Classic Rock News

The late Christine McVie is being remembered on what would have been her 80th birthday.

To mark the milestone, her former Fleetwood Mac bandmate Mick Fleetwood has released an instrumental version of the classic “Songbird,” which she wrote,  featuring ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.  The new take features a dedication by Mick at the end, “As the songbird sings, now from the heavens, to you Christine, I wish you all the love in the world. But, most of all, I wish it from myself.”

“Here we are thinking of you on your heavenly 80th birthday! For me, although missing you on this celebration of your 80th birthday…I like so many have the greatest memories in plenty! And most of all, your songs are lighting up the world on this your birthday,” Mick wrote on Instagram, adding, “You are loved and dearly missed.”

But that’s not the only way McVie’s being remembered. Rhino just announced plans to release remastered editions of two of her solo albums to celebrate.

First, digital and Dolby Atmos versions of her 2004 album In the Meantime has been released to streaming services. The new version was mixed by her nephew Dan Perfect and features the previously unreleased track “Little Darlin’.”

In addition, reissues of In the Meantime and her 1984 self-titled solo album will be released on November 3. Christine McVie will be released on CD and LP, with a cola-bottle clear vinyl version sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble. In the Meantime will come out on CD and as a two-LP set, that will feature a “songbird” etching.

Both albums are available for preorder now.

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While lots of artists can appreciate their rock star contemporaries, apparently members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones didn’t quite understand the appeal of Led Zeppelin back in the day.

Producer/engineer Glyn Johns, who worked on both The Beatles’ Let It Be and Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin I, reveals on Rolling Stone’s Music Now podcast that George Harrison and Mick Jagger were not Zeppelin fans.

“When Zeppelin set up and started to play, I was literally pinned to the back wall by what I heard. It was nothing like what I expected,” Johns says. “But I remember taking the record and playing it to George Harrison on the way home from a Beatles session, and he didn’t like it at all.” 

He adds, “And I remember playing it to Mick Jagger, because I thought they should go on the Rock and Roll Circus [TV special]. And Mick didn’t like it at all either.”

One artist Johns is a big fan of is Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, sharing, “I don’t think he gets nearly enough credit to this day.”

“He really is quite remarkable … His technical ability is average, but his feel exceptional,” Johns says. “Also, what he does, where he puts what he plays is quite remarkable. And without him, they would not have been the same band. I don’t care what anybody says.”

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Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has teamed up with Epiphone, and the result is a sleek new guitar: the Epiphone Les Paul Custom Axcess in Ruby.

“This is a stunning guitar, it’s beautiful and it sounds great to play,” Lifeson shares. “You can create a lot of different tones and sounds, and a player at any level can make use of this guitar.” He adds, “Playing guitar takes you to that place in your heart and your soul to express yourself creatively and to just have fun, it is just fun to play, it always has been and always will be.”

The guitar is sold in both left- and right-handed versions, and features a mahogany body, finished in a Ruby gloss with white top binding and an ebony fretboard.

The Epiphone Les Paul Custom Axcess in Ruby is available to order now and costs just under $1,300.

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The Moody Blues’ John Lodge has been touring the U.S. performing the band’s classic album Days of Future Passed, and now the rocker is releasing an album of his performance. 

Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn will feature Lodge performing the 1967 album in its entirety, along with a special recorded appearance by the late Graeme Edge and performances by Jon Davison of Yes. 

“November 2023 will be the 56th anniversary of Days of Future Passed. It’s incredible to look back on this album that changed my life, and that still has so much impact today on so many, and I felt that it deserved celebrating, and so I began rehearsals in 2021/2022 to bring this celebration to life on stage,” Lodge shares. “After the final rehearsals for the concert, I realized I should capture this new moment in time, although a reflection of the past, forever, by going into the studio and recording the album, Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn.”

Lodge says he hopes the new recording will “bring a new generation of listeners” to the album and that others will “rediscover the original,” as well.

Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn will be released as a special fan club-only CD and will be sold on the upcoming leg of Lodge’s tour, starting with his show on July 18 in Rockford, Illinois. A complete list of tour dates can be found at johnlodge.com.

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David Lee Roth is channeling Napoleon Dynamite for his latest video.

The former Van Halen frontman just posted a video of him dancing to Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat,” the same song featured in Jon Heder’s climactic dance scene in the 2004 indie hit.

Roth, dressed in overalls and a cap, shows off his best moves in the clip, slipping and sliding across the dance floor. Adding to his Napoleon Dynamite salute, he captioned the video “Vote for Pedro,” the line also made famous in the movie. 

This is far from the first bizarre video Roth has shared. In May he posted a video of him dancing to Annie Lennox’s “Little Bird,” prancing around with a flag, a cane, a sword, a trombone, bullhorns and cymbals.

