The “Welcome to the Jungle” rockers have premiered a new song called “Hard Skool.” It’s the second fresh tune from GN’R in as many months, following the August release of “Absurd.”
The new track is available now as a digital download and via streaming services.
Like “Absurd,” the origins of “Hard Skool” date back to sessions for Chinese Democracy, the long-fabled GN’R album that finally became a reality in 2008, with frontman Axl Rose as the only original member still in the band.
Chinese Democracy remains the most recent Guns N’ Roses album. “Absurd” and “Hard Skool” mark the band’s first new music since Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined in 2016.
The four-song collection arrives just six months after the former Beatles drummer’s previous release, the five-track Zoom In EP.
During a Zoom press conference this week promoting Change the World, Starr explained that he hoped the EP would bring his fans “joy.” He also noted that the record’s lead track, “Let’s Change the World,” offers an important message regarding climate change and pollution.
Reflecting on the song, which was written by Toto‘s Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather, Ringo maintained, “[H]alf the world’s on fire, half of it’s under water and [politicians are] still wondering, ‘Well, we can’t do that’…And I think we have to do a lot. So I’d like to change the world for the kids.”
The second track is a reggae tune titled “Just That Way,” which Ringo co-wrote with his longtime engineer Bruce Sugar, and features veteran reggae guitarist Tony Chin and bassist Fully Fullwood.
“I got [a] real bass player and guitar from Jamaica playing on it…which gives it more force,” Ringo said. “And for me, it’s so great, ’cause I get to play with those guys.”
Track three is the country-influenced “Coming Undone,” which was penned by hit-making songwriter/producer Linda Perry. The song features contributions from acclaimed New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty, who added a brass section that, according to Starr, completely transformed the tune.
The EP finishes with a cover of one of Ringo’s favorite early rock ‘n’ roll tunes, “Rock Around the Clock.”
The track features a guitar solo by Starr’s brother-in-law, Joe Walsh, that Ringo said not only “rocked” but was different than any solo he’s heard on other versions of the tune.
In the very likely event you missed Metallica‘s last-minute concerts in San Francisco and Chicago this past week, you can still pretend you were there from the comfort of your own home.
The streaming site Nugs.net is offering full audio from both shows to its members. You can sign up at Nugs.net/metallica.
The San Francisco show, which took place on September 16, featured an audience of just 400 people, and marked Metallica’s first full live, in-person concert in 738 days. On September 20, the metal legends headlined the 1,100-capacity Metro in Chicago, which they hadn’t played since 1983.
Metallica’s next scheduled shows are headlining sets this Friday and Sunday at the Louder than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
Released on October 1, 1971, Teaser and the Firecat reached #2 on the Billboard 200. It featured three of the singer/songwriter’s most enduring tunes: “Morning Has Broken,” “Peace Train,” and “Moonshadow,” which peaked at #6, #7 and #30, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.
A super-deluxe box set version of the reissue features four CDs, a Blu-ray, two LPs and a seven-inch vinyl single. The CDs feature a newly remastered version of the original album, a variety of unreleased studio recordings, a disc collecting audio of various TV and radio performances, and a CD boasting a full-length 1971 concert in Montreux, Switzerland.
The Blu-ray features an HD-audio version of the album, a 1977 animated video for “Moonshadow” and a 2020 concert clip of “The Wind,” and video of various live TV performances. The LPs feature an alternate version of Teaser and the Firecat on one disc and a selection of live performances from Montreux and the BBC on the other.
The vinyl single features a remastered version of “Moonshadow,” backed with a previously unreleased recording of the late U.K. comedian Spike Milligan reading the narration for the aforementioned animated video.
One of the bonus tracks is a newly recorded version of “Bitterblue,” retitled “Bitterblue².”
The box set also comes packaged with a softcover replica of the original 1972 Teaser and the Firecat book, and a 108-page hardcover essay book.
In advance of the reissue, a previously unheard 1970 demo of “Moonshadow” was released Thursday as a digital track.
