Classic Rock News

Here’s wishing a very happy and very rocking birthday to longtime Def Leppard guitarist and former Dio member Vivian Campbell, who turned 60 Thursday.

In honor of the milestone, Def Leppard is encouraging fans to donate to the Little Kids Rock music-education charity. Those who contribute to the cause will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a signed guitar that Campbell has been playing during the band’s current Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

The Northern Ireland-born Campbell got his start in a band called Sweet Savage before joining the Ronnie James Dio-fronted Dio in 1983. Campbell appeared on Dio’s first three albums and co-wrote many of the band’s songs, including “Rainbow in the Dark.”

Campbell left Dio in 1986 and briefly joined Whitesnake. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he worked on a number of projects with Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm.

In 1992, he joined Def Leppard after the 1991 death of that band’s founding guitarist, Steve Clark. Campbell has played on all of Def Leppard’s albums since 1993’s Retro Active and has written or co-written many songs for the group.

Since 2012, Campbell has also been a member of Last in Line, a band featuring several Dio alums.

In 2019, Campbell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Def Leppard.

The Stadium Tour continues Thursday night with a concert in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Joni Mitchell was presented with an honorary doctorate by the prestigious Boston-based institution the Berklee College of Music during an event held Tuesday at a private residence in Santa Monica, California.

The legendary singer/songwriter was bestowed with the honor by Berklee’s Office of the President and Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.

“Well, luckily I’m too old to get a swelled head,” the 78-year-old Mitchell said at the gathering after being introduced. “It’s a beautiful event. Words can’t describe it. I’ve got my good friends here with me.”

She added, “I wish my parents were alive. My mother in particular would be really proud of this because she wanted me to go to college. I went to art school and I quit after a year. She thinks of me as a quitter. So to see this achievement would be really impressive to her. I wish I could share it with her.”

Jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter were among the guests at the event, which included tribute performances by Grammy-winning artists Dianne Reeves and Esperanza Spalding.

In an introductory speech, Berklee President Erica Muhl commented, “Since her debut in the late 1960s, Joni has been a force for change in the industry, blazing the trail for women in music with an unwavering commitment to achieving the status rightfully due her as one of the world’s great musical artists.”

Terri Lyne Carrington, founder and artistic director of the Berklee’s Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, added about Mitchell, “Her career and social principles stand for the values our institute pursues — imagination, freedom, equity, and identity. I can think of no one more deserving.”

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The soundtrack album to the official David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream will be released via digital formats on September 16, coinciding with the movie’s theatrical premiere, while a two-CD version will follow on November 18.

The collection, which can be preordered now, features songs that span Bowie’s entire career and includes previously unreleased recordings, mixes created specifically for the movie film and this album, as well as segments boasting dialogue from the late rock legend.

One of the album’s tracks, a newly remixed version of Bowie’s 1983 hit “Modern Love,” has been released as an advance digital single. It begins with an isolated piano track from the original recording and ends with a section that showcases the backing vocals a cappella.

The soundtrack also features a previously unreleased live medley combining “The Jean Genie” and The Beatles‘ “Love Me Do” that was recorded in 1973 at Bowie’s final Ziggy Stardust concert at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, with Jeff Beck on guitar. Other highlights include an early version of the 1971 gem “Quicksand” and a previously unreleased 1974 live rendition of “Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me.”

A three-LP vinyl version of the Moonage Daydream soundtrack will be released in 2023.

Moonage Daydream offers viewers kaleidoscopic cinematic exploration into Bowie’s life and creative journey using his own narration, archival footage and live performances, as well as unheard music. The film was written and directed by Brett Morgen, whose previous credits include The Kid Stays in the Picture, the Rolling Stones documentary Crossfire Hurricane and Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck.

Bowie’s longtime friend, collaborator and co-producer Tony Visconti served as the musical producer of the project.

