Classic Rock News

The Rolling Stones kicked off their first tour ever without longtime drummer Charlie Watts on Sunday at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

The show began with a tribute to Watts, who died August 24 at age 80, and marked the band’s first official concert with Charlie’s handpicked fill-in, acclaimed drummer Steve Jordan.

The Stones played a 19-song set made up mainly of classics from their back catalog, and also included a rendition of their 2020 single, “Living in a Ghost Town.”

A few days before the concert, fans were given the chance to vote on one song that would appear in the set, and the 1971 hit “Wild Horses” was chosen over “Angie,” “Fool to Cry” and “Ruby Tuesday.”

The Rolling Stones kicked off the show with “Street Fighting Man” and wrapped things up with their signature tune “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” As the band gathered at the front of the stage at the end of the gig, a photo of Watts appeared on the screen behind them.

Frontman Mick Jagger has posted a brief video clip from the show on his social media pages showing him singing a segment of “Midnight Rambler,” and accompanied by the message, “Thanks St. Louis for a great night!”

In addition, the band has posted an image of guitarist Ronnie Wood‘s illustrated set list for the St. Louis concert at the band’s own social media sites, and limited-edition prints of the hand-drawn list have been made available for purchase at Wood’s official online store.

The Stones’ 2021 No Filter Tour of the U.S. continues this Thursday, September 30, with a show in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Here’s the band full set list from the St. Louis concert:

“Street Fighting Man”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Tumbling Dice”
“Under My Thumb”
“19th Nervous Breakdown”
“Wild Horses”
“Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“Living in a Ghost Town”
“Start Me Up”
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Happy”
“Slipping Away”
“Miss You”
“Midnight Rambler”
“Paint It Black”
“Sympathy for the Devil”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Gimme Shelter”
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Thank you St. Louis for a great opening night! You can order a special print of @ronniewood’s set list at: https://t.co/He4mYU5ehQ pic.twitter.com/QGG8fNX7CS

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 27, 2021

Thanks St. Louis for a great night! pic.twitter.com/eQauxqXsla

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) September 27, 2021

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Last year, former Blue Öyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard released a reimagined version of his old band’s 1988 concept album, Imaginos, aptly titled Re Imaginos. Now Bouchard has announced plans for a sequel record that will be the second installment of a planned Imaginos-themed trilogy.

Imaginos II — Bombs over Germany (minus zero and counting), which will be released on October 22, continues the story based on the writings and poems of late Blue Öyster Cult manager, producer and songwriter Sandy Pearlman about an alien conspiracy that comes to fruition during the late 1800s and early 1900s through the actions of an evil character named Imaginos.

The new album features guest contributions from longtime Blue Öyster Cult members Eric Bloom and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and the group’s former bassist, Joe Bouchard, and current multi-instrumentalist Richie Castellano, as well as from Dictators guitarist Ross the Boss.

Imaginos II features new versions of a variety of early Blue Öyster Cult songs, including “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” “The Red and the Black” and “Dominance and Submission.”

The album’s lead single, an updated rendition of the 1973 BÖC tune “OD’d on Life Itself,” has been released as an advance digital track, and a lyric video for the song has premiered on YouTube.

“This version of ‘OD’d on Life Itself’ is a very different take on the song that was recorded for BÖC’s second album, Tyranny and Mutation,” Albert explains. “The lyrics return to the original lyrics written by Sandy Pearlman, much less sarcastic and much more spooky.”

Imaginos II can be pre-ordered now on CD at MerchBucket.com, and limited-edition bundles also can be purchased that include an autographed CD and poster, plus a T-shirt and a guitar pick.

Here’s the album’s full track list:

“When War Comes”
“Independence Day”
“7 Screaming Dizbusters”
“OD’d on Life Itself”
“Il Duce”
“Bombs over Germany”
“Before the Kiss (A Redcap)”
“Three Sisters”
“Quicklime Girl (Mistress of the Salmon Salt)”
“The Red and the Black”
“Dominance and Submission”
“Shadow of California”
“Cities on Flame (with Rock and Roll)”
“Half Life Times”

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Spencer Elden, who was photographed as a baby for the cover of Nirvana‘s Nevermind album cover, is pleading with the band to censor his genitalia on all future reissues of the album.

The album artwork famously depicts the then-infant Elden swimming naked underwater while reaching for a dollar bill on a fishing hook.  Last month, he sued Nirvana for child pornography.

According to Billboard, Elden has amplified his grievances by demanding the band censor the artwork, which includes the 30th anniversary reissues of Nevermind that arrive November 12.

In a statement obtained by Billboard, Elden’s attorneys declare, “Today, like each year on this date, our client Spencer Elden has had to brace himself for renewed unwanted attention from the media and fans alike throughout the world. This is a choice that he has never had. It has been thrust upon him, and for 30 years he has dealt with its devastating and painful consequences.  Our message to Nirvana is clear — redact the image of Mr. Elden’s genitalia from all future album covers.”

Nirvana nor its label, Universal Music Group, have publicly commented on the matter.

