Classic Rock News

Singer/songwriter Aimee Mann recently revealed that she was removed from her previously announced slot as an opening act on Steely Dan‘s upcoming U.S. tour.  Now the band’s frontman, Donald Fagen, has apologized to Mann, while also explaining why she was dropped from the bill.

In a statement provided to Variety, Fagen noted, “I was misinformed as to how firm the commitment was to any particular opening act. And, although I have the greatest respect for Aimee as a writer and performer, I thought it might not be the best matchup in terms of musical style.”

He added, “But I can’t pass the buck. I’ll take the blame for the screwup. I apologize for any distress this has caused Aimee and her fans.”

Mann announced that she’d been bumped from Steely Dan’s tour in a comic strip she posted on her Instagram, writing, “No one is entirely sure why, but it seems they thought their audience wouldn’t like a female singer-songwriter?…As it happens, Steely Dan is the one band that I 100% love, with no reservations, so it really sucks.”

In his statement, Fagen addressed Mann’s comment about her being a female artist, insisting “the idea that I would make any decision based on the gender of a performer is ridiculous. That’s something that would never even occur to me.”

He also pointed out that female acts including Rickie Lee Jones and the late Phoebe Snow had previously opened for Steely Dan.

Mann tells Variety, “I totally disagree about the style thing…I know so many people who are fans of mine and fans of theirs,” adding, “Anyway, I still love them.”

Aimee had been scheduled to support the band from June 21 to July 3. The full trek currently runs from May 20 through August 13.

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Founding Pink Floyd singer/bassist Roger Waters has added three new shows to his upcoming This Is Not a Drill tour of North America, bringing the total number of dates on the trek to 40.

The tour, which originally was supposed to kick off in July 2020 before being postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, kicks off on July 6 in Pittsburgh runs through an October 8 show in Dallas.

The newly added concerts are scheduled for August 10 in Columbus, Ohio; October 3 in Glendale, Arizona; and October 6, in Austin, Texas.

Tickets for the new shows go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 25, at 10 a.m. local time. Pre-sale tickets to the concerts will be available starting on Wednesday, March 23, at 10 a.m. local time. To buy tickets and for additional information, visit RogerWaters.com.

As previously reported, the This Is Not a Drill concerts will be staged “in the round,” a first for Waters.

In a statement, Roger explains that his performances will offer “a stunning indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive, and a call to action to LOVE, PROTECT and SHARE our precious and precarious planet home.

He adds, “The show includes a dozen great songs from PINK FLOYD’S GOLDEN ERA along side several new ones, words and music, same writer, same heart, same soul, same man.”

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Pearl Jam has been recording new music with producer Andrew Watt, and, so far, the results have been “killer.”

That’s according to guitarist Stone Gossard, who tells SPIN that the grunge icons have “recorded a little bit” with Watt.

“We’ve got some things going already, and they’re killer,” Gossard says. “We’re psyched. Andrew is a total character. Really, like immediately, we were writing quickly. Spontaneously. Bring in a riff. Let’s knock it out.”

The guitarist adds, “[Drummer] Matt Cameron is playing his a** off. We didn’t bring any gear down. We were just doing some recording in Andrew’s basement in Beverly Hills, basically. So far, so good.”

Watt was primarily known for producing pop music, having worked with artists including Post Malone and Justin Bieber before linking up with Ozzy Osbourne for the metal legend’s 2020 solo album, Ordinary Man. He then produced PJ frontman Eddie Vedder‘s solo effort Earthling, and played in his live backing band.

“He’s known for some of his pop hits, which I personally love, but he really is a great musician and he knows the band well enough to know when we’re hitting something,” Gossard says of Watt. “His perspective has been great. I hope we continue with that process. It’s been fruitful, everything that we’ve done so far. We’ll see how long it takes to finish it off.”

Earlier this week, Pearl Jam confirmed the details of their North American tour, which will finally kick off in May after a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ll be supporting their latest album, Gigaton, which dropped in 2020.

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Dolly Parton is still in the running to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite the fact that she asked the organization earlier this week to remove her from consideration.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation issued a statement Thursday acknowledging Dolly’s request, but saying they’ll move forward with her as a nominee.

“From its inception, Rock and Roll has had deep roots in Rhythm & Blues and Country music. It is not defined by any one genre, rather a sound that moves youth culture,” the statement reads, in part. “Dolly Parton’s music impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists that followed.”

