Classic Rock News

Scorpions fans will soon have a new way to enjoy some of their classic albums. BMG is set to reissue 12 albums from the German rock band’s catalog on colored vinyl on May 5.

The Scorpions – Colors of Rock reissues encompass albums from 1974 to 2007. Among the records getting the colored vinyl treatment are 1977’s Taken By Force on white vinyl; 1978’s Tokyo Tapes on yellow vinyl; 1979’s Lovedrive and 1980’s Animal Magnetism, both on red vinyl; 1982’s Blackout on clear vinyl; and 1983’s Love at First Sting, which features the mega hit “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” on silver vinyl.

Four of the albums — 1974’s Fly To The Rainbow, 1975’s In Trance, 1976’s Virgin Killer and 2007’s Humanity (Hour 1) — are all being remastered for the first time from the original master tapes.

Scorpions – Colors of Rock is available for preorder now. The full list of colored vinyl releases include:

Fly To The Rainbow (1974) (transparent violet vinyl)
In Trance (1975) (transparent vinyl)
Virgin Killer (1976) (powder blue vinyl)
Taken By Force (1977) (white vinyl)
Tokyo Tapes (1978) (yellow vinyl)
Lovedrive (1979) (red vinyl)
Animal Magnetism (1980) (red vinyl)
Blackout (1982) (crystal-clear vinyl)
Love at First Sting (1983) (silver vinyl)
World Wide Live (1985) (transparent orange vinyl)
Savage Amusement (1988) (transparent light-blue vinyl)
Humanity (Hour 1) (2007) (gold vinyl)

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The seventh annual Love Rocks NYC benefit concert is happening next week at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, but if you can’t make it to the Big Apple you can still enjoy the show. 

For just $20, fans will be able to stream the concert, which features a lineup that includes James Taylor, Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo, Sheryl Crow, the John Mayer Trio, Warren Haynes and R&B legend Mavis Staples.

The annual concert is a benefit for God’s Love We Deliver, which delivers meals to New Yorkers who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. That $20 livestream ticket will translate to two meals. To date the concerts have raised more than $25 million. This year the charity expects to deliver more than 3 million meals, which are provided free of charge. 

Tickets for the livestream are available now.

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In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd is releasing a new Blu-ray disc and CD of the classic concert The Dark Side of the Moon — Live at Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974 — and now they are giving fans a taste of it.

The band just released the album’s live recording of “Breathe (In The Air),” which is the second song on the classic album.

The March 24 release of the album will mark the first time it’s been issued on its own; it will be released on CD and, for the first time, on vinyl. Also on March 24, Pink Floyd will release The Dark Side of the Moon deluxe box set, which also includes the Wembley concert. 

And also in conjunction with the anniversary, Abbey Road Studios, where the album was recorded back when it was EMI Studios, just announced an exclusive 1973 Collection of The Dark Side of the Moon merch, including short and long-sleeve shirts, a hoodie, bucket hat, tote bag and replicated session sheet. The items can be purchased at shop.abbeyroad.com.

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Stephen Stills is revisiting his first solo tour for a new album. Stephen Stills Live at Berkeley 1971 is set to drop April 28, featuring archived songs hand-picked by Stephen.

The 14 previously unreleased live performances on the album were recorded August 20 and 21, 1971, at Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley, California. It includes two songs with Stills’ Crosby, Stills & Nash bandmate David Crosby. 

“The intimacy of the Berkeley Community Theater seemed to serve as a focal point between the audience and the energy surrounding the social climate of the day,” Stills shares. “It was my first tour as a solo artist and these shows were raucous and unrestrained, captured here in these recordings.” 

Stephen Stills Live at Berkeley 1971 is available now for preorder in a variety of formats, including two-LP, CD, digital and a deluxe package that contains photos by famed photographer Henry Diltz, a numbered limited-edition self-portrait, framed lithograph and more.

Here is the track list for Stephen Stills Live at Berkeley 1971:

“Love The One You’re With”
“Do For The Others”
“Jesus Gave Love Away For Free”
“You Don’t Have To Cry” (with David Crosby)
“The Lee Shore” (with David Crosby)
“Word Game”
“Sugar Babe”
“49 Bye-Byes/For What It’s Worth”
“Black Queen”
“Know You’ve Got To Run”
“Bluebird Revisited”
“Lean On Me”
“Cherokee”
“Band Introductions”
“Ecology Song”

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Extreme has announced a new album called Six.

The aptly titled sixth studio effort from the “More Than Words” outfit — and their first since 2008 — will arrive on June 9.

