Classic Hits

Bob Dylan has scheduled his first tour dates since the start of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The folk-rock legend, who turned 80 this past May, has unveiled a series of fall 2021 U.S. concerts kicking off November 2 in Milwaukee and running through a December 2 show in Washington, D.C.

Tickets for most of the dates will go on sale to the general public starting this Friday, October 1. Pre-sale tickets also will be available; visit BobDylan.com for more details.

According to Dylan’s website, the U.S. leg will mark the start of a worldwide tour in support of Bob’s most recent studio album, 2020’s Rough and Rowdy Ways, that will run until 2024.

The stateside trek features multiple-nights stands at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on November 19, 20 and 21, Port Chester New York’s Capitol Theatre on November 23 and 24 and Philadelphia’s The Met on November 29 and 30.

Dylan’s most recent trek ended in December 2019. This past July, a new livestreamed performance by Bob and his longtime backing band, called Shadow Kingdom, was made available via the Veeps.com platform.

Earlier this month, Dylan released a new installment of his Bootleg Series of archival collections. Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16 (1980-1985) focuses on the sessions for three of Bob’s albums — 1981’s Shot of Love, 1983’s Infidels and 1985’s Empire Burlesque.

In conjunction with the compilation’s release, Dylan premiered a video on YouTube capturing an in-studio performance of the Infidels track “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight,” featuring Bob accompanied by Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler and ex-Rolling Stones member Mick Taylor on guitars, as well as Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark, legendary reggae drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare.

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Guns N’ Roses are releasing an EP featuring the band’s 2021 singles, “Hard Skool” and “Absurd.”

The set will include studio versions of both songs — which mark the first new music from GN’R since 2008’s Chinese Democracy, as well as the first new tracks from the group since Slash and Duff McKagan rejoined Axl Rose in 2016 — as well as live versions of classics “Don’t Cry” and “You’re Crazy.”

You can pre-order the EP on CD and cassette now via GNRMerch.com. You can also grab a seven-inch vinyl single featuring “Hard Skool” and a live rendition of “Absurd.”

Meanwhile, Guns just performed the live debut of “Hard Skool” during their concert Sunday night in Baltimore. Fan-shot footage is streaming now on YouTube.

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The Rolling Stones kicked off their first tour ever without longtime drummer Charlie Watts on Sunday at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

The show began with a tribute to Watts, who died August 24 at age 80, and marked the band’s first official concert with Charlie’s handpicked fill-in, acclaimed drummer Steve Jordan.

The Stones played a 19-song set made up mainly of classics from their back catalog, and also included a rendition of their 2020 single, “Living in a Ghost Town.”

A few days before the concert, fans were given the chance to vote on one song that would appear in the set, and the 1971 hit “Wild Horses” was chosen over “Angie,” “Fool to Cry” and “Ruby Tuesday.”

The Rolling Stones kicked off the show with “Street Fighting Man” and wrapped things up with their signature tune “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” As the band gathered at the front of the stage at the end of the gig, a photo of Watts appeared on the screen behind them.

Frontman Mick Jagger has posted a brief video clip from the show on his social media pages showing him singing a segment of “Midnight Rambler,” and accompanied by the message, “Thanks St. Louis for a great night!”

In addition, the band has posted an image of guitarist Ronnie Wood‘s illustrated set list for the St. Louis concert at the band’s own social media sites, and limited-edition prints of the hand-drawn list have been made available for purchase at Wood’s official online store.

The Stones’ 2021 No Filter Tour of the U.S. continues this Thursday, September 30, with a show in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Here’s the band full set list from the St. Louis concert:

“Street Fighting Man”
“It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”
“Tumbling Dice”
“Under My Thumb”
“19th Nervous Breakdown”
“Wild Horses”
“Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“Living in a Ghost Town”
“Start Me Up”
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Happy”
“Slipping Away”
“Miss You”
“Midnight Rambler”
“Paint It Black”
“Sympathy for the Devil”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Gimme Shelter”
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Thank you St. Louis for a great opening night! You can order a special print of @ronniewood’s set list at: https://t.co/He4mYU5ehQ pic.twitter.com/QGG8fNX7CS

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 27, 2021

Thanks St. Louis for a great night! pic.twitter.com/eQauxqXsla

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) September 27, 2021

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Last year, former Blue Öyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard released a reimagined version of his old band’s 1988 concept album, Imaginos, aptly titled Re Imaginos. Now Bouchard has announced plans for a sequel record that will be the second installment of a planned Imaginos-themed trilogy.

Imaginos II — Bombs over Germany (minus zero and counting), which will be released on October 22, continues the story based on the writings and poems of late Blue Öyster Cult manager, producer and songwriter Sandy Pearlman about an alien conspiracy that comes to fruition during the late 1800s and early 1900s through the actions of an evil character named Imaginos.

The new album features guest contributions from longtime Blue Öyster Cult members Eric Bloom and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and the group’s former bassist, Joe Bouchard, and current multi-instrumentalist Richie Castellano, as well as from Dictators guitarist Ross the Boss.

