Classic Rock News

John Mellencamp, blues legend Buddy Guy and singer/songwriter John Hiatt have joined the lineup artists who will perform at the latest exhibit of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay‘s collection of rock memorabilia and other historic artifacts, which is scheduled for this Friday, September 9, at the Colts’ home field, Lucas Oil Stadium.

As previously announced, the Indianapolis event will feature a performance of The Jim Irsay Band, which features Irsay backed by founding R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, longtime Mellencamp guitarist Mike Wanchic, John Fogerty touring drummer Kenny Aronoff and other noteworthy musicians.

Heart‘s Ann Wilson already had been announced as a special guest performer at the event, which also will celebrate the start of the 2022 NFL season. The exhibit will open at 2 p.m. ET, while the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required to attend, and can be reserved at Eventbrite.com.

Irsay’s collection includes guitars and other items that were used and/or owned by Bob Dylan, members of The Beatles, The Who‘s Pete Townshend, Prince, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead‘s Jerry Garcia, Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour, U2‘s The Edge, The Doors‘ Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and many other famous musicians.

Some non-music-related items also are part of the collection, an original “Wanted” poster for John Wilkes Booth, a baseball bat used by Jackie Robinson and a robe worn by Muhammad Ali.

In addition, the exhibit will feature unique memorabilia from the Colts’ history in both Indianapolis and Baltimore, including game-used uniforms and equipment, autographed items and more.

Visit JimIrsayCollection.com for more info.

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Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Slash are among a variety of famous musicians who recently performed live with one of a series of Ukraine-themed Gibson Les Paul electric guitars that will be auctioned this November to raise money for Ukrainian relief.

Gibson craftsmen created a limited-edition run of the Guitars for Peace Les Paul Custom guitars, which feature the azure blue and gold colors of the Ukrainian flag.

This summer, various artists played the guitars while on tour and signed special autograph books that will be auctioned to benefit the cause.

Other artists participating in the initiative include Rush‘s Alex Lifeson, Mark Knopfler, Chic‘s Nile Rogers and Madness.

The guitars and autograph books will be up for bid as part of the latest installment of the Julien’s Auctions “Icons & Idols: Rock ‘n’ Roll” sale, scheduled to take place November 11-13 at the Hard Rock in New York City and online at JuliensLive.com. Bidding for the items will start October 11.

All of the money raised by the auction of the Ukraine-themed guitars will be donated to humanitarian relief for the Ukrainian people in the wake of Russia’s invasion and to help the country rebuild after the conflict ends. The campaign was organized in conjunction with Gibson Gives, the company’s charitable arm.

“I’m happy to auction this beautiful guitar of mine to benefit the fine people of Ukraine,” says McCartney. “Hopefully it will help them through this aggressive Russian invasion.”

Adds Slash, “It is an honor to represent the brave sovereign state of Ukraine. I’m proud to support them during this conflict.”

To help raise additional funds, a Gibson Gives Guitars for Peace T-shirt is now available for purchase at Bonfire.com.

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A new exhibition celebrating the performance history of Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band will open October 15 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

“Bruce Springsteen Live!” will look at the rock legend and his group’s journey from playing Jersey Shore bars to thrilling stadiums across the world with their dynamic marathon concerts.

The exhibition, which is being presented by the Grammy Museum in partnership with The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University, will feature artifacts spanning Bruce and the band’s 49-year history, as well as interactive displays, concert footage and interviews.

Items on display will include stage costumes and props, concert posters, photos and instruments, including Springsteen’s Born to Run Esquire guitar, the late Clarence Clemons‘ saxophone, Max Weinberg‘s Tunnel of Love drum kit and the late Danny Federici‘s accordion.

In addition, fans will have the chance to submit a video of them seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band live that may be incorporated into a film presentation shown at the exhibit. Videos can be submitted at GrammyMuseum.formstack.com.

The Grammy Museum is inviting fans to visit the L.A. institution on September 23, Springsteen’s 73rd birthday, to share their Bruce stories and wish The Boss a happy birthday on camera.

“Bruce Springsteen Live!” will be on display at the museum through April 2, before traveling to a new location.

“Few performers embody the soul and excitement of live rock ‘n’ roll like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” says Grammy Museum Executive Director Robert Santelli. “This exhibit will give fresh insight into how they’ve been able to remain one of the greatest live acts for five decades.”

Visit GrammyMuseum.org for more info.

