Classic Hits

Carlos Santana has apologized after video surfaced of him making seemingly anti-trans comments at a recent concert in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  

“I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don’t reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs,” he wrote in a since-deleted post on Facebook. “I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended.”

In the video, Santana is heard telling the audience, “a woman is a woman and a man is a man. That’s it,” adding, “Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business. I’m okay with that.”

“Here is my personal goal that I strive to achieve every day. I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs whether they are LGBTQ or not,” he writes in his apology. “This is the planet of free will and we have all been given this gift. I will now pursue this goal to be happy and have fun, and for everyone to believe what they want and follow in your hearts without fear.”

He concludes, “It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic. We grow and learn to shine our light with Love and compliments. Have a glorious existence. Peace.”

There’s no word on why the post was removed, but Santana did replace it with another one that seems to be related to the subject. “the energy of consciousness generates its own kind,” he writes. “hate begets hate love begets love.”

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On This Day, August 25, 1975…

Bruce Springsteen released his third studio album, Born To Run.

The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and helped Springsteen garner mainstream success. It went on to be a massive hit for the New Jersey rocker and has been certified seven-times Platinum by the RIAA.

Born to Run featured such future Springsteen classics as the title track, “Thunder Road” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” as well as fan favorites like “Jungleland,” “Backstreets” and “She’s The One,” all of which are regular staples at The Boss’ live shows.

Born To Run has consistently earned spots on lists of the greatest albums of all time. In 2015, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

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With the Super Bowl happening at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas next year, some fans may be expecting added glitz to the halftime show. But if Nevada’s governor had his way, there’d be more pyro than sparkle. 

The NFL and Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee press conference was held August 23, and according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gov. Joe Lombardo had one band in mind as the halftime show headliner.

“AC/DC!” he declared. “I was going to yell it out … But yeah, I’m serious. Bring ‘em back.”

So far there’s been no definitive news about which artist will headline the Super Bowl LVIII halftime, but AC/DC hasn’t been mentioned in the speculation. The last time a rock act headlined the halftime show was in 2010, when The Who performed. 

Super Bowl LVIII will take place February 11, and the halftime performer is expected to be announced this fall.

As for AC/DC, if Lombardo really wants to see them all he has to do is head to California in October. They are due to headline PowerTrip in Indio, California, with Brian Johnson returning to his frontman duties after sitting out of their last tour due to hearing issues.

PowerTrip will be held October 6-8, with the lineup also featuring Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Tool, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

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The official trailer for the upcoming Carlos Santana documentary, Carlos: The Santana Journey Global Premiere, has just been released.

The clip kicks off with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer asking, “Do you believe in magic?” It features archival footage from throughout his career and ends with Carlos saying, “Magic is when you command the elements to capture people’s hearts.” 

The film is getting a special three-day premiere event in September. Carlos: The Santana Journey Global Premiere will be in theaters on Saturday, September 23; Sunday, September 24; and Wednesday, September 27. In addition to the doc, the event will feature exclusive introductory content from both Santana and the film’s director, Rudy Valdez. It will then get a wider theatrical release on September 29.

Tickets for Carlos: The Santana Journey Global Premiere are on sale now at carlosglobalpremiere.com.

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More previously unreleased Prince music is on the way.

The legendary singer’s 1991 album, Diamonds and Pearls, will be reissued this fall, complete with 47 previously unreleased tracks. Dropping October 27, the new release, remastered for the very first time, will also include over two hours of video concert performances from Prince’s vault. 

The reissue is being released in a variety of formats, including a two-CD/four-LP deluxe edition and a seven-CD with Blu-ray or 12-LP with Blu-ray super deluxe edition. 

The super deluxe edition will feature 75 tracks, including remixes and B-sides. Other previously unheard tracks — alternate versions of songs, tracks recorded on the road, and even songs Prince gave to other artists — are also included. It also features a live 1992 concert of Prince and his then-new band, The New Power Generation, at Prince’s Minneapolis club, Glam Slam, ahead of the Diamond and Pearls tour. There’s also a 120-page book with unseen photos, essays and more.

And to give fans an idea of what they can expect, the previously unreleased track “Alice Through The Looking Glass” has just been released, along with “Insatiable (Early Mix – Full Version).”

Released October 1, 1991, Diamonds and Pearls was Prince’s 13th studio album and his first with The New Power Generation. It featured such hit singles as “Gett Off,” “Cream” and the title track.

