Ozzy Osbourne says he spoke with Lemmy on the day of the iconic Motörhead frontman’s death.
“I was talking to Lemmy on the morning that he died, but I couldn’t understand what he was talking about,” Ozzy tells Classic Rockmagazine. “I wanted to talk to someone else who was there, but they kept giving the phone to Lemmy.”
In addition to being longtime friends, Ozzy and Lemmy collaborated on several occasions, including for Osbourne’s 1991 album, No More Tears, which features several songs co-written by the “Ace of Spades” rocker.
“He was a good man, Lemmy was,” Ozzy says. “All the guys from Motörhead have gone now, from the original band. It’s hard to lose anyone you love.”
Lemmy died December 2015 at age 70. Last year, Ozzy released a new version of the song “Hellraiser,” featuring vocals from both him and Lemmy.
The Who launches its The Who Hits Back! tour tonight in Hollywood, Florida, which sees the British rock legends returning to the road for the first time since wrapping up their Moving On! trek in October 2019.
As previously announced, the band’s 2022 North American tour features two legs, with the first wrapping up May 28 in Bethel, New York, and the second running from an October 2 concert in Toronto through a November 4-5 engagement in Las Vegas.
Notable stops on the outing’s first leg include an April 30 headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and a May 15 show at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium. The latter gig will mark the first time in 43 years that the band will play Cincinnati, the site of the tragic 1979 incident in which 11 people were killed at Riverfront Coliseum when fans rushed the doors of the venue ahead of a Who show there.
Meanwhile, just in time for the start of the tour, The Who have announced the lineup of artists that will be opening for them at most shows. The support acts for the first leg include singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson, soul singer Amythyst Kiah, Texas roots rockers Los Lonely Boys, veteran singer/songwriter Willie Nile, and contemporary British rock band The Wild Things.
Opening for The Who during the second leg are ex-Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page, Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell and his current band The Dirty Knobs, and, again, The Wild Things, who will perform at the two-show finale in Las Vegas.
Like the Moving On! tour, the new trek will feature The Who accompanied by an orchestra at all shows.
Visit TheWho.com to check out the band’s full tour schedule and which support act will be performing at each concert.
The first two episodes of the new reality music competition show No Cover have premiered online.
No Cover, which was first announced in 2020, finds a panel of judges — including Alice Cooper, Bush‘s Gavin Rossdale and Halestorm‘s Lzzy Hale — searching to discover the next best unsigned bands.
Each week, the competing artists perform for the judges live at the iconic Troubadour club near Los Angeles. Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens co-hosts the show. The other judges are alt-pop singer/songwriter Bishop Briggs and prog-metal guitarist Tosin Abasi.
As opposed to shows like American Idol or The Voice, the No Cover contestants only perform original material, hence the show’s title.
The winner of No Cover will earn a recording contract with Sumerian Records, and a slot at a festival produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the company behind the Aftershock, Welcome to Rockville and Louder than Life festivals. The victorious act also will get signed to a management and booking agency, and will receive a whole lot of gear.
A collection of rare recordings by 10cc co-founders Kevin Godley and Lol Creme from the late 1960s will be released on June 10.
Frabjous Days — The Secret World of Godley & Creme 1967-1969 includes tracks that the duo made under the name Frabjoy and Runcible Spoon for a planned 1969 album for British music impresario Georgio Gomelsky‘s Marmalade label that was never released.
The compilation also features a 1969 solo track that Godley and Creme’s future 10cc band mate Graham Gouldman recorded for Marmalade called “The Late Mr. Late,” and two unreleased songs written by Gouldman that the duo recorded in 1969 — “Hot Sun” and “Virgin Soldiers.”
Other tracks on the album include two songs from a January 1968 single that Godley and Crème released under the moniker The Yellow Bellow Room Boom, and two unreleased tracks from a June 1968 acetate recording.
Frabjous Days comes packaged with a 28-page booklet featuring a new essay, as well as rare photos and memorabilia.
“These songs sound like they were written and recorded before we were born…and in a sense they were,” Godley says. “It’s the sound of two young art students messing around at weekends, stringing chords and words together for the sheer, explosive buzz of hearing what happens. There’s a thrill in not knowing what you’re doing but aiming high anyway and that, I believe, is exactly what’s going on in these recordings.”
