Classic Rock News

A company called Marquis Who’s Who, founded in 1898, publishes annual lists of the most important people in every major field — from politics to religion to entertainment. This year, in honor of its 125th anniversary, Marquis has come out with a list of the Most Influential People Over 125 Years, with artists like Bruce Springsteen and Nirvana making the cut.

The list is broken down by decade, with The Boss getting recognized in the 1980s, the decade he released such albums as The River, Nebraska, Tunnel of Love and, of course, his mega hit Born in the U.S.A. Other influential artists of the ’80s include Tina Turner, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton.

Nirvana is recognized in the 1990s, the height of the grunge era, when they released their breakthrough album, Nevermind, as well as the follow-up, In Utero.  

Other musicians earning a Most Influential honor include Elvis Presley in the 1950s, Aretha Franklin and Sonny & Cher in the 1960s, and Stevie Wonder in the 1970s. More recently, the 2020 list includes such artists as Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Billie Eilish and Rihanna.

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Elton John isn’t touring anymore, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t traveling around performing: He did a private gig for 900 people on December 19 at the iconic opera house in Venice, Italy.

On the 20th anniversary of a performance he did at Le Gran Teatro La Fenice to commemorate its reconstruction after a 1996 fire, Elton returned to the famous stage for the solo gig, organized by yacht company Ferretti Group. You can see footage of it on Ferretti Group’s Instagram.

The concert was a benefit for Save Venice, which works to preserve the city’s artistic heritage. Elton reportedly owns an apartment in Venice.

According to Italy 24 News, Elton played for about 90 minutes, performing hits like “Your Song,” “Rocket Man” and “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.”

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Two Dave Grohl drawings are going up for auction.

The pieces were done by the Foo Fighters frontman during the band’s headlining set at New Jersey’s Sea.Hear.Now festival in September.

One drawing is titled “How to Make a DIY Beer Bong,” while the other is called “How to Sneak Hash into a Concert,” both of which we think are pretty self-explanatory. The auction is open now through December 27 at 3 p.m. PT via the platform Propeller.

Proceeds will benefit various local charities. For more info, visit Propeller.la.

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On This Day, December 20, 1969…

The Rolling Stones had a new U.K. #1 with their album Let It Bleed.

The album, the follow-up to 1968’s Beggars Banquet, failed to produce any charting singles, although tracks like “Gimme Shelter” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” went on to become Stones’ classics, and staples at their live shows. 

Let It Bleed was the last album The Stones made with founding member Brian Jones, as he was fired in the middle of the sessions due to his erratic behavior. In the end he appeared on only two songs.

Jones died July 3, 1969 before the album’s release.

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Billy Joel got into the holiday spirit at his Tuesday, December 19, concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the 97th show of his residency at the venue.

Billy performed several holiday tunes during the pre-Christmas show, starting off by bringing out his two young daughters, Della, 8, and Remy, 6, for “Jingle Bells.” The little surprise guests were decked out in bright green dresses for the occasion.

According to setlist.fm, the show also featured performances of such holiday staples as “Deck the Halls,” “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Silent Night” and “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.” 

But those weren’t the only surprises in store for Joel’s fans at MSG. The show also featured a guest appearance by Elvis Costello, with the pair performing Elvis and The Attractions‘ “Pump It Up,” followed by Billy’s “Allentown.”

Billy also threw in covers of “Barbara Ann,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and a partial cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” — Billy even attempted his best Mick Jagger moves.

Joel is getting ready to wrap up his MSG residency in 2024, with the final show set to happen July 25. A complete list of dates can be found at billyjoel.com.

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Buddy Holly’s life and career are the subjects of a new book, Words of Love, being released by Genesis Publications in collaboration with Holly’s widow, María Elena Holly, and the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.

The book, conceived in 2017 by The Who’s Roger Daltrey, shares Holly’s life and legacy through never-before-seen photos and personal items, along with stories by María Elena and contributions from artists like Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Pete Townshend, Van Morrison and Brian May.

Along with their contributions, each artist adds a handwritten dedication to Holly.

The book is available for preorder in three limited-edition collectible box sets, with original cover art by The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood.

