Classic Rock News

George Harrison‘s estate has partnered with BMG on a new global publishing deal for the label to oversee the late rock legend’s Harrisongs catalog, which includes over 200 songs he wrote as a member of The Beatles, as a solo artist, and with the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys.

Among the many familiar songs written or co-written by Harrison are The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Something”; his solo hits “My Sweet Lord,” “What Is Life,” and “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)”; and The Traveling Wilburys’ “End of the Line” and “Handle with Care.”

The agreement also expands the relationship BMG has had with the Harrison-established boutique label Dark Horse Records, which is now led by George’s son, Dhani Harrison, and talent manager/film producer David Zonshine. The deal will see BMG serving as Dark Horse Records’ global partner with regard to music recordings and publishing, merchandise, and other business areas.

“I’m delighted to announce that my father’s song catalogue will be joining BMG/Dark Horse Records,” says Dhani in a statement. “We have had a longstanding and successful partnership with BMG over the years and we look forward to continuing to expand our relationship well into the future.”

Upcoming Dark Horse releases include a new EP from Billy Idol and a new studio album by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench. The label also recently secured a global agreement to release 16 albums from the late Leon Russell‘s catalog spanning from 1984 to 2013, and a deal to administer the solo publishing of late Clash frontman Joe Strummer, as well as the publishing of Strummer’s songwriting contributions to The Clash’s final album, 1985’s Cut the Crap.

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The Grateful Dead has unveiled plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band’s historic 1972 European tour — highlights from which appear on the group’s popular triple album, Europe ’72 — with a variety of special releases and events.

Among the releases is Lyceum 1972: The Complete Recordings, a limited-edition 24-LP package due out July 29 that will be the largest vinyl box set ever from the band. The collection presents the entire final four shows of the ’72 trek, which took place at London’s Lyceum Theatre.

The discs for each show are organized in separate clamshell boxes, and the package also includes a book offering an in-depth look at the concerts. Lyceum 1972 can be pre-ordered now exclusively at Dead.net.

Also on July 29, a newly remastered 50th anniversary edition the Europe ’72 album will be released as a two-CD set, a three-LP  collection, and via digital formats and streaming. A special “Bozo or Bolo” limited edition version of the album pressed on psychedelic rainbow vinyl will be released on June 3 exclusively at Dead.net.

In addition, a four-CD set titled Lyceum Theatre: May 26, 1972, featuring a recording of the very last show of the European tour, will be released on July 29.

To kick off the 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1972 European tour, the fifth season of “The Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast” premiered today with an episode that delves deeply into the trek.

Then, on Friday, April 8, a livestream event called “Dead Studies: The Wonders of Dark Star” will premiere on The Grateful Dead’s YouTube channel. The event will feature a musicology professor presenting an analysis of the band’s first performance of “Dark Star” during the 1972 trek, which happened at London’s Wembley Empire Pool on April 8.

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Pink Floyd has teamed up with singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Ukrainian band Boombox to record a new song titled “Hey Hey Rise Up” in support of the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.

The track is being released via streaming formats globally at midnight on Friday, April 8, while a companion music video has premiered at Pink Floyd’s YouTube channel.

This marks the first new original music Pink Floyd has recorded as a band since the 1994 album The Division Bell. The group’s lineup for the track was guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and longtime Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, as well as Nitin Sawhney on keyboards, and the aforementioned Khlyvnyuk on lead vocals.

The track, which was recorded on Wednesday, March 30, uses vocals taken from a recent Instagram post showing Andriy singing the Ukrainian protest song “The Red Viburnum in the Meadow” while standing in Sofiyskaya Square in the city of Kyiv. The song, which was written during World War I, has become an anthem in Ukraine protesting Russia’s invasion.

Gilmour, who has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law, says, “We, like so many, have been feeling the fury and the frustration of this vile act of an independent, peaceful democratic country being invaded and having its people murdered by one of the world’s major powers.”

David got to know Boombox when he played with the band — minus Khlyvnyuk — at a 2015 concert in London. After seeing Andriy’s Instagram video, he was inspired to write music to accompany the vocals, and “Hey Hey Rise Up” was born.

Regarding the track, Gilmour says, “I hope it will receive wide support and publicity. We want to raise funds for humanitarian charities, and raise morale.”

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Pink Floyd has teamed up with singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk [AHN-dree KLIV-nik] of Ukrainian band Boombox to record a new song titled “Hey Hey Rise Up” in support of the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.

The track will be released via digital formats globally at midnight on Friday, April 8, and a companion music video also will premiere at that time.

