Classic Hits

In early 2023, Madonna‘s planned biopic, starring Julia Garner as the Queen of Pop, was officially delayed because of the star’s Celebration tour. But it appears as though the film is back in play.

On Tuesday, Madonna posted a series of photos on Instagram showing her working on what appears to be a script on a typewriter. In one shot, we can see the title: Who’s That Girl. That was the title of Madonna’s 1987 movie and the first single from the movie’s soundtrack, which hit #1.

She captioned the post, “I Need A-lot of Bandz to make this………..OKAY (Story of my life).” “Bandz” is slang for a lot of money.

Entertainment Weekly confirms that Garner is still attached to star in the film.

News of the movie first emerged in 2020, when Madonna said she and Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody were working on the script. They parted ways in 2021, and Madonna continued to work on it with Erin Cressida Wilson. As EW notes, the title page in Madonna’s photo has an “ECW” credit on it, so she’s apparently still involved.

Speaking about the film with Jimmy Fallon in 2021, Madonna said, “The reason I’m doing it is a bunch of people have tried to write movies about me, but they’re always men … there’s nobody on this planet that can write or direct or make a movie about me better than me and that is just the truth.”

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John Lennon fans are being encouraged to check out some classic memorabilia through a new John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt that was just launched by Hard Rock International and the John Lennon Estate. 

The hunt coincides with the recent release of Lennon’s Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection, as well as the launch of the new John & Yoko social website citizenofnutopia.com, where fans can access meditation affirmations, leave messages of gratitude for John and Yoko and more.

“We’ve been working on the box sets of Mind Games for years now. Initially I thought, ‘Mind Games’.. game… What if we ‘gamified’ Mind Games?” John and Yoko Ono’s son, Sean Lennon, shares. “So that’s all I’ll say for now, but there are many levels to this release, including the box sets and far beyond – that will slowly unravel – and I hope will potentially entertain and engage everyone for many years to come.” 

Fans are encouraged to check out Lennon memorabilia at Hard Rock locations across the globe, then scan QR codes that will reveal more stories about what they are seeing.

Items featured in the hunt include a black suit worn by Lennon during The Beatles’ 1965 U.S. tour, at the Hard Rock Café Bucharest; Lennon’s 1966 Guild Starfire 12-sting guitar, at the Hard Rock Honolulu; Lennon’s tan trademark collarless suit, at the Hard Rock Atlantic City; and handwritten “Help!” lyrics at the Hard Rock Cafe New York.

Aa part of the treasure hunt, Hard Rock is offering discounts to any members of John and Yoko’s Citizens of Nutopia site, and participants can earn points and rewards through the Hard Rock Unity loyalty program.

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An upcoming Prince documentary is reportedly being held up because there’s just too much of it.

Puck News reports that back in 2018, Netflix made a deal with the Prince estate for a documentary that was initially supposed to be directed by Ava DuVernay. She was replaced by O.J. Made in America director Ezra Edelman, who was allowed to use Prince’s music and archives for the project.

But while reports claim the documentary has been finished for a while, the problem is Prince’s estate and executors don’t like it.

Sources tell Puck News the estate has issues with parts of the doc they deem inaccurate, and they are using a technicality to keep Netflix from airing it. It seems the contract Netflix has with the estate calls for the streamer to make a six-hour doc, while Edelman’s final cut is nine hours. The estate is using the difference to hold up the doc.

While the two sides are trying to come to an agreement, so far they haven’t been able to. It doesn’t help that the Prince estate is divided between Prince Legacy, made up of his family and friends, and Prince OAT Holdings, controlled by Primary Wave Music, and the two sides must agree on anything Prince related.

A source tells the New York Post the estate is “incredibly nitpicky” when it comes to anything having to do with Prince’s legacy.

“You never saw Prince release anything subpar. Everything was carefully curated and fine-tuned. The estate still holds that high standard,” says the source, who notes the series “does not accurately portray the legendary Prince.”

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On This Day, July 16, 1952 …

Stewart Copeland, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for The Police, was born in in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Police were formed in London in 1977 and released their first album, Outlandos d’Amour, in 1976. They released five studio albums in total, including their fifth, final and most successful release, 1983’s Synchronicity.

Synchronicity spent 17 weeks at #1, with the single “Every Breath You Take,” their only #1 song, spending eight weeks on top.

After a tour to support the album, The Police went on hiatus in 1984 and eventually disbanded in 1986.

In 2003 they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and reunited to perform three songs together. It was their last live performance together until they reunited in 2007 for a tour that lasted until 2008. They broke up again after that.

Outside of The Police, Copeland has composed music for several films, including Wall Street and Men at Work, and has released several solo albums, including his most recent release, 2023’s Police Deranged for Orchestra.

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Grateful Dead fans will soon have a new opportunity to get their hands on some one-of-a-kind band memorabilia.

Relix Marketplace and ANALOGr.com have teamed up to offer some rare and unique music collectables, starting with the sale of 19 Grateful Dead items from the band’s career post 1960. 

Items up for grabs include a variety of posters, like a “New on Warner Bros” promo poster for their 1971 Skull and Roses album, owned by Grateful Dead roadie Ram Rod, which is priced at $500, and a rare first print “Quick & The Dead” glow poster, priced at $22,500. 

One of the larger items is a half-scale working model of The Dead’s Wall of Sound PA speaker system, which is being offered for $300,000.