Visit Cat Stevens’ official store for more details about the Teaser and the Firecat reissues.
Ringo Starr took part in a Zoom press event this week to promote his forthcoming EP, Change the World. During the virtual Q&A, the former Beatles drummer shared a humorous memory involving The Rolling Stones‘ Charlie Watts and another famous late drummer, Led Zeppelin‘s John Bonham.
Ringo said he’d hang out with Watts from time to time, particularly when they used to live near each other in London, and he recalled an incident at a party he threw at his place during the 1970s that Charlie and Bonzo attended.
“I had a drum kit up in the attic…And Charlie came and so did John Bonham. And so, we’ve got three drummers just hanging out,” Starr remembered. “And Bonham got on the kit, but because it [wasn’t nailed down],…as he was playing and the bass drum was hopping away from him, you had Charlie Watts and Ringo holding the bass drum for him as he played.”
Reflecting on the comical scene, Ringo added, “[T]hat would have been a great little video or TikTok, or a photo would’ve gone worldwide, you know what I mean? But in the ’70s, I had parties and you’ll never find any photos, because I wouldn’t let you take photos…you know, in my house.”
Starr said of Watts, who died last month at age 80, “Charlie was a great guy. He was a lot of fun, and he had a harder band than I did to keep together…[W]e will miss Charlie. He was a beautiful human being.”
Sony Music Entertainment/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
In July, the popular Bruce Springsteen fan site Backstreets.com reported that an archival film focusing on the performances that The Boss and his E Street Band gave at the historic 1979 “No Nukes” concerts would be coming out later this year. Now official details about the release have been announced.
The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts will be released digitally on November 16 and on DVD, Blu-ray and audio formats on November 19.
The film and companion audio feature Springsteen and the E Street Band playing 13 songs at two of the MUSE benefit concerts, aka the “No Nukes” concerts, a star-studded series of shows that took place in September 1979 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ten of the performances are previously unreleased.
The movie was edited by longtime Springsteen collaborator Thom Zimny using the original 16-millimeter film, and the audio was remixed by lauded engineer Bob Clearmountain.
Springsteen’s set list included renditions of two songs from his then-upcoming album The River — the title track and “Sherry Darling” — as well as covers of Buddy Holly‘s “Rave On” and Maurice Williams‘ “Stay,” the latter of which featured guest appearances from Jackson Browne and Tom Petty.
“A few years ago, I started re-examining the filmed archives for Bruce and the Band’s appearances at the No Nukes concerts of 1979,” says Zimny in a statement. “I quickly realized that these were the best performances and best filming from the Band’s legendary Seventies, and dedicated myself to bringing out the full potential of the footage.”
The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts, which you can pre-order now, is available as a two-CD/DVD or two-CD/Blu-Ray set, a two-LP vinyl package, and on digital audio and video formats.
Here’s the full track list:
“Prove It All Night”
“Badlands”
“The Promised Land”
“The River”
“Sherry Darling”
“Thunder Road”
“Jungleland”
“Rosalita Come Out Tonight”
“Born to Run”
“Stay”
“Detroit Medley”
“Quarter to Three”
“Rave On”
As The Rolling Stones prepare to launch the 2021 leg of their No Filter Tour this Sunday in St. Louis, the band’s main members have shared a new official interview in which they chat about plan for the trek — their first without longtime drummer Charlie Watts, who died on August 24 at age 80.
In the conversation, which was conducted by acclaimed rock journalist David Fricke, frontman Mick Jagger talks about how rehearsals have been going with Watts’ handpicked replacement, Steve Jordan.
“It’s gone well. We all knew [Steve], and I’d played with him before. He’s very respectful of Charlie,” Jagger says. “He played with Keith [Richards] before we started the rehearsals, and then he did homework, listening to the tunes. When we talk about what Charlie did on this one, we listen to the original record, and then we listen to the live versions. There’s certain licks that we want to do, that Charlie did.”