“When Eddie Van Halen passed, it really hit me,” says guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. “I’m not going to be the one who will take the throne, but I felt some responsibility to keep guitar playing alive. So, you hear a lot of fire on the record.”

You can listen to the lead single “Rise” now via digital outlets and watch its accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.

Extreme plans to tour this year in support of Six, the details of which will be announced at a later date.

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We are getting our first look at the new Blood, Sweat & Tears documentary, What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears?, which is set to hit theaters March 24. 

A trailer for the John Scheinfeld-directed doc has just been released.

The film, which was made with the full cooperation of band members, delves into how the band got caught up in political controversy following a State Department-sponsored tour of Iron Curtain countries Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland in 1970. As the description notes, “As a result, they found themselves in the crosshairs of a polarized America – as divided then as it is now – and became an early victim of cancel culture.”

“It has been fascinating for me to re-live these incidents of some 50 years ago, through the footage, documentation and, incredibly, the live performance tapes John and his team discovered through some very deep and tireless digging. I believe the music we made then holds up today,” founding member and drummer Bobby Colomby shares. Blood, Sweat & Tears is known for such hits as “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” and “And When I Die.”

Scheinfeld adds, “Uncovering the details of the extraordinary story took us far and wide, and we were amazed by the unexpected twists and turns of the tale. We hope people will be as struck as we were by the political parallels and counterpoints between then and now.”

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Gov’t Mule is headed back out on the road this spring.

The band just announced a new set of tour dates, kicking off May 5 at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana. The special show, taking place during Jazz Fest, will feature guests George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners. 

The 10-show run features stops in Memphis, Cleveland, Nashville and more, including a two-night stand in Warren Haynes’ hometown of Ashville, North Carolina. The trek also includes a July 23 show at the Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue, New York.

Artist presale tickets begin Friday at 10 a.m., with the general sale set for March 8 at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of dates can be found at mule.net.

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The Who has added a special new show to their tour schedule. The band is set to perform at the royal family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. 

The concert is set to go down August 28 and will have the band backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The exclusive concert will also feature special guests Richard Ashcroft and The Lightning Seeds.

“Very pleased and excited for The Who to be one of the first artists to perform at the Country Home of the British Royal Family on The Sandringham Estate,” Pete Townshend shares. “Opening up the Estate to large scale concerts is a fantastic way of keeping us uplifted and enjoying congregation at what I’m sure will be a fabulous summer celebration. We can’t wait!”

Those interested in going to the show must register for a chance to purchase tickets, and those who share the info on their social media pages will earn a chance to win VIP guest passes.

The outdoor concert will be the band’s final show of their 2023 The Who Hits Back! United Kingdom tour, which kicks off July 6 in Hull, England.

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On this Day, March 1, 1944… 

Musician and future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Roger Daltrey was born in London, England.

In 1959, Daltrey founded a band called The Detours, which in 1964 was renamed The Who, with bandmates Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Daltrey’s voice can be heard on such Who classics as “My Generation,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Baba O’Riley,” “You Better You Bet” and many others. 

Daltrey also launched a solo career in 1973, releasing ten solo studio albums, and dabbled in acting, playing the title role in Tommy, the 1975 Ken Russell film inspired by The Who’s classic album.  He also appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows over the years, including That ’70s Show, CSI, Tales from the Crypt and more.

Daltrey is also well known for his extensive charitable work, including his patronage of the United Kingdom’s Teenage Cancer Trust and its U.S. counterpart, Teen Cancer America.

As a member of The Who, Daltrey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008. He was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to music, entertainment and charity as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honor’s List of 2004.

Daltrey and The Who are set to release The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley on March 31 and will launch a U.K. summer tour in July.

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KISS has finally announced an end date for their End of the Road Tour. The band is set to wrap the trek, which they say is their final tour ever, with a two-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden December 2 and 3.

“KISS was born in New York City. On 23rd Street. Half a century ago,” the band shares. “It will be a privilege and honor to finish touring at Madison Square Garden, 10 blocks and 50 years from where we first started.” 

The final leg of the tour kicks off October 29 in Austin, Texas, and includes Canadian dates, plus stops in Los Angeles, Seattle and more, before they end it in the Big Apple.

Presale tickets for the KISS Army go on sale March 6 at 10 a.m. local time, with the general sale set for March 10 at 10 a.m. local time.

KISS’ End of the Road Tour is set to relaunch April 12 in Brazil and returns to the U.S. May 27 in Columbus, Ohio. A complete list of dates can be found at kissonline.com.

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