Classic Hits

The Who’s Pete Townshend is set to make an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, March 26.

The rocker will be on the show to promote Tommy the Musical, which is set to open at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on March 28. The episode will also feature a performance from the musical.

This version of Tommy, directed by the musical’s original director, Des McAnuff, debuted at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre in June and features a brand new staging with a cast of 28 and a nine-piece band.

Based on The Who’s 1969 album and 1975 film, the original production of Tommy opened at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, on July 1, 1992. It opened on Broadway on April 22, 1993, and closed on June 17, 1995. Tommy won five Tony Awards, including Best Direction for McAnuff and Best Original Score for Townshend.

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Kansas has added another tour date to their already busy schedule.

The band is set to play Canada’s 2024 Festival d’été de Québec aka FEQ, an 11-day event that takes place July 4-14, on July 12.

The festival lineup also features Nickelback, Jonas Brothers, Post Malone Mötley Crüe and more.

For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit FEQ.ca.

Kansas recently announced a third and final leg to their Another Fork in The Road 50th anniversary tour, kicking off September 24 in Thousand Oaks, California, and wrapping December 11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The current leg hits Salina, Kansas, for a two-night stand on March 22 and 23.

A complete list of tour dates can be found at kansasband.com.

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The music of Chicago will be hitting the big screen next month. 

The film Chicago & Friends in Concert will debut in select theaters on April 18, giving fans a chance to enjoy the band’s two guest-filled concerts that were recorded at Ovation Hall at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last November.

The show featured guest appearances by such artists as Steve Vai, Chris Daughtry, Robin Thicke, Robert Randolph and more. The performances were a celebration of the 55th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, and had them playing songs from the album, as well as other greatest hits and unplugged versions of classic tunes.

“This concert film is a unique approach to any of our previous live performances,” Chicago founding member Lee Loughnane shares. “It was very interesting to work with each guest and experience their interpretations of our music.”

Tickets and showtimes can be found at chicagoandfriendsintheatres.com.

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Some of the biggest bands of the ’80s may be coming to a venue near you this spring.

Fans of the decade will be able to get their dance on during the new Abducted by the 80s tour, set to kick off May 17 in Kyle, Texas, featuring Wang Chung, Men Without Hats, The Motels and Naked Eyes.

These bands are responsible for some of the biggest hits of that decade, including Wang Chung’s “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and “Dance Hall Days”; Men Without Hats’ “Safety Dance”; The Motels’ “Only The Lonely” and “Suddenly Last Summer”; and Naked Eyes’ “Promises Promises.”

“For our brand new tour this spring, we have put together a group of acts that fit together musically, thematically, and harmoniously,” Wang Chung’s Nick Feldman and Jack Hues share. “We wanted to create a night of big hits, big songs from your favorite movies and numerous TV shows, plus a few deeper cuts too.”

The Motels’ Martha Davis adds, “I’m so excited to be reunited with Wang Chung and Naked Eyes for the Abducted by the ’80s tour this year. Nick, Jack, and (Naked Eyes’) Pete (Byrne) are some of my favorite people, not to mention amazing musicians!” 

The tour is set to hit 17 cities running through June 23 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A complete list of dates, including lineups and ticket information, can be found at abductedbythe80s.com.

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Last May Def Leppard played a special club show in their hometown of Sheffield, England, and now that performance is being immortalized for very special vinyl release.

The band will release Def Leppard One Night Only Live at The Leadmill Sheffield May 19, 2023 as a double LP vinyl set on Record Store Day, April 20.

The performance, which was livestreamed for fans, took place the same day the band released their latest album, Drastic Symphonies, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the first time in over 35 years that Def Leppard played such a small venue in the U.K. 

The night featured a unique set that included hits like “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak,” “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” as well as deep cuts like “Wasted,” “Too Late For Love” and “Mirror Mirror.”

Information on stores taking part in Record Store Day can be found at recordstoreday.com.

 (Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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After a six-month break to recover from peptic ulcer disease, Bruce Springsteen returned to the stage with The E Street Band on Tuesday, March 19, in Phoenix, wowing the crowd with a set that featured classics, new songs and even one surprise request. 

According to setlist.fm, The Boss kicked things off with The Rising track “Lonesome Day,” with his set featuring hits like “Born To Run,” “Thunder Road,” “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” along with fan favorites like “No Surrender,” “Two Hearts,” “Prove it All Night,” “Backstreets,” “Because the Night” and “Mary’s Place.”

The set also featured songs from his 2020 album, Letter To You, including the title track, “Last Man Standing” and the show closer “I’ll See You In My Dreams,” as well as songs from his covers album Only The Strong Survive, like “Night Shift” and “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied).”

