Classic Rock News

A new four-part docuseries called Women Who Rock that focuses on female singers and musicians who have made a significant impact on the music world since the 1950s will premiere July 10 on EPIX.

The show will feature new interviews with Heart‘s Nancy Wilson, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth, The B-52s‘ Kate Pierson, Sheryl Crow and many more reflecting on the musical contributions they and other female artists have made.

The series will showcase the artists sharing insights and stories behind their music, as well as discussing such topics as power, fame, truth and the struggle to achieve success.

The premiere episode, titled “Truth,” will look at the roots of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s and ’60s with profiles of Mavis Staples, Chaka Khan and the late Janis Joplin, plus commentary from Weymouth, Pierson, Norah Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, Merry Clayton and others.

Episode two, titled “Defiance,” which premieres on July 17, will focus on the 1970s and such artists as Wilson, Jett, Blondie‘s Debbie Harry, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks and Carole King.

The third episode, dubbed “Power,” debuts on July 24, and delves into the artists who emerged during the 1980s and ’90s, among them Benatar, Sheila E., Natalie Merchant, Crow, Missy Elliott, Courtney Love, Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette.

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Bad Company and Free singer Paul Rodgers has lent his vocal talents to a new song called “Red Harvest” by veteran singer/keyboardist Richard T. Bear, aka T Bear.

A music video for the melancholy tune, which T Bear was inspired to write while watching footage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has premiered on the Quarto Valley Records’ official YouTube channel.

The clip features live performance footage, along with images of Ukraine, a brief cameo by Rodgers, and scenes of T Bear singing on a beach dressed in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Money raised from the song and video will be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross’ humanitarian relief efforts.

“I watched as the missiles and bombs rained down upon the civilians; people trying to flee the death and destruction,” explains T Bear. “I walked over to my piano and in less than 30 minutes I had the idea of ‘Red Harvest.'”

The track also features former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber, acclaimed session bassist Lee Sklar and veteran session drummer Tony Braunagel, who produced the song with help from Juber.

All of the artists who participated in the recording did so free of charge.

“T Bear was truly inspired when he wrote ‘Red Harvest,'” Rodgers says. “I think we are all shocked at what is happening in Ukraine. Such a feeling of helplessness. We all do what we can.”

T Bear has posted a video on his Facebook page in which he reveals he’s working on a new studio album he expects to release in January.

During his career, T Bear has recorded with many well-known artists, including Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Blues Brothers, Billy Squier and Cher, as well as for KISS members Gene Simmons‘ and Peter Criss‘ solo projects.

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Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard has teamed up with singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco for a new song called “Disorders.”

The track was recorded in collaboration with PJ’s Gigaton producer Josh Evans, saxophonist Skerik and drummer Stanton Moore. It will raise money for the National Network of Abortion Funds in support of abortion access as the Supreme Court is expected to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“With the imminent overturning of Roe v. Wade, women in every Republican stronghold in this country are left treading in a sea of unnecessary suffering, just trying to keep their heads above water,” DiFranco says. “Poor women will be drowned by the score. That is why this track is a fundraiser for abortion access — to help women who don’t have resources but who desperately need abortions.”

“I am so grateful for men like Stone, Skerik, Stanton,” she adds. “Not just for the blessing of this track and the honor of being invited into it, but for actually seeing women in their full humanity and being willing to stand with them.”

You can listen to “Disorders” now via digital outlets.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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With a price tag of just under $400, this stuffed animal isn’t going to be one you want to give to the kids.

The legendary German toy company Steiff has teamed up with Elton John to create a limited edition teddy bear that’s a tribute to both Elton and his 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Just like Benny in “Benny and the Jets,” the teddy sports a “mohair suit” of soft fur and also rocks a pair of exclusive sunglasses from the Elton John Eyewear collection.

Images from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album cover appear on the teddy’s footpads, and he has detailing that makes him look like he’s wearing a baseball jacket with “Elton John” embroidered on the back, as Elton does on the album cover. He’s even wearing a “diamond” cross earring in one fuzzy ear, just like Elton does, and the signature Steiff button in his ear is gold-plated.

