Rush’s Alex Lifeson launches new Lerxst Limelight guitar

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Rush’s Alex Lifeson is launching a new guitar. The rocker’s company Lerxst, a partnership with Mojotone, has just debuted the new Limelight guitar, created in partnership with Godin Guitars.

The new axe is inspired by Lifeson’s mid-’80s guitar, the Hentor Sportscaster, which he started using before recording Rush’s 1981 album Moving Pictures. It soon became synonymous with the rocker’s ’80s sound and guitar style. 

According to a press release, the new model “captures the essence of the original Sportscaster in a thoroughly refined form.”

The guitar comes in two different models: the Vega Trem-equipped and the Original Floyd Rose-equipped, with both designed in cream with a high gloss finish, 12-inch radius ebony fretboard, maple neck and medium stainless steel frets. 

“The original Hentor brought together a mix of tone and playability that empowered me to explore sounds and styles of playing that I had never attempted before,” Lifeson shares. “Ultimately these things became signature parts of my style.”

He adds, “When the idea came to reimagine this guitar it made sense to partner with innovators like Godin who I knew I could trust to utilize the advances in technology and manufacturing skill to create something that could power a new generation of players looking to push their own boundaries.”

More information on the Lexrst Limelight can be found at lerxstamps.com.

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The Black Crowes to perform at Steven Tyler’s Jam for Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party

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The fifth annual Jam for Janie Grammy Awards Viewing Party, a benefit for Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler‘s Janie’s Fund, will be happening Sunday, February 4, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

The star-studded event will feature a special live performance by The Black Crowes, with actress Zooey Deschanel serving as host.

Guests expected to attend the bash include Sammy HagarSharon StoneMatt SorumBernie TaupinAva DuVernayJohn StamosJessica SimpsonAshlee Simpson and Evan RossElton JohnMiley CyrusScarlett JohanssonAlice Cooper and Mick Fleetwood are among the honorary chairs for the event.

Proceeds from the viewing party benefit Janie’s Fund, which, through the LifeSet program, supports young girls who have experienced abuse and neglect and age out of foster care. Since its launch in 2018, the party has raised more than $12.2 million for the organization. 

More information on Janie’s Fund can be found at janiesfund.org.

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Mick Mars drops video for latest ‘The Other Side of Mars’ track, “Undone”

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Former Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars has released the video for his latest solo single, “Undone.” It will appear on his debut solo album, The Other Side of Mars, which drops February 23.

The black-and-white clip features images of Mars in a mine shaft, cut with footage of him playing guitar. 

Mars gave fans their first taste of The Other Side of Mars back in October with the track “Loyal to The Lie,” which was later followed by the single “Right Side of Wrong.”

The album features contributions from former Alice Cooper keyboardist Paul Taylor, who co-wrote many of the tracks, as well as Korn drummer Ray Luzier and bassist Chris CollierJacob Bunton provides vocals on eight tracks and Brion Gamboa on two.

The Other Side of Mars is available for preorder now.

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Billy Joel announces first co-headlining date with Rod Stewart

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Billy Joel has co-headlining dates on the books this year with Stevie Nicks and Sting, and now he’s set to share his stage with yet another big-name rock star – Rod Stewart.

Billy and Rod will headline Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, September 13, marking the first time the two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have headlined a concert together.

A Citi ticket presale kicks off Monday, January 29, at 10 a.m., with tickets going on sale to the general public Friday, February 2, at 10 a.m.

Joel previously announced two new shows with Sting in Las Vegas and San Antonio, for a total of five dates together in 2024. He’s also set to headline two shows with Nicks in 2024, in Arlington, Texas, and Chicago.

A complete list of dates can be found at billyjoel.com.

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Pearl Jam & Ozzy Osbourne to receive special Clio Music Awards honors

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Pearl Jam and Ozzy Osbourne will be honored at the 2024 Clio Music Awards, the annual ceremony that honors creativity in music marketing and the use of music in advertising.

Eddie Vedder and the gang are set to receive the 2024 Clio Impact Award, which, according to a press release, celebrates the Seattle rockers’ “diverse creative pursuits, building an enduring and inspiring connection to their fans.” It will also honor their philanthropic work through their Vitalogy Foundation.

Specifically, the band is being recognized for their creativity when it comes to tour posters, creating unique posters for each show they play. Some of those posters have won Clio Music Awards, including several posters from their 2023 tour.

Meanwhile, Ozzy will receive the 2024 Clio Music Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing, among other things, the rocker’s “creative legacy, enduring impact on popular culture and the numerous Clio Music Award winning campaigns in which he’s appeared.”

The 2024 Clio Music Awards will take place January 31 in Los Angeles. Tickets to the event are on sale now.

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Gov’t Mule to headline Daze Between New Orleans

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Gov’t Mule isn’t on the bill for New Orleans Jazz Fest this year, but they’ll head to the Big Easy to help festivalgoers keep the party going between weekends.

