Classic Rock News

Joni Mitchell is headed to the Grammys. The legendary singer is confirmed for her first-ever Grammys performance at the upcoming 66th installment of the awards telecast.

The 80-year-old Joni has won nine Grammys, and she’s nominated again this year in the category of Best Folk Album for Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live).  The album documents her 2022 appearance the Newport Folk Festival, which was her first live performance in 20 years.

In addition to her nine Grammy wins, Mitchell was honored with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

Joni joins a lineup of previously announced Grammy performers that include Billy Joel, U2, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo and more.

The 66th Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, air Sunday, February 4, live from Los Angeles on CBS.

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Although Yes’ Steve Howe has said in past interviews that a reunion with his Yes bandmate Jon Anderson seems unlikely to happen, Anderson appears to be more hopeful. 

In a new interview with Mojo, Anderson suggested that a reunion of Yes, with both Howe and Rick Wakeman, isn’t totally out of the question.

“I was talking to [his current touring band] The Band Geeks and said, ‘Hopefully we can play in London and Steve will get up and do a couple of songs with us, maybe Rick too,’” Anderson shares, although he adds, “It just means talking.”

He notes, “When I’m out there singing on my own I still think I’m part of Yes. They still feel like my songs.”

As for his current relationship with Howe, Anderson says, “We’re still friends but we’re not connected.”

The last time Anderson performed with Howe and Wakeman was at the band’s 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, but it was the first time he’d played with Howe since the band’s 35th anniversary tour in 2004. He did previously tour with Wakeman in 2010 and 2017.

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Journey’s classic Greatest Hits album is getting a fresh new sound for a newly released reissue.

A remastered version of Journey – Greatest Hits is now out on two-LP 12-inch 180-gram vinyl, with HD digital files available on all digital outlets. The project was remastered by Adam Ayan under the supervision of original Journey frontman Steve Perry and archival producer John Jackson.

“When Sony contacted John Jackson and me to oversee the remastering of the original analog tapes from flat masters to 192K HD, I was very excited to revisit them once again,” Perry shares. “As it was nearing completion, I realized that—sonically and musically—this was not just another compilation, but was turning into a classic sounding new LP. This was my hope for these recordings made from a time when we were at our best.”

Journey – Greatest Hits features 16 classic tunes from the band, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Separate Ways,” “Open Arms” and “Faithfully,” along with the track “When You Love A Woman” from the 2006 CD reissue.

The newly remastered Journey – Greatest Hits is available now.

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Edward Norton has been cast to play legendary folk singer Pete Seeger in the upcoming Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown, Deadline reports.

Norton is replacing actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who had to drop out the project, which is set to begin production in March.

Timothée Chalamet stars as Dylan in the James Mangold-directed film, which focuses on the rocker in 1965, when he switched from acoustic to electric guitar for the first time.

Seeger is best known for writing such songs as “If I Had A Hammer (The Hammer Song),” “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season).” He was one of the earliest artists to support Dylan and invited him to perform at the Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan was said to have upset the crowd by performing on an electric guitar.

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An upcoming biopic on the Ramones is the subject of a new court case brought by Linda Ramone, widow of guitarist Johnny Ramone.

Linda is suing Joey Ramone‘s brother Mitchel Hyman, better known by his stage name, Mickey Leigh. Linda and Mickey are both 50% shareholders in Ramones Productions, Inc.

The suit also names David Frey, who was hired by Leigh as director of the Ramones’ holding company, as a defendant. It includes a variety of allegations, with the suit claiming Leigh and Frey “have effectively shut down the entire company” due to disputes, personal attacks and more.

But one of the main issues is the planned Ramones film, with the suit arguing the pair “unilaterally and covertly developed an unapproved and unauthorized Ramones-based biopic” based on Mickey’s memoir, I Slept with Joey Ramone. The suit calls the film a “one-sided recitation of the history of the Ramones,” with Linda also objecting to the planned use of Ramones music in the film.

Although the suit doesn’t go into specific details about the movie, there is a film based on Mickey’s book in development with Netflix, with Pete Davidson set to star as Joey Ramone.

The suit says Linda objects to any film without her involvement, noting, “To permit defendants alone to tell the authoritative story of the Ramones would be an injustice to the band and its legacy.”

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U2 are the latest performers added to next month’s Grammy Awards telecast.

The Irish rockers are set to perform from Sphere in Las Vegas, marking the first televised broadcast from the state-of-the-art venue. They will also be featured in a special awards presentation.

