Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band release the album ‘Live’ Bullet, recorded at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan.
Now considered one of the greatest live albums of all time, it helped Seger break through to a national audience, while the live version of “Turn the Page” became a rock radio staple.
In addition to “Turn the Page,” several songs from the record actually became hit singles, including “Nutbush City Limits” and “Lookin’ Back.”
The album was certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA, and in 2012 it ranked at 10 on Rolling Stone’s poll of the all-time favorite live albums.
The Library of Congress has chosen 25 new recordings to join the National Recording Registry, including classics from John Lennon, Led Zeppelin and more.
Recordings chosen for preservation based on their “cultural, historical or aesthetic importance” include such songs as Lennon’s “Imagine,” Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Eurhythmics’“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” along with the albums Synchronicity by The Police and Déjà Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
“The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden shares. “The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come, and we welcome the public’s input on what songs, speeches, podcasts or recorded sounds we should preserve next.” She noted, “We received more than 1,100 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry.”
With the new additions, the National Recording Registry titles are now at 625, part of a recorded sound collection of about 4 million items.
It appears Foo Fighters may be gearing up to fight foo again.
In a social media post Wednesday, Dave Grohl and company shared a mysterious 13-second video teasing “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” while what certainly sounds like new music plays in the background.
If new Foos material is indeed in the works, it’ll be the follow-up to 2021’s Medicine at Midnight and, more notably, will be the group’s first new music following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.
An English radio host claimed earlier this year that a new Foo Fighters album was dropping in March, though he soon apologized for the remark, and March came and went without any new Foos tunes.
Following Hawkins’ death, Foo Fighters canceled all of their tour dates before reemerging for two giant tribute concerts to their late bandmate in September. On New Year’s Eve, they announced they intended to continue as a band, and have since scheduled a number of headlining concerts and festival sets for 2023, the first of which takes place May 24 in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
April 12 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of R.E.M.’s debut album, Murmur, which helped launch Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck from indie artists to eventual Rock & Roll Hall of Famers.
Released by I.R.S. Records in 1983, Murmur, produced by Don Dixon and Mitch Easter, featured songs the band had already been performing for fans on tour, including a rerecorded version of their debut single “Radio Free Europe,” which was originally released in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone.
The album debuted at 36 on the Billboard Albums chart, but it was a huge hit with critics. In fact, Rolling Stone named Murmur the Best Album of 1983, beating out such classics as Michael Jackson’s Thriller, The Police’s Synchronicity and U2’s War.
By 1991, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA, and continued to land on “best of” and “must have” lists, including the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die;Rolling Stone’s 2013 list of The 100 Best Debut Albums of all Time, where it landed at 18; and Blender’s list of the 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die.
Of course, following Murmur, R.E.M. went on to have huge success, releasing 15 studio albums. Their two biggest commercial hits were 1991’s Out of Time and 1992’s Automatic for the People. They earned three Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, their first year of eligibility.
Much to many fans’ dismay, R.E.M. officially disbanded in 2011, although there are still plenty of folks holding out hope for a reunion one day.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers have canceled their upcoming tour as Thorogood deals with some health issues.
“George has been diagnosed with a very serious medical condition that will require immediate surgery and quite a few weeks of recuperation and healing,” the band shares. “You, our fans, mean the world to us, and we know this news is not want you wanted to hear, but rest assured George Thorogood & The Destroyers will be back.”
They add, “We’ll keep you updated as we know more.”
The tour of the U.S. and Canada was supposed to kick off April 27 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and wrap May 21 in Big Flats, New York. Fans who have tickets will be receiving refunds for the canceled dates.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has announced a 22-date Endangered Species tour, which kicks off May 17 in Davenport, Iowa, and hits such cities as Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Hartford, Annapolis and more.
“There is nothing quite like performing live. I love it!” Mason shares.
The tour also includes two nights with the Steve Miller Band: June 24 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and the tour closer on June 28 in Boston, Massachusetts.
And fans can expect a lot more from Mason this year. He’s set to release his memoir, Only You Know and I Know, in late 2023, and will also be releasing new music later in the year.
In more evidence that time is, indeed, a flat circle, the year is 2023 and people are arguing over a Kirk Hammett guitar solo.
Hammett’s shredding on the new Metallica single “Lux Æterna” has inspired a wide range of reactions, including from YouTubers who record their own version of the solo with video titles such as “Metallica ‘Lux Æterna’ But the Solo Doesn’t Suck.”
