Classic Rock News

Journey will release its first new studio album in 11 years, Freedom, in one week. But the band’s longtime keyboardist and co-songwriter Jonathan Cain has also been promoting a new solo effort, Arise, the sixth full-length spiritual-themed album that he’s put out since 2016.

The 11-track Arise, which was released in late May and is available now via digital formats, combines new tunes with songs that appeared on Cain’s 2021 EP Oh Lord Lead Us.

Cain, who wrote and recorded Arise during the pandemic, tells ABC Audio that the project reflects his general unhappiness with the direction the U.S. has been going in recent years while also encouraging Christians to be more fervent in embracing their faith.

“I sort of landed on a revival theme … like an awakening, a call to prayer, a call to … standing for freedom and standing for the church,” Cain maintains. “And, you know, we had our freedoms diminished there during the lockdown. And I think everybody had to face the fact that … the government can get in the way … and churches need to stand up and say no. And a lot of them did.”

The album was recorded in Nashville with musicians that Cain describes as his “go-to Christian quartet,” including drummer Tommy Harden, guitarist Mike Price and bassist Tony Lucido. In addition, Jason Derlatka, who joined the Journey lineup as a keyboardist and backup singer in 2020, contributed backing vocals to a number of Arise‘s tracks.

While the themes of his spiritual songs and the tunes he writes for Journey may differ, Jonathan says there’s a common thread between the two.

“I try to put melodies that go somewhere and lyrics that say something … contrary to what the music is out today,” he notes.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers are calling out sick for Friday’s scheduled concert in Glasgow, Scotland.

A statement posted by the band early Friday reads, “Due to illness RHCP will not be able to perform in Glasgow tonight July 1.” 

“We are working on ways to reschedule,” the post continues. “[Please] hold onto your tickets & wait for an update soon. RHCP love Scotland & are deeply disappointed not to be able to perform the show. Thank you for your understanding.”

The Scotland show is part of the Chili Peppers’ ongoing world tour in support of their new album, Unlimited Love. Their next scheduled performance is set for this Sunday, July 3 at Belgium’s Rock Werchter festival.

The U.S. leg of the tour begins July 23 in Denver.

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Bret Michaels was reportedly hospitalized in Nashville, just before taking the stage on Thursday. 

While there’s no official word on why he was hospitalized, Michaels, 59, TMZ reported he’s being treated after suffering a bad reaction to medication, triggered by his diabetes.

Before the medical emergency, the Poison frontman was set to take the stage with his band mates as part of the Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. According to TMZ, the rest of Poison took the stage to announce that they wouldn’t be performing their set.

Fans were bummed by the news, with one tweeting, “Came all the way from KC to watch poison. Bret Michaels was admitted to hospital. No poison in Nashville.”

It’s unclear how long Michaels will be out of commission. The next tour stop is scheduled for Saturday, July 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. 

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The Doobie Brothers‘ breakthrough second album, Toulouse Street, was released 50 years ago today.

The 10-track collection features the band’s first two top-40 hits, “Listen to the Music” and a cover of the 1966 gospel tune “Jesus Is Just Alright,” which reached #11 and #35, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. The record, which also includes the classic-rock staple “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 1 million copies in the U.S.

The album saw the Doobie Brothers lineup expand from a quartet to a quintet, as founding singer/guitarists Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons and drummer John Hartman were joined by a second drummer, Mike Hossack, and original bassist Dave Shogren was replaced by Tiran Porter.

Johnston wrote five of the album’s 10 songs, including “Listen to the Music” and “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” while Simmons composed two tunes, and the remaining tracks were covers — the aforementioned “Jesus Is Just Alright,” Seals and Crofts‘ “Cottonmouth” and blues great Sonny Boy Williamson‘s “Don’t Start Me to Talkin’.”

Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne is featured on “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “Don’t Start Me to Talkin’,” “Cotton Mouth” and “Jesus Is Just Alright.”

