Classic Rock News

When it was announced that Ozzy Osbourne would perform during halftime at the NFL’s season opening game between the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills, a press release stated that a “portion” of his set would air as part of the NBC broadcast. As it turns out, a “portion” meant only about 10 seconds.

Those who tuned in for the halftime performance saw only a brief clip of Ozzy playing his tune “Patient Number 9,” the title off his just-released solo album, before the broadcast cut back to analysis of the game’s first half.

As it became clear that the rest of Ozzy’s performance wouldn’t be aired, followers of the Prince of Darkness took to social media to air their frustrations.

“Wtf was that?” asked one fan. “You say ‘here’s Ozzy Osbourne’ cut to him for 5 seconds then back to the half time recap no one cares about?”

Another added, “NBC thinking we’d rather hear a 1st half recap than Ozzy Osbourne’s performance is…puzzling.”

According to Setlist.fm, Ozzy’s whole performance included “Patient Number 9” and his solo classic “Crazy Train.” He was backed by producer Andrew Watt on guitar, bassist Chris Chaney and drummer Tommy Clufetos for both songs, while Zakk Wylde joined for “Crazy Train.”

If you were among those disappointed by the broadcast, perhaps you can find comfort in listening to the Patient Number 9 album, which is out September 9. It includes guest contributions from Wylde, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Black Sabbath‘s Tony Iommi, Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica‘s Robert Trujillo and late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II‘s death on Thursday at the age of 96, Elton John paid tribute to late monarch at his Toronto concert.

“We have the saddest news about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,” he said. “She was an inspiring person to be around — I’ve been around her and she was fantastic. She led the country though some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine care and warmth.”

“I’m 75 — she’s been with me all my life and I feel very sad that she won’t be with me anymore,” the legendary rocker shared. “But I’m glad she’s at peace, and I’m glad she’s at rest, and she deserves it because she’s worked bloody hard,” Elton continued as the audience cheered.

“I send my love to her family and her loved ones. She will be missed, but her spirit lives on and we celebrate her life tonight with music, okay?” he concluded, before launching into his 1974 hit, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” a song that gets its title from the Queen Victoria-era saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.”

Elton’s tribute was similar to a post on his Twitter earlier in in which he called the late Queen “an inspiring presence to be around.”

Elton paid tribute to his close friend Princess Diana after her death in 1997 with the song “Candle in the Wind ’97,” a reworking of his 1973 hit honoring Marilyn Monroe.

Elton was knighted by the Queen on April 24, 1998 for his musical and commercial contributions to the United Kingdom, as well as his extensive charity work, particularly with AIDS research and financial support.

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The latest installment of The Kinks‘ series of expanded 50th anniversary reissues, which focuses on two of the legendary U.K. band’s albums — 1971’s Muswell Hillbillies and 1972’s Everybody’s in Show-Biz – Everybody’s a Star — was released today.

The collection is available in multiple formats and configurations, including a box set featuring six vinyl LPs, four CDs, a Blu-ray, a 52-page hardback book, a badge, glossy photos and more.

Muswell Hillbillies was a loose concept album that found Kinks frontman Ray Davies reflecting on growing up in the London area of Muswell Hill, while also celebrating the American music and culture that influenced him.

Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, Ray’s younger brother, tells ABC Audio, “I can’t listen to … Muswell Hillbillies without thinking of great heroes of mine, like Hank Williams and Lead Belly and all these incredible American artists that captured mine and Ray’s imagination.”

One of the best known tracks on Muswell Hillbillies is “20th Century Man,” which Dave considers “a colossal song.”

Everybody’s in Show-Biz – Everybody’s a Star is a double album that features a disc of studio tracks and a live disc recorded at New York’s Carnegie Hall in March 1972. The studio portion includes the classic song “Celluloid Heroes.”

“Celluloid Heroes,” of course, is a reflective homage to some famous actors who were immortalized with stars on Hollywood Boulevard.

“Honestly, Ray, to his great credit, wrote a masterpiece, I think,” Dave says. “I like the way he sings it, because it’s … a bit yearning, like he’s lost, but he isn’t.”

The box set features remastered versions of the two albums, as well as 11 new remixes by Ray Davies. The Blu-ray contains an unseen 15-minute 1971 home movie shot and narrated by Ray.

For more details, visit TheKinks.info.

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A limited-edition vinyl picture version of The Police‘s popular 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, featuring the record’s originally planned track list and sequencing, will be released November 4.

The LP, which can be preordered now, boasts three extra tracks — “I Burn for You,” “Once Upon a Daydream” and “Shambelle.”

The Ghost in the Machine picture disc features a single mix of “I Burn for You,” which first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1982 film Brimstone and Treacle.

The picture disc also features audio of drummer Stewart Copeland counting in each track, something not heard on the original album.