The most expensive of the three is the Luthier edition, numbered 551 to 559, which sells for over $13,000. It includes a leather-bound copy of the book with gold foiling and gold edging, signed by Daltrey, Townshend and María Elena. It comes with a limited-edition replica of Holly’s Gibson J45 guitar, on which he wrote such songs as “Send Me Some Lovin'” and “Everyday,” and a 7–inch vinyl with two rare home recordings by Holly.

Proceeds from book sales will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America, the cancer charities co-founded by Daltrey and Townshend.

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A planned series about the early days of The Rolling Stones has hit a snag. The show was originally in production at FX, but now its producer, Andy Harries, tells Deadline he’s looking for a new home for the show.

“It’s not in with FX [anymore], unfortunately,” Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures, which produced Netflix’s The Crown, tells the site. “It did take a tumble out because of the cutbacks at Disney. It was just too expensive and too ambitious for the immediate agenda.” 

The planned series was first announced in 2020, with The Stones giving permission for their music to be used in the show. It was expected to cover the band from its formation up until about 1972. 

As for its current status, Harries notes, “It really needs a writer with a specific vision for it. It needs a showrunner attached who’s got the time and the energy and is totally absorbed by it.”

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Elton John is celebrating his momentous year, which saw him bring his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour to a close, by giving holiday gifts to his fans.

Elton wrote on Instagram, “2023 has been an incredible year and I’m so grateful to all my fans who have supported me. As a big thank-you, I want to give away a bunch of my records and a Charlotte Tilbury gift set I’ve signed.”

He added, “All you have to do is tag your friend who deserves a treat this holiday in the comments for a chance to win!”

The Charlotte Tilbury gift set is part of Elton’s partnership with the cosmetics brand: He starred in a new holiday campaign for the makeup, set to his “Step Into Christmas.” He also signed off on a Rocket Collection of makeup for the brand, with proceeds going to his AIDS Foundation’s Rocket Fund.

If makeup isn’t your thing, there are plenty of albums to win: a copy of Elton’s Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player album on red marble vinyl; a 50th anniversary Madman Across the Water limited-edition vinyl; a two-LP vinyl version of Diamonds, his best-of collection; a 7-inch green vinyl 50th anniversary edition of “Step Into Christmas;” and a blue vinyl pressing of his 2021 album, The Lockdown Sessions.

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With Christmas just days away, several artists are sending their holiday wishes to fans.

Queen posted a holiday card on Instagram, featuring archival clips of interviews with Freddie Mercury, Brian May and more, along with the caption, “Happy holidays from Queen.”

The Who also posted a holiday card to fans on Instagram, with the cover of Who’s Next and the message, “Merry Christmas and a Happy Who Year,” signed by Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, The Who touring band and everyone at thewho.com.

Meanwhile, Bonnie Raitt is giving fans a peek into her Christmas past, sharing a family Christmas card from 1955, showing her whole family in holiday pajamas. 

“As my Dad was then starring in the hit musical, The Pajama Game, on Broadway,” she writes, referring to dad John Raitt. “We were gifted with matching pajamas and my folks thought it would be fun decking us all out in pj’s for our card.”

The card features the tagline “Still in Pajamas,” with Raitt noting that was referring to their 1954 Christmas card, “when we were all wearing, you guessed it, matching pajamas!”

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Following Nikki Sixx‘s confirmation that new Mötley Crüe music is coming in 2024, Tommy Lee is hyping up the upcoming tunes.

Speaking with the Desert Sun of Palm Springs, California, the drummer declares, “Wait until you hear it, it’s insane.”

“It’s not a full album, but that might be down the road a bit,” Lee says. “We’re always writing and doing stuff, so that’s always a possibility down the road.”

“We just went to the studio not too long ago and recorded three insane tracks and one of them is called ‘Dogs of War,'” he adds. “We’re just finishing up the video for it.”

Mötley Crüe last released new music in 2019 for the soundtrack to their biopic, The Dirt. The upcoming material will mark their first since John 5 joined Mötley in place of guitarist Mick Mars, who announced his retirement from touring in 2022 and has been involved with legal proceedings with his former bandmates.

“For those jonesing for some new Crüe, people are going to bug out,” Lee says. “John 5 is playing on it, the guitar work is incredible and it sounds sick.”

Mötley Crüe is playing a concert in Palm Springs on New Year’s Eve.

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