Classic Rock News

For years Beatles fans have blamed John Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono for breaking up the band, but a source close to the couple believes she was a scapegoat and Lennon is to blame for it.

Dan Richter, an 83-year-old artist and mime who lived with John and Yoko, working as their personal assistant from 1969 to 1973, reveals in a new interview with The Telegraph that he thinks John “used Yoko to help him break up The Beatles.”  

“At that point John wanted The Beatles over with … It was a big problem for him: how do you break up The Beatles?” he shares. “They were worth millions of dollars [and] Paul was going to go on forever.”

Richter first shared his thoughts on the subject in the new podcast British Scandal – The Ballad of Yoko and John, but elaborates on it in The Telegraph interview, giving a prime example of how Lennon allegedly used his wife. He says that during the recording of Abbey Road, while Yoko was recovering from a car crash, John placed her “in this gigantic brass bed, all covered in white in a white night dress, right in the middle of the studio” in order to anger his bandmates.

“So sitting at the [mixing] board all you’re looking at is Yoko in a bed. The rest of the band were just appalled,” Richter shares. “John had decided he wasn’t going anywhere or doing anything without Yoko. So there she was, in bed in the studio.”

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Bruce Springsteen fans can now relive his 1999 reunion with the E Street Band. The Boss just released a Reunion Tour performance from July 18, 1999, to nugs.net.

Bruce writes that the concert is “the earliest Reunion tour performance yet to appear in the Live Archive series,” noting it “captures Bruce and the E Street Band recommitting to their mission at the second show of a 15-night homecoming run.”

The night’s set opens with the outtake “I Wanna Be With You” and features such songs as “Sherry Darling,” “Jungleland,” “Trapped,” “Murder Incorporated” and “The River,” as well as hits like “Born To Run,” “Thunder Road” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out.” It also features “Loose End” and “Stand On It,” from Tracks, as well the song “Freehold,” described as Bruce’s “hilariously candid confessional about growing up in New Jersey.”

The Reunion Tour was the first set of regular dates by Bruce and the E Street Band in 11 years. After launching it in Europe in April 1999, he brought it to the U.S. that July, opening with the 15-night stand at New Jersey’s Continental Airlines Arena.

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Lindsey Buckingham has revealed that he’s working on a new album. The news came in a New Year’s social media post in which Lindsey looked back on the past year, saying it “was certainly a positive year in many respects, it was also a year of loss and disappointment.”

He hinted at the passing of his Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie, noting the loss of “longtime soulmates has been profoundly heartbreaking.” He also mentioned his disappointment at a tour “unexpectedly cut short” because of “challenges with my health.”

“The year’s polarity of positives and negatives has only strengthened my resolve to remain in the moment and to continue to move forward,” he shared. “Happily, my health has returned, and I’ve begun work on a new album.”

Finally, he notes, “Thanks so much to everyone for your support. I’m looking forward to 2023 and beyond!”

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Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi shared a special New Year’s message with fans on social media, revealing he is getting ready to work on a new solo record.

In the post, Tony says he’s almost done with a new studio he’s building, sharing, “In another couple of weeks, I think I’ll be ready to go in and start work in there,” adding he’s “really looking forward to writing another album.” 

He also notes that Black Sabbath fans can look forward to reissues of all five of their studio albums featuring vocalist Tony Martin in the coming year, with Iommi saying, “I’m looking forward to that, because a lot of people asked about that, which is great.”

Iommi also looked back on the highlights of his year, including playing the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with Ozzy Osbourne and being nominated for a Grammy for his work on Ozzy’s solo album, Patient Number 9.

As for 2023, Iommi notes, “It’s gonna be busy again. But it’s great. And it’s nice to be doing the interviews and talking about what we did and all the rest of stuff.” 

Finally he offers, “Happy New Year to you all, and I hope to see you sometime on tour, whether it’s playing or a talks thing. Thanks for all your support over the years. I really appreciate it.”

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It looks like Tom Petty’s Malibu beach house will soon have a new owner. TMZ reports someone has made an offer on the home, which the late rocker owned until his death in 2017.

The estate went on the market in mid-December, with an asking price of almost $10 million. A source says the estate accepted an offer on Christmas Eve. So far there’s no word on the amount of the offer.

The Escondido Beach home, which reportedly inspired Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ 2010 song “Something Good Coming,” comes with two bedrooms, with 66 feet of beach frontage and views of the Pacific Ocean from the terrace off the living room. 

It also has a separate guest house, which is set up as a recording studio.

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Rolling Stone magazine is out with their picks for the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, anointing Aretha Franklin with the top spot. 

The mag calls Aretha, who died in August 2018, “A force of nature. A work of genius. A gift from the heavens,” adding, “Aretha Franklin’s voice is all that and more, which is why she remains the unchallenged Queen, years after her final bow.” 

