The Doobie Brothers released Walk This Road in June. The album featured Michael McDonald as the band’s lead singer back together with Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and John McFee for the first time in 40 years.

Their set list includes some of their greatest hits from the 1970s mixed with their dynamic new album.

Visit our other pages to prepare for MGK Big Gig 2025:

• Official Concert Page
• 9 Things To Know Before You Go

Take Me in Your Arms

I’ve tried my best to be strong, but I’m not able
I’m like a helpless child left in a cradle
Before you leave me behind let me feel happy one more time
Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while

Here to Love You

I’m here to love you, baby
No more loneliness
No more emptiness
I’m here to love you

Dependin’ on You

Darlin’, you’re always there at my rescue
Dependin’ on you
Darlin’, you’re always there by my side
You’re always there by my side
Darlin’, you’re always there at my rescue

Walk This Road

Walk this road with me
And we’ll see just where it goes
Long as we’re together
It’ll always take us home

Rockin’ Down The Highway

Got those highway blues, can’t you hear my motor runnin’
Flyin’ down the road with my foot on the floor
All the way in town they can hear me comin’
Ford’s about to drop, she won’t do no more

It Keeps You Runnin

I know what it means to hide your heart
From a long time ago
Oh, darlin’
It keeps you runnin’, yeah, it keeps you runnin’

Call Me

Oh, oh, darling
Call me when you need some cover
Call me when you need a friend
Yeah, it’s alright, when you first discover
We can’t do this alone
Call me
Call me

Minute By Minute

But minute by minute by minute by minute
I keep holding on (I’ll be holding on)
Oh (I’ll be holding on)
Minute by minute by minute by minute
I keep holding on (oh, baby)

Learn To Let Go

When you lose at love
This world may keep on turning
But it’s just gonna keep on hurting
‘Til you learn to let go, babe

Angels & Mercey

Angels and mercy
Won’t you let me inside?
Angels and mercy
Please, won’t you teach me to fly?

Without You

Baby, baby
I can’t live without you
Baby, baby
I can’t live without you no more

Jesus Is Just Alright (cover)

Jesus is just alright with me
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah

What A Fool Believes

Long Train Running

China Grove

The people of the town are strange
And they’re proud of where they came
Well, you talkin’ ’bout your China Grove

Encore:

Black Water

Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?

Amazing Grace (cover)

Takin’ It to the Streets

Telling me the things you’re gonna do for me
I ain’t blind and I don’t like what I think I see
Takin’ it to the streets
Takin’ it to the streets

Listen to the Music

Whoa-oh-whoa, listen to the music
All the time

Tickets still remain to see the Doobie Brothers at MGK Big Gig 2025 on their Walk This Road tour.

The post Doobie Brothers Set List for ‘Walk This Road’ Tour appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Iconic singer Jimmy Buffett passed away at age 76, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most energetic performers in history.

The Coral Reefer Band has begun its first national tour since Buffett passed away. Walk This Road includes a stop at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion for MGK Big Gig 2025 as the openers for the Doobie Brothers.

Long-time band member Mac McAnally shared a special nugget with Billboard.com about the band’s plan to honor Jimmy Buffett.

A Tribute From The Coral Reefer Band

Jimmy Buffett concerts became synonymous with tailgating, warm weather, and cold cocktails through decades of touring. While the Coral Reefer Band is back on the road nearly two years after Buffett’s death, a new lead singer just didn’t seem right to the surviving band members.

“There’s clearly no replacing him. We’re gonna leave his mic open in the center of the stage and his guitar on a stand. He specifically wanted the music to live on and we want the music to live on. I think it’s a great benefit to humanity for his music to live on.”

-Mac McAnally of the Coral Reefer Band

The empty portion of the stage will strike some emotion within the loyal crowd of Parrotheads that they probably haven’t felt during past concerts. The tailgating enthusiasts rocked every venue Buffett played for generations, including every single show on the Camden Waterfront.

Attending a show with a more contemporary band might bring a younger crowd to Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, but it won’t bring a bigger party.

“Jimmy built a fanbase that wasn’t based on hit records or selling anything in particular — although he was good at selling all kinds of things. But it was really based on a guy you knew was coming to town and was going to have at least as good a time as you. He was the happiest guy in the building most times we ever played, and that made people want to come and be connected to that. It is like a family reunion for his fans and the band to go sing these songs that brought so much joy.”

-Mac McAnally of the Coral Reefer Band

What a way for the openers to set the stage for MGK Big Gig 2025.

The Doobie Brothers will follow as the headliners of the Walk This Road tour after the Coral Reefer Band. They’ll feature Michael McDonald as the band’s lead singer back together with Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and John McFee for the first time in 40 years.

Join the Parrotheads and all the station’s listeners and staff at MGK Big Gig while tickets are still available.

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Many musicians have talked about the impact of the late Nirvana frontman. Billie Joe Armstrong once said of Cobain, “When someone goes that honestly straight to the core of who they are, what they’re feeling, and was able to kind of put it out there, I don’t know, man, it’s amazing. I remember hearing it when ‘Nevermind’ came out and just thinking, we’ve finally got our Beatles, this era finally got our Beatles, and ever since then it’s never happened again.”

Patti Smith said in 1996 she was happy a generation of young people had Nirvana growing up. She noted, “I didn’t know anything about Kurt’s torments or personal life. I saw the work and the energy, and I was excited by that.”

Surprisingly, Cobain also has a lot of love from the rap community. Complex gathered quotes from some of the biggest rappers of all time about how much they admire Cobain. Jay Z likened Cobain to artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, who also died at 27 and struggled with substance abuse.

The reach of Cobain has continued as Nirvana is always introduced to new generations. Dave Grohl said during an October 2023 appearance on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, “What I’ve realized is that kids these days, there’s like a window between the ages of 10 and 13 or maybe 11 and 14, where almost every kid goes through a Nirvana phase.”

This impact is why when Cobain-related items go up for auction, they sell for massive price tags. In the past decade, Cobain memorabilia has seemingly become a subset of the entire celebrity auction market.

Want proof? Check out these six items that sold big at auction.

His Hair

Let’s start with the weirdest (and grossest) piece of Cobain memorabilia that sold in recent years. In May 2021, Iconic Auctions sold six strands of the late Nirvana frontman’s hair for $14,145. Proceeds from the auction went to The Crew Nation Global Relief Fund for crew workers that were unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Per the item’s listing, “Supremely rare presentation of six strands of Kurt Cobain’s hair. Unique presentation on a 8.5” x 11” sheet includes six strands of Cobain’s blonde hair, the largest measuring approximately 2.5,” and housed in a small card with plastic overlay 1.75” x 2.” This one-of-a-kind artifact is entirely fresh-to-market, and accompanied by an impeccable lineage of provenance including images of Kurt posing with the woman who cut this hair, scissors in hand, and a fantastic shot of the hair actually being cut! The lucky friend who trimmed the Nirvana frontman’s iconic blonde locks, was an early confidant, Tessa Osbourne, who cut his hair in 1989—well prior to his “Nevermind” breakthrough—whilst on the “Bleach” Tour.”

A Used Paper Plate

Not far behind his hair is a used paper plate. (Seriously, we wish we were kidding!) In May 2019, Julien’s Auctions sold a used paper plate Cobain wrote a set list on for a 1990 Nirvana show at the 9:30 nightclub in Washington, D.C. The winning bid? $22,400!

Cobain’s Blockbuster Video Card

Here’s one that’ll hit you right in the nostalgia: In 2017, Julien’s Auctions sold Cobain’s Blockbuster Video card. The card was issued at a Los Angeles store location located at 1508 North Orange Grove. The card was estimated to sell for between $400-$600. It ended up selling for $2,187.50.

Cobain’s Cardigan from ‘MTV Unplugged’

Cobain’s olive-green mohair cardigan he wore during the band’s now-legendary appearance on MTV Unplugged sold via Julien’s Auctions in October 2019. It sold for a whopping $334,000. That winning bid made it the most expensive sweater to ever be sold at auction. Julien’s Auctions originally estimated that the Cobain sweater would sell for between $200,000-$300,000.

The 1969 Fender Mustang Competition Lake Placid blue finish electric guitar used in the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ music video

Originally estimated to sell between $600,000-$800,000, this unique piece of rock/music video history ended up selling for $4.5 million in May 2022. The electric guitar was yet another piece of Cobain memorabilia sold by Julien’s Auctions.

Per a press release from Julien’s Auctions, “The guitar was acquired by The Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis in a bidding war among collectors and bidders all across the globe who participated live at the Hard Rock Cafe® New York, online at juliensauctions.com and on the phone…In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Cobain family is donating a portion of the proceeds of the legendary guitar and select Kurt Cobain items to Kicking The Stigma, the Irsays’ initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the stigma associated with these illnesses.”

The 1959 Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric guitar Cobain played on ‘MTV Unplugged’

Last, but certainly not least, is this truly historic piece of Cobain memorabilia. In June 2020, Julien’s Auctions sold the 1959 Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric guitar Cobain played on MTV Unplugged. The guitar was estimated to sell for $1 million, but it ended up going for $6.01 million!

In the process, it set the following records: World’s Most Expensive Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Acoustic Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Martin Guitar, World’s Most Expensive Piece of Memorabilia and World’s Most Expensive Nirvana Memorabilia.

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We’ve been dedicating blocks at 10 am, 2 pm, and 6 pm to one album that’s made the list every weekday throughout the month of February.

From underrated picks like Abraxas by Santana to well-known charters like The Beatles‘ Abbey Road, we put together a list based on popularity, album sales, and critical acclaim for you to choose from.

Listen to MGK’s Top 20 all this month to see how your votes stack up.

HERE IS THE LIST SO FAR:

20. Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed

19. Aerosmith – Greatest Hits

18. Eagles – Greatest Hits

17. Guns n’Roses – Appetite For Destruction

16. Queen – A Night At The Opera

15. Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti

14. AC/DC – Back In Black

13. Beatles – Revolver

12. Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here

11. U2 – The Joshua Tree

10. Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street

9. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV

8. Who – Who’s Next

7. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

6. Boston – Boston

5. Meatloaf – Bat Out Of Hell

4. Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon

3. Beatles – White Album

2. Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run

1.Beatles – Abbey Road

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The post MGK Top 20 Classic Rock Albums Of All Time: The Final List appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

From Cheap Trick being the pride of Rockford, Ill. to John Mellencamp’s deep roots in Indiana, rock and roll isn’t just born on the coasts. You can find it in what some might dub “flyover country,” but these names prove this area of the United States should be anything but ignored.

Scroll below to see just a sample of the incredible rock and roll talent that came from the Midwest.

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The series aired on a regular basis from 1989-1999. From 2000-2009, the show was billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 and aired less frequently. There have only been limited Unplugged specials that have aired since 2009.

The very first episode of MTV Unplugged featured Squeeze, Syd Straw and Elliot Easton. In the years that followed, some of the biggest names in music took to the Unplugged stage to wow fans with their stripped-down performance. These artists included Aerosmith, Elton John, Paul McCartney, R.E.M. Eric Clapton, Nirvana, Annie Lennox and more. (Frankly, that small list of artists doesn’t even scratch the surface of some of the icons that went “Unplugged.”)

So…Many…Honors

MTV Unplugged performances were often released as albums. Including recordings from MTV Brasil, there have been over 100 MTV Unplugged albums released from 1991-2020.

The ’90s truly saw a boom of artists taking part in the show. On top of that, many of the albums released from MTV Unplugged episodes went on to be platinum hits. Among the artists to score a platinum album from their MTV Unplugged performances include Mariah Carey, Tony Bennett, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Shakira, Lauryn Hill and more. Carey even had a No. 1 hit from her special thanks to her cover of The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There.”

Additionally, the show received a Peabody Award in 1994. In a synopsis about why the series earned the honor, the Peabody Awards noted, “‘MTV Unplugged’ has brought the unique talents of some of our finest contemporary artists to center stage. Recordings of these sessions have become influential in their own right.”

With all of this in mind, here’s our list of 10 unplugged albums everyone should own.

Eric Clapton – ‘Unplugged’ (1992)

Clapton’s Unplugged was a massive commercial and critical success. The LP won six Grammy Awards in 1993: Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song for the acoustic version of “Layla” and Album of the Year. Clapton’s Unplugged has sold a whopping 26 million copies worldwide. Of course, we’d be remiss in not mentioning the Unplugged version of “Tears in Heaven,” which remains devastatingly moving to this day.

Nirvana – ‘MTV Unplugged in New York’ (1994)

Recorded just five months before the untimely passing of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana’s performance would later be released as the live LP MTV Unplugged in New York.  It was Nirvana’s first release following Cobain’s death, and it would go on to win the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.

Alice In Chains – ‘MTV Unplugged’ (1996)

Equal parts extraordinary and bitter-sweet, AIC’s 1996 performance on MTV Unplugged was the band’s first performance together in over two years due to Layne Staley’s issues with drug abuse.  It would also be one of the band’s last high-profile gigs with Staley. In spite of that and Jerry Cantrell famously battling food poisoning, AIC’s set served as a reminder of why they were the first band to really break out of the fruitful Seattle music scene. 

Rod Stewart – ‘Unplugged…and Seated’ (1993)

Stewart’s appearance on MTV Unplugged also featured former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood and marked the first time in about two decades they shared the stage together. The album features unplugged versions of some of Stewart’s biggest hits, including “Hot Legs” and “Maggie May.” The LP also features moving covers of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” and Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately.”

Page and Plant – ‘No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded’ (1994)

No Quarter was a 90-minute special for MTV featuring a reunited Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. While there were some electric elements, this performance also received some extra oomph thanks to string and orchestra musicians local to Morocco, Wales and London where the special had been recorded. A number of Led Zeppelin tunes made up the tracklisting including “Kashmir,” “The Battle of Evermore” and “That’s The Way.” 

Pearl Jam – ‘MTV Unplugged’ (2020)

Pearl Jam simply crushes it in this set from March 1992, about seven months after the release of Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten. The band’s Unplugged set would finally get an official release as part of Record Store Day in 2019.

KISS – ‘KISS Unplugged’ (1996)

KISS’ 1995 appearance on Unplugged featured the four original band members on stage together for the first time since the late ’70s. It was so popular that it led to KISS’ famed 1996 reunion tour.

Bob Dylan – ‘MTV Unplugged’ (1995)

The iconic singer-songwriter recorded his performance for MTV Unplugged in November 1994. The album release of the performance came out in May 1995 and featured some of Dylan’s biggest songs including “The Times They Are a-Changin’.”

Neil Young – ‘Unplugged’ (1993)

Recorded in February 1993 and released just four months later, Young’s Unplugged set also featured some of his most classic tunes. Among them were “Harvest Moon” and “The Needle and the Damage Done.”

Paul McCartney – ‘Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)’ (1991)

Fun fact about Sir Paul’s appearance on Unplugged: It was completely unplugged.  Most other performances featured artists playing acoustically with the help of amps. It was also one of the first performances in the show’s history.

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He came to fame as the beloved powerhouse drummer of Nirvana, but after the band dissolved, who could have predicted that he’d become one of the most enduring singer/songwriters in rock music for decades to come? He’s led the Foo Fighters for a quarter-century, through numerous lineups and pop culture changes; they remain one of the most popular rock bands in America.

Foo Fighters started out as a one man band: Dave Grohl plays all the instruments on the band’s 1995 self-titled debut (other than “X-Static,” which featured guitar from Greg Dulli from the Afghan Whigs). But by the time the album came out, he put a band together: former Germs guitarist Pat Smear (who had been a touring member of Nirvana), and former Sunny Day Real Estate members Nate Mendel on bass and William Goldsmith on drums. The lineup has changed and grown over the decades but they’ve been one of rock’s most reliable acts, when it comes to putting out great albums with radio hits, and playing huge concerts.

From raging punk and metal-inspired rock tunes to beautiful ballads, here are our 43 favorite Foo Fighters jams.

RELATED: Foo Fighters: 17 Gifts Ideas That Won’t Get The Best Of You

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Bowie was truly one of a kind. He had a fearlessness about him. He took on nearly every project with gusto, even later in his career when he didn’t have anything else to really prove. At the same time, Bowie had a remarkable sense of humor. Honestly, it was almost unfair someone that musically gifted was also so incredibly funny. Add on top of everything that he was also good looking, and it’s easy that as a fan, you could be jealous of him.

One of Bowie’s most admirable traits was his ability to take risks. He was seemingly always up for a challenge and never wanted to take the easy way out. He also had a unique outlook on the world and technology and how the two worked in concert together. Much like with his music, Bowie was seemingly several steps ahead of most people on this front, too.

On top of all of this, Bowie wasn’t afraid to speak out against injustice or be willing to have difficult conversations. This is a prime example of his fearlessness, and there’s really not enough of that in the world today.

Until the very end, Bowie kept fans guessing and kept surprising fans. Not many artists — regardless of their medium — could say they did the same. All of these aspects and more are represented in the five moments below.

The clips below are as diverse as Bowie himself. While it’s difficult to summarize someone like Bowie in just five videos, we feel these clips offer a look at the late rock star through a broad lens. Enjoy! We think Bowie would do the same.

5. He could have a laugh and not take himself too seriously.

Make no mistake that Bowie was an artist’s artist, but the man was funny, too. Just look at this compilation of moments he had with Conan O’Brien for proof.

4. He’s half responsible for the best rendition of a Christmas classic

So many artists have covered Christmas classics, but few are responsible for the best renditions. Think about it: Is it really Christmas without listening to Bowie and Bing Crosby’s version of “The Little Drummer Boy (Peace On Earth)?” The answer you’re looking for is “No.”

3. He had the foresight of what the Internet would do to/for society

This clip from BBC Newsnight from 1999 of Bowie talking about the Internet is so spot-on, it’s chilling. Bowie’s intelligence often doesn’t get enough attention.

2. He wasn’t afraid to take on MTV

Bowie had a bone to pick with MTV in a 1983 interview and rightfully so. In a video that was released by MTV shortly after his death, Bowie bluntly asks VJ Mark Goodman why there were so few black artists played on the network. Bowie didn’t just bite one of the hands that fed him; he pretty much gnawed it off and spit it out.

1. He said goodbye in epic fashion

No one knew it until it was too late, but Bowie’s final studio album Blackstar was his way of saying goodbye to all of his fans.  It was devastating and ridiculously cool all at the same time.  Blackstar would debut at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. It was his first number one album ever on the chart.  What a way to go out.

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Here is a brief explainer on the various levels of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Per the U.K.’s official Honours System website, the following are the five title distinctions in order of importance the British Monarchy can bestow upon individuals for their non-combative contributions to the U.K.:

–Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE): “Achievement or service in and to the community which is outstanding in its field and has delivered sustained and real impact which stands out as an example to others.”

–Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE): “Distinguished regional or county-wide role in any field, through achievement or service to the community including notable practitioners known nationally.”

–Commander of the British Empire (CBE): “A prominent national role of a lesser degree, a conspicuous leading role in regional affairs through achievement or service to the community, or a highly distinguished, innovative contribution in his or her area of activity.”

–Damehood/Knighthood (DBE/KBE): “A pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity (usually, but not exclusively, at national level), or in a capacity which will be recognized by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally and demonstrates sustained commitment.”

–Dame/Knight Grand Cross (GBE): “Grand Cross is the highest class in many of the Orders.”

Typically, the head monarch will unveil these honors as part of every New Year. Additionally, their birthday also serves as a time to unveil new additions to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. People can be nominated via a special form.

With those definitions and information in mind, here are 13 iconic musicians knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

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He had everything: Talent, charisma and looks to spare. Even looking back at the earliest performances of his career will make you feel all tingly. Some people just have that magical “It” factor, and Elvis certainly had that, too.

“The King” remains one of the best-selling artists in music history selling about 400 million records worldwide. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), 139 million of those records were sold in the United States. The only other artists to out-sell him in the United States are Garth Brook and The Beatles, who’ve sold 157 million and 183 million records, respectively.

The influence of Elvis is an incredible ripple effect. Notably, he was a massive influence on The Beatles. Paul McCartney is notably quoted saying, “When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted to be was Elvis Presley.” John Lennon concurred and was quoted saying, “Nothing affected me until I heard Elvis. Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles.”

Even contemporaries recognized the magic of Elvis. Little Richard once said, “Elvis was God-given, there’s no other explanation. A Messiah comes around every few thousand years, and Elvis was it this time.”

To celebrate his life and career, check out the videos below. Long live “The King.”

‘Jailhouse Rock’

Out of all the musical performances from Elvis’ film career, this is probably the best one. There weren’t any special effects, but there sure was a lot of electricity. Over six decades later, this clip still holds up.

‘Elders React To Elvis Presley’

Honestly, watching some of these women swoon will kind of make you do the same. It’s nothing short of hilarious to hear these seniors recall what their parents thought of Elvis. It’s funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

‘Elvis, Aloha From Hawaii’

Satellite technology was still pretty new when Aloha From Hawaii premiered in 1973. It was definitely a sign of the future. An estimated 1-1.5 billion people tuned in to see Elvis in that infamous white jumpsuit.

Anything from ‘The ’68 Comeback Special’

Seriously, the entire “’68 Comeback Special” is gold. It’s hard to pick a favorite performance, but this rendition of “One Night” is rather amazing. Never forget that “The King” could sing. What a voice!

Graceland Candlelight Vigil

Graceland hosts a beautiful candlelight vigil during “Elvis Week” to honor the anniversary of Presley’s passing. The event has been livestreamed for years. You can see a clip from this year’s vigil below.

Tour of ‘The Guest House’

Speaking of Graceland, “The Guest House,” an Elvis resort in Memphis, opened in 2016. Honestly, we’ve now added it to our “Bucket List.” Check out a tour of the hotel below. It’s simply stunning!

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We opened the parameters a bit, including songs that he wrote for other artists (Iggy Pop and Mott the Hoople); Tin Machine was fair game, as were remixes of his songs and so were collaborations. And as always, it was difficult to cut the list off at 40, so some of our favorites just missed the cut.

The post David Bowie: His 40 Greatest Songs appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

With this in mind, we thought we’d look back at eight crazy nights in rock history. Enjoy and Happy Hanukkah!

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A Night to Remember With Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Electric Atmosphere

From the moment the band took the stage, the Bottle & Cork was charged with an electric atmosphere. The intimate setting of the venue allowed fans to experience the band’s energy up close, creating a connection that’s hard to find in larger venues. To the left of the stage, there was an elevated cement surface that fans (me!) used to dance along and get a better view of the stage.

Unforgettable Hits

The setlist was a perfect mix of the band’s greatest hits and fan favorites, including “I’m Not Your Man” and “If We Never Meet Again.” Each song was met with enthusiastic cheers and sing-alongs, proving the lasting impact of their music.

Tommy Conwell’s Stage Presence

Tommy Conwell’s charisma and stage presence were undeniable. His gritty vocals and masterful guitar work captivated the audience, while the Young Rumblers provided tight, energetic backing. Their chemistry on stage was palpable, and their performance was polished yet spontaneous, keeping the crowd engaged from start to finish.

Memorable Encore

The night was filled with memorable moments, but one of the many encores stood out – a powerful rendition of “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band, featuring Chris Day on guitar. This surprise performance was a highlight of the evening, adding a unique touch to an already incredible show.

Perfect Venue

Bottle & Cork, with its rich history of hosting incredible live music, proved to be the perfect venue for this memorable night. Pictured above, The Wall of Fame, includes signatures of artists such as Todd Rundgren, The Struts, Cheap Trick, and of course a personal favorite as you might be able to tell from the emblem on my jacket, The Hooters!

Final Thoughts Of The Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers Show

The Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers concert at Bottle & Cork was more than just a performance; it was an experience that highlighted the enduring appeal of true rock ‘n’ roll. For those lucky enough to attend, it was a night of nostalgia, energy, and pure musical magic.

Fans are already looking forward to the next opportunity to see Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers live. If this concert was any indication, their future shows promise to be just as thrilling.

The post Concert Review: Tommy Conwell And The Young Rumblers Rock The Bottle & Cork In Dewey Beach appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Of course, I was more than a little excited at the prospect of chatting with Ringo once again! He and I have had some wonderful conversations over the years, and this ZOOM call would be a cool new way to interact with one my my musical heroes.

Not Your Every Day Press Conference

I clicked the invite to see what it was all about. As it turned out, this was to be one of the more interesting press conferences I’ve attended. When I clicked the invitation, I saw that I was asked to submit my questions in advance (not an uncommon practice) and, if selected, my question would be read aloud by the moderator of the press conference. Ahh, I get it. We are attending the press conference, but are not exactly actively involved. It makes sense from an orderly standpoint. It’s much easier than a bunch of Ringo fans hitting the “raise your hand” button. It also should prevent lame or previously asked questions (although that did happen a few times here!)

Electronics and I have a long time love/hate relationship, so I signed into the meeting a little extra early, just in case there were any issues. I got in with no problem, thankfully. A moment or two after 1:00 ET, on popped Ringo Starr! I tell you, it never gets old when you’re face to face with a Beatle, even if it is virtually! He looked great and was stationed in his studio at his L.A. home.

Ringo Answers My Question!

There was no way of seeing who else was attending, so I had to listen to each question to find out. Lo and behold, the first question came from The Philadelphia Inquirer, and it was a comment about how good he looked (which he did!) Then, MY QUESTION was asked!! Yes the moderator, Ringo’s publicist Elizabeth Freund, switched up our call letters, but I didn’t care. Ringo gave me a long and wonderful answer that went in a few different directions. His answer was so long, he forgot if he even answered my question! It was classic Ringo and I was beyond thrilled:

Ringo also chatted about his love for country music, the newly-re-released Let It Be film, why he likes releasing EPs (though me mentioned he has a full length country album in the can), and his home studio setup. One thing that really surprised me about this ZOOM press conference was how long it lasted. I don’t know why, but I thought Ringo would get bored after about 15 minutes. He was anything but bored, totally engaged, cracking his usual witty lines, and it really looked like he was enjoying himself.

