Classic Rock News

Neil Young was back on the stage over the weekend for the first time since before the pandemic hit. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer took part in the Light Up The Blues fundraiser for Autism Speaks at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on April 22, an event put on by Young’s Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young/Buffalo Springfield bandmate Steven Stills and his wife, Kristen. 

According to Rolling Stone, backed by Promise of the Real, Young performed an 11-song set that included such songs as “From Hank to Hendrix,” “Comes A Time” and “Heart of Gold,” with Stills playing piano for the Déjà Vu track “Helpless.” The pair also teamed up for several Buffalo Springfield tracks, including ”For What It’s Worth,” “On My Way Home,” “Everybody’s Wrong,” “Bluebird” and “Mr. Soul,” with the pair ending the whole evening with their song “Long May You Run.”

Other than a two-song set at a rally in Canada back in February, Young hadn’t performed in front of an audience in four years. 

The evening also included a tribute to the late David Crosby, with Graham Nash appearing via video. “David was my best friend for almost 50 years,” he said. “I’m going to miss him terribly in my life. I think about him every day,” before introducing a 2013 performance of “Guinevere.”

For Stills’ set he was joined by his son Chris, along with James Raymond, Crosby’s son and collaborator, performing such classics as “Wooden Ships,” “Love The One You’re With” and “Helplessly Hoping,” the latter two with the help of Joe Walsh. Walsh also performed his own tunes “Life’s Been Good” and “Rocky Mountain Way.”

Other performers at the show included Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson and Sharron Van Etten.

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Ian Hunter is back with a new album, Defiance Part 1. Although it was a product of the COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s not a bummer of a record. 

Hunter tells ABC Audio that once everything shut down, “I had nothing else to do so I went to the basement and started writing songs.” But he didn’t let what was going on in the world influence his writing.  

“I just thought everybody’s miserable as it is, why make them more miserable?” he explains. “Why compound it, you know what I mean? … So why not do something avoiding the subject.” 

The album features an embarrassment of riches when it comes to special guests, including Guns N’ Roses’ Slash and Duff McKagan, Todd Rundgren, ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott.

It also features the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on three songs, including “Angel,” where he drums, adds backing vocals and more. “He was tremendous,” Hunter says. “He’s like an encyclopedia, there’s nothing he didn’t know about music.” 

He describes Hawkins as having “endless enthusiasm.”

The late Jeff Beck also appears on the album, with Hunter revealing “it’s the last stuff that Jeff ever did.”

And Hunter has more music on the way, with Defiance Part 2 coming either late this year or early next year. The 83-year-old’s persistence is what inspired the album’s title.

“When you’re my age, usually the articles start off with my age and why I shouldn’t be doing this because I’m old, and I don’t see it that way,” he says. “I’m really enjoying what I’m doing, and to play with all these amazing people was lovely and I don’t see why I should stop.”  

Defiance Part 1 is out now.

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Dead & Company will be heading out on their final tour next month, but it will be one member short. The band announced on Instagram Saturday that drummer Bill Kreutzmann will be sitting out the tour.

“Every day, things change. After many long discussions and some good old-fashioned soul searching, we are letting you know that our brother Bill Kreutzmann will not be joining us on our final summer tour,” they shared on social media. “Bill wants you to know that he is in good spirits, good health and he is not retiring.”

They add, “This is the culmination of a shift in creative direction as we keep these songs alive and breathing in ways that we each feel is best to continue to honor the legacy of the Grateful Dead,” noting, “The final tour will go on as planned with Bill’s full endorsement and support.”

Last July, Kreutzmann battled a back issue, and then tested positive for COVID, both of which kept him away from the kit for a spell.

The final Dead & Company tour is set to kick off May 6 at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. A complete list of dates can be found at deadandcompany.com.

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Rick Allen is giving fans an update on his health.

As previously reported, the Def Leppard drummer was attacked last month outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. But in a new post on social media, it looks like Allen is doing a lot better.

“Thank you all so very much for all of your love and support over the last month,” he shared next to a smiling photo. “I am still recovering and getting my mind and body ready for the upcoming Def Leppard tour. Just wanted to say hi and let you know, There Will Be Rock!”

A 19-year-old man from Ohio named Max Hartley was arrested for attacking Allen. He reportedly snuck up behind the rocker, who hit his head when he was thrown to the ground. 

Allen has some more time to focus on his recovery. Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe don’t kick off the European and U.K. legs of their stadium tour until May 22, in Sheffield, England. A complete list of dates can be found at DefLeppard.com.

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R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Patti Smith Group’s Lenny Kaye have been added to a benefit concert being put on by Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, according to a post on the R.E.M. official Instagram page.

