Classic Hits

Rod Stewart‘s signature whiskey, Wolfie’s, has officially been around for one year, and the “Maggie May” singer celebrated the milestone Aug. 4 in Las Vegas.

According to spirits writer Fred Minnick, Rod, his wife, Penny, and three of his kids — Sean, Liam and Renee — celebrated at a speakeasy called The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Rod sang “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” a cappella and led the crowd in a singalong of The Faces‘ classic song “Ooh La La.”

Rod also handed out shots of Wolfie’s, and guests enjoyed cocktails mixed with the whiskey, like the Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, which combined Wolfie’s, agave syrup, lime juice, mint and jalapeño. Rod was also presented with a cake in the shape of a bottle of Wolfie’s. You can see footage of the festivities over at Rod’s Instagram page.

The party also doubled as a celebration of the end of Rod’s 13-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It will wrap up with the 200th show of the residency on Aug. 7.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Queen’s Brian May has paid tribute to Aerosmith following the news they’ve decided to retire from touring following Steven Tyler’s vocal problems.

“This has brought a tear to my eye. Aerosmith have been a huge part of my life, as they have been for millions of other rock fans,” May shared on Instagram alongside the band’s retirement announcement. “Steve Tyler stands as one the greatest vocalists and front men of all time – and it’s heartbreaking that his extraordinary voice has been so damaged. We all send our love and prayers for your recovery, Steve.”

He adds, “It’s also typical of the pure class of the band that they have made and broadcast this bold decision in such style. The career of Aerosmith is truly something to celebrate forever. All things must pass – but the inspiring work of Aerosmith will live on – along with the memories of truly one of the most awesome bands to ever hit a stage.”

Aerosmith announced Friday they were canceling their Peace Out tour, which was due to relaunch in September. The tour initially kicked off in September 2023, but was postponed after a handful of shows when Tyler fractured his larynx.

The Black Crowes, who were due to open for Aerosmith on the tour, also paid tribute to the band on Friday, noting, “We are shocked and saddened by this news from earlier today … nothing but love and respect to our friends in @Aerosmith. Heartfelt thanks for all of the incredible memories.”

And they’re not the only ones. Slash also posted a tribute, while fan-shot footage shows Sammy Hagar calling Tyler “one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time” during his concert in Michigan, saying it was sad but honorable he quit because he can’t sing anymore.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

On This Day, Aug. 5, 1984 …

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played the first of 10 nights at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Several performances from that 10-night stand were included in the rocker’s 1986 box set Live/1975-85.

The shows were part of Bruce’s Born in the U.S.A. tour, in support of his #1 album of the same name, which produced seven top-10 singles: the title track, “Dancing in the Dark,” “Cover Me,” “Glory Days,” “I’m On Fire,” “I’m Goin’ Down” and “My Hometown.” 

The tour ran from June 29, 1984, to Oct. 2, 1985, and included summer stadium dates in North America in 1985, marking The Boss’ first stadium tour.

The trek was a hugely successful tour for Springsteen, grossing between $80 million and $90 million.

Springsteen played Brendan Byrne Arena, later renamed Continental Airlines Arena, several times throughout his career. In fact, in 1999 he played 15 shows at the venue.

Springsteen recently wrapped a European tour with the E Street Band and will kick off a U.S. leg of the tour Aug. 15 in Pittsburgh. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Journey’s Jonathan Cain is explaining the reason he filed a lawsuit in Delaware against his bandmate Neal Schon over Schon’s allegedly excessive spending.

A statement from Cain’s Delaware attorney, Sid Liebesman, says the suit was filed to request the court “appoint a third, independent director to serve on the board of Freedom 2020, Inc., the corporate entity through which Journey primarily conducts the band’s business.”

The statement adds that there have been “growing issues” between Neal and Jon due to them being the sole directors of the company.

“No claims against Neal were asserted in the petition and the only form of relief sought is the appointment of a third director,” the statement adds. 

Cain’s suit, which was filed July 24, claims Schon has made several financial decisions costing the band money, including maxing out a $1 million limit on the company’s American Express credit card, going over the band’s $1,500-a-night max hotel fee, charting private jets and more. It also claims Schon has stopped attempts to pay off the band’s debts. 

The court docs describe the issues as “very much [a] public battle between petitioner and respondent and is impacting the band’s reputation throughout the music industry. The band’s actual onstage performance is, at the moment, one of the only aspects of the business that has not suffered.”

Liebesman’s statement notes the hope is that a third party “will provide resolution to the issues between Jon and Neal.” It adds, “None of the parties are seeking any form of damages. It is Jon’s intent for Journey to continue providing great live music throughout the current tour.” 

This isn’t the first time Cain has sued Schon over money. Back in 2022 he filed a lawsuit over a credit card Cain said Schon opened through their company.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

David Byrne is set to host a live variety show in New York this fall to help celebrate the fifth anniversary of his solutions-based nonprofit magazine Reasons to be Cheerful, a project of the Talking Heads frontman’s nonprofit, Arbutus.

The one-night-only event, dubbed Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things, will take place Oct. 8 at Town Hall in New York, with Byrne handling the emcee duties.

