New AXS TV series to debate the ‘100 Greatest Rock Stars Since That Was A Thing’

August 23, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new TV music series coming this fall will try to answer an often debated question: Who is the greatest rock star?

AXS TV is teaming with SPIN for the new series, SPIN’s 100 Greatest Rock Stars Since That Was A Thing, which is inspired by a list the mag initially put out in 2021. The series, which premieres October 2 at 8 p.m., will spotlight artists who “best embody the ‘Rock Star’ spirit,” including Stevie Nicks, Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Page, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Syd Barrett, Grace Slick and more.

The series will include “Artist Spotlights,” and there will be segments celebrating musicians who are loved by other artists, including Sammy Hagar, The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and AC/DC’s Angus Young. There will also be plenty of guests chiming in about what makes the artists on the list great, with appearances by Twisted Sister‘s Dee Snider, The Police‘s Stewart Copeland, Steve Vai, Joel McHale, Carnie Wilson and others.

“The problem with lists like this is they are invariably BS. So our prime objective was to make sure we didn’t do a BS list,” says SPIN founder Bob Guccione Jr. “A rock star is, perhaps by definition, undefinable. They just are. They’re luminescent. Even when, in some cases, they didn’t want to be,” adding, “I’m excited to bring this list to life with AXS TV!”

So, who made SPIN’s list of the greatest rock stars? Well, it’s certainly possible the list will change, but the original 2021 article picked The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards for the top spot, with Prince, Hendrix, Page and Bowie also making the cut.

New Paul Simon documentary to get US premiere at the Camden International Film Festival

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

A new documentary about Paul Simon is getting its U.S. premiere next month.

Variety reports that In Restless Dreams: The Music Of Paul Simon, from award winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, is set to premiere at the Camden International Film Festival, taking place September 14-17 at venues throughout Camden and Rockland, Maine.

In the film, Gibney follows Simon’s career, from growing up in Queens to his partnership with Art Garfunkel and more. It also goes in the studio with the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer during the making of his most recent album, Seven Palms, which was released in May.

While the Camden Festival is the movie’s U.S. premiere, it won’t be the first time people will see it. It’s getting its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday, September 9.

Eric Clapton & Bob Weir guest on Stephen Marley’s new ‘Old Soul’ album

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Eric Clapton and the Grateful Dead‘s Bob Weir are among the guest stars featured on Stephen Marley’s new album Old Soul, which will be released September 15.

Clapton lends his guitar talents to Stephen’s acoustic cover of dad Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff,” which he also covered in 1974 for his album 461 Ocean Boulevard. Weir is featured on the track “Winding Roads” along with Jack Johnson and Weir’s band Wolf Bros, made up of Don Was and Dead & Company’s Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane.

Old Soul is Marley’s first full-length album since 2016. It will also feature guest appearances by Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Buju Banton and Slightly Stoopid.

Old Soul will be released digitally, on CD and as a limited edition double vinyl; it’s available for preorder now.

Metallica announces ’72 Seasons’-themed ring

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

If a T-shirt isn’t enough for you to express your love for Metallica, perhaps some jewelry will do the trick.

The metal legends have announced a ring inspired by their new album, 72 Seasons. The ring will be available as an all-silver piece for $249.99, with a limited edition version embossed with brass selling for $349.99.

The brass edition is exclusive to members of Metallica’s Fifth Member fan club and will be limited to just 72 pieces.

For more info, visit Metallica.com.

72 Seasons was released in April. Metallica is currently supporting the album on the world M72 tour, which continues Friday, August 25, in Los Angeles.

Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde joins Guns N’ Roses for “Bad Obsession” performance in Boston

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Guns N’ Roses continues to surprise fans on their current world tour. The latest instance came Monday, August 21, during their show at Fenway Park in Boston, when Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde came out to join them on the track “Bad Obsession.”

Fan-shot footage posted to YouTube shows Chrissie joining Axl Rose and the others on harmonica for the Use Your Illusion I track, which was the second song of the night.

Chrissie and the Pretenders are currently one of the opening acts on the Guns N’ Roses tour. The trek hits Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Thursday, August 24. A complete list of dates can be found at gunnroses.com.

Pretenders, who are dropping the new album Relentless on September 1, are also currently headlining a club tour. Their next club show is happening Saturday, August 26, in Nashville, Tennessee. A complete list of dates can be found at thepretenders.com.

Patti Smith’s ‘Just Kids’ chosen by Dua Lipa for September Book Club

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Patti Smith, often called the Godmother of Punk, continues to to be an inspiration to future generations of musicians, and the latest artist paying her respects to her is Dua Lipa.

The pop star has just picked Smith’s acclaimed memoir, Just Kids, as the September pick for her Service95 Book Club.

