Classic Hits

Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour is crediting his wife, Polly Samson, for helping him clean up his act.

In an interview with The Independent, Gilmour reveals that it was an ultimatum from Samson that prompted him to give up his hard-partying lifestyle in the ’80s.

“There was a time when I was letting things go, drinking too much, too much cocaine, all those sorts of things,” he said. “And in my life, that stopped when we [Polly and I] started, pretty much dead on at that time.”

Gilmour said that during the early ’80s he was having trouble dealing with “my pop group, my relationships and all those sorts of things,” noting, “I hit a really torturous time; I didn’t really notice if I was out of control, but I probably was.”

Turning to his wife of 30 years, he said, “I won’t call you a gift, Polly, but something came along into my life that was real, and she wouldn’t stand for it [drugs]. I just needed a little kick, really, in order to put it behind me.”

“I couldn’t do otherwise,” Samson added. “I was a single mother. It was, for me, non-negotiable, and I made that clear.”

Asked if his wife was his savior, Gilmour relied, “Yes, exactly that, and I haven’t been near any of those things for over 30 years. There aren’t many women who would have the strength that Polly had to deal with it.”

Polly then noted, “We saved each other’s lives.”

Gilmour’s new solo album, Luck and Strange, which features songs he co-wrote with Samson, comes out Friday. He has a series of live dates scheduled for this fall in Rome, London, LA and New York. A complete list of dates can be found at davidgilmour.com.

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Sade‘s back, and she’s dropping No Ordinary song. Her upcoming single, “Young Lion,” will be her first song in years. A tribute to her transgender son, Izaak, the song is set to appear on a benefit album titled Transa.

Arriving on Nov. 22, the album features over 100 contributing artists, and exclusive songs and covers from artists like Sam Smith and André 3000. There are eight chapters in honor of the eight-stripe rainbow Pride flag and 46 songs. The lead single is a cover of “I Would Die 4 U” sung by Prince collaborators Wendy & Lisa alongside Lauren Auder.

The goal of the album is raise awareness and support for trans and nonbinary artists.

“We started talking about all the gifts that trans artists have been giving to the world, and wanted to create a Red Hot project that centered and celebrated those gifts,” says Dust Reid, one of the masterminds behind Transa. “We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society insofar as the deep inner work they do to affirm who they are in our current climate. We felt this is something everybody should do. Whether you identify as trans or non-binary or otherwise, if you took the time to explore your gender, get in touch with the feeling side of yourself, maybe we would have a future oriented around values of community, collaboration, care, and healing.”

Sade’s contribution marks her first song since releasing “Flower of the Universe” for the A Wrinkle in Time soundtrack and “The Big Unknown” for the movie Widows in 2018. She previously covered “Still in Love With You” for her band’s The Ultimate Collection album.

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Def Leppard is giving fans some insight into how they create their set list for each of their shows with a new video posted to social media.

In the clip, frontman Joe Elliott and guitarist Phil Collen discuss adding another Pyromania track to their concert in Cleveland, with Joe noting they are performing eight songs from the album, leaving out only “Stagefright” and “Action! Not Words.” At one point drummer Rick Allen chimes in, approving of the decision to add a song, noting, “I dig doing all those Pyromania songs.”

But the scene is way more chaotic than it seems, because the discussion is happening as guitarist Vivian Campbell is loudly warming up his vocals in the background, although it doesn’t seem to bother any of his bandmates.

Fans still have a chance to see Def Leppard perform that set list on their Summer Stadium tour with Journey. The tour hits Seattle, Washington, on Wednesday. A complete list of the remaining dates can be found at defleppard.com.

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Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! every single ABBA has ever released! Well, OK, but you’ll have to wait until October.

October will see the release of a box set called The Singles — The First Fifty Years, which includes every ABBA single A-side released on the band’s record label, Polar Music International, from 1972 to 1982. There will also be four songs that weren’t put out on Polar, but which were singles in some countries during that time. Bringing things up to 2022, it also includes all the singles from the group’s Grammy-nominated 2021 album, Voyage.

Available as a four-LP vinyl set or a double-CD set, the collection includes every ABBA song you know and love, including “SOS,” “Mamma Mia,” “Fernando,” “Dancing Queen,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take A Chance On Me,” “Chiquitita,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” “The Winner Takes It All” and “Super Trouper.”

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s entry onto the world stage, when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo.” It became their first top 10 hit in the U.S. and a chart-topper in other countries around the world.

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Epiphone is giving Jimi Hendrix fans a chance to get their hands on a replica of one of his classic guitars.

The company has teamed with Gibson Custom for a new Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V guitar, a recreation of the guitar Hendrix customized and played between 1967 and 1969. 

The guitar is part of the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Collection and features the psychedelic design originally hand painted by Hendrix, with high-quality electronics and design upgrades.

“Jimi’s artistic expression was all-encompassing. It went far beyond creating magical music and expanded into another dimension of art that allowed us to see the beauty of his music,” Janie Hendrix, sister of Jimi and president and CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC & Authentic Hendrix LLC, shares, noting that his hand painting of the guitar “was an expression of love for his instrument and his music.”