It was nice to hear questions from some Beatle people I know. Mitch Axelrod, from his excellent podcast Fab 4 Free 4 All, got a question in, as did another well known Beatles radio host and podcaster, Ken Michaels. It was the excellent musician and writer Jeff Slate who asked the question about Ringo’s home studio setup. Questions came in from all over the world, which I could see pleased Ringo.

Big thanks to Elizabeth Freund and Patrice Fehlen at Beautiful Day Media for making this Q&A possible, and thanks to my long time friend Ike Richman for getting me in!

Ringo Starr’s latest EP is called Crooked Boy. Click to get the CD or the 12″ vinyl.

Ringo Starr And His All-Starr Band rock the TD Pavilion at The Mann Center on September 24. Get your tickets here.

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In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Gramm is grateful for the song’s success and even says he loves it, but he didn’t like how the power ballad “pigeon-holed us into something” that Foreigner wasn’t.

Gramm was then asked about what Foreigner’s induction could look like, since those sets are typically three songs. Interestingly, he said the set might be only two songs and that Foreigner has 12 minutes to perform.

Gramm added, “And I heard there’s going to be a segment of the induction where people like Pete Frampton and a number of other people will say why they think we should have been in, and how glad they are that we are. That’ll leave us with about six minutes left, so I heard we’re going to play one song.”

With only one song to play, Gramm indicated that Foreigner’s performance could be only “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which doesn’t make him happy, considering the band’s other notable hits. While Gramm acquiesces that “I Want to Know What Love Is” will likely be highlighted, he did say if things get switched around and there’s time for a second song, “Juke Box Hero” would be a great option.

When is the Rock Hall 2024 Induction Ceremony?

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. As previously reported, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement, “Rock & Roll is an ever-evolving amalgam of sounds that impacts culture and moves generations. This diverse group of inductees each broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

For the first time this year, the Rock Hall induction class was announced on American Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest and judge/2022 Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie did the honors.

The Rock Hall noted in a press release, “Four out of the eight inductees in the Performer category were on the ballot for the first time, including Cher, Foreigner, Kool & the Gang and Peter Frampton.” However, it should also be noted that Ozzy Osbourne was on the ballot for the first time as a solo artist, despite being eligible since 2005.

The post Lou Gramm Has Mixed Feelings About ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Of course, there are plenty of musicians who still should be inducted into the Rock Hall, period, let alone multiple times. According to Osbourne, Motorhead should “definitely” be in.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne calls late Motorhead frontman/friend Lemmy Kilmister “the ultimate metal guy.” He added, “What I liked about Lemmy is he didn’t give a fuck who you were. If you asked him a question, he’d tell you what he thought.”

Motorhead has been eligible for the Rock Hall since 2003. Unfortunately, they’ve only been nominated once in 2020.

Interestingly, Ozzy expressed to Rolling Stone that he was happy Mary J. Blige and Cher are part of the 2024 Rock Hall class and said Cher “should have gotten in years ago.” He expressed similar sentiments about Foreigner, even though he considers the current lineup “like a cover band.” Ozzy also thinks Mariah Carey, who was nominated for the 2024 class, should get in one day.

In March, Ozzy told Rolling Stone, “It’s an honor that I’m nominated, but I’m not expecting to get in. There’s Mariah Carey, there’s Cher, Lenny Kravitz. I’m up against some serious people.”

When is the Rock Hall 2024 Induction Ceremony?

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. As previously reported, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement, “Rock & Roll is an ever-evolving amalgam of sounds that impacts culture and moves generations. This diverse group of inductees each broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

For the first time this year, the Rock Hall induction class was announced on American Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest and judge/2022 Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie did the honors.

The Rock Hall noted in a press release, “Four out of the eight inductees in the Performer category were on the ballot for the first time, including Cher, Foreigner, Kool & the Gang and Peter Frampton.” However, it should also be noted that Ozzy Osbourne was on the ballot for the first time as a solo artist, despite being eligible since 2005.

The post Ozzy Osbourne Wants Motorhead In The Rock Hall appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The dark, anthemic song comes with an apocalyptic music video that is very bizarre and almost too strange for words. It really has to be watched, because there’s a lot going on. All we’ll say is the end involves snorting ashes and feels like a wild fever dream.

“Dogs of War” is available for streaming/download here.

A New Chapter for Motley Crue

When “Dogs of War” was first announced earlier this week, the band said the song was “the start of a brand new chapter.” Obviously, without Mars in the picture, this is definitely a brand new chapter in that sense. However, the single also marks the first release from the Crue on a new label.

It was also announced this week that Motley Crue has signed with Big Machine Records. In a statement, Big Machine Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta said, “Growing up in Southern California, I was in Hollywood when these new sheriffs showed up and took over the city. It was loud. It was powerful. It was game changing. Vince, Nikki, and Tommy, along with new guitarist John 5, have reignited the flame with ferocious new Crüe music. Fans will unite… SHOUT!”

The band added in their own joint statement, “We are thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of our new music through Big Machine Records. Scott’s been a friend and supporter of the band for a long time … We’re very happy to know our new music will be in the best of hands with Scott and his exceptional team at Big Machine.”

A Breakdown of Mick Mars Exiting Motley Crue

Things in the Crue camp and with Mars have been a bit wild since the guitarist retired from touring in October 2022. Mars filed a lawsuit in April 2023 against Mötley Crüe alleging his percentage of band profits was cut from 25 percent to 5 percent.

Mars claimed in his lawsuit the band held a meeting to “unilaterally” remove him from Mötley Crüe. He was also allegedly removed from many of the band’s various corporations and LLCs.

Additionally, Mars claims bassist Nikki Sixx repeatedly “gaslighted” the guitarist. Sixx told Mars he consistently forgot chords and fans were complaining about his playing. (Mars claimed in the lawsuit Sixx “did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour” and accused him of using backing tracks and pantomiming.

Motley Crue Responds to Mick Mars’ Lawsuit

This led to Motley Crue issuing a statement in response to Mars’ lawsuit calling it “unfortunate and completely off-base.” The band said, in part, “In 2008, Mick voted for and signed an agreement in which he and every other band member agreed that ‘in no event shall any resigning shareholder be entitled to receive any monies attributable to live performances (i.e., tours).’ After the last tour, Mick publicly resigned from Motley Crue. Despite the fact that the band did not owe Mick anything — and with Mick owing the band millions in advances that he did not pay back — the band offered Mick a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band.”

Furthermore, Motley Crue insisted they always perform live without backing tracks and stood by the claim Mars’ playing was declining. Mars then told Variety in an interview following news of the lawsuit, “Those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me. He added, ” … It’s just frustrating for me. I’m pretty upset that they’re even pulling this crap, when I carried these bastards for years.”

This led to Crue manager Allen Kovac to speak at length to Variety. Kovac referred to Mars’ entire legal strategy as “a smear campaign … misrepresenting the facts to the fans.” He further noted, “What’s upsetting to me is not Mick, but his representatives, who have guided Mick to say and do harmful things to the brand he cares about so much, Mötley Crüe. He has a degenerative disease and people are taking advantage of him. It’s called elder abuse.”

Variety reached out to Mars’ attorney Edwin F. McPherson for comment on Kovac’s numerous statements. McPherson said of the lawsuit, “This is all Mick. He is tired of being bullied. This is nobody driving the train here but Mick.”

A Legal Victory For Mick Marks, But There’s a Twist

In January, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant ruled that the Crue should have disclosed the corporate documents Mars requested, which was at the center of his lawsuit. Additionally, Judge Chalfant ruled that the Crue needs to cover Mars’ legal fees from this ordeal.

However, now that the corporate documents requested have been handed over, Judge Chalfant ruled Mars’ lawsuit as “moot,” which Motley Crue’s legal team is viewing as a victory. Meanwhile, Mars’ legal rep said the matter of whether the guitarist was illegally squeezed from the band will still be determined during private arbitration later in 2024.

The post Motley Crue: Hear First Post-Mick Mars Single ‘Dogs of War’ appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

According to PEOPLE, Jon Bon Jovi said he invited the guitarist to his home to screen the four-part docuseries. However, a source close to Sambora told the outlet, “Richie flew out to see Jon and brought him a birthday present — a really nice guitar — but they screened Jon’s documentary instead.”

Apparently, Sambora left this screening early and only made it through three episodes. This source tells PEOPLE, “He disagrees with how they framed his departure from the band and to him, the currency of happiness is more important than the currency of money.”

PEOPLE also reports that in the docuseries, Sambora expresses regret for how he left the band in 2013 and specifically apologizes to the fans.

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story premieres on Hulu tomorrow (April 26).

The Chance of Richie Sambora Returning to Bon Jovi

The buzz around the Bon Jovi docuseries undoubtedly has given fans some hope that maybe Sambora could return, especially since he participated in it. Unfortunately, it seems like that reunion is just not in the cards, which is likely very disappointing to the band’s legions of fans.

Last month, JBJ basically crushed any hope fans had about Sambora returning in an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock. The singer told the outlet that he and Sambora haven’t been in contact, despite both participating in Thank You, Goodnight. Bon Jovi shared that Sambora’s interview portions were filmed in London, and he wasn’t there. The frontman also noted at that time that he hadn’t seen the complete docuseries.

“We’re not in contact because he’s not in the organization any longer,” said JBJ. “Doesn’t mean that there’s not love forever, but it’s 11 years ago that he just didn’t show up anymore.”

The last time Sambora spoke on the potential of rejoining Bon Jovi was in September 2023 on an episode of Shred with Shifty, a podcast hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett. Sambora said he and Jon Bon Jovi have spoken on the phone about it. He added, “There’s a demand out there for it, you know — especially outside of the USA.”

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The truncated rendition of the tune can be seen below. Before the performance, Ann Wilson shared how “Crazy on You” was the first song she ever sang in a recording studio, which blew Clarkson’s mind.

Wilson noted, “I didn’t have a bunch of technique or anything yet, but I definitely felt how to say certain words, how to jump in early sometimes, how to ‘blue note’ things… just feel that kind of stuff.”

Heart, of course, recently kicked off their latest batch of tour dates, which run through out the rest of 2024. Their next show is tonight (April 25) in Hollywood, Fla. A full list of upcoming tour dates is below.

Heart – 2024 Tour Dates

April 25 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live (in Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood)
April 26 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
April 28 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (multi-act event)
May 1 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center (special guest TBD)
May 3 – Thackerville, OK @ Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino and Resort
May 4 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
May 7 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
May 10 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
May 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
May 13 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
May 15 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
May 17 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
May 18 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
May 21 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
May 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
May 24 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live
Jul 30 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 1 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
Aug 2 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 5 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 7 – Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre
Aug 8 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug 10 – Albany, NY @ MVP Arena
Aug 11 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
Aug 13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center
Aug 15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
Aug 16 – Hinckley, MN @ Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater
Aug 18 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Aug 21 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
Aug 23 – Charleston, WV @ Charleston Coliseum
Aug 24 – Knoxville, TN @ Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center
Aug 27 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
Aug 28 –  Allentown, PA @ The Great Allentown Fair
Sept 17 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
Sept 20 – West Valley City, UT @ Maverik Center
Sept 22 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre (special guest TBD)
Sept 26 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sept 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Sept 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Oct 2 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
Oct 4 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Oct 5 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Oct 8 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Oct 10 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Oct 12 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Oct 14 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Oct 16 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
Oct 17 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
Oct 19 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
Oct 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Nov 13 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at BJCC
Nov 14 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
Nov 16 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena
Nov 19 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Nov 21 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The MARK
Nov 22 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
Nov 24 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Nov 27 – Saskatoon, SK – Sasktel Centre
Nov 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Nov 30 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Dec 3 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec 5 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Dec 7 – Boise, ID – Extra Mile Arena
Dec 9 – Sacramento, CA – Golden1 Center
Dec 12 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Arena (special guest TBA)
Dec 13 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
Dec 15 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas (An Evening With)

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Corgan purchased the legendary NWA in 2017, which has led to the creation of the weekly show NWA Powerrr and the docuseries Ten Pounds of Gold.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman said in a statement to Deadline, “Rebuilding the historic NWA brand has been both an honor and challenge, and this show opens the doors wide so to speak. To reveal the glory and the grit needed to thrive in a winner-take-all sport, it’s not always pretty, but I’m proud of what we have accomplished thus far.”

In addition to following his wrestling exploits, Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland also follows Corgan as he juggles his wrestling commitments with his music commitments, in addition to his married life and being a father of two.

Billy Corgan and His Busy Summer

Corgan has a schedule that few would envy. In addition to all of his other responsibilities, he has a packed touring schedule in North America this summer. On top of headlining shows, the Smashing Pumpkins are also providing support on Green Day’s Saviors Tour. A complete list of the band’s headlining and supporting dates is below.

7/29 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park*
7/31 – Muskoka, ON – Kee to Bala
8/1 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre*
8/3 – Montreal, Quebec – Osheaga Festival
8/4 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Bank Amphitheatre
8/5 – New York, NY – Citi Field*
8/7 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park*
8/9 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park*
8/10 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium*
8/13 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field*
8/14 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
8/16 – Springfield, IL – Illinois State Fair
8/17 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field*
8/20 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
8/21 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/22 – Cincinnati, OH – Great American Ballpark*
8/24 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field*
8/27 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
8/28 – Atlanta, GA – Truist Park*
8/30 – Nashville, TN – Geodis Park*
9/1 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park*
9/4 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park*
9/7 – Denver, CO – Coors Field*
9/10 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheatre at Snowden Grove
9/11 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field*
9/14 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium*
918 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field*
9/20 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park*
9/21 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort
9/23 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park*
9/24 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
9/25 – Portland, OR – Providence Park*
9/27 – Las Vegas, NV – BleauLive Theater inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas at Fontainebleau
9/28 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park*

*The Saviors Tour with Green Day

The post Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland: Details on New Show appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

On Sunday, April 21, nearly everyone was surprised to see that Jimmy Buffett is being honored by the Rock Hall. We’re not saying that he doesn’t deserve it. However, somehow, he’s never been on the ballot.

Buffett — alongside punk rock legends the MC5, legendary singer Dionne Warwick and songwriter Norman Whitfield — is being honored in the Musical Excellence category. That category tends to be for artists who have been on the ballot and have not been voted in, but the nominating committee wants to honor them.

Previous honorees include Judas Priest, LL Cool J, and Nile Rodgers of Chic. But while the MC5 and Dionne Warwick have been on the ballot in the past, Buffett has never even been nominated. Hence, the surprised reaction from many.

In some ways, it’s easy to see how he’s been overlooked. Buffett has kind of existed in his own universe, but he’s beloved by the more mellow side of classic rock. Over the past few decades, he’s become a massive influence on country music as well.

On the other hand, Buffett was certainly part of the Rolling Stone scene in the ’70s, along with Jackson Browne, the Eagles and Bonnie Raitt, all of whom have been Hall of Famers for years. Buffett was even featured on the cover. Rolling Stone‘s current and former staff used to guide the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the institution’s first few decades; it’s surprising that his name has never made the ballot.

Jimmy Buffett: More Than a Singer-Songwriter

Jimmy Buffett has one of the strongest “brands” in rock music, but that’s a sort of taboo thing to say in rock and roll (unless you’re KISS). His empire includes the theme restaurant Margaritaville Cafe, Margaritaville Foods, Landshark Lager, Margaritaville Tequila & Spirits, Margaritaville Footwear and more. Of course, we’re not talking about the branding hall of fame.

But Buffett got his unique standing in American culture because of his incredible catalog. Some of his songs are just fun, timeless party jams, like “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “Fins.” “Margaritaville,” of course, fits in that category, too. But that song is a bit deeper if you listen to the lyrics. He wrote some truly lovely ballads: “Come Monday,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” and “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” His final album, 2023’s Equal Strain On All Parts, had one of his best songs, and a lovely sendoff: “Bubbles Up.”

The Rock Hall seems to like it when you can make a case for an artist’s influence on current pop culture. Not sure how to make the case for Carole King? No problem: Taylor Swift will show up and make a speech. Mission accomplished. Does the Steve Miller Band translate to younger audiences? You don’t have to explain it: leave that to the Black Keys. (Although the Rock Hall may have miscalculated on the latter example; it didn’t turn out well.) In the case of Jimmy Buffett, though, there are tons of great choices.

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will stream live on Disney+ with an edited special airing on ABC at a later date, and the special will be available on Hulu the next day.

So: Who Should Induct Jimmy Buffett at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony?

The Eagles

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame usually chooses their presenters by determining who (a) has the most cultural impact and (b) has a connection to the honoree. The Eagles have both: they’re one of the most popular rock bands of all time, obviously. Buffett, in fact, presented the Eagles at their induction back in 1998. He noted that he started as a fan, and went on to be their opening act. Eagles bass player Timothy B. Schmit was actually a member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band after the Eagles broke up; the Eagles covered “Fins” and “Come Monday” at Madison Square Garden days after Buffett passed. They’d be a great choice to honor their fallen friend.

Zac Brown

Buffett has always had a big country influence in his music, and, in fact, tried to start his career as a country singer. Nashville wasn’t interested in him in the early ’70s, but country music caught up with him a few decades later. Zac Brown has certainly brought Buffett’s beach culture into his own music, and the two became friends and collaborators. They did a CMT Crossroads together, and have collaborated on new songs, including “Knee Deep” and a remix of “Same Boat.” More recently, Zac wrote a tribute to Buffett, “Pirates and Parrots,” which he recently performed at a Buffett tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl on April 11.

Kenny Chesney

You can’t talk about the connection between Jimmy Buffett and modern country music without mentioning Kenny Chesney. No one has brought country music to the beach more than him. His No Shoes Nation is a younger and more country version of Buffett’s faithful, the Parrotheads. His tribute to Buffett – a version of “A Pirate Looks At Forty,” accompanied by gently breaking waves – was one of the sweetest tributes to the man. He later performed it again at the CMAs. And as he told People, “He taught a lot of people about the poetry in just living, especially this kid from East Tennessee.” Buffett and Chesney collaborated on the song “Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season.”

Pitbull

Yeah, Pitbull. Every award show loves it when an icon influences someone outside of their genre. Pitbull — who, like Buffett, celebrates Florida and warm weather — is a Buffett fan and was a friend, too. His NSFW tribute, “Thank God & Jimmy Buffett,” is a country-influenced jam. At the beginning of the song he says, “Jimmy Buffett says it best: ‘When you lose yourself, is when you find the key to paradise.’ Rest in paradise, buddy!” Pitbull and Jon Bon Jovi performed the song at the Buffett tribute at the Hollywood Bowl, backed by the Coral Reefer Band.

Jack Johnson

Outside of Buffett (and Chesney), not many musicians are as associated with beach culture (and rabid fanbases) as Jack Johnson, a surfer and native of Hawaii. He’s covered “A Pirate Looks At Forty” over the years, including the above version, which also features Dave Matthews (the Dave Matthews Band is also being inducted this year).

Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead

Surely the guy who sang and played guitar to legions of Deadheads for decades has something to say about Buffett, whose Parrotheads were like a beachy, less jammy, less psychedelic version of the Grateful Dead’s tribe. Both artists were at the center of huge fan communities and did so without worrying about current trends in music or culture. We know that Buffett was a Dead fan. He not only covered “Scarlet Begonias,” and he also took part in a gorgeous all-star version of “Ripple.” And, as he told Andy Cohen, he and Jerry Garcia “Always wanted to play together, and see Deadheads and Parrotheads come together.” Bob Weir, as Jerry’s bandmate, might have a lot to say about Buffett.

The post Who Should Induct Jimmy Buffett Into The Rock Hall? appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Pinder’s death was confirmed in identical statements from Pinder’s family shared by both the Moody Blues and John Lodge’s Facebook pages. The statement reads, “Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family. Michael’s family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully.”

The statement continued, “His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.”

The statement concluded, “He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, ‘Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come.”

Pinder was the last surviving founding member of the Moody Blues. Original guitarist Denny Laine died in 2023 at age 79. Meanwhile, drummer Graeme Edge died in 2021 at age 80.

Looking Back on the Moody Blues Being Inducted into the Rock Hall

The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. They were one of a number of inductees in recent years who were finally inducted after being eligible for decades. In fact, the U.K. band had been eligible since 1990 for induction.

Ann Wilson of Heart did the honors of inducting the Moody Blues.

Backstage at the 2018 Rock Hall induction ceremony, Wilson said she campaigned the Rock Hall to induct the band saying, “I wrote a letter asking if I could induct them … When I was 16 and they released ‘Days of Future Passed’ in 1967, that was the album that really hit home in my soul, and I kept on listening. Their music had great melodies, fantastic poetry, great playing, philosophy, metaphysics. All of those things meant a lot to me then. Justin Hayward’s songwriting was the thing that inspired me to start writing songs. I just think they’re a fantastic band that has it all.”

Justin Hayward said in comments backstage how much the band’s loyal fans wanted them to be recognized by the Rock Hall. He said, “I think it’s validated the music that they love. They’ve given us a wonderful 50 years in music. They mean everything to us. We knew once they opened the door to our fans, it was going to be a steamroller and that they were going to take that opportunity.”

The Moody Blues’ performance during the induction ceremony included “Your Wildest Dreams,” “Nights in White Satin” and “Late Lament.”

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Due out on September 6 in Luck and Strange. A full tracklist is below, and the album is available for pre-order in a variety of formats at DavidGilmour.com. A teaser to Luck and Strange is also below.

The album announcement states Luck and Strange was recorded during a five-month period and produced by Gilmour and Charlie Andrew. Gilmour said of working with Andrew, “He’s very direct and not in any way overawed, and I love that. That is just so good for me because the last thing you want is people just deferring to you.”

As expected, lyrics were written by Polly Samson, Gilmour’s wife and collaborator for the past three decades. The overall theme of the album addresses growing older and how mortality is often top of mind as someone ages.

A number of musicians are featured on Luck and Strange, but Pink Floyd fans will be thrilled to find out the late keyboardist Richard Wright can be heard on the album’s title track. Wright’s recording is from a jam session in a barn on Gilmour’s residential property back in 2007.

David Gilmour – Luck and Strange – Tracklisting

Black Cat
Luck and Strange
The Piper’s Call
A Single Spark
Vita Brevis
Between Two Points (With Romany Gilmour)
Dark and Velvet Nights
Sings
Scattered

Perhaps the Coolest Fun Fact About David Gilmour

David Gilmour is one of rock’s most iconic guitarists of all time for multiple reasons, but perhaps one of those could be related to his classic solos on Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” from the band’s landmark album The Wall.

Bob Ezrin, who produced The Wall, shared in a June 2022 interview with Total Guitar that Gilmour’s magical second solo on “Comfortably Numb” was captured on the first take.

“It was so powerful when I heard it and saw him play it, it literally brought tears to my eyes – and it has many times since then,” recalls Ezrin. “Even though this is a record that I participated in, and by all rights by now should be fairly dry for me, that moment is still, for me, one of the most emotional moments in all of music.”

Apparently, Gilmour recorded multiple takes of that solo, but they never improved on that first take. It’s one of the reasons why Ezrin told Total Guitar that Gilmour was his favorite guitarist he’s ever worked with in his legendary career.

The post David Gilmour Announced First New Album in 9 Years appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Of course, this is a fact that many fans have realized in the 35 years since its release. While it’s something that I personally have known for years as well, it wasn’t until I literally sat down with the album that I discovered a newfound appreciation for a work I already loved.

After some intense internal struggle, here are all 12 songs from Full Moon Fever ranked.

Full Moon Fever Tracks Being Covered on Tom Petty Country Tribute Album

In February 2024, it was announced that a Tom Petty country tribute album was being released.

Aptly named Petty Country, the album is due out on May 31. The album features 20 tracks and an absolutely stacked roster of talent. Among the artists covering Petty are Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, Wynonna Judd, Lainey Wilson, George Strait, Dierks Bentley and more. Heartbreakers members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench also play on the album.

The album features four covers of songs from Petty’s Full Moon Fever: “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Yer So Bad” and “Free Fallin’.” A full track listing with artists is below.

Petty Country – Track Listing

1. “I Should Have Known It” – Chris Stapleton
2. “Wildflowers” – Thomas Rhett
3. “Runnin’ Down a Dream” – Luke Combs
4. “Southern Accents” – Dolly Parton
5. “Here Comes My Girl” – Justin Moore
6. “American Girl” – Dierks Bentley
7. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Lady A
8. “I Forgive It All” – Jamey Johnson
9. “I Won’t Back Down” – Brothers Osborne
10. “Refugee” – Wynonna Judd & Lainey Wilson
11. “Angel Dream #2” – Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson
12. “Learning to Fly” – Eli Young Band
13. “Breakdown” – Ryan Hurd feat. Carly Pearce
14. “Yer So Bad” – Steve Earle
15. “Ways to Be Wicked” – Margo Price & Mike Campbell
16. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Midland
17. “Free Fallin'” – The Cadillac Three feat. Breland
18. “I Need To Know” – Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
19. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Rhiannon Giddens feat. Benmont Tench
20. “You Wreck Me (Live)” – George Strait

12. “Alright For Now”

Musician Tom Petty performs at the Bridgestone halftime show during Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

11. “Depending on You”

Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performs on the main stage on day 2 of The Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on June 22, 2012 in Newport, Isle of Wight.

10. “The Apartment Song”

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers perform as part of the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on September 17, 2006 in Austin, Texas.

9. “A Mind with a Heart of its Own”

Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performs during first day of the 2006 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 16, 2006 in Manchester, Tennessee.

8. “Zombie Zoo”

Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performs during their 40th Anniversary Tour at Bridgestone Arena on April 25, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

7. “Feel a Whole Lot Better”

Tom Petty performs onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Tom Petty at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

6. “A Face in the Crowd”

Tom Petty attends Songwriters Hall Of Fame 47th Annual Induction And Awards at Marriott Marquis Hotel on June 9, 2016 in New York City.

5. “Yer So Bad”

Musician Tom Petty performs onstage during the 5th Annual Sean Penn & Friends HELP HAITI HOME Gala Benefiting J/P Haitian Relief Organization at Montage Hotel on January 9, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.