The night’s other performers include Billy Joel, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, along with Luke Combs, Afrobeats star Burna Boy and rapper Travis Scott.

The 66th Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, air Sunday, February 4, on CBS from Los Angeles. 

And speaking of Sphere, fans who can’t make it to Las Vegas to catch their U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency are now getting a taste of what they’re missing with a new video of their performance of “Even Better Than the Real Thing,” showing off the stunning visuals that play on the massive screen behind them as they perform. 

After taking over a month break, U2 returns to Las Vegas on Friday, January 26, for the first 2024 show of the residency. It wraps on Saturday, March 2, after 40 shows at the venue. A complete list of dates can be found at U2.com.

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Lenny Kravitz is an icon, and he’s going to be honored as such at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards. 

The rocker, who’ll release the new album Electric Light on May 24, is set to receive the Music Icon Award at the upcoming ceremony, where he will also perform. Previous Music Icon honorees include Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain and Christina Aguilera.

“With 11 studio albums across a decades-long career, Lenny Kravitz has cemented himself as a global rock superstar,” Jen Neal, executive vice president of live events and specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment, says. “Whether he’s writing and performing his own hit songs or working behind the scenes writing for other industry greats, Lenny’s musical gift is truly unmatched.”

She adds, “We’re thrilled to honor him as this year’s Music Icon and look forward to seeing what he brings to the stage.”

The 2024 People’s Choice Awards, hosted by Simu Liu, will air Sunday, February 18, on NBC, E! and Peacock. 

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On a recent episode of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Sammy Hagar learned that DNA testing proved his biological last name was actually Belcher and not Hagar, and he wants his fans to know that he’s not thrown by the revelation.

“Hey, everybody. Red rocker Sammy Hagar here. Also known as Mr. Belcher lately. Don’t freak out about this. This is no big deal,” Hagar shares in a post on Instagram. “This is actually pretty cool, cause at least I know a little bit about my past.” 

He adds, “There’s nothing in a name. You know. You are who you are. And, maybe what you call yourself is even more important than what you’re really named.”

Noting that a lot of people, like Sting and Madonna, have chosen to change their names, he insists he’s “all cool” with the new discovery. 

“Anyways, real cool show. I was honored to be on there and I learned a lot of things I didn’t know,” he continues. “I didn’t know anything about my ancestry. So now I do.” He notes, “If there’s any Belchers out there that are really relatives. Well. Hey. Welcome. Hi. See you on tour.”

The tour Sammy mentions is his Best of All Worlds Tour, which kicks off July 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida. A complete list of dates can be found at redrocker.com.

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Bruce Springsteen is set to celebrate fellow New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi, who’ll be honored as the Recording Academy’s 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year. 

The Boss, who was the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year, is just one of the artists confirmed to perform at the upcoming gala. The lineup also includes Melissa Etheridge, Goo Goo Dolls, Måneskin’s Damiano David, Brandy Clark, Jelly Roll, Marcus King, The War and Treaty and Lainey Wilson. Gayle King and Kylie Minogue are also on board as presenters.

“I’m looking forward to seeing these talented musicians take the stage for the MusiCares gala,” Jon shares. “I’m honored they are able to be with us for such a wonderful night.”

Bon Jovi is also confirmed to perform; there’s still no official confirmation of reports that the band’s former guitarist Richie Sambora will be part of the lineup.

The 33rd annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala, hosted by Jim Gaffigan, will take place February 2, two days before the Grammy Awards.

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Florida, a special place to Jimmy Buffett, who often sang about it in his music, is moving forward with plans to honor the late singer in a big way.

On Thursday, January 25, known as “Jimmy Buffett Day” in the Sunshine State, legislators introduced a measure to rename highway A1A — the scenic route from Georgia to Key West — after the “Margaritaville” singer.

“I am deeply honored to be sponsoring an effort to rename Florida’s coastal State Road A1A the ‘Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway’ in honor of the late legendary Floridian,” Senator Lauren Book posted on social media. “Jimmy’s mark on music, culture, and our precious environment will live on for generations – and our state is better because of his work.”

But that’s not all. Legislation was also introduced to create a special Jimmy Buffett-inspired license plate, which will help raise money for hurricane victims.

“Somebody said that my dad didn’t live to be 100; he just did it in three-quarter time,” the singer’s daughter Savannah Buffett shared, according to USA Today. “This is such a wonderful tribute.”

Both measures were passed in committee, and now, it’s left up to a floor vote to see if they will become a reality.

Buffett died September 1 from Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer. He was 76.

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