Paul McCartney recalls what happened after Bob Dylan hooked The Beatles up with some potent marijuana

Paul McCartney recalls what happened after Bob Dylan hooked The Beatles up with some potent marijuana
Mary McCartney; Mark and Colleen Hayward/Redferns

Paul McCartney is not shying away from retelling the highs and lows of his career — emphasis on the prior in his upcoming memoir The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, due out November 2.

He shared an excerpt with The Times of London on Sunday, which focused on the time Bob Dylan hooked The Beatles up with some potent marijuana.

“What happened is that we were in a hotel suite, maybe in New York around the summer of 1964, and Bob Dylan turned up with his roadie,” the excerpt begins — adding the event took place right after Dylan released his fourth studio album, Another Side of Bob Dylan.

McCartney continued, “We were just drinking, as usual, having a little party. We’d ordered drinks from room service — scotch and Coke and French wine were our thing back then — and Bob had disappeared into a back room.”

Apparently, band mate Ringo Starr left the room around the same time, only to return a while later “looking a bit strange,” according to Sir Paul. “He said, ‘I’ve just been with Bob, and he’s got some pot,’ or whatever you called it then.”

“And we said, ‘Oh, what’s it like?’ and he said, ‘Well, the ceiling is kind of moving; it’s sort of coming down.’ And that was enough,” McCartney who was in his early 20s at the time, continued. “After Ringo said that, the other three of us all leapt into the back room where Dylan was, and he gave us a puff on the joint.”

McCartney confessed that the band “were giggling, laughing at each other” and described a “hilarious” moment where he ran after George Harrison “like a cartoon chase.”

“We thought, ‘Wow, this is pretty amazing, this stuff,'” Paul reminisced, adding that night went on to become an inside joke with everyone involved.

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Matt Sorum honored to work on latest solo album by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons: “Billy’s the coolest there is”

Matt Sorum honored to work on latest solo album by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons: “Billy’s the coolest there is”
Mark Maryanovich; Ross Halfin

Matt Sorum played an integral role in the making of ZZ Top frontman and guitarist Billy Gibbons recently released solo album, Hardware, as the ex-Guns N’ Roses member co-wrote, co-produced and played drums on the entire record.

Sorum tells ABC Audio that he’s honored to have had the opportunity to work on the project with Gibbons, and is proud of the album, which they recorded with second guitarist Austin Hanks last year at a studio in California’s High Desert region.

“Billy’s the coolest there is,” Matt declares. “He looks cool, but he is cool.”

Sorum says the project came together after he and Gibbons teamed up early on during the COVID-19 pandemic to work on some new material, and after recording a couple of tracks at Matt’s studio, Billy said suggested they make a full album.

“The pandemic was happening, we were all off the road, so we went up to Pioneertown, California, and we lived at this old ranch, about 140 acres,” Sorum notes. “And it was the coolest thing.”

Matt says the desert setting had a major influence on the songs they wrote and the sound of the album, noting, “I really felt that the record came out great because of that energy around the environment we were in.”

As an example, Sorum shares how one of the tracks, the atmospheric, spoken-word tune “Desert High” came about after he explained to Gibbons that country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons — who was pals with The Rolling StonesKeith Richards — had died at a motel room down the road from the studio.

“So Billy goes, ‘He died in Room 8 and left it all to Keith?'” Sorum recalls. “And I went, ‘That’s the line!’ And we put it in [the song].”

Hardware is available now.

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Watch Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood and other stars discuss new Santana album, ‘Blessings and Miracles’

Watch Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood and other stars discuss new Santana album, ‘Blessings and Miracles’
BMG

On Friday, Santana released their latest studio album, the star-studded Blessings and Miracles, and coinciding with the record’s arrival, a video feature offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album has debuted at the band’s official YouTube channel.

The video features band leader Carlos Santana discussing how some of the project’s various songs came about, footage of him working on some of the tracks, and clips of many of the guest artists talking about the experience of collaborating with the guitar legend.