The note concludes, “We are in awe of Dolly’s brilliant talent and pioneering spirit and are proud to have nominated her for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

In Dolly’s message, which she posted on her social media sites on Monday, she wrote, “Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”

Along with Parton, 16 other nominees have been named for possible inclusion in the Class of 2022 to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Incidentally, Dolly currently sits in fourth place in the Rock Hall’s online fan vote for favorite nominee, which only accounts for a small percentage of the overall official inductee vote.

The 2022 inductees will be announced in May.

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A full, updated lineup has been announced for the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which, as previously reported, will honor Joni Mitchell and take place April 1 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Among the many artists confirmed to perform in celebration of the legendary Canadian singer/songwriter are Crosby, Stills & Nash‘s Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.

Nash, who was Mitchell’s boyfriend back in the day, will be performing remotely.

Other artists on the bill include , as well as Beck, Brandi Carlile, Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, Sara Bareilles, St. Vincent, Mickey Guyton, Pentatonix, Jon Batiste, Leon Bridges, Angélique Kidjo, Billy Porter, Black Pumas and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, who won the 2008 Album of the Year Grammy for River: The Joni Letters, a collection of Mitchell covers.

Carlile and Batiste also will serve as the evening’s artistic directors. James Taylor and Maggie Rogers, who were among a previously announced list of performers, are no longer part of the lineup.

In addition to the concert, the gala will include a silent auction, reception and dinner. Mitchell, 78, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, is being honored for her impact on the music industry and for being a huge inspiration to generations of artists.

The gala benefits MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Industry, which supports the health and welfare of the music community.  Tickets are available now.

The event originally was to have taken place January 29 in Los Angeles, but was postponed when the 2022 Grammy Awards ceremony also was postponed. The Grammys are now scheduled for April 3.

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As Def Leppard prepares to launch the massive U.S. summer trek The Stadium Tour with Motley Crue, Poison and Joan Jett, the British rockers have unveiled plans to release their 12th studio album, Diamond Star Halos, on May 27.

The 15-track collection, which is the band’s first new original album since 2015’s self-titled effort, can be pre-ordered now and will be available as a deluxe package, a two-LP set and digitally, among other configurations.

Kicking off the promotion of Diamond Star Halos, Def Leppard has released a rocking track called “Kick” as the album’s lead single, which is available now via digital formats. An official music video for the tune will debut soon.

Diamond Star Halos includes two duets with acclaimed country/bluegrass artist and longtime Def Leppard fan Alison Krauss — “This Guitar” and “Lifeless.” In addition, famed David Bowie pianist Mike Garson lends his talents to two songs — “Goodbye for Good This Time” and “Angels (Can’t Help You Now).”

The album was recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic in three different countries. Frontman Joe Elliott laid down his vocals in Ireland, bassist Rick Savage recorded his parts in the U.K., and guitarists Phil Collen and Viv Campbell and drummer Rick Allen recorded their contributions in the U.S.

The new songs were created using as inspiration the band’s glam-rock heroes Bowie, T. Rex and Mott the Hoople, combined with elements of Def Leppard’s own classic glam-metal sound and some modern sonic flourishes. The album’s title references lyrics from T. Rex’s signature tune “Bang a Gong (Get It On).”

The 36-city Stadium Tour will get underway June 16 in Atlanta, and is mapped out through a September 9 concert in Las Vegas.

Here is the full Diamond Star Halos track list:

“Take What You Want”
“Kick”
“Fire It Up”
“This Guitar” — featuring Alison Krauss
“SOS Emergency”
“Liquid Dust”
“U Rok Mi”
“Goodbye for Good This Time”
“All We Need”
“Open Your Eyes”
“Gimme a Kiss”
“Angels (Can’t Help You Now)”
“Lifeless” — featuring Alison Krauss
“Unbreakable”
“From Here to Eternity”

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Acclaimed prog-rock drummer Bill Bruford, best-known for his work with Yes, King Crimson and the supergroup U.K., will release a six-CD compilation titled Making a Song and Dance: A Complete Career Collection on April 29.

The box set will feature highlights of Bruford’s 50-year-plus career, including recordings with Yes, King Crimson and U.K., as well as from various solo projects and collaborations.

The first two discs, dubbed “The Collaborator,” focus mainly on Bill’s work with Yes and King Crimson. Discs three and four, collectively titled “The Composing Leader,” are mostly dedicated to his solo group’s Bruford and Bill Bruford’s Earthworks.

Disc five is called “The Special Guest,” and includes recordings he made with singer/songwriter Roy Harper, founding Yes bassist Chris Squire, Yes guitarist Steve Howe, jazz-fusion guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola, and the Buddy Rich Big Band.

The last CD is titled “The Improviser,” and features improvisational pieces Bruford recorded with ex-Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz, King Crimson, Earthworks and others.

