Classic Rock News

Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of late Van Halen icon Eddie Van Halen, is earning many fans of his own with his Mammoth WVH solo project. One of those fans is former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar, who tells ABC Audio he’s been “shocked” by one particular aspect of Wolf’s sound.

“My most impressive thing isn’t the fact he played every instrument,” Hagar says. “That’s cool, that’s awesome, but he’s Eddie Van Halen’s son, hello? Eddie could play every instrument too, you know, so he was raised that way.”

“But, I love his voice,” the Red Rocker adds. “I think he’s a great singer, and being a singer myself, that was shocking to me.”

Hagar shares that he’s heard “about five songs” from the self-titled debut WVH album, which dropped earlier this month. With each one, he became more and more impressed with Wolf’s vocals.

“I loved his voice,” Hagar says. “Every song I’ve heard him sing, he’s got a sweet, soulful voice.”

In fact, Hagar implies that Van Halen would’ve been better off in the band’s later days if Wolf, who starting playing bass in the group in 2006, took over vocal duties as well from one David Lee Roth.

“He could’ve sang with the reunion tour with that Roth character,” Hagar says of Wolf. “He could’ve sang ‘Right Now,’ ‘Why Can’t This Be Love.’ He could’ve sang ‘Top of the World.'”

The Red Rocker adds, “Wolfie could’ve sang the songs. But I’m sure Diamond would’ve had no part of some guy on stage singing better than him.”

Wolf will be bringing his sweet, soulful voice on the road this summer and fall while opening for Guns N’ Roses. He’ll also be playing several headlining dates.

Hagar, meanwhile, just announced a Las Vegas residency, kicking off in October.

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Music mogul Clive Davis is staging a huge concert August 21 in New York City’s Central Park to celebrate the post-COVID reopening of the Big Apple, and according to one report, he’s already lined up two major stars for the event.

A source tells Page Six that Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon will be among the headliners for the show, which will air on CNN.  According to the source, Springsteen will sing a duet with fellow rocker Patti Smith; Springsteen co-wrote Smith’s hit “Because the Night” with her.

Simon was previously part of a now-iconic 1981 concert in Central Park with Art Garfunkel., and he also played a huge solo show in the park in 1991.

Jennifer Hudson, who is portraying Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic, also is expected to take part in the event, claims the source.

Originally envisioned as a three-hour concert, an insider tells Page Six that the event will now be a four-hour show and will include “a sizable percentage [of] artists of color.”

One artist who Davis attempted to land for the event was Diana Ross, who memorably performed in Central Park in 1983. However, sources say Ross said no, because she’s not planning to perform again until 2022.

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We can’t say if it’s a bargain, but The Who‘s Pete Townshend is selling his expansive London estate for a cool 15 million pounds, or about $21 million.

According to Pereds realtors, the residence, known as The Wick, was first built in 1775, and is located on a picturesque bend in the Thames River. The 8,500-square-foot home features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, an office suite, a reception room, a drawing room with a balcony, a conservatory, two studies, a dogs’ room, a heated swimming pool and more.

People reports that Townshend purchased The Wick in 1996 from music executive Derek “Dick” Leahy, who helped guide George Michael‘s career. Prior to Leahy, Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood owned the mansion and installed a music studio, which was used by The Stones to record the demo for their classic hit “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It).”

Wood purchased The Wick from Oscar-winning actor John Mills.

“The main thing about the home is that it just looks like a little doll’s house sitting on the hill,” Preds founder Perry Press tells People. “But…[o]nce you get inside it sort of expands around you. It also has that outlook over the River Thames, which is quite astonishing considering it’s on the fringe of London.”

Press also notes that Townshend actually helped design the music studio commissioned by Wood, while reporting that the studio has “been pretty much dismantled for the sale.”

You can check out photos of The Wick and the estate’s grounds at Pereds.com.

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Bon Jovi has finally joined YouTube’s Billion Views Club: One of the band’s videos has officially racked up a billion views on the streaming platform.  But it’s not for the song you might think.

While you’d figure that either “You Give Love a Bad Name” or “Wanted Dead or Alive” — arguably the group’s two signature tunes — would have hit the billion mark long ago, they actually haven’t.  Instead, it’s the video for their 2000 hit “It’s My Life” that has hit the milestone.

By comparison, “You Give Love a Bad Name” has just under 300 million views, while “Wanted Dead or Alive” has a paltry 151 million views.