As previously reported, Blessings and Miracles features Santana teaming up with Steve Winwood, Matchbox Twenty‘s Rob Thomas, Metallica‘s Kirk Hammett, country star Chris Stapleton, late jazz keyboardist Chick Corea and others.

At the beginning of the video, Carlos — in his trademark cosmically spiritual way — reflects on getting the opportunity to work on new songs with his various talented collaborators.

“This divine intelligence is orchestrating, behind the scenes while I’m sleeping or doing whatever, a [variety of collaborations],” he declares. “And they present themselves to me. So all I have to do is say, ‘Yes, thank you for bringing your song to me. I would love to bathe in your song and compliment whatever is in front of me.'”

Among the album’s tracks is a cover of the Procol Harum classic “A Whiter Shade of Pale” featuring Winwood on vocals and Hamond organ.

In the video, Winwood says, “Carlos’ genius comes in a large part from a wonderful combination of rock music with Latin, Cuban rhythms. I’ve played with Carlos on numerous occasions over the past 50 years, and I’m very excited to be working with him again, still.”

The video also features commentary from Thomas, Hammett and Stapleton discussing their respective collaborations with Santana — “Move,” “America for Sale” and “Joy.”

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Dave Navarro & Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison announce return of Above Ground benefit concert

Dave Navarro & Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison announce return of Above Ground benefit concert
Courtesy of Goldenvoice

Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction and Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison have announced plans for a 2021 edition of their Above Ground benefit concert.

The annual event, which raises money for the MusiCares charity, was previously held in 2018 and 2019, but was put on hold in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’ll now make its return this year at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on December 20.

Along with Navarro and Morrison, the lineup includes Idol and his other guitarist, Steve Stevens; Perry and Etty Lau Farrell; Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins; Slipknot‘s Corey Taylor; and Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath.

As with previous years, the Above Ground performers will play songs off two seminal albums. This year’s selections are Lou Reed‘s Transformer and Sex PistolsNever Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.

You can check out a video of Navarro and Morrison talking about this year’s show at the Above Ground organization’s YouTube channel.

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, October 22, at AXS.com.

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Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams among stars taking part in 2021 Rock Hall ceremony

Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams among stars taking part in 2021 Rock Hall ceremony
Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Paul McCartney and Bryan Adams are among the initial list of celebrity presenters and performers announced for the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place October 30 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

The former Beatles legend will welcome Foo Fighters into the Rock Hall. McCartney and The Beatles have been big influences on Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and his band. Sir Paul is even featured on the Foos’ 2017 album, Concrete and Gold.

Adams is among several stars who will perform in honor of inductee Tina Turner. Turner will be welcomed into the hallowed institution by actress Angela Bassett, who was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Tina in the 1993 biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It. Turner also will be celebrated with performances by Christina Aguilera, Mickey Guyton and H.E.R.

Carole King will be inducted by pop superstar Taylor Swift, who, along with Jennifer Hudson, also will perform in honor of the legendary singer/songwriter.

The Go-Go’s will be welcomed into the Rock Hall by actress and talk-show host Drew Barrymore, while Lionel Richie will honor pioneering record executive Clarence Avant, who will be inducted in conjunction with receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

More presenters and performers will be announced soon. A special focusing on the 36th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will premiere November 20 on HBO and will stream on HBO Max the same day.

As previously reported, the 2021 inductees in the main Performers category are Foo Fighters, Todd Rundgren, The Go-Go’s, Turner, King and JAY-Z. Other inductees this year include Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron for Early Influence, and LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads for Musical Excellence.

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Watch music video for Deep Purple’s new cover of Love’s “7 and 7 Is”

Watch music video for Deep Purple’s new cover of Love’s “7 and 7 Is”
earMUSIC

Deep Purple recently released a cover of Love‘s classic 1966 garage-rock song “7 and 7 Is” as the first single from their upcoming studio album, Turning to Crime.  Now the veteran U.K. hard-rockers have debuted a music video for the tune.