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Elton John remains firm that once he wraps his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour he’s permanently closing the chapter on touring.

Speaking with the U.K.’s The Hits Radio Breakfast Show, the legendary singer said, “I can assure you it’s the final tour. I will be doing some charity shows, if I’m asked, but … I’m really adamant that I’m not touring again. I can’t.”

Elton continued, “I’ll be 76 when I finish [this tour]. I need to be with my family. My boys will be teenagers!”

But just because he’s done with touring doesn’t mean he’s writing music out of his life. “I will always make music,” the Grammy winner professed. “I will always be doing my radio stuff and whatever. But, I’ve been playing music since I was 17, professionally — that’s 57 years!”

Elton admits he doesn’t know what’ll happen once he wraps his current tour, adding, “Life is full of surprises.”

“I wasn’t expecting to do a record this year and look what happened,” the “Hold Me Closer” singer continued, referencing his new collaboration with Britney Spears. 

Elton added “one phone call” can significantly alter his plans, as happened with the 1994 Disney animated movie The Lion King — a movie he says “changed my life.”

He said he got a phone call from lyricist Tim Rice, who asked Elton to collaborate with him in composing the movie’s soundtrack. “Look what happened,” the Oscar winner said. “You never know what the phone’s going to [have].”

Elton and Rice composed the tracks “Circle Of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” “Hakuna Matata,” “Be Prepared” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” the latter of which won an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

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The British Crown Dependency of the Isle of Man will issue a new collection of eight David Bowie-themed stamps on September 12 in honor of the late rock legend’s acting career.

The “David Bowie: Actor” stamp series features depictions of Bowie in five movies, in the 1980 Broadway stage production of The Elephant Man, and in the 1982 BBC adaptation of the Bertolt Brecht play Baal. The collection also includes a special stamp that boasts a 2016 image of David from his last photoshoot.

The films commemorated in the stamp set are 1999’s Everybody Loves Sunshine, which was shot on the Isle of Man; 1986’s Labyrinth; 1983’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence; 1978’s Just a Gigolo; and 1976’s The Man Who Fell to Earth.

The stamp collection and related products were designed by Jonathan Barnbrook, an award-winning designer who helped create Bowie’s album covers from 2002’s album Heathen to his final studio effort, 2016’s ★ (Blackstar). Barnbrook was also the artistic adviser and a contributor to the “David Bowie Is” exhibit that opened at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in 2013.

“[A]n incredible amount of work has been done to get this collection to where it is now, and to be something the fans will be happy with,” says Barnbrook.

The stamp set, which can be preordered now at IOMPost.com, is available in various configurations, including as a sheet, as a card set, in a booklet and in an album. There’s also a deluxe release called Bowie Box, which combines the card set and the booklet in a specially designed slipcase and gatefold wallet.

Last November, the Isle of Man post office issued a stamp collection honoring The Bee Gees‘ Barry Gibb, who was born on the island.

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Ozzy Osbourne appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday for his first TV interview since undergoing what his wife, Sharon, called a “major operation” in June.

Speaking with ABC News correspondent Chris Connelly, Ozzy shares, “Since I had the surgery, I’ve improved quite considerably.”

The procedure, which Sharon previously said would “determine the rest of [Ozzy’s] life,” was related to a fall the metal legend suffered in 2019, which aggravated injuries he’d previously sustained in a 2003 ATV accident.

“He would literally be crying in pain some days,” Sharon tells GMA of Ozzy’s pre-surgery condition.

“Before, I would be talking to you like this,” Ozzy adds, bending over towards the ground. “After this other surgery, I can hold my head up now.”

Ozzy’s recovery continues as he’s set to perform during halftime of the NFL’s season opening game this Thursday, September 8. His new album, Patient Number 9, drops on Friday.

You can watch the entire interview with Ozzy and Sharon airing on ABC’s Nightline Wednesday night at 12:35 a.m. ET.

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As has become tradition, Bruce Springsteen will perform at the 2022 edition of the annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit event, which will take place November 7 at the David Geffen Hall in New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The show supports the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s efforts to help wounded service members, veterans and their families.

Now in its 16th year, the Stand Up for Heroes benefit offers an evening of music and comedy, held in conjunction with the annual New York Comedy Festival. This year’s lineup also includes The Lumineers, Broadway performer Amber Iman and comedians Jon Stewart, Jeff Ross, Iliza Shlesinger and Hasan Minhaj.