4. “Love Is a Long Road”

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers kick off their summer 2014 tour in support of their latest album ‘Hypnotic Eye’ at Viejas Arena on August 3, 2014 in San Diego, California.

3. “Free Fallin'”

Tom Petty performs onstage at the Firefly Music Festival at The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway on June 22, 2013 in Dover, Delaware.

2. “I Won’t Back Down”

Tom Petty of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performs on the main stage on day 2 of The Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park on June 22, 2012 in Newport, Isle of Wight.

1. “Runnin’ Down a Dream”

Tom Petty performs during the ‘Bridgestone Halftime Show’ at Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots on February 3, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The post ‘Full Moon Fever’: Every Song Ranked appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

That heavy question was asked of JBJ in a new interview with Classic Rock. It was a question he even admitted put him on the spot, but he did give an answer that might surprise some fans.

Bon Jovi said, “The first one that came to mind would be ‘These Days,’ which I guess nobody would ever think, but ‘These days, the stars seem out of reach/These days, there ain’t a ladder on the streets/These days are fast, nothing lasts in this graceless age/There ain’t nobody left but us these days’ – I think that sort of encapsulates where I am at this moment in time.”

Details About Jon Bon Jovi and His Vocal Chord Issues

In February, JBJ talked about his vocal issues while appearing at the Pollstar Live! conference. Per Ultimate Classic Rock, Bon Jovi said, “It’s become public knowledge now, but I’ve had major reconstructive surgery in my vocal cords, and I never had anything like this, ever. So it’s been a difficult road, but I found a doctor in Philadelphia who did something called a medialization, because one of my cords was literally atrophied.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, medialization is when a surgeon ” … places an implant into your paralyzed or weak vocal cord. The implant moves a nonfunctioning vocal cord toward the functioning one to allow for better voicing.”

Bon Jovi’s vocal struggles and more will be addressed in the new four-part docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. The docuseries premieres on Hulu on Friday, April 26.

How Will The Bon Jovi Docuseries Address Richie Sambora’s Exit?

The full trailer to the docuseries above seems to hint that Sambora’s sudden exit from Bon Jovi will be dealt with head-on.

At the beginning of the trailer, Sambora says, “I’m excited. Are we telling the truth or are we going to lie? What are going to do?” Later, the guitarist says regarding leaving the band, “I don’t regret leaving, but I regret how I did it.” JBJ is then heard saying, “Nobody expected Richie to quit in the middle of the night.”

Sambora, of course, left Bon Jovi in 2013. At the time, Sambora cited wanting to spend more time with his daughter, Ava, who is now 26. There’s a good chance Sambora will offer additional details about his exit in the docuseries.

The last time Sambora spoke on the potential of rejoining Bon Jovi was in September 2023 on an episode of Shred with Shifty, a podcast hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett. Sambora said he and Jon Bon Jovi have spoken on the phone about it. He added, “There’s a demand out there for it, you know — especially outside of the USA.”

The post Jon Bon Jovi: The Final Song He Would Sing appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The band announced the news via social media, writing, “Motley Crue return marking the start of a brand new chapter with our new song ‘Dogs of War’ available now for pre-order! Hitting all platforms 4/26.”

“Dogs of War” is available for pre-order/pre-save here.

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“Dogs of War” being described as “the start of a brand new chapter” for Crue is certainly interesting, considering everything that has played out since Mars retired from touring in October 2022. Days after the Mars announcement, John 5 was unveiled as the Crue’s new touring guitarist.

What Happened After Mick Mars Retired From Touring With Motley Crue?

Things in the Crue camp and with Mars have been a bit wild since the guitarist retired from touring in October 2022. Mars filed a lawsuit in April 2023 against Mötley Crüe alleging his percentage of band profits was cut from 25 percent to 5 percent.

Mars claimed in his lawsuit the band held a meeting to “unilaterally” remove him from Mötley Crüe. He was also allegedly removed from many of the band’s various corporations and LLCs.

Additionally, Mars claims bassist Nikki Sixx repeatedly “gaslighted” the guitarist. Sixx told Mars he consistently forgot chords and fans were complaining about his playing. (Mars claimed in the lawsuit Sixx “did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour” and accused him of using backing tracks and pantomiming.

Motley Crue Responds to Mick Mars’ Lawsuit

This led to Motley Crue issuing a statement in response to Mars’ lawsuit calling it “unfortunate and completely off-base.” The band said, in part, “In 2008, Mick voted for and signed an agreement in which he and every other band member agreed that ‘in no event shall any resigning shareholder be entitled to receive any monies attributable to live performances (i.e., tours).’ After the last tour, Mick publicly resigned from Motley Crue. Despite the fact that the band did not owe Mick anything — and with Mick owing the band millions in advances that he did not pay back — the band offered Mick a generous compensation package to honor his career with the band.”

Furthermore, Motley Crue insisted they always perform live without backing tracks and stood by the claim Mars’ playing was declining. Mars then told Variety in an interview following news of the lawsuit, “Those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me. He added, ” … It’s just frustrating for me. I’m pretty upset that they’re even pulling this crap, when I carried these bastards for years.”

This led to Crue manager Allen Kovac to speak at length to Variety. Kovac referred to Mars’ entire legal strategy as “a smear campaign … misrepresenting the facts to the fans.” He further noted, “What’s upsetting to me is not Mick, but his representatives, who have guided Mick to say and do harmful things to the brand he cares about so much, Mötley Crüe. He has a degenerative disease and people are taking advantage of him. It’s called elder abuse.”

Variety reached out to Mars’ attorney Edwin F. McPherson for comment on Kovac’s numerous statements. McPherson said of the lawsuit, “This is all Mick. He is tired of being bullied. This is nobody driving the train here but Mick.”

A Legal Victory For Mick Marks, But There’s a Twist

In January, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant ruled that the Crue should have disclosed the corporate documents Mars requested, which was at the center of his lawsuit. Additionally, Judge Chalfant ruled that the Crue needs to cover Mars’ legal fees from this ordeal.

However, now that the corporate documents requested have been handed over, Judge Chalfant ruled Mars’ lawsuit as “moot,” which Motley Crue’s legal team is viewing as a victory. Meanwhile, Mars’ legal rep said the matter of whether the guitarist was illegally squeezed from the band will still be determined during private arbitration later in 2024.

The post Motley Crue Releasing First New Song Since Mick Mars Split appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Wilson recalled in a new interview with Classic Rock how one of Heart’s first big gigs as a band was opening for Bachman-Turner Overdrive. However, even big gigs, when you’re first trying to become a rock star, can be lean. So, in order to really cash in on their opportunity, Heart actually would wait until BTO left their dressing room for the evening, and they would then steal all of their leftover food.

Wilson said, “They had a Thanksgiving spread in there every night; they were living the high, those guys, and it impressed us so much ’cause we were just these little starving musicians. We would go in there and eat the turkeys and whatever else we found.”

As fate would have it, the recently rebooted BTO is joining Heart on the road again in 2024. This time around, though, BTO will be opening for Heart. The Canadian icons will be joining Heart on the road on the following four dates:

Nov 24 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Nov 27 – Saskatoon, SK – Sasktel Centre
Nov 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Nov 30 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome

As for Heart, they have quite the 2024 ahead of them, chock-full of tour dates, which kicked off on April 20. The rest of their tour dates are below.

Heart – 2024 Tour Dates

April 22 – Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
April 25 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live (in Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood)
April 26 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
April 28 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (multi-act event)
May 1 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center (special guest TBD)
May 3 – Thackerville, OK @ Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino and Resort
May 4 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
May 7 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
May 10 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
May 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
May 13 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
May 15 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
May 17 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
May 18 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
May 21 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
May 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
May 24 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live
Jul 30 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 1 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
Aug 2 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 5 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 7 – Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre
Aug 8 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug 10 – Albany, NY @ MVP Arena
Aug 11 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
Aug 13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center
Aug 15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
Aug 16 – Hinckley, MN @ Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater
Aug 18 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Aug 21 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
Aug 23 – Charleston, WV @ Charleston Coliseum
Aug 24 – Knoxville, TN @ Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center
Aug 27 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
Aug 28 –  Allentown, PA @ The Great Allentown Fair
Sept 17 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
Sept 20 – West Valley City, UT @ Maverik Center
Sept 22 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre (special guest TBD)
Sept 26 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sept 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Sept 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Oct 2 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
Oct 4 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Oct 5 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Oct 8 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Oct 10 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Oct 12 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Oct 14 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Oct 16 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
Oct 17 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
Oct 19 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
Oct 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Nov 13 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at BJCC
Nov 14 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
Nov 16 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena
Nov 19 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Nov 21 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The MARK
Nov 22 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
Nov 24 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Nov 27 – Saskatoon, SK – Sasktel Centre
Nov 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Nov 30 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Dec 3 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec 5 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Dec 7 – Boise, ID – Extra Mile Arena
Dec 9 – Sacramento, CA – Golden1 Center
Dec 12 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Arena (special guest TBA)
Dec 13 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
Dec 15 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas (An Evening With)

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As previously reported, the Rock Hall 2024 class is as follows:

Performer Category

• Mary J. Blige
• Cher
• Dave Matthews Band
• Foreigner
• Peter Frampton
• Kool & The Gang
• Ozzy Osbourne
• A Tribe Called Quest

Musical Influence Award

(Given to a performing artist or group whose music and performance style have directly influenced and helped inspire and evolve rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture.)  

• Alexis Korner
• John Mayall
• Big Mama Thornton

Musical Excellence Award

(Given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.)

• Jimmy Buffett
• MC5
• Dionne Warwick
• Norman Whitfield

Ahmet Ertegun Award

(Given to non-performing industry professionals who, through their dedicated belief and support of artists and their music have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture. ) 

• Suzanne de Passe

When is the Rock Hall 2024 Induction Ceremony?

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. As previously reported, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement, “Rock & Roll is an ever-evolving amalgam of sounds that impacts culture and moves generations. This diverse group of inductees each broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

For the first time this year, the Rock Hall induction class was announced on American Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest and judge/2022 Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie did the honors.

The Rock Hall noted in a press release, “Four out of the eight inductees in the Performer category were on the ballot for the first time, including Cher, Foreigner, Kool & the Gang and Peter Frampton.” However, it should also be noted that Ozzy Osbourne was on the ballot for the first time as a solo artist, despite being eligible since 2005.

Ozzy Osbourne

The Prince of Darkness spoke with Billboard about his induction as a solo artist. He noted how this honor “feels different” compared to being inducted with Black Sabbath since he’s been a solo act for the majority of his career.

Ozzy said he didn’t feel confident about being inducted as a solo artist, but he started to think things could change after his late guitarist Randy Rhoads was honored in the Musical Excellence Category in 2021.

Overall, he’s very happy about his upcoming induction saying, “I feel like I was invited to a party in 1980, and it hasn’t stopped. Not bad for a guy who was fired from his last band.”

Peter Frampton

Frampton shared a very heartfelt statement following the announcement of the 2024 Rock Hall class. He wrote, “This is something I never expected. I am overwhelmed that I will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, especially alongside so many incredible artists who have gone before me.”

He concluded, “I can’t thank everyone enough for voting for me. You are the best. Somebody pinch me please!!”

Frampton has long been overlooked by the Rock Hall. Despite being eligible since 1997(!), 2024 was Frampton’s first Rock Hall nomination.

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Foreigner

Like Frampton, Foreigner is another classic rock great who’s been overlooked by the Rock Hall for years. They’ve been eligible for induction since 2002.

Founder/guitarist Mick Jones told Billboard, “I think it means more to me now than perhaps 20 years ago. I’ve had a great career, and this is like the whipped cream and cherry on top.”

Former Foreigner bassist Rick Wills also told Billboard, “It’s been over 20 years since we’ve been waiting for this day. I suppose we were frustrated, to be perfectly honest, but we tried to hide it as best we could because we didn’t want to appear like we were sad people. (laughs).”

Dave Matthews Band

DMB shared a brief statement via social media saying, “Dave Matthews Band is honored to be in the @rockhall Class Of 2024. Congrats to our fellow nominees and thanks so much to all of our fans for the support!”

This was the second Rock Hall nomination for DMB. They were previously nominated in 2020. That year, the band [inlink id=”rock-hall-fan-vote-final-totals” text=”won the Fan Vote”]. They also won the 2024 Fan Vote.

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Mary J. Blige

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul said via social media, “Beyond Great full!!!!!! This is incredible!!! God always has the final say!!!! Thank you to my fans all over the world!!!! Tears of Joy!!!! @rockhall #rockhall2024”

Blige was first eligible for induction in 2017. She was previously nominated in 2021.

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Performer Category

• Mary J. Blige
• Cher
• Dave Matthews Band
• Foreigner
• Peter Frampton
• Kool & The Gang
• Ozzy Osbourne
• A Tribe Called Quest

Musical Influence Award

(Given to a performing artist or group whose music and performance style have directly influenced and helped inspire and evolve rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture.)  

• Alexis Korner
• John Mayall
• Big Mama Thornton

Musical Excellence Award

(Given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.)

• Jimmy Buffett
• MC5
• Dionne Warwick
• Norman Whitfield

Ahmet Ertegun Award

(Given to non-performing industry professionals who, through their dedicated belief and support of artists and their music have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture. ) 

• Suzanne de Passe

When is the Rock Hall 2024 Induction Ceremony?

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. As previously reported, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement, “Rock & Roll is an ever-evolving amalgam of sounds that impacts culture and moves generations. This diverse group of inductees each broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

For the first time this year, the Rock Hall induction class was announced on American Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest and judge/2022 Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie did the honors.

The Rock Hall noted in a press release, “Four out of the eight inductees in the Performer category were on the ballot for the first time, including Cher, Foreigner, Kool & the Gang and Peter Frampton.” However, it should also be noted that Ozzy Osbourne was on the ballot for the first time as a solo artist, despite being eligible since 2005.

The Prince of Darkness, of course, was inducted into the Rock Hall as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006. Sabbath was eligible for induction in 1995. The heavy metal pioneers were nominated eight times until they were finally inducted. Their nomination years were 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

Osbourne joins a unique group of artists who are multiple inductees in the Rock Hall. Keep scrolling to see every multiple inductee!

The post Rock Hall 2024 Class: Classic Rock Fans Rejoice! appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

We wanted to create a list as diverse as all of the marijuana strains available, and we’re pretty confident we met our goal. From very strange cautionary tales to basically declaring your love for the herb, here are the ten best rock songs about weed.

But First, Some Facts About Legalized Marijuana

Despite marijuana being federally illegal, a number of states have voted to fully legalize it in recent years. In fact, the Pew Research Center reported that 54% of Americans now live in a state that has fully legalized the drug for recreational use. When factoring in states that have legalized medicinal marijuana, that figure jumps to 74%.

Pew Research also reports that there are nearly 15,000 cannabis dispensaries in the United States. To the shock of probably no one, the state with the most dispensaries is California, with 3,659. Interestingly enough, Oklahoma has the most marijuana dispensaries per capita, with 36 dispensaries for ever 100,000 residents.

Where is Marijuana Legal in the United States?

Marijuana legalization has been on an ever-changing pace for a number of years now. Frankly, it’s difficult to keep straight where it’s fully legal, where it’s not and where there’s a bit of a gray area. However, we have done the research and have broken down all of the various levels of legalized marijuana for you.

The following states have fully legalized marijuana as of April 2024: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

States that have legalized medical marijuana include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

Some states have legalized medical marijuana and have decriminalized it. Those states include Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire and North Dakota.

Some states have only allowed for the sale of CBD oil with THC. Those states are Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. However, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bil 47 into law on March 31, 2023, which legalized medical cannabis beginning on January 1, 2025.

Finally, states where marijuana is fully illegal are Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina and Wyoming.

10. Neil Diamond – ‘The Pot Smoker’s Song’

Neil Diamond has written some of the most popular songs in history, but “The Pot Smoker’s Song” is one of his deep cuts. The song is rather bizarre. It features a jaunty chorus and spoken word verses of people warning of the use of weed. It’s super dated today and is more funny than anything. It’s basically the song equivalent of that “Marijuana Kills” ad from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

9. Sublime – ‘Smoke Two Joints’

Originally released by The Toyes in 1983, Sublime covered this tune for their album 40 Oz. To Freedom. The song’s essence is exemplified in this lyric:  “But then, one day, I met a man who came to me and said:/‘Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of head.’”

8. Bob Dylan – ‘Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35’

If you want to get technical, this Dylan classic isn’t really about weed. The man himself said in a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone the song has a Biblical meaning and is a reference to the Acts of the Apostles. However, Dylan is also no fool and likely knew he was having a bit of fun with the “Everybody must get stones” lyric in the chorus. Frankly, haven’t must of us, too?

7. Jefferson Airplane – ‘Mexico’

Grace Slick penned this song as a blistering take down of then-President Richard Nixon and Operation Intercept, which shut down the border between the United States and Mexico in order to deter Mexican-grown marijuana from entering the country. Tricky Dick is likely rolling in his grave at the thought of all the legal dispensaries operating in the country today.

6. The Beatles – ‘Got to Get You Into My Life’

Those lads from Liverpool were quite cheeky with this one. On the surface, it seems like just another silly love song written primarily by Paul McCartney, but it’s actually inspired by the first time Macca blazed up.

5. Bob Marley & The Wailers – ‘Kaya’

Truthfully, there could be a separate top ten list of just Bob Marley & The Wailers tunes about weed. We opted for “Kaya” on this list since “Kaya” is literally slang for pot, and the song is just vibes.

4. Tom Petty – ‘You Don’t Know How It Feels’

Remember how the lyric “Let’s roll another joint” would often get terribly censored on the radio and MTV? It’s almost quaint now when you think about it, but a little controversy can yield major returns. As a result, “You Don’t Know How It Feels” remains a pensive stoner classic decades later.

3. Peter Tosh – ‘Legalize It’

The stigma of marijuana is practically nonexistent compared to 1976 when former Wailer Peter Tosh released his debut solo album Legalize It. Its title track makes a point to recognize people from all walks of life use weed. (“Doctors smoke it, nurses smoke it/Judges smoke it, even the lawyer do.”) The song also touts pot for its medicinal benefits. (“It’s good for the flu/Good for asthma/Good for tuberculosis/Even umbra composis.”) Tosh later said in a 1978 interview with NME, “Herb will become like cigarettes.” Honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

2. Black Sabbath – ‘Sweet Leaf’

A tender love song about ganja written by some kids from Birmingham, England set to a moody, doomy metal riff? Yep, that’s a pretty simple receipt for a stoner classic that holds up decades later. Tony Iommi’s coughing at the top of the track really sets the mood too, as does Bill Ward’s drum solo.

1. Willie Nelson – ‘Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die’

I’m sure some of you will take issue with Willie Nelson topping this list about the best rock songs about weed, but Willie transcends and has done so for decades. Get over it, please and thank you.

Now that that brief rant is over, this song is featured on Willie’s 60th (!) studio album, 2012’s Heroes. Willie isn’t alone on this track; he’s joined on vocals by Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson…and Snoop Dogg! “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” was released, appropriately, on April 20, 2012. The song showed Willie’s outlaw nature was alive and well, as was his sense of humor. It’s the perfect ode to a plant that has clearly brought Willie much joy over the years. There’s a chance if you’re reading this right now, you can relate. 

“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” is unapologetic about loving weed until the bitter end. When 4/20 rolls around every year, it truly is an iconic soundtrack whether you’re passing a joint or waiting for your edible to kick in.

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As in recent years, releases are broken up into three different categories:

–RSD Exclusive: These titles are physically released only at indie record stores.

–RSD First: These titles are found first at indie record stores. However, they may be released to other retailers or websites at some point in the future

–Small Run/Regional Titles: These titles are either regionally based and sold at specific stores or are press runs under 1000, which means they may be harder to find at record stores around the country.

Without further ado, the following are five titles we think you might want to add to your shopping list. The full titles list can be found at RecordStoreDay.com where you’ll also be able to find a list of participating stores.

But First, A Fun Fact About Record Store Day

Record Store Day has been an annual event for nearly two decades, and it grows with every year. However, if you look forward to RSD every year, you may have to thank Metallica for it.

During a panel at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in April 2022 moderated by Variety, RSD co-founder Michael Kurtz gave massive props to the metal icons for the popularity of the event. Kurtz recalled RSD’s inaugural celebration in 2007 saying, “In the beginning, it was very hard, because almost nobody carried vinyl unless it was used, and most used vinyl was 25 or 50 cents…So when I talked to record store owners to get on board, the initial response was pretty negative.”

But then, thanks to some connections, Metallica got on board.

“From the feedback we got from the band, the reaction was ‘Hell yeah, let’s do that, that would be fun,'” said Kurtz. “It really was like a big explosion for everybody involved, because Tower [Records] had just gone out of business, and everybody was a little bit down, uncertain about everything. And then Metallica comes in and goes, ‘F— all that. Let’s have a party.’ And they put out their records on vinyl for that first Record Store Day, and then it just exploded from there.”

Record Store Day may just be the driving force behind vinyl’s increasing sales in recent years. Per Fortune, “[Vinyl record] sales jumped 61% [in 2021] to $1 billion, the most since 1986, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).”

The Beatles Limited Edition RSD3 Turntable

This might be the most desired item on the RSD list, but it also might be the most difficult to obtain. RSD has been dabbling in these kitchy, yet fun 3″ records and turntables in recent years. However, The Beatles are undoubtedly the biggest artist to take part in this unique trend. The limited edition turntable comes with four 3″ records: “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Til There Was You,” “She Loves You,” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” Only 2,300 turntable/record sets have been produced, so you better queue up early.

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Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours’ Picture Disc

If your vinyl copy of Rumours has seen better days, you might want to pick up the RSD picture disc version of the classic album. In fact, it’s the first time the LP is being released as a picture disc. Side A will feature the iconic Mick Fleetwood/Stevie Nicks album cover, while Side B features a group shot of the band. This is an RSD exclusive release, and only 7,500 copies were pressed.

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Talking Heads – ‘Live at WCOZ 77’

According to RecordStoreDay.com, “Previously unreleased in full, this celebrated live performance recorded live in 1977 for WCOZ that originally appeared on “The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads” is available as a 2LP collection. Cut at 45rpm and featuring fourteen tracks (seven are previously unheard from the original two-track tapes) recorded at Northern Studios on November 17, 1977, this blistering performances includes “Psycho Killer”, “Pulled Up”, “Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town”, “A Clean Break (Let’s Work)” and more.”

This is another RSD exclusive release, and only 8,000 copies have been pressed.

David Byrne & Paramore – “Hard Times”/”Burning Down The House”

Speaking of Talking Heads, this unique 12″ released features Paramore covering the Talking Heads classic “Burning Down The House.” (The cover is featured on the upcoming Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Stop Making Sense.) Additionally, Byrne then recorded a cover of Paramore’s “Hard Times.”

Byrne shared via X (formerly Twitter), “The band told me that their song Hard Times was inspired by Talking Heads, so I learned it and recorded my version of their great song with a horn section. This was fun!”

Both covers can be heard below. The pressing of the tracks is another RSD exclusive, and only 5,000 copies are available.

Pearl Jam – ‘Dark Matter’

Sure, Pearl Jam released their new album a day before Record Store Day 2024, but of course they were going to do something. This pressing of Dark Matter is, in fact, an RSD exclusive release. Only 15,000 copies are available. However, the band make it a little extra fun by pressing the album on yellow and black vinyl.

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Joining the legendary band with new music today is Taylor Swift. The pop superstar released her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, which she announced while accepting the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album back in February.

Naturally, today is a busy day for both the Pearl Jam and Taylor Swift fanbases, both of whom have taken to social media to talk about their respective new albums. Such a simultaneous event seems rare, but really, we’ve seen something like this before.

Emerson Lotzia, Jr. on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Taylor Swift and Pearl Jam dropping their new albums on the same day.” He then accompanied his comment with a split still from the films Barbie and Oppenheimer.

That’s right, friends! We got ourselves a new Barbenheimer!

In the comments of Lotzia Jr.’s post, someone pitched the names #TaylorJam and #PearlSwift. Perhaps the name should take a cue from the album titles and be called “Dark Poets” or “Tortured Matter.” Whatever you want to call it, we’ll leave it up to you to decide.

Eddie Vedder’s Praise of Taylor Swift

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Eddie Vedder’s kind words about Swift last month. The Pearl Jam frontman had quite the compliment for the singer-songwriter and her fans.

In an interview with Mojo, Vedder detailed his experience of attending a Swift show with one of his daughters. He talked about how much of a community Swifties were, particularly with their practice of making friendship bracelets and trading them with other fans at shows.

Vedder noted, “The craziest thing was it reminded me of punk rock crowds, of being aligned with all of the misfits in our town, back in the day. It was galvanizing and powerful.”

Of course, Swift can’t please everyone. Just ask Courtney Love.

Fan Reaction to Dark Matter

So far, fan reaction to Dark Matter appears to be overwhelmingly positive. Plenty of fans have taken to social media to share their appreciation for the new album.

One fan wrote, “Yeah the new Pearl Jam album is awesome.” Another fan, referencing Swift, wrote, “The real Tortured Poets Department is those of us listening to the new Pearl Jam album and having no one to talk to about it.”

One fan truly hit the nail on the head by writing, “Huge, huge day for music fans of all generations, even after all these years and all these records and all these generation-defining hits, it’s hard to overstate how big a deal it is when there’s a new album out by Pearl Jam.”

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These days, when he’s touring as a solo headliner, Mellencamp is much more comfortable in intimate theaters. In a new interview with The Washington Post, he shared that Pete Seeger once told him, “Keep it small, but keep it going.” It’s advice he’s taken to heart, but now he has some advice for fans.

Mellencamp told WaPo that he wants people who attend his theater shows to use similar etiquette as you would when attending a Broadway show. He also noted he doesn’t really do “concerts” anymore and that his shows are more like “performances.”

In typical blunt fashion, Mellencamp said, “Look, I’m not for everyone anymore. I’m just not, and if you want to come and scream and yell and get drunk, don’t come to my show.”

