Classic Hits

Journey‘s Neal Schon is selling 112 of his valuable and historic guitars via an online auction hosted by Heritage Auctions, with bidding open until this Saturday, July 31.

Among the guitars being auctioned is a 1977 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Black Solid Body model that Neal used to record “Don’t Stop Believin'” and other songs on Journey’s chart-topping 1981 album Escape, the opening bid for which is $200,000.

“It’s on many famous songs,” Schon tells ABC Audio. “I used it on…’Who’s Crying Now’ [and] ‘Stone in Love’…I used it a bunch on Escape…And many, many albums after that.”

Other pricey guitars Schon is selling include two 1959 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst models with respective opening bids of $175,000 and $150,000, and two late-1950s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop models with $75,000 opening bids.

Schon, who estimates that he owns about 800 guitars in total, says he has no apprehensions about selling the ones he’s put up for bid, because he actually doesn’t play them that much.

“I’m looking to whittle [my collection] down,” he notes, “[and] put ’em in the hands of somebody that will really appreciate them, so they don’t sit in a case.”

Explaining why he decided to sell off part of his guitar collection, Schon admits, “I simply don’t have any more space…I’ve been collecting my whole life, you know, guitars and equipment, amps, all kinds of gear. We have a huge warehouse that Journey’s had for years, and that is packed.”

The auction ends on the same day that Journey plays Lollapalooza in Chicago, and Schon reveals that if there’s “a high-bidding buyer that wants to know about a guitar [that day], I’m gonna [Skype or FaceTime] with them and…tell them all about it.”

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Guitarist Gary Rossington, the last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, recently underwent “emergency heart surgery,” according to a message posted late Friday on the band’s official Facebook page.

“Gary is home resting and recovering with his family,” the message reads. “He wants everyone to know he is doing good and expects a full recovery.”

The note continues, “After this past year, the country being shut down and everything we have all been thru, The [Rossingtons] encouraged the band to go perform in his absence. Music is a powerful healer! We all felt playing the shows and bringing the music to y’all was a better option than cancelling the performances.”

In the message, the band also asks fans to “say some prayers for the Rossington family and if you would like to leave [Gary] a (positive) message please do! He will look forward to reading them!”

Accompanying the Facebook post is a video clip from a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Minnesota this past week featuring frontman Johnny Van Zant explaining to the audience that Rossington had to have “an emergency stent put in his heart.”

Van Zant also told the crowd, “Gary said, ‘Go up to Minnesota and kick some a** in my honor,’ and that’s what we’re here to do tonight.” In addition, he revealed that former Alice Cooper guitarist Damon Johnson was standing in for Rossington.

Rossington has experienced numerous heart issues over the years, and has revealed in past interviews that he’s had many stent operations.

Lynyrd Skynyrd launched their 2021 Big Wheels Keep On Turnin’ tour last month. The Southern rock legends’ next show is scheduled on August 9 in Canton, Ohio.

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The Stray Cats‘ Brian Setzer has released a second advance track from his forthcoming solo studio album Gotta Have the Rumble, a revved-up surf-rock-influenced tune called “Smash Up On Highway One.”

The song is available now as a digital download and via streaming services, while a music video for the tune has premiered at Setzer’s official YouTube channel.

The clip offers up a montage of black-and-white video segments featuring such evocative images as a belly dancer, a burning cigarette, a burning $100 bill, a slithering snake, an animal’s skeleton, a hissing cat, a snarling dog, a solar eclipse, piano keys lit aflame, an iguana, a spider in its web, a tornado, a graveyard and a burning car out in a desert.

Setzer says he got the idea for “Smash Up On Highway One” after he and The Stray Cats played surf-rock legend Dick Dale‘s classic instrumental “Misirlou” with Dale himself.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I’d love to write something as cool as that riff.’ So I came up with something out of left field,” he explains. “I don’t know what you would call it — Middle Eastern or Eastern-European…I had that riff laying around. I guess you could say I’m always collecting cool guitar parts. [Frequent collaborator] Mike Himelstein sent me those lyrics and they just fit right in. I think it’s really cool.”

As previously reported, Gotta Have the Rumble will be released on August 27 on CD and digitally, while a vinyl version will arrive in the fall.

The new collection, which you can pre-order now, features 11 original tunes written or co-written by Setzer. Brian previously released the album’s first song, “Checkered Flag,” as an advance track.

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Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson recently announced plans for a brief U.S. summer tour that will feature accompaniment from the students of the Paul Green Rock Academy, and now the singer and the young musicians have teamed up virtually for a video performance of his old band’s 1971 song “Heart of the Sunrise.”

