For a guy who’s as proud of his Scottish heritage as Rod Stewart is, it’s amazing that he hasn’t thought of this before: He’s officially launching his own brand of Scotch whisky.
Rod’s announced that “after almost two years of development and dozens of whisky tastings,” he ready to unviel what he calls his “latest venture” — Wolfie’s Whisky.
Starting June 6, fans who signed up for Rod’s mailing list will get special access to purchase the spirits 72 hours before anyone else. Wolfie’s is going on sale first in the U.K. and select European countries, and it’ll launch in the U.S. in July.
“The rest of the world…..we’re working on it!” he adds.
In other Rod news, he’s paid tribute to the late Tina Turner, with whom he performed and recorded over the years. In fact, he invited her to perform with him on Saturday NightLive in 1981, when her career was at a low point. In 1990, they had a hit with their duet “It Takes Two.”
“I’m devastated, what a women!” he wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself, Tina and his former Faces band mate, Ron Wood. “‘It takes two’ – but there was only one Tina Turner.”
Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale has certainly had an interesting life and career, but fans shouldn’t expect to read about it anytime soon. The singer recently appeared on the Paltrocast podcast, where he put an end to any thought of him telling his life story in a memoir.
Coverdale had previously suggested on Twitter that he was thinking about working on a memoir, jokingly calling it How White Was My Snake? But when asked about it, he denied it was going to happen.
“The problem is I can’t do it, because I can’t not be honest about this, that and the other, who’s the inspiration (for) this song, who was that,” he said. “It would be a spilling of the beans, which I’m not interested in hurting anybody, and particularly my family.”
He also said his wife was totally against his suggested title, noting she thought it was “too diminishing to my legacy.”
But even if there’s no book, Coverdale does have something in store that fans may love. He notes, “I’ve been working now with my head of video on another concept which I think could be significantly more interesting and not as f****** boring as a biography.”
He went on to explain that they are going to start a “QT with DC” in which he’ll answer questions from fans, although he says he won’t talk about his ex Tawny Kitaen, who he calls “an amazing memory.” “I think it’s just respectful to people I’ve worked with,” he says. “Some of the aspects were unsavory. That’s for me to know, really, and to clear it from my space.”
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Tom Petty’s family is suing a Boston-area auction house that they claim is selling Petty items they believe to be stolen.
RR Auction recently announced an auction of Petty’s personal property, but the family is asking fans and collectors not to shell out any money until the legal dispute is resolved. The family believes the auction items, which include jackets, hats, vests, autographed memorabilia and other exclusive items, were taken from a secure storage archive.
“We believe RR Auction, headquartered in Boston, is offering stolen Tom Petty memorabilia with a completely false provenance inaccurate to fact and in complete denial of clear evidence they have been presented,” reads a statement from the family. “They will not disclose the cosigner who has provided these items or how they were acquired. But they are clearly stolen, there is no other word for it.”
They add, “These items have irreplaceable sentimental and educational value for the family and legacy of Tom Petty and we look forward to their safe return.”
The RR Auction site still lists several Petty items, with the sale running through June 22.
Queen of Rock & Roll Tina Turner passed away Wednesday at age 83, and upon hearing the news, artists such as Mick Jagger, Bryan Adams and more paid tribute to the singing legend.
Jagger, who infamously performed with Tina at Live Aid, shared that he was “saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend.” Tina and The Rolling Stones had a long history together, with Tina having opened for the band in the past.
“She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer,” Mick added. “She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
Ron Woodalso shared, “God bless you Tina, the Queen Of Rock And Soul and a dear friend to our family. Love and prayers to all of Tina’s family, friends and loved ones.”
Bryan Adams, who recorded the 1985 hit song “It’s Only Love” with Turner, also paid tribute, writing, “The world just lost one hell of a powerhouse woman. I’ll be forever grateful for the time we spent together on tour, in the studio and as friends.”
And John Fogerty, who wrote the song “Proud Mary,” which Tina turned into a hit, shared that he was, “so deeply sad to hear about Tina Turner’s passing,” writing, “I loved her version of Proud Mary! It was different and fantastic. I was also so happy because she chose my song and it was her breakthrough record.”
Among the other tributes:
Elton John: “We have lost one of the word’s most exciting and electric performers. A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable….The saddest news.”
Diana Ross: “Shocked. Saddened. Sending condolences to Tina Turner’s family and loved ones.”
Garbage: “My darling Tina Turner. I’ve been loving you so long. So much to thank you for. Love you eternally. Can’t believe this awful news. Can’t believe you are gone.”
Diane Warren: “A Survivor and a Bad***. Every note she sang shook the room and shook your soul. There will never be another like her. Shake the roof off of Heaven Tina Turner.”
Blondie’s Debbie Harry: “I was a benefactor of the energy, creativity and talents of Tina Turner. A woman who started in rural Nutbush, TN cotton fields and worked her way to the very top. Tina was a great inspiration to me when I was starting out and remains so to this day.”
Steve Van Zant: “RIP Tina Turner. One of our greatest RocknSoul voices, performers, and stories.”
Gloria Gaynorcalled Tina an “iconic, legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white,” adding, “She did with great dignity and success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music. I mourn her passing along with her innumerable fans around the country and around the world.”