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Carlos Santana will be honored with the Legend Award at the 34th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, which will be broadcast October 8 on PBS.

The event also will feature a musical salute to the rock guitar great that will showcase performances by multiple artists.

“With gratitude, I am deeply honored to be receiving the 2021 Hispanic Heritage Legend Award,” Carlos says in a statement.

He adds, “I am grateful to the Latin Community and to everyone who feels oneness with our mission to bring equality, fairness, justice, unity, and harmony. We wake up every day to touch people’s hearts with our music, spirits, vision, and to make a difference in the world, for the highest good for life, people, and the planet.”

Adds Jose Antonio Tijerino, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s president and CEO, “As we focus on diversity and inclusion, Carlos has been doing exactly that since he started his remarkable career by blending genres to create an alchemy of sound, spirit and energy since he started including rock, jazz, blues, Latin and African rhythms, among others.”

“His approach to music is a model for how our country and world should unite,” Tijerino adds.

In honoring Santana, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation points out some of the 73-year-old guitarist’s many career achievements: induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, 10 Grammy Awards, three Latin Grammy Awards, and the Kennedy Center Honors prize in 2013.

Like last year’s Hispanic Heritage Awards, the 2021 edition will not be an in-person event, but rather will feature filmed performances and segments captured at various locations in the U.S. and Latin America.

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Could more new Green Day tunes be on the way?

In an interview with Oakland Coffee, the punk trio’s coffee subscription website, bassist Mike Dirnt was asked what he has coming up that he’s “most looking forward to.” His response? “New music…and unknown adventures.”

Green Day has already released two new tracks so far this year: “Here Comes the Shock” and “Pollyanna.” The band’s most recent album is 2020’s Father of All…

In addition to the potential fresh material, Green Day has unearthed a vinyl single featuring performances of the ’90s tunes “She” and “2000 Light Years Away,” recorded during the band’s 1994 BBC Sessions. The disc is available only for subscribers to Oakland Coffee — you can sign up now via OaklandCoffee.com.

And if that’s not enough Green Day for you, Billie Joe Armstrong and company have also recently been turned into Funko Pop! figures. For an exclusive peek at those, you can check out Kerrang.com.

Meanwhile, Green Day will launch their much-anticipated Hella Mega tour with Weezer and Fall Out Boy in July.

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Hookers & Blow, the cover band led by longtime Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi, has revealed official release details for its long-awaited self-titled debut studio album.

The 12-track collection, which can be pre-ordered now, will be released digitally on July 23, while CD and limited-edition vinyl LP versions of the album will arrive on August 13.

As previously reported, Hookers & Blow features renditions of such classic rock tunes as The Rolling Stones‘ “Under My Thumb” and “Rocks Off,” Led Zeppelin‘s “Trampled Underfoot” and “No Quarter,” David Bowie‘s “Ziggy Stardust,” Eddie Money‘s “Shakin’,” Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers‘ “American Girl” and Elton John‘s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”

Late Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali is featured on both Led Zeppelin songs, while sibling rockers The Okai Sisters lend their talents to a version of Blue Oyster Cult‘s “Godzilla.”

“This record is really special on many levels, for us — as well as many of our long-time fans and friends,” says Grossi.” “In many ways, it solidifies that we actually exist as a viable entity with an official and accurate documentation of the past 17 years. This isn’t just a collection of recorded covers, it’s a labor of love that we are truly proud of.”

Adds Reed, “There it is. Take it…We made the rock and you all brought the drinks to a thirsty band. This record is for the joy of rock ‘n’ roll music we all share and for the hope of more rock to come. And more drinks, I’m parched.”

Here’s the full Hookers & Blow track list:

“Rocks Off” (The Rolling Stones)
“Shakin'” (Eddie Money)
“Trampled Underfoot” (Led Zeppelin) — featuring Frankie Banali
“Ziggy Stardust” (David Bowie)
“The Winner Loses” (Body Count)
“Time Of The Season” (The Zombies)
“American Girl” (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
“Godzilla” (Blue Oyster Cult) — featuring The Okai Sisters
“You Gotta Fight for Your Right (to Party)” (The Beastie Boys)
“Under My Thumb” (The Rolling Stones)
“No Quarter” (Led Zeppelin) — featuring Frankie Banali
“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” (Elton John)

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