On Toulouse Street, The Doobie Brothers’ deep Americana roots are on full display. As Johnston explains to ABC Audio, “Everybody came from different musical backgrounds, and that all got thrown together and it worked. Me coming from blues and R&B, soul music, plus rock ‘n’ roll, of course. Pat coming from rock ‘n’ roll, but also folk blues, a lot of fingerpicking…[T]hose two elements basically guided where the band was gonna go early on.”

Johnston adds, “[W]e’re what you might call a quintessential American band.”

Here the full track list of Toulouse Street:

“Listen to the Music”
“Rockin’ Down the Highway”
“Mamaloi”
“Toulouse Street”
“Cotton Mouth”
“Don’t Start Me to Talkin'”
“Jesus Is Just Alright”
“White Sun”
“Disciple”
“Snake Man”

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A new collectible David Bowie-themed Barbie doll has been released in honor of the 50th anniversary of the late rock legend’s classic fifth studio album, 1971’s Hunky Dory.

The new doll is the second Bowie-inspired Barbie released as part the Barbie Signature Collection, following the Ziggy Stardust-themed figurine that debuted in 2019.

The new Barbie features the doll dressed in an outfit replicating the one Bowie wore in the 1973 music video for the Hunky Dory single “Life on Mars?” — a powder-blue suit, black and silver striped shirt, a statement tie and platform shoes. The doll also boasts the same red shag hairstyle that Bowie sported in the video and throughout his glam-era heyday, as well as similar face makeup, including bold blue eyeshadow.

The David Bowie Barbie Doll 2 is priced at $50 and is available at MattelCreations.com, Amazon, Walmart and Target.

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In addition to being the lead single and title track off his upcoming solo album, Ozzy Osbourne‘s new song “Patient Number 9” has given Jeff Beck a new Billboard record.

With “Patient Number 9” debuting at #20 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, Beck, who plays the guitar solo on “Patient Number 9” and is credited as a featured artist, has set the new mark for longest gap between appearances on that particular ranking.

Beck’s last entry on Mainstream Rock Airplay came in 1994 thanks to his collaboration with Seal on a cover of Jimi Hendrix‘s “Manic Depression.” All told, it took Beck 28 years and four months to return to the chart.

Prior to Beck, the record had been held by Elton John. The Rocket Man spent 27 years and five months between charting on Mainstream Rock Airplay in 1992 with the Eric Clapton team-up “Runaway Train” and in 2020 as a featured artist on “Ordinary Man,” the title track off the then-new album by, wait for it, Ozzy Osbourne.

So, the lesson here seems to be that if you want to break a Billboard chart record, hopping on an Ozzy Osbourne solo track may be your best bet.

The album Patient Number 9 will be released September 9, and can be preordered now. Along with Beck, it includes guest contributions from Clapton, Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready, Black Label Society‘s Zakk Wylde, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Jane’s Addiction‘s Chris Chaney, Metallica‘s Robert Trujillo and late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

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The late Frank Zappa‘s entire song publishing and recording catalog, his film archives and the full contents of his expansive storage facility, known as The Vault, have been acquired by Universal Music Group from the Zappa Trust, the family company overseen by Frank’s four children.

In addition, the agreement, which also includes Zappa’s name and likeness, will see UMG’s catalog and music-publishing companies — Universal Music Enterprises, known as UMe, and Universal Music Publishing Group — continue its ongoing partnership with the Zappa Trust, which began 10 years ago when Frank’s late wife, Gail, was overseeing the trust.

“UMG have more than proven their passion for Frank’s art and so the entire Zappa family — Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva — is thrilled to pass the baton to the new forever stewards for all things Frank Zappa,” the Zappa Trust says in a joint statement. “Old and new fans will get more of what they want — more Frank Zappa music for years to come …[W]e know that his music and legacy will be in the best possible hands for generations to come.”

Adds UMe President and CEO Bruce Resnikoff, “We will continue to develop innovative ways to celebrate [Frank’s] vast and influential catalog for both longtime fans and those just discovering his genius … Frank Zappa was constantly creating and recording and he left behind a treasure trove of extraordinary still-unreleased music and video in his Vault that will help us usher in the next era of Frank Zappa fans.”

During his lifetime, Zappa obsessively documented his recording sessions, live performances and jams on audio and video formats. UMG is planning to pore through his archives to create many new releases in the coming years.

