want to be here.”

“I don’t want my kids growing up with a has-been father,” says Corgan. He notes, “I believe we’re one of the great bands … We were the ones who walked away from it; nobody took us off our game. And now we’re back to doing what we’re good at.”

The Pumpkins will wrap up their tour with Jane’s Addiction November 19 at the Hollywood Bowl.

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Prog-rock fans, your ship has come in: Cruise to the Edge is returning for 2024.

The cruise sets sail March 8, 2024, from Miami, Florida, aboard the Norwegian Pearl. It visits Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman, before returning to Miami on March 13.

The lineup includes ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, ex-King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew, ex-Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, Queensrÿche, Marillion, Big Big Train and Flying Colors. Visit CruisetotheEdge.com to see the full lineup.

Starting November 15, fans who sailed on the 2022 edition of the tour can reserve a cabin on this year’s cruise. Anyone who’s ever done a Cruise to the Edge trip can book starting November 17; booking is open to the general public starting November 21.

Belew, Marillion and Barre were also part of the 2022 edition of Cruise to the Edge; the lineup for that sailing also included Alan Parsons, Saga, Al DiMeola and Al Stewart.

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Bruce Springsteen‘s album of soul and R&B cover songs, Only the Strong Survive, has arrived. It’s The Boss’ third album in four years, following 2019’s Western Stars and 2020’s Letter to You.

As previously reported, the 15-track album features Springsteen delivering his takes on songs made famous by The Commodores, The Four Tops, Jerry Butler, Jimmy Ruffin, Ben E. King, The Temptations, The Supremes and more. It features guest vocals by Sam Moore of Sam & Dave, who also sang on Bruce’s 1992 album, Human Touch.

A full band performance video of the song “Turn Back the Hands of Time” — originally recorded in 1970 by Tyrone Davis — is now available to watch on YouTube.

Next week, Bruce will stage a Tonight Show takeover, appearing on Jimmy Fallon‘s show November 14, 15 and 16. He’ll then return Thanksgiving night, November 24.

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November 27 would’ve been Jimi Hendrix‘s 80th birthday, and the milestone is being celebrated with a bunch of special events honoring the late guitar legend.

Next Thursday, November 17, ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons will sit in with the band on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and play the actual Gibson Flying V guitar that Hendrix used on his 1970 tour, including his appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in England. The guitar, part of the Hard Rock International’s collection, is being transported from London just for the show.

As a member of his pre-ZZ Top band, The Moving Sidewalks, Gibbons shared concert bills with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and the two became friends. Gibbons was side stage for the Experience’s April 26, 1969, LA show and wrote about it for the liner notes of the album documenting that show: Jimi Hendrix Experience – Los Angeles Forum April 26, 1969, due out on November 18.

Also on November 17, a reception for Janie Hendrix and James McDermott, authors of the new book JIMI, is being held at LA’s Mr. Musichead Gallery. Following his Kimmel appearance, Gibbons will head over there to sign copies of his liner notes. Tickets for the reception are on sale now.

Finally, a Jimi Hendrix birthday concert event will take place December 4 at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Participants include Band of Gypsys and Jimi Hendrix Experience member Billy Cox, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, Zakk Wylde, Dweezil Zappa, Eric Johnson, and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble’s Doyle Bramhall II and Chris Layton.

And as if all that weren’t enough, you can now watch a video about how Hendrix revolutionized concerts and touring on the official Hendrix YouTube channel.

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Elton John is going all out to mark the final U.S. dates of his farewell tour, taking place on November 17, 19 and 20 at LA’s Dodger Stadium. Not only will the November 20 show be livestreamed on Disney+, he’s arranged some fun activities for fans leading up to the concerts.

An #EltonLATakeover Scavenger Hunt begins Friday at four locations: West Hollywood’s Carrera Café and The Troubadour club, Hollywood’s SuperVinyl and Beverly Hills’ The Webster. Each location is posting a unique QR code inside or outside, giving fans access to official entry forms. 

Five winners will get prize packs including album T-shirts, box sets, LP sets and lithographs. But by collecting the letters displayed at each scavenger hunt location, you can also enter to win the grand prize: two tickets to the Dodger Stadium show on November 10, a picture disc version of Elton’s best-of collection Diamonds, two “Dodger ’75” eyeglass frames from Elton John Eyewear and a T-shirt.

On top of that, The Webster is hosting a pop-up at LA’s Beverly Center. In addition to a special installation, it’ll sell limited-edition Elton John products, like apparel, prints and vinyl LPs.

But wait, there’s more: LA’s The Grove will host a pop-up Elton John Eyewear shop, showcasing Elton’s career as told through his iconic glasses. Special merch and a digital experience will be available there, as well.

If you don’t live in LA, you’ll still be able to participate: A digital giveaway is open to residents of the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. Visit EltonJohn.com for details.

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The Police drummer Stewart Copeland was among the many artists to perform at Foo Fighters‘ two tribute concerts to late drummer Taylor Hawkins, which took place September in London and Los Angeles. For Copeland, the shows proved, among other things, that Foo frontman Dave Grohl is the “hardest-working man in show business.”

“[Grohl] made all those calls, called everyone of us and said, ‘Hey, how about it?'” Copeland tells ABC Audio. “Then, he had to figure out, ‘Well, let’s see, where am I gonna put Alanis Morissette or Chrissie Hynde or Stewart?'”

“He had to assemble and figure out all the material,” Copeland continues of Grohl. “Then, he and [guitarist] Chris [Shiflett] and [bassist] Nate [Mendel] and the rest of them had to actually learn all that material and play it for six hours while fronting the show.”

Copeland recalls the London concert particularly fondly, noting how “unique” the lineup was.

“It was singers playing with different bands, bands playing with different singers,” Copeland says. “You never would see these artists in those combinations.”

“The show was one of the most powerful events I’ve ever seen or been involved with, by far,” he declares. “No, the most.”

Like everyone who was in the crowd and watching along with the livestream, Copeland lost it when Hawkins’ teenage son, Shane, joined Foo Fighters to play drums on “My Hero.”

“At the end, oh my god!” Copeland exclaims. “That little kid gets up there, all 15-years-old of him, and slams on the drums like that, not a dry eye in the stadium.”

He adds, “I was sobbing like a fool, of course.”

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