John Mellencamp Will Not Tolerate Poor Behavior

If you’re looking for an example of what not to do at a Mellencamp show now, his March 17 show at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo, Ohio is a prime example. During the show, Mellencamp brought things to a screeching halt due to some hecklers.

According to a review from The Toledo Blade, Mellencamp had it, and at 9:13 PM, he walked off the stage after saying, “Y’know what? Show’s over.” Mellencamp would return to the stage about five minutes later and resume the show, but the outlet noted, ” … It was obvious he wasn’t happy about it.”

Video of the incident surfaced, which can be watched via TikTok due to NSFW language. While telling a story a story to the crowd between songs, someone yelled, “Play some music.” The heckle was met by boos from the rest of the crowd. Mellencamp responded with, “What do you think I’ve been doing, you c—sucker?”

The retort was met with cheers, and Mellencamp continued, “Here’s the thing, man. You don’t know me. You don’t f—ing know me. Hey Joe, find this guy and let me see him after the show.”

Right after his response, another person then yelled for Mellencamp to play “Authority Song.” This then led to Mellencamp to say, “Guys, I can stop this show right now and just go home. Tell you what I’m gonna do. Since you’ve been so wonderful, I’m gonna cut about 10 songs out of the show. Here we go.”

The singer-songwriter then played a little bit of “Jack & Diane,” and that was when he halted the show.

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But what does a new Pearl Jam album mean in 2024? Upon listening to Dark Matter, I thought about Eddie Vedder’s comments at a pre-Grammy Awards listening event in Los Angeles back in January.

“No hyperbole: I think this is our best work,” Vedder said to guests at the Troubadour, introducing Dark Matter for the first time.  There’s a reason why he feels this way. Listening to the album, you are reminded of when the “Given To Fly” lyrics were changed from “he still stands” to “we still stand,” at the band’s 2017 Rock Hall induction performance. And they’re doing more than just standing. They’re a rare Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band that still has something to say.

A lot has happened in the six years since that amazing night in New York. This includes Gigaton, the band’s 11th studio record that came out on March 27, 2020. Yes, as you recall, the album dropped right at the start of a global pandemic.

So, now it’s fair to ask the question, how does Dark Matter differ from Gigaton? My answer is that it isn’t a huge departure from that album. Gigaton will forever be that pillar of strength that many turned to while understandably being scared of the future. It’s also an album that was released just as most of us suddenly found ourselves with a lot of extra time to listen to it. Gigaton unexpectedly benefitted from unfortunate timing. We were lucky because it seemed Gigaton made a lot of sense at a time where nothing else did.

I think it’s important to acknowledge that as we now begin to embrace the new wave that is Dark Matter, and trustfully ride it where it takes us. Gigaton has it’s solid place in the history of Pearl Jam, that now has inspired the next chapter, and the lasting ripple effect it will have on bringing us together.

Pearl Jam’s ‘Dark Matter’ Marks A New Beginning

“I’m going to put these five amazing guys together in a small space where they can all see each other, and get them to play together and capture that energy of what happens on stage,” producer Andrew Watt told SPIN in a recent interview, about his strategy in recording the band. Watt has something of a magic touch with rock veterans: although he got his start producing pop acts like Post Malone and Justin Bieber, he’s more recently produced acts like Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and Elton John.

Watt, a lifelong Pearl Jam fan, wore a band t-shirt from his collection to each of their recording sessions (he apparently did the same when he produced the latest Rolling Stones album, Hackney Diamonds ). He aimed to inspire a creative process that both dipped into the power of the past and challenged the band to attempt new writing techniques. He required the band to write the songs while they were  together in the studio with Watt (as opposed to bringing in pre-written songs). His gambit worked really well: what we now have a body of work that could “be the sun at the break of dawn,” to quote the new song, “Setting Sun.”

The first thing we heard in the Dark Matter era was Matt Cameron’s hard-driving heartbeat of an intro with the title track and lead single, “Dark Matter,” which was released on February 13. This song provides space for each member of the band to showcase their respective instruments.

There are crunchy and groovy guitars by Stone Gossard. An overflowing, inner-rhythm of bass tempo by Jeff Ament lays the foundation. Mike McCready then lights it all on fire while Vedder soulfully delivers a message that makes you think but, more importantly, makes you feel.

In fact, this is present throughout Dark Matter, where each band member invites you into their world of artistry. With Watt’s involvement, you wonder, was the focus for each band member to do what’s best for their playing style, as opposed to what’s best for the song? In doing, it seems that ultimately created the best version of each song possible.

Something Special

Throughout the 48-plus minutes of Dark Matter, Vedder sings the line, “If you could see what I see now,” in two different songs. That is both the opening thought in  “Something Special,” and the start to what is an absolutely epic sendoff in the record closer, “Setting Sun.”

Though the vibes in the two songs are different, my hunch is that these Seattle legends, who are now going on 33-plus years together, are perhaps thanking you and each other for being there. Perhaps that line is even a self-discussion, that it’s all going to be alright. Regardless, they emphasize appreciating the present moment. We’re still alive, as it were.

Gratitude has been a major theme of Pearl Jam in the past decade. Grateful is a word Vedder often states on stage. Dark Matter is a beautiful extension of this sentiment. It will make you feel everything, if you let it.

Do you want a nod to the early ’90s that also has something to do with Stevie Wonder? Well, then crank your speakers to the stunning riffs of “Waiting For Stevie,” and start dancing. Do you want things to get so dark that “the bright lights make for dark shadows?”  “Upper Hand” is your jam.

Then, there are moments of love with songs like “Something Special,” and even “Wreckage,” where you hear and feel the group’s collective harmonies, with a similar vibe the end of Lightning Bolt’s “Sirens,” where they all sang together.

Dark Matter acknowledges that, yeah, life can be tough, but it’s tough in a different way than it was on Ten, Vs. and Vitalogy. However, together we can celebrate what we do have in sharing this musical experience together – and by taking with us this idea of challenging ourselves while also following our instincts, as Pearl Jam and Watt have done with this record.

These songs are going to be fun to hear live. Furthermore, initially digesting the music via Dolby Atmos certainly sunk its sonic claws into every pore, but experiencing them live in concert will be something special unto itself.

What Pearl Jam has created here with Dark Matter is a record they seem very proud of and excited to share with their greater community. It’s a new appreciation of where we all are.

As Vedder sings on “React, Respond,” “The light gets brighter as it grows,” and that’s a great sentiment for a band three decades on. It’s also a great sentiment for all of us, who have grown with them for that entire time.

Dark Matter will be released Friday, April 19.

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Betts’s death was confirmed to Rolling Stone by manager David Spero. He said in a statement, “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard ‘Dickey’ Betts (December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old. The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader, and family patriarch was at his home in Osprey, Florida, surrounded by his family.”

Spero’s statement continued, “Dickey was larger-than-life, and his loss will be felt worldwide. At this difficult time, the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy in the coming days. More information will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.”

Spero also confirmed that Betts’s cause of death was from cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Dickey Betts and the Allman Brothers Band

Betts was a co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band in 1969 along with guitarist Duane Allman, keyboardist/singer Gregg Allman, drummer Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson, bassist Berry Oakley and drummer Butch Trucks.

The Allman Brothers Band released their self-titled debut in 1969 followed by their second album, Idlewild South, in 1970. Like several other acts after them, the Allman Brothers Band didn’t take off in popularity until the release of their 1971 live album At Fillmore East.

The classic album captured the band in their element and is considered one of the greatest live albums of all time. At Fillmore East was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2004.

The Library of Congress wrote of the album, “This classic live performance of southern blues rock contains a powerfully emotional rendition of ‘Whipping Post’ sung by Gregg Allman. That song became a touring standard for the band while the album received wide acclaim for its lengthy improvisational jams featuring the distinctive dual lead guitars of Duane Allman and Dickie Betts.”

Sadly, during the making of the band’s next album, 1972’s Eat a Peach, Duane Allman tragically died in a motorcycle accident at age 24. With the passing of Duane, Betts became the lone guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band and took on more singing and songwriting responsibilities.

Following Eat a Peach, the Allman Brothers Band released Brothers and Sisters. This album was also marred by tragedy. During its making, bassist Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident at age 24. However, the album features the band’s biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man,” which was written and sung by Betts.

Betts was a unique character in the music world. Rolling Stone notes Betts was the inspiration behind Russell Hammond (Billy Brudup) in the film Almost Famous. He told the publication, “Goddamn, that guy looks like me! I didn’t do the jumping off the roof or the ‘golden god,’ but I knew [writer/director] Cameron [Crowe].”

Betts had a handful of on-again, off-again stints with the Allman Brothers Band, but his time with the band officially ended in 2000. While Betts said he was fired, Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson told Rolling Stone in 2017 that he quit and said Betts “was more of a loner.”

Betts received a number of honors as a member of the Allman Brothers Band. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Additionally, the band received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

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In a press release from Paramount+, WVH’s episode of Behind the Music will hit the streaming platform on May 1. Other artists being chronicled by the series include Bell Biv DeVoe and Trace Adkins. Along with the new episodes, previous episodes highlighting 50 Cent, Bobby Brown, Ice-T, Milli Vanilli, The Notorious B.I.G. and Sinead O’Connor will be remastered and re-released on Paramount+.

A 15-second teaser of Wolfgang’s episode is below.

Paramount+ rebooted the iconic VH1 series back in June 2021. Since then, new episodes have highlighted the careers of a variety of artists, including Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Ricky Martin and more.

Wolfgang Van Halen Unveils New EVH Gear

In January, Wolfgang celebrated his late father, Eddie Van Halen, and his birthday by unveiling The EVH SA-126, a new guitar from EVH Gear.

Partially billed as “the brainchild of Wolfgang Van Halen,” the EVH SA-126 is a semi-hollow and a solid body guitar. In a statement, Wolfgang said, “I am so proud of this instrument and the incredible team that has been working on it for years. It will be available in 4 colors and you can get your hands on it this May.”

Fans can learn more about this guitar at EVHgear.com.

As expected, EVH Gear is touted by some of hard rock and metal’s most prominent guitarists. Among those listed on EVH Gear’s website are Code Orange’s Reba Meyers, In Flames’ Niclas Engelin, Bad Wolves’ Doc Coyle, Judas Priest’s Andy Sneap, John Sykes and Jason Hook.

In addition to a variety of guitar models, EVH Gear also produces amplifiers, cabinets, heads and other guitar accessories. EVH Gear is a subsidiary of Fender. Other Fender subsidiaries include Gretsch, Jackson, Charvel, Sunn and Squier.

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The first piece of footage from the film has surfaced, but the internet doesn’t necessarily think Chalamet looks like Dylan. Instead, many think the actor looks like a different Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.

First, here’s the footage that has surfaced from the film showing Chalamet performing with Monica Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez.

Can you guess who many people and outlets on social media think Chalamet looks like instead of Dylan? If you guessed Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, you are correct!

Consequence shared, “Timothée Chalamet as Billie Joe Armstrong on the set of the Bob Dylan biopic.”

Meanwhile, Spin wrote, “Hope you had the time of your life playing Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet.”

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Because the internet is…well…the internet, we should all get used to these comparisons until more footage or a trailer surfaces.

Details on the Bob Dylan Biopic

This Bob Dylan biopic has long been in the works. News of Chalamet cast as Dylan dates back to January 2020. At the time, the biopic was titled Going Electric.

In October 2020, the Dylan biopic was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael told Collider then, “I don’t think it’s dead, but it’s a tough one to pull off in a COVID-era because it’s all in small clubs with lots of extras in period costumes, so you’ve got lots of hair and makeup.”

In April 2023, director James Mangold confirmed Chalamet would be singing in the film and not lipsync to any Dylan recordings. Mangold further noted the film, which is based on Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric, will chronicle Dylan coming to New York in his late teens to pursue music. In addition to Baez, other notable folk figures featured in the film include Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.

Dylan’s Busy Summer

While production on A Complete Unknown continues, the actual Dylan is hitting the road with Willie Nelson & Family on the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. As if Dylan and Willie weren’t enough, they’re bringing some incredible guests along for the ride, too.

The Outlaw Music Festival Tour runs from June 21 to Sept. 17. The guests on each stop will vary, but the guest lineup includes Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, John Mellencamp, Billy Strings, Brittney Spencer, Celisse and Southern Avenue. (A breakdown of each date’s lineup is below.)

Full tour details can be found at BlackbirdPresents.com.

June 21
Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

June 22
PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

June 23
Coastal Credit Union Music Park, Raleigh, NC
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

June 26
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

June 28
Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse, NY
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

June 29
Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

June 30
PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

July 2
Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

July 6
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

July 7
Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Celisse

July 29
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Brittney Spencer

July 31
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Brittney Spencer

August 3
Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Brittney Spencer

August 4
Toyota Amphitheatre, Wheatland, CA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Brittney Spencer

August 7
Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater, Boise, ID
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Brittney Spencer

August 9
ONE Spokane Stadium, Spokane, WA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Brittney Spencer

August 10
Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Billy Strings
Brittney Spencer

September 6
Somerset Amphitheater, Somerset, WI
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 7
Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 8
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, St. Louis, MO
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 11
Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 12
Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 14
The Pavilion at Star Lake, Burgettstown, PA
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 15
Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

September 17
Darien Lake Amphitheater, Buffalo, NY
Willie Nelson & Family
Bob Dylan
John Mellencamp
Southern Avenue

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The melodic, mid-tempo tune is already being well-received by fans. In the YouTube comment section for the track, one fan wrote, “Holy moly! They really channeled their Petty/Heartbreakers on this one! I like it!” Another wrote, “PJ always seem to hit themes where I am in life.”

Meanwhile, many fans marveled at Eddie Vedder’s vocals on “Wreckage.” One fan wrote, “They sound perfect! Eddie’s voice gives me goosebumps every time.” Another fan wrote, “Older Eddie voice is different, but it adds a layer of wisdom.”

“Wreckage” follows the release of “Running” last month and the title track, which was released in February.

Dark Matter, Pearl Jam’s twelfth studio album, is due out on April 19. The album is available for pre-order here. Additionally, a special edition of the album will be available on Record Store Day, which is taking place on April 20.

Eddie Vedder on Future Pearl Jam Albums

If the track previews are any indication, this new Pearl Jam album could be an all-timer. However, fans should really cherish Dark Matter, because it’s unclear how many more new Pearl Jam albums will follow.

Vedder touched on this in a recent interview with MOJO. The frontman talked about how much he leans on his longtime friendships. At the same time, he said he finds himself in situations where he realizes certain people should be there. Those people are his late friends from the Seattle music scene: Layne Staley, Chris Cornell and Mark Lanegan.

“And you’re sad for them that they’re not [there],” said Vedder (h/t NME). “But it makes you realize you gotta be healthy. You want to be around for your kids. You want to make good records, and we might have one or two left.”

Pearl Jam 2024 World Tour

With a new album comes a new Pearl Jam world tour. As previously reported, the tour kicks off in May with a two-night stand in Vancouver, BC and is currently set to wrap in November in Sydney, Australia. A complete list of tour dates is below.

* Rescheduled date from 2022

** Festival dates are already on sale

The post Pearl Jam Releases New Track ‘Wreckage’ appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The tattoo is of an Iron Cross, which Lemmy often wore in a variety of capacities. In the middle of the cross is a black ace symbol, which represents Motörhead classic song and album Ace of Spades.

Oh, and naturally, Papa Het got the tattoo on his middle finger, and the ink used on the tattoo contained some of Lemmy’s ashes.

Hetfield’s new tattoo was shared via Metallica’s social media. The caption reads, “With the steady hand of friend and tattoo artist @coreymillertattoo, this tattoo. A salute to my friend and inspiration Mr. Lemmy Kilmister. Without him, there would be NO Metallica.”

The caption concludes, “Black ink mixed with a pinch of his cremation ashes that were so graciously given to me. So now, he is still able to fly the bird at the world.”

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Lemmy and His Ashes

Lemmy died just four days after his 70th birthday on December 28, 2015. As previously reported, he had some of his ashes encased in bullets and gifted to his closest friends upon his passing.

Among those who received a Lemmy bullet was Headbanger’s Ball host Riki Rachtman. He shared a photo of his Lemmy bullet back in 2021 and wrote, “Before his death, #Lemmy asked for his ashes to be put in some bullets & handed out to his closest friends. Today, I received a bullet & was literally brought to tears Thank you @myMotorhead.”

A number of figures have confirmed they received bullets containing Lemmy’s ashes. They include Rob Halford, Duff McKagan and Michael Monroe.

Metallica Resumes M72 World Tour in 2024

If you’re close enough to the stage, you might be able to see Hetfield’s new tattoo when Metallica resumes their M72 World Tour in May. The band split up their world tour over the course of two years in support of their latest album, 72 Seasons. Their 2024 North American tour dates are below.

8/2 & 8/4 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
8/9 & 8/11 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
8/16 & 8/18 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
8/23 & 8/25 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
8/30 & 9/1 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
9/20, 9/22, 9/27, 9/29 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol

Show 1 support: Pantera & Mammoth WVH
Show 2 support: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
Mexico City: Greta Van Fleet replaces Pantera on Show 1 of both weekends

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In general, I love the idea of the Rock Hall. I love that there’s a semi-mysterious group that makes a point to honor musical greatness on a lifetime achievement level annually. I especially love the idea of there being a whole museum dedicated to these artists. In fact, one of my closest friends and I have planned a road trip to the Rock Hall Museum in Cleveland this summer, because we both haven’t been there in years.

On top of that, I’ve long defended the Rock Hall and how they nominated and inducted non-rock acts. You can read my full remarks on this matter here, but to succinctly (and indulgently) quote myself, “The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has never been exclusively about rock music. Ever. Influence and impact have always been more important than genre.”

For the Rock Hall is A-Changin’

All of this being said, it’s undeniable that 2024 has seen some shakeups with how the Rock Hall is conducting itself. For starters, this year saw the nominees announced on a Saturday, instead of a weekday when media outlets are typically more engaged. Also, the Rock Hall unveiled its 2024 nominees on February 10, which was the Saturday before Super Bowl Sunday.

You don’t have to be a marketing or public relations genius to know that trying to compete with the Super Bowl for attention isn’t the smartest move. Not to mention, Super Bowl LVIII will forever be tied to Taylor Swift, who was in attendance with many of her famous friends to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce.

Competing for attention between the Super Bowl and “Swelce” was bone-headed enough, but then came the news about when and where the 2024 Rock Hall induction class was going to be announced. On the April 15 episode of American Idol, host Ryan Seacrest shared that he and judge/2022 Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie would be joining Seacrest in announcing the 2024 class on the April 21 episode of the show.

Upon learning this news, my first thought was, “Oh my God…I think the Rock Hall has jumped the shark!”

Just in case you’re unaware, “jumped the shark” and its tense variations are a reference to a season five episode of Happy Days when Fonzie (Henry Winkler) jumped over a shark in the ocean on water skis. It was the culmination of a three-part episode arc and a moment many viewers consider the beginning of the sitcom’s decline, even though it was on the air for another six seasons.

After the Rock Hall Has “Jumped the Shark,” Now What?

Look, by no means is the Rock Hall “over” in any way. (Like I said, even Happy Days lasted six more seasons.) But there’s no denying that it’s different, and not in a cool way.

The 2024 Rock Hall induction ceremony will air live on Disney+, and an edited version will air on ABC at a later date. Since American Idol airs on ABC, the corporate synergy of it all does make sense, but that doesn’t mean it’s good. (It’s also likely the reason why the 2024 Fan Vote end date was quietly moved from April 26 to April 15, as noted by Future Rock Legends.)

Even though American Idol has solid ratings, it’s still a show well past its heyday. It also has an unsavory element of cheesiness, especially to rock fans, who are your primary audience for caring about the Rock Hall in the first place.

If there had to be an ABC tie-in for the 2024 Rock Hall class announcement, Good Morning America is literally right there! Plus, there’s the potential for interesting interview opportunities with Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Michael Strahan and more. By all means, those interviews could still happen, but having GMA handle the announcement has considerably less “ick” than Idol, a show that has always cared way more about pop music than rock and roll.

I certainly don’t blame the Rock Hall for trying to get more eyes on itself. This whole situation is definitely a business decision more than anything. But there has to be a way to do that without completely annoying people who’ve backed your mission for years.

I can honestly say that if my job weren’t covering rock/classic rock news, I wouldn’t be tuning into Idol this Sunday. I’d just wait until I receive a push notification from a news outlet I respect to learn about the induction class. But alas, at 8 PM, I’ll be watching ABC and counting down the minutes until I can change the channel.

The post The Rock Hall May Have Jumped the Shark in 2024 appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

U.K.’s The Standard did a feature piece on Love, who now resides in west London and has a new eight-part series on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds called Courtney Love’s Women. The series takes a look at the women artists who have influenced Love over the years.

However, a woman that Love doesn’t love is Swift. She says of the massive popstar, “Taylor is not important. She might be a safe space for girls, and she’s probably the Madonna of now, but she’s not interesting as an artist.”

Even Beyoncé wasn’t safe during Love’s interview with The Standard. She said that she appreciates the idea of Beyoncé releasing a country album and taking on a genre that hasn’t been the most welcoming to artists of color. However, Love says, “I just don’t like her music.”

Of course, Love is in the minority when it comes to critiques of Swift and Beyoncé. In fact, plenty of notable rockers have come out in support of both artists. Keep scrolling to see a surprising list of rock icons who have proudly praised Swift in recent years.

Courtney Love and Her Attacks on the Rock Hall

The fact Love is doing a radio series about women in music is something that’s clearly up her alley. She, like many other artists and fans, has been unhappy with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and their lack of women inductees.

In March 2023, Love took to Twitter and shared a thread from music critic Jessica Hopper. She shared a link titled “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebrates Women Who Rock.” Hopper followed it up with the Rock Hall’s long history of their lack of women artist inductees. Her whole thread is worth a read, but it begins pointing out the massive gender disparity of inducted artists.

“719 inductees to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, only 61 are women,” writes Hopper. “That’s 8.48%. C’mon @rockhall, it’s F—ING GRIM BRO when yr doing worse than women-artists-on-country radio numbers (10%) and women headliners at major music festivals (13%).”

Then, Hopper points out that it has taken women artists much longer to get inducted once they’re eligible. She writes, “Scrolling this inductee tracker via Future Rock Legends, I did v rough math. The avg number of years women artists languish PAST their eligibility year for induction is around 18 YEARS. That Nina Simone, Carole King, Dolly, Joan Baez all took 30+ years drives that up.”

When Love shared Hopper’s thread, she shared in a since-deleted tweet, “@jesshopp DOES THE MATH! 37 years in existence & women make up 8.48% of inductees out of 719. See txt to Grohl. @rockhall ELIGIBILITY is 25 years after 1st release. @foofighters were nominated 4 secs later. @NinaSimoneMusic & Carole King 30 years #fixtherockandrollhalloffame.”

Along with her tweet, Love shared a text she sent to Dave Grohl when the Foo Fighters were inducted in 2021. She texted, in part, “Have fun at rock hall Dave. Make sure and hold the seats of Tina Turner and Carole King, both who have been eligible for over 30 years each!”

The post Courtney Love Says Taylor Swift Isn’t ‘Important’ or ‘Interesting’ appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Host Ryan Seacrest unveiled this news on last night’s (April 15) episode of American Idol (h/t Future Rock Legends) and said the 2024 class would be announced on the April 21 episode of the show.

Billboard also reported that judge and 2022 Rock Hall inductee Lionel Richie would be joining Seacrest in announcing the 2024 class. On top of that, the entire episode will be Rock Hall-themed, so get ready for current American Idol contestants to take on the music of Rock Hall inductees. Fingers crossed there’s a contestant weird enough to cover Kraftwerk and confuse the hell out of judge/country superstar Luke Bryan. (Yeah, that won’t happen, but a rocker can dream!)

Billboard further notes that the Rock Hall-themed episode will feature Gene Simmons as a guest mentor. Simmons, of course, was inducted into the Rock Hall as a member of KISS in 2014.

The April 21 episode of American Idol will air on ABC beginning at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

Who Are The Rock Hall 2024 Nominees?

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees were announced on February 10. The 15 nominees are:

-Mary J. Blige
-Mariah Carey
-Cher
-Dave Matthews Band
-Eric B. & Rakim
-Foreigner
-Peter Frampton
-Jane’s Addiction
-Kool & the Gang
-Lenny Kravitz
-Oasis
-Sinéad O’Connor
-Ozzy Osbourne
-Sade
-A Tribe Called Quest

As previously reported, ten of the 15 nominees are on the ballot for the first time. Those artists are Mariah Carey, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinéad O’Connor, Ozzy Osbourne and Sade.

This year’s induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland. The exact date of the ceremony is currently unknown, but it will take place in the fall. As with last year, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

In a statement on the 2024 nominees, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes said, “This remarkable list of Nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates. Continuing in the true spirit of Rock & Roll, these artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”

Despite the initial end date of April 26 being previously announced, the 2024 Rock Hall Fan Vote end date was quietly changed and came to an end on April 15. The final standings and vote tallies can be viewed below.

The post Rock Hall 2024 Induction Class to be Announced on ‘American Idol’ appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The 15 nominees are:

-Mary J. Blige
-Mariah Carey
-Cher
-Dave Matthews Band
-Eric B. & Rakim
-Foreigner
-Peter Frampton
-Jane’s Addiction
-Kool & the Gang
-Lenny Kravitz
-Oasis
-Sinéad O’Connor
-Ozzy Osbourne
-Sade
-A Tribe Called Quest

Fans can cast their vote once a day at Vote.RockHall.com for who they think should be part of the 2024 Rock Hall induction class. This year, voting was initially announced to last through April 26. However, it abruptly ended on April 15. Even the Instagram post below from the Rock Hall states voting ends on April 26.

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However, Future Rock Legends noted on X (formerly Twitter) on March 26, “The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame quietly pushed up the Fan Vote closing date to April 15th. It had previously been set to close on April 26th.”

Unlike in previous years, fans got to vote for up to seven nominees every day. Previously, the choices were capped at five nominees.