Here’s the full track list of the Moonage Daydream companion album:

“Time… one of the most complex expressions…”
“Ian Fish U.K. Heir” (Moonage Daydream Mix 1)
“Hallo Spaceboy” (Remix Moonage Daydream Edit)
Medley: “Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud”/”All the Young Dudes”/”Oh! You Pretty Things” (Live)
“Life on Mars?” (2016 Mix Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Moonage Daydream” (Live)
“The Jean Genie”/”Love Me Do”/”The Jean Genie” (Live) — featuring Jeff Beck
“The Light” (Excerpt)*
“Warszawa” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Quicksand” (Early Version 2021 Mix)
Medley: “Future Legend”/”Diamonds Dogs” intro/”Cracked Actor”
“Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me” (Live in Buffalo 11/8/1974)
“Aladdin Sane” (Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Subterraneans”
“Space Oddity” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“V-2 Schneider “
“Sound and Vision” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“A New Career in a New Town” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Word on a Wing” (Moonage Daydream Excerpt)
“‘Heroes'” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“D.J.” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Ashes to Ashes” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Move On” (Moonage Daydream acappella Mix Edit)
“Moss Garden” (Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Cygnet Committee”/”Lazarus” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Memory of a Free Festival” (Harmonium Edit)
“Modern Love” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Let’s Dance” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“The Mysteries” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide” (Live Moonage Daydream Edit)
“Ian Fish U.K. Heir” (Moonage Daydream Mix 2)
“Word on a Wing” (Moonage Daydream Mix)
“Hallo Spaceboy” (live Moonage Daydream Mix)
“I Have Not Been to Oxford Town” (Moonage Daydream Acappella Mix Edit)
“‘Heroes'”: “IV. Sons of the Silent Age”” (Excerpt)*
“★” (Moonage Daydream Mix Edit)
“Ian Fish U.K. Heir” (Moonage Daydream Mix Excerpt)
“Memory of a Free Festival” (Moonage Daydream Mix Edit)
“Starman”
“You’re aware of a deeper existence…”
“Changes”
“Let me tell you one thing…”
“Well, you know what this has been an incredible pleasure…”
 
* = Performed by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop

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Red Hot Chili Peppers will be celebrating at the VMAs with Cheech & Chong.

According to Variety, the famed stoner comedy duo will present the “Californication” outfit with the Global Icon Award at the MTV show, taking place this Sunday, August 28.

Variety also reports that actor Johnny Depp was considered to present the award before the Peppers chose Cheech & Chong.

The VMAs announced last week that RHCP would receive the 2022 Global Icon Award, which “celebrates an artist or band whose unparalleled career and continued impact and influence has maintained a unique level of global success in music and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape.” Foo Fighters were honored with the prize in 2021.

Red Hot Chili Peppers will also perform at the VMAs, marking their return to the show for the first time in over 20 years.

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After name-dropping Billy Joel in her song “Deju Vu,” teen pop star Olivia Rodrigo joined the Piano Man to perform the hit tune Wednesday night during the latest installment of his monthly residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The two duetted on “Deja Vu,” which includes the lyrics, ​​”I’ll bet that she knows Billy Joel/ ‘Cause you played her ‘Uptown Girl’/ You’re singing it together/ Now I bet you even tell her/ How you love her/ In between the chorus and the verse.”

Joel and Rodrigo They then sang “Uptown Girl” together.

Olivia gushed over the experience on her Instagram Story, writing, “I SANG WITH BILLY JOEL AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TODAY ARE U KIDDING.” She later posted a selfie with Billy, writing, “Biggest honor ever still crying thank u Billy!!!!!!!”

Joel commemorated the show with photos on his Instagram, as well.

The performance marked Billy’s 82nd monthly show as part of his MSG residency. His record-breaking concert series at the venue began in January 2014 with him playing one show at The Garden every month. Last night’s concert was his 128th show overall at MSG.

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Thirty years ago today, Eric Clapton released what has become the best-selling album of his career, Unplugged.