All formats of the Diamonds and Pearls reissue are available for preorder now.

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The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has teamed with Universal Music for a new songwriters award named after the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.  

The Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowship will “mentor and develop aspiring songwriters in association with the tremendous educational resources of the Bob Dylan Center.” 

The fellowship will be handed out to two songwriters annually, and it comes with a $40,000 stipend. The recipients will be flown to Tulsa to spend time at the center where they’ll have access to the Bob Dylan Archive in order “to study Dylan’s creative process.” They’ll also get a chance to record at Leon Russell’s The Church Studio in Tulsa.

Those interested can submit their applications at bobdylancenter.com from now until October 18, with the fellowship running from May 2024 to April 2025.

This year’s winners will be chosen by a panel of international artists that includes John Mellencamp, Patty Griffin, Nas, French singer/songwriter Juliette Armanet and Mexican singer/songwriter Carla Morrison.

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The Rolling Stones have paid tribute to their late drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away two years ago on August 24, 2021.

The band posted some dashing photos of Watts through the years on their official Instagram account, writing, “Today, with much love, we remember our dear Charlie. We miss you everyday.”

Charlie’s bandmates shared their own tributes as well.  

Mick Jagger posted some photos and video of Charlie on his Instagram Story, while Keith Richards shared a black-and-white picture of them together.

“Charlie Watts was my bed,” Keith wrote. “I could lay on there, and I know that not only would I have a good sleep, but I’d wake up and it’d still be rocking,” adding, “Miss you, Charlie.”

Ronnie Wood also posted a photo of him and Charlie along with two

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In 2015, Whitesnake released The Purple Album, which celebrated frontman David Coverdale’s three years in the band Deep Purple. Well, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Coverdale’s Deep Purple debut, Whitesnake is now reissuing the album. 

The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition, a newly remixed and remastered version of the album, will be released October 13. It will contain plenty of extras, including previously unreleased recordings, one of which is the four-song demo that helped Coverdale land the Deep Purple gig.  

Coverdale says he found the original demo amongst his late mother’s belongings. “I had no idea my Mam had the tape,” he says. “For me, to open my Mam’s trunk of personal items, 30 years after her passing, was a gift from Heaven.”

Deep Purple is giving fans the first taste of the reissue with the digital release of a live version of the 1974 track “Burn.”

The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition will be released as a two-CD/Blu-ray set, which includes concert videos from The Purple Tour, official music videos and more, including commentary from Coverdale. It’s also being released on two-LP gold vinyl. Both formats are available for preorder now.

Coverdale joined Deep Purple in 1973 when he was just 21. He recorded three albums with them, 1974’s Burn and Stormbringer and 1975’s Come Taste The Band, and was eventually inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group. He left the band in 1976, and two years later, formed Whitesnake.

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Eurythmics guitarist Dave Stewart is hitting the road to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s classic album Sweet Dreams, but fans hoping to hear Annie Lennox sing with him are out of luck.

Stewart announced plans for the Eurythmics Songbook Sweet Dreams 40th Anniversary Tour, but Annie won’t be a part of it because she is no longer touring.

“Looking forward to this, I love performing these songs,” he writes on Instagram. “I spent 1,000’s of hours crafting them in the studio and had the best partner in Annie but she has said she won’t be touring anymore which I totally understand.”

Instead, Stewart says he’ll be accompanied by “brilliant all female musicians and three wonderful female vocalists,” noting, “I promise a stunning show full of memorable songs.” 

Right now, Stewart has only announced one show, taking place November 7, in Basel, Switzerland. He advised fans to “stay tuned for more live show announcements coming soon!”

Tickets for the Basel show go on sale August 30 at 7 a.m. U.K. time.

The Eurythmics have not released any new music since their 1999 album, Peace. The last time Stewart and Lennox took the stage together was at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where they reunited to perform “Would I Lie To You,” “Missionary Man” and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).”

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On This Day, August 24, 2021…

Charlie Watts, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for The Rolling Stones, passed away at a hospital in London. He was 80.

Earlier in the month, the band had announced that Watts was going to miss their 2021 No Filter Tour of North America in order to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. He played his last show with the band on August 30, 2019.

Watts appeared on every Rolling Stones album, alongside frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band in 1989.

When the Stones resumed touring in September 2021, Steve Jordan filled in behind the drum kit.

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