This marks the first new original music Pink Floyd has recorded as a band since the 1994 album The Division Bell. The group’s lineup for the track was guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and longtime Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, as well as Nitin Sawhney on keyboards, and the aforementioned Khlyvnyuk on lead vocals.

The track, which was recorded on Wednesday, March 30, uses vocals taken from a recent Instagram post showing Andriy singing the Ukrainian protest song “The Red Viburnum in the Meadow” while standing in Sofiyskaya Square in the city of Kyiv. The song, which was written during World War I, has become an anthem in Ukraine protesting Russia’s invasion.

Gilmour, who has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law, says, “We, like so many, have been feeling the fury and the frustration of this vile act of an independent, peaceful democratic country being invaded and having its people murdered by one of the world’s major powers.”

David got to know Boombox when he played with the band — minus Khlyvnyuk — at a 2015 concert in London. After seeing Andriy’s Instagram video, he was inspired to write music to accompany the vocals, and “Hey Hey Rise Up” was born.

Regarding the track, Gilmour says, “I hope it will receive wide support and publicity. We want to raise funds for humanitarian charities, and raise morale.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The story of Kurt Cobain is becoming an opera. Or, rather, a story inspired by Kurt Cobain.

The London Royal Opera House has announced an adaptation of the 2005 Gus Van Sant film Last Days, which was loosely based on the death of the Nirvana icon.

Like the movie, the Last Days stage production follows a musician named Blake who has “recently escaped rehab to return home.”

“He is haunted by objects, visitors and memories distracting him from his true purpose — self-destruction,” the ROH’s description reads, adding “this new opera plunges into the torment that created a modern myth.”

Last Days is set to run at London’s Linbury Theatre October 7-11.

By the way, an opera isn’t the only thing Last Days has inspired recently. The Batman writer/director Matt Reeves cited the film in an interview with Empire while describing his Cobain-esque interpretation of the Caped Crusader.

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In celebration of last month’s opening of the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit “The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be,” the Cleveland museum is hosting a series of Beatles-themed events during the next few days.

The Fab Four festivities begin today at 5 p.m. ET with a Beatles-themed edition of the “Rock Hall Nights” series. In addition to offering a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibit, the event will feature an appearance by Let It Be engineer and famed producer Glyn Johns, who will sign copies of his memoir Sound Man from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Other attractions, events and activities include screenings of rare jams from Rock Hall induction ceremonies featuring Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and other rock superstars; Beatles trivia quizzes; a performance by a Beatles cover band; a look at the music that influenced the Fab Four; and more.

Thursday’s “Rock Hall Nights” event, which runs until 9 p.m., will be followed by the “Beatles Fan Weekend,” taking place on Friday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The fan weekend will feature many of the same activities and attractions offered on Thursday, including the Rock Hall performance screenings, the trivia quizzes, and the concert.

In addition, Beatles-themed drinks will be available at the café, and Beatles music will be played all day through speakers at the Rock Hall, along nearby East 9th St. and in downtown Cleveland.

As previously reported, “The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be” is an immersive exhibit that offers an in-depth look at the 1969 sessions that yielded the Let It Be album, and at the band’s famous London rooftop concert.

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The Clash will mark the 40th anniversary of the band’s classic 1982 album Combat Rock with a special expanded reissue titled Combat Rock/The People’s Hall that will be released on May 20.

The People’s Hall is a 12-track collection compiled by The Clash featuring recordings made at the same time as the Combat Rock sessions in a London building called The People’s Hall located in an area of the city given the name of the Republic of Frestonia, where some residents had attempted to secede from the U.K. in 1977.

Released on May 14, 1982, Combat Rock was the final Clash album by the group’s classic lineup of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon, and the band’s most successful studio effort. The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured the singles “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” as well as such gems as “Know Your Rights” and “Straight to Hell.”

The People’s Hall includes unheard, rare and early versions of songs, among them an alternate version of “Know Your Rights,” the previously unreleased instrumental “He Who Dares or Is Tired,” and the outtakes “The Fulham Connection” and “Idle in Kangaroo Court.”

Coinciding with the announcement of the reissue, two previously unreleased versions of two Combat Rock songs featuring The Clash collaborating with late English Beat and General Public member Ranking Roger — “Rock the Casbah” and “Red Angel Dragnet” — have been made available as a digital EP, while a limited-edition vinyl EP featuring the tracks will be issued on May 20.

Combat Rock/The People’s Hall, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available as a two-CD set, a three-LP collection and via digital formats.

