Classic Rock News

Metallica‘s new album 72 Seasons has debuted on the Billboard 200 with the biggest sales week for a rock record in nearly four years.

The 11th studio effort from the “Enter Sandman” metallers enters the chart at #2 with a total of 146,000 equivalent album units, 134,000 of which were traditional album sales. The last rock record to put up bigger numbers in its first frame is Tool‘s 13-years-in-the-making Fear Inoculum. Following its release in August 2019, the album moved 270,000 units, 248,000 of which were traditional album sales.

72 Seasons is the bestselling album of the week and, in the olden days, that would’ve been good enough for a #1 debut on the Billboard 200. However, since December 2014, Billboard has incorporated streaming numbers into the Billboard 200 ranking, which factor into the “equivalent album units” total.

With those streaming numbers, country star Morgan Wallen‘s chart juggernaut One Thing at a Time stays at #1, with a total of 166,000 equivalent album units, only 12,000 of which were traditional album sales.

Surely this won’t stick in the craw of Metallica fans, who may or may not still be bitter about Jethro Tull winning the first metal Grammy in 1989 over …And Justice for All.

Metallica will launch a worldwide tour in support of 72 Seasons April 27 in Amsterdam. The trek comes to the U.S. in August.

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After announcing the news in February, U2 has finally revealed dates for their much-anticipated Las Vegas residency U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere.

Taking place at the new venue Sphere at The Venetian, the residency will consist of five dates: September 29 and 30, and October 5, 7 and 8.

“Over playing a theater, most music venues are sports venues … they’re built for sport, they’re not built for music, they’re not built for art,” Bono tells Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about the venue. “So this building was built for immersive experiences in cinema and performance … you can’t come here and see an ice hockey game.” The Edge adds, “The sound has been designed as a priority from the beginning. Best sound I’m sure we’ll ever hear.”

Tickets for the residency will be sold using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan, with registration open until Wednesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. ET. The Verified Fan presale will then begin April 27. As for pricing, tickets start at $140, all in, with 60% of the house guaranteed to be under $300.

U2 first teased the residency with a commercial during February’s Super Bowl. When it was officially announced they revealed the shows will be happening without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is sitting out the shows as he recuperates from surgery. Drummer Bram van den Berg will be filling in behind the drum kit.

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On This Day, April 24, 1989…

Tom Petty released his first solo album Full Moon Fever.

Although it wasn’t billed as a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers record, most of the Heartbreakers were on the album, as was Petty’s Traveling Wilburys bandmates Jeff Lynne, George Harrison and Roy Orbison. 

The album featured a trio of hit songs, including “Free Fallin’,” “I Won’t Back Down,” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”

Full Moon Fever went on to be a huge success for Petty, peaking at three on the Billboard Album chart. It was also certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA and in 2019 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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Dave Grohl made a surprise appearance during Wet Leg‘s weekend two Coachella performance.

The Foo Fighters frontman joined the “Chaise Longue” duo during the end of their song “Ur Mum,” during which lead vocalist Rhian Teasdale sings, “I’ve been practicing my longest and loudest scream.”

If you’ve seen a Wet Leg show, you know that’s when the entire band and crowd start screaming. Grohl joined in on the fun by running onstage unannounced to let out a yell heard during many Foo Fighters shows and songs.

You can watch the moment now via Coachella’s Twitter.

We may also be hearing Grohl scream on the upcoming Foo Fighters album But Here We Are, due out June 2. The record is the band’s first since the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.

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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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