There’s also a signed contract from the Grateful Dead’s 1985 Twilight Zone TV appearance, priced at $15,000; a 1995 “Northbound Train” Summer tour T-shirt for $200; a contact sheet with photos of The Dead and Bob Dylan for $2,500; and a Grateful Dead logo pressing by Bob Thomas and Owsley Stanley for $27,500. 

The Relix Marketplace/ANALOGr.com Grateful Dead sale will happen online starting Thursday at 1 p.m. More info can be found at relix.com.

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The Zombies’ Rod Argent is expressing his gratitude to fans for all the support he’s received since his announcement Thursday that he’s currently recovering from a stroke and, because of his health, has decided to retire from touring. 

“I am absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that has happened in response to the news of my having suffered a stroke three weeks ago,” he shared on Instagram. “I have read every post, and have to thank you so much.”

He adds, “I do feel so lucky that physically l’ve escaped the worst possible effects, and while I’m still frustrated by not finding all my words easily, I feel really hopeful that eventually I will make a full recovery.” 

With his decision to retire, The Zombies have now canceled all shows planned for 2024, although their second annual Begin Here Festival in St Albans, England, set for November, will still happen.

Argent notes, “It is with a heavy heart that I can’t carry on with the live playing that I love so much,” adding that he does plan to “carry on in the studio with writing and recording” with his Zombie bandmates.

The Zombies played their last U.S. shows in March and April. Their 2023 North American tour was cut short after Argent became ill with migraines, fatigue and exhaustion.

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Blue Öyster Cult is giving fans another preview of their upcoming live album, 50th Anniversary Live – Second Night.

The band just released a live performance video of “Hot Rails to Hell (Live),” the second track they’ve released from the album following “7 Screaming Diz-Busters.”

50th Anniversary Live – Second Night, dropping Aug. 9, features a concert recorded during the band’s 2022 three-night stand at Sony Hall in New York. It has the band performing their sophomore album, Tyranny and Mutation, in its entirety, along with such classic tracks as “Burnin’ For You” and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.”

The residency had the band playing their first three albums in their entirety, one each night; Frontiers Music is releasing each night separately. The first release, 50th Anniversary Live – First Night, featuring the band performing their self-titled debut album, was released in October.

50th Anniversary Live – Second Night is available for preorder now.

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The Black Crowes are spending some more time on the road.

The band is already set to open for Aerosmith on their upcoming Peace Out tour, but now The Crowes have announced a new set of dates for what they’re calling the Happiness Bastards Tour (The Reprise). 

The new 22-date trek is set to kick off Sept. 28 in Cleveland and wrap Feb. 28 in Uncasville, Connecticut. It will run alongside the Aerosmith tour, which kicks off Sept. 20 in Pittsburgh, with The Black Crowes’ first date on the trek being Sept. 23 in Philadelphia.

Tickets for new dates go on sale July 19 at 10 a.m. A complete schedule can be found at theblackcrowes.com.

The Black Crowes are touring in support of their recent album, Happiness Bastards, which was their first album of new material in 15 years.

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Sting has added a new festival to his 2024 schedule.

The rocker is set to headline Bourbon & Beyond, happening at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Sept. 19-22.

Sting, who’ll headline Sept. 19, is replacing original headliner Neil Young, who in June canceled the remainder of his tour due to health reasons. Sting will be taking the stage with guitarist and longtime collaborator Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas.

“While we will miss Neil Young at Bourbon this year, we’re excited to welcome a music legend, Sting, to the Bourbon & Beyond lineup,” Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, shares. “We’ve been trying to bring Sting to Bourbon for you since 2018 and it’s an incredible honor to have him join us for what will undoubtedly be our biggest and most unforgettable year ever.”

In addition to Sting, the Bourbon & Beyond lineup includes Beck, Dave Matthews Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, My Morning Jacket, Matchbox Twenty, The Beach Boys and Melissa Etheridge. A complete lineup can be found at bourbonandbeyond.com.

Sting is set to kick off the U.S. leg of his Sting 3.0 tour on Sept. 17 in Detroit, with the tour wrapping with a four-night stand in Los Angeles, Nov. 12, Nov. 13, Nov. 15 and Nov. 16. A complete list of dates can be found at sting.com.

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Sammy Hagar kicked off his The Best of All Worlds tour in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, and as promised treated fans to a set filled with Van Halen classics.

According to setlist.fm, Sammy opened the show with 5150’s “Good Enough,” followed by the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge track “Poundcake.”

The set also included plenty of other songs from the Sammy era of Van Halen, including “Judgement Day,” “5150,” “Summer Nights,” “Top of the World,” “The Seventh Seal,” “Right Now,” “Why Can’t This Be Love” and “When It’s Love.”

But Sammy and his band – Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Jason Bonham and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte – also played at least two Van Halen tracks from the David Lee Roth era. First, they tackled the 1984 classic “Panama,” then later performed “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love,” with Anthony handling the vocals on the latter. They also performed a little bit of the #1 hit “Jump” as part of a medley. 

But it wasn’t all Van Halen all the time. Sammy also played some of his solo tracks, including “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” “Heavy Metal,” “Mas Tequila” and his classic “I Can’t Drive 55.”

Sammy Hagar’s The Best of All Worlds tour next hits the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, Georgia, on Tuesday. A complete list of dates can be found at redrocker.com.

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