The band, comprised of members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and the late Kurt Cobain, released Nevermind on September 24, 1991. It’s since been certified Diamond by the RIAA for over 10 million sales.

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The new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which premiered this past March as part of the virtual South by Southwest Film Festival, will get its theatrical release as a global screening event on October 20 — coinciding with what would’ve been Tom Petty‘s 71st birthday.

The movie focuses on the creatively fruitful period from 1993 to 1995, during which Petty made his acclaimed 1994 studio effort Wildflowers and recorded many other songs that weren’t initially released on the album. The film features previously unseen footage shot during the making of Wildflowers, as well as new interviews with producer Rick Rubin and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell — who co-produced the album with Tom — as well as with Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench.

The archival footage not only captures Petty in the studio, but on tour and with his family at home.

In additional to the October 20 screenings of Somewhere You Feel Free, the film will be shown at select theaters on October 21. Visit TomPettyFilm.com to find out where the documentary is playing and to purchase tickets. Then, later this year, the movie will get its worldwide release as a free streaming event in 4K resolution on Petty’s official YouTube channel as part of the YouTube Originals series.

You can check out a preview clip from the documentary on YouTube now that includes archival footage of Petty recording the Wildflowers track “Only a Broken Heart,” as well as recent footage of Rubin, Tench and Campbell chatting about the song.

Somewhere You Feel Free was directed by Mary Wharton, whose credits also include last year’s Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President.

An expansive Wildflowers box set titled Wildflowers & All the Rest, which featured a bevy of outtakes from the sessions, was released last year.

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Just a reminder that The Rolling Stones will kick off their 2021 No Filter Tour of the U.S. this Sunday, September 26, in St. Louis at The Dome at America’s Center.

The trek marks the band’s first-ever without longtime drummer Charlie Watts, who died August 24 at age 80. Stepping in for Watts will be respected session drummer Steve Jordan, who Charlie had chosen as his fill-in before his passing.

The Rolling Stones are giving fans the opportunity to help pick one song that they’ll play at each show of the tour, by visiting Vote.RollingStones.com. The tunes that fans can choose from for the St. Louis gig are “Angie,” “Fool to Cry,” “Ruby Tuesday” or “Wild Horses.” Those who participate in the voting also can enter a competition to win a personalized video message from one of the band members.

Ahead of the tour, the Stones have posted a special video message from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on their social media pages. In the clip, they express their excitement about returning to the road, and encourage people who come out to the shows to get the COVID-19 vaccine, wear a mask and/or get tested for the virus.

The band’s U.S. tour leg features a total of 13 shows, and runs through a November 20 concert in Austin, Texas. Check out the group’s full schedule at RollingStones.com.

Looking forward to seeing you at a show soon, keep safe! pic.twitter.com/sDPDsCvYjg

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 24, 2021

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Global Citizen Live, the 24-hour concert event spanning six continents and featuring performances by more than 50 artists, takes places Saturday, September 25.

Among the veteran rock artists who will be shown performing are Metallica, Elton John, Green Day and Duran Duran.

Live performances will take place in New York City; Los Angeles; London; Paris; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; and Lagos, Nigeria.

Elton will be performing in Paris, Green Day in LA, and Duran Duran in London. Metallica will be shown playing songs at their headlining set Friday at the Louder than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

Global Citizen Live isn’t designed to raise money, but rather it’s supposed to inspire people to demand government action on issues like poverty, climate change and vaccine equity.

“We don’t want your money. This is not a telethon. We want you to take action because your voice is more powerful than your wallet,” Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans tells ABC Audio. “If everyone works together and we all call on the U.S. government to step up in unison, then the government will step up.”

Evans continues, “We need not just the U.S. government to step up: We need the entire G20 to step up. Because issues like climate change or global hunger or vaccine equity, these can’t be solved by any one nation.”

Commenting on the event’s star-studded lineup, Evans says, “[T]hey are utterly breathtaking artists. And I think the fact that they’re all uniting for this once-in-a-generation moment this Saturday is amazing. We just want to encourage everyone across America to tune in…and be part of this.”

You can watch on ABC News Live, Apple TV, Twitter, all the Global Citizen channels and more.

Here’s a partial list of who’ll be appearing where:

NEW YORK
Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara, Cyndi Lauper, Burna Boy, Jon Batiste, Lang Lang.

PARIS
Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Charlie Puth, Doja Cat, DJ Snake, Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens, Måneskin.

LONDON, U.K.
Nile Rodgers & Chic, Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue, Rag’n’Bone Man.

LOS ANGELES
Stevie Wonder, Green Day, Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., ONEREPUBLIC, Ozuna, Migos, The Lumineers, 5 Seconds of Summer.

AROUND THE WORLD
Fugees, BTS, Lorde, Metallica, Usher, Keith Urban, Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin.

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Bruce Springsteen has contributed music to the soundtrack of a new documentary called The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses that was executive-produced by his wife, Patti Scialfa, and their daughter, Jessica Springsteen, along with Hollywood legend Robert Redford.