Coming in just behind Aretha at #2 is Whitney Houston, whom Rolling Stone calls the “standard-bearer for R&B vocals,” followed by Sam Cooke at three, Billie Holiday at four and Mariah Carey at five.

Rounding out the top 10 are Ray Charles at six, Stevie Wonder at seven, Beyoncé at eight, Otis Redding at nine and Al Green at 10.

The list is a combination of classic and contemporary artists, with both John Lennon and Paul McCartney landing on it — Lennon at #12, and McCartney at #26. Other artists placing fairly high include Freddie Mercury at 14, Bob Dylan at 15, Prince at 16, Frank Sinatra at 19 and Marvin Gaye at 20.

The list has caused some controversy, with omissions including Annie Lennox and Celine Dion, forcing some to question how it was actually compiled. The mag says it was based on “originality, influence, the depth of an artist’s catalog, and the breadth of their musical legacy,” adding, “this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List.”

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Rod Stewart played a key role in his daughter’s gender reveal party by announcing he’ll be welcoming a grandson. 

Ruby Stewart, Rod’s daughter with model Kelly Emberg, took to her Instagram Story to share a video of her family gathering around her father. She cheekily captioned it, “Hire @sirrodstewart for your gender reveal!”

Rod was handed some papers and was tasked with announcing what they said. “It’s a boy,” the hitmaker declared and pumped a fist in the air as Ruby embraced her partner, Jake Kalick.

A second video of the special moment contained the caption, “[Rod] will even write a custom jingle for your unborn child!” During the clip, the singer holds up the paper announcement and begins singing.

Ruby later shared an ultrasound of her soon-to-be child, captioning it, “Out of all of the things that happened in 2022 you were by far the most beautiful…We can’t wait to meet you…Baby boy Kalick coming in April.” She declined to reveal potential names or a due date.

“So happy for the two of you,” the proud granddad wrote in the comments.

Rod isn’t the only one excited to welcome another grandchild — his wife, Penny Lancaster, also took to the comments, writing, “Can’t wait to meet him.”

The little boy will be Rod’s second grandchild. He welcomed his first granddaughter, Delilah, in 2011, who was born to his daughter Kimberly Stewart and Benicio del Toro. Kimberly is from Rod’s marriage to Alana Stewart.

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While Iggy Pop wanted to be your dog, AC/DC apparently wanted him to be their singer.

In an interview with The New York Times Magazine, the Godfather of Punk reveals that the “Back in Black” outfit reached out to him about joining the group.

“They had a manager many years ago, when I hadn’t re-formed the Stooges, I hadn’t moved to England, and this guy said, ‘Are you interested in joining AC/DC?'” Pop recalls. “They were looking for a singer.”

Presumably, Iggy was approached following the death of vocalist Bon Scott in 1980. Scott was eventually replaced by Brian Johnson for AC/DC’s iconic comeback album, Back in Black. Johnson has remained AC/DC’s vocalist since, save for when he was sidelined from tour in 2016 due to hearing issues, during which Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses filled in.

As for whether Pop considered the offer, the “Lust for Life” rocker says he didn’t feel like it would’ve been a good fit.

“I listened to their record. I thought, ‘I can’t fill that bill,'” Iggy shares. “I wasn’t like, ‘Ugh, I don’t like them.’ It was quite well made. They do careful work. But I’m not what they needed.”

While Iggy isn’t jamming with AC/DC, he’s collaborating with a bunch of artists on his upcoming album, Every Loser, dropping this Friday. The record includes contributions from Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, GN’R’s Duff McKagan, Blink-182‘s Travis Barker and late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, among others.

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Brian May is starting a new year with a new title.

The Queen guitarist was knighted as part of the 2023 New Year’s Honours List, the first from King Charles. Considered one of the highest-ranking awards in the British honors system, May is being recognized for his services to music and his charity work.

“I’m happy and grateful to receive this honor,” 75-year-old May shared in response. “I will regard the knighthood not so much as a reward, but more as a charge — a commission — for me to continue to fight for justice — to be a voice for those who have no voice.” He added, “I will endeavor to be worthy — to be that Knight in Shining Armor.”

Having earned a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007, and being made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005, Brian’s full title is now Sir Brian Harold May CBE.

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The Moody Blues’ John Lodge will hit the road in February on his Days of Future Passed tour, where he’ll play the band’s 1967 sophomore album in its entirety. 

More and more artists are playing full albums at shows these days, and there are certainly some albums people would like to see played live. So, which album would Lodge love to see played live?

“The one that comes to mind, all the while, is Imagine, John Lennon,” he shares. “Because there’s some beautiful songs on that album. And just to have heard Lennon play those songs would have been great.”

Lodge acknowledges, “That’s not to be,” saying he’ll play the album instead.

Lodge kicks off the tour February 18 in Lexington, Massachusetts, with dates confirmed through March 15 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tour will feature a special appearance by Jon Davison of Yes and will include a special recording by the late Graeme Edge. 

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