The book documents Smith’s relationship with late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the late ’60s and early ’70s New York art scene. The book was a New York Times best seller, and in 2010, it won the National Book Award for Non-Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

“Patti is an absolute rock and roll icon and a personal hero of mine so I am beyond excited to dive into this book,” Dua writes on Instagram. “It’s hard to define Patti – she is a singer, a songwriter, a poet, a painter and, of course, an author. It’s safe to say that we get something of all of these personas through this beautiful book.”

Dua continues, “I’d have loved to be part of such a cool era. Patti gives us the next best thing – possibly the most spellbinding account of New York in the ’70s ever written. As we witness the ascent of two legendary artists – Robert and Patti – it’s clear that her respect and love for artistry never dims.”

Throughout September, Book Club followers will see Dua chatting with Smith about her life experiences and creative process. Smith will also share two exclusive readings, a playlist and a compilation of her own must-reads.

Ringo Starr to drop new EP in October

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Ringo Starr is treating fans to another EP. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is set to release his fourth EP, Rewind Forward, on October 13, with the title track dropping Friday, August 25.

“Rewind Forward was something I said out of the blue – it’s just one of those lines like a Hard Days Night. It just came to me. But it doesn’t really make sense,” Ringo says about the title. “I was trying to explain it to myself and the best I can tell you about what it means is: sometimes when you want to go forward you have to go back first.”

Ringo brought in some of his A-list friends to help him with the tracks on the EP, including former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney, who wrote “Feeling Sunlight.” The EP also features songs written by Toto’s Steve Lukather and Joe Williams, Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell, and Ian Hunter. The Eagles’ Joe Walsh, who is Ringo’s brother-in-law, also appears on the EP.

“Rewind Forward” is available for preorder now.

Ringo kicked off his EP series in March 2021 with Zoom In, which was followed that September by Change The World and then EP3 in September of 2022.

Up next, Ringo and his All-Starr Band will kick off a fall tour September 15 in Stateline, Nevada. A complete list of dates can be found at ringostarr.com.

Here is the track list for Rewind Forward:

“Shadows On The Wall”
“Feeling The Sunlight”
“Rewind Forward”
“Miss Jean”

On This Day, August 22, 1979: Led Zeppelin releases ‘In Through the Out Door’

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

On This Day, August 22, 1979…

Led Zeppelin released their eighth and final studio album, In Through the Out Door, in the United States.

The album went to #1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, where it spent seven weeks, tying it with Led Zeppelin II for the Led Zeppelin album with the most weeks at #1. The album’s best known songs include “All of My Love” and “Fool in the Rain.”

In Through the Out Door wound up becoming the last studio album from the legendary rockers. Their drummer, John Bonham, died in September, 1980, and they disbanded that December.

Are The Rolling Stones teasing a new album?

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

Are The Rolling Stones dropping hints that a new album is on the way? Well, that’s the speculation on social media after fans caught wind of a cryptic newspaper ad in the British paper the Hackney Gazette for something called Hackney Diamonds.

Billed as “specialists in glass repair,” the ad notes that Hackney Diamonds is “opening September 2023,” with the “I” in Diamonds dotted with the Stones’ signature lips logo. The ad also quotes several Rolling Stones song titles in its promotion.

“Our friendly team promises you satisfaction. When you say gimme shelter we’ll fix your shattered windows,” reads the ad, referring to Stones songs “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Gimme Shelter” and “Shattered.”

There’s also a Hackney Diamonds website, run by Universal Music, with the same ad, asking fans to “register your interest.”

So far, the Stones are staying mum regarding the speculation, but fans are convinced it’s all leading to a new album. Fans have been anxiously awaiting album news since Keith Richards said back in January that new Rolling Stones music was “on its way.”

‘The Fifth Beatle’ graphic novel getting 10th anniversary reissue

August 22, 2023 by Classic Rock 93.9

The award-winning graphic novel The Fifth Beatle was released 10 years ago. And to mark the milestone, a new anniversary edition is being released this fall.

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Anniversary Edition) will feature a new cover and a new intro from former Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis, as well as a musical playlist curated by the graphic novel’s author, Vivek Tiwary. There are also new introductions from British musician Billy J. Kramer and record producer Andrew Loog Oldham, along with an expanded sketchbook.

Released in November 2013, The Fifth Beatle was written by Tiwary, with illustrations by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker and lettering by Steve Dutro. It told the true story of Beatles manger Brian Epstein, delving into both his professional life and guiding the Beatles to superstardom, as well as his personal struggles.

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Anniversary Edition) will be released in bookstores on November 21 and comic stores on November 22. It is available for preorder now.

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