Side A of the disc features the Police logo that appeared on the front of the Ghost in the Machine album cover, while side B features an image from the inner sleeve.

Released in October 1981, Ghost in the Machine topped the U.K. album chart and reached #2 on the Billboard 200. The album featured two top-20 singles in the U.S., “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and “Spirits in the Material,” which peaked at #3 and #11, respectively. In the U.K., “Every Little Thing” topped the singles chart and “Spirits” reached #12, while “Invisible Sun” ascended to #2.

Other memorable tunes on the album include “Demolition Man,” “Too Much Information,” “One World (Not Three)” and “Secret Journey.”

Here’s the Ghost in the Machine picture disc’s full track list:

Side A
“Invisible Sun”
“Demolition Man”
“Secret Journey”
“Darkness”
“Spirits in the Material World”
“Too Much Information”
“Omegaman”

Side B
“One World (Not Three)”
“Rehumanize Yourself”
“I Burn for You”
“Hungry for You (j’aurais toujours faim de toi)”
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
“Once Upon a Daydream”
“Shambelle”

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As The Who gets ready to launch the second North American leg of its The Who Hits Back! tour next month, singer Roger Daltrey reveals this could be the British rock legends’ final road trip, depending on how his voice holds up.

“The Who is getting near retirement age,” the 78-year-old singer tells Forbes. “I would like to stop while we’re still doing it well. When I can’t sing the notes anymore, sing to where it touches the audience, then it’s time.”

He adds, “The Who’s music is very different from most rock. You’re dealing with words from a deep inner space within us all. [The words] have to connect the singer to the audience. If I lose the power to do that, well, I will stop, even if it’s after this tour. I don’t want the downward slope where you’re not quite as good as you used to be.”

Having said that, Daltrey insists that he still loves touring, noting he had a great time on the solo U.K. trek he mounted over the summer.

Roger says one of the motivating factors was to give his backing musicians and road crew members some work after the COVID-19 pandemic hit them hard financially.

“[Musicians] were quite poorly treated during the [COVID-19] lockdowns, and received very little help from both [British and American] governments,” Daltrey maintains.

Meanwhile, questioned about the toll touring takes on him at his age, Roger responds, “[I]t’s a good toll — gets you fit, keeps you moving — instead of just sitting on a chair watching TV.”

The upcoming leg of The Who Hits Back! tour features 14 shows, running from an October 2 concert in Toronto through a November 4-5 engagement in Las Vegas.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In October 2021, Queen drummer Roger Taylor toured the U.K. in support of his new latest album, Outsider. A collection of performances from the trek is set to be released on September 30.

The Outsider Tour Live will be available as a two-CD set, as a two-LP package and via digital formats.

The 22-track album includes versions of Queen’s “These Are the Days of Our Lives,” “Rock It (Prime Jive),” “Tenement Funster,” “Under Pressure,” “I’m In Love with My Car” and “Radio Ga Ga,” as well as covers of Led Zeppelin‘s “Rock ‘n’ Roll” and David Bowie‘s “Heroes.”

It also features performances of songs from 2021’s Outsider and Taylor’s earlier solo records. The performances were taken from eight of the 14 concerts Roger played on the trek, including the tour finale in London.

Queen guitarist Brian May made a surprise guest appearance at the show, joining Taylor and his solo band for renditions of Little Richard‘s “Tutti Frutti” and Queen’s “A Kind of Magic,” both of which are on the record.

The Outsider Tour Live can be preordered now. Physical versions, as well as special exclusive bundles, can be purchased at Queen’s online store.

A performance of Taylor’s 1999 solo tune “Surrender,” which includes vocals by his solo band member Tina Keys, has been released as the lead single from the live album via digital services.

Taylor has dedicated the album to the memory of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, referring to him as “My wonderful brother who brought sunshine into all our lives.”

Here’s full track list of the album’s two-CD version:

CD 1
“Strange Frontier” — Live from London
“Tenement Funster” — Live from London
“We’re All Just Trying to Get By” — Live from Plymouth
“A Nation of Haircuts” — Live from Guilford
“These Are the Days of Our Lives” — Live from Norwich
“Up” — Live from Bournemouth
“Gangsters Are Running This World” — Live from Plymouth
“Absolutely Anything” — Live from Norwich
“Surrender” — Live from Bournemouth
“Man On Fire” — Live from London
“Rock It (Prime Jive)” — Live from London
“Under Pressure” — Live from London
“Say It’s Not True” — Live from Bexhill

CD 2
“I’m In Love with My Car” — Live from Guilford
“Outsider” — Live from Plymouth
“More Kicks” — Live from Guilford
“Foreign Sand” — Live from Plymouth
“Tutti Frutti” — Live from London
“A Kind of Magic” — Live from London
“Rock ‘n’ Roll” — Live from Newcastle
“Heroes” — Live from Coventry
“Radio Ga Ga” — Live from Guilford

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Elton John had a closer relationship with Queen Elizabeth II than most global music stars: not only did she knight him and make a member of the Order of Companions of Honour — two extremely prestigious accolades — he was a bona fide friend of the royal family. It’s no wonder he’s penned an emotional tribute to the late monarch.