The Marmalade Sessions 1969
1. “I’m Beside Myself” (album version)*
2. “Chaplin House”*
3. “Cowboys and Indians”*
4. “It’s the Best Seaside in the World”*
5. “Fly Away” (Frabjoy and Runcible Spoon LP version)*
6. “Take Me Back”*
7. “Today”*
8. “Hot Sun”*
9. “Virgin Soldiers”*
10. “The Late Mr. Late” — Graham Gouldman
11. “To Fly Away” (Marmalade sampler LP version)
12. “I’m Beside Myself” (single version)
13. “Animal Song”
Bonus tracks (recorded 1967-1969)
14. “Seeing Things Green”
15. “Easy Life”
16. “One and One Make Love”*
17. “Over and Above My Head”*
18. “Hello Blinkers”
19. “Goodnight Blinkers”
1-7: Unreleased Frabjoy and Runcible Spoon album, recorded circa September 1969
8-9: Unreleased acetate of Graham Gouldman songs performed by Godley and Creme, recorded circa July 1969
10-11: From label sampler Marmalade – 100% Proof, released June 1969
12-13: Frabjoy and Runcible Spoon single, released September 1969
14-15: The Yellow Bellow Room Boom single, released January 1968
16-17: Unreleased acetate, recorded circa July 1968
18-19: Promo vinyl pressing for Blinkers nightclub, circa late 1969
The latest trend among country music superstars is opening their own bar, restaurant or music venue in downtown Nashville. Now it seems as though Jon Bon Jovi may want a piece of the action.
The Nashville Business Journalshared reports this week that Jon might be attaching his name to a new venue at the prime downtown location of 405 Broadway. That site is currently a vacant lot situated between a famous honky tonk and an upscale restaurant, on the same block as iconic Nashville locations like Tootsies Orchid Lounge.
The Business Journal cites multiple unnamed reports linking Jon to the new development. Though his involvement hasn’t been confirmed, the Nashville Postreports that work is underway at the site, with a “celebrity partner” in the mix.
Nashville-based investment group Big Plan Holdings owns the property, and founder and CEO Josh Joseph has hinted that he’ll soon reveal the star who’s partnered in the project.
Though Bon Jovi isn’t country, the band has had a country hit: In 2006, they put out a duet version of “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” with country star Jennifer Nettles, which hit number one on the country charts. It won Bon Jovi their only Grammy, for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Bon Jovi re-teamed with Jennifer in 2020 for a duet version of “Do What You Can.”
Bon Jovi also recorded songs with country acts Big & Rich and LeAnn Rimes on the band’s 2007 album Lost Highway.
Country-rock pioneer Richie Furay, a co-founding member of both Buffalo Springfield and Poco, will release a new studio album called In the Country on July 8 that features his interpretations of country hits.
Among the tunes featured on the 12-track collection are renditions of such country chart-toppers as Keith Urban‘s “Somebody Like You,” Garth Brooks‘ “The River,” Alabama‘s “I’m in a Hurry and I Don’t Know Why,” and Lee Ann Womack‘s “I Hope You Dance, as well as notable crossover hits like John Denver‘s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Marc Cohn‘s “Walking in Memphis.”
In the Country‘s lead track, “Somebody Like You,” has been released as the album’s first single, and is available now via digital formats. A music video for the tune featuring Furay performing the song has debuted on his official YouTube channel.
The album includes guest contributions from Vince Gill, John Berry, ex-Chicago singer/bassist Jason Scheff, and longtime Eagles bassist/former Poco member Timothy B. Schmit.
The digital version of In the Country features two bonus tracks — renditions of the 1969 Furay-penned Poco tune “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” and George Strait‘s 1992 chart-topper “I Cross My Heart.” You can pre-order the album starting Friday.
Meanwhile, a special exclusive vinyl version of In the Country will be released on June 18 as part of the 2022 Record Store Day event.
“I believe that there is always a reason for everything,” says Furay, reflecting on his country collection. “And I believe that the timing for this record is going to be so refreshing for so many people who have struggled so much with what we’ve gone through that it’s going to be a breath of fresh air for everybody.”
Here’s In the Country‘s full track list:
“Somebody Like You”
“I Hope You Dance”
“Take Me Home, Country Roads”
“She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful”
“Your Love Amazes Me”
“I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why)”
“Lonesome Town”
“Walking in Memphis”
“I’m Already There”
“The River”
“In This Life”
“Chalk”
Digital Bonus Tracks:
“I Cross My Heart”
“Pickin’ Up the Pieces”
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett is moderating a panel at the upcoming Midsummer Scream horror convention.
Dubbed “The Original Monster Kids,” the event will find Hammett speaking with the children and grandchildren of various classic horror acting legends including Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. and Sr.
Hammett, of course, is a horror aficionado himself, and is known for his impressive collection of classic horror memorabilia.
Midsummer Scream takes place July 29-31 in Long Beach, California. Hammett’s panel will be held July 30. For more info, visit MidsummerScream.org.
In related news, Hammett has shared a preview of the video for his song “High Plains Drifter,” which will appear on his upcoming debut solo EP, Portals. The full clip premieres this Friday, April 22.
Portals, which consists of four original instrumental pieces, will be released April 23 as part of Record Store Day.
George Harrison‘s widow, Olivia Harrison, will publish an illustrated book of poetry called Came the Lightening on June 21, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Beatles guitarist’s death.