Jagger reveals that The Stones have rehearsed “80 to 90 songs” for the trek, adding, “We’ve got tons of numbers from most eras. So we have a big set list. We can certainly change up the set list.”
Richards reveals that among the songs the band will be playing are two of the bonus tracks from the group’s upcoming Tattoo You reissue — “Living in the Heart of Love” and a cover of The Chi-Lites‘ “Troubles A’ Comin'” — as well as the 2020 Stones single “Living in a Ghost Town” and the 1976 gem “Hand of Fate.”
Regarding how Jordan has been fitting in with the band, Keith notes, “Steve brings with him a lot of knowledge about the Stones. He’ll say, ‘No, Charlie plays like this.’ Steve is so meticulous, so aware of the seat he’s sitting in.”
Notify your mama, papa and daughter: Blood Sugar Sex Magik is turning 30 years old.
Red Hot Chili Peppers released their breakout album on September 24, 1991. Spawning the hit singles in “Under the Bridge,” “Give It Away” and “Suck My Kiss,” Blood Sugar became one of the definitive albums of the ’90s alternative rock scene on its way to being certified seven-times Platinum by the RIAA.
Notably, Blood Sugar marked the second Chili Peppers album to feature guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith, who’d made their debut on 1989’s Mother’s Milk. Along with frontman Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, they made up the band’s “classic” lineup.
“It changed a lot for [us],” Smith tells ABC Audio of Blood Sugar. “John and I had been in the band and we’d toured a bunch on Mother’s Milk and we had been in the group for awhile. We wrote all those songs, Anthony started to sing more, John was more involved in the songwriting.”
“To me, it was the first time the band actually sounded like what I thought we sounded like,” he adds.
Smith recalls feeling more focused during the Blood Sugar sessions, since the Peps recorded it themselves in a house, as opposed to a traditional recording studio.
“There were no other distractions,” he explains. “There were no other people walking around, studio secretaries or whatever. It was very insular, and we just dug right in and took advantage of that.”
Blood Sugar Sex Magik also marked RHCP’s first album with Rick Rubin in place of Mother’s Milk producer Michael Beinhorn, who often clashed with the band. Rubin then produced every Peppers album up until their most recent effort, 2016’s The Getaway.
“That was the beginning, obviously, of a long relationship with [Rubin],” Smith says.
Nirvana has announced a reissue of Nevermind in celebration of the iconic album’s 30th anniversary.
The package will be available in a variety of formats, including as eight-LP and five-CD super deluxe box sets, starting November 12.
All versions of the reissue will feature newly remastered audio of the original Nevermind. Additionally, the super deluxe collections include four previously unreleased full live concert recordings: Amsterdam in November 1991; Del Mar, California, in December 1991; Melbourne, Australia, in February 1992; and Tokyo also in February 1992.
For the full track lists and pre-orders, visit Shop.Nirvana.com.
Released September 24, 1991, Nevermind and its lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” are credited for launching the ’90s grunge and alternative rock scene. The album has been certified Diamond by the RIAA for over 10 million sales.
The Pretenders‘ classic 1979 self-titled debut album and its 1981 follow-up, Pretenders II, will both be reissued on November 5 as deluxe three-CD sets.
Frontwoman Chrissie Hynde curated both releases, which will feature remastered versions of the original albums by producer Chris Thomas, demos, rarities, live performances and more.
The deluxe edition of the Pretenders reissue features B-sides, demos, two BBC sessions from 1979, and songs recorded at concerts in London in January 1979 and Boston in March 1980.
The Pretenders II deluxe reissue will feature demos, single edits, alternate versions and outtakes, and live tunes recorded at shows in New York’s Central Park in August 1980 and in Santa Monica, California, in September 1981.
Both deluxe reissues will come packaged with a high-quality book featuring new liner notes and a variety of rare and unseen photos.
Limited-edition colored vinyl LPs of Pretenders and Pretenders II, pressed on red and white vinyl, respectively, also will be released. Visit Rhino.com for pre-order details.