Warren Haynes and his band are set to headline what’s called Daze Between New Orleans, two days of music happening April 30 and May 1 at Faubourg Brewery.

They will headline the May 1 bill, bringing along special guests Chuck LeavellJohn ScofieldIvan Neville and more. Also performing at Daze Between are LettuceGalactic and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and more.

Tickets for Daze Between New Orleans go on sale Friday, January 26, at 10 a.m. More information and a complete lineup can be found at dazebetweennola.com.

As for Jazz Fest, which takes place April 25 – 28 and May 2 – 5, this year’s lineup features The Rolling StonesNeil Young & Crazy HorseBonnie RaittFoo Fighters and more.

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Foreigner announces ‘Farewell – The Very Best of Foreigner (Hot Blooded Edition)’

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Struggling to find a Valentine’s Day gift for the music fan in your life? Foreigner’s got you covered.

The band is releasing the limited edition compilation, Farewell – The Very Best of Foreigner (Hot Blooded Edition), on red vinyl, promoting it as a perfect Valentine’s gift for your loved ones. 

The album features many of the band’s biggest hits produced by Mick Jones with Jeff Pilson. Songs on the album include “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Double Vision,” “Hot Blooded,” “I Want To Know What Love Is” and “Juke Box Hero.”

Only 5,000 individually numbered copies are being produced and they’re available to order now.

Fans still have a chance to listen to all those songs live. Foreigner is set to kick off the next leg of their Farewell tour on March 1 in Newkirk, Oklahoma. They currently have dates confirmed through November 9 in Las Vegas. A complete list of dates can be found at foreigneronline.com.

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Billy Joel & Sting add stadium shows in San Antonio and Las Vegas

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Billy Joel and Sting are teaming up for more stadium shows in 2024. 

The rockers and friends are now set to co-headline the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday, October 25, and Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, November 9.  

The Vegas concert is Billy’s first Sin City show since he headlined Allegiant in February 2022. Sting also spent plenty time in Vegas, where he headlined his My Songs residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace from October 2021 through April 2023.

A Citi presale kicks off Monday, January 29, at 10 a.m. local time, and tickets will go on sale to the general public starting Friday, February 2, at 10 a.m. local time.

Billy and Sting are now set to co-headline five shows together in 2024, including concerts in Tampa, San Diego and St. Louis. A complete list of dates can be found at billyjoel.com.

The news comes as Billy is getting ready to debut “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first song with lyrics — sung by Billy himself — since his 2007 single “All My Life.”  The song will be released on Thursday, February 1, and he’ll perform it on the Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 4.

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Sharon Osbourne: Ozzy’s farewell shows will be a “celebration” featuring “all his great mates”

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Appearing onstage at Birmingham, England’s New Alexandra Theatre on January 24, Sharon Osbourne revealed more details about Ozzy Osbourne‘s farewell shows in the city, his hometown.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Sharon, who appeared as part of her Cut the Crap speaking tour, said that Ozzy, 75, will be “coming home to say goodbye” with shows at Villa Park Stadium, taking place this summer.

“He’s going to have his mates with him, all his great mates that he’s toured with for years so he’ll have many friends with him and it’s going to be a celebration,” she added.

Asked by the event’s host if Ozzy will be well enough to board a plane to Birmingham, Sharon said, “I know with this that it’s mind over matter and he wants it too bad. He’ll be here.”

She also confirmed that Ozzy can’t put on a proper tour because of his health problems.

“It’s true, Ozzy won’t tour again, definitely he won’t. It’s terrible for him because it’s hard to let something that you lived for go, and no matter what over anything, the greatest love of his life is his fans and performing,” she said. “He lives for performing, it’s like his oxygen has been cut from him.”

The last time Ozzy played a full live show was in 2018. Since then, he’s been hampered by a number of health issues and has undergone multiple surgeries after suffering a fall in his home in 2019. He was booked to play the Power Trip festival in 2023 but dropped off the lineup due to his health.

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Robbie Robertson & Martin Scorsese to receive Society of Composers and Lyricists’ Spirit of Collaboration Award

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The late Robbie Robertson and director Martin Scorsese, his good friend and collaborator, will be honored with the Society of Composers and Lyricists’ Spirit of Collaboration Award.

The award honors “a composer/director relationship which has created a prodigious body of work.” In addition to the Oscar-nominated score for Killers of the Flower Moon, Robertson and Scorsese have worked on 13 projects together, including movies like Gangs of New YorkRaging BullCasino and The Color of Money.

Robertson’s Killers of the Flower Moon score has also been nominated by the SCL in the Original Score for a Studio Film category, where it will compete with the scores of SaltburnThe Boy and the Heron, Oppenheimer and American Fiction. 

Also earning an SCL nod is Lenny Kravitz, whose Rustin song “Road to Freedom” has been nominated in the Outstanding Original Song for a Drama or Documentary category. It is set to compete against songs from the movies The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & SnakesAmerican SymphonyCarmen and Jacob the Baker.  

The fifth annual SCL Awards are set to take place Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California.

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