The Fan Vote was first launched in 2013. Per the Rock Hall, “There have been over four million fan votes cast over the past 10 years, with 64% of the Fan Vote ballot (35 of 55) earning induction in the same year; and 86% (38 of 44 unique nominations) eventually earning induction. In 2022, the entire Top 5 earned induction – the only time that has happened.”

Once voting closes, the top seven artists in the Fan Vote will create what is called a “Fans’ Ballot.” It will be counted among the other ballots that various artists, historians, and music industry professionals fill out and submit.

To see the final standings in the Rock Hall fan vote, keep scrolling. (NOTE: Vote tallies are as of vote closing on April 15, 2024.)

More on the 2024 Rock Hall Nominees and Induction Ceremony

The Rock Hall noted that ten of the 15 nominees are on the ballot for the first time. Those artists are Mariah Carey, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinéad O’Connor, Ozzy Osbourne and Sade.

The 2024 inductees will be announced in late April. This year’s induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland. The exact date of the ceremony is currently unknown, but it will take place in the fall. As with last year, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

In a statement on the 2024 nominees, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes said, “This remarkable list of Nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates. Continuing in the true spirit of Rock & Roll, these artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”

7. Kool & the Gang: 286,912 votes.

Kool & the Gang have been eligible for induction since 1995. However, they only received their first Rock Hall nomination in 2024. It’s pretty shocking, considering just how many hits are in their catalog. Those hits include “Celebration,” “Ladies’ Night,” “Get Down on It,” “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging.”

6. Lenny Kravitz: 310,663 votes.

Lenny Kravitz has been eligible for induction since 2014. This is his first nomination. Since debuting in 1989, he’s consistently offered up his unique brand of rock to the masses. Some of his biggest hits include “It Ain’ Over ’til It’s Over,” “Again,” “Fly Away” and “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”

5. Cher: 339,939 votes.

Cher has been eligible for the Rock Hall for over three decades, but 2024 marks her first nomination. Despite her current standing in the Fan Vote, Cher recently bashed the Rock Hall in a December 2023 appearance on [inlink id=”cher-nikki-sixx-rock-hall-comments” text=”The Kelly Clarkson Show“]. Cher said, “I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars … They can just go you-know-what-themselves.”

4. Ozzy Osbourne: 480,292 votes.

Currently, The Prince of Darkness is atop the Fan Vote rankings, and it’s not a terribly big surprise. He’s been one of the most iconic figures in hard rock and metal for over 50 years. This is Osbourne’s first Rock Hall nomination as a solo artist, despite being eligible since 2005. Over course, Ozzy has a history of delayed acknowledgment from the Rock Hall. He was inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, despite being eligible since 1995.

3. Foreigner: 527,193 votes.

Foreigner has been one of the Rock Hall’s most notable snubs over the years. The band has been eligible since 2003, and this is their first nomination. Guitarist/founding member Mick Jones said in response to the nomination, “I deeply appreciate the recognition from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame committee … Getting this news today is an incredible endorsement of what we have achieved over time.”

Similar to Dave Matthews Band, expect Foreigner’s fans to really rally and put their support behind these classic rock giants.

2. Peter Frampton: 528,482 votes.

Like Foreigner, Peter Frampton has long been overlooked by the Rock Hall. Despite being eligible since 1997(!), 2024 marks Frampton’s first Rock Hall nomination. The guitarist candidly told Billboard he was in the bathroom when he learned of his nomination and let out a scream. Frampton said his band leader Rob Arthur came running once he heard him scream.

“He thought something was wrong,” said Frampton. “So, anyway, it was a very good day.”

1. Dave Matthews Band: 586,211 votes.

This year marks the second Rock Hall nomination for Dave Matthews Band. They were previously nominated in 2020. That year, the band [inlink id=”rock-hall-fan-vote-final-totals” text=”won the Fan Vote”], but they failed to be inducted. After the 2024 nomination was announced, DMB didn’t waste any time to plug the Fan Vote on social media. Considering their enthusiastic fanbase, don’t be surprised if Dave Matthews Band rises in the Fan Vote ranks.

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Joel’s social media channels shared CBS’s statement. It began, “A network programming timing error ended last night’s Billy Joel special approximately two minutes early in the Eastern and Central Time Zones. We apologize to Mr. Joel, his fans, our affiliated stations, and our audience whose viewing experience was interrupted during the last song.” (Note: That last song was “Piano Man,” hence why there was a lot of backlash.)

CBS’s statement concluded, “Due to the overwhelming demand from his legion of fans, ‘Billy Joel: the 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden’ will be rebroadcast in its entirety on CBS on April 19th at 9:00PM ET/PT.”

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How Was the Billy Joel Concert Special Cut Short?

As we previously reported, the Billy Joel concert special was set to air on CBS from 9 PM – 11 PM EST. However, the conclusion of The Masters golf tournament pushed the special back. To make matters even worse, the live sports event led to Joel’s special being cut off at 11 PM in order for local news to air on schedule.

Again, the cut came during the special’s final song, which was “Piano Man.” This understandably made fans very upset. Below is one example of the feed which shows how abruptly the special was cut off. It’s still amazing that CBS allowed this to even happen.

After this truly remarkable error, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent their frustrations about the sudden ending. One fan wrote, “IDK whose decision it was to cut off the end of the #BillyJoel concert for local news (AFTER starting 30 min late!) but it’s unacceptable. #BillyJoel100 is an iconic moment in history, & all we wanted to do was “forget about life for a while” & you destroyed it.”

Details About Billy Joel’s Concert Special

The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time was set up to be a wonderful tribute to a beloved musician. Joel’s special was first announced in February and was filmed on March 28. Believe it or not, this was also Joel’s first-ever broadcast network concert special.

Joel’s March 28 concert at Madison Square Garden was the 100th show in The Piano Man’s very lucrative residency at the iconic New York City venue.

He announced last year that he would be ending his Madison Square Garden residency in July 2024. The final show has been announced for July 25, 2024, which will be Joel’s 150th career performance at the legendary venue.

The remaining MSG residency shows are as follows:

-April 26, 2024
-May 9, 2024
-June 8, 2024
-July 25, 2024

Per Ultimate Classic Rock, Joel said during a June 2023 press conference about the end of his residency, “I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but ten years … 150 shows — all right already!”

Joel’s CBS special was all part of an eventful build-up to the end of his MSG residency. That build-up also included the Feb. 1 release of “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new song in decades.

The post CBS Issues Apology For Cutting Off Billy Joel Concert Special appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Oates spoke at length to Rolling Stone about the ongoing tensions between him and Daryl Hall. Asked whether Hall and Oates are effectively over, Oates said, “You can ask Daryl the same question, but yes, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve moved on.”

The formerly mustachioed half of one of music’s most successful duos also noted that the pandemic helped him step back and reexamine what he wants to do with his career. Oates talked about how much he enjoyed doing more philanthropic music work, like partnering with Feeding America for a charity livestream.

Oates also touched on how it was “no longer interesting” to continue playing the same hits as he’s done for decades. While he says those songs will “live forever,” he did admit, “I just wanted to do something else.”

Oates doesn’t rule out performing with Hall again or potentially mending their lengthy friendship. He said he “would never say anything negative about [Hall],” but he also said the two of them differ personally and professionally and that they both “deserve to be allowed to do whatever we want to do.”

The Beginning of the End for Hall and Oates

In November 2023, Hall filed a lawsuit against Oates and requested a restraining order, much to the shock of fans and the music world at large.

Little was known about the lawsuit until a handful of days later, when the Associated Press (AP) reported Hall’s restraining order on Oates was part of a larger legal issue involving a sale of the Hall & Oates catalog and other business interests. This sale by Oates allegedly violates the terms of an existing agreement he’s had with Hall.

At the time, the AP noted, “A Nashville chancery court judge issued the temporary restraining order on Nov. 16, writing that Oates and others involved in his trust can’t move to close the sale of their share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC until an arbitrator in a separately filed case weighs in on the deal, or until the judge’s order expires — typically within 15 days, unless a judge extends the deadline.”

Little else is known about the terms of the existing business agreement between Hall and Oates. However, the AP also reported that Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC has owned “significant interest” in the Hall and Oates catalog for the past 15 years.

The post Hall and Oates Breakup: Duo Appears to Really Be Over appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Per Billboard, the concert special was set to air on CBS from 9 PM – 11 PM EST. However, the conclusion of The Masters golf tournament pushed the special back. To make matters even worse, the live sports event led to Joel’s special being cut off at 11 PM in order for local news to air on schedule.

Oh, and this meant Joel’s special was cut off during “Piano Man,” which understandably made fans very upset. Seriously, here’s one feed that shows how abruptly the special was cut off. How anyone at CBS thought this was fine and no big deal is astounding.

After this truly remarkable error, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent their frustrations about the sudden ending. One fan wrote, “IDK whose decision it was to cut off the end of the #BillyJoel concert for local news (AFTER starting 30 min late!) but it’s unacceptable. #BillyJoel100 is an iconic moment in history, & all we wanted to do was “forget about life for a while” & you destroyed it.”

Truthfully, we’d like to include more fan reactions, but many of them have expletives, so we’ll pass. At the same time, we can’t f—ing blame them!

Details About Billy Joel’s Concert Special

The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time was set up to be a wonderful tribute to a beloved musician. Joel’s special was first announced in February and was filmed on March 28. Believe it or not, this was also Joel’s first-ever broadcast network concert special.

Joel’s March 28 concert at Madison Square Garden was the 100th show in The Piano Man’s very lucrative residency at the iconic New York City venue.

He announced last year that he would be ending his Madison Square Garden residency in July 2024. The final show has been announced for July 25, 2024, which will be Joel’s 150th career performance at the legendary venue.

The remaining MSG residency shows are as follows:

-April 26, 2024
-May 9, 2024
-June 8, 2024
-July 25, 2024

Per Ultimate Classic Rock, Joel said during a June 2023 press conference about the end of his residency, “I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but ten years … 150 shows — all right already!”

Joel’s CBS special was all part of an eventful build-up to the end of his MSG residency. That build-up also included the Feb. 1 release of “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new song in decades.

The post Billy Joel Fans Are Mad Over CBS Concert Special. Here’s Why (And We Don’t Blame Them) appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The accusation came via Testament frontman Chuck Billy, who said in a November 2023 interview, “I know there’s bands like Def Leppard that use a lot of backing tracks, but that’s also backing tracks for that big sound, ’cause, obviously, you can’t get all their voices live unless you brought in a choir. So, there’s an exception to the rule.”

Elliott addressed Billy’s comments in a new interview with Stereogum. The frontman says, in part, “We don’t use backing tracks. We use effects. God, who wouldn’t?”

Elliott goes on to note that Def Leppard’s trademark group vocal features four voices, so there’s literally no tape of backing vocals to begin with. He does, however, admit that drummer Rick Allen uses some drum loops largely due to only having one arm, but he says drummers with both arms also used drum loops.

Elliott made it perfectly clear that Def Leppard has never mimed vocals or any instrumentation ever.

Def Leppard and Their Upcoming Stadium Tour with Journey

Fans will be able to hear Def Leppard play live this summer when they hit the road with Journey for a stadium tour.

The tour kicks off on July 6 in St. Louis and wraps on Aug. 8 in Denver. Along the way, the tour will make stops in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, and multiple stops in Texas and California.

During the tour, special guests will be rotating on select dates. Those guests are Steve Miller Band, Cheap Trick and Heart. A full list of dates is below, with details on which guests will be on specific dates.

Def Leppard/Journey – The Summer Stadium Tour 2024

7/6 –  St. Louis, MO @ Busch Stadium^
7/10 – Orlando, FL @ Camping World Stadium^
7/13 – Atlanta, GA @ Truist Park*
7/15 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field*
7/18 – Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park*
7/20 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium*
7/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park*
7/25 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium*
7/27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park*
7/30 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field+
8/2 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre+
8/5 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park+
8/7 – Flushing, NY @ Citi Field*
8/12 – Arlington, TX @ Globe Life Field*
8/14 – Houston, TX @ Minute Maid Park*
8/16 – San Antonio, TX  @Alamodome*
8/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Field*
8/23 – Phoenix, AZ @ Chase Field*
8/25 – Los Angeles, CA  @SoFi Stadium*
8/28 – San Francisco, CA @ Oracle Park*
8/30 – San Diego, CA @ Petco Park*
8/4 – Seattle, WA @ T-Mobile Park^
8/8 – Denver, CO @ Coors Field^

*with Steve Miller Band
^with Cheap Trick
+with Heart

The post Joe Elliott Says Def Leppard Uses Effects, Not Backing Tracks Live appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The preview is a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” featuring Chris Stapleton, which can be heard below.

Slash told The Tennessean about recruiting Stapleton for this track, “When I was doing this record, this song has a riff I’ve always wanted to do and his voice came to mind. I thought his kind of delivery with that song would be so … cool.”

Stapleton once opened for Guns N’ Roses on a handful of shows, but the GN’R guitarist wasn’t able to connect with the country star at the time. Instead, Slash says he had to cold-call Stapleton about working with him. He then told The Tennessean, “Fortunately, he knew who I was.”

Whether Slash is just being modest or maybe telling a joke is unclear, but yeah, pal…most people with a clue know who you are.

Orgy of the Damned comes out on May 17 and is available for pre-order in a variety of formats via GibsonRecords.com.

Details on the New Slash Solo LP

As previously reported, Orgy of the Damned features 12 tracks, ranging from blues classics to deeper cuts. A full tracklisting is below.

Per his record label Gibson Records, “The acclaimed guitarist re-teamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album’s diverse guest vocalists, which include Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart.”

Slash’s sixth solo album also has the guitarist reunite with bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis from his ’90s Blues Ball band. Rounding out Slash’s backing band are drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

The first preview of the album was released last month. This preview was a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor.” The track features AC/DC frontman on vocals and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler on harmonica.

Orgy of the Damned – Track Listing

1. “The Pusher” feat. Chris Robinson (vocal and harmonica)
Written by Wayne Hoyt Axton

2. “Crossroad Blues” feat. Gary Clark Jr (vocal, rhythm guitar and solo)
Written by Robert Leroy Johnson

3. “Hoochie Coochie Man” feat. Billy F. Gibbons (vocal, rhythm guitar and solo)
Written by Willie Dixon

4. “Oh Well” feat. Chris Stapleton (vocal)
Written by Peter Alan Green

5. “Key to the Highway” feat. Dorothy (vocal)
Written by Charles Segar, William Broonzy

6. “Awful Dream” feat. Iggy Pop (vocal)
Written by Sam (Lightnin’) Hopkins, Clarence Lewis, C Morgan Robinson

7. “Born Under a Bad Sign” feat. Paul Rodgers (vocal)
Written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones

8. “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” feat. Demi Lovato (vocal)
Written by Barrett Strong, Jesse Norman Whitfield

9. “Killing Floor” feat. Brian Johnson (vocal)
Written by Chester Burnett (Special guest Steven Tyler on harmonica)

10. “Living for the City” feat. Tash Neal (vocal)
Written by Stevie Wonder (Special guest background vocals: Jenna Bell, Jessie Payo)

11. “Stormy Monday” feat. Beth Hart (vocal)
Written by T-Bone Walker

12. “Metal Chestnut”
Written by Slash

The post Slash: New Preview to Solo LP Features Chris Stapleton appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

It all started when Morello made an appearance during Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s April 7 show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. As expected for any high-profile show in Southern California, some celebrities were in attendance, which included Winkler.

The Happy Days and Barry actor took to X (formerly Twitter) the next day and wrote, “@tmorello you were on another level last night at the Forum! Thank you, Henry.” He followed that post with, “Tom Morello played like he was touched by God with Bruce S.”

What to Tom Morello Say Back to Henry Winkler

Eventually, Winkler’s praise made its way onto Morello’s radar. First, he shared a post of Winkler’s along with the caption, “I love the Fonz!” He then did a follow-up post where he wrote, “As a kid I was a member of the Fonzie Fan Club. I had a membership card and subscription to the official Fonzie fanzine. I planned my week around Happy Days on Thursday nights. So thank YOU
@hwinkler4real Henry Winkler for making my day!”

Winkler then responded, “This post makes me so happy…AAAAAAAY.”

But Wait! It Gets Even Better!

Winkler was still moved by Morello’s post, so then he takes to X again to write, “I still can no get over your post. I hereby make you the President of the [Fonzie Fan] club, Tom.”

Morello put a bow on the whole interaction writing, “With humility I accept this great honor. As President of the Fonzie Fan Club I hereby appoint Leather and Pinky Tuscadero to my cabinet.”

Look, some of you reading this might not think this is “news,” and perhaps, you have a point. At the same time, we live in a very cold, cruel world. Sometimes, you have to find happiness and joy in random, surprising places.

Can we count on guitar greats and beloved actors to have warm exchanges on social media all of the time? No, but we can appreciate them when they do happen. Frankly, it’s just nice when nice things happen unexpectedly.

So, if you took a fraction of warmth from reading this whole thing, I’m right there with you. If you’re somehow annoyed by all of this, my heart breaks for you just a little bit, and it makes me wonder what or who hurt you.

Now, off to see if Happy Days is streaming anywhere!

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He talked about his vocal issues with Entertainment Tonight and said that he continues to work daily on recovery. JBJ notes he’s “done everything I can do” and that, “It’s up to God at this point.”

However, the Bon Jovi frontman made it clear he’s not returning to the road before he’s ready. He said, “I won’t compromise who we are as a band live, because I’d like to think we’re a pretty darn good band.”

Details About Jon Bon Jovi and His Vocal Chord Issues

In February, JBJ talked about his vocal issues while appearing at the Pollstar Live! conference. Per Ultimate Classic Rock, Bon Jovi said, “It’s become public knowledge now, but I’ve had major reconstructive surgery in my vocal cords, and I never had anything like this, ever. So it’s been a difficult road, but I found a doctor in Philadelphia who did something called a medialization, because one of my cords was literally atrophied.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, medialization is when a surgeon ” … places an implant into your paralyzed or weak vocal cord. The implant moves a nonfunctioning vocal cord toward the functioning one to allow for better voicing.”

Bon Jovi’s vocal struggles and more will be addressed in the new four-part docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. The docuseries premieres on Hulu on Friday, April 26.

How Will The Bon Jovi Docuseries Address Richie Sambora’s Exit?

The full trailer to the docuseries above seems to hint that Sambora’s sudden exit from Bon Jovi will be dealt with head-on.

At the beginning of the trailer, Sambora says, “I’m excited. Are we telling the truth or are we going to lie? What are going to do?” Later, the guitarist says regarding leaving the band, “I don’t regret leaving, but I regret how I did it.” JBJ is then heard saying, “Nobody expected Richie to quit in the middle of the night.”

Sambora, of course, left Bon Jovi in 2013. At the time, Sambora cited wanting to spend more time with his daughter, Ava, who is now 26. There’s a good chance Sambora will offer additional details about his exit in the docuseries.

The last time Sambora spoke on the potential of rejoining Bon Jovi was in September 2023 on an episode of Shred with Shifty, a podcast hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett. Sambora said he and Jon Bon Jovi have spoken on the phone about it. He added, “There’s a demand out there for it, you know — especially outside of the USA.”

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Jagger’s impressive moves to the 2011 hit have received hundreds of thousands of likes since its March 27 posting. The English rocker cheekily captioned the clip: “Moves like who!” The band Splash behind him in the video performs a cover of the Maroon 5 song. Jagger is full of energy in the video, which you can watch below.

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On Wednesday night (April 10), the Maroon 5 frontman appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, so of course Levine was asked about the Jagger video. Levine, 45, told host Fallon, “It’s really surreal. It’s just one of those things you’re like, ‘Oh my, like how is this possible? What is happening? It’s bizarre.’” As bizarre as it may feel, only a few people in Levine’s life shared the video with him after Jagger posted it — his mom being one of them!

When the song was written over ten years ago now, Levine says the inspiration was a woman. However, he solely takes the blame to be “the only idiot crazy enough to say that I have the moves like Jagger.” Apparently, it’s a “confidence thing. It’s a swag thing,” says Levine. “He’s the man.”

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During his late-night appearance, Levine also hinted at new music for Maroon 5, who have been a band for 30 years now. He tells Fallon that the group is taking an “in-house” approach when it comes to recording the new tunes. “For the first time in about 13 years,” Levine says he feels ready enough to “take the reins back” to be a songwriter.

The father of two claims he is determined that he and his bandmates will have enough ideas that we won’t need any co-writers. “The ideas are coming straight from the nucleus of Maroon 5,” he assures, and together, they will make the music “sound a like it did in the very beginning. I’m so excited about what’s happening right now.“

The pop group’s seventh and most recent studio album, 2021’s Jordi, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200.

Watch Levine on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon below:

Maroon 5 have an upcoming Las Vegas residency, taking place from May to October. Their M5LV The Residency will take place at the Dolby Live at Park MGM theater, a 5,200-capacity venue.

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In case you missed it, the 15 nominees are:

-Mary J. Blige
-Mariah Carey
-Cher
-Dave Matthews Band
-Eric B. & Rakim
-Foreigner
-Peter Frampton
-Jane’s Addiction
-Kool & the Gang
-Lenny Kravitz
-Oasis
-Sinéad O’Connor
-Ozzy Osbourne
-Sade
-A Tribe Called Quest

Fans can cast their vote once a day at Vote.RockHall.com for who they think should be part of the 2024 Rock Hall induction class. This year, voting will last through April 26. Unlike previous years, fans will get to vote for up to seven nominees every day. Previously, the choices were capped at five nominees.

The Fan Vote was first launched in 2013. Per the Rock Hall, “There have been over four million fan votes cast over the past 10 years, with 64% of the Fan Vote ballot (35 of 55) earning induction in the same year; and 86% (38 of 44 unique nominations) eventually earning induction. In 2022, the entire Top 5 earned induction – the only time that has happened.”

Once voting closes, the top five vote artists in the Fan Vote will create what is called a “Fans’ Ballot.” It will be counted among the other ballots that various artists, historians, and music industry professionals fill out and submit.

To see the current top seven artists in the Rock Hall fan vote, keep scrolling. (NOTE: Vote tallies are as of April 11, 2024 at 12:38 PM ET.)

More on the 2024 Rock Hall Nominees and Induction Ceremony

The Rock Hall noted that ten of the 15 nominees are on the ballot for the first time. Those artists are Mariah Carey, Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinéad O’Connor, Ozzy Osbourne and Sade.

The 2024 inductees will be announced in late April. This year’s induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland. The exact date of the ceremony is currently unknown, but it will take place in the fall. As with last year, the 2024 ceremony will live stream on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.

In a statement on the 2024 nominees, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes said, “This remarkable list of Nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates. Continuing in the true spirit of Rock & Roll, these artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”

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Whether it’s TikTok or Instagram, Kravitz is a fun mix of behind-the-scenes peeks, career news, random viral videos and thirst traps that will make you do a double-take.

Want proof? There’s ample evidence. Here are just some of our favorite reasons why you should follow Lenny Kravitz on social media.

Did We Mention Thirst Traps?

It’s no secret that Kravitz is hot as hell, and he’s seemingly in better shape now than ever before. On March 15, he shared a shirtless photo of himself in low-rise jeans and captioned it, “Standing in love and gratitude.”

Of course, it didn’t take too long for the comments to roll in, and understandably so. Kelly Rowland wrote, “And just like that…I’m headed to the gym!” Rosario Dawson wrote, “Just blessing the sun with your shine.”

Channing Tatum, however, was the winner of the comment section. Kravitz’s future son-in-law wrote, “Jesus Christmas Lenny wtf you’re gonna hurt someone on this platform. Hahaha.”

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Working Out…In Leather Pants?!

Kravitz obviously takes care of himself and is in great shape, but if you think he’d hit the gym wearing athletic clothing, think again!

On April 9, Kravitz shared a video of him lifting weights at a gym, and he was doing so while wearing leather pants and boots.

He captioned the post, “Thank God for today! Grateful. Never been better. There are no shortcuts, so seize your day. It is all possible. Love!”

That sentiment is nice and all, but he must get really sweaty working out in leather pants!

Fun on the Road

In March, Kravitz shared a video of him shopping at Buc-ee’s for the first time. Naturally, Kravitz is wearing all leather and rocking a very fetching crossbody bag. As expected, if Lenny Kravitz walks into any place — let alone a massive, iconic rest stop convenience store like Buc-ee’s — he’s going to attract attention. Clearly, Kravitz is used to such attention, because the video shows him interacting with and posing for photos for fans.

As for what Kravitz picked up on his first-ever trip to Buc-ee’s, People notes, “While he didn’t give a haul of his purchases, it looks like he grabbed a bag of Buc-ee’s beloved Beaver Nuggets (a sweet puffed corn snack), a freshly-made barbecue sandwich, Celsius energy drinks and more.”

Kravitz captioned the video, “First time at @bucees… So many smiling faces and warm hearts. We are all #Human. See you on the road!”

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His TikTok Debut Was Nothing Short of Iconic

Kravitz debuted on TikTok in September 2023. The date of his first post happened to be the first day of Fall, and he was more than prepared. Why? Because he was wearing his notoriously massive scarf that went viral.

The TikTok shows Kravitz donning the scarf and walking through a park. He says while walking toward the camera, “Grab your big scarf. It’s the first day of Fall.”

As far as social media debuts go, you couldn’t ask for better.

The post Lenny Kravitz is a Must-Follow on Social Media appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Family Values: Kurt, Courtney & Frances Bean comes out on June 4 and is currently available for pre-order at powerHouseBooks.com.

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Per powerHouse Books, the books feature two unique essays. One essay is by Michael Azerrad, a close friend of Cobain’s and the author of Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana. The other essay is written by Guzman, the husband-and-wife duo who photographed the iconic music couple and their baby for Spin.

Guzman wrote of their experience of photographing the young family, “Slowly, a narrative of two transcendent artists beside their most tender creation began to unfold upon the studio wall—and those are the images that appear in this book.”