“Variety shows were a big deal when I was young. It’s a format you don’t see as much of these days. So we thought, why not bring it back?” Byrne shares. “We looked for acts that could capture that sense of zany, anything-could-happen artistry. Reasons to be Cheerful inspires people by unearthing unexpected gems, and this show will embody that same spirit of gleeful surprise.”

Artists confirmed for Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things include comedian Fred Armisen, the band Brass Queens, comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti, raunchy puppetry group Epidermis Circus and singer-songwriter Thao, with additional acts to be added in the coming weeks.

Tickets are on sale now. Proceeds from the show will benefit Reasons to be Cheerful.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Looks like Aerosmith is saying peace out earlier than planned.

The band just announced they’ve canceled their Peace Out tour, and they’ll be retiring from touring. It seems Steven Tyler’s vocal issues, which forced the postponement of the tour last year, have not gotten any better.

“It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours,” they write on Instagram. “In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives.” 

“We’ve always wanted to blow your mind when performing. As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other,” they continue. “He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side.”

They note, “Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”

Refunds will be automatically processed for ticket purchases made through Ticketmaster.

“We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time,” they write. “A final thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”

Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour, which they said would be their last, originally launched in September 2023 but was postponed after a handful of shows when Tyler fractured his larynx. It was scheduled to relaunch Sept. 20 in Pittsburgh.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

America is sharing another preview of their upcoming live album, America – Live From The Hollywood Bowl 1975, dropping Sept. 6.  

The band has just released a live performance of “Sister Golden Hair,” with the release coming one day before the 49th anniversary of the Hollywood Bowl show. This is the second song they’ve released from the album, following “Ventura Highway.”

You can listen to “Ventura Highway” now via digital outlets.

America – Live From The Hollywood Bowl 1975 features performances from the band’s Aug. 3, 1975, concert at the famed California venue, where they were backed by a symphony conducted by The Beatles‘ producer George Martin.

The album was previously released as a Record Store Day exclusive, but will now be released digitally for the first time, as well as on CD and red vinyl.

The album is available for preorder now.

And fans still have a chance to catch America live. The band is currently on tour and plays Roanoke, Virginia, on Friday. A complete list of dates can be found at venturahighway.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A new bonus track from the recently released John Lennon box set Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection has been released. It gives fans some insight into the tune “I’m The Greatest,” which was recorded in 1973 and was the first reunion of Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison since the breakup of The Beatles. 

“I’m The Greatest (Ultimate Mix)” is now streaming for the very first time and features John’s guide vocals from the original recording session.

The tune, written by Lennon, appeared on Ringo’s self-titled 1973 solo album. It also featured longtime Beatles’ associates Klaus Voorman on bass and Billy Preston on organ.

The song is one of two digital bonus tracks on the digital-only Mind Games (The Ultimate Mixes) release. The other is the tune “Rock ‘N’ Roll People.” Both are also hidden tracks on the Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection box set, with even more to come, as new hidden tracks will be released digitally every two weeks up until Oct. 9, which would have been Lennon’s 84th birthday.

And if that’s not enough, stripped back arrangements of songs will be released digitally as part of Mind Games (The Elemental Mixes). The first of those is the unreleased track “You Are Here (Out-take, Take 4),” which is out now.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Def Leppard is continuing the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pyromania, this time highlighting the album’s hit tune “Photograph.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers just dropped a trio of “Photograph” remixes from DJ Armand Van Helden: a radio mix, extended club mix and instrumental mix.

Released in January 1983, Pyromania featured not only “Photograph,” but hit songs like “Rock of Ages” and “Foolin.” It reached #2 on the U.S. Album chart, sold 6 million copies in 1983 and went on to be certified Diamond by the RIAA for selling over 10 million copies.

Earlier this year, Def Leppard celebrated the 40th anniversary of Pyromania with the release of a four-CD + Blu-Ray box set featuring the original album and a full disc of unheard demos, as well as two live shows and a Blu-Ray featuring an Atmos mix of the album.

They are also celebrating the album on their Summer Stadium tour with Journey, with their set loaded with Pyromania tunes. The tour hits Toronto, Canada, on Friday. A complete list of dates can be found at defleppard.com.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Pete Townshend has dropped a new video of a classic live performance.

The Who rocker has shared a video of his performance of “After the Fire,” which was shot in 1985 at the Brixton Academy in London. The concert highlighted in the video features Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour on guitar.

“After the Fire,” which was written by Pete, was actually a hit for Who frontman Roger Daltrey, who recorded it for his solo album Under a Raging Moon.

The video comes just one week after Townshend released Pete Townshend Live > In Concert 1985-2001, a 14-CD box set featuring newly remastered versions of his live solo recordings, seven of which have been long out of print. 

The set includes Deep End Live at Brixton Academy in London, plus shows recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1993, San Francisco’s The Filmore in 1996, London’s Shepherds Bush Empire in 1998 and the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California, in 2001. There’s also a recording of two nights at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, the only time Pete ever attempted a full Life House show.

Pete Townshend Live > In Concert 1985-2001 is out now.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.