Classic Rock News

When Mark David Chapman stared at a picture of John Lennon, he said to himself, “Wouldn’t it be something to kill him?” That’s according to a transcript of Chapman’s parole hearing obtained by ABC News through a New York State Freedom of Information Law request.

“At that point, the seed was planted to kill him. That seemed like the way out of all my problems and that’s it, basically, in a nutshell,” Chapman told the parole board, which denied him parole for a 12th time in September.

The transcript shows the parole board thought releasing Chapman “would so deprecate the serious nature of the crime as to undermine respect for the law.”  It conceded Chapman, 67, poses a low risk at this point after 41 years in prison, but cited his “selfish disregard for human life of global consequence” in deciding to keep him locked up.

“The worldwide impact of your crime resonates such as to evoke images, memories and emotions internationally, leading the panel to concur that your release at this time would be incompatible with the welfare of society,” the decision said. “The panel is significantly concerned about your behavior before and during the [incarcerating offense], underscoring your stated quest to be immortalized, identifying, murdering your victim as your path to said end.”

Chapman shot and killed Lennon on December 8, 1980. He told the parole board he acted on a “compulsion to kill” Lennon.

“I was that desperate for attention. I gave up everything in my life, my wife, my family, my location in beautiful Hawaii, for one thing and that was to be somebody. I was feeling like a big nobody in the world, and this would change that, and that’s why I did it,” Chapman said.

He is next eligible for parole in 2024.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Ozzy Osbourne apparently isn’t completely on board with moving back to England.

The metal legend, who’s long lived in Los Angeles, is gearing up to return to his home country with his wife, Sharon Osbourne. However, in an interview with Consequence, the Prince of Darkness shares that if he “had [his] way,” he’d “stay in America.”

In speaking about their decision to move, Ozzy brings up Sharon’s 2021 departure from the U.S. talk show The Talk, which happened after she asked former co-host Sheryl Underwood to explain how Piers Morgan‘s comments about Meghan Markle‘s then-recent interview with Oprah Winfrey were racist.

“When my wife got called a racist on, she is absolutely not a racist,” Ozzy says. “Her friend is Piers Morgan. She didn’t say, ‘I agree with him.’ She just respected his ability to have freedom of speech. That’s all that she said. And she got a lot of flak from that, so we actually had to have f***ing armed guards and all that.”

“It hasn’t gone sideways, it’s gone down,” Sharon adds of LA. “It’s not a fun place to live. It’s dangerous here. Every big city’s got crime, but I don’t feel safe here. Neither does Ozzy.”

Even so, Ozzy says, “To be honest with you, I don’t want to go back [to England]. F*** that.”

Speaking previously with The Observer about the move, Ozzy said he was “fed up with people getting killed every day,” adding that he doesn’t “want to die in America.”

“I’m English. I want to be back,” he said. “But saying that, if my wife said we’ve got to go and live in Timbuktu, I’ll go.”

The Osbournes’ return to England will be documented in the upcoming series Home to Roost.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Aside from his 2018 album, Traces, and his 2021 Christmas album, The Season, Steve Perry hasn’t done a lot of recording in the past 20+ years. But apparently, the former Journey singer couldn’t resist an invitation from arguably one of the most beloved celebrities on the planet: Dolly Parton.

The country icon and newly minted Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee tells Access Hollywood that for her forthcoming rock album, she’s recorded Journey’s classic “Open Arms” and has Perry singing with her on it. She adds that she’s also recorded an Elton John song and that she hopes to get Steven Tyler to join her on the project as well.

“Hopefully, I’m gonna just ask all the girls and the guys to sing with me,” Dolly continued, noting that she is personally contacting people to ask them to collaborate, rather than letting her manager or publicist do it. “I think it’s gonna be a good album,” she concludes.

Dolly performed a song from the album when she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Saturday night in Los Angeles.

In other Steve Perry news, it seems he does pay close attention to what’s happening in the music biz. He tweeted on Saturday, “Back when I was the singer in Journey we sold out 5 nights at the LA Forum. Well my deepest Congrats to #HarryStyles for selling 15 nights out — Truly amazing Harry…Congrats!”