Frances Bean Cobain’s Tribute to Kurt Cobain

Last week marked the 30th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain. France Bean Cobain took to Instagram to pay tribute to her father. She shared a series of photos, which included childhood photos of Kurt and a couple of photos of herself with her father when she was just a baby. Frances Bean was about 20 months old when Kurt died by suicide.

Included with her Instagram post was an incredibly poignant caption. Frances Bean wrote, “I wish I could’ve known my Dad. I wish I knew the cadence of his voice, how he liked his coffee or the way it felt to be tucked in after a bedtime story. I always wondered if he would’ve caught tadpoles with me during the muggy Washington summers, or if he smelled of Camel Lights & strawberry Nesquik (his favorites, I’ve been told).”

She continued, “But there is also deep wisdom being on an expedited path to understanding how precious life is. He gifted me a lesson in death that can only come through the LIVED experience of losing someone. It’s the gift of knowing for certain, when we love ourselves & those around us with compassion, with openness, with grace, the more meaningful our time here inherently becomes.”

Frances Bean added, “Kurt wrote me a letter before I was born. The last line of it reads, ‘Wherever you go or wherever I go, I will always be with you.’ He kept this promise because he is present in so many ways. Whether it’s by hearing a song or through the hands we share, in those moments, I get to spend a little time with my dad & he feels transcendent.”

She concluded, “To anyone who has wondered what it would’ve looked like to live alongside the people they have lost, I’m holding you in my thoughts today. The meaning of our grief is the same.”

Frances Bean’s post received many comments, including from Michael Stipe. He wrote, “Oh Frances, you possess a grace and glorious wisdom that stops me in my tracks from time to time, and today is most certainly one of those times. Love is eternal, and this is all the proof we need. AND I had forgotten about the strawberry Nesquik!!!”

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The trailer for the documentary can be viewed below, which is full of the lush music from the iconic band and other video footage through the years.

The Beach Boys is being dubbed by Disney as “the definitive look at America’s band.” According to a press release about the documentary, the film features never-before-seen footage and all-new interviews with The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, plus other luminaries in the music business, including Lindsey Buckingham, Janelle Monáe, Ryan Tedder, and Don Was.

In a statement about the documentary, Brian Wilson said, “I’m super happy with the way the documentary turned out, they did an amazing job. It really brought me back to those days with the boys, the fun and the music. And of course those incredible harmonies.”

The Beach Boys premieres on Disney+ on May 24.

Brian Wilson and His Health

In February, it was revealed that Brian Wilson was being placed under a conservatorship due to being diagnosed with dementia.

The Wilson Family issued a statement that offered details about the legendary musician’s conservatorship. It states that LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers, who have been longtime reps for the family, will serves as Wilson’s co-conservators. The statement also notes this decision was pre-determined by Brian and Melinda Wilson.

The Wilson Family statement also notes, “Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses.”

This news comes after the death of Melinda Wilson on Jan. 30. Brian and Melinda Wilson were married for 28 years.

Following her death, Brian issued a statement honoring his late wife. He wrote, in part, “Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost. Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career.”

He added, “She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her.”

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Love & Mercy

Brian and Melinda Wilson’s relationship was immortalized in the 2015 biopic Love & Mercy. The two famously met at a Cadillac dealership where Melina was a salesperson, which is shown in the biopic’s trailer below. At that time, Brian was under the care of Dr. Eugene Landy. Landy was a psychotherapist whose care of the singer-songwriter became more and more controlling as treatment continued.

In 1992, Brian and Melinda Wilson petitioned a court to remove Landy from Brian’s personal and professional affairs. Once Landy was ordered never to contact him again, Brian married Melinda in 1995. The couple adopted five children together.

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In a statement, the band noted that all previously purchased tickets for their “Peace Out” farewell tour will be honored for the rescheduled shows. A full list of the rescheduled dates is below.

Newly available tickets for rescheduled shows and shows just added to the tour will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 12 at 10 AM local time.

Complete ticket details can be found at Aerosmith.com.

A Brief Timeline of the Aerosmith Rescheduled Tour Dates

In September 2023, Aerosmith postponed a handful of dates on their farewell tour. At the time, it was revealed Tyler suffered vocal cord damage that led to “subsequent bleeding.” Doctors also instructed him to go on vocal rest and not sing for 30 days.

Weeks later, Aerosmith postponed their entire farewell tour until 2024 due to issues related to Tyler’s vocal cord injury.

The band shared in a statement, “Unfortunately, Steven’s vocal injury is more serious than initially thought. His doctor has confirmed that in addition to the damage to his vocal cords, he fractured his larynx which requires ongoing care.”

The band noted, “He is receiving the best medical treatment available to ensure his recovery is swift, but given the nature of a fracture, he is being told patience is essential.”

Tyler added in his own personal statement, “I am heartbroken to not be out there with Aerosmith, my brothers and the incredible Black Crowes, rocking with the best fans in the world. I promise we will be back as soon as we can!”

Aerosmith Rescheduled Tour Dates: 2024-25

September 20 – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
September 23 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
September 26 – KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY
September 29 – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – Cleveland, OH
October 2 – Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC
October 5 – Thompson Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN
October 8 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
October 11 – State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA
October 14 – Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO
October 17 – Heritage Bank Center – Cincinnati, OH
October 20 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
October 31 – Footprint Center – Phoenix, AX
November 3 – Frost Bank Center – San Antonio, TX
November 6 – Moody Center – Austin, TX
November 9 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
November 12 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
November 15 – CHI Health Center – Omaha, NE
November 18 – Ball Arena – Denver, CO
November 21 – Moda Center – Portland, OR
November 24 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
November 27 – Delta Center – Salt Lake City, UT
November 30 – Chase Center – San Francisco, CA
December 4 – SAP Center – San Jose, CA
December 7 – Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA
December 28 – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
December 31 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
January 4 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
January 7 – ScotiaBank Arena – Toronto, ON
January 10 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
January 13 – Schottenstein Center – Columbus, OH
January 16 – Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
January 19 – United Center – Chicago, IL
January 22 – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN
January 25 – T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO
February 11 – Kia Center – Orlando, FL
February 14 – Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL
February 17 – Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL
February 20 – PNC Arena – Raleigh, NC
February 23 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
February 26 – KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY

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According to a data study and survey from Custom Ink, heavy metal fans spend more on band shirts than any other fan genre. On average, heavy metal fans spend about $500 on band shirts in their lifetime. The average metal fan owns 10 band shirts. Of course, there’s a good chance anyone reading this has spent way more on band shirts and owns much more than 10 band shirts.

There was an unfortunate finding from Custom Ink’s study/survey: “Over 30% of Americans think you don’t need to know the artist’s music to wear their merch.”

Now, we’re not saying you have to be an expert in an artist in order to wear their merch, but you shouldn’t be totally clueless either. Either way, this whole statistic feels like a debate for another day.

Why Heavy Metal Music Reduces Stress

This business about heavy metal fans and band shirts reminds us of a viral TikTok from June 2023 that touted the medical benefits of the genre.

Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole Andreoli, PhD explains via TikTok, “Listening to any type of music can be therapeutic and can allow for an emotional release. Heavy metal is no exception.”

She continues, “In fact, heavy metal has been found to lessen negative emotions by reducing cortisol levels, which helps to lessen stress. Research has found that people who listen to heavy metal tend to think more logically and in more complex terms than those who don’t listen to heavy metal. Heavy metal has been found to help the most with focus”

Dr. Andreoli added, “Now, lyrics in heavy metal do tend to focus on rage, but there’s no research linking listening to heavy metal with a desensitization to violence. In fact, listening to heavy metal has been found to be a positive way to process anger safely.”

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Deadline confirmed this news along with confirming the film will be distributed by 20th Century Studios. Weeks ago, when news of White being attached to the film initially surfaced, A24 was in talks for distributing the film, but clearly those talks took a turn.

As previously reported, the film is about the making of Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska. This film will be an adaptation of the 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska by Warren Zanes.

White, of course, is best known for his role as Carmy Berzatto in the FX series The Bear. The role has netted him a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and an Emmy Award this past awards season.

A production and release timeline for Deliver Me From Nowhere is not currently known.

The Other Bruce Springsteen Film

News of Deliver Me From Nowhere comes five years after the release of another Springsteen film.

Released in 2019 was Blinded By The Light. The film tells the story of Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent, growing up in England in 1987 amidst racial and economic turmoil. Javed is passionate about poetry and then his passion is turned upside down when a classmate introduces him to the music of The Boss.

Blinded By The Light was based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir Greetings from Bury Park and comes from writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha, best known for 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham.

Manzoor told us in an August 2019 interview that Springsteen not only gave his blessing in the making of the film, but he let the small-budget film use his music in the film for free.

“He’s given 19 songs…He’s given the most valuable thing he has with his back catalog to a story about a Pakistani teenager in England in the 1980s,” said Manzoor. “Think about how much he could sell his music for; he gave it to us for nothing. It’s a British Independent film. We didn’t have a studio backing us. It was just a small-budget film, and he basically said you can have the entire back catalog.”

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Metallica shared a clip of their performance of “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” via X (formerly Twitter). They wrote, “Sir Elton John helped cover ‘Nothing Else Matters’ on The Metallica Blacklist in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favor! Tune in to @pbs to catch our rendition of ‘Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding’ at this year’s #GershwinPrize for Popular Music, celebrating the achievements of Elton John and his writing partner, Bernie Taupin.”

A full version of their performance can be viewed here.

Sir Elton John helped cover “Nothing Else Matters” on The Metallica Blacklist in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favor!

Tune in to @pbs to catch our rendition of “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” at this year’s #GershwinPrize for Popular Music, celebrating… pic.twitter.com/Bbo5gzzzUw

— Metallica (@Metallica) April 8, 2024

As previously reported, John and Taupin were honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on March 20 in Washington, D.C. John and Taupin are the second and third British musicians to receive this American honor. The first was Paul McCartney in 2010.

Past Gershwin Prize recipients include Joni Mitchell (2023), Lionel Richie (2022), Garth Brooks (2020), Gloria and Emilio Estefan (2019), Tony Bennett (2017), Smokey Robinson (2016) and many more iconic musicians.

Metallica Resumes M72 World Tour in 2024

Metallica resumes their M72 World Tour in May. The band split up their world tour over the course of two years in support of their latest album, 72 Seasons. Their 2024 North American tour dates are below.

8/2 & 8/4 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
8/9 & 8/11 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
8/16 & 8/18 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
8/23 & 8/25 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
8/30 & 9/1 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
9/20, 9/22, 9/27, 9/29 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol

Show 1 support: Pantera & Mammoth WVH
Show 2 support: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
Mexico City: Greta Van Fleet replaces Pantera on Show 1 of both weekends

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In the video below, Fallon says straight to camera, “We have a special show tonight. Heart is our musical guest, and today is obviously the solar eclipse. So, we thought we have to do what we have to do. We have to sing ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ with Heart while watching the solar eclipse. Let’s do this.”

Fallon is donning a very ’80s mullet wig while also wearing a unique shirt-tie-blazer combo, which is seemingly a reference to the music video for Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” The Tonight Show host really hams it up during the performance and appears to throw Ann Wilson off her vocals.

The capper on the clip is when Fallon removes his eclipse glasses to reveal his eyes are a bright white lights, which is most definitely a reference to Tyler’s music video.

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” and the Eclipse Bump

Unsurprisingly, Bonnie Tyler’s classic 1983 hit was top of mind during the April 8 solar eclipse and in the days leading up to it.

According to CBS News, the track reached No. 2 on the Apple Music charts on the day of the solar eclipse. Additionally, a Spotify spokesperson confirmed the song saw a 50% increase in streams in the week before the solar eclipse. It was also the top song added to various eclipse-themed playlists.

A similar phenomenon was found on YouTube, where the video is part of the platform’s “Billion Views Club.” On the day of the solar eclipse, CBS News reported that the video for “Total Eclipse of the Heart” peaked at No. 84 on YouTube’s daily top 100 music video chart.

Heart’s Busy 2024

Heart has a figurative ton of shows booked for 2024 throughout North America. All upcoming performances are listed below.

Guests vary for each show and can be confirmed over at Heart-Music.com, where fans can find complete ticket details.

April 20 – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 22 – Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
April 25 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live (in Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood)
April 26 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
April 28 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (multi-act event)
May 1 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center (special guest TBD)
May 3 – Thackerville, OK @ Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino and Resort
May 4 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
May 7 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
May 10 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
May 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
May 13 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
May 15 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
May 17 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
May 18 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
May 21 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
May 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
May 24 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live
Jul 30 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 1 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
Aug 2 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 5 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park (with Def Leppard & Journey)
Aug 7 – Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre
Aug 8 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Aug 10 – Albany, NY @ MVP Arena
Aug 11 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
Aug 13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center
Aug 15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
Aug 16 – Hinckley, MN @ Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater
Aug 18 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
Aug 21 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
Aug 23 – Charleston, WV @ Charleston Coliseum
Aug 24 – Knoxville, TN @ Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center
Aug 27 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
Aug 28 –  Allentown, PA @ The Great Allentown Fair
Sept 17 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
Sept 20 – West Valley City, UT @ Maverik Center
Sept 22 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre (special guest TBD)
Sept 26 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sept 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Sept 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Oct 2 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
Oct 4 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Oct 5 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Oct 8 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Oct 10 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Oct 12 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Oct 14 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Oct 16 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
Oct 17 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
Oct 19 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena
Oct 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Nov 13 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at BJCC
Nov 14 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
Nov 16 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena
Nov 19 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Nov 21 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The MARK
Nov 22 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
Nov 24 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Nov 27 – Saskatoon, SK – Sasktel Centre
Nov 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Nov 30 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Dec 3 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Dec 5 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Dec 7 – Boise, ID – Extra Mile Arena
Dec 9 – Sacramento, CA – Golden1 Center
Dec 12 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Arena (special guest TBA)
Dec 13 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
Dec 15 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas (An Evening With)

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The frontman talked about how much he leans on his longtime friendships. At the same time, he said he finds himself in situations where he realizes certain people should be there. Those people are his late friends from the Seattle music scene: Layne Staley, Chris Cornell and Mark Lanegan.

“And you’re sad for them that they’re not [there],” said Vedder (h/t NME). “But it makes you realize you gotta be healthy. You want to be around for your kids. You want to make good records, and we might have one or two left.”

Latest on Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is releasing their twelfth studio album, Dark Matter, on April 19. The album is available for pre-order here. Additionally, a special edition of the album will be available on Record Store Day, which is taking place on April 20.

The band has released two preview tracks: “Dark Matter” and “Running.”

To celebrate the album, Pearl Jam is hosting a worldwide album listening party. Dubbed a “global theatrical experience,” Dark Matter – One Night Only will hit over 500 theaters around the world on April 16.

Per its announcement, “Attendees will be among the very first to hear the band’s new record in select cinemas around the world. This communal experience will play Dark Matter in its entirety twice: first in a dark cinema, and then again with added visuals. “

Complete details can be found at PearlJam.com/OneNightOnly.

Pearl Jam 2024 World Tour

With a new album comes a new Pearl Jam world tour. As previously reported, the tour kicks off in May with a two-night stand in Vancouver, BC and is currently set to wrap in November in Sydney, Australia. A complete list of tour dates is below.

* Rescheduled date from 2022

** Festival dates are already on sale

The post Eddie Vedder Thinks Pearl Jam Has ‘One or Two’ Good Albums Left appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

Johnny Ramone’s Widow’s Lawsuit

Per Billboard, Linda Cummings-Ramone, the widow of Johnny Ramone, filed a lawsuit against Mickey Leigh, the brother of Joey Ramone, in January. She alleges that Leigh “covertly developed an unapproved and unauthorized Ramones-based biopic.” Cummings-Ramone also claims the film is a “one-sided recitation of the history of the Ramones.”

Billboard notes that Cummings-Ramone and Leigh have split ownership over Ramones’ intellectual property. Since she wasn’t involved in the making of the film, then the film cannot move forward with release without her permission.

Mickey Leigh’s Countersuit

According to Billboard, Leigh filed a countersuit in March alleging Cummings-Ramone actually gave her permission for the biopic years ago. He referred to her lawsuit as “baseless” and alleged she’s been trying for years to “install herself as the Queen of the Ramones.”

Leigh’s legal team wrote in the countersuit, “Ms. Cummings-Ramone’s main purpose is to embarrass, harass, and destroy the integrity of Mr. Hyman, create an utterly false narrative about him, rewrite her role in the history of the Ramones, and win a popularity contest in which, in her mind, she takes over … the legacy of a band of which she never was a member and had nothing to do with creatively.”

Details on the Joey Ramone Biopic

The Joey Ramone biopic was first announced in April 2021. As previously reported, the film will be based on Leigh’s 2009 book I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir. The film will also be titled I Slept with Joey Ramone and will be a joint venture between Netflix and STXfilms.

Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson was cast as the last punk frontman. Directing the film is Jason Orley, who previously worked with Davidson on the film Big Time Adolescence. Orley also directed Davidson’s Netflix standup special Alive from New York.

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In an open letter published via Medium, the Artist Rights Alliance is calling on “AI developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to cease the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.”

The letter further states, “Make no mistake: We believe that, when used responsibly, AI has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere. Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing AI to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians and rightsholders.”

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The letter concludes, “We call on all AI developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to pledge that they will not develop AI music-generation technology, content or tools that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists or deny us fair compensation for our work.”

In addition to Pearl Jam and Jon Bon Jovi, other artists who are part of the Artist Rights Alliance include Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, R.E.M., Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow, Robert Smith, Elvis Costello, Smokey Robinson, Greta Van Fleet, The Estate of Bob Marley and The Estate of Frank Sinatra.

Who are the Artist Rights Alliance?

Formerly known as the Content Creators Coalition, the Artist Rights Alliance describes itself as, ” … a non-profit, artist-run organization advocating for music creators for fair compensation in the digital realm. We work for songwriters and musicians.”

The Artist Rights Alliance has many goals that fall under their overall mission. In addition to fair compensation, the group also aims for transparency from music services, publishers, record companies and more. They’re also striving to build an ecosystem that will help new artists and songwriters flourish in the music industry.

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Sir Paul said, in part, “I think she does a magnificent version of it, and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place. I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it!”

Macca added that he spoke with Beyoncé via FaceTime, and she thanked him for allowing her to cover the classic Beatles song. He told her “the pleasure was all mine” and praised her rendition.

He concluded, “When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now. Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud.”

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As previously reported, Beyoncé’s rendition of “Blackbird” is the second track on her new country-themed album. The original Beatles version was featured on their 1968 self-titled double album (aka: “The White Album”). Beyoncé is joined by four country singers who provide backing vocals on the track: Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy.

The Inspiration Behind “Blackbird”

The story behind “Blackbird” is incredibly moving. In 2016, Paul McCartney shared a photo via social media with Thelma Mothershed Wair and Elizabeth Eckford. He captioned it, “Incredible to meet two of the Little Rock Nine — pioneers of the civil rights movement and inspiration for ‘Blackbird.'”

The Little Rock Nine were the first nine Black students to attend Little Rock, Arkansas’s Central High School in September 1957. This followed the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled in 1954 that segregated schools were illegal.

The photo above was taken when Sir Paul’s tour came to Little Rock, Ark. Naturally, he performed “Blackbird” at the show.

He prefaced the performance by saying, “Way back in the Sixties, there was a lot of trouble going on over civil rights, particularly in Little Rock. We would notice this on the news back in England, so it’s a really important place for us, because to me, this is where civil rights started.”

He continued, “We would see what was going on and sympathize with the people going through those troubles, and it made me want to write a song that, if it ever got back to the people going through those troubles, it might just help them a little bit, and that’s this next one.”

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The legendary band (and brand) sold their assets to Pophouse, a Swedish entertainment and music investment firm they’ve already partnered with in the creation of the KISS Avatars.

While Pophouse didn’t disclose the financial terms of this blockbuster deal, Fortune reports the deal is worth $300 million.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on the Sale of the KISS Catalog

In a statement, Gene Simmons said of the catalog and intellectual property deal, “We have always been breaking new ground in popular culture, and this partnership will ensure that we continue to do so for years to come … The future could not be more exciting!”

Simmons noted that future includes the KISS Avatars, a biopic and what he called “a KISS themed experience.”

Paul Stanely added, “Our journey with Pophouse is fueled by the desire to eternally resonate across diverse facets of global culture … This partnership is not just a chapter; it’s an eternal symphony of rock ‘n’ roll immortality.”

What’s Next for the KISS Avatars?

According to Billboard, the KISS avatar show is targeting 2027 for its premiere. The KISS avatars were unveiled as the “new era” of the iconic band following their final show ever.

Per KISS’ official website, “The KISS avatars were created by visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic using their advanced performance-capture technology, gathering every nuance of KISS band members’ face and body performance in exact detail.”

Industrial Light & Magic was founded by George Lucas in 1975. Since its founding, the visual effects company has over 500 film and TV credits. Among them are the many Star Wars properties and the various titles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Pophouse, of course, is part of this “new era” and will helm the making of the KISS avatar show. The Swedish group is responsible for ABBA Voyage, the acclaimed digital concert honoring the iconic pop group.

Considering the technology, the KISS avatars have the potential to seemingly do anything. Keep scrolling to see some of our ideas on how we’d like to see the KISS avatars utilized in the future.

The post KISS Catalog, Name, Logo, Makeup Rights Sold in 9-Figure Deal appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

When asked by Metal Edge which Scott song he enjoys singing the most, Johnson said “What’s Next to the Moon.”

He noted of the song, “Well, I wish we did it. We only did it [a couple times], and I loved it to death.”

“What’s Next to the Moon” is a deeper cut in the Bon Scott era found on 1978’s Powerage. According to Setlist.fm, AC/DC has only performed “What’s Next to the Moon” live three times, and all three times was in 2003.

In our ranking of the top 25 Bon Scott era AC/DC songs, we ranked “What’s Next to the Moon” at No. 23. We wrote of the track, “‘Powerage’ is an AC/DC fan favorite for a reason, but one of its most underappreciated songs might be ‘What’s Next to the Moon,’ who’s murder plotline allusions can almost be overlooked thanks to its (ahem) killer groove.”

What’s New with Brian Johnson and AC/DC?

AC/DC announced in February their European tour dates. This marks the first tour from the band since 2016. Last month, the hard rock icons revealed The Pretty Reckless will be supporting them on their European tour

The “Power Up” tour will kick off on May 17 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany and will wrap on August 17 in Dublin. Currently, it’s unknown whether AC/DC will expand their tour to other continents, but stay tuned.

In a brief statement from the band, they confirmed the lineup for the tour. Brian Johnson will be on vocals and joined by Angus and Stevie Young on lead and rhythm guitar, respectively. Matt Laug, who played with the band at Power Trip in October 2023, will be on drums.

As for bass, AC/DC has recruited Chris Chaney “to carry the torch for Cliff [Williams].” Williams retired shortly after the 2016 tour, but he appeared on AC/DC’s 2020 album Power Up. Williams also performed at Power Trip with the band.

Chaney, of course, has an impressive resume that includes playing in Alanis Morissette’s touring band and being a member of Jane’s Addiction from 2002-2004 and 2011-2022.

AC/DC – Power Up Tour – 2024 European Tour Dates

5/17 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins Arena
5/21 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins Arena
5/25 – Reggio Emilia, Italy – RCF Arena
5/29 – Seville, Spain – La Cartuja Stadium
6/5 – Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Johan Cruyff Arena
6/9 – Munich, Germany – Olympic Stadium
6/12 – Munich, Germany – Olympic Stadium
6/16 – Dresden, German – Messe
6/23 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium
6/26 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium
6/29 – Zurich, Switzerland – Letzigrund Stadium
7/3 – London, England – Wembley Stadium
7/7 – London, England – Wembley Stadium
7/13 – Hockenheim, Germany – Ring
7/17 – Stuttgart, Germany – Wasen
7/21 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Old Airport
7/27 – Nuremberg, Germany – Zeppelinfeld
7/21 – Hannover, Germany – Messe
8/9 – Dessel, Belgium – Festivalpark Stenehei
8/13 – Paris, France – Hippodrome Paris Longchamp
8/17 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park

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A fan by the name of Karen Pitcher Scovell shared via Facebook a series of photos and video of The Boss signing a note for a young fan to be excused from school after attending his San Francisco show on Sunday, March 31. The fan in question had a sign that read, “Skipping School. Sign My Note.”

Scovel captioned the post, “No words!!!!! To be in such close proximity to greatness was more than I had ever expected. Bruce knelt down directly in front of me to sign a school excuse for the little girl behind me…” (Video of the moment can be seen here.)

Bruce Springsteen’s Other Recent Viral Moment

The Boss has been making numerous headlines since he returned to touring in recent weeks. One of the notable headline-making moments was when he met Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav.

As previously reportedAs previously reported, Flav shared a video on Instagram meeting The Boss backstage at his March 22 tour stop in Las Vegas with the E Street Band. Flav was clearly beside himself meeting Springsteen and told Bruce it was an honor meeting him.

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Flav also shared a video of himself literally dancing around to “Dancing in the Dark” during Springsteen’s show. He was clearly having a great time.

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According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Flav hung out E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt at an event the night before the Springsteen show. The rapper asked Van Zandt if a meet-up would be possible, and fortunately for Flav, it was.

Flav told the outlet, “I had never, ever met Bruce Springsteen in my life, but let me tell you … It was one of the greatest, most rewarding experiences in my life. I was starstruck.”

The rapper also told the outlet he gifted Springsteen and Van Zandt with some desk clocks, which is a nod to the clock accessory he wears around his neck.

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The singer told Metal Hammer that he can see a Skid Row reunion happening, considering both the band and him as a solo artist play many of the same songs live.

Bach told the publication, “When I get a substantial royalty check for an album I did with musicians that I haven’t been in the same room with since 1996, I feel like a piece of s—. Because we should be giving something back to the fans that have made this great life possible.”

Is the Window Finally Open for a Sebastian Bach-Skid Row Reunion?