The 14-track acoustic live collection features performances from an episode of the MTV Unplugged series that was shot in front of an intimate audience in January of 1992 at Bray Studios outside of London and premiered in March of that year.

The Unplugged album spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in March 1993. It included one hit single, a low-key, jazzy rendition of Eric’s 1971 Derek and the Dominos classic “Layla,” which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Unplugged also features a version of Clapton’s 1992 hit “Tears in Heaven,” a few other original tunes, and a variety of blues covers, including renditions of Bo Diddley‘s “Before You Accuse Me,” Son House‘s “Walkin’ Blues,” Robert Johnson‘s “Malted Milk” and Muddy Waters‘ “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.”

Clapton’s backing band for the Unplugged show included longtime Rolling Stones touring keyboardist and former Allman Brothers Band member Chuck Leavell, longtime Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers drummer Steve Ferrone and longtime Elton John percussionist Ray Cooper.

At the 1993 Grammy Awards, Clapton won a trio of trophies for Unplugged — Album of the Year; Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male; and Best Rock Song for his acoustic version of “Layla.”

An expanded two-CD/DVD version of Unplugged was released in 2013. It featured a bonus CD with six additional tracks, and a restored version of the concert video, plus more than an hour of unseen footage from the rehearsal for the show.

In 2016, Unplugged was certified Diamond by the RIAA for selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. It’s among the bestselling live albums of all time.

Here’s the full track list of the Unplugged album:

“Signe”
“Before You Accuse Me”
“Hey Hey”
“Tears in Heaven”
“Lonely Stranger”
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”
“Layla”
“Running on Faith”
“Walkin’ Blues”
“Alberta”
“San Francisco Bay Blues”
“Malted Milk”
“Old Love”
“Rollin’ and Tumblin'”

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It’s been over 20 years since Poison released an album of new original songs, 2002’s Hollyweird. While frontman Bret Michaels says he’s not anxious to make another studio effort, he’d like to come up with one great new tune with the group.

“I know I could get outvoted on this,” Michaels tells the Arizona Republic. “But I said, ‘Guys, I beg you. Let’s just write a straight-up rock song.’ A ‘Nothin’ but a Good Time.’ But modern. ‘Talk Dirty to Me.’ A great guitar riff, good lyrics, a hook in the chorus. Just something that’s fun for us to write. And who knows? Maybe it could be a modern-day ‘You Shook Me All Night Long.'”

As for Poison possibly working on a longer music project, Bret says it’s probably not the best idea.
“You give us a whole album, you’ll get the best prize fight you’ve ever seen,” he says with a laugh.

Michaels says that he and his bandmates “always get along great,” except for those occasional times that they don’t.

“No one has ever made me laugh harder or been through as much as we’ve been through together, from the ground up,” Bret says. “I’m talking the basement, sump-pump water on the floor. We’re definitely four uniquely different personalities. But on that stage, it’s electric.”

He adds, “When it goes bad, it goes straight to a fistfight.”

Poison has been spending the summer on the massive Stadium Tour, which also features Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. The trek runs through a September 9 show in Las Vegas.

Michaels also has a bunch of 2022 concerts with his solo band scheduled through a November 11 gig in Ridgefield, Washington.

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Jackson Browne and Elvis Costello are among the collaborators featured on actress/singer Rita Wilson‘s forthcoming album, Now & Forever: Duets, a covers collection mainly boasting renditions of 1970s hits.

According to Billboard, Wilson chose to focus on ’70s covers because of the personal significance the decade holds for her.

“I wanted to honor where I came from with songs from the ’70s,” she says in a statement. “It was really about showing enormous appreciation for the songwriting of that period — how these songs are still relevant even though they’re 50 years old.”

Rita’s duet with Browne, who’s widely considered among the most respected singer/songwriter to emerge during the ’70s, actually dates back to the 1959 Every Brothers hit “Let It Be Me.”