Imaginos II features new versions of a variety of early Blue Öyster Cult songs, including “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” “The Red and the Black” and “Dominance and Submission.”

The album’s lead single, an updated rendition of the 1973 BÖC tune “OD’d on Life Itself,” has been released as an advance digital track, and a lyric video for the song has premiered on YouTube.

“This version of ‘OD’d on Life Itself’ is a very different take on the song that was recorded for BÖC’s second album, Tyranny and Mutation,” Albert explains. “The lyrics return to the original lyrics written by Sandy Pearlman, much less sarcastic and much more spooky.”

Imaginos II can be pre-ordered now on CD at MerchBucket.com, and limited-edition bundles also can be purchased that include an autographed CD and poster, plus a T-shirt and a guitar pick.

Here’s the album’s full track list:

“When War Comes”
“Independence Day”
“7 Screaming Dizbusters”
“OD’d on Life Itself”
“Il Duce”
“Bombs over Germany”
“Before the Kiss (A Redcap)”
“Three Sisters”
“Quicklime Girl (Mistress of the Salmon Salt)”
“The Red and the Black”
“Dominance and Submission”
“Shadow of California”
“Cities on Flame (with Rock and Roll)”
“Half Life Times”

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The new documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, which premiered this past March as part of the virtual South by Southwest Film Festival, will get its theatrical release as a global screening event on October 20 — coinciding with what would’ve been Tom Petty‘s 71st birthday.

The movie focuses on the creatively fruitful period from 1993 to 1995, during which Petty made his acclaimed 1994 studio effort Wildflowers and recorded many other songs that weren’t initially released on the album. The film features previously unseen footage shot during the making of Wildflowers, as well as new interviews with producer Rick Rubin and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell — who co-produced the album with Tom — as well as with Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench.

The archival footage not only captures Petty in the studio, but on tour and with his family at home.

In additional to the October 20 screenings of Somewhere You Feel Free, the film will be shown at select theaters on October 21. Visit TomPettyFilm.com to find out where the documentary is playing and to purchase tickets. Then, later this year, the movie will get its worldwide release as a free streaming event in 4K resolution on Petty’s official YouTube channel as part of the YouTube Originals series.

You can check out a preview clip from the documentary on YouTube now that includes archival footage of Petty recording the Wildflowers track “Only a Broken Heart,” as well as recent footage of Rubin, Tench and Campbell chatting about the song.

Somewhere You Feel Free was directed by Mary Wharton, whose credits also include last year’s Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President.

An expansive Wildflowers box set titled Wildflowers & All the Rest, which featured a bevy of outtakes from the sessions, was released last year.

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On Thursday night, Madonna graced the New York City premiere of her upcoming Paramount+ documentary Madame X, which streams starting October 8.  On the red carpet, she revealed that she’d recently spoken to Britney Spears, her duet partner on the 2003 song “Me Against the Music.”

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Madonna said of Britney — who she famously smooched at the 2003 MTV VMAs — “[I was] just checking in on her, and congratulating her on her marriage…or her pending marriage. I love her.”

Madonna also told ET that she was “really proud” of her eldest child, 24-year-old Lourdes, who made her Met Gala debut last week and who also can be seen strutting herself in Rihanna‘s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 lingerie fashion show, which is now streaming on Amazon.

“Anything is possible for her,” Madonna said of Lourdes, adding, “She’s way more talented than I was, am, whatever.”

Madonna said that her Madame X documentary — which captures her theater tour in support of her 2019 album Madame X — includes “great art, thoughtfulness, incredible dancing, incredible music, provocation, politics, spirituality, family. Everything!”

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Just a reminder that The Rolling Stones will kick off their 2021 No Filter Tour of the U.S. this Sunday, September 26, in St. Louis at The Dome at America’s Center.

The trek marks the band’s first-ever without longtime drummer Charlie Watts, who died August 24 at age 80. Stepping in for Watts will be respected session drummer Steve Jordan, who Charlie had chosen as his fill-in before his passing.

The Rolling Stones are giving fans the opportunity to help pick one song that they’ll play at each show of the tour, by visiting Vote.RollingStones.com. The tunes that fans can choose from for the St. Louis gig are “Angie,” “Fool to Cry,” “Ruby Tuesday” or “Wild Horses.” Those who participate in the voting also can enter a competition to win a personalized video message from one of the band members.

Ahead of the tour, the Stones have posted a special video message from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on their social media pages. In the clip, they express their excitement about returning to the road, and encourage people who come out to the shows to get the COVID-19 vaccine, wear a mask and/or get tested for the virus.

The band’s U.S. tour leg features a total of 13 shows, and runs through a November 20 concert in Austin, Texas. Check out the group’s full schedule at RollingStones.com.

Looking forward to seeing you at a show soon, keep safe! pic.twitter.com/sDPDsCvYjg

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 24, 2021

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Global Citizen Live, the 24-hour concert event spanning six continents and featuring performances by more than 50 artists, takes places Saturday, September 25.