Harry’s has been performing for multiple nights in major cities across the country on his current Love on Tour trek.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place Saturday in Los Angeles, officially enshrining acts including Judas Priest, Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Dolly Parton, Eminem, Carly Simon, Eurythmics and Lionel Richie. Here’s a recap of what happened:

Judas Priest was inducted with the Musical Excellence Award, adding some much-needed heavy to the metal-light Rock Hall. Alice Cooper did the inducting honors, declaring Rob Halford and company to be “truly the definitive metal band.” Halford, who came out as gay in 1998, introduced himself as “the gay guy in the band.”

“We call ourselves the heavy metal community, which is all-inclusive,” Halford said. “It doesn’t matter what your sexual identity is, what you look like, the color of your skin, the faith that you believe in or don’t believe in, everybody’s welcome.”

Priest also reunited with former band mates K.K. Downing and Les Binks for performances of songs including “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight.” They were also joined by guitarist Glenn Tipton, who retired from touring full time in 2018 due to Parkinson’s disease.

Pat Benatar was inducted by Sheryl Crow alongside husband and longtime musical partner Neil Giraldo. They performed songs including “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Heartbreaker.”

Referencing her long journey to the Rock Hall, and the many years she wasn’t nominated, Benatar joked, “First, I just wanna say that all is forgiven.”

Duran Duran was inducted by actor Robert Downey Jr. The celebration of their induction was subdued a bit by the news that Andy Taylor had been diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago, and recently “suffered a setback” in his treatment, and was unable to attend the ceremony.

U2‘s The Edge inducted Eurythmics, who reunited for a rare performance, including a rendition of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Lenny Kravitz introduced Lionel Richie, who was joined by Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl for a performance of “Easy,” while Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler rocked with Eminem for the rapper’s song “Sing for the Moment.”

Carly Simon was unable to attend, but was inducted by pop singer Sara Bareilles. Olivia Rodrigo performed “You’re So Vain” in Simon’s honor.

Dolly Parton was the final artist to be inducted, and commented on her upcoming rock album that she decided to record after she was initially nominated. She was joined by several other inductees, including Rob Halford, for a performance of “Jolene.”

The night closed with Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp performing a tribute to the late Jerry Lee Lewis.

The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air November 19 on HBO.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Original Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, who left the band in 2006 but was set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with his former band mates Saturday night in Los Angeles, was unable to make the ceremony — because, as he revealed, he has incurable prostate cancer.

Taylor revealed in an open letter released Saturday night that four years ago, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.  “Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening, there is no cure,” he wrote. “Recently I was doing okay after some very sophisticated life-extending treatment…until a week or so ago, when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries.”

He continued,, “However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years…I’m so very proud of [my four band mates]; I’m amazed at their durability, and I’m overjoyed at accepting this award. I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.”

He finished by writing that he was “truly sorry and massively disappointed” that he wasn’t able to make the ceremony, which would have marked the first time in 17 years that he’d played with Simon LeBon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes.

Backstage, after the band was inducted into the Hall by Robert Downey Jr., Simon LeBon told reporters that news of Taylor’s condition was “devastating,” adding that he didn’t want to cry, but felt like doing so. He asked the press not to ask any more questions about Taylor, because it was too tough for him to talk about.

Duran Duran performed three songs at the ceremony: “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Girls on Film” and “Ordinary World.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A few days ago, Stevie Nicks wrote that she was “excited to hit the road with Billy Joel next year.” However, the two had only announced one co-headlining date: April 8 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, billed as “One Night Only.” Turns out that “one night only” meant just one night in Arlington — because they plan on doing this in several other cities.

The superstars have announced two additional dates together: March 10 at SoFi stadium in LA and May 19 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. It’s not clear if more shows will be announced.

Tickets for all three shows go on sale November 11 at 10 a.m. local time.

These shows are Stevie’s first announced performances for 2023; she’ll complete her fall tour this weekend. As for Billy, he’ll continue his Madison Square Garden residency, and next year, he has additional dates booked in Atlanta, Florida, London, New Zealand and Australia.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Artists including Def Leppard and The Beach Boys have teamed up with Vault Comics for a new graphic novel project called Headshell.

The endeavor aims to “present original stories inspired by artists’ careers and music, giving fans an all new way to connect with the artists and music they love.”