Zappa died of prostate cancer in 1993 at age 52.

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The 10th anniversary edition of the Allman Brothers Band-founded Peach Music Festival got underway Thursday.

The four-day event, which runs through Sunday, July 3, is taking place at its usual location, Montage Mountain in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It will include headlining sets from The Black Crowes and Phish singer/guitarist Trey Anastasio‘s solo band.

More than 50 artists will be performing at this year’s festival, with the bill also including founding Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe, Jason Bonham‘s Led Zeppelin Evening, reggae legends The Wailers and Steel Pulse, G. Love & The Juice and Duane Betts — son of original Allman Brothers singer/guitarist Dickey Betts.

Jaimoe will be playing with a collective dubbed Jaimoe & Friends, while The Wailers will perform the late Bob Marley‘s classic hits compilation Legend in its entirety. In addition, a group called Trouble No More will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Allman Brothers’ 1972 album Eat a Peach. Trouble No More’s lead singer is Lamar Williams Jr., whose late father played bass with the Allman Brothers from 1972 to 1976.

With the festival scheduled just before July 4, the bash will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display Sunday.

Meanwhile, nugs.net will be streaming select performances from the festival on all four days, and subscribers to the service will be able to watch for free.

The June 30 livestream lineup includes the Trouble No More set; the July 1 bill will feature Steel Pulse; the July 2 lineup includes Jaimoe & Friends and Trey Anastasio Band; and the July 3 livestream will offer Duane Betts, The Wailers and G. Love & The Juice.

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While Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill” has far and away been the defining song of the latest season of Stranger Things, fans of the heavier side of ’80s music got some recognition, too.

Breakout character Eddie Munson, a Dungeons & Dragons-loving metalhead, sports a denim jacket with a patch inspired by the 1984 Dio album The Last in Line on the back. Original Dio drummer Vinny Appice, who’s a fan of Stranger Things, tells ABC Audio that he was “absolutely” excited to see the patch in the show.

“I’m, like, ‘Why didn’t you play the song?’ They played a lot of rock songs in that, they didn’t play a Dio or [Black] Sabbath song,” Appice shares. “But the back of his jacket — fantastic! A couple of shots, it was straight on.”

As was revealed following the season’s premiere in May, the patch was made out of a shirt provided by the late Ronnie James Dio‘s estate.

“That actually is a link to Ronnie’s personal stuff he had,” Appice says. “So that was great, I loved it.”

The second volume of Stranger Things season 4 premieres this Friday, July 1, on Netflix.

Meanwhile, a remastered and remixed version of Dio’s 1983 debut album, Holy Diver, is being released July 8 in honor of what would’ve been Ronnie’s 80th birthday on July 10. Appice feels that the reissue, like the Stranger Things reference, helps keep the music of Dio “alive.”

“[Holy Diver] just went double-Platinum, too,” Appice says. “All this stuff keeps the music maybe turning on to some younger audiences and stuff. And it’s become such a classic, it’s amazing.”

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The Doobie Brothers have added a special gig to the 2022 leg of their 50th anniversary tour, a September 8 performance at New York City’s famous Radio City Music Hall.

Tickets for the show will go on sale to the general public Friday, July 8, at 10 a.m. ET. American Express card members will have the chance to purchase presale tickets starting Tuesday, July 5, at 10 a.m. ET, while a limited number of VIP packages also will be available. For more info, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Founding Doobie Brothers member Pat Simmons recently chatted with ABC Audio about the band playing Radio City Music Hall, declaring, “It’s a spectacular venue and really a good place to showcase what we’ve been doing.”

The Doobie Brothers are currently in the middle of the North American summer leg of their 50th anniversary trek that’s mapped out through a July 25 show in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will follow that with a series of fall concerts running from a September 2 gig in Pelham, Alabama, to an October 12 performance in Nashville.

Check out the band’s full schedule at TheDoobieBrothers.com.

As previously reported, The Doobie Brothers’ lineup for the tour features core members Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee, along with returning Doobie Brothers singer/keyboardist Michael McDonald.

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