Variety reports that the film, which focuses on the story of the wild horses still living in the Western U.S., will get its theatrical release on October 15 and then will be available via on-demand outlets starting in late November. The movie also will premiere at select film festival next month.

The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses looks at the history of the animals, the uncertain future of the horses still living in the wild and the various efforts to save and preserve the existing population of Mustangs.

“America’s wild horses are fighting their last stand,” says Redford in a statement. “Increasing competition for our natural resources threatens our wilderness areas, our wild horses and other wildlife species. Horses are interwoven into the very fabric of what is America. What threatens them threatens us all.”

You can check out a trailer for the film on YouTube.

In addition to Bruce’s music, the soundtrack also features songs from Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris, plus a new original tune called “Never Gonna Tame You” that was written by acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren and performed by singer-rapper Blanco Brown.

Of course, Jessica Springsteen’s passion for horses is well-known.  She’s a competitive equestrian rider who won a silver medal for the U.S. this year at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers are returning to the road in 2022.

In a goofy, faux newscast video, the Peppers — Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and returning guitarist John Frusciante — announce that they’ll launch a global stadium tour in June of next year, with the U.S. leg set to kick off in July.

Neither the exact itinerary or ticket details were revealed, but in the video, you see the names of different cites in the background, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, London, Toronto and Barcelona, Spain.

You can stay tuned for updates via RedHotChiliPeppers.com.

The tour will mark the first full live Peppers outing since Frusciante rejoined the band at the end of 2019. The band had planned dates for 2020, but, you know, COVID.

Fittingly, the tour announcement arrives on the 30th anniversary of the release of RHCP’s hit 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the release of British glam-rock legends T. Rex‘s classic album Electric Warrior.

The record was the Marc Bolan-fronted group’s sixth overall and its second after the band shortened its original moniker, Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Electric Warrior spent eight nonconsecutive weeks at #1 on the U.K. albums chart in late 1971 and early ’72, while peaking at #32 on the Billboard 200. It includes the band’s signature song, “Get It On,” which topped the U.K. singles tally, while reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 — becoming T. Rex’s only top-40 hit in the U.S.

The album also features “Jeepster,” a #2 U.K. hit, and such other gems as “Mambo Sun,” “Cosmic Dancer” and “Life’s a Gas.”

In the U.S., “Get It On” was retitled “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” to avoid confusion with a then-popular song by the jazz-rock band Chase.

Longtime Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman played piano on “Get It On.” Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman of The Turtles and Frank Zappa fame contributed backing vocals to Electric Warrior, while ex-King Crimson multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, who later became a founding member of Foreigner, played saxophone on the record.

Electric Warrior, which was written entirely by Bolan and produced by frequent David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti, is considered among the first glam-rock albums, if not the very first.

The record’s influence could be heard in the early-to-mid-1970s music of Bowie, Elton John, The Hollies and The Rolling Stones, and went on to inspire many artists who emerged from the punk and new wave scenes.

Here’s the full track list of Electric Warrior:

“Mambo Sun”
“Cosmic Dancer”
“Jeepster”
“Monolith”
“Lean Woman Blues”
“Get It On”
“Planet Queen”
“Girl”
“The Motivator”
“Life’s a Gas”
“Rip Off”

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Nirvana‘s Nevermind turns 30 today.

Released on September 24, 1991, Nevermind brought the grunge and alternative scene to the masses as it became perhaps the definitive rock album of the ’90s.

Coming off the excess and bombast of ’80s hair-metal culture, Nevermind spoke to a generation of disaffected youth with songs of self-hatred and rebellion, set to Kurt Cobain‘s yelping vocals and distorted guitar over Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic thundering drums and bass.

Even after building an underground following with their 1989 debut, Bleach, no one could’ve predicted Nirvana’s meteoric rise with Nevermind. Things began to change with the premiere of lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and its high school pep rally-meets-anarchist punk mosh pit video.

While it debuted at a modest 144 on the Billboard 200, Nevermind‘s popularity continued to build and build as more people heard “Teen Spirit” and saw the video. By January 1992, Nevermind had hit number one on the Billboard 200, dethroning the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.

As Nirvana’s popularity grew, they ushered in the grunge frenzy as bands including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains earned mainstream attention. The scene also inspired its own fashion, signified by flannel shirts, ripped jeans and Cobain’s thick-framed sunglasses.

Cobain himself was deemed an icon and a voice of his generation, a label with which he felt increasingly uncomfortable. His reaction to his sudden superstar status can be heard in the lyrics of Nirvana’s 1993 Nevermind follow-up, In Utero.

Sadly, that would be the last studio album Nirvana would record. Cobain, who struggled with mental-health and substance-abuse issues throughout his life, died by suicide in April 1994.

The legacy of Nirvana and Nevermind, though, has endured — the album is now certified Diamond by the RIAA.

Here’s Nevermind‘s full track list:

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”
“In Bloom”
“Come as You Are”
“Breed”
“Lithium”
“Polly”
“Territorial P***ings”
“Drain You”
“Lounge Act”
“Stay Away”
“On a Plain”
“Something in the Way”

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