“My interest was with the broader discourse on drums and drumming, rather than any notions of success or fame,” says Bruford, reflecting on his musical career. “The latter I could do little about but, in the 1960s, the former was wide open and meaningful contribution seemed everywhere possible. The context in which the first track in the set was conceived bears almost no relationship to the context in which the last was, four decades later.”

Making a Song and Dance comes with a 52-page booklet featuring a biography written by Bruford, as well as rare photos. You can pre-order the collection now at BurningShed.com.

Bill was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes in 2017.

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Alice in Chains‘ Jerry Cantrell has premiered a video for “Siren Song,” a track off his new solo album, Brighten.

The animated clip finds a cartoon version of Cantrell making a long journey across the harsh wilderness, with a supernatural element thrown in, as well.

“I had a great time working with the very talented Nate Merritt and Josh Richman on this video to bring ‘Siren Song’ to life through animation,” Cantrell says. “Nate’s imagery is beautiful and impactful, a perfect visual companion to the music that tells the story I started out with, and travels far beyond it. A true collaborative effort, great work guys.”

You can watch the “Siren Song” video streaming now on YouTube.

Brighten, Cantrell’s first solo album in nearly 20 years, was released last October. Cantrell launches a tour behind the record March 24 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Alice in Chains, meanwhile, will hit the road in August on a tour with Breaking Benjamin and Bush.

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David Byrne will present a special benefit performance called American Utopia Farewell! on March 30, just a few days before his acclaimed stage production, David Byrne’s American Utopia, is scheduled to close at the St. James Theatre on Broadway.

Proceeds raised will benefit the former Talking Heads frontman’s non-profit organization Arbutus, a foundation “dedicated to re-imagining the world through projects that inspire and educate.”

Tickets for the event, which are available now at Eventbrite.com, include seating in the theater’s orchestra section, entry to a post-performance Q&A with Byrne and some special guests, and a gift bag. Those who purchase VIP tickets also will receive a signed copy of David’s new book, A History of the World (in Dingbats), and a vinyl LP of the David Byrne’s American Utopia original cast recording.

In addition, Arbutus has teamed up with social impact platform Propeller to offer fans who donate $5 or more the opportunity to win two premium tickets to the event. You can enter at Propeller.la.

Byrne has two current projects associated with Arbutus — the Reasons to Be Cheerful online magazine, which features stories meant to uplift and and inspire people, and David’s recently announced immersive theater piece Theater of the Mind, which will premiere August 31 in Denver.

“I created American Utopia with the seeds of curiosity and imagination, and those same seeds are why I founded Arbutus,” says Byrne in a statement. “The proceeds from the event on March 30th will allow Arbutus to continue our work at Reasons to be Cheerful and our world premiere of Theater of the Mind, hopefully making the world a little lighter and a little brighter.”

The last performance of David Byrne’s American Utopia is scheduled for April 3. Visit AmericanUtopiaBroadway.com for more information.

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A new album titled Carry Me Home, featuring an archival live recording of late Band singer/drummer Levon Helm and gospel/soul legend Mavis Staples performing together with their respective solo groups, will be released on May 20 on CD and digital formats.

The album was recorded in the summer of 2011 at one of the popular Midnight Ramble events held at Helm’s barn and studio in Woodstock, New York.

The show’s set list featured a mix of vintage gospel, soul, folk and blues tunes, along with renditions of Bob Dylan‘s “You Got to Serve Somebody” and The Band’s “The Weight.” Mavis was famously featured performing the latter tune with her family group The Staple Singers and The Band in the classic 1978 concert film The Last Waltz.

The Woodstock show marked the last time that Mavis performed with Levon, who died of cancer at age 71 in April 2012.

In advance of Carry Me Home‘s release, a performance of the traditional spiritual song “You Got to Move” has been made available as a digital single, and a video of Staples singing the song with Levon, his group and her own band has debuted at the ANTI- Records label’s YouTube channel. Mavis’ group included her sister and fellow Staple Singers member Yvonne, who passed away in 2018 at age 80.

A vinyl version of Carry Me Home will be released on June 17.

Mavis, 82, has more than 40 concerts on her 2022 tour schedule, which includes a lengthy stint as the opening act on Bonnie Raitt‘s U.S. summer tour:

Here’s the full track list of Carry Me Home:

“This Is My Country”
“Trouble in My Mind”
“Farther Along”
“Hand Writing on the Wall”
“I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”
“Move Along Train”
“This May Be the Last Time”
“When I Go Away”
“Wide River to Cross”
“You Got to Move”
“You Got to Serve Somebody”
“The Weight”

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