Among the veteran pop and rock artists who will perform at the various shows are Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers & Chic and Green Day.

Performances will take place in New York City; Los Angeles; London; Paris; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; and Lagos, Nigeria.

Elton will be performing in Paris, Wonder and Green Day in LA, Lauper in New York, and Duran Duran and Rodgers & Chic in London.

Global Citizen Live isn’t designed to raise money, but rather it’s supposed to inspire people to demand government action on issues like poverty, climate change and vaccine equity.

“We don’t want your money. This is not a telethon. We want you to take action because your voice is more powerful than your wallet,” Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans tells ABC Audio. “If everyone works together and we all call on the U.S. government to step up in unison, then the government will step up.”

Evans continues, “We need not just the U.S. government to step up: We need the entire G20 to step up. Because issues like climate change or global hunger or vaccine equity, these can’t be solved by any one nation.”

Commenting on the event’s star-studded lineup, Evans says, “[T]hey are utterly breathtaking artists. And I think the fact that they’re all uniting for this once-in-a-generation moment this Saturday is amazing. We just want to encourage everyone across America to tune in…and be part of this.”

You can watch on ABC News Live, Apple TV, Twitter, all the Global Citizen channels and more.

Here’s a partial list of who’ll be appearing where:

NEW YORK
Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara, Cyndi Lauper, Burna Boy, Jon Batiste, Lang Lang.

PARIS
Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Charlie Puth, Doja Cat, DJ Snake, Black Eyed Peas, Christine and the Queens, Måneskin.

LONDON, U.K.
Nile Rodgers & Chic, Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue, Rag’n’Bone Man.

LOS ANGELES
Stevie Wonder, Green Day, Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., ONEREPUBLIC, Ozuna, Migos, The Lumineers, 5 Seconds of Summer.

AROUND THE WORLD
Fugees, BTS, Lorde, Metallica, Usher, Keith Urban, Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin.

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The Temptations have released a brand-new single called “Is It Gonna Be Yes or No,” that was written and produced by and features guest vocals from fellow Motown legend Smokey Robinson.

The sensuous romantic ballad, which is available now as a digital download and via streaming services, will appear on the famed vocal group’s upcoming studio album, Temptations 60, in celebration of band’s 60th anniversary.

“Is It Gonna Be Yes or No” reunites The Temptations with Robinson, who wrote or co-wrote many of the group’s early hits, including “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and the chart-topping classic “My Girl.”

A behind-the-scenes video looking at the making of the song has been posted on The Temptations’ official YouTube channel. In the clip, Smokey explains, “I wanted to soften them up and write something sweet and gentle. Souful, ’cause they’re soulful singers.”

Otis Williams, the last surviving original Temptations member, then notes, “Because of Smokey, we started with ‘The Way You Do the Things You Do,’ and we’ve been rolling ever since. It’s only that Smokey be on this here album.

Smokey adds, “I’m so happy with the record…I can’t wait to see the public reaction to it.”

Among the musicians who contributed to the track were acclaimed session bassist Freddie Washington and longtime Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers drummer Steve Ferrone.

This past summer, The Temptations launched a yearlong 60th anniversary celebration that will run through June of 2022. Temptations 60 is due out next year, and the group also has a series of tour dates lined up, and is planning a special commemoration of Williams’ 80th birthday on October 30.

You can check out all of the confirmed upcoming Temptation shows at TemptationsOfficial.com.

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the release of British glam-rock legends T. Rex‘s classic album Electric Warrior.

The record was the Marc Bolan-fronted group’s sixth overall and its second after the band shortened its original moniker, Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Electric Warrior spent eight nonconsecutive weeks at #1 on the U.K. albums chart in late 1971 and early ’72, while peaking at #32 on the Billboard 200. It includes the band’s signature song, “Get It On,” which topped the U.K. singles tally, while reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 — becoming T. Rex’s only top-40 hit in the U.S.

The album also features “Jeepster,” a #2 U.K. hit, and such other gems as “Mambo Sun,” “Cosmic Dancer” and “Life’s a Gas.”

In the U.S., “Get It On” was retitled “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” to avoid confusion with a then-popular song by the jazz-rock band Chase.

Longtime Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman played piano on “Get It On.” Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman of The Turtles and Frank Zappa fame contributed backing vocals to Electric Warrior, while ex-King Crimson multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, who later became a founding member of Foreigner, played saxophone on the record.

Electric Warrior, which was written entirely by Bolan and produced by frequent David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti, is considered among the first glam-rock albums, if not the very first.

The record’s influence could be heard in the early-to-mid-1970s music of Bowie, Elton John, The Hollies and The Rolling Stones, and went on to inspire many artists who emerged from the punk and new wave scenes.

Here’s the full track list of Electric Warrior:

“Mambo Sun”
“Cosmic Dancer”
“Jeepster”
“Monolith”
“Lean Woman Blues”
“Get It On”
“Planet Queen”
“Girl”
“The Motivator”
“Life’s a Gas”
“Rip Off”

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