He even obliged a fan who held up a sign with a song request, playing the classic “Twist and Shout” right before the final song. 

According to Billboard, Bruce didn’t talk about his health issues until just before the night’s final song, apologizing to his fans for having to postpone shows and sharing, “I had a mother****** of a bellyache.”

Springsteen returns to the stage Saturday, March 23, at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, his first show in Sin City in more than 20 years. A complete list of dates can be found at brucespringsteen.net.

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After a two-year break, the Grammy Hall of Fame has returned, with 10 recordings being inducted on March 20. The inductees — four albums and six singles — will be honored at the Grammy Museum’s inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, scheduled for May 21 in LA.

Among this year’s inductees are The Doobie Brothers‘ #1 hit “What a Fool Believes” and Donna Summer‘s groundbreaking single “I Feel Love.” While the Doobie Brothers hit — co-written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins — won Grammys for both Record and Song of the Year, “I Feel Love” was never so honored, even though it’s considered one of the most influential records of all time. In 2011, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

The other 10 inductees include Guns ‘N Roses‘ album Appetite for Destruction, Lauryn Hill‘s Grammy-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and rap group De La Soul‘s 3 Feet High and Rising.

Inductees into the Grammy Hall of Fame must “exhibit qualitative or historical significance” and must be at least 25 years old. Since the Hall of Fame was established in 1973, more than 1,100 recordings have been inducted.

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Billy Joel‘s “Turn the Lights Back On” is his first hit in many years. While Billy co-wrote the song, he didn’t write the lyrics — they were written by one of his co-writers, Freddy Wexler, the same guy who co-produced the song and co-directed the video. But even though Billy has generally written all his songs himself, Wexler says he was fine with singing words he didn’t write.

“I think because Billy has had an astounding career, writing 100% of an entire catalog, he doesn’t have anything to prove,” Wexler tells ABC Audio. “He certainly was not out there looking for outside songs or outside ideas. But he also didn’t have the ego to block the opportunity from happening.”

Wexler initially wrote the words to the song after being inspired by a rough patch in his parents’ marriage, but he tried to write it in the way that Billy, his hero, would have written it, which is why, Wexler says, he was so comfortable singing it.

“What was interesting here is that on many records Billy plays a character. On this record, he plays the character who happens to be him,” Wexler explains. “So in the weirdest way, it’s one of the most natural vocals I’ve ever heard of him.”

“He said that to me himself,” Wexler adds. “He said, ‘On this record, I wasn’t trying to be Ray Charles or McCartney. I just sang naturally.’ And that was probably the greatest thing that could have ever happened, that he had that experience with it.”

Wexler hopes to work with Billy on more music in the future. In the meantime, Billy has added “Turn the Lights Back On” to his set list.

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The Beach Boys’ Mike Love is ready to introduce a new line of premium rum through his company Club Kokomo Spirits, which until now has been known for its canned cocktails.

The new collection comes in three varieties: Artisanal White Rum, featuring an aroma of honey and pineapple, with notes of melon and mango; Barrel Finished Rum, a blend of 8-year-old and 10-year-old Jamaican, Barbadian and Dominican rums finished in bourbon barrels; and Tahitian Vanilla Rum, which uses whole Tahitian vanilla beans, resulting in notes of vanilla and spice.

“The spirit of Kokomo is the serenity and good vibrations you feel when hanging out with your closest friends or family, preferably on a sandy beach,” Love shares. “We took it, distilled it and bottled it for everyone who takes a sip to enjoy, anywhere. Much like a Beach Boys song.”

All three rums are distilled locally in San Diego, and are blended and bottled by hand. They will be available to order online and to purchase at select retailers. More info can be found at clubkokomospirits.com.

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How would you like to spend an evening with Joe Elliott? Now’s your chance, although you’ll have to be a member of the Hilton Honors program in order to qualify.

The Def Leppard frontman has teamed up with the hotel chain to offer fans a chance to meet him at a cocktails and Q&A event on April 26 at the Conrad London St. James hotel.

The opportunity is open to 25 rewards members plus their guests, although they’ll have to redeem 100,000 points for the experience, which includes access to the moderated evening, with the chance to submit questions for Elliott to answer. They’ll also attend a meet and greet, where they’ll be able to take a photo with the rocker.

What’s not included is travel and hotel accommodations, so guests will be responsible for that. More info can be found at Experiences.HiltonHonors.com.

Def Leppard is getting ready to hit the road on a new stadium tour this summer with Journey. The trek, featuring special guests Steve Miller Band, Cheap Trick and Heart, kicks off July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri. A complete list of dates can be found at defleppard.com.

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