The timing of Bach’s comments is interesting, to say the least. Last week, Skid Row announced the “amicable departure” of singer Erik Grönwall, who joined Skid Row in 2022.

The band statement said, in part, “Erik has decided that the travel and rigors of the road is not conducive to his overall health and recovery, and wants to focus on a lifestyle that is more amenable for his well-being, healing and family.”

In his own personal statement, Grönwall said, “I got the opportunity to join this incredible band six months after my treatment against leukemia. And one month after that, I was on a world tour with Skid f—ing Row. Wow! It was a dream come true. However, it proved challenging touring the world with an impaired immune system, which is a result of my bone marrow transplant.”

Grönwall noted it was a “tough decision” to leave, but ” … I can’t prioritize my health being in the band.” He expressed gratitude for the band and Skid Row’s fans “who accepted me as the lead singer of this iconic band.”

Without a permanent singer, Skid Row tapped Lzzy Hale as a temporary singer. Hale will front Skid Row on the following dates:

• May 17 — Carterville, IL
• May 18 — Riverside, IA
• May 31 — Reno, NV
• June 1 — Sacramento, CA

Hale said in her own statement, “I’m stepping in for a few dates as the lead singer of Skid Row! What an honor to call them my friends and a privilege to be sharing the stage with them! Erik, I wish you all the magic on your next adventure. Now…which leather pants to wear?!!”

Of course, after these dates, it’s unknown who will become Skid Row’s permanent singer. Nothing is set in stone, but it does seem like the perfect opportunity to bury the hatchet for a Skid Row reunion.

Whether or not that happens, only time will tell.

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Former Scorpions drummer Herrman Rarebell co-wrote the classic tune with guitarist Rudolf Schenker and singer Klaus Meine. Rarebell shared in a new interview with Classic Rock, “The original title, for me at least, was ‘F— You Like A Hurricane.’ The record company looked at me and said, ‘You’re completely out of your mind!’ Which I was.”

Rarebell said by today’s language standards that, if a song titled “F— You Like A Hurricane” were released today, “nobody would give a s—.”

Perhaps he’s right. Maybe the Scorpions should re-record the track with its original title and see what happens, or a different band could cover it with the original title.

However, I doubt many people would actually want to be f—ed like a hurricane. That could be a touch painful and not in a good way.

Scorpions and the Altered Lyrics of “Wind of Change”

The whole story above reminds us of how the Scorpions have altered the lyrics to their biggest hit “Wind of Change.”

Singer and “Wind of Change” songwriter Klaus Meine told Loudwire Nights in April 2022 that he altered the song’s lyrics during the band’s residency in Las Vegas due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Meine said, “Before we came here, I was thinking about how it feels to play ‘Wind of Change’ the way we used to play for so many years, and I thought, it’s not the time with this terrible war in Ukraine raging on, it’s not the time to romanticize Russia with lyrics like, ‘Follow the Moskva/Down to Gorky Park,’ you know?”

He added, “I wanted to make a statement in order to support Ukraine, and so the song starts now with, ‘Now listen to my heart/It says Ukraine, waiting for the wind to change.'”

“Wind of Change” was the third single off of Scorpions’ 1990 album Crazy World. It still remains the biggest-selling single by a German artist ever moving 14 million copies worldwide.

“Wind of Change” is also featured in our list of the best power ballads of all time. Keep scrolling to see where the classic track is ranked!

The post Scorpions Classic ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’ Originally Had a Very Naughty Title appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

But which name, if any, is the official name? Wolfgang Van Halen put the debate to rest in a recent appearance on Shred with Shifty, where Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett asked WVH for confirmation.

Wolfgang said, “Officially, on the case, it says Frankenstein, but people call it whatever they want … But officially on the case, for the nerds that really want to know, it says ‘Frankenstein,’ so that’s what I say.”

Wolfgang also noted his father didn’t have a name for the red, white and black-striped guitar, but “Frankenstein” is just what people started calling it. The EVH Gear website confirms this, too, stating, “Indeed, it’s worth noting that it was never Eddie who called the guitar by that name; it was his legions of devoted fans … To Eddie, it was simply ‘My baby.'”

The Time Eddie Van Halen Tossed Frankenstein

Before the release of Mammoth WVH’s self-titled debut, Wolfgang shared a funny story about the iconic Frankenstein, which he actually played on Mammoth WVH.

In a May 2021 interview with Total Guitar, Wolfgang recalled a time when Frankenstein was taken out of its safe. He said his Dad picked up the guitar, played it a bit, said it “feels about the same” and then just tossed the historic guitar on a nearby couch.

“Everyone just gasped when he did that, ” said Wolfgang. “To Dad, it’s just a little piece of junk that he built himself, but to us, it’s the most famous thing in the world.”

Mammoth WVH: Upcoming Tour Dates

Wolfgang’s band, Mammoth WVH, has some high-profile dates in late 2024.

As previously reported, the band is providing support on Creed’s “Are You Ready?” reunion tour. Also providing support on the tour are 3 Doors Down and Finger Eleven.

The “Are You Ready?” tour kicks off on Nov. 2 in Oklahoma City and wraps on Dec. 5 in Orlando. A full list of dates is below. Complete ticket details can be found at Creed.com.

11/02 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – Paycom Center *
11/03 – Little Rock, Ark. – Simmons Bank Arena *
11/06 – Kansas City, Mo. – T-Mobile Center *
11/08 – Nashville, Tenn. – Bridgestone Arena *
11/09 – Biloxi, Miss. – Mississippi Coast Coliseum *
11/12 – Corpus Christi, Texas – American Bank Center Arena *
11/13 – Fort Worth, Texas – Dickies Arena *
11/15 – Austin, Texas – Moody Center ATX *
11/16 – Bossier City, La. – Brookshire Grocery Arena *
11/19 – Grand Rapids, Mich. – Van Andel Arena *
11/20 – Detroit, Mich. – Little Caesars Arena *
11/22 – Cleveland, Ohio – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse *
11/23 – Baltimore, Md. – CFG Bank Arena *
11/25 – Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre ^
11/27 – Toronto, Ontario – Scotiabank Arena ^
11/29 – New York, N.Y. – Madison Square Garden *
11/30 – Bangor, Maine – Cross Insurance Center *
12/02 – Allentown, Pa. – PPL Center #
12/04 – Atlanta, Ga. – State Farm Arena *
12/05 – Orlando, Fla. – Kia Center #

* 3 Doors Down/Mammoth WVH
^ Mammoth WVH/Finger Eleven
# 3 Doors Down

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In episode 35 of The Metallica Report (whose partial title is “James Hetfield on Cigars”), Hetfield addresses concerns about whether cigars are affecting his voice.

“It has not affected it that I know of,” says Hetfield. “I feel that I am kind of singing the best that I have in a long time and I am doing my best, and I get to enjoy that as well, so we’ll see.”

So, you heard James Hetfield: Smoke ’em if you got ’em! (Kidding, of course.)

James Hetfield’s Pre-Show Cigar Has Become a Unique Highlight

Hetfield’s pre-show cigar has become a fixture of sorts on the M72 World Tour.

As previously reported, Papa Het can be seen in plain view smoking a cigar near fans just before taking to the stage. Photographer Lee Jeffries captured the photo of Papa Het below enjoying his cigar. On top of that, Hetfield was also filmed lighting cigars for some lucky front-row fans who held a sign that read “Smoking Club” in the iconic Metallica font.

Metallica Resumes M72 World Tour in 2024

Metallica resumes their M72 World Tour in May. The band split up their world tour over the course of two years in support of their latest album, 72 Seasons. Their 2024 North American tour dates are below.

8/2 & 8/4 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
8/9 & 8/11 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
8/16 & 8/18 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
8/23 & 8/25 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
8/30 & 9/1 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
9/20, 9/22, 9/27, 9/29 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol

Show 1 support: Pantera & Mammoth WVH
Show 2 support: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
Mexico City: Greta Van Fleet replaces Pantera on Show 1 of both weekends

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In a new interview with U.K.’s The Times, Daltrey said, “I have to be realistic: I’m on my way out. The average life expectancy is 83, and with a bit of luck, I’ll make that, but we need someone else to drive things.”

Despite needing “someone else to drive things,” Daltrey is hitting the road in North America this June on what he calls a “special semi-acoustic” tour. During the tour, he’ll perform hits and rarities from The Who and share stories from his career. (Fingers crossed they won’t hit you like a ton of bricks like his whole “I’m on my way out” comment.)

Dates for Daltrey’s tour are below, with full ticket details available at TheWho.com.

June 12 – Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA @ Filene Center
June 14 – Niagara Falls, ON @ OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
June 16 – Bethel, NY @ Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
June 18 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
June 20 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion
June 22 – Lenox, MA @ Tanglewood – The Koussevitzky Music Shed
June 25 – Detroit, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
June 27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
June 29 – Highland Park, IL @ The Pavilion at Ravinia

What Does This Mean for The Who?

Both Daltrey and Pete Townshend have made comments in the press about the uncertain future of The Who.

In January, Daltrey said in another interview with The Times that he couldn’t give a definitive answer because he’s not the one who writes the songs. (Townshend, of course, has always been the band’s primary songwriter.)

However, Daltrey did say, “[Pete and I] need to sit down and have a meeting, but at the moment, I’m happy saying that part of my life is over.”

In December 2023, Townshend made similar remarks to Record Collector. He said, “I think it’s time for Roger and I to go to lunch and have a chat about what happens next.”

Townshend then added, “Because [the final summer tour stop] shouldn’t feel like the end of anything, but it feels like the end of an era.”

As far as performing and touring goes, Townshend stressed that it all depends on a few factors. Among them is whether an idea would be doable and profitable. Perhaps the most important factor is whether an idea would even be fun to do. Believe it or not, Townshend said he’s had a lot of fun on the road lately, even though he’s said in the past he’s not super fond of touring.

The post Roger Daltrey Gets Dark About Turning 80: ‘I’m On My Way Out’ appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

One of the best examples of this comes via The Offspring, whose fifth studio album, Americana, was released on November 17, 1998. The album was a big hit for the band. Americana sold 198,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. It went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide. Five million copies alone were sold in the United States.

Dexter Holland summarized the album’s overall sentiment in a 1998 interview with Billboard. At the time, he said, “I was thinking about how today’s America is distorted really. It’s not Normal Rockwell anymore; it’s Jerry Springer.”

RELATED: The Offspring: New Video Features Chimps, Strippers and…John Stamos?!

Out the gate, Americana got a lot of attention thanks to its lead single, “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy).” The single made fun of posers and was rather ahead of its time for making fun of white people for appropriating Black culture. Not only was the song hilarious, but its music video was in heavy rotation on MTV and truly complemented the track. (Side note: After a re-watch, the video still holds up all these years later. It was one of many music videos at that time directed by McG.)

This has us thinking about other funny rock songs in history. They have been sprinkled throughout the decades. Some of these funny rock songs were all about getting laughs. Meanwhile, others had a hidden meaning or served as commentary on society. Then again, some of these songs were just plain weird. (Looking at you, Frank Zappa!)

In honor of the anniversary of Americana, here are just five of our favorites. (For the sake of this list, we’ve omitted notable comedy acts, like “Weird Al” Yankovic, who are known for their humor. This list focuses on acts that weren’t exclusively known for their comedy.)

The Offspring – “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)'”

The world loves wannabes, and by “loves,” we clearly mean “loves to make fun of” wannabes. There are plenty of clever lyrics in this Offspring hit. If we had to pick a favorite, we going with, “He needs some cool tunes, not just any will suffice/But they didn’t have Ice Cube so he bought Vanilla Ice.”

Randy Newman – “Short People”

Randy Newman’s “Short People” is absurd satire at its finest and most catchy. On the surface, the song is completely silly, but as with most satire, it holds a mirror up to the world. In this case, it showed just how ridiculous prejudice is in all its variations.

Frank Zappa – “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow”

Frank Zappa was a delightful, one-of-a-kind weirdo who was a true original. If we’re being honest, “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” is just good advice.

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show – “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone'”

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show were really, to borrow slang from the Brits, “taking the piss” out of rock stars and Rolling Stone with their classic song “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’.” Also, the track was penned by Shel Silverstein, which makes the song even cooler.

AC/DC – ‘Big Balls’

We’ve said this before, but we’ll say it again: AC/DC doesn’t do subtle, but they do do silly. (And yes, we just said “do-do.”) “Big Balls” is clearly the silliest song in the legendary band’s catalog. You truly can’t help but laugh at this one.

The post Funny Rock Songs: 5 Tracks That Still Make Us Laugh appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

We’re celebrating his solo catalog, as well as a few collaborative efforts with a few other legends. From Eric Clapton to Happy Xmas, here are our favorite E.C. solo jams.

The Latest on Eric Clapton

Clapton was one of dozens of guitarists to take part in a new all-star recording helmed by Mark Knopfler.

As previously reported, Knopfler recruited a star-studded lineup of fellow guitarists for a charity single benefitting Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.

The charity single is a new recording of “Going Home.” The track is an instrumental featured on the 1983 score for the film Local Hero, which also served as the film’s theme. Knopfler wrote the entire score of the film, which is considered his debut solo album and debut soundtrack album.

“Going Home” can be heard in its entirety below. Fans can purchase/download the song in a variety of formats at MarkKnopflersGuitarHeroes.com.

The re-recording of “Going Home” is billed as being by Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes. Among those heroes was Jeff Beck, who died suddenly in January 2023 at age 78 from bacterial meningitis. According to a press release, Beck’s contribution to the track is also the guitar icon’s final recording.

Knopfler said, in part, of Beck, ” … Jeff Beck’s contribution arrived and that was spellbinding. I think what we’ve had is an embarrassment of riches, really.”

Beck, of course, was a close friend of Clapton’s. In fact, Clapton and Beck’s widow, Sandra, were the ones to organize a grand tribute concert honoring the late guitar icon back in May 2023.

50. “Call Me The Breeze” – ‘The Breeze (An Appreciation Of JJ Cale)’ (2014)

49. “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” – ‘Happy Xmas’ (2018)

48. “Runaway Trains” – Eric Clapton and Elton John – “Lethal Weapon 3’ (1992)

47. “Over The Rainbow (live)” – ‘One More Car, One More Rider’ (2002)

46. “Too Bad” – “Forever Man” B-side (1985)

45. “Whatcha Gonna Do” – (recorded during sessions for 1974’s “There’s One In Every Crowd,’ released on 1988’s ‘Crossroads’ box set, and later on ‘Give Me Strength: The ‘74/’75 Recordings)

44. “Hoochie Coochie Man” – Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy – ‘The Concert For NYC’ (2001)

43. “I’ve Been Trying” – Eric Clapton and D’Angelo – ‘Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Volume 5: 1998-1999)’ (2011)

42. “I’m Tore Down” – ‘From The Cradle’ (1994)

41. “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It” – ‘Reptile’ (2001)

40. “Traveling Riverside Blues” – ‘Me And Mr. Johnson’ (2004)

39. “Border Song” – ‘Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin’ (1991)

38. “You Must Believe Me” – ‘A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield’ (1994)

37. “Help Me Up” – ‘Rush (Music From The Motion Picture)” – (1992)

36. “Before You Accuse Me” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

35. “San Francisco Bay Blues” – ‘Unplugged’ (1992)

34. “Further On Up The Road” – The Band with Eric Clapton

33. “Don’t Know Which Way To Go (featuring Buddy Guy)’ – ‘Rush (Music From The Motion Picture)” – (1992)

32. “No Alibis” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

31. “Stone Free” – ‘Stone Free: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix’ (1993)

30. “Hard Times” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

29. “Voodoo Chile” – Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – ‘Live From Madison Square Garden’ (2009)

28. “Pretending” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

27. “The Core” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)

26. “Bad Love” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

25. “Lay Down Sally” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)

24. “Promises” – ‘Backless’ (1978)

23. “When The War Is Over” – J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton – ‘The Road To Escondido’ (2006)

22. “Double Trouble” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)

21. “Riding With The King” – B.B. King and Eric Clapton – ‘Riding With The King’ (2000)

20. “She’s Waiting” – ‘Behind The Sun’ (1985)

19. “Hello Old Friend” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)

18. “Forever Man” – ‘Behind The Sun’ (1985)

17. “Old Love” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

16. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – single (1975)

15. “The Sky Is Crying” – ‘There’s One In Every Crowd’ (1975)

14. “Running On Faith” – ‘Journeyman’ (1989)

13. “All Our Past Times” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)

12. “Wonderful Tonight” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)

11. “Sign Language” – ‘No Reason To Cry’ (1976)

10. “My Father’s Eyes” – ‘Pilgrim’ (1998)

9. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” – ‘Bob Dylan – The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration’ (1993)

8. “Change The World” – ‘Phenomenon (soundtrack)’ – (1996)

7. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney – ‘Concert For George’ (2003)

6. “I Shot The Sheriff” – ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ (1974)

5. “Cocaine” – ‘Slowhand’ (1977)

4. “Layla” – ‘Unplugged’ (1992)

3. “After Midnight” – ‘Eric Clapton’ (1970)

2. “Let It Rain” – ‘Eric Clapton’ (1970)

1. “Tears In Heaven” – ‘Rush (Music From The Motion Picture)” – (1992)

The post Eric Clapton: His 50 Best Solo Songs, Ranked appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The second track on the star’s new album is a beautiful rendition of “Blackbird,” which was featured on The Beatles’ 1968 self-titled double album (aka: “The White Album”). Beyoncé is joined by four country singers who provide backing vocals on the track: Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy.

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is available for streaming and download here.

The Inspiration Behind “Blackbird”

The story behind “Blackbird” is incredibly moving. In 2016, Paul McCartney shared a photo via social media with Thelma Mothershed Wair and Elizabeth Eckford. He captioned it, “Incredible to meet two of the Little Rock Nine — pioneers of the civil rights movement and inspiration for ‘Blackbird.'”

The Little Rock Nine were the first nine Black students to attend Little Rock, Arkansas’s Central High School in September 1957. This followed the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled in 1954 that segregated schools were illegal.

The photo above was taken when Sir Paul’s tour came to Little Rock, Ark. Naturally, he performed “Blackbird” at the show.

He prefaced the performance by saying, “Way back in the Sixties, there was a lot of trouble going on over civil rights, particularly in Little Rock. We would notice this on the news back in England, so it’s a really important place for us, because to me, this is where civil rights started.”

He continued, “We would see what was going on and sympathize with the people going through those troubles, and it made me want to write a song that, if it ever got back to the people going through those troubles, it might just help them a little bit, and that’s this next one.”

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The Preds had a team trip scheduled in February to see U2 during their Las Vegas Sphere residency. Unfortunately, just before the trip, the Predators sustained a brutal 9-2 loss against the Dallas Stars.

According to the Associated Press, this loss led head coach Barry Trotz to cancel the team trip to see U2. Trotz said, “Just as a team, you have to earn the right. It’s a big expense, and we said, ‘No, it’s not acceptable,’ and we made a decision to come back.”

While not getting to see U2 was likely a bummer, it was clearly something the Preds needed to right the ship. The AP notes that since that 9-2 loss and not going to see U2, the Predators are on an epic point streak and have gone 16-0-2 in their past 18 games. In fact, it’s the longest point streak in franchise history.

Considering how superstitious athletes are, it’s not known whether they’ve banned playing any U2 music in the lockerroom or during the games. Regardless, the Predators are currently in contention for a Western Conference wild card spot in the current NHL Playoff picture. Tonight (March 28), they have the chance to extend that point streak as they face the Arizona Coyotes on the road.

Who’s Playing the Sphere Next?

With U2’s residency officially in the books, Phish will be the next band to perform at The Sphere. Their show dates are currently April 18-21. After Phish, Dead & Company’s “Dead Forever” residency will begin on May 16 and include the following dates.

-May 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 30 and 31.
-June 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22.

After Dead & Company, it’s unknown who will have the next Sphere residency. However, rumors surfaced that The Eagles could be next. The latest rumors indicate the band has booked a residency that will stretch over 10 weekends from September through December. The exact number of shows is currently unknown, but the residency is expected to follow the end of their “The Long Goodbye” farewell tour.

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In the video he shared on social media, Kravitz is wearing all leather and rocking a very fetching crossbody bag. As expected, if Lenny Kravitz walks into any place — let alone a massive, iconic rest stop convenience store like Buc-ee’s — he’s going to attract attention. Clearly, Kravitz is used to such attention, because the video shows him interacting with and posing for photos for fans.

As for what Kravitz picked up on his first-ever trip to Buc-ee’s, People notes, “While he didn’t give a haul of his purchases, it looks like he grabbed a bag of Buc-ee’s beloved Beaver Nuggets (a sweet puffed corn snack), a freshly-made barbecue sandwich, Celsius energy drinks and more.”

Kravitz captioned the video, “First time at @bucees… So many smiling faces and warm hearts. We are all #Human. See you on the road!”

Fans were quick and quick-witted with the comments. One fan wrote, “I would have perished right in front of the wall of jerky.” Another wrote, “I think my soul would leave my body if I was grabbing a bottle of water and looked over and saw Lenny Kravitz!” (Girl, SAME!)

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When He’s Not at Buc-ee’s, Lenny Kravitz is Collecting Awards

Kravitz has received plenty of awards and other honors lately. In February, he received the Music Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards.

Weeks ago, Kravitz was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The moment brought out a ton of big names, including Denzel Washington and Zoë Kravitz, Lenny’s actress daughter.

On top of all of that, Kravitz is currently nominated for the 2024 induction class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This is Kravitz’s first nomination since being eligible since 2015.

As of publishing, Kravitz is currently in sixth place in the Rock Hall Fan Vote. Fans can cast their vote once a day at Vote.RockHall.com for who they think should be part of the 2024 Rock Hall induction class. This year, voting will last through April 26. Unlike previous years, fans will get to vote for up to seven nominees every day. Previously, the choices were capped at five nominees.

The Fan Vote was first launched in 2013. Per the Rock Hall, “There have been over four million fan votes cast over the past 10 years, with 64% of the Fan Vote ballot (35 of 55) earning induction in the same year; and 86% (38 of 44 unique nominations) eventually earning induction. In 2022, the entire Top 5 earned induction – the only time that has happened.”

Once voting closes, the top five vote artists in the Fan Vote will create what is called a “Fans’ Ballot.” It will be counted among the other ballots that various artists, historians, and music industry professionals fill out and submit.

To see the current top seven artists in the Rock Hall fan vote, keep scrolling. (NOTE: Vote tallies are as of March 28, 2024 at 3:40 PM ET.)

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In the video, Jagger is at an undisclosed bar with a live band. The live band is performing the Maroon 5 hit, which clearly inspired Mick to cut a rug.

At first, it looks like Jagger is almost attacking the camera with dance, which is quite overwhelming. Then he’s laughing hysterically, and, perhaps, a little tipsy. (Not judging. Just calling it like I see it.)

Jagger then does a move where he drops almost out of frame and then pops back up while grabbing his junk. It appears there’s a lot to grab, so congrats to Mick on that one. Naturally, he captioned the video, “Moves like who!”

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Mick Jagger Dances to a Town Near You!

In case you haven’t been keeping tabs on the Rolling Stones, they have quite a busy 2024 ahead of them. The band is hitting the road in the United States next month in support of their new album, Hackney Diamonds.

Their tour kicks off on April 28 in Houston and is currently set to wrap on July 17 in Santa Clara, Calif. Their full list of shows is as follows:

4/28 – Houston, TX – NRG Stadium
5/2 – New Orleans, LA – Jazz Fest
5/7 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium
5/11 – Las Vegas NV – Allegiant Stadium
5/15 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
5/23 – East Rutherford, NJ (near NYC) – Metlife Stadium
5/30 – Foxboro, MA (Near Boston) – Gillette Stadium
6/3 – Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium
6/7 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
6/11 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
6/15 – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium
6/27 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
7/5 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
7/10 – Los Angeles, CA – SOFI Stadium
7/17 – Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium

Additionally, they were announced as headliners of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Taking place April 25-28 and May 2-5, other acts booked include Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Killers, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Hozier, Jon Batiste, Queen Latifah, Vampire Weekend, Greta Van Fleet, Heart, Bonnie Rait and more.

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Richards shared with The Telegraph he quit smoking in 2019 and hasn’t lit up since. Additionally, he kicked his heroin habit in 1979 and stopped doing cocaine in 2006. However, Richards does indulge in a cocktail every so often, but he doesn’t drink to excess anymore.

He said, “I still like a drink occasionally – because I’m not going to heaven any time soon – but apart from that, I’m trying to enjoy being straight. It’s a unique experience for me.”

Being on the straight-and-narrow must be unique for someone like Richards, who has been tied so closely to “the rock and roll lifestyle.” There have been plenty of jokes made about his drinking and drug use over the years. Frankly, it’s a miracle he’s alive.

Keith Richards Should Be Dead, According to Science

Richards’ wild ways were such a punchline that it was a focal point for a 2004 feature titled “When Will Your Favorite Rock Star Die?” in the now-defunct Blender magazine. The feature was shared via Reddit.

With the help of gerontologist Dr. David Demko and his colleague Keldrick Mobley, the publication calculated the projected year when certain artists were going to die based on their various lifestyles. After taking into account all of the things Richards was known to have done, the projected year of death was actually 1995.

Dr. Demko is quoted as saying, “I’m not sure how he’s done it, but Keith Richards defies conventional wisdom and seems to have eluded death.”

https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/comments/19bu10y/blender_magazine_2004_predicting_when_rockstars/

How Keith Richards Quit Smoking

Richards shared back in February 2020 that he had finally quit smoking. So, how did the guitar icon kick the habit after decades?

He shared those details in a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning saying, “It’s funny, I don’t think about it much anymore…Yeah, a few patches for a few weeks. Sometimes, you know, a bell rings, something inside says, ‘Hey, pal – enough!’ So, I just put the hammer on it.”