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Judas Priest is playing the Power Trip festival in place of Ozzy Osbourne.

The news comes a day after the Prince of Darkness announced that he was dropping off the lineup for the much-anticipated event, which was set to be his first full live performance since 2018. Ozzy’s since dealt with a variety of health problems, including extensive surgery stemming from a fall in 2019.

“As painful as this is, I’ve had to make the decision to bow out of performing on Power Trip in October,” Ozzy said. “My original plan was to return to the stage in the summer of 2024, and when the offer to do this show came in, I optimistically moved forward.”

“Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet,” he continued. “I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-a****.”

Ozzy also assured that fans “will not be disappointed” by his replacement, noting that they are “personal friends of mine.”

In their own statement, Rob Halford and company say, “Power Trippers are you ready for some Judas Priest style heavy metal! We are excited and ready to raise double horns way up high together.”

Power Trip, which is being produced by the same team behind Coachella, takes place October 6-8 in Indio, California. Priest joins the previously announced lineup of Metallica, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool.

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Before The Doors hit it big, they headlined five shows at the Matrix, a small club in San Francisco, and while they weren’t exactly sell-outs, they went on to become popular bootlegs among fans. Now, those live performances are the subject of a new box set.

Live at the Matrix 1967: The Original Masters, dropping September 8, features live recordings from those shows, which took place in March of 1967. Unlike bootlegs that have circulated for years, the songs on the new set come from Matrix owner Peter Abram’s original master recordings of the concerts.

Live at the Matrix 1967: The Original Masters will be released as limited edition five-LP and three-CD sets, with both featuring previously unheard recordings of “All Blues” and “Bag’s Groove.” Both sets are available for preorder now. 

This isn’t the first time The Doors have released music from these shows. In 2008, they released Live at the Matrix 1967. They say unlike the new set, that release used third generation tapes, not the original recordings.

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Cheap Trick is extending their time on the road in 2023. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just announced a new set of fall tour dates.

The new additions to the schedule kick off October 2 in Springfield, Missouri, with the trek wrapping October 22 in Reno, Nevada. Local presales for all new shows begin Wednesday, July 12, at 10 a.m. local time, with the general onsale set for Friday, July 14, at 10 a.m. local time.

In the meantime, Cheap Trick is booked for several festivals this year and will be the special guest on Rod Stewart’s upcoming U.S. tour. The rockers’ next show is happening July 16 in Chicago, Illinois. A complete list of tour dates is on cheaptrick.com.

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A lot of artists have been selling off their catalogs lately, and it appears at least a portion of Led Zeppelin’s may soon change hands.

According to an article in the U.K. Times, Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin’s former manager, owned 20% of the rock band’s catalog, and when he passed in 1995, he left those shares to be evenly divided between his children, daughter Helen and son Warren. Well, now Helen is getting ready to part with her 10%.

“I’d much rather have Dad back, but I know I’m bloody lucky,” the 59-year-old tells The Times about the money she’ll likely make from the sale. “I’m hoping it will allow me to showcase dad again in the way he should be presented.” 

She says there’s discussion of making a film about Grant, noting, “I never had a chance to do it before — I’ve got five bloody kids, for God’s sake — but I’m at that stage in life where I’m thinking we could do something great with dad’s legacy.”

So, how much could this sale be worth? Well, an exact amount isn’t known, but it certainly sounds like it could be a big number. According to Music Business Worldwide, the law firm handling the sale says the deal will include a share of the rights to Led Zeppelin’s recorded music and publishing along with rights to their name, logo and trademarks.

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Loverboy is set to be honored on Canada’s Walk of Fame. The “Working for the Weekend” rockers are among 13 acts chosen this year, with the celebration set for September 28 at Massey Hall in Toronto.

Other artists being honored include Glass Tiger, who had a huge hit with their 1986 release “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”; Chilliwack, best known for their 1981 single “My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)”; and April Wine, who had a Top 40 hit with 1981’s “Just Between You And Me.”

“These trailblazing musicians have had an extraordinary impact on our Canadian Rock landscape,” Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame, shared in a statement. “Their longevity, many of whom still tour and sell out venues, is inspiring; and we are proud to welcome them each to Canada’s Walk of Fame.” 

While best known for their 1981 track “Working for the Weekend,” Loverboy had big hits in the U.S. with “Turn Me Loose,” “Hot Girls In Love,” “Heaven in Your Eyes” from Top Gun and more. They were inducted in to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

Loverboy is currently on the road opening for Foreigner on their final tour. The trek hits Nashville, Tennessee, on July 11. A complete list of dates can be found at loverboyband.com.

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