Andy Summers on The Police: “I thought we could have gone on and played for years”

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Many fans were upset when The Police broke up in 1986, and while they did reunite for a tour in 2007, it sure sounds like guitarist Andy Summers wishes they could have made more music.

In an interview with Loudersound, Summers says he felt a “huge sense of loss” when the group disbanded, and he felt something similar when they went their separate ways after the reunion tour.

“If it was up to me I wouldn’t have let it go. It’s an interesting subject, and to do [it] with fragility, frailty, ego and all that,” he shares. “I thought we could have gone on and played for years. We could have made some great new records.”

He adds, “It’s sad. We could have done more, but it wasn’t to be. One of the greatest bands of all-time got short shrift, I’m afraid to say.”

Of course, The Police’s legacy continues with their songs, and Summers notes, “That’s why it’s one of the greatest bands in history. The songs won’t go away.”

Andy just announced dates for his The Cracked Lens + A Missing String solo tour, which combines his music and photography. It kicks off July 21 in Beverly, Massachusetts. A complete list of dates can be found at andysummers.com.

John Mellencamp admits he was a bad boyfriend to Meg Ryan

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

John Mellencamp is giving folks a little insight into what went wrong in his relationship with Meg Ryan.

In an interview with Esquire, Mellencamp admits, “I love Meg Ryan. I went with her for ten years.” But, he says, “She doesn’t love me so much. She’s a great girl. I’m just a s***** boyfriend.”

He also recalls a time when they first started dating and tried to step outside their celebrity life, where things are often done for you.

“We were so f****** lost. We didn’t know how to do anything. I’ve never checked out of a hotel by myself,” he shares. “Her and I went to a grocery store, and they wanted our credit card, and we looked at each other and said, ‘Here it is,’ and they said, ‘No, you’ve got to put it in this thing,’ and we went, ‘Then what happens?’”

He adds, “We laughed at how stupid we are, so hard we cried. I think she’s learned how to do everything, and I’ve learned how to do nothing.”

Mellencamp and Ryan began dating in late 2010. They broke up and got back together several times before confirming their engagement in November 2018. They reportedly broke up for good in October 2019.

Broadway theater to dim lights for Tina Turner

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

The late Tina Turner will be honored on Broadway.

Deadline reports the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre is set to dim its marquee lights for one minute in honor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend on Wednesday, June 21, at 7 p.m. ET. The theater is where the musical of her life, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, ran on Broadway.

The show originally debuted in London’s West End before coming to Broadway. It ran from 2019 to 2022, closing August 14, 2022, after 27 previews and 482 productions. It was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, with Tina portrayer Adrienne Warren winning Best Lead Actress/Musical.

Turner passed away May 24 at the age of 83.

Metallica releases ‘The Amsterdam Sessions’ EP

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Metallica has released a new EP titled The Amsterdam Sessions.

The four-track collection features renditions of the classics “Master of Puppets” and “Nothing Else Matters,” as well as the songs “Lux Æterna” and “If Darkness Had a Son” off the new ‘Tallica album 72 Seasons, recorded in Amsterdam ahead of the metal legends’ M72 world tour kickoff.

The Amsterdam Sessions is available now exclusively through Amazon Music. You can also watch the video for the “If Darkness Had a Son” performance streaming now on YouTube.

The M72 tour comes to the U.S. in August.

New box set focuses on Stevie Nicks’ solo career

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Stevie Nicks’ solo career is being revisited with a new box set from Rhino.

Stevie Nicks Complete Studio Albums & Rarities will feature all eight of Nicks’ solo records — 1981’s Bella Donna, 1983’s The Wild Heart, 1985’s Rock a Little, 1989’s The Other Side of the Mirror, 1994’s Street Angel, 2001’s Trouble in Shangri-La, 2011’s In Your Dreams and 2014’s 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault — with many of them remastered from the original analog masters.

There will also be a Rarities album, with 23 non-album tracks, including songs that appeared on movie and TV soundtracks; three songs from her 1991 hits collection, Timespace; and her 2022 cover of Buffalo Springfield’s classic “For What It’s Worth.” It also includes the just-released “One More Big Time Rock and Roll Star,” which was the B-side to the Rock A Little single “Talk To Me.”

The box set will be released on July 28 in a variety of formats, including a 16-LP limited edition set, which will consist of 3,000 numbered copies, pressed on crystal clear vinyl. Three of the albums — Street Angel, Trouble in Shangri-La and In Your Dreams — are making their vinyl debut.

Stevie Nicks Complete Studio Albums & Rarities is available for preorder now.

Alice Cooper details new ’Road’ album; listen to single “I’m Alice” now

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Alice Cooper has announced a new album called Road.