The third annual Revival — Celebrating Georgia’s Historic Theatres benefit will take place May 13 and feature Collective Soul, Mother’s Finest, Drivin N Cryin and Jet Black Roses, along with special guest David Ryan Harris and host Kevin Kinney.

The event, which will also include an auction, raises money to help preserve Georgia’s historic theaters, as well as expand the Fox Theatre’s education programs.

Tickets for the concert are on sale now.

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There’s only a week left to go in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame fan vote, and it looks like some artists need to get a boost before voting closes. 

Only the top five artists selected by the public will be considered part of the Fan’s Ballot. As of Friday, April 21, only three rock artists land in that category: Warren Zevon at three with over 572,000 votes, Iron Maiden at four with over 404,000 and Soundgarden at five with over 381,000 votes.

The artist currently leading this year’s list is George Michael, with over 911,000 votes, followed by Cyndi Lauper with 826,000 votes. 

Nominees needing help to jump up the list include Rage Against the Machine, Joy Division/New Order, The White Stripes, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, The Spinners, Kate Bush, Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest.

But there’s still time to make your voice heard. Voting is open until April 28. To cast your vote go to vote.rockhall.com.

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Metallica‘s new album, 72 Seasons, has debuted at #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart.

The record is the metal legends’ fourth chart-topper across the pond, following 1991’s Black Album, 1996’s Load and 2008’s Death Magnetic.

“Number 1 in the U.K.? Spectacular!” Metallica tells Official Charts. “We’re grateful. Thank you, U.K. — we can’t wait to see you!”

In the U.S., Metallica currently has a streak of six-straight #1 albums on the Billboard 200, from the Black Album to 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct.

Metallica’s world M72 tour in support of 72 Seasons stops in the U.K. in June for the 2023 Download Festival. The outing comes to the U.S. in August.

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Julian Lennon continues to try to raise awareness of the many issues plaguing the environment, and he’s doing so with a brand new project. The singer and his White Feather Foundation have joined forces with Future Youth Records for a new EP that will raise funds for environmental issues.  

The Think Earth 23 EP, dropping Sunday, April 23, for Earth Day, features a cover of Lennon’s 1991 track “Saltwater,” written about our world’s climate issues. Artists on the tune include Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro, Wings guitarist Laurence Juber, The Mars Volta bassist Eva Gardner and Jim Keltner, a session drummer who worked with Julian’s dad, John Lennon.

The EP also includes a remix of “Save Me,” from Lennon’s 2022 album, Jude, by German youth artist Josh Heitzler.

“I always try to do something special on Earth Day one way or another,” Lennon tells People. “I tend to go with my gut on these things. And this was one of those project ideas that I thought, ‘Okay, well I kind of like this,’” adding, “Especially considering it was about a lot of the kids and their involvement in not only environmental and humanitarian issues, but the arts too, and music.” 

Lennon’s White Feather Foundation, which he founded in 2007, will donate proceeds from the EP to its Save the Mirning Sea Country Campaign to “help preserve critical biodiversity and protect a sacred Aboriginal culture.” Future Youth Records will use its share to help young artists as they “inspire environmental change and social justice through music.”

Think Earth 23 is available for preorder now.

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The Rolling Stones have shared a newly restored music video for “Child of the Moon,” the Mick Jagger and Keith Richards-penned track that was a B-side to the hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”

Originally shot in 1968 as a promotional film, the clip, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, features all five original members of the band, along with actress Dame Eileen June Atkins. The moody video, shot on a farm near Enfield, outside north London, is now being released in both a standard color and a 4K resolution black and white version. 

“Child of the Moon” is the latest restored video released by the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and ABKCO Music & Records. They previously shared restored videos for “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “We Love You,” “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?” and “2000 Light Years From Home,” with more coming this year.

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Metallica‘s 72 Seasons video saga has come to an end.

Since dropping their much-anticipated new album Friday, April 14, the metal legends have premiered a new visual every day to accompany a different song off the record. The four prerelease tracks — lead single “Lux Æterna,” “Screaming Suicide,” “If Darkness Had a Son” and the title track — also got videos.

Now, Metallica’s premiered the video for the final 72 Seasons song, album closer “Inamorata.” You can argue whether they saved the best for last, but they certainly saved the longest — the epic “Inamorata” lasts 11 minutes and 10 seconds, a personal record for Metallica.

You can watch the “Inamorata” video, an animated, hallucinatory journey through a desert, streaming now on YouTube.

While every 72 Seasons song now has its own video, Metallica is not quite done with the album’s visual side. Each 72 Seasons video is also being released in American Sign Language, or ASL. The ASL edition of the title track is out now, and the remaining 11 videos will premiere April 25.

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