The clip, which you can watch at the earMUSIC label’s YouTube channel, features footage of Deep Purple’s five members — singer Ian Gillan, drummer Ian Paice, bassist Roger Glover, guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey — working on the album in separate locations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deep Purple’s version of the hard-driving “7 and 7 Is” adds some prog-rock elements to the song’s arrangement and showcases solos by Morse and Airey.

As previously reported, Turning to Crime will be released om November 26, and is the first Deep Purple album made up of songs originally recorded by other artists.

The covers collection, which was produced by the band’s frequent collaborator, Bob Ezrin, features 12 tracks, including versions of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Oh Well,” Bob Dylan‘s “Watching the River Flow,” Little Feat‘s “Dixie Chicken,” The Yardbirds‘ “Shapes of Things,” Cream‘s “White Room” and more.

A 40-minute documentary about the album’s creation, titled Locked Up: The Making of Turning to Crime, will be released as a limited-edition DVD Digipak and a Blu-ray disc. A DVD with the film also will be included in a limited-edition, five-LP vinyl box set that also will features a bonus song, “(I’m a) Roadrunner,” that does not appear on the regular album’s track list.

Deep Purple’s “7 and 7 Is” is available as a digital download and via streaming. You can pre-order Turning to Crime now.

Here’s Turning to Crime‘s full track list:

“7 and 7 Is”
“Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu”
“Oh Well”
“Jenny Take a Ride!”
“Watching the River Flow”
“Let the Good Times Roll”
“Dixie Chicken”
“Shapes of Things”
“The Battle of New Orleans”
“Lucifer”
“White Room”
“Caught in the Act” (Medley: “Going Down”/”Green Onions”/”Hot ‘Lanta”/”Dazed and Confused”/”Gimme Some Lovin'”)

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Elton John’s post-surgery present? His first UK #1 in 16 years

Elton John’s post-surgery present? His first UK #1 in 16 years
Interscope Records

It’s the best “get well” present he could’ve received: Elton John has scored his first number-one single on the U.K. charts in 16 years.

The song that did it for the Rocket Man is, of course, “Cold Heart,” his mashup remix with British pop star Dua Lipa. The song, which combines four of Elton’s previously released tracks, took over the top spot on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart after three weeks at #2. It dethroned his pal Ed Sheeran‘s “Shivers,” which has been #1 for four weeks. 

Last week, Sheeran actively encouraged his fans to stop streaming his song and stream Elton’s instead, writing, “It will be his first number one in almost twenty years and I really want it to happen…Who doesn’t wanna be knocked off [the top] by Elton anyway?”

The last time Elton topped the charts in his native country was in 2005, as a featured performer on “Ghetto Gospel,” a posthumous single by slain rapper 2Pac that samples Elton’s 1971 song “Indian Sunset.” The last time Elton had a number-one hit on his own was in 1997, with “Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind ’97.”

Elton, who recently had hip surgery, posted a photo of himself celebrating while wearing a bathrobe.

We did it — UK NUMBER 1!! I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to me,” he wrote, adding, “You’ve made me feel infinitely better after my surgery and I can’t wait for you to hear the whole of The Lockdown Sessions when it comes out next week!”

Elton’s Lockdown Sessions album also includes collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, the late Glen Campbell and many more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)

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Longtime Elvis Presley drummer Ron Tutt, who also played on Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” dead at 83

Longtime Elvis Presley drummer Ron Tutt, who also played on Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” dead at 83
Ron Tutt in 2001; Jon Super/Redferns

Drummer Ron Tutt, who played with Elvis Presley‘s longtime backing group the TCB Band from 1969 to Elvis’ passing in 1977 and also worked with many other famous artists, has died at age 83.

Tutt’s death was announced Saturday in a message posted on Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Graceland.com website.