She adds, “With the Epiphone series, Gibson has recreated Jimi’s artwork beautifully! We are excited to partner with them! Seeing Jimi’s handiwork come alive in this spectacular collection is extremely gratifying.”

The Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V is available now. More info can be found at epiphone.com.

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Members of The Guess Who have settled their long dispute over the band’s name.

The band’s founding singer Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman sued fellow original members Jim Kale and Garry Peterson last October, accusing them of tricking fans into thinking Cummings and Bachman were still performing with the group, when they were actually getting a “cover band.”

Cummings and Bachman have now announced that the suit is settled, which has resulted in them acquiring the trademark for the name The Guess Who.

Cummings tells Rolling Stone he is relieved the suit is now behind them. 

“There’s been a fake band out there for a long time using the real records to promote their shows, and it handcuffed me in many ways,” he says. “We’re trying to preserve the history and the legacy of The Guess Who for our fans all over the place have who have followed the real band and the real songs.”

Bachman adds, “To be able to come back together as partners and shut down the bad reputation being formed by the false advertising and fraudulent band is really good, and I look forward to what’s ahead.”

Other than the fact they have now retained the Guess Who trademark, Cummings and Bachman didn’t offer any details about the settlement.

Peterson had been the only original member of The Guess Who still performing as part of the band, albeit infrequently. In an attempt to stop his incarnation of the group, Cummings — who wrote the band’s classic hits like “American Woman” and “These Eyes” and owns the publishing for them — canceled the performing rights agreements for the songs in April. That meant no band, including Peterson’s, was allowed to play those songs live, forcing The Guess Who to cancel shows.

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Neil Young and Stephen Stills are set to headline a new benefit concert in October.

Harvest Moon is a daytime concert that will take place Oct. 5 at The Painted Turtle camp in Lake Hughes, California. Proceeds will benefit both The Painted Turtle, which offers the camp experience to children with serious medical conditions, and The Bridge School, an educational institution for children with severe speech and physical disabilities.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the community to Harvest Moon at The Painted Turtle,” said April Tani, executive director of The Painted Turtle. “This event not only brings together amazing musicians and families but also raises vital funds for two organizations committed to changing lives. It’s a day of music, fun, and philanthropy—what could be better?”

In addition to the former Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young bandmates, the marimba ensemble Masanga will perform, with more artists to be announced.

A limited number of tickets will go on sale Friday at harvestmoongathering.com.

The performance is one of only two shows Young has confirmed since canceling his tour with Crazy Horse due to health issues. The other is Farm Aid, which is happening Sept. 21 in Saratoga, New York. 

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The Who released It’s Hard, their last album to feature bassist John Entwistle and drummer Kenney Jones. Entwistle passed away in 2002.

The release, their 10th studio album, featured the classic “Eminence Front,” as well as the single “Athena,” a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1994, The Who’s Roger Daltrey said It’s Hard “never should have been released,” and revealed that he and Pete Townshend argued over doing so.

The Who have only released two albums since then: 2006’s Endless Wire and 2019’s WHO.

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Queen guitarist Brian May revealed in a post on social media that he recently suffered a minor stroke that left his ability to play guitar in doubt. 

“I’m here to bring you first of all some good news, I think,” May said in a video. “The good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because it was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago and what they called it was a minor stroke and all of a sudden — out of the blue – I didn’t have any control over [my left arm].”

May said the health incident was “a little scary” but noted, “I had the most fantastic care and attention from Frimley Hospital, where I went. Blue lights flashing, the lot.”

May explained that he didn’t post anything when it happened because he wasn’t looking for sympathy, adding, “good news is I’m okay.”

As for what he needs to do to get better, he says doctors have advised him to do “basically nothing.”

“I’m grounded. I’m not allowed to go out. I’m not allowed to drive, not allowed to get on a plane, not allowed to raise the heart rate too high,” he explained.

This isn’t May’s first health scare in recent years. In May of 2020 he revealed he suffered a heart attack that required three stents to clear blocked arteries.

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Fans of The Who now have a chance to own a pretty unique piece of band memorabilia.

The Vespa GS Scooter that was featured during the band’s 1996 Quadrophenia tour is being auctioned off by Sotheby’s a part of the auction house’s first ever Popular Culture auction in London.

The scooter, a Piaggio 1964 Vespa, was ridden onstage during the performance of “Bell Boy” by Billy Idol, who was portraying the character of Ace Face. Following the tour it was stored in frontman Roger Daltrey’s garage, and then was restored and exhibited at the Royal Albert Hall during The Who’s March 2023 Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows. 

Bidding is open until Sept. 12. The Vespa is expected to sell for between $26,000 and $40,000. Proceeds will benefit Teenage Cancer Trust.

“The funds raised will support our mission to ensure no young person faces cancer alone,” Jamie Johnson, head of Music & Entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, shares. “We are deeply grateful to Sotheby’s and The Who for their incredible generosity.”

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