Classic Hits

Robert Plant has taken to social media to offer some birthday wishes to his former Led Zeppelin bandmates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, who both celebrated their birthdays in January.

The birthday post came as Page celebrated his milestone 80th on Tuesday, January 9, while Jones celebrated his 78th earlier in the month, on January 3.

“It’s never too late, Happy Birthday John and Happy Birthday Jimmy,” he wrote next to an archival band photo, “here’s to the wonderful dancing days,” a reference to the 1973 Houses of the Holy track “Dancing Days.”

It’s been over 15 years since Plant, Page and Jones performed together as Led Zeppelin. Their last performance took place December 10, 2007, at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London. They were backed on drums by Jason Bonham, son of their late drummer John Bonham, who passed away in September 1980. The group disbanded shortly after his death.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

We’re getting our first look at the upcoming documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, which chronicles the making of the all-star charity single “We Are The World.”

Netflix has just released a trailer for the film, featuring archival footage of artists like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and more in the studio. There are also clips of new interviews from Richie, Springsteen and others.

“The greatest artists of a generation came together to save some lives,” says Richie, who co-produced the film and co-wrote the song with Jackson. “But we only had one night to get this right.”

According to the description, the movie tells “the untold story of how the global hit ‘We are the World’ almost didn’t happen! 46 of the biggest pop music stars had only one night to turn chaos into magic.”

Released in March 1985, “We Are The World” raised more than $63 million for a newly formed organization called United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) to help with the famine crisis in the region. The song, produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian, went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for a month.

The Greatest Night in Pop will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, which takes place January 18–28 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. It will debut January 29 on Netflix.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Rolling Stones are set to head out on the road in April on their Hackney Diamonds tour, but ahead of the trek, they are giving fans the taste of a classic show from their past, thanks to a new live release.  

The Rolling Stones Live At The Wiltern features the recording of a rare intimate show during The Stones’ 2002/2003 Licks World Tour. The trek was in support of their 40 Licks compilation album, which celebrated the group’s 40th anniversary. 

The concert took place November 22 at the 2,000+ capacity Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. It featured performances classics “Start Me Up,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Brown Sugar” and “Honky Tonk Women” as well as rarities like “Stray Cat Blues,” “No Expectations” and their cover of “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” featuring the song’s co-author Solomon Burke.

The Rolling Stones Live At The Wiltern will be released March 8 in a variety of formats, including a DVD/two-CD set, a Blu-ray/two-CD set and a two-CD set. It will also be released digitally and as a three-LP vinyl set in three variants: black, gold and an Amazon exclusive black and bronze swirl.

Here is the track list for The Rolling Stones Live at the Wiltern:

CD1:
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Live With Me”
“Neighbours”
“Hand of Fate”
“No Expectations”
“Beast of Burden”
“Stray Cat Blues”
“Dance, Part 1”
“Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” (with Solomon Burke)
“That’s How Strong My Love Is”
“Going To A Go-Go”
“Band Introductions”

CD2:
“Thru And Thru”
“You Don’t Have To Mean It”
“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”
“Rock Me Baby”
“Bitch”
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Start Me Up”
“Brown Sugar”
“Tumbling Dice”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

On This Day, January 9, 1976…

Queen topped the U.K. singles chart with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” from their #1 album A Night at the Opera. 

The almost six-minute long operatic tune, written by frontman Freddie Mercury, was Queen’s first #1 single, and it spent nine weeks on the top of the chart.

The song was rereleased in 1991 following Mercury’s death and returned to the #1 spot. In 1992, after it was included in the comedy blockbuster Wayne’s World, “Bohemian Rhapsody” returned to the chart again and peaked at #2 in the U.S.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Sinéad O’Connor passed away of natural causes, according to the coroner in London.

“This is to confirm that Ms O’Connor died of natural causes,” read a statement released by the spokesperson for the Southwark Coroners Court. “The coroner has therefore ceased their involvement in her death.”

O’Connor passed away July 26, at the age of 56, after being found unresponsive at a home in London. She was laid to rest in Ireland on August 8, following a private ceremony attended by such stars as U2’s Bono and The Edge and Bob Geldof, as well as Irish president Michael D. Higgins.

“The outpouring of grief and appreciation of the life and work of Sinéad O’Connor demonstrates the profound impact which she had on the Irish people,” Higgins said of the singer. “The unique contribution of Sinéad involved the experience of a great vulnerability combined with a superb, exceptional level of creativity that she chose to deliver through her voice, her music and her songs.” 

Sinéad was one of two famed Irish musicians to pass in 2023, the other being The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan, who died November 30, at 65. The music of both artists will be celebrated at a tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 20.  Artists confirmed for the concert include David Gray, Cat Power, Glen Hansard, Dropkick Murphys and more. Tickets go on sale Monday, January 22.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

It was 40 years ago today, January 9, that Van Halen released their sixth studio album, 1984, which wound up being their final full-length album will all four original members: Eddie and Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and frontman David Lee Roth. 

