Classic Rock News

As previously reported, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were among the people who gathered together in Malibu earlier this week for a “Celebration of Life” for their Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie, who passed away in November. In an Instagram post Thursday, Mick shared the eulogy he wrote for her.

Calling it a “beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman and an incredible talent,” Mick first shared a poem he wrote for McVie after she passed away: “This is a day where my dear, sweet friend Christine McVie has taken flight. And left us Earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that ‘songbird.’ Part of my heart has flown away today … I will miss everything about you Christine McVie. Memories abound … they fly to me.”

Mick said he believes Christine “would have been truly amazed at all the attention and celebrations of her music around the world,” noting, “She is being remembered everywhere. Just as her song says, ‘I want to be with you everywhere,’ and she is.”

“It’s with a sense of gratitude and thanks to the Fleetwood Mac family that we are a part of … and losing such a magical component has sparked a celebration of what Christine means to us,” he concluded. “We all miss her as a family member, as a friend, an artist, a performer, and God knows, a writer of excellence. And those years sharing life together will always be remembered.”

Read the complete eulogy here.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

At November’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, the members of Duran Duran read a letter from their original guitarist Andy Taylor, revealing he has stage four prostate cancer. Now, in a new interview, he’s opening up about his cancer battle.

Talking to UK TV 5 News, Andy says he first realized something was wrong at age of 56 after experiencing an “arthritic sort of pain” while out jogging, and says he began to have these “symptoms, and didn’t recognize them for what they could be.” He then noticed “what felt like tumors” on his neck, and a biopsy revealed the cancer was stage four metastatic, which he called “a death sentence,” saying, “no one can be prepared” for that news.

The 61-year-old Taylor now hopes to encourage others to get tested, and suggests women, who he realizes comprise the bulk of the Duran Duran fan base, do their part to get their men to get tested, saying ladies should “give them a nudge, go get a test.” 

“Every minute is like an hour, every day is like a week,” Andy explains. “You really want to get the most out of life. And I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had so much in terms of living the dream.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Green Day has premiered a cover of the Elvis Costello classic “Alison.”

The minimalist recording shows a tender side of the punk trio, featuring Billie Joe Armstrong‘s singing backed only by guitar and harmonized vocals. You can listen to it now via digital outlets.

Green Day originally recorded “Alison” during the sessions for their 1997 album, Nimrod. It’ll be included on the upcoming Nimrod 25th anniversary edition, due out January 27.

The reissue also includes a variety of other previously unreleased demos, as well as a full live recording from a 1997 concert in Philadelphia.

The original Nimrod spawned the singles “Hitchin’ a Ride” and “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” and has been certified double-Platinum by the RIAA.

Meanwhile, Green Day recently confirmed that they’ve been working on a new album to follow their latest effort, 2020’s Father of All…

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Metallica has shared the single-day ticket details for the band’s upcoming M72 tour.

You may recall that the itinerary for the worldwide outing includes two concerts in every city, with a totally unique set list and different opener for each night. When the tour was first announced, you could only buy tickets as a two-show package, but that will change next week.

Tickets to individual shows will go on sale next Friday, January 20, at 10 a.m. local time. If you’re part of Metallica’s Fifth Member fan club, you’ll have access to a presale beginning Monday, January 16, at 9 a.m. local time.

The M72 tour, which supports Metallica’s upcoming 72 Seasons album, will kick off in Europe in April and will come to the U.S. in August. Dates are currently scheduled through September 2024.

Opening bands include the reformed Pantera, Mammoth WVH, Five Finger Death Punch, Greta Van Fleet, Volbeat, Ice Nine Kills and Architects.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Metallica.com.

72 Seasons, the follow-up to 2016’s Hardwired…to Self-Destruct, arrives April 14. It includes the lead single “Lux Æterna,” which has spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

As previously reported, Peter Frampton is set to headline a free show in the Nashville area later this month, and fans who can’t make it will be able to enjoy it. At least at some point.

The already sold-out concert, presented by Sky Arts, is set to take place January 22 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro. Frampton has now revealed that it’s being recorded for a special broadcast. So far there’s no word on when or where the broadcast will air.