Only 3,000 Elton teddies will be produced, at $395 a pop. You can preorder them now; they ship October 31.

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Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has announced a new signature guitar as part of his partnership with Gibson.

The Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Rust in Peace is a new take on the iconic model, featuring an “alien tech green” finish. Named after Megadeth’s 1990 album, the guitar “delivers the powerful, heavy sound and exceptional playing performance on the stage and in the studio that Dave demands,” a press release declares.

For more info on the Flying V EXP Rust in Peace, which will set you back $2,999, visit Gibson.com.

Mustaine first announced his partnership with Gibson in 2021. The collaboration has so far yielded the non-Rust in Peace edition of the Flying V EXP as well as the Dave Mustaine Songwriter acoustic guitar.

In related news, Megadeth is seemingly preparing to finally release new music from the band’s anticipated new album, The Sick, the Dying…and the Dead!, the long-in-the-works follow-up to 2016’s Dystopia. A cryptic social media post hints at something new dropping this Thursday, June 23.

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On the heels of releasing his debut solo album, Speed of Heat, last Friday, former Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter has lined up a series of California tour dates in support of the record.

Baxter currently has six shows on his schedule: July 30 in Sutter Creek, July 31 in Mill Valley, August 1 in Oakland, August 2 in West Hollywood, August 3 in Solana Beach and August 4 in San Juan Capistrano.

The new series of shows follows Baxter’s East Coast outing in May. Baxter’s band features Speed of Heat co-producer CJ Vanston on keyboards, as well as Mark Damian on drums and Hank Horton on bass.

“CJ suggested Mark and Hank and I didn’t actually meet them until we started rehearsing for the tour,” Baxter says. “But we meshed immediately, and the initial dates went so well we don’t want to stop.”

As previously reported, Speed of Heat is a 12-track collection that features a mix of original tunes and select covers. Among the latter are versions of the Steely Dan classics “My Old School” and “Do It Again,” and the 1960 instrumental “Apache” that was popularized by The Shadows.

The album features Baxter singing lead on some tracks, as well as some guest vocalists and musicians, including his one-time Doobie Brothers bandmate Michael McDonald, country star Clint Black, Toto keyboardist David Paich and blues-rock singer/guitarist Jonny Lang.

McDonald lends his vocals to a song called “My Place in the Sun,” which he co-wrote with Baxter and Vanston, while Paich plays an organ solo on the “My Old Town” cover.

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A new documentary focusing on Don McLean‘s epic 1971 song “American Pie” and its legacy will premiere in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on July 8 and will make its television debut July 19 on the Paramount+ streaming service.

The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean’s “American Pie” will include new interviews with McLean and will feature the singer/songwriter revealing for the first time secrets behind the tune’s creation and the meaning behind its lyrics.

The film also looks at important cultural moments and events in U.S. history that played a role in inspiring “American Pie” and features various people from different generations explaining how they were affected by the song.

The movie includes commentary from a number of celebrities, including Garth Brooks, The Beach Boys‘ Brian Wilson and actor Peter Gallagher, who share their admiration for the song and discuss how it has impacted their lives.

“This documentary is something that will make people think, especially since so many throughout the years have asked me what certain lyrics meant or whom I was referring to, but now I finally can solve many of those mysteries,” says McLean. “Everyone from Madonna to Garth Brooks to Weird Al Yankovic has recorded ‘American Pie’ and made it their own. So many people have their own interpretation of the song, and I love it.”

You can check out a trailer for the film now at Paramount+’s official YouTube channel. In the preview, we hear McLean explain of the song, “I wrote all the verses in about an hour, like a genie out of a bottle,” and how Buddy Holly‘s death helped inspire it.

The Day the Music Died also will be screened in select theaters around the world on July 14 and July 17.

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All aboard! New Ozzy Osbourne music is dropping this week.