The book features 20 poems written by Olivia and dedicated to her late husband. The collection finds Olivia musing on her life with George and the emotional bond they shared, as well as reflecting on the loss of her husband and on the passing years.
Came the Lightening features an introduction by legendary director Martin Scorsese, who describes the book as “a work of poetic autobiography.”
To accompany the poems, Olivia has chosen a selection of photos and mementos, including pics of her with George. Among the images are previously unseen photos taken photographers including Henry Grossman, Sue Flood, Marcus Tomlinson and Paul McCartney‘s daughter, Mary. The book also features a drawing by artist and musician Klaus Voormann, a longtime friend of and collaborator with the members of The Beatles.
“I hope you enjoy these personal stories, recollections and reflections,” Olivia says in a statement. You also can check out a short video trailer for the book on YouTube featuring a voiceover from Olivia, who comments about putting out a collection of 20 poems 20 years after George’s passing, “I didn’t plan it that way, it just sort of happened.”
Eddie Van Halen and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation’s Felice Mancini in 2012; Frazer Harrison/Getty Imagesin 2015; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Solters
The late Eddie Van Halen put aside a substantial amount of money that was recently donated to the youth music education organization Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, the nonprofit has announced.
According to a statement, the rock guitar great, who died of cancer in October 2020 at age 65, left “a meaningful percentage of his estate to the organization in his will.” In the decade before his passing, Van Halen forged a close relationship with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and embraced the organization’s mission of helping students who attend at-risk public schools develop a passion for music.
The statement notes that Eddie’s donation will help the foundation to assist more schools, hire more employees, improve its technology and more.
“Eddie’s support and friendship over the years meant the world to us and to his fans. His passion for music and our work created a strong bond, which is evident in his extraordinary bequest,” says the foundation’s president and CEO, Felice Mancini. “To know how much our foundation meant to Eddie is intensely humbling and gratifying to all of us — and we know that Eddie’s family is confident that his powerful legacy and values live on through our efforts.”
Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, also has become a major supporter of Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, and has been carrying on the partnership his dad began with the charity. In tribute to his father, he donated the proceeds from his group Mammoth WVH‘s solo single, “Distance,” to the foundation.
“Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and the work they do for music education was always something that was important to my father,” says Wolfgang. “I am incredibly proud to help facilitate this donation as he wished.”
Elton John‘s fourth studio album, Madman Across the Water, released in late 1971, is getting the 50th anniversary reissue treatment.
You can choose from a three CD/1 Blue-ray Super Deluxe Box Set, a four-LP, colored vinyl package, or a two-CD package, which are now available for pre-order. The release date is June 10.
Madman Across the Water features the classics “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon,” as well as the fan-favorite title track and “Indian Sunset,” which was later sampled on the Eminem-produced Tupac Shakur track “Ghetto Gospel.” That song topped the British charts for three weeks in 2005.
Madman Across the Water also was Elton’s first album to feature the full lineup of his Elton John Band, and features Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman playing organ on three songs.
The package includes a previously unheard piano demo of “Tiny Dancer,” which will be available to stream later Thursday, though a teaser is out now.
Among the goodies on the Super Deluxe version are demos, rarities, single edits, a live radio recording, two British TV performances, a 104-page book, photos, artwork, interviews and memorabilia.
Here’s the track listing for the Madman Across the Water Super Deluxe version:
CD 1
“Tiny Dancer” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Levon” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Razor Face” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Madman Across the Water” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Indian Sunset” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Holiday Inn” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Rotten Peaches” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“All the Nasties” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Goodbye” (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
“Indian Sunset” (Live Radio Broadcast)
“Madman Across the Water” (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson)
“Rock Me When He’s Gone”
“Levon” (Mono Single Version)
“Razor Face” (Extended Version)
CD 2
“Madman Across the Water” (1970 Piano Demo)
“Tiny Dancer” (Piano Demo)
“Levon” (Piano Demo)
“Razor Face” (Piano Demo)
“Madman Across the Water” (1971 Piano Demo)
“Indian Sunset” (Piano Demo)
“Holiday Inn” (Piano Demo)
“Rotten Peaches” (Piano Demo)
“All the Nasties” (Piano Demo)
“Goodbye” (Piano Demo)
“Rock Me When He’s Gone” (Piano Demo)
“Rock Me When He’s Gone” (Full Version)
CD 3
“Tiny Dancer” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Rotten Peaches” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Razor Face” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Holiday Inn” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Indian Sunset” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Levon” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Madman Across the Water” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
“Goodbye” (BBC Sounds for Saturday)
Taped November 11, 1971 / transmitted April 29, 1972
Blu-ray Audio
Greg Penny 5.1 mix of Madman Across the Water (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson)
Greg Penny 5.1 mix of Madman Across the Water
Audio-Visual Sounds for Saturday (Taped November 11, 1971 / transmitted April 29, 1972) Old Grey Whistle Test (Transmitted on December 7, 1971)