The album featured the notable addition of more keyboards and synthesizers, with the first single, “Jump,” featuring a long synthesizer intro and hook. The song went on to become Van Halen’s only Billboard Hot 100 #1 and earned Van Halen a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

“Jump” was followed by two top 20 hits, “Panama” and “I’ll Wait.” While the record’s final single, “Hot For Teacher,” failed to reach the top 20, it became a hit with fans thanks to its Roth-directed video, which became a staple on MTV. 

1984 debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and went on to become one of Van Halen’s bestselling records. It sold more than 10 million copies and has been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry of America.

A year after 1984’s release, Roth released the solo EP Crazy From The Heat and then officially parted ways with Van Halen in August 1985. Van Halen replaced Roth with Sammy Hagar, and together they released four #1 albums in 11 years.

Roth returned to Van Halen in 2006 for a reunion tour, which was the highest-grossing tour in the band’s history. Then in 2012 they released the comeback album A Different Kind of Truth, which was their only studio album without bassist Michael Anthony.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Nile Rodgers will be honored for his activism at the 30th annual Crystal Awards, happening during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

According to the announcement, the Chic founder and producer is being honored for “his extraordinary efforts to make the world a more peaceful, equal, and inclusive place through his iconic music, his exemplary commitment in fighting systemic racism, inequality, and injustice, and by championing innovative youth voices to decision-making tables.”

“My parents socialized me to care about people and give to others though we were ourselves financially poor,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer shared in a statement. “When music gave me the opportunity to reach hearts the world over, I realized I’d been given a priceless gift.” He adds, “When I give that gift to others, I get back more than the wealthiest person on earth.” 

Also being honored at the Crystal Awards is Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and architect Diébédo Francis Kéré.

The World Economic Forum annual meeting is set to happen January 16-20, and the 30th annual Crystal Awards will take place January 15. It will be streamed at weforum.org.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Rocker Ace Frehley has announced some new tour dates for 2024.

The former KISS guitarist will be hitting the road starting January 25 in Frankfort, Kentucky, and he’s just announced new shows in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Illinois.

So far, Frehley has 10 shows on the books for 2024, with dates confirmed through June 28 in Marion, Illinois. A complete list of shows can be found at acefrehley.com.

The new dates come as Frehley is getting ready to release his new solo album, 10,000 Volts, on February 23. The album is Frehley’s first solo release since 2020’s Origins Vol. 2.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Elvis Presley is the subject of the latest vault release from Jack White’s Third Man Records.

Elvis Presley at 706 Union Ave: The Sun Singles 1954-55, the 59th vault package from the label, will mark the 70th anniversary of Elvis’ recordings on Sun Records. The set includes five 7-inch, 45 rpm singles, all on yellow and black marble vinyl, including such songs as “That’s All Right” and “Mystery Train.”

There’s also a bonus vinyl EP featuring four songs from those Sun sessions that were released later in Elvis’ career, including “Blue Moon” and “Just Because.”

The set also comes with two linen-style postcards, an embroidered patch and a custom milled nickel 45 adaptor. Plus one subscriber will get a bonus package with original 1950s pressings of all five of Presley’s Sun singles.

The Elvis release will only be available to Third Man vault subscribers. Those interested will need to purchase a subscription by 11:59 p.m. CT on January 31.

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A special David Bowie release has been announced for the next Record Store Day, which is set for Saturday, April 20.

Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth) features recordings made at Trident Studios in December 1971, featuring an early track list of songs for what would become Bowie’s classic 1972 album, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.

The special release features four songs that didn’t make it on Ziggy Stardust: “Round and Round,” “Amsterdam,” “Holy Holy” and “Velvet Goldmine.” Missing from the album is “Starman,” which was actually one of the last songs recorded for the album.  

The announcement of the new release comes on what would have been Bowie’s 77th birthday, and several artists marked the occasion with tributes to the late rocker, who passed away in 2016.

The band Wilco released a cover of Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” which will be featured on their new Mountain Stage compilation album, Outlaws and Outliers, dropping April 19.

In addition, Blondie shared a tribute to Bowie on Instagram, writing, “‘I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.’ Happy Birthday, David!” Peter Frampton shared, “Happy Birthday David. We miss you dear brother.”

And Bowie’s wife Iman also shared a tribute to her late husband, sharing a picture of the rock star, along with #BowieForever.

Here is the track list for Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth):

Side 1

“Five Years”
“Soul Love”
“Moonage Daydream”
“Round And Round”
“Amsterdam”

Side 2

“Hang On To Yourself”
“Ziggy Stardust”
“Velvet Goldmine”
“Holy Holy”
“Star”
“Lady Stardust”

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.