The Pretenders’ self-titled debut, which was released in December 1979, reached #9 on the Billboard 200. It featured the band’s first stateside hit, “Brass in Pocket,” as well as several other enduring songs, including “Precious,” “Kid” and “Mystery Achievement” and the group’s memorable cover of The Kinks‘ “Stop Your Sobbing.”
Pretenders II, which arrived in August of ’81, reached #10 on the Billboard 200 and included the popular tunes “Talk of the Town” and “Message of Love.”
The albums were the only two full-length records by the band to feature the original lineup of Hynde, drummer Martin Chambers, guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon. Sadly, Honeyman-Scott and Farndon died of drug-related causes in June 1982 and April 1983, respectively.
Here’s the track list of Pretenders — Deluxe Edition:
CD 1: Original Album & B-Sides
Original Album
“Precious”
“The Phone Call”
“Up the Neck”
“Tattooed Love Boys”
“Space Invader”
“The Wait”
“Stop Your Sobbing”
“Kid”
“Private Life”
“Brass in Pocket”
“Lovers of Today”
“Mystery Achievement”
B-Sides
“Cuban Slide”
“Porcelain”
“The Wait” (Nick Lowe Version)
“Nervous but Shy”
“Swinging London”
CD 2: Demos & BBC In Studio
Demos
“The Phone Call”
“Suicide”*
“Brass in Pocket”
“Precious”
“The Wait”
“I Can’t Control Myself”
“Stop Your Sobbing”
“Tequila”
“Kid”
“I Go to Sleep”*
“Do I Love You”*
BBC In Session: The Kid Jensen Show, February 5, 1979
“The Wait”*
“Up the Neck”*
“Stop Your Sobbing”*
“Private Life”*
“Cuban Slide”*
BBC In Session: The Kid Jensen Show, July 2, 1979
“Mystery Achievement”
“I Need Somebody”
“Tattooed Love Boys”*
CD3: Live
BBC In Session: Live at The Paris Theatre, London, January 2, 1979
“The Wait”*
“Stop Your Sobbing”*
“Kid”*
“Cuban Slide”*
“Brass in Pocket*
“Tattooed Love Boys*
“Mystery Achievement*
Warner Bros. Music Show: Live at the Paradise Theater, Boston, March 23, 1980
“Space Invader”**
“The Wait”**
“Precious”
“Kid”**
“Private Life”**
“Cuban Slide”**
“The Phone Call”*
“Talk of the Town”**
“Tattooed Love Boys”
“Up the Neck”**
“Mystery Achievement”**
“Stop Your Sobbing”**
And here’s the track list of Pretenders II — Deluxe Edition:
CD 1: Original Album
“The Adultress”
“Bad Boys Get Spanked”
“Message of Love”
“I Go to Sleep”
“Birds of Paradise”
“Talk of the Town”
“Pack It Up”
“Waste Not Want Not”
“Day After Day”
“Jealous Dogs”
“The English Roses”
“Louie Louie”
CD2: Studio Demos, Singles & Alternates
“Talk of the Town” (Demo)
“What You Gonna Do About It”
“I Go to Sleep” (Guitar Version — Outtake)
“Pack It Up” (Radio Mix — Outtake)
“Day After Day” (Single Mix)
“In the Sticks”
“Louie Louie” (Monitor Mix)*
Live in Central Park, New York City, August 30, 1980
“Precious”
“Space Invader”*
“Cuban Slide”*
“Porcelain”*
“Tattooed Love Boys”*
“Up the Neck”*
CD 3: Live at the Santa Monica Civic, September 4, 1981
“The Wait”
“The Adultress”
“Message of Love”
“Louie Louie”
“Talk of the Town”
“Birds of Paradise”
“The English Roses”
“Stop Your Sobbing”
“Private Life”
“Kid”
“Day After Day”
“Up the Neck”
“Bad Boys Get Spanked”
“Tattooed Love Boys”*
“Precious”*
“Brass in Pocket”
“Mystery Achievement”*
“Higher and Higher”