On Instagram, Elton writes, “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around, and led the country through some of our greatest, and darkest, moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth.”

“Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly,” Sir Elton concluded.

Elton recorded a special performance for the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration in June. He also performed at her Golden Jubilee, marking her 50th year on the throne, and her Diamond Jubilee, when she hit 60 years on the throne.

Elton is said to be close with Princes William and Harry, the sons of his dear friend Princess Diana. Of course, he famously performed at her funeral in 1997; his and Bernie Taupin‘s tribute to her, “Candle In the Wind ’97,” subsequently became the best-selling single of all time.

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The passing of Queen Elizabeth II is likely to hit some of the world’s most famous musicians hard because during her reign, she bestowed royal honors on many of them, including knighthoods. 

While some famous artists turned down knighthoods or other honors, including The Rolling Stones‘ Keith Richards, David Bowie and ex-Beatle George Harrison, most were more than happy to make the trip to Buckingham Palace to receive their medals from either the queen herself or a high-ranking member of the royal family, such as then-Prince Charles or Prince William.

Here’s a list of all the rock and pop stars who’ve received such honors, starting with the highest one, a knighthood.

Knighthoods

1986 — Bob Geldof, organizer of Live Aid [honorary knighthood, cannot be called “sir” because he’s Irish]

1995 — Iconic British pop star Cliff Richard [also received an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]

1996 — Beatles producer George Martin [now deceased]

1997 — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney [also received an MBE, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]

1998 — Elton John  [also received a CBE, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and the Order of the Companions of Honour]

2002 — Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones

2006 — Tom Jones [also received an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]

2007 — Bono of U2 [honorary knighthood, cannot be called “sir” because he’s Irish]

2016 — Van Morrison [also received an OBE]

2016 — Rod Stewart [also received a CBE]

2017 — Ray Davies of The Kinks [also received a CBE]

2018 — Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees [also received a CBE]

2019 — Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr [also received an MBE]

CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

2003 — Sting [ex-The Police]

2004 — Roger Daltrey of The Who

2004 — The Bee Gees [Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb]

2005 — Brian May of Queen

2009 — Robert Plant [ex-Led Zeppelin]

2021 — Rick Wakeman of Yes

2022 — Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s songwriting partner

OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

1994 — Eric Clapton

2011 — Annie Lennox of Eurythmics

2017 — Ed Sheeran

2019 — Elvis Costello

2020 — Jeff Lynne of ELO

2020 — Roger Taylor of Queen

2021 — Alan Parsons of Alan Parsons Project [also record producer]

2022 — Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

2013 — Adele

2019 — M.I.A. (“Paper Planes” singer and rapper)

2022 — Mel B of The Spice Girls (for her charity work)

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An archival live album capturing The Jimi Hendrix Experience‘s 1969 performance at the Los Angeles Forum will be released on November 18, nine days before what would’ve been the late guitar legend’s 80th birthday.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Los Angeles Forum: April 26, 1969 will be available on CD, as a two-LP vinyl and via digital formats.

The concert, which has never been released in its entirety before, features the trio’s original lineup of Jimi Hendrix, bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell performing a set that includes classics like “Foxey Lady” and “Purple Haze,” and deeper cuts such as “Red House,” “Spanish Castle Magic” and “I Don’t Live Today.”

The show also featured a rendition of the obscure instrumental “Tax Free” by the Swedish duo Hansson & Karlsson plus Hendrix’s take on the “Star Spangled Banner,” recorded several months before his historic performance of the national anthem at Woodstock.

The band ended the concert with an epic 17-minute medley combining “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” with Cream‘s “Sunshine of Your Love.”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Los Angeles Forum: April 26, 1969 was remixed by longtime Hendrix studio engineer Eddie Kramer and features liner notes that includes a preface by ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, who attended the Forum show. It can be preordered now.

The version of “I Don’t Live Today” from the album got its premiere yesterday at LAist.com and is available now as an advance digital track.

In other news, a comprehensive new official book about Hendrix titled JIMI will be released on November 15. The book features extensive biographical info, rare photos, memorabilia and more. It also includes refections about Hendrix’s influence by such music stars as Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Dave Grohl.

Here’s the album’s full track list:

“Intro”
“Tax Free”
“Foxey Lady”
“Red House”
“Spanish Castle Magic”
“Star Spangled Banner”
“Purple Haze”
“I Don’t Live Today”
“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”
“Sunshine of Your Love”
“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”

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