“After an incredible in person return last year, we are thrilled to welcome everyone back for another night of laughter, healing, and appreciation of our nation’s heroic veterans, featuring some of the funniest comics and most talented musicians on the planet,” says Bob Woodruff, ABC News correspondent and co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

He adds, “Stand Up for Heroes celebrates our veterans, military and their families highlighting their remarkable stories of resilience and service.”

Tickets are on sale now. Visit BobWoodruffFoundation.org and LincolnCenter.org for more info.

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Official details have been unveiled about the deluxe reissue of The Beatles‘ classic 1966 album Revolver, which will be released in multiple configurations on October 28.

Among the versions of the reissue is a special edition that features new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of Revolver; the original mono mix of the album; 31 tracks of session outtakes; a four-song EP that includes the non-album tracks “Paperback Writer” and “Rain”; and a 100-page hardbound book.

The book features a foreword by Paul McCartney, an introduction by producer Giles Martin, a variety of rare photos, an essay by Questlove, track notes and commentary from Beatles historian and author Kevin Howlett and more.

The expanded collection includes five CDs, four vinyl LPs and a seven-inch vinyl EP.

Widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time, Revolver was released in August 1966 and spent multiple weeks at #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K. The album captured the band moving into the psychedelic era with its most adventurous and experimental music to date while delving into a diverse variety of genres.

Among the many highlights of the album: George Harrison‘s “Love You To,” which features traditional Indian instruments; the R&B-inspired “Got to Get You into My Life,” which was driven by a brass section; the classically influenced “Eleanor Rigby,” which features only vocals and a string section; and the mind-bending psychedelic tune “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

The special edition’s new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes of Revolver‘s first track, “Taxman,” were released digitally Wednesday in conjunction with the announcement of the reissue, which can be preordered now.

For full details including complete track lists of the various versions of the reissue, visit TheBeatles.com.

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Last month, Blondie released the expansive Against the Odds box set, which takes a deep dive into the influential new wave band’s past. But the group is also looking toward the future with a new studio album that founding drummer Clem Burke says is due out next year.

“I think it’s gonna come out in the spring,” Burke tells ABC Audio. “I think we’re pretty much on track for that. And we have been getting a lot of interesting offers to play live next year at festivals that we are probably going to do, in conjunction with the release of the album.”

Blondie started work on the album before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which Burke says delayed the project.

“Yeah, we put that process on hold until we were all able to be in the studio together,” the 67-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer explains, “’cause we wanted to follow suit with the way we did our last album of new music, [2017’s] Pollinator.”

Burke says the upcoming record was made with the same producer who worked on Pollinator, John Congleton.

Pollinator featured several guest collaborators, including former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who wrote the song “My Monster.” Clem says Marr has also written a track that’s expected to appear on the new album.

Meanwhile, Burke reports that original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, who filled in for Blondie’s bassist, Leigh Fox, on their recent tour dates, also contributed to the upcoming record.

In addition, Clem reveals the album will include “a very left-field cover” of a song by a 1960s New York underground band “that will be very surprising for a lot of people,” and that’s “not The Velvet Underground.”

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AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson‘s autobiography, The Lives of Brian: AC/DC, Me, and the Making of Back in Black, which originally was scheduled to be published in October 2021, will finally be released October 25.

In the memoir, Johnson shares the story of his journey from growing up in a working-class town in northern England to singing for one of the world’s biggest rock bands.

Back when The Lives of Brian was first announced last year, Johnson posted a video trailer for the memoir on his official YouTube channel, along with a note that reads, “I’ve had some long nights and some great nights, bad days and a lot of good ones. I’ve gone from choirboy to rock ‘n’ roll singer, and now I’ve gone and written a bloody book about it.”

According to a description at HarperCollins.com, The Lives of Brian will follow Johnson’s life from his formative years in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, to his experiences fronting the local glam-rock band Geordie, to being hired by AC/DC in 1980 to replace their late singer Bon Scott.

The memoir also will feature Johnson’s stories about the making of his first album with AC/DC, the landmark Back in Black and his adventures of touring behind what’s become one of the best-selling rock records of all time.

The Lives of Brian can be preordered now at HarperCollins.com and will be available as a hardcover, an e-book and an audio book.

Johnson, who’s also a well-known car-racing enthusiast, previously wrote a book about his passion for fast cars, called Rockers and Rollers: A Full-Throttle Memoir, which was published in 2009.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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