Here’s the CD track list:

CD 1: Combat Rock

“Know Your Rights”
“Car Jamming”
“Should I Stay or Should I Go”
“Rock the Casbah”
“Red Angel Dragnet”
“Straight to Hell”
“Overpowered by Funk”
“Atom Tan”
“Sean Flynn”
“Ghetto Defendant”
“Inoculated City”
“Death Is a Star”

CD 2: The People’s Hall

“Outside Bonds”
“Radio Clash”
“Futura 2000”
“First Night Back in London”
“Radio One” — Mikey Dread
“He Who Dares or Is Tired”*
“Long Time Jerk”
“The Fulham Connection” (aka “The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too”)
“Midnight to Stevens”
“Sean Flyn”
“Idle in Kangaroo Court”
“Know Your Rights”*

* = previously unreleased

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The Animals‘ long-out-of-print first four U.S. studio albums — their 1964 self-titled debut, 1965’s The Animals on Tour and Animal Tracks, and 1966’s Animalization — will be released as 180-gram vinyl LPs and expanded CDs on May 20.

In addition, a vinyl bundle will be issued the same day, titled The Animals Mickie Most Years and More, featuring the four LPs, plus a 12-inch vinyl reproduction of the group’s 1963 four-song EP, I Just Wanna Make Love to You.

The Animals’ debut album launched the Newcastle, U.K., band into stardom, thanks to the group’s hit cover of “The House of the Rising Sun,” which topped the U.S. and U.K. singles charts. The album itself peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200.

The Animals on Tour included “I’m Crying,” which reached #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. Animal Tracks boasted three top-40 hits — “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “Bring It On Home to Me” and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Animalization also featured a trio of top-40 singles — “Inside-Looking Out,” “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “See See Rider.”

All of the CD versions of the albums feature at least one bonus track dating from the time each record was recorded or released. The Animals includes an unedited version of the album track “Talkin’ ‘Bout You.” The Animals on Tour has three extra tracks, including a New Year’s spot from the band. Animal Tracks boasts five bonus tunes, among them the non-album hit “It’s My Life” and the single version of “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Animalization features three extra tracks, including stereo versions of “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “See See Rider.”

You can pre-order the vinyl reissues and the bundle now at ABKCO.com.

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Following the tragic 2016 death of Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey, his son Deacon stepped into his father’s footsteps, playing guitar and singing with them during live performances.  But after several years of being the “New Kid in Town,” Deacon is “Already Gone.”

In a Facebook post, Eagles co-founder Don Henley writes, “Deacon Frey has devoted the past 4½ years to carrying on his father’s legacy and, after some weeks of reflection, he now feels that it is time for him to forge his own path. We understand, completely, and we support him in whatever he wishes to pursue in the years ahead.”

Henley continues, “In the wake of his dad’s demise, Deacon, at age 24, did an extraordinary thing by stepping from relative anonymity into the very public world of his father’s long illustrious career. We are grateful to Deacon for his admirable efforts and we wish him well as he charts his future.”

“Deacon’s Eagles Family will always be here to surround him with love, support and goodwill, and he is always welcome to join us onstage at any future concerts, if he so desires,” Henley concludes. “We hope our fans will join us in wishing Deacon the very best as he moves into the next phase of his career.”

No word yet on whether Deacon will be replaced.  The Eagles will kick off the next leg of their tour April 19. 

In 2017, Henley said of the younger Frey, “It’s extraordinary what that young man has done…his first gig with us was at Dodger Stadium. He had done some gigs with his father — private parties, clubs, in front of maybe 200 people. To go from that to 55,000 people is extraordinary. I don’t know many people who could have done that without freaking out.”

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A new NFT collection featuring photos of various famous artists taken by legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower, as well as signed prints of the pics, will be up for bid via an online auction taking place Monday, May 16, at JuliensAuctions.com.

The sale, dubbed “FU Rock’n’Roll Portraits: Neil Zlozower Premier NFT Collection and Signed Prints,” will feature 45 one-of-a-kind NFTs boasting images of Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Van Halen, Steven Tyler, Def Leppard‘s Joe Elliott, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Mötley Crüe, Joan Jett, Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford, KISS‘ Eric Singer, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong, Poison‘s Bret Michaels, Ronnie James Dio and more. Every pic captures the famed rockers holding up their middle fingers to the camera.

Each lot will include a digital version of the photo as an NFT minted on the Ethereum blockchain that also will include audio narration from Zlozower, as well as a print of the pic signed by the photographer.

The auction will begin at 11 a.m. PT on May 16. Julien’s Auctions now accepts a variety of cryptocurrencies as payment. Visit JuliensLive.com to check out all of the lots.

Zlozower began his photography career over 40 years ago, and his images have appeared on the covers and/or in the pages of such popular magazines as Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, Metal Hammer and Guitar World.

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