Heart‘s Ann Wilson said in a statement to ABC Audio: “Miss Tina lived an amazing life, full of drama and pain and in later years anchored by Buddhism. She showed what courage was and danced through her life on those mighty legs as an inspiration to us all. Rock on Angel!!”
The music of Electric Light Orchestra is going to be the subject of a new album by ’90s rocker Julianna Hatfield.
Hatfield, best known for her 1993 hit song “My Sister,” is set to drop the all-ELO covers album, titled Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO, on November 17.
“Overall, I stuck pretty close to the originals’ structures while figuring out new ways to express or reference the unique and beloved ELO string arrangements,” Hatfield says. “An orchestra would have been difficult or impossible for me to manage to record, nor did I think there was any point in trying to copy those parts as they originally were. Why not try to reimagine them within my zone of limitations?”
The album features covers of such ELO tunes as “Strange Magic” and the just-released “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
Hatfield has previously released full covers albums of The Police and Olivia Newton-John. Her most recent original record is 2021’s Blood.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their sixth studio album, Up Your Alley, with a new vinyl release.
The album was initially released on vinyl for Record Store Day in April, but they’re releasing it nationwide on July 21, marking the first time it’s been widely available on vinyl since its initial 1988 release.
“We can’t thank you all enough for the continued support and love for this album,” Jett shared on Instagram,
Up Your Alley was a top 20 hit for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, peaking at 19 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. The album featured the top 10 single “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” which in 2006 was used as the theme for Sunday Night Football. Up Your Alley went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Meanwhile, fans won’t have to wait too long for new music from the band. They recently announced the new EP Mindsets will be released June 2 and dropped the first single, “If You’re Blue.” Mindsets is available for preorder now.
Legendary singer Tina Turner, known for her sultry voice and a string of Platinum hits, has died at age 83.
The news was confirmed on Turner’s official Facebook page.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement said on Facebook. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
Turner became one of her era’s most enduring female artists, with smash hits like “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” and memorable movie appearances.
Rolling Stone once named her “one of the greatest singers of all time.”
Alongside her ex-husband, Ike Turner, she released hits such as “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Nils Lofgren has released a new single off his upcoming solo album, Mountains, which is dropping July 21. The latest is the track “Nothin’s Easy (For Amy),” featuring guest vocals from Neil Young.
As the title suggests, Lofgren wrote the song for his wife, Amy Aiello Lofgren, who is also a co-writer on the album.
Lofgren, who plays guitar in Young’s backup band Crazy Horse, tells ABC Audio that “Nothin’s Easy (For Amy)” is “one of my better songs,” and he felt that it would be a great tune for Young’s harmonies. “I sent it to him and said, ‘Please listen, see if you would be OK with singing harmony or not,’” Lofgren says. “And he heard it, he loved it, said, ‘I’ll do it, send it.”
In addition to Young, Mountains features a variety of special guests, including Ringo Starr on the album’s first single, “Ain’t The Truth Enough,” and the late David Crosby on the song “I Remember Her Name.”
To coincide with the release, Lofgren will launch his Rockality video series, where he’ll share stories from his music career. The videos will be available for purchase starting July 21 at nilslofgren.com.
Yes released their new album, Mirror to the Sky, last week, and now they’re treating fans to a new animated video for the album’s closing track, “Circles of Time.”
The track is the third single Yes has released from the record. It follows “All Connected” and “Cut From The Stars.”
“This is a very important album for the band,” Steve Howe, Yes’ longest serving member and producer of the record, shared when it was first announced. “We kept the continuity in the approach we established on (2021’s) The Quest, but we haven’t repeated ourselves.” He added, “As Yes did in the 1970s from one album to another, we’re growing and moving forward.”
Yes fans are going to have to wait a bit before they get to see the band play any of these new songs live. They aren’t expected on the road until next year, with their 2024 U.K. tour kicking off May 23 in Manchester, England. Tour dates can be found at yesworld.com.
Wednesday, May 24, marks one year since the Uvalde school shooting, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed, and the sad day prompted Stevie Nicks to ponder a big “what if” about her life.
The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer shared an Instagram post titled “The Lost Futures of Uvalde,” in which she shares how she and her family moved to El Paso, Texas, when she was in the third grade. She recounted how at a young age she already knew she wanted to be a dancer and a singer, and how her dreams just got bigger from there.
She writes of how years later, after moving to California, she “met a boy and eventually we started making music together,” referring to Lindsey Buckingham, and how that led to a dinner with a band aka Fleetwood Mac “that changed our lies.”
“When I look back, it all happened so fast. I was just a ten-year-old in El Paso, Texas deciding what to do with the rest of my life. … I got to grow up and be Stevie Nicks.”
She writes, “As we ponder the one-year anniversary of Uvalde and the myriad of shootings that have happened since that fateful day, I can’t help but ask myself, what if I had been shot and killed by a man with a gun while in my ballet class in the third grade? And I can’t help but think of all those little lost futures.”
Finally, Stevie shares, “my arms go around each one of those little hearts like a ring of angels that will always be missing. I will never be able to let this go… If anything, I will do all I can to keep this story alive.”