“In addition to being a legendary drummer, [Ron] was a good friend to many of us here at Graceland,” the tribute reads. “We enjoyed each time he joined us here to celebrate Elvis Week, Elvis’ Birthday and many other special occasions. Ronnie was an amazing ambassador to Elvis’ legacy — sharing his memories of working with Elvis with fans — as well as bringing Elvis’ music to arenas around the globe through later Elvis in Concert shows and performances.”

The note adds, “Our hearts go out to [his wife] Donna, his family, his fellow TCB Band members — and to his fans around the world. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”

During his time playing with the TCB Band, Tutt also established himself as an in-demand session drummer. He played on two Billy Joel albums, 1973’s Piano Man and Streetlife Serenade, and recorded and toured for several years with the Jerry Garcia Band.

He also recorded with Neil Diamond from the 1980s till the early 2000s, and was a member of Diamond’s touring band until Neil’s retirement.

Other well-known artists that Tutt recorded and/or performed with included Johnny Cash, The Carpenters, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Costello, Lindsey Buckingham & Stevie Nicks, Michael McDonald, Glen Campbell and Gram Parsons.

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Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil breaks ribs in fall from stage at Tennessee hard-rock festival

Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil breaks ribs in fall from stage at Tennessee hard-rock festival
Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images

Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil is recovering from broken ribs after falling off the stage during his performance with his solo band on Friday at the Monsters on the Mountain festival in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

“Vince is back home and resting after breaking a few ribs on Friday night,” a message on Mötley Crüe’s Twitter feed reads. “Our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery and ready to rock in ’22!!”

According to TMZ, the incident happed a few songs into Neil’s set when he accidentally stepped off the edge of the stage and fell about four feet onto a cement floor.

TMZ reports that Vince, 60, was helped to his feet by his roadie and a security guard, and then was taken to a local hospital via an ambulance.

According to the website, Neil’s band finished up the set with guitarist Jeff Blando taking over lead vocals.

A video of the accident posted on the Metal Sludge Twitter feed shows Neil falling into a gap between the stage and the monitors. A separate fan-shot video showing a different angle of Neil’s tumble has been posted on YouTube.

Next year, Mötley Crüe is slated to team up with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts on The Stadium Tour, a major U.S. trek that’s is slated to kick off June 16 in Atlanta. The tour originally was supposed to have taken place in 2020, then was postponed until this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic before being pushed back yet again because of the ongoing health crisis.

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Listen to ex-Journey singer Steve Perry’s smooth, soulful rendition of “Winter Wonderland”

Listen to ex-Journey singer Steve Perry’s smooth, soulful rendition of “Winter Wonderland”
Cover: Jeff Wack/Fantasy Records

Former Journey frontman Steve Perry has released his take on the yuletide classic “Winter Wonderland” in advance of his recently announced first-ever holiday album, The Season, which is due out on November 5.

Perry’s soulful and sexy rendition of “Winter Wonderland” boasts a very different arrangement than the one we’re all familiar with.

“‘Winter Wonderland’ is one of my favorite tracks on The Season,” Steve says in a statement. “I have always felt a close love for Motown’s music and how it shaped my early school years. This track is a homage to that.”

Perry’s version of the song is available now in digital formats, and a visualizer video that brings The Season‘s Christmas-themed cover art to life has debuted on Steve’s official YouTube channel.

“Winter Wonderland” is the second advance track that Perry has released from the album, following his rendition of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The Season is the follow up to 2018’s Traces, which marked the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s return to music after 24 years.

You can pre-order The Season now in multiple formats, including CD, digital, streaming and vinyl. Various limited-edition colored-vinyl versions of the record can be purchased at Perry’s official online store, Target and Barnes & Noble.

Here’s the full track list of The Season:

“The Christmas Song”
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
“Auld Lang Syne”
“Winter Wonderland”
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
“Silver Bells”
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

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