The clip, which you can watch at the Paul Green Rock Academy’s official YouTube channel, features Anderson and over 20 young musicians and singers all performing their parts of the epic, multiple-section prog-rock tune separately.

“Heart of the Sunrise,” which was co-written by Anderson with founding Yes bassist Chris Squire and drummer Bill Bruford, was the last track on the band’s classic 1971 album Fragile.

As previously reported, Anderson’s tour with the Paul Green Rock Academy currently features 11 dates, and is plotted out from a July 30 concert in Patchogue, New York, through an August 28 show in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

The concerts will feature Yes classics and deep cuts, songs from Anderson’s solo catalog, mash-ups and more, with lush arrangements including choral vocals, horns and other musical elements.

Anderson says of performing with the young musicians, “It’s a celebration of music, youth, and the fun of life, and the enjoyment of everything that makes the world go round, which is MUSIC!”

Check out the full list of shows at PaulGreenRock.com.

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David Crosby‘s latest solo album, For Free, was released today, and to celebrate the record’s arrival, the folk-rock legend took part in a new video interview this week with the Grammy Museum’s Scott Goldman that’s been posted on GrammyMuseum.org.

For Free includes a song called “Rodriguez for a Night,” which features lyrical contributions from Donald Fagen, lead singer of Crosby’s favorite band, Steely Dan.

In the interview, Crosby explained that the collaboration came about after Crosby made a couple of well-received guest appearances with Steely Dan at concerts that the group played in New York, during which they performed the Crosby, Stills & Nash classic “Wooden Ships.”

David said that shortly after those shows, Fagen emailed the lyrics for what became “Rodriguez for a Night,” for which Crosby’s son and frequent collaborator James Raymond wrote the music.

“I don’t know if I heard Donald do that with anybody else, but I’m honored that he did it with us,” David said.

Speaking of Raymond, Crosby praised his son for writing the best song on For Free, the album closer “I Won’t Stay for Long.”

“With this record, he’s matured as a writer…to the point where he’s as good as I am, if not better,” David gushed about James, who also produced For Free.

The album also features collaborations with Michael McDonald and Grammy-winning Americana artist Sarah Jarosz. McDonald co-wrote and sings on the record’s lead song, “River Rise,” while Jarosz lends her talents to the Joni Mitchell-penned title track.

Meanwhile, Crosby, who turns 80 in August, revealed during the interview that he unfortunately may not tour again, explaining that he has arthritis in both hands and fears that “in a year or two I won’t be able to play guitar.”

Here’s the full For Free track list:

“River Rise” (featuring Michael McDonald)
“I Think”
“The Other Side of Midnight”
“Rodriguez for a Night”
“Secret Dancer”
“Ships in the Night”
“For Free” (featuring Sarah Jarosz)
“Boxes”
“Shot at Me”
“I Won’t Stay for Long”

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Yes has given fans the first taste of their forthcoming studio album, The Quest.  The prog-rock legends have released the lead track, “The Ice Bridge,” via digital formats, along with a companion lyric video.

The video is a mixed-media clip featuring footage of natural and animated landscapes interspersed with images of artist Roger Dean‘s otherworldly paintings.

“The Ice Bridge” is an epic tune co-written by lead singer Jon Davison and keyboardist Geoff Downes, with enigmatic lyrics focusing on the dangers of climate change. The song features three sections, titled “Eyes East,” “Race Against Time” and “Interaction,” accompanied by an orchestra.

“I’m extremely proud to be a part of this music and believe the video graphics are outstanding,” says Yes drummer Alan White. “A collaboration of many talents coming together to produce ‘The Ice Bridge.’ I hope our fans/audiences will appreciate the creativity put forward.”

Adds Downes, “Jon’s vocals are fantastic. He’s really come into his own as a YES vocalist. This time he’s started to get the writing side together and working with the other musicians has been developmental for him.”

The Quest, which was produced by longtime Yes guitarist Steve Howe, will be released on October 1 and can be pre-ordered now.  The 11-track collection is available as a two-CD set featuring eight songs on the main disc and three additional tunes on the second CD.  The album also will be issued in additional formats and configurations, including a limited-edition box set boasting two CDs, two vinyl LPs and a Blu-ray disc.