When pressed on why he thinks that “bell” rung, Richards said with his trademark cool, “Probably getting on a bit! [Laughs] Luckily, I don’t miss it, and that makes me feel good. Until I started rehearsing for the tour last August, and then I realized that I had 10 times more wind! [Laughs]”

When CBS’ Anthony Mason asked the X-Pensive Winos whether they noticed a difference in Keef’s vocals, drummer Steve Jordan said with a laugh, “Well, he’s singing more in the original keys.”

The post Keith Richards is Basically Sober Now, Which is Wild appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

According to Variety, the film is about the making of Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska. This film will be an adaptation of the 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska by Warren Zanes.

Little has been finalized about the film. However, there are reports that A24, the critically acclaimed film company with a strong fan following, is also in talks to be involved with the film.

If White is cast as Springsteen and A24 is involved, it’ll be his second film with the company following his turn as Kerry Von Erich in The Iron Claw.

White, of course, is best known for his role as Carmy Berzatto in the FX series The Bear. The role has netted him a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and an Emmy Award this past awards season.

The Other Bruce Springsteen Film

If this film about the making of Nebraska becomes a reality, it will join the ranks of another Springsteen movie.

Released in 2019 was Blinded By The Light. The film tells the story of Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent, growing up in England in 1987 amidst racial and economic turmoil. Javed is passionate about poetry and then his passion is turned upside down when a classmate introduces him to the music of The Boss.

Blinded By The Light was based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir Greetings from Bury Park and comes from writer/director/producer Gurinder Chadha, best known for 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham.

Manzoor told us in an August 2019 interview that Springsteen not only gave his blessing in the making of the film, but he let the small-budget film use his music in the film for free.

“He’s given 19 songs…He’s given the most valuable thing he has with his back-catalog to a story about a Pakistani teenager in England in the 1980s,” said Manzoor. “Think about how much he could sell his music for; he gave it to us for nothing. It’s a British Independent film. We didn’t have a studio backing us. It was just a small budget film, and he basically said you can have the entire back catalog.”

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According to Deadline, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith have been confirmed to make cameos in the film. Knowing the grim fates of every Spinal Tap drummer, it’s unknown if Ulrich and Smith will be comically killed off in the film, but we certainly can’t wait to see.

Deadline confirmed a number of other cameos, including Paul Shaffer and Fran Drescher, who will be reprising her role of publicist Bobbi Flekman.

Spinal Tap Sequel: Other Details

News of a long-awaited sequel to This is Spinal Tap was confirmed in May 2022 by Deadline. At that time, Spinal Tap II was slated for release in March 2024. Of course, the release has since been pushed back to an unknown date.

Reiner confirmed he’d be reprising his role of Marty DiBergi. Additionally, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest are on board as David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls and Nigel Tufnel, respectively. (No word yet on who has the unfortunate task of playing the drummer.)

As for the premise of the film, Reiner said it centers around a final concert of sorts. Spinal Tap’s manager, Ian Faith, passed away. His wife inherited a contract that stated the band still owed Faith one more concert. (In real life, actor Tony Hendra, who played Faith, died in March 2021 at age 79.)

Reiner’s DiBergi character documents the final concert, which is reportedly being shot in the style of Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz. In May 2022, Reiner told Deadline that DiBergi feels he owes it to Spinal Tap to capture this concert. He says the band was upset with the first film.

“When I heard they might get back together, I was a visiting adjunct teacher’s helper at the Ed Wood School of Cinematic Arts,” said Reiner. “I drop everything to document this final concert.”

In November 2023, Reiner confirmed Paul McCartney, Elton John and Garth Brooks would be making cameos in the sequel film.

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Some of my favorite people are Joes. Some of my favorite rockers are Joes too. In honor of National Joe Day, I give you nine famous Joes of classic rock… but first, let’s talk about some famous Joes that aren’t musicians.

Other Famous Joes

JOE NAMATH: Broadway Joe… I swear most Joes have or need nicknames to differentiate themselves from all the other Joes.  The legendary star quarterback of the New York Jets, Joe Namath, threw for more than 4,000 yards in 1967 and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

JOE MANGANIELLO:  I think he’s Italian. lol… Joe Manganiello is an actor (famous for his steamy scenes in True Blood and Magic Mike) as well as a producer and director.  His latest project is hosting Deal Or No Deal Island.

JOE PESCI: Is Joe Pesci funny? “I’m funny how? I mean… funny like I’m a clown?”  One of the most famous movie lines ever was delivered with perfection by Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.  Joe won an Oscar for his role as Tommy DeVito.

JOE LOUIS: The Brown Bomber is the inspiration behind The Fist in Detroit. Joe Louis was one of the greatest and most influential boxers ever. Joe had the longest run in history, defending his title as world heavyweight champion 25 times. This famous Joe was a professional boxer for 17 years and ended his career with 68 wins (54 by knockout) and three losses.

Now on with the Joe, I mean show…

9 Famous Joes of  Classic Rock

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh has been a member of the James Gang, The Eagles, and had a very successful solo career.  Joe Walsh is a singer and songwriter.  He is also one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Pete Townshend said in a Rolling Stone interview, “Joe Walsh is a fluid and intelligent player. There’re not many like that around.”

Joe Walsh has been involved in veteran charities for years.  Joe created his own 501-C3, VetsAid that raises money for Ohio veterans with an annual concert.  The 2022 VetsAid sold out and raised $650,000 for Ohio veterans.  The concert featured Dave Grohl and The Black Keys. 2023 VetsAid raised $260,000 for grants and featured Jeff Lynne of ELO and Stephen Stills.  Joe Walsh and James Gang perform each year as well.  Check out previous lineups on JoeWalsh.com.

Joe Elliott

Joe Elliott is the lead singer and a founding member of Def Leppard.  Joe first played live with Def Leppard at a spoon factory in front of six people.  They played five songs AND an encore.

While some members of Def Leppard did have issues with substances, overall, Def Leppard was not prone to being outrageous while on tour. Joe Elliott said, “Since rock bands discovered accountants, they don’t throw TVs out of windows at 500 quid a time.” Def Leppard as a whole, has a strong head on their shoulders.  A lot of bands have crashed and burned throughout the years.  Def Leppard is still in great shape and putting on great live shows.

Joe Perry

Joe Perry’s first set of strings were on a ukulele given to him by his uncle. Joe Perry dealt with ADHD before anyone knew what it was. His parents sent him to the Vermont Academy his junior year hoping that being surrounded by an educational environment would help his struggles with learning. Joe said in an interview with The Burlington Free Press, “It was a real education for me and not the kind of learning they (his parents) sent me there for.” The students were from around the world and brought some good and bad influences with them. It was during this time that Joe became very focused on music and playing guitar.

In the ’60s, Joe Perry formed The Jam Band with Tom Hamilton. Steve Tyler, Brad Whitford, and our next Joe…y.

Joey Kramer

Joey Kramer is one who is actually credited with creating the name “Aerosmith.” I heard that Steven Tyler would doodle on his notebook during high school and had come up with the name, but I was incorrect. It was actually Joey Kramer that did the doodling. Joey told Ultimate Classic Rock, “I was listening to an album at the time, by Harry Nilsson, called Aerial Ballet. We were listening to this record and I started really getting off on the lyrics. We started kicking around this word ‘aerial,’ and ‘aerial’ eventually came into ‘aero’ – I don’t know how that happened.”

Joe Strummer

Joe Strummer was born a “John:”  John Graham Mellor. Joe was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and co-lead vocalist of one of my favorite bands, The Clash.  Joe didn’t have the easiest life growing up.  He only saw his parents once a year from ages 9-16.  He and his brother grew up in boarding schools.

The Clash formed in 1976 and played their first show on July 4th of that same year.  They opened for the Sex Pistols.

Joe Cocker

Joe Cocker was one of the best frontmen in the world of rock.  Incredibly expressive, his deep growling voice was instantly distinguished.  Some of Joe Cocker’s biggest songs were covers, including “With A little Help From My Friends,” “You Are So Beautiful,” and “You Can Leave Your Hat On,” but man, did he make them his own.

Joe’s career spanned more than four decades.  He released a total of 22 albums.

Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone was born Jeffrey Hyman and he was the voice of punk rock.  Joey Ramone started out on drums before moving to lead vocals. No one’s story is quite like The Ramones: multiple band members changed their last name to “Ramone.” With leather jackets, long black hair, and shades, The Ramones blasted onto the New York scene at CBGB’s… man, I would have loved to have been at one of those shows.

Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson was 16 when he was playing the piano in bars and winning scholarships for his musical abilities. “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” started out as a joke. Joe is also well known for the song “Stepping Out.”

Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani is a guitar god’s god. Joe’s website lists him as “The world’s most commercially successful solo guitar performer, with six gold and platinum discs to his credit… and sales in excess of 10 million copies.”

Early on, Joe Satriani was a guitar instructor. His pupils included Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett.

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Ultra Music Festival Miami took place March 22-24, with van Buuren’s set falling on the final night of the festival.

The famed DJ introduced JBJ by telling the crowd, “I remember being a little kid and buying this guy’s album. Please welcome to the stage, the legend, Mr. Jon Bon Jovi!”

At this point during his set, van Buuren was playing his remix of the Bon Jovi classic “Keep the Faith.” The singer then tried to sing to the track, but there were clearly so cue issues. Regardless, it appears everyone still had a good time.

Later on Instagram, van Buuren shared videos from his set and photos with the Bon Jovi frontman. He captioned the post, “Can’t actually believe this happened! Thank you so much @jonbonjovi from @bonjovi for coming on stage with me to play my remix of ‘Keep The Faith.’ I’ll forever remember this moment!”

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Armin van Buuren Clearly Digs Classic Rock

The appearance by Jon Bon Jovi isn’t the first time van Buuren has been joined by a classic rock icon at Ultra Music Festival.

Back in 2019, David Lee Roth joined the DJ during his set, which featured a remix of the Van Halen hit “Jump.” Diamond Dave seemed more at home at the EDM festival compared to JBJ. The van Buuren remix of “Jump” was eventually given a proper studio version release in May 2019.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, van Buuren said of the remix, “I’m sure that a lot of the kids I’m gonna play for are probably not even familiar with the original and how big of a track it was when it was released … Plus, it was an easy one to pick because I ask my crowd to jump, and the song has a deeper meaning, and I hope the kids get it when they hear the song, when they start to invest some time in the history of the song.”

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The Public Enemy hype man shared a video on Instagram meeting The Boss backstage at his March 22 tour stop in Las Vegas with the E Street Band. Flav was clearly beside himself meeting Springsteen and told Bruce it was an honor meeting him.

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Flav also shared a video of himself literally dancing around to “Dancing in the Dark” during Springsteen’s show. He was clearly having a great time.

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Flavor Flav Meeting Bruce Springsteen: How Did This Moment Happen?

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Flav hung out E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt at an event the night before the Springsteen show. The rapper asked Van Zandt if a meet-up would be possible, and fortunately for Flav, it was.

Flav told the outlet, “I had never, ever met Bruce Springsteen in my life, but let me tell you … It was one of the greatest, most rewarding experiences in my life. I was starstruck.”

The rapper also told the outlet he gifted Springsteen and Van Zandt with some desk clocks, which is a nod to the clock accessory he wears around his neck.

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Springsteen’s Health

The Boss has been enjoying his return to the road with the E Street Band after being on the shelf for about six months due to peptic ulcer disease. In fact, he was concerned about whether he’d be able to sing again.

As previously reported, Springsteen detailed in a new interview the many of the mental and physical aspects of dealing with peptic ulcer disease. He described how the stress and pain in his diaphragm for about three months was “killing” him. As a result, he “literally couldn’t sing at all.”

Springsteen said, “I was, during the course of it, before people told me, ‘Oh no. It’s gonna go away, and you’re gonna be OK,’ you know, you’re thinking like, ‘Hey, am I gonna sing again?’ and you know, this is one of the things I love to do the best, the most, and right now I can’t do it.”

He also noted that it took doctors a while before they said he was going to be okay and be able to sing again. Understandably, this uncertainty made Springsteen very nervous about treatment and what the future would be like. Fortunately, his treatment was successful, and he’s very grateful to be back to performing again.

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The guitarist told Classic Rock that the whole process of getting to the ceremony was nothing short of organized chaos.

To begin with, he was in the middle of his tour of Asia with the Conspirators. Slash then had to catch a flight out of South Korea to Los Angeles, which he said he was able to swing after “Hollywood managed to pull its weight and get me flown over there to perform this song.”

Slash then was rushed to the Kodak Theater, where the Oscars were being held. After landing on the day of the Oscars, Slash said he participated in a quick run-through of the performance.

“I sat in the audience with all the other actors for the ceremony, then got up and played the song, got in a car, went back to the airport and flew to the Philippines,” he said.

Fortunately, the performance was a massive hit and a high point of the 2024 Oscars. Can you imagine Slash doing all of that only for the moment to fall flat?

Slash and the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival

Shortly after the Oscars, Slash announced his new solo album and a unique festival tour.

The tour is dubbed the “S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival,” with the acronym standing for “Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Equality N’ Tolerance.” Slash will be joined on the road by a host of artists. Among them are Warren Haynes, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Larkin Poe and Jackie Venson.

Notably, a portion of every ticket sold will help raise funds for a number of equality and civil rights charities. These charities were selected by Slash, himself, and they include The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, and War Child.

Tickets for the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival are on sale now. Complete ticket details can be found at SerpentFestival.com. A full list of dates is below.

S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival – 2024 Tour Dates

July 5 – Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater *
July 6 – Airway Heights, WA @ Northern Quest Amphitheater *
July 8 – Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park *
July 10 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
July 12 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino *
July 13 – Los Angeles, California @ Greek Theatre *
July 14 – Tucson, AZ @ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater *
July 17 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom **
July 19 – La Vista, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater #
July 21 – Terre Haute, Indiana @ The Mill #
July 22 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend #
July 24 – Interlochen, MI @ Interlochen Center for the Arts #
July 25 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center $
July 27 – Windsor, ON, Canada @ The Colosseum at Caesars $
July 28 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Budweiser Stage $
July 30 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater $
Aug.1 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion $
Aug. 4 – New York, NY @ Pier 17 $
Aug. 5 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest +
Aug. 7 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre +
Aug. 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ^
Aug. 10 – Clearwater, FL @ The Sound at Coachman Park ^
Aug. 11 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre +
Aug. 13 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater +
Aug. 14 – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater +
Aug. 16 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary ^^
Aug. 17 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre ^^

* Warren Haynes, Samantha Fish and Eric Gales
** Keb’ ‘Mo, Samantha Fish and Jackie Venson
# Keb’ ‘Mo, ZZ Ward and Jackie Venson
$ Keb’ ‘Mo, ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
% ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
^ ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
+ Larkin Poe, ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph
^^ Kingfish, ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph

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In a new interview, The Boss details many of the mental and physical aspects of dealing with peptic ulcer disease. He described how the stress and pain in his diaphragm for about three months was “killing” him. As a result, he “literally couldn’t sing at all.”

Springsteen said, “I was, during the course of it, before people told me, ‘Oh no. It’s gonna go away, and you’re gonna be OK,’ you know, you’re thinking like, ‘Hey, am I gonna sing again?’ and you know, this is one of the things I love to do the best, the most, and right now I can’t do it.”

He also noted that it took doctors a while before they said he was going to be okay and be able to sing again. Understandably, this uncertainty made Springsteen very nervous about treatment and what the future would be like. Fortunately, his treatment was successful, and he’s very grateful to be back to performing again.

Bruce Springsteen Returns to Touring

The Boss finally returned to the road on March 19 in Phoenix. Despite the uncertainty during his break, it clearly did Springsteen some good.

Billboard noted, “The Boss was in top form from show opener ‘Lonesome Day’ and fully had his sea legs back by third song, ‘No Surrender,’ when he gave his first trademark shout out, ‘C’mon, Steve!’ beckoning for his brother-in-music for over half a century, Steven Van Zandt, to join him on the mic.”

Below is the setlist from Springsteen’s first show back, per Setlist.fm.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Phoenix, AZ – 3/19/2024 – Setlist

Lonesome Day
Night
No Surrender
Two Hearts
Darlington County
Ghosts
Prove It All Night
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Spirit in the Night
Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)
Nightshift
Mary’s Place
Last Man Standing
Backstreets
Because the Night
She’s the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road

ENCORE
Born To Run
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Twist and Shout

ENCORE II
I’ll See You in My Dreams

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The late drummer named three artists: George Michael, Jane’s Addiction and Soundgarden. The latter of those artists received a massive cheer from the crowd inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

Perhaps, the nominating committee and the Rock Hall voters took note of his remarks. Michael was part of the 2023 induction class. Doing the honors of inducting him was his childhood best friend and Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley.

In his speech, Ridgeley praised Michael’s “sublime” voice. He said it ” … expressed both strength and vulnerability, qualities that resonate throughout his outstanding songwriting.” He added, “It was the expression of his soul that made harmony with raw, unfettered emotion. It had the power to send one soaring with its joy and to make one weak with its pain.”

Ridgeley noted, “George considered his talents in descending order as those of songwriter, producer and singer. However, whilst his songs and recordings brilliantly convey his visceral sense of the ecstasy and pain that life occasions, it was the breathtaking beauty in the way he delivered that sense that, in my opinion, was his greatest gift: His voice.”

Taylor Hawkins and His Other Rock Hall Choices

As for the two other artists Hawkins believed should be in the Rock Hall, Soundgarden has been nominated in 2020 and 2023. Despite being eligible since 2012, the Seattle band have yet to be inducted into the Rock Hall.

As for Jane’s Addiction, they’re nominated for the 2024 induction class. The band has been eligible for induction since 2013 and was previously nominated in 2017.

Currently, Jane’s is out of the top seven of the 2024 Rock Hall Fan Vote.

Fans can cast their vote once a day at Vote.RockHall.com for who they think should be part of the 2024 Rock Hall induction class. This year, voting will last through April 26.

Unlike previous years, fans will get to vote for up to seven nominees every day. Previously, the choices were capped at five nominees.

The Fan Vote was first launched in 2013. Per the Rock Hall, “There have been over four million fan votes cast over the past 10 years, with 64% of the Fan Vote ballot (35 of 55) earning induction in the same year; and 86% (38 of 44 unique nominations) eventually earning induction.”

Once voting closes, the top five vote artists in the Fan Vote will create what is called a “Fans’ Ballot.” It will be counted among the other ballots that various artists, historians, and music industry professionals fill out and submit.

To see the current top seven artists in the Rock Hall fan vote, keep scrolling. (NOTE: Vote tallies are as of March 25, 2024 at 10:35 AM ET.)

The post Taylor Hawkins Said These Artists Should Be in the Rock Hall appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

We’re partial to his hit-free album Tumbleweed Connection from 1970 (as you’ll see), as well as his criminally underrated Songs From The West Coast from 2001, and a few of the diamonds in the rough from albums that you may have overlooked.

For this list, we’re going with the best version of each song, which sometimes means a live version. And in one case, an alternate studio version that you may not have heard before. Enjoy!

Elton John and His Latest Accolades

In 2024, Sir Elton has earned two major honors. In January, he became an EGOT winner.

John achieved the entertainment milestone thanks to winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger’s Stadium. The special streamed live on November 20, 2022 on Disney+. It was John’s final show in North America. It was also the first time Disney+ presented a live global event.

Before his Emmy win, John won five Grammy Awards in his career. In 2000, he won a Tony Award for Best Original Score for Aida. Additionally, John has won two Oscars. The first came in 1994 for Best Original Song for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King. The second Oscar came in 2020 for “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” from Rocketman.

In March, just before his 77th birthday, John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin were honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Per the Library of Congress’s website, “The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects the influence, impact and achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding.”

Past Gershwin Prize recipients include Joni Mitchell (2023), Lionel Richie (2022), Garth Brooks (2020), Gloria and Emilio Estefan (2019), Tony Bennett (2017), Smokey Robinson (2016) and many more iconic musicians.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement, “Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists.”

40. “Hey Ahab” from ‘The Union’ (with Leon Russell) (2010)

39. “Have Mercy On The Criminal” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)

38. “The One” from ‘The One’ (1992)

37. “Believe” from ‘Made In England’ (1995)

36. “The King Must Die” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)

35. “Elderberry Wine” from ‘Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player’ (1973)

34. “Holiday Inn” from ‘Madman Across The Water’ (1971)

33. “Home Again” from ‘The Diving Board’ (2013)

32. “Tonight” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)

31. “Daniel” from ‘Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player’ (1973)

30. “The Last Song” from ‘The One’ (1992)

29. “Sacrifice” from ‘Sleeping With The Past’ (1989)

28. “I Need You To Turn To” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)

27. “Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady Again)” B-side of “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” (1973)

26. “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” from ‘Breaking Hearts’ (1984)

25. “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)” from ‘Honky Chateau’ (1972)

24. “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” from ‘Blue Moves’ (1976)

23. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” from ‘Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy’ (1975)

22. “The Bitch Is Back” from ‘Caribou’ (1974)

21. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” from ‘Too Low For Zero’ (1983)

20. “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” from ‘Caribou’ (1974)

19. “Sixty Years On” from ‘17-11-70’ (1970)

18. “I Want Love” from ‘Songs From The West Coast’ (2001)

17. “Take Me To The Pilot” from ‘17-11-70’ (1970)

16. “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” from ‘Jump Up!’ (1982)

15. “Bad Side Of The Moon” from ‘17-11-70’ (1970)

14. “Madman Across The Water (featuring Mick Ronson)” outtake from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)

13. “Burn Down The MIssion” from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)

12. “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore” from ‘Songs From The West Coast’ (2001)

11. “Bennie And The Jets” from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)

10. “Amoreena” from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)

9. “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)

8. “Come Down In Time” from ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ (1970)

7. “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” from ‘Honky Chateau’ (1972)

6. “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)” from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)

5. “Border Song” from ‘Elton John’ (1970)

4. “Your Song” from ‘Elton John’ (1970)

3. “Candle In The Wind” from ‘Live In Australia’ (1987)

2. “Tiny Dancer” from ‘Madman Across The Water’ (1971)

1. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

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The Piano Man shared with Newsday that he now opts for taking the Long Island Rail Road when he heads to Manhatten for his residency shows at Madison Square Garden.

Joel said, “People will sometimes look at me on the railroad and think, ‘Look at this guy, trying to look like Billy Joel.’ He’s not kidding anybody.”

Ultimate Classic Rock noted Joel mentioned his travel preference when he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in February. At that time, he mentioned members of his staff were concerned about him getting recognized on the train. However, Joel has no issue with being just another person making their way to their destination.

“For two and a half hours, you’re onstage, you’re Mussolini. They’re yelling your name, they’re clapping, they’re cheering, they’re loving. … Then you jump in a car and you drive into New York traffic and you’re just another schmuck in traffic,” quipped Joel. ” … And some people can’t handle that transition.”

Billy Joel and His CBS Special

In February, Joel announced an upcoming CBS special.

The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time will air on Sunday, April 14 at 9 PM ET. The special is in honor of Joel’s 100th Madison Square Garden residency show, which takes place on March 28. CBS notes in a press release that this is the Piano man first concert to air on a broadcast network.

Joel announced last year that he would be ending his Madison Square Garden residency in July 2024. The final show has been announced for July 25, 2024, which will be Joel’s 150th career performance at the legendary venue.

The remaining MSG residency shows are as follows:

-March 28, 2024
-April 26, 2024
-May 9, 2024
-June 8, 2024
-July 25, 2024

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Unfortunately, the Prince of Darkness is doubtful about being inducted as a solo artist.

He shared with Rolling Stone that the whole situation had been driving him “mad.” Osbourne added, “It’s an honor that I’m nominated, but I’m not expecting to get in. There’s Mariah Carey, there’s Cher, Lenny Kravitz. I’m up against some serious people.”

While Ozzy is correct about being nominated alongside some big names, he’s doing very well in the Rock Hall fan vote. As of publishing, Osbourne is in second place behind Dave Matthews Band.

How to Vote for Ozzy Osbourne in the Rock Hall Fan Vote

Fans can cast their vote once a day at Vote.RockHall.com for who they think should be part of the 2024 Rock Hall induction class. This year, voting will last through April 26.

Unlike previous years, fans will get to vote for up to seven nominees every day. Previously, the choices were capped at five nominees.

The Fan Vote was first launched in 2013. Per the Rock Hall, “There have been over four million fan votes cast over the past 10 years, with 64% of the Fan Vote ballot (35 of 55) earning induction in the same year; and 86% (38 of 44 unique nominations) eventually earning induction.”

Once voting closes, the top five vote artists in the Fan Vote will create what is called a “Fans’ Ballot.” It will be counted among the other ballots that various artists, historians, and music industry professionals fill out and submit.

To see the current top seven artists in the Rock Hall fan vote, keep scrolling. (NOTE: Vote tallies are as of March 22, 2024 at 12:10 PM ET.)

The post Ozzy Osbourne: Why He Doubts Making 2024 Rock Hall Class appeared first on 102.9 WMGK.

The track clocks in at a tight 2:19 that immediately floors it out the gate without letting up on the gas. It’s chaotic and anxious, and you’ll find yourself playing the song again once it wooshes by you.

“Running” is the second track preview after the title track, which was released in February.

Dark Matter, Pearl Jam’s twelfth studio album, is due out on April 19. The album is available for pre-order here. Additionally, a special edition of the album will be available on Record Store Day, which is taking place on April 20.

Pearl Jam Listening Party

On top of “Running,” Pearl Jam dropped some details about their upcoming worldwide album listening party.

Dubbed a “global theatrical experience,” Dark Matter – One Night Only will hit over 500 theaters around the world on April 16.

Per its announcement, “Attendees will be among the very first to hear the band’s new record in select cinemas around the world. This communal experience will play Dark Matter in its entirety twice: first in a dark cinema, and then again with added visuals. “

Complete details can be found at PearlJam.com/OneNightOnly.

Pearl Jam 2024 World Tour

With a new album comes a new Pearl Jam world tour. As previously reported, the tour kicks off in May with a two-night stand in Vancouver, BC and is currently set to wrap in November in Sydney, Australia. A complete list of tour dates is below.