Classic Rock News

War’s 1976 Greatest Hits compilation is getting a special reissue for its 50th anniversary.

The new release is part of Rhino’s Spirit of ’76 campaign, which celebrates the albums that defined America’s Bicentennial.

Greatest Hits features such classic War tunes as “The World is a Ghetto,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and “Low Rider,” as well as “Summer,” which was recorded specifically for the original release.

“It marked the first time a new song was included on a Greatest Hits album and went on to become a greatest hit itself,” War’s longtime producer Jerry Goldstein says of the album. “We recorded ‘Summer’ while assembling the original compilation, which makes this 50th Anniversary edition the most authentic and complete version of our Greatest Hits.”

The 50th anniversary edition will be released July 31 on 180-gram black vinyl, along with an expanded CD, which adds tracks “Spill the Wine,” “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” “So” and “Galaxy.” It is available for preorder now.

War is set to hit the road on their Greatest Hits tour this summer. The trek begins July 4 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A complete list of dates can be found at war.com.

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The Gregg Allman documentary The Music of My Soul premieres Tuesday in New York City, and while there’s bound to be plenty of Allman Brothers Band music in the film, there will also be a new track by country star Jackson Dean.

The tune, “My Cross to Bear,” will close the film. Director James Keach enlisted Grammy-winning music maker Julian Raymond to create the track.

Ultimately, the tune is Jackson’s tribute to the man behind the Allman Brothers Band and iconic songs like “Midnight Rider,” ‘Whipping Post” and “I’m No Angel.”

“Gregg Allman lived a life that was so much larger than life, both the highs and the lows, and to sing a song that represents all of that is a lot,” Jackson says. “For me, I wanted to honor him, put everything I had, all that I know about living between the cracks and on those blazing stages into it. But I also knew I wanted to just let the power of who he was move through me and not think … just be.”

“He was an influence and hero to anyone who loves the blues, who chooses to live this life,” Jackson adds. “He was so much more than a song, an album or even the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and it’s all there when you hear him sing. He wrote some of the greatest Southern rock songs ever, but it’s not the words, it’s what’s in the notes when he sings them.”

After the Big Apple premiere, Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul travels to Macon, Georgia, for a hometown opening on Thursday. It will also have one-week exclusive engagements in Los Angeles and New York, before playing in theaters nationwide on June 17.

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On This Day, June 9, 2016…

Tom Petty and Elvis Costello were among the artists inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at a gala in New York City.

Petty performed, backed by his band Mudcrutch, but bypassed his hit songs. Instead, he performed “Angel Dream” and the Mudcrutch tune “Forgive it All.” Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, who inducted Petty, treated the audience to Petty’s hit “American Girl.”

Costello took the stage with “Alison,” while Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons, who inducted Costello, paid tribute to him with a performance of “Pump It Up.”

The night’s other inductees included “Wild Thing” songwriter Chip Taylor, Marvin Gaye, Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards of Chic. Lionel Richie received the Johnny Mercer Award.

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The 2026 edition of Farm Aid is set to take place Sept. 26 at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia, marking the annual benefit’s first time in the area.

Farm Aid board members Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff are all set to perform. Young, who canceled a 2026 tour of Europe and the U.K. to take a break, will be performing with his band The Chrome Hearts, while Matthews will perform with frequent collaborator Tim Reynolds.

Other artists on the bill include Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Turnpike Troubadours, Lukas Nelson, Jesse Welles, Sierra Ferrell, I’m With Her, Mon Rovîa, Amythyst Kiah, Lily Meola and Chris Pierce.

“Family farmers grow our food and strengthen our communities. And when farmers struggle like they are now, communities feel it too,” says Farm Aid founder Willie Nelson. “The challenges farmers face threaten their livelihoods and put all of us at risk.”

He adds, “We’re bringing Farm Aid to Virginia to stand with the farmers and fishers who feed Hampton Roads and beyond — and to grow a food system that works for everyone.”

A presale begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, with tickets going on sale to the general public starting Friday at 10 a.m. More info can be found at FarmAid.org.

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John Fogerty is set to receive the Johnny Mercer Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest honor, on Thursday in New York City. And yet with a career that includes iconic tunes like “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son” and more, Fogerty was recently left off The New York Times’ list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, something he doesn’t seem too upset about.

Asked about the snub by The Hollywood Reporter, Fogerty replied, “I mean, I would’ve been shocked but a lot of people weren’t mentioned. There’s only 30, and you have to be alive. It’s pretty tough.”

Along with Fogerty, artists like Billy Joel, Randy Newman and Stevie Nicks were left off the list.

“The funny thing is that everybody sees this through their own lens,” he continued. “There were all kinds of other really deserving people that weren’t on that list either.”