The follow-up to 2021’s Detroit Stories arrives August 25. Cooper recorded Road with his live bandmates, including returning guitarist Nita Strauss.

“For Road, I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs,” the “School’s Out” rocker shares. “I only see these guys when we’re on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.”

You can listen to the lead Road single, the self-referential “I’m Alice,” now via digital outlets.

Cooper will be on tour this summer playing shows with Rob Zombie, as well as Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard.

Here’s the Road track list:

“I’m Alice”
“Welcome to the Show”
“All Over the World”
“Dead Don’t Dance”
“Go Away”
“White Line Frankenstein”
“Big Boots”
“Rules of the Road”
“The Big Goodbye”
“Road Rats Forever”
“Baby Please Don’t Go”
“100 More Miles”
“Magic Bus”

On This Day, June 14, 1980: Billy Joel’s ‘Glass Houses’ lands at #1

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, June 14, 1980…

Billy Joel landed at #1 with his seventh studio release, Glass Houses.

Influenced in part by new wave music, it featured, in Billy’s words, “bigger, louder, faster, shorter and punchier” material.

Four tunes off the album became Top 40 hits, including “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” which was Joel’s first #1 single. Other hits included “You May Be Right,” “Sometimes a Fantasy,” and Don’t Ask Me Why.”

Glass Houses remained on top of the charts for six weeks and went on to be certified seven-times Platinum by the RIAA.

It also earned Joel his fifth Grammy, winning Best Rock Male Vocal Performance.

From Iron Man to iron bull? Mechanical Commonwealth Games statue could be named after Ozzy Osbourne

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Last year, Ozzy Osbourne performed a surprise set at the Commonwealth Games sporting event, held in the metal legend’s hometown of Birmingham, England. Now, the legacy of that performance might live on in an unexpected way.

As the BBC reports, “Ozzy” could become the name of a giant, 33-foot mechanical bull statue that was unveiled during the Commonwealth Games and became a sort of mascot for the festivities.

Other names on the shortlist include Boulton, named after 1700s industrialist and Birmingham native Matthew Boulton, as well as Brummie, a word for a Birmingham resident, and Boltin, Birmingham slang for “great.”

The name will be chosen by public vote, which is open now through June 20.

During Osbourne’s Commonwealth performance, he was accompanied by Tony Iommi for renditions of the Black Sabbath classics “Iron Main” and “Paranoid.” Aside from perhaps inspiring the name of a mechanical bull, the set was significant for being Ozzy’s first live performance in three years. During that time, Ozzy dealt with a number of health issues, not to mention the whole worldwide pandemic thing.

Earlier this year, Ozzy announced his retirement from touring due to those health issues, though he later said he wanted to continue to perform live. He’s set to play the upcoming Power Trip festival in October alongside AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool.

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan announces new solo album, ‘Lighthouse’

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is set to release his third solo album, Lighthouse, on October 20 and has just shared the title track from the album.

The record, his first solo release since 2019’s Tenderness, has the rocker “fusing acoustic elements with hard-edged rock ‘n’ roll to land at the sweet spot between soul-searching reflection and pure energy.”

Lighthouse features 11 tracks, with guest appearances by McKagan’s GNR bandmate Slash on a song called “Hope,” Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell on “I Just Don’t Know” and Iggy Pop on a reprise of the title track.

Lighthouse is available for preorder now. Here is the track list for the album:

“Lighthouse”
“Longfeather”
“Holy Water”
“I Saw God on 10th Street”
“Fallen”
“Forgiveness”
“Just Another Shakedown”
“Fallen Ones”
“Hope” (Feat. Slash)
“I Just Don’t Know” (Feat. Jerry Cantrell)
“Lighthouse” (reprise) (Feat. Iggy Pop)

The Rolling Stones team up with Skechers for new sneaker collection

June 14, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Fans of The Rolling Stones will now be able to show their love of the iconic rockers on their feet.

Skechers just announced a new collaboration with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band. The Skechers x The Rolling Stones collection will feature eight collectible styles all “emblazoned with unmistakable attributes from both Skechers and The Rolling Stones.”

Skechers and The Stones have been previewing the collection online, which features the iconic Rolling Stones tongue and lip logo on high-tops, slip-on sneakers, white sneakers and more.

The shoes will be available for men, women and kids starting Thursday, June 15, although details on price are not yet available.

And Stones fans already seem excited by the collaboration. “at last ! Something fashionable for the over 50’s,” one person commented, while another added, “When you need to go to the gym but can’t stop being a rock chick.”

The Skechers news comes not long after the band announced a new collaboration with Keurig, the limited edition “Start Me Up” iced coffee kit. It went on sale June 6 and is already sold out.

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