The latest solo offering from the Prince of Darkness is a song called “Patient Number 9” and is scheduled to arrive this Friday, June 24. The song is set to feature guitar icon Jeff Beck.

You can check out a teaser video for the single via Ozzy’s Twitter. The post tags famed comic book artist Todd McFarlane, suggesting he might be involved in the track’s video.

Beck is one of many reported guests to be featured on Ozzy’s next solo album, the follow-up to 2020’s Ordinary Man. Others said to be appearing on the record include Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Eric Clapton, Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready, Black Label Society‘s Zakk Wylde and Metallica‘s Robert Trujillo.

As exciting as it is for fans to hear new Ozzy music, it’s probably even more so for the man himself, who’s been battling a host of medical issues over the past few months. In addition to testing positive for COVID-19 in April, the 73-year-old rocker underwent surgery just last week, which his wife Sharon said would “determine the rest of his life.”

In a statement following the procedure, Ozzy shared that he was “home from the hospital recuperating comfortably.”

“I am definitely feeling the love and support from all my fans and send everyone a big thank you for their thoughts, prayers and well wishes during my recovery,” he said.

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It may not have been “Lightning,” but something has crashed through the original lineup of Live.

In an Instagram post Tuesday, frontman Ed Kowalczyk revealed that founding guitarist Chad Taylor had been let go from the band.

That announcement was preceded by a comment Kowalczyk made while responding to a fan asking about potential tour dates, in which the singer wrote, “I would love to perform, but it’s not possible in the current situation with the band.”

“The three other original members are not speaking to each other, and I am stuck in the middle,” Kowalczyk shared. “If I try to go solo, there is a good chance they will sue me again.”

Kowalczyk had previously faced legal proceedings from his bandmates after he left Live in 2009. He eventually returned to the band in 2016.

“I have to do what’s best for me and my family and try to stay out of litigation by not performing in public at all,” Kowalczyk added. “Hopefully things change but until then I have to law low.”

Kowalczyk didn’t get into the specifics of Live’s current disagreements, but his follow-up post suggests that the blame lies with Taylor.

“As of last evening, I control 55% of Live,” Kowalczyk wrote. “Chad Taylor is fired. He will never stop the music again.”

Kowalczyk also thanked the fans for their “amazing love and support.”

“I cried multiple times yesterday reading your comments and messages,” he wrote. “It really meant the world to me and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Presumably, Live still includes fellow founding members Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Gracey alongside Kowalcyzk.

Live’s most recent release is the 2018 EP, Local 717.

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ZZ Top has added three new shows to their 2022 Raw Whisky Tour, all taking place in their home state of Texas in late September and featuring Jeff Beck and Heart frontwoman Ann Wilson as special guests.

The concerts are scheduled for September 23 in Del Valle, September 24 in Dallas and September 25 in the Houston suburb of The Woodlands. Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com. Pre-sale tickets for members of ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres fan club are available now.

ZZ Top launched the Raw Whisky Tour in late May, and with the addition of the three Texas shows, the band now has over 40 confirmed upcoming 40 dates. The trek celebrates ZZ Top’s new Tres Hombres whiskey brand as well as the group’s forthcoming album, Raw, which will be released July 22.

As previously reported, Raw was recorded at the historic Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas, in conjunction with the famed blues-rock trio’s 2019 documentary, That Little Ol’ Band from Texas. It features ZZ Top’s classic lineup — singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and late bassist Dusty Hill — playing an intimate set of songs from their back catalog.

Meanwhile, the shows with ZZ Top are Beck’s first announced U.S. dates for 2022. He recently announced that he’ll be releasing a collaborative album with actor/rocker Johnny Depp titled 18 on July 15.

Wilson has been on tour supporting her latest solo studio album, Fierce Bliss, which was released in April, but she announced via Twitter on Tuesday that she had to postpone her remaining June concerts because four crew members tested positive for COVID-19. Her trek will resume in July.

Check out ZZ Top’s full tour schedule at ZZTop.com.

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