“It happens,” he adds. “Rolling Stone releases a list of the greatest records of all time. As time goes on, the records that I love or the artists that I love, more and more of them would be dropped away for newer things because the voters get younger and they vote for what they like. It’s kind of a natural progression.”

John Fogerty’s Legacy tour hits Lincoln, California, on June 26, and he has September dates booked with Steve Winwood. A complete list can be found at JohnFogerty.com.

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R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and Allman Brothers Band’s Chuck Leavell will headline an upcoming concert celebrating the music of Georgia.

A Night of Georgia Music will be held July 25 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium in New York. It will have the pair, along with violinist Robert McDuffie, performing the music of artists native to the Peach State, including R.E.M., the Allman Brothers, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, The B-52s and Outkast. 

The evening will also feature students from Mercer University’s Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, with all the artists backed by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, conducted by Ward State.

An artist presale for tickets begins Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET, with tickets going on sale to the general public Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

More info can be found at CarnegieHall.org.

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Billy Joel is in a New York sports fan state of mind.

The New York Knicks come home to Madison Square Garden Monday night to continue their quest for their first championship since 1973. And since Billy spent 10 years as one of the Garden’s most high-profile residents, he’s posted a video message on Instagram cheering them on.

“Hi, the New York Knicks,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of magic happen in this building for many years. But now it’s your turn to bring the championship back to the greatest city in the world: New York. Go for it!” 

As he and the people surrounding him begin to clap and cheer, we see the words “Knicks in 4!”

On Saturday night, Billy was back home in Long Island, New York, helping to induct his longtime booking agent, Dennis Arfa, into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Billy was a surprise guest, and in his speech, he said Arfa was the one who came up with the idea to have him play Carnegie Hall and Yankee Stadium, the idea of him doing the final shows at Shea Stadium prior to its demolition, the idea of him doing co-headline tours with Elton John and the concept of his Madison Square Garden residency.

The induction was part of the Hall of Fame’s Billy Joel Symposium, which featured two days of speakers.

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Bon Jovi is giving fans a chance to be a part of their upcoming Forever tour.

Frontman Jon Bon Jovi took to Instagram asking fans to submit videos of them singing the band’s iconic hit “Livin’ On A Prayer,” with a chance for their clips to be featured as part of the tour visuals.

“We are in preproduction getting ready for the tour, and you know what, we’ve decided that we need you,” he says in the clip. “What we need you to do is record yourself singing ‘Livin’ On A Prayer.’” He notes, “We want you on the big screen. This is your chance to be a star.”

“We’re happy to be back, looking forward to seeing you,” Jon adds.

Those interested need to submit their videos at BonJovi.com/livin-on-a-prayer by Friday.

“This song has always belonged to the fans and this is a celebration of the voices that have sung it across the world,” the website reads. “Sing the full song or just jump in on the chorus. We want to see your version.”

The site adds, “This is about expression and individuality. Unique ideas, environments, and perspectives encouraged.”

Bon Jovi’s Forever Tour, the band’s first trek since Jon Bon Jovi underwent vocal cord surgery in 2022, begins July 7 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

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Rocker Steve Miller and Chic’s Nile Rodgers are among the artists confirmed as performers and/or presenters at the Songwriters Hall of Fame gala Thursday in New York City.

Other performers/presenters include The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik, Gavin DeGraw, actor Jeremy Renner, Descendants star Kylie Cantrall, singer Tamar Braxton and “Tell It to My Heart” singer Taylor Dayne.

KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are set to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. John Fogerty, who was inducted into the SHOF in 2005, will receive the Hall of Fame’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award.

Other 2026 inductees include Kenny Loggins; Alanis Morissette; Taylor Swift; Walter Afanasieff, who co-wrote multiple Mariah Carey hits; Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, who co-wrote hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna; and Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, who co-wrote some of Tina Turner’s biggest hits.

It is not known who will be presenting or performing in honor of which inductees.

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Bob Dylan launched the latest leg of his North American tour last week, and he’s been adding some deep cuts to his set.

During his Saturday show at Chateau St. Michelle Winery Amphitheatre in Woodinville, Washington, Dylan opened the show with a performance of “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” from 1975’s The Basement Tapes. It was the first time he’s performed the track live since November 2012, according to setlist.fm.

But that wasn’t the only time he dug deep into his catalog for his set. During opening night in Troutdale, Oregon, on June 4, Dylan performed “Baby, Won’t You Be My Baby,” a track from 2014’s compilation The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete. It was the first time he’s ever performed the song live.  

Dylan is set to play Eugene, Oregon, on Tuesday, and has dates confirmed through Aug. 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. A complete list of dates can be found at BobDylan.com.

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