Here’s The Quest‘s full track list:

CD 1
“The Ice Bridge”
“Dare to Know”
“Minus the Man”
“Leave Well Alone”
“The Western Edge”
“Future Memories”
“Music to My Ears”
“A Living Island”

CD 2
“Sister Sleeping Soul”
“Mystery Tour”
“Damaged World”

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Tickets for the 36th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, scheduled for October 30 in Cleveland at Rocket Mortgage Field House, will go on sale to the general public next Friday, July 30, at 10 a.m. ET at RocketMortgageFieldHouse.com.

Six artists will be inducted in the Performer category at thus year’s event: The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Tina Turner, Todd Rundgren, Foo Fighters and JAY-Z.

In addition, three musicians will be inducted in conjunction with receiving the Musical Excellence Award: R&B artist and Beatles and Rolling Stones session keyboardist Billy Preston; rapper LL Cool J; and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads. Also, electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, blues legend Charley Patton and soul musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron will be welcomed into the Rock Hall as Early Influence Award honorees, while music executive Clarence Avant will be inducted as a Ahmet Ertegun Award recipient.

The Rock Hall Induction Ceremony will air at a later on HBO, and also will be streamed on HBO Max.

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Jackson Browne‘s latest studio album, Downhill from Everywhere, was released today.

The lauded singer/songwriter chatted about the project during a new interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, including the meaning behind the name of the album and its title track.

Browne explained that the tune is about the pollution of the ocean.

“I realized that downhill has that sort of resonance about…’is it all downhill from here?’…but it actually specifically refers to the fact that the ocean is downhill from all of humanity,” he noted. “I mean, there’s a storm drain out in front of my studio, there’s a little stenciled sign on it saying, ‘This drain leads to the ocean.’ So be careful what you put in there.”

Browne also discussed the song “A Little Soon to Say,” which he revealed was inspired by playing a Vermont festival hosted by singer/songwriter Grace Potter, whom he greatly admires.

“It’s really about being at a gathering of people,” he said, “and this audience was so amazing to look out upon because there were young and old, and there were some weather-beaten faces and some young, positive, really open-hearted people.”

He added, “I had the lines before I left there that night. I told [Potter], ‘I got this song started’ as I said goodnight that night to her and her husband and her baby, and I said, ‘I came looking for Grace…I came for inspiration.'”

As previously reported, Downhill from Everywhere finds the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer addressing such themes as the plight of illegal immigrants, prejudice against same-sex relationships, racial justice and mortality.

Browne launches a joint U.S. tour with James Taylor on July 29 in Chicago, and he also has some headlining dates scheduled. Visit JacksonBrowne.com for his full itinerary.

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Former Fleetwood Mac singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham has just released a second advance track from his forthcoming self-titled solo album, which is due out on September 17.

“On the Wrong Side,” which is available now via digital formats, is an upbeat-sounding pop-rock tune that according to a statement is about the ups and downs Buckingham experienced while touring with Fleetwood Mac.

Lindsey draws a comparison between “On the Wrong Side” and his classic Fleetwood Mac hit “Go Your Own Way,” noting that the 1977 tune was “not a happy song, subject-matter wise, but it was an ebullient song musically. This was sort of the same idea.”

As previously reported, the upcoming album is Buckingham’s first solo studio effort since 2011’s Seeds We Sow and his seventh overall.

The 10-song collection, which Buckingham wrote, produced and recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles, can be pre-ordered now and will be available on CD, as a vinyl LP, and on digital and streaming platforms.

Lindsey previously released a song called “I Don’t Mind” as the first advance track from the album.

Meanwhile, Buckingham will launch a 30-city U.S. solo tour with a September 1 show in Milwaukee, marking the first time that Lindsey will be playing in-person concerts since he underwent emergency heart surgery in February 2019.

Check out Buckingham’s full tour schedule at LindseyBuckingham.com.

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Back in August of 2008, Glen Campbell took the stage at the famed West Hollywood, California, venue the Troubadour, the stage known for career-transforming performances from rockers, country stars, comedians and more since its opening in the late 1950s.

Campbell’s 14-song set at that show featured many of the crossover star’s enduring hits, including “Galveston,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Gentle on My Mind” and “Rhinestone Cowboy.”

Now, more than a decade after that concert took place, fans can revisit the late singer’s performance with a new live album called Glen Campbell: Live from the Troubadour. The collection arrives this Friday, July 23.

An Arkansas native who toed the line between country and pop stardom while also enjoying a storied acting career, Glen died in 2017 at the age of 81 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He announced in 2011 that he’d been diagnosed with the disease. That same year, he was the subject of a documentary titled Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, which chronicled his last years on the road as he grappled with how his illness affected his abilities as a performer.

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