In a behind-the-scenes video about the making of Now & Forever postedon Wilson’s YouTube channel, Rita says, “Jackson, to me, is one of the first artists that I just fell in love with — his voice, his writing was so personal and so emotional.”

Costello, meanwhile, is a featured on a version of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Fire.”

Other guests artists on Now and Forever include Motown legend Smokey Robinson, crooner Josh Groban, Hamilton actor Leslie Odom Jr. and country stars Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Jimmie Allen.

The album also includes songs that were written and/or famously recorded by Van Morrison, Paul Simon, The Bee Gees, Bread, The Jackson 5, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, Harry Nilsson and Fleetwood Mac.

Now & Forever: Duets is due out September 27, and can be preorderd now.

Here’s the album’s full track list:

“Crazy Love” (Van Morrison) — with Keith Urban
“Where Is the Love?” (Roberta Flack & Donnie Hathaway) — with Smokey Robinson
“Slip Slidin’ Away” (Paul Simon) — with Willie Nelson
“Let It Be Me” (The Everly Brothers) — with Jackson Browne
“Massachusetts” (The Bee Gees) — with Leslie Odom Jr.
“Fire” (Bruce Springsteen) – with Elvis Costello
“If” (Bread) — with Tim McGraw
“I’ll Be There” (Michael Jackson) — with Jimmie Allen
“Without You” (Harry Nilsson) — with Vince Gill
“Songbird” (Fleetwood Mac) — with Josh Groban

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A trailer for the upcoming Ronnie James Dio documentary Dio: Dreamers Never Die has been released.

The 30-second clip, streaming now on YouTube, showcases some of those interviewed for the film, including Jack Black and Lita Ford.

“When you’re a kid, you’re looking for a voice that says, ‘This is my generation,'” the Tenacious D frontman says. “Then all of a sudden, here comes Ronnie James Dio.”

Dreamers Never Die is described as the “first-ever, career-spanning documentary” on Dio, who passed away from stomach cancer in 2010. The film will follow Ronnie’s life from his days with the bands Elf and Rainbow, to joining Black Sabbath in place of the fired Ozzy Osbourne and forming his own namesake band, Dio.

Other rockers interviewed for the doc include Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, ex-Deep Purple bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, Dio drummer Vinny Appice, Rob Halford and Sebastian Bach.

Dreamers Never Die will screen in theaters on September 28 and October 2. Tickets are available now via DioDreamersNeverDie.com.

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Nita Strauss has clarified her status with Alice Cooper‘s band following the announcement that she wouldn’t be joining the shock-rocker on his upcoming fall tour.

“It’s an interesting thing that everyone’s picked up saying it’s a ‘departure,’ but I don’t feel, necessarily, that I left,” Strauss tells Louder. “I took a step back and I’m stepping back from this upcoming tour but I don’t think anyone has ever used the word quitting or leaving outside of other people.”

Strauss first shared the news in a July Instagram post, writing, “it is bittersweet for me to let you guys know that I will not be joining the Alice Cooper band for the upcoming fall tour.” And while she did not explicitly say she’s leaving the group permanently, Strauss did write, “The past eight years together has been the experience of a lifetime,” which could be read as a reflection on the end of her time with Cooper.

As Strauss now tells Louder, not only is she leaving the door open for a possible return, but so is Cooper.

“When I had my last few shows with Alice, we had what Alice called a ‘Hiatus Dinner’ where he said, ‘We wish you the best, we love you, you’re welcome back,'” Strauss shares. “There’s no shutting of a door and changing of the guard, it’s just I’m taking a step back a little bit.”

“Depending on what the schedule looks like next year, I may have the chance to come back, I may not,” she adds. “But it definitely doesn’t feel as final to me and to the people in Alice’s band and the inner circle as it has been portrayed out in the world.”

Strauss is currently the guitarist in pop star Demi Lovato‘s live band.

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