Getting a chance to see Frampton perform these days is a pretty big deal for fans, especially since in 2019 he announced he was retiring from touring due to a progressive muscle disorder. His last performance was back in August at a Buddy Holly 85th birthday celebration.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks continue to add dates to their co-headlining tour.

Billed as “two icons – one night,” the latest concert is set to go down October 7 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Tickets go on sale January 20 at 10 a.m.

The joint shows seem to be turning into a full-fledged tour. Billy and Stevie kick things off March 10 at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, with confirmed dates in Arlington, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; Foxbourgh, Massachusetts; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A new musical with a score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim is headed to Broadway later this year, Variety reports.

Hear Lies Love, which originally played at New York’s Public Theatre 10 years ago, and had runs in London and Seattle, is described as a “disco pop” musical that puts audiences in an immersive setting. Its story is a dramatic telling of the Philippines’ former first lady Imleda Marcos‘ rise to power and then her hard downfall.

The musical will begin preview performances at the Broadway Theatre on June 17 and then open July 20. 

The immersive nature of the show has been an issue with making it to Broadway, but according to the announcement, the plan is to “transform the venue’s traditional proscenium floor space into a dance club environment, where audiences will stand and move with the actors.” Because of this, fans will be able to buy both standing and seating options to see the show.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Paul McCartney is the latest rock star to share his thoughts on the passing of Jeff Beck, who died Tuesday at the age of 78. 

Saying he was saddened to hear of Beck’s passing, McCartney called him “a lovely man with a wicked sense of humor who played some of the best guitar music ever to come out of Great Britain.”

He added Beck “was a superb technician and could strip down his guitar and put it back together again in time for the show. His unique style of playing was something that no one could match.” He shared, “I will always remember the great times we had together. He would come over to dinner at our place or he and his wife, Sandra, would host an evening at their house.”

Finally Sir Paul offered, “I will cherish forever the moments we spent together. Jeff Beck has left the building and it is a lonelier place without him.”

Meanwhile, Queen‘s Brian May also shared his thoughts on the loss, posting a five-minute video to social media in which he says he’s struggling to deal with Beck’s passing.

“This is such an extraordinary loss and he was such an extraordinary person, it’s hard to process the fact that he’s not here, apart from process what I would like to say,” he shared. “Jeff was completely and utterly unique and the kind of musician who’s impossible to define. And I was absolutely in awe of him.”

May added, “The loss is incalculable. It’s so sad not having him in the world anymore. I still can’t quite compute it in my head.”

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Zombies are set to drop a new album later this year, and they’re giving fans their first taste of the record.

The album, Different Game, is the follow-up to the 2015 album Still Got That Hunger and is due out March 31. The band shared the first single, “Dropped Reeling and Stupid.”

“Making this album has been a joy from start to finish,” The Zombies’ Rod Argent shares. “Post-lockdown, we were absolutely determined to come together and record in as ‘live’ a way as we could – to capture the magical, fleeting quality of energy and immediacy of performance.” He adds, “’Dropped Reeling & Stupid’ is our first streamed release… Can’t wait for you to hear it!”

The Zombies are also set to hit the road this year and will make an appearance at the SXSW Film & Music Festival, which takes place March 11 to 17. Their U.S. shows kick off March 18 in San Antonio, Texas, wrapping March 24 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mötley Crüe vocalist Vince Neil has canceled his set at the upcoming RokIsland Fest in Key West, Florida, after contracting COVID-19.

In a statement posted to the RokIsland Facebook Thursday, the “Home Sweet Home” singer shares, “I am sad to report that yesterday I was diagnosed with Covid.”

“I am okay but this thing is really kickin’ my a**,” Neil continues. “All that being said, I am unable to perform at RokIsland Fest next week. I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to the RokIsland Fest organizers and most of all my friends and fans. I am disappointed to say the least. I was so looking forward to this show.”

RokIsland will take place January 17-21. The lineup also includes Styx, Loverboy and Tesla.

Mötley Crüe, meanwhile, is set to resume touring in February following their massive 2022 Stadium Tour with Def Leppard. They’ll be doing so without guitarist Mick Mars, who announced last October that he was retiring from the road. Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 will be filling in.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.