Classic Rock News

Metallica has shared the single-day ticket details for the band’s upcoming M72 tour.

You may recall that the itinerary for the worldwide outing includes two concerts in every city, with a totally unique set list and different opener for each night. When the tour was first announced, you could only buy tickets as a two-show package, but that will change next week.

Tickets to individual shows will go on sale next Friday, January 20, at 10 a.m. local time. If you’re part of Metallica’s Fifth Member fan club, you’ll have access to a presale beginning Monday, January 16, at 9 a.m. local time.

The M72 tour, which supports Metallica’s upcoming 72 Seasons album, will kick off in Europe in April and will come to the U.S. in August. Dates are currently scheduled through September 2024.

Opening bands include the reformed Pantera, Mammoth WVH, Five Finger Death Punch, Greta Van Fleet, Volbeat, Ice Nine Kills and Architects.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Metallica.com.

72 Seasons, the follow-up to 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct, arrives April 14. It includes the lead single “Lux Æterna,” which has spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

As previously reported, Peter Frampton is set to headline a free show in the Nashville area later this month, and fans who can’t make it will be able to enjoy it. At least at some point.

The already sold-out concert, presented by Sky Arts, is set to take place January 22 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro. Frampton has now revealed that it’s being recorded for a special broadcast. So far there’s no word on when or where the broadcast will air.

Getting a chance to see Frampton perform these days is a pretty big deal for fans, especially since in 2019 he announced he was retiring from touring due to a progressive muscle disorder. His last performance was back in August at a Buddy Holly 85th birthday celebration.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks continue to add dates to their co-headlining tour.

Billed as “two icons – one night,” the latest concert is set to go down October 7 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Tickets go on sale January 20 at 10 a.m.

The joint shows seem to be turning into a full-fledged tour. Billy and Stevie kick things off March 10 at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, with confirmed dates in Arlington, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; Foxbourgh, Massachusetts; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A new musical with a score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim is headed to Broadway later this year, Variety reports.

Hear Lies Love, which originally played at New York’s Public Theatre 10 years ago, and had runs in London and Seattle, is described as a “disco pop” musical that puts audiences in an immersive setting. Its story is a dramatic telling of the Philippines’ former first lady Imleda Marcos‘ rise to power and then her hard downfall.

The musical will begin preview performances at the Broadway Theatre on June 17 and then open July 20. 

The immersive nature of the show has been an issue with making it to Broadway, but according to the announcement, the plan is to “transform the venue’s traditional proscenium floor space into a dance club environment, where audiences will stand and move with the actors.” Because of this, fans will be able to buy both standing and seating options to see the show.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Paul McCartney is the latest rock star to share his thoughts on the passing of Jeff Beck, who died Tuesday at the age of 78. 

Saying he was saddened to hear of Beck’s passing, McCartney called him “a lovely man with a wicked sense of humor who played some of the best guitar music ever to come out of Great Britain.”

He added Beck “was a superb technician and could strip down his guitar and put it back together again in time for the show. His unique style of playing was something that no one could match.” He shared, “I will always remember the great times we had together. He would come over to dinner at our place or he and his wife, Sandra, would host an evening at their house.”

Finally Sir Paul offered, “I will cherish forever the moments we spent together. Jeff Beck has left the building and it is a lonelier place without him.”

Meanwhile, Queen‘s Brian May also shared his thoughts on the loss, posting a five-minute video to social media in which he says he’s struggling to deal with Beck’s passing.

“This is such an extraordinary loss and he was such an extraordinary person, it’s hard to process the fact that he’s not here, apart from process what I would like to say,” he shared. “Jeff was completely and utterly unique and the kind of musician who’s impossible to define. And I was absolutely in awe of him.”

May added, “The loss is incalculable. It’s so sad not having him in the world anymore. I still can’t quite compute it in my head.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Zombies are set to drop a new album later this year, and they’re giving fans their first taste of the record.

The album, Different Game, is the follow-up to the 2015 album Still Got That Hunger and is due out March 31. The band shared the first single, “Dropped Reeling and Stupid.”

“Making this album has been a joy from start to finish,” The Zombies’ Rod Argent shares. “Post-lockdown, we were absolutely determined to come together and record in as ‘live’ a way as we could – to capture the magical, fleeting quality of energy and immediacy of performance.” He adds, “’Dropped Reeling & Stupid’ is our first streamed release… Can’t wait for you to hear it!”

The Zombies are also set to hit the road this year and will make an appearance at the SXSW Film & Music Festival, which takes place March 11 to 17. Their U.S. shows kick off March 18 in San Antonio, Texas, wrapping March 24 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil has canceled his set at the upcoming RokIsland Fest in Key West, Florida, after contracting COVID-19.

In a statement posted to the RokIsland Facebook Thursday, the “Home Sweet Home” singer shares, “I am sad to report that yesterday I was diagnosed with Covid.”

“I am okay but this thing is really kickin’ my a**,” Neil continues. “All that being said, I am unable to perform at RokIsland Fest next week. I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to the RokIsland Fest organizers and most of all my friends and fans. I am disappointed to say the least. I was so looking forward to this show.”

RokIsland will take place January 17-21. The lineup also includes Styx, Loverboy and Tesla.

Mötley Crüe, meanwhile, is set to resume touring in February following their massive 2022 Stadium Tour with Def Leppard. They’ll be doing so without guitarist Mick Mars, who announced last October that he was retiring from the road. Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 will be filling in.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In 2007 ASIA set out on a world tour to celebrate their 25th anniversary, and now one of those shows is being released on vinyl for the first time.

The band announced Fantasia Live In Tokyo 2007, which was originally released on CD and DVD, is set to drop February 24 as a three-LP set, featuring a booklet that includes band photos and sleeve notes. The 18-track LP includes performances of songs from the band’s 1982 self-titled debut album, including hits “Only Time Will Tell” and “Heat of the Moment,” as well as select songs from the 1983 follow-up Alpha, and songs from the band members’ previous bands.

The 25th anniversary tour featured a reformation of the band’s original lineup: lead vocalist/bassist John Wetton from King Crimson, guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes also of Yes and drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Fans can preorder the album here.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Joni Mitchell is set to receive yet another prestigious honor. The singer will be honored with the 2023 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, handed out by the Library of Congress.

“This is a very prestigious award,” Mitchell said in statement. “Thank you for honoring me.”

Mitchell will be feted with a tribute concert taking place March 1 in Washington, D.C., which will air on PBS March 31 at 9 p.m. So far no artists have been announced for the tribute.

The new honor comes about a year after Mitchell was celebrated as the Recording Academy’s MusiCares Person of the Year.

The Gershwin Prize has been handed out since 2007, with Paul Simon the first honoree. Last year Lionel Richie received the award, with Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Carole King and Stevie Wonder among the previous honorees.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jack White has shared a tribute to late guitar icon Jeff Beck, who died Tuesday at age 78.

In an Instagram post, the White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather rocker writes, “Jeff Beck, guitar innovator extraordinaire has moved to the next realm.”

“He was amazingly kind and instructional to me over the years,” White continues. “Many shows that I’ve played began moments after listening to his song ‘Led Boots’ backstage.”

White’s post also includes a video of him and Meg White performing with Beck during a 2002 White Stripes show in London, during which they performed a set of songs by Beck’s legendary group The Yardbirds.

“In our rehearsals he plugged straight into an amp, no effects pedals,” White recalls. “He was changing the sound of the guitar and doing things people didn’t know were possible from his earliest days on stage.”

Beck’s passing has been mourned by many of the biggest names in rock. Those who’ve also paid tribute include Led Zeppelin‘s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.