Classic Rock News

Artistic expression seems to run in John Mellencamp’s family, and it’s the subject of a new exhibit now showing in Youngstown, Ohio.

BLOODLINE: The Art of John Mellencamp & Speck Mellencamp, at the Beecher Center’s Flad B Gallery, features 19 paintings, 10 done by Mellencamp and another nine from his son Speck. The showing is described as a “fascinating, two-person exhibition which celebrates figurative expressionism at a very high level.” 

“What is clear about the art of John Mellencamp is that his works [extend] the rich tradition of American expressionistic art,” Executive Director Louis A. Zona shares. “Speck’s colors, muted but beautiful, add richness to his work, with impressionistic-like highlights contributing much to the overall effectiveness of the paintings.”

The exhibit opened earlier this week at The Butler Institute of American Art and runs until July 2.

Mellencamp is currently on the road with his Live and In Person tour. He’s in the middle of a three-night stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, with two more shows May 9 and 10. A complete list of dates can be found at mellencamp.com. 

He’s also getting ready to release a new album, Orpheus Descending, on June 2. It is available for preorder now.

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Dee Snider was supposed to perform at San Francisco Pride next month, but the two sides agreed to part ways after Snider supported Paul Stanley’s recent tweet suggesting gender confirmation treatment for children has been “turned into a sad and dangerous fad.” 

At the time, SF Pride said they “appreciate Dee seeing this as a teachable moment” — but has Dee really learned anything?

“I think he has learned some,” Suzanne Ford, executive director of SF Pride, tells ABC Audio. “But I don’t think he’s at a place where we would probably be totally in alignment about our opinions about health care for trans children.” 

Nguyen Pham, president of SF Pride, adds, “One of our core pillars of our overall mission is to educate the world. So we do see this as an opportunity to narrow that gap of understanding just a little bit with our key allies.” He agrees with Suzanne, but adds, “We do see potential there.”

Ford takes particular issue with Stanley’s description of gender confirmation treatment as a “fad,” describing the comment as “quite dangerous.” Pham adds it suggests we shouldn’t believe trans kids.

“I think we really need to lean into believing children when they come to us,” Pham says.

Snider was supposed to serve as the parade’s celebrity grand marshal and perform Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as the rallying cry, so now SF Pride is looking for a replacement.

“We are hoping that somebody out there, a recording artist or a celebrity will see how much we need someone to stand with us,” Ford says. “An icon in the queer community that would come and be with us to help us make this statement.” 

SF Pride is happening June 24 and 25. More info can be found at sfpride.org.

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Bonnie Raitt has another chance at winning an award for her track “Just Like That.”

The tune has been nominated for Song of the Year at the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards. She’s up against Allison Russell’s “You’re Not Alone,” featuring Brandi Carlile; Zac Bryan’s “Something in the Orange”; Margo Price’s “Change of Heart”; and Charley Crocket’s “I’m Just A Clown.”

“Just Like That,” the title track to Raitt’s 18th studio album, won Song of the Year at this year’s Grammy Awards, beating out hit tunes by the likes of Lizzo, Adele, Harry Styles, Beyoncé and more. 

The Americana Honors & Awards will take place September 20 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

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Chicago is celebrating a huge touring milestone. The band is currently on the road, marking their 56th consecutive year of touring.

The 10-piece band, which includes founding members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow, returned to the road once pandemic restrictions lifted and have been touring nonstop ever since. Last summer they headlined a 25-date tour with the Beach Boys‘ Brian Wilson.

Chicago doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon and will be busy throughout 2023, with their next show scheduled for Tuesday, May 9, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They have dates confirmed all the way through November 11 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  

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

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The Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell joined Fleetwood Mac in 2018 after Lindsey Buckingham‘s departure, and it sounds like he really liked the experience.

“It was tricky at first. I am not used to copying other people’s songs, per se. So, I had to dig in and do a little work to fill the hole there on the guitar. So, that was new for me,” he shares in a new interview with the East Bay Times. “But it was a challenge and I learned a lot. Then once we got out on the road, though, we had a blast.” 

As for whether he’d tour with them again, Campbell doesn’t think it’s gonna happen, echoing the sentiments expressed by Mick Fleetwood earlier this year about the band’s future following the death of Christine McVie.

“I don’t think they are going to do it again,” he says. “I don’t really see it, because Christine is gone now and Stevie (Nicks) is really busy. So, I have my doubts that they would crank that up again.” 

He adds, “I don’t really see that ship leaving the port again. But if they asked me, and my time was open, I would certainly do it because I love the people and their songs are really good.”

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The Black Crowes teamed up with Darius Rucker for a performance of “She Talks To Angels” on the CMT Music Awards last month, but that was only the beginning of their collaboration. The artists came together again to film an episode of CMT Crossroads, which is set to debut May 16.

The episode will feature the artists teaming up for performances of each other’s songs, including Crowe classics “She Talks to Angels,” “Hard to Handle” and “Remedy.” Darius hits will include “Wagon Wheel,” and the Hootie & The Blowfish classic “Let Her Cry.” They’ll also team up for Drivin N Cryin’s iconic song “Straight To Hell.”

“It was really cool getting to do Crossroads with Darius,” Crowes frontman Chris Robinson shares. “We both come from similar music scenes in the south and we have a shared admiration for a lot of the same music.” He adds, “Darius has such a powerful voice and has written some great songs. I’m glad we finally got to share the stage with our friend!” 