As Hammett tells Total Guitar, he’s unconcerned with the criticism.
“Yeah, my f****** friends down the street could probably play a better solo than ‘Lux Æterna’ — but what’s the point?” Hammett says. “For me, what’s appropriate is playing for the song and playing in the moment.”
“I could string together like six or seven three-octave arpeggios in 16th notes, sit there every day and practice it and go, ‘Hey, look what I can do!'” he continues. “But where am I gonna put it? That won’t work in any Metallica song!”
While not everyone is on board with Hammett’s “Lux Æterna” solo, at least some people are — the single hit #1 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. And hey, at least there’s a solo at all.
“Lux Æterna” is the lead single off Metallica’s upcoming album 72 Seasons, due out Friday. The metal titans are celebrating the record’s upcoming arrival with a weeklong residency on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Peter Frampton’s retirement from the road didn’t last long.
Back in 2019, Frampton set out on what he said would be his final tour ever, revealing that he’d been diagnosed with a degenerative muscular disease that would eventually stop him from playing guitar. Well, apparently that hasn’t happened yet, because he’s decided to hit the road again.
Frampton just announced a new set of dates for what he’s calling the Never Say Never tour, which kicks off June 21 in Hubert Heights, Ohio, and wraps August 19 in Sandy, Utah.
“At the end of every Finale Tour show I did say, ‘Never Say Never’ and I am always full of hope for the impossible,” Frampton shares. “I’m very pleased to let you know that I am feeling strong and my fingers are still roaming the fretboard.” He adds, “Every note I play now has more meaning and soul. I love playing live and this fighter wants to stay in the ring for as long as he can.”
Ticket presales for most shows begin Wednesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at Frampton.com.
Joe Perry has some new music to share. The Aerosmith guitarist is dropping the new album Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII on May 26.
The album, being released digitally and on vinyl, is a companion to Perry’s previous release, 2018’s Sweetzerland Manifesto. It will include six new tracks, and alternate vocals and mixes. It features guest appearances by The Black Crowes‘ Chris Robinson, Stone Temple Pilots’ Robert DeLeo, Cheap Trick‘s Robin Zander, New York Dolls’ David Johansen and more.
“We had so many songs and with everything going on with TheVampires, Aerosmith, COVID, not touring, and touring, this music kept riding along for me,” Joe shares. “I tend to think in terms of albums. The first one had a vibe, and MKII is a little more rocked out. I almost prefer it.”
He added, “It’s one of those records I can play from front-to-back live.”
And to give fans a taste of what to expect, Perry has dropped the first single from the record, “Fortunate One,” which he wrote with sons Tony and Roman and features Robinson on vocals.
Here is the track list for Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII:
“Fortunate One” – featuring Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) and Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots)
“Quake” – featuring Gary Cherone (Extreme/Van Halen)
“I’ll Do Happiness” – featuring Terry Reid
“Aye Aye Aye” – featuring Robin Zander (Cheap Trick)
“Man with a Golden Arm” – Instrumental
“Time Will Tell”
“I Wanna Roll” – featuring David Johanson (NY Dolls)
“Suck It Up” – featuring Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) and Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots)
“Goes His Own Way” – featuring Terry Reid
“Won’t Let Me Go” – featuring Terry Reid
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Foo Fighters have announced another batch of headlining U.S. shows.
The six-date run spans from August 4 in Spokane, Washington, to October 5 in El Paso, Texas. The Breeders will support on select dates.
Tickets go on sale Friday, April 14, at 10 a.m. local time. A presale begins Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit FooFighters.com.
Along with the headlining shows, Foo Fighters lead the bill for the just-announced 2023 edition of Eddie Vedder‘s Ohana Festival, taking place September 29 to October 1 in Dana Point, California.
The Pearl Jam frontman himself will also be an Ohana headliner, along with The Killers. Others on the bill include HAIM, Pretenders, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Glen Hansard, Japanese Breakfast, The War on Drugs, Lucius, Dhani Harrison and The Chicks.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 13, at 10 a.m. PT; a presale for members of Pearl Jam’s Ten Club is open now. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit OhanaFest.com.
Foo Fighters are making their live comeback this year following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022. Their first show back is scheduled for May 24 in Gilford, New Hampshire. A new drummer has yet to be announced.