“Great musicians are storytellers,” the Headshell description reads. “But some stories need to be told on the page. Headshell works with iconic recording artists to create unique graphic novels that resonate with artists and audiences.”

Other artists taking part include Metallica, Fall Out Boy‘s Pete Wentz and rapper Redman.

For more info, visit VaultComics.com/headshell.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Joni Mitchell’s re-emergence into public life continued Thursday when she attended the opening night of the Broadway musical adaptation of filmmaker Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film, Almost Famous.

Mitchell – who revealed it was her first-ever Broadway show – declared that the musical was “even better than the movie.”

Crowe, told Page Six on opening night that it was “bizarre” seeing a story that was inspired by his past as a young reporter for Rolling Stone now staged as a Broadway musical. He was also thrilled that Mitchell was there, and referenced the 1979 interview he did with the rock legend for Rolling Stone: “Joni Mitchell hadn’t done an interview in 10 years and chose me to be the young reporter that would do the interview, and it remains the best interview I’ve ever done,” he said.

Other rock luminaries in attendance on opening night included Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Rolling Stone founder Jan Wenner and legendary producer Clive Davis.

Mitchell, 78, had rarely performed in public since suffering a brain aneurysm in 2015, but she surprised everyone at this year’s Newport Folk Festival last July when she sang several songs, including her classics “Both Sides Now” and “The Circle Game” as guest of honor at the “Joni Jam,” organized by Brandi Carlile. That led to the October announcement that Joni would join Carlile for her first headlining concert in over two decades as part of Carlile’s Echoes through the Canyon concerts next year at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre on Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Last August saw the release of The Complete Reprise Studio Albums – Volume I, a vinyl box set featuring remastered versions of Eric Clapton‘s first six studio efforts for the Reprise label. Should you find yourself in need of a late holiday present this year, good news: volume two is right around the corner.

Eric Clapton: The Complete Reprise Studio Albums — Volume 2 will be out January 13, and “combines remastered versions of five solo studio albums Clapton recorded with Reprise between 2001 and 2010 with an additional LP of rarities selected from the same era,” according to the label.

The set includes newly remastered versions of five studio albums released over nine years, all pressed on 180-gram vinyl: 2001’s Reptile, featuring the Grammy-winning title track; 2004’s Me & Mr. Johnson, featuring covers of songs by Delta blues legend Robert Johnson, and the companion album Sessions for Robert J; the Grammy-winning and RIAA Gold-certified Back Home, from 2005; and 2010’s Clapton. All the albums will be released as double LPs, with the exception of Sessions for Robert J, which will be a single disc. The box set also marks the first time that album will be released on vinyl.

Additionally, the Rarities Vol. II 2001-2010 disc includes eight tracks, including the newly remixed bonus track “Midnight Hour Blues,” which you can get a taste of now.

You can pre-order Eric Clapton: The Complete Reprise Studio Albums — Volume 2 now via Rhino Records or Clapton’s official website. Volume I is still available both places as well.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain released a new holiday EP titled Christmas Is Love on Friday, November 4.

The five-song collection, which is available now via streaming services, was written and produced by Cain, with four of the tunes mixed and mastered by Jonathan’s frequent collaborator David Kalmusky at Nashville’s Addiction Sound Studios.

“Christmas is love. It is that simple,” says Cain about the message of the EP and its title track.

“Hope Was Born” highlights the story of the birth of Jesus, while “Who Is This Child” finds Cain marveling at Jesus’ arrival.

“I enjoy celebrating Christmas every year,” adds Jonathan. “What went down in the desert at Bethlehem, it’s such a monumental miracle that shouldn’t be taken for granted. It was a game-changer.”

The Christmas Is Love EP also includes “Wonder of Wonders,” a duet with Michael Tait of the popular Christian-rock act that Cain first released in 2019. The final song on the EP is “Behold,” a previously unreleased tune that Jonathan performed at his 2021 Wonder of Wonders Christmas Concert held at the City of Destiny church in Apopka, Florida, where his wife, Paula White-Cain, serves as pastor.

Cain is planning to host a 2022 edition of his Christmas Concert at the church on December 18.

Christmas Is Love follows Cain’s latest faith-based album, Arise, which arrived in May, and Journey’s new studio effort, Freedom, which was released in July.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.