CMT Crossroads: The Black Crowes & Darius Rucker premieres Tuesday, May 16, at 10 p.m. ET on CMT.

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After months of Dolly Parton talking about it, we finally have details about her new rock record, Rockstar. It features collaborations with a whole host of A-list artists, including Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Steven Tyler, Steve Perry, Sting, Stevie Nicks, Richie Sambora, Elton John and Peter Frampton.

“I’m so excited to finally present my first Rock and Roll album Rockstar!” Dolly, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, shares. “I am very honored and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers and musicians of all time and to be able to sing all the iconic songs throughout the album was a joy beyond measure.”

The 30-track album includes nine original tracks, as well as 21 covers, including such classics as “Let It Be” with McCartney and Starr, as well as Frampton and Mick Fleetwood; “Every Breath You Take” with Sting; “Open Arms” with Perry; “Free Bird” with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant and the late Gary Rossington, as well as former member Artimus Pyle; “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” with Elton; and “Stairway to Heaven” with Lizzo.

Rockstar will be released November 17 as a four-LP or two-CD set. It is available for preorder now.

Here’s the track list for Rockstar:

“Rockstar” (special guest Richie Sambora)
“World on Fire”
“Every Breath You Take” (feat. Sting)
“Open Arms” (feat. Steve Perry)
“Magic Man” (feat. Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese)
“Long As I Can See The Light” (feat. John Fogerty)
“Either Or” (feat. Kid Rock)
“I Want You Back” (feat. Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes)
“What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You” (feat. Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel)
“Purple Rain”
“Baby, I Love Your Way” (feat. Peter Frampton)
“I Hate Myself For Loving You” (feat. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
“Night Moves” (feat. Chris Stapleton)
“Wrecking Ball” (feat. Miley Cyrus)
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (feat. Pink & Brandi Carlile)
“On Loving You” (feat. Kevin Cronin)
“Heart Of Glass” (feat. Debbie Harry)
“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” (feat. Elton John)
“Tried To Rock And Roll Me” (feat. Melissa Etheridge)
“Stairway To Heaven” (feat. Lizzo & Sasha Flute)
“We Are The Champions”
“Bygones” (feat. Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx & John 5)
“My Blue Tears” (feat. Simon Le Bon)
“What’s Up?” (feat. Linda Perry)
“You’re No Good” (feat. Emmylou Harris & Sheryl Crow)
“Heartbreaker” (feat. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo)
“Bittersweet” (feat. Michael McDonald)
“I Dreamed About Elvis” (feat. Ronnie McDowell with special guest The Jordanaires)
“Let It Be” (feat. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton & Mick Fleetwood)
“Free Bird” (feat. Ronnie Van Zant with special guests Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle and The Artimus Pyle Band)

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Aerosmith recently announced their “Peace Out” tour, with special guest The Black Crowes, but it looks like Steven Tyler wasn’t sold on the tour name.

In a funny new video, Tyler has a special golden winged phone delivered to Crowes frontman Chris Robinson, and when Tyler calls, he reveals his uncertainty, along with a string of bizarre options.

“Coming up with a tour name isn’t as easy as one would think!” reads the video caption. “Steven Tyler lets Chris Robinson know he is having second thoughts about ‘Peace Out’!” 

Some of Tyler’s strange suggestions include: LSD for lead singer disorder, Aerosmith and The Crowes – Wings O’Plenty, Trial and Terror, Brothers in Arguments and Aero-Swiss Family Robinson. 

Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour, which they say will be their final one ever, kicks off September 2 in Philadelphia, hitting such cities as Pittsburgh, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston, New York and Nashville before wrapping January 26, 2024, in Montreal, Canada. A complete list of dates can be found at Aerosmith.com.

(Video includes uncensored profanity.)

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Neil Young recently returned to the stage for the first time since before the pandemic began, and it sounds like we may soon be seeing more of him.

In a post shared on his Neil Young Archives site, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer reflected on his recent performances at Stephen Stills‘ Light up the Blues benefit and at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl, and shared his desire to keep playing.

“Well, last week was really cool – playing with Steve and Willie,” Young writes, noting it was “great to be playing with Stephen again.” He added, “ … seeing you all enjoy this show is amazing.” 

As for the Willie concert, Young called it a “great gift for all.”

And it sounds like the experiences sparked Young’s desire to get back out there. “Made me want to play more,” he concluded his post. “It felt so good to be up there after three and a half years … Maybe July.”

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On This Day, May 9, 1949…

Future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Billy Joel was born in the Bronx, New York, although his family moved to Long Island when he was one. 

Known by the nickname Piano Man, Joel went on to record 12 pop/rock studio albums from 1971 to 1993, with four of them going to number one: 1978’s 52nd Street, 1980’s Glass Houses, 1989’s Storm Front and 1993’s River of Dreams. 

He’s also had 13 Top 10 hits, and three number one singles: 1980’s “It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me,” 1989’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and 1983’s “Tell Her About it,” and is best known for such classic tunes as “Piano Man,” “New York State of Mind,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “Uptown Girl,” “Big Shot” and more.

Joel has sold over 160 million records, and has won six Grammys, including Album of the Year for 52nd Street. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013.

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